Jim Graham, former station manager for KWQC-TV6 and current goodwill ambassador and president emeritus for the station, has been awarded the 2007 Governor's Volunteer Award in Iowa in the category of "individual volunteer's exceptional achievement or contribution to [an] agency/organization." The nomination for Graham, submitted by United Way, included the following excerpt: "Jim exemplifies the meaning behind his station's tagline 'The Station That Cares for You' as a tireless and enthusiastic champion for youth in our community. Through United Way, Jim Graham served as a founding member of the Success by 6 Governing Body, led a record-breaking United Way campaign, and currently serves on the United Way board of directors as a co-chair for the Successful Children & Youth Focus Team - all while serving in leadership roles with Boy Scouts and organizationally leading efforts to support the American Red Cross, Race for the Cure, Gilda's Club, Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots, Scott County Kids, and the Student Hunger Drive."
Three hundred thousand dollars to expand affordable housing in Davenport was included in the Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation, Treasury, Judiciary, Housing, & Urban Development appropriations measure. The $300,000 would help the Scott County Affordable Housing Grant Pool & Revolving Loan Fund support multifamily housing. Both the United States House and Senate must approve the measure before it becomes law.
Guitarist Dave Paris will be bringing his rock, blues, and acoustic-guitar playing to LP Studios Coffeehouse, 332 East Second Street in Davenport, on Saturday, August 11, at 7 p.m. For more information on the performance, call (563) 322-0107. Since moving back to the Cedar Rapids area in the winter of 1999, Dave has been a staple in that music scene, playing in various bands as well as conducting guitar clinics and private lessons. That day, he will also be appearing at the Integrity Arts & Culture Association's Juried Artist Showcase/Sales Event. This will be held from 1:15 to 3:30 p.m. at River Music Experience, 129 Main Street in Davenport. For more information on this showcase, call (309) 786-5049 or e-mail (admin@integrityaca.org).
Representatives from Black Hawk College and Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 25 announced July 10 the creation of a new Apprentice Pipe Trades Program. The arrangement will allow apprentices in the local's training program the opportunity to simultaneously earn an associate degree or certificate from Black Hawk College. The new Black Hawk College Apprenticeship Pipe Trades Program is designed for those who have been accepted into the Local 25 Pipe Trades Training Program. The five-year apprenticeship program includes 8,500 to 10,000 hours of on-the-job pipe-trades training plus 1,300 classroom hours. The program will train apprentice plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters, and heating and cooling technicians. For more information, contact Tom McCune, training coordinator for Local 25, at (309) 788-4159 or Stephanie Allers, educational advisor at Black Hawk College, at (309) 796-5160.
The Augustana College Office of Admission will provide free instruction on the college search process through College Prep 101, a program offered free to the public on Tuesday, July 24. High-school students and their families, guidance counselors, teachers, and others are invited to participate in the half-day workshop detailing key aspects of the college search process. The workshop is free. To register, contact the Augustana College Office of Admissions at (309) 794-7341 or visit (http://www.augustana.edu/collegeprep101).
Opera Quad Cites has announced open auditions for its 2007-8 and 2008-9 seasons. Auditions will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, July 20, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 21, in the Bergendoff Fine Arts Building on the campus of Augustana College in Rock Island. To schedule an audition time, contact Angela Hand at (563) 355-7737 or (dr.diva2000@earthlink.net). For those wishing to audition for roles, singers should be prepared to sing at least one operatic aria appropriate for their voice type, preferably in a foreign language. They may be asked to sing a portion of a second aria. Singers are asked to provide a copy of a résumé and head shot. For the chorus auditions, singers should be prepared to sing an operatic aria or classical art song, preferably in a foreign language. Musical-theatre selections also may be performed. Résumés should be provided, if available. An accompanist will be provided. For further information regarding Opera Quad Cities, visit (http://www.operaqc.org).
The Nuclear Attack Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz is currently deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The USS Nimitz Association is looking for shipmates (ship's company, staff, squadrons, and detachments) who served on board the Nuclear Attack Aircraft Carrier for a ship's reunion in Nashville, Tennessee. More than 40,000 of our citizens have served on the ship over the past 32 years, and she will serve our country for at least 18 more years. For more information, contact Joe Brunner at (waldoj@cox.net) or (619) 466-2132, or visit (http://www.ussnimitzassociation.org) for membership.
The Iowa Department of Education recently approved federally funded grants to support before- and after-school learning centers in Iowa that provide academic-enrichment opportunities for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty schools. This year, Iowa has awarded five new 21st Century Community Learning Center grants to four school districts and one community organization, representing a total of 13 new program sites. Of the $1.7 million awarded, Davenport Community School District received $404,956 for four sites.
Members of Davenport'sNorth High Theatre will perform David Auburn's Proof in August at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. North High Theatre will present a preview performance of the show on July 29 at 2 p.m. at the Holzworth Performing Arts Center. It is open and free to the public, but donations to defray the cost of this trip will be gratefully accepted.
