04
Apr
2006
• The new face of Rock Island's original mayor was unveiled on Friday, March 31, at the opening reception of the 30th Annual Rock Island Fine Arts Exhibition at the Augustana College Art Museum. The portrait restoration of Rock Island's first mayor, Benjamin Barrett, was a project of the Rock Island Art Guild, which sponsors the annual juried art show that features regional artists. The restored portrait will be displayed at the Rock Island Public Library until September 30. After that, the portrait will take up residence in the lobby of the Rock Island City Hall. The portrait was re-conditioned by local restoration artist Jim Konrad and funded by a Rock Island Community Foundation grant, the Rock Island Art Guild, and the City of Rock Island. Based on the linen and canvas style, Konrad estimated the oil painting was completed sometime between the Civil War and the late 1880s. The artist has not been identified. Benjamin Barrett was mayor or Rock Island from 1849 to 1850 and from 1855 to 1856. Barrett died in 1858, so the portrait was painted posthumously. It is clearly modeled after a photograph of Barrett, a copy of which hangs in the city-hall lobby with the gallery of mayors. You can learn more about Barrett in the small brochure the city has prepared to coincide with the portrait unveiling. The portrait was "re-discovered" in 2004, when the Rock Island city clerk had the flooring in her office replaced and her desk moved. Found between the desk and the wall was the dusty 22-inch by 27-inch painted portrait. The Rock Island Art Guild decided to sponsor restoration of the painting and successfully solicited the Rock Island Community Foundation for the funds.
• On Saturday, April 8, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., the Scott County Chapter of the Order of DeMolay will be accepting cans and plastic bottles at the Bettendorf Masonic Lodge (2412 Grant Street). The containers will be turned in for deposit, and the money will be donated to the Shriner's Transportation Fund for Children. Donations of can pull tabs are welcome as well. For more information on the DeMolay youth organization, contact Bob Durrett at (563)508-9593 or Bob Holliday at (563)322-3602.
• Trinity BirthPlace has announced that Dr. Arled Izquierdo and Dr. Sridhar Prasad have partnered in practice to provide 24-hour neonatology coverage to both the Terrace Park and Moline campuses. For more information about Trinity's neonatal services, contact My Nurse at (309)779-2000 or (877)242-8899.
• The Iowa Alliance For Arts Education (IAAE) has joined with SupportMusic.com, the Music Education Coalition's initiative and the source of information for the largest online effort ever launched in support of school music programs. This affiliation brings IAAE into a network that seeks to advance the coalition's advocacy mission of keeping music strong in schools across the country. SupportMusic and its anchor Web site (http://www.SupportMusic.com) offer resources that empower parents, educators, and civic organizations to act locally to keep music education strong. A recent Harris Poll found that 93 percent of Americans agree that the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education for children.
• The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) has announced $104,000 in investments to the State of Iowa to boost economic-development planning efforts. EDA serves as a venture-capital resource to meet the economic-development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. EDA's mission is to lead the federal economic-development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. For more information, visit (http://www.eda.gov).
• For the seventh year, Rhythm City Casino and the Isle of Capri Bettendorf are teaming up for the Project 21 Scott County Scholarship Program. Project 21 Scott County is an awareness campaign encouraging Scott County high-school and college students to submit a poster, video, or school-newspaper article addressing the issue of underage gambling. The Project 21 Scholarship program is available to Scott County high-school and college students up to age 21. Through the contest, $10,000 is given away annually in the form of five $1,000 scholarships and 10 $500 scholarships. Students and teachers may obtain a Project 21 scholarship application by calling (563)344-2694 or e-mailing (sara_frank@islecorp.com). Students may submit entries through May 5 with the winners being announced in mid-May.
• Bradley University in Peoria will offer two one-week residential enrichment programs in June for high-school students entering their junior or senior years. The programs, "Computer & Electrical Engineering" and "Today's Leadership - Today's Action," will be held June 18 through 24 on the Bradley campus. The cost is $400. During the programs, students will stay in a Bradley residence hall and participate in extracurricular activities in addition to the academic experiences. For more information, call the program coordinator at (309)677-2404 or visit (http://www.bradley.edu/ccd/summerenrichment/).
• On Saturday, April 8, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m., the Scott County Chapter of the Order of DeMolay will be accepting cans and plastic bottles at the Bettendorf Masonic Lodge (2412 Grant Street). The containers will be turned in for deposit, and the money will be donated to the Shriner's Transportation Fund for Children. Donations of can pull tabs are welcome as well. For more information on the DeMolay youth organization, contact Bob Durrett at (563)508-9593 or Bob Holliday at (563)322-3602.
• Trinity BirthPlace has announced that Dr. Arled Izquierdo and Dr. Sridhar Prasad have partnered in practice to provide 24-hour neonatology coverage to both the Terrace Park and Moline campuses. For more information about Trinity's neonatal services, contact My Nurse at (309)779-2000 or (877)242-8899.
• The Iowa Alliance For Arts Education (IAAE) has joined with SupportMusic.com, the Music Education Coalition's initiative and the source of information for the largest online effort ever launched in support of school music programs. This affiliation brings IAAE into a network that seeks to advance the coalition's advocacy mission of keeping music strong in schools across the country. SupportMusic and its anchor Web site (http://www.SupportMusic.com) offer resources that empower parents, educators, and civic organizations to act locally to keep music education strong. A recent Harris Poll found that 93 percent of Americans agree that the arts are vital to providing a well-rounded education for children.
• The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) has announced $104,000 in investments to the State of Iowa to boost economic-development planning efforts. EDA serves as a venture-capital resource to meet the economic-development needs of distressed communities throughout the United States. EDA's mission is to lead the federal economic-development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness, preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. For more information, visit (http://www.eda.gov).
• For the seventh year, Rhythm City Casino and the Isle of Capri Bettendorf are teaming up for the Project 21 Scott County Scholarship Program. Project 21 Scott County is an awareness campaign encouraging Scott County high-school and college students to submit a poster, video, or school-newspaper article addressing the issue of underage gambling. The Project 21 Scholarship program is available to Scott County high-school and college students up to age 21. Through the contest, $10,000 is given away annually in the form of five $1,000 scholarships and 10 $500 scholarships. Students and teachers may obtain a Project 21 scholarship application by calling (563)344-2694 or e-mailing (sara_frank@islecorp.com). Students may submit entries through May 5 with the winners being announced in mid-May.
• Bradley University in Peoria will offer two one-week residential enrichment programs in June for high-school students entering their junior or senior years. The programs, "Computer & Electrical Engineering" and "Today's Leadership - Today's Action," will be held June 18 through 24 on the Bradley campus. The cost is $400. During the programs, students will stay in a Bradley residence hall and participate in extracurricular activities in addition to the academic experiences. For more information, call the program coordinator at (309)677-2404 or visit (http://www.bradley.edu/ccd/summerenrichment/).
