A new Bix Beiderbecke Hall, located at the Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre and being planned by the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Society, was announced last week by Dana Waterman, Putnam Board of Trustees chair. The proposed $1.38-million, 1,300-square-foot interactive space will be constructed in the Grand Lobby of the Putnam Museum. It will house Putnam-owned Bix artifacts, Bix Society archives, and rarely seen photographs and footage from collectors worldwide. Bix's cornet and the Beiderbecke family piano will also be on display. The project was originally begun more than a decade ago through funding from Riverboat Development Authority. Approximately $35,000 has been raised to date by the Bix Hall Committee for initial expenses and archival costs. For more information about Bix-society fundraising efforts, contact Howard Braren at (563) 343-9606 or (info@bixsociety.org).
The Quad Cities Symphony Orchestra is offering a free season brochure and a chance to win two free Masterworks season subscriptions. To participate in this contest, individuals just need to send their name, address, phone number, and e-mail address to the symphony offices at (frontdesk@qcsymphony.com) or by mail to 327 Brady St., Davenport IA 52803. Current subscribers are not eligible to win the free subscriptions. Entries must be received by September 3, and the winner will be announced from stage at the September 8 Riverfront Pops concert at LeClaire Park in Davenport.
A new winery is opening in the area. Wide River Winery will be having a ribbon- cutting on Friday, August 10, at 5:30 p.m. The event will feature music and free wine tastings, along with wine available for purchase by the bottle or glass. The winery is located just north of Eagle Point Park, at 1776 Deer Creek Road East, in Clinton, Iowa. For more information, call (563) 271-4188 or visit (http://www.wideriverwinery.com).
The 10th annual St. Ambrose University School of Social Work Fall Conference, "Ethical Social Work Practice for Enriching Lives & Seeking Justice," will take place on Wednesday, August 22. The conference will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the ballroom of the Rogalski Center, at the corner of Ripley and Lombard streets on the St. Ambrose campus. The conference includes a continental breakfast and lunch and is intended for social workers, social-service providers, social-work students, and all other interested parties, including the public. The cost for the conference is $25. Continuing-education units are available to Iowa and Illinois licensed social workers. For more information, contact Kathy Riepe at (563) 333-6495 or (RiepeKathleenS@sau.edu). Registrations must be received by August 17.
1000 Friends of Iowa awarded its 2007 Best Development Awards - including to one project from Davenport - July 28 at Cornell College. 1000 Friends of Iowa is a Des Moines-based statewide not-for-profit organization that promotes responsible development. The Best Development Awards were created to reward cities, companies, and individuals, and also to recognize development projects in Iowa that reflect smart-growth and sustainability principles. The Davenport Lofts project was a winner of the Renovated Residential Award. Davenport Lofts consist of three buildings in downtown Davenport and were developed by award recipient the Alexander Company. More information about 1000 Friends of Iowa is available at (http://www.kfoi.org).
The Davenport Community School District has won the Association of School Business Officials International's Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for its 2006 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The report is posted on the district Web site at (http://www.davenportschools.org/finance/cafr.pdf).
The new Internet home of the Quad Cities Flames hockey team has been launched at (http://www.qcflames.com). Visit the site for the latest news on the Flames and the American Hockey League. Other features include player profiles, ticket information, and wallpapers. Look for the 2007-8 regular-season schedule, blogs, and online polls soon.
Quad Cities-area college students could benefit from a pair of new scholarship programs established by the estate of Edwin Adland, a longtime Rock Island resident who died last year at the age of 101. Nearly $1 million of the estate of Edwin R. and Ruth H. Adland will fund scholarships available to local students through Augustana College and the Community Foundation of the Great River Bend. Under the terms of Adland's estate, Augustana College received slightly more than $400,000, while the Community Foundation received nearly $500,000. The estate directed that these gifts were to establish permanent, endowed scholarships.
The Rock Island Police Department is accepting applications for auxiliary police officers - a voluntary community-service position. Auxiliary police officers are men and women between the ages of 21 and 55 who can participate in a highly competitive process that includes a physical-agility test, background investigation, and oral interviews. You can pick up an application a the Rock Island Police Department or call (309) 732-2701 for more information.
Churches United is asking people to participate in Borders Benefit Days on Saturday, August 11, and Sunday, August 12. Vouchers good for 10 percent off purchases on those days can be downloaded at (http://www.churchesunited.net). Churches United will receive 10 percent of the final purchase amount.
