Renaissance Rock Island last week announced that its new president will be Brian Hollenback, who has previously been Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation's housing director and executive director. Renaissance Rock Island is an umbrella organization for the Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation, the Downtown Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District, and the Development Association of Rock Island; as president, Hollenback will serve as the chief executive officer for all three groups. He said one of his priorities is the creation of a community-development entity to acquire and leverage New Markets Tax Credits for job-creation projects such as the Columbia Park plan.
The Iowa Office of Energy Independence will receive a $472,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. Specifically, this money will go to the Fiscal Year 2008 State Energy Program, which allows the agency to participate in local, state, and national energy initiatives. It will also be used for the Greening Government program, among other things.
The Quad Cities Comic Book Convention will be held on Saturday, June 21, at the Ramada Inn, 3020 Utica Ridge Road in Bettendorf. The event will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free. Dealers from three states specializing in comic books new and old, toys, and related collectibles will be on hand to buy, sell, and trade. For more information, call Alan at (309) 657-1599 or visit (http://www.epguides.com/comics).
The Humane Society of the United States has deployed a team of trained specialists to offer logistical support and supplies, and perform water rescue of animals displaced by the floods. Mass flooding across Iowa has forced thousands of residents from their homes. For tips on preparedness plans that include your pets, visit (http://www.hsus.org/prepare).
The Quad City Music Guild is hosting a special presentation of the Broadway musical My Fair Lady to benefit Christian Care, a Rock Island not-for-profit charitable organization. The benefit performance, which is open to the public, will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, at Quad City Music Guild, 1584 34th Avenue in Moline. A $25 ticket for the performance includes gourmet desserts and Starbucks coffee. Raffle tickets will be sold for a chance to win one of several donated gift items. Winners will be announced at the end of the show. For tickets, contact Christian Care at (309) 788-2273.
Modern Woodmen of America recently announced that residents and organizations in the region received $327,447 in fraternal assistance from Modern Woodmen in 2007. In 2007 alone, regional Modern Woodmen members contributed 22,551 volunteer service hours to their local communities. For more information about how Modern Woodmen makes a difference, look at (http://www.modern-woodmen.org).
The Rock Island Community Foundation is now accepting grant applications. Applications must be postmarked by June 30. For a grant application, visit (http://www.ricf.org) or call (309) 269-4412.
Rivermont Collegiate is offering an assortment of Summer Adventures for children from preschool though age 11. Programs cover a wide variety of interests - from cooking to French - and children from any school may register. Classes run from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. for one week each and are offered throughout the summer. For more information or a registration form, visit (http://www.rvmt.org).
Friends of Off-Road Cycling (FORC) will host the first ever FORC-Side Thrill Ride on July 13 at Davenport's Sunderbruch Park. The Thrill Ride is a mountain-biking course with divisions for novice, sport, and expert racers. Registration is $15 and begins at 8 a.m., with the first race beginning at 10 a.m. A Valid USA Cycling license is required, and participants can renew their license at registration or purchase a one-day license for $5. For more information, visit (http://www.qcforc.org).
True Value Company recently recognized 13 True Value hardware stores, one selected from each of the co-op's retail regions, as winners of its inaugural Best Hardware Store in Town competition. Don Keller of K&K True Value Hardware in Bettendorf was one of the winning retailers announced in a ceremony in March. K&K True Value has been a Bettendorf staple for more than 50 years, with three generations of the Keller family now actively involved in the store on a daily basis.
