28
May
2002
• Employees of the company that manages the RiverCenter/Adler Theatre for the City of Davenport are being investigated by the Davenport Police Department for "potential criminal activity related to the misappropriation of funds," according to a May 24 press release. The investigation into personnel of Ames-based Compass Facility Management comes following an internal investigation and audit. Compass has already made restitution to the city of nearly $14,000, RiverCenter/Adler Theatre Executive Director Michael Hartman has resigned, and a business-office employee has been placed on administrative leave. Compass' contract with the city expires June 30, and a renewal is scheduled to go before the city council next month.
• The official launch of the Bass Street Landing in Moline will occur on Thursday, May 30, with an open-house event for the public. The event will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. with a program at 5 p.m. at the Bass Street Landing Marketing Center located at 111 17th Street in Moline. The two major developers, Ryan Companies/LaSalle Group and Kaizen Company of America, have signed a development agreement with the city. Site preparation in the form of power-line and water-line relocation has already begun. Additionally, the federal government has approved the removal and replacement of the remaining Rock Island Arsenal ramp at 17th Street. This work will begin when federal paperwork and engineering activities have been completed. Bass Street Landing's residential elements are an eight-level condominium known as "101 on the River," a townhome/condominium known as "Brownstones at Bass Street Landing," and apartments on the third floor of the otherwise-commercial building facing River Drive known as the "River Station at Bass Street Landing." The development will also include a parking structure for use by residents and the public. Funds will be sought for an ice rink and water feature.
• The 13th Annual Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure is fast approaching. More than 10,000 runners and walkers are expected to converge on downtown Moline on Saturday, June 8, creating a need for additional volunteers. Last year, several hundred women and men donated time, energy, and talent to ensure the race was successful. If you would like to volunteer, call the Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure hotline, at 421-2873 or (877)921-2873.
• By the time you read this, the Iowa legislature will have returned to Des Moines to meet in special session to address the $219 million budget shortfall for the current fiscal year. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and lawmakers have agreed to balance the state's current budget by using $105 million from the economic-emergency fund, $84 million from the cash-reserve fund, and $30 million from other funds that have unobligated and unspent balances. Iowa will still have reserves amounting to four percent of the annual budget. Vilsack continues to insist that Republicans use a portion of the road fund to protect important education, health care, and public-safety programs from further cuts.
• Individualist feminism, or ifeminism, advocates the equal treatment of men and women as individuals under just law. The core principle of individualist feminism is that all human beings have a moral and legal claim to their own persons and property. The movement is sometimes called "libertarian feminism." A Web site at (http://www.ifeminists.com) is an all-inclusive online center where people looking for a new way to approach feminism can gather online, learn, and access a wealth of information. It offers in-depth resources and tools for everyone: activists and scholars, experts and beginners, women and men.
• The John Lewis Coffee Shop has launched a campaign to raise funds for a new emergency homeless shelter by announcing $800,000 in commitments toward the $1.35 million project. The new building will provide emergency shelter and resources to 78 single men and women each night and offer day shelter and supportive services to adults, children, and families. The new shelter will also have six "Single Room Occupancy" units for income-limited people with special needs. Contributions can be sent to the John Lewis Coffee Shop; P.O. Box 3245; Davenport, Iowa 52808. For more information, call (563)322-3751 or look on the organization's Web site at (http://www.jlcs.org). A groundbreaking ceremony for the new shelter is tentatively scheduled for July.
• The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation has created a new Web resource to help you find and enjoy Iowa's outdoor treasures, including trails and special events. You can see it for yourself at (http://www.inhf.org/exploreiowa.htm).
• The Pilot Club of Moline, a service organization of 30 women, is doing its part to promote bicycle safety by providing helmets for third-grade students in the Moline public schools, Temple Christian school, and Seton Catholic school. The Moline Pilot Club was awarded a $1,500 grant from its International Foundation that the local group matched and presented to the Moline Police Department to implement the "All Heads Covered" program. The Pilot Club assisted the Moline Police with classroom presentations and helmet distribution. This program will be repeated in the fall to cover the remainder of Moline schools. Students will be involved in an incentive program entitled "Caught Doing Good" in which students "caught" by the Moline Police Department wearing helmets will receive a free-ice-cream coupon. If you are interested in learning more about the Moline Pilot Club, its membership, or its activities, call (309)762-8235.
• DavenportOne and its Downtown Partnership Board are soliciting proposals from qualified developers for the renovation of the Stearns Building at 401 East Second Street in Davenport, formerly the location of Judy's Antiques. You can download a bunch of interesting information including a history of the building and the processes and procedures for submitting at the DavenportOne Web site at (http://www.DavenportOne.com). You can also call Gene Meeker at (563)322-1706 or e-mail him at (gmeeker@davenportone.com). DavenportOne will review proposals for accuracy and full completion before submittal to the Downtown Partnership Board of Directors.
• The City of Davenport will hold a "listening workshop" on June 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. on the updating of the city land-use plan for the area north of 53rd Street and to Interstate 80 along Eastern Avenue. The workshop, to be held at Garfield Elementary School (902 East 29th Street), will include a description of the process and an opportunity for the public to present its vision.
• For the 15th year in a row, Scott County has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States & Canada. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Scott County is one of only four Iowa counties to hold the Certificate of Achievement, and one of only 41 of the 1,488 governmental units in the State of Iowa currently holding this honor.
• The official launch of the Bass Street Landing in Moline will occur on Thursday, May 30, with an open-house event for the public. The event will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. with a program at 5 p.m. at the Bass Street Landing Marketing Center located at 111 17th Street in Moline. The two major developers, Ryan Companies/LaSalle Group and Kaizen Company of America, have signed a development agreement with the city. Site preparation in the form of power-line and water-line relocation has already begun. Additionally, the federal government has approved the removal and replacement of the remaining Rock Island Arsenal ramp at 17th Street. This work will begin when federal paperwork and engineering activities have been completed. Bass Street Landing's residential elements are an eight-level condominium known as "101 on the River," a townhome/condominium known as "Brownstones at Bass Street Landing," and apartments on the third floor of the otherwise-commercial building facing River Drive known as the "River Station at Bass Street Landing." The development will also include a parking structure for use by residents and the public. Funds will be sought for an ice rink and water feature.
• The 13th Annual Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure is fast approaching. More than 10,000 runners and walkers are expected to converge on downtown Moline on Saturday, June 8, creating a need for additional volunteers. Last year, several hundred women and men donated time, energy, and talent to ensure the race was successful. If you would like to volunteer, call the Komen Quad Cities Race for the Cure hotline, at 421-2873 or (877)921-2873.
• By the time you read this, the Iowa legislature will have returned to Des Moines to meet in special session to address the $219 million budget shortfall for the current fiscal year. Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and lawmakers have agreed to balance the state's current budget by using $105 million from the economic-emergency fund, $84 million from the cash-reserve fund, and $30 million from other funds that have unobligated and unspent balances. Iowa will still have reserves amounting to four percent of the annual budget. Vilsack continues to insist that Republicans use a portion of the road fund to protect important education, health care, and public-safety programs from further cuts.
• Individualist feminism, or ifeminism, advocates the equal treatment of men and women as individuals under just law. The core principle of individualist feminism is that all human beings have a moral and legal claim to their own persons and property. The movement is sometimes called "libertarian feminism." A Web site at (http://www.ifeminists.com) is an all-inclusive online center where people looking for a new way to approach feminism can gather online, learn, and access a wealth of information. It offers in-depth resources and tools for everyone: activists and scholars, experts and beginners, women and men.
• The John Lewis Coffee Shop has launched a campaign to raise funds for a new emergency homeless shelter by announcing $800,000 in commitments toward the $1.35 million project. The new building will provide emergency shelter and resources to 78 single men and women each night and offer day shelter and supportive services to adults, children, and families. The new shelter will also have six "Single Room Occupancy" units for income-limited people with special needs. Contributions can be sent to the John Lewis Coffee Shop; P.O. Box 3245; Davenport, Iowa 52808. For more information, call (563)322-3751 or look on the organization's Web site at (http://www.jlcs.org). A groundbreaking ceremony for the new shelter is tentatively scheduled for July.
• The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation has created a new Web resource to help you find and enjoy Iowa's outdoor treasures, including trails and special events. You can see it for yourself at (http://www.inhf.org/exploreiowa.htm).
• The Pilot Club of Moline, a service organization of 30 women, is doing its part to promote bicycle safety by providing helmets for third-grade students in the Moline public schools, Temple Christian school, and Seton Catholic school. The Moline Pilot Club was awarded a $1,500 grant from its International Foundation that the local group matched and presented to the Moline Police Department to implement the "All Heads Covered" program. The Pilot Club assisted the Moline Police with classroom presentations and helmet distribution. This program will be repeated in the fall to cover the remainder of Moline schools. Students will be involved in an incentive program entitled "Caught Doing Good" in which students "caught" by the Moline Police Department wearing helmets will receive a free-ice-cream coupon. If you are interested in learning more about the Moline Pilot Club, its membership, or its activities, call (309)762-8235.
• DavenportOne and its Downtown Partnership Board are soliciting proposals from qualified developers for the renovation of the Stearns Building at 401 East Second Street in Davenport, formerly the location of Judy's Antiques. You can download a bunch of interesting information including a history of the building and the processes and procedures for submitting at the DavenportOne Web site at (http://www.DavenportOne.com). You can also call Gene Meeker at (563)322-1706 or e-mail him at (gmeeker@davenportone.com). DavenportOne will review proposals for accuracy and full completion before submittal to the Downtown Partnership Board of Directors.
• The City of Davenport will hold a "listening workshop" on June 3 from 7 to 9 p.m. on the updating of the city land-use plan for the area north of 53rd Street and to Interstate 80 along Eastern Avenue. The workshop, to be held at Garfield Elementary School (902 East 29th Street), will include a description of the process and an opportunity for the public to present its vision.
• For the 15th year in a row, Scott County has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States & Canada. The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting. Scott County is one of only four Iowa counties to hold the Certificate of Achievement, and one of only 41 of the 1,488 governmental units in the State of Iowa currently holding this honor.
