Rock Island Mayor Mark Schwiebert has incorporated a new feature into city-council meetings. Called Update Rock Island, the mayor will spend five minutes at the beginning of council meetings to publicize community news. Items could include new programs and initiatives in the city, awards, new businesses and expansions, and community events. A video will be available Tuesdays following council meetings on the city's Web site (RIGov.org) and public-access cable channel 9. A written summary will be available on the Web site and sent to local media. To receive the information via e-mail, sign up at RIGov.org/enews.html.
The Quad City Wind Ensemble will kick off its season on October 26. The first concert will focus on the theme "Music Our Mothers Taught Us" and will feature melodies recognizable from younger days. The concert will be held in Allaert Auditorium, located in the Galvin Fine Arts Center on the campus of St. Ambrose University, and will start at 3 p.m. For information on becoming a friend or member of the Quad City Wind Ensemble, contact Steve Schwaegler at srschwaegler@aol.com, Brian Hughes at blhughes@wisc.edu, or Nicolas Propes at nicolas_propes@hotmail.com.
Iowa will receive $76.9 million from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). This is an increase of almost $30 million from the amount Iowa received last fiscal year. The funds are part of $5.1 billion for LIHEAP that were included in the Fiscal Year 2009 comprehensive funding package. Before these funds were announced, the state was forced to cut the program's regular grant by 7 percent this year. Last year, Iowa received $47.9 million in LIHEAP funds, and nearly 90,000 Iowans received assistance. Because household heating costs are running 10 to 20 percent higher than last year, state officials are projecting an increase in participation this year.
The City of Davenport will be holding a discussion regarding "Youth Baseball Field Usage in Davenport" on Tuesday, November 18, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Davenport Police Department Community Room, 416 Harrison Street.
Five Greenbush Neighborhood homeowners will receive up to $9,000 for home rehab. Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation held the Greenbush Renewal program lottery on October 21. The neighborhood is bordered by the Mississippi River to the north, Ninth Avenue to the south, 24th Street to the west, and 30th Street to the east. Homeowners can receive up to $9,000 per home to address items including roof replacement, gutter guards, new windows, façade work, and general beautification activities.
The Amy Helpenstell Foundation announced that 21 organizations will receive a total of $221,000 at a reception on Thursday, November 23, at 8:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn in Rock Island. The foundation has awarded a total of $1.6 million since 2006, and its mission supports education, cultural activities, community development, youth development, and health. For more information, visit AmyHelpenstell.org or call (563) 326-2840.
The Quad City Symphony Orchestra's 16th-annual Holiday Pops concert will be held on Saturday, November 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the i wireless Center in Moline. The symphony will be led by new Music Director Mark Russell Smith and joined by the Figure Skating Club of the Quad Cities, the Sanctuary Choir of First Presbyterian Church, the Holiday Pops Children's Chorus, and Quad City Arts Visiting Artist the Atlantic Brass Quintet. Tickets start at $12 and are available in person at the i wireless box office, by phone at (563) 326-1111, and at QCSymphony.com.
As the result of work accomplished in the past five years through a statewide program known as "Communityworks," The Moline Foundation will receive $2 million for Rock Island County in immediate funding from the Grand Victoria Foundation located in Chicago and Elgin, Illinois. The funds will provide additional capital to two of The Moline Foundation's permanently endowed funds: the Communityworks Forever Fund and The Moline Foundation administrative endowment fund. Communityworks is a quality-of-life initiative to benefit Rock Island County residents in the areas of land use, workforce development, and child care.
The Trinity Health Foundation is giving Quad-Citians a chance to relive the '70s at the Disco Ball, to be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 1, at the RiverCenter in downtown Davenport. The event will feature heavy hors d'oeuvres, live music by the Afrodisiacs, a chance to make your own music video with the Dance Heads, disco-dancing instruction, a silent auction, and disco-dancing and costume contests. Tickets for the event are $100 per person by October 28, or $120 at the door. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (563) 355-0746 or (309) 779-2232 or visit TrinityHealthFoundation.com.
