• The four libraries in Scott County have released the third of four reports of their Libraries Together project. The 47-page report, "Starting Points for Collaboration: Libraries in Scott County, Iowa," provides background on models for collaboration and local examples such as Quad-LINC, along with options for collaboration that were developed during meetings with library staff members. The libraries kicked off Libraries Together on March 1, 2005. The 10-month study will use public input to plan for the future. As Iowa searches for ways to deliver all government services more efficiently, the libraries initiated the study to allow Scott County library patrons to help shape the directions their libraries will take over the next several decades. Only three counties in the state of Iowa - Scott, Clinton, and Muscatine - have access to a shared automated circulation system (Quad-LINC) or a consortium that provides services such as van delivery, resource sharing, and continuing education (Prairie Area Library System, or PALS). Both Quad-LINC and PALS are based in Illinois; libraries in the three Iowa counties participate on a cost-reimbursement basis. For more information, visit the Libraries Together Web site at (http://www.librariestogether.org).
• Illinois Governor Blagojevich has signed HB 1968, a 161-page rewrite of state election law that includes a provision giving certain employees the opportunity to leave work for up to two hours, and be paid by their employers during that time. Previous law allowed an employee to be absent from work on Election Day for up to two hours of unpaid leave in order to cast a ballot.
• There are still openings for youngsters to participate in the "I Feel Better" Trauma Intervention Group at Rick's House of Hope. Due to scheduling conflicts, the group has been postponed until Tuesday, October 4. "I Feel Better" is a program of the National Institute for Trauma & Loss in Children. The group for youth ages 7 through 12 will meet Tuesdays for eight weeks beginning October 4 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Also coming up on Saturday, October 15, is a rummage sale to benefit Rick's House of Hope. The sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bettendorf. Rick's House of Hope, a grief- and trauma-recovery center for children, is a safe haven that provides guidance and support for young people and their families during painful and confusing times of grief. Rick's House of Hope - named in memory of the Reverend Rick Johnson, founder of the Prairie & River Spiritual Resources - is a division of the Genesis Medical Center Spiritual Care Department. For information, call Rick's House of Hope at (563)324-9580 or Genesis Medical Center's Spiritual Care Department at (563)421-7970.
• The Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Developmental Disabilities, & Brain Injury Commission of the State of Iowa is currently working on a redesign of the care system for children in Iowa with the above difficulties. If you have a child with such a problem, your input is sought. The Oversight Committee of the commission will be finalizing its suggestions for the redesign of the child-care system in October. If you would like to provide input into the system redesign, contact Becky Flores at (515)281-4593 or (bflores1@dhs.ia.state.us). You can also address your concerns by writing to Becky Flores, Attn: Children's Redesign, Department of Human Services, Hoover State Office Building, 1305 E. Walnut, Des Moines IA 50319.
• There are 2 million prostate-cancer survivors in the U.S., and roughly 2,900 men die each year from the most common non-skin cancer in America. Now, loved ones and families can celebrate survivorship and honor those who have passed away with the blue prostate-cancer wristband. Wristbands, printed with "Fight Prostate Cancer" and available for $1 each in packs of 10 at (http://fightprostatecancer.org), help raise money to supply free screenings to the underserved and fund advocacy efforts in getting the federal government to increase its investment in prostate-cancer research funding. Last year, the National Prostate Cancer Coalition screened 10,000 men for free, and since the organization was founded in 1996, it has worked to increase federal funding for prostate-cancer research by 500 percent.
• The Iowa Department of Economic Development has received a $496,000 grant from the federal Department of Housing & Urban Development for the Main Street Iowa program, which provides grants to Iowa communities for major community-revitalization projects on their main streets.
• The Scott County Health Department reports that two chickens and a mosquito pool in Scott County have recently tested positive for West Nile Virus. Those follow other positive tests in the county in July and August. The department encourages people to protect themselves when outdoors by: wearing light-colored clothing with long sleeves and long pants; repairing tears in window screens; limiting time spent outdoors at dawn and dusk; not wearing perfume or fragrances when outdoors; and wearing insect repellents that contain DEET.
• The Quad Cities Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals is seeking nominations for outstanding philanthropist and outstanding volunteer fundaiser. Nomination forms can be found at (http://www.afpquadcities.com). Nominations are due by September 30.
• Illinois Governor Blagojevich has signed HB 1968, a 161-page rewrite of state election law that includes a provision giving certain employees the opportunity to leave work for up to two hours, and be paid by their employers during that time. Previous law allowed an employee to be absent from work on Election Day for up to two hours of unpaid leave in order to cast a ballot.
• There are still openings for youngsters to participate in the "I Feel Better" Trauma Intervention Group at Rick's House of Hope. Due to scheduling conflicts, the group has been postponed until Tuesday, October 4. "I Feel Better" is a program of the National Institute for Trauma & Loss in Children. The group for youth ages 7 through 12 will meet Tuesdays for eight weeks beginning October 4 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Also coming up on Saturday, October 15, is a rummage sale to benefit Rick's House of Hope. The sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bettendorf. Rick's House of Hope, a grief- and trauma-recovery center for children, is a safe haven that provides guidance and support for young people and their families during painful and confusing times of grief. Rick's House of Hope - named in memory of the Reverend Rick Johnson, founder of the Prairie & River Spiritual Resources - is a division of the Genesis Medical Center Spiritual Care Department. For information, call Rick's House of Hope at (563)324-9580 or Genesis Medical Center's Spiritual Care Department at (563)421-7970.
• The Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Developmental Disabilities, & Brain Injury Commission of the State of Iowa is currently working on a redesign of the care system for children in Iowa with the above difficulties. If you have a child with such a problem, your input is sought. The Oversight Committee of the commission will be finalizing its suggestions for the redesign of the child-care system in October. If you would like to provide input into the system redesign, contact Becky Flores at (515)281-4593 or (bflores1@dhs.ia.state.us). You can also address your concerns by writing to Becky Flores, Attn: Children's Redesign, Department of Human Services, Hoover State Office Building, 1305 E. Walnut, Des Moines IA 50319.
• There are 2 million prostate-cancer survivors in the U.S., and roughly 2,900 men die each year from the most common non-skin cancer in America. Now, loved ones and families can celebrate survivorship and honor those who have passed away with the blue prostate-cancer wristband. Wristbands, printed with "Fight Prostate Cancer" and available for $1 each in packs of 10 at (http://fightprostatecancer.org), help raise money to supply free screenings to the underserved and fund advocacy efforts in getting the federal government to increase its investment in prostate-cancer research funding. Last year, the National Prostate Cancer Coalition screened 10,000 men for free, and since the organization was founded in 1996, it has worked to increase federal funding for prostate-cancer research by 500 percent.
• The Iowa Department of Economic Development has received a $496,000 grant from the federal Department of Housing & Urban Development for the Main Street Iowa program, which provides grants to Iowa communities for major community-revitalization projects on their main streets.
• The Scott County Health Department reports that two chickens and a mosquito pool in Scott County have recently tested positive for West Nile Virus. Those follow other positive tests in the county in July and August. The department encourages people to protect themselves when outdoors by: wearing light-colored clothing with long sleeves and long pants; repairing tears in window screens; limiting time spent outdoors at dawn and dusk; not wearing perfume or fragrances when outdoors; and wearing insect repellents that contain DEET.
• The Quad Cities Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals is seeking nominations for outstanding philanthropist and outstanding volunteer fundaiser. Nomination forms can be found at (http://www.afpquadcities.com). Nominations are due by September 30.
