Sister Joan Lescinski, CSJ, Ph.D., has been chosen as the next president of St. Ambrose University. Currently the president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana, she will be the first woman to lead the university in its 125-year history. Lescinski, who is also a noted scholar in English literature, will take office in summer 2007, succeeding Dr. Edward Rogalski, who will retire after 20 years as the university's president. For more information on the university's next president, go to (http://www.sau.edu/newpresident).
Through January 21, Christian's Wildlife Service will be bow hunting on Scott Community College property in an effort to thin the deer herd in Riverdale and Bettendorf. Areas in which hunting will occur will be cordoned off with caution tape. Hunting will not take place around the campus or populated areas. This hunting area is not open to the public or hunters other than Christian's Wildlife Service.
Black Hawk College is introducing a new Optometric Assistant Program to help fill a growing labor need for optometric assistants in the Quad Cities and beyond. The intensive six-month program is the first of its kind in the region. The new Black Hawk College Optometric Assistant Program will be taught by Dr. Ammie Chizek, a Bettendorf optometrist who developed the curriculum. The program is limited to 16 students per session. For more information, contact Pam Davies at Black Hawk College at (309) 796-4825 or (daviesp@bhc.edu ) or Dr. Ammie Chizek at Bettendorf Eye Care Center at (563) 359-4446.
The Rock Island Public Library plans to host a monthly knitting or crocheting circle that will make projects for not-for-profit groups in 2007. If you have unused yarn lying around at home, the library would welcome a donation. Donations can be brought to the to the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street, care of K. Cawley.
The Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County, operator of the Quad City International Airport (QCIA), announced its eighth record month this year for passenger enplanements. Last month, the airport set a November record of 38,585 passengers, beating the 2004 record for the month by 2,491. This also beat November of last year by more than 2,900 passengers. Total enplanements for all airlines are up 6 percent year-to-date, meaning that 2006 will likely be the best year in the history of the airport. The addition of a third daily Denver flight started on the last day of October, as well as increased travel over the Thanksgiving holiday, contributed to the record traffic.
The Humane Society of Scott County has reissued Bone Appetit, a recipe collection geared toward people and pets alike. This bone-shaped cookbook offers recipes such as Asparagus Polonaise for humans and Microwave Doggie Doughnuts for pets. The cost of Bone Appetit is $8, and all proceeds benefit the shelter. The book can be purchased at the Humane Society, located at 5001 North Brady Street in Davenport. Call (563) 388-6655 for more information.
In
its 20th year, Bald Eagle Days has become a local tradition for Girl
Scouts and area residents. Celebrating the majestic Bald Eagle and
serving as an opportunity to educate youth on the ecological
importance of waterways and wildlife conservation, Bald Eagle Days
will be held January 6 and 7 at the QC Expo Center in Rock Island.
Every girl participating in the event will have the opportunity to
earn the new 2007 Bald Eagle Day patch from Girl Scouts of the
Mississippi Valley. This is the second year the local 15-county
council has offered interactive activities and a participation patch
to attendees. Hours are Saturday, January 6, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
and Sunday, January 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $1 for
children and $4 for adults.
More than 2,800 Iowans are celebrating the holidays in new homes thanks to a state program that makes first-time home-ownership affordable. The Iowa Finance Authority (IFA) administers the FirstHome program, which provides affordable mortgage financing to first-time home-buyers in the state of Iowa. So far in 2006, the program has helped 2,870 Iowans purchase homes, an increase of nearly 500 over 2005. The FirstHome program offers qualified first-time home-buyers affordable mortgage financing with a low, fixed interest rate and no discount points or origination fees. Since its inception in 1977, the FirstHome program has provided home financing to more than 13,000 Iowans and their families in 98 Iowa counties. More than 100 lenders around Iowa offer the FirstHome program. A list of participating lenders and current interest-rate information is available online at (http://www.IowaFinanceAuthority.gov ). Interested home-buyers may also call (800) 432-7230.
A new presenting sponsor for the Quad Cities Criterium has been announced: Criterium Financial. The Quad Cities Criterium will be celebrating its 41st year in 2007 and will be held on Memorial Day, May 28, in the District of Rock Island. The Criterium is the culmination of a weekend of racing throughout the area, including races in Burlington and Muscatine. Eleven races will be held, attracting more than 650 cyclists from throughout the country.
A national home-building alliance between Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Habitat for Humanity International will again help Habitat for Humanity Quad Cities expand its home-building capacity. During 2007, one home will be built in Davenport. The additional home is part of the Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity alliance that brings together thousands of volunteers and financial support from Thrivent Financial. Habitat and Thrivent Financial announced last week that $24.5 million has been committed to build 355 homes in 43 states with families in need in 2007.
