• Trinity Regional Health System and Genesis Health System will provide healthier environments for patients, employees, and visitors by becoming tobacco-free health-care organizations starting May 1, 2006. Tobacco use will no longer be permitted in the buildings or on the grounds of Quad Cities hospitals. The tobacco-free policy also will apply to clinics, physician offices, and other properties solely owned by the organizations. Prior to implementing the policy, the two Quad Cities health systems will be exploring additional programs and aids to assist employees, patients, and visitors with tobacco cessation. The health systems have been discussing a joint tobacco-free initiative for several months. A combined Genesis-Trinity Tobacco-Free Task Force was established to develop, implement, and communicate about the new policy. The task force consists of nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians, and administrators - both smokers and nonsmokers - who represent key areas of the health systems. For information on smoking-cessation programs at Genesis, call (563)421-3867. For information on smoking-cessation programs at Trinity, call (309)779-2000.
• The Community Foundation of the Great River Bend awarded nearly $175,000 at the Quad-City Botanical Center during its final Community Impact Fund grant reception of 2005 on November 17. The foundation's Community Impact Fund is a means to respond to unmet needs in the community. Grants from this fund can be made to virtually any charitable organization within the foundation's 12-county service area. The foundation has awarded nearly $260,000 from the Community Impact Fund this year. In all, the foundation's various funds granted more than $1 million to area organizations in 2005. For more information on how to apply for the foundation's grants, visit (http://www.cfgrb.org).
• Visit the Rock Island Public Library main library's second-floor art gallery to view After Hours, a group show featuring the personal projects of arts-agency workers. The show runs through December 30 at the library, 401 19th Street in Rock Island. The show features the works of Dawn Wohlford (paper making); Joel Knanishu (pottery), Shannon Cartee (print making), and Lori Roderick (ceramic sculpture).
• Iowa has received more than $2.4 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Performance Grants program. The funding will help Iowa support its state and local emergency management and improve its mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities.
• A new private foundation established in memory of former Rock Island resident Amy Helpenstell has awarded more than $94,000 to area organizations to benefit education, culture, and human services in the community. Amy died at age 32 in 2003 due to complications from an eating disorder. She believed strongly in giving back to the community - so much so that she provided for the foundation in her estate plan. The foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in the Quad Cities area by funding educational programs, youth-development activities, community development, and cultural activities. The foundation also plans to provide help, hope, and healing to people with eating disorders. For more information about the Amy Helpenstell Foundation, visit (http://amyhelpenstell.org).
• On December 16, the Family Museum of Arts & Science in Bettendorf will say goodbye to retiring Program Manager Nancy Senn. Nancy has been with the museum since its inception. She led the planning initiative by the Friends of the Cultural Arts Center in the late 1980s and was hired to direct the center in 1990. She was integral in the creation of the Learning Campus, which encompasses the Family Museum and the Bettendorf Public Library, and will soon include the Scott County Community College Culinary Arts School. Nancy plans to spend the next few years taking care of family. She will be moving to the country, living outside of Adel, Iowa. She will to continue to be an advocate for the arts, including spending afternoons teaching art to her granddaughter.
• The Davenport Public Library recently installed a book-return bin at the Hy-Vee food store at 1823 East Kimberly Road. Due to the nearby branch closing, the current book-return bin located at the Annie Wittenmyer facility will also be moved to this location on November 28. If you can't make it to the East Kimberly drop, the library also has book-return bins at the Hy-Vee at 2200 West Kimberly Road and outside of the Main Library, 321 Main Street. Beginning January 14, the new Fairmount Branch Library, at 3000 North Fairmount Street, will offer drive-up book-return bins for convenience. For more information, call (563)326-7832.
• The Figge Art Museum has announced a new exhibit, The Art of Architecture: How an Idea Becomes a Building, on display through January 15, 2006. This exhibition provides an overview of the process architects follow when designing buildings. It features several companies and organizations that are familiar to our community. A variety of buildings - library, gym, corporate office building, medical office building, retail center, restaurant, children's museum, and condominiums - illustrates how different types of buildings have specific needs. The projects trace the development of early sketches to finished drawings ready for construction. The Art of Architecture is on display in the Figge's Community Gallery, where exhibitions explore the creative process. The Art of Architecture is a companion exhibition to the Family Activity Center installation Exploring Architecture and the Museum in the Making architecture exhibition located on the first level. For more information, call (563)326-7804 or visit (http://www.figgeartmuseum.org).
• The Community Foundation of the Great River Bend awarded nearly $175,000 at the Quad-City Botanical Center during its final Community Impact Fund grant reception of 2005 on November 17. The foundation's Community Impact Fund is a means to respond to unmet needs in the community. Grants from this fund can be made to virtually any charitable organization within the foundation's 12-county service area. The foundation has awarded nearly $260,000 from the Community Impact Fund this year. In all, the foundation's various funds granted more than $1 million to area organizations in 2005. For more information on how to apply for the foundation's grants, visit (http://www.cfgrb.org).
• Visit the Rock Island Public Library main library's second-floor art gallery to view After Hours, a group show featuring the personal projects of arts-agency workers. The show runs through December 30 at the library, 401 19th Street in Rock Island. The show features the works of Dawn Wohlford (paper making); Joel Knanishu (pottery), Shannon Cartee (print making), and Lori Roderick (ceramic sculpture).
• Iowa has received more than $2.4 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Performance Grants program. The funding will help Iowa support its state and local emergency management and improve its mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities.
• A new private foundation established in memory of former Rock Island resident Amy Helpenstell has awarded more than $94,000 to area organizations to benefit education, culture, and human services in the community. Amy died at age 32 in 2003 due to complications from an eating disorder. She believed strongly in giving back to the community - so much so that she provided for the foundation in her estate plan. The foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life in the Quad Cities area by funding educational programs, youth-development activities, community development, and cultural activities. The foundation also plans to provide help, hope, and healing to people with eating disorders. For more information about the Amy Helpenstell Foundation, visit (http://amyhelpenstell.org).
• On December 16, the Family Museum of Arts & Science in Bettendorf will say goodbye to retiring Program Manager Nancy Senn. Nancy has been with the museum since its inception. She led the planning initiative by the Friends of the Cultural Arts Center in the late 1980s and was hired to direct the center in 1990. She was integral in the creation of the Learning Campus, which encompasses the Family Museum and the Bettendorf Public Library, and will soon include the Scott County Community College Culinary Arts School. Nancy plans to spend the next few years taking care of family. She will be moving to the country, living outside of Adel, Iowa. She will to continue to be an advocate for the arts, including spending afternoons teaching art to her granddaughter.
• The Davenport Public Library recently installed a book-return bin at the Hy-Vee food store at 1823 East Kimberly Road. Due to the nearby branch closing, the current book-return bin located at the Annie Wittenmyer facility will also be moved to this location on November 28. If you can't make it to the East Kimberly drop, the library also has book-return bins at the Hy-Vee at 2200 West Kimberly Road and outside of the Main Library, 321 Main Street. Beginning January 14, the new Fairmount Branch Library, at 3000 North Fairmount Street, will offer drive-up book-return bins for convenience. For more information, call (563)326-7832.
• The Figge Art Museum has announced a new exhibit, The Art of Architecture: How an Idea Becomes a Building, on display through January 15, 2006. This exhibition provides an overview of the process architects follow when designing buildings. It features several companies and organizations that are familiar to our community. A variety of buildings - library, gym, corporate office building, medical office building, retail center, restaurant, children's museum, and condominiums - illustrates how different types of buildings have specific needs. The projects trace the development of early sketches to finished drawings ready for construction. The Art of Architecture is on display in the Figge's Community Gallery, where exhibitions explore the creative process. The Art of Architecture is a companion exhibition to the Family Activity Center installation Exploring Architecture and the Museum in the Making architecture exhibition located on the first level. For more information, call (563)326-7804 or visit (http://www.figgeartmuseum.org).
