Xstream Cleanup, scheduled for August 18, is seeking suggestions for potential cleanup sites in Scott and Rock Island counties. Sites may include a stream, a creek, an illegal-dumping site, or an area in need of a litter cleanup. The main focus of Xstream Cleanup 2007 will be to clean up illegal-dumping sites such as one in Bettendorf where Crow Creek drains into the Mississippi River. Last year, volunteers removed more than 4,800 tires scattered along the creek, which was the primary work site for Chad Pregracke and his Living Lands & Waters crew that day. To submit a suggestion for a cleanup site, e-mail Roy DeWitt at (rdewitt@kscb.org) or call Keep Scott County Beautiful at (563) 468-4218. For more information about Xstream Cleanup, visit (http://www.xstreamcleanup.org).
In conjunction with UV Awareness Month in May, Prevent Blindness is launching a dedicated online resource for patients and their loved ones to learn more about what they can do to protect their eyes. The UV Learning Center is available at (http://www.preventblindness.org/uv). For more information on the dangers of UV exposure and how to choose the best sunglasses for adults and children, call Prevent Blindness Iowa at (800) 329-8782 or visit (http://www.preventblindness.org).
A shortage of family housing on the Rock Island Arsenal has the Army in pursuit of off-post housing to accommodate an influx of soldiers. The Real Estate Office for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is teaming with the Housing Office at the Arsenal to secure 50 residential leases in the local community by the end of July. The Army is interested in a variety of building designs located within a 30-mile commuting distance of the Arsenal. Potential structures include single-family homes, townhouses, duplexes, apartments, and other configurations. Realtors or owners of property that appear to meet the Army's housing criteria may contact Tim Fiscus at (309) 794-5696.
The Family Concerns Committee of Churches United invites you to "Put a Smile on a Child" in recognition of National Stand for Children Day on Thursday, May 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Augustana College's Pepsico Center, 1025 30th Street in Rock Island. The program includes several different children's activities along with a hot dog, chips, and a drink. Youth groups, school groups, neighborhoods, friends, and families are welcome, and no reservations are needed. All activities and the food are free. For more information, contact Churches United at (309) 786-6494.
Local TV LLC has named Dale R. Woods as president and general manager of WQAD in the Quad Cities effective May 7. He succeeds Marion Meginnis, who recently announced her retirement after 10 years at WQAD. Most recently, Woods served as vice president and general manager of KWWL in Waterloo, Iowa.
At its Annual Delegate Assembly & Leadership Conference on April 21, Iowa Citizen Action Network (ICAN) honored the Quad Cities citizens' group Progressive Action for the Common Good as this year's recipient of the Grassroots Leadership Award. ICAN is Iowa's largest grassroots consumer and environmental-watchdog organization, with more than 13,000 individual members across the state. Each year ICAN honors one organization in the state that its board and staff see as "doing exemplary work, and embodying the spirit of true grassroots activism." Progressive Action for the Common Good was organized in early 2005 and has mobilized hundreds of citizens for peace, social justice, health care for all, and a variety of other issues. The organization's Web site is at (http://www.qcprogressiveaction.org).
The Child Abuse Council will be this year's recipient of the St. Ambrose University Reverend William Dawson Social Justice Award. The award will be presented during the annual St. Ambrose University Social Justice Conference on Wednesday, May 9. Established in 1999, the St. Ambrose Social Justice Award honors individuals and social-service agencies from the greater Quad Cities area that demonstrate a commitment to social and economic justice and the promotion and advancement of human rights. This is the first year the annual award has carried Dawson's name. Dawson, professor emeritus of philosophy at St. Ambrose, taught and practiced the tenets of peace and social justice during his 40-year career at St. Ambrose and in his priestly vocation.
Many children in Illinois live with life-threatening medical conditions - children who have a wish. The Make-a-Wish Foundation of Illinois needs community help to reach them all and is seeking wish-granting volunteers in the Rock Island, Mercer, Henry, Henderson, Warren, and Knox county areas. Wish-granters work in teams of two to organize and execute wishes for children and have the full support of staff wish-coordinators that provide ongoing guidance and support. The next area wish-granter training sessions are scheduled for June 4 and June 11 in Rock Island. For more information on how to become a wish-granter or general Make-a-Wish volunteer, visit (http://www.wishes.org) or contact Janet Bantz Glavin at (309) 637-1659 or (glavin@wishes.org). An application, background check, and orientation are required for wish-granting volunteers.
Trinity Regional Health System's parent organization, Iowa Heath System, has again been named to the annual Verispan survey of top 100 integrated health networks, published recently in Modern Healthcare magazine. Iowa Health System is the only integrated health system in Iowa named to the prestigious list. Iowa Health System scored an 83.57 to rank 32nd on the list. For an electronic version of the ratings, visit (http://www.verispan.com).
The Association of Women in the Metals Industry is hosting a "State of the Industry" dinner meeting at the Best Western Steeplegate Inn in Davenport at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 10. The keynote speaker is Dan Murphy, vice president of global purchasing at Caterpillar. Admission is $35 for members and $50 for nonmembers, with an additional $5 charge for walk-up registration. For more information, contact Tammi Holst at (563) 285-5340 or (tholst@emjmetals.com).
The Iowa Lawn Mower Racing Association is one of 20 local chapters sanctioned by the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association. For more information, visit (http://www.letsmow.com).
