Eddy Magazine - Februry 2013 by Milepost Ventures, LLC

Volume 3, Issue 1 | February/March/April 2013

A PUBLICATION OF RIVER ACTION, INC. www.riveraction.org

Connecting people to the river

Lights! River! Action! In 2013, Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Centennial Bridge lighting!

Inside this issue: : : River Action Updates : : 2013: Year of Cycling : : Tale of Two Watersheds : : QC Innovator: Chuck Williams : : eddy Calendar of QC Outdoor Activities!

Our

COMMITMENT to the

COMMUNITY is

BLOSSOMING.

Through the use of compressed natural gas vehicles and green building projects, we are committed to a sustainable Quad Cities.

www.gogreenmetro.com

PUBLISHER’S LET TER

Grand Spans: Past, present, and future

B February/March/April 2013

Volume 3 Issue 1

_______

KATHY WINE, Publisher / Executive Director BETH CLARK, Managing Editor, Milepost Ventures, LLC BECKY LANGDON, Copy Editor JEFF VanECHAUTE (pi design, inc.), Design MICHELLE O’HARA, Calendar Editor Contributing Writers TIM GILLMAN, River Action Staff DAN MCNEIL, River Action Staff KATHY WINE, River Action Staff Contributing Photographers/Photographs JOHN FREIBAND STOCK: 123RF.COM ©eddy Magazine and River Action, Inc., all rights reserved, 2012-13. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, without express, written permission, is prohibited. The views expressed herein, whether expressed as fact, fiction, opinion, advice or otherwise are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of this magazine. This magazine is sold with the understanding that neither it, nor River Action, Inc., its owners or managers, are engaged in rendering legal, accounting, tax, medical, technical, or any other advice, professional or otherwise. The publication of any advertisement does not reflect the endorsement of any products or services by the ownership or management of this magazine unless it is specifically stated in such advertisement and there is written approval for such endorsement. Those submitting manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material to eddy Magazine for consideration should not send originals. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other submitted materials must be accompanied by a self addressed, postage paid envelope in return of materials is requested. Return of materials is not guaranteed. eddy Magazine is published quarterly by River Action, Inc., 822 E. River Drive, Davenport, IA 52803 and is direct mailed to approximately 6,000 area homes and businesses. eddy Magazine Published by River Action, Inc. 822 E. River Drive, Davenport, IA 52803 563-322-2969 www.riveraction.org To Advertise: Contact Beth Clark 309-269-3455. For rates, ad dimensions and deadline information email bethcolbyclark@gmail.com To Subscribe or become a member of River Action: call 563-322-2969 or visit www.riveraction.org

COVER: photograph by John Freiband

ecause I was an English teacher, these words meant verb tenses to me. Today, they mean three phases of projects either in the works, under study, or on the drawing board. Follow an 1856 map of the first railroad across Arsenal Island and the Kathy Wine Mississippi, and you’ll see that in the past a bridge connected to an embankment that was a stone’s throw from River Action’s present office. Behind a billboard on the west side of Federal Street is the only undisturbed remnant of that famous bridge. As your gaze returns to eye level you can see how it extended to the east end of what is now the first phase of River Heritage Park. Walk along the top of the embankment, and you will see the connection to the thirteen acres recently purchased for building a Scott County Family Y children’s day care center and eventually a new Y facility. With a design of the first bridge to use as a guide, Bill Ashton, Ashton Engineering, is designing for River Action a footbridge across River Drive to the new park that was once the site of a claims house, a boat landing for Antoine LeClaire, and at the crossing of the wagon trains. Because it will be the original design, it will blend into the natural setting and transportation infrastructure that exists today while extending a walk/trail from the Y expansion to the embankment and across US 67. As critical to transportation expansion as this bridge was in the nineteenth century, it is today for expanding riverfront development and recreation. What an iconic span it will be – a replica of the first bridge that united east with west. Once the embankment is listed in the Davenport Register of Historic Properties by the Davenport Historic Preservation Commission, a fundraising campaign can be launched to build it. Meanwhile, 2013 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the lighting of the Centennial Bridge. Iowa Governor Branstad (Illinois Governor Thompson was unable to attend) officiated the Lights! River! Action! ceremony aboard the “Queen of Hearts” on September 4, INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1988, while thousands lined the riverfronts with commemorative penlights in a coordinated 4 River Action Updates 4 WATERFRONT CONFERENCE IN THE “wave” orchestrated by local radio stations QUAD CITIES! simulcasting the celebration. And yes, they were — Kathy Wine bright enough! That was the bright idea of Chuz 4 E-TOUR — Dan McNeil Wilson who, with John Decker, co-chaired the 5 BIO-DIVERSITY fundraising committee. — Tim Gillman If you are interested in securing a penlight, we 6 QC WILD PLACES have a limited number. Just send a check for $15 — Tim Gillman 6 LOST GROVE LAKE PROGRESS to Lights! River! Action!, and we will send one. If a — Tim Gillman Lighting Certificate for a specific date in 2013 for 8 Year of Cycling: Get on your bike commemorating the twenty-fifth appeals to you, and Ride! send $25 to Lights! River! Action! with the 2013 — by Becky Langdon date and a certificate will be sent to you. Send to: 10 Tale of Two Watersheds L!R!A!, P.O. Box 964, Davenport, IA 52805. — By Dr. David Staub, Solveig Entwistle Since the first lighting, the lamps have been and Tim Gillman 11 Quad City Innovator: Chuck Williams replaced twice. They are very reliable for eight to — by Kathy Wine ten years. As we approach the third re-lamping, 12 eddy Calendar: February - April Brad Williams, Art-O-Lite, is researching LED — by Michelle O’Hara bulbs for the lamps, which should last longer and cost less to run. Recent improvements Our Mission: River Action strives to foster the environmental, have made the lumens of LEDs as bright as economic, and cultural vitality of the Mississippi the incandescent lamps used on the bridge River and its riverfront in the Quad City region. now. Watch for our “Put Your Name In Lights” campaign coming this summer. February/March/April 2013 | eddy Magazine

RIVER AC TION UPDATES By Kathy Wine

River Action Partners with D.C.’s Waterfront Center on Joint Conference The Waterfront Center, Washington D.C., has selected the Quad Cities for its thirty-first annual Urban Waterfronts Conference 2013, an international meeting that helps cities make the most of their waterfront resources. A joint conference entitled “Creative Collaborations” will be held here September 25-28, 2013, partnering River Action with the Waterfront Center of Washington, D.C, and providing an exciting opportunity to showcase the Quad Cities and our thirty years of work on the Mississippi. This conference will also provide inspiration and impetus for further riverfront work following RiverVision, Mirror Image, and other QC collaborations. The sixth annual Upper Mississippi River Conference kicks off Wednesday afternoon, September 25, with an opening reception, conference exhibits, and a catfish fry, followed by a plenary presentation on Thursday and educational sessions on Thursday and Friday mornings. These sessions will feature recreational river, the working waterfront, riverfront development, and the Mississippi watershed, plus field trips on Thursday afternoon. Urban Waterfronts 2013, the Center’s thirty-first annual meeting, begins with a joint reception on Thursday evening, September 26, amid conference exhibits from both organizations, with attendance for each meeting. The Center’s sessions run all day Friday and half of Saturday following a traditional Water Ceremony and opening plenary session on

Friday morning. Field trips will be offered Saturday afternoon, September 28. All sessions Thursday and Friday will be at the RiverCenter; the Blackhawk Hotel and Radisson Hotel are the conference hotels. The Center’s Saturday morning sessions will be at the Radisson. Dinner on Thursday will be held at the Sky Deck of Modern Woodmen Park with stunning views of the Mississippi River. The first announcement of the winners of the twenty-sixth “Excellence on the Waterfront” awards program organized by the Waterfront Center will be made Friday afternoon. An independent jury selects Honor Awards from entries submitted from around the world. Last year’s Top Honor Award was from Auckland, New Zealand. Following a champagne reception in honor of the 2013 awardwinners, open to conferees at both meetings, delegates can attend an optional Awards Dinner to be held Friday in the reception hall of the Figge Art Museum. The two conference’s fee structures will encourage attendance of both meetings. For more details check www.riveraction.org in March.

River Action’s e-Tour By Dan McNeil In 2008, River Action capitalized on the popularity of cell phones with the RiverWay Audio Tour, a cell phone tour for sightseeing along the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities. A committee of volunteers, historians, and educators helped produce scripts for the tour that were recorded, downloaded as podcasts, and made available by calling phone numbers posted on trail signs along the RiverWay. Since that time, technology has surged, and to keep current with the latest technology, River Action has upgraded the tour to incorporate mobile web use and re-named it “River Action’s e-Tour.” The e-Tour creates opportunities to engage new audiences. QR Codes and web addresses have replaced the phone numbers on existing trail signs. The user simply scans the QR Code, or types in the web address, and he or she is linked to a mobile web page with information on RiverWay art, the historical significance of many river landmarks, and the need to engage the public in a “sense of place” that focuses on the Mississippi River. River Action expects more and more people will be drawn to learning about the river with the e-Tour. The web is becoming more accessible by wireless devices. According to the International Telecommunication Union with current growth rates, web access by people on the move – via laptops and smart mobile devices – is likely

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STOP 1

How tall is the Arsenal clock tower?

Scan code above or visit website.

Riveraction.org/node/141

to exceed web access from desktop computers within the next five years. This trend encouraged River Action to upgrade to meet the demands of this growing number of users. There are forty-five signs and stops along the RiverWay in Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, Hampton, Port Byron, and Cordova riverfronts. A map of stops on the tour including Sylvan Island, the Arsenal Bridge crossing in Moline, and Ben Butterworth Parkway is on the website. The e-Tour is free and both phone and tablet-friendly. It was funded in its entirety with a grant from the Moline Foundation. It provides a simple connection between a real life environment, the stories of the location, and the ability to enhance a user’s experience via a mobile device. Information provided on the mobile web pages is also available on RiverAction.org providing access to those without smart phones or mobile devices. Look for the e-Tour signs this spring.

RIVER AC TION UPDATES

Bio-Diversity Day By Tim Gillman The QC Wild Places program started with the goal of bringing the public to the many natural areas around the Quad Cities. It often seems that few people are aware of these excellent areas and their educational and recreational value. In the late summer, QC Wild Places is planning to host a Bio-diversity Day at one of its sixty-three member sites. The day will bring together ordinary citizens and environmental professionals to learn about the diverse populations of wildlife that can be found in our Wild Places. Through our work with twenty-seven site managers and sixty-three sites, we have learned that information and data on local wildlife can be quite useful and often necessary for managing natural areas. Sadly, due to budget constraints and difficulties, many site managers don’t have detailed information from surveys and inventories. The idea of hosting a public event to collect this information was brought up at a QC Wild Places meeting. After discussion, there was a consensus that such a Biodiversity Day should be made a reality. Throughout the day, professionals will lead teams of students and the public while collecting data to identify various species living in a site. The information will not only create a snapshot of the site’s bio-diversity, it will also provide the site manager with important data for conserving and protecting wildlife. To be as scientific and accurate as possible, a protocol

for collecting the data will be used by environmental professionals. QC Wild Places Bio-Diversity Day should appeal to families, students and children as well as wild life professionals and nature enthusiasts who want to discover the bio-diversity in the Quad Cities.

Meet the Alcoa eagles In 2012, more than 12 million visitors from across the globe tuned in to witness an American icon, the bald eagle, developing live within this unique eco-system. In the fall and winter the eagles use the nest to eat and prepare the nest for the next season. Eagles nesting in Iowa typically lay eggs in late February and the eggs hatch in late March. The eaglets grow quickly and dare to fly “fledge” in late May or early June.

Alcoa is proud that our unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability is helping conserve our precious natural resources. Alcoa. Advancing each generation.

www.alcoa.com/eaglecam/ February/March/April 2013 | eddy Magazine

RIVER AC TION UPDATES

QC Wild Places Update By Tim Gillman ost people who live in the Quad Cities can name at least a few “Wild Places.” These are the areas where people can experience nature and take a break from the stress and distractions of living and working in the city. They can be parks, forests, prairies, wildlife refuges, lakes, rivers, and other natural lands and waters. Over the past two years, River Action has been working on a program to bring more people to these “Wild Places.” In 2011, the QC Wild Places program was started to provide a way to connect and improve natural areas. Because of budget constraints and smaller staffs, managing organizations rarely have the time or ability to apply for grants and improvements by themselves. By coming together under a single program, site managers are able to get their voices heard, increase awareness, make improvements, and attract new visitors to their natural areas. This past year, several projects have been completed through QC Wild Places grants. These include a trail extension at Sunderbruch Park, interpretive signs at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge, a new bridge at Black Hawk State Historic Site, an Outdoor Aquatic Experience Facility at the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center, and a shoreline fishing and hiking trail at Lost Grove Lake and Wildlife Management Area. In addition to these site improvements, QC Wild Places works to reach out to the community. QC Wild Places Explorers is a program that rewards youth under the age of thirteen who visit three or more member sites. A Bio-diversity Day is planned to be held this spring to educate community members about local wildlife and the need to promote and protect natural habitats. At the same time, it will also provide useful information about plants and animals to site managers. The program has accomplished a lot in 2012 and has ambitious goals for the coming years.

Friends of Off-Road Cycling (FORC) members try out the new trail at Sunderbruch Park. Davenport’s Mayor Gluba gets an up close look. (Photo by: Tim Gillman)

Progress at Lost Grove Lake T

he Iowa DNR and its partners have been working diligently on Iowa’s newest lake. The 350-acre Lost Grove Lake is a project 25 years in the making. The construction work is complete, but it will take a few years for the lake to completely fill. Despite droughtlike conditions during the summer and fall months, the lake is still filling. The lake is part of the larger Lost Grove Lake Wildlife Management Area along 250th Street in Scott County, north of Davenport. Although it will take time for most of the lake to fill, the westernmost section is complete, usable, and stocked with fish.

alllocal allnews 6

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By Tim Gillman

As a recreational lake, one of the most popular uses will be for fishing. The lake will boast extensive manmade and natural fish habitats for sustainable sporting for years to come. Improvements have been made to the watershed to lower the amount of pollution and sedimentation in the lake. The improvements should add up to excellent water quality for recreation and fish health. In 2011, River Action awarded the project with a QC Wild Places grant for a 2,000-foot fine limestone chip trail along the shore of the lake. The ADA accessible trail will provide an easy way for anyone to make use of the lake. Lost Grove Lake is shaping up to be an excellent recreation destination located only a few miles away from the Quad Cities.

Take to the Trails with River Action’s e-Tour! Over 50 tour-stops along the river. Use your mobile phone to scan this code to see a sample tour stop.

www.riveraction.org 563-322-2969 Figge Art MuseuM eXHiBitiON

Marking Territory: Cartographic Treasures of the Mississippi River and the World Beyond

eaturing a selection of historic maps that range from early representations of the world to more detailed examinations of America’s vast interior along the Mississippi River, this exhibition explores how maps communicate highly complex ideas about identity, politics and culture.

On view March 2–June 16 Samuel Augustus Mitchell, National Map of the American Republic, 1846, engraving, 38x47, H.D. and Myrene Hoover Collection

Davenport, IA • 563.326.7804 www.figgeartmuseum.org

February/March/April 2013 | eddy Magazine

2013 Year Of Cycling SPOTLIGHT

By Dan McNeil

The Year of Cycling 2013 is a series of bicycling events along the Mississippi River Trail for cyclists of all ages and experience levels. Events of all kinds will be hosted by a variety of agencies from Lake Itasca to New Orleans. The goal is 365 events for 365 days and promises to entice cyclists and cycling enthusiasts from around the world to visit the corridor’s ten states and 400 communities during 2013. Quad Cities’ organizations are celebrating Year of Cycling 2013 with a number of community bicycling traditions, rides, and races that offer opportunities for cyclists of all ages, interests, and abilities. The Sylvan Island Stampede, Quad Cities Criterium, Ride the River, and TOMROV will again bring thousands of bicyclists to the Mississippi River to celebrate our region’s trails and riverfront. Events kick off with the Sylvan Island Stampede on April 13. Off Road Cyclists will tackle the rugged terrain of Sylvan Island in Moline. The Stampede, organized by the Friends of Off Road Cycling, will celebrate its ninth year in 2013. On Memorial Day, the 47th Annual Criterium Bicycle Races will host cyclists to the Quad Cities from across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, competing in fourteen races. Located just one block from the Mississippi River in downtown Rock Island, the races feature competitive men and women riders, from novice to professional, with racing speeds up to thirty-five miles per hour. River Action will celebrate twenty-nine years of Ride the River on Father’s Day. The bi-state tour along the RiverWay trails offers the option of riding sixteen miles or up to sixty miles with loops back at several places on the route.

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TOMRV (Tour of the Mississippi River Valley), provides a two-day tour June 8-9 from the Quad Cities to Dubuque, Iowa, and back. The tour, organized by the Quad Cities Bicycle Club, is a challenging ride on scenic roads, through Midwest farmland and along the Mississippi River. About YOC 2013 The Year of Cycling 2013 is an outcome of the Mississippi River Connections Collaborative (MRCC). The MRCC partners (federal and state agencies working with non-governmental organizations) are striving to provide Americans and visitors from around the world with opportunities to experience the Mississippi River through recreational and stewardship programs. The effort aims to preserve the corridor, a corridor rich in history, culture, lore, and recreational opportunities. Visit the website or Facebook page and browse the event calendar to find a cycling event that fits your style, and join us in America’s Great Outdoors in 2013. www.mississippirivertrail.org/YOC2013

SPOTLIGHT

Ben Butterworth Parkway, Moline

Get Active! Do FLOATZILLA 2013, August 17

$20 OFF Any purchase of $100 or more Must present coupon for discount. Not valid on special orders or sale items. Limit one coupon per customer per visit. Not valid with any other offer. Coupon void if altered. Expires 4/30/13

Where are you going? We can help!

3950 Elmore Ave., Davenport, IA 52807 563‐441‐9488 www.qcactive.com

Visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/qcactive February/March/April 2012-13 | eddy Magazine

WAT E R S H E D S

agencies and local farmers to reduce negative impacts on the lake. Additionally projects have been undertaken by the Hawkeye Fly Fishing Club in order to enhance the environment for fish. These watershed improvements and a vested interest lead to excellent water quality and superb fish habitat. Long-term maintenance for Lost Grove Lake is essentially paid for through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and by federal taxes on hunting and fishing equipment. By Dr. David Staub, While restorative watershed management is occurring Solveig Entwistle, at Lost Grove Lake, the same can’t be said of the Gulf of and Tim Gillman Mexico. Over the past century, fifty-six percent of the basin’s wetlands (which filter water before releasing it to the river) have been lost to agriculture and levees. Overloading of nitrogen and phosphorous pollutants and river sedimentation are the main causes of the increasing 6,400 square miles of “dead zone.” Although Lost Grove Lake and the Gulf of Mexico are This drainage area spanning 796 billion acres is made both aquatic systems with watersheds, their drainage up of urban and rural areas of ten states and a limited area and water quality differ significantly. While number of buffers and natural plantings, wetlands, and the lake maintains a highly structured drainage process to sedimentation ponds to filter runoff. maintain excellent water quality, the Mississippi River has little Regulations vary by state. In 2010, sixty-three percent structure in place to protect the drinking water for millions of of Iowans voted to pass the Iowa Land and Legacy people and a habitat for wildlife. It’s eye opening to compare Amendment to the state constitution to establish a trust the water quality of a lake that ensures clean water with a fund to support needed water and soil conservation. To “dead zone” that has been unable to avoid pollution, even date, however, no legislation has been passed to assure though programs charged with limiting non-point source implementation. Currently, Iowa ranks forty-seventh out pollution have been around for almost thirty years. of fifty states in conservation spending. It is important to Ad Name: davey tree Lost Grove Lake (see related article “Progress at Lost Grove note that the amendment created a trust fund to ensure AdinSize: 2 x 2 is a manmade lake surrounded by Artist: Lake” this magazine) naturalqctmillj resources are protected when and if the sales tax is Ad prairie. Number: 20406275 native Long rooted prairie plants filter rain and runoff increased. TheCC: amount allocated to the fund is three eighths allowing clean water to enter the lake. Tasked with gradually of one percent from a future sales tax increase. Run Dates: 11-25 stocking the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Measures are being taken by the Corps of Engineers Year:fish, 2012 designed the recreational lake to fill with filtered water from who have done great work through their 1135 section. The Product: Quad-City Times nearby streams. The Lost Grove Lake drainage area is 5,000 program shares costs of restoration projects but is limited Section: acres resultingHoliday in a relatively small watershed-to-lake ratio of to five million dollars in federal cost. When compared to the Color: CMYK 14:1. This low ratio means that it may take a while to fill the hundreds of millions spent in restoration of the Everglades, Sales rep: SandywillBender lake, but sedimentation not be a major issue. this is only a fraction of what is crucial in repairing the dead Boating is limited by a no-wake rule meant to protect the zone. Location: B:\November 2012\D\DAVEY TREE\20406275 11lake’s shoreline from battering by waves that cause erosion State and federal agencies are working to improve water 25 to 11-25\20406275 11-25 to 11-25.indd and, subsequently, poor water clarity. Moreover, the no-wake quality for Lost Grove Lake and the Mississippi River, but regulation ensures boater safety. There are thirteen sediment the methods, funding, and results are quite different. The retention ponds and two road culvert risers in place around challenge is to take measures that work, and put them into Lost Grove Lake. The DNR also works with other government action for both watersheds. (fact sources: Iowa DNR)

A TA L E O F

TwoWatersheds

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Q C I N N O VATO R

Quad City Innovator:

Chuck Williams Art-o-lite Electric Admirers of innovators, of whom I hope there are many, may be surprised by how easily Chuck Williams, designer of Centennial Bridge lighting, comes up with new ideas. He has never flinched at heights, but his work on the bridge was of a different daring, and he approached it quite unafraid. His low bid won in 1988. His fellow bidders praised its brilliance and innovative approach. They had proposed using lift trucks for installation at seventy-percent more cost rather than installing a safety cable and walking the arches as Art-o-lite offered. eddy: Were you surprised that your plan for lighting the bridge worked so well? WILLIAMS: No. I walked the bridge and climbed up twenty feet on the end arch in street shoes. I knew if I could do it in street shoes, my crew could do it in athletic shoes. We did twenty-five percent of all the work at Art-o-lite before we started on the bridge. I had asked, “If I climb the first arch and install the safety cable, will you do the rest?” Yes. Each had a safety belt and worked the first arch. One thing I never do is ask my crew to do something I won’t. Bridge manager, Sue Nelson, stipulated traffic could be tied up from nine to three only; when she learned that we would not tie it up at all, she was elated. Except the steel supports

By Kathy Wine

for the lights, equipment was taken up in a golf cart on the walkway every day. eddy: Has this been a prototype for other lighting projects? WILLIAMS: I have been contacted by companies who have read about the Centennial Bridge project, but I don’t know if the ideas were used. eddy: How has the industry changed since you founded Art-0-lite? WILLIAMS: It has changed so much. LEDs and special roadway lighting that take care of vibration on bridges are special applications that have improved lighting design. eddy: Have you been responsible for other innovations? WILLIAMS: Yes. When we lit the I-80 bridge, we looked at the plans and noticed an expansion joint all the way down the bridge, so I designed a cart to be made by Johnson Sheet Metal that would be under the bridge but could be pulled by a pick up truck on top. The workers installed the lighting cable underneath while communicating with the driver above by radio. eddy: Final thoughts? WILLIAMS: It is windy up there and beautiful. That’s a metaphor for all innovators who reach the heights.

Order Rain Barrels on line! Collected rainwater can be used to irrigate lawns, water landscape beds or wash cars. Rain barrels also reduce storm-water runoff lessening the impact on storm sewers, local streams, and rivers.

Only $75! Go to www.riveraction.org and order today! For more information call River Action at 563-322-2969

February/March/April 2012-13 | eddy Magazine

EVENTS

DOZENS of nonstop ﬂights daily! JOIN US

We’re mobile-friendly at qcairport.com

For the 10th annual

Fish & Fire At Modern Woodmen Park Davenport, Iowa

David A. Johnson, D.D.S. 3512 Jersey Ridge Road Davenport, IA 52807

(563) 359-3494

EASY TO FIND. HARD TO RESIST.

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Friday, April 19, 2013 Adult Dinners—$40 each (Become a River Action Member and receive a 20% discount on dinner tickets!) Children ages 8—16 $12 each Tables of 8 persons—$230 5:30 p.m. Social Hour and Silent Auction 7:00 p.m. Catfish Dinner followed by the

14th Annual Eddy Awards

Purchase tickets on line at www.riveraction.org Or call 563‐322‐2969

EVENTS CALENDAR

February

River Action’s Environmental Book Club Tuesday, February 26, 7 p.m., River Action office, Davenport Discuss Where the Sky Began: Land of the Tallgrass Prairie, by John Madson. Open to the public and meets at the River Action office, 822 E. River Drive in Davenport, between Tremont and Federal Streets. For more info, please call (563) 322-2969.

March

Muddy Boots Nature Club: Terrariumst Wednesday, March 6, 3:30-5 p.m., Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport This session will teach about how terrariums work and what plants to use. Students will have the opportunity to make-n-take their very own glass terrarium. Glass containers will be available, but feel free to bring your own if you wish. If you do, be sure the container has its lid. Ages: 8-12. Cost: $5 per youth. Please call (563) 3235196 to register or email nahantmarsh@eicc.edu.

“Cruising the Celtic Isles” Bike Ride Saturday, March 16, 9 a.m.-noon. Meet at east end of Ralph Burke Bikeway (Butterworth Parkway near the old Case IH factory site) FREE RIDE open to all riders! This ride will be held almost exclusively on bike paths. Bike to Campbell’s Island in East Moline, back to Sylvan Island (optional), then across Arsenal Island with an optional loop around Credit Island in Davenport, and finish at Front Street Brewery for lunch (everybody buys their own lunch). For more information contact Joe Jamison, Quad City Bike Club, j-jamison@sbcglobal.net. St. Patricks Day Parade Saturday, March 16, 11:30 a.m., starts in Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District The Quad Cities Grand Parade travels through downtown Rock Island, Illinois, to the Centennial Bridge, then crosses the bridge over the Mississippi River and marches into downtown Davenport, Iowa. Featuring bands, Irish dancers, floats, groups, and family clans, this annual parade is organized by the St. Patrick Society of the Quad Cities. For more info, call (309) 788-6311.

Marking Territory: Cartographic Treasures of the Mississippi River and the World Beyond On view March 2-June 16, Figge Art Museum, Davenport Featuring a selection of historic maps that range from early representations of the world to more detailed examinations of America’s vast interior along the Mississippi River, this exhibition explores how maps communicate highly complex ideas about identity, politics, and culture. For more information, call (563) 326-7804, or visit FiggeArtMuseum.org. Make Friends with the Marsh Saturday, March 2, 9 a.m.-Noon, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport Join the Friends of Nahant as they work on various outdoor and indoor projects. Please come dressed in comfortable/old clothing. Walk-ins are welcome. If coming with a group, call ahead at (563) 323-5196 or email nahantmarsh@eicc.edu.

10th Annual Quad Cities Henry Farnam Dinner Friday, March 8, Jumer’s Casino and Hotel, Rock Island This year’s guest speaker is Patrick Nunnally, University of Minnesota, and the featured presentation is “The Upper Mississippi in 2054: Visions of the River 200 Years After the First Railroad Arrived in Rock Island.” This illustrated presentation highlights key factors affecting the future of the Mississippi River, particularly within a hundred miles or so of the Quad Cities. For more information, call Curt Roseman at (309) 764-6122, email croseman@usc.edu or Gayle Rein at (309) 441-5420, email rein65@mchsi.com. Cocktails (cash bar) and displays, 5 p.m.; dinner, 6:30 p.m.; program, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40/person; reserved table of 10 is $375. For reservations, go to RiverAction.org.

Natural Dyed Eggs Tuesday, March 19, 10 a.m., Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport This program takes you back to basics and teaches the century-old craft of dying eggs. Bring a dozen hardboiled eggs and the whole family. Cost: $5 per adult and $3 per youth. Please call (563) 323-5196 to register or email nahantmarsh@eicc.edu.

Toddler Tales: Birds Tuesday, March 12, 10-11 a.m. or 2-3 p.m., Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport The spring migration is here! Join us to read about birds and see how many we can find on our bird hike. Ages: 3-5 with accompanying adult. Cost: $3 per youth. Please call (563) 323-5196 to register or email nahantmarsh@eicc.edu.

February/March/April 2012-13 | eddy Magazine

EVENTS CALENDAR

Muddy Boots Nature Club: Papermaking Wednesday, March 20, 3:30-5 p.m., Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport In this session participants will learn how to create their very own handmade paper using a mold and deckle. Please bring a few old towels and/or pieces of felt for drying. Ages: 8-12. Cost: $5 per youth. Please call (563) 323-5196 to register or email nahantmarsh@eicc.edu.

Muddy Boots Nature Club: Herb gardening Wednesday, April 3, 3:30-5 p.m., Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport In this session, participants will learn about the benefits and uses of herbs, and the basics of container gardening. Each child will get to make and take their very own herb garden. Ages: 8-12. Cost: $5 per youth. Please call (563) 323-5196 to register or email nahantmarsh@ eicc.edu. Make Friends with the Marsh Saturday, April 6, 9 a.m.-Noon, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport Join the Friends of Nahant as they work on various outdoor and indoor projects. Please come dressed in comfortable/old clothing. Walk-ins are welcome. If coming with a group call ahead at (563) 323-5196 or email nahantmarsh@eicc.edu.

Flower & Garden Show Friday-Sunday, March 22-24, QCCA Expo Center, Rock Island The Flower and Garden show provides a great shopping venue for the public to purchase garden items, outdoor landscaping, decks, fences, sunrooms, and more! Be ready for your garden’s spring and summer season! Adults are $7. For more information, call (309) 788-5912. River Action’s Environmental Book Club Tuesday, March 26, 7 p.m., River Action office, Davenport Discuss The End of Nature, by Bill McKibben. Open to the public and meets at the River Action office, 822 E. River Drive in Davenport, between Tremont and Federal Streets. For more info, please call (563) 3222969. Homeschool: Composting Friday, March 29, 2:30-4 p.m., Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport Students will learn about composting and how it benefits the environment and the community. Youth will learn about how Nahant Marsh composts and they will be allowed to create their own composter to turn food waste into compost for their sustainable gardens. Cost $6 per youth. Please call (563) 323-5196 to register or email nahantmarsh@eicc.edu.

April Don’t forget to buy a Rain Barrel for April showers! Rain Barrels hold 60 gallons, and come with a diverter, mosquito netting, and spigot for a hose. $75 which includes a standard sized diverter, or $80 for a large diverter at 822 E. River Drive, Davenport, or online at RiverAction.org.

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Cinderella Saturday, April 20, 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Adler Theatre, Davenport Featuring live music accompaniment by Orchestra Iowa, Ballet Quad Cities will present the much-loved fairy tale set to Prokofiev’s magnificent masterpiece. Ticket prices may vary and may be purchased through the Adler Theatre Box Office or online through Ticketmaster. For more info, call (309) 786-3779 or go to BalletQuadCities.com. River Action’s Environmental Book Club Tuesday, April 23, 7 p.m., River Action office, Davenport Discuss Wild Trees, by Richard Preston. Open to the public and meets at the River Action office, 822 E. River Drive in Davenport, between Tremont and Federal Streets. For more info, please call (563) 322-2969.

Toddler Tales: Worms Tuesday, April 9, 10-11 a.m. or 2-3 p.m., Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport Did you know one acre of land can contain more than a million earthworms? Come learn about worms and investigate how many worms we have at Nahant! Ages: 3-5 with accompanying adult. Cost: $3 per youth. Please call (563) 323-5196 to register or email nahantmarsh@eicc.edu.

River Action’s Fish & Fire Fundraiser and Friendraiser Friday, April 19, Modern Woodmen Park, Davenport This annual catfish fry combines fundraising and friends. Bid on dozens of silent auction items, enjoy the dinner and entertainment, and be a part of the 14th Annual Eddy Awards Presentation – awards given to those in our community who go against the current to get things done. For more info, please call River Action at (563) 322-2969 or go online at RiverAction.org.

Muddy Boots Nature Club: Kite making Wednesday, April 17, 3:30-5 p.m., Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport Have you ever wanted to make your very own kite? Now is your chance! Springtime is the perfect time to go fly a kite. Participants will learn how to make a kite and if the weather allows, be able to fly their kites around the marsh. Ages: 8-12. Cost: $5 per youth. Please call 563-323- 5196 to register or email nahantmarsh@eicc.edu. Meerkats 3D Friday, April 19, Putnam Museum, Davenport Filmed over the course of a year, Meerkats 3D follows an extraordinary family that stands just 12 inches tall. Discover how these tiny but strong creatures survive in the harsh desert, led by the family’s tenacious matriarch, Klinky. Together, this family of 20 will battle a rival gang to protect their territory, their pups, and their lives as they also contend with the desolate environment that is their home. Admission is $6.50-$8.50. Call (563) 324-1054 for more information.

Homeschool: Sustainable Gardening Friday, April 26, 2:30-4 p.m., Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport Students will learn what a sustainable garden is and its importance on our economy and environment. Youth will learn how to build their own sustainable gardens at home and they will also get a chance to pick out their crops, plant, and maintain their own sustainable gardens here at the marsh. Harvesting will be available if youth can return. Cost $6 per youth. Please call (563) 323-5196 to register or email nahantmarsh@eicc.edu. Spring Cleanup Saturday, April 27, 8:30 a.m.-Noon, Nahant Marsh Education Center, Davenport Come help us cleanup Nahant Marsh and the riverbanks. This cleanup is a Global Youth Service Day project; we strongly encourage youth to get involved! Registration is from 8:30-9 a.m. Pre-register your group by calling (563) 323-5196 or email nahantmarsh@eicc. edu.

JOIN learn

engage River Action is dedicated to connecting people to the river. Our supporters help us to improve the quality of water that flows down the river. They help us to instill a love of the river through encouraging participation in many activities that involve the river. Plus, River Action encourages educational programs that help our residents better understand river related issues and concerns.

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celebrate A membership to River Action offers you an opportunity to really make a difference in our community. With each membership you will receive discounts on educational programs as well as your continued FREE subscription to eddy Magazine BUSINESS MEMBER: $ 100 HOUSEHOLD: $ 50 INDIVIDUAL MEMBER: $ 25

Go to: www.riveraction.org and click on membership!

JOIN TODAY AT www.riveraction.org or send check to 822 E. River Drive Davenport, IA 52803

563-322-2969