Blog Posts - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

September Green Drinks - Take CAARE

8/24/2021

September Green Drinks
Tuesday, September 7th at 5:00 pm

Environmental Forum

Join us on Tuesday, September 7th from 5 to 7 pm and learn about the Conservation Program at the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa. Jared McGovern, Curator of the Conservation Program, will introduce us to his new Take Conservation Action through Advocacy, Research and Engagement (CAARE) initiatives.

Please register for September Green Drinks

Susan Leuthauser

Picnic Update - A Message from the Board

8/24/2021

Picnic Update - Sunday, September 12th at noon

A Message from the Board of Directors

As you know, the PACG Board has been considering CDC guidance regarding the pandemic when making decisions about how we hold meetings and events. At this time, we believe it is still safe for us to have our Picnic and Pie Auction out-of-doors, as planned. However, the severity of the Delta Covid variant has left us in unique and uncertain times. As a result of our desire to protect the most vulnerable of our members, the Board has decided unanimously that vaccinations will be required to attend this year's picnic. We believe this is the correct - albeit conservative - decision, and will allow those in attendance an extra level of reassurance. Thank you for your understanding.

Allison Ambrose

Recycling Centers Closing in Rock Island

8/17/2021

Closing of the Rock Island County Recycling Centers
Tuesdays, August 17th and
September 21st at 1:00 pm

1504 3rd Avenue
Rock Island, IL Room 320 (map)

Environmental Forum

News Release: Appeal to Rock Island County Waste Management Agency to keep drop-off sites.

Attend August and September Board meetings to share your concerns.

(Rock Island, IL) – Progressive Action for the Common Good (PACG) announces a call to action in response to the closure of recycling drop-off centers!

Please join PACG representatives in attending the Rock Island County Waste Management Agency (RICWMA) Board meetings on both Tuesday, August 17th and Tuesday, September 21st at 1:00 pm at the Rock Island County Office Building at 1504 3rd Avenue, Room 302, Rock Island, IL 61201.

The RICWMA Board has announced that they are closing the recycling drop-off centers on September 30th. Their press release, reported by the QC Times and Argus/Dispatch on July 8th, stated that this decision was based on a budgetary shortfall due to decreased revenue in solid waste tonnage attributed to businesses being closed during the pandemic. They did not explain why other options were not pursued, nor did they obtain public input for this decision.

Many Rock Island County residents have no curbside recycling option, and discontinuing this program will create a massive increase in waste sent to our county landfill. A great deal of the material will include plastics, which do not degrade for hundreds of years. This is not an equitable arrangement for the county’s citizens, and we would like them to explore alternative solutions. If you share these concerns, please join PACG in asking the RICWMA Board to reconsider this plan.

Shirley Johnson

Inequality in Evictions - No Hate In Our States

8/10/2021

Inequality in Evictions
Online

NPR Report: “Corporate Landlord Evicts Black Renters At Far Higher Rates Than Whites, Report Finds”

Listen here: https://www.npr.org/2021/06/03/1001404416/corporate-landlord-evicts-black-renters-at-far-higher-rates-than-whites-report-f

Julie Ross

Register for Our Picnic and Pie Auction! - WYCDN

8/3/2021

Register Now for Our
9th Annual Picnic and Pie Auction
Sunday, September 12th at 12:00 noon

Fejervary Park (Shelter # 1)
1800 W. 12th St.
Davenport, Iowa (map)

We are back LIVE for our Annual Picnic and Pie Auction with some exciting new, family-friendly activities in the works!

Please register here: https://pacg.app.neoncrm.com/event.jsp?event=516&.

Allison Ambrose

Pollinator Gardens - August Environmental Forum Celebration

8/3/2021

Environmental Forum August Celebration
Pollinator Gardens

Environmental Forum

Many of you have already realized the importance of planting pollinator-loving plants in your yard. For those still seeking information, here is some history: Why We Have Grass Lawns (FYI: Green lawns were “invented” and popularized by the European aristocracy as a status symbol). We have been conditioned to see lush, green, weedless lawns as beautiful and desirable; but, to save our planet, we need to change this way of thinking.

In reality, lush green lawns are nutritional deserts for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. Dandelions are an important nectar source, yet we’ve been conditioned to view those yellow flowers as pesky. Early in the spring, when the world becomes alive again, the bees and other pollinators emerge when very few other flowers have bloomed. Dandelions are valuable for vital for their nutrition.

By necessity, pollinator gardens must change as the season does. It is a privilege to be able to be in tune with the subtleties of different blooming times and their connection with migrating birds and insects. As the saying goes, “When the goldenrod blooms, it is time for monarchs to start their long migration south.”

Take Action Steps:

Don’t mow early in the spring. The bees need your dandelions. Leave a patch of clover and dandelions after each mowing.
Plant native pollinators - avoid plants treated with pesticides and those genetically modified with neonicotinoids. Most big-box stores do not know the sources of their plants. Shop at local nurseries that know their suppliers.
Plant flowers that bloom at different times during the growing season.
Get inspired by visiting a prairie! Here are some local suggestions: Wapsi Education Center, Illiniwek Forest Preserve, Jo Daviess County.
Do NOT use any herbicides or pesticides. Even the smallest exposure will kill bees and butterflies.
Create pollinator-friendly areas in your yard. There is a lot of information online. Here’s an example: Unleash the Wild on Your Back Yard.
Plant milkweed. Plant milkweed. Plant milkweed. Learn more at MonarchWatch.com.
Attend the Wapsi Monarch Fest, Saturday, September 11th.
Watch Flight of the Butterflies.
Join a group on Facebook: The Beautiful Monarch; Monarchs of Eastern Iowa; Pollinator Gardening; Muscatine Pollinator Project; Illinois Monarch Waystation Capital.
Come to PACG’s Annual Picnic on Sunday, September 12th. We will have milkweed seed bombs for you to distribute and monarch butterflies to release.

Recycling Drop-Off Centers to Close - Environmental Concerns

7/29/2021

Rock Island County to Eliminate Recycling Drop-Off Centers

Environmental Forum

According to an article in the QC Times and Argus/Dispatch on July 8th, Rock Island County Waste Management Agency will terminate their Recycling Drop-Off Centers on September 30th. This agency represents 12 cities in Rock Island County. The article states that this decision was based on a budgetary short-fall, which was due to decreased revenue in solid waste tonnage attributed to businesses being closed during the pandemic.

We encourage Illinois residents to send letters of concern to the agency at 1504 Third Avenue, Rock Island, IL, 61201 or at www.ricwma.org. If you have used the drop-off sites personally, please share your need for these services.

Lori McCollum

Save the Planet - PACG Event

7/29/2021

Save the Planet
Saturday, July 31st at 10:00 am

Davenport Freight House Farmers Market (map)

Join us every Saturday at the Davenport Freight House Farmers Market and learn about what you can do to help save planet earth.

Susan Leuthauser

Shirley Johnson

Mass Evictions in Davenport - Of Interest to Our Community

7/21/2021

Crisis in Our Community: Mass Evictions Affect Over 100 Families

Of Interest to Our Community

Davenport Bearing Witness

Davenport Bearing Witness has brought to light mass evictions of more than 100 families in our community. These people live in low-rent and subsidized housing in Davenport. Their apartment buildings - left in disrepair - were sold to a developer, who would like to put in more luxury (more expensive) living options. The current families - many of whom have lived in these buildings for years - are now faced with quickly finding alternative low-cost housing, which is not easy to find. They will incur costs that few of these families can afford.

Read Quad City Times article

Read the most recent Davenport Bearing Witness email

Julie Ross

Show Your Love! - No Hate In Our States

7/21/2021

Show your love!
Saturdays, July 24th and 31st

Freighthouse Farmer’s Market (map)

One Human Family

One Human Family will be passing out free “Love Unites” and “Welcome Neighbor” signs at the Freighthouse Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, July 24th and 31st. Spread love AND make space in Rev. Rich’s car! Donations are welcome, but not required.

Rev. Rich Hendricks