Volume 10, Issue 2 | May/June/July 2020 A PUBLICATION OF RIVER ACTION, INC. www.riveraction.org Connecting people to the river Your 2020 Permit No. 30 No. Permit Birdies Pledge Montezuma, IA Montezuma, PAID Form Inside US Postage US Front Cover Non Profit Org. Profit Non RIVER ACTION, INC. PLEASE MAIL PLEDGES TO: 15623 COALTOWN RD. EAST MOLINE, IL 61244 1067 PUBLISHER’S LETTER Making Connections hat a difficult spring; nature has not forgotten us, though. We’ve May/June/July 2020 enjoyed some beautiful budding trees, flowers, and sunsets. Volume 10 Issue 2 W _______ The novel Coronavirus has had an enormous impact on the non- KATHY WINE, Publisher / Executive Director profit sector, and River Action is no different in that we have suffered BETH CLARK, Managing Editor, Milepost a loss of income and revenue due to the cancellation of programs and Kathy Wine Ventures, LLC. events, not to mention face-to-face fundraising. Our team is adapting JEFF VANECHAUTE/pi design, inc., Design APRIL KLECKNER, Calendar Editor to meet the priorities of all the programs; this issue summarizes the actions we have Contributing Writers taken in response to COVID-19 and provides some further updates for the summer. PHILIP TUNNICLIFF, River Action Staff Our magazine is supported by wonderful advertisers, some of whom have NOAH TRUESDELL, River Action Staff maintained support since our first issue in 2010. This pandemic has upended business, KATHY WINE, River Action Staff and the easiest way to help them out is to support them now. Buy gift cards to use down CAROL DOWNEY, River Action Staff the road, shop locally online, skip the refund if you missed something you had tickets BAILEY JOHNSTON, River Action Staff for and write it off as a donation, or give a shout-out about the businesses by leaving Contributing Photographers AMY NEIGHBOUR VANECHAUTE stellar reviews on social media. We are all stressed right now, but businesses, worried JEFF VANECHAUTE about their livelihood, have a special level of anxiety. Send a thank you along with other Printing Services support. It will go a long way. SUTHERLAND PRINTING One of the paradoxes of this publisher’s job is sending issues of Eddy Magazine to © eddy Magazine and River Action, Inc., all rights thousands of readers but rarely finding out reserved, 2020. Reproduction in any form, in whole what you think of the articles. Do you like them INSIDE THIS ISSUE or in part, without express, written permission, is or not? Are they informative and inspiring, or prohibited. The views expressed herein, whether Ride and Seek – 2020 Ride the River expressed as fact, fiction, opinion, advice or otherwise (gulp!) sleep-inducing? I want to know. Do me a 4 by Noah Truesdell are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect favor and read through this issue with a critical those of the ownership or management of this eye. Then share your opinions: Which was your magazine. This magazine is sold with the understanding 4 Paddle Power – Floatzilla 2020 that neither it, nor River Action, Inc., its owners or favorite article? Least favorite? What would you by Noah Truesdell managers, are engaged in rendering legal, accounting, like to read more about? tax, medical, technical, or any other advice, professional 5 RiverWay Walking Guide or otherwise. The publication of any advertisement does I have no idea how you’ll tackle this, or by Noah Truesdell not reflect the endorsement of any products or services what you’ll say. Our staff review our content for by the ownership or management of this magazine each issue and find plenty to say, both positive 6 Fish & Fire unless it is specifically stated in such advertisement and by Noah Truesdell there is written approval for such endorsement. Those and negative, but our opinions are shaped by submitting manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other our connections to the subject. My request is 7 Summer Smarts material to eddy Magazine for consideration should not part of an effort to learn more about existing by Philip Tunnicliff send originals. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other submitted materials must be accompanied members and about new supporters whom 7 QC Wild Places by a self addressed, postage paid envelope in return we might enlist in our shared mission to join by Philip Tunnicliff of materials is requested. Return of materials is not us in our work. guaranteed. eddy Magazine is published quarterly by 8 Plant On It – Native Plantings River Action, Inc., 822 E. River Drive, Davenport, IA 52803 So here’s the deal: take a few extra minutes by Kathy Wine and is direct mailed to approximately 6,000 with this issue, then send me an email at area homes and businesses. [email protected] with your comments. 10 Remembering Dick Stahl eddy Magazine by Kathy Wine Published by River Action, Inc. This is an informal survey, but I’ll benefit from 822 E. River Drive, your insights. Since you already subscribe, 10 Film Series Davenport, IA 52803 I won’t send you a free issue, but I will respond by Bailey Johnston 563-322-2969 to your message. www.riveraction.org 11 Arsenal Signs To Advertise: Contact Beth Clark 309-269-3455 or Finally, I return to our mission and creating by Bailey Johnston contact Deb Girard at [email protected]. For rates, the kind of community in which we want to live. 11 QC Flood Resiliency Alliance ad dimensions and deadline information email BethC@ In the midst of this unprecedented situation, milepostventures.com by Carol Downey while we learn to work through uncertainty To Subscribe or become a member of River Action: and ambiguity, we want to continue to invest 12 Upper Mississippi River call 563-322-2969 or visit www.riveraction.org Conference 2020 in the riverfront, the river, and our natural areas. by Carol Downey Help us by donating if you can online at www. Our Mission: 13 eddy Calendar: River Action strives to foster the environmental, riveraction.org, or by check to River Action, 822 May, June, July 2020 economic, and cultural vitality of the Mississippi East River Dr., Davenport, 52803. Connection by April Kleckner River and its riverfront in the Quad City region. right now goes a long way. May/June/July 2020 | eddy Magazine 3 RIVER NOTES Ride the River 2020 n an effort to get families riding in June, Ride the River planners are preparing Floatzilla 2020! Ia month-long event, providing a challenging touchless family scavenger hunt, all in keeping with the advised social distancing. The 2019 Floatzilla group photo was taken by a drone, giving us a new view of the crowd! Embark with your family on an adventure of discovery at this year’s Ride & Seek — By Noah Truesdell scavenger hunt in June. Ride riverfront trails seeking landmarks, photo opportunities, marks the 11th year of community art, and more. Each rider will FLOATZILLA, the biggest receive 36 clues (36 for 36 years!) to solve. 2020 and most acclaimed paddling event on the Take photos at locations to earn prizes! Mississippi! On Saturday, Aug. 15, paddlers Details will be announced soon on the will launch from five locations across the River Action website. Quad Cities to enjoy paddling the Mississippi Ride the River supports River Action’s River free of barge traffic, and through their mission of improving access to the riverfront. participation support River Action’s efforts to When Ride the River began, there were restore habitat, renovate infrastructure, and their lives. All kids in the program receive a only two miles of riverfront trail in the Quad foster citizen action to improve water quality free life jacket. Cities along the Ben Butterworth Parkway in the Mississippi River watershed. In addition, River Action is partnering in Moline. Now we have over 30 miles of Launch locations at Leach Park in with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra trail on each side of the Mississippi. River Bettendorf and Lindsay Park Yacht Club in Pops Concert, which begins just a few Action also advocated for the $2.2 million Davenport will require locking through at hours after Floatzilla with the symphony’s Credit Island pedestrian bridge completed Lock and Dam 15. Paddlers launching from Fleetwood Mac tribute; it is the perfect in 2012 and contributed all funding for the Bass Street YMCA Rowing Center in encore on Arsenal Island. The symphony has the design of the Arsenal bike/pedestrian Moline will have a short, assisted portage offered $5 off the ticket price for anyone who bridge over Sylvan Slough. This year, your over Sylvan Island. Enjoy music and a takes part in Floatzilla. Register for Floatzilla support will help us to complete the iconic selection of our popular local food trucks to get your Symphony coupon code. First Bridge replica span across River Drive at Lake Potter before the attempt at the Early registration for Floatzilla 2020 ends in Davenport. First Bridge will allow safe world record for largest flotilla of kayaks June 30. Sign up now to be entered into all access for pedestrians and cyclists to the and canoes. registration giveaways including an Aruba riverfront trail from the neighborhoods in River Action hopes to expand on the Kayak donated by Theisen’s and a Car Top downtown Davenport. It will also serve as a success of the 2019 Cops, Kids, Kayaks, and Kayak Rack donated by Thule. Register safe crossing for visitors arriving to our area Canoes event as well. We will once again now for Floatzilla at www.riveraction.org/ via the American and Viking river cruise lines be working with law enforcement agencies Floatzilla ! which will dock at River Heritage Park.