Quad-City families may get their first introduction to Bettendorf's long-awaited Forest Grove Park this fall.

Bettendorf park board members got a detailed look at the project's preliminary phase of work Wednesday night as Scott Crawford, senior partner and landscape architect with RDG Planning & Design of Des Moines, presented the plans.

The $1.4 million first phase of the project will be completed in two stages, and will develop what Crawford referred to as the community corner of the park, that will serve as a neighborhood park for adjacent subdivisions.

It will include 25 parking stalls, an open-air shelter that will seat up to 20 people, a playground for children ages 2-10, a half-court basketball court and a circular path that surrounds the southeast corner of the park and eventually will connect with the rest of the park's trail system.

This will be the gateway into the whole park from the south edge, said Crawford, who began designing the space in 2011.

While Crawford said he does not think the first phase of work will attract regional attention, overall plans for the 100-acre park will create something that the Quad-City community does not yet have.

Ideas for the park include a large greenspace, an adventure course, an amphitheater, a community building, an enclosed shelter, restoration of Spencer Creek and a winter plaza with opportunities for cold-weather sports.

The park, which Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher has referred to as a wow project, will cost up to $20 million and will be completed in stages with the assistance of grant funding, Steve Grimes, the citys parks and recreation director, said.

Between 2016 and 2021, the city plans to borrow $2.1 million in bonds for work on the park.

A future elementary school in the Pleasant Valley Community School District is planned to be built adjacent to the park.

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Initial plans for Forest Grove Park unveiled

The Christmas Bird Count was on Jan. 3; we are now in the process of finalizing the results, which will be published in the Gazette soon. There have been a lot of birds sighted this week, so here goes.

Probably the best bird of the week is Dick Jenningss observation of a common yellowthroat at his Tisbury feeder on Jan. 6; it was hunkered down along a border of liriope that surrounds the bird feeders. This is a good sighting because it is uncommon at this time of year, although it is common in the breeding season.

Anything that has bright orange feathers is also a welcome sight at this time of the year. Thus, it is good to hear that the West Tisbury Baltimore oriole has survived more cold weather. This time the bird was observed at Heidi and Ronnee Shultzs feeder on Jan. 12. Nancy Dole observed the oriole perched in a pine tree in her yard on Jan. 11. And Ronnee Schultz reported the oriole amidst snowflakes near the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury on Jan. 6, so this bird has recently headed a little bit northward to the State Road area. Please keep reports of this bird coming so we can track its movements, hopefully through the winter.

And they'll all float on, okay. Lanny McDowell

Joan Malkin is thrilled to have a new neighbor, as she discovered a screech owl is living in the nesting box that she got from the Nature Conservancy a few years ago. Since society rapidly cuts down dead trees, appropriate nesting cavities can be in short supply, which is why bird houses can be so important.

Liz Goud reports that there is a great blue heron hanging around her home, regularly perching in a tree or near the driveway.

Speaking of yards, Jacqueline Beauvais Cromwell just got a new field guide and immediately put it to work and identified northern flicker, red-bellied woodpecker and cedar waxwing on Jan. 12.

Soo Whiting and Flip Harrington observed a snow goose in Whitings Field next to the West Tisbury cemetery on the afternoon of Jan. 13. This is probably the same lone snow goose that was observed on the nearby Mill Pond on the Christmas Bird Count. The same day, Tim Johnson observed the flock of snow geese that has been present at the Keiths farm on Middle Road in Chilmark. Roger Cook observed four there on Jan. 7.

Stan and Marie Mercer called to report four eastern bluebirds in their Menemsha Crossroads yard on Jan. 12. They were excited since these were the first bluebirds they had in their yard in several years.

Samantha Chaves used her telephone to take a picture through her binoculars of a snowy owl at the Katama air park on Jan. 11. Such photography takes practice to get a good image, but is a useful technique for confirming a bird sighting. Believe it or not, there are binoculars that have built in cameras! I may need one since other authors of this column occasionally comment that I should carry a camera with me.

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Colorful Birds Brighten Dreary Winter Landscape

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) January 14, 2015

Walters Golf invites avid players and the young at heart to experience the first-ever Golf Digest Think Young Play Hard Invitational from April 16 through April 19, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The inaugural tournament will feature two competitive rounds at Walters Golfs Bali Hai and Royal Links Golf Clubs, a four day/three night stay at The Mirage, exclusive parties and events at notable venues on the Strip, and numerous perks reserved only for players.

Consistently rated among Las Vegas best courses, both Bali Hai Golf Club and Royal Links Golf Club will serve as the backdrop for the two-person best ball tournament play. At Royal Links Golf Club, players can expect a challenging layout that is unmistakably reminiscent of the British Open rotations most legendary holes. And, a far cry from the British flair of Royal Links, Bali Hai Golf Club offers a South Pacific-inspired landscape that makes for low scores when played wisely. As players contend for the maiden trophy on Friday and Saturday, theyll also be treated to pre- and post-round game-improvement clinics, tour-level equipment fitting and long-drive exhibitions from fellow title sponsor Callaway Golf.

While golf may be the focus of the event, players are also encouraged to indulge their youthful, spirited side off the course at The Mirage. The weekend exudes Las Vegas-style vibes with private parties at The Mirage's most daring venues, including its Bare Pool Lounge and world-famous Siegfried and Roys Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat. Were essentially condensing the ultimate Las Vegas experience into one weekend, said Josh Hill, Vice President of Marketing at Walters Golf. The opportunity to hang with well-known DJs and world-famous celebrities and attend private, premium open bar parties does not typically present itself at your average golf tournament. And by typically, I mean never.

Partying aside, there are perks for the thrill-seeking type, too. Las Vegas Pole Position Raceway is set to close its doors for a special evening reserved exclusively for Think Young Play Hard Invitational guests, featuring a playoff-style competition on go-karts equipped to reach speeds of 45 MPH. "Pole Position Raceway is proud to be a part of this fast and furious weekend," said Brad Mark, COO at Pole Position Raceway. "We heard the best "drivers" were coming to Vegas so now we want to see if that "driving" skill will be displayed at some of the finest golf courses in the world along with the fastest go-kart track in America." The Mirages expansive casino will swap its usual table-gaming felts for those that are TYPHI-branded during the weekend, which also includes a players-only casino night after the first day of competition. Adventure lovers will relish the overhead excitement provided by Maverick Helicopters, as well as the opportunity to win one of 15 cameras from event sponsor GoPro.

With R&B vocal group Boyz II Men rumored to tee it up, the 144-person event is expected to sell out well before its April 16, 2015 debut and currently only has 30 spots still available. The $1,499 per person price includes an exclusive 30% discount on all on-site shows at The Mirage in addition to numerous other tournament and event partner offerings. For reservations and further information, visit GolfDigestInvitational.com.

About Walters Golf:

Walters Golf, a division of The Walters Group, has become one of the fastest-growing and most widely respected golf companies in the country. From its first venture into the private country club market in 1995 to todays ownership and operation of top-quality, daily fee golf courses, Walters Golf continues their commitment to quality and profitability while offering customers excellent value.

Led by businessman and avid golfer Bill Walters, Walters Golf is known in the national golf industry for developing first-class golf facilities. According to Executive Golfer, Walters is Nevadas leading golf entrepreneur who recognized the need for visitor and corporate friendly golf facilities and packages, and seized on the opportunity, investing millions in [two] magnificent properties.

In Las Vegas, the company owns and operates Royal Links Golf Club and Bali Hai Golf Club in addition to Las Vegas Golf Getaways, Las Vegas Preferred Tee Times and Cili Restaurant & Bar. For additional information, visit http://www.waltersgolf.com, follow on Twitter and Instagram @WaltersGolf and interact on Facebook at facebook.com/WaltersGolf.

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Las Vegas Walters Golf to Add Exclusive Events, Entertainment and Endless Excitement to Inaugural Golf Digest Think ...

The director for Campaign to Protect Rural England Oxfordshire has praised the council for standing its ground over a planning appeal for 117 home in Banbury.

A government planning inspector last week <6/1> backed Cherwell District Councils decision to reject the controversial plans for Crouch Hill.

The council had thrown out Gleeson Developments Ltd's application for planning permission for the site on the outskirts of the town in March.

CPRE Oxfordshire director Helen Marshall said: It is good to see such a sensible decision from the planning inspectorate and well done to Cherwell District Council for standing their ground. This site is an important landscape feature, providing a rural backdrop to the town, as well as being of cultural importance in relation to the Civil War."

The plans proposed developments on the 10.5 hectare land south of Broughton Road including up to 117 homes with parking.

On Tuesday, January 6, inspector Jennifer Vyse refused the appeal concluding that the plans would have a significant adverse impact on the character and appearance of the part of the district.

She said: In my consideration the site is still seen as an essential component of the rural setting of the hill and is very sensitive with a low capacity for residential development.

"I am in no doubt that the erection of up to 117 dwellings on the lower field would constitute a considerable intrusion into that setting.

Cherwell District Council rejected plans originally calling it a "sporadic and unsustainable" extension of the town's boundary.

Cherwells lead member for planning, councillor Michael Gibbard, said: The site was not thought suitably practical on landscape grounds and it is pleasing to see the inspector has supported that view.

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CPRE happy Crouch Hill housing plan thrown out

For a place where beer and barbecue reign supreme, Texas has a wine scene that is catching up fast, becoming No. 5 in U.S. wine production.

Centered in this small town 77 miles west of Austin and 70 miles north of San Antonio, the Texas Hill Country is home to more than 40 wineries, and it is clear why it was named one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine's top wine tourism destinations.

Visitors can fill their days visiting wineries and talking with vintners and never be more than 30 minutes from their lodging. Wineries and tasting rooms line both sides of U.S. Highway 290 between Fredericksburg and Johnson City, with the vines sharing the landscape with peach orchards and lavender fields as well as tumbleweeds and cactus.

The biggest challenge is choosing which properties to visit. In a bit more than three days of visiting and tasting, I found a lot to love and few to forget. Tasting costs vary but average $10 to $12 for a six-wine sampling.

William Chris Vineyards (williamchriswines.com) is one of Hill Country's newest, and it is one of the first that visitors encounter as they drive from Austin. William Chris uses all Texas fruit and specializes in clean, fresh-tasting wines with minimal oak. I especially liked the Enchante red blend.

It is also a great introduction to the attitude that surrounds Texas wines: The vintners are passionate about their wines, but a current of fun flows through all the tastings. There seems to be a lot more laughter than in the tasting rooms of Napa.

When I asked about tours of the winery, the manager said, "Yeah, but it's right over there. Just wander on back, and the guys'll be glad to answer any questions."

Becker Vineyards (beckervineyards.com) is one of the more famous Texas wineries, getting a boost from having its wines served in the White House by President George W. Bush.

Located about a mile off U.S. 290, Becker has just under 50 acres of vines surrounding its winery. The tasting room is huge but frequently crowded on weekends. A small 19th-century cabin once served as a B&B but is now just a historic visual note.

The wines I tasted were universally good, with the reserve cabernet demonstrating why it is regularly rated among the top wines in the state. A big surprise was the Provencal, a superb dry rose. True oenophiles who visit on Saturday should not miss the Library tasting of aged reserve, single-vineyard cabernets. Spots are limited, and reservations are required.

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Texas finds that there's wine in them thar hills

Excitement was building at last Mondays meeting of the Chilhowie Revitalization Committee as designers got down to details on project plans.

David Hill, president and landscape architect with Hill Studio of Roanoke, was joined by landscape architect Greg Webster, Aaron Arnett with Arnett Muldrow & Associates, and representatives of Thompson & Litton as well as the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission, all working with the committee and town on a revitalization project in the Old Main Street area.

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After promising in September to quickly resolve a years-long land dispute involving villagers and the politically connected development company KDC International, a member of the National Assemblys human rights commission visited affected families in Kampong Chhnang province yesterday.

Chea Poch, an opposition lawmaker, said he cooperated with rights group Adhoc and the authorities to study the situation in Kampong Tralach districts Lorpeang village and collect information from dozens of families who claim to own land in the disputed area.

When we find out how many families legally own land here and who wants to keep their land or accept compensation, we will speak with the company, Poch said. We will try to resolve this according to the law and respect what the villagers want.

In September, members of the commission vowed to find a solution in a matter of weeks. Poch, however, said yesterday that he did not know how long it would take to resolve the dispute.

Villagers greeted Poch with some caution, noting that the commission was well past the deadline it had set itself.

Last time, they did not inspect the land personally, Sngoun Nhoeun, a representative of the villagers, said of a previous visit. This time they should conduct a more thorough study.

KDC is owned by Chea Kheng, wife of Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem. Families accuse KDC of clearing 145 hectares of their land for development.

Phat Pov Seang, a lawyer representing KDC, said that the company welcomed the investigation.

But we dont believe that it will solve the problem, because the people are always demanding money for land that they no longer own, he said.

These families sold their land in 1997 but continued to live there and plant rice. The next owner sold the land to KDC in 2007. The company has land titles.

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NA commission member visits K Chhnang KDC site

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