DAVENPORT - On Tuesday, March 25 the Iowa Finance Authority and members of the Landlords of Davenport, Muscatine and Clinton will meet to discuss the local impact of a new resource that will assist in locating rental housing for area residents. The site, IowaHousingSearch.org is the first of its kind in Iowa and is available for the public to search thousands of rental listings.

The web site provides real-time rental unit vacancy information, call center accessibility, advanced search components and disaster recovery infrastructure not available on other sites.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25

TIME: 6:30 PM

With National Volunteer Month approaching, the American Red Cross encourages those who are eligible to become volunteer blood donors and support the Red Cross in its lifesaving mission.

PEORIA, Ill. (March 17, 2014) – Potentially lifesaving blood donations can only come from generous volunteers. This April, during National Volunteer Month, the American Red Cross invites eligible donors of all blood types to roll up a sleeve and help meet the constant need for donated blood.

Approximately 5,600 times a day someone receives blood donated through the Red Cross. While all types are needed, donors with type O positive or negative, B negative and A negative are especially encouraged to give.

Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to learn more and schedule an appointment.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

Carroll County

April 3 from 12-5 p.m. at Chadwick Fire Department, 210 Calvert Street in Chadwick, Ill.

Clinton County

April 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Ashford University Regis Hall, 400 N. Bluff in Clinton, Iowa

April 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Prince of Peace Academy Grade School, 312 S. 4th Street in Clinton, Iowa

Henry County

April 8 from 1:30-5 p.m. at St. Patrick's Church, 201 First St. in Colona, Ill.

April 9 from 2-6 p.m. at First Christian Church, 105 Dwight St. in Kewanee, Ill.

April 14 from 2-6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 108 N. Main in Annawan, Ill.

April 15 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Kewanee OSF St Luke Medical Center, 1051 W. South St. in Kewanee, Ill.

Mercer County

April 7 from 2-6 p.m. at Alexis Community Center, 204 W. Palmer Ave. in Alexis, Ill.

April 8 from 1-6:30 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 121 N. Meridian St. in New Windsor, Ill.

April 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at VFW Hall, 106 SW 3rd Ave. in Aledo, Ill.

Rock Island County

April 11 from 12-5 p.m. at Center for Student Life, 639 38th S.t in Rock Island, Ill.

Whiteside County

April 2 from 2-6 p.m. at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

April 3 from 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. at CGH Medical Center, 100 E. LeFevre Road in Sterling, Ill.

April 8 from 1-6 p.m. at Robert Fulton Community Center, 912 4th St. in Fulton, Ill.

April 9 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sterling High School, 1608 4th Ave. in Sterling, Ill.

April 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at American Red Cross, 112 W. Second St. in Rock Falls, Ill.

April 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Morrison Institute of Technology, 701 Portland in Morrison, Ill.

April 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico CUSD #3, 79 Grove St. in Prophetstown, Ill.

How to donate blood

Simply call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver's license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. The Red Cross is supported in part through generous financial donations from the United Way. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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Spring will officially be hereFriday, making it the perfect time to start planning your spring gardening & landscaping projects. Get free help with a series of four free programs from the Rock Island Public Library and local plant & garden experts!

March 19th, Attracting Bees and Other Pollinators, 6:30 pm at Main Library. Learn how to attract bees and other pollinators to your
garden or yard from the staff from the Nahant Marsh.

March 26th, Teas Me: Growing, Harvesting, and Enjoying Your Own Teas, 6:30 pm at Main Library. Learn how to grow and enjoy
your own teas in your garden or yard from the Mad Farmer, Hannah Forslund. Samples will be provided. Bring your questions!

April 9th, Pollinators - At Your Service, 6:30 pm at Main Library. You know the daytime pollinators because you see them. What about those that come out at night? They don't all fly. What can you do to welcome them? Get to know our area pollinators because you as one person, can make a big difference - come and find out how. Handouts will be available.

April 17th, Putting Some Herbs in Your Life, 6:30 pm at Main Library -Herbs add flavor and color to your garden and your home. Peg Christensen, from QC Herbs, will share her knowledge about herbs, how easily you can add them to most areas of your life - kitchen, bathroom, closets, and more. Bring your questions and your curiosity!

Where? Main Library Community Room, 401 - 19th Street. Free!

Mount Carroll, IL--Timber Lake Playhouse, the professional, non-profit summer theatre of northwest Illinois, will hold auditions for qualified musicians for their summer season on Sunday, April 27th at 2:00 pm at the theatre in Mount Carroll, Illinois.  Auditions for children for the theatre's upcoming production of Les Miserables will follow at 4:00 pm.

The 53rd summer season of Timber Lake Playhouse will include the musicals Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, Les Miserable and Shout! The Mod Musical. All musicals at TLP utilize paid area musicians. Auditions for Bass (upright & electric), Woodwinds, Percussion, Guitar, Brass and Strings will begin at 2:00 pm. Musicians will be seen in 10 minute appointments. They should be prepared to play a selection of their choosing. They might be asked to sight read from one of the shows. For an appointment, please call the theatre at 815-244-2035. TLP is located at 8215 Black Oak Rd in Mount Carroll. Performance dates and rehearsal schedules can be found at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org.

Auditions for the roles of Gavroche, Young Cosette and Young Eponine in Les Miserables will begin at 4:00 pm. The playhouse is seeking a boy aged 8-12 for Gavroche who is a very strong singer and is comfortable on stage. Girls ages 8-10, who are strong singers and very comfortable on stage are encouraged to audition for Young Cosette and Young Eponine. All children should bring a song to sing in the style of the show. They may sing from the show, as well. An accompanist will be provided. These roles are not paid, but a travel stipend may be arranged. All ethnicities are encouraged to attend. Please call the theatre at 815-244-2035 to sign up for auditions.

Additional auditions for children for Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and adults for Young Frankenstein will be held in May. Performers and musicians must be available for all scheduled performances and rehearsals. More information is available at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. Timber Lake Playhouse programs are supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

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