31 May 2011

Mississippi Valley Fair Fun Cards now on sale

By Phil Roberts

Davenport, Iowa (May 25, 2011) -- Take a stellar lineup of grandstand acts and a variety of free grounds shows and attractions. Add the Evans United Shows Carnival, commercial and craft displays, some great fair food and lots of livestock shows. And you've got the recipe for the 92nd Great Mississippi Valley Fair, being held here Aug. 2-7, at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St.

Fun Cards -- good for daily admission to the grounds and all grandstand shows -- are now for sale at Hy-Vee stores and the fair office. They are $40 each through July 6, then the price goes to $45.

For those without Fun Cards, grounds admission is $10 at the gate for adults and $3 for children 4-12. Children 3 and under are free.

Entertaining in the grandstand this year at the Great Fair are Joe Nichols on Tuesday, Blake Shelton on Wednesday, Darius Rucker on Thursday, the Steve Miller Band on Friday, the Charlie Daniels Band on Saturday and Miranda Lambert on Sunday. All shows begin at 8 p.m., and admission is by Fun Card only. Those 3 and under, however, are admitted free.

Grounds shows and attractions, as always, include some perennial favorites and some newcomers. Fair manager Bob Fox, who books the acts, keeps a close eye on them and doesn't let any one get stale with fair-goers.

In no particular order, the 2011 shows and attractions include the Caboodlestoppers, the Giant Ejector Seat, The Diamonds, Gym Bob's Jamboree with Mike Porter, a diving show, Robinson's Racing Pigs, Kachunga and the Alligator Show, professional break dancers, Frisco's Elephants and Petting Zoo, Todd the Stilt Walker, Michelle's Magic Poodles, a woodcarver, the National Belgian Horse Show, Great Cats, Granpa Cratchet and Dallas, the Fire Guy.

For more information, go to www.mvfair.com or phone (563) 326-5338.

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26 May 2011

The Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild press release

By Colleen Sibthorp
June 7th at 1 PM & 7 PM: The Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild features Janette Dwyer, with her trunk show & lecture on "The Grand Ladies of Quilting...and a Gent".  Janette is a Professional Quilt Appraiser and a former local Quilt shop owner.  She will be doing Quilt Appraisals between programs.  Spaces are limited.  Sign up sheet will be on the program table.

The Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild, organized in 1983, to educate and encourage members in the quilting arts, and to stimulate interest in quilting in the local community.  Guild meetings are the first Tuesday of the month, at 1 PM and 7 PM, at the First Congregational Church, Moline, IL.  Current membership of 350, and is open to anyone who is interested.  Meetings consist of a business meeting, local, regional or national teachers, and a show-and-tell of projects completed by our members.  

The quilt guild participates in many community charity activities by donating time and quilts to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Family Resources, Crisis Pregnancy and Lutheran Social Services. The guild provides community educational demonstrations at local venues, with a biennial quilt show, held at the Mississippi Valley Fair Ground.  

For more information about the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild, visit our website at mvqg.org.
24 May 2011

Independent Scholars' Evening

By Narveen Aryaputri
Due to requests from our co-learners at the ISE, we are continuing through the summer this year, or at least throught the next month till demand stays.  Past custom has been to close for the summer by the middle of  May to reopen in the middle of  Septemeber. This year we are responding to requests to continue ISE.
This summer we will be making entires in the manuscript kept at the Institute. This hand written manuscript is titled: "  Life on the Mississippi: The New Mellinium"  and is about what life is along the Mississpi living in historic river towns along the Mississippi.
All entries are open to the public and hand written with archieval pens provided by the Institute.
Come in and write your memory.
you are leaving a peice of  you that will continue to be handed down generation to generation, long after we are no longer here.
its a peice of  history...
in the making...
Continued  discussions on the presentation by Michael Rosenthal will be held. This discussion is also continuing online on LinkedIn under QC Independent Scholars group discussion. Please join in.
Everyones input is vital and valuable for us all.
Independent Scholars' Evenings are free and open to the public.
Second Floor ofn the Moline Club.
7.00p.m doors open at 6.30pm.
light refreshments and wine are served.
The Independent Scholars' Evenings are sponsored by The Institute for Cultural and Healing Traditions, Ltd. a 501(c)3 at state and federal level organisation according to US.
laws.
The Institute was incorporated in 1996.
24 May 2011

Author Donna Mander-Fiser Book Signing Event

By Nicholas Depew

WHEN: 6-4-11

TIME: 1 - 3 p.m.

WHERE: Cool Beanz Coffee House, 1325 30th St., Rock Island, IL 61201

WHAT: Fiser, a resident of Milan, IL, will be available to sign copies of her Inspirational Memoir, Waiting for Pete to Go Home.

The first time I saw Pete, I thought he looked like a total fool. I was seventeen years old, out of high school, and working at my first job in Springfield, Illinois. Pete was a twenty-year-old college student, and he was thrashing about without any rhythm. It was obvious that he thought he was pretty cool. He was a total turn-off, but little did I know...we would fall in love. While Waiting for Pete to go Home, Donna Mander-Fiser experienced over a year of doubt and frustration. She treaded lonely and unfamiliar waters while caring for her husband in his dying days. She could never have imagined the unresponsive reaction of some friends and the fear of feeling single again. After Pete's death, Donna took comfort in memories of the life she and Pete shared by reminiscing about wedding anniversaries, family traditions, and Pete's fantastically told stories. Join first-time author Donna Mander-Fiser as she learns how to cope with illness, losing a loved one, and finally regaining her own life.

24 May 2011

Sixth Annual Founders Day Celebration

By Ruth Reynolds

The six German Organizations of the Quad Cities:

  • American Schleswig-Holstein Heritage Society

  • German American Family Club

  • German American Heritage Center and Museum

  • German American National Congress

  • German American Pioneer Society

  • Schuetzen Park Guilde

will host their sixth annual Founders Day Celebration at the Walcott Cemetery, Walcott, Ia, on Saturday, May 28, from 9:45-11:00 AM.

The Master of Ceremonies will be former County Recorder Dick Hagen. The Walcott Legion Honor Guard will present the colors followed by Robyn Stender singing the National Anthem. Guest speakers will be State Representative Jeff Kaufmann and Gerald "Butch" Arp. Music will be performed by the ASHHS Choir and poetry read by Dick Stahl.

The area's German organizations invite all to help us pay tribute to those who came before us.

Please bring your own lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather, the event will be canceled.

For further information call (563) 943-2867.

19 May 2011

WQPT'S BREW HA HA SET FOR SEPTEMBER 17TH IN LECLAIRE PARK

By Rick Martin

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT hosts their 12th annual Brew Ha Ha at LeClaire Park in downtown Davenport on Saturday, September 17th from 1 to 5 p.m.

Tickets for Brew Ha Ha are $20.00 prior to the event and $25.00 at the gate. Tickets are available in July at the WQPT offices located at 3800 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 101, Moline; Old Chicago in Bettendorf or at www.wqpt.org. Attendees must be 21 or older. Children in strollers and animals will not be admitted.

Brew Ha Ha is a fundraising event to support WQPT, the local public television station serving eastern Iowa and western Illinois.

# # #

17 May 2011

Figge Feeds Haiti with Kids Against Hunger and Special Guest Volunteer

By Susan Horan

WHAT: A special event in honor of Haitian Flag Day and celebrating the announcement of the upcoming Figge exhibition, Restoring the Spirit: Celebrating Haitian Art, and the recent Haitian Gallery reinstallation.  The Figge is partnering with Kids Against Hunger Your Quad-Cities to bag life saving food which will be delivered to Haiti. The Figge is expecting over 100 people to participate in this event and to bag over 1400 meals. Keith Donohue with www.50give.com will lead the bagging efforts.  Donohue will be visiting the Figge as part of his national volunteer project.

Visit the Figge website for details on the event: http://figgeart.org/Figge-Art-Museum-(1)/May-2011/The-Figge-Feeds-Haiti.aspx

WHEN: 2:00 p.m. - 4:30p.m. Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at the Figge Art Museum, 225 West Second St., Davenport, IA, 52801. There will be a brief program at 2pm with remarks by Figge staff and community members. Haitian gallery tours will be offered at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm by Sally Ruggeberg, a Figge Docent who has spent time volunteering in Haiti.

WHO: The Figge is partnering with Kids Against Hunger Your Quad-Cities and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for this event. Guest volunteers will include :

  • Keith Donohue, a philanthropist volunteering at one non-profit in each state, including the Figge while in Iowa (see www.50give.com for more information on Keith's volunteer project);
  • · Davenport Mayor Bill Gluba;
  • Aldermen Jason Gordon and Bill Boom;
  • Scott County Administrator Dee Bruemmer;
  • Dr. Ralph Saintfort, Haitian born Quad-City doctor.
16 May 2011

German American Heritage Center Event

By Egon Gerdes

The German American Heritage Center will present a companion program to its current temporary exhibit, "Cigar Making in the Quad Cities," on Sunday, May 22 at 2:00 p.m. at the Center.  Local educator Bruce Bufe will craft an oral portrait of his great-great grandfather, a German immigrant who worked as a cigar maker in Moline in the 1880's .

 

 But Franz Gustav Bufe was much, much more - he was a talented artist, a prolific published poet and a keen social critic and activist of his day.  There is much to learn in Gustav Bufe's poems, which will be discussed in translation and enriched with artifacts from his homeland.

 

This program will appeal to all who descend from Germany to America and those who follow local and regional history.   Come join us at GAHC for this first chapter in a continuing series called "My German Story."  Will yours be next?

13 May 2011

Rock Island County Police & Fire Salute to Special Olympians 2011

By Jeff Yerkey

A fund-raiser for Special Olympics Illinois Western Area 4

Join the Public Safety Professionals of Rock Island County in supporting our local Special Olympians

Friday, May 20, 2011 from 5-8pm at the Plumbers & Pipefitters Hall 4600 Blackhawk Rd. Rock Island

D.J. with Karaoke

Food (included with admission): Sloppy Joes, Baked Beans, Potato Chips, Beverage & Dessert

Silent Auction* 50/50 Drawings* Games* Art Table* K-9 Demonstrations*
Emergency Vehicles on display* McGruff the Crime Dog*
The Quad Cities Juggling Club will perform, teach, & play*

Silent Auction Premier Item: John Deere Classic 2011 Package:
2 Anyday Passes, 2 tickets to the UHC Skybox on Thursday July 8 with unlimited food &
beverage, & 1 General Parking Pass. Starting Bid Required is $300.00 (Value Over $550).
*Please Note: The JDC will add, at minimum, a 5% Bonus to the winning bid. All monies
going to S.O.I.L. Place bids @ event or by email @ rhbrunk@mchsi.com, with bid & contact
information, by 12noon on May 20th. Payment due @ closing of auction @ event. Credit Cards
are accepted for payment.

ADULTS: $10.00

PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS & 2 FAMILY MEMBERS OR AN ESCORT ARE FREE!

CHILDREN 12 & UNDER: FREE WITH PAYING ADULT

R.S.V.P.s (not required, but encouraged) & Donations may be sent to:

Salute to Special Olympians
C/O 1527 11th Avenue
Moline, Illinois 61265

Donations to Special Olympics Illinois are tax deductible.
Checks should be made payable to Special Olympics Illinois.

May 20, 2011 Special Olympians Day in Rock Island County, Illinois

Designated as such by county board proclamation.

For event information call: (309) 764-3860 or Email: rhbrunk@mchsi.com

13 May 2011

Flower Baskets Return Downtown Saturday

By Kyle Carter

The Downtown Partnership's popular petunia flower baskets will return throughout Downtown Davenport and the Mississippi riverfront Saturday, May 14.

More flower baskets will be displayed this year - 572, which grew from last year's number of 532. There will also be 116 ground planters bursting with the vibrant colored flora. The new baskets can be found surrounding the Hotel Blackhawk and a portion of 3rd Street between Ripley and Harrison Streets that was recently streetscaped.

According to Adam Holland, Director of Downtown Operations, the flowers are a mix of "Supertunias" that sweep over the top of the baskets as they grow. The wire baskets will be brimming with eye-popping violet, fuchsia, and "tequila sunrise" petunias, which will be in full bloom in June. The Green Thumbers, a local business and chamber member, supply the plants for the project.

Funded by downtown property owners in the Self-Supporting Municipal Improvement District (SSMID), the baskets annually provide downtown Davenport with a fresh look in the spring and summer for its residents, visitors and employees to enjoy.

The Downtown Partnership, a division of Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, is a non-profit organization focused on the strategic growth and beautification of historic downtown Davenport. As administrators of the Self Supporting Municipal Improvement District (SSMID), the Downtown Partnership provides leadership and advocacy for downtown economic development, planning, cultural vitality, events, marketing, and clean-and-safe initiatives.

(end)

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