Many of the lighter moments in Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning film Schindler's List came when the industrialist Oskar Schindler protested to German officials that children and people with disabilities were essential to his wartime manufacturing effort.

Leon Leyson, who will speak Monday at the i wireless Center in Moline, was the youngest person in Schindler's factory, and one of roughly 1,200 Jews that he saved from the Nazi death camps.

Another actress crosses over into music next week with the release of Anywhere I Lay My Head from Scarlett Johansson. Featuring one original track, "Song for Jo," co-written with David Sitek of TV on the Radio (who also serves as producer and player), the rest of the CD consists of interpretations of songs by Tom Waits. Guests include Nick Zimmer of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sean Antanaitis of Celebration, and David Bowie on two tracks: "Fannin' Street" and "Falling Down."

For the past two years, Scott County's mental-health and developmental-disability advisory committee has outlined proposed cuts to services. For Fiscal Year 2008 (which ends June 30), the budget reductions totaled $1.7 million. For Fiscal Year 2009, the proposal is just under $1 million.

Deann Thoms, president of Quad City Arts, last week announced the appointment of Carmen Darland as executive director of the organization. Most recently, Darland served 18 years as vice president of marketing for Heart of America Restaurants & Inns and was previously with Davenport Bank & Trust Company (now Wells Fargo). The Des Moines native currently serves on the boards of DavenportOne, Goodwill of the Heartland, and North Scott Educational Foundation. Quad City Arts serves six counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. For more information, visit (http://www.quadcityarts.com).