18 Sep 2013

BREW HA HA SET FOR SEPTEMBER 21

By Lora Adams

MOLINE, IL - WQPT's annual Brew Ha Ha tasting event kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21 in LeClaire Park in Downtown Davenport.

"Each year we try to provide something new for our guests," said Bea Brasel, special project coordinator. "This year, we are introducing special limited tastes and a new vendor."

Times and location for the specialty tastings are:

2 p.m., Booth 14, Boulevard's Tank 7

3p.m., Booth 19, August Schell's Octoberfest

3:30 p.m., Booth 14, Boulevard's Harvest Dance White Wine Ale

Johnson Brothers of Iowa, who has been added to this year's vendor lineup, will showcase nine breweries and 25 beers.

Music for the four-hour event will be provided by Jim the Mule, with comedy from the Blacklist Improv Troupe. The traditional games will be back at this year's event, along with cheese-tasting with samples from Cabot Cheese Cooperative.

Advance tickets ($25) are available at  Old Chicago in Bettendorf or CO-OP in either Davenport or Moline. There is a $2 surcharge for purchases at CO-OP. Tickets the day of the event, if available, are $30 (WQPT caps attendance).

Funds from the event support local programming on WQPT, a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline.

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10 Sep 2013

WQPT Ambassadors win national award

By Lora Adams

WQPT AMBASSADORS RECEIVE THE GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY AWARD FOR 2013

 

MOLINE, IL - The WQPT-PBS Ambassadors have been selected to receive the Grassroots Advocacy Award for 2013 from the National Friends of Public Broadcasting (NFPB). A part of the mission of NFPB is to showcase outstanding public broadcasting volunteers, volunteer-led programs, and volunteer program managers from across the nation.

The WQPT-PBS Ambassadors, which is in its ninth year, is a student-oriented program focused on community outreach efforts, as well as fundraising support. The 2013 ambassadors are from Western Illinois University, Augustana College, Black Hawk College, Monmouth College, St. Ambrose University, University of Northern Iowa and St. Francis College of Nursing.


"We understand the importance of being active in our community, but sometimes that can be difficult with a small staff," said Bea Brasel, WQPT special projects coordinator. "We rely on our student ambassadors to represent WQPT in the community to help build reading, science and math skills through our programming. We are delighted that our WQPT-PBS Ambassadors have received this national honor."

The ambassadors will be honored at a ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Riverfront campus.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline, Illinois.

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30 Aug 2013

WQPT LAUNCHES NEW TRAILERS

By Lora Adams

MOLINE, IL -- If you want "real" reality television, look no further than WQPT and PBS.

CHI & Partners, a New York marketing and advertising agency, created a series of fake reality television trailers for public television, comparing absurd reality TV with the quality of public television programming. WQPT will air these trailers throughout October.

At the end of these trailers a plain and simple message is revealed, "The fact that you thought this was a real show says a lot about the state of TV." According to WQPT General Manager Mary Pruess, the trailers are intended to make people realize that although they might occasionally indulge in reality-style programming, it's also important to support a public broadcasting station, which doesn't have a giant marketing force behind it and relies on its members to keep running.

"We saw these spots and thought they were very funny. We asked WNET in New York if they would be willing to allow us to share them with our audience," Pruess added. "While the message is intended as tongue-in-cheek, we want people to stop and think about the value that our public television station delivers to our communities, at no cost. We hope these spots will start a vibrant conversation about quality television and remind viewers why they should support local public television."

The trailers can also be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/pages/WQPT-Quad-Cities-PBS/152046043220 and at wqpt.org.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline, Ill.

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16 Aug 2013

WQPT NAMES ALLISON FOSTER 2013 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

By Lora Adams

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT honored its youngest Volunteer of the Year naming Allison Foster, a 14-year-old freshman at Rock Island High School, the 2013 recipient.

Foster was presented the award by WQPT General Manager Mary Pruess and WQPT Special Projects Coordinator Bea Brasel at a breakfast celebration Aug. 7.

"Allison became involved with WQPT as a member of our Kids Club. As the years have gone by, Allison has continued as a volunteer, including becoming our 'go-to' talent for costume characters," said Brasel. "Volunteers are important to WQPT. In our 30-year history we have relied on more than 7,000 volunteers in various capacities doing everything from stuffing envelopes to serving as pledge talent."

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline, Illinois.

 Allison1146844_10151620818072800_137305295_o.jpg

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02 Jul 2013

DISTRICT THEATRE BECOMES NON-PROFIT ENTITY NEW DIRECTION FOR THE COMING SEASON

By Lora Adams

ROCK ISLAND, IL - The District Theatre (formerly Harrison Hilltop Theatre) has entered a new era.  The theatre, located in downtown Rock Island on 2nd Avenue has completed the process to become a non-profit theatre and has inducted a board of directors, which includes Bryan Tank, Deborah Shippy, Georgia Jecklin, Thomas Hanson, Joseph Maubach, Dana Copell, and Lora Adams.  Matt Mercer is the board president.

"I had wanted to complete the season as planned, but the board and I met and felt that rather than wait to implement our new business strategies with the beginning of the sixth season, we roll them out now," said Tristan Tapscott, District Theatre Artistic Director.

"We looked at our projected expenses and revenue and made the decision to unveil our 'new vision' for the District Theatre immediately," said board president, Mercer.  That new vision included changing some of the lineup for the remainder of the year, partnering with other arts organizations and producing special events like the upcoming roast of Tristan Layne Tapscott on July 20th.  The theatre's website is undergoing a change and will be unveiled later this summer.

Opening June 28 is "Reasons to Be Pretty" followed by, James Fairchild's one man cabaret titled "Out of Character."  New offerings begin August 1st with "Twelve Angry Men" "Let's Face the Music," a musical revue, in September; "The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs" in early October and "The Rocky Horror Show" in late October. November 15-24 will be "The Tempest" with and rounding out the year will be the critically acclaimed musical "A Christmas Carol" by Tapscott and Danny White running December 6 to 15.

"In many ways we are returning to our roots presenting a classic play, a new musical and a contemporary show this fall," said Tapscott

The District Theatre formerly known as Harrison Hilltop theatre, opened in 2008 and moved to their Rock Island location in June 2011. At that time the theatre changed its name to better define its new location in The District of Rock Island.  

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31 May 2013

WQPT AWARDS 2013 BROADCAST SCHOLARSHIP

By Lora Adams

MOLINE, IL - The 2013 WQPT Broadcast Scholarship has been awarded to Victoria Hanson of Cambridge (IL), a senior broadcasting major at Western Illinois University's Macomb campus.

 Victoria Hanson WQPT.jpg

"Victoria is the type of student who simply gets the work done, and she does a quality job at the same time," said Roger Sadler, WIU broadcasting professor.

Hanson is a member of Students in the Illinois News Broadcasters Association, and is a 2013 inductee in the National Broadcasting Society.

"I am so thankful to have won WQPT's broadcast scholarship. My final semester will be this fall, and I can't believe my college years are coming to an end. I am excited for my future,  and thanks to WQPT, I will have a little less financial stress." Hanson said. "I have been a television reporter on WIU's newscast for two years, and I will be a television anchor in the fall for a second semester. I hope to become a television anchor or reporter for a local television station on the East Coast."

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline.

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21 May 2013

Congratulations to the 2013 WQPT winners of the PBS Kids GO! Writers Contest!

By Lora Adams
A special celebration was held in their honor on Sunday, May 19, at the Deere-Wiman House in Moline, IL. Our 16 winners from Kindergarten through 3rd grade won some cool prizes for their outstanding stories, and the first place winners from each grade will go on to compete in the PBS national contest. All 405 children who entered the local contest received certificates for their efforts.

Their stories can be viewed at Butterworth Center in Moline, IL until May 30, at the Family Museum in Bettendorf, IA from June 3 to 16, and at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, IA from June 18 to 30.

(The kids are in order in the photos...first place on left, then second place etc. The names are listed below.)

Kindergarten

First Place                 Rylan Edwards, Ekstrand Elementary, DeWitt, IA

Second Place            Ellie Curnyn, Jane Addams Elementary, Moline, IL

Third Place                Sophia Foad, Cody Elementary, LeClaire, IA

Hon. Mention             Oliver Borders, Longfellow Liberal Arts, Rock Island, IL

 

First Grade

First Place                 Georgia Brunkan, Ed White Elementary, Eldridge, IA

Second Place            Xion Owens-Holst, McKinley Elementary, Davenport, IA

Third Place                Gianna Schwartz, Paul Norton School, Bettendorf, IA

Hon. Mention             Nate Stanger, Garfield School, Davenport, IA

 

Second Grade

First Place                 Paul Schwartz, Paul Norton School, Bettendorf, IA

Second Place            Isabella Jones, Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf, IA

Third Place                Nikhil Ramaraju, Riverdale Heights, Bettendorf, IA

Hon. Mention             Jena Edwards, Ekstrand Elementary, DeWitt, IA

 

Third Grade

First Place                 Dalton Morrow, Harrison Elementary, Davenport, IA

Second Place            Alana Kruse, Morning Star Academy, Davenport, IA

Third Place                Eden Swails, Riverdale Elementary, Port Byron, IL

Hon. Mention             Calla Brunkan, Ed White Elementary, Eldridge, IA

14 May 2013

WQPT RECEIVES WARN GRANT

By Lora Adams

MOLINE, IL -WQPT, Quad Cities PBS has received a grant from the PBS Warning Alert and Response Network (WARN) program to a fund power backup and hardening project for WQPT studios and transmitters.

WQPT will purchase, install and test back-up equipment required to maintain the station's broadcast of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) to cellular telephone companies for up to 72 hours in the event of a power outage. WQPT will have the system installed by August 31.

"We are pleased to be working with PBS and the Department of Commerce on the WARN program. Not only will it improve uninterrupted service to our viewers in times of emergency or crisis, but it will protect their investment in public television," said WQPT Director Mary Pruess.

On June 1, 2010, the Department of Commerce awarded PBS a grant under the WARN Act of 2005, which allowed PBS to implement a project establishing the PBS WARN program. With this grant, PBS assists stations like WQPT comply with an FCC a mandate to provide a backup pathway for sending WEAs from FEMA to cellular phone companies. One year later, the Department of Commerce authorized an additional round of funding, which allowed PBS to award sub-grants for the purchase and installation of the generators, UPS systems and related power backup and hardening equipment that would ensure continuous dissemination of WEAs.

For more information on Wireless Emergency Alerts and the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) visit http://www.pbs.org/about/WARN.

WQPT signed on the air November 3, 1983. WQPT's signal covers all or part of 10 counties in western Illinois and three in eastern Iowa. The station reaches 309,000 households and estimates 50,000 households view the station on a weekly basis.

WQPT is a public media service of Western Illinois University Quad Cities located in Moline, IL.

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07 May 2013

2013 WQPT WRITERS CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED

By Lora Adams

MOLINE, IL -- WQPT received more than 400 stories from students in kindergarten through third grade for the annual PBS Kids Go Writers Contest. Sixteen winners (four from each grade) were selected by educators and contest sponsors. The winners and their families will be honored and awarded prizes at Deere-Wiman House at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19.

"We received a record number of stories this year. We are thrilled that so many teachers and parents encouraged their young authors and illustrators to participate," said Ana Kehoe, WQPT's educational outreach director.

Kindergarten

First Place: Rylan Edwards, Ekstrand Elementary, DeWitt, IA

Second Place: Ellie Curnyn, Jane Addams Elementary, Moline, IL

Third Place: Sophia Foad, Cody Elementary School, LeClaire, IA

Honorable Mention: Oliver Borders, Longfellow Liberal Arts, Rock Island, IL

 

First grade

First Place: Georgia Brunkan, Ed White Elementary, Eldridge, IA

Second Place: Xion Owens-Holst, McKinley Elementary, Davenport, IA

Third Place: Gianna Schwartz, Paul Norton School, Bettendorf, IA

Honorable Mention: Nate Stanger, Garfield School, Davenport, IA

 

Second grade

First Place: Paul Schwartz, Paul Norton School, Bettendorf, IA

Second Place: Isabella Jones, Rivermont Collegiate, Bettendorf, IA

Third Place: Nikhil Ramaraju, Riverdale Heights Elementary, Bettendorf, IA

Honorable Mention: Jena Edwards, Ekstrand Elementary, DeWitt, IA

 

Third grade

First Place: Dalton Morrow, Harrison Elementary, Davenport, IA

Second Place: Alana Kruse, Morning Star Academy, Bettendorf, IA

Third Place: Eden Swails, Riverdale Elementary, Port Byron, IL

Honorable Mention: Calla Brunkan, Ed White Elementary, Eldridge, IA

 

All the entries will be returned, along with a certificate from PBS. Stories will be displayed at the Butterworth Center from May 19-30; the Family Museum from June 3-16; and Figge Art Museum from June 18-30.

The contest is supported by WQPT-Quad Cities PBS, the Butterworth Center, Deere-Wiman House, Family Museum in Bettendorf, Figge Art Museum and the Midwest Writing Center.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University - Quad Cities located in Moline, Illinois.

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30 Apr 2013

WINNER OF RIVERVISION VIDEO CONTEST

By Lora Adams

MOLINE, IL - The Moline Foundation awarded Sean Turnipseed of Moline, a senior elementary education student at Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, a $500 educational stipend for his winning entry in the River Vision 2020 video contest. The award was presented at a ceremony    April 22 at the WIU-QC Riverfront campus.

River Vision 2020 consisted of three community conversations attended by 65 residents and business owners from both sides of the river. The River Vision 2020 website had 3,300 views and 2,400 votes were cast online for the video competition. River Vision 2020 is set to move on to the next phase of the riverfront project.

River Vision 2020 has been a partnership between WQPT, The Moline Foundation, Renew Moline and the City of Moline.

For more information on River Vision 2020, visit wqpt.org/rivervision2020.

WQPT is a public media service of Western Illinois University Quad Cities located in Moline, IL.          

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Photo of Scott Turnipseed and Joy Boruff of the Moline Foundation.  

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