28 Sep 2012

Open House Update, The Book Rack Moves to Larger, High-Traffic Location

By Mark McLaughlin
UPDATE:  The Book Rack has moved from Duck Creek Plaza in Bettendorf, Iowa, to a larger store in Davenport, and on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., The Book Rack will host an Open House with refreshments at their new location, 4764 Elmore Ave., Davenport, to thank the community for all the support it has shown The Book Rack over the years.
Bob Applegate of The Book Rack
Bob Applegate of The Book Rack.
Customers visit The Book Rack's two Quad-Cities locations (Davenport and Moline) from as far away as Clinton, Fulton, Aledo, Dubuque, Muscatine, Geneseo and beyond.
IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - After 30 years at the same location, The Book Rack in Bettendorf, Iowa, is moving to a new location on Elmore Avenue in Davenport, effective Sept. 24.
According to bookstore owner Bob Applegate, the decision to move the store's Iowa location after three decades was a matter of planning for the future.
"We had two locations - a new one in Moline and the older one in Bettendorf's Duck Creek Plaza," he said. "The larger, more visible facility in Moline quickly surpassed the Duck Creek site in sales, even though it's only been in Moline for two years. The Bettendorf store, though successful, was limited by its size and location."
The Moline store is located in Rock River Plaza at 3937 41st Ave. Dr., Moline, Illinois. The new Davenport store can be found at 4764 Elmore Ave., across the roadway from Best Buy.
Bob Applegate and his wife, Claudia, bought The Book Rack's Quad-City franchise four years ago after retiring from the Rock Island Arsenal, satisfying their entrepreneurial spirit at an age when others are thinking about leaving the 9-to-5 workday.
"Something Had to Be Done"
According to Applegate, the biggest problem with the Duck Creek Plaza location was that it was out of the public's line of vision. "It's across a parking lot from Home Depot, and really, you could only see it from Home Depot," he said. "It never benefited from its proximity to Schnuck's, even though that high-traffic supermarket was right around the corner."
Plus, the Bettendorf location was just too small. "It needed to hold a lot more inventory to compare to the Moline location," Applegate said. "Something had to be done."
After considering various sectors of the Quad-Cities for a new location, Applegate decided to move the Duck Creek Plaza store to Elmore Avenue. "The new location has much better visibility and ample storefront parking," he said.
How The Book Rack Works
According to Applegate, The Book Rack gives customers store credit on the books they bring in, for 25 percent of the cover value of paperbacks. They accept mass-market and trade paperbacks, as well as selected hardcovers. "We welcome the opportunity to look at any book," he said. They may decline a book if they have too many copies or if the book is in bad shape.
The Book Rack sells paperback books priced at half the cover price. They accept store credit up to 50 percent off the sale price of used paperbacks that the customer buys. They can special-order almost any book for a discount.
"Our customer service includes a Book Search feature," Applegate said. "If you're looking for a favorite book or author, we'll let you know when the item comes in. Our system will also tell you if you've bought a particular book before, in case you're a voracious reader and have forgotten the titles of what you've read before."
A Widespread Clientele
According to Applegate, customers visit The Book Rack's locations from as far away as Clinton, Fulton, Aledo, Dubuque, Muscatine, Geneseo and beyond.
"We have between 55,000 and 60,000 books in stock in Moline," Applegate said. "The Duck Creek location could only hold 20,000 titles. The Davenport store will start out with 35,000 titles and grow from there." He noted that his stores do not suffer from any clutter. "It's all as neatly filed as any library," he said, "and clean, with no dust." Also, The Book Rack has about 1,800 books listed on Amazon.com.
"Our tagline is, 'It just makes sense to get your books at The Book Rack.'" Applegate said. "That applies whether you're buying from us at our locations or online. We encourage folks to visit the stores regularly, since the inventory changes and you never know what great books you'll find once you start browsing."
For more information, call (309) 797-1985, Moline, or (563) 355-2310, Davenport. You can also visit The Book Rack online at www.thebookrackqc.com.
SIDEBARS:

A Bumper-Crop of Book Genres
The selection at The Book Rack includes, but is not limited to, the following genres:

General fiction
Nonfiction
New books
Special orders
Historical romance
Paranormal romance
Young adult
Children's fiction
Early readers
Mystery
Science-fiction
Horror
Western
Historical
Classic literature
Faith and value

A Program to Aid Educators
Some customers of The Book Rack have $1,000-plus in store credit. Customers can donate part of their store credit to a teacher's program fund.
Teachers, in turn, can use part of that donated fund to pay up to half their purchases for classroom libraries.
27 Feb 2012

Success During a Downturn: Thanks to Teamwork, Construction Company Thrives During Industry Slump

By Mark McLaughlin
IA/IL QUAD CITIES - Bush Construction Company, Inc., has made huge strides since the firm was founded in 2008, going from zero to $18 million in revenue in its first full year of business. According to A.J. Loss, President of Bush Construction, the company has been awarded more than $60 million in projects to date. What makes the company's growth so exceptional is the fact that it took place during a nationwide recession with an accompanying construction industry slump.
The company has succeeded in its endeavors through a collaborative approach to business, Loss stated. "Through collaborative relationships with our clients, designers and subcontractors, we have established an unconventional approach to the world of commercial building construction," he said. "This high degree of collaboration is only possible in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect."
The company believes strongly in the power of teamwork, Loss noted."By embracing a collaborative environment with our project teams," he said, "we have been able to deliver some very complex projects on time, under budget and with happy clients."
Providing a high level of customer service is always a top priority at Bush Construction, Loss added. "From inception to completion, each project receives the time, skills, and attention needed for success," he said. "Clients often comment on our team's willingness to go above and beyond expectations representing their best interests."
Bush Construction is a general contractor, design-builder, and professional construction manager. Their team members have worked on a wide range of industrial, educational, government and commercial projects in the Quad-Cities and throughout the Midwest.
Teamwork on Behalf of the Community
Bush Construction maintained its early growth while handling a number of philanthropic projects, spending considerable time and resources in the community. Recently, Bush Construction was honored during the 23rd annual Hard Hat awards presentation. Bush received the Collette Hinrichsen Award for Philanthropy for their contributions to the Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation (RIEGC).
Bush Construction worked with RIEGC on the Jackson Square project, a brownfield area in downtown Rock Island, Illinois, that was turned into an attractive 30-unit apartment complex. Bush Construction acted as Construction Manager on the project. RIEGC, the owner of the property, attained the necessary funding for the project.
The Hard Hat awards recognize investment in the community and were presented by RIEGC, Renaissance Rock Island, The Development Association of Rock Island, and The District of Rock Island.
"The Illinois Oil Products warehouse used to operate on the property," said Ryan Schertz, Bush Construction Superintendent in charge of the project, who was the on-site manager for all activities on the site. "The work took about 15 months. The land had environmental issues. It was a brownfield site with multiple tanks and lots of oil everywhere. There were tanks within the building as well as underground. We had chemical infiltration throughout the site that needed to be remediated."
According to Rob Davis, Bush Construction Project Manager for the Jackson Square project, the environmental concerns were the No. 1 challenge. EnviroNET, Inc., was the environmental contractor. "Remedial action was carried out while construction was taking place, so both endeavors had to be coordinated for greatest efficiency," Davis said. "When the project was done, we received a clean bill of health for the land. The EPA confirmed that no further action was required."
"The community is ecstatic about the way Jackson Square turned out," Schertz said. "It was quite a transformation."
The success of the Bush Construction team relied strongly on the combined talents of its members, Schertz added. "The staff is highly experienced," he said. "The team really makes a difference. What we can handle is pretty limitless for us."
The Best People for the Best Results
According to Loss, Bush Construction is committed to finding and retaining the best staff members. "We give careful consideration to every resume we receive," he said. "It takes the best people to bring about the best results."
The teamwork manifesto at Bush Construction also extends to its clientele and subcontractors, Loss noted. "Building a strong customer relationship takes daily diligence, planning, care and ongoing communication," he said. "We listen to what our clients have to say, since we are helping to build the future success of their businesses. We treat our subcontractors as team members as well by working with them in an ethical manner. Our unwavering position against bid-shopping and our commitment to ensuring timely payments to our subcontractors has reinforced these important relationships and, in turn, provided a unique market advantage. Teamwork is the key to success in construction - and really, in any industry."
Teamwork Turns an Urban Brownfield into a Green Success

Bush Construction Company, Inc., recently received the Collette Hinrichsen Award for Philanthropy for their contributions to the Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation (RIEGC). RIEGC was the developer of the Jackson Square project in downtown Rock Island, Illinois. Bush Construction acted as the Construction Manager on the project and EnviroNET, Inc., served as the environmental contractor.
Bush Construction was instrumental in turning an urban brownfield area into an attractive 30-unit apartment complex. The site used to house the Illinois Oil Products warehouse and much work needed to be done before the property could be used as a residential area.
"EnviroNET, Inc., provided the remedial action plan, collected soil samples, did the modeling, and determined how the contaminated soil might migrate," said Rob Davis, Project Manager for Bush Construction. "Rainwater can drive contaminants deeper into the ground. The pollutants travel below the grade and along the bedrock, and can be forced into more porous materials along the way."
Thorough documentation of the contamination was needed. Based on the models provided by EnviroNET, plans for the ecological renewal of the property were approved by the federal and state Environmental Protection Agency.
"The contractor hauled off the contaminated soil, and work performed by Bush was scheduled around that contractor," Davis said. "This closely coordinated teamwork allowed the project to proceed at a steady, efficient pace."
The brownfield included underground tanks, Davis noted, so the contractor pumped the tanks dry, rendering them harmless, and then filled them with a flowable grout material. The site also included cisterns, and for those, they removed the walls to below ground level. They packed the cisterns with sand and left them in place.
"Architecturally speaking, the designs for the project were based on the existing buildings," Davis said. "We did not want to lose the historical significance of the area. So, storage tanks were used decoratively as planters to keep the architectural heritage intact. We wanted to keep the flavor of the past and make Jackson Square a historical point of interest."
Davis added that Jackson Square represents a major step forward for Rock Island's downtown community. "You would never guess that this attractive residential area with green spaces used to be a brownfield," he said. "The entire Bush team is proud to be a part of this project."
17 Feb 2012

War Requiem: An International Musical Experience Comes to the Quad-Cities

By Mark McLaughlin
IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - "It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty of loneliness and of pain: of strength and freedom." That compelling quote comes from Benjamin Britten, the creator of War Requiem, an epic work that addresses the grim reality of war through stirring, beautiful music.
"War Requiem is a large-scale, non-liturgical setting of the Requiem Mass," said Jared Johnson, Marketing Director of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO). "It was composed in 1961 and is a timeless masterpiece that holds great social significance in any era. This powerful work will put hundreds of performers on stage including our orchestra, several college choirs, the Minnestota BoyChoir, and even a secondary chamber orchestra from Detmold, Germany."
The War Requiem will be presented 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3 at the Adler Theatre, Davenport, IA, and again 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at Centennial Hall, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL.
The QCSO, the University of Minnesota School of Music, and the Hochschüle für Musik in Detmold, Germany, under the leadership of QCSO Music Director Mark Russell Smith, have embarked on an international collaboration to perform Britten's War Requiem. This thought-provoking work combines a setting of the Requiem Mass with nine poems by Wilfred Owen, an English poet and World War I soldier.

The War Requiem was written for the 1962 consecration of the newly reconstructed Coventry Cathedral, in Coventry, England, rebuilt after its destruction by the German Air Force during World War II.

A Musical Work of Epic Scale
"The War Requiem is scored for soprano, tenor and baritone soloists, chorus, boys' choir, organ, a full orchestra and a chamber orchestra," said Johnson. To present the work in its full glory, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra production will include the talents of the following individuals and groups:
Mark Russell Smith, Conductor
Caroline Thomas, Soprano
John De Haan, Tenor
Philip Zawisza, Baritone
Chamber Orchestra from Hochschule fur Musik in Detmold, Germany
Karl-Heinz Bloemeke, Chamber Orchestra Conductor
The Minnesota Boychoir
Mark Johnson, Boychoir Conductor
The University of Minnesota Chorale
Kathy Romey, Director
Macalester College Concerti Choir
Matthew Mehaffey, Director
Augustana College Choir
Jon Hurty, Director
Quad City Choral Arts
Jon Hurty, Director
A Life Dedicated to Music
Britten (1913 -1976) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist, as well as a central figure of 20th century British classical music. His first major accomplishment was the 1934 a cappella choral work, A Boy Was Born. Britten gained international fame when his opera, Peter Grimes, premiered in 1945. Other operas by Britten include The Rape of Lucretia, Albert Herring, The Beggar's Opera, Billy Budd, Gloriana, The Turn of the Screw, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Death in Venice, among others.
War Requiem will be performed in Germany in mid-February and at the University of Minnesota on March 1. The Norwegian Nobel Institute will hold its 23rd annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Minnesota from March 1 to 3 to coincide with the University of Minnesota performance. War Requiem will conclude its historic run here in the Quad Cities on March 3 and 4.
For ticket information, call the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Box Office at 563-322-QCSO (7276) or visit www.qcsymphony.com. Members of the military and their families are eligible for free War Requiem tickets through the USO of Illinois.
-- End --

SIDEBAR:

Britten Peace Project: Quad Cities
Inspired by War Requiem, organizations throughout the Quad-Cities have announced projects designed to elucidate the experience, expand upon the context of the War Requiem, and connect the tragic experiences of the 20th century to our own ongoing global conflicts. Britten Peace Project: Quad Cities is sponsored by the Riverboat Development Authority.

In addition to the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's performances of War Requiem, March 3-4, current and forthcoming Britten Peace Project: Quad Cities events include :
Through Friday, February 24:
The German American Heritage Center, Davenport, IA, is presenting "The White Rose," an exhibit which explores one of Germany's most famous civilian resistance groups, formed by university students in Munich in the early 1940s.
6:30 p.m. Friday, February 24:
The Quad City Symphony Orchestra will present War Requiem, a film by Derek Jarman, at the Figge Art Museum, Davenport, IA.
2 to 4 p.m., Every Sunday in February:
The CommUniversity program, held at St. Ambrose University, will feature Britten's War Requiem: Music with History, Poetry, and More. Four Augustana faculty members will help you to fully appreciate the Quad City Symphony Orchestra's performance of War Requiem.
Saturday, February 25, to Sunday, April 15:
The Figge Art Museum, Davenport, IA, will host the War & Remembrance Art Exhibit, featuring the Erwin Eisch Kristallnacht prints.
March is Red Cross Month:
Nationwide, the American Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year, providing shelter, food, emotional support and more to those affected. All organizations participating in the Britten Peace Project will be accepting donations on behalf of the American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area.
5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 1:
At the Hotel Blackhawk, Davenport, the Inside the Music program will feature George Eaton, Army Sustainment Command Historian, describing the British trench experience in World War I and its influence on the poetry of Wilfred Owens.
5:30 p.m. Friday, March 2:
This lecture event will be held in the Caisson Room, Building 60, down the hall from the Rock Island Arsenal Museum. The lecture, British Trench Experience in World War I as Context for the Poetry of Wilfred Owen, will be presented by George Eaton, Arsenal Sustainment Command Historian. The Rock Island Arsenal Island Museum will be open until 5:30 p.m.
2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 3:
Ballet Quad Cities will present From the Pages of a Young Girl's Life: The Story of Anne Frank at the Holzworth Performing Arts Center, Davenport North High School. The music for this ballet is made up of a variety of selections by Jewish composers.
6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3:
During Concert Conversations at the Adler Theatre, Davenport, IA, host Kai Swanson will talk with Mark Russell Smith, QCSO Music Director.
1 p.m. Sunday, March 4:
During Concert Conversations at the Centennial Hall, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, host Kai Swanson will talk with Mark Russell Smith, QCSO Music Director.
Saturday, March 31, to Monday, May 28:
The Putnam Museum, Davenport, IA, will feature the exhibit, Anne Frank: A History for Today. This powerful exhibit, which includes photographs of the Frank family and other occupants of the Secret Annex, addresses such themes as anti-Semitism, racism, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. As part of the project, the Jewish Federation will host a visit by Holocaust survivor, Eva Geiringer Schloss.
Sunday, April 8, through Tuesday, May 8:
The Rock Island Downtown Public Library will feature Children of the Holocaust by Barbara Powers.
4 p.m. Sunday, April 15:
The Putnam Museum's Giant Screen Theater in Davenport, IA, will show The Rescuers, a film by Michael King.
7 p.m. Sunday, April 22:
Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, is a day for remembering and learning about the horrors of the Holocaust. As part of this remembrance, the Tri-City Jewish Center will feature guest speaker Agnes Schwartz, Holocaust survivor.
7 p.m. Monday, April 23:
In Wallenberg Hall, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, the Geifman Endowment in Holocaust Studies will present a lecture by Holocaust survivor Agnes Schwartz.
4 p.m. Sunday, May 6:
The Putnam Museum's Giant Screen Theater in Davenport, IA, will feature Nicky's Family, a film by Matej Minac.
-- End --



30 Jan 2012

Childcare Available During Valentines Day Celebration

By Mark McLaughlin
Would you and your sweetheart like to enjoy a romantic evening for Valentine's Day - without having to worry about childcare? The Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) and Scott County Family Y are offering a convenient solution that parents and kids alike are sure to enjoy. The news release below tells more.

The QCSO Valentine's Day celebration will provide a full slate of romantic entertainment. In addition to Quad-Citians, we also anticipate that Midwest couples from quite a distance will be driving in for both the Gala and the Concert.
Please note, the starting time of the QCSO Valentine's Day Gala has been changed from 5 p.m. February 11 to 4:30 p.m. (earlier releases on the event state 5 p.m.).

If you have questions for the Scott County Family Y on childcare during the QCSO Valentine's Day celebration, feel free to contact:
Frank Klipsch IV, Corporate Communications Director at the Scott County Family Y at Phone: (563) 332-0234, Ext. 620 or Cell: (563) 570-0770
18 Jan 2012

Love Hits a High Note for Quad City Symphony Orchestra Members

By Mark McLaughlin

 IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - The Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) will perform a special Valentine's Day concert on February 11 and 12 - but for several couples who are members of the QCSO, love is an everyday duet.

Ron Morton, tuba player, and his wife Denise, oboe player, enjoy making beautiful music both at home and in the orchestral ranks of the QCSO. Ron is in his 31st season with the QCSO, while Denise is in her 17th season.
David Greenhoe, principal trumpeter with the Symphony since 1979, and Marie Lindmark, a violinist and singer who recently served as President of Volunteers for Symphony, also enjoy a musical relationship, which has grown even stronger as they've entered their 60s.
The Quad City Symphony Orchestra's Día del Amor/Valentine's Day concert will be held at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, February 11, at the Adler Theatre, 136 E. 3rd St., Davenport, Iowa, and again at 2 p.m., Sunday, February 12, at Centennial Hall, 3703 7th Ave., Rock Island, Illinois.
It's a Family Affair

Ron Morton has a Music Ed degree and Masters in tuba performance from the University of Iowa. He is also a music teacher with the Moline School District No. 40. Denise holds a Bachelors degree in piano performance from the University of Iowa and plays in a woodwind quintet, doing school outreach tours for the QCSO.
"We met in the Hawkeye Marching Band while in college," Ron said. "Denise played tenor sax in the marching band. We've been married 31 years this July. We have many shared memories of amazing performances and rehearsal gaffes which make our shared love of music more rewarding."
"Our oldest son, Zack, on occasion is asked to sub with the Symphony. He plays bass trombone, so he sits right next to Ron in the orchestra," Denise said. "They haven't gotten in trouble yet! It's very gratifying to be able to share such rewarding experiences with our son. All of our four children have taken part in the Holiday Children's Pops chorus. One year, three of them sang, so nearly the whole family was on stage together."
It Just Keeps Getting Better

David Greenhoe and Marie Lindmark agree: Being in love in the 60-something age range is unbelievably romantic. "Music fills our lives, both figuratively and literally," David said.
They first met in April 2003, on the Adler Theatre stage, during a dress rehearsal break of the oratorio, Belshazzar's Feast. According to David, he was seated in the orchestra and Marie was singing. Marie said to David, "It's amazing standing behind you, listening to you play!" He replied, "Well, it's amazing sitting in front of you, listening to you sing!"
David noted, "Former Symphony Music Director Don Schleicher takes full responsibility for our blossoming relationship, since he had programmed Belshazzar's Feast."
Their relationship grew as they met and talked during the 2003 Riverfront Pops Concert and Masterworks performance. Their first date took place in October 2003 at Jumer's Castle Lodge. They enjoyed beef stroganoff and wine, and later, their first kiss. "She told me she would love me for the rest of our lives," David said.
They now celebrate their anniversary every month, so that the numbers will catch up with the anniversary numbers of their friends. "On Valentines Day, we will celebrate 44-1/2 months of marriage," Marie said.
"The music continues to swell!" David said.
A Romantic Repertoire

The Día del Amor/Valentine's Day concert will feature Guest Conductor Alondra de la Parra and renowned guitarist Robert Belinic. Romantic orchestral works to be presented at the concert will include :
  • Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: A symphonic suite composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in the days of Imperial Russia, Scheherazade is based on One Thousand and One Nights, also known as The Arabian Nights. This compelling classic combines thrilling orchestration with exotic legends of the East.
  • Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo: Joaquín Rodrigo, one of the finest Spanish composers of the twentieth century, wrote the Concierto de Aranjuez for classical guitar and orchestra. This beautiful composition was inspired by the gardens at Palacio Real de Aranjuez, the residence of the King of Spain.Boléro by Maurice Ravel: Boléro, a one-movement orchestral piece by Maurice Ravel, was originally composed as a ballet, commissioned by ballerina Ida Rubinstein. The piece is Ravel's most famous composition. An excerpt of Boléro is featured in the 1980 movie 10, and that romantic musical interlude significantly increased sales of recordings of the work.

For tickets, call the Quad City Symphony Orchestra Box Office at (563) 322-QCSO (7276) or visit www.qcsymphony.com.
-- End --

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