10 Sep 2015

Nova Singers Announces 30th Season

By Nova Singers
Nova Singers, led by award-winning conductor Dr. Laura L. Lane, is celebrating its 30th season of bringing the finest choral music to audiences in Galesburg and the Quad Cities.  This season includes some wonderful extras, in addition to the superb 20-voice ensemble that the region has come to know and love.  Nova opens the season on October 10th and 11th with Encore! Audience Favorites, a compilation of favorite pieces from the last 30 years.  With Tallis' If ye love me, Duruflé's Ubi caritas, Whitacre's Water Night and many folk songs and spirituals, this program has it all!  In December, A Nova Christmas will feature many familiar carols in traditional arrangements and a few new ones.  Come enjoy an evening of love joy and peace and make celebrating the holidays with Nova Singers a new holiday tradition.  February's concert, The World Beloved, a Bluegrass Mass, is an exciting collaboration between Nova Singers and bluegrass band, Monroe Crossing.   This unique piece combines traditional choral music with folk and bluegrass styles.  Lively and tuneful, yet infinitely moving, you will not want to miss this original work. The season concludes in April with Voices of the Prairie, a unique experience celebrating Midwestern art, poetry and song.  The concert will be paired with works of art by the Midwest Paint Group, and will feature Midwestern composers, songs about the prairie, and the world premiere of a new piece by Abbie Betinis on a poem by Carl Sandburg.  The Quad Cities concert will be held at the Figge Art Museum, and a special reception will follow both concerts.

The full schedule of performances is as follows:
Encore! Audience Favorites
Saturday, October 10, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Hall, Knox College, Galesburg
Sunday, October 11, 4:00 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport
A Nova Christmas
Friday, December 18, 7:30 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport
Saturday, December 19, 7:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church, Galesburg
A World Beloved, A Bluegrass Mass,  featuring Monroe Crossing
Saturday, February 13, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Hall, Knox College, Galesburg
Sunday, February 14, 4:00 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport
Voices of the Prairie,  featuring the Midwest Paint Group
Saturday, April 9, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Hall, Knox College, Galesburg
Sunday, April 10, 4:00 p.m., Figge Art Museum, Davenport

SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW at www.novasingers.com
$60 for adults, $50 for seniors.

Subscribers to Nova's 2015-2016 Season receive four concerts at an excellent discount. Subscription also includes reserved seat at the special Spring Concert/Art Exhibit!

Individual concert tickets available at the door
Fall, Christmas and Winter Concerts: Adults $18, Seniors (65+) $15, Students Free
Spring Concert/Art Exhibit: Adults $25, Seniors (65+) $20, Students Free

Nova Singers is a professional vocal ensemble under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, known for bringing a wide variety of choral music to its audiences, and for the spirit and charm the singers impart to their music.  Dr. Lane has been serving the greater Galesburg and Quad-Cities communities for over twenty-five years, bringing her passion for music and expressive singing to audiences and singers alike.

For more information, call Nova Singers at 309-341-7038 or e-mail nova@knox.edu. Information is also available at www.novasingers.com.  Nova Singers' 30th season is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and the City of Galesburg.
10 Sep 2015

MUNGER: STATE'S BILL BACKLOG TO EXCEED $8.5 BILLION BY DECEMBER WITHOUT BUDGET

By Rich Carter
Comptroller outlines ramifications of continued budget impasse
CHICAGO - Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger announced Wednesday that if the state continues its current rate of spending without a balanced budget, Illinois' backlog of unpaid bills to schools, hospitals, businesses, social services and other vendors will exceed $8.5 billion by the end of the calendar year.

Munger said court orders, consent decrees, and statutory continuing appropriations (including debt service, pension payments, tax refunds and lawmaker salaries) are funding 90 percent of the state's bills even though the General Assembly and Governor have been deadlocked on a budget since July 1.  The problem is, the spending is based on FY 15 levels while revenue is based on FY 16 levels, which is running considerably lower due to the sunset of the temporary tax increase in January.
The unpaid bill estimate does not include payments for higher education, employee-retiree health insurance, student MAP grants, some Lottery winners, commercial spending, and other bills that will not be processed until a budget in place. Those expenses could account for an additional $4.3 billion in spending annually.
"Just over two months ago, I stood before you to warn that if the General Assembly and Governor were unable to pass a balanced budget, there would be severe consequences for the state," Munger said. "Today I'm here to say that those consequences have come to pass and the situation will become more dire the longer we try to fund state services without a budget."
At the end of August, the state's unpaid bills to schools, hospitals, businesses, social service agencies and others totaled about $5.5 billion. That number has grown to $6 billion today. If there is no budget in place and the state's spending trajectory continues, it will enter the New Year on January 1, 2016 owing an estimated $8.5 billion in unpaid bills. As the backlog grows, the state's cash flow gets tighter and payments to nonprofits and other state vendors for provided services face further delays, Munger said.
Munger will continue to prioritize payments to nonprofits that serve children, the elderly, people with developmental or intellectual disabilities, and other vulnerable residents. They depend heavily on state funding and provide critical services at a lower cost than it would cost the state, she said.
"We will continue to do everything in our power to keep the state and our human service organizations afloat, but to be clear - our office performs triage every day simply to ensure the State of Illinois lives up to its core commitments," Munger said. "For the sake of our families, businesses and organizations, it is time for members of the General Assembly to sit down with the Governor to find common ground and pass a balanced budget so we can fund our critical priorities."
(END)
10 Sep 2015

Camp Courageous Hosts 27th Annual Back-To-School Festival

By Jeanne Muellerleile
MONTICELLO, IOWA - The 27th Annual Back-To-School Festival will be held at Camp Courageous Tuesday September 15 from 10:00 am to 2:00. Camp is 5 miles south of Monticello off of highway 38 at 12007 190th Street. Camp Courageous is a year- round recreational and respite care facility for individuals with disabilities. The Back-To-School Festival has become an annual celebration of the new school year for dozens of special education classes throughout the area.
Special education classes are invited to attend this free event and enjoy games, balloon artists, prizes, hayride, wobble buggies, swimming, miniature golf,  a helicopter landing, face painting,  bounce house, train,  a dance and more.  New this year will be a magic show, snow cones and cotton candy!
Lunch is provided for free to the special education students, teachers, volunteers, staff & campers. Camp Courageous traditionally prepares for 1000 participants.
More information on Camp Courageous: Camp Courageous is an exceptional year-round recreational and respite care facility for individuals with disabilities. The camp is run primarily on donations, giving all individuals the opportunity to give through gifts of time, materials, money, and other means that support the camp.
Camp Courageous™ is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization run on donations. PO Box 418, 12007 - 190th St, Monticello IA 52310-0418 • 319-465-5916
10 Sep 2015

Online Art Gallery for the Disabled

By Maggie Burns
The Disability Enterprise Foundation announces the opening of an online art gallery for Iowa artists and artisans with disabilities. The Iowa Disability Creative Works Gallery is designed to showcase the creative talents of Iowans with disabilities and to help them market their creative works. The website for the creative works gallery is www.idcwg.org. The gallery will display photos of creative works accepted by the Gallery review committee, along with an eCommerce feature that allows artists/artisans to sell their works on display. For submission forms and more information contact Maggie Burns by email - maggieburns55@yahoo.com - or by telephone - 319-621-4401; or Tom Walz at 319-530-8765.
10 Sep 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 9/11 - 9/17/2015

By QC Chamber
Sir David Chipperfield, the architect for the Figge Art Musuem, is back in town to celebrate the museum's 10th anniversary! See him tonight during a free reception where he will discuss the unique way the Figge was built, his vision, and other aspects of how our iconic museum came together.
Speaking of the Figge, Beaux Arts Fair is back for its Fall edition! The fair features premier artisans and craftspeople selling paintings, jewelry, pottery, wood working, and more. Head on over to the Figge Plaza to find something truly unique for your collection. Admission is free!
After a visit to Beaux Arts, head toward the river for the Quad-City Symphony Orchestra Pops on Saturday in LeClaire Park. Bring your picnic to Riverfront Pops for a toe tappin' tribute to the greatest names in country music. Music by famed songwriters will be featured including Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Carrie Underwood, and Faith Hill. Let the river and the music flow!
Kick off your weekend at  River Music Experience's Live at 5 with the Downtown Rockin' Daddy's! The Downtown Davenport Partnership is proud to sponsor this week's event, so plan to join us for a fun atmosphere with live outdoor tunes.

food hub The QC Food Hub Canning Series continues this week providing lessons on how to use the pressure can method for canning Zucchini relish. Each student receives a jar of their work to take home and enjoy. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Daytrotter's Sean Moeller sees the QC transforming in to an epicenter for the arts, and we couldn't agree more.   Did you catch this feature article in the Dispatch Argus? As the music culture in the region continues to grow and build on its storied history, it's hard not to love his vision for our future.

Brew Ha Ha
Beer lovers rejoice! We have two awesome beer tasting coming up soon.  NEXT week, the always popular Jaycees of the QC Brew Ha Ha returns to LeClaire Park! In October, mark your calendar for the German Heritage Center & MUGZ event, Arts and Draughts.

For a complete list of the events this week and beyond, visit our event calendar.
See you downtown!
09 Sep 2015

World Famous Figge Architect Sir David Chipperfield in Davenport to Celebrate 10th Anniversary

By Sara Morby

WHO: Sir David Chipperfield and Figge Art Museum staff

WHAT: Sir David Chipperfield will make a short statement about the 10th anniversary and will take questions from the press.  Photo and b-roll opportunity with Sir David Chipperfield and Figge model museum.

WHEN: 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Sep. 10.

WHERE: Figge Art Museum, 225 W. 2nd Street, Davenport.

CONTACT: Sara Morby, Development Assistant, (563) 345-6642 or (309) 373-4711.
09 Sep 2015

Upper Iowa University announces Summer 2015 Dean's List

By Monica Bayer Heaton

FAYETTE, IA (09/09/2015)(readMedia)-- Upper Iowa University announces the Dean's List for the Summer term 2015. To be honored, a student must have earned a minimum 3.50 grade point average for the semester and be enrolled as a full-time student.

Among the honorees were:

Kelly Gillespie, a Nursing major from Muscatine, IA;

Kelly Rasdon, a Nursing major from Davenport, IA;

Chelsea Reuter, a Nursing major from Davenport, IA;

Carly Addington, a Criminal Justice major from Davenport, IA;

Shaneika Allbritton, a Public Administration major from Davenport, IA;

Faris Denger, a Elementary Education major from Davenport, IA;

Monte Harrington, a Human Resources Mgmt major from Davenport, IA;

Jacob Hunter, a Information Technology major from Bettendorf, IA;

Tammy Lubell, a Accounting major from Bettendorf, IA;

XaVeria Mayes, a Psychology major from Davenport, IA;

Jennifer McKinley, a Psychology major from Rock Island, IL;

Nicholas Myers, a All Social Science major from Bettendorf, IA;

Samantha Peiffer, a Non-Matriculated major from Milan, IL;

Bobbi Shannon, a Management major from Geneseo, IL;

About Upper Iowa University Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, not-for-profit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 5,800 students--nationally and internationally--at its Fayette campus, 25 U.S. education centers, as well as centers in Malaysia and Hong Kong. Upper Iowa University is a recognized innovator in offering accredited, quality programs through flexible, multiple delivery systems, including online and self-paced degree programs. With a focus on developing leaders and lifelong learners, UIU provides dual enrollment programs for high school students as well as continuing education and professional development opportunities for learners of any age. For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.

09 Sep 2015

Loebsack Legislation to Grant Flexibility to Manufacturers and Consumers Passes House, Heads to President's Desk

By Randy Stalsberg

WASHINGTON - Congressman Dave Loebsack today applauded the passage of legislation to give manufacturers and consumers more flexibility when it comes to providing and accessing product warranty information. The bipartisan E-Warranty Act of 2015 (H.R. 3154) gives manufacturers the option of fulfilling their warranty notice requirements by posting the information on their website. Loebsack is the lead Democratic cosponsor and joined with Congressman Markwayne Mullin (OK-02) to introduce the bill.

H.R. 3154 is the U.S. House of Representatives companion bill to U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Bill Nelson's (D-Fla.) S. 1359, which passed the U.S. Senate unanimously on July 9, 2015. It passed the House by a vote of 388-2 and now heads to the President's desk for his signature.

"I am pleased this bipartisan legislation, which includes a commonsense update to our nation's decades old warranty requirements, is heading to the President's desk," said Loebsack. "The bill will allow manufacturers to post warranty information online and give consumers easy access to written warranties."

If manufacturers choose to meet their warranty notification requirements by posting the information on their website, it must be in an accessible, conspicuous digital format. Manufacturers must also provide consumers with information on how to access the online warranty and obtain a paper copy, either by including instructions on the product packaging or in the product manual. The bill makes no changes to the rules regarding the content of warranty information.

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09 Sep 2015

DEETZ NAMED MIDWEST LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE WEEK - AGAIN!

By Marco LaNave
River Bandits righty wins award for second straight week - first player in MWL to do so in five years
DAVENPORT, Iowa (September 8, 2015) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander Dean Deetz has been named the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week for his performance during the week of Aug. 31- Sept.7, the Midwest League announced on Tuesday.
The second straight award for Deetz, 21, marks the fourth time a River Bandit has won Midwest League Pitcher of the Week honors this season, following right-handers Angel Heredia and David Paulino, who won the award back-to-back for June 29-July 5 and July 6-12, respectively. Quad Cities last had four awards for Pitcher of the Week in the same season in 2007 when Elvis Hernandez (April 5-12), P.J. Walters (May 7-14), Tyler Herron (June 5-July 2), and Michael Schellinger (July 16-23) took home the award.
Following infielder Mott Hyde, who was the Midwest League Player of the Week for April 27-May 3, Heredia, Paulino and Deetz (twice) give the River Bandits five Midwest League weekly award winners this season. Quad Cities last won five weekly awards in 2007, when on top of Hernandez, Walters, Herron, and Schellinger winning Pitcher of the Week, Steve Hill was the Player of the Week for July 23-30.
Deetz won the award for his starts on Aug.31 at Burlington and Sept. 5 at Beloit, combining for 11 innings of shutout, four-hit baseball. The right-hander struck out three batters and walked two in his two starts in the week, and extended his scoreless-inning streak to 22 1/3 innings, dating back to Aug. 19 against Wisconsin. Deetz was Pitcher of the Month in August for Quad Cities, which posted a 2.65 team ERA in the regular season - best in the Midwest League and in the 56-year franchise history for the Quad Cities Midwest League franchise.
In seven games since joining the River Bandits from Short Season Class-A Tri-City July 29, Deetz has started six games and is 5-1 with a 0.76 ERA, 29 strikeouts, and 13 walks while allowing 17 hits in 35 1/3 innings. In his second season pitching in the Houston Astros organization, Deetz is 9-3 with a 1.70 ERA in 63 2/3 innings with 50 strikeouts and 23 walks, a .169 opponents' average and 0.97 WHIP.
A native of Nixa, Mo., Deetz was drafted by the Astros in the 11th round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.
Deetz is the first River Bandit to win a weekly award twice in one season since Oscar Taveras was Player of the Week July 11-18 and Aug. 22-29 in 2011. Deetz is also the first player in the Midwest League to win consecutive awards since 2010, when Tom Wilhelmsen of Clinton won Pitcher of the Week Aug. 2-9 and Aug. 10-16.
09 Sep 2015

RETIREE BUYS FRANCHISE IN RETIREMENT TO HELP SON'S ENTREPRENEURIAL GOALS

By Mackie Hill

(PORT BYRON, Il.)---Joe King is not one of the many who quit his soul-sucking corporate job to start his own business. On the contrary, King loved his career.

"I am just retiring from John Deere as an Engineering and Quality manager after 37 years," says King. "I had an excellent career with Deere and wouldn't trade it for anything."

Instead, King's focus in buying the franchise is on his son.

"My son wants to run a business and I want to help him get started as part of my retirement plan," says King. "I can't fish all the time."

King's solution was to become a franchisee of, Experimac, the new concept that provides pre-owned computers and devices; repair and upgrade services for laptops, phones and tablets; trade-ins of existing devices; and sales of accessories and software for Apple® devices.

King says his recent move to Apple products helped convince him this was an industry he wanted to work in.

"I am amazed at the simplicity and connectedness of the products and the apps and programs," says King. "And the translation between Windows products now is seamless."

King has noticed he's not the only fan of Apple's products.

"Many people like Apple products and operating systems in spite of their premium price," says King. "We think the idea of selling pre-owned, refurbished and upgraded Apple products will be a big hit with students and others who want Apple but don't want to pay the premium."

These days, everyone is on the lookout for a good deal, but not everyone wants to sacrifice quality in favor of a bargain. With Experimac, they won't have to.

"Many people will buy pre-owned quality tested, upgraded and supported Apple devices," says King. "They will use a more economical repair service for out of warranty work. They'll take advantage of the ability to sell or trade their used product, too."

King isn't worried about competition because, so far, there's no other company quite like Experimac.

"There is nothing that can provide our selection of Apple products and low prices with trade-in and buy back in the area," says King.

King will be in charge of Experimac stores located in the Quad Cities (Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa and Rock Island, East Moline and Moline in Illinois). He will be responsible for bringing the newest concept from industry veteran United Franchise Group throughout the area.

King plans to work with his son to grow the business. To start out, King will be the business manager and his son will be the store manager. Eventually, King will hand the reigns to his son when he decides to retire for good.

ABOUT EXPERIMAC

Experimac is the latest addition to the United Franchise Group family of brands, joining a team with over 30 years of franchise experience. Capitalizing on a sustained demand for Apple® products, Experimac provides pre-owned computers and devices, repair of laptops, phones and tablets, trade-ins of existing devices, sales of accessories and software and upgrades. For more information visit www.experimac.com.

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