The Quad Cities brings its history to life during the spirited month of October with many spooky activities for kids and adults alike!

Climb over an enormous couch, jump on a huge bed, crawl through doors, run through masses of bubbles, and throw dishes at a big dishwasher! It's all part of the Families On! Challenge, the first and only nationwide obstacle race of its kind, and it's coming to the Quad Cities.

Your team can take on the 2.5-mile course together with its 16 over-the-top challenges on Saturday, October 11, 2014, at Credit Island Park, 2200 West River Drive in Davenport, Iowa, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Families, friends, and co-workers can sign up as a team to participate at familieson.com. The challenge does not end with the obstacle course, a Celebration Station brings the fun from the race to the stage. Local youth music, theatre, and dance performances will occur throughout the day.

With a new course this year, the Lagomarcino's Cocoa Beano 5K Race is great fun for the whole family. It starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2014, at Lagomarcino's, 2132 E. 11th Avenue in the Village of East Davenport, Iowa. Race admission includes: High Quality Fleece Vest, Lagomarcino's Chocolate, and the post-race party. Register at lagomarcinos.com. This century-old, family-owned soda fountain is famous for hot fudge sundaes, hand-dipped chocolates, and sponge candy.

Bring your children to celebrate Halloween on Thursday, Oct. 30 in The Downtown Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District of Rock Island, Illinois. During Fright Night visit participating art galleries, shops, and restaurants for spooky surprises throughout the evening from 5-8 p.m. Find treats at the different sites and see whose costume is the best. Storytellers will weave spine-tingling tales; pumpkin carvers will showcase their wicked designs; and kids can join in with make-and-take activities. Free admission.

Hotel Blackhawk, 200 E. 3rd St. in downtown Davenport, Iowa, hosts a Halloween Howling Ball on Friday, October 31, 2014, from 7 p.m. to midnight in the Gold Room. Come in costume for the costume contest; dance the night away; capture the night with photo booth fun; and enjoy appetizers, drinks, and a spooky themed cocktail. Cost is $50 per person. Built in 1915, the Hotel Blackhawk re-opened in 2010 after a multi-million dollar renovation. It is part of the exclusive Autograph Collection Hotels. To purchase tickets, contact 563-484-5906 or visit hotelblackhawk.com for more information.

Starring Domingo Rubio as Count Dracula, this Ballet Quad Cities performance has bold music, edgy choreography, eerie lighting, creative costumes and dynamic dancing all to add up to unforgettable performances on October 17-18. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday at the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 1800 7th Ave. in Moline, Ill. Halloween costumes encouraged for the after-party on Saturday. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit balletquadcities.com or call 309-786-3779.

Augustana College Theatre Department produces The Passion of Dracula on October 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 at 7:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sundays at Bergendoff Hall, 3701 7th Avenue in Rock Island, Illinois. This version of the Dracula legend based on the 1897 Bram Stoker novel is set in the English countryside in 1911 where several village girls have died under mysterious circumstances.

The District Theatre Department presents The Rocky Horror Show in October with shows at 8 p.m. on October 23-Nov. 1. The theatre is located at 1623 2nd Avenue in Rock Island, Ill. Doors open 30 minutes before curtain. Seating is limited. For more information and for ticket reservations, call 309-235-1654 or visit districttheatre.com.

Spend a scenic weekend in the Quad Cities enjoying the beautiful colors and fall activities along the Mississippi River aboard a riverboat cruise on the celebrationbelle.com. It's a great way to see the leaves in their various shades. This non-gaming riverboat is the largest excursion vessel on the upper Mississippi River and offers a variety of daytime and nighttime cruises.

Take an overnight cruise aboard the Riverboat Twilight. Board in LeClaire, Iowa, and cruise to Dubuque, Iowa, for an overnight stay at the Grand Harbor Hotel.

Danielle from "American Pickers" is launching the American Vintage Market, a new breed of show that combines the best of traditional antiques shows and vibrant urban flea markets. It'll be held at the RiverCenter in Davenport October 25-26. The show will be packed with the best finds including furniture, jewelry, household items, electronics, clothing, art, prints, advertising memorabilia and more. Danielle will be on site to tell visitors about her best finds and share insight about the popular show on the History Channel.

Author Scott Chally chronicles visions in 'DO YOU BELIEVE IS IT REAL OR FICTION?'

NORTHEAST, IOWA- In "DO YOU BELIEVE IS IT REAL OR FICTION?" (published by Xlibris) Author Scott Chally writes down how he experienced visions and portents that warned him of the coming end and how through God can humanity be hailed into a new world order.

"DO YOU BELIEVE IS IT REAL OR FICTION?" is a real-life story that gives readers an in-depth look of Chally's childhood, family, teen years, the years spent in the military service, running a business and all the good and bad in his life until he lost it when he was put in the hospital and then diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder/schizo affective disorder.

This is a true life story that takes readers on a journey through the author's mind and how he came to find himself through a myriad of soul searching experiences. "DO YOU BELIEVE IS IT REAL OR FICTION?" is a truly enlightening read that shows humanity's journey into the new world order.

"DO YOU BELIEVE IS IT REAL OR FICTION?"

By Scott Chally

Hardcover | 6x9 in | 500 pages | ISBN 9781499031478

Softcover | 6x9 in | 500 pages | ISBN 9781499031485

E-Book | 500 pages | ISBN 9781499031454

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Scott Chally was born in Illinois but grew up in Iowa. He went into the military, then started his own business and worked in a factory until recently, when he became disabled. He lives with his wife and has six children.

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On Saturday, Sept. 20, more than 300 runners and walkers participated in Modern Woodmen of America's Race to Knock Out Hunger, a 5K charity run/walk to support River Bend Foodbank. In a pre-race ceremony, Modern Woodmen presented River Bend Foodbank with a check for $15,609.49. The donation includes proceeds from participant registration, additional donations and money donated by employees during Modern Woodmen's Knock Out Hunger campaign.

Modern Woodmen, a fraternal financial services organization, planned the Race to Knock Out Hunger to serve as the grand finale of its Knock Out Hunger campaign to support River Bend Foodbank.

"I am extremely proud of the way Modern Woodmen employees and the community took the initiative to support River Bend Foodbank," said President and CEO Kenny Massey. "This is what being 'Fraternal' is all about."

Modern Woodmen volunteers spent over 865 volunteer hours participating in the summer-long campaign to fight local hunger.

"What Modern Woodman has done to support the Foodbank's mission through the Knock Out Hunger Campaign is fantastic. We know that 40 percent of our food ends up on the plate of a hungry child and without the help of wonderful community partners like Modern Woodmen, we could not do what we do." says Tom Laughlin, executive director of River Bend Foodbank.

About the Knock Out Hunger campaign

In 2014, Modern Woodmen selected River Bend Foodbank to support through a Knock Out Hunger campaign. Modern Woodmen employees and members donated time, money and food to the food distribution center.

Some of the efforts included sponsoring multiple mobile food pantry events, a home office food drive and farmer's market and sponsoring backpack programs for local children. In August, Modern Woodmen employees packaged 50,000 meals for hungry families in the Quad Cities in just one day!

River Bend Foodbank is the largest hunger relief organization in the Quad Cities and surrounding communities, distributing more than 8 million pounds of food annually to feed the hungry. The Foodbank serves more than 10,000 individuals every week through its distribution network of 300 charitable feeding programs in a 22-county service area in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

Founded in 1883, Modern Woodmen of America touches lives and secures futures. The fraternal financial services organization offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States.