Le Claire, Iowa, September 10, 2014 - Mississippi River Distilling Company is breaking ground on a new barrel storage warehouse and patio area in downtown LeClaire.  The nearly four year old distillery is increasing their footprint in order to age more of their popular Cody Road Bourbon and Cody Road Rye whiskies.

The project has been talked about since the distillery's inception in 2010.  "The city owned the land directly south of our building and the vision was always to have some sort of public plaza there." said Mississippi River Distilling Company owner Ryan Burchett.  "The idea was to break up the buildings and allow for river views from the highway.  But we never figured out the details on how it was to be developed because the empty lot to our south hasn't been developed yet."

Over the years, demand for the distillery's Cody Road whiskies has grown.  They now have distribution in 22 states and 3 foreign countries.  "We're thrilled that people want our whiskies.  But with more people buying it, we have to be putting more away in barrels to keep up with demand on down the road." Said Burchett.

As space got tight in the existing facility, owners say the perfect opportunity presented itself right beside them.  "We needed space and the city had an empty lot sitting next door."  Said owner Garrett Burchett.  "So we offered to purchase the lot and develop it in exchange for a public easement on top that would allow for visitors to access the plaza area as originally envisioned.  We gained over 1,400 square feet of barrel storage and a patio; the city gets the public area we all hoped for from the beginning."

LeClaire Mayor Bob Scannell says it is a win-win for everyone.  "From the City's perspective, we have a great business in LeClaire that continues to grow.  With this investment, the distillery gets stronger and we get a nice addition to our riverfront.  It's all done with private dollars and returns the land to the tax rolls. It's just great progress for all of us."

Burchett says the construction should be complete in about 6 weeks. "It's kind of like a big concrete garage, so it shouldn't take too long.  The top will be at street level and will be a large patio with public access from Highway 67.  Our tasting room will have a door out to the plaza as well.  Underneath will be a 57 by 25 foot barrel room."  The project is being handled by Friemel Construction of Bettendorf.

As this construction commences, LeClaire city officials are beginning to consider a separate brewery project to the north of the distillery.  The new Green Tree Brewing Company goes before the LeClaire Planning and Zoning committee on Thursday with hopes to break ground on the LeClaire riverfront later this fall.  "With everything going on in downtown LeClaire, we through this would be the perfect location for our new brewery."  said owner Richard Day.  "With the distillery next door, we think it will make the area even more of a destination and give LeClaire another first class attraction."

The brewery also plans construction of a similar plaza area just north of their building.  "The City has another 25 foot plaza area just north of our development." said Day.  "We're proposing to handle the construction exactly the same way as the distillery has.  We think it's a great solution for all involved."

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The Quad Cities Comic Book Convention will be held on Sunday October 5 at the Ramada Inn in Bettendorf, IA. The Ramada Inn is located at 3020 Utica Rd (I-74 @ Kimberly Rd / Spruce Hills Dr, IA Exit 2). It will be open to the public from 10 AM to 4 PM and admission for the public is free.

Dealers from three states specializing in comic books new and old, toys and related. Or if you have old comics lying around that you no longer want bring them by dealers are buying. For further information contact Alan at (309) 657-1599 or visit www.epguides.com/comics.

Encourages statewide replication of Joliet Community College program 

JOLIET – Sept. 9, 2014. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today celebrated a new partnership between Joliet Junior College (JJC) and the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters that will help boost career readiness. Simon encouraged colleges around Illinois to consider similar partnerships in order to better prepare students to enter the workforce.

"This cooperative arrangement brings together the best of skills training by the carpenters and academic training by JJC," said Simon. "Combining these training programs provide a way for the carpenters union to be recognized for their training, and for individual carpenters to expand their opportunities. And the state is a winner as well, gaining a more able workforce."

Joliet Junior College president Dr. Debra S. Daniels and Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters President Frank Libby hosted the event at JJC Tuesday thanking Lt. Governor Simon for her support of the newly-launched program.

"Partnerships with community organizations, businesses, and other educational institutions are central to our mission," Joliet Junior College President Daniels said. "They are a valuable way to connect individuals with opportunities. This partnership truly exemplifies that."

"On behalf of the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters, I sincerely thank Lt. Governor Simon for her longstanding commitment and dedication to the carpenters," said President Libby. "She has helped to provide an opportunity to many individuals who may never have even dreamed of being able to attend college, let alone earn a degree."

Apprentices or journeymen now have a number of options available through JJC to translate their on-the-job training into college credits and certificates. Options include an associate's degree in general studies that incorporates apprenticeship program completion and on-the-job training, with 20 hours of JJC course credits. JJC also offers several construction management certificates that count on-the-job proficiency toward completion.

Several Illinois colleges, including City Colleges of Chicago, Triton College, the College of DuPage, the College of Lake County and Waubonsee Community College, have either begun similar programs or are currently in talks to launch them. JJC has had about 90 applicants this year.

Applicants have a wide variety of previously earned credits under their belts, from architects looking for career changes, to students with 160 college credits but no degree.

Previously, Simon visited the state's 48 community colleges and 12 public universities to see how the schools are working to improve completion rates and workforce development, and gather ideas on how the state can help schools overcome barriers to completion goals.

As the chair of the Joint Educational Leadership Committee, Simon is working to increase the proportion of working-age adults in Illinois with meaningful college degrees or certificates to 60 percent by 2025.

Nova Singers, led by award-winning conductor Dr. Laura L. Lane, is celebrating its 29th 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 25th and 26th with Stories in Song, a fun program that explores choral works that tell stories.  Look for Eric Whitacre's playful Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine, Dinerstein's emotionally powerful When David Heard, a thrilling Bollywood tune, and a song from the hit movie Frozen!  At A Nova Christmas in December, join the many families who have made celebrating the holidays with Nova Singers their annual tradition!  We'll sing new jazz arrangements of some of your favorite Christmas carols, an African carol with drums, and Kevin Memley's incomparable O Magnum Mysterium.  In February's Journeys & Transformations, Nova presents the world premiere of a new work based on Carl Sandburg's poetry by famed composer Abbie Betinis. Enjoy this thematic program that will take surprising journeys and explore different kinds of transformation, from Vaughan Williams' extraordinary Three Shakespeare Songs, to Rautavaara's dark and intense Suite de Lorca, to the pure joy of Talbot's Santiago. The season concludes in April with Lullabies & Folksongs; harpist, Erin Freund, joins us for gorgeous harmonies of Brahms and the nostalgia and charm of familiar English and American folksongs.  You will also love Conrad Susa's Carols and Lullabies featuring harp, guitar and marimba.

The full schedule of performances is as follows:

Stories in Song

Saturday, October 25, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Hall, Knox College, Galesburg
Sunday, October 26, 4:00 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport

A Nova Christmas
Friday, December 19, 7:30 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport
Saturday, December 20, 7:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church, Galesburg

Journeys & Transformations
Saturday, February 14, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Hall, Knox College, Galesburg
Sunday, February 15, 4:00 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport

Lullabies & Folksongs, featuring Erin Freund, harp

Saturday, April 18, 7:30 p.m., Kresge Hall, Knox College, Galesburg

Sunday, April 19, 4:00 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport

SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW - $60 for adults, $50 for seniors.

Subscribers to Nova's 2014-2015 Season receive four concerts at an excellent discount.

Individual concert tickets available at the door.  Adults $18, Seniors (65+) $15, Students Free.

Nova Singers, a professional vocal ensemble under the direction of Dr. Laura Lane, hope to share this fantastic listening experience with you.  Nova Singers is 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' 29th season is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and the Quad City Arts.