Community stakeholders and cultural arts professionals to meet June 6

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds were joined by cultural arts leaders at their weekly press conference today to preview the upcoming Iowa Arts Summit on Friday, June 6, 2014. The Summit will bring together community stakeholders, cultural organizations and arts professionals from across the state for a day-long discussion about arts and culture in Iowa.

"The cultural arts continue to transform our communities by elevating our quality of life, generating economic growth and creating job opportunities not only for Iowans directly involved in the arts, but also for the skilled trades and the hospitality industry," said Branstad. "This Summit will be a terrific opportunity for Iowans to learn and share ideas about the arts and the economy and discuss the best options for investing in rural and community development through the arts."

"This important day will foster a greater sense of connectivity across Iowa's cultural landscape and remind us that we all have a stake in ensuring the vitality of Iowa's quality of life," said Reynolds. "We invite and encourage Iowans from all across the state to participate in this important discussion by attending the Iowa Arts Summit on June 6 in Des Moines."

The schedule features dynamic learning sessions with local, regional and national presenters; panel discussions; and presentation of the Governor's Arts Awards. Discussion topics will include the intersection of arts and economy, building public support for the arts, and arts-based rural development as well as contemporary audience marketing strategies, building organizational capacity, and encouraging successful community collaborations. Professional development and networking opportunities will be available as well as featured performances by Iowa City's Working Group Theatre, Ballet Quad Cities and Parranderos Latin Combo of Des Moines.

"We're very excited to bring arts professionals, community leaders and advocates together to discuss arts and culture and the impact they have on Iowa," Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Mary Cownie said. "Iowa has an incredible arts story to tell and we want to empower Iowans with the tools they need to better tell that story."

The Iowa Arts Summit will be 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, June 6, 2014, at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, part of the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. Registration is open now through May 23, 2014 for $45 per person at www.iowaartssummit.com. Discounted rates for students and a limited number of registration scholarships are available.

The Iowa Arts Summit is presented by the Iowa Arts Council with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. IAC is a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Visit www.iowaartscouncil.org or call 515-281-5111 for more information.

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The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state's interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its three divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa; the Iowa Arts Council; and Produce Iowa, the film, television and digital media office that supports media production in Iowa. DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.

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JACKSONVILLE, IL (05/19/2014)(readMedia)-- Illinois College inducted 17 new members into the Epsilon chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Society during a ceremony on May 8, 2014. Each of the following local students are now a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most distinguished honor society:

Elizabeth Manary of Moline

Hannah Oak of Taylor Ridge

One of only 11 colleges in the state of Illinois to offer membership into this distinguished society, the Illinois College Epsilon chapter was founded by Charles Rammelkamp in 1932.

About Illinois College: Founded in 1829, Illinois College is a residential liberal arts college fostering academic excellence rooted in opportunities for experiential learning while preparing students for lifelong success. The college is located in Jacksonville, Ill. With an enrollment of nearly 1,000 students, the college offers over 50 undergraduate programs and a Master of Arts in Education degree program.

Illinois College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Visit www.ic.edu or call 217-245-3595 for more information.

COUGARS' SKULINA, DORRIS NO-HIT BANDITS, 3-0

Quad Cities held hitless for seventh time in 55-year franchise history, first since May 7, 1998

GENEVA, Ill. (May 17, 2014) - Kane County right-hander Tyler Skulina pitched 7 1/3 hitless innings, and left-hander Nathan Dorris got the final five outs of the seventh all-time no-hitter against the Quad Cities Midwest League franchise, coming in the Cougars' 3-0 victory Saturday over the River Bandits at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Kane County (28-14) pitched the eighth no-hitter of its 24-season franchise history. Saturday's feat was the first no-hitter in the Midwest League this season and came one day short of exactly three years after the Cougars' last no-hitter May 18, 2011, when Sugar Ray Marimon went 7 2/3 innings, and Chas Byrne pitched 1 1/3 innings for a 2-0 no-hitter at Cedar Rapids. Quad Cities (19-22) was no-hit Saturday for the first time since May 7, 1998, when Burlington's Lance Davis and Dan Timm combined for a no-hitter.

Skulina (2-1) pitched a perfect first inning, and the Cougars got on the scoreboard within their first two batters against River Bandits right-hander Andrew Thurman (2-3). Right fielder Jake Hannemann drew a leadoff walk, went to second base on a wild pitch, and scored on shortstop Carlos Penalver's single to left-center field. But Thurman got a strikeout, groundout and strikeout to keep the deficit at 1-0.

Skulina started the second inning by hitting first baseman Conrad Gregor with a pitch. A passed ball moved Gregor to second base, but Skulina got a popup by third baseman Jack Mayfield and groundouts by left fielder Ronnie Mitchell and right fielder James Ramsay to end the inning, stranding Gregor at third base - the first of two baserunners left by Quad Cities Saturday.

In the fourth inning, Quad Cities second baseman Chan-Jong Moon drew a leadoff walk, and Gregor drew a one-out walk to put runners at first and second bases. But on the first pitch to Mayfield, catcher Will Remillard threw to first baseman Jacob Rogers to pick off Gregor for the second out. Mayfield struck out to end the inning, beginning a string of the final 16 River Bandits being retired in order.

The Cougars added two runs against Thurman in the fifth inning. Center fielder Trey Martin hit a leadoff double down the left-field line and scored when Thurman made an errant throw to third base on a comeback ground ball by left fielder Shawon Dunston Jr., who reached second base. A wild pitch put Dunston at third, and he scored on Hannemann's sacrifice fly. Thurman was removed after 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs - one earned - on three hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Right-hander Patrick Christensen relieved for 1 1/3 scoreless innings, and right-hander Frederick Tiburcio followed with two perfect innings and four strikeouts in his Midwest League debut.

After Skulina retired his 11th straight hitter on Mitchell's groundout to open the eighth, he was removed from his longest career start to a standing ovation. Dorris escaped the eighth with groundouts by Ramsay and catcher Jake Rodriguez, who caught a no-hitter Tuesday with advanced Class-A Lancaster, but was 0-for-3 on the opposite end Saturday. In the ninth, Dorris struck out shortstop Thomas Lindauer, got center fielder Brett Phillips to fly out to center field, and retired Moon on a groundout to second base to put the date in the record books.

Quad Cities' league-leading team batting average dropped from .279 to .273, but it will seek a four-game series split against Kane County in Sunday's 1 p.m. finale. River Bandits right-hander Jandel Gustave (2-2) is scheduled to face Cougars right-hander Daury Torrez (4-1).

HOLBERTON HITS FOR CYCLE IN BANDITS ROUT

Designated hitter goes 5-for-5 with five RBIs, achieves first cycle by Quad Cities player in nine years

GENEVA, Ill. (May 18, 2014) - Designated hitter Brian Holberton became the first Quad Cities player to hit for the cycle in nine years with his first career triple in the seventh inning Sunday afternoon, and his 5-for-5, five-RBI day carried the River Bandits to a 10-3 win and four-game series split with the first-place Kane County Cougars at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.

Holberton's cycle was the first for the Quad Cities franchise since April 19, 2005, when Brandon Yarbrough doubled, homered, tripled and singled in five at-bats in a 14-10, 11-inning win - also at Kane County. Holberton's cycle is the first in the Midwest League this season.

One day after being no-hit for the eighth time in franchise history, Quad Cities (20-22) got 17 hits against Kane County (28-15). Eight different River Bandits had a hit, and the visitors had at least one hit in eight different innings. Holberton had the only three extra-base hits.

A hitless streak of 11 2/3 innings ended when River Bandits center fielder Brett Phillips led off the game with a single to right field. A wild pickoff throw from right-hander Daury Torrez (4-2) sent Phillips all the way to third base, and shortstop Jack Mayfield brought in Phillips with a groundout. Kane County tied the game, 1-1, on right fielder Yasiel Balaguert's RBI double off right-hander Jandel Gustave (3-2).

Holberton's first at-bat came in the second inning, when he hit a one-out popup behind shortstop that Cougars shortstop Carlos Penalver lost in the sun, allowing Holberton to race to second base for a double. But Torrez and Penalver picked off Holberton to end the inning.

The 1-1 tie remained until the fourth, when Mayfield and first baseman Conrad Gregor hit consecutive singles. Catcher Brett Booth put down a bunt single to the third-base side, and Cougars second baseman Daniel Lockhart committed two errors - a missed a catch at first base and a wild throw to third base - to allow two runs to score and Booth to reach third. Holberton then hit his third home run of the season to right field, making it 5-1. In the fifth inning, Mayfield hit a two-out single and stole second base before scoring on Gregor's RBI single that chased Torrez, who lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs - six earned - on nine hits. Right-hander Michael Wagner allowed a single by Booth, followed by Holberton's RBI single to right field, but Balaguert threw out Booth to end the inning with a 7-1 score.

Gustave retired the final 11 batters of his season-high five-inning start, allowing one earned run on three hits. Right-hander Michael Feliz followed with 3 1/3 innings of relief, allowing two earned runs on four hits - including first baseman Jacob Rogers' seventh-inning solo home run - with two strikeouts. Left-hander Albert Minnis got the final two outs on the mound.

After Mayfield and Gregor hit consecutive singles for the third time in the seventh, Holberton came up with one out. He lined a hit off Wagner into the left-center field gap and raced to third base with a head-first slide as the relay throw got away. Holberton scored his team's 10^th and final run on third baseman Tyler White's sacrifice fly, and he added a ninth-inning single to left-center off right-hander Jose Arias.

Quad Cities opens a six-game homestand at 7 p.m. Monday when it faces Burlington (19-22) for the first time this season. River Bandits right-hander Edison Frias (1-2) is scheduled to face Bees right-hander Elliot Morris (2-1) in the series opener at Modern Woodmen Park.

UP NEXT: The official lighting of the Ferris Wheel will be a part of Markdown Monday when the River Bandits open their next homestand May 19 at Modern Woodmen Park. Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and bleacher tickets, as well as hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos, soda and beer are just $2 each for the 7 p.m. game. Tickets are available online at www.riverbandits.com. Don't miss the great light show that comes with the new Ferris Wheel! To order any of the ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

 

Bucktown Wine Walk May 30th Supports National Alliance on Mental Illness

DAVENPORT, Iowa (May 16, 2014) - The artists of Bucktown Center for the Arts will host a Final Friday Wine Walk Friday May 30, 2014, from 6 to 9 p.m. at 225 East Second Street, Davenport. Guests may purchase a hand-painted wine glass for $20, which entitles them to a wine tasting featuring five featured wines and light snacks. Musicians Donnie Schold and Alicia Whitfield will perform. RSVPs are welcome at: www.facebook.com/bucktownarts/events.

Participating galleries will donate a percentage of their sales during the Wine Walk to sponsor NAMIWalk 2014, a signature fundraising event for the National Alliance on Mental Illness Greater Mississippi Valley. This 34-year old affiliate of the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization provides free education and support programs locally to individuals and families living with mental illness. NAMI's efforts complement the work of mental health professionals by helping families and caregivers provide a strong support network to individuals living with mental illness.

"This is a great way for Bucktown to celebrate May as Mental Health Awareness Month and to kick off the NAMIWalk fundraising season," says Pat Bereskin, an art educator and owner of Atom studio + gallery at Bucktown. "We are partnering with this organization because, as artists, we've witnessed the positive benefits of art therapy for persons recovering from mental illness. In fact, I'm working with returning veterans who have PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental health issues in an art class."

NAMIWalk 2014 is scheduled for September 13 at Centennial Park in Davenport. For further information on NAMIWalk, please visit www.namiwalks.org/greatermississippivalley.

About Bucktown Center for the Arts
Bucktown is a component of Midcoast Fine Arts, a Quad-City nonprofit organization focused on stimulating our community's cultural and economic vitality through the support of regional visual arts and artists. The Center is made up of a dozen unique shops and studios where you can purchase creative, unusual and useable works or art created by local artists. Contact the Center at www.bucktownarts.com or 563-424-1210.

About NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley
NAMI Greater Mississippi Valley is a 34-year old affiliate of the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization. NAMI advocates for early identification, and access to treatment and recovery supports. NAMI provides free programs for individuals living with mental illness and their families that accelerate recovery and prevent further harm. Their programs complement the work of our local mental health professionals. NAMI serves families in Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer counties in Illinois, as well as Clinton, Scott and Muscatine counties in Iowa. Contact NAMI at www.namigmv.org or 563-322-8870.