06 Nov 2013

VanDerGinst Holiday Bash to Benefit American Spirit Charities

By Kimberly Pierce
The 6th Annual VanDerGinst Holiday Bash to Benefit American Spirit Charities will be held on Saturday, December 7th at The Stern Center in Rock Island, beginning at 6:30 p.m. This event has become a local holiday favorite.

All proceeds go to American Spirit Charities; helping Veterans, the elderly, children, the arts, the environment, the sick and needy. One hundred percent of the proceeds are used locally!Tickets are $50 in advance or $65 at the door and include beer, wine, soda and food. The entertainment will include local favorite, Funktastic 5, and Chicago favorite, The Shagadelics. There will also be a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, a "Prize Pull" and much more!

Tickets can be secured and more information can be found at www.VanDerGinstHolidayBash.com or www.AmericanSpiritCharities.com or by calling 309-793-1234.
05 Nov 2013

Elvis Presley Tribute Artist Steve Brandes at Theo's

By Theo Grevas

Elvis Presley Tribute Artist Steve Brandes will present his show at Theo's Java Club Cafe, 213 - 17th Street in Rock Island on Friday, November 15th from 7:00pm until 10:00pm.  This event begins a week-long promotion celebrating Theo's Java Club Cafe's 20 years as a local favorite cafe and coffee shop.

Mr. Brandes, from Troy, Illinois, has been entertaining folks as Elvis since 1992.

The cover charge is $1.00, which will get everyone who attends a ticket for door prizes.

Go to Theo's Java Club on Facebook for more information or call Theo's at 309-788-JAVA (5282).

05 Nov 2013

Loebsack to Continue Weeklong "Investing in Iowa's Rural Economy Tour" on Wednesday, Nov. 6th

By Rick Martin

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that he will be holding roundtables in Clinton and Scott Counties to discuss the impact stalled legislation is having on Iowa's rural economy. On his Investing in Iowa's Rural Economy Tour, Loebsack will talk with farmers and other leaders in the rural community about the importance of passing the Farm Bill and the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA). Both pieces of legislation, which are vital to Iowans, have been held up due to political games being played in Washington.

The weeklong series of roundtables will continue TOMORROW, Wednesday, November 6th in DeWitt and Eldridge. Loebsack is also making stops in Muscatine, Des Moines, Lee, Jefferson, Wapello, Clarke, Appanoose and Monroe Counties. Additional locations and details will be announced throughout the week. Media are invited to attend.

 

Investing in Iowa's Rural Economy Tour - Wednesday, Nov 6

Clinton County

10:30am

Clinton County Farm Bureau Office, Board Room

514 8th St.

DeWitt

 

Scott County

1:30pm

Scott County Farm Bureau Office, Board Room

1721 E Le Claire Rd

Eldridge

 

###
05 Nov 2013

A. Robert Lee Publishes IMAGINARIUM: SIGHTINGS, GALLERIES, SIGHTLINES with 2Leaf Press

By Gabrielle David

2Leaf Press is pleased to announce the release of British poet A.Robert Lee's fourth poetry collection, IMAGINARIUM: SIGHTINGS, GALLERIES, SIGHTLINES.

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/05/2013 -- IMAGINARIUM: SIGHTINGS, GALLERIES, SIGHTLINES is A. Robert Lee's latest collection of poetry published by 2Leaf Press.

IMAGINARIUM explores the "Sightings," Galleries" and "Sightlines" of one's imagination. The term "imaginarium" refers to a "place" devoted to stimulating and cultivating the imagination, towards scientific, artistic, commercial, recreational, or a spiritual end. In this collection, Lee explores two connecting keynotes: imagination and sight that explores the way we go about imagining as much as seeing reality.

Lee goes about this using an ekphrastic approach by commemorating a dozen or so celebrated visual artists and their works, among them J.M.W. Turner and Frida Kahlo. He extends the usual meaning of the term to include vantage-points like a French archeological cave, and then expertly frames a run of personal encounters within the heights and widths of buildings and landscapes.

Early reviews for IMAGINARIUM are promising. Anne Waldman, the author of more than 40 collections of poetry and poetics, says: "A voyage with the ever present panoramic A. Robert Lee-- poet, cultural historian, critical writer. This collection is a cartography, a call and response, a resonance and a celebration of "meticulous horizontals", "Einsteinian screams" and other luscious optics and beloved poetries. I appreciate the close reading, scholarship, and delight of these imaginariums."

A. Robert Lee is a retired English Professor who has taught in Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. Internationally-known for both his academic works in multicultural literature. IMAGINARIUM is his fourth book of poetry. British-born, he currently lives in Murcia, Spain.

One part biographical and one part historical re-imagining, IMAGINARIUM: SIGHTINGS, GALLERIES, SIGHTLINES is a delightful yet informative collection that invites readers into a two-way exchange, imagination as seeing, seeing as imagination.

IMAGINARIUM: SIGHTINGS, GALLERIES, SIGHTLINES is available in paperback on Amazon.com for $16.99 and other online outlets. An eBook edition will be available in January 2014.

About 2LEAF PRESS
2LEAF PRESS publishes grassroots writers who are injecting new blood into the contemporary literary scene. We have a growing reputation for producing quality work in a wide variety of genres by ethnically and racially diverse authors. 2LEAF PRESS is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy.

05 Nov 2013

Theo's Java Club Cafe to Celebrate 20 Year Anniversary

By Theo Grevas

Theo's Java Club Cafe, 213 - 17th Street, Rock Island, will be celebrating 20 years in the specialty coffee/cafe business November 15th - November 23rd.

Kicking off the festivities will be "Elvis Presley Tribute Artist" Steve Brandes, live, on stage, on Friday, November 15th from 7-10pm.  More info on Steve can be found at www.stevebrandes.com.

Al through the following week, November 18th - 23rd, Theo's will be offering lunch and drink discounts and door prizes.

Also, more live music is coming back to Theo's beginning with open stage on Thursday nights, from 7:30-10pm with local and regional musical acts on Fridays and Saturdays.

Theo and his friendly staff invite all friends, past and present and future, to stop by for a heartfelt "Thank You" for 20 years!

05 Nov 2013

Chains Once Again Raise the High-Quality Bar They Set for Fast-Food Burgers

By Angie Taylor

CARPINTERIA, Calif. - Nov. 5, 2013 - More than a decade ago, Hardee's® and Carl's Jr.®  proved fast-food consumers can get a burger that rivals sit-down restaurant offerings with the introduction of their 100 percent Black Angus Beef Thickburgers® and Six Dollar Burgers®. Now the chains have upped the ante yet again. Currently rolling out across the country, Carl's Jr. and Hardee's premium burger lines will soon be served on Fresh Baked Buns.

The raw bun dough is given time to rise or "proof" and is then baked, cooled, sliced and served. These are no ordinary hamburger buns in many other ways. Consumers will notice the buns are denser, a little sweeter (bringing out the flavor of the charbroiled 100 percent Black Angus beef patties) and, of course, baked fresh, then grilled so that each one is served perfectly hot, soft and delicious.

Following the recent completion of the Made from Scratch™ buttermilk biscuits roll-out at Carl's Jr., both chains now have ovens installed in virtually all of their locations. In addition to baking fresh biscuits for breakfast, the ovens also make it possible to prepare Fresh Baked Buns for lunch and dinner guests.

"For years, our goal at Carl's Jr. and Hardee's has been to make sit-down restaurant-quality food available to fast-food consumers, but I think we've even gone a step beyond that this time," said Brad Haley, chief marketing officer of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's. "We're now not only the only major fast-food chains to offer 100 percent Black Angus beef burgers, but we're also the only ones to bake premium-quality buns for those burgers fresh in our restaurants, every day. Not many fine-dining restaurants even do that anymore. But, these aren't just basic hamburger buns that we've chosen to bake ourselves rather than have a commercial bakery make for us. They really are as good as or better than you could bake at home. In fact, we knew we were on to something in our test markets when customers started asking if they could buy a bag of buns to take home with them."

The Fresh Baked Buns launch will be supported by advertising created by Los Angeles- and Amsterdam-based creative agency 72andSunny. The commercials will begin airing across the country beginning Nov. 25 and also will be posted on the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's YouTube channels (www.youtube.com/carlsjr and www.youtube.com/hardees).

"Most people love the look and feel of great buns," Haley said. "So, our advertising campaign for Fresh Baked Buns will capitalize on that fact in a fun way."

Fresh Baked Buns are standard on any Six Dollar Thickburger at Carl's Jr. and one-third-pound Thickburgers at Hardee's. They also are available for substitution on any other burger or sandwich offering for an additional charge. Fresh Baked Buns received rave reviews in social media circles during local product tests in select Carl's Jr. and Hardee's locations. Beginning mid-October, the first wave of restaurants began offering the Fresh Baked Buns as a regular menu item. All participating Carl's Jr. and Hardee's restaurants will be serving Fresh Baked Buns by Nov. 14, 2013.

CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc.

CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Carpinteria, Calif. As of October 7, 2013, the Company, through its subsidiaries, had a total of 3,381 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 42 states and 28 foreign countries and U.S. territories worldwide, including 1,402 Carl's Jr.® restaurants and 1,974 Hardee's® restaurants. For more information about CKE Restaurants, please visit www.ckr.com or its brand sites at www.carlsjr.com and www.hardees.com.


05 Nov 2013

MALLARDS WEEKLY UPDATE: NOVEMBER 4, 2013

By Brian Lavelle

 

THIS WEEK

Friday, November 8, 7:05 p.m.

i wireless Center, Moline

Denver Cutthroats vs. Quad City Mallards

 

Saturday, November 9, 7:05 p.m.

i wireless Center, Moline

Denver Cutthroats vs. Quad City Mallards

 

LAST WEEK

Friday, November 1

Quad City 6 St. Charles

Saturday, November 2

Brampton 4 Quad City 3

QUACK TRACKS
Splitsville
Six different Mallards scored and 13 different players recorded points last Friday in the Mallards' 6-1 defeat of St. Charles- the Mallards' most lopsided win of the season.  One night later, the Mallards fell 4-3 in their first ever meeting with the Brampton Beast.

 

Goals, Goals, Goals
The Mallards have scored 25 goals and conceded 22 over their first five games.  They lead the Central Hockey League in goals scored (5.0) per game and allow the second most (4.4) per game.  The Mallards last Saturday failed to score at least four goals in a game for the first time.

 

Home Sweet Home
The Mallards have begun a four-game homestand 1-1-0 and are now 2-2-0 at home this season.

 

Shoot on Sight
The Mallards average a league-high 40.6  shots per game, allow just 29.4 per outing (second fewest in the league) and have outshot the opposition in each of their first five games.

 

Twice as Nice
Vladimir Nikiforov (2-6-8) has recorded two points in each of his last four games.

 

Stop Sign
Last Saturday against Brampton the Mallards' Mike Hellyer (4-4-8) and Mike Stinziani (4-4-8) both went pointless for the first time this season

 

High Five
Mike Monfredo (0-5-5) has picked up an assist in each of the Mallards' first five games.

 

Hello/Goodbye
Defenseman Corbin Baldwin was assigned to the Mallards by the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild Saturday, scored in his Mallard debut Saturday night against Brampton and was recalled by Iowa Sunday.

 

Trifecta
Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel set a personal career high and matched a league season high by posting three assists- all in the third period- last Friday. 

Between The Pipes
Thomas Heemskirk last Friday made 27 saves and allowed just one St. Charles goal while posting the first win by a Mallard starting goaltender this season.


Firsts
Like Baldwin, Jeff Lee and Nicholas Rioux (last Friday) both scored their first Mallard goals last weekend...Heemskirk's win last Friday was his first as a Mallard...Thomas Frazee recorded his first Mallard point- an assist- last Friday.

 

Milestones
Jordan Lane last Saturday played his one hundredth career game...With his goal last Friday Nicholas Rioux reached 50 career points... Matt Duffy has notched 96 career points...Gabriel Levesque has played 96 career games...Darren McMillan has collected 93 career CHL assists.

Special Teams
The Mallards last Friday against St. Charles set a league season high by scoring four power goals (on 12 opportunities).  Three of those goals came on 5-on-3 advantages.  The Mallards rank fourth in the CHL in power play efficiency (20.0 percent).  The Mallards, who have allowed a power play goal in each of their last four games, rank seventh in penalty killing (78.9 percent).

Head to Head
The Mallards this Friday meet the Denver Cutthroats for the first time this season.  That game is the first of four straight between the two clubs.  After hosting the Cutthroats this Friday and Saturday, the Mallards will visit in Denver for games November 15 and 16.  After next weekend, the Mallards will not see the Cutthroats again until they wrap up the season series by playing three straight games against Denver on March 12, 14 and 15.  The Mallards last year went 4-1-0 overall and 3-0-0 at home against Denver in what was the Cutthroats' first season.

 

UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Friday, November 8, 7:05 p.m. - Mallards vs. Denver Cutthroats

$1 Dog/$1 Beer Night Presented by 97X and MetroLINK
Every Friday night home game this season is a $1 Dog/$1 Beer Night of the season presented by 97X.  Fans will be able to purchase $1 beer and $1 hot dogs at iWireless Center concession stands during each of those Friday tilts.

 

Food Drive to Benefit Christian Care Domestic Violence Shelter and Rescue Mission
Fans who donate canned food items at the iWireless Center will receive coupons good $1 off the price of a walk-up ticket to this Friday's game for each item donated (up to a maximum of $3 off per ticket).  Canned food items will be donated to Christian Care Domestic Violence Shelter and Rescue Mission in Rock Island.

 

Saturday, November 9, 7:05 p.m.- Mallards vs. Denver Cutthroats
Military Appreciation Night

The Mallards will recognize those who have served in the armed forces with Military Appreciation Night this Saturday when the team plays its last home game before Veterans' Day.  All current and former members of the military and their families can purchase tickets to that game for just $5. The Mallards would like to thank the numerous local

businesses and season ticket holders who have already purchased Military Night tickets that have been donated to current and former military personnel and their families.

 

ON THE AIR

Fox Sports Radio 1230 is the radio home of Mallards Hockey Presented by Genesis Power Sports Performance.  Mallards games broadcast on AM 1230 also stream live online at www.wfxn.net.  A limited number of Mallards games- including this Friday night's contest- will not air on Fox Sports Radio 1230 due to conflicts with University of Illinois basketball and football and Green Bay Packer football.  Free audio webcasts of games that do not air on AM 1230 are available at myqcmallards.com.  CHL-TV pay-per-view video webcasts of all Mallards games are also available at myqcmallards.com.  For a full Mallards broadcast/webcast schedule, go to myqcmallards.com/schedule/broadcast_schedule/.

 

TICKETS

Single Game Tickets

Single game tickets for all Mallards regular season contests are now available.  Fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com for more information about tickets.  Single game tickets are also available at the i wireless Center box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, through www.ticketmaster.com or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free.  The box office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

 

Group Tickets
Groups of at least ten can receive savings off the walk-up price and a host of other great group benefits.  Mallards group tickets are a great fit for youth organizations, friends, co-workers, family groups, religious groups, school functions and business events.  For more group ticket information, fans can contact the Mallards at (309) 277-1364 or info@myqcmallards.com.

-### Quad City Mallards ### -
05 Nov 2013

Action, tension and scenes of dystopia await in Yvette Araujo's 'Origin'

By Rick Martin

This is the second in a series of twelve novels which follows six individuals who play a crucial role in the fulfillment of an apocalyptic prophecy

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - From the fertile imagination of author Yvette Araujo comes "Origin," an apocalyptic novel opens the thoughts of readers to aspects of life they never thought about. With a compelling and unpredictable story arc, this work of fiction explores the human condition in a setting so desolate. It cleverly melds fiction, history and religion to present a convincing portrait of the end of days.

Set against the backdrop of fictional cities of Modos and Harramog, this book follows the plight of six ordinary people who have long met their demise. Not knowing they are dead and are ancient beings from a million years ago, they now face the age old prophecy of the end of days. These characters are in conflict and torn between their past human lives and their new lives as protectors of mankind. Now, they are part of each other and without each of their supernatural powers, they cannot succeed in fulfilling the prophecy.

 

An excerpt from "Origin":

Zane watched as Morningstar's beauty transformed into The Red Beast?eyes that once glowed with brilliance, turned black and hollow and devoid of the light.

Morningstar disappeared and was immediately delivered on his knees before Him. Morningstar tried to stand but could not rise. In a language only known to the angels, Morningstar was told that the name Morningstar would never be spoken again, and would be forgotten by all. Morningstar, once an angel of amazing beauty, became a stone figure that fell to ash.

With the battle of good versus evil taken to new heights, this book examines different cultures and religions and how people perceive differences. Packed with action, tension and scenes of dystopia, "Origin" is a page-turner certain to please fiction fans and enthusiasts.

For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to www.Xlibris.com.

About the Author

Yvette Araujo has always had a grand fondness for history and the arts.  She writes and directs shorts.  She has a background in psychology. Araujo makes her home between the West Coast and Europe.

 

ORIGIN * by Yvette Araujo

Publication Date: October 31, 2013

Trade Paperback; $19.99; 151 pages; 978-1-4931-0328-7

Trade Hardback; $29.99; 151 pages; 978-1-4931-0329-4

e-book; $3.99; 978-1-4931-0330-0

05 Nov 2013

New, true story tells of love, loss and the meaning of life

By Marketing Services

A cross country bicycle trip mired, bolstered by life reflections

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. - The autobiography of Thomas A. Reis, "Headwinds: The Dead Reckoning of the Heart" (published by AuthorHouse) is a story of perseverance and overcoming, a journey into meaning and hope.

In 1981, at 22 years old, Reis embarked on a solo, 58-day bicycle trip from Florence, Ore. to Chesapeake Bay, Va covering almost 4,000 miles. The journey within proved much greater than his trip on the bike - it became a journey of the heart and soul. Events along the way triggered flashbacks from earlier times in Reis' life, starting with his birth, when the doctor encouraged his parents to pull the plug, to overcoming his disabilities, to surviving the heart-wrenching loss of his twin boys in a unique way.

Other events occur on the trip that are flash forwards into Tom's current life as a professor and therapist as he leads students into discovering the meaning of life, love and relationships.

"People want to know about how to make relationships work, understand love better as so many are so confused by love and want to know the meaning of life," Reis writes. "This book has all of that as well and more."

The story encompasses his experiences as Reis pedals through unexpected snow storms, climbs over 11,000 foot passes, and crosses the Continental Divide. Along the way he has a near death experience as he struggles to complete his trip, hampered and emboldened by his life reflections.

This is a story of redemption and transformation. In it are lessons of inspiration, sorrow, courage, tragedy, hope and joy. It's a book that has it all: Adventure, Pain, Meaning and Love. "You can't help but become a better person by the time you get to the end of the book," Reis reflects.

 

"Headwinds: The Dead Reckoning of the Heart"

By Thomas A. Reis

Hardcover | 6 x 9 in | 212 pages | ISBN 9781491819531

Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 212 pages | ISBN 9781491819524

E-Book | 212 pages | ISBN 9781491819548

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

 

About the Author

Thomas Reis was born in Chicago, Ill. He has graduate degrees in social work and marriage and family therapy. He also worked as a licensed therapist for 12 years. He currently resides in Inver Grove Heights, Minn. He has taught over 5,000 students as a professor in the past 22 years. In 1981, Reis rode his bicycle across the United States, almost 4,000 miles.

05 Nov 2013

Your taxes may be scheduled to increase!

By A. J. Spiker
Your taxes may be scheduled to increase!

Oh, you didn't know?

All across Iowa, local elections are taking place today, Tuesday November 5th.

And on many of the ballots voters are being asked to vote on bond issues that will raise local taxes.

You see, local governments often use these bond issues as a way to raise taxes without raising a stink.

Off year elections have notoriously low turnouts and it's much easier to sneak in tax increases.

That's why it's so important to be aware of these sneaky tax increases and protect your family budget.

And even if you don't live in a town that's holding city-wide elections, remember that county-wide bond issues affect all voters.

Today, Tuesday November 5th is election day across the state and there are sure to be some great candidates in your area.

Support the candidates in your local election that support limiting the size and scope of government.

---
A.J. Spiker
Chairman

Pages

more

Subscribe & Listen to Reader Podcasts

On Stands Now

 

Tagged Content

Two Ways to Subscribe

1. Subscribe to free weekly e-mail content updates.

You'll get both the current official narrative challenge and What's Happenin' in the Quad Cities.
(Did you know we publish a new Real Astrology and RCR Crossword every week?) 

Subscribe!

* indicates required

2. Get 12 monthly issues mailed first class for $48

Get 12 issues mailed monthly for $48 per year.

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Subscribe now.

 
 

Meetings Calendar

Kids Calendar

Eat & Drink Calendar