The LeClaire Information Center (LIC), operated by the LeClaire Office of Tourism, is located at the corner of Cody Road and Jones Street in downtown LeClaire (122 N. Cody Road). Since the Grand Opening on August 3^rd 2012, over 17,500 guests have been welcomed, including tourists, LeClaire residents and potential business owners. Information about LeClaire attractions and businesses, business opportunities, and other items of interest has been shared. Out-of-town visitors quickly recognize LeClaire's hospitality and appreciate receiving information that isn't available from the Internet or a GPS system. The volunteers enjoy sharing what makes LeClaire a unique community in the Quad Cities area.

On Thursday, September 19^th from 4-6pm, the public is invited to an Open House celebrating the center's "First Anniversary." The event will include light refreshments and the opportunity to discover what the LIC offers residents and tourists. The festivities will conclude with a short program honoring our volunteers at 5:30pm.

Cindy Bruhn, LeClaire Tourism Manager, says, "We are always looking for additional volunteers. Plus, Pleasant Valley High School students (accompanied by a parent) can apply their volunteer hours to the school's "service learning" requirement for graduation." Training (for students and adults) only takes about an hour and volunteers are able to schedule hours through online scheduling software. Please contact Cindy at info@visitleclaire.com or 563-289-4242, ext. 1135, if you are interested in volunteering or would like more information.

Please join us for the Open House or stop in and visit us any time. The LIC is open from 10am - 4pm Monday - Saturday, Noon-4pm on Sunday.

 

LeClaire Information Center Open House & Volunteer Recognition

122 N. Cody Road

Thursday, September 19, 2013, 4-6pm

Volunteer Recognition, 5:30pm 

 

LeClaire, Iowa is located at a point where the Mississippi River makes a sharp bend to the southwest. LeClaire's historic bond with the river and the bold men who tamed the Upper Rapids is still visible in the homes and buildings they left behind. On May 7, 1979, their homes were recognized as part of the nine-block Cody Road Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. LeClaire's other attractions include the Buffalo Bill Museum/Lone Star Stern Wheeler, Mississippi River Distilling Co., and Antique Archaeology, home of the American Pickers.

For more information on LeClaire visit www.visitleclaire.com.

MOLINE, Ill. (August 29, 2013) - The Quad City Mallards have signed rookie forwards Brendan Turner, Rob Dongara and Tony Rizzi, the Mallards announced today.

"All three of these guys are very promising young players," said Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski.  "Brendan is a very good skater who had a lot of success in college hockey and comes from the same program that produced [former Mallard] Mickey Lang; Rob is another guy who skates well and is the kind of tenacious, hard-nosed player who can be very valuable; and Tony has had success in the power forward role not only because of his size but also because he can really shoot the puck."

Turner, 25, scored nine goals and totaled 17 points in 26 games as a senior at Division III Manhattanville College last season.  The 5' 11", 175-pound Tisdale, Saskatchewan, native produced 23 goals and 52 points in 75 games over the course of his decorated Valiant career.  Turner earned a 2011-12 All-Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference West honorable mention selection after scoring 11 goals and pocketing 27 points in 25 games as a junior.  Last spring Turner helped Manhattanville to the championship game of the ECAC West Tournament and was named to the All-Tournament Team for his efforts.  He also made the ECAC West All-Academic Team each of the last two years.  Before his move to Manhattanville, Turner spent three seasons with the Alberta Junior Hockey League's Lloydminster Bobcats.

Dongara, 23, sat out last season per NCAA rules after transferring from Northeastern to the University of Massachusetts.  In 2011-12, the 5' 10", 175-pound Dongara notched a goal and an assist in 16 games as a Husky sophomore.  He scored six times and collected 14 points in 36 games during his freshman season at N.U.  The Scituate, Massachusetts, product skated in the junior ranks for the North American Hockey League's Springfield Junior Blues and the Eastern Junior Hockey League's Jersey Hitmen before arriving at Northeastern.

Rizzi, a 6' 4", 202-pound 25-year old, scored 13 goals and registered 21 points in 26 games for the University of Ontario Institute of Technology last season.  A native of Kingston, Ontario, Rizzi piled up 49 goals and 103 points in 138 games over five years of university hockey.  He served as an assistant captain in his last two seasons at UOIT and last year won the team's Leadership Award.

Before joining the Ridgebacks, Rizzi sandwiched a pair of seasons (2002-03 and 2007-08) with the Wellington Dukes of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League around a four-year stint in the major junior Ontario Hockey League.   Rizzi spent his first three-plus OHL seasons in his hometown with the Kingston Frontenacs before joining the Peterborough Petes for the bulk of the 2006-07 campaign.

The Mallards will open their seventeenth season- and their fourth in the CHL- when they host the Rapid City Rush on Saturday night, October 19.  Mallards 2013-14 season tickets as well as half season tickets and flex packs are now on sale.  The Mallards offer ticket packages to meet any budget and season ticket holders also receive a host of additional benefits, including a unique season ticket holder Mallards jersey.  More ticket package information is available by calling the Mallards at 309-277-1364 or emailing info@myqcmallards.com.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are approaching their seventeenth season and their fourth in the Central Hockey League.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The i wireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.com.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards.

1 in 5 High School Students Crosses the Street While Distracted by Technology

New study finds 39 percent of distracted teens are texting while crossing

August 29, 2013 - Quad Cities -- One in five high school students and one in eight middle school students crosses the street while distracted, according to a new research report released today by Safe Kids Worldwide.

The report, "Teens and Distraction: An In-Depth Look at Teens' Walking Behaviors," made possible with support from FedEx®, presents an observational study that recorded more than 34,000 middle and high school students crossing the street in a school zone. Conducted in 17 states and 68 schools, the study looked at whether teens are crossing the street while distracted, and if so, what devices they are using.

According to the research, 39 percent of the students who are crossing the street while distracted are typing on a cell phone and 39 percent are listening to headphones. The remaining students are talking on the phone (20 percent) or using another electronic device, such as a tablet or game (2 percent).

The study was developed to explore findings from a 2012 Safe Kids report that found pedestrian injuries among 16-19 year olds increased 25 percent over the previous five years. Teens now account for half of all pedestrian deaths among children 19 and under.

"We suspected that the increase was due to distraction by mobile devices, but there was not much data to support that conclusion," said Keene Hart Safe Kids Quad Cities. To understand the scope of the problem, we activated our network to observe 34,000 students crossing in school zones. The findings were alarming."

In addition to the observational survey, the study also describes findings from discussions with more than 2,400 students. Almost half of the students (49 percent) say they use a cell phone while walking to school. Four out of 10 say they listen to music while walking. Interestingly, while teens are at the greatest risk for pedestrian crashes, only 22 percent of students say it is kids their own age who are most likely to be hit by a car while walking.

The report includes public policy measures that would protect walkers, like investments by government in making roads around schools safer.

"Distraction is a big problem, both while driving and walking," said Keene Hart

"Parents, talk to your kids to make sure they are paying full attention when crossing the street. And we adults need to follow our own advice. If we put our devices down, our kids are more likely to do the same."

Safe Kids Quad Cities and FedEx are launching a national effort calling on parents and teens to join the Moment of Silence Campaign and stay safe while walking.

Moment of Silence Campaign

In 2012 Christina Morris-Ward was killed while crossing the street. She was wearing headphones and carrying a cell phone. While mobile devices are part of everyday life, we should remember that putting them down when crossing the street can be the difference between life and death. In memory of Christina and all those who have been killed or injured while crossing the street, Safe Kids is launching the Moment of Silence campaign. It's easy to participate: simply commit to putting your device down and paying attention when crossing the street. Watch the video and learn more about the Moment of Silence campaign at safekids.org.

Tips for Parents

• From the first conversation you have with young children about crossing the street safely, talk about the dangers of distraction.

• Talk to teens about putting down mobile devices while walking and remind them of the importance of looking up, listening and making eye contact when crossing the street.

• Set a good example by putting devices down when you are driving or walking around cars.

Tips for Teens

• Put devices down, look up, listen, and make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street.

• Remember to watch out for cars that are turning or backing up. Walk on sidewalks or paths and cross at street corners with traffic signals and crosswalks when possible.

• Be aware of others who may be distracted–and speak up when you see someone who is distracted.

• If you need to use a cell phone, stop on the sidewalk and find a safe area to talk.

• If you are wearing headphones, pull them down before you cross the street or turn the volume off.

• Driveways and parking lots can be especially dangerous because we are walking close to moving cars. Turn off devices in places where cars are going in unexpected directions, like backing out of a parking spot or turning out of a driveway.

Tips for Drivers

• When driving, look both ways for bikers, walkers or runners who may not be immediately visible or may step into the street unexpectedly.

• Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods and school zones.

• Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.

About Safe Kids Quad Cities

Safe Kids Quad Cities works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Safe Kids Quad Cities is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Safe Kids Quad Cities is led by Genesis-Illini Hospital. For more information, visit safekids.org or Quad Cities Safe Kids on facebook.

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Nova Singers, led by award-winning conductor Dr. Laura L. Lane, is celebrating its 28th 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 12th and 13th with We Sing Life!, a unique and uplifting program that celebrates the strength of the human spirit.  A Nova Christmas in December includes holiday selections that will surprise and delight you.  In February's Music of the Deep North, we bring you folk songs from Sweden, Finland and Latvia, Mäntyjärvi's extraordinary Canticum, and a piece about the northern lights! The season concludes in April with American Genius; Carolyn Suda, cello, and Ian Moschenross, piano, join us for an exploration of exciting and unusual music by Eric Whitacre, Jonathan Dove and more.

The full schedule of performances is as follows:

            We Sing Life!

Saturday, October 12, 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, Moline
Sunday, October 13, 4:00 p.m., Kresge Hall, Knox College, Galesburg

A Nova Christmas
Friday, December 20, 7:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church, Galesburg
Saturday, December 21, 7:30 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport

Music of the Deep North
Friday, February 22, 7:30 p.m., First Lutheran Church, Galesburg
Sunday, February 23, 4:00 p.m., St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport

American Genius, featuring Carolyn Suda, cello, and Ian Moschenross, piano

Friday, April 4, 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, Moline

Sunday, April 6, 4:00 p.m., Kresge Hall, Knox College, Galesburg

 

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

Subscribers to Nova's 2013-2014 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' 28th season is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.