30 Apr 2013

Local students perform in Augustana College spring play

By Keri Rursch

ROCK ISLAND, IL (04/30/2013)(readMedia)-- The Augustana College Department of Theatre Arts will present Eric Bogosian's subUrbia, the final production of its 2012-2013 season, Balancing Acts. The show premiered this past weekend and will be performed again in Potter Theatre, Bergendoff Hall of Fine Arts (3701 7th Ave.), on May 3-4 at 7:30 p.m. and May 5 at 1:30 p.m.

Students from your area in the play include :

Christine Harb, a sophomore from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in biology and pre-medicine will play the role of Pakeesa.

Students from your area in the play include :

Darshan Hullon, a senior from Moline, Ill., majoring in biology and pre-medicine will play the role of Nazeer.

Students from your area in the play include :

Calivn Vo, a senior from Moline, Ill., majoring in theatre arts and English will play the role of Pony.

Tickets are $11 for the public and $9 for senior citizens, students and Augustana faculty/staff.

The story focuses on three men in their early 20s who spend much of their time in the parking lot of a convenience store in the fictional town of Burnfield. They talk trash, revel in their high school glory days and harass the Pakistani owner of the store. The turning point of this evening is the arrival of an old high school friend who has gone on to become a semi-famous musician, has an album on the charts and a video on MTV.

In the course of the evening, all of the friends congregate in the parking lot and tension mounts as they all realize things are never the same as they once were. The building tension between the friends continues late into the night as relationships are made, tested and broken. As the next day dawns, some of the group have found their way out of Burnfield while the rest are left to deal with a tragedy that could have been any one of them.

"Our hope with this play is that it sparks conversation: about the young people in our own lives who feel hopeless, and how to help them, and create a brighter future with them than the one they can envision for themselves. In the end, we hope that the audience sees why this conversation is an important one to have," said director Dr. Jennifer Popple, fellowship instructor at Augustana.

Tickets can be purchased through the Augustana Ticket Office by calling (309) 794-7306 or by visiting augustana.edu/tickets.

30 Apr 2013

MRDC's First Friday Tips the Hat to the Derby

By Rick Martin

Le Claire, Iowa, April 30, 2013 - On the eve of the Kentucky Derby, the gang at Mississippi River Distilling Company will be preparing Derby themed cocktails and appetizers for the May First Friday, May 3, 5:30-8 p.m.

In the bar a Cody Road Whiskey infused mint julep will be served along with Baron Beer Garitas.  Chef Steph is also honoring the Derby with Derby Day Bourbon BBQ Sauce served over rib tips and Dry Dock "Sorghrum" Coconut Cookie Bars.  As a First Friday bonus, you'll receive a free rocks glass with each bottle of spirits purchased.

Mississippi River Distilling Company products can be found in bars, restaurants and retailers around the Quad Cites, throughout Iowa and Illinois.  The latest seasonal product, Queen Bee Honey Whiskey, is still available at the distillery and at areas retailers.  MRDC is open from 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday and from 12 to 5 PM Sundays.  Free tours are offered to the public daily on the hour from 12 to 4 PM.

#####

30 Apr 2013

Stand up for equality in Scouting

By Congressman Bruce Braley
It was over forty years ago that I joined a Cub Scout Pack in Brooklyn, Iowa. I worked hard to become a Bobcat, Wolf, Bear and Lion. I was proud to build my own Pinewood Derby car and thrilled when my car won First Place. I was blessed to have great adult leaders who were Den Mothers and Scoutmasters.

Scouting has changed a lot since those days in Brooklyn. Last week, the Boy Scouts of America announced a significant change to allow gay scouts, and I applaud them for that change. But in a time where gays and lesbians serve their country openly and with courage in the military ... prepared to lay down their lives for their country ... it boggles the mind that these same veterans could be barred from serving as a leader in their child's Scout troop.

Just last week, the Boy Scouts of America announced that they plan on changing the rule to allow gay Scouts, but not gay leaders. The BSA board will vote on this plan in May, and that's why I need your help.

It's a step -- but it's not far enough. I'm joining the efforts of a fellow Iowan and fellow Eagle Scout, Zach Wahls, founder of Scouts for Equality, to call for change. I'm sending an open letter to the Boy Scouts of America. Will you sign it today?

Tell the Boy Scouts -- everyone should be allowed to participate, and we need to stand up for equality. Sign the letter today.

Let's make sure Scouting remains about teaching young people leadership and integrity and not about discriminating against others by excluding openly gay participants.

In this day and age, an American institution like the BSA needs to lead and denounce discrimination of all types and forms. The Boy Scouts have an opportunity to show our youth what real leadership looks like, and to send a message that equality and inclusion is acceptable, not discrimination. 

Sign my open letter urging the Boy Scouts of America to stop discrimination.

Yours in Scouting,

Bruce
30 Apr 2013

WINNER OF RIVERVISION VIDEO CONTEST

By Lora Adams

MOLINE, IL - The Moline Foundation awarded Sean Turnipseed of Moline, a senior elementary education student at Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, a $500 educational stipend for his winning entry in the River Vision 2020 video contest. The award was presented at a ceremony    April 22 at the WIU-QC Riverfront campus.

River Vision 2020 consisted of three community conversations attended by 65 residents and business owners from both sides of the river. The River Vision 2020 website had 3,300 views and 2,400 votes were cast online for the video competition. River Vision 2020 is set to move on to the next phase of the riverfront project.

River Vision 2020 has been a partnership between WQPT, The Moline Foundation, Renew Moline and the City of Moline.

For more information on River Vision 2020, visit wqpt.org/rivervision2020.

WQPT is a public media service of Western Illinois University Quad Cities located in Moline, IL.          

DSC_1121.JPG

Photo of Scott Turnipseed and Joy Boruff of the Moline Foundation.  

30 Apr 2013

The Apocalypse Arrives Thursday at the Workshop!

By QCTW






Make your reservations now for front row seats to the apocalypse.


The view doesn't get any better than this.




QCTheatreWorkshop.org
Copyright © 2013, QC Theatre Workshop, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
1730 Wilkes Avenue, Davenport, IA 52804
30 Apr 2013

3 Problem Areas Where Professional Firms Can Find Lost Money

By Ginny Grimsley
Architectural, Engineering & Environmental Firms
Lose an Average 100K a Year, CPA Says

June Jewell, a CPA and owner of Acuity Business Solutions consulting, says the architectural, engineering and environmental firms she works for easily lose $100,000 each year through inefficient and ineffective practices.

"Of course, sometimes the waste is much, much more - and this goes for larger and smaller businesses," says Jewell, author of "Find the Lost Dollars: 6 Steps to Increase Profits in Architecture, Engineering, and Environmental Firms," (www.FindTheLostDollars.com). "The problems are usually so fundamental to a business that they will never see why and how they're bleeding money; they're too close."

There are several nooks and crannies in which firms are apt to lack efficiency. Jewell reviews three general areas where most of these firms can turn unnecessary losses to gains:

• Company culture: While the culture may vary somewhat from one firm to another, architectural, engineering and environmental firms share some of the same characteristics. One is that their founders tend to go into business because they're creative people who love what they do -- not because they're business people. So they don't focus on profits, and they tend to be casual managers with regard to employees' time. Shifting the culture to a focus of being profitable is not only necessary for sustaining the business; it allows creative people to do more of what they love.

•  Ineffective practices: Of course, there are many moving parts in an A&E firm, which means there are many potential areas for improvement. That includes customer service, time management, marketing, strategic planning, accurate budgets and estimates, and the cost of lost opportunities. Failure to create an accurate, meticulous job estimate, for instance, can have multiple consequences, from having disappointed clients to jeopardize projects to losing money because time, materials and other costs were not accurately forecast.

• Systems & IT: This is the third way to improve business management and increase profits. Technology is able to help companies leverage their resources more effectively, yet many of them are still using outdated software and non-integrated systems. By looking at systems as a strategic investment that can help them to be more competitive, they can realize a great return on investment (ROI) from their projects. While the transition from old to new software has its cost in time and work, the efficiency gained in future work production is worth it.

"I've worked with hundreds of A&E firms in my 28 years of consulting, and I see these shared problems so often, I offer what I call 'the $100K Challenge,' '' Jewell says. "That's a guarantee that I can work with any business that's doing a few million dollars a year in business and find $100,000 they're losing in profits."

In this post-recession economy, she says, it's vital for firms to tune up their business management practices in order to thrive.

About June Jewell

June R. Jewell is a CPA and CEO of Acuity Business Solutions, which consults with project-based professional services firms to support profitability. She has more than 28 years of business management consulting experience and has worked with hundreds of business owners in architecture, engineering, environmental consulting, government contracting, and management-consulting industries. She has co-authored several books and is has been an assistant professorial lecturer at George Washington University. Jewell is a sought-after speaker for a wide range of industry organizations.

30 Apr 2013

Quad City Libraries, Non-profits Band Together to Present 19 Programs for "America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway"

By Rick Martin

From April 29 to May 23, the halls of local libraries and non-profits will resound with the beat of uniquely American musical genres, thanks to the grant-funded "America's Music" project. Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline and Rock Island Public Libraries, in collaboration with River Music Experience and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities, will host the six-week series, which features documentary film screenings, scholar-led
discussions of twentieth-century American popular music and live performances.

"America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway"covers a wide span of musical interests, including blues and gospel, Broadway, jazz, bluegrass and country, rock n' roll, mambo, and hip hop. Featuring 19 presentations in the Iowa and Illinois Quad Cities, the local effort is one of just 50 sites nationwide selected to host this program series, which is funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.

Starting with blues and gospel and ending with swing jazz, the general audience programs will explore the connections between six uniquely American genres of 20th century music and the influence of music on the history, culture and geography of the United States. Each screening and discussion session will examine an important American musical genre in the context of key social and historical developments, giving attendees of all ages an opportunity to recognize the influence of these popular music forms on the cultural landscape.

A full list of performances and locations is available at www.americasmusicqc.com, but the basic line-up is as follows:

Bluegrass and county music are the focus of the week of April 29, with film/discussion events of "High Lonesome: The Story of Bluegrass Music" at Western Illinois University-QC and the Bettendorf Public Library. Bettendorf Library will also host a bluegrass performance by River Town, a four-piece ensemble performing traditional bluegrass and folk favorites.

Classic rock and roll takes the stage during the week of May 6, with film/discussion events of "The History of Rock 'n Roll: Plugging In," at the Bettendorf Public Library and Rock Island Main Library. The Rock Island Library will also host a performance by Meet the Press, a dynamic three-piece band performing 80s and 90s originals.

Mambo and Hip Hop music will fill the week of May 13, with film/discussion events of "Latin Music U.S.A. and "From Mambo to Hip Hope: A South Bronx Tale," at Davenport Public Library Eastern Avenue Branch and Western Illinois University- Quad Cities. The Davenport Public Library will also present a Hip Hop dance performance and instruction event with Midwest Academy of Dance.

Swing Jazz events fill the week of May 19, starting with a jazz performance at the Polyrhythms Third Sunday jazz at the River Music Experience. The event, featuring the Bill Bell trio, is the only ticketed event in the series. Cost is $10 general admission or $15 for reserved seating. Tickets will be available at the door, or by calling 309-373-0790. Free swing jazz film and discussion events with excerpts from "Ken Burns Jazz" and the "International Sweethearts of Rhythm" take place during the week at River Music Experience and Moline Public Library.

Discussions, along with a call for stories about memories of the Quad City musical landscape, will be led by program scholar Dr. Daniel S. Malachuk, associate professor of English at Western Illinois University - Quad Cities, and several faculty colleagues, including Dr. Everett Hammer (English), Dr. Nancy Schaefer and Dr. Tammy Werner (Sociology), and two students in the English Masters program, Chelsea Clearman and Jill King. With help from his students, Dr. Malachuk will present some of the local stories collected at the final event in the series, "Celebrating America's Music in the Quad Cities, " from 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Thursday, May 23, at the Western Illinois University -Quad Cities Riverfront Atrium.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their stories about the great variety of music heard in the Quad Cities over the past 50 years. Musicians are encouraged to bring instruments, as the event will close with an open mic event of local performers.

For details, please visit www.americasmusicqc.com or contact americasmusicqc@gmail.com or 309-524-2470.

"America's Music" is a project by the Tribeca Film Institute in collaboration with the American Library Association, Tribeca Flashpoint, and the Society for American Music. "America's Music" has been made possible by a major $2,500 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor. Additional funding for the Quad City effort was received from the Riverboat Development Authority, Sedona Technologies, UAW Local 2282, Friends of the Moline Public Library and Friends of the Rock Island Public Library, along with in-kind sponsorships from River Cities' Reader, WQAD-TV Newschannel 8, STAR 93.5, WQPT Quad Cities PBS and WVIK Augustana Public Radio.

(end)

30 Apr 2013

36th Annual DubuqueFest Fine Arts Festival Offers Music, Art, & Culture

By Paula Neuhaus

DubuqueFest Fine Arts Festival celebrates its 36th year as Iowa's oldest all arts festival held in the heart of historic downtown Dubuque, May 17-19. Under the direction of collaborative partners, musician and promoter Aaron Hefel, and arts administrator Paula Neuhaus, the weekend is packed full of free music, art, and culture for all ages. The Dubuque County Fine Arts Society, a non-profit arts organization, launched the multi-faceted all arts festival in 1977 to promote the arts and to revitalize the downtown area by community building through arts and culture development. After 36 years of success DubuqueFest honors great traditions and adds contemporary twists.

The weekend features a fine art fair, a vinyl record fair, a local author book fair, live music and performance on two stages, children's hands-on art activities, an Old House Tour by the Old Home Enthusiasts, a book release and reading by the Dubuque Area Writers Guild, a community chalk mural project, pottery demonstrations, and featuring artist Tim Olson's community photography project, "The World's Longest Panoramic Portrait of a Three Day Outdoor Arts Festival."

All events are free and open to the public. (The Old House Tour is a ticketed event.) Here are some highlights of what the weekend offers. For a full schedule of events visit www.dubuquefest.org.

DubuqueFest Fine Arts Festival Event Calendar May 17-19, 2013 Town Clock Plaza & Washington Park in Downtown Dubuque

Please note: All DubuqueFest Fine Arts Festival events are free and open to the public. The Annual Old House Enthusiasts Tour is off-site from the festival and is a separate ticketed event hosted by the Old House Enthusiasts in conjunction with DubuqueFest.

Fine Art Fair

Saturday, 10am-5pm & Sunday, 10am-4pm in Washington Park
Our juried fine art fair in Washington Park features the work of 70 artists & artisans. We invite you to meet the artists, learn about process & inspiration, and invest in original hand crafted pieces. Shop for hand-blown & fused glass, ceramics, metal work, free form sculpture, painting, jewelry, fiber, fabric, photography, mixed media, textiles, copper work, hand turned wood, watercolors, leather work, wearable art, & more! It's an art gallery in the park!

Wheel Thrown Pottery Demonstrations by Mississippi Mud Studios
Saturday, 10am-5pm & Sunday, 10am-4pm in Washington Park
Potter Gary Carstens and friends of Mississippi Mud Studios offer wheel-thrown pottery demonstrations. You can try too!

"The World's Longest Panoramic Portrait of a Three Day Outdoor Arts Festival" with artist Tim Olson
Saturday, 10am-5pm & Sunday, 10am-4pm throughout Washington Park
You're invited to find Tim & his old-timey camera during the fest & pose for this panoramic portrait! Photographer and artist Tim Olson will use a 1935 vintage studio camera to create a hundred foot long portrait of DubuqueFest. During the festival, Olson will roll his camera along a path that winds through Washington Park and, at intervals of approximately ten minutes in time and ten feet in distance, he will stop and make a single exposure. The 250+ photographs will be stitched together to create a single, highly detailed panoramic portrait of the festival. Look for Tim & his camera during the festival and join him to pose for the portrait! This project is made possible by funding from the Iowa Arts Council.

Children's Creation Station
Saturday, 10am-5pm & Sunday, 10am-4pm in Washington Park
Parents and children are invited to get creative with hands-on projects. This year we feature the art of sand painting. Sand paintings have a long established cultural history in numerous social groupings around the globe. Get your face painted and join us in the Story Bubble for storytelling for all ages! Story Bubble is made possible by a partnership with Great Midwestern Educational Theatre Company.

Community Chalk Collaborative Illustration
Saturday, 11am-2pm in the Town Clock Plaza
Join artists and volunteers as they lead you in creating an illustration that explores community creativity. This sidewalk mural invites everyone to be an artist!

Trainwreck Productions Sketches in the Park: Taming of the Shrew
Saturday & Sunday, 12 pm in Washington Park
Trainwreck Productions bring a scene from William Shakespeare's comedy Taming of the Shrew, full of physical comedy and stage combat, to life in Washington Park. TWP bring this highlight of their comedy set at Flora Park Playground to DubuqueFest. See the entire play (free!) at Flora Park all weekend. Visit TrainwreckProductions.org for full details.

Dubuque Area Writers Guild Annual Book Release Reception Gallery 2013: "Facets of Time"
Friday, 6pm at Dubuque Museum of Art
The Dubuque Area Writers Guild invites you to the reading & release reception for Gallery: Facets of Time, an anthology of original work featuring local writers and artists. Celebrate an evening of words, refreshments, and readings by selected contributors. Books will be available for purchase at the reception, the local author book fair in the Roshek Building on Saturday, and at the art fair information booth in Washington Park throughout the weekend.

Record Fair
Saturday, 10am-5pm in Roshek Building Lobby (Enter on 7th Street)
The Record Fair will showcase local retailers and private collectors offering vinyl records & 45s for sale or trade. Vendors will offer everything from high-end, out-of-print rarities, to more common titles at bargain prices. The fair will slant heavily toward vinyl sales and awareness of the record stores in the region, but vendors will offer CDs, cassettes, DVDs, books, apparel and many other goodies.

Local Author Book Fair
Saturday, 10am-5 pm in Roshek Building Lobby (Enter on 7 th Street)
Our newest addition to DubuqueFest! Shop our book fair comprised of 20 local authors. Meet the authors, pick up some new books, get them signed, and learn about the writing life from your favorite local authors. The fair is features books for children, photography, fiction, non-fiction, memoir, poetry, humor, comic books, and more! This event is hosted by River Lights Bookstore for DubuqueFest.

Julien Dubuque International Film Festival's "Best of Fest Screening"
Sunday, 12pm-3pm, Dubuque Museum of Art
Julien International Film Festival presents a "Best of Fest Screening featuring a favorite or two from their 2013 film festival. Special guest filmmakers will talk about their experiences working on the films and the film festival.

Amusements for Children by LT Amusements
Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm
7th Street & Washington Park
Climbing wall, bouncing castle, super slide, and more!

HEADLING ACTS ARE HIGHLIGHTED

Friday May 17 - Town Clock Stage

5:00 pm
River Glen - Folk and bluegrass meet contemporary rock and urban styles.

6:30 pm
The Fast Clydes -Class rockabilly, pompadours and all, will get your toes tapping and your hips twisting.

8 pm
Soulsa! - Dubuque's hottest Salsa orchestra will get your dancing with Latin rhythms straight from the soul.

Saturday May 18 - Town Clock Stage

10 am
Northeast Iowa School of Music Recital - Instrumental ensemble performs on the Main Stage.

12 pm
Dubuque Senior High Jazz Studio - Your favorite jazz renditions from the DSHS jazz band.

3:30pm
Unstrung Heroes - Folk songs about Dubuque and life in a river town.

5:30pm
The Shams Band - Bluegrass, folk, and rock playfully brought together by this Chicago outfit.

7:30pm
Maps and Atlases - At times hyper and kinetic, other times, lush and melodic indie rock from Chicago on Barsuk Records.

9 pm
The Heavenly States - This Oakland to Austin indie pop group have been a Dubuque favorite for years. Their brand of intensely fun and personal music filled with loud guitars, driving rhythms, and violin will get you dancing!

Saturday May 18 - Washington Park Gazebo

11 am
Dubuque Fiddlers - Youth string ensemble under the direction of Ann Duchow.

12pm
Trainwreck Productions - This local found-space theatre group bring a scene from William Shakespeare's comedy Taming of the Shrew, full of physical comedy and stage combat, to life in Washington Park.

12:30pm
Peter Fraterdeus - Traditional folk and Irish tunes from our local troubadour.

2pm
Nate Jenkins - Indie folk originals and covers with soulful intensity.

3 pm
Julien Chamber Choir - Indie folk originals and covers with soulful intensity.- Local chamber choir singing in perfect harmony!

Sunday May 19 - Town Clock Stage
10 am
Dubuque Dance Studio - High-energy modern dance performance from Dubuque's premier youth ensemble

12 pm
Dubuque YM/YWCA Dance Team
The talented young people from the Y Dance Team show off their skills!

12:30 pm
PanrhythmiX - Steel drum youth ensemble celebrate the sounds of the Caribbean.

2 pm
Youth Musical Showcase, hosted by Mary Mabusth
Area teens take their bands and talents to the stage! Everyone wins in a showcase!

Sunday, May 19- Washington Park Gazebo

12 pm
Trainwreck Productions Sketches in the Park: Taming of the Shrew
Trainwreck Productions bring a scene from William Shakespeare's comedy Taming of the Shrew, full of physical comedy and stage combat, to life in Washington Park. TWP bring this highlight of their comedy set at Flora Park Playground to DubuqueFest. See the entire play (free!) at Flora Park all weekend. Visit TrainwreckProductions.org for full details.

12:30 pm

Peter Fraterdeus & Dan Caraway:  Celtic music on guitar and violin.

2 pm
Denny Garcia
Bluesy troubadour sings about about life on the road and the river.

3:30 pm
Dubuque Chorale
Voices, voices, and more voices!

Visit www.dubuquefest.org to stay up to date!

###

30 Apr 2013

Author of "Flannel John's Cookbooks for Guys" Releases Two More Titles in the Series for Dads and Grads Season

By Nicholas Depew
Just in time for Fathers' Day and Graduates, writer Tim Murphy has penned two more titles in his "Cookbooks for Guys" series. For fish and seafood and lovers there is "Flannel John's Pirate Galley Cookbook - Coastal Cuisine and Maritime Meals from Oceans, Lakes and Rivers." For the backwoods, rustic soul there is "Flannel John's Mountain Man Cookbook - Frontier Food from the Hills, Country and Backwoods."

How did "Cookbooks for Guys" get started and just who is Flannel John?

"It started with friends complaining about food at hunting and fishing camp. Guys need more than just beef jerky, cheese puffs and beer to exist but often we're too lazy or impatient," says author Tim Murphy. So he launched "Flannel John's Hunting & Fishing Camp Cookbook" in October 2013. This first book cracked Amazon.com's "Top 1%" Sales category in six weeks. The book features over 130 recipes, some as simple as two ingredients. The book covered breakfast, burgers, dinners, snacks, venison, desserts, breads, appetizers and beverages."

"The one thing you always need at the cabin, camp, RV or fishing shanty is good food. These recipes can be prepared quickly and taste great," said Murphy. "You don't have to be an expert cook or master chef. This is the perfect cookbook for a beginner or novice to make rib-sticking meals with a bare-bones kitchen set-up."

Who is Flannel John? "He is equal parts Babe Winkelman, Red Green, Ted Nugent and crusty mountain man," said Murphy. "Born in northern Wisconsin and raised in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, he has hunted and fished in 40 states, Canada and Mexico. He is a true character."

A second book was released in February 2013 "Flannel John's Woods & Water Cookbook: Critters, Fritters, Chili & Beer." Picking up where the first book left off this book focused on wild game and some decidedly "rustic" meals including Mountain Bear Stew, Rasta Mon Squirrel and Rattlesnake Chili. There were dozens of traditional dishes too including burgers, stews, corn breads, chilies and chicken.

"The Pirate Galley Cookbook focuses on seafood, lake and river fish recipes with a touch of southern cooking," said Murphy. "If you like albacore, lobster, sea bass, crab, lake trout, salmon and walleye this is for you. It covers dishes from the Great Northwest, Alaska, the Gulf, Caribbean, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, New England and the Bayou."

"The Mountain Man Cookbook goes real old school with recipes that go as far back as the mid-1800s. It features pioneer recipes and country staples like corn pone, hard tack, rhubarb cake, venison stew and sourdough plus new twists on older dishes." Both new releases feature over 110 recipes.

Tim Murphy is a graduate of Western Michigan University and a former resident of Storm Lake, Iowa. He worked at Buena Vista College as a Residence Hall Director, Assistant Activities Director and counselor. This 23-year radio veteran spent 17-years hosting morning radio shows in several Michigan cities including Holland, Muskegon, Traverse City, Saginaw and Houghton plus Fargo, ND, Stevens Point, WI. and Ketchikan, AK. Murphy has had a long career as a freelance and comedy writer. His work has appeared in dozens of outlets including Backwoods Home Magazine, The Porcupine Press U.P. Magazine, National Lampoon, The Traverse City Record Eagle and ABC Radio Network. At the moment he lives in Oregon with his wife Lisa Marie Costanzo.

All four Flannel John books are available through Amazon.com, createspace.com and at flanneljohn.com. For additional information on the books, to interview the author or to inquire about wholesale book pricing, contact Tim Murphy at (701) 238-1775 or by e-mail at shamrockarrow@gmail.com. During May, 25% of profits from online orders of all four books will be donated to The Maslow Project. This group helps homeless kids from infants to 21. The Maslow Project provides food, clothing, counseling, laundry facilities and even art therapy for
their clients. Details can be found at www.maslowproject.com.

###
29 Apr 2013

Rock Island Library Celebrates Rock and Roll for America's Music Project with Two Programs Next Week

By Rick Martin

The grant-funded "America's Music" project has filled local libraries and non-profits with the beat of American Blues, Broadway/Tin Pan Alley and Country/Bluegrass musical genres in the past few weeks. Now it's time for Rock and Roll, with two events at the Rock Island Public Library next week.

The Rock Island Library hosts a viewing and discussion of the film, "The History of Rock 'n Roll: Plugging In," from 5:30 to 7:30 pm on Tuesday, May 7 at the Main Library, 401 19th Street. This episode from the 10-part series centers on the reinvention of rock in the 1960s, combining performance footage with commentaries from such musicians as Arlo Guthrie, Judi Collins, Bruce Springsteen and Pete Townsend. Singer/songwriter Bob Dylan's decision to 'go electric' at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival shocked and dismayed many, but marked a turning point in rock history. The film also chronicles the emergence of 1960's California groups, the rise of guitarist Jimi Hendrix and the emergence of the rock concert as an art form.

On Thursday, May 9, the Rock Island Library hosts a performance by Meet the Press, a classic/contemporary rock group known for its crisp sound, three-part harmonies and a high energy stage show. Featuring original band members Robbie Bahr on lead guitar and vocals, Steve Law on drums and vocals, and John Resch on bass and vocals, Meet the Press mixes songs of the 80s and 90s with popular music of today. The free performance starts at 6:00 pm in the Main Library Community Room, 401 19th Street.

Meet the Press formed in 1984 with Bahr, Resch, Law and Dan Allen, and found local radio success in 1985 and 86 with hits "Dance Her Life Away" and "She's Cool." The group was able to tour with such bands as Edgar Winter, Foghat and Head East. After a few years of playing in different forms, the group reformed in 2012.

 

As part of "America's Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway," project partners Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline and Rock Island Public Libraries, River Music Experience and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities have hosted documentary film screenings, scholar-led discussions of twentieth-century American popular music and live performances. Each week in the series covers a different musical style. After Rock and Roll, the project goes on to consider the genres of Mambo/Hip Hop and Swing Jazz.

The project concludes on May 23 with "Celebrating America's Music in the Quad Cities," a night of stories about Quad Cities music in the past 50 years and an open microphone event for local performers, at the Western Illinois University-Quad Cities Riverfront Atrium. A full list of performances and locations is available at www.americasmusicqc.com

For more details, please contact americasmusicqc@gmail.com or 309-524-2470.

"America's Music" is a project by the Tribeca Film Institute in collaboration with the American Library Association, Tribeca Flashpoint, and the Society for American Music. "America's Music" has been made possible by a major $2,500 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.

Additional funding for the Quad City effort was received from the Riverboat Development Authority, Sedona Technologies, UAW Local 2282, Friends of the Moline Public Library and Friends of the Rock Island Public Library, along with in-kind sponsorships from River Cities Reader, WQAD-TV Newschannel 8, STAR 93.5, WQPT Quad Cities PBS and WVIK Augustana Public Radio.

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