For the fourth concert of the QCSO's Masterworks season, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra is hosting a 200-voice choir in its performance of Carmina Burana. These concerts will be performed on February 6 and 7, and sponsored by John Deere. Saturday evening's concert will be held at the Adler Theatre in Davenport at 8 PM and followed on Sunday afternoon at 2 PM in Augustana's Centennial Hall in Rock Island. Tickets start at $10 for Saturday night's performance and $18 for Sunday afternoon. Tickets can be purchased in person at the QCSO Box Office, 327 Brady Street in Davenport, by phone at 800.745.3000, online at www.QCSymphony.com, at the door, and at all Ticketmaster outlets.

The QCSO will be led by Guest Conductor Jon Hurty and the choir will be comprised of voices from the Handel Oratorio Society, Quad City Choral Arts, and the Augustana Choir. Also on the program is Mozart's Exultate, Jubilate, and Handel's Zadok the Priest. The concert will feature a return engagement from one of today's most exciting young sopranos, Mary Wilson, performing Exultate, Jubilate and Carmina Burana. Performing with Wilson and the choirs for Carmina Burana will be nationally-recognized soloists: Baritone Andrew Garland and Countertenor Alfred E. Sturgis.

On the Thursday before the concerts, Quad Citians get the chance to hear Guest Conductor Jon Hurty share his insights into the upcoming performance at Inside the Music. Expert and novice alike enjoy this casual musical conversation at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport from 5:00 to 6:30 PM on Thursday, February 4. This event is free to the public, with wine and cheese provided.

Finally, Hurty will be available at Kai Swanson's Concert Conversations, held in the concert halls an hour before each of the weekend's concerts. At Concert Conversations the audience members are given a quick tour of highlights from the upcoming concert. This look into the background of the concert's repertoire, sponsored by Rich James of Wells Fargo Advisors, has been running since 1996 and is an audience favorite.

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Who: Quad City Symphony Orchestra
What: Masterworks 4: Carmina Burana
Where: Adler Theatre, Davenport; Centennial Hall, Rock Island
When: February 6 at 8 PM; February 7 at 2 PM
Tickets: Saturday starts at $10; Sunday starts at $18
Contact: 563.322.QCSO (7276) or www.qcsymphony.com

Fromthe smooth feel of hand-sanded surfaces to the inviting look of finished furniture crafted from rich northern hardwoods, the new Simply Amish store is
more than a day at the store; it's a journey for your senses. Now open at 3711 Northwest Blvd, Davenport, Iowa.

Simply Amish furniture is made by authentic Amish craftsmen, working on more than 50 family farms scattered throughout the heartland of America. Most are small family shops with only four or five craftsmen, while some shops might employ as many as 30 skilled workers. Six days a week, Simply Amish craftsmen make some of the most beautiful handmade furniture known to man. And seven days a week, they struggle to refrain from unseemly pride.

Simply Amish - you'll find 100 different styles. And almost every piece of furniture can be custom-ordered with more than 75 combinations of rich woods and stains. Hardware is available in wood, porcelain and 11 different metals, ranging from Weathered Copper to Black Nickel.

Vignettes have been constructed throughout the store allowing customers to view Amish-made furniture in room settings. Bedroom furniture, dining room
furniture, and family room furniture is the core of Simply Amish Furniture.

When others may say it's not a good time to open a new business, Simply Amish is boldly opening a store in Davenport.

Quad Cities CVB, Quad City Film Coalition, and Iowa Motion Picture Association to Give

Presentation on January 21 at the RiverCenter in Davenport

Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau

Quad Cities - The Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau (QCCVB), Quad City Film Coalition, and the Iowa Motion Picture Association (IMPA) are jointly sponsoring a free public presentation on "The Future of Film in the Quad Cities and Iowa" at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 21 at the RiverCenter, 136 East 3rd Street in downtown Davenport in the Ohio/Illinois Conference rooms.

The presentation will cover the positive economic impact of filmmaking in a community, the work of the IMPA in bringing films to Iowa, the work of the Quad City Film Coalition and its 20-year success of filmmaking in the Quad Cities, and the need to maintain and improve the Iowa film tax credit in the 2010 Iowa legislative session.

The presentation is open to anyone in the Quad Cities community who is interested in the film industry and furthering its growth in the Quad Cities.  Your attendance will help direct the future of film in the Quad Cities.

"The production industry provides immediate positive economic impact to the communities where productions are filmed.  Along with creating high quality jobs, productions infuse local businesses with new revenue through the purchase of goods and services," said Tammy Shutters, IMPA Program Director.  "The IMPA is committed to working with the QCCVB and Quad Cities Film Coalition to bring more productions to the area."

Over the past 20 years, filmmaking has generated more than a $25 million economic impact on the Quad Cities.

Films shot in the Quad Cities include :

1990 Where the Night Begins (Feature Film)
1990 Bix (Feature Film) 
1991 An American Love (Made for TV Movie)
1991 Brothers and Sisters (Feature Film)
1993 The Room Next Door (Feature Film)
1993 The Childhood Friend (Feature Film)
1994 Voices in the Night (Made for TV Movie)
1995 The Mayor of East Chicago (Feature Film)
1998 Whiteboyz (Feature Film)

2006 The Hideout (Feature Film)

2007 Sugar (Feature Film)

2008 Children of the Corn (Made for TV Movie)

2009 Megafault (Made for TV Movie)

In addition to the these were a number of student films with little or no budget that were part of
film program requirements from schools like NYU, UCLA, USC and the University of Iowa.

IMAGE: Cornelis Galle the Elder (Flemish; Antwerp, 1576-1650), Procne Showing Tereus the Head of his Child (after Peter Paul Rubens, Flemish; Antwerp, 1577-1640), c. 1637, Engraving, Museum purchase 1980.92

The University of Iowa Museum of Art's (UIMA) second exhibition presented at Davenport's Figge Art Museum, "In the Footsteps of Masters: The Evolution of the Reproductive Print," opens Jan. 21 and will remain on view through May 23. The exhibition is curated by UI student Nathan Popp, a UIMA curatorial graduate assistant who organized the exhibit to examine the role of printmaking in the development of visual culture.

The exhibition spans 500 years, featuring nearly 80 Western reproductive prints from the 15th to the 20th century. Featured in the exhibition are original prints and drawings by artists Albrecht Dürer, Annibale Carracci, Jusepe De Ribera, Edouard Manet, Jean-Baptiste Corot, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, William Blake, Francisco Goya, and Grant Wood, as well as reproductive prints made after the works of famous masters such as Raphael, Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt, Jan Vermeer, Jan Van Eyck, Titian, Michelangelo and others.

Admission to the Figge Art Museum, located at 225 West Second St., Davenport, is free for UI faculty, staff, and students with their UI ID cards and for UIMA donors with their Donor Courtesy Cards.

"In the Footsteps of Masters" traces an important component of the history of Western printmaking: the usage and development of reproductive prints. "In this exhibition, I wanted to tell the stories of how Western reproductive printmaking started and how it changed over time," said Popp, whose hometown is Belmont, Wis.

Before the invention of photography, prints made with techniques such as engraving, woodcut, and etching were created after notable works in other media. With the advantage of being mass-produced, reproductive prints allowed artists to widely distribute their work, which could build the reputation of a famous master artist or a legendary work of art. As the artistic status of printmakers grew, many began incorporating their own expressive elements rather than creating strict copies of the original works. This advancement caused new printmaking techniques to develop.

Popp realized the UIMA had not presented an exhibition addressing this area of printmaking history and that a number of UIMA works in this category had never before been exhibited. On UIMA Chief Curator Kathy Edwards' advice and with her continued support, Popp pursued the topic, a project that took three years to complete.

"This experience has led Nathan to expand his knowledge of print history to such a degree that he has pursued the topic in his studies separate from his employment at the museum," Edwards said. Popp received scholarly recognition for his paper related to the exhibition, "An Equation for Conflict: Micromanaging Creativity in Rubens' Printmaking Workshop." He was selected to discuss his paper through various presentations around the country in spring 2009, including the Midwest Art History Society's annual conference in April. "We are all very proud of him," Edwards said.

Although Popp originally anticipated utilizing the UIMA's former Riverside Drive building for the exhibition, the UIMA's partnership with the Figge following the 2008 flood offered a larger gallery space, which allowed him to display additional works lent by collectors Alden Lowell Doud, John and Trish Koza, and G. Ron Kastner.

"This could not have been possible without the generosity of our friends and donors," Popp said. "The 2008 flood had a drastic impact on the Museum, but it has not slowed our work. The support from the Figge and these wonderful collectors has been instrumental in keeping the project on track. I'm sincerely grateful for their participation and I am continuously inspired by the sense of community, which has made my exhibition a reality."

"In the Footsteps of Masters: The Evolution of the Reproductive Print" is sponsored by MidWestOne Bank and by an anonymous donor. To view a slideshow of the exhibit, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/iowaart/sets/72157623064940033/show/.

Because of the 2008 flood, the UI Museum of Art offices have been relocated to the Studio Arts Building, 1840 SA, Iowa City, IA 52242, and Museum of Art events and exhibitions are being held at various locations. For up-to-date UIMA information, visit http://www.uiowa.edu/uima or call 319-335-1725.

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa Arts Center Relations, 300 Plaza Centre One, Iowa City, IA 52242-2500

(Kansas City, Kan., Jan. 13, 2010) - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced President Barack Obama's selection of Karl Brooks to be the Agency's Regional Administrator for EPA's Region 7. This region encompasses Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and 9 Tribal Nations.

"I look forward to working closely with Karl on the range of urgent environmental issues we face, in region 7 and across the nation," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "At this moment of great challenge and even greater opportunity, I'm thrilled that Karl will be part of our leadership team at EPA. He will certainly play an instrumental role in our Agency's mission to protect our health and the environment."

Regional Administrators are responsible for managing the Agency's regional activities under the direction of the EPA Administrator. They promote state and local environmental protection efforts and serve as a liaison to state and local government officials. Regional Administrators are tasked with ensuring EPA's efforts to address the environmental crises of today are rooted in three fundamental values: science-based policies and programs, adherence to the rule of law, and transparency.

Karl Boyd Brooks has taught History and Environmental studies at the University of Kansas for the past decade. Previously, Brooks was the Executive Director of the Idaho Conservation League and served six years in the Idaho State Senate. Brooks holds a B.A. from Yale University, a Masters in International Relations from the London School of Economics, a law degree from Harvard University and a Ph. D. from the University of Kansas.

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EPA web link, go to:

www.epa.gov

MILWAUKEE, WI. (January 13, 2010) - Younkers announced that its semi-annual Community Day event will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2010. Non-profit groups may sign up now by logging on to communitydayevent.com to request event booklets and begin raising funds for their organization. The savings booklets can be used at Younkers on Community Day. Successful organizations have raised thousands of dollars by participating in this event. View testimonials on communitydayevent.com and find out first hand what groups are saying and learn more about how non-profits can benefit from this event. In 2009, over $10 million was raised by participating nonprofit organizations through Younkers semi-annual Community Day events.


Eligible Community Day organizations include local 501C-3 nonprofit organizations and schools. Non-profit groups sell savings booklets for $5 and in return, the purchaser receives a $10 off coupon, plus more than $50 in special savings on products as well as coupons valid on regular and sale price merchandise on Saturday, February 27. The organization keeps 100% of the $5 donation. The Community Day event provides an opportunity for local 501C-3 organizations to raise the funds needed to support their missions.


"Providing this fundraising opportunity is extremely important to our company," said Bud Bergren, president and chief executive officer of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. "It enables us to make a difference in our communities and provide exclusive shopping offers to reward those who purchase a booklet to support their community."


The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 278 stores, including 11 furniture galleries, in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers nameplates and, under the Parisian nameplate, stores in the Detroit, Michigan area. The stores offer a broad assortment of brand-name fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics and home furnishings.


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Refuse, recycling, and yard waste collection will be on the normal collection schedule during the

Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.

The Drop-Off Center located at Millennium Waste, 13606 Knoxville Road, Milan will be open on

Saturday from 7 a.m. to 12 noon.

City of Rock Island offices will be open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday, January 18th).

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley said today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded grants totaling $95,893 to the Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency and the Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority through the Family Self Sufficiency Program.

"These funds will give families the opportunity to work with housing agencies to help reach their employment goals and objectives, as well as become and remain independent from public assistance," Grassley said.

This funding will be used by the housing agencies to help link residents with training opportunities, job placement organizations, and local employers.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded funds as described below.

  • Des Moines Municipal Housing Agency - $31,091

  • Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority - $64,802

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Winter/Spring ARTivities at the Augustana College Art Studio, 610-35th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201.  309 794-7729

SESSION I - January 30, February 6 and 13

9:30-10:30 a.m.

Feathered Friends: Our imaginations will soar as we create birds of all shapes and sizes. We'll make puppets, masks and three-dimensional constructions.

4-6 year olds

Jennifer Lanphere, $33

Under the Sea: We'll draw and paint the beautiful world under the sea. Explore a variety of techniques while creating sea creatures large and small.

7-8 year olds

Corrine Smith, $33

Pastel Drawing
: Learn the basic techniques of chalk pastels as we create colorful landscape and still life drawings.

9-12 year olds

Heike Ehlers, $33

11 a.m.-Noon

Let It Snow!: Celebrate winter and join us to make snowmen, penguins, mobiles and lots more using a variety of materials.

4-6 year olds

Corrine Smith, $33

Winter Express: From snowflakes to snowmen we'll paint, sculpt and collage our favorite winter scenes.

6-8 year olds

Heike Ehlers, $33

Fabulous Fibers: Textures and patterns will be our focus as we learn a variety of weaving and stitchery techniques.

9-12 year olds

Jennifer Lanphere, $33

Workshop

January 30 1-2:30 p.m.

Happy Chinese New Year: Welcome the Year of the Tiger and join us for an afternoon of tiger-making in all sizes!

6-8 year olds

Linda Burau and Corrine Smith, $14

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Jan. 12, 2010 - Farm Bureau members across Iowa believe that sound budgeting practices protect Iowa's resources, families, and taxpayers.  "Iowa's success over the next few years depends on responsible budget reform this year," said Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) President Craig Lang, on the heels of Governor Culver's Condition of the State Address.  "We look forward to sharing our plan for budget reform with the Governor and state lawmakers."

"The state's budgeting process is broken, and that's increasing pressure to raise property taxes during a very uncertain time for farmers and all Iowans," said Lang.  "During the 2009 legislative session, the Governor signed the state's largest budget ever, despite the economic downturn."  The revenue shortfall prompted Governor Culver to impose across-the-board budget cuts, which are forcing Iowans to deal with more than $250 million in potential property tax increases as school districts and local governments make up for lost state funds.  "That's a heavy burden for rural schools already financially strapped," said Lang. "And, if the Governor uses $100 million in cash reserves to backfill education as he proposed today, then we need to be assured that those dollars will be used to reduce the impact to property taxpayers."

To improve the state's budgeting process, Farm Bureau members will work with decision makers to establish an affordable state budget that will: 1) fund Iowa priorities and lessen the potential shifts in property taxes; 2) ensure that the state's emergency funds are at a level sufficient to protect priorities when revenues are declining; 3) create fiscal responsibility by not using one-time resources to fund on-going expenditures; and 4) protect property taxpayers when across-the-board cuts are enacted.

As they push to enact budget reform, Farm Bureau members will also work to prevent changes to the state's income or property tax system that would increase taxes on Iowans.  They will oppose the elimination of federal deductibility on Iowa income taxes and changes to the property tax system, including changes to the agriculture productivity formula and assessment of farm buildings.  Lang noted that property taxes are a major issue because in the past decade they have soared by $1.59 billion, or 60 percent.

Increased property taxes are just one of the effects of flawed budgeting.  "Today, Governor Culver proposed to take dollars out of the state's road use tax fund to pay for the Iowa State Patrol and the Department of Public Safety. Farm Bureau members believe that officers who protect the public are essential to the well-being of our state, but they also feel that diverting money from a fund that keeps our roads and bridges functioning and safe for Iowa families is not the way to do it," Lang said.  "Unfortunately, the damage Iowa's roads and bridges sustained from major flooding in 2008 have worsened with severe weather elements in 2009.  We need to properly fund both the Iowa State Patrol and roads and bridges to ensure public safety. Iowans have been told that the $1 billion in the road use tax fund - which comes from the fuel tax, license fees, etc. - will be used to keep their roads and bridges maintained, and lawmakers need to keep that promise."

Another priority for Farm Bureau members in the 2010 legislative session is to ask the legislature to declare farm buildings exempt from required electrical inspections. "The law was not intended to cover agricultural buildings," said Lang. "The ruling imposed by Iowa's Electrical Examining Board to add farm buildings and structures to the list that require an inspection creates more red tape and expense for farmers at a time when they are struggling to make a profit."

In addition to its cost-saving efforts, Farm Bureau will continue to work toward initiatives that benefit the environment, including a push to increase renewable fuel use and protect current funding for soil and water conservation cost-share programs. "Responsible budgeting will allow us to fund our state's critical conservation needs," said Lang.  "Real reform is needed, and Farm Bureau members are ready to work with lawmakers to make that happen."

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