01 Jun 2009

Grand Opening of Main Street Farmers Market-downtown Aledo

By The Buzz Gallery of modern Art

WHAT: The Main Street Farmers Market-downtown Aledo opens for business June 11th with local growers and producers selling fresh from the farm products such as fruit, vegetables, berries, wines, cheese, flowers, breads, eggs and meats. The Aledo and Illinois Quad Cities Chambers of Commerce will conduct a ribbon cutting for Aledo Main Street and partners to open the Market for business. The Monmouth Dixieland Jazz Band will be taking the stage later that evening to entertain shoppers.

WHEN: Thursday, June 11, 4 to 7 p.m. (note: The Ribbon cutting will be held at 4 p.m.)

WHERE: Central Park parking lot in Aledo, Illinois

WHY: Area residents will enjoy homegrown produce and seasonal crops throughout the summer and fall months. The Main Street Farmers Market not only supports local vendors, but also promotes a healthy lifestyle and connecting with neighbors and new visitors to the Mercer County. It will be open every Thursday, 4 to 7 p.m., from June 11 through October 22 at Central Park (intersection of Highway 17 and College Avenue). Community Days are also featured each week, include the Aledo Fire Department, Friends of the Library, the Aledo Police's K9 Unit, a Curves demonstration, and Chef's Choice that features an area chef with a specialized menu.

The Main Street Farmers Market-downtown Aledo was made possible through funds from the USDA's Specialty Crop Block Grant Program for Illinois Where Fresh Is. Sponsorship dollars were also provided by Aledo Community Schools District #201, Aledo Main Street, Mercer County Health Department, Mercer County Farm Bureau, and University of Illinois Extension/Mercer EDP Office.

Participating advertising merchants are MGM Graphics, East Moline; Radish Magazine, Rock Island; The Times Record, Aledo; Torrey Outdoor Advertising of East Moline and WRMJ Country 102.3, Aledo.

Interested vendors and sponsors of community days should contact Pam Myers at Aledo Main Street, (309) 582-2751, or email aledoms@qconline.com. Application and rules may also be downloaded from the website www.aledomainstreet.com.

29 May 2009

Country Style Ice Cream Grand Opening

By Lori Weber

On Thursday, June 4th from 4pm-6pm, Country Style Ice Cream and Hawaiian Style Coffee will hold a Grand Opening at the 4th official franchise on 53rd Street just east of Division in Davenport. We'll start the event with a ribbon cutting at 4:30pm and will have plenty of samples of Country Style Ice Cream and Hawaiian Style Coffee on hand, along with door prizes and other refreshments.

Country Style Ice Cream has been a local favorite since 1947 and in 2006 Kent Kindelsperger added Hawaiian Style Coffee to the mix. "Coffee is a great complement to our ice cream line.  The unique and rich flavor of these two brands set this company apart," Kent Kindelsperger said.

The new owners, Kari and Tres Gomez, at the Davenport location add, "We are very excited to bring Country Style Ice Cream and Hawaiian Style Coffee back to Davenport.  We are proud to support a local product and feel the quality of the ice cream and coffee products are second to none."  This new location will provide a warm and relaxed atmosphere for customers to sit and enjoy an ice cream malt or latte or take advantage of our free wi-fi internet connection.  Customers will also be able to enjoy wraps, hot dogs and pastries while a drive thru window provides our products for people on the run.

29 May 2009

Just Kids Trivia Night

By Jared Johnson
Just Kids Early Care & Education Centers, Milan, announces their second annual Trivia Night Fundraiser.  This fun and competitive event will take place on Friday, June 19th at the Milan Community Center, US Hwy 67, Milan IL.  Doors open at 6pm, trivia starts at 7pm.  Teams of 8 will compete for cash prizes and have a chance to win great door prizes throughout the night.  All proceeds benefit program expansions for Just Kids, a non-profit early childhood education organization serving 200 families annually.

Teams may register online at www.justkidsinc.org or by calling Lisa at (309) 787-6303.  Cost is $80 per table, and can be paid the night of the event.  Food may be brought in, and a cash bar will be available.
29 May 2009

THE MOLINE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES WOMACK SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

By Linda Martin

Brent Shedd, Moline High School, was chosen to receive a scholarship from the Womack Memorial Scholarship Fund,

The fund provides scholarships to deserving Moline High School graduates who plan to obtain a degree in education. Shedd was chosen by a local selection committee to receive a scholarship of $1,000.00 He plans to study secondary education at Bradley University.

The scholarship was established by Womack's wife, Peggy and the Lee Womack Memorial Golf Outing Steering Committee. Annually since his death, a golf outing has been held in his memory to raise funds for a local charity. In 2004, the scholarship fund was established and is now administered by the Moline Foundation.

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29 May 2009

Thinking About Welcoming an Exchange Student? Now's the Time.

By Grant Moser
Sharing daily life with a teenager from another country and culture is a rich and rewarding experience, and it's a wonderful way to bring more understanding into the world. If you've ever thought about welcoming an exchange student into your home and family, now's the time to learn more. AFS, the leading international high school student exchange program, needs families in our community to host high school students for an academic year or six months. Students arrive in August.

All kinds of families can host--two-parent households with young children or teenagers, single-parent families, families with adopted children, foster parents, as well as couples and single people who do not have children or who have grown children. One of the most important characteristics of a host family is being eager and excited to share your life and activities while providing the same kind of care, support, and comfort as you would to your own child or family members.

AFS students come from more than 40 countries and represent many different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Local AFS Volunteers enroll students in high school and support students and their families to help both gain the most from their experience. In addition to host families, AFS needs people who are interested in becoming volunteer liaisons to work locally with families and their hosted students. Anyone interested in learning more about hosting or volunteering with AFS should visit www.afsusa.org/hostfamily or call 1-800-876-2377. AFS Intercultural Programs/USA is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. The mission of AFS is to work toward a more just and peaceful world by providing international and intercultural learning experiences to individuals, families, schools, and communities through a global volunteer partnership.
29 May 2009

Nashville Recording Artist to Present Free Concerts in Davenport

By Jake McVey

Jake McVey's idea is to bring his music to people who cannot attend his concerts. Performing acoustic versions of his show at nursing homes, retirement communities, schools, and hospitals across the United States, the Nashville recording artist is giving back.

In the spirit of the movie, Pay It Forward, McVey will be presenting two free shows in the Quad City area next week. On Wednesday, June 3, at 2:00 P.M., he will perform at Kahl Home for the Aged in Davenport, and at Jersey Ridge Place at 4:00 P.M. "There is nothing better than when you take time to give back. When you're performing in front of people who would just love for someone to say, "Hi," or ask, "How's your day?" it's amazing seeing those faces light up. By the warmth of a song. you know that you truly brought joy to someone's life and brightened their day," says McVey.

McVey's "Pay it Forward Acoustic Tour" is a response to a desire to give back to the communities he visits. As in the movie, Pay It Forward, little acts of kindness culminate in something bigger.

With his second album, Anything Is Possible, to be released this summer, McVey, the composer of over 200 songs, brings together the best of old country with new dynamics. He will begin touring with Darius Rucker at Burlington's Steamboat Days Sunday, June 21.

In 2008, Jake McVey performed in over 300 shows all across the United States. A native of Mediapolis, Iowa, McVey is making a name for himself in the country music arena by relying on his Iowa values of hard work and selfless giving.  As McVey says, "Pay it forward. Why not? And just see what can happen!" For more information about Jake McVey and his "Pay it Forward Tour," visit www.jakemcvey.com or www.myspace.com/mcveyjakepif

To request more information from Jake McVey, email: jakemcvey@hotmail.com or phone: 319-931-5202 (daytime).

28 May 2009

Music Workshop

By Gretchen Frick Small

Children love music, and it's proven to boost the learning process. A June 16 workshop by Kathleen Gibson offers ways to introduce it into their lives. "Music for the Growing Child" will be offered in one session only, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16 at the Deere-Wiman Carriage House in Moline.

Designed for educators, childcare providers and home school families, the workshop will include song sheets, ideas and techniques to create music for any occasion. Registration fee of $10 includes the two-hour workshop and pizza.

Teaching artist and Parents' Choice award winning singer/songwriter Kathleen Gibson offers ways to incorporate music into all aspects of learning, "even if you don't sing. Music helps us learn, gives us healthy ways to deal with our feelings and creates a harmonious sense of community when we share it," she says. "As children grow and develop, we can help them in so many ways by singing, listening to and moving music, and creating with music."

The workshop is presented by the William Butterworth Memorial Trust and Community Child Care Resource and Referral. For information and reservations, contact Pam Lynch at Community Child Care, 500 E. 59th Street, Davenport, IA 52807; phone (563) 324-3239, extension 1424; or Gretchen Frick Small, Butterworth Center, 1105 8th Street, Moline, IL 61265; phone (309) 743-2701.

28 May 2009

Music On The Lawn at Deere Wiman House

By Gretchen Frick Small

Looking for family-friendly outings for your "stay-cation"? A summer concert at the Deere-Wiman House in Moline is sure to please kids of all ages, and with no charge for admission, it's budget-friendly too!

The performance is part of "Music on the Lawn," a series supported by the Deere-Wiman House and Butterworth Center, Community Child Care Resource and Referral Center, Quad City Association for the Education of Young Children and WQPT-TV.

Making his Quad Cities debut, SteveSongs will perform at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15. The concert is held on the lawn of the Deere-Wiman House with seating on the grass. In case of rain or excessive heat, the concert will be moved inside the Deere-Wiman Carriage House.

SteveSongs (also known as Mr. Steve to his fans on PBS Kids) delivers an entertaining, educational performance featuring participatory songs, stories and melodies. Visit SteveSongs online at www.stevesongs.com.

Music on the Lawn (SteveSongs), July 15 on the lawn at the Deere-Wiman House, 817 11th Avenue, Moline, Ill. Event funded by the William Butterworth Memorial Trust. For more information or to reserve free seats, call (309) 743-2701; www.butterworthcenter.com.

28 May 2009

Blossoms at Butterworth

By Gretchen Frick Small

A full schedule of activities has been announced for Blossoms at Butterworth, one of the Quad Cities' classic summer celebrations. Set for Sunday, June 28 at the Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House in Moline, the afternoon event offers traditional summer fun for all age groups in a nostalgic garden setting. And the price is right: With the exception of food concessions, all activities and entertainment are free.

This year, Blossoms also doubles as grand opening of the new Education Center at the Butterworth House. The former Butterworth Center Garage has been extensively renovated and now includes a welcome center with display area, small auditorium, kitchen facilities and large meeting room.

"We're really excited about the opportunities this offers to local people," says Gretchen Frick-Small. "This facility will be available for educational programs put on by non-profits, and we think they'll really appreciate the building's versatility. It's such a unique blend of historic significance and very functional meeting space."

During the Blossoms event, the new 1,200-square-foot facility will host the Brinton Art Show, featuring work of Moline junior high and high school students; "Houseboats on the Mississippi," a historic exhibit showcasing photos of and memorabilia from early houseboats owned by the Deere and Butterworth families; and premiere of a new video tracing the life of John Deere and history and mission of the two historic homes. Tours of the facility will also be available.

At the Butterworth Center, performances are planned by the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Youth Band (1 and 3 p.m.), Quad City Jugglers (2 and 4 p.m.) and organist Steve Steeley. WQPT Quad Cities will host a crafts tent for children and families, and free family photos will be taken at the gazebo, complete with characters in period clothing.

At the Deere-Wiman House, old-fashioned lawn games and a Victorian tea party are planned, as well as performances by pianist Selma Johnson. Niabi Zoo staffers will give presentations at 2 and 3 p.m., and members of the Antique Ford Club and Mississippi Valley Antique Automobile Club will host a display of antique cars.

Rounding out the schedule: Self-guided tours of both historic homes, guided bus tours of the Overlook Historic Neighborhood and food vendors (Lagomarcino's Ice Cream and Frank's Prime Cuts steak sandwiches).

Blossoms at Butterworth, Sunday, June 28, noon to 5 p.m. (rain or shine), Butterworth Center (1105 8th St., Moline) and Deere-Wiman House (817 8th St., Moline); no charge for admission. Event funded by the William Butterworth Memorial Trust. For more information, call (309) 743-2701; www.butterworthcenter.com.

26 May 2009

WQPT Ceases Analog Transmission Due to Equipment Failure - Most Viewers Will Not Be Affected

By Joe Collins

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT Quad Cities PBS has ended analog transmission ahead of the June 12 nationwide shutdown due to equipment failure. The station's channel 24 transmitter failed late Monday evening. According to General Manager Rick Best, the last time this same problem occurred three years ago, it cost nearly $20,000 to make the repairs. "With less than three weeks to go before analog broadcasting ends forever" said Best, "it's not feasible to spend that kind of money for repairs."

The early shutdown will affect over-the-air viewers still using an antenna who haven't installed a digital converter box or purchased a digital TV. The station's newer digital transmitter continues to provide WQPT to cable systems and those viewers able to receive an over-the-air digital signal.

Also affected are viewers in the Sterling-Rock Falls-Dixon area that use an antenna to receive WQPT's channel 48.  That transmitter receives channel 24 from the Quad Cities and re-broadcasts it on channel 48 for that area. "We were planning to modify that transmitter in a matter of days so that it could receive and retransmit our digital signal, but until that can be done, channel 48 will also be off the air," according to Best.

"The vast majority of WQPT's viewers will not even be aware that the analog transmitter is no longer working since they are already watching on cable or satellite or have installed the digital converter or purchased a digital TV."

WQPT is the local public television station located in Moline, Illinois on the campus of Black Hawk College.

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