Davenport Second Ward Alderman Shawn Hamerlinck has announced his bid for the Republican nomination in State Senate District 42. Hamerlinck was first elected alderman in 2005, was reelected in 2007, and is a Youth Field Specialist in the Iowa State University Scott Country Extension office. In addition, Hamerlinck is an adjunct faculty member at Augustana College and Black Hawk College.
Last week, the Board of Directors of the River Music Experience (RME) announced the promotion of RME Operations Manager Tom Swanson to the position of general manager, making Swanson the top staff manager of the four-year-old music organization. Swanson has been with the RME for two years and has played a key role in many of the RME successes in the past year, including the development of a sound-engineering teaching lab and recording studio, implementation of music lessons at the RME, and expanded live-music programming in the Redstone Room. Swanson, a former employee of the River Cities' Reader, began his new role immediately.
Critically acclaimed novelist Elizabeth McCracken will read from her works March 13 at Augustana College in the college's literary-readings series "Lit Wits: Writers Read at Augustana." The reading will be held at 7 p.m. in the Denkmann Building's Wallenberg Hall. In addition, Katie Hanson of Augustana's English department will lead a discussion on McCracken's Niagara Falls All Over Again on Thursday, February 28, at 7 p.m. in Bergendoff Hall room 126.
Dinner prepared by St. Ambrose University's executive chef is just one feature of "Girls' Night Out - the Road to Engineering," an opportunity for young women to learn more about the field of engineering. Female high-school and community-college students will have the opportunity to speak with female engineering professionals, as well as with women who are current college students or recent graduates in industrial engineering. The event will be held on Tuesday, February 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Rogalski Center Ballroom, at the corner of Ripley and Lombard streets. Students may bring a female guest. The dinner and program are free, but reservations must be made by Monday, February 18. To register or for more information, contact Becky Stremlow at (563) 333-6310 or (StremlowBeckyJ@sau.edu).
The Figge Art Museum is offering special programming on Saturday, February 9, to celebrate the current exhibition Birds of America: John James Audubon. The programming will include performances with Brian "Fox" Ellis portraying Audubon, a demonstration by local wildlife artist Brent Langley, live birds from Teske's, and bird-related studio activities. The events will run from 12:30 to 3 p.m. and are free with museum admission. More information is available at (http://www.figgeartmuseum.org).
The Friends of the Rock Island Public Library will meet at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, February 11, at First Baptist Church, 3020 30th Street. The program is "A Visit with Mary Todd Lincoln," presented by literacy consultant Marrietta Castle. The $5.50 cost includes lunch. Reservations are required, and can be made by calling Bobette at (309) 794-6570.
The Quad City Wind Ensemble will present its second concert of the season on February 24 at 3 p.m. The Wind Ensemble will be joined by local high-school brass players for an antiphonal setting of Alfred Reed's Russian Christmas Music. Quad City Wind Ensemble concerts are held in Allaert Auditorium, located in the Galvin Fine Arts Center on the campus of St. Ambrose University.
The Davenport Public Library is offering teens an opportunity to hone their video skills as area libraries gear up for a "Teen YouTube Video Contest" at the Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre. Teens are invited to the Fairmount Street Library (3000 North Fairmount Street) on Tuesday, February 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., for a brief Teen Volunteer Council Meeting and a Movie Maker Workshop featuring Windows Movie Maker. Teens will be taught how to make video recordings and how to edit the content into a concise, fun format. Following this initial workshop, teens will be encouraged to enter the "Teen YouTube Video Contest" by making their own videos on the topics of "Storybook Endings" (creating a new ending to their favorite book) or "Why I Love My Library." For more information about the workshop, labs, or YouTube contest, contact the Youth Services Department at (563) 326-7893.
Individuals and couples with a combined family income of $39,000 or less are invited to take advantage of St. Ambrose University's Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Program. The program is sponsored by the SAU Accounting Club and offers free income-tax preparation and electronic filing for those who qualify. Tax preparation sessions will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on February 9, 16, and 23, in room 102 of McMullen Hall, located at the corner of Locust and Gaines streets on the SAU campus. Appointments are required and may be made by calling (563) 333-6192 or (563) 333-6186. For other free tax-assistance sites, call (563) 355-9900.
