25 May 2010

QCIA CONTINUES CLIMB OVER 2009 NUMBERS

By Bruce Carter

April '10 was second best April on record

(Moline/Quad Cities) - It was announced today at the Metropolitan Airport Authority monthly board meeting that April, 2010, was the second best April in history. 37,735 passengers were enplaned, 377 passengers shy of the record held by April '08. Total passengers for the year are up 6% over 2009.

"Whenever we have flights added back into the daily schedule, we see an increase in passenger traffic," Bruce Carter, Director of Aviation said. "Two flights were added by Delta on April 6th to Minneapolis-St. Paul and Detroit, and another daily flight will be added to Memphis in early June. With the addition of these flights, there are more than 200 daily seats available to our passengers."

In other news, a historical photo display has been unveiled at the Art@ the Airport gallery located across from the restaurant. The gallery features a series of enlarged photos from the early years of Moline aviation including special flight landings, a series of the interior of the 1954 terminal, a display of hanging model airplanes, and much more. An "Aviation Adventure" contest is being held in conjunction with other area agencies including the Putnam/Imax, Quad City Air show, Quad City Arts, and the Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau. More information about the Aviation Adventure, including details about the grand prize being offered, can be found by clicking on the aviation adventure link at qcairport.com, under the contests & specials button.

The eighth "Honor Flight of the Quad Cities" is scheduled to depart Wednesday morning May 26th at 7:00 a.m. and return at approximately 10:30 p.m. The public is welcome to greet the veterans upon their return, after they have spent the day visiting the WWII memorial, and other historic memorials and monuments.

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24 May 2010

IOWA GRILL MASTERS URGED TO COMPETE FOR SPOTS IN THE 47th FARM BUREAU COOKOUT CONTEST AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR

By Zach Bader

WEST DES MOINES, IA - May 18, 2010 - For the 47th year, the best grillers in Iowa will gather to compete for the title "Iowa Cookout Champion" at the Iowa State Fair. The contest showcases the state's best outdoor chefs working their culinary magic with some of Iowa's finest meat products.

 

The search for a new champion begins this summer when county Farm Bureaus host local contests to determine winners in several categories. Local finalists will compete for the state title on Iowa Farm Bureau Day at the fair, Tuesday, Aug. 17, on the Grand Concourse of the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

 

The first local contests will be held in June. A list of the county cookout contests will be updated regularly on the Iowa Farm Bureau website, http://www.iowafarmbureau.com. Interested grillers and attendees should also contact their county Farm Bureau office for more details and information on rules and contests in their areas.

 

"The cookout contest is about sharing the best of what Iowa has to offer: its people and the food raised on our farms," said Iowa Farm Bureau cookout coordinator Denny Harding. "Every year hundreds of grillers compete in local competitions for a chance to showcase their best for state fairgoers."

 

Contestants will compete in six categories: beef, pork, lamb/goat, poultry, turkey and combo/specialty. Entries in the beef category will be limited to chuck or round primal cuts, including ground chuck or ground round. Combo recipes combine two or more meats from the five other categories. Specialty recipes may feature venison or any other Iowa domestically raised product. All wild game is excluded.

 

Creations will be judged on taste, appearance and originality. Special recognition will also go to contestants in showmanship, youth and team cooking categories. Youth grillers must be between the ages of 13 and 18 years, as of Aug. 1, 2010. Farm Bureau or affiliated company employees are not eligible to compete.

 

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Editor's Note: To view and download photos of last year's Cookout Contest, click on the following link: http://tiny.cc/eymm1. Photos from other Cookout Contests can be viewed and downloaded by clicking here: http://bit.ly/cmZlHD. Photos should be credited to Joe Murphy, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

10 May 2010

Sign up for our next bus trip to the German Fest !

By Angela Osborn

German Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Date: July 24, 2010 (Day trip)

Time: 7:55 a.m. - 8:50 p.m.
(Bus departs/returns at the German American Heritage Center)

Cost: Nonmembers: Adults: $68; Seniors and Students: $65

Members: Adults: $58; Seniors and Students: $55

Direct from Germany, the German Showcase features an amazing group of entertainers who will be performing every day throughout the grounds! Relax with a beer and sausage in the Beer Garden on the ground's North end - sing along or listen to favorite German drinking songs! Visit the South end of the grounds for carnival games, rides and other activities! Don't leave the festival grounds without trying a "Currywurst," a bratwurst with a decadent curry sauce, or a "Saucisschen," an 18" pork sausage curled and served on a stick!  To reserve your spot for the trip, call 563-322-8844. We encourage you to register soon, as space is limited.

22 Apr 2010

Quad City International Airport Releases March '10 figures and notes additional flights

By Cathie Rochau

MARCH COMES IN LIKE A LION AT QCIA

More flights to be added in June, 2010

( Moline/Quad Cities) March enplanements at the Quad City International Airport exceeded 40,000 passengers,  Bruce Carter announced today at the Metropolitan Airport Authority monthly board meeting. "While this was technically the fourth best March on record, we consider any month that we enplane forty-thousand passengers or more to be a very strong travel month," Carter said. 41,296 passengers were enplaned which is up 3% over last March. The airport is up 1% overall compared to last year. Last month, spring break travelers filled the parking lot and the perimeter, which was expanded in 2009.

Earlier this month, Delta added more flights to two existing cities. On April 6, flights to Minneapolis-St. Paul increased from two to three flights per day. An additional flight was added to Atlanta the same day. In early June, one additional Memphis and Detroit flight will be added to the current schedule. "We are very pleased that these flights have been added this month," Bruce Carter, Director of Aviation, said. "Once the Memphis and Detroit flights are added in June, we will have a total of 220 additional seats into the daily schedule. This gives our travelers more choices when making their plans."

AirTran Airways has made a change to their 5:35 a.m. departure to Atlanta. Effective April 6, the departure time changed to 6:35 a.m.  On May 27, the AirTran afternoon arrival that currently returns from Atlanta in the 5:00 p.m. hour will land at 6:01 p.m.  That flight will then depart to Atlanta at 6:36 p.m.

The Quad City International Airport offers nonstop service to 8 cities on 4 major airlines, and strives to make travel 'easier' for passengers from throughout Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

# # #

Remember- Honor Flight of the Quad Cities will be taking their #6 and #7 flights this Friday, 4/23, and Saturday, 4/24 to Washington D.C. Flights depart at 7:00 a.m. Passengers begin arriving at 5:30 a.m. Flight participants are scheduled to return somewhere between 10:15 - 10:30 p.m. to a welcome home celebration filled with relatives and more. The public is welcome to attend.

19 Apr 2010

Governor Quinn Breaks Ground on New Mississippi River Bridge Project

By Andrew Mason

Project will Ease Congestion; Create More than 2,200 Jobs

ST. LOUIS - April 19, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today joined U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood at the Eads Bridge in St. Louis to break ground on the new Mississippi River Bridge project. The project is expected to create more than 2,200 jobs, provide congestion relief and will spur approximately $25.3 billion in regional economic activity over the next 45 years.

"A new bridge joining Missouri and Illinois will greatly enhance safety and relieve congestion in the St. Louis metro area," said Governor Quinn. "This project will also boost the local economy of both of our state by creating thousands of jobs for the region."

The project is a joint undertaking by the Missouri and Illinois Departments of Transportation. Construction of the new bridge is expected to result in 2,200 direct and indirect jobs being created in the greater St. Louis Metropolitan area, with 1,200 anticipated to be Illinois-based jobs.

"St. Louis has been the center of commerce and transportation on the Mississippi River for 200 years, and this bridge will be a strong link in that vibrant network," Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said. "Coupled with the announcement last month that development of the high-speed rail corridor to Chicago is on a fast track, St. Louis is well-positioned to thrive as a key transportation hub of the Midwest."

The Mississippi River Bridge will provide congestion relief across the region, especially on the Poplar Street Bridge. The new bridge will be a four-lane, cable-stayed structure that will relocate Interstate 70 from the Poplar Street Bridge, which now carries I-55, I-64 and I-70. The main span contractor is a joint venture of Massman Construction, Traylor Brothers and Alberici Constructors.

"We are very excited to take part in building the first new bridge in more than 40 years to connect downtown St. Louis and southwestern Illinois," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. "As work on the new Mississippi River Bridge advances, Illinois will continue to work diligently to ensure the success of the project."

The estimated $667 million dollar project is funded through a combination of federal and state funds, which includes funds from the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, or SAFETEA-LU.  The funding includes $313 million from Illinois, $115 million from Missouri and $239 million in federal appropriations. The project is expected to be completed by 2014.

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23 Mar 2010

Classics & Chrome Car Show Celebrates the Passion of Car Enthusiasts

By Mike Doyle
March 23, 2010

ROCKFORD, IL ? It takes a certain type of person to own a hot rod, muscle car or classic car. It's not just a car to them; it's a lifetime commitment and a passion. Keith Country Day School in Rockford, Ill., will celebrate this passion by showcasing more than 120 unique vehicles that span over 100 years at its annual Classics and Chrome Car Show presented by State Farm Insurance on Friday and Saturday, April 17-18, at the Indoor Sports Center (ISC), 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park.

The largest indoor car show in northern Illinois, Classics and Chrome features pre- and post-war classics; sports cars; muscle cars; hot-rod and custom cars; exotic and race cars; specialty cars and motorcycles. The two-day show will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 17 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 18. Admission is $6, with children younger than 10 admitted free.

Although the "heavy metal" is the main attraction, the Classics and Chrome raffle is one of the show's most popular features. Patrons can buy raffle tickets for just $100 or buy five tickets and get the sixth one free! The grand prize of the raffle is $35,000. Other prizes are:

2nd Prize: $2,500 Clodius & Co. jewelry set
3rd Prize: $1,000 in Mobil gas cards
4th Prize: Pepsi & Papa John's package ($1,000 value)

Tickets can be purchased by calling Keith Country Day School at 815.399.8823 or by going to classicsandchrome.com.

Attending Classics and Chrome is the perfect excuse to take a weekend getaway in Rockford. Check out these other great events during your stay:

Lighten your heart and share a laugh at Rockford Dance Company's presentation of Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Performances are at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 17, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 18, at the Sullivan Center, 118 N. Main St., Rockford. Tickets are $20 and $32 and can be purchased by calling 815.963.3341 or at www.rockforddancecompany.com.

Immerse yourself in art on Friday and Saturday, April 16-17, during ArtScene, Rockford's citywide art exhibit of original works. Galleries and studios across Rockford will be open to the public free of charge from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Visit www.springartscene.com for a listing of participating galleries and studios.

The Rockford Art Museum will also feature two art exhibitions you won't want to miss: the Rockford Midwestern and the Young Artist Show - Youth Division. Now in its 68th year, the Young Artist Show is a Rockford tradition that showcases the strength and diversity of art programs across the region. This year marks the 71st presentation of the Rockford Midwestern, a biennial juried exhibition that draws the best works from artists from a nine-state region. Admission to the Rockford Art Museum is $6, $3 for students and seniors and free for children younger than 12. For more information, call 815.968.2787 or visit www.rockfordartmuseum.org.

For information on hotel accommodations in the Rockford Region, be sure to visit gorockford.com/hotels.

Classics and Chrome is a fundraiser for Keith Country Day School, an independent, nonsectarian, college-preparatory school serving students from age three through grade 12 from the northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin area. For more information on Classics and Chrome, visit www.classicsandchrome.com or call 815.399.8823.

Rockford, IL, is located approximately 60 minutes west of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport off Interstate 90. For information on accommodations and things to do, visit www.gorockford.com. The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, non-profit organization that champions efforts to promote and further develop the Rockford Region as an overnight visitor destination. RACVB generates positive economic impact for the community through investments in tourism marketing, sales, promotion and advocacy.

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22 Mar 2010

Tourism in Germany, Austria and Switzerland explored on March 27 at the German American Heritage Center in Davenport, Iowa

By Angela Hunt

DAVENPORT, IOWA (March 16, 2010)  A presentation called "Tourism in Germany: What to Do, See and Say" will be held Saturday, March 27 at 2:00 p.m. at the German American Heritage Center at 712 West 2nd Street in Davenport, Iowa. Reminiscing on travel experiences or exploring future excursions can seem like a welcome mini-getaway. This presentation will share some ideas for destinations and activities in the south of Germany (Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg) as well as some helpful words and phrases for you to get by on your next trip to Germany, Austria and/or Switzerland. This event will be hosted by Bryan Schmid and is free for members and free with museum admission for nonmembers.

In addition to the presentation visitors can explore the museum's 4,000 square feet of permanent and special exhibits. Visitors will enjoy an interactive experience as they learn about immigrants' journey by sea, train and foot, to their final destination at the German American Heritage Center building, which was originally a very busy hotel for thousands of immigrants in the 1860s. The current special rotating exhibit is Amana: Moving to the City. This exhibit features artifacts and explores how Amana society members made a difficult decision to leave the communal society during the Great Depression to come to the City of Davenport.

The German American Heritage Center works to preserve and enrich the German immigrant experience and its impact on the American Culture. The museum also partners with other cultural groups to demonstrate the contributions immigrants from many countries and from varied backgrounds have made to the ethnic palette which is the United States.

For more information on all of the museum's exhibits, programs, events, classes, and workshops visit www.gahc.org or call 563-322-8844. General admission is: Adults: $5; Seniors:$4; Children: $3 (5 - 17 years old); Free for children under 5. Museum members are free. Hours are Tuesdays through Saturday open 10 am - 4 pm; Sunday open 12 - 4 pm.

-END-

22 Feb 2010

I-80 Bridge to shut down to eastbound traffic

By Rick Martin
The Interstate 80 bridge over the Mississippi River will handle only westbound traffic starting April 5. It is the hope of the DOT that the bridge will return to two-way traffic as early as June 15, if work on the eastbound span is completed by then. The repair contract includes incentives for early completion of the work.
11 Feb 2010

Join us in LeClaire!

By Deb Willaredt

Join us in LeClaire, Iowa....

Enjoy an afternoon of shopping at Artswork in LeClaire, Iowa and then enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner at the Crane & Pelican Cafe. Both feature wonderful views of the Mississippi River and a relaxing atmosphere.

Artswork is a unique shop in downtown LeClaire, Iowa that features handmade:

  • Fine Art
  • Pottery
  • Clothing - including Sympli The Best
  • Jewelry - including TrollBeads and Beyond Words
  • Home Decor Items - including Utter Most lamps and alternative wall decor
  • And So Much More!

Artswork is located at 221 North Cody Road, LeClaire, Iowa.

Click here for a link to Google Maps.

Phone: 563-289-3316 | email: deb@artsworkia.com
http://www.artsworkia.com
Store Hours:
monday - friday 10 - 5
saturday 10 - 5
sunday 12 - 4
contact us for holiday hours

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Crane and Pelican Cafe, LeClaire, IowaThe Crane and Pelican Cafe is open for Lunch and Dinner Monday through Saturday from11am-9pm and offers wonderful views of the Mississippi River in historic LeClaire from the newly renovated Dawley House


The Dawley House is a brick Italianate-style house built in 1851 by a riverboat captain and features Victorian-era chandeliers, a curved staircase and a metal fireplace.

Lunch offers an easy-going dining experience with homemade soups, salads and sandwiches. If you've got a big appetite, make it a Dawley house dinner with dishes that include Beef Wellington, Chicken & Ham Bake, Greenie Linguine and the Catch of the Day. Add a cup of soup or a house salad and desserts that include homemade ice cream, orange crêpes, fresh baked pie or savory chocolate Cake.

View our Menu


All meals are made fresh using local ingredients and can be paired with sodas, fresh squeezed juices, coffee, tea or a variety of cocktails, wines and beer.

Guests are invited upstairs to the 2nd floor to visit the Crane and Pelican Gift Shop, organized by Deb Willaredt of Artswork, and Jo's Room, assembled by Jo McNurlen who ran Trudy's Treasures, an antique shop in LeClaire.

Private rooms are available for Private Parties, Luncheons and Dinners for 6 to 60 people. We will be happy to design a menu to fit your tastes and budget. We also have a full service bar with high quality and affordable wines available by the case, three delicious beers on tap and keg prices available, as well as open bar and cash bar options.

We looking forward to serving you!

Reservations appreciated

127 2nd Street South
Le Claire, Iowa 52753
MAP
563-289-8774
www.CraneandPelican.com

01 Feb 2010

Governor Quinn Announces Capital Funding For Quad Cities Passenger Rail

By Andrew Mason

State Invests $45 Million in Rail Passenger Service and Jobs

MOLINE - January 30, 2010. Gov. Pat Quinn today visited Moline to announce $45 million in state capital funds to establish passenger rail service from Chicago to the Quad Cities. The new service will result in up to 825 new jobs, including 440 construction jobs.

"This week, we were happy to receive $1.2 billion in federal money for high-speed rail that will take travelers between Chicago and St. Louis," said Governor Quinn. "Now we want to make sure people can travel from Chicago to Moline and beyond. This new line is going to connect Chicago to the western part of our state, create jobs and bring more visitors to the Quad Cities."

The Quad Cities have not had passenger rail service since the late 1970s. Under the new service, two daily round trips will transport passengers to and from the Quad Cities in just over three hours. The Chicago-to-Quad Cities project is one leg of a planned passenger train service extension that would connect west to Iowa City, Iowa and on to Omaha, Nebraska.

"It is important that we continue to invest in our state's rail system," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig. "We hope to get this project started this year and are very excited about what the future holds for passenger rail in Illinois."

The Quad Cities project was developed in cooperation with the state of Iowa as a "green" demonstration project, in which various environmentally-friendly initiatives in construction, operations and local development will be used.

These initiatives include running the trains using biofuels, using recycled materials where possible in construction, using organic foods and environmentally friendly packaging in food services, installing "green" station upgrades to lower utility costs and increase efficiencies and encouraging pedestrian-friendly development around rail stations to reduce vehicle trips, among other improvements.

Federal officials announced Thursday that Illinois will receive $1.2 billion through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to begin track and signal upgrades for high-speed passenger rail service between Chicago and St. Louis.

The funding for this passenger rail project is part of Illinois Jobs Now!, a job generation and capital improvement program that will revive the state's ailing economy by creating and retaining over 439,000 jobs over six years.

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