Rock Island, IL: If you are looking for activities to keep the kids engaged and busy during the Rock Island/Milan school break, the Rock Island Public Library has planned plenty of free family learning and fun from Oct. 5-16.

Registrations are now being taken for a free Crypto Club, featuring code making and breaking in four workshops with lead "spymaster" Elizabeth Russell. Ciphers, encrypted messages, and secret codes are all based on math patterns! Russell, a math tutor by day, will lead 4th through 8th grade participants or equivalents through the skills behind creating cryptography spy codes. The twice-weekly workshops are Tuesdays and Thursdays, Oct. 6, 8, 13, 15, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm in the Main Library Community Room. The workshops build on skills learned in each session, so participants should plan to attend all four sessions. To enroll, call the Library's Children's Room at 309-732-7360 or click "register" under the Crypto Club listing in the library's online calendar.

School age kids can also drop in on a free water-powered vehicles experiment with Bob Windt, aka "Rocket Man," on Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm

For preschoolers just starting their learning journey, the library offers "Play and Grow," a structured play group for ages three and under, on Thursday, Oct. 8 at 10:30 am, also at the 30/31 Branch. The monthly activity helps preschoolers build early literacy skills through talking, singing, reading and playing. The event is free and no registration is required.

Additional free events for children of all ages during Rock Island/Milan school break include :

Reading with Rover - Kids are invited to read their favorite story aloud to one of the literary dogs of the QC Canine Assistance Network (QC CAN). Reading aloud to a dog is a fun way to practice reading skills. Families can drop in for a reading session at any of these times and locations:

Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm at the Main Library;

Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Southwest Branch;

Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 5:00 to 6:00 pm at the 30/31 Branch.

A free family movie featuring a brave and kind princess, a likeable Prince Charming, and some unlikable stepsisters will be shown at 2:00 pm on Friday, Oct. 9. The 2015 movie is rated PG, and runs for 1 hour and 54 minutes. Wear your favorite princess or Prince Charming costumes if you like, and enjoy the free movie and popcorn.

A seasonal autumn leaf garland craft for the whole family will be offered at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, Oct. 13 and again at 10:00 am on Saturday, Oct. 17, both at the Southwest Branch. Each program includes a craft with supplied materials and activity for all ages and all skill levels. Registration is required. To sign up, call 309-732-7338 or click "register" on the library's online calendar listing.

Families can also get in the Halloween spirit a little early with a Monster Mash Costume Party on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 2:00 pm at the 30/31 Branch. The free event for all ages includes family friendly party games and a costume contest. Do attend the monster mash - it's sure to be a graveyard smash! The event is free and no registration is required.

Event locations are the Main Library, 401 19th Street, the 30/31 Branch, 3059 30th Street, and the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road, Rock Island.

For more free events for all ages, pick up a fall events brochure at library locations, call 309-732-READ or visit the library website at www.rockislandlibrary.org.

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The 44th annual Quad Cities CROP Hunger Walk is taking place here in Davenport and Rock Island on Sunday, October 4th. Registration begins at 1pm, and the walk steps off at 2pm from Modern Woodmen Park.

An estimated 600 walkers will stroll through downtown Davenport, cross the Centennial Bridge, walk around the District of Rock Island, and back across the bridge to the stadium.  This six mile trek symbolizes the walk that a person (usually a woman) in a third-world country makes daily for fresh water.

Participants in the CROP Hunger Walk collect donations from family, friends, co-workers, etc. to help raise money for hunger programs locally and globally.  Here in the Quad Cities, money goes to agencies like Kid's Cafe, Churches United, EFNEP, Meal Service of Scott County, and Humility of Mary Shelter.  Global funds are distributed by Church World Service.

Although this is a faith-based event and most of the walkers are from teams from their local churches and synogogues, any one is invited to walk and help us "end hunger one step at a time."  Please visit our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/qccropwalk for more information or to send your questions via the message feature.

Follow local churches and their online donations by going to www.crophungerwalk.org/quadcities