Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities - On Sunday, March 22, 2015 the Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities ("MCC QC") will celebrate its 35th Anniversary, as well as its current pastor's 10th Anniversary of being called to the congregation. The public is invited to attend the 11:00 am worship service and to join in a potluck dinner following the service.

35 Years of Ministry in the Community began In the fall of 1979, eleven years after the founding of what was then known as the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, a group of individuals from both Iowa and Illinois began discussions about forming a local congregation of MCC in the Quad Cities.  Under the guidance of Rev. Reid Christensen, pastor of MCC Illiamo in Quincy, Illinois, the group came together to form an advisory board and later began worshipping in the living rooms of members' homes.  The first facility rented as a Church building was a small, single room building at 1618 W. 3rd Street in Davenport.  Founding members Jim Moore and Peter Pond spent many hours crafting and renovating items for use in our first and subsequent buildings.

The Church organized the first Gay and Lesbian Pride Picnic for the Quad Cities, held at Scott County Park in June of 1982 and has worked tirelessly for equal rights and marriage equality on both sides of the Mississippi River.  MCC QC is a member church of Churches United of the Quad City Area, and helps feed the hungry by supporting our local food pantries, by serving a meal at the Salvation Army feeding site once a month, and by participating in the annual Quad Cities CROP Hunger Walk campaign. The Church owned a building in Rock Island until an electrical fire required a move to a facility at 31st and Harrison Streets in Davenport. In 2013 the congregation sold that building and in 2014 purchased the current facility at 2930 W. Locust St. in Davenport, formerly a Blockbuster Video store.

Rev. Rich Hendricks grew up only a few blocks away from that current Church location.  "The property was a part of 'Gruber's Gladiolas' farm and I used to walk to Wilson Elementary School by cutting through the pasture.  My very first job was planting gladiola bulbs in those fields.  I remember I wore shorts and my knees were raw and bloody from the dirt clods at the end of the first day.  With some help from my Grandma Vada's Watkins' Salve, band-aids and determination, I went back the next day and kept working that summer."

Hendricks graduated from Drake University and has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.  "After three years of practicing corporate law, and starting to raise a family, I knew that pastoral ministry was my true calling," says Hendricks, who received his Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta.  After coming out as a gay man in 1999, Hendricks moved to Chicago and practiced nonprofit law until becoming credentialed in the Metropolitan Community Church.

In October of 1994, Hendricks answered a call to come help MCC QC perform public "I Do" ceremonies - Civil Unions blessed by the Church in a public way to call attention to the need for marriage equality.  "It turns out MCC QC needed a pastor, and I accepted their call in January, 1995.  Never in a million years would I have thought my journey would lead me back to Davenport, Iowa - and then back to the very neighborhood where I grew up!"

Time Capsule  Time is a wonderful, funny, fickle thing it seems.  "Since we have come such a long way in our 35 years of existence, we thought we should commemorate our journey with time capsule," says Hendricks.  The time capsule is to be dedicated Sunday the 22nd and is not to be opened for 40 years.  It will be sealed in a "mouse hole" opening in one of the new building's metal beams in the social hall.  The contents will include items indicative of MCC QC's history - and a thumb drive filled with pictures and memorabilia from current life here.

Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson  Presenting the message of "Seeing Jesus" at the 11:00 am service is the leader of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson.  Dr. Wilson was elected to the position of Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) in 2005, following the retirement of the Founder of MCC, Rev. Elder Troy Perry, and in July 2010, she was re-elected for a term of six years.  She is only the second person, and the first woman, to serve in that role since the founding of Metropolitan Community Churches in 1968.

Dr. Wilson has been the official delegate of MCC to the World Council of Churches General Assemblies in Canberra, Australia (1991); Harare, Zimbabwe (1998); and Porto Alegre, Brazil (2006).  In 2011, President Barack Obama appointed Rev. Wilson to the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Following President Obama's re-election in 2013, Rev. Wilson gave a Scripture reading at the Inaugural Prayer Service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., and was the first openly gay clergy member to participate.

Dr. Wilson's published works include : Outing the Bible: Queer Folks, God, Jesus, and the Christian Scriptures (LifeJourney Press); Outing the Church: 40 Years in the Queer Christian Movement (LifeJourney Press); Nossa Tribo: Gays, Deus, Jesus e a Bíblia (Metanoia); Our Tribe:  Queer Folks, God, Jesus and the Bible (Alamo Press); with Fr. Malcolm Boyd, Amazing Grace. Rev. Wilson's prayers and poems are included in Race and Prayer, edited by Malcolm Boyd and Chester Talton (Morehouse Press).

MCC QC - where you and your spiritual journey are welcome

The Moline Public Library is holding a Poetry Contest for students in grades 6-12. Submit one (1) original poem in the category of short (up to 12 lines) or long (up to 25 lines). Deadline for submissions is Friday, April 10, 2015. Prizes will be $25, $15, and $10 gift certificates for first, second, and third places in each category. All poets are invited to the Awards Ceremony and Poetry Café on Thursday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Moline Public Library. Poets can read their poems and prizes will be awarded. For more information or to pick up an entry form, contact Jan LaRoche at the Moline Library at 309-524-2470, 3210 41st Street, Moline, IL, or online athttp://molinelibraryteens.wordpress.com <http://molinelibraryteens.wordpress.com/> .

NEWSLETTER

The LeClaire Chamber of Commerce March 2015 Newsletter has been sent to all homes and businesses in the 52753 zipcode area! Go to www.leclairechamber.com to see it online.

 

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Riverview Manor 17990 Spencer Road, Pleasant Valley, IA. A fifty bed skilled nursing home.  www.riverviewmanorqca.com 563-332-4600

 

Quad City Times 500 E. Third St., Davenport. The Quad-City Times is a daily morning newspaper based in Davenport, Iowa, and circulated throughout the Quad Cities metropolitan area, Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. qctimes.com/

Unique Recycled Creations & Gifts - Rhonda and Cole DeVrieze - 118 N. Cody Rd, LeClaire. Recycled chalk boards and locally made handmade gift items and crafts. 309-507-2929

RIBBON CUTTINGS!

March 6^th - Best Days Photography Grand Opening - Ribbon Cutting at 4 p.m. Owner Melanie McCalley. Best Days Photography provides a fresh and bright style of imagery for weddings, events, corporate and portrait clients. Drawings to celebrate Grand Opening! 117 South Cody Road, LeClaire, IA 52753. www.bestdaysphoto.com or email Melanie@bestdaysphoto.com

March 27th - Grace Marine Grand Opening - Ribbon Cutting - 10:00 a.m. Grace Marine will celebrate its Grand Opening March 27-29. Come see the new showroom, 905 Eagle Ridge Road, LeClaire. Special incentives on all new inventory! Refreshments, door prizes, games. BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY!

CALENDAR

March 2nd-8^th - Celebrate Restaurant Week at the following LeClaire restaurants!

Bierstube: Two for $15 lunch specials and two for $25 dinner specials.

El Rio Spa & Wellnes Café: Lunch for two for $15. Choose from 1) Blueberry Grilled Cheese and Kale Salad, or 2) Turkey Sandwich and Chipotle Salad.

Crane & Pelican Café - March 2-7 -Great lunch and dinner specials. Find their special menu here: www.craneandpelican.com/menu/restaurantweek2015.pdf

Go Fish Marina Bar & Grill - March 4-8 - Lunch 2/$15 - Cowboy Burger, Grilled or Breaded Tenderloin, Bucket List Burger. Chips/Salsa, Drink included!

March 6th - Best Days Photography Grand Opening Day - Chamber Ribbon Cutting 4 p.m.

March 6^th - First Friday in LeClaire - 5-8p.m.

Mississippi River Distilling Co. Boetje's and Mississippi River Distilling Company will take the wraps off of their new collaboration, "Boetje's Bourbon Barrel Aged Mustard", soaked for over a month in used Cody Road Bourbon casks! Fun food and cocktail sampling - 5:30-8p.m.

Wide River Winery is featuring samples of their popular Spicy Sausage Dip along with wine sampling.

129 will be open until midnight.

Artswork will be open until 7pm.

Aunt Hattie's will be open late.

Blue Iguana is offering a Springy Raspberry Peach Margarita for $4 - small; $7 - large. It will be made with MRDC Peach liquor!

Faithful Pilot Café & Spirits will have live music by Bobby Ray Bunch starting at 7:30pm.

Grasshoppers will be open late.

Isabel Bloom will be open until 7pm. Be "wearin' the green" and receive 10% off one sculpture!

Razzleberries will be open late.

Unique Recycled Creations will be open till 7pm serving free hot chocolate and brownie bites.

Urban Classic Home will be open late.

Many other shops open late!  Enjoy our great Restaurants!

 

March 6^th - Meet, Eat and Greet Networking Night with Quad Cities Creative Re-users. Reusable Usables will provide appetizers and NA drinks. You are welcome to BYOB. Adults only. Join their group: www.meetup.com/Quad-Cities-Creative-Reuse/ 6:30pm:

 

March 8^th - Princeton Community Center Bingo 2nd Sunday of every month 6 - 8p.m.

 

March 9^th -14^th - Bierstube Celebrates 6^th Anniversary! Food and Drink Specials Every Day! Old 57's Live March 14, 8p.m. - Midnight

 

Zion Lutheran, Princeton - Lenten Series of Forums and Reflection each Wednesday in Lent. The schedule will be: 5:30 p.m. Soup Supper, 6:30 p.m. Adult Forum, and 7:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross Liturgy. Each adult forum will look at one aspect of preparing for the end of your life. Topics include :

March 11th - Chaplain Patty Tillman, Genesis Spiritual Care, "The Conversation: Living Well at the End of Life"

March 18th - Wylie Pillers, Pillers and Richmond, "Wills, Trust, and Power of Attorneys"

March 25th - Roger Huff, Thrivent, "Sharing Your Good Fortune".

March 12^th - LeClaire Community Library - Retro Gaming Drop in between 6-7:30pm. Classic video game systems like Intellivision, Nintendo, Sega Gensis, and more! Hosted by TAG as part of Teen Tech Week. Open to grades 1st-12th.

March 12^th - Tip a Quad City Mallard Night at Bierstube 6-9pm. Come meet the players! Donations will go to the Wounded Warrior Project and Bierstube will match donations

March 14^th - Men's Fellowship, sponsored by Zion Lutheran, Princeton, is an opportunity for local men to join for breakfast and conversation the second Saturday of every month at 8:30 a.m. in Zion's basement. All are welcome!

March 14th-17^th - Blue Iguana will have Green Beer and Irish Redhead as features in honor of St. Paddy's day.

 

Saturday, March 21^st - Blue Iguana is celebrating the first "Tweet" that took place in 2006. If you Tweet a picture of your food while dining with #awesomefood #blueiguana, you can get $5 off your bill.

March 21^st - Trivia Night at the LeClaire Civic Center 127 S. Cody Road. Doors open at 6:30pm; Trivia starts at 7pm. 8-person teams; $10 per person. Everyone will be entered into a drawing for door prizes. Mulligans are 10 for $10. Each team may bring its own snacks, beer, wine, and soft drinks. Call Debbie at 563-349-4403 or email Smith5Grand@gmail.com to reserve a table.

March 22^nd - The Faithful Pilot Café & Spirits - Blind Wine Tasting 3-5pm. $15 for 15 wines; you guess the varietals and win Faithful Pilot Prizes. Call 563-289-4156 for reservations.

March 23rd - Economic Development Meeting City Hall - 8:00 a.m.

 

March 24^th - Chamber Networking Event - Faithful Pilot Café & Spirits 5:30-7pm

 

March 25^th - Vino Van Gogh, The Crane & Pelican Café 6:30-9p.m. Painting Dancing Daisies, $38. To sign up for Vino Van Gogh: http://www.vinogogh.com/QuadCities/EventOrder.aspx?id=3116

March 25^th - LeClaire Community Library - Adults Book Club Fireplace. This month we'll be reading 'Room' by Emma Donoghue

March 27th - Grace Marine Grand Opening - Ribbon Cutting - 10:00 a.m.

March 28^th - Princeton Community Center - Talent Show 7:00 P.M.

 

March 29^th- Princeton Community Center - Talent Show 2:00 P.M. - ?

March 29^th - YOGART - Family Yoga & Art at Reusable Usables. 3:30pm. $5 donation per family, ages 2 & up. No experience necessary. Bring a water bottles and yoga mats - mats available to rent $2 each. Simple art project using recycled or reusable materials will follow Yoga.

SAVE THE DATE

 

April 3^rd - First Friday in LeClaire 5:30-8pm.

April 5th - Bierstube Easter Brunch 7a.m. to noon. $13.95 adults, $7.95 ages 6-12. Children under 5 eat free. Reservations recommended - 563-289-2121

 

April 5th - The Faithful Pilot Café & Spirits Easter Brunch 10am & 12:30pm seating. Three courses for $35 per person. Call 563-289-4156 for reservations.

 

April 15^th - The Friends of the Library Annual Spelling Bee 6pm. This year's event will be taking place at City Hall (325 Wisconsin Street) to make more room for participants and their families.

 

April 18^th - Cars & Coffee on the LeClaire 9-11a.m. Join their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/groups/CarsandcoffeeLeClaire/ and keep up on all future Cars & Coffee events. 9-11a.m.

 

April 18^th - "Wine Hop" in Downtown LeClaire 4-6pm Enjoy samples of wine at participating businesses. Proceeds to benefit Christmas in LeClaire. More information to follow.

 

April 22^nd - LeClaire Community Library - Adults Book Club 'My Name is Mary Sutter' by Robin Oliveira.

 

April 24th-25th LeClaire Girls' Getaway Weekend! Tickets $50 - Dinner at Steventons, Styleshow, door prizes, raffle giveaway, purchase raffle tickets to win a "LeClaire Basket" including Spa Experience for two, overnight stay at Grasshoppers B&B, dinner, and more. Goodie Bags, Sales, Giveaways and Promotions.  Money from the raffle will be donated to "Winnies Place". Seating is limited! Sign up and more information at www.leclairegirlsgetaway.com

 

April 27^h - Economic Development Meeting City Hall, 8:00a.m.

 

FYI

 

LeClaire Community Library Teen Advisory Group (TAG): Join our Youth Services Coordinator every 3rd Thursday of the month from 4-5pm for TAG. Help make the library improve their services and programs for teens AND earn service learning credits for school. Email Emily Arnold at eaarnold@leclaireiowa.gov for more details.

Bierstube Lent Features available during Lent! Lemon Whiskey Shrimp, Shrimp PoBoy Sandwich, Shrimp Alfredo, Tilapia and Rainbow Trout.

Visit the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce website www.leclairechamber.com and see us on Facebook!

 

If you would like to attend a Chamber Board Meeting in order to present a topic, please contact the Board in advance at LeClaireChamber@gmail.com in order to be included an upcoming agenda. Board Meetings are held the 4^th Tuesday of each month, 8a.m. at LeClaire City Hall.

 

SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

 

First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire Wednesday evening program: Halftime! For kids, 5-11 years old. It's half way through the week - and it's a time of fun for the kids. We meet from 5:30-7pm, every Wednesday - there is school, through May 6. We serve dinner, play games, have a lesson and a craft. Have your child join us for a week or two to see what we are doing. We are located across from Bridgeview Elementary School, at 200 South 12th street. For more information, call Pastor Melody at 563-381-7777.

 

LeClaire Information Center Volunteers Needed! Contact Cindy Bruhn at info@visitleclaire.com or 563-650-7963 to volunteer.

 

PROPERTY LISTINGS

 

Riverview Apartment for Rent - Downtown LeClaire. One Bedroom. $1250/month. Call 563-940-3742 for more information.

Commercial Property for Sale 510 N. Cody Road. Contact William Robertson (563) 940-1517 billrobertson@ruhl-ruhl.com

Commercial Property for Sale 613-617 N Cody Road, LeClaire IA 52753. Contact Jeff R. Heuer, NAI Ruhl Commercial Company, jheuer@ruhlcommercial.com, Office: 563-355-4000, Direct: 563-823-5107.

Commercial Property for Sale Cody Road, LeClaire IA 52753. Description: contact John G. Ruhl, NAI Ruhl Commercial Company, jruhl@ruhlcommercial.com, Office: 563-355-4000, Direct: 563-823-5126.

Commercial Property Available Eagle Ridge Road, LeClaire, Iowa. Please call: Mike Burke - Mel Foster Co. mburke@melforsterco.com, Mobile: 563-349-2705, Direct: 563-823-5272

Park Run Apartments/Newbury Living complex - 1, 2, & 3 Bedrooms Available - 1701 Iowa Drive, LeClaire, Iowa 52753. 1 BR, 2 BR or 3 BR unit. Call (563) 289-5159 more information today!

Do you have Residential or Commercial property available? Please contact the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce, leclairechamber@gmail.com, with a property description, complete contact information including phone numbers and rental or purchase pricing.

 

LECLAIRE EVENTS COMING UP!

April 18^th - Cars and Coffee on the Levee

April 18^th - LeClaire Wine Hop!

April 24th-25th - Girls' Getaway Weekend!

 

CHAMBER NETWORKING EVENTS - EVERYONE WELCOME!

March 24th - Faithful Pilot - Evening/5:30

April 14th -- El Rio - Lunch - noon

Kelly's prepares for 2015 St. Patrick's Day party; adds AC/DC tribute band Friday; expects 20,000+; moves celebration to back lot to accommodate larger heated tent.

DAVENPORT, IOWA ? Kelly's Irish Pub and Eatery, located since 2004, at 2222 E. 53rd St., Davenport, IA, will host its 11th annual St. Patrick's Day Festival, Friday March 13, Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15.

The weekend's festivities kick off Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the big tent, with Irish dancers, and live music. Bands from the QC Rock Academy music school take the stage at 6:30pm, then local rockers Superfly Samurai take over at 8:45. At 10pm, it's AC/DC tribute band Electric Shock's turn.

Saturday, the celebration gets started at 6:00 a.m., and to fit the Skydiving Leprechauns, the Irish Dancers, $4 draft green beer and 10 hours of live music [lineup below], Kelly's has moved the party behind the building to accommodate an even larger 12,000 square foot heated tent, and an improved layout.

Sunday will feature brunch, and additional events yet to be announced.

In the spirit of community, and to continue an 11 year tradition of safe, fun St. Patrick's Day celebrations, Kelly's will again be offering a shuttle service Saturday to make sure people get home safely.

Great food has always been a tradition at Kelly's and over this year's three-day celebration, the Kelly's team will serve up more than one ton of slow-cooked corned beef, either as a sandwich or as a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner, complete with roasted red potatoes.

The event has consistently been growing since 2005 and Kelly's owner Dan Kelly says he is once again, expecting more than 20,000 attendees this year. "There is no fee for admission, and plenty of nearby parking." Says Kelly, "In addition to an enthusiastic local following, we are seeing folks coming in from Des Moines, Dubuque and Iowa City. It's become a regional draw to the Quad Cities. And if this winter weather breaks like they expect it to, we might see a record crowd again this year."

Kelly's has partnered with the following businesses to put on the Best St. Pat's party in Iowa: Fairfield Inn, Ganzo's Mexican Restaurant, Grand Appliance & TV, Knilans Furniture, McCarthy Improvement, Residence Inn, Signs Now, Weber Lawn Care, and Wiebler's Harley Davidson.

Event Schedule - Live Entertainment:

FRIDAY
5pm The Big Tent Opens
5:30 Mayer School of Irish Dance
6:30 QC Rock Academy bands
8:45 Superfly Samurai
10 Electric Shock (AC/DC tribute)

SATURDAY
6am Doors Open
6am Lucky Charms breakfast
7am Irish Spring Giveaway
10:30 Mayer School of Irish Dance
11:45 Acoustic Music - Jim Ryan
1pm Acoustic Music - Chuck Murphy
2pm Magician Mark Yeager
2:15 QC Rock Academy Bands
3:45 Skydiving Leprechauns
4pm Mayer School of Irish Dance
5pm Wicked Liz & the Bellyswirls
6:15 North of 40
7:30 House Arrest
9pm Third Rail
10:45 Dirt Road Rockers

SUNDAY
10:00  Doors open for Brunch
Events TBA

Note: Live entertainment start times are an estimate only, and subject to change.
The Skydiving Leprechauns will not jump if weather conditions are not optimal.

About Kelly's: Opened in 2004, Kelly's has always been proud of its tradition of great food and great service by a friendly staff in a comfortable atmosphere. With a diverse menu ranging from burgers and pub food to salmon and salads, fried items are hand battered and breaded to order, queso dip and soups are made from scratch, in-house. With 12 flat-screen TV's and a 106-inch big screen, this Irish pub is perfect for watching all the sports action in a family-friendly atmosphere.