BETTENDORF, IA - As it prepares to host the Eighth Annual Lobsterfest, the Bettendorf Rotary Club will strive to continue the history of its "party with a purpose" that provides the community with direct grants and scholarships (www.bettendorfrotary.com/lobsterfest).

The New England-style lobster boil is set for Saturday, June 14th - 5:30 to 10 PM - at Rivermont Collegiate, 1821 Sunset Drive in Bettendorf. Tickets are priced at $75.00 each or a table of eight for $520.00 (a savings of $10 per ticket). They can be purchased by calling (563) 445-4264 or visiting www.bettendorfrotary.com/tickets. The event is open to the general public.

Thanks to funds raised at last year's event, the Bettendorf Rotary Club's Charitable Giving Board awarded direct grants to area charities totaling $23,000. The club also awarded $7,000 in scholarships to students pursuing higher education. Both totals were record amounts.

Similar levels are the goal again in 2014 because of major sponsorships from THE National Bank, Humana Health, Ascentra Credit Union, Professional Touch Cleaning, Weerts Funeral Home, Iowa American Water, McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home, RJS & Associates, Bowe Machine and Werner Restoration. Community awareness is heightened through media sponsors Mediacom/OnMedia, Quad-City Times and WOC News Talk 1420 AM.

Another important service component is delivered through a relationship with Scott Community College's Culinary Arts program led by Chef Bradley Scott (http://www.eicc.edu/future-students/our-programs/culinary/index.aspx). Besides helping to prepare the meal, it also makes further scholarship opportunities available for SCC students.

Finally, the event welcomes several groups such as the Culinary Kids of Family Resources, Inc. and Boy Scout Troop 24 that assist other volunteers in delivering the fresh meal of Maine lobsters.

The Bettendorf Rotary Club (www.bettendorfrotary.com), chartered on May 22, 1957, has more than 100 members fulfilling the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self" in a variety of local, regional and national community volunteer projects. The club meets each Wednesday at Noon at Fortune Garden Restaurant, 2211 Kimberly Road, Bettendorf. In addition to the website, you can find the club on Facebook (www.facebook.com/bettendorfrotary).

Bettendorf Rotary Club is part of Rotary International (www.rotary.org), founded in 1905 by Paul Harris, a Chicago businessman and University of Iowa alumnus. The international organization, now based in Evanston, IL, has more than one million members participating in 32,000 clubs located in more than 200 countries.

CALENDAR

April 19th - 4th Annual Easter Bonnet Contest - Wide River Winery Tasting Room LeClaire Judging at 4 p.m. Event for the whole family!

April 19th - Trivia Night in LeClaire - Benefits Buffalo Bill Museum. LeClaire Civic Club. Doors open 6:30pm; game starts 7pm. $10 per person.  Bring your own, or purchase refreshments.  Brisket dinner also available for purchase. See www.LeClaireCivicClub.org for details and to register!

April 20th - Easter Sunday - First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire Two worship times, 8 and 10a.m. Free Easter Breakfast at 9 a.m.

April 20th - Easter Sunday - Asbury United Methodist Church 3 worship times: 8:30, 9:50 and 11 a.m. Free Easter Egg Hunt for children between services. 1809 Mississippi Blvd., Bettendorf

April 20th - Bier Stube - Easter Sunday Breakfast - 7 a.m. - noon. Great menu, bottomless Bloody Mary's and Mimosas available. Make reservations today!

April 20th - Faithful Pilot - Easter Brunch 2 seatings, 10:00 & 12:30 - 3 course brunch for $30.00.  No coupons, or gift certificates valid. Make reservations!

April 21st - Economic Development Meeting LeClaire City Hall - 8-9:30 a.m.

April 23rd - LeClaire Community Library - Estate Planning with Community Foundation of the Great River Bend 6pm. This event is free and open to anyone in the community.

April 25th - Masonic Center LeClaire - Taco Bar 6:30-7:30 proceeds to BSA Venture Crew 212

April 26th - "Country Breakfast" Masonic Center LeClaire - 8 a.m. - noon. Biscuits and Gravy, eggs and sausage, pancakes & coffee. Donation of $7.00 for adults, $3.50 for kids under 12. Sponsored by Silver Creek Order of the Eastern Star of LeClaire. Everyone is welcome!

Save the Date

May 2nd - First Friday in LeClaire

Mississippi River Distilling Company - Food and Spirit Tastings www.mrdistilling.com

Wide River Winery - Wine and Music on the Mississippi - Live, Danika Holmes, 5-8 p.m. www.wideriverwinery.com

Aunt Hattie's - Come in for a red velvet cupcake!

Razzleberries - Booze cake while it lasts!

Restaurants and several shops will be open late!

May 2nd-3rd - French Market Days - LeClaire

Friday, May 2nd

Book Sale at LeClaire Community Library

*2-3pm: Piano Roll Banner Class includes supplies and refreshments.

*5:30pm: Book Page Wreath Class includes supplies and refreshments.

5:30-8pm: First Friday including Mississippi River Distilling Co.'s tour, food and drink sampling and live music in the courtyard at Wide River Winery, and much more!

10% discount at LeClaire hotels with breakfast included. Rest and refresh for Saturday's shopping and special classes.

Saturday, May 3rd

Mother's Day Shopping Specials

*9am-noon: Cookie decorating class. Learn to do professional cookie decorating and take some home! $35 at Medic EMS Community Room

10am-noon: Children's FREE "Tour de LeClaire" Big Wheel races on the Levee.

10am-4pm: French Flea Market on the Levee. Parking spaces full of treasures will be sold on the spot from the participants just like they do in Europe.

10am-4pm: Special art projects at Reusable Usables. Donations accepted.

3-6pm: LeClaire's Riverfront Farmer's Market includes fresh produce, artisan foods, and specialty snacks.

Book Sale at LeClaire Community Library - $1 bag day.

*Reservation and pre-payment required at www.visitleclaire.com For more information: www.visitleclaire.com

May 3rd - Our Lady of the River Catholic Church 3rd Annual Trivia Night 2800 216th Street Place, LeClaire, IA. Doors open at 6, trivia starts at 6:30. $10 per person. Drinks and Cinco de Mayo themed Food for sale. Participants may bring food and soda, beer or wine.  Ages 12 or older may play.  Door prizes, pay out to top 2 teams.  Proceeds will go to the Parish Hall Remodel Project.  Contact Janice at tjvrom@gmail.com or (563)289-3232 for table reservations and more information.

May 5th - Cinco de Mayo Watch for events and specials at local businesses!

May 9th - Wide River Winery, LeClaire - Music on the Mississippi The Old 57's - 5-8 p.m.

May 13th - Chamber Networking Lunch - Blue Iguana LeClaire, noon. Everyone welcome!

May 14th - Spring Concert at the LeClaire Community Library with 'Spiked Lobelia'. 6pm. Spiked Lobelia says they are both a prairie flower and a band, "Old time country/Irish/Bluegrass/eclectic goodness through & through". Bring a snack and friends for this fun family-friendly event in the brick courtyard outside the library, weather permitting. (Rain location is inside the library).

May 16th - Wide River Winery, LeClaire - Music on the Mississippi Jordan Danielsen, 5-8 p.m.

May 20th - First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire - Women's Mini-Retreat 9:30 am to 12 noon, cost $6.Call Pastor Melody, 563-381-7777.

May 23rd - Wide River Winery, LeClaire - Music on the Mississippi Olivia Dvorak, 5-8 p.m.

May 30th - Wide River Winery, LeClaire - Music on the Mississippi Pieces of Candy, 5-8 p.m.

FYI

Dr. Lisa Arndt, Arndt Chiropractic Center, Inc., Bettendorf, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Iowa Chiropractic Society for a second term. In addition, Dr. Arndt received the Director of the Year award for her service during the 2013-2014 term.

LeClaire Bierstube - Karaoke - Every Friday Night from 9pm - 1am!

Riverbend Signworks just released the latest "Updater", all about wrapping!

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/it-s-a-Wrap----and-these-wraps-will-change-your-organization-.html?soid=1111968629442&aid=JeI1JCJsb9o

The LeClaire Tourism Board is now seeking applications for individuals interested in filling an upcoming vacancy on the Tourism Board representing retail. Board applications are available at City Hall during regular business hours or may be downloaded from the City's website (home page, left-hand side). For this upcoming vacancy consideration, completed applications and any accompanying information must be received at City Hall no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 23, 2014. Any and all applications timely received will be reviewed by the Board and a decision will be made on June 2, 2014. Board position to begin on July 1, 2014. If anyone has any questions or if you need further information, please feel free to contact Cindy Bruhn at info@visitleclaire.com.

Celebration Belle 2014 Cruising Season April 2nd - October 31st.  Make reservations online at www.celebrationbelle.com or call 1-800-297-0034

Buffalo Bill Museum archives are now open to the public for research on local and regional history, genealogies and more!

Beginning April 1st - Interiors by the Sewing Room "Celebration of Light Savings Event" offering a Rebate promotion on select Hunter Douglas shades. Give your windows a fresh look and save some money along the way. Call 309-755-0045, or stop in for details!

Mississippi River Distilling Company of LeClaire was recently recognized with 8 different awards at international tasting competitions including the San Francisco World Spirits Competition where Distillers and Importers submitted 1,474 spirits from 63 countries. River Rose Gin earned a gold medal, Cody Road Bourbon received a silver medal while Cody Road Rye Whiskey and River Pilot Vodka received bronze medals. The Beverage Tasting Institute in Chicago honored Cody Road Bourbon and Cody Road Rye with silver medals and River Rose Gin a bronze medal. At the February annual conference of the American Craft Distillers Association in Denver, MRDC's peers selected River Rose Gin as a bronze medal winner. Country Living Magazine selected Cody Road Bourbon as one of the magazine's favorite bourbons made outside of Kentucky.  Whisky Advocate Magazine featured the Cody Road Whiskies in their tasting notes and buying guide along with a feature on the distillery on the magazine's blog.

August 10th - LeClaire Community Night, Modern Woodman Ball Park. Game time 5:00pm, River Bandits/Beloit Snappers. Mayor Bob Scannell will throw first pitch! A night to celebrate businesses and folks of Leclaire. Awards or special on-field recognition can be done followed by short video on mega-tron highlighting special places and faces in LeClaire filmed the week before. Businesses or groups interested in participating may contact Amanda Henzen, Account Executive and Director of Merchandise 563.333.2729 amandah@riverbandits.com

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

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.

PROPERTY LISTINGS

Commercial Property Available - 1295 and 1297 Eagle Ridge Road, LeClaire, Iowa. Please call: Mike Burke - Mel Foster Co. mburke@melforsterco.com, Mobile: 563-349-2705, Direct: 563-823-5272

Commercial Space for Sale or Lease/Purchase - 204 Jones St. - Call 563-370-2386 for more information. Will show by appointment. Commercially zoned only.

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!

August - Tug Fest

October 12- Apple Fest

October - Witch's Walk

December - Christmas in LeClaire

Plan to attend the Helping with Humor fundraising event benefiting the Humility of Mary Shelter, Inc. on Sunday, May 4^th at the Establishment Theatre in Rock Island. ComedySportz Quad Cities and the Humility of Mary Shelter, Inc. have partnered once again to provide you with an evening of comedy for a cause, featuring a stand-up performance by comedian Chris Schlicting followed by a ComedySportz match! This is a family friendly event. Tickets are only $10, which in turn supports one bed for one night at the Humility of Mary Shelter. Doors open at 5:15 and the fun starts at 6:00. Please purchase your tickets by calling the Establishment Theatre box office at (309)786-1111.

Humility of Mary Shelter, Inc. provides emergency shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing programs that offer opportunities for men and women experiencing homelessness to become emotionally, mentally, and physically more stable. The shelter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has proudly served the Quad City community since 2008.