The Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle film screening and discussion series continues with the presentation of the 2012 documentary Slavery by Another Name on Monday, April 14th, 6:00 p.m. at the Moline Public Library (3210 - 41st Street).  Augustana College's Dr. Christopher Whitt will lead the discussion.  This event is free and no registration is required.

It was a shocking reality that often went unacknowledged, then and now: a huge system of forced, unpaid labor, mostly affecting Southern black men, that lasted until World War II. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Douglas Blackmon, Slavery by Another Name tells the stories of men, charged with crimes like vagrancy, and often guilty of nothing, who were bought and sold, abused, and subjected to sometimes deadly working conditions as unpaid convict labor. Interviews with the descendants of victims and perpetrators resonate with a modern audience. Christina Comer, who discovered how her family profited from the system, says that "the story is important no matter how painful the reality is."

A professor in the political science department of Augustana College since 2007, Dr. Christopher Whitt is one of the principal founders and contributing members of the school's Africana Studies program.  He received his M.A. and PhD from the University of Maryland, where he researched the impact of the racial wealth gap on Black political participation.  He currently teaches the course "Race, Wealth, and Inequality in American Politics" as well as courses on United States government, politics, and citizenship.

Created Equal is presented as part of the six-week series Created Equal and Changing America, which explores our nation's civil rights history through film, exhibition, and presentations.  More information can be found online at molinelibrary.com/createdequal, by visiting the library at 3210 - 41st Street, or by calling 309-524-2470.

Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle is made possible through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as part of its Bridging Cultures initiative, in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Changing America is presented by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of American History in collaboration with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The traveling exhibition is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.

Local support for Created Equal and Changing America has been provided by Friends of the Moline Public Library, WQPT, and The Moline Dispatch/Rock Island Argus/QCOnline.

CALENDAR

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!

April 1^st - 12^th - Expressions In Threads Celebrates Expansion and 10th Anniversary Grand Reopening! Special Sales all days. Saturday April 5^th - Janome Sewing Machine educator will demonstrate the Janome 15000 embroidery machine.

April 4th - Frist Friday 5-8p.m.

Mississippi River Distilling Company - Honey Whiskey is back! Food and Spirit Tastings www.mrdistilling.com

Wide River Winery - Wine Samples. www.wideriverwinery.com

Faithful Pilot - Live Music - The Matriarchs - 7:30

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

Razzleberries - Booze cake while it lasts!

Restaurants and several shops will be open late!

April 4th-5th - Girls Getaway Weekend 2014! Dinner and Fashion Show at Steventon's. The mid-west's funniest standup comic, Bobby Ray Bunch. Top Chef Winner, Robert Day cooking class. Carissa Evens hosts a Beauty Boot Camp by BC Mobile Spas. Prize Drawing every hour 11am to 4pm.  Wine tastings at the Wide River Winery and Grasshoppers. Free tour at the Mississippi Distilling Company. Wine & Murder Mystery Game. Goodie bag and more! $45 per person. Sign up: www.Leclairegirlsgetaway2014.com

April 4^th, 5^th, 6^th - Urban Classic Home "Spring Fling" Weekend Unique decor, Custom Creations. Get ready for Spring Fever!

April 5^th - LeClaire Community Library - Adult Basket Weaving Program10:30am-1:30pm. Call the library at (563)289-4242, ext. 4 to reserve your spot!

April 5th-12^th LeClaire Community Library - Money Smart Week - "Dash for the Stash" The DASH for the Stash will be Scavenger hunt played at nearly 100 libraries and other locations across the state. The statewide winner will be awarded $1,000 to open or add to a retirement investment account. Stop by or call the Library for more information!

April 8^th - Chamber Networking Lunch - Riverview Roadhouse noon. Presentation by Junior Achievement of the Quad Cities. Everyone welcome!

April 9^th - LeClaire Community Library - Annual Friends of the Library Spelling Bee. Stop by the library or call after March 27th for more details about this popular program.

April 12^th - Dahl Ford's 2nd Annual Easter Egg Hunt! 11am-2pm. Easter Bunny, Bounce House, Face Painting and more. Three different hunts for (1-2 yrs old, inside) (3-5 years old) and (6-12 years old). Rain or shine, no rain date. Admission is non perishable food item to be donated to the Riverbend Food Bank. Please bring no more than two (2) adults per child.

April 15th - LeClaire Community Library Children's Local Author Jill Esbaum will be visiting the library as part of our celebration for National Library Week! Jill will read one of her own books at 6:30pm and will talk about the importance of reading and writing. She will stay after to answer any questions and sign books.

April 19^th - 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. Seewww.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 9a.m.

April 20^th - Bier Stube - Easter Sunday Breakfast - 8-11a.m. 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.

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

April 23^rd - 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

Save the Date

May 2^nd - First Friday in LeClaire

May 3^rd - Our Lady of the River Catholic Church 3^rd Annual Trivia Night2800 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 14^th - 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).

FYI

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 returns to Summer Hours as of April 5th, closing at 5pmdaily.

From Riverbend Signworks We're pleased to announce our first GiveAway contest! http://riverbendsignworks.com/giveaway/ Win a chance to secure some free signage from Riverbend Signworks!

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. Mississippi River Distilling Company is open from 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturdayand from 12 to 5 PM Sundays.  Free tours are offered to the public daily on the hour from 12 to 4 PM or by appointment.

August 10^th - 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 atinfo@visitleclaire.com or 563-650-7963 to volunteer.

Visit the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce website www.leclairechamber.comand 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!

SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire Sunday School each week for all ages at9 am and worship at 10 am Join us every Wednesday from March 12- April 9 for a free soup supper at 6:15 pm and worship at 7 pm. Palm Sunday, April 13, 10 am worship. Maundy Thursday Worship with Communion on April 17, 7p.m. Tuesday, May 20 Women's Mini-retreat, 9:30 am to 12 noon, cost $6.Call Pastor Melody, 563-381-7777.

LeClaire Events Coming Up!

April 4-5 - Girls Getaway Weekend

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

May 2-3 - French Market Days

May 3-4 - LeClaire Community Library Book Sale

May 5 - Cinco de Mayo

June 6-7 - City Wide Garage Sales

August - Tug Fest

October 12- Apple Fest

October - Witch's Walk

December - Christmas in LeClaire

Hilltop Campus Connection, 4:30pm to 7:00pm tonight (Thursday that is).

Join us to see the newly renovated space at Katie McButts, 1516 Harrison Street

Enjoy beverages of preference and some great food (pizza, baked goods, etc.) as provided by one of the newest businesses in the Hilltop Campus Village, the Eastside Bakery!

Come along and bring your friends. Business owners, neighbors, students, volunteers and interested parties are all welcome!

See you there!

Quad Cities, USA: Have you ever heard 500 bells ring at the same time!? Come to the season opening game of the RiverBandits to experience it! The first 500 fans to purchase a tennis ball for the evening's ball toss onto the field will receive a bell to help cheer on our hometown team.

Major Gary Felton, Quad Cities Coordinator and 30-year officer with The Salvation Army, will be honored with throwing out the first pitch of the season.

Your support of The Salvation Army will help to continue their work all around the Quad Cities. The Family Service Center in downtown Davenport is the Quad Cities' only family shelter serving single fathers and two parent families, and houses 105 homeless people each night -- 65% of the residents are children. An additional 75-130 community members go to the Family Service Center each night for their evening meal, Monday through Saturday. In Rock Island County, Salvation Army services including rent and utility assistance, clothing vouchers and food boxes have served the area's less fortunate.

WHAT: Salvation Army Night at the Ballpark

WHERE: Modern Woodmen Park, inside the stadium at the tennis ball table

DATE: Thursday, April 3, 2014

TIME: Game begins at 7pm