Festive dance and enticements top off this annual holiday celebration

GALENA, Ill. - This year's annual Mistletoe Ball will be bittersweet, as it will be the last of a grand tradition begun 31 years ago. Sponsored by the Galena-Jo Daviess County Historical Society, the Saturday, December 1 event will feature a dessert and dance at historic Turner Hall from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

"The Mistletoe Ball has seen many evolutions over the years," said Nancy Breed, executive director of the Historical Society. "Recent year's full orchestra, catered dinner events have seen a decline in attendance, so the committee decided it was time to bid a fond farewell to an old friend. December is always a difficult time to hold an event due to weather concerns. We are looking at some exciting new ideas for a more inclusive event next summer."

As this year's event does not include dinner, ball-goers are encouraged dine at one of several fine Galena restaurants which are partnering with the event: Fried Green Tomatoes and the Log Cabin (both offering a free shuttle to Turner Hall), One Eleven Main, Vinny Vanucchi's and the Goldmoor Inn. Or you can park near the Old Train Depot and catch the free shuttle from there.

The popular Fever River String Band will have the honor of playing the last Mistletoe dance, filling the seasonally-decorated hall with a mix of contemporary and period dance music.

Scrumptious holiday desserts catered by Fried Green Tomatoes will be a welcome interlude to dancing. A cash bar will be available including a specialty concoction entitled 'A Very Merry Martini.'

A live auction of several high-value items will create excitement during the festive evening. Wonderful offering such as a two-day Mississippi River Cruise on the Twilight and a gourmet Scandinavian dinner for eight are sure to be hotly contested. Absentee bids will be accepted at the Galena & U.S. Grant Museum, 211 S. Bench St., Galena, until Noon on December 1.

Two 40-minute sessions of period dance during the Ball will be aided by an optional afternoon dance lesson. From 1 to 2:30 p.m., also at Turner Hall, professional dance masters John and Elaine Masciale will provide instruction for simple dances that will be used during the Ball. Ball ticket holders will be charged $2 per person for the class; $5 to the public. No reservations are necessary for the afternoon instruction.

Tickets for the Mistletoe Ball dessert and dance are $35 per person and may be purchased on a Visa, MasterCard, or Discover by calling 815.777.9129, or by sending a check payable to the Galena Historical Society at 211 S. Bench St., Galena, IL 61036. Period dress and holiday attire are both appropriate. Reservations are encouraged.

For more details about the elegant grand finale of the Mistletoe Ball hosted by the Galena - Jo Daviess County Historical Society, visit www.galenahistorymuseum.org or call 815.777.9129.  Additional area offerings and visitor information may be found at the Galena/Jo Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.galena.org or by calling 877.464.2536. While in town, visit the CVB's Old Train Depot Visitor Information Center at 101 Bouthillier St. (corner of Park Avenue) for on-site assistance and countywide information.

Rock Island, IL - Christian Care will offer a special Thanksgiving meal from noon to 2 p.m. Thanksgiving Day at the rescue mission, 2209 3rd Ave., Rock Island. A full menu of turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, dressing, green bean casserole, corn casserole, desserts and salads will be served.

"Like every other day of the year, our doors are open to anyone who is hungry or alone," said Elaine M. Winter, Christian Care's executive director. "This can be a difficult time of year for people, and we welcome anyone who comes through our doors. Additionally we're thankful for all the volunteers and community members who donate their time and resources to help us serve those who need us most."

Christian Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization operating two facilities?a domestic violence shelter for women and children and a rescue mission for homeless men. It serves homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and those with mental illnesses.

Christian Care's community meal site is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on weekdays Monday through Friday, and for breakfast and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Breakfast is served at 6:30 a.m., lunch at 12:15 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m.

If you know of someone in need, call C hristian Care's crisis hotline any hour of the day at (309) 788-2273 or visit online at christiancareqc.org.

River City Radio Hour

Presenting:

The Moline Commercial Clubs' Chef Linda will be serving a magnificent dinner
prior to the show, by reservation only. Please call 309-762-8547 to make reservation.

Joshua Forbes, TenorSax/Flute
Jon Moss, Bass
Corey Kendrick, Piano
Glorie Iaccarino, MC/Oral Essay

October 19, 2012

1530 Fifth Avenue, Moline, IL
Social Hour @ 5:30p.m.
Dinner @ 6:30p.m. • Show @ 7:30p.m.

Elevator is at the16th Street entrance.

Tickets for Dinner & Show: $25.00/person
Tickets for the show: $5.00/person

*This event is open to the public and the audience can attend the show without dinner.
Priority seating is given to guests who make dinner reservations.

Looking for a Break from Holiday Cooking and Shopping? Look to Your Rock Island Library

If you're ready for a short break from the annual holiday runaround, take advantage of free November and December programs at the Rock Island Library. From programs for job seekers to a celebration of the culture that originally gave us the first Thanksgiving, library programs offer entertainment and education for everyone in the family. Among the offerings are:

Free programs for job seekers:

• POSTPONED. Getting that Job: Tips on Making the Cut: Tuesday, November 20, Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. Frustrated with your job search or just getting started? A panel of experts will provide tips on everything from filling out the application, what to avoid on your resume, and what to do (and not to do) during an interview. No registration is required.

• Resume Tips: Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 11:00 am, Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. Need some help putting together a resume? Library staff will help you work through the process. This is a hands-on class, so registration is required.  Please call 732-7341.

Entertaining events:

• Native American Heritage Month celebration, Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 6:00 pm, Rock Island Main Library Community Room, 401 19th Street. The library celebrates Native American Heritage Month with an evening of storytelling, singing and sharing by the Thunder Medicine drum group.

• Gift Guides: Thursday, November 29 from 2:00-4:00 pm, Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. Looking for a special gift for a book lover or technology fan? Librarians will help attendees sort through the choices to find the perfect gift during the holiday season.

• Lord of the Rings movie events: As part of a lead-up to the mid-December release of The Hobbit, the prequel to the Lord of the Rings saga by J.R. Tolkien, the Rock Island Public Library will show part 2 of the movie trilogy starting at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 27 and part 3 staring at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the Rock Island Main Library Community Room, 401 19th Street. The early start is due to the extended running times of both movies. Participants are encouraged to show up whenever they can to catch up on both classic stories.

Special programs just for teens:

• Teen Trivia Night, Tuesday, Dec. 11 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, Rock Island Southwest Branch Library, 9010 Ridgewood Road. A millionaire-style trivia game, just for teens ages 12 to 18. Participants may play in teams or as individuals to answer questions about a variety of topics for a chance to win prizes.

• Hobbit Party, Thursday, Dec. 13 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, Rock Island Main Library Community Room, 401 19th Street.  Fans of Lord of the Rings can celebrate the upcoming release of the movie based The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, with snacks, trivia, and a costume contest for those who choose to come in costume. (Costumes not required to attend.) Ages 12-18 only.

• Teen Gaming Nights: Thursday, Nov. 29, and Thursday, Dec. 20, at 5:30 pm, at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19^th Street. Participants ages 12 to 18 can play Xbox 360 Kinect, Wii or old-school board games while enjoying snacks.

Help for the technology-perplexed:

If you've discovered that your new device didn't come with a manual, or you simply want to start 2013 with a better grasp of technology, the Rock Island Library will offer an ongoing series of "getting started" demonstrations and classes on technology. Upcoming classes include :

• Getting Started with eBooks and audiobooks: Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 6:00 pm, Rock Island Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. Free demonstration on how download eBooks and audiobooks for free, by using the library's OverDrive and OneClickdigital services. Know someone who's getting an eReader? Another session will be offered at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, January 2^,, 2013 at the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street.

• Getting Started with Email Basics: Thursday, Dec. 20 at 1:30 pm, Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. Are you looking to get started with Email or not sure how to use the Email you have? Library staff will help you learn the basics. This is a hands-on class, so registration is required. Please call 732-7341. More "Getting Started" classes will be offered in 2013. Details are available online at www.rockislandlibrary.org or at library locations.

Rock Island Main, 30/31 and Southwest Branch locations close early at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 21 to observe the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. All Rock Island Library locations will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Friday, Nov. 23. For more library events, pick up a winter program brochure or monthly events calendar at any Rock Island Library, check the library calendar or news sections at www.rockislandlibrary.org, or sign up for news by email. For questions, please call 309-732-7323 (READ).