20 Apr 2012

Author talk at German American Heritage Center

By Nicholas Depew

The German American Heritage Center will host acclaimed author Susan Goldman Rubin on Tuesday May 1st at 7pm to discuss her book Searching for Ann Frank: Letters from Amsterdam to Iowa. The book details the relationship between the Frank sisters and their penpals from Danville, Iowa.

Admission is $5 with a book signing to follow. Sponsored by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library, the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, Holocaust Education Committee of the Greater Quad City Area, and GAHC. The German American Heritage Center is located at 712 W. 2nd St. Davenport, IA. Call 563-322-8844 or email kelly.lao@gahc.org for more information.

20 Apr 2012

Pleasant Valley HS student to be honored for outstanding volunteer service at award presentation

By Annie Tasker

Julianne Delessio of Bettendorf, Iowa, a junior at Pleasant Valley High School, will be presented with an engraved bronze medallion to recognize her selection as a Distinguished Finalist in the 2012 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.

Presentation information:
Date: Monday, April 23
Time: 7 p.m.
Event: School board meeting
Location: Pleasant Valley Administration Center board room, 525 Belmont Road, Bettendorf
Contact: Mike Zimmer, (563) 332-5151

Julianne is being honored for bringing the joy of dance to those who otherwise could not participate due to illness, disability or financial restraints, with her program, "Dance for Me." For more information on Julianne and her volunteering, click here: http://bit.ly/IX1BQ0

About the award:

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), represent the United States' largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteer community service. All middle and high schools in the U.S., along with all Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and affiliates of HandsOn Network, were eligible to select a student or member for a local Prudential Spirit of Community Award last November. Two State Honorees?one middle and one high school student?plus a select number of Distinguished Finalists from each state and the District of Columbia were selected based on criteria such as personal initiative, creativity, effort, impact and personal growth.

For more information on the rest of this year's Prudential Spirit of Community Awards State Honorees and Distinguished Finalists, visit http://spirit.prudential.com.

20 Apr 2012

Candlelight Vigil in Memory of Kenneth James Weishuhn: Changing the Climate from Fear to Empathy

By Rev. Rich Hendricks

April 18, 2012

Kenneth Weishuhn committed suicide on April 15. The 14-year-old boy allegedly killed himself after his classmates made him the subject of a Facebook hate group and sent him death threats when he told them he was gay. Family and friends of Kenneth Weishuhn said he was a happy teen until he came out to friends at South O'Brien High School in Paullina, Iowa, last month. His mother, Jeannie Chambers, said her son recently exclaimed: 'Mom, you don't know how it feels to be hated.'

If we are to change the climate of hate, we must begin by showing solidarity to create a climate of empathy. That is why QC Pride is calling on the community to come out to support a candlelight vigil in memory of Kenneth Weishuhn and others like him who have tragically died so young due to bullying and acts of hate.

The event will be from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24th around the fountain at Vanderveer Park, located on West Central Park between Brady and Harrison Streets, Davenport. All are welcome to come and to bring lights and signs supporting equality and an end to bullying.

Says QC Pride, Inc. President, Jeff Simpson: "Bullying behavior is a trickle down behavior. When we have politicians riding around in buses through our state in hopes of tossing out justices who based a court decision on fairness, that behavior is seen and mimicked in churches, workplaces, and social gatherings. This is then seen in homes and schools, which in turn, fosters itself in our children."

Simpson offers the example of how kids were taught to fear the Russians when he was a child. "I knew little about the Russians, but the news said to fear them, the adults in my life said to fear them and the church said to fear them." In that kind of climate there is little room for understanding differences and cultivating the capacity to have empathy for those who are different from us. People should be free to be who they are.

The hate and rhetoric coming from so-called "adults" needs to stop. Children are not able to deal with and should not have to deal with hate and its consequences. We need to teach how sacred and precious is each and every human being. Please help us to change the climate.

I knew little about Russians but the news said to fear them, the adults in my life said to fear them, and so on and so on.

We need to stop the hate rhetoric at the top if we are to solve this crisis. 14 year old minds are not yet developed to understand hate, consequences, and the sanctity of life. This is an ADULT problem. We need to change the climate of fear.I knew little about Russians but the news said to fear them, the adults in my life said to fear them ,and so on and so on.

We need to stop the hate rhetoric at the top if we are to solve this crisis. 14 year old minds are not yet developed to understand hate, consequences, and the sanctity of life. This is an ADULT problem. We need to change the climate of fear.

For more information, contact Rev. Rich Hendricks at 563.940.9630.

QC Pride, Inc. is a charitable and educational organization dedicated to
the promotion of human dignity and equality
and to the creation of a peaceful community
where each and every person is respected
and feels safe, secure and free to live out their core values.

19 Apr 2012

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 3/22 - 3/28

By QC Chamber

Hello!

Downtown Davenport is busy, as usual! Visitors and locals alike will be pouring in this weekend for the Star Systems National Talent Dance Competition and The Next Big Thing event at the Adler. The Next Big Thing is a FREE program designed to inspire our youth and we'd like to thank Eastern Iowa Community Colleges, the City of Davenport, and Davenport Community Schools for hosting it.

Relay for Life takes over the RiverCenter's Great Hall on Friday! Participate to help save lives and do your part for the fight against cancer Those of you who love roller derby should snag tickets to see the QC Rollers battle with Rockford Saturday night at the RiverCenter, too!

Rolling Stone magazine has called Johnny Winter one of the greatest guitar players of all time, and Winter will perform tonight at River Music Experience to a sold-out crowd! For those looking for a more local flavor, check out Mandolin Junction, the Sudlow Jam Session, and the North Scott Jazz Combo.

With a resume including Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and SXSW, The Band of Heathens are yet another can't-miss show at RME this week. We highly recommend this gig! Don't forget to bring the family down for Kidz Days, and consider attending shows with the Tommy Gallagher Band, SWAG Fest 2.0, Patio & Orangadang,and The Foot.

Thursdays at the Figge kicks of the week for the museum tonight! The Corn Zone exhibit opens Saturday, and don't let the kids miss Fins and Feathers before it finishes its run on Sunday. Get your creative juices flowing at the Abstract Pastel Workshop, and check out the Brand Boeshaar Scholorship Reception, too.

Seth Bradley takes the stage at Kilkenny's tonight to keep the live music rolling, and local favorites Just Chords will play the same venue on Friday and Saturday. Rhythm City Casino hosts Jordan Danielsen on play Friday and Saturday night, too.

Wine Down Fridays is a great way to end the work week at Brady Street Pub from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m, and stick around to see The Movers and Shakers and The Harris Collection. later that evening. Brady Street Pub is also a great place to catch UFC 145 on Saturday night.

See you downtown!

This Week's Events: April 19 - April 25

Thursday, April 19

$2,800 Bank It Blackjack Tournament

Where: Rhythm City Casino

Time: Registration 5 p.m. Tournament 6 p.m.

Price: $20 entry fee

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