DAVENPORT, IOWA - Austin-based singer-songwriter and recording artist Darden Smith will be a guest of the Rock Island Arsenal chapter of the Association of the United States Army in Davenport October 18-20. The three-day event will conclude with a concert fundraiser October 20 at Adler Theatre to benefit soldier support programs.

A luncheon in the RiverCenter, 136 E. Third Street, will kick off Smith's visit on Tuesday, October 18 at 11:30 a.m. Smith will discuss his recent songwriting work with Wounded Warriors and will play his song "Angel Flight" before heading to visit the Rock Island Arsenal Youth Center at 3 p.m. Twenty military youth will engage in Smith's established "Be An Artist Program," which has used personalized and innovative songwriting sessions to encourage student and communal creativity since 2003. Smith has presented the program across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and France.

"We want to emphasize the benefits of unlocking creativity across the board," says RIA AUSA Executive Vice President Kerry Skinner. "We're excited to be able to utilize all that Darden has to offer in several different areas."

Presentation of the "Be An Artist Program" will continue Wednesday, October 19 with three 50-minute sessions at the Redstone Room, 129 Main Street, at 10 a.m. Groups of students in grades 4, 5 and 6 will gather to engage in and songwriting and music education activities, sponsored by the River Music Experience, the HAVLife Foundation and the Quad Cities Optimist & Rotary Clubs.

The finale concert fundraiser will begin at 7 p.m. at the Adler Theatre, 136 E. Third Street, on Thursday, October 20. All proceeds will benefit soldier support programs funded through AUSA, the voice of the U.S. Army on Capitol Hill and at the grassroots level. The organization's role as a conduit in aligning resources and needs for soldiers and their families continues to benefit servicemen and women nationwide.

"The finale concert will be a chance to celebrate those who serve and those supporting those who serve," says Skinner.

For more information, visit www.ria-ausa.org, www.dardensmith.com, www.be-an-artist.com.

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Independent Scholars Evenings

The Transition from the 6th Day to the 6th Night: of the Mayan calendar.

Romance - South of France to Renaissance- North of Italy.

September 22nd. 2011

2nd Floor of the Moline Commercial Club

1530 Fifth Avenue. Moline. Illinois.

by Michael Rosenthal

Presenter Michael Rosenthal has completed extensive graduate work in

theology, philosophy and psychology at the St. Paul Seminary and the University of Iowa and Western Illinois University.

7.00 p.m.

2nd floor of

The Moline Club

1530 Fifth Ave. Moline.

309-762-8547 for the Moline Club

309-762-9202 for The Institute.

light refreshments, wine and beverages are served.

The event is free and open to the public.

doors open at 6.30

Independent Scholars' Evenings are sponsored by

The Institute for Cultural and Healing Traditions, Ltd. a 501(c)3 at state and federal level since 1996.

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT hosts the 12^th annual Brew Ha Ha at LeClaire Park in downtown Davenport on Saturday, September 17^TH from 1 to 5 p.m.  A wide variety of ales, pilsners, and porters are available for tasting as well as cheeses provided by Cabot Creamery Cooperative of Vermont.

Musical performances by Wicked Liz and the Belly Swirls take place at 1 - 2:30 pm and 3:15 to 4:15 pm. The comedy will be provided by The Blacklist Improv Comedy Troupe.  They perform from 2:30 - 3:15 pm. Games return for attendees to try like the Beer Bottle Ring Toss and the Golf Ball Stack, with prizes from everyone. Admission to Brew Ha Ha includes an event program, unlimited tasting, and a commemorative tasting glass.

Presenting Sponsors for Brew Ha Ha are Old Chicago, Rhythm City Casino,  River Cities Reader, Rock 104.9, Star 93.5, 97X Classic Hits, KJOC 1170AM, along with Dimitri Wine & Spirits, Inc., Glazer's Distributors of Iowa, Coors Light, Budweiser, KWQC, Mediacom, Downtown Partnership,and Cabot Creamery Cooperative. With additional support from The Blacklist Improv Comedy Troupe,  Hawkeye Ice, Iowa American Water, Iowa QC Chamber Downtown Partnership, Millennium Waste, Quad City Golf Cars and Sunbelt Rentals.

Tickets for Brew Ha Ha are $20.00 prior to the event and $25.00 at the gate. "We are continuing our tradition of keeping ticket sales capped so that our attendees are able to enjoy as many tastings as they like," said WQPT Special Projects Coordinator, Bea Brasel. Tickets may be purchased at the WQPT offices at 3800 Avenue of the Cities, Suite 101, Moline and  CO-OP Records in Davenport and Moline (add a $1.00 service fee at CO-OP locations) until 5 pm on Friday, September 16^th and until midnight at Old Chicago in Bettendorf.  Attendees must be 21 or older. Children in strollers and animals will not be admitted. Feel free to bring your own lawn chair.  For more information log on to wqpt.org/brew.

Brew Ha Ha is a fundraising event to support WQPT, the local public television station serving eastern Iowa and western Illinois.