19 Mar 2012

More than 20,000 converge on Davenport pub for biggest St. Pat's festival in Iowa

By Print Junky
Kelly's hosts 20,000 for what it claims is the biggest St. Patrick's Day festival in Iowa.

DAVENPORT, IOWA ? Kelly's Irish Pub and Eatery, located at 2222 E. 53rd St., Davenport, IA, is calling its eighth annual St. Patrick's Day Festival a rousing success, and its biggest to date.

The weather was the story of the day, as record warm temperatures made for a beautiful St. Pat's party, and brought thousands to the big tent on 53rd Street both Friday and Saturday.

Kelly's owner, Dan Kelly, noted that Kelly's St. Patrick's Day Festival brings so many people together, that connections are made and reinforced. "This was our biggest year ever. It was a great day to see so many people out celebrating Irish heritage. Everyone was laughing and having fun enjoying their old friends and making new ones."

Friday's concert, featuring CMT's The Singing Beestar Beau Davidson was a great success and a fitting kickoff to a celebratory weekend.

Saturday, with Irish Dancers making multiple stops, and their roving bagpiper keeping the crowd in the spirit, Kelly's poured more than 2,000 gallons of green beer, and served more than a ton - approximately 9,000 servings - of corned beef. As an airborne accent to the festivities, the Skydiving Leprechauns flew in just before sunset Saturday to cheers, amid live music that lasted for more than 10 hours.

New features this year, included games of skill and strength, and NCAA TVs in the west tent, and the raised VIP area in the main tent, all of which went over well with the crowd.

And once again, Kelly's made sure anyone that needed a ride home got one. "Our free shuttles got many people home safe and sound, capping a record day from beginning to end, from temperatures, to attendance." Kelly said.

7 Davenport Police officers provided event security, which went extremely smoothly considering the numbers, with no major incidents and only one arrest.

For an event this size, sponsors have become critical, according to Kelly. "Companies such as Wieblers' Harley Davdison, the River Cities' Reader, Active Endeavors, Barron Equipment, Ganzos, Knilans Furniture, Mississippi River Distilling Co., Per Mar, Wolfe Beverage, QC Safety, Radon Solutions, Vintage Homes, Steeplegate Inn, and Wayne Montgomery Floor Coverings help keep Saturday's admission free for this annual celebration, and we hope they get value from being seen at, and being involved with this annual event."

"It makes sense that everyone says: 'Kelly's ISPatrick's Day!'"


About Kelly's: Opened in 2004, Kelly's has always been proud of its tradition of great food and great service by a friendly staff in a comfortable atmosphere. With a diverse menu ranging from burgers and pub food to salmon and salads, fried items are hand battered and breaded to order, queso dip and soups are made from scratch, in-house. With 12 flat-screen TV's and a 106-inch big screen, this Irish pub is perfect for watching all the sports action in a family-friendly atmosphere.

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19 Mar 2012

WQPT'S ANNUAL READY TO LEARN CONFERENCE APRIL 21

By Rick Martin

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT, Quad Cities PBS in partnership with the Child Abuse Council, Community Child Care Resource & Referral, Quad Cities Association for Education of Young Children, Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency and the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education is offering a Ready To Learn Conference on April 21nd from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The conference organized for early childhood professionals in homes, churches, centers and schools will feature 18 different breakout sessions that include "Prop Box Bags" discussing outdoor learning fun, "Got Dirt" discussing how to grow healthy kids and "A Merry Musical Day" discussing music and movement.

The registration fee is $20.00 and includes 3 workshops, a light breakfast and a free children's book.  At the conference all participants will receive a training certificate valued at 3 hours.  CEU and CPDU credits are available on the day of the conference for an additional $20 fee. Black Hawk College is also offering 1 college credit in conjunction with the conference. You must register for the course and pay separately by contacting Chris Bachelder at 309/796-5986.

To find out more about the conference or to download a registration form go to www.wqpt.org or phone 309-764-2400.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University located in Moline, Illinois.

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19 Mar 2012

Churches United Announces Annual Delegate Assembly

By Jo Cohrs

On Thursday, March 22nd at the First Covenant Church, Moline, located at 3303 - 41st Street in Moline, Churches United of the Quad City Area will host its annual delegate assembly and the entire community is invited to join us.  This will be the 51st annual Delegate Assembly and this year we will again look at the various ministries of this ecumenical group and review the budget for this current year.  This year we have invited three clergy women to talk about their experience working in the church but also working ecumenically.  One key mission for Churches United is to honor the diversity in the Church as well as within the larger faith community.  What are the challenges of working within one faith yet engaging others in a positive and inclusive manner?  The three members of the panel are:

  • Rev Katherine Mulhern, Pastor, Edwards Congregational, UCC, Davenport
  • Sister Marilyn Ring, Chaplain, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
  • Rev. Dawn H. Roucka, Director, Illinois Chapter of Church World Service
If you would like more information about this ecumenical gathering please contact Rev. Ronald C. Quay, Executive Director, Churches United at (563) 332-5002.
19 Mar 2012

America's Favorite Geek, the Kinetic King, to Appear at the Family Museum

By Rick Martin

Bettendorf – Last summer, NBC's America's Got Talent introduced the nation to the self-proclaimed "greatest purveyor of chain reaction gadgets in this and the 17 known universes," the Kinetic King. Viewers fell in love with the Minnesota charm ("you betcha" / "whoo hoo") and the impressive chain reactions made from tongue depressors, ping pong balls, plastic cups, and more. View his debut appearance on YouTube. The King will be packing his gadgets and heading to the Quad Cities to build several super-cool kinetic structures at the Family Museum in Bettendorf, Iowa. He will host daily detonations Tuesday, March 20 - Friday, March 23 at 4:00pm. He will conclude his visit with a final detonation on Saturday, March 24 at 11:00am.

The Kinetic King, aka Tim Fort, holds the Guinness World Record for the "Largest Stick Bomb" using 3,864 tongue depressors. It was detonated on June 20, 2010 at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Fort creates displays all over the country (some successful and some not). Many of these attempts he posts to his YouTube page (user name LunaTim). The Kinetic King placed 13th overall in season 6 of America's Got Talent.

"Oh wow!" -Howie Mandel, Season 6 America's Got Talent

"Wow!" -Nick Cannon, Season 6 America's Got Talent

"Do it again!" -Nick Cannon, Season 6 America's Got Talent

"Weird, but interesting." -Sharon Osbourne, Season 6 America's Got Talent

"Whoo hoo!" -The Kinetic King, Season 6 America's Got Talent

Find out what the buzz is about March 20-24 at the Family Museum. "It's way beyond your grandma's domino tumbling!" -The Kinetic King

Sponsored by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs
19 Mar 2012

Walk For Epilepsy 2012 Set For March 31st in Davenport

By David Umphrey

EPILEPSY FOUNDATION HOSTS WALK MARCH 31ST

Local QCA chapter working toward "not another moment lost to seizures"

Davenport, IA - The Quad City Area chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation of North/Central Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska has set Saturday, March 31st as the date for the 2012 Walk For Epilepsy. The event will be held here at NorthPark Mall in front of Dillard's.

This fundraising and awareness event is open to teams and individuals with awards for various levels of participation. A minimum level of $100.00 in pledges is requested with no additional registration fee. There are also team sponsorship opportunities available. For applications, registration or questions, contact David Umphrey, outreach services coordinator, at (309) 373-0377 or by emailing dumphrey@efncil.org.

On the day of the event, registration/check-in is from 9:00-10:00 AM; the walk will be from 10:00-11:00 AM with a closing ceremony of recognition set to begin immediately following the walk. The mall court in front of Dillard's will be the site of registration/check-in and closing ceremonies.

"Epilepsy is a condition that continues to be initially misunderstood by those that deal with it as well as by the general public," said Umphrey. "We assist anyone managing, or providing care for those living, each day with epilepsy.

"This event also helps educate anyone that has not dealt with the condition personally," he added. "We show that people with epilepsy can live with not another moment lost to seizures."

-30-

19 Mar 2012

Jewish Cultural Series 2012 American/Israeli Poet, Michael Dickel

By Sheryl Hassell-Bennett,


19 Mar 2012

Iowa Hospice to Host Free "Cooking for One" Grief Workshop

By Rick Martin

What:        Iowa Hospice is hosting a free workshop that will provide new recipes, ingredientsubstitution tips and handy cooking techniques about "cooking for one" after suffering a loss.

Who: Muscatine Hy-Vee's dietitian, Kristen Decker, will provide insight on cooking for one, including a cooking demonstration and food sampling.

When:      Tuesday, March 20, 2012

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Where:     Hy-Vee (kitchen dining area)

4064 E 53rd St.

Davenport, IA 52807

Note: Registration is free, but space is limited. Contact Kayla Richardson at kayla.richardson@iowa-hospice.com or 1-800-Hospice (467-7423).

19 Mar 2012

COMEDY COMPETITION STANDS UP TO DIABETES

By Chris Starman

Davenport, IA  Mar 6, 2012 - Iowa and Illinois comedians will raise money and awareness for the Eastern Iowa Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation with a night of standup comedy and competition in this year's Comedy For A Cause 3 - Last QC Comic Standing, April 13 at The Establishment Theatre.  Tickets for finals will cost $10, with all proceeds going to support the Eastern Iowa JDRF.

 

For the third year, DubStar has called upon area comedians to lend a helping hand to the Eastern Iowa branch of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.  Last QC Comic Standing is the area's only LOCALLY produced comedy competition.   This year, the event injects a new level of excitement with thirty-six of the best comedians in the Midwest competing in three preliminary rounds for ten spots in the finals.  Only one can be crowned Last QC Comic Standing and receive the cash and prizes.  The three preliminary rounds begin this week at Rozz-Tox, in Rock Island, March 9 beginning at 8:00pm.  The next two preliminary rounds will follow over the next two weeks, March 15 at The Pub in Davenport, and March 22 at Racer's Edge in East Moline.

 

The finals will be held Friday, April 13 at The Establishment Theater and will feature the top ten from the three preliminary rounds.  The top ten will perform for local judges Tony Tone from the Red Hot Brian Scott & Tony Tone in the Morning on B100, Entertainment Editor for the the Quad City Times - David Burke, Local headlining comedian - Jim Petersen, and local retailer and JDRF parent - Bob Boyer.  These judges will narrow the field from ten to three, and then name a champion.  Tickets for finals will cost $10, with all proceeds going to support the Eastern Iowa JDRF.

 

"This year's event was meant to showcase the amazing comedic talent in the Midwest, and specifically the Quad Cities.  Almost half of the comics are from right here in the QC," says DubStar founder Tony Boyer.  "We also wanted to bring the local comedy community together by using venues that have supported comedy after the loss of Penguin's.  The Establishment, Rozz-Tox, Racer's Edge, The Pub, and others have been so helpful in cementing a home for local comedy."

 

 

JDRF is a leader in setting the agenda for diabetes research worldwide, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of type 1 research. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is a disease which strikes children and adults suddenly and requires multiple injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump.   According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 25.8 million people in the United States, 8.3% of the population, have diabetes, with 7 million going undiagnosed.

 

DubStar is an amateur fundraising group founded in 2008 by Tony Boyer and Chris Starman; both have histories related to helping diabetics. DubStar's mission is to make a positive impact on deserving charities or groups, through fun and unique ways; "Party With A Purpose".  In February, DubStar hosted Minute 2 Win It, a recreation of the popular TV game show that raised funds for the Quad Cities Autism Center.  Additional information can be found at the DubStar website, www.facebook.com/DubStarQC.

 

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19 Mar 2012

Flower and Garden Show

By QCCA Expo Center

The annual Flower and Garden Show will take place this weekend, Mar 23-25, at the QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Ave., Rock Island.  Hours are: 10am until 8pm on both Friday and Saturday and from 10am until 4pm on Sunday.

Admission is $7 at the door or $6 in advance with tickets purchased at local Hy-Vee Food Stores or at the QCCA Expo Center box office.  Senior citizens admission is $5 on Friday from 10am until 4pm.  Children ages 6 to 16 are $1.

14 Mar 2012

Volunteers Needed to Wrap Trees for LL&W's MillionTrees Project

By Dr. Jeffrey Bassman

Chad Pregracke's Quad Cities-based environmental group needs volunteers to help in a project to improve the future of area waterways.  Living Lands & Waters, an East Moline, Illinois non-profit organization is planning to distribute 150,000 free oak tree saplings in April as part of LL&W's "MillionTrees Project."  The goal of the project is to improve the health of rivers in the Midwest, by re-establishing hardwoods that have been depleted by over-harvesting, flooding and disease.

Volunteers, including families with children, are invited to take part in tree wrapping events being held throughout March and April. "Wrapping 100,000 trees takes a lot of work" said Chad Pregracke, founder and President of Living Lands & Waters.  Pregracke adds, "It's a great venue to help the community and educate people on why trees are important."

Trees provide shelter and nut-bearing hardwoods are a viable food source for wildlife and migratory birds.  Slow-growing hardwoods like oaks have a harder time re-establishing themselves without help, and are often crowded out by faster growing species, like cottonwoods, willow and silver maples. Re-establishing hardwoods helps increase biodiversity, reduce erosion and run-off and improve water and air quality.

Individual registration is not required, but strongly encouraged.  Groups of 10 or more should pre-register.   Volunteers can stay for an hour or all day.  Hard working volunteers will receive LL&W MillionTrees Project t-shirts. For questions or to register, please contact Ashley Stover at Ashley@livinglandsandwaters.org or at 309.737.5913.

Tree wrapping events will occur at the following places and locations:

QCCA Expo Center, Rock Island:

March 13, 9am-5pm      March 14, 9am-5pm      March 15, 9am-5pm

March 16, 9am-5pm      March 17, 9am-5pm      March 18, 9am-5pm

Volunteers should show up at the North Hall of the QCCA Expo Center, 2621 4th Avenue, Rock Island.

LL&W Headquarters @ (17624 Rte. 84 N, East Moline, IL)

March 5-10, 8am-5pm

March 26-31, 8am-5pm                           April 2-20(excluding Sundays), 8am-5pm

Volunteers will be asked to help with the following:  bundling trees in newspaper, dipping roots in water, placing trees in bags and/or tying. Participating children MUST be supervised.  Volunteers are asked to wear warm and comfortable clothes that can get dirty.

Trees will be distributed in April to individuals, families, schools, businesses and organizations throughout 8 states.  The saplings will also be distributed to the general public during the QCCA Lawn and Garden Show, March 23-25th on a first come, first serve basis. The goal of the MillionTrees Project is to grow and plant 1 MILLION trees.

Anyone interested in volunteering may contact MillionTrees Project Coordinator, Ashley Stover at Ashley@livinglandsandwaters.org or at 309.737.5913. More information on the MillionTrees Project can be found at http://www.livinglandsandwaters.org/milliontrees/default.htm

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