Nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year in Texas, Branson entertainer, Jeff Gordon, arrives in Coralville, Iowa, September 22nd, 2015 to perform one show only at Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.  With his wide range of talent and musical ability, Jeff spends his time crisscrossing the country between Texas, Florida and the midwest, performing his music.  Jeff also is a Nashville recording artist with a cd of his own original music that has been heard throughout the USA and Europe.

On September 22nd, Jeff will be performing one of his most requested variety shows.  The first half of the show is a celebration of music, and will include country (Conway Twitty, Marty Robbins  & Johnny Cash), 50/60's Rock & Roll (Buddy Holly & Roy Orbison), Elvis and even a bit of Louis Armstrong and Dean Martin.  The second half of the show is a high energy show, as Jeff portrays and impersonates the legendary Tom Jones.   Folks who have seen Tom Jones perform in person, have shared with Jeff that if they sit back and close their eyes, they would swear they were listening to Tom Jones. Enjoy some of Tom's greatest hits including "Delilah", "It's Not Unusual" and "She's A Lady".

You can find out more information about Jeff by visiting his websites at JeffGordonShows.com and ATomJonesImpersonator.com.  You can also see videos at www.youtube.com/c/Jeffgordonshowsentertainment and  www.youtube.com/c/AtomjonesimpersonatorJeffGordon

Doors open at 6:30 and the performance begins at 7 pm.  For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit CoralvilleArts.org or call 319-248-9370.

John Deere World Headquarters will play host to the 2015-2016 FTC Kick-Off on Saturday, September 12.  The event is put on by John Deere, QCESC (Quad Cities Engineer and Science Council), and the Quad Cities FTC Community. The Kick-Off will feature breakout sessions to learn more about different aspects of FTC from 8-11 AM and the highlight will be the game reveal at 11 AM.

FIRST®, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, is a global nonprofit organization with the mission to inspire the next generation of technology leaders. FIRST Tech Challenge, designed for students from 7th - 12th grades, kicks off its season with the annual game reveal each September.  This marks the start of a process of designing and building robots to compete in the game.

Of note this year is a new control system just introduced by FIRST. The new robot control system is Android based, with Android devices on both the robot itself, and in the hands of drivers. This represents the first large scale application of the Android operating system in student based robotics.

Now FIRST Tech Challenge teams can program robots while learning to design apps. Perhaps even more important, the native language of Android is Java, the same programming language high school students are learning and the basis for their AP programming coursework. Learning to code and develop apps, while creating a robot and competing against other teams, is a first for Android and an exciting way to engage the next generation of programmers, app developers, and engineers. In fact, mobile device designers are one of the hottest

FTC Iowa will compete in a League Format throughout November and December with the League Championship will take place at Davenport West High School on Saturday, February 6, 2016.  FTC Illinois will compete at various locations throughout the state including Peoria and Chicago.  Last year, the Combustible Lemons (Davenport West) and Deviation from the Norm (Pleasant Valley) had exceptional seasons, both making it to the North-Super Regional and the Combustible Lemons going to the World Championship. Students who participate in FIRST Tech Challenge are eligible for over $16 million in college scholarships provided by participating universities and sponsors. The public is invited to the kickoff to learn more about FIRST Tech Challenge, start a team, or volunteer.

For more information contact Greg Smith - smithgregoryryan@gmail.com

MOUNT CARROLL, IL -- Head to Timber Lake Playhouse on Saturday, September 26th for a private screening of Sweet 16, fictional narrative film shot entirely in Carroll County. The film will be shown at 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Ticket prices for the screening are $10 for adults and $6 for children under 18. All proceeds will benefit the Timber Lake Playhouse.

Sweet 16 is a coming of age story about a rural teen whose world is crumbling around her who meets a twenty something slacker and risks everything at a sweet sixteen party in an attempt to find true happiness.

Lake Carroll resident, JoAnne Zielinski, and fellow DePaul University professor, Gary Novak filmed Sweet 16 entirely in Carroll County during the summer of 2011. Novak was appreciative of the experience, "Lake Carroll and the surrounding communities were a big part of the filming process. We wanted to give back to the community by holding a private screening that could somehow benefit the arts; screening at Timber Lake was the logical choice."

The film was produced through DePaul's Project Bluelight, a professional motion picture production company within the University's Digital Cinema program designed for students to get hands-on experience in motion picture production. Essentially, Lake Carroll and locations in the surrounding community became the students' classroom. In just over a month, the film crew covered a lot of ground. "The rural backdrop of Carroll County is just stunning and the perfect setting for the film," stated Zielinski. "We filmed in various locations in the area on dirt roads, in fields, at Lanark's Old Settler's Days, Bubba's, the Shannon Café, and Hunter Haven Farms just to name a few. From the volunteer firemen and women to the local police, the community was an invaluable resource; everyone we encountered was happy to participate on the film."

Auditions were held in Lake Carroll for principal roles and attracted teenagers from local area High Schools. Female cast members include Lake Carroll residents: Ashley Buettner, Charlotte Buettner, Lauren Buettner, and Page Pierson; Salma Alvarado hails from Morton Grove and Maeve Zolkowski is from Chicago. Male ensemble members include Owen Jones, Gavin Crowell, Ryan Walsh, and J.P. Walsh, all members of Chicago-based band, Give Back. The cast was rounded out with professional actors from Chicago and local talent from the Lake Carroll area.

"We are hoping to get a huge turnout for the two screenings so local area residents not only get to see themselves on the big screen but can enjoy the beauty of the environment in which they live," added Zielinski. After the screenings, members of the cast and crew will be on had to discuss the film at the Lake Carroll Clubhouse from 5:30 - 7:00pm. The Clubhouse Restaurant will offer a Sweet 16 buffet, call (815) 493-2810 for reservations.

Purchase tickets for the benefit screening online: www.timberlakeplayhouse.org, or call the Timber Lake Box Office (815) 244-2035. Tickets will also be available at the door. ####