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. ####

Amana- Barnum, opens September 10 and runs through September 27 on the Old Creamery's Main Stage, with shows on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 2:00 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm.

Join the Circus! - and be drawn into the boundless imagination of America's Greatest Showman - P. T. Barnum. From humble beginnings to a life under the Big Top this exhilarating musical celebrates the life and dreams of the man whose colorful vision helped define entertainment for generations and gave us the Greatest Show on Earth! Barnum is written by Mark Bramble with lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman.

The cast includes Travis Burbee, Keegan Christopher, Katie Colletta, Kristen DeGrazia, Adelina Feldman-Schultz, Jeff Haffner, Sean McCall, Chela North, Vigthor Zophoniasson, and Abby Murray Vachon. Warner Crocker is the director and Shari Rhoads is the music director.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $18.50 for students, with a $12 special student rush rate for students purchase their tickets 30 minutes before the performance begins.. Media Sponsors: KMRY Radio and City Revealed Magazine. Barnum is rated Theatre PG. Call the box office for tickets and information 319-622-6262 or visit us online at www.oldcreamery.com.

The Old Creamery Theatre is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. In 2015, the company is celebrating 44 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest.

Every day I look forward to working with the staff at Ballet Quad Cites on exciting new cutting edge projects. I enjoy the bold new growth taking place within our ballet company as we continue to impact our community and surrounding region. Let me share some of the some of the winning, positive things that have happen at the ballet this summer.

What happened to summer?

Wasn't it just yesterday that Beer, Brats and Ballet just blew up with a fun evening, exceeding all expectations of success? Summer flew by as fast as the student dancers in summer classes culminating with Ballet Under the Stars, great audiences every evening even with the rain. Please take a look below to share in our thrill at the grants we have received already this year.

Take a moment to look at the NEW season and order your season tickets NOW. The 2015/16 season is a feast for your senses full of talent and innovation. Guest artist Domingo Rubio will return in October with a cameo role in "Murder Mystery at the Ballet". You can't forget the portrayal of Dracula last season and we agree with Ana Kissegooff who wrote in the New York Times and hailed his performance in Nijinsky's Afternoon of a Faun as "mesmerizing...marvelously intense" His dancing is distinguished by his emotional power and partnering skills, which have earned outstanding awards and fine critiques as a performer and choreographer. For further information about Domingo Rubio, check out his website at www.domingorubio.com.

click here for the 2015-16 brochure