Monday, Sept. 28, was a beautiful and a full day for Moline’s Sarah Stevens, who was awarded a $10,000 Nation of Neighbors grant by Royal Neighbors of America (RNA). Founder of The Beautifull Project (TBP) in 2018, Stevens works as an online curator and author of content that encourages women of all body types, ages, and ethnicities to embrace their bodies and to live more confidently, freely, and fully in them. “Too often, as women and young girls, we hear messages that we’re not good enough,” Linda Wastyn, an RNA chapter leader who nominated Stevens, said Monday in a virtual award presentation.... Read More

Saturday In The Arts is a weekly look at a personality, place, trend or topic of interest to the Quad-Cities. It runs every Saturday morning on your site for fun, free, local entertainment and features, QuadCities.com. There’s a great revival happening in the already solid Quad-Cities craft brewing scene. Even in the midst of the Covid pandemic, and despite the challenges and obstacles inherent to it, several small, passionate craft breweries have opened this year. Since the spring, breweries have opened in Geneseo, Bettendorf and Davenport, joining an already robust craft-beer landscape. Great... Read More

Megan Hasselroth wouldn’t be where she is today – the executive director of a Quad-Cities women’s business organization – without influential mentors. Since January 2020, the 30-year-old Sherrard High School alum has led Lead(h)er, just the second director (and only paid staffer) of the nonprofit since it was started by Melissa Pepper in August 2016. In a virtual 4th birthday celebration, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, Lead(h)er will share stories from across 300-plus matches of female mentors and mentees, highlight successes, and announce the 2020 Girl on Fire Award winners. The awards honor... Read More

Comedian Sam Tallent will perform Sunday at 7 p.m. outdoors at the Renwick Mansion, 901 Tremont Ave., Davenport, as part of the Tomfoolery on Tremont stand-up series. Food and a full bar will available for purchases, as will copies of Tallent’s new book. Single tickets are $12, available at Eventbrite.com. A table for four is available for $40 at Eventbrite. Tallent’s self-published debut novel, “Running the Light” (February 2020) has been highly praised by comedians Kyle Kinane, Bert Kreischer, and Doug Stanhope. Stanhope called it: “Brilliant writing. Astounding. One of the best books... Read More

Haley DeGreve just graduated from Augustana College in May, but the Alleman High alum and Moline native already has become a national advocate in the fight for suicide prevention. On average, there are 132 suicides per day in the U.S., totaling 48,344 in 2018 (the most recent data available). The rates have been rising steadily since 2000 — by 35 percent overall, across most age groups. DeGreve is worried about future generations and what effect this catastrophic pandemic will have. In July, DeGreve was on the podcast of Kevin Hines, a leading suicide prevention activist, and she’ll be a keynote... Read More

While the two-year-old Spotlight Theatre, 1800 7th Ave., Moline, continues to be closed to big productions during Covid, it also continues to shine a light on creative alternative programming. “As theaters and playhouses continue to close permanently around the country, we are determined to continue to provide new and innovative entertainment for you and remain present in our community,” the Spotlight said in a recent e-mail, announcing a new jazz lounge Thursday and film showing Friday. “In order for us to do that, it will also take a community dedicated to saving the arts in our rich and... Read More

When Quad-Cities musician Donovan Gustofson created QC HIVE six months ago, to help others hurt by the coronavirus pandemic, he had little idea how it would grow and flourish. The Facebook group formed March 23 now has 6,855 members, and raised over $70,000 to support local musicians, artists, bars, restaurants and other small business owners struggling to make it after Covid has devastated the economy, as well as claiming 200,000 American lives. Gustofson — bassist in the Q-C band Funktastic Five, assistant music director at Davenport’s St. Paul Lutheran Church, and adjunct music teacher... Read More

Friends and family in the Quad-Cities are mourning the sudden, shocking loss of Keith Bonnstetter, a beloved Bettendorf Spanish teacher and master of intricate paper cutting. He died Sunday morning at 52 after collapsing during a run. Bonnstetter was a Spanish teacher at Bettendorf High School since 2001, said principal Joy Kelly in a Sunday post on the school’s website. “He loved his students, he loved his colleagues and he loved teaching,” she wrote. “Keith was a positive, compassionate and talented presence on our campus and he will be missed dearly by all of us. “On behalf of our... Read More

One of the Quad-Cities’ most popular bands – Einstein’s Sister – reunited last year for two new songs, which will be released Saturday, Sept. 26 for Record Store Day 2020 at Co-Op Records, Bandcamp, iTunes, Apple Music and CD Baby. The longtime musical partners Kerry Tucker and Bill Douglas co-wrote the tunes, “Standing Still” (which Tucker sings) and “Begin Again” (which Douglas sings), recorded with Einstein’s Sister drummer Marty Reyhons and bassist Andrew Brock. The only original band member not to take part was guitarist Steven Volk. The project came out of the power pop... Read More

Saturday in the Arts is a comprehensive, in-depth look at a personality, issue, or trend in the Quad-Cities arts and entertainment scene, running every Saturday morning on your site for fun, free, local entertainment and features, QuadCities.com. For many high schools and colleges throughout the Quad-Cities, the show must go on – even during a crippling global pandemic that’s turned education upside down. With schools taking differing approaches to in-person and online instruction, each also is taking individual, thoughtfully considered approaches to continuing with their music and theater... Read More