Ruth Lee loves to visit “Cloud Wine,” and a special family connection helped her create a great, intoxicating fundraiser for another place close to heart – the Rotary Club of Rock Island. A former club president and head of the auction committee, she has helped organized “On Cloud Wine,” a big California wine auction that will begin online at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18 and run through Sept. 2, with proceeds going to Rotary’s Frederick R. Houlton “Service Above Self” Scholarship Fund at Rock Island High School. “We never have done anything like this and it’s actually kind... Read More

Crafty Cat is slinking in Friday! It’s Alternating Currents Fest 2021‘s Art Extravaganza!! Crafty Cat Indie Art Fest will take place Friday, August 20, 5-8 p.m. and Saturday, August 21, 10a.m.-4 p.m. at the Great Hall, RiverCenter, Downtown Davenport. It’s FREE to attend! #tagtheqc #craftycat #DowntownDavenportIowa #handmade #makersgonnamake #quadcities  Read More

The 2021 Alternating Currents festival will showcase 120+ live performances, film screenings and art-related events from Thursday to Sunday, Aug. 19-22, at more than 30 venues across three downtown Quad Cities: Davenport, Rock Island and Moline. Designed to showcase the vibrant culture of our downtown areas, the annual event features a variety of indoor and outdoor events including musical acts, film screenings, a comedy lineup and many art-inspired activities. Alternating Currents is a festival featuring more than 60 national, regional and local acts over the four-day event at locations across... Read More

One of the most unique, colorful, fun, and creative stores in the Quad-Cities is going to be closing its doors. Crafted QC, at 221 E. 2nd St., will be shutting down for good at the end of August. The owner of the store, Mary Talbert, sent out this announcement and posted this to her social media last month: So this is a hard email to write, but I’m confident this is 100% the right decision. I’ve decided it’s time to close Crafted QC at the end of August. Why? There are many reasons, but at the end of the day it’s because of my own health issues. It’s time for me to step away and focus... Read More

For more details  about the Rock Island YMCA/Rock Island Public Library collaborative facility to be located at the former site of the Tri-City Jewish Center, please see the renderings and other details on the project website. The Capital Campaign for this additional location is currently ongoing. Our Downtown, Southwest, and outreach programs will remain as part of our integrated library service network. For more details, please see the RI YMCA/Library project website.    Other questions? Please contact Kathy Lelonek, executive director of the Rock Island Public Library Foundation, at 309-752-3014... Read More

EXCLUSIVE: There’s been a wellspring of controversy over the past few months as the Rock Island Mayor and City Council have contemplated selling the city’s water and sewer systems to a private company, American Water. On July 26, American Water gave a presentation to the city government officials pitching them the potential sale. After that, the council and mayor had their regularly scheduled meeting, at which there was a full house of local residents protesting against the sale, not just to American Water, but to any private company. In addition, the American Federation of State, County... Read More

In order ensure the safety and well-being of all guests and artists, the new Mockingbird On Main theater at 320 Main St., Davenport, will require all guests, artists, volunteers, staff, sponsors, and media to show valid proof of full Covid vaccination in order to enter the downtown arts space, effective Sept. 1. Proof of vaccination may be digital or a physical card for the 40-seat venue. Children under 12 and unvaccinated patrons must provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test no more than 72 hours prior to attending an indoor performance, according to Mockingbird owner Tristan Tapscott. Additionally,... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Illinois covid-19 numbers in all counties have broken into the “red alert” high level for infections, according to new statistics from the Illinois Department of Health. As of the latest stats released yesterday, in 100 of the 102 Illinois counties, the levels are at “substantial to high transmission.” In addition, ALL of the Illinois border counties in Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Missouri, and Kentucky, are seeing a surge and are in the red. Zones four and five in Illinois are over 10 and 9.5 percent, respectively, with 12 percent being the number to trigger... Read More

Reflecting urgent issues that dominated discussions nationwide in 2020-21, the Quad Cities Chamber this week honored a local Covid coalition and a St. Ambrose leader in diversity, equity and inclusion. The Chamber held its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at Davenport’s Rhythm City Casino Resort. As part of annual awards, it recognized the Quad Cities Covid-19 Coalition as Business of the Year, and Ryan Saddler — St. Ambrose University’s first Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – as Volunteer of the Year. The coalition award honored contributions of the... Read More

Today I was invited to participate in a Zoom session with Kurt Andersen, M.D., Senior Vice President of Physician Operations and Chief Medical Officer, Genesis Health System. He answered a number of questions regarding new data on covid numbers in the Quad-Cities, how the delta variant is spreading throughout the area, new mitigations, vaccine requirements for Genesis, and more. It’s the latest news on this important topic, and fact-based information gained from a highly-trained and educated medical professional. We invite all to listen in on the conversation about this incredibly important topic. The... Read More