Since Brianna Hobbs, new program director at Davenport-based River Music Experience, joined the staff in early June, the nonprofit has kicked it into high gear – adding some more staff and getting ready for the return of regular Redstone Room concerts in late August. Hobbs, with executive director Tyson Danner, recently hired the following part-time staff: Valerie Davis – Smooth Jazz Coordinator. She previously ran Great Sounds Promotions, which was a nonprofit that presented the Smooth Jazz Series twice yearly, usually by renting the Redstone Room. “We’ve worked with Valerie for years,... Read More

Doug Boleyn, innovation officer at Genesis Health System, is using innovative sports assessment and injury prevention tools available at The Lab, Powered By Genesis Sports Medicine, in his effort to beat the world class field at the Quad-City Times Bix 7 on Saturday. Boleyn will start his Beat the Elite run at about the 5-mile mark. He knows the advantage might not be enough. “We’re talking about some of the fastest distance runners in the world… Olympians and past Olympians,’’ Boleyn said. “And I will pretty much be running on my own, which will be kind of different.” Boleyn,... Read More

BREAKING NEWS: Augustana College is the first in the nation to partner with Degree Insurance and offer “income insurance” for new students who transfer to Augustana. This effort involves Degree Insurance’s flagship insurance product, American Dream Insurance (ADI), the private Rock Island school announced Tuesday. The Transfer Student Income Assurance Program is a pilot program in which 20 new transfer students are guaranteed the average income for their academic field for the first five years after graduating from Augustana. “This is yet another great reason for transfer students to... Read More

After a brutal and long past 16 months, many major cultural organizations and venues in the Quad-Cities have been awarded badly-needed federal Covid relief, through the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) program of the Small Business Administration. As of July 19, $5.4 million has been approved in the region (out of $6.8 billion nationwide so far), including $2.3 million for the TaxSlayer Center, among the following grants: Figge Art Museum, Davenport — $368,499 Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, Davenport — $564,903 Putnam Museum & Science Center, Davenport — $163,843 Quad... Read More

The YWCA Quad Cities will host a public open house and ribbon cutting on Thursday, July 22. The ribbon cutting is at 4:30 p.m. and the open house will follow the ribbon cutting and last until 6 p.m. On October 1, 2019, the YWCA Quad Cities opened its first Iowa location in Davenport, at One River Place, 1225 E. River Drive, Suite 110, named the “Iowa Empowerment Center.” Due to the overwhelming response for the services the empowerment center provides, especially as a direct result of personal situations created as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the center experienced significant... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL — COVID-19 has created challenges for many college students and their families across the nation, and Western Illinois University is working to ease the financial stress that is affecting its students as a result of the pandemic. According to WIU Financial Aid Director Bobbi Smith, the WIU Office of Financial Aid has in place the financial circumstance appeal to generate a new review of financial aid eligibility using projected 2021 income versus earned 2019 income. “If students and their families have been financially impacted by the pandemic, we encourage our students... Read More

Hey, how about a pizza? You really can’t beat a great ‘za for comfort food. Whether it’s summer, winter, or anything in-between, there’s really nothing more certain that the delicious combo of malty crust, tangy sauce, gooey cheese and fresh toppings. Got your attention? You’re darn right we do. Now what you gonna do about it? Call up for some fresh pie? Good thing for you QuadCities.com offers you a list of local restaurants, bars and cafes that are going above and beyond to offer the community options to still get their favorite dishes – and here’s your list of pizza joints... Read More

In a message from Western Illinois President Guiyou Huang, he mentions that WIU students and staff are expected to be vaccinated against covid going into the fall semester. His message in full, released yesterday, reads: Dear University Community, As we prepare to resume the traditional in-person experience this fall at Western Illinois University, to further safeguard the members of our WIU family (and beyond), we expect members of our University community to get their COVID-19 vaccine prior to the start of the semester, which begins August 23. Getting vaccinated will help our communities mitigate... Read More

ROCK ISLAND, IL – Skeleton Key Art and Antiques invites you to join Rock Island antique shops for a “shop hop” style shopping event this Saturday, July 17th. Five of Rock Island’s antique stores will offer shopping, sales, and a chance to win $100 in gift certificates as they welcome shoppers to the Antique Island. Skeleton Key Art and Antiques is being joined for this event by Fred & Ethel ‘s Retro Antiques, GV’s Stuff, Dar Jac Antiques & Jewelry, and Jackson‘s Antiques. Each of the eight participating locations have donated a gift certificate, and one lucky winner who gets... Read More

Ashley Katz, interim director of the University Union at Western Illinois University, has been named the director of the Union, effective July 1. Katz has served as interim director of the University Union at WIU since January 2020, and has also served as assistant director of the Union since April 2015 and as the facilities manager for the building from May 2011-April 2015. She has also served as a member of the COVID-19 response team since March 2020, coordinating the University’s event guidelines and protocols. She began working at WIU in July 2009 as a space administrator 1 in Scheduling... Read More