The YWCA Quad Cities is celebrating a surprise holiday gift this week. It is among 384 charities throughout the United States that have received a donation from MacKenzie Scott, a 50-year-old American novelist, billionaire, and venture philanthropist. She has donated $4.1 billion to nonprofit organizations in all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, and the YWCA is just one of two recipients that serve the Quad-Cities – the other is Goodwill of the Heartland. “These 384 carefully selected teams have dedicated their lives to helping others,” Scott explained in a Dec. 15 post on Medium,... Read More

Taylor Swift isn’t the only recording artist to release two albums during quarantine. Even though she didn’t write or record them during the shutdown since March, country-rock star Margo Price released a live album and her third studio record in 2020. The outspoken 38-year-old native of Aledo, Ill., also has been a powerful, busy voice this year on social media and several media outlets nationwide – addressing urgent issues like racial injustice, Covid-19 financial relief, political polarization, public health and how to get out of this endless pandemic alive and sane. As a fiery opponent... Read More

TBK Bank Sports Complex, 4850 Competition Drive in Bettendorf, is holding a number of soccer camps right before Christmas! You can check out the Winter Break Soccer Camp starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. The rundown of events is: 10-11:30am 5U-8U Kicks Camp $45 11:30-2:00pm 9U-19U Striker Camp $75 11:30-2:00pm 9U-19U Goalkeeper Camp $75 For more info and to sign up, click here.  Read More

Those looking to add a personal touch to their holiday decorations can craft along with the Bettendorf Public Library to create an origami wreath appropriate for any holiday or special occasion. Starting on Thursday, December 17, free supply kits for the Take Home Workshop: 16-point Origami Star Wreath will be available for pick-up at the Library located at 2950 Learning Campus Dr. in Bettendorf. Take Home Workshop kits are for adults and teens aged 16 and older. They contain supplies and instructions and are accompanied by a short demonstration video posted on the Library’s YouTube channel at... Read More

This morning, the first covid-19 vaccines to arrive in the Quad-Cities were administered to Genesis Health employees in Davenport. Dr. Robert Mixsell, Medical Director of Convenient Care and Alli Edmunds, R.N., emergency department at Genesis Medical Center, Davenport were the first two to receive the vaccine. It’ll be a while before the general public is able to receive the vaccine, with subsequent batches coming in being administered first to health care workers who are on the front lines of battling the disease. Still, there’s a lot of confusion and misinformation out there in regard... Read More

Got a perfect pupper? A great good boi? A darn awesome doggo? QuadCities.com wants to feature your dog in our new Pupper Of The Week feature! Just send a picture of your pet with their name, your name, and a sentence or two about them and we’ll post their pic and story on QuadCities.com. Message your doggo pics and info to Sean@QuadCities.com. And get ready to check out some cool doggos on your site for fun, free, local entertainment and features, QuadCities.com! Today’s puppers are Nina and Skylar, the doggo companions of Marissa Ritemon! Marissa says, “This is Nina (7) and Skylar... Read More

HyVee is hosting a virtual cooking event where you can make your own gingerbread house, at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Get in the holiday spirit in this virtual Kids in the Hy-Vee Kitchen Class! We will be making Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses, Banana Santas, and Hot Chocolate Stocking Stuffers! Registration required. Register at this link. To make these recipes with Nina and Katie in real time you will need the following: For the Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses: -Honey Maid Graham Crackers – 5 per house -4 cups powdered or confectioners sugar -5 Tbsp warm water -3 Tbsp meringue powder -Paper... Read More

The Federated Music Teachers Association of the Quad-Cities recently held its 37th Annual Classical Piano Competition, with submissions turned in by video and instead of judged in person. The Federated Music Teachers Association (FMTA) – part of the 122-year-old National Federation of Music Clubs — is a group of local music teachers that runs a Classical Festival one year, alternating with a Baroque Festival the following year. In the Classical Piano Festival, entrants needed to perform one sonata or sonatina from the Classical period (1750-1820) and depending on their level, a second piece... Read More

The Davenport Police Association is sponsoring the Family Resources Inc. Christmas Toy Drive on Saturday, December 12th (10am to 6pm) and Sunday, December 13th (10am to 5pm). Come visit us at Northpark Mall, 320 W Kimberly Rd by Firestone! This annual event raises money and collects new toys at Christmas for children involved in Family Resources Domestic Violence Shelters, Child Advocate programs (victims of sex assaults and other at risk programs), and supports the Family Resources Adopt a Family Program. Please consider supporting this great cause! Started in 2002 after Family Resources Offices... Read More

This has undoubtedly been a bear of a year. No joke, 2020 has been brutal. And it’s still hanging in there being surly. BUT… there IS good news in the Quad-Cities! And every month, we at QuadCities.com, in partnership with our friends at KWQC-TV6 and “Paula Sands Live,” present you with What’s The Good News? a column on some of the positive things happening in and around the area. So, what’s the good news for December? Glad you asked… Local Author Jason Platt Honored For Young Adult Series Jason Platt, an author/illustrator from Davenport, has once again... Read More