Joseph Dryoel of Colona has been named as the 2019 recipient of the Thomas K. Evans Memorial Scholarship. Dryoel, a June graduate of United Township High School (East Moline) and co-valedictorian of his class, will receive $5,000 toward tuition at Loyola University (Chicago), where he plans to study pre-health in the fall. “Joey stands out, not only for his academic achievements but also because of the unique way he became interested in medicine — through the arts. We’re so pleased to present him with an award that will help him serve others with STEM,” said Amy Lank, president of American... Read More

Has your child ever wondered about the gravitational force of the Death Star? Just how did speed racers fly? Let them channel that curiosity through a variety of activities focused on these Star Wars physics problems during the Putnam Museum’s (1717 W 12th Street Davenport) Explorers/Explorers Jr.: “May the 4th Be With YOU!” this Saturday May 4 from 9 – 11 a.m. Parents can rest assured during Putnam Explorers (Grades 2-5) & Explorers Jr. (Pre-K* – 1st grade) workshops that their children are given the tools to examine, investigate, create and invent while exploring the museum... Read More

The Rock Island Library’s Hug-A-Book early learning program and the Quad City Botanical Center’s KinderNature program have teamed up this spring help grow young readers with a Garden Starters event. The Hug-A-Book Garden Starters event is Tuesday, April 9, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am in the tropical sun garden of the Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Avenue, Rock Island. The event features stories and songs from the library’s Hug-a-Book program and nature fun and crafts from the botanical center’s KinderNature series. Preschoolers will plant a seed to take home their... Read More

The Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 25 in Rock Island regularly encourages apprentices to “Be Your Best Self.” In the union, it’s more than a slogan — it’s a way of doing business. And one plumbing apprentice in particular is living up to the motto. Carter Hagen, fifth-year plumbing apprentice, recently gained international attention during the United Association’s annual International Apprentice Contest in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Hagen competed against 32 of the top apprentices from across the United States, Canada and Australia to become the plumbing division champion, marking the... Read More

TEDxDavenport will be held at the Figge Art Museum (225 W 2nd Street Davenport) in the John Deere Auditorium on Wednesday Mar 27. The event will kick off at 12 p.m. sharp and run through 5 p.m. with a networking intermission and a local craft brewery social hour following the conference. The independently organized event, licensed by TED, will feature local voices and TED Talks videos under the theme of SOLVE FOR X. TEDxDavenport is unlike any conference or networking event you’ve attended. You’ll engage with other open-minded idea-seekers in a half-day exploration of powerful ideas and unique... Read More

Learn about some of the most Twisted Tales of the Quad Cities in the library at the Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House (1105 8th St. Moline) this Thursday Jan 17 from 7 – 8 p.m. Jeff Adamson of ComedySportz will take guests through a photo buffet of weird but true QC facts. From a misplaced river, to our local connection to the JFK assassination, these are stories you have probably never heard. And what better place to expand your knowledge of the Quad Cities than in one of the most historical homes in the area? Both built by the family of John Deere, the Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman... Read More

Hey Quad Cities, are you ready for a fun-filled family friendly weekend? Make plans to check out this year’s annual Bald Eagle Days! Bald Eagle Days 2019 takes place this Friday Jan 11 from 4 – 8 p.m., Saturday Jan 12 from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sunday Jan 13 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the QCCA Expo Center (2621 4th Ave. Rock Island). Admission for adults is $6, kids 6-15 are $1 and kids under 6 are free. On Friday, all kids under 16 receive free admission. This family favorite will include amazing shows from Big Run Wolf Ranch and the Exotic Animal Sanctuary. Bubba the 10-ft alligator is back,... Read More

Looking for an enjoyable and educational way to spend some time in the Quad Cities? The German American Heritage Center & Museum (712 W 2nd St. Davenport) currently is showcasing the exhibit, The Civil War: Through the Eyes of German-American Caricaturists. You can check out this amazing exhibit now through Monday Feb 4. As the largest ethnic contingent to fight for the Union in the Civil War, German-Americans played a critical role in its outcome. Lesser known but also important is the work of two German-American caricaturists who not only influenced public opinion, but also how the conflict... Read More

Take a step back in time while enjoying the beauty in one of the Quad Cities’ most extravagant historical homes. Historic Mansion Tours of the 1911 Hauberg mansion (1300 24th St. Rock Island) are now taking place every Friday at 1 p.m. You can enjoy a docent-led 45-minute tour of the gorgeous Hauberg mansion, former home of John Hauberg and Susanne Denkmann Hauberg. For the full history on this historic Quad Cities landmark, visit https://www.haubergcenter.org/history.php. Tours are just $10 per person, payable at the door (cash, check or card). Children 12 and under and school groups are free! To... Read More

Ever dream of breaking free of Earth’s gravity and exploring the wild terrain of different planets and their moons? Check out The Great Planet Adventure at the Putnam Museum (1717 W 12th St. Davenport) this Thursday Dec 20 and Friday Dec 21 at 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. The Great Planet Adventure is a mobile planetarium show in the Putnam’s Discovery Dome, which puts you in the seat of some of the wildest rides of our solar system! Zip-line across the scorched Mercury, snowmobile in icy Pluto and glide over the otherworldly lakes of Titan! The Dome experience is fully immersive,... Read More