The Quad Cities Community Foundation today announced the recipients of a total of $566,000 through its Coordinated Field of Interest Grant program. Made possible by donors to the Community Foundation, this year’s program pools resources from 11 different Field of Interest Funds as well as the Quad Cities Community Impact Fund. The Coordinated Field of Interest Grant program represents one of the largest single grantmaking distributions made by the Community Foundation each year. Grants from the program cover a variety of specific focus areas, from basic needs and health to community development... Read More

Librarians are pretty excited about getting people signed up for library cards during National Library Card Sign Up Month. To help get the word out about all the wild and amazing things you can do with a library card, Rock Island Public Library and three other Illinois Quad City libraries will show up this Friday in a pretty wild place – Niabi Zoo. Rock Island Public Library has arranged to bring their Mobile Library2Go bookmobile to Niabi Zoo in Coal Valley from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm on Friday, September 24, and invited other library partners to join in the fun.  At the present time, East Moline... Read More

In an age of complex environmental challenges, why not look to the ingenuity of nature for solutions? The forms, patterns, and processes found in the natural world—refined by 3.8 billion years of evolution—can inspire our design of everything from clothing to skyscrapers. This approach to innovation, called biomimicry, is becoming increasingly popular. Nature’s Blueprints: Biomimicry in Art and Design is running at the Putnam Museum and Science Center (1717 W. 12th St., Davenport), a Smithsonian affiliate. “The Putnam is the first stop on this exhibit’s national tour and we’re... Read More

Parents and other caregivers now have two options for storytimes at the Rock Island Public Library. In addition to the library’s ongoing virtual storytimes, offered at 10:30 am on Tuesdays via Facebook Live, the library has begun a limited in-person Friday storytime at the Rock Island Public Library Southwest branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. The in-person version will be offered at 10:30 am on September 24, and October 1. Whenever possible, the in-person storytimes will be offered outside. If conditions require moving inside to the Southwest Library Community Room, masks will be required for all... Read More

After having to take a hiatus in 2020, the area’s biggest and best celebration of Belgian heritage is back in the Quad Cities! Take a trip to the heart of Moline Illinois, for some Flemish fun this weekend at the Fall Belgian Fest! The 8th Annual Fall Belgian Fest returns to Stephens Park (7th Street and 15th Avenue Moline) this Sunday Sep 19 from 12 – 4 p.m. Admission is free to all! The Fall Belgian Fest, formerly known as the Fall Flemish Fest, is sponsored and organized by the Center for Belgian Culture. Bill Cornelis, President of CBC and organizer of the Fall Belgian Fest shares, “Many... Read More

Saturday in the Arts is a weekly feature covering a trend, subject, event or personality of local interest. It runs every Saturday morning on your site for the best entertainment and arts coverage in the area, QuadCities.com! Caval Spearman, Jr., a high school senior in Chicago, has been involved in making short films since he was 14. He even started his own media production company three years ago and a YouTube channel. So it was natural for the talented, intense teen to join his first Fresh Films experience this past summer, a free program based at Augustana College that gives high schoolers... Read More

The 8th Annual Fall Belgian Fest returns to Stephens Park (7th Street and 15th Avenue Moline) this Sunday Sep 19 from 12 – 4 p.m. Admission is free to all! The Fall Belgian Fest, formerly known as the Fall Flemish Fest, is sponsored and organized by the Center for Belgian Culture. Bill Cornelis, President of CBC and organizer of the Fall Belgian Fest shares, “Many of the Belgian Community came to Moline, after World War II to begin a new life.  They came here with nothing but a dream.  They didn’t ask for much.  They only asked for an opportunity to work hard, raise a family, and thank... Read More

Parents and other caregivers now have two options for storytimes at the Rock Island Public Library. In addition to the library’s ongoing virtual storytimes, offered at 10:30 am on Tuesdays via Facebook Live, the library has begun a limited in-person Friday storytime at the Rock Island Public Library Southwest branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road. The in-person version will be offered at 10:30 am on September 24, and October 1. Whenever possible, the in-person storytimes will be offered outside. If conditions require moving inside to the Southwest Library Community Room, masks will be required for all... Read More

Are you part of today’s “sandwich generation” that must take on a parenting role to your parents as well as your own children? If so, how much of the “parent” role are you ready, able, and willing to take with your parents? How do explain to parents that they may need to make life-impacting changes – including a level of self-autonomy – for the well-being of themselves and others. Living Well is a podcast which examines various questions you might have if you’re having to find yourself caring for both your aging parents as well as your children, or if you’re just experiencing... Read More

September is Library Card Sign Up Month, when libraries everywhere remind residents about the awesome benefits of a simple plastic library card. Rock Island Public Library offers insider tips on using that card through free “library university” online courses. The four Library University sessions are offered at 2:00 pm on Tuesdays in September via the Zoom meeting platform. Each week offers a new look at amazing things RIPL cardholders can access with their free library card.  Topics include: September 14: Reading challenges with Beanstack: Attendees will learn how to easily keep track their... Read More