Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse is thrilled to be working with the talented Bobby and Ashley Becher and their company “Rising Stars” to announce all new Winter classes.  All classes will take place at Circa ’21 or it’s secondary theater, The Speakeasy. “We are thrilled to be working with Ashley and Bobby again” said Denny Hitchcock Circa ’21’s owner/producer.  “They have done a wonderful job with their classes over the last year and we get such positive feedback from all the students who have taking the classes and their parents.  I encourage you to consider this for you child! ... Read More

Bethany Sanders is only 24 years old, but already has 21 years of dance experience  and is quickly gaining a reputation as a passionate teacher and choreographer. The Pleasant Valley High alum started taking tap and ballet lessons when she was 3 and hasn’t stopped moving since. “I absolutely loved it, and added theater to the game when I was 11,” Sanders said in a recent interview. After 5th grade, she started doing theater at Center for Living Arts in Rock Island, and her first musical was “Grease” in 2008, when she was 11, and she performed with Center for Living Arts through junior... Read More

The Silvis Library has been a cornerstone of our community for over 100 years. Throughout that time, the library (and community) have undergone a lot of changes. As the city has grown, so has our library. As early as November of 1911, the Silvis Woman’s Club began collecting books and looking for a location for a library. When the new City Hall was completed in 1922, an area on the lower level was designated as the permanent home of the library. The first version of the Summer Reading Program was started in the spring of 1931. The library purchased 300 “Books I Have Read” booklets... Read More

Mic Seifert, a veteran physical education teacher in Davenport, has exercised a new muscle this year he never thought he had before – computer literacy. Like all teachers nationwide, Seifert, 47, was forced by the Covid-19 pandemic this past spring to come up with virtual content for his classes at Madison Elementary School. He’s in his 22nd year of teaching and virtual fitness lessons have become an international viral sensation. His YouTube channel, P.E. with Mr. S, can be found at https://www.youtube.com/c/PEwithMrS/videos. Since May, Seifert has made 40 videos, and already the channel’s... Read More

If you’re a family in need this holiday season — and there are more people this year than ever who are challenged to get by — then the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, 630 9th St., Rock Island, is holding a Children’s Holiday Gift Day. The Center says, “While we can’t hold our usual Children’s Holiday Party this year, we will still provide wrapped gifts for children ages 3-12. We are grateful to Moline Foundation, Royal Neighbors of America, Modern Woodmen of America, UnityPoint Health, PetSmart Moline, Thy Loving Kindness Ministries, Spring Forward, River... 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

A Davenport teenager is baking up something really special for his holiday break this year — 13-year-old Trey Gordon will be a contestant on the Food Network’s Kids’ Baking Championship! Trey shared the awesome news on his Facebook page, saying, “I have a huge announcement! I am so excited I’m able to tell you guys this.  I am going to be on Kids Baking Championship, season nine, with Food Network. Tune in on December 28 for a two-episode premiere!” Even at a young age, Trey has had a distinguished career in the arts and other pursuits. He’s been on stage... Read More

Santa Claus is arriving in the Quads this week for pictures with kids at SouthPark Mall in Moline. Santa wouldn’t miss this visit for anything! Santa will be here starting December 4 and is located in the Von Maur Court. Rest assured, he and his elves have made every effort to provide a memorable – and contact free – experience. A visit with Santa is always free and available without a reservation as social distancing requirements allow. What to Expect During Your Visit with Santa Masks are required to be worn by Santa, the team and guests ages 2 and above or by local mandate. Hand sanitizer... Read More

Jason Platt, an author/illustrator from Davenport, has once again made the Texas Library Association’s 2021 Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List for his “Middle School Misadventures: Operation Hat Heist.” The TLA is the country’s largest state library association and Platt’s 2019 debut graphic novel, “Middle School Misadventures,” was named to the 2020 list as well. Released on Dec. 1, the list is a recommended reading list of 83 graphic novels nationwide designed for children in grades K-5. The books were selected by public and school librarians who are members of the Texas... Read More

Winter Nights Winter Lights are illuminating the Quad-Cities! The extravagant and beautiful exhibit will be lighting up the Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Ave., Rock Island, through Jan. 10, every night from 4 to 9 p.m. The outdoor gardens will be in winter bloom with over 130,000 glowing lights. Showcasing our largest light display yet, new areas of our outdoor gardens will be lit, including the Children’s Garden. Explore the lawns, pond and pocket gardens of our outdoor light exhibit. Open Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and the night of New Year’s Day. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. A... Read More