Since you can’t come into the theater to be entertained, Circa ’21 is taking the show outside to you. That’s right – on Sunday, June 21, Circa will be doing a musical cabaret where the performers will be singing from the top of the marquee! According to Circa’s Brett Hitchcock, “We’ve never done anything like this in our 43 year history! We will have tables and chairs set up in the street for you to enjoy this first ever “Music On The Marquee” Cabaret! It’s also your first chance to come out and support the theater since closing in March.... Read More

What a difference a year makes… On June 11, 2019, I was lucky enough to be among the 11,000 or so packed into Moline’s TaxSlayer Center (11th row center on the floor) to witness the first (and possibly last) performance of Sir Paul McCartney and his band in the Quad-Cities. It was an electrifying, unforgettable night – not least of which was due to the jaw-dropping lighting and multimedia displays, including a breathtaking pyrotechnic extravaganza during “Live and Let Die.” Part of what made it so thrilling was simply being in “the room where it happened,” celebrating a musical legend... Read More

Summer 2020 looks a lot different, yet the Rock Island Public Library is still offering readers of all ages plenty of ways to immerse themselves in a story through special summer reading events from June 1 to July 31. The Library has transformed its Imagine Your Story summer reading challenges and events into online, virtual, and take-home offerings. Most programs require registration, for ease in contacting participants about picking up kits via Curbside. Incentive-based reading challenges are available for children, teens, and adults. Participants can read anything they like, track it, and earn... Read More

MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – As Western Illinois University continues to prepare for a traditional campus experience for Fall 2020, scholarship incentives and more are available for incoming new freshmen and transfer students. WIU operates on a “rolling deadline,” which means prospective students can apply any time at wiu.edu/apply. Prospective students can apply to WIU for free through June 30. To support current high school seniors who are unable to take or retake a Spring 2020 SAT/ACT, and current high school juniors who may be unable to take an ACT/SAT test at this time due to the pandemic,... Read More

Mercado on Fifth in Moline has won a big financial boost from the state of Illinois. The five-year-old nonprofit in Moline’s Floreciente neighborhood was approved by Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) for nearly $500,000 as part of $11 million in state funding for 32 minority-owned businesses and business incubators, from the Minority-Owned Business Capital and Infrastructure Program. These grants will equip minority-owned firms with resources to create jobs, build capacity, increase revenues, and revitalize properties in underserved communities. Mercado’s... Read More

The deadline is quickly approaching to be a part of the Final Phase of the Western Illinois University Alumni Plaza brick project. The last date to purchase a brick, which will be installed in July, is Monday, June 15. More than 750 donors, representing 31 states have already placed about 800 bricks in the plaza, raising more than $110,000. The plaza is a brick patio, just north of the anchoring the North entry to the University Union. Once the project is complete, it will adjoin a Mascot Memorial Plaza, paying tribute to WIU’s live mascots, “Rocky” and “Ray.” The... Read More

A group of local teenagers have spent the past year identifying promising opportunities and pressing needs in the Quad Cities area as part of the Quad Cities Community Foundation’s Teens for Tomorrow Program. The students immersed themselves in the grant process by learning about community needs, developing a grant opportunity, evaluating applications, visiting with nonprofits, and now, awarding grants. In recent months, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region, the teens also adapted to virtual meetings due to stay-at-home and social distancing requirements, giving them experience... Read More

Well, fingers crossed, this past weekend began the grand re-opening of society after the covid quarantine. In some states, like Illinois, we’re not entirely 100 percent back to normal, but it’s certainly stepping in that direction. On the Iowa side, it’s full boar, all in, back to the way it was, and, again, fingers crossed that we stay that way. People are squirrelly and jacked up like spider monkeys on Mountain Dew after months of being in lockdown on social distancing protocols, and as such, it’s probably going to be a wild couple of weeks. But, as always, it’s... Read More

It’s that time of year…time for EMSSC Competitive Soccer tryouts for the Fall 2020/Spring 2021 season! EMSSC’s competitive program is for those athletes with advanced skill and high ambition for the sport.  The program teaches advanced soccer skills, teamwork, patience, and respect on and off the soccer field. For more information about the competitive program or to register for tryouts, head to https://www.emssc.org.  Read More

Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, originally scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at the Adler Theatre, has been postponed due to government mandates restricting public gatherings amid COVID-19 concerns. The Adler is actively seeking a new performance date. Please look for an announcement soon regarding a rescheduled date. Patrons are encouraged to hold on to their tickets at this time, as they will be honored for the new date. For questions concerning tickets, please call the Adler Theatre Box Office at 563-326-8522 or send an email to boxoffice@riverctr.com.  Read More