Teens can experience the art of anime, play video and board games with other teens, and explore various paths to take after high school with August events for ages 12 to 18 at the Rock Island Public Library. On Tuesday, August 16, the library hosts an anime night for teens from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the Rock Island Main Library location, 401 19th Street. The monthly events allow teens to watch anime from Crunchyroll, try Japanese snacks, and write Japanese hiragana characters. A teen gaming night on Thursday, August 25 will allow teens to play Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 and board games and to learn how... Read More

In one of the night cap games for day two of the thirteen year old Ottumwa Babe Ruth World Series, Pearl City(HI) took on Davenport(IA). Pearl City jumped out early and cruised to a five inning 11-0 win over Davenport. Things were all Pearl City’s way in the first. Jayton Pang started with a double, Kelena Sauer then singled. But it was a wild pitch that brought in the first run. Next up Michael Yamaguchi singled followed by Bryden “Maka” Malama with a sacrifice fly to score Sauer. Jaron Yoshikane got in on the scoring next with a RBI single bringing in Yamaguchi, Pearl City went up 3-0. Two... Read More

If you have a child in your life that loves Thomas the Tank Engine, Chuggington or any other train related character, you’re going to want to chug on down to the Quad City Botanical Center from 11 to 4 p.m. Sunday for Little Conductors Day! The event features garden train related activities, refreshments, crafts, train characters, an all-gage sale and swap meet and more. Admission is $8 youth 2-15 years, $6 adults, free for children younger than 2 years/members. The newly renovated outdoor railroad area features an elaborate diorama of tracks, miniature landscapes and moving engines as well as... Read More

If you like offense, the nightcap game featuring Sarasota and Davenport was the game for you. Both teams traded blows down the stretch until a 5 run 5th inning by Sarasota put the contest out of reach. Sarasota would get the ball rolling in the first inning scoring two runs off RBI singles by Luke Holman and Chase Palmer. On the mound, Hunter Bell of Sarasota was wild at the start, but still managed to keep Davenport off the board until the 3rd inning when Davenport got on the board due to a fielder’s choice. Sarasota would add to their lead off of a Gabe Copeland RBI double down the line that... Read More

OTTUMWA – The Babe Ruth World Series got underway in Ottumwa, Iowa Wednesday afternoon, with a little light-hearted fun. Players from all ten teams took the field for the skills competition. Spokane Washington had the best showing, winning two events. The Pacific Northwest Champs won the Turn Two competition as the fastest team to turn three sets of double plays. Spokane’s David Dawson won the Home Run Derby, hitting two dingers. Waterford Connecticut’s Connor Podeszwa won the Bean Babe competition, awarded to the player that scored the most points throwing at a home plate target. Eau... Read More

LeClaire’s Alan and Kristin Campbell are taking local artists, fathers and daughters, “Down the Rabbit Hole.” That Alice in Wonderland theme runs through the father/daughter art show the pair have assembled to run through August at LeClaire’s Mississippi River Distilling Company, 303 N. Cody Road, featuring both paintings and mixed media. While much of the work does slant toward Alice in Wonderland, there are also Matrix-related and more abstract pieces. This is the first time the pair have had the opportunity to show their work together. Their pieces will be on display throughout the month... Read More

It’s three times the fun for parents and toddlers, now that Rock Island Library has expanded Play and Grow early learning time from one to three events per month. The play group for ages three and under and their parents or caregivers will be offered once per month at each of the library’s three locations. Upcoming dates for the 10:30 am Play and Grow events are: Tuesday, Aug. 9 at the 30/31 Branch, 3059 30th Street; Wednesday, Aug. 10 at the Southwest Branch, 9010 Ridgewood Road, and Friday. Aug. 12 at the library’s Main Location, 401 19th Street. Sept. 6 at 30/31 Branch and... Read More

The sky’s the limit on the new Family Museum play area. Literally. The Sky’s the Limit is the Museum’s brand-new, aviation-themed, outdoor play structure open now for visitors to the museum, 2900 Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf. The Sky’s the Limit was designed by Cunningham Recreation of Ankeny, Iowa. Ground broke for the renovation on May 31, 2016. The exhibit resembles an airplane and invites children to fly or ride to wherever their imaginations take them. This one-of-a-kind installation includes steps resembling luggage, seats for pilot and co-pilot, and a wheelchair accessible glider. The... Read More

They may have only gone to the crossroads to catch the school bus, and the darkest indigo lyrics they’ve sung are likely about not getting what they wanted for Christmas, but that won’t stop a number of local kids from learning about playing and singing the blues Saturday during the Blues Skool Program at the Mississippi Valley Blues Fest. “BlueSKool is one of the best things we ever came up with,” said Stan Furlong, a member of the Mississippi Valley Blues Society and an organizer of the event. “It’s important because we don’t want people in the future to be ignorant of the source... Read More

One of America’s most popular children’s-book characters is ready to jump-start the summer in the Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse presentation “Lyle The Crocodile,” opening this week and running through July 23 at the Rock Island dinner theatre. A delightful musical adapted from Bernard Waber’s kids’-lit series, this magical family entertainment is filled with laughter, songs, and happiness, and boasts a first-rate cast of professional talents. Circa ’21 will present “Lyle” on scheduled Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings and afternoons through July 23.... Read More