LaTisha Howlett, owner of Bayside Bistro, at 1105 Christie St. in the Village of East Davenport, has had a crazy past year in business – like many restaurants and countless organizations in the Quad-Cities. At a Quad Cities Chamber legislative webinar Friday morning, with leaders from the Iowa and Illinois restaurant associations, she shared her perspective on the unprecedented challenges of the past year and what assistance she and other small business owners may need moving forward. “Covid has been difficult for everybody, especially small businesses,” Howlett said. “Having the governor... Read More

Negocios Now, a national award-winning publication focused on Hispanic business, has included Group O CEO Gregg Ontiveros to its annual list of the 50 Most Influential Latinos in the Chicago region for 2020. The list includes top Hispanic executives in business, nonprofits, government, healthcare, and other areas where Latinos are making a clear difference in this country. Ontiveros was recognized for turning Group O from a $50M business in 1999 into the $900+M diversified services firm it is today thanks to his entrepreneurial spirit and can-do philosophy. Ontiveros leads with a hands-on approach,... Read More

Less than three months after securing its lease and creating its name, the new Deanery School of Music has chosen its first executive director, Rishi Wagle of Bettendorf. A 2016 Pleasant Valley High School alum and 2020 graduate of Brown University, he will work closely with the board and with Hannah Holman, the school’s artistic director, to address the many initiatives associated with the start of this new and unique cultural organization serving the Quad-Cities. “There are so many moving parts associated with an adventure like this that we feel it needs someone who is a quick learner with... Read More

The first massive Jambrella music festival – aimed to give back to local musicians and bars – was a massive success Feb. 26 at The Mound in the Village of East Davenport, raising $7,006. Artists who performed (from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.) included Molly Durnin, Far Out 283, Angela Meyer, Fair Warning, 3 On The Tree, The Channel Cats, Project X, and Michael Moncada and Whiskey High. Twenty-nine total musicians participated and six bars that host live music were picked to benefit from the fundraiser. After expenses, divided 34 ways, each will get $151.53 – since one musician who played, Logan... Read More

On Friday, United Way Quad Cities announced it has awarded $275,000 in grants to local organizations to help reduce and prevent racial inequities in education, income and health. The new “United for Equity” grants will help 25 nonprofits, grassroots organizations and social entrepreneurs provide access and opportunity to people of color in the Quad Cities by focusing on three primary goals — empowering the next generation, strengthening families, and educating and equipping the community. “In these turbulent times, issues of racial equity and social justice have been magnified. And, our... Read More

“65,” the new science-fiction thriller from former Bettendorf filmmakers Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (“A Quiet Place”) will be soundtracked by a familiar name — Danny Elfman. The Oscar-nominated Elfman has been a legendary figure over the past several decades, doing the soundtracks for massive hits including Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland, and Dumbo; Raimi’s Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, and Oz the Great and Powerful; and Gus Van Sant’s Academy Award-nominated films Good Will Hunting and Milk. Elfman, who... Read More

Bill Campbell attended the 91st-annual Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles exactly two years ago, Feb. 24, 2019. And he may be part of another Oscar nominee this spring. “It was quite an amazing experience to be part of it,” he said of the 2019 event Wednesday. “Throughout the whole day and night, I kept reminding myself, I’m here because I wrote music for a film that’s all about trying to help people. And that felt good. “It did feel a little bit odd being there and celebrating it, but we worked hard for it and that was good,” Campbell said. “It was really... Read More

It’s been a long process, but this Friday, theater students from Davenport Central High School will present a filmed version of Clue: High School Edition. The play will be shown for free on the Broadway on Demand streaming platform, at 7 p.m., Feb. 26. Clue: High School Edition is based on the 1985 Paramount mystery/comedy Clue, which in turn was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game of the same name. The tale begins at a remote mansion – here filmed at Davenport’s Renwick Mansion — where six mysterious guests assemble for a dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu.... Read More

Western Illinois University will celebrate Black History Month throughout February, with a variety of activities, speakers and events planned. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the events vary from virtual to in person. The Black History Month schedule for the remainder of the month includes: • Wednesday, Feb. 24 – 5-6:30 p.m. – “We Got Us,” a leadership workshop: This event is presented by The Underrep’d, an organization for Black college students who attend Predominantly White Institutions. Success tips will be offered and the event is open free to the public. The event can be joined... Read More

Amy C. Novak, president of Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D., will become the 14th president of St. Ambrose University, Davenport, this August. She was chosen earlier this month by the SAU Board of Trustees following a national search and will succeed Sister Joan Lescinski, CSJ, PhD., who will retire after 14 years as SAU president. A 49-year-old native South Dakotan, Novak has served as president of Dakota Wesleyan University since April 2013. She will become just the second female president in SAU’s 139-year-history. The success during Novak’s tenure led to DWU being profiled... Read More