Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. expands its network by adding nine service centers in new and existing markets during the first half of 2020. The steady growth solidifies the company’s strong presence across the United States, bringing total nationwide service center count to 238. The less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier’s new facilities include, Butte, Mont., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Conroe, Texas, Jonesboro, Ark., Lafayette, Ind., LaGrange, Ga., Rochester, N.Y, Rock Island, Ill. and University Park, Ill. The nine new and renovated service centers are strategically placed for operational efficiency... Read More

Denny and Brett Hitchcock are the most tenacious of entrepreneurs. For over 40 years, their business, Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse, has endured a handful of recessions, booming and barren economic conditions, and, now, a pandemic. It certainly hasn’t been easy. Especially not in 2020. Both father and son have said, without hyperbole, that their business was very much in danger of going under if pandemic and economic conditions continued. However, this week, they re-opened, after several months of stress and uncertainty. They debuted a new show, “Savannah Sipping Society,” a homey comedy that’s... Read More

The Circa ’21 Mainstage is back in business! The Savannah Sipping Society, a Jones Hope Wooten comedy, graces the stage at Circa ’21 beginning this Wednesday Sep 9 and will continue through Saturday Nov 7. After a hot yoga class brings four women “of a certain age” together, they decide their sassy humor and Southern charms are better suited for solving life’s problems over cocktails. Over the course of six months and through hilarious misadventures, these middle-aged women successfully bond and find the confidence to reclaim the enthusiasm for life they’ve lost through the years. Together,... Read More

The Rock Island Public Library Children’s Department continues to ZOOM into entertaining learning online and at home with new and returning events this September. On Wednesday, September 9, the library offers a Virtual Superhero Party from 10:30 am to 11:15 am via its ZOOM meeting software. Ages 5 and under can listen to a book read by Children’s Librarian Ms. Ranell, and then work on crafts and activities together via ZOOM. The activity kit is available for pickup by registered participants, who will also receive a link to the online event. Recurring children’s events include virtual online... Read More

Ragged Records (311 ½ 21st Street Rock Island) presents: A Socially Distant Record Store Day in the Courtyard this Saturday Aug 29 from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Things will be done a little bit different this year by moving the sale outdoors in an attempt to keep everyone as safe as possible but as always we will be trying to get as many titles and as many copies as we can. For more information go to https://recordstoreday.com/ Starting at 9 a.m., Ragged Records will be serving a line of customers one by one in their record purchasing process to help them try to score their desired Record Store Day titles... Read More

The Speakeasy Laugh Hard Comedy Show is back on this Friday Aug 28 at The Circa 21 Speakeasy (1818 3rd Avenue Rock Island). Doors open at 7:00 and the show starts at 8:00. Tickets are only $3.00 for this show!  Seating will be limited due to social distancing so reserve early!  Because we cannot mix parties at tables only reservations for 4 or 6 people can be made.  Sorry for the inconvenience. It’s time to get out of the house and have some adult beverages and laugh.  We need laughter now more than ever! This is a great standup comedy show featuring many hilarious comedians from across... Read More

Are you tired of feeling trapped at home? So is Rapunzel! Join her on this Wild West adventure full of hijinks, hilarity, and heart! Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse (1818 3rd Avenue Rock Island) presents Rapunzel in the Wild West this Saturday Aug 22 and Saturday Aug 29 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Rapunzel longs to be a cowgirl but her mother insists it’s time for her to start acting like a lady. When the evil Bandit Queen shows up to steal the town fortune, it’s up to Rapunzel and her famous, long golden hair-lasso to save the day. Can she prove to everyone that she’s more than just a lady? Hop on... Read More

Rozz-Tox (2108 3rd Ave Rock Island) will be hosting their covid-era outdoor double-feature film series, Garden Cinema, this Friday Aug 21 from 8 p.m. – 12 a.m. This week’s Garden Cinema theme is ‘Hollywood Fumbles,’ films that shouldn’t have been made but we’re glad they were. Movies featured: 8:30 p.m.            Super Mario Bros. (VHS) 1993 | US | adventure/ comedy | PG | 1h 44m a film by Annabel Jankel & Rocky Morton Super Mario Bros was dreamt up as an obvious cash grab to capitalize on the successful video game franchise.  The “film” features an impressive cast... Read More

Join the Exspiravit Paranormal Society this Sunday Aug 16 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Facebook Live for their Black Hawk State Park Investigation. Exspiravit Paranormal Society (ESP) will be providing viewers with a brief history about Black Hawk State Park, and then will head into an investigation that YOU will lead! Tell the team what you want to see while joining virtually and you may help them uncover some paranormal activity. This event is NOT hosted by Blackhawk State Park, so please contact ESP on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/exspiravitparanormal/ for any questions you may have.   For... Read More

Rock Island-based Royal Neighbors of America is celebrating its 125th anniversary and the centennial of women’s suffrage in the U.S. The anniversary of the 19th Amendment’s passage is on Tuesday, Aug. 18, while Women’s Equality Day, Wednesday, Aug. 26, represents the date when the amendment was officially signed. Royal Neighbors also is proud of the fact it was among the first women-led insurers that supported suffrage when it was founded in 1895, 25 years before the women’s right to vote was ratified. The company’s early members were active in supporting the suffrage movement from its... Read More