Whats the Good News For November, Quad-Cities?
Every month we look through some of the positive things happening in the area for our What’s The Good News? column!
This month, as we look to Thanksgiving, there’s plenty of good news to be thankful for in the Quad-Cities, and here’s some of the cool things happening:
Rock Island Artist’s Work Chosen For Stamp
Rock Island’s David Sebben will have one of his gorgeous photos shared throughout the United States in 2022 — on a postage 
stamp.
Sebben is one of a series of artists who have had their works chosen to grace the face of a new series of stamps based on the river and surrounding environs. Each state touching the river will be honored among the collection, with a photo representing the scenery of that state along the river.
Sebben took the photo, along with several others, in 2015, and like many of his photos, he shared it on social media and the photo site Flickr.
The USPS, scanning Flickr looking for potential pics for stamps, spotted it, liked it, and contacted Sebben. He quickly agreed to let them use the photo for a stamp.
His pic was selected, along with several others, celebrating the beauty of the river and the area.
Sebben posted the following in the Mississippi River Photos page on Facebook:
Exciting news for a change. I was contacted by a representative of the USPS about using a photo of the American Queen that I shot 5 years ago for a project of theirs. Maybe a new stamp??
Maybe? Yup.
Congratulations to a great local artist on an amazing achievement!
Library Community Comforts Drive Continues Through December
If you’re feeling the November spirit of gratitude for your own blessings, the Rock Island Public Library is offering an easy way to give to people in need. The Library’s “Community Comforts” drive will collect donations of household supplies and personal care items through December 4.
Collected items will be distributed to Heart of Hope Outreach Center and the Rocky Resource Room at Rock Island High School. “Personal care and hygiene items, paper products, cleaners, and other basic items are always in high demand, because they’re products people use 
every day,” says Karrah Kuykendall, Rock Island Reference Librarian. “You can help by just picking up an extra item or two when you shop.”
Community Comforts donation boxes are available through December 4 at the Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street, and the Rock Island Southwest Library, 9010 Ridgewood Road. Donations will also be accepted at any Rock Island Library2Go bookmobile route. (Schedule, https://www.rockislandlibrary.org/buildings-and-hours.)
Library staff will package donations for pick up by the two benefiting organizations. Heart of Hope Ministries operates a community outreach office at 1740 9th Avenue, Rock Island. They offer a drop-in food pantry on Thursdays from 3:30 to 5:30 pm, and a weekly homebound delivery option for those that are shut-in or lack transportation. For details about the delivery schedule, contact Heart of Hope at (309) 428-4752.
The Rocky Resource Room, located at Rock Island High School, provides a discreet, no-judgment way for high school, junior high, and elementary school students and families to pick up food, clothing, personal care supplies, and hygiene items. “When you worry about meeting basic needs, it’s hard to concentrate on learning. Every little bit helps,” said Kuykendall.
A drive last February at Rock Island Library locations collected more than 1,300 items. “We certainly hope to meet or surpass that level this time. We’re always amazed by our community’s huge sense of generosity and capacity to give,” she added.
A full wish list follows this news release. For more information, visit the library’s event calendar at www.rockislandlibrary.org, or call 309-732-7341.
Nest Café making its way around the Quad-Cities
Nest Cafe, a charitable pay-what-you-can cafe, is making its way around to different places in the Quad-Cities.
Nourish Everyone Sustainably Together (NEST) Café is a Pay-What-You-Can Nonprofit Restaurant, Serving Everyone, and a member of One World Everybody Eats (www.oneworldeverybodyeats.org).
WIU Angel Tree Helping Children In Need
The Western Illinois University Office of Student Engagement (OSE) – Volunteer Services, in cooperation with the Salvation Army, is sponsoring an Angel Tree in the University Union Concourse from Monday, Nov. 1-Friday, Dec. 10.
With 100 children in need as part of the project, participants from the WIU and Macomb communities can select an angel from the tree to donate gifts to children who otherwise might not receive any gifts.
Those wishing to participate should select an angel, register at the service desk located next to the University Bookstore and return new, unwrapped gifts to the Office of Student Engagement by 4:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 10.
For more information contact the OSE at (309) 298-3232.
Gildas Club No Shave Fundraiser Making Things Hairy In November
In the spirit of No Shave November, Gilda’s Club is launching Grow Your Mo. For the month of November, we encourage men in the community to forego shaving and begin growing a fantastic mustache which will be proudly showcased in a Stache Pageant held on December 4th at Icons Martini Lounge in Rock Island during the wrap up party at 6:30p.
Contestants pay a participation fee of $30 and can fundraise on behalf of Gilda’s for the month of November. We encourage you to showcase 
that stache by sending in photos to events@gildasclubqc.org of your progress and establish your bragging rights. Please like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/GildasClubQC to see your posted pics!
Two winners will be announced on December 4th – Best Mustache in the Quad Cities and The Rainmaker who raised the most funds for Gilda’s Club, each will be given a coveted trophy.
The rules are simple…
RULE ONE Once registered each Mo Bro must begin the 1st of Movember with a clean-shaven face.
RULE TWO For the entire month of Movember each Mo Bro must grow and groom a moustache.
RULE THREE Don’t fake it. No beards, no goatees, and no fake moustaches.
RULE FOUR Use the power of the mo to create conversation and raise awareness and funds for Gilda’s Club QC’s free services for families and individuals coping with cancer.
$30 per contestant
Moline Filmmakers Win First Emmy
Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films received a Mid-America Emmy® Saturday evening for their short documentary “Over & Under: Wildlife Crossings” in the Environmental/Science category. The Rundles’ films have been nominated nine times.
“Our sincere gratitude for this important win goes to all involved in this production,” producer Tammy Rundle said. “And, a big thank you to
Tammy and Kelly Rundle own Fourth Wall Films in Moline.
Lora Adams and WQPT-PBS for the qualifying broadcast and their ongoing interest in our films.”
“Our hope was that the film would bring more awareness to this important environmental subject and inspire action to save human and animal lives,” said director Kelly Rundle.
“Over & Under: Wildlife Crossings” examines wildlife crossings by exploring two successful yet different approaches to turtle crossings under state highways near Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Stevens Point,
Kelly and Tammy Rundle are Moline-based filmmakers who own Fourth Wall Films.
Wisconsin. The film was partially funded by a grant from BeWildReWild/Big River Connectivity and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.
Previous Fourth Wall Films documentary film projects nominated for Mid-America Emmy awards include “Becoming Harriet Beecher Stowe,” “Good Earth: Awakening the Silent City”, “Letters Home to Hero Street” (co-produced with WQPT), “River to River: Iowa’s Forgotten Highway 6,” “Country School: One Room – One Nation,” and three 2020 nominations for the Rundles’ docudrama “Sons & Daughters of Thunder”—one of them for Bill Cambell’s original Music Score for the film.
For more information, visit FourthWallFilms.com.
Davenport Public Library Welcomes A New Social Worker To The Staff
The Davenport Public Library now has a licensed Social Worker available as a resource to our patrons. With this new service, patrons will receive personalized attention and assistance with their social service needs. A few of the ways our Library Social Worker can help you is by making referrals and connecting you to community resources and organizations that can address your specific need. In addition, your 
Library Social Worker will provide support and advocate on your behalf.
Do you need help navigating government benefits, affordable housing, or unemployment? Or, as a parent, you may be wondering what resources are available for you and your family. Your Davenport Public Library Social Worker can work with you to navigate these challenges. Furthermore, the Library Social worker will collaborate and partner with community organizations to bring our patrons relevant training and learning opportunities.
When you visit with us at the Davenport Public Library, you can expect a safe, welcoming, and compassionate atmosphere where we prioritize confidentiality when assisting our patrons. So, come check in with your Library Social Worker today!
To schedule an appointment, please visit: https://www.davenportlibrary.com/services/library-social-worker or call (563) 888-3371.
Moline’s Dot’s Pots Honored By State Of Illinois
The Illinois Office of Tourism announced 28 new small businesses, or ‘Makers’ have been recognized as part of the Illinois Made program, and Moline’s Dot’s Pots is among them!
The program recognizes each business as a hidden gem for locals and visitors to discover, offering unique products and experiences all around the state. From vegan dessert makers, alpaca and hemp farmers, and a Chicago candlemaker with a mission to provide young moms 
with critical job training skills – each of the small businesses featured help make Illinois a one- of-a-kind destination for visitors.
The Illinois Made program, launched in 2016, inspires residents and visitors to discover the people, products and authentic experiences created by one-of-a-kind small businesses found in every region of the state. This newest class of Makers is being announced just in time to highlight for consumers even more options to buy local products during this year’s holiday shopping season.
“Illinois is home to a diverse, vibrant small business community which attracts visitors from across the country and around the world. Through our Illinois Made program – we celebrate the unique contributions of small businesses across our communities and provide people yet another reason to explore all aspects of Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “I want to congratulate the 28 new Illinois Makers on this distinguished honor, and encourage our residents and visitors alike to plan a visit to discover the products and experiences unique to Illinois.”
The Illinois Made program now features over 200 Makers from all corners of Illinois and continues to drive foot traffic into local small businesses around the state.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Illinois’ economy and offer food, products and experiences that make a visit to all regions of Illinois special,” said Sylvia I. Garcia, Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), which includes the Illinois Office of Tourism. “We are excited to expand the Illinois Made program to include 28 additional small businesses that have unique made in Illinois products and highlight why folks should visit communities across our great state.”
“This new Illinois Made class is a diverse representation of the unforgettable experiences visitors can find across our state, from the big city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs, all the way to rolling hills of Southern Illinois,” said Karla Flannery, Deputy Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism. “We look forward to finding new and exciting ways to promote this group of small businesses, their owners and communities to both domestic and international visitors.”
The 2021 Illinois Makers reflect a wide range of business types – from restaurants, breweries and wineries, to retail, farms and orchard businesses – which coincide with the latest trends in tourism, including artisan products and those offering outdoor experiences for visitors. This year more than half (18) of the businesses represented are owned by women or people of color.
QC Business Recognized
Dot’s Pots in Moline carry pottery created by Dorothy “Dot” Beach-Lawrence and her husband Dan Lawrence. Dot and Dan create wheel-thrown, hand and slab-built pottery, using food and microwave-safe glazes, and firing in gas and electric kilns. Dot also makes Raku pottery in small-batch firings.
Dot says, “I’m so honored and excited to be recognized for doing what we love to do and to be able to share my claywork with others. I’ve been making pottery practically all my life, since high school, and we still love making it.”
“The Illinois Made program and its recognition of small businesses throughout the state is vital to our visitor economy and authentic experiences,” said Dave Herrell, President and CEO, Visit Quad Cities. “QC, That’s Where our Quad Cities small businesses make us stand out and define our regional destination’s story. We are incredibly proud of Dot’s Pots for being recognized by Illinois Made and are grateful for all they do for the community.”
