getyourgoodnews/whatsthegoodnews?

Hard to believe we're at the halfway point of the year already, and into our
ninth month of delivering fun and entertaining news to you on Get Your
Good News.Com! Three more months and we'll be celebrating our one year
anniversary, and we're already planning something big to commemorate
that.

In the meantime though, let's get back to what we're here for - to give you
the lowdown on some of the fun and positive things going on in our
community.

Schwiebert Park

Rock Island opened Schwiebert Park along the river on the fourth of July
weekend to great fanfare and big crowds, and unlike so many things that
fail to live up to the advance hype, Schwiebert Park actually exceeded my
expectations for it.

The spot is gorgeous - a long, generous expanse along the Mississippi,
affording the best view of the river among any Quad-Cities parks - with
funky yet functional architecture and plenty of modern amenities including
a fountain, a bandstand for live music, a huge park of rides for the kids and
more.

About my only beef with it is that it needs more parking on the park side of
the railroad tracks, but there's a huge lot across the street and the walk
isn't bad. And if your son is a huge fan of Thomas the Tank Engine (as
mine is) you're going to be happy the park is by the tracks and has the
occasional engine visitor cruising by.

Pick a nice, sunny day (which has been harder than usual to come by this
summer, unfortunately) and head down to Schwiebert. It's free, it's fun and
it's a terrific addition to the Quad-Cities.

Rock Island Speakeasy

When Comedy Sportz broke up with Circa '21, many wondered what the
aftermath would be. Well, while Sportz continues to hunt for a new location
in downtown Rock Island, Circa '21 has taken the old Comedy Sportz
space and opened it up to a lot of new entertainment - quickly.

The 1828 3rd St., Rock Island, venue, now dubbed The Speakeasy (which
hearkens back to its original 1920s usage) has, in just a few short weeks,
hosted stand up comedians, improve comedy and indie band shows from
Daytrotter.com.

Expect more in the future. Daytrotter is going to be working closely with
Circa to book more shows - which is a really cool idea since it's an ideal
venue for them - and Circa is making the Speakeasy a true multi-purpose
cultural spot, with stand up comedians, theater shows, speakers, improv,
bands and more slotted for gigs. It's also available for special events and
rental - call Brett Hitchcock at 786-7733, ext. 307 for more info on that.

When I wrote my column about the Circa / Sportz split being a good thing
for the Quad-Cities in that it would open up the area to more entertainment,
I thought I was talking several weeks or months down the line. I didn't
imagine Circa would hit the ground running so fast. But major kudos to
them for doing so. And when Sportz finds its home, it's only going to make
downtown Rock Island an even more impressive mecca for arts and
entertainment.

The Speakeasy's next event, Thursday, July 15 at 7 p.m. is a show from
comedian Larry Reeb, aka Uncle Lar, who has been a regular in the
Quad-Cities for over a decade and is a frequent guest on the Bob and Tom
morning radio show. You can get your tickets at 786-7733, ext. 3, or at the
door.

Bucktown birthday bash

Hard to believe downtown Davenport's Bucktown Center has been open for
five years, but sure enough, it has and they're celebrating that anniversary
with a 6 p.m. July 30 bash.

If you've never been to Bucktown, now's the time to break that chain. It's an
eclectic mix of galleries, studios and tons of creative folks, and during an
event like this you're going to get a lot of live performance thrown in as well.
Over 100 visual and performing artists are going to be participating in the
three hour event, including music by The Hot Club of Davenport, Chris
Sheridan, Steven Krug, Emily Jawoisz, Retro Ron and more. An opening
reception for Steve Banks and Terry Rathje will also be held in the
MidCoast at Bucktown Gallery on the 2nd floor.

Tickets are $15 but if you stop by the galleries before the event and chat
with the gallery owners you might be able to score some freebies. Whether
you go July 30 or some other time, definitely give Bucktown a try.

Afterdarks DVD

In a world of increasingly homogenized music, it's always cool to see a
band that's doing something strange and original - especially on the local
scene.

The Afterdarks can't be accused of jumping on any bandwagons. Their
music is best described as wild, noir rockabilly - not exactly the sound
storming the charts or emanating from the latest Disney Barbie and Ken
doll - and their live shows are highly charged, raucous rock madness.

Now you can sample what the Afterdarks have to offer on a new DVD
available in local record stores, at Afterdarks shows and on the band's
website at www.afterdarks.com.

If you're looking for something new, different, creative and vibrant, pick up a
copy and enjoy.

Harrison Hilltop

You just gotta love Harrison Hilltop Theater. My friend and former
collaborator Tristan Tapscott and his boys just keep cranking out area
debuts of excellent shows, avoiding the retreads and drawing top notch
casts of local actors looking to stretch their chops.

HHT is celebrating its two-year anniversary with a ribbon cutting and event
at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 15 at the HHT locale, 1601 Harrison St.,
Davenport. They're also hosting an Arts Party Saturday, July 17 from 11
a.m. to 3 p.m.

The latest HHT gig is Dog Sees God, "loosely based" on the classic
Peanuts characters.

It's a twisted story of love, hate, and the angst of growing up in a modern
world and it runs July 15 through July 31.

Check out www.harrisonhilltop.com for more information.

That's all for this time around - if you want your fun, entertaining and GOOD
news included in this column and on my regular gig on KWQC-TV6's
PAULA SANDS LIVE, drop me a line! I'm looking for news about fun, cool
stuff in the community and people making a difference to make the
Quad-Cities a better place to live. It doesn't have to be arts or culture
related, it's just got to be positive news. Email me at
seanleary@seanleary.com and seanleary@getyourgoodnews.com. I look
forward to hearing from you!

Until next time… keep spreading the good news!

PREVIOUS COLUMN:

Time flies when you're having fun - and spreading good news. It's hard to
believe that www.getyourgoodnews.com hit its sixth month online May 11,
2010. Of course, the site has existed in the planning stages for long before
that - actually it's been on the drawing board since spring of 2009 - but its
online debut was 11/11/09.

Since then, things have been moving pretty fast. We've published over 300
stories and columns about positive, fun, entertaining events and such
around the community. We've become a sponsor of several amazing events
- including the first annual Quad Cities Book Fair, the Q-C Antique
Spectacular, Harrison Hilltop Theater's `Rent,' the District's Gallery Hop
and Quad-Cities Criterium, the Senior Olympics and a whole lot more!

In the next six months and coming years, you'll see us branch out even
more. We've got a lot of really cool things planned and by the time our one
year anniversary rolls around, we'll have a lot more to celebrate.

But for now, let's celebrate those around us and in our community who are
doing great things to make this an even better place to live.

Library offers hundreds of fun events

If Rock Island Children's, Teen's and Adult Services Librarians look
frightfully exhausted come July 20, it's no wonder. Between all three
departments, the library will host 93 free programs or performances in the
35 days between June 7 and July 19 as part of its "Scare up a Good Book"
summer reading promotion. The annual focus on summer reading for
children, teens and adults kicks off June 7 at all Rock Island Libraries, with
special prizes offered for meeting reading or activity goals along the way.

This year's theme invites readers to Scare up a Good Book with whimsical
monster and mystery-themed activities, performers and reading prizes for
all ages. Kids and teens can pick up their free reading and activity logs at
any Rock Island Library anytime after June 1, with reading incentives
starting June 7. Kids and teens can earn credit for completing a wide
variety of library activities from June 7 to July 16, such as reading for a
certain period of time, checking out materials, attending programs or using
certain library resources or services. Adults may earn prizes simply for
filling out an entry form for every book or audio book finished between June
7 and July 16. Entry forms go into a prize drawing for gift cards and other
prizes.

The wide selection of children's activities includes free weekly programs
that run for five or six weeks, including Alarming Art, Dreadfully Fun Drama,
Wild & Wacky Book Fun, Mad Scientists' Scavenger Lab, Lego Club and
Storytimes. In addition to the ongoing programs, the department will offer
nine free performances, including:

Niabi Zoo Creature Feature: Niabi Zoo staffers will bring animals into the
Main and Southwest Branch Libraries so children can see what slinks and
slithers at the zoo. Performances will be offered at 11 a.m. on June 8 in the
Main Library Community Room and at 11 a.m. on June 16 at the
Southwest Branch Community Room. Both events are free.

Go Dog Go! The library will host the star of the new Circa 21 production,
based on the popular children's book by P.D. Eastman, and offer special
crafts. The event is at 6 p.m. in the Main Library's Children's Room on June
17.

Mad Science! Children can try some hands-on science experiments
designed to spark imaginative learning. Presented by Mad Science of
Peoria, the program takes place in the Main Library Community Room at
11 a.m. on June 21.

Thaddeus Rex: Read Like a Rock Star. Thaddeus, an award-winning
children's songwriter and acoustic rock singer, will rock the Main Library's
Community Room with imaginative, high-energy music at 10 a.m. on July
15.

Returning favorites at the Main Library include the Ollie DePriest Puppet
Show, presenting Aladdin at 2 p.m. on June 28, and the Fax Gilbert show,
featuring magic, miming, masks and comedy skits, at 9:30 a.m. on July
19. Events exclusively offered at the Southwest Branch Library, 9010
Ridgewood Road, include Magic with Rick Eugene (1 p.m. on July 6) and
Riverside Rumble storytelling with Reid Miller (10 a.m., July 13.) A full
schedule of all events is available at Rock Island Libraries or online at
www.rockislandlibrary.org.

Pre-teens and teens ages 11 to 18 also never have to experience the horror
of having nothing to do, with 16 programs just for them, including craft
programs featuring duct tape creations, alternative t-shirts and animaguri, a
crocheted Japanese-style figure inspired by anime fiction. On June 10 at
3:30 p.m., kids ages 11 to 18 can learn how police use fingerprints to solve
crimes, with a special "Crime Scene" program hosted at the library by a
Rock Island Police Department officer.

In keeping with the monster theme, the Teen Department will also offer a
cemetery tour of Chippannock hosted by local author Minda
Powers-Douglas from 10 to noon on Saturday, June 19. The tour is open to
ages 12 through 19. Participants should sign up by calling 732-7330, and
plan to meet at the 12th Street cemetery gate by 9:50 a.m. on June 19.
Teens can also participate in a Murder Mystery program on June 22 at the
Main Library, entitled "Death of a Vampire." The murder mystery plot
invites "guests" to the opening of a new theme park in Transylvania, where
things take a twist when the owner turns up dead in the haunted west wing.
Teens ages 11 to 18 can come in costume and help solve the mystery.

The Rock Island Main Library will also offer special movie nights, with
Ghostbusters shown at 6 p.m. on June 17 and The Outsiders on July 15.
Both movies include free popcorn and are rated PG. They're open to
anyone age 12 and older. Teen gaming programs on June 12, July 10 and
July 13 will allow participants to try out the library's new Wii system or play
a variety of board and card games.

A full list of programs is available in the Children's and Teen sections of the
library's website, www.rockislandlibrary.org. Schedules are also available at
all Rock Island Library locations.

Ballet Quad Cities gives back to the community

Thanks to a generous grant Ballet Quad Cities received from Quad City
Arts, thirteen students at Longfellow Elementary in Rock Island will be
performing with professional dancers at Ballet Under the Stars in Lincoln
Park, Rock Island, at 8 p.m. June 11-13.

Ballet Quad Cities is performing the original children's ballet The Ugly
Duckling choreographed by Artistic Director Courtney Lyon. The students
will dance on stage at Lincoln Park Classic Theatre and create the
Mississippi River flowing near the Ugly Duckling's home. The students
volunteered for the performance and the only qualification needed was
enthusiasm for the incredible opportunity to perform in a
professional production.

Besides learning to dance, the students have to work as a team, count
music, sharpen their listening skills and learn to communicate with their
bodies instead of their voices. In addition, the group is given an elementary
ballet class each day to warm up, before learning and rehearsing for Ballet
Under the Stars. The students are rehearsing regularly up until the
performances to learn their choreography.

RME and Junior Achievement teaming up
to teach kids the music biz

Junior Achievement (JA) and the River Music Experience (RME) have
partnered to provide a unique class regarding the business component of
the music industry. The program, entitled "The Business of Music," will
give students an opportunity to learn about the industry and how to
succeed in today's music business world.

Beginning June 21, "The Business of Music" will feature three different
program sessions June 21, July 12, and August 2.

The programs begin at JA World with a session titled "Music -- It's Your
Business." JA will define an entrepreneur, discuss how to maintain good
business relationships and ethics, and discuss how to develop an effective
business plan. The program will end at the River Music Experience, where
students will enjoy lunch at Mojo's followed by key-note speakers and a
tour of the facility.

Featured speakers will cover an array of music industry topics. Local and
regional bandleaders Tom Swanson (Jim The Mule), Ellis Kell (The Ellis
Kell Band), and Bob Dorr (The Blue Band) will host "Who's The Leader of
This Band" on June 21. Local recording studio operators Dave Cox (2dogs
Digital Audio), Justin Farley (Skylark Recording), Mark Johnson (Brass Sail
Recording), and Lars Rehnberg (River Drive Records/RME Sound Lab) will
host "How Can We Get A Good Demo Recording" on July 12. Rick Palmer
& Heather Brummel (Adler Theatre and River Center ) and Kate Benson
(RME) will host "How Does It Work at the Big Venues & Festivals" on
August 2.

The cost of the class is $10 per student, per program date and is limited to
the first 50 students. The class is for students between the ages 13-18
years of age and interested in what it takes to be a part of today's
ever-changing music business.

To register contact Ellis Kell at the River Music Experience.
Email ekell@rivermusicexperience.org or call (563) 326-1333. ext. 113.

Well, that's all for this time around. If you've got some good news you'd like
to share, send it my way. Email me at seanleary@getyourgoodnews.com.
I look forward to hearing from you!

PREVIOUS COLUMN:
It's always great to see someone from the area make a splash in a much
bigger pond, move on towards realizing their dreams. It's even better when
you know the person involved.

I met Stacey Wilson when she was 14, an eager correspondent writing for
my South of 20 teen section when I was its editor at the Dispatch-Argus. I
had a lot of writers for that section, and given the capricious nature of most
of them, I learned to cherish those I could count on to deliver stories and
deliver them on deadline. Stacey was one of those rare scribes.

Aside from being reliable and a decent writer, she also had a great
personality and an obvious drive to succeed. So it was no surprise to me
that, as I heard through the grapevine, she'd been doing so well during her
college career building a resume in the music business. When I heard she
was up for a job working for Taylor Swift, and then got it, I was very pleased
for her. (You can read the full story here; I won't recycle it.)

All too often, teens only get media attention when they do something
negative. However, there are far more teenagers who work hard, meet
goals, have fun and end up accomplishing something with their lives.

Stacey Wilson is one of those people. Congratulations, and great job.

Quad Cities Night Out

We at Get Your Good News.Com are extremely pleased to announce a
new partnership with another area website, www.QuadCitiesNightOut.com.
QCNO offers tons of info on various events around the Quad-Cities
including everything you need to plan a terrific night out for you, your
friends, your significant other or your family. Their site advertises
locally-owned restaurants, bars, bands, entertainment, events, and local
lodging.

We think between our two sites, we'll offer you a brilliant picture of the area
cultural scene - complementing each other's work and partnering up to help
shine the spotlight on a lot of awesome events.

Speaking of, QCNO is debuting its first annual "Donate the Proceeds
Event, at Shenanigan?s Pub & Dance Club, 303 W. 3rd St., Davenport,
from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 15.

The evening will include entertainment and package prizes that will be
raffled off, with all proceeds going to area charities. Additionally, QCNO will
recognize the individuals who have helped to make the event successful
through their charitable efforts.

``It is my true belief that dedicating ourselves to giving back to the
community builds a solid foundation for our business,'' said Casey Newton,
president and CEO of QCNO.

``The purpose of this event is to continue to make strides toward helping
our community,'' said Jennifer Taets, president and CEO of QCNO.

It's a great time for a great cause. For more information regarding the event
please go to www.QuadCitiesNightOut.com.

Quad-Cities Book Fair

It's always a massive effort to start up a new event in the Quad-Cities. It
takes a lot of drive, work, determination and some mild insanity - either a
given beforehand to dedicate your life to doing it, or the residual afterwards
of all the long hours.

David Dorris and the folks who have brought the Quad-Cities Book Fair to
life deserve huge kudos for making it happen. The gig debuts Saturday from
10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the River Music Experience, 2nd and Main Streets,
downtown Davenport. It'll be going on concurrently with the Beaux Arts
Fair, taking place down the street, and it's pretty much the same type of
show, only if you swapped out artists for writers.

Over 40 writers will be on hand to sign books, talk about writing, read from
their works and give seminars about the writing biz. If you're a bibliophile,
it's going to be THE place to be this weekend. So definitely check it out
and help support a new jewel in the Quad-Cities arts and culture scene --
sponsored in part by www.getyourgoodnews.com. And we're quite happy to
be a sponsor of what we think is going to be a terrific addition to the local
literary scene.

For more info, check out http://qcbookfair.blogspot.com/.

Gallery Hop

The Rock Island's District events are always a good time, but for the best
bang for your buck - or lack of buck - you really can't beat Gallery Hop.

First off, it's free, so you really can't beat the price. And the hop, going on
from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 7, in various venues along the downtown
District strip (see here for map), is one of the most eclectic and interesting
events you can find in the Quad-Cities. No hyperbole. After all, how many
other events can you think of where you can see live music of various
genres, book readings, live theater and comedy, art being painted and
sculpted right in front of you, glass blowing, cooking and tons of other cool
stuff.

And, did I mention it's free?

For more details, hit www.ridistrict.com.

Well, that's all for this week! Thanks for dropping by, and as always, please
tell all your friends to check us out and support everyone who's trying to
make a positive difference in our community.

And if you're one of those people who are doing something cool and
interesting, why don't you drop me a line? Send me an e-mail at
seanleary@getyourgoodnews.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

PREVIOUS COLUMN: APRIL 13

Last week's What's The Good News column seemed to have touched a
nerve - in a good way. Even before the ``Paula Sands Live'' appearance, the
column had logged up several hundred hits, which is obviously great to see
- for us, and for the people featured in it.

Below is an awesome representation of the cool, fun, interesting things
going on in our community, brought to life by hard-working, good people. I
encourage you to check out what they're doing, and tell them you heard
about them here on Get Your Good News. Com!

In addition, I hope you check out my appearance at 4:30 p.m. Thursday,
April 15 on KWQC-TV6's ``Paula Sands Live'' to talk about everything listed
here.

And as always, if you have something you'd like to see featured in this
column and on ``PSL,'' write to me at seanleary@getyourgoodnews.com!

It's A Mystery

The always entertaining improvisational dinner theater murder mystery
troupe (try saying that ten times fast) It's A Mystery, are back with a new
show, ``A Vacation to Die For,'' running at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 16 at the
Lodge Hotel in Bettendorf.

Hard economic times call for "creative" solutions. Therefore Aunt Zelda
Eckstazee, matriarch of the family, has gathered her down-on-their-luck
nieces and nephews back under her wing. In an attempt to turn these
lemons into lemonade, she has decided to turn their old family summer
compound into the Eckstazee Lo-Cost Resort. Audience members are the
first guests for the initial opening of the Resort, a super-no-frills dump
located on an island in the middle of the Mississippi River. But during their
initial Meet & Greet, the "beloved Auntie Z" is found dead, apparently from
a lethal bubble bath.

Who could have done the old broad in? Could it be one of her nieces- the
ex-news reporter mentally broken by fashion terrorists, the wannabe
Broadway star trapped in endless chorus parts, or the eccentric
fortune-teller who might have seen murder in the stars? Was it one of her
nephews- the whacked-out, washed-up t.v. show wrestler or the freaked-out
hippie literally trapped in his parents' past? Or maybe it's "Uncle Rickie",
Zelda's swaggering, private "weasel/attorney" who has been with the family
for decades. Maybe it was all of them! Find out at the show!

Reservations can be made through The Lodge at (563) 359-1607. Doors
open at 6:30 PM and tickets are $35 per person which includes dinner and
the show. For more information go to www.itsamysteryqc.com

Clear Choice Resumes

Last year just before Liz Strader's second daughter, Evie was born, she
wanted to do something from home that could earn extra income and help
people out too, so she started her own resume writing service, Clear
Choice Resumes.

Liz was a hiring manager in a high end retail store in Chicago (before the
kids) and thought she could bring a good perspective to the business of
writing a professional, concise resume that would help the person stand
out as the "clear choice" for a job.
She's been fairly successful so far, and now she's begun donating $5 from
every resume package purchased to aid in relief for Haiti through Help For
Haiti Now. You can check Clear Choice out at
www.clearchoiceresumes.com to find great, personal service, reasonable
prices, and unique, professional resumes that can hopefully help someone
land his or her dream job.

And… anyone who mentions that they found Clear Choice by reading
www.getyourgoodnews.com will get their complete resume profile done for
the price of the simple resume package (that's $80 off!)

Cupboards

A writer writes, always. No matter what you're doing as a day job, you're
always writing, whether it's in a journal, on a blog or in a professional or
do-it-yourself magazine.

Cupboards, a new fanzine launched this month by a group of Quad-Citians,
proves that truism. Created by Jessica Feinman, and her boyfriend,
Mitchell Pilon, it was meant to be a hobby - friends writing about things
they're passionate about just for the sheer love of writing. It's quickly grown
into a zine with an eager audience.

``We were in Racine, Wisconsin, to see some friends play at an art gallery
there,'' Jessica said. ``We came across a skate zine called Sproink that's
put together by Dane Haman. Mitch was super impressed, and I instantly
became nostalgic for the zine a friend and I organized in high school called
Nice Girls Don't Call Up Boys. Mitch and I had a few drinks at an Irish-style
pub, and Cupboards was born.

`` I graduated from Augustana in 2008, and since then, I have worked
full-time at Family Resources, Inc. in Davenport. Mitch goes to Augustana
full-time, and he runs a recording studio out of our spare bedroom called
The House.

``In January, we set up a Facebook event page asking people to contribute
whatever they wanted and set a deadline for early March. In addition to
people in the Q-C, we received submissions from Chicago, California,
Tennessee, Wisconsin, Virginia, and Missouri. Articles included topics
such as urban gardening, recipes, political satire, thrifting tips, chess
strategy, coffee brewing, and music reviews; and on top of all that, tons of
short fiction and poems.

``Mitch and I received a lot of support from Emilie Malone and Kelly Lao.
They helped with some of the layout, and Emilie did all the assembling. For
the first issue, we decide to use a design created by my friend, Nathan
Dallesasse. We cut and pasted his design to different pieces of scrap
booking paper. The pages were created with scissors, glue sticks, and
construction paper. We made 100 copies.

``On April 3, we had a party at The ARTery to celebrate the release of the
first issue. Three bands performed - Teenage, The Hot Club of Davenport,
and Hey, Alright. Out of 100 copies, we were left with 3 at the end of the
night. We received $127 in donations, which will go towards printing costs.
We plan to make 50-60 more copies in the next week or so. They will be
available at The ARTery, on Daytrotter's Barnstormer III tour, and by mail.
We would like to make some available at local coffee shops, libraries, book
and record stores, etc.

``We're extremely surprised and elated by the support we've received. We
hope to do about three issues a year, with the second one being released
in late July/early August.''
If you get the chance, check out Cupboards in print or online
(http://cupboardszine.tumblr.com) - and here, on
www.getyourgoodnews.com. We're going to be featuring work from the
writers from Cupboards on our site starting next month!

That Kid Who Draws - Live

Here's something else on the indie scene that's really cool: Alexander
Iaccarino, otherwise known as That Kid Who Draws, is going to be
collaborating for a live performance with the DJ Meroz at 10 p.m. Saturday,
April 24 at RIBCO, The District, Rock Island.

Iaccarino is going to be painting throughout the 21-and-up show as Meroz
spins tunes and beats. So if you go, you'll be witness to the creation of
unique artworks on the sonic and visual level. Cover is $8. For more info go
to www.thatkidwhodraws.com.

Smart Money

Iowans with questions on how to invest with the current economy can find
some expert answers at three statewide Money Smart Investing
conferences in April.

The Des Moines Money Smart Women conference marks the beginning of
Money Smart Week Iowa on Saturday, April 17 at Drake University 's
Olmsted Center . Then, wrapping up the week will be two more Money
Smart conferences-on Friday, April 23 at the Center for Active Seniors in
Davenport and on Saturday, April 24 at Kirkwood Community College in
Cedar Rapids .

Admission is free to all conferences.

Keynoting the Quad Cities conference will be Cynthia Tidwell, President
and CEO of Royal Neighbors of America, on the topic "Knowing Your
Worth Today and Tomorrow: Financial Success Strategies." Breakout
sessions include:
o The Impact of New Federal Reserve Regulations on Investor
Opportunities-- Jeanne Hogarth, Federal Reserve Bank
o Money-Saving Tips to Find Investing Cash-- Mary Weinand, Iowa State
University Extension
o Investor Habitudes: Get Your Financial House in Order-- Sara Moore,
Waddell & Reed
o Should I Buy Annuities or ETFs? Demystifying Trendy Investments --
Kendra Erkamaa, Triangle Financial Services
o Secrets to Find Great Financial Advisors and Avoid Bad Guys -- Craig
Goettsch, Iowa Insurance Division
o Real-Life Monopoly: The Key to Real Estate Success-- Adam Carroll,
Four Legacies Mortgage
o Can An Investment Club Help Me Build a Portfolio?-- Gretchen Hurt,
Central Iowa Investing Clubs
o Get Your IRAs Organized for 2010: Converting to Roth IRAs-- Heidi
Parkhurst, Merrill Lynch and Nancy Baker, RSM McGladrey
Attendees will find plenty of hands-on ideas to improve their financial skills
and protect their nest eggs, thanks to generous support from Royal
Neighbors of America, Royal Neighbors Foundation, Citi, Investor
Protection Trust, and other sponsors. Conference speakers will focus on
investing topics for women of all ages, economic backgrounds, and levels
of financial skill. Attendees can choose sessions on converting IRAs,
money-saving secrets, investing in real estate, investor fraud, finding great
advisors, and more. Those interested must register at
www.WomenandMoneyConference.com.
Cynthia Tidwell, President/CEO of Royal Neighbors of America, said she is
pleased that Royal Neighbors and its Foundation are sponsoring the
Money Smart Women's Conference in the Quad Cities. "With 90% of
women responsible for making financial decisions, Royal Neighbors is
committed to increasing the financial literacy of women," said Tidwell.
"Women are looking for financial knowledge and resources without a sales
pitch, and this conference gives them that opportunity."

The day begins with complimentary continental breakfast at 8 a.m.,
followed by a keynote speaker, three breakout sessions, and ending with
door prizes. Seating is limited to the first 200 reservations.

Money Smart Week is an annual outreach program hosted by about 100
partnering organizations, businesses and government agencies across the
state that are interested in fostering financial literacy for Iowans.

For information, contact Joanne Kuster, 515-991-5632.

That's all for this column. Hope you enjoyed the trek around your
community, reading about people doing things to make it a better place. If
you know anybody who's doing the same and you want some free press
and kudos, drop me a line: seanleary@getyourgoodnews.com.

Until next time, remember, if it ain't good news, it's bad.

Copyright 2010 Sean Leary / for more writing see www.seanleary.com

PREVIOUS COLUMN: Hello and welcome!

Hello, and welcome to What's The Good News?, a new column dedicated
to showcasing what's new, fun, cool and positive in our community.

We're always looking to shine the spotlight on some of the great things
local people are doing to make our cities a better place to live, so if you'd
like to get some free publicity or have your story told here, please contact
me at seanleary@getyourgoodnews.com. If you've got a new business, if
you're holding a benefit, if you're just doing something that makes our world
a better place -- or if you know someone else who is and you'd like to get
them some attention -- then please drop me a line.

And in addition to appearing here, they may also be asked to appear on a
segment, or they may be mentioned in a segment, on KWQC-TV6's
``Paula Sands Live,'' which airs weekdays 4:30-5 p.m. on the Quad-Cities'
NBC affiliate. We're very pleased to be teaming up with ``PSL,'' and I know
we're both excited about this venture and very happy to be giving some
attention to the people and places that make the Quad-Cities a great place
to live.

So anyway, let's get started. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the
column.

Kudos To Harrison Hilltop For `Rent' and RICCA

* Not only is Harrison Hilltop Theater kicking in kudos for being the first
local group to bring the modern classic musical ``Rent'' to the stage, but
they deserve major props for using the buzz from it to raise some cash for
a worthy cause.

Proceeds from performances beginning April 7 and running subsequent
Wednesdays in April will be donated to RICCA, the Council on Addictions
& Human Services of Western Illinois. The majority of the monies will go to
aid in RICCA's substance abuse treatment and prevention efforts
throughout Western Illinois.

Based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La Bohème, ``Rent'' tells the story of a
group of impoverished young artists and musicians struggling to survive and
create in New York's Lower East Side in the thriving days of Bohemian
Alphabet City, under the shadow of AIDS. Themes of addiction, friendship
and love are also explored in this cultural landmark of American theatre.
These themes are at the core of RICCA's mission, which makes this an
ideal partnership for both organizations.

RICCA was founded in 1960 and operates as a Family Service and
Chemical Dependency Treatment and Prevention Organization that
believes: Dignity, self respect and the potential to achieve is every person's
right. Ultimately, the commitment of RICCA is to bridge the hope and
potential of tomorrow's generation with the lessons and trials of yesterday
and today.

"As the characters in `Rent' say, 'No day but today.' I couldn't think of a
better sentiment at the core of what we strive for at RICCA," said Lou Hare,
coordinator of the benefit. "Whether in treatment or prevention, we try to
instill a belief that what we do today is vital to who we will be tomorrow.
`Rent' is about people fighting to define themselves amidst a culture that
has largely dismissed them. If this isn't a metaphor for the people we work
with at RICCA, I don't know what is."

Performances are at 8 p.m. April 7, 14, 21 and 28 at Harrison Hilltop
Theatre 1601 Harrison St. Davenport. Tickets are $20, $15 for students with
a valid ID. Sixty percentof the proceeds from these performances will
benefit RICCA. Tickets can be purchased by calling (563)449-6371 or by
going online at www.harrisonhilltop.com

Ballet Quad Cities Hitting The Big Apple

* Ballet Quad-Cities, which has really been blossoming huge as a creative
force in the last few years with some daring, amazing work, is getting the
chance to show its stuff in New York City April 9-11.

Deanna Carter, the ballet's frequent guest choreographer, has been chosen
to be a part of the prestigious Ballet Builders New Choreographers on Point
in New York based on her
work, Ash to Glass and she's taking Ballet Quad Cities with her to perform
it April 9-11.

Want to help the ballet pay its expenses for the trip? Ballet Q-C is seeking
donations. Check out the website www.balletbuilders.org for more info.

Christian Writers Conference Crossing Q-C Area

* Looking to write the next ``Left Behind?'' The Quad-Cities Christian
Writers Conference is taking place April 9-10 at Cornerstone Church, 775
E. LeClaire Road, Eldridge, Iowa. For directions, go to
www.mapquest.com.

The conference will feature tons of speakers, faculty working with aspiring
writers, critiques and more. Speakers include Frank Ball, author of
Eyewitness: The Life of Christ Told In One Story
(www.eyewitnesstools.com) and Cecil Murphey, best-selling author and
speaker (www.CecilMurphey.com).

The event is sponsored by Gotta Tell Somebody Inc.
(www.GottaTellSomebody.com.) For more details, see www.qccwc.com.

Are You A Teen Poet And Don't Even Know It? Or Even If You Do...

Moline Library is holding a teen poetry contest. Students in grades 6-12
are invited to submit an original poem of up to 25 lines. Prizes will be
awarded in two groups: grades 6-8 and grades 9-12. Deadline for
submission is Tuesday, April 6.

Entry forms are available at the Moline Library Reference Desk or online at
http://www.molinelibrary.com/teen.

All participants are invited to a Poetry Café and Awards Ceremony on
Saturday, April 24 in the Children's Program Room at 10:00. For more
information call 309-524-2440 or visit us at 3210 41st Street , Moline , IL
61265 or online at www.molinelibrary.com .

Qdoba Coming To Moline

* It's about time we started getting some more restaurants on the Illinois
side of the river, and it's nice to see that Qdoba is opening a spot just
outside SouthPark Mall. That'll save a lot of us some mileage and time,
given that if we had a Qdoba jones we had to head all the way over to 53rd
in Davenport.

Now if we could only get a White Castle to open in the Quads...

Got some good news you want featured here? It's free publicity folks, and
we want to give attention to people and organizations doing good for the
community. Benefits, creative achievements, contests or just regular
people doing good for the area can be featured. Go ahead and e-mail me at
seanleary@getyourgoodnews.com.

Until next time, best wishes...