Otium Ceramics pottery studio opens in Rock Island
Otium Ceramics has opened in the historic Hilltop location at 13090 30th Street in Rock Island, combining instructional pottery workshops, retail offerings and studio space.
Owner Lori Roderick makes and sells her unique, hand-built earthenware pottery and offers classes for people wishing to learn the art, regardless of skill level.
Roderick earned a bachelor’s degree in English and art from Augustana College and Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts degrees in ceramics and sculpture from the University of Iowa.
Owner Lori Roderick is giving instructions during one of her workshop classes.
She has taught ceramics to students ranging from fourth grade through college. Students at Otium can enjoy a break from the digital world and step into a place where they can relax, focus on the moment and create something of their own.
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Roderick describes working with clay as “part science and part magic.”
“The word Otium means leisure, free time; undisturbed state of mind; a time to reflect and cultivate intellectual and creative interests. Basically, it’s the Roman concept of retirement and my mission statement for this endeavor. Otium is a dream that I am lucky enough to invite people to be a part of,” Roderick said.
To learn more about classes, pottery and studio offerings, visit otiumceramics.com, or call 309-738-2963. The Facebook page is Otium Ceramics & Studio.
EICC celebrates $2.2M renovation of Gaekle Hall
Gaekle Hall at Eastern Iowa Community College’s Muscatine campus welcomes students with larger classrooms, updated technology and more space for hands-on learning.
EICC will celebrate the building's $2.2 million renovation with a public ribbon-cutting at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, at 152 Colorado St. in Muscatine.
The horticulture classroom and lab expanded from 739 to 1,239 square feet, giving students more room for projects and new technology tied to landscape design. Information Solutions students now have additional space for computer projects, and an expanded computer lab provides more workstations.
Gaekle Hall is now also home to the Teacher Preparation Career Academy and the Game and Simulation Development program, which is new to the Muscatine campus.
The building’s electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems have also been updated, along with the exterior.
Gaekle Hall at EICC Muscatine campus is once again welcoming students with larger classrooms, updated technology and expanded spaces for hands-on learning.
“This renovation gives Gaekle Hall new life,” said Naomi DeWinter, president of Muscatine Community College. “Students now have spaces that better reflect how they learn, with access to the technology they need. We’re incredibly grateful to the partners who made this investment in our students and community possible.”
The project was supported by a $1 million Career Academy Incentive Fund grant from the Iowa Department of Education, EICC capital funds, the MCC Foundation and generous support from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust and HNI Foundation.
The renovation comes as more area high school students are getting an early start on college and career training. Career Academy enrollment at the Muscatine campus grew 34% from fall 2024 to fall 2025.
Accessibility and student support were a priority. An accessible restroom was added to the upper level. The Testing Center previously located in Gaekle Hall moved to the Loper Student Learning Center, connecting students more closely with tutoring, library resources and disability services.
Gaekle Hall is named for Louise Gaekle, a Muscatine educator who taught mathematics and physics and led an aviation training program at the college during World War II.
La Catrina Plus, a new specialty retail store, has opened at 430 12th St. in downtown Moline, across from Mercado on Fifth. Pictured is the storefront on Monday, June 22, 2026.
La Catrina Plus to hold ribbon-cutting ceremony in Moline
La Catrina Plus, a new specialty retail store, is inviting the public to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 26, at 430 12th Street in downtown Moline, across from Mercado on Fifth.
The store offers a variety of Mexican groceries, household supplies, spices, teas, cultural arts and crafts, clothing, hats, purses, bedding, piñatas and other specialty items. Some products offer shoppers access to unique cultural goods and specialty items not readily found elsewhere in the area.
The business features two retail areas: groceries and household goods in the front section and clothing and additional merchandise in a separate room at the back of the store.
La Catrina Plus, a new specialty retail store, has opened at 430 12th St. in downtown Moline, across from Mercado on Fifth. Shown here on Monday, June 22, 2026, are some of the cultural arts and crafts for purchase.
Moline Centre staff, city staff and leadership, members of SSA#6 and representatives from Renew Moline will be in attendance. Brief remarks will be followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
Store hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, call 309-519-7417. Follow the La catrina plus Facebook page for updates.
Shuttleworth & Ingersoll to hold ribbon cutting Monday
Shuttleworth & Ingersoll will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on Monday, Oct. 19, at its new office located at 4301 East 53rd St., Suite 301 in Davenport.
Shuttleworth & Ingersoll, P.L.C., is a multi-specialty law firm with offices in Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Waterloo, Davenport, Nashua and Grundy Center, Iowa.
The firm’s Davenport office was previously operated from temporary space at 1900 E. 54th Street.
The firm provides legal services to clients in Iowa and around the world. Established in 1854, the firm has grown into one of Iowa’s largest firms, with more than 60 lawyers who provide a full range of business, litigation, family and intellectual property legal services.
