A Book by local writer and digital art creator, Jordan Murray, will be available to check out at the Galva Library. A heartfelt tribute to the people who built Galva- and to every child discovering where their own story begins. The story follows Anders, a young Swedish boy, as he experiences the push/pull migration from Gavle, Sweden to Galva, Illinois.
Category: News
The American Job Center will provide a free digital literacy class at 2pm February 10, 2026 at Galva City Hall, 311 NW 4th Ave.
In this class, you will learn the following:
How to access the internet, how to use a mouse, how to search the internet safely, how to create and use email effectively, and how to navigate the file system.
Crossroads Cultural Connections
2025 Year-End Impact Report
Creating Connection. Inspiring Curiosity. Strengthening Community.
________________________________________
Dear Friends,
As 2025 comes to a close, we’ve been reflecting on what an extraordinary year this has been for Crossroads Cultural Connections — and how much of it is because of people like you. Whether you came to a show, cooked a dish for a potluck, donated, told a friend, or simply welcomed an artist with a smile, you helped create something rare and meaningful right here in our corner of the world.
What we are building together is more than a concert series. It’s a movement — one rooted in hospitality, cultural curiosity, community pride, and the belief that art has the power to shrink the distance between people.
This year alone:
2025 Impact Snapshot
● 93 concerts – 12,390 attendees
● 21 school programs – 4,641 students reached
● 351 total events since 2022 – 51,190 attendees & 15,341 students served
These numbers are impressive, but the real story lives in the moments in between — the ones that stay with you.
________________________________________
A Year of Connection, One Artist at a Time
If you’ve attended even one show this year, you’ve felt it: the way a space transforms when artists from across the world sit down and share their songs, their stories, their humor, and their humanity. The musicians we hosted this year have come from everywhere— from small towns in Appalachia to the mountains of Peru, from Israel and Palestine to Senegal, from Ireland to India.
Many of them tell us the same thing after performing here:
“This place… feels like coming home.”
That feeling doesn’t happen by accident.
It’s created by the potluck tables overflowing with homemade dishes.
By the conversations that linger long after the last note.
By the kids who sit criss-cross on the floor, eyes wide, hearing a new instrument for the very first time.
By your generosity — your presence — your belief.
A Year of Global Music — 33 International Concerts
This year brought an incredible level of cultural diversity to our rural communities. We hosted 33 concerts featuring international artists from countries including Scotland, Sweden, Ireland, Canada, Poland, Mexico, France, and more. These musicians filled our venues with stories, traditions, and sounds from around the world — a powerful reminder of how music bridges every distance.
________________________________________
Memorable Moments
There were countless highlights, but a few stand out as truly unforgettable:
● Morgan Myles School Visits – Students wrote lyric ideas on notecards, and Morgan composed songs from their words on the spot. It was pure creativity in action.
● Peterson Farm Bros at Bureau Valley – They not only performed but joined in a dodgeball game with students and teachers during FFA Week.
● Skerryvore’s 20th Anniversary – We hosted the band twice this year, then joined fans from across the region on a trip to Scotland to celebrate their milestone performance at Floors Castle.
● Hosting Grammy Winner Brandy Clark – A major honor and a standout moment for our series.
● And of course — all of our international showcases, which brought the world to Bishop Hill, Cambridge, and Galva.
We also want to extend special gratitude to Carlin and Bob, who have hosted hundreds of touring musicians over the years, providing home-cooked meals and a warm, welcoming place to stay. Their hospitality is legendary among artists and deeply appreciated.
________________________________________
Investing in Spaces That Support the Arts
Bishop Hill Creative Commons underwent significant improvements this year to better support artists and audiences alike. Renovations included:
● New siding
● New front walkway
● New potluck counter
● Green room renovations
● Electrical upgrades
● Landscaping and gutter work
● A new back deck
● A new sound mixer and numerous gear upgrades
These enhancements were made possible thanks to the Ken & Doris Kolb Charitable Trust, Mike & Jane Martin, Dave Benson, Jamie Miller, Rich Nordstrom, and Gary Morgan whose donations and donated materials, labor, and furniture made a tremendous difference to the space.
We would also like to thank all of the talented artists who are part of the Bishop Hill Creative Commons artist cooperative. We love to be able to support local artisans. Without them and their beautiful works that fill the space, Bishop Hill Creative Commons would not be what it is today.
________________________________________
Education, Engagement, and Youth Development
Education and community outreach continue to be central to our mission.
This year:
● We visited six schools for the first time, broadening access to live music for more students.
● We helped secure another three years of the Levitt AMP Galva Music Series.
● Through the Illinois Arts Council Agency’s Youth Employment in the Arts Grant, we employed three local young men — Logan Meier, Carlin Peterson, and Carson Pratt — who gained valuable hands-on experience in event management and the performing arts.
These programs transform lives, cultivate creativity, and ensure that the arts remain accessible to everyone.
________________________________________
Endowment Fund Growth
The Crossroads Cultural Connections Endowment plays a vital role in sustaining our mission for generations to come.
In 2025:
The endowment paid out $6,634.84, of which we used $3,500 to support 9 school programs.
The remaining $3,134.84 was reinvested to strengthen long-term growth.
We added:
● $8,625 from John’s birthday fundraiser
● $1,000 from Mike & Mary Panther
Total added in 2025 so far: $12,759.84
Our goal for 2026 is to grow the endowment by $15,000.
This fund is essential in ensuring stable, predictable support for operating costs, school outreach, artist fees, and community programming.
________________________________________
Ways You Can Join Us in Building the Future
Costs continue to rise, and your support — in any form — makes a real difference. We are always grateful for:
● Volunteers
● Donations of supplies, food, or hospitality items
● Hosts willing to provide lodging for artists
● Monetary donations
● Individuals willing to sponsor school programs
● Help with venue projects or transporting gear
Looking ahead, we hope to secure a dedicated artist lodging property, which would ease scheduling, reduce host strain, and provide a short-term rental revenue source when not in use.
We also plan to invest in additional sound, lighting, and video equipment for each venue to minimize the need for transporting gear back and forth.
And one of our long-term dreams?
Offering all programming free to the public — while still guaranteeing artists excellent compensation. Your support moves us closer to that vision.
________________________________________
Transforming Classrooms Into Cultural Gateways
Our school programs remain one of the most profound parts of this work.
For many students, our visits mark the first time they’ve met someone from another country, heard a language they’ve never heard before, or seen an instrument they couldn’t name. And yet, as soon as the music begins, the room brightens. Smiles spread. Kids dance, clap, and ask the most wonderfully earnest questions.
Music becomes the bridge.
These shared cultural experiences do something that’s hard to quantify but easy to feel:
They expand our students’ worldviews. They soften barriers. They build respect. They plant curiosity.
And the impact doesn’t end when the artists leave the building. The ripple continues — in classrooms, in families, and in the young people who will one day shape our communities.
________________________________________
Why This Work Matters — Now More Than Ever
At a time when the world feels divided, we are creating spaces that remind people of what unites us.
Artists travel from country to country and stage to stage — and they carry the stories of this area with them. Every show here becomes part of their narrative about who we are: a community that is welcoming, curious, generous, and culturally alive.
This is the legacy we’re building together.
And it is worth sustaining.
________________________________________
Why We Need Your Support
Crossroads Cultural Connections has grown beyond what any of us imagined when the first house concerts began in 2014. With growth comes responsibility — to maintain quality experiences, to ensure fair compensation for artists, and to expand programs to more schools, families, and communities.
There are two essential ways you can help sustain this work:
1. Give Directly to Crossroads Cultural Connections
These gifts help with:
● Artist fees and travel
● School program coordination
● Venue expenses
● Equipment, hospitality, and logistics
● Administrative support to keep everything running smoothly
These donations fuel the here and now — the shows, the school visits, and the cultural experiences happening in real time.
2. Give to the Crossroads Cultural Connections Endowment
Housed at the Galesburg Community Foundation, this fund ensures long-term sustainability.
Endowment gifts say:
“This matters. And it should continue indefinitely.”
Your contribution today becomes a lasting gift that supports future generations of students, families, artists, and community members.
________________________________________
Together, We Are Building Something Extraordinary
Every concert. Every shared meal. Every moment when a child in a gymnasium lights up at a sound they’ve never heard before.
This is what your support makes possible.
As you consider your year-end giving, I hope you’ll stand with us — to keep this work alive, to keep our community connected, and to help shape a cultural legacy we can all be proud of.
Thank you for believing in this.
Thank you for showing up.
Thank you for helping us create something truly special.
With gratitude,
John Taylor
Crossroads Cultural Connections
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2026
Galva Park District receives Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant for developing public parks and outdoor recreational space.
[Galva, IL] – Galva Park District today announced that it has been selected to receive a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the State of Illinois for renovations and new amenities on the Park District grounds.
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) awarded a total of $36 million to 67 communities for local park development projects as part of the latest round of OSLAD grants.
“Since I became Governor, it’s been my mission to build stronger, healthier communities across Illinois,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Through the OSLAD program, we’re bringing that vision to life by awarding over $36 million to local park projects, expanding green spaces and creating new recreational opportunities for all.”
Established by the Illinois General Assembly in 1986, OSLAD is a cost-sharing program between state and local governments that helps communities fund land acquisition and development for parks and outdoor recreation projects. It’s become one of the most popular grant programs in Illinois. Since its establishment, OSLAD has awarded $640 million for park projects throughout Illinois (including the awards announced today).
“The Park District was thrilled to be one of the recipients of the 2025 OSLAD grant.” Said Doug Anderson, Superintendent at the Galva Park District. “These funds will help renovate deteriorating infrastructure that will allow the GPD to continue to meet it’s community’s needs.”
The funds will be used to:
update chain link/backstop fencing around the baseball/softball fields
update lighting and concrete around the baseball/softball fields
upgrade the batting cages
add an ADA lift to the pool
renovate the flooring base of the tennis/pickleball courts and tennis court shelter
add new trash receptacles, grills, drinking fountains and trees
fix aging sidewalks in need of repair
add additional walking path of approximately 950’ in the south field
The City of Galva is proud to announce the official adoption of the Galva Comprehensive Plan 2025, a milestone achievement that sets a clear, community-driven vision for the city’s future. Developed with the assistance of Hometown Consulting, the plan represents months of collaboration, public engagement, and strategic analysis focused on strengthening Galva for generations to come.
A comprehensive plan is a long-range guide that helps communities make informed decisions about growth, development, and investment. Rather than regulating individual projects, it provides a framework that aligns land use, housing, transportation, economic development, infrastructure, parks, and community services with shared community goals. For Galva, the Comprehensive Plan serves as a roadmap—helping City leaders, residents, and partners work toward a unified vision.
The Galva Comprehensive Plan 2025 is especially important as the city prepares for future opportunities and challenges. Rooted in Galva’s strong agricultural, industrial, and cultural heritage, the plan focuses on revitalizing downtown, supporting local businesses, expanding housing choices, improving transportation safety, modernizing infrastructure, and enhancing parks, recreation, and community services. It also emphasizes partnerships, workforce development, historic preservation, and strategic investment to ensure Galva remains competitive, welcoming, and resilient.
City Administrator Dave Dyer highlighted both the significance of the plan and the collaborative effort behind it.
“This plan is a celebration of Galva’s people and its potential,” said Dyer. “The Galva Comprehensive Plan 2025 gives us a clear, realistic path forward—one that honors our history while preparing us for new opportunities. Working with Hometown Consulting was an excellent experience. Their team helped us engage the community, identify priorities, and turn ideas into a plan we can use to guide decisions, pursue grants, and invest wisely in Galva’s future.”
Hometown Consulting, a professional community and economic development consulting firm specializing in municipal administration, strategic planning, and revitalization, partnered with the City to guide the planning process, combining data-driven analysis with strong community engagement. The resulting plan reflects resident input, aligns with regional and state initiatives, and provides practical, implementable strategies that City leaders can rely on moving forward.
With the adoption of the Galva Comprehensive Plan 2025, the City of Galva takes an important step toward a vibrant future—one defined by thoughtful growth, strong neighborhoods, a thriving downtown, and a high quality of life for residents of all ages.
To view the Galva Comprehensive Plan 2025 visit the link below.
From State Representative Travis Weaver’s Facebook 9:35am November 18, 2025:
I would like to recognize Carlin Follis as the first honoree in our Citizen Spotlight feature. For decades, Carlin has made significant contributions to her community in Galva as a volunteer, leader, and dedicated professional. As her nominator stated, Carlin has volunteered her time to any cause that needs help, and her efforts have touched nearly every aspect of community life in Galva and beyond.
Carlin is a founding member of Crossroads Cultural Connections and the Levitt AMP Galva Music Series. She also worked as a pharmacy technician at Galva Pharmacy and plays a key role with the Galva Historical Society. In addition, Carlin serves as the Director of the Galva Senior Citizens Center and has been an essential organizer of the Galva Freedom Fest.
Carlin’s nominator concluded by stating, “Simply put, Carlin Follis is one of those rare individuals whose goodness radiates through every part of her life. Her decades of volunteerism, kindness, and leadership have made an immeasurable difference in Galva and to all who know her. She embodies the very best of what community means, and she is richly deserving of this and every honor for those who serve their communities.”
Thank you, Carlin, for your incredible compassion and dedicated service to the Galva community! I am honored to recognize and spotlight your efforts.
As a reminder, we are still accepting submissions for Citizen Spotlight honors. If you would like to nominate someone who deserves recognition for their special contributions to your community, please visit the link below and fill out the form. Thank you!
The Galva Arts Council is thrilled to announce that it has been selected by the Levitt Foundation as a returning grantee for the 2026–2028 Levitt AMP Galva Music Series, securing a three-year grant totaling $120,000. The grant will be dispersed in annual increments of up to $40,000 and requires a dollar-for-dollar match from the community.
This funding ensures the continuation of one of the area’s most beloved traditions, bringing 10 free, family-friendly concerts to Wiley Park each summer. Since its inception in 2018, the Levitt AMP Galva Music Series has drawn tens of thousands of people together to experience world-class live music in a welcoming outdoor setting, strengthening community bonds and stimulating local pride and economic activity.
The Levitt Foundation selected Galva as a returning grantee after a competitive review process, citing the series’ proven impact, strong community support, and alignment with the Levitt mission of building community through music.
“This series has impacted life in this area immensely and in ways that are well beyond the concerts,” said John Taylor, founder of the Levitt AMP Galva Music Series. “This support allows us to continue offering high-quality, diverse, and inclusive concerts that are completely free to the public. It’s about more than just music—it’s about creating a place to live where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together, connect, and feel a sense of belonging.”
Taylor also emphasized the series’ broader impact: “These concerts not only enrich our cultural landscape but also generate real economic benefits for local businesses, restaurants, and vendors. On concert weekends, you can feel the energy ripple through town—families are out, shops are busy, and Galva shines as a welcoming destination.”
He added, “Of course, none of this would be possible without the incredible support of our community. The Levitt Foundation’s grant requires local matching funds, and year after year our neighbors, sponsors, and volunteers have stepped up to make sure these concerts continue. That kind of collective commitment is what makes Galva truly special.”
The Galva Arts Council is grateful to the Levitt Foundation, local sponsors, volunteers, and community members whose support makes this series possible. Planning for the 2026 Levitt AMP Galva Music Series is already underway, with more details to be announced in the coming months.
Anyone interested in donating or getting involved should reach out via the Levitt AMP Galva Music Series Facebook page or at GalvaMusic.com.
Cà d’Zan House Concerts is honored to present Cécilia, one of Canada’s most dynamic and exciting traditional music groups, on Sunday, September 21st. The evening begins with a potluck and social hour from 6:00–7:00 PM, followed by the concert at 7:00 PM. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on. This all-ages event has a suggested donation of $20–30 to support the artists.
About Cécilia
Cécilia is the inspired collaboration of three of Canada’s finest musicians: accordionist Timi Turmel, pianist/violinist Erin Leahy, and fiddler Louis Schryer. Together, they craft a thrilling blend of Celtic, Québecois, and traditional music infused with the freshness of jazz, swing, and classical influences. Their performances are joyous, virtuosic, and deeply human, inviting audiences to share in the sheer fun and connection of live music.
Their debut album, Accent, showcases the trio’s vibrant arrangements and rhythmic drive, and their concerts have been described as “overflowing with warmth, energy, and soul.” Whether weaving the intricate fiddle lines of Schryer—an 8-time Canadian Fiddle Champion—the powerhouse piano and violin of Erin Leahy of the world-renowned LEAHY family, or Turmel’s dazzling accordion playing, Cécilia creates an experience that lingers long after the final note.
Each performance is not just a concert but a celebration of tradition, innovation, and community. Audiences leave with smiles on their faces, uplifted by music that is as timeless as it is contemporary.
Event Details:
Who: Cécilia (Timi Turmel, Erin Leahy, Louis Schryer)
When: Sunday, September 21st
Where: Ca d’zan House Concerts, Cambridge, IL (Bishop Hill Creative Commons rain location)
Schedule: Potluck & Social Hour at 6:00 PM | Concert at 7:00 PM
Suggested Donation: $20–30 | All Ages Welcome
Bring: Lawn chairs or blankets
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience three master musicians at the top of their craft in an intimate small-town setting.
For tickets and more information please visit the link below.
The annual 19th century harvest festival Jordbruksdagarna (pronounced yord-brooks-DAH-ga-na) will take place Saturday September 27 and Sunday September 28, 2025 in historic Bishop Hill, IL. As always, there will be a variety of traditional craft demonstrations, food, vendors, and hands-on activities for the children during the 53rd Jordbruksdagarna (Swedish for “agricultural days”) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Demonstrations, hands-on activities, music, and the history skit are all free.
In the village park each day, artisans will weave, carve wood, forge metal, make butter, and more. Vendors will also be selling baked goods, crafts, and much more in the park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Musical performances will include Coffee Creek at noon and 2 p.m., and the Nordic Dancers of Chicago at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. each day at the gazebo.
Jordbruksdagarna is not just in the park but all over Bishop Hill. Uncle Bud’s Apple Cider Slushie and Pop of the Morning will be next to the Carpenter Building serving food and drinks. Nature’s Creations will be selling pumpkins, gourds, and more by the Colony Store. Behind the Bjorklund Hotel from noon to 4 p.m. each day, visitors, especially children, can try their hand at shelling corn, making bricks, pressing apples into cider, and creating a cornhusk doll. You can view sorghum pressing and cooking. Visitors can explore Henry County’s agricultural heritage at the Henry County Historical Museum, where a variety of antique tractors and implements will be on display outdoors. Each day at the Henry County Historical Museum and by the Krans Livery Stable, the Bishop Hill Agricultural Association will be conducting 19th century harvest activities. The Colony School will be hosting “Meet the Colonists” display. Author Mary Davidsaver will be doing a book signing at the Prairie Arts Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tractor people movers will also be available to transport people around town to experience many of the activities, museums, and stores that Bishop Hill has to offer. All the previously mentioned activities will be occurring both days.
On Saturday September 27 only, at the Colony School, the Old Settlers’ Association will be selling their famous Colony Stew from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. At the Steeple Building Museum, the BHHA Acting Troupe will perform their Bishop Hill Colony history skit On the Road Again! starting at 11 a.m. In the southwest corner of the park, TriCo Equestrian Center will have pony rides from noon to 3 p.m. for a fee. Miller’s Petting Zoo will be located in the northwest corner of the park. The traditional Irish music duo “The Ammonites” will be busking outside the Bishop Hill Creative Commons from noon to 2 p.m. Author Jannifer Powelson will be doing a book signing at the Prairie Arts Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. At the Henry County Museum from 1 to 2:30 p.m., there will be a presentation on Illinois Ho-Chuck Native Americans. Finally, the Bishop Hill Methodist Church will be having a bake sale and Operation Christmas Child will be having a pulled ham lunch by the Steeple Building.
On Sunday September 28 only, there will be a Community Church Service in the park at 10 a.m. open to all.
Jordbruksdagarna is organized by the Bishop Hill Heritage Association and supported by the Bishop Hill State Historic Site, Bishop Hill Agricultural Association, and VASA National Archives. The event is also partly funded by the Illinois Art Council, Nature’s Creations, State Bank of Toulon, TerraForm Power, Wilbur and Marilyn Nelson, River Valley Cooperative, Gold Star FS, Peck Farms, and Henry County Independent Insurance Agents Association. WJRE is our major media sponsor. The Cambridge FFA, Galva FFA, and Galva Boy Scouts provided special assistance, along with many other volunteers.
For more details about Jordbruksdagarna activities, call 309 927-3899, email bhha@mymctc.net, or visit the links below.
Residents of Illinois can safely and responsibly dispose of unwanted household hazardous waste at a FREE collection event on Saturday, October 11, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds, 4200 Archer Drive, East Moline.
Accepted items include aerosol paint, antifreeze, cleaning products, fluorescent bulbs, gasoline, herbicides, insecticides, oil-based paints, pesticides, used motor oil, and more. Please note that latex paint, electronics, appliances, and other non-household items will not be accepted.
Advance registration is required to reserve your drop-off time. To sign via the link below.
This event is hosted by the Rock Island County Waste Management Agency (RICWMA) in partnership with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). Learn more about the event and RICWMA at the links below.