This I Believe

This year, the "One Book One Bettendorf" project of the Bettendorf Library has selected the book "This I Believe," a collection of personal essays edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman. In conjunction with this project, WVIK is broadcasting selected essays, read by their authors. The selected essays are available for online listening below.

The "One Book One Bettendorf" project will host "This I Believe" editors Jay Allison and Dan Gediman at the Bettendorf Library on Thursday, April 3rd at 1:30 pm and at 7:00 pm. Allison and Gediman will also attend a public open house at WVIK at 10:00 am on April 4th.

Monday, March 24, 7:30 am
Faye Clow: "I Believe in Public Libraries" –
The retired Bettendorf Library Director and host of WVIK's "About Books."

Monday, March 24, 5:00 pm
Beverly Thies: "I Believe in Volunteering in My Community" –
A Bettendorf resident and busy community volunteer.

Tuesday, March 25, 7:30 am
Gene Conrad: "Find Meaning in Activity" –
A retired English and Journalism teacher at North Scott High School, Gene lives in Davenport and works with juvenile detainees at the Scott County Juvenile Detention Center.

Tuesday, March 25, 5:00 pm
Arthur Heyderman: "People Are Inherently Good" –
A retired Army Engineer who's active in veterans' affairs, and as a political photographer. He has a wife and three children and lives in Bettendorf.

Wednesday, March 26, 7:30 am
Shawn Rice: "The Power of Metaphor" –
An English teacher in the Pleasant Valley school district, Shawn Rice lives in Bettendorf.

Wednesday, March 26, 5:00 pm
Maria Levetzow: "The Little Things" –
She lives in Bettendorf with her husband and two children, where she spends a lot of time playing with race cars and tea sets.

Thursday, March 27, 7:30 am
Hedy Hustedde: "Singing the Praises of Hanging the Laundry" –
She lives in Davenport with her husband, and can no longer bear to read a book, except for a discussion group. She belongs to three of them.

Thursday, March 27, 5:00 pm
Nick Adam: "Nick Adam's Way of Life" –
A 7th grader at Pleasant Valley Junior High School, Nick dedicates his reading to his dog Meeko, who had to be put down the afternoon he recorded his essay.

Friday, March 28, 7:30 am
Barb Reardon: "Chance Meetings" –
She lives in Davenport and works as an Information Librarian at the Bettendorf Library.

Friday, March 28, 5:00 pm
Melissa McBain: "On My Knees and On My Feet" –
She's the Director of Clinical Experiences at Augustana College, and a playwright and producer living in Moline.

Monday, March 31, 7:30 am
Janene Murphy: "The Power of Words" –
A stay-at-home mom, volunteer, and girl scout leader who lives in Bettendorf with her husband and three children.

Monday, March 31, 5:00 pm
Marcia Bannon: "A Child's Smile" –
She's a stay-at-home mom who lives in Bettendorf with her husband and two children. Marcia recorded her essay before the anniversary of her son's stillbirth.

Tuesday, April 1, 7:30 am
Rev. Anne-Marie Hislop: "The Tram to Heliopolis" –
Rev. Hislop lives in Davenport, where she's pastor of Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church.

Tuesday, April 1, 5:00 pm
Rev. Ray Larson: "The Paradoxical Nature of Life" –
A native of Minnesota, Rev. Larson is currently interim senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Davenport.

Wednesday, April 2, 7:30 am
Michael Thomas Masters: "Change and Hope Should Never Produce Fear and Prejudice" –
Originally from New Jersey, Michael now lives in Bettendorf, where he works as a writer and film historian.

Wednesday, April 2, 5:00 pm
Theresa Bries: "The Power of Delayed Gratification" –
She teaches English as a Second Language at Black Hawk College, and lives in Davenport with her husband and two children.

Thursday, April 3, 7:30 am
Christine Little: "I Believe in Organ Donation" –
Chris works as a clerk at the Bettendorf Library, and enjoys reading and writing.

Thursday, April 3, 5:00 pm
Mike Bayles: "Changing Circumstances" –
Mike lives in Davenport, works in customer service at a telecommunications company, and also writes poetry, short stories, and essays.

Friday, April 4, 7:30 am
Michael Hustedde: "Bridges" –
Michael teaches English at St. Ambrose University University, and loves to play the zither, a Germanic string instrument.

Friday, April 4, 5:00 pm
Sarah Vordtriede: "My Favorite Quilts" –
Sarah lives in Andalusia, and is an Associate Professor of Biology at St. Ambrose University.