Davenport, IA- The German American Heritage Center will be celebrating its new exhibit,Vintage Vows &Veils, with a mock wedding ceremony in German! Hear the ceremony as nativeGermans or immigrants might have experienced it. Come and learn about traditional Germanceremonies, enjoy wedding cake, and see the beautiful new exhibit. As another feature, we willhave a pastor on hand to bless your family Bible. Make your family heirloom even more specialto pass down to your loved ones. The program begins at 2pm, but stop in starting at noon toenjoy the exhibitions. Admission is $5 Adults, $4 Seniors, and $3 Children 5-17. Members arefree. For more information visit www.gahc.org or call Kelly at 563-322-8844.The German American Heritage Center is located at 712 W 2nd St. Davenport, IA, right off thebase of the Centennial Bridge.

The Coralville Center for the Performing Arts stage will feature a wide variety of events in February 2013, giving members of the community many opportunities to participate in performances and enjoy cultural offerings.

The schedule includes:

• ·        City Circle Acting Company of Coralville's production of the Tony-Award winning musical Urinetown, playing February 1-10 with performances Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm.  Urinetown is a hilarious tale of greed, corruption, love, and revolution in a Gotham -like city where a terrible water shortage has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets.   Citizens must use public amenities regulated by a single malevolent company that profits by charging for one of humanity's most basic needs.  Amid the people, a hero decides he's had enough and plans a revolution to lead them all to freedom!  Directed by Jesse Jensen.  Tickets are $12 - $27.
• ·        Between weekends of Urinetown, City Circle also presents the 2013 New Play Festival, featuring 9 short plays centering on family bonds and making connections in our contemporary lives.  Playwrights featured are Terry Riley, Rand Higbee, Barbara Lau, Matt Crowley, Matthew Falduto, Brian Tanner, Anthony G. Craine, Greg Freier, and Kent Forsberg.  All nine have strong Iowa ties, and Lau, Falduto, Tanner, Craine, Freier, and Forsberg all currently live in Iowa.  Performances are Monday, February 4 and Tuesday, February 5 at 7:30pm; tickets are $10.
• ·        Wickham's Got Talent features talented Wickham Elementary students in a PTO fundraiser.  Wednesday, February 13 at 6pm. 
• ·        On Thursday, February 14 at 6:30pm, Van Allen Elementary students will present a general music program featuring 5^th and 6^th grade students.  The Wickham and Van Allen events are part of the CCPA's program offering free use of the theater to Coralville schools.
• ·        On Sunday, February 17, the CCPA "Movie and Music" series continues with a showing of the 1959 film Some Like It Hot, featuring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, and Jack Lemmon.  Prior to the movie, the Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center's Silver Swing Band will perform a set.  Concert at 2pm; movie at 3pm.  Tickets are $6.
• ·        West Music presents Doctors in Concert, a benefit performance for the UI Children's Hospital.  Local physicians and medical professionals will showcase their musical talents with solos and ensembles featuring pianists, vocalists, and various instrumentalists.  Kirk and Mary Ferentz will be the guest announcers.  Tickets are $25; $15 for students with ID.
• ·        Regina High School presents Grease February 28-March 3.  Join Rydell High's senior class of 1959 in this rollicking musical.  Performances are Thursday-Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm.  Tickets are $10 - $22.

Further information on these events and details on other upcoming events are available at CoralvilleArts.org. 

Tickets for most CCPA events are available by phone at 319.248.9370, online at CoralvilleArts.org, and in person at the CCPA box office at 1301 5^th Street and Coralville Recreation Center at 1506 8^th Street. 

Owned and operated by the City of Coralville, the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts is dedicated to enriching the community and contributing to the vitality of Coralville by offering an accessible, affordable venue for a variety of performances, presentations, and public and private events.  The 472 seat theater opened August 26, 2011 and has hosted performances from City Circle Acting Company, Orchestra Iowa, Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre, Dan Knight, Lola Astanova, Jim McDonough, MetroMix Chorus, Nolte Academy of Dance, and many others.  Coralville schools are also able to use the Center free of charge up to three times per year; 13 school events took place at the Center in 2012. The Center was named 2012 Member of the Year by the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

###

CHICAGO- January 25, 2013. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 1299   

An Act Concerning: Revenue  

Allows a referendum to combine the question of a maximum aggregate extension with the question of forming or establishing a new taxing district.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: June 1  

   

Bill No.: HB 3804  

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law  

Makes various technical changes to the Criminal Code of 1961 including changing the short title of the Criminal Code of 1961 to the Criminal Code of 2012.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date:  Immediately  

 

Bill No.: HB 3816

An Act Concerning: State Government

Transfers certain violence prevention responsibilities from the Illinois Violence Prevention Authority to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority and creates the Violence Prevention Fund.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Effective immediately, some sections take effect June 30

Bill No.: HB 4866

An Act Concerning: Business

Requires gas stations to provide by Jan. 1, 2014 at least one ADA compliant motor fuel dispenser and display a direct telephone number to the station at the dispenser.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: June 1

Bill No.: HB 5315

An Act Concerning: Government

Allows commissioners of drainage districts and directors of soil and water conservation districts to participate in alternative, non-electronic training of the Open Meetings Act and sets requirements for the alternative course of training.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 5495

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Establishes the aggregate extension base for West Northfield School District No. 31 in Cook County as $12,654,592 for levy year 2012.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 5528

An Act Concerning: Safety

Creates the First Informer Broadcasters Act which ensures training and planning for broadcasters responding to disasters.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

Bill No.: HB 5825

An Act Concerning: Education

Makes the State Charter School Commission an independent commission and provides that the State Board Education shall provide administrative support to the Commission as needed.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

###

Davenport students take part in phone call with astronauts aboard the International Space Station

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after students from the Davenport School District participated in a telephone call with astronauts currently aboard the International Space Station.  The call was hosted at the Putnam Museum's National Geographic Giant Screen Theater in Davenport.  

 

"I am very proud that our students had such a fantastic opportunity to take what they have learned about in the classroom and interact with those who are experiencing it firsthand.  Iowa is home to some of the most dedicated and brightest students, and I'm grateful that NASA recognized this as well. The folks at the Putnam Museum again demonstrated why they are one of the leading museums for learning and opening our kids' eyes up to the opportunities ahead of them. The chance for our students to engage with NASA astronauts demonstrates the value of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) learning and the opportunities we can embrace to create the jobs of the future right here in Iowa."

###