A heart-warming holiday tradition continues this year.  The Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) Holiday Pops concert is bringing back the über-popular Cirque de la Symphonie for three, big, all-new shows at the Adler Theatre.  There will be one Friday evening, November 20 performance at 8:00 p.m. and two Saturday, November 21 performances at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

"I didn't even blink when my Mother ask me if we wanted to go again.  What great fun", stated Chris Fenderson of Davenport.

Cirque de la Symphonie wows audiences worldwide with spectacular aerial and acrobatic feats that generate gasps and "ahs" from the audience.  The unique program is also peppered with humor and laughter that makes it fun for audience members of all ages.  The talents of the guest artists truly amaze.

The program features holiday hits like White Christmas and Deck the Halls and beloved movements from classical masterpieces like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.  This popular holiday music is performed with resounding beauty and perfection by the professional musicians of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra.  And the combination of the symphonic sounds with the angelic choral voices from the First Presbyterian Sanctuary Choir of Davenport and Quad City Symphony Youth Choir creates a wonderful kick-off to the holiday season.

"I love planning these concerts and performing alongside the amazing musicians of the QCSO, choir members and Cirque performers, to usher in the good cheer of the holiday season," shared Benjamin Klemme, QCSO Associate Conductor.  "It doesn't truly feel like the holidays without Holiday Pops!"

Tickets are available in all price categories starting at just $10 for children and students and $15 for adults ranging up to the $75 adult price for Premier Loge.

QCSO Holiday Pops:  Cirque de la Symphonie leaves audiences full of wonder and is a lively and fun holiday outing the whole family will enjoy.  There's truly something for everyone in this event.

Group and student pricing is available for all performances.

More information and tickets are available at www.qcso.org

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley issued the following statement regarding President Barack Obama's possible attempt to move enemy combatants housed at Guantanamo Bay to U.S. soil.  Congress has passed and the President has signed into law several bills that restrict any move to transfer these detainees to the United States.  Most recently, on Tuesday, the Senate passed and sent to the president the National Defense Authorization Act for 2016, which maintains those restrictions, on a 91-3 vote.  Grassley has also pressed for the Obama administration to release the legal analysis done by the Justice Department that authorized the release of five senior Taliban commanders from Guantanamo Bay in June 2014 in exchange for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl without the legally required 30-day notice to Congress.  Grassley's June 5, 2014, letter is here.  The Obama administration's response is here.  After an unresponsive reply, Grassley is renewing and expanding his request for information about the Department's role in facilitating the release of those terrorists.   That letter can be found here.

"President Obama's pledge to shutter the detention facility at Guantanamo was always based on the notion that softening America's image abroad would somehow soften our enemies' resolve. The headlines every day remind us that's not the way it is.  If anything, as a direct result of the president's national security policies, our homeland is in more danger now than when he took office.

"There are a number of serious concerns with moving hardened terrorists to U.S. soil.  These include questions surrounding any additional legal, immigration and constitutional rights that terrorists will be afforded by such a move, as well as the obvious public safety threat that would come from permanently housing them in U.S. communities.  Those who remain at Guantanamo include the worst of the worst  -- for example, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.  President Obama has admitted that many of them are too dangerous to be transferred or released.  Officials in New York refused to house some of them even temporarily for a trial.  And many of their home countries won't even take them back.

"Reports have suggested that President Obama may try to go around Congress if he can't secure a change in the law that would permit these terrorists to be brought to the United States.  If so, the President's effort to close the Guantanamo Bay facility will combine two of the worst aspects of his presidency -- his naiveté in dealing with our enemies and his lawlessness when dealing with Congress.  This is reminiscent of when he swapped five senior Taliban commanders from Guantanamo for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl without notifying Congress in advance, which the non-partisan Government Accountability Office later determined was unlawful.  I've been asking to see the flawed advice that the Department of Justice provided in connection with the Bergdahl swap for over a year now, and after receiving another inadequate response, I've renewed and expanded my request for information.

"In the days following one of our most sacred days of honoring millions of U.S. veterans, including thousands from Iraq and Afghanistan, the President should reconsider placing the fulfillment of a mistaken campaign promise over the safety of the American people and respect for the rule of law."

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Agricultural crop consultants and input suppliers will want to attend the Agricultural Chemical Dealer Update in Iowa City on November 24, 2015, according to Virgil Schmitt, Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist.  "These meetings are an excellent opportunity for crop consultants and input providers to meet with Extension specialists to review current research, discuss new products, and learn of new recommendations," Schmitt said.  "We feature presentations on weed, insect and crop disease management as well as sprayer technology," he continued.

The meeting is approved for 6.5 Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) credits and also offers Iowa Commercial Pesticide Applicator recertification in categories 1A, 1B, 1C and 10.  Attendance at the entire meeting is required for recertification.

Early registration, which includes CCA credits and pesticide applicator recertification, is $70 if received by midnight, Nov 18, 2015.  Late or on-site registration is $85. Visit www.aep.iastate.edu/acu for program details or to register online.

For additional information contact Virgil Schmitt at vschmitt@iastate.edu or (563) 263-5701.

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The Coralville Center for the Performing Arts will host the 2015 Festival of Trees on Saturday, November 28 beginning at 6:30pm at Brown Deer Golf Club, located at 1900 Country Club Drive in Coralville.

This annual event features live and silent auctions of artistically decorated trees and wreaths created by local artists and organizations.  In addition to the auction, the event features heavy hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, and performances by City Circle, Young Footliters, and dancing to Rod Pierson's Not-So Big Band.  The popular grab bags will again feature exciting prizes for both children and adults!

Tickets ($25, or 10 for $200) are available at coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the CCPA box office and Coralville Recreation Center.

Breakfast with Santa

Families are invited to join Santa at Brown Deer Golf Club for pancakes, fruit, juice, and coffee on the morning of November 28 at 9am or 10:30am, all in the gorgeous atmosphere of the Festival of Trees.  Santa's elves will have crafts, and each family will get to take a picture with Santa, which will be emailed by the following Monday, perfect for holiday cards!

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the event, and are available at coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319.248.9370, and in person at the CCPA box office and Coralville Recreation Center.

City Circle Acting Company is the community theater program of the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.  Since 1997, City Circle's mission has been the production of high quality dramatic, musical, and performing art pieces for the enjoyment of the public.  Upcoming City Circle productions include Oliver (December 11-20), Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (February 12-14), and 1776 (April 29-May 8).

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, Lorie Line, Judy Carmichael, Jim McDonough, 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. The Center was named 2012 Member of the Year by the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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