Amana- Nuncrackers, opens November 19 and runs through December 20 on the Old Creamery's Main Stage, with shows on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 2:00 pm and on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm. There will be two special Saturday Matinees on December 5 and December 12. There will be no performances on November 25 and 26 in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday.

You won't want to miss the Little Sisters of Hoboken from Nunsense as they return to The Old Creamery's stage to put their patented spin on celebrating the holidays. Reverend Mother and her crew will provide plenty of Christmas music and more laughs than you can shake a candy cane at. Nuncrackers is written by Dan Goggin.

The cast includes Lindsey Cline, Katie Colletta, Sonny Conrad, Mason Erger, Mitchell Erger, Sean McCall, Hannah Rodgers, Ella Rosario, Carrie SaLoutos, Alec Schiefer, Marquetta Senters, and Sierra White.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $18.50 for students, with a $12 special student rush rate for students purchase their tickets 30 minutes before the performance begins. Media Sponsors: ICAN, The Gazette, and KCRG-TV9. Nuncrackers is Rated G. Call the box office for tickets and information 319-622-6262 or visit us online at www.oldcreamery.com.

The Old Creamery Theatre is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. In 2015, the company is celebrating 44 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest.

Governor encourages Iowans to actively participate in Veteran's Day remembrance events around Iowa on Wednesday, Nov. 11th

 

(DES MOINES)  - Today, during the Administration's weekly press conference, Gov. Terry Branstad was joined by Major General Timothy Orr of the Iowa National Guard, Colonel Bob King of the Iowa Department of Veteran's Affairs and Jason Kemp of the Home Base Iowa initiative to highlight Veteran's Day events in Iowa.  The governor is encouraging members of the public to actively participate and remember those who have valiantly served our nation.

On Veteran's Day, Gov. Branstad will be participating in the 93.3 KIOA Vets of Valor Radiothon, which is helping raise money and awareness for the American Legion of Iowa's Veterans Services and Assistance Programs.  All of the donations will stay in Iowa and be used within the American Legion of Iowa to help provide assistance through our service officers, and assistance programs for Iowa veterans and their families.

Major General Tim Orr and Colonel Bob King provided a list of events that member of the public can partake in.  A full comprehensive list can be found here.  Information on the Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge can also be found here.

Jason Kemp, new Home Base Iowa manager and retired Master Sergeant, provided the press and the general public with an update on the Home Base Iowa initiative.  The bi-partisan Home Back Iowa initiative that Gov. Branstad spearheaded in 2013 has led to:

  • The hiring of over 1,500 veterans in Iowa.
  • 900 businesses have become Home Base Iowa businesses where 10% of the businesses in the community commit and pledge to hiring veterans.
  • 24 communities around the state have become Home Base Iowa communities thus far.
  • 16 educational institutions have become CHAMPs (Certified Higher Academic Military Partners).

Information on the Home Base Iowa initiative can be found at www.homebaseiowa.gov.

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By Nathaniel Sillin

It will begin soon enough - all those "beat the rush!" ads for holiday shopping, activities and events. Right now, you have a great opportunity to beat the rush to organize your year-end finances and make some smart moves for the New Year.

Consider the following tasks for your year-end financial to-do list.

Total up your year-to-date spending. Whether you organize by computer or on paper, make sure your tracking system for spending, saving and investment is up to date. This way, you can make sure you are on budget for the year and ready with data for tax time. Once you are finished, determine your net worth - what you own less what you owe - and get an early idea of what you need to change next year.

Check in with your planner or tax professional. Late December is a busy time for financial professionals. Take a minute to see if they can review your numbers and make suggestions on year-end financial activities and new moves you should make in 2016.

Make sure you've reviewed all your credit reports for the year. You are entitled to one free copy (https://www.annualcreditreport.com) of each of your three major credit reports from TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. It's generally wise to schedule delivery of each at different points in the year to catch errors or irregularities.

Check and rebalance your portfolio. With the dramatic market swings this past year, be sure to check if your retirement and other investments are still on track with your investment goals. Get qualified help if necessary to see if the assets you own still fit your needs. And if you need to do any tax selling by the end of the year, now is the time to start thinking about it.

Check your insurance coverage. If you buy your own home, auto, life or other insurance policies, contact two or three agents representing highly rated (http://www.ambest.com) insurers to review the adequacy and pricing of your coverage. If you have made any structural changes or improvements to your home, make sure those actions are reflected in your homeowners insurance. Such work may boost your home's replacement value. Also, if you've had a major life or financial event like a new baby or the purchase of a new home it's time to make sure all your coverage is sufficient.

Update your W-2, benefits and estate plan if necessary. While you're updating your insurance and investment needs for big life events related to family, property or marital status, see if your tax withholding and employee health coverage and investments need review. Get qualified help to make this assessment if you are not sure.

Empty out your flexible spending accounts. If you have a Flexible Spending Account for health care or other qualifying expenses, it's time to submit outstanding claims from the doctor, dentist or optometrist. Remember you can only transfer $500 in your remaining balance over to the next year. Make any appointments or medical purchases you need to now and get the paperwork in fast.

Do a last-minute tax review. If you work alone or with a tax professional, review your annual income, investment and spending data to see if there's anything you can do in the final weeks of the year to save on taxes. If tax-deductible donations to qualified charities and nonprofits are recommended, consult sites such as GuideStar (http://www.guidestar.org), CharityWatch (https://www.charitywatch.org/home) and Charity Navigator (http://www.charitynavigator.org) to evaluate your choices so you know your contribution is being well spent.

Save time and cut back on waste with online bill pay and deposits. Automatic online bill pay means you won't have to waste time writing checks or risk late payment fees. Scheduling bill payment through your checking and savings accounts can save time and money, while setting up regular electronic deposits to savings and investment accounts can also help you save money before you are tempted to spend it.

Bottom line: Doing a last-minute review of your finances can potentially save money and help you save, spend and invest smarter in the coming year.

Proclivities: predispositions to preconceived notions

DES MOINES, Iowa - In "Proclivities: A Pop Culture Odyssey," author Jay Alan Reeves shares a humorous and candid series of interrelated essays and commentary on human nature, American pop culture and politics, including the relevance of social affairs, the economics of socialism and deficit spending, the questionable nature of men and women, race relations, religion and much more.

Reeves also provides commentary about the history of global warming and climate change, noting that it has nothing to do with the weather.

"There is no actual definitive or conclusive scientific evidence that man-made global warming or climate change actually exists," Reeves said. "The real beauty of climate change is that any weather extreme can be said to be evidence of a problem."

A grain farmer in Iowa, Reeves hopes his book will encourage readers to generate their own opinions separate from media and politicians and to consider the needs of the "greater good" when making decisions that affect other citizens.

"Never before has the general public been exposed to so much available information as our media provide," Reeves said. "It's important that we remain objective and critical, understanding that winning and being right means that we all do the right thing in understanding what that right thing is and why."

For more information about the book, visit http://www.iamnotamused2.com.

"Proclivities: A Pop Culture Odyssey"
By Jay Alan Reeves
ISBN: 978-1-4808-1635-0
Available in hardcover, softcover and e-book
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Archway Publishing

About the author
Jay Alan Reeves was born on an Iowa farm, and he works and manages a 900-acre grain farm with his two sons. He has eight years of experience as a court-appointed child advocate. A marriage therapy volunteer, he's a recipient of the Iowa Governors Award for volunteerism.

# # #

Each Organization to Commit $25M for a Combined $50M to Uncover Drivers of Heart Disease

·         Novel Research Model to Tap Best and Brightest Minds from Various Disciplines

ORLANDO, Florida, November 8, 2015 – The American Heart Association (AHA) and Google Life Sciences have announced a joint commitment to form a research collaboration that will bring new, unconventional thinking to one of the longstanding challenges of cardiovascular disease. Each organization will invest $25 million for a total of $50 million over roughly five years to support novel strategies to understand, prevent, and reverse coronary heart disease and its consequences, such as heart failure and sudden cardiac death.

Cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death globally, accounting annually for approximately 17 million deaths, or about one of every three deaths.  Coronary heart disease itself is responsible for more than 7 million deaths annually. But the root causes of this disease continue to be explored and a concerted effort, combining technology and medicine, could help. Because traditional research funding models, which are often incremental and piecemeal, make it difficult to study a multifaceted subject that plays out over many years, AHA and Google Life Sciences have committed to a bold new approach: a $50 million investment in one research team, which will be tasked with developing a richer, deeper understanding of cardiovascular disease.

This marks the largest one-time research investment in AHA's history. In early 2016, a Joint Leadership Group made up of individuals from AHA and Google Life Sciences will select a team leader to run this effort. This team leader, who may be a cardiologist but could come from any background or area of expertise, will receive the full $50 million in funding over roughly five years to design a program, assemble a cross-functional group of investigators, and lead all efforts towards further finding new causes and drivers of coronary heart disease. The team will have support across many important areas, including clinical research, engineering, and data analysis, as well as ongoing strategic counsel, oversight and access to resources from the Joint Leadership Group.

"With its devastating human impact on countless generations of families, cardiovascular disease, and in particular coronary heart disease remains the greatest and deadliest global health challenge we face today," said American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown. "By working together, AHA and Google Life Sciences will be able to serve as the catalyst for change and transformation in reducing the impact of coronary heart disease on people's lives and alleviating this global burden.  Just imagine if we could reverse coronary artery disease and restore the healthy heart muscle it destroys or, even better, prevent the whole process from beginning in the first place!"

Technology has a critical role to play. The collaboration will provide the scientific community with channels to technical capabilities and insights offered by Google Life Sciences. With the unique opportunity to access such resources, the collaboration will expand research pathways and empower researchers to conceptualize and test new approaches. AHA, the nation's authority on cardiovascular disease will contribute its vast scientific and medical resources, resulting in the application of a unique blend of technical and scientific knowledge to the search for new cardiovascular solutions.

"This is a fundamentally different kind of model for funding innovation," said Andy Conrad, CEO of Google Life Sciences. "The team leader will be able to bring together clinicians, engineers, designers, basic researchers and other experts to think in new ways about the causes of coronary heart disease. We're already imagining the possibilities when a team like that has access to the full resources of both Google Life Sciences and the AHA -- and we can't wait to see what they discover."

More information about the structure of the collaborative will be released as it's developed in coming months.

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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke - America's No. 1 and No. 5 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the life sciences team at Google

The life sciences team at Google is focused on helping to move health care from reactive to proactive.  Combining expertise from the fields of biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, electrical engineering and computer science, we're developing new technology tools for physicians that can integrate easily into daily life and help transform the detection, prevention, and management of disease. Current projects in development include a smart contact lens with miniaturized glucose sensor; a collaboration to develop new kinds of continuous glucose monitors, a nanodiagnostics platform to help with early detection of disease; cardiac and activity sensors, and Liftware utensils for people with tremor. The life sciences team graduated from Google[x] and is now in the process of becoming a standalone Alphabet company.

Early this month we will be continuing the "SEE Art differently" with the 30 paintings in 30 days by Brad Bisbey and Pat Bereskin. Also Dean Kugler's unique way to look at art. Later in the month we will be preparing for final Friday. Final Friday this month is November 27th from 6 to 9 p.m. We will be featuring every artist in the gallery and the new pieces they've been working on. We are "showing off" the wonderful artist working in Bereskin Fine Art Gallery & Studio.

Another event that started last month but we are continuing this month is Third Thursday. A tradition is beginning where every third Thursday of the month the galleries in Bucktown and shops downtown will be staying open later than usual. Bucktown and Bereskin Fine Art Gallery will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. on November 19th. This month there will also be a shuttle to transport you around downtown.

A day that many people don't think about over the Thanksgiving holiday is Small Business Saturday. This is a time to support all the small businesses in the area. Bereskin Fine Art Gallery will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
'Tis the season for gift giving. Bereskin Fine Art Gallery offers gift certificates that can be used for classes and/or artwork. If you have family or friends that appreciate art you can buy them a gift certificate to come in and purchase a piece of their choosing.
We have also released or new class schedule for this winter.
For more information contact Pat Bereskin at (563) 508-4630 or bereskinartgallery@gmail.com

Free breakfast will be provided to veterans and active-duty military members at all 240 Hy-Vee stores

 

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (Nov. 8, 2015) ? This Wednesday, Hy-Vee will host its annual Veterans Day breakfasts to recognize and thank veterans and active-duty military members for their service and provide them with a complimentary meal. Hy-Vee expects to serve more than 80,000 veterans, military members and their guests at 240 stores across its eight-state region this year.

Some stores have planned programs, displays, entertainment or other activities to go along with the breakfast.

Members of the media are welcome to attend.

The Veterans Day breakfasts are part of the Hy-Vee Homefront initiative, which is comprised of several company efforts, including the "Hy-Vee Round Up for the Homefront" program, Honor Flights and veterans and military member employee recruitment.

Now through Nov. 15, Hy-Vee customers can help support veterans by rounding up their purchases to the next dollar ? or a desired dollar amount ? at the checkout. Hy-Vee will match customer donations, up to $100,000. All proceeds from Hy-Vee's Round Up program go to benefiting three organizations that support veterans and their families.

For more information on the Hy-Vee Homefront initiative, visit www.hy-vee.com/homefront.

WHAT:                 Hy-Vee Veterans Day Breakfasts

 

WHEN:                 Wednesday, Nov. 11

Check your local Hy-Vee store for breakfast hours and event details

 

WHERE:               All 240 Hy-Vee stores

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As of this writing there are 289 members of Congress who are co-sponsors
of House Bill HR-969 and 34 member of the Senate who are co-sponsors of
Senate Bill S.681.  Both Bills are titled,   The Blue Water Navy Vietnam
Veterans Agent Orange Act.  There are enough co-sponsors Congress and
Senate to send these Bills to the floor for a vote.  They are held up in
committee. Why? Are our veterans not worth the attention they deserve? A
budget has yet to be set for the care and wellbeing of this group of
veterans known as Blue Water Navy.  Many are sick, many have died from
diseases caused by the herbicide Agent Orange.  This deadly herbicide
floated out to sea.  Our Navy ships in combat came in contact with this
deadly chemical.  Some of our ships also transported barrels of Agent
Orange.  In rough seas some of these barrels would break loose, the
herbicide would be awash on deck and had to be cleaned up.  Unknowingly
the cleanup crews did not know they were cleaning up death.
Approximately 750,000 sailors served during the Vietnam War. Many have
fallen sick to the herbicide and many have died.  Nearly all could not get
benefits as our Congress refused to pass a Bill that would provide these
Navy sailors with better quality of life.  These ships at sea provided air
and gunnery support on targets inland, saving American troop's lives.
Does our government care about sick and dying Navy sailors?  No.  Their
lives are not worth the dollars.   To the American people, write and call
your members of Congress and Senate to pass the Bills, Congress HR-969 and
Senate S.681.   Freedom is not Free, it is costly.   

End

By:  John J. Bury, U.S. Navy, retired, Vietnam War Veteran
Media, Pa.

On Thursday, November 12th Quad Cities Interfaith will host its 7th Annual Individual Donor Breakfast from 7:30am to 8:30am in the Rogalski Center Ballroom at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. This year's theme is "Building A Beloved Community".

Our guest speaker is Rev T. Ray McJunkins, pastor at Union Baptist Church, Springfield, Illinois and President of Gamaliel of Illinois.

To reserve your spot, call 563-322-4910

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has appointed an Inspector General of the Illinois Tollway, and made judicial appointments to the Illinois Court of Claims and the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board.

 

Name: TJ Hengesbach

Position: Inspector General - Illinois Toll Highway

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed TJ Hengesbach as Inspector General of the Illinois Tollway. He has nearly 15 years of experience from the Illinois and City of Chicago's Inspector General offices and has been a practicing attorney since 1991.

Most recently, Hengesbach was the Deputy Inspector General in Chicago's Office of Inspector General. He was part of the team that provided legal support and solutions to all sections of the oversight agency. He also provided legal counsel and policy guidance on internal personnel decisions, and external investigative, audit and compliance activity. He worked for the City of Chicago from October 2005 to April 2015. Prior to this, he was the general counsel for Illinois' Office of Executive Inspector General. In this role he developed investigative protocols and participated in investigations of allegations of fraud, waste and misconduct.

Hengesbach is a Certified Inspector General from the Association of Inspector Generals and a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional from the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics.

Hengesbach earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and his law degree from Indiana University-Bloomington. He lives in Chicago.

 

Name: Peter G. Karahalios

Positions: Judge - Illinois Court of Claims

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Peter G. Karahalios to the Illinois Court of Claims. Karahalios brings 40 years of experience as an attorney in both the private and public sectors to the bench.

Currently, Karahalios is the Chief Legal Counsel and Sworn Deputy Treasurer in the Cook County Treasurer's Office. He oversees the compliance of state statutes and county ordinances on real estate tax collection and coordinates litigation with the Cook County State's Attorney and U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. He has held this position since 2007. It's a return to the Cook County Treasurer's Office because he previously worked there from 1998-2003 as the Chief of Staff and Sworn Chief Deputy Treasurer. Karahalios has worked in private practice, as well.

Karahalios earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and his law degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology/Chicago-Kent College of Law. He was also a member of the Illinois National Guard from 1970-1976. He lives in South Barrington.

 

Name: Robert Steffen
Position: Judge - Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has appointed Robert Steffen to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board. He brings over 23 years of legal experience to the board.

Steffen currently serves as Court of Claims Judge for the State of Illinois. He was appointed to the post in 2004. He is also the owner of Steffen Law, P.C., a law firm in Elgin which he started in 2000.  Prior to his own law firm and time on the bench, Steffen served as an assistant state's attorney in the Kane County State's Attorney's Office. Over the course of his eight years with Kane County, he prosecuted countless crimes and petty offenses.

Steffen earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois and a law degree from John Marshall Law School. He lives in South Barrington.

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