Amana- Barnum, opens September 10 and runs through September 27 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.

Join the Circus! - and be drawn into the boundless imagination of America's Greatest Showman - P. T. Barnum. From humble beginnings to a life under the Big Top this exhilarating musical celebrates the life and dreams of the man whose colorful vision helped define entertainment for generations and gave us the Greatest Show on Earth! Barnum is written by Mark Bramble with lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman.

The cast includes Travis Burbee, Keegan Christopher, Katie Colletta, Kristen DeGrazia, Adelina Feldman-Schultz, Jeff Haffner, Sean McCall, Chela North, Vigthor Zophoniasson, and Abby Murray Vachon. Warner Crocker is the director and Shari Rhoads is the music director.

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: KMRY Radio and City Revealed Magazine. Barnum is rated Theatre PG. 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.

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner took action today on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 3220

An Act Concerning Employment

Action: Signed

Effective: June 1, 2015

 

Bill No.: HB 3765

An Act Concerning Transportation

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: HB 4078

An Act Concerning Government

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: SB 374

An Act Concerning Local Government

Action: Vetoed

Note: Veto Message Below

 

Bill No.: SB 627

An Act Concerning Transportation

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: SB 760

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: SB 763

An Act Concerning Public Employee Benefits

Action: Vetoed

Note: Veto Message Below

 

Bill No.: SB 838

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

 

Veto Message SB 374

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois Senate,

99th General Assembly:

 

Today I veto Senate Bill 374 from the 99th General Assembly, which would effectively exempt townships from competitive bidding requirements for township contracts.

Transparency is vital for good governance. It is also important that citizens perceive the government as trustworthy. Competitive bidding ensures that units of local government are getting the best price for services and that taxpayer funds are being used effectively. Consequently, permitting a township to circumvent the competitive bidding process is a step in the wrong direction for government transparency and conserving taxpayer dollars.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 374, "AN ACT concerning local government", with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

Sincerely,

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

Veto Message SB 763

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois Senate,

99th General Assembly:

 

Today I veto Senate Bill 763 from the 99th General Assembly, which would amend the Illinois Pension Code to create pension liability for police officers and firefighters at the local level by circumventing local voter choice expressed through a referendum.

 

Public safety workers put their lives in danger to protect our citizens.  They deserve the right to earn good pension benefits.  Current law already provides such pensions to local police officers and firefighters in municipalities with the population of at least 5,000 people.  And even municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents can opt, through a referendum, to extend pension benefits to public safety employees.  The referendum option gives voters the control of what benefits the municipality can actually afford.  That is as it should be.

 

Senate Bill 763 would take this choice away from the voters and instead allow a municipality to impose new pension obligations by a resolution of its governing body.  At a time when local governments in Illinois are struggling to make ends meet, we should not remove local voter control over decisions for which the same voters will have to pay through higher property and other taxes.

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(b) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return Senate Bill 763 entitled "AN ACT concerning public employee benefits", with the foregoing objections, vetoed in its entirety.

 

Sincerely,

 

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

Every day I look forward to working with the staff at Ballet Quad Cites on exciting new cutting edge projects. I enjoy the bold new growth taking place within our ballet company as we continue to impact our community and surrounding region. Let me share some of the some of the winning, positive things that have happen at the ballet this summer.

What happened to summer?

Wasn't it just yesterday that Beer, Brats and Ballet just blew up with a fun evening, exceeding all expectations of success? Summer flew by as fast as the student dancers in summer classes culminating with Ballet Under the Stars, great audiences every evening even with the rain. Please take a look below to share in our thrill at the grants we have received already this year.

Take a moment to look at the NEW season and order your season tickets NOW. The 2015/16 season is a feast for your senses full of talent and innovation. Guest artist Domingo Rubio will return in October with a cameo role in "Murder Mystery at the Ballet". You can't forget the portrayal of Dracula last season and we agree with Ana Kissegooff who wrote in the New York Times and hailed his performance in Nijinsky's Afternoon of a Faun as "mesmerizing...marvelously intense" His dancing is distinguished by his emotional power and partnering skills, which have earned outstanding awards and fine critiques as a performer and choreographer. For further information about Domingo Rubio, check out his website at www.domingorubio.com.

click here for the 2015-16 brochure

We are going to be celebrating a historic milestone in the history of Millstream Brewery this Saturday night from 5-9pm.   We're excited to be celebrating 30 years in the craft brewing industry and we'd like you to come celebrate with us! We are going to be starting the day with our Tour de Brew bike ride.  Join us for our annual 38-mile bike ride at Millstream.   We'll start at Millstream Brewery, go to Norway, then on to Blairstown, through West Amana and back to Millstream. The event is a poker run with stops to pick up your poker cards. Of course there is a great micro brewed beer waiting for you at each stop. Root beer too. At the end of the ride the best poker hands will receive door prizes. Live music will be Electric Mule. They'll play from 1 to 5 p.m. in the biergarten and we will be grilling those great Amana brats on the grill. Registration is from 9:30am-10:30 and the ride begins and ends at Millstream Brewery. $25.  Registration the day of the event at Millstream.  A portion of the proceeds goes to the Amana Bike Trail.

Then from 5-9 we will be continuing our evening with more live music, food and special beer releases.  At 6:00pm  you will meet the original founders and current owners of Millstream Brewery.  We will be releasing a specially brewed 30^th Anniversary Doppelbock that we brewed for the occasion!  We pulled together previous Millstream brewers for this limited release collaboration brew.  Current Millstream brewer, Chris Priebe and also Bill Heinrich of Solon's Big Grove Brewery; Aaron Taubman of the Purity Brewing Company in Warwickshire County, England; and Chris Ellis, the owner of The Quarter Barrel in Cedar Rapids all were on hand for this brew. Dogs on Skis will be performing and supper will be provided by Julia's Stone Pizza. Bring your lawn chair and join us for this historical occasion!