CHICAGO, July 13, 2015 - RE/MAX brokers and RE/MAX sales teams from Northern Illinois are among those named to REAL Trends' 2015 "The Thousand." This annual ranking, based on prior-year sales achievements, recognizes 250 top sales producers nationwide in each of four categories. The categories are closed transaction sides and closed sales volume for individual agents and for teams.

The Jane Lee Team of RE/MAX Top Performers in Lake Bluff, Ill., the Kombrink-Lobrillo Team of RE/MAX Great American North, St. Charles, Ill., and the Leslie McDonnell Team of RE/MAX Suburban, Libertyville, Ill., took honors in both categories. Lee ranked 85th in closed transactions and 111th in sales volume. Kombrink-Lobrillo ranked 98th in closed transactions and 224th in sales volume. McDonnell ranked 248th in closed transactions and 220th in sales volume.

Also named to the top 250 teams in closed transactions is the HomesByMarco Team of RE/MAX Suburban, Libertyville, which ranked 140th.

Among individual brokers, RE/MAX professionals in the top 250 based on closed transaction sides are Sarah Leonard of RE/MAX Suburban, Schaumburg, Ill., ranked 63rd; Ed Lukasik, Jr., of RE/MAX Professionals, Bolingbrook, Ill., ranked 94th; Steve Malik, RE/MAX Professionals Select, Naperville, Ill., ranked 199th; and Rich Bassford of RE/MAX Elite Homes, Moline, Ill., ranked 201st.

"We congratulate these outstanding brokers and teams on earning this honor," said Brian Reagan, president of RE/MAX Northern Illinois.  "Our goal is to make RE/MAX the logical home for our region's top professionals."

RE/MAX agents across the country claimed 154 of the 1,000 positions. No other brand held more positions this year.

RE/MAX agents consistently rank among the most productive in the industry. In the United States, RE/MAX agents averaged 15.6 years of real estate experience and 16.0 transaction sides in 2014. RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989 and is continually growing. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,200+ sales associates and 105 independently owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its mobile real estate app, available for download at www.illinoisproperty.com, provides comprehensive information about residential and commercial property for sale in the region. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX, a global real estate organization with 100,000+ sales associates in 90+ nations.

####

EDITOR'S NOTE: RE/MAX® is a registered trademark.  Please spell in all caps. Thank you.  This release is posted at blog.illinoisproperty.com.

DES MOINES, IA (07/13/2015)(readMedia)-- There's no better place to be a kid than at the Iowa State Fair. Kids' activities and entertainment, all free with admission, can keep families busy all 11 days of the Fair. Whether it's jumping into a hands-on Blue Ribbon Kids activity, becoming a farmer at Little Hands on the Farm or watching unforgettable entertainment, "Nothing Compares" to the Iowa State Fair, set August 13-23.

The Kids' Zone - a special area packed with games and entertainment - is assembled with young Fairgoers in mind. Go sailing every day at 11 a.m., 2 and 5 p.m. on a comedy treasure cruise with SwashChucklers as they search for the map to the long-lost Cursed Treasure o'the Spanish Main. Try out your green thumb at Little Hands on the Farm or learn about Iowa's agriculture at Seed Survivor.

Before you leave, make sure to visit the Blue Ribbon Kids tent for fun Fair-themed activities every weekday. Blue Ribbon Kids, the Fair's special club for ages 10 and under, allows children to experience the Fair from a unique perspective. Blue Ribbon Kids members get to be part of the action during special Club activities every morning at 10 a.m. These 30-60 minute activities are located in the Kids' Club tent in the Kids' Zone, north of the Animal Learning Center. Membership is free and children can sign up between 9 and 9:30 a.m. for any club event or download a form at iowastatefair.org/just-for-kids/blue-ribbon-kids-club and bring it along.

Schedule of Blue Ribbon Kids Events:

Thursday, August 13 - Make and Take T-shirt Day at Kids' Club

Friday, August 14 - Turkey Day at Kids' Club

Monday, August 17 - Happy Birthday Fairfield and Rosetta

Tuesday, August 18 - Kids in the Kitchen Day at Kids' Club

Wednesday, August 19 - Kids' Club Gives Back

Thursday, August 20 - Iowa State Fair History Day at Kids' Club

Friday, August 21 - Llama Day at Kids' Club

Fun Forest Stage:

The Fair's family-friendly Fun Forest Stage is nestled in 1.5 acres of fun, located east of the John Deere Agriculture Building. All shows are ASL interpreted, courtesy of the Deaf Action Center and the Iowa State Fair.

Dale Jones: The One Handed Comedy Juggler astounds audiences with his world-class original comedy along with his juggling. Shows begin daily at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.

The Rubber Chicken Show starring Greg Frisbee, a comedian, juggler and escape artist. He keeps the audience on their toes by juggling while his hands are on fire, escaping from a straight jacket and launching a rubber chicken from a cannon. This family-friendly event is sure to entertain. Shows begin daily at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Grounds Attractions:

The Red Trouser Show offers a high-end street theater production full of acrobatic tricks and hilarious stunts. This professional and highly skilled duo uses fire, juggling and illusions to provide a unique and visible attraction that leaves awe-stricken audiences laughing. Shows daily at Noon, 3 and 6 p.m. on Expo Hill.

Bandaloni gives musical entertainment a funny facelift as he belts out familiar family favorites while playing guitar, harmonica, tambourine, high-hat, kick-drum, snare and more - all at the same time! Strolling daily at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.

Hedrick's Petting Zoo is the ideal place where fairgoers can get up-close-and-personal with zebras, kangaroos, camels and more in a safe and fun environment. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. north of Gate 11.

Oscar the Robot, along with his partner, Jack Prather, provide laughter and memories at all of their performances. This dynamic team is informing and entertaining for all age groups. Oscar is sure to provide an unforgettable spark of energy to your Fair experience. Shows daily at Noon, 2 & 4 p.m.

More Entertainment:

In addition to feeling the squish of grapes between your toes during the Grape Stomp (daily, 11 a.m., 2, 3, and 6 p.m.), more Grape Getaway kids' activities will be held daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in a tent located by Grandfather's Barn.

No matter what your age, fun will be had by all on Iowa Park and Recreation day, Thursday, August 20. Participate in bubble gum blowing (9 a.m.) and the pie eating contests (10:30 a.m.) on the Anne and Bill Riley Stage or try your hand at the Big Wheel Races (11 a.m. and 1 p.m.), arts and crafts (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and scavenger hunts (1 p.m.) on the Grand Concourse.

Stop by the William C. Knapp Varied Industries Building Atrium for the return of Sandscapes, a team of national, international and world champion sand sculptors, and watch them construct an agriculture-themed masterpiece. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

# # #

Frequently ranked as one of the top events in the country, the Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in the state of Iowa and one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. Annually attracting more than a million people from all over the world, the Iowa State Fair located at East 30th and East University, just 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines is Iowa's greatest celebration with a salute to the best in agriculture, industry, entertainment and achievement. "Nothing Compares" to the 2015 Iowa State Fair, August 13-23, 2015. For more information, visit www.iowastatefair.org.

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society (MVBS) regrets to announce that due to financial challenges, the 2015 Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, planned for LeClaire Park, Davenport, Iowa, September 5 and 6, has been cancelled. The MVBS, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, had started the festival over 30 years ago to create a live music festival to expose the regional area to the native art form of blues-related music, and to raise awareness and funds for blues education programs. Since then, MVBS has presented over 1000 local, regional, and nationally known acts, and has become an award winning, top Blues festivals in the country.

According to MVBS President, Steve Heston, "We are not able to proceed with a major event this year, so we will instead concentrate on continuing our existing programs, look to build funding, and possibly hold a festival in 2016."

Some of the current programs of the MVBS include an active Blues in the Schools educational program that reaches over 7,500 students annually, as well as our Concert Series that brings live blues to the Quad Cities, and our radio shows on KALA. The MVBS has one of the most active Blues Education programs of any Blues Society in the country. Each year, the Blues Society plans and coordinates 4-9 weeks of Blues in the Schools programming. This includes 4-5 week-long artist residencies and one month-long summer residency. Performances are free, and expose a wide segment of our community to blues-related music and the rich history and heritage of that music.

"We are saddened to have to make this decision; however, if we take this opportunity to re-group and are able to gain some financial support, we can come back next year with some world-class musicians playing the blues."

# # #

MOUNT CARROLL, IL - Timber Lake Playhouse continues its summer season with the hilarious theatre phenomenon Greater Tuna. Long before Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and the Blue Collar Comedy tours captured the nation's funnybones, Greater Tuna was selling out theatres with its characters who populate the town of Tuna, Texas. In just under two hours, two actors play twenty residents of one town on the day they're mourning the corrupt Judge of Tuna--where the Lions Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies.

TLP favorites Cody Jolly (who just completed a run as Captain Hook in Peter Pan) and Matt Webb (who starred opposite Jolly in Young Frankenstein and Spamalot) play a pair of clueless radio disk jockeys, a questionable sheriff, a used-weapons store owner, a religious "scholar" who studies "segregation in the scriptures," an animal rights advocate, an undertaker, Baptist "smut snatchers," a cliché-laden preacher, all five members of the Bumiller family and more. Chicago director Stephen Schellhardt stages the antics of the fictional third smallest town in Texas.

Joe Sears, Jaston Williams and Ed Howard wrote the comedy in 1981. Sears and Williams also starred in the original production. The two met while working in Texas and decided to put together a show based mostly on real-life people they'd known living in Oklahoma and San Antonio.  Since 1981, they've written three additional Tuna plays that have been performed around the world at such wide-ranging venues as dinner theatres, Shakespeare festivals and the White House. The show was also recorded and presented as an HBO special event.

Director Schellhardt says of the play, "For me, what makes Greater Tuna unique is that all of the town's residents - male, female, young and old - are played by two exceptional performers. This is no small feat. The skills of Cody Jolly and Matt Webb surpassed all my expectations. These remarkable, versatile actors have gone to great lengths to breathe life into all the eccentric citizens of Tuna, Texas. It's been truly astounding to watch them work."

Great Tuna opens Thursday, July 16 at 7:30 p.m. Performances continue Friday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 18 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, July 19 at 2:00 p.m.; Tuesday, July 21 at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, July 22 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, July 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m.

Opening July 30th, TLP will present the new musical Big Fish, based on the Tim Burton film and the novel of the same name. Karl Hamilton returns to TLP to star as Edward Bloom, a teller of very tall tales that come to life on stage. The show has been called "Remarkable and essential for everyone who loves musicals," "breathtaking from start to finish," and "a dream musical." Artistic Director James Beaudry directs and choreographs the romantic comedy.

Tickets for all TLP mainstage show are $25 with discounts for seniors, active duty military and students. For reservations, call the box office at 815-244-2035 or visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. TLP is located at 8215 Black Oak Road in rural Mount Carroll, Illinois.

This program is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.