Amana - To accommodate its growing fan base, The Old Creamery Theatre for Young Audiences will add a performance of Charlotte's Web on Saturday, May 14 at 1 p.m. The show was originally scheduled to end May 7.

A true favorite for so many, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White was dramatized for the stage by Joseph Robinette and is directed by Sean McCall of Marengo. The cast consists of Laura Ambrose of Coon Rapids, Minn.; T.J. Besler of Manchester; Nicholas Hodge of South Amana; Jackie McCall of Marengo; Amber Snyder of Memphis, Tenn.; Ian Zahren of South Amana; and Kamille Zbanek of Ely, IA.

McCall said he doesn't want to turn anyone away who would like to see the show. "There are many things to consider when we think about adding a performance," he said. "But, our audience has spoken loudly with two sold out show, one on opening day. They want to see this show and that is why we are providing them with another opportunity to do that."

Seats are still available for May 7 and May 14 but going fast. Tickets are $8 per person and all seating is reserved.

Call the box office at 800-35-AMANA or visit the website at www.oldcreamery.com for information or to purchase your tickets.

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. The company is celebrating 40 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest. We thank KGAN and Fox 28, our 2011 season media sponsor.

Tom Weigand and Annette Zapolis Introduce True Coffee at Cool Beanz 

Rock Island, Ill. (April, 27 2011) - Rock Island native, Augustana College graduate (1985) and Trustee Tom Weigand has again brought one of his entrepreneurial ventures to the Quad Cities.  Three years ago the Noodles & Company co-founder opened a restaurant in Davenport, Iowa and this time Weigand is working with fellow Augustana graduate Annette Zapolis (2009), owner and manager of Rock Island's Cool Beanz, to sell True Coffee, from his premium artisan coffee company launched in Madison, Wis. in 2010.  Weigand and four partners founded True Coffee Roasters with a commitment to roasting coffees from the great coffee-producing regions of the world using a small-batch roasting process that ensures premium flavor.  According to Weigand "Once we got up and running, I wanted to make our coffees available in the Quad Cities and preferably near Augustana because of all the requests from family and friends!"  He continued, "I learned about Annette's wonderful coffeehouse near Augustana and it was the perfect fit."

As a student at Augustana, Zapolis also began to study coffee, espresso, restaurant management and the needs of the community.   After finding the right location, applying a year of research and fixing up a 100-year-old building, Zapolis opened Cool Beanz in August 2009.  The goal of Cool Beanz coffeehouse is to provide a comfortable environment for the Quad Cities community, as well as a place for Augustana and Blackhawk College students to study, relax, interact and enjoy high quality products in a warm atmosphere.  On any day, guests include families spending time together by the three sided fireplace, students diligently working in books and laptops and couples and friends enjoying gourmet sandwiches, salads and beverages. On weekends, local talent graces the Cool Beanz stage for toe-tapping entertainment. Entertainment schedule, events and more can be found at www.coolbeanzcoffeehouse.com.

In addition to small batch roasting, True Coffee practices many sustainable initiatives such as purchasing predominantly Fair Trade and Organic coffees.  According to Weigand, "These coffees come at a higher cost, but we know we are making a difference in coffee-producing communities throughout the world and in return our customers get a really well-grown coffee."  To take sustainability one step further, True Coffee has launched a unique Can Refill program for customers who purchase coffee beans to use at home or office.  Rather than selling the coffees solely using the industry-standard disposable bag, which is likely to end up in a landfill, True Coffee offers a 12-ounce, refillable can made from tin, which is the most recycled material in U.S.  When guests return to refill their can, they receive 20% discount on their coffee purchase, each and every refill.  "We wanted a program that allowed customers the ability to purchase the freshest coffee, promote sustainability by using a refillable can and reward them with a 20% discount for doing so," said Weigand.  The program is rapidly expanding in coffee shops where True Coffee is sold throughout the Midwest, and the same program is now available at Cool Beanz.  Find out more about True Coffee Roasters at www.truecoffeeroasters.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

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Purchase the Finest in Plants and Support Vander Veer

The Friends of Vander Veer annual Spring Plant Sale is coming up soon. This year's sale takes place the weekend of April 30th and May 1st with the following schedule:

Friday, April 29th

3:30-7:30 p.m.

Friends Members-Only Preview Sale

Become a Member and get first pick of the outstanding plant selection

Saturday, April 30th

10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Sale is Open to the Public

Sunday, May 1st

1:00-3:30 p.m.

Sale is Open to the Public

Enjoy the 2011 Potting Party!

Take part in Davenport's largest potting party! Drop in for a 15-minute class; the cost to attend is $5.00. Participants will learn planting secrets, while receiving help from experts in choosing their plants. Please furnish your own pot and soil-less potting mix. Soil will be for sale for a nominal fee.

Call 563-940-8809 for more information! The Friends of Vander Veer is a non-profit organization that supports beauty, education, and restoration at Vander Veer Botanical Park. Proceeds from this sale support the Park.

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DES MOINES, IA (04/26/2011)(readMedia)-- Tickets for the much-anticipated Iowa State Fair Grandstand shows go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. through all Ticketmaster outlets. The 2011 line-up is presented by U.S. Cellular.

In addition to the previously-announced star-studded line-up, Gavin DeGraw will open for Train and Maroon 5. DeGraw is known for numerous chart-toppers like "In Love With A Girl" and "I Don't Want To Be."

Print at home discounted admission tickets are on sale now through the Fair's website www.iowastatefair.org. For the first time, Fairgoers can purchase gate admission tickets online and immediately print their own tickets at no extra charge. Food coupons, Fair Play Packs, midway tickets and 11-day punch cards will also be available to order online beginning Saturday.

Tickets for all concert and track events will go on sale Saturday, April 30 at 10 a.m. through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. All concert events are reserved seating; track events are general admission. Beginning July 11, the Fair's Ticket Office will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays - Fridays and 9 a.m. to Noon on Saturdays for walk-up orders only (no mail, phone or fax orders). Convenience charges will apply to all tickets. Grandstand tickets do not include Fair admission.

A complete listing of event dates, times and ticket prices follows:

2011 Iowa State Fair Grandstand Line-up

presented by U.S. Cellular

Thursday, August 11 Casting Crowns with Sanctus Real, 8 p.m., $30

Friday, August 12 Jason Aldean with special guests Chris Young and Thompson Square, 8 p.m., $45

Saturday, August 13 Def Leppard with very special guest Heart, 8 p.m. $49

Sunday, August 14 The Incredible Machine Tour featuring Sugarland and Sara Bareilles, 8 p.m., $46

Monday, August 15 Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models, 5:30 p.m. Hot Laps, 6 p.m. Races, $15 adults, $5 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Tuesday, August 16 Lynyrd Skynyrd and Doobie Brothers, 8 p.m., $46

Wednesday, August 17 Grand Outlaw National Tractor and Truck Pull, 2 p.m. $20 Adults, $10 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Thursday, August 18 Ronnie Dunn with special guest Steel Magnolia, 8 p.m., $35

Friday, August 19 Train and Maroon 5 with special guest Gavin DeGraw, 8 p.m., $47

Saturday, August 20 Demolition Derby, 11:30 a.m., $12 adults, $5 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Saturday, August 20 REBA with special guest Jerrod Niemann, 8 p.m., $45

Sunday, August 21 An Evening with Janet Jackson, 8 p.m., $65 and $55

"Nothing Compares" to the 2011 Iowa State Fair, celebrating 100 years of the Butter Cow August 11-21. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.

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