Amana - Come watch as Charlotte spins her magic web and cast a heartwarming spell over Fern, Wilbur and all the animals in Zuckerman's barn during The Old Creamery Theatre for Young Audiences production of Charlotte's Web.

A true favorite for so many, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White was dramatized for the stage by Joseph Robinette. The show opens Saturday April 23 at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage at 39 38^th Ave., Amana and runs through May 7.

Charlotte's Web 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 bringing a favorite story to life on stage is always a thrill. "The popularity of Charlotte's Web plus the professional experience of the cast makes for a show not to be missed," he said. "Plus, we're teaching the next generation that the theatre is a wonderful place."

Tickets are $8 per person for reserved seating. Reservations for this show are highly recommended as tickets are going fast.

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.

WASHINGTON, April 13, 2011 - FRIDAY, April 15, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Shenandoah, Iowa, to give remarks at the grand opening of the BioProcess Algae Phase II Grower Harvester TM Bioreactor Project. BioProcess Algae was created to commercialize advanced photo-bioreactor technologies for the growing and harvesting of algal biomass. Later in the day on FRIDAY, the Secretary will also speak to the Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association Annual Meeting about how USDA is focused on stimulating growth, creating jobs, and setting in place a framework for a robust future for the rural economy, which includes support of next-generation renewable energy.

The Obama administration is focused on building a cleaner, safer, and more secure energy future - one that ultimately breaks our dependence on foreign oil and moves our nation toward a clean energy economy that creates jobs and keeps America competitive. USDA is helping our nation develop the next generation of biofuels to grow jobs and generate energy from new, homegrown sources. Secretary Vilsack believes that rural America can and must lead America's transition to a clean energy economy.

Friday, April 15, 2011

4:30 p.m. EDT

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will give remarks at the grand opening of the BioProcess Algae Phase II Grower Harvester TM Bioreactor Project

WHERE: BioProcess Algae Phase II (Green Plains Renewable Energy)

4124 Airport Road

Shenandoah, IA 51601

*Note: Parking for media will be available at marked locations at Green Plains Renewable Energy.

Friday, April 15, 2011

6:00 p.m. EDT

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will give remarks at the Shenandoah Chamber and Industry Association Annual Meeting

WHERE: 1800 South Elm Street

Shenandoah, IA 51601

Senator Chuck Grassley released the following comment after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formally exempted milk and milk product containers from the Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure Rule that is intended to prevent oil from discharging into U.S. waterways.  Grassley was a cosponsor of legislation to expedite a decision by the EPA to exempt milk containers from regulations initially intended for oil spills.

Grassley is also leading an effort to keep the EPA from placing further economic pressure on rural America if the agency chooses to impose more stringent regulations on dust. Here is Grassley's comment on the milk exemption.

"Dairy producers across the country are breathing a sigh of relief.  In an already difficult economic environment, this attempt by the EPA to apply burdensome and unnecessary regulations would have put many of these hard working dairy farmers in an extremely precarious position, and could easily have increased prices for consumers at the grocery store.  To think that milk would be treated the same as oil defies common sense.  The agency seems oblivious to the tremendous impact its rules and regulations have on the general public and agriculture in particular.  I appreciate EPA finally getting the job done and doing the right thing in this instance.  I hope this is a sign that common sense won't take a back seat to ideology in the future."

The concert includes works that are from the Renaissance through the 20^th century. Composers included on the concert are Palestrina, Byrd, Victoria, Mahler, Paulus, Gawthrop, Bertaux, Lightfoot, Naplan, Lekberg, Barnum, Mulholland, and Thompson.

The Augustana Youth Choir, under the direction of Mary Tallitsch, will also make a special guest appearance on the concert. They will be performing the works that they will be singing at Carnegie Hall at the end of May. This will be one of the few opportunities for the community to hear this fine choir of young local singers before their Carnegie Hall debut performance.

The Augustana Youth Choir will be presenting three solo works that feature the beautiful and refined sound of this treble voice ensemble. They will also be combining with the Choral Arts Ensemble for one piece - Wake Up in the Morning by Stephen Paulus. This work includes parts for youth choir, adult choir and Orff instruments.

A highlight of the concert will be a performance of Gustav Mahler's Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen, sung by Quad City Choral Arts. This work is a transcription of the original work for orchestra and soprano voice and is transcribed for 16-part choir. The work is sung in remembrance of the 100^th anniversary of Mahler's death. Mahler died in May of 1911 in Vienna, Austria.