Amana - Church Basement Ladies, the musical comedy that celebrates the heart and soul of every church - the basement kitchen and the women who work there- opens Sept. 9 on the Main Stage of The Old Creamery Theatre.

The cast consists of Jean Liuzzi of Boston; Nicole Savitt of Arlington Heights, Ill; Deborah Kennedy of East Amana; Kamille Zbanek of Ely; and Sean McCall of Marengo. Directed by Curt Wollan, Church Basement Ladies was inspired by the books of Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson, including the best seller "Growing Up Lutheran." Written by Jim Stowell and Jessica Zuehlke with music and lyrics by Drew Jansen, the Church Basement Ladies will be serving up laughs with the casseroles and dishing out advice with the Jell-O salads.

Called "a hot dish musical that is doing casserole business," by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, you won't want to miss out on the excitement, so join us where the coffee is always perking and there's more than enough fun to go around.

Church Basement Ladies is rated Theatre G, and runs through October 17. Show times are Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 3 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $26.50 for adults and $17.50 for students. Group rates are available for 15 or more. Reservations are highly recommended as some performances are nearly sold out.

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

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. Voted #1 Theatre Group on the 2010 KCRG A-List, the company is celebrating 39 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest.

GALENA, Ill. - Autumn is always a popular time to visit scenic Galena, but add the chance to tour inside five private historic homes and the lure becomes irresistible.  Architecture, interior decorating, antiques and history are featured elements of the 43rd annual Tour of Historic Galena Homes showcasing five private homes plus the Galena History Museum. A signature event for the Galena-Jo Daviess County Historical Society, the tour runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, both Saturday and Sunday, September 25 & 26, 2010.

Built in 1870 by Otis Horton, a prominent local contractor, the Italianate Horton-Eustice House cost $2,500 to build. Two generations of the Eustice family, who made their fortune in the Galena Axle Grease Company, lived in this home almost 80 years, beginning in 1910. The Eustices replaced the narrow Victorian porch with a generous Craftsman-style porch, creating an airy outdoor living space for wicker furniture, art and plants. The stucco exterior was recently repainted in Victorian colors. After dreaming of living in historic Galena for 13 years, the current owners purchased the spacious two-story home in 1999, relocating from California. The interior is decorated in proper Victorian style with Lincrusta-Walton wallpapers and antiques. The spacious vintage kitchen features a 1923 monitor-top refrigerator, Hoosier cabinet, bin table, St. Charles cabinets and an antique stove. Recently restored sun porches face the river and provide a scenic view of Galena.

In 1845 Andrew Telford built what is now one of Galena's oldest homes, Telford House, facing the Galena River. It has not been open to the public for several decades. A graceful example of Greek Revival architecture, its exterior has changed little since 1845. Previous owners carefully restored and updated the interior and added a screened porch. The current owners are committed to its preservation, and have undertaken minor renovations. The interior houses British antiques appropriate to the original and current owners, including English porcelain, brass candlesticks, and 18th and 19th-century watercolors. Hand-embroidered crewel fabric draperies, imported from London, frame the tall windows. Near its Park Avenue façade, the original covered well has a storybook charm. Nearby stands the oldest surviving Galena street lamp.

Colonel Darius Hunkins arrived in Galena in 1838 to superintend the Illinois Central Railroad. In 1842 he engaged in mining and smelting, and in 1847 he built the Spring and Meeker Street bridges. He used part of his fortune to build an elegant Greek Revival mansion named the Hunkins House in 1846. An 1877 addition on the back connected the house and its close neighbor through a doorway (now bricked in) as the Hunkins' daughter and her husband were given the adjoining home as a wedding gift. The current owners purchased the home in 1998 and turned it into an opulent, high Victorian bed and breakfast named Annie Wiggins Guest House with seven guest rooms. Original wood trim, fireplaces, and plank flooring?some 24" wide?present an historic ambiance while new luxurious bathrooms and finest linens make this home casual and comfortable for guests. Cozy side porches with wicker furniture and comfy pillows are surrounded by lush gardens, fountains, and statuary.

The DeZoya House, a comfortable federal brick home, was built in 1838 by John P. DeZoya and his wife Anna Maria. Mr. DeZoya came to Galena from Switzerland, where he had been a lieutenant in Napoleon's army. The current owners purchased the house in 2008 and completely renovated the interior. With the original floors uncovered and restored, this cozy home is tastefully decorated with antiques, including Scandinavian and historic items. A two story addition, containing a single car garage and master bedroom suite, was added in 2009. The addition was one of the three finalists for the 2010 Galena Annual Historical Preservation Award. The house is set on a 1 1/4 acre park-like setting on the edge of town bordered by Davis Creek. Visitors to the DeZoya house will likely agree that it is a wonderful blend of old and new and understand why the owners affectionately refer to her as "Windows and Spindles."

Just five minutes from Galena, the Muchow Farmstead is a Craftsman-style house with scenic vistas that has been home to four generations. Built in 1931, this home replaced a previous one destroyed by fire just sixteen days after the first Muchow family moved in. Only the original limestone foundation, which turned a lovely pinkish hue when exposed to the fire, remains; it is now incorporated into the lower level family room. Like many rural farmsteads, there was no electricity until 1941; no plumbing until 1951. The current generation has lived in the home for 20 years. The family connection is palpable in photographs and heirlooms. Country antiques are creatively displayed with a casual flair, anchored by original honey-colored wood flooring. Cottage-style flower and vegetable gardens grace the spacious yard dotted with red outbuildings and a pen of geese. A dedicated canning kitchen preserves the seasonal abundance from this bucolic farmstead steeped in family tradition.

A free shuttle service will operate between all tour homes and ticket locations. Tour guides, many in period attire, will provide historic narrative at each home. Free admission to the Galena History Museum is included with the home tour ticket and will include a behind-the-scene guided tour of the 1858 mansion/museum's non-public areas. During the home tour, the museum will be hosting a new temporary exhibit entitled "Citizen Grant: 1860-61," showcasing the Ulysses S. Grant family's pre-Civil War year of residency in their new home town.

The 43rd annual Tour of Historic Galena Homes is sponsored by the Galena - Jo Daviess County Historical Society. Tickets are $14, $12 in advance (before September 15); children under 10 are free with an adult. Tickets and maps are available tour weekend at the Old Train Depot Visitor Information Center at 100 Bouthillier St., the DeSoto House Hotel at 230 S. Main St., the history museum at 211 S. Bench St. and any home on the tour. Advance tickets (non-refundable) are available at the Galena History Museum, or phone (815) 777-9129 to purchase by credit card.

For further event information, contact the Historical Society at (815) 777-9129 or visit www.galenahistorymuseum.org. Additional area offerings and visitor information may be found at the Galena/Jo Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.galena.org or by calling (877) Go-Galena. While in town, visit the CVB's Old Train Depot Visitor Information Center at 101 Bouthillier St. (corner of Park Avenue) for on-site assistance and countywide information.

Seniors, People with Disabilities Can Apply for LIHEAP Program Beginning Sept. 1

CHICAGO - August 26, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today announced that seniors and people with disabilities can begin applying for winter heating assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) beginning Sept. 1.

"Winter in Illinois can be treacherous, especially for vulnerable populations like seniors and people who have disabilities," said Governor Quinn. "Even though there are still hot days ahead, it's important to beginning planning for the cold weather now. Through the LIHEAP program, we're helping Illinois citizens get the assistance they need to stay safe, healthy and warm this winter."

LIHEAP is a state and federally funded energy assistance program for low income families, in which heating bill payments are made on behalf of households.

A single-person household can qualify with a monthly income of up to $1,354; a two-person household up to $1,821; and a family of four can earn up to $2,756. Benefits are paid directly to utilities on behalf of eligible households. The exception is households whose heating costs are included in their rent.

LIHEAP energy grant applications are processed through a network of 35 local administering agencies around the state. These agencies will begin accepting applications on a first-come, first?served basis from the elderly and people with disabilities on Sept. 1.

Households with children under the age of five can begin applying for LIHEAP assistance beginning Oct. 1. Individuals not eligible for priority enrollment can apply beginning Nov. 1.

LIHEAP is expected to make energy assistance payments on behalf of more than 300,000 households this winter with an anticipated $150 million in federal and non-federal funding.

For a complete listing of LIHEAP's local administering agencies and additional information about the program, go to LiheapIllinois.com, or call the toll-free hotline at 1?877?411-WARM.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River Project announces the auxiliary lock at Locks and Dam #14 in Pleasant Valley, Iowa will expand its hours of operation this late summer to accommodate pleasure boats negotiating the river. The expanded hours will be on Saturdays and Sundays only for the following dates and times: September 11-12, September 18-19, and September 25- 26 from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. There will be no expanded Friday hours of operation.

To learn more about the Mississippi River, you are encouraged to visit www.missriver.org. For further information on these expanded hours of lock operation, please call Locks and Dam #14 at (309)794-4357.