PORT BYRON, IL - State Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) invites residents to attend an upcoming meeting
of his Education, Economic Development, or Senior Citizen Advisory Committees. Advisory committee
meetings are open to all 71st District community members, and residents are encouraged to attend and share
their thoughts. Meetings are held in a roundtable format.

"These committees are an opportunity for me to hear firsthand from the community about the issues that affect
them the most," said Smiddy. "The insight and perspective I gain from these committee meetings will be
invaluable in helping me best serve this community in Springfield."

For more information or to RSVP, contact Smiddy's constituent services office at (309) 848-9098,
RepSmiddy@gmail.com, or toll-free at (855) 243-4988.

WHO: 71st District State Rep. Mike Smiddy

WHAT: Citizen Advisory Committee Meetings

WHEN: Tuesday, February 12th - 11:00 am: Senior Citizen Advisory Committee, Rock Falls Living Center, 2202 12th Ave.
1:00 pm: Economic Development Advisory Committee, Air Play Sports & Espresso, 115 E. 3rd St., Sterling, IL
4:30 pm: Education Advisory Committee, IEA Hall, 3307 E. Lincolnway, Suite 3, Sterling, IL

Thursday, February 14th - 10:00 am: Senior Citizen Advisory Committee, Coe Township Building, 9327 239th St., Port
Byron, IL

ROCK ISLAND, IL (02/06/2013)(readMedia)-- In continuation of its 2012-13 season, Balancing Acts, the Department of Theatre Arts at Augustana College premiered The Bock-Eye, January 25-27 and February 1-3.

Students who performed in the play include :

Calvin Vo, a senior from Moline, Ill., majoring in English and theatre arts, performed as A God.

Rowan Crow, a first year from Coal Valley, Ill., majoring in liberal studies, performed as the Mother and Bacchae.

The Bock-Eye is a bold and bawdy postmodern adaptation inspired by Euripides' Greek tragedy The Bacchae. Written by acclaimed American playwright Tommy Smith, The Bock Eye is an interesting blend of old and new-a retelling of an ancient story, but with a strong contemporary attitude. This incredible story of dark revenge is sure to thrill.

Returning guest director Saffron Henke compares the new adaptation of the play as follows: "The theme of The Bacchae might be 'Don't mess with Dionysus or you'll get it', but the theme of The Bock-Eye is more like 'That dark Dionysian thing inside you will come out, no matter what you do,' and even The God himself is not safe from it. Overall, Tommy [Smith] was very true to the original play, doing an almost line-by-line condensing of the material, with the exception of an added prologue, and different ending."

Dramaturg Gregory Donley '14, a theatre arts and classics major from Silvis, Ill., added "Dionysus is clearly a cruel and angry god in both works, but Tommy Smith adds a tongue-in-cheek humor to the character, without detracting from his power. Pentheus is also unchanged, and remains a generally foolish king who cannot resist his own morbid curiosity towards the practices of the cult. Though much of the tone is changed, the songs written and sung by the chorus serve as a very strong connection to the style of Greek theater."

For more information, contact Sam Schlouch, manager of arts events and communication at (309) 794-7833 or samschlouch@augustana.edu.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860, Augustana College is a selective four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences. Augustana is recognized for the innovative program Augie Choice, which provides each student up to $2,000 to pursue a high-impact learning experience such as study abroad, an internship or research with a professor. Alumni include 140 Academic All-Americans, a Nobel laureate, 12 college presidents and other distinguished leaders. The college enrolls 2,500 students and is located along one of the world's most important waterways, the Mississippi River, in a community that reflects the diversity of the United States.

Brucemore will offer a new series?Thursday Night Lineup: Brucemore Evening Specialty Tours?beginning on March 7 at 6:00 p.m. Every Thursday night will feature a different specialty tour focusing on topics for all interests, including arts and culture, Midwestern industry, gardening, landscape design, architecture, preservation, behind-the-scenes at Brucemore, and growing up in the early twentieth century. The schedule for the Thursday Night Lineup in March includes:

March 7, 6:00 p.m. - Standard Tour: Explore over a century of Cedar Rapids history through the lives of the three families who called Brucemore home. The families of Brucemore were business and community leaders in a century of evolution of the Midwest. The changes they made to their estate, the impact they had on their community, and the stories they left behind shape our understanding of modern Cedar Rapids, eastern Iowa, and the American Midwest.

March 14, 6:00 p.m. - Nooks & Crannies Tour - Visit every floor, peek into closed rooms, and satisfy curiosity through this all-access pass to the Mansion. Marvel at the Skinner pipe organ room, discover the architecture and oddities in the attic, and experience the sight and sound of a "rain storm" in the basement Tahitian Room. Examine the superior craftsmanship and learn about ongoing preservation work. The tour is not recommended for children under ten or individuals who have difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

March 21, 6:00 p.m. - Historic Landscape Tour: Cover 26 acres and over 125 years of history during this exploration of Brucemore's landscape. Each of the historic owners of this estate used the landscape differently. The changes they made to their gardens and grounds reflect their distinct personalities and the times in which they lived. The foundation of this tour is the design of noted landscape architect O. C. Simonds whose 1910 design still defines the way Brucemore is used and preserved today.

March 28, 6:00 p.m. - Hired Help Tour: Working on a Country Estate: Join a costumed interpreter during a tour exploring the lives of Brucemore's domestic servants in the early twentieth century. Consider what it was like to live and work on one of Iowa's grandest estates while discovering the servants' living quarters and the Servants' Village, an area only open to the public during this tour. Documents, photographs, and other materials from Brucemore's collections enrich visitors' understanding of the relationships between the employers and their staff.

Space is limited; advance ticket purchase recommended. Weekly tour topics for April and May, admission fees, and further details are available at www.brucemore.org or by calling (319) 362-7375.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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