The National Family Farm Coalition expressed its deep disappointment at the news of Congressional approval of the free trade agreements with Korea, Colombia, and Panama. Board president Ben Burkett stated, "The U.S. alone has lost 300,000 family farmers since NAFTA was implemented, and we don't expect the lowered tariffs for beef and oranges to offset those numbers in the next 15 years."

Wisconsin farmer John Kinsman, who met with President Obama, USDA Secretary Vilsack and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood at the White House Rural Forum in Podesta, Iowa, was particularly disheartened. "We outlined our concerns about the trade agreements to the President and Secretary Vilsack, but they chose to ignore them. This Administration has, unfortunately, caved to the notion that any trade is good trade. They abandoned their campaign pledge to revisit our nation's trade policies, despite the continued loss of family-scale producers and the rural communities behind them."

The Coalition was one of 57 farm, fishing, food, faith, and social justice organizations who signed a September 14 letter to members of Congress urging opposition to all three trade agreements, demanding 'fair trade, not free trade.'

NFFC board vice president Dena Hoff noted, "The Korean Peasants League calculated that South Korea will lose nearly half of its agricultural production and its farmers, so their rural communities will decline just as those in the U.S. have. Instead of supporting localized food production and food sovereignty, the plan is to export highly processed foods that simply add to the pockets of transnational corporations."

Additional concerns included Colombia's human rights abuses and Panama's tax-haven status. Added Hoff, "This is morally wrong."

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ROCK ISLAND, IL (10/13/2011)(readMedia)-- The Augustana Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Daniel Culver, will open its season with the inventive Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 and Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 104, called the "London Symphony." The concert will take place on Saturday, October 15, at 8 p.m. in Centennial Hall (3703 7th Ave). The Rachmaninoff concerto will feature Dr. Mary Neil, professor of music at Augustana, on piano.

The Augustana Symphony Orchestra is a full-size orchestra of approximately 75 members.

From your area this includes:

Anne VanSpeybroek, a Junior from Rock Island, Ill., majoring in Music Performance- Instrumental.

Ashley Finley, a Sophomore from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Music Education Instrumental.

Nick Kendell, a Sophomore from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Lindsey Sikorski, a First Year from East Moline, Ill., majoring in Undecided.

Adam Bengfort, a First Year from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Undecided.

Abigail Jones, a Sophomore from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Biology/Environmental Studies.

Peter Wiese, a Junior from Davenport, Iowa, majoring in Neuroscience/Mathematics.

Student-musician Tim Christiansen, a senior from Park Ridge, Ill., enjoys the orchestral part. "Rachmaninoff was infatuated with and mesmerized by orchestral textures-varying interactions between the orchestra and soloist. Sometimes they agree, disagree and dance with one another," said Christiansen.

Rachmaninoff's second piano concerto is one of his enduringly popular works and helped him gain fame as a concerto composer. This work was well received from its first performance and served as a sign that Rachmaninoff was no longer suffering from depression that had lasted several years.

Joseph Haydn composed 104 symphonies, the "London Symphony" being his last, and became known as the "Father of the Symphony" for his contribution to the development of this particular musical form.

Dr. Culver finds this Haydn symphony progressive for its time. "It is a transparent symphony-it requires great concentration and the full orchestra to be attentive to details," Culver said.

About Augustana: Founded in 1860 and situated on a 115-acre campus near the Mississippi River, Augustana College is a private, liberal arts institution affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The college enrolls 2,500 students from diverse geographic, social, ethnic and religious backgrounds and offers more than 70 majors and related areas of study. Augustana employs 287 faculty members and has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Augustana continues to do what it has always done: challenge and prepare students for lives of leadership and service in our complex, ever-changing world.

SPRINGFIELD - October 13, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn's Office and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) will host job fairs across the state to help put Veterans back to work. The fairs are part of the Governor Quinn's ongoing efforts to grow jobs and connect qualified job seekers with ready-to-hire employers.

 

Thursday, Oct. 27

Tellabs Center, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

1415 West Diehl Road, Naperville

Business contact: Cornel Thomas (630) 495-5781

 

John A. Logan College, Conference Center, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

700 Logan College Road, Carterville

Business contact: John Otey (618) 242-6121 ext. 130

 

Monday, Nov. 7.

American Legion Post 979, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

4501 S. Airport Road, Bartonville

Business contact: Sue Armstrong (309) 346-4171 Ext.237

 

Tuesday Nov. 8

Daley College, Main Auditorium, 9 a.m.-2p.m.

7500 S. Pulaski, Chicago

Business contact: Sam Miller (773) 947-3663

Wednesday, Nov. 9

National Guard Armory, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

1616 S. Main St., Bloomington

Business contact: Randy Hegland (217) 782-0161

 

Southwestern Illinois College, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

2500 Carlyle Ave., Belleville

Business contact: John Otey (618) 242-6121 ext. 130

 

Roland Lewis Community Building, 9 a.m.-Noon

800 S. 27^th St., Mt. Vernon

Business contact: John Otey (618) 242-6121 ext. 130

 

Thursday, Nov. 10

Orland Park Civic Center, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

14750 Ravinia Ave., Orland Park

Business contact: Reginald Whitley (708) 596-2345

 

Effingham National Guard Armory, 9 a.m.-Noon

1206 W. Temple Ave., Effingham

Business contact: John Otey (618) 242-6121 ext. 130

 

 

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ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS - Lora Adams and Steve Lasister star in Jeffrey Hatcher's adaptation of The Turn of the Screw, the classic ghost story by Henry James, running November 11 - 20.  The Turn of the Screw will be directed by Patti Flaherty.   The production is a limited run at The District Theatre in Rock Island and is being produced by Adams and Tristan Tapscott.

The play premiered at the Portland Stage Company in Portland, Maine in January 1996 and James' story has been described as "the quintessential ghost story." The story is told from the perspective of the Governess, which leaves the audience to wonder how accurate her story is. She claims she sees visions of the former governess and her lover and she is determined to save the children in her care from these ghostly visitors whom she perceives want to possess the children. It is interesting to note, that more than a century later there is a debate whether the ghosts are real or imagined and if the governess is mad.

"I have been wanting to produce this piece for a while but I was unable to secure a venue and one night while Tristan and I were working at Circa on 'Nana's Naughty Knickers' he told me that I could put it up at The District Theatre in November, and here we are," said Adams. "Lora and I have worked on productions together in the past and this was a perfect opportunity to add another production to the calendar at the District Theatre," said Tapscott.  Tapscott was instrumental in securing Steve Lasiter for the production since Mr. Lasiter will be performing in "Chicago" and "Rocky Horror" at the District Theatre.

"What makes this adaptation so interesting is that Lora plays the Governess while Steve Lasiter portrays all of the other characters," said director Flaherty.

Flaherty directed Adams in the one-woman play "Bad Dates" several years ago at New Ground Theatre. "After 'Bad Dates' I knew Patti would have the right temperament to take a piece like this and make it work," said Adams.

The Turn of the Screw with play November 11, 12, 15, 18 and 19 at 7:30 pm and November 13 and 20 at 2:30 pm. Admission is $20 general admission, $18 Seniors (60+) and $15 students. The District Theatre is located at 1611 2nd Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201. Reservations can be made by calling 309-235-1654.  More information can be found at www.districttheatre.com

What: The Turn of the Screw by Jeffrey Hatcher

Where: The District Theatre, 1611 - 2nd Avenue, Rock Island 16201

When: November 11, 12, 15, 18 and 19 at 7:30 pm and November 13 and 20 at 2:30 pm

Admission: $20 general admission, $18 Seniors (60+) and $15 students

Reservations: 309-235-1654 or www.districttheatre.com