The Friends of Lincoln State Park are pleased to announce the titles for this summer's family movie night series. The first movie night will take place on Saturday, June 6 and will feature Madagascar 2: Escape 2 Africa. Our second installment will be on Saturday, July 18 and feature "Journey to the Center of the Earth" in 3-D! Finally, our summer movies will conclude on Saturday, August 8 with "Monsters vs. Aliens." Monsters vs. Aliens is scheduled for release in August. If it is not released by the August 8th date, then "Coraline" will be shown as an alternate feature.

Col. Sanders and Kentucky Fried Chicken have their 11 herbs and spices, but in Indiana, Col. William Jones has some herbs as well. The herb garden at the Col. William Jones home is growing nicely and includes various herbs including comfrey, horehound, garlic chive, and horse radish. If any of these sound good to you or would add that special touch to your favorite dish, you are in luck because the Col. Jones herb garden has herbs for sale for just $1. If you are interested, contact Interpretive Naturalist Michael Crews at Lincoln State Park by calling (812) 937-4710.

The annual Spencer County Community Band concert initially scheduled for May 31st is being rescheduled. The new date has not yet been announced, but the concert will take place later this summer in late August or September. Stay tuned for more information.

A veteran television actor with Broadway credentials has been chosen to portray President Lincoln in the upcoming production of LINCOLN.

Geoffrey Wade, of Los Angeles, California, is a familiar face to audiences of such television shows as Numb3rs, ER, Law & Order, Scrubs, Brothers & Sisters and Monk. "Our national search for the actor to play the title role in LINCOLN ended in Hollywood," says the production's Artistic Director, Scott Lank. "Geoff brings a passion to this role that will hold audiences spellbound all summer."

Wade's Broadway credits include "Translations" and "An American Daughter." Off-Broadway credits include "Twelve Dreams", "Golden Child" and the acclaimed "Private Jokes, Public Places." At Vermont's Weston Playhouse he performed leading roles in "Big River", "Music Man", and "St. Nicholas." Wade has been awarded the LA Weekly award, the Back Stage West award and an Ovation Nomination for his work in Los Angeles theatre. He is a member of the Antaeus Company and Actors Equity and resides on the West Coast with his wife, Amelia. He will arrive on the LINCOLN set this Saturday, May 16.

The world premiere of LINCOLN, by playwright Ken Jones, will premiere on June 12 and run nightly except Mondays through August 15. Indiana's Lincoln Amphitheatre offers a "Lincoln experience" that includes an Amish-style meal, children's pioneer games, artisan demonstrations, a Lincoln exhibit and free popcorn and soft drinks during intermission. Enhanced by multimedia projections, a moveable Broadway-quality set and period music, the production of LINCOLN will give theatre-goers an insight into the life of the man whose legacy continues to impact the future.

A new penny depicting Abraham Lincoln during his youth in Indiana will be introduced at 10 a.m. CDT (11 a.m. EDT), on Thursday, May 14 at the Lincoln Amphitheatre.

The new Indiana penny, designed by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Charles Vickers, depicts a young Lincoln educating himself while working as a rail splitter in Indiana. The scene offers a fitting memorial to Lincoln's youth in Indiana and to the former president's love of books and belief in the value of education.

The design, which is on the "tails side" of the penny, is among four that will be released this year as part of a national celebration of the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth and 100th anniversary of the Lincoln penny. Each of the new designs represents a period of Lincoln's life. The first design was released in February in Kentucky, where Lincoln was born.

During the May 14 ceremony hundreds of shiny, new one-cent coins will be distributed to children ages 18 and under in attendance. Rolls of never-circulated pennies featuring the new design will be exchanged after the ceremony (for dollar bills only). Visitors may purchase a minimum of two rolls or a maximum of six rolls, with the maximum roll limit subject to change.

For more information contact the Spencer County Visitors Bureau at (888) 444-9252.