The YWCA of McLean County and the Mennonite Church of Normal are sponsoring the 9th Annual Peace Essay Contest to provide an opportunity for students to consider how to address the issue of violence. McLean County High students in grades 9-12 are eligible to participate. Click here for more information. 083110

Travis Holt, MD, will join OSF St. Joseph Medical Center on August 30, 2010. Dr. Holt specializes in colorectal surgery and will be practicing at the Eastland Medical Plaza located at 1505 Eastland Drive, Suite 2300, Bloomington, in the office of Drs. Esch, Wieland and Naour. 083010

Lincoln College-Normal has selected Monica Fortune as Director of Admissions. She will supervise all student recruitment for the campus including community college transfers, Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree programs including the online Bachelor’s degree completion program, and enrollment at Midwest College of Cosmetology. 082610

The McLean County Museum of History is hosting two Library of Congress Veterans History Project Oral history Training Sessions on Tuesday, August 31. and are currently seeking people interested in learning how to do the veterans interviews and getting their stories placed in the local museum and National archives, as well as military veterans who would be willing to be interviewed. Click here for more information. 082410

On World Sight Day, Thursday, October 14, 2010, Bard Optical will make a donation to help provide eye exams and glasses to children in developing countries who can’t see well enough to learn at school, as well as adults who don’t see well enough to provide for their families. 082310

Phil Scherer has been named Administrative Director for the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery at Proctor Hospital. Scherer will manage operations for the IIAR at Proctor Hospital; Advocate BroMenn, Bloomington; an IIAR outpatient office in Springfield; Ingalls, Chicago; and the Abbey, Bettendorf, IA. 082010

Illinois State University is seeking businesses to participate in the Part Time Job Fair on September 8 at the Bone Student Center. Local business who are currently hiring or anticipating hiring part time help are invited to take advantage of this FREE opportunity to take applications, talk to students, and promote their products and services. Contact Michelle Cornell at 438-2237 for more information or to register. 081710

Lincoln College-Normal will be offering the SHRM Essentials of HR Management series beginning in October. The program is an introductory course offering a comprehensive overview of the human resource function. Classes will be on Wednesday nights for four consecutive weeks beginning on October 6th. Click here for more information. 081010

“Coupon Queen” Jill Cataldo will offer a FREE “Super-Couponing Workshop” from 10:30 am to 11:30 am at the “What Women Want NOW! Expo", produced by Parker Productions, Inc. The first-ever 'What Women Want NOW! Expo' is coming to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington, IL September 25, 2010 from 9:00am-4:00pm. 080910

The Salvation Army, in association with Target's "School Spree" program, has selected 25 area students to receive a back-to-school shopping spree. Each student will be awarded an $80 Target GiftCard to purchase much-needed back-to-school supplies at the Normal Target store. 080510

Holiday Inn celebrated its 58th birthday on August 1st. On August 1, 1952, that Kemmons Wilson opened the very first Holiday Inn hotel in Memphis -- a 120-room hotel offering single rooms for $4 and doubles for $6. 080110