Author Tim Pletkovich will present his new book “Nuns, Nazis, and Notre Dame: Stories of the Great Depression, World War II, and the Fighting Irish,” during an appearance at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13, at the Pekin Public Library, 301 S. 4th St., Pekin.

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Reception to celebrate veterans’ art exhibit

The creative side of area veterans are on display in the 2nd annual Veterans’ Art Show on the campus of Illinois Central College (ICC). Two- and three-dimensional works submitted by area veterans are on display in the ICC Performing Arts Center Gallery, located in the lobby of the facility on the East Peoria campus. Artists will be feted 6-8 p.m. Nov. 9 at a reception in the gallery. The public is invited to the free event.

The exhibit will be on display through Nov. 28. The Performing Arts Center Gallery is open 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9:30 a.m. to noon Friday. The gallery also is accessible when the Performing Arts Center is open for public events. Operation of galleries varies with ICC’s holidays and breaks. For more information or to confirm gallery hours, visit ArtsAtICC.com or call (309) 694-5113.

Another exhibit has also opened. Paintings by Mark David Lloyd are on display in ICC Art Gallery 336B, located in the Academic Building. Lloyd is a British contemporary artist who was born in Birmingham, England in 1971. He works predominantly in painting but also in other disciplines, and his works have been exhibited internationally. His work has been described as meta-modernist, post post-modernist and nascent. His work is on display through Nov. 28.

Free workshop to give advice about going into business

A free workshop for individuals who are interested in starting their own business in Illinois will be offered Nov. 14. Participants will learn about how to register a business name and obtain a tax identification number; which legal form to choose; how to write a business plans; what taxes to pay and more. The workshop will be held from 3-5 p.m. at the PeoriaNEXT Innovation Center, 801 W. Main St., Peoria. The event is being sponsored by the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Bradley University and co-sponsored by Morton Community Bank. For more information, call the small business development center at (309) 677-2992

PEKIN

Author, others tell stories about nuns, Nazis and more

Author Tim Pletkovich will present his new book “Nuns, Nazis, and Notre Dame: Stories of the Great Depression, World War II, and the Fighting Irish,” during an appearance at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13, at the Pekin Public Library, 301 S. 4^th St., Pekin. In the book, Pletkovich examines the early life of Gerald A. O’Reilly. Gerry, the father of six children and a long-time resident of Litchfield, was raised in Brooklyn, New York during the 1920s and ’30s when the Dodgers were king, stickball ruled the streets – and rumblings of another war in Europe shook the earth from across the Atlantic.

O’Reilly’s story goes from the alleys of trolley-car Brooklyn to the hallways of Notre Dame during legendary football Coach Frank Leahy’s national championship years, to the innermost thoughts of an elite 10th Mountain Division soldier thrust into the horror of battle in Italy’s harsh Apennine mountains. He is the last surviving member of his company.

Join William F. B. O’Reilly and Peter Vermilyea will moderate and facilitate this conversation with O’Reilly and provide additional insights on the stories of O’Reilly ‘s life. They will discuss O’Reilly’s stories about Teddy Roosevelt, Mussolini and Pope Pius XII and others.

Pletkovich completed his graduate program at Illinois State University where he developed an interest in researching primary source documents relating to social issues in the post-Civil War America. “Nuns, Nazis, and Notre Dame” is his second book.

Annual holiday extravaganza to be held at country club

The Pekin Hospital League will present Holiday Extravaganza at the Pekin Country Club, 310 Country Club Drive, Pekin, 2-7 p.m. Nov. 10 and 9 a.m.-2p.m. Nov. 11. A luncheon and style show will be held at 12 p.m. Nov. 10. Tickets available at the UnityPoint Health – Pekin Gift Shop, 600 S. 13th St., Pekin. Prizes include a variety of gifts from a 14-carat marquise shaped diamond cluster pendant to a red train ride with Santa.

–Tazewell County News Briefs–