ISU Farm & Twin Groves Wind Farm -- April 12, 2012

It was another full day of learning when OLLI traveled to McLean County to visit two types of farms.

In the morning, we saw students from Illinois State University’s Farm in Lexington at work and learned about the farm’s enterprises of corn, soybeans, alfalfa, swine, beef, and sheep. After lunch, we visited the Twin Groves Wind Farm in Ellsworth and got the inside scoop on the 240 Vesta turbines that produce enough energy to power nearly 118,000 Illinois homes annually.

Farmdale Reservoir -- April 9, 2012

OLLI spent a beautiful spring day exploring the Farmdale Reservoir in unincorporated Tazewell County near East Peoria, Illinois.

During this tour, we learned how the reservoir is an integral part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Farm Creek Flood Control Project. Todd Ernenputsch, a Corps park ranger, led our group and explained how the reservoir is designed to capture excess water in a 200+ acre lake, and showed us how the property is used for biking, hiking, and horseback riding.

ICC Cat Dealer Service Tech Training Facility -- March 28, 2012

In late March, OLLI visited the Illinois Central College Caterpillar Dealer Service Technician Training Facility in East Peoria.

We toured the facility on ICC’s East Peoria campus and learned how the program combines classroom and real-world experience to teach engine fundamentals, machine hydraulics, Caterpillar fuel systems, transmissions and torque converters, undercarriage/final drives, and more.

For more information about the program, please visit www.icc.edu/ait

Parsec Enterprises -- March 27, 2012

On this trip, OLLI had a behind-the-scenes look at Parsec Enterprises, the largest independent watch repair facility in the United States. During our tour and visit with Marc Young, owner, we learned how the company is helping to develop many of the test procedures that have become standard practice for today’s service industry.

For more information about Parsec Enterprises, visit www.parsecent.com

Chicago Gangster Tour -- March 21, 2012

In mid-March, nearly 40 OLLI members traveled to downtown Chicago to learn more about the Windy City's gangster past.

Upon our arrival downtown, “Big Julie,” our private step-on tour guide, boarded the bus and took us by old gangster sites and explained the exploits of Capone, Moran, and Dillinger. After the step-on tour, we headed to Tommy Gun’s Garage, Chicago’s only speakeasy dinner theatre, for lunch and an audience interactive show.