The Amtrak Exhibit Train, showcasing the past, present and future of America's Railroad®, and powered by a specially painted locomotive thanking veterans, will be open to the public for free tours this weekend during Railroad Days in Galesburg. The new Amtrak Experience display will also be installed trainside for the weekend in Galesburg as part of the national Amtrak Train Days tour and their last scheduled Illinois visit this year.

The Exhibit Train and Amtrak Experience are open this Saturday, June 27, and this Sunday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, at the Amtrak Station in Galesburg, 225 South Seminary Street. Veterans are invited to be first to board.

Media is invited to a preview of the Exhibit Train at 4 p.m. this Friday, June 26, in advance of the 5 p.m. opening ceremony for Railroad Days at the adjacent rail museum.

In addition to the Exhibit Train and Amtrak Experience, the Chuggington® Kids Depot based on the popular children's animated television series on Disney Junior will be open, famed railroad artist Andy Fletcher will be showing his work and rail safety information will be distributed by Amtrak employees on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Exhibit Train features displays including workable signals, virtual sleeping accommodation tours and trivia, the locomotive control stand and horns In addition, it features photos, uniforms, vintage advertising and memorabilia from the beginning of Amtrak in 1971 to today's modern sleeping cars and high-speed rail service. The train includes three baggage cars renovated into exhibit cars and one bistro car, all with historic paint schemes.

The Amtrak Veterans' Locomotive honors those who have served in all branches of the military. Amtrak painted the locomotive red, white and blue with an "America's Railroad Salutes Our Veterans" logo and 50 stars. It is a symbol of an Amtrak commitment that 25 percent of new employees will consist of veterans.

Pints 5th annual tasting event at Niabi Zoo is a casual evening where you can explore the zoo, visit the animals and enjoy a sampling of a few of your favorite beverages. It's a roving cocktail party to support Niabi Zoo!

Food vendors will again be serving heavy appetizers at stations throughout the zoo, and we are pleased to announce Bridges Catering, The J Bar and Noodles and Company have committed to participating. Watch Facebook and the zoo's website as additional food vendors are added.

The date has moved to a Saturday and gates open 30 minutes earlier at 5:30 p.m. Only 800 tickets will be sold and the event has been a sell out in the past!

The Niabi Zoological Society will use funds raised at Pints for future improvements at the zoo. Thank you for supporting your community zoo.

Must be 21 to attend.

MOLINE, Ill. - Students from the cosmetology program at Midwest Technical Institute's Moline campus location will host the first ever runway show open to the public at noon June 24 at the MTI campus, 3620 Avenue of the Cities.

The show will exclusively feature students from the school's cosmetology program in an effort to highlight their work and the available services at the school's Student Salon. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. and there is no cost to attend.

In addition, the show will feature complimentary refreshments and all attendees will receive a coupon good for 50 percent off of hair, nail and skin services at the school's Student Salon.

The first annual public runway show will feature several themes with corresponding hairstyles. MTI Instructor of Cosmetology Amy Pettifer says the idea to make this year's runway show public was something of a no-brainer given how enthusiastic students have been about the private shows in previous years. "We are hoping the students will be able to graduate MTI with the self-confidence that if they can do a small runway show here at MTI, they will be able to do larger more intense shows here ever their careers may take them," said Pettifer, who's been with MTI since October of last year.

But Pettifer also feels events like the upcoming show are a crucial part of a student's training. MTI's cosmetology students engage in a rigorous curriculum of classroom learning, but they also work in the Moline Student Salon to gain the real-world experience necessary to enter the cosmetology field upon graduation."You wouldn't think it but there is so much book work that goes along with cosmetology," explained Pettifer, who's already optimistic about the prospect of upcoming runway shows. "This runway show will be our first one open to the public, but we hope to have many more with each one getting bigger and bigger each time," said Pettifer.

MTI's cosmetology program offers students an accelerated training program, small classes, financial aid opportunities and more. For more information about the runway show or program, contact Campus Director Mary Link at (309) 277-7900. For more information about the Moline Student Salon, call (309) 277-7940. Interview opportunities and other media requests should be directed to MTI's Director of Marketing Stacey Wierman at (217) 527-8324, ext. 1178.

About Midwest Technical Institute

Midwest Technical Institute offers hands-on training in a number of mechanical trade and allied health career fields to help students succeed as a member of today's rapidly-changing workforce. MTI, along with its sister school, Delta Technical College, operates seven campuses across the Midwest and Mississippi Delta regions. For more information, visit www.midwesttech.edu.

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