Hammond-Henry Welcomes Dr. John Dooley and New Pain Management Services at Geneseo Hospital

Geneseo IL - The Board of Directors and Administration are pleased to announce that Dr. John Dooley will offer pain management services at Hammond-Henry Hospital in Geneseo, beginning January 7. Dr. Dooley’s office will be in the Surgical/Pain Management Clinic, located on the second floor of the hospital. Those interested in scheduling an appointment now are encouraged to call 309.944.1595. No referrals are necessary.

A public open house will be held for Dr. Dooley on Tuesday, January 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Hospital Dining Room. All interested are welcome to attend.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Dooley as he brings more than 36 years of expertise in pain management,” said Colton Anderson, Director of Physician Recruitment and Clinic Services. “He is committed to improving our patient’s quality of life by helping to alleviate their pain. He provides a full spectrum of pain management interventional techniques and brings a world of knowledge with him to this position.”

John B. Dooley, MD, is licensed to practice in Iowa, Illinois, and Florida. Dr. Dooley treats common conditions such as joint pain; extremity pain; neck, thoracic, and lumbar spine pain; and all forms of chronic pain (not acute post-surgical pain.)

Primary services include upper and lower extremity joint injections; spinal epidural steroid injections; radio frequency nerve ablation of the spine; cancer or osteoporosis vertebral fracture treatments; and medication management for pain, including cancer and opioid use disorders.

Dr. Dooley received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, in 1984, and completed his post-graduate training fellowship in Critical Care Medicine from University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City, in 1988. He completed his residency in anesthesiology at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT in 1987. Dr. Dooley was also appointed by then-Governor Terry Branstad to serve as a State of Iowa Hospital Licensing Board Member in 2015.

In addition to serving Hammond-Henry Hospital’s Pain Management Clinic, open on Tuesdays, Dr. Dooley also works with Anesthesia and Pain Consultants, PC, Davenport, IA, and as Medical Director and Medical Review Officer for the Alcohol & Drug Dependency Services of Southeast Iowa. At Hammond-Henry, Dr. Dooley will hold clinic hours on Tuesday morning and complete procedures on Tuesday afternoons.

2024 Geneseo Christmas Walk Schedule

Saturday December 14, 2024

**HOLIDAY SHOPPING & DINING ALL DAY THROUGHOUT GENESEO!

SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON**

7:00a: Barricades up for Jingle Run

7:30a – 8:30a: Jingle Run 5K Registration & Packet Pick Up - Call to Victory Christian Youth Center - 218 S. State St.

8:00a: 2024 Geneseo Christmas Walk opens

8:30a-10:30a: Jingle Run 5K - Call to Victory Christian Youth Center - 218 S. State St.

10:00a - 11:00a: Pick up & deliver luminaries from Richmond Hill to City Park

10:00a – 2:00p: Geneseo Police Department Toy Drive – Geneseo City Hall Lobby – 119 S. Oakwood Ave.

10:00a – 2:00p: Children’s Activity- Shop With Santa! – Dollar Fresh Market – 2181 S. Oakwood Ave.

10:00a – 8:00p: Geneseo Christmas Walk Gingerbread House Competition – Geneseo Art League & Gallery – 125 N. State St. – DISPLAY & VOTING OPEN FROM 10AM-8PM 10:30a: Barricades down for Jingle Run

10:30a – 12:00p: Luminary Set Up at City Park

11:00a – 1:00p: Live Music – Musical Memories Holiday Showcase – Central Theater – 111 N. State St.

12:00p – 3:00p: Children’s Activity – Pony Rides by Tri-Co Equestrian Center, LLC - $10 per ride – Geneseo City Park, near intersection of State & North Streets

1:00p: Downtown barricades go up. State St. closed to vehicular traffic.

1:00p – 3:00p: Children’s Activity – "Draw A Snow Globe", presented by the GHS Art Club – Smith Studio & Gallery – 124 S. State St.

1:00p – 3:00p: Children’s Activity - Jingle Bell Obstacle Course - Geneseo Community Center - 541 E. North St.

2:00p – 3:30p: Live Music – The Nice List – Anthology for Books (performing above the Cellar) – 137 S. State St.

2:00p – 4:00p: Warming Station - Geneseo Girl Scouts Bake Sale - S. State St. by Smith Studio & Gallery

2:00p – 8:00p: Christmas Walk Market presented by the Geneseo Farmer’s Market – First Methodist Church South Campus Building – 224 N. State St.

2:00p – 8:00p: Warming Station – GHS Softball Boosters Bake Sale Fundraiser featuring a Hot Cocoa Bar, and a Holiday Activities for Kids – The VIC/Fellowship of Christian Athletes – 218 S. State St.

2:30p – 4:00p: Children’s Activity - Meet Santa Claus - Front Porch of Geneseo Historical Museum - 205 S. State St.

3:00p – 5:00p: Children’s Activity – Create A Christmas Star - Free for Kids - Geneseo Art League & Gallery - 125 N. State St.

3:00p – 6:00p: Children’s Activity – Create a Clear Ornament with Various "Stuffing" - RutabagA Art - 108 N. State St.

3:00p – 7:00p: Meal Site - Cookie Walk, Baked Potato Bar and Chili Supper – Concordia Lutheran Church - 316 S. Oakwood Ave.

3:30p: Live Music – Geneseo Middle School Swing Choir Performance – Concordia Lutheran Church - 316 S. Oakwood Ave.

3:30p – 4:00p: Live Music - Geneseo Elementary Schools Caroling - Intersection of State & First St. – Downtown Geneseo

3:30p – 5:00p: Lighted Parade Staging - Grace United Methodist Church - 318 N. Center St.

3:30p – 8:30p: Free Trolley Rides between Geneseo Moose Lodge & Downtown Geneseo

4:00p – 4:30p: Live Music – Ukelele Group and Hand Bell Choir Performances – Musical Memories – 112 N. State St.

4:00p – 8:00p: Warming Station: Geneseo Chamber Info Center & Christmas Card Stamping – Hanford Insurance Agency – 119 S. State St.

4:00p: Warming Station: Free Hot Chocolate - Geneseo Evangelical Free Church - Intersection of State & First St.

4:00p: Warming Station: Cookies – Grow Ministries - S. State St. by Smith Studio & Gallery

4:00p: Warming Station: Free Hot Apple Cider and Hot Cocoa - First Baptist Church - Intersection of State & Second St.

4:00p – 7:00p: Meal Site: Chili, Hot Dogs, Chips, Cookies, and a Beverage - First Methodist Church - 302 N. State St. – Monetary Donations Accepted.

4:00p - 7:30p: Meal Site: Chicken Dinner - Open to Public- $12 to $16 per person- Geneseo Moose Lodge #990 - 1025 S. State St.—TROLLEY STOP!

4:00p - 7:30p: Civil War Re-enactors—Corner of State & Second St. near Abraham Lincoln Bust – Downtown Geneseo

4:15p: Lighting of the Luminaries at City Park & State St.

4:30p – 5:00p: Live Music – Vocal Student Performances – Musical Memories – 112 N. State St.

4:30p – 8:00p: Holly Jolly Christmas Party at Central Bank Pavilion with a Live DJ from Twisted Mic’s Music Entertainment and Ice Sculptures courtesy of the Geneseo Foundation – 200 Block of N. State St.

5:00p: Warming Station: American Family Insurance - Michele Weber-Enck Agency - 229 S. State St.

5:00p – 8:00p: 2024 Geneseo Christmas Walk Living Windows – Downtown Geneseo

5:00p – 8:00p: 2024 Geneseo Victorian Luminary Display – Geneseo City Park

5:00p: 2024 Geneseo Christmas Walk Lighted Parade steps off towards Downtown Geneseo

5:45p: City of Geneseo Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony - Intersection of State & Second Streets

5:45p – 8:00p: Children’s Activity - Meet Santa Claus – Sam’s LaRoma Pizza – 103 E. Exchange St.

6:00p: Live Music - GHS Madrigal Singers, Brass Players, and Recorder Players – Central Theater – 111 N. State St.

6:00p: Live Music - Geneseo Community Choir performs on Front Porch of Geneseo Historical Museum (following lighting of City Christmas Tree) - 205 S. State St.

6:00p – 7:45p: Live Music – Geneseo Panic! (youth rock band playing Xmas music) and Individual Solos – Musical Memories – 112 N. State St.

6:00p – 8:00p: Live Music – Cody Haars and Todd Nyquist – Geneseo Art League & Gallery – 125 N. State St.

6:00p – 8:00p: Live Music – Double Treble Handbell Duo – Reap & Sow Nutrition – 128 S. State St.

6:00p – 8:00 p: Live Music – Travis Hosette, Professional Frank Sinatra Singer – Village Florist & Antiques – 108 S. State St.

6:00p – 8:00p: Live Music - Geneseo Kitchen Band – Smith Studio & Gallery – 124 S. State St.

8:00p: 2024 Geneseo Christmas Walk closes

8:00p: Featured Movie – Central Theater – 111 N. State St.

8:00p – 11:00p: Children’s Activity - Moonlight Bowling – Arcadia Family Fun Center - 925 S. Oakwood Ave.

9:00p: Barricades come down, State St. reopens

Sunday December 15, 2024

11:00a: Luminary tear down at City Park

Gehling Appointed to FNB Board

Kim Gehling has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Prophetstown Banking Co. and Farmers National Bank. Prophetstown Banking Co. is the holding company for Farmers National Bank, a community bank with over $850 million in assets and four locations in Geneseo, Prophetstown, Morrison, and Mount Carroll. Gehling joins current board members Carey Bauer, William Dale, Tricia Mickley, Garett Plumley, Brad Toone, Donald Vogel, and Jeffrey Woodworth.

President & CEO Garett Plumley(Left) with new board member Kim Gehling. 

A native of Geneseo, Gehling graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She later received her Master of Science, also from ISU. Kim is President and Owner of Websites to Impress, Inc. in Geneseo. Her community activities have included the Hammond-Henry Hospital Board, International Exchange Student Program, and First Methodist Church Board of Trustees. Kim and her family reside in rural Geneseo where they farm and operate Pink Prairie Gardens.

Hammond-Henry’s Wyatt Brieser Named Among State Hospital Network’s Top ‘4 Under 40’ Leaders

The Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) announced its “4 Under 40” Hospital Leadership winners, including Wyatt Brieser, VP of Operations, Hammond-Henry Hospital, Geneseo, during the organization’s Annual Conference held November 14 at the I-Hotel and Conference Center, Champaign.

He is joined in this honor by Jessica Delost, Chief Compliance and Legal Officer, Gibson Area Hospital, Gibson City; Erin Frank, Director of Marketing & Communications, Horizon Health, Paris; and Kristy Wisslead, APRN-FN, Memorial Hospital, Carthage.

Wyatt started his career at Hammond-Henry Hospital in 2009 as a Rehab Tech. Since that time, he has received several promotions, including the titles of Physical Therapist, LTC Manager, Director of Ancillary Services, and currently, Vice President of Operations.

“As a leader and as a human being, Wyatt is someone to emulate. He ensures that every employee has a voice, from every department, in all walks of life. Everyone is equally important to him,” said Stephanie DeMay, Hammond-Henry Hospital Marketing Manager. “Admiration for Wyatt, his work ethic, and his expertise extend past the walls of the hospital, too. From our Hammond-Henry Hospital and Clinics community, his church community, multiple service organizations, and countless preschool through college-aged students, everyone appreciates Wyatt not only for his kindness and his humility, but his extraordinary ability to build others up in the process.”

Most recently, Wyatt has been instrumental in helping to bring new physicians and new service lines to Hammond-Henry’s hospital and clinics including neurology, chiropractic care, and pain management while also ensuring significant upgrades to our MRI, fluoroscopy machine, and 3-D mammography. He also continues to cover athletic training at offsite sporting events and to build up the Geneseo and Annawan Middle and High School Boys and Girls Summit sports programs and the community-wide Free2Play Youth Fun Day. Wyatt is also an active member of the Geneseo Kiwanis Club, a member of St. Anthony's Church, is an Inspiring Continuing Care Community Partner, and serves as the Geneseo Community Center's Seminars Coordinator.

“It would be impossible to name all the successful projects Wyatt has accomplished since first becoming hired at Hammond-Henry. However, one project stands at the forefront for him: managing the Hammond-Henry Hospital Long-Term Care Living Center through COVID including staffing, regulation changes, testing, and fear of losing a patient to COVID,” said DeMay. “Those years forced Wyatt to get comfortable outside his comfort zone. It forced him to strengthen his skills in creative thinking, problem-solving, resiliency, accountability, hard work, and leadership and, as always, he met and exceeded the goal. Wyatt can also be proud of his success directing and managing the Long-Term Care Living Center in general as this facility has been named a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 5-Star facility for 12 years in a row.”

Wyatt, as Director of Ancillary Services at the time, also supervised laboratory services during COVID where Hammond-Henry Hospital was recording and processing about 45,000 tests per month. Following COVID, Wyatt spearheaded and saw to fruition the $1 million laboratory remodel in 2023 which features an open floor plan for increased efficiency, a staff reception area and waiting room, private blood draw stations, office and storage spaces, and two handicapped accessible bathrooms plus the moving of the main chemistry analyzer and its back-up, a full microbiology lab, molecular diagnostics, chemistry, and all the hematology equipment. The new laboratory was completed in 2023, and its team of 20 continues to handle at least 500,000 lab tests per year.

ABOUT ICAHN

ICAHN’s “4 Under 40” Hospital Leadership Award is open to new and emerging leaders aged 40 and under employed by an ICAHN member hospital or as a member of this hospital’s board for at least two years with a strong record of innovation and outstanding performance.

Located in Princeton, IL, ICAHN is a network of 59 small, rural hospitals dedicated to strengthening the operations of its member hospitals through collaboration. The organization is composed of Illinois hospitals who have earned critical access hospital designation by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and is recognized nationally for its work with rural healthcare, administering several state, federal, and private healthcare programs.

Geneseo Chamber Announces Christmas Open House Featuring the First Lighting

Zack Sullivan, Executive Director
Geneseo Chamber of Commerce
309-944-2686

Christmas Begins Here.

Geneseo’s annual Christmas Open House is the official kickoff to the holiday season, offering customers a fun and unique holiday shopping experience. This year’s Christmas Open House will be Friday November 15, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm in Downtown
Geneseo.

 
 

The City of Geneseo will unveil and turn on its Downtown holiday decorations for the first time this holiday season. Stores will be open late for Candlelight Shopping, and free horse and wagon rides through Downtown Geneseo will be offered, sponsored by Springfield Armory.
The Shop Geneseo! Promotion will also kick off, in which shoppers supporting Geneseo businesses get cards stamped for their purchases, and for every $100spent, they enter into a drawing to win prizes, gift certificates, and more. Supporting local small businesses in Geneseo this holiday season is a win-win!

But, in 2024, we are going big for our holiday kickoff. Earlier this year, an independent arborist advised that the City Christmas Tree, which had served as the centerpiece of Geneseo’s holiday celebrations for over 30 years, is at extreme risk of failure and should be taken down for safety purposes.
The City made the difficult decision to remove the tree this past summer. In June, Geneseo celebrated the tree one final time with an epic summertime Christmas celebration called “The Last Lighting”.
The Last Lighting attracted over 800 people to Downtown Geneseo to see the tree light up one more time. And what an evening it was! Since then, the tree has been removed and a new platform is being built to accommodate the new tree and a better layout for parade announcing during the Geneseo Christmas Walk event, which will be on Saturday December 14, 2024.

Now, let the anticipation begin as Geneseo counts down to “The First Lighting” of the new City Christmas Tree. The new tree is a beautiful artificial tree, and it will become the focal point of Geneseo’s holiday traditions moving forward. It is a stunning tree! The First Lighting will take place at 6:00 pm during the Christmas Open House event, with a countdown led by Santa and Mrs. Claus. We will be closing off the street at the tree and people are invited to take photos with the new tree, enjoy Christmas Music, holiday treats and luminaires!
Of course, Santa will be on hand to help us light the tree for the first time!

For more information, contact the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce at 309-944-2686,

email geneseo@geneseo.org, or visit www.geneseo.org.

Hammond-Henry Welcomes Dr. Owen McConnell and New Chiropractic Services at Geneseo Hospital

GENESEO, IL – The Board of Directors and Administration are pleased to announce that Owen McConnell, DC, ATC, LAT, will start his chiropractic practice at Hammond-Henry Hospital in Geneseo in December. Dr. McConnell’s office will be in the Geneseo Clinic, located on the first floor of the hospital. Those interested in scheduling appointments may do so by calling the Geneseo Medical Group at 309.944.1275. He will also accept walk-ins.

“We are exceptionally proud to have Dr. Owen McConnell expand his role on our team (current certified Athletic Trainer on our sports medicine team). With the addition of the chiropractic service line, we are definitely pioneering some new territory (offering chiropractic care within the hospital setting),” said Wyatt Brieser, Hammond-Henry Hospital VP of Operations. “Chiropractic services are a vital part of the continuum of care for our patients, and there is great benefit to integrating their services with primary care and ancillary services (rehab, imaging, orthopedics).”

Dr. Owen McConnell

“As an administrative team, we’ve spent a great deal of time the past few months listening to what residents in the communities we serve need,” Brieser continued. “Chiropractic care was one of the specialties identified, so we were thrilled when Dr. McConnell signed on with us.” Dr. McConnell will be joined in April by Ally David, DC, who recently graduated as valedictorian of her class at Palmer Chiropractic College.

Dr. McConnell hails from Erie where he resides with his wife and three children. He is a graduate of Erie High School, Central College, and Palmer College of Chiropractic. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training and has a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree. As a certified Athletic Trainer, Dr. McConnell has a sports injury background and knowledge of diagnosis, initial treatment, and rehab exercises to enhance his patients’ recovery.

“I chose chiropractic care because I like the hands-on approach to helping people feel better,” said Dr. McConnell, who uses a variety of techniques but also suggests his patients get muscle work to aid in their healing. “I am committed to providing each patient with exceptional care, offering personalized healthcare solutions tailored to each patients’ unique needs.”

A public open house will be held in Dr. McConnell’s honor on Thursday, November 21 from 3 to 5 pm in the first floor Dining Room at Hammond-Henry Hospital, 600 N. College Avenue, Geneseo. All interested are welcome and encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served, and there will be small giveaways to all attendees.

Geneseo Chamber of Commerce Announces 2024 State Street Market

Zack Sullivan, Executive Director
Geneseo Chamber of Commerce
309-944-2686

Geneseo, IL - The Geneseo Chamber of Commerce would like to invite you into Geneseo on Saturday October 5th for the 2024 State Street Market. A day of shopping, food, live music, and more! A curated list of over 60 vendors and mobile boutiques will be set up along historic State Street in Downtown Geneseo from 10am-5pm. Shop vintage, handmade, and handpicked goods from all over the Midwest region.

Make a day of it! Enjoy excellent shopping and dining city-wide all day long. This year you can expect to see many of past market vendors returning alongside some new names setting up for their very first market. This is a great day to make Geneseo, Illinois a shopping and dining destination. Geneseo is conveniently located in the heart of the Midwest on Interstate 80 and is easily accessible by Interstate 80; Interstate 280; and Interstate 74.

Live music and Fun! Right at the center of State Street Market you will find LIVE MUSIC happening the entire market time. Angela Meyer will perform at State Street Market from 10am-1:30pm and Bobby Ray Bunch will take the hayrack stage from 1:30pm-5pm. Food trucks will be setup for market guests and picnic tables and blankets will be spread out for a safe and fun outdoor dining experience. Geneseo’s brick and mortar stores and restaurants will also be open and ready to greet you.

For more information about the 2024 event, follow State Street Market Geneseo on Facebook and Instagram: @statestreetmarketgeneseo #statestreetmarketgeneseo

Questions? For more information, call the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce at 309-944-2686 or via email at geneseo@geneseo.org.

Hammond-Henry Hospital Welcomes Dr. James Schrier As New General Surgeon

The Board of Directors of Hammond-Henry Hospital and its Administration announce the addition of Dr. James Schrier, FACS, General Surgeon, to its hospital staff, beginning November 1.  

“We believe it is of the utmost importance that we can accommodate all the general surgical needs of our community, and for that reason, we’ve been seeking an additional highly skilled and respected board-certified general surgeon,” said Colton Anderson, Director of Clinics and Provider Recruitment. “We are confident that Dr. Schrier will fulfill this need.”

A Board-certified surgeon, Dr. Schrier performs the following general surgeries: appendectomies, bowel obstructions/resections, breast cancer care, colonoscopies, endoscopies, gall bladder removal, hemorrhoid surgeries, laparoscopic surgeries, port placements, skin cancer removal, and soft tissue mass removal. He will begin serving patients at Hammond-Henry Hospital on November 1.

Dr. Schrier attended the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts, obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree, and continued his education at the University of Iowa College of Medicine for his Doctorate. He has completed residencies at the University of Iowa in general surgery and family practice. His surgical experience and interests include, but are not limited to, core general surgery, oncology, laparoscopic and advanced laparoscopic surgery, and robotic surgery with the DaVinci robot.

“Dr. Schrier is an outstanding surgeon, and we are grateful to have someone with his expertise and commitment to excellence in healthcare serving on our surgical staff,” said Anderson. Dr. Schrier will join Dr. Matthew Heberer as part of the Hammond-Henry Hospital Surgical Clinic team. Those interested in more information about obtaining a referral are asked to call 309.944.1595.

Hammond-Henry Hospital Welcomes Four New APRNs for Clinic Walk-In Service

The Board of Directors of Hammond-Henry Hospital and its Administration welcome four new Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). These highly qualified nurse practitioners, Emily Bess, Jill Clong, Heather Lowry, and Cassandra Olson will serve patients utilizing walk-in services in Geneseo, Annawan, and Colona, and as needed in the Kewanee and Port Byron clinic offices.

“We constantly listen to the needs of our patients, and because it is imperative for us to ensure everyone is expediently seen when arriving at any of our clinics for walk-in services, we have hired four new APRNs,” said Colton Anderson, Director of Clinics and Provider Recruitment. “These Nurse Practitioners will not be accepting appointments for family practice, but they will offer a much deeper bench of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses for those coming in for walk-in services here at our clinics.”

Anderson added that same-day service is standard at Hammond-Henry’s clinics, but with the addition of these new and/or returning APRNs, the wait time will be greatly reduced along with the ability to keep our walk-in clinic open.

Submitted Image

“We always strive to attain five-star service in everything we do, but with the addition of these APRNs, additional family practice physicians, neurology and sleep medicine services, and soon, more specialists, it is our goal to be your community hospital of choice,” said Anderson. “This is just another step in achieving that goal.”

Regarding walk-in services only, Cassie Olson and Jill Clong will serve the Annawan Clinic, while Kathy Versluis, Dawn Bopes, and Janelle Pillard will serve the Colona Clinic. Treena Adams will serve both the Annawan and Colona Clinics as needed. Emily Bess, Heather Lowry, and Staci Circello will serve the Geneseo Clinic, and Angela Schmieder and Katie Sowder serve the Port Byron Clinic.

Hammond-Henry Hospital has clinics at the following locations:

Annawan Clinic, 203 W. Front Street - Open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 5:30 pm and on Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm (open on Labor Day from 8 am to 2 pm).

Colona Clinic, 1604 Cleveland Road - Open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 7 pm and on Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm (open on Labor Day from 8 am to 2 pm).

Kewanee Clinic, 1258 W. South Street - Open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 4:00 pm for walk-ins, and from 8 am to 4 pm for family practice appointments (closed on Labor Day).

Geneseo Clinic, 600 N. College Avenue - Open Monday through Friday from 7 am to 5:30 pm for walk-ins, and from 8 am to 5 pm for family practice appointments (closed on Labor Day).

Port Byron Clinic, 105 N. Main Street - Open Monday through Thursday from 8 am to 4:30 pm and on Friday from 8 am to noon for walk-ins and family practice appointments (closed on Labor Day).

Geneseo Chamber of Commerce Announces 2024 Cruise the Canal Tours

Zack Sullivan, Executive Director
Geneseo Chamber of Commerce
309-944-2686

The Geneseo Chamber of Commerce announces its popular Cruise the Canal golf cart tours of the Hennepin Canal for 2024 on Friday September 6 and Friday October 18. The Cruise the Canal tours allow tourists in our area to enjoy one of Illinois’ State Parks and a second chance to experience the tours surrounded by fall foliage.

Submitted Photo

"The popularity of the Hennepin Canal State Parkway north of Geneseo has increased over the past few years, with over 1.9 million people visiting the 104.5 mile long park in 2023.” says Zack Sullivan, Executive Director of the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce. "People organize group hikes, kayaking and canoeing are popular, and of course, the fishing is great! Combined with the majestic sights and sounds of nature at the canal, this is a unique opportunity to discover, or rediscover, one of our area’s best kept secrets.”

The popular golf cart tours offer the opportunity for guests to learn the story of the Hennepin canal - including the construction, history, and ecosystem of the canal. Tours are offered three times per day, with tour times at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, and 1:00 pm. All tours begin at Lock #24 and travel west to Lock #26 before turning back towards the starting point. The cost per person to participate is $25/person. The Geneseo Chamber also works with assisted living facilities to provide rides for seniors with no cost for the caregiver to drive.

A portion of the proceeds from the Geneseo Cruise the Canal tours goes to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for preservation, upkeep, and maintenance of the Hennepin Canal State Parkway. Information on how to get involved with canal preservation efforts is available at the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of the Hennepin Canal.

The canal tours are expected to sell out, so make your reservation ASAP! For more information and to reserve a spot on one of the tours, call the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce at 309-944-2686 or email geneseo@geneseo.org.

Geneseo Chamber Celebrates Excellence at 2024 Awards Banquet

Zack Sullivan, Executive Director
Geneseo Chamber of Commerce
309-944-2686

August 2, 2024 - The Geneseo Chamber of Commerce proudly announced the winners of the 2024 Chamber Awards during the 2024 Geneseo Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner & Awards Banquet. Over 140 local business and community leaders enjoyed a spectacular evening held at Lavender Crest Winery on Thursday August 1, 2024. This annual event is a highlight for the Geneseo business community, offering a chance to recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals and businesses that enrich the Geneseo area.

The evening was a success, marked by heartfelt recognitions, professional networking, and a shared sense of community spirit. The awards presented were:

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Chris Thompson of Central Bank Illinois

• Business of the Year: Geneseo Communications

• Business Person of the Year: Travis Mackey of Geneseo School District 228, with Geneseo School Superintendent Dr. Adam Brumbaugh accepting the award on Mackey’s behalf.

• Accessible Competitive Employment Stakeholder (A.C.E.S.) Award: State Street Café, with Jenn Johnson of Inspire Continuing Care accepting the award on their behalf.

• Beautification Award: The Red Barn.

• Rising Star Award: Barb Jacobson of UpLoved

• Volunteer of the Year: Sheilah Wigant-McGee of Sheilah Wigant-McGee Originals

In addition, Geneseo Chamber Past President Ben Young of Wisdom Financial Services, L.L.C. was recognized for his outstanding service and leadership with the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The accolade was presented by Geneseo Chamber Board President Katie Kutsunis of GWK Enterprises.

“We are immensely proud to honor this year’s award recipients,” said Zack Sullivan, Executive Director of the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce. “Their remarkable achievements and commitment have made a significant impact on the Geneseo community. It was truly a joy to celebrate their successes together.”

For more information about the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce and future events, please visit www.geneseo.org or call at 309-944-2686.

Sheilah Wigant-McGee is Volunteer of the Year

Ben Young(left) and Katie Kutsunis(right). Photo Submitted.

Barb Jacobson(left) was awarded the Rising Star Award

Ashley Marshall(right) received the Beautification Award

Jenn Johnson accepts the A.C.E.S. award on behalf of State Street Market

Dr. Adam Brumbaugh announces Travis Mackey as the Businessman of the Year

Geneseo Communications receive Business of the Year

Chris Thompson receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from Chris DuBios of Central Bank.

Geneseo Welcomes Butch Patrick aka Eddie Munster to Geneseo For 'Spook the Loop II' Event

Zack Sullivan, Executive Director
Geneseo Chamber of Commerce
309-944-2686

On Saturday, August 10, 2024, Geneseo, Illinois will welcome back one of its most famous residents for a special event. Following the success of last year’s “Spook the Loop” event, Butch Patrick, also known as Eddie Munster from the classic Munsters TV sitcom, will return to Geneseo to run it all back for Spook the Loop II! Spook the Loop will be a Halloween themed Geneseo Shoot the Loop event, celebrating Butch’s iconic role as Eddie Munster amongst a community event atmosphere – featuring a classic car cruise and live music. Last year’s event attracted over 400 cars and 5,000 people to Geneseo for Spook the Loop.

Butch Patrick is a former resident of Geneseo, Illinois. Butch lived in Geneseo as a child, prior to heading to Hollywood to begin his acting career. In Geneseo, Butch lived above a Downtown storefront and attended school at St. Malachy Elementary School in Geneseo. After arriving in Hollywood, Butch went on to star in a number of classic TV sitcoms, including The Munsters, Lidsville, Bonanza, My Favorite Martian, Gunsmoke, Mister Ed, Rawhide, The Real McCoys, General Hospital, I Dream of Jeannie, Gunsmoke, The Monkees, Daniel Boone, and My Three Sons.

Butch Patrick will host a meet & greet for fans in Downtown Geneseo on Saturday August 10, 2024 from 1:30pm to 3:00 pm in the former Four Seasons Outlet Building, located at 120 S. State St. Butch’s famous Dragula car and his Munster Chopper motorcycle will be on hand for guests to snap photos and get a close up look at these amazing vehicles.

The Spook The Loop event will be a fun variation of the Geneseo Shoot the Loop events – which occur monthly in the summertime months in Geneseo. The Geneseo Shoot the Loop events begin in 2020 as a way for people to support small businesses who were affected by the pandemic-related shut downs. The new tradition has continued post-pandemic and is more popular than ever! Over 300 classic cars are expected in Geneseo for the Spook the Loop event at the City Park, which will run from 4p-7p. Public parking will be extremely limited in this area of the City Park during the event.

Butch Patrick on his chopper at the 2023 Spook the Loop

The event will also feature an ice cream social and a Geneseo Big Band performance from 3p-4p, benefitting local non-profits. A Loop Cruise will take place beginning at 5pm, and Butch Patrick will once again serve as the Grand Marshal of the car parade that will make its way through Downtown Geneseo in a circular fashion. The event will have a parade-like atmosphere, and guests are invited to join and say hi to Butch as he cruises by on his Munster Chopper!

Capping the evening will be a performance by Lynn Allen at the Central Bank Pavilion, sponsored by Hanford Insurance, from 8p-11p in Downtown Geneseo. Butch and his show cars will be on hand from 7p-9p at the Central Bank Pavilion area.

For more information, please contact the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce at 309-944-2686, or visit our website at www.geneseo.org.

Kelly Wolf Appointed New Henry County Tourism Director

July 12(Cambridge, IL) - The Henry County Tourism Bureau is pleased to announce the appointment of Kelly Wolf as the new Tourism Director. Kelly brings a wealth of experience in tourism and hospitality to the team. We are excited to have her on board and look forward to her contributions in promoting Henry County as a tourist destination.

Kelly, originally from Geneseo, has more than 15 years’ experience, primarily gained in Houston, where she contributed to various aspects of the city's tourism industry. Along with her extensive background, Kelly holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Purdue University. In her most recent role as the RISE (Research in Illinois to Spur Economic Recovery) Grant coordinator she developed the 2024 Strategic Tourism Plan for Henry County.

After the Henry County Tourism Bureau became inactive in 2021, the county worked with stakeholders and local government officials to form a new Henry County Tourism Board. The goal was to reintroduce a new Henry County Tourism Bureau that provides a stronger engagement of all tourism related stakeholders in the county. The plan not only aims to take advantage of the existing resources and attractions, but to also explore new opportunities for growth and to attract a larger number of visitors.

"We're excited to have Kelly on board," said Tourism Bureau Chair Gary Bradley, adding "she did a tremendous job of working with the bureau to put together the tourism plan, and we think she'll do an even better job of implementing that plan over the next few years, helping each community and Henry County in our efforts to maximize the economic impact the tourism sector can have on our local communities. "

Kelly will collaborate closely with partners from the Henry County Tourism Bureau, the Henry County Economic Development Director, and neighboring tourism communities.

"It's a great privilege to be able to contribute to Henry County's tourism efforts. Having grown up here, I'm excited to bring back the knowledge and experience I've gained to support the community's growth."

Kelly said, "I'm looking forward to collaborating with colleagues and partners across the county and surrounding areas to further enhance Henry County's tourism landscape."

The Tourism Bureau is excited to see where Kelly will lead the organization and looks forward to the positive impact she will have on our region.

Kelly Wolf. Photo Submitted

Village Home Stores Welcomes Former Owner of Appliances Unlimited Kewanee to Sales Team

As Appliances Unlimited in Kewanee Illinois closes doors, former owner Amanda Forrest joins the appliance sales team at another small business just a few miles away.

July 2024(Geneseo, IL) - In the Spring of 2024 it was announced that Appliances Unlimited in Kewanee, Illinois would be closing their doors. A member of the team at Village Home Stores reached out to the owner Amanda Forrest to see if she would have interest in working at an appliance dealer just a few miles down the road. Forrest, who purchased the Kewanee small business 19 years ago, met with the owners of Village Home Stores to discuss this transition. It was agreed that another small business would be a great fit for her and her customer base.

- Amanda can still source quality kitchen and laundry appliances for her Kewanee-area customers at a competitive price while offering a great customer experience.

- She will be able to help customers in-person in an award-winning showroom.

- Amanda will also be available for customers who prefer to shop from home online with added assistance via phone or the Village Home Stores website’s text/webchat feature.

- She will still be able to operate in a sales environment that cares for the purchaser long after the purchase with access to staff service technicians for warranty work and repairs.

“After spending some time at their business, I feel that they are the best option to replace the sales and service that we have offered. They have a beautiful showroom and are dedicated to the industry that I come from with their pricing standpoint, customer service dedication, and all around positive experience.” -Amanda Forrest

Amanda has decades of experience in the sales and service of home appliances. She will begin immersive product training for key Village brands: Maytag, Whirlpool, and KitchenAid mid-July as she visits the World of Whirlpool facilities in Chicago, Illinois and then begin on the Village Home Stores sales floor in Geneseo on August 1st.

Village Home Stores is a second generation small business that has served the region since 1984. They offer appliances, appliance service, cabinetry, countertops, lighting, window treatments, flooring, and wall surfaces as well as complete kitchen and bath remodels. You can see their portfolio of work online at houzz.com/pro/villagehomestores and watch their weekly TV show locally every Sunday morning at 10:30am on WQAD News Channel 8 or stream anytime at youtube.com/villagehomestores Village is open Mon-Fri 9a-5p and Saturdays from 9a-noon. Open online anytime at villagehomestores.com

Amanda Forrest. Photo Submitted

Rotary Club of Geneseo, Illinois Demonstrates Commitment to Community Service with Impactful Year

Zack Sullivan, President
Rotary Club of Geneseo, Illinois
JUly 2, 2024

Geneseo, Illinois – The Rotary Club of Geneseo, Illinois reaffirms its dedication to the ethos of "Service Above Self" as it reflects on a year of significant achievements and contributions to the community. Rooted in the principles of the Four-Way Test—Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? - the club has made substantial strides in enhancing the local area.

Throughout the past year, the Rotary Club of Geneseo, Illinois has demonstrated its commitment to fostering future leaders and supporting education by awarding over $12,000 in local scholarships. Addressing food insecurity, the club donated over one ton of food - 2,118.6 pounds to be exact - to the Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry, directly impacting those in need within the community.

Photo Submitted

Further illustrating its dedication to community enhancement for youth, the Rotary Club of Geneseo, Illinois spearheaded infrastructure improvements at Cole Cabin and reinstated the Geneseo Middle School Student of the Month program, revitalizing initiatives crucial to community cohesion and support.

Photo Submitted

In addition to these efforts, the club has provided essential grants to local non-profits including the Geneseo Mural Project, Geneseo Soccer Boosters, Geneseo Public Library, and Quad City Arts. These contributions underscore the club's commitment to supporting cultural enrichment, education, and recreational activities within Geneseo.

Beyond its charitable endeavors, the Geneseo Rotary Club continues to unite the community through engaging events such as the Geneseo Music Festival Queen Pageant and Ice Cream Social, and the Maple City 4 Run, fostering camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose among residents.

"The Rotary Club of Geneseo, Illinois is dedicated to making a meaningful impact within our community," said Zack Sullivan, President of the Rotary Club of Geneseo, Illinois. "We invite individuals who share our passion for

For those interested in learning more about the Geneseo Rotary Club or getting involved in its community initiatives, please visit facebook.com/geneseorotaryclub or contact Zack Sullivan at 309-944-2686.

About Rotary Club of Geneseo, Illinois:

The Rotary Club of Geneseo, Illinois, established on the principles of "Service Above Self," is committed to making a positive impact within the Geneseo community through service projects, scholarships, and support for local organizations. With a focus on fostering goodwill and better friendships, the club aims to enhance the quality of life for all residents.