Ice Cream Social on July 8 to Benefit Henry County Humane Society, Geneseo Shelter

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

   Linda VanDerLeest, left, holding “Tinsel Tail,” and Jamie DeSplinter with “Ely,” are hoping area residents join them at the upcoming Ice Cream Social from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, in Geneseo City Park.  All proceeds will benefit the Henry County Humane Society, Geneseo Shelter, which is in need of support to care for the high number of dogs, cats, and kittens making their home at the shelter.  VanDerLeest is president of the board of the HCHS Geneseo Shelter and DeSplinter is vice-president.  Donations also are appreciated and can be sent to Henry County Humane Society, Geneseo Shelter, at 14606 Roos Hill Rd, Geneseo, IL 61254.  For more information about adoption, foster care, visitors, volunteers, and donating, contact the Geneseo Shelter at 309-944-4868.  Music will be provided by the Miracle Blue Grass Band.
Photos by Claudia Loucks

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Children’s Choir to Perform with Geneseo Community Choir on June 25

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

   The 38-voice Geneseo Children’s Choir will join the Community Choir in presenting the concert “Hope,” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, in the Geneseo High School Concert Hall, located at the south end of Geneseo High School, 700 North State St.     

   There are six directors and co-directors for the choirs. 

   Repertoire includes “Over the Rainbow,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor,” and  ”Hope Lingers On.” 

   The Children’s Choir will sing “Amani Utupe,” and “Do, Re, Mi.”

   Combined choirs will sing “Wells Fargo Wagon,” “Blue Skies,” “Defying Gravity,” and “Hope for Resolution.”

   Tickets are $5 for K-12th grades, $7 for 18 years of age and older; and children under five years old are free.

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Community Choir and Children’s Choir Concert June 25

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

The adult Geneseo Community Choir will celebrate its 17th annual concert “Hope,” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 25, in the Geneseo High School Concert Hall, located at the south end of Geneseo High School, 700 North State St.

   Repertoire includes “Over the Rainbow,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor,” and ”Hope Lingers On.”

   The Children’s Choir will sing “Amani Utupe,” and “Do, Re, Mi.”

   Combined choirs will sing “Wells Fargo Wagon,” “Blue Skies,” “Defying Gravity,” and “Hope for Resolution.”

   Both choirs are under the direction of Pam Edwards.

   Tickets are $5 for K-12th grades, $7 for 18 years of age and older; and children under five years old are free.

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Woman’s Club Hosts Salad Supper for 2025 Music Festival Queen Candidates and Guests

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Rachael Roodhouse, left, and Sydney Nelson, third from left, both candidates in the recent Geneseo Music Festival Queen Pageant, are photographed while visiting with Tiffany Stees, president of the Geneseo Woman’s Club; and Linley Stees, club vice president, at the recent salad supper hosted by the Woman’s Club and held in the Central Schoolhouse Inn.  The salad supper has become a tradition which the Woman’s Club hosts each year for the queen candidates and their guests, in addition to members of the pageant committee.  Photo by Claudia Loucks

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Geneseo Woman’s Club Annual Yard Sale Friday and Saturday

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Tiffany Stees, left, and Joy Dornfeld, representing the Geneseo Woman’s Club, are hoping to have a great turnout for the Woman’s Club Annual Yard Sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21, at 733 South Oakwood Ave., Geneseo.  All profits benefit domestic violence shelters.  Claudia Loucks Photo

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Results of Dean Olson Memorial Pedal Pull

Submitted By Diane Olson

Forty one 5- 10 year olds took part in the pedal pull at this year's Music Festival on Saturday afternoon.  The free event is sponsored by the Geneseo FFA in memory of Dean Olson who started the event and organized it for many years.  Trophies are donated by Steve Clementz, and Vern Mariman volunteers his retired auction truck and serves as announcer.  Pictures below feature the winners of each division.  FFA Members and the Music Festival Queen and court cheered on the participants and passed out trophies.  A good time was had by all.

Five and Six Year Old Results: 3rd place Kashen Rahmus, First place Cody Edlefson and 2nd place Beaux Puls

Resluts of Seven and Eight Year Olds:   2nd place Adalynn Rahmus, First Place Judd Steele, and third place Camille Wildermuth

Resulta of the Nine and Ten year olds: Second place Breckyn Granell, First Place Wyatt Edlefson, Third Place Akif Onder 

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RutabagA Window Display Honors Two Late Members

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

The north window at RutabagA Art Studio, 108 North State St. in downtown Geneseo, features an exhibit of work created by two late members – paintings done by Shirley Burnett and wood word by Warren Hadley.  Joyce Matten, at left, holds a lidded vessel that was turned by Hadley, who passed away earlier this year; and Sue Elliott, shows an oil painting done by Burnett, who died in late 2024.  Current RutabagA members want to honor the two late RutabagA Lifetime members with the window display through June.

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Applications Being Accepted for Geneseo Woman’s Club Scholarship in Honor of the Late Patti McNaught

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

   The Geneseo Woman’s Club is offering a scholarship in honor of the late Patti McNaught, who was a 50-year member of the Woman’s Club before her death in 2022.

   Applications are being accepted for the $500 scholarship to be used to help pay for college expenses.  Applicants will need to provide proof that they are a graduate of Geneseo High School, currently enrolled in a college or university where their major is music education, and that they have completed at least two years.   The scholarship will be awarded directly to the recipient in the form of a check from the Geneseo Woman’s Club.  Application deadline is July 1 and those students who qualify may apply through this link: 

https://forms.gle/Bk4dWtHcvpvDdcqQ7

   The late Patti McNaught was involved with music in Geneseo from 1969 until her death in 2022.  She taught elementary music at Millikin Elementary School, accompanied the junior high and middle school choirs, taught piano lessons for more than 40 years, and accompanied many students for solo and ensemble contests. 

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RutabagA Window Features Art Work Done by Sharon Michaelsen

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Sharon Michaelsen, president of Geneseo Rutabaga Art Gallery, shows two of her paintings that are included in the current window display at the gallery, 108 North State St.  in downtown Geneseo.  The window exhibit features her art work done after her travels to France and Greece, and includes the American Cemetery of Omaha Beach (Normandy) and a pastel painting of the home of her maternal grandfather who was born in the ancient mountain village of Prestos in Greece.   In commenting about her art from form her memories of the trip, she said, “The experiences I had are in my heart forever.”   The RutabagA Gallery is open from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.   Claudia Loucks Photo

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Garden Club to Meet June 16th at City Park

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

   The Garden Club will meet at 1 p.m. Monday, June 16, at the South Center Street shelter in Geneseo City Park. 

   Geneseo artist Sheila Wigant-McGee will take the group on a tour of the park, and provide information on those sculptures in the park which she created.

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Glass Butterflies at the Library's Butterfly Garden

The Geneseo Art League made fused glass butterflies for the Geneseo LIbrary's new butterfly garden. They were delivered to Claire Crawford at the library this morning by Art League president Marie Skiles.

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Father’s Day Fly-In Breakfast June 15 at Gen-Air Park

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

   Kent Johnson, left, and Scott Durian are shown by a 1941 J-3 Piper Cub,which will be on display at the annual Father’s Day Fly-In/Drive-In Breakfast at Gen-Air Park on Sunday, June 15.  Serving will be from 7 to 11 a.m. and Gen-Air Park is located two miles east of Geneseo.   Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.  The event will feature demonstrations, Young Eagle flights, aircraft on display and flying-in to the airport.  For more information, call 309-912-0437 or 218-464-7340. 

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Lunch Box Program for Area Youth Underway in Geneseo

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

   Linda Flatt is director of the “Lunch Box” summer food program for children in Geneseo.  A nutritious sack lunch is served to young people from ages four to 18 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  The program began June 2 and will conclude on Friday, Aug. 8, at the Geneseo Community Center, 541 East North St.  Entrance to the lunch site should be made through the door on the west side of the building.  “There is no need for kids to sign up in advance, we just want them to show up,” Linda Flatt said.  In an effort to eliminate “food shaming,” all young people in the community are welcome.  The program is funded with local grant money.  For questions call 309-945-3600.    Photo by Claudia Loucks

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Donna McKinley is Volunteer of the Month at Food Pantry

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

   Donna McKinley has been named “Volunteer of the Month” at the Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry.  She has been volunteering at Food Pantry for about 15 years, where she assists guests in the food room and helps sort donations in the clothing room.

   She and her husband, John, have four children, four grandchildren, and two cats, and she enjoys doing crafts, gardening, and organizing. 

   McKinley said the best thing about volunteering at the Food Pantry is the people she gets to help and work with, and she shared that the most memorable experience at the Food Pantry is about how busy it can get, especially during the holidays.

   Nicole Freadhoff, assistant director at the Food Pantry, said, “Thank you for all you do at the Food Pantry Donna!”

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Concordia Lutheran Academy Annual Fundraiser Features Raffle Prize Recreated by CLA Students

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Elementary students at the Concordia Lutheran Academy (CLA) in Geneseo, from left, Molly Prochaska, Michaiah Mueller, Emmett Glazier, Charlotte Prochaska, Logan Akers, Gideon Mueller and Ethan VanAntwerp, have “recreated” the “Starry Night” painting by Vincent van Gogh.  The “masterpiece” will be included in the raffle items at the CLA’s third annual Golf Fundraiser on June 21, at Valley View, 0701 Illinois Highway 82, Cambridge.  Cost to play is $160 for two players, golf cart, lunch and swag bag.  There will be a chance at winning $10,000 for a Hole-In-One.   Scan the attached QR code to register or call 309-944-3993.  Photo by Claudia Loucks

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Hospital Auxiliary Ice Cream Social is June 5

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Kathleen VanDeRostyne, left, Hammond-Henry Hospital Auxiliary volunteer/auxiliary supervisor; Lisa Farrell and Linda VanDerLeest, Auxiliary members and ice cream social co-chairs; will be helping at the group’s annual ice cream social on Thursday, June 5, in Geneseo City Park.  Sandwiches, chips, a variety of pies and cakes, along with ice cream and beverages will be served, beginning at 5 p.m.  This year’s scholarship recipients will be introduced at 6:25 p.m. at the ice cream social.   The Miracle Blue Grass Band will provide music for dancing and listening, beginning at 6:30 p.m.  Proceeds from the social benefit the Auxiliary’s Health Career Scholarship Fund.  Photo by Claudia Loucks

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Memorial Day Service May 26 in Geneseo City Park

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

   The VFW Program planned for Monday, May 26, in Geneseo City Park will begin at 9:30 a.m. with music by members of the Geneseo Middle School Band.  Speakers are scheduled at 10 a.m. 

   Dr. Cynthia (Borkgren) Abraham, formerly of Geneseo, who now lives in Wisconsin, and is a practicing veterinarian, will be the featured speaker.  She served in the U.S. Army, as a Lieutenant Colonel, retiring in 2024. 

    Steve Laleman also will provide updated information about the Geneseo Aisle of
Flags.

   There will be a “by donation” pork chop lunch served after the ceremony and veterans will eat at no charge.  In the event of inclement weather, the program will be held in the Geneseo High School Performing Ars Center. 

   The annual Memorial Day ceremony is sponsored by the Don Cherry VFW, VFW Auxiliary, and the Aisle of Flags.

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Girl Scout Junior Troop Earns Bronze Award

Geneseo, IL - Geneseo Girl Scout Junior Troop 2435 earned their Bronze Award on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.  Fourteen girls were honored with this award, the third highest award a Girl Scout can earn, by creating eighteen fidget blankets for the Memory Care patients at Liberty Village, Geneseo.  The girls designed the blankets, hand sewed the items, and finally machine stitched the entire project together, spending 20 hours each to complete their award.  The girls fundraised for their project by holding a bake sale during the Geneseo Christmas Walk in December.

The girls who were honored with this award are: 

Kendall Murphy, Aubree Straka, Eloise McCallum, Caylee Straka, Mary Bevan, Lilah Thompson, Abby Egli, Georgia Maddox, Rachel McGee, Gracie Jacobs, Lilly Sisson, Sophia Pollock, Marissa Roush, and Isabel Werner

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GEF Provides Lunches for Staff at Geneseo Schools

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

   The Geneseo Education Foundation recognized Geneseo School District 228 employees and Henry-Stark employees by recently delivering lunches to all schools in the district.

   Representatives of the GEF delivered a total of 282 sack lunches, prepared by Gary’s Deli, Geneseo.

   According to GEF director Sharon Neumann, “The gesture is a way to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of these educators during Teacher Appreciation Week and to give back to the community.  Thanks to the generosity of the sponsors, (Central Bank, Farmers Bank and Hanford Insurance) it is a win-win for everyone involved, and a reminder of the importance of supporting our local schools and educators.”

   The Geneseo Education Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation, was established to solicit and receive gift bequests and grants to complement, enrich, and enhance the educational opportunities and experiences for students of the Geneseo School District beyond existing tax support.

   For more information about GEF, and supporting its mission, visit http://www.geneseoeducation.com or contact Neumann at geneseoeducation1@gmail.com or call 309-944-5522.

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Bishop Hill Heritage Acting Troupe at Geneseo Library on May 28

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

   The Bishop Hill Heritage Acting Troupe is on the move again!  Those 1850 Swedish Colonists, after being on the ocean in a tall ship, then Erie Canal Boats, are now walking from Chicago to their new home in Communal Bishop Hill, Illinois.

Submitted Photo

   Many experiences take place along the way with these Swedes.  They haven’t mastered the English Language, so who knows what they’ll say!  What will their jobs be in the newly-settled village?  Will cholera find their trail?  Has Brita weakened and fallen for Swen’s romantic ways?  Will Anna, at last, find that sought-after husband?

   Those answers and more when those lively Swedish maids land at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28, at the Geneseo Public Library.

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