Henry & Stark County Health Departments Note National Health Education Week, October 16, 2023

RaeAnn Tucker
Director of Health Promotion
October 13, 2023

The Henry and Stark County Health Departments and First Choice Healthcare announces that October 16-20, 2023 has been proclaimed National Health Education Week.  The Health Department joins with public health and health education advocates across the country to raise awareness of the importance of health education measures.  This year's theme of National Health Education Week is “Advancing Health Equity & Civil Rights.” This year’s focus will celebrate how health educators form important partnerships with schools, medical providers, social service agencies, governmental entities, businesses, social and faith-based organizations in order to promote equitable and integrated community health.  Health education and prevention measures are now a nationwide priority, and as the public health system evolves, there are more options than ever when it comes to preventative health and community partnerships. 

    RaeAnn Tucker, Health Department Director of Health Promotion notes, "Today, seven in 10 deaths in the US are related to preventable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer. Another striking fact is that 75 percent of our health care dollars are spent treating such diseases.  However, only 3 percent of our health care dollars go toward prevention."

    Tucker adds, "That's why health education is so vital to our communities' future health. Education can make a difference.  For example, more than half of all cancer deaths could be prevented by making healthy choices such as not smoking, staying at a healthy weight, eating right, keeping active and getting recommended screening tests.”

    For more information on the Department Health Education services call the Department at (309) 852-0197 or visit our website at www.henrystarkhealth.com or find us on Facebook at Henry and Stark County Health Departments or Follow Us on Twitter.

Geneseo Chamber Announces Halloween Fun with Witches Weekend and Scarecrow Row

October 12, 2023
For more information contact:
Zack Sullivan, Executive Director
Geneseo Chamber of Commerce
309-944-2686

A pair of upcoming fun and free Halloween events are happening in Geneseo Illinois: Witches Weekend and Scarecrow Row. The fun kicks off with Witches Weekend on October 26-28. During Witches Weekend, shoppers and guests are invited into Geneseo businesses to celebrate the Halloween season and enter to win over $300 worth of prizes and Geneseo Chamber Gift Certificates that can be used at over 100 Geneseo-based businesses.

The popular Witches Night Out celebration will be on Thursday, October 26 from 4pm-7pm at participating Witches Weekend stores. Stop in to enter for prizes, dress up in a fun Halloween wardrobe, and enjoy Geneseo with friends. Participating locations can be found not only Downtown, but all over Geneseo.

Many stores will also have door prizes and great deals during this kickoff to Witches Weekend including UpLoved, Wildflower Vintage & Thrift, Raelyn’s Pub & Eatery, Pegasus Fine Gifts, Four Seasons, Geneseo Brewing Company, Village Florist and Gifts, Pumpkins & Baby Bugs - A Baby Boutique, MIVA, and more to be announced. The Witches Weekend event will run through Saturday, October 28th. This means you can shop throughout the weekend in order to get the best deals and keep entering to win! Witches Weekend winners will be drawn Monday, October 30th.

Then, on Saturday, join businesses and families in the Geneseo City Park to continue the Halloween spirit with Geneseo’s Scarecrow Row! If you’d like to make a scarecrow for display, stop by the Smith Studio and Gallery, located at 124 S. State St. in downtown Geneseo, and pick up your FREE wooden scarecrow starter frame and information sheets. Then, get busy! Get creative! Bring your finished scarecrow to the Geneseo City Park on Saturday, October 28th between 9:00 am -10:00 am where all the scarecrows will be exhibited on “Scarecrow Row.” EVERY scarecrow will receive a special ribbon, with Geneseo Chamber Gift certificate prizes being awarded to the top three Scarecrows on display.

The public will be invited to come to the City Park to view the scary, exciting and weird creations. From 10:00 am-12:00 pm candy and Halloween treats from Geneseo businesses will be distributed to children visiting Scarecrow Row. Families are encouraged to come to the park dressed in their Halloween costumes. A free Halloween themed photo booth will be set up at the Bandshell, providing a fabulous photo opportunity. Scarecrows will be on exhibit throughout this special Halloween Saturday until 4pm.

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

Women’s Health Series Luncheon Program Is Oct. 26

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Darcy Hepner, left, Hammond-Henry Hospital Foundation Manager; and Katie Orwig, assistant; representing the Women’s Health Committee at Hammond-Henry Hospital, invite area women to the Thursday, Oct. 26, program of the Women’s Health Series, sponsored by the Hospital Foundation Community Benefits Committee. The program is from 12 noon to 1 p.m. in the Geneseo Community Center Activity Room, 541 East North St., Geneseo. Lorelei Ohlson, Alternatives for the Older Adult, with Hammond Henry Hospital Social Services, will present the program, “Advanced Health Care Planning. Cost of the lunch is $10, payable at the door. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the Foundation office 309-944-9112, or by email at hhhfound@hammondhenry.com.

GPAC Fall Fundraiser Kicks Off Oct. 23

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Aiden Hawkins, left, and Taeton Chirchir, both eighth graders at Geneseo Middle School, are encouraging area residents to support the 2023 Geneseo Performing Arts Council (GPAC) Fall Fundraiser.

The annual fundraiser begins Monday, Oct. 23, and concludes Wednesday, Nov. 8 and the sale items include fruit, nuts, cheeses and meats. In addition to purchasing items from students involved in the Performing Arts, orders also can be placed online at https://sales.minntexcitrus.com/organization/geneseo-performing-arts-council/. Once at the site, select Geneseo Performing Arts Council and at checkout, there will be a dropdown to select the student’s name to give them credit for the sale. There is a $1.50 processing fee for orders made online.

All sales need to be paid for at the time the order is made and all checks should be made payable to GPAC. Products are scheduled to arrive Dec. 15 and students who sold the items will pick up and deliver the items.

For more information, or for anyone interested in making a purchase, but is not contacted by a student, call Carla Taets, 309-269-3551.

All proceeds are used to help support band, choir, speech and theatre programs, which include assistance for high school, middle school and elementary school students. Funding is used toward activities such as music lesson, solo and ensemble accompanists, marching band, theater supplies, scholarships and other miscellaneous needs. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Regular Council Meeting October 10th, 2023 - Removing the Bloat

By Dalcon DeMaranville
Geneseo Current

Removing the Bloat

• Power Plant equipment install has been completed
• A new test well drilling for a 5th well in Geneseo has yielded successful results. The well will aid with water supply to the city. The City Engineer and City Staff have started the design process for engineering services for a future 6th well and water treatment plant and elevated storage facility.
• On Monday, October 16, the 2nd Street and Oakwood water main project is scheduled to begin replacing a very old and problematic main that has had numerous breaks over the past two years.
• Council adopted an ordinance which will raise current sewer rates by 6% for year 2024.

Geneseo Police Selling Shirts to Promote Breast Cancer Awareness

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Since 2018, the Geneseo Police Department has raised both awareness and funds for Breast Cancer Awareness. The tradition continues this year with the department selling long-sleeve T-shirts.

Proceeds from the T-shirt sales will benefit the Hammond-Henry Hospital Foundation and will be used for Women’s Health Services at the hospital.

The shirts area being sold for $30 each and will be available through October. The shirts are available to purchase at the Geneseo Police Department and at the Hospital Foundation Office.

Hospital Foundation Manager Darcy Hepner expressed her appreciation for the GPD efforts and said, “We are grateful for the support from the GPD. They are committed to helping the community in many capacities. Women’s Health is in the spotlight in October, but the proceeds will go to help women all year.”

The Geneseo Police Department is selling T-shirts to create Breast Cancer Awareness, and coordinating their efforts with the Hammond-Henry Hospital Foundation to raise funds for Hammond-Henry Hospital’s Women’s Health Services. In the photo are, from left, Officer George Marquez; Darcy Hepner, Hammond-Henry Foundation Manager; Jessica Damewood, Police Dept. Administrative Assistant; and Geneseo Police Chief Casey Disterhoft. Photo Submitted

Halloween Treats 2023 at Area Churches

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Halloween brings with it “trick or treating” or “trunk or treating” for area youngsters and several churches in Geneseo have plans to distribute treats from the trunks of vehicles in church parking lots or inside the church. They are:

-3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15, Grace United Methodist Church at 318 North Center St., trunk or treat in church parking lot.

-10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Oct. 28, Concordia Lutheran Church at 316 South Oakwood Ave, trunk or treat in church parking lot on East North St., across from the church.

-4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29, First Methodist Church at 302 North State St., trunk or treat in church parking lot.

-4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 31, Fellowship Room at First Lutheran Church, 114 East Main St., individual stations will be set up with volunteers distributing treats. Hot dogs and hot chocolate also will be served.

THE ORIGIN OF TRICK-OR-TREATING: (found online)

Trick of treating, in costume and ringing doorbells to ask for treats, has been a tradition in the United States and other countries for more than a century. Its origin remains murky, but traces can be identified in ancient Celtic festivals, early Roman Catholic holidays, medieval practices and even British politics.

Sharon Michelson’s Art in RutabagA Window

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Sharon Michaelsen is the featured artist for the month of October at RutabagA Art Gallery in downtown Geneseo. Her window display of shooting stars, done in acrylics, is the result of Michaelsen’s involvement with the Geneseo Community Choir. She said, “This past summer, I had the honor of being invited to paint on stage with our local 124-voice Community Choir as they sang ‘Choose Something Like a Star.’ Images from the Hubble Space Telescope were my inspiration for these preliminary practice paintings of nebulae (exploding stars). This was certainly an exciting adventure for me to work outside of my comfort zone of painting pastel portraits of children and veterans and creating pen and ink drawings of cathedrals and Victorian homes.” - “From stardust we came, and to stardust we shall return.” RutabagA Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Oil Pastel Class Tuesday at RutabagA

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Geneseo artist Joyce Mattan will instruct a class in oil pastel from 5: to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10, at RutabagA Art Gallery, 108 North State in downtown Geneseo. Cost is $10 for the class and more information is available at the Gallery, 309-944-4994. Mattan has been creating artwork for the last 50 years.

Photo by Claudia Loucks

Paper Collage Display at Smith Studio

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

The art work of Janet Ahrens, Grinnell, Iowa, currently is featured at the Smith Studio and Gallery in downtown Geneseo. The exhibit is free and open to the public. Smith Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

David Smith, owner of Smith Studio, said the artist has received broad acclaim for her constantly adapting collages that are variations on a theme. Ahrens’ abstract three-dimensional paper works are often noted for their unique style, elegance, and technique….He said, “Janet’s wide use of texture, strong lines, and industrial materials make her work an excellent choice for a wide range of decorative projects.”

The artist said, “The ever-changing landscape has been a constant theme in my work. I try to capture a moment in time, showing how the environment shapes the landscape over the centuries.”

Janet Ahrens, Grinnell, Iowa