Steve Scherer Was Grand Marshal of Music Festival Parade - By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Steve Scherer is retired as the Geneseo High School band director, but in no way is he retired from the world of music.

He recently served as grand marshal of the 2024 Geneseo Music Festival Parade held on Father’s Day, a fitting role as music continues to be a major part of his life.

Zack Sullivan, executive director of the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce and event organizer for the Geneseo Music Festival, commented about the selection of Scherer as grand marshal and said, “Steve retired a few years ago as band director at Geneseo High School after decades of inspiring band students and sharing his gift of music with so many.”

  “Steve's retirement and contributions to the community marks a well-deserved honor, which is fitting to take place during the Geneseo Music Festival as Grand Marshal of the annual Father’s Day Parade in Geneseo,” Sullivan added.

After retirement as GHS band director, Scherer took a nine-month piano technician course and is certified to tune and repair pianos. He also is part of the music team (praise band) at Grace United Methodist Church in Geneseo.

Grandchildren also are a big part in Scherer’s life and at 7:30 on Monday though Friday mornings, he can be found at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Allison and Bronson Good, where he entertains grandsons, Adler, 4, and Rowan, 2, and their 10-week-old sister Leonora, while their parents get ready for work.

In addition, Scherer and his wife, Jane Scherer, have a son, Jack, Chicago; and a daughter, Diana, who lives in Cardiff by the Sea, located outside of San Diego.

Steve Scherer(left) as Grand Marchal of the 2024 Geneseo Music Festival Parade.

He also spends time with his parents, taking them to all of their scheduled appointments. His father, Dick Scherer, is a resident in an apartment at Allure of Geneseo; and his mother, Annette Scherer, lives in the nursing home at Allure.

In 2021, after 34 years as a band director, Scherer stepped down as a band director. He was drawn to music in his childhood and said when he and his brother each received a Panasonic tape recorder for Christmas, he was fascinated with the technology and started recording all kinds of sounds for fun…”The next year we received a portable record player and two 45rpm records each. I would listen and marvel at how realistic the tones of each instrument sounded. At the end of fifth grade, when we could try out instruments for band starting the next school year, I knew I wanted to play one. I chose drums and percussion and I never stopped playing and still play today.”

He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Western Illinois University, Macomb, and a Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois in 2001. His first teaching job was in Bedford, IN.

He then took an adventurous break from teaching and moved to Austin, TX, to play and tour professionally in a rock band. Nine years later he and his family moved to Geneseo to raise their family.

That move was 30 years ago and Scherer first taught beginning band in Pleasant Valley, IA, for a year, before becoming the Director of Bands at Rock Island High School.

In 2002, his predecessor in Geneseo, Victor Bianchetta, retired, and Scherer applied for the position and was hired.

I Don’t Cook! - By Dan Dauw

By Dan Dauw
Geneseo Current

Oh, Canada

If you don’t want to read about my trip to the northern wilderness of God’s country, then read something of more quality.

There were four of us anglers, Dennis & David Schoening, David Jensen, and myself, that left Eldridge on Friday, June 7, to Bear Claw Wilderness, Ontario. The camp just turned new ownership a few days before we arrived. For several years we all went to Bluffy Lake Resort, but there was a mix-up so we ended up in a new location on Wabaskang Lake.

It was less than an hour’s drive north of Dryden. We stayed overnight at a motel in Dryden. My room was $375. Ugh! We arrived at the camp the next day about 11 a.m. We had excellent lodging and our cabin had running water, bathroom, etc. Very nice! The new owner, “Toby,” his son, Max, and two others, Brian, and a lady, were all super friendly. Of course, our main objective was to catch and eat “Walleyes!”

We compare everything to Bluffy Lake because it is an outstanding walleye lake. In that respect, this new location fell quite short. We did have 4 walleye meals which included the awesome “David Schoening’s Walleye Chowder.” To die for!!

One day the three guys portaged to Lost Lake (Catch & Release only) where they caught nearly 100 walleyes, northerns, yellow perch and I think a “smally.” If you take away that day, the fishing was slow for walleyes. Not horrible, but not even close to the catches of the past Bluffy Lake adventures.

We were not alone, as it was tough going for other boats, too! We saw eagles, ducks, ground hogs, and a cow moose. When Mrs. Moose picked up our scent, she quickly went back into the forest.

Ground Hogs

One day I kept hearing a noise from under our cabin. It turned out there were three ground hogs having a party under the cabin. Camp worker, Brian, set out live traps and caught three in a matter of minutes. One was actually in our bathroom and how he got there is a mystery.

White Fish

Dennis caught a 20” fish we had never seen before. It kind of looked like a sucker or carp. We let it go and found out it was a white fish. I guess it would have been okay to eat.

Eaters

The slot limit on walleye was anything up to 18.” We caught and released some 18 - 21 inchers, and sometimes it was hard to catch “eaters.”

We did catch some nice yellow perch. They had spots we found on them, but they were okay to eat. We’re still alive!

Bait

We used worms, minnows and jigs. In Dryden I bought a $100.00 worth of nightcrawlers at Clark’s Bait & Tackle.

Worms were the bait of choice. Remember, you cannot bring worms across the border. Speaking of the border, we lucked out both coming and leaving Canada. No lines. Of course, the border guards are not the friendliest folks, so skip any kidding with them.

Master Cooks

I don’t cook! I don’t know how to and at 82 I’m useless behind a range. Fortunately, the two Schoening guys and David Jensen are really into cooking. I must have gained 10 pounds. Great food!

Handicap

I won’t harp on this, but it was hard on me getting around with my cane. It was a steep place to get to and from the boats, but the camp guys, Brian and Max, hauled me to our cabin in an ATV cart. Sometimes I tried to make it by myself, and Dennis, and the two Davids helped me. Those guys were “soooo” helpful. I should also mention that Dennis did most of the driving “to and from” Canada. He said he likes to drive. We enjoy solving the world’s problems. He used to be my boss with the Postal Service so we hashed around the “good old days!”

In Two Years

We now go to Ontario every two years. I’m not too sure I will be around in 2026, but I guess that’s up to the Big Fisherman in the sky above. If not, I have great memories of the trips to Canada since 1966.

Quote of the week

“I know of no way of judging the future, but by the past!” – Patrick Henry

Geneseo High School - Second Semester Honor Roll

First Honor Roll - GPA 3.50 to 5.40

Class of 2024

Jacob Adamson, Hayes Apt, Karson Banister, Braden Boone, Brooke Boone, Reagan Bopes, Emily Bopes, Russell Brown, Carter Bull, Gwen Burbridge, Rafe Burton, Thomas Carlin, Lonnie Catour, Saryna Ceurvorst, Trenton Chamberlain, Drake Chambless, Randy Chasek, Morgan Claerhout, Taylor Clark, Alexis Clementz, Daniel Coleman, Isaiah Conrad, Lynn Cotty, Morgan Cousins, Alexander Davis, Riley Davis, Emma DeBaene, Sophie DeCock, Olivia Dickey, Kelsey Dillie, Noah Disterhoft, Kaitlyn Dreifurst, Tyson Duda, Nathan Dunker, Mallory Dwyer, Addison Dykstra, Brielle Ettore, Kevin Farrell, Nolan Femali, Bretton Ferguson, Allyson Ford, Jason Foss, Abigail Frank, Jenna Freadhoff, Alyssa Gentry. Hayden Gray, Imogene Green, Garrett Hall, William Hamerlinck, Isabella Haney, Sarah Hansen, Caleb Hartman, Christopher Hayes, Bryce Henderson, Ethan Herstedt, Kathryn Hogue, Caiya Holke, Kodie Hudson, Carter Huizenga, Kobe Hull, Austin Hull, Luke Johnsen, Claire Kehoe, April Kelley, Mia Kelly, Aaron Kuster, Drew Laxton, Macy Litherland, Kylie Maertens, Corinne Mallum, Megan Malmstrom, Landon Marshall, Olivia Marshall, Kay McAvoy, Megan McClanahan, Isabella McDaniel, Brianna McGill, Patrick Miller, Adalai Mills, Connor Minnaert, Connor Mitchell, Hayden Moore, Samuel Mosbarger, Jeron Neal, Molly Neumann, Carleigh Norton, Madison Ochs, Logan Palmer, Alysia Perez, Carmella Pettit, Reed Preston, Elizabeth Ramp, Jacob Rapps, Jackson Reade, Ashley Rickey, Madeline Roberts, Leah Roemer, Ryley Rowold, Thomas Sahr, Alex Sahr, Kaden Salisbury, Bryce Sanders, Cooper Schaad, Grace Schilling, Madison Simms, Owen Skovronski, Tristen Smith, Sidney Spindel, Hayden Spranger, Joshua Steines, Paige Swain, Reese Swanson, Tyler Tafoya, Tanner Tarkington, Madison Thompson, Ella Traphagan, Amelia Vandemore, Joseph VanDeWoestyne, Taylor VanHoutte, Jackson VanHyfte, Kade VanOpdorp, Emma Veloz, Camdyn Villanueva, Skylar Wainscott, Adam Weller, Cole Williams, Ashlyn Williamsen, Cole York, & Kirsten Zimmerman

Class of 2025

Kamden Ariano, Shane Bagby, Liliana Balluff, Brooklyn Banta, Rachael Bauer, William Baum, Sophia Bellagamba, Aaron Betcher, Jackson Brumbaugh, Gage Buckallew, Madisyn Buysse, Elizabeth Carlin, Avery Catour, Tyler Chamberlain, Marley Cherry, Sophia Clifton, Dylan Cotty, Isabella Curcuru, Dru Curcuru, Elanor DeBlieck, Erica DeDecker, Ava DeWolfe, Connor Douglas, Emma Drockelman, Alayna Duckett, Grace Durian, Katelyn Durnell, Kendall Ellerbrock, Gwenivere Erickson, Addison Espe, Allison File, Mariella Fischer, Kayci Freeman, Chloe Fulcher, Dylan Gehl, Caroline Girten, Alessandro Grande, Brady Hamer, Christian Haney, Lindsay Herington, Tyler Holtzen, Sydney Hoover, Keaton Hudson, Malloree Humphrey, Leandro Ingoglia, Matthew Johnson, Lily Johnson, Preston Jones, Logan Jones, Avery Kennedy, Hope Kuster, Julia Lewis, Kruiz Ludwig, Annalise Maxwell, Katelynn McMahill, Nickalus Morris, Elizabeth Mroz, Sydney Nelson, Jacob Nelson, Kyah Newell, Bryce Nixon, Kale O Bryan, Colin Orwig, Owen Parker, Jennifer Parsons, Austin Pearce, Dylan Randolph, Allison Reade, Keely Roberts, Benjamin Robinson, Rachael Roodhouse, Ava Rusk, Marian Sanchez Sigala, Kara Sancken, Shay Schehl, Emilia Schmitt, Timothy Sebastian, Taylor Smith, Payton Snider, Addison Snodgrass, Avery Snook, Dyllan Staffeldt, Eric States, Lillian Taylor, Jordan Thomas, Kathryn VanDeWoestyne, Logan VanDeWoestyne, Carter VanOpdorp, Joseph Venneberg, Joseph Versluis, Dylan Whipple, Allison Wille, & Kailee Williams

Class of 2026

Zara Andersen, Isabella Angelo, Natalie Aukee, Eliana Barickman, Calvin Bell, Greta Bolme, Grant Bomleny, Erin Bowers, Bryson Boxell, Ava Brewer, Aiden Bries, Reid Brodersen, Isabelle Brooks, Liberty Brumbaugh, Jordan Cechowicz, Jocelyn Cechowicz, Mylee Clark, Brody Clementz, Jack Cooper, Erika Cotty, Samuel Curcuru, Anna Davis, Ava DeSplinter, Keira Disterhoft, Tyler Dowdal, Quinnland Einfeldt, Perry Farley, Landon Favri, Jonathan Freadhoff, Anabella Goethals, Breckan Gomez, Cora Gorman, Hayley Henry, Lucas Herstedt, Christopher Hill, Payton Hofer, Carter Holke, Jacob Holley, Adam Johnson, Andrew Kelly, Owen Kelly, Erik Kelly, Catherine Lehman, Karen Lester, Hannah Loehr, Emma Loehr, Tavion Mangin, Brock Marshall, Emma Massingill, James Matthews, Jackson McAvoy, Dawsyn McDonald, Hannah McGee, Cameron Melchert, Wyatt Neumann, Janey Neumann, Isaac Nixon, Reyhan Onder, Lucille Peters, Landry Possin, Elizabeth Rapps, Madison Reade, Olivia Sallach, Cy Sammons, Chase Sanders, Hayden Schaaf, Bee Scheider, Remy Sharpe, Alexander Snyder, Hannah Stone, Tucker Tarkington, Paislee Tuggle, Rafael Uguina Cuevas, Jay VanHerzeele, Quinntyn VanHyfte, Callie VanKerrebroeck, Ashton Veloz, Kye Weinzierl, Madeline Wells, Kjerstin Wildemuth, Kathryn Wilson, & Claire Yenor

Class of 2027

Mackenzie Air, Alejandro Aleman, Lilliana Anderson, Elena Anderson, Keaton Ariano, Mia Balensiefen, Jacob Berry, Eleanor Bertelsen, Annabelle Betcher, Nathan Billingsly, Grant Bjorkman, Taylor Boone, Lillian Brown, Ethan Brown, Isabella Brown, Jaydon Burrage, Grace Carlson, Kolby Causemaker, Brendan Cooksey, Callie Copeland, Phoenix Corlew, Sally-Ann DeBlieck, Claire DeGrave, Carter Dickey, Andre Diediker, Remlee Dwyer, Leah Falk, Madelyn Farnum, Taefyl Freeman, Tyler Gerstel, Hazel Harris, Keely Henry, Cheyenne Hopkey, Lambeau Janczak, Maddox Jansen, Mckenna Johnson, Micah Johnson, Trenton Kennedy, Matthew Kerschieter, Lydia King, Mckenzie Krug, Aria Mayo-Bechtel, Jack Mickley, Andrew Miller, Reese Minnaert, Madilyn Minnaert, Mark Nelms, Tyler Nelson, Lainey Norville, Esref Onder, Eli Palmer, Viola Pettit, Lauren Piquard, Carson Pratt, Natalie Reisner, Dominic Ritter, Hayley Rubitsky, Brooklyn Ruby, Connor Runty, Ayla Schultz, Nyna Schweitzer, Brylee Sheffler, Brooke Shollenberger, Reid Simpson, Brooklyn Smith, Molly Snyder, Ayama Stroh, Claire Swanson, Jeel Vakharia, Jiya Vakharia, Kaden VanAntwerp, Delaney Vroman, Lucille Wachtel, Kendyl Wassenhove, Connor Webster, Cade Wolf, Robert Wolfe, & Rebekah Zimmerman

Second Honor Roll - GPA 3.00 to 3.49

Class of 2024

Jillian Beneke, Raelyn Bjorkman, Anna Calabria, Garrett Carlson, Brayden Combs, Jill Corso, Bryce Duncan, Neal Gaskey, Jayden Ginther, Weston Graham, Nolan Griffith, Lucas Kaiser, Emmalee Kennedy, Owen Lively, Carson McDaniel, Cooper McKeag, Cole Miller, Landon Miller, Lauryn Newkirk, Celina Pena, Giavanna Ritter, Katlyn Seaman, Dylan Shipman, Morgann Steinert, Autumn Stephens, Jacob Stout, Isabel Stroud, Ella Toom, Logan Vroman, & Blake Webster

Class of 2025

Luke Abrahamsen-Collins. Mason Anderson, Camden Baumgardner, Mason Bealer, Brianna Bowles, Amelia Carlson, Anthony Carter, Jaidah Cribbs, Kaylee Floming, Elijah Ford, Kayden Fouts, Brayden Franzen, Zachary Goffe, Taylor Hawkins, Jessica Hodshire, Savannah Holley, Hayliegh-Jane Huglin, Max Johnson, Ayden Kane, Owen King, Bailey Koning, Elizabeth Lane, Aislan Leetch, Kayton Malzewski, Zachary Montez, Lilyann Mooney, Madelyn Mooney, Amber Newell, Dylan Pankey, Jack Polowy, Lauren Powell, Kaleb Rahn, Antonio Ramirez, Cooper Ries, Tristan Robinson, Cavence Rokis, Nile Ryerson, Ava Sedam, Olivia Seei, Callaghan Sheehan, Paxton Sherbeyn, Emma Skovronski, Nathanial Stees, Charlie Stetter, Leo Underwood, Hayden Veryzer, Jaylyn Wakenight, Gavin Wates, Abby Wilshusen, & Braelyn Wyffels

Class of 2026

Grady Bernahl, Brennan Brown, Aiden Brudos, Kamron Burris, Rylen Chambless, Joei Christopherson, Liam Coleman, Grant Collins, Jameson Coppejans, Matthew Darnall, Emma Dreifurst, Kaydee Eighmy, Margaret Elder, Cara Ettore, Boone Forsythe, Taber Fulks, Aidyn Gernant, Dalten Grimes, Bradley Hartman, Maria Hartsock, Jarett Hasson, Jacob Holley, Alexandria Hull, Alfredo Jimenez, Kameryn Keegan, Peyton Kies, Charlotte Kroll, Alegna Lopez, Jackie Milem, Jaiden Minnaert, Gavin Nicholson, Shrey Patel, Taylor Peterson, Michael Peterson, Meya Pollock, Jordan Ramirez, Annabelle Ropp, Nina Schmedding, Mya Splear, Izabella Stewart, Leland Stickle, Kwin VanKerrebroeck, Nick Vyas, Cameron Walker, Evelyn Wendland, & Kayleigh Wooden

Class of 2027

Flynn Arnett, Alexandra Bagby, Erik Bjorkman, Nathaniel Boone, Payton Boone, Evan Brooks, Wyatt Bruce, Evelyn Dahl, Aiden DeCap, Griffin DeWolfe, Alexandra Duncan, Jaxon Ernst, Adam Flondor, Ethan Galloway, Lilyann Garza, Tyler Gross, Kylei Hammond, Kiersten Hancock, Joseph Haser, Emily Haverback, Jeremiah Helm, Jakob Hodges, Megan Hursman, Adam Jackson, Scarlyt Johnson, Zachary Johnson, Grace Kaiser, Jack Kreiss, Delaney Lagaisse, Daniel Medrano, Jordyn Miller, Elijah Mosley, Carson Peters, Eric Polowy, Maddison Rakestraw, Brooke Robinson, Landon Rogers, Sydney Rosas, Finnegan Schaad, Kie Smith, Thomas Steele, Lilly Stubbs, Joseph Thoene, Emma Vandeveer, Vera Vincent, Jacob Walline, Landon Weimer, Avalynn Westfall, Jayden Wexell, Ryder Ryder, Justin Williams, Alexis Williams, & Kylee Wisely

Geneseo Women’s Club Hosts Salad Supper for 2024 Queen Candidates and Guests

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Mariah Hutchinson, left, co-emcee for the Geneseo Music Festival Queen Pageant; Kelsey Dillie and Addison Dykstra, Music Festival 2024 queen candidates, visit with Tiffany Stees, vice president of the Geneseo Women’s Club, at the salad supper held Thursday, June 13, in Central Schoolhouse Inn. Each year the Geneseo Women’s Club hosts the salad supper event for queen candidates, their mothers or guests and members of the pageant committee. The Queen Pageant is sponsored by Geneseo Rotary Club. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Hanna Stroud, left, 2023 Geneseo Music Festival Queen, visits with Cathy Rothschild, Geneseo Rotary Club pageant chairman, at the recent salad supper hosted by the Geneseo Women’s club and held in the Central Schoolhouse Inn. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Guests at the Geneseo Women’s Club recent salad supper included Sara Stroud, front left, who was crowned queen of the Geneseo Music Festival in 1995; Hanna Stroud, daughter of Sara Stroud, and who was crowned Geneseo Music Festival queen in 2023; and in back, Rhonda Peterson and her daughter, Jillian Beneke, who was named a runner-up in the 2024 queen pageant held Friday, June 14, in Geneseo City Park. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Music Festival Queen and Court and Music Festival Little Princess

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Addison Dykstra, center, daughter of Curt and Sara Dykstra, was crowned queen at the 2024 Geneseo Music Festival Queen Pageant held Friday, June 14, in Geneseo City Park. Members of the court are, from left, Molly Neumann, second runner-up, daughter of Landon and Sharon Neumann; Kylie Maertens, first runner-up, daughter of Brice and Angela Maertens; the queen; Jillian Beneke, third runner-up, daughter of Jason Beneke and Rhonda Peterson; Madison Thompson, fourth runner-up, daughter of TJ and Marisa Thompson. The pageant is sponsored by the Geneseo Rotary Club and the queen receives a $500 scholarship. Each runner-up also receives a scholarship from the Rotary Club. Contestants not in the court are each given a $25 gift certificate from Geneseo Rotary. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Shae Robertson, center, was crowned princess at the first Geneseo Little Miss Music Festival Pageant held Friday, June 14, in Geneseo City Park, prior to the Queen Pageant. Members of the Little Miss court are, from left, Irie Boone, second runner-up; Breckyn Granell, first runner-up; the princess; Lillian Rowold, third runner-up; and Eden Ebert, fourth runner-up. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Music Festival Queen Pageant Night

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Prior to Pageant(above)

Geneseo Music Festival Queen Pageant committee members Madeline Possin, back left, and Jean Pritchard, back right, provide some last minute help with hair styles to pageant candidates, Madison Ochs, front left, and Amelia Vandemore. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Music at Pageant

Geneseo High School vocalists, under the direction of Pam Edwards, left, provided piano accompaniment for the high school vocalists who sang at intermission of the Queen Pageant held June 14 in City Park. The vocalists are, at left from Pam Edwards, Cody Hensley, Tyler Holtzen, Cy Sammons, Paxton Sherbeyn, Perry Farley and Landry Possin. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Escorts visit with candidates

Music Festival queen candidates Madison Thompson, at left, and Kylie Maertens, visit with pageant escorts Hayden Moore, second from left, and Sam Mosbarger. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Emcees with Ashley’s daughter Tille

Music Festival Pageant co- emcees Ashley Moore, left, and Mariah Hutchinson pose for a photo with Moore’s daughter, Tille Moore, prior to the pageant festivities June 14 in City Park. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Geneseo Garden Club to Meet June 17

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Members and guests of the Geneseo Garden Club will meet at 1 p.m. at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 17, at Hornbaker Gardens, 22937 1140 North Ave., Princeton.
Hornbaker Gardens was established in 1987 as a destination center tucked among 40 acres of peaceful property. Through the years, it has developed into botanical gardens, an arboretum, selling hundreds of plants along with containers and other garden items. Visitors can spend their time walking through the gardens and viewing the large variety of hostas, daylilies, fairy gardens and more. Contributed Photo

Winners in RutabagA’s Second Fine Arts Exhibit

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Winners in the Youth Excellence division of the second annual Geneseo Fine Arts Exhibit sponsored by RutabagA Studio and Gallery in downtown Geneseo are, from left, Pauline Pustejovsky, third place with her watercolor “Song in Bloom;” Madison Reade, first place with her acrylic of “Le Plat Naturel;” and Christine Pustejovsky with her Chinese Ink “A Smug Kitten.”

Sharon Michaelsen, at right, was awarded Best of Show with her pastel titled “Kyle;” Marcia Fox won second place with her carved and painted wood titled “Red Fox in Fall Colors:” and Gloria Burlingame, center, won third place with her oil pastel, “The Farmer’s Wife.” The exhibit will be on display during regular RutabagA gallery hours, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday through Sunday, and during open hours at The Cellar, 5 to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, through Sunday, July 7. Unless a piece is market NFS (Not For Sale), all are for sale and all sales go directly to the artist. RutabagA retains no commission.

The Pustejovsky family took three awards at RutabagA’s Second Fine Arts Exhibit judging which was held Sunday, June 9, at The Cellar, and the Pustejovsky family includes, from left, Pauline Pustejovsky, Joseph Pustejovsky won Honorable Mention for his photo of “Water in the Desert;” and Christine Pustejovsky. The exhibit was open to all area artists, high school age and older. The judge for the event is Annette Lezotte, who teaches art at Black Hawk College, Moline.

Lexi Gordon is photographed with her winning 3-D entry, “Atomic Sculpture.”

Pat Halverson, left, received Honorable Mention 2 in the Fine Arts Exhibit for her oil painting, “A Quiet Pond;” and Kathy Williams is shown with her winning photography entry “Daddy/Daughter Dance,” Maharah Jones received Honorable Mention 3 for her acrylic entry, “Red Tulips,” but was not present for the photo.

Catching Up With the 2023 Geneseo Music Festival Queen - By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Hanna Stroud entered the Geneseo Music Festival Queen Pageant to carry on a family tradition.

She was crowned queen of the 2023 pageant held last June in City Park, a title her mother, Sara (Terronez) Stroud, also won when she graduated from GHS in 1995.

The pageant is sponsored each year by Geneseo Rotary Club and is open to graduating GHS senior girls.

Hanna Stroud, daughter of Brian and Sara Stroud, was crowned queen of the 2023 Geneseo Music Festival Queen Pageant. This year’s pageant is at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 14, in Geneseo City Park. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Hanna said her initial reason for entering the pageant last year was “because my mother did it when she was in high school and won. I wanted to keep the tradition of at least participating in the pageant and I ended up winning which was pretty special.”

Another reason she shared was because “it seemed like a fun opportunity to possibly get some money for college and a great way to become involved in the community.”

She admitted that prior to pageant night, she was a bit hesitant…”I am an introvert and had never done a pageant before. I was convinced to do the pageant last year and I am so thankful. It not only made me realize that I should do things outside of my comfort zone, but also that I don’t have to have had experience or be super outgoing to participate. Everyone was super supportive of all of the girls and the whole weekend was so exciting!”

When asked about her thoughts and memories of last year’s event, Stroud said, “The experience as a whole was amazing. It sparked connections with people that I hadn’t talked to in a while and I even met new people.”

She shared memories of pageant night and said she was “full of emotions. There was nervousness, excitement, and happiness all at the same time. When we walked out on stage for the first time and I saw everyone watching, it felt surreal. I knew that everyone was there to support me, but it can be hard to get up in front of people and be vulnerable about yourself, but it was totally worth it.”

She said she “loved every second of it and the emotions are what makes it even more fun. It also is good practice for other scenarios in life like job interviews or presenting at a press conference. It relates to other aspects of the life and that is another bonus!”

The queen and court make appearances at other events during the Music Festival weekend spending time with people in the community and visiting with them…”The City Park was filled with vendors, pop-up tents and so much to see,” Stroud recalled.

Many small businesses owners also are in the park offering food items and there is live music. Stroud said,”Seeing people gathering at the different activities was refreshing when we know how busy life can get. The Music Festival weekend is now one of my favorites in Geneseo!”

Stroud was a student at the University of Iowa in the last school year and she said, "I loved it! I joined a couple of clubs and made new friends. I love Iowa City itself and definitely will be visiting there next year.”

She is transferring to Black Hawk College to study nursing and she said, “I could not be more excited for this year and I can’t wait to see what God has in store.”

Geneseo Music Festival Queen Pageant Is June 14 - By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Ten Geneseo High School graduating senior girls have entered the 2024 Geneseo Music Festival Rotary Queen Pageant.
They are Jillian Beneke, Kelsey Dillie, Addison Dykstra, Kylie Maertens, Molly Neumann, Madison Ochs, Leah Roemer, Madison Thompson, Ella Toom and Amelia Vandemore. The pageant will be at 7 p.m. Friday, June 14, in City Park when the queen and court will be crowned.
The pageant is sponsored by the Geneseo Rotary Club, and club members will be serving desserts and beverages beginning at 5:30 during the festivities in the park on June 14.
The queen and members of the court will receive cash awards and those candidates not in the court will receive Geneseo Chamber of Commerce gift certificates, all provided by the Rotary Club

Jillian Beneke

Kelsey Dillie

Addison Dykstra

Kylie Maertens

Molly Neumann

Madison Ochs

Leah Roemer

Madison Thompson

Ella Toom

Amelia Vandemore

Cooper Schaad Receives Aviation Scholarship - By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Cooper Schaad, a 2024 graduate of Geneseo High School, has received a full scholarship opportunity for flight training from the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 410 of Geneseo, and the Ray Aviation Scholarship Program administered by the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, WI.

He is the son of Jason and Gwen Schaad, Geneseo.

Cooper Schaad, third from left, is the recent recipient of a full scholarship for flight training to obtain his private pilot license from the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Ray Aviation Scholarship program. With Schaad are his father, Jason Schaad, at left; Nathan Dunker, Geneseo, who received the 2023 Experimental Aircraft Association Scholarship, presenting the 2024 Scholarship check to Schaad, and Schaad’s mother, Gwen Schaad, at far right. Contributed Photo

The Ray Aviation Scholarship program provides up to $11,000 scholarships to young people who are seeking to learn to fly. The Ray Foundation has provided $1.8 million to fund the scholarship program, which seeks to improve the flight training success rate from the current industry standards of 20 percent to 80 percent for program participants.

Local EAA chapters are responsible for identifying youth for the Ray Aviation Scholarship program and mentoring them through flight training. The Ray Foundation is furthering the legacy of James C. Ray, an EAA lifetime member who was dedicated to aviation and youth education.

Schaad’s scholarship is the second scholarship the Geneseo Chapter has awarded and administered on behalf of the Ray Aviation Foundation and the EAA of Oshkosh, WI.

Nathan Dunker, also a 2024 graduate of GHS, received the 2023 scholarship.

Since its introduction in 2019, the EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship program has allowed over 350 youths to complete their flight training and receive their pilot licenses. The program has been consistently meeting and exceeding its expected 80 % success rate each year.

Schaad will be training at Quad-City Aero, based at the Quad-City airport in Moline. The scholarship is designed to support a flight student through both written and practical segments of flight training that are part of successful FAA pilot certification.

EAA chapters play a significant role in the success of the Ray Aviation Scholarship program. Chapters interested in participating are prequalified by EAA through an application process. If selected, they mentor and support the scholarship recipient throughout their flight training journey. Once selected as a Ray Aviation Scholarship recipient, candidates also commit to volunteer service with the local EAA chapter.
EAA Chapter 410 of Geneseo is one of 900 local chapters of EAA, the world’s largest organization for recreational flying. It meets at the Gen-Air Airport in Geneseo on the first Saturday of each month. More information about the EAA Chapter is available at https://chapters.eaa.org/eaa410 or on Facebook.

Hammond-Henry Hospital welcomes Heidi Vorac to its Geneseo Clinic

GENESEO, IL - The Board of Directors of Hammond-Henry Hospital and its Administration announce the return of Heidi Vorac, APRN, to its Geneseo Clinic family practice staff. Heidi Vorac currently serves as the medical provider for Hammond-Henry Hospital Medical Group’s Cambridge Clinic.

“Heidi Vorac will be seeing all her current as well as new patients in our Geneseo clinic location, 600 N. College Avenue, beginning July 1,” said Colton Anderson, Director of Clinic Services. “She has done an extraordinary job in Cambridge, with a very loyal patient following, but the move to Geneseo will mean even better accommodations and services for her patients since they will have the services of the entire hospital at their disposal.”

In addition to the Geneseo Walk-In/Family Practice Clinic where Vorac will serve, previous and new Vorac patients will have x-ray and the full gamut of radiologic services plus emergency, laboratory, sleep disorder, cardiopulmonary, neurology, rehab, and social services, home health, long term care, skilled care, surgical, and inpatient services.

The Cambridge Clinic is slated to close on June 30 but may be repurposed within the year as the hospital is seeing steady growth and the addition of several family practice and specialty providers. However, at the present time, there is no plan to reopen the clinic office to see patients under a different Hammond-Henry Hospital provider.

“I, of course, appreciate the Cambridge community and their incredible support,” said Vorac. “The goal is to provide the best healthcare services possible, and this move will make that happen. I am excited to come back home to the Geneseo community.”

Those wishing to make an appointment with Heidi Vorac after June 30 are encouraged to call 309.944.1275. She will remain taking previously and newly scheduled appointments at the Cambridge Clinic until that time.

Heidi Vorac obtained her Doctor of Nurse Practice degree from the University of Iowa and is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has been employed with Hammond-Henry Hospital since January of 2018.

Geneseo Farmers Market - Something for Everyone

The Geneseo Farmer’s Market is well underway with their first summer market last Saturday, June 1st.  The summer market is every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon on Pearl Street at the Geneseo City Park.  The summer market season runs from June through October.  The market takes place rain or shine. 

The Geneseo Farmer’s Market has been around since 2002.  Over the years, it has been set up at different locations throughout Geneseo, but has been up at the city park for over 10 years.  On a typical market morning, they have between 25 to 30 vendors setting up.  Many of the vendors are considered full-time and set up every week with their products.  But they also have numerous vendors who are part-time that attend when it fits in their schedule.  This allows for a nice variability throughout the summer market season. 

There is a wide variety of vendors and products offered at the Geneseo Farmer’s Market.  Part of what makes this market unique is that it offers locally grown produce, plants, flowers, and agricultural products, such as meat and eggs.  With offering only locally grown and raised produce, these products are in season and fresh.  There are cottage food vendors that sell a wide assortment of products, like breads, cookies, rolls, pies, gluten free and vegan items, and freeze-dried goodies.  Other cottage food items include local honey, fresh and dried herbs, spice blends, and flavored oils and vinegars.  Beyond consumable items, the market also has homemade craft and art products.  Homemade craft items include woodworking, sewn and yarn items, jewelry, homemade cards, 3D print, fused glass, and home décor.  Some vendors also utilize old items and turn them into something new, which is great for sustainability.  The market also has different types of art that ranges from paintings to published books.  Some vendors have products that are health and beauty items, such as soaps, lotions, scrubs, and balms.  It is amazing the wide variety of products offered at this market, there is definitely something for everyone.

The market has partnered with non-profit organizations in the past, and will again this year, to bring educational information to its customers.  They will also again help the community with those that are food insecure by donating unsold produce or asking for other donations from customers or the general public that will go to the local food pantry. 

The Geneseo Farmer’s Market is a family friendly environment that is located next to the playground and pavilion, so families and individuals can enjoy its amenities.  There are also other parks, recreation opportunities, and is centrally located to enjoy local eating and shopping throughout Geneseo.  So, visitors and customers can easily spend the morning, or day, in Geneseo.

The Geneseo Farmer’s Market doesn’t stop when summer ends, they continue through the winter with a different schedule and location for the winter market. 

To keep up with the market, they have a Facebook page, Geneseo Farmer’s Market, Instagram, and a website, www.geneseofarmersmarket.com.

GHS Building Trades House Complete and For Sale - By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

The one-story ranch home, constructed by students in Building Trades Classes at Geneseo High School, is complete and is offered for sale by Jay Pettit of Hazelwood Homes.

Six students in the building trades classes completed the construction with help from Travis Mackey, Career and Technical Education Center Director for the Geneseo School District; Bryan Stone, GHS Vocational Instructor; and with help from employees of Hazelwood Homes, Inc., Today’s Builders, Durian Builders, Wirth Plumbing and VanOpdorp Electric.

The three-bedroom home features two full bathrooms; a walk-in closet in the master suite and custom tile shower in the Master bathroom; open concept kitchen with quartz countertops, dining room and great room with vaulted ceilings and a gas fireplace with stone face and custom mantel in the great room; 16’ x 12’ covered rear porch and large covered front porch with stonework on the walls.

There is a crawl space with full-sized door for access and poured concrete floor; low maintenance Pella vinyl windows; three-car garage with zero-step accessible entry and insulated overhead doors with openers and door opening into back yard.

The 1,568 square foot- home, at 851 East St. in Geneseo, is being offered for sale at $382,000, and anyone interested in more information is asked to contact Jay Pettit at 309-441-5184. Pettit said any profit made from the sale of the house will be returned to the Building Trades Program at GHS.

Mackey said he is pleased with the interest in the program and plans are to build another home next year…”We already have 12 students signed up for the program.”

He explained that the building trades program was at one time “a staple in the Career and Technical curriculum, but was then removed for several years…”We are very excited to have it back,” he added. ‘The students and instructor Bryan Stone worked very hard on the project this year.”

Stone was hired in 2016 to teach a building trades program that did not have much participation or support, he said…”For two years we did odd jobs in the community and the program was shut down in 2018. We have been working hard to revamp the program to get it back, and with the help of several local businesses and contractors, a nearly-all-new school board, Mr. Travis Mackey’s and Bob Pettit’s dedication to the program, it happened!”

Stone added, “The program is so much bigger and better than I think any of us thought it would be. The community took notice that we needed this program and with the help of everybody, it’s more than back!”

With the help of Hazelwood Homes, Durian Builders and Today’s Builders, Mackey said, “We were able to stay on track and finish the house before the end of the school year. A special thank you goes to Damon Willaert who helped with the project on a regular basis and worked closely with Mr. Stone and the students.”

Completion of the house also was possible with donations of materials, labor, and furnishings from Chicago St. Decorating, Village Home Stores, Fireplaces Plus, Sullivan Door Co., Connor Co., Comfort Concepts, Anchor Lumber, Crossroads Supply, Edwards Ready Mix, Riverstone Group, J.L. Hardscape, Elite Concrete, Elite Siding & Gutters, River City Pella, Premier Plaster and Drywall, Eller Construction, Advent Painting, Vern’s Home Improvement, VanOpdorp Electric, Steve’s Mirror & Glass, Wirth Plumbing & Heating and Lona Dekezel.

An open house for school district staff was held recently at the Geneseo School District building trades home located at 851 East St. in Geneseo. Posing for a photo in the kitchen area of the home are, from left, Travis Mackey, Career and Technical Education Center Director; Bryan Stone, GHS Vocational Instructor; Alexis Clementz, Alex Davis, Kade VanOpdorp, William Hamerlinck and Luke Abrahamsen-Collins, students in the GHS Building Trades Program. Karson Bannister also is in the school building trades program, but was absent for the photo. Photo by Claudia Loucks