Leslie Goddard to Portray Lady Bird Johnson April 9 at Geneseo Library

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

   Leslie Goddard will present two different programs within a week at the Geneseo Public Library.

   At 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, historian and author Leslie Goddard will portray the American entrepreneur, fashion designer and socialite Lilly Pulitzer.

   Goddard returns to the Geneseo Library at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, where she will characterize Lady Bird Johnson.

   ABOUT LADY BIRD JOHNSON:

   It’s 1969 and Lady Bird Johnson has returned to Texas at the end of her husband’s presidency.  As she welcomes visitors to her home, she reminisces about her years in Washington, the experiences that brought her to the White House, and how she forged her own path as an advocate for the environment, civil rights and her husband.

   Lady Bird Johnson was born Claudia Alta Taylor on Dec. 22, 1912, in Karnack, Texas, in an antebellum plantation house.  Opinions differ about whether the name Lady Bird refers to a bird or a ladybug.  The nickname virtually replaces her first name for the rest of her life.  Her father and siblings called Her Lady and her husband called her Bird, the name she used on her marriage license.  As a teenager, some classmates called her Bird to provoke her since she reportedly was not fond of the name.

   As First Lady, she broke new ground by interacting directly with Congress, employing her prese secretary and making a solo electioneering tour.  She advocated beautifying the nation’s cities and highways, saying “Where flowers bloom, so does hope,” and “The environment is where we all meet, where we all have a mutual interest.”

   The Highway Beautification Act was informally known as “Lady Bird’s Bill.” 

   Information from the Geneseo Library states that Lady Bird Johnson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977 and the Congressional God Medal in 1984, the highest honors bestowed upon a U.S. civilian.  She has been consistently ranked in Siena College Research Institute surveys as one of the most highly regarded American First Ladies per historians’ assessments.

The Moon is Like My Dentures - By Dan Dauw

Illinois Spring Trout Season

  It opens on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 5 a.m. (Hennepin Canal Parkway opens at 6 a.m.) While the ‘Parkway at Sheffield and Moline’s Prospect Lagoon are closer to drive, we like the Centennial Park Pond in Rock Falls, IL. It’s not quite as crowed and the ground is more level. 
Make sure besides your fishing license that you have also purchased the $6.00 trout stamp. You are allowed a limit of 5 trout.  You can purchase an Illinois fishing license and trout stamp at E-Z ‘Livin Sports Center, 231 – 1st Ave West, Milan, IL.    

 Illinois Outdoor News

   This is an interesting outdoor newspaper that contains a lot of hunting, trapping and fishing information about our great state of Illinois. In the recent March 7th issue there was an article by editor, Ralph Loos, on raising the cost of Illinois fishing licenses. 
For some years now, I’ve wondered about that very thing?  The IL-DNR does a pretty good job considering all the various aspects of what that department is responsible for. Maybe it’s not that easy to increase the license fee, but I would think raising the fee by a buck or two is hardly catastrophic.

 More Deer

  So far this year we’ve seen an increase in deer in our backyard and woods. One day our neighbors had 5 in their yard and two in ours.
We had a large doe a few days ago and lots of deer tracks. I set-up a trail camera at night and besides a deer it showed all kinds of creatures. One animal we don’t see much of anymore are rabbits.  Maybe coyotes and/or red-tailed hawks are responsible.
I miss deer hunting, but my health and age works against me. However, I am “not” giving up on fishing. Only until I’m 6 feet under the grass shall I not cast my twister tail.

 Basketball

Geeez, I think I’ve spent more time in front of the TV watching men and women’s college basketball.
We’re fans of Iowa State, Illinois and Illinois State. We have a grandson who attends Unv. of Nebraska so “Go, Big Red!”  The Notre Dame women’s team was really great to watch, but they kind of fell apart towards the end of the season.  They should win their first round in the NCAA tournament. I’m glad we have a good selection of favorites in the tournament.     

Brights Off or On

   With today’s modern vehicle headlights, night driving can be a challenge when approaching on-coming vehicles in the other lane. It seems to me some headlights have a yellow tint to them while others are brightly clear. 
It almost looks like headlights have become more brighter even though the brights are not on.  I know sometimes I don’t have my brights on, but the other vehicle thinks I do.  I’m wondering if car manufactures should tone down their headlights a tad. 

Humor

 After landing on the moon is it true that our astronauts found Alice Kramden?

The moon is like my dentures. Both come out at night.

John Adams once said, “One useless man is a shame, two are politicians and three or more are a congress.”

Which underwear brand do seniors love best? It Depends.

“If you don’t read my column, you are uninformed. If you do read my column, you are misinformed.”

 Quotes

   “Often the test of courage is not to die, but to live.”

-  Vittorio Alfien

Leslie Goddard Portrays Lilly Pulitzer April 5 at Geneseo Library - By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current


   Historian and author Leslie Goddard will portray the American entrepreneur, fashion designer and socialite Lilly Pulitzer at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, at the Geneseo Public Library.

   Goddard is known in the area for her character portrayals as Lucille Ball, First Ladies Mary Todd Lincoln, Eleanor Roosevelt, Jacqueline Kennedy and Lady Bird Johnson, in addition to Amelia Earhart and Audrey Hepburn. 

   She writes and lectures on American cultural history, with particular expertise in women’s history.  She has a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master’s in Museum Studies.  In addition to her own stint as a Marshall Field’s sales associate, her grandfather worked at the State Street store for 26 years, serving as merchandise manager for linens and manager of the Far Eastern buying office.

ABOUT LILLY PULITZER:

   Lily Pulitzer eloped with Herbert Pulitzer Jr., (the grandson of Joseph Pulitzer, the publisher after whom the Pulitzer Prize is named) in 1950.  The couple settled in Palm Beach, FL, shortly after their marriage.  They owned several orange groves, where Pulitzer eventually opened a fruit juice stand.  While working at the stand, she found that squeezing juice made a mess of her clothes, so she asked her dressmaker to design a dress that would camouflage the stains.  Customers loved her dresses, so she began to see them at the fruit juice stand.  Soon, she was selling more dresses than juice.  This led to her focusing on dress design and her dresses became known as her “Lillys.”

   Pulitzer became president of her own company, Lilly Pulitzer, Inc. in 1959.  The main factory was in Miami, and the fabrics were purchased by the Key West Hand Print Fabrics Company.  Here dresses were very popular from the 1960’s to the early 1980’s, and were worn by Jacqueline Kennedy and members of the Rockefeller and Vanderbilt families.  After Jackie Kennedy was featured in Life magazine, wearing one of Pulitzer’s shifts, many preppy ladies followed her lead.  Goddard later stated that the first shift dress that Jackie Kennedy was photographed in, was made of kitchen curtains. 

   By 1984, the entire clothing operation closed. 

   That was not the end of Lilly Pulitzer designs.

   In 1993, the rights to the brand were purchase by Sugartown Worldwide inc., who contacted Pulitzer in the hopes of reviving the operation.  Today, the company maintains Lilly Pulitzer Signature Stores.  The brand also is sold in major department stores such as Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. The company is now owned by Oxford Industries Inc.

   Lilly and Herbert Pulitzer had three children.  The couple divorced in 1969, and shortly after, she married Enrique Rousseau Enrique, who died in 1993.  She passed away in 2013 at the age of 81.

You Can Sing in the 17th Annual Community Choir of Geneseo

The Community Choir of Geneseo will be celebrating their 17th annual concert entitled "Hope" on Wednesday, June 25 at 7 p.m. in the Geneseo HS Concert Hall. The Community Choir includes those entering 8th grade and older adults. They rehearse on Wednesday evenings from 6:30- 8 p.m. beginning Wednesday May 28 thru June 18 in the Geneseo HS Concert Hall. Repertoire includes  "Over the Rainbow", "Blue Suede Shoes", Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor" and "Hope for Resolution". If you are interested in singing, please call Pam Edwards,the director at 309-944-6641 or email (singplay53@gmail.com) by May 2.

   Students entering grades 4-7 are invited to sing in the Children's Choir. They will rehearse June 19,20,23,24,25. Registration forms are available through the Geneseo elementary and middle school choir instructors or contact Pam Edwards. The deadline to register is May 9. Repertoire includes "Amani Utupe" and "Do,Re,Mi". 

   Combined choirs will sing ""Wells Fargo Wagon", "Blue Skies" and "Defying Gravity".

Just Punt! - By Dan Dauw 

Running Deer in Olympics

  I came across an interesting article about an Olympic sport back in 1908 and 1920. It is about the “sport?” of shooting running deer.
The story is actually about Oscar Swahn, a Swedish shooter at age 60, who participated in the London Olympics in 1908. He won two gold medals and a bronze. Then in 1920, at age 72, he won a silver medal in the double-shot running deer competition.
He still is the oldest gold medalist in the Olympics.  Let’s hope the “deer” was a paper target or stuffed deer and not a live one!

 Mild Winter

  Well, okay, winter is not quite finished with us yet, but March 20th is not far away.  I think our nice neighbor used his snow-blower and leaf-blower three times on our driveway.  It seemed the heavy snow storms went either north or south of us. Whatever, thanks Mother Nature for a mild and fast winter. 

That Midwest Mom

  You will find her on Facebook and she is hilarious.  She gives cooking lessons, but pokes fun at what ingredients might work or just “punt!” 
She is a Minnesota gal and sometimes brings on her funny accent. Like, “Yeah, sure; yeah  betcha!”
One time she sang a song and “wow,” talk about a beautiful operatic voice! She is the real deal. Check her out!

 April Hummers

  The little hummingbirds might just make it up to our neck-of-woods by next month. Make sure to clean your feeder both inside and outside every so often. 
Yellow bee guards are nice to have on the feeder. Although sometimes even those can be overwhelmed by so many bees.

Birds on the Decline

 According to scientists, 2.9 billion birds are gone since 1970. Birds, except waterfowl, have been on a steady decline.  Loss of habitat is one of the problems.
We feed birds throughout the year, but I can’t say either way that there are more or less birds. Baltimore Orioles don’t stick around very long, but our neighbors have better luck. Grape jelly and oranges are what they like, but it’s rare when we see one at our “BO” feeder.
We did have a new winter visitor at our feeder. It was a northern flicker. Beautiful bird.  He and two red-breasted woodpeckers trade off their time chowing down on the suet cakes.

 Lookout WW2 Japanese Dogs

  Towards the end of WW2 the population of the Japanese species of dog, Akitas, had become almost extinction with only 16 dogs left.
In 1944, Japanese people were killing their Akitas and selling the pelts to Japanese soldiers for warmth plus also as a food source.

 Humor

 I have a great dog. She is half Labrador, half pit bull. It’s a good combination. Yes, she might bite your leg off, but she will bring it back to you.

Quote

  “The nearest approach to immortality on earth is a government bureau.”

James F. Bymes   

Next Day Service - By Dan Dauw

By Dan Dauw
Geneseo Current

Ice Fish’n

   I put away the hard water fishing gear until next winter.  Too dangerous from here on. We only got out on the ice four or five times.  Lorna and I fished the main lake at Giant Goose, east of Atkinson. Twice we had some success with bluegills.

Fishing License Due

   Your 2024 Illinois fishing license expires March 31, 2025. If you enjoy trout fishing your Inland Trout Stamp also needs to be renewed. 
You can purchase your license, live bait, and fishing gear at E-Z Livin’ Sports Center, 231 1st Ave, Milan, IL.  Their phone number is: (309) 787-2244.  They open Mondays – Fridays at 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. On Saturdays 6 a.m.  – 9 p.m., Sundays 6 a.m. – 8 p.m 

Geneseo Izaak Walton League

  The next members and guests meeting will be held on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the Ikes Lodge, 1 mile north on Route 82.  The guest speaker will be Steve Kastorff, retired teacher, author and historian. His program is entitled, “Geneseo Fish Hatchery.” Refreshments served. 

 Tattoos

  For hundreds of years, many sailors have held the cultural tradition of tattooing themselves.  I never got into it myself, but I had some Navy buddies that had tattoos.
The funniest one I ever saw was a buddy who had two anchors (called screws) tattooed on his butt. I had another friend who had his girlfriend’s picture on his right arm.  What we thought funny is she broke up with him. He went through a painful time getting it erased. 
Here are a few listed images used as tattoos by Navy sailors and their meaning. 1) Octopus (means Navy diver), 2) Rose (a lover left at home), 3) Polar Bear (sailed the Arctic Circle), 4) Shellback Turtle (Crossed the equator), 5) Rope (Deckhand and done on left wrist).

When I wasn’t Old

I was about 19 of age or there abouts when a friend of my dad’s stopped at our house. The man was a former German soldier in WW2.  On a wall we had a WW2 German rifle.  I remember he took the rifle off the wall and said, “Ah, you have a Mauser rifle. I had one of these. It served me well.”  I wished I’d asked him more about his time as an enemy soldier. Maybe better I didn’t!
2) Whenever I needed new shoes my mother would take me to a shoe place. I would then step up on a big wooden box and have my feet x-rayed. It showed the bones in my feet. Years later it was found that medically, it was not a good idea.
3)  One time, as a kid, I found a clip that held some cartridges. I went to my dad’s work bench and hit the clip with a hammer. “BANG!” Boy, was I lucky as the cartridges were blanks. It was stupid and I got in trouble on that one.
4) When I was young in the 1950s I went to the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport with a friend and his dad. I remember seeing one of the Mer-Benz cars belonging to Adolf Hitler. It was long, black and instead of just two wheels in the rear, it had 4.  Funny how some things just stick in ‘yer mind! 
5) Remember when clothes needed to be dried out on clothes lines? My mom had an umbrella type contraption that turned in the ground. She put clothes pins in the garments to dry.  I wonder what she did in the winter time?

USPS

   It’s getting harder and harder to stick-up for my old Altemeyer. I sure hear lots of complaints.  Personally, we get good service from our letter carrier, Jan, but forget about “next day service” to and from zip codes 527, 528 and 612..! 
I get diabetes medication through the mail and that sometimes can be a problem. Otherwise, being retired, I can wait on most things.  I did see on TV that President Trump said he wants to take a look at the USPS for possible changes.  There certainly is room at the “Peach Palace” (Headquarters) for improvements. 
I have two of my former bosses who receive this column and I’m sure they would agree. Changes are needed.  Stay tuned!!!

Humorous and True

1)    In Italy, you eat spaghetti with a fork only. Using a spoon is considered uncouth.

2)     It is considered improper and impolite to use silverware to eat chicken in Turkey. What about when eating turkey??? 

3)     Keep your right elbow off the table when eating in Chilie.  Maybe it’s okay if you have a bowl of chili. 

Quote of the Week

 “We the people come first, not the government.”    -  John F. Kennedy

Geneseo Chamber of Commerce Stands Firm in Support of Original High-Speed Rail Route, Opposes Colona/Barstow Alternative

Zack Sullivan, Executive Director
Geneseo Chamber of Commerce

The Geneseo Chamber of Commerce reiterated its strong support for the established Iowa-Interstate Railroad high-speed train route connecting the Quad Cities to Chicago through Geneseo, Annawan, and Wyanet, expressing deep concern over the proposed alternative BNSF routes via Colona or Barstow. Based on recent developments and ongoing discussions regarding the Quad Cities passenger rail service, the Geneseo Chamber believes that the original route remains the most economically viable and strategically beneficial option for the Quad Cities region.

The established route, which aligns with existing infrastructure and offers direct access to key communities, promises to stimulate economic growth and enhance connectivity for Geneseo and its surrounding areas. Currently, Geneseo is slated to host a stop along the route, with plans to build a small depot in which travelers can access Geneseo, while offering local residents and visitors an option to travel to Chicago and the Quad Cities via rail service. Diverting the route would not only disrupt years of planning, infrastructure modifications, and investment for a stop along the route in Geneseo, but would also potentially diminish the long-term benefits intended for the region.

Geneseo City Administrator, Brandon Maeglin, adds: “In 2017, the City of Geneseo made a significant investment in land acquisition to accommodate the planned Geneseo Amtrak Depot. The City, and the Geneseo community, are looking for answers so that we can properly plan for the future of this vacant piece of land in a key part of our Downtown Business District.”

The Geneseo Chamber emphasizes that the original and more direct route through Geneseo, Annawan, and Wyanet was chosen after careful consideration of various factors, including population density, existing infrastructure, and potential economic impact. The proposed shift to Colona or Barstow raises significant concerns about increased costs, longer travel times, potential delays, and the long-term sustainability of the project. The Geneseo Chamber of Commerce believes that prioritizing the original route ensures that the Quad Cities region maximizes the opportunities presented by high-speed rail, fostering economic development, enhancing tourism, and improving transportation access for residents and businesses alike.

The Geneseo Chamber of Commerce urges State of Illinois and Quad Cities officials to remain committed to the established route and to reject any proposals that would compromise the integrity and effectiveness of the high-speed rail project. We believe that a unified and consistent approach involving all stakeholders along the route is essential to delivering the promised benefits of this vital infrastructure investment to the entire Quad Cities region. We will continue to advocate for the original route, ensuring that the interests of Geneseo and the surrounding communities are protected and that the region’s economic future is secured.