Just 5 Paragraphs - By Dan Dauw

Before you Check Out

  I realize most of us don’t really want to talk about our ending, but it would be one less problem for your spouse and children in dealing with the obituary. 
I had an uncle that wrote out his OB and I thought that might be a helpful task to do before I go to the great beyond. I tried to keep it short with just 5 paragraphs. I have heard that it is expensive to have one’s obituary in the local newspaper.  Instead, maybe I could just mail my OB to all my friends. Five or six should do it.   

 It’s a Bird, it’s a Plane, it’s?

   I sent the following “happening” to some friends who know I’m not completely “off center.” Last Saturday, in the afternoon, I sat outside on our upper deck watching the birds at our feeders.  The sky was cloudless with calm winds.
I happened to look up in the sky and saw a mature bald eagle.  That’s not real unusual as we’ve seen eagles before in our area.  However, this time was different.
All of a sudden, a very bright object and about 1/3rd the size of an eagle, appeared out of nowhere and seemed to go after the eagle.  Well, Mr. Eagle took after the “thing” and grabbed it in mid-air. In a second or two it released the thing.
Then it just vanished. Then entered another eagle that came on the scene and no, we are not talking about turkey vultures. With their white heads and tails, they were mature, for sure! What I cannot understand how this “thing” could vanish.
Was it a drone? I have never seen a drone in flight.  Still, how could it disappear, off and on?  I did not hear the thing make any noise, but then I didn’t have my hearing aids in either.
When the eagle grabbed the thing wouldn’t that harm the drone, or even the bird?  I guess I will never know what I witnessed on that Saturday afternoon, but one thing is for sure, it was mighty weird.

When I Wasn’t Old

  I remember, when in grade school, that we shot free throws underhanded. That was the norm. I don’t remember seeing that in high school. When I was a kid I remember flying kites. We flew them just west of Stephan’s Park. No cell phones or electronic devices. Outdoors was the name of the game!
Any of you remember the Royal American Shows? It was held in
Davenport along the river. A train brought all the tents, and other circus gear. We went to the RAS every time it was in town. It was lots of fun.
I loved reading comic books. I remember we had milk delivered to our house in Moline from Baker’s Dairy. The milkman put the milk in an insulated box on our porch.
One time we heard on WHBF radio that there was a car in the Rock River. We were not far from the bridge going into Milan so a buddy and I went to the accident. I won’t say the name of the lady who was in the car. When the wrecker pulled the car out of the water, she fell through the broken windshield. I won’t go through the details, but I remember it to this day. Not a pretty sight. 

Basketball

  There sure has been a lot of good men and women basketball games these past several weeks.  I wish Iowa State men and women teams could have gone a bit further.  Their men’s team played horrible their last game.  Nothing seemed to work in their favor.
My favorite, Notre Dame women’s team, was great to watch. My all-time favorite is Hannah Hidalgo. They are really going to miss seniors, Sonia Citron and Maddy Westbeld.  I think freshman, Kate Koval, needs to improve. Coach Niele Ivey is an awesome coach. I have to laugh as sometimes she dresses like she is going to some ball. That’s just fine, she’s a pretty lady. “Go, Irish!”

 Humor

  Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only two have survived the test of time. The Great Pyramid of Giza and Dale Collis of Galva.

What is a soda machine’s favorite dance? Ans: The can-can! 

Why did the cabinet go to the psychiatrist? Ans: It kept talking to its shelf.

Quote of the Week

   “You will be better advised to watch what you do instead of what you say”      - John N. Mitchell

Geneseo School Board Candidates in 2025 Election - By Claudia Loucks

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current


Voters in the Geneseo School District will have the opportunity to vote for school board candidates at the upcoming April 1 election.  The seats are four-year terms.
   Kane Causemaker is seeking re-election to the board and three newcomers will be elected to the school board.   Current board members Jackie Mickley, Barry Snodgrass and Karen Urick are not seeking re-election to the board. 
   The newcomers are Casey Disterhoft, Tyler Robertson and Kelly Storm. 
   In our quest for information regarding the qualifications of each candidate, we put together a list of questions for them to answer, and asked the candidates to answer each question in 200 words or less.|
  All photos are submitted and the candidates are listed in alphabetical order with their responses:

KANE CAUSEMAKER (SEEKING RE-ELECTION) – Kane Causemaker and his wife Christina have a daughter Kolby (16); and a son Knox (14).
   He graduated from high school in Geneseo in 1995 and earned a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Education from Oklahoma State University.
   Causemaker is employed as Protein Procurement lead for JBS.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOLBOARD? – “There isn’t a profession more vital to a child’s potential than a legitimately great teacher.  Just as important is the creation and maintenance of a suitable learning environment.  After college, I regrettably did not pursue a career in education, and this is just my way of attempting to be an asset to Geneseo’s school district.”
WHAT ARE THE CHIEF ISSUES FACING YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP SOLVE THEM?  - “My greatest concern is for the students in our district to have everything they need that helps them maximize their potential in the future.  We have to manage their needs and also create a work environment conducive to quality teacher retention, all while maintaining fiscal responsibility.  We can accomplish this with sound and open communication between the BOE (Board of Education) and administration.”

CASEY DISTERHOFT - and his wife Angelica have one son Noah, and two daughters, Keira and Isla.
   Disterhoft graduated from JD Darnall High School (now Geneseo High School) in 1995; and earned a Bachelor’s Degree after attending Black Hawk College and Western Illinois University.  
   He is the City of Geneseo, Chief of Police. 
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD? – “I’m running for school board to be part of an elected unified team representing the Geneseo School District area voters, ensuring our most valuable resource, the children, have a safe learning environment and a top tier education that gets them prepared for success in the rest of their lives.”
WHAT ARE THE CHIEF ISSUES FACING YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP SOLVE THEM? –   - “Sustainability of a growing district population and taking steps by looking at what could be done to make the Geneseo School District even more desirable to other families when they make the decision to relocate.”
“Recruitment and retention of high-quality staff.  We have great staff here in this school district at every building, in every unique section of the educational experience, and working with them to make sure this district exceeds in the future is something I look forward to.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
   “I’ve dedicated my life to serving others, it is part of my soul and faith.  I see serving on the school board as another opportunity where I can give back and make a positive difference in this community that I love.
  I look forward to this opportunity of working with parents, staff and the children, making sure the children that come through this school district get a great education and are set up for success in their future so they can reach their goals and dreams.”

TYLER ROBERTSON – and his wife Renee have four children, Shaw (12 years); Harper, (10 years); Ryder (eight years); and Reed (six years). 
Robertson is self-employed as business owner at Geneseo Child Care LLC, a DCFS licensed child care and preschool with two locations in Geneseo; also, owner at Charming Geneseo Farmhouse Airbnb Rental of Geneseo.  He is president of Life’s Little Miracles, Inc., a DCFS licensed child care and preschool in Port Byron.
   He graduated from JD Darnall High School in 2007 (the last year the school was known as JD Darnall High School before being renamed Geneseo High School) and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. 
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD? – “My interest in running for the school board is vested in seeing our school district provide the children of our amazing community just as many great educators, role models, and opportunities as it has provided to myself growing up in Geneseo.  I’m proud to be from Geneseo and am proud that we already have a great district by many standards. 
After attending board meetings for the past year, my interest to be involved was sparked at the many critical choices our district faces, which affect and shape our community.  I consider myself very connected to our area through my own children’s activities, through church, and through my business, all of which gives me a strong understanding of the wants and needs of our community.  All facets of our community thrive when we have a great school district to build around.
   Geneseo is home to a wonderful array of early learning programs that feed into the district, and I know many of these young learners personally. I’d love to see these children continue to succeed in our primary and secondary educational programs and beyond.  The current school board has expressed the goal to not only be good at what we do, but to be great at it, and I am aligned with that vision.”
WHAT ARE THE CHIEF ISSUES FACING YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP SOLVE THEM? – Efficient and effective use of district funding always remains a critical balancing act.  Striving for improvement while maintaining balanced funding is difficult, especially with the rate of inflation we’ve seen in recent years.  To go along with challenges in funding, our district is also experiencing an ongoing, steady decline in enrollment with the overall number of students served.  Yet, our population with IEPs has been increasing and is forecasted to continually increase, which presents challenges regarding resource allocation and how to best serve this population in the future.  I believe my diverse business management experience will enable me to bring data-driven, as well as ‘outside-the-box’ solutions to the board.
   Another issue that will require further attention and evaluation is our grading scales.  Our current pilot of the standards-based program has raised concerns about clarity for parents and students and the need for a singular direction across the district is important for the progress of making successive decisions, like curriculum, to support the chosen scale. 
My goal will be to facilitate open dialogue on all issues like this one, exploring options, and to develop solutions that maximize the potential of every student.  I think it is also important to note that all issues that face the district come with many complexities, and so it will be crucial to collaborate with the board team members on solutions that benefit all students.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS – “Geneseo CUSD #228 will be transitioning to a new Superintendent to lead the next chapter in the history of Geneseo academic performance.  The success of anyone in this position hinges on the support they receive from the community and that success ultimately is tied to the success of our district.  Therefore, I would encourage the community to welcome whomever the Superintendent may be, and foster positive support when the time comes to ensure a smooth transition and a successful future for all.”

KELLY STORM – and her husband, Tyler, have two sons, Chambers, (seven years old); and Chesney (four years old).   Storm is employed as a commercial insurance producer.
   She graduated from Annawan High School and pursued General Studies at Quincy University.
WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD? – “I’m running for the school board because I’m committed to strengthening our schools and supporting Geneseo’s tradition of excellence. 
With a background in community involvement and a clear understanding of the challenges we face, I want to work closely with teachers and administrators to create a supportive, high-achieving environment for students and staff.  Serving on the board will allow me to help preserve and build on Geneseo’s strong community values, district support, and outstanding leadership.
WHAT ARE THE CHIEF ISSUES FACING YOUR SCHOOL DISTGRICT AND WHAT WILL YOU DO TO HELP SOLVE THEM? – “Joining any board, I believe it is essential to fully understand all topics and issues before proposing any recommendations or changes, particularly at a time when we’re welcoming a new superintendent.  This transition presents a unique opportunity to reassess and refine our strategies to better serve the entire district. 
As a new member at this critical juncture, I am committed to collaborating closely with the new superintendent and other board members to implement the necessary adjustments and enhancements.  My goal is to ensure that our policies and practices are effectively aligned with the needs of all stakeholders in the district, thereby optimizing our educational environment and outcomes.”
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS – “I am eager to serve our community and help maintain Geneseo Community School District #228 longstanding reputation for educational and athletic excellence. I am committed to supporting our educators, administrators and coaches in fostering an environment where learning and achievement are prioritized.  I look forward to contributing to a district that not only values excellence, but also nurtures the potential of every student and staff member.”

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