Sarah Says Things: The Annual December Shuffle

Every December, I convince myself I’m going to glide through the month like someone in a cozy holiday commercial—calm, organized, maybe even holding a mug of something warm. And every December, reality taps me on the shoulder and hands me a schedule that looks like it lost a wrestling match with the Christmas Walk.

It starts the second the first event reminder hits. One minute you're feeling good—tree up, a few gifts stashed away, nothing too wild—and then suddenly it’s Christmas Walk week, and your calendar looks like a scavenger hunt written by someone who actively dislikes you. The parade. The Jingle Run. School concerts. Choir performances. Cookie exchanges. Work parties. The “quick stop downtown” that is never actually quick. Oh, and the annual scramble to remember which events you promised you’d attend, support, or simply not forget existed.

Shopping in Geneseo during December is its own special sport. You run into someone you know in every aisle, which should be lovely—and it is—but it also means a “quick trip” now includes three conversations, one friendly argument about weather models, and at least one reminder that you still haven't mailed your Christmas cards. And then you walk out with five things you didn’t intend to buy and none of the things you came in for. Classic.

And the weather… well. It’s December in Illinois, which means it could be 55 degrees, or it could be Snowmageddon, or it could be both within six hours. Around here, the forecast is more of a suggestion than a plan. You check it, you shrug, you grab your coat anyway.

But for all the overbooking, the running around, the forgotten cookie trays, and the “wait, that’s tonight?” moments, there’s something about December here that hits different. The lights downtown. The windows. The kids running around with red noses but refusing to wear gloves. The way everyone crosses paths, on purpose or by accident, and somehow it feels like part of the season.

So no, December will never be calm. Not here. Not anywhere. But the December Shuffle—the real Geneseo version—has its own charm. A little chaotic, a little cozy, a little too full, but always worth it.

Hospital Auxiliary 2025 Love Light Tree

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Kathleen VanDeRostyne

   Kathleen VanDeRostyne, Auxiliary/Volunteer Supervisor at Hammond-Henry Hospital, stands by the banner for the Auxiliary’s Love Light Tree, displayed at the corner of Wells St. and College Ave.  Ornaments will be given for this year’s Love Light Tree to anyone making contributions of $20 and more to the Love Light Tree in memory of a loved one.  Contributions to the Love Light Tree also may be made in honor of a special person in someone’s life.

   The tree is an auxiliary fundraiser and funds received this year will be used for Health Career

Scholarships.  Donations forms and additional information are available at the hospital volunteer office, 309-944-9130; at the hospital website www.hammondhenry.com/participate/volunteer or by email at volunteer@hammondhenry.com.  Checks may be made payable to Hammond-Henry Hospital Auxiliary and mailed to the Auxiliary at 600 North College Ave., Geneseo, IL 61254.

   Names of all donors and names of those remembered and honored will be displayed at the main and east entrances to the hospital.  Photo by Claudia Loucks

 

Sarah Says Things: The Great Geneseo Snowmagedde-geddon-palooza of 2025

(…or whatever wannabe-meteorologists are calling it by the time you finish reading this)

There’s a special moment every winter when the forecast stops being a forecast and turns into theater. You know it’s here when the meteorologist leans toward the camera with a solemn expression usually reserved for tax audits and whispers those fateful words: “Significant accumulation.”

From there, the local ritual begins.

Fareway sells out of bread like the entire town suddenly decided to open competing toast restaurants. The Dollar Fresh parking lot becomes a live-action stress test for humanity. And on Facebook, half of Geneseo is calmly sharing radar images while the other half is calling it “The Big One” and asking if anyone remembers 2011.

Someone will insist the storm always “falls apart anyway.” Someone else will say this is “nothing compared to the Blizzard of ’79,” whether or not they were actually alive then. And there’s always that one relentlessly cheerful local who chirps, “At least downtown will look pretty!” while the rest of us are calculating how many inches of snow it takes before we give up on shoveling and consider moving to Arizona.

To be fair to the forecasters, Midwest snowfall is an emotional creature. One minute it’s heading straight for Henry County; the next, it jogs north to bother Davenport or decides to dump everything on Atkinson for no reason whatsoever. Predicting it is less science and more roulette.

Still—jokes aside—we all share the same hope: that everyone in Geneseo gets through the storm safely. Whether this turns into a blizzard, a light dusting, or one of those famous “hyped for three days and melted by noon” specials, we’re better off prepping than panicking.

So yes, have a laugh, grab the hot chocolate, and prepare for another episode of As the Snowstorm Turns. But also check on your neighbors, avoid driving like you’re auditioning for Fast & Furious: Route 82 Drift, and make sure your phone’s charged.

Because no matter what actually falls from the sky, the only thing that matters is that Geneseo gets through the Great Snowmagedde-geddon-palooza of 2025 together—in one piece, warm, safe, and maybe just a little smug that we handled it better than those big cities.

Close Encounter - By Dan Dauw

By Dan Dauw
Geneseo Current

LAWN TRACTOR vs. DEER

   As most of you know, it’s rut season meaning buck deer have one thing in mind and it’s not much of anything else.  Last week one of neighbors was cutting grass on his riding mower.
  All of a sudden, out of the woods came one not so friendly buck and it hit the side of our neighbor’s tractor. It then ran back into the woods. Our neighbor was not injured, but it was a close encounter, for sure!

 SPORTS

  What the heck is going on with the MN Vikings?  I figured they would be ahead of all four teams in the North Central Division save maybe for Detroit. How ‘bout those Bears. As of this writing, they lead the division with 8 wins. 
  I hope I’m wrong but I think their luck is going to run out on Friday, Nov 28, at Philadelphia. Syracuse had a horrible time last Saturday playing Notre Dame. Syracuse lost by 70 points. That’s a basketball score!!
  A few weeks ago I watched Ohio State play and they have one awesome team. Their “D” is really something to watch. Last week the ladies Notre Dame team beat USC by a basket. I know its old, but watching Hannah Hidalgo is such a joy to watch. 
 As I mentioned in last week’s column, the loss of their 4 last season’s starters makes for a l-o-n-g season. Having said that, I’m sure Coach Ivy will do her best to get ‘em in shape. They just need to play as a team and that takes time! UConn is the team to watch.
 The last I looked, UConn was at the top 25 in the women’s basketball poll. Their coach, Geno, knows how to get the best out of his teams, both past and present. Besides ND, we are Iowa State fans, but I haven’t seen the men or women teams yet. 

FISHING

  Three of us braved the cool air last Saturday for about 3 hours of fishing at a private lake. We caught a total of 6, 3 crappie and 3 bass.  Just enough for one meal.  
  Went fishing at Giant Goose, Atkinson, last Sunday morning, Nov 24th. I was surprised at how low the main lake was.  I only had 3 bites using worms and minnows. At 10:30 a.m. I left empty handed.  Because of health reasons I think I’m going to have to forego ice fishing. I did enjoy it.   

FEED THE BIRDS

  Just a reminder to feed our feathered friends of the sky.  Birds really need help when the ground is covered with that white stuff. Snow will come soon enough. 

RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP

  As an old sailor I am glad to see the increase in the building of submarines. Yes, aircraft carriers get lots of publicity and well they should. I spent 2 years on one, but sometimes I wonder if there isn’t a shift to a more difficult target on the seas.
 Today submarines are much more stealth than they were during the World Wars.  Yes, we need aircraft carriers, “tin-cans” and so on, but I think the submarine is one major “go-to” weapon if WW3 ever happens. Hopefully not! 

HUMOR

   It doesn’t matter if you are tall, short, thin, fat, rich or poor. At the end of the day, it’s night!”  Lorna told me to pick up 6 cans of Sprite at the grocery store. When I got home, I realized I picked 7-up. 

THANKSGIVING JOKES

Why did the turkey start a band? Ans: He had drumsticks.
What did pilgrims use to bake cookies?  Ans: May-flour
Who doesn’t eat on Thanksgiving? Ans: The turkey because it’s always stuffed. 

QUOTE

  “The present column is a very long one, simply because I had no leisure to make it shorter!”   - - Blaise Pascal

“HAPPY THANKSGIVING”

Geneseo Model Railroad Club Donates to Library

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Claire Crawford, director of the Geneseo Public Library, and Mike Gawrysiak, representing the Geneseo Model Railroad Club, are shown at a recent meeting of the Model Railroaders when a donation of $50 was made from the club to the library.  Gawrysiak said, “The library is a huge supporter of our train club and our monthly meetings are held at the library, at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday  of each month.  To show our gratitude to the library we decided to make this year’s donation to the library, and we have miniature library billboards included in our displays,” Anyone interested in learning more about the Geneseo Model Railroad Club is welcome to attend the meetings, and Gawrysiak said, “All scales, gauges and ages are welcome.”  Claudia Loucks Photo

 

Geneseo Chamber of Commerce Announces the 2025 Geneseo Christmas Walk: Windows of Hope

Zack Sullivan, Executive Director
Geneseo Chamber of Commerce

The 2025 Geneseo Christmas Walk will take place Saturday December 13th from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm in Geneseo, IL. The 2025 Geneseo Christmas Walk marks the 40th Anniversary of the annual Geneseo Christmas Walk.

The Geneseo Christmas Walk theme of "Windows of Hope" is the designated theme for the 2025 event. This theme encourages a celebration of hope and the holiday spirit within the community. It involves businesses and residents decorating their windows into the popular Living Windows to reflect messages of optimism and Christmas cheer. The theme aims to capture the wonder and charm of the holiday season in a small-town setting.

New this year, the Windows of Hope concert will take place at 7:30 pm at the Geneseo High School Performing Arts Center. As the finale to the 2025 Geneseo Christmas Walk, “Windows of Hope” is a free Contemporary Christmas Celebration Concert. Come sing with us! You’ll know every song! Some high energy, some emotional, yet all filled with joy and hope during the holiday season. The evening will close in candlelight.

The 40th annual Geneseo Christmas Walk is coordinated by the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce. Zack Sullivan, Executive Director of the Geneseo Chamber, commented, “The Geneseo Christmas Walk hosts one of the best small town holiday celebrations in the Midwest. Many people travel from afar to attend this annual community event, the biggest event Geneseo hosts all year.

The annual Christmas Walk themes change year to year, and the event is very versatile. We thought that after 40 years, it would be a great idea to pay homage to the Living Windows that have been a staple of the event for the past four decades.” Sullivan said, “The Geneseo Christmas Walk is a kaleidoscope of holiday offerings, including live music, holiday shopping, warm meals, a Gingerbread House Decorating Contest, living windows, luminaries, trolley rides and so much more! This has always been one of my favorite events in Geneseo. People from throughout our region make the annual trip to Geneseo to celebrate Christmas time!”

The Geneseo Christmas Walk has something for everyone. The Geneseo Jingle Run 5K race kicks off the big day’s festivities at 8:30 am. The Lighted Christmas Parade is a popular regional attraction, which steps off in Downtown Geneseo at 5:00 pm sharp. The parade leads up to the traditional Tree Lighting Ceremony of the City Christmas Tree at approx. 5:45 pm at the intersection of State and Second Streets.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank Pavilion will host a Holly Jolly Christmas Party from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm – featuring holiday-themed dance music from a live DJ, ice sculptures, and a trackless holiday train for the kids to enjoy.

The Geneseo Christmas Walk started in 1986 as the Geneseo Victorian Walk, offering a unique way to celebrate Christmas in Geneseo while providing a boost to local small businesses during the holiday season. Since then, the event has become an all-time favorite for Geneseoans and visitors from the Quad Cities region alike – capturing the wonder and charm of experiencing Christmas in a Christmas-movie-like small town setting. Event organizers anticipate attendance of over 10,000 people this year. Geneseo’s population is 6,500 people.

The evening will be filled with Christmas magic in Geneseo and we invite you to join us both that evening and at any time in Geneseo, IL. Most events are free unless otherwise indicated; some meal and warming sites will accept free-will donations.

Geneseo 2025 Christmas Walk Ornament Available

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Megan Harrington

Megan Harrington, daughter of Mike and Jill Harrington, Geneseo, shows the 2025 Christmas Walk ornament, which reflects this year’s Christmas Walk theme of “Windows of Hope.”  The limited number of ornaments are now being offered for sale at $20 each at Smith Studio and Gallery, 124 South State, RutabagA Studio & Gallery, 108 North State St., and Geneseo Art League, 125 North State St.

  Dale Smith of Smith Studio and Gallery, Geneseo, designed the ornament commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Geneseo Christmas Walk. The ornament was created by Lou Hanson of Hantverk Pottery in Bishop Hill.

   The 2025 white porcelain ornament is circular shaped and showcases the design of a white dove in the center of a blue circle with the words “2025 Geneseo Christmas Walk.”

   Stepping back in time to 1993, the year when Don Beck created the very first ornament to commemorate the Victorian Walk in Geneseo.  The Victorian Walk became the Geneseo Christmas Walk in 2008.  Beck retired from making the ornaments in 2006, but the ornament tradition continues.

   David Smith, who, with his wife, Dale, own Smith Studio & Gallery, said, “The Christmas Walk ornament is a special Christmas tradition for many families who look forward to adding this year’s ornament, knowing that these will be cherished heirlooms for generations to come.”

   There are 60 ornaments created each year. 

 

Food Pantry Meets Needs of Families for Thanksgiving

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current


Michael Sigwalt

 “What a great community to be part of!” were the words from Michael Sigwalt, director of the Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry, when asked how the current food shortage crisis and government shutdown has affected the pantry.

   Sigwalt added, “Geneseo is generous.”

  The GAFP served a record number of families in October of this year, (501 families in total), which Sigwalt said is a 17.6 percent increase over the previous record of 426 families, which was reached in Sept. 2025, and Sigwalt said the community stepped up to meet the increased need.

   “The 501 families served also is a 57.5 percent increase over the number of families served in October of 2024, which was 318. 

   “For all of fiscal year 2025, we’ve served an average of 371 families per month, which is a 60 percent increase over the families served in fiscal year 2024, which was 233.

  The included chart shows the progression of families served at the pantry since August of 2021.

   Sigwalt commented, “In response to the national news concerning Federal actions, or inactions, the people of the City of Geneseo have responded so incredibly favorably.  Because of their amazing generosity, we have not had our pantry shelves lacking of food!”

   Keeping the shelves stocked has also been the result of the pantry staff seeking new food sources and Sigwalt added, “We most certainly have been very busy exploring as many new food sources as possible.”

   He listed the sources:

  -Greater utilization of River Bend Food Bank and Midwest Food Bank resources.
  -An increase in purchased inventories.
  -Fabulous food drives throughout the community!
  -Incredible support form our area food retailers!

   “Because of the community’s incredible support, we have been able to provide some of our Thanksgiving food items for our guests, such as canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, corn bread mix, stuffing mix, and mashed potatoes.”

   The Thanksgiving food items did not include meat this year and Sigwalt said the reason being there were too many families and rising meat costs, and he added, ”Of course, if anyone would like to donate a ham or turkey, we would make it available for our friends,”

   Sigwalt answered my question of how the Geneseo -Atkinson Food Pantry been impacted by news reports with: ‘Yes, GAFP has most definitely been impacted by all the reports we’ve all heard in the news!  But the community’s response has been so phenomenal that we’ve been able to still provide needed for families in need.”

  He added that he does not know what to expect now that the government has opened – “We didn’t’ know what to expect when it was shut down!  But I’m certain, no matter what the current crisis might be, the citizens of Geneseo will help us help our neighbors!”

IN LOOKING AHEAD TO CHRISTMAS

   “For Christmas, we’ll be doing something very similar to Thanksgiving, including many of the same items,” Sigwalt said.

   Those items include pumpkin pie filling, cranberry sauce, corn, green beans, crispy fried onions, cream of mushroom soup, corn bread mix, pie crust mix, sweet potatoes/yams, dried mashed potatoes, aluminum roasting pan.

   Donations of any of those items would be helpful and Sigwalt said the pantry is “always in need of cereal (hot or cold), baking items (mixes, flour, oils, sugar, etc.), condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise), canned meats (tuna, chicken, etc.); Hygiene, cleaning and paper products, (napkins, paper towels, wax paper, cling wrap, etc.) always are welcome.  We go through those quickly and our guests cannot purchase them with their SNAP benefits.”

Civil War Songs and History Lesson Nov. 20 at Geneseo Museum

Barry Cloyd

   Area residents are invited to the Geneseo Historical Museum on Thursday, Nov. 20, to hear Barry Cloyd singing songs written by Civil War Soldiers.  In addition to songs, the program will include a history lesson about the Civil War.  Music will begin at 6 p.m. and museum doors will open at 5:30 p.m.

  Melanie Rice, director/curator of the museum, said Cloyd “puts history to music.  We are thrilled that he will be entertaining us on November 20th.”

Raccoons - By Dan Dauw

Congratulations

Goes to the Geneseo H.S. Football team on their playoff wins. Let’s hope they have another good win this coming weekend. It gets tougher with each game played, but the Leafs are a good team. Good luck, GHS! Congrats also goes to the Bears on their win over the Giants on Sunday. I do wish they would play the first 3 quarters better so we didn’t have to rely on the last minutes of the 4th Q to pull out the win!  However, a win is a win! The Bears play the Vikings next Sunday @ MN. They lost on Sunday so you can expect a tough go of it for ‘da Bears. Anyway, “Go, Bears!”  

 

Raccoons

   These bandits are a pain in the butt. They leave their “calling card” on our decks and knock over our bird feeders. I know, they were here when we had our house built in 1977, but they are still a pest. I read recently in the Outdoor News publication that in Fairfield, IL, and Wayne County the raccoon population has increased causing related property damage. This has led the Wayne County Farm Bureau to continue its “Raccoon Roundup” program during this year’s Illinois trapping and hunting season. The organization is offering a $3.00 cash reward for each raccoon tail turned in by its members. The first of four collection dates is scheduled for Nov 18 from 6 – 7 p.m. at the Wayne County Farm Bureau office in Fairfield, IL.  Members participating in the program can bring up to 50 tails per collection date and must present proof of a DNR-issued hunting or trapping license. Other collection dates are Dec 16, Jan 13, and Feb 12. I wonder what Henry and Rock Island County thinks about the program?!

 

Golf Humor

  I hope I didn’t use this joke before. Anyway, a nurse says to a recovering patient,

“You’re a lucky man. The doctor took a gallstone the size of a golf ball out of you.” The patient said, “Wow! I’d like to thank him if he’s around. The nurse said, “No, he just left to go golfing!”

 

Lure ‘em In

  Okay! When you head out to do some fishing do you take live bait or do you depend on lures? Maybe both?  Let’s say you’re after bluegills. It’s pretty hard not to use a worm and a small hook size. A hungry fish is more likely to grab live bait than any lure made of plastic or metal. Well, that could be de-“baited.” I don’t think you’ll find many bass-pros using live bait. A lure is much easier to use than going to the bait shop for some minnows. Just open the tackle box, pick out a lure and tie it on your line. Lures are not messy. Fish are less likely to swallow the hook(s) using a lure. Still, I am mostly a live bait angler, but if you look in my tackle box there are more than a few lures. Whatever works is the key!

 

Veterans Day

  I think it is nice of so many folks and businesses to thank we veterans, both past and present. I think of those veterans that paid the ultimate price, plus those who received long lasting wounds.  Many suffer day by day for the freedoms we enjoy. God bless all of you men and women for your service.

 

St. Joan of Ark

  I saw this little prayer I thought I’d share. Supposedly it was said from the courageous, Joan of Ark. She was burned at the stake for her believes. “If I am not in his grace, may God place me there. If I am, may God so keep me there.”

 

Humor

  I went to the store and found out they don’t make 12” rulers any longer. Get it? Longer/12 inches. Dale Collis, Galva, got his coffee stolen. He got mugged! 

 

Military Humor

  1) Did you hear about the accident on base? A tank ran over a box of popcorn and killed two kernels! 2) What do soldiers do when they find a scorpion in their tent? Answer: In the Marines, they kill the scorpion. In the Army, they call their CO and report the presence of the scorpion. In the Air Force, he calls the front desk and asks why there’s a tent in his room? In the Navy, they wonder what a tent and scorpion are?

Interview with Grover Cleveland’s Grandson Nov. 18 at Geneseo Library

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

  Ever wonder if you may be related to an American President?  Anyone having ancestors who lived in Colonial New England could be.  More information is available at a 2 p.m. program on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the Geneseo Public Library when Geneseo native, Tim Pletkovich, will be interviewing George Cleveland, grandson of President Grover Cleveland.

   George Cleveland, grandson of the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, is a self-employed consultant living in rural Tamworth, N.H., and information from the Geneseo Library states, that “he bears an uncanny resemblance to his grandfather, who died in 1908.”

   Cleveland has spoken about the importance of a healthy history curriculum in middle and high schools around the country.  He is an advisor to the Grover Cleveland Birthplace Memorial Foundation, and his passion for fundraising knows no bounds, having appeared in a calendar wearing only a hat.  (That calendar brought in $75,000 for nonprofits.) – According to information received from the library.

   Pletkovich grew up in Geneseo and spent more than 35 years as a secondary school teacher in New York and Illinois and worked as a baseball scout for the Chicago Cubs.  He recently returned to make Geneseo his home.

   He is the author of the book “Civil War Fathers:  Sons of the Civil War in World War II,” and is writing a book about presidential genealogy.  Pletkovich co-wrote “Nuns, Nazis, and Notre Dame:  Stores of the Great Depression, World War II and the Fighting Irish,” with Gerald A. O’Reilly.

   Grover Cleveland, a Democrat, served as president from 1885-1889.  The automobile and telephone were still new inventions when he occupied the White House, so the fact that he has a living grandson makes George a bit of a curiosity.  Grover lost the election to Benjamin Harrison in 1888, but was elected again, serving from 1893 to 1897.  He died in 1908.

   It wasn’t until the 1990’s that George Cleveland decided to dig deeper into his grandfather’s background and performed historical interpretation and character impersonations of his grandfather and other historical figures.

  Information from Pletkovich received by the library states: “It’s a matter of sex and math because Grover was almost 25 years older than my grandmother when they were married,” he (George Cleveland) said.  “It’s ridiculous to have somebody who’s still alive whose grandfather was born in 1837.  You know, my father was born in 1897.  And then he met and married my mother in 1943 when she was teaching his children from his first marriage.  So, we basically dropped two whole generations.”

   “He (Grover) believed that you shouldn’t benefit from public service,” said Cleveland of his grandfather. “And, as a result, when he got out of office, there were a lot of companies that wanted him to come on their boards…but he turned all those offers down because a public office is a public trust.”

Cleveland and Pletkovich will be speaking at a breakfast at The Central Schoolhouse Inn in Geneseo from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18.  Tickets are $60 per person and reservations are necessary.  For more information, or to make a reservation, call Pletkovich at 309-253-5377.