Meal Sites During Geneseo 2023 Christmas Walk

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

The meal sites during Geneseo’s 2023 Christmas Walk:

-Concordia Lutheran Church, 316 South Oakwood Ave. – 3 to 7 p.m. – Cookie Walk, Baked Potato Bar and Chili Supper.

-First Methodist Church, 302 North State St. – 4 to 7 p.m. - Chili, Hot Dogs, Chips Cookies and a Beverage. Free will donation.

-Geneseo Moose Lodge, 1025 South State St., - 4 to 7:30 p.m. – Chicken Dinner, $12 to $16 per person, open to the public. Trolley stop!

Lil’ Leaf Gymnastics Clinic Registration

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Geneseo High School gymnasts Brooke Boone, left, and Skylar Wainscott, encourage boys and girls, in grades K-5, to join them at the Lil’ Leaf Gymnastics Clinic to be held from 9 a.m. to noon, with a performance for family and friends at 11:30 a.m., on Friday, Jan. 5, at the Geneseo Community Center, 541 East North St., Geneseo. Gymnasts check in at 8:45 a.m. The clinic is open to boys and girls in kindergarten through fifth grade and participants will receive instruction on balance beam, bars, floor and vault. Gymnasts will be instructed by the GHS Gymnastics Team. Cost of the clinic is $35 per child, and $20 for each sibling in the same household. The fee includes a T-shirt. Registration is due by Friday, Dec. 15. There will be no walk-in or late registration. More information and registration is available at ghs.gymnasticsboosters@gmail.com Photo by Claudia Loucks

Geneseo Fareway Has New Store Manager

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Russ Federspiel, left, Geneseo Fareway Grocery manager, is welcomed to Geneseo Fareway by Stan Melchert, meat department manager. Federspiel succeeds Bill Lanphere, who took the store manager position at Fareway in North Liberty, Iowa.

Federspiel has 38 years experience with Fareway and comes to the Geneseo store from the Fareway Grocery in Independence, Iowa. He said he first applied for the management position when the Geneseo store opened in 2005, and decided then if the management position came up again, he would apply.

“I was disappointed when I didn’t get the position in 2005,” he said. “I like Illinois and I am a huge Chicago Bears fan.”

He now has the reins of a completely updated and remodeled Fareway Grocery in Geneseo which allows for more refrigeration space in addition to being able to offer more items for shoppers.

Men’s Health Morning Series Is Dec. 6

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Maurie Nelson, left, and Jerry Deutsch, representing the Hammond-Henry Hospital Foundation Men’s Health Committee, encourage area men to attend the Men’s Health Morning Series program from 7 to 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, in the hospital conference room. Dr. Ryan Wilson, Geneseo Vision Center, will present the program on “Vision.” Parking is available in the east parking lot on Center St. Those attending may purchase breakfast in the hospital dining room. For information and to make a reservation, call 309-944-9112 or email hhhfound@hammondhenry.com. Blood pressure screenings will be available. Photo by Claudia Loucks

All In Stitches Has New Owners

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

The name will remain the same, but the owners of the business have changed. Jan and Mike Dahl are retiring after 25 years of owning and operating All In Stitches, at 100 East Main St. in Geneseo.

Lisa and Darren White with Mango Merch, an established online business that offers screen printing and embroidery, are the new owners of All In Stitches as of the end of October.

Jan Dahl said she and her husband have enjoyed serving the community for the last 25 years and being able to watch family’s grow, and “being able to see the children of the adults who were themselves children at the time I took over the business.”

In retirement, Jan Dahl said she and her husband plan to spend more time with family and do some traveling.

White, who graduated from Geneseo High School in 2000 and at one time worked at the Geneseo Community Center, said the services now offered at All In Stitches “will remain the same with future plans to do more promotional products.”

She said the store hours will remain the same for now, but she added that plans are to expand open hours in the near future.

“I am excited to be here and I love the Geneseo community,” White said.

Jan Dahl, left, who with her husband Mike, have owned and operated All In Stitches in Geneseo for the last 25 years, hands the keys to the store to Lisa White, who with her husband Darren, are the new owners. Photo by Claudia Loucks


Grief Seminar Is Nov. 12 at First Methodist

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Gathering for a holiday meal after the death of a loved one can be difficult.  The empty seat at the table is a constant reminder of that loss.   Kippy Breeden, left, Grief Seminar Ministry leader,  and Yvette Biddle, Director of Discipleship at First Methodist Church, Geneseo, want to help those experiencing a loss prepare for the upcoming holiday season without a loved one.  Breeden will lead the seminar, Grief Seminar “Surviving the Holidays,” from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 12, at His Place (the south campus of First Methodist), 224 North State St., Geneseo.  There is no cost for the seminar and it is open to the community.  The seminar offers encouragement, support, and practical tips for facing holiday challenges after loss. Anyone planning to attend the seminar is asked to respond by calling Biddle at 309-944-2793 or by email at y.biddle@peopleneedjesus.org. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Michaelsen’s Art Work Featured at Geneseo Library

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Sharon Michaelsen, a member of the RutabagA Art Gallery in downtown Geneseo, is the featured artist in November at the Geneseo Public Library. The display features pieces of her art work from a variety of nebulae paintings, representing actual images from the Hubble Space Telescope. She explained, “They, of course, are not exact reproductions, just my interpretations of the Labyrinth Nebula, which resembles a blossom, and the Butterfly Nebula, which actually looks like a butterfly.” The angel painting in the exhibit is her interpretation of what the words from the music “Choose Something Like a Star” convey to her, and she added, “I was actually inspired by a figurine I have in my home.” The large burst of color in one of the paintings in the display was "just fun,” she said, “and which to me, represents an exploding star somewhere in the universe.” Photo by Claudia Loucks

Women’s Health Series Luncheon Program Is Nov. 15

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Theresa Klotz, left, and Linda DeSmith, representing the Women’s Health Committee at Hammond-Henry Hospital, invite area women to the Wednesday, Nov. 15, program of the Women’s Health Series, sponsored by the Hospital Foundation Community Benefits Committee. The program is from 12 noon to 1 p.m. in the Geneseo Community Center Activity Room, 541 East North St., Geneseo. Dr. Ryan Wilson, Geneseo Vision Center, will present the program, “Eyes – What Do We Need to Know?” Cost of the lunch is $10, payable at the door. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the Foundation office 309-944-9112, or by email at hhhfound@hammondhenry.com. The program is being held earlier than usual due to the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, Nov. 23. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Veterans Day Assembly Nov. 10 at GHS

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Geneseo High School Student Council members, from left, Caroline Girten, Lindsay Herington, Mady Mooney, and Payton Snider are preparing for the upcoming Veterans Day Assembly at 8 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, at the high school. 700 North State St. All local veterans are invited to attend as special guests.

Isabel Anderson, Geneseo, will be the keynote speaker. Anderson currently serves as a substitute teacher in the Geneseo School District. She is the “Mom” of a military family, and she will share her own military experience, in addition to the benefits and hardships of being a career military family.

Veterans planning to attend the assembly are asked to arrive at the high school at 7:30 a.m. on Nov. 10, using the main entrance to the school or the entrance to the Library Commons which is at the south end of the building.

The assembly will begin at 8 a.m. and will include the keynote speaker, guest introductions, and special musical selections by the GHS band and choir.

For additional information, contact Tara Laingen at tlaingen@geneseoschools.org. Laingen said the Veterans Day Assembly is being held to honor the local veterans and to bring awareness to the GHS student body. Photo by Claudia Loucks

Blood Drive Nov. 9 at Geneseo First Methodist Church

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

First Methodist Church of Geneseo is hosting a blood drive on Thursday, Nov. 9, at the South Annex (back entrance of the church’s south campus) of the church. The drive will begin at 12 noon and continue until 6 p.m.

Donors are asked to make reservations by calling 1-800-733-2767 (1-800-RED Cross). Walk-ins will be accepted in as timely a manner as possible with appointments taking priority. Those planning to give blood will be asked to present their Red Cross ID card (or a valid driver’s license) and will be asked to read the list of medications that might exclude their donation from being used or do a “Rapid Pass” before their donation.

Before donating:

-1. Drink an extra 16 ounces of water, juice or non-alcoholic drink before donating, especially in warm weather.

-2. Eat a healthy meal; avoid fatty foods like fries, hamburgers, ice cream.

-3. Try to get a good night’s sleep.

-4. Check to see if any of the medications you are taking would prevent you from donating.

It’s also recommended that those planning to donate increase their vitamin C to their diet by eating fruits and leafy green vegetables, such as strawberries, tomatoes, spinach and brussels sprouts.

Anyone with questions about donating, getting a Red Cross ID card or who would like more information, is asked to call 1-800-733-2767 (1-800-RED CROSS)

Open Studio on Tuesdays at RutabagA

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

Debra Beyerlein, left; Les Hoste and Elaine Hofman are preparing the window at RutabagA Art Gallery to promote “Open Studio” at the Gallery from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays. RutabagA member Beyerlein said she and other members meet on a casual basis on Tuesdays to work on art projects and discuss art…”We welcome people to join us and explore art, as well as ask questions and maybe even do some art work. More information about “Open Studio” is displayed in the window of RutabagA at 108 North State St. in downtown Geneseo.