Richmond Hill Players Scholarships Available

By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current

The Geneseo Richmond Hill Players have announced two scholarships, which have been named the “John VanDeWoestyne Players Scholarships,” available to qualifying seniors. Each is a $500 scholarship, payable at the beginning of the recipient’s first year of post-secondary education.

   To be eligible, applicants must meet the criteria of:

  -Must be a graduating senior in the spring of 2024.

  -Must be planning post high school education.

  -Must have had experience with Richmond Hill Players prior to applying for either of the scholarships.

  -There is no requirement of area of study.

  -Applications must be received by Richmond Hill Players by Feb. 29, 2024.

-All applications will be reviewed and finalists may be scheduled for an interview.

  -Applications are available by searching “Richmond Hill Players in Geneseo, Illinois.” Additional information and the applications are at that site.

Men's Lenten Breakfast series

The Geneseo Ministerial Association has coordinated the schedule for the 2024 Men’s Lenten Breakfast series. All men in the community are invited to come enjoy a delicious breakfast at 7 a.m. on the following Saturday mornings during Lent. A free-will donation is collected at each breakfast.

  • February 17 at First Lutheran Church, 114 E. Main St.

  • February 24, at First Congregational Church, 101 W. Pearl St., hosted in conjunction with First Presbyterian Church

  • March 2 at Grace United Methodist Church, 318 N. Center St.

  • March 9 at Saint Malachy Church, 595 E. Ogden Ave.

Garden Club to Meet Feb. 19th

By Claudia Loucks - Geneseo Current

The Garden Club meeting will be at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19, when the group will visit the Quartz Botanicals, 810 15th Ave., East Moline.

After a brief meeting, Austin Harned, owner, will share how he started Quartz Botanicals. There will be time for shopping after the presentation.

Quartz Botanicals features house plants, crystals and more for sale.

Anyone planning to attend the Feb. 19 meeting is asked to contact Terri Lamberti.

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