Lena Community Park District presents
Serving the communities in Stephenson County
Shopper’s Guide
VOL. 78 • NO. 8
at the n Night Out Mother & So
“Gutter Ball”
750
$
eats & Fun! Bowling, Tr
Per Person
Boys k-5th grade & moms of any age.
Friday, March 4, 2016 Session 1 Session 2
Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Bowling at 5:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. Bowling at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets available at
Spare Time Lanes 141 W. Railroad St., Lena
Lim numbiteed tick r of availaebts le
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YOUR FREE HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24, 2016
Abraham Lincoln visits Lena-Winslow Elementary School for a day LENA — A very small and inquisitive boy moved slowly down the hallway in front of the Lena-Winslow Elementary School Library Monday morning. His eyes were big as saucers as he peered through the glass at the tall lanky man in a silk top hat addressing the fifth graders who were also totally captivated by the man’s appearance and stories. “There’s a president in there,” whispered the child in the hall to no one. “I can see him. There’s a president in our library!” There was indeed a president visiting the school. Well, not exactly a president, but close. Freeport resident and noted Lincoln interpreter George Buss was relaying stories about the life and passions of Abraham Lincoln and the students loved every word. “Today’s events with Mr. Lincoln came about because we were trying to find more nonfiction novels on history and study Lincoln, and just after we found and finished reading a book titled Lincoln’s Grave Robbers we noticed in the paper that George Buss tours schools and speaks as Mr. Lincoln,” said Lena-Winslow teacher Holly Chrisman. “Another of our teachers, Mrs. Gallagher wrote a grant for us when Mr. Buss agreed to come to our school and it’s been wonderful having him here.” She said the experience brought history to life for her students. “I think today’s experience will mean more and stick in their minds more than the books that we read,” said Chrisman. Mason Smith sat enthralled
through the two and a half hour Buss presentation. Smith said the Gettysburg Address took on new meaning after listening to Buss. “It took on more meaning for me when I watched Lincoln deliver it,” Smith said. “I’m going to try to read it myself now so I can learn still more about what led to the speech.” Kanzas White said she was surprised at the volume of threatening letters sent to President Lincoln during his time in office. “I was amazed at the number of mean letters people sent him and I liked how he hid them up high on a shelf so his wife couldn’t reach them, read them and worry,” White said. Drew Streckwald said he expected to see a Lincoln performance when he attended the session, but he was not prepared for the quality and depth of the presentation. “He was really interesting and much more than I expected,” said Streckwald. “I learned that there were at least two other assassination attempts on Lincoln’s life.” One of the points Buss (as Lincoln) made repeatedly was about speaking respectfully when addressing a man or particularly a woman. It was customary in Lincoln’s day to always address a woman as Miss or Missus and Buss urged the boys in attendance to adopt the practice. That suggestion Tony Carton photo made a deep impression on a number of the young men in the Freeport resident and noted Lincoln interpreter George Buss spent Monday morning relayclass among them Streckwald ing stories about the life and passions of Abraham Lincoln and the Lena-Winslow students who said he would be speaking in attendance loved every word more respectfully as a result of the day’s lesson. Ali Westergaard said she was surprised to learn that the Civil
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