2018 Area Festivals

Page 46 2018 Area Fall Festivals LINCOLN DAILY NEWS SEPT. 12, 2018 Then, in typical Teena style, here came a story, a little something she felt she wanted to share to help us all understand more deeply where her heart is and how she has loved her community for her entire life. When I was a young girl I used to ride my little yellow Schwinn bicycle around the neighborhood. That neighborhood was located across the railroad tracks at the southwest edge of town. It was my favorite thing to do as a child. I had a speedometer on that yellow bike and I rode for miles and miles every day. As I got older I was allowed to leave the neighborhood and go across the tracks to Mount Pulaski Food Locker and work in the family business. Eventually I was allowed to venture across town to the Ben Franklin Store, where I bought my favorite things, baseball cards and strawberry roll licorice. The miles added up. One day I even racked up 25 miles around town. One fall festival, the mayor of Mount Pulaski, Retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Frank Altman, presented me with a blue ribbon for the most miles pedaled around town. To this day I still think he made up the award. I was so proud of that honor and I truly thought that would be my shining moment in Mount Pulaski Fall Festival history. Until now… Seeing all the smiling faces at the parade on Saturday was a moment I'll never forget. I felt the love from the community. Traveling in the parade route behind the American Legion float, which was decorated with flags galore and followed by a trailer carrying our local heroes, the veterans who served this country, was a memory I'll always treasure. I believe patriotism is alive and well in our community. “And finally, just seeing the excited participants of the parade all lined up and ready to go was honestly, magical. I witnessed the community coming together to celebrate. I soaked it all in. And took videos. And snap chats. And a few pictures too. Finally, at age 50, I am still lucky enough to ride my bike around the town I love. The bike is bigger, but it remains yellow. And I still ride it with the same excitement and wide-eyed wonder as I did when I was just a kid. My passion for the community, and particularly the kids, is genuine I assure you. I am blessed to call Mount Pulaski my home. Congratulations Teena! Please know you are much loved by all of us at LDN and we couldn’t be prouder to spend just a little bit of time telling our readers just how special you are!