HR0163 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0163 LRB095 11303 KXB 31948 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Aledo, Illinois has become famous for the annual Rhubarb Festival; and

WHEREAS, Darlene Johnson is the founder of the Rhubarb Festival, she started the festival in 1990 in her kitchen, with 50 people in attendance; and

WHEREAS, The Festival has grown, today attracting from 10,000 to 15,000 people who come to sample and test rhubarb dishes, buy pies, and celebrate all that is rhubarb; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, people attended the Festival from over 19 states, including Hawaii and Japan; 2,078 homemade rhubarb pies were sold during the Festival; and

WHEREAS, The 2006 Festival generated $28,145 for Aledo's civic organizations and churches that were a part of the Festival; and

WHEREAS, The Festival has captured media attention, with features in several newspapers and magazines, as well as on television and radio; and

WHEREAS, The Aledo Rhubarb Festival centers around two goals, family fun and the promotion of the community; this year's festival will be held June 2nd; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we proclaim Aledo as the Rhubarb Capital of the Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Darlene Johnson, founder of the Rhubarb Festival.