Since the so-called father of our country is associated with chopping down a cherry tree, a small southeastern Iowa community is honoring George Washington today with a Cherry Pie Festival. Caroline Leeman is helping organize the fifth annual President’s Day event in the Henry County town of New London. She says sometimes they feature a particular president and sometimes it’s just any president and sometimes the feature Black History Month.Leeman says she’s looking at a batch of more than two-dozen beautiful pies that’ll be gobbled by area residents tonight. That entertainment will include local musicians and high school choirs, bands and dramatic productions. In addition to the “regular” homemade pies that are for sale by the pie or by the slice, Leeman says several “special” pies will be put up for auction tonight. Proceeds from the pie auction go to restore New London’s history museum. While the afternoon event runs from 2 to 4, this evening’s edition goes from 6:30 to 8 o’clock.
