Elmwood News November 15, 2017

Park Project  Elmwood-Murdock School News  Bess Street Alrich Museum  Village Board News  Holiday Extravaganza

Veterans Day Photos & Videos     Cass County News   SUBMIT NEWS  

 The big news in Elmwood right now is our community park build. It's MASSIVE, have you seen it!! T

his weekend was the "Woodchip Crew" I did a little math and we moved over 900 wheel barrels of chips one at a time. That's a lot of muscle, manpower and sheer determination. 

It was a smaller crew that shoveled chips and toted them across the playground, but we were mighty!! Not everyone is included in this photo either. Lou didn't stop long enough to get in the picture. That man is a machine!! He was even seen Friday toting a wheel barrel by himself with no one else there.  

As you can see the new playground is wonderful and it's not done yet. If you see the fencing still up please don't let the kids play on it. When the fencing is down then you can play to your heart's content.

There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony during the Holiday Extravaganza Saturday at 3:00 pm. 

Don't miss it!!

Remember to bring your kids, bring your inner child to the Elmwood Park Saturday, November 25th  3:00 pm for the ribbon cutting.

 Elmwood-Murdock Veterans Day Events

 Thank you to all the veterans and their families who attended all of the Veterans Day events last weekend. The programs honoring the veterans at the high school and elementary were fantastic as always. 

Nine Quilts of Valor were made by the Oxbow Quilters and presented to four veterans who could attend. Below are just a few pictures and videos of the multiple events.

The Pancake Feed on Saturday was a great way to start the day and get some carbs and energy for scooping shavings. Rick Clements and his grandkids were manning the pancake griddle. Who doesn't like this spinning skillet? I think it's awesome. There have been thousands of pancakes made on it over the years.

Rick with grandson Drake

 Rick with granddaughter Violet and grandson Guy.

American Legion Post 247 Elmwood Cemetery Cross Project

In 2002 and 2003, the Legion worked diligently to make and place crosses at the grave of each veteran in the Elmwood Cemetery. This added to our already beautiful cemetery and shows the continual respect our community feels for our veterans. Unfortunately, the elements have not been kind to these crosses as they have cracked and some have even broken off. We now find many are beyond repair and must be replaced. 

After talking with several fabricators over the past several months and tweaking the design, our first order of the new crosses has been received. They are made of a 1” thick solid PVC-type product that is used in place of teak on the decks of yachts, so should be able to withstand the weather of Nebraska – and they are beautiful! We designed them similar to the crosses in the American Battlefield Cemeteries in Europe and North Africa. The surface is slightly textured to resemble stone and the edges are all rounded. 

Over the next few months, we will be removing the old crosses and cement and replacing them with new crosses.The crosses will be installed in an 8” column of concrete approximately 2 feet deep. The column needs to be kept high enough so the mowers don’t hit and damage the crosses.

This will be an approximately $12,000 project to complete. Thanks to a very generous donation, the 200 crosses needed have been ordered. Other generous donations have been received toward installation and removal expenses – cement, rebar, and circular tubes for the concrete, as well as extra crosses to have on reserve. We are continuing to accept donations toward the $3,500 still needed for installation of these crosses.
If you would like to help with this project either through funding or manual labor, please let us know.

If you would like to make a monetary donation, please make it out to American Legion Post 247, and send to

American Legion Post 247

c/o Bonnie Brewer, Commander

402 East D Street

Elmwood, NE 68349

(please note “Cross Project” in memo) 

If you know of other families who have a veteran family member laid to rest in our cemetery, we would appreciate you passing this information on to them. 

The theme for this year's Holiday Extravaganza, "The Silent Stars Go By"

The theme is taken from a story in Bess Streeter Aldrich's "Journey into Christmas and Other Stories." In this collection of short stories, the true meaning of Christmas emerges about reunited families, good fellowship, and restored faith. The book is available at the Elmwood Public Library. Check it out today and enjoy it with your family this Christmas season.

Visit the Elmwood-Murdock Merchants Association Facebook page to read more about the theme for 2017 

A few of the Activities for this year are the following. Some are new so make sure to pick refer to the schedule so you won't miss anything!

There are many other activities that will fill your day.

Shop local, support your local businesses. Bring your family and friends and make a day of it.

• Pancake Feed Elmwood-Murdock Backpack Craft Fair (E-M Elementary School)   
• Craft for a Cause (Community Center)
• Iron Horse Emporium (Antiques across from the Quonset)
• Santa Comes to Town (Firehall)
• Candy Cane Lane - Library
• Balloon Artist (Massage by Jolean
• Talk to the Animals (Elmwood Christian Church)
• Meet animals from the Lincoln Children's Zoo
• Get in the Spirit Wine Tasting
•  Live Nativity 3B Homestead (4 miles north of Elmwood on Hwy 1)
•  "...All I want for Christmas is a New Playground (Elmwood Playground -ribbon cutting)
• Soup Supper (Community Center)
• Starry Knight Parade 
• Coloring Contest - for kids and adults alike!

Congratulations to Dean and Judy Douglas for being honored as grand marshals for this year's Holiday Extravaganza Starry Knight Parade - Silent Stars Go By. Plan to come out to cheer them and all the other entries - Saturday, November 25 at 6:00 p.m.

Stop by 3B Homestead and experience the Christmas story through their stable animals. Our thanks to Mark and Sondra for adding this event to the Holiday Extravaganza celebration.

Bess Streeter Aldrich House and Museum

16th Annual Short Story Contest

Start thinking of ideas for the 16th Annual Bess Streeter Aldrich short story contest. 

The goal is to generate a fictional short story that is written in the wholesome spirit displayed by Bess Streeter Aldrich in her works while incorporating a theme that focuses on Nebraska’s economy, history, cultural diversity, and/or geography (past, present, and/or future).

Writers are encouraged to focus on historical and/or realistic topics. This year the Aldrich Foundation is paying tribute to Mrs. Aldrich’s novel The Rim of the Prairie and believe it would be an excellent resource.

Eligibility (Four divisions):

Adult: 1st Prize $100; 2nd Prize $50; 3rd Prize $25
High School (Grades 9-12): 1st Prize $50; 2nd Prize $25; 3rd Prize $15
Middle School (Grades 6-8): 1st Prize $50; 2nd Prize $25; 3rd Prize $15
Intermediate School (Grades 3-5): 1st Prize $25; 2nd Prize $15; 3rd Prize $10

Complete rules are found at the Bess Streeter Alrich Website

Stories can be submitted on online. Deadline is February 17, 2018

"If you're looking for an inspirational romantic read, check out our new books by Rachel Hauck.

Rachel is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author.

 Pre-school Storytime 

Every Thursday

 10:30-11:30 am

It will continue every Thursday except when the public school is not in session.

 Do you have a review of a book at the library, submit them by emailing editor@elmwoodnebraska.com  

 Student Council Food Drive

Tuesday Morning November 21

On Tuesday morning, November 21, the Elmwood-Murdock Elementary and High School Student Council members will be coming door to door to collect donations from our local food bank.

We are asking for non-perishable food items or monetary donations.

We are asking that patrons do not donate Ramon Noodles. If you will not be home or would rather we not ring your doorbell, you can place your donations at your front door and we will still collect them. You may also drop off any donations to either school.

Thank you in advance for helping us support our local food pantry.

Shutterfly Fundraiser

Shop Shutterfly to support your school

The holidays are almost here, and many families will order photo holiday greeting cards or photo holiday gifts. One of the most popular online websites for photo cards and gifts is Shutterfly.com.

The Elmwood-Murdock Booster Club is partnering with Shutterfly and Tiny Prints to raise money for our school. For each purchase you make from one of these online stores, 13% will be donated to the Elmwood-Murdock School.

How To Support The Elmwood-Murdock School:
1. Go to our Storefront URL here –  http://emboosterclub.shutterflystorefront.com/
2. Click through to Shutterfly.com or Tinyprints and start shopping
3. Make a purchase

That’s it, it’s that easy! And you can still use any promotions that are being advertised on the Shutterfly site – right now, all holiday greeting cards are 50% off! Feel free to share this tip with all your friends and family, the more people who purchase, the more our organization earns.

FCCLA Blood Drive

The FCCLA is again sponsoring a blood drive at the high school on Tuesday, November 28th from 1 to 6 p.m.

We have 42 appointment slots open for this blood drive with Power Red donations available at the top of the hour from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Every donation collected at the school will go towards scholarship money for graduation class.

Blood types O+, O-, A-, and B- are eligible for Power Red donations. Donation times may be scheduled by calling the high school at 402-867-2341 or scheduling online at http://www.redcrossblood.org/give/drive/driveSearchList.jsp?zipSponsor=elmwood+murdock+high+school

Meet baby Clara – named in honor of the founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton, and in recognition of the blood donors that helped save her father's life. Clara is the daughter of Brian Boyle, who nearly died in a car accident at the age of 18. He received 36 blood transfusions and 13 plasma treatments.

Following a long three-year recovery, Brian wanted to somehow pay it forward and became a Red Cross volunteer and blood donation ambassador. He’s volunteered more than 4,000 hours of service in support of the Red Cross mission.

This past February Brian became a Red Cross employee. He recalled, “The day before my first day of work I found out that my wife and I were having our first child, a daughter.”
Brian’s story has come full circle. "Getting married and seeing my daughter born would not have been able to happen without the love from my parents, support from many care providers and the blood from dozens of generous Red Cross blood donors who helped save my life.

Their blood gave me back my life, and it allowed me to give life."

Upcoming Blood Drive Alert:
Elmwood Murdock High School
Tuesday, November 28th
1 PM – 6 PM

Make an Appointment to Donate Blood:
Click Here, search sponsor keyword: Elmwood Murdock High School contact BDC, or download the blood donor app!

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JOSIAH “JAC” CLEMENTS
ELMWOOD MURDOCK HIGH SCHOOL

This week our Student of the Week Winner is Josiah Clements.He is a senior at Elmwood MurdockHigh School. His activities include football, speech, track, FBLA, and student council.He is the son of Andy and Casey Clements.

He was nominated for these reasons:
- He has a hard work ethic, he is polite, and he has enthusiasm for education
- He is one of the kindest, most sincere students I have ever met
- He always has a smile, a hello, and you can tell he cares about every person he meets
- He truly makes our school a better place

Josiah, Andy, and Casey are invited to stop by (we are located under the water tower in Louisville), call (402.234.3333) or email (dan@wittephysicaltherapy.com) to get their Witte Physical Therapy t-shirts OR water bottle!

The next Student of the Week will be selected on 11/27/17.All nominations are due by 11/24/17 to dan@wittephysicaltherapy.com

Small-town service:

Burrows takes pride in building relationships to grow new brokerage

By: Jacilyn Bruns, The Voice News- October 26, 2017

“I want to get back to making real estate about relationships and not just transactions,” Burrows said. “It is a big decision to sell or buy a house; we value that they trust us on their journey.”

The main office is in Elmwood, where Burrows lives with his wife Kristy, his son Bray, 5, and daughter Stella, 2. Burrows also opened an office in downtown Sterling, where he works one day a week or by appointment.

Burrows sells luxury homes, land, and residential properties. With a smaller, family-like team, Burrows Tracts Real Estate has the ability to fine-tune its marketing to each particular town and area that it covers. The brokerage is a member of three multiple listing service (MLS) regions, including Omaha, Lincoln, and Tri-County.

“We focus on relationships and values that bring the small communities together,” Burrows said.Each member of the Burrows team has a strong work ethic and has ties to or is from a small town, which supports the company’s brand.

Aside from selling properties, the Burrows team enjoys getting involved with communities by participating in volunteer events, food drives or benefits for individuals. Most of all, Burrows enjoys being able to spend time with family and provides realtors with the flexibility to do the same.

Burrows is passionate about camping, fishing, and hunting as hobbies.
“I’m a believer in making time to do the things that you like,” Burrows said.

(This is an excerpt from the full article in The Voice News which can be read in its entirety HERE)

Elmwood Village Board News

Elmwood Village Board Special Election

Updates on official Candidates can be viewed at the Cass County Website

To vote you must be a registered voter in the Elmwood district online Voter Registration is available here -->> - https://www.nebraska.gov/apps-sos-voter-registration/

Due to the resignation of three board members at the October 18th board meeting, there will be a special election to fill their positions. 

The election is set for Dec. 12; interested candidates have until the close of business Nov. 9 to file with the Cass County Election Office, according to a press release issued by Gale's office. Candidates must be registered voters in Elmwood in order to be eligible for the ballot, the release states.

The Elmwood Village Board and Library are seeking community feedback regarding how we can grow and improve our community and library. We value your feedback, so please consider completing these surveys to continue making Elmwood a great place to live!

The Elmwood Library is seeking feedback on how to better serve the community. The following survey contains questions regarding what the library does well and how the library can improve. Please be as thorough as possible with your answers so we may get the best results. Thank you for helping us improve the Elmwood Library!

The surveys can also be taken online outside of the newsletter by clicking on the categories below.

Elmwood Village Survey Here

Elmwood Library Here 

The Community Center Thanksgiving meal will be the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

Turkey stuffing, potatoes, and gravy. Also pies and all the trimmings.

We are currently serving hard ice cream in dishes.
we have 8 different flavors to choose from.

Becky
Elmwood C Store
402-994-3305

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