DATES TO REMEMBER
12-31 AND 1-1 Village Office Closed
1-4 Public Forum @6:00 p.m. Syracuse Elementary Auditorium
1-5 Library open 5-6:30 p.m.
**********
LOCAL NEWS
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*****
Wow! for the second time in two weeks we've had a foot of snow.
And for the first time ever, one of our daughters could not make it
home for the holidays. 2009 will be remembered for many reasons,
right now the weather is at the top of the list.
Bob Wilhelm's west yard - the snow is just as high on
the other side of the fence
Bob Wilhelm - snow piles
*****
This is the most snow we've had since I became the Village Clerk
(either snow) and for the most part the residents are to be
applauded for their patience. However, after a single pass is made
on every street, this is the order of snow removal: the Main Street
and exits to the highway come first. Next the school bus route, if
school is in session. Then the north/south streets; east/west streets;
streets across the highway; and finally, alleys where accessible.
If you park your car in the alley, please remember they are the
last to be cleaned. Sorry, we do NOT clean out driveways.
People, we had a lot of warning on both occasions. Doesn't
living in Nebraska mean you stock up on supplies ahead of time?
And always have a back-up plan, even if that means dusting
off the old scoop shovel?
Snow by the park
In front of the old lumber yard
Looking up 10th Street
*****
A pre-Christmas dinner was held Saturday, December 19th,
at the home of Dale & Karen Isaacs. Guests were: Jerry & Renae
Hull, Michael and Matthew, Hastings; Rebecca Bailey and
Mike Brungardt, Blake and Hayden, York; Chris and JoDee Juilfs,
Zack Juilfs, Spencer and Ben Semin, Bennett; Randy and Jeanie
Steinkuhler, Unadilla; Megan Poppas and Jon Poppas, Chicago;
Addison Poppas, Lincoln; Russell, Kevin, and Kaylee Hull, and Dale
Stubbendick, Syracuse; and Harold and Sue Hull, Douglas.
After grandma Karen got her dinner ate, the "Can we open gifts now?"
started. Karen said seeing the little ones open their gifts and
the expression on their faces was the big highlight of the day.
Also, this was the first time in many years this many family members
could be together. It was a great day for all.
*****
Most Christmas Eve services and Sunday services were
cancelled due to the weather.
*****
Our own Lil' Miss Germanfest, Nicole Stubbendick
helped to light the Tannenbaum Tree in Syracuse.
*****
Saturday, December 19th, Glen & April Isaacs hosted the
Achen Family Christmas. The festivities started out with the
kids sledding through the bean field and ended with a soup dinner.
Gavin Wardyn, the newest member of the family, met
more of his relatives.
Gavin
*****
Saturday, December 26th, the Wilhelm family met at the home of
Ruth Wilhelm in Syracuse. Pizza was served and then the
"present" game followed. It was lots of fun as usual! Those
attending: Bev Wilhelm, Chuck Bjork, Nick, Lynn, Livia, & Halle
Wilhelm, Marcus, Brianne, & Charlie Wilhelm, Bob & Barb Wilhelm,
Michele, Maisie, & Madison Hillman, Dave, Nola, & Travis
Johnson, and Jo Wilhelm.
**********
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
1-1 Aaron Bailey, Tyler Crownover
1-2 Gerri Eisenhauer
1-3 Glen Wyatt, Samuel Hincker
1-5 Corrine Zahn
1-6 Jerry Friede
**********
NEWS FROM 100 YEARS AGO
Friday, 12-31-1909, The Otoe Union:
The temperature was 13 degrees below zero. O.G. Stoner's
mail delivery wagon tipped over in a snow drift. Anna Wendeln
died and was buried in Dudley cemetery. Nellie West won
first prize, a large doll, in I.S. Darling's Christmas raffle.
Paul Naeve received a Christmas box from Hamburg, Germany.
There was "still a lot of ungathered corn in the fields."
**********
NEWS FROM OUR NEIGHBORS
Read other communities newsletters by clicking on:
www.NebraskaCommunityWebsites.com
All the Classified Ads are on the Left Side
All the Newsletters are on the Right Side
(just click on the Editor's name)
*****
The Old Avoca Schoolhouse will be hosting a Jamming
Workshop on Saturday, January 9, from 1-3 p.m.
Championship fiddler and fiddle book author,
Deborah Greenblatt, will share some hints to help
you play in a jam session with minimum stress, and
maximum music. Pre-registration is required, enrollment
is limited, and there is a $20 fee.
For more information, call 402-275-3221, or email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
*****
The Otoe County Genealogical Society will hold its
January meeting on 1-14-09, at the Otoe County Museum of
Memories, 366 Poplar Street, in Syracuse, Nebraska. This
meeting will welcome new members into the society, and will also
cover topics of interest concerning research in the Otoe
County Area. The meeting is open to all who are interested in
joining the society, or just wish to attend to learn more about
genealogical research in general.
OCGS Vice President, Duane Arends, will present a class
on "Time Lines", which will cover how utilizing time lines
to document your family's history can greatly assist you
in uncovering valuable information about your ancestors.
To learn more about the society, please check out our website,
or contact the Morton-James Library or the Otoe County Museum
of Memories.
*****
At the Lofte Community Theatre in Manley, acting up in class is not
only accepted, but strongly encouraged. Back by popular demand,
the Lofte is gathering its most talented artists in a classroom
environment to teach and prepare young actors and
actresses. Four separate classroom sessions will cover
Acting Basics, Intro to Dance, Vocal Audition, & Stage Combat.
This one-day theater workshop will take place on Saturday,
January 23 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Enrollment is open to
young people ages 10-18 at any level of experience. Space
for this event is limited and slots will be filled on a first
come, first served basis. Participants should plan on arriving
15 minutes early for check in.
Tuition for the workshop is $50 per student and includes a
box lunch. Each student will also receive a graduation gift.
Questions may be directed to Anne Pope at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To obtain a registration sheet, please call the Lofte box office at
402.234.2553 or download it at www.Lofte.com
Lofte students learn a few basic dance moves from Megan Kovar
of Lincoln during last year's Acting Up in Class.
*****
EIGHTH ANNUAL NEBRASKA
AMERICAN STRING TEACHERS ASSOCIATION
FIDDLE TUNE CONTEST
!st Place: $100.00
2nd Place: $50.00
3rd Place: $25.00
This event inspires fiddlers to compose their own tunes, and
supports the cause of string education througout the
great state of Nebraska. The winners will be announced
on May 29, 2010, during the Monumental Fiddling Championship
held at the Homestead National Monument in Beatrice,
Nebraska. The winning compositions will be performed at the
Championship, and printed in Stringing Along, the journal
of the Nebraska Chapter of the American String Teachers
Association. Direct your questions and get rules and
guidelines from:
Deborah Greenblatt
The Old Schoolhouse
PO Box 671
Avoca NE 68307-0671
or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
*****
Send us your news, photos, and ideas
at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Have a GREAT week!
Barb