Union Community Newsletter - February 2015

 
The Cass County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program is proud to announce that three new CASA Volunteers were sworn-in by Judge John Steinheider on February 17, 2015.   A brief reception was held following the swearing in to wish the new CASA Volunteers well in their advocacy for Cass County’s abused and neglected children.  The new CASA volunteers are Cathi Bond, Heidi Cline and Jen Rackley.

There are a total of 19 Cass County children who are under the jurisdiction of the court because of abuse and/or neglect. Children range in age from two to 19 years old.  Currently, ten active CASA volunteers are advocating for these children.

CASA volunteers usually work with one case at a time. They get to know the children and write reports for the Judge, making recommendations about what would be best for the child. They become a stable, reliable presence in the child’s life during a very difficult time, and advocate for the child to have a safe and permanent home as quickly as possible.

The Cass County CASA program was started in 2005.   CASA volunteers are ordinary people doing an extraordinary thing by having an impact on the lives of abused and neglected children.  Most volunteers donate about 2 hours per week (or 8 hours a month) and all training is provided.  A portion of the pre-service training expenses were paid for by a grant from the Nebraska CASA Association.  If you are interested or want more information, please call or e-mail Angie Neumiller, Program Director at 402-296-9520 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit our website at www.casscasa.org.  
 
Cass County CASA program is a 501c3 program that is funded by donations, grants, Keno funds and fundraisers.  Our next fundraiser will be April 18 at Slattery’s Vintage Estates from 5-10pm with Silver Wings band as entertainment.
 
Angie Neumiller
Director, Cass County CASA Program
Additional information can be found at www.casscasa.org, www.nebraskacasa.org  or www.casaforchildren.org
 
Photo: Three new CASA volunteers.
 
Picture: Heidi Cline, Cathi Bond, Jen Rackley and and Judge Steinheider

IRISH MUSIC CONCERT

Greenblatt & Seay's Schoolhouse Performance Series features a concert of Irish music on Sunday, March 15, at 2:30 PM, in the Old Avoca, Nebraska Schoolhouse. Greenblatt & Seay will be singing and playing a variety of instruments, including fiddle, penny-whistle, folk harp, guitar, hammered dulcimer, and recorders. Traditional Irish tunes will be featured, along with some Greenblatt & Seay originals inspired by the great Irish traditions.

Greenblatt & Seay have been playing and singing together since the night they met, decades ago. Their performance on March 15 will include the championship fiddling styles of Deborah Greenblatt, and the fancy whistle-playing of David Seay.

The concert will be downstairs, and followed by light refreshments, and a chance to chat and even jam with the performers. Avoca is in southern Cass County, Nebraska, on the 13 C Spur, one mile south of Highway 34.

Admission is $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for students and senior citizens, and $1.00 for children. Seating is limited.For more information, write to Greenblatt & Seay, The Old Schoolhouse, P.O. Box 671, Avoca, Nebraska, 68307, or call 402-275-3221, or e-mail them at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The historic Old Avoca Schoolhouse was built in 1925, and has been the home of the Schoolhouse Performance Series since 1990. Music lessons, workshops, fiddle camps, and field trips are offered by Schoolhouse residents, Greenblatt & Seay, and are available by appointment.

Manley, NE [February 22, 2015] - The Lofte Community Theatre in Manley recently competed in the Nebraska Association of Community Theatres One-act play festival.  The competition takes place every other year and this February 14 it was held in the capitol city at the Lincoln Community Playhouse.  The Lofte’s production of “These Shining Lives” received a number of awards and ranked second in the state contest.  First prize was awarded to Beatrice Community Players.  

“These Shining Lives” told the story of the Radium Girls at the turn of the century.  Their job was to decorate clock faces with radioactive radium paint.  While many of the women who were employed in the industry died or became ill with radiation poisoning, management and the courts continued to deny them recourse, stating that the women were not in danger.  These women appealed their case all the way to the Supreme Court where they finally won, thus changing Illinois labor laws forever.  The play outlines the women’s friendship and legal struggle during the fight for their very lives.

Directed by Allison Bauers of Louisville, the cast included Melinda Mead of Plattsmouth who won Best Actress.  Kevin Colbert of Weeping Water was awarded Best Supporting Actor.  Janet Sorensen of Elmwood won for Best Costuming, and the cast shared the award for Best Set.  Others in the cast included Sharon Kryger, Doug Rothgeb, Maylea, Chase and Larry Bauers, Karen and Jordan Clay, George Strassler and Shawna Manley.  

“These Shining Lives” will play for the public at the Lofte Community Theatre on Saturday, February 28 at 7:30pm.  There is no admission price or required reservations, but a free will donation will be accepted to help offset the competition expenses.

 Keep America Beautiful and Dr Pepper Snapple Group Continue to Provide Grants to Increase Recycling in Public Parks

State and Local Governments Invited to Apply for DPS-funded Grants for Recycling in Public Parks
STAMFORD, Conn. (Feb. 17, 2015) — Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) has renewed its partnership with Keep America Beautiful (KAB) with a $300,000 commitment that continues efforts to provide recycling opportunities to consumers.
Now in its third year, the DPS/KAB Park Recycling Grant Program funds the placement of recycling bins within city, regional and state public parks across the nation. Now through March 20, 2015, the program is accepting applications for recycling bin grants on its website, http://irecycleonthego.wordpress.com/.
Those eligible to apply are state and local government agencies, and other community organizations involved with recycling activities in local, regional and state parks.

Please contact KCCB if you would like help to apply. Deadline - March 20, 2015.

Thank you,

Linda Behrns
Executive Director
Keep Cass County Beautiful
513 Vine St
Louisville, NE 68037
402-234-6775
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Union Community Newsletter - January 2015

Cass County will continue to improve its ability to reduce waste going to the landfill this year with Keep Cass County Beautiful’s (KCCB) recent receipt of a $45,000 grant.

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Acting Director Pat Rice has announced the awarding of $2,099,364 in 57 grants for litter cleanup, recycling, and public education programs and activities across the state of Nebraska. Funds for the Litter Reduction and Recycling Grant Program are generated from a fee charged to certain manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of products that commonly contribute to litter. The program has been providing grants annually since 1979.

“The agency received many outstanding applications from across Nebraska,” Rice said. “These grant awards will support many important local efforts to recycle and protect our natural resources.” The awards are divided among three grant categories: recycling, cleanup and public education awards. Keep Cass County Beautiful is the recipient of a $45,000 public education grant award for 2015. The Public Education programs educate citizens in the areas of litter reduction, cleanup, and recycling through a variety of individual and community activities. Keep Cass County Beautiful (KCCB) will use the grant to help with school and community presentations in the county, recycling and litter education, and partner with youth organizations.

KCCB supports Cass County communities to educate, enable and encourage all residents to take greater responsibility for improving our environment. In the past year, many communities, school organizations and civic groups have benefited from assistance with litter cleanups, recycling efforts and beautification projects. Several schools in the county have also participated in free educational programming provided by KCCB. For more information about the organization or how to become a member, contact Linda Behrns, Executive Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Murray's 4th of July Celebration Continues!

The MURRAY FREEDOM FESTIVAL organization is a group of citizens who want to share the celebration of our country's freedoms and anyone is welcome to join our group.  In order for this event-filled day to happen, some fundraising is planned for the next few months, so keep watching here for updates.  Funds are needed for fireworks, concessions, prizes and more, so please help us in our efforts.

We also have to rely on financial gifts from private individuals, businesses and other organizations. A gift from you, your civic group or business would greatly help us to achieve our goal in making this an annual event to be proud of.  Your non-deductible gift, no matter the amount, is genuinely appreciated.  (We have already received a donation of $500 from a private citizen, so feel free to match it!)  You may make a deposit at the Murray State Bank to the 'Murray Freedom Festival' account, or if you prefer, please mail a check to, John Hensch, Fundraising Chairman, 508 West Young St., Murray, NE 68409.  Below are instructions on how to donate online, too.   Thank you, in advance, for your generous contribution!

Front Porch Eatery owner, Jose Sanchez, has agreed to shut down for one day, April 12, 2015, and has donated his place of business in Murray for us to host a free-will donation pancake feed for our cause. So mark your calendar for Sunday, April 12th, to come have pancakes.  In the meantime, stop in for breakfast, (served all day) or lunch until 2 p.m. and be sure to say, 'Thank you', to Jose for his generous contribution!

Our vision is to bring back and even add many other activities including the oozeball games, (mud volleyball), a classic car show, tug-of-war, street dance, smash-a-car, Bingo, parade and activities for the little kids, too.  We're also planning to have raffle tickets for a drawing for 1 lucky person to push the detonater for the starting of the fireworks show! (Oh, pick me, pick ME!!)   

 The nice people at AnyTime Fitness in Plattsmouth have agreed to sponsor a fun run early in the day on the 4th, so if you know any runners, let them know, and walkers can join in the fun, too!  

Also, former Murray resident, Jim Howe, (aka 'Roadkill'), has many fond memories of Murray's celebrations. He now lives at Beaver Lake and has been putting on his own enormous fireworks show at the lake the past few years. (I've seen it and it is great!)  Jim, along with Night Vision Fireworks, has graciously agreed to do Murray's show this year on the 4th and he will still do his personal show for the Lake on the 3rd, so folks in the area will have 2 nights of fantastic fireworks! (Thanks, Jim!)

Our website is up and running!  At www.MurrayFreedomFestivalNE.com you'll be able to keep track of the activity planning as it progresses and you may even share photos of your own Murray 4th of July memories.  Donations can be made through this link, too.  Registration for activities such as the fun run and oozeball will be available online at our website via PayPal or registrants can pay by check to the address given above.  If using PayPal, you choose the 'Friends and Family' tab.  There will be no refunds on activity registrations.

Please plan to attend our next meeting and bring a friend on
Wednesday, February 11, 2015,
Murray Town Hall
at 6:30.

Everyone's welcome!

So, pass on the good news and put in your plans to celebrate in Murray this 4th of July!

 ARE YOU 55+ and LOOKING FOR PART-TIME WORK?

The following is an employment opportunity available to older adults in Cass County.

Experience Works is a national, non-profit organization funded by the US Dept of Labor to administer the Senior Community Service Employment Program, which assists people 55 and older in getting updated training to assist in returning to the workforce. This is a federally funded program and offers a no-cost employment service to older adults who qualify. Once accepted into the program, individuals are placed in a training site in or near their community, where they gain on the job experience while working 20-21 hours/week at $8/hour. We also help with skill assessments, computer training, resumes, cover letters, job search, etc. The goal is that through the training and job search assistance we gain help older adults gain good jobs in or around their communities.

Stephanie Mahony
Employment and Training Coordinator
Experience Works, Inc.
1111 "O" Street Ste 205--American Job Center
Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: 402-441-1654
Fax: 402-441-6038
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Nebraska Tollfree Number: 1-877-314-7526

 2015 Schoolhouse Fiddle Camps

Registration is now open for the 2015 Schoolhouse Fiddle Camps, in the Old Avoca Schoolhouse, in Avoca, Nebraska. Deborah Greenblatt, championship fiddler, author of many fiddle collections, will help the campers get in touch with their inner fiddler. The course of study during the Schoolhouse Fiddle Camps will be designed specifically for the individual campers who sign up.

The June Camp (Monday, June 15 - Friday, June 19) is for folks who consider themselves beginners. The July Camp (Monday, July 13 - Friday, July 17) is for folks who consider themselves intermediate or advanced. Enrollment is limited to 10 fiddlers for each week, so that everyone will get individual attention.

For more information, e-mail Deborah at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To register on line, log on to: http://www.greenblattandseay.com/schoolhouse_fiddle_camp.shtml

GARAGE SALE!

The First United Methodist church youth group is having a garage sale on Saturday Feb. 7th from 9-4 at the church basement 222 Walnut, Louisville.
Can you please put this on the sites and in the paper?

Garage sale is to benefit this summer's mission trip to Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota.