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 director@casscasa.org 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 debby@greenblattandseay.com.
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
KeepCassCountyBeautiful@yahoo.com
