Springfield Wednesday Newsletter: December 20, 2023

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Sunday Funday UMC

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Bingo Books copy

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IT HAPPENED IN SPRINGFIELD HISTORY

History Xmas1989 Springfield city maintenance supervisor, Louie Post, decorates the community Christmas tree.

The second annual Christmas tree lighting at the Community Building took place on December 10, 1989. Residents gathered to sing carols as the tree was lit by Springfield Area Development Group president, Dick Hindalong. Afterwards, everyone moved inside the Community Building for hot chocolate and cookies. The tree which was planted earlier in the fall was provided by county extension agent, Bob Woolman from his tree farm in Gretna. Local electrician, Don Smith, donated his services to update the Community Building’s electrical service before the Christmas tree lighting celebration.

In other local news from December 21, 1989, a warning was issued for residents to be on the lookout for the Yuletide gang, whose motive was to break into people's houses in the early hours of Christmas morning. According to the authorities, the gang enters secretly and places gifts beneath the Christmas tree. The gang has not been sighted in hundreds of years despite being out and about every year on December 25^th. The ringleader goes by the name of Santa Claus who is described as a jolly old elf with a long white beard, and a nose that looks like a button. His cheeks are red like a cherry, and his mouth is in the shape of a bow. He wears a red and white suit, and his trademark laugh is, “Ho, Ho, Ho!”. Santa Claus travels by sleigh pulled by nine reindeer with his leading right-hand deer, “Rudy the red-nosed reindeer.” Special agents issued a warning, saying that anyone seeing the Yuletide gang on Christmas Eve—especially kids—should get right back to bed so Santa can deliver his gifts to all good boys and girls. Merry Christmas!

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Heat the Streets Run & Walk for Warmth

Give the gift of utility assistance this holiday season by registering for "Heat the Streets Run& Walk for Warmth".

The holiday shopping season is already underway, and local utilities encourage you to add the gift of utility bill assistance to your list by signing up for the Heat the Streets Run & Walk for Warmth. You can register for the event beginning on Black Friday.

Heat the Streets takes place March 2, 2024, at Zone 6 in Aksarben Village, 1911 S. 67^th St. in Omaha. This is the 17^th year Metropolitan Utilities District and Omaha Public Power District are hosting the event to raise money for utility assistance programs for customers struggling to pay their bills.

This year’s co-chairs are Jim Begley, vice chair of the M.U.D. Board of Directors, and his wife, Rebecca, and Matt Core, a member of the OPPD Board of Directors, and his wife, Katy.

Last year, M.U.D.’s HomeFund distributed $280,389 of bill assistance funding to 790 households in need. OPPD’s Energy Assistance Program distributed $319,987 in funding to 937 households in need.

Heat the Streets is the single largest fundraiser of the year for these programs. Last year the event raised $138,081. This year, the utilities have set a goal of registering at least 1,000 participants and raising at least $300,000.

Fundraising is especially critical right now, as a decrease in federal funding allotted to programs that help with utility bill assistance has put extra pressure on the utilities’ assistance programs.

The utilities host the run and walk during the winter to bring added attention to the struggle that so many face to keep their homes safe and warm. However, our customers’ need is year-round. Unexpected events – a lost job, hospital stay, even car repairs – are a real hardship for those living paycheck to paycheck. Sometimes, just a little financial boost can make all the difference.

Funds raised are administered by Dollar Energy Fund Inc., a registered 501(c)(3), and then split between M.U.D.’s Home Fund and OPPD’s Energy Assistance Program to provide assistance to our customers living in Burt, Cass, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington counties. All money raised is distributed through this local network.

Participation options, including a new 10k distance race path, and prices follow. The registration window opens Nov. 24, with discounts for early birds who register before the end of the year.

Timed 10K

$35 (Nov. 24 through Dec. 31)
$40 (Jan. 1 through Feb. 28)
$50 (Day-of registration)

Timed 5K

$30 (Nov. 24 through Dec. 31)
$35 (Jan. 1 through Feb 28)
$45 (Day-of registration)

Untimed one-mile walk

Children 12 and under may register for free with a registered adult.

$25 (Nov. 24 through Dec. 31)
$30 (Jan. 1 through Feb. 28)
$40 (Day-of registration)

Virtual run/walk

Participants may complete their choice on the path of their choice, such as a treadmill, in their neighborhoods or a local trail.

$35 (Nov. 24 through Feb. 28)

Awards will be given to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place male and female runners in each of the following age divisions for the timed 5K and 10K events: 12 and under, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+. (No awards for virtual participants.)

You do not have to participate in the run or walk to help the cause. Just visit HeatTheStreetsOmaha.com to donate and view sponsorship opportunities.

Both utilities urge any customers who are struggling with their bills to call their customer service representatives and talk through their options. For OPPD, that number is 402-536-4131 in the Omaha area. Outside of the metro, customers may call toll-free at 877-536-4131. M.U.D. customers should call 402-554-6666.

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TEAM 2024 meetings

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Springfield NCWPFlyer 2018

***HAPPENING NEARBY***

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For more info, click here:

LOFTE COMMUNITY THEATRE

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CORNHUSKER COUNTRY MUSIC THEATER

211 Main Street

Louisville, NE

Come on over and take a spin on our dance floor!

This is a family-friendly venue, so bring the kids, too!

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NO SATURDAY EVENING SHOWS in:

DECEMBER & JANUARY

HOWEVER, we will have

FREE, OPEN JAM SESSIONS!

January 7, 14, 21 & 28

Bring your instruments, bring your voices or just sit in and listen!
Let's get together and have a good time!

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information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.<;/strong>

Like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063613958002

For more information, call Larry: 1-402-949-0668.

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Louisville Food Bank

SHARE PLEASE - WE NEED MORE TO HELP SPREAD THE WORD!
Mark your calendars! Stop down and stock up. There is no scary process or forms to fill out. Just good people helping good people.
Open days (always 6:00-7:00pm)
Inside Hopes Closet 213 Main Louisville
Dec 21 right before Christmas
Dec 28

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Next years dates open! 6-7 pm
Jan. 11, 25
Feb. 8, 22
March 14, 28
April 11, 25
May 9, 23
June 13, 27

We strive to have the Food Bank open on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month, however holidays might change those dates.
Updates can be found here >>

Please come and pick up what you need for your household or a friend’s.
We have canned goods, boxed meals, breakfast items, frozen meats, bread, eggs, baking ingredients, cleaning supplies, personal care items, diapers and wipes.

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"I choose to make the rest of my life the best of my life."

-Louise Hay

Thank you to all Springfield E-Newsletter readers.

Connie Manzer

PLEASE HELP THE EDITOR!

Help make the newsletter better! Your news is needed for the Springfield electronic newsletter. Post school, organizational, and sporting announcements. Birthday and anniversary announcements are welcome, also. Send photos and fliers. Get the word out to everyone in Springfield and beyond. Please have your info in by Monday 10pm. Email all news and photos to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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