Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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In a heartwarming blend of holiday cheer, tradition and talent, Summerland Elementary School students recently took the stage to perform "North Pole Revue," the annual Christmas musical directed by music teacher Sarah Kesting. From kindergarteners to sixth graders, more than 200 voices filled the air with joy, showcasing months of dedication and creative energy under Kesting's seasoned guidance. This year marks a special milestone for Kesting-her 20th year of teaching and directing the...
Life for Jorden Barlow comes full circle. The 2014 Ewing High School graduate owns and operates The Lush Body Spa, in the administrative office suite, at the former school building. The spa officially opened April 2. She's booking appointments on Mondays through Thursdays, as well as Saturdays by appointment only. Barlow earned an associate degree in chiropractic massage in 2017 from the Myotherapy Institute in Lincoln. Since then, she's worked in salons, spas and chiropractic settings in...
The purple ribbon atop the pencil drawing of a famous icon says it all: Best of Show. Caydence Schumacher, a sophomore at Summerland Public Schools, submitted a pencil drawing of Marilyn Monroe to the ESU 8 Art Show, held April 5 to 7 at the Antelope County Fairgrounds in Neligh. Judges awarded it the top prize. Schumacher said when she's decided what to draw, she sometimes has an individual in mind or she'll search for famous people she's a fan of. "I decided to do Marilyn Monroe because she...
Mary Reyes, of Page, was simply looking for something extra to occupy her time, when a conversation with her sister and brother-in-law led to a fresh idea. For nearly a year, Reyes has been creating scented bead car fresheners and selling them under the Godly Irresistible Freshies label. She said the process is painless. First, she mixes aroma beads with various fragrance oils, which cure for two weeks. During that time period, Reyes shakes the bottles four to five times a day. "I walk by and...
The holidays are for celebrating and Small Business Saturday is a celebration of the key role independent, locally-owned businesses play in Nebraska's economy. Founded by American Express in 2010 and officially co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration since 2011, Small Business Saturday will be Nov. 25, the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and small businesses across Nebraska have embraced Small Business Saturday and the...
Chili. Just one little word that causes so much controversy. And no, I'm not talking about the whole "beans-or-no-beans" debate that seems to pit Texas chili purists against the rest of the world. I'm talking about the chili and cinnamon roll combo that so many of us remember from our school lunch days. In 2020, as were all sheltering in place and more of us were cooking at home than we had in years, I was invited to join a Facebook group that focused on "Eating through the pandemic." It was...
Known as "the other white meat," pork got a bad rap for decades. Cook it until it's completely done and it's dry as a bone. Leave it a bit pink in the middle and you'll die of food poisoning. It has too much fat and it's bad for you. Whatever. A lot has changed in the past 10 years or so. America's pig farmers have worked closely with their teams of pig health professionals reviewing and researching what pigs eat and how they are raised and bred to develop leaner, higher quality pork foods that...
I previously wrote about how to save money on your grocery budget even though food costs are on the rise. I offered suggestions from Cami Wells, a Nebraska Extension Educator in Hall County, for foods in the protein, dairy and grains groups. This week, we'll learn ways to save money on fruits and vegetables. Vegetables "Check for sales and purchase those that are in-season," Wells said. "Most of us prefer fresh but canned and frozen vegetables are also healthy choices. Canned and frozen vegetabl...
It's hot. You're hot. And you want a cool treat to cool off. Preferably something that just came out of the freezer. Sure you can go to the grocery store and buy all sorts of frozen goodies: Ice cream sandwiches and bars, popsicles and a variety of novelty treats. But why not get a little creative and make your own? And some of these recipes are easy enough for kids to do on their own. Let's start with the classic ice cream sandwich and a recipe from Alison Ladman. "The classic combination of...
I recently asked my Facebook friends and family to tell me some of their favorite foods for Easter dinner. While it's always nice to add new dishes to the menu, there is something about holidays that screams "tradition!" In addition to the traditional ham, deviled eggs, strawberry shortcake, etc., a couple of other dishes were mentioned more than once. Those include Hash Brown Casserole, "Aunt Zina's Chocolate Dessert," (a reference to my Aunt Zina Turner, my mom's older sister), and a tasty...
As you plan your Easter gatherings, don't forget to include everyone's favorite holiday dish: the ham centerpiece. According to the National Pork Board, around 70% of Americans serve ham for Easter each year. But there is much more to know about it than "half or whole?" or "bone-in or boneless?" Here are answers to some frequently asked questions: Do I need a whole or a half ham? And how much ham will I need? A whole ham typically weighs more than 10 pounds. That's a large chunk to deal with in...
This week saw the Legislature resume floor debate and consider several gubernatorial appointments and reappointments. The following people were confirmed this week: Jim Macy as director of the department of environment and energy, John Bolduc as the superintendent of the state patrol, John Hilgert as director of the department of veterans affairs, Jason Jackson as director of the department of administrative services and Sherry Vinton as director of the department of agriculture. Additionally, I...
I know I've mentioned this in previous columns, but popcorn is one of my favorite snack foods. I bet it's one of yours as well. And our love of popcorn is just one of the reasons there is a lot to celebrate in the New Year including National Popcorn Day (Jan. 19) and the Chinese New Year (Jan, 22). It's hard to believe a snack food that tastes so good can actually be good for you, but it's true. Popcorn is a whole grain that is 100% unprocessed with no additional additives, hidden ingredients...
There are lots of dishes out there that are considered comfort foods (meatloaf, mac and cheese, chicken and noodles), but in my opinion, roasts - both beef and pork - have to be included on that list. Roasting is cooking meat or vegetables in the oven (or over a flame, technically) in an uncovered pot with no liquid, according to food writer Daniel Neman. The meat or vegetables are cooked entirely and evenly by the dry heat of the air around them. I have more experience with beef roasts than I...
For kids and adults alike, hot cocoa is often at the top of the list of favorite winter beverages. And with all the store-bought powdered packets available, it's certainly easy to prepare. But guess what? Making your own isn't that much more difficult, and the effort is worth it. And if you're having a party or family gathering, why not create a hot cocoa bar and let the guests add their toppings of choice? Topping musts for all ages include marshmallows, candy canes or peppermints, colored...
My turn to weigh on the new Husker hire. I’m no football guru, but I’ve been around the program long enough and have plenty of connections with former players (and we talk football a lot), so I feel I have a solid understanding of what it means to be all “N” and lead one of the most storied brands in college football. Initially, Saturday morning, as the news broke that Matt Rhule would be taking over the program, I wasn’t happy. I felt a sense of betrayal because deep down, I hoped interim c...
This week, Governor Pete Ricketts is leading a trade mission to Japan to promote Nebraska's quality ag products and to pitch Nebraska as a top destination for international investment. The governor and trade delegation will meet with government officials, promote Nebraska beef, pork, ethanol and other ag products and encourage Japanese businesses to invest in Nebraska. Delegates on the mission include representatives from ag businesses, state commodity organizations, Nebraska Farm Bureau, the De...
For years, I was all about Christmas cookies. Over the course of several days, I'd bake like 18 dozen of six or seven kinds of cookies. I'd make trays to share with friends and coworkers. I'd try new recipes, adding to the basic repertoire every year. It was always fun. And then something happened. I lost my Christmas spirit and with it, my desire to bake Christmas cookies. But recently, I decided enough was enough and I dug out the recipe box and whipped up several batches of old favorites....
I’m not sure there is a food in the world that says “summer” more than watermelon. Although it’s early in the season, we eat it at Memorial Day cook-outs. The Fourth of July isn’t a proper celebration without this tasty treat. And we say good-bye to meteorological summer with a cold, crisp melon on Labor Day weekend. And don’t forget all those family reunions and backyard barbecues in between. For lots of reasons, I didn’t get to know my dad’s parents very well, but I do remember visiti...
This past weekend is a blur. After wrapping up last week’s paper and making sure everything was organized for the rodeo, Scott and I headed north, to Fargo, where I was a finalist (and eventually named the winner) of the National Federation of Press Women’s Communicator of Achievement. We decided to take the less-traveled path and support small-town businesses. Word to the wise: call ahead, especially if you need to make a reservation. After driving around a South Dakota town for 20 min...
This week I'm sharing a few cool treats designed with the Fourth of July in mind: They are all red, white and blue! And they are not only colorful, but created with kids in mind. Most are simple enough for the kids to make (with proper supervision, of course). All of these recipes were developed by Catherine McCord, author of "The Smoothie Project" and founder of the Weelicious website that focuses on homemade food and treats for kids. McCord, mother of three, says, "I created Weelicious way...
Ask country singer Drew Green to describe one of his concerts and he'll tell you it's a blend of high energy and songs he loves to perform. "It'll be a party," Green said during a telephone interview with the Advocate-Messenger. The singer-songwriter will play at 9 p.m., June 25, on Clearwater's Main Street, following Saturday's rodeo action. Green, a Tennessee native, grew up a few hours from Nashville, cutting his teeth on hip-hop and country music. He started college, working toward a degree...
Many years ago (the exact number will remain a mystery), the very first food section I put together for the daily newspaper I was working for was all about strawberries. It was just about this time of year as May is National Strawberry Month, and I wanted to highlight one of my favorite berries. While a lot has changed over those years, one thing hasn't: I still love strawberries. Standing alone as the only fruit to wear its seeds on the outside, strawberries are loaded with nutrients. According...
Thursday is St. Patrick's Day and - if you're like me - it snuck up on you this year. Maybe it was that hour of sleep we lost last weekend when we went to Daylight Saving Time. Who knows? But, while green beer always seems to be on tap for the occasion, maybe you're looking for a couple of last-minute snacks and quick supper ideas to help you celebrate all things Irish. Well, the luck of the Irish is with you ... you've found the pot of gold! The Idaho Potato Commission has a collection of...
A few weeks ago, I read somewhere that March is National Peanut Butter Month. "Aha!" I thought. "Perfect topic for a column sometime soon." But when I began doing research, I discovered that whoever wrote that was wrong. As far as I can tell, there is no actual National Peanut Butter Month, although November is recognized as National Peanut Butter Lovers Month. So while peanut butter doesn't get it's own month, people who love peanut butter do. They also get their own day with National Peanut...
