Late March/early April 2017 Updates

What a busy month! It’s hard to keep up with all our club members – they’re always on the move!

Saturday, March 25th is our next “Meet and Eat” for either a 5k walk or a 10k walk. Meet at the north end of the Gallup Parking lot (off Ferer Plaza) by 10 a.m. – be ready to walk by 10:15. Lunch this time will be at the Old Mattress Factory, at 13th and Cass Streets.

The next day, Sunday March 26th, the Workers’ Walk for the April 1st “I Spy Walk” will start at Madonna Rehab Hospital near the unnamed outdoor shopping mall, 17500 Burke Street. Walkers will start promptly at 2 p.m., so arrive early with exact change in hand to sign the paperwork and pay. $1.50 for fun walkers, $3.00 for credit walkers.

The formal “I Spy Walk” will be held the next Saturday, April 1st, from 9 to 12, off the trail by 3 p.m. Same prices as above. If you’re able to walk with new walkers at 9:30, great! We’d love to have you come set the pace and offer some words of friendship.

The regular monthly meeting at Morningstar Lutheran Church on Monday, April 3rd, will feature a presentation on the summer sky. If the sky is clear, we’ll go out and look up. The meeting starts promptly at 7.

For those of you looking at our Eclipse Events August 18 – 21, good news! The Stuhr Museum has worked out a deal with us, so we’re passing on the savings. The package cost is now $25, rather than $30, and the actual Eclipse Walk is now $5, rather than $10. Those who have already pre-registered and paid will be offered a refund onsite. We’ve found a couple of rooms, so let us know if you’re interested – first come, first served!

Soup Walk is March 4th!

Our Soup Walk is MARCH 4TH. Please excuse the fat fingers typing away that previously advertised an incorrect date.

Annual Meeting and Dinner – 2017

Past president Sandy Spaulding addresses the club

31 people attended the January 21, 2017 Annual Meeting and Dinner at Valentino’s (108th & Q area). Incoming president Lee Frantz and wife Donna Campbell decorated the tables with a star theme in anticipation of our August 18 – 21 Total Solar Eclipse events, with Milky Way candy bars, Starbursts and Sunshine butterscotch candies.

A highlight of every Annual Meeting is the presentation of the Walker of the Year award. 2015 Walkers Jim and Martha McGahan presented the 2016 award to Ann Drebot. Ann arranges for speakers at our monthly club meetings and has done so for many, many years.

Wild Eclipse T-shirts for Sale!

SORRY – ALL SOLD OUT AS OF 4/11/17

The printer goofed when printing up our latest batch of club t-shirts – all those wild colors, sizes and styles got ECLIPSE logos printed on them instead (see example on the left). Here’s YOUR chance to own a one-of-a-kind t-shirt.

When you adopt a shirt, the proceeds will go toward our Eclipse events in August (food for meet & greet, drawstring bags, eclipse glasses, etc.) Let Sandy Spaulding know if you might be interested. This is what we have left:

1 M Short Sleeve Tee – Maroon
2 M Sweatshirts – Maroon
1 L Long sleeve Tee – Charisma Coral
1 L Long Sleeve Tee – Maroon
4 L Sweatshirts – Maroon
1 L Short Sleeve Wicking Tee – White
1 XL Short Sleeve Tee – Maroon
1 XL Short sleeve wicking shirt – Pink
1 XXL Short Sleeve Tee – Maroon
1 XXL Sweatshirt – Maroon
1 XXL V-Neck Short Sleeve Tee – Forest Green
1 XXXL Long Sleeve Tee – Light Blue

Want to get out of the house? We’ve got stuff for you to do!

Saturday, January 28 – group walk of Historic Fremont. Bundle up and meet at Hy-Vee, 840 E 23rd St. at 9:45, ready to walk at 10 a.m. Plan to enjoy Hy-Vee’s great salad bar or buffet after.

Saturday, Feb. 4 – annual Shelby Soup Cook Off. Always a great event (see https://www.nebraskatrailblazers.com/the-return-of-the-unlimited-soup/ ). If you would like to carpool/tandem drive, meet at the old Mall of the Bluffs parking lot by 4:15 (Madison Ave. exit, turn left, at light turn right between Bucky’s and Hy-Vee, go through the stop sign. We will be on the right in the first parking lot). If anyone would like to set up another carpool location, let me Sandy Spaulding know. The location in Shelby is at the Cardinal Lofts gym, 304 Western St.

Monday, Feb. 6 – monthly meeting at Morningstar Lutheran Church, on the lower level. Our speaker will be from The Wild Bird Habitat Store. Join us at 7 p.m. for this interesting program and information on our 2017 walks. Treats to follow!

Saturday, Feb. 11 – Des Moines Skywalk – this will be a carpool event. If you would like to ride or drive, let Sandy Spaulding know. We will be leaving from the old Mall of the Bluffs – see directions above. If anyone would like to set up another carpool location, also let Sandy know. If you are driving yourself, note the change of the start point – CAPITAL SQUARE, 400 LOCUST ST, MAIN FLOOR. More information from AVA’s website at: Des Moines Skywalk.

The return of the unlimited soup!

Calling all Walkers!

It’s time to support the Shelby Trail Fundraiser – their annual Soup Cook-Off is planned for Saturday, February 4 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. https://www.shelbyia.com/news.asp Unlimited soup for a $10 entry fee.

These funds are used to improve the Old Stone Arch Trail that we use as part of our Shelby Year Around (YRE) walk. This has become an annual pilgrimage for many NWFT members who have come away with wonderful raffle prizes during the evening. Don’t miss out, the pie auction can astound with $200 to $300 pies flying out the door.

Meet us there or contact the carpools below via email netrailblazers@gmail.com

Butch and Sandy are offering a carpool leaving at 4:15 p.m. from the old mall in Council Bluffs.

Donna and I can offer door-to-door service in the West Omaha area for two to three people. Times of pick-up to be determined

Walk to Live, Live to Walk,

Lee Frantz, President, Nebraska Trailblazers

Happy New Year of Walking – 2017!

Congratulations to our 2017 slate of officers and committee chairs:

President – Lee Frantz
Vice President – Larry Boehm
Secretary – Tricia Abel
Treasurer – Butch Spaulding
Historian – Diane Fenlon
“The Committee” Chair – Sandy Spaulding
Newletter Chair – Julie Brown

Come visit with them and other friends at the Annual Meeting and Dinner, to be held Saturday, January 21st at the Valentino’s at 5022 S 108th St, Omaha, NE 68137. Social time begins at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. Cost is $15 for members and $18 for non-members and includes buffet, soft drink and tip. Come find out who our 2016 Walker of the Year is!

Our next “Meet and Eat” will take place the following Saturday, January 28th, at 10 a.m. starting from the dining area in the Fremont Hy-Vee, 840 E 23rd St, Fremont, NE 68025. 5k walkers will register and then drive to the May Museum at 17th and Nye Avenue to begin their walk; 10k walkers start from the Hy-Vee. Lunch afterwards will take place at Hy-Vee’s restaurant there. The 5k and 10k routes have been changed a bit from 2016, so be sure to stay when walking with someone who has the new map!

February 11th is Des Moines’ annual SkyWalk and is expected to be the site of our next “Meet and Eat” – look for more details coming soon.

Our January – February 2017 newsletter is attached. January – February 2017 Newsletter This is not the full version of the newsletter, as we’ve noticed that this website has been attracting a number of . . . overseas . . .visitors to the site. Club members will still receive the full versions that they’ve come to know and love. Want to be a member? It’s only $10 a year for membership ($15 for a family) and supports all of the great activities that you’ve come to expect from us.

Lots going on in November and December 2016

Our November – December 2016 newsletter is available here: November – December 2016 Newsletter

Saturday, November 19th sees the club return to Council Bluffs for its ever-popular “Meet and Eat” group walks of the 5k and 10k year round walk in Council Bluffs. Plan to start walking at 10 a.m. – so be at Lansky’s, 1131 N Broadway, Council Bluffs, IA 51503, 15 minutes early to complete the paperwork and pay the $3 credit walker or $1.50 Fun Walker fees. (As always, exact change is appreciated!) Lansky’s opens at 11 a.m., but the grocery store nearby does have restrooms available. We’ll eat at Lansky’s after the walk.

The Workers’ Walk for the Lights Walk in December will be held Saturday, November 26th, starting at 3 p.m. from the Landmark Building, 13th and Farnam Streets, Omaha, NE, 68131. Come 15 minutes early to complete the paperwork and pay the $3 credit walker or $1.50 Fun Walker fees. (As always, exact change is appreciated!) Omaha charges for parking on Saturdays, so bring some change to feed the meters, too.

Our annual Lights Walk takes place starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 3rd (see above for address, fees and notes). We’ll need workers, group walk leaders and bakers/makers of treats to make this successful – look for your email coming soon. The club collects toilet paper (packaged, please!) and hats, scarves, gloves and mittens to pass on to a local homeless shelter, so keep those items in mind as you shop these next couple of weeks.

Our last club meeting of 2016 happens on December 5th at 7 p.m. at Morning Star Lutheran Church (basement), 331 S 85th Ave, Omaha, NE 68114. We’ll vote for our 2017 Officers and our 2016 Walker of the Year. Be sure to read the newsletter for a description of the nominees. Online or paper ballots have been sent to all registered club members – follow the instructions to make your vote count.

Saturday, December 17th – mark your calendars for our trip to Kansas City, Missouri to walk among the Plaza Lights. (Weather dependent!!) More details coming soon.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Nebraska Wanderfreunde Trailblazers. We’re thankful for each of YOU!

PIE WALK LOCATION HAS MOVED!

Due to a scheduling conflict, the ever-popular and always tasty PIE WALK has moved across the river to:

Children’s Square USA, 714 Ave. E, Council Bluffs, 51501

Please spread the word! This affects the actual walk AND the Workers’ Walk on October 30th (still same bat-time, same bat-channel.)

Directions from Omaha: Take I-80 into Iowa and follow I-29 North. Take the 25^th St. Exit 55. Turn south to Ave. G. Turn left (east) on Avenue G to 6^th St. Turn right (south) on 6^th St. to Avenue E. Children’s Square will be on the right.

From the East: Follow I-80 to US-6 W/E Kanesville Blvd Exit 8. Follow US-6 W/Kanesville Blvd. west to Washington Ave. Turn right on Washington Ave. to N. 6^th St. North on N. 6^th St. to Children’s Square on your left. Washington Ave. is the next street after Oakland Ave. The street sign for Washington Ave. is on the north. Main St. is on the south side of Kanesville Blvd.