Traditional Events – Page 7 – Nebraska Wander Freunde Trailblazers

May 2017 news

Our NWFT May-June 2017 Newsletter is available now. If you want the full version, consider becoming a club member. Club members get reminder emails of upcoming events, discounts and more. Check out these 26 people having a great time at our April “Meet and Eat” in Ashland, Nebraska.

Page 7 of the newsletter lists a lot of area walks from SD, MN, NE, KS and MO, hosted by our club and a number of other great clubs. Did you know that every single one of those walks qualifies for the “Doin’ the Louisiana Purchase” program, even if that special program isn’t specifically listed?

Our regular club meeting on May 1st at 7 p.m. in the lower level of Morning Star Lutheran Church, 331 S 85th Ave, Omaha, NE 68114, will feature a talk on keeping seniors moving. Don’t forget that if you’re coming from the south on 84th Street, that 84th is closed from Pacific north to Methodist Hospital (Dodge Street) and you can NOT get to the church that way! Use an alternate route.

Our Workers’ Walk for the May 13th “Florence Days Walk” in the Omaha neighborhood of Florence will take place on Sunday, May 7th at 2 p.m.

Finally, remember that Eclipse package registrations, as well as t-shirt and patch orders, close on May 25th. If you’re just coming out on Monday, August 21st, please go ahead and register for just that walk. We’d hate to run out of eclipse-viewing glasses!

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.

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.

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.

October – November events

Saturday, October 15 – Shelby, IA Meet and Eat We will start walking at 10 a.m., so arrive 15 minutes to sign paperwork and pay the $3 fee ($1.50 for Fun Walkers). If you drive yourself, park on the north side of The Corn Crib (the gas station that look like a barn just north of the interstate on the west side) Carpools from Westroads at 8-8:15 or Mall of the Bluffs at 8:45. We will have lunch at the Corn Crib after the walk.

Saturday, October 29 – Lincoln, NE Hosted by the Lincoln Volkssport Club The walk starts from the City Impact Building, 1035 N. 33rd Street, Lincoln, NE. Start times are 8:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and you must be off the trail by 12:45 p.m. The 5k and 10k trails go through Wyuka Cemetery and surround neighborhoods. $3 fee.

Sunday, Oct. 30 -Pie Walk workers’ walk Meet at 1:45 at New Cassel parking lot near the auditorium (lower level parking area on the north). We will start walking at 2. Exact change of $3 per person ($1.50 for Fun Walkers) is appreciated.

Saturday, Nov. 4 – Pie walk starting at New Cassel See the list of volunteers needed for this walk (at the end). There is no refrigerator in the auditorium, so if you bring a cream pie, please make arrangements to keep it cool.

Monday, Nov. 7 – meeting at Morning Star Lutheran Church at 7 p.m. Speaker will be from the Kim Foundation. We are still accepting nominations for walker of the year. Either email them to Julie Brown or Jim McGahan. Or bring them in a sealed envelope to the meeting.

Volunteers needed for pie walk:

Registration 9 a.m.-12 – 1 person
Kitchen-Cutting pie, making coffee, cleaning up-10-3 – 2 people
Greeter – 1 person
10 K group walker-9:30 – 1 person
5 K group walker-9:30 – 1 person

Let President Sandy know if you would be able to help in any of these areas – email netrailblazers@gmail.com

Mar – April 2016 Upcoming Events

Bellevue Walk Prewalk–Saturday, March 26 at 9 a.m., Thanksgiving Lutheran Church, 36^th& Hwy 370, Bellevue. Please arrive 15 minutes early to register. Restrooms will be available at the start. See below for trail descriptions. $1.50 for fun walkers and $3.00 for credit walkers. Exact change is appreciated.

Trailblazers Spring Event-Saturday, April 2, Thanksgiving Lutheran Church, 36^th & Hwy 370. Start times 9-12, finish by 3. There will be a 6 K (Hilly, picturesque trail) a 5 K (out and back, fairly flat trail) and a 10 K trail that follows a hike bike trail. Come see the pretty spring flowers!

Monthly Meeting-Monday, April 4 at 7 p.m. Our monthly meeting will be at Morning Star Lutheran Church. Our program will be Marilyn Asher speaking about Prison Ministry.

Magician showing a trick. Notice that his hands are so fast you can't even see them? — Magician showing a trick. Notice that his hands are so fast you can’t even see them?

Highlights from our March meeting magician program!

Group Walk– Nebraska City YRE-Date to be announced. The apple blossoms should be blooming. A great walk through a historic downtown, through Arbor Lodge State Historical Park and past the Lied Conference Center.

Feb – Mar Upcoming Events

Westroads Group Walk – Saturday, February 20th. Meet near the children’s play area between Penney’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods at 7:45 a.m. so we can start walking at 8 a.m. We will have the walkbox there for registration. 5k and 10k options available. Credit walkers pay $3; Fun walkers pay $1.50. Exact change is appreciated!

Soup Walk Workers’ Walk – Saturday, February 27th at 1 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul Church, 14330 Eagle Run Drive in the gathering space of the church (inside, but we have to be quiet). Restrooms will be available. 5k and 10k options available. Arrive about 15 minutes early so walkers can start at 1 p.m. Fun walkers pay $1.50. Exact change is appreciated!

Soup Walk – Saturday, March 5 at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 14330 Eagle Run Drive, Omaha, NE – use school entrance with “St. Vincent de Paul” above the door. Start times 9 a.m. -12 a.m., finish by 3 p.m. 5k and 10k options available. Bring two cans of soup; one for the Food Bank and one to share. Make sure to save some time for soup and conversation after the walk. There will be some fun prizes at the raffle. Raffle tickets are still a bargain at $.50 or 3 for $1.

Lincoln St. Patrick’s Day Workers’ Walk – Sunday, March 6th at 1 p.m. See directions below.

Monthly Meeting – Monday, March 7th at 7 p.m. Our monthly meeting will be at Morning Star Lutheran Church. We will have a musician (Walter Graham) showing us his tricks before a short business meeting and snacks.

Lincoln St. Patrick’s Day Walk – Saturday, March 12th, start 9 a.m.-11a.m., be off the trail by 1 p.m. New location! Fallbrook YMCA, 700 Penrose Drive, Lincoln, NE. From I-80 East & West: take EXIT 401(US 34), west on US 34 to Fallbrook Blvd North, it will change name to Tallgrass Parkway after a “roundabout”, continue on Tallgrass to Penrose; right on Penrose to YMCA on left. From south: take I-180 north from downtown to where it becomes US34, & follow above directions

Des Moines St. Patrick’s Day Walk – Saturday, March 19th, start 9 a.m. -11 a.m., finish by 1:30 p.m. Start Point is at the VFW, 4029 Urbandale Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310. The route is on city sidewalks and recreational trails, From 1-35/I-80: take exit 131 (Merle Hay Rd), go south to Urbandale Ave, then left (east) to start point.