Gearing up for the Holidays
Thank you to all of the businesses who participated in the downtown Halloween event for trick or treaters on Friday, Oct. 30. The Wilber Czech Museum offered a registry, which included 333 guests to the museum from 16 towns. All Saline C0unty towns were represented. Hats off to Wilber Police Chief Steve Sunday for his presence downtown to keep out “trick or treaters” safe during this event. The Chamber plans to host the fourth annual downtown event in 2016.
Congratulations to the Wilber-Clatonia football team and staff for their fine season on the field. It is a pleasure to watch the talent of the team. Thank you to area businesses for their contributions to KUTT radio advertising of play-by-play action of the Wilber-Clatonia games. We watched the Central City game, via the internet of StrivTV while enjoying the first birthday of our grandddaughter near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, last Friday. Technology! About 1,450 people attended the football game last Friday in Wilber. Good luck to the Wolverines as they meet Columbus Scotus on Friday. Go Big Green!
The Chamber is pleased to add Nick Kovar of Kovar Sales and Service to the business membership list. Gwen Andersen-Beck has also joined the Wilber Chamber as an individual member. These additions bring the Wilber Chamber membership totals to 67 business members and 17 individual memberships. These numbers speak well of the pride found in the Wilber business community.
The Wilber Area Chamber of Commerce will host the 13th annual Hometown Holiday Celebration Dec. 5 and 6 at the Wilber Sokol Hall. Saturday will feature a craft and gift show, a visit from Santa, tree decorating contest, lunch by the Sokols, musical performances, crafts for kids, soup tasting contest, Christmas sweater contest and raffle drawings courtesy of our local merchants. There will be a special kids raffler for boy and girl bikes and BB guns. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Sunday, plan to attend a Czech dinner theater with a delicious Czech meal provided by the Sokols followed by an afternoon of good Czech entertainment starting at 1 p.m. Everyone is invited to attend this quality event as we celebrate the Christmas season.
Now is the time to decorate your home and business for the holiday as there will be a residential and business Christmas decorating contest in Wilber. Chamber Bucks will be awarded to the prize winners. The winners will be judged after the first full week of December. Watch the paper for more details.
The Chamber of Commerce will again have a special on Chamber Bucks from Dec. 1-18. $25 of Chamber Bucks can be purchased for $20. There is a limit of a $300 purchase per household. This promotion encourages consumers to shop our local Wilber merchants and they also make a great Christmas gift. To purchase Chamber Bucks, see Kay at the Kalkwarf and Smith Law Office.
Chamber representatives Shanon Meyer, Stephanie Krivohlavek and myself attended the UNL Dental Opportunity Fair on Friday, Oct. 23. Almost all of the 120 dental students knew of Wilber because of the Czech Festival. It is easy to sell Wilber as we have fine public schools and a good business district, are located close to Lincoln and have a good cliental base for a dental business. Our booth was one of the busiest ones as we treated prospective dentists to kolace after we visited with them.
Shanon and Stephanie did a very professional and knowledgeable job of teaching students about Wilber. The seed was planted to entice some quality young people into starting a dental business in Wilber. We can only hope the seed grows and flourishes.
Each month the City of Wilber furnishes utility services to an average of 10 newcomers to the town of Wilber. The Chamber ordered special “Welcome to Wilber” bags and area businesses provided gift certificates, business cards, pens, paper, brochures and a book about Wilber to fill those bags. Helping to stuff the “Welcome Bags” were LaVern Aksamit, Doris Ourecky, Mary Keller and Marcia Bergmeyer. The City of Wilber office presents a “Welcome Bag” to newcomers applying for city utility services. We want them to know about the products and services available in Wilber.
Nominations are being accepted for the Zajicek Community Builder award. This award will be announced at the Chamber Christmas Party and annual meeting on the evening of Sunday, Dec. 13, along with the election of new officers.
With crops harvested, let us all take some time and truly give thanks as we celebrate the Thanksgiving season.
By Sheryl Kastanek
Wilber Area Chamber of Commerce President