That's me! (okay, maybe it was a few years ago but it doesn't hurt
to dream!)
Greetings!
My name is Julie Anderson...the cat in the picture is no longer with us.
I’ve been asked to help out with the Murdock Newsletter and it sounds
like fun! I’ve been doing the Elmwood Newsletter for a couple of years
and have had a lot of fun with it. I’ve lived in Elmwood since 2002 and
have had kids in the schools but when I started thinking about Murdock
I realized about all I know is that the Junior/Senior High School is there.
Plus Bulldogs, who hasn’t been there? Hey, Michele, remember that one
New Year’s Eve when we were pretending we were trying out for Coyote
Ugly? Just kidding! And the Museum is there, along with the old School
house. And there’s that wetlands out north of town…have you been there?
It’s beautiful!! And there are a lot of really pretty houses. I’ve always
admired Murdock because it is flat…Elmwood is hilly which makes it more
challenging to walk or ride a bike.
So if I’m going to be writing your newsletter I decided better get to know
your town a little bit better. I took a drive over there last Sunday morning
and looked at the town with fresh eyes. Now I have a lot of questions!
I’ll investigate my questions I’ll write about what I find out. It will be in
interesting adventure for both of us. I’m hoping in the process of getting
to know Murdock I will also get to know you, too.
Since I’m going to be learning about you there are some things you should
know about me. One, I’m not good with dates. I may say 2002 and it may
be 2001. My husband, Vince, and I have lived in Elmwood since February of
2002, or was that 2001? He actually moved in a couple months before that,
I guess. We both relocated from Auburn. He was starting his second career
in the computer field. He had been a building contractor for 27 years and
was ready for a change. He worked for HP in Omaha for several years until
they closed. Now he works for Haven Manor in Hickman. It is an assisted
living facility and I would love to live there! They do your laundry, cook your
meals, and there’s even a real theater! What more could you want? He’s not
using his computer degree, he’s the maintenance guy. Besides being a handy
man for them he also drives the people around, sings karaoke, gives dance
lessons, and answers phone calls in the middle of the night about why the
washer doesn’t work. He loves it! I work at Cooper Nuclear Station in Brownville
but my office is in Auburn. I may have moved but I still go there every day! I
work in the Training Records department keeping everyone straight on their
training. What can I say, it’s boring but I love the people.
We had two reasons for moving to Elmwood. One…the schools are the best!
At one time the school was rated in the top 50 schools in America by Redbook
magazine. Personally I would say the top 10. Mr. Friedrich, elementary principal,
was super when I called to talk to him about the school system. Our son is
handicapped and he bent over backwards to help accommodate his needs.
The second reason we moved to Elmwood was for the skating rink. We love to
roller skate and what better thing than to have a skating rink in your own town!
We started dating in 1999 (1998?) and the Flying Wheels is where we went on
our first date. We ended up getting married there in 2005 or was it 2006… and
bought the rink shortly after that. Now we can skate whenever we want!
Vince has two grown boys and four grandkids. Two of his granddaughters are
about the same ages as my kids. Vince adopted my kids so now we are now all
Andersons. Millie is 16 and a junior at Elmwood-Murdock High School. She is a
cutey and she spends her spare time shopping and working at the skating rink…
you should see her skate! Our son, Joe, is 13 and in the 7th grade. This is his first
year at the Murdock school and it is going really well! I was more scared of Junior
High than he seemed to be. Joe has spina bifida and wears braces and uses
crutches to get around. Sometimes he uses a wheelchair. He is a fisherman and
would rather be doing that than anything. Unfortunately we don’t have much time
to go. So if you ever need a fishing partner let me know!
So that’s who I am and who I love. I didn’t mention all my friends and the dogs…
both are too numerous to list here. As time goes on you will probably find them
cropping up in the newsletter. Everyone knows that if you hang out with me sooner
or later you will end up in the newsletter! I love my friends and thank God for every
one of them because they make my life fun! And the dogs, too.
I’m going to need some help from you. I can easily put the school schedule of activities
in the newsletter because they gave me a nice calendar all filled in. But a lot of you
already have the same calendar. So I’ll remind you that school gets out early on
Wednesday but you probably already know it. (1:15 pm…and the Skating Rink will be
open 1:30 – 4:30). What I need from you is a head’s up on other activities that are
going on in Murdock. Is there something at church that we should advertise? Is
someone turning 8…50…77…or 104? Maybe we should mention that! Is your
daughter getting married…or did she get married and is just now telling you? Send
me a picture! Everyone wants to see this dude she’s bringing home. Did you get
your ’57 Chevy out last weekend and polish it up? Send me a picture! Or let me know
you are doing it and I’ll come take your picture. Do you have a piece of Murdock trivia
you want to share…maybe pictures, too? Dale, I bet you have things for me… Anything
that’s going to happen, just happened, or happened a long time ago and you just thought
of it but know everyone will find it interesting….let me know. The newsletter will be
better with your input. As you can imagine, my time is limited so if you help me out I
would appreciate it. I can’t personally be at all activities but if you are there and take
a picture you can email it to me and tell me some details. Are you having a card party
for someone? A fundraiser…a dance? Is it Ladies Night down at Bulldogs…these are
things we need to know. Is there something you’ve always wondered about but haven’t
taken the time to ask…ask me and I’ll find out for you…
“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a
pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn
out and proclaiming. "Woohoo, what a ride!”
So buckle up…we’re going for a ride!
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I started out my Murdock Learning Experience on the ride over to Murdock. If
you are a local you know that the road between Elmwood and Murdock has two
one lane bridges right now. My photographic journey of Sunday morning includes
that on the tour.
As you leave Elmwood you approach the first bridge under construction.
First Bridge.
More of the first briedes
One of the sites along the way.
Grandpa's Woods turn off.
One Lane Bridge!
Prepare to slow down. Traffic from this direction have the right
of way.
The bridge is supposed to be 10 feet wide...I think Thad did a great job!
The curve on the approach to Murdock. That 5 miles went quick!
Murdock Skyline.
Don't miss the turn off!
There's Murdock...school straight ahead, main street around the curve.
Welcome to Murdock!!
Population 269.
Murdock's Elevator.
Murdock's Main Street, facing North.
Murdock's business district is small but a new business has cropped up!
Bulldog's Bar and Grill...great place to eat!
Corn Growers State Bank
Murdock Museum.
The Railroad Crossing House.
The Doll Ferris Wheel house.
The view from the end of Main Street.
Main Street facing south.
I figured out why the town was so dead when I was there..everyone was
at church!
One of Murdock's two cul de sac's.
New Elmwood-Murdock Sign
GO KNIGHTS!
Elmwood-Murdock School/Community Fitness Center
Newly remodeled school.
Local Farm on the edge of town.
The wetlands...more about this next week!
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SALE:
Murray Presbyterian Annual Church Rummage Sale
Saturday, Sept. 19, 8am to 4pm
$3.00/full brown paper bag (provided)
Bake Sale, Breakfast and Lunch
Clothing & treasures accepted and appreciated!!! Drop-off times: Evenings, 6-8, Sept. 16-18
105 W. Main, (Hwy 1) Murray, NE 68409
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Debby Greenblatt, championship fiddler and fiddle book author,
will be giving a “Fiddle Master Class” on Saturday, October 24,
2:00 – 4:00 p.m. This informative, entertaining event is sponsored by
the Big Muddy Fiddle Club. Participants may either play a tune they are
working on for the group and get some coaching from Debby or ask a
question about style, technique, or fiddle music in general. Master classes
give every one a chance to get some help and support in their fiddling, while
the whole group benefits from the teaching. Any skill level may participate.
Not brave enough to perform in front of the group? Listeners may also register
to sit in on the session and pick up some tips. The workshop will be held at
the home of Jim Harvey, 518 S 88th St, Omaha, Nebraska. Seating is limited,
register early! Jamming will follow from 4:00—6:00 p.m. free of charge!
Coffee and snacks will be provided. Questions? Contact Mary Pat Kleven,
402-490-6710,
(Participant fee: $15 (member) $25 (non-member); Listener fee
$8 (member) $10 (non-member). Make checks payable to “Big Muddy Fiddle
Club” and mail to treasurer Dan Kane, 14518 Oak Street, Omaha, NE 68144)
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Pillage the Village
Playin' for the Park Crusade
Schedule of Events:
Saturday, September 19th
At the Manley, Ne. Park/Community Center
8:00 am - 6pm Adult Kickball Tournament - Must be Registered by
Monday, Sept. 14th. Contact Shannon Josoff 234-2480
11 am-2 pm Concessions - Burgers, hot dogs, snacks, soft drinks
10 am til... Horseshoe Pitching, Ladder golf
11 am til... Kids Bike/Trike Races, Shoe Kick, Sack Races, Barrel Roll Race
4 pm-8 pm... Join us for a Smoke Roasted Chicken or Pork Dinner or BBQ
Pork Shoulder sandwich. Served in the Old School Building.
5:30 pm Registration for the Wild & Crazy Bed Races
6:00 PM "RACE YOUR BED"
School Building Open All Day for Reminiscing
Help Support Development of the Manley Park/Community Center
Contact Betty Meyer with questions: 234-5232 or Manleyne.com
Elmwood Holiday Extravaganza Craft Show
Calling all Crafters! Spaces Available!!! First Come, First Served!
Saturday - Nov. 28th
8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Vendors Set up 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. or the night before.
Indoor facility with concessions available all day!
Details: Each booth is 10’ x 10’; Booth rental is $20—
includes one 6 or 8’ table. You may bring other tables. We do the
advertising and you manage your own pricing and sales. Reserve
your space for craft by submitting your information and payment
to the contact below. We won’t allow two vendors for the same
company so first come first served!
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GPS Tracking Units
There is a tool available that allows you to keep track of your child when they are
driving the family car. It is simple to get, simple to install, and easy to monitor.
The distributer will install it for you! Then all you need to do is log on to your computer
and check the status of the car.
It will send you an alert if:
- the car turns on.
- the car turns off.
- The car leaves a designated area that you set up…such as your home or
the school.
It can be set up to give you email alerts or text messages. You can monitor the
car’s speed on line, too. The system uses Google Maps and the data is current
within the last two minutes.
If you would like some reassurance that your kids are safe and following your rules
it doesn’t hurt to check up on them and this is the perfect tool!
Contact: Kelly Jensen for more information: work: 402-466-1515 or cell: 402-314-0037
Check out the website: www.shaffercomm.com
(Kelly's my neighbor. )
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This is Ben Willey.
It's time again to raise money for the Down Syndrome Association for Families of Nebraska (D.S.A.F.) with the 8th annual Capital City Buddy Walk on Saturday, October 3, 2009 at Antelope Park in Lincoln.
How can you help? Many different ways! You can donate on-line by going to Ben's Brigade team page by clicking here.You can donate by check made payable to DSAF of Nebraska and send it to The Willey Family at 878 274th Street, Elmwood NE 68349. But the best way to show your support, is to register and come walk with us! Our team name is Ben’s Brigade. My family would love to see you there! To register, click here. Be sure to register by September 20th to get a free T-shirt with your paid registration!
The D.S.A.F of Nebraska has given Mom and Dad a lot of helpful information and support through out my first 17 months of life! This is our ONE and ONLY fund-raiser and the money raised from the Buddy Walk will pay for information for parents and educators, programs for families impacted by Down Syndrome, fun outings for my family, and much more!
The walk is 1 mile around the Children’s Zoo but there will be so much more than just the walk! I know they have a lot of fun stuff planned for the kids! Click here to see the brochure.
Don’t forget your donations are 100% tax deductible.
Let's make this walk a successful one!
Thanks for reading. Thanks for donating. Thanks for loving me for me!
Love,
Ben
Randy, Angie, John and Noah Willey
John, Noah, and Ben Willey.
PUNKIN PATCH TIME!
Johnny and Carae’s Punkin Patch is open for the season!
Located east of Highway 1, about 1 mile on Highway 34, the Punkin
Patch is a family owned venture ran by Johnny and Carae Oehlerkng.
They have ornamental corn, various sizes of straw bales, mums, corn
shocks, pumpkins, gourds, kid activities, and kitties to play with! The
Punkin Patch operates on the honor system. Items that you chose can
be paid for by leaving the money in the designated container.
MORE PUMPKINS TO COME!!!
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So that's my first Murdock Newsletter. Hope you enjoyed it. Please send me
your ideas and stories!
I look forward to getting to know you and Murdock!
Julie Anderson