Rotary crowns winners of Home Holiday Outdoor Lighting Contest

The annual Seward Rotary Home Holiday Outdoor Lighting Contest was judged Dec. 8. The holiday outdoor lighting and decorated homes in the greater Seward area were judged by a group from the Seward Rotary Club and the Seward High Future Business Leaders of America.

“We really had a hard time trying to decide,” project chairman Cordell Vrbka with the SHS FBLA said.

“There were so many great looking homes this year, both in Seward and in the surrounding area,” Rotarian Clark Kolterman said. “We really appreciate all the work everyone did to make Seward a real Christmas wonderland. Thanks, Seward. Everyone wins and is a winner this year.”

The following homes and families are recognized for their outstanding efforts to create a festive atmosphere for the 2018 holidays. Winners were selected by nominations from phone in calls or emails by family, neighbors and friends to the Seward Rotary Club and SHS FBLA and include:

• Grand Prize, Best Overall Award, voted No. 1 for 2018 – Vinny Bittinger family at 13240 West Bluff Road, very east of Seward. A must-see and well worth the drive. The exhibit reminded the judges of the former light display at Centennial Park in Seward, “Cradick’s Country Christmas.”

•  Judge’s Choice – David and Michelle Dam family, 1511 Ridge Run

•  Elf’s Choice, People’s Choice Award – Tom Reif family, 105 Wildwood Road (Lights flash to the music.—91.7 FM)

• Santa’s Choice Award, the Mayor’s Award – Jerry and Tracy Rumery family, 1540 North First Street (Be sure to see both their front lights on First and their back lights on Columbia Avenue.).

• Rotary Club President’s Award – Tony and Karen Sabatka family, 212 Hickory

• Historic Victorian Award – Kurth and Jessica Brashear family, 111 Seward Street

• Christmas Comet Award – Mike Demuth family, 1640 Edgewood Lane

• Holiday’s Finest Award – Ron Schultz family, 1442 North Columbia Avenue

• Christmas Message Award, Best Homemade Display – Jerry Krutsinger family, 154 Struthers

• Picture Perfect Award – Michael T. Goldsmith family, 1610 North Second

• Wurst Christmas Display – Phil Wurst family, 2065 North Columbia Avenue

• Best Wreath Award – Tie: Greg Zabka family, Karol Kay Boulevard, and Brad Bowen family, 1269 Ridge Run

• First Noel Award – Greg Austin family, 1747 Edgewood Lane

• Christmas Spirit Award – Bill Sleight family, 2221 Hawthorne Avenue

• Peace on Earth Award – Bob Urban family, 1717 Eastridge Avenue

• Best Lighted Tree Award – Brian Friedrich family, Karol Kay Blvd

•  Blue Christmas Award, Outstanding Blue Spruce – Nancy Elwell family, Bek Avenue

• Meaning of Christmas Display Happy Birthday Jesus Award – Terry Kamprath family, 938 Cherry Lane

• Christmas Joy Award – Sue Wickersham family, 906 North Third Street

• A Christmas Wow – David Konopik family, 637 South Columbia

• A Real Victorian Christmas – Dean Roll family, 422 Hillcrest Avenue

• family Spirit Award – Jeff Bohning family, 1406 North Second

• Snow family Award – Kevin Fisher family, 232 North 5th Street

• Home for the Holidays Award – Dale Grimes family, 926 Cherry Lane

• Snowflake Award – George Wignall family, 105 Struthers Place

• Best Decorated Clubhouse Award – Abby Wignall and her family, 139 Cedar Avenue

• Hanging of the Christmas Greens Award – Jim Placke family, 211 Struthers Place

• Christmas Castle Award – Matt Stryson family, 1039 North Fifth Street

• Christmas Cornhusker Award – Josh Fields family, East Pinewood Avenue, red and white lights only

• Silver Christmas Award – Cory Mueller family, 238 South Second Street

• It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas Award – Dennis Otte family, 1650 Meadow Lane

• Candy Cane House Award – Brent Royuk family, 142 Seward Street

• Best Decorated Deck Award – Joel Navis family, 1077 Ridge Run

• Storybook Christmas Award – Marv Siefert family, 1466 Karol Kay Blvd.

• Christmas Assortment (with music) Award – Jeremy Borgmann family, 1752 Karol Kay

• Christmas Classic Award – Steve Steinauer family, 445 N. Second Street

• Country Christmas Award – Arnt family / Radiant Heating, 1067 280th, South Highway 15

• I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas Award – Lillian Skolnik and April Hoffbauer families, 2612 East Seward Road

• Holly Christmas Award – Jerry Kremer family, 2105 North First Street (check out the palm trees)

•  Christmas Message – Elizabeth Kozisek family, 1750 Meadowlane

•  Christmas Twinkle Award – Scott Bruick family, 1101 North 5th Street

• Home For Christmas Award – Chuck Matzke family, 15 Seward Street

•  Christmas is for the family Award – Chuck Kotera family, 1812 North First

• Christmas is the Reason Award – Tie: Steve Borer family, 1955 Rainbow Avenue and Courtney Meyer family, Edgewood Lane.

• Christmas Angel Award – Bob Daniels family, 141 East Roberts

• Is It Christmas Yet? Award – Jim Wogahn family, 1449 Kolterman Street

• Christmas WOW Award – John Owens family, Ridge Run at 212 Goldenrod Lane.

• Best Decorated/Lighted Half a House”Award, Longest Icicles Award /duplex – Nate Buss family, 1717 Plainview Avenue

• Best Happy in the Country Home Award – Robert and Becky Reisdorff family, 250 Goldenrod

• Best Christmas family Award – Keith Gardinere family, 214 E. Roberts Street

• Dancing Christmas Award – Gerald Homp family, 1210 Eastridge Drive

• Christmas Everywhere Award – Jon Marroquin family, 202 Knotty Pine (North Seward)

• I Love Christmas Award – Rob Pelster family, 1686 Ridge Run Road

• Beautiful Holiday Award – Jeff Boaz family, 917 Bradford Street

• Christmas Fun Award – Jason Dillion family, 1320 River Street

• Happy Holidays Award – James Sleight family, 1407 N. First Street

• Spirit of Christmas Award – Mark Nordmeyer family, 244 E. Northern Heights

• Christmas Mood Award – Cheryl Gerdes family, 1527 Eastridge

• Christmas Fun Award – Culp Corner, Sharon and Jerry Culp, 132 N. Third, and Jeff Neihardt family, 146 N Third

•  Reason for Christmas Award – Joe Huber family, 1444 North First Street

• Happy Holidays Award – Lane Hans family, 2059 North Columbia

• A Charlie Brown Christmas – Jamie Axthlem family, 119 North Second Street,

• A Pop Up Christmas – Jon Kruse family, 303 Northern Heights

Honorable mention awards were presented to homes including Ben Earnest family, 1710 Edgewood Lane; Gerry Meyer family, 1315 Eastridge Avenue; Pat Piskorski family, 1416 Eastridge Avenue; Van Vahle family, 700 Pinewood Avenue; Gil Daenzer family, 540 East Hillcrest Avenue; Alan Van Velson family – Eastridge Avenue; Rosie Westerhoff family, 1216 Sunrise Avenue; Jeff Volzke family, 1226 North First Street; Clark Koehler family, 1050 North 5th Street; Don Kolterman family, 1059 Plainview Avenue; Duanne Miner family, 2030 Rainbow Avenue; Gary Stutzman family, 414 South Third Street; Dan Janak family, 318 East Roberts Street; Charlie Haase family, 861 Bradford Street; Richard Novak family, 901 Bradford Street; Bill Pohlman family, 750 Bader Avenue; Gerry Eikmeyer family, 525 North Columbia Avenue; Jim Eitel family, 2005 Rainbow Avenue; Don Suhr family, 1431 Crestwood Drive; Jim Woghan family, 1449 Kolterman Street.

Chair for the Rotary Club was Alan Baldwin, assisted by Clark Kolterman and Jon and Bonnie Kruse. Chair for the FBLA was Cordell Vrbka, assisted by Nathan Miller and Gracen Sommerer. Questions can be directed to Baldwin or Vrbka.

It was noted by the judges that because of the recent beautiful weather, there were many beautiful home lighted displays and these names and addresses are only a few of the wonderful light displays in Seward that were nominated.

Both the Seward Rotary Club and the SHS FBLA encourage families to visit the neighborhoods to see this volunteer effort, keeping the Christmas spirit alive in Seward for the young and young at heart.