Climbing COVID mountain: One year later

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A year ago, summer stood still.

The sounds, sights and smells of cherished summer festivals were nonexistent because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organizers and volunteers did their best to delay cancelling events but eventually, they determined the gathering of large crowds unsafe and that it would be impossible to follow rules and guidelines.

“When the world was stopping, we gave it time to maybe change and see where it went, but everything just kept closing down and people were nervous,” said Melissa Grantski, co-organizer of the Big Blue Mile Shootout, which took place this year June 4 and 5 in Cordova. “People were nervous and we knew we couldn't do the event.”

Some made up for the loss of in-person activities with virtual adaptations and online events. The Seward Fourth of July Celebration featured music, traditions such as the anvil firing and other entertainment in a virtual setting.

“We knew we would have something,” Fourth of July organizer Clark Kolterman said. “We did what we could.”

Volunteers created videos of Fourth of July staples like the apple pie eating contest. Kolterman said the most popular videos were the flashbacks – including Good Morning America’s visit in 1988. Julie Wisehart’s tour of the Rivoli Theater was also a highlight.

One event was unexpectedly live, he said. The Seward Volunteer Fire Department had the annual anvil firing to train new people, Kolterman said.

The Seward County Fair operated using a significantly scaled down model, with just 4-H and FFA livestock shows and contests.

These were welcomed adjustments for those longing for summer fun, but a hole left by the loss of traditions still remained.

With improving conditions throughout 2021 and plenty of optimism, event officials are confident this summer will be one tailor made for celebration.

“We’re happy to get to have the Fourth of July,” Kolterman said.

Plans were actually in the works July 5, 2020. The Fourth of July Committee took the arrangements it had made for 2020 and moved them to the 2021 celebration.

“On paper, we had it organized,” Kolterman said. “It was easy to call everyone back and ask if they were on for this year.”

“We're back,” said Doug Brand, Seward County Fairgrounds liaison regarding this year's fair.

Jonathan Jank, president and CEO of the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership, said the arrival of festival season and the ability for communities to celebrate safely are important because of the significance of these events to all that attend year in and year out.

“These celebrations are part of the fabric of who these communities are,” he said. “It's a homecoming and a wonderful part of our cadence as a community.”

The path to host these events again was paved with cautious optimism. Brand said planning began as if the fair would be held as normal. Vendors, particularly the midway and carnival provider, were contacted in December to ensure the fair had those features for this year. Booking and scheduling the rest of the events followed.

“It kind of just gets to the point where you have to book it, set dates and plan on having the fair,” he said.

This year's fair is set for Aug. 4 through 8. Brand said it will operate without safety restrictions as long as the Four Corners Health Department's risk dial stays in the green zone, the lowest level of caution.

Organizations adapt

Also left in an eventless-wake were service organizations that provide entertainment and resources to the community. Clubs such as Kiwanis and Rotary were unable to host some of their yearly activities, which also serve as major fundraisers.

Jank, Seward Kiwanis president, said the club had to cancel its yearly Empty Bowls Soup Luncheon, which is its most significant source of income, and its annual Ag Banquet. The club's income allows it to provide services to children, including the weekly Backpack program. Other fundraisers were lost as well, but Jank said the club was able to overcome those losses thanks to less spending on the club's part as well as donations from individuals and area corporations.

“We were super fortunate in that we had some really good financial management over the years, so we had enough reserves to float ourselves, but we also had an unbelievable amount of generosity of people step up and support,” he said. “We had a lot of generosity to continue to support those incredibly important programs for children and families in the area.”

Jank said the group was able to use a surplus gained through private contributions to donate back to area causes that were greatly affected by the pandemic. While the group was left without many of its fellowship programs, Jank said he was pleased the club was still able to support the community in some way.

“We've had a focus on giving that money away this year, which, as the current president, it's been a gift to be able to identify where there are needs in the community because many have been hit really hard,' he said. “We're so fortunate in our club to have so many tremendously dedicated volunteers that love the community and want to take care of children and families and have made it their life's mission to serve in that way.”

Jank said with improving conditions, the group has returned to a hybrid in-person and online model for weekly meetings and will begin offering lunches again this month. The Ag Banquet is currently scheduled for Aug. 23 and the Empty Bowls Luncheon will return on Oct. 18.

The Seward Rotary Club was one of the first in the area to move to a Zoom model for its meetings. Kolterman, a member of Rotary, said the club has members who are strong in technology, which helped move to the online format.

“We didn’t miss a beat,” Kolterman said.

The Rotary Club was also one of the first to return to in-person meetings as the pandemic subsided, he said.

“People missed coming together,” Kolterman said.

When the club returned to in-person meetings, it moved from Jones Bank to the Civic Center, which has more room to spread out for social distancing.

Some members still attend via Zoom, he said, which has been a great asset. One, Ken Schmeiding, has been in the hospital so uses Zoom to continue his perfect attendance streak, Kolterman said.

Last year’s service recognition banquet was done in a virtual format but still raised over $9,000 for the Rotary’s international project.

Looking up

The ever-improving outlook of the pandemic, lessening restrictions and the arrival of the vaccine allowed groups and organizations to ramp up planning for the 2021 festival season. As each month passed, organizers became more and more confident events could safely happen this summer.

“Once we started planning it again, other than a couple of tweaks, it was business as usual,” Grantski said.

And now that many of the events are finalized and just weeks away, the time for celebration is near.

“It means a lot to be able to get back to somewhat normal and come together as a community again,” Wergin said.