Volkmer's Annual Pumpkin Painting

Over 100 parents, grandparents and kids filled the shed at Volkmer's Pumpkin Painting in Exeter on Saturday morning.

 

Olivia Poppert wasn't quite awake on Saturday morning to paint her pumpkin.

First graders Alec Schlueter (far left), Kole Svec (middle) and Braden Capek (far right) are comparing notes on how to paint their pumpkins at the Volkmer's Pumpkin Painting.

For the seventh year in a row they came, they saw, and they painted lots and lots of pumpkins.

 

In fact, over 100 kids plus their accompanying adults came to Bill and Terri Volkmer's Saturday morning for their annual event.  The Volkmer's recruit their friends and family to help run the event from collecting the entry fee at the door, passing out the plates of chosen paint colors, spraying clear coat on the finished pumpkins and gluing on decorations.

 

The Volkmer's host the event in their shed where they set up low tables for the kids and provide them lots of paint colors, stencils to trace and paintbrushes.  Terri Volkmer has custom decorated pumpkins all over her yard for the kids and parents to gain inspiration from. She started the event back in 2003 for the daughter's of some friends and it has grown from there.

 

"I am so happy that I have so many people who love to paint pumpkins. My volunteers are what make it happen. The kids, I love their faces, they are so into painting the pumpkins. But I do it because I love the kids and because I have the space to do it in," said Volkmer

 

The beautiful day didn't hurt the large turnout and made the paint and clear coat drying move a little easier.

The themes the kids chose ranged from realistic looking jack o' lantern's to the two and three year old special with paint swirled everywhere, to the ever popular Big Red 'N'. With parent's packed in and cameras abounding, many little ones attempted their first painting, some on pumpkins and in some cases, a lot more on themselves.

While they waited for the pumpkins to dry and get clear coated, the kids enjoyed popcorn courtesy of the Volkmers and played games of tag in the yard. Porches all over the state are now decorated with pumpkins specially painted at the Volkmer's annual pumpkin painting.

 

Shirley Brunkow makes kolaches at Exeter Senior Center

Shirley Brunkow, left, shows Brenda Motis, middle, and Irene Brekke, how to properly roll the dough balls to make the kolaches.

Shirley Brunkow shows some of the women at her kolache demonstration how much the kolaches need to rise after they are filled.  From the left around the table are Shirley Brunkow, Irene Brekke, Evelyn Michl, Shirley Janes, Evelyn Elznic, Melanie Papik, LaVonne Guthrie and Darlene Becker.

Shirley Brunkow, middle, teaches Kierra Papik how to press the kolache dough balls just right as Roma Rhodes stands by with the filling.

“When people say you have to be Czech to make a good kolache don’t believe them. Baking good kolaches takes more than a recipe. The only way you will be good at making kolaches is doing it a lot,” Shirley Brunkow told a group of women gathered at the Exeter Senior Center on Thursday.

Brunkow, of Milligan, and her kolache recipe were featured in November 2009 on “The Recipe Box” a NETV show that highlights regional ethnic recipes.

She entered a contest to be a part of the show at the York Wal Mart with her mother’s kolache recipe but claims “I got on the TV show for my story, not for my recipe.”

Her story and her technique were of great interest to the crowd at the Senior Center. Several of the group served as Brunkow’s assistants as she mixed up a batch of dough to make her kolaches.

As they mixed the dough, Brunkow answered questions from the audience. One question about dough consistency received an adage that sounds like it came from Brunkow’s mother, “Better to leave it a little sticky than too much flour.”

Brunkow explained that her mother made all the kolaches at their house after her first newlywed foray into baking them, “They were like miniature volcanoes. I didn’t push the dough down enough and they rose with filling spilling all over them. After that Mom made them when we needed them until she couldn‘t make them anymore.”

Brunkow is trying to ensure that her children and grandchildren don’t have to learn how to make kolaches the hard way. She has spent time with each of her granddaughters teaching them the art of baking a good kolache.

Part of the point of the class at the senior center was that it wasn’t just a demonstration, it was very hands on. Guests at the senior center washed up and many took a turn forming the dough balls under Brunkow’s watchful eye and then using her homemade “stomper” to push down the dough and fill the kolaches.
While the dough set to rise, Brunkow shared about her experience with “The Recipe Box.” She shared how she was chosen as one of the six finalists, a little about the taping in her home on Good Friday in 2009 and then the celebration tasting in Omaha in March of this year. For the tasting, all of the six finalist’s recipes were prepared by the culinary art students at Metro Community College.

After the show Brunkow received over 100 phone calls about her appearance. “No, they weren’t looking for my recipe, they wanted to know what I used to stomp down the dough. My daughter didn’t think I should use my homemade stomper (a vitamin bottle with the top covered in cheesecloth) so she found me a fancy coffee tamper that was the right size,” explained Brunkow.

The group at the Exeter Senior Center enjoyed the afternoon with Brunkow, gleaning tips and tricks from her that many of these experienced bakers hadn’t heard before. When it was coffee time and the kolaches had cooled enough, they ate and enjoyed the fruits of their labor.

Making kolaches is an art, especially to those who like to eat them and Brunkow is trying to ensure that the next generation has a chance to enjoy eating their heritage.

Learning about Water - 4-H Experiments in H2O

Exeter-Milligan students who participated in the 2010 National Science Experiment 4-H20 were in the front row from the left Joey Bartu, Brooke Poppert, Caitlin Murphy, Jacy Schlueter, and Eli Johnson.  Back row from the left were Patrick Murphy, Tara Mueller, Hannah Beethe, Kaitlyn Vavra, Janey Erdkamp, and Macy Due.

Lindsey Pohlmeier from the UNL Extension office out of Geneva recently gave three presentations to 3rd through 6th graders at Shickley, Geneva and Exeter.  Eleven Exeter-Milligan Students did experiments and learned about clean water and recycling during the 75 minute session. Pohlmeier said that she hopes to "encourage kids to get more involved in science and learn about the environment."  They also focused on learning how to reduce their carbon footprint with the students contributing thoughts about how they personally could participate.

Exeter Teen to Compete in Miss Teen Nebraska

Exeter-Milligan ninth grader Deidre Stevens has a big weekend ahead of her.

The fourteen year old will be competing in the 2011 Miss Teen Nebraska Pageant in Lincoln October 22 - 24.

The process began this spring when Stevens submitted her application and photo. She had applied as a seventh grader but didn’t take the process seriously. This year after the phone interview, Stevens was selected.

As the only candidate from Fillmore County, Stevens chose the title of Miss Fillmore County from the three titles she was offered.

After collecting and submitting $900 in sponsorship money from local businesses and family members, Stevens and her mother, Hope Androyna, have been busy shopping for all the required wardrobe pieces and paraphernalia.

Stevens will compete in three categories at the weekend pageant, swimsuit (as she is under 16 it will be a one piece), interview and formal gown.

The idea of competing “always appealed to me. I had always seen the Miss USA pageants on TV and wondered what it takes to get into this stuff,” said Stevens.

Although the amount of scholarships appealed to Androyna, she saw more benefits for her daughter, “Everyone in the competition is eligible for certain scholarships, but I am kind of hoping it’s a good thing for her self-confidence and her speaking ability.”

The pair have been practicing the interview portion of the competition. Stevens recognizes that the competition is "Helping me become me and a better person."
Starting on Friday, the girls will meet each other and have a banquet with their sponsors and parents. After that “no parents, they want the girls to be on their own,” said Androyna.

The weekend continues with all of the contestants participating in the swimsuit and evening gown competition and then that evening they will be interviewed privately. They will also practice a dance routine that all of the contestants will present on Sunday. On Sunday the top eight contestants are announced and they will start over on points in all of the categories. They will each do the swimsuit and evening gown presentations and then do their interview on stage. This pageant will take place at the same time as the Miss Nebraska pageant as both are a Vanbros production.

In spite of the cost and the effort the experience has taken, Androyna says, “I don’t care if she wins or places it has been a great mother-daughter experience.”

Stevens is excited because, “I am having fun and learning, It’s a great life experience and it will look good on my college applications. It is a life-changing thing and wearing that crown wouldn’t be bad either.”

In addition to her pageant activities Stevens is active in the community as a junior auxiliary member, and at Exeter-Milligan she is a Cheerleader, a member of the one-act cast, the FCCLA historian, a member of the band, and on the golf team.

Exeter-Milligan Technology news

By: Chris Lewandowski

The new 1:1 Laptop Initiative at Exeter-Milligan has been very successful thus far with a few bumps along the way. This initiative has enabled teachers in the districts to develop more project-based learning opportunities for the students at our school. The students will be more prepared with 21^st Century skills to meet the demands of our ever-changing world. Now the “digital natives” can be more engaged in relevant, self-directed work while the learning does not have to stop at dismissal time.

Many teachers in the districts have been modifying their instruction over the last year to incorporate more technology into their classes. The teachers have been utilizing various Applications and Web 2.0 tools in their classrooms. Some examples of what teachers have been using:

1. Garageband to Podcast research findings/speeches.
2. iMovie’s green screen function to develop weather reports.
3. Quizlet to develop vocabulary and test reviews for students.
4. Animoto to create short and easy PSA

I am looking forward to our first production of EMHS News that we are currently planning. This five-ten minute newscast will be developed start to finish by the students at EMHS. I believe this will be an excellent opportunity for students considering the journalism field and beyond.

Please check out our school’s website (www.emwolves.org) and visit our staff’s web pages to see what’s happening at Exeter-Milligan Public Schools. If you have any comments or questions contact me at the school.

Third Graders Meet "Biscuit" at Plum Creek Literacy Festival

The Exeter-Milligan 3rd grade recently went to the Plum Creek Literacy
Festival at Concordia University in Seward. At the festival
they had the opportunity to see and hear from author Dan
Gutman and illustrator Pat Schories. Pat Schories is the
illustrator of the book series "Biscuit". The 3rd grade
was fortunate to have their picture taken with the lovable
dog Biscuit.

Fillmore Central Exeter Milligan Softball results

The #2 seeded Fillmore Central/Exeter-Milligan lost their 10 a.m.game to Friend 3 - 0 (their only two losses during the regular season were to Friend) and went on to play Ashland Greenwood who defeated #1 seed Wayne yesterday.


The Fillmore Central/Exeter-Milligan team competed again today at 3 p.m. meeting Ashland Greenwood in a close 6-5 loss for the ladies.  Congratulations on playing in the state tournament again!

Exeter Pool Receives Grants for Aquatic Wheelchair and Toddler Slide

Rhonda Stokebrand (left) and Exeter Chairman of the Board Alan Michl hold one of the grant checks that were recently received.

 

 

 

Rhonda Stokebrand has campaigned for the last years for the new Exeter Aquatic Center to have some extra equipment.

 

The original plan for the aquatic center included both a large slide and a toddler slide, but due to increased construction costs those items were put on hold.

 

Last year the large slide was added and Stokebrand has continued her campaign for both an aquatic wheelchair and a toddler slide.  She has attended village board meetings, researched toddler slides and wheelchairs presenting options to the village board. Stokebrand served on the pool committee and was the pool manager and swimming lesson instructor for a number of years.

 

Recently Stokebrand applied for several grants for the two items.  The Mary Tous Foundation donated $1500 to the toddler slide and wheelchair fund and the Fillmore County Foundation donated $400 to the pool committee. Ninety-five dollars in donations for the aquatic wheelchair came from the Fillmore County Hospital Denim Days fund.  Shari Michl, of Exeter is a nurse at the hospital, and applied for the use of some of those funds toward the wheelchair.

 

Together both projects will require around $8000.00.  Stokebrand hopes to continue to apply for grants along with private donations so that the items can be ordered in time to be placed at the aquatic center for the 2011 pool season.

 

Anyone wishing to donate can contact Stokebrand or the Village Office at 266-3051.

Fillmore Central/Exeter-Milligan Playing in Softball Quarter Finals

Fillmore Central/Exeter-Milligan will meet Friend in the quarterfinals at 10 a.m.


Yesterday, the combined team defeated Twin Rivers 7 -6 with a rally in the seventh inning.  Go T-Wolves!

On Their Way!!

Exeter-Milligan Varsity Softball players headed to Hastings on Friday morning to play in the State Tournament.  From the left are Elly Korbelik, Alicia Bigelow, Merre Emshoff, Logan Zeleny and Mariah Bigelow.  The ladies, along with their teammates from Fillmore Central, will meet No. 9 Twin Rivers at 12:30 p.m. today. Good Luck Ladies!!!