Ralston Independence Day 2014

Parades, fireworks, picnics, dances and more... find an event schedule inside A SUPPLEMENT OF SUBURBAN NEWSPAPERS INC. JUNE 25, 2014

Welcome from the mayor Hello, all!

We want each of you to know that everyone is invited to attend this year’s festivities in Ralston.

Our Independence Celebration begins July 3 with a family picnic, children’s games, pie and an ice cream social in Ralston Park, followed by a concert and dancing on Main Street.

The next day begins with a fun run through Ralston streets, followed by a children’s parade, the huge Independence Day Parade, water fights and the spectacular fireworks display at the new Ralston Arena.

We want everyone to join us and have a wonderful and safe celebration with your family and friends while participating in the many events in Ralston.

Thank you, Don Groesser Mayor of Ralston Ralston Mayor Don Groesser in last year’s Independence Day Parade.

M i k e B e l l / s u b u r b a n n e w s pa p e r s i n c .

Welcome from the chamber of commerce

Tara Lea

Happy Independence Day from your friends at the Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce!

We have been hard at work planning for the best Independence Day Celebration yet, and we hope you will make plans to join us!

We encourage you to stop by on July 3 and 4 for our oldfashioned celebration complete with live music, games, a pie-baking contest, quilt show, dances, food and fun. And of course you can’t forget about our main event — the largest parade in the state of Nebraska!

Independence Day begins with the Optimist Fun Run & Walk, a Children’s Parade, and live music at the Gazebo prior to the 1 p.m. parade.

The Fireworks Spectacular at 72nd and Q Streets continues to be among the best in the metro area. The

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fireworks show at dusk will again be synchronized to music over radio station KAT 103 FM. For more information and the complete schedule of events, go to www.ralstonareachamber.org.

The Chamber will be selling raffle tickets, and I encourage you to purchase them at the Chamber office, 5505 Miller Ave., or during the July 3 and 4 events. Prizes for the raffle include a catered cookout for 50, an Apple iPad Mini and much more!

Proceeds help defray the cost of events, parade, and additional community programs and projects.

We look forward to seeing you, your family and friends and hope you will enjoy these wonderful, fun-filled family events!

Thank you, Tara Lea, President Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce

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GRAND MARSHAL AND PARADE MARSHAL

Mark Krzemien

He wants people in Ralston to get involved with their city.

Lifelong Ralston resident Krzemien very active in community, chamber and more

By Elizabeth Brown SUBURBAN NEWSPAPERS INC.

Mark Krzemien has been in the Ralston Independence Day parade several times as a member of the Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce. He has even emceed the parade.

But this year will be his first as the Independence Day Parade Marshal and Grand Marshal.

Krzemien has lived in Ralston his entire life and is an active member of the community.

“I’ve lived for 47 years in the Ralston ‘hood,’ if you will,” he said.

After elementary school at St. Gerald Catholic School, Krzemien went to Ralston Middle School and graduated from Ralston High School. He currently works in Ralston at his family’s business, Don and Ron’s Carstar, and has been there for 25 years.

“If I’d have joined the army, I’d have been out and retired by now,” he said.

In addition to his job at the auto body repair center, he also serves on the city’s planning commission, is vice president of

the Ralston Optimist Club and vice president of the Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce.

He was chamber president in 2000.

Krzemien said the small-town atmosphere of Ralston, as well as the quality of people that live there, has kept him around and involved.

“A lot of great people live in Ralston,” he said. “There are a lot of great business owners and people that make it fun and interesting. You can get that small-town feeling where you know everyone, without being out in the sticks.”

With all his involvement in the community, it should be little surprise to anyone that Krzemien was awarded the honor of parade and grand marshal. It wasn’t a surprise to Krzemien, either.

“They announce it at the Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet,” he said.

“They told me beforehand. I just had to act surprised.”

While Krzemien is excited about this new honor, he’ll be a bit too busy to enjoy it the day of the parade.

“It’ll be a full day,” he said. “I volunteer

with the Ralston Optimists at the Independence Day Fun Run/Walk, so I’ll be up bright and early that morning. Then I’m helping the chamber sell raffle tickets, getting everyone ready for the parade and helping at the chamber office. And then I’ll get to ride through the parade. At least I get to go first and follow the flag, so hopefully I’ll be done by 1:30 or 2 p.m. and can have the rest of the day to relax.”

Krzemien said that he wants people in Ralston to get involved with their city in the way that he has, especially with the Ralston Optimists.

“We always need help doing something,” he said. “We’re raising money, and all that money stays here in Ralston. This year, we donated $100 to every grade school in Ralston and helped with post-prom. We’re raising funds and doing stuff for the kids in Ralston. All the money from the fun run goes back into the community. It’s always nice to see the rewards reaped by the hard work you do.”

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pIE-BAKING CONTEST

A slice of Americana to go with festivities

By Adam Klinker

F

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or 15 years, the pie-baking contest at Ralston’s Independence Day Picnic in the Park has put a Norman Rockwell-style spin on this small-town rite of summer.

It’s a slice of Americana, if you will.

“I think it’s really fun,” said Marge O’Reilly, a longtime Ralston resident and the very first pie-baking champion when she won for her cherry pie in 2000. “It’s American ingenuity to take what you have and make something.

And it’s great to see the young people who are doing that by making a pie.”

The home-cooked pie contest tradition began as a suggestion from Ralston Mayor Don Groesser.

Fifteen years ago, the Ralston Archives was looking for a way to raise

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funds to construct a museum to house its collection, and Groesser hit upon the idea of calling all bakers to enter pies in a contest to be held during the city’s traditional July 3 picnic.

A victor would be crowned, but, more importantly, the pies could be sold by the slice to go toward building what eventually became the Frank and Velma Johnson Ralston Archives Museum. The museum opened to the public in 2003.

“The mayor thought it would be a great addition to our picnic and something people would really enjoy,” said Jan Gorman, who has overseen the contest with the Archives Committee for several years. “And it has been a lot of fun to see how creative people have gotten.”

Gorman said the typical contest See Pie: Page 5

ABOUT THE CONTEST When: Pies must be entered by 4 p.m., along with a completed entry form. Judging at 4:30 p.m.

Where: Ralston Park, 80th Street and Park Drive, near the park shelter.

Rules: Two categories — fruit and “other.” Homemade pies only, including the crust.

No cream pies or meringues.

Entry forms: Available at Ralston City Hall, the Baright Public Library, the Ralston Senior Center and the Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce.

s u b u r b a n n e w s pa p e r s i n c .

From left, Diane Hansler, Joe Pilus and Brad Groesser, the judges in the 2011 pie-baking contest, dig into a slice of peach melba.

Anyone up for a little fun?

Ad a m K l i n k e r / s u b u r b a n n e w s p a p e r s i n c .

Runners in last year’s Ralston Independence Day Fun Run headed down Main Street at the start of the race. Some 354 runners took part in the event that is known for its steep hills. This year’s run takes place Friday, July 4, at 7:50 a.m. for the one-mile walk/run and 8 a.m. for the three-mile race. The starting point is the Independence Square Gazebo, 77th and Main Streets. Entries include a T-shirt. For more information about the run, call 402-680-1023 or 402-990-4154.

Pie: Homemade goodness and a little competition in Ralston Park Continued from Page 4 attracts around 20 entries, though the contest has accepted upwards of 30 bakers.

That first year, all the pies had to be cherry. Since then, however, in the two categories into which the contest has expanded — fruit and the openly-defined “other” — the pastry permutations have been limited only by the cook’s imagination.

Last year, a run of rhubarb made its way through the judging. In years past, pears, walnuts, cranberries and kiwi have been foundational elements.

Don Johnson, whose pies have had a great run in his six years as a contest participant, said he’s always thinking about something new to pop in the oven, even if it sometimes tends to be at the last minute.

“I usually always threaten that I won’t bake one this year,” Johnson said with a wry smile. “But I usually always hustle one down there. It’s a great activity for the city and for the

pie bakers in the community. It brings people together.”

The contest is also strictly run — accepting no meringues or cream pies.

All crusts must be homemade as well.

“The judges will know if you’re using a store-bought crust,” Gorman said.

And if you’re thinking about entering, like Don Johnson, you will need to get your fresh baked goods down to Ralston Park by 4 p.m., accompanied by the requisite entry form. Forms are available at Ralston City Hall, the Baright Public Library, the Ralston Senior Center and the Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce.

Not a baker? Don’t be discouraged.

As Gorman said, whoever is judged the winner of the contest, the true victors are the folks who stick around to buy a slice or two of the contest entries or from the pies locals donate to the cause. Or maybe a whole pie.

“As soon as the judging is done, people are ready to eat,” Gorman said.

“And the judges will know if you’re using a store-bought crust.”

Jan Gormam

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RALSTON INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION EVENT SCHEDULE THURSDAY, JULY 3 Frank & Velma Johnson Ralston Archives House — Open 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Park Drive and Woodlawn Avenue. Admission is free.

Patriotic Music Program — 5 p.m. Presented

by LaDonna Johnson and her music students; sponsored by the Frank and Velma Johnson Ralston Archive Museum. Admission is free.

Picnic in the Park — Music, entertainment and pie-baking contest in Ralston Park, 80th Street and Park Drive. Pie-baking contest judging at 4:30 p.m. Picnic, music and pie and ice cream social from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by JCI Ralston, Archives House Committee, Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Ralston.

Square Dance — 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., 76th and Main Streets. Admission is free.

Family Street Dance — Featuring Ralston’s own DJ Gordie Z, 77th and Main Street, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is free. Sponsored by the Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce Coloring Contest — Judging at the Chamber Office, 5505 Miller Ave., during Family Street Dance. Sponsored by the Applewood Hy-Vee, Ralston Recorder and Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce.

FRIDAY, JULY 4 Raffle Tickets — Available starting at 9 a.m. at the Chamber Office, 5505 Miller Ave. Grand prize: catered grill-out for 50 in metro area, plus one-year supply of Coke products items and oneyear supply of Hiland Dairy items (one case each per month) and a $100 Hy-Vee gift card. Value $1,000. Sponsor: Applewood Hy-Vee. First prize: Apple i-Pad Mini-16GB. Value $350. Sponsor: Great Western Bank. Second prize: 10 Extreme

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Animal Hospital, P.C. Quality Pet Care

Wristbands for all day, unlimited Go-Karts, Mini-Golf, Lazer Tag, Water Wars, Spaceball and Jumpshot. Value $225. Sponsor: Papio Fun Park. $1 donation per raffle ticket, six tickets for $5 or 12 tickets for $10. Proceeds benefit Ralston Independence Day events and parade.

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Ralston Optimist Independence Day Fun Run/ Walk — Independence Square, 77th and Main Streets. One-Mile Walk/Run begins at 7:50 a.m. Three-Mile Race at 8 a.m. Sponsored by: American Family Insurance, Prairie Life Center, Applewood Hy-Vee, JCI Ralston, Elite Dental and Lacey & Associates, CPAs.

Raffle drawing — 1 p.m. Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce office, 5505 Miller Ave. Need not be present to win. Sponsored by Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce and Business Members.

ADDITIONAL INDEPENDENCE CITY SUMMER ACTIVITIES

Quilt Show — By the “Independence Quilters and Friends� at Ralston’s Baright Public Library, 5555 S. 77th Street, from 10 a.m. to noon. Free admission.

Children’s Parade — No registration required.

Event is for kids in sixth grade and under. Mayor Don Groesser will lead the parade. Line up at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Chamber Office, 5505 Miller Ave. Parade begins at 10 a.m. Sponsored by the Applewood Hy-Vee and Baright Library.

Music at Independence Square — Music from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at 77th and Main Streets. Live music by Joey Gulizia and The G Notes. Free admission. Sponsored by the Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce and the Music Performance Trust Fund.

Independence Day Parade — 54th annual parade starts at 1 p.m. at 80th and Highland Streets and ends at 75th and Main Streets.

Parade Marshal and Citizen of the Year is Mark Krzemien from Don and Ron’s CARSTAR. Sponsored by the Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce.

Fire Department Water Fights — Immediately following the Independence Day Parade, 77th and Main Streets. Sponsored by the Ralston

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Preston Lea carried balloons as he marched along in last year’s Children’s Parade.

Volunteer Fire Department.

Chicken Dinner at the American Legion — Served from noon to 4 p.m., 74th and Q Streets.

Chicken fingers available. Sponsored by the Ralston American Legion Post No. 373 Auxiliary.

Fireworks Spectacular — Begins at dusk, about 9:30 p.m. Ralston Arena, 72nd and Q Streets. Synchronized to music from KAT 103 FM. Sponsored by: City of Ralston, Bellino Enterprises, Wiebe Foundation, Ralston Keno, Ralston Police FOP #21, Hillcrest Landing/P&A Management, First State Bank, American National Bank, Bank of Nebraska, Hillman, Foreman, Childers & McCormack, SignIT, Dicon General Contractors, Theatrical Media Services, JEO Associates, The Oaks at Lakeview, Arena Holiday Inn Express, Ben Robert/Omaha Lancers,

Quilt Show — By the Independence Quilters and Friends at Ralston’s Baright Public Library, 5555 S. 77th Street. Free admission. Week of June 29: Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.; Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday (Independence Day), 10 a.m. to noon; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Live theater — “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee� presented by Ralston Community Theatre at Ralston Performing Arts Centre, 89th Street and Park Drive. Performances: weekends from July 11 to July 20. Reservations: 402-8988545 or ralstoncommunitytheatre.com.

Fireworks stands — Tents open today through July 4. Hours: today through Tuesday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday (Independence Day), 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Locations: Trinity United Methodist Church and Junior Lancers, 73rd and Q Streets; Ralston High School boys soccer, 84th and Madison Streets; Ralston High School football, 72nd and Harrison Streets.

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Ralston Independence Day Coloring Contest Sponsored by: Hy-Vee at 96th & Q Streets, the Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce and the Ralston Recorder

Prizes for age groups, Please circle one: 4-and-younger, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12

NAME:

Please return entry form by July 3 to: Ralston Area Chamber of Commerce 5505 Miller Ave., Ralston, NE 68127 (lower level of Ralston City Hall) Judging will be done the evening of July 3.

ADDRESS: CITY/ZIP: PHONE:

Best seat in the house The Independence Day Parade is the main event for the Ralston Independence Day celebration. The parade starts at 1 p.m. at 80th and Highland Streets and ends at 75th and Main Streets.

Parade-watching is a family tradition for many Ralston residents.

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