Some of the winners in the July 4 Holiday Outdoor Home Decoration Contest for 2025 are not new to the contest and they know what the judges and public want to see and enjoy, and yet there are a few new members to the celebration decoration effort. The Seward Rotary Club and SHS FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) are excited to announce and recognize the many outstanding home decorations promoting Seward’s Fourth of July celebration. Named winners this year were the Keith and Ellen Gardiner Family at 214 Roberts Street for overall “Best Night Time July 4 Display” -complete a miniature Pyramid Time Capsule and the Charles and the Lloyd Liska home at 1611 North First Street for the overall “Best Daytime Display” for July 4, 2024-featuring a blow-up Red, White and Blue July 4 dragon! Both will be awarded the First place trophies!
Twenty-four homes and eleven businesses were recognized by the committee, as “In the Spirit” for the July 4 celebration in Seward. Other top finishers in the contest were the home of Jill and Jarod Hochstein at 357 Star Street-winning the “Patriot Award,” Terry Kamprath Family at 938 Cherry Lane winning the “Seward Spirit” award and the Gary Rolf Family at 404 Lincoln Street winning the Seward Rotary Club’s “President’s Award!” The Historic Gil Blomenberg Family home at 345 North Second Street was named the “July 4 Classic” Award. The top two first place homes will receive a special trophy to recognize their efforts and thank them for their leadership in promoting and helping to make Seward a “red, white and blue” community-however all of the decorated homes are appreciated and fun to enjoy.
The contest was sponsored by the Seward Rotary Club and assisted by the Seward High FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America). Judges were members of both clubs, with co-chair Ken Schmieding for the Rotary Club and FBLA representatives Collin Sveeggen and Nicholas Wegman for SHS FBLA. A van of dedicated club members judged the nominated homes on Saturday evening June 29, 2025! The judging may appear early but the committee wanted to announce the awards in the Seward County Independent prior to the Fourth, so individuals could “check out the homes for themselves!
“It is wonderful Centennial Project for our Seward Rotary Club and we invite all to see so many homes in Seward who have taken on the Fourth of July excitement. Our Seward Rotary is honored to recognize and thank all of the families who took time to create a fun outdoor “red, white and blue” theme for the community to enjoy! The slogan for the Seward Fourth is ‘Preserving the Present for the Future!’ What great community spirit-Rotary thanks, salutes and honors all of the nominees!” stated Seward Rotary Club member and project Chairman Ken Schmieding.
Other decorated homes receiving Honorable Mention and deserving a “must see” included…
Daytime Decorating Honorable Mention…
The Janak’s, 1123 North 8th Street
The Arneson Family 636 North 5th Street
The Nelson Family 1451 North First Street
The Karen O’Dell Home 1800 Karol Kay Blvd
The Zabka Family 1456 Karol Kay Blvd
The Areneson Family 636 5th Street
James and Candy Krieser Family 1120 N First
The David Fiala Family 411 North Columbia Avenue
Charles and Mary Gebhardt Home at 640 S. 2nd Street
The Mayfield Family at 505 South Third
The Homp’s, 1210 Eastridge Drive
The Bargmann’s, 142 Bradford Street
The Engel’s, 505 North 3rd
The Bolte’s, 712 Hillcrest Avenue
The Kozisek’s, 1750 Meadow Lane
The Novak’s, 901 Bradford Avenue
The Urbanek’s, 710 North Avenue
The Royak’s, 142 Seward Street
The Wake’s, 136 North Columbia
The Novak’s, West Bradford Street
The Peter’s, 1744 Columbia Avenue
The Slack’s, 1257 Eastridge Drive
The Terry Kamprath’s, 938 Cherry Lane
Recognized Nighttime decorated home Honorable Mentioned included…
The Johnson’s, 733 East Pinewood Avenue
The Brecka’s, 530 Seventh Street
The Wickersham’s, 906 North Third Street
The Boaz’s, 917 Bradford
The judges also wanted to recognize and thank Merle’s Flower Shop, Liberty House, The Blue Bench, Allure Fashions, Etcetera, The Rivoli Theater, the Second Closet, Enhance Physical Therapy, Chapter’s Books and Gifts, 14tin and the Nebraska National Guard Museum for their creative, patriotic and red, white and blue store window displays.
The contest was judged on Sunday, June 29, 2025. Questions should be directed to Rotarian Ken Schmieding-Project Chairman, with assistant co-chair FBLA Leaders Collin Sveeggen and Nicholas Wegman.
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