There were two Gingerbread House Contests sponsored by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club. There was a contest for Gingerbread Houses decorated at home or before the Christmas Festival and entered on Saturday and those decorated at the Civic Center in the free Gingerbread House Decorating activity sponsored by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club.

In the contest for the houses decorated and delivered to the Civic Center, the top winners were all students at Seward High School and art students in Mr Nate Knott’s classes.

First Place was a team effort by Addy Heaston and Karsyn Fields-winning a Blue Ribbon and the Champion Rosette, Second Place was awarded to Lydia Jurchen and Third Place was won by Kelsey Luebbe.  All winners received ribbons, donated by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club.

In the Gingerbread House Contest sponsored by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club for the houses decorated “on sight” at the Civic Center winners were divided into divisions, with ribbons and rosettes awarded to the winners. 

Winners included 0-3-First: Maddison Rome, Second: Riverlyn Needham and Third: “Lily.”  In the 4-8 Group the winners were-First: Graham Troyer, Second: Barry Steffen and Third: Johanna Harms.  In the 9-13 age group, winners included: First: Nevaeh Harms, Second: Anna Heuman and Third: “Mason.”  In the 14-18 Age Group, winners included Manger Scega, Second: Ella Curtis and Third: Summer Ramirez.  In the Adult Division: First: Erin Rome, Second: Tarah Thurber and Third: Rachel Jank.  Best of Show was awarded to Milea Thurber.  There were 125+ houses decorated during the activity today, by individual children, teams of students and families and adults. 

Judges for the event were local realtors (as these were “houses” -just made of gingerbread).  The judges were official Real Estate Agents Shelly Nitz and Michelle Mueller, both with Woods Bros Realty of Seward, Nebraska. 

GFWC SWC Event Co-Chairs for the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club’s Christmas Festival Events were Rene’ Chandler and Ellen Chaffin.

Four of the SHS Service Groups Decorated Trees for the annual Seward Festival of Trees, sponsored by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club.  The SHS FBLA (Future Business Leaders group assist the Seward Rotary with their Centennial Tree, the SHS Key Club decorated the Memorial Hospital 75^th Anniversary Tree and the Seward Kiwanis 60^th Anniversary Tree.  The Skills USA decorated the Harold Davisson “World’s Largest Time Capsule” 50^th Anniversary Tree and the SHS JAG Classes (Jobs for America’s Graduates) decorated the Nebraska National Guard Museum 10^th Anniversary Tree and the Staplehurst 150^th Anniversary Tree.

Inspite of the cold and snow on Seward’s Christmas Festival, the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club’s Christmas Activities at the Seward Civic Center happened and were very successful on Saturday, November 29, 2025.  “Of course we could have had more participation, but because we had all indoor events, our activities were not hampered, as were those scheduled for the outdoors,” noted Bonnie Kruse, President of the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club.

The GFWC Seward Woman’s Club coordinated their annual “Festival of Trees” at the Seward Civic Center, with 15 trees represented, honoring a variety of organizations, clubs, churches and businesses with special “Anniversaries” celebrated in 2025.  The
“Anniversary” idea was the late Jean Kolterman’s, long time member of the GFWC SWC, who chaired the event until her recent passing,

Tree’s featured in the “Festival of Trees” included The GFWC Seward Woman’s Club-125 Years, The Seward Rotary Club-100 Years, Seward Memorial Healthcare Systems-75 Years, The Harrold Davisson Time Capsule-50 Years, Bottle Rocket Brewery-10 Years, Staplehurst Community-150 Years, Seward VFW Post 4755-80 years, Seward VFW Auxilary-79 Years, Seward Municipal Band-153 Years, Seward County Chamber Development Partnership-125 Years, Nebraska National Guard Museum-10 Years, The Aluminum Tree-75^th Anniversary by The Gary Wolter Family,  The Seward County 4-H Foundation-20^th Anniversary, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Seward-75 Years, and the Seward Kiwanis Club-60 Years and a special reindeer sleigh donated by the Bill Payne Family.  Plus, a special “Golden Anniversary” Tree to honor those in the area married 50 + years!

While most of the trees were decorated by their sponsoring organization, the local Seward High School JAG (Jobs for America’s Graduates)  Classes, SHS Key Club, SHS Skills USA Service Group, SHS FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and area 4-H organizations partnered in decorating some trees as well for the local groups.  The “Festival of Trees” is a free event, but the GFWC SWC is accepting “Free Will” donations to be donated to the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.  The “Festival of Trees” will be open through Christmas in the West Fireplace Room of the Seward Civic Center.

Also featured in the “Tree Room” at the Civic Center were four “Free” opportunities for drawings/raffles for all ages, and opportunity for participants to sign a “Card for a Veteran,”  The GFWC Seward Woman’s Club collected unused Christmas Cards in the community and asked those present to take time and write a card thanking the Veteran’s for their service.  Area classes at Seward High School also participated in the “Veteran’s Card” program-signing cards and thanking the Veteran’s.  The GFWC Seward Woman’s Club will get the cards to the various veteran’s homes in Nebraska. Free hot apple cider, candy canes and homemade cookies were also offered to all in attendance by the GFWC SWC members.

A new “Pop Up Cookbook Store” was also featured at the Seward Christmas Festival, sponsored by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club. The “store” featured hundreds of cookbooks donated by residents in the community and local GFWC Woman’s Club members.  These cookbooks -slightly used or brand new, were offered to customers in exchange for a donation to the “Hope Crisis Center” in Seward County.  The Hope Crisis Center features various programs to combat various family abuse situations in Seward County, offering a host of services. 

The GFWC Seward Womans Club offered a free gingerbread house decorating activity for area families in the lower level of the Seward Civic Center.  The houses were pre-assembled by club members and placed on a board, with foil for decorating. The candy materials and frosting and such were also available to the families for the decorations for the houses.  The houses could then compete in the local contest-judged by local home realtors or just be taken home. 

There was also a contest for the Gingerbread houses that were decorated in advance at home and brought into the Civic Center for the Festival.  They were on display at in the East Fireplace Room all day, during the festival. 

At the GFWC SWC Gingerbread House activity, free hot apple cider and homemade cookies were also offered to the participants -all donated by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club.  Additional sponsors, besides the GFWC SWC,  to the expenses for the Gingerbread House activity were Seward’s Pac and Save Grocery, Wood Brother’s Realty, Seward Dairy Queen and Smurfit Westrock Seward Sheet Plant.

A special “Mitten Tree” was placed in the lobby of the Seward Civic Center-original building, where the community can donate new or gently used and clean gloves, mittens, scarves, caps and socks for the local, area Hope Gospel Rescue Mission in York and the City Mission in Lincoln.  The gifts will be delivered in time for Christmas and the cold weather. 

“This month is the end of our big 125^th Anniversary of the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club and these activities are great examples of the work of the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club today and the support the club has given the community for the last twelve plus decades,” commented Bonnie Kruse, GFWC Seward Woman’s Club President.  “I think that the wonderful leadership of these many GFWC SWC projects and the great club volunteers reflect the true Spirit of Christmas in Seward. Our local GFWC Seward Woman’s Club looks forward to many more years of service to the community and the families that live here and thank the people of the greater Seward area who continue to assist us in our many efforts.  We, indeed, enjoyed a wonderful 125^th Birthday year and we wish all a very Merry Christmas from the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club!” 

At its December 10, 2025 club meeting, the Seward Rotary Club recognized Seward High School senior, Lily Brashear, as the Youth Rotarian of the Month. Lily is the daughter of Kurth and Jessica Brashear. Youth Rotarians of the Month are selected based on their service, scholarship, leadership, and citizenship efforts during high school. They receive a book scholarship for college and a bag of information about Seward. Monthly Youth Rotarians are also finalists for the Seward Youth Rotarian of the Year award which will be presented at the annual SHS Honors Night.

Lily demonstrates academic excellence with her 4.1 GPA and an outstanding score of 34 on her ACT. She is active and engaged in her school, community, and place of work. She has completed Advanced Placement coursework in Environmental Science, Calculus, and U.S. History. She has also been on the Honor Roll for 12 terms, a National Honor Society member for 3 years. 

Lily is very active in school and community activities including being on the Speech Team since 2022 and has served as Team Captain, qualified for state, and earned a varsity letter. She has played key roles in the musical, Select Choir, and the Bluejay Leadership Team. She is active in her youth group at St. John and has been in the Concordia University Summer Chamber and National Honor Choir since 2022. Lily is Microsoft Word Certified and earned a Rural and Small Town Recognition Award.

Lily was selected a Rotary Youth Leadership Award delegate in 2023, and was also a finalist for the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership program. She’s been selected for a Seward High Preparation, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Effort awards many times.

Lily has more than 65 hours of documented service in the Seward area. She has served as a Vacation Bible School volunteer to serve as the music leader for the past three years. She has served in a multitude of ways through FFA, the high school band, Bluejay Ambassadors, and her church. Lily finds ways to use her gifts to serve in specific ways through each of the organizations she is part of. Much of her service functions as a model and demonstration for younger children. 

In addition to her service, academic, and leadership excellence, Lily has worked for Bagels and Joe, as a child care provider, and she currently works at Crouch’s Farm and Hardware as a cashier. 

Lily plans to major in Criminal Justice and to minor in the Honors College at the University of Wyoming following graduation in May 2026. 

The Seward Rotary Club wishes the best to Lily and all area seniors; and the club encourages each of them to embrace opportunities to serve others locally and around the world with their specific gifts and interests. 

Linus Beck, an International Exchange Student and a Sophomore at Seward High School, was the Christmas program at the annual Holiday Luncheon of the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club on Saturday, December 13^th at noon.  A Christmas luncheon and special holiday piano music preceded his presentation.

Linus is from Wuppertal, Germany, with a population of about 400,000 -a suburb of Colon, Germany and now lives in the country, near Garland, Nebraska with the Joe and Christi Arnold Family on a farm/ranch.  His father Hardy Beck works for Bayer Corporation, and his mother Tanja Beck is a teacher in the local hospital.  He is the youngest of three children and has an older sister and brother.  He is here with the FLAG International Student program for one school year.

He shared four special aspects of Christmas in Germany, the first being the traveling to the “Christmas Market” in Germany to join with friends and family-not so much to shop with the importance of being together with family and friends for hot coco and new wine.  Next, he shared the importance of the Advent program, sharing that each week for four weeks-a new candle is lit by the family--offering morel light and excitement in the home.  His third point was the exciting “Nicolas Day” on December 6^th, when the children clean their shoes and place them outside by the door and St. Nicolas fills the shoes with candy, chocolates and oranges or small gifts.  It is also a time for neighbors to come and share and be together. Finally, Christmas is celebrated in his home on Christmas Eve-December 24, with activities including a church service and Santa Claus arrives with gifts while in church!  A major celebration happens with a banquet of food with friends and family.  He noted that his Grandmother has many live Christmas trees at her home, and the family loves to cut down a live tree for their home from Grandma’s house.  He even has a small one in his room.  He did note they do not decorate them like here in the US, but they are just as special.  He spoke on the holiday foods of Germany and shared photos of the customs.

Linus spoke on his home and school, indicating that Seward High has many more offerings and many more practical, “hands on” classes that are not offered in Germany.  He noted that the German Schools do not have sports programs- it is all about club sports.  At SHS Linus was in the Cross-Country program with coach Curt Holliday and now in involved in SHS Soccer with Coach Jamie Ophfer. Linus loves soccer and has played since he was a small boy.  He likes to play as the “Left wing” on the soccer team and looking forward to the season. 

He noted that there are a few music and art classes in his school and Germany, but nothing to compare to those extensive music and art programs at Seward.  His school does not have a choir, band, or orchestra and for those activities, he has to seek club organizations.

He enjoys his classes of Algebra II, US History, and Music History and his favorite local food is the American Hamburger.  He is not a fan of the Nebraska cold weather and commented that he experienced a tornado in Nebraska and strong winds out in the country.

Linus pointed out that in Germany, young people are allowed to drink alcohol, wine and beer and smoke cigarettes at the age of 14 but not allowed to drive until 18 years old. They must be 16 to buy the alcohol however!  This makes parities much more different in Germany then in Nebraska. 

Linus is looking forward to an exciting Spring in Nebraska and thanked the members of the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club for the experience to share his insights and knowledge from another side of the world with them and wished them all a Merry Christmas.

GFWC Seward Woman’s Club President, Bonnie Kruse presented Linus with a large gift bag of Seward Gifts from the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club, welcoming Linus to Seward and Nebraska, They are wishing him all the best with his new second semester at Seward High and thanked the Arnold’s family for giving him the opportunity to experience the “Nebraska Good Life.”

  He was presented with a Seward Tee Shirt, Seward puzzle, Christmas Ornament, USA cap, a 3’x5’ US Flag, smaller US flags, a Seward Memorial Hospital Cookbook (for his mom who works in the hospital in Germany), a Nebraska Life Magazine Cookbook and assorted USA flag pins.  A special pack of brochures and magazines on Seward and Nebraska was also included in the Gift Bag. 

The GFWC Seward Woman’s Club is affiliated with the General Federation of Women’s Club’s Inc. (GFWC)-an international volunteer service organization- enhancing the world through volunteer service and it is only fitting that the club has an international focus at one or more meetings.

The pre-music for the Holiday Luncheon featured Christmas piano solos by students of Sally Jost-Maren Kolterman-Third Grade at St. Vincent, Zoey Martin-Freshman at Seward High and Carly Kolterman-Sophomore at Seward High.  Sally Jost, the student’s instructor was presented the “Seward County Woman of Note” Award by the GFWC Seward Woman’s Club.

A short business meeting concluded with the Holiday Luncheon.  The club recognized club member Angela Belew for her work with the annual “Fill the Grocery Cart” food drive, Barb Shauer and Ellen Chaffin for their chairmanship of the “Girls Only Writing Workshop” and  Ellen Chaffin and Rene’ Chandler for their leadership and chair of the “Seward Christmas Festival” -The “Festival of Trees” and the Gingerbread House “Make it and Take” activity. 

The event concluded with a special “Toast to the Holiday” by President Bonnie Kruse and the sharing slices of the last GFWC Seward Woman’s Club’s 125^th Anniversary/Birthday cake-as the club celebrated with birthday cake throughout the year!

The GFWC Seward Woman’s Club is the oldest civic organization in Seward, organized in 1900 and celebrated their 125^th anniversary throughout 2025.  The club meets at noon on the second Saturday of the month at the Seward Civic Center.  For more information contact Bonnie Kruse -GFWC Seward Woman’s Club President at 402-643-4714 or email her at jonandbonnie@hotmail.com

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