Change is in the air!!!!

You can feel it! See it! Smell it!!! There's nothing quite like autumn! Full blown, crispy, colorful, shorter days, autumn! Food is prepared differently, families gather for football games, and there's the coziness that other seasons don't quite have on autumn.

Not everyone likes change, but change left over from a purchase during Moonlight Madness is welcoming!!! The Valentine Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the annual event Thursday, October 27. Downtown businesses will have Mad, Mad, Mad, sales on things you need! Be sure to get to the participating businesses and find out what all the Madness is!!! 

Another event sponsored by the Valentine Chamber of Commerce is the annual Kiddie Parade  - Kiddie, as in all ages because the Halloween spirit still dwells! The parade begins Monday, October 31, at the corner of First and Main Street at 4:00 p.m. 

Shadows precede the costumed trick-or-treaters!

Cleverness knows no bounds, and I believe this mouse and dragon maybe having a moment!

After trick-or-treating along Main Street, stop at the Cherry County Justice Center for Scare in the Square sponsored by the Valentine Police Department! Fun, games, and even more treats...for all the kiddies...no kidding!

Other changes took place earlier this month - October 6, was our first snow fall, and it was pretty significant.

And I might add...beautiful!

Not a fan of snow? How about the changes in our sky? Winter has more colorful sunsets, and because we're still awake, or just getting off work, we're able to enjoy them more. It won't be long and we'll be changing our clocks back, Sunday November 6.

Our temperatures have been great during the day time, and cuddly at night. There's still time to take a kayak trip down the Niobrara River!

And finally, Frederick Peak Golf Course is getting the once over by designer Chris Brands of the Lehman Group. Here he is pictured with manager Tadd Buechle who is keeping the fairways and greens mowed to perfection!

The City of Valentine municipal course will be open for golf in 2017! And this course will change your perspective on the game of golf! Truly, it's breathtaking!

The final change; sad, true, and something that everyone will experience...a few posts back I said DO IT NOW!! Really, do it now if you can...come and visit this remarkable paradise located in north central Nebraska. My mom passed August 19, and there's changes she won't see. Her great grandchildren grow up...her children get grey (haha, we use hair color...) but a very important person in our lives is gone. She won't be back to the Sandhills and that makes me sad.

Our community also lost some wonderful people shortly thereafter... Bill Sokol was a member of the Valentine Lions Club and raised funds for all sorts of extra curricular activities sponsored by the Lions Club. And he cared about our community's health as well, and volunteered as an ambulance driver.

Jarolyn Crouse lost her battle with cancer and was an all-round wonderful person. She was a member of the Old West Days committee for many years. Working with the other board members to get this event growing for the past 25 years.

Change is in the air. Come on out and enjoy it! Make your memories here in the Sandhills, your 4 season, family fun, endearing adventure!

To head over to the website go to:  SandhillsWesternVacations.com

Welcome bikers, star gazers, and those with a love for crazy bargains!

Welcome bikers! We love to hear the roar, rumble, and deep vibrations as you approach Valentine! We're biker friendly and have many amenities to get you to and from your destination including  Sturgis! 

Need a place to eat? How about the Coachlight Cafe? 

Quiet, quaint, and Mary cooks the best burgers, steaks, and seafood around! If you're hungry this is the place to stop! Remember there are wonderful homemade desserts too!

Friday night the public is invited to attend the viewing at the Snake Arm of Merritt Reservoir. If you've never gone, the night is supposed to be cool, no bugs, and clear skies! 

Saturday morning the downtown businesses in Valentine, NE, will be rolling out the proverbial "red carpet" for Crazy Day! Come early to get the best bargains and a chance to win $200 from the Valentine Chamber of Commerce! After you make your purchases, drop your receipt in at participating stores and if you're chosen, you get to win the amount of your receipt, so long as it doesn't go over $200. If you're total was only $50, the drawing continues until all $200 is given away! Most businesses are participating in one way or another...stop in!

See, biker friendly!!

Need something to go quickly? Henderson's has wonderful broasted chicken, salads to keep your girly figure, and plenty of beverages to keep you hydrated on your trek.

Crazy Day shoppers...pick up your very own Valentine tote to hold your bargains, or get ready for back to school! Totes are available at several downtown businesses including Henderson's IGA!

Meanwhile the Rotary sponsored Heart City Throwdown is going on at the Valentine City Park! This is a great chance to win some cash!!! Check it out on Facebook, or just head down to the Valentine City Park Saturday morning, after scooping up the Crazy Day bargains!

Saturday still isn't done! Take the challenge! The ALS challenge that is! Researchers have made great strides and discoveries with the funds that the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has raised. Let's keep those researchers busy with another round of ice cubes and donations.

The ALStars is hosting their annual walk and challenges Saturday evening at the Trail Head Park, across from the Bull Market. Take a walk, enjoy the baked goods, and help out someone you may never know...or someone you know and care about deeply!

 Welcome everyone to Valentine, Nebraska, the City with Heart....from all of us at SandhillsWesternVacations.com...your four season, family fun, destination for Nebraska adventure.

I was going too, but.....DON'T PUT IT OFF!

As I write this several changes have occurred. The first is that my mom is still in the hospital and has been, in one form or another, since February. The toughest thing about this is there is nothing I can do to change things, except say prayers.

My mom in peach, my aunt in mint, maid of honor in pink, my uncle in the far back, my dad, and little me in the best lavender dress my mom made,  for my uncle's wedding!

Other things in Valentine have changed as well. Remember that cute quilt shop, The Quilting Cupboard, that you were going to visit but didn't make or have the time. To her delight, she is closing to spend time with her family and grandchildren. Visit her Facebook page to see what zany, crazy, sales she may be having. A couple other Valentine businesses are closing as well and just as joyfully, to spend time with their families!

Which is why I titled this: DON'T PUT IT OFF!

Were you thinking of making a trip to Valentine? To the Sandhills? To Merritt? To tube the Niobrara?

The time is NOW! Before the kids go back to school. Here are some of the fun things that have been scheduled for your enjoyment!

From July 31 through August 5 is the Nebraska Star Party! And it's one of the darkest parties you'll ever be invited to!!! Deep space objects, the Milky Way, star constellations, family fun! Do you have a telescope at home that needs upgrading? This is the place to be. There is a swap n shop that also includes books on how to use your telescopes, what to look for in outer space, and a challenge to find the 110 objects that French astronomer Charles Messier catalogued in 1771. Friday, August 5, is open to the public. But you can be included by signing up for the entire week by going to Nebraska Star Party. You can also see some of the fun by going to SHWV's Nebraska Star Party.

Hang around a day and enjoy the Rotary Sponsored Disc Golf Tournament! There are monetary prizes!!! The tournament will be held at the Valentine City Park, click here for more information.
This is a non-sanctioned event.

Some like disc golf, others like bargains! August 6 will be full of bargains as well!  CRaZy BaRgAinS for a CRAZY DAY!!! Get some back to school clothing, tools for your college bound student, there's bound to be a bargain you can't or won't pass up! Make sure you stop at Outback's new location!

Later in the evening, Norden Dance Hall will be hosting the band Outback. Dance, have fun, and dance some more! DON'T PUT IT OFF!!! Directions to Norden can be found here. And the dance is held in the big red barn!

August 10-14 is fair time in Cherry County. There will be music, those delicious funnel cakes, carnival rides, spectacular blue ribbon animals, the pavilion decked out with all kinds of vendors. Kids, mow a few lawns to earn money for rides and the games...DON'T PUT IT OFF!!!

Other changes that you may not know about...Norden Bridge was removed over the spring, and replaced with something completely different.

Before...

After...

Before...

After...

And the final change is to Snake Falls. I'm sad to report that as of Wednesday, July 20, 2016, Snake Falls has been closed to the public until further notice. People have been disrespectful and left trash behind, there have been thefts, defacing the falls, and non-payment of the $1 fee to see the falls. Lastly, there are new liability laws and safety is their paramount concern. They are working on options for future viewing.

As you make your plans, be sure to stop at the Chamber sponsored businesses and pick up one of these nifty totes, made by Outback Screenprinting and Embroidery! The Chamber is using these as a fund raiser, and they're filled with all kinds of goodies, coupons, and fun stuff! Look for them when shopping in Valentine. They're large enough to carry magazines, a laptop, or a great lunch for two! But still pretty classy to hang on too! 

Dean Jacobs, the Executive Chamber Director models one so fashionably! 

There's still quite a bit of summer left in the Sandhills! Don't wait until it's too late. Grab your loved ones, come out and enjoy what there is in the Heart City, on our waters, and make memories. Cherished memories. 

I will always have memories of my parent's visits. It would be a miracle if my mom would ever return to this little slice of heaven...so don't be the one saying, "I was going too, but....

DON'T PUT IT OFF!  

We welcome you!

To head over to the website go toSandhillsWesternVacations.com

We are FREE!!! Time to celebrate!

My parents told me I could do anything I wanted to do. Some countries don't have that luxury. Some men and women already have their futures mapped out for them. But we are free from those encumbrances! And joyfully so!

So come to the Heart City where we will celebrate our freedom with a little mingling from the east, some from the south, and some from the heart!

The festivities begin at 10:00 a.m. when the July 4th parade will begin marching down Valentine's Main Street. So patriotic! Prizes are awarded and the theme is Celebrate Freedom! 

Then to cover the eastern part of the U.S.A. when we remember the original 13 colonies who cherished their independence! The Declaration of Independence will be read and the bell rung for the 13 colonies, for each soldier from our area keeping our country free, and anyone who happens to be at Badger Memorial Field on Green Street, is welcomed to ring the bell for their state or in honor of a service member. 

Picnic...nap....or tune up your jalopy for the Cherry County Ag Society's Demolition Derby!!!! A bang-up good time a little southern style! 

And as the sky turns velvety blue, a few stars will sparkle along with the Lions Club sponsored fireworks and that will get get your heart going! 

We're celebrating America's 240th birthday, and paying tribute to the men and women who gave their all and then some for another year of Celebrating our FREEDOM! Remember you can do anything...and let's make America great again...one nation under God!

Happy 240th Birthday America from the sponsors at SandhillsWesternVacations.com We invite you to come and enjoy what the Sandhills have to offer - It's your four season family fun, ticket 4 adventure! Check out the Schedule of events for July and August at the  2016 Schedule of Events...there's a lot coming up for you to enjoy!