Love from the Heart City - Valentine, Nebraska

So you want to show your special Valentine how much you care? There's still time and it won't cost but a couple stamps and a little bit of your time and it sure is a romantic thing to do.

Buy or make a Valentine's card and address it to your special someone - or someone(s) - think family members here. Put some colorful stickers on the inside and outside and make it look lovely. When everything is addressed and stamped and ready to go - put them in a large envelope and mail the whole thing to Cupid's Mail Box at: P.O. Box 201, Valentine, NE 69201.

Cupid will take these special declarations of love and put his own stamp on the outside of the envelope. 

Then Cupid will take the cards for your special loved ones over to the Valentine Post Office where they will cancel the stamp with special sentiments from Valentine, Nebraska, the Heart City!
The Chamber of Commerce also hosts a Valentine's Card contest that begins in December and one lucky winner is chosen from among the entries. Their artwork is made into a card and printed by Valentine Midland News and Printing; you can see the card pictured above right. This year's winner is David Dorsey of Newport, NE. These Valentine's Cards can be purchased through local businesses in Valentine as well as the Chamber of Commerce who can be contacted by calling 402-376-2969.

Cards can also be sent directly to the Valentine Post Office where they will use their own set of cachet's on the outside of the envelope. Cards will be sent in the same manner as with Cupid's Mail Box, addressed to the recipient with proper postage inside a larger envelope addressed to Valentine Post Office, Valentine's Day remailing, 239 N. Hall Street, Valentine, Nebraska, 69201-9998.

Some folks like to have their Valentine's cancelation on February 14th, others like them to be cancelled and mailed back to be received by the recipient on February 14th. There's not a lot of time left, so get your cards ready. To make the envelopes even more sentimental, use the USPS LOVE stamp!

These beautiful cards are from the Cherry Blossom Paperie in Valentine and are on display at the Valentine Post Office. Remember, odd shaped, oversized, or embellished cards will require EXTRA POSTAGE. If you're not sure, put on some extra postage just to make sure they reach your loved one!

So you have a special someone(s) and you can show that love by mailing your Valentine's Cards through the City with Heart, Valentine, Nebraska, and take advantage of Cupid's Mail Box or the folks at the Valentine Post Office.
What a non-fattening, budget minded, creative way to show your loved one how much you care!

The gift of adventure...

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deeds. Proverbs 19:17

That's what giving is all about! And that's why we celebrate Christmas - because of His fantastic gift to us! And that's why reading is so very important...to read about HIS gift and to share that Gift.

Since 1994, the American Legion family has collected new and good used books to be given to area children at Christmas through the Share the Gift of Reading program. All donated books will be sorted and placed with gifts to be distributed through the Fill an Empty Stocking project. (More information on this tomorrow.)

Books are needed for children of all ages from 1 through 18. Please donate books that you know your own children or grandchildren would enjoy. These books should be new or in very good condition.

Drop boxes for books will be located in the Valentine Library lobby, Plains Trading Company Book Sellers, Valentine Elementary School, and on the porch at 427 N. Main Street. For more information call 402-376-2443. Deadline for all book donations is December 20.

We're so blessed to have two fantastic book stores in the Sandhills!

Plains Trading Book Sellers have books on a wide variety of topics: best sellers, kids books, art, cooking and books about the outdoors. There are also books from local authors who share their version of ranching Sandhill style! There are beautiful photo books that showcase the very best the Sandhills has to offer.

 Best sellers!

 Fun for ALL ages!

 Plains Trading Book Sellers even has books with blank or lined pages for people to sketch or write  down their own thoughts for book! What a beautiful fore edge!

The Ark Christian Books and Gift Store has books for all ages including Bibles that tell of Christ's birth.  There are Bibles for teens, cowboys, and military personnel. There are Bibles for brides, dads, moms, and for the busy woman, there is the Bible clutch! How about that?! There is a place for your cards - debit and credit - drivers license and check book with the Bible right inside- held together with a secure zipper.  Pretty clever!

 Share the gift of hope with Todd Burpo's story Heaven is for Real! 

Of course, the Reason for the Season...read His story and find out how it does become your story...

Cherry Blossom Paperie is a place to make your own books by way of memories and photos in scrapbooks. How about putting your Christmas memories together for future generations to enjoy...you can begin over the Christmas break and families could work on it  t-o-g-e-t-h-e-r!

 Cherry Blossom Paperie also has  a little gift for someone special because friends are the best presents!

Radio Shack has a Nook Color and Kindle for people who prefer to download their reading material. Actually these devices can hold more than one book - they can hold a mini-library! Ta-da! They can also download newspapers and magazines by subscription. Notice the sale prices on these up in the corner of the flyer!

The Ad Council says reading is fundamental...but it's also just plain fun...adventurous...educational...informative...enlightening...and in some cases...life changing!