In the next couple weeks, we know many of you will be busy buying last-minute Christmas gifts for friends and family.
We also encourage you to think about the people who are going through tough times this holiday season, offering your thoughts and prayers to them and possibly even making a donation.
One of the local fundraisers that started recently is The Caring Tree at Goonie’s Sports Bar & Grill for the three young children of Holly Heath. Holly passed away Dec. 5 due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident Nov. 20
A Christmas tree decorated with small stockings was put up at Goonie’s a couple weeks ago. Inside each stocking is a card with one of the children’s names on it, and each card has a gift idea that’s appropriate for that child’s age, such as a toy, clothing item (with sizes included on the card), or gift card. People may stop by Goonie’s anytime to pick out a card from one of the stockings. They can purchase the gift at a local retailer, and then bring the gift item back to Goonie’s.
On Sunday, Dec. 22, Santa Claus will present Holly Heath’s children – two girls, ages 1 1/2 and 3 1/2, and one boy, age 6 – with the Christmas gifts that have been donated.
Paul Guhn, Goonie’s Sports Bar & Grill owner, said he was approached by two people in the community about doing a benefit at Goonie’s for Holly Heath’s children. Guhn said Goonie’s is more than willing to help.
“From my understanding, Holly was a single parent and her children are ages 1 1/2 to 6, so we are more than happy to get involved with doing this for them,” he said. “The response has already been phenomenal. We’ve been able to put cards back into the stockings, and we get asked about the tree all the time and what it’s for. People have been very generous.”
Guhn said Santa Claus will be at Goonie’s from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22. He encourages people to bring their kids to see Santa, and he also encourages people to stop by Goonie’s that day to support the Holly Heath family. Guhn said he plans to raffle a $100 Goonie’s gift card that day, with all proceeds from the raffle going to Holly Heath’s family.
Guhn also pointed out that other donations, such as monetary donations and canned food, are also being collected at Goonie’s for Holly Heath’s family.
“They’re taking anything to help these children,” Guhn said. “We know the kids have great support from their family, but we want to try to make their Christmas a little bit better if we can.”
Goonie’s Sports Bar & Grill is located at 1802 East 20th Place in Scottsbluff, the site where Whiskey Creek restaurant used to be.
Fundraiser for local backpack food program at The Mixing Bowl
The last three years, The Mixing Bowl in Gering put together a red envelope Christmas giveaway, featuring lots of prizes that customers could receive.
It was a popular giveaway; however, Mixing Bowl owner Jamie Meisner decided to do something different at her business this holiday season. She wanted to do something that would give back to the community, so she came up with the idea to help raise money for the Cooperative Ministries PupPack/CatPack Program, which provides food for the many local children who need it on the weekends.
As part of the fundraiser, The Mixing Bowl is having a raffle with three great prizes – a $100 Mixing Bowl gift card, free coffee for a month, and a set of corporate passes for the Midwest Theater. Raffle tickets are $5 each or five tickets for $20.
In addition, The Mixing Bowl is encouraging people to bring at least one item on the Backpack Program’s wish list to The Mixing Bowl. If you do, you’ll be entered into another raffle for a $30 Mixing Bowl gift card.
The fundraiser at The Mixing Bowl will run through December. Prize winners will be announced the first full week of January.
“This is replacing the red envelope Christmas giveaway because we wanted to do something to give back to the community,” Meisner said. “Since I help deliver [backpacks with food] to one of the schools, I thought this would be a good organization to help this year.”
More than 200 children in Gering and Scottsbluff utilize the backpack food program. The number of children participating in the program is up considerably this school year, so donations are important in order to keep the program going.
Items on the CatPack/PupPack wish list include peanut butter, ramen packages, ramen cups, mac-n-cheese cups, juice boxes, oatmeal, individual cereal boxes, pudding cups, fruit cups, applesauce, granola bars, Rice Krispie treats, fruit snacks, veggie cups, soup, and cracker packages.
Coupon of the Week
The coupon section in Nspire Today! magazine includes awesome offers and discounts from more than 45 local businesses. One of these coupons is 20 percent off ticket at Backaracks Steakhouse & Grill in Scottsbluff. The coupon, which is only available in Nspire Today! magazine, expires Dec. 31.
Excellent deals at Compliments
People will want to keep an eye on special offers and items the next few weeks at Compliments in downtown Scottsbluff.
One offer you won’t want to miss is a 30 percent off one regular-priced item coupon that will be in the December issue of Nspire Today! magazine, which prints next week. That coupon will expire Dec. 31.
Also, keep an eye on pre-inventory sales, which will allow customers to snag some super good deals following Christmas.
In addition, Compliments will be attending the upcoming market in Dallas soon, so there will be lots of new, fun merchandise on display at Compliments later in January.
Did You Know?
Angela Philbrick started working for State Farm when she was 15 years old. She’s continued to work in different areas of State Farm since then. Altogether, she’s been with State Farm for nearly 30 years.
Angela Philbrick State Farm Insurance Agency, Inc., which is located in Scottsbluff at 2202 Broadway Ave., can be reached at 308-632-3411.
Christmas buffet at Sizzlin’ Sirloin Steakhouse in Terrytown
The Sizzlin’ Sirloin Steakhouse in Terrytown will offer a Christmas buffet on Sunday, Dec. 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
They’ll be serving a traditional Christmas dinner, including ham, turkey, dessert, salad, and many other items.
Keep in mind that the Sizzlin’ Sirloin Steakhouse offers a buffer every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Also, be sure to check out the Sizzlin’ Sirloin Steakhouse’s new menu starting Jan. 1.
Teacher Appreciation Week at Marketplace & Companies in Mitchell
Area teachers are being honored this week with Teacher Appreciation Week at Pesto Italian Restaurant in Mitchell.
Any teacher and his or her guest will be treated to a 2 for $20 special. This special runs through Saturday, Dec. 14.
In addition, teachers can receive 60 percent off one Christmas item and 50 percent off one antique item this week at Marketplace & Companies, located at 1344 Center Ave.
Spotlight on Maria Gabriela Mosqueda at Monument Inn & Suites in Gering
Maria Gabriela Mosqueda has been working at Monument Inn & Suites in Gering for two years.
She said she enjoys her job as a housekeeper.
“I really like the people I work with. They’re all really nice and are easy to work with,” she said.
Mosqueda said people looking for a hotel to stay at should consider the Monument Inn & Suites for several reasons.
“It’s a really, really nice, safe hotel, and the location is great,” she said. “We also serve a free hot breakfast from 6 in the morning until 10, and there’s also a nice place to exercise.”
Mosqueda, who’s lived in Scottsbluff for 10 years, said she’s enjoyed living in the Scottsbluff/Gering area. She moved to Scottsbluff from Phoenix.
“It’s really quiet here, and the people are really friendly,” she said.
During her free time, Mosqueda said she enjoys spending time with her two kids, ages 14 and 12.
“We like to go exercise, go for walks, and go to the movies sometimes,” she said.
Nspire Today! local business column Facebook share winner
Our winner for sharing last week’s Nspire Today! local business column is Janet Campos. Janet wins a $10 gift certificate to Prime Cut restaurant in Scottsbluff. Please send an email to jeff.fielder@nspiretoday.com or call 308-220-8865 to claim your prize. Prizes must be collected within 30 days of announcing the winner.
Readers can be entered to win prizes, including local restaurant gift cards, by sharing the Nspire Today! Local Business Column Facebook post! Winners will be announced each week.
Tidbits
Need a last-minute gift idea? Consider a gift card, a jar or bag of yummy pretzels, or a bottle of wine from the Tangled Tumbleweed in Scottsbluff. … Has your snowblower been giving you trouble? Get it fixed at AJ’s Rentals & Small Engine Repairs in Gering. Also, look for AJ’s Rentals & Small Engine Repairs’ coupon in the December issue of Nspire Today! magazine, featuring a free oil change on a snowblower with any full service. … Starting Dec. 16 and running through Jan. 16, Valley Auto Locators in Gering will be offering its Cyber December Special, featuring an oil change, new air filter, tire rotation, new wiper blades, and wash & vacuum for only $89.95. … Looking for a wedding dress? Be sure to check out the new selection of dresses at A Bridal Affair in downtown Scottsbluff. … 16th Empire in Scottsbluff is offering a New Year’s Eve special, where two people can enjoy a fabulous dinner for $80. Each person will receive the following: a choice of 32 oz. Porterhouse steak, 30 oz ribeye steak, or 20 oz Chateaubriand with shallot demi glaze; a choice of sauce (Peppercorn, Bearnaise, or Shallot demi glaze), and a dessert choice of Tiramisu or Hazel nut chocolate caramel dessert. The New Year’s Eve special also includes a bottle of wine. … Christmas decor and ornaments are 30 percent off at TC & More in downtown Scottsbluff. … There’s a new dessert at Flyover Brewing Company in Scottsbluff – a yummy Cranberry Pear Gingersnap Crumble. Customers can also enjoy the last few pours of the Brut, Cheers to a Year IPA, Festbier and Hefeweizen, for $5 pints and $10 crowlers.
Nspire Today!’s WyoBraska business column runs each week online. The column will include good news, profiles on employees, interesting stats, information about sales and special promotions, and other fun tidbits from businesses in the area that support Nspire Today! If you would like to learn more about advertising in Nspire Today! magazine, please contact Jeff at 308-220-8865 or KC at 308-641-8587. Advertising rates start at just $35, and each page in the magazine is in color. Also, businesses aren’t locked into any contracts. Nspire Today! magazine focuses on positive, feel good and inspiring content on people in the WyoBraska area. The monthly magazine is ready by more than 10,000 people each month. In addition to our affordable advertising rates in the magazine, we also offer other ways to help promote local businesses, such as with inserts, online posts, and through this local business column. Nspire Today! also has a website (nspiretoday.com) and makes daily updates on social media, including Facebook. A one-year subscription (12 monthly issues) to the magazine is only $15. People may sign up by sending $15 to P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69361, or with a credit card by calling 308-220-8865. Thank you for supporting the locally owned and operated Nspire Today!
REMINDER: Readers can be entered to win several prizes, including local restaurant gift cards, just by sharing this Nspire Today! WyoBraska Business Column Facebook post! Yes, it’s that easy!
