The Scoop Newsletter | Vol. 18 by HomeServices of Nebraska

VOLUME

FEBR U A RY 2 0 2 0

Ho meS ervices NE. co m

F U N ACT I VIT IE S FOR FA MI LI ES TO ENJOY I N FEB RUARY

ids are often restless in the heart of winter. Besides the onset of cabin fever due to inclement weather, many months are left in the school year. Count down the minutes until the spring thaw arrives and try these fun things for families to do together in February. ENJOY WINTER ACTIVITIES TOGETHER: Depending on where you live, you may have lots of opportunities to enjoy outdoor winter activities such as sledding, snowshoeing, ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, or simply building snow forts and snow sculptures. If snow and ice are rare in your you’ll want to capitalize on every chance or plan a short getaway to where you can play in the cold.

PLAY INDOORS: Staying in the house doesn’t mean the kids have to park it in front of the TV or video game screen. There are plenty of indoor activities for kids that involve active games, pretend play, and creativity exercises. You can also take the kids on a family fun outing to indoor sports such as bowling, indoor roller rinks, and indoor skating rinks. PLAN A TRIP: Nothing will warm your family up quicker than planning for a special getaway together. Spring break is just a few weeks away, so now’s the perfect time to spend some time brainstorming with your family about where they would like to go when the weather gets warmer. Make vacation planning a family activity, look at all of the fun attractions you can visit online, and take advantage of early bird deals by booking now. VALENTINE’S DAY FUN: Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your children all month long. Create Valentine’s crafts, such as the I Love You photo collage or the I Ruff You foam dog. Plan a Valentine’s Day party, make party supplies with your printer, and play Valentine’s Day-themed party games.

PRESIDENTS’ DAY: Slip in a history lesson on this holiday. Teach kids about Presidents’ Day, the first federal holiday established in honor of an American citizen, with fun activities that teach your children all about this important day. AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH: Speaking of history, February is also American History Month. Find out what happened on this date in history to teach your kids something new today. BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Learn about Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks and other key people who made a difference. Even younger children can embark on this learning journey through age-appropriate printables and activities. AMERICAN HEART MONTH: Keep your family fit during American Heart Month in February. Teach kids how the heart works, learn about the heart’s anatomy, and gauge your family’s target heart rates. Plan family workout activities to get the recommended amount of physical activity for heart health. Thespruce.com/family-activities-to-enjoy-inFebruary-4134466

Keep up the good work testimonials

Buzz Niederklein “reached out and helped me through the entire process. From Taking me on tours that he scheduled for me based on what I could manage, to using patience and being understanding when I was very difficult at times to work with, Buzz showed great composure and professionalism. Turner Hill (buyer)

Bruce Hahn ”is a Professional that knows the business and over the years working with Bruce we consider him not only as our real estate broker but a friend.” Larry & Patricia Brown (buyer)

Talli Kratochvil “went above and beyond in helping me selling my house. Talli has been so very helpful & easy to work with. She helped me by answering any questions I had in this process...” Patricia Toovey (seller)

Adam Wiekamp “was also helpful in recommending a contractor to do some remodeling at the condo I purchased. Adam also knew of a good home inspection company. I used and appreciated his recommendations...” Barbara Hager (buyer)

SH A NNO N’ S S NI PPE T In This Issue

Hope 2020 is treating you well, check out these fun events.

Mark your calenders! Lots to look forward to in 2020.

Welcome & congrats to these fantastic agents.

Announcements, and Gratitude by Jason Schmit.

Good job, you earned it! Hard work pays off.

Larabee Class Schedule

ebruary, like Vermont, is often associated with lovers. Valentine’s Day is meant to ignite a spark. Well, that spark is appropriate for us to unveil our THEME OF THE YEAR: IGNITE! This year we will unflinchingly IGNITE our passion for, and level of, service, we will IGNITE our business by fueling our collective fire with the right activities and the right mindset. We are even going to IGNITE our social lives by intentionally spending time enjoying one another’s company. So, pack your tinder and get ready! This month we get to spend time celebrating our 2019 achievements and making in-roads to achieving our goals for 2020. I CHALLENGE YOU to do what it takes to get yourself to the next level this year – NINJA, Personal Coaching, and more specifically, the IGNITE conference in Kansas City on April 6,7 and 8th. This is our FIRST ANNUAL conference sponsored by HOMESERVICES COMPANIES. Those of you who have been waiting for a national convention – THIS is our inaugural event! For an investment of $300 (I know – really affordable compared to other national events/conventions) and a few days time you will be inspired and challenged. You will meet and network with agents from our many area sister companies, and you’ll have a great time! So, join me in Kansas City! Mark your calendars and we’ll send out registration information as we near the date.

I hope you have a February filled with love and sparks – let’s IGNITE 2020.

Shanon R Harner, CEO • One family, One team, One goal

FEBRUARY 2020 01

01 04

•RAL Bowling Tournament 6p @ Sun Valley Lanes

•Blue Man Group 7:30p @ Lied Center

•Boat, Sport, & Travel Show

10a–8p @ Lancaster Event Center

DONATE GENTLY USED + NEW SOCKS FOR ALL AGES.

•Frosty Bike Ride 9:30p @ Code Beer

•KX96.9 Onesie Bar Crawl

DONATION DROP OFF

2p–4p @ The Railyard

THE PRESERVE | HOME MIDTOWN WOODS LINCOLN LOCATIONS

•UNL Men’s Bball vs. Penn State 6p @ Pinnacle Bank Arena

02 05

•Blue Man Group 2p @ Lied Center

•Boat, Sport, & Travel Show

03 06

•Beer Hall Bingo

6p @ Zipline 5740 Hidcote Dr

•Comedy Open Mic 7:30p @ Duffy’s LNK

04 07

•Boingo Boingo Boiler Bingo

05 08

•Mike Semrad

7p–10p @ Miller Time Pub

7p @ Boiler Brewing Co.

8p–10p @ Boiler Brewing Co.

•The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber

•Trivia

7p @ SchillingBridge

10a–4p @ Lancaster Event Center

06 09

•Trivia

7:30p @ TADA Theatre

•Jade Jackson

•UNL Women’s Bball vs OH State

07 10 •VALENTINE’S •The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber

08 11

•Chocolate Lover’s Fantasy

•Home&Garden Show

7:30p @ TADA Theatre

7p–9:30p @ Graduate

•Home&Garden Show

7p @ Bourbon Theatre

2p @ Pinnacle Bank Arena

1p–9p @ Lancaster Event Center

•GROUNDHOG DAY •SUPER BOWL

7:05p @ Ice Box

•The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber 7:30p @ TADA Theatre

10a–8p @ Lancaster Event Center

•An American in Paris 7:30p @ Lied Center

•Stars vs. Omaha WBR AWARDS

LNK COUNTRY CLUB 6p Cocktails | 7p Dinner

109 2

•UNL Women’s Bball vs IN 2p @ Pinnacle Bank Arena

•The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber

110 3

•Beer Hall Bingo

6p @ Zipline 5740 Hidcote Dr

•Comedy Open Mic 7:30p @ Duffy’s LNK

111 4

•Boingo Boingo Boiler Bingo

7p @ Boiler Brewing Co.

•Trivia

112 5

•Daniel Christian

7p–10p @ Miller Time Pub

•Lincoln Exposed

Varies @ Downtown Lincoln

7p @ SchillingBridge

2p @ TADA Theatre

10a–5p @ Lancaster Event Center

114 7

7p @ Pinnacle Bank Arena

•Trivia

8p–10p @ Boiler Brewing Co.

•Lincoln Exposed

•The Infamous Stringdusters

•Home&Garden Show

113 6

•UNL Women’s Bball vs •Lincoln Exposed Penn State Varies @ Downtown Lincoln

Varies @ Downtown Lincoln

7p @ Bourbon Theatre

•WBR All Co. Meeting 8:45a @ The Preserve

•An American in Paris 2p @ Lied Center

HRE AWARDS

•Bike Show

5p–10p @ Lancaster Event Center

•A Thousand Words 7:30p @ Lied Center

•Elliot Moss

7p @ Bourbon Theatre

•VALENTINES DAY

116 9

10a–5p @ Lancaster Event Center

•A Thousand Words 2p @ Lied Center

•US Open | Bowling Varies @ Sun Valley Lanes

•Cody Canada & The Departed 7p @ Bourbon Theatre

217 0

•Beer Hall Bingo

6p @ Zipline 5740 Hidcote Dr

•US Open | Bowling Varies @ Sun Valley Lanes

•Comedy Open Mic 7:30p @ Duffy’s LNK

•PRESIDENTS DAY •ALL HSNE OFFICE CLOSED •BANKS CLOSED!

218 1

•Trivia

7p @ SchillingBridge

•US Open | Bowling Varies @ Sun Valley Lanes

•Aquila Theatre in George Orwell’s ‘84

219 2

•US Open | Bowling

•US Open | Bowling Varies @ Sun Valley Lanes

•UNL Men’s Bball vs. Michigan State

•The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber

•A Thousand Words

•US Open | Bowling

7:30p @ Lied Center

•Korn & Breaking Benjamin

Varies @ Sun Valley Lanes

6p @ Zipline 5740 Hidcote Dr

7p @ SchillingBridge

•The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber 2p @ TADA Theatre

•A Thousand Words 2p @ Lied Center

•Comedy Open Mic 7:30p @ Duffy’s LNK

•Trivia •KISS

7:30p @ Pinnacle Bank Arena

•MARDI GRAS

Varies @ Sun Valley Lanes

7:30p @ TADA Theatre

•A Thousand Words 7:30p @ Lied Center

•UNL Men’s Bball vs. WI

1:15p @ Pinnacle Bank Arena

•Lincoln Exposed

Varies @ Downtown Lincoln

•Bike Show

9:30a–8p @ Lancaster Event Center

222 5

•UNL Women’s Bball vs IL TBA @ Pinnacle Bank Arena

•US Open | Bowling Varies @ Sun Valley Lanes

•The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber 7:30p @ TADA Theatre

•A Thousand Words

•The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber

7:30p @ Lied Center

7:30p @ TADA Theatre

•A Thousand Words

225 8

•Beer Hall Bingo

7:30p @ Pinnacle Bank Arena

Varies @ Sun Valley Lanes

7p @ Bourbon Theatre

7p @ Pinnacle Bank Arena

224 7

8p–10p @ Boiler Brewing Co.

•Peekaboo

•A Thousand Words

7:30p @ Lied Center

•US Open | Bowling

221 4

•Trivia

7p–10p @ Miller Time Pub

6p @ Lied Center

7:30p @ Lied Center

•Jason Mayer

7:30p @ Lied Center

223 6

220 3

•Wonderland At The Lied:Mad Hatter’s Ball

•A Thousand Words

LNK COUNTRY CLUB 11a

•Bike Show

115 8

7:30p @ Lied Center

226 9

•Will Hutchinson

7p–10p @ Miller Time Pub

•ASH WEDNESDAY •RAL Drive Pickup Deadline!!!

327 0

328 1

•Trivia

8p–10p @ Boiler Brewing Co.

•UNL Men’s Bball vs. Ohio State 8p @ Pinnacle Bank Arena

•State Swimming and Diving Championships

•State Swimming and Diving Championships Varies @ Devaney Sports Center

•Russ’s Wine and Food Experience 5p–8p @ Embassy 1040 P Street

•State Swimming and Diving Championships Varies @ Devaney Sports Center

•Zac Brown Band

7p @ Pinnacle Bank Arena

Varies @ Devaney Sports Center

HSNE | THE PRESERVE LOCATED AT 7811 PIONEERS BLVD. #200, LINCOLN, NE

Leadership. Gratitude. Excellence. Integrity. Innovation. | 1

BIRT HDAYS + AN N I V E R SA R I E S HOME BIRTHDAYS

COUNTRY CLUB

MARK YO UR CALENDERS

BIRTHDAYS

2-3 Bob Hoback 2-4 Shawndel Polivka 2-4 Noel Herrington 2-4 Jim Ohmberger 2-8 Kathy Dixon 2-9 Jerilyn Sykes 2-10 Jeff Ahern 2-12 Tiffany Heier 2-18 Vlad Divizinskiy 2-20 Karen Roeber

2-10 Gigi Haase Sothan 2-14 Kelly Unick 2-28 Linda Wibbels 2-29 Brenda Broeker

ANNIVERSARIES

2-20-48 Russ Quick 2-24-71 Nikki Heywood

ANNIVERSARIES

2-3-16 Tafe Sup Bergo 2-14-06 Joanne McCoy HOLMES LAKE BIRTHDAYS

2-1-12 Lee Saltzgaber 2-1-03 Al Underwood 2-2-01 Don Dahlquist 2-4-03 Fran O’Leary 2-5-18 Alicia Prewett 2-7-12 Vladimer Gorbun 2-8-06 Charlotte Hazzard 2-12-15 Karen Heinzle 2-16-06 Connie Boender 2-16-16 Kira Mayer 2-19-18 Susanne Guthrie 2-18-91 Kim Roberts 2-19-18 Gabrielle Premer 2-22-77 Madonna Kardell 2-24-83 Ellen High 2-25-13 John Crumrine 2-28-11 Tom Larsen HOMESERVICES TITLE BIRTHDAYS

2-7 Tammy Bohnenkamp 2-8 Linda Little 2-12 Sarah Ulfers PRISM COMMERCIAL BIRTHDAYS

2-10 Todd Lorenz ANNIVERSARIES

2-19 Alan Beyke

ANNIVERSARIES

2-24-05 Gordon Opp WILDERNESS HILLS BIRTHDAYS

2-22 Dennis Flesner ANNIVERSARIES 2-1-12 Kevin Yontz 2-17-06 Kelly Shandera BEATRICE ANNIVERSARIES

1-22-15 Tracy Hartley YORK/SEWARD ANNIVERSARIES

12-1-06 Frank Chapman 12-1-06 Glen Coffey HSNE

Hosted in Kansas City | FIRST ANNUAL conference put on by HOMESERVICES COMPANIES | Cost $300

BIRTHDAYS

2-14 Carol Penas 2-19 Jenny Smith ANNIVERSARIES

2-19-02 Carol Penas 2-19-18 Joe Starkey 2-25-19 Brenda Clark 2-25-19 Jenny Smith

30 0–1: 11:3 VOTE R E P $1

M ARCH 9–13, 2020 W Y NN LA S VEGAS

2 | HSNE SCOOP

SOUPS Newlyn Zimmerman – Midtown Andrew Riley -Midtown

WE LCO M E V E R N S O R E NS E N TO T H E LE ADE RS H IP TEAM

ern Sorensen grew up on a farm in Central NE near St. Edward and has lived in Nebraska his entire life. Sorensen earned a BS in Agriculture and MBA from the University of Nebraska. He has lived and worked in the Hastings/Grand Island area for 16 years before moving to Lincoln in 2001. Sorensen started with HOME Real Estate in January 2001 and has been with the company his entire career. He began at the Cotner office, moving to Pioneer Greens in 2006, and then to Midtown in 2016. Sorensen is very excited for this role because this position gives him the opportunity to support the best agents in the city! He wants to emphasize personal growth as well as business growth and work toward the ideal balance for each agent. Sorensen plans to do more training sessions on a variety of topics - including a focus on new development in our market area, along with agent safety practices.

WAY TO GO

KAREN SC HA E F F E R !

W ELC O M E TO T H E S E N E W AG E N TS !

ebraska Community Blood Bank celebrates the life-saving blood donors that donate throughout National Blood Donor Month, and next up is Karen Schaeffer! If you couldn’t tell, she loves the snacks she gets after she donates. And she donates A LOT! She officially surpassed the 17-gallon mark after her latest donation. When complimented on her dedication to saving lives, she said “it’s just one donation at a time!” Karen, thank you for being such a dedicated lifesaver in our community. Your generous donations help ensure a stable blood supply for area hospitals each and every day! (FaceBook Source: Nebraska Community Blood Bank)

AMY BARNETT

MICAELA KLASSEN

JESSICA STEINKE

KATIE ULRICH

COUNTRY CLUB

WILDERNESS HILLS

MIDTOWN

Leadership. Gratitude. Excellence. Integrity. Innovation. | 3

GRATITUDE

A NN OU NCEM EN T

t’s our pleasure to announce that AMY DUVAL CARLSON has been named President of HomeServices TITLE. Amy’s legal experience with brokerage, as well as her previous insurance background make her an ideal fit for our title operation.

I mean, what can be so hard to understand? Isn’t Gratitude just a fancy way of saying you are thankful? It happens multiple times every single day, someone opens the door for you, you say “thank you,” (at least I hope you are a person who says “thank you,” I’m assuming we are all coming from a minimal decency standard here) and then we go on our way. That’s it! After all, we’re nice people... we’re Nebraska Nice!

Amy will continue to support our operations as General Counsel. Please help us congratulate Amy as she embarks on this new adventure.

LEMON SHORTBREADS Source | tasteofhome.com/recipes/lemon-shortbreads

INGREDIENTS COOKIE: 1 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1/4 cup sugar

GLAZE: 2 cups confectioners' sugar

Colored sugar

1 teaspoon salt

am going to talk about Gratitude the only way I know how, from a seemingly rambling, overly dramatic, deeper than necessary, and nonsensical way. I’ll regret putting this out to the world in the interim but that’s how I roll and will ultimately be happy because I was true to myself. Stay with me, I’ll get there... I promise.

DIRECTIONS 1.

Beat butter, sugars and salt until blended; beat in lemon zest. Gradually beat in flour. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Let dough stand at room temperature 5-10 minutes to soften slightly.

Preheat oven to 325°. Roll each portion of dough between two pieces of waxed paper to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut dough with a floured 1-1/2-in. heart-shaped or other cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on lightly greased baking sheets.

Bake until bottoms are lightly browned, 7-10 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

For glaze, mix confectioners' sugar, lemon peel and lemon juice until smooth; spread over cookies. Sprinkle with colored sugar.

Let me propose that Gratitude is something much more than that. Sure, you can go through life saying “thank you” like you are up-sizing an extra value meal or choosing between paper or plastic at the grocery store, or dutifully upholding the obligation of our State slogan, but that’s not really Gratitude, that’s just being polite. Real Gratitude involves some real awareness of the actions of others. Gratitude isn’t just about being thankful, it is about recognizing the sacrifice someone else has made for you. That means we have to get outside the Tropical Storm Jason in our heads, the cadence of “me, me, me, me...” and start really seeing each other. I referenced the act of opening a door for someone above. A simple thing. Let’s over-analyze that! There you are, walking up to said door carrying the weight of your life, your decisions, your hopes and dreams, your monthly Netflix payment, your parrot’s birthday party planning (tropical theme or something less cliche?), the fact that the bathroom faucet combined with your HVAC sounds like your ex’s breathing patterns haunting you from 1998 like a ghost, you are LATE, and there just has to be either a rock, spider or Lego in your shoe. I could go on about the amalgamation of prebiotic soup you carry with you in your fanny pack of life. We are all amazing, unique, individual people. But there you are, approaching a door that you HAVE to open if

4 | HSNE SCOOP

you are to experience the benefits residing on the other side. AND a stranger with no horse in your race with their own emblematic carry on luggage, opens the door for YOU, granting YOU a level of transitional ease. Make no mistake, they are not an illusion. They were b-lining on their own specific path too, saw you, and stopped to give you something so seemingly small and ordinary; A little act of kindness. A real “human” moment. An exchange of humanity. Someone saying with a simple action, “I see you and I want to do this nice thing for you to make your life better. You are not alone, brother!” “Thank you!” you say. In you go, on with your day. Do you even really care that they kindly opened the door for you? Relax, I’m not your therapist. I told you I’d over-analyze this. Let me be first to acknowledge that opening a door is a small thing, some might even call it trivial. I hope you see this isn’t just about opening physical doors. It’s about opening a lot of meta doors as well. It’s about shifting your thinking and elevating from niceties into gratitudinal zen. This means you’ll need to put yourself into the other person’s Crocs and truly appreciate that the person went out of their way, no matter how simple or complicated, to benefit you. You, this person that exists and grew up in Beatrice and has traveled so far to get to this particular crossroads, on this important quest to grab a Kit Kat and a Diet Dr. Pepper, and are aided by the kindness of a stranger. Saved from potentially, awkwardly, botching the Push/Pull conundrum. We have a chance to make the world a kinder, better place. Every single day and in the simplest of ways we have a choice. I’m not asking you to create super awkward moments in gas station doorways, (still say “thank you!”), I’m asking you to see and recognize those around you when they do something that moves our jobs, our lives, our relationships, forward. You have to let them know that you see them. You have to let them know you noticed. You have to let them know you appreciate it. That’s Gratitude.

JASON SCHMIT

LEA ANN STEPHENSON

CONGRATS, YOU EARNED IT! TYLER REYNOLDS

BRUCE HAHN

Earned the Nebraska REALTORS® C2EX Endorsement.

PAT OHMBERGER Best Supporting Actor in Finishing School at the Lincoln Community Playhouse.

AMY GEWECKE

Earned a Broker’s License.

Earned the Nebraska REALTORS® C2EX Endorsement and 2020 National Association of REALTORS® Region 8 Vice President.

JOANNE MCCOY

MELISSA ELLSTON

Earned Top Three Real Estate Agent.

Earned the Shining Star

Earned an Associate Broker License and the Nebraska REALTORS® C2EX Endorsement.

Leadership. Gratitude. Excellence. Integrity. Innovation. | 5

Are you considering your broker’s license? Do you know the law regarding requirements for your broker’s license changes on July 1st? You might want to consider taking your classes now. Larabee Classes offered in February and March that can be used towards a brokers license.

LARABEESCHOOL.COM

Real Estate Appraisal 0002

Farm and Ranch Brokerage 0108

Nebraska License Law 0047R

2/18/20 through 2/21/20

2/28/20 through 3/7/20

3/2/20 through 3/5/20

Tuesday–Friday 8:30–5:00

8:30–5:00 *class will be Friday’s & Saturday’s, Feb 28-29 & Mar 6-7

Monday–Thursday 8:30–5:00

Instructor: Brett Raasch

Instructor: Amy Gewecke

$275.00 [ includes book/material ]

Instructor: Ben Kramer

Nebraska License Law 0047R

Real Estate Finance 0042R

LIVE EXAM PREP CRASH SESSION PSI EXAM

3/10/20 through 4/9/20

3/16/20 through 3/19/20

3/13/20 through 3/14/20

Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:00-9:00

Monday–Thursday 8:30–5:00

Friday & Saturday 9–4

Instructor: Dede Mau

Instructor: Amy Gewecke

$275.00 [ includes book/material ]

Class will review and help you study for the brokers exam.

$275.00 [ includes book/material ]

Instructor: Debbie Mitchell $165.00 [ includes book/material ]

CLASSES LOCATED AT:

7811 PIONEERS BLVD. #200