Downtown rolling out red carpet for Nebraska Community Foundation

McCOOK, Neb. -- The bricks on Norris Avenue will be lit up Wednesday for the "Night on the Bricks." It is a special evening put together by the McCook Community Foundation Fund for the Nebraska Community Foundation's annual training and banquet, which is being held in McCook on Nov. 9-11.

With several hundred people in McCook over those three days, "Night on the Bricks" will give our visitors the opportunity to walk around downtown McCook, visiting our unique businesses, buildings and historical sites, as well as meeting McCook citizens -- all under the street lights of Norris Avenue.

In addition to encouraging NCF members to discover McCook, "Night on the Bricks" is open to the McCook community, giving locals a chance to visit their favorite stores, restaurants and historical sites in a nighttime setting.

Most businesses and restaurants on Norris Avenue are planning to stay up open from 5-8 p.m. in addition to their regular daytime hours. Some of the businesses are even planning a special deal for the "Night on the Bricks" -- just stop by and ask.

The businesses include New Life Christian Bookstore, Acme Printing, Sports Shoppe, Peterson Jewelry, Tequilas Mexican Restaurant, Rita's Framing, Mint 217, Renalle's, Brown's Shoe Fit, Accent's Etc., El Puerto Mexican Restaurant, Knowlen and Yates, Painted Ladies, Longnecker Jewelry, Tied House at Sehnert's Bakery, Country Floral, Garrison's and McCook Lettering and Charlie's Flower Bar. In the Keystone building, Sew Blessed, Eyelets and More and Rowdy's Snacks will be offering their goods for the special evening.

In addition to the businesses, other locations on Norris Avenue will be open Wednesday, Nov. 9 to support "Night on the Bricks" including the Keystone Business Center, CASA office, High Plains Model Railroad Club, Fox Theater, High Plains Museum, McCook Art Gallery, Memorial United Methodist Church sanctuary and the homes of both Sen. George Norris and Sen. Benjamin Nelson. Between 5-7 p.m., each location will be manned by a volunteer or staff member to answer questions or give a short tour.

To keep it lively on Norris Avenue, the local band Threefold will be playing at the Tied House at Sehnert's Bakery from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The McCook Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting for the new sidewalk north of Painted Ladies at 6:15 p.m. And the Cat Pack, which supports the McCook Humane Society, will be handing out free hot chocolate at the recently paved sidewalk area. And they may have musical accompaniment during the evening -- you will just have to stop by and see.

The McCook Community Foundation Fund is an affiliated fund of the Nebraska Community Foundation, which holds it annual training and banquet at a different location every year and selected McCook to host the event this year.

Most of the NCF training will be held on the McCook Community College campus all day Thursday with the banquet Thursday evening at the Graff Events Center. Additional training will be held Friday at the McCook Christian Church as well as a NCF board meeting at Community Hospital.

NCF, headquartered in Lincoln, is not a typical community foundation. All grantmaking decisions are made by local affiliated fund leaders in communities across the state, including McCook and Imperial and across Southwest Nebraska. NCF supports 1,500 volunteer leaders through training, financial management, donor education and planning throughout the year.