Nebraska’s 150th Birthday and Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O!
Did you know that the last document signed by of one of our greatest leaders had to do with Nebraska?
Just hours before setting off for a fateful trip to Ford’s Theater to take in a production of My American Cousin, President Abraham Lincoln signed a document that reappointed Alvin Saunders (that’s where the county name comes from) as Territorial Governor of Nebraska.
That and other great Nebraska history may be found at the “Now You Know Nebraska” YouTube channel, the official video site of the Nebraska Sesquicentennial — home to Nebraska’s 150th birthday. Nebraska was granted statehood on March 1, 1867.
But before you start clicking away as Nebraska celebrates 150 years of statehood, let’s celebrate today’s business pioneers at the 2017 Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O! first-round ballot. You and, more importantly your customers, can nominate your favorite businesses – the ones that continue to earn your trust and patronage — in everything from pizza to plumbing.
Nominations continue for this year’s honors through February 28. The top finalists in each category will be listed on the final ballot for a final round of voting in March and April that determines this year’s awards.
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O! is proud to be an official event of the Nebraska Sesquicentennial, and it’s a great fit with a year-long slate of events and programs designed to:
- Bridge Nebraskans across different communities, perspectives and cultures;
- Build a connection with every citizen to the Nebraska 150 celebration and the state;
- Instill in every Nebraskan a greater sense of pride in our state;
- Encourage connection to Nebraska’s history and heritage;
- Celebrate Nebraska’s cultural and ethnic diversity;
- Foster a spirit of community involvement and enrichment;
- And create an engaging educational opportunity.
Reduced to a local level, these are a pretty good match for the philosophy that drives the 19th Annual Readers’ Choice awards, which also draws from different communities, perspectives and cultures to connect us in celebrating pride in who we are as a people.
“This event fits perfectly with our mission and we are excited to add it to our celebration,” wrote Nebraska Sesquicentennial Executive Director Regan Anson when we received approval.
Last year, more than 10,000 individual votes in scores of categories were received before results were tabulated by Hancock and Dana, one of Omaha’s largest, locally-owned accounting firms.
Remember, this is your customers’ poll. It belongs to them. It is their voice. And we’ll be proud to feature the 2017 results in the August issue of our flagship publication, The Reader, as we give a much-deserved nod to the people, places, businesses and institutions that make Omaha such a great place to live, work and play.
Trivia Timeout: Another of our favorite videos at the “Now You Know Nebraska” YouTube channel is the story of the 1898 Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition that drew 2.6 million people from all across the globe to the event that is sometimes referred to as the Omaha World’s Fair.
Do you have an event this year that would fit with the Nebraska Sesquicentennial? Head over to the official website and click on “Partners” in the menu.
Hey, betcha thought we couldn’t make it through an entire issue of The Real Deal with no mention of digital services?
You got it right! That’s why we’ll reserve such talk for our next Lunch & Learn, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 11:30 a.m. at PizzaWest. Reserve your spot today.
