The Heartland Council


2007 Update on Sounds of the Season
Last year we told you about Jerry and Betty playing their monkey organ during the Sounds of the Season. This year they were back again for the festival of the Sounds of the Season in the Old Market. Here are some photos of them downtown for the Holiday Lights Festival. A family who happened to stop by took some photos of their son cranking their monkey organ & their daughter with them. Betty and Jerry asked the family if they could send them the photos via e-mail & they did. They did tell us that they have to layer clothes of fleece to keep warm as the temp was around 20 degrees with a cold north wind. They were there from 7-8pm last Saturday, December 22. The family that stopped and took picture wrote, "We were really happy that we stopped by. We enjoyed talking with you and listening to your music. You both really added to the “Christmas Spirit” of the evening for our family. Best wishes to you for a blessed Christmas and a happy, safe and healthy New Year."



The Heartland Council's past president and partner are involved in many community activities here in Omaha. This picture was taken on December 23rd, 2006 there last appearance as part of the entertainment for the Sounds of the Season - a part of the Holiday Lights Festival. Jerry said that it was a wonderful night with many people stopping by to watch, listen and take pictures - and maybe even sing along with them, or play the bells. Jerry told us that a few years ago they were the "Poster Children" for the Holiday Lights website and we have continued to perform every year since the Sounds of the Season start at the Holiday Lights Festival. While visiting with the couple Jerry told us that they even claim responsibility for getting the Million Lights off of the ground here in Omaha. He said the lights at the Gene Leahy Mall grew out of a video that they took in San Antonio during Las Posadas showing the trees that were lit along the Riverwalk. They made a tape of the lights and gave a copy of the tape to the folks at Downtown Omaha and talked it up with the mayor, suggesting that Omaha can do something similar. A little while later, the Omaha World Herald captured one of our city councilmen putting some lights on a tree at the Central Park Mall. Every year since then the lights have increased, allegedly passing the million mark................. Then came the festival and the Sounds of the Season of which I believe they have entertained at every year.