Walravens to lead Hills Friendship Days parade June 10

Brothers Del and Robert Walraven will lead the Hills Friendship Days parade Saturday morning.
The parade begins at 10:30 a.m.
Each year, parade organizers honor a long-standing business owner as parade marshal. This year they chose two.
The brothers own Wally’s Nursery, located on 250th Avenue just outside Hills.
Older brother Robert agreed to be the parade marshal and told Del he also needed to be on the float.
“I haven’t gotten too excited about it yet,” Del said of the honor. “Been just too busy with things.”
Typically, during Friendship Day parades, Del said he stays at the nursery and landscape business to help customers who come to Hills for the activities.
Robert generally walks the parade route as part of the American Legion Honor Guard.
This year they will ride on a float the brothers organized this week.
Wally’s Nursery was started in 1967 by their father, Henry, who grew and sold garden plants to supplement the farm’s income.
In a matter of years, both brothers returned from college to join the family nursery operation and create a landscape business.
After 56 years in business, neither brother is ready for retirement.
“Both the mind and body need to stay active,” Del said. “It is not good to sit and watch out the window.”
 
Three days of Friendship activities planned
The Helping Build Communities Stronger (HBCS) committee has been busy planning activities for this weekend’s Hills Friendship Days.
“We sure hope to have something for almost everyone this year,” said HBCS treasurer Corey Metzger.
‘This can only be done with the many generous donations and a lot of volunteer work, so they deserve a huge shout out.”
Friday starts with a morning golf tournament at Meadow Acres in Larchwood.
At 5 p.m. the car show begins on Main Avenue that includes food trucks, a beer garden and live music. A little league tournament kicks off Friday evening.
A full day of activities is slated for Saturday beginning at 7 a.m. with a 1K and a 5K run/walk. The FFA alumni pancake breakfast also begins at 7 a.m.
The parade begins at 10:30 a.m. followed by activities and a vendors fair taking place in Jacobson Park.
Saturday evening’s activities include a 6 p.m. all-pro wrestling event and an 8 p.m. street dance.
Sunday features worship in the park with Hills-Beaver Creek alum Tom Goehle as guest speaker. Registration for the kids’ fishing derby begins at noon.