Bernie is originally from Kearney, NE, but he moved to the Columbus Park neighborhood in the early 70s after his dad passed away. He attended school at the former Karnes School at 5th & Charlotte.

You may have seen Bernie riding his bicycle up and down St. John Avenue, or walking his dog, Bluto, in the park. His nephew found Bluto, a German Shepherd/Terrier mixed breed, on the neighbors’ doorstep in bad shape. Bernie took the dog to the vet and nursed him back to health. “I named him Bluto after the villain from ‘Popeye’ because he thinks he’s bad,”

He has lived in the Northeast area for the past forty years and worked a variety of different jobs. Currently, he does yard work, but will do landscaping as well. “I just like Northeast,” Bernie says. “I love the area and the people. I wouldn’t want to go nowhere else. This is home.”