YOUR
FREE
VOLUME 3 ISSUE 30 | JULY 24 - JULY 30 | 2019 ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, HEALTH, PERSONAL FINANCE, & MUSIC NEWSWEEKLY
SPORTS
Butkus Award Watch List
REVIEWS
Retreat, Retreat!
ENERGY
Climate Change
HEALTH
It’s Time To Quit
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOCUS ON THIS WEEK!
2019 30 | JULY 24 - JULY 30 |
YOUR
FREE
VOLUME 3 ISSUE E, & MUSIC NEWSWEEKLY HEALTH, PERSONAL FINANC ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT,
4 ENERGY
SPORTS
Climate Change
REVIEWS
It’s Time To Quit
Butkus Award Watch List
HEALTH
Retreat, Retreat!
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FINANCE
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BENSON
Have You Checked Your Retirement Plan Lately? By Michael Herek Sponsored By Blue Capitol Wealth
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FAMILY
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THE ARTS
EVENTS
How to Talk About Climate Change with Climate Change Skeptics By Kat Carroll, Solar Heat and Electric
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ON TEN
RENEWABLE ENERGY
REVIEWS
Retreat, Retreat! By Tatiana Ballinger
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THIS WEEKS FEATURE
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REAL ESTATE Real Estate Investments By Eric Cano 18
HEALTH
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COUNCIL BLUFFS
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LINCOLN
It’s Time To Quit By Focus Omaha
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HAPPY HOUR
We gathered up some of the BEST Happy Hour spots in and around the Omaha metro! Focus is your FREE Arts, Entertainment, Health, Personal Finance, & Music Newsweekly. We’ve brought all of these elements together for the first time, all in one weekly format. Our goal is to provide you, the customer, with the best possible publication to suit all of your needs.
Focus 7914 W Dodge Rd. # 413 Omaha, NE 68114 (402) 208-6545 focusomaha@gmail.com www.focusomaha.com
SPORTS Barry Named to Butkus Award Watch List By NU Athletic Communications
OMAHA UNDER THE RADAR July 24-27 Check out the 2019 lineup and times for perfromances at https://www.undertheradaromaha.com/2019-festival The festival will feature four days of live theatre all produced, acted, directed, and performed by Omaha artists. Each show will have multiple performance times allowing for the audience to be able to see all of the shows in the festival. Each audience member will have a chance to vote on their favorite and the “Best of show” will be re-mounted on the final night for the last performance. Fringe festivals are known for their egalitarian spirit and the fun of discovering the “next big thing.” At a Fringe festival, you never know what you’re going to get--and that’s what makes it fun. During the Omaha Fringe Festival, audiences will get to experience Omaha theatre unfettered. Wed, Jul 24 @ Hi-Fi House, 6p An opening reception to kick off the 6th
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annual Omaha Under the Radar Festival. Attendees can pick up their passes, mingle with artists, and enjoy wine and beer before attending the festival performances. Wed, Jul 24 @ OutrSpaces, 8p Featuring Mighty Vitamins, Leanna Keith, and Dana Murray. Thu, Jul 25 @ KANEKO, 5p Join us for a conversation with festival artists. Thu, Jul 25 @ Joslyn Art Museum, 5p Featuring Nathan Brumbaugh, Nicholas Swoboda, and SOUNDRY Workshop Artists. Thu, Jul 25 @ Bancroft Street Market, 7p Featuring Pushback. Thu, Jul 25 @ Petshop, 8p Featuring Barber. Thu, Jul 25 @ Slowdown, 9p A plugged in, ambient event featuring Evan Williams, Elliot Lupp, and The Wires.
Focus | July 24 - July 30 | Volume 3 Issue 30
Fri, Jul 26 @ KANEKO, 12p A conversation with Omaha Under the Radar Festival Artists.
Sat, Jul 27 @ OutrSpaces, 4p Featuring Maxwell Dunlaney, Anthony Green & Megan Beugger, Fat Pigeon.
Fri, Jul 26 @ Project Project Sound Installations: Featuring interactive soundscapes and installation work.
Sat, Jul 27 @ OutrSpaces, 7p OutrSpaces’ interview series curated by Maria Corpuz featuring Omaha Under the Radar Artists.
Fri, Jul 26 @ KANEKO, 6p Featuring Matt Oliphant & Kevin Harrison, Liz Gre & Alexandria Smith. Fri, Jul 26 @ The Jewell Omaha, 8p Featuring Developing Crisp and Courtney Bryan.
Sat, Jul 27 @ Holland Center, 8:30p Featuring Jordan Sand, Dereck Higgins, Cubby Phillips and John Evans, Edem Soul Music, and The Machine is Neither.
SATURDAY, JULY 27 & SUNDAY, JULY 28 Benson Days 2019 Fri, Jul 26 @ OutrSpaces, 11p Benson Days, held each July, is a family Featuring Under Renovation & Seth Shafer. friendly summer festival that celebrates Sat, Jul 27 @ Bancroft Street Market, 10:30a neighborhood’s creative culture. Saturday’s activities include a pancake breakfast, Featuring James Falzone & Kyle Flens. parade, and street festival featuring dozens Sat, Jul 27 @ KANEKO, 1p of vendors, art, live music, and children’s acFeaturing SOUNDRY Workshop Artists, tivities along with a beer garden for adults. Omaha Percussion Group and tbd Dance Sunday’s activities are the Indie 10K/5K Collective. Race, in the morning where they will be celebrating their 5th Birthday and at noon, Sat, Jul 27 @ Project Project the Benson Neighborhood Association will Sound Installations sponsor the first 150 kids (ages 3-17) for
free admission to the Gallagher Park Pool. 3-3:45 Stephen Monroe 4-4:45 Field Club July 27th 5-5:45 Spirit Fox 8am-10:30am: PANCAKE FEED 6-6:45 Thrust Watson • $8 per person, $5 kid 7-7:45 The Natural States (no family or senior discounts) 8-8:45 Little Brazil 9am-3pm American Red Cross/blood 9-9:45 Ilene Martinez drive - Benson Masonic Lodge July 28th 10am: PARADE The Indie at Benson Days 7am-7:30am: SIGN IN 10am-4pm: STREET FESTIVAL • (kids zone) 8am: RACE STARTS 11:30am: Mural Tour with Maggie Weber Noon to 10pm: BEER GARDEN • Bands in the Beer Garden! ALL AGES (12-7pm) and 21+ (7pm-12am) 12-12:45 Pete Festersen’s Band 1-1:45 Wildcard 2-2:45 Win/Win
At 1912, the corner of 62nd and Maple Party following the Race at 1912! 1pm - Kremer History Tour at Kremer 12-7pm - Gallagher Pool Free kids admission to first 150 kids!
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FRIDAY, JULY 26, 6:30P-8:30P MUSIC & MEMORIES SUMMER CONCERT SHADOW LAKE TOWNE CENTER 7775 OLSON DRIVE, PAPILLION, NE Grab a blanket and chair and join us every Friday from 6:30 P.M.-8:30 P.M. in the Shadow Lake Towne Center Amphitheater for a brand new exciting concert line-up! Join us this to hear music from the Golden Era of Song by Rat Pack Jazz, presented by KFAB Radio. Enjoy an ice-cold beverage from our beverage host Wine Cellar 510 or a bite to eat from our food host, Hy-Vee. No outside alcohol is permitted. Cash only. FRIDAY, JULY 26, 7P-8P ROCKBROOK VILLAGE FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES ROCKBROOK VILLAGE, 2800 S 110TH Local musicians entertain families every Friday night throughout the summer. Depending on the night, you’ll hear rock, jazz, pop, blues, latin... you name it! Bring a lawn chair and enjoy a delightful evening with the whole family. JULY 26: Bozak & Morrissey (Classic Rock) SATURDAY, JULY 27 @ 8a THE COLOR RUN 5K OMAHA 455 N 10TH ST, OMAHA, NE 68102 Let your love shine at the happiest run under the sun! On The Color Run Love Tour, good vibes are the only kind of vibes allowed. Join us as we celebrate what we love about ourselves, each other, and the planet we all share. Run wild. Love wild. Stay wild.
that seeks to grow the Benson renaissance through empowering the next generation of creatives. Online registration for the 10K and 5K races, considered to be among the region’s most challenging courses due to the neighborhood’s hilly terrain, ends July 24 at noon at www.theindieomaha.org/registration. The cost is $30 per solo artist (individual runner) and $25 per band (team member). A band is five or more members. For those who miss the online deadline, cash-only registration is available: Thursday, July 25, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at 1912, 6201 Maple Street Saturday, July 27, during the Benson Days Street Festival at the 1912 booth Sunday, July 28, at race headquarters from 7:00 to 7:30 am Activities will get underway at 8:00 am July 28 at race headquarters, located at 6201 Maple Street in downtown Benson. New this year is birthday cake at the finish line and 2019 race T-shirt sales at race headquarters. Boone, the official mascot of The Indie, will preside over race day activities. Block 59 Design Group in downtown Benson is the 2019 official mascot sponsor. The public is encouraged to line the race routes and cheer runners along the way. Race organizers have named the top 3 hills in the race:
Mount Evee, named after the winner of the inaugural Indie Pet Parade held last month, is located at 60th and Grant streets. Mount Evee is sponsored by the little gallery | SATURDAY, JULY 27 @ NOON Benson. REBUILDING AFTER THE FLOOD WITH Mount Erastus, located at 56th and Grant THE ORIGINAL WAILERS streets, is sponsored by Benson Law Center. The Original Wailers featuring: Jocelyn, Mount Benson, located at 53rd and Pratt Bazile Mills, Ragged Company, Leo & The streets, is sponsored by Premier Physical Lion’s Mane, MonkeyFunk and more! $5 of every ticket sold goes towards families Therapy. A free 100-yard kids’ dash will follow the to help them rebuild after the flood. $1 of completion of the 10K and 5K races. There every beverage sold also will be donated. is no need to register, and participant prizes will be awarded while they last. TICKET PRICES ADVANCED: $25.00 The after-party will take place high above ADMISSION + CAMPING: $35.00 Benson on 1912’s rooftop deck. SUNDAY, JULY 28 THE INDIE, BENSON DAYS For more information, contact The Indie at The Indie, North Omaha’s premier road race, 402.681.1901 or info@theindieomaha.org. will celebrate its fifth birthday Sunday, July 28, in conjunction with Benson Days 2019. The event, hosted by the Benson Neighborhood Association, is presented by 1912. Proceeds from this year’s race will benefit Citylight Arts Project, an arts nonprofit WWW.FOCUSOMAHA.COM
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Skuddur Rocktoberfest in Late July Rathskeller Bier Haus, 8p Andrew Bailie Dubliner Pub, 9:30p Scott Moyer Band The Down Under Lounge, 9:30p Summer Session Karma Nightclub, 9p Edem Soul Music- Free Concert The Capitol District, 6:30p
Shades (EPROM+Alix Perez) w/Dark Oceanz,Buzz Junior,Huskinopolis Slowdown, 9p
Open Acoustic Jam , Vino Mas, 6p
Vibes Summer Concert Series featuring Heartland Boogie Band Village Pointe, 6:30p
Twiztid, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, G-Mo Skee at lookout lounge Lookout Lounge, 6p
Jon Bellion: The Glory Sound Prep Tour Pinewood Bowl, 6p
Bike Night with Wasted Highway Dr Jack’s Drinkery, 7p
Chad Lee Duo, Surfside Club, 6p
WEDNESDAY JULY 24 Aaron Bressman Acoustic Wednesdays Jams Legacy, 5:30p
2X Grammy Nominee - The Baylor Project Jewell, 6:30p Daybreak, Ozone Lounge, 6:30p Head Change / Stone the Thrones Duffy’s Tavern, 7p
Squeeze Play Ladies Night and Live Music from Chad Lee American Legion Post #1, 7p Copacabana Lounge, 8p Magick K Trio, Havana Garage, 9p Good Shade (OH) / Candy Boys / The Credentials / St. Luis & TBB Vertigo @ Night Market Lookout Lounge, 8p Midtown Crossing at Turner Park, 8p Countryside Jazz Band Rathskeller Bier Haus, 8p
Baroness with Torche The Waiting Room Lounge, 8p
Will Hutchinson Miller Time Pub, 7p
Early Eyes, Dear Neighbor and Nation Benefit Concert The Waiting Room Lounge, 8p
A Buckwild Gathering The HideAway, 8p
Ladies Night , Rednecks, 7p
Omaha Under the Radar, Slowdown, 9p
LiveWire, Therapy Bar, 7p
Melanie & Fate // Virginia Kathryn // Town- Beat the heat with Some Cool Beats ship & Range American Dream / Hangout, 9p The Barley Street Tavern, 9p Hussies / Baby Sledge Chris Shelton, Dubliner Pub, 9:30p brothers lounge, 9p
Escaping Pavement Kinkaider, 7p
Devin the Dude +more The Royal Grove, 7p Lydia Can’t Breathe & A Light Divided Wired Pub & Grill, 7p Lost Dog Street Band at Slowdown Slowdown, 8p Comedy OPEN MIC Barley Street, 9p
Feel Good Fridays w/ Tyi Hakeem The Omaha Lounge, 8:30p
JOTG: Paa Kow and his Afro-fusion Orchestra w/ The Redwwoods Midtown Crossing at Turner Park, 5p Us and Them, Surfside Club, 5:30p Rick Spurgin, Dam Bar, 6p Throttle Thursday Round 6 Dillon Brothers, 6p Nate Bray, Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen, 6p Plan B Ozone Lounge, 6:30p
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SATURDAY JULY 27 Benson Days 2019, Benson, 8a Omaha Farmers Market - Old Market Omaha Farmers Market, 8a 40th Annual Mac Memorial Tiger Tom’s Sports Pub, 8a Special Museum Tour: Hidden History of a Carnegie Library Union Pacific Museum, 11:30a The Original Wailers W/ Bazile Mills, Ragged Company, Leo & The Lion’s Mane & Monkeyfunk Riverwest Park, 12p 2nd Nebraska Asian Festival Lewis and Clark Landing, 12p 7th Annual Ribstock BBQ Festival Stinson Park, 12p SumTur Band and Beer Bash SumTur Amphitheater, 3p JULY B.Y.O.V The Down Under Lounge, 3p Teacherz Petz Bikers Against Child Abuse charity run, Dr Jack’s Drinkery, 4p Vertigo at The Down Under The Down Under Lounge, 5p Bezz Believe Forte Music Hall and Bar, 7p Bush, Stir Cove, 7p
The Turbos w/ Satellite Junction The Down Under Lounge, 9:30p
TetraFuze/Happy Hazard/Beryllium Takeover/Smokin Shepherd Dr Jack’s Drinkery, 9p
Hawaiian Saturdays Therapy Bar and Grill, 7p
FRIDAY JULY 26
The 9s, Harney Street Tavern, 9p Friday Night Karaoke : Jimmy Moe and Curly’s, 9p
Indulge: Friday Nights , Champagne Bar, 5p
THURSDAY JULY 25
J Pink Bunny Parliament Pub West, 10p
Aly Peeler The Cove Lounge and Grille, 5p Dixieland Jam Jazz, A Louisiana Kitchen, 6p Fridays are Bomb Night! The New Frontier Bar, 6p 70s Band at Bogie’s WEST! Bogie’s Bar & Grill - West, 6:30p Great Gatsby Swing Night: Sips & Dips Omaha Ballroom, 7p Rockbrook Village Friday Night Concert Series Rockbrook Village, 7p
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Flippin Whiskey at On The Q ! On The Q St Bar, 9p
Gretna Days Dance & Beer Garden Gretna, 8p Bush & +LIVE+ - The Altimate Tour Stir Cove, 8p
Taxi Driver, Ozone Lounge, 9p
PONCÉ, Isaiah Dominguez + Las Olas, Names Without Numbers The Barley Street Tavern, 8p
Darling Cole debuts at Skyybox Skyybox, 9p
Floyd - A Tribute to Pink Floyd The Waiting Room, 8p
ODEXP’s Ethnic Friday The Verdict, 9p
Knights & Daze rocks Therapy Therapy Bar and Grill, 8p
Lucid Fugue, Wired Pub & Grill, 9p
The Shipwrecks Havana Garage, 9p
Hookt at the Chrome! Chrome Lounge, 9:30p DJ Travis Howe Parliament Pub Downtown, 10p
Barry Boyce Band Huber Haus German Bier Hall, 9p Julio’s Trivia Night- Sitcom Night Julio’s, 9p
MONDAY JULY 29
ZOOKS & Black Magik Present: ill.Gates Karma Nightclub, 9p
Anime Movie Monday - Trigun The Down Under Louge, 3p
Bozak and Morrissey Ozone Lounge, 9p
Free Pool Billiards, Big John’s, 6p
Rock & Roll Suicide Reverb Lounge, 9p
Ozone Big Band: Subby Anzaldo Ozone Lounge, 7p
Riptide Refugees Whiskey Roadhouse, 9p
Service Industry NIGHT Addy’s Maple, 9p
DJ Sweetlife The Cove, 9p
TUESDAY JULY 23
Naturday w/ DJ Skrap Dubliner Pub, 9:30p
KGOR Live Broadcast w/ Lucy Chapman Fun-Plex, 4p
Grunge Pop with Jane Doe & the No Names! American Dream, 9:30p
Tempo Twilight, Lauritzen Gardens, 6p Grace’s Duo, Ozone Lounge, 6:30p
Bathtub Maria + Hana Kahn The Down Under Lounge, 9:30p
Open Jam, Barley Street Tavern, 7p
DJ Lucas Krance Parliament Pub Downtown, 10p
Wolf King, Lookout Lounge, 7p Acoustic Open Mic Night The New Frontier Bar, 7p
DJ Yascoe Parliament Pub West, 10p
SUNDAY JULY 28 The Indie at Benson Days Benson, 7a 2019 BluesEd Finale The Waiting Room, 1p Still Here American Legion Post #1, 3p Live Music w/ Andrew Bailie J.Gilbert’s Wood, 5p Fishheads Live Surfside, 5p Marina’s Gaming Guild The Down Under, 5p Brad Hoshaw The Trap Room 5p The Hynek Maneuver SumTur Amphitheatre, 7:30p July Free Booze Bingo The Down Under Lounge, 8p
Open Mic & Jam, Therapy Bar, 7p Mothersound / Forthteller / Sleep Waker / Goosehound Dr. Jack’s, 7:30 The Blues w/Héctor Anchondo The Omaha Lounge, 7:30p Tessa Violet w/ Chloe Lilac Slowdown, 8p Spencer’s Trivia Dojo The Down Under Lounge, 8p Open Mic (Standup) The Backline, 9p Tuesday Night Karaoke Moe and Curly’s, 9p Industry Night w/ DJ Lucas Krance Parliament Pub West, 9p Zach’s Golden Oldies Karaoke The Down Under Lounge, 10p Summer Vibes: DJ Devon Dupree Parliament Pub West, 10p
Karaoke Sundays Parliament Pub West, 9p Charla’s Sunday-Funday Karaoke The Down Under Lounge, 10p Tim Cappello/Universe Contest/ Solid Goldberg (DJ Set) The Sydney, 10p
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WEDNESDAY JULY 24
John Bellion PINEWOOD BOWL
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FRIDAY JULY 26
Baroness WAITING ROOM
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WEDNESDAY JULY 24 & # THURSDAY JULY 25
2x Grammy® Nominated The Baylor Project JEWELL
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SATURDAY JULY 27
Jocelyn Opening for The Original Wailers RIVERWEST
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WEDNESDAY JULY 24 thru SATURDAY JULY 27 Omaha Under The Radar OMAHA
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The Original Wailers RIVERWEST
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Paa Kow and his Afro-Fusion Orchestra TURNER PARK
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Tenacious D PINEWOOD BOWL
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FRIDAY JULY 26
Cardi B PINNACLE BANK ARENA
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TUESDAY JULY 30
Tessa Violet SLOWDOWN
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From busking on the streets of her hometown in Omaha, Nebraska, to wowing the audience at Harlem’s world-famous Apollo Theater, the singer-songwriter Jocelyn knows how to shine for a crowd. The 21- year old musician, armed with her powerful voice, mesmerizing stage presence, rhythmic guitar playing, and tireless work ethic, puts the heart into Heartland, utilizing her natural talent and mature perspective to connect with listeners no matter what venue she plays. Jocelyn has captivated audiences around the world through her earnest music videos and performances and is soon to earn more fans with her fi rst single, “Speak Up.” And with more music on the way, she will be sure to win over fans of performers like Alessia Cara, Jason Mraz, and her hero, Ed Sheeran, as she brings her inimitable style to the masses. Her fi rst single, the uplifting and infectious SPEAK UP, is about a personal bullying experience she endured and how she worked to overcome it. With its righteous chorus (“I’ll speak up so you can hear me/I’ll speak up ’cause it’s my life”) and catchy guitar work, driving bass, and bombastic beat, listeners can hear traces of her major inspirations— from Shawn Mendes and Gabrielle Aplin to Ben Howard, Bon Iver, and, naturally, Sheeran. Written during a session in Los Angeles with producer Denny White, the song came to Jocelyn like lightning and the
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pair had it fi nished in under an hour. SPEAK UP is about turning negativity into positive energy instead of letting the bullies drag you down,” she says. “It’s about realizing that you are your own individual, so speak up and live by example.” That theme of self-empowerment carries across not only her new music but her entire life. Jocelyn has made her career possible by putting in the work required to fi nd her audience and grow her abilities. Finally, the time has come for her to spread her talents wide. “I want to sell records, sell out arenas, make great music for people to connect to, and inspire a movement of selflove,” she says, before adding with a laugh, “and, of course, to meet Ed Sheeran and write songs with him.” Until that
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day arrives, Jocelyn is prepared to speak up, • Performed on FOX’s sing loudly, and to keep putting in the work to Showtime At The Apollo TV competition perfect her craft. hosted by Steve Harvey (March 2018) • Featured on the celebrity edition of HIGHLIGHTS CBS’s Undercover Boss with Darius Rucker • Winner of the 2019 (May 2017) Omaha Entertainment & Arts Award for • Second single NEVER CHANGE Best Pop Artist & Artist of the Year released May 10 • Debut single SPEAK UP was released Jan 25, 2019
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UPCOMING
• Debut EP “GOOD TO BE ME” set for 7/19 release • Opening for Hootie & The Blowfi sh + Barenaked Ladies on select tour dates: ° 8/17 Ruoff Home Music Center @ Noblesville, IN ° 8/23 Alpine Valley Music Theater @ East Troy WI • Opening 7/27 for The Original Wailers @ Omaha, NE Visit online at www.jocelynmusic.com
GET YOUR FOCUS ON!
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Real Estate Investments By Eric Cano
er it’s already in great shape or needs some love but can still be sold for a profit without touching it due to the purchasing price. If you buy to hold there are various ways to make money. You can make money off its appreciation or its value growth over time. This can be through normal appreciation and external changes that affect its value like a large investor or government entity doing positive changes to the area that will make the location more desirable. I have seen investors buy bare land or property, not do any changes to it, but due to some near changes to the area, the property can greatly increase. The property itself could be income producing. Property can be producing monthly rent of use for a business be it used as your office to provide a service up to manufacture a product and everything in between. These properties can be single-family homes, multiunits, mixed-use, commercial properties from stand-alone buildings to malls and industrial plants. Most residential landlords prefer smaller cheaper homes to rent out, but some An astounding 90% of the world’s millionaires do prefer newer, bigger, and/or even more got their money from real estate investing. I expensive areas. There are risks and rewards myself have helped many clients start or grow to both of these ranges. The smaller and their investments. There are many different cheaper home will have a better chance of always to make money on real estate. You can ways being rented, but the value it grows over buy to sell, buy to hold, or you can buy to time can be minimal, and many of these only improve then hold/sell. attract investors analyzing its monthly rental production. You may get a problem tenant Sometimes you can get a cheap enough prop- that doesn’t pay on time, is hard to evict, and erty that you don’t have to do any alterations may not take care of the property. A newer, to it and just be able to sell for a profit, wheth- bigger, and/or more expensive area property
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Focus | July 24 - July 30 | Volume 3 Issue 30
may be harder to rent out. The reward here is that a property can last longer before it needs repairs and attract a better class of tenant that pays on time and takes care of the property, faster value growth over time, and could be sold to a homeowner that will pay top dollar. Mixed-use would be having a property that has multiple units with some being used as retail, office, and/or residential space. You can also buy to improve to sell or hold. Something to always consider in improving is what is the highest and best use? This mean, you have to consider what is the best use for the property to get you the highest value, be it its current form, physical alterations, converting the property, or changing its zoning. Flipping properties is an example of improving to sell by keeping it in its current form and making physical alterations. You can also hold this property and then follow examples from holding property as described above. Sometimes a property can benefit from being converted. This can be a large home that can be subdivided into smaller units to produce
higher rents or a multi-unit conversion to be converted back to a single family home to produce higher appreciation. This will mostly depend on what the rest of the area is doing. Hotels, apartments or condos can also be converted. A multi-unit may be worth more if it is converted to townhomes which would then change the property from having tenants to having homeowners. You can also buy bare land and subdivide into lots to create a developed area. All conversions require city approval. There are two ways to rapidly increase holds. If you have a paid-off property, you can get a loan from it and buy a property with those funds to be used as a cash purchase on a property to hold that can benefit from improvements. Once that property is improved, you can then get a loan from that property and repeat the process. You can also sell a property that has grown in equity to the point to where you can now use the equity to buy three new properties and sell those when they have enough equity to repeat the process. Most
may prefer the first example but if you are getting better properties, it is best to sell your less producing properties. It’s very easy to believe you have a great idea and plan for a property but consult a professional before making changes that may cost more and make the property less desirable. The last thing you want to do is end up with a property that is not producing as much monthly income and/or is decreasing in value.
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It’s Time To Quit By Focus Omaha
Quitting tobacco is hard - you know that. It is common for people to try to quit several times before they finally do. But with each time you try, you learn more about what works for you and eventually you can succeed.
QuitNow Mobile App
Only you can decide when you are ready to quit. But once you’ve made the decision, the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline can help you be successful.
Web Coach
Ways to Quit
Nebraska Tobacco Quitline Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669) for free, confidential counseling from a trained Quit Coach. In addition to telephone coaching, receive self-help materials and referrals to community programs. Quitline services are available 24/7 for all Nebraskans.
QuitNow.ne.gov
Go to the Nebraska Tobacco Quitline website for information, support, encouragement and helpful links in one handy spot.
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Get motivation and support wherever you go PLUS track the money saved since quitting and the days added back to your life. Find the app under “Ways to Quit” at QuitNow.ne.gov. Access motivational tools, social support and information about quitting tobacco. Web Coach is free for anyone enrolled in the Quitline program and can be found provides locations and contact information at quitnow.net/nebraska. for classes throughout the state. You can quit tobacco. The Nebraska Tobacco Nebraska Tobacco Quitline on Quitline can help. Free gum, patches, and Facebook lozenges are currently available for all Stay connected with our Facebook network, @NebraskaTobaccoQuitline, to find tips, encouragement and other resources to support your quit while supporting others.
In-Person Support
Opt for face-to-face assistance through a local cessation class. Go to “Ways to Quit” at QuitNow.ne.gov to find the Tobacco Cessation Programs list. The resource
Focus | July 24 - July 30 | Volume 3 Issue 30
qualified callers. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW or go online and visit www.QuitNow.ne.gov
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Barry Named to Butkus Award Watch List By NU Athletic Communications
The finalists will be announced on Nov. 25, and the winner will be announced on or before Dec. 10. Trev Alberts is the only Husker to win a Butkus Award, as he was honored in 1992. Formed in 1985, the Butkus Award was expanded in 2008 to honor linebackers at three levels while supporting causes important to the Butkus family. They include the I Play Clean® initiative promoting training and nutrition instead of performance-enhancing drugs, and the Butkus Takes Heart™ initiative encouraging early cardiovascular screening among adults. Mohamed Barry’s 112 tackles in 2018 were the most by a Husker since 2011. Photo by Nebraska Communications
Lincoln – University of Nebraska senior linebacker Mohamed Barry was honored Monday morning, as he was chosen to the Butkus Award Watch list. Barry is one of 12 linebackers named to the 51-member watch list, as the 51 watch list members honor the No. 51 that Butkus wore during his Hall of Fame career. It is the second watch list Barry has been named to, as he was on the initial Lott IMPACT Trophy watch list released earlier in the summer. Barry, a 6-foot-1, 230-pound linebacker, returns to anchor the Huskers’ defense after an outstanding junior campaign. The Grayson, Ga., native led the Huskers and ranked second in the Big Ten with 112 tackles, including 55 solo tackles, and added 11 tackles for loss and two sacks from his inside linebacker position. His 112 tackles were the most by a Husker since NFL All-Pro Lavonte David totaled 133 stops in 2011.
Adrian Martinez #2 Quarterback
HEIGHT: 6’1” WEIGHT: 230 YEAR: Senior HOMETOWN: Grayson, Ga. HIGH SCHOOL: Grayson MAJOR: Communication Studies
CAREER STATISTICS Honors & Awards » Defensive Team MVP (2018) » Third-Team All-Big Ten (2018, Media) » Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten (2018, Coaches) » Academic All-Big Ten (2016, 2017, 2018) » Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2015, 2018; Spring 2017, 2018) Barry, a 2018 All-Big Ten selection by both » Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2016, the coaches and media, led NU in tackles in 2017, 2018, 2019) nine of 12 games, including seven double» Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2016, figure efforts. He posted a career-high 12 tackles against Colorado and had 11 stops six 2017, 2018, 2019) other times as a junior. For his efforts, he was chosen by the Husker coaching staff as the team’s defensive MVP last season. GET YOUR FOCUS ON!
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Focus | July 24 - July 30 | Volume 3 Issue 30
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Have You Checked Your Retirement Plan Lately? By Michael Herek It’s generally a good idea to review your employer-sponsored retirement savings plan at least once each year and when major life changes occur. If you haven’t given your plan a thorough review within the last 12 months, now may be a good time to do so.
Have you experienced any life changes? Since your last retirement plan review, have you experienced any major life changes?
For example, did you get married or divorced, buy or sell a house, have a baby, or send a child to college? Perhaps you or your spouse changed jobs, received a promotion, or left the workforce entirely. Has someone in your family experienced a change in health? Or maybe you inherited a sum of money that has had a material impact on your net worth. Any of these situations can affect both your current and future financial situation and should be considered as you review your retirement savings needs.
most employer-sponsored plans, your spouse is automatically your plan beneficiary unless he or she waives that right in writing. Say, for example, you remarried and you would like your children to remain as primary beneficiaries on your retirement plan. In that case, your spouse would need to waive his or her right to the assets in writing.
Reassess your retirement income needs After you consider any life changes, you may want to take another look at your future and evaluate whether your anticipated retirement income needs have changed.
Have your dreams for retirement changed? And if so, will those changes affect how much money you will need to live on? Maybe you’ve reconsidered plans to relocate or travel extensively, or now plan to start a business or work part-time during retirement. Or maybe your health or your spouse’s health has changed and you need to adjust your estiIn addition, your annual review is a good time mates for health-care costs down the road. to examine the beneficiary designations on your plan account to make sure they reflect All of these factors can affect your retireyour current wishes. This is particularly true ment income needs, which in turn affects if your marital situation has changed. With how much you need to save and how you
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Focus | July 24 - July 30 | Volume 3 Issue 30
invest today. Double-check your total accumulation goal and determine whether you will need to adust your savings or investment plan to strive for different amounts.
this new goal by increasing your contribution dollars, striving for a higher return, or both.
To strive for a higher return, you might consider investing a larger portion of your money Reexamine your risk tolerance in stocks. Alternatively, if you determined In any long-term investment plan, you can that you do indeed have a hard time sleeping generally expect that there will be times of at night when the stock market is volatile, uncertainty that will cause you to question you may want to consider investing a larger your investment decisions. Following periods portion of your portfolio in less risky asset of prolonged increases in the markets, it’s not classes, such as bonds and cash. unusual to experience corrections or even bear markets. Regaining your balance On the other hand, maybe you’ve concluded When you hear media reports about stock through your review that your original asset market volatility, is your immediate reaction allocation is still appropriate for your needs, to consider selling some or all of the stock but your portfolio has strayed off track due investments in your plan account? If that’s to market performance. In this case, there are the case, you might want to revisit your risk two ways to “rebalance” your portfolio. tolerance. The quickest way is to sell investments in Risk tolerance refers to how well you can ride which you are overweighted and invest the out fluctuations in the value of your investproceeds in underweighted assets until you ments while pursuing your long-term goals. hit your target. For example, if your target An assessment of your risk tolerance consid- allocation is 75% stocks, 20% bonds, and ers, among other factors, your investment 5% cash but your current allocation is 80% time horizon, your accumulation goal, and stocks, 15% bonds, and 5% cash, then you’d assets you may have outside of your plan. likely sell some stock investments and invest the proceeds in bonds. If your time horizon is decades or you have a lot of assets outside of your plan, your Another way to rebalance is to direct new investment risk tolerance might be higher investments into the underweighted asset than someone who is less than 10 years from classes until the target is achieved. Using the retirement or has little other savings. example above, you would direct new contribution dollars into bond investments until There are many tools available to help you you reach your 75/20/5 target allocation. evaluate your risk tolerance. These are Then you would adjust your allocation for typically questionnaires that ask about your future contributions back to that original alpersonal financial situation and your opinions location. This process may take a little longer, on various investing scenarios. After answer- helping you ease back to your original target, ing the questions, you will likely be assigned a but the same result will be achieved. risk-tolerance ranking, such as conservative, moderate, or aggressive. In addition, suggest- Revisit your plan rules and features ed asset allocations are often provided for Finally, an annual review would not be comconsideration. plete without a fresh look at your employer-sponsored plan documents. Check those Is your asset allocation still on track? documents to make sure you fully understand Once you have assessed your current how your plan works, and to see if there are situation related to life changes, retirement any additional plan features that can help you income needs, and your risk tolerance, a good better pursue your retirement savings goal. next step is to revisit your asset allocation. For example, if your plan offers a Roth Is your investment mix still appropriate? account and you haven’t investigated its poShould you aim for a higher or lower pertential benefits, you might consider whether centage of aggressive investments, such as directing a portion of your contributions into stocks? it might be a good idea. Roth accounts do not offer a tax benefit at the time you contribute, For example, if you’ve determined that you but qualified withdrawals are tax free.¹ will probably need to accumulate more than Continued on page 25 you originally estimated, you can strive for
Also consider how much you’re contributing in relation to plan maximums. Could you add a little more each pay period? If you increase your contribution by just a percentage point or two, you may not even notice the difference in your paycheck. But over time, that small amount can potentially add up through the magic of compounding. If you’re 50 or older, you might also review the rules for catch-up contributions, which allow those approaching retirement to contribute more than younger employees. (Special rules apply to 403(b) and 457(b) plans.)
to your asset allocation. You’ll also want to make sure you’re taking full advantage of the opportunities offered with your plan, if they make sense for you. With a little annual maintenance, you can help keep your plan on track. ¹A qualified withdrawal from a Roth account is one that is made after a five-year holding period and you either die, become disabled, or reach age 59½. Nonqualified withdrawals from Roth accounts are subject to regular income tax and a 10% tax penalty (to the extent the withdrawal represents earnings).
A little maintenance goes a long way
Although it’s generally not a good idea to monitor your employer-sponsored retirement plan on a daily, or even monthly, basis, it’s important to take a look at least once a year to account for any changes in your life, your retirement income needs, or your risk tolerance and make any necessary changes
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How to Talk About Climate Change with Climate Change Skeptics By Kat Carroll, Solar Heat and Electric It is happening far too slowly and far too quickly all at once, but climate change has come to the forefront of policymaking for many of the world’s leaders. However, after studying outside the U.S., I realized that we seem to be a little behind the rest of the world. The existence of climate change was a one-and-done debate decades ago according to most countries, but fossil fuel companies managed to obscure that from the American public for many years. It was a fight that was rarely seen, and perhaps impossible to replicate, outside of the United States.
which requires far less courage and ingenuity than confronting the issue.
It was also, for multiple decades, a fight that fossil fuel companies won. One of my goals- perhaps my main goal as a writer- is to decrease the damage that that miseducation created. I want to help create a political environment in which we can seriously discuss climate solutions. That’s why last year, I dove deep into the literature of climate communications and gave a senior thesis presentation on several communication techniques. I’d like to share them with you. My original question was this: why do some people still refuse to acknowledge the existence and danger of climate change? Now, as natural disasters and rising temperatures provide visible evidence that is quickly eroding the effectiveness of climate denial, we had better add another. If many of us have acknowledged climate change, why are we still struggling so deeply to implement reasonable solutions? What is stopping us?
Tactic one: demystify science. Climate change science can be incredibly hard to wade through. It is lines and lines of potential scenarios projected out into the future by computers working with data that the human brain can only slightly comprehend. We need to educate the American people about climate change, and that requires adding it into state curricula and finding tactics to educate adults as well as children.
There are a million reasons- cost, infrastructure, political gridlock, monopoly. All of these are valid. The most compelling, however, is this: to acknowledge climate change requires a political response. That response entails a drastic shift from the economic and cultural system in which we are embedded and in which our nation has vested interests. Not acknowledging climate change, however, means we can continue in our established pattern of economic behavior,
Tactic three: the power of hope. It is impossible to move forward in climate activism without taking stock of our positive steps forward because despair can paralyze. Find and create outlets where you can balance your intake of negative climate news with consumption of positive news. Frame issues in a positive light and you will see people become more involved. Is a shift to hybrid cars a burden on the economy, or is it a chance for investment and progress?
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Whichever of those million reasons you choose, it’s clear that we have work to do. A significant portion of the American people are still mystified by the science of climate change, unsure of expert consensus, or simply overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the necessary solutions. How can we move forward? I’ll share with you the five main tactics I found in the literature on climate communication.
Tactic two: rely on expert consensus. A huge portion of the population is misinformed about the amount of consensus about the existence and severity of climate changethey think that half of the scientists are certain climate change exists and the other half don’t when the real numbers are ninety-eight percent in agreement and two percent in disagreement. Hearing about that consensus matters, even more, to see public figures take climate change seriously.
Focus | July 24 - July 30 | Volume 3 Issue 30
Tactic four: localize climate change and build community. In environmental policy, we talk about federal regulations and economic shifts, but the truth is, that change occurs on ground-level. It happens in your city and your neighborhood association and your power industry. It happens because you show up to the protest and the mayor realizes the
importance of this issue to their voting base. Every baby step is a step with consequence. Ignite a passion for change, and feed it daily. Tactic five: if you manage to convince someone of the importance of an environmental issue- any issue, from habitat continued on page 27
destruction to changing traditional farmingleave them with two solutions: one personal, one structural. Tell them how they can get involved, and give them that chance to look forward. Make sure you have both. Ask them to reduce personal plastic waste, but also provide them with an organization to research and join or donate to.
WWW.FOCUSOMAHA.COM
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Retreat, Retreat! By Tatiana Ballinger ing and vulnerable vocals while on the drums. Another bunch of self-taughts whose musicality pervades typical over-production standards of what is played on the radio or said to be “good.” Retreat, Retreat could have seriously fooled you. Reminiscent of southern rock genres, the two songs available for streaming contain guitar and vox and a harmonica and take you right to Frenchman Street in heavy August at midnight.
Somewhat of a Postal Service tale, Retreat, Retreat has been compiling their releases in a long-distance relationship. While studying chemistry in Switzerland, Brett Garabedian of Anaheim, California and Chris Lane of Tacoma, Washington have been writing music together over the past ten years. Upon their reunion in July 2019, the two finally reside in the same vicinity of Southern California over the past few years of being apart. Big into blues, hardcore, and sweet melody, Chris and Brett share a love of Thrice. Lane accompanies Brett’s serious guitar play-
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Retreat, Retreat is able to suck chaotic steam and smoke out of the air and synthesize it into breathable musical oxygen. In other words, Retreat, Retreat turns your ears into tiny lungs and creates a passage of insight right into one’s foreground. These songs of affirmation ask no questions; they tell a simple story of important messages in great detail. Let your anger out when listening to Retreat, Retreat. Nostalgia will feel and act different when listening to this music. You will settle into a passionate embrace. Look out for licks of origin. Stream and study this growing band. soundcloud.com/reretreat
Focus | July 24 - July 30 | Volume 3 Issue 30
BARRETT’S BARLEYCORN 4322 Leavenworth St. M-F 4P-6P $2.25 Domestic Bottles $3.00 Well Drinks BROKEDOWN PALACE 8805 Maple St. Happy Hour 12P-6P $4 28 oz Domestic Frozen Mugs $5 28 oz Nebraska Brewing Cardinal Pale Ale Frozen Mug CADDYSHACK 2076 N 117th Ave & 7007 S 181st St M-F 2P-6P $1 Off Beer, Wine & Wells TUES- HAPPY HOUR All Day
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JERRY’S BAR 6301 Military Ave Happy Hour Prices ALL Day EVERYDAY! JULIO’S 123rd & Center M-F 3P – 6P & FRI & SAT AFTER 9M $1 off all Tap Beer, $3 House Margaritas, $8 Pitchers of Bud Light & Miller Light, $2 Tacos & $8 Nachos KOZEE LOUNGE 5813 N 60th St. Daily Drink Specials! LEAVENWORTH BAR 4556 Leavenworth St. M-F 12P-7P LOOKOUT LOUNGE 320 S 72nd St. EVERY DAY 4-7, MIDNIGHT - 2 AM $2 PBR, $2.50 Domestic Bottles , $3 Wells, $3 Fireball MALONEY’S IRISH PUB 1830 N 72nd St. M-F 3P-7P $1.00 off any beer
RAILCAR MODERN AMERICAN KITCHEN 1814 N 144th St. M-F 3:30-6:30P $4 Well Drinks $3 Off Signature Cocktails RATHSKELLER BIER GARDEN 4524 Farnam St. Monday to Saturday – 3P to 6P | 10P-Close Sunday – All Day BOSO – Buy one second one for $.25 SCRIPTOWN 3922 Farnam M-F 4P - 6P $1 Off Beers & $1 Off Well Drinks SMITTY’S GARAGE 7610 Dodge St. Everyday 3P - 6P & 9P - CLOSE $2.50 Domestics THURSDAYS $1 OFF Local Beer Draws THE CASUAL PINT 8718 Countryside Plaza M, W, TH 4P-6P TUES All Day $1 Off All Draft Beers. Friday – 1/2 Price Growler Refills Sunday – Ladies Day. $1 Off All Pints for
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THE DOWN UNDER 3530 Leavenworth St. MON-SAT 3P-7P SUNDAY-All Day THERAPY BAR & GRILL 5059 S 108th St Monday-Friday 3-6pm $.50 cents off Bottles, Drafts, & Wells THE SOCIABLE INN 4917 S 136TH ST M-F 2P-7P $2.50 Pints, $2.50 Domestic Bottles TIGER TOM’S 7103 Military Ave M-F 4P-6P $12 Domestic Buckets TIMBER WOOD FIRE BISTRO 8702 Pacific St – Countryside Village M-F Patio Only 11A-7P M-SAT 2P- 6:30P & SUN 2P-10P $2 Off Local and Craft Drafts,
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Focus | July 24 - July 30 | Volume 3 Issue 30
Focus | July 24 - July 30 | Volume 3 Issue 30 31