“Very
A Letter from the Publisher
Food creates connection. Connection creates community. And community is the backbone of society. This is not to say that you can't have community without food, but food makes community a lot more fun!
When we discuss food during this time of year we are often met with differing preferences. Some, like me, prefer apple pie, while some prefer pumpkin pie. We have endless Halloween candy choices, but we all still have our favorites. Make it a Twix or a Snickers for me!
There is also debate on the best way to prepare a turkey: should it be roasted, smoked, or fried? And this doesn’t even account for those who believe the turkey in a trash can is the way to go! You heard that right; there is a method for cooking a turkey that involves mounting it on a stake in the ground, placing a metal trash can over the top, and lining the top and the outside rim with charcoal. Crazy, I know, but it’s true!
However, it is not our preferences or how we prepare something that really matters. What matters is the connection it creates when we sit down with family and friends and share a meal. Whether it’s a date, a night out on the town, or a large family gathering, there is something special that happens when we eat together.
And drinks can often have the same effect. Whether it's a cocktail or a mocktail isn’t the important part; instead, it’s the experience of the flavor and the sense of togetherness that are cherished.
Togetherness is the inspiration behind this year’s Food & Drink Issue. Stories of local entrepreneurs and residents who have created something that brings others together in unique and memorable ways to create connection, and through that connection, create something beautiful.
Happy fall eating, Papillion!
Enjoy!
PUBLISHER
Kyler Hendrickson | kyler.hendrickson@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Amy Hendrickson | amy.hendrickson@citylifestyle.com
PUBLISHER ASSISTANT
Amanda Mills | amanda.mills@citylifestyle.com
COPY EDITOR
Kristen Muldoon
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Vince Mancuso, Kathy Nickerson, Angela Broockerd
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
A2i Photography, Sammie Rodriguez, Janie Jones
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad
LAYOUT DESIGNER Andi Foster
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler
Learn
inside the issue
Sip & Spatter
From
Spooky Family Fun
Bob and Bindy Frederick
Kira McGahan
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Marching bands, cheerleaders, and drumline energized the crowd at the Midlands Place pep rally. 2: Merry Maids of Omaha collected donations to benefit families through the Release Care Closet. 3: Families enjoyed games, activities, and meaningful connections at the Papillion Police National Night Out event. 4: First day of school smiles as students start a year of growth and discovery. 5: Rob Cordray, Jessica Bailey Kuzeppa, and Brenda Coe walked in the 2025 50-Mile March. 6: Papillion-La Vista Schools honored outstanding educators and staff as recipients of the 2025 Greatness Awards! 7: Exciting plans revealed for the PLCS Community Engagement Center, being funded entirely through private donations.
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PAPILLION CITY LIFESTYLE
MERRY MAIDS OMAHA
CITY OF PAPILLION
PAPILLION LA VISTA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
PAPILLION LA VISTA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
JERRY TEETER CHANTELLE GREEN, PLCS COMMUNICATIONS
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McKean's Floor to Ceiling Unveils Newly Redesigned Showroom
McKean’s Floor to Ceiling has unveiled their newly redesigned showroom at 10811 Harrison Street. The new showroom features an extensive selection of carpet, hardwood, laminate, vinyl, and tile floor samples along with complete kitchen and bath remodeling solutions including cabinets, countertops, and more. Their expert team provides personalized consultations to ensure each project reflects your style and budget. Visit the new showroom today and discover how McKean’s can bring your entire remodel vision to life.
Foundations Business Groups: A Mastermind Group for Small Business Owners
Running a small business is hard. That’s why Rob Halverson, Vistage Chair and founder of Foundations Business Groups, created a new leadership mastermind for small-team leaders who want clarity, accountability, and real solutions. Along with Dr. Karalee Picard, Halverson conducts monthly meetings, opportunity workshops, and one-on-one coaching to help members make confident decisions and move their businesses forward—without the high cost of traditional masterminds. Visit foundationsomaha.com or scan below to start leading with confidence today!
A Taste of Papillion at Midlands Place
Midlands Place, at 84th Street and Highway 370, is home to some of Papillion’s favorite dining experiences. Grab a great breakfast or lunch at First Watch or the savory elevated cuisine at Pine & Black Bistro. Choose from family favorites at Ollie & Hobbes Craft Kitchen or specialty pizzas at Spin! Pizza. Experience Mexican flavor at Bomb Taco or snag a quick bite at Jimmy John’s. With a mix of flavors and atmospheres, Midlands Place has something for everyone.
Photography by Papillion City Lifestyle
Photography by Joseph Saaid
SIP & SPATTER
From paint spatters to poetry nights, Indigo Cottage Crafts makes creativity accessible to all
ARTICLE BY VINCE MANCUSO
PHOTOGRAPHY BY A2I PHOTOGRAPHY
Papillion’s Indigo Cottage Crafts opened shop with one simple but lasting goal in mind: to make the arts accessible to everyone, regardless of their individual skill level.
“We are a DIY arts and crafts studio, and we focus on bringing community and arts together,” says owner and veteran Brandy Prettyman. “It doesn’t matter your skill level. You can come in and do what you love to do.”
So, she explains, when customers enter her shop near the southwest corner of 96th Street and Schramm Road, they’re not just entering a studio, but a place where creativity and people come together in many ways.
One of the most popular features, Brandy shares, is the Spatter Zone.
“You literally get to take a Jackson Pollock-inspired moment,” she says. Guests are given a canvas board they can prepare however they like—taping off shapes, pre-painting, or adding vinyl letters to remove later—before taking it into the zone and letting loose with paint.
“We provide all the paint and the gear, so you’ll be covered and protected,” she says. Some guests “rage paint” as a stress release, while others carefully craft their vision. Either way, the result is a fun, messy, and unique experience that painters of all ages, from as young as two to adults, enjoy.
Another favorite is the acrylic pour experience. Guests learn techniques like the “dirty pour,” using Indigo Cottage’s special in-house paint mix. “You don’t need an artistic eye to get something truly beautiful out of it,” Brandy says. “Everyone needs a creative outlet. I often remind people that they don’t need an artistic background to do something artistic.”
Indigo Cottage Crafts serves as more than a studio, however. Offering a place for customers to come together after their time creating with a full-service bar that includes cocktails, mocktails, sodas, and kid-friendly treats like popcorn and cotton candy.
“It really helps with the parties,” Brandy says. Parents can relax with a drink while the kids craft, or guests can linger, socialize, and unwind if they finish their projects before the rest of the group. The bar also supports events like Paint and Sip nights, where a complimentary drink is included with the ticket.
Opposite Left Top: Owner Brandy Prettyman with three pieces from her 'Soda Series'
Opposite Left Bottom: Even the menu is a work of art at Indigo Cottage Crafts!
Opposite Right Middle: Cocktails and mocktails add to the fun!
Above: The Spatter Zone
The shop also holds a retail space, spotlighting local artisans and authors, particularly poets, through Brandy’s connection with the Nebraska Poetry Society. From hand-stitched journals to art kits and locally made gifts, Indigo Cottage Crafts offers a wide range of take-home treasures. The studio also hosts “Verse and Vibes,” open poetry nights that blend performance with the arts.
Indigo Cottage Crafts offers open studio hours for walk-in crafting and nearly round-the-clock availability by reservation. And with a growing presence on social media, the studio continues to expand its community so that creators as well as those just looking for a unique experience can do just that, create and enjoy!
Because at the end of the day, as Brandy says, “There’s no wrong way to do art, so there’s no mistakes when you come into Indigo.”
402.315.9469 | indigocottagecrafts.com
Top: Entering Indigo Cottage Crafts at the corner of 96th Street and Schramm Road.
Right: Spatter artwork
Left: Canvases & Cocktails is one of the great ways to enjoy Indigo Cottage Crafts
Spooky Family Fun
Bob and Bindy Frederick carry on a thirty-year tradition of Halloween fun for local families
ARTICLE BY KATHY NICKERSON | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Tucked away in a quiet Papillion neighborhood on Western Hills Drive, Bob and Bindy Frederick have been doing a Halloween countdown since late August. Neighborhood children check daily to see if Bindy has changed the number on the giant pumpkin in the front yard, and she never disappoints.
Before the big day arrives, the lawn will host a ninefoot pirate ship, a ghostly musician, talking pumpkins, a giant skeleton, and various spooky displays. It all started when the couple moved to Papillion from Gretna forty-five years ago. Bob asked his dad if he would like to build a coffin for a Halloween scene on the lawn. And maybe an outhouse.
“I asked him to make everything so we could fold it down and store it in the garage,” Bob says. “Instead, he built an outhouse that could survive a hurricane. It’s on rollers, though, so we just roll it out every year.”
Lots of items have joined those first two. The Fredericks can still get their cars in the garage, but barely. “In the basement,” Bindy says, “we have a fake wall behind the television, and that’s where all the people are.”
Bindy has become the artist behind this magic. One year, she wanted to add a patch of cornstalks to the display, but she was worried they would draw vermin. So, she did research and made her own stalks out of masking tape and wire.
Bob and Bindy spend about a week organizing the main display. After that, they add something every few days, moving pieces around so the display changes. They often sit outside in the evenings to welcome guests. On weekends, they host parties with various groups of friends and neighbors.
“The first year, it was too scary,” Bindy says. “We had a haunted mansion theme with speakers in the trees and a big, deep voice. But it scared the little kids, so we changed it after that.”
The lawn will host a nine-foot pirate ship, a ghostly musician, talking pumpkins, a giant skeleton, and various spooky displays.
Halloween fun isn’t the only contribution the Fredericks make to Sarpy County. They have been active in community events since early in their marriage. In Gretna, they became involved with the Jaycees and the Jayceettes, which provided leadership opportunities to develop personal and leadership skills through service to others.
Once they moved to Papillion, Bob joined the Chamber of Commerce and the Papillion Lions Club. Bindy joined the Junior Women’s Club and both the elementary and junior high PTO clubs. Bindy also served on the Papillon La Vista Community Schools Foundation for 26 years.
Although their two sons are grown now, Bob and Bindy still support the schools. Their twin granddaughters are proud Monarch seniors, and their grandson just started preschool.
The list of organizations where Bob and Bindy have served is long. Bob founded a beer and food tasting event more than twenty years ago. Hops for Harmony is sponsored by the Lions Club and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Project Harmony, which supports children and families affected by domestic abuse.
In 2010, Bob and Bindy were inducted into the Papillion La Vista Community Schools Hall of Fame as Community Boosters. In 2017, they were honored with the Reflection Award at the Midlands Community Foundation’s Reflection Ball.
None of that really matters to the children who visit the Fredericks’ lawn every October. They just want to open the door of the outhouse to see who is waiting inside. Or maybe they will push the button on the cannon to hear it roar, see it flash, and watch the smoke roll away.
Bob and Bindy will have this year’s display ready for guests beginning the first weekend in October. The experience is free and open to guests all month. Be sure to take your family for a visit this year, because they always add something new. This year, Bindy may have released the Kraken!
“We had a haunted mansion theme with speakers in the trees and a big, deep voice. But it scared the little kids, so we changed it after that.”
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A FRESH LOOK FOR FALL
Food Without Compromise
For years, Beth Gregory has dreamed of a place where people with Celiac disease and other food sensitivities could walk into a bakery and have choices—real choices. Gregory turned this dream into her personal mission, opening the doors of Rebel Rise GF in Rockbrook Village not just as a safe gathering place, but as a truly stress-free culinary experience.
“It’s been out of my home up until this point,” says Gregory, who has been baking gluten-free for more than a decade, including the last five years in her Papillion home. A home that has not only served customers looking for gluten-free baked goods, but as a place where her six adopted children have been welcomed with open arms and a loving heart.
HOW BETH GREGORY TURNED A DISEASE INTO A MISSION, CULMINATING IN A GLUTEN-FREE DESTINATION
ARTICLE BY VINCE MANCUSO | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED
Photo Credit: Sammie Rodriguez
“I don’t want anyone to say, ‘It tastes good for gluten-free.’ I want them to say it tastes good because it tastes good.”
- Beth Gregory
“That’s really where it began,” says Gregory, “I have Celiac, four kids with Celiac, and I just started developing recipes for them.”
Before long, this grew into something much larger. Friends began asking her to make dishes for gatherings and holidays, marveling at the taste. “Over the last couple of years, people started eating my food and saying how amazing it was—whether they were gluten-free or not,” she says.
Gregory spent years working in online sales and marketing, returning to the kitchen in her free time. “I’d do a sales call, then I’d go bake,” she says. Encouraged by her husband, she took a leap of faith. Renting a small office space, she turned it into a grab-and-go shop. “I thought, ‘You know what, I can take that, make it a grab and go, and see what happens.’”
It worked. Gregory launched in November 2024, selling $6,000 worth of baked goods in just one week—including 150 pies for Thanksgiving. She returned to baking from home, but soon found a permanent space in Rockbrook.
Now, Rebel Rise GF will be both a bakery and a bistro, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. “It feels like coming home and being on vacation,” Gregory says. The vibe is
upscale but comfortable, and, most importantly, safe for people with food allergies. “It’s like going home to your mama’s house.”
The menu plays on nostalgia, with casseroles, enchiladas, breakfast pizzas, and sandwiches— “normal foods you can’t really find now that you are gluten free,” Gregory says. Fresh bread, from sourdough to sandwich buns, will be baked daily. “And they taste good! They don’t taste like they’re gluten-free.”
That distinction is important to her. “I don’t want anyone to say, ‘It tastes good for gluten-free.’ I want them to say it tastes good because it tastes good,” she says.
Some items are already becoming fan favorites. “We’re known for our cinnamon rolls,” Gregory says, a treat notoriously difficult to get right without gluten.
At its core, Rebel Rise GF is about more than food. “It’s really about community, bringing those people back to the table who can’t eat certain foods,” Gregory says. Her mission is simple: “for you to have food that tastes like it should.”
That mission also includes being part of her customers’ lives. “It’s special—they trust you to make it safe for them and to make it beautiful. And it becomes part of their story.”
Photo credit Iris Images
THE SEASON’S BEST SANDWICHES
ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
Stacked forFall
There’s something deeply satisfying about a well-made sandwich—especially when it comes together with minimal effort but delivers big on flavor. As the season changes and appetites grow heartier, fall is the perfect time to get creative with ingredients tucked between slices of crusty bread or buttery rolls. Whether you’re looking to upgrade your lunch routine, enjoy comforting flavors and bold textures, or impress guests with a no-fuss meal, these easy-tomake sandwiches strike the perfect balance between simple and sensational.
Roasted Tomato & Mozzarella Caprese French Bread
INGREDIENTS
• French bread loaf, halved lengthwise
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 1 tsp thyme or rosemary
• Salt, pepper, chili flakes (optional)
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella, sliced
• 1 cup arugula
• 2–4 tbsp pesto (thinned with olive oil)
• Balsamic glaze
• Optional: 4 slices prosciutto
• Fresh basil
INSTRUCTIONS
Toss cherry tomatoes with olive oil, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper. Roast at 375°F for 20–25 minutes until soft and caramelized. Brush bread with olive oil. Toast in the oven at 375°F for 5–7 minutes until crisp. Layer mozzarella slices on the toasted bread. Add fresh basil. Return to the oven for 3–5 minutes, just until melted. Optional: Top with roasted tomatoes, arugula, and prosciutto (if using). Drizzle with pesto and balsamic glaze.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 grilled chicken breast
• 2 slices pepper jack cheese
• 2 slices cooked bacon
• 1 tbsp fruit jam (fig, raspberry, or jalapeño recommended)
• A handful of fresh arugula
• 3–4 cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 1 tbsp garlic aioli
• 1 brioche bun (toasted)
INSTRUCTIONS
Lightly butter the inside of the bun and toast in a skillet or oven until golden brown. Spread a layer of garlic aioli on the bottom bun. Add the sliced grilled chicken breast. Place the pepper jack cheese over the hot chicken to slightly melt it. Layer on the crispy bacon slices. Add halved cherry tomatoes and a small handful of arugula. Spread the jam on the top bun. Enjoy!
Sweet & Spicy Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Savory Roast Beef with Horseradish Cream
INGREDIENTS
• 2 slices crusty bread (sourdough, ciabatta, French bread)
• 6 oz roast beef
• 2 slices provolone cheese
• 2 tbsp butter (for toasting)
• 2 ½ tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp horseradish sauce
• 1 tsp Dijon mustard
• Arugula
• Cherry tomato
• Caramelized onions
INSTRUCTIONS
Toast the bread. Butter one side of each slice and toast in a skillet until golden. Heat roast beef briefly in a pan. To make the spread, mix mayo, horseradish sauce, and Dijon. Spread on the toasted bread. Layer roast beef, cheese, and broil briefly to melt. Add arugula, tomato, and caramelized onions if using. Top with the second slice of bread.
INGREDIENTS
• 3 oz goat cheese
• Fresh arugula
• ¼ cup caramelized onions
• 1 pear, thinly sliced
• Honey, to taste
• Butter for toasting the bread
• Rotisserie chicken breast thinly sliced
• Sourdough bread, buttered (optional)
Honey Glazed Pear & Chicken Sandwich
INSTRUCTIONS
Spread goat cheese on one side of the bread. Top the cheese with arugula, caramelized onions, sliced pears and chicken breast. Drizzle with honey. Top with remaining slice of sourdough bread. Use a griddle or panini press to heat the sandwich.
Veronica Bird FORA Travel Advisor
OCTOBER 9TH
Sip, Style, and See the World
House of Colour Papillion | 5:30 PM
Vacations by Veronica and Katie Braga with House of Colour Papillion invite you to a fun evening from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM! Learn how to pack like a pro, style your travel looks, discover the benefits of working with a travel agent, and enter a special giveaway. RSVPs are welcome but not required.
OCTOBER 12TH
Papillion Fire Department Open House
Station 3, 146 N Adams St. | 8:00 AM
Spend the morning with the Papillion Fire Department! This open house invites residents to tour Station 3, explore fire trucks, and talk with firefighters. A great way for families to learn about fire safety and connect with our community heroes.
OCTOBER 17TH
Friday Night Bites: Food,
Music, and Fun
Papillion Landing | 5:00 PM
Join Papillion Rec and the City of Papillion for a fun evening from 5 to 9 PM. Enjoy food trucks, a beer garden, live music, and more. Admission is free— bring friends and family for a night of great bites and community vibes.
Football. even ... Ice Cream with BETTER
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OCTOBER 18TH
Discover a Healthier You This Fall!
CHI Health Midlands, 11111 S 84th St, Papillion | 8:00 AM
Discover resources for a healthier lifestyle at the Free Fall Health Fair, hosted by CHI Health Midlands on October 18 from 8 AM - noon. This free community event features screenings, educational booths, and opportunities to connect with local healthcare professionals for expert advice on wellness and prevention.
OCTOBER 20TH-26TH
Papillion-La Vista Fall Clean Up Days
99th Circle and Portal Road | 7:00 AM Fall Cleanup Days are back for Papillion and La Vista residents! Drop off unwanted items like furniture, appliances, yard waste, and electronics free of charge. Don’t miss the document shredding event on Saturday, October 25, from 7 AM - noon (or until full) at the La Vista Public Works facility. Full details can be found at papillion.org.
OCTOBER 25TH
Trunk or Treat
Papillion Eagles Club, 1st and Washington St. | 11:00 AM
Join the Papillion Eagles Club for a free family Halloween event! From 11 AM - 1 PM, kids can trick-or-treat, show off costumes, and vote for their favorite decorated trunks.
Want
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