February 2015 HerFamily

February 2015

HONEST

ABE TURNS 205

THE 402

Rocking it for Parents & Children

In Memory of Sean

Jenny Sexton Volunteers to Pay Tribute

MEET THE ORANDS

Kids at Heart

THE BEST PLACE FOR KIDS.

Ella, age 6 Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Visit ChildrensOmaha.org for more information on how we can help your child.

For a pediatrician, family physician or pediatric specialist, call 1.800.833.3100.

inside

on the february 2015

features

20 @omahamagazine @omahamagazine omahamagazine

PUBLISHER Todd Lemke

6

12

Volume 2 • Issue 9

Toddler Tchaikovskys

Baby Maestro is music to the

youngest of ears.

12 The 402

Rocking it for Parents and Children 20 Art School

A Union of Youth and Art in

North Omaha

EXECUTIVE EDITOR David Williams MANAGING EDITOR Robert Nelson EDITORIAL INTERN Claire Martin CREATIVE DIRECTOR John Gawley DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY & INTERACTIVE MEDIA Bill Sitzmann

departments 5 health:

Cutting Sugar Can Offer Sweet Rewards 8 meet the family:

Kids at Heart at the

Omaha Children’s Museum 10 lifestyle:

The Death of Cursive 14 diy:

V-Day Photobooth 16 young hero:

In Memory of Sean 18 activity:

Breaking the Ice 22 mind & body:

“In life, above all, be kind.”

24 food:

Flourless Chocolate Cupcakes 26 mom on the rocks:

Valentine’s Day is for the dogs.

27 fitness:

Bridge Pose 28 calendar of events 30 the grandpa chronicles:

The Role of Ritual

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER & WEB CONTENT MANAGER Kristen Hoffman GRAPHIC DESIGNER Rachel Joy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Bev Carlson • Anna Hensel • Allison Janda Lisa Lukecart • Claire Martin • Leslie Murrell Kara Schweiss • Kara Wesely CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Lisa Lukecart ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Gwen Lemke • Greg Bruns • Gil Cohen Kyle Fischer Angie • Hall • George Idelman ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER Sandy Besch Matson ACCOUNT ASSISTANTS Alicia Smith Hollins • Jessica Linhart Dawn Dennis • Sydney Stander OPERATIONS Tyler Lemke ACCOUNTING Jim Heitz WAREHOUSE DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Mike Brewer Printed by Omaha Print For a one-year subscription (12 issues), send $9.95 to P.O. Box 461208, Papillion, NE 68046-1208. www.omahamagazine.com Original contributions become the property of Omaha Publications. Contributions cannot be acknowledged or returned.

The information contained within HerFamily is for informational purposes only. It is not intended and should not be used to take the place of seeking professional advice, counsel or assistance. Omaha Publications makes no endorsement of and is not responsible for contributors or advertising herein. If you have concerns or questions related to your health, consult with your physician.

HerFamily is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission of Omaha Publications, 402.884.2000.

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine, LTD

On the Cover: Miles Tapp, 2.

4 HerFamily • February 2015

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health

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmann

Sugar Low Cutting Sugar Can Offer Sweet Rewards

h

olly Martens struggle may sound all too common. After the birth of her children she experienced a variety of symptoms. She had low energy; she experienced moodiness and mood swings, felt generally crabby and could not lose weight around her mid-section. Martens knew her struggle was not unique, but also knew she had to do something about it.

“With both pregnancies, I gained so much weight and really had trouble with my mid-section. I finally figured out what to do about it and was so happy I made the decision to be healthier overall,” Martens says.

Martens, with the help of Vice Cross Fit gym, went on what she calls a sugar detox.

Once she was educated about sugar and added sugars, she was shocked at how much of it she had been consuming.

“They really taught me how much sugar I was eating and what all that sugar was doing to be body. The sugar in our diet really has a bad affect on our bodies.”

Martens was in for even more of a shock.

After 21 days, she was amazed at how different she felt. “I felt awesome. I was not so tired. I didn’t get headaches anymore.

My skin cleared up and my stomach was much flatter.”

What was even more refreshing was that Martens never felt deprived. She says she truly felt she could maintain healthy or “clean” eating.

“I ate so much food, especially meat. I never did feel deprived. The cravings were not there,” Martens says.

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It was that lack of deprivation that Martens felt was the key to her success.

After the 21 day sugar detox, Martens continued to maintain sugar-free eating during the week and would indulge a little on weekends.

Shannon Muhs, a dietician with Hy-Vee, was able to shed some light on how our bodies react when we have too much sugar in our diet.

“When we eat more sugar, our bodies experience a brief high, followed by a sort of crash, which is why we feel more sluggish. Our bodies will also produce excess insulin, which will cause the body to want to eat more and eventually our bodies run out of places to store that excess sugar and it starts to store itself as fat,” Muhs says.

As Martens experienced, once sugar is eliminated it doesn’t take long for our bodies to recover. “Within a couple of days, you should have more sustained energy and a more balanced energy load. You should not experience as many highs and lows and should be craving less sweets,” she says.

Martens plans on maintaining her healthier lifestyle and even convinced her husband to join her on her journey, who after limiting sugar lost close to 40 pounds.

“We both feel so much better. It’s really amazing. I was never really big on diets, but this is something I don’t feel is necessarily a diet. It’s a lifestyle and I am very passionate about it.”

HerFamily • February 2015 5

feature Claire Martin story by

photography by Dede Zimmerman

Toddler Tchaikovskys BABY MAESTRO is Music to the Youngest of Ears

f

or some local Omaha business owners, work doesn’t necessarily mean no play.

Take entrepreneur Deborah Shimokawa, for example—creator and owner of the studio Baby Maestro and single mom extraordinaire. “I love to sing, and I love children,” Shimokawa says.

“Those are my two passions. I thought: ‘If I can do something with both of those, I’ll be a very happy person.’”

Baby Maestro, created in 2004, is an early childhood music education program that offers various music, dance, and instrumental classes for parents to bond with their babies and young children. The concept isn’t exclusive to Omaha, though. Shimokawa actually picked up the idea after falling in love with a similar studio in Atlanta after the birth of her first child, Quinn.

“It was a two-fold benefit,” Shimokawa says.

“I could socialize with other moms about being new parents, and it was also a great bonding activity for Quinn and me. When I moved back to Omaha, I kind of looked around for a similar music program, but never found one that had that same happy feeling, so I said, ‘Well, I’ll start it.’”

In addition to running her own business, Shimokawa, a single mom, also juggles raising three kids aged 6 to 11 and navigating their endless

6 HerFamily • February 2015

repertoire of activities, which include but aren’t limited to soccer, baseball, basketball, flag football, and taekwondo lessons.

However, Baby Maestro has never been a burden that interferes with parent life, according to Shimokawa.

“The beauty of it is that I can still take my kids to school every day and help them with their homework, or take them to their activities,” she says. “I get to go out and work with passion and then come home and be with my kids and raise them. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Shimokawa adds that Baby Maestro is the perfect blend of work and play, where she can witness the relationships between parent and child that strengthen each day. Her highest reward is hearing the impact that her music classes have on her pint-sized students’ lives, whether that be babies bouncing to familiar tunes in the car or toddlers conducting their own dance classes for their parents.

“There are so many rewarding parts of my job,” Shimokawa says. “I signed a lease when my youngest was two weeks old, and I haven’t looked back. It was the best decision I could’ve possibly made.”

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HerFamily • February 2015 7

meet the family

by Anna Hensel photography by Bill Sitzmann

Meet the Orands Kids at Heart

Amy and Matt Orand with Simon, Lily, Milo.

8窶ォerFamily 窶｢ February 2015

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f

or Matt Orand, a day at the office is child’s play—or at least figuring out what children want to play with.

As the Creative Director of the Omaha Children’s Museum, Orand is the one tasked with designing musical steps, creating interactive apps, or making sure that the fake food found in the museum’s play grocery store isn’t so realistic that kids try to take a bite out of it.

Luckily, he can rely on some of the museum’s biggest fans to help him design exhibits that kids will rave about: his children, Lily (7), Simon (5), Milo (18 months) and their fourth child who was born after press time in December.

They all happen to fall within the 8-and-under age range that is the Children’s Museum focus.

Orand started at the Children’s Museum eight years ago, when his wife Amy was pregnant with Lily. After graduating with degrees in graphic design and sculpting from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, there weren’t many careers out there where he could have the chance to work with kids in a creative field, but he just happened to stumble upon his dream job at the Children’s Museum.

“He’s just a kid at heart,” explains Amy Orand.

While the Children’s Museum is a perfect fit for a big kid like Orand, it lends itself to an even cooler experience for his four young ones, who essentially get an all-access pass to the museum. The Orands began taking daughter Lily to the museum just a few weeks after she was born, and she can usually be found there whenever Matt needs help or is opening a new exhibit.

As a result, the Children’s Museum holds a special place in the heart of the Orand family. It’s where Lily stood on her own for the first time, thanks to an exhibit designed to help infants pull themselves up. It’s where Orand aided in the restoration of the giant, colorful, zoo characters he himself played on as a child at the Gordmans department store. Now he gets to see his children play on the same playground figures.

“I think for me it’s just been fun to have them around when I can kind of take them behind the scenes,” says Orand. “I can bring them to sneak previews and bring them to see works in progress.”

But it’s not all just fun and games for the Orand family.

Matt also enlists his children to test out ideas for new exhibits. He is constantly observing what cartoons his kids are watching, what games they like to play with their friends, or what toys they gravitate toward.

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“Dad’s got about the coolest job on the face of the planet.”

-Amy Orand

“I’ll just gauge like, ‘what sounds more fun, a superhero or a pirate exhibit?’ says Orand. And they’ll ask questions like, ‘What’s going to be in the exhibit, Dad? If it’s superheroes is it going to have this? Can I put on a cape?’”

It’s all a necessary part of Orand’s job; being able to see the world from a kid’s perspective. He recalls the frustration many kids, including his own, experienced when the museum unveiled an air blast tube in one of its new exhibits.

The tube was located next to a collection of toy balls, so many of the kids thought that when they placed the balls in the tube, the tube would blast the balls in the air. When the tube did no such thing, they became frustrated. The museum took the contraption off the floor, and Orand and the rest of the museum staff redesigned it, re-launching it as a “Ball-istic Blaster.”

“You think you’ve got everything figured out, and you know exactly how they’re going to use it, and you’re totally blown away or something unexpected happens,” says Orand.

Following in their dad’s footsteps, the Orand kids relish creativity. The Orands already notice a budding affinity for art in daughter Lily, who is adamant that she doesn’t want to have a “boring” career when she grows up. Amy, an insurance agent, laughs when she describes how the kids see her career versus Matt’s.

“Mom’s got the boring insurance job, and dad’s got about the coolest job on the face of the planet,” says Amy. “I think they kind of take it for granted, because they haven’t known it any other way.”

But for now, Matt is okay with putting off the day until his kids can fully comprehend all that he does. Son Simon recently started adding an extra line to his nightly prayers—a token of thanks to God for “making my dad good at making robot dinosaurs.”

Simon is referring to the robotic dinosaurs in one of the museum’s traveling exhibits, one of the areas of the museum that does not fall under Matt’s jurisdiction. But Matt says with a chuckle, “I just don’t really have the heart to correct him and tell him that I didn’t make it.”

HerFamily • February 2015 9

lifestyle

by Kara Wesely photography by Bill Sitzmann

l

ook closely. Bet you can’t even read it. The strong, curvaceous loops of the “L” intersect just a little too closely with …is that an “o”? It hooks right up with … “z”…something? In it, though, there is a sense of beauty in the slants, the graceful curves.

Too bad this beautiful writing form is practically dead. Cursive seems destined for the same literary fate as the typewriter.

Freshman Colby Gomes is part of that generation that is no longer charmed by cursive writing. On a recent day at Millard West High School, he tossed an example essay back to his English teacher with a laugh. I can’t read this,” he said. “Why not?”

“Because it’s in cursive,” Gomes responded.

Reading teacher Diane Eubanks started noticing this trend in her sixth grade classes at Alice Buffett Middle School.

Eubanks has been teaching for 26 years, first at the King Science and Technology Magnet Center. She used to write nothing but cursive on the board, and it was a deep part of the curriculum. “Now, I can’t because they [students] can’t read it,” Eubanks says. “It really did surprise me. I do understand it, but it is kind of sad.”

10 HerFamily • February 2015

She believes that out of her 200 or so students, only 10 can read and write cursive.

The Common Core State Standards for many public schools have omitted cursive as a necessity even though it has been linked to higher cognitive skills in memory and brain development. Nebraska along with Texas, Alaska, and Virginia has not adopted the standards. Some states such as Hawaii have even dropped cursive completely so students can learn 21st century skills such as keyboarding.

Unlike Omaha Public Schools, which concentrate on cursive writing during the last semesters of third grade, the Catholic Schools of Omaha require an entire year of focus.

Kim Abts, a teacher’s assistant at St. Roberts Bellarmine, was shocked when a public school transfer student still could not write or read cursive in the fourth grade. “I think I’ve taken it for granted,” Abts says. “I thought that was just a normal, natural thing.”

Abts says after third grade, students are not allowed to print. For example, Unlike Eubanks, teachers at St. Roberts still write cursive on the board as well.

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Eubanks believes teachers just have limited time to teach handwriting. In addition, most students rarely write anything anymore because everything is on some sort of computer. “Technology has made us somewhat brain-dead,” Gomes says.

Gomes recalls learning handwriting clear back in the third grade at Willowdale, but now he uses it to sign only his name. He believes cursive is just too complicated for his generation. “We don’t want to take the time to make the loopy-doops,” he explains.

Wyatt Spethman, a fifth grader at Whitetail Creek in Gretna, disagrees. He believes cursive is faster plus it looks “fancier.” Spethman boasts his handwriting is good and accepts the challenge to write, “I love donuts.” When he tries, though, he pauses. He explains he does not know how to make a capital “I.” “I just forgot about it,” he says shrugging.

Reminiscing about her 26 years of teaching, Eubanks still recalls the beautifully scrawled handwriting of former students. “It is a lost art, really,” she says, sighing.

Perhaps this epitaph will be etched into cursive’s tombstone. In print.

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HerFamily • February 2015 11

feature Allison Janda by

photography by Bill Sitzmann

“We really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatness.”

-Ben Shafer

a

band takes the stage, awash in colorful lighting. Below them, an audience murmurs and sips their drinks, sitting tall or standing around various corners of the room. The first few notes of an opening song are strummed on the guitar and a cheer rises from the crowd.

This may sound like your traditional Omaha bar featuring your favorite band, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

In fact, all of the drinks were made next door to the venue at Aroma’s Coffee shop.

Plus, one third of the audience is under 21.

“We really think that there are a lot kids out there who are under 18 who need to be exposed to amazing talent and be inspired by greatness,” says Ben Shafer, executive director of the space.

The 402 Arts Collective in Benson is an all ages venue all the time. It’s a place to not only expose your children to music and culture, but also, it’s a chance to enjoy a night on the town even when parents can’t find a sitter.

The 402 isn’t just a musical venue. They offer music lessons, too. Artist Instructors are available to teach just about every popular musical instrument and, Shafer adds, some not so popular ones as well.

While most students are under 18, Shafer says they welcome adults into The 402 as well. Granted, it is nice for mom to take a break while her child learns. “People come

12 HerFamily • February 2015

to Benson, and drop their student off while they just relax in the coffee shop and sip on a latte,” Shafer shares. Worried your kid is too young? Shafer adds that children can begin learning an instrument as early as six years old. Additional offerings, such as “Rock Academy” can be found online at 402artscollective.org.

Registration for programs can be done easily by going to their website and clicking “lessons.” Parents can see musical and artistic offerings, as well as bios for the individual Artist Instructor.

The 402 also offers scholarships to inneed families.

Shafer says The 402 strives to offer two shows every weekend—Friday night and Saturday night.

Perhaps The 402’s most noticeable asset is its location. Parents not only have the opportunity to expose their child to music, but also to a variety of people.

“The culture down here is a melting pot of so many tastes and flavors,” Shafer says. “I think some of Omaha’s greatest thinkers and artists can be found just walking the street on any given day.”

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Ben Shafer

The 402 ROCKING IT FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN

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HerFamily • February 2015 13

diy

by Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

14窶ォerFamily 窶｢ February 2015

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alentine’s Day has always felt backwards to me. My idea of romance looks more like hiking through the woods rather than a heartshaped box of chocolates and a teddy bear (not that I’ll ever turn down chocolate).

So you can understand the eye-rolling that occurred as I researched Valentine’s Day DIY projects earlier this month. After scrolling through a sea of cutesy pink construction paper, I didn’t see a thing that I would be proud to put my name on. So I decided to ditch the frilly love letters, and bring out the gold and glitter for a glam V-Day photobooth environment.

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HerFamily • February 2015 15

young hero

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

In Memory of Sean Jenny Sexton helps others as a living tribute to her departed brother.

j

enny Sexton always looked up to brother, Sean. This time, she was looking down at him.

Literally.

“I bet you can’t,” Sean yelled. He had just jumped from their two story deck and now stood proudly on the ground. “I bet you I can,” Jenny taunted back. Their bantering continued, ending with a can’t-ever-say-no double-dog-dare from Sean. Even at five, Jenny knew she had to make the leap. It was a double-dog-dare, after all.

Unlike Sean, Jenny hit the landing—hard.

“Don’t tell mom,” Sean said after seeing Jenny’s blue eyes well up with tears.

Jenny later learned she had broken her left arm, but she also realized something important. She would follow her brother anywhere, even off the ledge of a deck.

Jenny, now a junior at Millard West High School, laughs at the memory. She is stylish in her UGG boots, black tights, and turquoise sweater. She smacks her gum, looks up thoughtfully, and laughs again.

“I...like…wanted to do everything he did,” Jenny says.

16 HerFamily • February 2015

Jenny followed in her big brother’s footsteps, including copying his cool teenage lingo, “you know, like gangsta.’”

Whether it was Sean surviving a water balloon being smashed over his head or Sean serving seniors at a nursing home, his passion for helping others did not go unnoticed by his sister.

Four years older than Jenny, Sean helped her put her schedule together her freshman year of high school so she could follow the same path he took. Hospital Volunteer.

Health Academy. Exemplary Student. “But now, I don’t know what to do,” Jenny says.

Her voice turns husky and she slips her long straight hair behind her ears.

The plan the siblings came up with together for Jenny’s four years of high school remains unfinished. Near the end of his senior year, Sean fainted in his Health Academy class and was rushed to the hospital. His diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia changed Jenny’s life forever.

Jenny was crushed, but tried to stay strong and “play it off.”

In one snapshot of his graduation, Sean

is pale from chemotherapy, bald, his green robe too big for his thin body. His arm is wrapped tightly around his sister, and a huge proud smile is on his face. Two years later, Sean lost his battle to cancer. “I really looked up to him,” Jenny says.

Jenny felt strongly she should volunteer at CHI Health Lakeside Hospital, just like Sean did during her sophomore year. Sean also loved the volunteers as a patient. “It was a chance for him to see teens, people his own age,” Jenny explains. She knew it was something she just had to do because these visits meant so much to him.

Her first day during orientation, she was in a white empty room where a bit of the sadness crept through the walls. Jenny remembered telling her brother she loved him before he left for the hospital on the last day of his life. She had one last chance to see him, to say her good-byes, and exchange a few “I love you’s,” before her parents’ car rolled away.

At the hospital, Sean entered a comatose-like state. His once healthy skin… now a pale, sickly yellow. omahamagazine.com

Jenny broke down. “I’m just glad he wasn’t awake to see me like that,” Jenny says.

Even in this moment, Jenny is selfless.

It is something others have noticed, including Kassidy Arena.

Kassidy believes Jenny is sometimes too sugary sweet. Jenny’s fiery red hair doesn’t match her personality. Kassidy explains Jenny can be a bit of a pushover at times, especially with children.

And yet, Kassidy cannot help but admire Jenny’s dedication to others.

“Whenever I’m venting about my dumb personal life, she’s helping actual people,” Kassidy says with a loud laugh. “I got into volunteering because of her.”

At Lakeside every Tuesday, Jenny works behind a desk. She is hoping to work more directly with the patients. At Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, Jenny cleans toys or run errands. The best part of her night, though, is when she can play with the kids.

Jenny looks down, clasps her hands together, and smiles shyly. A two-year-old boy captured her heart a couple weeks ago and Jenny just can’t forget him. His dark skin, puffy hair, and adorable brown eyes are imprinted on her heart.

Jenny and a few other volunteers tugged him around in a red wagon. He never said anything, but Jenny felt she made him happy. “I just knew I was making a difference,” Jenny says. To her, the hospital is no longer a place of heartache, but instead one filled with laughter.

Jenny wears a green wristband most of the time. “SMS-2012” is deeply embedded into it. It stands for Sean Michael Sexton and the year he was diagnosed. “He (Sean) would be proud of me—making a difference,” Jenny says.

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HerFamily • February 2015 17 12/8/2014 12:35:44 PM

activity

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

18窶ォerFamily 窶｢ February 2015

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Breaking the Ice

Don’t miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine JULY/AUGUST

•

2014

Omaha’s “hidden gems” offer inexpensive swimming through the rough Nebraska winters.

“Swimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activity.”

-Krista Andress

f

or many area families, summer doesn’t really begin until Omaha’s 15 outdoor public pools open for the season, and the closing date is a sad reminder that swimming has ended for another year. But even on the coldest of winter days, families can still satisfy their longing to get in the water by visiting any of the city’s indoor pool facilities.

“They are open, public facilities so anyone who pays the admittance fee and follows the rules is allowed to use them,” says Tracy Stratman, recreation manager for the City of Omaha Parks, Recreation and Public Property department. “Those indoor pools are so valuable because our summers are so short. I think they’re like hidden gems in the city.”

Full-size, 25-meter indoor pools are housed at Mockingbird Hills Community Center at 10242 Mockingbird Drive and Montclair Community Center at 2304 S. 135th Avenue. Common Ground at 1701 Veterans Dr. in Elkhorn became part of the Omaha indoor pool facility group several years ago after Elkhorn was annexed, but it is a membership-based facility.

“Montclair and Mockingbird are not membership-based like Common Ground, so you do not have to be a member, it’s a pay-as-you go. We do have punch cards and seasonal passes, which obviously drop the (per visit) cost,” Stratman explains.

“Swimming really is a life skill,” Stratman says. “Swimming is one of those sports or activities that really hits all ages and all abilities. Even if you’re recovering from an injury or are an older adult, there’s always something you can do in the pool.

But there’s also a level of competition if you’re a seasoned lap swimmer or even a competitive swimmer.”

Krista Andress, an Omaha mom with sons ages 13 and 11, says her family has enjoyed swimming at both the Mockingbird and Montclair facilities and that she researched Omaha’s recreational centers online before moving here from Colorado a few years ago.

“We’re a recreational family. We like to take advantage of community rec centers,” she says, adding that she and her husband actually met while working at such a facility in another community. “Swimming is great exercise and swimming at a community center pool is really a great family activity.”

The former lifeguard adds, “I’m a big advocate that everyone should learn how to swim.”

Swimming lessons are available through the City of Omaha for all ages, starting with Float for Life at nine months through group lessons for children and older youth, Stratman says. Adults or children can also sign up for private instruction.

“As a parent, I think this is the perfect time for swim lessons because there’s not that rush to get them comfortable in the water before the season starts,” Stratman says.

Drop-in admission fees for Montclair are only $4 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors, and kids under age 2 are admitted free. Special reduced admission periods and designated open recreational swimming hours—as well as lap swimming hours, exercise classes and lessons—are posted on the City of Omaha website at www.cityofomaha.org/parks.

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HerFamily • February 2015 19

feature Allison Janda by

photography by Bill Sitzmann

Art School

A Union of Youth and Art in North Omaha’s Union for Contemporary Art

a

re those balloons?” the instructor asks a young girl dressed warmly in pink sweatpants and a purple sweatshirt. The girl looks up and nods enthusiastically before returning to her drawing.

No, it’s not a school day. It’s Saturday at The Union For Contemporary Art, but the youth program is in full swing—just as it is every Saturday.

Established in 2011, The Union for Contemporary Art, located just south of 24th and Lake streets, was founded to provide opportunities to local artists and connect North Omaha youth to the arts. Founder Brigitte McQueen Shew says that the non-profit arts organization was badly needed to not only provide opportunities for artists, but to bridge gaps in the community.

Ending up here on a whim in 2001, McQueen Shew decided to move to Seattle not long after. Having come to Omaha after living in New York City, she says the divide between North Omaha and the rest of the city was overwhelming to her. But, eventually, she moved back. “I realized running away from that issue wasn’t the right thing to do. That’s something you fight against, it isn’t something you let drive you away,” she says.

A journalist, McQueen Shew had no experience in the world of non-profits.

However, after she returned, she began to research North Omaha and found herself falling in love with the community.

She decided to start an arts organization, not only one for

20 HerFamily • February 2015

local artists, but also one for area youth who would benefit from mentorship, access to materials and space, connections with professional artists, and programs designed for both them and their parents.

The Union For Contemporary Art is no doubt a place where local artists can find support and visibility—especially through the Studio Fellowship Program—but it’s greatest gift to the community may be the role it plays in offering mentoring to the area’s young people. Many of the other local after-school programs in the area revolve around athletics, McQueen Shew notes. Perhaps too many. “I’ve had parents tell me: ‘My kid can get a scholarship playing basketball but they can’t get a scholarship with art,’” McQueen Shew says.

“I really wanted to address that.”

She says that while she doesn’t expect that every child who comes through the mentorship program will go on to be an artist, it still matters, she says, to immerse North Omaha youth in art. “It’s part of our everyday—from graffiti on buildings to the ways we dress ourselves,” she says. “To know art is to better know the world around you.”

Paige Reitz, Program Coordinator

omahamagazine.com

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HerFamily • February 2015 21

mind & body

by Bev Carlson, Lutheran Family Services

In life, “Above all, be kind.”

22 HerFamily • February 2015

omahamagazine.com

a

s I was picking up my coffee one frozen morning a few weeks ago, I noticed there was no one in the drive-through line behind me. That in itself was unusual. My caffeine supplier of choice generally drew a crowd this time of day. Order, rush to pay, rush to grab a cup, rush to work. Hour after hour. Car after car. I’m sure the drive-through clerks barely even noticed who was in the hundreds of vehicles that passed through.

But this morning felt different. It was one of those crisp Nebraska mornings where the sunrise was still throwing pinks and purples across the sky. I was feeling good. I had the drive-thru to myself. I felt talkative. “Good morning! How are you doing? Is your day going well?” I asked.

The shocked look on the clerk’s face was priceless. She smiled and said, “Um, it’s good. How are you?”

I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to make sure I wasn’t holding up progress, and I answered her. Then we actually chatted for a minute or two. About the weather. About the upcoming holidays. Nothing earth-shattering. Just quick small-talk. As I finally saw a car pull up to place an order, I smiled and said, “I really appreciate the good service I get here. Have a great day.”

The whole exchange lasted two minutes. Maybe.

I noticed the clerk watched my car drive away with a smile on her face, then she turned back to help the next customer.

Although the exchange was spontaneous, it was also uplifting.

I suppose for my random act of kindness that day, I could have paid the tab for the next customer. That would have been easy, but anonymous. I had to wonder if giving a few minutes of time and treating the drive-through clerk with respect might have been the greater win, at least for me. She was charming, sweet and interesting. How long did she go before another customer took a second to ask her about her day and then wait for the answer?

Hours? Days?

I suspect these kinds of simple exchanges are becoming more rare. We’ve become so inwardly-focused and driven by technology that we’ve forgotten how to take a moment to simply be human.

To be kind.

I’m one of the few people who is not a big fan of the movie Avatar, although I enjoyed the special effects. There was one line that really stood out to me in that script. The two romantic leads were gazing at each other but rather than saying “I love you,” said “I see you.”

“I see you.” “I acknowledge you.” “I value you.”

“I appreciate you.”

What a precious and powerful thing to communicate to another person. Rather than looking past them, through them, around them… you actually look at them. You see them, and you recognize that they, like you, have their own struggles, challenges, or worries to deal with. Just like you. Every single day.

Can’t we just look up from our smartphones for a few minutes?

Just take a second or two and really see the person who is serving you, or you are doing business with? Or sitting beside? And just… be kind? Not only will you leave the room better than you found it, you will be better, too. The gift of kindness, as is the case with most gifts, can bring as much joy to the giver as to the recipient.

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HerFamily • February 2015 23

food

sponsored content by Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

ingredients • 8 oz bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (or 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips) • 6 Tbsp trans fat-free margarine

• 6 large eggs, separated, at room temperature • 1/2 cup granulated sugar • 2 Tbsp confectioners sugar

preparation 1. Preheat oven to 275°. Line 18 cups of two 12-cup muffin pans with paper liners.

2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate and margarine. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, stir, and continue to microwave at 10-second intervals until melted.

3. Add the egg yolks to the melted chocolate and whisk to combine.

Set aside.

4. With an electric mixer, whisk egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form.

Gradually add granulated sugar, beating until peaks are stiff and glossy but not dry (do not overbeat). Whisk onethird of the beaten egg whites into the chocolate mixture.

5. Gently fold the chocolate-egg white mixture into remaining whites.

6. With an ice-cream scoop, divide batter evenly among 18 lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until cupcakes are just set in centers, about 25 minutes.

Transfer pans to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes (their centers will sink). Sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

Yield: 18 cupcakes Nutrition Facts: Calories: 134, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 62mg, Sodium: 54mg, Carbohydrates: 12g, Fiber: 1g, Protein: 2g

24 HerFamily • February 2015

Flourless

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Local doctors are currently conducting the FAVOR medical research study for adults who are experiencing symptoms of the u. They want to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational u medication called favipiravir.

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HerFamily • February 2014 25

mom on the rocks

by Leslie Murrell

Valentine’s Day

n

is for the Dogs

ow that our kids are in junior high, they don’t have those Valentine’s Day class parties. For Chris and I, romance has digressed into the form of a nap. In lieu of all the typical celebrations, we make Valentine’s Day a proclaimed day of love for our dog.

I love all dogs and their furry souls. A dog walks by me, and I immediately inquire about the name of the dog, the breed, its age, and its personality.

My kids were 9 years old when we made the heartbreaking decision to put Farley down. They grew up with him. Farley taught us that we have room in our hearts to love dogs. He taught me the profound and still perplexing lesson that dogs will take any love you give them and reciprocate with an exponentially greater rate.

And that is true love. It’s a give of everything you have—regardless if you have thumbs or not. Farley

I’m always curious about a dog’s connection to their human.

Before kids, or even marriage, we had Farley the Wonderdog, a 125 pound, loyalty-and-gentle-giant of a black lab. Since I was vetoed on letting him be in our wedding party, Farley was represented at our wedding with a custom-made cake topper.

Once the babies arrived, our Farley became our personal service dog. He cleaned up anything on the floor. He would assess the extent of my cooking project and man his station right next to the cutting board.

When the kids learned to crawl, he’d keep them corralled. And when they’d get too close, he’d lick them until they toddled away. When they learned to walk, he’d keep an eye on them and then get out of their way, lacking in their judgment of newfound confidence in their upright adventures. On occasion, he’d knock them down with a whap of his tail, just to remind them who’s really in charge.

also taught us to clear all food up to six feet high, and hide all shoes. But mostly, he taught us that we have room in our hearts to love another dog.

So that’s when we rescued Maybee. The word “maybe” initiates hope to a child. Our furry family member, Maybee, is a sign of hope and possibilities for all great things to our family. Maybee is a herding dog, and for the first year we had her, she kept the kids in line by nipping them on their backside. I love this dog.

As it stands now, I’m trying to decide if we saved Maybee or if she saved us. Either way, we’ll celebrate Valentine’s Day with our sweet, smart, and beautiful dog. Instead of chocolate and Sweethearts, we’ll take a romantic stroll in the park and give her doggy treats and a rawhide.

Thank you, Maybee! We love you!

26 HerFamily • February 2015

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fitness

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Bridge Pose Sanskrit name: Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (SET-too BAHN-dah Sar-van-GAHS-anna)

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he Bridge Pose stretches the spine, chest, and neck, while stimulating the abdominal organs, lungs, and thyroid. This pose is particularly good for improving your digestion of food.

Exercise 1. Lie face-up on the floor with the arms alongside the body and palms face down.

2. Take one deep inhale, and on your exhale press your inner feet and arms actively into the floor, and lift the hips up towards the ceiling.

3. Extend through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders.

4. Wiggle the shoulder blades together and clasp the hands.

5. Firm the outer arms and broaden the shoulder blades to lift the chest.

Lift chin slightly away from sternum.

6. Breathe deeply for 5-10 breaths.

7. Exhale and slowly roll the spine back to the floor.

Beginners Tip:

if necessary, place a folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck.

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HerFamily • February 2015 27

Calendar of Events

Imaginocean

Extreme Planet

Second City

FOR THE KIDS

FOR THE FAMILY

FOR MOM & DAD

BAM! IT’S A PICTURE BOOK: THE ART BEHIND GRAPHIC NOVELS

EXTREME PLANET FEBRUARY 10, HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

AMERICAN MODERNS: FROM O’KEEFFE TO ROCKWELL

THROUGH MARCH 29, 2015, JOSLYN ART MUSEUM –

CENTER—1200 DOUGLAS ST. Take an electrifying

FEBRUARY 8-MAY 17, JOSLYN ART MUSEUM—2200

2200 DODGE ST. Popular among young readers,

journey into some of our planet’s most extreme

DODGE ST. This exhibition explores the ways

graphic novels are known for their comic

environments with Carsten Peter. The German

American artists including Georgia O’Keeffe,

format. They are generally described as

photographer and filmmaker is enthusiastically

Marsden Hartley, Stuart Davis, Rockwell Kent,

“sequential art,” where a series of illustrations

obsessed with devising innovative photographic

and Norman Rockwell engaged the modern

tell the story, but, unlike newspaper comics,

techniques that allow him to capture dramatic,

world. This exhibition will have a ticket fee. Free

they are the length of a novel and include

never-before-seen images of places few

for members, youth ages 17 and younger, &

narrative development. This exhibition features

humans have dared ever go. 7:30pm. $22.

college students with ID. 402-342-3300.

the work of Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Mark Crilley,

402-345-0606.

-JOSLYN.ORG

Matt Holm, Raina Telgemeier, and Lincoln

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10am- 4pm; Thursday 10am- 8pm. Free

PIXAR IN CONCERT

SWAN LAKE: THE SUZANNE FARRELL BALLET

admission. 402-342-3300.

FEBRUARY 14, HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

FEBRUARY 14, LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS,

- JOSLYN.ORG/

CENTER—1200 DOUGLAS ST. Treat your family

301 N. 12TH ST, LINCOLN, NE A performance of

to favorite scenes from Disney/Pixar films,

Balanchine’s Swan Lake headlines the evening.

SESAME STREET LIVE

including Toy Story, Wall-E, Up, and Brave –

This one-act enchanting story is performed to

THROUGH FEBRUARY 25, CENTURYLINK CENTER

all with the scores played live while visually

the original Tchaikovsky score. The program

OMAHA. – 455 N. 10TH ST. Cher D2K Tour with

stunning clips from the movies play on the

also includes Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante and

special guest Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.

big screen. 7:30pm. Tickets starting at $22.

Agon. 7:30pm. Starting at $29. 402-472-4700.

Tickets available through Ticketmaster. 8pm.

402-345-0606.

– LIEDCENTER.ORG

$21-$117. 402-341-1500.

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Peirce. Tuesday - Wednesday & Friday - Sunday

HOT SARDINES

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LITTLE WOMEN

FEBRUARY 17, HOLLAND PERFORMING ARTS

JOHN TARGALIA’S IMAGINOCEAN

THROUGH FEBRUARY 22, OMAHA COMMUNITY

CENTER—1200 DOUGLAS ST. What better way to

FEBRUARY 19, ORPHEUM THEATER– 409 S. 16TH ST. A

PLAYHOUSE—6915 CASS ST. Jo, Meg, Beth and

celebrate Mardi Gras than with a New Orleans,

one-of-a-kind black-light puppet show, John

Amy, guided by their beloved Marmee, are

gypsy jazz, party band? The Hot Sardines’

Tartaglia’s ImaginOncean is a magical undersea

more different than any sisters could be. With

sound—wartime Paris via New Orleans—is

adventure for kids of all ages. Jam-packed

their father off to war, the women find strength

steeped in hot jazz and salty stride piano. 7pm.

with music ranging from swing to R&B to Big

in themselves and each other to endure

Tickets starting at $26.25. 402-345-0606.

Band, John Tartaglia’s ImaginOcean is a blast

heartache and loss and celebrate joys and

- TICKETOMAHA.COM

from first big splash to the last wave goodbye.

accomplishments. Experience this timeless,

7:00pm. Tickets starting at $22. 402-345-0606.

beloved, literary classic as an exhilarating

THE SECOND CITY

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musical with stunning production elements and

FEBRUARY 26, LIED CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS, 301

a powerful score. Share laughter and tears with

N. 12TH ST, LINCOLN, NE. The world’s top sketch

your entire family in this can’t-miss production.

and improv comedy troupe returns to the Lied.

402-553-0800.

This hilarious cast of comedians joins a long

– OMAHAPLAYHOUSE.COM

line of former Second City performers who have gone on to super-star status including John Belushi, Bill Murray, Steve Carell, Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert. 7:30pm. Starting at $20.

402-472-4700.

– LIEDCENTER.ORG

28 HerFamily • February 2015

omahamagazine.com

Movie Music Series Sponsor

Saturday Feb. 14 Holland Center Treat your family to favorite scenes from Disney/Pixar films, including Toy Story, Wall-E, Up, and Brave – all with the scores played live while visually stunning clips from the movies play on the big screen!

Sunday, Feb. 22 • Holland Center Thomas Wilkins, conductor

Tickets Start at $19

Join Music Director Thomas Wilkins on an exhilarating journey full of energy and fun, straight into the heart and soul of music!

Tickets: Adults & Kids $12

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MAKE A SPLASH Swim lessons aren’t just for the summer you can swim year-round at the Y! Winter 2 Swim Lessons - February 22-April 11, 2015 Registration begins - Member: February 2 Non member: February 6

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We have classes for swimmers of all ages and abilities!

Call your local YMCA for more info!

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HerFamily • February 2015 29

the grandpa chronicles

by David Williams

Duct Tape Dreams The Role of Ritual

t

he first years of a child’s life are jam-packed with an endless string of memorable “firsts.” The rite of passage that is climbing into your first “big boy bed” ranks right up there with such landmark moments as sitting up unassisted for the first time, learning to walk, or uttering your first words.

So it was with more than a little surprise that my wife, Julie, and I learned that it was going to be no easy task to get our grandchildren, Easton (5) and Barrett (3), into new, more age-appropriate bedtime arrangements during sleepovers in our home.

Easton sleeps on an inflatable mattress when he’s over at our place.

Barrett, who was moved into his own bed at home some time ago, still sleeps in a crib when he’s with us. Now it’s time for Easton to graduate to a real bed while Barrett takes his brother’s place on the air mattress.

30 HerFamily • February 2015

Which brings me to a point of puzzlement. Barrett would never accept sleeping in a crib in his own home these days, but he is reluctant to abandon his spot when it comes time to crash in our home. Compounding matters, Easton won’t budge from his air mattress.

The point is that habits, rituals, and traditions are organic. They are born of a certain set of specific circumstances, ones that may be nullified when the scenery, people, or time changes. Ritual exists to bring order among chaos. Our sleeping arrangements trump those of when they are home simply and solely because they are…well, ours. They are our way.

Our tradition.

Easton associates his mattress with camping. He’s not merely on the floor at his grandparent’s house; he’s on a wilderness adventure. The latest addition to his little carpeted campsite is that he now insists on sleeping under the flickering glow of an electric candle that mirrors the dancing flames of a crackling campfire.

Understanding why Barrett persists in his desire to stick to his crib is less obvious to us, but we’re confident, nonetheless, that it has everything to do with the fact that things are just “different” at grandma and grandpa’s place.

All of which is, to me, an informative lesson in early childhood development. It seems counterintuitive on many levels, but I find it fascinating that their little brains are already so compartmentalized, so capable of receiving the very same stimuli (“It’s bedtime”) and processing that information in two diametrically opposing ways.

“Different” is okay, in this case, so long as it is supported by a framework that speaks to a child’s need to feel safe and secure when they are away from their parents.

Funny thing is, I managed to puncture Easton’s air mattress the last time we babysat, which I assumed would force the issue of moving him into a bed. But he still wouldn’t budge. Letting the air out of his mattress was like letting the air out of his sense of security…so it was time to get out the duct tape.

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