May 2015 HerFamily

May 2015

2015

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE Rise of the Machines Robotics Stars Patrick Collins and Ben Zadow

Rock Monster

Omaha Girls Rock explores rap, hiphop, and even some punk.

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.

2015 Summer Reading Program

Presented by

Kick-off Parties Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon at your favorite branch!

Saturday

May 30 1-3 pm All locations

except W. Dale Clark Main Library

Fri | May 29 | 10 am–12:30 pm

crafts

face-painting

snacks

games

photo opportunities

Visit omahalibrary.org to find out more & sign up.

magic

on the features

inside

may 2015

Omaha Girls Rock Camp Adapts to Rapid Growth 22 Treasures of the Bertrand

Desoto National Wildlife Rufuge

commemorates the 150th

anniversary of the ship’s sinking.

27 2015 Summer Camp Guide

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@omahamagazine

@omahamagazine omahamagazine

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PUBLISHER Todd Lemke

16 Rock Monster

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Volume 2 • Issue 12

lifestyle: Country Fresh from the Big City health: Screening Saves Lives meet the family: The Tobins diy: Going Vertical health: A Time to Grieve young hero: Rise of the Machines mind & body: The Big Screen Battle food: Fruity Oatmeal mom on the rocks: Back to the Stone Age fitness: Lunge Pose Variation calendar of events the grandpa chronicles: The Torn Page

EXECUTIVE EDITOR David Williams MANAGING EDITOR Robert Nelson CREATIVE DIRECTOR John Gawley DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY & INTERACTIVE MEDIA Bill Sitzmann SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER & WEB CONTENT MANAGER Kristen Hoffman GRAPHIC DESIGNER Rachel Joy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Chelsea Balzer • Bev Carlson Kim Carpenter • Anna Hensel • Lisa Lukecart Leslie Murrell • Kara Schweiss ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Gwen Lemke • Greg Bruns • Gil Cohen Kyle Fischer • Angie Hall • George Idelman ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER Sandy Besch Matson ACCOUNT ASSISTANTS Jessica Cullinane • Dawn Dennis Alicia Smith Hollins • Jessica Linhart 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.

On the Cover: Ariana (8) channels her inner Frida Kahlo.

4 HerFamily • May 2015

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine, LTD

omahamagazine.com

CHI Health Cost Report Our Three-part Commitment: Transparency, Accountability, Affordability Health care is too expensive. Rising costs threaten state and local budgets, the competitiveness of our businesses and the well-being of Nebraska and Iowa families. CHI Health has been investing in our network of value-based providers for more than 10 years. We are passionate about improving performance, being accountable and making great care affordable. We recognize our own responsibility to bring costs down.

Commitment to Transparency We will help lead efforts to pass a bill requiring public reporting of health care prices, and make public our own cost performance. (See chart below.)

CHI Health at or Below Regional Average Payment for 8 of the top10 Episodes (Based on Volume)

Data Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; 2013 Standard Analytical File Medicare Claims with Anchor Inpatient Admission at Non-Critical Access Hospital.

CHI Health System

Regional Peer Group

Comparison

Average Spend Per Episode of Disease1 for 30 Day Period

Average Spend Per Episode of Disease2 for 30 Day Period

CHI Health Average Payment Relative to Regional Peers

DRG 470 Replacement of a hip, knee, or ankle joint without major complications or comorbidities.

$

23,226

$

21,690

107%

DRG 392 Includes an array of gastrointestinal disorders such as food poisoning, intestinal infections, and esophageal reflux without major complications or comorbidities.

$

9,623

$

9,973

96%

DRG 871 A potentially life-threatening complication of an infection (the infection could be from many different sources) with major complications or comorbidities

$

23,615

$

22,732

104%

DRG 194 A respiratory complication resulting in inflammation in or around the lungs, typically caused by infection.

$

13,217

$

13,357

99%

DRG 690 An infection in the urinary tract.

$

12,858

$

12,946

99%

DRG 481 One of many procedures on the hip or femur (excluding major joint replacement) such as tendon repair, fracture repair, stabilization of bone or soft tissue, etc.

$

32,562

$

33,179

98%

DRG 292 A cardiac complication where the heart is unable to pump sufficiently to maintain blood flow to the organs of the body resulting in blood pressure dropping and organ failure.

$

14,552

$

14,499

100%

DRG 641 Any number of nutritional disorders or vitamin deficiency, dehydration, etc. that result in underweight, obesity, or many other conditions.

$

10,010

$

11,089

90%

$

14,077

$

14,788

95%

$

14,964

$

15,194

98%

DRG 683 Condition resulting in the kidneys failing to remove waste from the bloodstream causing multiple other complications.

DRG 872 A potentially life-threatening complication of an infection (the infection could be from many different sources) where a ventilator is required

Legend

CHI Health Above Region Average

CHI Health at or Below Region Average

DRG stands for Diagnosis-related group. 1 Average Spend Per Episode of Disease includes all costs incurred by the patient and paid by Medicare, including hospital, physician services and post-acute care over 30 days. 2 Regional Peer Group Averages do not include CHI Health data or Critical Access Hospitals and are offered as a point of comparison with all other acute care hospitals in the eastern Nebraska and northern Kansas markets. Source: CMS Standard Analytical File CY 2013.

Note: 2014 data will not be available until November 2015.

Learn details about our commitment to transparency, accountability and affordability at CHIhealth.com/Costs.

Bergan Mercy | Creighton University Medical Center | Good Samaritan | Immanuel | Lakeside Mercy Council Bluffs Midlands | Nebraska Heart St. Elizabeth | St. Francis | Missouri Valley | Mercy Corning Plainview | Schuyler | St. Mary’s | Lasting Hope Recovery Center | Richard Young Behavioral Health CHI Health Alegent Creighton Clinic CHIH_Direct_0101

CHIH_3PartCommitment_PhysicianB_7.625x10_315_Color_TransOption.indd 1

3/11/15 4:30 PM

lifestyle

by Kara Schweiss photography by Bill Sitzmann

Big Muddy Urban Farm Cofounders Ali Clark and Brent Lubbert

Country Fresh from the Big City Big Muddy Urban Farm 6 HerFamily • May 2015

w

hen Big Muddy Urban Farm entered its first growing season in 2012, the epic Missouri River flooding from the year before was still on everyone’s mind, says one of the farmer/owners and founding members.

“Big Muddy is a nickname for the Missouri River, and the river is such a big component as to why Omaha exists,” Ali Clark says of the organization’s name. “When we were thinking through imagery of what our farm was going to be, you get muddy out on the farm. Because we’re an urban farm, we really wanted to emphasize that connection” to the river and soil.

The first year turned out to be far less muddy than anticipated. No one had expected a historic drought to follow a year of flooding.

“The first season was extremely challenging. There were seven of us working as a collective. We were figuring out how to run a business and communicate with each other, and we were growing on six different lots in different parts of the city that all had different soil profiles. And it was the worst drought since the Dust Bowl,” Clark says. “But we omahamagazine.com

survived, and at the end of the season it was a huge sense of accomplishment. We couldn’t have done it without the support from the community.”

yard all day,” Clark says. “Kids can see what vegetables look like in the ground and they don’t have to go outside the city to see it.”

A CSA—Community Supported Agriculture—program helped Big Muddy Urban Farm sprout and continues to support its growth. The group also sells produce at a Gifford Park Neighborhood Market and to some local restaurants throughout the growing season.

The plots grow some fun varieties of produce not commonly found in grocery stores, like striped eggplants, tiny round carrots, purple potatoes, and even Mexican gherkin cucumbers that look like miniature watermelons.

“We’ve grown as our capacity and community support grows,” she says.

The collective’s members grow a mix of vegetables, herbs, and fresh fruits on vacant city lots.

Families interested in supporting local farmers can consider joining a CSA, and Big Muddy Urban Farm offers volunteer opportunities and workshops for backyard farmers, or even consumers who want to use more local produce in their kitchens.

“We welcome families to come to the farm or to visit the chickens on 33rd and Webster streets that range in the bestofomaha.com

“There are so many lessons to learn from a garden. You learn the skills of taking care of something that’s living, you learn the science behind seed germinating, you can talk about the ecosystems and the seasons,” Clark says.

The group is working to rehabilitate two properties in the area to eventually house the organization and “hopefully bring us to a new level,” Clark says.

“We all kind of came to the table with different levels of experience and interest in farming, but were interested in doing it more as a full-time thing,” she says. “The long-term vision is to compensate all of the farmers working on the project and show you can make farming a viable career path or lifestyle path.”

HerFamily • May 2015 7

health

by Chelsea Balzer

Screening Saves Lives The Charles Drew Health Center’s

new Cervical Cancer Screening Program.

y

ou know when you’re talking to someone who really cares about others. Maybe they don’t wear it on their sleeve, but you can feel their passion. They want to be of service.

That’s the sense you get about the staff at the Charles Drew Health Center, who have been providing healthcare to low-income families in Omaha since 1983. And that feeling that these people care, and that they will take care of you during an intimidating process, has saved lives by helping women overcome the apprehension surrounding cervical exams.

“What’s most effective is the one-on-one approach.”

-Leah Margolis

“I’ve talked to women who had gotten the mailing, gotten the phone call, who have said: ‘It wasn’t until I actually talked to you that I was encouraged to make the appointment,’” says Leah Margolis, a community health navigator with the program. “What’s most effective is the one-onone approach.”

The program, made possible by a grant from the BD Foundation, is a multi-faceted strategy to increase awareness about cervical cancer and to encourage regular screening for women in the Omaha community. The American Cancer Society estimates that 12,300 cases of invasive cervical cancer were diagnosed in 2013 and that over 4,000 of those women died from the disease, which can be prevented with early detection.

That’s where CDHC comes in.

The effort includes a grassroots public education campaign, extensive outreach efforts, and assistance for uninsured patients.

“We’re not, per se, a free clinic, but we’ll never turn anyone away. We have insurance enrollment services and, of course, a sliding-scale fee.”

The CDHC helps uninsured women cover the cost of an exam in two ways: the Every Woman Matters program geared toward women ages 40 to 69 and the State Pap Program for women 21 to 39.

Margolis understands that it isn’t always about money, though, and that there are many reasons women don’t get screened regularly.

“A cervical cancer screening is invasive, let’s be honest. I have one next month and I’m nervous.

So, we’re normalizing that for women, and we’re looking beyond what you would think of as ‘normal’ barriers—transportation, time, or finances.

We definitely want to acknowledge those, but we’re looking deeper and providing a safe space for women.”

Margolis and the CDHC recently hosted their first public event for the cause, providing free manipedis as well as snacks to guests. Their next event of its kind will be held June 29. (In April, they hosted their first “Lunch and Learn”).

The events aren’t the only incentive for getting involved. Every woman who comes in for a pap smear receives a $15 gift card. The Cervical Cancer Screening Program is about more than getting women signed up for an exam; it’s about teaching women that they’ve got someone in their corner.

“It’s not about hurry up and get screened. It’s: ‘Get screened, and what else can we do for you?’”

8 HerFamily • May 2015

omahamagazine.com

bestofomaha.com

HerFamily • May 2015 9

meet the family

by Kim Carpenter photography by Bill Sitzmann

BJ, Quinn, Fiona, Aileen, and Lily Tobin

10窶ォerFamily 窶｢ May 2015

omahamagazine.com

a

The Tobins Life on the creative side

s I sit in BJ and Aileen Tobin’s bright, sunny living room, a note is quietly passed to me. Folded in two, it simply states: “Name (First and Last).” It’s also worth noting that this surreptitious missive is written on Hello Kitty stationery. It’s from the couple’s 7-yearold daughter Fiona, who, while curious as to why I’m there, doesn’t want to be rude and interrupt the conversation.

Don’t, however, mistake Fiona for being shy. She’s not and neither is her brother Quinn (9) nor sister Lily (10). In fact, they’re all outgoing kids who are happy to hang out and make easy conversation with their parents and a visitor.

While Fiona has yet to make one, she became part an installation at the Bemis Center this past summer. When an artistin-residence from New Mexico needed a child to move around a whimsically constructed set and star in a short video, Fiona gamely took part, interacting with the artist’s bright yellow ceramic lemon sculptures and a live—albeit somewhat less interested—turtle.

“My kids get exposed to a lot of contemporary art and are really comfortable with it.

They’re comfortable talking with artists, and they interact with them pretty easily.”

They’re also happy to share the kinds of things their family does, even if they don’t -Aileen Tobin always realize that some of those are out of the norm for most kids. That’s because BJ, a partner and vice president of new business development at Wave Interactive, a strategy, consulting, and creative development company, and Aileen, director of operations at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, both have jobs that involve a lot of creativity— the kind of creativity that occasionally spills into their family time. And when that doesn’t happen, the Tobins still make certain to introduce their kids to a wide array of experiences that involve enriching activities.

“My kids get exposed to a lot of contemporary art and are really comfortable with it,” Aileen observes. “They’re comfortable talking with artists, and they interact with them pretty easily. They’re

bestofomaha.com

also all exposed to different media, and they know that art isn’t just painting on canvases. Fiona keeps a lot of empty boxes and cups in her room on the off chance she can put them together in an installation.”

Other Bemis experiences have brought in the whole family. They participated in two stagings of Whoop Dee Doo, an artist-led, kid-focused variety show that has toured internationally and features live performances as well as lots of audience participation. “That was a really neat show,” remembers BJ. “They had bodybuilders and the Dancing Grannies.”

The Tobins also took part in a project that involved being photographed during the family dinner hour.

“Fiona was a baby, so there I was in the photo standing and holding her while everyone else was around the table,” remembers Aileen. “I see that image, and it makes me think of all those little things that happen over the years and are just woven into our memories.” >

HerFamily • May 2015 11

meet the family continued

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The Bemis, though, isn’t the only way the couple’s jobs have exposed their children to creative careers. When Wave Interactive was building a new web site for the Joslyn Art Museum, the company needed models for a photo shoot, and Lily became one of them. Quinn, too, had his starring moment when he was featured as a toddler in a media campaign for the state government’s Nebraska Long-Term Savings Plan Contribution program. Lily happily shows me her image on the Joslyn’s website, while Quinn gamely retrieves the framed poster from his photo shoot from the basement.

BJ and Aileen see these kinds of opportunities as a reminder to introduce their kids to a broad range of activities that stimulate creativity and intellectual curiosity. “I think it’s because of our really cool jobs that we have this perspective to keep our lives wellrounded,” she reflects. “We really try to take full advantage of what Omaha can offer to children—the Children’s Museum, the Zoo, the Rose, etc. There are so many programs that we participate in. We definitely try to explore a lot.”

There are also other activities that make the Tobin kids wellrounded, ones to which most parents can fully relate: all three are very active in sports, including swimming, soccer, and basketball.

This is extremely important to BJ because he is engaged in his childrens’ athletics in a way that brings—and keeps—the family

12 HerFamily • May 2015

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Come see why... close together. “The biggest thing I’m proud of is getting to coach my kids and hundreds of other kids through the years at the YMCA,” he says. “I’ve coached six teams a year there for the last five to six years. It is my great passion and is a huge part of every day, week, and year. I’m coaching three teams right now. That is my norm. I’m on a field or court somewhere nearly every evening and most of Saturday.”

was voted

This, of course, means coordinating a lot of schedules around practices, games, and meets. Aileen mentally ticks through the family schedule of who has what and when. “I think we have Thursday nights free,” she laughs.

BJ loves the way all these experiences have combined to form easygoing kids who don’t mind spending part of their Sunday afternoon with a stranger who peppers them with questions. “It seems like they’re game for anything,” he smiles. “As a family, we’re having a lot of fun. We’re busy, but we’re just having a blast.”

When asked to share her perspective on her family, Fiona thoughtfully considers for a moment. “My mom makes great food,” she says seriously. As far as she’s concerned, that’s about the most important piece of information anyone really needs when getting to know the Tobins.

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HerFamily • May 2015 13

diy

Going Vertical

by Kristen Hoffman photography by Bill Sitzmann

Kristen Hoffman, DIY

14窶ォerFamily 窶｢ May 2015

omahamagazine.com

Molly Maid clean is n

Molly Maid clean is now green!

Molly Maid clean is now green!

Trust Molly Maid to clean your home so thoroughly, people are guaranteed to notice!

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Reasons why it makes sense.

DIRECTIONS

f you are cheap like me (or “frugal,” as some like to say), this is the project for you.

Often I look at larger DIY projects and completely dismiss them because, lord knows, I don’t have space in my budget to take them on. Luckily, most of what I used in this project was my favorite price: Free. Our warehouse at the magazine has old pallets that get thrown out all the time.

So, like the thief that I am, I snagged one.

UnderTheSink, the household hazardous waste collection facility on 120th and I streets, provided plenty of stain for a total cost of zero dollars.

If you choose to take on this DIY, you gotta look tough. Throw your “Rosie the Riveter” bandana on, turn up The Black Keys, and get ready to get down and dirty putting together this pallet garden.

MATERIALS • Kiln-dried pallet in good shape • Hammer and nails • Heavy, coarse sandpaper • Protective gloves • Flat pry bar • Old rags • Wood stain • Fabric weed barrier • Staple gun • Potting Soil • Herbs

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HerFamily • May 2015 15

feature Chelsea Balzer by

photography by Omaha Girls Rock

16窶ォerFamily 窶｢ May 2015

omahamagazine.com

t

Omaha Girls Rock Camp Adapts to Rapid Growth

heir showcase concerts have already been selling out, but it may be that Omaha Girls Rock is just now finding their groove.

Melissa Wurth, the camp’s executive director, was appointed last year just as public interest piqued, and she plans to keep that momentum moving.

“We want to be able to get into all the branches of the community. We have a lot more applications than we’ve ever had.” The camp, which was founded in 2011, has grown more than 60 percent since 2013.

Wurth says they’re still going strong. Having a background in education, she is a laid-back leader with a bit of a Kim Gordon vibe. While not a musician herself, she has been with the camp since day one. In fact, most of the team has remained stable from the beginning and is backed by a board consisting of some of the most powerful women in Omaha.

“Our mentors really do have a strong sense of self. That’s something we look for. They’re leaders within their own communities.” bestofomaha.com

And yet, Wurth points out that these women still sometimes struggle to be taken seriously in the music industry. Many who play instruments in rock bands are assumed to be roadies, for example.

For this reason, the team feels it is vital that the camp is a safe space for young girls to express themselves without being questioned, and to be exposed to positive role models.

“The main thing that we’re doing is trying to increase girls’ sense of empowerment through music. As much as the music is a primary point of what we do, it’s actually through that music that we want to let that lesson be taught.”

With the camp growing as quickly as it is, the team is developing new strategies for meeting the demand. A pay-what-you-can scholarship is already in place, and they are dedicated to remaining accessible and inclusive. They’re expanding their curriculum to accommodate more experienced campers who have been with them for longer, and there’s an after-school program in the works. >

HerFamily • May 2015 17

feature continued

brews cafes chef profiles cocktails dining reviews farmers markets recipies taverns treats

FOOD&DRINK

<

Not only do they want more girls to have access to their message, but Wurth is adamant about further diversifying the camp’s music education. “We want all genres represented. We want more punk bands, we want more hip-hop bands, even some phonic instrumentalists.

We want it all.”

The future looks bright for Omaha Girls Rock, and one can only imagine the dynamic effect this movement could have on Omaha’s music scene in years to come.

Wurth believes they have a role to play there, as well.

Her next step is asking how they can support girls beyond the camp experience, and not just with music, but with whatever the experience inspires campers to accomplish. “We’re trying to grow a community.” With their confident, rockand-roll attitude, it seems that nothing will be able to stand in their way.

The camp runs July 6 through July 18, with two showcase concerts open to the public. For more information, visit www.omahagirlsrock.com.

18 HerFamily • May 2015

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health

by Kara Schweiss

Also consider events from a child’s perspective, she adds. For instance, services with long eulogies and many music elements may be trying, a threevolley salute during military services can be frightening, and seeing adults weeping can cause concern or confusion. And parents shouldn’t pressure a child to participate in anything he or she feels uncomfortable with, like viewing or touching the deceased at open-casket services, or attending a burial.

A Time to Grieve When is the right time for children to

w

attend their first funeral?

e try to shield our children from life’s harsher realities, but, in all likelihood, there will come a time when a child will experience the death of a family member or someone close.

“We believe that kids can be ready as long as the adult preps them well enough,” says Cathy Fox, MSW, the program director for Ted E. Bear Hollow, a local organization that offers free grief support programs to children and families. “That varies based on their developmental level. Even young children can attend funeral services or memorial services and do well.”

When preparing a child to attend services, parents need to consider that children process grief differently than adults, Fox says. “We as adults may think they don’t understand or they’re too young to feel grief, but it’s really their attention span,” Fox says.

Plus, she adds, children think in very literal terms. Explaining to a child what will take place is the first step in determining whether a child is ready to attend memorial or funeral services, and if the deceased is of a different faith or culture, a call to the funeral home can help clarify what will take place. Give children a chance to ask questions, too, but be careful about using euphemisms like “eternal sleep” that may be comforting to adults but potentially upsetting to children unable to understand such abstractions. Ask children if they would like to participate, Fox says, before making any assumptions; children may feel strongly about having a chance to say goodbye and gain closure. bestofomaha.com

“If the child does come to the service, it doesn’t mean they need to participate in all of it,” Fox explains. If the parents are involved in the funeral services, designate a special helper in advance, just in case, “someone who can take the kids out to play or get the kids some fresh air.” The family might consider traveling in two cars so one parent can leave early with the children if needed.

Whether or not a child attends services, the family can remember and honor the deceased in many ways, from writing a letter or drawing a picture to more formal remembrance rituals like releasing helium balloons or sky lanterns. Even small activities like making the person’s favorite dinner or attending a sporting event the person loved can be comforting, and children can help create tangible memorials like pillows or quilts, scrapbooks, or photo collages.

“I would encourage adults to ask the kids what would be meaningful to them,” Fox says.

After the formal services are over, families should try to maintain as much routine and structure as possible to help create a sense of stability and normalcy, Fox says.

“Research shows that the biggest predictor on how kids will adapt is how the adults are doing. If the adults are taking care of themselves and trying to stay as normal as possible but still trying to remember the person who died, that helps the children.”

HerFamily • May 2015 19

young hero

by Lisa Lukecart photography by Bill Sitzmann

Rise of the Machines Millard West’s Patrick Collins, Ben Zadow, and their award-winning robot, Tigger.

w

hen Patrick Collins brought Tigger home, his dog Charlie cowered in fear. Tigger reached up, grabbed a carrot off the kitchen counter, and presented it to the white Eskimo as a peace offering. Charlie inched forward, sniffed, and gobbled up the vegetable.

Tigger, a robot, isn’t something Charlie had seen before.

Collins, along with partner Ben Zadow, created Tigger as part of the CatBotics Robotics Team at Millard West High School.

The two high school seniors, team Tower Tigers, compete in the “create” section of robotics challenges. Tigger is a creative mixture of spare parts. This means the two can utilize anything to build their bots, from 3D printers to bike chains. After that, it was a matter of trial and error to see what worked and what didn’t.

20 HerFamily • May 2015

omahamagazine.com

Patrick Collins and Ben Zadow with their robot, Tigger.

“I knew I had something going for me,” Collins says. “I love doing my best and doing something I’m proud of and showing it off.” Collins leans back against the mock robotics arena throwing a blue plastic ball in the air. He is focused, determined, and intelligent.

Zadow is the “sidekick” and programmer of the team. He found a white PlayStation 3 controller and fangled the code so it could be used as a remote control for Tigger. Sometimes, it even comes down to milliseconds of timing, which is “kind of tricky” for Zadow.

Zadow will lighten the mood when things grow tense. “Everyone will be arguing and I’ll just throw out the word ‘cracker,’ and everyone will laugh,” he says.

It took about four months to design the robot, followed by another eight months to physically build and program it. Tigger looks a little like a mini-construction bulldozer. His personality, though, is in his dual gripper system.

Collins is the designer and has a huge professional-looking binder filled with complicated plans. He bounced ideas off his father Timothy, a mechanical engineer who designs fire truck ladders for Rosenbauer Aerials.

“Ever since I was a kid I was fascinated with it,” Collins says.

In fourth grade, Collins had one hour to construct anything out of 100 LEGO bricks for the National Association of Women in Construction contest. He built a suspension bridge with steel cables. He came in first locally and three months later finished first at both the regional and national levels. bestofomaha.com

He has black-rimmed glasses, but that is where the stereotypes of a “computer nerd” end. He sits cross-legged in skinny black jeans playing with a sound control board. Typically, he’s seen hunched down in his Nirvana T-shirt, brown hair shaggy, listening to music from his huge headphones.

“Their work ethic is great. They basically lived here,” Scott Bohlken says. He is the sponsor and teaches the Design and Fabrication courses at Millard West. So far, under his tutelage, his club has earned 16 awards in four years, including on the state and national levels.

Collins is hoping that, someday, Bohlken will refer to him as a legend like he does former student Kyle Ray, who was a top national winner in VEX. Collins is on his way to doing so with Tigger—the bot is currently ranked first in the state and nation. Their hard worked paid off with so many trophies that Zadow had to build a

shelf just to fit them all. Zadow and Collins, the Tower Tigers, have competed at the highest levels all year, losing only once.

Each match consists of 25 seconds of a programmed autonomous period where neither boy can touch the controller. Next: another 80 seconds of driving, meaning Collins can use his remote to direct the robot. During the last state competition, the Tower Tigers defeated the Cube Cougars in the finals. The Cougars are also Millard West students who only took two weeks to build their robot, Roxanne. It was easier and faster to build because Zadow and Collins helped.

Jacob Wicks, part of Cube Cougars along with partner Justin Juma, said it is fun to compete against Collins.

“Bohlken expects a lot out of Patrick,” Wicks adds. “He’s a good leader.”

“Our goal is not to win and destroy, but to further the program,” Collins says. In their next contest, the “stakes are high” for Collins, who could win a 3D printer as an honorary award for Millard West, something to cement the legacy the boys have already created.

Collins will head to the University of Nebraska—Lincoln to do something in mechanical fabrication while Zadow hopes to be a sound engineer or producer.

Collins’ ultimate dream is to build a humanoid robot so it could take the place of people in hazardous situations.

“If you got an idea, go with it and see where it takes you,” he advises.

“To infinity and beyond,” Zadow yells.

HerFamily • May 2015 21

feature Robert Nelson by

photography provided by Desoto National Wildlife Refuge

b

ack before the Missouri River was channelized into a deep, predictable current, navigating the river was much like weaving through a minefield. Logs and sandbars hid beneath the murky, shallow waters, waiting to snag early boats. In the 19th century, numerous steamboats full of precious cargo were lost as they chugged upstream to the young towns and minefields to the north and northwest. Losing cargo was just part of the price of doing business.

In the spring of 1865, the cargo-ladened steamboat Bertrand met this common fate along the Missouri River about 30 miles north of Omaha. In time, the ship and its contents disappeared under silt of the ever-shifting river bottom.

In 1968, the steamboat was rediscovered under 30 feet of soil. The subsequent excavation recovered hundreds of artifacts, most of which now sit on display at the visitor center at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge.

That display and its tens of thousands of artifacts—an often unexpected treat for visitors to a nature preserve—had to be rushed away from the refuge four years ago as water rose in the area from the 2011 flood. Now, with the help of volunteers primarily from nearby Blair, Neb., and Missouri Valley, Iowa, the artifacts are

22 HerFamily • May 2015

back in place in an upgraded exhibit that, compared to the pre-flood display, is much more comprehensive in telling the story of the Bertrand and frontier life.

“You want to give visitors something more than just interesting artifacts to look at,” says Dean Knudsen, curator of the museum. “We’ve put a lot of effort into providing context—telling the story.”

This also includes, he says, using items as touchstones to tell the story of the passengers of the Bertrand (all of whom survived, by the way).

“We have a unique opportunity here to tell the story of frontier life,” he says.

With 2015 being the 150th anniversary of the steamboat’s sinking, the Desoto Refuge staff has the perfect opportunity to introduce, and reintroduce, people to the renovated Bertrand display. A weekend of commemorative events was held in late March. This summer, visitors will be treated to a special exhibit in which some of the Bertrand’s artifacts are placed next to their modern counterparts.

And, seeing those items next to items you still see at the grocery store, you are reminded that as distant as 1865 may seem from 2015, there are many things about the lives of our ancestors that were not very different at all.

“There’s a built-in ‘wow factor’ in the display because you’re looking right there at peaches and honey that are pretty much pristine—they look edible,” Knudsen says.

It’s a time capsule. And seeing modern items next to them—some, like the wine and the rum from companies that still exist today—just creates so much more of a connection.”

And even young children who may not be interested in the story of westward expansion are usually still excited by the exhibit, Knudsen says.

“After all, it’s buried treasure,” he says.

“Who doesn’t get excited about buried treasure?”

The ship’s cargo, intended to supply the mining camps of Montana, was in remarkable condition when it was raised from its tomb. So much so that bottles of wine and liquor, and jars of fruits and other foods, look very much like they did in 1865. omahamagazine.com

“We have a unique opportunity here to tell the story of frontier life.”

-Dean Knudsen

bestofomaha.com

HerFamily • May 2015 23

mind & body

by Bev Carlson, Lutheran Family Services

The Big Screen Battle

Bev Carlson, Lutheran Family Services

24窶ォerFamily 窶｢ May 2015

omahamagazine.com

4 Mark Your Calendars!

Screen Free Week May 4 - 10, 2015

a

n old photo of my once 18-month-old son shows him sitting at the computer. It was around 1999, so the computer was a tower unit with a CRT monitor and a 15-inch screen. Pretty cutting-edge stuff back then. He had crawled up into the computer chair to see what was going on.

I remember, even then, being uncomfortable with my toddler’s fascination with the screen. All those pretty colors and shapes.

He just had to wiggle the mouse and things would happen. It was a coloring book on steroids. Even as time went on, and we invested in software that taught ABCs, numbers, colors—I never could get comfortable with how completely immersed he could become in staring at that screen. It was obviously addicting.

My husband and I set limited screen time that included television and computer games, and the wort—the absolute worst disciplinary threat— was withdrawal of all screen time. I only had to actually do it once or twice, and it was rough. Unless he found something or I could offer something else constructive or fun to do, the computer was always his go-to entertainment. Truly a siren’s call for a little boy. So, we played lots of games, read lots of books, built lots of LEGO towers. And this was all before the advent of online gaming, video streaming, interactive social media, or smart phones. À la Wall-E, the experts say today’s children are now spending an average of seven hours a day on entertainment media, including televisions, computers, phones, and other electronic devices. That’s unsettling.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns: “Studies have shown that excessive media use can lead to attention problems, school difficulties, sleep and eating disorders, and obesity. In addition, the Internet and cell phones can provide platforms for illicit and risky behaviors.” – www.aap.org (Advocacy and Policy) The AAP also recommends fewer than two hours of screen time for children and teens each day, strongly endorsing that kids instead spend time playing outside, reading, hobbies, and free play. In fact, May 4-10, 2015, is the official “Screen-Free Week.” The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood is the sponsor and offers a wealth of tips on how to re-establish family ties weakened by an inundation of screens. You can visit the website www.screenfree.org for tips on how to make such a commitment work in your home. The pledge calls for no TV, no DVDs, no computers, nor phones, unless needed for work or school.

By the way, my son is now a 17-year-old honors student and athlete. He’s on the drumline at his high school, is a jazz drummer, attends church, has a smart and beautiful girlfriend, and a lot of really awesome buddies, most of whom rank in the top 10percent of their class. He is trying to decide which engineering or science track to pursue in college.

He’s also a hard-core gamer who built his own computer last year. So I’m sitting here quietly hoping that all those times I had to peel him away from the screen maybe paid off. bestofomaha.com

HerFamily • May 2015 25

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omahamagazine.com

Summer Camps 2015

SUMMER AT UNO! Maverick Basketball Camp

Mav Kids Summer Camp

Girls

June 1–July 24 | Grade 1–Age 12

June 1–12 | Grades 1–12 Skill Development I – $120 June 1–4 | 8:30 A.M.–12:00 P.M. | Entering Grades 1–5 Skill Development II – $120 June 1–4 | 1:00 P.M.–5:00 P.M. | Entering Grades 6–8 Team Camp I – $200 June 9 | Junior High & JV Teams Team Camp II – $250 June 10 | Varsity HS Teams Elite Camp – $135 June 11–12 | Entering Grades 9–12 Discount Early Bird Specials Available For more information & register: camps.jumpforward.com/UNOWBB 402.554.2571 | cbarrett-sw@unomaha.edu

Boys

June 15–July 31 | Grades K–8 Camps starting at: $45/single day | $135/week Early Bird Special: $120/week Individual Skills Camps June 15–17 & June 22–24 Offensive Improvement Camps July 22–24 & July 29–31 For more information & register: unobasketballcamps.com | 402.554.2574 UNO athletics camps are open to any and all entrants, limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender.

Camp Times: 7:30 A.M.–5:30 P.M.

Registration begins: Monday, February 16, 2015 For more information: campusrec.unomaha.edu/mavkids | 402.554.2539

UNO Jazz Camp

Featuring the Jim Widner Big Band

June 14–19 | Grades 7–12 Instrumental Music Students

For more information: unojazzcamp.com 402.554.2297 | petermadsen@unomaha.edu

UNO Volleyball Camp July 7–16 | Grades 1–12 Beginning Individual Camp July 7–8 | Grades 5–8 Advanced Individual Camp July 9–10 | Grades 7–9 Junior Camp July 11 | Grades 1–5 Advanced Specialty Camp July 15–16 | Grades 10–12 For more information & register: unovolleyballcamps.com UNO athletics camps are open to any and all entrants, limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender.

For more information about all of UNO’s Summer Camps for Kids visit: unomaha.edu/camps bestofomaha.com

HerFamily • May 2015 27

Summer Camps 2015

For questions contact:

David Martin

fine-lines@cox.net 402-871-3682

June 15-19 8:30-12:00

For more information visit:

Fine Lines

www.finelines.org

Creative Writing Summer Camp #15

Beveridge Middle School 1616 South 120th Street, Omaha

Space is limited. Register Today!

Grades 4-12, College, and Adults

2015

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Instructional Leagues • Clinics • Team Golf 10 week program Wednesday’s from 8am-11am Instruction and Golf.

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Lessons developed by the PGA of America Designed for beginners & latent golfers Relaxed atmosphere | Open to men & women | Meet new friends Sign Up Today!

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Summer Camps 2015

Level up your musicianship at

OCMI Omaha Conservatory of Music’s annual week-long Summer Institute!

July 19-25, 2015

Strengthen your skills in Strings, Piano, Voice, or Guitar.

Study with world-class guest-artist musicians.

Something for ALL AGES

Visit omahacm.org/ocmi for more details!

402.932.4978 reception@omahacm.org 3504 S 108th St., Omaha, NE Like Us! facebook.com/omahacm Follow Us! @OmaConservatory!

d r y k a c a B plorers Ex camp You’ll never know what you’ll find!

Pre-K; ages 4-5; June 1-5; 9-noon.

Discover the wonders of nature in this outdoors camp led by natural resources experts and licensed teachers. Activities could include seed planting, wildlife tracks, frogs and turtles, and casting fishing poles. at Chalo Hills Rec Area. Registration/Contact: www.papionrd.org (educational resources tab) bestofomaha.com

HerFamily • May 2015 29

Summer Camps 2015

Duchesne Preschool Offering five one-week sessions

June 15 - July 30

for preschool boys and girls, ages 3-5

If you have questions, please contact Mary Jo Begley, Summer Enrichment Coordinator at 402-810-9969 or visit the summer camp webpage: http://duchesneacademy.org/preschool/ preschool-summer-camps/

30窶ォerFamily 窶｢ May 2015

20 15

omahamagazine.com

Summer Camps 2015

June 8-12, 9am-12 Daily Children Age 4-5th Grade

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HerFamily • May 2015 31

food

sponsored content by Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Fruity Oatmeal

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oss the big box of sugary cereal and try this fruity oatmeal for a healthy breakfast. With sweet, colorful fruit and crunchy almonds, this oatmeal will become a breakfast favorite.

Find more great recipes at HealthyKohlsKids.com.

The Healthy Kohl’s Kids program is a partnership between Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and Kohl’s Department Stores to educate children and parents about healthy nutrition and fitness.

ingredients • • • • • • • •

1 cup skim milk 1/2 cup plain, dry oatmeal 1 Tbsp brown sugar 1 Tbsp wheat germ 1 Tbsp golden raisins 1 Tbsp almonds, chopped 1 Tbsp dried cranberries 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

preparation 1. In a saucepan, combine milk, oatmeal, and brown sugar and cook over medium heat for five minutes—or until oatmeal is softened—stirring occasionally.

2. Add wheat germ, raisins, almonds, dried cranberries, and blueberries. Stir to combine. Serve immediately.

Yield: 2 servings Serving Size: About 1/2 cup, Calories: 224, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 0, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 70mg, Carbohydrates: 34g, Fiber: 4g, Protein: 10g

32 HerFamily • May 2015

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HerFamily • May 2015 33 12/8/2014 12:35:44 PM

mom on the rocks

by Leslie Murrell

Back to the Stone Age 40 days and 40 nights in a social media blackout

m

y intent was to replace the dead space of surfing my 3-inch phone screen with soul searching meditation. Letting go of social media was a lot easier than finding a quiet space to meditate.

I was told once that anyone can find 10 to 20 minutes a day of privacy and quiet. That person doesn’t have kids. Or a cat. Or a dog. Or a very loud HVAC unit. Apparently, I’ve made the flippant choice to fill my house with lives who need attention at random times of the day and night. Just finding a place with no distractions was tough. I found a secret hiding place in my basement.

The first days of meditation were strategically selected on the weekend, when everyone else sleeps in, including the cat and dog. Then Monday came around.

That’s when I discovered my dog, Maybee, knows how to tell time. She was pacing and growling at me to feed her. Someone had the audacity to get up to use the restroom. For the record, running water from the toilet flushing is not a comparable sound to a waterfall or a trickling creek.

I’m trying to find my Zen while my family is thumping around directly over my head.

We are the most experienced, full-service, family owned real estate company in America.

But I had 40 days to figure out this chaos known as finding my Zen. I tapered that alarm earlier until not even the heater startles me when it kicks on. It’s the time of the morning when the dog looks up as I’m getting out of bed as if to say, “I give up, you’re on your own, I can wait for breakfast.”

It worked. I know because something happened I never anticipated. I’m a calmer mom. It’s freaking my kids out when I react calmly instead of instantly nagging. I relish in their confusion.

Oddly enough, I had to make more time to wake up earlier to meditate. When I sacrificed my social media trolling, I had more time to do things like cook dinner and not burn it to see who’s commented on my very funny post I’d so artfully crafted. It was worth it to find that time every day to just take a few breaths.

When my 40 days were up, I went back to only one particular social medium and I check it weekly instead of daily or, let’s be real here—hourly—or every 10 minutes.

Leslie Murrell, Mom on the Rocks

npdodge.com 34 HerFamily • May 2015

omahamagazine.com

fitness

by Rachel Joy photography by Bill Sitzmann

Lunge Pose Variation Sanskrit name: Anjaneyasana (an-ja-nay-AHS-anna)

t

his lunge pose variation expands the chest, strengthens and stretches the hip flexors and quadricep muscles, and improves concentration.

1.

Begin kneeling on hands and knees. Keep your shoulders above the wrists and knees below the hips.

Step your right foot forward in between your hands.

2.

Inhale deeply, engage your belly, and, as you exhale, slowly twist from the belly, over to the right.

5.

Pull the right shoulder back to open through the chest.

6.

Create resistance by pushing the foot away while simultaneously creating resistance by pulling the foot towards you with your hand.

3.

7.

4.

BEGINNERS TIP:

Gaze backwards and slowly bend the back leg towards the sky.

Reach your right arm back and grab the outside of the foot with your hand.

Sink forward into the right hip and breathe deeply for 8-10 slow breaths. Repeat opposite side.

Place a strap around the top of the foot if the hand doesn’t reach the foot.

Rachel Joy, Fitness

bestofomaha.com

HerFamily • May 2015 35

Calendar of Events

Tech City

Lost Egypt

I Hate Hamlet

FOR THE KIDS

FOR THE FAMILY

FOR MOM & DAD

TECH CITY

THE RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL OF NEBRASKA

I HATE HAMLET

THROUGH MAY 10. STRATEGIC AIR & SPACE MUSEUM— ASHLAND, NE. This traveling engineering exhibit

MAY 2-10, THE BELLEVUE BERRY FARM—11001 S. 48TH

PLAYHOUSE—6915 CASS ST. Andrew, an aspiring

is a great way to inspire learning and interest

ST, PAPILLION, NE. Join us for merry-making

actor, has landed the role of a lifetime as

in careers that focus on science, technology,

and feasting. The all-female jousting troupe,

Hamlet. There is just one problem…he hates

engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The

The Knights of The Rose, will visit the first

Hamlet. As fate would have it, Andrew’s new

Tech City exhibit is designed with interactive

weekend; the heavy-hitting jousting troupe

Manhattan residence is the former apartment

learning that will appeal to visitors of all ages.

The New Riders of the Golden Age will make an

of the brilliant actor John Barrymore, whose

9am - 5pm. Free with regular admission. $12

appearance the second weekend. 11am-6pm.

portrayal of Hamlet was legendary. When

adult, $6 youth, children under 3 are free.

Children $7, adults $12. 402-331-5500

Barrymore’s ghost appears to Andrew, he

402-944-3100.

BELLEVUEBERRYFARM.COM

mentors Andrew on all the tricks of the trade.

APRIL 17-MAY 10, OMAHA COMMUNITY

Will Andrew’s debut be a triumph or a tragedy?

- SASMUSEUM.COM

ANIMATION FROM THE ANIMUTTS

Find out in this fast-paced, fencing-packed, and

CHARLOTTE’S WEB

MAY 22-JUNE 13, GALLERY 72—1806 VINTON ST. This

funny play. 402-553-0800.

THROUGH MAY 10, THE ROSE THEATER—2001 FARNAM

show explores animations viewed as art. These

– OMAHAPLAYHOUSE.COM

ST. Wilbur the pig doesn’t appear to have a

are computer and stop motion animations

very bright future when Fern begs her father

produced through collaboration of the three

EMILIE BALTZ: FOOD THEATER

not to dispose of the runt of the litter. But

artists Rebecca Hermann, Peggy Reinecke and

THROUGH MAY 23, BEMIS CENTER FOR

surrounded by supportive barnyard friends on

Tom Sain, who call themselves The AniMutts.

CONTEMPORARY ARTS—724 S. 12TH ST. Emilie Baltz

her Uncle Zuckerman’s farm—and befriended

5-9pm. 402-496-4797

developed “Food Theater” as a platform to

by a very gifted spider—Wilbur becomes

- GALLERY72.COM

transform the everyday into the exceptional by

“some terrific, radiant pig!” Revisit the timeless

bringing together local creators, ingredients and community members to participate in

generations of families with its universal themes

LOST EGYPT: ANCIENT SECRETS, MODERN SCIENCE

of friendship and sacrifice. $18 for nonmembers.

MAY 23-SEPTEMBER 6, DURHAM MUSEUM—801 S.

reimagine the role that food plays in our lives.

402-345-4849.

10TH ST. Step into the world of archaeologists,

11am-5pm. Free. 402-341-7130.

- ROSETHEATER.ORG

Egyptologists, and other researchers through

- BEMISCENTER.ORG

magic of a story that’s touched the hearts of

immersive, multi-sensory spectacles that

multiple hands-on elements, immersive

CHILDREN’S PARADE

storytelling, and real mummies and artifacts.

IMAGINE DRAGONS

MAY 23, OMAHA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM—500 S. 20TH

The exhibition challenges visitors to apply

JUNE 10, CENTURYLINK CENTER OMAHA—455 N. 10TH

ST. Kick off summer and the opening of LEGO:

numerous methods to unveil hidden mysteries

ST. Grammy Award-winning rock band, Imagine

Travel Adventure with the fifth annual children’s

within the display. Children free, Adults $9.

Dragons, are set to bring their electrifying

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live shows back on the road in 2015 with the

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Smoke + Mirrors Tour in support of their new

the parade. 9-10am. $9, free admission for kids

album, Smoke + Mirrors. Alternative rock band,

under 2. 402-930-2352

Metric, will be special guests on the Smoke +

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Mirrors Tour. Also joining the tour line-up will be Astralwerks’ recording artist, Halsey. 7:30pm. $30-$60. 402-341-1500.

- CENTURYLINKCENTEROMAHA.COM

36 HerFamily • May 2015

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HerFamily • May 2015 37

the grandpa chronicles

by David Williams photography by Bill Sitzmann

The Torn Page

m

y kids grew up not knowing the complete story of the Dr. Seuss classic, The Cat in the Hat. And until recently, my preschool-age grandsons didn’t either. That’s because the last leaf of our copy of the book, the one containing pages 59 and 60 of iconic illustrations and copy in the author’s trademark bouncy cadence, had been torn from this childhood masterpiece in the long distant past of at least 50 years ago.

The copy that my wife and I had read to our own kids was a prized hand-me-down from her family’s library, a treasure trove of musty children’s literature. We had scored this forgotten stash in 1980 simply because we were the first in my wife’s family to reproduce.

The funny thing is that it mattered not to us that our kids never knew, as the legendary commentator Paul Harvey was prone to say, “the rest of the story.”

The good doctor’s magnum opus, you see, is actually better with its final two pages missing. Read it to you own kids or grandchildren that way and I think you will agree.

In our truncated world of the impish feline that unleashes havoc with Thing One and Thing Two, the story ends: Then we saw him pick up All the things that were down.

He picked up the cake, And the rake, and the gown, And the milk, and the strings, And the books, and the dish, And the fan, and the cup, And the ship, and the fish.

And he put them away.

Then he said, ‘That is that.’

And then he was gone With a tip of his hat.

Done. Game over. Fade to black.

David Williams, The Grandpa Chronicles

38 HerFamily • May 2015

Read the unabridged version of the story and the perfect symmetry of the book is interrupted by shifting the focus from where it belongs—the circular arc of the narrative where a series of crazily convoluted hijinks is sublimely bookended by the most dramatic of entrances and exits.

Besides, there is no power in having a character—the mother, in this case—speak for the very first time only in the last-gasp stanzas of a work. And have you ever noticed how she is given almost the final word when she is, in fact, much better left to be something of a cypher, that disembodied set of nylon-clad legs in high heels that only suggests the presence of a calming authority figure in the author’s otherwise chaotic world? After all, it is her very absence that drives the plot.

Mostly to preserve and protect for future generations our moldering copy of our grandsons’ favorite book, we finally caved and bought a crisp, new, un-smelly version.

I have read The Cat in the Hat in its entirety to the kids exactly once before since abandoning that anticlimactic last leaf.

Their puzzled looks were more than just a reaction to the introduction of what, to them, represented an incongruous, even silly, plot twist.

No, these discerning young minds know a good story when they hear one. omahamagazine.com

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HerFamily • May 2015 39

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