March/April 2017 Omaha Magazine

C ATH E R L AND // MAYORA L C A N DIDAT ES // AUST IN ORT EGA // BEST LAW YERS MARCH/APRIL 2017

FATHER FLANAGAN

And the Cause for Canonization

12121 N 177 Cir, Bennington

$740,000

Magnificent 4 BR, 4 BA ranch on Bennignton Lake. Over 4300 sf with custom window treatments and plantation blinds that stay. Spacious LL has temp controlled wine cellar. Custom boat dock. Gas firepit.

$669,900

Fabulous 2 Story walk-out on corner lot w / 5 BR, 6 BA, and 3 fireplaces. Featuring a 4 car garage and iron fence! His / her office, every bedroom with own bath, and finished basement.

Jayne Smith • 402.203.5847

980 Cty Rd W S-114, Fremont

$625,000

Kori Krause • 402.679.0007

$525,000

Huntington Homes 5 bed /5 bath 2 story in Elkhorn school district. Fabulous gourmet kitchen, walk-in pantry with 2nd fridge! Grand master suite, 2nd floor bonus, all bdrms include en suite bathrooms.

Marty Evans • 402.968.1300

707 N 189 St., Omaha

$645,900

Great new floor plan by Kennsington Homes. 3 story atrium to LL. True 4 car garage. Master complete w/ walk in shower and heated tile floor. Open concept to family room and sunroom, overlooks #3 pond.

18933 Boyle Cir., Omaha

$600,000

Huntington Homes Magnolia plan w/ 4 BR, 5 BA. Large rooms, exquisite finishes, and beautiful decor both inside and out! Covered patio, 2 laundry areas, 2 fridges.

Marty Evans • 402.968.1300

18651 N HWS Cleveland Blvd., Omaha

$695,000

Stunning 6 bedroom, 4 bath home on 19.5 acres in the Loess Hills. Bring the horses! Barn, fence and pastures are waiting. 20 x 24’ heated outbuilding.

Tami Ladd • 402.680.5149

980 Cty Rd W S-1179, Fremont

$635,000

Totally remodeled lake house w/ heated floors, Alder cabinets, wine fridge, high end kitchen appliances, remote control blinds, heated and cooled garage, steel siding. Come live in paradise. Woodcliff has restaurants, and a marina.

14821 Summit Cir., Omaha

$574,950

Amazing ranch on .54 acres. Backs to trees, grassland, lake & wildlife. Tall ceilings and cur ved archways.

Grand kitchen, Hickory flrs. Huge master suite. Lower level w / full kitchen. Composite deck. Fenced.

Denice Coenen • 402.677.7538

$515,190

Gorgeous ranch home with open concept. Finished basement including 2 bedrooms, a full bath, a large family room and wet bar with ample storage. Oversized 3 car garage. Completion date August 2017.

Cassidee Reeve • 402.706.2901

1892 193rd Lane, Mondamin, IA

Susan Hancock • 402.215.7700

Rick Adcox • 402.676.7425

Quality built 6 bed, 5 bath home in Paradise. Fabulous kitchen upstairs, and lrg wet bar / kitchen downstairs.

Located in a quiet cove and sits on over a 1/2 acre lot.

A private gated lake community.

1802 N 197 St., Omaha

$699,000

A unique home located in the city on 3.35 acres. Private, wooded with extensive landscaping. 4 BR, 4 BA with over 6200 sf and features an indoor pool, sunken living room with fireplace, a dark room, and main flr laundry.

Jason Anderson • 402.616.0578

BJ Brown • 402.681.7774

1518 N 190 St, Elkhorn

347 Stevens Rd., Council Bluffs, IA

2205 S 87 Street, Omaha

$500,000

West Loveland ranch! This charming brick home sits on .46 acre corner lot in District 66. Large master suite, pristine wood floors, and double sided fireplace. Finished basement, large bar w/ seating and full sized appliances.

Sunroom with hot tub and lap pool.

Nicole & Brian Deprez • 402.213.9090

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contents THE USUAL SUSPECTS

60

10

From the Editor

12

Between the Lines

15

Calendar of Events

66

History How Omaha Railroaded Council Bluffs

153 Obviously Omaha

St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl

175 Explore!

178 Instagram 182 Not Funny

Drunk on a Truth Binge

ARTS + CULTURE

FEATURES

42

UNDERDOGS AND FRONTRUNNERS

The Mayoral Race

46

50

60

28

Music Washington Garcia

30

Literature Kevin Simonson

ALOHA, BLUEJAYS

34

Sports Austin Ortega

Creighton Lu‘au Celebrates Omaha-Hawaii Connection

38

Gen O Sam Senser

GIVING

SOUTHWEST ESCAPE

70

One Road Trip. Two Family-Friendly Itineraries.

Infinite Opportunities.

Feature Nonprofit Association of the Midlands

72

Giving Calendar

COVER:

Performance Catherland

PROFILES

ADVENTURE:

24

FATHER FLANAGAN The Cause for Canonization

180 FREQUENT FLYERS

For Elite Equines, World Cup Travel is Not a Problem

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OMAHA HOME

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H89 Omaha Home Opener

Expanded Content On Your Digital Device

DINING

Watch videos and view photo galleries of select editorial from Omaha Magazine for FREE.

154 Profile

Nick Bartholomew

H92 DIY

How to Make a Coffee Filter Lamp

H94 Spaces

158 Review

Herbe Sainte

2 Page 18

162 Feature

Your Trash, Her Treasure

Lenten Fish Fries

H100 Landscape

Page H118

164 Guide

The Ash Borer War

H102 Feature

Page 28

SPECIAL SECTIONS

Home Away from Home with Bennington’s Firefighters

74

H110 Neighborhoods

Best Lawyers 2017

National NUSA Conference Comes to Omaha ABOUT THE COVER Children at Boys Town often go to pray at the tomb of Father Flanagan at Dowd Chapel on campus. The tomb is open to the public, and the chapel remains fully functional.

H116 Harvest

The Morel of the Story

H120 Architecture

Electrochromic Dream Home

60 Page

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60PLUS IN OMAHA

139

139 60PLUS Opener 140 Feature

Lisa Knopp on Bread

146 Health

Colonoscopy Cocktail

148 Nostalgia

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Letter

FROM THE EDITOR EXECUTIVE EDITOR DOUG MEIGS

THE CATHOLIC ISSUE he March/April issue of Omaha Magazine hits the streets just as Oscar season comes to a close.

Meanwhile, the subject of Omaha’s best-known Oscar-winning story is up for an even greater recognition—sainthood.

A tribunal from the Vatican is currently scrutinizing Boys Town’s founder, the late Father Edward J. Flanagan, for canonization.

T

Boys Town (the movie) tells a fictionalized story of the real-life Father Flanagan.

Released in 1938, the movie was actually filmed on the grounds of Boys Town.

Spencer Tracy won the Academy Award for Best Actor with his portrayal of Father Flanagan, and Tracy’s Oscar sits in a protective case at the Boys Town Hall of History.

The Village of Boys Town was engulfed

by Omaha’s westward sprawl. But Boys Town itself has grown significantly, too, with satellite locations throughout the metro (and nationwide). This year, Boys Town enters its 100th year of operation.

Should Pope Francis designate Father Flanagan to be a saint, the Village of Boys Town would become a place of holy pilgrimage. Add that to Omaha’s list of annual pilgrimages (a cherry—or maybe “halo” would be a better word—on top of Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting and the College World Series).

A lthough Father Flanagan’s earthly remains now rest in a tomb adjoining Dowd Chapel on campus, if he is canonized a saint, the village would need a shrine to accommodate the throngs of devout pilgrims (to avoid disrupting the normally calm chapel that was designed by local Omaha architect Leo A. Daly according to Father Flanagan’s own instructions).

Omaha Magazine’s March/April cover story* tells the tale of Father Flanagan’s life and his ongoing canonization process.

With St. Patrick’s Day, Lent, and Easter taking place during this issue’s distribution period, the magazine has taken on a noticeably Catholic theme.

When CitySlicker was initially in distribution, another Omaha Magazine was on the streets. Lemke says the previous Omaha Magazine—no relation to the current magazine—started in the 1970s and folded a few years after he had entered the local media market.

There is a guide to Omaha’s St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl, a guide to six of the best Lenten fish fries, and a story about the mysterious stained glass windows of St. Mary Magdalene Church (which was also designed by Omaha architect Leo A. Daly).

The Omaha Magazine brand name came available in the late 1980s. Lemke secured the copyright, and the first issue of his Omaha Magazine came out in 1989. The rest is history.

The cover story’s author, Carol Crissey Nigrelli, converted to Catholicism one year ago on Easter. She has become the magazine’s go-to writer for all subjects Catholic. Nigrelli wrote about the last nuns of Duchesne Academy in the September/ October 2016 issue. She also profiled the University of Notre Dame’s president in “From Omaha to Notre Dame” for the cover story of our November/December 2015 issue.

Today, Omaha Magazine Ltd. is the parent company of Omaha Publications, which also produces several other local communit y-focused magazines such as Encounter, B2B Magazine, Omaha Magazine’s Family Guide, and assorted custom publishing products.

For 35 years, Lemke’s Omaha Magazine (previously known as City Slicker) has told the stories of Omaha people, culture, and events. Thanks for reading!

Omaha Magazine’s 35th Anniversary A publication titled Omaha Magazine has existed in Omaha since the 19th century.

The earliest version, according to publisher Todd Lemke, was published in 1890. It was a satirical newsprint publication in magazine format, he says.

Lemke entered Omaha publishing in March 1983 with the first issue of City Slicker, the precursor to his current Omaha Magazine.

This March issue of Omaha Magazine marks the 35th anniversary of Lemke’s career in magazine publishing. That history explains why Omaha Magazine’s issue numbering starts with No. 1 in March.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 10 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

*Note: the hotel edition of Omaha Magazine has a different cover, and it does not include all of the editorial content included in the magazine’s full city edition.

MARCH // APRIL 2017 VOLUME 35 // ISSUE 1 Publisher

TODD LEMKE

EDITORIAL Executive Editor

DOUG MEIGS

Associate Editor

DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Editor-at-Large

ERIC STOAKES Editorial Assistant

HANNAH GILL · ALEC MCMULLEN · LINDSAY WILSON Interns

WILL PATTERSON · SHANNON SMITH Contributing Writers

LEO ADAM BIGA · ROBERT KLEIN ENGLER · JARED KENNEDY LISA KNOPP · CHARLIE LITTON · LISA LUKECART KATRINA MARKEL · TOM MCCAULEY · SEAN MCCARTHY CAROL CRISSEY NIGRELLI · NIZ PROSKOCIL · KIM REINER, KARA SCHWEISS · JARED SPENCE · OTIS TWELVE ANNE WALSH · SARAH WENGERT

CREATIVE Creative Director

BILL SITZMANN Art Director

MATT WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer

DEREK JOY

Graphic Designer

MADY BESCH

Contributing Photography

KEITH BINDER · COLIN CONCES · SCOTT DRICKEY JOSHUA FOO · SARAH LEMKE · AMY LYNN STRAUB

ACCOUNTS Publisher’s Assistant & Omaha Home Contributing Editor

SANDY MATSON Vice President

GREG BRUNS Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing

GIL COHEN

Senior Sales Executive & 60Plus in Omaha Contributing Editor

ELEGANCE

GWEN LEMKE

Executive Sales Manager

VICKI VOET

Senior Sales Manager

REIMAGINED

ALICIA SMITH HOLLINS Branding Specialists

KYLE FISHER · GEORGE IDELMAN MARY HIATT · JOSHUA PETERSON Sales Assistant

DAWN DENNIS

SHOPPING HOURS

OPERATIONS

Monday-Friday 10 am-8 pm | Saturday 10 am-7 pm | Sunday 12 pm-5 pm

Vice President of Operations

Individual store hours may vary

TYLER LEMKE Accountant

HOLLEY GARCIA-CRUZ

STORES

Distribution Manager

Ann Taylor | Anthropologie | Borsheims | Christian Nobel Furs Evereve | Francesca’s Collections | Garbo’s Salon & Spa Learning Express Toys | LOFT | Parsow’s Fashions

MIKE BREWER

Events/Public Relations

ALESHA OLSON

Pottery Barn | Pottery Barn Kids | Rhylan Lang | Tilly White House Black Market | Williams-Sonoma

For Advertising & Subscription Information:

402.884.2000

All versions of Omaha Magazine are published bimonthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha NE 68046-1208. Telephone: 402-884-2000; fax: 402-884-2001. Subscription rates: $19.95 for 6 issues (one year), $24.95 for 12 issues (two years). No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted, however no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations. Best of Omaha®™ is a registered tradename of Omaha Magazine.

DINING Bonefish Grill | Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Paradise Bakery & Café

MARCH

// APRIL • 2017 / 11 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

RegencyCourtOmaha.com

Between A LOOK AT FOUR OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS JARED SPENCE - Contributing Writer Jared is a fashion writer, stylist, and an all-around creative force. He has spent the past eight years spreading his style point of view around the city—previously serving as style editor for The Reader, working on local fashion shows, and producing countless fashion shoots for local publications. Jared is known for his innovative fashion editorials, always striving to create beauty but keeping it edgy with a fresh twist. With a knack for creating bold looks, Jared is keen on illustrating to readers how to incorporate a more highly styled flair into their everyday looks. When he’s not playing around with fashion, you’ll likely spot Jared roaming around town at the latest art opening, live music show, or newest cocktail bar.

LISA KNOPP - Contributing Writer Lisa is the author of six books of creative nonfiction. Her most recent, Bread: A Memoir of Hunger, was published by the University of Missouri Press in 2016. In 2013, she won a Nebraska Book Award for What the River Carries: Encounters with the Mississippi, Missouri, and Platte. Knopp’s essays have appeared in numerous literary journals including Georgia Review, Missouri Review, Michigan Review, Gettysburg Review, Northwest Review, Connecticut Review, Iowa Review, Shenandoah, Creative Nonfiction, Prairie Schooner, and Seneca Review. Lisa is a professor of English at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where she teaches courses in creative nonfiction. She lives in Lincoln, Nebraska.

PHILIP KOLBO - Videographer Philip is a performing and media artist based in Omaha. He performs a diverse repertoire of his own and other living composers’ multimedia works as a soloist and in ensemble settings. Philip has performed for organizations such as Omaha Under the Radar, KANEKO, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, The Rose Theater, and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. As a media artist, Philip has created content for various artists and Omaha-based organizations. As a freelance videographer, he helped to launch Omaha Magazine’s music video series (“Omaha Magazine Presents”). In 2016, he received a Bachelor of Music Performance from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Philip is a part-time barista at Muglife Coffee.

SHANNON SMITH - Editorial Intern A journalism and communications student at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, Shannon is pursuing her bachelor’s with a concentration in public relations and advertising (and a minor in business). She is a public relations officer in UNO’s student government, and she is an account associate with the student-run MaverickPR. On campus, she has also worked as photo editor at The Gateway (the student newspaper) and served as marketing chair for her sorority, Chi Omega. Shannon credits her love for journalism to Marian High School, where she was photo editor of the yearbook. One of seven kids, Shannon can be found with her close-knit family when she’s not running around campus, studying at a coffee shop, or hopping on a plane to visit friends whenever she can get away.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 12 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

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Photo: Joan Marcus

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NATURE CONNECTS: ART WITH LEGO BRICKS

Through May 15 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Sean Kenney’s third exhibit at Lauritzen Gardens features fantastic new pieces along with old favorites. Inspired by nature and built from more than 450,000 Lego pieces, this indoor exhibit features 13 displays with larger-than-life sculptures. Admission: $10 adults, $5 children (6-12), free for members and children under 6 years old. 402-346-4002 -lauritzengardens.org

HISTORY OF LATINOS IN OMAHA: 1890 THROUGH PRESENT

Through Aug. 31 at El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St. Discover the stories of the Latino community members that helped to create our city. This photography exhibit highlights the key role of Latino culture and history in the area. Admission: $5 adults, $4 college students with ID, $3.50 K-12 children and seniors. 402-731-1137 -elmuseolatino.org

SKETCH-A-THON

March 3 at K ANEKO, 1111 Jones St. Grab your sketchbook and hone your drawing skills with incredible glass and ceramic sculptures for subjects. Explore all six galleries and enter to win prizes from local businesses.

11 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission: Free. 402-341-3800 -thekaneko.org

EVENTS

ART AND MUSEUM EXHIBITS

PASSION & OBSESSION: FROM THE COLLECTION

Through May 6 at K ANEKO, 1111 Jones St. This exhibit celebrates both the passion of the artist to create and the obsession of the connoisseurs who collect. Admission: Free. 402-341-3800.

-thekaneko.org/passion

CASSILS

Through April 29 at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. Renowned performance artist and bodybuilder Cassils presents a three-part exhibition to address hidden violence and trauma that targets transgender bodies.

The exhibit will be contextualized with objects from the Queer Omaha Archives at UNO. Admission: Free. 402-341-7130 -bemiscenter.org

WILD SPACES, OPEN SEASONS: HUNTING AND FISHING IN AMERICAN ART

Through May 7 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. See how American hunting and fishing culture has intersected with art. Paintings and sculptures Through April 29 at Bemis Center for May from the 1820s through the 1940s illuminate Contemporary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. changing concepts of nature, place, and wildlife International women artists collaborate to create that have shaped national identity. Admission: an exhibit that explores the increasingly blurred $10 exhibition charge for adults. Free to youth, lines between humans, animals, and technology college students with ID, and members. 402-342-3300 in modern society. Admission: Free. 402-341-7130 -joslyn.org -bemiscenter.org

CHIMERAS

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PAULA WILSON: THE BACKWARD GLANCE

IN YOUR OWN WORDS: WRITING OUR PASSIONS, HONORING OUR OBSESSIONS

SEARCHING FOR THE SEVENTIES: THE DOCUMERICA PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT

ART REVOLOVED: LOCAL ART & LOCAL BUSINESS: CONNECTED. EMPOWERED. INSPIRED.

March 4 at KANEKO, 1111 Jones St. Nationally recognized poets and feedback hosts Jen Lambert and Sarah McKinstry-Brown will lead a workshop focusing on exercises that explore how reimagining and rewriting one’s strongest memories and most significant life events can reshape how one thinks about their life stories. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Admission: Free, register at thekaneko.org/inyourownwords. 402-341-3800 -thekaneko.org

Through April 29 at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. Wilson transforms the gallery into an innovative space where modern expression meets ancient themes. The exhibit investigates race, identity, and objectification of the female body to transport viewers into a mythical creation story where the female figure is personified as a heroine. Admission: Free. 402-341-7130 -bemiscenter.org

Through April 30 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Drawing inspiration from the Great Depression-era Farm Security Administration photography project, the photographers of the Environmental Protection Agency’s DOCUMERICA project created a portrait of America in the early and mid-’70s. 402-444-5071.

-durhammuseum.org

April 28 at K ANEKO, 1111 Jones St. Stroll distinctive brick streets to live music, ride Ollie the Trolley for free between venues, and ignite your imagination with art. 6-9 p.m. Free.

-thekaneko.org

MARCH

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OMAHA MAGAZINE

IPerforming Arts

CALENDAR

CLUE, THE MUSICAL

March 24 -Apr il 9 at Bellevue Lit tle Theater, 203 W. Mission A v e .

A melodic, clever tribute to the popular board game. Follow MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE the music and pick up the clues. Tickets: $20 adults, $18 T hrough March 12 at O maha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass S t . seniors age 65 and older, and $10 students. 402-291-1554 -bellevuelittletheatre.com A classic Western story of good versus bad and the law versus the gun. An exciting show, made popular by the 1962 film version starring John Wayne.

Tickets: $35 adults, $22 students. 402-553-0800 BEAUTIFUL -omahaplayhouse.com April 4-9 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. This hit musical tells the inspiring true story of singer-songwriter Carole King’s remarkable rise ROCK OF AGES to stardom. Along the way, she wrote the soundtrack March 3-April 2 at Omaha Community Playhouse, to a generation. Tickets: $35-$105. 402-345-0606 6915 Cass St. The smash-hit musical comedy -ticketomaha.com features the charming tales of Drew and Sherrie chasing their dreams and falling in love, told Mar. through arena rock hits from the ’80s. TickLEADING LADIES ets: $42 adults, $25 students. 402-553-0800 April 14-May 7 at Omaha Community -omahaplayhouse.com Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Two English actors hear that an old lady in York, Pennsylvania, is about to die and leave her fortune to her JERSEY BOYS two long-lost English nephews; they resolve to pass March 7-12 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash.

This Tony-, Grammy-, and Olivier-Award-winning Then they find out that the relatives aren’t nephews, musical is about 1960s pop group The Four Seasons— but nieces. Tickets: On sale March 28. 402-553-0800 Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick -ticketomaha.com Massi—and how four blue-collar kids from New Jersey became teen idols. Tickets: $50-$140. 402-345-0606 -ticketomaha.com INTANGIBLE: TBD. DANCE

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OMAHA SYMPHONY: THOMAS WILKINS AND STEWART GOODYEAR— PINES OF ROME IN OMAHA

COLLECTIVE PERFORMANCE

April 15 at K ANEKO, 1111 Jones St. tbd. Dance Collective will create an original performance exploring the idea of movement as an intangible collection, able to be viewed, but only truly stored in the mind. Through moveMarch 17-18 at Hol l and Pe r for ming ment, lighting, and sound, tbd. will transform the perforArts Center, 1200 Douglas S t . mance space into the mind of the artist. 7 p.m. Tickets: Audiences will be transported to the Eternal City in $10 general admission, free for KANEKO members. Regthis enchanting and cinematic performance directed ister for tickets: thekaneko.org/intangible. 402-341-3800

by Thomas Wilkins and featuring Stewart Goodyear -thekaneko.org on piano. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $19-$70. 402-345-0606 -omahasymphony.org

FLIGHT

April 21 and 23 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Jonathon Dove’s opera tells a compelling and thrilling tale of a group of travelers trapped in an airport overnight. As a storm rages outside, the strangers are forced to shed facades to confront inner hopes and desires, as well as each other. 7:30 p.m. April 21 and 2:30 p.m. April 23. Tickets: $15- $99. 402-346-7372 -ticketomaha.com

CATHERLAND

April 21-May 14 at Shelterbelt Theatre, 3225 California St. Budding author Susan and her husband head to Red Cloud, Nebraska, to begin a simpler life, but a slew of mysterious guests prove that there’s nothing simple about small-town living. Susan’s future begins to resemble that of novelist Willa Cather. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 6 p.m.

Sunday. Tickets: $25 general admission, $20 students, seniors (65+), and TAG members. 402-341-2757 -shelterbelt.org

GENERATOR SERIES: SOUND & NATURE

April 23 at K ANEKO, 1111 Jones St. Omaha Under the Radar and KANEKO present the kickoff to the new series devoted to exploration of intersections of music’s relationship to our physical world. Non-commercial artists will guide audiences in an investigation of how we listen and interact with sound. 7 p.m. Admission: $10, free for members. 402-341-3800 -thekaneko.org

GAY MEN’S CHORUS OF LA: IT GETS BETTER TOUR

April 28 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Dan Savage’s simple message has given hope to LGBTQIA+ youth across the country. The GMCLA now brings the anti-bullying message to life onstage in a moving musical theater performance. 8 p.m. Tickets: $15-$30. 402-345-0202 -omahaperformingarts.org

SILENT SKY

March 23-April 15 at Bluebarn Theatre, 1106 S. 10th St. This new play features the stories of the real women “computers” working in the Harvard Observatory during the beginning stages of modern astronomy. Science, history, and love create the story of a strong woman navigating romance and astronomy to make history in a male-dominated field. Tickets: $30 adults, $25 students and seniors. 402-345-1576 -bluebarn.org

LOUDER THAN A BOMB FINALS

April 20 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. High school students from across the Great Plains have been crafting world-class slam poetry under the guidance of local artists and competing for the highest audience scores throughout the school year. Audiences are encouraged to snap and cheer for higher scores as students showcase their soulful, funny, and innovative poetry onstage. 7 p.m. Admission: Free. 402-345-0202 -ltabomaha.org

MARCH

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FILM OMAHA FILM FESTIVAL

March 7-12 at Marcu s Village Pointe Cinema, 17 3 0 5 Davenport S t .

The 12th annual Omaha Film Festival celebrates and awards screenwriters and filmmakers in Omaha. The Omaha Film Festival was acknowledged as “50 Film Festivals Worth The Entry Fee” by MovieMaker magazine. 402-203-8173 -omahafilmfestival.org

EXHIBIT ON DISPLAY FEBRUARY 18– APRIL 30, 2017

10666 Sapp Bros. Drive Omaha, NE 68138 402-896-9140 Between Exits 439 & 440 on I-80

DURHAMMUSEUM.ORG 801 SOUTH 10TH ST | 402-444-5071

Searching for the Seventies: The DOCUMERICA Photography Project is an exhibition created by the National Archives and Records Administration and organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.

MARCH

// APRIL • 2017 / 17 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

MillardFamilyEyeCare.com | 402-896-3300

OMAHA MAGAZINE

SCREEN CHAT: IMITATION OF LIFE

March 26 at Film Streams, 1340 Mike Fahey St. In a film by director Douglas Sirk, class and race are confronted in this tale of two mothers, one white, one black, struggling to raise defiant daughters. Film discussion to follow. 3 p.m. Tickets: $9 general admission, $7 seniors (60+), students, teachers, active military, veterans, and those arriving at the theater by bicycle. 402-933-0259 -filmstreams.org

CALENDAR

LUCERO WITH ESMÉ PATTERSON

JOJO

March 5 at Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. The youngest solo artist to ever have a No. 1 single in the U.S. (at age 13), now 25, JoJo offers empowering concerts featuring carefully crafted pop and R&B sounds.

Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets: $20-$30. 402-345-7569 -theslowdown.com

March 2 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Lucero has been rocking its original brand of country punk since ’98. 8 p.m.

Mar. Tickets: $25. 402-884-5353 -waitingroomlounge.com

2

BLACK JOE LEWIS AND THE HONEYBEARS March 7 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. The Austin sensation mixes soul and blues with punk to create a unique sound. Audiences will jam out to favorites and new tracks from the band’s acclaimed third album, Electric Slave. 9 p.m. Tickets: $15 advance, $17 day of show. 402-884-5353 -waitingroomlounge.com

LAKE STREET DIVE

March 7 at Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. The genre-defying group blends R&B, pop, rock, and soul to create a dance-party atmosphere in their debut album, Side Pony. The quirky hairstyle reflects the band’s free spirited energy and self-confidence.

Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets: $23- $35. 402-345-7569 -theslowdown.com

MAC SABBATH

SCIENCE ON SCREEN: TAMPOPO

March 28 at Film Streams, 1340 Mike Fahey St. This Japanese “ramen Western” from 1985 centers on a noodle shop owner training for greatness under a group of soup samurai and will be followed by a panel discussion on food science and culture. 7 p.m. Tickets: $9 general admission, $7 seniors (60+), students, teachers, active military, veterans and those arriving at the theater by bicycle. 402-933-0259 -filmstreams.org

March 8 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. The self-described “drive-thru metal” band will provide a weirdly entertaining concert experience, featuring metal music, clowns, and hilarious fast food lyrics. 9 p.m. Tickets: $15. 402-884-5353 -waitingroomlounge.com

BADMOTORFINGER WITH IDIOT BOX

March 3 at The Waiting Room , 6212 Maple St .

This Soundgarden tribute band will be performing t he Gra mmy-nominated a lbu m B A DMO TOR FINGER, staying true to the ba nd ’s grunge rock genre. 9 p.m. Tickets: $8. 402-884 -5353 -wa itingroom lounge.com

THE WILD REEDS WITH BLANK RANGE

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KATHY MATTEA FEATURING BILL COOLEY

March 4 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Grammy-winning singer Kathy Mattea and longtime collaborator, guitarist Bill Cooley welcome you into “The Acoustic Living Room” to share classic songs and life stories. 8 p.m. Tickets $50. 402-345-0606 -ticketomaha.com

JOHNNYSWIM

March 1 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. Husband and wife duo Amanda and Abner Ramirez perform soulful folk, blues, and jazz. 8 p.m. Tickets: $18 advance, $20 day of show. 402-884-5353 -waitingroomlounge.com

AARON DIEHL PRESENTS “JELLY & GEORGE”

March 5 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Diehl, pianist Adam Birnbaum, and vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant revisit and revitalize the works of George Gershwin and Jelly Roll Morton. Combining lesser-known works with new arrangements, the trio celebrate the past while tracing a musical lineage that spans a century. 7 p.m. Tickets: $20-$40. 402-345-0606 -ticketomaha.com

NE-HI

March 2 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. This rock group formed in Chicago less than five years ago; they are now touring to promote their latest album, Offers. Tickets: $10. 402-884-5707 -reverblounge.com MARCH

March 11 at The Waiting Room, 6212 Maple St. The Growlers’ genre can be defined as “surf rock” and is definitely a one-of-a-kind sound. This trio definitely breaks down traditional genre barriers with their music. 9 p.m. Tickets: $15. 402-884-5353 -waitingroomlounge.com

Mar.

March 3 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. The Wild Reeds spent most of 2016 touring, hitting up festivals like SXSW, Summerfest, and more. This singer-songwriter trio is sure to impress with their latest album. 9 p.m. Tickets: $10. 402-884-5707 -reverblounge.com

music

THE GROWLERS

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COLD WAR KIDS WITH MIDDLE KIDS

March 12 at Sokol Auditorium, 2234 S. 13th St. Cold War Kids have been in the game for a little over 12 years. Just recently they spent eight weeks at the No. 1 spot on the alternative radio charts making their name one to remember. 8 p.m.

Tickets: $26. 402-346-9802

PANIC! AT THE DISCO, MISTERWIVES, AND SAINT MOTEL

March 15 at Baxter Arena, 2425 S. 67th St. Known for providing epic concert experiences with outstanding touring partners, the chart-topping, Vegas-based rock group Panic! brings their “Death of a Bachelor Tour” to Omaha, joining forces with two other leading indie rock bands. 7 p.m. Tickets: from $36.50. 402-554-6200 -ticketomaha.com

Omaha Magazine • Calendar of Events

NOW OPEN! THROUGH

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MARCH

// APRIL • 2017 / 19 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

CALENDAR

BLAKE SHELTON: DOING IT TO COUNTRY SONGS TOUR

Mar.

18

March 18 at CenturyLink Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. The famous country singer and judge on the popular TV show The Voice will be back in Omaha with his Season 2 contestant Raelynn. Come and sing along to some of his 44 Billboard top-100 hits like “Sangria” and “Came Here To Forget.” 7:30 p.m. Tickets from $30.50. 402-341-1500 -ticketmaster.com

FEB. 10– MARCH 12, 2017

MARCH 3– APRIL 2, 2017

on sale now

on sale now

APRIL 14– MAY 7, 2017

on sale March 28

DAVID BENOIT

March 24 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. For three decades, Grammy-nominated pianist David Benoit has reigned supreme as one of the founding fathers of contemporary jazz. He’s conducted world-renowned orchestras and delighted audiences around the world. 8 p.m. Tickets: $45. 402-345-0606 -ticketomaha.com

VANESSA CARLTON

April 1 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Grammy-nominated artist Vanessa Carlton is widely known for her single “A Thousand Miles.” Her soulful pop-rock records have earned her multiple spots on the Billboard charts. 8 p.m. Tickets: $25. 402-884-5353 -waitingroomlounge.com

SPAFFORD WITH MUNGION sponsor:

2016–17 Pegasus Travel Tours media sponsor: Cox

sponsor:

sponsors:

WoodmenLife

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media sponsor: KMTV

6915 CASS STREET | (402) 553-0800 | OMAHAPLAYHOUSE.COM

WILD SPACES, OPEN SEASONS Hunting and Fishing in American Art Through May 7 Wild Spaces, Open Seasons is the first major exhibition to explore American artists’ fascination with hunters, fishermen, and the sporting life in paintings and sculptures from the 1820s through the 1940s. Illuminating changing ideas about place, national identity, community, wildlife, and the environment, the exhibition offers compelling new insights into these meaningful pastimes.

General Museum admission is free. Wild Spaces, Open Seasons is a ticketed exhibition. Tickets are FREE for Joslyn members. $10 for general public adults; youth ages 17 and younger and college students with ID are free. Special Thursday pricing (4-8 pm): $5 for general public adults. IMAGE: William Sidney Mount (American, 1807-1868), Catching Rabbits, 1839, oil on panel, The Long Island Museum of American Art, History & Carriages, Stony Brook, New York, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Ward Melville, 1954. This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

Presenting Sponsors:

The Hawks Foundation

Major Sponsor:

Contributing Sponsor:

Supporting Sponsors: Robert H. Storz Foundation

Additional support provided by: Fran and Rich Juro

2200 Dodge St. | Omaha, NE | (402) 342-3300 | joslyn.org MARCH

// APRIL • 2017 / 20 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

April 4 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Their shows are one of a kind, mixing their music and incorporating light and dance for a unique experience. 9 p.m. Tickets: $8 advanced, $10 day of show. 402-884-5707 -reverblounge.com

MINUS THE BEAR WITH BEACH SLANG AND BAYONNE

April 5 at Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. With a 15-year career, Minus the Bear is touring to promote the band’s sixth and latest album, VOIDS. Tickets: $25. 402-345-7569 -theslowdown.com

NEIL HAMBURGER

April 7 at Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Known for delighting audiences, the dynamic comedian has earned critical acclaim and lots of laughs in his television and stand-up career. Doors: 8 p.m. Tickets: $14-$16. 402-345-7569 -theslowdown.com

PARACHUTE WITH KRIS ALLEN

April 11 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. They have toured with the likes of Kelly Clarkson and Gavin DeGraw. They are back in Omaha with their latest album Wide Awake. 8 p.m. Tickets: $25. 402-884-5353 -waitingroomlounge.com

NEIL DIAMOND: THE 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY WORLD TOUR

April 14 at CenturyLink Center, 455 N. 10th St. The American singer-songwriter and one of the world’s best selling artists of all time invites fans to sing along to all the hits as he celebrates his prolific career. 8 p.m. Tickets: $33. 402-341-1500 -ticketmaster.com

THE BEACH BOYS AND THE TEMPTATIONS: SURF AND SOUL TOUR

April 26 at Baxter Arena, 2425 S. 67th St. Two of the most influential American music groups will delight audiences with classic rock and soul hits that helped shape music worldwide. 7 p.m. Tickets: $38-$150. 402-554-6200 -ticketmaster.com

OMAHA MAGAZINE

ANTHRAX AND KILLSWITCH ENGAGE WITH THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

April 29 at Sokol Auditorium, 2234 S. 13th St. Anthrax and Killswitch Engage are notable heavy metal groups, coming to perform a show of a lifetime. 7 p.m. Tickets: $34. 402-346-9802.

CALENDAR

HUI ‘O HAWAI‘I LU‘AU

March 18 at Creighton University Kiewit Fitness Center. Creighton’s Hawaii student organization hosts its annual lu‘au starting at 4 p.m. Dinner begins at 5 p.m. and entertainment starts at 6 p.m. Tickets: $20 general admission, $15 students, $12 children ages 4-12, free to ages 3 and under. 808-218-2204 -creighton.edu

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miscellaneous BLOCK PARTY

Through April 9 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Build cities and buildings in this very interactive exhibit. Playing with blocks stimulates the minds of children of all ages. Admission: $12 adults and kids, $11 seniors, free for members and children under 24 months. 402-342-6164 -ocm.org

MONSTER JAM

March 3-5 at Mid-America Center, One Arena Way, Council Bluf fs. Watch monster truck drivers compete in wheelies, obstacle races, freestyles, and more. Featured trucks include Carolina Crusher, Megalodon, Master of Disaster, and many more.

7 p.m. March 3, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. March 4, and 1 p.m. March 5. Tickets: $15-$59. 712-326-2295 -ticketmaster.com

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE! DOWN TO NOTHING WITH MOUNTAINEER HILAREE O’NEILL

March 21 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. National Geographic explorer O’Neill shares the harrowing story approaching “the point of no return” while leading a team of elite climbers to scale a peak in Myanmar. Her first-person account accompanied by photographer Cory Richards’ breathtaking photos and video clips pulls audiences into the expedition. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $10-$25. 402-345-0606 -ticketomaha.com

Omaha’s First Brewing Company with Unique Jalapeño and Raspberry Beers.

Thank You Omaha for Voting us the Best Indian Restaurant for 10 Years!

Lunch: Thurs. & Fri. - 11am to 2pm Dinner: Sun. - Wed. - 5pm to 9:30pm Thurs. - Sat. - 4:30pm to 10pm

10922 Elm Street Omaha, NE 68144 402-392 7331 jaipurbrewhouse.com

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

March 11, downtown from 11th to 15th streets between Howard and Harney streets. See leprechauns, bagpipers, and a lot of green at this Omaha tradition, organized by the Ancient Order of the Hibernians. After the parade, visit one of Omaha’s many Irish pubs for lunch or liquid refreshment. 10 a.m. Free.

-aohomaha.org/parade

OMAHA ZINE FEST

March 11 at Union for Contemporary Art, 2423 N. 24th Street. Celebrate zines from around the metro with writers, photographers, artists, and creators of all types of zines. Events include workshops, zine booths, a panel, and more. Admission: Free. 402-933-3161 -omahazinefest.org

* By an independent food analysis.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 21

OMAHA MAGAZINE

CALENDAR

SPRING FESTIVAL: AN ARTS AND CRAFTS AFFAIR

Four Old Market

March 24-26 at Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. Voted one of the top 100 shows in the country by Sunshine Feb. Artist magazine, enjoy entertainment, food, drinks, and hourly drawings while viewing and purchasing handcrafted works from hundreds of the nation’s top artists and crafters.

Friday: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m.6 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $8 adults, $7 seniors, free for children under 10. 402-934-9966 -ralstonarena.com

19

30TH ANNUAL ORCHID SHOW AND SALE

Unique holiday décor, ornaments, collectibles and gifts for every season.

Chocolates and fudge made in our own kitchen, plus many other sweet temptations.

oTannenbaum.com • 402-345-9627

OldMarketCandy.com • 402-344-8846

Travel essentials plus downtown’s largest selection of souvenirs and Nebraska-made gifts.

Authentic Italian desserts, coffee, and FlavorBurst TM soft serve ice cream.

OldMarketSundries.com • 402-345-7646

DolciOldMarket.com • 402-345-8198

All located at 10th & Howard

March 25-26 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. This annual event, put on by the Greater Omaha Orchid Society, displays orchids from internationally known vendors to local growers. Those interested in growing orchids will find plenty of varieties for sale.

10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Admission: $10 adults, $5 children ages 6-12, free for children under 6. 402-346-4002 -lauritzengardens.org

FEI WORLD CUP JUMPING AND DRESSAGE FINALS

March 29 -Apr il 2 at Ce nt ur yLink Ce nte r, 455 N. 10th St . The world ’s elite show jumping and dressage horses (and riders) will compete at t he internationa l cha mpionships for their sports. Tickets: $15-$85. 402-930 -3079 -oma haworldcup2017.com

TEDDY BEAR WEEKEND

Progressive & Inclusive

April 1-2 at Henry Doorly Zoo, 3701 S. 10th St. Lions, tigers, bears, and other favorite stuffed animals can receive a checkup, including heartbeat, height, eye, and ear exams, during this special weekend. If needed, they will visit the emergency room for care. Admission: $17.95 adults, $16.95 seniors ages 65 and over, $11.95 children ages 3-11, and free to children ages 2 and under. 402-733-8400 -omahazoo.com

Sundays Worship 8:30 & 10:50 AM Education Hour 9:35 AM

@FUMComaha . fumcomaha.org . 7020 Cass Street MARCH

// APRIL • 2017 / 22 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

SAC AEROSPACE MUSEUM SPRING FLING AND EGG HUNT

April 8 at Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum, 28210 W. Park Hwy. Join the Easter Bunny for a family fun-filled morning at the museum with an Easter egg hunt, face painting, and make-andtake projects. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Admission: $6 children ages 4-12, $11 senior citizens and active/retired military, $12 adults, free for members. 402-944-3100 -sacmuseum.org

EASTER EGGSTRAVAGANZA AT KROC CENTER

April 8 at Kroc Center, 2825 Y St. Visit the Easter Bunny and participate in an Easter egg hunt, along with an underwater egg hunt, and much more. 2-4 p.m. Admission: $5 children ages 3-18, $7 adults ages 19 and older. Traditional egg hunt only is free to kids 10 and under. 402-905-3500 -omahakroc.org

CALENDAR

PARTY FOR THE PLANET

April 22 at Henry Doorly Zoo, 3701 S. 10th St. Celebrate Earth Day at Omaha’s Zoo with conservation-themed booths inside the Wild Kingdom Pavilion. Gate gifts will also be given while supplies last. Admission: $17.95 adults, $16.95 seniors ages 65 and over, $11.95 children ages 3-11, and free to children ages 2 and under. 402-733-8400 -omahazoo.com

LITTLE SCIENTIST DAY

April 25 at the Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. In conjunction with the Nebraska Science Festival, the museum will have hands-on science experiments for young children and science shows for families. Included with museum admission: $12

for children and adults, $11 for seniors, free for members and children under 24 months. 402-342-6164 -ocm.org

OMAHA CZECH FESTIVAL

April 30 at Millard Social Hall, 10508 S. 144th St. The Omaha Czech Club says, “Vitame vas!” (“We welcome you”) to their annual spring festival.

Events include a luncheon, Czech music, vendors, and more. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. info@omahaczechclub.com -omahaczechclub.com

Event times and details may change

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE! CHASING RIVERS WITH PHOTOGRAPHER PETE MCBRIDE

April 18 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Join National Geographic’s acclaimed photographer and “freshwater hero” as he tells the stories of his unforgettable journeys down the majestic Colorado and the sacred Ganges rivers. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $10-25. 402-345-0606 -ticketomaha.com

Realize Recognize Respond

NEBRASKA SCIENCE FESTIVAL

April 20-29 at various locations. Kari Byron of MythBusters will give the keynote address at 7:30 p.m. on April 21 at Joslyn Art Museum. Other events throughout the week include “The Science of Ice Cream” at eCreamery, a science expo at Durham Museum, and more. Prices vary by event. Keynote speaker is free, but reservations are required. 402-559-4319 -nescifest.com

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DINNER ON THE DARK SIDE

April 22 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Eat Star Wars-themed food and participate in activities such as all-ages Jedi training sessions, a 501st Legion costume exhibition, and interaction with costumed characters. Members of the 501st will be honored that evening for their volunteer work. 6-9 p.m. Tickets: $35. 402-342-6164 -ocm.org MARCH

// APRIL • 2017 / 23 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

ONE OF OURS Musical Ode to Willa Cather Moves to Shelterbelt

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 24 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

A+C // PERFORMANCE

BY KATRINA MARKEL // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

From left: Becky Boesen and David von Kampen

OMAHA MAGAZINE

“THERE AREN’T A lot of people in Nebraska

writing new musicals,” says Roxanne Wach, executive director of Shelterbelt Theatre.

The Omaha theater company is in the middle of its 24th season of producing original work

by Midlands theater artists, and Wach reads around 200 original plays a year. But when she discovered the musical Catherland, it stood out from the pack.

A collaboration between Lincoln-based theater artist Becky Boesen and musician-composer David von Kampen, Catherland will open at the Shelterbelt April 21. It’s the latest incarnation of the project after a staged reading was produced at the Red Cloud Opera House in 2015, followed by a workshop at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln.

“I championed the piece because I thought it had such potential. I liked the music to begin with, and that’s a huge hurdle with musicals. I liked a lot of the script and where it’s going,” Wach says. “David has really captured something in the music, and Becky is really talented with her lyrics, and it’s a pretty engaging score.”

It’s hard to imagine a story more quintessentially Nebraskan than Catherland, which is set in Red Cloud, the central Nebraska hometown of writer Willa Cather. The musical focuses on a present-day couple, Jeffrey and Susan, who move from Chicago to Red Cloud. Susan has some reservations about leaving Chicago; but early in their marriage, the couple agreed that once she finished her first novel they would slow down, move to Jeffrey’s hometown of Red Cloud, and possibly start a family.

A+C // PERFORMANCE

“I REALLY THINK THEY’VE CAPTURED SOMETHING. I’M SO EXCITED TO BE WORKING ON IT. I JUST CAN’T WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO SEE IT,” -Roxanne Wach Boesen explains that when people are experiencing culture shock they go through a honeymoon phase. Jeffrey and Susan are in that phase when “someone crashes into the barn outside and their life starts to unravel as a result, and there’s an immediate life or death problem that has to be solved,” Boesen says. “Willa Cather shows up, too. Susan, the novelist, is not a Willa Cather fan, and that’s a problem.”

That would be the ghost of Willa Cather.

Boesen says that a lot of her own writing tends to include ghosts, though the ghosts are not always literal.

“I mean like a missing piece of your heart.

Anything that’s missing to a protagonist,” she says. “But in this [show], there are legit ghosts, which is pretty fun.”

in 2013 while working on another project.

Boesen’s company, BLIXT, is an arts management and consulting firm that produces projects for the Lied Center, Lincoln Arts Council, and other entities. Von Kampen is a musician and composer who also teaches at Concordia University in Seward as well as the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Roughly a year after their initial meeting, Boesen talked von Kampen into working as the musical director on a staged reading she was directing.

Von Kampen says, “I remember when (Becky) called, and I was thinking, ‘How can I get out of this?’”

She talked him into working with her, and it went well.

Von Kampen agrees, “And I don’t really like ghost stories. I don’t seek out movies or books that are like that, but from a creative standpoint, it feels really good.”

“David said, ‘Hey, don’t you write stuff? We should get together and talk about writing sometime.’ And I said, ‘cool let’s get together,’” Boesen explains.

Boesen was born in southern Missouri and von Kampen is originally from Michigan, but they both moved to Nebraska as children. They’ve lived other places thanks to their careers, but are now settled in Lincoln raising their respective families. Boesen and von Kampen are fulltime artists and arts educators who met briefly

They discovered their work “sort of sounded alike” and began to share ideas. Boesen had been thinking about her experience as a teaching artist in Red Cloud. Her play, What the Wind Taught Me, ran at the Red Cloud Opera House while on tour, and she says she fell in love with the town.

“You’re driving in Nebraska and all of a sudden you feel like you’re on Mars, because the prairie is like an ocean out there,” says Boesen, who started thinking about Cather and “what it must have been like to live in Red Cloud, Nebraska, in the late 1800s.”

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 26 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

Voted First Place BEST FAMILY DENTIST

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2015 First Place

2016 First Place

BestOfOmaha.com

KETV 7 • Baxter Arena

Dr. Jay Samuelson Dr. Jeff Garvey Dr. J.R. Demman

Dr. Chad Snow

Dr. Brian Pendley

Dr. Amy Ruf

“It’s an exploration of sense of place, what it means to be home, what does it mean to make a commitment, and how does that change over the course of time, and the messy nature of long-term love,” Boesen says.

“I really think they’ve captured something.

I’m so excited to be working on it. I just can’t wait for people to see it,” Wach says, impressed with Boesen’s willingness to revise her script. “To have somebody who’s that fearless in the process is a real asset to Shelterbelt in really giving new works their highest potential.”

SELECTED BY THEIR PEERS AS

of

Wach points out that supporting and nurturing new work by local artists is essential to the vitality of the Omaha theater scene.

“There are very few theaters our size who do new work in a city of our size.” Wach says, “We have a very vibrant theater community, and having new works helps feed it.”

Boesen says she and von Kampen feel lucky to have such a joyful creative process, “We just like making stuff, and we make stuff well together, and we have a lot of fun doing it.”

Visit shelterbelt.org for more information.

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The Nebraska prairie might be considered a character on its own in some of Cather’s work. That striking landscape also has inspired the creative team behind Catherland.

HA

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OMAHA MAGAZINE

A+C // MUSIC

From left: Miryam Eljuri, Washington A. Garcia, and Washington H. Garcia

Scan this page with the LayAR app to hear Washington Garcia.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 28 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

Orchestrated by God,

encouraged by parents FORMER CHILD PRODIGY—WASHINGTON GARCIA—LEADS UNO SCHOOL OF MUSIC

a

T HIS FIRST public concert, a bene-

fit for disabled children in Ecuador, Washington Garcia realized that he was put on Earth to serve others through music. “It was a revealing moment,” Garcia says.

He was only 7 years old.

The next enlightening moment came when he was 10. He played and won his first national competition. The boy realized that he could earn money playing the piano.

Every step along his career has involved meeting the right people who could help at the right time. It’s something he and his parents believe God has orchestrated, placing him on a path that enables him to serve and give to a new generation of young artists.

That path led to Omaha in 2016. Today, the former child prodigy from Ecuador is the director of the School of Music at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

He started down his musical path at an early age, reaching for the piano as an infant and trying to recreate music before he was in school. “It was natural when we were little, my parents wanted us to be involved in music,” Garcia says.

At age 4, he tagged along with his 6-yearold sister to the music conservatory. By the end of the school year, his sister’s teacher contacted Garcia’s mother, Miryam Eljuri, and told her that he was a prodigy.

Miryam knew at that moment Garcia’s wish to play music was something the family had to support.

“Washington’s success was achieved as a team,” Miryam says through her son’s translation. It was Miryam who helped him apply for the Kennedy Center cultural exchange program in his teens, Miryam who lined up an airline sponsorship to fly her son around the world for his concerts.

Garcia’s father, also named Washington Garcia and one of the most respected neurosurgeons in Ecuador, helped as well, driving his son to classes and guiding him to become a responsible young man.

At age 18, Garcia simultaneously graduated high school and college, earning a Bachelor of Music from the National Conservatory of Music in Ecuador. By then, he’d played with the national symphony and performed for a former Chilean president. He’d won first prizes at the Guillermo WrightVallarino National Piano Competition in Quito, the Elizabeth Davis Memorial Piano Competition and the 19th International Young Artist Piano Competition in Washington, D.C., the 2004 Baltimore Music Club Piano Competition, and the Harrison Winter Piano Competition.

Garcia was accepted into the Kennedy Center cultural exchange program, earning a $25,000 fellowship to help cover his master’s studies at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. He graduated at age 20, returning later to complete a doctorate. At 25, Garcia became the youngest Latin American pianist to have ever earned a doctorate performance degree from the university.

Throughout his studies, he cultivated an impressive international concert portfolio, which up to that point, included performances and lectures in Asia and Europe.

His desire to continue playing while helping students led him to a career in education.

He taught seventh and eighth graders in Baltimore before taking his calling to a higher level.

Garcia became an assistant professor of piano at Texas State University. In nine years, he rose in rank to become the appointed chair of the keyboard area and then the assistant director. It was a dream position, allowing him to work with more people, fundraise, build relationships internationally, and play music. He knew his next step in life was to become a director of a music school.

He was hired at UNO in January 2016.

His career path has taken him around the world, and so, his choice to reside in Omaha has puzzled some people. He tells them that he fell in love with the friendliness of the city and the culture of the school on his first visit.

“The faculty at the school of music was so talented and so collegial that I fell in love with them,” Garcia says. “We have one of the best faculty in Nebraska. It’s a collaborative faculty, and this is huge, because it doesn’t matter how good you are if you cannot collaborate with others.”

Already, Garcia has helped establish an international concert series at the school.

In the next year, he hopes to begin renovating UNO facilities, including adding another concert hall; start a radio broadcast program to showcase students; and increase community engagement with other organizations.

The School of Music already has a student recital series at First Christian Church and, in the fall, will begin another one at Gallery 1516. At the end of March, the school will be among many cultural institutions performing at the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping and FEI World Cup Dressage Finals at the CenturyLink Center. In 2019, he hopes to launch an international music festival in Omaha.

“My goal is to continue to establish Omaha as one of the most important cultural and academic destinations in the U.S.,” Garcia says.

It’s an exciting time at UNO, according to Garcia. And it’s exciting for his family.

While visiting over Christmas to see Garcia and his wife’s newborn son, Garcia’s parents spoke about their son’s career.

“Obviously, he came here with a clear mission and vision from God,” Garcia’s father says. “I know that he is going to fulfill his mission here in Omaha.”

Garcia will debut with the Omaha Symphony Orchestra Oct. 8 at Joslyn Art Museum. He will perform Mozart’s Piano Concerto in D minor, K. 466 under the baton of maestro Thomas Wilkins. Visit washingtongarcia.com for more information.

BY KIM REINER PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK MARCH

// APRIL • 2017 / 29 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

A+C // LITERATURE

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 30 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

G N I W E I V R E ON INT THOMPSON

.

S R E T N HU KURT VONNEGUT AND

BY LEO ADAM BIGA PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 31 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

EVIN SIMONSON OF Omaha real-

izes he occupies an unlikely position as a leading chronicler of that dark jester of American letters, the late Hunter S. Thompson.

Thompson, a New Journalism exponent, gained a Grateful Dead-like following for his irreverent, self-referential Gonzo-style reporting on America’s underbelly. During his lifetime, he was portrayed in film by Bill Murray (Where the Buffalo Roam) and Johnny Depp (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). A Doonesbury character was based on him.

He was already a counterculture icon when Simonson, a Wahoo native, got turned onto his work while a Doane College student.

The enterprising Simonson and his brother Mark published an underground newspaper, The Great Red Shark, which evolved into The Reader. They booked Thompson to speak at the University of Nebraska, but the author reneged owing to legal troubles with a porno producer (Thompson once managed an X-rated theater). Simonson’s taped interviews with the producer became evidence in legal proceedings that saw felony weapons charges against Thompson dismissed. Leveraging Thompson’s gratitude, Simonson gained access to interview him several times over the years for such national pubs as the Village Voice, Hustler, Penthouse, and Rolling Stone.

“the hardest thing was just getting him to commit. With him, it wasn’t a sit-down interview. It was like, clickon-the-recorder and he’d go crank up some music for a half-hour, to where you couldn’t hear anything. He couldn’t sit still very long.

I’d get a few questions in here and there, then he’d take a phone call or go outside and shoot his guns off. It would stretch on for hours.”

A+C // LITERATURE

Interviewing Thompson could be a real trip.

Deciphering his low, quiet, gravelly voice— near unintelligible when stoned—required asking Thompson to recreate what he said.

Simonson entered Thompson’s trusted inner circle. Several times he visited the author at his infamous Owl Creek Farm in Aspen, Colorado, a scene of odd characters and goings-on. He ascribes losing his former fiancee to getting her a job as Thompson’s assistant. The assorted weirdness freaked her out, and she and Simonson split.

He was so deeply immersed in Thompson lore, he says, “Anything he talked about, I could talk about. I sort of knew him insideout. The first time I walked into his house, it was like walking into a museum. I looked around and recognized things from certain books or stories.”

As Thompson’s health declined, he talked suicide, but Simonson and others were surprised when he fatally shot himself in 2005.

Simonson was among 250 invited guests at a surreal Owl Creek memorial celebration.

In the shadow of a towering Gonzo statue, Thompson’s ashes were shot out of a cannon.

Booze ran freely. A film crew captured it all.

When not chasing literary dreams, Simonson manages a golf course in Fremont, where he directs a 5K mud run. He possesses much Thompson memorabilia (taped interviews, faxes, photos, keepsakes). His “most prized possession” is a Fear and Loathing first edition inscribed with a personal note by Thompson and an original caricature by illustrator and frequent Thompson collaborator Ralph Steadman.

Simonson feels fortunate he got close to Thompson and rues his loss.

Simonson finally did get Thompson to speak in Lincoln (in the spring of 1990, a month after the original booking date). Typical for Thompson, he ran hours late and took the stage, presumably under the influence.

People were variously delighted or outraged.

“I feel really lucky. There’s definitely a void in the literary and even entertainment community with him gone. He definitely made a huge mark on the whole pop culture scene. I miss talking to him. It was always an event when he had a new release out.”

“I grew up with Spy Magazine, National Lampoon, and Saturday Night Live, and I thought his writing was the funniest stuff ever done. You could turn to any page and there was something laugh-out-loud funny about it. That’s what attracted me to it,” Simonson says.

Thompson was not the only late literary giant with whom Simonson was acquainted.

Thompson, too, represented a refreshing, unfiltered, unapologetic voice and uninhibited, nonconformist lifestyle. “It was his badboy attitude and the way he would do things in public and not be even remotely self-conscious about the repercussions,” he says.

Simonson’s widely published work includes authoring and co-editing Conversations with Hunter S. Thompson He’s helped build the cult of personality around the writer. Even in death, Thompson’s mystique grows larger with every new book and film out on him.

“It’s kind of crazy,” says Simonson, who has also managed bars and done marketing and promotions work for Boston University (during a few years on the East Coast) and KFAB and Clear Channel Radio in Omaha.

He was the original managing editor of The Reader, where some of his Thompson work has appeared.

MARCH

// APRIL • 2017 / 32 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

The Simonson brothers, Kevin and Mark, brought literary star Kurt Vonnegut to lecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1991. To their surprise, he readily agreed to an interview in a local strip club.

“Compared with Hunter, he [Vonnegut] was like hanging out with Mark Twain. He was funny and so easy to talk to,” Simonson says.

His Vonnegut interview ran in the December 2016 issue of Hustler.

Visit facebook.com/conversationswithhuntersthompson to learn more about Simonson’s book. Visit 5kthehardway. com to learn about his (non-literary) work with Nebraska’s Mud Run.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE

PROFILES // SPORTS

austin ortega

the goal scorer MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 34 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

BY LEO ADAM BIGA // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 35 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

h

OW DID A smallish soccer-playing Hispanic kid from sun-drenched Escondido, California, end up an ice hockey star in Nebraska?

Although his profile does not fit the stereotypical hockey player, UNO Mavericks forward Austin Ortega has risen to the top ranks of college hockey, a sport dominated by big bruisers from the North.

The senior—also known as “California Hot Sauce” and “Score-tega”—has proved doubters wrong ever since he left home at age 15 to pursue his hockey dreams.

He lived with host families while playing elite youth hockey in Colorado and during two seasons in the USHL. After a season with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, he graduated from high school in Iowa. Then, he split his next season between the Indiana Ice and Fargo Force. A scholarship brought Ortega to UNO.

PROFILES // SPORTS

In Ortega’s collegiate season finale, despite losing Guentzel to the pros (the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted Ortega’s linemate and the team’s captain before his senior year), he has continued to lead the Mavericks’ offensive effort.

In a two-game series with Lake Superior State, he got the game-winner the first night and led a furious come-from-behind win the second night.

“Halfway through the third period we had nothing going on,” coach Dean Blais says of the comeback. “I said to Austin, ‘You've got to take this game over. You're our scorer, you're our so-called leader in that category, and we need you now.’ And he was like shot out of a cannon.

Austin's found his way to get those game-winning goals. Sometimes he might score the fourth goal [after] the other team has scored three, but he's also scored game-winning goals in overtime and shoot-out type situations, so he's a real sniper.”

Despite being undersized (by elite hockey standards) at 5 feet 8 inches tall, 175 pounds, and a West Coast oddity, he's been a prolific, crunchtime scorer everywhere he's played.

Competing in Division I's toughest conference, he's among Omaha's all-time point leaders and holds two NCAA scoring records— for most game-winning goals in a season and a career. He's made indelible memories and sparked frenzied cheers at the CenturyLink and, now, Baxter Arena.

Being Mr. Clutch is the result of instinct and intent.

Players hit a wood board before stepping on the ice at Baxter Arena home games.

“I've always tried to have the knack,” he says. “It really accelerated once I got here, especially over the last couple years, and it's just something I keep trying to get better and better at.”

During a winter visit to Omaha, father Frank Ortega says that his son “lives for the moment to try to shoot the puck in when it matters. It started when he was younger, playing soccer. He wanted to be that guy doing the penalty kick. Over time he's gained confidence, and now he's developed into the guy who wants that puck.”

Austin Ortega and current-NHL player Jake Guentzel formed a potent one-two punch as sophomores leading Omaha to the program's only Frozen Four berth in 2015. Last season started strong, with Omaha even netting its first No. 1 ranking, but fortunes sank, and the team missed making the playoffs altogether in 2016.

Taking on the pressure to be the hero or goat “is a lot to handle,” Blais says, “To be a leader you gotta want to be a leader—you gotta want to do it every day in practice, and he's been doing that.” Blais has seen it all from Ortega and expects even more at the next level. “Austin will be signing an NHL contract with whoever gives him a good opportunity, but to get that he's got to really earn that this last stretch of games.

He's among three or four forwards in the United States everyone's looking at. It's hard to find scoring in the NHL. Austin has that ability.”

The accolades, achievements, expectations, and opportunities are more than his parents imagined when he discovered skating and hockey at age 5. Unfamiliar with hockey, they figured his interest would wane.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 36 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

“We never anticipated he would be to where he is now with all the success he's seen,” Tessie Ortega says.

She and her husband were awed when Austin's hockey skills earned a college scholarship.

Everything else, including multiple Player of the Month national honors and vying for a national title, has been a blur.

“Austin's shown a lot of dedication and made sacrifices to the sport. There's a lot of stuff he's missed—birthday parties, holiday gatherings,” Frank Ortega says. “It's amazing how it's all coming to an end. It happened so fast.”

The player is keenly aware this amazing college ride is nearly done.

“One thing I've learned now that I'm a senior is to enjoy every moment,” Ortega says. “I know a lot of guys try to rush the process and get a call to pursue professional hockey as fast as they can. A lot of guys don't realize this is one of the best times of their life. I mean, with this new rink and the fans and everything, I just like to soak it in and try to slow it down as much as I can, because I know I'll be out of here real soon.”

His parents realize Ortega is on the verge of a pro hockey career, but they're cautiously watching the process play out, just as they did when he went from youth leagues to the USHL to college. The NHL's the next logical step.

“For us, there's a little hesitation to think that can happen until it does because you don't want to assume anything,” Frank Ortega says. “But it's exciting.”

Visit omavs.com for more information.

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A PORTRAIT OF THE FI LMMAKER as a YOUNG MAN MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 38 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

PROFILES // GEN O

BY TOM MCCAULEY AND DOUG MEIGS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

SAM SENSER MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 39 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

K

NIGHTS IN SHINING armor go search-

ing for a legendary spoon. That was the concept of Sam Senser’s entry to the Canadian-based 50-Hour Film Competition. The contest’s theme was “twisted fairytale,” and all entries had to use a wooden spoon prop and include the phrase “you fool!”

His short film, “The Quest for Excalispoon,” won for best costume. A re-edited version is the 20-year-old Senser's third short film to be accepted and screened at the Omaha Film Festival. The 2017 festival takes place March 7-12.

PROFILES // GEN O

He hasn't gone to film school (and probably doesn't need to). He actually paid for his first camera with money from a freelance project for his grandfather’s insurance company. Then, during his senior year of high school, instead of seeking parental help with college tuition, Senser emptied his college fund to upgrade his camera to a $5,500 Canon C-100.

Senser says he has been making movies constantly since he was a little kid—maybe third grade, maybe fifth grade. He can't remember exactly when he started in earnest. "They used to be stupid little short films that we'd do for fun on our family's camcorders," he recalls. "We wouldn't do any editing. I'd hit record, stop it, put it up on the TV, and we'd watch it.”

“It was a little bit of a risk, but that's what he was passionate about,” says his father, John Senser. “He immediately went and bought the camera, and it paid off.”

The young filmmaker lives with his parents at the YMCA’s Camp Kitaki (his dad is a property manager on the grounds, and they are the only folks living year-round at the camp), which is located between Platte River State Park and South Bend.

The first thing he shot was the PSA with the In 2016, Senser received honorable mention driving deer. An early edit won a contest in the festival's “Best hosted by WOWT Nebraska Short Film” Channel 6 News for "HIS MOVIES ARE KIND OF category—a juried Omaha-area schools; prize—for his comefinished version RIDICULOUS, BUT IN A HILARIOUS the dic heist film “Van earned $5,000 in prize Man and Truck Boy WAY. AND YOU CAN SCREW THAT money from Project 2” (also known as UP. IF YOU GO TO A COMEDY THAT'S Yellow Light.

“The Adventures of Van Man and SORT OF A FARCE, IF IT'S DONE When he won, Senser Truck Boy”). Senser’s his parents POORLY, IT'S A STRUGGLE. FOR and younger brother received free airfare Wrenn, the sidekick SOME REASON, HE HIT THE RIGHT to New York City. in “The Quest for He stayed for free at BEATS AND THE RIGHT NOTES" Excalispoon,” also the Waldorf Astoria. plays Truck Boy. They had to scramble -Marc Longbrake to find tuxedos and The up-and-coming formal attire for the filmmaker is accumulating an impressive black-tie Ad Council Public Service Award collection of awards. In 2015, Senser won a Dinner (which normally costs $3,000 per national anti-texting-and-driving competiseat to attend). tion—Project Yellow Light—with his short video, “It’s Not Safe for Anyone.”

His advertisement, set in the dark of night, featured a distracted youth crossing a remote country road while looking down and texting on his phone. An oncoming car screeches to a halt. The kid looks up, caught in the headlights. The camera cuts to the vehicle. A deer sits behind the steering wheel, driving the car.

Then the kid bolts, running into the darkness.

Surely, the deer-caught-in-the-headlights scenario is a familiar nighttime danger for drivers in Senser’s neighborhood, on the rural fringe of the Omaha metro. The simple danger captures his aesthetic.

“It’s a simpler life in a small town, and I like simple films,” says Senser, who is taking a class at Metropolitan Community College and keeps busy year-round with commissioned video work.

Then in 2016, Senser entered the contest again. He also helped his brother enter a video. Coincidentally, the Senser brothers were arriving in Boston for a family vacation with their uncle the night before Project Yellow Light announced the 2016 winners at Times Square in New York City.

After flying from Omaha to Boston, their uncle drove them four hours to the outskirts of the Big Apple. They learned the good news in-person when their videos played on the Times Square Jumbotron on the morning of Friday, July 8.

Senser won the college division for the second year in a row with his next entry, “The Cost of Distracted Driving.” Wrenn also won in the high school division. So, they swept the contest and each took home another $5,000.

The expensive camera had proven itself a wise investment for the family.

* Opening pages show Sam Senser at Camp Kitaki.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 40 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

He still documents his surroundings. In fact, he has made several promotional videos for Camp Kitaki (where he works in the summer, making slideshows for campers).

To make a big deal of Senser's relative youth would seem patronizing. When it comes to filmmaking, Senser isn't so much "on his way" as "already there” in terms of skill. His films would prove notable for an auteur of any vintage.

Audiences feel likewise. "His crowd reaction has been fantastic over the last several years," says Marc Longbrake, program director of the Omaha Film Festival.

The Omaha Film Festival exhibits new independent films and lauded cinematic masterpieces alike. The event organizers also offer educational programming related to film (including a two-day academy geared toward high school students and open to the public); though Senser was never a participant.

Senser's age did not factor into the festival’s decision to exhibit his work, Longbrake says.

"Based on its own merits early on, Sam's films were doing well competition-wise compared to the other Nebraska filmmakers," Longbrake says. "The fact that he was young and in college at the time that he submitted his first film doesn't play into it. The fact that he was making quality films was the thing that we dug."

Perfectly executed farce drew Omaha Film Festival jury members to his winning submission last year. "His movies are kind of ridiculous, but in a hilarious way," Longbrake explains. "And you can screw that up. If you go to a comedy that's sort of a farce, if it's done poorly, it's a struggle. For some reason, he hit the right beats and the right notes with the first couple films that we saw of his.”

“Van Man and Truckboy 2,” focuses on a small-town crime-fighting duo working to apprehend a villain who robbed the local bank with a drone. The film features gorgeous aerial and long shots of southeastern Nebraska countryside. To capture such breathtaking views, Senser worked with Wrenn (who recently completed Navy bootcamp), to operate a camera mounted on a drone.

Along with Wrenn as Truck Boy, Senser's friend Jake Bruce was Van Man, and Senser's father was the villain. All of Senser's films so far have been collaborations with friends and family.

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His editing is crisp, coherent, and expertly timed. The acting is understated and natural, sure to keep audiences laughing with wonderfully absurd exchanges like: "The bank's been robbed … by a drone … there were explosives, probably two pounds of C-185 trinitrotoluene wrapped in a flaked hydro-combustion chamber with a powder organic nitrate packed inside.”

"Oh no. That's the worst kind.”

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Where is Senser headed? He says he plans to make a larger-scale short film this spring and summer to submit to festivals around the country. But he'd really like to direct a feature-length film—hopefully around here.

Thanks Omaha for 30 Years!

M

Devoid of condescending parody, both of Senser's “Van Man and Truck Boy” films offer up a recognizable, slyly humorous small-town Midwestern sensibility, where someone could earn a lasting nickname for the flimsiest of reasons, like having a truck.

They're worth a watch (and are available on his personal website).

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"I don't know if California would be my thing," Senser says. "But if they called— if I needed to—I would do it. Although, I’d rather make movies with this kind of setting. I just like the whole small-town feel, forests, open space, ranches, farms.

It's just simpler. Plus I know it. I grew up here. So I kind of know how things work.”

Th e go od life awai ts .

Visit senserfilms.com for more information.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE

FEATURE

BY KARA SCHWEISS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Primary April 4, Election May 9

u n d e r do g s a n d f ro ntru n n e rs

i n t h e o ma h a mayo r a l r ac e

OMAHA MAGAZINE

RUNNING FOR THE office of Omaha

mayor seems surprisingly accessible for any registered voter age 25 or older who is an Omaha resident of six months or more: Pay a $100 filing fee, complete a notarized candidate filing form and a statement of financial interests form, and submit a petition signed by 1,000 registered Omaha voters.

As the March/April issue of Omaha Magazine went to press, 10 individuals had taken out paperwork from the Douglas County Election Commission (the first step to getting on the ballot in hopes of being elected to the nonpartisan office that pays $102,312 annually for a fouryear term starting in June). But in the months before the election, only about half of the potential candidates had developed and promoted detailed campaign platforms through polished websites, social media channels, and savvy media relations efforts. Several of those receiving less pronounced media attention have articulated core issues that range from legalizing marijuana, to improving the lives of local lower- and middle-income families, to touting free speech.

Douglas County Election Commissioner Brian W. Kruse says it’s unlikely all 10 will make it to the ballot for the April 4 primary based on precedent: Although seven candidates qualified for the 2013 primary, there were just five in 2009, only two in both 2005 and 2001, and three in 1997. (The two candidates with the highest number of votes advance to the general election, May 9 this cycle.) Self-promotion isn’t the only challenge for potential candidates, Kruse says.

“Especially with the mayoral candidates, we do hear quite a bit how hard it is to get 1,000 signatures that are accepted.

It takes work, you know?” he says. Some well-meaning signers are discovered during the painstaking verification process to not be registered to vote or not registered in the correct jurisdiction, he explains.

Candidates are encouraged to obtain extra signatures and complete paperwork well before the March 3 filing deadline. If time allows, they can correct paperwork errors or omissions or even gather more signatures if they come up short or cut it close.

FEATURE

“We would feel terrible if someone turned theirs in on March 3 and they had 995 signatures, because there’s nothing they can do at that point,” he says. “In our office, we will certify to 110 percent. We try to turn them around pretty quickly; the mayor (incumbent Jean Stothert) turned her signatures in on a Wednesday, and we were done by Friday afternoon. Often candidates will call and check with us on how it’s going, and we’ll give them updates. We try to be as customer service-friendly as possible … We’re here to serve the voters and the citizens of Douglas County.”

Christopher Geary, a martial arts teacher/ studio owner and former Marine, is a newcomer to the mayoral race. He and the current mayor were the first to meet the credentials needed to appear on the ballot, receiving confirmation from the commission Jan. 6.

“I have always had the heart to serve the public and make my hometown better for everyone, but the urgency to run for mayor originated when I moved back to Omaha two years ago,” he says, explaining that he was impressed with the business climate and other opportunities in Dallas, where he lived for four years as he earned his master’s degree and launched his career.

“Moving back to Omaha in 2015 was a different story. The same old problems that plagued our city when I was growing up were still prevalent, and new problems were surfacing,” Royal says. “I want to be mayor of Omaha to create a more business-friendly and community-friendly Omaha. I believe my new vision for Omaha will join our community together to solve our challenges and make Omaha the place to be for families and businesses.”

“I feel that service to others is not only something people should do, but it’s an obligation we all should embrace. I have run for office before and I feel that now is the perfect time to serve the City of Omaha, which has been my home for three decades … Omaha is an awesome city with a fantastic history and people.

The diversity of communities and how we come together in hard times is really inspiring,” Geary says. “I have a vision for Omaha that brings government, business, and citizens together to improve living conditions for everyone by increasing job opportunities, helping businesses grow and prosper, and provide training for those seeking employment.”

Royal received early media attention for his proposal to build a football stadium and bring an NFL team to Omaha, but his platform also includes unlocking new sources of revenue, looking for strategic opportunities to outsource, improving street maintenance, and revitalizing North Omaha. Citizens have been receptive, he says.

Geary has made the unusual decision to not accept campaign contributions. “I think a candidate for any office should be free and clear of anyone or any group that would try to manipulate them once they are in office,” he says.

Candidate Heath Mello, who comes into the mayoral race fresh from two terms in the Nebraska Legislature, says engagement is key to winning an election.

He also will not participate in debates, he adds. “Political debates end up being personal attacks on one another and rarely stay on point. Candidates will only say what people want to hear with memorized speeches and can easily stump the other candidates with facts they don’t have access to. Voters that watch or listen to these debates will not receive the necessary information to make informed decisions regarding his or her candidate.”

Another mayoral hopeful, certified public accountant Taylor Royal, is entirely new to politics.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 44 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

“My campaign experience to date has been a confirmation of what I already knew about the people in Omaha,” he says. “Omaha is a city filled with people who display unmatched hospitality and incredible diversity, and my candidacy has received a warm welcome from the residents.”

“Looking back, I was probably most surprised by how important it was to spend more time knocking on doors and meeting with voters than doing anything else.

Spending quality time with people in their homes, churches, and senior centers proved to be so much more meaningful to me throughout the campaign than any speech, fundraiser, meeting, or parade,” he says, estimating that he knocked on more than 12,000 doors in his first race alone.

Engagement then transfers to successfully serving the public, he adds.

TEN MAYORAL HOPEFULS “I worked hard for eight years as a state senator to keep that kind of personal engagement through town halls, neighborhood roundtables, knocking on doors, and proactively connecting with neighbors,” he says. And he’s taking that approach through his bid for Omaha mayor with a platform that includes plans to reduce crime, improve city services, create jobs, and foster collaboration.

“From Belvedere to Deer Park, Blackstone to Elkhorn, and everywhere in between, I am continuing to knock on doors and visit with small businesses to learn more about how Omahans want to help shape our great city for the next 20 years and how we can collectively create a smarter, more innovative city.”

Incumbent Stothert emphasizes safety of Omaha's citizens as her top priority in her bid for re-election. "There is no issue we work harder on than reducing crime and apprehending and prosecuting those who commit crimes. I am proud of our police department and our work with community partners to make Omaha a safer community."

Her motivation for running again is simple: "I love my job, and it is a privilege to serve as mayor." Stothert notes, however, that running for re-election has both advantages and challenges.

"During the past 3 1/2 years, we have provided leadership, accomplished priorities, and worked with partners on community projects. This experience provides me the opportunity to highlight what we have accomplished, something you can’t provide as a first-time candidate," she says. On the other hand, "Four years ago, I could spend most my time campaigning by meeting voters throughout the city and visiting people in their homes. While I am doing that again during this election, I also know my work and commitments as mayor must come first. Even though I have less time to campaign, I believe the best politics is doing a good job so we work hard to make sure Omaha is on the right track."

Information on the election process or candidates is readily available, Kruse says, and he’s hoping for a good turnout for both the primary and general elections with 182 polling places open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Visit votedougl a scount y.com or call 402- 444-VOTE to reach the Douglas C o u n t y E l e c t i on C om m i s si on f o r more information.

" Es p e c i a l ly with the m ayo r a l

As of press time, 10 prospective candidates had begun the paperwork process to enter the mayoral race. To appear on the ballot, they must obtain and file 1,000 signatures from registered voters who reside in Omaha by March 3.

Contact information is based on Douglas County Election Commission public records and online information (listed alphabetically by surname).

c a n d i d at e s ,

Bernard Choping

we do hear

Mark Elworth

quite a bit how hard

Phone: 402-917-5149

Phone: 402-812-1600 E-mail: markelworthjr@aol.com Twitter: @markjr4gov

Christopher Geary Phone: 402-905-6865 Website: geary2017.com E-mail: christophergeary@gmail.com ​​

it is to

J.B. Medlock

get 1,000

Heath Mello

s i g n at u r e s

Phone: 402-302-0000 and 402-213-2095

Website: heathmello.com E-mail: info@heathmello.com Twitter: @heathmello

t h at a r e

Ean Mikale

a c c e p t e d.

Taylor Royal

It ta k e s

Jean Stothert

w o r k ."

- B r i a n W. K r u s e Douglas County Election Commissioner MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 45 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

Website: mikaleformayor.com Twitter: @mikaleformayor

Website: taylorjroyal.com E-mail: royalformayor@gmail.com

Phone: 402-506-6623 Website: jeanstothert.com E-mail: info@jeanstothert.com Twitter: @jean_stothert

Mort Sullivan Website: mortsullivan.com E-mail: mdsullivan@cisusa.info

Jerome Wallace Phone: 314-495-0545

ALOHA BLUEJAYS CREIGHTON LU‘AU CELEBRATES OMAHA-HAWAII CONNECTION

BY JARED KENNEDY PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMAN DESIGN BY MAKA WIECZOREK

OMAHA MAGAZINE

FEATURE

From left: Tiffany Lau and Ku‘uipo Lono of Hui ‘O Hawai‘ i MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 47 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

C

OMAHA MAGAZINE

REIGHTON HAS LONG maintained

FEATURE

a cross-cultural connection with Hawaii. The university considers the Central Pacific archipelago one of its top-10 recruiting states, and students from Hawaii have been flocking to this “Maui of the Midwest” for nearly a century.

Today, the number of Native Hawaiians who continue on to post-secondary education remains low, Lono says, so leaving the island for college is a big deal. For Lono, leaving Hawaii was a matter of broadening her horizons, sharing Hawaiian culture, and in some ways, defending her traditional culture.

The first Hawaiian student enrolled at Creighton University in 1924, long before the territory became a state (which eventually happened in 1959). Creighton started seeing increased Hawaiian enrollment after World War II in the 1940s, amid heightening racism toward people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, says Associate Director of Admissions Joe Bezousek.

“There is a big controversial thing happening on the Big Island where the United States wants to build a big telescope on a mountain, and Native Hawaiians are protesting,” she says. “For some people, being Hawaiian is going up on the mountain and protesting—for others, being Hawaiian is getting an education and being part of the committee who decides whether or not to have the telescope built.”

While resentment lingered from the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and other U.S. military engagements in East Asia, Creighton intentionally rejected riding the wave of then-popular discrimination.

"Creighton has always followed the Jesuit value of being accepting and treating everyone with dignity and respect. So, Creighton kept our doors open and that was a big trigger moment,” Bezousek says.

Current students of Hawaiian heritage say the school does much to foster a culture of inclusion and supply resources necessary for Native and non-indigenous Hawaiians alike to continue being engaged with their culture while thousands of miles from home.

Ku‘uipo Lono is a student at Creighton and a participating member of Hui ‘O Hawai‘i, an on-campus Hawaiian organization. Lono’s favorite part of the Hawaiian club, and the centerpiece of the organization’s calendar, is the annual lu‘au.

According to Lono, lu‘au was first conceptualized in Hawaii as a celebration of life.

“Lu‘au was originally done for a baby’s first birthday,” Lono says. “When Western people came to Hawaii, they brought a lot of diseases with them, and so it was a big deal for a baby to live past one year.”

Much like there is a distinction between Native Americans and non-indigenous American people born and raised in America, Lono says there is a cultural difference between Native Hawaiians and people who are simply from Hawaii. Creighton’s Hui ‘O Hawai‘i is inclusive of both groups.

“There are people who are not Hawaiian at all who participate,” Lono says. “A common thing you will hear people say is ‘I am Hawaiian at heart.’”

Sela Vili is a sophomore at Creighton.

Although not of indigenous Hawaiian heritage, she is from Hawaii and played a lead role in a play performed at last year’s lu‘au.

More than 1,000 people attended the 2016 event, which is inclusive to other Polynesian cultures, too, not just Hawaiian.

Vili says the celebration is different each year, and the food is always authentic.

“We have a food committee, and we bring down a chef from Hawaii,” Vili says. “I love the entertainment in the lu‘au. I love dancing in it, especially given that I have been dancing since the age of 5.”

Vili refers to the Hawaiian community on campus as her family away from home. She says Hawaii is very important to her, which drives a lot of her participation in the club.

“I want to be involved in the lu‘au so I can share my culture with everyone else,” Vili says. “It’s a way for me to keep in touch with home, and also a great way to meet other students that are from Hawaii.”

Hawaiian culture is based on the idea that you live off the land and work in the fields, Lono says, but going to college offers an opportunity for a different type of life. She admits there can be some resentment toward Westerners by Native Hawaiians, especially considering the legacy of colonization and forced acculturation. “[I used to think] this is not fair. Why do we have to work to pay rent for land we already own,” Lono says. “My perspective changed when I came here. The same thing happened to the Mexicans and the Native Americans, and I think the best thing to do is not really accept it, but to learn about it, make a difference, and move forward from it.”

Lono is thankful for the opportunity to share her culture with the rest of Creighton’s diverse student population, and she praises the club’s approximately 250 members for caring enough about their culture to share with their peers and the general public of Omaha.

“Creighton recruits heavily from Hawaii, and it is nice having so many people from Hawaii so far away from home,” Lono says.

She laments the dearth of Hawaiian food in Omaha; however, the Hui ‘O Hawai‘i organization provides an essential group of friends who get together to cook authentic foods from home, in order to feel a little closer to the Aloha State—right here in Nebraska.

The 2017 Hui ‘O Hawai‘ i Lu‘au takes place March 18 at Creighton University’s Kiewit Fitness Center. Doors open at 4 p.m., dinner begins at 5 p.m., and entertainment starts at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $20 general admission, $15 students, $12 children ages 4-12, free to ages 3 and under. Contact Lu‘au Chair Tiffany Lau at tiffanylau1@creighton.edu for more information.

“Creighton recruits heavily from Hawaii, and it is nice having so many people from Hawaii so far away from home.”

- Ku'uipo Lono

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 48 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

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The Sangre de Cristo Mountains stretch across the horizon of Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado.

OMAHA MAGAZINE

ADVENTURE

BY SHANNON SMITH // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

OMAHA MAGAZINE

W

ADVENTURE

e’re creatures of habit. We live and breathe routine, and for the most part, we are comfortable in our ways. We’re busy. We think ahead. We worry. We wonder. We drive to work and run errands. Once in a while, however, we stop for a moment and realize that we need a break.

What happens when we decide to escape from routine? If only for two weeks? The possibilities are infinite. Omaha Magazine’s creative director, Bill Sitzmann, and his family of four know this firsthand. Sitzmann, his wife, and their two kids (ages 5 and 9) packed up their Subaru Outback in early June 2016 and hit the road with no specific destination in mind, rather a region: the Great American Southwest.

“We knew when we needed to leave and we knew when we needed to be back,” Sitzmann says. “My dad lives in Tucson, so we knew we wanted to go there and see him.

But other than that, we just picked the general areas we wanted to hit.”

The Sitzmann family rolled out of Omaha, looking forward to the two-week camping adventure ahead.

Sitzmann says that the trip was exciting from a parental standpoint because, while he was accustomed to teaching his kids things that he already knew, they were headed into uncharted territory for the whole family.

“For all four of us to experience it for the first time, all at the same time, was pretty cool,” Sitzmann says, recalling their two weeks of close quarters on the road.

Driving from Omaha, their stops ranged from Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado to the White Sands National Monument in New Mexico.

They discovered beautiful, lightly populated trails and campsites by venturing off the beaten path. The family decided to stop by the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado, chosen by Sitzmann on a whim, based solely on pictures that he’d seen of the place.

“WE KNEW WHEN WE NEEDED TO LEAVE AND WE KNEW WHEN WE NEEDED TO BE BACK. MY DAD LIVES IN TUCSON, SO WE KNEW WE WANTED TO GO THERE AND SEE HIM. BUT OTHER THAN THAT, WE JUST PICKED THE GENERAL AREAS WE WANTED TO HIT.” - BILL SITZMANN

A wilderness surrounds the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.

Arches National Park, Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 53 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

ADVENTURE

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Surrounded by trees with no spectacular view in sight, the drive into the park had them questioning their sanity. But the side trip turned out to be one of the more rewarding outdoor destinations for the family when they walked along a trail at sunset and stumbled upon a massive canyon nearly 100 yards away from their campsite. As they looked around, they realized that they had the hidden gem all to themselves. Sitzmann made a point to wake up at sunrise the next morning for coffee with a view.

They hit a total of 10 national parks over the course of their 3,200-mile journey across the rugged Southwest of the United States. The region is home to countless national parks, along with myriad monuments and historic sites, offering unlimited variations to the ultimate family road trip.

In the Southwest, several National Parks are located in close enough proximity that more than one could be visited in a single day. The natural formations of the land might be close in location, but tend to differ greatly when it comes to their visual appeal.

In Utah, the impressive forest of tall, narrow eroded rock at Bryce Canyon National Park is less than 90 minutes from Zion National Park—where massive cliffs, gaping canyons, sparkling streams, and waterfalls can be seen. Those two parks alone could make a day of adventure (or a week of discovery) for visitors.

Canyonlands National Park, Utah

OMAHA MAGAZINE

ADVENTURE

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Medano Creek (in Great Sand Dunes National Park) is fed by snowmelt from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE

ADVENTURE

Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado

“I think it’s important to have that long-term period with your family,” Sitzmann says. “Most of us, we talk about providing for our family—and that’s what we think our main job is. You teach [your kids] that you can provide and work hard, but there are other things in life that we miss and that we kind of lose touch with over the years.”

The family was able to disconnect from social media, spend the evenings under the stars, and chase the sunrise each morning.

Not every moment was saturated with unexpected beauty. One night, they couldn’t find an open campground, so they camped directly under a fluorescent light in an RV park. But that was a learning experience, in its own way.

Sitzmann’s son turned 9 on the road and received a pocketknife from his father as a right of passage into the world of responsibility.

Road trips to the Southwest have occupied a pivotal point in the lives of many. For my own family, the Southwest was the basis for two unforgettable road trips. The first journey, my parents took in their 20s before having kids. The second, they undertook with seven children in tow (four years ago).

Unlike the Sitzmanns, the Smith crew rolled out of Omaha in 15-passenger rental van. Our approach to the itinerary was more regimented and less laissez faire. We hit the road with all lodging booked. While the Sitzmanns cooked on campfires all along the way, we munched on endless amounts of processed snacks packed into the van.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 58 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

My dad drove, my mom blogged, and the seven of us kids—ages 5 to 19—bonded in the backseats singing songs, playing games, and marveling at the changing colors and landscapes that we had never seen before.

Over the course of the 3,259 miles that we drove, we spent 10 days in five different states.

We grew closer as we conquered new territories.

We mastered packing and unpacking the car in a matter of minutes; white-water rafted in Colorado; played cards by the campfire at night in Utah; and came up with silly inside jokes that we remember today.

"MY PARENTS HAD WANTED TO GO ON FAMILY ROAD TRIP TO THE SOUTHWEST EVER SINCE THEIR OWN TRIP SOME 20 YEARS PRIOR. IT WAS A RIGHT OF PASSAGE FOR OUR FAMILY AS A UNIT, BECAUSE MY ELDEST SISTER HAD JUST GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL AND THE YOUNGEST WAS ABOUT TO START KINDERGARTEN." - SHANNON SMITH

While there are countless ways to make a road trip through the Southwest, the adventure is unlike any other. Experiencing the purity and the simplicity of the landscape, joined by the people you love, is an indescribable experience. It is an opportunity that doesn’t come around often.

My parents had wanted to go on family road trip to the Southwest ever since their own trip some 20 years prior. It was a right of passage for our family as a unit, because my eldest sister had just graduated high school and the youngest was about to start kindergarten.

The Smith Family's Southwest Itinerary (10 days):

The Sitzmann Family's Southwest Itinerary (14 days):

From Omaha, we drove through Colorado and landed in Utah where we visited: Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park. We then continued to head south where we hit Arizona and visited the Grand Canyon National Park and Lake Powell. We headed back up north where we made an impulsive stop at the Four Corners, then carried onto Mesa Verde National Park and the city of Durango in Colorado. Then, we returned to Omaha.

From Omaha, they headed to the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. From there, they went to New Mexico where they visited Carson National Forest and White Sands National Monument. They continued onward to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and Antelope Canyon in Arizona, and then went back up to Utah to hit Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park. The family made their way back through Colorado, where they visited the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park before they returned to Omaha.

As we begin graduating from college, these sorts of road trips will become increasingly difficult to coordinate. So, to seize the moment, we are now in the midst of planning another massive family road trip.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 59 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

COVER

BY CAROL CRISSEY NIGRELLI // PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY BOYS TOWN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Scan this page with the LayAR app to see more photos.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 60 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

FATHER FLANAGAN AND THE CAUSE FOR CANONIZATION

WILL THE VATICAN DECLARE THE FOUNDER OF BOYS TOWN A SAINT?

OMAHA MAGAZINE

A

SMALL, FRAMED BLACK-ANDWHITE photo hangs on the living

room wall of the Rev. Clifford Stevens’ modest apartment, located on the south campus of Omaha’s famous Village of Boys Town. It shows Monsignor Edward J. Flanagan sitting at his desk, looking up at several teenage boys standing around him.

“That’s me, second from the right,” declares Stevens, pointing to a dark-haired, good-looking 16-year-old with a dimpled grin. “That picture was taken in 1942 to commemorate the school’s 25th anniversary, the year I came to Boys Town.”

As someone who knew the tall, affable Irish priest personally—and those numbers keep dwindling—Stevens never doubted his mentor and biggest champion would one day travel the road to sainthood.

“He was very warm and gentle, with the kindest smile I ever saw in my life,” says Stevens, still energetic and sharp at age 91. “He was very considerate and completely dedicated to the welfare of children.”

The longtime Omaha priest and prolific author recently discontinued presiding over daily Mass at Dowd Chapel, the Catholic house of worship on campus, to concentrate on writing his third biography of Father Flanagan. Stevens expects publication by the fall as part of Boys Town’s centennial celebration.

“Boys Town has been around 100 years and I’ve been part of it for 75 years,” he says with a mixture of pride and wonder.

Those who have benefited directly from the safe haven created by Father Flanagan for poor, orphaned, abused, neglected, or at-risk boys (the school opened its doors to girls in 1980) need no convincing of the priest’s Christ-like presence on earth. Convincing Rome, that’s another story.

It takes years and enormous preparation, as dictated by ancient Catholic canon law.

Four boxes filled with leather-bound dossiers attesting to Father Flanagan’s “heroic virtue” arrived at the Holy See in Rome in June 2015, the result of a 2 1/2 year investigation into the priest’s life by the Omaha archdiocese.

“They literally put Father Flanagan’s whole life on trial here in Omaha,” explains Steve Wolf, a member of the Boys Town alumni group that helped ignite the quest for sainthood in 1999.

“Everything that could possibly be known about Father Flanagan, through any number of sources, was all examined thoroughly.”

COVER

Although 2,000 names precede Father Flanagan’s on the list of sainthood causes, the boxes from Omaha have not sat idly in some Vatican room.

“We know the tribunal in Rome is reviewing the work of the Omaha archdiocese because they’ve been communicating with us here, trying to clarify information or asking for additional testimony,” Wolf says. “It’s absolutely an active, open case, and that’s encouraging.”

Will Rome agree Father Flanagan led a life so good and so holy in service to others that he put his own life in peril? Does he meet the requirement of “historic virtue?” Wolf, a 1980 graduate of Boys Town, sees no other conclusion.

“He received death threats many times because he was without prejudice or discrimination, integrating Boys Town with blacks and kids of Jewish faith,” he says. “The Ku Klux Klan once threatened to burn Boys Town down,” prompting Father Flanagan to respond, “What color is a man’s soul?”

If the case for sainthood didn’t exist, “[Omaha] Archbishop [George] Lucas would never have signed off on it and sent the boxes to Rome,” says Wolf, who readily admits Boys Town turned his life around. The father of five girls now heads The Father Flanagan League: Society of Devotion, an organization made up of alumni and lay Catholics that focuses on fundraising and forwarding the cause of sainthood through an international groundswell of support. Wolf credits the hard work of Boys Town historian Tom Lynch with enabling a speedy local investigation into Father Flanagan’s life.

“When I was hired by Boys Town 30 years ago as a graduate student in history, our archives weren’t organized,” explains Lynch, chairman of the historical commission that gathered written material for the sainthood cause. “We had about 2 million documents and half-a-million pictures just dumped in the building without rhyme or reason.”

Every day for more than 10 years, Lynch picked up pieces of paper, read them, then placed them in the proper category until the archives became a major resource center. Lynch and his “great crew of volunteers” eventually created a timeline accounting for nearly every day of the priest’s life, from his birth in Ballymoe, Ireland, in 1886, to his death from a heart attack in 1948 while on a goodwill trip to post-war Germany.

Lynch created the Hall of History, where thousands of visitors come every year to learn the story of Boys Town and the man who founded it. When the representative Rome sent to Omaha to investigate the sainthood request saw all the required material on display, he told Lynch, “You’ve taken about 25 years off the process.”

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Those closely involved in the cause, though sworn to secrecy, cautiously think all the requisites for beatification and canonization exist.

A separate tribunal in Rome is examining two of the 17 alleged miracles attributed to Father Flanagan (after his death), where someone was cured after praying to him, defying medical explanation. If proved, the Vatican will declare him Blessed, followed by a declaration of sainthood.

Father Flanagan began his life with people praying to God on his behalf, offering up pleas for divine intervention. On the day he came into the world, Eddie Flanagan, the eighth of 11 children born to a sheep farmer and his wife in County Roscommon, Ireland, turned blue, then purple and started convulsing. The midwife told the family the baby wouldn’t last the night.

But Eddie’s grandfather, a veterinarian, unbuttoned his flannel shirt, wrapped the newborn in a blanket and held him against his chest. He paced in front of the large kitchen hearth all night, holding the baby close. By morning, the baby’s coloring had returned to normal. Prayers had been answered.

“We believe he was born prematurely, which would explain why the family was so worried those first few days,” says Wolf. It would also help explain why Eddie was susceptible to respiratory problems all his life—health so fragile it nearly derailed his deep desire to follow his older brother, Patrick, into the priesthood.

Illness forced him to leave the seminary twice, once in Yonkers, outside New York City, the other time in Rome. After nearly dying from double pneumonia while studying in New York, his brother Patrick, who had been dispatched from Ireland to minister in “the Middle Western Plains of Nebraska,” suggested Eddie stay with him in Omaha. “The air is clean and brisk here, where your lungs can heal,” wrote Patrick.

The younger Flanagan regained his health in Omaha, but “the archbishop didn’t want him! He thought he was too sickly to become a priest and wouldn’t let him study here,” says Stevens, shaking his head. “So he got a job as an accountant at the Cudahy meat packing plant in South Omaha. That’s where he acquired his business skills.”

The young man finally finished his seminary studies in the warmer climes of Innsbruck, Austria, and returned to Omaha after his ordination in 1912. Five years later, on Dec. 12, 1917, Father Flanagan opened his first Boys Home at 25th and Dodge streets. He had found his calling.

People who only know Father Flanagan from Spencer Tracy’s Oscar-winning performance in the 1938 movie Boys Town may understand his mission, “but they don’t know this man,” says Wolf. “He was a consultant to world leaders on youth care after World War II. Who did President Truman send to Japan and Germany—countries we had defeated—to assess the problem of displaced or orphaned children? A priest. This priest.”

Almost 70 years after his death, Father Flanagan can still reach out from beyond the grave and touch souls, Wolf believes. He experienced it personally.

Raised in Omaha as a Baptist by a single mom, Wolf had shrugged off all organized religion by the time he graduated from Boys Town, and he held a particular disdain for the Catholic Church. Wolf returned to campus for an alumni convention in 1999, shortly after the group announced plans to seek sainthood for their founder.

“I was sitting in the very last pew of Dowd Chapel for a special Mass that I felt obligated to attend,” he relates, “and I looked over my right shoulder and there’s Father Flanagan’s tomb right there in that little room. Suddenly, I was just overcome, almost crying. Here I am trying to do something to honor him, and I realized I’m not even the kind of kid he would have wanted me to be.”

At that moment, Wolf ’s conversion to Catholicism began.

Even historian Tom Lynch, who has immersed himself in all things Flanagan his entire adult life, came away from the tribunal experience with renewed respect for the sanctity of Boys Town’s founder.

“People laughed at him, told him it would never work because he wanted to treat the kids humanely,” Lynch says. “There are no fences or gates around Boys Town. No physical punishment. He was very much their champion.”

As Omaha awaits a decision from Rome, which could take years, Father Flanagan’s legacy continues to better the lives of more than 2 million children and families, with outreach programs and medical services on 11 Boys Town campuses from New York to California.

Father Flanagan must have sensed that his belief in the basic goodness of children would bear fruit. Shortly before his death, he wrote, “… the work will continue, you see, whether I’m here or not, for it’s God’s work, not mine.”

Visit fatherflanagan.org for more information.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 63 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

Timeline of Father Flanagan's Life July 13, 1886 – Edward Joseph Flanagan born in Leabeg, County Roscommon, Ireland.

Parents: John and Honora (Larkin) Flanagan.

COVER

Mid-January 1916 – Father Flanagan opened the Workingmen's Hotel in the Old Burlington Hotel, leased by St. Vincent de Paul Society.

March 1927 – Father Flanagan moved into new home, Father Flanagan House.

October 12, 1930 – Radio program ''Voice of the Homeless Boy" expanded outside of Omaha.

October 23, 1937 – Flanagan appointed Domestic Prelate with title of "Right Reverend Monsignor" by His Holiness, Pope Pius XI.

July 18, 1886 – Edward Joseph Flanagan baptized, St. Croan’s Catholic Church, Ballymoe, Ireland. Father Crofton officiated.

Godparents: Patrick and Mary Jane Flanagan.

November 21, 1937 – Investiture service for Father Flanagan to Monsignor, Boys Town Auditorium.

August 27, 1904 – Edward Joseph Flanagan arrived in United States aboard S.S. Celtic, White Star Line.

July 9, 1916 – Father Flanagan assigned as assistant pastor, St. Philomena Parish, Omaha, Nebraska (Pastor: James W. Stenson).

Early September 1916 – Father Flanagan moved Workingmen's Hotel to Livesay Flats where he could care for 300 men.

December 12, 1917 – Founded Father Flanagan's Boys' Home.

December 2, 1937 – Appointed to Childrens’ Committee of National Conference of Catholic Charities.

February 20, 1939 – Honorary Life Member of the Boys’ Republic of Arlington, Virginia.

June 26, 1939 – Father Flanagan received First Annual Humanitarian Award from Variety Clubs International. Presented by founder, John W. Harris, at Fontenelle Hotel, Omaha, Nebraska.

November 1939 – Father Flanagan appointed to Board of Diocesan Consultors to succeed Monsignor A. M. Colaneri.

September 1906 – Edward Joseph Flanagan entered St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie, New York.

December 12, 1917 – Flanagan celebrated last Mass as assistant pastor, St. Philomena.

Relieved of all parish duties.

May 31, 1907 – Left St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie, New York.

May 8, 1919 – Flanagan became a citizen of United States of America.

April 2, 1941 – Father Flanagan appointed by governor of California to Governor's Committee on the Whittier State School.

July 4, 1907 – John, Nora, and Edward Flanagan arrive in Omaha, Nebraska.

February 24, 1920 – Articles of Incorporation for Father Flanagan's Boys' Home filed with state of Nebraska.

July 26, 1912 – Edward Joseph Flanagan ordained by Bishop Elder for the Brixon Diocese in St. Ignatius Church, Innsbruck, Austria.

Summer 1921 – Began construction of five buildings on Overlook Farm: two school buildings, two dormitories, and a refectory/ dining hall.

May 27, 1942 – Father Flanagan received certificate for Distinguished Service on Behalf of the National War Savings Program, U.S. Treasury Department.

July 27, 1912 – Father Edward Joseph Flanagan celebrated his first Mass in the Jesuit Church at St. Ignatius Church, Innsbruck, Austria.

October 17-22, 1921 – Father Flanagan's Boys' Home moved to Overlook Farm.

August 25, 1912 – Father Edward Joseph Flanagan celebrated his first Solemn High Mass at Holy Angels Church, Omaha, Nebraska.

September 5, 1912 – Father Edward Joseph Flanagan assigned as assistant pastor, St. Patrick Parish, O'Neill, Nebraska.

July 2, 1922 – Elected president of Omaha Welfare Board.

September 1925 – Inauguration of periodical radio broadcasts for Father Flanagan broadcast over WOAW, sponsored by Woodmen of the World Insurance.

November 3, 1942 – Father Flanagan began weeklong war bond tour, during which he sold almost $3 million in bonds.

February 1944 – Father Flanagan made life member of the National Humanitarian Award Committee, Variety Clubs International.

March 15, 1913 – Father Edward Joseph Flanagan assigned as assistant pastor, St. Patrick's Church, Omaha (Pastor: John T. Smith).

September 5, 1944 – Certificate of Service from U.S. Navy, Letter from Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal to Father Flanagan.

February 2, 1915 – The Rev. John T . Smith died. Flanagan became acting pastor of St. Patrick's Parish.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 64 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

October 17, 1944 – Father Flanagan received letter naming him Number One War Dad in America by the National Council, American War Dads.

February 1, 1946 – Father Flanagan named to National Panel for Study of Juvenile Delinquency Problems by U.S. Attorney General Tom Clark.

April 7, 1946 – Father Flanagan appointed member of the Naval Civilian Committee

by Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal.

November 1, 1946 – Father Flanagan received the Kiwanis Medal for Distinguished Service from Kiwanis Club of Lincoln, Nebraska.

February 28, 1947 – Father Flanagan received an invitation from Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson to tour Japan on behalf of war orphans, etc.

Steps Toward Canonization

by Thomas Lynch Attaining sainthood follows three phases and four steps of recognition. The phases are pre-diocesan, diocesan, and Roman. The levels of recognition are (in sequential order) Servant of God, Venerable, Blessed, and Saint.

April 7, 1947 – Father Flanagan left Omaha for Japan and Korea at invitation of Secretary of War Robert Patterson and General Douglas MacArthur regarding juvenile welfare.

July 8-11, 1947 – Father Flanagan went to Washington, D.C., to report to Secretary of War and Navy and President Harry S. Truman.

May 15, 1948 – Died, Berlin, Germany.

May 17, 1948 – Funeral for Monsignor Edward Joseph Flanagan in Berlin Cathedral.

Conrad Cardinal V on Preysing, Bishop of Berlin, officiated.

The pre-diocesan phase requires a spontaneous or groundswell of devotion. The Father Flanagan League: Society of Devotion initiated this first phase of the process.

Omaha archbishop George Lucas initiated the second phase by appointing a tribunal to investigate the life and virtues of Father Flanagan.

This is the diocesan phase, during which the candidate is recognized as Servant of God. In a formal ceremony during June 2015, the archbishop advanced the cause to the Vatican for further investigation.

Currently, Father Flanagan is in the Roman phase. A tribunal appointed by the Vatican further investigates the life and virtues of Father Flanagan and the miracles associated with him. The canonization process takes many years. To be canonized a saint, there must be proof of at least two miracles attributed to Father Flanagan that have occurred after his death.

The Vatican determines whether he would be recognized as Venerable based on investigation of miracles attributed to Father Flanagan after his death. After being recognized as Venerable, additional miracles (miracles not already submitted for his canonization cause) must be submitted and verified for Father Flanagan to be formally recognized as Blessed. After the tribunal makes recommendations to the pope, he decides whether to declare the priest a saint of the church. Confirmation of sainthood is then scheduled for an official ceremony at a later date.

May 21, 1948 – Funeral for Edward Joseph Flanagan in The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, Dowd Memorial Chapel, Boys Town, Nebraska.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 65 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

L I A HOW OMAHA R The Birth of a City and Transcontinental Rail THIRTEEN YEARS BEFORE Nebraska achieved

statehood in 1867, a group of Council Bluffs businessmen helped establish “Omaha City.” They didn’t view Omaha as a rival to Council Bluffs; rather, they saw Omaha as a prime route for the transcontinental railroad—and a road to riches. Their efforts laid the groundwork for the nation’s most ambitious construction project, while forever forging a unique bond between the two cities and Union Pacific.

The saga begins in the 1850s, when Dr. Thomas Clark Durant and Henry Farnam partner to construct a rail extension across Iowa, called the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad. They subsequently commission Grenville M. Dodge to explore possible routes for a transcontinental railroad between the Missouri River and Salt Lake Valley.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 66 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

ROADED COUNCIL BLUFFS

BY ANNE WALSH // IMAGE PROVIDED BY UNION PACIFIC MUSEUM // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 67 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

It’s a difficult decade for Omaha—a bank panic in 1857 wipes out investors, and the city’s population declines. Then, the Civil War ignites in 1861. Desperate to unite the country east to west, President Abraham Lincoln signs the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862. It OKs land grants to attract private capital for construction and authorizes UP’s origin at a point on Iowa’s western boundary, to be approved by the president.

“OMAHA MUST BE THE ONLY POINT OF CONNECTION WITH THE MISSOURI RIVER. WITHOUT THIS, THERE WILL BE TROUBLE.” -Edward Creighton Motivated by his large interest in the M&M, Durant is determined to link his Iowa rail extension with the transcontinental initiative, says Patricia LaBounty, collections manager at the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. By Oct. 30, 1863, Durant is elected UP’s director and vice president, taking nearly complete control of the enterprise. He appoints Peter A. Dey as UP’s chief engineer (Dey had surveyed the M&M with Dodge) to further explore four possible connections alongside the Missouri River, including Omaha and Bellevue.

Durant lobbies Lincoln, who’s also inundated with requests to fix the origin at locations stretching from Sioux City, Iowa, to Kansas City. Judge John P. Usher, Secretary of the Interior in Lincoln’s cabinet, recalls Durant’s advice: “Now, the natural place for this terminal point is at the mouth of the Platte River, but Omaha is the principal town in Nebraska; the wealth of the territory is there, and the energies of the people radiate from there, and

HISTORY

I think they ought to be considered, and the best thing is to start it from Omaha.”

After consulting with Dodge, on Nov. 17, 1863, President Lincoln writes his first executive order on the subject. To ensure the railroad builds a continuous rail line and bridge surmounting the Missouri River, he sets the starting point on the Iowa side, across from Omaha. But his language is somewhat ambiguous, and Durant seizes the opportunity to plan an elaborate ground-breaking ceremony—in Omaha.

Held in early December 1863, near the ferry landing at Seventh and Davenport streets, and featuring bands, cannons, and fireworks, the event attracts throngs of citizens. Writes David Bristow in A Dirty, Wicked Town: Tales of 19th Century Omaha: “And so it was an act of great faith—right there in the middle of a bloody civil war—to begin the most ambitious and expensive building project the country had ever attempted. It began in Omaha— it was a day, as the Omaha Nebraskian put it, ‘to thank God and take courage.’”

On March 7, 1864, Lincoln pens a second, more formal executive order, again specifying the origin on Iowa’s boundary opposite Omaha. Construction languishes due to lack of financing during the war, so a second Congressional Act on July 2, 1864, creates additional land grant incentives. A map detailing the railroad’s first 100 miles west from Omaha is filed with the Interior Department later that year, which President Lincoln approves.

And then, amazingly, Durant flip-flops.

Despite two presidential orders, the UP Board of Directors’ approval of the Omaha route and his initial support, he changes his mind. A new consulting engineer, Silas Seymour, has identified steep grades surrounding Omaha, so he and Durant seek to move the origination point to Bellevue.

“Just like Omaha, Bellevue has already authorized land grants to UP, provided it begin the railroad there,” LaBounty says, “and Durant continues playing both sides of the fence.

By May 1865, he requests surveys on the Missouri-Bellevue route and the best location for mechanical shops at Bellevue or Fremont.”

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 68 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Omahans are outraged. The anger is apparent in telegrams exchanged between Durant and Edward Creighton, president of First National Bank and founder of the university that bears his name. Due to the reroute, Durant says no buildings are needed in Omaha. He’s had “enough of interference” and threatens to “make application to the President to change the terminus.” Responds Creighton: “Omaha must be the only point of connection with the Missouri River. Without this, there will be trouble.”

The issue is resolved Sept. 23, 1865, when President Andrew Johnson approves an amended location in Omaha that addresses the grades through a circuitous route, and construction to the west finally begins. But the drama doesn’t end there.

Given Lincoln’s presidential orders, it was assumed the Missouri River bridge would be constructed between Council Bluffs and Omaha. But UP’s board of directors rumors otherwise. In March 1868, a prominent Omaha delegation, including Nebraska Gov. Alvin Saunders, businessman Ezra Millard, and Omaha Herald publisher Dr. George L. Miller travel to UP’s New York City corporate office to settle the issue. They are appalled, writes Bristol, when Dodge announces the board has selected Bellevue. Using a triedand-true strategy, Omaha and Council Bluffs unite to offer the railroad land, rights-of-ways and money. The railroad accepts, and the $2.5 million iron bridge is completed in 1872.

Two years later, the U.S. Supreme Court settles the argument over the railroad’s origin point, establishing Milepost 0 in Council Bluffs. Both cities become transportation and business hubs, with a major rail yard and passenger transfer hotel in Council Bluffs, and Omaha home to UP’s operational headquarters and mechanical shops. Today the bond continues, with more than 4,000 Union Pacific employees in Omaha and Council Bluffs proudly serving the state and the nation.

Although Union Pacific is headquartered in downtown Omaha, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum is located in Council Bluffs. Visit uprrmuseum.org for more information about the railroad’s history.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE

GIVING FEATURE

BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY MADY BESCH & MATT WIECZOREK

LEADING THE NONPROFIT ASSOCIATION OF THE MIDLANDS THE NONPROFIT ASSOCIATION of the

Midlands is a resource dedicated to helping the thousands of nonprofit entities scattered across Nebraska and western Iowa.

CEO Anne Hindrey stands at the helm of the organization that connects so many disparate nonprofits—from sports (Omaha Fencing Club) to social services (United Way of the Midlands).

Roughly 330 total nonprofits hold a registered membership to NAM. Each works to serve the community in its own way.

Hindery's job involves helping nonprofits navigate the often sticky world of public policy. It is a role she is well-qualified to assist with.

She started her career as the law enforcement coordination specialist with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Omaha.

“I wanted to change the world, but I realized that, in government, every four years someone changes the world back,” says Hindery, a Missouri native with a bachelor’s degree from Creighton University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Her previous job in the Nebraska branch of the Department of Justice involved writing grant applications. Her grant-writing experience carried over to her next role as program director at the Omaha Community Foundation. She served on boards, and deepened her involvement in the community. She eventually joined NAM in 2008.

“I was on the board for five minutes,” Hindery says, half-jokingly. “I took someone’s place on the board in November, and they just had a staff change. Because NAM had a good staff policy in place, they needed someone on the board to step in. I said I could do it, and after a time, I was hired full-time.”

Hindery and her staff at NAM develop relationships with various nonprofits. They offer assistance with human resources, insurance, and legal needs; create partnerships between advocacy and public policy groups; and provide tools and training to members. NAM is also part of the National Council of Nonprofits, which keeps Hindery at the forefront of industry trends and changes in public policy.

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“We find our membership in the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands very beneficial,” says Peg Harriott, CEO and president of the Child Saving Institute. “We use the annual salary and benefits report to make sure that our salaries are competitive in the market, and we participate in the health insurance trust to help moderate the cost of health insurance for our employees.”

CSI’s 150 employees benefit from NAM’s insurance trust, but Hindrey and her team make sure they offer services to small nonprofits as well as large ones.

Joining NAM is not free, however. According to the organization’s website, the cost to register ranges in eight tiers from $50 (for nonprofits with an annual budget less than $49,999) to $1,000 (for nonprofits with an annual budget greater than $10 million).

The Inclusive Life Center offers Christian rituals to people who may not belong to a church but want a minister for a wedding, baptism, or funeral. The center's staff of one says he has greatly benefited from belonging to NAM. Chaplain Royal D. Carleton says, “We work off of donations, and it helps us to be mindful that we have to be very transparent and good stewards of the funds that are bestowed on us.”

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-Anne Hindrey “I went to my first NAM conference [in 2016], which was ‘Who’s telling your story?’” Carleton says. “I learned more that day about marketing than I have in some ways in six years [of running Inclusive Life]. There were very strategic marketing insights that I did not know before.”

He also learned that his audience is wider than he originally thought.

“I’ve never marketed to those who are religious, because I figured they have a church they belong to,” Carleton says. “I had people stand up and say, ‘Listen, I’m Catholic, but I have friends who are not religious, and I need to know who you are so I can share that resource with my friends.’

That was a big eye opener for me.”

That connection to people, and other nonprofits, is one of the biggest resources that NAM offers.

“We encourage our members to not reinvent the wheel,” Hindery says. “In many cases, someone has gone through the same problem, and the solution is already available. You may want to tweak it, but it’s there.”

Visit nonprofitam.org for more information.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE

GIVING CALENDAR

GIVING

CALENDAR MARCH / A P R I L 2 0 1 7

March 2 (5:30-9 p.m.)

March 29 (noon-1 p.m.)

Benefitting: Food Bank for the Heartland Location: Embassy Suites, La Vista

Benefiting: Nebraska Medicine Guild scholarships Location: Omaha Design Center

CELEBRITY CHEF 2017

foodbankheartland.org

March 4 (7-11 a.m.)

HEAT THE STREETS 10TH ANNUAL WALK/RUN Benefiting: Common Fund of the Heartland Location: Midtown Crossing heatthestreetsomaha.org

March 10 (6-11:30 p.m.)

GIRLFRIENDS GALA

Benefiting: Conceive Nebraska Location: DC Centre conceivenebraska.org

March 17 (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

ANCIENT ORDER OF THE HIBERNIANS ST. PATRICK’S DAY LUNCHEON

Benefiting: St. Vincent de Paul Society Location: Firefighters Union Hall aohomaha.org

March 23 (6-7:30 p.m.)

BREATHE AND BREW SPRING YOGA SERIES

Benefiting: American Lung Association Location: Lucky Bucket Brewery lung.org

FUSION LUNCHEON 2017

nebraskamed.com

March 31 (6-9 p.m.)

BUBBLY WITH BARBRA

Benefiting: Omaha Community Playhouse Location: Omaha Community Playhouse omahaplayhouse.com

April 1 (4-11 p.m.)

BASKETBALL BASH

Benefiting: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands Location: Scott Conference Center bbbsomaha.org

April 1 (4:30-10 p.m.)

CATHEDRAL COMEDY AND CUISINE

Benefiting: Saint Cecilia Cathedral School Location: Monsignor Graham Building stceciliacathedral.org

April 1 (5-9 p.m.)

VINNEBRASKA PUBLIC TASTING AND GRAND AUCTION

Benefiting: Partnership 4 Kids Location: CoCo Key Water Resort and Hotel vinnebraska.com

March 24 (5-9:30 p.m.)

April 2 (4-7:30 p.m.)

Benefiting: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands Location: The Grass Wagon Events Hall

Benefiting: Notre Dame Sisters Location: St. Robert Bellarmine Social Hall

MARCH MADNEZZ 2017

bgcomaha.org

March 25 (7-9:30 p.m.)

ARTVENTURE

Benefiting: Girl Scouts Spirit of Nebraska Location: UNO, Mammel Hall girlscoutsnebraska.org

April 7 (5-8 p.m.)

ANNUAL MEN OF HONOR GALA/ CELEBRATING OUR YOUTH AFFAIR Benefiting: 100 Black Men of Omaha Location: Omaha Hilton, Downtown 100blackmenomaha.org

April 7 (5:30-9 p.m.)

WINE WOMEN & SHOES

Benefiting: Children's Hospital & Medical Center’s Carolyn Scott Rainbow House Location: Omaha Design Center winewomenandshoes.com/omaha

April 8 (6-9:30 p.m.)

THE GATHERING

Benefiting: Christian Urban Education Services Location: Embassy Suites, LaVista cuesschools.org

CELEBRATION OF SPIRIT DINNER

April 10 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.)

notredamesisters.org

Benefiting: American Red Cross Location: 2912 S 80th Ave.

April 6 (6-9 p.m.)

A NIGHT OF INSPIRING HOPE

Benefiting: Fresh Hope Location: McAuley Fogelstrom Center freshhope.us

AMERICAN RED CROSS, A CENTURY OF SERVICE redcross.org/neia

April 11 (10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.)

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF OMAHA STYLE SHOW Benefiting: Assistance League of Omaha Location: Champions Run Golf Club alomaha.org

April 20 (6:30-7:30 p.m.)

BREATHE AND BREW SPRING YOGA SERIES

Benefiting: American Lung Association Location: Lucky Bucket Brewery lung.org

April 21-22, 28-29 (6-10 p.m.)

BOWL FOR KIDS' SAKE

Benefiting: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands Location: Maplewood Lanes bbbsomaha.org

April 21 (6:45 p.m.)

KICKS FOR A CURE: ANNUAL DINNER

Benefiting: Kicks for a Cure Location: Embassy Suites, La Vista kicksforacure.org

April 22

KICKS FOR A CURE: SOCCER EXHIBITION

Benefiting: Kicks for a Cure Location: Creighton Soccer Complex, UNO Caniglia Soccer Complex kicksforacure.org

April 22 (8:30-11 a.m.)

CLAUSSEN-LEAHY MAVERICK RUN Benefiting: UNO Athletics Location: Baxter Arena omavs.com

April 22 (5:30-9 p.m.)

PINK RIBBON AFFAIR 2017 Benefiting: Susan G. Komen Nebraska Location: Hilton Omaha komennebraska.org

April 22 (6-9 p.m.)

DINING WITH DOGS

Benefiting: Nebraska Humane Society Location: Omaha Design Center nehumanesociety.org

April 24 (noon-1 p.m.)

BOY SCOUTS CITIZEN OF THE YEAR LUNCHEON

Benefiting: Boy Scouts of America Location: Scott Conference Center mac-bsa.org

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 72 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

April 28 (5:30-11 p.m.)

BLONDES VS. BRUNETTES

Benefiting: Alzheimer’s Association Location: Ralston High School alz.org/nebraska

April 29 (9 a.m.)

Get into giving this year!

BRUNCH5K

Benefiting: Junior League of Omaha Location: Midtown Crossing jlomaha.org

April 29 (9-10 a.m.)

MARCH FOR BABIES

Benefiting: March of Dimes Location: Lewis & Clark Landing marchforbabies.org

April 29 (noon-3 p.m.)

WOMEN DEFINING HISTORY LUNCHEON AND RUNWAY SHOW Benefiting: Douglas County Historical Society Location: Institute of the Culinary Arts douglascohistory.org

April 29 (8 a.m.-1 p.m.)

REBUILDING DAY 2017

Benefiting: Rebuilding Together Omaha Location: Deer Park Neighborhood rebuildingtogetheromaha.org

April 29 (5-11 p.m.)

BLUE JEANS AND DREAMS

Benefiting: Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy Location: HETRA Barn

A member of

hetra.org

They can’t hit what they can’t see.

April 29 (6-9 p.m.)

FEATHER OUR NEST 2017

Benefiting: Fontenelle Forest Location: Omaha Design Center fontenelleforest.org

April 30 (noon-3 p.m.)

2017 OMAHA COMMUNITY WALK

Benefiting: ALS in the Heartland Location: Stinson Park at Aksarben Village alsintheheartland.org

Event times and details may change Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

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OMAHA’S BEST LAWYERS From The Best Lawyers in America 2017

OMAHA MAGAZINE IS proud to bring you the

Omaha results of The Best Lawyers in America, widely regarded as the preeminent referral guide to the legal profession in the United States.

What makes this list the “go-to” guide? Two reasons: One, lawyers are not required to pay a fee for a basic listing in the guide; Two, inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America is based entirely on confidential peer review.

Copyright 2016 by Woodward/White Inc., Aiken, SC. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. No commercial use of this list may be made without permission of Woodward/ White, Inc. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of this list without permission.

"The Best Lawyers in America" and "Best Lawyers" are registered trademarks of Woodward/White, Inc.

CREDIT

METHODOLOGY FOR BEST LAWYERS®

These lists are excerpted from The Best Lawyers in America 2017, which includes listings for more than 55,000 lawyers in 140 specialties, in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

This list is excerpted from the 2017 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, the preeminent referral guide to the legal profession in the United States. Published since 1983, Best Lawyers lists attorneys in 140 specialties, representing all 50 states, who have been chosen through an exhaustive survey in which thousands of the nation's top lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The 2017 edition of Best Lawyers is based on more than 7.3 million evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers.

The Best Lawyers in America is published by Woodward/ White, Inc., Aiken, South Carolina, and can be ordered directly from the publisher. For information call 803-6480300; write 237 Park Ave., SW, Suite 101, Aiken, SC 29801; email info@bestlawyers.com; or visit bestlawyers. com. Online subscriptions to Best Lawyers databases are available at bestlawyers.com

DISCLAIMER AND COPYRIGHT Woodward/White Inc., has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All listed attorneys have been verified as being members in good standing with their respective state bar associations as of July 1, 2016, where that information is publicly available. Consumers should contact their state bar for verification and additional information prior to securing legal services of any attorney.

The method used to compile Best Lawyers remains unchanged since the first edition was compiled more than 30 years ago. Lawyers are chosen for inclusion based solely on the vote of their peers. Listings cannot be bought, and no purchase is required to be included. In this regard, Best Lawyers remains the gold standard of reliability and integrity in lawyer ratings.

The nomination pool for the 2017 edition consisted of all lawyers whose names appeared in the previous edition of Best Lawyers, lawyers who were nominated since the previous survey, and new nominees solicited from listed attorneys. In general, lawyers were asked to vote only on nominees in their own specialty in their own jurisdiction.

Lawyers in closely related specialties were asked to vote across specialties, as were lawyers in smaller jurisdictions.

Where specialties are national or international in nature, lawyers were asked to vote nationally as well as locally.

Voting lawyers were also given an opportunity to offer more detailed comments on nominees. Each year, half of the voting pool receives fax or email ballots; the other half is polled by phone.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 74 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Voting lawyers were provided this general guideline for determining if a nominee should be listed among "the best": "If you had a close friend or relative who needed a real estate lawyer (for example), and you could not handle the case yourself, to whom would you refer them?" All votes and comments were solicited with a guarantee of confidentiality—a critical factor in the viability and validity of Best Lawyers surveys. To ensure the rigor of the selection process, lawyers were urged to use only their highest standards when voting, and to evaluate each nominee based only on his or her individual merits. The additional comments were used to make more accurate comparisons between voting patterns and weight votes accordingly. Best Lawyers uses various methodological tools to identify and correct for anomalies in both the nomination and voting process.

Ultimately, of course, a lawyer's inclusion is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow attorneys. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, the breadth of the survey, the candor of the respondents, and the sophistication of the polling methodology largely correct for any biases.

For all these reasons, Best Lawyers lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate and useful guide to the best lawyers in the United States available anywhere.

Best Lawyers lists are available at bestlawyers.com. "Best Lawyers" and "The Best Lawyers in America" are registered trademarks of Woodward/White Inc.

Slowiaczek, Albers & Astley, PC, LLO, is pleased to be named a Tier 1 law firm for the Metropolitan Omaha area for the practice areas of Family Law, Tax, Trusts & Estates and Employee Benefits. The partners listed by Best Lawyers are John S. Slowiaczek, Virginia A. Albers and T.Geoffrey Lieben. All three have received the highest rating (“AV”) afforded lawyers for legal ability and ethics by the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory.

John Slowiaczek has been named President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The Academy is comprised of more than 1,650 of the country’s top divorce and family law lawyers. Academy Fellows are recognized leaders in the areas of matrimonial law, including divorce, prenuptial agreements, business valuations, support, and the rights of unmarried couples. Albers is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and serves on its Board of Governors.

John Slowiaczek was named the “Omaha Metropolitan Area Lawyer of the Year” in 2009 and 2016. Jeff Lieben and Virginia Albers have also been honored as a “lawyer of the year” by Best Lawyers in the past.

Our firm concentrates on the delivery of divorce and family law services to Nebraska residents. Mr. Lieben advises the firm on tax, estate and employee benefits matters. Our team of lawyers includes Adam E. Astley, Kathryn D. Putnam and Hannah C. Wooldridge.

A Divorce & Family Law Firm 100 Scoular Building | 2027 Dodge Street | Omaha, NE 68102 | 402-930-1000 JANUARY

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ANTITRUST LAW David H. Roe McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

James D. Wegner McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

David H. Roe McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Donald L. Swanson Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500

Michael F. Kinney Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

CROKER, HUCK, KASHER, DEWITT, BANKING AND ANDERSON &LAW GONDERINGER, L.L.C. FINANCE Roger W. Wells McGrath North Mullin ATTORNEYS AT LAW Thomas F. Ackley & Kratz Steven C. Turner Koley Jessen First National Tower, Holm One Pacific Place, Ste 800 Baird Ste 3700 1500 to103rd our Street attorneysWoodmen selectedTower, for Ste inclusion 1125 South 1601 Dodge StreetCongratulations 1700 Farnam Street 402-390-9500 402-341-3070 in the 2016 Best Lawyers402-344-0500 in America: John S. Zeilinger Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

APPELLATE PRACTICE Patrick S. Cooper Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Robert Huck

Steven Grasz Land Use & Zoning, Husch Blackwell Real Estate 13330 California Street, Ste 200 402-964-5000

Richard L. Anderson Richard Anderson Croker, Huck, Kasher, BankingAnderson & Finance,& DeWitt, Real Estate – Litigation Gonderinger 2120 South 72nd Street, Ste 1200 402-391-6777

Steven C. Turner Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Jeffrey T. Wegner Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000 Michael J. Whaley Gross & Welch 1500 Omaha Tower 2120 South 72nd Street 402-392-1500

BANKRUPTCY AND CREDITOR DEBTOR Robert Gonderinger Martin Pelster RIGHTS / INSOLVENCY T. Creditor Randall Wright Banking Finance Bankruptcy & AND&REORGANIZATION Holm Debtor Rights Baird / Insolvency LAW Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 & Reorganization

1700 Farnam Street Robert J. Bothe 402-344-0500 McGrath North Mullin We are pleased to announce the Firm was selected for& the 2016 Best Law Firms publication Kratz RobertLand J. Bothe & Finance, Use & Zoning, Litigation Real Estate, Real Estate Law, First–National Tower, ARBITRATIONfor Banking BET-THE-COMPANY Bankruptcy,McGrath Creditor North DebtorMullin Rights/Insolvency Reorganization Law. Steand 3700 LITIGATION & Kratz 1601 Dodge Street James M. Bausch First National Tower, 402-341-3070 Cline Williams Wright James M. Bausch 2120 SteSouth 3700 72nd Street, Suite 1200 • Omaha, NE 68124 Johnson & Oldfather Cline Williams Wright • Fax: (402) 390-9221 • www.crokerlaw.com 1601 391-6777 Dodge Street Richard D. Myers Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 Phone: (402) Johnson & Oldfather 402-341-3070 McGill, Gotsdiner, Workman Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 12910 Pierce Street & Lepp 402-397-1700 12910 Pierce Street Max J. Burbach First National Bank Building, 402-397-1700 Koley Jessen Ste 500 John C. Brownrigg One Pacific Place, Ste 800 11404 West Dodge Road John C. Brownrigg MediaThomas J. Culhane 402-492-9200 tion & Arbitration Services 1125 South 103rd Street Erickson Sederstrom 402-390-9500 673 North 59th Street Regency Westpointe, James J. Niemeier 402-614-0467 Ste 100 Joyce A. Dixon McGrath North Mullin 10330 Regency Parkway AT LAW Kutak Rock & Kratz D. Nick CaporaleATTORNEYS Drive The Omaha Building First National Tower, Baird Holm 402-397-2200 1650 Farnam Street Ste 3700 Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 Congratulations selected for inclusion 402-346-6000 1601 Dodge Street 1700 Farnam Street to our attorneys William G. Dittrick 402-344-0500 in the 2016 Best H. Lawyers in America: 402-341-3070 Baird Holm Dale Dixon III Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 Kutak Rock Michael F. Kinney 1700 Farnam Street The Omaha Building Cassem, Tierney, Adams, 402-344-0500 1650 Farnam Street Gotch & Douglas 402-346-6000 9290 West Dodge Road, John R. Douglas Ste 302 ATTORNEYSThomas AT LAW Cassem, Tierney, Adams, F. Flaherty 402-390-0300 Gotch & Douglas Fraser Stryker 9290 West Dodge Road, Energy Plaza, Ste 500 Matthew G. Miller Ste 302 Congratulations to our attorneys selected for inclusion 409 South 17th Street Miller Lathrop 402-390-0300 402-341-6000 theDodge 2016Road, Best Lawyers in America: Martin P. Pelster 9290in West Robert Huck Richard Anderson Robert Gonderinger Martin Pelster Croker, Huck, Kasher, Ste 100 James P. Fitzgerald d Use & Zoning, Banking & Finance Bankruptcy & Creditor DeWitt, Anderson & 402-558-4900Banking & Finance, McGrath North Mullin Real Estate Real Estate – Litigation Debtor Rights / Insolvency Gonderinger & Kratz & Reorganization 2120 South 72nd Street, Michael G. Mullin First National Tower, Ste 1200 Kutak Rock Ste 3700 402-391-6777 The Omaha Building 1601 Dodge Street We are 1650 pleased to announce Farnam Streetthe Firm was selected for the 2016 Best Law Firms publication 402-341-3070 E. Quinn for Banking & Finance, Land Use & Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate, RealDouglas Estate Law, 402-346-6000 North Mullin Bankruptcy, Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and ReorganizationMcGrath Law. Charles F. Gotch & Kratz David M. Woodke Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Robert M. Gonderinger First National Tower, Woodke & Gibbons Gotch & Douglas t Huck Richard Anderson Robert Huck, Gonderinger Martin Pelster Croker, Kasher, 2120Of South 72nd Street, Suite 1200 • Omaha, NE 68124 Ste 3700 Historic Inns Court 9290 West Dodge Road, & Zoning, Banking & Finance, Banking & Finance& Bankruptcy & Creditor DeWitt, Anderson Phone: (402)Street 391-6777 • Fax: (402) 390-9221 • www.crokerlaw.com 1601 Dodge Street 619 North 90th Ste 302 Estate Real Estate – Litigation Debtor Rights / Insolvency Gonderinger 402-341-3070 402-391-6000 402-390-0300 & Reorganization 2120 South 72nd Street, Ste 1200 Charles L. Smith William F. Hargens 402-391-6777 Telpner, Peterson, Smith, AVIATION LAW McGrath North Mullin e are pleased to announce the Firm was selected for the 2016 Best Law Firms publication Ruesch, Thomas & Simpson & Kratz Lawrence– E. Kritenbrink for Banking & Finance, Land UseJr.& Zoning, Litigation Real Estate, Real Estate 25Law, Main Place, Ste 200 Robert E. O'Connor, First National Tower, Baird Holm Bankruptcy, Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law.P.O. Box 248 O'Connor Law Office Ste 3700 Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 712-309-3738 2433 South 130th Circle 1601 Dodge Street 1700 Farnam Street 402-330-5906 402-341-3070 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200 • Omaha, NE 68124 402-344-0500 Jerrold L. Strasheim Phone: (402) Terrence D. 391-6777 O'Hare • Fax: (402) 390-9221 • www.crokerlaw.com Jerrold L. Strasheim Thomas E. Johnson Marlon M. Lofgren 3610 Dodge Street, Ste 212 McGrath North Mullin & Kratz Baird Holm Koley Jessen 402-346-9330 First National Tower, Ste 3700 Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1601 Dodge Street 1700 Farnam Street 1125 South 103rd Street 402-341-3070 402-344-0500 402-390-9500

CROKER, HUCK, KASHER, DEWITT, ANDERSON & GONDERINGER, L.L.C.

ROKER, HUCK, KASHER, DEWITT, NDERSON & GONDERINGER, L.L.C.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 76 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

William M. Lamson, Jr. Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300 Joseph K. Meusey Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 John P. Passarelli Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS (INCLUDING LLCS AND PARTNERSHIPS) David L. Hefflinger McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Nicholas K. Niemann McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Frank Pechacek, Jr. Willson & Pechacek 421 West Broadway, Ste 200 P.O. Box 2029 712-322-6000 Thomas M. Worthington McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

CLOSELY HELD COMPANIES AND FAMILY BUSINESSES LAW David L. Hefflinger McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Nicholas K. Niemann McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Eric B. Oxley Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500 Daniel C. Pape McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Jeffrey J. Pirruccello McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 James D. Wegner McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

COMMERCIAL FINANCE LAW Robert J. Bothe McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION Jill Robb Ackerman Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 James M. Bausch Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 12910 Pierce Street 402-397-1700 Trenten P. Bausch Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 12910 Pierce Street 402-397-1700 Kirk S. Blecha Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Robert J. Bothe McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Brian J. Brislen Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300

Vacanti Shattuck, Attorneys congratulates Christopher A. Vacanti for being included in the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in AmericaŠ for the practice area of Family Law. The Best Lawyers in AmericaŠ is the oldest and most respected peer-reviewed publication in the legal profession.

Christopher A. Vacanti and the lawyers at Vacanti Shattuck have significant experience guiding their clients through difficult transitions in their divorce, child custody, and other family law matters. Vacanti Shattuck prides itself on providing steady counsel, responsive service, and powerful advocacy.

Vacanti Shattuck, Attorneys | Lawyers Dedicated to Helping Families in Transition.

vsfamilylaw.com | 2051 and 2057 Harney Street | Omaha, NE | 402.345.7600

Patrick E. Brookhouser, Jr. McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Michael F. Coyle Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Thomas J. Culhane Erickson Sederstrom Regency Westpointe, Ste 100 10330 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-2200 Thomas H. Dahlk Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000 Steven D. Davidson Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 William G. Dittrick Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

Patrick B. Griffin Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

Joseph K. Meusey Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

William F. Hargens McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Robert W. Mullin Houghton Bradford Whitted 6457 Frances Street, Ste 100 402-344-4000

Edward D. Hotz Pansing Hogan Ernst & Bachman 10250 Regency Circle, Ste 300 402-397-5500 David S. Houghton Houghton Bradford Whitted 6457 Frances Street, Ste 100 402-344-4000 Richard P. Jeffries Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 12910 Pierce Street 402-397-1700

David A. Domina Domina Law Group 2425 South 144th Street 402-858-9212 John R. Douglas Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

Michael F. Kinney Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

Gerald L. Friedrichsen Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000 James J. Frost McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Charles F. Gotch Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

James J. Niemeier McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Mark E. Novotny Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300 J. Scott Paul McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Mark F. Enenbach McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 James P. Fitzgerald McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Robert D. Mullin, Jr. McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Thomas E. Johnson Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Joseph E. Jones Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

Patrick D. Pepper McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

William M. Lamson, Jr. Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300

James G. Powers McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Gerald P. Laughlin Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Robert L. Lepp McGill, Gotsdiner, Workman & Lepp First National Bank Building, Ste 500 11404 West Dodge Road 402-492-9200 Wayne J. Mark Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Bartholomew L. McLeay Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

Todd W. Weidemann Woods & Aitken 10250 Regency Circle, Ste 525 402-898-7400

Robert M. Slovek Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

Cathy Trent-Vilim Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300

MARCH

Russell A. Westerhold Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Patrick G. Vipond Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300 Edward G. Warin Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS / UCC LAW Robert J. Bothe McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Ronald L. Eggers Gross & Welch 1500 Omaha Tower 2120 South 72nd Street 402-392-1500 Frank Pechacek, Jr. Willson & Pechacek 421 West Broadway, Ste 200 P.O. Box 2029 712-322-6000 Douglas E. Quinn McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

CONSTRUCTION LAW Ronald L. Comes McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 P. Scott Dye Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Lee H. Hamann McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Lawrence E. Kritenbrink Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Wayne J. Mark Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

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COPYRIGHT LAW Jill Robb Ackerman Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Denise C. Mazour McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 James E. O'Connor Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Bruce D. Vosburg Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000

Donald L. Erftmier, Jr. Erftmier Law 11808 West Center Road, Ste 100 402-504-1600 Thomas F. Flaherty Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Dennis J. Fogland Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 William T. Foley Erickson Sederstrom Regency Westpointe, Ste 100 10330 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-2200 Robert L. Freeman Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE LAW

R. Craig Fry Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman 8712 West Dodge Road, Ste 300 402-392-1250

Dennis J. Fogland Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

David E. Gardels Husch Blackwell 13330 California Street, Ste 200 402-964-5000

Guy Lawson McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Gary M. Gotsdiner McGill, Gotsdiner, Workman & Lepp First National Bank Building, Ste 500 11404 West Dodge Road 402-492-9200

CORPORATE LAW Teresa A. Beaufait Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500

David L. Hefflinger McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Mark L. Brasee Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

John W. Herdzina Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman 8712 West Dodge Road, Ste 300 402-392-1250

Michael L. Curry Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

Michael M. Hupp Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500

Joyce A. Dixon Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

Virgil K. Johnson Erickson Sederstrom Regency Westpointe, Ste 100 10330 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-2200

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Howard J. Kaslow Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman 8712 West Dodge Road, Ste 300 402-392-1250 Marlon M. Lofgren Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500 Michael D. Matejka Woods & Aitken 10250 Regency Circle, Ste 525 402-898-7400 M. Shaun McGaughey Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500 Thomas C. McGowan McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Frank J. Mihulka Woods & Aitken 10250 Regency Circle, Ste 525 402-898-7400 Douglas D. Murray Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

Robert J. Murray Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300 Daniel C. Pape McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Frank Pechacek, Jr. Willson & Pechacek 421 West Broadway, Ste 200 P.O. Box 2029 712-322-6000

Richard E. Putnam Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Todd A. Richardson Husch Blackwell 13330 California Street, Ste 200 402-964-5000 T. Parker Schenken Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Michael C. Schilken Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Travis S. Tyler Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Bruce D. Vosburg Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000 James P. Waldron Gross & Welch 1500 Omaha Tower 2120 South 72nd Street 402-392-1500 James D. Wegner McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Roger W. Wells McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 R. Thomas Workman McGill, Gotsdiner, Workman & Lepp First National Bank Building, Ste 500 11404 West Dodge Road 402-492-9200 John S. Zeilinger Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

Jeffrey S. Penne McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: GENERAL PRACTICE

Jeffrey J. Pirruccello McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

J. William Gallup J. William Gallup The Douglas Building, Ste 525 209 South 19th Street 402-341-3400

Stuart J. Dornan Dornan, Lustgarten & Troia 1403 Farnam Street, Ste 232 402-884-7044

James E. Schaefer Schaefer Shapiro 1001 Farnam Street, Third Floor 402-341-0700 Alan G. Stoler Alan G. Stoler 1823 Harney Street, Ste 1004 402-346-1733

Robert L. Lepp McGill, Gotsdiner, Workman & Lepp First National Bank Building, Ste 500 11404 West Dodge Road 402-492-9200

Daniel J. Wintz Badura & Wintz Law The Wear Building, Ste 300-A 7602 Pacific Street 402-398-3040

Thomas J. Kenny Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (ERISA) LAW Joan M. Cannon McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Alan G. Stoler Alan G. Stoler 1823 Harney Street, Ste 1004 402-346-1733 Edward G. Warin Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

DUI/DWI DEFENSE James E. Schaefer Schaefer Shapiro 1001 Farnam Street, Third Floor 402-341-0700

Gary N. Clatterbuck Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Peter C. Langdon McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

EMPLOYMENT LAW INDIVIDUALS Margaret C. Hershiser Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500 Thomas F. Hoarty, Jr. Byam & Hoarty American National Building, Ste 317 8990 West Dodge Road 402-397-0303

EMPLOYMENT LAW MANAGEMENT Patrick J. Barrett Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

EDUCATION LAW

A. Stevenson Bogue McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Robert T. Cannella Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000

Robert T. Cannella Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000

Elizabeth Eynon-Kokrda EEKLegal 5405 Nicholas Street 402-670-6276

T. Geoffrey Lieben Slowiaczek, Albers & Astley Scoular Building, Ste 100 2027 Dodge Street 402-930-1000

ELDER LAW

Randal M. Limbeck Jackson Lewis 10050 Regency Circle, Ste 400 402-391-1991

Dean G. Kratz McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Randal M. Limbeck Jackson Lewis 10050 Regency Circle, Ste 400 402-391-1991

Daniel J. Wintz Badura & Wintz Law The Wear Building, Ste 300-A 7602 Pacific Street 402-398-3040

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: WHITE-COLLAR J. William Gallup J. William Gallup The Douglas Building, Ste 525 209 South 19th Street 402-341-3400

John E. Schembari Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

Joseph S. Dreesen Jackson Lewis 10050 Regency Circle, Ste 400 402-391-1991 Christopher R. Hedican Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

Timothy D. Loudon Jackson Lewis 10050 Regency Circle, Ste 400 402-391-1991 Mark E. McQueen Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Roger J. Miller McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Scott S. Moore Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Scott P. Moore Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Chad P. Richter Jackson Lewis 10050 Regency Circle, Ste 400 402-391-1991 R. J. Stevenson Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Tara A. Stingley Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 12910 Pierce Street 402-397-1700

ENERGY LAW Randall C. Hanson Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman 8712 West Dodge Road, Ste 300 402-392-1250

Thomas G. McKeon John C. Hewitt Fitzgerald, Schorr, Cline Williams Wright Barmettler & Brennan Johnson & Oldfather Regency One, Ste 200 ENVIRONMENTAL Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle Margaret A. Badura LAW 12910 Pierce Street 402-342-1000 Badura & Wintz Law lowiaczek, Albers & Astley, PC, LLO, is pleased to be named402-397-1700 a Tier 1 law firm for the Metropolitan Omaha area for The Wear Building, the practice areas of Family Law, Tax, Trusts & Estates and Employee Benefits. The partners listed by Best Lawyers areA. Andreasen John John S. Slowiaczek, A. Albers and T.Geoffrey Lieben. All three have received the highest rating (“AV”) afforded GaryVirginia W. Radil Ste 300-A McGrath North Mullin Christopher ability Holm and ethics by the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory. E. Hoyme Baird 7602 Pacific Street lawyers for legal & Kratz Jackson Lewis John Slowiaczek has been named President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The Academy is Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 402-398-3040 First National Tower, 10050 Circle,Fellows are recognized comprised of 1700 more than 1,650 of Street the country’s top divorce and family Regency law lawyers. Academy Farnam 3700 leaders in the areas of matrimonial law, including divorce, prenuptial agreements, business valuations, support,Ste and the Ste 400 402-344-0500 rights of unmarried couples. Albers is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and serves 1601onDodge Street 402-391-1991 its Board of Governors.

402-341-3070 John Slowiaczek was named the “Omaha Metropolitan Area Lawyer of the Year” in 2009 and 2016. Jeff Lieben and Virginia Albers have also been honored as a “lawyer of the year” by Best Lawyers in the past.

Our firm concentrates on the delivery of divorce and family law services to Nebraska residents. Mr. Lieben advises the firm on tax, estate and employee benefits matters. Our team of lawyers includes Adam E. Astley, Kathryn D. Putnam and Hannah C. Wooldridge.

A DivorceBESTOFOMAHA.COM & Family Law Firm MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 81 / 100 Scoular Building | 2027 Dodge Street | Omaha, NE 68102 | 402-930-1000

Stephen M. Bruckner Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Steven P. Case McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS PRACTICE John S. Slowiaczek Slowiaczek, Albers & Astley Scoular Building, Ste 100 2027 Dodge Street 402-930-1000

Michael S. Mostek Mostek Law 1111 North 13th Street, Ste 305 402-218-1711 Nancy A. Roberts McGill, Gotsdiner, Workman & Lepp First National Bank Building, Ste 500 11404 West Dodge Road 402-492-9200

David J. Kramer Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

HEALTH CARE LAW Vickie B. Ahlers Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Christopher A. Vacanti Vacanti Shattuck 2051 Harney Street 402-345-7600

Alex M. Clarke Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 stley, PC, LLO, is pleased to be named a Tier 1 law firm for the Metropolitan Omaha area for

ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY LAW

mily Law, Tax, Trusts & Estates and Employee Benefits. The partners listed by Best Lawyers are Robert L. Cohen ginia A. Albers and T.Geoffrey Lieben. All three have received the highest rating (“AV”) afforded and ethics by the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory.

Kutak Rock

FINANCIAL SERVICES REGULATION LAW

Omaha Building een named President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The Academy The is David H. Roe Fellows are recognized1650 Farnam Street an 1,650 of the country’s top divorce and family law lawyers.

Academy J. Scott Paul 402-346-6000 McGrath Mullin matrimonial McGrath law, includingNorth divorce, prenuptial agreements, businessNorth valuations, support, and the Mullin uples. Albers is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and serves on & Kratz & Kratz .

John R. Holdenried First National Tower, First National Tower,

Baird Holm 3700 amed the “Omaha Metropolitan Area Lawyer of theSte Year” in 2009 and 2016. Jeff Lieben and Ste 3700 Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1601 Dodge Street o been honored a “lawyer of the year” by Best Lawyers in the past.

1601asDodge Street 402-341-3070

1700 Farnam Street

Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

Julie A. Knutson Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

402-341-3070 on the delivery of divorce and family law services to Nebraska residents. Mr. Lieben advises the 402-344-0500 employee benefits matters. Our team of lawyers includes Adam E. Astley, Kathryn D. Putnam Steven C. Turner ridge.

FAMILY LAW

ce & Family Law Firm

John S. Zeilinger Baird Holm ular Building | 2027 Dodge Street | Omaha, NE 68102 | 402-930-1000 Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Virginia A. Albers FRANCHISE LAW Slowiaczek, Albers & Astley Gary R. Batenhorst Scoular Building, Ste 100 Cline Williams Wright 2027 Dodge Street Johnson & Oldfather 402-930-1000 Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 12910 Pierce Street Patrick A. Campagna 402-397-1700 Lustgarten & Roberts Central Park Plaza-North Tower, Ste 601 Trenten P. Bausch 222 South 15th Street Cline Williams Wright 402-346-1920 Johnson & Oldfather Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 Michael B. Lustgarten 12910 Pierce Street Lustgarten & Roberts 402-397-1700 LLO, is pleased to be named 1 law firm for the Metropolitan Omaha area for Central Parka Tier Plaza-North Tax, Trusts & Estates and Employee Benefits. The partners listed by Best Lawyers are Tower, Ste 601 bers and T.Geoffrey Lieben. All three have received the highest rating (“AV”) afforded John W. Herdzina 222 South 15th Street s by the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory.

Abrahams Kaslow & 402-346-1920 ed President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

The Academy is Cassman the country’s top divorce and family law lawyers. Academy Fellows are Dodge recognizedRoad, 8712 West Donald Roberts al law, including divorce, A. prenuptial agreements, business valuations, Ste 300support, and the Lustgarten & Roberts ers is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and serves on 402-392-1250 Central Park Plaza-North Tower, Ste “Omaha Metropolitan Area 601 Lawyer of the Year” in 2009 and 2016. Jeff Lieben and John P. Passarelli onored as a “lawyer of the year” Best Lawyers in the past.

222 South 15thbyStreet Kutak Rock 402-346-1920 ivery of divorce and family law services to Nebraska residents.

Lieben advises the TheMr.Omaha Building e benefits matters. Our team of lawyers includes Adam E. Astley, Kathryn D. Putnam 1650 Farnam Street J. C. Salvo 402-346-6000 Salvo, Deren, Schenck, Swain & Argotsinger Michael L. Sullivan 711 Court Street Baird Holm P.O. Box 509 Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 Family Law Firm 712-755-3141 1700 Farnam Street ding | 2027 Dodge Street | Omaha, NE 68102 | 402-930-1000 402-344-0500

Amy L. Longo Ellick, Jones, Buelt, Blazek & Longo 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 303 402-390-0390 Thomas R. Pansing, Jr. Pansing Hogan Ernst & Bachman 10250 Regency Circle, Ste 300 402-397-5500 Barbara E. Person Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 James L. Quinlan Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Charles V. Sederstrom Erickson Sederstrom Regency Westpointe, Ste 100 10330 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-2200 Karen M. Shuler Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500 Patricia A. Zieg Patricia A. Zieg Law Offices 1327 South 35 Avenue 402-740-9904

IMMIGRATION LAW

Robert D. Mullin, Jr. McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

A. Stevenson Bogue McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Terrence D. O'Hare McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Amy L. Erlbacher-Anderson Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

Frank Pechacek, Jr. Willson & Pechacek 421 West Broadway, Ste 200 P.O. Box 2029 712-322-6000

Dustin J. Kessler Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000

Rex A. Rezac Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

Scott S. Moore Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Amy L. Peck Jackson Lewis 10050 Regency Circle, Ste 400 402-391-1991

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LAW Michael K. Bydalek Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000 James E. O'Connor Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

INSURANCE LAW Steven D. Davidson Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Thomas A. Grennan Gross & Welch 1500 Omaha Tower 2120 South 72nd Street 402-392-1500 Edward D. Hotz Pansing Hogan Ernst & Bachman 10250 Regency Circle, Ste 300 402-397-5500 Robert M. Livingston Stuart Tinley Law Firm 310 West Kanesville Boulevard, Second Floor 712-322-4033 Michael G. Mullin Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 82 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

John A. Svoboda Gross & Welch 1500 Omaha Tower 2120 South 72nd Street 402-392-1500

INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND FINANCE LAW David E. Gardels Husch Blackwell 13330 California Street, Ste 200 402-964-5000

LABOR LAW MANAGEMENT Patrick J. Barrett Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 A. Stevenson Bogue McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Robert T. Cannella Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000 Joseph S. Dreesen Jackson Lewis 10050 Regency Circle, Ste 400 402-391-1991

Soren S. Jensen Berkshire & Burmeister 1301 South 75th Street, Ste 100 402-827-7000 Dean G. Kratz McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Timothy D. Loudon Jackson Lewis 10050 Regency Circle, Ste 400 402-391-1991 Mark E. McQueen Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Roger J. Miller McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Scott S. Moore Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Scott P. Moore Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 R. J. Stevenson Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

LAND USE AND ZONING LAW Robert G. Dailey McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Lee H. Hamann McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Christopher R. Hedican Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 John C. Hewitt Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 12910 Pierce Street 402-397-1700

Robert J. Huck Croker, Huck, Kasher, DeWitt, Anderson & Gonderinger 2120 South 72nd Street, Ste 1200 402-391-6777

Christopher E. Hoyme Jackson Lewis 10050 Regency Circle, Ste 400 402-391-1991

Steven D. Johnson Steven D. Johnson 1864 South 155th Circle 402-315-1880

David C. Levy Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

LEGAL MALPRACTICE LAW - DEFENDANTS John R. Douglas Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300 Joseph K. Meusey Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

William R. Settles Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300

LEGAL MALPRACTICE LAW - PLAINTIFFS John R. Douglas Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

LITIGATION ANTITRUST Mark F. Enenbach McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

LITIGATION BANKRUPTCY Robert J. Bothe McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 James G. Powers McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Douglas E. Quinn McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Charles L. Smith Telpner, Peterson, Smith, Ruesch, Thomas & Simpson 25 Main Place, Ste 200 P.O. Box 248 712-309-3738 Jerrold L. Strasheim Jerrold L. Strasheim 3610 Dodge Street, Ste 212 402-346-9330 Donald L. Swanson Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500

T. Randall Wright Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

LITIGATION - BANKING AND FINANCE

Charles F. Gotch Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

Jeffrey T. Wegner Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

John A. Andreasen McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

John M. Lingelbach Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500

Stephen M. Bruckner Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

Thomas C. McGowan McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Steven P. Case McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Michael S. Mostek Mostek Law 1111 North 13th Street, Ste 305 402-218-1711

Mark F. Enenbach McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

LITIGATION - ERISA Brian Bartels Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

William F. Hargens McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Steven D. Davidson Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

Joseph E. Jones Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Wayne J. Mark Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 James G. Powers McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Timothy J. Thalken Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

402-341-3070 Daniel P. Chesire Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300 Patrick S. Cooper Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

Daniel J. Wintz Badura & Wintz Law The Wear Building, Ste 300-A 7602 Pacific Street 402-398-3040

LITIGATION FIRST AMENDMENT Michael C. Cox Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500

LITIGATION INSURANCE

Mark C. Laughlin Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Robert D. Mullin, Jr. McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 J. Scott Paul McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

William J. Birkel McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street

CROKER, HUCK, KASHER, DEWITT, ANDERSON & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW

LITIGATION CONSTRUCTION Thomas J. Culhane Erickson Sederstrom Regency Westpointe, Ste 100 10330 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-2200

James G. Powers McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

John P. Heil Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

Jeffrey T. Wegner Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

John P. Passarelli Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

William F. Hargens McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

LITIGATION ENVIRONMENTAL

John E. Schembari Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

Congratulations to our attorneys selected for inclusion in the 2017 Best Lawyers in America:

Robert Huck Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate

Richard Anderson Banking & Finance Law Litigation - Real Estate Real Estate Law

Robert Gonderinger Banking & Finance

Martin Pelster Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency & Reorganization

We are pleased to announce the Firm was selected for the 2017 Best Law Firms publication for Banking & Finance, Land Use & Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law, Bankruptcy, Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. 2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200 • Omaha, NE 68124 Phone: (402) 391-6777 • Fax: (402) 390-9221 • www.crokerlaw.com

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 83 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

LITIGATION INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Jill Robb Ackerman Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 James M. Bausch Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 12910 Pierce Street 402-397-1700

LITIGATION - LAND USE AND ZONING

Bruce D. Vosburg Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000

Scott P. Moore Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

LITIGATION - LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT Patrick J. Barrett Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Kirk S. Blecha Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

Robert T. Cannella Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000 Aaron A. Clark McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Scott P. Moore Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Tara A. Stingley Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 12910 Pierce Street 402-397-1700

John P. Passarelli Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

A. Stevenson Bogue McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Roger J. Miller McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

James G. Powers McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

LITIGATION - MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

James M. Bausch Cline Williams Wright Johnson & Oldfather Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 12910 Pierce Street 402-397-1700 Steven D. Davidson Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Dennis P. Hogan III Pansing Hogan Ernst & Bachman 10250 Regency Circle, Ste 300 402-397-5500 Michael D. Matejka Woods & Aitken 10250 Regency Circle, Ste 525 402-898-7400 Scott P. Moore Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Jerry M. Slusky Smith Slusky Law 8712 West Dodge Road, Ste 400 402-392-0101

Thomas H. Dahlk Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

LITIGATION REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT (SEC, TELECOM, ENERGY)

William F. Hargens McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Thomas H. Dahlk Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

LITIGATION - PATENT John P. Passarelli Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

Mark F. Enenbach McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Patrick E. Brookhouser, Jr. McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Thomas H. Dahlk Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000 Patrick B. Griffin Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

LITIGATION - TRUSTS AND ESTATES Sharon R. Kresha Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Susan J. Spahn Endacott Peetz and Timmer 8990 West Dodge Road, Ste 217 402-999-8820 Nick R. Taylor Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000

LITIGATION AND CONTROVERSY - TAX Howard N. Kaplan Smith Slusky Law 8712 West Dodge Road, Ste 400 402-392-0101 Nicholas K. Niemann McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

J. Pirruccello CROKER, HUCK, KASHER, DEWITT,Jeffrey McGrath North Mullin & Kratz Dennis L. Thomte ANDERSON & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. First National Tower, Thomte Patent Law Office

Ste 3700 2120 South 72nd Street, ATTORNEYS AT LAW 1601 Dodge Street Ste 1111 Christopher E. Hoyme 402-341-3070 402-392-2280 Jackson Lewis 10050 Regency Circle, Ste 400 William M. for Lamson, Jr. Congratulations to our attorneys selected inclusion MASS TORT LITIGATION 402-391-1991 Dugan and Murray - LawyersLamson / CLASS ACTIONS inLITIGATION the 2016 Best in America: 10306 Regency Parkway REAL ESTATE DEFENDANTS Dean G. Kratz Drive McGrath North Mullin 402-397-7300 Patrick E. Brookhouser, Jr. & Kratz McGrath North Mullin First National Tower, & Kratz Ste 3700 LITIGATION First National Tower, 1601 Dodge Street SECURITIES Ste 3700 402-341-3070 1601 Dodge Street James M. Bausch 402-341-3070 Timothy D. Loudon Cline Williams Wright Jackson Lewis Johnson & Oldfather Richard L. Anderson 10050 Regency Circle, Robert Huck Richard Anderson Robert Gonderinger Sterling Ridge, Ste 200 Martin Pelster Croker, Huck, Kasher, Ste 400 Land Use & Zoning, BankingAnderson & Finance,& Banking & Finance 12910 Pierce StreetBankruptcy & Creditor DeWitt, 402-391-1991Real Estate Real Estate – Litigation Debtor Rights / Insolvency 402-397-1700 Gonderinger & Reorganization 2120 South 72nd Street, Ste 1200 402-391-6777 We are pleased to announce the Firm was selected for the 2016 Best Law Firms publication for Banking & Finance, Land Use & Zoning, Litigation – Real Estate, Real Estate Law, Bankruptcy, Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law.

2120 South 72nd Street, Suite 1200 • Omaha, NE 68124 MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 84 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM Phone: (402) 391-6777 • Fax: (402) 390-9221 • www.crokerlaw.com

MASS TORT LITIGATION / CLASS ACTIONS PLAINTIFFS William F. Hargens McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

William M. Lamson, Jr. Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300

MEDIATION John C. Brownrigg John C. Brownrigg Mediation & Arbitration Services 673 North 59th Street 402-614-0467 D. Nick Caporale Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Michael F. Kinney Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300 J. Terry Macnamara McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Matthew G. Miller Miller Lathrop 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 100 402-558-4900 Michael G. Mullin Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000 David M. Woodke Woodke & Gibbons Historic Inns Of Court 619 North 90th Street 402-391-6000

Mark E. Novotny Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300

William R. Settles Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300

Patrick G. Vipond Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAW DEFENDANTS

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAW PLAINTIFFS

John R. Douglas Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

John R. Douglas Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

Charles F. Gotch Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS LAW

Michael F. Kinney Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

Teresa A. Beaufait Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500 Michael L. Curry Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

Dennis J. Fogland Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Robert L. Freeman Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Gary M. Gotsdiner McGill, Gotsdiner, Workman & Lepp First National Bank Building, Ste 500 11404 West Dodge Road 402-492-9200 Keith A. Green McGill, Gotsdiner, Workman & Lepp First National Bank Building, Ste 500 11404 West Dodge Road 402-492-9200 David L. Hefflinger McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Michael M. Hupp Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500 M. Shaun McGaughey Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500 Todd A. Richardson Husch Blackwell 13330 California Street, Ste 200 402-964-5000 Bruce D. Vosburg Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000 Roger W. Wells McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 John S. Zeilinger Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

MUNICIPAL LAW

NATIVE AMERICAN LAW Patricia A. Zieg Patricia A. Zieg Law Offices 1327 South 35 Avenue 402-740-9904

NON-PROFIT / CHARITIES LAW Howard Fredrick Hahn Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000 David L. Hefflinger McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 David A. Jacobson Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000 Jeffrey J. Pirruccello McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Gary W. Radil Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

Michael F. Coyle Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Charles F. Gotch Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300 Thomas A. Grennan Gross & Welch 1500 Omaha Tower 2120 South 72nd Street 402-392-1500 Michael F. Kinney Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300 Ronald F. Krause Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

William M. Lamson, Jr. Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300 Kristopher K. Madsen Stuart Tinley Law Firm 310 West Kanesville Boulevard, Second Floor 712-322-4033 Joseph K. Meusey Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 David C. Mullin Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

Jerald L. Rauterkus Erickson Sederstrom Regency Westpointe, Ste 100 10330 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-2200

Kyle Wallor Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300 Brien M. Welch Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

David J. Schmitt Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300 John A. Svoboda Gross & Welch 1500 Omaha Tower 2120 South 72nd Street 402-392-1500

Michael G. Mullin Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION PLAINTIFFS Michael F. Coyle Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 Thomas A. Grennan Gross & Welch 1500 Omaha Tower 2120 South 72nd Street 402-392-1500 Michael F. Kinney Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

Karen M. Shuler Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500 Nick R. Taylor Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000 James D. Wegner McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

PATENT LAW Dennis L. Thomte Thomte Patent Law Office 2120 South 72nd Street, Ste 1111 402-392-2280

PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION DEFENDANTS

Timothy M. Kenny Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman 8712 West Dodge Road, Ste 300 402-392-1250 Thomas G. McKeon Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000

Robert D. Mullin, Jr. McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

The Firm would like to congratulate Donald L. Erftmier, Jr., for being listed by The Best Lawyers in America® for 2017 in the practice areas of Corporate Law and Trusts and Estates.

Business Counseling | Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures | Estate Planning Estate, Gift and Generation-Skipping Tax Planning | Charitable and Philanthropic Planning Business Succession Planning | Asset Protection Planning | Fiduciary Representation

Daniel P. Chesire Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300

11808 West Center Road, Ste 100 Omaha, Nebraska 68144-4434

(402) 504-1600 | erftmierlaw.com MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 85 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

Robert W. Mullin Houghton Bradford Whitted 6457 Frances Street, Ste 100 402-344-4000

Michael F. Kinney Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

Robert D. Mullin, Jr. McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Robert D. Mullin, Jr. McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Robert E. O'Connor, Jr. O'Connor Law Office 2433 South 130th Circle 402-330-5906

Rex A. Rezac Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

Richard J. Pedersen Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

PRODUCT LIABILITY LITIGATION PLAINTIFFS

Patricia Schuett Peterson Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000

J. C. Salvo Salvo, Deren, Schenck, Swain & Argotsinger 711 Court Street P.O. Box 509 712-755-3141 E. Terry Sibbernsen Sibbernsen, Strigenz, & Sibbernsen 1111 North 102nd Court, Ste 330 402-913-3039 John F. Thomas McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

PRIVACY AND DATA SECURITY LAW Ronald L. Eggers Gross & Welch 1500 Omaha Tower 2120 South 72nd Street 402-392-1500 Thomas J. Kelley McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

PRODUCT LIABILITY LITIGATION DEFENDANTS

Daniel P. Chesire Lamson Dugan and Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300 Gerald L. Friedrichsen Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000 Charles F. Gotch Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

Michael F. Kinney Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

PUBLIC FINANCE LAW Charles J. Addy Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

RAILROAD LAW

Michael D. Matejka Woods & Aitken 10250 Regency Circle, Ste 525 402-898-7400 Robert G. Dailey McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Joyce A. Dixon Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000 P. Scott Dye Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 John H. Fullenkamp Fullenkamp, Doyle & Jobeun 11440 West Center Road, Ste C 402-334-0700 Lee H. Hamann

Frank J. Mihulka Woods & Aitken 10250 Regency Circle, Ste 525 402-898-7400 Jacqueline A. Pueppke Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Robert W. Rieke Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000 T. Parker Schenken Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Jerry M. Slusky Smith Slusky Law 8712 West Dodge Road, Ste 400 402-392-0101

McGrath North Mullin PROFESSIONAL CROKER, HUCK, KASHER, DEWITT, & Kratz MALPRACTICE LAW First National Tower, DEFENDANTS ANDERSON & GONDERINGER, L.L.C. Ste 3700 David J. Schmitt Lamson Dugan and Murray 1601 Dodge Street William F. Hargens AT402-341-3070 LAW 10306ATTORNEYS Regency McGrath North Mullin Parkway Drive & Kratz Dennis P. Hogan III 402-397-7300 First National Tower, Congratulations to our attorneys selected for Ernst inclusion Pansing Hogan Ste 3700 Bachman in the 2016 Best Lawyers& in America: 1601 Dodge Street 10250 Regency Circle, REAL ESTATE LAW 402-341-3070 Ste 300 402-397-5500

H. Daniel Smith Smith Slusky Law 8712 West Dodge Road, Ste 400 402-392-0101 James P. Waldron Gross & Welch 1500 Omaha Tower 2120 South 72nd Street 402-392-1500

SECURITIES / CAPITAL MARKETS LAW Huck WilliamLand R. Robert Settles Use & Zoning, Lamson Dugan and Real Estate Murray 10306 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-7300

Richard L. Anderson Richard Anderson Croker, Huck, Kasher, BankingAnderson & Finance,& DeWitt, Real Estate – Litigation Gonderinger 2120 South 72nd Street, Ste 1200 402-391-6777

David L. Hefflinger

Martin Pelster McGrath North Mullin Bankruptcy &&Creditor Kratz Insolvency Robert J. Huck Debtor Rights / First National Tower, Croker, Huck, Kasher, & Reorganization Ste 3700

Robert Gonderinger Banking & Finance

SPORTS LAW Robert L. Freeman Fraser Stryker Energy Plaza, Ste 500 409 South 17th Street 402-341-6000

TAX LAW Howard Fredrick Hahn Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000 David L. Hefflinger McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Howard N. Kaplan Smith Slusky Law 8712 West Dodge Road, Ste 400 402-392-0101 Thomas J. Kelley McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

T. Geoffrey Lieben Slowiaczek, Albers & Astley Scoular Building, Ste 100 2027 Dodge Street 402-930-1000 William J. Lindsay, Jr. Gross & Welch 1500 Omaha Tower 2120 South 72nd Street 402-392-1500

DeWitt, Anderson & 1601 Dodge Street Gonderinger 402-341-3070 2120 South Street, We are pleased to announce the Firm was selected for the 2016 Best72nd Law Firms publication Ste–1200 John Q. Bachman for Banking & Finance, Land Use & Zoning, Litigation Real Estate, Real Estate Law, Guy Lawson 402-391-6777 McGrath North Mullin Bankruptcy,Pansing CreditorHogan DebtorErnst Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law. & Kratz & Bachman Larry A. Jobeun First National Tower, 10250 Regency Circle, Fullenkamp, Doyle Ste 3700 2120 SteSouth 300 72nd Street, Suite 1200 • Omaha, NE 68124 & •Jobeun 1601 Dodge Street Phone: (402) 391-6777 • Fax: (402) 390-9221 www.crokerlaw.com 402-397-5500 11440 West Center Road, 402-341-3070 Ste C Jon E. Blumenthal Robert J. Murray 402-334-0700 Baird Holm Albers & Astley,Dugan PC, LLO,and is pleased to be name Lamson SECURITIES lowiaczek, Woodmen Tower, Patrick G. Vipond the practice areas of Family Law, Tax, Trusts & Estates and Em Murray Steven D. Johnson REGULATION John S. Slowiaczek, Ste 1500 Lamson Dugan and Virginia A. AlbersParkway and T.Geoffrey Lieben.

10306 Regency Steven D. Johnson 1700 Farnam Street Murray lawyers for legal ability and ethics by the Martindale-Hubbel Drive 1864 South 155th Circle Dennis J. Fogland 402-344-0500 10306 Regency Parkway John Slowiaczek402-397-7300 has been named President of the Americ 402-315-1880 Baird Holm Drive comprised of more than 1,650 of the country’s top divorce Woodmen Tower, Ste Max J. Burbach 402-397-7300 leaders in the areas of matrimonial law, including divorce, pre Nicholas K. Niemann Michael F. Kivett 1500 Koley Jessen rights of unmarried couples. North Albers isMullin also a Fellow of the A McGrath Walentine, O'Toole, 1700 Farnam Streetits Board of Governors.

One Pacific Place, Ste 800 & Kratz McQuillan & Gordon 402-344-0500 1125 South 103rd Street PROJECT FINANCE LAW 402-390-9500 National Tower,Metropolitan Are 11240 Davenport Street John SlowiaczekFirst was named the “Omaha Stealso 3700 Virginia Albers have been honored as a “lawyer of the y P.O. Box 540125 Guy Lawson T. Parker Schenken 1601 Dodge Street 402-330-6300 McGrath North Mullin James D. Buser Our firm concentrates on the delivery of divorce and family l Baird Holm 402-341-3070 & Kratz Pansing Hogan Ernst firm on tax, estate and employee benefits matters. Our team Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 Lawrence E. Kritenbrink and Hannah C. Wooldridge.

First National Tower, & Bachman 1700 Farnam Street Thomas R. Pansing, Jr. Baird Holm Ste 3700 10250 Regency Circle, 402-344-0500 Pansing Hogan Ernst & Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1601 Dodge Street Ste 300 Bachman 1700 Farnam Street 402-341-3070 402-397-5500 10250 Regency Circle, 402-344-0500 Ste 300 & Family Law Firm A Divorce 402-397-5500 Steven H. Krohn Smith Peterson Law Firm 100 Scoular Building | 2027 Dodge Stree 133 West Broadway P.O. Box 249 712-328-1833 MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 86 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Daniel C. Pape McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Jeffrey J. Pirruccello McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Gary W. Radil Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Bryan E. Slone Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500 Kurt F. Tjaden Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500 James D. Wegner McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

TECHNOLOGY LAW Michael K. Bydalek Kutak Rock The Omaha Building 1650 Farnam Street 402-346-6000 Roberta L. Christensen Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500

TRADEMARK LAW

TRUSTS AND ESTATES

Donald L. Erftmier, Jr. Erftmier Law 11808 West Center Road, Ste 100 402-504-1600 David L. Hefflinger McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Mary Hewitt McGill, Gotsdiner, Workman & Lepp First National Bank Building, Ste 500 11404 West Dodge Road 402-492-9200 Ronald C. Jensen Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Michael D. Jones Ellick, Jones, Buelt, Blazek & Longo 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 303 402-390-0390 Howard J. Kaslow Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman 8712 West Dodge Road, Ste 300 402-392-1250 Sharon R. Kresha Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

Denise C. Mazour McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 James E. O'Connor Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

T. Geoffrey Lieben Slowiaczek, Albers & Astley Scoular Building, Ste 100 2027 Dodge Street 402-930-1000

Bruce D. Vosburg Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000

William J. Lindsay, Jr. Gross & Welch 1500 Omaha Tower 2120 South 72nd Street 402-392-1500

TRANSPORTATION LAW

Thomas J. Malicki Abrahams Kaslow & Cassman 8712 West Dodge Road, Ste 300 402-392-1250

Robert E. O'Connor, Jr. O'Connor Law Office 2433 South 130th Circle 402-330-5906

David J. Nielsen Erickson Sederstrom Regency Westpointe, Ste 100 10330 Regency Parkway Drive 402-397-2200

Jeffrey J. Pirruccello McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Nicholas K. Niemann McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070

Gary W. Radil Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

Thomas R. Pansing, Jr. Pansing Hogan Ernst & Bachman 10250 Regency Circle, Ste 300 402-397-5500 Daniel C. Pape McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 Frank Pechacek, Jr. Willson & Pechacek 421 West Broadway, Ste 200 P.O. Box 2029 712-322-6000

Michael C. Schilken Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500 Susan J. Spahn Endacott Peetz and Timmer 8990 West Dodge Road, Ste 217 402-999-8820 Michael L. Sullivan Baird Holm Woodmen Tower, Ste 1500 1700 Farnam Street 402-344-0500

Nick R. Taylor Fitzgerald, Schorr, Barmettler & Brennan Regency One, Ste 200 10050 Regency Circle 402-342-1000 Kurt F. Tjaden Koley Jessen One Pacific Place, Ste 800 1125 South 103rd Street 402-390-9500

Jacob J. Peters Peters Law Firm 233 Pearl Street P.O. Box 1078 712-328-3157 Dennis R. Riekenberg Cassem, Tierney, Adams, Gotch & Douglas 9290 West Dodge Road, Ste 302 402-390-0300

WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW - EMPLOYERS

Daniel J. Wintz Badura & Wintz Law The Wear Building, Ste 300-A 7602 Pacific Street 402-398-3040

WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW - CLAIMANTS

William J. Birkel McGrath North Mullin & Kratz First National Tower, Ste 3700 1601 Dodge Street 402-341-3070 John W. Iliff Gross & Welch 1500 Omaha Tower 2120 South 72nd Street 402-392-1500

Steven H. Howard Dowd, Howard & Corrigan 1411 Harney Street, Ste 100 402-913-9713

Badura & Wintz Law Badura & Wintz Law is honored to announce that Daniel J. Wintz has been selected by Best Lawyers as Omaha’s 2017 “Lawyer of the Year” for Trusts and Estates.

Margaret Badura and Dan Wintz are also pleased to be included in the 2017 Edition of Best Lawyers in America in the practice areas of Elder Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation – ERISA, and Trusts & Estates Law. Badura & Wintz Law continues to be identified among Omaha’s Best Law Firms in The U.S. News - Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings based on its rigorous evaluation process.

We maintain a legal practice dedicated to ESTATE PLANNING, LIVING TRUSTS, WILLS, FINANCIAL AND MEDICAL DURABLE POWERS OF ATTORNEY, ESTATE ADMINISTRATION, PROBATE, and ELDER LAW.

7602 Pacific Street, Suite 300A —The Wear Building, Omaha, NE 68114 • Tel: 402-398-3040 • Fax: 402-398-3043 Omahaestateattorneys.com

lowiaczek, Albers & Astley, PC, LLO, is pleased to be named a Tier 1 law firm for the Metropolitan Omaha area for the practice areas of Family Law, Tax, Trusts & Estates and Employee Benefits. The partners listed by Best Lawyers are John S. Slowiaczek, Virginia A. Albers and T.Geoffrey Lieben. All three have received the highest rating (“AV”) afforded MARCH Legal // APRIL • 2017 BESTOFOMAHA.COM lawyers for legal ability and ethics by the Martindale-Hubbell Directory.

/ 87 /

John Slowiaczek has been named President of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. The Academy is

OMAHA HOME opener

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H94

H102 H89

OMAHA HOME OPENER

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SANDY’S DIY

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SPACES

How to Make a Coffee Filter Lamp

Your Trash, Her Treasure

H100 LANDSCAPE

The Ash Borer War

H102 FEATURE

Home Away from Home with Bennington’s Firefighters

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor, OmahaHome

S

PRING AT LAST!

Let’s be honest, winter wasn't that bad for us this year. But, of course, I’m writing this letter in January as the temperature hit 55 degrees (and there is still plenty of time to get a late blizzard). My mailman announced via social media, in the middle of winter, that he would be delivering mail in shorts.

With all this warming energy, it is time to get recharged, take inventory, and tackle what we need to do in 2017.

As explained in the previous issue, I am taking on a year-long project, a complete overhaul of my spare bedroom. I’m turning it into my own personal dressing room.

Having this planned out in advance keeps me more focused and on task. All I need to do is set aside time.

This issue’s project, however, caught me by surprise. You would think, with as long as I have been doing DIY projects, I would be able to calculate a little better.

I knew patience would be needed, and I did my research as I always do. But soon after I began, I found myself wondering, “What did I get myself into?” I nicknamed the light fixture my “monster snowball” as my time expenditure nearly doubled what I had planned to allocate.

H110 NEIGHBORHOODS

Although I am happy with the results, I won’t be making another coffee filter lamp anytime soon.

H116 HARVEST

Remember, follow me throughout the year, and you will see a new project in every issue leading up to the grand reveal in January/ February 2018.

National NUSA Conference Comes to Omaha

The Morel of the Story

H120 ARCHITECTURE

Electrochromic Dream Home

H130 TRANSFORMATIONS

Sleek Home Spa

We hope you all find inspiration in this issue, and the issues to follow.

See you in May!

Sandy OmahaHome

"Spring will come and so will happiness.

Hold on. Life will get … warmer."

—Anita Krizzan

Need to make sense of your space?

March/April 2017

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

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OMAHA HOME MAGAZINE APPEARS AS ITS OWN MAGAZINE AND AS A SECTION WITHIN OMAHA MAGAZINE. TO VIEW THE FULL VERSION OF OMAHA MAGAZINE, OR TO SUBSCRIBE, GO TO OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM/SUBSCRIBE For Advertising & Subscription Information:

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DIY story by Sandy Matson // photography by bill sitzmann // design by matt wieczorek

How to Make a Coffee Filter Lamp ADDING AN ACCENT OF SOFT LIGHT

L

IGHT IS TO décor what punctuation

is at the end of a sentence.

If I had my way, there would never be any traditional lighting—especially fluorescent lights, as they are often too cool and tend to distort (in my opinion, making everything look worse).

• Paper lantern (I used a lantern 16 inches in diameter.)

• Hot glue gun • Large package of glue sticks • Basket-type coffee filters (I used 800.)

• Patience (The project can take approximately 6-7 hours.)

• LED light with remote or single-socket pendant light. Both are extremely inexpensive. There are many options. To be safe, please do your research. You don’t want to create a fireball!

DIRECTIONS:

I truly feel that without choosing the correct lighting in the beginning, the whole room won’t have that wow factor in the end.

My inspiration was something I saw on the internet several years ago. At the time, I didn’t have the space to make it work.

But I do now!

So, when deciding upon lighting options for the room that I am remodeling, I opted for a softer look to establish a welcoming mood.

The final renovation of the room will be unveiled in the grand reveal to be published in the January/February issue of Omaha Home.

This soft accent light will not be the primary light source in the room; rather, it will be more of a glowing art installation hanging in the room.

Remember, you do not have to compromise beauty and function for cost. Do some research and find what fits your space and style. Try out your own DIY project. That’s what this year-long project is all about.

OmahaHome

There will be plenty of natural light coming through the large window as well as several other lamps in the room.

ITEMS NEEDED:

Step-1: Fold or crinkle each coffee filter at the bottom.

Step-2: Glue each filter directly to your paper lantern.

Step-3: Place as many filters as close together as possible.

Step-4: Cover the entire surface of the paper lantern.

Word to the wise: If you want to take on this project, I suggest watching online tutorial videos for added guidance. Simply searching for “coffee filter lamp” tutorials online proved to be extremely helpful for me. The project is simple, but it can be very time-consuming. OmahaHome Visit readonlinenow.com to view digital PDFs of current and past OmahaHome magazines.

March/April 2017 • omahamagazine.com

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

Spaces story by Sean Robinson photography by keith binder / design by matt wieczorek

Your Trash, Her Treasure DIANE HAYES TURNS APARTMENT INTO REFURBISHED ART SHOWCASE

March/April 2017 • omahamagazine.com

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Spaces

E

VEN ON A blustery, freezing January

day, as Christmas lights still twinkle from neighbors' homes, it's Halloween inside Diane Hayes' apartment.

Enter into her abode, which is located in the 105-year-old West Farnam Apartments off Dewey and 38th streets, and you're confronted with fortunetellers and witches and skeletons, oh my! The 1,800-square-foot place is spacious, with floorboards that squeak and much of its early 20th-century charm still intact, but it's Hayes and her often-merrily macabre refurbished artwork that makes the apartment truly spellbinding.

"For a while, I tried to keep all my work hidden in one room, but then I said 'Oh, to hell with it,'" Hayes says. "By the time they carry my body out of here, I suppose things will really look strange."

Hayes lives to make the old new again.

From turning a vintage side table into an animatronic fortuneteller to using antique alarm clocks to create mini terrariums that depict tragedies like the Titanic sinking and Lindbergh kidnapping, she uses her creative magic to take everyday objects and turn them into art. A strong believer that "décor shouldn't come from Bed, Bath & Beyond," Hayes scavenges through Goodwill, antique shows, and online to buy things only for their pieces and parts.

After purchasing an item, she stows it away and lets ideas start marinating in her head.

Once inspiration strikes, the tinkering begins.

"It's not my thing to come home after a long day and sit down to watch TV," Hayes says.

"I'm always putting something together.”

While she displays most of her work in her home, she does sell some items on Etsy and has donated pieces to benefits for the Nebraska AIDS Project and the local chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. >

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

“I love the Halloweens I grew up with," Hayes says. "It's such a fun time of year, and it doesn't have the stress or religious and political connotations of Christmas.�

SpAces

“By the time they carry my body out of here, I suppose things will really look strange.�

Diane Hayes wears magnifying glasses while working on some art projects. / H98 /

OmahaHome March/April 2017

< If she isn't selling or donating a piece, chances are it will end up in her year-round Halloweenthemed office. Teeming from floor to ceiling with things that go bump in the night, this room is more fun and festive than frightening, as most of her collection reflects Halloween styles that were popular in the 1950s and ’60s.

And come Halloween night, Hayes is the ghostess with the mostess, inviting around 80 costumed party guests into her apartment to have their palms read by a fortuneteller and watch silent films like Nosferatu.

Thank you for voting us Best of Omaha!

402.516.4498

midwestlightscaping.com

"I love the Halloweens I grew up with," Hayes says. "It's such a fun time of year, and it doesn't have the stress or religious and political connotations of Christmas."

Beyond Halloween, living in Omaha's first luxury apartment building offers its own inspiration. Built in 1912, the West Farnam Apartments house the city's oldest working elevator.

"You can hear those 100-year-old gears cranking and groaning, almost like a tiny factory that's come to life," Hayes says.

Perhaps, this explains her next project—refurbishing an old clock complete with its own ancient gears. Some projects she completes in a day, others she’s always working on, always tinkering. This clock's finish date is yet to be determined, and to Hayes that's just fine.

402.889.5467

curbcurb.net

Thanks for voting us Best of Omaha

TM

"It's been an unfocused life," Hayes says, "but I'm not sure I'd want to do it any other way." OmahaHome Visit etsy.com/people/halloweenclocks for more information.

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to your home!

217 N. Jefferson St. Papillion NE 402.331.9136 • papillionflowerpatch.com

March/April 2017 omahamagazine.com

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THE ASH BORER WAR Take Precautions or Lose Trees Figure 1 Agrilus planipennis [Dorsal view]

Figure 2 Agrilus planipennis [Larva stage]

Story by Patrick McGee / Illustration and Design by Matt Wieczorek

landscape

T

R EE LOV ERS BEWA R E! An

emerald ash borer infestation is coming to the Omaha metro. Jonathan Larson urges homeowners (especially those with ash trees on their property) to be on the lookout for little green bugs. Larson, an entomologist for the University of Nebraska, says the tiny, boat-shaped, metallic-green beetles are smaller than “the size of a penny.”

Although native to East Asia, invasive emerald ash borers were first discovered within North America in Michigan during the summer of 2002. Douglas County suffered its first confirmed infestation last summer, when a sick ash tree at Pulaski Park in South Omaha revealed the bad news.

Ash trees have no natural defenses against the ash borer. So, Larson expects the epidemic to be substantial. He compares the potential damage to the epidemic of Dutch elm disease in the 1970s and 1980s. Larson expects increasing confirmation of ash borer infestation over the next two to three years.

“If we don't take the proper precautions, we will lose a lot of trees,” he says.

Precautions include yearly pesticide soil drenches for ash trees under 20 inches in diameter or biannual injections for trees over 20 inches in diameter. Larson says treatments range in price from $20 to $290; however, the cost of tree removal is also pricey. Larson believes that removal will be inevitable for untreated ash trees. He says ash borers are really good at finding trees, and they don't usually miss one.

Larson advises landowners to remove ash trees from their property if they don’t plan on applying treatments. “Spend it all at once on removal or over a period of time on treatment,” he says. He recommends annual inspection of healthy ash trees by an arborist to help decide whether to treat or cut.

Hal Freeman is one such certified arborist and the owner of Omaha Tree Care. He offers treatments to some clients but recommends cutting down most ash trees “rather than fighting it.”

He generally recommends removing the trees before infestation. He says that ash trees “could be seen as a liability” and “could affect the value of your home.” The dilemma bothers Freeman because, as an arborist, he prefers to save the trees.

Ash borer infestations have already been identified in more than 25 states. Jonathon Larson says the insect has limited flight capabilities and has spread primarily through transportation of firewood and mulch.

Steve Torpy, another certified arborist and owner of Torpy Tree Service, recommends choosing good candidates and offering treatments. He says that a large-scale loss of ash trees “would be devastating to our urban forests.” He cites many benefits of having established ash trees, such as saving on electricity and gas, and slowing water run-off. “There's a lot of benefits people don't think about,” he says, arguing that “saving the trees can be cheaper than the cost of removal and replacement.” An arborist can help a tree owner make an educated decision, so long as a tree is not already infested.

Infestation begins when ash borer larvae chew serpentine tunnels into the ash tree, devouring the phloem and cambium layers underneath the bark, destroying the tree’s ability to circulate water and nutrients. Larson says that early in its infestation, the ash borer inhabits the very top of the ash tree. The top begins to wither first. Larson says that after four or five years, the beetle moves down into the lower portions of the tree. After six or seven years, the ash borer infests the trunk. Then, he says, “there is not much you can do.”

Larson says there are four key symptoms of infestation to look out for: dieback, brooking, exit holes, and woodpecker feeding. Larson says “dieback” occurs in the very top of trees when the borers eat the inside of branches and the tree can't grow leaves on those branches.

“Brooking” refers to new chutes growing out of the lower portions of the tree. Larson says it is a common sign of infestation. “Exit holes” are visible in the bark of infested ash trees when the adult beetle emerges from the tree.

He also says that an increase in woodpecker activity in an ash tree can be a telltale sign of infestation.

According to Larson, ash borer infestations have already been identified in more than 25 states. Larson says the insect has limited flight capabilities and has spread primarily through transportation of firewood and mulch. “People load up a truck with firewood and cross county lines.” It is unclear exactly how the beetle was brought over from China, but Larson says the prevailing opinion is that it arrived in some sort of wood product.

Larson says Nebraskans should be optimistic about saving their ash trees because the professionals have been working for nearly nine years in preparation for the epidemic.

He has personally seen the devastation of the beetle in his home state of Indiana, one of the first states hit, and he says that experience is on our side now. Public awareness will help tree owners prepare. He encourages people to report green bugs that may be ash borers.

“I would rather look at 100 [insects] and find one that is [ash borer] than have someone get one and not call us,” he says. “They are beautiful insects but so destructive to trees.” OmahaHome Visit emeraldashborer.info for more information.

March/April 2017 omahamagazine.com

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HOME AWAY FROM HOME WITH BENNINGTON’S VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS

V

OLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS AT the Bennington rural fire station

believe saying, “It's quiet,” could spell the difference between a boring night and one that ends badly.

When the firefighters’ beepers buzz, there is no telling what could be on the end of the call.

“I thought a GI bleed was the worst thing I’d ever smelled, but charred human flesh was worse,” Kim Miksich says.

As a volunteer firefighter for the past year, Miksich expects the unexpected.

At first glance, it seems unlikely that this petite blonde could strap on a 70-pound pack of gear and venture into the smoky darkness of a fire. Yet, a tough determination and reliance is obvious as she recalls her first training runs. Miksich’s heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature heated up just like the flickers of flame as she stepped into the pitch black. Even though she had an experienced firefighter to guide the way, it was still pretty scary. >

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

FEATURE story by Lisa Lukecart / photography by Bill Sitzmann / design by matt wieczorek

March/April 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com

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FEATURE

The station—which opened in 2015—is immaculate. The cleanliness of the trucks and living quarters reflect this just as much as the hours the firefighters put in to save lives.

< Miksich, a 20-year veteran of nursing at Bergan Mercy Medical Center, realized at 41 years old that she no longer had a choice. She felt compelled to follow her dream of fighting fires, even if it meant not getting paid.

“I dove in headfirst and went for it,” Miksich says.

It was a longing Miksich harbored for almost 20 years. It took her almost a year to get in good enough shape to pass the Candidate Physical Ability Test.

Miksich now volunteers at least three days of 12-hour shifts a month, staying overnight in the wide-open space of the station.

It was a huge life change. Married for 13 years, she would now have to spend nights away from her husband (who was supportive of her extra hours at the station). “He’s more worried about the dangerous aspects of the job,” she says.

Miksich, along with 44 other volunteers, covered 708 calls, 185 fires, and 523 rescues last year. All for free. >

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

March/April 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com

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FEATURE

It’s meant to be a home away from home. Upstairs, eight bedrooms complete with bed, television, and desk give it a laid-back vibe. A full locker room comes in handy when someone comes in to use the modern weight room which overlooks the trucks (a reminder to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice—perhaps using the fireman’s pole behind a closed door).

< Pride in service is evident all over the station, from the clean floors to the gleaming red, yellow, and blue firetrucks, to the smokestained coats.

The station—which opened in 2015—is immaculate. The cleanliness of the trucks and living quarters reflect this just as much as the hours the firefighters put in to save lives.

Assistant Chief Ben Tysor believes money normally spent on salaries can be spent on the facility, allowing them to better serve citizens.

It is a far cry from the former small white building down the street. It is no rinky-dink, country-bumpkin fire station. Donated by Darrell and Coe Leta Logemann, the warm brick of the building draws in visitors and volunteers. Tall, stately windows with squares outlined in bright red reflect the rustic scenery.

Opening the door, it feels a bit like a church.

The stillness is a reminder of death, danger, and destruction. In the tribute room to the left, a pillar of the Twin Towers tilts to the side in a concrete frozen reminder of what could happen without courageous souls willing to risk their lives for others. The job, “a constant unknown,” matters as visitors stroll past a case filled with helmets, suits, and photos.

Fingers of sunlight reach out to an old hose cart, purchased in 1912 for $13 by the Village of Bennington (a historical reminder of those long-gone firefighters who remain part of the squad).

Chief Brent Jones continues this “family” feeling by staying in touch even with volunteers who have left.

“I spend a lot of time there. It is like a second home,” Jones says.

One of his toughest days recently included 10 calls in a 24-hour period. He hadn’t slept, so downtime in one of the black leather chairs created much-needed relaxation and peace.

About eight of these same movie-style recliners are in one room facing a flat-screen television.

Firefighters can also make a meal in the vast kitchen complete with a center island. A stainless steel refrigerator and freezer filled with frozen pizzas, a slab of prime rib, or other items labeled with volunteers’ names fill the insides.

Or they can help themselves to a pop from the fountain machine or fresh salted popcorn.

It’s meant to be a home away from home.

Upstairs, eight bedrooms complete with bed, television, and desk give it a laid-back vibe. A full locker room comes in handy when someone comes in to use the modern weight room which overlooks the trucks (a reminder to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice—perhaps using the fireman’s pole behind a closed door). >

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

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< Volunteers must meet three Mondays out of the month for emergency medical or fire training and business meetings. A big time commitment, but necessary.

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“[Volunteering] is a disease. Once it is in your blood, you can’t get it out,” Jones says.

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Jones, a 14-year volunteer, loves the challenge.

But mainly, it is his way of serving the community. Jones spends 25 to 30 hours a week in Bennington, and about 56 hours on his regular job as a firefighter in Lincoln, where he has worked for the past 16 years. His wife also volunteers when she isn’t working as a paramedic with Midwest Medical Transport.

Although downtime seems like a minimum, pranks are still played. Jacked up trucks, water dumped on heads, and snakes in the lockers are classic.

One firefighter laughs as he plans to scratch at the door of a co-worker who believes a ghost roams the station randomly leaving the showers and sinks running.

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Some of the firefighters believe they bring the spirits back after a trip. Although it is possible, the building may just be too new.

“Just don’t say the word quiet,” Jones says again.

“Something will happen.”” OmahaHome Visit benningtonfirerescue.com for more information.

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NEIGHBORHOODS story by Robert Fraass / photography provided / design by matt wieczorek

A mural in Prospect Village celebrates the North Omaha neighborhood.

NEIGHBORHOODS, USA NATIONAL CONFERENCE COMES TO OMAHA

C

HRIS FOSTER QUICKLY developed

a deep appreciation for his Gifford Park neighborhood after arriving in 1986.

He joined its neighborhood association when it was launched a couple of years later and served as its president for a two-year stint that ended in 2001.

But it took a trip to Pittsburgh that year to trigger an epiphany. He realized what his midtown neighborhood could become.

On the trip, members of Omaha’s Planning Department and folks from various Omaha neighborhood associations traveled to the Steel City to attend that year’s "Neighborhoods, USA" national conference.

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

At the NUSA conference, hundreds of attendees passionate about improving neighborhoods and building stronger communities gather to swap ideas, participate in educational workshops, tour neighborhoods, and honor the innovative and life-changing work of neighborhood betterment projects.

And 2017 will see an exciting culmination of the efforts of city planners and Omaha neighborhood advocates like Foster—the 42nd annual NUSA conference is coming to Nebraska for the first time. The conference will be held at the Omaha Hilton Hotel and CenturyLink Center from May 24-27. >

The 42nd annual NUSA conference is coming to Nebraska for the first time. The conference will be held at the Omaha Hilton Hotel and CenturyLink Center from May 24-27.

NEIGHBORHOODS

A Fourth of July parade attracts residents in the Maple Village neighborhood.

< “NUSA coming to Omaha is a great training, educational resource, and networking opportunity for Omaha neighborhood leaders to learn about what’s going on in neighborhoods all around the country,” says Julie Smith, a conference organizer and neighborhood alliance specialist with ONE Omaha.

“We will learn about programs other cities have and know that they face a lot of similar challenges, as well.”

“There is a lot that goes along with it; you have to have the mayor’s support and plenty of city support,” Matt says.

Y E A R S IN T H E M A K ING

The highlight of each conference, Matt says, are the Neighborhood Pride Tours during which attendees learn how neighborhoods use innovation and elbow grease to better their communities.

More than 20 tours, including two in Council Bluffs, will focus on the rich history, unique designs, and revitalization of neighborhoods, she says. Tours are capped with receptions, local entertainment, and demonstrations of different cultures through music and dance.

Discussions to bring NUSA to Omaha started six years ago, according to Norita Matt, a city planner who attended that 2001 conference with Foster. Years of planning led to Omaha’s presentation to NUSA leaders at the 2015 conference in Houston that landed the bid to host this year’s event.

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

The Oma ha conference will include loc a l ke y note spea kers; doz ens of local, national, and global workshops; awards for exceptional neighborhood betterment programs; local and national exhibitors; and a mayor’s reception.

“Going into the neighborhoods gives us a chance to hear about challenges and what people are doing to bring back the neighborhoods,” she says.

Two Omaha keynote speakers will highlight a key crucial neighborhood betterment effort. Jose Garcia and Terri Sanders will present their groups’ efforts to revitalize the 24th Street corridor, Omaha’s original “Street of Dreams,” connecting North and South Omaha, including the Fair Deal Village MarketPlace near 24th and Burdette streets.

FOST ER ING A BET T ER COM MU N IT Y LIFE For Foster of the Gifford Park association, NUSA coming to Omaha holds special signif icance because of his profound experience in Pittsburgh more than 15 years ago. >

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NEIGHBORHOODS

Gifford Park is one of many neighborhoods to participate in the city’s annual Spring Clean Up.

“Going into the neighborhoods gives us a chance to hear about challenges and what people are doing to bring back the neighborhoods” - Norita Matt, Omaha City Planner

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

< “I described it as a life-changing experience because I saw a presentation on inclusiveness involving community gardens,” Foster recalls, describing how he was “blown away” by a Seattle speaker who described the cit y’s net work of community gardens.

Soon a f ter, t hey were clea ning up the double-wide lot and purchasing the parcel for $4,000. Others joined in to transform the lot at 3416 Cass St. into the Gifford Park Community Garden. A youth gardening program soon followed.

Foster a nd others spent hours with the speaker at a local coffeehouse, and he then found himself doodling ideas about a vacant piece of land behind the Gifford Park home he shares with his wife, Sally.

A couple of yea rs later, the ga rden expa nded a nd a n “adventure playground,” complete with a double-decker treehouse, was built as a way to build communit y ties among Gifford Park families and children.

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A mural on North 30th Street emphasizes the history of the Florence neighborhood. Photo by Mele Mason.

Since then, a host of neighborhood activities and ser vices have been developed, including a community bike shop and a free youth tennis program held each August at 33rd and Cass streets.

The conceptual seeds that revitalized Gifford Park ’s community were planted at that NUSA conference years ago.

“NUSA provides me with some leadership development,” Foster says. “It gets people excited, invigorated, and motivated to want to take on projects in neighborhoods or work with the city and take on leadership roles. As volunteers, we have more effect on our neighborhoods than almost anything else.

We’re the owners and stakeholders who can actually get it done.” OmahaHome

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HOW TO PARTICIPATE Want to learn more about neighborhood development? Register for t he conference online at nusa.org. A ny questions can be directed to conference coordinator Roxanne Nielsen at 402-3455401, ext. 112, or at rnielsen@ vg a g roup.c om. T he c ost of attending t he conference for Oma ha metro residents is $50 for adults and $25 for youth.

Visit nusa.org for more information.

March/April 2017 omahamagazine.com

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HARVEST story & photography by Doug Meigs / design & illustration by mady besch

The / H116 /

OmahaHome March/April 2017

of the story:

Shhhhhh!

M

OREL-MANIA USUALLY BEGINS

around mid-to-late April.

Inconsistent Midwestern weather prevents forecasting the exact start of morel mushroom season year-to-year.

Morel (aka morchella) mushrooms begin to flush en masse when spring rains alternate with patches of sunshine atop warming ground temperatures.

the bases of old-growth trees, overturned trunks, and decomposing vegetation. They pop from grassy areas, near the banks of rivers, and on hillsides.

Along with monitoring lilac bushes, paying attention to the weather forecast helps foragers to prepare for morel season. Be ready for periods of sudden downpours of rain combined with warm daytime temperatures (70 degrees or more) and nights that linger above 40 degrees for at least four days in a row.

Morels are distinctive and easy to identify, with their porous and sponge-like brownish heads atop tan/white stems. Their caps If you anticipate a sunny day following a tormight also be described as rential spring downpour, honeycombed and coneget ready. Put on your rain shaped; they come in As a general rule, jacket, and rush to your grey (smaller) and yellow favorite mushrooming spot the morel season (larger) varieties. as soon as the rains lift. coincides with the Foodies covet the deliGrab some good mud blooming of lilacs. cious morsels of fungal boots (or old sneakers), and delight. Morels are known make sure you have a mesh for a unique nutty flavor. bag that allows the mushPopular recipes include: battered and deeprooms’ spores to escape and spread. Local fried, scrambled with eggs, used as garnish, outdoors shops sell mesh bags for morels. or dried for later consumption.

Onion or potato sacks from the grocery store also work well.

As a general rule, the morel season coincides with the blooming of lilacs. Morels also If you’ve never been mushroom hunting, it’s return to the same place every year—if their time to start begging friends to show you mycelium underground remains healthy. That how. Or, do a little research and go explore means avid mushroom hunters often keep any publicly accessible backwoods along their favorite spots a secret. local rivers. > If you see one morel, stop. Slow down and scan the ground. They grow in clusters. Morels hide in the deep woods, near

March/April 2017 omahamagazine.com

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HARVEST

< There are several popular local destinations for morel hunters. But any densely vegetated public land (with plenty of overturned trees) along the Missouri River or Platte River could yield a plentiful haul of morels. That is, if the area hasn’t been picked over already.

The website morels.com hosts a useful and interesting Nebraska forum. Other useful resources can be found at thegreatmorel. com, morelhunters.com, and the “Nebraska Morels” Facebook group.

Beware of gun-toting hunters in the woods. Morel season corresponds with the spring turkey hunting season. Also, avoid trespassing. Common courtesy (and the law) necessitates seeking permission to hunt for mushrooms on private property.

Remember that wild mushrooms can be deadly. Only pick and cook mushrooms you can identify with complete confidence. Search online for “false morels” and make sure you can tell the difference. False morels are poisonous.

In 2016, the website of Nebraska Game and Parks maintained weekly morel reports from April 13 through May 11. The Game and Parks website also

Scan this page with the LayAR app to see a morel recipe.

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

provides tips for locating morels, and even suggests a few popular mushroom hunting grounds.

Proactive scouting is a good strategy—if only to monitor the human traffic in the woods. The morel season around Omaha usually only lasts from two to four weeks, depending on weather conditions. Sometimes the peak of the season takes place in May. Evidence of over-picked stems and decaying mushrooms indicate that the morel season is well progressed.

Remember: if you share a mushroom hunting spot with a “friend,” there is a very good chance they will tell someone else. Then, all those other folks might just go pick all the morels while you’re stuck at work, in school, or caught in some other less fulfilling endeavor.

Heed the moral of this morel story. When the lilacs bloom, somebody is probably picking over your favorite morel grounds.

So, if you’ve got a good spot, consider keeping it a secret. OmahaHome Visit outdoornebraska.gov/morel for more information.

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MIKE AND LYNNE PURDY’S ELECTROCHROMIC DREAM HOME

I

T’S IMMEDI ATELY CLE AR that Lynne and Mike Purdy’s beautiful

northwest Omaha home is something special. However, the longer you stay, the more you zero in on the many small-yet-mighty details that make it so.

“It’s those little details that make it just right,” Lynne says. “There’s a reason for everything we did design-wise, and there isn't one thing we’d change.”

That includes everything from smart windows and touch faucets to 18-foot ceilings, a shades-of-grey palette, pocket doors, waterfall counters, hidden kitchen outlets, a programmable doorbell, a fireplace in the wall that serves two rooms, and bathroom drawers customized to the sizes of Lynne’s hair products, among other distinct aesthetic and utilitarian touches.

The Purdys, who met on a fortuitous blind date in 1977, are self-described “empty nesters” and transitioned to their home in Deer Creek Highlands in March 2016, after breaking ground one year prior. Mike, an architect and president of Purdy & Slack Architects, designed the home based upon he and Lynne’s extensive, collaborative exploration of what they wanted in their next home. >

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

ARCHITECTURE story by Sarah Wengert / photography by colin conces / design by matt wieczorek

March/April 2017 omahamagazine.com

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ARCHITECTURE

“With architecture, you try to get a reaction from people. It’s like a piece of art— meant to draw out emotion and create conversation.

That's what I tried to do with the house.”

- Mike Purdy

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

< First, the couple knew they wanted to live on a golf course, so when they found a Deer Creek Highlands lot they were smitten with, they persevered in attaining it. The community is home to the third nine of the Arnold Palmer-designed Players Club at Deer Creek golf course.

“We couldn't have asked for a better neighborhood or better neighbors,” says Lynne.

Mike’s design was informed by the logistics of the site.

“Lynne wanted an open plan with our master suite adjacent, so we had the floor plan in mind,” he says. “I wanted to keep the views of the golf course, plus the sun in the wintertime comes up on the axis of the large window and the great room.”

Mike refined his design until it was everything the Purdys wanted and he received approval from the neighborhood’s architectural review committee.

“The challenge was creating something unique and contemporary, but not so radical it wouldn’t blend with the neighborhood, and also something that facilitated the way we want to live,” Mike says.

Mike also designed the Purdys’ previous home, where they raised sons Bryan and Keith and lived for 28 years, but the couple says it was a family house, not an emptynester house. >

March/April 2017 omahamagazine.com

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ARCHITECTURE

< “It was a beautiful home, but our family grew, then left. Our current home is an adult house, but still with room for the kids to come visit,” Lynne says.

Indeed, the downstairs bedrooms, family room, and walk-out patio are designed to welcome Bryan, Keith, and their own expanding families, including Keith’s 4-year-old identical twin daughters, whom Lynne says “love coming to Gaga and Papa’s house.”

Mike embraced his creative side while designing the home.

“With architecture, you try to get a reaction from people,” he says. “It’s like a piece of art—meant to draw out emotion and create conversation. That's what I tried to do with the house.”

“One of the design elements I wanted to do was to hide the front door so there's a little bit of mystery as you approach the house the first time,” Mike says of the slightly obscured front door that bucks street-facing tradition.

“It creates a different experience, and then you make the turn into this big space, so it's kind of a surprise.”

The first thing visitors will notice upon entering—after the Purdys’ adorably petite white pup Holly—is the 16-foot-wide, 18-foothigh, attention-commanding window that overlooks the golf course from the rear of the house. What you wouldn’t immediately notice or know is that the window panes are SageGlass, an electrochromic glass that can be set to various levels of tint via an app. The window can be dimmed by row or pane, or even programmed to react to the level of sun or clouds. >

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

March/April 2017 omahamagazine.com

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ARCHITECTURE “We’ve enjoyed every season here. In the morning I have my coffee and look out the windows … it's just beautiful all the time, whether it's a layer of snow or a sunny summer day. And relaxing on the deck after a stressful day is the best. In the summer we’re out there every night.”

- Lynne Purdy

< “It's a commercial-grade glass we’re putting in some of our office buildings. They don't require blinds and save energy from heat gain,” Mike says. “In wintertime we keep ours mostly clear to maximize the heat gain.

In summertime we keep it pretty dim so it doesn't heat up the home as much.”

Mike estimates that within 20 years most new windows in homes will be this type of dynamic glass.

“It’s newer technology, but I expect it’ll become standard and you’ll find it in the houses of the future,” he says.

Whether through the giant window or from the glass-railed cantilever deck outside, the Purdy home’s crown jewel is the incredible, ever-changing view that’s shown Lynne and Mike sublime sunrises; pop-up “lakes” born of hard rains and golf course curves; wildlife like ducks, hawks, and frogs; and confused golfers seeking errant balls.

“We’ve enjoyed every season here,” says Lynne. “In the morning I have my coffee and look out the windows … it's just beautiful all the time, whether it's a layer of snow or a sunny summer day. And relaxing on the deck after a stressful day is the best. In the summer we’re out there every night.”

Speaking of nighttime, Lynne says the home is prettiest after sunset when the flameless candles and decorative lit-glass spheres she’s placed throughout the house turn on. Just like everything else, that’s by design.

“You come home at night, and you want a relaxing space. The soft light gives you that,” she says. “That's also typically when you entertain, and I want everyone to feel relaxed and at home when they visit.” OmahaHome Visit purdyandslack.com for more information about the homeowner’s architectural firm.

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

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Transformations story by

Liz Lempka (Allied ASID, The Interior Design Firm) photography by

Tom Grady

SLEEK HOME SPA

L

FROM CONCEPT TO FINISH IKE ALL GREAT home renovations, the project

began with an idea. An Omaha couple contacted me at The Interior Design Firm; they wanted to mimic the relaxing modern aesthetic of a high-end spa in their home.

After attaining a list of design requirements for their master bathroom, I began conceptualizing how to realize my clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; initial idea. The look that the couple desired would require a spacious layout, sleek finishes, and lustrous natural and artificial lighting. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s when my work really began. >

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

MEET THE DESIGNER

Liz Lempka

Liz spends five days a week working with fellow designers, consulting on schemes, meeting with clients, and creating unique finish combinations. Proficiency in AutoCAD, Revit, Photoshop, and Illustrator enable her to generate creative solutions no matter the project size.

March/April 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com

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Transformations

The greatest challenge was that the original square footage of the space was not large enough to bring this desired bathroom into reality.

< The project started in earnest as I analyzed the current space to figure out how much larger the bathroom needed to be to accommodate every element requested by the clients. The greatest challenge was that the original square footage of the space was not large enough to bring this desired bathroom into reality.

In the end, some features of the space stayed in the same location (such as the stool and vanity). To create the spacious layout the client wanted, the tub needed to move back a few feet to allow for proper circulation in the bathroom. The existing shower was wedged in a corner, and was one of the main reasons for the renovation.

A custom vanity (above) warms the bathroom with wood cabinets and pendant lighting. To create a modern spa shower (right), pebble floor and wall details contrast with the smooth walls and ceiling. / H132 /

OmahaHome March/April 2017

With the help of a contractor, Sudbeck Homes, the exterior wall behind the existing tub was extended 10 feet to make way for the new walk-in shower. The new shower is an extraordinary 8.5 feet by 8.5 feet, outfitted with two fixed shower heads, one hand-held, body sprayers, and a rain-head.

The couple was cognizant of their longterm needs in the home, so a bench was added next to the handheld shower head.

Keeping with the modern minimalist style, two recessed niches were created so the personal hygiene items could be tucked away (to avoid creating clutter). >

March/April 2017 omahamagazine.com

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Transformations

< Moving the wall made a world of difference for the space. The tub location moved back several feet and anchored the room. The organic free-standing tub is a focal point as you enter from the doorway. It is the perfect setting to find peace and relaxation. The additional square footage in the space makes the room feel quite grandiose.

After deciding where each element needed to go in the space, I diverted my focus to the finishes. To create this tranquil retreat, we started looking at color palettes that would be cohesive with the existing finishes in the home.

Clockwise from left: Photos show how the bathroom looked before the transformation.

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

With French doors going into the bathroom, the finishes needed to vibe with the colors in the rest of their master bedroom. The home has light oak woodwork and warm tones.

To achieve this harmony, I wanted to get rid of the existing curves and add modern, clean lines.

Gray was the color direction that the clients and I agreed on, but making it blend with the rest of the home meant that the gray tones had to be warm. Gray porcelain tile in the proper color family was applied to the floor, shower walls, shower ceiling, base, and the feature wall behind the tub.

The feature wall adds interest with the installed rectilinear porcelain tile. In keeping with the monochromatic color scheme, stone pebble tile was selected for the shower floor and the detail stripe in the shower.

When selecting the hard surfaces, the clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; goal was minimal upkeep for the future. A Cambria quartz countertop was the perfect choice for their spa bath. This quartz was not only used for the counter, but also for the bench and niche shelves in the shower.

Making this space feel modern meant sticking to a few selections and color tones. To contrast the gray features, a solid wood vanity was added for warmth. All of the plumbing fixtures in the bathroom are smooth and contemporary, creating a waterfall effect when the water is turned on.

The lighting in the space greatly improved: cans were added in strategic locations, and pendants were placed above the sinks to supplement the can lighting. The simplicity of the pendants allows the chandelier to be the prime focus. The chandelier is a shining feature that captivates anyone walking into the bathroom.

Natural lighting was important in the bathroom, so windows were added in the shower on two walls. To keep with the minimal aesthetic, a frosted pattern glass was chosen for the windows so that window treatments were not necessary.

With the help of the contractor, this sophisticated bathroom was made possible. We turned this Omaha coupleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s small idea into their ideal at-home spa.â&#x20AC;&#x201A; OmahaHome Visit idfomaha.com/liz-lempka for more information.

Making this space feel modern meant sticking to a few selections and color tones. To contrast the gray features, a solid wood vanity was added for warmth.

March/April 2017 omahamagazine.com

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OmahaHome March/April 2017

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60PLUS opener

Gwen Lemke Contributing Editor, 60PLUS In Omaha

A

A PR IL SHOWERS BRING May

flowers.

This edition of 60Plus has some good reading, in particular, on the subjects of history and health.

Robert Klein Engler has written a story I find especially interesting.

It is about St. Mary Magdalene’s stained glass windows from the studios of Franz Mayer in Munich, Germany.

FEATURE Lisa Knopp on Bread

HEALTH Colon Cancer Awareness Month

ACTIVE LIVING Uber and Lyft for Seniors

NOSTALGIA St. Mary Magdalene Church

The set of windows were completed as the church was “built down” to accommodate the lowering of Dodge Street.

Monsignor Bernard Sinne and his many German parishioners were responsible.

Lisa Knopp, Ph.D., has written about her life and research that inspired her latest book, Bread. The new book explores her unhealthy relationship with food and self.

The story about Uber and Lyft,

by Carol Crissey Nigrelli, could be eye-opening for retired Americans who are grappling with transportation challenges.

The writer has also penned the cover story for the March/April issue of Omaha Magazine.

Last but not least, Lisa Lukecart has written a poignant reminder about Colon Cancer Awareness Month in March. Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in men and women. If you haven’t had a colonoscopy, now is a good time to go do it.

Enjoy!

Gwen

ON BREAD

THE STORY I DIDN’T WANT TO WRITE

BY LISA KNOPP PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMAN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

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I

story I didn’t want to write—that one about what I call “my malady,” my three episodes of severely restricted eating. The first bout struck when I was 15, when, in response to difficult family circumstances, I limited myself to fewer than 600 calories per day. I calculated and tallied the calories for everything I ate; I chewed and spit out forbidden foods; I stripped down and weighed myself many times a day; I exercised too vigorously and for too long; I awakened in a panic from vivid dreams in which I was devouring doughnuts or pizza; I isolated myself from my friends and no longer ate meals with my family because of the all-consuming nature of my regimen. I lost weight so quickly and recklessly that I stopped menstruating and could barely get out of bed in the morning because of the anemia. But I felt safe and empowered because, through my self-restriction, I’d taken control of my frustrating life and unruly flesh.

T WAS THE

Over a decade before Karen Carpenter’s death from anorexia nervosa, the event that awakened many Americans to the dangers of eating disorders, I had never heard of the condition.

Apparently, neither had the pediatrician who examined me when I was my thinnest and most unhealthy. He simply told my mother that I needed to eat more, which eventually, I did. When I was 25 and left my family, friends, and hometown for a demanding job in a big faraway city where I knew no one, my malady returned in a less dangerous though more tenacious form. In spite of intensive psychotherapy, this bout of my malady didn’t start abating until three years after it started with the birth of my son.

Most perplexing to me was that when I was deep into middle age, a professor at a state university, the author of five award-winning books, the mother of an adult son and daughter, a homeowner, a church member, and a supporter of various worthy causes, my malady returned. Then, my weight dropped to a number on the scale that I hadn’t seen since middle school, as I whittled down my list of permissible foods until it fit on my thumbnail.

Because of age-related changes in my bodymind, the departure of my grown children, and the loss of other significant people in my life, I was heartbroken and anxious. Just as when I was 15 and 25, I tightly restricted what and how much I ate as a way of keeping myself safe from what threatened me. But I couldn’t see what I was doing, much less link it to the two other times when eating too little had been so easy and gratifying. In fact, I didn’t know that I was sick again until my 20-year-old daughter told me that if I didn’t eat more, I was going to die. My blindness to my situation still astonishes and baffles me.

FEATURE

I didn’t want to write the story of an illness that many judge to be a character flaw, a moral failing, nothing but a silly, overzealous diet, or a childish attempt to get attention. I didn’t want to write a story in which I had to admit that I had a condition that I didn’t want usually strikes teenagers and young women. I to write the didn’t want to write a story that would require me to re-enter, through memory and imaginastory of an tion, the dark periods of my life when eating illness that less than my body needed seemed like a logical, fitting response to adversity. I didn’t want to many judge to write a story that was an illness narrative and, be a character so, presents a version of the self that isn’t sound or fully functioning. flaw, a moral And yet, I felt compelled to write this story. In “On Keeping a Notebook,” Joan Didion advises us “to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not.” If we don’t, they might “turn up unannounced and surprise us, come hammering on the mind's door at 4 a.m. of a bad night and demand to know who deserted them, who betrayed them, who is going to make amends. We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget.” What I had forgotten was the woman in me who sometimes found self-starvation and the taking up of as little space as possible so alluring.

failing, nothing but a silly, overzealous diet, or a childish attempt to get attention.

I didn’t want to write a story in which I had to admit that I had a condition that usually strikes teenagers and young women.

To write the story of my malady, I had to educate myself about eating disorders and disordered eating. Eating disorders—anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder—are clinically defined and diagnosed, according to criteria set forth by the American Psychological Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Less well-known to most people is “disordered eating,” which Lauren Reba-Harrelson and the co-authors of a 2009 study define as “unhealthy or maladaptive eating behaviors, such as restricting, binging, purging, or use of other compensatory behaviors, without meeting criteria for an eating disorder.” “Other compensatory behaviors” include the use of laxatives, diuretics, stimulants, or excessive exercise to counteract the calories one has consumed.

I went into my research believing that eating disorders and disordered eating are caused primarily by unhealthy family dynamics and the message from the fashion, entertainment, beauty, and diet industries that nothing you are and nothing you’ve achieved matter as much as being thin. Now I know that those are but the easiest explanations and that they trivialize a complex problem. Aimee Liu, the author of Gaining: The Truth About Life After Eating Disorders, compares an eating disorder to a gun: “Genes shape the gun, environment loads it, and stress pulls the trigger.”

This felt true to me, so I went to work researching the genetic, environmental, and psychological aspects of eating disorders. From the studies I read by geneticists and neuroscientists, I learned that those with eating disorders and disordered eating can’t trust their brains to tell them the truth about when and when not to eat.

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Several studies, for instance, have investigated variations on the gene for serotonin among the eating-disordered, since when people with anorexia severely restrict their caloric intake, their abnormally high levels of serotonin drop, and they report feeling calmer and less anxious; when those with bulimia increase their caloric intake, their low serotonin levels rise, and they report feeling happier. Another study found that those with bulimia and anorexia have an altered response in the insula, a part of the brain involved in appetite regulation, when given tastes of sugar, which means that they don’t accurately perceive signals about their hunger or satiety. Yet another study suggests that increased activity in the dorsal striatum leads to “maladaptive food choices” among restrictors, meaning that they actually prefer the plain rice cake over the Asian pear and smoked gouda panini.

FEATURE

I explored various cultural factors that “load the gun.” Feminist theorists, such as Susie Orbach, Naomi Wolfe, and Susan Bordo, see anorexia as rebellion against or an overconformity with Western notions of feminine beauty and power. Historians and medievalists weighed the similarities and differences between contemporary anorexia and the prolonged fasting of religious women in Europe in the late Middle Ages who sought worldly power and a deeper union with God through their austerities. Accounts by and about hunger strikers, whether the imprisoned members of the Irish Republican Army, the American suffragette movement, or those being held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, present their fasts as the ultimate political statement and protest.

Danielle Gagne and her research team found that women over 50 are engaged in unhealthy eating behaviors and thinking to the same extent that adolescents are.

From my reading in psychology, I learned that certain family structures and personality types were more likely to “load the gun” than others. Hilde Bruch, a psychoanalyst and pioneering researcher on eating disorders, studied the connection between disturbed interactions between a child and a domineering or detached mother and the development of anorexia, while psychiatrist Salvador Minuchin studied how “psychosomatic families,” especially those that are “enmeshed,” contribute to the genesis of eating disorders. For a 2004 study, Walter H. Kaye, the director of the Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research at the University of California-San Diego, administered standardized tests for anxiety, perfectionism, obsessionality, and eating disorders among individuals with anorexia, bulimia, and both disorders, as well as a control group.

He found that 66 percent of the members of the three eating-disordered groups had “one or more lifetime anxiety disorders,” 41 percent had obsessive-compulsive disorder, and 20 percent had a social phobia. The majority of the eating-disordered study participants reported that the onset of their anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or social phobia had occurred during childhood, before the symptoms of their eating disorder manifested. Even those who had recovered from an eating disorder and were symptom-free “still tended to be anxious, perfectionistic and harm-avoidant.”

Clearly, eating disorders and disordered eating are due to a messy tangle of genetic and biochemical factors, family dynamics, individual psychology, and a wide range of cultural influences. Also clear to me is that my story isn’t unique. Experts say that about 10 percent of those with eating disorders are older women. But, says Dr. Cynthia Bulik, the director of the Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders at the University of North Carolina, the percentage is surely higher since most older women with eating disorders disguise or misread their symptoms as being due to a health condition or changes associated with aging, and so they aren’t included in the number of reported cases. In a 2012 study, Danielle Gagne and her research team found that women over 50 are engaged in unhealthy eating behaviors and thinking to the same extent that adolescents are. Most experts that I’ve read see a link between loss, grief, and depression as triggering the onset or return of an eating disorder in women who are middle-aged or older.

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The loss and grief triggered by an empty nest, the death or relocation of several others who mattered to me, and an awareness of my own aging caused me to start restricting my diet again in 2011. But of all the factors that loaded the gun, two presented the most daunting challenges to my recovery.

The values of hyper-consumerism was one. In “Hunger,” the Canadian writer and human rights activist Maggie Helwig says that it’s no accident that the widespread appearance of eating disorders in the 1960s and the epidemic of the 1970s coincided with the unprecedented growth of the consumer society, which places supreme value on one’s ability to buy goods and services. Helwig, who almost died from anorexia when she was young, observes that by the end of the 1960s, our material consumption had become “very nearly uncontrollable,” resulting in “what is possibly the most emotionally depleted society in history, where the only ‘satisfactions’ seem to be the imaginary ones, the material buy-offs.” Anorexia, then, is the “nightmare of consumerism” played out in the female body. “It is these women,” writes Helwig, “who live through every implication of our consumption and our hunger and our guilt and ambiguity and our awful need for something real to fill us … We have too much; and it is poison.” By not eating, the anorexic tells us that she’d rather be skeletally thin than ingest something that isn’t real or substantial.

By not eating, the anorexic causes a cessation in ovulation and menstruation, rendering herself literally unproductive. By not eating, the anorexic refuses to be consumed by the act of consumption. Such self-denial in a culture of plenty is an audacious, radically countercultural act and statement. I extend Helwig’s metaphor to include binge-eating disorder (rapid, uncontrolled consumption with no “compensatory behaviors”) and bulimia (a refusal to complete the act of consumption by hurling out what one has just taken in) as responses to unrestrained consumerism.

The things, services, and diversions that money can buy can’t fill a hungry heart or lessen the pain one feels from a lack of meaning or purpose. Ironically, or perhaps fittingly, what we’re truly hungry for can’t be bought.

And what I was craving when my malady returned for the third time were a renewed sense of purpose and deep nourishing relationships to “replace” those that I’d lost.

This was easier said than done. The rise of consumerist culture has been accompanied by a decline in the number of close relationships among Americans of all ages. Instead of visiting and confiding in each other, we spend more and more of our time working and, in our leisure time, gazing at screens.

Consequently, finding others with the time and desire for new friendships was challenging and at times, disheartening. But with prayer and persistence, I eventually found people who share my values and who enjoy my company as much as I enjoy theirs.

The other factor that made recovery during the third bout of my malady so challenging was that in my early 50s, I had become acutely aware of the effects of ageism. Because the master narrative our culture imparts about aging is that late midlife and beyond is a time of inexorable decline, marked by deterioration, powerlessness, dependency, irrelevance, and obsolescence, it is the fear of aging and even more, of ageism, that is the inciting force that triggers disordered eating in some women. I didn’t want to think about aging—my aging—and I certainly didn’t want to write about it. Yet, address it I must. In a 2011 study, a team of Australian researchers found that a group of women ages 30 to 60 with disordered eating who participated in just eight weeks of cognitive behavioral therapy focused on “midlife themes” were still doing better in terms of “body image, disordered eating, and risk factors” at the follow-up six months later than a control group that had not had the opportunity to explore these themes in a therapeutic setting.

To counter the effects of ageism in my life, I now collect resistance narratives from women, role models, really, who live their later years with passion and purpose and on their own terms—Jane Goodall, Maria Lassnig, Gloria Steinem, Helen Mirren, Isabel Allende, and others, both famous and not.

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Although I was reluctant to write this story, I did find pleasure in crafting Bread. And the act of writing was filled with many moments of self-revelation and one grand epiphany: that there are aspects of my malady that are within my control (how I respond to ageist, hyper-consumerist, and patriarchal values) and some that are not (genetics and brain chemistry: my hardwiring). Now, I know what I can fight and what I must gracefully accept.

When people asked me what I was working on as I was writing Bread, I reluctantly told them about the story that I didn’t want to write.

I found that most were not only interested, but they wanted to tell me their stories about being in the grip of something beyond their control that lead them to eat too much or too little, about feeling shamed or misunderstood because of this, about the familial tensions or social costs or the ill physical effects that resulted from their unhealthy relationship with food and self. Some told triumphant stories about the residential treatment, the counseling, the spiritual practice, the religious conversion, or the supportive loved ones that saved them. But some were in the thick of it. Many were grateful to be given a name—disordered eating—for what they were experiencing and to know that this could afflict anyone of any age and circumstance.

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60PLUS

FEATURE

Many were grateful to learn that the reasons they were stuffing or starving were more complex and nuanced than their having played with Barbie dolls as children or having conflicted relationships with their mothers.

The deep story I’ve heard in each of these testimonies concerns the tellers’ hunger for wholeness and fullness. Now, I encourage those who tell me their stories to ask themselves a difficult question—What am I truly hungry for? —and then answer it with courage and honesty. I’m hungry for companionship. I’m hungry for solitude. I’m hungry for reconciliation. I’m hungry for meaningful work. I’m hungry for less busyness or the opportunity to paint or dance or fight for social justice.

Then, I urge them to bring that source of nourishment and sustenance into their lives.

Some women thanked me for writing Bread before they’d even read it.

When I consider how frankly confessional my story is and how controversial some will find my interpretations of the research, I squirm and second-guess myself. But then I remember that I am safer from relapse because I understand what I can and can’t control and because I’m far less likely to forget, as Didion says, “the things [I] thought [I] could never forget.” And, too, I feel full knowing that people are finding self-knowledge, nourishment, hope, and strength in the story that I didn’t want to tell.

Lisa Knopp, Ph.D., is a professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s English Department.

Her recent book, Bread: A Memoir of Hunger, was published by the University of Missouri Press in 2016. Visit lisaknopp.com for more information.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 144 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

The mother-daughter bond is a close one; you two can talk about anything. Don’t let retirement living put an end to that. We’ll provide information and advice to make the conversation a little bit easier. Give us a call at 402-829-2900 or visit Immanuel.com

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60PLUS

HEALTH

BY LISA LUKECART // DESIGN BY MADY BESCH

a reminder of colon cancer awareness month in march

Micrographs show what colon cancer looks like under a microscope. spent the entire evening reading Wine Spectator magazine cover to cover.

ARY KROPF, 62,

On the toilet.

“It was a busy day,” Kropf recalls. A powder laxative mixed in 64 ounces of Gatorade helped clear his gastrointestinal tract for inspection.

He doesn’t regret a single minute. It wasn’t a fun day, but it was easier to drink the dreaded “colonoscopy cocktail” than die.

What his doctor discovered after Kropf had the procedure were two polyps, or growths in the intestine, which could develop into cancer.

Kropf didn’t panic since he went through a procedure to remove polyps five years before. This time, however, one polyp f lattened out and couldn’t be removed. His biopsy tests came back as slightly abnormal. Kropf sought a specialist.

In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in men and women.

However, almost 59 percent of those 50 and older—the recommended age for testing—do not get tested.

Most, Langenfeld believes, do not get the colonoscopy procedure because it is embarrassing.

Geraldine Russmann, 80, had a laparoscopic colon resection after discovering cancer last year. Russmann, also a breast cancer survivor, has trouble talking people into having a colonoscopy because they think cancer won’t ever happen to them.

"IT’S A DAY OUT OF YOUR LIFE THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE."

“Gary, I’ve seen a lot of these. I bet it will turn into cancer,” colon and rectal surgeon Sean Langenfeld informed him.

Kropf understood the impact of those words more than most. His first wife died of uterine cancer. He had seen firsthand how fast cancer could take a life.

Unfortunately, Langenfeld was correct.

Tests came back positive for cancer.

“It’s a day out of your life that will save your life,” she says.

Preventive screening seems to be key to a longer life since many times there are no symptoms, as was the case with both Kropf and Russmann.

Excluding family and personal history, a colonoscopy is recommended every 10 years to identify polyps and cancers in patients before they have symptoms or the cancer spreads.

Kropf is remarried, and he is urging his second wife to get checked (she can't stomach the idea of going through the pre-bowel prep experience).

“I’m not a betting man. I don’t like the odds,” Kropf says.

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 147 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

But Langenfeld says the chalky cocktail is now “less miserable and tastes better.” The day of the procedure, the patient is sedated.

The surgeon uses a colonscope with a tiny camera at the tip to see a visual of the colon and removes any polyps if necessary. It typically takes about 30 minutes.

“It can change your life to not wearing a bag or getting really sick,” Kropf adds.

Kropf had much anxiety in those dark days, but felt confident in Langenfeld’s abilities. Langenfeld, a five-year University of Nebraska Medicine veteran, has seen many of these cases. He knows if a polyp gets out of hand, a person can die. He has seen these red or pink masses become so huge they “block the road.” The biggest was the size of a football, while others were like softballs.

As of December, Kropf ’s blood work came back favorable.

How did he celebrate?

“I had a nice glass of wine,” Kropf says.

Visit cancer.org for more infomation.

S

when Omaha Bishop Richard Scannell visited Europe to invite young men to serve as priests among the German-American members of the Omaha diocese, the Rev. Bernard Sinne was among those who responded.

OMETIME AROUND 1904,

Sinne was born Dec. 9, 1878, in Elsen, Westphalia. He was ordained to the priesthood May 5, 1904, in Freiburg. The following August, Sinne was appointed pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Church in Omaha. He was 27 years old and served as pastor for 57 years.

Before Sinne left Germany for Omaha, he was told by his bishop that he was “a goat to go to Omaha, where he would have to ride horseback all day and sleep in an Indian tent all night.”

Sinne ended up in Omaha doing neither.

What Sinne did do was build and preserve a church that holds the most beautiful stained glass windows in Omaha, windows from the studios of Franz Mayer in Munich, Germany.

There is no other church in Omaha, no other church in the state of Nebraska, and probably no other church in the United States that has such a fine collection of stained glass as does St. Mary Magdalene at 19th and Dodge streets.

This church could be considered the Sistine Chapel of stained glass in the United States.

It wasn’t an easy thing to do, to keep St. Mary Magdalene Church above ground. In the 1920s, the city administration decided to lower Dodge Street because the incline was too great. The church was then “built down” to accommodate the new street level.

After building the church down and turning the basement into the main level, Sinne ordered a new set of windows from the Franz Mayer company for the new main level.

Left: "The Good Samaritan on the Battlefield"

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NOSTALGIA

BY ROBERT KLEIN ENGLER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MADY BESCH & MATT WIECZOREK In 1926, Sinne was honored for his work lowering the church and his many years of service at St. Mary Magdalene. At the ceremony, he admitted that the cutting down of Dodge Street's hill “was the greatest cross that ever visited me. But with your assistance, we have been able to bear the heavy expense [estimated to be $150,000].”

There are other churches in the United States that have stained glass windows from the Franz Mayer studios, but none have two full sets, spanning a generation, that display the work of artisans from Munich so well.

Ironically, representatives of the Franz Mayer company had forgotten about their windows in Omaha. It seems that the destruction brought about by two world wars had devastated the company’s records. It was only after an inquiry was made about the “Good Samaritan on the Battlefield” window did they search their remaining records. To their surprise, they realized they had shipped stained glass to Omaha in the 1930s.

Why is there no window depicting the crucifixion at St. Mary Magdalene? Most Catholic churches have a window that shows the crucifixion. Instead, opposite each other in the church, windows depict the birth and resurrection of Jesus. Furthermore why in a church named after St. Mary Magdalene, is there no window dedicated to her? Instead, there are two windows dedicated to St. Cecilia.

What will be the future of this Nebraska treasure of stained glass? In a city that often seems dead set on demolishing its past and replacing it with more glass and steel boxes, the future does not look bright for these historic windows or the church.

Many of the windows are now more than 100 years old and are in need of repair. Parts of some windows are missing. The church itself needs extensive repair, and just like a masterpiece by Rembrandt that has an elegant frame around it, so the building that holds these stained glass treasures has to become the elegant frame that holds the windows up.

Of all the windows in the church, the “Good Samaritan on the Battlefield” is probably the most unusual. This window was installed between the two world wars, at a time when German immigrants to Omaha were involved in a difficult question of identity—were they Americans or were they Germans?

We owe it to the memory of Sinne that the art treasure he has given Omaha be preserved and restored. Some men build a cathedral on a hill to demonstrate their power, other men build a church (and decorate with windows from the Franz Mayer company) to show their love.

With Hitler on the rise in Germany, the question of patriotism took on new meaning for both Sinne and his many German parishioners. In the battle scene depicted in the Good Samaritan window, we see written in Latin, “Pro Deus et Patria.” For God and Country.

The gravel walk to the Douglas County Historical Society is strewn with red maple leaves. It is early in a dry November. Already, the Crook House next door to the society library is decorated with Christmas garlands.

The Good Samaritan window is also significant because, while working with a representative of the present-day Franz Mayer company, the church discovered the original cartoon for the window design.

Other windows in the church also have stories to tell. The window that depicts the Evangelist Luke bears a dedication to the contractor Benno Kunkel, who built the present church for $40,000.

As the German community in Omaha moved west into St. Joseph’s parish and the bishops were working to build St. Cecilia Cathedral, Sinne quietly made St. Mary Magdalene Church into an Omaha artistic treasure. In so doing, he also left us with some mysteries.

Researching the Windows

Then Monsignor Sinne had given an interview to the Greater Omaha Historical Society in 1959.

The interview was conducted in the rectory at St. Mary Magdalene Church. That tape is now in the possession of the Douglas Historical Society, and I am on my way to hear it. The interview was conducted by the Rev. Henry Casper, S.J., author of the History of the Catholic Church in Nebraska, and an unidentified woman.

The old tape player in the historical society's listening room is covered in dust. Sinne’s voice, the voice of an older man, sounds dusty, too.

He was 83 years old at the time of the interview.

On the tape, which breaks up from time to time, Sinne relates his experiences as a young man and new pastor in Omaha. You can still hear a German accent in his voice. In the interview, he admits that when he came to Omaha his first impression of the city was seeing all the beer signs. When asked about that, he remarked, “Lord in heaven!”

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We learn from the tapes that Leo A. Daly was one of the architects of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. The Leo A Daly company still works in Omaha today (and maintains its international headquarters in the city). After getting an architect, the monsignor went to Chicago to get a construction firm. He claims, all together, the work on the chapel cost $275,000.

All in all, the taped interview does not reveal much about the windows at St. Mary Magdalene. But the oral history does shed light on the monsignor’s personal background. He came from a wealthy German family. This may account for where the money came from to decorate the church and buy the windows.

It’s disheartening to realize that the interview recording—which lasts more than an hour— does not answer questions we would like to ask Sinne. At the end of the tape, I realize this voice from the past is also a voice from another world.

Then, there comes a surprise. Besides the two cassette tapes, the Historical Society has a manila folder with newspaper clippings about Sinne. Mixed up among the yellowed clippings is a copy of a short article from the World-Herald on Thursday, Aug. 6, 1914. The article says that Sinne had three brothers: Two of them were in the German army, to be posted to Cologne, no doubt preparing to fight in WWI. The third brother was in the United States and “responding to the reserves call.”

The tape rewinds. The monsignor’s voice sounds weary. I pack the laptop and sling my backpack over a shoulder. The old door to the library creeks open as I leave and walk down the wooden steps. I kick at fallen red maple leaves on the way to my car.

Did it happen that Sinne’s brothers fought on different sides during WWI? Could this be the reason for the war memorial window, for the Good Samaritan on the Battlefield? Could it be that Sinne had this window installed to remember his brothers? More unanswered questions.

The late afternoon sunlight is brilliant while casting long shadows. This glow of a dwindling autumn holds not the promise of spring. It lends its light only a short while.

Robert Klein Engler is a member of St. Mary Magdalene parish and works part-time at Joslyn Art Museum. He holds degrees from the University of Illinois-Urbana and the University of Chicago Divinity School. Visit archomaha.org for more information.

60PLUS

ACTIVE LIVING

BY CAROL CRISSEY NIGRELLI // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

UBER AND LYFT offering mobility and income to local seniors

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W

ITH THE POST-MILLENNIAL rise of ride-hailing

companies Uber and Lyft, a generation weaned on digital technology could suddenly tap a smartphone app, summon a private car driven by the owner, and pay for the fare electronically. Easy peasy.

Uber and Lyft can thank their younger demographics for pushing revenue into the billions of dollars.

But guess what? Both transportation companies have figured out that profitable fruit doesn’t only come from young trees. The push to make ride-hailing easier for retired Americans looms on the horizon, and that horizon can’t come into focus soon enough.

“Transportation has always been one of our greatest challenges,” says Erin Endress, director of sales and marketing at Remington Heights, a retirement community in Omaha. “We have vans, but getting residents to and from medical appointments takes priority, which it should.

That leaves little opportunity for trips just for fun. We could definitely use a transportation alternative, as long as it’s safe.”

And for those who still live at home but whose eyesight or reflexes may not be the best?

"I LOVE OMAHA AND I CONSIDER MYSELF AN AMBASSADOR FOR THIS CITY,” SAYS AN ANONYMOUS LYFT DRIVER. “NEARLY ALL MY PASSENGERS SAY HOW FRIENDLY WE ARE HERE."

“Personally, I think Uber and Lyft are going to make a huge difference for folks as they stop driving or don’t drive as much, or as far, on their own,” says Cynthia Brammeier, administrator of the Nebraska State Unit on Aging.

“I’m looking forward to getting to that point.

It’s awesome!” she exclaims, having personally experienced the buzz surrounding Uber while visiting another state.

Nebraska came late to the party, approving Uber and Lyft operations in July 2015, which may explain a lack of awareness among Omahans in general.

The necessity of a smartphone to summon a ride excludes many seniors from ride-hailing apps. According to the Pew Research Center, 70 percent of those 65 and older don’t own a smartphone, instead preferring cheaper, old-fashioned flip phones with limited data capabilities.

One segment of the senior population did benefit immediately from having the transportation alternatives in Omaha: drivers.

“I’ve been with Lyft for over a year. It’s my only job now, “ says Dave*, 68, who prefers to remain anonymous. Working about four hours a night, the Dundee resident brings home “between $400 and $500 a week working the entertainment district and trips to the airport.

But that’s not counting my car payment, gas, and insurance.”

The insurance question explains why Dave doesn’t want to be identified. Both Uber and Lyft have up to $1 million in liability coverage.

But if a driver gets into an accident on the way to pick up a passenger, how much his or her personal insurance carrier will pay out becomes murky, since the driver uses the car for profit.

The advantages of ride-hailing services, previously called ridesharing, seem pretty clear.

“We’re half the cost of a cab,” Dave says. “We pick up passengers within five to 10 minutes.

The cars are newer, clean, and have to be fourdoor. No cash exchanges hands, unless the passenger tips me in cash.”

But why would someone in their 80s summon a stranger to their home to pick them up? “[The companies] check us out pretty good,” Dave assures. Both Uber and Lyft conduct extensive background, criminal, and DMV checks. Lyft sent an employee to inspect Dave’s Toyota. “Believe me, we’re safe.”

The opportunity for seniors without smartphones to utilize Uber or Lyft as passengers depends greatly on a “no app required” platform. One such service recently appeared on a list of transportation options compiled by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.

“It’s called GoGoGrandparent,” says Taylor Armstrong of the ENOA. “We’re told you don’t have to use a smartphone. People just call a number.”

The brainchild of a California man whose grandmother couldn’t tool around San Diego anymore, GoGoGrandparent uses a toll-free hotline to connect seniors with an operator, who then summons an Uber car for them.

“We’re not recommending this service over all the other transportation options ENOA offers,” cautions Jeff Reinhardt of the public affairs division. “We haven’t gotten any feedback yet on GoGoGrandparent.”

Lyft’s contribution to creating easier access involves senior-friendly Jitterbug cell phones and smartphones. When paired with a 24/7 health care provider, a registered user simply dials “0” on the Jitterbug phone and books a ride through the operator. This pilot program has yet to find its way to Omaha.

“We’re going to be top-heavy in seniors in the next 10 to 20 years,” Endress says. “There’s a huge need for entrepreneurs who want to make a difference in someone’s life.”

As evidenced by the rapidly changing technology that grants the gift of mobility, the difference-makers have arrived.

Visit uber.com, lyft.com, and gogograndparent.com for more information.

The advantages for Dave include setting his own work schedule, meeting “wonderful people,” and showing off his hometown to visitors. “I love Omaha and I consider myself an ambassador for this city,” he says. “Nearly all my passengers say how friendly we are here.”

* Dave is not the driver's real name.

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BY LISA LUKECART PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

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OBVIOUSLY OMAHA St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl

BY JARED SPENCE // PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

IT’S NOT MERE luck that Omaha was ranked third overall of the nation’s best cities for St. Patrick’s

Day celebrations (according to wallethub.com in 2016). If there is one thing our city is known for, it is rallying together to celebrate with friends, both old and new. Omaha has rich Irish heritage, and Omahans are eager to boast their love of the local Irish population. So, of course, the city turns green with pride on St. Paddy’s Day—from east to west. Festivities range from live Irish entertainment and personal pub food tours to black-and-tans and parades of whisky shots. Head to any of these highlighted hot spots to celebrate in local Irish style.

01. CENTRAL OMAHA Clancy's Pub Clancy's Pub has a longstanding tradition as a must-stop visit for St. Paddy's Day. While the Pacific Street location has undergone new ownership within the last few years, it has still proven itself to be full of that Irish spirit patrons have grown to love.

(7120 Pacific St.) Brazen Head Irish Pub If you are determined to settle in at the most authentic Irish pub in Omaha, look no further than Brazen Head. Named after the oldest pub in Dublin, this Omaha gem will transport you to the Emerald Isle. The Brazen Head opens its doors at 6 a.m. for a traditional red flannel hash breakfast. The day continues with authentic Irish entertainment and food (including fish and chips as well as corned beef and cabbage).

(319 N. 78th St.) 02. BENSON You'd be remiss not to stop by Benson's oldest, continuously running bar and only Irish Pub—Burke’s Pub—for drink specials and their famous apple pie shots. While a few bars along the Benson strip (on both sides of Maple Street from 59th to 62nd streets) serve up green pitchers and Jell-O shots, neighborhood staples like Jake’s, Beercade, and St. Andrews (which is Scottish) feature specials on authentic Irish beers, such as Kilkenny, and Irish whiskeys.

Marylebone Tavern The Marylebone is one of two Irish bars on the tour, recognized by the giant shamrock painted out front on Leavenworth Street. The bar is known for its cheap prices and stiff drinks.

(3710 Leavenworth St.) Barrett’s Barleycorn Pub & Grille Barrett’s Barleycorn, the second of the two Irish bars on the tour, opens its doors at 8 a.m., serving sandwiches in the morning followed by a hearty lunch next door at Castle Barrett, with beer and specials flowing all day long.

Barrett's closes the parking lot to create an outdoor beer garden, while inside tables are cleared for what usually turns into a packed wall-to-wall party.

(4322 Leavenworth St.) 04. OLD MARKET The Dubliner Toting the tagline, “If you can’t get to Dublin to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, there’s a little piece of Ireland nestled underground at 1205 Harney Street in the Old Market,” on the front page of their website, The Dubliner is one of Omaha’s oldest Irish pubs. Pull up a bar stool at this Harney Street haunt for a breakfast of Lucky Charms and Guinness and be sure to stick around for the Irish stew, corned beef sandwiches, and live music.

(1205 Harney St.) Barry O's Tavern Slip onto the patio at Barry O's to mingle with the regulars and the O'Halloran clan themselves at this family-run bar. Enjoy drink specials and stories from some of the friendliest characters you'll meet. St. Paddy's Day usually brings an entertaining mashup of regular patrons and “Irish-for-theday" amateurs.

(420 S. 10th St.)

03. LEAVENWORTH The Leavenworth bar crawl has become somewhat of a year-round tradition, especially on St. Patrick's Day. Locals call it a convenient way to pack in a handful of bars in one strip—beginning at 32nd Street at Bud Olson’s or Alderman’s and continuing on a tour down Leavenworth toward The Neighber’s on Saddle Creek.

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OMAHA OMAHA MAGAZINE MAGAZINE

DINING DINING////FEATURE PROFILE

N O I EL

D N A D P U P O P

SPREADS C U L I N A RY

CRE

AT I V

ITY

BY SARAH WENGERT // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK MARCH

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OMAHA MAGAZINE

"CHEFS CAN FOLLOW THEIR PASSION WITH 100 PERCENT CREATIVE CONTROL, THEY CAN TEST IDEAS AND TRY OUT POTENTIALLY OFF-THE-WALL STUFF, THEN GET FEEDBACK ON THEIR VISION AND SEE HOW IT’S RECEIVED BEFORE DEBUTING IT ON A BROADER SCALE." - NICK BARTHOLOMEW

J

UST AS BRIGHT yellow dandelions

emerge throughout the city in spring, Dandelion Pop-Up will re-emerge in the Greater Omaha Chamber Courtyard, adding a dash more culinary color to Omaha (at 13th and Harney streets).

Dandelion creator Nick Bartholomew says the weekly Friday lunch series featuring an ever-changing menu and rotating roster of all-star chefs is slated to return in late March 2017—though, like its flaxen-hued namesake, warmer weather will ultimately dictate its arrival. Bartholomew, who’s also behind beloved eateries The Market House and Over Easy, launched Dandelion Pop-Up in partnership with Secret Penguin so he could still contribute to the neighborhood after the M’s Pub fire put his Old Market restaurant on hiatus. The golden concept allows chefs to satisfy their creative cravings and lets diners sink their teeth into a unique edible experience.

Bartholomew wanted to offer seasoned chefs and up-and-comers alike the chance to break away from their daily bread, so to speak—to get creative, feed their passion, incubate new dishes and restaurant concepts, and have some fun. “[At Dandelion] chefs can follow their passion with 100 percent creative control,” Bartholomew says. “They can test ideas and try out potentially off-the-wall stuff, then get feedback on their vision and see how it’s received before debuting it on a broader scale. I think the genius behind it is the versatility, which allows creativity, and that’s really engaging to the chefs.

When the chefs are this excited, you know the food will be amazing.”

Dandelion began in July 2016 with Chef Tim Maides and his T.R.E.A.M. (Tacos Rule Everything Around Me) team, who started the party with chicken and vegan tacos that sold out early.

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DINING // PROFILE

“It’s basically like a little playground for chefs to do something different, with a low risk and the chance to try out new flavors,” Maides says of Dandelion. “It’s similar for the people there to eat; it breaks up their normal downtown routine with a temporary option for lots of different flavors from different chefs in one location.”

“Tim is great, and we love doing the creative process together,” Bartholomew says.

“The Chamber of Commerce has also been amazing. When we asked them about it, they didn't think twice; they totally got Dandelion’s potential as an incubator and shared the vision.”

Since the Chamber doesn’t charge Bartholomew, he doesn’t charge the chefs, who keep all food profits. For his part, Bartholomew designs a signature lemonade corresponding with each Dandelion theme.

“For [Maides’ lunch] I did a cucumberjalapeño lemonade that went great with his tacos,” says Bartholomew.

Next, Dandelion offered a barbecue lunch from chef Dan Watts, featuring his coffeeblack-pepper-rubbed brisket. After a short hiatus, while Bartholomew updated the Chamber Courtyard kiosk’s infrastructure, Dandelion returned with lunches from heavy-hitter chefs like Joel Mahr, Jason Hughes, Dario Schicke, and Paul Kulik.

Dishes included bahn mi burgers, pork steam buns, cevapi with pita, soul food such as chicken-andouille gumbo and fried green tomato grilled cheese, Parisian street vendor-style crepes, fried rice, bibimbap (a trial run for upcoming Bartholomew venture, Boho Rice), and other mouthwatering items.

Bartholomew is a proud Omaha native, and like his existing restaurants and soonto-launch Boho Rice, he wants Dandelion to enhance the neighborhood it inhabits.

He’s proud to say that the returning Friday tradion brings the often-dormant Chamber Courtyard to life.

“It’s awesome to see the courtyard with this buzz of activity now, and all these people just enjoying a sunny day, a lemonade, and some great food they can't get anywhere else,” he says. “It's a testament to Omaha being ready for these ideas and [customers] being loyal to what they like from certain chefs.”

Like the chefs and restaurants it promotes, Dandelion itself is still incubating.

According to Bartholomew, there’s ample potential for the venture to grow like a weed in terms of scope and format, and he welcomes feedback from the public and pitches from chefs.

“I can't always explain exactly what Dandelion is because I secretly want it to be everything,” Bartholomew says. “If anything, the format will just grow now that awareness is growing, and I hope Dandelion becomes something the city is proud of.”

Fittingly, Bartholomew wants to let Dandelion be a bit of a wildf lower.

“We don’t want to tag its ear and process it yet because it’s kinda wild,” he says. “One of the things that makes Dandelion cool is that we’re not limiting it.”

Visit dandelionpopup.com for details and to register for updates on upcoming events.

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BY NIZ PROSKOCIL // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

OMAHA MAGAZINE

DINING // REVIEW

Herbe Sainte Brings New Orleans to Aksarben

O

NE OF AMERICA’S great food

cities, New Orleans, is steeped in history, culture, and fantastic f lavors. From beignets to étouffée, the Southern city’s distinctive cuisine attracts food lovers worldwide. Perhaps the best way to satisfy one’s Cajun and Creole cravings is with a trip to N’awlins. But if that isn’t in your plans, a visit to Herbe Sainte offers a taste of the Big Easy without leaving the Big O. The Aksarben Village cocktail bar and restaurant, which opened in late October 2016, is the creation of longtime restaurateur Ron Samuelson and his nephews, Aaron and Justin Halbert. For decades, Samuelson co-owned M’s Pub, the iconic Old Market restaurant that was destroyed in a January 2016 fire. His focus is now on Herbe Sainte and other new projects, including a French-focused eatery that he and the Halberts are working on.

For Herbe Sainte, the trio took inspiration from the food and drink of the Crescent City. “New Orleans has a great cocktail culture,” Justin Halbert says. Seafood purveyors from several Gulf Coast states supply the restaurant with fresh shrimp, crawfish, and oysters. Halbert, who used to live in Florida, says seafood from the region, particularly Gulf shrimp, boasts exceptional f lavor and texture.

FOR DECADES, RON SAMUELSON CO-OWNED M’S PUB, THE ICONIC OLD MARKET RESTAURANT THAT WAS DESTROYED IN A JANUARY 2016 FIRE. HIS FOCUS IS NOW ON HERBE SAINTE AND OTHER NEW PROJECTS, INCLUDING A FRENCH-FOCUSED EATERY THAT HE AND HIS NEPHEWS ARE WORKING ON.

Muffuletta (left) and raw oysters (above) are favorites at Herbe Sainte.

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NOLA shrimp

Shrimp is the star of one of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, NOLA shrimp.

One of a dozen items on the small menu, it features plump, succulent shrimp smothered in a rich, luscious sauce made decadent with cream, butter, and wine. It’s served with crusty French bread to sop up the sauce, which is sparked with a Creole seasoning blend for a palate-tingling heat.

I would have liked a bit more spice, but I thoroughly savored each bite.

Executive chef Jeff Owen leads the kitchen, showcasing an appreciation for the nuances of New Orleans cuisine while putting his own twists on the classics. The shrimp roll features boiled shrimp lightly dressed with Cajun remoulade, lettuce, onion marmalade, and cornichon. Lack of breading and frying allows the shrimp’s firm, meaty texture and sweet, clean f lavor to shine.

We liked the filling but thought the bun needed to be warmed or toasted a bit.

Oysters are abundant in New Orleans and on Herbe Sainte’s menu. They’re available shucked and served on the half shell, as well as broiled. For non-seafood lovers, there’s muffuletta (a signature New Orleans sandwich stuffed with cold cuts, cheese, and olives) and a cornbread and sausage plate.

It features sliced boudin (pork-and-rice sausage), mustard, pickles, slaw, two types of cornbread, and honey butter. The restaurant’s boudin has a soft, crumbly texture and was milder than I expected.

Enhancing the dining experience is a stylish interior with local artwork, modernmeets-rustic décor, and an eye-catching bar with custom wood shelving. Several couches, coffee tables, and armchairs invite guests to linger. The high-ceilinged space is intimate enough for date night yet lively enough for after-work cocktails. “We wanted it to be really eclectic,” Halbert says.

The drink menu offers classic New Orleans cocktails, such as the Sazerac. Bold yet balanced, it includes brandy, Peychaud’s bitters, simple syrup, and the restaurant’s namesake, Herbsaint, an anise-f lavored liqueur used as an absinthe alternative.

The long, spacious bar provides plenty of room to whip up craft cocktails and develop house-made ingredients.

Together with their design team and bar and kitchen staff, Herbe Sainte’s owners have created a delicious, inviting spot to savor a taste of New Orleans and let the “bon temps” roll year-round.

Visit herbesainteomaha.com for more information.

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The establishment’s name comes from Herbsaint, an ingredient Sazerac cocktails.

OMAHA MAGAZINE

DINING // REVIEW

HERBE SAINTE 1934 S. 67TH ST. 402.913.2396 FOOD SERVICE AMBIANCE PRICE $$ OVERALL 5 STARS POSSIBLE

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OMAHA MAGAZINE

DINING // FEATURE

LENTEN FISH FRIES Six of Omaha’s Best

L

ENT IN OMAHA—A time of repen-

tance and moderation for devout Catholics—is synonymous with crowded lines of happy, drunken people waiting for heaping piles of deep-fried fish.

Parishioners and non-churchgoers alike rejoice with the approach of Ash Wednesday. NonCatholics who have never joined in the fun should not hesitate. All are welcome. Lenten fish fries (complete with raffles, pickle cards, and bake sales) are the biggest fundraising event of the year for many Catholic churches, schools, and charities in Omaha.

The beer-infused Friday fry-day gatherings are a popular annual ritual in Midwestern cities with robust Catholic communities. Omaha’s large Catholic population means that several dozen churches will host fish fries throughout the 40 days of Lenten fast (six weeks). Meanwhile, there are plenty of other community groups, such as the local Disabled American Veterans, hosting their own Lenten fish fries.

Some start the Friday before Ash Wednesday.

Most begin after Ash Wednesday formally initiates the Lenten season. Some conclude after only a few weeks; others continue for the entire duration of the Lenten fast, including Good Friday two days before Easter.

BY DOUG MEIGS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSHUA FOO // FOOD STYLING BY LEIA JEAN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK MARCH

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Not all of them are bacchanals, with children running wild while parents and young adults socialize. A few are alcohol-free. But all are genuine family-friendly celebrations of community.

Expect to spend a few hours standing and waiting in line at Omaha’s most-popular fish fries. The long wait—and the chance to meet new friends while drinking beer—is sometimes the most fun part of the evening.

Omaha Magazine has compiled a list of six musttry fish fries for every week during Lent. But the list is hardly exhaustive. Other excellent fish fries are plentiful in the Omaha area. For those in a hurry, seeking out lesser-known gatherings might even save on the wait time. Or you might just discover a new Lenten favorite.

MARY OUR QUEEN CATHOLIC CHURCH (2017 Best of Omaha Winner) 3405 S. 118TH ST., OMAHA, NE 68144 . 402.333.8662 . MARYOURQUEENCHURCH.COM A packed line meanders through the halls of Mary Our Queen School, where intermittent refreshment tables allow visitors to replenish their beer pitchers/cups in one of Omaha’s most-popular Lenten fish fries. Young volunteers walk up and down the school’s hallway to collect emptied pitchers. Popcorn is available in the line near the cafeteria. A drive-through allows motorists to avoid the packed halls. Food options include: fried or baked fish, macaroni and cheese, spudsters, fries, coleslaw, bread, with assorted soft drinks and desserts also available for sale.

Fridays (5-8 p.m.), March 3 to April 7

ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH OF ELKHORN (2017 Best of Omaha Winner) 20500 WEST MAPLE ROAD, ELKHORN, NE 68022 . 402.289.4289 . STPATSELKHORN.ORG The fish fry at St. Patrick’s features fried or baked catfish and/or pollock. Margaritas and a variety of beers offer a change of pace from the adult beverages typically available at area fish fries. Cheese pizza, fries, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and dessert round out the available food options. There’s a drive-through, and there are clowns and face-painting for the kids inside. Fridays (5-9:30 p.m.), March 3 to April 7

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CATHOLIC CHURCH 14330 EAGLE RUN DRIVE, OMAHA, NE 68164 . 402.496.7988 . SVDPOMAHA.ORG A cheerful and welcoming atmosphere radiates from the jam-packed line snaking through the halls of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School. The event features $3 cups, $8 bottles of wine, and $8 pitchers of Boulevard, Lucky Bucket, or Bud Light beer. For those seeking better quality beer on the cheap, St. Vincent de Paul’s fish fry is an excellent choice. Food options include fried or baked fish, cheese pizza, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, and fries or baked potato, with assorted soft drinks and desserts also available for sale. Credit cards accepted. Fridays (5:30-8:30 p.m.), March 3 to April 7

ST. JOHN’S GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH 602 PARK AVE., OMAHA, NE 68105 . 402.345.7103 . STJOHNSGREEKORTHODOX.ORG Alcohol is not sold at the event; however, St. John’s offers possibly the most delicious food available at any Omaha area Lenten fish fry. The church also offers historic tours of its Byzantine-style building from 5:30-6:30 p.m. A kitchen full of volunteers (some of whom grew up in Greece and migrated to the United States) cook and serve plaki—a Greek baked cod with Mediterranean sauce. Also available: panko-fried cod, breaded-fried shrimp, baked salmon, and vegetable moussaka (an eggplant lasagna), spanakopita (a pie filled with spinach and feta cheese), and piropita (cheese baked in phyllo dough). Specialty cheesecakes and baklava sundaes await at the dessert bar. Fridays (4:30 to 8 p.m.), March 3 to April 7

HOLY GHOST CATHOLIC CHURCH 5219 S. 53RD ST., OMAHA, NE 68117 . 402.731.3176 . HOLYGHOSTOMAHA.COM Clam chowder is one of the unique offerings at Holy Ghost Parish’s annual Lenten fish fry. The varied menu offers: shrimp, baked or fried cod, macaroni and cheese, or a combo dinner. Each dinner comes with baked potato, salad, fruit bar, and a drink. Beer, margaritas, and “watermelons” (a mixed drink) are sold. While the line is long, the wait is neither the longest nor the most beer-soaked in town.

Expedited takeout service is available at the west end of the church. Fridays (4-8 p.m.), February 24 (pre-Lenten) to April 7 MARCH

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Happy Hour Daily: 4P-6P Late Night: TUES-THUR 9P-10P & FRI-SAT 10P-11P All Night Monday

402.884.8966 16920 Wright Plz. Omaha, NE louieswinedive.com 9443UBCB2BAd_fnl.pdf

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12/1/14

5:08 PM

WINE THERAPY THURSDAYS

$10 BOTTLES OF WINE ALL DAY LONG

SUNDAY BRUNCH 10AM-2PM

HAPPY HOURS

Omaha’s oldest Lenten fish fry event, the Holy Name “Fryday” is famous for its jam-packed line, fried Alaskan pollock, french fries, coleslaw, and Rotella's bread.

The BYOB line makes the event especially unique for the 21-and-over crowd.

Those arriving at 6 p.m. can expect to find a line stretching out the church, through the adjacent Holy Name Elementary School, and circling around the building. A wait time of three hours is not unusual. The initiated come prepared with coolers full of beer to sustain drinking through the long wait. Upon entering the main building, a free cup of beer is offered. Another free cup of beer is offered if there’s a line out the cafeteria. More beer is sold inside the cafeteria, and a storeroom accommodates winter coats and coolers. Nebraska politicians are known to make appearances at the event, which averages an attendance of 2,300 people per night. Fridays (5-8 p.m.), February 24 (pre-Lenten) to April 7

HAPPY HOURS

HOLY NAME CATHOLIC CHURCH (2017 Best of Omaha Winner) 2901 FONTENELLE BLVD., OMAHA, NE 68104 . 402.451.6622 . HOLYNAMEOMAHA.ORG

BLOODIES & BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS /beyondgolf for more information

402.916.4PAR (4727)

120th & Giles | beyondgolfomaha.com

Let the Madness Begin Walking Distance to CenturyLink Center & TD Ameritrade Park

402.346.9116 | 501 N. 13th Street | theMattOmaha.com /oldmattressfactory

@Matt_factory

OMAHA MAGAZINE

DINING // GUIDE

AMERICAN DJ’S DUGOUT - $

636 N. 114th St. (402-498-8855) 1003 Capitol Ave. (402-763-9974) 10308 S. 23rd St. (402-292-9096) 2102 S. 67th St. (402-933-3533) 180th & Q St. (402-292-9096) Hwy 75 & Oak Hill Rd. (402-298-4166) Catch all of the action at six Omaha-area locations. Featuring burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, appetizers, and an impressive drink menu along with HD TVs and projectors. Home to Blazin’ Pianos, Omaha’s only dueling piano concept. djsdugout.com

FLATIRON CAFE - $$

- Sponsored Content -

402-344-3040 1722 St. Mary's Ave. Our classics endure for a reason...The Flatiron Cafe staff has been serving well-prepared contemporary cuisine, in one of Omaha's most beautiful dining rooms, since 1995. We are committed to old-school hospitality, taking care to honor your most special or casual occasions, with all the attention and style that our talented staff can provide.

Robustly delicious food, in the historic Hotel Flatiron, close to our exceptional downtown theaters, hotels, and commerce. Tuesday through Saturday evenings from 5pm—reservations suggested at opentable. com or 402-344-3040. theflatironcafe.com.

JAMS- $$

7814 Dodge St.(402-399-8300) 1101 Harney St. in the Old Market (402-614-9333) Jams is an Omaha restaurant legacy. An American Grill that offers a melting pot of different styles and varieties of food dishes made with high-quality ingredients that pair well with award-winning wines or creative cocktails.

Get Get a Little Saucy.

LE PEEP - $

177th & Center St. (402-934-9914) 156th & W. Dodge Rd. (402-408-1728) 120th & Blondo St. (402-991-8222) Le Peep puts a wholesome perspective on your favorite neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot. Fresh. Simple. Elegant. Inviting. We put the emphasis on people, both patrons and staff. We focus on providing each of our guests the fresh food and friendly service that they have come to expect. Open daily 6:30am-2pm.

LOUIE’S WINE DIVE - $ MC, V

402-884-8966 16820 Wright Plz. Creative gourmet comfort food, and a funky, fun atmosphere. Great wines, many of which come from small vineyards, at a great value.

Gourmet comfort food is made fresh, using eco-friendly and local ingredients whenever possible. Mon. 4-10pm, Tue.-Thu. 11am-10pm, Fri./Sat. 11am-11pm, and 10am-8 pm.

SPEZIA SPEZIA SPECIALTIES SPECIALTIES FRESH • ANGUS ANGUS BEEF BEEF FRESH SEAFOOD SEAFOOD • INNOVATIVE • RISOTTO RISOTTO INNOVATIVE PASTA PASTA •

MILLARD ROADHOUSE - $ MC, V

402-891-9292 13325 Millard Ave. The all-American neighborhood grill Millard Roadhouse is perfect for the whole family, with huge portions, great service and even better food.

From roasted chicken to fried green tomatoes, there's something for every taste, and trust us, you're not going to leave hungry. Also serving Sunday brunch and the best happy hour in the area. Mon.-Wed. 11-9pm, Thu.-Sat. 11am-10pm, Sun. 10am-9pm.

GNOCCHI SALMON DAILY DAILY GNOCCHI • • FRESH FRESH SALMON

SATURDAY [11am–4pm] pm] SATURDAY [11am–4 OPEN 7LUNCH DAYS A WEEK

$10

COCKTAILHOUR HOUR COCKTAIL

COCKTAIL HOUR MONDAY MONDAY––SATURDAY SATURDAY

OFF ANY TICKET OVER OFF OVER $25 $25 NO CASH VALUE.EXPIRES EXPIRES04/30/2017 12/31/16 NO CASH VALUE. EXPIRES 12/31/2011 NO CASH EXPIRES 12/31/2011 NO CASH VALUE.

EVERY DAY FROM 4-6PM 44––66 PM PM ALL DRINKS ARE 1/2GL PRICE ALL ASS ALLCOCK COCKTAILS, TAILS, GL ASSWINE WINE AND BEERS ARE HALF PRICE AND BEERS ARE HALF PRICE SUNDAY BRUNCH DINING GUIDE LEGEND

CALL CALL FOR FOR RESERVATIONS RESERVATIONS••402-391-2950 402-391-2950 CENTRAL LOCATION LOCATION • STREET EXIT CENTRAL • 3125 3125 SOUTH SOUTH 72ND 72NDSTREET STREET •• EASY EASYACCESS ACCESSOFF OFFI-80 I-80• •72ND 72ND STREET EXIT

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 164 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$+$30+ MC=Master Card • V=Visa AE=American Express • DC=Discover Card

OMAHA MAGAZINE

DINING // GUIDE

OMAHA MAGAZINE

SECTION

The Art of Baking Since 1921

a! h a m O u o Thank Y

rotellasbakery.com

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 165 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

Located “just a wink from the link”,

we have everything you might desire for lunch & dinner, a night out or in planning your next event.

OMAHA MAGAZINE

DINING // GUIDE

LO-LO’S CHICKEN & WAFFLES - $

402-991-9400 7051 Ames Ave. What came first? The chicken or the waffle? Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles has the juiciest, most flavorful fried chicken and the fluffiest, melt-in- your-mouth waffles, which has created an underground soul food revolution–one that’s slowly spreading downright deliciousness across the country.

STELLA’S - $ MC, V, AE, DC

402-291-6088 106 S. Galvin Rd., Bellevue Since 1936, we’ve been making our Stella’s world-famous hamburgers the same way. The family secrets have been handed down to each owner to ensure that your burger is the same one you fell in love with the first time you ever tried Stella’s. And if it’s your first time, we know you’ll be back! Mon.–Sat. 11am–9pm., Sun. closed. stellasbarandgrill.com

UPSTREAM BREWING COMPANY - $$

514 S. 11th St. (402-344-0200) 17070 Wright Plz. (402-778-0100) Upstream features an extensive menu of new American pub fare including appetizers, thin-crust pizzas, superb steaks featuring Omaha Steaks, fresh fish, pasta, salads, sandwiches, and a great children’s menu. Fresh, handcrafted beer and root beer on tap. Extensive wine list. Call ahead for group reservations or to be placed on our waiting list. Visit our classic, upscale poolroom located on the second level.

501 N. 13th Street | 402.346.9116 theMattOmaha.com /the old mattress factory omaha

@Matt_factory

VARSITY SPORTS CAFE & ROMAN COIN PIZZA - $$

4900 Dodge St., Omaha, NE 68132 (402-934-9439) 9735 Q St., Omaha, NE 68127 (402-339-1944) 14529 F St., Omaha, NE 68137 (402-505-6660) 3504 Samson Way Bellevue, NE 68123 (402-932-1944) VSC & RCP has been in business for over 20 years with four metro locations—in your neighborhood. From our made-from-scratch dough and signature marinara sauce, to our quality toppings and real cheese, we have perfected the hand-tossed pizza! We have state-of-the-art satellite service so you can watch all the games on our HD televisions. Sun.Thu. 11am-1pm, Fri. & Sat. 11am-2am. varsityromancoinpizza.com.

ICE CREAM TED AND WALLY’S - $ MC, V

402-341-5827 1120 Jackson St. Come experience the true taste of homemade ice cream in the Old Market. Since 1986, we’ve created gourmet ice cream flavors in small batches using rock salt and ice. We offer your favorites plus unique flavors like margarita, green tea, Guinness, and French toast. Special orders available.

11th & Harney

ITALIAN

78th & Dodge

DON CARMELO'S PIZZERIA - $

402-933-3190 10821 Prairie Brook Rd. Omaha's first and finest New York-style pizza, stromboli, calzones, oven-toasted hoagies, Philly cheesesteaks, pasta, salads, beer, and wine. We also feature take-out and delivery and can cater your special event, large or small. Tue.-Thu., 11am-9pm Fri. & Sat., 11am-10pm, Sun., Noon-8pm.

LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$ MC, V

402-556-6464 45th & Leavenworth St. La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha its legendary Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta for 60 years now. We offer dine in, carry-out, party facilities, catering, and now pizza shipments to the 48 contiguous states. Open Tues.- Sat. at 11am and Sun. at 4:30pm. lacasapizzaria.net

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$+$30+ MC=Master Card • V=Visa AE=American Express • DC=Discover Card

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 166 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

OMAHA MAGAZINE

DINING // GUIDE

SECTION

Thank you Omaha for voting us Best Family Restaurant!

“Serving The Best Chicken in Town Since 1997”

13325 Millard Ave. • 402-891-9292 www.millardroadhouse.com Omaha’s Only

Authentic German Restaurant

Locally Owned Since 1976

THE ORIGINAL

Whiskey Steak

Thanks for Voting Us

#1 BREAKFAST 9 YEARS in a Row!

Specializing in wedding and graduation cakes.

German Strudel, Sauerkraut, and Schnitzel, and Beer.

Full bakery, fresh bread, donuts, and cakes!

10 min from downtown Omaha

5180 Leavenworth

402-553-6774

www.gerdasgermanrestaurant.com

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11am-2pm Cocktail Hour: 3pm-5pm Dinner nightly from 5pm Reservations Accepted Gift Cards Available

Thank you for your support for over 40 years!

2121 South 73rd Street.

402-391-7440 | DroverRestaurant.com MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 167 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

177th & Center • 934-9914 156th & Dodge • 408-1728 120th & Blondo • 991-8222 Drive-Thru Open (Center St. Only) Open Daily 6:30am-2:00pm Serving Breakfast & Lunch All Day!

OMAHA MAGAZINE

DINING // GUIDE

LO SOLE MIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO - $$

402-345-5656 3001 S. 32nd Ave. Located in the middle of a neighborhood, surrounded by charming homes. Everyone is greeted with homemade bread, a bowl of fresh tomatoes and basil, a bowl of oven-roasted garlic cloves, specialseasoned olive oil, and at night, a jug of Chianti! The menu includes a large variety of pasta, chicken, veal, seafood, and even a delicious New York steak. Traditional dishes such as lasagna, tortellini, and eggplant parmigiana are also available. Lunch also offers panini, salads, and one of the best pizzas in town. Patio seating, full bar, and a great wine list complete the atmosphere. No reservations, except for private rooms.

PASTA AMORE - $$ MC, V, AE

402-391-2585 11027 Prairie Brook Rd. Pastas are made fresh daily, including tortellini, fettuccine, and capellini. Daily specials and menu items include a variety of fresh seafood and regional Italian dishes, such as linguini amore and calamari steak, penne Florentine, gnocchi, spaghetti puttanesca, and ossobuco. Filet mignon is also offered for those who appreciate nationally renowned Nebraska beef. To complement your dining experience, the restaurant offers a full bar and extensive wine list. Be sure to leave room for homemade desserts, like the tiramisu and cannoli. Lunch: 11am-2pm Dinner: 4:30pm Reservations recommended.

PITCH - $$ MC, V, AE, DC

402- 590-2625 5021 Underwood Ave. OpenTable Diners' Choice 2014 HotSpot Restaurants in America.

Keeping up with the traditional way the first pizzas in Italy were made, our pizzas are cooked in a coal-fired oven. The menu also features seafood, hand-cut steak, housemade pastas, and a burger full of flavor! Our goal is to provide you with local, housemade, and imported ingredients. We offer a happy hour menu through the week.

And, our bar provides an array of in-house concoctions as well as your traditional libation. Our wine selection is well-thought and most impressive. You will enjoy Pitch! Mon. 3pm-10pm Tue.-Thu. 11am-10pm, Fri.-Sat. 11am-11pm, Sun. 3-10pm. pitchpizzeria.com.

SPEZIA - $$$ MC, V

402-391-2950 3125 S. 72nd St. Choose Spezia for lunch or dinner, where you'll find a casual elegance that's perfect for business guests, get-togethers, or any special occasion. Exceptional food, wine, and service, with a delectable menu: fresh seafood, Certified Angus steaks, innovative pasta, risotto, gnocchi, cioppino, lamb, entrée salads, Mediterranean chicken, flatbreads, and fresh salmon daily. Enjoy a full bar, Italian and California wines, Anniversary/Lovers' Booth (call to reserve), private dining rooms, and wood-fired grill. Open Mon.-Sun. Cocktail hour: 4-6pm, when all cocktails, glass wine, and beers are half price. Evening reservations recommended.

ZIO’S PIZZERIA - $$ MC, V

7834 Dodge St. (402-391-1881) 12997 W. Center Rd. (402-330-1444) 1109 Howard St. (402-344-2222) Delivery, dine in, and carry out. Serving New York style pizza by the slice or whole pies, calzones, hoagies, pastas, salads, and garlic breads. Our pies are hand-stretched and baked in old-world ovens. We offer 35 of the freshest toppings; taste the freshest pizza at Zio’s! Family dining, open seven days a week. Lunch specials and beer and wine available.

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$+$30+ MC=Master Card • V=Visa AE=American Express • DC=Discover Card

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 168 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

DINING // GUIDE

OMAHA MAGAZINE

SECTION

2014 TO 2017

FOUR YEARS RUNNING!

BEST HAPPY HOUR! EST. 1993

www.romeosOMAHA.com

6 OMAHA METRO AREA LOCATIONS DOWNTOWN 10th & Capitol | 402-763-9974

MILLARD 180th & Q | 402-933-8844

AKSARBEN VILLAGE 67th & Center | 402-933-3533

BELLEVUE 23rd & Cornhusker | 402-292-9096

MIRACLE HILLS 114th & Dodge | 402-498-8855

PLATTSMOUTH Hwy 75 & Oak Hill | 402-298-4166

DJSDUGOUT.COM 11578_DJ'sBestOf_HalfSpringV2.indd 1

PASTA AMORE An Omaha Original with World Class Taste

1/24/17 12:15 PM

lunch Mon-Fri: 11AM-2PM Dinner Mon-Sat: 4:30PM-Close Thank You Omaha for 30 Years of Patronage!

• Locally owned • Reservation accepted • Private Parties

Rockbrook Village (108th & Center)

402.391.2585

www.pastaamore.com Like Us on Facebook

11732 W Dodge Rd, Omaha, NE 68154 402· 496·0222 | jericosomaha.com MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 169 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

THANK YOU OMAHA FOR VOTING US BEST PIZZA 25 STRAIGHT YEARS!

DINING // GUIDE

MEXICAN

Hand-stretched New York style pizza

FERNANDO’S - $ MC, V, AE

7555 Pacific St. (402-339-8006) 380 N. 114th St. (402-330-5707) Featuring Sonoran-style cooking made fresh daily. Catering and party rooms also available. Mon.-Thu., 11am-10pm; Fri.-Sat., 11am-11pm; Sun., 4-9pm.

LA MESA - $$ MC, V

391-1881 7834 Dodge St.

CALZONES · PASTA · SALADS LUNCH SPECIALS · APPETIZERS

330-1444

BEER · WINE · MARGARITAS

344-2222

12997 W. Center Rd. 1109 Howard St. (Old Market)

HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY FROM 4PM-6PM

ZIOSPIZZERIA.COM

158th & W. Maple Rd. 156th & Q Sts.(402-763-2555) 110th St. & W. Maple Rd.(402-496-1101) Ft. Crook Rd. & Hwy 370 in Bellevue (402-733-8754) 84th St. & Tara Plaza in Papillion (402-593-0983) Lake Manawa Exit in Council Bluffs (712-256-2762) Enjoy awesome enchiladas, fabulous fajitas, seafood specialties, mouth-watering margaritas, and more at La Mesa! Come see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s #1 Mexican restaurant 13 years in a row!

Sun.-Thu. 11am-10pm, Fri. & Sat. 11am-10:30pm. lamesaomaha.com

MARGARITA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT - $

2505 S. 132nd St. (402-991-3555) 4915 S. 72nd St. (402-393-7515) Margarita's is a business with more than seven years in the food world.

We offer authentic food at two nice locations in Omaha where you can enjoy a nice moment with your family.

SEAFOOD CHARLIE’S ON THE LAKE - $$

402-894-9411 4150 S. 144th St. Charlie’s is the only fresh-fish-daily seafood restaurant in Omaha.

Features a relaxed yet contemporary atmosphere that is fun for all ages. Besides fresh seafood, Charlie’s is the home of the James Bond-style martini (shaken, not stirred) in over 20 varieties in addition to over 60 wines. Mon.-Thu., 11am-10pm; Fri. 11am-11pm Sat., 4:30pm-11pm.

SPECIAL DINING

Offering an Thank You

For Voting Us

#1

GYROS

ENOURMOUS selection of Scotch and Beer

3 Omaha locations 1 Lincoln location kingkongfastfood.com NEW HOURS MON-THUR 11AM-10PM FRI-SAT 11AM-11:30PM HAPPY HOUR DAILY 3:30PM-6:30PM REVERSE HAPPY HOUR FRI & SAT 9:30PM-11:00PM CLOSED SUNDAY

CRESCENT MOON ALE HOUSE - $

402-345-1708 3578 Farnam St. Founded in 1996, we’ve grown into Beer Corner USA with the additions of The Huber Haus German Beer Hall, Max and Joe’s Belgian Beer Tavern, and Beertopia, Omaha’s Ultimate Beer Store. With more than 60 beers on tap and Omaha’s best reuben sandwich, we are a midtown beer lover’s destination. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11am-2am. Kitchen hours: Mon.-Wed., 11am-1pm; Thu.-Sat. 11am-midnight. Closed Sun. beercornerusa.com.

FETA'S GYRO & CATERING - $$

743 N. 114th St. (402-504-4976) 119 S. 40th St. (402 558 5623) Fast casual restaurant serving Greek and American foods. Featuring homemade baklava! The 119 S. 40th location has a drive-thru for your convenience.

GERDA’S GERMAN RESTAURANT & BAKERY - $

Stop in for a pint at

402-553-6774 5180 Leavenworth St. Omaha’s only authentic German restaurant, a little piece of Germany in Omaha. Gerda herself makes homemade spaetzle, schnitzels, and rouladen. Fresh-made soups, red cabbage, sauerkraut, and dumplings are a few other treats. Stay for a dessert of Black Forest cake or grab fresh bakery for breakfast on your way out. Check hours at gerdasgermanrestaurant.com.

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

MODERN AMERICAN WITH A MEDITERRANEAN TWIST

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$+$30+

3623 N. 129 ST. OMAHA, NE 68164

MC=Master Card • V=Visa AE=American Express • DC=Discover Card

402.991.9088 | SALT88.COM

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 170 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

OMAHA MAGAZINE SECTION OMAHA’S ORIGINAL

OMAHA’S ORIGINAL STEAKHOUSE

DINING // GUIDE

• Proudly serving visitor & locals for 90 years.

• Featured on CNN.com Best Meat Cities in America • Serving hand cut steaks, aged on premise and slow roasted prime rib with pride.

O’Connor’s Irish Pub 1217 Howard St. • Omaha, NE 68102 402-934-9790 • oconnorsomaha.com Family Owned & Operated Authentic Italian Cuisine Party Rooms Available Carry Out Available

Serving Lunch & Dinner

Mon-Sat

3001 S. 32nd Ave • Omaha, NE 402-345-5656

402-731-4774 www.johnnyscafe.com 27th & ‘L’ St., Kennedy Frwy, ‘L’ St. Exit 8 Minutes from Downtown Omaha.

Best Of Omaha 11 Years Running

WHERE WHERE GOOD GOOD FOOD FOOD AND AND GOOD GOOD SERVICE SERVICE NEVER NEVER GO GO OUT OUT OF OF STYLE. STYLE.

Thanks to our customers for voting us the “Best Burger in Omaha”

UBC-omahamag-third square_fnl.pdf 12/2/16 9:26 AM Monday-Saturday, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm Stella’s Bar 9748-2016 and Grill “Serving World Famous Hamburgers since 1936” 106 Galvin Rd •1Bellevue, NE • 402-291-6088 • Open

Best Greek

Family Owned Since 1983

Catering ~ Party Room Available Homemade, Fresh Food ~ Always 3821 Center St. 402/346-1528

GreekIslandsOmaha.com

Mandarin • Hunan Szechuan • Cantonese Shanghai 4040 N 132nd St (132 & Maple) 402.493.277 | GoldenPalaceNE.com MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 171 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

DINING // GUIDE

GREEK ISLANDS - $

402-346-1528 3821 Center St. Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. Well known for our gyro sandwiches and salads. We cater and can accommodate a party for 65 guests. Carryout and delivery available. Mon.-Thu., 11am-9pm; Fri.-Sat., 11am-10pm; Sun., 11am-8pm.

HORSEMEN’S PARK- $

Old Market

Benson

1120 Jackson Street • 402.341.5827 6023 Maple Street • 402.551.4420 tedandwallys.com

10 Years In A Row

402-731-2900 6303 Q St. One-dollar pints, $1.75 domestic bottles, and $2 well drinks for our happy hour Mon.-Wed., 5pm-8pm. Tuesdays are 25-cent wings from 3-8pm, Wednesdays are Steak Night after 5pm, Thursdays are 75-cent tacos and $1.75 margaritas after 5pm, and Fridays are Prime Rib Dinner after 5pm. Daily specials seven days a week. Open at 10am. horsemenspark.com

JAIPUR INDIAN RESTAURANT AND BREWERY - $$$

402-392-7331 10922 Elm St. A casual restaurant in a relaxed atmosphere. Dinner entrees include fresh vegetables, grilled Colorado lamb sirloin, sushi-grade ahi, tandoori marinated grilled salmon, and tandoori grilled beef tenderloin to name a few. A wide selection of wines and liquor, as well as on-site brewed beer. Lunch: Thu. and Fri., 11am-2pm Dinner: Sun.-Thu., 5pm-9:30pm; Fri and Sat., 5pm-10:30pm.

Fernando’s Cafe and Cantina

Bringing Italy to Omaha Since 1919

Sonoran Style Cooking Made Fresh Daily.

Catering and Party Rooms Also Available.

380 N. 114th St. Omaha, NE 68154 402.330.5707

7555 Pacific St. 1600 Washington St. Omaha, NE 68114 Blair, NE 68008 402.339.8006 402.533.4450

fernandosomaha.com

J.COCO - $$$

402-884-2626 5203 Leavenworth St. The building that once housed a beloved neighborhood grocery has a new future. Built as a grocery back in 1925, it is now home to J. Coco. Our seasonal menus, rooted in tradition, showcase our natural ingredients. Local, organic, and sustainable when available. We feature craft bar tending, housemade desserts and pastas. We celebrate traditional… with a modern twist. Lunch (Mon.-Fri. 11am-2pm).

Dinner (Mon.-Sat. 5pm-close) jcocoomaha.com

MARRAKECH GOURMET - $$

Take a Taste of Italy Home Today!

Tues-Thurs: 8:30am-8pm Friday: 8:30am-8:30pm Saturday: 7:30am-8pm Sunday: 7:30am-6pm

402.345.3438 621 Pacific St, Omaha NE orsibakery.com

Try Omaha’s Favorite Reuben!

402-502-0739 504 N. 33rd St Sit back and prepare for an authentic Moroccan dining experience.

Choose from a savory array of traditional entrees such as chicken, lamb, and vegetarian dishes, influenced by a variety of Mediterranean flavors. We invite you to relax and enjoy an evening of fine food and extraordinary hospitality. Visit today! Sun.-Sat. 11am-10pm. marrakechgourmetomaha.com

NOSH RESTAURANT AND WINE LOUNGE - $$

Omaha’s largest selection of craft beers.

3578 Farnam St • 402-345-1708 www.beercornerusa.com

402-614-2121 1006 Dodge St. Located in downtown Omaha blocks away from the CenturyLink Center Omaha, Holland Performing Arts, and the Old Market—Nosh is the perfect place to gather and celebrate good times. Guests are sure to enjoy our comfortable relaxing atmosphere, diverse wine list, impressive cocktails, and food that will please any palate. noshwine.com

O’CONNOR’S IRISH PUB - $

402-934-9790 1217 Howard St. Comfortable, relaxing atmosphere. Great before and after games. We offer pub style food—burgers, reubens, daily specials, and homemade soups—as well as all the traditional Irish favorite libations: Guinness, Harp, and Irish whiskey. Grill hours: Mon.-Thu., 11am-10pm; Fri.-Sat., 11am-10pm.

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$+$30+ MC=Master Card • V=Visa AE=American Express • DC=Discover Card

MARCH // APRIL • 2017 / 172 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE

DINING // GUIDE

SALT 88 - $$

402-991-9088 3623 N. 129th St. Brought to you by the owners of Hiro 88, Salt is a New American adventure in cuisine. It's a restaurant supported by a friendly staff, savory appetizers, and, most importantly, free cotton candy at the end of your meal. Guests are sure to notice that not only is the food unique, but its ambiance feels modern and inviting, making your meal not just delicious, but memorable. salt88.com.

STEAKS • CHOPS • SEAFOOD ITALIAN SPECIALTIES 7 private party rooms Seating up to 400 Lots of parking

TRAVEL DESIGN LOUNGE - $$

402-548-3280 16950 Wright Plaza Suite 151 Travel Design Lounge is a full service travel agency combined with a full bar and coffee shop. Come in anytime to enjoy drinks with friends over happy hour or let us guide you in planning the vacation of a lifetime.

“Get Tripsy” and be inspired to travel!

1620 S. 10th Street

402-345-8313

www.casciossteakhouse.com

STEAKHOUSES 801 CHOPHOUSE - $$$$

402-341-1222 1403 Farnam St. Designed with a 1920s-era New York chophouse in mind, 801 is the epitome of elegance. You will not forget the crisp white tablecloth, fine-dining experience. From our USDA prime-grade beef and jet-fresh seafood from all over the world, we are truly the best Omaha has to offer. Open seven nights a week.

BROTHER SEBASTIAN'S - $$$

402-330-0300 1350 S. 119th St Relax in the cozy Old World comfort of an early California monastery with friendly “monks” that pamper you in subdued, romantic surroundings, and savor the fresh, full flavors of USDA Choice Nebraska Angus Beef seared over an open flame. Brother Sebastian’s Steak House and Winery is locally owned and has been recognized as one of Omaha’s best restaurants for a delicious, romantic dining experience. Join us with your party of two or 50 and we’ll help make your special occasion enjoyable and memorable. Reservations accepted. Lunch: Mon.-Fri. 11am-2pm. Dinner: Mon-Thu. 5-9pm, Fri.-Sat. 5-10pm, Sun. 4-9pm.

5203 Leavenworth st.

Omaha, NE 68106

Lunch Mon-Fri 11-2 Dinner Mon-Sat 5-10

www.jcocoomaha.com

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

CASCIO'S - $$

402-345-8313 1620 S. 10th St. Cascio's is Omaha's No. 1 steakhouse. We have been serving Omaha for 69 years. We feature steaks, chops, seafood, and Italian specialties. We have seven private party rooms, seating for up to 400 people and plenty of parking.

THE DROVER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$

402-391-7440 2121 S. 73rd St. Famous for the original Whiskey Steak. Truly a one-of-a-kind Midwestern experience. Excellent food, wine, service, and value. Rare...and very well done. Lunch: Mon.–Fri. 11am– 2pm Cocktail Hour: 3-6pm. Dinner: nightly at 5pm. Reservations accepted.

JOHNNY'S CAFÉ - $$$ MC, V, AE

402-731-4774 4702 S. 27th St. Years of quality dining and hospitality make Johnny's Café a restaurant to remember. We serve only the finest beef the Midwest has to offer. Aged steaks and prime rib are the specialties, with homemade bread and pies to complete a meal. An excellent wine list adds to the enjoyment at one of Omaha's original restaurants. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11am-2pm and 5pm-9:30pm.

FOOD&DRINK

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SARPY COUNTY BELLEVUE | GRETNA | LA VISTA | PAPILLION | SPRINGFIELD | OFFUTT AFB

plore, Come ex discover & unwind.

Located just a few minutes south of Omaha, Sarpy County awaits with a wonderful mix of fun things to see and do. Tour a museum or gallery. Dine in an elegant restaurant. Spend a day at a family fun center. From great hotels, brewpubs and wineries to malls, specialty shops, and theatres, Sarpy County is the perfect destination for your next getaway!

402-332-5771 â&#x20AC;¢ GOSARPY.COM

STATE OF NEBRASKA RODEO GRAND ISLAND.

March 2-4. Heartland Events Center, Fonner Park, Grand Island. This Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association event features mutton-busting, wild cow milking, ranch broncriding (Thursday), Wrangler Champion’s Challenge (televised on CBS Sports, Friday at 7:30 p.m.), and Xtreme Bulls Tour (Saturday). 308-382-4515 -heartlandeventscenter.com

MARVELOUS MAPLES. Saturdays

through March 11. Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure, Nebraska City. Taste the sap used in maple syrup taken directly from the trees and learn more about maple trees. Take in the view of the farm from a 50-foot tall treehouse. Advanced registration required. 1-2:30 p.m. or 3-4:30 p.m. 402-873-8717 -arbordayfarm.org

AUDUBON’S NEBRASKA CRANE FESTIVAL. March 16-19. Multiple locations, Kearney. Join the festivities as thousands of Sandhill cranes migrate through Nebraska. Actress and author Jane Alexander is the guest speaker for the Saturday banquet. 308-468-5282 -ne.audubon.org

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION. March

15-18. Downtown, O’Neill. Celebrate 50 years of “The World's Largest Shamrock” with 7,000 friends in O’Neill. Festivities begin Mar. Wednesday with the Irish Walk of Fame and the painting of the town's beloved shamrock. Other activities include “Getting the Horse Green,” music in pubs, Irish dancers, and a Saturday parade. 402-336-2355 -oneillchamber.com

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TRINITY IRISH DANCE COMPANY. March 17.

Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln. The world-renowned Irish dance group is considered to be “the birthplace of progressive Irish dance.” 402-472-4747 -liedcenter.org

MAMMA MIA! MARCH 3-5. Lied

Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln. The acclaimed musical is dancing back. See the Broadway show full of popular ABBA songs such as “Dancing Queen” and “Take a Chance on Me.” 402-472-4747 -liedcenter.org

MISS SCARLETT WITH the wrench

or Col. Mustard with the candlestick?

Bellevue Little Theater will be answering the who and with what questions March 24-April 9 with Clue The Musical.

This clever tribute to the popular board game will feature audience participation and lots of fun and laughs. End the winter blues with a trip to the theater.

For tickets call 402-291-1554.

THE PHOTO ARK. March 3-July 9. Museum of

Nebraska Art, Kearney. National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore has visited more than 40 countries in the last 20 years to compile an archive of amazing images of animals in their natural environments. His first museum exhibition in the Midwest will focus on North American and prairie animals. Hours vary. 308-865-8559 -mona.unk.edu

Event times and details may change

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE

EXPLORE

COLLECTIBLE TOY SHOW. March 19. Platt

Duetsche Club, Grand Island. Featuring a variety of antique toys (Hot Wheels, Star Wars, and more), the event takes place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Food vendors available from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 402-463-1669 -pdclubgi.com

RIDERS IN THE SKY. March 24. Lied Center

for Performing Arts, Lincoln. The Grammywinning music and comedy group will delight cowboys and cowgirls of all ages. Riders in the Sky had music featured in Toy Story 2 and Monsters, Inc. 402-472-4747 Mar. -liedcenter.org

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BILLY JOEL. March 24. Pinnacle Bank Arena,

Lincoln. The legendary artist is in his fourth decade entertaining the masses. The sixth-best-selling recording artist of all time will keep the crowd on its feet as he plays from his well-known arsenal of songs. 402-904-4444 -pinnaclebankarena.com

JULIAN GARGIULO. March 26. Kearney Con-

cert Association, Kearney. Recently named a Steinway Artist, pianist Julian Gargiulo has played in venues across the globe, including Carnegie Hall, Moscow Conservatory Hall, and the Seymour Theatre Centre in Australia. 308-627-2717 -kearneyconcerts.org

EASTER WEEKEND. March 26-27. Arbor Day

Farm, Nebraska City. Arbor Day Farm offers an Easter getaway that is sure to become a tradition for many families. The Easter Family Fun Package includes lodging at the new Lied Lodge, a trip up the 50-foottall treehouse, and an Easter egg hunt. 402-873-8717 -arbordayfarm.org

JEFF FOXWORTHY AND LARRY THE CABLE GUY. March 31. Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lin-

coln. Laugh until it hurts at this all-ages show.

Jeff Foxworthy and Nebraska native Dan Whitney (better known as Larry the Cable Guy) return on their “We’ve Been Thinking Tour” presented by RFD-TV. Each comedian will take the stage solo before coming together for an encore. 402-904-4444 -pinnaclebankarena.com

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THE MIDTOWN MEN.

2017 PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. March 8-11. Sprint

April 7. Lied Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln. Four stars from the original cast of Broadway’s Jersey Boys have reunited. The group will perform music from their album Sixties Hits. 402-472-4747 -liedcenter.org

Center, Kansas City. Kansas City is hosting the Big 12 Championship for the 16th time in the past two decades. Last year, the University of Kansas Jayhawks won the conference title. 816-949-7100 -sprintcenter.com

GUTS & GLORY: A PARASITE STORY. Opens

April 22. University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln. The temporary science exhibit explores the planet’s “most common mode of life,” i.e., parasitism.

-museum.unl.edu

2017 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP MIDWEST REGIONAL. March

23, 25. Sprint Center, Kansas City. March Madness descends on Kansas City with the Elite Eight. Fill your brackets then fill the seats. Cheer as dreams (and brackets) are made or broken in the lead up to the Final Four. 816-949-7100 -sprintcenter.com

SPRINGFEST.

April 23. Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning, Hastings. Celebrate agriculture during Earth Day weekend. Music will greet visitors as they partake in wagon rides, visit with farm animals, see antique and modern farm equipment, and shop among the many vendors. Free admission. 1-6 p.m. 402-463-0565 -prairieloft.org

IOWA RAIN—A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES. March

16. Orpheum Theatre, Sioux City. Considered the longest-running Beatles tribute band (formed in 1975), Rain celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band with a live performance of the album. 712-244-5000 -orpheumlive.com

THE FLAMING LIPS. April 22. Hoyt Sherman

Place, Des Moines. Known for psychedelic alternative rock, The Flaming Lips’ concerts feature stunning visuals (costumes, balloons, puppets, and video projections) along with the band’s iconic sound. 515-244-0507 -hoytsherman.org

KANSAS CITY POMPEII: THE EXHIBITION. Through April

16. Union Station, Kansas City. Travel back to 79 A.D. in the one-of-a-kind exhibition that has more than 200 preserved artifacts from the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius. The exhibit includes a simulated eruption that allows visitors to experience the blast that destroyed the Roman city of Pompeii. 816 -460-2020 -unionstation.org

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. March

17-April 9.

Des Moines Community Playhouse, Des Moines. This hit musical is based on the popular movie by Mel Brooks and the late Gene Wilder. Performances run Wednesday through Sunday. 515-277-6261 -dmplayhouse.com

FESTIVAL OF CHEESE. April 1. Living History

Farms, Urbandale. A celebration of all things cheesy— grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese fondues, cheesecake, cheese curds, etc. Advance ticket purchase suggested.

-lhf.org

HEARTLAND SWING FESTIVAL.

April 6-9. Multiple venues, Des Moines. The festival features jazz music, swing dancing, classes, and contests (including the Collegiate Jitterbug Championships). 515-490-1549 -heartlandswingfestival.com

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LIONEL RICHIE AND MARIAH CAREY. April

16. Sprint Center, Kansas City. Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey combine to form a powerhouse of lyrics and vocals on their “All the Hits” tour. 816-949-7100 -sprintcenter.com

LY RIC OPER A OF K ANSAS CITY PRESENTS: THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE. April

Feb.

15

22, 26, 28, 29, 30.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City. Set sail on the high seas for the highly acclaimed operetta.The all-ages show will be performed in English and features fast-paced songs, lavish costumes, and imaginative sets. 816-471-7344 -kcopera.org

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OMAHA MAGAZINE

FEATURE

BY CHARLIE LITTON // ILLUSTRATION BY DEREK JOY // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

For Elite Equines, World Cup Travel Not a Problem WHEN THE WORLD’S elite horses (and riders) arrive in Omaha, an entourage of police and first responders—including mounted patrol—will escort them to the location of the Longines FEI World Cup. The international championship for show jumping and dressage begins March 29 and continues through April 2 at the CenturyLink Center.

European competitors depart from Amsterdam, Netherlands, aboard a chartered Boeing 777 cargo plane that takes more than nine hours to reach Omaha.

The flight requires horses to be loaded into specialized containers called “jet stalls,” which resemble an enclosed stable stall. Jet stalls can hold up to three horses. The charter flight includes a “pro groom,” nine shipper grooms, and a veterinarian—all provided by the company overseeing the transportation, the Dutta Corporation.

Horses at this elite level are well-seasoned air travelers, making the journey seem almost routine, says J. Tim Dutta, the founder and owner of the international horse logistics company.

"Horses are just like human beings," Dutta says. "Some get jittery, some read the rosary, some like some gin and tonic, some go to sleep before the plane leaves the gate, and the rest are worried about life two days afterward.

Everybody's an individual, and we are ready for each and every situation."

Any concerns or worries, he says, are the things that can't be entirely controlled or predicted—such as poor weather conditions or a horse getting sick during transportation.

"You've got a couple hundred million dollars worth of horses on the plane, so that's serious business," he says. "You want everything to go smooth, and there's always challenges.

But for a guy like me who's been at it for 28 years, and has done quite a few of them, it's just another day at the office."

Once the horses arrive in Omaha, they will be quarantined at the CenturyLink Center for up to three days while the USDA checks for diseases and other potential health concerns.

Veterinarian Mike Black—based out of his Nebraska Equine Veterinary Clinic just outside of Blair—says any adverse effects of a long journey would be the same for horses whether they traveled by trailer or airplane. It's not unusual for humans and animals to struggle through temporarily weakened immune systems due to stress and long periods of confinement with other travelers.

"Whenever the animal is put under stress, it will compromise some of their ability to respond to infections," Black says. "And a lot of horses are carriers of viruses and things. So, as they're around other horses that they're not normally around, then things can be spread."

When the competition opens March 29, folks without a ticket will have an opportunity to get a closer look at all the horse-and-rider teams. The practice area will be free and open to all.

Mike West, CEO of Omaha Equestrian Foundation, hopes to create a fan-friendly and carnival-like atmosphere.

The World Cup is the first international championship of its kind to be hosted in Omaha, he says. Sure, there have been championship boxing bouts in the city. And the NCAA crowns the champions of college baseball in Omaha. But never before will so many world champions prove themselves on local grounds.

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Back in 1950, when the College World Series first came to Omaha, nobody could have expected how the “Gateway to the West” would become a Midwestern sports mecca.

“They didn't know about swim trials; they didn’t know about NCAA basketball or wrestling or volleyball and all the great events that we have now," says West, a veteran Omaha sports-marketing professional. He previously held management positions with the Lancers, Cox Classic Golf Tournament, and Creighton’s athletics department.

The Omaha Equestrian Foundation is not only dedicated to putting on a good show.

West and his colleagues are committed to continuing the city’s relationship with the FEI, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (aka, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports), the governing body for the sports of show jumping and dressage.

"We have an opportunity, but we also have an obligation as an organizer to do a good job.

Because if we do a good job, we don't know what it will lead to, but we know it will lead to something [positive],” he says.

A successful 2017 World Cup in Omaha could improve chances of the World Cup returning, along with its estimated economic impact of $50 million.

"We have to be better than anybody—by far—at listening and delivering on our promise to the fans of this sport," West says. "And if we do, I think we'll develop a reputation that if you want to be treated like a fan [of sports], go to Omaha, Nebraska."

Visit omahaworldcup2017.com for more information.

EUROPEAN COMPETITORS DEPART FROM AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, ABOARD A CHARTERED BOEING 777 CARGO PLANE THAT TAKES MORE THAN NINE HOURS TO REACH OMAHA.

OMAHA MAGAZINE

NOT FUNNY

DRUNK ON A TRUTH BINGE

A Stab in the Back, Clowns, and Your Big Screen TV

BY OTIS TWELVE PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

W

HAT DOES A medieval murder

have to do with your television viewing habits?

How could a bit of historical treachery lead to a description of your propensity for watching endless hours of Netflix, abandoning family and friends for 28 consecutive episodes featuring a British actor playing an epically depressed Swedish detective, or your continued, addictive retreat into the vast canon of Sex in the City?

Indeed, the old saw is all too true: “Those who do not know history are doomed to re-watch it.”

There’s a Shakespeare quote from Henry VI, Part I that offers our first clue. “A base Walloon, to win the Dauphin’s grace/Thrust Talbot with a spear in the back.”

“Who the heck was Talbot?” you wonder as you search for your Amazon Fire remote. “Glad you asked,” I reply. Sir John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, was an English commander during the Hundred Years War. (Yes, back in the 15th century warfare was a more leisurely pursuit.) He was defeated by Joan of Arc at the Siege of Orleans, and eventually killed by the aforementioned “base Walloon” at the Battle of Castillon in 1453.

“What the heck is a Walloon,” you inquire halfheartedly, as you browse the menu looking for that eight-episode series starring the onetime “King of the North,” post-Red Wedding, Medici: Masters of Florence. “Once again, glad you asked,” I answer. The Walloons are an ethnic group, who populate a region in Belgium centered on the Sambre and the Muese rivers. Descendants of Roman soldiers and Gaulish collaborators who stood on the lower Rhine against the Germanic barbarians back in the day.

“And I should care about them, because?” you interject as you give the Turkish miniseries about Suleyman the Magnificent, Muhtesem Yuzyil, a single star review because you didn’t like the music. “Well, because they have a Carnival,” I explain.

You see, at this Walloonish carnival that precedes Lent just like Mardi Gras, the citizens of one old walled town parade around wearing scary wax clown masks and ostrich feathers, throwing oranges at people.

Everyone gets wild and does crazy things they couldn’t do any other time of year. They go wild. Excess is the rule of the celebration. If you can avoid being struck by too many oranges, or being traumatized by a feathered waxy clown, you can indulge yourself without pause.

“Indulge myself without pause?” Now I’ve got your interest. “And the name of this town?”

I thought you’d never ask. The tiny walled city is called Binche.

“Binche?”

Yeah, Binche. Say it out loud. Repeat. Binche. It’s the origin of our new favorite word.

“Oh! I get it! Binge!” Your face lights up. Not from any sudden understanding, but from the glow of your 77-inch black matrix LED big screen as episode one of Breaking Bad starts. You’ve got a long weekend ahead. You’re starting your latest binge.

So, Shakespeare mentions a murder, which brings attention to an obscure ethnic group who have a yearly party in a walled town full of fruit-tossing creepy clowns, and that gets us a word that describes us stuck on our TV room sectionals.

Stop, I confess! I made it all up. Well, everything about Henry VI, the dead Talbot, Walloonish clowns, and the walled town of Binche was true. Unfortunately, none of it applies to the origin of the word in question.

It’s another case of fake lexicography. In reality the word “binge” comes from the Northampton, England, dialect, “To binge,” meaning to soak. Yes, even the truth can be wrong.

Ain’t that the way it goes these days?

Otis XII hosts the radio program, Early Morning Classics with Otis XII, on 90.7 KVNO, weekday mornings from 5 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. Visit kvno.org for more information.

“Get on with it,” you’re getting a little exasperated now. “Where is this going?”

Scan this page with the LayAR app to hear Otis XII read.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE

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