September/October Omaha Magazine

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

•

2014

™

Pow-Wow vibrant, sacred, increasingly big money.

Ryan Roberts Comeback Kid Cricket A League of Their Own Omaha’s Best Doctors®

9770 Westchester Dr, Omaha

$725,000

Stunning 1.5 story home nestled in the heart of Regency. Over 7600 finished sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, and beautiful hardwood floors. Updates galore! Also an addition with private entrance, loft, pool and a nicely shaded front patio.

Jo Flairty • 402.290.9505

23614 Laci St, Omaha

$699,900

Live in the lap of luxury! MK Builders, Inc Custom Homes welcomes you with a soaring foyer leading to sophisticated living areas. Features include a eurostyle kitchen suite, ceiling beams throughout, amazing cabinetry, and an elegant master suite on main floor! Private, treed backyard views from all 3 levels.

Jenn Haeg • 402.885.3145

23632 Laci Street, Omaha

$659,000

Street of Dreams 2014 home! This stunning G. Lee custom home features an open floor plan, gourmet kitchen with top of the line appliances and upgrades galore. The walkout basement features a rec room, theater room and wet bar. Don’t miss the garden locker where you can store all your outdoor toys.

Katie Mack • 402.953.6293

8979 Raven Drive, Louisville

$550,000

Framed by the forest! Custom 3 bedroom, 4 bath walk-out ranch on 8.48 acres. Stone, brick, cedar and hardy plank.

45 yr. Heritage roof. Large eat-in kitchen with “Venetian Gold” granite. Two fireplaces. 5 car garage, 4 season porch, wine cellar. Large deck w/retract awning.

The Hayton/Lytle Team • 402.639.6363

19921 Logan Circle, Omaha

$535,000

Model home now for sale. Tru-Vision’s craftsman inspired design brings tradition and modern together. A unique 2nd floor overlook has views to home’s private courtyard.

Open kitchen and family room look onto covered patio.

Main floor includes den that opens to courtyard patio.

John Kraemer • 402.689.2233

1409 N 190 Street, Omaha

$650,000

Stunning modern west facing walk-out ranch, featuring 4500 sq. ft. with large wooded lot, located in Silverleaf Estates. This home, built in 2007, is open and spacious with a versatile floor plan. Located close to Dodge Expressway, shopping, and hospital. Pre-Inspected by AmeriSpec.

Jayne Smith • 402.203.5847

13175 S 223 Street, Gretna

$559,900

Awesome acreage! West facing 2 story sits on 3 acres with an in ground pool & out building. Relax in the master suite w/sitting area and newly remodeled bath.

Updates galore-new carpet, hardwood floors, solid core doors and more. Gorgeous finished LL w/wet bar that walks out to L-shaped in ground pool & patio.

The Dooley Group • 402.319.9678

17737 Harney Street, Omaha

810 Ridgewood Ave, Omaha

$690,000

Gorgeous brick home on .60 acres in Dist 66. Features 5 bedrooms, 4 bath, pristine wood floors, and updated kitchen.

Soaring ceilings and incredible windows, inviting porches, huge balcony off MB plus a 487 sq. ft. coach house. Large finished basement w/bookshelves galore, gym and bath.

Didi Pache • 402.214.3434

1510 N 189 Street, Omaha

$645,000

This fabulous “Street of Dreams 2009” home in Silverleaf Estates sits on a gorgeous private lot that backs to trees and features a top-of-the-line gourmet kitchen. Fantastic master suite, finished lower level with open family area, wet bar, hobby room and 2 additional bedrooms and baths.

Justin Pogge • 402.639.5473

14906 Hanover Street, Omaha

$540,000

Custom walkout ranch with 4 bedrooms, 4 baths and 3 car garage in popular Waterford subdivision. Almost 3800 finished sq. ft. of living space with home theater and in-ground pool. Upgrades throughout! Basement finished with large family room, wet bar, 2 bedrooms, office, and bath. Also a covered deck and patio.

Mike Horacek • 402.305.3610

$525,000

Stunning home located behind the 16th tee box of Pacific Springs Golf Course with panoramic views! 5375 finished sq. ft.! Amazing kitchen, 3 season porch offers views of golf course and in-ground pool with wrought iron fenced yard. Updates galore!

Hopkins Home Team • 402.659.7200

150 Marina Ct, Carter Lake, IA

$525,000

One owner custom built home—2700+ sq. ft. on main level.

Lots of upgrades; 4 bedroom ranch with open plan; granite, beautiful tile; fireplace in LR and fire tub in kitchen, 8 car garage with a circular driveway. walkout basement, home wired for sound, security system, and cameras.

Jerre Hunter • 402.981.1342

V I R T U A L TO U R S A N D M O R E AT NPDODGE.COM

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Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem?

Call 1-800-BETS-OFF (In Iowa) or 1-800-522-4700 (National). ©2014, Caesars License Company, LLC.

CONTENTS

table of features

contents

Saving the Sacred

features volume 31 • issue 4

Tradition battles commercialism as Pow-Wows become big business. Page 66

Cricket A League of Their Own Page 60 Rediscovering the Platte Canoeing 300 years of Local History Page 62 Comeback Kid How MMA Fighter Ryan Roberts Tapped Out His Alcoholism Page 70 4

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

PAT BENATAR AND NEIL GIRALDO

PRINCE ROYCE AUGUST 20

WITH SPECIAL GUEST LITA FORD AUGUST 15

SOLD OUT!

GROUPLOVE AND PORTUGAL. THE MAN AUGUST 22

THE OFFSPRING AND BAD RELIGION STIFF LITTLE FINGERS AND NAKED RAYGUN

LORDE

SEPTEMBER 27

SEP T EM BER 11

A L L AG ES P ERM I T T ED. T ICK E T S AVA IL A BL E AT S T IRCOV E.CO M O R BY P H O N E AT 1- 80 0 -745 -30 0 0.

Schedule and artists subject to change. Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-BETS-OFF (In Iowa) or 1-800-522-4700 (National). ©2014, Caesars License Company, LLC.

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

5

CONTENTS

departments & special sections volume 31 • issue 4

departments

OmahaHome 73

10 From the Editor 12 Between the Lines:

Keith Binder, Robyn Murray, and James Walmsley

14 For Starters 16 Calendar of Events 24 Obviously Omaha Historic Buildings of the Old Market

september/october 2014 gala 125

126 Saving Grace

executive editor

Perishable Food Rescue

david williams

131 Karen Kruse

Cancer Survivor’s Garden

managing editor

160 Big Mama, Bigger Heart

editorial intern

135 Omaha’s Big Give 2014

28 Be Social

166 2014 Ak-Sar-Ben

29 Art + Culture

168 Gala Calendar

Instagram Photography of Your Omaha Artist Gerard Pefung

31 Faces

State Senator Tanya Cook

35 Gen O

Amy Lynn

37 Faces

Lisa Tosone

39 Gen O

Ashton Taylor

41 Style Shot

Michelle Morrison

43 Art + Culture: Books James Larson

213 Greater Nebraska Happenings

218 The Closer

Slogan Explosion

cr e at i v e di r e ctor

john gawley

Coronation & Scholarship Ball Pages

60PLUS In Omaha

director of photography

& 169

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

interactive media

bill sitzmann

senior graphic designer

dining 191

191 Omaha happy hours 189 Dining: Chef Profile

kristen hoffman

graphic designer

rachel joy

Lot 2’s Joel Mahr

192 Dining Feature

Pla Too’s Thai Cuisine

194 Restaurant Review Taxi’s Grille and Bar

198 Dining Guide

contributing photographers

keith binder laurie and charles photographs sarah lemke

Omaha Magazine

visitorsedition

• doug meigs

contributing writers

leo adam biga

• jillian humphries • doug meigs

jason kuiper robyn murray

• carol crissey nigrelli lindsey peterson • james walmsley sarah wengert

Pages 35-186 do not appear in the Omaha Magazine visitors edition.

To read these articles online, visit OmahaMagazine.com. To receive a full edition of Omaha Magazine by mail, purchase a subscription at OmahaMagazine.com/subscribe.

6

jillian humphries

Nonprofit Profiles

Kevin Kugler

33 Faces

robert nelson

Serving Up Soul Food and Second Chances

26 Gen O

Ethan Wragge

EDITORIAL & CREATIVE STAFF

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine, LTD

Holland Performing Arts Center

Orpheum Theater

ALL EVENTS ON SALE NOW!

Photo: Carsten Peter

Omaha Performing Arts Presents

RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR Starring THE ROCKETTES November 13-30, 2014 Orpheum Theater | Slosburg Hall

Omaha Performing Arts Presents

Extreme Planet

with photographer Carsten Peter

Tuesday, February 10, 2015 | 7:30 PM Holland Center | Kiewit Hall

Omaha Performing Arts Presents

Dinosaur Train LIVE! Friday, January 23, 2015 | 7:00 PM Orpheum Theater | Slosburg Hall

Omaha Performing Arts Presents

Omaha Performing Arts Presents

Omaha Performing Arts Presents

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL

Pilobolus Dance Theatre

Terence Blanchard

March 25-29, 2015 Orpheum Theater | Slosburg Hall

Thursday, April 23, 2015 | 7:30 PM Orpheum Theater | Slosburg Hall

Thursday, May 7, 2015 | 7:30 PM Holland Center | Kiewit Hall

TicketOmaha.com | 402.345.0606

volume 31 •

issue 4

ACCOUNTS & OPERATIONS STAFF publisher

todd lemke p u b l i s h e r ’s a s s i sta n t

&

omaha home

contributing editor

sandy besch-matson vice president

greg bruns executive vice president sales

&

marketing

gil cohen

OCT. 17 – NOV. 16

SEPT. 12 – OCT. 12

senior sales executive

&

60plus in

omaha contributing editor

gwen lemke

6915 CASS STREET | (402) 553-0800 | WWW.OMAHAPLAYHOUSE.COM e x e cu t i v e s a l e s as so ci at e sponsors:

orchestra sponsor:

media sponsor:

sponsor:

media sponsor:

vicki voet branding specialist

george idelman s a l e s as so ci at e s

dawn dennis alicia smith hollins jessica linhart sydney stander v i ce pr e s i de n t of ope r at ion s

tyler lemke event director

Whether it is day or night, inside or out, Joslyn has so much to offer.

erin cox

FREE GENERAL ADMISSION

accou n ta n t

(paid ticketed admission for some exhibitions)

jim heitz

THURSDAYS: Open ‘til 8 pm!

SCULPTURE GARDENS Open and free – all day every day!

explore AT

NOW

Joslyn Art Museum features works from antiquity to the present with an emphasis on 19th- and 20th-century European and American art. A fun, educational, relaxing, and artful destination for the whole family.

Open Tuesday through Sunday.

October 11, 2014–January 11, 2015 IN LIVING COLOR: Andy Warhol and Contemporary Printmaking from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation 2200 Dodge St. | Omaha, NE | (402) 342-3300 | www.joslyn.org

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

distribution manager

mike brewer

for advertising & subscription information:

402.884.2000 Comments? Send your letter to the editor to: david@omahamagazine.com 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.

A New tr adition Built on strong

12251 Cary Cir.

family values and service to country

. La Vista . 402.690.3490 . soldiervalleyspirits.com A short drive from downtown Omaha

Ca l l i n g a l l w i tc h e s, g ob l i n s, a n d g h o s ts It’s the month of spooky fun! Kids can enjoy this not-so-scary haunted house throughout the month of October.

OM0614 • ad proof 3.4 home mAlicia/Gil

Opening OCTOBER 18 mGeorge mGreg

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

9

FROM THE EDITOR

david williams

Confessions of a Cranky Writer No Frequent Flyer Miles for Me

I

T IS SMALL OF me to admit that

I’ve grown jealous of certain team members here at Omaha Magazine?

My newfound character defect (not that I need much of an excuse to be a terrible person) is borne of the fact that I’ve always loved to travel. And an increasing number of assignments here at the magazine have involved our staff packing their bags in order to bring you the stories found on these pages.

And I’m jealous.

In the process of putting together our last issue alone, we had director of photography Bill Sitzmann visiting our nation’s capital to shoot the cover and related photography for our story on Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel. Then he dashed down I-29 to capture beautiful images of Kansas City Royal Alex Gordon.

Adding insult to green-with-envy injury, my plan to author the Gordon piece was shelved due to my chained-to-the-desk existence as a pencil pusher—make that a keyboard clacker—here in our company’s worldwide headquarters. To understand the

july/august 2014 OMAHA MAGAZINE

july/august 2014 OMAHA MAGAZINE

10

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

depths of my despair, the reader should know that I am a huge baseball fan. Huge. And one should also understand that the Royals are my fave team. So it was with heavy heart that I had to yield to one of our freelancers, Carol Chrissey Nigrelli, for the plum, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interview the All Star left fielder in Kauffman Stadium as Bill’s shutter added a staccato soundtrack to the interview.

Even worse is the realization that Carol hit a home run in her amazing Gordon story.

Her writing travelled a good 100 feet beyond where my pop fly of meandering jottings would have landed.

Now Bill is AWOL again, this time to (generously) interrupt a family vacation in Utah to travel the two hours required to immortalize on film singer/actress/dancer Ashton Taylor down in Provo (see story on page 39) where she is attending Brigham Young University.

It’s all part of our commitment here at Omaha Magazine to log any miles and scale any peak that leads to the best experience for you, the reader.

page 39

And now it’s time for a major correction.

I’m not at all as desk-bound as I suggested above. I still get to traverse every corner of the city in meeting the most interesting people in the community we love. And I have the honor and privilege of telling all of their wonderfully compelling stories.

So I guess a little jealousy isn’t such a bad thing after all. I’ll just let my luggage gather a little more dust. I’m okay with that.

I do, however, have one very important mini-trip planned for next month. I’ll be heading over to the Ralston Arena on October 11th for our inaugural Best of Omaha Festival™, a from-pizza-to-plumber celebration of the very best that the city has to offer.

Memorize my ugly mug shown on this page and be sure to pop in and say “Hey.” I’d love to see you there! OMAG

OCTOBER 2014 - JANUARY 2015 This fall, experience a transformation of nature, with glowing colors and visitor-controlled installations. Vibrant lighting designs build the stops on a one-of-a-kind interactive, artistic journey — opening eyes to illumination of the Forest and Mind as the centennial celebration finale.

FONTENELLEFOREST.ORG

FF_enlighten-Omag.indd 1

8/1/14 4:23 PM

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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BETWEEN THE LINES

omaha magazine • september/october

between

THE LINES

A look at three Omaha Magazine team members

Keith Binder’s early years were spent skateboarding, playing in punk rock bands, and consuming as many comic books and films as he could. During his 20s he went to college for International Studies, Middle East and African History and Politics, and Religion. During that time he fell in love with climbing and adventure sports. He also had the opportunity to work on a few short films with friends and fell in love with photography. He decided against a life in academia or government work and opted to pursue a much more rewarding career as an adventure photographer. One day Binder hopes to put his photography skills and academics together by photographing conflicts throughout the world. Right now, though, he’s loving keith binder • photographer

life climbing, shooting, and traveling with great people. Nothing really beats hanging from a rope off the side of a mountain and photographing amazing athletes doing amazing work.

Robyn Murray was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, but somehow ended up in the frigid Midwest. Before she could quite figure out how that happened, she fell in love with Omaha and decided to adopt it as her new home base. But as anyone who’s visited South Africa can attest, the country’s draw is hard to shake, and her heart is still rooted in African soil. An avid public radio junkie, Murray has reported from Omaha for NPR, WBUR, WNYC, and the BBC. In 2010, Murray joined Omaha’s classical music station, KVNO, to found KVNO News, a collaborative newsroom that partnered with NET Radio in Lincoln and the Omaha Reader. In 2013, Murray headed to Chicago to earn a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. To complete her degree, she reported from South Africa for Robyn Murray • freelance writer

three months, writing from Johannesburg for Business Day and Public Radio International.

She also covered Nelson Mandela’s funeral for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.

James Walmsley came to Omaha by accident. The freelance writer arrived in 2010 on his faithful steed, “Old Major,” an ‘89 Volvo 740, seeking respite from an arduous cross-country road trip. He never left. Made in Detroit, progeny of the town drunk, the would-be fourth-generation plumber eventually abandoned his birthright to pursue journalism at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Walmsley interned with the Bellevue Leader in 2013 and has since contributed articles to Omaha Magazine, The Post Punk Kitchen, and Silicon Prairie News.

In his former life, the freelancer was a touring guitarist and can still be found crafting songs James Walmsley • freelance writer

every Wednesday night with the local ensemble, Explorers of the New World. When he isn’t writing, Walmsley scours the streets for good vegan food. He’s also a barista most weekends at Caffeine Dreams.

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

AUGMENTED REALITY

augmentedreality OMAHA MAGAZINE COMES TO LIFE THIS SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER WITH AUGMENTEDREALITY! Scan the interactive pages of Omaha Magazine with your smartphone or tablet using the free LayAR app.

1

2

Download the LayAR app. get.layar.com google play apple app store

3 Look for the icon.

Scan the entire page with the LayAR app.

Enjoy the digital experience of Omaha Magazine.

page 67

page 60

page H36

4

page 29

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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CALENDAR

this is omaha for starters

THIS IS OMAHA

THE EAGLES CENTURYLINK CENTER OMAHA SEPTEMBER 5

ANTIQUE & GARDEN SHOW LAURITZEN GARDENS SEPTEMBER 19-21

Legendary rock band The Eagles are bringing their History of the Eagles tour to Omaha. The Eagles—Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh, and Timothy B. Schmit—will perform classics spanning their career, including some that have never been performed live, as well as songs featured in History of the Eagles, the band’s acclaimed, top-selling documentary. The Eagles have sold more than 120 million albums worldwide, earning five No. 1 U.S. singles for songs like “Best Of My Love” and “One Of These Nights.” They have also won six Grammy® Awards. The most recent include Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for “How Long” in 2008 and Best Pop Instrumental Performance of “I dreamed There Was No War” in 2009. Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 is the best‐selling album of all time, exceeding sales of 29 million units. The band’s Hotel California and their Greatest Hits Volume 2 have sold more than 16 and 11 million albums, respectively. The band will also make stops in Des Moines and Grand Rapids following the Omaha concert. Don’t miss the experience to see one of America’s greatest bands.

Celebrate art, antiques and garden design at Laurtizen Gardens as the beloved annual Antique & Garden Show enters its second decade.

This year, you can learn from a celebrity designer, meet an iconic British celebrity, and gain cooking tips from a local celebrity chef.

Mary McDonald, author of Interiors: The Allure of Style and one of the stars of Bravo TV’s Million Dollar Decorators and Property Envy is one of the most admired, highly published, and sought after tastemakers in America. You have the opportunity to “Shop the Show” with Mary McDonald, or attend the luncheon and lecture on Friday (reservations required).

Meet the real Mistress of the hit PBS television series “Downton Abbey.” Lady Carnarvon will take us through the history of Highclere Castle where “Downton Abbey” is filmed, and share fascinating stories from diaries, letters and photos kept over centuries.

Chef Brian O’Malley and his team from the Institute for the Culinary Arts at Metropolitan Community College will present a cooking demonstration and provide tips on how to prepare a light Sunday brunch. Be prepared to sample his handiwork. This event is dedicated to the memory of Suzanne Scott, an avid chef and tireless community supporter.

455 N. 10th St. Tickets $49.50 to $179.50. 8 p.m. centurylinkomaha.com

100 Bancroft St. Tickets $15, members free. 402-346-4002 lauritzengardens.org

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

this is omaha for starters

CALENDAR

FOR STARTERS

Photo by John Minihan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

FORT OMAHA INTERTRIBAL POWWOW METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE FORT OMAHA CAMPUS SEPTEMBER 23

IN LIVING COLOR: ANDY WARHOL AND CONTEMPORARY PRINTMAKING JOSLYN ART MUSEUM OCTOBER 11, 2014 – JANUARY 1, 2015

Metropolitan Community College will host its 23rd annual Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow at MCC’s historic Fort Omaha Campus parade grounds. The Powwow, which is free and open to the public, celebrates Nebraska’s vibrant Native American history through dance, music, traditional crafts, colorful regalia, and food. The powwow is hosted on the same grounds where Ponca Chief Standing Bear was imprisoned in 1879, awaiting his trial that would establish the recognition of native peoples as “person[s] within the meaning of the law.”

A celebration of Native American cultures (see related feature on page 66), the Powwow honors the traditional dance, music, artistry, storytelling, and foods of the four Nebraska Indian tribes: the Northern Ponca, Omaha, Santee Sioux, and Winnebago. Nearly 400 native artists participate annually in this special, family-friendly event. The day’s activities include a gourd dance, a tradition that originated with the Kiowa and features male dancers with gourd rattles. The dance will be prior to the main event and begins at 10 a.m. The Grand Entry, when dancers enter the arena to officially start the Powwow, begins at 1 p.m. Observers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

Employing a seemingly endless palette of brilliant color, American artist Andy Warhol (1928-1987) depicted the world with the volume turned up. A leading figure of Pop Art, Warhol believed that art should directly respond to the conditions of contemporary daily life.

More than 30 years after his death, his work continues to challenge our perceptions of popular culture, politics, and consumer society. In Living Color: Andy Warhol and Contemporary Printmaking from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundation creates a dialogue between Warhol and other artists in the postwar era who use color as a tool to shape how viewers read and respond to images.

This exhibition features some of Warhol’s most iconic screenprints, including his portraits of Marilyn Monroe (1967) and Mao Zedong (1972), the splashy camouflage series (1987), and the controversial Electric Chair portfolio (1971). This exhibition is organized and traveled by Joslyn Art Museum. It comprises a small portion of Jordan Schnitzer’s rich and diverse collection of prints from the 1960s through the present—the largest private print collection in the United States.

2200 Dodge St. joslyn.org

30th and Fort streets mccneb.edu/intercultural.

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

15

CALENDAR

September/October 2014

CALENDAR OF EVENTS ART AND MUSEUM EXHIBITS Urban Design Lab: Department of Local Affairs Through September 15, Bemis Center, 724 S. 12th St. Taken as a whole, the Urban Design Lab provides deep, media–rich data about the city in which we live, as well as a new synthesis about the meaning of that data. As a place where new ideas and work are created, the Lab also echoes the ongoing creative processes that are at the heart of the Bemis Center’s internationally recognized artist residency program. 402–341–7130 – bemiscenter.org The Kaneko Open Space Soiree September 19, Kaneko, 1111 Jones St. Attendees will get a sneak peek at the highly anticipated industrial and architectural design exhibits that will be on display at KANEKO this fall.

Proceeds from the Open Space Soirée will aid in the operating, exhibition, and programming expenses, so join in the celebration and help keep Omaha creative!

6:30pm–9pm. Ticket prices TBA. 402–341–3800 – thekaneko.org

Wearable Artist: Arlene Wohl September 24–26, Anderson O’Brien, 1108 Jackson St. Artist Arlene Wohl loves the transformation that happens to the cloth when it becomes a garment, and loves it when the garment is worn and transforms the wearer just as the wearer transforms the garment. It is a menage a trois between the creator, the work, and the wearer, which happens when clothing becomes more than material. It can endow the wearer with spirit, image, identity. She can don a new personality with each dress. 402–884–0911 – aobfineart.com Andy Warhol in Living Color: Contemporary Prints from Jordan D. Schnitzer October 4–January 11, Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. This exhibit examines how color impacts both subject and viewer, creating a dialogue between Warhol and 19 contemporary artists who all use color to shape how the viewer understands images. 402–342–3300 – joslyn.org

Lancaster Antique Show and Sale October 11–12, L ancaster Event Center, 84th & Havelock Ave. Established show of 33 years featuring quality antiques including books, country primitives, furniture, glassware, pottery, folk art, early Americana, and more.

Sat, 9am–5pm; Sun, 10am–4pm, $4. 402–432–1451 – lancastereventcenter.com CONCERTS End of Summer Concert Series Through September 25, Midtown Crossing, between Farnam & Dodge Streets and 31st & 33rd Streets. Start the weekend early! Every Thursday night in September, some of the areas most exciting, live musical talent will be showcased. Stake out a spot in Turner Park, kick back—and move ahead to the weekend! Park opens for seating at 5 pm. Music begins at 6:30 pm. Free.

– midtowncrossing.com Eagles September 5, CenturyLink Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. The Eagles have added a concert in Omaha to the “History of the Eagles” tour and will perform classics spanning their career as well as songs featured in History of the Eagles, the band’s acclaimed, top–selling documentary.

Tickets $49.50–$179.50. 8:00pm. 1–800–745–3000 – centurylinkomaha.com Belles & Whistles September 5, 402 Arts Collective, 6051 Maple St. Belles & Whistles are a mother– daughter duo naturally likened to country music’s famed family duo, The Judd’s. Daughter Kelli, 17, leads with her charming yet mature vocals while mama Jaymie sings harmony and plays acoustic guitar.

Jaymie spent many years on the road with her sisters in Mulberry Lane and experienced success with the Top 30 single “Harmless.” All ages. Free. 712–310–9588 – 402artscollective.org

Antique and Garden Show September 19–21, L auritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Spectacular gardens, lectures, and beautiful antiques ranging from porcelain, silver, jewelry and paintings to furniture. $15, Free admission for members. 402–346–4002 – lauritzengardens.org

Fall Chrysanthemum Show October 4–November 23, Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Enjoy the beauty of autumn with brightly colored chrysanthemums, unique designs, water features, and textures. 9am–5pm, $3–$7.

402–346–4002 – lauritzengardens.org

calendar as of 8/8/14. Check individual organization website for updates.

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

Eric Church September 5, CenturyLink Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. Eric Church’s The Outsiders World Tour with special guest Dwight Yoakam and rising country music duo Brothers Osborne.

Tickets $25.00–$59.50. 7:00pm. 1–800–745–3000 – centurylinkomaha.com

calendar september/october 2014 Photo by Bill Sitzmann

Stinson Concert Series – Fishheads September 6, Stinson Park, 67th & Center st. Come enjoy this free concert series.

There will be food and drink vendors, face painting, balloon artists, kids will play in the fountain and on the playground equipment. These concerts are family friendly so grab a chair and/or blanket, don’t forget the kiddos. 7pm–10pm. 402–496–1616 – aksarbenvillage.com 89.7 The River Presents: Clutch September 19, Sokol Underground, 2234 S. 13th St. Forget whatever you thought about Clutch. Earth Rocker crumples up the bad categories that have miscast them for years­­—stoner rock, post–hardcore, metal, grunge—and leaves no question about what they are: a damn good rock and roll band.

Earth Rocker is a solid, straight–up rock and roll album, exactly what the band had in mind for their tenth studio album, now that their Weathermaker Records label is fully up and running. 7:30 pm. $20 advance, $25 day of. All ages. Doors open at 6:30. 402–346–9802 – sokolunderground.com

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Newsboys September 28, Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. The four–time Grammy–nominated Newsboys boast an impressive track record with 16 albums, five gold certifications, 30 No. 1 radio hits and close to eight million units sold over their multi–decade career. 7:00 p.m. with doors at 6:00 p.m. They will be taking the stage with special guest Family Force 5. $20 advance, $25 day of. 402–934–9966 – ralstonarena.com

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

17

CALENDAR

September/October 2014

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 25th Annual Old–Time Rural Music Gathering October 3–5, Christensen Field House, 1710 W. 16th St. Featuring top quality local, regional, and national talent performing country, folk, and bluegrass tunes. 10am–11pm, $15. 712–762–4363 – ntcma.net Timeflies October 18, Sokol Underground, 2234 S. 13th St. Timeflies started in 2010, and after releasing only singles, released their debut album, The Scotch Tape. Since recently releasing a mixtape and two EPs, They have been working hard on their new album, After Hours, released on Tuesday, April 29, 2014. 7pm. $20 advance, $25 day of. All ages. Doors open at 6pm. 402–346–9802 – sokolunderground.com

Polish Ambassador October 21, The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. For the Polish Ambassador project, born on the richly–colored streets of Chicago and San Francisco, infectious melody is paramount.

However, this never overshadows the depth and harmonic complexity that have made the Ambassador a favorite amongst festival curators and beat aficionados worldwide. Over the course of six years, his sound has dipped and swirled through a staggering range of styles, with each album exploring uncharted sonic territory. $15 advance, $18 day of. 9pm. 402–884–5353 – waitingroomlounge.com

David Sedaris October 30, Holl and Performing Arts Center, 13th & Douglas Streets. The Grammy Awards nominee for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album, David Raymond Sedaris is renowned for his self–deprecating style. His autobiographical humor refers to his personal life, his middle–class upbringing, work, education, as well as drug use and obsessive behaviors. Time TBA. 402–345–0606 – omahaperformingarts.org FAMILY & MORE Mud Pies at Habitat Hollow September 2–11 (week days), Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. Drop by to explore nature activities. A different natural science topic is introduced each week through interactive stations within “Habitat Hollow.” 9:30–ll:30 am. For children 5 and under.

Free for members or daily admission fee. 402–731–3140 – fontenelleforest.org

Barcamp September 6, KANEKO, 111 Jones St. Get Ready for Barcamp Omaha 2014. “Celebrating six fine years of beers, peers, and cheers.” It’s a conference without a speaker list, without a fixed schedule, and without remorse.

The open format offers attendees the unique opportunity to network, learn, and communicate about what they are most passionate about! 9am–5pm. $15. Opening party on September 5 at House of Loom, 8pm–2am.

– barcampomaha.org

calendar as of 8/8/14. Check individual organization website for updates.

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

Paleo Jo’s Dinosaur Mini Camp September 6, Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Join a morning of dino–sized fun exploring the world of dinosaurs and fossils. Become a junior paleontologist while learning all about dinosaurs, discovering how fossils are formed, and making a fossil cast. Plus, have the chance to search for real fossils to take home! Join Paleo Jo for an exciting and interactive adventure! 9am–noon. $25 for members, $30 for non–members. 402–342–6164 – ocm.org Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow September 13, Metropolitan Community College, 5300 N. 30th St. Celebrating Native American cultures, the powwow honors the traditional dance, music, artistry, oral history, and foods of various tribes across Nebraska and the surrounding region including, but not limited to, Northern Ponca, Omaha, Santee Sioux and Winnebago. 1–7:30pm. 402–457–2253.

– mccneb.edu/intercultural/powwow Gifford Farm Fall Festival September 20–21, Gifford Farm Education Center, 700 Camp Gifford Rd. Mini pony rides, hayrack rides, farmers market, food booth, and outdoor nature classroom. 10am– 4pm. 402–597–4920 – www.esu3.org

calendar september/october 2014

Omaha Marathon September 21, TD Ameritrade Park, 1200 Mike Fahey St. With an urban course running through the heart of the city, a large Health, Fitness, and Wellness Expo, and races from the Mile to the full Marathon, there is something for everyone at the Omaha Marathon. Register online at omahamarthon.com. Half Marathon and Marathon: 7am, 5K: noon, 10K: 1pm, Friends & Family Mile: Sunday 3pm – Omahamarathon.com

APPAREL, ACCESSORIES & SPECIALTY Ann Taylor . Anthropologie . Borsheims . Christian Nobel Furs Francesca’s Collections . Garbo’s Salon & Spa . Hot Mama Learning Express Toys . LOFT . Parsow’s Fashions . Pottery Barn Pottery Barn Kids . Rhylan Lang . The Linen Gallery . Tilly White House|Black Market . Williams-Sonoma DINING Bonefish Grill . Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Paradise Bakery & Cafe

Ak–Sar–Ben’s River City Rodeo and Stock Show September 25–28, CenturyLink Center, 455 N. 10th St. Host of the Justin Boots Championship Rodeo, stock show and the Douglas County Fair. Stage shows, parade and exhibits. 402–554–9600 – rivercityrodeo.com

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ARTsarben September 27–28, Aksarben Village, 2232 S. 64th St. Visitors will be able to enjoy up– close, unique entertainment on both event days from various performers in four staging areas. Kids of all ages will be able to explore their budding artistic talent and enjoy active play through hands on art activities and a bounce house. Visitors can also purchase works directly from more than 80–juried artists . The featured artists are from the 2014 Omaha Summer Arts Festival. 402–345–5401 – artsarben.com Zoo Run Sep tember 28, Omaha’ s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, 3701 S. 10th St. Lace up those shoes for the 34th annual Zoo Run. Take part in a 5 mile run or 1–mile run/ walk. 8am–11am. $25–$30. 402–738–2047 – omahazoo.com

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1008 Howard / The Old Market / Omaha / TheHavanaGarage.com omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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CALENDAR

September/October 2014

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

KIDZ BOP Kids October 4, Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. The KIDZ BOP Kids bring their high energy, family friendly show to the Ralston Arena. For four consecutive years, the KIDZ BOP Kids have been named Billboard Magazine’s “No. 1 Kids’ Artist,” thanks in large part to their best-selling albums, music videos and national KIDZ BOP TV commercials. Debuting at No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 chart with their latest album release KIDZ BOP 25, the franchise sold over 1 million albums in 2013 alone. 2 pm. Tickets $20.

– ralstonarena.com From Field to Fork October–April, Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Exhibit teaches kids and their families all about the role of agriculture in their daily lives and what is produced in Nebraska. $9, free admission for kids under 24 months of age. 402–930–2352 – ocm.org Strategic Air & Scare October 1–31 , Str ategic Air & Space Museum, I–80 Exit 426. See the spooky side of the museum all month long.

10am–5pm daily. $6 –$12. 402–944–3100 – sasmuseum.com

Gifford Farm Family Fun Saturday October 4, Gifford Farm Education Center, 700 Camp Gifford Rd. Country Kindness Day. See the signs of spring in the Outdoor Nature Classroom, visit the animals that live at Gifford Farm or enjoy some bake sale goodies. 10am–2pm, $5/person over age 2. Half price with Military ID. 402–597–4920 – esu3.org Gifford Farm Family Nature Day October 18, Gifford Farm Education Center, 700 Camp Gifford Rd. An afternoon of safe and fun trick or treating.

Visit the animals, take a slide into the straw, ride on the wooden rocking horse or play games. 10am– 4pm, $5 per child trick or treating. 402–597–4920 – esu3.org Spooktacular October 18–November 1, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, 3701 S. 10th St. Bring your little ghouls and goblins to Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium for Spooktacular, presented by Hy–Vee. Event held Fri–Sun, 5:30–8:30pm, $7–$8. 402–738–2047 – omahazoo.com

calendar as of 8/8/14. Check individual organization website for updates.

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

PERFORMING ARTS Jo Koy at the Funny Bone September 5–7, Omaha Funny Bone, 17305 Davenport St. From filling clubs across the nation to being seen weekly as a regular guest on Chelsea Lately, Jo Koy has come a long way from his modest start performing at a Las Vegas coffee house.

His infectiously explosive energy on stage, insightful jokes and family inspired humor cross all boundaries and led Daily Variety to name him one of the “10 Comics to Watch.” Dinner available. Fri & Sat 7:30pm and 9:45pm / Sun 7:30 pm. $22. 21 and older. 402–493–8036 – funnybone.com YOU KNOW WHAT? F THE 80S! September 12 and 26, Apollon, 1801 Vinton St. The Apollon invites viewers on a journey into the decade that spawned MTV, Nickelodeon, and Emilio Estevez. You’ll battle goonies, gremlins, and Terminators. You’ll be Double Dared to bleach your hair and fist pump Ferris Bueller right in his smarmy face. By the time you Plinko your way through the hairspray and clouds of white “substances,” you’ll be trickling down into the depths of shame that were the ’80s. $30. 7:30pm. PG–13. 402–884–0315 – apollonomaha.com

calendar september/october 2014

GOD OF CARNAGE September 26–October 18, Blue Barn Theatre, 614 S. 11th St. Two high–strung couples decide to meet one evening for a civilized discussion about a playground altercation between their two young sons. What follows is a comically explosive downhill slide from polite, political correctness to full– on character assignation. A no–holds–barred look at relationships between spouses and friends, and what happens when the littlest things end up pushing people completely over the edge. 7:30pm. 402–345–1576 – bluebarn.org BALLET NEBRASKA’S GISELLE October 4, Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. The season begins with Giselle, the beautiful and moving classic ballet that’s both a poignant love story and a chilling tale of vengeful ghosts. 7:30pm. 402–661–8501 – omahaperformingarts.com/orpheum

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

21

CALENDAR

September/October 2014

CALENDAR OF EVENTS ANNIE October 4–6, John Beasley Theater, 3010 R St. The popular comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world’s best–loved musicals.

With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a nextto-nothing start in 1930s New York City. 7:30 pm. $25 adults, $22 students and seniors. 402–502–5767 – johnbeasleytheater.org FREAKSHOW October 11, 18, 25, Apollon, 1801 Vinton St. Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to the Freakshow! Where the abnormal becomes normal, and the mysterious becomes an answer to all your darkest fantasies and fears. Journey behind the scenes of your favorite carnival oddities and see their struggles and adventures, their paths from obscurity to fame as the displays of wonder and intrigue you’ve come to enjoy or keep at a distance. $30. 7:30pm. PG–13. 402–884–0315 – apollonomaha.com

ROBIN HOOD October 11–27, Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. This legendary tale bursts into fresh and fiery new life in this unique, fast–paced adaptation. Brave and bold, Robin Hood stands up for justice as he cleverly evades the relentless Sheriff of Nottingham. You’ll be enchanted as a band of merry men (and women) bring familiar characters to life in surprising new ways. Don’t blink or you’ll miss something! Fri/7pm, Sat/2pm & 5pm, Sun/2pm. $18. 402–345–4849 – rosetheater.org

Blue Man Group October 24–26, Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Blue Man Group is best known for its wildly popular theatrical shows and concerts which combine music, comedy, and multimedia theatrics to produce a totally unique form of entertainment.

Although it is impossible to describe, people of all ages agree that Blue Man Group’s show is an intensely exciting and wildly outrageous experience. 402–661–8501 – omahaperformingarts.com/Orpheum

Thanks to all of you, Mannheim Steamroller is celebrating two important milestones this year!

It’s the 30th Anniversary of the release of our first holiday album, Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, and the 40th Anniversary of the first Fresh Aire album.

Today over 40 million Mannheim Steamroller records have been sold including 28 million Christmas albums - making us the #1 Christmas music artist in history! We’re also way more than Christmas. Our products include food, apparel, children’s books and other items.

None of this would be possible without your support. We are grateful you’ve been with us throughout the years and proud to call Omaha our home.

9130 Mormon Bridge Road, Omaha, NE 68152

Visit our store at mannheimsteamroller.com to shop for all our products.

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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Saturday, October 18 | Holland Center Join us in costume for a fun-filled evening of thrilling, chilling music from Harry Potter, Jaws, Beetlejuice, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Exorcist, The Omen, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and more!

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402.345.0606 | omahasymphony.org omaha magazine • september/october 2014

23

OBVIOUSLY OMAHA

fun facts about omaha

Historic Buildings of the Old Market A walking tour

A

Anheuser-Busch Beer Depot, 1887 Now: The New BLK Ad Agency & Art Gallery 1213 Jones Street

T THE END OF the 19th cen-

tury, Omaha was in its prime as a major railroad center, connecting the settled East with the wide-open West. The Old Market area was at the height of its splendor — bustling with produce dealers, buyers, and transporters.

The bustle continued until the 1950s, when Omaha’s westward expansion and radical changes in grocery marketing abruptly brought the activity to a halt. That’s when Sam Mercer, threatened with building condemnation notices, proposed to rescue his family’s red-brick warehouses by renovating them for new uses. Most people thought him imprudent. Today, they call him a visionary.

His work ignited the rebirth and re-imagining of the district.

Though Mercer passed away in February 2013, his legacy in the Old Market lives on.

Preservation and maintenance of the architectural integrity of the buildings remains a guiding principle.

Old Market Historic Tour The Old Market is filled with historic sites and buildings. Several of these have been specifically identified and researched. As a result, an Old Market Historic Walking Tour, with plaques identifying points of interest, was created in 2003.

Audio Walking Tour Download Download the podcast for the Old Market audio tour by searching “Omaha’s Old Market Walking Tour” on iTunes.

24

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

O

MAHA WAS A RICH brew of immigrants. With them came a thirst for

beer. To satisfy the booming demand, six breweries were started in Omaha in the late 19th century. In 1887, Anheuser-Busch of St. Louis built a distribution complex in Omaha, designed by Henry Voss in the Romanesque style. The existing office building is all that remains of four buildings, which also included a stable, the bottling department, and a combination beer vault and icehouse. Prohibition capped the beer business.

Later the complex housed a chemical supply company and a furniture-stripping firm. In 1989, Alley Poyner Architecture renovated the interior as office space for its own business. In 1988, a finial over the west side of the doorway was toppled by wind and then stolen—it has never been recovered.

Baum Iron Company Building, 1880 Now: Baum Hydraulics Co. 1221 Harney Street

T

HIS BUILDING HAS CARRIED the Baum Iron name since the early 1900s. At one

time, the firm was the largest wholesaler of iron products in the Midwest, dealing in iron, steel, and heavy hardware. The cast-iron storefront for the structure in the Italianate style was made in St. Louis and assembled on-site in Omaha in 1880. Originally three stories, the fourth floor was added in 1891.

OBVIOUSLY OMAHA

photos courtesy of the durham museum

Omaha Bemis Bag Company, 1887 to 1902 Now: Blue Barn Theatre, The Boiler Room restaurant, and lofts 614 South 11th Street

A

GROWING EXPORT TRADE IN flour attracted the bag manufacturer, J.M. Bemis and Company, to Omaha in 1887. The business had its start a quarter century earlier in St. Louis when bags became a thrifty alternate choice to boxes and wooden barrels.

By 1900, Bemis Bag was the largest bag manufacturer in the world. Local architects Louis Mendelssohn and Harry Lawrie chose the Commercial style developed in Chicago in the 1880s for the Omaha plant. A three-story building was added to the west in 1897, and the factory complex was completed with the addition of six stories to the south in 1902. In 1977, Bemis Bag moved and gave the site to the City.

In 1983, the building was sold to the Mercer family and converted to living spaces for the Bemis Project, a not-for-profit artists’ colony. A 1999 fire severely damaged the original building.

Burlington Building, 1879 Now: Commercial office space 1004 Farnam Street

T

HE INITIAL “B” IDENTIFIES

this as the headquarters for the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, which was designed by A.R. Dufrene. In 1899, famed local architect Thomas Kimball was hired to remodel the structure to resemble the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Building in Chicago.

Among other changes, Kimball added an interior courtyard, elevator, and a floor of octagonal glass bricks, which allowed light into the basement. In 1966, the Burlington Railroad left the building and sold it to the city. After sitting vacant for 17 years, the building was restored for office space, becoming one of the first successful renovations of a 19th-century building in Omaha.

Hotel Howard, 1909 Now: home to Mr. Toad Pub 1002 Howard Street

T

HE HOTEL HOWARD WAS constructed in 1909 in the Classical Revival style.

From its beginnings, the Howard benefited from the flourishing produce trade and the proximity to trains and wholesale businesses. Early in the morning, produce was piled on the sidewalks in the area. Peddlers would then come and load their wagons with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. The Howard served as a hotel until 1969, when the area was just beginning to show signs of revival as a tourist attraction.

In 1970, the ground floor became one of the Old Market’s earliest entertainment venues when Mr. Toad, an indoor-outdoor pub, was opened. The name “Mr. Toad” came from a character in the English book, The Wind in the Willows.

next issue Look forward to Omaha Magazine November/December where J. P. Cooke Buildings (now J.P. Cooke Company), Millard Block (now Rock Bottom Brewery), Morse Coe Building (now First National Bank of Omaha branch & Scooters coffeehouse, Mayfield Apartments), Omaha Firehouse (now Upstream Brewing Company), and Skinner Macaroni Building (now Skinner Macaroni Lofts) will be featured in “Obviously Omaha.” OMAG omaha magazine • september/october 2014

25

GEN O

by david williams • photography by bill sitzmann

Ethan Wragge From Shorts to Pinstripes

E

THAN WRAGGE WAS A driv-

ing force behind the Creighton University Bluejays’ success as they stormed the Big East during their inaugural season in the vaunted conference where hoops is king. Now the recent graduate is storming the halls of big finance through his second internship with Burlington Capital Group.

The 6’7” center is 27th on the school’s alltime scoring list. His career 1,155 points is a figure that is apparently just shy of the number of times Burlington Capital co-workers have challenged him to a (friendly?) game of horse.

His mark of 334 career three-pointers is second only to the legendary Kyle Korver’s 371.

26

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

Wragge isn’t just an overachiever when wearing the get-up he’s pictured in on these pages. The same tenacity was demonstrated in the classroom when the Academic AllAmerican earned triple majors in finance, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

“Burlington Capital is such a great internship,” Wragge says, “because we do so many things here; real estate, international business, private equity markets, and more. The people here are competitive, just like I was competitive for the last 18 years of my life on a basketball court. They know how to win. They’re entrepreneurs who know what it takes to win in highly competitive markets.”

But Wragge isn’t done with basketball just quite yet. He’s currently rehabbing from post-season knee surgery as he eyes offers to turn pro in Europe.

Regardless of whether he ends up in shorts or pinstripes, Wragge says he will always have fond recollections of Omaha. His favorite on-court memory? “Easy,” he replies. “I will never forget Villanova. And we did it on their court,” he says of the game that was the first win in the program’s history over a top five

team (the Wildcats were ranked No. 4 at the time).

“Omaha really drew me in,” he continues.

“There’s a reason why I spent only a total of 60 days back home [in Eden Prairie, Minn.] during the five years I was here. What the team means to this community—the way they take you in and make you family—is the same as what this community means to me. And I’m also really going to miss the food here. Cheeseburgers at Dinker’s. California Tacos. Don’t get me started!”

Wragge was affectionately known as “The Beard” on the parquet floor of the CenturyLink Center Omaha. So does he now have a new nickname, one that is perhaps more fitting for the world of corporate America?

“Not really,” came his reply.

Okay, so how “not really” is that? Does he have a new moniker or not?

“Well,” he begins with the slightest hint— all but imperceptible—of downcast eyes and an “Aw shucks” shuffling of the feet. “Some of the guys here…well, some of the guys just call me “Spreadsheet Monkey.” OMAG

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

ART + CULTURE • VISUAL

by Lindsey Peterson • photography by bill sitzmann

O

N A RECENT MONDAY

evening, 28-year-old artist Gerard Pefung sits on a white, retro-modern fiberglass chair in the living room of his first floor apartment.

The modest dwelling also doubles as his art studio, leaving every room lined with large blank canvases, hung finished projects, and works in progress. His front door is open to let in fresh air and to allow the sounds of the breeze and cars passing by to seep in. Pefung is laughing; his body vibrates in eagerness as he talks about why he believes every day holds great potential.

“I’m going to learn something new today!” he says after introductions. “I’m going to meet someone new today! We’re going to talk about our frustrations, and talk about our excitement, and we’re going to talk about how we’re surviving!” The corners of his smile don’t reach his ears because—and only because— the flesh of his cheeks could never be elastic enough for the maneuver.

For this artist, life’s greatest moments revolve around human interaction. He craves and cherishes it. As an accomplished mixed-media artist and muralist, Pefung uses a spray can to express his love of almost childlike wonder for life. It makes its way onto every brick and every inch of an empty wall or canvas.

Born in Cameroon, West Africa, Pefung says he had a “pretty cool” life back home growing up—all because of his mother. When Pefung was a teenager, his mother was given the opportunity to bring her family to the United States.

“She had to make the decision to abandon her security,” he says. “Because she had a good job, she was a nurse, her friendships, her comfort, owning a house, and all these things she had worked her whole life for. She had to abandon all of that just so she could make sure her kids have whatever they can achieve.”

While attending Benson High School, Pefung’s passion for art steadily grew. He said his parents would’ve preferred he be a doctor, or a lawyer like his father. It was after his father’s death in 2012 that Pefung says he started to re-evaluate life choices.

“I feel like it gave me a drive, a determination,” he says. “It already existed because I’ve always been curious, but it just made me start asking the ‘whys’” of it all. “Why am >

Figuring Things Out Artist Gerard Pefung

Scan the page with the LayAR app to watch a video of local artist Gerard Pefung. omaha magazine • september/october 2014

29

art + culture • visual gerard pefung

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< I doing this? Why am I doing that? What really matters? Does my family matter? Do my friends matter? What matters to me is those around me. I don’t think I’m ever going to stop asking that question. I have questions and I have choices. And that’s where I develop my character.”

Decision-making about some of life’s toughest questions may build Pefung as a person, but making choices in front of a live audience builds his career.

His favorite art setting is one where an audience can experience the process of him creating in real time, and he’s participated in numerous live art events. He goes in fairly prepared for what he’ll create, but says he feeds off the energy and curiosity of spectators while he executes an idea.

During such an event at the Summer Arts Festival, Pefung says organizers asked him not to use his signature spray paint. It didn’t bother him at all. Instead, he went to work in acrylics. Members of the audience soon approached as he worked. “They came up to me like, ‘What are you doing?’ and I’m like, ‘I’m trying to figure that out myself!

I don’t know!’ But at the end it’s going to be…something. I enjoy that encounter every single time.”

What really blows Pefung away is the idea that not only do people love his work, but that they also want to own it.

“I have a bunch of people say that they own a piece of my work,” he beams. “That’s amazing! Like, whoa!” Pefung says in disbelief, his eyes wide. His hands reach up and press against his temples as if they have the power to spur deeper thoughts. “I’m still trying to figure this out, what I’m doing. But you’re like ‘I like that!’ That speaks to me.”

He takes the same enthusiasm, passion, and expertise with him in his work with inner-city youth. Pefung says they’re often simply misunderstood. “This person, he’s not a hell-raiser,” the artist says in gesturing to an imagined student. Instead, he says, “This person is not being understood for the type of person he is or she is.” Through art, Pefung says he can give kids self-awareness and the confidence that comes with it.

Pefung’s tone grows more serious. “You put them in places that they never would have imagined. And that’s awesome when you can have a connection like that with kids who are sometimes a little bit different from you. But they’re really trying to figure things out.”

Just like the rest of us. OMAG

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74470 63856

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FACES

by carol crissey nigrelli • photography by bill sitzmann

Kevin Kugler Have Voice, Will Travel

A

S DIE-HARD HUSKER, HAWKEYE, and NFL fans

begin the sprint that is football season, the man with the voice girds for an 11-month-long marathon of his own. Omahabased sportscaster Kevin Kugler logs tens of thousands of air miles every year hopscotching across the country to the next city on his itinerary, providing radio play-by-play > omaha magazine • september/october 2014

31

faces kevin kugler

< for college games on the Big Ten Network and Sunday night pro football games on Westwood One. Kugler begins revving up his vocal cords in August, broadcasting the Houston Texans pre-season games. Come September, the pace picks up.

“I will leave on a Thursday or Friday, fly to my college site wherever that is in the Big Ten, meet with coaches, do my game, leave my game, go to the airport, hop on a plane Saturday night, fly to wherever my NFL game is Sunday night, do the game, and fly back home Monday morning,” the 42-year-old Lincoln native says, without taking a breath.

“I’ll prep for the upcoming college game Tuesday and Wednesday [at home], transition to the NFL prep Thursday morning, then head out. Rinse and repeat.”

While most mortals would cry “uncle,” Kugler is just getting started. College basketball intersects with football in November, adding a middle-of-the-week Big Ten game to an already tight schedule. And, oh yes, Kugler tapes the popular Big Red Wrap-Up on Tuesdays in the fall for NET, the Lincoln TV station that gave a newly-minted UNL journalism graduate his first real job 20 years ago. “I was the sideline reporter for the Shrine Bowl, the high school football all-stars, and I was terrible,” Kugler admits, shaking his head. “I wore sunglasses and chewed gum.

I was pathetic.”

Mentors along the way polished the rough edges, creating a versatile sportscaster who’s upbeat, enthusiastic, exciting to listen to—and dedicated. Kugler’s former Omaha radio partner can attest to that. “His plate is as full as any Thanksgiving meal you will see,” says Mike’l Severe, who teamed with Kugler for almost a decade on the popular Unsportsmanlike Conduct. “He is an extremely hard worker. When he got the Big Ten job, he followed all of college football—not just the Big Ten.” In addition to football and basketball, Kugler calls baseball on the Big Ten Network, meshing his schedule with Westwood One duties, which include the NCAA Final Four followed immediately by The Masters golf tournament and, of course, the College World Series in his own backyard. Kugler has also traveled to four Olympics.

Kugler credits his wife, Michelle, an attorney, with enabling him to follow his dream while she raises their two daughters in west Omaha. But when college sports hibernate in July, Kugler’s favorite arena is home. OMAG 32

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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by leo adam biga • photography by bill sitzmann

Tanya Cook State Senator monitors elections in Ukraine.

A

FACES

N ABIDING CURIOSITY LED Neb. State Sen. Tanya

Cook to serve as an official observer during the presidential election in war-torn Ukraine earlier this year.

Joining a Ukrainian Congress Committee of America delegation, she witnessed candy czar Petro Poroshenko’s landslide victory in an election monitoring organizations declared free and fair.

The District 13 representative often travels abroad to feed her wanderlust. Her weeklong stay in the former Soviet satellite state provided an opportunity for enlightenment and service. With Ukraine’s fragile union threatened by separatist uprisings and >

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

33

faces tanya cook

< Russian expansionism, the election was a moratorium on democracy and autonomy.

“I met a lot of great people who had grown up as part of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada and the United States,” Cook says.

“I learned a lot about how they kept their language and culture alive, and more about the circumstances that led to their leaving.

They were very warm, very welcoming.”

The lifelong Democrat has worked with municipalities as a public relations consultant and for elected officials as a campaign and administrative staffer. In 2008 she and Brenda Council became the Unicameral’s first black women legislators.

Born in Guam to an Air Force family, Cook grew up in Omaha in the 1960s and ‘70s. Her parents were from the South, where she says “the ability to take part in elections was something they didn’t take for granted.”

Despite being a teacher, her mother was forced to take a literacy test in order to vote.

Her father became a teacher following his retirement as a military civil engineer.

Cook inherited a passion for learning that complements her desire to experience new cultures. The Georgetown University international business graduate has visited 20 countries, but Ukraine was her first Eastern European visit. Besides fulfilling her poll-watching duties, the inquisitive Cook says, “I learned a lot about the country, its history, its culture…That’s what I love about travel in general.”

Ukraine’s strategic importance in a region where borders and allegiances are in flux appealed to her geopolitical focus.

“The United States has an interest in the Ukraine remaining sovereign, and in (Russian premier Vladimir) Putin not reconvening the USSR,” she says.

Assigned to seven polling places in Kiev, Cook witnessed large voter turnout and typical election snafus (long waits), but saw nothing amiss.

“You’re an observer,” she adds. “You’re not there to intervene or advocate or have a point of view. You observe what you observe and you record it.”

The earnestness of election officials and voters impressed her. She says the popular Poroshenko clearly “emerged as a leader who would stand up to” Putin’s interventionism.

Now halfway through her second legislative term, it won’t be long before she gets the itch to travel again.

“There’s a lot bigger world out there.” OMAG 34

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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GEN O

by lindsey peterson • photography by amy lynn

Amy Lynn (pictured above in fedora) and Her Entourage

Amy Lynn Storytelling Through a Lens

A

MY LYNN IS A hardcore DIY-

er. Not in the “weekend scrapbook warrior” type of way, but in the “I may not know right now, but I’ll figure it out” sense.

A passion sparked by the lackluster photography of her high school classmates in a journalism class forced the now 25-year-old fashion photographer to immerse herself in online tutorials and message boards. > omaha magazine • september/october 2014

35

gen o amy lynn

< “I just visualized things I wanted to do and I just figured out how to do them,” she says. Even with virtually no formal training and working with stock camera lenses and low-budget lighting, Amy Lynn nails it. And, quite frankly, she probably wouldn’t change much even if she could.

Dressed in black lace-up boots, black pants, and a black cardigan, Lynn speaks quickly and confidently as she casually tugs and strokes her long, braided, ombre ponytail hanging over her shoulder and onto her outer space-themed T-shirt. “I’ll have people meet me,” the study in black explains, “and then see my work and be surprised about how colorful it is.”

And her work is stunning. There are always the hyper-pigmented hues, the glow of well-constructed lighting, and the head-to-toe flawlessness of a well-executed concept. From channeling the 1980s to the darkness of struggling with mental illness, Lynn is a bona fide storyteller. She aims to spark conversation.

The noted photographer says 90 percent of her work isn’t commissioned. She finds inspiration, sources the models, secures hair and make-up, sometimes snags a stylist, and hits up thrift stores to build her set and wardrobe.

Fashion and fashion photography have only shown up on her radar in recent years.

She said she never got to experience wearing clothes that would elicit the “ohs” and “ahs” of others. She walked right past fashion magazines on the shelves of bookstores. But her obvious talent has built a new appreciation for the industry. Like her journey finding confidence through photography, with fashion she says, “You get to dictate…that first initial visual impression people have of you.”

And Lynn now has “fashion designer” to add to her name. She started up Declared, an online clothing retailer that also lets Lynn flex her talents as a thrift store connoisseur for its prime vintage denim section. Most recently, Lynn humblebrags about spotting Hayley Williams from the pop punk band Paramore sporting one of her crop tops.

Also on Lynn’s radar is the idea of creating adult storybooks like Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

“But not as twisted or horrifying,” she says.

“I think that would be…beautiful.” OMAG

36

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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FACES

by jillian humphries • photography by bill sitzmann

Lisa Tosone A postal carrier that can’t get enough mail.

W

HEN IT COMES TO

defining the word ‘family’ in 2014, it is no longer restricted to a nuclear family of a mom, dad, and a kid or two. For many addresses in the Fairacres neighborhood, postal carrier Lisa Tosone has been added to the bunch.

With 30 years at the post office under her mailbag, Tosone knows her way around Omaha and has enjoyed every minute. Since taking her current route in 2009, Fairacres has become her favorite.

Though her days begin inside the Saddle Creek Station, she finds her happy place > omaha magazine • september/october 2014

37

faces lisa tosone

< cruising the streets and spending her lunches among the beautiful greenery.

“People don’t think about landscaping for their postal carrier,” Tosone says, “but I’m the one who truly gets to enjoy it season to season. It’s the perfect job for me.”

An Omaha native, she has a degree in photography and was working at a portrait studio in South Sioux City, Neb., when her brother convinced her to complete the civil service exam. Tosone moved back to Omaha in 1983 and began work at the post office the next year.

Since then she has accumulated many new friends along the way and can’t go anywhere without someone waving ‘hello.’

Just another neighborhood family member saying ‘hi.’ She is even on the email list for the Neighborhood Watch.

“She looks after us, and we look after her,” explains area resident Sue Conine. “We don’t want to lose her.”

She still enjoys taking on small photo projects, whether it’s a portrait in Elmwood Park or creating the perfect shot for her Christmas cards, which are quite popular in the neighborhood. She sends over 200 cards a year.

Even though there’s no employee discount for stamps, nothing can stop this mail-delivering powerhouse from spreading a little holiday cheer throughout the ‘hood.

Not even a bilateral knee replacement in February.

Ten short weeks later she was right back on the streets with her eight-hour strolls.

Add “through knee replacements” to the post office’s motto of rain, sleet, or snow…and you have Tosone.

Tosone has been retirement-eligible for over three years, but feels she has a few more miles in her, especially when each step and every turn of an ignition brought her closer to posting a major milestone in the world of postage. In July, she was honored with the postal service’s Million Mile Award, which is given to postal employees who drive without an accident for a total of one million miles or 30 years.

With a personal mantra of “When you give good, you get good” in mind, Tosone goes above and beyond the call of duty. And, not surprisingly, she’s something of a mail geek.

“I’m not only a mail carrier,” she chuckles, “but I’m one of our biggest customers. I love to get mail and send mail. I just like everything about it!” OMAG 38

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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by david williams • photography by bill sitzmann

Ashton Taylor Omaha’s Next Big Thing?

GEN O

ANY COLLEGE STUDENTS RELISH summers back

home, and Ashton Taylor is no exception.

“I miss Omaha so much when I’m away at school,” says the 19-year-old who is starting her sophomore year at Brigham Young University. But the musical theatre transfer who spent her freshman year at the prestigious Hartt School in Connecticut—widely >

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

39

gen o ashton taylor

< regarded as one of the top 10 conservatory programs in the nation—will be feeding her homesickness once again next summer when she heads west instead of east after finals.

Southern California awaits, as does a fresh round of small- and big-screen auditions.

Taylor’s family moved from San Diego to Omaha almost six years ago at a time when the triple-threat actress/singer/dancer was deep into auditions for various Disney and Nickelodeon productions. Her relocation meant that a number of promising callbacks had to be met with a reply of “Sorry, but I now live 1,500 miles away from the epicenter of my dreams.

“But I was so surprised—and thrilled—to discover that Omaha has an amazing arts community where theater in particularly is really strong,” she explains. “It turned out to be the very best move I could have made.

Omaha has been a great experience, and the people I’ve worked with and performed for here are so supportive, so wonderful.”

The Omaha chapter of her life, she says, is the silver lining of what could have been a career-ending relocation before she could even get a career fully off the ground to begin with.

If you saw her name anywhere in a theater program in this town during her high school years, you could pretty much count on the fact that it would it would be repeated later when the slate of candidates was released during awards season. She was nominated for four Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards and snagged wins with both the Theatre Arts Guild (in the title role of Annie, The Rose, 2010) and the Omaha Community Playhouse (as Baby June in Gypsy, 2009).

Taylor has more recently been padding her vitae in collaborations with some rather notable names. Amber Riley (Glee, Dancing With the Stars) co-wrote with Taylor the song, “Better Than That,” which is among a growing roster of her works available on iTunes.

She’s also launched a trio of music videos on her Ashton Taylor Channel on YouTube.

Island Records artist Kristinia DeBarge is featured in Taylor’s “Complicated,” as is Tiffany Thornton (Hannah Montana, The O.C., etc.) in the video for “Spotlight.”

Omahans already know of Taylor’s on-stage talents. Now she’s trying to translate that gift into a life in front of a camera.

“I like to think that maybe I was born with at least a little bit of talent,” Taylor demurs.

“Now I’m trying to see how far I can push myself in becoming a big talent.” OMAG 40

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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by david williams • photography by laurie and charles photographs

STYLE SHOT

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the fashion philosophy of Michelle Morrison, an academic success counselor and leadership development specialist at Creighton University.

Here she sports a classically simple yet sophisticated ensemble that captures the very essence of a season.

Autumnal hues and earthy fabrications are rendered in a composition that is at once understated and loaded with verve. OMAG

Vintage Oscar de la Renta Couture bolero-length cashmere jacket Layered, ruffled-collar cotton blouse by Axel of Vail Ralph Lauren suede skirt Roberto Coin gold hoop earrings omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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ART + CULTURE • BOOKS

by robert nelson • photography by bill sitzmann

From Stage to Page Longtime children’s theater director and playwright James Larson tries his hand at fiction.

A

FTER 28 YEARS DIRECTING one of the nation’s top

youth theaters, James Larson knows how cats talk. They tend to be a bit snooty. They certainly like to think they’re smarter than your average talking dog.

So shifting to writing children’s literature after decades directing the Omaha Theater Company for Young People at The Rose wasn’t that big of a leap, Larson says.

Especially since Larson also has written stage adaptions for some of America’s most beloved children’s books.

“Writing fiction is quite a bit of fun,” says Larson, who adapted, among others, The Little Engine That Could and Mercer Mayer’s There’s an Alligator Under My Bed for national tours.

“I’m usually limited to the space on a stage.

In a book, nothing limits your imagination. I can have rocket ships blasting off to the moon.

Pigeons can talk. It’s liberating.”

It’s a pleasure to witness that imagination unbound. His new book, “A” is for The Alchemist is a pure joy, a book seemingly written by a seasoned literary veteran rather than a first-time novelist.

“A” is for The Alchemist, a tale of a brother and sister (Winnie and Winslow) and their cat and dog pitted against a mad scientist, has exactly what fans of the Theater Company would expect from Larson: Vivid, fun, young characters, dastardly antagonists, a frolicking > omaha magazine • september/october 2014

43

art + culture • books james larson

< adventure and, yes, some lovable and pitch-perfect animal characters.

While Larson may have been steeped in the storytelling art, he did struggle with some of the novel demands of writing literature. For one, when you have 255 pages of story, you have a lot more story to tell. That means more backstory. Much more than in stories for the stage, Larson had to get to know everything possible about his characters and the landscape in which they live.

“To make them come alive, you have to know these characters so well,” he says. “I’ve written so much just in the process of getting to know them and trying to get to understand the craft. While some things about writing may be easier because of my profession, in some ways, writing this book is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

One of Larson’s longtime collaborators, Mark Medoff, winner of both the Tony Award and Olivier Award for his play Children of a Lesser God, effused about his friend’s skill at storytelling. Larson and Medoff have collaborated on several productions over the years.

Medoff says he’s excited to see Larson try his hand at fiction.

“James became one of my heroes,” Medoff says. “He is such a talented artist and humble and generous human being that it’s not shocking he made the Omaha Children’s Theater into an international success.

“I so look forward to reading his book— and my grandchildren reading his book,” he says. “I know it will enhance my respect for… this dear and unique man.”

The book is already beginning to garner significant positive reviews.

Kirkus Reviews wrote that Larson “has written a well-paced story with all the ingredients to keep kids enthralled.” A Clarion Review piece said the book “is a promising start to Larson’s new series, which will appeal to children and young adults seeking an action-packed novel with some fantastic twists.”

Yes. Winnie and Winslow and their friends are scheduled for many more adventures, Larson says.

“I really like these characters, I really enjoy spending time with them and exploring their lives,” he says. “I honestly can see writing about them until I’m—I dunno—89 or so.

That’s how much I care about them.” OMAG To read more about the book and its author, visit jameslarsonbooks.com.

44

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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special section

BEST DOCTORS

Omaha’s Best Doctors in America 2014 ®

T

HE RESULTS ARE IN. Omaha Magazine’s annual list of

Best Doctors® provides access to the best medical minds in the community. You can be sure you’re getting the right diagnosis, the right treatment, and the right care from the innovative professionals found on the following pages.

Gallup® has audited and certified Best Doctors, Inc.’s database of physicians, and its companion The Best Doctors in America® List, as using the highest industry standards survey methodology and processes.

ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY Jaine Brownell

Midwest Allergy and Asthma Clinic 16945 Frances St Omaha, NE 68130 402-397-7400

Linda Ford

Asthma and Allergy Center 3503 Samson Way, Ste 108 Bellevue, NE 68123 402-592-2055

Russell J. Hopp

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Children’s Physicians 601 N 30th St, 6th Fl, Ste 6820 Omaha, NE 68131 402-280-4580

Brett Kettelhut

Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Associates 2808 S 80th Ave, Ste 210 Omaha, NE 68124 402-391-1800

Roger H. Kobayashi

Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Associates 2808 S 80th Ave, Ste 210 Omaha, NE 68124 402-391-1800

Kevin R. Murphy

Boys Town National Research Hospital Boys Town Medical Campus - Pacific Street Pediatric Clinic 14080 Hospital Rd Boys Town, NE 68010 402-778-6900

Jeffrey S. Nelson

Midwest Allergy and Asthma Clinic 16945 Frances St Omaha, NE 68130 402-397-7400

Thomas C. Nilsson

Midwest Allergy and Asthma Clinic 16945 Frances St Omaha, NE 68130 402-397-7400

Jill Adair Poole

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

James M. Tracy

Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Associates 2808 S 80th Ave, Ste 210 Omaha, NE 68124 402-391-1800

These lists are excerpted from The Best Doctors in America®2014 database, which includes more than 45,000 U.S. doctors in over 40 medical specialties and 400 subspecialties.

The Best Doctors in America® database is compiled and maintained

by Best Doctors, Inc. For more information, visit www.bestdoctors. com or contact Best Doctors by telephone at 800-675-1199 or by e-mail at research@bestdoctors.com. Please note that lists of doctors are not available on the Best Doctors Web site. OMAG

Mark C. Wilson

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pulmonary, Allergy and Sleep Medicine 8200 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5570

ANESTHESIOLOGY Mark L. D’Agostino

Methodist Hospital Department of Anesthesiology 8303 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-4000

Dennis J. Esterbrooks

Alegent Creighton Cardiac Center 3006 Webster St Omaha, NE 68131 402-280-4566

Alegent Creighton Cardiac Center 3006 Webster St Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0717

The Nebraska Medical Center Department of Anesthesiology 42nd and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5782

Syed Maqdoom Mohiuddin Alegent Creighton Cardiac Center 3006 Webster St Omaha, NE 68131 402-280-4566

Kent Hutton

Anesthesia West 7822 Davenport St Omaha, NE 68114 402-391-4855

Aryan N. V. Mooss

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE Alegent Creighton Cardiac Center 3006 Webster St Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0717

UNMC Physicians Heart Center Durham Outpatient Center, Ste 2310 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8888

Thomas J. Lanspa

Barbara J. Hurlbert

Michael G. DelCore

Arthur R. Easley

Alegent Creighton Cardiac Center 3006 Webster St Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0717

Thomas R. Porter

UNMC Physicians Heart Center Durham Outpatient Center, Ste 2310 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8888

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

45

BEST DOCTORS

special section

John Windle

UNMC Physicians Heart Center Durham Outpatient Center, Ste 2310 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8888

COLON AND RECTAL SURGERY Jennifer Beaty

Colon and Rectal Surgery 9850 Nicholas St, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-343-1122

Garnet J. Blatchford Colon and Rectal Surgery 9850 Nicholas St, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-343-1122

Maniamparampil Shashidharan Colon and Rectal Surgery 9850 Nicholas St, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-343-1122

Charles A. Ternent

Colon and Rectal Surgery 9850 Nicholas St, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-343-1122

Alan G. Thorson

Colon and Rectal Surgery 9850 Nicholas St, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-343-1122

CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE Kristina L. Bailey

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care 985910 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Bernard Timothy Baxter

University of Nebraska Medical Center Section of Vascular Surgery Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7300

Steven Jay Lisco

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Anesthesiology 42nd and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4081

Lee Morrow

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine 601 N 30th St, Ste 3820 Omaha, NE 68131 402-449-4486

46

Craig Arnold Piquette

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Debra J. Romberger

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine 985300 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-943-5515

Joseph H. Sisson

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6241

Susanna Gertrude Von Essen UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Tammy Oleskevich Wichman Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine 601 N 30th St, Ste 3820 Omaha, NE 68131 402-449-4486

DERMATOLOGY John J. Ferguson

Methodist Physicians Clinic Department of Dermatology 10060 Regency Cir, 3rd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1315

Jill S. Nelson

Dermatology Specialists of Omaha 909 N 96th St Omaha, NE 68114 402-330-4555

Joel Schlessinger Skin Specialists 2802 Oak View Dr, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68144 402-334-7546

EMERGENCY MEDICINE Robert Muelleman

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine 42nd and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4020

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

Michael Wadman

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine 981150 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6948

Richard A. Walker

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine 42nd and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4000

ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM Robert J. Anderson

Alegent Creighton Clinic Department of Endocrinology 5002 Underwood Ave Omaha, NE 68132 402-717-0785

Claire Baker

Diabetes and Endocrine Associates 7831 Chicago Ct Omaha, NE 68114 402-561-2740

Brian Boerner

The Nebraska Medical Center Diabetes Center Specialty Services Pavilion, 1st Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8700

Cyrus Victor DeSouza

Omaha Division - VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism 4101 Woolworth Ave Omaha, NE 68105 402-346-8800

Andjela T. Drincic

University of Nebraska Medical Center Diabetes Center 4355 Emile St Omaha, NE 68131 402-559-8700

Whitney Sears Goldner

The Nebraska Medical Center Diabetes Center Specialty Services Pavilion, 1st Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8700

Sarah B. Konigsberg

Diabetes and Endocrine Associates 7831 Chicago Ct Omaha, NE 68114 402-561-2740

Jennifer L. Larsen

The Nebraska Medical Center Diabetes Center Specialty Services Pavilion, 1st Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8700

Lynn R. Mack

The Nebraska Medical Center Diabetes Center Specialty Services Pavilion, 1st Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8700

Amy S. Neumeister

The Nebraska Medical Center Diabetes Center Specialty Services Pavilion, 1st Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8700

Robert R. Recker

Alegent Creighton Osteoporosis 601 N 30th St, Ste 4820 Omaha, NE 68131 402-280-4470

Vijay Shivaswamy

The Nebraska Medical Center Diabetes Center Specialty Services Pavilion, 1st Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8700

Timothy O. Wahl

Diabetes and Endocrine Associates 7831 Chicago Ct Omaha, NE 68114 402-561-2740

FAMILY MEDICINE Greg J. Babbe

UNMC Physicians Family Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

Robert A. Beer

West Omaha Family Physicians 17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Ste 130 Omaha, NE 68130 402-758-5150

William P. Fitzgibbons

Skyline Medical Center Department of Family Medicine 1908 N 203rd St, Ste 2 Elkhorn, NE 68022 402-289-4031

Dennis P. Goeschel

UNMC Physicians Clarkson West Clinic Department of Family Medicine 2727 S 144th St, Ste 140 Omaha, NE 68144 402-778-5677

Mark D. Goodman

Alegent Creighton Clinic Department of Family Medicine 1319 Leavenworth St, Ste 101 Omaha, NE 68102 402-717-0420

Norman L. Grosbach

Methodist Physicians Clinic HealthWest Department of Family Medicine 16120 W Dodge Rd Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0610

special section

David Harnisch

UNMC Physicians Family Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

Jeffrey Harrison

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Family Medicine 2510 Bellevue Medical Dr, Ste 200 Bellevue, NE 68123 402-595-2275

Kimberly Jean Jarzynka

UNMC Physicians Family Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 42nd and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

Monty S. Mathews

UNMC Physicians Family Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St, 3rd Fl Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

Paul H. Meissner

Arbor Heights Family Practice 8720 Frederick St, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-0700

Debra E. Mostek

UNMC Physicians Geriatrics Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S 38th Ave Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-9600

Paul J. Nelson

Family Health Care 10105 Maple St Omaha, NE 68134 402-572-3140

Audrey Paulman

UNMC Physicians Family Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

Charles H. Stoner

Omaha Family Physicians 17841 Pierce Plaza Omaha, NE 68130 402-991-7000

Stephen Lanspa

Savio Charan Reddymasu

Mark E. Mailliard

Daniel F. Schafer

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Division of Gastroenterology 601 N 30th St, Ste 5730 Omaha, NE 68131 402-449-4692

Edward Vandenberg

UNMC Physicians Geriatrics Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S 38th Ave Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-9600

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Division of Gastroenterology 601 N 30th St, Ste 5730 Omaha, NE 68131 402-449-4692

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine 45th and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Douglas H. Wheatley

UNMC Physicians Family Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

Timothy M. McCashland

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

GASTROENTEROLOGY Michael Jones

Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates 8901 Indian Hills Dr, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7057

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Edwin Conrad Schafer II

Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates 8901 Indian Hills Dr, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7057

Michael Schafer

John Charles Mitchell II

Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates 8901 Indian Hills Dr, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7057

Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates 8901 Indian Hills Dr, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7057

Bob T. Kizer

BEST DOCTORS

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Division of Gastroenterology 601 N 30th St, Ste 5730 Omaha, NE 68131 402-449-4692

Congratulations “Best Doctors”

to our physicians on their recognition as

Boys Town Ear, Nose & Throat Institute

Boys Town Pediatric Gastroenterology

Boys Town Allergy, Asthma and Pediatric Pulmonology

Paul M. Paulman

UNMC Physicians Family Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

Michael A. Sitorius

UNMC Physicians Family Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 42nd and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

D. Richard Kang, M.D.

Rodney P. Lusk, M.D.

Jon A. Vanderhoof, M.D.

Kevin R. Murphy, M.D.

Boys Town Internal Medicine

Boys Town Pediatrics

John Lloyd Smith

UNMC Physicians Family Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

Mark J. Domet, M.D.

Charles J. Sprague, M.D.

555 North 30th Street (402) 498-6540

Nancy L. VanderSluis, M.D.

Vicki A Hermann, M.D.

14000 Boys Town Hospital Road (on the campus of Boys Town)

(402) 778-6800

www.boystownhospital.org

Robert J. Schwab, M.D.

BOYS TOWN

National Research Hospital

®

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

47

BEST DOCTORS

special section

HAND SURGERY

Renee L. Young

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

GERIATRIC MEDICINE Brenda Keller

UNMC Physicians Geriatrics Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S 38th Ave Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-9600

William L. Lyons

UNMC Physicians Geriatrics Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S 38th Ave Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-9600

Timothy Raymond Malloy

UNMC Physicians Family Medicine Geriatric Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8814

James V. Ortman

Bergan Medical Bldg, Ste 301 7710 Mercy Rd Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-7040

Jane F. Potter

UNMC Physicians Geriatrics Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S 38th Ave Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-9600

Rebecca L. Reilly Methodist Hospital Geriatric Clinic 8303 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-3152

Susan G. Scholer

Omaha Internal Medicine 1805 N 145th St Omaha, NE 68154 402-393-1000

Edward Vandenberg

UNMC Physicians Geriatrics Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S 38th Ave Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-9600

48

Ian D. Crabb

OrthoWest Oakview Medical Bldg, Ste 212 2725 S 144th St Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0800

John A. (Jack) McCarthy

GIKK Ortho Specialists 17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-399-8550

Richard Murphy Omaha Orthopedic Clinic and Sports Medicine 11704 W Center Rd, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68144 402-691-0500

M. Andrew Thompson

OrthoWest Oakview Medical Bldg, Ste 212 2725 S 144th St Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0800

Jeffrey Tiedeman

GIKK Ortho Specialists 17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-399-8550

HEPATOLOGY Mark E. Mailliard

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine 45th and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Timothy M. McCashland

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Sandeep Mukherjee

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Division of Gastroenterology 601 N 30th St, Ste 5730 Omaha, NE 68131 402-449-4692

Daniel F. Schafer

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

Michael F. Sorrell

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

INFECTIOUS DISEASE Marvin J. Bittner

Omaha Division - VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System Division of Infectious Disease 4101 Woolworth Ave, Ste 111 Omaha, NE 68105 402-346-8800

Bradley Edward Britigan

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine 985520 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4204

Diana F. Florescu

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Infectious Disease Durham Outpatient Center, 5th Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

Alison Gail Freifeld

Mark E. Rupp

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Department of Infectious Disease Durham Outpatient Center, 5th Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Philip W. Smith

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Infectious Disease 42nd and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

Susan Swindells

UNMC Physicians Specialty Care Center Department of Infectious Diseases 804 S 52nd St Omaha, NE 68106 402-559-2666

INTERNAL MEDICINE Steven T. Bailey

Methodist Physicians Clinic HealthWest Department of Internal Medicine 16120 W Dodge Rd Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0550

Joel Bessmer

105 S 90th St, Ste 201 Omaha, NE 68114 402-779-8400

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Infectious Disease Durham Outpatient Center, 5th Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

Terence Michael Cooney

Gary L. Gorby

Michael H. Davidian

Omaha Division - VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System Division of Infectious Disease 4101 Woolworth Ave Omaha, NE 68105 402-280-4210

Angela Hewlett

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Infectious Disease Durham Outpatient Center, 5th Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

Andre Kalil

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Infectious Disease Durham Outpatient Center, 5th Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

Laurel C. Preheim

Omaha Division - VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System Division of Infectious Disease 4101 Woolworth Ave Omaha, NE 68105 402-280-4210

Methodist Physicians Clinic Indian Hills Internal Medicine 8901 W Dodge Rd, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-8600

Alegent Creighton Clinic Division of General Internal Medicine 5002 Underwood Ave Omaha, NE 68132 402-280-2010

Michael Domalakes

Methodist Physicians Clinic Department of Internal Medicine 10060 Regency Cir, 3rd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1378

Devin J. Fox

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Department of Hospital Medicine 5002 Underwood Ave Omaha, NE 68132 402-449-4798

Rebecca Herink

Methodist Physicians Clinic Indian Hills Internal Medicine/Pediatrics 8901 W Dodge Rd, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-8990

T. J. Holmes

4239 Farnam St, Ste 301 Omaha, NE 68131 402-552-3040

special section

Bruce L. Houghton

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Division of General Internal Medicine 601 N 30th St, Ste 5800 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0800

Anna Maio

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Division of General Internal Medicine 601 N 30th St, Ste 5800 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0800

J. Scott Neumeister

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Department of Internal Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

David V. O’Dell

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine 983331 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Mark E. Oberlies

Internal Medicine Physicians 17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Ste 102 Omaha, NE 68130 402-758-5800

Mark D. Omar

Methodist Physicians Clinic HealthWest Department of Internal Medicine 16120 W Dodge Rd Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0550

James V. Ortman

Bergan Medical Bldg, Ste 301 7710 Mercy Rd Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-7040

Robert J. Schwab

Thomas Gerald Tape

Boys Town National Research Hospital Boys Town Medical Campus - Pacific Street Pediatric Clinic Department of Internal Medicine 14080 Hospital Rd Boys Town, NE 68010 402-778-6960

UNMC Physicians Midtown Clinic Department of Internal Medicine 139 S 40th St Omaha, NE 68131 402-595-3939

Edward J. Taylor

Methodist Physicians Clinic Indian Hills Internal Medicine 8901 W Dodge Rd, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-8600

Lynn Scott

Methodist Physicians Clinic Department of Internal Medicine 10060 Regency Cir, 3rd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1378

Richard K. Osterholm Westroads Medical Group 10170 Nicholas St Omaha, NE 68114 402-391-3800

Chad W. Vokoun

UNMC Physicians Midtown Clinic Department of Internal Medicine 139 S 40th St Omaha, NE 68131 402-595-3939

Joseph F. Shehan

Jennifer Parker

Baker Place Clinic Department of Internal Medicine 5050 Ames Ave Omaha, NE 68104 402-595-2280

Joann L. Porter

Omaha Division - VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System Department of Internal Medicine 4101 Woolworth Ave Omaha, NE 68105 402-346-8800

Susan G. Scholer

Omaha Internal Medicine 1805 N 145th St Omaha, NE 68154 402-393-1000

Westroads Medical Group 10170 Nicholas St Omaha, NE 68114 402-391-3800

John Arnold Woodruff

Matthew Alexander Shehan Physicians of Internal Medicine 7710 Mercy Rd, Ste 601 Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-5236

Physicians of Internal Medicine 7710 Mercy Rd, Ste 601 Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-6009

INTERNAL MEDICINE/ HOSPITAL MEDICINE Eric C. Rice

William A. Shiffermiller

Methodist Physicians Clinic HealthWest Department of Internal Medicine 16120 W Dodge Rd Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0550

David P. Stearnes

BEST DOCTORS

Methodist Physicians Clinic HealthWest Department of Internal Medicine 16120 W Dodge Rd Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0550

Lakeside Hospital Department of Internal Medicine 16901 Lakeside Hill Ct Omaha, NE 68114 402-717-8000

Kendra E. Swanson

Methodist Hospital Department of Internal Medicine 8303 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-2360

CONGRATULATIONS

“2014 BEST DOCTORS IN AMERICA®“ MEDICAL ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY

Nebraska Cancer Specialists has been certified through the QOPI Certification Program (QCP™), an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). By choosing a practice that is currently certified by QCP, you know that you’ve selected a practice that is committed to delivering the highest quality of cancer care to you.

Margaret Block, M.D.

Robert M. Langdon, Jr., M.D.

Alegent Creighton Health Cancer Center - Bergan (402) 393-3110 Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center (402) 354-8124 Midwest Cancer Center Papillion (402) 593-3141

Ralph J. Hauke, M.D.

Stefano R. Tarantolo, M.D.

Midwest Cancer Center Legacy (402) 334-4773 FAMC Health Park Plaza (402) 941-7030

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

49

BEST DOCTORS

special section

MEDICAL GENETICS Julia A. Bridge

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pathology and Microbiology 983135 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7212

Bruce A. Buehler

University of Nebraska Medical Center Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation Department of Genetic Medicine 412 S Saddle Creek Rd Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6418

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY James O. Armitage

University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Hematology and Oncology The Lied Transplant Center Bldg, 3rd Fl 4310 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5600

Philip J. Bierman

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine The Lied Transplant Center 987680 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5600

Margaret Block

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center Nebraska Cancer Specialists 8303 Dodge St, Ste 250 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-8124

James Richard Commers

Hematology and Oncology Consultants 6901 N 72nd St, Ste 2244 Omaha, NE 68122 402-572-3535

Kenneth H. Cowan

University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Hematology and Oncology The Lied Transplant Center Bldg, 3rd Fl 4310 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4238

Ralph Joseph Hauke

Nebraska Cancer Specialists Midwest Cancer Center – Legacy 17201 Wright St, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-334-4773

Margaret Anne Kessinger

University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Hematology and Oncology The Lied Transplant Center Bldg, 3rd Fl 4310 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5600

50

Robert M. Langdon, Jr.

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center Nebraska Cancer Specialists 8303 Dodge St, Ste 250 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-8124

Abraham Philip Mathews

Hematology and Oncology Consultants 6901 N 72nd St, Ste 2244 Omaha, NE 68122 402-572-3535

Elizabeth C. Reed

University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Hematology and Oncology The Lied Transplant Center Bldg, 3rd Fl 4310 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5600

Inaganti Mastan Shah

Hematology and Oncology Consultants 6901 N 72nd St, Ste 2244 Omaha, NE 68122 402-572-3535

Peter Silberstein

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Division of Hematology and Oncology 601 N 30th St, Ste 2565 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0950

Stefano R. Tarantolo

Nebraska Cancer Specialists Midwest Cancer Center – Legacy 17201 Wright St, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-334-4773

Joseph Daniel Verdirame

Hematology and Oncology Consultants 6901 N 72nd St, Ste 2244 Omaha, NE 68122 402-572-3535

Julie M. Vose

University of Nebraska Medical Center Peggy D. Cowdery Patient Care Center The Lied Transplant Center Bldg, 3rd Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5600

NEPHROLOGY Khalid Bashir

Alegent Creighton Nephrology 3316 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-4970

Robert W. Dunlay

Alegent Creighton Nephrology 3316 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-4970

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

Muhammad Firoz

Alegent Creighton Nephrology 3316 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-4970

Richard J. Lund

Alegent Creighton Nephrology 3316 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-4970

NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY Kenneth A. Follett

The Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Office North Bldg, Ste 650 4242 Farnam St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

George Greene

Neurosurgical Associates 4242 Farnam St, Ste 363 Omaha, NE 68131 402-552-2929

Douglas J. Long

Midwest Neurosurgery and Spine Specialists 8005 Farnam Dr, Ste 305 Omaha, NE 68114 402-398-9243

William E. Thorell

The Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Office North Bldg, Ste 650 4242 Farnam St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

NEUROLOGY John M. Bertoni

The Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Office North Bldg, Ste 650 4242 Farnam St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

Pierre B. Fayad

The Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Office North Bldg, Ste 650 4242 Farnam St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

Harris A. Frankel

The Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Office North Bldg, Ste 650 4242 Farnam St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

Sanjay P. Singh

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Department of Neurology 601 N 30th St, Ste 5300 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0070

OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY Craig Alan Bassett

Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s Center 717 N 192nd Plaza, Ste 1100 Omaha, NE 68002 402-815-1700

Teresa Grace Berg

Olson Center for Women’s Health at UNMC Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4500

Paige Berryman

Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s Center 717 N 190th Plaza, Ste 1500 Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1995

Robert G. Bonebrake

Methodist Perinatal Center 717 N 190th Plaza, Ste 2400 Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1970

David Crotzer

Midwest GYN Oncology 8303 Dodge St, Ste 300 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5250

Carolyn Doherty

Reproductive Health Specialist 717 N 190th Plaza, Ste 2500 Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1915

Kristen L. Hoffman

Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s Center 717 N 190th Plaza, Ste 1100 Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1991

Carolee Jones

Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s Center 717 N 190th Plaza, Ste 1500 Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1995

Thomas E. Martin

Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s Center 717 N 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-354-1700

Nancy B. Mathews

Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s Center 717 N 190th Plaza, Ste 1300 Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1993

special section

Rebecca McCrery

Adult and Pediatric Urology and Urogynecology 10707 Pacific St, Ste 101 Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7989

Peter C. Morris

Midwest GYN Oncology 8303 Dodge St, Ste 300 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5250

Andrew Robertson

Methodist Perinatal Center 717 N 190th Plaza, Ste 2400 Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1970

Kerry J. Rodabaugh

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 983255 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5068

Kent H. Siemers

Mid-City Ob-Gyn 7205 W Center Rd, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-6600

Ann Meissner Sjulin

Mid-City Ob-Gyn 7205 W Center Rd, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-6600

Carl V. Smith

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 983255 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6150

Tifany Somer-Shely

Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s Center 717 N 190th Plaza, Ste 1100 Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1991

OPHTHALMOLOGY James Gigantelli

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Ophthalmology 40th and Dewey Ave Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-2020

Quan Dong Nguyen

UNMC Physicians Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute 3902 Leavenworth St Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-2020

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY David E. Brown

OrthoWest Oakview Medical Bldg, Ste 212 2725 S 144th St Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0800

Charles Burt

OrthoWest Oakview Medical Bldg, Ste 110 2725 S 144th St Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0400

Ian D. Crabb

OrthoWest Oakview Medical Bldg, Ste 212 2725 S 144th St Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0800

BEST DOCTORS

Timothy C. Fitzgibbons

David J. Inda

Kevin L. Garvin

John A. (Jack) McCarthy

GIKK Ortho Specialists 17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-399-8550

GIKK Ortho Specialists 17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-399-8550

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8000

Mark E. Goebel

OrthoWest Oakview Medical Bldg, Ste 110 2725 S 144th St Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0400

Steven Xavier Goebel

OrthoWest Oakview Medical Bldg, Ste 110 2725 S 144th St Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0400

R. Michael Gross

GIKK Ortho Specialists 17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-399-8550

Kirk S. Hutton

OrthoWest Oakview Medical Bldg, Ste 212 2725 S 144th St Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0800

Omaha Orthopedic Clinic & Sports medicine, PC is proud to have Dr. Richard P. Murphy selected as one of the “Best Doctors” in America 2014 in the category of hand surgery.

Omaha Orthopedic Clinic and Sports Medicine PC has been a Practice of Excellence Since 1934.

We have assembled a team of talented surgeons.

Dr. Richard Murphy, Dr. Michael Morrison, Dr. Peter Cimino, and Dr. Jason Mickels, all working together committed to providing our patients with the highest quality orthopedic healthcare.

Our surgeons specialize in Sports Medicine, Hand and Upper Extremity, Microsurgery, Total Joint Replacement, Arthroscopic Surgery, Trauma and Fracture Care.

GIKK Ortho Specialists 17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-399-8550

Scott T. McMullen

GIKK Ortho Specialists 17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-399-8550

Matthew A. Mormino

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation 981080 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8000

Randall D. Neumann

OrthoWest Oakview Medical Bldg, Ste 212 2725 S 144th St Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0800

Samuel P. Phillips

GIKK Ortho Specialists Bergan Mercy Professional Bldg, Ste 224 7710 Mercy Rd Omaha, NE 68124 402-399-8550

Omaha Orthopedic Clinic & Sports Medicine, P.C p. 402.691.0500 f. 402.691.1586 www.omahaorthopedic.com

LOCATIONS: • 11704 W. Center Rd, Suite #200, Omaha, NE • 401 E. Gold Coast Rd, Suite #230, Papillion, NE Shenandoah, Corning and Missouri Valley, IA

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

51

BEST DOCTORS

special section

OTOLARYNGOLOGY Rodney P. Lusk

Boys Town National Research Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic 555 N 30th St Omaha, NE 68131 402-498-6540

Daniel D. Lydiatt

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center Head and Neck Surgical Oncology 8303 Dodge St, Ste 304 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5048

William M. Lydiatt

University of Nebraska Medical Center Head and Neck Cancer Center 981225 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1700

Oleg N. Militsakh

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1700

Russell B. Smith

Steven H. Hinrichs

UNMC Physicians Pathology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

Sonny L. Johansson

UNMC Physicians Pathology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

Audrey Lazenby

UNMC Physicians Pathology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

Subodh M. Lele

UNMC Physicians Pathology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

Rodney D. McComb

UNMC Physicians Pathology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology 981225 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6500

Samuel Pirruccello

Britt A. Thedinger

Stanley J. Radio

Ear Specialists of Omaha 9202 W Dodge Rd, Ste 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-933-3277

PATHOLOGY Julia A. Bridge

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pathology and Microbiology 983135 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7212

Timothy Greiner

UNMC Physicians Pathology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

Christine P. Hans

Methodist Hospital The Pathology Center 8303 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-4540

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UNMC Physicians Pathology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186 UNMC Physicians Pathology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

Phyllis I. Warkentin

University of Nebraska Medical Center Departments of Pathology and Pediatrics 983135 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7257

William W. West

UNMC Physicians Pathology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

James L. Wisecarver

UNMC Physicians Pathology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY Jaine Brownell

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY David A. Danford

Midwest Allergy and Asthma Clinic 16945 Frances St Omaha, NE 68130 402-397-7400

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

Russell J. Hopp

Jeffrey W. Delaney

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Children’s Physicians 601 N 30th St, 6th Fl, Ste 6820 Omaha, NE 68131 402-280-4580

Roger H. Kobayashi Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Associates 2808 S 80th Ave, Ste 210 Omaha, NE 68124 402-391-1800

Jeffrey R. Stokes

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Division of Allergy and Immunology 601 N 30th St, Ste 3M100 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0080

PEDIATRIC ANESTHESIOLOGY Denise Marie Drvol

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Anesthesiology 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4385

Jane Kugler

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Anesthesiology 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5400

Rachel A. Spitznagel

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Anesthesiology 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4385

PEDIATRIC CARDIAC SURGERY Kim F. Duncan

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery 8200 Dodge St, 4th Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4360

James Martin Hammel

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery 8200 Dodge St, 4th Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4360

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

Christopher C. Erickson

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St, 4th Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4350

Scott Fletcher

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

Carl H. Gumbiner

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St, 4th Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

John Dale Kugler

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

Robert L. Spicer

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

PEDIATRIC CLINICAL GENETICS Ann Haskins Olney

University of Nebraska Medical Center Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation 412 S Saddle Creek Rd Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6418

Carl H. Gumbiner

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Cardiology 8200 Dodge St, 4th Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

Prashant Joshi

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Children’s Specialty Physicians 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4238

special section

Mohan R. Mysore

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Division of Critical Care Medicine 8200 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4200

PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY Jill S. Nelson

Dermatology Specialists of Omaha 909 N 96th St Omaha, NE 68114 402-330-4555

Joel Schlessinger Skin Specialists 2802 Oak View Dr, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68144 402-334-7546

PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE David M. Tolo

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Emergency Medicine 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-8300

PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY Kevin P. Corley

Children’s Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinic 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-3871

PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY

Ruben E. Quiros

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology 985160 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-5700

Jon A. Vanderhoof Boys Town National Research Hospital Boys Town Medical Campus - Pacific Street Pediatric Clinic 14080 Hospital Rd Boys Town, NE 68010 402-778-6820

PEDIATRIC GENERAL HEPATOLOGY Ruben E. Quiros

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology 985160 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-5700

PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY-ONCOLOGY Bruce Gordon

University of Nebraska Medical Center Section of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7257

Phyllis I. Warkentin

University of Nebraska Medical Center Departments of Pathology and Pediatrics 983135 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7257

PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE H. Dele Davies

The Children’s Specialty Pediatrics Center Division of Infectious Disease 84th St and W Dodge Rd Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4005

Stephen K. Obaro

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Division of Infectious Disease 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4005

Kari A. Simonsen

University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease 982162 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-4005

PEDIATRIC MEDICAL TOXICOLOGY Prashant Joshi

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Children’s Specialty Physicians 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4238

PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY Mark J. Puccioni

Midwest Neurosurgery and Spine Specialists 8005 Farnam Dr, Ste 305 Omaha, NE 68114 402-398-9243

BEST DOCTORS

PEDIATRIC NUTRITION Patricia Seivert

Children’s Physicians at UNMC Section of General Pediatrics Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY Robert Troia

Pediatric Ophthalmology Associates 515 N 98th St Omaha, NE 68114 402-399-9400

Sebastian Troia

Pediatric Ophthalmology Associates 515 N 98th St Omaha, NE 68114 402-399-9400

PEDIATRIC ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY Paul Esposito

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Children’s Specialty Center 8200 Dodge St, 4th Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6300

Brian Hasley

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Children’s Specialty Center 8200 Dodge St, 4th Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6300

Dean L. Antonson

4242 Farnam St, Ste 490 Omaha, NE 68131 402-552-2100

Dermatology Specialists of Omaha physicians and staff congratulate…...

Jill S Nelson, MD for being voted by her peers in “The Best Doctors in Omaha 2013” in Dermatology and Pediatric Dermatology.

We are very proud of your accomplishments!

David J. Watts, MD • Anthony J. Griess, MD • Tricia L. Hultgren, MD • Judy C. Wolpert, MD Ashley L. Drake, MD • Julie A. Roubal, PA-C • Kimberley A. Deats, PA-C • Saundra D. Brennan, PA-C Skin Cancer (Mohs) Surgery • Pediatric Dermatology • Cosmetic Dermatology • General Dermatology

(402) 330-4555 | www.OmahaDerm.com | 909 N 96 Street, Ste. 201 Omaha, NE 68114 omaha magazine • september/october 2014

53

BEST DOCTORS

special section

Susan A. Scherl

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Children’s Specialty Center 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6300

PEDIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGY

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/ CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY Shashi K. Bhatia

Alegent Creighton Clinic Psychiatric Associates 3528 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-5550

Christopher J. Kratochvil

UNMC Physicians ENT Clinic and Audiology 44th and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5208

The Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry Poynter Hall Bldg, 3rd Fl 42nd and Dewey St Omaha, NE 68198 402-552-6006

D. Richard Kang

Jamie Snyder

Dwight Jones

Boys Town National Research Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic 555 N 30th St Omaha, NE 68131 402-498-6540

Rodney P. Lusk

Boys Town National Research Hospital Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic 555 N 30th St Omaha, NE 68131 402-498-6540

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY John L. Colombo

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pulmonary, Allergy and Sleep Medicine 8200 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6404

Jeffrey S. Nelson

Midwest Allergy and Asthma Clinic 16945 Frances St Omaha, NE 68130 402-397-7400

Paul H. Sammut

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pulmonary, Allergy and Sleep Medicine 8200 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6404

Mark C. Wilson

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Pulmonary, Allergy and Sleep Medicine 8200 Dodge St, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5570

Alegent Creighton Psychiatry 3528 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68131 402-345-7100

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/ NEONATAL-PERINATAL MEDICINE John Wesley Sparks

The Nebraska Medical Center Division of Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine 42nd and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6400

Zahi E. Zeidan

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Neonatal and Perinatal Medicine 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6140

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/ NEUROLOGY, GENERAL Paul D. Larsen

UNMC Physicians Pediatrics Pediatric Neurology Durham Outpatient Center, 1st Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-9539

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/ PEDIATRIC METABOLIC DISEASES William Bradley Rizzo

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pediatrics 42nd and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-2550

PEDIATRIC SURGERY Robert A. Cusick

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Pediatric Surgery Associates 8200 Dodge St, 4th Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-7400

Stephen C. Raynor

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Pediatric Surgery Associates 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-7400

PEDIATRICS/GENERAL John Andresen

Children’s Physicians - Val Verde 9801 Giles Rd, Ste 1 La Vista, NE 68128 402-955-8400

Katherine Anglim

Children’s Physicians - Eagle Run 13808 W Maple Rd, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

Larry L. Brown

Alegent Creighton Clinic Primary Care Bellevue 3308 Samson Way, Ste 101 Bellevue, NE 68123 402-827-1577

Alka Desai

Children’s Physicians - Eagle Run 13808 W Maple Rd, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

Mark J. Domet

Boys Town National Research Hospital Boys Town Medical Campus - Pacific Street Pediatric Clinic 14080 Hospital Rd Boys Town, NE 68010 402-778-6900

David Finken

University of Nebraska Medical Center Section of General Pediatrics 989400 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

Dawn Gary

Children’s Physicians - Embassy Park 9202 W Dodge Rd, Ste 101 Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-7500

Francis J. Harrison

Children’s Physicians - Val Verde 9801 Giles Rd, Ste 1 La Vista, NE 68128 402-955-8400

Rebecca Herink

Methodist Physicians Clinic Indian Hills Internal Medicine/Pediatrics 8901 W Dodge Rd, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-8990

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

Vicki A. Herrman Boys Town Pediatrics 2801 S 88th St Omaha, NE 68124 402-391-7684

David Kaufman

Children’s Physicians - Eagle Run 13808 W Maple Rd, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

David M. Keller

Alegent Creighton Clinic Department of Pediatrics 16909 Lakeside Hills Ct, Ste 300 Omaha, NE 68130 402-758-5400

Jillyn Kratochvil

Children’s Physicians - Dundee 4825 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68132 402-955-7676

Kari A. Krenzer

Children’s Physicians - West Village Point 110 N 175th St, Ste 1000 Omaha, NE 68118 402-955-5437

Kent Kronberg

Children’s Physicians - Eagle Run 13808 W Maple Rd, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

Gary Stephen Lerner

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Children’s Developmental Clinic 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4160

Mary Jane Fitzgibbons Mikuls

Children’s Physicians - West Village Point 110 N 175th St, Ste 1000 Omaha, NE 68118 402-955-5437

John C. Moore

Children’s Physicians - West Village Point 110 N 175th St, Ste 1000 Omaha, NE 68118 402-955-5437

Michael J. Moore

Children’s Physicians - Dundee 4825 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68132 402-955-7676

Paul J. Nelson

Family Health Care 10105 Maple St Omaha, NE 68134 402-572-3140

Rosann C. Nichols

Methodist Physicians Clinic HealthWest Department of Pediatrics 16120 W Dodge Rd Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0620

special section

Laura Nielsen

Children’s Physicians - West Village Point 110 N 175th St, Ste 1000 Omaha, NE 68118 402-955-5437

Jennifer Parker

Baker Place Clinic Department of Internal Medicine 5050 Ames Ave Omaha, NE 68104 402-595-2280

Sheryl L. Pitner

Children’s Physicians at UNMC Section of General Pediatrics Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

Patricia Seivert

Children’s Physicians at UNMC Section of General Pediatrics Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

Gregory C. Severson

Methodist Physicians Clinic HealthWest Department of Pediatrics 16120 W Dodge Rd Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0620

Charles J. Sprague

Betsy Stephenson

Children’s Physicians at Mission Village 16909 Q St Omaha, NE 68135 402-955-7575

Joseph Straley

Children’s Physicians - Eagle Run 13808 W Maple Rd, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

Nancy L. VanderSluis

Boys Town National Research Hospital Boys Town Medical Campus - Pacific Street Pediatric Clinic 14080 Hospital Rd Boys Town, NE 68010 402-778-6900

John N. Walburn

Children’s Physicians at UNMC Section of General Pediatrics Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

Robert D. Woodford

Methodist Physicians Clinic Department of Pediatrics 10060 Regency Cir, 2nd Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1325

Boys Town Pediatrics Lakeside Pediatric Clinic, Ste 101 16929 Frances St Omaha, NE 68130 402-758-5125

PEDIATRICS/HOSPITAL MEDICINE Joseph T. Snow

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Hospitalist Service 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5400

Sheilah J. Snyder

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Hospitalist Service 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5400

Sharon R. Stoolman

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Hospitalist Service 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4496

Cassandra Susman

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Hospitalist Service 8200 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5400

PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION Christopher W. Anderson

Alegent Creighton Back and Spine Institute 16940 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Ste 103 Omaha, NE 68130 402-717-2225

PLASTIC SURGERY Steven M. Denenberg 7640 Pacific St Omaha, NE 68114 402-391-7640

BEST DOCTORS

John J. Edney

Aesthetic Surgical Images 8900 W Dodge Rd Omaha, NE 68114 402-390-0100

Jason J. Miller

Village Pointe Aesthetic Surgery 17617 Burke St Omaha, NE 68118 402-596-4000

R. Coleen Stice

Metropolitan Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Ste 214 Omaha, NE 68130 402-758-5500

PSYCHIATRY Shashi K. Bhatia

Alegent Creighton Clinic Psychiatric Associates 3528 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-5550

Subhash C. Bhatia

Omaha Division - VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Science 4101 Woolworth Ave Omaha, NE 68105 402-995-4316

Chung-Chou Chu

Alegent Creighton Clinic Psychiatric Associates 3528 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-5550

OrthoWest congratulates this year’s “Best Doctors” for the quality care they provide to all their patients. Whatever your injury - in sports, work or everday life - take advantage of the specialized care at OrthoWest to get you back to your best!

Join the conversation by “liking” us on Facebook, and check us out online for a list of locations!

(402) 637-0800 | www.orthowest.com BestDoctors_2014.indd 1

7/18/14 8:08 omaha magazine • september/october 2014 AM 55

BEST DOCTORS

special section

Thomas M. Magnuson

UNMC Physicians Psychiatry Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S 38th Ave Omaha, NE 68105 402-552-6007

PaulaJo Malin

Alegent Creighton Clinic Psychiatric Associates 3528 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-5550

Sriram Ramaswamy

Omaha Division - VA Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System Mental Health Clinic 4101 Woolworth Ave, Rm 116A Omaha, NE 68105 402-995-4344

William H. Roccaforte

UNMC Physicians Psychiatry Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S 38th Ave Omaha, NE 68105 402-552-6007

Arun Sharma

Alegent Creighton Psychiatric Associates 7101 Newport Ave, Ste 301 Omaha, NE 68152 402-572-2111

Ashish Sharma

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry 985579 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-552-6007

Steven Wengel

UNMC Physicians Psychiatry Poynter Hall, 5th Fl 510 S 42nd St Omaha, NE 68131 402-552-6007

PULMONARY MEDICINE Kristina L. Bailey

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care 985910 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Lee Morrow

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine 601 N 30th St, Ste 3820 Omaha, NE 68131 402-449-4486

Peter James Murphy

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-9101

Craig Arnold Piquette

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Stephen I. Rennard

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Debra J. Romberger

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine 985300 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-943-5515

Joseph H. Sisson

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6241

Austin B. Thompson

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Internal Medicine 42nd and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Susanna Gertrude Von Essen UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Tammy Oleskevich Wichman Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine 601 N 30th St, Ste 3820 Omaha, NE 68131 402-449-4486

RADIATION ONCOLOGY Charles A. Enke

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiation Oncology 987521 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-552-3844

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

Weining (Ken) Zhen

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiation Oncology 987521 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-552-3844

RADIOLOGY

RHEUMATOLOGY Alan R. Erickson

UNMC Physicians - Brentwood 8021 S 84th St La Vista, NE 68128 402-595-1227

John Hurley

Joseph C. Anderson

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiology 42nd and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Division of Rheumatology 601 N 30th St, Ste 5700 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0750

Kimberly Ann Apker

Jay Kenik

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiology 42nd and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

Bruce Baron

Alegent Creighton Immanuel Medical Center Department of Radiology 6901 N 72nd St Omaha, NE 68122 402-572-2324

Derek Burdeny

Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital Oakview Medical Bldg, Ste 118 2725 S 144th St Omaha, NE 68144 402-609-1800

Richard A. Kutilek

Methodist Hospital Department of Radiology 8303 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-4344

Angel Mironov

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Department of Radiology 601 N 30th St, Ste 3665 Omaha, NE 68131 402-449-4530

Kevin L. Nelson

Methodist Hospital Department of Radiology 8303 Dodge St Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-4344

Matthew F. Omojola

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiology 42nd and Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

Craig W. Walker

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiology 981045 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Division of Rheumatology 601 N 30th St, Ste 5700 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0750

Lynell W. Klassen

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Rheumatology and Immunology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Ted Mikuls

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Rheumatology and Immunology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

James R. O’Dell

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Rheumatology and Immunology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

William R. Palmer

Westroads Medical Group 10170 Nicholas St Omaha, NE 68114 402-391-3800

SLEEP MEDICINE Teri Jo Barkoukis

UNMC Physicians Internal Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

SURGERY Gary J. Anthone

Methodist Physicians Clinic Bariatric Surgery Unit 8111 Dodge St, Ste 220 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1320

special section

Bernard Timothy Baxter

James Edney

Samuel Cemaj

Brian W. Loggie

Robert J. Fitzgibbons, Jr.

James A. Reilly

University of Nebraska Medical Center Section of Vascular Surgery Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7300

The Nebraska Medical Center Division of Trauma Surgery 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8884 Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Department of Surgery 601 N 30th St, Ste 3700 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-4900

Timothy K. Kingston

Surgical Services of the Great Plains 4242 Farnam St, Ste 490 Omaha, NE 68131 402-552-2222

Alan N. Langnas

University of Nebraska Medical Center Department of Surgery Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8390

Sumeet Mittal

Alegent Creighton University Medical Center Division of General Surgery 601 N 30th St, Ste 3700 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-4837

Aaron R. Sasson

University of Nebraska Medical Center Peggy D. Cowdery Patient Care Center The Lied Transplant Center Bldg, 3rd Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5600

Russell B. Smith

University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Head and Neck Surgical Oncology 981225 Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6500

SURGICAL ONCOLOGY Chandrakanth Are

University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Surgical Oncology The Lied Transplant Center Bldg, 3rd Fl 4310 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5600

Olson Center for Women’s Health at UNMC Department of Surgical Oncology Durham Outpatient Center, 4th Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7825

Alegent Creighton Clinic Creighton Cancer Center 601 N 30th St, Ste 2803 Omaha, NE 68131 402-280-5200 Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center Breast Care Center 8303 Dodge St, Ste 302 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-3090

Aaron R. Sasson

University of Nebraska Medical Center Peggy D. Cowdery Patient Care Center The Lied Transplant Center Bldg, 3rd Fl 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-5600

Edibaldo Silva-Lopez

Olson Center for Women’s Health at UNMC Olson Comprehensive Breast Center Division of Surgical Oncology 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-9196

Alan G. Thorson

Colon and Rectal Surgery 9850 Nicholas St, Ste 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-343-1122

THORACIC SURGERY James Martin Hammel

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery 8200 Dodge St, 4th Fl Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4360

Rudy Paul Lackner

University of Nebraska Medical Center Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery 600 S 42nd St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-3944

VASCULAR SURGERY Bernard Timothy Baxter

University of Nebraska Medical Center Section of Vascular Surgery Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7300

BEST DOCTORS

Best Doctors® was founded in 1989 by two physicians affiliated with Harvard Medical School and is today a leading global resource for patients, families, and physicians seeking expert medical information and guidance. The Omaha metropolitan area physicians listed below have not only established outstanding reputations among their patients, but have been chosen by other top physicians for the honor of being included in the elite, international Best Doctors® database.

The Best Doctors® designation is based on an independent, exhaustive evaluation of the medical profession in which thousands of doctors who have been identified in previous surveys as “the best” in their specialties are asked: “If you or a loved one needed a doctor in your specialty, and you could not treat them yourself, to whom would you refer them?”

Gallup® has audited and certified Best Doctors, Inc.’s database of physicians, and its companion The Best Doctors in America® List, as using the highest industry standards survey methodology and processes.

These lists are excerpted from The Best Doctors in America® 2013 database, which includes over 45,000 U.S. doctors in more than 40 medical specialties and 400 subspecialties. The Best Doctors in America® database is compiled and maintained by Best Doctors, Inc. For more information, visit www.bestdoctors.com, or contact Best Doctors by telephone at 800-675-1199 or by email at research@bestdoctors.com. Please note that lists of doctors are not available on the Best Doctors web site.

Best Doctors, Inc. is transforming and improving health care by bringing together the best medical minds in the world to help identify the right diagnosis and treatment. The company’s innovative, peer-to-peer consultation service offers a new way for physicians to collaborate with other physicians to ensure patients receive the best care.

Headquartered in Boston, MA, the global company seamlessly integrates its services with employers’ other health-related benefits, to serve more than 30 million members in every major region of the world.

More than a traditional second opinion, Best Doctors delivers a comprehensive evaluation of a patient’s medical condition – providing value to both patients and treating physicians.

By utilizing Best Doctors, members have access to the brightest minds in medicine to ensure the right diagnosis and treatment plan.

Best Doctors’ team of researchers conducts a biennial poll using the methodology that mimics the informal peer-to-peer process doctors themselves use to identify the right specialists for their patients. Using a polling method and balloting software, that Gallup® has audited and certified, they gather the insight and experience of tens of thousands of leading specialists all over the country, while confirming their credentials and specific areas of expertise.

The result is the Best Doctors in America® List, which includes the nation’s most respected specialists and outstanding primary care physicians in the nation. These are the doctors that other doctors recognize as the best in their fields. They cannot pay a fee and are not paid to be listed and cannot nominate or vote for themselves. It is a list which is truly unbiased and respected by the medical profession and patients alike as the source of top quality medical information.

Best Doctors, 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 or other party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Copyright 2014, Best Doctors, Inc. Used under license, all rights reserved. This list, or any parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without written permission from Best Doctors, Inc. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without the permission of Best Doctors, Inc. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.

BEST DOCTORS, THE BEST DOCTORS IN AMERICA, and the Star-in-Cross Logo are trademarks of Best Doctors, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries, and are used under license.

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

57

1 OUT OF 3 DIAGNOSES IN THE U.S. IS WRONG.

AND THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JUST NOT

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STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO AVOID MISDIAGNOSIS

1 2 3 4 5

Ask questions, even “unimportant” ones. Don’t be a spectator in your own care. Ask questions about your disease, diagnosis, treatment, drugs and overall care. Prepare questions in advance for every doctor’s visit. Bring along a friend or family member to remind you what you want to ask.

Don’t hold back – no question is too “silly” or “uncomfortable” when it’s your health.

Tell a 10-second story. Studies show that doctors interrupt patients after about 10 seconds to assist as quickly as possible. Hold your doctor’s attention by telling a brief, compelling story up front. Don’t just focus on symptoms (“my knee hurt”), but also on situations (“My knee hurt so badly I couldn’t walk from my bed to the kitchen.”) The more your doctor knows, the stronger the foundation for your diagnosis.

Always get a second opinion. Or a third. Second opinions are becoming increasingly routine in modern medicine. Be your own advocate and seek out second, third – or even fourth – opinions from medical experts. Understand what you’re facing and get the information you need to make decisions with confidence.

Give your tissue samples a second look. If your diagnosis is based on a biopsy, have a second specialist re-review your tissue samples. An inaccurate pathology report can lead to an incorrect diagnosis, which leads to the wrong treatment.

Tell your doctor you want to be a partner – and be one. Establish an active partnership with your doctor. That doesn’t mean self-diagnosis on the Internet. It means working together to ensure the best possible care. Share your family history using tools like My Family Health Portrait from the U.S. Surgeon General. Understand your tests and their risks. Ask your doctor to explain his or her thought process. And partner in the decision-making.

Most important of all, know your diagnosis – and don’t leave your doctor’s office until you do. If your doctor is uncertain, ask what steps are necessary for confirmation. Know what you have, what to expect and what to do about it. The greater your knowledge, the better your decisions and your health.

About Best Doctors

Founded in 1989 by Harvard Medical School physicians, Best Doctors is an expert medical consultation service that works with employers and health plans to help improve healthcare quality. With 30 million members worldwide, Best Doctors provides people facing medical uncertainty with access to world-class medical expertise to ensure they have the right diagnosis and treatment.

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by robyn murray • photography by bill sitzmann

I

Scan the page with the LayAR app to watch a video of Bhaskar Setti and the Omaha Cricket Club.

T’S A WARM MORNING as the sound of

cracking bats soars across a dirt pitch. A man dressed in a uniform of blue, straight-leg pants, and collared shirt winds up his arm to throw a fastball down the long, rectangular slab, his right arm stretching in a 45-degree salute to the sky before he unleashes the orb to a waiting batsman. Crack!

The batsman whacks it with his flat-paddle bat, and the ball rockets through the air.

It’s Saturday in Omaha. Time to play some cricket.

Sound obscure? Perhaps. But the Omaha Cricket Club boasts over 100 members and has been batting on its own pitch at N.P. Dodge Park since 1991. Vijay Yajjala, a transplant from India, joined the team after he first immigrated to Omaha seven years ago. “When I was on the flight to the U.S., I was like ‘Okay, my cricketing days are done,’” Yajjala says. “But I actually play more cricket here.” Yajjala, a microbiologist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, plays three games every spring and summer weekend, and sometimes during the week, too.

Fifteen years ago the OCC had about 20 members. Today, the club has three competitive teams—the Challengers, Hunters, and Chargers—and the Nebraska Cricket Club (a combined Omaha/Lincoln team) brought home the Midwest Championship trophy in 2003 and 2007. The club is made up primarily of immigrants who trace their heritage to the British Commonwealth, but the sport has a long history in America. And

FEATURE

Cricket The ‘grandfather of baseball’ is making a comeback in Omaha.

Cricket at a Glance

these players are hoping to bring back the grandfather of baseball.

As OCC head Bhaskar Setti explains, when the first Englishmen sailed for America in the 1600’s, they set out on their voyages with cricket bats in hand. On board the ships, pummeling a cricket ball into the floor wasn’t turning out very well. So the pitchers began throwing straight to the batsman. And of course, without a field, the batters let the balls sail into the ocean—some of the first home runs. At least, that’s the origin story Setti prefers. In fact, the beginnings of baseball are largely in dispute. (Some believe Abner Doubleday invented the game in 1839; others believe it’s a descendant of rounders, a popular game among English schoolgirls).

But origin story aside, even during Abraham Lincoln’s time, cricket was still popular in America. In 1844, what is believed to be the oldest international rivalry began with a cricket game between the U.S. and Canada, and a decade later, the Philadelphia Cricket Club was founded. That club is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

In Omaha, Setti hopes to encourage a new generation of cricket-lovers in the Midwest.

Over the past four years, the OCC has visited nearly 4,500 school kids in Omaha, Lincoln, and Council Bluffs, introducing them to the game. And this year, Setti hopes to establish Omaha’s first cricket youth league. Setti says cricket is perfect for the children he dubs “sideline kids”—those who’d love to compete in sports, but may not be tall enough for basketball, or strong enough for football. “You don’t have to be super-physical to play this game,” Setti says. “Any regular kid can play.”

Sure, there’s baseball, which Setti admits is a fierce direct competitor. But even baseball can be so competitive that only the “superkids” get a chance to play. “You don’t have

to be a star,” Setti says, “and you can still do really well.”

Cricket is a game of strategy and discipline, says Hemandh Malempati, an Omaha Challengers player, also from India. “If you’re not disciplined, you can’t excel in this game,” he says. Players need to “keep it cool, keep it controlled. “Cricket also provides lots of opportunities for kids to run (back and forth on the pitch—see sidebar for more), and long stretches of time to play. Kids play a shortened version of the game, which can still last up to four hours: 20 overs instead of the usual 50.

That faster pace is gaining popularity, and has been elevated to international competition by the International Cricket Council.

The U.S. does have a national cricket team, which competes against countries like Canada and Japan at the associate level, one below the Commonwealth teams. If the team improves, American cricket could, in theory, be bumped up to the big leagues. But for that to happen, Setti says, the sport needs to be streamlined so players can rise in competition from schools to colleges to leagues and nationals. Soccer, a much younger sport to the U.S., has grown wildly in popularity over the last two decades, and Setti attributes much of that to kids learning to love the sport at a young age. “That’s what we learned from other American sports,” Setti says, to “dedicate our time not only for playing, but taking it to the kids.”

Even if cricket doesn’t soar on the national stage, the team says introducing a game they love to new players is reward in itself. “It gives me great satisfaction that I’m able to give something to the sport,” says Yajjala, “and give something to the kids that puts a smile on their face.

“We’ve been playing this for a long time,” he says. “It’s time to give it back to the community.” OMAG

SO, CRICKET. IT’S A BATTING GAME, RIGHT?

Yes, cricket is a bat-and-ball game, just like baseball. The main difference is that instead of four bases, there are two. And as a batsman, you need to run back and forth between the two bases to score a run.

The batsmen, who play in pairs, line up on either side of the pitch, and the bowler (aka pitcher), well, bowls. Bowlers also tag team in cricket, and the captain swaps them out based on the bowler’s style and the batsmen’s response. If the batsmen cross the pitch, one run is scored. If the batsman hits the ball across the boundary, four runs are scored, and if he sails it out of the park (crossing the boundary without touching the ground), that’s six. The fielders, just like in baseball, are working to get the batsmen out. A batsman can be bowled out if the bowler hits the wicket (the three wooden stumps defended by the batsman), run out if a fielder hits the wicket while a batsman is running, or caught out if a fielder catches the ball before it hits the ground. (There are a few other ways, but this is a basic list.)

RULES TO REMEMBER: Don’t drop your bat! Unlike in baseball, cricket players need to hold on to their bats while they race to the safety of the base.

CRICKET IS TOO LONG. I DON’T HAVE TIME TO PLAY! Yes, you do. Why? Because not all cricket flaunts the exorbitant luxury of I-have-nothing-else-to-dobut-play-cricket test matches that last five days.

There is also one-day cricket, which is limited to 50 overs and generally lasts about five hours. For even speedier cricket, 20-over games are now included in international-level competition and last about three hours. Just about the same length of time as a nine-inning baseball game. So, no excuses.

AND WHAT’S AN OVER AGAIN? An over consists of six balls. Each bowler throws six balls to the batsman for one over. omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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by doug meigs • photography by bill sitzmann & doug meigs

FEATURE

Rediscovering the Platte Canoeing 300 Years of Local History

T

HREE HUNDRED YEARS AFTER Europeans first docu-

mented the Platte River, I push a canoe into the current and head downstream.

The two-day excursion takes us back in time to a French explorer’s arrival.

We depart from Two Rivers State Park near Waterloo. The Platte is high and rising, due to flooding on the Elkhorn. Floating logs and debris rush past. The foamy water surface resembles a road of chocolate milk, draining the riparian woodlands of eastern Nebraska.

Huge cottonwoods and willows stand sentry along the Platte’s swollen banks. Leafy branches stretch high into a clear blue sky.

A steady south wind blows 30 mph against the current, shaking the shoreline’s long green wall.

Storms filled the weekly weather forecast.

Rains would continue every day, except for a sweltering two-day window during midweek.

We set out on a Tuesday. The tri-centennial of Bourgmont’s arrival at the mouth of the Platte—the day prior—had just passed with little fanfare. Étienne de Veniard, Sieur de Bourgmont led a small French expedition to map the uncharted Missouri River and establish friendly trading relations with Native tribes along the waterway. His journey was part redemption. He had deserted his military post at Fort Pontchartrain in Detroit, and had allegedly eloped with a fellow officer’s wife for a life in the wilderness. The Governor of Louisiana, Sieur de Cadillac (for whom the car takes its name) offered to pardon Bourgmont in exchange for assistance. The 35-yearold voyageur from Normandy accepted Cadillac’s challenge.

Bourgmont came as far as the Platte.

His round-trip journey upstream from the Mississippi River took half the year. Our present-day canoe trip is far less arduous. This is an expedition of rediscovery.

I grew up in Omaha. My great-grandparents farmed along the Platte. As a kid, I spent countless summers playing on the river’s shifting sandbars. Yet, never before had I visited the mouth of the Platte. The river remains essential to all life in Nebraska. But its significance for many local residents has shrunken to a roadside landmark. For many, it simply demarcates the halfway point between Omaha and Lincoln on I-80.

Today, the Platte offers some of Omaha’s most convenient nature destinations. Parts of the river feel almost pristine (except when pesky airboats spoil the ambiance with their jet-engine roars). Nearby Platte parks include Two Rivers, Mahoney, Schramm, Platte River State Park, Louisville State Recreation Area, Schilling Wildlife Management Area, and more.

As I paddle into the wind, trying to maintain course in the main channel, I wonder how anyone could have navigated upstream.

Then my mind wanders, tangled in the drifting scenery.

A bald eagle takes flight from a nearby branch, circling overhead. A spotted fawn startles back into the shadowy woods. Two beavers stampede from the underbrush, kerplunking underwater like a couple of cannonballs.

Civilization is nowhere to be seen until an hour after Two Rivers. Then a lone camper trailer appears on the far shore. A few more hours pass. Bridges emerges on the horizon.

Eventually we paddle underneath. A feathered spectacle appears.

Swallows flutter from hundreds of mud nests. Their homes hang on inaccessible sides of the bridge. The birds bring a smile to our faces. Then we remember. Our final destination—Bourgmont’s arrival point—still requires more than a day of paddling.

When he arrived at the mouth of the Platte, Bourgmont met the Otoe tribe living along > omaha magazine • september/october 2014

63

rediscovering the platte •

photos by doug meigs

< the river’s confluence with the Missouri.

The Frenchman asked what they called the river. Nibraskier, they replied in the Otoe language, “Flat Water.”

“This is the first recorded mention of the name that was to become attached to the state,” says Harlan Seyfer, the town historian of Plattsmouth.

Seyfer has researched Bourgmont since 2010, when he accepted his non-paying historian position at Plattsmouth city hall.

Seyfer realized that the 300th anniversary was approaching, so he wrote two academic papers for the Missouri Valley Historical Conference, and he began planning a weekend celebration for the milestone with fellow history buffs.

Bourgmont wrote in his navigation logs: “Saturday 16 (June, 1714) travelled north one league; at the start an island of half a league; to the west a prairie of one league, at the end of which the river of the Pawnee (the Platte River) is found. Its mouth is wider than the Missouri at that point. About 30 leagues up this river are 10 villages of the Indians called the Pawnees.”

The Platte’s nom du jour entered usage only after a subsequent French expedition.

“It wasn’t until 1739 that the Platte got its current name (La Rivière Platte, or simply, the Platte),” Seyfer says. “The Mallet brothers—Paul and Pierre—met the same Otoe Indians, and asked for the name of the river.

The Otoe again said Nibraskier. Well, what does that mean? The Mallet brothers, being French, translated “Flat” into Platte.”

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

Nibraskier didn’t merely translate into the Platte River. The waterway has literally and geographically defined the state. Its braided channels and twisting sandbars originate in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming and Colorado, and extend across Nebraska via the North and South Platte rivers. The two branches converge at North Platte and continue downstream through their aptly named river valley. All of Nebraska’s interstate traffic travels the same corridor, hence the state’s undeserved reputation for pancakelike topography.

Around Omaha, the river frames the western and southern boundaries of the metropolitan area. When the Platte cuts south, it slices off some of Omaha’s biggest street names. Maple, Dodge, Pacific, and Center halt in the river’s buffer woodlands, levees, and trailer parks. Past the I-80 bridge, the river curves again before emptying into the Missouri near Plattsmouth. Ultimately, Nebraska and Nibraskier both end at the mouth of the Platte.

Back in the 18th Century, Seyfer says the mouth of the Platte would have stretched for a mile and a half. The Missouri River was likewise much wider (by a multiple of four) and much slower (before modern channelization). “We’ve tamed things down considerably,” he says.

Bourgmont observed huge buffalo herds in the area. But they vanished long ago.

Gold Rushers, Mormons, and pioneers would use the river for westward navigation.

Nebraska towns (including Omaha) built wells to siphon the river. Nebraska corn

farmers remain dependent on the Platte for irrigation. Damming the river in Colorado and Wyoming, and at Lake McConaughy in Nebraska, has further stymied the river’s natural flow.

Meanwhile, the Platte has sunken flatter and lower. Segments of the river sometimes go completely dry. “We love the Platte so much, we’re loving it to death,” says Gene Zuerlein, a planning administrator for Nebraska Game and Parks.

Zuerlein says that Nebraska is currently working with Wyoming and Colorado to raise the Platte’s flow to avoid periods when the river runs completely dry in central Nebraska.

The Platte is changing always. During summertime, it dries to a sandy ribbon stretching the entirety of Nebraska. But spring snowmelt and storms transform the waterway into a gushing torrent.

During our trip, the river is unusually high. We skirt along levees made from giant tractor tires and piles of broken concrete. We pass dense underbrush and sunken trees. The gnarled roots of giant cottonwoods, caught on some hidden obstruction, protrude from the water like bony, white claws.

Logjams clog underneath bridges, forming white-water chutes. Our canoe snags at one especially blocked bridge span near Platte River State Park. But we escape without harm.

After eight hours of paddling into the wind, we reach the Louisville SRA. The oneday route might take anywhere from 6-12 hours depending on river conditions.

We unpack the canoe and pitch camp as

FEATURE

the sun dips below the flat-water horizon with a tangerine blaze. The park superintendent, Patrick Bogenreif, stops by on his evening inspection. He offers a ride to the main office to pay for the campsite.

Bogenreif has been canoeing the Platte ever since his days studying animal science and agronomy at UNL. His friends would rent canoes and float to Louisville from Two Rivers. Then he bought his own canoe, and he’s still using it.

“Just last week, I took my grandson out in the old canoe,” he says, from behind the steering wheel of his pickup. “The river was down to about 3.5 feet, and we had to work hard paddling to find a channel deep enough.”

Today, the river has surpassed six feet. The Platte is even higher downstream, Bogenreif says, warning us that the flooding Missouri has submerged boat ramps near the mouth of the Platte. By the weekend, the river depth at Louisville would rise above eight feet, its highest level since the 2011 Missouri flood.

“From ice out until mid-April, the Platte can be too high to canoe today and fine tomorrow; just make sure to check the river level (at the National Weather Service website) and you’ll be fine,” he says. “When the river is below five feet, it’s very safe. Wear a life jacket, and make sure your kids wear a life jacket. However, when it gets above five feet, you’d better be experienced.”

Back at camp, we cook dinner on a propane stove. Fireflies blink across the darkening shadows. Soon, our bodies crash into a deep slumber.

Aching arms and clear skies soon greet us.

Fluffy cottonwood seeds float through the park like fairy dust. We reload our canoe and push back on course. Only four hours remain until the final destination.

Splash! A creature jumps from the water.

A ten-pound carp hits me in the shoulder.

Then it disappears. For a moment, I don’t know what happened. Then the scaly surprise repeats. Large fish are jumping at us, into the canoe, bouncing out, flipping and flopping.

Asian Carp.

The invasive species has spread up the Missouri and into the Lower Platte. We had startled one Asian Carp on our first day of canoeing. We see more than a dozen during the second day, as we try to keep our course close to the right/south bank in preparation for exiting at the Schilling Wildlife Management Area.

After the Highway 75 bridge, the Platte grows rough, back-feeding. White-capped waves increase in frequency. We crowd the shore and travel slowly, searching anxiously for an exit. Then we spot a flooded trail. We squeeze around the leafy tops of sunken trees.

I pull the canoe ashore right at the mouth of the Platte.

Three hundred years ago, Bourgmont lingered around the mouth of the Platte to gather information about the different area tribes.

Then he went back down the Missouri. He was rewarded with a grand title, “Commandant of the Missouri River.” He did some further adventuring in the Midwest, exploring Kansas, before retiring with an estate in his French homeland.

I wave to a passing vehicle. He stops and gets out, unable to believe we just canoed down the river. “The water is over 15-feethigh right now,” he says. “Yesterday, I called in a search-and-rescue for a fishing boat on the far shore.”

Uprooted tree trunks are zipping downstream just 100 yards ahead on the Missouri River. The buoys and signs that normally identify the approaching Missouri are all underwater. The fisherman points to an especially massive tree floating past. “If you had gotten onto the Missouri right now in that canoe, you would’ve been screwed,” he says.

The passerby is an avid fisherman scouting his favorite catfishing spots. Like most Nebraskans, this is the first time he’s heard of Bourgmont.

Bourgmont’s navigational logs eventually headed to Paris, where a cartographer transferred them into maps by hand. The maps were never published. Instead, they landed in the French national archives, where Plattsmouth historian Harlan Seyfer says they were lost until 1969.

Settled safely upon dry land, I reconnect to the modern era. I turn on my smartphone.

I snap a screenshot of our Google Maps location. I send it to the person en route who will give us a ride home.

A mere 30 minutes on the road take us back where we started. After two days on the Platte, we carry a greater appreciation for 300 years along the river, the Nibraskier, the Cornhusker State’s flat-water namesake. OMAG omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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by robert nelson • photography by bill sitzmann

Saving the Sacred Tradition battles commercialism as pow-wows become big business.

From left: Aliyah Jackson, 9, and Aletha Jackson, 11, look over the Loess Hills wearing regalia made with the help of their grandfather, Rich Barea, 66.

H

COVER FEATURE

OLY AND CHARGED WITH

emotion—dances for the departed, drum beats to ancient rhythms, regalia adorned with symbols of legends and deeds and faith—the powwow circle is tuned to solemnity, meaning, and reverence.

Then again, some of the time, not so much.

Take this recent scene from the pow-wow put on each year by the Winnebago Tribe. In the circle, the emcee hands out event T-shirts to winners of the pow-wow 5K as he ribs a group of men setting up equipment for an upcoming drumming competition. He then offers sagely advice: “Let those drum heads sit out in the sun for a bit. Loosen up the leather.”

Outside the ring, kids and parents gobble up “Rez Dogs” with buns made of fry bread.

South of the ring beneath a stand of mammoth cottonwoods artisans from around the country sell their wares. A group of softball players return to the park from a pow-wow tournament game.

Along with the sacred comes this vibe of the county fair. Fun, loose, festive. Increasingly, a real crowd-pleaser atmosphere for America’s native peoples and non-natives alike.

In the last few decades, Rich Barea of Omaha, a member of the Omaha Tribe, has watched the evolution of the pow-wow from mostly small, close-knit, amateur events into major festivals with big-name music groups and comedians, high-dollar dance competitions, and sometimes massive invasions by anyone with anything vaguely Native American to sell. >

Scan the page with the LayAR app to view a gallery slider with more photos from our shoot with Rich Barea and family. omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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Rich Barea and Aliyah Jackson

COVER FEATURE

saving the sacred

< “For the most part, this incredible growth has been wonderful and exciting,” says Barea, who, now retired from his job with the City of Omaha, has time to travel the country dancing pow-wows from Oklahoma to Canada. “But, sure, some of the original meaning can get lost in all the hoopla and commercialism. The organizers of the best events know how to maintain that all-important balance.”

Barea, 66, hit several of the major competitive pow-wows this summer. He made a little money with his traditional dancing in the seniors division. Prize money might cover expenses. Money isn’t the point.

The long road of the summer pow-wow season comes to an end September 13 at the Fort Omaha Intertribal Powwow, which Barea has helped organize since its inception 23 years ago. Besides more than 200 dancers, the pow-wow at the Fort Omaha Campus of Metro Community College will feature a series of discussions and classes on pow-wow and Native American history topics.

The Fort Omaha event is, according to Barea and its lead organizer, Barbara Velazquez, more of a low-key, traditional event focused more on fellowship than competition. “It’s more like family reunion than some giant fair,” Velazquez says. “It’s a comfortable get-together of many tribes and anyone who would like to take in the powwow experience.” “It’s a wind-down to the season,” Barea says. “It’s a chance to see a lot of old friends in the region.”

T

HE OMAHA POW-WOW ALSO

is, increasingly, an anomaly. It is a relative unknown on the national pow-wow circuit, on which the country’s top dancers, announcers, and performers tour followed by an entourage of vendors. Top emcees easily command $15,000 for a weekend job.

The Winnebago event offered $60,000 in prize money.

In this environment, traveling food vendors and artisans can make a respectable living from a three-or-four month tour of America’s Indian Country. More and more families, particularly from tribes with deep artistic traditions, make a living on the road selling their work.

Between 11 a.m. and noon on Saturday of the Winnebago event, Craig Charles, a traditional Navaho metal artist, sold $300 in rings, bracelets, earrings, and other small goods from a booth beneath the cottonwoods.

Most of the most intricate copper, bronze, and

silver items—many inlayed with turquoise— were actually made by his uncle, Archie Teller, he admits. “He’s the master,” Charles says.

“Well known throughout Navaho country.

I’m not to his level yet. Mainly, I’m the guy who goes on the road and sells, sells, sells for the family.”

Charles lives east of Flagstaff, Ariz., on the western edge of the vast Navaho Reservation.

The life of a Navaho artist can be hard for even the most skilled. “The scene of the guy sitting out in a tiny shack along some desolate road in the middle of the desert still exists,” Charles says. “My uncle lived that life. This is different. The big pow-wows basically bring a better life for us.

“Look around here,” he says, pointing to the bustle of the pow-wow. “Compare this to being in a shack in 110-degree heat with two cars coming by in a day. You meet people all day, see beautiful things all day. It can be a real joy.”

Charles, 47, says that most of the Navaho artists he knows weren’t traveling 20 years ago. Slowly, more and more have hit the road, particularly as the summer pow-wow circuit in the north and the winter pow-wow circuit across the southern United States have grown.

Charles, his son, and various other extended family members now typically hit 16 or so events a year. Not only does the tour pay the bills, he says, it has helped lure younger tribe members to take up traditional arts.

And, increasingly, he says, Navaho, including his son, are now dancing in many of the events. “He has made his regalia, he practices, he’s pretty darn good now,” Charles says.

“The funny thing: He even trains some for his dancing. He runs. Some of these dances are like a basketball game’s worth of exercise.

It’s serious stuff if you take it seriously.”

B

AREA, WELL-KNOWN TO OMAHA theatergoers as, he says,

“the guy that gets asked to play the Native American character,” makes his own regalia. He does his own bead work. He makes his own moccasins. He particularly enjoys making his own war clubs. He makes small ones for his grandkids. He makes a few “very whimsical ones,” too, including one of his favorites, “the mad chicken club.”

Do the math here: Rich Barea’s heavily beaded moose-hide vest alone weighs 13 pounds. He often carries one of his handmade war clubs or war shields into the circle.

Combined with the beads, bones, and leather of his other regalia, Barea often hauls 40 extra

pounds when he’s dancing. (He notes that some of the top dancers use plastic bone and other light-weight options to keep the weight down on their regalia).

He might participate in 60 dances in a long weekend. Some of those dances can last more than a half hour, such as a recent one that ran to 40 minutes “because the emcee just kept on talking and talking during the dance,” he says. “They can be quite long-winded,” he jokes. In the summer, temperatures can approach 100 degrees. The humidity can drive heat indexes up to 110 degrees. Add all this up: “I’ve lost 22 pounds,” he says. “It’s a sport.

Depending on the style of the dance, it can be a serious sport.”

Indeed, dancing and drumming can play a very similar role in a young person’s life as organized sports, says Barea, who has coached Omaha youth teams for decades, including an all-Native American baseball team for 16 years. You learn to work with others. You learn to work toward a goal. You learn a skill, and more important, you learn how to learn a skill. The list goes on, he says.

Of course, learning the tribal dances and rhythms can mean much more than some recreational sport for young Native Americans.

“This connects us to who we are and where we’ve been as a people.”

Barea says he hopes to have 13 of his 60 grandchildren participating in the Fort Omaha event (he and his wife, now deceased, took in many other children over the years in addition to their five birth children). With so much family there, with so many friends from the Omaha area, with so many tribal members coming from Midwestern tribes, many of which are close cousins to the Omaha Tribe, Barea says the event will be “a real homecoming and reunion for so many of us. I’m always excited as the pow-wow gets closer.”

And like always, he says, the pow wow will be laid back and fun, but also, at its core, filled with meaning. Barea has dance steps that are homages to friends and fellow dancers who have died. He also dances in tribute to his wife, his son, and other family members who have passed away. “You dance for the people who aren’t there. You dance for those who can’t dance.

“I don’t see any time when the tradition and meaning and the passing on of tradition will get overrun by all the growth and commercialism,” he says. “It’s too important to too many tribes and their people. I think people will always find a way to maintain a balance between the festive and the sacred.” OMAG omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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by james walmsley • photography by bill sitzmann

Comeback Kid How MMA Fighter Ryan Roberts Tapped Out His Alcoholism

T

FEATURE

UFTS OF WILD PRAIRIE

grasses and forbs once fought for light where Ryan Roberts now lays tile on his kitchen floor. But before they were excavated—before the slab, footings and foundation walls of his house were poured, the mixed martial artist lived in drunk tanks, jail cells, and rehabilitation centers.

Roberts lived his own personal hell. Now he’s laying the groundwork for a new home.

“I don’t know how professionals lay tile,” Roberts muses on a recent morning, staring down a rotating blade with naked eyes. “I only know how I do it.”

His table saw shrieks, echoing throughout the emptiness that will soon become a family room for his wife and daughter. Clay dust drifts onto the carefully arranged path of tiles that Roberts, 35, says he’ll set before the day is done. The VFC featherweight champion has a plan.

It hasn’t always been that way.

“My first five fights—I was drunk in every one,” Roberts says, thinking back to 2006. “I didn’t know any better.”

He had been a free-swinging, Red Bull and vodka-shooting brawler in those days, punishing most fighters with a flurry of punches and submitting to the technical prowess of very few. Away from the ring, Roberts says he received his drubbings from drunk-driving accidents, “hanging out of windows, bouncing on the concrete.”

And then there were the DUIs. Thirteen to be exact.

After his most recent arrest, his second 4th offense DUI, Roberts says he finally decided to quell his thirst for alcohol. And although he couldn’t sense it at the time, his five-year quest for sobriety would culminate with a victory in the biggest fight of his career.

Roberts says he had a nickname growing up: Tete. Phonetically, he pronounces it “teet,” but what his friends had really meant to call him was Teek, a mischievous rodent from George Lucas’ forest moon of Endor.

“So my nickname is misspelled on my f—ing back,” he says, pointing to four faded Old English letters. “First tattoo I ever got.”

Roberts entered the Omaha Salvation Army Rehabilitation Center in 2009 a shell of Tete, or perhaps he was a shell of Teek.

Either way, he says he felt as confused as his moniker, witnessing fellow patients abuse heart medication and other substances for four months. > omaha magazine • september/october 2014

71

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< The ink had only just begun to dry from his second back tattoo, which was a cross Roberts says he got immediately after his best friend and drinking buddy, Cody Cummins, shot and killed himself playing Russian roulette.

“He was my brother,” Roberts says, lifting his baseball cap and mussing his hair. “He was a lot like me, but taller and just an ornery son of a bitch. His life was taken too early.”

After transferring to a 28-day recovery program in Lincoln, the brawler says he resolved to turn himself in for a DUI he received years before in Glenwood Springs, Colo. Roberts hung a punching bag in the rehab center’s carport. He would need to win a fight to afford the train ticket to get himself out to Colorado.

Roberts did a month of jail time in Glenwood Springs, followed by about two months in the Douglas County Corrections Work Release program. With a clear conscience and finally sober, the fighter formerly known as Tete was ready to take on a new identity of “Are You Ready?”—the epithet he received for his eagerness in the ring.

“Honestly, I was just starting to grow up,” Roberts says. “I had a lot of work to do.”

And then his sister was brutally murdered.

The biggest test to his maturity came last summer after Nikko Jenkins shot and killed his sister, Andrea Kruger, in a car-jacking on the morning of August 21. She left behind three children.

“They will never know how great their mom really was,” Roberts says of his two nieces, 2 and 4. “They just won’t remember all the things that she had done for them. She did so much for so many people.”

Roberts is determined to remind them anyway, he says.

Adding to the ink cross he proudly displays for Cummins on his back, Roberts got a set of angel wing tats for Kruger, which was completed about a week before his match with L.C. Davis in December. The ensuing fiveround marathon became one of the greatest fights in VFC history. Roberts eventually won by split decision.

“He’s by far the biggest star of our organization at the moment,” says VFC owner Ryan Stoddard. “He’s also one of the hardest working guys I know.”

And he has no plans to slow down—not even while tiling the kitchen.

“Enjoy life. Don’t waste it,” Roberts says.

“When I die, this body is going to be completely used up.” OMAG

September/October 2014

Always Local, Always Beautiful

The Best View

in Omaha

At Home With Christina Mackiewicz and Scott Kroeker

DIY The $5 Fire Pit Going With the Flow

Architect Jack Savage’s Missouri River Home

Florence Boulevard “Fixer-Upper” omaha magazine • september/october 2014 omaha magazine • july/august 2014

73

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September/October 2014 VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 5

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H4

september/october • 2014

OmahaHome: contents

september/october 2014

features

departments

H16 Walk of Life

Heirloom Plants, Heirloom Traditions

H23 Restoration Exchange

Uniting Omaha in the Battle for Historic Preservation

H7 Editor’s Letter H8 History

Florence Boulevard “Fixer-Upper”

H16 Going With the Flow

H12 DIY

H36 The Best View in Omaha

H14 Architectural Styles

Architect Jack Savage’s Missouri River Home At Home With Christine Mackiewicz and Scott Kroeker

The $5 Fire Pit Art Deco Gem

H24 Home Décor Makeover Shabby Chic Redo

H30 Neighborhood Profile Legacy: Lakeside Luxury in West Omaha

H42 Room

Outdoor Living Jewel

H44 Hot Products

Boo! Time to scare up a little Halloween fun.

H46 Transformations

Bring Nature Indoors

september/october • 2014 H5

for all your cleaning & restoration needs September/October 2014 VOLUME 4 • ISSUE 5

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H6

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september/october • 2014

WE CARE ABOUT YOUR HOME

OmahaHome: from the editor

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"Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower." garage doors

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ORG E OUS L E AV E S, SHORTER DAYS, cooler

weather, warm soup, thrilling football, cozy sweaters, and sitting by a campfire. All the little joys we get living in the Midwest this time of year.

Many people in Nebraska look forward to the cooler temperatures of autumn. For me, this time brings to mind childhood memories of going back to school. I couldn’t wait to get all my new school supplies and clothes, and then later in life helping my three children prepare for school. Later in life… Yikes. Now I’m helping my youngest daughter, a junior in college, move into the next stage of life—moving into her very first apartment. How exciting for her! We all remember how fun it is to make our first place a home away from home. But, maybe she’ll miss home just a little? I’d like to think a little touch from mom—a few little special things made just so—can give her the feeling of that warm sweater in the autumn air.

We all have things we send along that we are not using or even help purchase some furnishings for them, so I figured why not kill two birds with one “feather” and make this issue’s Home project my contribution to her new place? For any of you that just enjoy a simple project on the weekend and want a quick little makeover, reviving an old piece of furniture (that’s maybe waiting for the next load to Goodwill?) with paint and stencil work might be right up your alley.

Or as the weather gets colder, bring some warmth into your home with some fall colors!

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september/october • 2014 H7

OmahaHome: history feature by lindsey anne baker • photography by sarah lemke

100 Years and Counting

Florence Boulevard “Fixer-Upper”

H8

september/october • 2014

I

N 1914, THE STATELY home at 6129 Florence Blvd. was brand new. Built by Laura D. and Edward Cackley, owner of Cackley Bros. wine and liquor house, it was a Prairie Style home for its time, brickwalled, hipped-roofed and tucked alongside what was known at the time as the Prettiest Mile in Omaha.

The home changed hands frequently over the years, and by 1935 it was the home of U.S. Senator Edward R. Burke.

By 2010, 6129 Florence Blvd. wasn’t quite so brand new. > september/october • 2014 H9

OmahaHome: history feature

Historical reenactor Thom Wood is shown above in the guise of Col. Henry Leavenworth, the role he plays at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park.

H10

september/october • 2014

< “When I drove up to it,” says Thomas Wood, “I looked at the listing and thought, ‘Is this the right address?’ The front door was a slab. There was no heating or air-conditioning. The plumbing was shot. A lot had to be done. Everything had to be done.”

So Wood bought it.

“It had Thom Wood written all over it,” he adds.

In July that year, Wood’s 18-year-old son, Eddie, was killed in Afghanistan. Eddie had been home on leave in June; Wood went with him to the airport on June 30. On July 5, U.S. Army officials came to Wood’s door with the news.

A former contractor, Wood was an auto dealer at the time. He’d been living in an apartment and had been considering buying a condo. He’d restored old homes in the past and swore he’d never do it again—he’d sold his tools to prove it.

But Eddie is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in North Omaha, and Wood wanted to be close. The home seemed like a project he could “kind of do on the side,” something he’d work on for six months or a year as a way to clear his head.

The day after he bought the house, Wood started working on the garage and roof,

which had both collapsed. Later, snow and ice were blowing in through the house’s 60 windows. It took a couple of weeks to get the heat up and running. Wood “just kind of camped out” inside.

He gutted whole parts of 6129 Florence Blvd. He restored it from the inside out.

Today, the house’s floor plan is the same as it was 100 years ago. The entryway offers two doors—one to the family living area and one to a business office, where Edward Cackley probably met with clients and where Wood does his own office work today. The oak molding in the office—which had been walled off when Wood bought the house—was gone, and was also missing in places in the front family room. Wood rebuilt it. The pale wood floor, which Wood was once advised to replace entirely, is mostly original.

He preserved a large mantle in the front room and a built-in sideboard in the dining room as well as built-in shelves in the sunroom, some of which he moved into the office. A three-season porch off the dining room—still as it was when Wood bought the house—lets in ample light.

In the kitchen, Wood created new built-in cabinets with sides that extend from the walls, offering the illusion of individual pieces of

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Upstairs is the master bedroom, Wood’s daughter’s bedroom, his second son’s bedroom, the master bath and a sewing room.

Wood, a longtime historical reenactor, makes period clothing—for himself, his daughter (who sometimes joins him for reenactments) and for other enthusiasts. He portrays Col. Henry Leavenworth at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park.

“In Omaha,” he adds, “people tend to think a house is something you buy and then use it up and get rid of it. But if it’s taken care of and fixed, it can last indefinitely. You’ve got to stick with it.”

As for Wood, he’s sticking with 6129 Florence Blvd.

“I like it here,” he says. “The front door is squeaky. But a dog has to have some fleas to be reminded it’s a dog. An old house has to have squeaky doors. But it’s a solid thing.” OmahaHome

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september/october • 2014 H11

OmahaHome: d.i.y. by robert nelson • photography by keith binder

The $5 Fire Pit

A Little Web Surfing…A Lot of Muscle

M

Y QUEST FOR FIRE began

with a quick perusal of Craigslist. Nothing free that day, but in the “materials” section, I found limestone offered for essentially free: “$10 a truckload.” My mostly shelled-out 1997 Chevy Tahoe can haul some rock, so I called the number.

The fellow had a pile from an old building foundation in the back corner of his sprawling salvage lot a little north of the old Stockyards. When I arrived, he opened his gate and directed me about 100 yards back to a weed-covered pile of rock and dirt about 100 feet from railroad tracks.

It was heavy work loading the rock. We negotiated a deal: Since my Tahoe didn’t haul as much as a half-ton, I got each load for $5.

I hauled four loads. The retaining wall I was building used three loads. The firepit only required one of the loads of rock.

So, this is a $5 fire pit. If you keep a sharp eye on Craigslist and are willing to do some heavy lifting, you could easily build your own fire pit for free. For me, the hunt for the rock was an adventure. Also, I’m cheap. I love a good deal. And this is perhaps the best deal I’ve ever landed.

H12

september/october • 2014

• After hunting down and hauling the rock or bricks you desire, determine the size and location of your pit. I used the round top of our outdoor table as a template.

Its 5-foot circumference seemed about right. When picking your site, make sure you’re not too close to structures or trees.

It’s a fire, after all.

• Dig a circular pit about 12 inches deep.

I filled my pit with about two inches of white limestone gravel. Once I leveled everything, I lined the pit with firebrick I had picked up earlier for—you guessed it —free on Craigslist.

• Here is the hard part, depending on how uneven or mismatched your limestone chunks are. Although fairly substantial with an interesting texture and color, my blocks were varying heights and widths. It may take you several tries to get your two or three layers of stones even (or relatively so) and secure.

• Finally, go back to the “free” section of Omaha Craigslist. There’s almost always somebody offering free firewood somewhere in the city. OmahaHome

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september/october • 2014 H13

OmahaHome: architectural styles by david williams • photography by bill sitzmann

Art Deco

Celebrating the Machine Age

H14

september/october • 2014

T

HIS BEGINS A NEW series in OmahaHome magazine where we tour the city looking for great examples of different architectural genres.

Our first entry is this Art Deco gem on the corner of N. 53rd Street and Country Club Avenue owned by Janice Snyder, who grew up in the home. It was built in 1933 by the Jaycees as “The House of Tomorrow,” a showcase of modernity at a time when Art Deco was at the apex of its popularity.

The design style was born in France in the years following WWI and later became popular in the states before waning by the end of WWII.

ART DECO FIELD GUIDE

• The main distinguishing characteristic of Art Deco is a streamlined vibe boasting vivd geometric patterns and often lavish ornamentation.

• Almost all homes in this style feature a flat roof, but they are not to be confused with Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie School of design that was popular at the same time.

The eclectic style may also be differentiated from Art Nouveau in that it embraces a less organic, more Machine-Age celebration of technology.

• Note the “stair step” means of connecting the garage to the main structure.

This home was built in the same year that King Kong scaled a similarly stairstepped building in New York City that had opened just two years earlier.

• Art Deco homes often—as this example certainly does—evoke a sense of

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movement. Think here of the sleek ocean liners and gleaming trains that also borrowed heavily from this style in an era when the promise of technological and social progress seemed limitless.

• Quiz Time: What element is out of place in this picture? The shutters were a later add-on and are not true to the Art Deco aesthetic.

• Commercial examples of Art Deco (think Empire State Building or Chrysler Building) pulled out all the stops when it came to embellishments, but most residential examples of the genre were decidedly more reserved. The subtle striping atop the chimney and at the rear of the home is just the right touch to accent the clean lines of this 81-year-old landmark. OmahaHome

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OmahaHome: feature by jennifer litton • photography by bill sitzmann

Walk of Life

This garden keeps family tradition alive by showcasing an array of heirloom plants.

H16

september/october • 2014

W

E ALL HAVE THAT one special rela-

tive in our lives whose powerful influence forever alters our being. Whether it’s an eclectic taste in music or a fondness for French Impressionism, that enthusiasm is contagious and makes us all unique in our proclivities. > september/october • 2014 H17

OmahaHome: feature

< In the case of Terry Price, whose decadent Fairacres garden was one of six featured in the 2014 Munroe-Meyer Garden Walk, that one person was her Great Aunt Ruby Hall.

“She was an old maid, as they say, school teacher in Boone, Iowa,” Price says. “We always loved her gardens.”

So when Aunt Ruby reached the ripe age of 82 back in 1987, she gifted her famous gardens, plant-by-plant, to Terry and her husband, Tom. “We were ecstatic beyond words. We took the two cars we had, a station wagon and a Honda Accord, and the two kids. There was barely enough room for us to sit in the cars to get back,” Terry says.

She describes an old photo of her Aunt Ruby. “She’s standing at the back of the station wagon. You can see it’s just loaded with plants. And she’s kind of waving. It’s cute.”

H18

september/october • 2014

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To prepare for the transfer, Aunt Ruby helped Terry and Tom compile a chart describing each plant. “We sat for the longest time one afternoon. You know, here’s a Phlox. It likes sun. They get tall. There’s pink and purple and white.”

They also received some plants from other relatives, as well. “I think the fact that there are family plants in here make it really special,” says Tom. Nebraska’s clay-like soil posed a problem at first. So they took a tip from one of their horticulturist friends by adding playground sand on top of the garden. > september/october • 2014 H19

OmahaHome: feature

< Nearly 30 years later, and thanks to the sand and decaying mulch, their soil is win good shape.

“It’s amazing,” Terry says, “how a grain of sand can work its way down through clay.”

Their garden features an intoxicating array of peonies, hostas, phlox, coral bells, sedum and daisies. Let’s not forget lady’s mantle, astilbe, hydrangeas and several ornamental trees. The list of species is endless, and those who are lucky to visit are treated to a gardener’s delight.

The Prices add their own surprising touches, like an old gate from a bank purchased at an antique store. A piece of a broken clay pot planted on its side peeks out from the soil like a Roman ruin. Their walkway features a bit of Omaha history with cobblestones and pavers from the Jobber’s Canyon historic district in the Old Market.

The Garden Walk is hosted annually by the Munroe-Meyer Guild, a group whose mission is to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities through fundraising for the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute.

The Price’s passion for gardening is simple.

“It’s just nice to be outside and dig in the dirt,” Terry says. “The old commune-withmother-nature-thing.” OmahaHome H20

september/october • 2014

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september/october • 2014 H21

OmahaHome: feature by lindsey anne baker • photography by bill sitzmann

Restoration Exchange Uniting Omaha in the Battle for Historic Preservation

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september/october • 2014

H

Thanks for voting us Best of Omaha 2006-2014 ALFWAY THROUGH MY CON V E R SAT ION with

Kristine Gerber, she says two words that sum up why we’re here.

“Buildings matter,” says the founding executive director of Restoration Exchange Omaha, a local architectural preservation and restoration organization.

It’s a simple sentence. And for Restoration Exchange, a solid foundation.

Established a year ago, Restoration Exchange Omaha is a sort of united front formed by several groups of people who believe, as Gerber does, buildings matter.

One of those groups was Landmarks Inc., formed in 1965 to try to save one of the city’s historical post offices. It didn’t save the building, but it did go on to successfully advocate for the preservation of many Omaha spaces, including Union Station (now the Durham Museum), Joslyn Castle, and the Dundee Theater. A second group was Restore Omaha, of which Gerber was one of the founders.

A partnership of architects, city planners, and preservation professionals and enthusiasts, Restore Omaha acted as a resource for people restoring historic homes around the city. And a third association, the oneman-run Omaha Urban Neighborhoods, brought Vince Furlong, a longtime advocate for the revitalization of Omaha’s business districts, on board.

“We decided we’re all small and we all know each other and we all know what’s not happening,” Gerber says. “There was no one out there advocating, trying to get changes made to laws. We needed to merge and form one preservation force, and we did that with Restoration Exchange Omaha.”

Together today, they’re a super-group.

Restoration Exchange fights for city buildings with the spirit of Landmarks Inc., including involvement in a recent battle to keep the midtown Omaha Clarinda-Page apartment buildings’ landmark designation—and thus, the buildings—intact.

It connects homeowners with restorers and craftspeople who specialize in the intricacies of old buildings—plaster and tile roofing and finicky windows. The annual Restore Omaha Conference, originally a Restore Omaha project where home-lovers

and restorers could meet and make connections, was staged again this year under the Restoration Exchange umbrella.

And the group hosts neighborhood tours, like the ones Furlong led along old streetcar stops via Omaha Urban Neighborhoods, in an effort to introduce Omahans to their city.

Furlong still leads tours along North and South 24th streets and Vinton Street. On Oct. 5, the five-hour Florence Boulevard/Minne Lusa Neighborhood and Preservation Tour will take a look at 11 homes, as well as the Minne Lusa House and Miller Park Pavilion.

For more on one of the featured homes, see the story on page H10.

“When Florence Boulevard first started to form, it was kind of the place to live,” Gerber explains. “People would take their Model T’s and go and drive the boulevard. People would sit on the porch stoops and visit. If you had a house on the boulevard, you had made it. But those homes, over the years, fell into disrepair.”

The homes on the tour, Gerber said, are all owned by “people who’ve gone in and said we need to save these buildings.”

That kind of saving can be intimidating.

Gerber says she introduces homeowners considering restoration projects with Restoration Exchange volunteers who’ve already restored homes to talk them through the process.

Restoration Exchange can also help homeowners apply for landmark status, if applicable, to qualify for tax credits.

“We want to make the whole process easier because our whole goal is to get these great old homes restored and preserved and back on the tax rolls,” Gerber says.

Not every venture Restore Exchange undertakes is successful—the Omaha City Council on July 1 voted unanimously to revoke the Clarinda-Page apartments’ landmark status.

But still, buildings matter.

“Old homes are your sense of your history,” Gerber says. “Think of the old homes you had as a kid, the memories and character. Plus, the craftsmanship that was used years ago was so well done—we can’t build homes like they did. Rather than take that away, we want to save our history from the demolition pile.” OmahaHome

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OmahaHome: home decor makeover by sandy besch-matson • photography by bill sitzmann

SUPPLIES:

Ordinary Meets Extraordinary

• An old piece of wooden, painted furniture • Paint (two colors) • Two additional craft colors for the feather on the door • Top coat • Sandpaper • Stencil

in the Shabby Chic Redo!

D

ISTRESSING IS EVERYWHERE YOU look anymore.

Don’t be distressed: There are tons of tutorials on how to do the job if you need a little help.

This project gives you the chance to look at what is in your basement or garage in a completely different light. Certainly, it’s a chance to make a dusty wallflower into something worthwhile again. I decided this little gem (collecting dust in the garage) needed a new look and a new space!

after

DIRECTIONS:

1. Find any wooden piece of furniture you have on hand, or pick up an inexpensive piece at a thrift store or garage sale.

2. Sand it down with sandpaper.

3. Paint it the base color, because whatever base you paint first will be the color coming through once you sand off the top color (give this color some thought).

4. Paint the top coat using a latex satin paint. I painted a second coat and let that dry overnight.

5. Take a sand block with fine-grit paper and sand only in the areas you want the base coat to show through. If you take too much off, repaint and sand again.

You can choose to show as little or as much as you like.

H24

september/october • 2014

6. Take a stencil (I chose a peacock feather) and apply that to the cabinet doors. I went with three colors.

7. I chose to use gold as my first color. Then I waited for that to dry a bit and moved the stencil just enough to where I could stencil in another color in smaller areas.

8. Wait for that to dry and then go with a shiny topcoat to seal and protect and give it a nice shine.

I decided to go with colors and a design that I thought my daughter would like.

You’ll want to let your own imagination run wild when designing your own project.

When you’re finished, you have something absolutely unique and personal to cherish for years to come. OmahaHome

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september/october • 2014 H25

OmahaHome: feature by robert nelson • photography by bill sitzmann

Going with the Flow

Noted architect Jack Savage’s unique home on the Missouri River has been a long-time work in progress.

S

OUTHEAST OF TEKAMAH, NEB., Jack Savage

savors a chunk of watermelon as he peers out over the Missouri River from his picture window. Prairie grass and sapling cottonwoods undulate in the foreground. Just above eye level, purple martins flitter around a Colonial-style birdhouse. That roiling, fickle river flows deceptively placid through the middle ground. Farmland and a stand of mature cottonwoods in the riparian plain of Iowa take the eye to the Loess Hills far beyond. >

H26

september/october • 2014

september/october • 2014 H27

OmahaHome: feature

< This is a vantage point he designed more than two decades ago and, with occasional help from Nature, one that has been evolving ever since. The noted architect, arguably the biggest single influence on the skyline of Omaha, designed his dream home in his dream space fully expecting that Change would visit.

Retired now, Savage’s more than half-century career helped nudge Omaha from bigshouldered market town to budding metropolis. Woodman Tower, Omaha Douglas Civic Center, ConAgra Twin Towers, Union Pacific Headquarters, the Mutual of Omaha Dome Addition. He’s had a hand in dozens more iconic structures. In 1975, Savage even led the groundbreaking renovation of the Orpheum Theater.

Drive the lonely gravel road for several miles from Highway 75, wind in through cottonwoods along the river and you arrive at a structure that, knowing some of his groundbreaking work, is almost anti-climactic at first glance. It looks like a farmhouse with common ag-land out buildings.

The mastery is in the details, for one, in the crafted open-space livability and flexibility, absolutely paramount in Savage’s mind when he thought of his ideal living space. Openness.

Light. Views in all directions. A connection to this land, now a federally designated conservation easement. A place he could decorate in tune with his wildly eclectic tastes and penchant for whim buys and new hobbies.

H28

september/october • 2014

This is not a modern masterpiece of design.

It’s a place that fits this particular guy and his peculiar menagerie of interests.

“When you’re younger, you’re trying to make your name and impress people with new things and bold ideas,” he says. “I wanted a Nebraska feel here, something comfortable that fit this place and fit me. I don’t have to impress anyone out here. It’s just my little corner of the world.”

Eclectic and evolving. Early on, Savage went on a bit of a salvaging binge. The carriage house brags a cupola from a fallen barn, for one. Most notably, perhaps, visitors pass through the dark oak doorway and dual coat closets that once graced the entry to the law offices of William Jennings Bryan.

Next to the small antique table where Savage eats his breakfast sits both a banjo and a ukulele. The furniture throughout the house comes from myriad design eras. Look closely, though, and you realize many of the pieces (and works of art) could just as easily be displayed in a museum.

His reading chair, which also looks out over the river, is surrounded by books that range from beginning music guides to the grand tomes of literature. Currently, Savage says, he is using the solitude of this perch to “try to figure out” Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. “I think I’m getting some of it,” he says sheepishly.

“There’s a big difference between solitude and loneliness,” he says. “Solitude is peace.

This is my place of solitude.” As part of that solitude, Savage has cultivated a preserve.

“With that Conservation Easement designation, this will be a lovely habitat for birds, animals, and fish forever.”

This refuge, both for the architect and fauna, was always designed to evolve. It weathered the great flood of 2011. (The house stayed dry. The road to the property had to be rebuilt, utilities restored. Savage still is chain-sawing downed and dead trees). The work has had unintended benefits, he says.

“You haul a chainsaw around a lot, you get in shape.” (Savage even whips out his bicep for his guest. Pretty dang buff for an 83-year-old).

A side room designed as a small theater has morphed into a first-story bedroom. He has increasingly lost interest in television. At the same time, he wanted a sleeping space on the first floor. He has reconfigured several spaces for the enjoyment of his grandkids.

His favorite space all along, though, has been the picture-window view of the river.

Savage even purchased land across the river so “it couldn’t become a dump I had to look at." When he first saw this piece of land while hunting back in the late 1980s, this spot was where he imagined himself at sunset reading a book, ham-handing a new instrument, or chewing on concepts of space/time.

“I love it,” he says. “Lovely solitude. It just feels right.” OmahaHome

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Bel Air Plaza #704, 12100 W Center Rd. september/october • 2014 H29

OmahaHome: neighborhood profile by jennifer litton • photography by sarah lemke

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september/october • 2014

Living a Legacy Lakeside Luxury in West Omaha

O

N A HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION website

tucked away under the seventh tab marked “Contact Us” is an innocuous picture of a United States Postal Service van making its first mail delivery in 2008 to a new neighborhood in postal zip code 68130. >

september/october • 2014 H31

OmahaHome: neighborhood profile

< Six years later, the mailman delivers letters to some of Nebraska’s most important movers and shakers. Fortune 500 CEO’s, an NFL football star, and top doctors live along tree-lined boulevards and winding cul-de-sacs in the area known as Legacy. It’s a luxury community located at South 173rd Street just off West Center Road.

A proximity to all that is grand gives Legacy residents a taste of the good life, whether they fancy a lakeside stroll or a spin through a shopper’s paradise.

The tranquil, yet inviting area, all roughly 70 lots of it, was once home to a H32

september/october • 2014

grand mansion nestled among 100 wooded acres belonging to Crossroads developer John A Wiebe.

It’s not a stretch to say that Wiebe left his own legacy, the gift of nature’s beauty in the form of trees and a lake, to the future residents of Omaha’s Legacy neighborhood.

“He had his own private airstrip and his own private lake, so we benefitted from the pre-existing, dammed lake,” says the president of the Legacy Homeowners Association, Greg Scaglione. “He also planted all of these trees on the perimeter of his lot, so we benefitted from that” as well.

Scaglione appreciates the privacy and beauty that the older trees provide. “The beauty of having those existing 20-year-old trees to then build your house behind, you don’t really have that in Omaha that frequently.”

He also points to the interesting design created by developer Jeff Johnson of the Cormac Company. “Professional office buildings are contiguous to our neighborhood. That’s the way the developer wanted it. It’s called high density,” he says. “Once you get on the other side of the hill, you don’t see any of that. You don’t see Life Time Fitness. You don’t see

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West Center Road. You don’t see the office buildings. It’s like all of a sudden you’re in this little community.”

The Wiebe Reservoir is a popular spot for fishing, and bass, bluegill, and crappie are stocked by the association. “The neighbors are very engaging. You’ll go down to the lake and there will be families fishing.

The whole family is out there with the rods and reels,” he says.

The residents meet annually at a pot-luck picnic by the lake. But impromptu gatherings happen frequently. “Everyone is very welcoming. There’s a lot of parties,” Scaglione says. >

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OmahaHome: neighborhood profile

< With the neighborhood’s proximity to Zorinsky Lake and its trails, it is not uncommon to spot wild turkeys, deer, and the occasional butterfly or two. But should you decide to walk just a few minutes toward West Center Road, you can snag a Venti Latte from your favorite barista.

“The uniqueness of the neighborhood is that you feel like you live in the country amongst trees,” says Sallie Elliott, a Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Ambassador and a Legacy resident. You live away from the city, but you can walk to Starbucks. You’re within two minutes of everything. You can walk everywhere.” She enjoys dining at Baby Blue H34

september/october • 2014

Sushi Sake Grille and frequents her favorite design store, Pearson & Company, located in the adjoining Shops of Legacy, an area of high-end specialty stores. “It has unique furniture accessories for staging, new construction, and my personal home,” the real estate professional explains.

Elliott says the spacious acre-plus lots at Legacy are unique to Omaha. “There’s a mix of styles in the neighborhood, from Mediterranean to French to more contemporary lines.”

The homes, all upwards of $1 million properties, vary in construction between brick and stone. “Real stone is classic and timeless,”

Elliott says. “I’ve mixed stone and brick to try to be more classic.”

As a testament to the area’s thriving development, Scaglione says there are only two or three available lots left. CEO’s of Omaha, take note.

Elliott’s favorite part of living at Legacy is walking along the Zorinsky trail and seeing her neighbors. “Everybody’s out walking.

With a big lot like this, you are separated from your neighbors and you don’t see them as much…unless you’re out walking.”

Legacy Homeowners Association Secretary Clay Cox says that he loves the great schools and opportunities available in the area.

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“My son started working at Immanuel’s Pacific Springs Retirement Community when he was 14, and it has been a wonderful opportunity for him to learn responsibility and the value of a dollar and the value of hard work.”

He also appreciates his neighbors. “We watch out for each other’s kids and property.

We love that our kids can go out to bike, ride, or fish and feel safe,” Cox says.

“It’s active,” says Scaglione. “People are active in their business. They’re active in their recreational lives, so it’s a lively community.

It’s not a sleepy community.” OmahaHome

4315 S. 120th Street 402-334-4900 www.echosystemsomaha.com september/october • 2014 H35

OmahaHome: at home by jennifer litton • photography by bill sitzmann

The Best View

in Omaha

At Home With Christina Mackiewicz and Scott Kroeker

H36

september/october • 2014

Scan the page with the LayAR app to view a gallery slider from our shoot of the CO2 Building.

U

PON ENTERING THE SPACIOUS penthouse

apartment of the C02 building, one is greeted by a ginormous yet unassuming bowl of Skittles.

Besides getting to “taste the rainbow,” visitors also get an upclose view of any rainbows that should happen to be hanging out in the Omaha skyline, thanks to the many windows and seemingly endless expanses of outdoor living spaces. > september/october • 2014 H37

OmahaHome: at home < The story behind the welcoming candy dish? “I got it for one holiday and everybody just loved it so much that now when people come over that’s the first thing they go to,” says Christine Mackiewicz, manager of a trucking company and one half of the environmentally-conscious duo that resides in these LEED-certified digs.

She has been happily unmarried to Scott Kroeker, director of International Sales at the Lindsay Corporation, for 13 years. The couple takes delight in sharing their 3,500 square-foot space with their creatively likeminded group of design-savvy friends, many of whom happen to be redesigning their own homes. “We exchange parties,” Mackiewicz says. “We go from house to house.”

The CO2 building, completed in 2013 and designed by RDG Planning, is a new anchor of the historic 10th Street corridor south of the Old Market.

LEED Certification stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. The standard is recognized globally as the premier mark of achievement in green building.

Kroeker says that it takes considerable effort to build something that meets LEED certifications. “That’s something that I’m sure the builders will attest to. It’s an open design, modern, with lots of light.”

The couple admits the million-dollar view afforded by all of those windows can be rather distracting at times. “We try to watch television,” Mackiewicz says, “and I can’t tell you how many times we end up looking outside at something. You can’t help but be constantly distracted by what’s going on outside.”

The industrial-themed space has concrete flooring and features the wireless Hi-Fi sound system, SONOS. Mackiewicz says the tough part about having a big space is making it comfortable. “We always want someone to come in and be at home. You can sit anywhere you’d like. There’s nothing off-limits.”

The couple makes it comfortable with personal touches of artwork created by various family members, yet manages to keep it offbeat and interesting with a hint of the unexpected.

One wall houses nearly 50 of Mackiewicz’s pairs of sunglasses hung strategically on a metal frame. Besides provoking conversation, the eyewear also provides function by way of added protection after her LASIK surgery.

Kroeker got the inspiration for the sunglass H38

july/august • 2014 september/october • 2014

wall after watching CBS’s Elementary, a TV show based on Sherlock Holmes. “He had a wall of padlocks and he practices picking the padlocks,” Kroeker says.

The two bedrooms feature “freedomRail” closets that maximize space using essential design features that last. Luckily for Mackiewicz, the closets are perfect for housing her shoe collection—one that rivals that of Imelda Marcos.

She has a terrarium that has run amuk, thanks to the large amount of natural light streaming into the space.“When I was a little girl, my grandmother had one of these and she’d hide little gnomes inside,” she says. Just like her grandma, Mackiewicz’s terrarium also features a little friend —a paper snail from Mexico.

Their kitchen has an herb garden, six gas burners, and a massive pantry with an extra refrigerator to exclusively house their many wines. The room is grounded by a beautiful marble center island and includes an industrial dining table. A glass piece by Omaha mixed-media artist John Prouty (whose own home was featured in our Nov/Dec 2013 issue) hangs near the island next to a minicollection of abstract paintings by Kroeker.

To many, the contemporary building is a welcome addition to Omaha’s Little Italy neighborhood and just one facet of a multitude of regrowth occurring in >

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OmahaHome: at home

The CO2 Building gardens prepare for their winter slumber.

< the areas surrounding 10th Street south of the Old Market.

“The neighborhood is really starting to change,” says Kroeker.

Construction is also underway at 10th and Pacific streets for the new Bluebarn Theatre.

And KETV’s work on the majestic Burlington Station continues nearby. “Right across from the Boxcar,” Mackiewicz adds, “they’re going to have that indoor farmer’s market.

How exciting!”

H40

september/october • 2014

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The couple grows beets and brussel sprouts in the adjacent, professionally landscaped gardens. “They did a wonderful job,” Kroeker says. “Everything is supposed to be drought-resistant and low maintenance,” Mackiewicz adds.

Kroeker’s passions are simple—wine, cooking, art, and entertaining.

“That’s the nice part about having a space like this,” he says. “You can do all of that stuff here.” OmahaHome september/october • 2014 H41

OmahaHome: room by sally shepherd • photography by tom kessler

Outdoor Living Jewel So winter is approaching? No problem!

H42

september/october • 2014

T

HE FIRST HINT OF a nip in the air this fall will be a harbinger of welcome news for more than just football fans. The homeowners of this outdoor living space say the season is when they are most active in entertaining—and just relaxing—in this cleverly conceived room.

Organic hues dominate the décor of the casually appointed space where the viewer blends with the view from this earthy perch overlooking a golf course in West Omaha.

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And if the warmth of the color scheme isn’t enough, a rustic fireplace and auxiliary heaters promise to chase away the chill as Mother Nature begins hers steady march toward winter.

The homeowners are also avid wine aficionados, so it’s no surprise that this space adjoins a tasting room, which then leads to a sprawling, 3,000-bottle wine cellar housing treasures from around the globe.

The project is the work of interior designer

Diane Luxford, who took home a 2013 NE/ IA Chapter of ASID Award for her efforts.

A calendar is a stubborn thing, but these homeowners know how to cheat the elements. Any precipitous drop in the temperate is accompanied by a corresponding drop of the space’s roll-up cladding, making this beauty just about as close as one can get to year-round outdoor living in these climes. OmahaHome

Since 1963

402.331.8920

www.normsdoor.com september/october • 2014 H43

OmahaHome: hot products story by sandy besch-matson • photography by bill sitzmann

Boo!

Autumnal hues and Halloween delights await in this issue’s Hot Products guide.

Hobgoblins of all ages will be delighted to be confronted with these playful pieces when Trick-or-Treating at your place.

Halloween Party Hat $8.95 Squash-Face Pumpkin $19.95 Jim Shore's Pint Halloween Cat $22.95 Jim Shore's Grim Reaper $61.95 Jim Shore's Graveyard Diorama $55.95 Candy Corn Nesting Bowls $19.95 “Witch is In” whimsical hanger $33.95 Tannenbaum Christmas Shop 1007 Howard St. In the Old Market 402.345.9627 otannenbaum.com

H44

september/october • 2014

Nature’s bounty is evoked in this clever series of organic beauties. Watering not required.

Large Gourd Pitcher $89.95 Orange Gourd Pitcher $59.95 Red Ceramic Pomegranate $24.95 Faux Book with Carrot Motif $24.95 Beyond the Vine 2520 S. 130th Ave. 402.397.4585 gobeyondthevine.com

Life, it is said, is all about the details. These warmest of accents will warm any autumnal chill at your next seasonal party.

Tall Candle Holder $35.00 Short Candle Holder $25.00 Zimbali Candle Large (burnt orange) $32.00 Zimbali Small (burnt orange) Wine Cork Holder 16x4 $80.00 Green Pom-Pom Pillow $59.00 Table Runner (Black and multi, 16x58”) $95.00 Orange Ceramic Vase $39.00 House of J 12965 West Center Rd. Montclair Center 402.778-0650 houseofj.com

september/october • 2014 H45

OmahaHome: transformations by anita wiechman, asid • photography by tom grady

meet the designer Anita Wiechman, ASID The Designers

H46

september/october • 2014

Bringing Nature Indoors Just Add Windows

A

H O M E OW N E R VISION AND

WITH

great taste. An expert contractor with experienced subcontractors. A home with “great bones.” Bring them all together and you get an interior designer’s dream! > september/october • 2014 H47

OmahaHome: transformations

before

after before

before

before < The client imagined the almost 30-yearold home nestled in pine trees near Springfield, Neb., in a new light—one with updated amenities, including an amazing kitchen situated in an open floor plan to accommodate H48

september/october • 2014

after her frequent entertaining. We saw the potential of additional windows to blend the home’s interior with the surrounding, picturesque vistas.

The contractor, ADC Homes, removed the

raised floor and walls of the hexagon-shaped dining room, as well as the entry closet in executing the spacious plan. An additional oversized window created a continuous window wall running the length of the back of the >

september/october • 2014 H49

Omaha Home: transformations

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< house, further complementing the open plan. The new, professional-style kitchen includes Subzero appliances as well as a Professional Wolf Range and microwave drawer. As an expert cook, the homeowner opted not to build in wall ovens, but decided instead to utilize the oven of the 48” range and a 30” single oven set in a secondary island.

Together we chose two granites and two cabinet finishes for the kitchen space.

New plumbing fixtures, granite, and tile were selected for the entire home. Showers were updated and enlarged while doorways were repositioned to create larger bath spaces.

Carpeting was removed in the public areas of the home, and the existing wood floor was

expanded and refinished in a darker, richer stain. Neutral wool carpeting was used in the bedroom wing of the home, while a leopardprint carpet was employed both on the steps leading to the lower level and in the lowerlevel family room.

New furniture now mingles with the client’s favorite existing furnishings to create separate spaces in serving the aims of an open plan that allows for an easy flow of movement among family and friends.

Guests now feel cozy and comfortable in settings that are intimate yet integrated into an overall scheme that makes this space great for parties. OmahaHome

It’s everything you want in your home – from its fresh architectural style and detailing, to the simplicity of its lifestyledriven functionality and a classic timelessness that feels as perfect for your life today as it will in the years to come. It’s also why Curt Hofer & Associates is the area’s most inspired high-end homebuilder. Imaginatively conceived, flawlessly executed – let Curt Hofer & Associates create and build your new custom home.

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September/October 2014

GALA

Big Mama, Bigger Heart Serving Up Soul Food and Second Chances

OMAHA GALA

by jason kuiper • photography by keith binder

Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue Connecting Food with the Hungry

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ETH OSTDIEK SMITH WAS

working at her old job and was amazed to hear about the amount of healthy meals and snacks that were being thrown out at the end of the day. She knew of an organization in Arizona called Waste Not, a perishable food rescue that was run by one of her sister’s friends. She thought Omaha could use something similar to address the city’s hunger problem.

Smith, who had been involved with local businessman Jerry Hoberman’s Winners Circle program and later in Partnership 4 Kids, both of which helped students in the Omaha Public Schools system, was looking for a new venture. Late in 2012, she met with members of the Hunger Free Heartland, which included the Food Bank, three of the city’s largest pantries, and some members of former Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle’s staff to explore the need for a perishable food rescue.

She says all agreed this would fill a niche not being met in the community.

omaha GALA saving grace perishable food rescue

2014 Milagro Dinner November 13, 2014 Honorary Chairs Michael & Susan Lebens Special guest speaker Peter B. Edelman, a lawyer, policy maker and law professor at Georgetown University Law Center, specializing in the fields of poverty, welfare, juvenile justice, and constitutional law. Having worked for Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Clinton Administration, Edelman is the author of the book “So Rich So Poor: Why It’s So Hard to End Poverty in America” (The New Press, 2012).

For more information please contact Pam Monsky 402-619-5302

OneWorldOmaha.org

CRUISIN’ FOR A CURE Smith traveled to Scottsdale, Ariz., in February 2013 to meet with the head of Waste Not. Smith gathered information about how the company picked up food donations from different restaurants, caterers, and other food purveyors, and then delivered them to local nonprofits that feed the needy. She came back to Omaha and went about raising funds and building partnerships to create what would become Saving Grace Perishable Food Rescue and Delivery.

“We do not have a food problem in Omaha but a food connection problem,” Smith, president and founder of Saving Grace, says.

“Saving Grace’s perishable food pipeline addresses that issue.”

One of the first partners was Akin’s Natural Foods, which was just coming to Omaha.

Company officials agreed to donate food.

Now Saving Grace has 10 regularly scheduled donors, including Trader Joe’s, >

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omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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omaha GALA saving grace perishable food rescue

< Greenberg Fruit, three Pizza Ranch locations, and Attitude on Food.

One of the biggest purchases that Saving Grace needed to get running was a refrigerated truck so workers could collect and deliver perishable food such as dairy, produce, meats, prepared foods, and grains. Saving Grace does not have a warehouse, and all pick-ups and donations are done on the same day, Smith says. A good truck, therefore, is a must.

Several years ago, Smith had met former Precision Industries CEO Dennis Circo (featured on the cover of this month’s issue of our sister publication, B2B magazine) through Omaha businessman Willie Thiessen, and decided to approach Circo about helping fund her new venture. Circo said he wasn’t sure it would work, but took a leap of faith and agreed to buy the refrigerated truck. He also donated office space to the nonprofit at his new Enterprise Center on 96th and L streets.

Saving Grace delivers food to 10 nonprofit groups, including the Bethlehem House, Heart Ministries, Hope Center for Kids, Open Door Mission and Siena/Francis House. Food rescue and delivery operations started last September.

Smith said the goal for Saving Grace was to deliver 300 pounds of food a day for the first three months, then add an additional 200 pounds of food a day every three months.

After nine months of delivering, 152,842 pounds of food have been delivered to the needy. Smith said that besides the partnerships her group has made with donors and financial backers, Saving Grace has been successful because she and others have met with all the recipients to determine what their food needs are. The less those organizations must worry about where their food will be coming from, she says, the more time they will have to help meet the other needs of their clientele, like finding jobs and repairing broken lives.

“I see this as a movement, really,” Smith says. “People want to know where their food goes, and I think we’ve just scratched the tip of the iceberg [of this venture’s potential].”

Smith hopes to purchase another truck and continue to grow the number of recipients, donors, and financial partners. Educating the public on how they can help feed the hungry while saving landfills by getting the word out on Saving Grace are also big priorities moving forward. OMAG

ARE YOU READY FOR FALL? Koca Chiropractic can get you on the right track to keep your energy up and experience life to the fullest.

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Visit savinggracefoodrescue.org for more information on Saving Grace. omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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A multidisciplinary team approach, state-of-the-art technology and access to the latest clinical trials have made our breast care center a national leader in education, prevention and early detection.

More important is the impact it’s had on our patients. bestcare.org/cancer

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OMAHA GALA OMAHA FEATURE GALA

story by david williams • photography by sarah lemke

Green Thumb – Pink Dreams Karen Kruse’s Breast Cancer Survivor’s Garden

O

C TO B E R W I LL BE LOADED with events that

recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Project Pink’d supporter Karen Kruse will certainly make at least a showing at a select event or three, but she’ll manage her time to leave room for the most important of tasks—tending to her pinkpinker-pinkest garden. > omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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RESTAURANT REVIEW

story by • photography by bill sitzmann

MOVES TO SEPT.

8TH 4PM

OMAHA’S NEWS LEADER

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GALA karen kruse

2014 Celebrate the Capabilities of the Blind Banquet

EVENT EMCEE Rob McCartney,

Date: Friday, November 7 Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Location: Embassy Suites Omaha-LaVista Hotel & Conference Center 12520 Westport Parkway LaVista, NE 68128 Cost: $75 per ticket $750 for a table of 10 To register:

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< “I call it my Survivor’s Garden,” Kruse says of the front-yard space that is the jewel of Blondo Street between Country Club Avenue and 52nd Street.

Kruse finished planting her garden in 2010, exactly one year to the day after her first chemotherapy treatment. There’s only one rule in this garden—it has to be pink. Besides featuring a monochromatic array of plantings in the hue forever associated with the iconic ribbon that will be everywhere to be seen this October and beyond, Kruse carries the theme into patio furniture, planters, and surrounding tchotchkes.

But there’s more.

“I’ll buy anything pink in products where a portion of the proceeds go to the battle against breast cancer,” says the woman who sports a shoulder tattoo with the words “Fight like a girl” accompanied by the familiar pink ribbon. Which answers the question behind her pink gardening gloves, shears, pail…heck, even her garbage cans.

Kruse, who is featured in the just-released, pin-up-girl-style calendar that is a fundraiser for Project Pink’d, says that her garden is so much more than a mere hobby.

“This garden is an important part of my recovery,” Kruse explains. “This is about an attitude that is more than just surviving. When I’m working in the garden I am thriving. I want to be more than a survivor.

I want to thrive.”

Just like her pretty-in-pink riot of color planted along Blondo Street. OMAG

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Visit projectpinkd.org for more information. omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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the new

business. entertainment. family. food & drink. health. home. lifestyle. style.

GALA

7TH ANNUAL BIG GIVE

sponsored content

Omaha’s Big Give 2014

O

UR CITY’S “CAN-DO” ATTIDUDE has always translated

to great things for the well-being of our neighbors. Even in tough economic times, the people of Omaha manage to remain active and generous in the nonprofit scene, donating both time and money to great causes. We at Omaha Magazine are proud to help connect volunteers and philanthropists to the many area nonprofits.

This is the BIG GIVE, a collection of profiles on various nonprofits in Omaha, detailing their mission statements, who they are, what they’ve accomplished, and how people in the community can help.

We hope reading these profiles will help you better understand some of the wonderful organizations in Omaha and inspire you to get out in the community and make a difference. Children, families, veterans, refugees, the homeless, addicts, the developmentally challenged, the ill, animals—wherever your passions lie, there is an organization that needs your support.

INDEX American Lung Association ________ 154 Angels Among Us ________________157 Children’s Scholarship Fund of Omaha 141 Compassionate Friends, Greater Omaha Chapter, The___________________155 Completely Kids ________________ 136 Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Nebraska, Inc. _________________152 Heartland Family Service _________ 149

Kids Can Community Center ______ 150 Knights of Aksarben Foundation, The 139 Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska _158 Merrymakers Association___________153 Midlands Community Foundation ___145 Nebraska Children’s Home Society __ 144 Nebraska Humane Society, The _____ 147 Omaha Children’s Museum ________ 148 Omaha Home for Boys ____________151

Omaha Public Library Foundation __ 140 OneWorld Community Health Centers138 Open Door Mission ______________ 156 Outlook Nebraska, Inc. ___________ 143 QLI ___________________________159 Salvation Army, The _____________ 137 Siena/Francis House Homeless Shelter 146 Susan G. Komen® Nebraska ________ 142 omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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MISSION STATEMENT

Completely KIDS educates and empowers kids and families to create a safe, healthy, successful and connected community.

WISH LIST

• • • • • • • • • • •

Board games, puzzles Fresh fruit Sports equipment Art supplies Sewing machines iPads Digital and video cameras Photo printers Toiletries Grocery and gas station gift cards Birthday, holiday, or field trip sponsors

UPCOMING EVENTS

WHO WE ARE

Completely KIDS assists more than 2,000 children and families each year in overcoming barriers to their success. Research shows that growing up in poverty can have a significant impact on a child’s cognitive development, emotional well-being, and physical health, thus impacting his or her ability to be successful. Completely KIDS has consistently seen the impacts of poverty in the lives of the families it works with and has developed program components that support our mission and specifically address each area of need.

Programming provides a safe environment with caring adult mentors; teaches kids and families about nutrition and healthy choices; provides enrichment activities developed by licensed educators to help youth achieve success; and strengthens families through classes, case management and connecting them to the resources they so desperately need.

Our organization’s face in 136

Omaha is Executive Director Penny Parker. She leads a talented and highly educated staff, many of whom have advanced degrees in social work and public administration. The staff includes alumni of Completely KIDS programs.

The outdoor classroom provides much-needed green space for the children Completely KIDS serves, and allows them to be active and enhance their fine motor, creativity, decision-making, conflict resolution, and team building skills.

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

The people, including the kids and families we serve; our donors; volunteers; and board, guild and staff members make our organization great.

Additionally, Completely KIDS was the first Omaha nonprofit to provide a backpack food program and programming for children in homeless shelters. As a primarily school-based program, Completely KIDS has many unique partnerships with area school administration and other local agencies.

At the Completely KIDS building, located in the heart of one of Omaha’s poorest neighborhoods, we (with the help of numerous donors and volunteers) recently built a Nature Explore Classroom.

Omahans can give back through time or money. We have many opportunities for individuals and organizations to volunteer. You can become a Reading Buddy and take a child on a faraway adventure or down a historic path by reading with them. Perhaps you have a special skill? Share it with our kids as a Talent Teacher. You can also coordinate a fundraising drive for food, school supplies or swimsuits, or sponsor a child for Christmas.

There are always more kids and families in Omaha who need our help. We can’t do it without the financial backing of our donors, people just like you. Please contact us to find out more information about giving opportunities.

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

09/12/14 Big Red Tailgate TBD Author Luncheon 6/4/15 Pinot, Pigs, & Poets

COMPLETELY KIDS

2566 St. Mary’s Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402.397.5809 completelykids.org

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7TH ANNUAL BIG GIVE

sponsored content

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

• • • • •

Non-perishable food Monetary donations Volunteers New summer fans New toys for children, 0-18 years • New school supplies: Backpacks, pencils, pens, erasers, etc.

• Bottled water

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible.

Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

UPCOMING EVENTS

9/7/14 BaconFest Omaha 11/17/14 Tree of Lights Campaign Kickoff 5/5/15 D.J.’s Hero Awards Luncheon

THE SALVATION ARMY

3612 Cuming St. Omaha, NE 68131 402.898.5900 givesalvationarmy.org

WHO WE ARE

The Salvation Army is a faithbased, nonprofit organization that provides social services and meets basic human needs without discrimination. The Omaha Salvation Army is accredited by The National Council on Accreditation of Services and provides over 180,000 people annually with a variety of social service, education, housing, behavioral health, and enrichment programs.

Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter for the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. Eighty-two cents of every dollar spent is used

to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide.

Our face in Omaha is Major Paula Fleeman, Omaha City Commander.

BRAG LINES

For 125 Years, The Salvation Army has offered programs to serve the hungry, the homeless and nearhomeless, and those without hope in the Omaha area. If there is a problem in the community, The Salvation Army has a program to help—families facing crises, abused or neglected children, lonely seniors, disaster victims, and others.

The Salvation Army helped over 180,000 people last year. According to the most recent report, generous supporters donated nearly $20 million to support Salvation Army programs in Omaha. More than 28,468 volunteers donated 55,262 hours. Last year more than 9,000

children have benefited from The Salvation Army/KETV 7 Can Help kids Back to School Backpack Program. During the Winter Night Watch season, more than 16,648 homeless and near-homeless were served with food and clothing.

PAY IT FORWARD

We have many volunteer opportunities, and we greatly appreciate your time and effort. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, contact Kay, 402.898.6000.

Feel free to drop off new school supplies or money to purchase supplies at The Salvation Army Lied Renaissance Center, 3612 Cuming St. Donations are always appreciated and accepted, year round.

You may also make a $10 donation via mobile phone by texting the word OMAHA to 80888. Message and data rates apply.

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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MISSION STATEMENT

OneWorld Community Health Centers, Inc., in partnership with the community, provide culturally respectful, quality health care with special attention to the underserved. Our vision is to be an innovative leader empowering individuals in healthier communities.

WISH LIST

• • • • • • • •

Diapers New baby clothes New baby blankets Baby wipes Crib sheets New baby toys Grocery gift cards Bus passes

UPCOMING EVENTS

11/13/14 Milagro dinner and auction 4/30/15 Countdown to Cinco de Mayo

WHO WE ARE

OneWorld focuses on meeting the primary health care needs of our community. OneWorld maintains an open-door policy, providing treatment according to an individual’s income or insurance coverage. We are a federally qualified community health center (FQHC) and have created an environment that fosters human dignity, respect and compassion for patients, family, and staff. OneWorld practices careful stewardship to secure appropriate resources to meet the needs of those we serve.

BRAG LINES

OneWorld’s community partnerships have lead to innovative health care options for many families.

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We opened an integrated clinic at Community Alliance to address the health care needs of those living with mental-illness; we have four School-Based Health Centers, a collaboration with Building Healthy Futures; The Learning Community Center of South Omaha, a partnership with the Learning Community of Douglas and Sarpy County, focuses on parenting, English language, and computer skills so that parents can become more involved in their children’s schools. The Caremobile, a partnership with the Ronald McDonald House of Omaha, is a mobile dental unit that brings dental care to children in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and the Baby Boutique is an incentive program offering new baby clothes and accessories to encourage new and expectant mothers

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

to attend pre-natal appointments.

With clinics in South Omaha, West Omaha, Plattsmouth, and our newest location in Northwest Omaha, OneWorld continues to grow to meet the needs of our community, including our most vulnerable members.

PAY IT FORWARD

We are always looking for new friends! The Friends of OneWorld is an organization dedicated to the support of OneWorld Community Health Centers and its mission through fundraising and friend-raising. The Friends of OneWorld group is involved with running the Baby Boutique and planning the Countdown to Cinco de Mayo event.

ONEWORLD COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

Livestock Exchange 4920 S. 30th St. Omaha, NE 68107 402.619.5302 oneworldomaha.org

GALA

7TH ANNUAL BIG GIVE

sponsored content

MISSION STATEMENT

To leverage collective business leadership to build a more prosperous Heartland.

WISH LIST

The gift of time has the biggest impact. Serving as a youth mentor is one way to influence our future leaders of the Heartland.

UPCOMING EVENTS

9/25-28/14 Ak-Sar-Ben’s River City Rodeo & Stock Show 9/28/15 Ak-Sar-Ben Buyer’s Club Purple Ribbon Auction 10/18/14 The Ak-Sar-Ben Coronation & Scholarship Ball April 2015 Buckaroo Bash 5/2/15 AK Derby Party June 2015 Sell the Farm WHO WE ARE

THE KNIGHTS OF AKSARBEN FOUNDATION

8707 W. Center Rd. #101 Omaha, NE 68124 402-554-9600 aksarben.org

The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation is a civic nonprofit organization that focuses its efforts in the following areas: business, youth, agriculture, scholarships, volunteerism, and economic growth for the Heartland.

The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation started in 1895 as one of the first nonprofits in the state.

Its rich 119 year history began by providing entertainment through racing and member shows to supporting Heartland community projects, such as supplying ambulances and building playgrounds.

Today, its original mission lives on as the organization that continues to impact the Heartland through celebrating volunteerism, awarding scholarships, and educating youths. The Ak-Sar-Ben’s River City Rodeo and Stock Show has been named Omaha’s Official Community Celebration.

over 30,000 volunteer hours to make our communities a better place to live and work.

The Foundation annually supports 100 scholarships or meritbased financial stipends totaling $500,000.

PAY IT FORWARD

BRAG LINES

Since its inception, the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben has awarded over $50 million in community grants and scholarships throughout the Heartland. There are over 1,000 Nebraskans who annually donate

• Attend a Knights of Ak-SarBen fundraising event.

• Become a volunteer in order to further the mission and impact of the Foundation.

• Donate to a scholarship program.

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MISSION STATEMENT

The Omaha Public Library Foundation raises funds and advocates for Omaha Public Library.

WISH LIST

• The best way to show your support is through an unrestricted gift to the Omaha Public Library Foundation.

The library foundation accepts cash donations, bequests, memorials, stock transfers, and planned gifts.

Call 402.444.4589 for more information.

• Gift cards and other incentives • Event tickets UPCOMING EVENTS

WHO WE ARE

The Omaha Public Library Foundation believes a healthy and vibrant library system contributes to the betterment of our community, aids in economic development, provides a public gathering space, and creates a sense of community pride.

Since 1985, OPLF has provided significant private funding totaling nearly $10 million for the purpose of enhancing Omaha Public Library.

Charles B. Washington Branch and the South Omaha Library • Expanding and strengthening the children’s collection through the Books for Kids drives • Purchasing public access computers at every branch for children to complete school work and for adults to apply for jobs • Securing $100,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for public use computers • Underwriting the annual Summer Reading Program.

PAY IT FORWARD

BRAG LINES

OPLF has raised funds for special library projects. Some of our proudest moments include: • Computerizing the Omaha Public Library card catalog • Creating teen centers at 140

Unrestricted contributions are ideal. For donors seeking to support specific library programs, the following categories have been created: • Childhood Literacy: Baby Reads, early childhood literacy services, costume character

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

story times, autism story kits.

• Teen Literacy: Teen book clubs, after-school programming, annual teen job fair.

• Adult Literacy: Adult book clubs, Omaha Reads, ESL workshops, (downtown) omaha lit fest, conversion classes for non-native speakers.

• Summer Reading Program: The annual and historic literacy program encourages children and teens to continue reading before returning to the classroom.

• Collections: Books for teens, the Omaha World-Herald digital archives (1885-1983), hi-lo books (materials written for individuals with high levels of interest, but with lower reading levels).

• Community Outreach: June Family Fair, events celebrating Black history, Latino history, Native American culture; services for at-risk or marginalized groups.

Adults in their twenties and thirties can support the Omaha Public Library Foundation by joining a special young professionals group. Contact Wendy Townley (wtownley@ omahalibrary.org) to learn more.

9/1/14-9/30/14 Omaha Reads 12/31/14 New Year’s Eve Fireworks Viewing Party April 2015 A Novel Affaire OMAHA PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION

215 S. 15th St. Omaha, Nebraska 68102 foundation@omahalibrary.org 402.444.4589 omahalibraryfoundation.org

GALA

7TH ANNUAL BIG GIVE

sponsored content

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Children’s Scholarship Fund of Omaha provides tuition assistance scholarships so children from low-income families can access the private or parochial K-8 education of their choice.

Scholarship funding UPCOMING EVENTS

10/19/14 CSF Fund Run (5k walk/run) 11/5/14 CHANCE Luncheon

WHO WE ARE

CHILDREN’S SCHOLARSHIP FUND OF OMAHA

1414 Harney St. #400 Omaha, NE 68102 402.819.4990 csfomaha.org

Children’s Scholarship Fund of Omaha (CSF) believes that all families, regardless of income, should be able to choose the best educational setting for their children. By providing low-income families with K-8 scholarships, CSF empowers parents to choose their children’s school during the time their educational foundation is being established.

CSF awards scholarships solely on the basis of financial need, following guidelines similar to the National School Lunch Program.

We are destination-neutral and have no religious affiliation—scholarship recipients attend approximately 80 schools across Omaha and northeast Nebraska.

A crucial piece of the CSF program is the commitment we make to our families, and the commitment we require from them in return. Provided a CSF family continues to be financially eligible, CSF provides scholarships to each student in a family every year until they graduate 8th grade. In return, each CSF family must contribute at least $500 toward their children’s education and their children must achieve a minimum 90% attendance rate each year.

BRAG LINES

As the only provider of K-8 scholarships in the state, our program serves students at a crucial time in their education where few scholarships exist. Relying solely

on private donations, CSF has awarded $2.1 million in scholarships for the 2014-15 school year.

CSF has been in existence since 1999 and has awarded over 26,000 scholarships worth over $25 million to families in the community.

PAY IT FORWARD

While CSF is able to assist many families, the demand for scholarships outpaces CSF’s ability to fund them. For the 2014-15 school year, approximately 550 scholarships went unfunded. If you or your company would like to provide scholarship funding, please contact the CSF office.

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MISSION STATEMENT

Susan G. Komen® Nebraska raises funds to support the Komen Promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all, and energizing science to find the cures.

WISH LIST

• • • • • • •

Office supplies Postage/mailing services Printing/copying Signage/advertising Video/creative services Awards/plaques Food & beverage

UPCOMING EVENTS

10/5/14 Race for the Cure - Omaha 10/11/14 Central Nebraska Race for the Cure - Kearney

WHO WE ARE

BRAG LINES

Susan G. Komen® Nebraska educates women on breast health and works with a network of nonprofit agencies that provide mammograms and other breast cancer treatment support services covering a 91-county service area.

Nonprofit agencies are awarded grants on a quarterly and annual basis to address the unmet breast health needs in the community.

Many of the women helped by Komen® Nebraska and the agencies receiving grants include underinsured, rural, and other women at risk for breast health issues or breast cancer who would otherwise not have access to these life-saving services.

Seventy-five percent of Komen Nebraska net proceeds benefit local programs. In 2014, Komen Nebraska’s fundraising efforts, including the annual Race for the Cure®, raised more than $500,000 that was distributed to nine organizations providing breast health education, breast cancer screening, and treatment programs. Nearly $7 million has been distributed to Nebraska-based organizations since Komen Nebraska’s founding in 1994.

The remaining 25 percent of Komen Nebraska net proceeds fund global breast cancer research. On a national level, Susan G. Komen® and its network of 120+ offices is the largest nonprofit source of breast cancer research funding and has

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touched every major breakthrough over the past 30 years. Locally, Komen Nebraska provided more than $200,000 toward research this year.

PAY IT FORWARD

There’s many ways you can support Komen Nebraska. Visit the ‘Get Involved’ section on our website for volunteer opportunities, including general office assistance, support for the annual Race for the Cure®, and more, or give us a call to discuss how you’d like to give back.

Your tax-deductible donations help us continue to provide education, screening, and treatment support to underinsured, rural, and other high risk Nebraska women who would otherwise not have access to these life-saving services.

SUSAN G. KOMEN® NEBRASKA

12103 Pacific St. Omaha, NE 68154 402.502.2979 komennebraska.org

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MISSION STATEMENT

To Enhance the Quality of Life of the Blind and Visually Impaired.

UPCOMING EVENTS

11/7/14 Celebrate the Capabilities of the Blind Banquet

Established in 2000, ONI provides employment and workplace training, as well as other opportunities, to the blind and visually impaired. Recognized as the Greater Omaha Chamber’s 2014 Innovator of the Year, ONI is the largest employer of the blind and visually impaired in Nebraska and the only agency of its kind in a seven-state region. The organization provides independence and confidence-building services for its associates and the community, including social activities, education, training, and health and wellness programs. For more information about ONI, visit outlooknebraska.org.

can better serve blind and visually impaired Omahans. We want to make our Education and Training Center available to the public so people who have lost their sight are given opportunities to once again use a computer or look at photos of their grandchildren. We were honored to co-sponsor the first Camp Abilities Nebraska with Boys Town National Research Hospital in 2013. This allowed blind children to try their hand at sports like archery and rock climbing.

Collaboration with our community is very important to us, and we hope that we can work together to provide additional opportunities to enhance the quality of life for blind people as well as the community as a whole.

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

When you think of Outlook Nebraska, you typically think of a tissue manufacturer. However, we stand for so much more. We are constantly asking ourselves how we

There are many ways to get involved with Outlook Nebraska!

• Become an ONI advocate: Help us spread the word about our mission and raise awareness of

WHO WE ARE

OUTLOOK NEBRASKA, INC.

4125 S. 72nd St. Omaha, NE 68127 402.614.3331 outlooknebraska.org

Outlook Nebraska!

• Purchase our blind-made products: Contact our Sales team at 402.614.3331 x211 to learn more.

• Make a donation: Contact John Wick at 402.614.3331 x224 or at jwick@outlooknebraska.com to learn how your gift or pledge can make a difference in Outlook Nebraska programs.

• Sponsor an event: Contact John Wick at 402.614.3331 x224 or at jwick@outlooknebraska. com to learn more about our signature events, such as our annual ONI Golf Tournament and our annual recognition banquet, Dine to Celebrate the Capabilities of the Blind, and how you can get involved.

• Schedule a tour: Contact Rachel Carver at 402.614.3331 x221 about attending a monthly “Lunch and Learn” event or Janis Compton at 402.614.3331 x210 to schedule a specific group tour of our operations.

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MISSION STATEMENT

Nebraska Children’s Home Society provides safe and loving care to children of all ages.

WISH LIST

• Disposable diapers • New infant & toddler clothing • Gift cards, especially for big box stores UPCOMING EVENTS

10/3/14 Homegrown 11/24/14 National Adoption Day 12/1/14 Project Elf Holiday Gifts for Kids

WHO WE ARE

BRAG LINES

Nebraska Children’s Home Society is changing lives through child-centered, family-focused programs. When you support the Children’s Home, women, and teens facing the crisis of an unplanned pregnancy have information and support in developing a plan for parenting or adoption; abused and neglected children find safety and permanency in nurturing foster and adoptive families; parents overcome barriers and nurture their children’s growth and development; children begin school ready to learn; families are formed through foster care and adoption; youth set and achieve educational goals and become confident young adults; and members of the adoption circle (adoptive parents, birth parents, and adopted persons) receive guidance, counseling, and support in their lifelong journey.

In the words of those who know us...

“The services, support, and love provided at NCHS has truly been a blessing.”—Pregnancy Services Client “This is a positive environment for the girls from all stages of life.

It gives them someone to talk to in times of trouble.”—Teen Chat Mother “The education we have received about adoption, especially open adoption, has been life-changing.”

—Adoptive Parent “NCHS has a wonderful program and is a huge support before, during, and after placement!

Thank you for helping us expand our family through adoption!”

—Adoptive Parent “NCHS is the best! I don’t think I could handle the ups and downs, frustrations, and stressful times

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without the support of everyone who works at NCHS.”—NCHS Foster Parent “I love how much they each genuinely care for my children. I appreciate all they do for my children daily. They have a passion for children and it shows. They are unlike any center I’ve ever come in contact with.”—Infant and Preschool Parent PAY IT FORWARD

With a firm commitment to the belief that a child’s needs must come first, Nebraska Children’s Home engages in advocacy for vulnerable and at-risk children.

All children deserve safe and loving care. Because 70% of the Children’s Home budget depends on the generosity of donors, assistance is needed from concerned and generous citizens like you.

NEBRASKA CHILDREN’S HOME SOCIETY

4939 S. 118th St. Omaha, NE 68137 402.451.0787 nchs.org

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• Offer time, talent, and treasure to further the Midlands Community Foundation mission by becoming a volunteer and/or attending one of MCF’s fundraising events in support of nonprofit organizations and other charitable causes in the communities we serve.

The mission of Midlands Community Foundation is to benefit the diverse needs of the Sarpy and Cass county communities by providing financial support, involvement, and service.

UPCOMING EVENTS

1/17/15 2015 Reflection Ball 5/18/15 2015 Golf Tournament

WHO WE ARE

MIDLANDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

217 N. Jefferson St. Papillion, NE 68046 402.991.8027 midlandscommunity.org

M id l a nd s C om mu n it y Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity and is in compliance with IRS 990 requirements. Our focus is to assist with community development by improving and enhancing the quality of life for residents of Sarpy and Cass counties. The Midlands Community Foundation Board of Directors is made up of individuals from Sarpy and Cass counties who bring a high degree of involvement to the Foundation and its mission. MCF provides donors a simple and powerful approach to giving. We offer a variety of giving tools to help donors achieve their charitable goals. We have established the opportunity for individuals, organizations, and corporations to create or donate to charitable

funds, including affiliated funds, designated funds, field of interest funds, and donor-advised funds.

Donations can be in the form of cash, stocks, bonds, real estate, or other assets.

BRAG LINES

Since its inception, Midlands Community Foundation has enriched many local organizations through gifts and grants totaling more than $7 million. The Foundation places an emphasis on prevention and education through our charitable funds, annual Golf Tournament and Reflection Ball.

It is the Foundation’s belief that we are to serve these not-for-profit organizations for the betterment of the community.

PAY IT FORWARD

Donors can contribute to Midlands Community Foundation by supporting our annual Reflection Ball and/or Golf Tournament.

Donations also can be made to any of the nearly 70 charitable funds already established at Midlands Community Foundation. Or, donors can create new funds in support of causes that matter most to them.

All gifts, large and small, enable Midlands Community Foundation to advance its tradition of financial support to benefit the needs of nonprofit organizations and their programs and services.

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MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Siena/Francis House is directed toward a concern and care of the poor following the example of the scriptures. This mission is realized in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and clothing the needy. This mission extends beyond merely answering physical needs to the acceptance and affirmation of the human person, the creation of an atmosphere of hospitality, and the provision of purpose and meaning in the lives of people who struggle for survival. It is also the mission of the Siena/Francis House to call the greater Omaha community to a social consciousness and to enlist help and support in the care of the homeless and the indigent.

WHO WE ARE

The Siena/Francis House homeless shelter—with six facilities at 17th & Nicholas Streets—is the region’s largest provider of emergency housing for women, youth, infants, and single men. The Siena/ Francis House, a 501(c)(3), taxexempt, charitable organization, is not affi liated with any parent organization or church and is not a United Way member agency.

BRAG LINES

• The Siena/Francis House has two model emergency shelter facilities which provide safe, clean, and secure housing for its guests.

• On any given night the Siena/ Francis House provides more emergency shelter and food to 146

families and individuals who are homeless than all other Omaha shelters combined.

• The Siena/Francis House operates Nebraska’s largest residential mental health/chemical addictions treatment program, administered by licensed professionals.

• The Siena/Francis House has a 95-person employment training program.

• The Siena/Francis House has a unique Day Services program administered by licensed mental health and addictions specialists.

• The Siena/Francis House Day Services team helps over 400 families and individuals each month with veterans benefits, Social Security assistance, education assistance, domestic violence matters, child care, family reunification, transportation, and

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obtaining identification.

• The Siena/Francis House has developed a vast network of suppliers and providers that will enable us to provide more than 420,000 meals in 2014.

PAY IT FORWARD

The Siena/Francis House provides our basic human services of emergency shelter, food, and clothing at no cost to the homeless families and individuals needing our services. As such, we rely primarily on the generosity of the community for our operational expenses. Having sufficient supplies is crucial. For example, each month we need 2,600 rolls of toilet paper and enough soap for 5,760 loads of laundry.

WISH LIST

• Canned fruits • Canned vegetables • Cold-weather clothing (used) • Individually wrapped, pre-packaged food items (for sack lunches) • Toilet paper • Powdered laundry detergent • Cooking oil • Tennis shoes (for men, all sizes) • Tennis shoes (for women, sizes 5 to 8) • Salad dressing (all flavors) • Razors (for men and women) • Shaving cream • Bar soap • Disinfectant cleaners (e.g. Pine Sol) • Styrofoam cups • Paper towels • “Zip-Lock” bags (all sizes) • Silverware (used) • Pain relievers • Hair brushes • Socks (for men) • Underwear for men and teens (sizes 28, 30 & 32) • Underwear for women (sizes 5 & 6) • Work boots (for men) UPCOMING EVENTS

6/28/15 21st Annual Siena/Francis House Walk/Run SIENA/FRANCIS HOUSE HOMELESS SHELTER

1702 Nicholas St. Omaha, NE 68102 402.341.1821 sienafrancis.org

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MISSION STATEMENT WISH LIST

• Blankets • Towels • Veterinarian-approved dog and cat toys • Large and extra large Kong Toys • Unopened jars of peanut butter (for stuffing kongs) • Ziploc freezer bags (gallon size) • Canned cat food • Clear Rubbermaid tubs • Distilled water • Yarn (for our senior ladies to crochet cat beds) • Box fans • Soft dog treats for training • Feliway spray • DAP collars and spray • Air cheese (Easy cheese) for Kongs • Rubber-backed rugs • Canned chicken (to train shy dogs) • Canned vienna sausage (to train shy dogs) • Nyla Bones hard chew toys • Interactive puzzle toys for dogs UPCOMING EVENTS

9/28/14 Walk for the Animals at NHS

THE NEBRASKA HUMANE SOCIETY

8929 Fort St. Omaha, NE 68134 402.444.7800 nehumanesociety.org

The Nebraska Humane Society protects, enriches, and saves the lives of animals in the communities we serve.

WHO WE ARE

BRAG LINES

The Nebraska Humane Society is one of the 10 largest shelters in the country and is located on a 13-acre campus. We are an openentry shelter that takes in all companion animals with no other place to go. NHS also provides animal control services to Omaha and all municipalities in Sarpy County.

We work to rescue and return stray pets, investigate cruelty cases, and serve our community by upholding the laws that are enacted for the protection of people and animals.

Staff and volunteers care for, heal, and rehome more than 10,000 animals each year! All are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and have first shots. Many get other needed treatments. We also work to keep pets in homes by providing training classes, a retail store, with low-cost pet supplies, a free behavior helpline, Bone Jour Dog Daycare with boarding and grooming services, a free pet food pantry, pet food deliveries for Meals-onWheels clients, and a low-cost Spay & Neuter Center. We offer summer camps, clubs, tours, and birthday parties for children. And we work to provide pet-friendly events, pet

loss support, and safe haven for pets of domestic abuse victims. NHS provides education, gives sanctuary, encourages adoptions, and promotes responsible pet ownership—your one stop pet resource.

PAY IT FORWARD

NHS is a private nonprofit 501(c) (3) corporation, so we rely on private donations to keep our doors (and kennels) open. Our volunteers are our lifeblood! They walk dogs, enrich cats, counsel adopters, help reunite lost pets with owners, help market our pets, and foster those needing extra TLC in their own homes!

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MISSION STATEMENT

To engage the imagination and create excitement about learning.

WISH LIST

• Omaha Children’s Museum greatly appreciates donations that enhance and support our exhibits and programming throughout the year. Currently the museum could use recycled items for use in its maker-space. This includes paper products, textiles, electronics, plastic items, and much more.

UPCOMING EVENTS

09/15/14 Great Friends to Kids Luncheon 10/1/14-10/31/14 Cobweb Castle 11/28/14-12/23/14 Santa’s Magic 5/2/15 For the Kids Benefit

WHO WE ARE

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

One of the great things about Omaha Children’s Museum is our ability to create change. Whether inside the museum walls or out in the community, we truly believe we can impact the youth of our city through fun and educational family programming that stimulates growth and development.

Our talented and creative staff members combined with generous support from the Omaha community is truly what makes Omaha Children’s Museum such a unique place.

Omaha Children’s Museum celebrated its best year yet in 2013, serving over 282,287 visitors, 8,300 member families, and over 100,000 individuals through off-site community outreach programs, securing our place as the most-visited museum in the state of Nebraska.

The museum also created four new permanent exhibits, two 10,000 square-foot traveling exhibits, and a new outdoor community green space.

What can Omahans do to help? Come visit us! The best way Omahans can support Omaha Children’s Museum is by walking through our doors and seeing the many ways that children can learn through play. We believe growth and support go both ways and we strive daily to create exhibits and programming that is fun, imaginative, and educational for our guests. Other ways you can support Omaha Children’s Museum are through the purchase of an annual membership, volunteering your time, or making a donation.

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OMAHA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

500 S. 20th St. Omaha, NE 68102 402.342.6164 info@ocm.org

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MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

• Clothing • New underwear and socks • Diapers, formula, baby items • Suitcases & duffle bags • Books • Toiletries • Bus fare • Gift cards • Tickets to events & activities • Blankets UPCOMING EVENTS

11/13/14 Iowa Salute to Families 11/20/14 Nebraska Salute to Families 2/14/15 Carnival of Love 3/21/15 Fremont Comedy Night 6/12/15 Strike A Chord TBA 2015 Safe Haven Golf Event

HEARTLAND FAMILY SERVICE

2101 S. 42nd St. Omaha, NE 68105 402.553.3000 heartlandfamilyservice.org

Heartland Family Service’s mission is to strengthen individuals and families in our community through education, counseling, and support services. Through more than 50 different programs, we serve over 50,000 people annually from more than 15 locations in east central Nebraska and southwest Iowa.

WHO WE ARE

Since 1875, Heartland Family Service has been the leader in creating the path to a better tomorrow for children and families in the Omaha metro area. With more than 50 programs in our organization, we are able to handcraft an integrated, multi-service approach that guides our clients toward safety, well-being, and, ultimately, self-sufficiency. By working together, we help our community to thrive. We firmly believe that when life improves for one of us, life improves for all of us. We all matter.

BRAG LINES

Eighty percent of our clients have annual incomes of $20,000 or less.

Because we not only believe in but also practice trauma-informed care, we ask “what has happened to you?” and not “what is wrong with you?” to each and every client that walks through our doors. Our expert staff and licensed therapists work with the individuals and their families in order to help them break damaging intergenerational cycles in order to become stable and self-sustaining.

Each year, Heartland Family Service provides essential services

to some of our community’s most vulnerable individuals and families of all ages—from the infants in our Family Works program to seniors in our Senior Centers—in the following program areas: Addictions: Inpatient and outpatient substance abuse treatment, OWI/DUI classes, problem gambling treatment.

Child Abuse: Shelter, homebased prevention services, parenting classes.

Community Centers & Services: Centers for child care providers, girls and seniors; car loan service for low-income working parents with challenging credit history.

Domestic Violence: 24-hour hotline; individual and group counseling services for victims; shelter for women and their children; educational group for men who abuse.

Early Childhood Development: Services for children, refugees, and their families; training and support for child care providers.

Juvenile Delinquency: Courtordered intervention, evaluations, monitoring; residential program for youth in crisis.

Mental Health: Counseling for children and adults; therapeutic K-12 school; support for chronic mental health illnesses; integrated health home services.

Poverty & Homelessness: Hardship assistance for rent, utilities, medications; transitional, and permanent supportive housing; donation center; career clothing closet.

PAY IT FORWARD

• Join our volunteer groups: Friends Guild, 21-40 (Young Professionals), Junior Friends (10th12th graders), Student League (incoming 9th graders).

• Provide a Tuesday meal to the youth in crisis in our Youth Links facility.

• Purchase holiday gifts for a family in need through our Adopt a Family programs.

• Work with children, women, seniors, and families while volunteering in our programs.

• Attend one of our monthly Good Works 101 Lunch and Learn sessions.

• Request a tour of our locations.

• Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and invite others to do the same.

To learn more about volunteering, contact us at Volunteer@ Hea r t la nd Fa milySer vice.org or 402-552-7418.

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Our mission is to empower children and parents to reach their potential and enable older adults to maintain their independence.

WHO WE ARE

Kids Can Community Center’s mission is to empower children and parents to reach their potential and enable older adults to maintain their independence. Kids Can is not your everyday community center, offering a wide variety of programs for children, families, and older adults. Our main focus is on children, ages 18 months to 13 years. Kids Can offers preschool, childcare, before and after school services, tutoring, mentoring, and out-of-school care, all designed to make sure children are ready for and successful in school.

We incorporate STEMsmart 150

(Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Strength, Music, Arts, Reading and Tutoring) in daily programming to keep kids sharp throughout the year. We also have a fantastic full-day summer program with many fun activities, field trips, and swimming!

Mentors and mentees meet once a week for one hour at Kids Can to share in positive experiences such as baking, playing games, watching movies, doing crafts, and other fun and educational activities.

BRAG LINES

You can support the efforts of our mentoring program by volunteering to serve as a mentor and/or referring a mentor to our program.

As a mentor, you don’t have to have experience with kids, you just have to have an open mind and commitment to serve.

In an effort to provide children with positive adult role models and to enhance their social skills, Kids Can has joined with Midlands Mentoring Partnership to offer an on-site mentoring program. We match youth ages 7-13 with mentors of varying ages and backgrounds.

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WISH LIST

• Vans for transportation • Sports & athletic equipment (toddlers to teens) • Arts & craft supplies • Indoor & outdoor play equipment for toddlers • Clothes – sizes 2 years – 5 years • Laminating machine • Gift cards & gas cards • Kleenex • Hand sanitizer • Wii and Xbox Kinect Games

PAY IT FORWARD

KIDS CAN COMMUNITY CENTER

4860 Q St. Omaha, NE 68117 402.731.6988 mentor@kidscanomaha.org kidscanomaha.org

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MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

• New and/or gently used furniture and household items • Gift cards for clothes, shoes, backpacks, etc.

• Gift cards and/or ticket donations for youth to attend various events, entertainment opportunities, theaters, etc., in the community

Our mission is Supporting and Strengthening Youth, Young Adults, and Families in the community for 94 years. The Omaha Home for Boys is committed to providing services to young men and women through family-style, communitybased programs supported by education.

UPCOMING EVENTS

9/25/14 Restoring Hearts with Bike Parts Celebration 12/5/14 Home for the Holidays Open House 5/18/15 Annual OHB Golf Classic

OMAHA HOME FOR BOYS

4343 N. 52nd St. Omaha, NE 68104 402.457.7000 omahahomeforboys.org

WHO WE ARE

BRAG LINES

Founded in 1920, the Omaha Home for Boys provides care and support for at-risk youth ages 12-24 as part of its mission of Strengthening Youth and Families.

The Omaha Home for Boys is committed to providing services to young men and women through family-style, community-based programs supported by education.

As we approach our 100th anniversary in 2020, we will continue to adapt and change to meet the needs of children and families throughout the community.

Our promise began 94 years ago—to help youth become successful, productive, and independent adults who contribute positively to and responsibly in their community.

The Omaha Home for Boys is a private, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization providing services to youth regardless of race, religion, or ability to pay.

The commitment and support of our staff and local and national donors and corporate partners to serve the best interests of youth and their families in the community have made the Omaha Home for Boys success story for almost 100 years.

Without their devotion, our three programs— Inspiration Hill Residential Care (boys ages 12-18), Jacobs’ Place Transitional Living (young men and women ages 17-20) and Branching Out® Independent Living (young men and women ages 14-24)—would not be thriving and successful.

For the second year, the Omaha Home for Boys participated in the nationally recognized Helping with HorsepowerTM Bike Rebuild program. Home youth spent 16 weeks this year redesigning and restoring a customized HarleyDavidson FXR motorcycle that we’re now selling raffle tickets to

win. The impact upon the youth involved has been life-changing, and community and business interest and support have been amazing.

PAY IT FORWARD

Support us through tax-deductible donations, attend and sponsor our annual golf outing (each May), Helping with Horsepower™ Bike Rebuild program, and Restoring Hearts with Bike Parts™ celebration in September.

Omahans can also help by spreading the word about our events as well as the great work our staff does every day to positively impact and change the lives of our youth and their families.

Invite us to come speak to organizations in the community about our mission and our upcoming 100th anniversary.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@omahahomeforboy) and Linkedin to learn more about the Home and our youth!

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To provide a nonprofit community service dedicated to delivering professional consumer credit education, confidential counseling, and debt management to all segments of society, regardless of their ability to pay.

WISH LIST

• Send family or friends that need the debt management program or other services • Sponsor a financial literacy workshop • Sign up as a sponsor of our annual Swing for Financial Literacy Golf Tournament • Call us with an organization or business referral

UPCOMING EVENTS

8/1/14 & 8/15/14 9/5/14 & 9/19/14 A Place of My Own WHO WE ARE

BRAG LINES

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Nebraska is a valuable asset to our community. We provide financial education, budget counseling, housing counseling, and debt solutions to consumers.

Th rough the efforts of organized labor and area businesses, initial funding was raised to open our first office in 1976. Today, we serve all of Nebraska and Western Iowa providing dependable, lowcost counseling to individuals and families in need.

CCCSN is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), and we are a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. Recognized for our standards of service delivery, we are accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA).

Our funding comes from creditor donations, counseling fees, housing grants, foundations, and individual donations.

We have been in business for 38 years. During that time, we have provided education and counseling to thousands of individuals and families. We have worked with many community partners, including business, government, and social service agencies like Habitat for Humanity and Lutheran Social Services. We help educate employees, people being laid off, college students, veterans, high school students, seniors, families in foreclosure, first-time homebuyers, and anyone else in need of assistance.

We have a dedicated, professional staff that is properly trained, certified, and who care about people.

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PAY IT FORWARD

You can support CCCSN by sponsoring one of our events or programs.

They include: • Women Achieving Financial Independence Program, offered

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in the spring and fall. Babysitting and meals are provided along with all the training/education for women from all walks of life and their children.

• Swing for Financial Literacy, an annual golf tournament fundraiser, largely funded by generous donors.

• Homebuyer Education classes, provided and planned for the firsttime homeowner. The consumer receives a certificate of completion at the end of the class.

You can also help by donating printing services for our handouts, brochures, or printing supplies.

We always appreciate donations of appropriate giveaways for consumers who attend our education classes or visit our public relations booth.

Register to participate in the annual Swing For Financial Literacy Golf Tournament online at cccsn.org.

8/27/14 9th Annual Swing for Financial Literacy Golf Tournament

CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE OF NEBRASKA, INC.

11225 Davenport St. #108 Omaha, NE 68154 402.333.2227 cccsn.org

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MISSION STATEMENT

UPCOMING EVENTS

11/13/14 Merrymakers 24th Annual Roast

Merrymakers improves the quality of life for seniors by encouraging active participation, increasing social interaction, and sparking memories through professional entertainment.

WHO WE ARE

MERRYMAKERS ASSOCIATION

12020 Shamrock Plaza #200 Omaha, NE 68154 402.697.0205 merrymakers.org

Merrymakers is a nonprofit that has operated in the Omaha metro for 28 years. Founded by Jim Johnson, the organization has grown dramatically from its early roots, serving senior facilities throughout the entire state of Nebraska and Central Iowa.

As the name implies, we “make merry.” Serving our senior population, Merrymakers’ 20 performers are all professional and tailor their music to their audience. This means that seniors are offered a strong dose of the music from their youth-a healthy tonic for the boredom and loneliness endemic in senior facilities. The performers also interact with their audience, so it’s not

unusual to see toes tapping, dancing, hands clapping, smiles, laughter, and even some tears.

Clinicians and therapists point to the many benefits of music in our senior population including socialization, movement, and stimulating memories.

fact, a $2,500 donation can pay for a monthly performance at a retirement facility for an entire year.

Philanthropist and former board member Mike Simmonds describes it as “Just about the best donation value there is in Omaha” since so much of the donor dollar goes to fulfilling the mission.

BRAG LINES PAY IT FORWARD

We are proud of the growth we have been able to achieve over the years, now serving over 125 facilities, while giving 1,375 performances in 2013 alone. We’re on track to do more this year.

The mission is simple, and Merrymakers can operate with few overheads- without the burden of multiple tiers of management. In

We are currently forming a “Friends” group, and we would love to have volunteers come on board to help us organize our Annual Roast, Songs&Suds and other Merrymakers events. Please contact Mary Kerr at 402.384.8845 if you want to help us bring music to our seniors.

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MISSION STATEMENT

To save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease.

UPCOMING EVENTS

09/14/14 34th Annual Corporate Cup Run/Walk at Aksarben Village. omahacorporatecup.org

WHO WE ARE

When you join the American Lung Association in the fight for healthy lungs and healthy air, you help save lives today and keep America healthy tomorrow.

In May of 2014, the American Lung Association launched an national strategic campaign that focuses on lung cancer in women.

LUNG FORCE will unite women to stand together against lung cancer and for lung health.

Only a force of many can take on lung cancer, the No. 1 cancer killer of women in the United States.

Consider these eye-opening facts: • Every five minutes, a woman in the U.S. is told she has lung cancer.

• The lung cancer death rate in women has more than doubled over the past 35 years.

• Anyone can get lung cancer.

It’s a big problem—so we have big goals.

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We work to change people’s minds about what it means to have lung cancer so that everyone understands the risks. We raise our voices for innovations in research that will lead to earlier detection and more personalized treatments so that everyone has a fighting chance.

And we work to advance lung health—for everyone who suffers from asthma, COPD and other lung diseases, or has someone in their life who does.

We stand together against lung cancer and for lung health.

We stand together as one LUNG FORCE—for our breath, for our lives.

BRAG LINES

Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives, improve lung health, and prevent lung disease. With your generous support of the Christmas

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

Seals® Campaign, the American Lung Association is fighting for healthy lungs and healthy air, including fighting: • Lung Disease • Childhood Asthma • Lung Cancer • Second-hand Smoke • Smoking • Flu • For a Cure PAY IT FORWARD

There are plenty of ways to help the American Lung Association’s mission to save lives by preventing lung disease and promoting lung health. Whether it is lending your voice, giving your time, joining a life-changing sporting event, or sharing our story with others, your help is greatly needed and we look forward to counting you amongst our legion of partners in our Fight for Air.

AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION IN NEBRASKA

8990 West Dodge Rd. #226 Omaha, NE, 68114 402.502.4950 lung.org/nebraska

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MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

• Pre-event media coverage • Public Awareness Program • Donation match

8LI 'SQTEWWMSREXI *VMIRHW

When a child dies at any age, the family suffers intense pain and may feel hopeless and isolated.

The Compassionate Friends provides highly personal comfort, hope, and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family.

UPCOMING EVENTS

9/14/14 Walk to Remember and Annual Brick Dedication 12/14/14 Worldwide Candle Lighting

WHO WE ARE

THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS GREATER OMAHA CHAPTER

P.O. Box 540852 Omaha, NE 68154 402.571.4011 tcfomaha.org

Chartered in 1979, the Greater Omaha Chapter of the Compassionate Friends is one of over 660 chapters nationwide dedicated to reaching out to families who have experienced the death of a child with support groups, memorial programs, newsletters and Facebook, an extensive grief resource library, community education programs, conferences, and Angel of Hope Children’s Memorial. Whether the child you mourn died before birth, as an infant, child, teen, or adult, we join together to remember our children, learn coping skills, and make friendships that can help carry us through the most difficult time in our lives by sharing stories of pain and stories of hope. With the help of one another, we begin to move from “that’s all we had” to “we had all

that,” and the love for our children lives on forever. The open-ended group is self-led by a committee of caring leaders who are not professionals, but have walked the walk.

BRAG LINES

Local members shared a vision of a quiet place where families could go to remember their child, grandchild or sibling, and begin to heal. The Angel of Hope Children’s Memorial at Boys Town stands as a symbol of hope for all who have experienced the death of a child, no matter what age, and reminds families they are not alone and that they, too, can survive. The project is our way to show we care for grieving families and that our children are remembered and live on through us.

It is the 95th Angel of Hope statue in the United States, and in its wing is inscribed the word HOPE and a

child’s name is engraved on each brick. A dedication ceremony for new bricks is held annually.

PAY IT FORWARD

• Give a gift in any amount.

• Purchase a brick in memory of a child at the Angel of Hope Children’s Memorial.

• Serve on an advisory board of professionals who understand and support the work of the group.

• Help us reach out to grieving families who may have never heard of The Compassionate Friends and don’t know where to turn.

• Sponsor a bereaved mother or father to attend a conference.

• Be a good listener for someone who needs to talk about their child.

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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MISSION STATEMENT

Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission providing basic needs and life-changing programs for the homeless and needy, with long-term solutions that break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.

WISH LIST

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Board games Baby dolls & Barbies Fleece throws Sports balls Watches Men’s socks & underwear Hair dryers & curling irons Make-up sets Turkeys Canned vegetables Canned fruit Instant potatoes Canned meat Boxed meals MAT bus tickets Phone cards

UPCOMING EVENTS

10/19/14 Ladle of Love WHO WE ARE

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Open Door Mission is a Gospel Rescue Mission providing basic needs and life-changing programs for the homeless and needy, with long-term solutions that break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.

Our desire is to be a bridge for people trying to reclaim the basic necessities of life, restore their God-given dignity and hope, and rejoin the community as full and active participants.

Candace L. Gregory, President/ CEO, is a national advocate for the homeless. She uses her extensive experience in community prevention programs to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. She longs to build a bridge of hope to others and develop innovative ways to make it happen through partnerships and collaborations.

Each day, Open Door Mission’s campus offers 816 safe shelter beds to homeless men, women, and children, serves over 2,000 hot, nutritious meals, and provides preventive measures to more than 275 people living in poverty.

Every month, Open Door Mission partners with more than 865 volunteers logging over 6,000 hours making a difference right here in their community.

Please visit www.opendoormission.org and click on the volunteer button to see how you can have a life-changing volunteer experience today.

From September through November, Open Door Mission expects to provide more than 180,000 hot, nutritious meals to the Heartland’s hungry—and an additional 50,000 in December.

We invite you, your family, church, or business to get on board to help supply canned vegetables, canned fruit, instant potatoes, canned meat, and boxed meals so we can stock our warehouse for the holidays and winter months.

To help provide food, shelter, and other services for the homeless at Open Door Mission, visit www. opendoormission.org.

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11/13/14 60 Years of Blessings Celebration Concert 4/21/15 60 Years of Blessings Gala More info at opendoormission.org.

OPEN DOOR MISSION

2828 N. 23rd St. E. Omaha, NE 68110 402.422.1111 opendoormission.org

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7TH ANNUAL BIG GIVE

sponsored content

MISSION STATEMENT

Helping families with children battling cancer.

WISH LIST

• $5,000 helps a family for ten months.

• $3,000 helps a family for six months.

• $1,500 helps a family for three months.

• $500 helps a family for one month.

• $125 helps a family for a week.

Ian - Chemo Treatment

Ian with Great Grandpa Elmer

UPCOMING EVENTS

11/7/14 Annual Gala “An Evening Among Angels” 12/6/14 AngelFlix 2/20/15 Cheers to the Angels 5/28/15 Golf Outing

The Galloway Family

ANGELS AMONG US

11918 Poppleton Plaza #2 Omaha, NE 68144 402.885.4840 myangelsamongus.org info@myangelsamongus.org

WHO WE ARE

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Angels Among Us is a Nebraskabased nonprofit organization whose mission is to help families with children battling cancer. Angels Among Us not only provides financial assistance, but also fosters a sense of community and provides needed resources/information for families in need.

Shari Holl is the Executive Director of Angels Among us and Stephen Sorensen is the 2014 Chairman of the Board.

Caring for a child with cancer is a full-time job, and many families are forced to give up one or more incomes so they can provide care.

Moreover, many treatments are not covered by insurance.

Since our founding in 2006, we have provided over $750,000 in financial assistance to over 200 families. We pay electric bills, phone bills, rent, etc. We also supply families with gas cards, grocery cards, and more.

Angels Among Us works specifically with children living in Nebraska or being treated in Nebraska. Financial contributions are the best way you can help provide support to these families battling cancer.

Please contact Angels Among Us at 402-885-4840, or visit myangelsamongus.org if you would like to help. Thank you!

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MISSION STATEMENT

Lutheran Family Services (LFS) expresses God’s love for all people by providing quality human care services that build and strengthen individual, family, and community life. The LFS vision is safety, hope, and well-being for all people.

WISH LIST

• Diapers • Gift cards that can be used for food and necessities (i.e. Walmart) • Winter weather clothing items for refugee families

UPCOMING EVENTS

9/14 Faith in Action: Hope Restored, Indian Creek 10/15 Omaha’s Great Pumpkin, Village Pointe

WHO WE ARE

For 122 years, LFS has provided quality human care that builds and strengthens individuals, families and communities. Through three core competencies—children services, behavioral health, and services to international communities—LFS staff members dive into the “messiness” of life—and work one-on-one to help provide hope and healing to those who need it.

Ruth Henrichs, our CEO, is our face in the Omaha community.

BRAG LINES

LFS is a statewide human care organization whose impact touches one in 50 Nebraskans. On any given day, LFS has open case files 158

on over 2,000 children. These are children who have been sexually abused, traumatized, suffer from behavioral health challenges, or are in a foster home hoping for a permanent, loving family. LFS early intervention and prevention programs guide young, inexperienced, and often fi nanciallychallenged parents toward healthy and loving relationships with their children— with an eye towards prevention of child abuse and neglect.

LFS provides confidential PSTD and trauma treatment to returning veterans, active military and their families, as well as expanded services to give these returning heroes the support they need to successfully return to civilian life. LFS is also one of the largest resettlement organizations in the state, resettling

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

605 refugees from war-torn parts of the world in 2013.

LFS aggressively seeks out permanent homes for older children in foster care and is the agency of record for helping the FBI care for local victims of human trafficking.

The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce recently honored LFS with its prestigious Greater Omaha Business Excellence Award – Non Profit. LFS was also awarded the Better Business Bureau Integrity Award in 2013.

PAY IT FORWARD

Volunteer opportunities are listed at lfsneb.org, including sponsorship of individual refugee families. Financial support for all programs is crucial.

LUTHERAN FAMILY SERVICES OF NEBRASKA

124 S. 24th St. #230 Omaha, NE 68102 402.342.7038 lfsneb.org

GALA

7TH ANNUAL BIG GIVE

sponsored content

MISSION STATEMENT

WISH LIST

Providing purpose, privacy, dignity, and independence to adults with disabilities.

• Family housing center • Treadmill pool • Truck for hauling adaptive sports equipment • All-terrain wheelchairs • Adaptive bicycles & hand cycles • Kayaks • iPads • Ice-fishing equipment

UPCOMING EVENTS

10/10/14 An Evening at the Fair For more events go to TeamQLI.com

QLI

6404 N. 70th Plaza Omaha, NE 68104 402.573.3700

WHO WE ARE

BRAG LINES

PAY IT FORWARD

Good rehabilitation services improve function. Great rehabilitation services rebuild lives. Located right here in Omaha, QLI is the largest and most specialized brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation center in the nation. Our team, comprised of over 350 expert staff members, works relentlessly for individuals and families impacted by life-changing injuries. Blending gold-standard research with a realworld, functional approach, we craft the individualized skills necessary for our clients to rebuild lives of purpose and meaning.

Omaha encourages innovation and fosters a forward-thinking, cutting-edge community. QLI is proud to be a part of that. QLI serves hundreds of families from across the country each year, and has even made Omaha the epicenter for international clients seeking a brain and spinal cord injury resource. As a community partner, QLI drives influential projects throughout the Omaha area and beyond, and reinvests more than $25 million a year back into Omaha. This success is not possible without the support of the people of Omaha and the immense pride of our staff, who have voted us four times over as Omaha’s Best Place to Work.

QLI’s remarkable impact requires creativity and initiative.

You have the chance to collaborate with us as we give individuals lives of purpose, passion, and independence after injury.

Join Team QLI (TeamQLI.com) and rally alongside us as we participate in major Omaha-area events.

Or support QLI with a charitable financial gift, which will bolster our innovative services, keep us on the cutting-edge, and help us accommodate the many families we serve each and every day right here in Omaha.

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by leo adam biga • photography by keith binder

Patricia Givens Barron (aka Big Mama)

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OMAHA GALA FEATURE

Big Mama, Bigger Heart Serving Up Soul Food and Second Chances

P

ATRICIA GIVENS BARRON, THE woman behind Big Mama’s

Kitchen in North Omaha, is known for her soul food. And for giving folks who’ve run afoul of the law a second chance.

Her desire to give individuals reentering society a break is not some vague, do-gooder’s impulse; rather, it’s a deeply felt advocacy and activist calling borne of personal experience and heartache.

The North Omaha native grew up the daughter of popular band leader Basie Givens.

After a four-year U.S. Navy hitch, then decades in the telecommunications industry, Barron, who did catering on the side, opened her restaurant in 2007. Her interest in giving a helping hand began long before—when two of her daughters went to prison. > omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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< “It was such a shock,” Big Mama says, “because they had been raised in a Christian home with a mother and a father.”

Even after serving time and turning their lives around, her daughters struggled finding societal acceptance.

“They finished college. One became a counselor and the other one a nurse, only you could not get a license if you were a felon.

I watched them go through the process. It took them a couple years to get their record expunged. The thing I went through with my daughters gave me an awareness” about a problem in our community. “How many other people went wayward, and it will be held against them the rest of their lives so that they can’t get a job or can’t get into a certain profession? I decided whenever I opened my restaurant, I’m going to hire felons and give people a second chance.”

Barron knows first-hand the power of second chances. She experienced two failed marriages, including one involving abuse, 162

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

GALA big mama

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before finding the love of her life. It was on an operating table that she underwent a pivotal spiritual experience. She was called to serve a larger purpose.

Through her church she became active in Crossroads Connection, a ministry outreach to inmates. She believes the barriers ex-offenders face are the root of many inner city ills. She and then-State Senator Brenda Council tried getting a bill passed banning the felony box on applications. The attempt failed, but Barron’s still doing her part.

“We’re promised the pursuit of happiness in this country,” she says. “One should be able to pursue their happiness even if they are a felon. I feel like I’ve lived a pretty decent life, and so now it’s time for me to give back and to help other people pursue that happiness. If it’s by offering jobs, by giving second chances, that’s what I’m going to do because I feel like that’s my purpose.”

One of the first people she helped was her granddaughter, Diondria Harrison, who

was incarcerated several years ago. After her release Barron took her on. Today Harrison is the lead cook at Big Mama’s.

Right from the start Barron, whose place has been featured on The Food Network, made it known she cut ex-cons a break.

She hosted job fairs for ex-offenders that attracted hundreds.

“When I opened my restaurant most of my help was on work release,” she adds. “They worked for me during the day and went back to jail at night.”

Her open hiring policy led her to partner with others on reentry employment efforts and to offer internships to at-risk youth.

People regularly show up looking for their second chance. A woman who served 14 years in military prison for killing her abusive husband heard about Big Mama’s and had her parole officer inquire about a job when she got out. Eager to learn the culinary trade, the woman didn’t wait for a reply. The day she arrived there was no job available, so >

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< she eagerly shadowed kitchen staff before being hired as a waitress. Today, she’s working another job and nearing completion of her culinary degree at Metropolitan Community College.

“I understood where she was coming from,” Barron says. “Through all that she’s been through, she’s really kept it together.

She loves to cook. Loves to bake. And that’s what I’m about, so she just fit in perfectly.

She’s doing very well on her own now.”

Cornell Austin didn’t know about Barron’s big heart for felons when he appeared seeking a job after his release from prison. He’d caught her on television and, with years of food service experience behind him, he figured Big Mama’s would be a good place to start over—if its owner would get past his criminal background. She did.

“I had tried at a lot of places,” Austin says, “but I had that felony hanging over my head.

When I interviewed with her I was apprehensive to tell the truth about my background, but I decided to put everything on the table.

I told her what happened. She accepted it.

And she didn’t judge me. She gave me a shot at a new beginning. She helped me change to be the man I am today. She gave me another chance to believe in myself—that I can make mistakes, but I can also achieve things in life as well.”

Austin now cooks at the Doubletree Hilton and still helps Big Mama on occasion. He’s only months from getting his culinary degree at Metro. He hopes to one day open his own catering business.

Barron’s happy for Austin. “Everything is going great for him. I am so proud of him.

I’m glad to be a part of his life to help him get on track. He’s another black man that got on track, so I feel good about that.”

Not every ex-offender works out, she says.

“We’ve been burned by people who stole from us, lied to us, but that’s on them. I don’t let that stop me or discourage me. Most people really want to change their lives. They just need to be given a chance.

Barron, who estimates she’s employed some 200 ex-offenders, says offering folks a fresh start “makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something and that my purpose here is being fulfilled.”

Cornell Austin and countless others would agree. OMAG

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photography by dwyer photography, mdpinc.

2014 Ak-Sar-Ben Pages Coronation & scholarship Ball October 18 Master Brooks D. Berliner Mr. & Mrs. Dave Berliner

Master Grant N. Beutler Mr. & Mrs. Terry Beutler

Master Thatcher W. Bowden Mr. & Mrs. Scott Bowden

Ms. Addison E. Burt Dr. Jenny & Mr. John Burt

Master Christian C. Call Mr. & Mrs. Brooks Call

Master Cole T. Christiansen Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Christiansen

Ms. Anna E. Codr Mr. & Ms. Jim Codr

Master Easton J. Crouse Mr. J.J. Crouse & Mrs. Lesley Brandt

Ms. Sasha B. Denenberg Dr. Tippi & Dr. Steve Denenberg

Ms. Elle P. Egger Mr. Nathan Egger & Ms. Meghan Lewis

Master Thatcher W. Gibson Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Gibson

Master John M. Graeve Mr. & Mrs. Shane Graeve

Master Blake X. Harrison Mr. & Mrs. Tim Harrison

Ms. Marigold E. Helvey Dr. & Mrs. Jay Helvey

Ms. Ruby R. Hinsley Mr. & Mrs. David Hinsley

Ms. Morgan F. Hockney Mr. & Mrs. Rob Hockney

Ms. Raylie J. Hollingsworth Mr. & Mrs. Robert Hollingsworth

Ms. Claire J. Jefferies Mr. & Mrs. Rick Jefferies & Ms. Sylvia Angel

Ms. Caroline G. Jones Mr. & Mrs. Lance Jones

Master Benjamin D. Kaufman Mr. & Mrs. Michael Kaufman

Master Nathaniel D. Kramer Mr. & Mrs. David Kramer

Master Leo J. Kroeger Mr. & Mrs. Scott Kroeger

Master Grant A. Lewis Mr. & Mrs. Chuck Lewis

Ms. Laura C. Lindsay Mr. & Mrs. Steve Lindsay

Ms. Aiden E. Lund Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Conway & Mr. Jay Lund

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Ms. Aiden B. Meyerson Mr. & Mrs. Troy Meyerson

Master Cody A. Meyerson Mr. & Mrs. Scott Meyerson

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OMAHA GALA

photography by dwyer photography, mdpinc.

2014 Ak-Sar-Ben Pages Coronation & scholarship Ball October 18 Master Brooks O. Minderman Dr. & Mrs. David Minderman

Ms. Maddison K. Murnan Mr. & Mrs. Michael Murnan

Master Gus D. Neary Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Neary

Master William E. Nihsen Mr. & Ms. Dustin Nihsen

Ms. Anne J. Ochsner Mr. & Mrs. Bo Ochsner

Master Leopold H. Owen Mr. & Mrs. Tyler Owen

Ms. Emily R. Patterson Mr. & Mrs. David Patterson

Ms. Grace M. Patterson Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Patterson

Ms. Lauren J. Paul Mr. & Mrs. Chris Paul

Ms. Jane E. Peterson Mr. & Mrs. Kyle Peterson

Master Liam M. Plumb Dr. & Mrs. Troy Plumb

Ms. Kennedy R. Richardson Mr. & Mrs. Chris Richardson

Master Parker J. Salestrom Mr. & Mrs. Jaymes Salestrom

Master Joel B. Sasson Dr. & Mrs. Aaron Sasson

Ms. Emma E. Schmidt Mr. & Mrs. Joe Schmidt

Master Bennett D. Schulte Dr. & Mrs. Tom Schulte

Master Joseph S. Scioli Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Scioli

Ms. Madelyn P. Semrad Mr. & Mrs. Scott Semrad

Ms. Sophia P. Semrad Mr. & Mrs. Scott Semrad

Master Eli H. Shada Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Shada

Master Cooper W. Stiles Mr. & Mrs. David Stiles

Ms. Hailey R. Stiles Mr. & Mrs. David Stiles

Master Harry N. Vondrak III Dr. Stephanie & Mr. Nick Vondrak Jr.

Master Owen D. Wahl Dr. Samantha & Dr. Andrew Wahl

Master Liam F. Walz Mr. & Mrs. Ted Walz

Ms. Clara L. Welch Mr. & Mrs. David Welch

Ms. Piper A. Zatechka Dr. & Mrs. Rob Zatechka

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OMAHA GALA

calendar of events

September/October and

per se

Exceptional clothes to empower outstanding women!

Calendar of events September 1-30 Omaha Reads Omaha Public Library Foundation Omaha Public Libraries omahapubliclibrary.org September 5 7TH Annual ALS in the Heartland ALS in the Heartland The Shops of Legacy alsintheheartland.org September 5 Broadway Ball Omaha Performing Arts Holland Performing Arts Center omahaperformingarts.org

Shop the FALL 2014 Collections August 6th thru 12th Shown by Designer Mary Anne Vaccaro

By appointment 402-398-1234 mavaccaro@maryannevaccaro.com www.carlislecollection.com

September 5 & 19 A Place of My Own Consumer Credit Counseling Service cccsn.org September 7 BaconFest Omaha The Salvation Army Kroc Center omahakroc.org September 8 16th Annual Goodwill Golf Classic Goodwill Industries, Inc. Player’s Club at Deer Creek goodwillomaha.org September 11 Brew Haha Habitat for Humanity of Omaha Stinson Park at Aksarben Village habitatomaha.org September 12 Big Red Tailgate Completely Kids Embassy Suites La Vista completelykids.org September 13 Spotlight Gala Voices for Children of Nebraska Embassy Suites Conference Center voicesforchildren.com September 13 CSI Touch a Truck Child Saving Institute First Data/UNO parking lots 69th and Pacific childsaving.org September 14 34th Annual Corporate Cup Run/Walk American Lung Association Aksarben Village omahacorporatecup.org

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September 14 Cruisin’ for a Cure Methodist Hospital Foundation Methodist Health System Parking Lot cruisinforacureomaha.com September 14 Faith in Action 2014 Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska Embassy Suites Conference Center lfsneb.org September 15 Men For Others Golf Classic Creighton Preparatory School Omaha Country Club creightonprep.creighton.edu

September 28 Margre Durham Walk for the Animals Nebraska Humane Society NHS Campus nehumanesociety.org October 1-31 Cobweb Castle Omaha Children’s Museum ocm.org October 2 March of Dimes Signature Chef’s Auction March of Dimes Embassy Suites Conference Center marchofdimes.com

September 15 Great Friends to Kids Luncheon Omaha Children’s Museum ocm.org

October 2 The 2014 Good Apples Awards Nebraska Appleseed Livestock Exchange Building Ballroom neappleseed.org

September 20-21 Gifford Farm Fall Festival Gifford Farm Education Center esu3.org

October 3 Home Grown Nebraska Children’s Home Society Regency Court homegrownomaha.org

September 25 “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” Celebration!

Project Harmony Anthony’s Steakhouse Grand Ballroom and Patio projectharmony.com

October 4 Big Red Block Party Junior League of Omaha Scott Conference Center jlomaha.org

September 25 Restoring Hearts with Bike Parts Celebration Omaha Home for Boys Hilton Omaha omahahomeforboys.org September 25-28 Ak-Sar-Ben’s River City Rodeo & Stock Show Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation CenturyLink Center Omaha rivercityrodeo.com September 27 5K Top Hat Run St. Vincent De Paul Society Lake Zorinsky East Entrance svdpomaha.com September 28 Purple Ribbon Auction Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation CenturyLink Center Omaha aksarben.org

October 5 Race for the Cure Omaha Susan G. Komen Nebraska CenturyLink Center Omaha komennebraska.org October 9 Loyola Dinner of Honor and Distinction Creighton Preparatory School Creighton Preparatory School creightonprep.creighton.edu October 10 6th Annual Expressions of Hope Gala Hope Center for Kids CenturyLink Center Omaha hopecenterforkids.com October 10 An Evening at the Fair QLI CenturyLink Center Omaha qliomaha.com

October 12 8th Annual Comfort Food Classic Ted E. Bear Hollow Ramada Plaza Convention Center tedebearhollow.org October 15 Race for the Cure CenturyLink Center Omaha komennebraska.org October 18 Trick or Treat with the Animals of Gifford Farm Gifford Farm Education Center esu3.org October 18 Ak-Sar-Ben Coronation & Scholarship Ball Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation CenturyLink Center Omaha aksarben.org October 19 CSF Fund Run Children’s Scholarship Fund Location TBA csfomaha.org October 19 Ladle of Love Festival Open Door Mission Garland Thompson Men’s Center opendoormission.org October 19 Hospitality Hall of Fame Omaha Restaurant Association Institute of the Culinary Arts dineoutomaha.com October 23 Women’s Fund Fall Luncheon Women’s Fund of Omaha CenturyLink Center Omaha omahawomensfund.org October 25 Omaha’s Great Pumpkin Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska Village Pointe lfsneb.org October 26 Art in the Bag Midwest Lampworkers Guild & Wear Yellow Nebraska Hot Shops Art Center artinthebag.com

September/October

•

2014

Denise Fackler

Rockin’ & Rollin’ Into Her 60’s

Style

Fall Fashion Trends

Cruising for Trouble Citizen Patrols

Bombs Bursting in Air The Night Japan Attacked Omaha september/october • 2014

60PLUS S1

LOCATIONS

S2

60PLUS

14460 West Maple Rd. Omaha, NE 402.493.0443

14303 U St. Omaha, NE 402.895.0181

2609 S. 132nd St. Omaha, NE 402.334.6933

1919 N. 90th St. Omaha, NE 402.391.2072

10770 Fort St. [NEC] Omaha, NE 402.493.3257

4840 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 402.558.2000

8315 West Center Rd. Omaha, NE 402.393.2557

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letter from editor

Time Flies!

Fall Time is Go Time

W

Contents

volume 2 • issue 5

E ARE NOW ON the cusp of my favorite time of the

year. I love the jewel-like colors of the season’s foliage. I love the weather and how I am reminded of it first thing every morning when I stand at the threshold of my closet. No longer do I leaf through the hangers with the primary (singular?) purpose of making selections aimed at trying to stay comfortable in the heat. Instead, I am now liberated to celebrate the season with layer upon layer of fun clothing, just like the pieces described in this issue’s Style section on Page S16.

And it’s a time for dressing up as we swing into gala season by contributing our time, treasure, and talent to the nonprofits that make such a vital difference to our friends and neighbors in this great town. You can learn more about getting involved by checking out veteran volunteer Ann Hosford’s advice on Page S6. And be sure to look for our annual Big Give section of Omaha Magazine for profiles on some of the area’s most energized nonprofits.

Still need ideas on how to hit the streets in support of building strong communities? You’ll want to read the story on Page S12 about Betty and Roger Hansen of the Piedmont Wycliffe Citizen Patrol.

Fall is so beautiful that time seems to stand still. Well, at least figuratively.

If you find youself in a position where time literally stands still in your home you’ll want to see the story on Bob Rowlee and his Ye Olde Clock Shoppe.

Time flies! And now it’s time for me to grab a sweater and fly right along with it!

Gwen Gwen Lemke Contributing Editor, 60PLUS In Omaha

Right on Time Veteran Clocksmith Keeps on Tinkering___________ S4 Bombs Bursting in Air The Night Japan Attacked Omaha____________ S6 Ann Hosford Volunteer Advice From a Pro____ S7 Denise Fackler Rockin’ & Rollin’ Into Her 60’s___ S8 Cruising for Trouble Piedmont Wycliffe Citizen Patrol_ S12 Style Fall Fashion Trends___________S16 The Grandpa Chronicles Butterflies Are Free_________ S18 Comments? Send your letter to the editor to: david@omahamagazine.com 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.

september/october • 2014

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60PLUS feature by doug meigs • photography by bill sitzmann

Right On Time

Veteran Clocksmith Keeps on Tinkering

S

OMETIMES, BOB ROWLEE WINDS a dozen clocks in his

living room. Then, after a long day of tinkering in the basement workshop of his West Omaha home, he finally sits down to watch the 10 o’clock news.

The hour strikes. Sound vanishes under a wall of noise. Bells, chimes, rings, dings, whistling cuckoos, and clanging grandfathers all drown the news anchor’s voice.

“You’d better know how to read lips, because you won’t hear a thing,” he says with a laugh.

Rowlee is a clocksmith. Now on the cusp of his 80th year, he began repairing clocks for fun at age 30. He was a career military man for 22 years in the Air Force. He has collected and repaired clocks across Germany and the U.S. The hobby became a profession after retirement. He opened Ye Olde Clock Shop in 1980.

Clocks of all kinds crowd his home. They S4 60PLUS

september/october • 2014

fill his living area upstairs. They gather en masse in his basement. His workshop contains every imaginable, wind-able, tick-tocking timepiece: mantle, wall, cuckoo, grandfather, etc. More clocks occupy a renovated basement, and they empty into a private showroom where Rowlee stashes his collection of rare, antique German clocks.

Ye Olde Clock Shop’s current suburban locale might seem unusual. The shop was previously located in a 2,400-square-foot showroom in Papillion. The way Rowlee explains his shop’s 1997 relocation, it seems more like a pre-ordained coincidence.

The owner of an adjacent building had offered to buy his showroom. “My wife said, ‘Listen, when you get ready to sell this building 15 years down the road, there may not be any buyers,’ and that turned out to be a true thing,” he says. “It was a blessing in disguise.”

In retrospect, the premature building sale guaranteed that he would avoid the real

estate bubble, which burst with the Global Financial Crisis in 2008. More importantly, he was able to remain close to his wife, his childhood sweetheart. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few years after his shop relocation.

Rowlee became her primary caregiver.

She had a cane and would often knock on the floor for help. He would rush upstairs and take her to the hospital. She passed away in 2004. Ever since, Rowlee has continued working from home.

“The number of times I would have rushed home from Papillion to take her to the hospital, I would have had to sell the building anyway (if I had held onto it),” he says. “You never know what you believe in until somebody says, well, that’s a coincidence. It’s probably all laid out ahead of time, and this was just when it happened. So, I let it go at that.”

During his Air Force stint in Germany, he crisscrossed the country buying antique

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clocks. A new generation of Germans had become apathetic to the timepieces of their grandparents and great-grandparents, Rowlee says, so he found bargains from antique dealers and also picked up regular part-time work repairing clocks for export to America.

In recent years, Rowlee has watched U.S. interest dwindle for mechanical clocks.

Nebraska Furniture Mart’s selection of wall clocks and grandfather clocks has grown sparse. Digital devices, smartphones, and computers have displaced demand.

Rowlee expects that declining demand for quality timepieces is part of a cyclical pattern.

But he’s not too worried. His workload is already backlogged many weeks out.

“I stay so busy that I don’t know if I’ll have time to do anything else,” he says.

“Sometimes I wonder if I’m ever going to catch up.”

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60PLUS history by judy horan • photography by bill sitzmann

Bombs Bursting in Air The Night Japan Attacked Omaha.

T

HE OMAHA SUBURB OF

Dundee didn’t expect an enemy attack during World War II. Bombs weren’t reaching the U.S. heartland in 1945.

That’s why many thought of fireworks when a loud boom and a flash of light appeared in the sky over 50th and Underwood Streets the night of April 18. A few bleary-eyed residents ran outside in their pajamas. Seeing nothing threatening, they went back to bed.

Word soon got out that the explosion that jolted the neighborhood out of bed was caused by an incendiary device that had floated from Japan by balloon.

Hal Capps was 10 years old when the bomb went off. He remembers his father arriving home from his job at the Buffett grocery store in Dundee and saying: “Something happened in the neighborhood last night, but they’re not talking about it.”

Americans were asked to be mum about the bombings. “They didn’t want the Japanese to know how far inland the balloon had come,” says Capps.

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september/october • 2014

Residents in the suburb that was annexed

by Omaha in 1915—against their will— had other things to talk about at that time.

Dundee and the rest of America was still mourning the April 12 death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Churchgoers were in the pews at the thennew Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Church or at Dundee Presbyterian, founded in 1901.

They were greeted by name at the grocery store founded in 1869 by Warren Buffett’s great-grandfather Sidney. In 1915, Warren’s grandfather Ernest moved the store to 5015 Underwood where the Dundee Bank now sits.

They saw movies at the Dundee Theater featuring local boys—such as The Ox-Bow Incident starring Henry Fonda, who grew up in Dundee before achieving movie stardom. Or maybe they saw Yolanda and the Thief starring Fred Astaire, who was also born in Omaha.

Signs of World War II were ever present.

Dundee women collected tin cans for the war effort. Victory gardens were planted.

But then in August of 1945, the Enola

Gay—a B29 bomber built at the Martin bomber plant near Omaha—dropped its atomic payload on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Three days later, Nagasaki was bombed. Japan surrendered, ending World War II. People in Dundee no longer had to whisper. The balloon bomb story was now public.

The bombing of Dundee was not forgotten.

The Dundee-Memorial Park Association put up a plaque in 1992 on a building near the southwest corner of 50th and Underwood Streets that begins: “Dundee Bombed in World War II.” What it doesn’t say is that the Japanese balloon bombs were indeed (insert chuckle here) “bombs.” Of the few Japanese balloon bombs that actually reached the United States out of thousands launched, only one caused deaths; a woman and five children were killed in Oregon.

60PLUS active living by david williams • photography by bill sitzmann

Volunteering at a Glance

Volunteer Advice from a Pro

Ann Hosford’s Top Five Tips

D

ID YOU WATCH MORE

than an hour of the Weather Channel today? Do you put less than 25 miles on your car in any given week?

Do you approach crossword puzzles with such confidence—and frequency—that you dare to solve them in ink?

There’s no reason that senior living can’t be active living. And there’s no better solution to “stir crazy” than to get out there and volunteer.

Ann Hosford is a seasoned volunteer who serves on the board of the Omaha Parks Foundation. She was a founding member of the Girls Club (now Girls Inc.) and has previously served on the boards of Fontenelle Forest and Community Alliance, among others. We checked in with Hosford for her Top Five tips on how to live a richer and more rewarding life through volunteering.

KEEP IT LOCAL Volunteering can begin at your front door. “Join your neighborhood association,” says Hosford, previously the multiterm president of the Metcalfe-Harrison Neighborhood Association. “That’s a great

and easy place to start. What better way to build stronger communities than with your neighbors?”

MATCHMAKING There’s a nonprofit out there that speaks to almost any interest. The key is to find something that fits your passions and personality, says Hosford. “Are you, for example, really into gardening, but you live in an apartment?

There’s plenty of volunteer opportunities for people who think green,” or any other color.

GO SMALL Don’t overlook new or smallish nonprofits.

“I made perhaps some of my most impactful contributions,” Hosford says, “when I served on the board of the [smallish nonprofit] Omaha Hearing School. Smaller groups need just about everything in terms of support.

Your work there in any role you play can really make a difference.”

A FAMILY AFFAIR “I started volunteering when I was young and my mother was volunteering,” Hosford says. Include your children and grandkids in

• According to the Corporation for National & Community Service, 64.5 million Americans volunteered nearly 7.9 billion hours of service in 2012, the most recent year of data collection. The average American volunteered 32.4 hours that year.

• The most popular volunteer activities included fundraising or selling items to raise money (25.7%); collecting, preparing, distributing, or serving food (23.8%); engaging in general labor or transportation (19.8%); or tutoring or teaching (17.9%).

• Volunteers are almost twice as likely to donate to nonprofits as non-volunteers. Eight in 10 (79.2%) volunteers donated to nonprofits, compared to four in 10 (40.4%) non-volunteers.

Overall, half of all citizens (50.7%) donated at least $25 to nonprofits in 2012. the great tradition of helping others. “It’s great modeling behavior. And volunteers always have such great stories to tell.” Those stories are even better when such shared experiences serve to add deeper and more meaningful levels of family connectedness.

TWO’S COMPANY Are you a little shy? Can new people, places, and experiences be a little intimidating? “Use the buddy system,” Hosford advises. “Volunteer with a friend. You’ll have a great time!”

ACT TODAY! Need more ideas to stir your imagination?

The United Way of the Midlands maintains an online directory with scores of volunteer opportunities. Check out the “Volunteer” tab at unitedwaymidlands.org.

september/october • 2014

60PLUS S7

60PLUS feature by james walmsley • photography by bill sitzmann

Denise D Fackler

Rockin’ & Rollin’ Into Her 60’s

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september/october • 2014

ENISE FACKLER IS COOL.

That is, if cool still means what it meant when the singersongwriter was touring coffeehouses as a teenager in the ‘60s, or later helicoptering over the war-torn jungles of South Vietnam. The Omaha native even dashed off at 19 to marry her guitar-shredding flame, Lightnin’ Lyle, whose long locks made him an ill-fitted suitor in her parents’ eyes.

Yeah, the 62-year-old is pretty cool.

Of course, a duet with John Denver, a rock performance with Ted Nugent, and two improbable encounters with Lou Rawls and Ed Sullivan doesn’t hurt either.

At the very least, Fackler’s life can surely gussy up a diner — Shirley’s Diner in Millard, to be exact, which she’s owned with her husband, Lyle “Doug” Fackler, for 22 years.

“We decided to do something different,” Fackler says, reflecting on her transition from musician to business owner. “We needed something a little more secure.”

Adorned with relics from less certain times, to call Shirley’s a mausoleum would be a big

mistake. The memories Fackler has amassed in the form of photographs, newspaper clippings and other miscellany are very much alive to tell her story.

Above the diner’s booths and tables, a guitar case displays the name, “We, the Living,” the three-piece folkadelic act she says she helped found in junior high. At 14, Fackler and her bandmates, Nikki Lycan and Salli Evans, signed to a local agency and began playing out-of-town gigs.

“We were good. We did three-part harmony,” she says. “We just practiced so much after school everyday, that you just get good — you get good at anything you practice at,” just like the wonder that is the diner’s Stickto-Your-Ribs Chili.

Like all good things, the band eventually petered out, but a lingering war and its disheartened U.S. troops still required their musical prowess. A framed letter and photograph hanging just outside the diner’s kitchen reminds Fackler of her tours with the USO through Vietnam and Thailand.

“I’m most proud of that in my life,” she

Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ says with watery eyes. “I remember the sad faces of those boys—never smiling. I had no idea what they were going through every day.”

And then there’s Fackler’s youngest son, filmmaker/musician Nik, 29, whose framed movie poster for Lovely, Still, starring Martin Landau and Ellen Barkin—both Oscarwinners—proudly decorates the opposite wall. The director wrote the film’s script in high school and credits his mother for encouraging him to write at a young age.

“It didn’t matter what the story was about or how it ended, just that it was created,” Nik says. “Because of her, it became a habit to create.”

Perhaps as a form of continued maternal support—and amping up her hipster quotient three more notches—Denise has even provided background vocals while performing on the Waiting Room stage with her son’s ethereal art-rock band, InDreama.

Yep, in this or any other decade, Denise Fackler is just that cool.

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60PLUS history by sally shepherd • photography by bill sitzmann

Cruising for Trouble Piedmont Wycliffe Citizen Patrol

R

OGER HANSEN WAS ATTACHING to his vehicle a magnetic

sign with the words “Piedmont Wycliffe Citizen Patrol” when his wife, Betty, noticed something unusual. A truck was parked far off the roadway on the grounds of Cottonwood Elementary School. Before Roger could fasten his seat belt, a 60PLUS ride-along with these veteran patrollers had stumbled onto its first perp.

Uh…not so fast.

“Hey, you guys can’t drive across the property like that!” joked Dale Robinson as the Hansen’s vehicle approached his own. Turns out that Robinson is a fellow patroller with the group that is an arm of the Piedmont Wycliffe Neighborhood Association. And it turns out that he, weed-wacker in hand and other tools at the ready, was merely doing a little geurilla gardening. “Just cleaning up a bit after the city,” Robinson explains. “I wish S12 60PLUS

september/october • 2014

they’d let me show them how to make a park look nice,” he chuckles before returning to his volunteer chores.

Robinson was let off with a warning of the tongue-in-cheek variety.

The Hansens have been patrolling for over 15 years. Sure, they’ve had their share of excitement, usually minor and involving minors. But our travels this day through the seemingly endless cul de sacs of their West Omaha neighborhood yielded no reports and included only one more stop.

A neighbor, one previously unknown to the Hansens, flagged down the patrol vehicle.

She introduced herself and described some upcoming travel plans. Could the Hansens inform the other patrollers to keep an eye on her home? Sure, but Betty’s gift for gab also kicked in. Before Roger put the SUV back in gear to continue our meanderings, Betty had charmed her newest friend into checking out

the next patrol training session.

“You see how that works?” Betty muses.

“Good neighbors—involved neighbors— make for safe neighborhoods.”

“The police can’t be everywhere at once,” says Roger, who is also the president of the Omaha Coalition of Citizen Patrols, “so citizen patrols can fill a valuable need. Our main role is to be an extra set of eyes and ears for the police department.”

The Coalition consists of the 35 patrols that operate across the community. All patrollers go through background checks and training that includes multiple Omaha Police Department officers advising learners at each session. Patrollers are also issued official identification lanyards that are to be worn whenever one is “on duty.”

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BROUGHT SUZA AS A MEMBER OF WHAT JOURNALIST TOM BROKAW FAMOUSLY CHANCE CALLED THE GREATEST GENERATION, Roger Ihleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s military service became a roadmap for his 25 YEARS AGO w ALMOST favorite volunteer activity. But where to turn when the then 93-year-oldtake lost long his for the two to form a road privileges after his driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license renewal was denied?

Retired USAF Lt. Col. Roger Ihle was par t of a small cadre of Strategic Air & Space Museum volunteers who helped restore the same sor t of aircraft that had carried him through 25 spy missions over Europe in WWII. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d come home just covered in green, oxidized dustâ&#x20AC;Śbut with a big smile,â&#x20AC;? says daughterin-law Barbara Ihle. Driving him to his volunteer gig would have been easy enough, Barbara says, but she was keenly aware that having a woman hanging around the restoration team could change the dynamics and camaraderie shared among the exservice members. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was a very social affair for all the retired airmen,â&#x20AC;? Barbara explains, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and I knew Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be in the way, especially if their coffee break chats becameâ&#x20AC;Ś well, salty.â&#x20AC;?

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Richard actually became more than a friend to my father-in-law. He became a trusted confidante.â&#x20AC;?

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Home Instead CAREGiver Richard Sladky with the late Roger Ihle at the Strategic Air & Space Museum

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60PLUS S15

60PLUS style story and drawings by mary anne vaccaro

Fall Fashion Trends (For the Real World)

M

AYBE YOU’VE LOOKED AT the September Vogue or

Bazaar by now. Are you confused yet?

When you’re 60-plus, your world of fashion is not the world of the 20, 30, and 40-somethings that designer collections cater to. So it’s important to know what’s trending and how to interpret trends that are best for you.

Fall is the season that often garners the most fashion buzz. Let’s check some of the hottest trends and ways for you to wear them.

Most of what is new and different can be seen in outerwear. Sumptuous, robe-like coats are long to the ankle, usually wrapped and tied. Some are slim but most oversized, always with a feature neckline that could be a collar as big as a blanket, a flounce, or even a tie. There are plenty of shorter cuddlecoats to choose from as well. Fabrics are lush and furs are hugely popular, especially the color-blocked varieties. Shearlings and curly lamb looks are back. Puff and quilted coats and jackets have now attained the status of classics. Suede is everywhere, and is so beautiful in both draped coats and jackets.

Roomy knit ensembles certainly make dressing up easy and comfortable. You’ll love the oversized tops and jackets with pants to match. Skirts are either short or midilength…and feminine. Stay away from the short ones and be careful with midi lengths. If worn wrong, they can make you look frumpy.

The trend in dresses is Mod, with a Swinging ‘60s look (the decade, not your age). I say pass on these as there are still plenty of styles and cuts that are age and fit-appropriate for you.

Gray—yep, in all “Fifty Shades”—are supposed to be fall’s strongest color, but bright prints are everywhere in florals, animal prints, and geometrics.

If the lines of your neck bother you, it will be easy to keep them fashionably covered S16 60PLUS

september/october • 2014

with tall turtles and big, tall collars seen on tops and jackets of all kinds. Pants are designed in a variety of styles with various leg shapes. And, yes, leggings are still in. Sometimes they’re shown under dresses, but that look is for the young and foolish enough to fall for it. The urban, street look is popular as ever, but it’s not for you.

When dressing up, all-over sparkle and shimmer will be popular. Buy a sequined dress for the holidays!

The fashion shoes of the season are flats, most with the same pointed toe that are hot in pumps, too. Heel heights have come down considerably, lucky you! Boots are ubiquitous and are to be found in a dizzying array of styles and heights. Ankle, calf, knee, and over-the-knee styles range from very simple to ornate, some with hardware, laces, and even lace details.

You’ll want to shop for yet another new purse. They have become must-have fashion statements for every season, and they don’t have to fit or even coordinate with what you’re wearing. Sure, they just carry your “stuff,” but a stylish bag announces to the world that you are what fashion is in being “of the times.”

P.S. Yes, you can wear these! From Carlisle’s Fall Collection; Flounced Suede Coat, Turtleneck and Leggings...

All-0ver sequined, striped Party Dress.

Mary Anne Vaccaro is a clothing and product designer and an image consultant to businesses and individuals. She is also a sales consultant for Carlisle and PerSe, New York. maryannevaccaro.com carlislecollection.com

DIRECTORY

Brookestone Meadows Brookestone Village

Skilled nursing communities providing short-term rehabilitation including physical, occupational and speech therapy as well as long-term nursing care.

Home Instead Senior Care If you’re looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance, Home Instead Senior Care can help.

Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Home Care Assistance Retirement Community Elk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimer’s Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality.

www.BrookestoneVillage.com 402-614-4000 • Omaha www.BrookestoneMeadows.com 402-280-2696 • Elkhorn

19303 Seward Plaza 402-312-1198/402-216-8835 www.elkridgeseniorliving.com

Kohll’s Pharmacy & Homecare

Nebraska Cancer Specialists

8 locations & free delivery. Providing retail & compounded prescriptions; all medical equipment & supplies.

Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers, the responsiveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care. We embrace a positive, balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults.

402-763-9140 homecareassistanceomaha.com

Nebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients, medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical specialists and diagnostic services.

Nebraska Low Vision Regain the Joy of reading and writing today.

In Home Demo: Call 402-905-2794 www.NebraskaLowVision.com

402-408-1990 www.kohlls.com

5 Convenient Locations.

For address and phone info, visit our website: nebraskacancer.com

Saint Jude Hospice

Steven D. Wegner D.D.S.

Travel and Transport

Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit, our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort.

Dr. Wegner has 35 years of clinical experience and thousands of hours of continuing education. He knows how to help seniors, and all ages, to achieve and keep a healthy smile.

Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US, servicing clients throughout the country, as well as globally.

Wealth and Estate Planning, RiskManagement, Executive Services, Foundations & Endowments.

travelandtransport.com 402-399-4500

(402) 399-1513

Metro: 402.498.3444 West: 402.932.4555

10506 Burt Circle 402-609-4818 saintjudehospice.org

11840 Nicholas St Suite 210,Omaha, NE 68154 402-498-0400

EJ Militti, Jr.,Financial Advisor The Militti Group at Morgan Stanley

www.morganstanleyfa.com/milittigroup

september/october • 2014

60PLUS S17

60PLUS the grandpa chronicles story by david williams

Butterflies Are Free Mail-Order Metamorphosis

A

S A SMALL BOY growing

up in the ‘60s I lived off of a steady diet of comic books.

The action stories told on cheap pulp in cheaper ink placed me squarely in the midst of super heroes saving mankind from all manner of diabolical evil, but the advertisements found in those 25-cent comics had the same power to fuel the imagination of a young lad being raised in the Atomic Age. X-ray specs would allow me to see straight through walls!

Bodybuilding panaceas were available for 98-pound weaklings who were tired of getting sand kicked in their faces by beach bullies! Chattering teeth, slingshots, whoopee cushions, and piles of faux feces filled the pages.

Unbelievable! Incredible!

Amazing! And all for the princely sum of $1.98!

None of the offers was more captivating than the very, very creepy ad for sea monkeys—the one showing wildly inaccurate cartoon depictions of a nuclear family of the creatures (little Sis Sea Monkey even had a bow in her hair)—that turned out to be nothing more than microscopic brine shrimp. The very notion of live animals being shipped through the mail was mind-blowing to me, so it was with no little trepidation that I learned all these decades later that my wife, Julie, had ordered a live butterfly garden for our grandsons, Easton (4), and Barrett (3).

Unlike the cheesy come-ons from the ads in vintage comic books (A seven-foot Polaris submarine for under two bucks? Really?), S18 60PLUS

september/october • 2014

our butterfly garden turned out to be a real world adventure showcasing one of nature’s most astonishing transformations. The boys took charge of every step in the process of the care and feeding of the inchworms. Multiple readings of the kid-lit classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, acted as something of a field guide for understanding what we were witnessing as exoskeletons were shed before upsidedown perches were established so that a miraculous metamorphosis could unfold before our very eyes.

Julie, a para-educator at Hartman Elementary School, skipped the summer session this year so she could care for t h e boys. The babysitting schedule meant that our little junior entomologists would get only Monday-Wednesday-Friday lab time with their chrysalide charges. The timing was such that they missed the emergence of all five butterflies, but nothing could dampen their enthusiasm as they raced to the butterfly cage upon each new arrival to see what new wonders awaited.

Being of a certain age, I fondly recall a hippie-era flick featuring Goldie Hawn as a free spirit who invades the world of a

life-challenged neighbor. And just as the name of the film was Butterflies are Free, our little investigation into insectology would naturally culminate in a big-big-big butterfly release party.

Easton, after doing his squealing, tippy-toe, flailing-arms dance of nerding out the way only a small child can do, had the honors of unzipping the top of the butterfly garden.

But he didn’t quite yet grasp the concept of “free.” All he wanted to do was bury his face in the opening for one last, close-up peek at the Painted Lady butterflies he and Barrett had nurtured along.

But a sense of serenity—or as close to the word as any 4-yearold can hope to attain—soon prevailed as he leaned back and watched as, one-by-one, a quartet of winged beauties fluttered onto the lawn. The last of the butterflies needed a little coaxing before making his jailbreak, and that one landed gently on Easton’s hand for a moment—just one split second—before darting away.

“Look, Easton,” Julie exclaimed. “He just gave you a butterfly kiss!”

The metamorphosis was complete. But there was also a parallel transformation playing out that day and all throughout the experience. The minds of young boys were going through a metamorphosis of their own as they were filled with a reverence for nature and the world around them.

And that’s pure magic in the eyes of a grandparent. Even more magical than sea monkeys.

HOME CARE ASSISTANCE announces the GRAND OPENING of our OMAHA OFFICE! Home Care Assistance, a premier provider of in-home care, has a new, larger office to better serve clients in the Omaha area.

We’re conveniently located at

13057 W. Center Rd, Ste 10, Omaha, NE 68144 (On the professional/south side of Montclair Center) Read what your neighbors have been saying about our exceptional home care services: “Shortly after her diagnosis of a brain tumor, my brothers and I realized we could not take care of mom by ourselves. Home Care Assistance was there the next day to set things up. They allowed us to spend quality time with our mom, rather than spend all our time taking care of her. We never could have made it through those last months without their help.” — Kevin, Mark and Chip F. “Your direct help to get Mother home and comfortable was perfect. You listened to Mother and encouraged her in just the right way. Your knowledge of working with the nurses was also top-notch. It is a lot of work, but you make it look easy.” — Kit S. Meet Claire. Claire Shannon, M.Ed., an Omaha Care Manager, develops a unique plan of care for each client. She trains and supervises the client’s assigned care team, and ensures proper care and client satisfaction. Call Claire today for your free consultation.

402-763-9140 • HomeCareAssistanceOmaha.com

Receive the Highest Level of Cancer Care

NEBRASKA CANCER SPECIALISTS IS NOW QOPI® CERTIFIED!

Nebraska Cancer Specialists was recently awarded QOPI Certification for our outpatient oncology-hematology practice by ASCO, the largest oncology society in the U.S. ®

Based on careful analysis and on-site inspections, we met core standards in all areas of treatment, including:

• • • • • •

Treatment planning Staff training and education Chemotherapy orders and drug preparation Patient consent and education Safe chemotherapy administration Monitoring and assessment of patient well-being

This certification is an honor, a testament to our high standard of care — and a reminder that we must always strive to exceed our own expectations in order to better care for our patients.

As the largest independent QOPI-certified cancer practice in Nebraska, we are dedicated to providing superior treatment and services to cancer patients and support to their families.

Alegent Creighton Health Cancer Center - Bergan (402) 393-3110 Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center (402) 354-8124

Call Nebraska Cancer Specialists today.

Midwest Cancer Center Papillion (402) 593-3141 Midwest Cancer Center Legacy (402) 334-4773

Margaret Block, M.D. M. Salman Haroon, M.D. Ralph J. Hauke, M.D. Timothy K. Huyck, M.D. Robert M. Langdon, Jr., M.D. Kirsten M. Leu, M.D. John M. Longo, M.D. Patrick J. McKenna, M.D. Geetha Palaniappan, M.D. David A. Silverberg, M.D. Gamini S. Soori, M.D. Yungpo Bernard Su, M.D. Stefano R. Tarantolo, M.D.

Fremont (FAMC) (402) 941-7030

omaha september/october magazine • september/october 2014 • 2014 60PLUS

S19 187

Where Love and Healing F low

by sarah wengert • photography by bill sitzmann

DINING • CHEF PROFILE

What a Crock!

Crockpots are having a moment with home chefs and pros alike.

M

OST PEOPLE OF A cer-

tain age have tucked-away memories of crockpot cuisine. Usually, that involves a bright orange appliance—maybe avocado green or harvest gold—with a border decoration of cartoonish vegetables. Mom deposited a symphony of canned goods, placed the glass lid on top, and six to eight hours later the components had synthesized into dinner.

Somewhere along the way, the handydandy crockpot gained a gauche stigma

(Here’s looking at you, condensed Cream of Mushroom soup.) But children of the 20th century should make new memories this millennium, because the crockpot is back. Nowadays the look is sleeker, the term “slow cooker” preferred, but they’re ever the effective kitchen tool and can elevate your home cooking.

Just ask Joel Mahr, head chef at Lot 2 in Benson, and mastermind behind the restaurant’s outstanding fare, which is at > omaha magazine • september/october 2014

189

dining • chef profile joel mahr

GO-KARTS, MINIATURE GOLF, LAZER TAG, BATTING CAGES, WATER WARS, SPACEBALL, JUMPSHOT, ARCADE GAMES

Spend an Hour or the Day, Family Fun for Everyone

Thank you Omaha for voting us one of the Best BBQ in Omaha.

Located at 168th & Harrison • 402-895-7427

business. entertainment. family. food & drink.

the new 5 miles south of I-80 on 84th St. just east of 84th & Lincoln St. in Papillion 402-592-5671 • www.papiofunpark.com Open weekends only • Call for hours

190

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

health. home. lifestyle. style.

< once fine dining and comfort food, laidback and sophisticated, local and global.

“I use one about twice a month,” he says, going on to describe his favorite crockpot meal.

“In the morning we’ll put a roast in…come home to potatoes, carrots, celery, onion— a really nice meal,” says Mahr. Sometimes he’ll defat the liquid and reduce it with red wine to create a sauce, but beyond that, just add baguette, maybe a salad, and you’re set, he says.

“It’s perfect,” he adds. “I love it.”

Mahr’s wife, Jill, is from an Iowa farm where family gatherings often mean an infantry of slow cookers and roasters. At the couple’s wedding, they subbed crockpots for expensive chafing dishes and had an awesome spread, including a whole hog, shrimp boil (with potatoes, kielbasa, and carrots), beans, cheesy potatoes, and more. Mahr says it was delicious and easy.

“A lot of people think, ‘I don’t know how this thing works,’ or it's taboo for some reason,” he says. “But it’s great. You start the meal in the morning, then when you come home, it’s done. It’s vintage, but it’s vintage cool,” Mahr continues. “Everything comes full circle.”

Mahr says crockpots are great for making stocks, tenderizing trimming cuts, and making kids or vegetable-phobes eat their veggies—they’ll love the simmered-to-perfection mirepoix. They’re also your go-to appliance for beans, Indian dishes, oatmeal, soups, breads, desserts, and mulled wine—they do it all.

And cleanup is easy.

“Especially in the fall,” Mahr says, “they’re great for those comforting, homey meals; football game food, that kind of thing.”

Mahr, who’s also worked at V. Mertz, Dario’s, and The French Café, is no stranger to gourmet grub, and says crockpots can create wonderful levels of flavor. It just takes a little more time.

“You can develop a richer flavor by taking your time with a meal, and crockpots [let you] develop really great flavor, just by walking away from it,” he says, joking about the old “set it and forget it” tagline.

Mahr says that even though it’s “still that thing that grandma would dust off,” people might be surprised by the modern wonder of the crockpot.

“In our fast-paced society,” Mahr says, “something simple like this can bring your family together around the table.” OMAG

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3525 N. 147th St. 402-932-3135 thecoveomaha.com omaha magazine • september/october 2014

191

DINING FEATURE

Pla Too’s Thai Cuisine Smiles are guaranteed, the heat is optional.

192

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

I

N A STATE COVERED in cattle

and dominated by steakhouses, restaurants that serve quality fish may appear few and far between. But those who have eaten at Pla Too’s Thai know better.

Chinna Pat, the newest owner of the former Tas’s Thai Pepper, is working to change the face of Thai food in Omaha. With a nickname like Pla, (the Thai word for fish) there is no

by jillian humphries • photography by bill sitzmann

Chinna Pat (aka Pla)

doubt that it’s her specialty, and she is serving it up fresh every day.

Originally from a small town north of Bangkok, Pla was taught how to cook authentic Thai from her mother. One of three children, she decided to come to the states in 2003 as a foreign exchange student in Shenandoah, Iowa.

A few years later she moved to Omaha to attend the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where she worked as a waitress in a Thai restaurant downtown to help pay for her school.

With her degree in international business from UNO, she responded to a online post about needing help with visas.

The poster, Tassanai Kaitkaiwansiri and known as Ta, soon became one of Pla’s closest friends in the states. He had taken over the restaurant from its original owner and made

it into Tas’s Thai Pepper before offering to sell it to Pla in 2013.

Now, one year later, Pla has made the former Pizza Hut building into a real Thai experience. The staff is small—just Pla and two of her cousins. One helps in the kitchen and the other works the dining floor.

“We are a family,” Pla says with a beaming smile, “and I treat all of my customers like friends and family. That’s what brings people back every day.”

Pla believes in not only great-tasting food, but also keeping things healthy. Any guest with dietary needs is tended to by Pla herself, who then prepares a meal tailored just for them. And for those nervous about trying Thai food, don’t believe all the stereotypes.

“Some people believe Thai food is all about spices,” Pla says. “If you went to Thailand and

expected spice in your Pad Thai, they would laugh. We will prepare your food to your preference—spice or no spice.”

Along with fresh fish, the produce served is all from local farmers markets. It’s all about helping each other, Pla explains. Buying locally not only ensures fresh flavors, but it helps other business owners.

“Omaha is my second home,” Pla adds.

“I’ve lived here for over ten years and I love it.”

Pla Too’s also does a brisk business in takeout and also offers catering services. A separate, more health-conscious menu is in the works to meet the demands of dining trends.

And Pla hopes to one day have a food truck so she can reach other parts of town.

Thailand is known as “The Land of Smiles,” and Pla is determined to send every customer home with a satisfied grin. OMAG omaha magazine • september/october 2014

193

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Taxi’s Grille and Bar new chef - same culinary bloodlines

Wild Berry cobbler

194

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

V

by mystery reviewer • photography by bill sitzmann

ETERAN OMAHA RESTAURATEUR AND chef Malcolm

(Mac) Thompson opened Taxi’s in 2002 with the late Bill Johnette after their successful run at the much-celebrated Neon Goose. Over the years Taxis’s has also enjoyed considerable achievement and now Mac’s godson, Chase Thomsen, has taken over as Executive Chef. I had not been to Taxi’s for

a while, so I decided to make a trip over there and see what’s cooking.

From the outside Taxi’s is not overly impressive, just another Omaha strip mall restaurant. Once inside it becomes obvious that great care is taken to keep this restaurant in top condition with a comfortable, casual, friendly, neighborhood vibe. All of the artwork, tables, chairs, serviceware, and other

restaurant review taxi's grille and bar

furnishings are above average quality and look much newer than the dozen years the restaurant has been open. The restrooms are also very impressive and clean. It may sound a little strange to a lay reader, but foodies know you can tell a lot about a restaurant and its operators by the condition of the restrooms.

Now for the best part of Taxi’s…the food!

While many of the dishes on the menu >

business. entertainment. family. food & drink. health. home. lifestyle. style.

hot yoga • vinyasa • hatha yin • wall ropes

the new

TWO LOCATIONS 5020 Dodge St. 402.551.5020

14606 West Center Rd. 402.333.2420

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

195

RESTAURANT REVIEW

taxi's grille and bar

cabbage and blue cheese soup

waffle fries

seasonal Shrimp special

< spark memories from past dinners at Taxi’s, Chef Chase’s influence on the menu can be seen with several new dishes and some really creative specials. The wine list is well curated. Not too big. Not too small. There are some real gems on that list, and since I was in on Wednesday, all bottles were half price!

I went with the Troublemaker Blend from Paso Robles, Calif. ($20). It was excellent and went pretty well with everything I tried.

They also have a full bar and nice beer selections. The service at Taxi’s has always been top-notch, and this visit was no exception.

My dining partner and I started off with the Waffle Fries ($8) and the Dijon Shrimp ($10). The Waffle Fries are basically a creative take on a poutine with a creamy chipotle sauce and melted Gorgonzola cheese. I can sum this

one up in one word. Yum! The Dijon Shrimp is served escargot-style in a rich garlic butter topped with bubbling cheese and a crusty French baguette to sop up the butter.

I love this dish because it gives people a chance to see how divine a traditional escargot tastes without having to eat snails in the process, which is a put-off for many people.

I couldn’t have a meal at Taxi’s without having some of their Cabbage and Blue Cheese Soup ($4). This dish never ceases to amaze me. For an entrée, I tried one of the three specials in ordering Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp ($22). These large, grilled shrimp were stuffed with a sliver of jalapeno and wrapped with thick, crispy bacon before being served over Spanish-style rice and topped with a fresh mango salsa.

196

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

It was a fantastic combination.

My dining partner went the more traditional route and ordered the Beef Pot Roast ($16) off the menu. This is covered in a rich gravy and is served with Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, sauteed zucchini, carrots, and squash. This could very well be the best pot roast in Omaha. For dessert we sampled the Wild Berry Cobbler ($6). This scratch-made cobbler was served à la mode and was the perfect ending to another stellar meal at Taxi’s.

Many years ago when I was new in town someone told me that Taxi’s is the best neighborhood restaurant in Omaha. That’s a pretty tall order, but in my experience there is a lot of truth to that statement.

Go give it a try and see for yourself!

Cheers! OMAG

restaurant review taxi's grille and bar

dijon shrimp

Taxi’s Grille and Bar 1822 N 120th St. Omaha, NE 68154 402-502-2203 taxisrestaurant.com Food & Beverage Service Ambiance Price Overall

$$ 5 Stars Possible

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

197

DiningGuide AMERICAN

Bailey’s Breakfast and Lunch Restaurant

402-932-5577 1259 S. 120Th St. Comfort food done with flair. For breakfast: all your favorites, including Omaha’s finest eggs Benedict—six varieties (with crepes, too) topped with Hollandaise and made fresh every day. Come try the best bacon you will ever eat! Breakfast served all day. And when was the last time you had really good egg salad or chicken salad? Treat yourself to some of Omaha’s finest salads, soups, and sandwiches, plus chicken-fried steak, fresh Angus burgers, and Bloody Marys and Mimosas. Open seven days a week, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Blatt Beer & Table

610 N. 12th St. (402-718-8822) 168th & Center - Opening July 2014 Serving fancy beer and curated pub food, Blatt is a hub for common folk. Meat eaters and vegetarians unite over a menu focused on basic good food. Gather around the table, the beer is great and the company is even better.

Get a Little Saucy.

Bulldog Burgers

402-933-7555 11811 Fort St. Bulldog Burgers was envisioned in the fall of 2012, when owner and Omaha native, Chuck Pratt decided to take the advice his nana gave him years ago…"Never be afraid of failing, be afraid of not trying!" And with that being said it was time to roll the dice and truly see what his potential was in life! He decided to open a small restaurant focusing on two aspects, quality products and customer service second to none!

Catfish Lake

1006 Cunnigham Rd, Bellevue 402-292-9963 Catfish Lake is locally owned and has been in business since 1986.

Our famous house-cut steaks are aged to perfection and our housemade food and desserts are modestly priced, making for a very pleasurable dining experience.

SPEZIA SPECIALTIES FRESH SEAFOOD • ANGUS BEEF INNOVATIVE PASTA • RISOTTO

Depot Lounge & Eatery

402-779-4110 310 3rd St., Waterloo, NE Serving excellent, homemade food daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Specialties include turkey fries, 45-cent jumbo wings on Wednesday, and Friday night fish fries. Lowest lounge prices in the county! Keno, pool table, and darts. Open 365 days a year, 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Accepts MasterCard, Visa, Amex. Reservations accepted.

GNOCCHI • FRESH SALMON DAILY

SATURDAY LUNCH [11am–4 pm]

DJ’s Dugout

COCKTAIL HOUR DAILY 4 – 6 PM ALL COCK TAILS, GL ASS WINE AND BEERS ARE HALF PRICE

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS • 402-391-2950 CENTRAL LOCATION • 3125 SOUTH 72ND STREET • EASY ACCESS OFF I-80 • 72ND STREET EXIT

198

omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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) Catch all of the action at four Omaha 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

dining guide september/october 2014

Meet me

Dundee Dell

402-553-9501 5007 Underwood Ave. Famous for fish ‘n’ chips since 1934. Single malt and beer tastings open to the public monthly. Private tastings also available. We serve food from 11 a.m. to midnight Sun.-Thurs., and from 11 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. Fri. and Sat. We also serve a fantastic Sunday brunch from 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

on the

patio.

Heartland Cafe

402-289-4844 2615 Main St., Elkhorn, NE Housed in a century-old brick building, the Heartland Cafe anchors Elkhorn’s resurgent Main Street entertainment and business district.

Serving traditional American food seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with additional hours of Thursdays 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Don’t miss Sunday Brunch or the early morning Happy Hour half-price menu from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. heartlandcafe.net

View our full menu, happy hours and more at

upstreambrewing.com

Old Market 11th & Jackson 402.344.0200

West Omaha 171st & W. Center 402.778.0100

Jams

402-399-8300 7814 Dodge St. Welcome to the home of independent food. Jams is a popular, locally owned restaurant for a wonderful dinner or even just a glass of wine and appetizers. An American grill, Jams has a menu that offers refined twists on old classics. From the Jumbo Crab Cake Burger to Midtown Meatloaf, Jams can please any palate. www.jamseats.com

Jimmy's Egg

Various Locations For over 30 years , Jimmy's Egg has served up full cups of coffee, fresh-baked breads and fresh cracked to order™ 3 egg omelets by a friendly and attentive staff. Breakfast and lunch is served every day 6a.m.-2p.m.

Sip. Savor. Be Social.

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 & 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 6:30 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

RECIPIENT OF 35 BEST PIZZA AWARDS! HAND STRETCHED NEW YORK STYLE PIZZA

Millard Roadhouse

13325 Millard Ave. 402-891-9292 The all American neighborhood grill Millard Roadhouse is perfect for the whole family, with hugh portions, great service and even better food. From broasted chicken to fried green tomatoes, theres something for every taste, and trust us your not going to leave hungry. Also serving Sunday Brunch and the Best Happy Hour in the area. Mon.-Wed. 11:00-9:00pm, Thur.-Sat. 11:00am-10:00pm, Sun. 10:00am-9:00pm.

THANKS FOR VOTING US #1

Old Chicago

Old Market - 1111 Harney St. (402-341-1616) Eagle Run - 13110 Birch Dr. (402-445-9393) Cass St - 425 North 78th St. (402-384-8355) Oakview - 2643 S. 144th St. (402-330-9001) Papillion - 7506 Olson Dr. (402-592-2739) Stop by for our lunch specials, treat yourself to our made from scratch pizza or come gather round with family and friends and experience Old Chicago. From shareable starters, fresh salads and signature calzones to authentic Panini sandwiches, and specialty pizzas, our crafted and craveable menu has something to offer everyone.

CALZONES · PASTA · SALADS · LUNCH SPECIALS · APPETIZERS · BEER · WINE · MARGARITAS

391-1881

7834 Dodge St.

330-1444

12997 W. Center Rd. LEGEND (average price per entrée) $1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

MC, V, AE, DC

344-2222

1109 Howard St.

Full Service Mon.-Fri. Nights & Sat.-Sun.

All Day Self-Service Lunch Mon.-Fri.

ZIOSPIZZERIA.COM omaha magazine • september/october 2014

199

LEGENDARY PIZZA & PASTA SINCE 1953 Always a Large Selection of Fresh Fish

45th & Leavenworth • 402-556-6464 Closed Monday

LaCasaPizzaria.net

Family Owned & Operated Authentic Italian Cuisine Party Rooms Available Carry Out Available

4150 south 144th street • omaha • 894-9411

The Original Whiskey Steak

Serving Lunch & Dinner

Mon-Sat

3001 S. 32nd Ave • Omaha, NE 402-345-5656

2121 S. 73 St. Just 1/2 block South of Doubletree

Gift Cards Available Open Monday-Friday 11am-2pm Dinner nightly from 5pm Reservations Accepted DroverRestaurant.com 402-391-7440

2202 South 20th Street – Omaha

Family Restaurant • Fine Steaks Chicken • Seafood Party Rooms Available

342-9038 • 346-2865

Sonoran Style Cooking Made Fresh Daily.

Catering and Party Rooms Also Available.

7555 Pacific St. 399–8006 380 N.114 St. 330–5707 Omaha, Nebraska

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Race cars and Motorcycles hanging from the ceiling!

Corvettes in the dining room! Over 30 T.V.s to watch your favorite games. We have a full menu with Ribs, Salads, Burgers, Sandwiches and of course Steak! We feature Jumbo size Chicken Wings with 18 different types of Award-Winning sauces. Our Atomic hot sauce is so hot that you have to sign a waiver to eat them!

3320 Mid America Drive • Council Bluffs, IA 51501 712.322.0101 • www.quakersteakandlube.com

dining guide september/october 2014

Omaha’s Only Authentic German Restaurant Locally Owned Since 1976

Old Mattress Factory

402-346-9116 501 N. 13th St Within walking distance of Omaha's major entertainment facilities, including TD Ameritrade Park and CenturyLink Center Omaha, this historic building remodeled in 2007 boasts great dining and three private dining rooms for your own events. Stop in before or after any Downtown Omaha event. Open daily at 11:00 a.m. themattomaha.com

Quaker Steak and Lube

712-322-0101 3320 Mid America Dr., Council Bluffs, IA. ”The Lube” serves over 70 million wings annually, has bottled sauces for retail, and has won the title of Best Wings USA. Mondays are Kids Eat Free from 5-9 p.m., and Tuesdays are All You Can Eat Wings for $12.99 all day. The Metro’s only Quaker Steak and Lube also offers great steaks, ribs, and burgers. Live music again this fall on Friday nights. www.quakersteakandlube.com

Railcar Modern American Kitchen

402-493-4743 1814 N. 144th St. Prime rib dinner Fri. and Sat. nights. Happy hour 3:30-6:30 p.m. every day. Reverse happy hour 9 p.m.-midnight. Open Mon.-Thurs.

11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m.-midnight, Sat. 11:30 a.m.-midnight, and Sun. 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday Brunch! Casual dining. All credit cards accepted. railcaromaha.com

The Diner

402-341-9870 409 S. 12th St This Retro breakfast and lunch spot in the Old Market is as much fun as it looks. The atmosphere is classic and the menu offers surprises, but everything from eggs and bacon to the chicken fried steak, is terrific. Choose a stool at the bar or a cozy booth and enjoy.

Mon-Sat, 6 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Sun, 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Prime Steak Fine Wine Premium Service

OKTOBERFEST September 5 & 6

Now Open for

Breakfast

Saturday 8:30am - 11:30am Check website for bakery and dinner hours

10 min from downtown Omaha

5180 Leavenworth

402-553-6774

www.gerdasgermanrestaurant.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.

13665 California Street Omaha, Nebraska 402.445.4380 www.mahoganyprime.com

”Serving The Best Chicken In Town Since 1997”

Private party rooms available for 6 to 40 people.

Thank you Omaha for voting us Best Family Restaurant!

Best of Omaha™ Winners 10 years in a row

LEGEND (average price per entrée) $1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

MC, V, AE, DC

CATERING AVAILABLE

www.millardroadhouse.com 13325 Millard Ave. • 402-891-9292

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Best pub in Omaha!

ICE CREAM Ted and Wally’s

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.

ITALIAN

Over 750 Single Malts, 230 Beers, & Awesome Food!

50 0 7 U nde r woo d • 4 0 2 - 5 5 3 - 9 5 0 1 • dU n d e e d e l l @ dUnde e de l l .c om

Thanks to our customers for voting us the “Best Burger in Omaha”

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. Stop in for daily lunch specials 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

La Casa Pizzaria

402-556-6464 45th & Leavenworth St. La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha it’s legendary Neapolitan Style pizza and pasta for 60 years now. We offer dine in, carryout, party facilities, catering and now pizza shipments to the 48 contiguous states. Open Tues.- Sat. at 11 a.m. and Sun. at 4:30 p.m. lacasapizzaria.net

Stella’s Bar and Grill “Serving World Famous Hamburgers since 1936” 106 Galvin Rd • Bellevue, NE • 402-291-6088 • Open Monday-Saturday, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

CILANTRO’S MEXICAN BAR & GRILL

A wide array of Mexican and American Classics to satisfy your tastebuds!

402-345-8466 521 S. 13th St. We offer a distinctive, tempting menu of upscale Italian dishes, including lobster ravioli, classic carbonara, and a Mediterranean lasagna in an alluring environment. Enjoy an extensive wine list and full bar on our outdoor garden patio while you dine. Nicola’s also offers catering and desserts to go for your private party or business gathering.

Mangia Italiana

OMAHA’S ORIGINAL STEAKHOUSE

402-731-4774 www.johnnyscafe.com 27th & ‘L’ St., Kennedy Frwy, ‘L’ St. Exit 8 Minutes from Downtown Omaha.

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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.

Nicola’s

402.895.0384 14440 F STREET | OMAHA 68137 646 N. 114TH ST | OMAHA 68154

• Proudly serving visitor & locals for 90 years.

• Featured in Midwest Living Best of the Midwest.

• Serving hand cut steaks, aged on premise and slow roasted prime rib with pride.

Lo Sole Mio Ristorante Italiano

402-614-0600 6516 Irvington Rd. Come taste the cooking traditions of Omaha's Little Italy featuring home made meatballs, italian sausage and pepper sandwiches. We also specialize in homemade pizza and pasta. We know you will enjoy your dining experience. We are open Mon-Sat 11am-9pm. Catering available 7 days a week.

Best Of Omaha 8Years Running

WHERE WHERE GOOD GOOD FOOD FOOD AND AND GOOD GOOD SERVICE NEVER GO OUT SERVICE NEVER GO OUT OF OF STYLE. STYLE.

LEGEND (average price per entrée) $1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

MC, V, AE, DC

dining guide september/october 2014

Pasta Amore

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: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dinner: 4:30 p.m. Reservations recommended. MasterCard, Visa, Amex.

Spezia

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: 4-6 p.m., when all cocktails, glass wine, and beers are half price. Evening reservations recommended.

Zio’s Pizzeria

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.

801 CHOPHOUSE

1403 FARNAM ST. | DOWNTOWN OMAHA 402.341.1222 | 801RESTAURANTGROUP.COM DINNER: MON-SAT 5-10 | SUNDAY 5-9 GIFT CARDS • PRIVATE DINING • HAPPY HOUR M-F 4-6 SUNDAY PRIX FIXE $33

MARKETS Tomato•Tomato

402-933-0893 2634 S. 156th Cir. We are now offering personal chef services. Together with our chef you will create your menu for the week utilizing the freshest produce in the area, responsibly raised meats, local cheese and dairy. Each week you will pick up freshly prepared healthy meals you can enjoy that will also accommodate any special dietary needs.

For more information give us a call and ask for Mary or Chef Michael.

MEXICAN Cantina Laredo

402-345-6000 120 S. 31st Ave. We serve modern Mexican food in a sophisticated, vibrant atmosphere. Enjoy our signature margarita, the Casa Rita, made from fresh lime juice and the finest tequila, while savoring guacamole made fresh at your table. Visit Cantina Laredo at Omaha’s Midtown Crossing for lunch, dinner, drinks, and Sunday brunch.

Restaurant & Lounge “Fresh fish, chicken, and house cut steaks served in a rustic and friendly atmosphere” 1006 Cunningham Road, Bellevue 402-292-9963 • catfishlakerestaurant.org omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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Voted Omaha’s #1 Sports Bar! Downtown - 10th & Capitol | Bellevue - 23rd & Cornhusker West - 114th & Dodge | Aksarben - 2102 S. 67th St Millard - 180th & Q - NOW OPEN!

www.djsdugout.com

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Cilantro’s Mexican Bar & Grill

14440 F. St. (402-895-0384) 646 N. 114th St. Great Mexican food every day of the week. Great for group lunches, and we have outdoor seating. Take out available. We always have daily specials and an extensive menu that has several selections to please all diners along with our top-notch margaritas. Check us out on Facebook! Hours: Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Fernando’s

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., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun., 4 p.m.-9 p.m. MasterCard, Visa, Amex.

La Mesa

156th & Q St.(402-763-2555) 110th & Maple St.(402-496-1101) Ft. Crook Rd. & 370 (402-733-8754) 84th & Tara Plaza (402-593-0983) Lake Manawa Exit, Council Bluffs, IA (712-256-2762) Come experience an authentic taste experience at La Mesa! From awesome enchiladas to fabulous fajitas, La Mesa has something for every connoisseur of Mexican fare to savor. Get started with one of La Mesa’s famous margaritas! So kick back in our fun-friendly atmosphere and you’ll see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s # 1 Mexican Restaurant 11 Years in a Row! www.la-mesa.com

Margarita's Mexican Restaurant

2505 S. 132nd St. (402-991-3555) 4915 S. 72nd St. (402-393-7515) Margaritas is a business with more than 7 years in the food world. We offer authentic food at 2 nice locations in Omaha where you can enjoy a nice moment with your family.

Enjoy Your Favorite Sandwich on Delicious Rotella’s Bread

Roja Mexican Grill

17010 Wright Plz. (402-333-7652) 1212 Harney St. (402-346-9190) Modern and vibrant, Roja serves mouth-watering fajitas, tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, chimichangas, and more, all with sizzling smack and an extra helping of Tex flavor. Happy Hour specials and more than 80 premium tequilas fill the bar with bustling activity.

Fire pits and garage doors open to an inviting patio.

SEAFOOD Charlie’s on the Lake

402-894-9411 4150 . 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., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sat., 4:30 p.m.-11 p.m.; Sun., 4:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

©

LEGEND (average price per entrée) $1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

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7/17/14 10:38 AM

As seen on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives THANKS FOR VOTING US BEST SUNDAY BRUNCH! Come in for $2 OFF Sunday Brunch

402.393.5000

4629 S. 108th St. 402.614.7644 brewburgersomaha.com

1001 N 102nd Street Omaha, NE 68114

Established in 1919 Celebrating our 95th year!

Orsi’s is famous for our pizza. Our Italian Deli features a variety of meats, homemade sausage, cakes, cannolis, cheese and bread products.

621 Pacific St, Omaha • 402-345-3438

Open 7 Days a Week 8am-2pm Thursday evening 5-8pm

PREMIUM HOMEMADE ICE CREAM

Find Us On Facebook

1120 Jackson Street (402) 341-5827 tedandwallys.com

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!

Try Omaha’s Favorite Reuben!

Omaha’s largest selection of craft beers.

3578 Farnam St • 402-345-1708 www.beercornerusa.com

Thank You for voting us #1 Best Greek Best Greek.

Family Owned Since 1983 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! lepeepomaha.com

Catering ~ Party Room Available Homemade, Fresh Food ~ Always 3821 Center St. 402/346-1528

GreekIslandsOmaha.com

dining guide september/october 2014

Fresh • Local • Flavor Plank Seafood Provisions

1205 Howard St. 402-507-4480 Coastally-inspired oyster bar and seafood grill in Omaha’s Old Market. Faithful to the tradition of fresh seafood, high quality ingredients, and a made-from-scratch mentality, Plank enlists the help of inspired chefs, a wood fire grill and smoker to bring coastal flavors to the Nebraska Plains.

Shuck’s

16901 Wright Plz., No. 198 (402-763-1860) 1218 S. 119th St. (402-827-4376) 1911 Leavenworth St. (402-614-5544) Have you ever been to a fish shack on the coast? You’ll like this!

Shrimp or oyster po’ boys, fried clam strips, shrimp, walleye, calamari, and oysters (all VERY lightly breaded), crab cakes, clam chowder, gumbo, salads, and daily fresh fish specials. Featuring a large variety of oysters on the half shell, shucked right in front of you. Killer happy hour 2-6 p.m. every day. Open seven days a week.

7814 Dodge St. 402.399.8300 • jamseats.com

Open 11:00 A.M. Mon.-Fri. Open at Noon Sat. & Sun. Happy Hour Mon.-Fri. 4-6 P.M.

Taita Restaurant

6109 Maple St. (402-558-2482) Located in Benson The ambience is eclectic and so is the Peruvian-inspired menu at Benson's newest hot spot. Ideal for date nights and to impress your out-of-town guests, Taita delivers fresh culinary adventures using even fresher local ingredients. The wine list and cocktail line-up is perfectly paired with the seafood, sushi, and other fare.

Reservations recommended

SPECIAL DINING Blue Sushi Sake Grill

14450 Eagle Run Dr (402-445-2583) 16939 Wright Plz. (402-547-5959) 416 S. 12th St. (402-408-5566) Fresh and energetic, Blue offers an inspired mix of creative sushi for purists and adventurers alike. Happy Hour has put Blue on the map in Omaha, offering value and variety without sacrificing quality or experience. Blue’s vibrant restaurants offer a dining experience full of exciting flavor and spirited atmosphere.

Great Food & Drinks

9819 M Street (Just SW of 96th & L) 402-592-3545 • bigjohnsbilliards.com

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., 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen hours: Mon.-Wed., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat. 11 a.m.-midnight. Closed Sun. www.beercornerusa.com.

LEGEND (average price per entrée) $1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

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Gerda’s German Restaurant and Bakery

402-553-6774 5188 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. Open Tues, 6 a.m.3 p.m, Wed-Sat., 6 a.m. - 9 p.m.

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., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Amex.

Horsemen’s Park

402-731-2900 6303 Q St. One-dollar pints, $1.75 domestic bottles, and $2 well drinks for our happy hour Mon.-Wed., 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Tuesdays are 25-cent wings from 3-8 p.m., Wednesdays are Steak Night after 5 p.m., Thursdays are 75-cent tacos and $1.75 margaritas after 5 p.m., and Fridays are Prime Rib Dinner after 5 p.m. Daily specials seven days a week.

Open at 10 a.m. www.horsemenspark.com

Jaipur Brewing Company

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: Thurs. and Fri., 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Dinner: Sun.-Thurs., 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Fri and Sat., 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m.

Nosh Restaurant and Wine Lounge

402-614-2121 1006 Dodge St. We have a diverse, boutique wine list from around the world, culinary delights using locally grown, organic produce, and an impressive drinks menu. We are the place for friends to gather, relax, and celebrate good times. Located in the capitol district in Downtown Omaha. 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., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

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Sakura Bana

402-391-5047 7425 Dodge St. California Rolls, sushi and box lunches are among the specialties here. Menu favorites include beef teriyaki, chicken teriyaki and udon, a flavorful noodle soup served with Tempura Shrimp or Mountain Vegetables. Multiple combinations of sushi or rolls can be ordered from your table or from the sushi bar. California Rolls and Tuna Sushi are the most popular choices. Mon.-Fri., 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; Mon.-Thur., 5-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. 5-10 p.m.; Sun. 5-9 p.m. www.sushiomaha.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 jetfresh seafood from all over the world, we are truly the best Omaha has to offer. Open seven nights a week.

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. Reservations accepted. Lunch: Mon– Fri 11am – 2pm. Cocktail Hour 3-6pm Dinner nightly at 5pm.

Reservations accepted.

Johnny's Café

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., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. MasterCard, Visa, and Amex.

LEGEND (average price per entrée) $1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

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Mahogany Prime Steakhouse 402-445-4380 13665 California St.

This is a restaurant where steak is the star, using custom-aged, U.S. prime Midwestern beef known for its excellence in marbling, texture, and flavor. We serve it sizzling on a heated plate so that it stays hot throughout your meal. Amazing service in a less-intimidating, fine-dining atmosphere.

Piccolo’s Restaurant

402-342-9038 2202 S. 20th St. One of Omaha’s finest traditions, this is where quality steaks are served at low prices. Especially designed for a family outing or a business social. The specialty is tasty prime rib, served for the last 60 years under the crystal ball. Lunch: Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Dinner: Mon.-Thu., 5 p.m.-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Daily and nightly specials.

Pig & Finch Gastropub

10381 Pacific St., One Pacific Place 402-933-0457

Opening in early 2014, Pig & Finch Gastropub features local fresh ingredients paired with fine cookery in a pub-friendly atmosphere.

801restaurantgroup.com

LEGEND (average price per entrée) $1 to 10 - $, $10 to 20 - $$, $20 to 30 - $$$, $30 and over - $$$$

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More Than Just a Burger Thoughtful • Local • Seafood Reservation Recommended Call (402) 558-2482 Online: Open Table Come enjoy our seafood, sushi, local fair, cocktails, and paired winelist.

6109 Maple St (Military Ave Omaha, NE 68104

Eat Fresh. Eat Local

burgers » chicken » dogs OUR BURGERS ARE 100% ALL NATURAL, WITH NO ANTIBIOTICS OR ADDED HORMONES AND COOKED FRESH, NOT FROZEN.

11811 Fort Street 402.933.7555 bulldogburgersomaha.com

TasTe The modern side of mexican cuisine

Over 100 local farmers and producers providing the freshest food around! Our Slow Food Deli serves lunch daily and can cater your next event using the finest local ingredients.

Sip the finest margarita Taste guacamole made fresh at your table Savor fresh seafood and steaks with authentic sauces

www.tomatotomato.org

O’Connor’s Irish Pub 1217 Howard St. • Omaha, NE 68102 402-934-9790 • oconnorsomaha.com

new

pollo mango mole

Celebrating 26 Years!

Come in for a taste of one of our amazing specials!

402.391.5047

7425 Dodge St. | Omaha | www.sushiomaha.com

midTown crossing 120 s. 31st ave 402.345.6000 cantinalaredo.com

plan your holiday parTy

private event space & catering omaha magazine • september/october 2014

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tt AFB

Holy Family Shrine

Scary Acres

Fontenelle Forest

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Vala’s Pumpkin Patch

calendar september/october 2014

GREATER NEBRASKA HAPPENINGS

September Fontenelle Forest Nature Center.

Year–round in Bellevue, Neb. Take a hike through time on the History Trail at Fontenelle Forest Nature Center. On this 60–90 minute walk, you will experience the Forest's fascinating history, from ancient glaciers and the Nebraska Phase Indians to Bellevue's settlement and Jim Baldwin, the famous hermit.

8am–5pm. $7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children & students.

402–731–3140 – fontenelleforest.org Classic Car Collection. Year–round in Kearney, Neb. This collection of over 130 cars represents America’s love affair and fascination with automobiles and the evolution of our society around the world of wheels. Mon–Fri/ 9am–7pm, Sun/ 12pm–7pm. $8 adults, $7 seniors, children free, groups of 12 or more $5 per person. 308–234–1964 – ccckearney.com Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area.

Through September at 210615 Hwy 71 in Gering, Neb. Picturesque wilderness, Wildcat Hills SRA encompass 761 acres of rugged rock buttes and pine–covered canyons, 10 miles south of Gering. It is also home to an extraordinary Nature–Visitor Center.

8am–4:30pm. 308–436–3777 – outdoornebraska.ne.gov Riverside Discovery Center. Through October at 1600 S. Beltline Hwy W. in Scottsbluff, Neb. 9:30am–4:30 pm. $6 ages 13–64, $4 5–12, 4 and under free. 308–630–6236 – riversidediscovery.org Country Lavender Farm. Through September 28 at 1506 N. W. Rd. in Hampton, Neb. All lavender is grown using organic methods, without the use of chemicals, pesticides, or herbicides. The Lavender is planted, weeded, harvested, and cleaned...all by hand. 402–694–0400 – countrylavenderfarm.com Titanoboa. Now through September 7 at Nebraska State Museum in Lincoln, Neb. Featuring a full–scale model of Titanoboa and clips from the Smithsonian Channel documentary, Titanoboa: Monster Snake, the exhibition delves into the discovery, reconstruction, and implications of this enormous reptile. 402–472–2642 – museum.unl.edu

The Railyard is Lincoln's premier entertainment district and is located across the street from the Pinnacle Bank Arena. This vibrant venue features 13+ restaurants & bars, a public market, and the Cube mega screen. The Railyard hosts concerts, music festivals, film series, family activities, and other events to support growth in the area.

Farm to Table Dinner and Art Auction.

September 1 at Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art in David City, Neb. Diners will share an al fresco, locally sourced, and chef-prepared meal. Live music and art auction following dinner.

402–367–4488 – bonecreek.org

Nature's Treasures. September 1–30 at Prairie Winds Art Center in Grand Island, Neb. Featuring works by Kris Allphin Brankenhoff, Deborah Brooks, Jean Cook and Amy McIntosh.

Reception Sep 5, 5:30–8:30pm, Free. 308–381–4001 – prairiewindsart.com

Living History Demonstration. September 1 at Fort Kearney State Historical Park in Kearney, Neb. Visit Ft. Kearny for living history demonstrations and view what life was like in the 1860s civilian and soldier camps. Free.

308–865–5305 – outdoornebraska.gov

Celebrate Nebraska. September 4–5 at Lied Center in Lincoln, Neb. Celebrate the Lied’s 25th year as Nebraska’s Home for the Arts with the finest talent statewide. This event features two nights of unique programming from Nebraska’s most talented music, theater, and dance artists from across the state.

7pm. Free event but tickets are limited. Call to reserve.

402–472–4747 – liedcenter.org

MYSTERIES OF THE UNSEEN WORLD IN 3D. September 1–7 at Hasting Museum Theatre in Hastings, Neb. Visually stunning and rooted in cutting–edge research, Mysteries of the Unseen World will leave audiences enthralled as they begin to understand the enormity of the world they can't see.

1pm. $10 adults, $9 seniors, $8 children. 402–461–4629 – hastingsmuseum.org

Miles of Memories County MusicFest.

September 4–6 at Adams County Fairgrounds in Hastings, Neb. A three–day celebration of traditional country music. Concerts, theme shows, barn dances, and learning sessions. 903–467–9545 – texandmary.com

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GREATER GREATER NEBRASKA NEBRASKA HAPPENINGS HAPPENINGS

calendar september/october 2014 Neligh Bread N Jam. September 6 at Neligh Mills Historic Site in Neligh, Neb. Neligh Mills Baking contest, car show, crafts, live music, children's inflatables, and 5K run/walk. Free tours of the Neligh Mills Historic Site. 8am–4pm, Free.

402–887–4303 –nebraskahistory.org Husker Harvest Days. September 9–11 in Grand Island, Neb. World's largest totally irrigated working farm show. More than 80 acres of exhibits, field demonstrations, seminars, crafts, artwork, and more. Tue–Wed, 8am–5pm; Thu, 8am–4pm, $5–$10.

866–264–7469 –huskerharvestdays.com Pint–Sized Professors. September 9 at Strategic Air & Space Museum in Ashland, Neb. Children are active learners and learn best by being able to touch and experience the world

Is that a nip in the air we detect? Time for autumnal outdoor fun all across Sarpy County! Goblins of all ages will haunt Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, The Bellevue Berry Farm and Pumpkin Ranch, Scary Acres, and Haunted Hollow. Then relax with musical interludes as Oklahoma continues through September 28 at the Bellevue Little Theatre and a series of eight al fresco concerts are performed at Soaring Wings Vineyard. And don’t miss the Gifford Farm Fall Festival on September 20/21!

Exhibit: Iggy Sumnik & Pat James.

September 4–October 30 at Norfolk Arts Center in Norfolk, Neb. Iggy Sumnik's graphic sculptures and Pat James' photomanipulated landscapes are on exhibit. Opening reception Sept. 4, 6–8pm, Free. 402–371–7199 – norfolkartscenter.org Living History Day at Table Rock Town Square. September 5 in downtown Table Rock, Neb. Watch old– fashioned crafters demonstrate their, arts from threshing to medicine men, and learn how our ancestors lived. 9am–2:30pm. 402–245–4859 –visitnebraska.com

Quilts for Community: Loose Threads.

September 6 at International Quilt Study Center & Museum in Lincoln, Neb. Join members of Loose Threads for a morning of quilting beginning at 10am. Quilters looking for a group are welcome to stop by. 402–472–6549 – quiltstudy.org 2nd Annual Night Owl 5K Run/Walk.

September 6 at Niobrara State Park, Niobrara, Neb. Registration 7pm, race 8pm, $15 early registration, $20 day of. 402–857–3373 –nightowl5niobrarastatepark.weebly.com

Colonel Cody's Cruise Show and Shine. September 5–7 in downtown North Platte, Neb. Check out beautifully restored antique and classic autos. 8am–5pm. 308–534– 4483 – visitnorthplatte.com

Gifford Farm Family Fun Saturday.

September 6 at Gifford Farm Education Center in Bellevue, Neb. Stars and Stripes Day. Visits from area police departments, fire and rescue squads, and Offutt Air Force Base. Hear enchanting stories in the Planetarium dome. 10am–2pm, $5/person over age 2. Half price with Military ID. 402– 597–4920 – esu3.org

Through the Visitor's Eyes Photo Show. September 5–November 2 at Stuhr Museum in Grand Island, Neb. Unique exhibit allows visitors to show off how they view the Stuhr Museum and the surrounding 200 acres.

10am–5pm, Free. 308–385–5316 – stuhrmuseum.org

Wildwood Star Party. September 6 at Steinhart Park in Nebraska City, Neb. Astronomy clubs share their telescopes and knowledge with visitors. Docents in period costume will greet guests. 8pm, Free. 402–873–6340 – wildwoodhistoriccenter.org

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around them. Participants in Pint–Sized Professors will gain meaningful learning in a fun, supportive environment. 1pm–2:30pm. Ages 3–5. Free for members. $12 adults. 402–944–3100 –sasmuseum.com 30th Annual Indian Summer Rendezvous. September 11–13 at Rendezvous Square in Ogallala, Neb. Time TBA. 308–284–4066 –visitogallala.com Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch.

September 12–October 31 at Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch in Bl air, Neb. Fall festivities fun for all ages. From the legendary corn maze, mad cow and hayrack rides, face painting, bonfires, and Nebraska’s only slanted house, we have it all! Visit our website for more information on birthday parties, business outings and weddings.

–www.skinnybonespumpkinpatch.com Homestead 100. September 13 at Ashley Home Store in Beatrice, Neb. Bike ride dedicated to the Beatrice Food Pantry. Registration starts at 7am. Please bring four cans or cash to donate to the pantry. $30 individual, $40 family, includes T–shirt.

402–520–0003 –visitbeatrice.com Legacy of the Plains Autumn Concert.

September 13 at Five Rocks Amphitheater in Gering, Neb. Featuring three classic country artists: Jimmy Fortune, Leroy Van Dyke, and Rex Allen, Jr. $10– $25, free admission ages 5 & under.

308–436–1989 – visitnebraska.com 4th Annual Big Mac Fall Classic Walleye Tournament. September 13–14 at Lake McConaughy, Ogallala, Neb. Time TBA. 308–726–2369 –visitogallala.com

calendar september/october 2014 Wings & Weeds Butterfly Gardening & Habitat Walk. September 14 at Red Road Herbs in Stanton, Neb. Learn about designing a butterfly garden using native plants and take a guided habitat walk along a nature trail. Celebrate butterflies with Red Road Herbs in Stanton County. 1–4pm.

402–640–0744 – redroadherbs.com

GREATER NEBRASKA HAPPENINGS AppleJack – Art & Craft Show. September 20–21 at Arbor Lodge State Historical Park in Nebraska City, Neb. Will feature national and internationally known artists who exhibit, demonstrate and sell their fine art pieces. 10am–5pm. Free. 402–873–7222 –outdoornebraska.gov

are open Poppy's Pumpkin Patch.We September 14–Sept 12-Oct 31.

October 31 at Poppy’s Pumpkin Patch 402-689-7585 in Norfolk, Neb. Family activities including pony www.skinnybonespumpkinpatch.com rides, slides, zip lines, petting zoo, ferryboat and more.

Blair, Nebraska 10am–6pm daily, closed Mondays, $6 ages 2 and up.

402–379–0455 – poppyspumpkinpatch.com

FLEA MARKET

GARAGE SALES

The Golden Dragon Acrobats. September 18 at Lied Center in Lincoln, Neb. Experience breathtaking skill and the spellbinding

Towns Along Hwys 136 8, 14, 6 & 34

beauty of the premier Chinese acrobatic touring company.

The Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the best of a time–honored tradition that began more than 25–five centuries ago. 7:30pm. 402–472–4747 –liedcenter.org Mustang Roundup IV. September 18–21 at MPH Motorsport Park in Hastings, Neb. Ford Mustangs display performance driving on a 2.15–mile long road course. Drag racing, autocross and car show. 9am–5pm, Free. 402–461–8031 – racemph.com

Harvest Festival. September 20–21 Legacy of the Plains Museum in Gering, Neb. Thousands of travelers from throughout Nebraska and neighboring states come to Legacy of the Plains for a rare glimpse of antique farm machinery in action — and the chance for hands–on participation.

Sat/ 9am–5pm, Sun/ 10am–4pm. $3 adults, children under 12 free. 308–436–1989 – legacyoftheplains.org

We are open Sept. 12-Oct. 31

402.689.7585

www.skinnybonespumpkinpatch .com

Blair, Nebraska

Oct. 3-5

HeritageHighwayFleaMarket.com

ex peri ence Li ncol n’s energy for yourself

Rail Fest. September 19–21 at Cody Park in North Platte, Neb. Jeffers Locomotive simulator, live music, tours of the railroad technology center and Bailey Yard, and much more. 308–534–3648 – nprailfest.com Greeley Irish Festival. September 20 at Sacred Heart Church Grounds in Greeley, Neb. A celebration of live Irish music, dancing, bag pipers, storytellers, and culture displays. 11am–11pm, $15–$20. 308–428–5595 – greeleyirishfestival.com

SEE YOU IN LINCOLN!

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GREATER GREATER NEBRASKA NEBRASKA HAPPENINGS HAPPENINGS 10th Annual Missouri River Outdoor Expo. September 20–21 at Ponca State Park in Ponca, Neb. More than 90 hands–on exhibits, demonstrations, vendors, and all day entertainment. 9am–5pm, Free. 402–755–2284 – missouririverexp.com Nebraska Cowboys: Lives, Legends & Legacies. September 23–January 5 at Nebraska History Museum in Lincoln, Neb. 402–471–4782 –nebraskahistory.org

“Café Monkey” Band. September 27 at The Most Unlikely Place in Lewellen, Neb. Cafe Monkey is an eclectic mix of musical adventure, from pop and rock to funk and world music. Come join us for an evening of music and fun. A light supper will be served for lunch prices. 6:30pm–8pm. 308–778–9557 –themostunlikelyplace.com

Monument Marathon. September 27 at Wildcat Hills SRA and Scotts Bluff National Monument in Gering, Neb. 308–630–6551 – monumentmarathon.com 14th Annual Lincoln Arts Festival.

September 27–28 at South Pointe Pavilions Shopping Center in Lincoln, Neb. More than 90 fine artists from the region with paintings, sculpture, jewelry, and more. $1 adults, kids under 12 yrs free admission. 402–434–2787 – artscene.org October Strategic Air & Scare. October 1–31 at Strategic Air & Space Museum in Ashland, Neb. See the spooky side of the museum all month long. 10am–5pm daily, $6–$12. 402–944–3100 – sasmuseum.com ATV Jamboree. October 3–5 at Lake McConaughy in Ogallala, Neb. Get Sand in Your Tracks at Big Mac. ATV Riding is only allowed at the lake during this event. Experience the sand in a whole new way. Fri/3pm – 12pm, Sat/ 5pm to 12pm. $50.

308–284–4066 –explorekeithcounty.com/atvjamboree Oktoberfest. October 3–5 at Legion Park in Sidney, Neb. Fairgrounds and Legion Park Classic car show at Legion Park and continuous free entertainment at the fairgrounds, including live bands, parades, crafts, ethnic food, and more. 308–254–2932 – sidneycheyennecountytourism.com

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calendar september/october 2014 Tr actor, Engine & Auto Show.

October 4–5 at Wessels Living History Farm in York, Neb. 10am–4:30pm.

402–710–0682 –livinghistoryfarm.org

Barn Dance. October 4 at Wessels Living History Farm in York , Neb. 4:30pm– dark. 402–710–0682 –livinghistoryfarm.org Breast Cancer Walk/Run/Ride Event.

October 5 at Gordon Clinic in Gordon, Neb. Take part in this 3K or 5K event.

2–5pm, Free. 308–282–6182 – gordonmemorial.org Space Day. October 5 at Strategic Air & Space Museum in Ashland, Neb. 402– 944–3100 –sasmuseum.com Living History Sunday. October 5 at Arbor Lodge State Historical Park in Nebraska City, Neb. The park hosts a wide variety of historic demonstrations, from apple cider pressing to vintage sausage making. Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy the park’s beauty by carriage ride, or hayrack ride or tour the historic mansion where J. Sterling and Caroline Morton lived. 1pm–5pm. Tours $5 adults, $2 children. 402–873–7222 –outdoornebraska.gov Nebr ask a Stroke OktoBeerFest.

October 9 at Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, Neb. Time TBD. Tickets TBD. 402–441–6545. –lancastereventcenter.com Pearl Jam. October 9 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. Pearl Jam’s first ever stop in Lincoln Nebraska. 7:30pm. $69.50. 1–800–745–3000 – pinnaclebankarena.com THE MIDTOWN MEN. October 11 at Lied Center in Lincoln, Neb. The Midtown Men stars the original cast members of Jersey Boys, including Tony Award®–winner Christian Hoff. Experience their sensational sound, top–shelf choreography, and legendary onstage chemistry featuring favorite 60s hits by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Four Seasons, and more.

7:30pm. 402–472–4747 – liedcenter.org

Forever a Husker 5K. October 11 at Syracuse Dunbar Avoca Football Field in Syracuse, Neb. Spend a morning with some former Nebraska Huskers. 9am.

– completetiming.com Hallowfest at Ponca State Park. Oct 11 & 18 at Ponca State Park in Ponca, Neb. Haunted hayrack rides, contests and much more.

402–755–2284 – facebook.com/PoncaSP Disney Junior Live on Tour: Pirate & Princess Adventure. October 12 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb. Mickey and Minnie lead the audience on an exciting adventure that will have families rooting for their favorite pirate, Jake, and Disney's first little girl princess, Sofia. 1pm and 4pm. $22–$62. Ages 1 & older require ticket. 1–800–745–3000 –pinnaclebankarena.com Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.

October 17 at Lied Center in Lincoln, Neb. Country star, Grand Ole Opry member, 14–time Grammy® winner and Entertainer of the Year, Ricky Skaggs is a legend. In his Lied debut with Kentucky Thunder, hear #1 country hits and bluegrass favorites.

7:30pm. 402–472–4747 –liedcenter.org Run or Dye 5K. October 18 at L ancaster Event Center in Lincoln, Neb. Time TBD. 402–441– 6545 – lancastereventcenter.com 2nd Annual Harvest Moon Fall Festival. October 18 in Hemingford, Neb. Festival includes BBQ contest, beer garden, a haunted maze, and much more family fun. –hemingfordharvestmoonfallfestival.com Night of the Gre at Pumpkin.

October 23 in downtown Beatrice, Neb. Treats, pony rides, scream contest, haunted house and more. 5–7pm. 402–223–3244 – mainstreetbeatrice.org Petersburg's Punkin' Chunkin'. October 26 in Petersburg, Neb. Shoot, launch, throw, or fling a 6–12 pound pumpkin in the Punkin' Chunkin' Contest. Pie eating contest, petting zoo, kid's candy shoot, and more. – ci.petersburg.ne.us

GREATER NEBRASKA HAPPENINGS

calendar july/august 2014

E C N E I R AL E R U P G EX INAUBEST OAF H A M O L A V I T FES 11, 2014

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OCT. ARENA ON -8p.m.

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ES RVIC E S D AN UCTS D O R EST P THE B TAINMENT NG I S R ENTE NE SAMPL OCKTAIL G C I AG BA CUIS BEERS & W S E T EI V CRAF E REC L P O PE 1,000 E T S R LU FI 0+ VA A $10 TS TICKE KETS S E S F Z I E R IC HI WIN P S CITY C OTBALL T L TICKETS TS A E O L K ANS HUSKER F ASKETBA BALL TICK B CORNAY MEN’S ’S BASKET N J E E BLU AY WOM !

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THE CLOSER

by robert nelson

Slogan Explosion If you live in Omaha, Nebraska, you’re nice and you don’t coast.

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ACK IN THE DAY, if a girl was

being cajoled into a blind date with me, I would have been described to her as being a “nice guy.” I wasn’t even that nice, especially by the stereotype standard of small-town Nebraska boys, but saying I was nice was a nice way of avoiding descriptions of my gangly limbs and anvilshaped skull and propensity for vulgar digressions and run-on sentences. In my world, “nice” most often warns of an impending bait-and-switch.

Nebraska’s new ad campaign slogan— “Visit Nebraska. Visit Nice.”—has already been injured plenty out in the blogosphere woodshed. No need to add insult. The issue, I suppose: If the word “nice” had one meaning, we’d probably be just fine. But it can have so many connotations, and when things have so many connotations, the haters are going to pounce.

In July, Omaha promoters, keeping pace with the international craze to rebrand locales for a jazzier web presence, unveiled “Omaha: We Don’t Coast.” Solid, methinks. Hey, it says we’re a hard driving, happening place.

It’s a playful shot at the Left and Right Coast for, well, whatever it is that makes them inferior (Lazy, dope-smoking beach bums. Jersey Shore self-possessed kitsch addicts). Also, it suggests we’re in-shape and eco-friendly, which 12 or so of us actually are.

But my all-time favorite Nebraska slogan was Hastings’ old “Thumbs Up City,” which boosters there created back in 1982. People may have smirked a bit when they drove into the “Thumbs Up City,” but they dang well knew where they were. Hokey, sure, hopelessly dated, yes. But it stuck in your head, stuck at once pleasantly and infuriatingly like a chorus from any tune from Grease.

As of this spring, though, Hastings now has a new slogan: “Life Wide Open.” It’s

already my second all-time favorite Nebraska slogan. It was created by a marketing whiz out of Hastings named Sherma Jones. Note to Nebraska boosters: That’s spelled S-h-e-r-m-a J-o-n-e-s. She’s in the book.

I know this because I gave Sherma a call.

She’s been in the branding business for 28 years. She’s seen it all, including nice things.

“I want to like the whole ‘nice’ campaign,” she says. “But, well, ‘flat’ probably describes it.

When I think of ‘nice,’ I think of ‘average.’”

Here is the first absolute of successful city or state branding: You can’t do it by committee. Period. Jones, like so many others in her field, has seen countless campaigns bomb because too many interests and too many voices built a Frankenstein of a campaign.

“Design by committee equals mediocrity,” she says. “We kept it all very streamlined.”

Her team’s first idea was “Hastings Has It.” Critical Step #2: See how a slogan plays in Peoria.

“People immediately started thinking about the things we don’t have. A 56-slot shopping mall, for example,” she says. “You have to describe yourself in an honest and inviting way.”

And you must anticipate the jerks. If I was the awful kid that I was and I saw a sign that said, “Hastings Has It,” that “It” would be spray-painted over with “Crabs” or “Erectile Dysfunction” or “A Kearney Complex” within a fortnight.

Her advice: Try to be timeless, honest, optimistic, relevant, progressive, sophisticated, fresh, and mindful of the power and energy of certain words.

“Life.” “Wide.” “Open.” Can you feel it? I can. Can we steal it? Ask the Attorney General. Regardless, I think it’s worth a very nice two thumbs up. OMAG

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