January/February 2018 Omaha Magazine

ALEXANDER PAYNE // VENEZUELAN FOOD TRUCK // ELDER ABUSE // VENICE INN REBIRTH JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

NURSE OF T HE Y E AR

L YBAL VOLLE FEVER

BEST DO C TO R S

S ’ A K S A R NEB NEW E T I R O V A F T R O SP

1517 N 190 St, Omaha

$724,900

Stunning home with unparalleled details, workmanship and specific useage of equisite materials. Yet s till comfor table and elegant throughout . Wes t facing with lush landscaping and consistent classic design.

E xciting home!

$623,950

Introducing Birchwood Homes “Hadley Estate” 2 story plan w/ 4 bed, 4 bath, extra large executive 3 car, 8 ft. doors on the main level, zoned HVAC with high efficiency furnace and 15 seer A/C, and outdoor fireplace!

Susan Hancock • 402-215-7700

9720 Brentwood Rd, Omaha

$575,000

The Rensch Group • 402-391-5333

$549,900

New modern farmhouse 1.5 story plan by TruVision Custom Homes. Rustic floors, quartz counters, custom iron railings, floor to ceiling windows. Three large sized BRs on upper level, each w/direct bath acces. Lots of sq ft in the unfinished bsmt.

Julie Arp • 402-250-5850

110 N 54 St, Omaha

$599,900

CONTRACT PENDING. ON MARKET FOR BACKUP OFFERS. One of Happy Hollow’s true treasures nestled perfectly on rare park- like .68 acre lot. Incredible combination of sensational craftsmanship, architecture, quality & design.

980 Cty Rd W S-‐108, Fremont

$555,000

This Woodcliff Lakes home has it all! 4 beds, 4 bath, granite ceramic tile, unbelievable outdoor entertainment area. This home shines pride of ownership. Lots of room for all your toys in the almost 5 car garage. You need to see it for yourself!

Kori Krause • 402-679-0007

3334 S 188 Ave, Omaha

$535,000

This home has it all! Wonderful hearth room, beautiful wood floors, butlers pantry with wine frig and a total of 5 bathrooms. Extras include zoned heat, in- home speakers, new 50 yr roof, high efficiency furnace and a huge garage!

The Lichter Team • 402-680-2875

1910 S 214 Ave, Omaha

$659,000

An H3 Custom Homes original in Ranch View Estates 3. A modern farmhouse and the pinnacle of luxur y.

Jus t over 3 5 0 0 s f of sleek lines flood the interior with a charming aesthetic in which to live and create nostalgia for years to come.

The Jacobsen Group • 402-819-4484

The Rensch Group • 402-391-5333

Designed by Jon Offutt and nestled privately in the heart of Regency! A true architectural gem. Oversized sunken great room. Spectacular center hall dining room. Private main floor home office. An awe- inspiring use of stone, brick & limestone.

21874 Martha St, Omaha

$699,000

Enjoy lake living at its finest. This one of a kind home offers a large open floor plan with soaring vaulted ceilings.

Unmatched lake views, boat dock, sand volleyball, large deck, enclosed screen porch, perfect for entertaining or enjoying a quiet weekend on this no wake lake.

Steve Hansen • 402-618-6689

Mickey Sodoro • 402-677-9495

11408 S 122 St, Papillion

25545 Blondo St, Waterloo

11309 William Plz, Omaha

$579,000

Gorgeous Tomlinson Woods private, wooded retreat.

Fabulous kitchen hearth room. Spacious main floor master bedroom suite. Rare oversized screened porch will amaze. Beautiful main floor office. Incredible finished lower level w/ kitchen.

The Rensch Group • 402-391-5333

10 8 0 4 S 175 St, Gretna

$ 55 0,0 0 0

Custom designed with top of the line materials! Great room has vaulted/beamed ceiling w/gorgeous floor to ceiling FP. Lower level has large family room w/ wetbar, 2- BR’s, 3/4 bath and concrete storm/wine cellar!

Scott Lawrence • 402-968-7268

18926 Nicholas St, Omaha

$525,000

CONTRACT PENDING. Phenomenal Custom Farm House Home! Incredible floor plan that will amaze. Open kitchen great room overlooking private yard. Main floor office, dining room and oversized mud room will impress.

The Rensch Group • 402-391-5333

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contents 40

THE USUAL SUSPECTS 6

From the Editor

8

Between the Lines

11

Calendar of Events

113 Obviously Omaha Winter Excursions

114 History

2017 Anniversary Overload

137 Explore!

141 Instagram 142 Not Funny

What I Know for Sure

ARTS + CULTURE 20

Art Sculptor Angie Seykora

24

Music Jazz Saxophonist Ed Archibald

26

Comedy Improv with Tracie Mauk

28

Cinema Alexander Payne’s Homecoming

34

Literature Matt Hebert’s Dystopian, Sci-Fi Future

PEOPLE FEATURES

40 46 76

Sports

THE STATE OF VOLLEYBALL

36

Profile Kate Dussault Introduces the Hi-Fi House

52

Gen O Nate Hutchison on Rubik’s Cubes and High School

54

Health Dr. Vishal Jani Pioneers Innovative Stroke Tech

How Nebraska Became the Epicenter of American Volleyball Adventure

CHASING THE AURORA BOREALIS A Canadian Photographer’s Journey from Nebraska to Norway

ELDER ABUSE: THE HIDDEN MENACE When Loved Ones Exploit Seniors’ Finances

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 4 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Augmented content above!

SCAN THIS PAGE with the LayAR app for expanded content.

AUGMENTED REALITY GIVING 80

Feature Urban Indian Health Coalition

84

Giving Calendar

60PLUS IN OMAHA 89

60Plus Opener Introduction

90

Prime Time Looking Good, Feeling Great

On Your Digital Device

SPECIAL SECTIONS

89

58

Best Doctors

70

Nurse of the Year Awards

78

City Market

Watch videos and view photo galleries of select stories from this issue of Omaha Magazine for FREE.

ABOUT THE COVER How do you capture the essence of a sport—and all the spirit and athleticism that it requires—without making the image all about an individual? That’s what creative director Bill Sitzmann set out to accomplish with his photo shoot. This cover also happens to feature an important local volleyball role model, Gina Mancuso. Mancuso is an Omaha local who played for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, went pro, and now volunteers as an assistant coach with the University of Nebraska-Omaha team.

DINING 116 Feature

The Site of Caniglia’s Venice Inn Revived by New Legends Location

118 Profile

Richard Mendoza’s El Arepón Venezuelan Food Truck

122 Review

Finicky Frank’s, Frankly Delicious

126 Dining Guide

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JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018

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Letter

FROM THE EDITOR EXECUTIVE EDITOR DOUG MEIGS

HEALTHY NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

N

ew Year’s resolutions often involve health goals. I know mine do.

Whether I follow through on the resolution is another story.

With health on our minds, our January/February issue* focuses on the theme with several health-related articles and a guide to the best local nurses and doctors.

One article in the issue explores the breakthrough stroke technology that Dr. Vishal Jani has advanced with CHI Health’s Neurological Institute at Immanuel Medical Center; however, most of the latest edition’s health stories take a less medically focused approach.

Our profile of musician Ed Archibald tells the story of how the saxophonist grew up in Omaha’s vibrant jazz scene, only to get bogged down with the daily grind of his 9-to-5 before a work-related injury precipitated his experimentation with digital recording and a return to his jazz roots.

Our profile of “Dr. Donna” Polk, the chief executive officer of the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, tells her personal story. Polk is a cancer survivor. But the focus of the story pays attention to the nonprofit’s work with behavioral health, youth, and families of Native American people living in the Omaha metro. Polk is trying to raise $7 million to make possible the coalition’s new facility in South Omaha.

Omaha’s Nurse of the Year Awards recognize the metro’s best nurses in several categories (including student nurses, specialty fields, Nurse of the Year nominees, and the individual “Nurse of the Year” winner). In addition to the region’s best nurses, the magazine also features Omaha’s “Best Doctors,” excerpted from a nationally produced list of the nation’s best doctors.

These special listings have both appeared in Omaha Magazine over the years. But this year is the first time we have included both sections together in the same issue.

This issue is also the first time that OmahaHome will be printed separately from Omaha Magazine’s full city edition (rather than an overrun edition); however, subscribers and those who buy on newsstands will still find Omaha Magazine and OmahaHome bagged together. Likewise, in the spirit of the new year, this is the first issue we have tried consolidating our augmented reality capabilities into the table of contents page (rather than featuring scannable pages throughout the magazine). Scan the table of contents page with the LayAR application on a smartphone or tablet to enjoy digital bonus content that complements select articles.

We have a long-form article about elder abuse, which is focused on financial abuse. Of course, financial health is a form of health.

Meanwhile the entire 60PLUS section* has turned into a 24-page fashion package that explores the styles and biographical details of local community influencers (age 60 and older) who are looking good and feeling great in the “prime time” of their lives.

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

MAGAZINE LAUNCH PARTY

Come meet the magazine’s staff, contributors, and sources featured in this issue.

When: Thursday, Jan. 4 (5-7 p.m.)

Where: Hi-Fi House, 3724 Farnam St. FREE! RSVP on localstubs.com

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 6 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

JANUARY // FEBRUARY 2018 VOLUME 35 // ISSUE 6 Publisher

TODD LEMKE

EDITORIAL Executive Editor

DOUG MEIGS

Managing Editor: B2B Omaha, Family Guide, special projects

ELEGANCE

DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Managing Editor: Encounter

ERIC STOAKES

REIMAGINED

Editor-at-Large

TARA SPENCER Editorial Assistant

LINDSAY WILSON Interns

KATHERINE HARTNER · SYDNEY SHELDRICK · LIZ STEVENS Contributing Writers

LEO ADAM BIGA · RYAN BORCHERS · TAMSEN BUTLER · ANTHONY FLOTT · GREG JERRETT · LISA LUKECART · SEAN MCCARTHY ALEC MCMULLEN · NIZ PROSKOCIL · KIM REINER · MAX SPARBER OTIS TWELVE · JAMES VNUK · SARAH WENGERT

CREATIVE Creative Director

BILL SITZMANN Art Director

MATT WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer

DEREK JOY

Graphic Designer

MADY BESCH

Graphic Designer

KATIUSKA NUÑEZ

SHOPPING HOURS Monday-Friday 10 am-8 pm | Saturday 10 am-7 pm | Sunday 12 pm-5 pm Individual store hours may vary

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

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

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

RegencyCourtOmaha.com

Contributing Photographers

KEITH BINDER · COLIN CONCES · SCOTT DRICKEY HEATHER AND JAMESON HOOTON · MICHAEL LANGFELDT SARAH LEMKE · AMY LYNN STRAUB Contributing Videographers

CHRISTOPHER MARSHALL · CAMERON MCCLARTY

ACCOUNTS Publisher’s Assistant & OmahaHome Contributing Editor

SANDY MATSON Vice President

GREG BRUNS Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing

GIL COHEN

Senior Sales Executive & 60PLUS in Omaha Contributing Editor

GWEN LEMKE

Digital Sales Manager

JILLIAN DUNN

Branding Specialists

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

DAWN DENNIS · SHERRY LORENCE · ALICIA HOLLINS Marketing Interns

JAMES HILL · MARK MCGAUGH

OPERATIONS Vice President of Operations

TYLER LEMKE Accountant

HOLLEY GARCIA-CRUZ Distribution Manager

MIKE BREWER

LOSE 30-40 LBS.

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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.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 7 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

HCG B-12

Between A LOOK AT FOUR LATEST OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS HEATHER AND JAMESON HOOTON - Contributing Photographers Heather and Jameson are fashion photographers from Omaha. Both have backgrounds in music—Jameson with the upright and electric bass, Heather with the violin, piano, and voice. When they married they discovered their mutual love of photography. Their clients include Omaha Fashion Week, Develop Models, and Inspired Living Magazine, as well as local boutiques Hello Holiday, The Fold, Nan C, and Pretty in Patina. On an average night, you can find them in Benson, or at home watching science documentaries with their cats Amélie and Isabelle.

MARK MCGAUGH - Marketing Intern Mark is a history buff, self-proclaimed griot, and proud alumnus of Omaha North High. He received a degree in broadcast journalism and communication from Florida A&M University, where he served as a freelance writer for campus publications like Journey Mag and The Famuan. Using his knack for storytelling and love of history, he also produced Pulpits to Politics, which won the Florida AP Award for best documentary in 2016. Mark eventually found his way to the world of radio broadcasting, where he was able to wrap all of his passions into one. For three years, he hosted a wide array of shows ranging from political talk shows to a ’90s hip-hop and R&B variety show. He now serves as an on-air personality and assistant program director at Mind and Soul 101.3 FM, a community radio station nestled in the heart of North Omaha.

KATIUSKA NUÑEZ - Graphic Designer This crazy cat lady doesn’t want the Russian name fool you—she was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. In 2008, she moved to the United States and made Omaha her home. She has also lived in LA, where she worked as a graphic designer and fashion stylist for celebrities. Her modeling and styling work has been featured in Redbook and several fashion websites. Her personal and professional fashion blog is katy009fashion.com. She loves Halloween, dressing up, going out, and the culinary experience of trying new food. ¿Quieres saber más? Katy is a polyglot who speaks Spanish, English, French, and a little German.

SYDNEY SHELDRICK - Editorial Intern Born and raised in the Omaha metro, Sydney interned with Omaha Magazine during her final semester of undergraduate studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (where she studied American literature).

Her parents instilled Sydney’s lifelong love of reading and writing at a young age. Her favorite hangout spot during junior high and high school was the now-defunct Borders. While dismayed by the decline of brick-and-mortar bookstores, Sydney has developed an addiction to online book shopping. Receiving 20 to 30 books in the mail at the start of each new semester was one of her favorite parts of university, and she’s worried about withdrawals after her winter graduation.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 8 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

FALSTAFF Verdi

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PUSHING BOUNDARIES: HDR AT 100

Through Feb. 25 at The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. This exhibit is an homage to HDR founders and their innovations in engineering. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (age 62+), $7 children (ages 3-12), free to members and children age 2 and under. 402-444-5071.

—durhammuseum.org

THREE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS

Through March 10 at El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St. This ex hibit features Lola Á lvarez Bravo, her student Ma ria na Ya mpolsk y, a nd photographer Cristina K a hlo. A ll three have ties to Frida K a hlo. Admission: $5 genera l, $4 students, $3.50 seniors and children K-12 , a nd free to members. 402-731-1137.

—elmuseolatino.org

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EVENTS

ART AND MUSEUM EXHIBITS

RECONNECT: A JURIED ALUMNI EXHIBITION

LIGHT

Through Jan. 7 at Darger HQ, 1804 Vinton St. Featuring artists Angie Seykora (of Omaha) and Ying Zhu (a China-Midwest transplant), this exhibit is part of a series of collaborative and experimental projects facilitated by Darger HQ. Admission: free. 402-209-5554.

—dargerhq.org

Through Feb. 15 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Art Gallery, 6001 Dodge St. Alumni of UNO will come together for this show at the campus art gallery. Former and current faculty and students will show a broad range of works. The curator is Teliza V. Rodriguez from the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney. Admission: free. 402-554-2796.

—unomaha.edu

ZOOM INTO NANO

THE ART OF THE BRICK

Through April 15 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. This national exhibit explores sustainability, selective harvesting, transportation needs, and the everyday products that are made from trees. Admission: $12 adults and children over 2, $11 seniors, free to members and children under 24 months. 402-342-6164.

—ocm.org

LINES FORMING

Through Jan. 7 at The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. This interactive exhibit allows people to see things magnified 100 million times their actual size. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), and free to members and children 2 and under. 402-444-5071.

—durhammuseum.org

Through Feb. 19 at 225 N. 12th St., Suite 120. The Art of the Brick is a global touring exhibition rated

by CNN as a “Must-See Exhibition,” the first art exhibition to focus exclusively on the use of Legos as an art medium. Award-winning artist Nathan Sawaya transforms countless Lego pieces into whimsical and awe-inspiring creations. Admission: $20 adults, $18.50 seniors and military, $17.50 children. 402-933-1293.

—artofthebrickomaha.com

MONARCHS: BROWN AND NATIVE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS IN THE PATH OF THE BUTTERFLY

Through March 31 at KANEKO, 1111 Jones St. Visual art, performances, lectures, youth education, and hands-on creative experiences will empower visitors to see the world in a whole new light. Admission: free. 402-341-3800.

—thekaneko.org

FOREVER FOREST

HIGH SCHOOL ARTIST SHOW

Jan. 5-25 at Artists’ Cooperative Gallery, 405 S. 11th St. Over 15 schools from across Nebraska and Iowa will showcase their students’ best Feb. work. Admission: free. 402-342-9617.

—artistscoopomaha.com

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Through Feb. 24 at Bemis Center, 724 S. 12th St. This exhibit takes the yearly migration path of the Monarch butterf ly as a metaphor for considering themes of place, home, migration, immigration, diaspora across the Americas, transnationalism, land rights, and sovereignty. The exhibition considers aesthetic forms through mediums such as basket weaving, ceramics, dressmaking and plaster. Admission: free. 402-341-7130.

—bemiscenter.org

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 11 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

JENNIFER HOMAN

Jan. 5-26 at Modern Arts Midtown, 3615 Dodge St. This local artist often uses pastels to depict breathtaking sky scenes. She is a member of the prestigious Pastel Society of America. Admission: free. 402-502-8737.

—modernartsmidtown.com

NANCY FRIEDEMANN-SANCHEZ

Jan. 12-March 8 at Fred Simon Gallery, 1004 Farnam St., lower level. Friedemann-Sanchez describes her art as “a bicultural and transcultural experience” as it focuses on her migration from Colombia to the United States. Admission: free. 402-595-2122.

—artscouncil.nebraska.gov

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

WOMEN IN OMAHA: A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF PERSISTENCE THROUGH HISTORY

2018 OEAA VISUAL ARTISTS NOMINEE SHOWCASE

Jan. 13-27 at Petshop Gallery, 2725 N. 62nd St. Works by nominees from the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards will be shown in this exhibit.

Expect to see a variety of mediums including painting, print, installation, and more. 4 p.m. Admission: free.

—oea-awards.org

Feb. 3-July 29 at The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. The Durham Museum partners with the University of Nebraska-Omaha’s History Department and Service Learning Academy to produce an immersive, interdisciplinary experience focused on the experience of Nebraska women. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (age 62+), $7 children ( 3-12), and free to members and children age 2 and under. 402-444-5071.

—durhammuseum.org

METAMORPHOSIS: WORKS BY SAYAKA GANZ AND AURORA ROBSON

Jan. 20-May 13 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. From birds to aquatic creatures to a massive vortex, Sayaka Ganz and Aurora Robson’s sculptures promote environmental stewardship while showing the potential beauty of reclaimed (once-discarded) plastic objects. Admission: $10 adults, $5 children (6-12), free for members and children under 6 years old. 402-346-4002.

—lauritzengardens.org

FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT TO FIGHT: AFRICAN-AMERICAN EXPERIENCES IN WORLD WAR II

Feb. 17-July 15 at The Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. What do Alex Haley, Sammy Davis Jr., Benjamin Davis Jr., and Medgar Evers have in common? They were four of the thousands of African-Americans who served in World War II. This exhibit highlights some of the extraorFeb. PERSISTENCE: BRANCHES, BARKS dinary achievements and challenges of African-Americans during World War II, includ& BERRIES BY MARGARET BERRY ing an eight-minute video about the famed Jan. 20-May 13 at Lauritzen Gardens, Tuskegee Airmen. Admission: $11 adults, $8 100 Bancroft St. This exhibition explores seniors ( 62+), $7 children (3-12), and free to memthe theme of persistence in nature through the bers and children age 2 and under. 402-444-5071. winter months. Look for the sculptural beauty —durhammuseum.org of bare branches, the brightness of berries, and the mesmerizing texture of barks. Admission: $10 adults, $5 children (6-12), free for members Performing Arts and children under 6 years old. 402-346-4002.

—lauritzengardens.org

PAW PATROL LIVE! “RACE TO THE RESCUE”

Jan. 12-13 at Orpheum Theater, 409. S. 16th St. This production shows that “no job is too big, no pup is too small” while sharing lessons for all ages about citizenship, social skills, and problem-solving.

Times vary. Tickets: $23.25-$124.25. 402-661-8555.

—ticketomaha.com

THE KING AND I

Jan. 16-21 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. An English governess travels to Siam to teach the king’s English (among other subjects) to the king of Siam’s children. This show features such classic tunes as “Getting To Know You,” “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” “Hello Young Lovers,” “Shall We Dance,” and “Something Wonderful.”

Times vary. Tickets: $35-$99. 402-661-8555.

—ticketomaha.com

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I SEE THAT FABLE DIFFERENTLY: SELECTIONS FROM CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY’S CARLSON FABLE COLLECTION

Jan. 27-April 29 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. This exhibition will examine a dozen Aesop fables with a variety of objects from printed materials to ceramic dishware, assemblage sculpture, and a set of nesting dolls. A companion exhibition will be on view at Creighton’s Lied Art Gallery. Admission: free. 402-342-3300.

—joslyn.org

SPECTRUM DANCE THEATER: A RAP ON RACE

FEEDBACK READING AND WORKSHOP

Jan. 9 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Based on the 1970 conversation between James Baldwin and Margaret Mead, this production enlivens the conversation on race using dance and theater. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20-$40. 402-661-8555.

—ticketomaha.com

Jan. 18 and 20 at K ANEKO, 1111 Jones St. Poets Nate Marshall, Ben Wenzl, and Gina Keplinger discuss their creative process (Jan. 18, 7-9 p.m.), followed by a writing workshop (Jan. 20, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) presented by K ANEKO and the Nebraska Writers Collective. RSVP to attend either event. Tickets: free. 402-341-3800.

—thekaneko.org

TAMMY PESCATELLI

RIPCORD

TIM ALLEN

APPALACHIAN SPRING & WEST SIDE STORY

WALK WITH ME

Feb. 1-25 at Artists’ Cooperative Gallery, 405 S. 11th St. Judith Anthony Johnston presents her first solo show at the co-op in 40 years. The show depicts one woman’s journey walking the Caminos in Spain and Portugal through the use of gold leaf, oils, and wire sculpture. Admission: free. 402-342-9617.

—artistscoopomaha.com

BRIAN GENNARDO

Feb. 2-23 at Modern Arts Midtown, 3615 Dodge St. This abstract expressionist uses bold lines and vivid colors in his modern art. Admission: free. 402-502-8737.

—modernartsmidtown.com

WORD/PLAY: PRINTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND PAINTINGS BY ED RUSCHA

Feb. 3 through May 6 at the Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. The first major exhibition featuring Ruscha in his home state of Nebraska, Word/Play brings together prints, photographs, and artist books, complemented by a selection of major paintings. At turns poignant, provocative, and confounding, Ruscha’s use of the written word is a signature element of his work. Several of his images contain palindromes inscribed over mirror-image landscapes, such as Lion in Oil. Admission: $10 general, $5 students with valid ID, free to members and youth (17 and under). 402-342-3300.

—joslyn.org

Jan. 11-14 at Funny Bone Comedy Club, 17305 Davenport St., Suite 201. Currently on the “Dirty, Sexy, Funny Tour” with Jenny McCarthy, Pescatelli is a two-time finalist on Last Comic Standing and winner of Comedy Central’s Stand-Up Showdown.

Times vary. Tickets: $16-$18. 402-493-8036.

—funnyboneomaha.com

Jan. 12 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Expect lively and outlandish stand-up comedy from funny man, TV personality, and movie icon Tim Allen.

8 p.m. Tickets: $59-$119. 402-345-0202.

—ticketomaha.com

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 12 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Jan. 19-Feb. 11 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Pranks and practical jokes abound when cantankerous Abby and chipper Marilyn are forced to share the nicest room at the Bristol Place Senior Living Facility. Times vary. Tickets: $24+ adults, $16+ students. 402-553-0800.

—ticketomaha.com

Jan. 26-27 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Originally titled Ballet for Martha, this Omaha Symphony performance combines Copland, Ellington, and Bernstein on one stage for a majestic performance. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $19-$72. 402-345-0202.

—ticketomaha.com

THE MEANING OF MAGGIE

Jan. 26-Feb. 11 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. Full of relatable characters, this production is a story about how growing up is an adventure that lets us strengthen the best parts of ourselves and reaffirms the importance of family.

Times var y. Tickets: $20. 402-345-4849.

—rosetheater.org

ACROSS RHODES

Ja n.

26 -Feb. 18 at S he lt e rb e lt T he a t r e , 32 25 C a l i f or n i a St. Rhodes Bar is the only place with live music for miles. Young musician Joss is haunted by both past experiences at Rhodes and a girl named Sarah. Tickets: $20 general, $15 students, seniors (65+), and TAG members. 402-341-2757.

—shelterbelt.org

WYNKEN, BLYNKEN, AND NOD

WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

Feb. 13-18 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. This Tony Award-winning musical follows an American soldier and a French girl yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war.

Times vary. Tickets: $35-$95. 402-661-8555.

—ticketomaha.com

Feb. 20 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. National Geographic photojournalist Ami Vitale has lived in war zones, contracted malaria, and donned a panda suit to keep true to her philosophy of “living the story.” Witness the world’s surreal beauty through Vitale’s lens. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $11-$26. 402-345-0202.

—ticketomaha.com

YAMATO DRUMMERS OF JAPAN

THE REVOLUTIONISTS

Feb. 10-March 4 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. Performed by The Rose Theater and told through non-verbal, creative movement and the words of Eugene Field’s poem, these children sail through the stars while on a fishing trip. Times vary. Tickets: $12. 402-345-4849.

—rosetheater.org

Feb. 19 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. White Rabbit Red Rabbit is a show performed by a single actor who has never read the script before and has no idea what it’s about. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: free. 402-533-0800.

—omahaplayhouse.com

RHINOS, RICKSHAWS, AND REVOLUTIONS

MOSCOW FESTIVAL BALLET PRESENTS CINDERELLA

Jan. 27 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. The Moscow Festiva l Ba llet returns to Omaha to perform another fairytale classic. Tickets: $20-$45. 8 p.m. 402-661-8555.

—ticketomaha.com

VENUS IN FUR

Feb. 1-25 at BlueBarn Theatre, 1106 S. 10th St. Inspired by the 1870 erotic novel, this production follows a playwright and a young actress as they blur lines between fantasy and reality, entering an increasingly serious game of submission and domination only one of them can win. Times vary. Tickets: $30 adults, $25 seniors and students. 402-345-1576.

—bluebarn.org

ANDREA GIBSON

Feb. 2 at T he Wa it ing Room L ou nge, 6212 M a ple S t . One of t he world ’s mo s t c e le br ate d L GBTQ p o e t s , Gib s on emer g e d at t he fore f ront of t he n at ion a l sp ok en-word p o e t r y s c ene i n 2 0 0 8 (w i n n i n g t he f i r s te ver Wom a n of t he World Po e t r y Sl a m).

Gibson combines poetr y a nd music in per forma nc e s. 9 p.m. Ticket s: $21. 402-884 -5353.

—wa itingroomlounge.com

JOHN CAPARULO

Feb. 9-10 at Funny Bone Comedy Club, 17305 Davenport St. Perhaps best known as “the underdressed everyman” on Chelsea Lately, Caparulo has since been featured on many comedy specials, and released a few of his own, along with becoming a Sirius XM fan favorite with his show The Mad Cap Hour. Times vary. Tickets: $22. 402-493-8036.

—funnyboneomaha.com

PARADE

Feb. 9-March 11 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. This Tony Award-winning musical is based on the trial of a Jewish man wrongfully accused of murder in Marietta, Georgia, in 1913. Times vary.

Tickets: $42+ adults, $25+ students. 402-553-0800.

—ticketomaha.com

MY FUNNY VALENTINE

Feb. 10 at IWCC, 2700 College Road, Council Bluffs. Date night just got funnier! Join comedians Pat Hazell, one of the original writers for NBC’s Seinfeld and a veteran of The Tonight Show, and Dena Blizzard, featured comic at The Laugh Factory and Gotham Comedy Club and creator of the viral video “Chardonnay, Go!” as they join forces for an evening of hilarious and heartwarming stand-up comedy. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $25-$35. 712-388-7140.

—artscenter.iwcc.edu

Feb. 14 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Celebrate the ancient art of Japanese taiko drumming in this spectacular display of physical strength as performers leap from drum to drum to create exhilarating music. 7 p.m. Tickets: $15-$32. 402-345-0202.

—ticketomaha.com

EMOTIONAL CREATURE

Feb. 14 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. This production is a collection of original monologues and irresistible songs performed by a group of young women about, and for, young girls.

It is a call to action, to empowering and illuminating issues women and girls face. Contains adult content. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: free. 402-553-0800.

—omahaplayhouse.com

SHE KILLS MONSTERS

Feb. 21-March 3 at UNO Theatre, 6001 Dodge St. Weber Fine A rts. Go inside the mind of a feminist during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. This “testament to solidarity” is a girl-powered comedy that explores what could happen if four powerful women got together to oust a tyrant. Times vary. Tickets: $6-$16. 402-554-2406.

—unomaha.edu

SEEDFOLKS

Feb. 23-Ma rch 11 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Fa rna m St. This production features a communit y brought together by the work of one girl as she tries to turn the lot next to her house into a garden. Times var y. Tickets: $20. 402-345-4849.

—rosetheater.org

Feb.

Feb. 14-18 at Lied Education Center for the Arts Studio Theatre, 2500 California Plaza. This play is a comedic journey exploring the role of fantasy role-playing games. Laden with homicidal fairies, nasty ogres, and ’90s pop culture, the young playwright Qui Nguyen delivers an action-packed story that speaks to everyone’s inner geek. Times vary. Tickets: $5-$15. 402-280-2509.

—creighton.edu

24

MURDER IN A JERKWATER TOWN

Feb. 15-24 at The Apollon, 1801 Vinton St. The year is 1873, eight years after the end of the Civil War. The tensions between the citizens have not settled, and the Ozarks are rife with poverty and banditry. Water stops—or jerkwater towns—along the rail are frequent targets. Your train has broken down in one such town. When a fellow passenger turns up dead, everybody becomes a suspect and no one is leaving until the murder is solved. 7 p.m.

Tickets: $25 (dinner included). 402-884-0135.

—apollonomaha.com JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 13 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Feb. 24 at Hol la nd Per form i ng A r t s Center, 120 0 Doug la s St. E xperience the adventure again, or for the f irst time, a s A la n Silvestri ’s score is played live a s t he f ilm is screened in its entiret y. 7:30 p.m. Ticket s: $19-$79. 402-345 - 0202 .

—ticketoma ha.com

LA BOHÈME

Feb. 2 4, 2 8 at R ut h S okolof T he ater, 13 4 0 M i k e Fa he y S t . T he mo s t p er for me d op er a i n Me t h i s tor y i s t he s tor y of you n g B ohe m ia n s i n 19t h- c ent u r y Pa ri s who a re w i l l i ng to s t a r ve — a nd d ie — f or e a c h ot her. Ti me s v a r y. Tic k e t s: $24 g e ne r a l a d m i s sion, $2 0 Oper a Om a h a , Fi l m St re a m s, or Me t Oper a memb er s; a nd $10 s t udent s . 4 02 -933 - 0259.

— f i l m st re a m s.org

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

CONCERTS

BROKEN SKULLS

Ja n. 13 at Reverb L ounge, 6121 Milita r y Ave. This Lincoln-ba sed ha rd rock /meta l group ha s blended ma ny dif ferent genres wit h inf luences ra nging f rom blue s, deat h met a l, ha rd rock, a nd punk. 9 p.m. Tickets: $10. 402-884 -5707.

—reverblounge.com

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY

Ja n. 2 at Sokol Underg rou nd, 2234 S. 13t h St . I n c onc er t w it h C or ro sion of C on formit y a nd Eyehategod, t his L os A ngeles-ba sed he av y-met a l ba nd formed back i n 1998 a nd is on tou r le ad ing up to t he rele a se of t heir ne we s t a lbu m, G r i m m e s t Hi t s . 7:3 0 p.m .

T ic k e t s: $3 4 i n a d v a nc e . 4 02 -3 4 6 -9 8 02 .

—facebook.com/sokolauditoriumandunderground

Ja n. 14 at Hol la nd Per forming A r t s Center, 12 0 0 Dou g la s St . Joi n c onduc tor T hom a s Wilk ins to discover what ma kes music groove, featuring music by L eonard Bernstein and other composers. 2 p.m. Tickets: $15. 402-345- 0202.

—ticketoma ha.com

Ja n. 6 at T he Slowdow n, 729 N. 14t h St .

T h i s p e r f or m a nc e i s a t r ibut e to Pr i nc e a nd w i l l i nc lude a l l of h i s h it s , i nc lud i n g t he Pur ple R ain era . 9 p.m. Ticket s: $17 i n a dv a nc e , $2 0 d ay of s how. 4 02 -3 45 -7569.

—t heslowdown.com

Ja n . 7 a t Jo s l y n A r t Mu s e u m , 2 2 0 0 D o d g e S t . Sy mphony No. 3, “R hen i sh,” rec a l l s a v i sit to t he R h i ne l a nd . L i s ten to t he s or rowf u l yet be aut i f u l pae a n to lost love.

2 p.m. Tic ket s: $33. 4 02 -3 4 2 -330 0.

—ticketoma ha.com

THE GREEN

Ja n . 14 a t T he S lowdow n, 729 N . 14 t h St . T h i s g roup of mu sic i a n s f rom O‘a hu , Haw a i i, h ave be c ome sel f-t it le d a mba ss ador s of A loh a , a s t he y spre ad h ap pi ne s s t h rou g h t hei r re g g ae-i n f u sed roc k . 8 p.m. Tic ket s: $17 adva nc e, $2 0 d ay of s how. 4 02 -3 45 -7569.

—t heslowdown.com

Jan.

TENNIS

Ja n . 10 a t T he Wa it i n g R o om L ou n g e , 6212 M a p l e S t . Te n n i s c ont i nu e s t he i r e x t e n s i ve Nor t h A me r ic a n Tou r i n c e le br at ion of t hei r fou r t h f u l l-len g t h a lbu m, Yours C onditionally. 8 p.m. Ticket s: $16 i n a dv a nc e , $2 0 d ay of s how. 4 02 - 88 4 -5353.

—wa itingroomlounge.com

BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS

Ja n. 11 at The Slowdow n, 729 N. 14t h St. Big Head Todd ha s brought t heir blues-rock sound, wit h t he sa me core lineup, to t he world for 30 yea rs. They a re coming to Oma ha to promote t heir 11t h st ud io a lbu m. 7:30 p.m. Ticket s: $25 adva nce, $30 day of show. 402-345-7569.

—t heslowdown.com

7

JOHN MAUS

Ja n. 17 at Reverb L ounge, 6121 Milita r y Ave. Maus’ music is a high ly mutable a f fa ir, of ten described a s retro-f uturist on beha lf of t he ’8 0 s d r u m m ac h i ne s a nd s y nt h sou nd s employed, John’s music is more persona l t ha n t he nosta lgic retread implied. 9 p.m. Tickets: $13 adva nce, $15 day of show. 402-884 -5707.

—reverblounge.com

THE TEXAS TENORS

Ja n . 2 0 -21 a t Hol l a nd Pe r f or m i n g A r t s C e nt e r, 12 0 0 Dou g l a s S t . A ud ienc e s a re t re ated to a u n ique blend of c ou nt r y, c la ssic a l, Broadway, a nd pop. Wit h bre at ht a ki n g voc a l s a nd a touc h of c ow b oy c h a r m, t he boy s cre ate a n u n forget t able l ive show.

Times va r y. Tickets: $19-$89. 402-345- 0202.

—ticketoma ha.com

BANDITOS

Ja n. 21 at Reverb L ou nge, 6121 Mi lit a r y Ave . Ba nd itos’ mu sic appropriates elements of ’60s blues-f used acid rock, boogie, ga ra ge punk, a nd folk sy t u ne s. 9 p.m. Ticket s: $10 adva nc ed, $12 d a y o f s h o w. 4 0 2 - 8 8 4 -570 7.

—reverblounge.com

UNO FACULTY SHOWCASE

Ja n. 13 at Hol la nd Per forming A r t s Center, 120 0 Dou g la s St . Mu sicia n a nd song w riter A n n ie C l a rk— a k a St . Vi nc ent— i s one of t he most d ist inct ive a r t ist ic voice s a nd origina l g u it a rist s of her generat ion. Her rec ent s e l f-t it l e d a l b u m , S t . Vi n c e n t , w on h e r “a lbu m of t he yea r” designations from NME , Th e G u a r d i a n , a nd En t e r t a inm e n t We e k l y.

8 p.m . Tic k e t s: $32 - $169. 4 02 -3 45 - 02 02 .

—ticketoma ha.com

DESTROYER WITH MEGA BOG

Feb. 3 at The Wa it ing Room L ou nge, 6212 Maple St. The Ca nadia n rock ba nd Destroyer, fronted by singer-song writer Da n Beja r, formed i n 1995. De st royer song s a re c h a rac ter i z ed by abst rac t, poet ic ly r ic s a nd id ios y ncrat ic voc a ls. 9 p.m. Ticket s: $20. 402- 884 -5353.

—wa itingroom lounge.com

THE MUSIC OF ABBA

Feb. 10 at Hol la nd Per forming A r t s Center, 120 0 Dou g la s St . Direc t f rom Sweden, t he world ’s foremost A BBA tribute ba nd, A rriva l, look s, sounds, a nd dresses like t he supergroup.

7:30 p.m. Ticket s: $19-$89. 402-3 45 - 0202 .

—ticketoma ha.com

JUSTIN FURSTENFELD OF BLUE OCTOBER

Feb. 5 at S c ot t i sh R ite Ha l l, 202 S . 20 t h S t . T he f r ont m a n of t he c h a r t-t oppi n g ba nd Blue Oc tober br i n g s h i s emot ion a l ly c h a r g e d a nd m a g ne t ic mu s ic to Om a h a .

8 p.m . Tic k e t s: $32 - $ 45. 4 02 - 8 8 4 -5353.

— onepercentproductions.com

ZZ WARD WITH BLACK PISTOL FIRE

Fe b. 5 a t T he Wa it i n g R oom L ou n g e , 6212 M a ple S t . E qu a l ly e vo c at ive of Feb. blues grit a nd hip-hop bounce, t his L os A n g e le s-ba s e d vo c a l p owerhou s e a nd mu lti-instrumenta list’s new sound ta kes a deeper look at some of t he a r tist’s ea rl ie s t i n s pi r at ion s — i nc lud i n g How l i n’ Wol f, R ob er t Joh n s on, a nd Ver a Wa rd Ha ll. 9 p.m. Tickets: $25-$99. 402-884 -5353.

—wa itingroom lounge.com

5

Ja n. 26 at St rau ss Per forming A r t s Center, 6305 Un iversit y Drive N. Pa r t of t he U NO I nter n at ion a l C onc er t S er ie s , t h i s p er forma nce is composed of renowned teachers a nd per formers c om m it ted to t he ac adem ic a nd a r t i s t ic de ve lopment of s t udent s t h rou g hout t he Un ite d St ate s a nd g lob a l ly. 7:3 0 p.m. Ticket s: $15 reg u la r ad mission, $8 student, m i l it a r y, a nd sen ior s. 4 02 -554 -3 411.

—ticketoma ha.com

ST. VINCENT

Feb. 2 at Hol la nd Per form i ng A r t s C enter, 12 0 0 Dou g l a s St . T h i s world- c l a s s d r u mm e r a nd O m a h a n a t i v e br i n g s t o g e t he r mu sic i a n f r ie nd s a nd f a m i ly to c e le br at e t hei r Nebr a s k a ro ot s a nd l i fe lon g love of ja z z . 8 p.m . Tic k e t s: $2 0. 4 02 -3 45 - 02 02 .

—ticketoma ha.com

BERNSTEIN GROOVES

THE PRINCE EXPERIENCE

SCHUMANN’S 3RD SYMPHONY

CURLY MARTIN AND FRIENDS

BILLY CHILDS QUARTET

Ja n. 26 at Hol la nd Per forming A r t s Center, 12 0 0 Dou g la s St . E merg i ng a s one of t he f ore mo s t c omp o s er s of h i s er a , t he f ou rt ime Gra m my w inner a nd h is qu a r tet sea mle s sly blend element s of ja z z a nd c l a s sic a l mu sic . 8 p.m. Ticket s: $35. 402 -3 45 - 0202 .

—ticketoma ha.com

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 14 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

BOB MARLEY BIRTHDAY BASH

Feb. 10 at Slowdow n, 729 N. 14t h St. R hy thm Collective, The Bishops, a nd DJ Str yker will satiate your t hirst for some isla nd reg gae a nd calypso music—the perfect way to celebrate Bob’s B -day. 9 p.m. Tickets: $6 -$8. 402-345-7569.

—t heslowdown.com

NEBRASKA WIND SYMPHONY WINTER CONCERT

Feb. 11 at Oma ha C onser vator y of Mu sic , 7023 C a se St . The Winter Into Spring c onc er t w i l l fe at u re t he Nebr a sk a Wi nd Sy mphony Midd le School A ll-Sta r Flutes. 3 p.m.

Tickets: $10 adu lts, $5 students a nd seniors, a g e s 12 or y ou n g e r f r e e . 4 02 -932 - 49 78 .

—nebra sk awindsymphony.com

NEW EXHIBIT

Open January 20 THROUGH April 8, 2018

OPEN NOW

through April 15!

Exploring the realities of forests through play, families will learn about sustainability, selective harvesting, transportation needs, and the every-day products we use that are made from trees.

OMAHA MAGAZ INE’S

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

ST. STANISLAUS POLISH FESTIVAL (THIRD SUNDAY IN AUGUST EVERY YEAR)

THANKS FOR VOTING US BEST OF OMAHA! JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 15 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

SHE-E WU

Feb. 15 at St rau ss Per forming A r t s Center, 6305 Un iversit y Drive N. Pa r t of t he U NO Internationa l Concer t Series, t his per forma nce features t he head of Nor t hwestern Universit y’s percussion progra m play ing on a majestic concert ma rimba. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $15 adults, $8 students, milita r y, a nd seniors. 402-554 -3411.

—ticketoma ha.com A story of one-upmanship as two feisty senior ladies compete for their rightful place.

A musical rooted in religious, political and racial tension.

JEREMY MCCOMB WITH KIMBERLY DUNN AND SACK OF LIONS Jan. 19 – Feb. 11, 2018 series sponsor:

Feb. 9 – March 11, 2018

show sponsor:

media sponsor:

Fe b. 16 a t T he Wa it i n g R o om L ou n g e , 6212 M a ple St . Mc C omb i s a n A mer ic a n c ou nt r y mu sic a r t i st a nd former tou r ma na g er f or c ome d i a n L a r r y t he C a ble Guy. T ic k e t s : $12 - $15. 9 p. m . 4 02 - 8 8 4 -5353.

—wa itingroom lounge.com

show sponsor:

“I MET YOU WHEN I WAS 18 WORLD TOUR” FEATURING LAUV WITH JEREMY ZUCKER

Member FDIC

6915 Cass St. | (402) 553-0800 | OmahaPlayhouse.com

Feb. 18 at Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. In his early teens, A ri Stapra ns L ef f (a k a L auv) picked up a g uita r a nd sta r ted writing songs of hea r tbrea k before ever having had a roma ntic relationship.

Now 23, t he accla imed L . A .-ba sed singer/songwriter/producer will music a lly pu ll your hea r tstrings. 8 p.m. Tickets: $13 -$15. 402-345-7569.

—t heslowdown.com

HAYDN’S THE HUNT SYMPHONY

Feb. 18 at Joslyn A rt Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Advent u rou s rhy t h ms a nd ha rmonie s ca scade t hrough t his piece. Insa ne energ y in t he f ina le c aptures t he intensit y of t he hunt. Ta r tini ’s Feb. concerto suggests the splendors of 18t h-centur y Venice. 2 p.m.

Tic ket s: $33. 4 02 -3 4 2 -330 0.

—ticketoma ha.com

18

POP EVIL WITH BLACK MAP AND PALAYE ROYALE

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

FREE GENERAL ADMISSION

(paid ticketed admission for some exhibitions)

THURSDAYS: Open ‘til 8 pm!

ART WORKS: A Place for Curiosity Interactive space for all ages!

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, relaxing, and artful destination for the whole family.

Open Tuesday–Sunday, 10 am–4 pm.

Just west of downtown Omaha.

Café, Museum shop, and free parking.

February 3–May 6, 2018 Word/Play: Prints, Photographs, and Paintings by Ed Ruscha 2200 Dodge St. | Omaha, NE | (402) 342-3300 | www.joslyn.org JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 16 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Feb. 20 at The Wa it ing Room L ou nge, 6212 Maple St. The post-grunge/a lt-meta l ba nd from Michigan, Pop Evil, has a new album out in Februa r y. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20 -$25. 402-884-5353.

—wa itingroom lounge.com

HERE COME THE MUMMIES

Feb. 22 at Slowdow n, 729 N. 14t h St . T his eight-piece funk-rock band has a one-track mind.

Their Terrif ying Funk f rom Beyond the Grave is su re to get you into t hem (a nd possibly v ic e versa). 8 p.m. Tickets: $13 -$15. 402-345-7569.

—t heslowdown.com

CHRIS POTTER

Feb. 23 at Hol la nd Per forming A r t s Center, 12 0 0 D ou g l a s S t . A world- c l a s s s oloi s t , c omposer, a nd ba nd le ader, t h is sa xophon ist ha s emerged a s a leader in h is generat ion in mu sic . 8 p.m. Tic ket s: $35. 4 02 -3 45 - 0202 .

—ticketoma ha.com

DONAVON FRANKENREITER

Feb. 26 at Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. This surfer/ rocker brings his cool singer-song writer honest y to the stage. Tickets: $17-$20. 8 p.m. 402-345-7569.

—t heslowdown.com

Family & More

108th & Center | rockbrookvillage.com

HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL NRG ICE RINK

T h rou g h Feb. 14 at 10 t h St . a nd C apitol Ave .

A p or t ion of t he pro c e e d s w i l l g o tow a rd t he Sh i ne t he L i g ht on Hu n g er c a mp a i g n, w h ic h s upp or t s t he Fo o d B a n k f or t he He a r t l a nd .

Br i n g t he w hole f a m i ly a nd c re at e me mor ie s w h i le supp or t i n g t he c om mu n it y. A d m i s sion: $ 8 (i n c lu d e s s k a t e r e nt a l ). 4 0 2 - 65 0 - 4 813 .

— hol id ayl ig ht sfe st iva l.c om

THE ROOFTOP RINK

T h r o u g h F e b . 25 a t M i d t o w n C r o s s i n g , bet ween 31st-33rd st reet s a nd Fa rna m to Dodge s t re e t s . T he e le vate d lo c at ion i s i n novat ive — s o i s t he r i n k— a n a l l-we at her “s y nt he t ic ic e” su r f a c e. Hou r s of op er at ion to b e a n nou nc e d .

A d m i s sion i s a m i n i mu m don at ion of $5 b ene f it i n g T he S a l v a t ion A r my. 4 02 -93 4 -9 2 75.

— m idtow ncros si ng.c om

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

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11025 Elm St. / 402.397.7383 / reveomaha.com

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

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

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

JOSLYN CASTLE PUBLIC TOURS

R e c u r r i n g a t t he Jo s l y n C a s t le , 39 0 2 D a ve np or t S t . Tou r h i s tor ic Jo s l y n C a s t le e a c h Mond a y a nd t he f i r s t a nd t h i rd Su nd a y s of e ver y mont h. A d m i s sion: $10 adu lt s, $8 sen iors (6 0 +), s t u d e nt s a nd m i l it a r y. 4 02 -595 -219 9.

— josly nc a st le.c om

January Semi-Annual Sale GOURMET MARKET ITALIAN SPECIALTY FOODS WINES AND SPIRITS

MILLARD BRANCH ESCAPE ROOM

Ja n . 3 -5 a t M i l l a r d B r a nc h P u bl ic L ibr a r y, 13214 We st wood L a ne. Once g uests a re locked in t he room, t hey will go t hrough a series of puzzles in order to get out. T here w i l l be a n e sc ape room for k id s grades 2- 4 a nd 4 - 6 ever y hour. Guests shou ld re g i ster on t he l ibr a r y website. 4 02 -996 - 8 037.

— oma ha l ibra r y.org

AU T HEN T IC I TAL IAN GOURME T MARKE T

2821 S. 108th / Omaha / 402.991.9987 / marescos.com

* By an independent food analysis.

MUSIC & MOVEMENT STORYTIME

Ja n . 3 a t W. C l a rk e Sw a n s on B r a nc h, 9101 Dod g e St . T h i s e vent a l low s ac t ive todd lers (up to a ge 5) to e xplore literac y t h rou g h song , d a nc e, a nd play w it h t hei r c a re g iver s. 4 02 - 4 4 4 - 4852 .

— oma ha l ibra r y.org

Why Helix is Better Most machines work front-to-back.

Why Helix Istradition Better The Helix turns on its side— Why Helix Is Better literally.

Withwork lateral (or side-to-side) Most machines front-to-

movement, you usetradition more muscles, which MostThe machines work front-toback.

Helix turns on means you burn more fat than during back.

The Helix turnsWith tradition its side— literally. lateralon a traditional workout—in the same its side-to-side) side— literally.

With lateral ( or movement, you amount of time. ( or side-to-side) movement, you use more muscles, which means use which means youmore burn muscles, more fat than during a THANK YOU you burn more fat than during a traditional workout– in the same OMAHA! traditional workout– in the same amount of time. amount of time.

BENSON FIRST FRIDAY

Ja n. 5 a nd Feb. 2 i n B en son ( Maple a nd 59 t h t o 63 r d s t r e e t s). A r t g a l le r ie s , b a r s , mu s ic ve nu e s , a nd c u lt u r a l i n s t it ut ion s of B e n s on c ol l abor ate on t he f i r st Fr id ay of e ver y mont h w it h a s ho w c a s e of lo c a l a r t s a nd c u lt u r e .

— ben son f i rst f rid ay.c om in Rockbrook Village Rockbrook Village 10923 prairieinbrooke rd, omaha, ne 68144 10923 prairie402.991.2300 brooke rd, omaha, ne 68144

402.991.2300

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 17

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

FIRST FRIDAY OLD MARKET

Ja n. 5 a nd Feb. 2 at t he Old Ma rke t . Wa l k t he distinctive brick streets of t he Old M a rk e t to l i ve mu sic , r id e Ol l ie t he Trolle y for f re e bet we en venue s, a nd ig n ite you r i m a g i n a t i on w it h a r t a t t h i s f r e e e v e nt .

R e c u r r i n g t he f i r s t Fr id ay of e a c h mont h .

— f i rst f rid ayold ma rket.c om

Four Old Market

THE GREAT TRAIN SHOW

Ja n 6 -7 at M id-A meric a C enter, 1 A rena Way, C ou nci l Blu f f s. Im merse you rsel f in t he fa scinating world of miniature ra ilroading at the tra in show, fe at u ri ng hu nd red s of t able s of t ra i n s, ac c e s sorie s, sc a le model s, c ol lec t ible toy s for sa le, ac t iv it ie s for k id s, a nd sem i na rs. 10 a .m.

Ticket s: $10 -$11, k id s a re f ree. 712-323 - 0536.

— c ae sa rs.c om /m id-a meric a- c enter

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

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

oTannenbaum.com • 402-345-9627

OldMarketCandy.com • 402-344-8846

Ja n . 13 a n d F e b . 10 a t O m a h a P u b l i c L i b r a r y, 1 3 214 We s t w o o d L a n e . J o i n Nebr a sk a Wr iter s C ol le c t ive’s L ouder T h a n a B o m b c o a c h e s a n d v i s it i n g a r t i s t s t o le a r n f rom t he e x p er t s . R e c om mende d a g e s 8 -12 y e a r s old . 1: 3 0 p. m . 4 02 - 4 4 4 - 4 8 4 8 .

— oma ha l ibra r y.org

SECOND SATURDAY PROGRAM AT HERON HAVEN

Ja n. 13 at Heron Haven Nat u re Center, 11809 Old Maple Roa d. C ome h i ke in t he wood s a nd sha re nature stories while sipping on hot chocolate. Children a re encoura ged to bring a favorite st u f fed a n i ma l to help ma ke up a nat u re stor y.

Ad m ission: f ree. 10 -11:30 a .m. 402- 493 - 4303.

— heron haven.org

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

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

OldMarketSundries.com • 402-345-7646

DolciOldMarket.com • 402-345-8198

Ja n . 18 -21 a t C e nt u r y L i n k C e nt e r, 4 55 N. 10 t h S t . S e e , touc h, a nd e x p er ienc e t he a u t o m o t i v e i n d u s t r y ’s l a t e s t a n d g r e a te s t . T ic k e t s: $9 a du lt s:. $ 7 s e n ior s (65+), c h i l d r e n ( 7-12), a n d m i l it a r y w it h I D ; f r e e t o c h i l d r e n u n d e r 7. 4 0 2 -3 41-15 0 0 .

— c ent u r yl i n kc enteroma ha .c om

All located at 10th & Howard RIVER CITY HUNTING, FISHING, BOAT, & RV EXPO

Ja n. 19-21 at Mid-A meric a Center, One A rena Way, C ou nc i l B lu f f s . Vie w more t h a n 10 0 e x h ibitors; at tend sem i na rs on topic s suc h a s u lt i mate f i sh i ng i n C a nad a , mu sh room hu nti ng , f ly f i sh i ng , a nd dog t ra i n i ng ; a nd t r y out t he i ndoor BB g u n a nd a rc her y ra nge s, i nterac t ive g a me s, a nd t u rke y c a l l-in teepee. Ti me s v a r y. Tic k e t s: $9 a du lt s , $3 k id s a g e s 4 -15, a nd f ree to a ge s 3 a nd u nder. 712 -326 -2295.

— c ae sa rs.c om /m id-a meric a- c enter

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 18 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

THE PRICE IS RIGHT LIVE

Feb. 7 at Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. Come on down! This interactive stage show gives eligible individuals the chance to play classic games from television’s longest-running game show.

Favorites such as Plinko, Cliff hangers, The Big Wheel, and the Showcase will be at this event.

7:30 p.m. Tickets: $49.50-$150. 800-440-3741.

—ralstonarena.com

LAWN, FLOWER, & PATIO SHOW/ OMAHA HOME & GARDEN EXPO

Feb 8-11 at CenturyLink Center Omaha, 455 N. 10th St. Gardeners who are ready for the spring planting season will enjoy this event. Over 600 exhibits for the home inside and out. Kids activities include exotic animals to view and games to play. Tickets: $9 adults, $4.50 ages 12-5, free to children 4 and under.

—centurylinkcenteromaha.com

12TH ANNUAL OMAHA ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS AWARDS

OMAHA FASHION WEEK

Feb. 18 at Omaha Design Center, 1502 Cuming St. This is Omaha’s own version of the red carpet.

Hundreds of musicians, visual artists, and performing artists have been nominated. Find out who won at the event. 6-10 p.m. Tickets: $30.

—oea-awards.org

Feb. 27-Ma rc h 4 at Oma ha De sig n C enter, 15 0 2 C u m i n g S t . O n e o f t h e n a t i o n’s la rgest fa shion week s, Oma ha Fa shion We e k h o l d s f a l l a n d s pr i n g e v e nt s . S p e c i a l g u e s t Fe r n M a l l i s , f o u n d e r o f N e w York Fa s h ion We e k , w i l l jud g e du r i n g t he V I P R u nw a y Fi n a le . T ic k e t s : pr ic e s v a r y.

— oma ha f a sh ionweek .c om

KIDS RULE FASHION SHOW

Event times and details may change.

Feb. 24 and 25 at Omaha Design Center, 1502 Cuming St. This kids fashion show is open to both girls and boys ages 5 to 12. There will be a modeling workshop and a time for garment selection.

Register online before the event. 2 p.m. Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: TBA. 402-819-8792.

—kidsruleomaha.com

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

LENTEN FISH FRIES

Fridays, Feb. 9 through March 30. Feb. 14 this year not only signifies Valentine’s Day, it is also the start of Lent—the season of repentance for many Christians in which they are not allowed to eat meat on Fridays.

Numerous Catholic churches in the area will hold fry-days on Fridays in February and March. The three voted for “Best Fish Fry” in “Best of Omaha” 2018 were: Holy Name, Mary Our Queen, and St. Patrick’s of Elkhorn. Visit archomaha.org for more info on Catholic fish fries. Other popular fish fries can be found at All Holy Spirit and St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox churches, Disabled American Veterans, American Legions, many Protestant churches, and community organizations.

LOVE AT THE ZOO

Feb. 9-10 at Henry Doorly Zoo, 3701 S. 10th St. Listen to a lighthearted presentation about dating and mating in the animal kingdom. The event includes a champagne welcome, dinner, and special animal encounters. Ages 21+ only. 6:30-9 p.m. Tickets: $75. 402-733-8401.

—omahazoo.com

KANPAI!CON

Feb 9-11 at Hotel RL, 3321 S. 72nd St. Kanpai!

Con is an annual cultural appreciation convention that focuses on anime, manga, and Japanese video gaming. Come dressed as a favorite character and enjoy the family-friendly convention setting. Times vary.

Admission: $30 weekend pass or $20 one-day pass.

—kanpaicon.com

FASCHING

Realize Recognize Respond

Feb. 10 at German-American Society, 3717 S. 120th St. Start celebrating Mardi Gras the Saturday before with Germany’s version of this feast day.

Eat jagerschnitzel or herbed fish while listening to music. And don’t forget the bier! 5 p.m. Reservations required Feb.

by Feb. 6: $19 for members, $22 per guest, $25 for non-members, $9 for children 12 and under. 402-333-6615.

—germanamericansociety.org

Get education on sex trafficking by visiting

SECOND SATURDAY PROGRAM AT HERON HAVEN

must be had? Yes.

10

Feb. 10 at Heron Haven Nature Center, 11809 Old Maple Road. Watch an educational slide show about the animals at Heron Haven filled with photos from photographer Nanette Williams.

This free event is the perfect way to teach children how animals survive in the winter. 402-493-4303.

—heronhaven.org

our website. Then, start a conversation about this very real threat in your own backyard. Easy conversation? No. One that

Learn More NoTrafficking.org

Get Help National Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 19 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

Sculpti ng Her Own De stiny

a r o k y Se e i g n d A l o M e h t s k Brea

OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // ART

S T O RY B

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OG // PHOT K E C A RT

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 21 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

RAPHY B

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N BY M // DESIG N N A M Z IT

ATT WIEC

ZOREK

OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // ART

Glittery gold nail polish shimmers. Angie Seykora’s hands move animatedly as she talks about a sculpture made out of smooth flagging tape. Beat-up and worn-out, Seykora’s hands are her most important tool.

These same hands twist, weave, and roll everyday material into works of art.

In one photo, a roll of black plastic static intercept sheeting wraps around her like a glossy snake. Seykora, dressed in the same color, blends in with her soon-to-be-creation.

Wearing black gloves, she molds and shapes it.

She cuts the sheeting into hundreds of strips, constructing it with zip ties and metal chains.

The final piece, which is for a solo exhibition at the Union for Contemporary Art, suspends from the ceiling all the way to the floor like a cascade of midnight.

“I don’t need elaborate facilities, just my hands and scissors,” Seykora says. “And space and time. Time is invaluable.”

Seykora felt the art itch as a child growing up in Minnesota and later South Dakota.

Her mother sewed dresses for her. She watched her father saw, hammer, and drill in his woodworking shop. It was a magical place. Four-year-old Seykora would draw circles with different faces and scrawl phrases, like “All people are important,” across the paper. “Making” offered a safety net during high school, and she spent any extra time in the art room, where she discovered like-minded individuals.

It was a hobby, a way to express herself, and Seykora didn’t think of it as a career when she attended Creighton University. One fatal drive would shift Seykora’s priorities. A drunk driver passed out, flew over the median, and hit Seykora’s vehicle in a head-on collision.

A broken left wrist. Torn ligaments.

Aching bruises.

“I trusted my intuition, which is still a part of my studio practice,” Seykora says.

Seykora switched majors several times before settling on a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in sculpture and a minor in business.

Sculpture, a once male-dominated art form, inspired Seykora in ways she never knew existed. She woke up to a world of creative possibilities. Space, light, and senses merged into making something out of nothing.

Littleton Alston, a Creighton art professor, saw grittiness and greatness from the young artist who stepped up to any challenge he threw at her.

“She was a once-in-a-lifetime student,” Alston recalls. “Art is a deeper search for meaning of what it is to be human. Angie did that.”

She continued on to graduate school at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Fine Arts. The International Sculpture Center bestowed a rare Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture award, which earned Seykora a residency in St. Urban, Switzerland, for two months during the summer of 2014.

She returned in 2015. It allowed Seykora to experiment with material not readily available in the United States.

Seykora, now 30, is an adjunct instructor at Creighton University, teaching 3D foundations and sculpture. Plus, Seykora mentors at Kent Bellows art program at Joslyn, and she has a part-time job in retail.

But the bulk of her time is spent in her studio practice, dropping by each day in order to “exist in the same world” as her material. She is constantly on the lookout for various items.

Discarded “trash” from friends, salvage yards, and second-hand stores become her artistic treasure. Electrical tape, plastic wrap, and vinyl have been transformed into stunning displays of talent.

Conscious, Seykora was aware of the pain. She doesn’t dwell on it now. It was just something that happened. Yet, it was life-affirming. The accident made Seykora realize she could no longer suppress her talents and deepest desires because of societal expectations.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 22 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

“She is one of the most exciting contemporary artists in Nebraska,” says Launa Bacon, director of Darger HQ. The gallery hosted Seykora’ work, along with artist Ying Zhu, in an exhibition titled Lines Forming (on display through Jan. 7).

Seykora found a pink artificial Christmas tree in a dumpster. She is in the process of cutting needles off the branches and stems.

The remaining wire is wrapped around a metal grid. Although a sculptural object, it is a gray area between contemporary sculpture and “painting.”

“This is a timely and meditatively engaged way of making,” Seykora says.

Much of her work is a time-consuming, sophisticated process. One conceptual sculpture, Flesh, took almost a year to finish. But it is Seykora’s way of creating her own world.

“Art is something I always have control over,” she says playing with her gold cage-like grid earrings. “My work is a direct reflection of my life.”

Transformation is the most powerful thing about art. Seykora hopes when someone sees her work that the conversation will not end.

Don’t dismiss. Engage. Look closer.

Visit angieseykora.com for more information.

“SHE IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS IN NEBRASKA.” -LAUNA BACON, DIRECTOR of Darger HQ

Ed Archibald

with

For exclusive music video, return to the table of contents page and scan with the LayAR app.

STORY BY KIM REINER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // MUSIC

Local Jazz Great The Second Life of a

F

RESH OUT OF Technical

High School, Ed Archibald and his bandmates had dreams of becoming the next Commodores.

Then life happened. Jobs. Marriage. Kids.

The dream and Archibald’s saxophone were tucked away.

It took a serious injury and more than two decades to draw Archibald back to playing music.

Archibald’s musical career has a second life now. He’s added writing, producing, and arranging into the mix.

“It gives me so much joy,” he says.

Born in 1958 in Pensacola, Florida, Archibald was 10 years old when he moved into his grandparents’ home in the small town of Monroe, Alabama.

His memories of those early years are dotted with musical references: His alcoholic father pretending to play the saxophone. His uncles taking him to juke joints to hear the popular music at that time in Pensacola, the blues. The tunes of Roy Clark and Chet Atkins playing on the radio in Alabama.

“

“My teacher was a strong jazz advocate,” Archibald recalls.

During his four years at Tech, Archibald also studied classical music, playing baritone saxophone in an all-city music festival.

Archibald caught up with his required courses and graduated on time in 1975. He jumped into the live music scene in Omaha, playing in bands for about five years, including Wild & Peaceful and Brass, Rhythm & Funk. They spent more money than they made, usually.

“Those early years were nonprofit years,” Archibald says. “We didn’t make a lot of money, but we had a lot of fun.”

As everyone aged, fell in love, married, and started families, the fun faded. The music stopped. Archibald met his wife, Lisa, and the two had a daughter, Adriene. Their focus turned to parenting and working. In a blink, Archibald spent a combined 21 years working for two different building materials companies.

One day, Archibald suffered a back injury on the job. Unable to work following surgery, he was drawn back to music. He began to play again.

”

Those early years were nonprofit years, we didn’t make a lot of money, but we had a lot of fun.

-Ed Archibald

Archibald moved twice more before he wound up in Omaha in 1971 and stepped into the classroom of Al McKain. Then, everything changed.

“During the recovery period, it was sort of therapeutic to focus on the music, ” Archibald recalls.

McKain taught music at Tech High and introduced Archibald to the likes of Charlie Parker and John Coltrane.

He discovered the music scene had changed, for the better. His style of music—smooth jazz—had become popular in the mainstream. Archibald also learned how easy it was to produce music and share it online.

He started writing and began recording it at home, layering piano and saxophone. In 2006, he released Smoove Grooves on iTunes and cdbaby.com. His second album, Love, Jazz, and Soul, was released in 2015.

“When I listened to their music, it was very complicated,” Archibald says. “I found myself wanting to imitate and emulate their abilities and style.”

Archibald learned the saxophone, becoming so engrossed with his new interest that he skipped math and science to practice. McKain pretended not to mind.

“You could call it homemade; I did it myself,” says Archibald thinking back to Smoove Grooves. “I didn’t know what I was doing.”

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 25 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

His abilities grew, and recording and producing that digital album was an important step in getting him back into the local jazz scene.

He started playing with other musicians at clubs and restaurants. He began producing more recordings, and he developed Glenwood Heights Music, which has expanded from music production into promotions.

Archibald landed steady gigs at country clubs in Omaha and beyond, including a yearlong stint at Wilderness Ridge in Lincoln. He became a regular at Happy Hollow Country Club, as well.

“We have him for all our club functions as his group is extremely entertaining for all age groups,” says Kelly Smith, clubhouse manager at Happy Hollow. “The members always look forward to his group on Mother’s Day, as he plays for both our brunch and dinner buffets that day.”

Through the years, he’s shared the stage with notable jazz artists and vocalists locally and in Denver. He backed Al Green at the MidAmerica Center in Council Bluffs, and had an impromptu concert with Chaka Khan in the Hilton Omaha lobby.

These days, Archibald plays at Omaha Lounge with his trio on Thursday nights.

It was at that lounge where he met Julie Baker, a vocalist and musician. Baker had recently moved to Omaha when they met, and the two became fast friends thanks to a mutual, eclectic taste in music. Baker says she’s amazed by his ease of switching genres while playing.

“You can’t fit him into a box,” Baker says.

What makes Archibald a standout musician isn’t just his ability at playing a variety of genres, according to Baker. It’s his passion.

“He’s a consummate musician,” Baker says.

“When Ed plays, he plays from the heart.

Every note when he plays, he feels it. And people feel it.”

Follow updates from Ed Archibald on Facebook at @edsmoovegroovesarchibald.

WEINER, WEINER OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // COMEDY

STORY BY GREG JERRETT // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Improv with Tracie Mauk

A LOT GOES into the making of a hot dog. Even more goes into the making of a hot dog person.

Tracie Mauk would know. She is a 35-year-old thespian and comedian (originally from Norfolk). She’s heavily involved in the Omaha comedy and acting community today, most famously as “Your Friend Bella, an Eastern European hot dog person.”

Being so involved didn’t come naturally for this reserved woman, who admits to taking a little while to warm up. “Acting was something I never explored in high school, either out of shyness or paralyzing fear,” Mauk says. “Once I gave it a shot, the bug bit hard.”

Mauk moved to Omaha in 2008 to pursue theatrical opportunities. She soon became involved with the Florentine Players and has been with them since 2009 as an actor, writer, and director. She has served as the troupe’s secretary, chair of production, and currently holds the title of vice president.

The theatrical workload keeps her busy, Mauk confides during a break in dress rehearsals for Matt Green’s Trapped at the Florence Community Theater.

Evidently, not busy enough. While her acting career began to flourish in Florence, she succumbed to the siren song of comedy.

“I started getting into improv with the Florentine Players, then became friends with Monty Eich through Capes Comics, and started regularly attending Weisenheimers shows,” Mauk says.

The Weisenheimers are an Omaha-based improv group, and she subbed at their shows for a time before meeting Andrew McGreevy. “I joined his improv troupe SkullProv and began writing comedy sketches for Skullduggery Productions,” she says.

While performing with SkullProv she began tinkering with the character who would eventually become “Your Friend Bella.”

“Bella started as a Halloween bit where I’d put on a hot dog costume, talk in a goofy accent, and provide spurious trick-or-treat safety tips. I took this bit around town to as many open mics as I could around Halloween,” Mauk says.

Eventually, Bella evolved into a character that returned regularly, hot dog costume and all. “It just never felt like Bella without it. Even though I ran out of excuses to wear it. I’ve just let it become part of the bizarre experience of having someone with a vaguely Eastern European accent give heartfelt advice with the aid of cute visuals,” she says.

Mauk has been Bella and many other non-wiener characters as part of Backline, Big Canvas (a nonprofit improv group and school that she helped form in 2014), and Omaha Live, airing at midnight after Saturday Night Live.

One bit about Mauk that audiences might now know is that she was born with cloacal exstrophy (also known as OEIS Syndrome). As a result, she has lived her entire life with an ileostomy (a surgical opening in her abdomen), though she chooses not to lead with that factoid on stage.

“I don’t bring it up often because it’s not one of your sexier birth defects or conditions, and there’s really never a natural conversational way to tell all your friends that you have to go to the bathroom different than they do,” says Mauk with whimsy about the disability she doesn’t allow to define her. “I mean, do you know how your friends process and eliminate waste from their bodies? I bet you don’t. Typical.”

A goal for Mauk has been putting out the kind of change she wants to see in the world: compassion, understanding, tolerance, and kindness. Empathy for Mauk comes from being other people (even hot dog people).

“With improv and theater, it’s just a great way to pretend to be somebody who isn’t me for a while. It’s a wonderful escape to put on someone else’s life, if just for a little bit. I hope to put a friendlier face to comedy and to show that you don’t have to be crude or mean to get laughs,” she says. “Comedy gave me a through-line to unlock so many parts of myself that have only made for a better, more confident, and open human being. It’s still terrifying to go on stage sometimes, but it gives you a lot of little battles to overcome and walk away stronger.”

Visit florencetheater.org for more information about the Florentine Players. Visit bigcanvasne.com for more information about Big Canvas.

HOTDOG DINNER JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 26 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

For video of Tracie Mauk and Big Canvas, return to the table of contents page and scan with the LayAR app.

“COMEDY GAVE ME A THROUGH-LINE TO UNLOCK SO MANY PARTS OF MYSELF THAT HAVE ONLY MADE FOR A BETTER, MORE CONFIDENT, AND OPEN HUMAN BEING. IT’S STILL TERRIFYING TO GO ON STAGE SOMETIMES, BUT IT GIVES YOU A LOT OF LITTLE BATTLES TO OVERCOME AND WALK AWAY STRONGER.” - TRACIE MAUK

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 27 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // CINEMA STORY BY LEO ADAM BIGA // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN AND SCULPTURE BY DEREK JOY

Alexander y a ne’ s PHomecoming

Downsizing Director Returns to the Big O

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 28 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 29 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // CINEMA

ALEXANDER PAYNE’S NEW tragicomedy

Downsizing imagines the fate of an overpopulated world hanging in the balance due to depleted natural resources. When scientists find a way to miniaturize humans, adventurous souls choose going small as an act of conservation or exploitation. Matt Damon plays Paul, an average Omaha man whose pioneering micro-me experiences range from surreal to sublime.

The Omaha native’s big-budget sci-fi satire premiered in December at the newly reopened Dundee Theater, where Payne practically grew up. His debut feature Citizen Ruth also played there.

Now that this prodigal local son and worldclass filmmaker is 56, remarried, and a papa— daughter Despina Evangeline Payne was born in Greece last fall—he’s downsizing from hurly-burly L.A. to his laid-back hometown with wife Maria and baby in tow.

Putting down roots is important to Payne. His mother Peggy, extended family, and close friends live here.

“I love Omaha and have been looking for a chance to be there full time,” says Payne, speaking from Greece before his relocation. “I miss Omaha very much when not there, and having quiet time in town with the new kid feels like the right move…and I hope to find some other trouble to get into.”

The active Film Streams board member brings Hollywood to Omaha. Making this his main residence only further enriches the local cinema culture.

“He and I have always fantasized about programs we can plan, people we can bring to town, and ways he can be even more involved with what we bring to Omaha when he has a chance to spend more time here,” says Rachel Jacobson, Film Streams’ founder and director.

Payne is no stranger to making movies in his “backyard.” His latest, Downsizing, shot three days here—a fraction of the time he spent on his first three locally filmed features.

“Of course, I wish I’d shot all of the scenes pertaining to Omaha in Omaha, but it just wasn’t possible,” he says. “What I really missed about shooting in Omaha was the extras.”

On Toronto soundstages, he recreated a Creighton Prep class reunion and a farewell party at Jam’s Old Market.

was tricky to pinpoint the final movie in the editing room. It’s a film I had to get out of my system—Jim and I believed in it for all these years, believed in its wacky but very interesting idea, and we finally got it made.”

Payne and longtime casting director John Jackson of Council Bluffs assembled an impressive international acting ensemble. As Paul, superstar Damon (the Bourne franchise lynchpin who recently starred in the Coen Brothers’ 2017 film Suburbicon) takes us on a wild, downsized journey.

“It was a drag having to train Torontonians to “He’s a wonderful actor,” Payne says of his behave like Omahans. Once, when I caught two leading man. gals pretending they hadn’t seen each other in years kissing on both cheeks, I about had a heart Of Kristen Wiig, Paul’s spacey life partner, (who attack,” Payne says, adding that he was glad to previously starred alongside Damon in Ridley have captured some key local scenes in the film.

Scott’s 2015 film The Martian) Payne says: “One of the great locations I was “Lovely woman, super-funny, able to shoot in Omaha—comable to be either subtle or overt plete with the people who actuwith the same level of commitally work there—was Omaha “I can’t help ment and humor.”

Steaks,” he says. but feel I’m On two-time Academy Award The well-traveled and socially still barely winner Christoph Waltz (the conscious auteur has made Nazi antagonist in Quentin his most issues-oriented film learning Tarantino’s 2009 film Inglourious of international scope at this how to make Basterds), Paul’s amoral guide in mature career point, though he the new world, Payne says: “A a film, and doesn’t concede to middle age. very smart, very funny, very committed actor. We disagreed now that “I don’t feel as though I’m at a couple of times, but something the midpoint of life; I still feel I’m a father, very good came out of it.” as though I’m at the beginning,” he says. “I can’t help but well, that’s a Newcomer Hong Chau (who feel I’m still barely learning how new sense of starred in P. T. Anderson’s 2014 to make a film, and now that film Inherent Vice) plays an activI’m a father, well, that’s a new beginning.” ist who gets under Paul’s skin. sense of beginning. My friends Payne echoes what others say all have grown children. My best about her breakthrough, Oscar friend from college is a grandfabuzz-worthy work. ther twice over, and me, I’m just now wading into these waters for the first time.”

“A star is born,” he says. “I often get asked why my movies ‘always’ seem to be about adrift, He can taste the irony of his words: “I remember middle-aged white males. But in fact, I’ve had seeing [Akira] Kurosawa speak in 1986 in L.A. the most fun, midwifing, terrific performances to promote Ran. He said, ‘I’ve made 30 feature by females: Laura Dern [Citizen Ruth, 1996], films, I’m almost 80 years old, and yet I feel Reese Witherspoon [Election, 1999], Kathy as though I have less of an idea now of what a Bates [About Schmidt, 2002], June Squibb movie is than when I was younger.’ I thought [Nebraska, 2013] and Shailene Woodley [The he was just trying to play Mr. Humble. Now Descendants, 2011]. I’d say Hong Chau really his words are haunting. I think my gravestone takes the cake.” will read, ‘I was just getting started.’”

“It was the right role finding the right actor Downsizing pushed Payne to the limit with at the right time,” Payne says, “and she all but its complex storyline, epic scale, and special steals the whole damned movie. Matt Damon effects. It took a decade getting made from calls her a ‘thoroughbred.’” when he and co-writer Jim Taylor completed the script’s first draft. Once shot, fixing on a Chau confirms what others note about Payne. final cut proved elusive.

“I have so many feelings for Alexander,” she says.

“I’m just glad it’s over and I can get on to “He’s an amazing person, an amazing director. something new,” he says. “It was a very long It’s really been a joy getting to work with him process. The script took a long time to corral, and also getting to know him as a person. It’s finding financing was nearly impossible, and the first time I’ve worked on something where the movie fell apart three times before finally I feel like he’s going to be my friend for life.” jelling. Production was long and costly, and it JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 30 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

His “gentle” directing style suited her.

“I don’t feel the heavy hand of directing,” Chau says. “All of the redirections are tweaks—a very small degree or two on the dial where to turn an emotion or a word in a sentence. A lot of his writing is filled with comedy, so there’s some precision needed in order for the humor to land the way it’s supposed to.”

Payne invited her to observe the editing process. She marveled at what he cut to make the film leaner.

“It really showed how disciplined he is to telling the story and keeping it sharp in terms of what the audience should be receiving,” Chau says.

“It’s why Alexander has become one of the great American masters.”

Leading up to its debut in Omaha, the film generated strong word-of-mouth from trailers and festival screenings. It opened to uniformly warm praise at the Venice Film Festival, where Payne, in attendance for the first time, was joined by Damon, Chau, Wiig, and new Paramount head Jim Gianopulos.

After the high of Venice, Downsizing receiving mixed reviews at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado and the Toronto International Film Festival.

“Some people really dig it. Others think it maybe bites off more than it can chew,” Payne says.

“Sure, maybe the screenplay is a little greedy, but what the hell? The movie was designed as episodic—a sort of road trip through the world right now. We think that’s what makes it fun.”

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“I kept hearing the same thing all directors always hear from studio executives: ‘Make it shorter,’” he says.

The studio is bullish on Downsizing’s potential.

“It’s Paramount’s big Christmas release,” he says, “and they see the movie plays great with audiences—lots of laughs. They’re expecting it to do well commercially, and I pray to God they’re right.”

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With seven completed features under his belt, Payne is eager as ever to make movies. For the time being, this family man is content to wait for inspiration before jumping into the fray again.

“I wish I were making a movie all the time,” he says. “But I also want to speak only when I have something to say.””

Leo Adam Biga is the author of Alexander Payne: His Journey in Film. Learn more at leoadambiga.com.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | A+C // LITERATURE STORY BY GREG JERRETT // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

BENEATH THE SURFACE

THE BIBLICAL WISE MAN KING SOLOMON

once wrote that there is nothing new under the sun, and in 930 B.C., that bit of common wisdom might have been true. Several hundreds of years later, a great teacher—some say a prophet—was born into a technological society wherein “half the things a man knows at 20 are no longer true at 40—and half the things he knows at 40 hadn’t been discovered when he was 20.”

That prophet was Arthur C. Clarke, who wrote nearly 100 books, most notably 2001: A Space Odyssey. Clarke described, with breathtaking precision, humanity’s relationship to technology. And he’s never been alone. Asimov, Butler, Dick, Bradbury, Wells, Verne, Shelley, and now, Omaha’s Matt Hebert. They prognosticate so we don’t have to.

Hebert showcases his prognosticating skills in his two self-published sci-fi novels, Beneath the Surface and its sequel Breaking the Surface.

The 30-year-old author was born in California. A self-described Air Force brat, Hebert and family moved to Bellevue in 1994 and stuck around. He graduated from Bellevue West High School and now works as an architectural engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers.

Hebert says he was inspired to write largely due to his propensity to daydream and an inability to pay attention in class. “I’ve struggled with ADHD since I was a kid, but was not officially diagnosed until I was 19,” Hebert says. “It doesn’t affect my writing as much as it makes school, work, and other ‘normal’ societal structures challenging and confusing to navigate at times. But I can write anywhere as long as the TV isn’t on.”

The charismatic author says he’s always felt the drive to make his own worlds. “I am compelled to create,” he says. “It’s satisfying to get the creative energy out of my head and heart, but mostly it’s just a natural compulsion.”

Hebert says that when he receives a vision, he just can’t rest until it’s written down.

“I have a difficult time feeling at ease until I have scratched that itch,” Hebert says. “That was important to my first book, Beneath the Surface, because that’s where it started. I was not a very focused student and had daydreamed one day about the windows around the top of the commons being underwater.

Fish and dolphins and the sort would swim past. So then I began justifying that reality with the back of the school being an airlock, the bus being a submarine.”

matt hebert’s dystopian, sci-fi future

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 34 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Eventually, the world of Surface began to take shape. The trilogy—a third installment is scheduled for February release at the 2018 Planet Comicon Kansas City— explores a future dystopian world where the government headquarters house the privileged portion of the world’s population in an underwater arcology (a self-contained structure and ecosystem) with all the benefits of a consumer-based economy. Revolt becomes inevitable.

“Surface is set in 2084 and follows Sembado, a young man discovering that the government of his sub-aquatic facility is not as benevolent as he thought,” Hebert explains.

“Sembado’s vapid, consumer lifestyle is turned completely on its head.”

Hebert says the books are great for young adults or anyone who enjoys the post-apocalyptic, dystopian craze. “I would love to see my books become movies,” he says. “To that end, I do plan on working on a screenplay at some point.”

To paraphrase another great science fiction auteur, Edward D. Wood Jr., we’re all interested in the future because that is ultimately where we will spend the rest of our lives trying to navigate the unforeseeable. Visionaries like Matt Hebert give us a road map to the as yet unknowable.

Matt Hebert’s Surface books are available on Amazon. Visit the author’s Facebook page @surfaceseries for more information.

OMAHA MAGAZINE | PROFILE STORY BY RYAN BORCHERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

K ate Dussault’s Vision JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 36 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

for the Hi-Fi House JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 37 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

For video of Hi-Fi House, return to the table of contents page and scan with the LayAR app.

During the day, the Hi-Fi House is a musicology lab, hosting events for children and high school students, providing services like music therapy to the elderly and other programs.

Dussault says that the daytime mission of the space is also to help grow and improve Omaha’s music community.

For instance, the house hosts the “Curly Martin Jazz Lab.” “Curly Martin came to us and said there was no place in Omaha for a guy like him to play,” Dussault says.

Martin is from Omaha and an acclaimed drummer who, along with son Terrace, was nominated for the 2017 Grammy for Best R&B Album. His jazz lab is an ongoing project designed to introduce people to multiple forms of jazz and to teach them about the prolific history of jazz in Omaha.

But the idea for the Hi-Fi House came about when Dussault, who was living in Los Angeles at the time, learned that the famous Capitol Records Building in Los Angeles was being converted into condominiums. The city landmark is a round building that resembles a stack of music records. Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, and the Beach Boys are among the many famous artists who have recorded music in its famous echo chambers.

WHEN YO U TALK WITH K ATE DUSSAULT, IT’S OBVIOUS HOW IMPORTANT MUSIC IS TO HER. “I can’t imagine a life without music,” Dussault says. “It’s where I learned a lot. It’s the focus of so many memories.

It invades every part of every one of my senses. You can’t eat music, but if you could, I would.”

Her musical passion isn’t merely a personal preoccupation. Dussault wants to share her passion with others and help grow the Omaha music community. That passion is what led her to found the Hi-Fi House.

Dussault, who was raised in Omaha and attended the University of NebraskaLincoln, grew up in a music-loving family. Her father worked in radio and frequently brought records home, and she and each of her six siblings owned a turntable. She then spent a great deal of her career working in music. She worked in radio—for studios on both coasts—and for venture capitalist firms, performing due diligence whenever they sought to acquire the rights to music and evaluating marketing plans and budgets.

“It was always to me the most iconic music building in America,” Dussault says. “And the fact that they were turning it into condos was just heartbreaking, and I thought that building should be something else.”

As Dussault sat in front of the Capitol Records Building for around four hours, she began to develop a new idea for the building, one where each floor was devoted to a specific type of music. Instead of apartments around the edges of the building, there would be “listening rooms” where people could listen to the music together.

You can see that idea at work in the Hi-Fi House, “a social listening room” located at 38th and Farnam streets in the building that used to house Joseph’s College of Barbering.

From the outside, you may think it appears abandoned, but inside is what looks like a giant, carpeted living room with rings of couches and armchairs. Listeners can listen to everything from digital music to cassette tapes. Pictures of famous musicians hang on the walls, and the building hosts a massive collection of vinyl records.

“I think this place’s mission is a very unique one,” says Jon Ochsner, an employee at the Hi-Fi House who catalogues records and helps host shows and programs. “To me, it’s a dream. It’s like a dream come true that I never knew I had.”

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 38 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

At night, the venue is a private club that occasionally hosts live shows and album release parties. Dussault says it has also become a popular stop for bands coming through Omaha who just want to unwind before shows.

True to her mission of being an asset to the music scene, as well as a place that is welcome to people of creative and artistic bents, Dussault says it was important to provide something new. The Hi-Fi House isn’t a library or a record store or a coffee shop precisely because Dussault wanted it to be fresh.

“I think the hardest thing in developing a new business is finding out how you can live in a community and not cannibalize what’s already there,” Dussault says. “It’s easy to do what everybody else did and do it a little better, or invest a little bit more money in it, but to me that’s not helping. We want to support the venues in town, not compete with the venues in town.”

Dussault and Ochsner both say they’d like to see Hi-Fi Houses in other cities.

“The last 20 years we had this sort of personal revolution in music,” Ochsner says.

“It was my iPod with my music, my headphones, my playlist. I think the mission of bringing people a social listening experience, bringing that back to people…I just think it’s very necessary.”

Dussault says it’s a challenge to not be seen as “elitist,” or to give the impression that people who don’t know a lot about music aren’t welcome.

“We built this place so that it was comfortable for people from age 5 to 99,” she says. “We believe in sharing music with everybody.”

Visit hifi.house for more information.

OMAHA MAGAZINE | PROFILE

“YOU CAN’T EAT MUSIC, BUT IF YOU COULD, I WOULD.” -KATE DUSSAULT

The State of Volleyball how nebraska became the epicenter of american volleyball

OMAHA MAGAZINE | SPORTS STORY BY LEO ADAM BIGA // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN & KEITH BINDER // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

ABOVE: Former Husker and professional player Gina Mancuso (a Papillion-La Vista grad), now volunteering as an assistant coach with UNO Mavericks FACING PAGE, FROM LEFT: Skutt freshman and future Husker Lindsay Krause, current Creighton standout Brittany Witt (a Marian grad) JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 41 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | SPORTS

for generations, football gave nebraska a statewide identity. But with Husker gridiron for-

tunes flagging, volleyball is the new signature sport with booming participation and success.

Here and nationally, more girls now play volleyball than basketball (according to the National Federation of State High School Associations).

“It’s the main or premier sport for women right now,” Doane University coach Gwen Egbert says.

Omaha has become a volleyball showcase. The city hosted NCAA Division I Finals in 2006, 2008, and 2015, with the Cornhuskers competing on all three occasions (winning the national title in 2006 and 2015).

Packed crowds at the CenturyLink Center will once again welcome the nation’s top teams when Omaha hosts the championships in 2020. Meanwhile, Creighton University is emerging as another major volleyball powerhouse, and the University of NebraskaOmaha has made strides in the Mavericks’ first two years of full Division I eligibility since joining the Summit Conference.

“I think the amount of kids that play in Nebraska is No. 1, per capita, in the country. I think the level of play is far higher than many states in the country,” says Omaha Skutt Catholic coach Renee Saunders, whose star freshman, 6-foot-3 Lindsay Krause, is a UNL verbal commit.

Volleyball’s attraction starts with plentiful scholarships, top-flight coaching, TV coverage, and professional playing opportunities.

Few states match the fan support found here.

“We have probably the most educated fans in the nation,” Saunders says. “They’re a great fan base. They know how to support their teams, and they’re very embracing of volleyball in general.”

The lack of physical contact appeals to some girls. The frequent team huddles after rallies draw others.

Omaha Northwest High School coach Shannon Walker says “the camaraderie” is huge. You really have to work together as a unit, communicate, and be six people moving within a tiny space.”

Pettit products like Gwen Egbert have carried those winning ways to coaching successful club and high school programs and working area camps. Egbert built a dynasty at Papillion-LaVista South before going to Doane. Several Papio South players have excelled as Huskers (the Rolzen twins, Kelly Hunter, etc.).

Their paths inspired future Husker Lindsay Krause.

“Seeing the success is a big motivation to want to play,” Krause says. “Just watching all the success everyone has in this state makes you feel like it’s all the more possible for you to be able to do that.”

Many top former players go on to coach here, and most remain even after they achieve great success.

Walker says quality coaches don’t leave because “it’s the hotbed of volleyball—they’re staying here and growing home talent now.”

“It’s us colleges that reap the benefits,” Bernthal Booth says.

Pet tit says it’s a mat ter of “success breeds success.”

Omaha has become A VOLLEYBALL SHOWCASE. THE CITY HOSTED NCAA DIVISION I FINALS IN 2006, 2008, AND 2015, WITH THE CORNHUSKERS COMPETING ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS (WINNING THE NATIONAL TITLE IN 2006 AND 2015).

Schonewise agrees, saying, “Once you see success, others want to try it and do it and more programs become successful.”

In the 2017 NCAA tournament, Creighton advanced to the second round (but fell to Michigan State). As this edition of Omaha Magazine went to press, the Cornhuskers headed to regionals in hopeful pursuit of a fifth national championship.

Wayne State, Kearney, Hastings, and Bellevue all boast top small college programs. In 2017, Doane was the first Nebraska National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics program to record 1,000 wins.

“The fact Nebraska has done and drawn so well, and that kids are seeing the sport at a high level at a young age, gets people excited to play,” says Husker legend Karen Dahlgren Schonewise, who coaches for Nebraska Elite club volleyball and Duchesne Academy in Omaha.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln first reached a national title game with Schonewise in 1986. The dominant defensive player set Nebraska’s career record for solo blocks (132)—a record that still stands—before going on to play professionally. (The Cornhuskers didn’t win the national championship until 1995.)

Volleyball’s hold is rural and urban in a state that has produced All-Americans, national champions, and Olympians.

The Husker program has been elite since the 1980s. Its architect, former UNL coach Terry Pettit, planted the seeds that grew this secondto-none volleyball culture.

“He really spearheaded a grassroots effort to build the sport,” says Creighton coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth. “Besides winning, he also worked diligently to train our high school coaches.”

“It’s important to realize this goes back many years,” former Husker (2009-2012) Gina Mancuso says, “and I think a lot of credit goes to Terry Pettit. He created such an awesome program with high standards and expectations.”

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 42 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

“The standard is high and people want to be at that high level. They don’t want to be mediocre,” UNO coach Rose Shires says.

“We’ve got great Division I, Division II, NAIA, and junior college volleyball programs,” says Bernthal Booth, who took the Creighton job in part due to the area’s rich talent base. She feels CU’s breakout success coincided with the 2008 opening of D.J. Sokol Arena, which she considers among the nation’s best volleyball facilities.

“All these colleges in Nebraska are in the top 25 in their respective divisions,” Saunders says. “It’s crazy how high the level of play has gone, and I think it’s going to keep going that way.”

Skutt freshman and future Husker Lindsay Krause demonstrates techniques for impressionable onlookers.

Skutt won the 2017 Class B state championship.

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“It’s really built a great fan base of support,” Mancuso says, “and I think the reason the state produces a lot of great volleyball players is the fact we have great high school coaches, great college programs, and great club programs.”

Club programs are talent pipelines. There are far more today than even a decade ago. Their explosion has meant youth getting involved at younger ages and training/playing yearround. Nebraska Elite is building a new facility to accommodate all the action.

“The athleticism found in the state has always been pretty high, but the level of play has definitely improved. The kids playing today are more skilled. The game is faster,” Egbert says.

“When I started out, you’d maybe have one or two really good players, and now you could have a whole team of really good players.”

“You have your pick of dozens of clubs, and a lot of those clubs compete at the USA national qualifiers and get their players that exposure,” says Shannon Walker, the Northwest High School coach who is also the director of the Omaha Starlings volleyball club.

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“Volleyball is such a joy to be a part of in this state,” Mancuso says.

“It’s cool to be a part of everything going on in Nebraska and watching it grow and develop,” Skutt freshman phenom Krause says.

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“My goal is to make Lindsay ready to play top-level Division I volleyball by the time she graduates here,” Saunders says. “She already has the physicality, the competitive edge, the smarts. Now it’s just getting her to play to her full potential, which she hasn’t had to yet because she’s always been bigger than everybody. She’s definitely not shy of challenges.

I feel like every time I give her a challenge, she steps up and delivers.”

Krause values that Saunders “gives great feedback on things I have to fix.”

Native Nebraskans dot the rosters of in-state and out-of-state programs. Along with Krause, Elkhorn South freshman Rylee Gray—who holds scholarship offers from Nebraska and Creighton—may emerge as another next big name from the Omaha metro. But they are both still a few years from the collegiate level.

UNO’s Shires says “impassioned” coaches like Saunders are why volleyball is rooted and embraced here. Shires came to Omaha from Texas to join the dominant program Janice Kruger built for the Mavericks at the Division II level. Kruger, now head coach at the University of Maryland, was previously captain of the Cornhuskers’ team (1977).

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JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 44 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Further enhancing the volleyball culture, Shires says, is having former Olympian Jordan Larson and current pro Gina Mancuso come back and work with local players. Mancuso’s pro career has taken her around the world.

She wants the players she works with at UNO, where she’s an assistant, to “see where it can take them.”

As volleyball has taken off, it’s grown more diverse. Most clubs are suburban-based and priced beyond the means of many inner-city families. The Omaha Starlings provide an alternative option. “Our fees are significantly lower than everybody else’s,” says Walker, the club’s director and Northwestern’s coach. “Anybody that can’t afford to pay, we scholarship.”

Broadening volleyball’s reach, she says, “is so necessary. As a result, we do have a pretty diverse group of kids. I’ve had so many really talented athletes and great kids who would have never been able to afford other clubs.

We’re trying to even the scale and offer that same experience to kids who have the interest and the ability but just can’t afford it.”

“It’s very exciting to see diversity in the sport—it’s been a long time coming,” Schonewise says.

for 14 years

Forty-five Starlings have earned scholarships, some to historically black colleges and universities. Star grad Samara West (Omaha North) ended up at Iowa State.

Starlings have figured prominently in Omaha Northwest’s rise from also-ran to contender.

Eight of nine varsity players in 2017 played for the club.

Walker knew volleyball had big potential, yet it’s exceeded her expectations. She says while competition is fierce among Nebraska coaches and players, they share a love that finds them, when not competing against each other, cheering on their fellows in this ever-growing volleyball family/community.

“It’s awesome,” Walker says. “But I don’t think we’ve come anywhere close to reaching our peak yet.””

Visit gocreighton.com, omavs.com, and huskers.com for more information about Nebraska’s Division I volleyball programs.

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JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 45 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

c h a s i n g t h e a u r o r a b o r e a l i s

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omaha magazine | adventure

story and photography by derek burdeny // written by Sydney Sheldrick based on an interview by Doug Meigs

design by matt wieczorek

A Canadian Photographer’s Journey from Nebraska to Norway

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 47 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS were a common

sight during my childhood in Winnipeg, Canada. Sort of like the red Cornhusker flags so common across Nebraska, you stop noticing the display after a while.

When I drive back to Winnipeg, however, they are like a homing beacon that greet me over the interstate through the Dakotas. It’s like I’m following the twisting celestial lights back home.

I’ve always said that Nebraska is the farthest south I could ever live without melting. It took moving here to reawaken my wonder and appreciation for the aurora borealis, the ribbons of green and red that danced across the northern night sky.

Winnipeg is near the center of the aurora belt, and I’ve become a bit of a tourist when I return home. While visiting friends from high school on a recent winter trip, they picked me up at the airport for dinner.

But I couldn’t get in the car. I was frozen, transfixed by the night sky.

Working as a musculoskeletal radiologist in Omaha for 21 years, I’ve led a life dedicated to photos. In my occupation, I work with the black and white images of MRIs. In my free time, I chase storms and the northern lights with a camera in hand.

My obsession with photographic adventure-seeking began about 10 years ago.

Since then, I’ve traveled the Arctic— Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Finland, and Norway—to shoot auroras. There are many countries where the astronomical phenomenon is visible. But it is Norway that keeps pulling me back year after year.

Auroras are caused by plasma energy streaming into the atmosphere and striking nitrogen and oxygen particles while interacting with the Earth’s magnetic field. This plasma energy gets to Earth as solar winds that blow off of the sun after a coronal mass ejection (which often follows a sunspot eruption or solar f lare).

The stronger the solar storm, the farther south the aurora is visible on Earth.

Charged particles blowing off the sun will take two days to reach Earth. As they get closer, they are attracted by our magnetic field and pulled into holes in the atmosphere. Color variation occurs when solar winds collide with atoms in the Earth’s atmosphere, mainly oxygen and nitrogen.

The most common color we see is green— caused by atomic oxygen—while reaction with nitrogen produces reds and blues in the northern lights.

From time to time—coinciding with especially large solar storms—the northern lights reach all the way down to Nebraska.

But on those rare occasions, the display is fairly low on the horizon. Cornhusker territory is about as far south as the northern lights will appear, and I’ve never personally witnessed auroras in Nebraska.

“Oh, look! There’s the aurora,” I gawked as we stood in the subzero temperatures.

My friend’s response? “Oh, nice. Let’s get in the car.” But the display was just getting started. “Corona!” I exclaimed. (A corona occurs when the colors just burst over top of you, like beams of light showering to the ground.) My friend didn’t share my enthusiasm: “Oh, yeah. Nice. Let’s get in the car.” To him, it was like just another red f lag with an “N” in Nebraska.

The f lat and tree-covered expanses of central Canada are rich in northern lights.

But there isn’t much else of interest when composing a photograph. When I’m in photography mode, I want more than just the spectacular light display available in any other Arctic locale. That’s what draws me to Norway—a high likelihood of seeing auroras combined with breathtaking scenery, snow, mountains, icy seas, and fjords.

Unlike my storm chasing hobby, shooting the northern lights is much more sedentary. Dress warm. Set up the camera. Hope that bad weather doesn’t move in. Wait.

Behold the lights. Snap. And if the weather doesn’t cooperate, stay in the hotel restaurant enjoying the delicious fish served in Norwegian cuisine.

Although there is a huge northern light tourism industry in Arctic countries, I avoid these crowds for a more personal experience. On my first trip to Norway (with a friend and his son), my companions were sure that we needed to go with a tour group for at least one day. “Not so,” I told them. I just needed a map. They didn’t believe me until I proved it.

We f lew into the city of Tromsø, Norway (above the Arctic Circle). I found the small village of Sommarøy on a map. We loaded our equipment into a rental car, and we drove out. On the map, the settlements are only 35 miles apart, but because of the mountain roads, the trip requires about an hour driving from Tromsø.

Both Tromsø and Sommarøy are dead-center in the aurora belt, the f luctuating strip of geographical space where auroras are visible. The closer you are to the center of this belt, the stronger the auroras are. No matter how weak the aurora is, as long as you have clear skies, you will be able to see and photograph the lights. For truly amazing photos, all we needed was a strong solar storm and clear skies. Both of these conditions were predicted for our first day in Norway. Sure enough, just outside the village, we witnessed an amazing aurora.

Ever since that first Norwegian trip, I go back to Sommarøy every year. In fact, I have two trips to Tromsø planned in 2018.

On one of these trips, I hope to do some exploring to identify another beautiful spot like Sommarøy.

There is a science and method behind my trips. I plan many of them around February or March to guarantee enough daylight to prepare and scout (with hopes that there will be snow on the ground for my photo composition). As a general rule, the fall and spring equinoxes are optimal times for watching the northern lights.

But a solar storm can occur at any time.

Although March is an equinox month, there is still incredible solar activity in February (and snow on the ground). I have gone in November before, but the days were much too short to explore new beaches and compositions. I always make sure I am there for two weeks, that way I’m almost guaranteed to see an aurora, around the times they are most common.

Previous page: A Tromsø bridge and Tromsøysund Church (aka the “Cathedral of the Arctic Sea”) under the aurora borealis in 2016 JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 48 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

omaha magazine | adventure

By making flight and car rental arrangements several months in advance, I make sure that my travel logistics are ready when I land overseas. I also check multiple websites for weather and solar activity updates in the areas before and during my travel. Solar eruptions—which cause the solar wind and storms that produce auroras—take about two days to reach the Earth, so keeping up to date on this activity during your trip could help you to witness some spectacular solar storms.

The longer you spend the better your chance to capture that epic image. Over the course of my two-week-long trips, I’ll usually come home with what I feel are two or three excellent shots.

But it’s hard to anticipate sometimes. One night in Tromsø, when we were snowed in, we met an Australian pilot who had been coming there with his wife for six weeks total. But he was coming for only a week at a time, and he still hadn’t seen the northern lights. We showed him some pictures from our cameras, and he was just shaking his head.

Sunrise over the Lofoten Islands (Reine, Norway)

Grotfjord, Norway (2016)

In addition to making the time investment, it helps to always have a camera ready.

I remember driving through the mountains of Norway, when all of a sudden, a beautiful aurora spread across the sky. I slammed on the brakes and pulled to the side of the road. You never know how long the display will last. I grabbed my camera, set up my tripod, and got a couple beautiful photos.

If I had to dig gear from my bags, I would have missed the window of opportunity.

For the exposure of my northern light photos, I set my camera’s ISO to 8,000 with an aperture of 2.8 and a shutter speed of 10-30 seconds. Any longer than 30 seconds will produce star trails in the sky. Even a really boring aurora will appear as a darker green at 30 seconds, but if the aurora is active with spikes and movement, the lights will smear into a big blob. For this reason, my default shutter speed is 10 seconds, and I’ll use a shutter speed of 1-to-4 seconds when the lights are really dancing.

Sometimes, the images will surprise you long after the trip is over. Some of my favorite images were shots that I thought might have been duds until I sat down at the computer to review. And it’s another opportunity to relive the adventure.

For some of the online resources used by the author to plan his Norwegian photo trips, visit the University of AlaskaFairbanks Geophysical Institute’s aurora borealis forecasting site (gi.alaska.edu/ auroraforecast), a solar storm and f lare monitoring site (spaceweather.com), and a European site featuring a solar wind gauge for chasing the northern lights in Europe (aurora-service.eu). View the author’s photography at derekburdenyphotography. com. The author himself is pictured below.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 50 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

omaha magazine | adventure

An average aurora on a clear night in Asheim, Norway

OMAHA MAGAZINE | GEN O STORY BY

BY JAMES JAMES VNUK VNUK // // PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY BY

BY BILL BILL SITZMANN SITZMANN // // DESIGN DESIGN BY

BY MATT MATT WIECZOREK WIECZOREK STORY

Tinker, Maker, Robots Guy on

RUBIK’S CU BES

nate hutchison

AND high

school

NATE HUTCHISON, 16, dumps his Rubik’s

cube collection onto the dining room table.

The stash boasts an entire spectrum of not just colors, but shapes and varieties, too: puzzles composed of interlocking triangles, diamonds, crosses, but also dimensions one wouldn’t expect from a “cube,” like snaking ropes, prisms, and even non-Euclidean brain-benders.

Nate got interested in solving and collecting puzzle cubes in elementary school, and he started getting serious about the hobby in middle school. His mother, Heather, was an employee at Fat Brain Toys (an Omaha-based maker of educational toys and games), and Nate was frequently tapped to test their new products.

“I seek out the most interesting ones,” he says, “like the ones that aren’t 3-by-3 cubes,” or cubes that require more steps to solve. It’s a small glimpse into a hobbyist world dominated by human calculators, and though Nate doesn’t participate in Rubix’s cube-solving competitions (yes, such contests do exist), his ability to solve the puzzles is still very impressive, taking a few minutes on average.

His foray into puzzle cubes opened the way for greater ambitions: the world of robotics. Heather proudly shows off a YouTube video of a mechanical arm, which Nate built to solve a cube puzzle. “The arm works by sensing the color in front of it, and calculates what move to make next,” Nate explains as it plays.

The exercise launched Nate into pursuing robotics “full time.” He joined the national Zero Robotics tournament with a team of classmates at Millard West. The competition hosts students from around the world, challenging them to program small robots on the International Space Station.

His engineering club has also boasted some other novel accomplishments, such as building a cannon to shoot t-shirts.

“The school has two engineering pathways, and I’m seeking a ‘distinguished’ diploma with emphases in mechanical and digital engineering,” says Nate, who hopes to enter the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after graduation.

For sure, Nate’s family has been incredibly supportive of his ambitions and interests. His mother is now a special education para in their school district, and his father, Wendell, has a career in software development.

“As parents, we’ve tried to foster his interests as much as we can,” they say, and the echoes of science and technology can be felt through every corner of the Hutchison household, brimming with robotic figurines and images, as well as scientific kits, sets, and games. “The biggest challenge as parents,” Wendell says, “is to discover the possibilities, and then expose them.”

Nate’s interests are far from single-minded, though; his love of engineering is complemented by a love of music. He plays bass clarinet and lettered in band and orchestra.

“I like metal and electronic music,” he quips (as Wendell makes a rock ’n’ roll devil’s horns gesture in solidarity).

It’s clear Nate has an exciting future in front of him; yet in the here and now, he’s a relatable teenager. His latest goal?

“Learning to play guitar.”

Visit fatbraintoys.com and zerorobotics.mit.edu for more information about Nate’s Rubix’s cube supplier and the national robotics competition.

HIS FORAY INTO PUZZLE CUBES OPENED THE WAY FOR GREATER AMBITIONS: THE WORLD OF ROBOTICS. HE EVEN BUILT A MECHANICAL ARM TO SOLVE A CUBE PUZZLE.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 52 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Nate Hutchison

Dr. Vishal Jani

OMAHA MAGAZINE | HEALTH STORY BY ANTHONY FLOTT // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

FAITH,

MIRACLES,

and NEW

HOPE

for Stroke Patients For most of human history, suffering a stroke has been a death sentence.

It’s the No. 5 cause of death in the United States (according to the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association) killing nearly 130,000 people a year—one in every 20 deaths.

So excuse Dr. Vishal Jani if he speaks with what some might consider hyperbole when explaining the newest treatment of the dreaded disease.

It’s administered through an IV in the arm, but typically must be done so within three hours of the first symptoms. It has only a 30 percent success rate.

“I call it a miracle,” Jani says. “I call it beyond belief if it is done in time. It is…the restoration of life.”

Now comes revolutionary stroke treatment—and hope—with a new procedure for ischemic strokes called mechanical thrombectomy. A nd Jani, an interventional neurologist at CHI Health’s Neurological Institute at Immanuel Medical Center, is the first neurologist in the state to perform the procedure. He does so by threading a catheter through an artery in the patient’s groin to the blocked artery in the brain. A stent retriever at the end of the catheter attaches to—then removes—the trapped clot, resuming blood f low to the brain.

If strokes don’t kill, they debilitate, rendering two-thirds of survivors paralyzed, unable to speak, or otherwise disabled. Most strokes—87 percent—are classified as ischemic, occurring when a clot or mass blocks a blood vessel. Blood and oxygen are cut off to the brain, killing its cells. Hemorrhagic strokes happen when a blood vessel ruptures and prevents blood flow to the brain.

Jani was around 3 when his grandmother suffered a stroke. There was nothing his father, also a surgeon, could do to help her.

“The struggle that comes along with this disease, not just to the patient, but to the family, is mind-boggling,” he says.

Until 1996, most advances against the disease focused on prevention. That year, though, the Food and Drug Administration approved tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), a clot-busting drug that treats ischemic strokes.

Average time to perform this life-saving procedure? Nineteen minutes.

“It is mind-boggling,” Jani says. “It is amazing.”

By the start of November, Jani and his partner had performed the procedure almost 30 times.

“And a lot of those patients have gone home with minimal or no problems,” he says.

That includes an 89-year-old, still-working farmer hospitalized for other conditions when he suffered a stroke that left him unable to speak and weak on his left side. Given the farmer’s age, his family figured the stroke signaled the end of his life. Jani convinced them to let him try the procedure. The farmer regained his speech immediately and was back to his routine 10 days later.

Jani likens it to unclogging a pipe.

Another patient, 31 and the father of a newborn, went home the day after Jani performed the thrombectomy. Though he was back in the hospital seven days later with another stroke, he returned to his newborn once more after a second thrombectomy.

“We basically are no different than glorified plumbers,” he says with a laugh.

Another save—and another reminder of why he entered this field.

The procedure has an 80-90 percent success rate. And early guidelines give a larger window than tPA for when treatment can occur—within six hours of the onset of symptoms. Jani cites a forthcoming study that will recommend the procedure even up to 24 hours after symptoms begin.

“I went in this field of training with just a leap of faith that I wanted to help these people,” he says.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 55 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

His faith is bringing forth miracles.

Visit chihealth.com/neurosciences-care for more information about the CHI Health Neurological Institute.

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T 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@ 2017-2018 database, which includes close to 40,000 U.S. doctors in more than 40 medical specialties and 450 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 Website.

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Best Doctors’ innovative services include access to an unrivaled database of physicians who have been selected as the best in their field by other leading physicians, analytics and technology. With every service offered, the goal remains the same: to help people in need get the right diagnosis and treatment, significantly improving health outcomes while reducing costs.

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ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY

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JAINE BROWNELL

Methodist Hospital

16945 Frances St. Omaha, NE 68130 402-397-7400

LINDA FORD

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Department of Anesthesiology 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4385

The Asthma & Allergy Center

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CHI Health Clinic— Allergy & Immunology 2412 Cuming St., Ste. 103 Omaha, NE 68131 402-280-4580

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

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CHI Health Clinic— Cardiology

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Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

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Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

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CHI Health Clinic— Cardiology

Department of Anesthesiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4081

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JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 60 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

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Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

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Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

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Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

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CHI Health Clinic— Family Medicine

2412 Cuming St., Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0380

MARK D. GOODMAN

CHI Health Clinic— Family Medicine

2412 Cuming St., Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0380

DAVID HARNISCH

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

JEFFREY HARRISON

Nebraska Medicine— Bellevue Family Medicine Clinic 2510 Bellevue Medical Dr., Ste. 200 Bellevue, NE 68123 402-595-2275

WILLIAM P. FITZGIBBONS Skyline Medical Center

1908 N. 203rd St., Ste. 2 Elkhorn, NE 68022 402-289-4031

KIMBERLY JEAN JARZYNKA

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

RALPH JOHN KRAMPER Primary Care Physicians

12728 Augusta Ave. Omaha, NE 68144 402-330-1410

WILLIAM ANTHONY LOWNDES

CHI Health Clinic— Direct Primary Care 13315 W. Center Road, Ste. 100 Omaha, NE 68144 402-717-9404

MONTY S. MATHEWS

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

The area’s most convenient access to high-quality, affordable orthopaedic care is located on 144th & West Center Road!

Hours of Operation Monday-Friday 8:00AM-9:00PM Saturday 10:00AM-2:00PM Sunday 12:00PM-4:00PM

OrthoNebraska.com Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital, LLC and OrthoWest, PC are each operating under the name OrthoNebraska. For more, visit OrthoNebraska.com/legal.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 61 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

PAUL H. MEISSNER

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

DEBRA E. MOSTEK

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S. 38th Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-9600

LAETH NASIR

CHI Health Clinic Family Medicine

2412 Cuming St., Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0380

PAUL M. PAULMAN

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

MICHAEL A. SITORIUS

GASTROENTEROLOGY

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

GRANT HUTCHINS

Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates

Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

8901 Indian Hills Dr., Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7057

JOHN LLOYD SMITH

MARK E. MAILLIARD

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

DOUGLAS H. WHEATLEY

TIMOTHY M. MCCASHLAND

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

JOHN CHARLES MITCHELL II

Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates

8901 Indian Hills Dr., Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7057

SANDEEP MUKHERJEE CHI Health Clinic Gastroenterology 7710 Mercy Road, Ste. 2000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-9800

DANIEL F. SCHAFER

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

MICHAEL SCHAFER Midwest Gastrointestinal Associates

8901 Indian Hills Dr., Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7057

RENEE L. YOUNG

WILLIAM L. LYONS

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

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

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

GERIATRIC MEDICINE DONALD R. FREY

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

TIMOTHY RAYMOND MALLOY

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

2412 Cuming St., Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-0380

Family Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Third Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7200

BRENDA KELLER

JAMES V. ORTMAN

CHI Health Clinic— Family Medicine

Methodist Physicians Clinic Regency Department of Internal Medicine 10060 Regency Circle, Third Floor Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1378

Internal Medicine 7823 Wakeley Plaza Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7040

JANE F. POTTER

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Home Instead Center for Successful Aging 730 S. 38th Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-9600

CONGRATULATIONS “2017-2018 BEST DOCTORS IN AMERICA®” MEDICAL ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY

Margaret Block, M.D.

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

Henry Lynch Cancer Center-Bergan (402) 393-3110 Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center (402) 354-8124 Midwest Cancer Center Papillion (402) 593-3141

Gamini Soori, M.D.

Nebraska Cancer Specialists is honored to have these physicians on their staff delivering the highest quality of cancer care to their patients.

Stefano R. Tarantolo, M.D.

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

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nebraskacancer.com

REBECCA L. REILLY

Methodist Hospital

Geriatric Evaluation and Management Clinic North Tower, Third Floor 8303 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-3152

SUSAN G. SCHOLER

Think Whole Person Healthcare 7100 W. Center Road, Fourth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9115

HAND SURGERY RICHARD MURPHY

Omaha Orthopedic Clinic and Sports Medicine 11704 W. Center Road, Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68144 402-691-0500

DANIEL F. SCHAFER

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

INFECTIOUS DISEASE MARVIN J. BITTNER

Omaha Division— V.A. Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System

Gold Clinic—Division of Infectious Disease 4101 Woolworth Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402-346-8800

BRADLEY EDWARD BRITIGAN

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

DIANA F. FLORESCU JEFFREY TIEDMAN

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

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

HEPATOLOGY

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

MARK E. MAILLIARD

ALISON GAIL FREIFELD

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

TIMOTHY M. MCCASHLAND

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

SANDEEP MUKHERJEE CHI Health Clinic Gastroenterology 7710 Mercy Road, Ste. 2000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-9800

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

GARY L. GORBY

Omaha Division— V.A. Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System

Gold Clinic—Division of Infectious Disease 4101 Woolworth Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402-346-8800

ANGELA HEWLETT

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

ANDRE KALIL

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

TERENCE MICHAEL COONEY

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

LAUREL C. PREHEIM

MICHAEL H. DAVIDIAN

601 N. 30th St., Ste. 5800 Omaha, NE 68131 402-981-8251

5002 Underwood Ave. Omaha, NE 68132 402-717-0785

CHI Health Clinic Infectious Disease

MARK E. RUPP

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

SUSAN SWINDELLS

Nebraska Medicine Specialty Care Center Division of Infectious Diseases 804 S. 52nd St. Omaha, NE 68106 402-559-2666

TREVOR C. VAN SCHOONEVELD

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8650

RENUGA VIVEKANANDAN CHI Health Clinic Infectious Disease 7710 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0759

INTERNAL MEDICINE SUITEVEN T. BAILEY

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

JOEL BESSMER

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

CHI Health Clinic— Internal Medicine

MICHAEL DOMALAKES

Methodist Physicians Clinic Regency Department of Internal Medicine 10060 Regency Circle, Third Floor Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1378

DEVIN J. FOX

CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center Bergan Mercy Division of Hospital Medicine 7500 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-398-5822

BRUCE L. HOUGHTON

CHI Health Clinic— Internal Medicine 7800 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0800

ANNA MAIO

CHI Health Clinic— Internal Medicine 7710 Mercy Road, Ste. 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0800

KATHERINE I. MCLEESE Think Whole Person Healthcare

MARK E. OBERLIES

SUSAN G. SCHOLER

17030 Lakeside Hills Plaza, Ste. 102 Omaha, NE 68130 402-758-5800

7100 W. Center Road, Fourth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9115

Internal Medicine and Family Physicians

MARK D. OMAR

ROBERT J. SCHWAB

Department of Internal Medicine 16120 W Dodge Road Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0550

Boys Town Medical Campus—Pacific Street Clinic 14080 Hospital Road Boys Town, NE 68010 402-392-7600

Methodist Physicians Clinic HealthWest

JAMES V. ORTMAN

Internal Medicine 7823 Wakeley Plaza Omaha, NE 68114 402-397-7040

RICHARD K. OSTERHOLM

Think Whole Person Healthcare 7100 W. Center Road, Fifth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9111

JENNIFER PARKER

Nebraska Medicine— Fontenelle Clinic Division of General Internal Medicine 5050 Ames Ave. Omaha, NE 68104 402-595-2280

JOANN L. PORTER

Omaha Division— V.A. Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System Red Clinic—Department of Internal Medicine 4101 Woolworth Ave. Omaha, NE 68105 402-346-8800

CHAD READE

Methodist Physicians Clinic HealthWest

7100 W. Center Road, Fourth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9107

Department of Internal Medicine 16120 W. Dodge Road Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0550

J. SCOTT NEUMEISTER

ROBERT L. RECKER

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

DAVID V. O’DELL

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

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Think Whole Person Healthcare

Think Whole Person Healthcare 7100 W. Center Road, Fourth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9112

HENRY SAKOWSKI

CHI Health Clinic— Internal Medicine 7710 Mercy Road, Ste. 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0800

Boys Town Internal Medicine

LYNN SCOTT

Methodist Physicians Clinic Regency Department of Internal Medicine 10060 Regency Circle, Third Floor Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1378

JOSEPH F. SHEHAN

Think Whole Person Healthcare 7100 W. Center Road, Fifth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9118

MATTHEW ALEXANDER SHEHAN

Think Whole Person Healthcare 7100 W. Center Road, Fourth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9116

WILLIAM A. SHIFFERMILLER

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

DAVID P. SUITEARNES

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

THOMAS GERALD TAPE Nebraska Medicine Midtown Clinic Division of General Internal Medicine 139 S. 40th St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-595-3939

EDWARD J. TAYLOR

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

CHAD W. VOKOUN

Nebraska Medicine— Midtown Clinic Division of General Internal Medicine 139 S. 40th St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-595-3939

JOHN ARNOLD WOODRUFF

Think Whole Person Healthcare 7100 W. Center Road, Fourth Floor Omaha, NE 68106 402-506-9122

INTERNAL MEDICINE/ HOSPITAL MEDICINE

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

PHILIP J. BIERMAN

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

ERIC C. RICE

CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center Bergan Mercy

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

CHAD W. VOKOUN

Nebraska Medicine Midtown Clinic Division of General Internal Medicine 139 S. 40th St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-595-3939

MEDICAL GENETICS JULIA A. BRIDGE

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6420

BRUCE A. BUEHLER

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Genetics Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Second Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-8800

ROBERT M. LANGDON JR. Nebraska Cancer Specialists

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center 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

INAGANTI MASTAN SHAH

Division of Hospital Medicine 7500 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-398-5822

Hematology and Oncology Consultants

6901 N. 72nd St., Ste. 2244 Omaha, NE 68122 402-572-3535

MARGARET BLOCK

Nebraska Cancer Specialists

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

PETER SILBERSTEIN

CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center Bergan Mercy Henry Lynch Cancer Center 7500 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0950

KENNETH H. COWAN

Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Lied Transplant Center 4315 Emile St., Third Floor Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Ste. 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

NEPHROLOGY KHALID BASHIR

CHI Health Clinic Nephrology

Medical Office Building 2, Ste. 3000 7710 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-343-8650

ROBERT W. DUNLAY

CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center Bergan Mercy Division of Nephrology 7710 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-343-8650

RICHARD J. LUND

Omaha Nephrology 8901 W. Dodge Road, Ste. 250 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-2070

NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY KENNETH A. FOLLETT

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Ste. 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

APAR KISHOR P. GANTI

DANIEL L. SURDELL

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

JAMES O. ARMITAGE

Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

JULIE M. VOSE

Nebraska Cancer Specialists

Henry Lynch Cancer Center - Bergan 7500 Mercy Rd., Ste 1300 Omaha, NE 68124 402-393-3110

GEORGE GREENE

OrthoNebraska Clinics Oakview Medical Building, Ste. 110 2725 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0800

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

DOUGLAS J. LONG

Midwest Neurosurgery & Spine Specialists

GUITEFANO R. TARANTOLO Nebraska Cancer Specialists

Midwest Cancer Center— Legacy 17201 Wright St., Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68130 402-334-4773

WILLIAM E. THORELL

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Ste. 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

8005 Farnam Dr, Suite 305 Omaha, NE 68114 402-398-9243

PAMELA MARIE SANTAMARIA

Neurology Consultants of Nebraska

Clarkson North Tower, Ste. 500 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-552-2650

SANJAY P. SINGH CHI Health Immanuel

Neurological Institute 6901 N. 72nd St., Ste. 2400 Omaha, NE 68122 402-717-0070

OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY

NEUROLOGY

CRAIG ALAN BASSETT

JOHN M. BERTONI

Women’s Center Medical Office Building, Ste. 1100 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68002 402-815-1700

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Ste. 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

PIERRE B. FAYAD

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Ste. 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

HARRIS A. FRANKEL

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Ste. 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

GAMINI SOORI

SARAH A. HOLSTEIN

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Methodist Physicians Clinic

PAIGE BERRYMAN

Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s Center Medical Office Building, Ste. 2200 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1700

DAVID CROTZER

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

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

CAROLYN DOHERTY

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

LANETTE M. GUTHMANN

SACHIN KEDAR

Indian Hills Women’s Clinic

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

CAROLEE JONES

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

DANIEL LYNN MURMAN

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Ste. 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

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8901 W. Dodge Road, Ste. 200B Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-2090

Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s Center Medical Office Building, Ste. 2200 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1700

LONNY JOE LEGINO

Mid-City OB-GYN 7205 W. Center Road, Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-6600

THOMAS E. MARTIN

Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s Center Medical Office Building, Ste. 1500 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-354-1700

NANCY B. MATHEWS

Methodist Physicians Clinic Women’s Center Medical Office Building, Ste. 1300 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1700

PETER C. MORRIS

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

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

KATHLEEN L. NORTON Mid-City OB-GYN 7205 W. Center Road, Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-6600

ANDREW ROBERTSON

Methodist Perinatal Center

Medical Office Building, Ste. 2400 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1970

KERRY J. RODABAUGH

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

CARL V. SMITH

Nebraska Medicine - Olson Center for Women’s Health

Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine Durham Outpatient Center, Fourth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6150

SUSAN A. WESTCOTT

Women’s Center Medical Office Building, Ste. 1100 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1700

OPHTHALMOLOGY RICHARD H. LEGGE

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Stanley M. Truhlsen Eye Institute 3902 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-2020

7205 W. Center Road, Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-6600

MARK E. GOEBEL

OrthoNebraska Clinics Oakview Medical Building, Ste. 110 2725 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0400

SEAN V. MCGARRY

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Lauritzen Outpatient Center 4014 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-8000

PETER J. WHITTED

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

MICHAEL C.THOMPSON

OrthoNebraska Clinics

SUITEVEN H. HINRICHS

Omaha Ear Nose and Throat 17410 Burke St., Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68118 402-758-5330

JANE EMANUEL

Boys Town Ear, Nose and Throat Institute Downtown Clinic 555 N. 30th St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-498-6540

DANIEL D. LYDIATT

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Ste. 304 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5048

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Ste. 304 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5048

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

MATTHEW A. MORMINO DAVID E. BROWN

OrthoNebraska Clinics Oakview Medical Building, Ste. 212 2725 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144 402-637-0800

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Lauritzen Outpatient Center 4014 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8000

Methodist Hospital

ANN LOUISE EDMUNDS

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

SCOTT T. MCMULLEN

CHRISTINE P. HANS

OTOLARYNGOLOGY

WILLIAM M. LYDIATT

4353 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-552-2020

Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6420

Pathology Center 8303 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-4540

Midwest Eye Care

Mid-City OB-GYN

Mid-City OB-GYN

JULIA A. BRIDGE

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

Women’s Center Medical Office Building, Ste. 1100 717 N. 190th Plaza Omaha, NE 68022 402-815-1700

KENT H. SIEMERS

ANN MEISSNER SJULIN

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation Lauritzen Outpatient Center 4014 Leavenworth St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-8000

Methodist Physicians Clinic

Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

7205 W. Center Road, Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68124 402-397-6600

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

TIFANY SOMER-SHELY

Methodist Physicians Clinic

PATHOLOGY

KEVIN L. GARVIN

OLEG N. MILITSAKH

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Ste. 304 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5048

RUSSELL B. SMITH

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Ste. 304 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5048

BRITT A. THEDINGER Ear Specialists of Omaha

9202 W. Dodge Road, Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-933-3277

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Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

SHANE K. KOHL

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

AUDREY LAZENBY

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

RODNEY D. MCCOMB

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

SAMUEL PIRRUCCELLO

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

STANLEY J. RADIO

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

PHYLLIS I. WARKENTIN

Nebraska Medicine—Nebraska Medical Center Departments of Pathology and Pediatrics Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6781

WILLIAM W. WEST

CHI Health Lakeside Department of Pathology 16901 Lakeside Hills Court Omaha, NE 68130 402-717-8174

JAMES L. WISECARVER

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Department of Pathology and Microbiology Durham Outpatient Center 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4186

PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY JAINE BROWNELL

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

RUSSELL J. HOPP

CHI Health Clinic—Allergy & Immunology

2412 Cuming St., Ste. 103 Omaha, NE 68131 402-280-4580

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 402-955-4385

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

PEDIATRIC CARDIAC SURGERY

CHRISTOPHER C. ERICKSON

PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE

PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY

KIM F. DUNCAN

Criss Heart Center Specialty Pediatric Center, First Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

MOHAN R. MYSORE

KEVIN P. CORLEY

Division of Critical Care Medicine 8200 Dodge St., Second Floor Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4200

Endocrinology & Diabetes Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Third Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-3871

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, First Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4360

JAMES MARTIN HAMMEL Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4360

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY DAVID A. DANFORD

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Criss Heart Center Specialty Pediatric Center, First Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

JEFFREY W. DELANEY

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Criss Heart Center Specialty Pediatric Center, First Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

SCOTT FLETCHER

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY

Criss Heart Center Specialty Pediatric Center, First Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

JILL S. NELSON

Dermatology Specialists of Omaha

JOHN DALE KUGLER

909 N. 96th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-330-4555

Criss Heart Center Specialty Pediatric Center, First Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

PEDIATRIC DEVELOPMENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

HOWARD W. NEEDELMAN

ROBERT L. SPICER

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Criss Heart Center Specialty Pediatric Center, First Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4339

Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation 412 S. Saddle Creek Road Omaha, NE 68131 402-559-6418

PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE

PEDIATRIC CLINICAL GENETICS

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

RICHARD E. LUTZ

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation 412 S Saddle Creek Road Omaha, NE 68131 402-559-8638

PEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY DEAN L. ANTONSON

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

JON A. VANDERHOOF Boys Town Gastroenterology

Boys Town Medical Campus—Pacific Street Clinic 14080 Hospital Road Boys Town, NE 68010 402-778-6820

DAVID M. TOLO

ANN HASKINS OLNEY

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Urgent Care Center 110 N. 175th St., Ste. 1000 Omaha, NE 68118 402-955-8300

Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation 412 S. Saddle Creek Road Omaha, NE 68131 402-559-6418

PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGYONCOLOGY DON W. COULTER

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Hematology and Oncology Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Third Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-3950

BRUCE GORDON

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center 505 S. 45th St. Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-7257

PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE H. DELE DAVIES

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Infectious Diseases Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4005

SHIRLEY F. DELAIR

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Infectious Diseases Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4005

SUITEPHEN K. OBARO

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Infectious Diseases Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4005

KARI A. SIMONSEN

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Infectious Diseases Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4005

JESSICA N. SNOWDEN

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Infectious Diseases Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4005

PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY MARK J. PUCCIONI Midwest Neurosurgery & Spine Specialists

8005 Farnam Dr., Ste. 305 Omaha, NE 68114 402-398-9243

PEDIATRIC NUTRITION PATRICIA SEIVERT

Children’s Physicians—UNMC Durham Outpatient Center, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

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Fremont

PEDIATRIC OPHTHALMOLOGY

PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY

DONNY WON SUH

JOHN L. COLOMBO

Ophthalmology Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Third Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5440

Pulmonary Medicine Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Second Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5570

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

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

Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6300

BRIAN HASLEY

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6300

SUSAN A. SCHERL

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6300

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

PAUL H. SAMMUT

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Second Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6404

MARK C. WILSON

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Pulmonary Medicine Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Second Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6404

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/ CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY SHASHI K. BHATIA

CHI Health Clinic Psychiatric Associates 3528 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-5550

CHRISTOPHER J. KRATOCHVIL

Nebraska Medicine—Nebraska Medical Center

PEDIATRIC OTOLARYNGOLOGY

Department of Psychiatry Poynter Hall Building, Third Floor 510 S. 42nd St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-552-6007

D. RICHARD KANG

JAMIE SNYDER

Boys Town Ear, Nose and Throat Institute Downtown Clinic 555 N. 30th St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-498-6540

RYAN K. SEWELL

ENT Specialists 720 N. 129th St. Omaha, NE 68154 402-397-0670

CHI Health Clinic Psychiatric Associates 3528 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-5550

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/ NEONATALPERINATAL MEDICINE ANN L. ANDERSONBERRY

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Division of Neonatology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-6750

JOHN WESLEY SPARKS

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Division of Neonatology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

LYNNE D. WILLETT

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Division of Neonatology 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6140

ZAHI E. ZEIDAN

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Division of Neonatology 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-6140

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/ NEUROLOGY, GENERAL PAUL D. LARSEN

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Neurology Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Second Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5372

PEDIATRIC SPECIALIST/ PEDIATRIC METABOLIC DISEASES WILLIAM BRADLEY RIZZO

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Metabolic Management Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Second Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4199

PEDIATRIC SURGERY

DAWN GARY

ROBERT A. CUSICK

9202 W. Dodge Road, Ste. 101 Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-7500

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Pediatric Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-7400

STEPHEN C. RAYNOR

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Pediatric Surgery Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Fourth Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-7400

PEDIATRIC UROLOGY FERNANDO FERRER

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

PEDIATRICS/ GENERAL JOHN ANDRESEN

Dundee Pediatrics

5018 Underwood Ave., Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68132 402-991-5678

KATHERINE ANGLIM

Children’s Physicians—Eagle Run

13808 W. Maple Road, Ste. 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

ALKA DESAI

Children’s Physicians—Eagle Run

13808 W. Maple Road, Ste. 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

MARK J. DOMET

Boys Town Pediatrics Boys Town Medical Campus—Pacific Street Clinic 14080 Hospital Road Boys Town, NE 68010 402-778-6900

DAVID FINKEN

Children’s Physicians—UNMC

Durham Outpatient Center, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 67 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

Children’s Physicians—Embassy Park

FRANCIS J. HARRISON Children’s Physicians—Val Verde

9801 Giles Road, Ste. 1 La Vista, NE 68128 402-955-8400

DAVID KAUFMAN

Children’s Physicians—Eagle Run

13808 W. Maple Road, Ste. 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

JILLYN KRATOCHVIL

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 4828 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68132 402-955-7676

LAURA NIELSEN

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

JENNIFER PARKER

Nebraska Medicine— Fontenelle Clinic

4828 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68132 402-955-7676

Division of General Internal Medicine 5050 Ames Ave. Omaha, NE 68104 402-595-2280

KARI A. KRENZER

SHERYL L. PITNER

110 N. 175th St., Ste. 1000 Omaha, NE 68118 402-955-5437

Durham Outpatient Center, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

Children’s Physicians—Dundee

Children’s Physicians - West Village Point

KENT KRONBERG

Children’s Physicians—Eagle Run

13808 W. Maple Road, Ste. 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

GARY SUITEPHEN LERNER

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Children’s Developmental Clinic Specialty Pediatric Center, Second Floor 111 N. 84th St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-4160

ERIN A. LOUCKS

Children’s Physicians—UNMC

CHANDRIKA RIZAL

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

TINA SCOTTMORDHORST

Children’s Physicians— Plattsmouth

1938 E. Highway 34 Plattsmouth, NE 68048 402-955-7150

PATRICIA SEIVERT

Children’s Physicians—UNMC

4828 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68132 402-955-7676

Durham Outpatient Center, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

MARY JANE FITZGIBBONS MIKULS

GREGORY C. SEVERSON

110 N. 175th St., Ste. 1000 Omaha, NE 68118 402-955-5437

Department of Pediatrics 16120 W. Dodge Road, Third Floor Omaha, NE 68118 402-354-0620

Children’s Physicians—Dundee

Children’s Physicians - West Village Point

Methodist Physicians Clinic HealthWest

BETSY SUITEPHENSON

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

JOSEPH STRALEY

Children’s Physicians—Eagle Run

13808 W. Maple Road, Ste. 100 Omaha, NE 68164 402-955-3000

JOHN N. WALBURN

Children’s Physicians—UNMC Durham Outpatient Center, First Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-955-8125

ELIZABETH A. WALENZ

Methodist Physicians Clinic Regency

Department of Pediatrics 10060 Regency Circle, Second Floor Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1325

ROBERT D. WOODFORD

Methodist Physicians Clinic Regency

Department of Pediatrics 10060 Regency Circle, Second Floor Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-1325

HEATHER L. ZIMMERMAN Boys Town Pediatrics

Boys Town Medical Campus—Pacific Street Clinic 14080 Hospital Road Boys Town, NE 68010 402-778-6900

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. ST.OOLMAN

PSYCHIATRY

BRYAN J. KRAJICEK

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

SHASHI K. BHATIA

Hospitalist Service 8200 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-955-5400

CHI Health Clinic

7710 Mercy Road, Ste. 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-9600

CASSANDRA SUSMAN

MARK H. FLEISHER

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

PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION SAMUEL M. BIERNER

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Neurological Sciences Clinic Clarkson Doctors Building North, Ste. 650 4242 Farnam St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8600

PLASTIC SURGERY SUITEVEN M. DENENBERG

Facial Plastic Surgery 7640 Pacific St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-391-7640

JOHN J. EDNEY

Aesthetic Surgical Images

8900 W. Dodge Road Omaha, NE 68114 402-390-0100

RONALD R. HOLLINS Village Pointe Aesthetic Surgery 17617 Burke St. Omaha, NE 68118 402-596-4000

PERRY JOHNSON

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

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

Psychiatric Associates 3528 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-5550

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry Poynter Hall Building, Third Floor 510 S. 42nd St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-552-6007

PAULAJO MALIN

CHI Health Clinic Psychiatric Associates 3528 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-5550

WILLIAM A. MARCIL

CHI Health Clinic— Psychiatry Lasting Hope Recovery Center 415 S. 25th Ave. Omaha, NE 68131 402-717-5300

ASHISH SHARMA

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry Poynter Hall Building, Fifth Floor 510 S. 42nd St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-552-6007

STEVEN WENGEL

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Department of Psychiatry Poynter Hall Building, Fifth Floor 510 S. 42nd St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-552-6007

PULMONARY MEDICINE KRISTINA L. BAILEY

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

ZACK S. DEPEW

CHI Health Clinic— Pulmonary Medicine 7710 Mercy Road, Ste. 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-9600

CHI Health Clinic— Pulmonary Medicine

LEE MORROW

CHI Health Clinic— Pulmonary Medicine

AUSTIN B. THOMPSON

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

7710 Mercy Road, Ste. 3000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-9600

SUSANNA GERTRUDE VON ESSEN

PETER JAMES MURPHY

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

CRAIG ARNOLD PIQUETTE

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

JILL ADAIR POOLE

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

STEPHEN I. RENNARD

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

DEBRA J. ROMBERGER

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

JOSEPH H. SISSON

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

BRUCE BARON CHI Health Immanuel

Radiology Consultants of the Midwest 6901 N. 72nd St. Omaha, NE 68122 402-717-2222

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

TAMMY OLESKEVICH WICHMAN

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Cente

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

RADIATION ONCOLOGY CHARLES A. ENKE

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiation Oncology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-552-3844

WEINING (KEN) ZHEN

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiation Oncology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-552-3844

RADIOLOGY JOSEPH C. ANDERSON

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

KIMBERLY ANN APKER

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 68 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

DEREK BURDENY

OrthoNebraska Clinics Oakview Medical Building, Ste. 118 2725 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144 402-609-1800

MATT J. DEVRIES

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

SUZANNE H. HRUZA CHI Health Immanuel

Radiology Consultants of the Midwest 6901 N. 72nd St. Omaha, NE 68122 402-572-2324

MARK D. KEIPER

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Department of Radiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

RICHARD A. KUTILEK

Methodist Hospital

Department of Radiology 8303 Dodge St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-4717

ANGEL MIRONOV CHI Health Immanuel

Neurological Institute 6901 N. 72nd St., Ste. 5300 Omaha, NE 68122 402-717-0070

KEVIN L. NELSON

Methodist Hospital

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

CRAIG W. WALKER

JAMES R. O’DELL

SURGICAL ONCOLOGY

Department of Radiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

CHANDRAKANTH ARE

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

MATTHEW L. WHITE

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Division of Neuroradiology 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-1010

RHEUMATOLOGY

Nebraska Medicine—Nebraska Medical Center

WILLIAM R. PALMER Westroads Rheumatology Associates

10170 Nicholas St. Omaha, NE 68114 402-391-3800

ALAN R. ERICKSON

Nebraska Medicine— Brentwood Village

Division of Rheumatology 8021 S. 84th St. La Vista, NE 68128 402-595-1227

JOHN HURLEY

CHI Health Clinic— Rheumatology 7710 Mercy Road Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0750

LYNELL W. KLASSEN

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

TED MIKULS

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Internal Medicine Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4015

Lied Transplant Center 4315 Emile St., Third Floor Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5600

Colon and Rectal Surgery

9850 Nicholas St., Ste. 100 Omaha, NE 68114 402-343-1122

GEORGE W. DITTRICK

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

ROBERT H. LINDAU III

Nebraska Medicine—Nebraska Medical Center Vascular Surgery Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Second Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7300

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Ste. 304 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5048

RUDY PAUL LACKNER

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

BRIAN W. LOGGIE

MICHAEL J. MOULTON

CHI Health Clinic— Surgical Oncology 7710 Mercy Road, Ste. 2000 Omaha, NE 68124 402-717-0090

VASCULAR SURGERY BERNARD TIMOTHY BAXTER

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Vascular Surgery Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Second Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7300

NITIN GARG

Head and Neck Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Ste. 304 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5048

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center Vascular Surgery Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Second Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-7300

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

Cardiovascular Center Durham Outpatient Center, Ste. 2310 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-8888

Nebraska Medicine—Nebraska Medical Center

ROBERT H. LINDAU III

THORACIC SURGERY

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Durham Outpatient Center, Second Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4389

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

ALAN N. LANGNAS

Lied Transplant Center 4315 Emile St., Second Floor Omaha, NE 68105 402-559-5000

Breast Care Center 8303 Dodge St., Ste. 302 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-3090

ALAN G. THORSON

GARY J. ANTHONE

BERNARD TIMOTHY BAXTER

Oakview Medical Building, Ste. 240 2727 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144 402-609-1200

Nebraska Medicine— Nebraska Medical Center

SURGERY Omaha, NE 68114 402-991-3393

OrthoNebraska Clinics

Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center

Surgical Oncology Clinic 8303 Dodge St., Ste. 200 Omaha, NE 68114 402-354-5150

10506 Burt Circle

DEBORAH K. DOUD

JAMES A. REILLY

Congratulations to Our

Best Doctors

JON S. THOMPSON

Nebraska Medicine—Nebraska Medical Center General Surgery Clinic Durham Outpatient Center, Fifth Floor 4400 Emile St. Omaha, NE 68198 402-559-4075

Dr. Mark Domet

Dr. Jane Emanuel

Dr. Richard Kang

Dr. Kevin Murphy

Pediatrics

Ear, Nose & Throat Institute

Ear, Nose & Throat Institute

Allergy, Asthma, Immunology & Pediatric Pulmonology

Dr. Robert Schwab

Dr. Jon Vanderhoof

Dr. Heather Zimmerman

Internal Medicine

Pediatric Gastroenterology

Pediatrics

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 69 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

NURSE OF THE YEAR COMMITTEE Teresa Barry

Associate Professor, Director of Evaluation, Nurse Leader/ Executive (LEAD) MSN Specialty Coordinator College of Nursing UNMC-College of Nursing

Chrissy Wilber

Director of Pediatric Clinics Boys Town National Research Hospital

Cindy Mirfield

Service Leader, NICU Methodist Women’s Hospital

Barb Petersen

Director of Women’s and Children’s Services Faith Regional Health Services

®

Jodi Spale

Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Director of Birthing Center

Kris Stapp

VNA Vice President of Health Services

Wendy Muir

Bryan Health Director of Women and Children’s Health

Judy Timmons

Manager-Nursing Education and Professional Development Children’s Hospital & Medical Center

Linda Walline Retired

Jan Wintle

Independent Healthcare Professional Retired

Inglish Camero

CHI Health Lakeside Hospital Vice-President of Patient Care Services

BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

NURSING IS THE largest profession in health care, and one of the most recognizable. Professionals from psychiatrists to surgeons use nurses each day to help care for patients with tasks from administering medicines to handing them tools of their trade.

Nurses labor tirelessly, often for 12 or more hours at a time. On November 9, 2017, the March of Dimes took an evening to thank those vital professionals taking vital signs, and Omaha Magazine was in attendance as an event sponsor.

Nominations are blinded, then scored by the volunteer committee. Scores were based on credentials, certifications, their proudest outcomes, leadership, professional associations, and achievements. The Nurse of the Year is determined by the nurse with the highest overall score.

We again thank the nurses nominated for the March of Dimes awards, for taking care of us, each and every day.

Christine Murphy

Nebraska Medicine Director of Women and Children’s Services

Abby Laws

Unity Point Health – St. Luke’s NICU/Pediatric Nurse Manager

Judy Thomas

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Director of Professional Nursing Practice

Mandy Iverson

CHI Health Immanuel Interim Director of Maternal Services

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 70 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

NURSE OF THE YEAR WINNERS NURSE OF THE YEAR

Anisa Hoie, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, has a passion for pediatric oncology, serving on numerous community committees. She has presented on oncology care at the hospital’s annual conference and has been a member of the Bereavement Care Team for the last 21 years. This nurse has been devoted to working with Camp CO Ho Lo for the past 32 years. Every year she initiates donations for prizes, organizes the donations into medical needs, room supply needs, and fun activities to make the entire program run smoothly. She makes sure that every child she comes in contact with, throughout the year, is welcomed to this event.

TOP NURSES ®

TOP NURSES Jennifer Baumert, CHI Health Lakeside, assisted in initiating a task force to find a solution in reducing central line blood stream infections, and was instrumental in decreasing CHI Health Lakeside CLABSI rates by 54 percent. Her team then shared their findings in a presentation that resulted in grant and educational opportunities.

Karen Huston, Methodist Hospital, helps grow education and understanding for the geriatric community. She is an AgeWISE and HELP expert.

She shows her “older patients” how much they are appreciated; painting their nails, giving hand/foot massages, and even dressing up as an elf to hand out treats.

Emily Blanchard, CHI Health System, is passionate about helping with breastfeeding and supporting new mothers on their breastfeeding journeys, along with about helping families suffering from the loss of an infant and sexual assault. This bilingual nurse took the initiative to become the first SANE nurse in her facility.

Candice Kennedy, CHI Health St. Francis, has developed multiple educational courses and trainings for maternal child health and clinical staff within the last five years. Most recently she created “Sim Huddles” which are condensed simulation drills hat can be done in less time and more frequently throughout the year.

Renee Claborn, Building Healthy Futures, has dedicated herself to various professional health organizations and volunteer work such as School-Based Health Alliance, American Hospital Association, Nebraska Child Health & Education Summit, and State of Nebraska System of Care. As director of Health Services for Building Healthy Futures, she has implemented a new care model.

Sharilee Hickey, CHI Health Good Samaritan, has piloted a study critique for Continuing Education Home Study for Western Schools, created an award winning Planetree video for the National Planetree Conference, and is a leader of Operation Peace & Quiet to promote a quiet environment in the patient care areas and enhance Quiet at Night.

Diane Kocovsky, Boys Town National Research Hospital, has held a leadership role in each of the eight committees she has participated in over the last five years. She has been pivotal in increasing the number of Omaha area children able to attend the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation camp from 10 to 35.

Joyce Lynn, Methodist Hospital, is guided by strong ethical principles, knowledge, and her passion for palliative care. She helped develop and implement a role called the Comfort Care Resource Nurse, which assists the needs of patients who are near the end of life, and the challenge this poses for staff.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 71 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

Dr. Connie Miller, UNMC College of Nursing, has actively sat on numerous committees as president or as a member and presented numerous posters, presentations, and publications for various outlets. Miller epitomizes nursing leadership and a complete dedication to quality and safety, as well as interprofessional practice and exemplary nursing education.

Cassi Norton, V NA of the Midlands, is passionate about wound and ostomy care, conscious about the cost of wound care supplies, and makes progressive economical choices for her patients. She makes her staff feel comfortable learning, and practicing, wound and ostomy care, and develops appropriate strategies for patients’ wounds to heal.

Nellie Olsen, Unity Point Health St. Luke’s, is a veteran NICU nurse who strives for excellence and makes family-centered care a priority for even the smallest patients. This year, she created, managed, supervised, and distributed a NICU Transport Video to ease parents’ anxieties when their babies are transferred to Unity Point Health St. Luke’s.

Shanda Ross, Nebraska Medicine, will always step up to help guide and mentor anyone, including Nebraska Medicine staff, high school students, Salem Baptist Church parishioners, Omaha Links in Heart Health Education members, and several more. Her nominator states, “She is always smiling and continues to look for opportunities to help and improve current processes.”

Juli Townsend, CHI Health St. Elizabeth, has participated on various committees including, the ED Management Team, the House-wide Stroke committee, ED Quality Council, and more.

She has initiated and maintained the hospital’s EMS Stroke Stop process. This helps Stroke Alert patients arriving by EMS have a CT taken within 6 minutes.

NURSE OF THE YEAR WINNERS CONTINUED...

ADVOCACY AWARD

LEADERSHIP AND MENTORING

Cheryl Dick, Boys Town National Research Hospital, has spent her nursing career in multiple states and countries teaching skills and knowledge about cardiac and ICU patients. She spends time with her patients, addressing disease in the context of the patient’s whole life, from the molecular pathology to the social situation at home.

Tiffany Nordmeyer, CHI Health Lakeside, does all the teaching in her units—labor and delivery, post-partum, and NICU. Patient focus is Nordmeyer’s No. 1 priority and she assists them whenever or wherever she can. She remembers every policy and SOP and knows the evidence-based research to prove it.

RESEARCH & EVIDENCE-BASED EXCELLENCE

PEDIATRIC

Jody Kempnich, CHI Health System, serves as the leader of nursing research. She participates in more than six committees, has a wealth of volunteer work, presents often on her research, and has authored and co-authored over 11 nurse leadership and research-based publications within the last five years.

Heather Kozak, Craig Home Health, takes the long or short “inconvenient shifts,” driving countless hours to assist a family in need, purchasing toys or activities to assist in the development and education of her clients, and working in very difficult home environments to provide care for a child who needs it.

FAMILY CHOICE

Amanda Ginkens, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, never hesitates to step up and lend a hand to her team or a patient in a time of need. On Halloween 2016, while caring for a family who’s premature baby was passing away, she set up “trick or treating” around the unit for the baby’s older brother.

Thea Weinandt , Kim Olsuf ka , Kylie Kneif l , Amanda Thompson, Bianca Egnaczak, Sam Morrill Grasewicz, and Abby Byrd, Nebraska Medicine, worked together to help Laura Black, who delivered triplets at 23 weeks and 2 days. Only one baby survived. These eight nurses cared for Ella at the hospital, and later at the Blacks’ home.

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Sue Gabriel, Ed.D., Nebraska Wesleyan University, has been a key advocate for patients, students, and health care professionals. She has been invited by a variety of health care organizations to speak and review manuscripts on sexual assault, violence, and human trafficking, over 30 in just the last two years.

Kassie McKenny, Clarkson College, teaches the first level of nursing students. She has developed multiple simulations which help students realize the impact therapeutic communication can have on patients as well as learning about the diverse population nurses care for and how important individualized care is.

VIGILENCE IN CARING Kimberly Miller, Nebraska Medicine, has been heavily involved in oncology-related organizations and committees, including Oncology Nursing Society, Development and implementation of multidisciplinary Graft Versus Host Disease Clinic, Blood and Marrow transplant Patient Education Committee, and more.

Her nominator described Miller as her anchor, tirelessly working on helping her get better.

RISING STAR Jeremy Blake, Methodist Hospital, is eager to learn and grow as an oncology nurse. His desire to understand the “why” makes him an excellent advocate for his patients.

He has helped improve workflows, assisted in developing the Comfort Menu, and often is called upon by the Hospital Informatics Team to test electronic medical records.

ADVANCED PRACTICE Susana Harrington, Methodist Hospital, has been instrumental in opening the Open Heart Universal Bed Unit. She was able to decrease the re-admission rate to half of the Society of Thoracic Surgery national benchmark, decreased the length of stay by one day, and decreased ventilator time by five hours.

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE Chastity Orr, Great Plains Health, is involved in EMS training and follow up on case studies, traveling to critical access hospitals to provide education and share best practices, and working closely with patients afflicted by stroke. She has been instrumental in bringing in the first telestroke and teleneurology service to Great Plains Health.

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STUDENT NURSES Marnie Bents, College of Saint Mary, has reached out to students struggling with content to aid them in understanding nursing concepts, including helping to teach students.

Robyn Gasseling, Bryan College of Health Sciences, has demonstrated the ability to overcome obstacles on her educational journey by taking time to problem-solve the most meaningful solution.

Leah Grovijohn, UNMC College of Nursing, Norfolk, works diligently to absorb knowledge by asking sound questions that show she is committing critical thinking to her way of understanding.

Allison Hansen, UNMC College of Nursing, Lincoln, is committed to her nursing education and her patients. She uses therapeutic communication skills while working with diverse issues.

Dawn Hogan, Kaplan University, illustrates care and compassion when working with patients and their families. She demonstrates leadership qualities through her work and involvement in the community.

Dhanya Mathew, UNMC College of Nursing, Omaha, is detailed in her approach and dedicated to her goal to become an excellent nurse.

Darrel Moreland, Clarkson College, exemplifies the spirit of nursing in each and every patient interaction that he has during work hours and his clinical rotations.

STUDENT NURSES Cassie Newton, Nebraska Wesleyan University, is a proven leader, mentor, and relationship builder who has exceptional listening and communication skills. She meets commitments with integrity.

Emily Schulz , Nebraska Methodist College of Nursing, has been a role model with a positive attitude, helping others forward through difficult situations and taking initiatives.

Aaron Snelgrove, Union College, quickly grasps concepts, applies theoretical concepts in a clinical setting, and seeks learning opportunities. He communicates well with his patients and their families.

UnityPoint Health® – Sioux City

Proud to be the Home of Award Winning Nurses like Nellie Olsen

Kyle Steinhauser, Bryan College of Health Sciences, facilitates peer led skills lab sessions and is described as being conscientious, caring, and committed to helping his peers.

Sydney Wergin, Nebraska Wesleyan University, has helped start the Mental Health club on campus, and is passionate about spreading awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.

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Your future begins with why Bridget turned her medical condition into her motivation to help others through healthcare.

Tell us your why.

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congratulates Cassi Norton for being recognized as one of the Top 25 nurses for The March of Dimes Nurse of the year Awards!

Briget H., Respiratory Care Student See her why at methodistcollege.edu/bridget

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Alisha Lyons Supervisor, Procedure Center Cassie Tramp Cardiac Recovery Nicole Malmstrom RN-Quality Improvement Rosalie Trapp Lori Carlen Coordinator Med/Surg/ Supervisor, NICU RN, Emergency Department Ortho/Neuro/Oncology Megan Uphoff ® Sydnie Carraher Sarah Mayhue Director, Critical Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Supervisor, NICU -Neonatology Jennifer Vasa Denyse McDonald Critical and Acute care Tiffany Chadwick (Goracke) Cardiac House Supervisor, Nursing Supervisor, Post Intensive Administration Christina McGhee Hilary Crumrine RN, Med/Surg and Lauren Westerdale RN, PACU Emergency Room Director, NICU Rachel Butler Supervisor, Neonatal NICU

Jeri Remmen Surgery

Lisa Devall Pediatric Nurse Practitioner,NICU

Emily Ridder Surgery

Robin Devries RN, Radiation Oncology

Geri McVey RN Educator, Diabetes

Lori Woodrow Behavioral Health

Jennifer Mettler Supervisor, Oncology

CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER Jamie Barnes Short Stay

CLARKSON COLLEGE Kassie McKenny CRAIG HOMECARE Heather Kozak EAST LINCOLN INTERNAL MEDICINE Suzanne Coupens Internal Medicine ENT NEBRASKSA Cathy Frey ENT GREAT PLAINS HEALTH Chris Myers Orthopedics Chastity Orr Stroke Program/Quality

Melinda Rawlings Medical/Surgical ​ Sarah Retana Oncology ​ Kim Robison Cardiovascular Nurse Educator METHODIST WOMEN’S HOSPITAL Tim Black NICU Melissa Buman Staff Development Nurse ​ Kati Coffey NICU

Caelan Elliot NICU JEFFERSON COMMUNITY HEALTH ​ Nicole Monico AND LIFE Erica Faulkner Rachel Dowd RN, Nursing Mary Hoppe NICU Sarah Rovetto RN, Surgery Med Surg/ICU Amy Brooks Acute Nursing Surgery Inpatient Jamie Jensen Whitney Dubas Joyce Murphy KAPLAN UNIVERSITY NICU Angela Schaecher RN, Nursing Float Pool Supervisor, Surgery M. Renee Claborn Aaron Bartek ​ Pediatrics School Health Nursing Education Amy Kavan Laura Frank Debra Niles NICU Barb Shonsey RN, Oncology RN, Emergency Department Kathy Conrad Angie Leeper ​ Surgery Surgery Nursing Education Jamie Kernen Alma Gochenour Tiffany Nordmeyer Mother/Baby Jamie White RN, ED/Med-Surg Clinical Educator Christina Corr Barb Loguda Pediatrics Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Nursing Amanda Lovercheck Denise Hall Caitlyn Ogden Med/Surg Critical Care NICU BRYAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH RN-Infection Preventionist Supervisor, Medical/Surgical/ Melissa Dirks SCIENCES Med-surg and Rehabilitation Ortho Pediatrics Lisa Riecke Debra Maddalena Angela McCown Nursing Education Emergency Nursing Leadership and Sharilee Hickey Sarah Piotrowski KD Eorgan ​ Managment RN, Resource Pool - CHI RN, LDRP and Nursery Pediatrics Megan Rogers Lindsey McGargill Health Good Samaritan Maternity Nursing Education NICU BRYAN HEALTH Amanda Ginkens Cally Tejkl Tracy Hirschfeld Ryan Polich Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Melissa Hulbert Erica Meier NICU RN-Resource, Surgery Supervisor, Post Intensive Nursing Education Labor/Delivery Anisa Hoie ​ Jane Schuller Andrea Hoig Debra Rutledge Hematology/Oncology Roxanne Gould Amber Paulson Rehabilitation Nursing RN, Mental Health VP, Patient Care Service, Nursing Education NICU Nursing Administration Andria Lutz Kimberly Dierks Carly Hornig Surgery MADONNA REHABILITATION Natasha Cardona Pediatrics Supervisor, Oncology Marla Schroeder Ellen Homan NICU RN, Inpatient Rehab Unit Kevin Olsen Pediatrics Sarah Skinner Jeanne Howard Information Technology Beth Totten NICU Anesthesia Heather Sejkora METHODIST HOSPITAL Labor/Delivery Cardiac Nursing Nebraska Kathryn Meyer Jeremy Blake Talia Peterson Heart Hospital Inpatient Oncology NEBRASKA COMMUNITY BLOOD Cardiac Intensive Care Unit Abbey Hugo RN, Medical-Surgical BANK Courtney Senn Julie Moody Bud Erickson Cheryl Warholoski CHI Amanda Hunnel RN-Specialist, Rehabilitation Surgery Cardiovascular Donor Services Troyia Anderson Acute Care Spine Specialty RN, IMC-Residental Hospital Pam Simmons Katie Peters Amber Fuller NEBRASKA MEDICINE Treatment Center RN, PCU Inpatient Critical Care Megan Armbrust Kylee Kemper ​ Women’s and Infants’ Sonja Badorek Katherine Smuskiewicz Kara Reyes Susana Harrington Services Supervisor, Skilled/geriatric Supervisor – Nursing, Medical Surgical Cardiac RN, Clinical Surgery Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Cardiovascular nursing ICU Intensive Care/Post Coordinator Good Samaritan Emily Barnes Intensive Hospital Surgery Department Ellie Roza Karen Huston Medical Surgical/Telemetry Emily Batenhorst Urgent Care Acute Care for Elders Unit RN, Medical Surgical Jodeena Kempnich Marissa Stoklassa ​ Mary Beth Brennan Oncology Center for Clinical Practice Supervisor of Acute Care Jill Soldatke ​Jay Jadlowski Centralized Scheduling Home Health Nursing Nursing Administration Jennifer Baumert Darcie Souza Stacey Brichacek Clinical Practice Coordinator, Jody Kempnich Sr. Clinical Practice RN, Emergency Department Samantha Sorenson Lori Kean Surgical Intensive Care Unit Nursing Administration Coordinator, Nursing Cardiac Surgery Progressive Care Education/ Practice Amanda Taylor ​ Cindy Brown Jay Beckerich RN, Obestetrics and Nursery Meghan Spencer Amanda Kruse Liver and Intestinal Supervisor, Emergency Candice Kennedy Family Birth Center Emergency Critical Care Transplant and IRP Department RN, LDRP and Nursery ​ Maternal Child Juli Townsend Rick White Joyce Lynn Abby Byrd Kimber Bonner Supervisor, Emergency Private Duty Nursing Palliative Care Newborn Intensive Care Unit Administration Jennifer Lee Department RN, Pre-Op/PACU Brandi Wimmer Alex Moore Jennifer Carnahan Surgery Oncology Heart and Vascular Unit

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Tayler Cooper Cardiology Amanda Dethloff Newborn Intensive Care Unit Vickie Dolan Anesthesia Bianca Egnaczak Newborn Intensive Care Unit Justina “Tina” Felts Emergency Services Daniel Genrich Immediate Care Clinics Bellevue Kelly Goetschkes Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit Jane Grandi-Anderson Newborn Intensive Care Unit Liz Grashorn Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center - Progressive Care Unit Bobbi Heffelfinger Pulmonary Lung Transplant Telicia Hill Multi Organ Transplant Clinic Megan Kelly Burn ICU Kylie Kneifl Newborn Intensive Care Unit Natalie Malone Emergency Services Kimberly Miller Blood and Marrow Transplantation Kaitlyn Mimick Specialty Care Unit Sam Morrill Grasewicz Newborn Intensive Care Unit Danielle Nichols Medical/surgical/telemetry LeaAyn Norton Clarkson Family Medicine Kim Olsufka Newborn Intensive Care Unit Colleen Rickabaugh Medical ICU

Congratulations To Kaplan’s Top Student Nurse Dawn Hogan!

Kim Shafer Family Medicine – Bellevue Clinic Amanda Thompson Emergency Services Lindsay Vanlandingham Heart and Vascular Unit

If you would like to learn how to enroll in a Kaplan Nursing program please call, 402.431.6100 Lauren Dombrowski ldombrowski@kaplan.edu

Lacy Wake Cardiac Progressive Care Unit Thea Weinandt Newborn Intensive Care Unit Lindsey Wood Women’s Services Bellevue NEBRASKA METHODIST COLLEGE Pam Jacobsen Nursing Professor Stacy McCann Nursing, Critical Care NEBRASKA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY Molly Fitzke, Ed.D. Nursing Education Sue Gabriel, Ed.D. Education REGIONAL WEST MEDICAL CENTER Crystal Kildow Surgery

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | HEALTH STORY BY SEAN MCCARTHY // DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION BY MATT WIECZOREK

When Loved Ones Exploit Seniors’ Finances

DURING LABOR DAY weekend in 2014, Jill

Panzer and her youngest aunt set out for a seven-hour drive to Hemingford, Nebraska, to pick up Jill’s grandmother, Edna. The two were going under the guise that Edna would be staying in Omaha for a few weeks.

Unbeknownst to Edna or her eldest daughter (who was also Edna’s caretaker), the two planned on keeping Edna in Omaha, because they suspected she was being exploited by her caregiver.

Panzer, the granddaughter, suspected something was amiss because her mother (Edna’s second of three daughters) said Edna—who had turned 90 a few years earlier—was appearing more and more confused during visits. Her eldest aunt moved into Edna’s home in the fall of 2011, months after Edna stumbled over her ottoman and injured her back.

Panzer says Edna’s eldest daughter began giving her mother the drug Lorazepam without a prescription to help Edna sleep at night and to help with her anxiety. Edna was later legally prescribed the drug. Then, the granddaughter says her youngest aunt visited Edna in July 2014. During that visit, she reported back to family in Omaha that the matriarch had a gash on her arm from a fall. She appeared extremely confused. Edna’s finances were also showing irregularities, such as missed rent payments that were due to Edna.

“IF MOM IS S TILL ALIVE, AND THE KIDS ARE HIRING LAWYERS, THEY’VE ALL JUS T LOS T.” —Susan Spahn

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“We started looking and realizing there were a bunch of little things happening,” Panzer says.

Panzer called the police and told them she and her youngest aunt (who is a licensed practical nurse) were planning to take Edna back to Omaha, just in case there would be any difficulties.

When they arrived at Edna’s house, Panzer and her youngest aunt noticed Edna wasn’t packed for the trip. Edna’s eldest daughter told Panzer that Edna wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t make the trip to Omaha.

In Edna’s home, her eldest and youngest daughter began arguing. While Edna and her daughters were talking, Panzer went to her grandmother’s room and began packing whatever clothes she could into suitcases and sacks. Panzer would later find out that many of the things she packed wouldn’t even fit her grandmother.

“I literally just packed up my entire car while those two women were going back and forth about everything,” Panzer says.

As the arguing continued, Edna began to feel ill. She went to the bathroom. Panzer tried to convince her to go back to Omaha with them. Panzer told her youngest aunt, “If I have to call the sheriff, we are leaving this house today with my grandmother.”

Panzer got her grandmother’s walker and helped her into the van. As she buckled her grandmother in, Edna’s youngest and eldest daughters were still talking. Finally, Edna’s youngest daughter got in the van with Panzer.

“I hit my power button, the sliding door in the van shut. I threw it in reverse, and we just drove,” Panzer says.

OMAHA MAGAZINE | HEALTH

PANZER CALLED THE POLICE AND TOLD THEM S HE AND HER YOUNG ES T AUNT ( WHO IS A LICENSED PR AC TICAL NURSE) WERE PL ANNING TO TAKE EDNA BACK TO OMAHA , JUST IN CASE THERE WOULD BE ANY DIFFICULTIES.

During the drive, Edna was upset.

Eventually, the mood calmed enough that they ate fried chicken at a restaurant in Broken Bow on the way back to Omaha.

When they finally arrived, Edna stayed at her youngest daughter’s home.

Panzer and her youngest aunt arranged medical evaluations for Edna. Doctors determined Edna didn’t show signs of physical abuse, but they did note her blood pressure medication was being administered improperly.

Along with scheduling medical evaluations, Panzer began making calls to close any financial accounts that Edna’s eldest daughter had access to, including Edna’s credit cards and bank accounts.

On paper, this would appear to be a challenge, because Edna’s eldest daughter’s husband was her power of attorney. All it took was Edna’s verbal OK to close many of her accounts.

“It was that stinkin’ easy. All I had to do was put my grandmother on the phone.

It’s almost criminal,” Panzer says.

As Edna’s financial and medical issues were being resolved, the matter of placing her in an assisted living center still loomed.

Neither Panzer nor her youngest aunt were able to care for Edna full time. Panzer’s mother (Edna’s middle daughter) lived hours away. Panzer says her grandmother reluctantly agreed to stay in an assisted living center for rehab, but not permanently.

“She’s buried two husbands. She’s always been a fiercely independent, proud woman,” Panzer says.

Since that Labor Day trip in 2014, Edna has continued to live in the same assisted living center. Panzer was able to get a new, independent power of attorney for Edna.

Her home in Hemingford was sold, and Panzer had to hire lawyers and go to court to evict Edna’s grandchild (the daughter of Edna’s eldest daughter) from Edna’s house.

“I don’t have a unique story,” Panzer says.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention lists the forms of elder abuse as the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of an older adult. It also lists neglect and financial exploitation as other forms of abuse. In 2016, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services reported that Adult Protective Services received 126 cases of elder abuse in Douglas and Sarpy counties.

Attorney Susan Spahn handles estate and trust matters at Endacott, Peetz & Timmer law firm. As people’s life expectancy continues to increase, so does the time when people are living in a “gray area,” which Spahn defines as a place where people are capable of living independently, but at the same time, are vulnerable to exploitation from family members, or telephone and internet-based scams.

Another issue Spahn has seen is with inheritance, and children who are expecting their inheritance to help them as they age themselves.

“If mom and dad are holding on to 95, then that means they’re approaching their retirement without their inheritance, and they don’t like that,” Spahn says.

Spahn says the best way to prevent financial elder abuse is to appoint someone they trust the most with their bills as their power of attorney.

“I tell my clients the power of attorney is more important than their will,” Spahn says. “The will isn’t pulled out until after they’re gone.”

“They can tell stories from the past that are accurate, but if you ask them to make a decision that requires thought, they cannot do it,” Spahn says.

If a person either doesn’t have children, or has children who live too far away to be an effective power of attorney, Spahn says the next best step is to appoint a corporate fiduciary to handle their financial matters.

Most banks have trust departments, where people can appoint independent financial guardians.

When a parent becomes less and less able to make financial decisions for themselves, their children are the most likely to be called to handle the finances. It’s no coincidence that the most common perpetrators of financial abuse for elders come from immediate family members.

If a parent has more than one child, Spahn says one of the best ways to alleviate family tension amongst siblings is to have the designated power of attorney provide copies of banking and financial statements, and use software like Quicken to provide online access to such information.

Spahn compares the hidden scourge of elder abuse to the rampant spousal abuse that went unreported in the middle of the 20th century. “Nobody would talk about it. And it was viewed as a civil matter,” she says.

“If one child is not willing to do that, then that’s a red f lag,” Spahn says. “If mom is still alive, and the kids are hiring lawyers, they’ve all just lost.”

Some of the biggest temptations for elder abuse comes when a family member may still be reliant on their parents for financial assistance. Then, when the parent becomes unable to handle their own financial matters, the dependent child suddenly has access to a parent’s bank account and starts writing checks to themselves, Spahn says.

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To report elder abuse, people are urged to call Adult Protective Services at 800-6521999. Callers may remain anonymous. Visit the National Center on Elder Abuse at ncea.acl.gov for more information.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | GIVING PROFILE STORY BY ALEC MCMULLEN AND DOUG MEIGS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Dr. Donna Polk and the U rban In dian

H ealth Coalition

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Donna Polk is a five-year survivor of breast cancer. She was the 2016 Honorary Komen Race Chair.

Conceptual drawing of Eagle Heights, provided by developer Arch Icon

strong medicine runs in her family.

“My grandmother—who was my first mentor, and I idolize her to this day—was a shaman,” says Donna Polk, a licensed mental health practitioner who has a Ph.D. in administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “I grew up with her laying hands on people and with people coming to her house for her to pray for them.”

Inspired by her grandmother’s work and fascinated by her Native heritage (Comanche), the young Polk set out to establish a healing legacy of her own, one that continues to this day.

From her counseling work at the Lincoln Indian Center, to her time on the Lincoln-Lancaster County Board of Health, to her directorship at No More Empty Pots, Polk has dedicated her life to serving disenfranchised communities, advocating for marginalized peoples, and fighting for more effective and accessible health care. Her work has earned her numerous accolades, including a lifetime achievement award from Voices for Children in Nebraska.

For the past 26 years, she’s continued her important work as chief executive officer of the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, where she has spearheaded an initiative to expand services and relocate the NUIHC to a new facility at the former location of the South Omaha Eagles Club.

If all goes according to plan, construction and renovation at the new site will be underway in 2019. The relocation would involve a land swap with Arch Icon Development, which has purchased the South Omaha property and four surrounding lots. Arch Icon already owns the Flats on Howard that surround the health coalition’s current location. But the land swap is not yet a sure deal.

“It all hinges on our ability to raise $7 million to cover the new building’s renovation costs,” Polk says.

Polk—or “Dr. Donna,” as she is known around the office—was born to a military family in Denver, Colorado. She spent her childhood moving from state to state, following her submariner father from assignment to assignment. “I’m from a lot of places that prepared me for living in Omaha,” she says.

In 1964, Polk’s husband was stationed at the Nike Hercules missile site near Louisville, Nebraska.

“Colored” people were not allowed to live in Louisville, so the Red Cross set up the family with a home in North Omaha. “We had lived in Maryland, so I was used to segregation,” she explains. “But I loved living in North Omaha. Like South Omaha is today, we had everything we needed.”

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | GIVING PROFILE

“That’s what I’m trying to develop in our project,” Polk says, referring to the coalition’s new initiative. “A little community for the descendants of the original settlers of this land.” Her organization serves members of the five tribes of Nebraska (and other federally recognized tribes) living in the Omaha and Lincoln metro areas. Many NUIHC services are available to the public, regardless of Native ancestry.

The NUIHC is a nonprofit organization that provides “community health care and services targeting the urban American Indian and Alaska Native population.” Services include transitional living, substance abuse treatment, sexually transmitted disease testing, funeral services, diabetes education, and youth and elder community programs, among others. Aside from its Omaha headquarters, the organization manages the Nebraska Urban Indian Medical Center in Lincoln.

Executive directors of regional Indian centers in Lincoln, Omaha, and Sioux City, Iowa, established the coalition in 1986. Polk says it originally formed to “focus on health issues, leaving the Indian centers to focus on socio-economic issues, employment, housing, financial supportive services, education, and things of that nature.”

“Now there is no Indian center in Sioux City and none in Omaha, so we hope our new facility will increase our capacity to do more in the realm of job placement, training, and there is even possible collaboration with Metropolitan Community College in the works,” she says.

“Now there is no Indian center in Sioux City and none in Omaha, so we hope our new facility will increase our capacity to do more in the realm of job placement, training, and there is even possible collaboration with Metropolitan Community College in the works.”

Polk says that a “stroke of luck and genius” brought her to the health coalition in 1991. “Genius on the part of my mentor [Syd Beane, the former director of the Lincoln Indian Center], who was leaving Nebraska for a role with the Center for Community Change in San Francisco,” she explains. Polk had been with the Lincoln Indian Center since 1985. “He said, ‘Donna, you need to really think about where you’re going to go when I leave. But I have a place for you to go.’”

That place was the coalition. “When I learned about this organization, and the fact it was health-related, and it was Native—because I knew that we had Native blood in our family—I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh!’” Polk took the job and, before long, she had established a nonprofit clinic in Lincoln. She remembers thinking, “I’m really like Grandma now!”

Omaha resident Robert O’Brien was president of the coalition’s board when Polk was hired as its executive director, and he praises her accomplishments.“I can’t say enough good things about Donna,” O’Brien says (praise that Polk reciprocates for the former board president).

“She was exactly what we needed, and you can see how far we were able to go with the clinic in Lincoln and treatment center in Omaha, and I give Donna all the credit. She is a very, very capable executive director.”

Polk emphasizes that the coalition focuses on behavioral health, youth, and families: “Our goal is to elevate the health status of urban Indian people. That encompasses everything, because you have to look at the social determinants of health—that’s housing, that’s food security, that’s a sense of well-being, being proud to be whoever it is that you are.”

In place of their existing headquarters near 24th and Howard streets, the new South Omaha location, at 23rd and N streets (tentatively named “Eagle Heights”), will include apartments and a renovated clubhouse. The expanded facility will offer additional services for the local Native and non-Native community, including housing, accommodations for elders, and additional space for cultural events.

“I want to have a recovery community,” Polk says. “A place where people who are no longer abusing alcohol and drugs can live and have their own little community.”

While they own a clinic in Lincoln, NUIHC refers patients for medical services in Omaha to the Fred Leroy Health and Wellness Clinic, which Polk says offers “Native people a place to go if they want to be served by a tribe.” The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska operates the clinic, located in the South Omaha neighborhood where NUIHC plans to relocate.

Polk laments the lack of Native representation in Omaha and hopes the new project will help reconnect the city with its Native roots. “When people think of 2226 N St., I want them to think, ‘Oh, that’s the Native community!’”

Visit nuihc.com for more information about the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 83 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

GIVING

CALENDAR JANUARY / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 8

Feb. 10 (7-9 p.m.)

DANCING WITH THE OMAHA STARS Ralston Arena

dancingwiththeomahastars.com

It’s back! Omaha stars Tony Veland, Chinh Doan, Jared Robinson, Miss Omaha, and others will strut their stuff in front of a panel of judges that includes Tom Osbourne, Mayor Jean Stothert, and Todd Schmaderer. While the Mirror Ball goes to the dancer who scores the highest, the other revered trophy in this contest is the Bella Award, given to the star who raises the most money for TeamMates.

Jan. 10 (6-9 p.m.)

OUTLAND TROPHY AWARD DINNER Benefiting: The Greater Omaha Sports Committee Location: Downtown DoubleTree —showofficeonline.com

Jan. 12 (6-9 p.m.)

CELEBRATION OF LIFE DINNER FUNDRAISER

Benefiting: Nebraskans United for Life Location: DC Centre —nebraskansunitedforlife.org

Jan. 19 (5-7 p.m.)

VICTORY BOXING CLUB SEVENTH ANNUAL BANQUET Benefiting: Victory Boxing Club Location: Bellevue Christian Center

Jan. 20 (6-10:30 p.m.)

MIDLANDS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION REFLECTION BALL

Benefiting: Midlands Community Foundation Location: Embassy Suites La Vista —midlandscommunity.org

Jan. 25 (5-9 p.m.)

Jan. 28 (5-9 p.m.)

GLOW

Benefiting: Essential Pregnancy Services Location: Embassy Suites La Vista —friendsofeps.org

Feb. 2 (5-10 p.m.)

GIRLS NITE OUT

MARIANFEST 2018: LIFE IS SWEET AT MARIAN

—girlsincomaha.org

—marianhighschool.net

Benefiting: Girls Inc. Location: Hilton Downtown

Benefiting: Marian High School Location: Omaha Hilton

Jan. 27 (5:30-10 p.m.)

ROCKIN’ ROSIE

Benefiting: The Rose Theater Guild Location: Omaha Marriott Downtown —rosetheater.org

—victoryboxingclub.org

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 84 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Feb. 3 (9 a.m.-3 p.m.)

ULTRA CHIC BOUTIQUE AND THE DRESS FLIP Benefiting: The Alzheimer’s Association Location: A View on State —maxiwalker.com/ucb

Feb. 3 (5 p.m.-midnight)

OMAHA HEART & STROKE BALL

Benefiting: American Heart Association Location: Embassy Suites La Vista —heart.org

CARNIVAL OF LOVE GALA

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Feb. 10 (6-10 p.m.)

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—heartlandfamilyservice.org

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Benefiting: Heartland Family Service Location: Embassy Suites La Vista

Thanks Omaha for 30 Years!

B

Feb. 10 (6-9 p.m.)

Oma ha ’s

OMAHA MAGAZINE | GIVING CALENDAR

2016 Winner

CURLY TAILS AND COCKTAILS

Benefiting: Pug Partners of Nebraska Location: Arbor Hall —pugpartners.com

A+ Rating 20 Consecutive Years

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Feb. 10 (10 a.m.-1 p.m.)

HEART BOMBING

Benefiting: Restoration Exchange Omaha Location: TBA —restorationexchange.org

Feb. 10 (6-11 p.m.)

SWING UNDER THE WINGS

Every Eye Deserves Extraordinary Care!

Benefiting: Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum Location: Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum —sacmuseum.org

Feb. 10 (6:30-10 p.m.)

WINTER AT THE BEACH

Benefiting: Wings of Hope Location: Mid-America Center —wingsofhope.org

Feb. 10 (11 a.m.-1 p.m.)

POLAR PLUNGE

Benefiting: Special Olympics Nebraska Location: Lake Cunningham —sone.org

Feb. 10-11 (starts 10 a.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.

Sunday)

HEARTLAND WINTER GAMES, FLOOR HOCKEY Benefiting: Special Olympics Nebraska Location: UNO Campus —sone.org

Feb. 13 (6-9 p.m.)

TEN OUTSTANDING YOUNG OMAHANS BANQUET Benefiting: Omaha Jaycees Location: Scoular Ballroom —omahajaycees.org

8

YEARS IN A ROW! THANK YOU OMAHA!

Dr. Kristen Johnson

Dr. Marsha Kubica

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JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 85 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

402-330-3000 OmahaEyeCare.com

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Event catering and personalized service for every occasion. It’s not just food, it’s a passion. We are committed to delivering great food and service to each and every customer. We believe in creativity and innovation in the culinary process and believe that if you can dream it, we can make it.

402.598.8932 TakeEmCatering.com

Mad Hatter Muffler

Delivering award-wining customer service and work for 38 years. A Best of Omaha 2018 winner—servicing daily drivers, hybrid & electric, hot rods, and anything in between.

402.330.2286 MadHatterMufflerOmaha.com

In this highly shoppable section, the City Market, you are guaranteed to discover that one unique service or special gift.

Doba Cleaning

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Reliable service at a fair price. Like our work? Recommend us and we will give you a free cleaning service!

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JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 86 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | GIVING CALENDAR Feb. 17 (7 a.m.-noon)

TREK UP THE TOWER

Benefiting: WELLCOM Location: First National Bank Tower —trekupthetower.org

Feb. 17 (4:30-10 p.m.)

MERCY: THE GOLD STANDARD (FIESTA 2018) Benefiting: Mercy High School Location: La Vista Conference Center —mercyhigh.org

Feb. 22-24 (6:30-9 p.m.)

SOLID DATA

REAL LIFE STORIES

A TASTEFUL MURDER

Benefiting: Joslyn Castle Trust Location: Joslyn Castle —joslyncastle.com

Feb. 17 (noon-4 p.m.)

BARSTOOL OPEN

Benefiting: United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska Location: The Old Market —ucpnebraska.org

Feb. 24 (1-4 p.m.)

UNCORKED

Benefiting: Angels Among Us Location: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

The Landscape is a new resource that reveals how we are faring in the most essential areas of life. Solid data is paired with stories from local residents to reveal an insightful view of the Omaha-Council Bluffs area. While some of us are doing well, others are struggling.

How does it all add up?

—myangelsamongus.org

Feb. 24 (6 p.m.-midnight)

COUNTRY SIDE OF A CURE

Benefiting: JDRF Location: CenturyLink Center

Dig into the data: TheLandscapeOmaha.org

—jdrf.org

Feb. 24 (7-11 p.m.)

PERFECT POUR

Benefiting: Nebraska Children and Families Association Location: Slowdown —nebraskachildren.org

Feb. 25 (1-5 p.m.)

ART & SOUP

Benefiting: Visiting Nurse Association Location: Embassy Suites La Vista —vnatoday.org

Event times and details may change.

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

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Coming Summer 2018 24th Annual Celebration of Spirit Dinner Honoring NANCY BOHNENKAMP, Harold’s Koffee House Owner

Sunday, March 18, 2018 4:00 - 7:30 p.m.

For details, please visit:

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Social Hour / Raffle / Silent Auction Dinner / Program

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Tickets: $85 per person / $680 per table Tickets may be purchased online at notredamesisters.org or by contacting the Advancement Office at 402.455.2994 or info@notredamesisters.org

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JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 88 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

It has been so much fun working with these vibrant people, renewing friendships, and getting acquainted with new friends. Keeping with the spirit of this special edition of 60Plus, I want to share a bit about myself, too.

H

ere is proof that 60 years old is the new 40, and 80 is the new 60.

In this edition of 60PLUS, you will see the portraits of 15 stylish and beautiful individuals. Some of their personal fashion sensibilities could be described as flamboyant. Other styles are more classic. But none of the looks featured here could be characterized as “old.”

All of these models are older than age 60. All of the pictured individuals live active lifestyles.

Each makes a significant contribution to our local society.

Along with their portraits, each has shared a bit about their lives: who they are, what they enjoy, what makes them happy, and any advice they might have. Their personal anecdotes are interesting, and the advice can be quite humorous at times.

I married young. My husband, Raymond, and I raised four wonderful sons, whom I’m very proud of. We have nine grandchildren that I enjoy as young adults.

I owned a real estate company for 30 years and was active in the real estate community. I am a past president of the Omaha Area Board of Realtors. I’m proud to have been the first woman broker member of the Nebraska Real Estate Commission.

After a very brief retirement, I started working for Omaha Magazine. I thoroughly enjoy it, and I still work full time, five days a week.

I love to entertain and have had a lot of themed parties, such as a Shakespeare party; Japanese party with members of the Japanese American Club entertaining us; German party with zither and accordion players; and a ’50s party with Elvis and Marlyn Monroe. Guests always dressed for the occasion. One of my holiday parties featured fortunetellers.

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I have known many of my friends for years, and I have enjoyed sharing wine with them.

I have also been fortunate to travel the world (I’ve been to more than 30 countries).

My family and friends bring me happiness.

Conversation, humor, and music bring me pleasure. I love music—it brings memories of the past and, yes, dreams for the future.

My style of dress might be considered classic and sometimes a little dramatic. I enjoy dressing up. It is a compliment to the people you are with and conveys respect for those around you.

I hope you enjoy the following style portraits and words of wisdom from good-looking Omaha society influencers who are thriving in their “prime time.”

Gwen Lemke Contributing Editor

From left: Tony Abbott, Ron Palagi, and Frank Skrupa

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Mary Mitchell

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Roger duRand

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Tony Abbott, 75 I was born during World War II. My father was away in the Army, and my mother went to live with her parents in Hordville, Nebraska. So, in the beginning, I was a country boy. We later moved back to South Omaha where I began grade school. In the early ’50s, we moved to a house in the Blackstone area. I finished high school at Omaha Central and began studies at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

I found work at an aquarium store called the Fin Shop on South 14th Street. While there, I met Michael Harrison. We would work together for 30 years. He passed away in 1992.

In 1969, we began work at the French Café in the Old Market. Slowly the Old Market began to grow, and so did the French Café. I’m very proud and happy to have survived 42 years in the restaurant business. During that time, the name French Café was recognized in Omaha by residents and praised by the press locally, nationally, and internationally. I was also named “Maître-Conseil en Gastronomie Française” by the French government and presented with a medal.

I married late in life and was delighted to receive two beautiful girls. Sadly, I lost one of them to cardiac arrest due to asthma.

Happiness is having wonderful friends like Ron Palagi and Frank Skrupa (among others).

I was told many years ago, “You are born to die, so make the most of the life you are given and enjoy.”

Ronald Palagi, forever young As a young boy, it was my dream to be an attorney who helped others. Yes, I’m living my dream.

I find happiness in cooking for and with loved ones and friends, and in great music and art.

I was blessed with loving parents, wonderful independent daughters, creative friends, and loves in many countries.

Laugh, cry, give thanks, and keep moving every day. Life is a mystery. Each day is an adventure.

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Frank Skrupa, 85 I was born, raised, and entirely educated in Omaha. I married the right woman, who was delightful, humorous, and hard working. I worked with Rosemary for 40 years in business, and I’m proud Credit Advisors is still around after 60 years.

I have only lived in two houses in my life: my parents’ home, and the one I moved into when I married and raised a family. I still live there now.

I am proud of the friends who helped me along the way, and my three children, Frank, Sam, and Carlo. As Rosemary, an attorney herself, would say, “Two are attorneys, and one is a success.”

What makes me happiest? BS-ing with friends over good wine and food, my children, and (in a pinch) reasonable relatives.

Humor is the secret to a good life. Also, cut back to just one bottle of wine a day. Exercise is for dogs and horses. I tried golf once but gave it up when I realized the better you get, the less you get to hit the ball.

PAGES

92 & 93

Mary Mitchell, forever young I was born in Buffalo, New York, to John and Irene Kafasis. After graduating as a fashion illustrator from the Albright Art School in conjunction with the University of Buffalo, I worked as the in-house illustrator at Flint & Kent Department Store for two years. I married John C. Mitchell, an attorney, and moved to Kearney, Nebraska.

My son, John, was born in Kearney. We eventually moved to Omaha where I worked at the Nebraska Clothing Co. for four years as their fashion illustrator. I started freelancing for about 15 retailers, doing advertising and illustrating their fashions in the World-Herald and Lincoln Journal. A few of the retailers I worked for were Topps, I. Eugene Shoes, The Wardrobe for Men, Goldstein Chapman, Natelson’s, Wolf Brothers, Zoobs, and Aquila.

In the 1980s, photography took over illustrating fashions in newspapers and magazines. It was a time of transition for the industry and for myself as well. I decided to put my skills to work for Mitchell Broadcasting Stations. John had acquired 16 radio stations in Nebraska, and I started working full time as vice president at our Omaha office, where I handled all the advertising and designed logos, newspaper layouts, billboards, and bus ads. During this time, we also got involved in ownership of two restaurants, Le Versailles and The Golden Apple.

In the meantime, I had saved over 1,000 of my original fashion illustrations. Our good friends, Anne Marie Kenny and Mary Jochim, saw some of them and asked me if they could find a venue to exhibit them. They pursued several venues and settled on The Durham Museum.

I had a four-month exhibit at The Durham Museum in 2012, which was the impetus to write my book, Drawn to Fashion. I was very fortunate to have Oscar de la Renta write the forward to my book. The exhibit traveled to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for one month, where the official dedication of the Mary Mitchell Fashion Design Studio took place in October 2012. All proceeds from the book, note cards, and prints of my illustrations go to scholarships for University of Nebraska students in fashion design. There are four scholarships each year, and the program will go on in perpetuity.

It is my fondest wish that the University of Nebraska scholarship fund can help pave the way for exciting careers for young people who are, today, just like I was as a child—dreaming of beautiful clothes, making them, drawing them, selling them, loving the creative life, and feeling that powerful urge to get involved— young people who are, just like I was, “drawn to fashion.”

I am so fortunate and grateful to have had a wonderful husband, John, who always urged me to follow my career and pursue my dreams. I am proud of our son, John, who is an outstanding person and doctor, our lovely daughter-in-law, Kathleen, and my exceptional grandchildren, Emily, John B., and his beautiful wife, Roxanne.

As far as aging gracefully, I would say, surround yourself with good friends, enjoy your life through thick and thin, and always strive to help one another. And, of course, pursue your dreams.

PAGES

94 & 95

Roger duRand, 74 I’m a designer, husband, father, and grandfather (and former “fashion guru,” according to the World-Herald).

Although I was born in Colorado, I grew up in Omaha. After I finished school, I traveled extensively in the U.S., performing a variety of jobs from folk singer and fry cook to portrait artist, art teacher, sign-painter, and illustrator, all the while passing through Omaha occasionally to work with my father as an architectural designer (as I had done from the age of 13).

I eventually gravitated back to Omaha, and became a partner in 1967 in a Midtown counter-cultural shop called The Farthest Outpost.

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When I learned of the former produce market downtown and toured the beautiful old buildings, I knew I wanted to be there. The Farthest Outpost became one of the first new businesses that opened in the Old Market in 1968. We sold the business in 1969 and opened duRand & Wright, a design-oriented shop, which I closed a year later to concentrate on my own design practice. I designed many shops, apartments, condos, logos, and advertising campaigns, and provided aesthetic counsel to nascent businesses in the growing Old Market.

Over the years, I have designed for clients across the country and in England, but the Old Market holds a special place in my affections.

In 1971, I participated in the planning commission that created the “return to the river” Central Park Mall, and the anticipated Marina City that was tragically co-opted by ConAgra.

I fought to save Jobbers Canyon from needless demolition.

In the ’80s, I served on Omaha’s Zoning Board of Appeals, and later on the Landmarks Historic Preservation Commission.

My work consists of a variety of disciplines: primary architecture, interior architecture, furniture design, lighting design, graphic design, and corporate identity.

Back in the day, I used to cut hair for rock bands. The Farthest Outpost booked San Francisco bands into the Music Box and other local venues. I even made clothes and leather goods.

My wife, Jody, and I were married 24 years ago in the Garden of the Zodiac and hosted our reception at La Buvette, closing 11th Street south of Howard Street for the party.

Life is good. I will never retire. Family, work, recreation, and travel energize me.

My advice on aging is: don’t. Stay involved in society. Stay fit and healthy. Use your special abilities. Show your love and friendship.

There’s no reason that a person of advancing years can’t look great. Style trumps fashion.

Style is art; fashion is commerce. Have the confidence to express your unique personal creativity in dress. I have acquired a great wardrobe over many years, and routinely wear items that are 40 years old. Buy the best quality and maintain conscientiously. Style is never out of style.

continued

>

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Joan Standifer

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From left: Rick Carey and David Scott

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Evelyn Zaloudek NOVEMBER // DECEMBER • 2017 / 100 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

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Stephen Hipple JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 101 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

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Kate (Laux) Geiger JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 102 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

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Les Zanotti

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Mary Jochim

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100

Joan Standifer, 75

Rick Carey and David Scott, 70s

Evelyn Zaloudek, 86

I’m a fabulous, 75-year-young woman with an attitude that embraces the joy of living.

We’re the “Style Guys,” whose lives have been filled with wonderful experiences around the world together for the past 47 years. We are both in our “Sensational 70s.”

My family moved to Omaha in 1945 from a farm in Woodbine, Iowa, where I was in the 4-H Club. My project was raising two Hereford steers, one of which won the grand champion of his class at the Harrison County Fair. I showed him at Aksarben, and he won a blue ribbon. It was a sad day when he was sold with a group of other blue-ribbon calves to a hotel in New York City. Of course, in those days, they sent the calves right over to the packing house and then shipped them back East. That was the end of my farming days.

I’m an Omaha native who raised two nowadult children: Michael, who lives in Omaha, and Monica Baker, who lives in Atlanta, Georgia. My legacy continues with granddaughter, Micka, and 8-month-old greatgranddaughter, Zaina. I am married to the marvelous love of my life, Stanley Standifer, and enjoy a blended family with his four children and seven grandchildren, and one greatgranddaughter.

David is from Kansas City, where he grew up in a construction family. He studied commercial design and fashion illustration at the University of Kansas and cosmetology in Los Angeles. After working in Atlanta’s top salon, he headed to Omaha.

My college education culminated with a master’s degree from the University of NebraskaOmaha in education administration. Over a 30-year span, I held several positions with Omaha Public Schools, retiring as an elementary principal.

Many years of my life were spent as an advocate of social equality and quality education.

I consider myself a cultural navigator, dedicated to lifelong learning and discovery of the world and its people. This philosophy has been reinforced by my travels to 75 percent of the world, and in serving on civic, social, and education boards. As a UNO-sponsored Fulbright Scholarship recipient, I traveled to Pakistan, met world leaders, and shared these experiences in presentations. Many honors and awards have been extended to me as a result of sharing my experiences.

Happiness is knowing that my life has been a beacon for my former students and members of my family. It’s rewarding to know that a former fifth-grade student of mine, to this day, regards me as the “greatest teacher ever.”

I relish the fact that at this age, I continue to make a difference in the lives of those around me.

Let your light shine so that others can walk in your path toward success in life. Let others discover their value and be willing to share of themselves for the greater good. Be honest and unpretentious in your relationships. Aging becomes less of a factor when you live by faith and have respect for mankind.

Rick was born in California. His dad worked for Douglas Aircraft during the time of Pearl Harbor. They moved back to Omaha, where he grew up. He studied theater and dance at the University of Utah, and took interior design classes at UNO. Hearing loss forced a career change, and he studied cosmetology at Capitol Beauty School. He worked at salons in NYC prior to returning to Omaha.

We connected on Labor Day in 1970 and have been traveling, studying, and using our expertise in fashion, beauty, and design to enrich our lives and the lives of those around us ever since. It’s been a fascinating trip!

We’ve received several awards throughout our career. One of the most meaningful to us was the “Industry Icon” Fashion Impact Award from the Fashion Institute Guild in 2015. However, we are most proud of conquering Rick’s cancer and now live daily by this quote from a friend: “LOBTALEM” (Living on Borrowed Time and Loving Every Moment.)

Toasting “LOBTALEM” every night with red wine, we share our lives with Lady Annabel—our cavalier spaniel.

Be kind. Get a dog, and go for walks together. Read. Keep your mind active. Dress in your style, but always make a statement.

Drink two glasses of red wine each evening.

Take care of your body and exercise. Lastly, always look in the mirror, front and back, before leaving home.

I graduated from South High where I met my handsome, hardworking, successful husband, Eugene Zaloudek. We have been married 66 years and counting. We have a son, Steven, two daughters, Wendy and Kris, and six adult granddaughters. I am blessed with nine greatgrandchildren, four boys and five girls.

Because of the Korean War draft, Gene enlisted in the Navy in 1951 and was stationed at the Olathe Kansas Naval Air Station. We lived in Bonner Springs, Kansas. Gene received orders to go to Guam, where I joined him with our 11-month-old son. Guam was quite an experience. There were Japanese guns still on the beaches and Japanese soldiers hiding in the hills. Our daughter, Wendy, was born in the new military hospital just three days after it opened.

We left the island by ship in January 1955.

After 18 days at sea, we docked at Oakland, California, where Gene received his discharge.

We returned to Omaha by train.

We bought a home in Papillion, where our daughter Kristen was born. All three of the children graduated from Papillion high schools. We built a home in Bellevue in 1974 and still reside there. I love the area, with all the wildlife, trees, and good neighbors.

I worked at Mutual of Omaha for 10 years, the Sarpy County Court judge’s office for 10 years, and in the Sarpy County office of Dakota Title & Escrow Co. for 26 years. I sat on the board of directors of Midlands Community Hospital for five years in the 1980s and saw the hospital come out of receivership.

I have volunteered in the gift shop for over 35 years.

continued to pg. 108

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continued from pg. 107 I have wonderful happy memories of skiing in Colorado, sailing on Gavin’s Point Lake on weekends, wintering in Florida after retirement, and the great trips we have made.

Many of these memories include family and good friends who are no longer with us.

We adopted a nine-year-old rescue westie, Stella, who is now 13 years old. I cannot help laughing when I call her to come into the house; it reminds me of Marlon Brando in the movie On the Waterfront. I hope I outlive her.

My advice for others? If you have a talent, share it, even if it is a green thumb. I have given away many varieties of hostas that I have collected over the years.

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Stephen Hipple, 68 I’m just a guy who loves wine, food, friends, parties, dogs, hunting, motorcycle riding, traveling, and—most of all—my wonderful wife and children.

Some of my most cherished accomplishments include organizing wine and food festivals around the world for the International Wine & Food Society (a nonprofit organization), riding my BMW motorcycle from Omaha to the southernmost tip of South America, and learning there are many more good people in this world than bad.

What brings me happiness? My friends, wife, children, and dog Charlie (a longhaired black dachshund).

Here’s my advice for living life: If you’re having a bad day, instead of whining, wine a little.

Don’t get hung up on trying to look like you’re 17 again. All that will do is make you feel bad.

If you want to look great at any age, be sure to exercise, eat healthy, and drink two glasses of fine wine every day.

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104

Kate (Laux) Geiger, 80

Les Zanotti, 81

I am proud of my Duchesne upbringing. It was part of my daily life as a student, and it continues to be part of my daily life to this day.

I grew up in a small Iowa farming town with a population of 400. I attended the University of Iowa on a baseball scholarship and graduated with a business degree. After serving in the military and working two sales jobs, I started an executive search business here in Omaha at age 31. After almost 34 years, I sold my business to one of my employees and retired.

I married Jerry Geiger, an ophthalmologist, on Dec. 31, 1960. Jerry served two tours as a flight commander in Vietnam.

After his internship at the old Methodist hospital, we left for Pensacola, Florida. After that, we went to Newport, Rhode Island, and then Coronado, California. We moved to upstate New York for his residency in ophthalmology, and we moved back to Nebraska in 1975. We traveled a lot for medical meetings and spent many winters in Arizona.

At age 81, I don’t really feel any different from how I felt 20 years ago.

During our time on the East Coast, we sometimes took weekends to drive around the historic mansions of Newport, Rhode Island. One was the Auchincloss Mansion, where Jackie Kennedy grew up. We once saw President John F. Kennedy and Mrs. Kennedy playing golf. They waved and said, “Hi and welcome.” I held up our two boys and said, “We have a John-John also!” They were very gracious.

I am happiest when busy—whether alone, with great friends, or with our beautiful family. Food and wine are the common denominators with our best friends. Most of them have great cellars and all like sharing.

I love to cook. When the kids came home from school, they would open the refrigerator and ask who moved to town, was sick, or died. I always made twice what we needed. It became a running joke.

When I am cooking, I am the happiest. I’ve enjoyed hosting parties for 50-to-100-person crowds, friends, and people I love.

One time, I was cooking a beef tenderloin (the same way I had done for 30 years), and Jerry came in the kitchen three times. He asked, “Is this the way to do this?” I waved the knife in the air and said, “I’ll tell you what. I will go to surgery with you tomorrow and help you.

Need I say more?”

I’m very proud of our four children—two boys and two girls—and nine grandchildren; they are all remarkable young adults.

Jerry and I have adjusted quite well to each other after 57 years. Love and faith help.

PAGE

Our daughter and her husband have blessed us with three grandchildren, who are all honor students and have competed in various sports all through high school. What great fun and thrills for Grandpa and Grandma!

“You don’t look your age” is what I like to hear. I have a brother who is 12 years older and doesn’t look 93. Maybe it’s the genes.

I am the same weight as in high school. We eat out quite a lot, so it’s hard to eat healthy foods always; however, I do try to avoid fatty foods.

I suffered a heart attack in 1999. Ever since, I have taken a brisk two-mile walk every day, first thing in the morning.

If you want to look your very best at any age, I feel that you must be active and keep moving the best you can—and drink wine!

PAGES

105

Mary Jochim, 67 I have joy in my heart. I am a very positive, can-do person. When nothing is going right, I’ll go left. I am 40 years old plus shipping and handling.

My favorite childhood book was The Little Engine That Could. I believe in possibilities not only for myself, but for others. Nothing is more gratifying than helping someone find options that make the impossible possible. If you aren’t happy where you are, move—you’re not a tree. I’ll be glad to help.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 108 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

My career has been in the world of investments. I didn’t realize when I started that it was such a non-traditional career for women.

It still is. Fewer than 30 percent of financial advisers are female, and less than 12 percent operate as I do, as registered investment advisers. After 19 years in the business, I started my own company, Sterling Financial Advisors. This year I will celebrate 40 years in the business and Sterling will celebrate 20 years.

I am very proud of the way my four brothers and I took care of our mother in her life. She raised us as a single parent against the odds.

I’m proud that I do not cuss, ever. (Thanks, Mom!) Together with my favorite cousin, Linda Dorothy of Omaha, we have rejuvenated our annual Glesmann family reunions.

Instead of 20 people, we have more than 80 relatives attending. We’ve had German luaus, Texas round-ups, “Vegas Baby,” and a road rally. In 2016, the reunion was called “Nacho Ordinary Reunion.” Last year, it was “Our Big Fat German Wedding.” We’ve even held a Halloween-style picnic in our family cemetery. The reunions, along with social media, have helped us to build a close family feeling—the most important thing to us—that extends to both coasts.

I like to build community, whether it is in my neighborhood, at work, with people waiting in line to license their car, or one other person in an elevator. I want people to feel better about who they are after talking to me. I also like to entertain, especially with theme parties. I’ve even had a “20,000 Martinis Under the Sea Party.” The total eclipse in 2017 was a phenomenal opportunity to gather friends.

The entertainment was out of this world!

Begin with the end in mind (because no one gets out of life alive). I want to play the long game—the really long game: eternity. My desired destination is heaven. Making that commitment provides me the structure to work living my life backward. If I keep my destination in focus, then it is a matter of making good choices between now and then.

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Negativity is like drinking poison. It will show in your face. The best makeup is a smile. Lastly, never cut your own bangs!

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402.884.7644

continued to pg. 111

12301 N 149TH CIRCLE | BENNINGTON, NE 68007

www.ridgewoodseniorcommunity.com

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 109 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

There’s a lot to at

cheer about

For starters, our lifestyle. We don’t settle for providing a place for people to just stay. Instead, we seek to make every part of every day truly engaging to the individuals who live with us — providing them with real joy and fulfillment. Here, we’re all about experiences.

Do more. Engage more. Live more.

Call for more information about the CountryHouse approach to memory care.

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OUR MILITARY FAMILIES A HELPING HAND.

Wounded Warriors Family Support (WWFS) is an independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for our combat wounded.

Earning Charity Navigator’s highest four-star rating, WWFS serves veterans and their families across the country in a variety of ways: Respite, Family Retreats, Mobility-equipped Vehicles and Welding Training.

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JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 110 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

continued from pg. 109 PAGE

Remodeling•Updates Mobility Needs

106

Kathy Italia, 67 I was born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa. I’ve been in the beauty industry for the past 27 years and presently work at Creative Hair Design. I am a licensed esthetician and nail technician.

A Division of 2018 WINNER

12739 Q Street • 402.408.1990 www.KohllsModSquad.com

In my 50s, I went back to school while still working to become an esthetician. Skin care has been a passion of mine since I was a teenager. It was quite an accomplishment to train my brain to learn a new business, study, and take tests again. I love what I do and appreciate the relationship I have with many great clients whom I consider friends. I feel very grateful to work at the No. 1 salon in Omaha.

SM

When I’m not working, I love to spend time at our lake house in the Ozarks.

VISIT PEARLEVISION.COM TO SCHEDULE YOUR EYE EXAM*

My motto has always been to grab all the gusto of every day…and not to get old, but to fight it all the way! We have the choice to keep a young attitude and look our best at all times.

There is no excuse not to.

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Joe Italia, 69 I was born and raised in Omaha. I’ve been in the fashion industry for 42 years and presently work at Lindley’s Clothing.

FAMILY OWNED, FAMILY FOCUSED.

After attending Benson High School and UNO, I served for four years in the United States Air Force. I am the proud father of two sons.

COME SEE FOR YOURSELF W H AT T H E D I F F E R E N C E I S !

Providing personalized care with compassion and dignity.

My family—especially my granddaughter, Lilly—brings me much happiness. Maintaining good health, playing golf, having good friends, good food, and good wine are other sources of joy in my life.

My advice for living life is to promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind, be too large for worry, too noble for anger, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

The key to growing old gracefully is to consider yourself advanced, but not old, and dress in modern fashion.

A S S I S T E D L I V I N G A N D M E M O RY C A R E 14325 Eagle Run Drive / Omaha, NE 68164 / 402.498.9554 www.parsonshouseoneaglerun.com JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 111 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

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Members of Vetter Senior Living

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Read Omaha Magazine, plant trees!

The initiative, called Print Relief, plants the number of trees equal to our printing needs by calculating the trees consumed by the printing of our magazine. We plant the number of trees equal to our tree usage in endangered forests in Brazil, Mexico, Madagascar, the Dominican we will plant a tree Republic, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia.

For every tree-worth of paper we use printing OMAHA MAGAZINE.

IN THE NEXT YEAR ALONE, THIS INTERNATIONAL PrintReleaf certified partner.

PROGRAM WILL ALLOW US TO BE RESPONSIBLE Please recycle your used magazines.

FOR THE PLANTING OF ALMOST 11,096 SAPLINGS AROUND THE GLOBE.

BY LISA LUKECART PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 112 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OBVIOUSLY OMAHA

01

STORY BY LIZ STEVENS // PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

Winter Excursions Six Ways to Brave the Nebraska Cold this Winter

GOT CABIN FEVER? Make plans to venture into the blistering cold for some fun this winter,

02

but don’t forget to bundle up. Whether you’re an experienced athlete or looking to burn a few of those lingering holiday calories—your winter adventure awaits!

01.

MT. CRESCENT

17026 Snowhill Lane Honey Creek, Iowa 713-545-3850 skicrescent.com There’s a mountain in the Omaha area?

Well, kind of. If your heart yearns for rolling hills covered in a thick blanket of immaculate snow, there is no need to venture more than 15 miles outside of Omaha. Mt. Crescent Ski Area is the perfect place to hone your skiing abilities or learn how to ski and snowboard for the first time.

02. UNO OUTDOOR VENTURE CENTER

TRIPS

6001 Dodge St. 402-554-2258 unomaha.edu/student-life/wellness/ campus-recreation/ovc Located in the campus wellness center (aka the HPER Building), Outdoor Venture Center hosts an epic Minnesota winter excursion with dogsledding, snowshoeing, and crosscountry skiing (Jan. 2-6); a Wyoming snow skiing and snowboarding trip (Jan. 12-15); and wilderness first aid program (Feb. 17-19). The trips are open to UNO students and the general public. Register on the OVC page of the UNO website. The center also rents snowshoes and skis to the public.

03. ICE FISHING Visit Nebraska Game and Parks’ website for seasonal ice fishing updates. outdoornebraska.gov/fishing Grab an ice auger, poles, bait, and a bucket to sit on. If you or a friend have a heated ice hut, then you’re in luck. Ice fishing is fun for the whole family. Just make sure there are 4 inches or more of ice. Ice fishing is the perfect way to spend a cold winter day. The variety and quantity of fish in Standing Bear Lake makes it one of Omaha’s best locations for ice fishing. Other local ice fishing destinations include Lake Manawa, Cunningham Lake, Lake Zorinsky, and any other popular fishing waters.

04. TOP SLEDDING HILLS Omaha is home to some of the state’s best sledding hills. Take the kids or unleash your own inner child. Memorial Park (go to the north entrance off 56th Street and Underwood Avenue) is one of Omaha’s go-to sledding hills. Alternatively, visit Spring Lake Park in South Omaha and see which of your friends can make it to the bottom of the hill first. If there isn’t enough snow outside for sledding, race down hills of man-made snow at Clemmons Park in Fremont.

05. LOESS HILLS SNOWSHOEING 27792 Ski Hill Loop Honey Creek, Iowa 712-545-3283 pottcoconservation.com Stop by Hitchcock Nature Center with your snowshoes and engage in one of winter’s more tranquil outdoor activities. Hitchcock Nature Center consists of 1,268 acres with a trail running through the Loess Hills.

Walk through freshly fallen snow and take in the winter wonderland scenery. Register online for winter snowshoe hikes led by Pottawattamie Conservation staff (snowshoe rental included with $5 admission).

03

04

05

06. CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING Did someone say cross-country skiing in Omaha? You don’t have to travel outside of the city to hone your skiing skills. Test your endurance at Elmwood Park’s golf course (situated nearby the UNO Outdoor Venture Center, if you need rental gear). Try cross-country skiing on the 770 acres of Zorinsky Lake Park, or venture out to Eugene T. Mahoney State Park for some of the best snowcovered trails in Omaha area.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 113 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

06

-2017-

Omaha, 1929

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 114 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | HISTORY STORY BY MAX SPARBER // PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY THE DURHAM MUSEUM // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

EBRASKA HAS SPENT

the past year celebrating its 150th anniversary as a state, and this seems about as good a time as any to look at some recent and forthcoming local anniversaries.

First and foremost, this past year was the 150th anniversary of Omaha losing something very particular. When Nebraska was first founded, Omaha was its territorial capitol. This was always an unpopular move, largely because there were likely more people south of the Platte River than north, and so picking a northern city was seen as being a poor representation of the state’s population.

The location of the capitol was the source of considerable friction for many years. In 1867, when Nebraska was made a state, it was moved to Lincoln, south of the Platte.

This was, in its own way, a final humiliation for Stephen Douglas, who drafted the legislation that created the state of Nebraska and after whom Douglas County was named. Douglas had, years earlier, dated a woman named Mary Todd—who went on to marry Abraham Lincoln.

Douglas had been the Democratic candidate for president, but members of his party were so offended by Douglas’s politicking in the creation of Kansas and Nebraska (abolitionists, in particular, were furious that his legislation left the question of slavery up to the states) that they broke off and formed their own party, the Republican Party. They would nominate Lincoln as their presidential candidate, and he would beat Douglas.

And now, at long last, the capitol of Nebraska would be moved from a county named after Douglas to a city named after Lincoln.

This past year also marked the 100th anniversary of Boys Town, Father Edward J. Flanagan’s long-lasting and remarkably successful experiment—a self-contained, self-governed community designed to help at-risk youth (originally exclusively boys).

Although Flanagan, a native of Ireland, was likely partially inspired by movements for Irish self-rule in conceiving of a place where children ruled over themselves, Boys Town was very much a product of Omaha.

Flanagan had originally sought to address a large number of itinerant laborers who used Omaha as a weigh station, creating a “workingman’s hotel” for those who were broke and needed a hand up.

But Flanagan soon found that there was a permanent underclass of adult men with chronic substance abuse problems and endless legal woes, most of whom seemed impossible to help. He realized he had to reach these men before they became adults, and so the idea for Boys Town was born.

2017 also marked a more contentious anniversary, the conclusion of Omaha’s attempts to annex several once-independent communities. Omaha has always been rather quick to annex nearby town and villages, and the city looked to absorb Dundee and South Omaha in 1915. But many residents weren’t eager to become part of Omaha and fought the annexation, mounting a two-year court battle that ultimately proved futile. Florence and Benson were also annexed in 1917.

The milestones keep on rolling. One hundred years ago, Fort Omaha set up its balloon school. The school was part of a series of experiments that would eventually lead to the development of the Air Force. In this instance, the school trained soldiers in the use of dirigibles, primarily for the sake of reconnaissance and forward observation for artillery.

Oooh, burn ! Lincoln got the girl and became president. Then the capitol of Nebraska moved from a county named after Douglas to a city named after Lincoln .

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 115 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

Many of these soldiers went on to put this into practice during World War I, anchoring their balloons near the front lines in France, mapping the terrain, reporting enemy troop activities, and directing artillery where to target their munitions. This was a risky undertaking, as the dirigibles were appealing and poorly defended.

Several German f lying aces made their reputations as “balloon busters” for specifically targeting the dirigibles.

2017 was the 75th anniversary of another wartime venture, the 1942 Omaha scrap metal drive. The drive was started in response to a crisis in America’s steel factories, which were so overtaxed by the war effort that several were closing down.

Omaha World-Herald publisher Henry Doorly conceived of a three-week scrap metal drive to provide badly needed raw materials.

At the end of the drive, Omahans had managed to locate or donate 67,000 tons of metal.

The drive was so successful that it inspired a national scrap drive.

Now what? With the turning of the new year, what milestones can Omahans look forward to commemorating?

Here’s one for 2018: This is the 30th anniversary of one of the greatest quotes in political history, which came to us in 1988 courtesy of a vice presidential debate at the Civic Auditorium. The candidates were Republican Dan Quayle and Democrat Lloyd Bentsen.

The young, conventionally handsome Quayle styled himself after President John F. Kennedy, at least in terms of his senatorial experience (his actual style drew heavily from a Robert Redford film called The Candidate.) When Quayle made the mistake of mentioning Kennedy, Bentsen shot back at him, “Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.”

The line has since become political shorthand to def late pretentious, self-serving statements from politicians, although it probably should be noted that Quayle, and his fellow candidate George H.W. Bush, would go on to win the election.

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING // FEATURE STORY BY SARAH​W ​ ENGERT // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

DESPITE​ ​HIS​ ​RETIREMENT​ f​ rom​ ​a​ ​long,​

fruitful​ ​career​ ​in​ ​t he​ ​restaurant​ ​business, Chuck Caniglia​ c​ an​ s​ till​ b​ e​ f​ ound​ d​ oing​ w ​ hat​ ​ he​ ​loves​ ​best.

“You​ c​ aught​ m ​ e​ w ​ ith​ m ​ y​ h​ ands​ f​ ull. I​ ’m​ m ​ aking​ ​ homemade​ ​Venice​ ​Inn​ ​pizza,” says Caniglia, washing​ ​up​ ​and​ ​settling​ ​in​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​the​ ​story​ ​ of​ ​his​ ​tenure​ ​serving​ ​up warm hospitality alongside​ ​great​ ​food.

The​ ​Caniglia​ ​family​ ​famously​ ​lit​ ​up​ ​t he​ ​ Omaha​ r​ estaurant​ s​ cene​ f​ or​ d​ ecades,​ w ​ ith local​ ​ favorites​ ​like​ ​Caniglia’s​ ​Pizzeria​ ​(which​ ​ introduced​ ​pizza​ ​to​ ​Omaha​ ​after​ ​World War​ ​ II), ​Caniglia’s​ ​Italian​ ​Steakhouse, Mister​ ​C’s​ ​ Steakhouse, ​A l​ ​Caniglia’s Drawing Room, Palazzo​ ’​ Taliano, Luigi’s, T ​ op​ o​ f​ t​ he​ W ​ orld​ a​ t​ ​ Woodmen​ T ​ ower, a​ nd​ o​ thers.​ A ​ longstanding​ ​ cornerstone​ ​of​ ​t his​ ​culinary​ ​empire​ ​was​ ​ Chuck’s​ ​father​ ​Eli​ ​Caniglia’s Venice​ ​Inn​ ​at​ ​ 69th​ a​ nd​ P ​ acific streets,​ w ​ hich​ o​ pened​ i​ n​ 1​ 957.

Caniglia​ ​started​ ​pitching​ ​in​ ​at​ ​his​ ​father’s​ ​ restaurant​ ​at​ ​age​ ​13,​ ​and​ ​his younger brother​ ​ Jerry​ ​later​ ​followed​ ​in​ ​his​ ​footsteps.​ ​W hen​ ​Eli​ ​ passed​ ​away​ ​in​ ​1983,​ ​the brothers​ ​took​ ​up​ ​the​ ​ mantle​ ​and​ ​ran​ ​Venice​ ​Inn​ ​until​ ​it​ ​closed​ ​in​ ​ 2014.​ ​Caniglia​ was there​ ​until​ ​the​ ​bittersweet​ ​ end;​ he locked​ ​the​ ​doors​ ​for​ ​the​ ​last​ ​time​ ​on​ ​ the restaurant’s final​ ​day​ ​of​ ​business.

“I​ n ​ ever​ w ​ orked​ a​ nywhere​ e​ lse,”​ C ​​​ aniglia says.​ “That​ w ​ as​ o​ ur​ l​ ife,​ w ​ e​ f​ elt​ h ​ onored​ t​ o continue​ ​ Dad’s​ ​work,​ ​and​ ​we​ ​enjoyed​ ​our​ ​customers​ ​ so​ ​much. I​ ​miss​ ​interacting with them​ ​the​ ​ most.​ ​We​ ​had​ ​very​ ​loyal​ ​customers​ ​and​ ​got​ ​ hundreds​ ​of​ ​letters​ ​before​ ​we closed​ ​telling​ ​us​, ‘Congratulations​ a​ nd​ b​ est​ w ​ ishes,​ b​ ut​ w ​ e​ d ​ on’t​ ​ want​ ​you​ ​to​ close.’​ ​It was​ ​very​ ​bittersweet.​ ​But​ ​ we’re​ ​happy​ ​now,​ ​even​ ​though​ ​we​ ​do​ ​miss​ ​it.”

Around​ C ​ huck’s​ 7​ 0th​ b​ irthday,​ a​ fter​ d ​ ecades​ in​ ​the​ ​demanding,​ ​labor-intensive restaurant​ ​ business,​ ​t he​ ​Caniglia​ ​brothers​ ​decided​ ​it​ ​ was​ ​time​ ​to​ ​retire​ ​a nd spend​ ​more​ ​time​ ​ with​ ​family.​ ​With​ ​a ll​ ​their​ ​children​ ​a lready​ ​ invested​ ​in​ ​their​ ​own careers,​ ​there​ ​was​ ​no​ ​ one​ ​to​ ​pass​ ​the​ ​restaurant​ ​on​ ​to​— ​​and​ ​that’s​ ​ when​ ​another family​ ​entered​ ​the​ ​picture.​ ​

Brothers J​ amie​ a​ nd​ N ​ ick​ S​ aldi​ e​ xpressed interest in the site,​ ​and​ ​that’s​ ​when​ ​Chuck​ ​and​ ​ Jerry​ ​analyzed​ ​things​ ​and​ ​decided​ ​the​ ​time​ ​ was right​ ​to​ ​close​ ​Venice​ ​Inn​ ​a nd​ ​sell​ ​the​ ​ land.​ ​The​ ​Saldis​ ​own​ ​Legends​ ​Patio​ ​Grill​ ​&​ Bar locations​ ​in​ ​Omaha’s​ ​Cherry​ ​Creek​ ​and​ ​ Lincoln’s​ ​Haymarket.

“It’s​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​cool​ ​that​ ​our​ ​property has​ ​been​ ​ sold​ t​ o​ t​ he​ S​ aldis, b​ ecause​ t​ hey’re​ t​ wo brothers​ ​ also,” ​​Caniglia says. “So, ​those​ ​t wo​ ​brothers​ ​ will​ c​ arry​ o​ n​ t​ he​ l​ egacy​ o​ f​ o​ ur family​ p​ roperty.”

The​ ​Saldi​ ​brothers​ ​are​ ​on​ ​track​ ​to​ ​open​ ​their​ ​ third​ ​Legends​ ​location​ ​on​ ​the​ ​old​ ​Venice Inn​ ​ grounds​ ​in​ ​March​ ​2018. The​ ​development,​ dubbed​ ​A ksarben​ ​Pointe, ​w ill​ ​house​ ​ two additional, yet-to-be-named​ ​tenants.

“We​ ​both​ ​went​ ​to​ ​U NO, ​so​ ​we’re​ ​familiar​ ​ with​ t​ he​ A ​ ksarben​ a​ rea​ a​ nd​ h ​ ad​ been seeking​ ​ an​ ​opportunity​ ​in​ ​the​ ​area​ ​for​ ​a​ ​long​ ​time,”​ ​ Nick says. “When​ t​ he​ V ​ enice​ I​ nn spot​ b​ ecame​ available, ​we​ ​jumped​ ​on​ ​it​ ​right​ ​away​ ​a nd​ ​ we’re​ ​excited​ ​to​ ​be there.”

He​ ​d escribes​ ​L egends​ ​a s​ ​a​ “sportsthemed​ ​r estaurant.”

“I​ ​try​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​using​ ​the​ ​term​ ​‘sports​ ​bar’​ ​ because​ ​it​ ​really​ ​is​ ​family friendly,”​ ​Nick says.​ ​ “Most​ o​ f​ o​ ur​ c​ lientele​ [​ at​ t​ he​ o​ riginal​ L ​ egends]​ ​ is​ ​the​ ​neighborhood,​ ​family crowd, ​and​ ​we​ ​ have​ ​many​ ​repeat​ ​customers.​ ​As​ ​a​ ​customer,​ ​ you​ h ​ ave​ a​ thousand places​ y​ ou​ c​ ould​ g​ o​ t​ o​ g​ et​ ​ a​ b​ urger​ a​ nd​ a​ ​ c​ old​ b​ eer,​ b​ ut​ w ​ hat​ s​ ets​ u ​ s​ a​ part​ ​ is​ ​that​ ​we try​ ​to​ ​create​ ​the​ ​right​ ​culture​ ​and​ ​ experience​ ​for​ ​each​ ​customer​ ​and​ ​employee.”

Caniglia​ ​says​ ​that​ ​same​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​ customer​ ​experience​ ​is​ ​what​ ​facilitated Venice​ ​ Inn’s​ ​longevity.

“If​ y​ ou​ h ​ ave​ a​ ​ g​ ood​ r​ estaurant, y​ ou​ s​ erve​ g​ ood​ food​ ​at​ ​a​ ​reasonable​ ​price, ​you​ ​treat your​ ​ customers​ ​well, and​ ​you’re​ ​a lways​ ​there​ ​to​ ​ greet​ ​them, you​ ​can’t​ ​miss,” Caniglia says.

“That’s​ ​what​ ​my​ ​father​ ​taught​ ​me.”

The​ ​Venice​ ​Inn​ ​was​ ​so​ ​successful​ ​at​ ​creating​ ​t hat​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​community​ ​a nd​ ​loyalty that people​ ​still​ ​approach​ ​Caniglia​ ​with​ ​stories​ ​of​ ​how​ ​the​ ​restaurant​ ​was​ ​an important backdrop​ ​for their​ ​first​ ​dates, family​ ​celebrations, ​and​ ​other​ ​milestone​ ​events.

“People​ ​love​ ​to​ ​share​ ​their​ ​memories​ ​of​​ ​occasions​ ​at​ ​Venice​ ​Inn,” Caniglia says. “They’ll​ ​ say, ‘Oh, we​ h ​ ad​ o​ ur​ p​ renuptial​ d ​ inner​ t​ here,’​ or​ ‘We​ ​had​ our anniversary​ ​party​ ​there,’ ​and​ ​ that​ ​makes​ ​me​ ​feel​ ​good.”

Soon, the​ ​Saldis​ ​w ill​ ​welcome​ ​neighbors​ ​to​ make​ ​new​ ​memories​ ​at​ ​L egends. Although they are building a new restaurant structure, the brothers maintain a​​special​​reverence​​ for​ ​t he​ ​past.

“In​ ​our​ ​L egends​ ​concept​ ​we​ ​have​ ​party​ ​ rooms,​ ​and​ ​it’s​ ​a​ ​big​ ​theme​ ​of​ ​what​ ​we​ ​do​ ​ as far​ ​as​ ​hosting​ ​receptions, ​birthdays, ​and​ ​ special​ ​events​ ​for​ ​people,” Nick says. “So, I told​ ​Chuck​ ​I’d​ ​like​ ​to​ ​name​ ​one​ ​of​ ​our​ ​ party​ ​rooms ‘The​ ​Venice​ ​Inn​ ​Room’​ ​and​ ​do a memory​ w ​ all​ t​ here. H ​ e​ a​ greed​ t​ o​ s​ hare​ s​ ome​ memorabilia​ t​ hat​ w ​ ill​ l​ et​ u ​ s create something​ to​ ​keep​ ​that​ ​building, ​that​ ​was​ ​so​ ​iconic​ ​in​ ​ Omaha​ f​ or​ s​ o​ l​ ong, a​ live on​ o​ ne of​ o​ ur​ w ​ alls.”

“I’m​ ​very​ ​honored​ ​that​ ​they​ ​want​ ​to​ ​do​ ​a​ ​ Venice​ ​Inn​ ​memory​ ​wall​ ​in​ ​t heir​ ​place,” Caniglia says. “The​ ​Saldis​ ​a re​ ​t he​ ​nicest​ ​ people, ​a nd​ ​they​ ​were​ ​great​ ​to​ ​work​ ​with.

We made​ t​ he​ b​ est​ c​ hoice​ s​ elling​ o​ ur​ p ​ roperty​ ​ to​ ​them. There’s​ ​nobody​ ​else​ ​I’d​ ​have rather​ ​ sold​ ​to​ ​than​ ​the​ ​Saldis.”

The​ f​ eeling​ i​ s​ m ​ utual.​ Jamie says​ t​ heir​ f​ amilies​ connected​ ​while​ ​sharing​ ​their​ ​stories, and they enjoyed ​getting​ ​to​ ​k now​ ​the Caniglia brothers​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​sale process.

“When​ ​we​ ​first​ ​created​ ​a​ ​relationship​ ​w ith​ the​ ​Caniglias,​ ​we​ ​hit​ ​it​ ​off​ ​right​ ​away,” ​Nick says.​ ​“We​ ​talked​ ​very​ ​little​ ​about​ ​real​ ​estate​ and​ ​t he​ ​property,​ ​but​ ​a​ ​lot about restaurants.​ We’re​ ​a​ ​very​ ​d ifferent​ ​c oncept​ ​t han​ ​t hey​ ​ had,​ ​but​ ​it’s​ ​remarkable​ ​how much​ ​t heir​ ​core​ values​ ​a nd​ ​ours​ ​a lign​ ​in​ ​t he​ ​sense​ ​t hat​ ​t hey​ take​ ​care​ ​of​ ​t heir​ ​people and​ ​t heir​ ​customers,​ and​ ​we​ ​a im​ ​to​ ​do​ ​t he​ ​same.”

Visit legendsomaha.com for more information about the restaurant concept coming to Aksarben Pointe.

“I’M​ ​V ERY​ ​HONORED​ ​T HAT​ ​T HEY​ ​WANT​ ​TO​ ​DO​ ​A​ ​V ENICE​ ​INN​ ​M EMORY​ ​WALL​ ​IN​ ​T HEIR​ ​PLACE,” CANIGLIA SAYS. “THE​ ​S ALDIS​ ​A RE​ ​T HE​ ​NICEST​ ​PEOPLE, ​A ND​ ​T HEY​ ​W ERE​ ​GREAT​ ​TO​ ​WORK​ ​W ITH. WE MADE​ ​T HE​ ​BEST​ ​CHOICE​ SELLING​ ​OUR​ ​PROPERTY​ ​TO​ ​T HEM. THERE’S​ ​N OBODY​ ​ELSE​ ​I’D​ ​H AVE RATHER​ ​SOLD​ ​TO​ ​T HAN​ ​T HE​ ​S ALDIS.” JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 116 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING // PROFILE STORY BY TAMSEN BUTLER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 118 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Richard Mendoza

THE MOST COMMON misunderstanding new

customers have when approaching El Arepón is that they’re going to walk away with a platter of tacos or some other Mexican fare.

“South American food is not the same as Mexican food,” explains Richard Mendoza, the Venezuelan food truck’s co-owner. “It’s not spicy—we focus on the flavor base and not on how hot it is. Our food is fresh and tropical rather than spicy.”

Mendoza doesn’t mind needing to educate customers about Venezuelan food; in fact, he’s happy to do it. “We have to teach people that not every food truck in Omaha is a Mexican food truck,” he says.

Customers who walk up to the truck expecting tacos typically walk away with a dish of empanadas or pabellón criollo (Mendoza’s favorite) with a side of fried plantains—and they usually wind up coming back. “It starts with curiosity and then they become faithful customers,” he says.

Arepas are a popular South American dish of ground corn flour patties topped with various ingredient options: meat, eggs, tomatoes, salad, cheese, and more. Arepas give Mendoza’s food truck its name, and the dish is a cornerstone of the diet in his native country. Arepas in Venezuela could be breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack in between. At least they used to be—until the country’s food shortage became a full-blown crisis in recent years.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 119 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING // PROFILE

The food truck is Mendoza’s gift to the Omaha community that welcomed and embraced him upon his arrival in 2000 from Venezuela. It’s his hope that offering Venezuelan cuisine will help Omaha understand that Venezuela is “full of good people,” he says, adding a political opinion about the nation’s crumbling economy: “The government in Venezuela is a joke. It’s not who we are as a country, and we deserve better.”

Mendoza says that the people currently living in Venezuela—including his friends and family—are all at risk. “Nobody is safe there. My people suffer every day.

They don’t even have basic necessities like toilet paper,” he says.

Venezuela’s ongoing food crisis inspired his food truck ’s launch in May 2017.

Mendoza wants to show his adopted home that Venezuela should be known for more than just Miss Universe; there’s also “the good culture and food and traditions that we can bring to people. This is what I can do to offer to our city’s diversity.”

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 120 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

What he didn’t realize is that the food truck would become a mutual meeting ground for various South American populations within the city. “I didn’t know there were so many South American immigrants in Omaha!” He says that the food truck provides a place for the South American community to meet and socialize. “Some of my Colombian customers meet up at the food truck and organize outings together.” He’s pleased that his food truck helps bring people together.

Arepas from top to bottom: pabellon (Venezuela’s “national dish” with refried beans, shredded beef, fried plantains, a whole egg, and cheese), reina-pepiada (shredded chicken with creamy avocado salad), and llanera (grilled steak with tomato salad and fresh farmer’s cheese)

Although he dreamt of opening a restaurant or food truck upon arriving in the United States, it was a trip to Venezuela with coowner and business partner Jose Miguel Garcia in 2013 that put the plans solidly into motion. Originally from Mexico, this was Garcia’s first trip to Venezuela.

“He found Venezuela beautiful and fell in love with the people and the food,” Mendoza says. “He said that if we sell this food in the United States people will love it.” Since they didn’t have the budget to open a restaurant, they opted for the food truck instead. They figured a food truck was a safe investment and less expensive than opening a restaurant.

He attributes the success of the food truck to a few different aspects: the people of Omaha have taken to the Venezuelan food eagerly, the food is delicious and carefully prepared while fresh, and Mendoza’s motto for the food truck: “The food has to be great, but the service has to be the greatest.”

The food served at El Arepón is authentic and fresh. “It’s all made from scratch,” Mendoza says. “Inside the truck there are no cans and nothing from preservatives.” He says everything is gluten-free and there are vegetarian and vegan menu options available, making it a welcome addition to Omaha’s food truck roster for Omahans with dietary restrictions.

For now, the El Arepón food truck can be found in the Kohl’s parking lot on South 72nd Street, right across from Nebraska Furniture Mart. The truck is also available for special events. As the days grow shorter in the colder months, their operating hours will vary. Their Facebook page (@elareponomaha) provides updated hours.

“Omaha is my home,” Mendoza says. “I’m thankful for Omaha, and I’m grateful to America. It’s the home I was looking for. I’ve learned so much from this city. This is what I can offer to them and give back a little of what I received from Omaha.”

Visit elareponomaha.com for more information.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 121 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

“

OMAHA IS MY HOME,” MENDOZA SAYS. “I’M THANKFUL FOR OMAHA, AND I’M GRATEFUL TO AMERICA. IT’S THE HOME I WAS LOOKING FOR. I’VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THIS CITY. THIS IS WHAT I CAN OFFER TO THEM AND GIVE BACK A LITTLE OF WHAT I RECEIVED FROM OMAHA.

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING // REVIEW

ITS OFFBEAT LOCATION next to a gas sta-

tion may make some first-time visitors to Finicky Frank's a little apprehensive, but diners shouldn’t be dissuaded. The small, locally owned cafe in Omaha’s Florence neighborhood has a hidden-gem quality and offers well-made, thoughtful fare with homespun style. Dishes are prepared from scratch with a focus on seasonality, and many ingredients are locally sourced; some come from as close as owners Brian and Kesa Kenny’s 11-acre Ponca Hills home.

The Kennys opened the first incarnation of Finicky Frank's in 2007 in Ponca Hills.

The following year, the restaurant moved to its present location at 9520 Calhoun Road, just northwest of North 30th Street and Interstate 680. The eatery is named after a neighbor who always turned his nose up at whatever Kesa was cooking. His usual response: “Oh, God, don’t make that. Don’t do that.” “Frank is very particular, very finicky,” Kesa says.

During the last 10 years, the family-friendly spot has acquired many loyal customers from the surrounding area as well as other parts of the city. The restaurant rises above its nondescript, next-to-a-gas-station setting with a welcoming patio entrance surrounded by decorative wrought-iron fencing and lots of flowers and plants.

Inside, the space is warm and inviting with a classic black-and-white checkered floor, artwork, a spacious bar, and a charming “European flair,” says Kesa, who previously ran the former Center Street Cafe near 35th and Center streets, which closed in 2002.

Though not a trained chef, she’s an enthusiastic, self-taught home cook who enjoys experimenting with new recipes and putting her own spin on dishes. “I’m always thinking, ‘What can I make next?’ I love to try everything,” Kesa says.

She sticks to a “keep it fresh, never frozen” philosophy and uses local ingredients whenever possible. That could mean seasonal produce from the nearby Florence Mill Farmers Market or vegetables grown on her land, which is cared for by a husbandand-wife gardening team. During growing season, an abundance of garden goodies— everything from radishes to bok choy— winds up at the restaurant.

Fincky Frank’s Reuben

Though just one page, the menu features a craveable lineup of salads, sandwiches, soups, and daily specials. On a recent visit with a dining companion, we sampled several dishes and found the food just as comforting as the ambiance. A pair of crab cakes off the appetizer list pleased with their plumpness, plentiful lumps of crab meat, crispy exterior, and tender center.

Another popular menu item is the Reuben sandwich. Two slices of marble rye hold a heap of lean, thinly sliced corned beef and melted Swiss cheese. Sauerkraut brings brightness and tang, balanced by a pleasant sweetness from the housemade Thousand Island dressing. It’s served with onion rings or fries.

Onion rings get a soak in buttermilk to make them tender before being coated in a batter of flour, egg, and salt. They’re fried until golden brown and served with a dipping sauce made from stoneground

mustard, mayo, and honey. The rings seemed slightly undersalted, but that’s far better than the opposite.

The special that evening was chicken roulade stuffed with ham and cheese, served with a rich, luscious artichoke cream sauce.

A side of wild rice satisfied with its nutty, earthy flavor and pleasingly chewy texture.

The dish was quite good, but without a vegetable, the entree felt incomplete. A small salad included with the special featured mixed greens—no sad iceberg lettuce here—tossed with mozzarella balls, yellow bell pepper, crispy croutons, and cherry tomatoes, all perfectly dressed with housemade herb vinaigrette.

Visit finickyfranks.com for more information.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 124 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Left Chest 100% Options 7-31-13 Option A

HAPPY HOURS

7984-2017 UpstreamAd-OmahaMagHH-2.375x2.375

STOP IN FOR HAPPY HOUR SPECIALS

THE EATERY IS NAMED Option B AFTER A NEIGHBOR WHO ALWAYS TURNED HIS NOSE UP AT WHATEVER KESA WAS COOKING. HIS USUAL RESPONSE: “OH, GOD, DON’T MAKE THAT. DON’T DO THAT. FRANK IS VERY PARTICULAR, VERY FINICKY,” KESA SAYS.

FINICKY FRANK'S 9520 CALHOUN ROAD | 402.451.5555 FOOD SERVICE AMBIANCE PRICE OVERALL

$$ 5 STARS POSSIBLE

“Just a Wink from the Link” 501 N. 13th St. | 402.346.9116 Option C www.themattomaha.com

WINE THERAPY THURSDAYS

$10 BOTTLES OF WINE ALL DAY LONG

• Food & Drink Specials Daily • 38 Big Screen TV’s • Great Food & Customer Service 18 0 th & P a c i f i c / 2 0 2 nd & M a p l e Thegoodlifeomaha.com

SUNDAY BRUNCH 10AM-2PM

BLOODIES & BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS /beyondgolf for more information

402.916.4PAR (4727)

120th & Giles | beyondgolfomaha.com

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

AMERICAN BEYOND GOLF BAR & KITCHEN - $

402-916-4PAR 12040 McDermott Plaza Stop in to Beyond Golf Bar & Kitchen for a craft cocktail or local brew.

Our kitchen features fresh innovative food made from scratch daily.

We offer gourmet salads, smoked brisket, and flatbreads on your choice of bread or lavosh. Specials are served daily including Sunday brunch. Visit beyondgolfomaha.com to view our menu or for information on our party room. beyondgolfomaha.com

DJ’S DUGOUT - $

636 N. 114th St. (402-498-8855) 1003 Capitol Ave. (402-763-9974) 10308 S. 23rd St. (402-292-9096) 2102 S. 67th St. (402-933-3533) 180th & Q St. (402-292-9096) Hwy 75 & Oak Hill Rd. (402-298-4166) Catch all of the action at six Omaha-area locations. Featuring burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, appetizers, and an impressive drink menu along with HD TVs and projectors. Home to Blazin’ Pianos, Omaha’s only dueling piano concept. djsdugout.com

- Sponsored Content -

JAMS- $$

7814 Dodge St.(402-399-8300) 1101 Harney St. in the Old Market (402-614-9333) Jams is an Omaha restaurant legacy. An American Grill that offers a melting pot of different styles and varieties of food dishes made with high-quality ingredients that pair well with award-winning wines or creative cocktails. jamseats.com

Get a Little Saucy.

LE PEEP - $

177th & Center St. (402-934-9914) 156th & W. Dodge Rd. (402-408-1728) 120th & Blondo St. (402-991-8222) Le Peep puts a wholesome perspective on your favorite neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot. Fresh. Simple. Elegant. Inviting.

We put the emphasis on people, both patrons and staff. We focus on providing each of our guests the fresh food and friendly service that they have come to expect. Open daily 6:30am-2pm. lepeepomaha.com

STEAK & GRAPES - $

402-884-8966 16920 Wright Plaza #118, Omaha, NE 68130 Steak & Grapes is obsessed with really, really good grapes, creative gourmet comfort food, and a funky, fun atmosphere to share them. We search all over the world to find you great wines. Many wines come from our relationships with smaller undiscovered vineyards, which offer a great value to our guests. Wine is supposed to be fun! We pour BIG and will open any bottle for our guests to try by the glass. When you taste a new varietal at Steak & Grapes, let us know how it changed your concept of what wine is supposed to be. Our gourmet comfort food is made fresh, using eco-friendly and local ingredients. As for the fun, we instigate it, but count on you to see it to fruition (literally through the fruit!)

Mon.-Thu. 3:30-10pm, Fri.-Sat. 3:30-11pm, and Sun. 3-9pm. steakandgrapesomaha.com

SPEZIA SPECIALTIES FRESH SEAFOOD • ANGUS BEEF INNOVATIVE PASTA • RISOTTO GNOCCHI • FRESH SALMON DAILY

SATURDAY [11am–4 pm] OPEN 7 LUNCH DAYS A WEEK

LO-LO’S CHICKEN & WAFFLES - $

$10

COCKTAIL HOUR

COCKTAIL HOUR MONDAY – SATURDAY

OFF ANY TICKET OVER $25 NO CASH VALUE. EXPIRES 02/28/2018 NO CASH VALUE. EXPIRES 12/31/16 NO VALUE. EXPIRES 12/31/2011 NotCASH Valid With Happy Hour or Any Other Promotions. One Per Check.

EVERY 4 – 6DAY PM FROM 4-6PM ALL DRINKS ARE 1/2GL PRICE ALL COCK TAILS, ASS WINE AND BEERS ARE HALF SUNDAY BRUNCHPRICE

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS • 402-391-2950 CENTRAL LOCATION • 3125 SOUTH 72ND STREET • EASY ACCESS OFF I-80 • 72ND STREET EXIT

402-991-9400 7051 Ames Ave. What came first: the chicken or the waffle? Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles has the juiciest, most flavorful fried chicken and the fluffiest, melt-in- your-mouth waffles, which has created an underground soul food revolution–one that’s slowly spreading downright deliciousness across the country. loloschickenandwaffles.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 126 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Quality Baking Passed Down From Generation To Generation For Nearly A Century!

Generational Leadership

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

1

1921 / Founders: Alessandro & Maria Rotella immigrated from Calabria, Italy and started Rotella’s Bakery in Omaha, Nebraska.

2

1948 / Louis Rotella Sr, 2nd Generation and youngest son of Alessandro & Maria.

Lou Sr led the bakery into the modern era of high-speed baking.

1989 / Louis & Helen Rotella Sr

3

1978 / Louis Rotella Jr, 3rd Generation pictured with his father. Lou Jr expanded the bakery into the national marketplace.

rotellasbakery.com JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 127 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

Located “JUST A WINK FROM THE LINK”

MILLARD ROADHOUSE - $

your pre-game headquarters for lunch, dinner or your next event!

402-891-9292 13325 Millard Ave. The all-American neighborhood grill Millard Roadhouse is perfect for the whole family, with huge portions, great service, and even better food.

From roasted chicken to fried green tomatoes, there's something for every taste, and trust us, you're not going to leave hungry. Also serving Sunday brunch and the best happy hour in the area. Mon.-Wed. 11-9pm, Thu.-Sat. 11am-10pm, Sun. 10am-9pm. millardroadhouse.com

MY PIE - $$

402-763-4900 2085 N. 120th St. Got six people with six different tastes in pizza, including red sauce vs. garlic sauce? My Pie creates custom pizzas from the sauce up, so everyone can eat what they want. Their housemade pies come in every variety from Pear-fect (pear and Gorgonzola) to Very Vegan (vegan cheese and vegetables). Craving a New York ‘Roni? My Pie has that, too. pizzayourway.com

STELLA’S - $

402-291-6088 106 S. Galvin Rd., Bellevue Since 1936, we’ve been making our Stella’s world-famous hamburgers the same way. The family secrets have been handed down to each owner, ensuring that your burger is the same as the one you fell in love with the first time you ever tried Stella’s. And if it’s your first time, we know you’ll be back! Mon.–Sat. 11am–9pm., Sun. closed. stellasbarandgrill.com

STIRNELLA - $$$

501 N. 13th St / 402.346.9116 / theMattOmaha.com @Matt_factory

/theoldmattresfactoryomaha

The Original Whiskey Steak

402.932.0444 3814 Farnam St., Omaha, NE 68131 Stirnella is a refined gastro-pub in the historic Blackstone District, located on 38th & Farnam. Featuring local produce, proteins, beer and spirits.

The menu is influenced by local ingredients with dishes from all over the world. The bar program features beer, all local beers on tap, craft cocktails, and wine. stirnella.com

UPSTREAM BREWING COMPANY - $$

Voted Best of Omaha 6 years in a row

402-344-0200 514 S. 11th St. 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. upstreambrewing.com

ICE CREAM TED AND WALLY’S - $ 2121 S. 73rd St.

402.391.7440

DroverRestaurant.com

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. tedandwallys.com

Presents

February 25, 2018

Embassy Suites, LaVista 2-5pm $50 in advance; $55 at the door Event proceeds support VNA’s Shelter Nursing Program.

7051 Ames Ave. 68104 | 402.991.9400

For more information visit vnatoday.org or call 402.930.4170

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 128 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Thanks for Voting Us

#1 BREAKFAST 10 YEARS in a Row!

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!

ADE GERMAN MEM WITH SPAETZ GOULA LE HO SH

Lunch Specials

With Free Glass of House Wine HAPPY HOUR M-F / SUNDAY BRUNCH

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED 16920 Wright Plz, #118 / Omaha, NE 68130 A t t h e c o r n e r o f 1 6 8 t h a nd W e s t C e n t e r S T

Omaha’s Only

402.884.8966

Authentic German Restaurant

Locally Owned Since 1976

10 min from downtown Omaha

5180 Leavenworth

402-553-6774

w w w. g e rd a s g e r m a n re s t a u ra n t . c o m JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 129 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

ITALIAN DON CARMELO'S PIZZERIA - $

402-933-3190 10821 Prairie Brook Rd. Omaha's first and finest New York-style pizza, stromboli, calzones, oventoasted hoagies, Philly cheesesteaks, pasta, salads, beer, and wine. We also feature take-out and delivery and can cater your special event, large or small. Tue.-Thu., 11am-9pm Fri. & Sat., 11am-10pm, Sun., Noon-8pm. doncarmelos.com

LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$

402-556-6464 45th & Leavenworth St. La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha its legendary Neapolitanstyle 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 11am and Sun. at 4:30pm. lacasapizzaria.net

LO SOLE MIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO - $$

at dundee

pitch west PITCHPIZZERIA.COM @PITCHPIZZERIA

or

off premise custom menu

5021 UNDERWOOD AVE. 402-590-2625

Also, the filet is amazing!!

17808 BURKE ST. 402-289-4096

(and don’t forget the cannolis!!!!)

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, special-seasoned 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. losolemio.com

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: 11am-2pm Dinner: 4:30pm Reservations recommended. pastaamore.com

PITCH - $$

lunch Tues-Fri: 11AM-2PM Dinner Tues-Sat: 4:30PM-Close

Rockbrook Village (108th & Center) 402.391.2585 www.pastaamore.com

Meals to order prepared by Chef And owner Lillo Fascianella from Sicily. Specializing in seafood and pasta dishes.

Like Us on Facebook

402- 590-2625 5021 Underwood Ave. OpenTable Diners' Choice 2014 HotSpot Restaurants in America. Keeping up with the traditional way the first pizzas in Italy were made, our pizzas are cooked in a coal-fired oven. The menu also features seafood, handcut steak, housemade pastas, and a burger full of flavor! Our goal is to provide you with local, housemade, and imported ingredients. We offer a happy hour menu through the week. Our bar provides an array of in-house concoctions as well as your traditional libation. Our wine selection is well-thought and most impressive. You will enjoy Pitch!

Mon. 3pm-10pm Tue.-Thu. 11am-10pm, Fri.-Sat. 11am-11pm, Sun. 3-10pm. pitchpizzeria.com

SPEZIA - $$$

402-391-2950 3125 S. 72nd St. Choose Spezia for lunch or dinner, where you'll find a casual elegance that's perfect for business guests, get-togethers, or any special occasion. Exceptional food, wine, and service, with a delectable menu: fresh seafood, Certified Angus steaks, innovative pasta, risotto, gnocchi, cioppino, lamb, entrée salads, Mediterranean chicken, flatbreads, and fresh salmon daily. Enjoy a full bar, Italian and California wines, Anniversary/ Lovers' Booth (call to reserve), private dining rooms, and wood-fired grill. Open Mon.-Sun. Cocktail hour: 4-6pm, when all cocktails, glass wine, and beers are half price. Evening reservations recommended. speziarestaurant.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+ JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 130 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

6 OMAHA AREA LOCATIONS

www.romeosOMAHA.com

O’Connor’s Irish Pub 1217 Howard St. • Omaha, NE 68102 402-934-9790 • oconnorsomaha.com

DOWNTOWN 10th & Capitol | 402-763-9974

MILLARD 180th & Q | 402-933-8844

AKSARBEN VILLAGE 67th & Center | 402-933-3533

BELLEVUE 23rd & Cornhusker | 402-292-9096

MIRACLE HILLS 114th & Dodge | 402-498-8855

PLATTSMOUTH Hwy 75 & Oak Hill | 402-298-4166

DJSDUGOUT.COM 11664_DJ'sOmahAMag_Jan2018HalfV3.indd 1

11/22/17 10:50 AM

Bringing Italy to Omaha Since 1919

Take a Taste of Italy Home Today!

Tues-Thurs: 8:30am-8pm Friday: 8:30am-8:30pm Saturday: 7:30am-8pm Sunday: 7:30am-6pm

402.345.3438 621 Pacific St, Omaha NE orsibakery.com JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 131 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

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. ziospizzeria.com

MEXICAN 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., 11am-10pm; Fri.-Sat., 11am-11pm; Sun., 4-9pm. fernandosomaha.com

JULIO’S - $

2820 S. 123rd Ct. 402- 330-2110 Local owned since 1977, Julio’s prides themselves on serving the finest Tex-Mex cuisine and offering top-notch customer service.

Their loyal customers are the reason they have been around for nearly 40 years. They have an extensive menu that has both classic and innovative dishes—giving everyone the opportunity to find something they love. Salivating for Southwestern fare? They have tacos, tostadas, a dozen different enchiladas, and classic fajitas.

And of course— NACHOS! julios.com

LA MESA - $$

158th & W. Maple Rd. 156th & Q Sts.(402-763-2555) 110th St. & W. Maple Rd.(402-496-1101) Ft. Crook Rd. & Hwy 370 in Bellevue (402-733-8754) 84th St. & Tara Plaza in Papillion (402-593-0983) Lake Manawa Exit in Council Bluffs (712-256-2762) Enjoy awesome enchiladas, fabulous fajitas, seafood specialties, mouthwatering margaritas, and more at La Mesa! Come see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s No. 1 Mexican restaurant 13 years in a row! Sun.-Thu. 11am-10pm, Fri. & Sat. 11am-10:30pm. lamesaomaha.com

OJ'S CAFE - $$

Omaha’s Premier Indoor Golf Facility, Bar + Kitchen SERVING DAILY SPECIALS INCLUDING: • Moscow Mule Monday • Tuesday Smoked Chicken Wings • Taco & Margarita Wednesday • Therapy Thursday Featuring $10 Bottles Of Select Wines

• Happy Hour Specials $1 Off All Beers And $3 Well Cocktails

402.916.4PAR(4727) beyondgolfomaha.com DIRECTLY OFF OF I-80 EXIT 442 12040 McDermot t Plaza LaVista, NE 68128

9201 N 30th St (402-451-3266) Next to the Mormon Bridge Family-owned for 41 years. All homemade food, including our signature enchilada dish, homemade salsa, and some of Omaha's best margaritas!

Tue.-Fri. 11am-2pm, Sat. 2pm-9pm, Closed Sun.-Mon. ojscafe.com

MARGARITA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT - $

4915 S. 72nd St. (402-393-7515) Margarita's is a business with more than seven years in the food world. We offer authentic Mexican food where you can enjoy a nice moment with your family. margaritasmenu.com

ROMEO'S MEXICAN FOOD AND PIZZA - $

90th and Blondo (402-391-8870) 146th and W. Center Road (402-330-4160) 96th and L Streets (402-331-5656) Galvin and Avery Rds. - Bellevue (402-292-2028) 29th and Farnam Streets (402-346-1110) Romeo's is your friendly, family Mexican Food & Pizza restaurant!

We take real pride in serving our guests generous portions of the freshest, most flavorful dishes made with the finest ingredients available.

Zesty seasonings and the freshest ingredients combine to ensure the ultimate in flavor. Our savory taco meat is prepared every morning at each location. Make sure to try our chimichangas, they're the best in town! romeosomaha.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 132 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

OMAHA’S ORIGINAL STEAKHOUSE

• Proudly serving visitor & locals for 90 years.

• Featured on CNN.com Best Meat Cities in America • Serving hand cut steaks, aged on premise and slow roasted prime rib with pride.

Best Of Omaha 12 Years Running

402.731.4774 www.johnnyscafe.com 27th & ‘L’ St., Kennedy Frwy, ‘L’ St. Exit 8 Minutes from Downtown Omaha.

WHERE GOOD FOOD AND GOOD SERVICE NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE.

Thanks to our customers for voting us the “Best Burger in Omaha” Stella’s Bar and Grill

Thank You, Thank You,

Thank You

For Continually Voting For Us!

Serving Lunch & Dinner Mon-Sat “Serving World Famous Hamburgers since 1936” 3001 S. 32nd Ave / Omaha, NE 106 Galvin Rd • Bellevue, NE • 402-291-6088 • Open Monday-Saturday, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm 7984-2017 UpstreamAd-OmahaMag-5x4.917_FNL.pdf 1 7/14/17 1:43 PM 402.345.5656

9201 N 30th (next to the Mormon Bridge) Omaha, NE

402.451.3266 / 11-2 reopen 4-9 Tues-Fri Winter hours: 11-2 lunch / Tues-Sat 4-8 / CLOSED Sun & Mon

Lisa’s Radial Cafe 817 N 40th St, Omaha, NE 68131

402.551.2176

Follow us!

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 133 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

SEAFOOD CHARLIE’S ON THE LAKE - $$

402-894-9411 4150 S. 144th St. Charlie’s is the only fresh-fish-daily seafood restaurant in Omaha.

Features a relaxed yet contemporary atmosphere that is fun for all ages. Besides fresh seafood, Charlie’s is the home of the James Bond-style martini (shaken, not stirred) in over 20 varieties in addition to over 60 wines. Mon.-Thu., 11am-10pm; Fri. 11am-11pm Sat., 4:30pm-11pm. charliesonthelake.net

SHUCKS FISH HOUSE & OYSTER BAR - $$

Fernando’s

402-827-4376 1218 S 119th St. Award-winning, locally owned and operated. Very casual with good food that is reasonably priced. Featuring Po’ Boys, Poke Bowls, Fried Clam Strips, Shrimp and Calamari (thinnest breading in town). Plus Crab Cakes, house-made soups like Clam Chowda and Gumbo, and a wide selection of Salads and daily FRESH FISH specials. Mon.-Thu., 11am-9pm; Fri.-Sat 11am-10pm Sun., 12pm-8pm. shucksfishhouse.com

Cafe and Cantina

Try Omaha’s Favorite Reuben!

SPECIAL DINING CRESCENT MOON ALE HOUSE - $ Sonoran Style Cooking Made Fresh Daily.

Omaha’s largest selection of craft beers.

3578 Farnam St • 402-345-1708 www.beercornerusa.com

Catering and Party Rooms Also Available.

380 N. 114th St. Omaha, NE 68154 402.330.5707

7555 Pacific St. 1600 Washington St. Omaha, NE 68114 Blair, NE 68008 402.339.8006 402.533.4450

fernandosomaha.com

402-345-1708 3578 Farnam St. Founded in 1996, we’ve grown into Beer Corner USA with the additions of The Huber Haus German Beer Hall, Max and Joe’s Belgian Beer Tavern, and Beertopia, Omaha’s Ultimate Beer Store. With more than 60 beers on tap and Omaha’s best Reuben sandwich, we are a midtown beer lover’s destination. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11am-2am. Kitchen hours: Mon.-Wed., 11am-1pm; Thu.-Sat. 11am-midnight. Closed Sun. beercornerusa.com

GERDA’S GERMAN RESTAURANT & BAKERY - $

402-553-6774 5180 Leavenworth St. Omaha’s only authentic German restaurant, a little piece of Germany in the metro. Gerda herself makes homemade spaetzle, schnitzels, and rouladen. Fresh-made soups, red cabbage, sauerkraut, and dumplings are a few other treats. Stay for a dessert of Black Forest cake or grab fresh bakery for breakfast on your way out. Check hours at gerdasgermanrestaurant.com

Best Greek

GREEK ISLANDS - $ Family Owned Since 1983 Family Owned Since 1983 Catering ~ Party Room Available CATERING / PARTY ROOM AVAILABLE Homemade, Fresh Food ~ Always HOMEMADE, FRESH FOOD, ALWAYS. 3821 Center St. 402/346-1528

3821 Center St / 402.346.1528

GreekIslandsOmaha.com GreekIslandsOmaha.com

OMAHA MAGAZ INE’S

FamilyGuide

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. Carry out and delivery available. Mon.-Thu., 11am-9pm; Fri.-Sat., 11am-10pm; Sun., 11am-7pm. greekislandsomaha.com

JAIPUR INDIAN RESTAURANT AND BREWERY - $$$

402-392-7331 10922 Elm St. A casual restaurant in a relaxed atmosphere. Dinner entrees include fresh vegetables, grilled Colorado lamb sirloin, sushigrade ahi, tandoori marinated grilled salmon, and tandoori grilled beef tenderloin to name a few. A wide selection of wines and liquor, as well as on-site brewed beer. Lunch: Thu. and Fri., 11am2pm Dinner: Sun.-Thu., 5pm-9:30pm; Fri and Sat., 5pm-10:30pm. jaipurindianfood.com

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 134 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | DINING GUIDE

J.COCO - $$$

402-884-2626 5203 Leavenworth St. The building that once housed a beloved neighborhood grocery has a new future. Built as a grocery back in 1925, it is now home to J. Coco. Our seasonal menus, rooted in tradition, showcase our natural ingredients. Local, organic, and sustainable when available. We feature craft bar tending, housemade desserts, and pastas. We celebrate the traditional with a modern twist. Lunch (Mon.-Fri. 11am-2pm).

Dinner (Mon.-Sat. 5pm-close). jcocoomaha.com

STEAKS • CHOPS • SEAFOOD ITALIAN SPECIALTIES 7 private party rooms Seating up to 400 Lots of parking

LIBRARY PUB - $

1620 S. 10th Street

402.571.6262 5142 N 90th St. Omaha’s pre-eminent whisky pub! This bar boasts the Midwest’s largest whisky collection, spanning the globe and also features 40 rotating beers on tap. Their selection can satisfy any palate. They also offer private whisky tastings. thelibrarypubomaha.com.

402-345-8313

www.casciossteakhouse.com

AHA BAR M O

THE DROVER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$

JERICO’S RESTAURANT - $$

402-496-0222 11732 W Dodge Rd. Welcome to a local Omaha steakhouse consistently voted Best of Omaha for best prime rib. Since it opened in 1978, Jerico’s has been serving the finest hand-cut steaks, choice chicken, and fresh seafood in town. Known for it’s classic décor and old school manners, Jerico’s is not to be missed if you are looking for a true Nebraska steak experience. Private party room available and reservations are accepted. jericosomaha.com

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v

402-391-7440 2121 S. 73rd St. Famous for the original Whiskey Steak. Truly a one-of-a-kind Midwestern experience. Excellent food, wine, service, and value.

Rare...and very well done. Lunch: Mon.–Fri. 11am– 2pm Cocktail Hour: 3-6pm. Dinner: nightly at 5pm. Reservations accepted. droverrestaurant.com

a

BBQ

ser

402-345-8313 1620 S. 10th St. Cascio's is Omaha's No. 1 steakhouse. We have been serving Omaha for 69 years. We feature steaks, chops, seafood, and Italian specialties. We have seven private party rooms, seating for up to 400 people, and plenty of parking. casciossteakhouse.com

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CASCIO'S - $$

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STEAKHOUSES

Q UE BE

402-934-9790 1217 Howard St. Comfortable, relaxing atmosphere. Great before and after games. We offer pub style food—burgers, Reubens, daily specials, and homemade soups—as well as all the traditional Irish favorite libations: Guinness, Harp, and Irish whiskey. Grill hours: Mon.-Thu., 11am-10pm; Fri.-Sat., 11am-10pm. oconnorsomaha.com

LOCA L

O’CONNOR’S IRISH PUB - $

402.991.9994 4702 S. 108th St. | Omaha, Nebraska @TiredTexanBBQ

twitter.com/tired_texan_bbq

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., 11am-2pm and 5pm-9:30pm. johnnyscafe.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+ JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 135 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

plore, Come ex discover & unwind.

Embassy Suites in La Vista

Sarpy County awaits with a wonderful mix of fun things to see and do this fall. Tour a museum or gallery.

Spend a day at a family fun center. From great hotels, brewpubs and wineries to malls, specialty shops and theatres, Sarpy County is the perfect destination for your next getaway. To request the Official Sarpy County Visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide or for a complete schedule of area events, call or visit us online today!

402-332-5771 â&#x20AC;˘ GOSARPY.COM B E L L E V U E | G R E T N A | L A V I S TA | PA P I L L I O N | S P R I N G F I E L D | O F F U T T A F B | O M A H A M E T R O

NEBRASKA

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

WINTER FUN EXHIBIT Weekends in January at Arbor

Lodge Mansion, 2611 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City.

Explore special displays filled with antique ice skates, sleds, snow shoes, and more. Learn the history of these favorite winter pastimes and playthings. 402-873-7222.

—arbordayfarm.org

Feb. 13 at Lied Center for Performing Arts, 12th and R streets, Lincoln. Copeland became the first African-American female principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre. She is an artist, author, entrepreneur, and humanitarian. 402-476-2211.

—liedcenter.org

National Wildlife Refuge, Valentine. Climbers with a sense of adventure can try their hand at ice climbing on the cliffs of the Niobrara River. 402-376-3789.

—fws.gov

at Stagecoach Mall Antiques and Tasting Room, 508 E. St., Fairbury. Nebraska blues artists will perform live music. Guests are welcome to enjoy craft beers from the Kansas City Territory Brewing Co. and food from Totally Smoked BBQ. 402-587-2521.

—fairbury.com

PRAIRIE PRINCESS PARTY

Feb. 24 at College Park, across from the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, 3133 W. Highway 34, Grand Island. Princesses of all ages are welcome at Stuhr Museum’s Peter Pan and pirate-themed Prairie Princess Party. Princesses can get their faces painted, make crafts, have tea, play games, and hang out with other princesses. 308-385-5316.

—stuhrmuseum.org

KEGS, CORKS, AND CRAFTS

21

FIFTH ANNUAL WINTER BLUES FESTIVAL Jan. 27

Feb. 24 at Arbor Day Tree Farm, 2611 Arbor Ave., Nebraska City. Explore maple trees and discover how maple syrup is made. Taste sap right from the tree, along with various types of maple syrup. The event includes a campfire and fun tree craft. 402-873-8717.

—arbordayfarm.org

Feb. 8 at Pinnacle Bank Arena, 400 Pinnacle Arena Dr., Lincoln. Avenged Sevenfold is stopping in Lincoln as part of their North American tour. Breaking Benjamin and Bullet for My Valentine will open the concert. 402-904-4444.

—pinnaclebankarena.com

Jan.

Pioneer, 3133 W. Highway 34, Grand Island. At this casino-themed night, guests can participate in classic games and sip popular old-style drinks.

Attendees must be age 21 and over. 308-385-5316.

—stuhrmuseum.org

MARVELOUS MAPLES

AVENGED SEVENFOLD

INDOOR AIR SHOW Jan. 13 at SAC Museum, 28210 W.

PUB NIGHT Jan. 26 at Stuhr Museum of the Prairie

Feb. 23 at Lied Center for Performing Arts, 12 and R streets, Lincoln.

Once one of the jazz world’s best kept secrets, Snarky Puppy recently exploded on the music scene. Members of the Grammy-winning group have worked with Erykah Badu, Snoop Dogg, D’Angelo, and Kendrick Lamar. 402-472-4747.

—liedcenter.org

fun, educational event includes lots of information about Sasquatch and the research into this elusive creature here in the Midwest. 402-461-2324.

—nebraskabigfoot.com

travel to prehistoric Australia and see dinosaurs and other creatures brought to life in theatrical performance.

The realistic dinosaur puppets were designed with help from professional paleontologists. 402-472-4747.

—liedcenter.org

Jan. 21 at Geneva City Auditorium, 162 N. 9th St. Geneva. Variety show performer Carl Acuff Jr. will perform songs from a wide range of genres from country to Motown. 402-759-4910.

—visitnebraska.com/events

SNARKY PUPPY

SECOND ANNUAL NEBRASKA BIGFOOT FESTIVAL AND CONFERENCE Feb. 12-18 in Hastings. This

ERTH’S DINOSAUR ZOO LIVE Jan. 8 at Lied Center for Performing Arts, 12th and R streets, Lincoln. Time

THE CARL ACUFF JR. SHOW

Feb. 16 and 17 at Lied Center for Performing Arts, 12th and R streets, Lincoln.

Watch the American Ballet Theater perform with the St. Louis Symphony in their production of Igor Stravinsky’s classic. 402-472-4747.

—liedcenter.org

A CONVERSATION WITH MISTY COPELAND

ICE CLIMBING January and February at Fort Niobrara

Park Highway, Ashland. Model pilots will demonstrate loops, flips, and barrel rolls in the museum’s climate-controlled Durham Restoration Hangar.

There will be a “learn to fly” safety demonstration and educational booths. 402-944-3100 —sacmuseum.org

FIREBIRD

Feb. 2 at Pinnacle Bank Arena, 400 Pinnacle Arena Dr., Lincoln. These athletes perform unbelievable tricks with basketballs. 402-904-4444.

—pinnaclebankarena.com

Feb. 17 in Arnold, citywide. Guests can sit back and enjoy Nebraska-made wines and craft beers. They can explore different booths with food vendors, featuring local and popular foods. 308-848-2211.

—arnoldne.org

THE SOUND OF MUSIC Jan. 12-14 at Lied Center

for Performing Arts, 12th and R streets, Lincoln.

See Rodgers and Hammerstein’s iconic play brought to life in this production. 402-472-4747.

—liedcenter.org

REGARDLESS IF IT’S the dead of winter or the hottest of summer days, you can find a craft beer that is calling your name at one of Lincoln’s craft breweries. Discover for yourself why Trivago named Lincoln No. 1 Best Value City for Craft Beer/Cycling. Learn more by visiting lincoln.org.

SPONSORED JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 137 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EXPLORE

IOWA CINCH WORLD’S TOUGHEST RODEO Jan. 12-13 Wells

Fargo Arena, 233 Center St., Des Moines. As the rodeo gates swing open, guests will see classic rodeo events with an even tougher twist. The rodeo will showcase classic events like bareback riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, and much more. Emerging country artist Carly Pearce will perform songs from her debut album. 515-564-8300.

—iowaeventscenter.com

MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS Jan. 13 at Des Moines

Civic Center, 221 Walnut St., Des Moines. Go on an adventure with Mr. Popper and his family of penguins in this hysterical reenactment of this popular children’s book. 515-246-2300.

—desmoinesperformingarts.org

17TH ANNUAL CHEROKEE JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL

BOLD . ELEGANT . ALLURING

Professional Jewelry Design, Creation and Repair 402.935.4367 . 3412 South 144 St. Omaha NE 68144

Jan. 19-20 in downtown Cherokee. This weekend of music includes pub crawls on Friday and Saturday nights, a jam session on Saturday afternoon, and a big band dance on Saturday night. A music clinic is offered for high school students on Friday. 712-225-6414.

—cherokeejazzbluesfestival.com

34TH ANNUAL EAGLE DAYS Jan. 20-21 at River City

Mall, 300 Main St., Keokuk. Keokuk has one of the highest concentrations of bald eagles along the Mississippi, and the town shows its fondness for them during this annual event, featuring environmental exhibits, woodcarvers' exhibits and demonstrations, live bird shows, and children’s activities. 319-524-5599.

—keokukiowatourism.org

844.271.6909 JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 138 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EXPLORE!

38TH ANNUAL UNIVERSITY OF OKOBOJI WINTER GAMES Jan. 25-28 at Lake Okoboji.

Iowa’s fictional university comes together for a spectacular weekend of sporting events to shake off cabin fever. Popular annual events include broomball, snowball softball, flag football, and a polar plunge. The adult fun continues with spiked hot chocolate bars and pub crawls. 712-332-2107.

—uofowintergames.com

THE WIZARD OF OZ Jan. 26 at Orpheum Theatre,

528 S. Pierce St., Sioux City. This timeless Broadway production will stay true to the 1939 film while adding a few exciting twists. 712-244-5000.

—orpheumlive.com

STOMP Jan. 26-28 at Des Moines Civic Center, 221

DANIEL O’DONNELL: BACK HOME AGAIN TOUR

Feb. 25 at Orpheum Theatre, 528 S. Pierce St., Sioux City. Daniel O’Donnell is one of Ireland’s most famous artists. His partnership with PBS in 2002 helped further his career. The concert will feature some of O’Donnell’s favorite musical styles from Irish country to rock and gospel. 712-244-5000.

—orpheumlive.com

MISSOURI THROUGH

THE

EYES

Picasso was an avid collector of non-Western art; his collection was a constant source of exploration and inspiration. The exhibition will feature 170 works, including more than 60 paintings, sculptures, and ceramics by Picasso alongside more than 20 works of African and Oceanic art that were part of his personal collection. 816-751-1278.

—nelson-atkins.org

JOEL + VICTORIA: A NIGHT OF HOPE OF

PICASSO

T hrough April 8 at Nelson-Aktins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak St., Kansas City.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is the only United States arts venue to show this exhibit. Pablo

Walnut St., Des Moines. This award-winning, eightmember percussion group performs an exciting show with unconventional instruments. 515-246-2300.

—desmoinesperformingarts.org

IOWA BIKE EXPO AND RAGBRAI ROUTE ANNOUNCEMENT PARTY Jan. 27 at Iowa Events

Center, 833 Fifth Ave., Des Moines. At this event, guests will be able to shop for gear, bikes, and more from equipment exhibitors from around the country.

The big event, however, is the party, which will feature a silent auction, music, a free beverage (while supplies last), and the live announcement of the overnight towns on the 2018 RAGBRAI route. 515-284-8341.

—ragbrai.com

WINTERFEST Jan. 27 at the Amana Colonies, I-80

off exit no. 225. The Amana Colonies create oldfashioned winter fun with their annual cold-weather festival. Events include a winter wreath toss, best beard competition, the Great Amana Ham-Put, a log-sawing competition, and more. 319-622-7622.

—festivalsinamana.com

MASTERWORKS 4 Feb. 10 and 11 Des Moines Civic

Center, 221 Walnut St., Des Moines. World-renowned conductor Christopher Seaman will lead the Des Moines Symphony in concert. The performance will feature Stravinsky’s Petrouchka, Elgar’s In the South, Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in D Minor, and Tchaikovsky’s "Pas de Deux" from The Nutcracker. 515-280-4000.

—dmsymphony.org

RENT

Feb. 11 at Orpheum Theatre, 528 S. Pierce St., Sioux City. This classic rock-opera production follows seven artists who face opposition as they try to follow their dreams. 712-244-5000.

—orpheumlive.com

11TH ANNUAL BLUE RIBBON BACON FESTIVAL

Feb. 17 at Iowa Events Center, 730 Third St., Des Moines. The event will be split into four levels. The first two levels offer family-friendly activities: baconinspired lectures, demonstrations, and tastings of 25 different bacon flavors. Levels three and four will have activities for ages 21 and older with DJs, dancers, craft cocktails, and more. 515-564-8000.

—iowaeventscenter.com

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 139 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

Jan. 5 at Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City. Joel and Victoria Osteen, pastors of the largest church in America, Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, are coming to Kansas City to hold “A Night of Hope.” 816-949-7100.

—sprintcenter.com

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EXPLORE!

LANA DEL REY Jan. 9 at Sprint Center, 1407 Grand

Blvd., Kansas City. Del Rey is in Kansas City to promote her new album, Lust For Life, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Expect to hear several hits, including the album’s title song and “Love.” 816-949-7100.

—sprintcenter.com

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE—BRIAN SKERRY: OCEAN WILD Jan. 9 Kauffman Center for

the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City. View seasoned photographer Brian Skerry’s photos detailing the deepest and undiscovered parts of the ocean. 816-994-7200.

—kauffmancenter.org

KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY: MOZART PLUS SIBELIUS' FIFTH Jan. 12-14 at Kauffman Center for Performing

CRISS ANGEL RAW: THE MINDFREAK UNPLUGGED

Jan. 16 at Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland, 1228 Main St., Kansas City. This show brings Angel’s famous sleight-of-hand street magic, mentalism, and even some of his most iconic illusions to life—all performed in an intimate, raw setting. 816-471-9703.

—arvestbanktheatre.com

JERRY SEINFELD Jan. 19 at Arvest Bank Theatre

at the Midland, 1228 Main St., Kansas City.

Entertainment icon Jerry Seinfeld comes to Arvest Bank Theatre for one night only—but two performances. Catch the performer whose popular show Seinfeld was named “Best Sitcom Ever” by 60 Minutes and Vanity Fair. 816-471-9703.

—arvestbanktheatre.com

Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City. Hear one of Mozart’s most powerful symphonies performed by the Kansas City Symphony. 816-471-0400.

—kcsymphony.org

SPONSORED

THE BEST OF RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN

Jan 19-21 Helzberg Hall at Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City. Come hear popular songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein brought to life by New York Pops music director Steven Reineke and the Kansas City Symphony and chorus. 816-471-0400.

—kcsymphony.org

2018 ROYALS FANFEST

Jan. 26-27 at Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St., Kansas City. Baseball season is coming. This event will feature autograph sessions with current and former Royals, interactive games for fans of all ages, main stage programming, and more. 816-513-5000.

—mlb.com/royals

DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM Feb. 9 at Kauffman

Center for the Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City. The Dance Theater of Harlem brings the artistic spirit of Harlem to life. 816-415-5025.

—hjseries.org

IT’S SOCCER SEASON in Sarpy County. The 14th Annual Sporting Omaha FC Indoor College Search Invitational is one of the premier indoor college search tournaments in the country.

Only the BEST teams from the Midwest and nation will play in what promises to be a fantastic showcase under PERFECT conditions.

Come watch a match January 26-28, 2018 at the Omaha Sports Complex, 14706 Giles Road. sportingomahafc.com/college-search

PBR (PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS) KANSAS CITY INVITATIONAL Feb.10-11 at Sprint Center,

1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City. The PBR returns for the 15th consecutive year with the top-ranked bull riders and fiercest bulls. The 2018 season also celebrates 25 years of the PBR. 816-949-7100.

—sprintcenter.com

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 140 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Event times and details may change.

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JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 141 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

OMAHA MAGAZINE | NOT FUNNY COLUMN BY OTIS TWELVE // PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL SITZMANN

WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE

W

E ALL “KNOW” THINGS.

I mean, we just believe this or are convinced of that, or we think another thing is probably true. But beyond all that, there are those things we simply “know.” They are the certainties programmed into our DNA— buried in our psyches.

We all know that the world is flat. As proof, we are all aware of people who have gone west and never come back.

We all know that lemmings go into a frenzy when the mating season tips things out of balance. We all know that the little rejected male voles, drowning in hormones, rush off in a column for the nearest cliff and follow on off the edge to their fluffy deaths on the rocks below. Millions have witnessed this phenomenon in a Max Fleischer cartoon from 1936.

We all know that the only man-made object that can be seen from space is the Great Wall of China. We heard it from a friend, who knows a guy, whose slightly tipsy aunt was told this by Buzz Aldrin at a Cold War-era cocktail party in Naples, Florida.

It is established in our heads that penguins mate for life. Never mind that none of us have ever seen a penguin engage in extramarital egg cradling.

Napoleon Bonaparte was short. He was very short. The “little corporal” was a tiny man. We all know that this lack of stature caused the Corsican to overcompensate and prove himself the match for any “tall” man by conquering Europe. We’ve all known a short person who shares this “Napoleon Complex,” and we never invite them to our dinner parties because we don’t have booster seats handy.

Randy Newman put it all into a song.

We all are certain that our mothers were right to warn us that we should not go in the water for an hour after eating. If we jump into the overcrowded municipal pool 55 minutes after the bologna with Miracle Whip sandwich, we will immediately cramp up and sink to the bottom of the over-chlorinated water and go unnoticed by the cute lifeguard who is flirting with the bad boy outside the chain link fence.

We all trust our mothers.

It is simply true, and we absolutely know it to be true, that Vikings had horns on their helmets. We all saw the drawings in our history books picturing Eric the Red doing something, or Leif Erikson doing something else, and they always had horns.

It is an established historical fact (and oftrepeated) that though Mussolini was a fascist thug, he did make the trains run on time.

I think that’s supposed to excuse all of his other sins.

Penguins do not mate for life. It’s just that they all look alike and private detectives have problems tailing them when trying to catch them in flagrante delicto. “Is that Paul on the left in the tuxedo?”…“Beats the hell out of me.”

Napoleon was not short. He was 5’7”, which is one full inch taller than the average male in the era. Historians know this because they measured a lot of old clothes. Sorry, short people, you do indeed have no reason to live.

You could eat a Thanksgiving feast with all the tryptophan-laced trimmings and start your channel swim straight out of your chair. The biggest danger you would face is falling asleep, and missing the Chargers vs. Cowboys game.

Vikings did not have horns on their helmets. I don’t know why they didn’t because it would have been cool, but the whole horned helmet thing is Richard Wagner’s fault.

Those are just some of the things we “know.”

Of course, they are all wrong. All of them.

Every single one.

Finally, it turns out that Mussolini wasn’t good at anything, except making people think he got the trains to run on time. He didn’t. Plus, he was a monster.

The world is round. People actually return from California, even if they are not pleased with having to come back after not making it in Hollywood.

Yep, it turns out we know less than we think.

Maybe that’s a good thing. It’s hard to learn when you know too much.

Lemmings do not blindly follow other lemmings over the edge of cliffs. I mean, it would be cool if they did, but they just don’t.

It’s actually very hard to see the Great Wall from space, but you can see I-80, or the huge San Bernardino Walmart parking lot (larger than 45 percent of incorporated towns in America) easily from the International Space Station porthole.

All I know, I know, I know, I know...is, there ain’t no sunshine when you’re gone.

Otis Twelve hosts the radio program, Early Morning Classics with Otis Twelve, on 90.7 KVNO, weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. Visit kvno.org for more information.

To watch an animated reading

by Otis Twelve, return to the table of contents page and scan with the LayAR app.

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 142 / OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

Always Local, Always Beautiful

JANUARY // FEBRUARY • 2018 / 143 / BESTOFOMAHA.COM

A N E W LO CA L WAY t o T i c ke t Yo u r Eve n t

>

Bench

1441 N 11th St. Omaha, NE 68102 Offering intro to woodworking classes on Jan 13th and Feb 10th. Also offering an Open Studio event of Feb 10th fee to the public.

>

Haunticon

Darland Building in the Historic Stock Yards Feb 17th / 11-7pm This is Omaha’s first Paranormal Convention!

There will be representatives from the Midwest’s most haunted locations, local shops that dabble in the paranormal and supernatural, amazing speakers, and so much more!

More events coming to Local Stubs, Omaha’s destination to support local events. > Localstubs.com Please join the Omaha Magazine event’s newsletter to discover what is happening in the community.

> omahamagazine.com/newsletter

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