Omaha Magazine - November/December 2019 - Mental Health

HÉCTOR ANCHONDO // OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE // LISA’S RADIAL CAFE // KAEDYN ODERMANN

N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2019 U.S.

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FROM THE EDITOR // LETTER BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN, MANAGING EDITOR

HAPPY, SAD, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

N

ovember and December are happy months for many people. The weather is cooler, and there are major holidays to celebrate.

Some people, however, do not enjoy these months, as the sun sets earlier each day, culminating in the winter solstice. That can affect people’s mental health through an affliction known as seasonal affective disorder, a form of depression for which some symptoms are social withdrawal, weight gain, hypersomnia, and low energy.

According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychiatry MMC, 6% of the U.S. population is affected by seasonal affective disorder in its most marked form. This is particularly true in colder areas of the country. The same journal states that an additional 14% of the adult U.S. population suffers from a lesser form of seasonal mood changes known as winter blues.

SAD is one of the many forms of mental illness, from anxiety disorders to schizophrenia, that affect many adults in the United States. While SAD can dissipate in the warmer, sunnier months, those with major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or other major mental illnesses need more help.

These are some of the reasons why we thought this issue was a good time to focus on mental health. This issue’s feature section is devoted to a couple of aspects about mental health—from innovations in pediatric mental health to an in-depth look at mental illness that spotlights a couple of noted Omahans.

In the arts section, we highlight painter Elizabeth Boutin, a military wife who uses her art to help bring awareness of PTSD. November signals the end of high school football in the area, as many final games were played Oct. 25. It also signals the end of football for hundreds of high school seniors, while others, such as Millard West senior Kaedyn Odermann, will go on to play in college. Odermann, impressively, will be going to Harvard University. His story is on page 36.

The end of the year is also a busy time for giving and charitable events, and one of the biggest ones in the area this time of year is the Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Gala, to be held Nov. 9. Three volunteers—Susan Andrews, Cathi Arnold, and Kathy Seidel—spent the last 20 or more years on the board of Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Friends. They are all stepping down this year, and you can read their story in our Giving section.

Nov. 11 is Veteran’s Day, and to celebrate, we have a story about some history of Offutt Air Force Base, which started as Fort Crook in the late 19th century and has grown to more than 40,000 people who serve at, or are employed by, the base.

From post-Civil War Western growth to the Cold War, this area stalwart has seen interesting times.

The end of November, of course, brings another American holiday—Thanksgiving.

The daughters of former Lisa’s Radial Cafe owner Lisa Schembri are reviving their Thanksgiving dinner tradition this year, the first time the family has held a big dinner since Schembri died. This story is our dining feature.

Many in Omaha will host friends and family during the holiday season, and it might be a good idea to have some pastries or sweets on hand to offer those who drop in. Farine + Four offers a wide variety of pastries and handmade chocolates. Omaha Magazine spotlights Ellie Pegler as our chef profile this month.

Thanksgiving weekend also ushers in a flurry of activity as the official start of the Christmas season. One Nebraska city that relishes the season is Minden, known as Nebraska’s Christmas City. They hold a weeklong festival to celebrate, with a lighted parade, a carnival, and more. In fact, the city has events that run through the month, even after the festival ends.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

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2019

One activity many people enjoy participating in during the holiday season is ice skating, and Omaha offers several places to ice skate during the late-year months, from the Capitol District ice rink, open as part of Holiday Lights Festival, to Ralston Arena, which is open all year during select hours. Obviously Omaha highlights six places to ice skate around the Omaha area.

The events and Explore! calendars highlight many more events, including special holiday events.

Along with features and timely articles, Omaha Magazine highlights several people involved in stage performing.

Taylor Jackson, 27, is passionate about theater. She is not an actor; rather, she is a stagehand and stage manager who has helped with productions ranging from Shakespeare on the Green’s “All's Well That Ends Well” to OPA's “Hamilton.”

Another Omahan who is passionate about theater is Mackenzie Dehmer, director of the Omaha Community Playhouse’s Henry Fonda Theatre Academy, and the Omaha Symphonic Chorus’s annual gala.

Omaha-area comedian David Burdge is funny AF. He has performed for nationally known Daniel Franzese and opened for RuPaul’s “Drag Con.” Burdge’s story, and the story of his comedy show “Gay AF,” is in this issue.

And in the music category, Omaha Magazine spotlights local legend Héctor Anchondo. He tells his story as a musician from his hillbilly roots to his current band.

This is a great issue, and we are pleased to bring you the many great stories inside. I hope you enjoy them all, and I look forward to returning in 2020. * Note: The hotel edition of Omaha Magazine has a different cover and does not include all of the editorial content included in the magazine’s full city edition.

TAB L E of CON T E N T S THE USUAL SUSPECTS 001 From the Editor

Happy, SAD, and Everything In Between

004 Between the Lines 006 Calendar of Events 034 History

Offutt Air Force Base

048 Adventure

Meet Minden: Nebraska’s Christmas City

081 Obviously Omaha Ice Skating

105 Explore!

110 Not Funny

How Deep Do Cabbage Roots Reach?

QR

111 Instagram A R T S + C U LT U R E 018 Music

Héctor Anchondo

022 Visual

Elizabeth Boutin

026 Theater

F E AT U R E S

040 044 046 // 2 //

040

RADIO EDIT

Mental Illness, Once Taboo, Becomes Less Stigmatized

PEDIATRIC PSYCHIATRY

Collaborations with Hospitals, Schools Increase Intervention

TAMING THE MONKEY MIND

Alternative Medicine Treatments for Mental Health Problems

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Mackenzie Dehmer

030 Performance David Burdge

GIVING 056 Calendar 062 Giving Profile

Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Friends Board

PE O P L E 036 Sports

Kaedyn Odermann

050 Gen O

Taylor Jackson

QR

THE 2018 GRE AT PL AINS J OUR N A LIS M AWA RDS

MAGAZINE OF THE YEAR 60PLUS IN OMAHA

DISCOVER VIDEOS AND ONLINE EXTRAS

HÉCTOR ANCHONDO // OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE // LISA’S RADIAL CAFE // KAEDYN ODERMANN

069 Opener

for select content in this issue.

071 Health

Influenza

072 Active Living

From Oceanside to Riverside

076 Profile

Hot Take on a Cool Practice

078 Feature

Mensa Brings the 2% Together

DINING 082 Review

Sage Student Bistro

088 Feature

Lisa’s Radial Cafe

092 Chef Profile Ellie Pegler

095 Dining Guide SPECIAL SECTIONS 066 Holiday Gift Guide

N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2019 U.S.

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A B O U T T HE COV E R

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An Omaha man stands at the edge of darkness, peering into the existential depths of mental illness. Read the story, and see the man’s face, on page 40.

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Between A LOOK AT FOUR OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS MIKE CUTRERA II—IT Support Cutrera hails from Cajun Louisiana, was raised in Texas, currently lives the Nebraska good life, and is becoming Nova Scotian. While his geek gene has been glowing brightly since birth, he also thrives as a musician, maker, and artist/photographer/videographer. As an entrenched lifelong learner, Cutrera enjoys reading, the sciences, and voluminous hours immersed in existential thinking and study of the Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Science works of Buckminster Fuller. He loves spending time with his wife, daughter, grandkids, and extended family. When not geeking out or traveling, he might be found cheering on hockey, curling, and sumo teams.

CARRIELLE SEDERSTEN—Contributing Writer Sedersten covers arts, culture, and people. A UNO journalism alumna, she’s a self-described content connoisseur. When she encounters people out in the wild, she has to remove her headphones and pause one of the many podcasts she listens to religiously. She loves reading nonfiction books and binge-watching the hottest TV shows when she has time. Sedersten embraces the millennial stereotype of choosing experiences over stuff, from dining at the latest Omaha restaurants to catching a musical at the Orpheum Theater. She loves traveling to new cities and is obsessed with French culture. When she’s not in Omaha, she can be found kayaking, snorkeling, or walking the beach during winter in Florida. She stays active with her dogs Louis and Lola, and loves to spend time nature bathing. Her guilty pleasures include all things Walt Disney World and Twitter.

REBECCA WEIS —Intern Weis was born and raised in Scottsbluff. She is a junior at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she is majoring in broadcast journalism. Her favorite way to spend her free time is hanging out with friends while goofing off and binge-watching shows on Netflix or Hulu. Her passions include writing, performing, and traveling. She recently spent six months studying abroad, which taught her that sometimes the best things come from new and different experiences. Weis is unsure where her degree will take her after graduation, but she is excited and looking forward to life beyond college.

HOUSTON WILTSEY—Contributing Writer Wiltsey is a music journalist who started writing as a way to get free concert tickets. Three years and dozens of articles later, he's still doing it for the same reason—but with the bonus of being able to photograph the artists he loves. When he's not agonizing over his word choices and punctuation usage he can be found cooking, spraining his ankles playing basketball, reliving old glories on the soccer field, and trying to learn Oasis' back catalog on guitar.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 VOLUME 37 // ISSUE 7

EDITORIAL Managing Editor

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BRYAN VOMACKA · REBECCA WEIS Contributing Writers

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Come celebrate one of the region’s most cherished traditions, Christmas at Union Station! The holidays are always a magical time at The Durham Museum. From the area’s largest indoor Christmas tree, holiday concerts and Santa himself, you won’t want to miss all of the festive family fun.

Visit DurhamMuseum.org/Christmas

for event details including times when Santa will visit the museum.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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EVENTS

» Exhibitions « FALL CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW

Through Nov. 17 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. This annual event will celebrate and highlight Lauritzen’s Conservation Program throughout the past 10 years. Admission: $10 adults, $5 children ages 6-12, free for members and children under 6. 402.346.4002.

—lauritzengardens.org

RACE: ARE WE SO DIFFERENT?

Through Jan. 5 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. This exhibit offers a first-of-its-kind look at race in the United States from biological, cultural, and historical points of view. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children ages 3-12, free for members and children under 3. 402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

PAUL ANTHONY SMITH

Through Jan. 19 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Smith takes photographs in New York City and Jamaica and alters them with wooden tools. His work explores the concept of identity, particularly in people who have migrated to new countries and cultures. Admission: free.

402.342.3300.

—joslyn.org

EVERYDAY PEOPLE: THE ART OF JAMES E. RANSOME

Through Feb. 9 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. A celebration of the simple, joyful moments in life.

Admission: free. 402.342.3300.

—joslyn.org

DIGGIN’ DINOS

Through April 11 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Dinosaurs meet construction equipment in this new, larger-than-life exhibit that features life-size animatronic dinosaurs, kid-sized construction equipment, and a digging and building area. Admission: $13 adults and children ages 2+, $12 seniors (60+) and free to members and children under 2. 402.342.6164.

—ocm.org

WORD AND IMAGE: THE SAINT JOHN’S BIBLE

Through Jan. 19 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. This ticketed exhibit features 76 pages from the first handwritten illuminated bible commissioned by a Benedictine Abbey in over 600 years. Admission: $10 adults, $5 college students with ID, free for members and youth under 18. 402.342.3300.

—joslyn.org

LOUDER THAN WORDS: ROCK, POWER & POLITICS

Through Feb. 2 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. From civil rights to feminism to war and peace, rock music has influenced how we think about cultural and social issues.

This interactive exhibit explores the effects of rock music from Eisenhower to Trump, and includes exclusive video interviews with Bono and Jimmy Carter. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children ages 3-12, free for members and children under 3. 402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

NICKI BYRAM, INNA KULAGINA, AND CHARLENE POTTER

Nov. 5-24 at Omaha Artists’ Cooperative, 405 S. 11th St. Byram creates colorful abstract works, Kulagina works with fiber art, and Potter, rightfully, is a ceramics artist.

Admission: free. 402.342.9617.

—artistscoopomaha.com

FRIDA KAHLO’S GARDEN

Opening Nov. 9 at El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St. The garden at Kahlo’s lifelong home in Coyoacán, Mexico City, was filled with native plants, and housed Kahlo and husband Diego Rivera’s collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts and folk art displayed on a four-tiered pyramid inspired by the Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan.

Admission: $5 adults, $4 college students (with ID), $3.50 senior citizens and children ages 5+, and free to active military (with ID) and children under 5. 402.731.1137.

—elmuseolatino.org

TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST! AVA I LA B LE AT OM A H AW H I S K E Y F E ST. COM

GREAT GIFT IDEA!

FUNTASTIC FIBERS AT THE GARDEN

Opening Nov. 14 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Funtastic Fibers is a textile art group based in Omaha.

Some come from traditional quilting backgrounds, others have worked in textile arts from the beginning.

Th is exhibit showcases their work. Admission: $10 adults, $5 ages 6-12, free for members and children under 6. 402.346.4002.

—lauritzengardens.org

RICHARD IBGHY AND MARILOU LEMMENS PROJECT

Opening Nov. 20 at Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, 724 S. 12th St. Th is exhibit will explore the communication of birds and the possibility of communication between different species of animals. Admission: free.

402.341.7130.

—bemiscenter.org

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HOLIDAY POINSETTIA SHOW

Opening Nov. 23 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Th is annual exhibition displays thousands of plants, model trains, and miniature Omaha-area landmarks.

Admission: $10 adults, $5 children ages 6-12, free for members and children under 6. 402.346.4002.

—lauritzengardens.org

HOLIDAY CULTURAL TREES DISPLAY

Opening Nov. 29 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. The display showcases how cultures from around the world celebrate the holiday season. Each tree is decorated by a local Omaha ethnic society and is accompanied by interpretative text explaining the meaning behind the various decorations and unique traditions of each culture. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for members and children under 3. 402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

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OPS HIGH SCHOOL ART SHOW

December at Hot Shops, 1301 Nicholas St. Omaha Public Schools art departments are showcasing their students’ talents with a group show of the best teenage artists in Omaha. Admission: free. 402.342.6452.

—hotshopsartcenter.com

ALL MEMBER SHOW

Dec. 3-29 at Artists’ Cooperative Gallery, 405 S. 11th St. The 30+ artists who belong to the co-op will show their latest work at this annual exhibit. Visitors can see everything from drawings to paintings to pottery to fiber arts and more. Admission: free. 402.342.9617.

—artistscoopomaha.com

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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OPEN now through

april 11, 2020 Presented by:

NOV. 29

, 2019 3 2 .

C E D H G TH R O U

St. Frances Cabrini The spiritual home of the Little Italy and Old Market neighborhoods since 1857.

stcabriniomaha.org 10th and Williams Street

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

» Stage Performances «

CIRQUE MUSICA PRESENTS HOLIDAY WISHES

Nov. 29 at Baxter Arena, 2425 S. 67th St. Th is is a holiday story brought to life. The theatrical event features acrobats, aerialists, and more, performing to the music of a full orchestra. 7 p.m. Tickets: $22-$145.

402.554.6200.

— omavs.com

ELLA ENCHANTED

Through Nov. 10 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. Ella Enchanted is a reinvention of the classic tale of Cinderella. Times vary. Tickets: $25. 402.345.4849.

—rosetheater.org

THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW

ELF: THE MUSICAL

Through Nov. 10 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. The cult classic show encourages audience participation and is a one-of-a-kind experience. Times vary. Tickets: $42. 402.345.0606.

—omahaplayhouse.com

Nov. 29-Dec. 22 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. The story of a human who is raised by Santa and his elves has become a modern holiday classic. Times vary.

Tickets: $27-$32. 402.345.4849.

—rosetheater.org

MADAMA BUTTERFLY

Nov. 1 and 3 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Jun Kaneko’s production of the famous opera returns to Omaha. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 and 2 p.m. Nov. 3. Tickets: $19-$99. 402.345.0606.

—operaomaha.org

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Nov. 15 through Dec. 23 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Follow Ebenezer Scrooge in a classic Christmas story. Times vary. Tickets: $40-$55 adults, $26-$30 for students with valid ID. 402.345.0606.

—omahaplayhouse.com

KYLE KINANE

Nov. 6 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. NEIL HILBORN Kinane is an internationally touring comedian who Nov. 16 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple Nov. has appeared on Drunk History, @Midnight, The St. Hilborn is an American slam poet who writes Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Conan, Workaand performs poetry. His poems often detail perholics, This Is Not Happening, Not Safe with Nikki sonal experiences and battles with mental illness.

Glaser, and Comedy Bang! Bang! 8 p.m. Tickets: 9 p.m. $18 advanced, $20 day of show, $50 VIP. $25. 402.884.5353.

402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com —waitingroomlounge.com

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OUR TOWN

Nov. 8-24 at Bellevue Little Theatre, 203 E. Mission Ave. The fictional town of Grover’s Corners is the backdrop to this play about everyday life in America from 1901 to 1913. Times vary. Tickets: $18 adults, $16 seniors, $10 students. 402.291.1554.

—theatreartsguild.com

JOEY DIAZV

Nov. 8-9 at Funny Bone Comedy Club, 17305 Davenport St., Suite 201. Diaz’ love of storytelling is reflected in each role he takes. Whether it is on fi lm or onstage, his passion for entertaining and delighting audiences shines through every performance. Times vary. Tickets: $30.

402.493.8036.

—omaha.funnybone.com

YESTERDAY AND TODAY

Nov. 22-Dec. 31 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Billy McGuigan and his brothers are back at Omaha Community Playhouse. This all-request Beatles tribute show will have guests dancing in the aisles and singing along to every song. Times vary. Tickets: $40$55 general admission. 402.345.0606.

—omahaplayhouse.com

A VERY DIE HARD CHRISTMAS

Nov. 29-Dec. 22 at Blue Barn Theatre, 1106 S. 10th St. A comedic take on the popular action/Christmas movie Die Hard. Times vary. Tickets: $35 general admission.

402.345.1576.

—bluebarn.org

DRUMLINE LIVE HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

Nov. 22 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Classic holiday songs performed by a marching band. 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $20-$45. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

JEFF ALLEN

Nov. 10 at Funny Bone Comedy Club, 17305 Davenport St., Suite 201. Allen’s rapid-fire humor centers on marriage and family. He has appeared on Showtime, Comedy Central, VH1, and more. At times gut-wrenching and hilarious, Allen’s one-man show, The America I Grew Up In, offers a unique view into his crazy world.

Tickets: $20-$35. 402.493.8036.

—omaha.funnybone.com

AILEY II

Nov. 15 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. An energetic dance show featuring performances of original works and classics. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20-$38. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

THE NUTCRACKER

Dec. 7 and 8 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. The classic ballet comes to Omaha, featuring 130 dancers and over 250 costumes. 2 p.m. Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8. Tickets: $27-$87. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

FAMILY COMEDY SHOW WITH GREG WARREN

THE SCOTTIE MILLER BAND

Nov. 2 at The Jewell, 1030 Capitol Ave. Minnesota jazz staple Scottie Miller has been inducted into the Minnesota Blues Hall of Fame, and toured with blues icon Bo Diddley and three-time Grammy-nominated singer Ruthie Foster. 6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. Admission: $20.

917.748.4337.

—jewellomaha.com

Dec. 14 at Funny Bone Comedy Club, 17305 Davenport St., Suite 201. Greg Warren has been seen on Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Late Show on CBS, and Last Comic Standing, and has built a strong fan base with an act inspired by his Midwestern upbringing. Th is show is geared toward ages 10 and up. 3:30 p.m. Tickets: $15. 402.493.8036.

—omaha.funnybone.com

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Nov.

Dec. 10-15, at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock opera about the fi nal seven days in the life of Christ is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a new production. Times vary. Tickets: TBA. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

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TENTH MOUNTAIN DIVISION

Nov. 2 at Barley Street Tavern, 2735 N. 62nd St. This band takes an exploratory trip through Americana from their diverse influences of classic southern rock, progressive bluegrass, sixties psychedelic blues, and rock ‘n’ roll. Admission: TBD. 402.408.0028.

—barleystreet.com

JOSH HOYER & SOUL COLOSSAL

Nov. 3 at The Jewell, 1030 Capitol Ave. Th is band has been performing since 2012, and night after night they bring blues and funk music to local crowds. 6 p.m., 8 p.m. Admission: $10. 917.748.4337.

—jewellomaha.com

DREAM THEATER

Nov. 4 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Dream Theater, pioneers of progressive metal music, secluded themselves in upstate New York in the creation of their newest album, Distance Over Time. 8 p.m. Tickets: $29.50-$254. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

NEW YEAR’S EVE, AN EVENING OF LAUGHTER

Dec. 31 at Funny Bone Comedy Club, 17305 Davenport St., Suite 201. Ring in 2020 with laughter, provided by comedian John Paul Morgan. The 7:30 p.m. event includes an optional dinner package (drinks sold separately) while the 10 p.m. event includes party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. Tickets: $25-$50.

402.493.8036.

—omaha.funnybone.com

» Concerts « TWIN PEAKS

Nov. 1 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Chicago’s Twin Peaks have gleefully embraced change since their 2010 formation to become one of the city’s essential rock bands. With their fourth album, Lookout Low, the sonic and creative leap the five-piece takes feels like a total revolution of their youthful sound. 9 p.m. $18 advance, $20 day of show. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

THE FOUR ITALIAN TENORS: VIVA ITALIA!

Nov. 2 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. A group of Italian musicians perform classic works.

7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20-$55. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

FOR KING & COUNTRY

Nov. 10 at Baxter Arena, 2425 S. 67th St. This Grammy-award winning duo For King & Country is known for hits such as “Joy” and “Priceless.” 7 p.m. Tickets: $20-$200. 402.554.6200.

—omavs.com

JOHN 5 WITH JARED JAMES NICHOLS, REVEREND JACK

Nov. 8 at Sokol Underground, 2234 S. 13th St. John 5 has worked with musicians such as Mötley Crüe, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Alice Cooper. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $20. 402.346.9802.

—sokolauditorium.com

ARSON CITY’S SIXTH ANNUAL CITIZENS BALL

Nov. 8 and 9 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Th is year’s event will feature two back-to-back performances by Arson City and more. 8 p.m. Tickets: $12 for one day, $20 for both, $35 VIP. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

KEITH HARKIN

Nov. 9 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. The Irish singer/songwriter has toured around the world over the last 15 years. 8:15 p.m. Tickets $35 advance, $40 day of show. 402.884.5707.

—reverblounge.com

CAAMP

Nov. 12 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Caamp formed when Taylor Meier and Evan Westfall met and bonded over a shared love of music and a shared love of home, specifically the inspiration they culled from the Midwest lives they grew up in. Their self-titled 2016 debut album took flight, quickly gaining over 52 million streams. 8 p.m. Tickets: $20 advanced, $23 day of show, $59 VIP. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

X AMBASSADORS JEFFREY LEWIS & THE VOLTAGE

Nov. 4 at Brothers Lounge, 3812 Farnam St. New Yorker Jeff rey Lewis’ band has a multifaceted existence, exploring a stylistic swath from contemplative folk narratives to distortion-fueled garage rock to soundscape abstractions and more. 8 p.m. Tickets: $8 advance, $10 day of show.

402.558.4096.

—brothersloungeomaha.com

THAT 1 GUY

Nov. 5 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Artist Mike Silverman performs a unique show with homemade instruments. 9 p.m. Tickets: $15. 402.884.5707.

—reverblounge.com

REMO DRIVE

Nov. 7 at at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. The band’s latest album is Natural, Everyday Degradation. 8 p.m. Tickets: $16 advance, $18 day of show.

402.884.5707.

—reverblounge.com

Nov. 12 at Sokol Auditorium, 2234 S. 13th St. The band’s third album, Orion, was released in June. 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $28. 402.346.9802.

—sokolauditorium.com

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA 2019

Nov. 13 at Mid-America Center, One Arena Way, Council Bluffs. Th is multiplatinum American band fuses multimedia with a rock concert. Their Christmas music has been a favorite of people young and old. 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $39-$70. 712.323.0536.

—ticketmaster.com

BIG WILD

Nov. 15 at Sokol Auditorium, 2234 S. 13th St. Producer Jackson Stell has adopted influences from California’s natural glory and open spaces to create the atmospheric and wide-spanning Big Wild sound, which traverses electronic, indie, pop, and beyond. 8:30 p.m. $20 advanced, $25 day of show. 402.346.9802.

—sokolauditorium.com

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 11 //

OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

KATASTRO

Nov. 20 at the The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Emerging from diverse musical backgrounds, the members of Katastro gather to create a unique sound, blending hip-hop, blues, jazz, and rock. 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 advanced, $17 day of show. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

THE PIANO GUYS

Nov. 16 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. The Piano Guys perform their unique take on classical music, modern pop, movie scores, and more. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $51-$126. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

SLAYER

Nov. 18 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. One of the most popular heavy metal bands is stopping in Omaha on their final world tour. 6 p.m. Tickets: $26$250. 402.341.1500.

—chihealthcenteromaha.com

THIRD EYE BLIND

Nov. 26 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. The popular rock band released their sixth album, Screamer, in October. 8 p.m. Tickets: $35-$1,000. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

THE HU

Nov. 26 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. The HU is a band from Mongolia that blends hard rock and traditional Mongolian throat singing. Their first two videos (“Yuve Yuve Yu” and “Wolf Totem”) have garnered over 30 million views. 8 p.m. Tickets: $15 advanced, $18 day of show. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

CHASTITY

Nov. 26 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Chastity (Brandon Williams) hails from Whitby, Ontario, a suburb well removed—physically and emblematically—from Toronto. 8 p.m. Tickets: $12. 402.884.5707.

—reverblounge.com

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN™ IN CONCERT MAYDAY PARADE: FOREVER EMO

Nov. 19 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Th is Tallahassee-based rock band got inspiration for their latest album from an abandoned hospital where the band members used to sneak in to explore as teenagers.

Their music evokes the memories of overgrown vines, rusted hospital beds, and IV stands. 8 p.m. Tickets: $25 advanced, $28 day of show. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

YELAWOLF: “GHETTO COWBOY TOUR”

Nov. 20 at Sokol Auditorium, 2234 S. 13th St. The rapper comes to Omaha for the “Ghetto Cowboy Tour.” 7 p.m.

Tickets: $30. 402.346.9802.

—sokolauditorium.com

WILCO

Nov. 20 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Wilco’s unique sound is a combination of rock, country, folk, pop, and more. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $45-$55.

402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

THE MOTET

Dec. 5 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. This Denver septet harnesses pure energy. They encode a message in their energetic mélange of funk, soul, and pop.

8 p.m. $20 advanced, $25 day of show. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

MORBID ANGEL

Dec. 6 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. These legendary death metal titans are promising a show of pure evil and uncompromised dark art. 8 p.m.

Tickets: $25 advanced, $30 day of show. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

JOYFUL NOISE: A GOSPEL CHRISTMAS FEATURING SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH

Dec. 7-8 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Omaha’s nationally recognized Salem Baptist Church choir brings back its popular concert, featuring holiday classics and new music. Tickets and times vary.

402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

OLD 97’S HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

Dec. 9 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Old 97 emerged from Dallas more than 20 years ago at the forefront of a musical movement blending rootsy, country-influenced songwriting with punk rock energy and delivery. In 2019, they are still going strong. 8 p.m.

Tickets: $25. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. A screening of the third film in the popular series will be accompanied by a live performance of the film’s music by the Omaha Symphony. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 and 2 p.m. Dec. 1. Tickets: $19-$79. 403.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

BLACKALICIOUS

HOLIDAY CONCERT SERIES

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH

Nov. 30-Dec. 22 Tuesday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays at Durham Museum, 801 S 10th St. Talented local entertainers, school musicians, and choirs will perform as part of The Durham Museum’s Holiday Concert Series. Concerts are free, but museum admission ($11 adults, $8 seniors ages 62+, $7 children ages 3-12, and free for members and children under 3) applies. 402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY’S WILD & SWINGIN’ HOLIDAY PARTY

Dec. 3 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. This show sees the group bring their own unique take to a variety of classic holiday songs. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $25-$45. 403.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

JONAS BROTHERS

Dec. 4 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. The brothers are back and as popular as ever. In June, they released their first album in 10 years. Attendees can expect to hear their new hit “Sucker” as well as fan favorites like “Burnin’ Up.” 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $46-$588. 402.341.1500.

—chihealthcenteromaha.com

Dec. 10 at The Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Th is California-bred duo has a hard-won reputation as one of hip-hop’s most progressive, forward-thinking creative forces. 8 p.m. Tickets: $20. 402.884.5353.

—waitingroomlounge.com

Dec. 14 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. Five Finger Death Punch, known for “Wrong Side of Heaven” and “Gone Away,” performs. 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $39.50$79.50. 402.341.1500.

—chihealthcenteromaha.com

HOME FREE

Dec. 19 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. The acapella country band has sold more than 350,000 albums worldwide. 8 p.m. Tickets: $19.50-$118.50. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

MARIACHI HERENCIA DE MÉXICO

Dec. 20 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. The youth ensemble from Chicago brought new life to mariachi music with their debut album in 2017. In this show, they celebrate the holiday season with a performance of Mexican and American holiday music. 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $10-$25. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 13 //

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS

Dec. 21 and 22 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. The most famous Christmas music group of all time, which was started in Omaha, celebrates their 35th anniversary with their annual tour. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 7 p.m. Dec. 22. Tickets: $38.25-$58.25. 402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

» Family & More « ANIME NEBRASKON 2019

Nov. 1-3 at The Ramada Convention Center, 3321 S. 72nd St. Anime NebrasKon is a Japanese animation and pop culture convention held in Omaha. The event includes something for everyone—family-friendly panels, video and board games, and dances. Admission: $50-$55.

—animenebraskon.com

UNION PACIFIC MUSEUM NOVEMBER FAMILY NIGHT

Nov. 1 at Union Pacific Museum, 200 Pearl St. On the fi rst Friday of every month, Union Pacific Museum hosts a family night. November’s theme is Bison Night.

5:30-8 p.m. Admission: free. 712.329.8307.

—uprrmuseum.org

NEBRASKA & WESTERN IOWA NURSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS N S1T9ER IOPW NE OB VREA MSBKEA R& 14W , 2E0 AN T5 MA NURSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS T e 2V 0E 19M NuB rsE eR of1t4 he, Y2 e0 ar 1a9 waA rdT s—5prP esM ented by Nebraska NhO Medicine —recognizes exceptional nurses in Nebraska and Western Iowa while supporting March of Dimes work to The 2019 Nurse of the Year awards—presented by Nebraska improve the health of every mom and baby. Awards will be Medicine —recognizes exceptional nurses in Nebraska and presented in 21 diverse categories.

Western Iowa while supporting March of Dimes work to improve the health of every mom and baby. Awards will be Join us as we thank and honor nurses for their selflessness, presented in 21 diverse categories. dedication and passion for their profession.

Join us as we thank and honor nurses for their selflessness, Visit Nurseoftheyear.org/nebraskaiowa for more information. dedication and passion for their profession.

Visit Nurseoftheyear.org/nebraskaiowa for more information.

© 2019 March of Dimes

© 2019 March of Dimes

A NIGHT AT THE FORBIDDEN FOREST

Nov. 1 at Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N. Those age 21+ can journey into the forbidden forest to hunt for Horcruxes, or take O.W.L. exams via a Pub Quiz designed to challenge even the most knowledgeable witch or wizard. Students of Hogwarts will receive a drink ticket with admission to the event, and there will be owls to meet, wands to be chosen, and more. A costume contest will be held. 6-9 p.m. Admission: $25 members/$35 non-members. 402.731.3140.

—fontenelleforest.org

A HOLIDAY AT HOGWARTS

Nov. 2 at Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N. Children of all ages can walk through the forbidden forest, visit the Sorting Hat, practice “swish and flick” wand moves and have a drink of Butterbeer (nonalcoholic, of course). Witch and wizard attire is encouraged and will be celebrated with a costume parade. 1-4 p.m. Ticket prices vary. 402.731.3140.

—fontenelleforest.org

AUTUMN FESTIVAL: ARTS AND CRAFTS AFFAIR

Nov. 7-10 at Ralston Arena, 7300 Q St. Art from hundreds of the best crafters and artists in the country, plus food and drinks, makes for an excellent family event.

Times vary. Tickets: $9 adults, $8 seniors (62+), free for children under 10. 402.934.9966.

—ralstonarena.com

VETERANS SHINE ON

Nov. 7 at Memorial Park, 6005 Underwood Ave. The lighting of the World War II Colonnade. Speakers, special guests, hot cocoa, and music will contribute to this night for honoring veterans. 6-7 p.m. Admission: free. 402.444.5900.

—parks.cityofomaha.edu

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | CALENDAR

HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL

THE MADRIGAL CHRISTMASSE FEASTE

Nov. 18-Jan. 5 in the Old Market, 10th to 13th streets and Harney to Jackson streets. Omaha’s popular holiday season festival is back. Th is year, lights will illuminate the Old Market and surrounding streets as part of Holidays in the Old Market. The display will blanket the Old Market and surrounding streets with white lights and garland. The lighting display will be accented with LED snowflakes, window décor, and illuminated leaping reindeer. 402.345.5401.

—holidaylightsfestival.org

Dec. 4-7 at Regency Marriott Ballroom, 10220 Regency Circle. Ibsen Costume Gallery takes guests back in time to the Renaissance years for a dinner experience complete with food and costumes. 6 p.m. Tickets: $62 per person, $55 groups of 10 or more. 402.556.1400.

—ibsencostumes.com

MILK & COOKIES WITH SANTA

Nov. 23-24 at Mid-America Center, One Arena Way. Dog-lovers will be able to see favorite breeds such as labradors, Lhasa apsos, beagles, and more at this annual all-breed show. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $8 adults, $7 seniors, and free for children 12 and under.

712.323.0536.

—caesars.com/mid-america-center

Nov. 29, and Dec. 6, 13, and 20 at Stinson Park, 2285 S. 67th St. Th is annual event starts with the tree lighting Nov. 23 and includes community activities (in a heated tent), free visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and horse-drawn carriage rides. 6-8 p.m.

Admission: free. 402.496.1616.

—aksarbenvillage.com

TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

Nov. 29 at Durham Museum, 801 S 10th St. The Christmas at Union Station festivities begin with the annual tree lighting ceremony. The event includes live music, cookie decorating, and holiday crafts, plus a visit from Santa Claus. Everything leads to the signature tradition of the night: the community countdown to lighting the region’s largest indoor Christmas tree. 4-8 p.m. Museum admission applies ($11 adults, $8 seniors ages 62+, $7 children ages 3-12, and free for members and children under 2). 402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

WINTER WONDERLAND

Nov. 30 in Downtown Papillion, 122 E. Third St. Th is small-town festival includes festive lights, carriage rides, hot chocolate and s’mores, visits with Santa and his reindeer, and holiday shopping. 5-9 p.m. Admission: free. 402.331.3917.

—papillionfoundation.org

KETV FAMILY FESTIVAL

Dec. 1 at various locations. The Family Festival offers an opportunity to experience many of Omaha’s leading downtown attractions. Ollie the Trolley will provide free, heated trolley rides between locations, which include The Durham Museum, Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha Children’s Museum, Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Barn, the W. Dale Clark Library, and the YMCA downtown. Noon-5 p.m. Admission: free. 402.345.5401.

—holidaylightsfestival.org

// 16 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Dec.

6

HOLIDAY CULTURAL FESTIVAL

Dec. 6 at Durham Museum, 801 S 10th St. Visitors can learn how the world celebrates this joyful time of year from more than 20 local cultural organizations. Crafts and traditional dress will be displayed while musicians and dancers perform throughout the evening. Ethnic foods and gifts will be available for purchase. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for members and children under 3. 402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

UNION PACIFIC MUSEUM DECEMBER FAMILY NIGHT

Dec. 6 at Union Pacific Museum, 200 Pearl St. The theme for December’s family night is “Trainapalooza!”

5:30-8 p.m. Admission: free. 712.329.8307.

—uprrmuseum.org

HOT SHOPS WINTER OPEN HOUSE

Dec. 7-8 at Hot Shops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St. Th is biannual event includes the studios being open for visitors, organized art displays, artist demonstrations, and gallery shows. Noon-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m.

Sunday. Admission: free.

—hotshopsartcenter.com

NATIONAL POINSETTIA DAY

Dec. 12 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. The holiday poinsettia show offers all the opportunity to celebrate National Poinsettia Day. The first 100 families to visit the garden will receive a poinsettia (limit one per family) to celebrate. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission: $10 adults, $5 children age 6-12, free for members and children under 6. 402.346.4002.

—lauritzengardens.org

WINTER MOON WALK AND CAMPFIRE

Dec. 13-14, 20-21 at Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, 3701 S. 10th St. Attendees can meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus, have story time, decorate cookies, and eat dinner. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Admission: TBA. 402.773.8401.

—omahazoo.com

23

Dec. 6 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Omaha Children’s Museum will stay open late so children can play with a cast of holiday characters. Special events include decorating cookies, attending shows of Santa’s Magic, and participating in open play throughout the museum. Included in admission, which is: $13 adults and children ages 2+, $12 seniors ages (60+), and free to members and children under 24 months. 402.342.6164.

—ocm.org

COUNCIL BLUFFS KENNEL CLUB

LIGHTS OF AKSARBEN

Dec.

SUPPER WITH SANTA

Dec. 13 at Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd. N. Th is family-friendly program will incorporate a short moonlight hike through the forest followed by a campfire under a full moon. 6:30 p.m. Admission: $21 adults, $20 senior (62+), $13 children 2-17, $5 for members and children under 2. 402.731.3140.

—fontenelleforest.org

FIFTH ANNUAL 100 BLOCK UGLY SWEATER BAR CRAWL

Dec. 23 at 100 Block (102-164 W. Broadway) in Council Bluffs. Participants are encouraged to wear an ugly Christmas sweater for this fun event where several bars on the 100 Block are offering samples of beer. Registration is at Barley’s Bar (114 W. Broadway) from 6-9 p.m. Admission: $5.

—cb100block.com

PENGUINS AND PANCAKES

Dec. 26-30 at Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, 3701 S. 10th St. Guests can munch on pancakes while creating crafts and viewing visits from the African penguins inside the zoo’s Aquarium Conference Center. 9-10:30 a.m.

Tickets: $15-$25. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

402.773.8401.

—omahazoo.com

NICK JR. LIVE!

Dec. 28 and 29 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Dora the Explorer, Paw Patrol, and more Nick Jr. characters take the stage for a live stage performance. 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 28 and 29. Tickets: $23.25-$109.25.

402.345.0606.

—ticketomaha.com

NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR

Dec. 31 at CHI Health Center, MECA Lot B, 455 N. 10th St. This incredible show fills the sky with bursts of color, choreographed to explode on cue to a unique musical score of iconic ’60s hits. 7 p.m. Admission: free.

402.345.5401.

—holidaylightsfestival.org

NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH

Dec. 31 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Guests will ring in the New Year with a countdown and evening activities at the museum. 5-8 p.m. Admission: $13 children and adults; $12 seniors (age 60+); free for members and children under 2. Museum admission included. 402.342.6164.

—ocm.org

NOON YEAR’S EVE

Dec. 31 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Music from Dino O’Dell and the T-Rex All-Stars and special crafts and activities are on the lineup, along with the celebratory Bubble Wrap stomp and balloon drop at noon in the Suzanne and Walter Scott Great Hall. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for members and children under 3. 402.444.5071.

—durhammuseum.org

Event times and details may change.

Visist omahamagazine.com for complete listings.

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

The Saint John’s Bible Now through January 19, 2020 A contemporary masterpiece of medieval craftsmanship, The Saint John’s Bible is the first handwritten, illuminated Bible commissioned by a Benedictine Monastery since the fifteenth century. Ticketed exhibition.

Creation, Donald Jackson, © 2003, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, USA.

Presenting Sponsor:

Major Fran and Rich Juro, The Bill and Leona Kernen Family, Sponsors: Nancy and Mike McCarthy, Teri and Ron Quinn

Additional support provided by:

Exhibition organized by Joslyn Art Museum and Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota.

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

Making the season

merry and bright bright

HOLIDAY POINSETTIA SHOW November 23 through January 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

See the show AGLOW on select evenings from 5 to 8 p.m.

100 Bancroft Street | Omaha, NE (402) 346-4002 | lauritzengardens.org NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 17 //

For expanded content, open the camera on your smart device and hover over the QR code above. // 18 // NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

// 19 //

2019

// A+C MUSIC //

“I LOVE THE ARTISTRY

AND THE CRAFT OF MUSIC. IT MIGHT SOUND KIND OF CHEESY BUT MAKING ' A RELIGION , MUSIC IS LIKE AN EXTREME DISCIPLINE.' IT'S PART OF YOUR LIFE.”

'

The blues don't seem like a young man's game.

While it might be arguable whether 39 is still young or not the blues are inarguably ' a game Hector Anchondo is winning.

Through the inevitable ups and downs of the music business, this singer, songwriter, and guitarist now supports a family with his art after years of day jobs. He’s penned and recorded eight albums with Burgundy and Gray, The Héctor Anchondo Band, Los Padres, and as Anchondo. Raised in Salem, Missouri, in the Ozarks, Anchondo has been local since 1999. He also started “In the Market for Blues” in 2015 with area promoter Emily Cox. This year’s festival featured over 40 bands in 12 different downtown music venues.

In recent years, Anchondo has been piling up the accolades. Since 2013, he’s won the Best Blues award from the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards four times, the Nebraska State Blues Challenge twice, and he was a semifinalist in 2015 and a finalist in 2016 at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, where he placed eighth out of 240 artists from around the world.

In early 2018, Anchondo survived emergency gallbladder surgery, nearly losing his pancreas in the process, only to be blindsided by medical bills.

He’s only recently gotten out from under that debt with the help of the Omaha Blues Society, which held a medical fundraiser for Anchondo.

During a catch-up session at Havana Garage in the Old Market, Anchondo points out how intimate the “stage” can be.” “They use those doors to go out to the patio and that’s the women’s restroom right there,” he says. Anchondo gigs here on occasion, setting up in an impossibly small space in the north corner of the bar. He says he likes a tight performance space so he can be as close to the audience as possible, a habit picked up in his younger days. “I actually like that you’re up close and personal with everybody. I played a lot of house parties back in the day. Had a lot of gear ruined by beer, but people passing right in front of us is kind of the charm of it.”

You can take the musician out of the Ozarks, but can you take the Ozarks out of the musician? While a little bluegrass “shines through” occasionally, Anchondo says his style is definitely all blues, a blend of Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago.

“There was definitely more bluegrass in Salem. There’s a legitimate hillbilly culture down there that’s pretty intense. The first actual bands I was exposed to were old-time bluegrass bands. Bluegrass players get down. It was pretty rad,” says Anchondo, who plays piano, ukulele, mandolin, drums, and bass as well as a mean six-string. “I started out wanting to learn some rock guitar.

My instructor said ‘if you want to play lead guitar, then you need to learn how to play the blues.’ I got all over this blues thing just to get to that stuff.

And that’s when I fell in love with the blues. I was like, ‘this is exactly what I’m talking about, you know, that was the discovery.’”

Anchondo is a pretty moderate drinker for a blues man. Not exactly a teetotaler, but he does like to keep a clear head now that he’s a father and a proper perspective as he grows into a more mature artist. While practicing at Havana Garage, he barely finishes two pints in as many hours. Anchondo admits that a few years in his early 20s were made fuzzy by partying, but there’s nothing like unaltered reality for classic blues material.

“I had a lot of alcohol, especially in my younger 20s. I never had a problem, per se, but [at] times I did drink more heavily and smoked a lot. I realized looking back it was like I couldn’t remember a lot, you know? There were times in my life where I quit drinking for a year, just to make sure that I could. That can be tough working in bars. I couldn’t even try to do that today. I would be in a coma, you know?”

The fuzziness of his 20s stands in contrast to his style of writing music today. As he matured, Anchondo started finding his artistic inspiration in the stories around him, in the lives of friends and family.

A song from his album Young Guns called “Damn It” exemplifies his storytelling style.

“It’s all from personal experience,” says Anchondo for whom all parts of the human experience are valid material and all experiences are a part of existence. “I took from a few inspirations, like the relationship my mom had been in when I was growing up. ‘Breaking every dish in the house’ is the hook. A good friend of mine was in one of those relationships where it was either really, really great or really, really explosive and destructive. So I wrote about some of the crazy things that happened like when she drove her car into their house. It’s all part of experience.”

Anchondo has been working for nearly three years on his ninth album and still practices harder than ever to reach “the next level” musically and professionally.

“I love the artistry and the craft of music. It might sound kind of cheesy, but making music is like a religion, an extreme discipline. It’s part of your life.

It is your life and in order to see what you are capable of by the time you perish, you got to be all in to see what you can do. I’ve been working harder than I ever have in my entire life because I’m really trying to push myself and my band to the next level. I want this album to be the best album yet.”

Visit hectoranchondo.com for more information.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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A+C VISUAL

STORY BY HOUSTON WILTSEY

On

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN

DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

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Front

the Lines

Elizabeth Boutin is Tackling Mental Health with Art

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// A+C VISUAL //

FOR YOUNG ARTISTS, support is crucial. Children look to parents

and teachers to provide the reassurance needed to go forward and confidently pursue their chosen craft. If you are painter Elizabeth Boutin, though, that support can come from a somewhat unexpected place.

“There were these contests in the TV Guide where you tried to recreate a particular drawing, and there was one of a cartoon turtle [named Tippy] that I decided to enter,” says the 51-year-old Bellevue resident of her formative artistic experience. “A few weeks later I got a typed letter back saying that I hadn’t won, but that I should continue practicing and consider attending art school.”

It’s an unusual start for an artist whose work focuses on the inner turmoil of military veterans and the horrors of war, but for Boutin, it was just the vote of confidence she needed.

Already an avid drawer from spending time with her artistically gifted grandmother (“she used to make doodles whenever I came over”), Boutin took that TV Guide letter to heart and ended up enrolling at North Idaho College in fall 1986. The experience only lasted a year before life got in the way.

She married a military man and spent the next 25 years hopping from base to base, raising three children in the process. Though she was not regularly painting during this time, the frequent travel was a source of inspiration both in subject matter and style, especially when the family was stationed in Ramstein, Germany, from 2003 to 2006. This gave her the chance to visit some of Europe’s iconic museums, including the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay.

It was during this time that Boutin started volunteering for the Red Cross at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center during the height of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. “I was helping with basic necessity—changing sheets, serving lunch, and, occasionally, I would help change Band-Aids,” Boutin says. “I learned about the treatment of a lot of these injuries...and I also listened to their stories.”

It was here that Boutin experienced firsthand the damage that war can inflict on both the mind and body.

“My first moment of real shock happened during my first month,” Boutin says. “I walk into one of the rooms and greeted the people in there with a pleasant ‘hello, how are we doing?’ and one of the men there goes ‘how do you think’ and throws his blanket up and his leg is split open from the top of his thigh down to his knee. The whole thing was stuffed with gauze and there was this knock-you-on-your-knees smell.”

To cope with the experience of being surrounded by so many wounded souls, she started writing her experiences down in a journal, using as much detail as possible. “I wrote down everything except their [the soldiers’] names because I wanted to respect their privacy. I can still picture all of their faces plain as day.” // 24 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

The series’ symbolism is about as on-the-nose as it gets: dog tags draped atop bottles of pills and vodka, a soldier slumped against a wall surrounded by words such as “suffocating” and “alone,” and skulls placed alongside Desert Eagles and war medals. It’s dark, and Boutin realizes the heavy subject matter might be the reason she is not able to book more public showings.

Those who get the chance to see Boutin’s work in person, especially those in the military, are incredibly moved. Boutin says she has had several people break down and cry while looking at her work, telling her that it accurately captures their struggles.

It’s also allowed Boutin to deal with struggles of her own, helping her cope with the loss of her friend and the things she saw while volunteering in Ramstein. This year, she began dipping into her journals from her Red Cross days, using the words to accompany her images. “I’m finally starting to express these stories from my journal on canvas,” Boutin says. “I look at it as a form of art therapy, as a way to process it all.”

She makes it clear, though, that this project has always been about more than herself. “We have these guys and girls going out on the line for us and we need to take care of them once they get home,” she says. “It took me a long time to realize that’s what I wanted to say with my work.” As the saying goes, slow and steady wins the race.

Visit elizabethboutin.com for more information.

“We have these guys and girls going out on the line for us and we need to take care of them once they get home.”

-Elizabeth Boutin Those memories stuck with Boutin, but she never acted on them until a family friend from the Army committed suicide.

“That was rough,” she says. “It’s still rough.”

At that point, Boutin and her family had relocated to Bellevue, as her husband was stationed at Off utt Air Force Base. She was also taking classes at the University of Nebraska at Omaha to get her bachelor’s degree in fine arts and was looking to branch out from the traditional still lifes she was painting at the time.

“I hated talking about this subject matter [mental health] in the past, but it seemed so pertinent at the time,” Boutin says. “I brought up it up to my professor and said ‘I kind of want to do this, but I’m not sure that I should’ and she just looked at me without hesitation and said ‘go for it.’” Boutin has been working on the resulting series of paintings, Eff ects of PTSD, ever since.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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A+C THEATER // STORY BY PATRICK MAINELLI // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MADY BESCH

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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// A+C THEATER //

EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE has involved the arts,” recalls Mackenzie Dehmer.

Spend even a short time in Dehmer’s presence and it’s quickly evident: a certain joyful enthusiasm is a constant in her busy life as director of the Omaha Community Playhouse’s Henry Fonda Theatre Academy, director of the Omaha Symphonic Chorus’ annual gala, private vocal coach, and lead singer for the Top 40 cover band Velvet Crush.

That may be a mouthful of a sentence, yet it only scratches the surface of all that this 33-year-old Omaha native has contributed to the city’s music and theater community over the last several years.

“I’d always been a dramatic child,” she confesses, “always performing, always looking for a way to find an audience.” Today, Dehmer is still performing (most recently as Fiona in the OCP production of Shrek), while also sustaining a robust performing arts curriculum for children and adults in the Henry Fonda Theatre Academy.

“Teaching life skills through stage skills,” is how she views it. “When we’re teaching people to sing, or act, or dance, or be funny on stage, were not just teaching them those skills, we’re teaching them collaboration, confidence, and empathy skills that can be applied to all areas of life.”

The academy, which she’s directed for the last two years, offers a diverse selection of performing arts courses for seriously aspiring performers and those who are simply curious. Courses in everything from voiceover acting, tap dancing, improv, and cabaret attract a wide demographic of ages and backgrounds.

Many courses conclude with a final performance.

“I cannot count how many times I’ve seen a student learn something about themselves through being in a show,” she says. “And it may not even be a stage skill; it may be the ability to try something new, or the ability to relate to someone who they didn’t identify with before. I think that is so important, especially now—to see the world as something larger than your own little bubble.”

Dehmer’s education in the arts began almost at birth. Her parents, both music teachers in Omaha, fi lled the home with everything from choral to contemporary music.

“I knew music was going to be a part of my life forever,” she remembers, “probably before I could even rationalize that as a thought.”

At 12, she was traveling the world as a member of the select children’s choir Bel Canto, “singing more challenging music than I ever sang in college.”

A trip to London with the choir introduced Dehmer to the magic of musical theater. “My parents had taken me to traveling Broadway shows; I’d been to the opera and the symphony in Omaha. But when I saw Kiss Me Kate in the West End, I remember walking out of that theater and turning to my friend, saying ‘That’s what I want to do.’ I had never been so clear about what I wanted to do with my life and what was important to me.”

Dehmer attended college at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, studying classical voice. While in K.C., another pivotal musical experience came from a rather unexpected place.

Dehmer explains: “A friend dragged me to this place called Bar Natasha and made me audition to work as a singing cocktail waitress.” For the next two years, she balanced the tasks of nightly performances while actively serving patrons. “I probably learned more from Bar Natasha about being a performer and having confidence in my skill than I did from college,” she says.

After college, she worked with Omaha’s Grace University, eventually helping develop a full theater program, including a major, minor, and teaching endorsement. When the university closed its doors two years ago, the opportunity with OCP presented itself.

“It’s strange to look back,” she reflects, “In the moment you feel like you’re just jumping from one thing to the next, but today it all seems like a very clear path that’s brought me to here.”

The one constant remains her commitment to music and that infectious enthusiasm for her work. “You can call the things we’re teaching at the Henry Fonda Academy soft skills, but they’re really not.

They are pivotal. These are the things that add value to life, that open up the world in ways no other art form can. To me, that’s magic.”

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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A+C PERFORMANCE // STORY BY JANE GLAZER

DAVID BURDGE IS FUNCTIONING JUST FINE, THANK YOU E

ast Coast native turned Omaha-resident David Burdge has always had a great appreciation for comedians and a good sense of humor. Even at a young age, bringing the humor to a situation was important to him.

“I think I was always the funny guy at the party. I was always the one trying to crack jokes,” Burdge says. “I don’t think they always landed, necessarily…”

In 2015, Burdge decided to pursue his interest in comedy. After spending time listening to comedy albums, he decided to take an improv class. He says he was nervous as he walked into that first class, but by the end he was having a great time.

“I have a pretty normal office job, and I was getting to a point where I was like ‘man, I need a hobby. I need something to do.’” Burdge says. Then he discovered the classes.

Burdge says focusing on improv in the beginning of his comedic career allowed him to think freely.

For someone eventually pursuing stand-up, improv gives them the opportunity to relax and let the scene happen before going into stand-up, which is more structured.

In 2017, Burdge won the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Award for Best Comedian. He credits this accomplishment with inspiring his stand-up career, as he now focuses on stand-up, not improv.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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// A+C PERFORMANCE //

“OVERALL WE TRY TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER…THERE IS THAT COMPETITIVE NATURE AT TIMES. WE WANT TO SEE EACH OTHER SUCCEED BUT WE ALSO WANT THOSE THINGS FOR OURSELVES.”

H

is stand-up career, however, has a different angle than some other comedians. His show is titled Gay AF, and throughout the performances, he draws from personal experiences.

“I had a period of time where I was trying not to own the whole gay comic thing, but now I’ve owned it and it’s part of who I am,” Burdge says. “I like to make fun of myself. It’s been important for me to tell my story about coming out, what it’s like being gay in this day and age, being in my 30s and being gay. I grew up in New York and my parents moved to Iowa, so I had that perspective. I have plenty from my life to be able to pull from.”

While Burdge tells his story, he credits some of his comfortability and ownership to fellow comedian and friend Daniel Franzese. He met Franzese, best known for his character Damien in Mean Girls, for the first time last October.

“I was at The Max seeing Raven, who is a drag queen,” Burdge says. “He [Franzese] was here because he was performing at Wayne State. Him and I started chatting, because I went down to the bar and I started fangirling. I took myself and I had my moment and I left him alone.”

Later on, however, Burdge went outside, and ran into Franzese again. The two started talking. Burdge says Franzese // 32 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

found him funny, so Burdge sent him his five minute set. Next thing he knew, he was invited to open for Franzese the following day at Wayne State.

Burdge describes his relationship with Franzese as authentic, and says he is thankful to find that type of friendship in this competitive atmosphere.

Following the show at Wayne State, Franzese had other shows in the area and Burdge continued to open for him. In being Franzese’s “road comic,” Burdge says they have created a strong friendship.

“It gets competitive in a very passive aggressive way at times,” Burdge says. “Overall we try to support each other…there is that competitive nature at times. We want to see each other succeed but we also want those things for ourselves.”

“We just have so much in common. We’re just big gay guys trying to do stand-up,” Burdge says. “He is so much about using his platform to lift up queer artists. Anybody that he can help promote if they’re worth it, he’s gonna do it. He’s really given me so many opportunities.”

On top of opening for Franzese at college performances, Burdge performed in Los Angeles at The Comedy Store. He did stand-up at RuPaul’s Drag Con, which Franzese hosted, as a part of the House of Glen CoCo stand-up show. He’s excited for what the future brings and opportunities to come.

“Every time we’re around [each other] I get such good material out of it, or new things that I think to write about,” Burdge says. “He gives me a unique perspective on comedy and things that I can write about and things that I can talk about. The confidence boost he’s given me is just above and beyond.”

Burdge says he believes success in the comedy world is based largely off luck and timing, and he is very thankful for the opportunities he’s had.

He plans to continue practicing, writing, listening to Brittney Spears to “amp him up,” and getting better. At the end of it all, however, he wants comedy to be something he can continue to enjoy—wherever that leaves him with it.

“I’ve always told myself if I’m not happy with [stand-up], I’m not gonna do it,” Burdge says. “I’ve had those moments where certain things I don’t like about it, I’ve stopped doing those things, because it’s not about that for me. It’s my happy place.”

Visit @gayafomaha on Facebook or @david.the.gay on Instagram for more information.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

is populated by 8,207 military members, over 18,000 dependents, 2,100 DoD civilians, over 1,500 regular civilians, and 10,639 retirees. That is more people (40,000-plus) than live in Kearney (30,000-plus), the fifth-largest city in Nebraska.

The local Air Force Base started from humble beginnings. The first troops to arrive at the Army’s expansion of Fort Omaha, dubbed Fort Crook after Gen. George Crook, arrived to a new post south of Bellevue, then a village of less than 600 people. It was first used as a dispatch point for Indian conflicts on the Great Plains, bearing soldiers on horseback. Troops from Fort Crook fought during the Spanish–American War when the 22nd Regiment, under Charles A. Wikoff, was dispatched to Cuba.

Part of the original Fort Crook can be seen today in the parade grounds and surrounding red brick buildings, including Nebraska’s oldest operational jail, that were constructed between 1894 and 1896.

The 20th century brought with it new innovations and technologies, and for much of that century, Off utt Air Force Base was at the forefront of new military technology.

During World War I, Fort Crook became a training site for Motor Transport Services.

The automotive industry was so new that training for those in Motor Transport Services included: convoy driving, rules of the road, map reading, and repairs of tires.

The military base’s first encounter with aircraft came not from planes, but from balloons. In 1905, the Army’s Signal Corps moved into Fort Omaha to start a ballooning school. By 1908 the ballooning facilities were complete, and during World War II they served as home to the U.S. Army’s largest balloon school, training approximately 16,000 men.

The first airplanes arrived at the fort in spring 1921, when 260 acres were transformed into a crude landing strip. Later that year, a permanent steel hangar was built to provide a landing and refueling point for military and government planes on cross-country flights. In May 1924 that airfield was renamed Off utt Air Field.

The field was named after Jarvis Off utt, who was shot down in 1918 while serving with the Royal Air Force in France and was the first casualty of World War I from Omaha. According to 55th Wing

Top: then-Vice President Richard Nixon at Offutt Air Force Base in 1954 and a Martin Marauder B-26 bomber in flight. Bottom: two airmen observe an air show in 1960, and the KC 135 “Looking Glass” plane prepares to take flight.

Historian John McQueney, from its founding until just before World War II, Fort Crook also served as the temporary home of the 4th, 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th, 16th, and 22nd U.S. infantries.

As the world became embroiled in the second international war, Fort Crook, and Off utt Air Field, became an ever-important part of the battle plan. In November 1940 an Army induction center opened at Fort Crook. One year later, Pearl Harbor took the United States into World War II. Between November 1940 and the center’s closure in June 1944, over 77,000 men were sworn into service at Fort Crook. Fort Crook also hosted a motor maintenance school from January 1941 to April 1945, where 21,000 enlisted men and 3,000 officers were trained.

One of the most famous parts of Off utt’s World War II service, however, is the Glenn L. Martin bomber plant. The plant originally produced B-26 bombers, producing them at a rate of 145 a week

by August 1943. By April 1944, the plant had created a total of 1,585 B-26 bombers.

The Martin bomber plant then shifted production to B-29 superfortress bombers with 531 manufactured by August 1945, the same month when two planes made in Bellevue, the Enola Gay and BocksCar, brought World War II to an end in the Pacific with atomic bombs.

In November that year, Martin bomber plant at Bellevue ended production.

Through all those years, the base was under the command of the Army. In early 1948, the command of Fort Crook was transferred from the Army to the Air Force and renamed Off utt Air Force Base. The Air Force had an eye towards bigger things.

The base’s isolated location, almost smack in the middle of the United States and out of reach of potential enemy threat, made it an attractive place for a different mission. In May 1948, the headquarters of the Strategic Air Command was transferred from Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington, D.C., to Off utt Air Force Base, and the base expanded to more than 910 acres by October.

The fiery Gen. Curtis LeMay was dubbed the “father of SAC.” Along with being a general, LeMay was a civil engineer by training, and served as SAC’s commander from 1948 until 1957 as Off utt grew in size and strategic importance.

Following his command at SAC, LeMay became vice chief of staff of the United States Air Force. In June 1949, an article in the Washington Evening Star reported that LeMay conducted SAC from “a desk in a closed-up plane plant, next to the old Army cavalry post.” LeMay’s office had no calendar as “I can’t map out a schedule because this job is one blitz of unexpected problems after another.”

LeMay was in command when the new runway was completed at the base in 1955.

At that time the base was home to more than 1,000 officers and more than 4,000 airmen.

The cold war brought about one of the most unique missions at Off utt, which began in February 1961. The mission was nicknamed “Looking Glass,” and involved a Boeing EC-135s being airborne 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to become an airborne command post in the event of nuclear war. The mission’s nickname came from the fact that, according to McQueney, “mirrored ground-based command, control, and communications.”

Looking continued for more than 29 years.

In late 1962 an Off utt airman, 24-yearold Michael Davis, correctly identified the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. On Oct. 24, SAC was placed at DEFCON 2. McQueney notes this was the “next step to nuclear war—armed forces ready to deploy and engage in less than six hours.” The majority of American military remained at DEFCON 3 (an increase in force readiness) through The Cuban Missile Crisis, but SAC stayed one step closer to all-out nuclear war until Nov. 15.

The Cold War was hot as American involvement grew in Vietnam during the 1960s. A new hospital opened at Off utt in 1965, but McQueney points out that SAC and Off utt continued its “world-wide roles and missions” as “the Soviet Union and People’s Republic of China remained as the chief threats to national security.”

Meanwhile, the base continued to grow, and by 1970, covered 1,898 acres with almost 2,900 officers and 8,600 airmen along with a civilian workforce of 1,600.

The end of the Cold War and Soviet Union prompted several changes. Looking Glass was grounded in July 1990, even as Off utt briefly returned to DEFCON 2 in January 1991 at the beginning of Operation Desert Storm in Iraq. In June 1992, SAC also came to an end as Off utt became the headquarters for the new U.S. Strategic Command. One of the most memorable events in recent history was that President George Bush flew to Off utt in the hours after the attack on the Pentagon that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001. According to McQueney, the base has remained the “command and control of the nation’s nuclear forces” and was home to the 557th Weather Wing that gives “global weather data to the Department of Defense” while the 55th Wing also based at Off utt “provides the nation with airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic attack capabilities across the globe.”

In 2010, the base’s stables were shuttered as a final reminder of a very different role the place once played, even as Off utt continues its vital strategic role for the future.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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SPORTS // STORY BY CHRIS HATCH

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

[KAEDYN ODERMANN]

THE FUTURE, LIKE THE PLAYER, IS

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

“I KNOW FOOTBALL IS WHAT I’LL BE DOING FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS, BUT THAT ONLY LASTS SO LONG. THE EDUCATION LASTS FOREVER AND THAT IS THE PRIORITY.” -KAEDYN ODERMANN

// SPORTS //

[K] KAEDYN ODERMANN IS AT HOME BETWEEN THE LINES.

53 ⅓ WIDE AND 120 YARDS LONG. SIDELINE TO SIDELINE, GOALPOST TO GOALPOST. THE AFOREMENTIONED 120 WASN’T A TYPO, EITHER. BECAUSE, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A WIDE RECEIVER WITH A SKILLSET LIKE THE 6’4” ODERMANN? IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO LIMIT IT TO THE PART OF THE FIELD WHERE HE DOES HIS SCORING. He’s comfortable there, whether those lines are chalked down in the temporary, washable angles of a firstgrade flag football field, sprayed onto the grass with the poetic toxicity of an aerosol can hissing out white promises of fall’s approach, or a permanent part of the recently installed field turf at his home field of Millard West.

He has lived within the confines of those dimensions for much of his young life, but he is never confined by them.

True to his craft, and like many good wide receivers before him, Odermann’s route takes him all over.

Come Friday he may be running a slant towards the end zone with the game on the line, but on Monday, you’ll likely see him making a hard cut directly into a math classroom with a smile on his face.

This summer he made a quick out-route to the East Coast for football camps.

“I went to Georgetown, Cornell, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. One thing I enjoyed about the recruiting process was finally being noticed by coaches after all the hard work behind the scenes. It was also great learning little things from each camp to add to my game,” he says, smart enough to know the origin of the phrase 'Go west, young man' and smart enough to do the opposite when opportunity comes calling.

Throughout the whole offseason tour, he kept coming into contact with the staff at Harvard.

“Being all the way on the East Coast, it’s hard for them to be perfectly aware of the talent of the Midwest. So, communication started with me signing up for their camp and emailing my position coach. I sent over my film and he said they were impressed with what they saw, even with my injuries taking away some games.”

He came back to Nebraska exhausted, accomplished, and with a mailbox full of correspondences bearing that famous crimson shield and the monogram “H.” “I received a postcard or a letter from every coach on the [Harvard] staff, and this really set in as a reality for me," Odermann says. "I realized how big of an opportunity this was to be able to complete my education at such a great school while continuing the game I love.”

Ask the defensive backs in the state: if you give him an opening, Odermann won’t squander the chance.

He committed to play football for Harvard this summer, his present meeting his future in the kind of youthful alchemy that you won’t find on the elemental charts in the classes that Odermann is currently acing.

“What drew me to the football program was mainly the winning tradition, as well as head coach Tim Murphy being there for so long. He is truly a legendary coach with a record of 174-75 all time. He alone has nine Ivy League championships. It was the great staff and great history of the program that drew me in.”

To say nothing of the academics; attending classes in the gorgeous on-campus architecture of a school whose alumni include eight presidents, from Founding Father John Adams to Barack Obama.

“I know football is what I’ll be doing for the next few years, but that only lasts so long. The education lasts forever and that is the priority.”

Never the type to rest on his ivy-wreathed laurels, Odermann once again found himself back at home: between the lines. On the field.

His commitment now secure, he doesn’t have his eyes on the East Coast or the daunting academics that come with signing your name on the dotted line next to the monograph bearing the eighth letter of the alphabet and all that it entails.

He is looking straight ahead.

That means trying to finish what he started, what he began all those years ago when he was learning how to cut and catch and shift and spin. Back when it was just his scrawny legs, his flapping flags blowing behind him, and his dad sending him deep on a fly route in their backyard.

Those passes stopped flying in 2009, but Odermann didn’t.

It’s been nearly a decade since authorities found his father, Michael, on a county road about a football field’s length from his truck. Dead from a hunting accident, when Kaedyn was just old enough to feel the lead-heavy grief on his 7-year-old frame; remember his smile. Remember his passion for the game and the kind of high-beam energy he brought with him into every room.

He looks like his father, he is told by family members and friends alike. That same quick smile; that same liquid metal passion for football that can mold a young man’s heart like a hammer on a forge.

So this fall, with high expectations on the field and the joyful toil of the willing academic opened before him in spiral notebooks and cursor-blinking laptops, he hopes to win big in the Big O before he heads out to make a new home between another set of lines.

With Harvard ahead and the memory of his father at his side: Odermann plans on going long. Only this time, he may just keep on running.

Visit mwhs.mpsomaha.org for more information.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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am not good enough. i can never do this. ]'m a fraud. why am i the way that i am. i'm so lonely. what are the yall saying about me. will i ever ind love. i don't deserve any of this. why does God hate me.? what the hell did i do to deserve this? I'm just tired, tired of trying so hard and getting owhere. If i was gone, would anyone even notice? I've had enough. The hits just keep on coming. Am I just a Mental case? What the fuck did I do to deserve this? I can't handle much more of this.I give up. i am not good nough. i can never do this, ]'m a fraud. why am i the way that i am. i'm so lonely. what are they all saying about me. will i ever find love. i don't eserve any of this. why does God hate me.? what the hell did i do to deserve this? I'm just tired, tired of trying so hard and getting nowhere. If i was gone, would anyone even notice? I've had enough. The hits just keep on coming. What the fuck did I do to deserve this? I can't handle much more of his.I give up. i am not good enough. i can never do this. ]'m a fraud. why am i the way that i am. i'm so lonely. what are they all saying about me. l i ever find love. i don't deserve any of this. why does God hate me.? what he hell did i do to deserve this? I'm just tired, tired of trying so hard and getting nowhere. If i was gone, would anyone even notice? I've had enough. he hits just keep on coming. What the fuck did I do to deserve this? I can't handle much more of this. They think i am not good enough don't they?. i n't do this. Is this a treatable illness or do I deserve this? ]'m a fraud. hy am i the way that i am. i'm so lonely. what are they all saying about e. will i ever find love. i don't deserve any of this. why does God hate me.? hat the hell did i do to deserve this? I'm just tired, tired of trying so hard d getting nowhere. If i was gone, would anyone even notice? I've had enough.

FEATURE // STORY BY SEAN McCARTHY // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

RADIO EDIT

MENTAL ILLNESS, ONCE TABOO, BECOMES LESS STIGMATIZED

Boomer Radio DJ Dave Wingert NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

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2019

FEATURE // RADIO EDIT

MENTAL ILLNESS,

specifically depression, runs through Dave Wingert’s family. But it wasn’t until he told his mother he wanted to go into radio broadcasting that he realized how deep that depression ran.

Wingert knew he wanted theater to be part of his college life at Ohio University.

However, he wasn’t sure about his major until he walked past his college radio station while he was getting fitted for a costume to be worn for a role in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

“I looked at the studio, and pressed my nose against the glass, and I thought ‘Wow, playing music and talking. I can do that,’” Wingert says.

When Wingert told his mother, she said his father was also in broadcasting. Wingert was confused, because the man who raised him, Abe Wingert, was a dry cleaner who died of cancer when Dave was 14. Then, his mother said, “I’ve been meaning to tell you…”

He had a biological father he didn’t know about.

“And as my mother said that day ‘Well, your father came to the hospital the day you were born. Saw you, went home, and killed himself,” Wingert says.

Wingert’s biological father, Aaron Levine, went by the radio name David Stone.

He was found dead inside his car in his garage. Wingert said he could have killed himself, or he could have just fallen asleep with the car running.

“It is all very clear to me now that if I inherited my father’s talent of theater [and radio], it’s not a far stretch that I inherited his depression as well,” Wingert says.

Wingert is an Omaha staple. His muted baritone was first heard on Omaha radio in the 1970s. He moved to Seattle in the 1990s, but returned to Omaha in 2000, and now DJs the morning program on Boomer Radio. He’s also been vocal about his struggles with depression. In addition to talking about it on air, he has given talks on depression in churches.

“I’m almost becoming the poster child of depression,” Wingert says.

According to statistics provided by the Douglas County Health Department, almost 21% of those surveyed in Douglas County in 2017 reported they had been told they’ve had depression of some form by a doctor, nurse, or other health professional.

Almost 23% of those surveyed reported at least one day in the past month where their mental or physical health prevented them from working or pursuing daily activities.

Douglas County’s numbers are slightly higher than the national average. The National Institute on Mental Health reported that almost 19% of the United States population suffered from some form of mental illness in 2017. According to the National Health Expenditure Accounts, the United States spends more than $200 billion a year on mental health. Treatments are as varied as the illnesses themselves. Andrew Solomon’s National Book Award, and Pulitzer Prize-nominated book The Noonday Demon, dove into the “anything goes” approach to treating mental illness, from the conventional (cognitive-based therapy, medication) to the extreme (brain surgery, rituals involving animals).

For a field that seems to make enormous strides each year while remaining shoddy when it comes to producing effective treatments, it’s sometimes beneficial to study depression on a case-by-case basis. Each person who suffers from mental illness has a different family background that can confirm depression’s hereditary nature, and each person has certain barriers to care, be it their own (the stigma that comes with acknowledging you require therapy or medication) or financial ones. Two people, including Wingert, agreed to talk to Omaha Magazine about their lifelong struggles with mental illness. Another person found himself in an unexpected leadership position for mental illness after caring for a family member diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Wingert wasn’t expecting to go on an extended medical leave the morning of his last shift at Boomer Radio in June 2018. It was a routine that he had done thousands of times before: talk about the news, play some Fleetwood Mac, check in on traffic, and make some final preps for any guests that were supposed to come in for the day.

But during the shift, “something snapped,” Wingert says.

He was dealing with typical real-life stressors. He had gotten married earlier that year and was working through the ups and downs that come with cohabitation. He was concerned with his place in the volatile broadcast radio industry. But on that June 2018 shift, things were different. He felt as though he was having a panic attack. He held it together on air, but he remembered telling the general manager “I feel like I’m having a nervous breakdown.”

Wingert said “goodbye” to his listeners at the end of that shift.

ACCORDING TO STATISTICS PROVIDED BY THE DOUGLAS COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, ALMOST 23% OF THOSE SURVEYED IN DOUGLAS COUNTY IN 2017 REPORTED THEY HAD BEEN TOLD THEY’VE HAD DEPRESSION OF SOME FORM BY A DOCTOR, NURSE, OR OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. ALMOST 23% OF THOSE SURVEYED REPORTED AT LEAST ONE DAY IN THE PAST MONTH WHERE THEIR MENTAL OR PHYSICAL HEALTH PREVENTED THEM FROM WORKING OR PURSUING DAILY ACTIVITIES. // 42 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

“I remember saying on the air ‘I’m sorry. I’ve got to take care of whatever this is that’s going on. So, I’m going to be gone for a little while.’”

For three weeks, Wingert practically sequestered himself in his house. He remembers napping a lot, as well as crying. Interacting with people was almost impossible. He remembers having trouble dealing with the checkout counter at Hy-Vee, and not being able to buy a newspaper at Walgreens.

Wingert knew he needed to see a psychiatrist. He allowed his psychiatrist to be in charge of all his medications. He had taken medication for years, first to deal with the pain from three hip surgeries when he lived in Seattle. Then for shoulder pain. He started with hydrocodone and later moved to oxycodone. Along with pain management, he began using the medication to deal with stress. His general practitioner caught on to his abuse.

“I remember my family physician saying ‘I’m not giving you any more hydrocodone, because when they find you dead, I don’t want my name on that bottle,’” Wingert says.

The treatment helped. Less than a month after he announced his sudden departure, Wingert was back on the air. His Facebook feed had dozens of well-wishes and ‘thank yous’ for his candidness. He remembers his first day back behind the microphone being tenuous.

“I thought ‘Can I still do this?’ ‘Did I lose my talent along the way?’ ‘Did God come down and take my talent?’” Wingert says.

By the end of the shift, he was back in the groove of things.

“It was fine,” Wingert says.

Wingert was prescribed Suboxone to ease his transition from oxycodone. He was also prescribed a new antidepressant, Pristiq.

Between medication changes, things started to settle down for him.

“I lost 20 pounds like that,” Wingert says as he snapped his fingers.

Prescribed medication was only part of Wingert’s treatment. Most psychiatrists recommend some sort of cognitive therapy, like talking to a counselor or a peer group, alongside medication. Wingert’s psychiatrist recommended enrolling in a 12-step program.

When Wingert enrolled in the 12-step program, he decided to give up drinking. While he believed he didn’t have a drinking problem [he said his abuse was strictly related to opioids], he thought it best to make a clean break with everything. He has now passed one year of sobriety.

Michelle Troxclair is another staple of Omaha radio. She is the co-host of “The Morning Show: With Michael and Michelle” on Mind & Soul 101.3. Troxclair has openly discussed her struggles with depression on the radio with co-host Michael Scott. She routinely touts the importance of not lapsing with one’s anti-depression medication. Like Wingert, Troxclair traced her depression back to her youth.

“I was a very angry child, and had significant problems with anger management,” Troxclair says with a laugh. She was later diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Growing up in the 1970s, Troxclair says one of the reasons she wasn’t diagnosed early was because of her gender.

“They [clinicians] thought it was strictly a boy’s issue,” Troxclair says.

In terms of the ADHD, Troxclair compares it to having a web browser that’s bursting to capacity.

“People describe it as having a hundred tabs open in your brain, and you can’t shut any of them down, and they’re all open at the same time.”

It wasn’t until she became a parent that she actively sought professional help. She had been doing OK shielding her kids from general adult stresses like work issues. However, she was having increased trouble keeping a good front with her children.

“I was OK with showing anger in front of my children, but not the sadness piece,” Troxclair says.

Troxclair was diagnosed with major depressive disorder in the late 1990s. She was prescribed citalopram but quickly discontinued using it because of side effects. She now takes escitalopram, the generic form of Lexapro.

Medication helps with her depression and ADHD. Another thing that helps is constant activity. On top of being a radio show host and working at the Nebraska Writers Collective, she performs spoken word and runs her own nonprofit, Verse Inc. The organization helps pair poets with artists in other genres such as music or visual arts.

Troxclair says she routinely encounters people in the arts scene with depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Those working as full-time artists oftentimes find themselves lacking the resources to seek medication or psychiatric treatment, she says. A common problem is that some artists may not qualify for Medicaid but also not make enough money to qualify for the tax credits provided by the Affordable Care Act. The risk of going uninsured is especially troublesome for those suffering from mental illness because so much of the treatment, from routine psychiatric visits to medication, requires ongoing care.

Approximately 28.5 million people in the United States are uninsured, according to a 2017 report by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Troxclair is one of them, and as a result, she searches for discounts for her medication, and pays $100 upfront to see a psychiatrist.

Troxclair says there are also cultural barriers in the African American community that prevent access to mental health resources.

A report circulated by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services in July indicated that almost 15% of African Americans in the state had an anxiety disorder compared to 10% of whites. The same report stated that almost 28% of Native Americans in Nebraska suffered from an anxiety disorder.

“There is so much PTSD and trauma in the black community. It’s like a plague,” Troxclair says.

Troxclair points to the long-term psychological impacts of living in impoverished communities and institutional racism as two factors that contribute to PTSD in the African American community.

Troxclair has seen depression’s impact on young adults. As community outreach program coordinator for the Nebraska Writers Collective, Troxclair organizes poetry and creative writing programs for Blackburn Alternative High School as well as Douglas County Youth Correctional Center (DCYC).

She has worked with kids at DCYC for more than two years.

“I have yet to meet a bad or evil kid since I’ve been there,” Troxclair says.

“Every kid I come across is a kid who is suffering some sort of trauma.”

Continued on pg.68

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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Many in Omaha remember Dec. 9, 2007. On that day, at 1:42 p.m., 19-year-old Robert Hawkins of Omaha opened fire in Westroads Mall, leaving eight dead and five wounded, before before turning the gun on himself. Hawkins had been taking antidepressants and was hospitalized at Richard Young for mental illness twice—once at age 4, and again at age 13.

Hawkins was one of the 20% of people with mental health issues in the United States who had received treatment.

“About 80 percent of children in the United States who need mental health treatment don’t ever receive it,” says Dr. Joan Daughton, who specializes in child and adolescent psychiatry at Omaha’s Children’s Hospital & Medical Center. “And, there’s an average of eight to 10 years between the onset of mental health issues and the beginning of treatment. As a culture, we’re so accustomed to being reactive, but when it comes to health care— and mental health care is no exception—we need to be proactive.”

Most mental health issues children face are not headline news, which may be why they don’t get the attention they need. Daughton says that the majority of her patients are being treated for issues such as ADHD, ADD, and anxiety, followed by depression, PTSD, and disorders on the autism spectrum. “Things like bipolar disorder are way lower on the list,” she says.

Supriya Bhatia, Ph.D., of Boys Town Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, agrees. “Children and adolescents deal with [things] including bullying, navigating social situations, depression and anxiety, struggles with substance abuse, and learning what is a good relationship and what isn’t.”

What puts a uniquely 21st-century spin on things is round-the-clock virtual connectivity. With people glued to their smartphones and increased professional demands and other obligations that can distract parents, many families have lost touch with their ability to connect with each other in real life.

Social media has also been linked to mental health problems, as it helps rumors spread faster, increases avoidance of negative interactions, potentially removes a level of empathy, and is relentlessly accessible.

“It can be a struggle for kids, especially adolescents in the 13-to-15-yearold range, to learn how to manage when everything in their world shifts to social media,” Bhatia says.

“Nebraska still ranks 49 out of 50 states when it comes to delivering quality mental health care in schools, we need elected officials to decide that it’s a priority and to support it.”

RESILIENCE, GOOD HABITS, AND COMMUNICATION Michael Vance, Ph.D., the director of behavioral health at Children’s says that one of the most important ways adults can help young people navigate their world in a mentally healthy way is by emphasizing resilience— including modeling it ourselves. “Children need to fail sometimes,” Vance says. “When they see us screaming at other cars in traffic or being irrationally angry after a hard day at work, they’re not learning how to appropriately handle the fact that things won’t always go their way.”

He advises challenging them with opportunities such as extracurricular activities where there may not be a 100% chance of success, and complimenting them when they handle disappointments well, or behave in an emotionally healthy way.

Vance says that community involvement and part-time jobs help young people learn to be comfortable in their own skin, and that they are part of something larger than themselves or their challenges.

Self-care also plays a key role. “Children need their parents just as much, if not more, as teenagers than they do when they are younger,” Daughton says. “We need to help them remember to get good nutrition and enough sleep and exercise. But we also need to be able to talk about sexual education, substance use, and our expectations within the family. And if they aren’t comfortable talking to us about those things, we need to let them know where else they can go to talk to someone.”

While Daughton is a firm advocate for early intervention, she wants people to know that help is available at every stage.

Continued on pg.53

-Dr. Joan Daughton

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 45 //

FEATURE // STORY BY CARRIELLE SEDERSTEN // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Alternative Medicine Treatments for Mental Health Problems ore than a decade ago, few Americans used alternative therapies such as yoga and meditation to treat mental health problems. Today, almost a fifth of the population practices yoga.

The term alternative medicine refers to treatments that are not typically part of traditional Western medicine. Alternative medicine emphasizes a holistic, individualized approach to health care and wellness that treats the whole person rather than one area of the body or system.

Alternative therapies for mental health problems include mind and body practices, natural products, manual therapies, energy medicine, and medical systems. These therapies claim to help treat mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, and can supplement physical therapy.

Barb Compton of Omaha began seeing Chanell Jaramillo, Ph.D., co-owner at Simplicty Yoga and Wellness Center after suffering a stroke. She specifically started practicing yoga, the ancient Indian system of health care that has been in existence for more than 5,000 years and uses poses, stretching, breathing exercises, and meditation to balance the body and mind.

“There are so many reasons why yoga helps my rehabilitation,” Compton says via email. “Many of the other mainstream physical therapy activities had really plateaued...She pushed my boundaries, which no one else had even tried to do. Initially I worked with Chanell one-on-one. When my circumstances changed, I was able to attend several different types of yoga classes. Prior to having a stroke and attending classes, both private and large class, I had definite opinions about yoga...I thought that yoga couldn't possibly help me after all, it just seemed like a bunch of different poses that didn't look all that difficult.”

She kept with it, however, and through a combination of alternative and traditional therapies, Compton is seeing improvements, and has discovered she enjoys practicing yoga.

“I wish I could have experienced yoga when I was younger. I think I would have really enjoyed it,” Compton says.

“Since the stroke, I still have some leftside paralysis that prevents me from attending the more aggressive classes.”

Although some people find relief for their mental health problems using alternative treatments, most combine them with professional care. For serious mental health conditions, Jaramillo recommends working with a doctor or a mental health professional first before starting an alternative therapy.

Mind and body practices are performed or taught by a trained practitioner or teacher to strengthen the connection between the mind and body. The philosophy is that the two must be in harmony to be healthy. Practices such as meditation, relaxation techniques, and yoga fall into this category.

Haley Martin, LMT, Certified Hellerwork Structural Integration Practitioner (CHP) at Downtown Omaha Massage, describes her yoga practice as “one of wholeness, of oneness, and of connection.”

Research shows that yoga may be helpful for anxiety issues and depressive symptoms.

The yoga practice people in Omaha are most familiar with is hatha yoga, which involves breathing techniques [pranayama], postures [asanas], and meditation [dyana].

Yin yoga, specifically, is a practice done primarily on the floor or with the use of a wall. The room is cool and dim, and poses are held for three to five minutes.

Left: Chanell Jaramillo, Ph.D. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

// 47 //

2019

“A big component of yin yoga is teaching people how to slow down and how to be with the mind,” says Jaramillo, also an experienced registered yoga teacher (E-RYT), and transpersonal health therapist. Those who suffer from mental health disorders often are unsettled, restless, or confused. This mental state, according to Buddhist principles, is referred to as the “monkey mind.”

Reaching a deep state of relaxation with a yin yoga practice helps prepare the body and mind for meditation. Meditation covers a wide range of practices, from zen meditation rooted in Buddhism to Vedic mantra-based meditation where practioners repeat a particular Sanskrit phrase— one of the oldest forms of meditation originating from India.

For people new to meditation, Martin recommends finding a teacher to answer the questions they may have about starting a meditation practice.

“Meditation is just like anything you want to be 'good' at, you have to do the practice,” Martin says. “Be gentle with yourself.”

A popular practice is a guided meditation. During a guided meditation, a teacher leads the mediation often using relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, guided imagery, and body scanning to relax the muscles. Apps like Headspace, Calm, and Sounds True make meditation practices accessible like never before.

Manual therapies involve applying human touch to a specific part of the body. They often include manipulating the body with massage as well as joint and spine adjustments.

Continued on pg.55

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he winter months bring more than a flurry of festivities to Minden, a magical Midwestern town known as “Nebraska’s Christmas City.” Those whose travel plans don’t include eight reindeer and a trip to the North Pole this December may find childhood wonder in Minden, 186 miles west of Omaha.

The main attraction is the “Light of the World Christmas Pageant” at the courthouse in downtown Minden. A reenactment of nativity scenes is performed by 115 locals (regardless of inclement weather) on the north and west sides of the courthouse.

This year’s pageant will be performed at 7 p.m. Nov. 30, Dec. 7, and Dec. 14. The show commences with the lighting of more than 12,000 multicolored bulbs strung across the Kearney County courthouse dome and throughout the square.

“You can probably see it from space,” jokes Minden Chamber of Commerce Administrator Kathi Schutz.

Minden’s Christmas lights tradition began in 1915, when an abundance of outdoor lights, originally intended to be used earlier that year as decoration for the state convention of the fraternal organization Grand Army of the Republic, were put away due to harsh weather conditions. City Light Commissioner J.C. Haws found another use for the lights that December: coloring them green, yellow, and red with gelatin so he could cover the dome of the courthouse. He turned on the lights that Christmas Eve, and the illuminated building inspired and awed locals. The citizens of Minden have continued the tradition of covering the courthouse in lights for over 100 years.

In 1946, the Methodist minister the Rev. Art Johnson and townsman Clayton Morey wrote the pageant, dubbing it the “Light of the World Christmas Pageant.”

In 2015, the town celebrated a Century of Lights on the Friday after Thanksgiving with a full day of events, culminating in the official lighting ceremony. The event was so successful, the town started the weeklong event known as the Christmas Traditions Festival in 2016. Shutz explains that the schedule has now grown to include dozens of other activities.

This year’s festival starts the Friday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 22, with Ladies’ Night Out. People are encouraged to come to the town for deals to kick off their holiday shopping. Other activities include local artists at the opera house.

Those who are not interested in shopping can take time off at the Breakaway Bar, which has an event called “Take Over the Taps.”

The bar offers televisions with sporting events, and different drink and appetizer specials.

While thoughts turn to turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie the next week, Minden jumps back to the Christmas spirit as soon as the dishes are washed. They hold a lighted Christmas parade the Friday after Thanksgiving, culminating in the new Miss Christmas City lighting of the courthouse for the first time each year.

The next day is the busiest day of the festival. It is known nationwide as “Small Business Saturday," and thousands will fill this small town to shop and participate in the festivities. Many businesses will offer specials, and the town will have a carnival and other activities for children such as a Polar Express-inspired train to ride, bouncy houses, and a carnival. That Saturday offers the first showing of the Christmas pageant.

The festival continues the next weekend with a Christmas run, and an elf run for kids, at 8 a.m. on Dec. 7. That day also features a pancake feed, local artists on the square and a craft show.

Sunday, Dec. 8 is the end of the official festival and features a community choir concert at 2 p.m. at Westminster United Presbyterian Church. Following the concert is another favorite Minden tradition, the Holiday Tour of Homes. In this bi-annual tradition, local residents embellish the interior and exterior of their houses with Christmas decor and open their doors to the public for tours. Lynette Beahm, chairperson for the Tour of Homes event, says, “It’s all about tradition, it’s all about community, and it’s all about bringing everybody together to really celebrate this season and to remember what this season’s all about.”

The week ends with the final performance of the Light of the World pageant.

Minden complements these traditional events by adding new activities each year. The addition in 2018 was a holiday-themed escape room, which was successful enough last year to be recreated for the coming season. This year, participants in the festival will be able to take part in a selfie scavenger hunt that will guide them on a walking tour through holiday attractions in downtown Minden and other areas of the town.

Laying the groundwork for these festivities usually begins in July, and the planning board relies on local volunteers to help plan, coordinate, and run the events. Schutz says the months of hard work are always worth it for those involved. “Everyone really comes together to make this happen because they know that it’s a showcase of a community that they love and are very proud of,” Schutz says. “Everybody steps up and participates.”

While the official festival ends Dec. 8, Minden is a city to visit any time in December, as the community holds activities throughout the month. Churches have presentations, the library will have a holiday story time on Dec. 12, and community organizations hold special events.

“We called it ‘Seize the Season,'" says Schutz. “Up until New Year’s there will be lots of different things highlighted. It’s just a joy to be able to plan something that you know so many people are going to love and cherish, and families are going to walk away with those memories.”

Visit mindennebraska.org for more information.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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Taylor Jackson Only the Best Works With the Best

GEN-O // STORY BY REBECCA WEIS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

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The creative parts of stage managing comes in arranging for the best movement of the crew backstage, how the manager calls the tech cues—the order, the timing, "feeling the moment”—and the encouraging and supporting creative theater environment.

Jackson’s love for the arts was encouraged from a young age. Her father was a graphic designer. “My dad encouraged my creative spirit by teaching me how to draw and watercolor,” Jackson says.

Jackson's grandparents pushed her in the direction of performing arts by taking her to Shakespeare on the Green. “We'd bring our picnic, blanket, board games, and make an evening of it. I continued that tradition through my life with friends and family. [My grandparents] enrolled me in a Shakespeare summer camp, where I was onstage for one of the only moments in my life as Polonius in Hamlet,” Jackson says.

Jackson's stage hand/stage management progress has gone from local theater to major productions. She works with IATSE Local 42, the union for stagehands that employs them to help on shows at specific venues. Jackson has worked with IATSE 42 for the past two years as a casual, meaning someone whose full-time job is not stage handling.

“I was the artistic operations intern with Omaha Symphony and with my stage management experience, I was also the assistant stage manager for Omaha Symphony Christmas Spectacular in 2014. That was my first time working with IATSE stagehands,” Jackson says.

Working as a stage manager, assistant stage manager, and production assistant, Jackson built a reputation and became friends with fellow crew members. “My friend Brian Regan, IATSE stagehand and on the props crew at the Orpheum, helped me get on my first stagehand [experience] for Katy Perry in 2017. From there, I've just continued taking stagehand calls to build my experience and continue to take stage management contracts when I'm available,” Jackson says.

aylor Jackson has worked with the best—The Nutcracker, Hamilton, Katy Perry, to name a few. Jackson has worked in stage production for 11-plus years. She often works behind the scenes on shows in Omaha. “My first ballet I did was Cleopatra in 2015,” Jackson says. She has since worked backstage on other ballets produced by Omaha’s American Midwest Ballet and the touring production of The Nutcracker.

During her freshman year of high school, Jackson was introduced to her passion for theater. Her friends were makeup artists for the actors in her school’s production of Cats, and she decided to join them.

That experience prompted her to reach out to The Rose Theatre. “I met this woman named Kirsten Von Hagn—she was the props master—and she would stay late so I could work with her after school. That was my first introduction into tech theater beyond high school,” Jackson says.

“Part of what makes Jackson great at her job is that she handles being under pressure really well,” says Bill Lee, business agent for IATSE Local 42. “She knows what’s going on in the industry, she is available to us when we need her. She does a really good job. She is very easy to work with, and fair, and is very organized.”

Von Hagn spoke with Jackson about being the assistant stage manger on the production of The Wizard of Oz after seeing how hard she worked, and how interested in learning about theater she was.

“For any show, the coolest moments that stick with me are when I'm able to troubleshoot something in very quick moments,” Jackson says.

Jackson was hooked. She says she enjoys stage management because it lets her be creative in an organized fashion.

“Designers will tell us when they want something to happen—this could be with a visual moment, a word, a music note, etc. As the stage manager, I have to collect all of these [directional] notes from the designers, and then make it all come together, and call it all at the right times.”

The Wizard of Oz with American Midwest Ballet performed one show in a theater she and other stage hands had never worked in before. During the performance, an incorrect stage set came in during a transition. Although the setup normally required one person to work on that piece of staging, she quickly pulled in a second person from a different area to help get the staging set correctly.

Jackson was also in the dark through all of this.

“All of this happened in a blackout, so I couldn't see if it was happening/had happened correctly until I took the next light cue and saw [the staging] when the audience did,” Jackson says. “They were some very intense moments.”

Jackson has had the privilege of working on shows with some of entertainment’s most high-profile names. Most of her job as a stagehand includes manual labor such as laying wires and cables. One big perk of the job is that Jackson can sometimes watch the show for the price of her labor.

“The production team from P!nk let us go backstage and watch P!ink perform, so that was really cool," Jackson says. A few other performers Jackson has seen from backstage are Cher, Justin Timberlake, Eric Church, and Elton John; though there are some shows that don’t allow the stage hands to watch the performance.

While she sometimes has a great view of a show, she and other stagehands almost never speak with the performers.

“Katy Perry stopped by our department and thanked us as she headed out from her show, but it was a quick moment,” Jackson says of her one experience meeting a star.

Jackson not only works for Local 42; members of Local 42 work for Jackson on other shows. “When she works for the [Omaha] symphony or BlueBarn [Theatre], or another venue, we sometimes work under her,” Lee says.

Whether laying cable or lying in the wings giving direction, Jackson's labor is one of love.

Visit iatse42.org for more information.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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Feature // Pediatric Psychiatry

Continued from pg.45 Arming our kids with the skills to communicate what they’re going through and how they’re feeling can impact every facet of their lives. “Kids don’t automatically know what everything means when it comes to emotional perception,” Bhatia says. “We can help them learn how to express their emotions in a healthy, productive way. For them to be able to do this is a strength.”

MEETING KIDS WHERE THEY ARE Today, young people have more opportunities to do that than ever before.

Schools across the metro, including Westside, are being proactive in looking at students’ mental health.

“Westside Community Schools relies on a comprehensive, multi-tiered approach to mental and behavioral health prevention, identification, and intervention for all learners,” Brandi Paul, director of Communications & Engagement at Westside Community Schools, said via email. “Students at all levels participate in mental/behavioral health screenings conducted three times each year as part of our PK-12 Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports model. In addition, general and special educators directly instruct students at all levels in areas of social-emotional learning and school/campuswide behavioral expectations.”

“We’re always looking at different ways to reach kids where they’re at,” says Vance. One way they do this at Children’s is through a service called telehealth that enables doctors to provide the same psychiatric care in a virtual visit that they could in person—an essential option for some patients who don’t have as much access to care or who are dealing with certain anxieties, depression, or trauma. Vance says that the team at Children’s is also using virtual reality technology—such as helping an anxious child or youth get more comfortable with an MRI procedure.

Additionally, Children’s is reaching kids in the classroom. “We’re spending a lot of time training teachers and school staff to recognize when a child might need an intervention,” says Daughton, noting that counselors in Omaha Public Schools, for example, spend about half their time teaching social and emotional skills such as sympathy and empathy.

Many districts have partnered with Children’s Behavioral Health in an effort to address the needs of their students and families through more onsite services and resources. Families can work with school counselors to establish the connection and facilitate the appointment, either at school or at the facility.

“We have…expanded our partnership with Children’s Behavioral Health to address mental and behavioral needs of our children by offering more onsite services at Westside Middle School, Westside High School, and Westside West Campus,” Paul says. “We also work to continuously spread awareness of the Westside Safe Schools Hotline [through Boys Town], allowing 24/7 access to professionals for students or families with concerns about all issues from bullying, to safety, to suicidal thoughts, and anything else that could threaten someone’s physical and emotional well-being.”

According to Kara Neuvarth, media relations director at Boys Town, Safe Schools Hotline is available to several metro school districts—Omaha, Millard, Ralston, Bellevue, Papillion-La Vista, and Plattsmouth Public Schools, Brownell-Talbot, and Westside Community Schools. Students in those districts can call a number anonymously if desired and talk with a trained crisis counselor at any time. They also have a telehealth service.

The newest program at Boys Town is the The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Center, which opened Sept. 12. This new 16-bed facility, connected to Boys Town National Research Hospital-West on the Boys Town campus, provides care and safety for children ages 5 to 18 who need psychiatric hospitalization. It includes classrooms, a gymnasium, living spaces, and recreational areas. Patients receive treatment and care from board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrists, pediatricians, pediatric specialists, highly trained psychiatric nurses, and social workers.

Even campaigns such as the #BeKind movement that has been adopted by many Nebraska school districts in recent years can be a less formal version of cognitive behavioral therapy, in which patients learn to be mindful of how their thoughts and feelings impact their behaviors and the patterns that creates. “This message of #BeKind can stimulate more positive thoughts and make kids more mindful of how these thoughts affect their actions,” Bhatia says.

In many ways, schools are the front line— because they’re where the battle is won or lost, and they can be scary places. In addition to traditional stressors like bullying and academic and peer pressure, today’s students have active shooter education—including realistic drills— starting in kindergarten.

It’s hard not to assume that the necessary evil of an active shooter drill would be anxiety-producing. “Schools are doing the best they can to be prepared and to support children in managing their fears,” Bhatia says. Still, that requires more outreach from mental health professionals, more teacher education, and, frankly, more resources.

“Mental health awareness is improving, but Nebraska still ranks 49 out of 50 states when it comes to delivering quality mental health care in schools,” Daughton says. “We need elected officials to decide that it’s a priority and to support it.”

Vance says that without the right resources in place, all too often, intervention will be put off until a problem has escalated to the point of selfharm, violent behavior, or hospitalization. “The earlier we can get kids the help they need, even before they need it, the bigger the impact we can have.”

Visit boystown.org or childrensomaha.org for more information.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 53 //

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// 54 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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At Buoyant Family Services, addressing co-occurring disorders is the primary focus, but the organization provides ChildParent Psychotherapy (CPP) for children from the ages of ( 0-5), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Problematic Sexual Behaviors (PSB) in children and adolescents, as well as individual, family therapy, and group therapy.

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Continued from pg.47 Another approach to explore is energy medicine, which involves practitioners working with a body’s energy fields to balance or unblock their energy.

Different traditions refer to this energy by many names. Carolyn Descoteaux is one person who has used energy therapy to help her mental health, specifically going to Simplicity Yoga and Wellness for a treatment called biopulsar assessment, in which the energy in a person's body appears as different colors. The colors can tell where someone is experiencing stress, such as the abdomen or shoulders.

“The biopulsar aura analysis seemed foreign to me at first but Chanell was able to use it to pinpoint issues that needed to be addressed,” Descoteaux says. “It has awakened me to a better understanding and acceptance of who and what I am. I am in such a better place than I was just a month ago. I could not have found this type of healing going it on my own.”

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Jaramillo also practices Reiki, the Japanese technique for stress reduction that is carried out by laying on of hands.

She works on areas of the body where she senses imbalance. “Reiki focuses on how emotions contribute to what we experience and how they show up in our life including illness,” Jaramillo says.

Energy therapies have not yet been able to be measured using conventional scientific methods despite being around for thousands of years.

People may combine several alternative therapies to achieve mental wellness or they may follow a holistic medical system that centers on a philosophy. It could be an Eastern healing system like Ayurveda or traditional Chinese medicine. It could be naturopathy, a medical system that uses a variety of noninvasive alternative therapies such as massage, acupuncture, herbs, and exercise to facilitate the body in healing itself.

Visit downtownomahamassage.com and simplicityomaha.com for more information.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 55 //

GIVING

CALENDAR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2 0 1 9

Nov.

13

Cookie and Jerry Hoberman

Dr. Gail Walling Yanney and Mike Yanney

Mary and Dick Holland Nov. 13 (5:30 p.m.)

30TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

Location: Hilton Downtown —p4k.org Three decades ago, Partnership 4 Kids started with two couples who joined forces to help make a difference. In 1989, Mike Yanney—aided by his wife Dr. Gail Walling Yanney—started a mentoring program for middle-school youth. In 1995, Jerry and Cookie Hoberman started recognizing students for their academic achievements. In 2007, Dick and Mary Holland introduced these two couples to each other, and P4K was born. This gala will celebrate the work of P4K, and honor the three couples who created the organization.

Nov 1 (7 p.m.)

A TIME FOR HOPE & HEALING WITH MODERN WARRIOR LIVE Benefitting: The Kim Foundation Location: Holland Performing Arts Center —thekimfoundation.org

Nov. 1 (6 p.m.)

VISION BEYOND SIGHT

Benefitting: Outlook Nebraska Location: Embassy Suites-La Vista —outlookne.org

Nov. 2 (9 a.m. - 1 p.m.)

HOOFING IT FOR HEROES 5K HORSE RACE Benefiting: Victory Riding Academy Location: Zorinsky Lake —victoryride.org/5k

Nov. 2 (6 p.m.)

NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS GALA

Benefitting: Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation Location: Omaha Marriott Downtown —crohnscolitisfoundation.org

Nov. 3 (noon-4 p.m.)

HONEY SUNDAY

Benefiting: Ollie Webb Center, Inc. Location: multiple locations —olliewebbinc.org

// 56 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Nov. 4 (5-9 p.m.)

NURSE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Benefiting: March of Dimes Location: Omaha Marriott Downtown —nurseoftheyear.marchofdimes.org

Nov.

04

Nov. 8 (5:30-11 p.m.)

ROARING 20S GALA

Benefiting: Omaha Home for Boys Location: Embassy Suites-La Vista —omahahomeforboys.org

Nov. 6 (4-10 p.m.)

Nov. 8 (6-8:30 p.m.)

Benefitting: Assistance League of Omaha Location: Champions Run Country Club

Benefiting: Big Muddy Urban Farm Location: Creighton University Harper Ballroom

2019 CHRISTMAS CARAVAN PREVIEW GALA —alomaha.org

LET’S GROW HERE GALA —bigmuddyurbanfarm.org

Nov. 7 (10 a.m.-8 p.m.)

Nov. 8 (5:30-7 p.m.)

Benefiting: Assistance League of Omaha Location: Various homes in Omaha

Benefitting: Salvation Army Location: American National Bank, 90th and Dodge streets

2019 CHRISTMAS CARAVAN TOUR OF HOMES —alomaha.org

Nov. 7 (starts at 8:30 a.m.)

TREE OF LIGHTS CAMPAIGN KICKOFF

—salarmyomaha.org

12TH ANNUAL NONPROFIT SUMMIT OF THE MIDLANDS

Nov. 8 (5-8 p.m.)

—nonprofitam.org

Benefitting: Joslyn Castle Location: Joslyn Castle

Benefiting: Nonprofit Association of the Midlands Location: Embassy Suites-La Vista Conference Center Nov. 7 (5-8:30 p.m.)

SALUTE TO VETERANS DINNER

Benefiting: La Vista Community Foundation Location: Embassy Suites-La Vista —lavistacommunityfoundation.com

PATRON PREVIEW PARTY FOR HISTORIC HOME TOUR AND BOUTIQUE —joslyncastle.org

// GIVING CALENDAR //

Nov. 9-10 (10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday)

HISTORIC HOME TOUR AND BOUTIQUE Benefiting: Joslyn Castle Location: Various locations

THANK YOU

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Nov. 9 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.)

for voting us 1 st place 14 straight years!

HOOPS 4 LIFE 3 ON 3 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Benefiting: Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition Location: Omaha North High School —somsne.com

Nov. 9 (12-4 p.m.)

BENSON BARSTOOL OPEN

Benefiting: United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska Location: Various locations —ucpnebraska.org

Nov. 9 (6-10 p.m.)

2019 CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER GALA Benefiting: Hubbard Center for Children Location: CHI Health Center Omaha —childrensomaha.org

Nov. 13 (5:30 p.m.)

30TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

Benefitting: Partnership 4 Kids Location: Hilton Downtown —p4k.org

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Nov. 14 (6-9 p.m.)

TOAST OF ELDORA AND JACK VETTER Benefiting: Merrymakers Location: Omaha Design Center —merrymakers.org

Nov. 14 (5:30 p.m.)

AIM TECH CELEBRATION

Benefitting: AIM Institute Location: Founders OneNine —aiminstitute.org

Nov. 14 (5:30-9:30 p.m.)

ONEWORLD 2019 MILAGRO DINNER

Benefiting: OneWorld Community Health Centers Location: Hilton Omaha —oneworldomaha.org

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// 57 //

// GIVING CALENDAR //

Nov. 14 (7 p.m.)

CAMILLE IN CONCERT

Benefitting: Youth Care and Beyond Location: Il Palazzo

Nov.

14

—youthcareandbeyond.org

Do you suffer from acute pain from: Illness, surgery, a serious injury or accident?

Nov. 15 (6-9 p.m.)

FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Benefitting: D2 Center Location: The Living Room at the Mastercraft —d2center.org

Nov. 15 (6-9 p.m.)

THE JASON AWARDS

Benefitting: Children’s Square USA Location: Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs

Do you experience chronic pain from: Arthritis, back or neck pain, headaches, herniated disks, fibromyalgia, hip or knee pain?

Don’t let your pain keep you from enjoying life. Discover how to recover!

—childrenssquare.org

Nov. 16 (6-8 p.m.)

CHRISTMAS ENCHANTMENT

Benefitting: Children’s Square USA Location: Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home

Joh

—childrenssquare.org

Nov. 16 (6-11 p.m.)

URBAN LEAGUE OF NEBRASKA YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GALA Benefitting: Urban League of Nebraska Location: Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha Campus —urbanleagueneb.org

. n Co o k , M . D

Da

ve J

o h n so n, P

A- C

NIGHT OF A THOUSAND STARS

Benefiting: Nebraska AIDS Project Location: Omaha Design Center

a l K re jz a, D O

Ke v

VOTED FIRST PLACE SIX YEARS IN A ROW!

Nov. 21 (6-9 p.m.)

SALUTE TO FAMILIES

Benefiting: Heartland Family Service Location: Happy Hollow Country Club —heartlandfamilyservice.org

Nov. 21

WINE TASTING AND VINTNERS DINNER Benefitting: Avenue Scholars Location: TBA Nov. 22 (6 p.m.)

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY: COMING TOGETHER

Nov.

22

Benefiting: The Durham Museum Location: The Durham Museum —durhammuseum.org

Nov. 22 (6-10 p.m.)

TASTE OF PRIDE WINE EVENT

Benefitting: Roncalli Catholic Location: Roncalli Catholic Student Center

o m a h a m a g a z i n e . c o m

—roncallicatholic.org

Nov. 23-20 (hours vary)

FEZTIVAL OF TREES

Benefitting: Tangier Shrine Center Location: Tangier Shrine Center tangiershrine.com/Feztival

Nov. 27 (7-11 p.m.)

BLUE COLLAR BOXING-UNIONS UNITED FOR GOOD Benefiting: American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations Location: Baxter Arena —bluecollarboxing.org

// 58 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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Nov. 16 (8 p.m.-midnight)

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// 59 //

// GIVING CALENDAR //

Nov. 28 (8 a.m.)

2019 TURKEY TROT

Benefiting: Make-a-Wish Nebraska Location: Lewis & Clark Landing —nebraska.wish.org

Dec. 3 (all day)

GIVING TUESDAY

Benefiting: Various Omaha organizations Location: Online —givingtuesday.org

Dec. 5-7 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.)

SUBSTITUTE SANTA 2018

Benefiting: Child Saving Institute Location: Child Saving Institute building and website

Dec.

5-7

—childsaving.org

Dec. 5-6 (6 a.m.-6 p.m.)

20TH ANNUAL ADOPT A FAMILY RADIOTHON Benefiting: Salvation Army Location: Star 104.5 FM

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Give with Confidence Dec. 6 (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)

2019 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AWARDS LUNCHEON Benefiting: Urban League of Nebraska Location: Omaha Capitol Marriott

The Omaha Community Foundation simplifies charitable giving by offering philanthropic knowledge and a deep understanding of local nonprofits.

—urbanleagueneb.org

Dec. 6 (11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.)

LAURITZEN GARDENS GUILD HOLIDAY LUNCHEON Benefiting: Lauritzen Gardens Location: Lauritzen Gardens —lauritzengardens.org

Dec. 7

ANGEL FLIX - FROZEN 2

Benefitting: Angels Among Us Location: Aksarben Cinema —myangelsamongus.org

Dec. 7 (12:30-2 p.m.)

SPIN4 CROHN’S & COLITIS CURES

Benefiting: Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Location: Sweat Cycle Strength —crohnscolitisfoundation.org

// 60 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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// GIVING CALENDAR //

Dec. 7 (1-4 p.m.)

WINTER WINE FESTIVAL

Benefitting: Nebraska Humane Society Location: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse —nehumanesociety.org

Dec. 7 (5-9 p.m.)

JOSLYN CASTLE UNLOCKED

Benefiting: Joslyn Castle Trust Location: Joslyn Castle —joslyncastle.com

Dec. 7 (6-9 p.m.)

SUGARPLUM BALL

Benefitting: Ava’s Army, A Sammy’s Superheroes Sidekick Location: The Steppe Center —sammyssuperheroes.org

Dec. 7 (time TBA)

HOOPS FOR HOPE

Benefitting: Catholic Charities Location: Hilton Omaha

Visit Santa

November 29th – Christmas Eve See holiday shopping hours, times to visit Santa & more magical events at RegencyCourtOmaha.com

—ccomaha.org

Dec. 8

RUTH SOKOLOF CHRISTMAS PARTY

Benefiting: Nebraska Foundation for Visually Impaired Children Location: Westroads Mall —nfvic.org

Dec. 14 (7:30 a.m.-noon)

2019 NEBRASKA JINGLE BELL RUN 120 Regency Parkway | Omaha

Benefiting: Arthritis Foundation Nebraska Location: Strategic Air Command & Space Museum —arthritis.org/nebraska

Dec. 17 (4-6:30 p.m.)

COMMUNITY WIDE CELEBRATION

Benefitting: New Visions Homeless Services Location: New Visions in Council Bluffs —newvisions.cc

Dec. 22

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY: A BABY SHOWER FOR MARY AND YES Benefitting: Youth Emergency Services Location: Urban Abbey —urbanabbeyomaha.com

Dec. 27 (6-11 p.m.)

OMAHA SYMPHONY DEBUTANTE BALL

Benefiting: Omaha Symphony Location: Embassy Suites-La Vista Conference Center —omahasymphony.org

Event times and details may change.

Visist omahamagazine.com for complete listings.

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 61 //

GIVING PROFILE // STORY BY HOWARD K. MARCUS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

From left: Kathy Seidel, Susan Andrews, and Cathi Arnold.

Trio of Delight and Service THREE CHILDREN’S BOARD MEMBERS REFLECT ON 20-PLUS YEARS Those attending the Nov. 9 Children’s Hospital and Medical Center Gala may notice three longtime volunteers participating in their last gala as members of the Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Friends Board.

Cathi Arnold, Susan Andrews, and Kathy Seidel are friends, and in some cases knew one other before they began their service to Children’s.

In the mid-1980s Andrews was new to Omaha, having moved here from St. Louis with her family. Arnold was her neighbor, and their own children became friends. Seidel joined Children’s, and this service-minded duo, in the late 1990s.

Andrews, Seidel, and Arnold became good friends while serving for a good cause.

Now it is time for them to step down. Their stories are unique, but special.

// 62 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

CATHI ARNOLD Arnold’s service to Children’s Hospital & Medical Center began in 1987, when she chaired the Midlands Market booth for the annual bazaar and associated benefit dinner.

“We did home-canned jams and jellies, and salsa, and fresh produce, and just had a little market of things for sale,” she says.

Choosing Children’s as a volunteer option was natural for Arnold, who always had an interest in helping kids. After graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she worked in the Head Start program and performed other child-related work.

“I was an elementary teacher by profession and retired to raise my own children. I was totally always a ‘kid’ person and knew after my Junior League of Omaha training that I wanted to volunteer and give back in some way, for kids,” Arnold says.

A few years after she started volunteering, she was invited to join the Friends Board, a 40-plus member group that volunteers at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and works on fundraising events that benefit the hospital.

“I was honored and proud to become a member, and to help lead and add to the volunteer base for Children’s,” she says.

“The added bonuses were the close friends recruited to join me, and the new friends made while doing what I loved.”

represent all children at our gala. Those stories, those families are the reason we are all there. They are everything.”

For 16 years [2003 to 2019], Andrews was gift shop chair and a buyer for the shop.

In 2009, Children’s recognized Arnold’s years of service by giving her the Margre Henningson Durham Leadership Award.

As part of that effort, she took an annual trip to market and purchase merchandise for the shop.

SUSAN ANDREWS Though Andrews’ service to the Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Friends Board began in 1998, she had volunteered in various capacities with the group’s bazaar fundraiser and the surgery waiting desk at the hospital.

Additional tasks included unpacking the merchandise, pricing the items, entering them into a computer system, displaying the items, and keeping the shop clean and organized.

“I have always been a big fan of children, from my babysitting days to [being] day camp counselor, to swimming instructor, to Sunday school teacher, and to my eventually becoming a teacher in the Dallas public schools,” says Andrews, who grew up in Grand Prairie, Texas, a Dallas suburb.

“Children's Hospital was a natural draw for me. It was an institution that reached many people in the Omaha community as well as surrounding areas, and it was all about helping the children and supporting their families.”

Andrews often co-chaired the bazaar’s Midlands Market Booth and Beanie Boo. Work on the Midlands Market Booth required her to contact area businesses, including nurseries, orchards, and farmer stands, to request donations of produce and related items.

As part of the Friends Board, Arnold volunteered in the gift shop as a clerk, helped out at the information desk, ran the snack cart, and served variously as gift shop chair, a gift shop buyer, and gift shop books chair.

She served in every Friends Board executive office except treasurer, was president in 1995, and was adviser the following year.

While president, she served on the hospital’s board of trustees.

That was just part of the effort. The items also needed to be picked up, and Andrews helped gather the apples, hay bales, cornstalks, pumpkins, peaches, strawberries, and other booth staples.

Along with other Friends Board members, she helped make the Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Gala happen. The event replaced the bazaar in the early 1990s and includes a dinner, auctions, and upscale entertainment.

Andrews and other volunteers also made jams, jellies, soup mixes, hot chocolate mixes, and more.

“We have been in charge of everything from setup to takedown and everything in-between,” she says. The gala often draws a sellout crowd and raised more than $1 million last year.

At the heart of things, service to youth is what Arnold values most.

“My very favorite part of it all—while we do need to raise the money and work in the hospital—remains the kids, especially our honored families chosen each year to

She grew tomatoes and peppers in her backyard, and she used these to make dozens of jars of salsa sold at the event.

“We used whatever we could get donated to make things to sell,” she says, adding that she also worked the event’s preview evening and the bazaar itself.

Through the years, Andrews also worked on Countdown Coffees, the book fair, and the Community Awareness Committee.

She often served on the board’s nominating and executive committees.

“I did whatever I saw that needed doing and helped out behind the scenes on many committee activities,” she says.

She often looked through catalogs and met with sales representatives to find items that would keep the merchandise mix interesting.

“We strove to please patients, their families and visitors, and the staff of Children's Hospital,” Andrews says. “The gift shop served as a respite for those families, patients, and the staff caring for them. For me, seeing the children's eyes light up and a smile on their faces always made my day.

“Working with people from the Friends Board made every job easier and always more enjoyable. Not only were we serving the Children's Hospital community, we were also improving ourselves, deepening relationships that have led to lifelong friendships and becoming better citizens for Omaha,” she says.

K ATHY SEIDEL Those who know Seidel may not be surprised that she has spent more than 25 years volunteering at a hospital for children.

Seidel was working as a neonatal intensive care unit nurse at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor when she met her husband, Tom—a neonatologist. In 1986, the family returned to Omaha when he took a job at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.

Omaha was familiar to Kathy. She had attended Christ the King Elementary, Duchesne Academy, and Creighton University.

After her first child was born, Seidel stepped away from her nursing career and became involved as a volunteer with many organizations, including the PTA, Junior League of Omaha, The Rose Theater, Heartland Family Service, and Completely Kids. As her volunteer efforts continued, she gravitated toward Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.

“I knew I wanted to give back to those who needed help, especially children,” she says. “I think my nursing background contributed to this.”

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 63 //

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She also knew the Friends Board raised money to help families, and she wanted to become part of that effort.

She was nominated to the Friends Board in 1993 and served the group in a variety of roles, including recording secretary, president-elect, president, and adviser.

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Though the gift shop work required many hours a week, Seidel says it contributed to the development of friendships among the participants.

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The work had other rewards.

“Watching families and patients come into the gift shop was very special,” she says.

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Outpatients also would visit the shop, sometimes as a reward after having a treatment or visiting a physician.

“The gift shop has always been a nice respite for staff and families to get a break from the stress and tedium of a long hospital stay,” she says.

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Through the past 20-plus years, these three have served in different ways, but they all served for the same reason.

“None of us were ever volunteers at Children’s for what we could get back,” Arnold says. “We were there for the kids— the most important piece of the pie.”

At the end of this year, it will be time to bid adieu to this trio who tirelessly gave, and welcome three new members.

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FEATURE // RADIO EDIT

Continued from pg.43 To cope with traumas such as PTSD and extreme poverty, Troxclair says she sees many youths self-medicate and turn to other self-destructive behaviors. She points to a lack of education in schools when it comes to teaching kids about mental health.

“They’re just out [there] suffering without a clue until they end up in an emergency room, or picked up by police,” Troxclair says.

Law enforcement often times finds itself dealing with mental health episodes, sometimes with lethal results. On June 3, 2017, 29-year-old Zachary BearHeels was traveling on a bus from South Dakota to his home in Oklahoma City when it made a stop in Omaha. He was not allowed back on the bus because a passenger complained about his behavior, which reportedly included talking to himself. The next day Renita Chalepah, Zachary’s mother, alerted Omaha police that her son was schizophrenic and suffered from bipolar disorder.

The American Psychiatric Association showed in 2014 that, nationally, approximately 21% of Native Americans/Alaska Natives ages 18 and up had reported mental illness, compared with 17.9% for the general population.

On June 5, 2017, police responded to a disturbance call at Bucky’s gas station at 6003 Center St. There, the police confronted BearHeels. During the encounter, BearHeels died after being shocked by a Taser 12 times and punched in the head repeatedly. Two of the officers involved were fired for their involvement. One officer was acquitted of second-degree assault; no other officers were charged.

Since BearHeels’ death, the Omaha Police Department increased efforts to train their staff about mental illness. One such course is Crisis Intervention Team (CIT). The class teaches law enforcement about de-escalating mental health-related incidents, identifying medications and their side effects, suicide prevention, and geriatric-related mental health issues as well as handling juveniles in crisis situations. Oftentimes when police are called to respond to a mental health-related disturbance, a person is going to one of two places, and each has a significantly different outcome, Gary Hering says.

“You’re going to the hospital, or you’re going to jail,” Hering says.

Hering works at Mutual of Omaha as a systems engineer. Before joining Mutual, Hering’s background was almost purely

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

mechanical. His father was a mechanic, and when he was in the military, he serviced aircraft. However, his home life was slowly preparing him for his current role as president of the Omaha affiliate chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

He was caring for a family member who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Late one night, the person Hering was caring for locked themselves in the bathroom and dialed 911, telling them that he was in danger from Hering. The police were dispatched, but the family member left the house before police arrived.

“Somebody must have told [the relative] in their manic state ‘If you see an opportunity to get out of the house, go ahead and leave,’” Hering says.

Hering soon found himself in a standoff with police. They asked him if he had any weapons in the house. He said he did: a 1917 Russian rifle he inherited from his father.

After determining the swatting incident was a medical-related matter, things calmed down, but Hering found himself reaching out to NAMI. He attended one class called Family to Family, which is free and open to the public.

He was so impressed at the curriculum that he volunteered to be on the NAMI board.

He was later elected president and has held that title for three years.

The knowledge and peer support of NAMI helped Hering when another family member was diagnosed with mental illness.

Hering’s son was hospitalized twice this summer for bipolar disorder. Both times, he was able to receive help promptly, but at a steep cost thanks to an emergency department visit.

“The initial bill was $9,000 before a psych consultant,” Hering says.

Two major Omaha hospitals—Nebraska Medicine and CHI Health—require patients to be evaluated through the emergency department before they are admitted to inpatient psychiatric care.

“I can’t speak for the city as a whole, but I don’t see availability of services as an issue,” Hering says. “I think it’s the cost. The cost that these people are going to incur to get services is unsustainable because they’ll stop going to get services if they can’t afford it.”

There is low-cost help available. One resource is Behavioral Health Connection

at Nebraska Medicine. Anyone with a concern for themselves or a loved one can call 402.836.9292 daytime, and experts at BHC will help people meet behavioral health and other social service needs. This includes helping to identify problems, or helping to get into and find transportation to programs and agencies. Troxclair recommends Charles Drew Health Center's Behavioral Health Services at 402.810.9758.

Another resource is NAMI Omaha. Their free services include 24-hour information and referral line (402.717.4673), a suicide hotline (800.273.8255), a Nebraska family helpline (888.866.8660) and a safe harbor line (402.715.4226) for those with mental illness to call for help anytime.

Hering said he has seen a noticeable shift about people’s attitudes toward mental health, specifically depression, especially with younger people. Peer support is an essential element when it comes to treating mental illness. People who are realizing that they require mental health assistance can find the options (or lack thereof) to be an anxiety-inducing challenge.

Hering recommends looking for counselors before seeking a psychiatrist. Many company insurances have confidential Employee Assistance Programs where counseling services may be free for some initial visits. Hering also cautions people who are first reaching out for help to manage their expectations.

“This is a marathon, not a sprint,” Hering says.

Visit namiomaha.org, nebraskamed.com/behavioral-health/ connection, or charlesdrew.com for more information.

A SEMICOLON IS USED TO CONTINUE A SENTENCE INSTEAD OF ENDING IT. LIKEWISE THE SEMICOLON IS USED AS A SYMBOL OF HOPE AND LOVE TO THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

// 60 PLUS //

A Special Time of Year The holidays! I find myself thinking of holidays past when my family was all here, and the children were young. I think about the stages of life.

In the beginning Christmas Eve was reserved for our family only—Raymond, R.L., Todd, Brad, Tyler, and me.

Then the boys married and their beautiful wives shared the festivities with us. Soon there were grandbabies, who became teenagers, then adults—and suddenly the Christmas Eve celebration of just our immediate family became 19 people.

When our family was young we celebrated Christmas Day at our home with some extended family members, including Ray’s sister Anna Marie, brother-in-law Ves, and their family of five, with the cousins enjoying Christmas together.

This was followed by an event the Sunday after Christmas when we got together with my side of the family, the Cases—my parents, sisters Jacque and Barbara, and their families.

We alternated between our house and the house of Jacque and her husband, Bill.

There was always a lot of activity, fitting in family celebrations, entertainment with friends, and employee parties. What busy and happy times!

Next, my sons and their wives hosted beautiful celebrations for our now-large family.

How nice to be a guest! I look forward to spending time with my family that can be here and sharing holiday cheer with friends.

Christmas will now be different without Tyler and Raymond. And some of the grandchildren are married and have additional families they will spend time with. There are no greatgrandchildren this year, but I anticipate that will be the next experience to look forward to in this journey of life.

Enjoy your family and friends, hold them close, and have a wonderful holiday season.

Contributing Editor

Wes Shaw NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 • 60PLUS

// 69 //

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60PLUS • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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HEALTH // STORY BY SUSAN MEYERS // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

The Influenza Virus and the Elderly A Deadly Duo

E

ach year as fall rolls around, people start hearing the call to get vaccinated for the flu. But does one need to get the flu vaccine every year? The simple answer is yes.

The influenza shot is the best way to prevent the flu, which can have serious and even fatal consequences, especially in the elderly.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates there are more than 20,000 deaths from the flu each year and more than 200,000 hospitalizations. Most of these deaths occur in the elderly and the very young.

“Older adults have a high risk of complications and even death due to the flu because their immune systems are weaker,” says Dr. Alberto Marcelin, family practitioner at Nebraska Medicine. “It is estimated that 50 to 70% of flu-related hospitalizations occur in patients 65 years or older and approximately 90% of flu-related deaths occur in people over 60 years old.”

Getting the flu vaccine not only boosts a person’s immune system in protecting against the influenza virus but also decreases their chances of obtaining other serious infections. “If you don’t get vaccinated and get a severe influenza infection and end up in the hospital, you are more likely to contract other serious infections with organisms like methicillin—resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),” says Dr. Renuga Vivekanandan, infectious disease specialist at CHI Health. “The flu can also make other chronic conditions like heart disease, emphysema, or asthma even worse.”

The effectiveness of the vaccine varies each year depending on the strain of flu circulating in the community and how well a person’s body responds to the vaccine. “Even if you acquire influenza after vaccination, the severity of your illness will be lessened if you get the influenza vaccine,” Vivekanandan says. “The flu vaccine primes your body so the body can create antibodies and is ready to fight against the circulating strain.”

It’s also important to note that the flu vaccine does not cause the flu. “It’s impossible to get the flu from the vaccine,” Vivekanandan says. “It is an inactivated vaccine. There is no live virus present to replicate and cause infection.”

Someone who has been recently vaccinated may develop redness, mild muscle aches, and even a low-grade fever for a day or two following administration of the shot, but these symptoms are nothing in comparison to influenza, which can cause high fevers and severe debilitating muscle aches, and usually lasts three to five days.

“The flu is predictably unpredictable.”

-Dr. Anne O’Keefe Determining how bad the illness will be each year is basically a guessing game. “The flu is predictably unpredictable,” says Dr. Anne O’Keefe, senior epidemiologist at Douglas County Health Department.

“Every spring, scientists try to determine what the flu virus is going to be based on what’s circulating in other parts of the world. If it’s a strain that hasn’t changed and has been around for a couple years, you will have better immunity. However, if it is a completely new strain, like the swine flu we experienced in 2009, it can quickly become a pandemic. An early winter can also increase the number of flu cases,” she says.

Those who are 65 years and older should get the flu vaccine in early September, or as soon as it becomes available, O’Keefe says.

It takes about two weeks for the body to respond to the vaccine and develop protective antibodies—so people want to get the vaccine a couple of weeks before fall hits.

People in this age group should also ask for the high dose vaccine, which has been shown to be more effective and offer greater protection to those over age 65, Marcelin says.

Other preventive measures include practicing good hygiene and using a hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.

Avoid environments where other people are ill. Children should also be vaccinated early as they are often incubators of the flu and may hasten the spread of the virus.

Those who think they have been exposed or begin to develop common flu symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, sore throat, body aches, or rapid heart rate should talk to their doctor about getting the antiviral medication called Tamiflu.

This medication can reduce the severity and duration of the influenza infection. Those who are exposed to someone with influenza can also request Tamiflu as a prophylaxis to prevent the infection from developing, Vivekanandan says.

While the flu vaccination is especially important for the elderly and the very young, everyone should get the vaccine. “When you get your yearly influenza vaccination, you are not only protecting yourself but also protecting the people you love, and people in your community who are at higher risk for serious complications like the elderly and the young,” Vivekanandan says.

This year, the vaccine has been prepared to protect against the A and B strains and it was recently updated to be more effective against these strains, notes O’Keefe.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 • 60PLUS

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ACTIVE LIVING // STORY BY KARA SCHWEISS // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MADY BESCH

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER • 60PLUS

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// ACTIVE LIVING //

four or five times a week in the beautiful and still-new Fremont YMCA pool. At 79, the exercise keeps him fit, flexible, and strong, and he also touts the natural endorphins that help make aches and pains go away and keep him in a good mood.

“He has a strong presence at the facility and is a friend to all,” aquatic director Dian Christensen says. “He is one of the kindest people I know. He has been a mentor to me in my present position for the past year and a half. He has solid advice and vast experience, and is a great listener and fabulous storyteller.”

Christensen says Blick is “still a phenomenal swimmer,” too. “He knows how important it is to stay active, and it shows.” she adds. Blick would probably make quite a splash in a master’s competition, but he isn’t interested in competing.

“I did that,” Blick says.

Blick started a long way from Fremont, Nebraska, where he and his wife, Shirley, now live much of the year. The son of German immigrants, Blick grew up in Bakersfield, California, and discovered a talent for swimming as a schoolboy when he’d be awarded admission to a local pool by winning races. At his large high school (his graduating class had 900 people), swimming wasn’t a major sport, but it did have a swim team. “I could remember as a freshman that I beat the seniors,” Blick says.

Blick also competed in meets throughout the region through club swimming, but as with his high school team, the season was limited by unheated outdoor pools. In his senior year, he and two teammates decided to get an edge on the competition by starting their training in the wintertime.

“We went to a motel pool,” Blick says, with a chuckle. “That was the only heated pool in the area.”

The conditioning worked, and Blick became known in competitive swimming circles in the area. Then came his chance at world-renown. A college swimming coach from Illinois once stayed at the Blick family’s motel (not the motel where Blick and his teammates swam) and happened to notice a specific photo of Blick.

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60PLUS • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

“My dad has the picture up on the wall of me winning the section meet, and he’s saying, ‘he’s the best’ in his broken English,” Blick says. Blick’s father talked to the coach, and it ended with an invite to a Midwestern college and the promise to facilitate a scholarship offer.

That’s no exaggeration. Of the 1,022 gold medals the United States has won at the Olympic Games since 1896, almost 25% (246) of those have been for swimming.

“I come walking back in at the end of summer thinking maybe I’ll go to community college and my dad said, ‘Got it all fi xed. You’re going to go to North Central College near Chicago. You’re going to love it,” Blick says. “I had never been any further east than Nevada.”

“When I picture me standing on the podium—the national anthem playing, with my teammates—I’ll never forget that,” he says. But there was more ahead for him. Blick was still a college student when he realized his Olympic dreams, and he emphasizes that his six decades since then have been wonderful as well.

Blick attended North Central College on a swimming scholarship, where “I was sort of a big fish in a small pool. I was in the right place at the right time.” He started college in 1959, declaring himself an education major and swimming as part of the team. That year he won National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championships for the 100-yard freestyle, 220-yard freestyle, and the 440-yard freestyle. The next year he won national championships in the 220-yard freestyle and the 440-yard freestyle.

He believes the 220-yard freestyle was his best individual event, and in fact, he was No. 1 in the nation in the 220-yard for two years in college.

Being a good swimmer in college opened other opportunities for him. As it happened, there was a swimming competition going on down the road—the 1959 Pan-American Games, a qualifier for the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, and the first PanAmerican Games to be held in the U.S. Blick was a gold medalist at those Pan-American Games in Chicago as part of the 4x200-meter freestyle relay and advanced to Rome the next year.

At the 1960 Olympic Games, Blick was one of four members of the U.S. men’s team who won gold in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay and set a new world record. U.S. athletes took home 15 of the 45 medals (nine of those gold) awarded in swimming that Olympics, more than any other nation.

“What we did—not just the relay team but the whole men’s team, and the women’s team—we started the world domination in swimming by Americans,” he says.

The 1960 Olympics were also a turning point for Blick.

After returning from the 1960 Olympics, he continued to swim on his college team.

He won championships in the 100-yard freestyle, 220-yard freestyle, and 440-yard freestyle in 1961, beating his own scores in each event in 1962 and again winning the championships.

“As the only North Central College athlete to ever win an Olympic gold medal, Dick Blick owns a unique page in the college’s storied history, and particularly that of our athletic program,” the college’s vice president for institutional advancement, Rick Spencer, says. “Dick was the star athlete on two of North Central’s national championship swimming teams (1961 and 1962) and part of an era of Cardinal swimmers who won four national titles in a six-year period…In 2004, Dick was among the first class of inductees into the college’s Athletic Hall of Fame. He is a truly fantastic individual who remains engaged with the college, and is always generous with his time while enthusiastically sharing his historic gold medal with our students.”

Blick graduated from North Central in 1962, and prepared to attend graduate school at Indiana University on the way to becoming a teacher and coach.

He also got married that same year— and he turned away from competitive swimming. His coaches were confident he could qualify for the 1964 Olympic Games, but he chose not to pursue it. Blick was in peak shape, but he was ready to move on.

“Once I made the decision, I never looked back with regret,” he says. “Once I left swimming, the ability to use my skill and to work hard did pay off. In years of coaching I would always tell the kids, ‘If I could give you a shortcut I would, but there is no shortcut. It’s working hard.’”

The Blicks moved to California, where Blick taught math and physical education in public schools, and coached swimming and water polo. His wife taught at the elementary level. The couple welcomed a son and daughter. Time moved forward, the children grew up, and the Blicks retired. Their daughter stayed in California but their son married a woman from Fremont and ended up in Nebraska.

Dick and his wife live near their son and his family here, and part of the year they live in California to be near their daughter and her family.

“Family is important and we have the slogan ‘if you’re there, you have to be all there.’ So we’re not just visiting,” Blick says. Despite the winter weather, Blick likes Fremont, which he says reminds him of the farming communities where he grew up. The couple have many friends and participate in community events, including dressing up as Lord Richard and Lady Shirley every year to give out awards to students participating in the Fremont Chessfest, a scholastic chess tournament.

“I try to go four to five times a week to the new YMCA pool, we’re involved in church here, and there are the grandkids,” he says. “That’s really a big part of our lives, watching our grandkids grow.”

These days, Blick gets more questions about his association with the Dick Blick art supplies stores (not his enterprise and he’s no relation to the founder, but he handles the inquiries with good humor) than about his swimming accomplishments, and that’s okay by him.

“Dick is very unassuming and a person you would never know was a former Olympic swimmer unless you see him swim,” Christensen says, adding that when people at the Y make the discovery, Blick always shows grace and humility when answering their questions.

“Even though the record was broken and even for that time in history I was on top and I’ll never forget it, my life has never been the same,” he says. “I couldn’t have done what I did without telling you that God had given me the talent and I was grateful. He gave me the strength because I knew I couldn’t do it by myself.”

Hot Take on a Cool Practice » Mary Pat Paul’s Hot Yoga Journey« PROFILE // STORY BY SARA LOCKE // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

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60PLUS • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

M

ARY PAT PAUL is a polite

woman, soft-spoken and mild mannered. Get her on a yoga mat, however, and she goes from mild to hot in seconds.

In a practice often avoided by those half her age, Paul has become a leader and a voice of authority in hot yoga, no matter how soothing that voice happens to be. Hot yoga has given her the tools to handle whatever life throws at her, and life has thrown a pretty solid curve ball.

“Hot yoga isn’t like other practices, but it was the first yoga that I found, and I feel really connected to it,” Paul says.

She practiced hot yoga long before she realized how many different styles of yoga there are. Still, yoga practiced in a heated room is her favorite. “There are reasons I do a vinyasa [flow] or a yin [relaxing] class, but I’ll always come back to hot yoga as my main practice.

It’s the practice I feel is most healing.”

A Quiet Place Those who walk into yoga classes at most studios will find a regular cast of characters.

A few fit moms taking one hour of respite from their jobs and families. A gaggle of giggling women snapping pre-class selfies and checking in on social media. A hard-core yogi is already balancing on one leg while stretching the other leg straight up to the ceiling. One man stands on his head while the only other man in the room nervously wonders if it’s too late for him to change his mind about being there.

Those walking into Paul’s hot yoga class notice the silence. The lights are low, the practitioners are still and quiet on their mats, and the room is a humid 105 degrees. Pracitioners come mentally prepared and ready to sweat.

“Most yoga classes are very communityfocused,” Paul says. “I love that people can find these families in their class, and feel good about reaching out to other students to talk and connect.”

But Paul's classes are about reaching inward.

“That’s not how hot yoga works," Paul says.

"You can talk in the hall; you can talk in the parking lot. You don’t talk in class.”

“She’s an amazing teacher,” says Gabrielle Hopp, co-owner of One Tree Yoga. “She’s particularly good with brand-new people.

She’s done additional training outside of her [required] 200 hours that focuses on therapeutics and modifications for all different body types, so she has that additional skill set of being able to help anyone who is able to walk in that room.”

Hot yoga is a way to take inventory of the body and finding the places that need work. Like all projects people have put off for too long, the first few times can be uncomfortable.

“It’s not uncommon for someone to try to push themselves too hard their first few classes,” Paul says. “I’ll suggest that they step out of a pose, try to get them to come down to corpse [laying prone on the mat] or to child’s pose [sitting on one’s feet with the chest between the thighs and forehead on the floor], but once you see their feet turning white as they grip the mat, you kind of know they’re not going to listen to you because they’re not listening to themselves yet. And then they fall. They learn.

We’re all still learning to listen to ourselves.”

Make Time for Your Health, or Make Time for Your Illness Paul started yoga in 2001 when traditional medicine was not working for her.

“I had gone to the doctor for this intense back pain I was having,” Paul says. “I had already had thyroid cancer and it was enough of a wake-up call that I knew I couldn’t ever ignore signs of distress from my body. The first thing the doctor did was prescribe Celebrex. I argued that the pain was a symptom, and I wasn’t trying to treat my pain, I was trying to treat the cause of my pain. I was told to give the medicine a chance, and I did.”

Months later, Paul returned to the doctor, who expected her to be grateful at the insistence on medication.

“It was all so much worse. I couldn’t feel my foot. I couldn’t walk without pain. I thought, 'I guess this is it. Everyone you know ends up with a bad back, a bad hip, a bad knee. This is it; this is my life now'.”

But it wasn’t. Paul and her body had developed a trusting relationship, and she knew that the communication she was getting from her back was more than her body simply giving up on her.

“I asked for a second opinion. The doctor told me that from my X-ray, it was clear that there was nothing truly wrong. That’s when I realized I needed more than a second opinion; I needed a new doctor— they had never taken an X-ray. I left and found a new doctor, who quickly realized I had a herniated disc.”

Paul soon took up yoga as a means to strengthen and fortify herself.

“When I told my friend, Bernie Bresnahan, that I was still in so much pain from the herniated disk, she told me to come to her hot yoga class at One Tree,” Paul says.

“She said that the warmth combined with deep twists and gentle stretches would help loosen and release it. For those first few classes, I was doing adaptive poses during the back stretches. Everyone else was coming into them so easily and I was on my elbows just breathing through the pain. Then after that fourth class I walked in and I could feel it, but it wasn’t unbearable anymore. Soon I was doing all of the poses and building strength.

I was exactly where I needed to be.”

As she continued attending yoga classes, she gained more relief from her back pain.

“It’s an hour and a half of practice, but the pain relief it provides last three or four days," Paul says. "Medicine has its place, but medicine couldn’t do that. For me, for my problem, only hot yoga could do that.

And it did, every time. We need to see our physical practice and medical practice as a team. We need both.”

Paul saw the changes yoga provided to her mentally and physically, and made it her mission to provide the same support and healing she had found. She completed the 200-hour teacher training in 2011 through One Tree Yoga. The course, certified through Yoga Alliance, includes 100 hours of training practice, and another 100 hours made up of philosophy, anatomy, and other courses. It’s a lot of work to be done in two years, but Paul found it important.

“Yoga had helped me so much,” Paul says. “It gave me my life back. It made my body healthy and strong again. I just wanted to be able to share that with as many people as I could.”

That includes helping people outside of the United States as well as in Omaha.

“She teaches a donation class called Yoga for Uganda,” Hopp says. “She set up this foundation, and she’s been raising money for them for years. She could not be a more warmhearted person.”

Paul calls yoga her “bedrock.” A foundation on which she built her outlook, her strength, and her drive to change lives. And she’s doing it, one breath at a time.

Paul teaches at One Tree Yoga East. Visit onetreeyoga.com for more information.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 • 60PLUS

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FEATURE // STORY BY SCOTT STEWART // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

the Together 2%

Wes Shaw NOVEMBER/DECEMBER • 60PLUS

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ome people enjoy taking examinations.

A short quiz, or a longer test, can provide stimulation from boredom and a quick boost of confidence, or motivation to do something better.

For those who enjoy such challenges, Mensa provides the gold standard for puzzles, games, and other tests of intelligence. The international society brings together the world’s most intelligent people, and membership is offered based on test scores. There is no set number to qualify one for Mensa due to the differences in tests, but members must prove an IQ score at or above the 98th percentile.

It’s an elite group with a not-so-elitist attitude, but the group overall provides a sanctuary for those looking for somewhere they don’t have to hide their intelligence.

“My greatest disappointment in law school was, even there, it wasn’t OK to be really smart,” Diana Vogt, age 66, says. “The reason people join Mensa is because it’s a place where it’s finally OK to be smart.”

The Nebraska-Western Iowa Mensa has just over 200 members, says local secretary Wes Shaw. The local secretary serves as a group president. While members are spread across the region, most of the active members live in the Omaha area and tend to be over 60.

That is partly because, Vogt says, it’s hard for people who are raising children to find a lot of free time until they’re older, but the commonality of high IQs and generations often is appreciated.

“It’s nice to be able to be around people who get your jokes,” says Shaw, age 68. “It’s nice being around people who tell new jokes.”

Local members participate in a variety of gatherings through subgroups referred to as “special interest groups,” or SIGs for short.

Local SIGs include a monthly trivia night at Buffalo Wild Wings organized by a former Jeopardy contestant, and a monthly trip to a new restaurant for a dining out SIG. A monthly poker night is held in Lincoln.

While monthly poker nights and dinners out provide regular entertainment, special events are also a part of the group. There’s an annual summer picnic that draws a large crowd from around the region, and a winter holiday party. Vogt says Mensa recently provided an opportunity for members to take a tour of the Joslyn Art Museum with a member who was a former curator.

“I learned a lot of things,” Vogt says. “It’s really interesting to have someone who can just go with you and tell you stuff that you might not otherwise know.”

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Shaw says local group members participate in national Mensa-organized events such as the CultureQuest trivia competition, where the Nebraska-Western Iowa group finished 20th in the nation in April 2019.

Vogt organizes the dining out SIG and serves as an officer for the heartland region, which spans from the Dakotas to Kansas and from Wyoming to central Missouri.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Vogt says. “It’s always really nice to have someone new come and to learn about them.”

Vogt says the dining out SIG alternates between American and other cuisines, and it moves around the metro area–in September, the group ate at Ollie & Hobbes Craft Kitchen in Papillion.

Along with the dining comes conversation.

Vogt says the members can discuss any subject.

“Sometimes, we talk about interesting things,” Vogt says. “Sometimes, we talk about things of completely no consequence.”

That is OK. The word “mensa” means “table” in Latin, and, according to Mensa International, “Mensa is a roundtable society where race, color, creed, national origin, age, politics, educational or social background are irrelevant.”

Mensans are typically open-minded and willing to consider new perspectives and cultures.

Vogt says that doesn’t mean they aren’t opinionated, though, or that members skew to certain political or social viewpoints.

Mensans are almost always willing to engage in intellectual discussions–whether about mathematical concepts, UFOs, or an interesting article someone recently read.

“Sometimes it is just nice to have other people understand what you’re talking about, let alone be interested,” Vogt says.

“The biggest draw is the networking with other people who can think,” Shaw says.

The group even takes a broad view of intelligence, and Shaw says members usually think differently from one another, which is why there’s no single test that’s used to qualify.

Shaw says some people, including his father, join for bragging rights.

Vogt has been in Mensa since 1991, and she’s seen the local group ebb and flow in terms of how active its members are in the organization.

“Some of the people who have dropped out are because of health issues,” Vogt says.

Shaw says Mensa is always looking for new members, and he welcomes anyone interested in seeing if they qualify to reach out.

Inactive or lapsed members should also give the group another look, Vogt says, because it has a lot more to offer than they might realize.

“They’re missing out on an opportunity,” Vogt says.

Most local members are active because they’re having fun, not to maintain their cognitive abilities, Shaw says. However, Mensa International says that SIGs are intended to provide “intriguing ways to flex your mental muscles,” and a variety of publications—from local newsletters to a national magazine— and regional, national, and international conventions provide other opportunities for social interaction and boosting mental acuity.

“It is a way to get to know people who might have a completely different background,” Vogt says. “A lot of the people have special interests that bring new things to the group.”

Shaw says Mensans tend to be introverted, but they’re friendly and they’re not the cliché nerd stereotype. For the most part, members want to share their hobbies and enjoy like-minded company. However, Vogt admitted that some members might be a little strange.

That commonality–intelligence, understanding, acceptance, interest–is what draws members of the organization together. It also is what advances the society’s overall purpose.

“It just means that [Mensa] has a lot of interesting personalities,” Vogt says.

“Mensans permeate all walks of life,” Shaw says of this group that has active chapters in nearly 50 counties and counts more than 140,000 people among its members.

Even if conflicts occasionally arise, the group overall provides a sanctuary for those looking for somewhere they don’t have to hide their intelligence.

Shaw adds the appeal of Mensa is rooted in the fact that the organization doesn’t discriminate against its members based on their background or who they are.

Visit nwim.us.mensa.org for more information about this local group.

OBVIOUSLY OMAHA // STORY BY BRYAN VOMACKA // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Six places to go

ice skating in Omaha

i

ce skating is one of the oldest and most popular traditions of the holiday season, and a good option for any cold-weather occasion. Those looking for a cool way to spend time with family and friends, or perhaps a unique way to impress a date, cannot go wrong with skating around the ice. There are a variety of ice skating rinks in the Omaha area, and each have their own flair and style. Some locations offer urban excitement while others offer the peace of nature. Specified people can skate for free in one location. Other locations donate a portion of proceeds to charity. All of them offer a fun time during the holiday season.

*Dates and times may change due to seasonal events, maintenance, or other reasons. Check websites and/or call ahead before heading out.

01. CAPITOL DISTRICT

10th Street and Capitol Avenue 402.345.5401 capitoldistrictomaha.com Admission: $10 (includes skate rental) The ice skating rink in the Capitol District pulls double duty as a provider of entertainment and charity. A portion of the proceeds from the ice rink is donated to Food Bank for the Heartland as part of the “Shine the Light on Hunger” campaign.

There are also collection bins at the rink for non-perishable food items. Downtown Omaha provides a beautiful backdrop to this outdoor rink, creating a one-of-a-kind experience for those looking to have a good time skating while supporting a charitable cause at the same time.

02. GROVER ICE

6171 Grover St. 402.991.7982 groverice.com Admission: $4 children (12 and under), $6 adults (13-55), $5 seniors (56+) Skate rental: $2 Grover Ice is a privately owned ice rink located in central Omaha. They are open year round and have a little something for everyone. Want to skate uninterrupted for an hour or two? Want to learn how to skate? Need a unique party or event location? Broomball? League hockey?

Grover Ice has you covered.

03. MAHONEY STATE PARK

28500 West Park Highway, Ashland 402.944.2523 outdoornebraska.gov/mahoney Admission: $2 adults, $3 children Skate rental: $3 The activity center and ice skating pavilion at Mahoney State Park allows for fun and entertainment even in the brutal cold of winter. The unique ice skating rink is technically outside, but is covered by a large roof. A massive indoor playground is connected to the rink and features tubes, slides, net bridges, and more. While Mahoney State Park probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind for winter activities, the ice skating pavilion and activity center are great spots to escape the winter blues.

5015 S. 45th St. 402.444.4955 parks.cityofomaha.org Admission: $4 ages 6 and older, free for ages 5 and under with paid adult Skate rental: $1 Located at Hitchcock Park, Motto McLean Ice Arena has a variety of events. They have a basic public skate as well as family skate on Sundays ($12 for a family of four) and freestyle skate for figure skaters to practice their skills ($7 per hour). They have drop-in hockey games as well as “stick and puck,” where players can simply skate around the ice with a stick and a puck. A fun event for preschoolers is “Bobby skate,” where kids can learn to skate while holding on to Bobby, a plastic seal. Rounding out their wide variety of events, McLean Ice Arena also hosts birthday parties. Schedules for these events can be found online.

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7300 Q St. 402.934.9966 ralstonarena.com Admission: $5 Skate rental: $4

Ralston Arena is one of the newest venues in the city of Omaha. Ice skating is open to the public throughout the year, but there is no better time to go than the holiday season. Their drop-in hockey games allow players of all skill levels to experience competitive (but not too serious) games of hockey. The Ralston Skating Academy offers certified lessons to all ages. With a selection of activities and a modern venue, Ralston Arena is a no-brainer location for skating fun.

06. UNMC ICE RINK

04. MOTTO McLEAN ICE ARENA

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

05. RALSTON ARENA

2019

42nd and Emile Streets 402.559.0697 unmc.edu Admission: $7 general public Skate rental: Included in admission Although it is a medical facility, the University of Nebraska Medical Center has an ice skating rink. Skating is free to students and employees of affiliated colleges—UNL, UNMC, UNO, and Clarkson College—as well as Nebraska Medicine, and Ronald McDonald House employees and house guests (must present valid ID badge), making it a cheap day out. This location opens at 11 a.m. for those who want to get some time on the ice before the sun goes down.

Dining Review // Story by Niz Proskocil

EDUCATED TASTES Student-run Bistro Offers a Tasty, Reasonably Priced Fine Dining Experience

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Left: Short ribs served with bordelaise, yukon potato purée, peas, cipollini onion, celery, and beech mushrooms.

Below: Duck breast is served with whole grain raisin mostarda, parsnip purée, heirloom carrots, trumpet mushrooms, cipollini onion, and blackberry.

After finishing our meal at Sage Student Bistro, my dining partner and I left more than a tip.

We left feedback about the experience on a comment card, rating everything from our server’s knowledge of the menu to the taste and temperature of the food we had just eaten.

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Right: Roasted marrow with chermoula, maitake mushroom, cipollini onion, parsley, lemon, and rustic bread Below: Butternut squash soup with chestnuts farro, chestnuts, black truffle, with spiced rye croutons

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// Dining Review //

S

Sage Student Bistro is the restaurant located at the Institute for the Culinary Arts at Metropolitan Community College’s Fort Omaha campus. It’s where aspiring chefs can refine their skills, interact with customers, and get some feedback and practice to prepare them for careers in food and hospitality.

Offering public dining and practical experience for students, the bistro opened as Café Metropol in 2002 in Metro’s old culinary arts building on the north side of campus. It was renamed Sage Student Bistro in 2004. The restaurant moved to its current space inside Metro’s $16 million Institute for the Culinary Arts—which opened in November 2009—in January 2010. The state-of-the-art institute features several classroom kitchens, a chocolate laboratory, a bakery, and more.

Renovated last fall, the bistro seats around 60 guests. The dining room is a warm, inviting space with modern décor, floorto-ceiling windows, wood finishes, neutral colors, and a relaxed atmosphere. Outside, there’s a small garden area where rosemary, sage, lemon verbena, oregano, and other herbs are grown.

Students create it all, from appetizers to desserts. Besides learning about cooking methods, techniques, and the latest trends, they learn the ins and outs of other aspects of the restaurant business, including menu development and working as servers.

Diners are asked to fill out an evaluation form at the end of their meal. “We want all that feedback—good and bad,” says James Davis, MCC culinary arts instructor and chef. He and the students later review and discuss customer comments.

On our dinner visit in early July, the bistro earned high marks all around. Fresh ingredients, careful seasoning, and attention to detail were evident throughout the evening. Service was friendly, efficient, and informed.

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A complimentary bread basket featured three types of freshly baked bread, including a hearty, seeded multigrain, which we enjoyed with a generous swipe of sage butter. To further prime the palate, the kitchen also sent out an amuse-bouche: an elegant bite-size blini topped with crème fraîche and fresh herbs.

Perfectly suited to summer, a starter of ripe and juicy heirloom tomatoes was fantastic.

Big slices of deep red and golden yellow tomatoes were served with grilled gem lettuce and topped with shaved fennel, a dollop of creamy burrata cheese, olive oil, and mint.

Glazed with miso and gochujang (Korean chile paste), the confit pork belly was slightly dry and not as tender as it should have been, but slices of crunchy pickled radish and creamy carrot purée elevated the dish’s flavor and added textural variety.

A better choice was the chilled crab salad.

A delight to eat, the dish was loaded with fresh, sweet lump crab meat, its flavors and textures enhanced by tarragon aioli, cucumber gelée, preserved lemon, charred frisée, and chives.

Steak is one of those dishes where a lot can go wrong. Not here, though. My ribeye entree arrived a perfect medium rare. The beef was tender, flavorful, and served with king trumpet mushrooms, grilled green onion, and heirloom carrots. A simple yet satisfying side of kohlrabi purée provided an earthy, creamy accompaniment—a nice alternative to mashed potatoes.

Another highlight among the entrees: diver scallops. Three plump, succulent scallops were cooked just right—seared to a delicate golden brown and served with tender asparagus spears, lemon aioli, basil, and puffed farro for a crunchy element.

The scallops tasted fresh, and neither the seafood nor the vegetables were overcooked.

At $15 to $19, entrees are reasonably priced for the quality. Starters are in the $5 to $8 range and perfect for sharing.

In addition to a standard menu, there’s a wonderfully affordable prix-fixe menu designed by students (five courses for $30 per person). A concise beverage list includes a selection of red and white wines as well as local and imported beers.

Staffed by second-year culinary students, Sage Student Bistro is open Monday through Thursday for lunch and dinner during Metro’s academic calendar. The small, seasonally changing menu includes a wide range of fresh, local ingredients.

“We want the food to fit the season,” Davis says.

Leave room for dessert. A slice of not-toosweet strawberry-matcha cake and a light, refreshing citrus soufflé were artfully plated and delicious. Although we were plenty full, we nearly licked our plates clean. At the end of the meal, our server brought out a selection of mignardises—tiny, bitesize sweets, including delectable housemade chocolates almost too pretty to eat. A post-dessert dessert? Sign me up.

While the bistro focuses on fine dining at dinner, it offers more casual fare such as soups and sandwiches during lunch hours.

Lunch and dinner during the fall 2019 quarter continues through Nov. 14; dinner reservations are recommended.

The students working in the front and back of the house are talented and passionate about providing guests a top-notch dining experience. Walk into nearly any Omaha restaurant and you’re likely to find a Metro culinary grad who spent time in the kitchen at Sage Student Bistro. It’s one of the area’s best hidden-gem restaurants.

Visit mccneb.edu/bistro for more information, and search @sagestudentbistro on Facebook for information about specials.

SAGE STUDENT BISTRO 5730 N. 30TH ST. | 531.622.2328 FOOD SERVICE AMBIANCE PRICE OVERALL

$$ 5 STARS POSSIBLE

Left: Salt-cured salmon served with sweet corn cream, tart apple and celery root salad, quinoa, onion, pickled chilies, poppy, and cilantro Below: Beets with balsamic, mission figs, orange, pistachio, and honey vinaigrette

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

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From left: Lisa Shembri’s daughters Meghan McLarney and Jennifer Maguire

DINING FEATURE // STORY BY TAMSEN BUTLER

Lisa's Radial Cafe

MISFIT T HANKS G I V ING Lisa’s Radial Cafe in mid-north Omaha has been a breakfast staple for the myriad residents who inhabit the surrounding neighborhoods for nearly two decades.

Located on North 40th Street, just off Cuming Street, the beloved restaurant has been like a second home to many Omahans—from politicians and construction workers to local celebrities and college students. A big reason for that feeling of comfort was owner Lisa Schembri, who had a habit of “adopting” regular patrons and strangers alike.

Having previously worked at the Radial Cafe as a waitress, Schembri jumped at the chance to purchase the cafe when it went up for sale in 2000, adding her name to let the neighborhood know there had been a change.

For over 15 years, Schembri was known for making everyone feel like family.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

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For some, this will be a welcome change from spending Thanksgiving alone. For others, it will be a tribute to a woman who spent so much time and energy making the “misfits” feel at home.

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// DINING FEATURE //

“She had a way of finding people that needed somebody and giving them a place to be and something to do,” says Meghan McLarney, Schembri's daughter. “She typically had a new friend at any given time who would be coming to the house for dinner or given an odd job at the café because she knew they needed it.”

Schembri died in 2016, but her legacy lives on through her daughters. Jennifer Maguire has taken over the day-to-day management of the restaurant, and, until recently, you could find daughter Marie Schembri and McLarney juggling plates out on the floor. (Marie recently moved to California, and McLarney still helps out when her busy schedule allows.)

It’s only fitting that their Thanksgiving dinners typically included at least a few café regulars.

The tradition started with “Old Bill,” Maguire says.

“Old Bill was a regular at the café—we called him ‘Old Bill’ because he was so old, he didn’t even know how old he was. He lived next door to the café so he was always there, and one time he told my mom he didn’t have anywhere to go for Thanksgiving. So mom picked him up and brought him to Thanksgiving.”

As the years passed, the celebration grew. The tradition became annual, with Schembri and her family hosting Thanksgiving either at their home or inside the restaurant.

“After the first year, we invited people to bring side dishes, but mom’s turkey was always amazing,” Maguire says. She adds that her mom made a cranberry sauce that was even better the next day.

It wasn’t all about the food. “Mom always wanted everyone to feel special and included,” she says.

“She wanted people to feel like family when they come in here.”

McLarney adds, “My mom would often say that everyone deserves a second chance and that people who are misfits are usually the most interesting people. She really didn’t care why people were alone or didn’t have a place to be—she was more interested in sharing some laughs with them and living in that moment.”

A motley crew at the table filled Schembri’s heart, especially when college students joined the group. “Mom always had a soft spot for college students, especially the Creighton students who would come and study and hang out at the café,” McLarney says. “She would ask them about their plans for Thanksgiving and oftentimes they would answer that they couldn’t go home because it was too short of a break, or too expensive to travel back home and they had to wait until Christmas or summer.

She just couldn’t take that and so she always wanted to invite them to our family Thanksgiving.”

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

According to McLarney, there were some regulars who had outlived their families and friends who came into the café for two meals a day. Naturally, they would be invited as well.

“She always stressed to us that it was important that people did not feel like we were there to wait on them and that they actually felt like part of the family,” McLarney says.

“She liked to keep holidays really casual and she’d say, ‘We cook, clean, and wait tables all day long every day—on holidays we should not have to!’” However, McLarney adds that she was always torn between keeping it casual and wanting to break out her fanciest dishes.

No two Thanksgivings were alike in Schembri’s circle.

Some years there were so many people in attendance that they had to host at the restaurant, while other years it was at the dining table at home with a few regulars from the café.

Schembri’s daughters say she considered Thanksgiving to be the beginning of the Christmas season and loved decorating for the holidays. “She loved having everybody over so that she could get out her Christmas decorations, and she would put our whole family and anyone in her path to work decorating the café on Thanksgiving,” McLarney says.

The final Thanksgiving dinner with Schembri was an intimate affair, as she was “too sick and it was too hard” to host a typical event, Maguire says. And while café regulars understand Schembri’s family needing a break from hosting the holiday dinner, they still ask about it.

“One customer named Milt brings Thanksgiving up a lot, and talks about how mom invited him,” Maguire says.

“People feel like family when they come in here.”

Schembri’s daughters think the time has come to revive the celebration in honor of their mother’s memory. “We are thinking this year is finally feeling right to restart the tradition,” McLarney says. “Whenever I am at the café I feel so close to mom—it only makes sense to spend holidays there because it’s like she’s there with us.”

They’ll set out a sign-up sheet at the café a few weeks beforehand to start estimating the number of people who will attend. For some, this will be a welcome change from spending Thanksgiving alone. For others, it will be a tribute to a woman who spent so much time and energy making the “misfits” feel at home.

“The whole dinner is to honor her memory,” Maguire says. It will be more than a meal—it will be the continuation of a loving legacy.

Visit @lisasradialcafe on Facebook for more information.

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Chef Profile

SALT FLOUR WATER SUPPORT+ A Recipe for Ellie Pegler’s Success

story by Virginia Kathryn Gallner photography by Bill Sitzmann design by Matt Wieczorek

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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Chef Profile

WALKING INTO FARINE + FOUR,

the scent of espresso and tiny monsters on the chalkboard menu greet you immediately. On a sunny day, the garage door opens to a patio overlooking Triangle Apartments. Sarah Bohling, a familiar face from longtime Omaha fixture Caffeine Dreams (and bassist for local indie bands Icky Blossoms and Thick Paint) may be on hand to take your order.

From the front counter, it is easy to see cooks preparing toasts, sandwiches, and coffee, without walls or windows to separate them from the restaurant.

“What we do here doesn’t have secrets,” says Ellie Pegler, owner and head chef at Farine + Four. Pegler designed this space with purpose. The abundant sunshine is important—not just for the aesthetic, but so guests can see how their food is prepared.

“Every restaurant I’ve ever worked [in] has been in the backroom,” she recalls. “Here, we get daylight all day long.”

“I really liked working with my hands. A desk job was never going to fulfill me. I figured that if I was going to do it, I was going to go big. I wanted to learn in the hub of the food world, which is New York.”

All the colors of her interior design represent the four primary ingredients of bread: white for salt and levain [leavening], brown and copper for flour, and blue for water. The name is another example of the elegant minimalism that characterizes the space. Farine + Four signifies “flour” and “oven” in French.

She worked in a baker position at Aquavit, NYC’s Michelin-rated Nordic restaurant, for two years. On a whim, she decided to try the world of pastry. She designed the bread program at Marea restaurant. After two and a half years there, she served as the head baker at Vaucluse on the Upper East Side.

Pegler’s journey into the food industry started at 15, when she was grounded for having a boy in her room. To keep her out of trouble, her parents told her to get a job at The Cookie Co. in Lincoln. She ended up working there for nine years baking cookies, muffins, and rolls.

She already had her bachelor’s degree from the Culinary Institute upstate, so it was an easier transition back into the food industry.

Her work at Aquavit sparked a passion for Scandinavian flavors—drawing on her own heritage as well, since her grandmother came here from Norway. On Instagram, they have posted pastries such as Swedish dream cookies, utilizing hjorthrornssalt (ammonium carbonate) to create large air pockets.

Omaha has been a nurturing community in which to start her business. Looking around the space, it is easy to see she does her part to support other small businesses: wallpaper by Birdhouse Interior Design, signage by Arbor Street Studios, professional aprons by Artifact, and a glowing sign from Omaha Neon. The tiny monsters that catch the eye upon arrival were drawn by Lincoln artist Abigail Ervin.

Another feature that sets Farine + Four apart is the flour mill that resides in the dining room. They mill their own flour with organic wheat and rye berries. This flour, Pegler explains, retains more vitamins, minerals, and fibers than its shelf-stable counterparts.

The location at 3020 Leavenworth St. places them fairly close to Blackstone, Midtown, and downtown. The bakery provides bread and pastries for at least 20 area restaurants and coffee shops, including Le Bouillon, The Boiler Room, Myrtle & Cypress, Rally Coffee Co., Artemis Teas, and Archetype Coffee.

Brian Zuerlein of Mayne St. Market in Benson describes how they support each other as local businesses. “We’ll run a special and she will post it [on social media], so people know that’s her bread.” They have been partnering with Farine + Four for over a year now.

Another of Pegler’s favorite partnerships is with Au Courant, whose menu changes every two weeks to keep choices new and exciting.

“I REALLY LIKED WORKING WITH MY HANDS. A DESK JOB WAS NEVER GOING TO FULFILL ME. I FIGURED THAT IF I WAS GOING TO DO IT, I WAS GOING TO GO BIG. I WANTED TO LEARN IN THE HUB OF THE FOOD WORLD, WHICH IS NEW YORK.” She attended the University of NebraskaLincoln, graduating with double majors in political science and Spanish. Desire for adventure led her to Santiago, Chile, for a change of scenery before starting law school.

The food culture in Chile, she explains, is heavy on fish. “At the time, I was vegetarian, so it was a lot of potatoes,” she says with a laugh.

Despite the potato-based diet, Pegler’s adventure abroad may have inspired her.

She changed her plans for law school and moved to New York City to start a nine-month program at the International Culinary Center.

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Pegler is also a certified sommelier, and selects all the wines for her menu. These pair beautifully with the hand-painted bonbons—which line the pastry shelves like jewels—or a refreshing taste of house-made ice cream.

One of Pegler’s favorite dishes is the Green Bowl: white and red quinoa, buckwheat, and millet, tossed in a miso vinaigrette with toasted almonds, black sesame, and lemon zest. Many of these ingredients are locally sourced.

“It is a warm, vibrant food scene, with more restaurants and more diversity,” she says. “Why would Yoshitomo compete with V. Mertz?

Both are executing at a really high level, doing very different things.”

Their local support extends to the menu, which includes a regular rotation of vegan items, all crafted with locally sourced ingredients. Farm Table Delivery, one of their local partners, supplies fresh produce that inspires seasonal changes.

In Pegler's opinion, this is what sets Omaha apart from New York City. In NYC, she says, everyone is competing against each other. Here in Omaha, everyone is trying to help each other out.

“Everyone supports everyone,” she says.

And the proof is in the pastry.

Visit farineandfour.com for more information.

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—charlestons.com/locations

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 and Q streets (402-292-9096) 192nd and West Maple St. (402-315-1985) Highway 75 and Oak Hill Road (402-298-4166) Catch all of the action at six Omaha-area locations. DJ's Dugout features 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

SPEZIA SPECIALTIES FRESH SEAFOOD • ANGUS BEEF INNOVATIVE PASTA • RISOTTO GNOCCHI • FRESH SALMON DAILY

SATURDAY [11am–4 pm] OPEN 7 LUNCH DAYS A WEEK

GIVE SPEZIA GIFT CARDS FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

$10

Buy $100 in Gift Cards, OFF ANY TICKET OVER $25 Get aNO FREE $20 Gift Card!

NO CASH CASH VALUE. VALUE.EXPIRES EXPIRES12/31/2011 12/31/16 Expires 12/31/19

JAMS- $$

COCKTAIL HOUR COCKTAIL HOUR

MONDAY – SATURDAY EVERY DAY FROM 4-6PM 4 –ALL 6 PM DRINKS ARE 1/2 PRICE ALL COCK TAILS, GL ASS WINE AND BEERS AREBRUNCH HALF PRICE SUNDAY

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS • 402-391-2950 CENTRAL LOCATION • 3125 SOUTH 72ND STREET • EASY ACCESS OFF I-80 • 72ND STREET EXIT

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.

402.731.4774 johnnyscafe.com 27th & ‘L’ St., Kennedy Frwy, ‘L’ St. Exit 8 Minutes from Downtown Omaha.

7814 Dodge St. (402-399-8300) 17070 Wright Plz, Ste. 100 (402-810-9600) 1101 Harney St. in the OldMarket (402-614-9333) Jams is an Omaha restaurant legacy, an “American Grill” that offers a melting pot of different styles and varieties.

The dishes are made with high-quality ingredients that pair well with award-winning wines or creative cocktails.

—jamseats.com

LE PEEP - $

69th & Pacific (402-933-2776) 177th and Center streets (402-934-9914) 156th Street and W. Dodge Road (402-408-1728) 120th and Blondo streets (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 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

—lepeepomaha.com

Best Of Omaha 13 Years Running

WHERE WHERE GOOD GOOD FOOD FOOD AND AND GOOD GOOD SERVICE NEVER GO OUT SERVICE NEVER GO OUT OF OF STYLE. STYLE.

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

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SECTION // NAMES

// 96 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Stella’s Bar and Grill Thanks to our customers for voting us the “Best Burger in Omaha” “Serving World Famous Hamburgers since 1936” 106 Galvin Rd • Bellevue, NE • 402-291-6088 • Open Monday-Saturday, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

ELKHORN NOW OPEN! 192nd & Maple

LISA'S RADIAL CAFE - $

402-551-2176 817 N. 40th St. American. Cafe. Diner. Vegetarian-friendly. Gluten-free options. This old-school diner serves hearty portions of American comfort classics for breakfast and lunch.

Family-owned and operated. This business is a must if you’re in the area. People rave about our chicken-fried steak, stuffed French toast, coffee, and friendly staff.

Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

STELLA’S - $

DOWNTOWN - 10th & Capitol MIRACLE HILLS - 114th & Dodge MILLARD - 180th & Q AKSARBEN VILLAGE - 67th & Center BELLEVUE - 23rd & Cornhusker PLATTSMOUTH - Hwy 75 & Oak Hill

402-291-6088 106 S. Galvin Road, Bellevue Since 1936, we’ve been making our world-famous Stella’s 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 tried Stella’s. And if it’s your first time, we know you’ll be back! Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., closed Sunday.

—stellasbarandgrill.com

ICE CREAM

TED AND WALLY’S - $

402-341-5827 1120 Jackson St. Come experience the true taste of homemade ice cream in the Old Market. Since 1986, we’ve created gourmet ice cream flavors in small batches using rock salt and ice. We offer your favorites, plus unique flavors like margarita, green tea, Guinness, and French toast. Special orders available.

—tedandwallys.com

ITALIAN

LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$

DJSDUGOUT.COM

THANK YOU FOR VOTING OUR PASTA

NUMBER #1

402-556-6464 45th and Leavenworth streets La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha its legendary Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta for 60 years. We offer dine-in, carry-out, party facilities, catering, and now pizza shipments to the 48 contiguous states. Open Tuesday-Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

—lacasapizzaria.net

Rockbrook Village (108th & Center) 402.391.2585 www.pastaamore.com We can accommodate parties of 30 or more, by reservation only Catering Available

DINNER HOURS // Mon-Thur: 4:30-9PM, Fri & Sat: 4:30-10PM

// 97 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

Like Us on Facebook

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 97 //

E U R O P E A N A M E R I C A N C U I S I N E

LOMBARDO'S BISTRO & BAR - $$

402-884-9800 13110 Birch Drive We are a locally owned and operated neighborhood eatery with an Italian flare. We offer a full, made-from-scratch menu along with extensive wine, craft cocktail, and craft beer lists. Casual is the best way to describe the warm and friendly service you will come to enjoy when choosing us. We offer dine-in, carry-out, catering, a daily happy hour (3-6:30 p.m. and all-day Sundays), live music Tuesdays and Sundays, and half-price bottles of wine on Wine Down Wednesdays.

—lombardosomaha.com

One of Omaha’s Best Happy Hours!

Mon. – Fri. 3—6 PM Fri. & Sat. After 9 PM

LO SOLE MIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO - $$

julios.com/cateringmenu 123rd & Center | 402-330-2110

7 21 N . 13 2 N D S T R E E T O M A H A , N E 6 815 4 4 0 2 . 8 8 4 . 6 8 7 8 B R U S H I O M A H A . C O M

402-345-5656 3001 S. 32nd Ave. The restaurant is located in a residential 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, specially 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 offerings include 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 - $$

Walking Distance to CHI Health Center Omaha & TD Ameritrade Park CLEAR BAG POLICY IS IN EFFECT

402.346.9116 | 501 N. 13th Street | theMattOmaha.com /the old mattress factory omaha

@Matt_factory

HAPPY HOUR:

Tues–Sat 3-6pm & All Day Sunday

Thanks for Voting Us # BREAKFAST YEARS in a Row!

11

1

Friday & Saturday 9-11pm $1 OFF TACOS, $3 MEX BEERS, $5.50 MARGS

NOW OPEN 69th & Pacific • 933-2776 177th & Center • 934-9914 156th & Dodge • 408-1728 120th & Blondo • 991-8222

735 N 14th St. Omaha, NE 68102 402.933.4222 | hookandlime.com

Drive-Thru Open (Center St. Only) | Open Daily 6:30am-2:00pm Serving Breakfast & Lunch All Day!

REVERSE HAPPY HOUR:

LEPEEP.COM // 98 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

402-391-2585 11027 Prairie Brook Road 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 osso buco. 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. Dinner starts at 4:30 p.m.

Reservations recommended.

—pastaamore.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

PITCH - $$

402-590-2625 5021 Underwood Ave. An OpenTable's Diners' Choice for 2014 HotSpot Restaurant in America. Keeping up with the traditional way the first pizzas in Italy were made, our pizzas are cooked in a coal-fired oven. The menu also features seafood, hand-cut steak, housemade pastas, and burgers 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 libations. Our wine selection is well-thought-out and most impressive. You will enjoy Pitch. Monday 3 p.m.-10 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 3-10 p.m.

—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 woodfired grill. Open Monday-Sunday. Cocktail hour 4-6 p.m., when all cocktails, glasses of wine, and beers are half price. Evening reservations recommended.

—speziarestaurant.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. MondayThursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4-9 p.m.

—fernandosomaha.com

JULIO’S - $

402-330-2110 2820 S. 123rd Court Locally owned since 1977, Julio’s prides themselves on serving the finest Tex-Mex cuisine and offering top-notch customer service. Our loyal customers are the reason we have been around for nearly 40 years. We have an extensive menu that has both classic and innovative dishes—giving everyone the opportunity to find something they love. Salivating for Southwestern fare? We have tacos, tostadas, a dozen different enchiladas, and classic fajitas. And, of course, nachos!

—julios.com

LA MESA - $$

158th Street and W. Maple Road (402-557-6130) 156th and Q streets (402-763-2555) 110th St. and W. Maple Road (402-496-1101) Fort Crook Road and Hwy 370, Bellevue (402-733-8754) 84th Street and Tara Plaza, Papillion (402-593-0983) Lake Manawa Exit, Council Bluffs (712-256-2762) Enjoy awesome enchiladas, fabulous fajitas, seafood specialties, mouth-watering margaritas, and more at La Mesa. Come see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s No. 1 Mexican restaurant 16 years in a row.

Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m.

—lamesaomaha.com

ICE CREAM

MARGARITA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT - $

402-393-7515 4915 S. 72nd St. 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

● EST 1986 ●

Home -Made in Omaha

ROMEO'S MEXICAN FOOD AND PIZZA - $

90th and Blondo streets (402-391-8870) 146th Street and W. Center Road (402-330-4160) 96th and L streets (402-331-5656) Galvin and Avery roads, Bellevue (402-292-2028) 29th and Farnam streets (402-346-1110) Romeo's is your friendly, family Mexican food and 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

• • • •

Private parties & events Full or partial venue buyout Customized menus To book your event email: gm@barchenbeer.com

SPECIAL DINING

BÄRCHEN BEER GARDEN - $

402-502-9902 6209 Maple St. Located in Benson, Bärchen is a modern American beer garden and beer hall influenced by German communal drinking culture. Indoor seating for approximately 125 people and outdoor seating in our beer garden for approximately 125-150 people. The laid-back atmosphere pairs well with our 30 rotating taps, international beer list, unique sausage & sandwich menu, and locally made pretzels. We are family and dog friendly—all are welcome. Hours: Tues-Thurs 3 p.m.-11 p.m.; Fri & Sat 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information or to host an event, please email gm@barchenbeer.com —barchenbeer.com

402.502.9902 6209 MAPLE ST. • BENSON BARCHEN BEER.COM

BEER GARDEN & BEER HALL

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 99 //

BRUSHI BISTRO+BAR - $$

402-884-6878 721 N. 132nd St. Swiss-trained chef Paul Braunschweiler combines the best of Europe’s epicurean delights with an American flair. Brushi’s casual and open atmosphere combine to create a true bistro experience. Fresh ingredients highlight the menu. Happy Hours and nightly specials. Private dining available. Patio seating weather permitting.

—brushiomaha.com

WALKING DISTANCE

TO CHI HEALTH CENTER OMAHA & TD AMERITRADE PARK YOUR PRE-GAME HE AD QUARTE RS FOR LUNCH, DINNE R OR YOUR NE XT EVE NT!

CRESCENT MOON ALE HOUSE - $

402-345-1708 3578 Farnam St. Founded in 1996, we’ve grown into Beer Corner USA with the additions of The Huber Haus German Beer Hall, Max and Joe’s Belgian Beer Tavern, and Beertopia—Omaha’s Ultimate Beer Store. With more than 60 beers on tap and Omaha’s best Reuben sandwich, we are a Midtown beerlover’s destination. Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen hours: Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight. Closed Sunday.

—beercornerusa.com

501 N. 13TH ST • 402.346.9116 • THEMATTOMAHA.COM / theoldmattresfactoryomaha

@Matt_factory

FIRST WATCH - $

1222 S. 71st St. (402-932-5691) 2855 S. 168th St. (402-330-3444) 3605 N. 147th St. (402-965-3444) 304 Olson Drive., Papillion (402-965-3444) 2015 Pratt Ave., Bellevue (402-991-3448) We begin each morning at the crack of dawn, slicing fresh fruits and vegetables, baking muffins, and whipping up our French toast batter from scratch. Everything is made toorder here at First Watch. We use only the finest ingredients possible for the freshest taste around.

—firstwatch.com

STEAKS • CHOPS • SEAFOOD ITALIAN SPECIALTIES 7 private party rooms Seating up to 400 Lots of parking

GREEK ISLANDS - $

1620 S. 10th Street

402-346-1528 3821 Center St. Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices.

We are well-known for our gyro sandwiches and salads. We cater and can accommodate a party for 65 guests. Carryout and delivery available. Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

—greekislandsomaha.com

402-345-8313

www.casciossteakhouse.com

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

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

// 100 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

An Omaha favorite for over 100 years (1919-2019)

402.345.3438 621 Pacific St, Omaha NE orsibakery.com

Open for Happy Hour 4-7pm Daily Dining Room Opens at 5pm Daily Private Dining Room Available all day

140 Regency Parkway Omaha, NE 68134 Best Greek

FlemingsSteakhouse.com/Omaha 402.393.0811

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

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 101 //

J.COCO - $$$

Seafood - Mexican - Sushi

5101 S 36 th St, Omaha, NE 68107 - 402-213-5723 - Daily Food & Drink Specials

Try Omaha’s Favorite Reuben!

Omaha’s largest selection of craft beers.

3578 Farnam St • 402-345-1708 www.beercornerusa.com

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 bartending, housemade desserts, and pastas. We celebrate the traditional with a modern twist. Lunch: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Dinner: Monday-Saturday 5 p.m.-close.

—jcocoomaha.com

KOREA GARDEN AUTHENTIC ASIAN CUISINE AND SUSHI - $$

402-505-4089 5352 S. 72nd St. Lunch specials served Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., featuring signature Korean dishes like bulgogi, doenjang jjigae, and grilled mackerel. Menu includes appetizers, traditional specialties, rice, noodles, soup, and beverages.

—koreangardenomaha.com

PARADISE BAKERY - $

17305 Davenport St. (402-934-5757) 120 Regency Parkway (402-991-3000) Paradise Bakery offers freshly prepared baked goods made from scratch every morning with the finest ingredients available. Offering a variety of meals including soups, salads, and sandwiches.

Our associates are extremely proud of the reputation Paradise has earned for providing exceptional service and producing the finest-quality products.

—paradisebakery.com Thank You, Thank You,

Thank You

www.romeosOMAHA.com

For Continually Voting For Us!

Serving Lunch & Dinner Mon-Sat 3001 S. 32nd Ave / Omaha, NE 402.345.5656

TAJ KABOB AND CURRY - $

402-933-1445/402-238-4317 654 N. 114th St. Taj of Omaha shares its love of traditional Indian cuisine with friends and family in the Omaha area.

The owners invite you to come enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and new menu. Taj offers both lunch and dinner specials, delivery and catering services, and a free party room.

—tajofomaha.com

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

// 102 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

The Original Whiskey Steak is Back!

STEAKHOUSES

CASCIO'S - $$

402-345-8313 1620 S. 10th St. Cascio's is Omaha's No. 1 steakhouse. We have been serving Omaha for 69 years. We feature steaks, chops, seafood, and Italian specialties. We have seven private party rooms, seating for up to 400 people, and plenty of parking.

—casciossteakhouse.com

@The Drover Restaurant & Lounge | Gift Cards Available 2121 S. 73 St. | (402) 391-7440 | DroverRestaurant.com Open Monday - Friday 11am - 2pm | Dinner nightly from 5pm

THE DROVER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$

402-391-7440 2121 S. 73rd St. Famous for the original Whiskey Steak. Truly a one-of-a-kind Midwestern experience. Excellent food, wine, service, and value. Rare...and very well done. Lunch Monday­- Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., cocktail hour 3-6 p.m., dinner nightly 5 p.m.

—droverrestaurant.com

FLEMING'S PRIME STEAKHOUSE - $$$$

402-393-0811 140 Regency Parkway At Fleming’s, a steak is never just a steak. It’s the culmination of a meticulous process of selection, preparation, and service that ensures it reaches your table at its very best. We obsess over every detail so that you’ll savor every bite.

This is why we offer the finest USDA Prime beef, available both wet- and dry-aged and broiled at 1,600 degrees or iron-crusted. You can elevate your selection even more with our indulgent steak companions, including truffle-poached lobster, diablo shrimp, and lump crabmeat. Each dish is crafted from scratch by our culinary team and served by our skillful staff. Reservations recommended.

—flemingssteakhouse.com

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: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

—johnnyscafe.com

Pitchpizzeria.com @pitchpizzeria

5021 Underwood Ave. Omaha, NE 402-590-2625

17808 Burke St. Omaha, NE 402-289-4096

6350 E. Thomas RD. Scottsdale, AZ 480-272-7500

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+ NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 103 //

// EXPLORE CALNENDAR //

STAY & PLAY IN SARPY COUNTY! Shadow Lake Towne Center, Papillion

Sarpy County awaits with a wonderful mix of fun things to see and do this holiday season!

And you’ll find numerous stores decked out and ready for you to enjoy, including those at our exclusive Shadow Lake Towne Center and Nebraska Crossing Outlet Mall. So grab your list, check it twice and make the journey to Sarpy County. Located just south of Omaha and along I-80.

For a full list of shopping, restaurants and holiday events, visit us at

GoSarpy.com.

BELLEVUE • GRETNA • LA VISTA • PAPILLION • SPRINGFIELD • OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE • OMAHA METRO Fontenelle Forest, Bellevue

Comfort Suites, La Vista Papio Fun Park, Papillion

Shadow Lake Towne Center

Nebraska Crossing Outlet Stores, Gretna

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

NEBRASK A

AMERICAN POP Nov. 8 at Merryman

Performing Arts Center, Kearney This band will perform all their hits during their concert in Kearney. 308.698.8297.

—kearneyconcerts.org

GATEWAY FARM EXPO Nov. 20-21 at Buffalo County Fairgrounds, Kearney.

Guests will see the latest agriculture technology and services at this 50th annual expo, which will feature the talk “Planning for the future of your farm—transitioning to the next generation,” by Ron Hanson, UNL Professor Emeritus, free barbecue, and hundreds of exhibits. 308.234.2717.

—gatewayfarmexpo.org WIZARDS AND WITCHES BEER FESTIVAL Nov.

23 at The Royal Grove, Lincoln. Adults age 21 and older are invited to this evening of magic, debauchery, and mischief. The Royal Grove will become a wizarding world and attendees can taste more than 20 magic-inspired beers.

—eventbrite.com

MOSCOW BALLET Nov. 24, at Merryman JAZZ ORCHESTRA Nov. 10 at Merryman Performing Arts Center, Kearney The Nebraska Jazz Orchestra performs traditional big band compositions by long-term jazz masters. 308.627.2717.

—kearneyconcerts.org

Performing Arts Center, Kearney. “The Russian Nutcracker” with the Moscow Ballet celebrates the magic of Christmas. The show is known for their award-winning dancers, lavish costumes, and backdrops. 308.698.8297.

—merrymancenter.org

MERRY CHRISTMAS, BABY! Dec. 6-8 at Brownville Concert Hall, Brownville. This annual Christmas concert features Chicago vocalist Tammy McCann. 402.825.3331.

—brownvilleconcertseries.com

HOLIDAYS IN THE HAYMARKET Dec. 6 and 13 at the Haymarket in Lincoln.

Santa will visit the Haymarket, and guests can participate in free horse-andcarriage rides while various entertainers sing Christmas songs. 402. 435 .7496.

—lincolnhaymarket.org CHRISTMAS AT THE CODYS Fridays and

Saturdays, Dec. 6- 21 North Platte. Buffalo Bill’s magnificent Victorian mansion is decorated for the holidays and open to the public during the Christmas season each year, as is the barn. Evening events include outdoor caroling and hayrack rides.

Complimentary hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts are provided. 308.535.8035.

—visitnorthplatte.com

SANTA’S WORKSHOP Nov. 30-Dec. 30

at Cody Park, North Platte. Twentyfive acres of park are turned into Santa’s Village with animated Nov. 29-Dec. 8 throughout Minden.

VETERANS DAY Nov. 11 at Strategic Air OCT. elves building toys, the Grinch, a The annual Light of the World Command & Aerospace Museum, Victorian scene, and gingerbread Christmas Pageant will take Ashland. The museum honors place on the weekends, and a full men. Concessions will be available.

America’s military veterans with OCT. week of activities is available, The 1913 carousel will be open for a special program and lunch on free rides and horse and carriage from a carnival for children to a Veteran’s Day. This program features rides will be available. 308.535.6700. scavenger hunt, escape room, concerts, posting of the colors and a keynote free movies, and more. 308.832.1811.

—facebook/codyridesand concessions. speaker. Veterans are encouraged —mindenne.org to attend this event in uniform. RSVP is requested by Nov. 2 .402.944.3100.

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS ON MAIN STREET —SACMuseum.org HOLIDAY TROLLEY TOUR OF LIGHTS Dec. 7 in downtown Plattsmouth. Guests can Fridays and Saturdays Nov. 29-Dec. 27 listen to seasonal music, tour the Cass County at Lied Lodge, Nebraska City. The Arbor Historical Musuem, take hayrack rides, meet CHRISTMAS AT THE MANSION Nov. 17-Dec. Day Farm trolley will take visitors on a Father Christmas and more. The official tree 22 at Lied Lodge and Conference Center, tour of historic Nebraska City to view the lighting takes place at 6:30 p.m. 402.296.5544.

Nebraska City. The historic 52-room mansion best Christmas lights. A classic Christmas —visitcasscounty.com features vintage-inspired decorations and story is read during the ride. 402.873.8733. holiday-themed displays. 402.873.7222.

—liedlodge.org —liedlodge.org

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS FESTIVAL

5-6

4-6

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 105 //

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

HIGH PLAINS CHRISTMAS Dec. 7 at Legacy

of the Plains Museum in Gering. This holiday tradition features hayrack rides, marshmallow roasting, and cowboy coffee around a bonfire.

Kids can write letters to Santa and send them via Pony Express to Santa’s Village in downtown Gering. 308. 436.1989.

—legacyoftheplains.org

CHRISTMAS PAST AND PRESENT Dec. 7-8,

13-14 at Stuhr Museum, Grand Island. This event features a beautiful lamplit tour of Railroad Town and live music. 308.385.5316.

—stuhrmuseum.org

CHRISTMAS CABARET Dec. 13-15 at James

Arthur Vineyards in Raymond. The vineyards present a fun-filled evening of Christmas songs and holiday Broadway hits. Admission price includes one glass of wine. 402.783.5255.

—jamesarthurvineyards.com

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Dec. 14 at the

Candy Factory Building, Lincoln. Santa will come back to the Haymarket to visit the kids and have photos taken with them during breakfast. An elf will demonstrate his balloon artistry. Also happening that day is Haymarket Unwrapped, in which retail shops will offer special treats and entertainment as visitors do their Christmas shopping. 402.435.7496.

—lincolnhaymarket.org

SIOUXLAND COFFEE FESTIVAL Nov. 2 at

Sioux City Convention Center, Sioux City.

Attendees can sample coffee, learn a variety of home-brew methods, watch a latte art competition, listen to live entertainment, and more. Tea is also a part of this festival, so green, black, or herbal lovers can join the fun.

—siouxlandcoffee.com

IOWA’S PREMIER BEER, WINE & FOOD EXPO Nov. 8-9 at Iowa Events Center, Des

Moines. Foodies, beer lovers, and wine lovers can try amazing samples from the best restaurants the Midwest has to offer. The event includes live music, activities, and speakers. 515.564 .8000.

—iowaeventscenter.com

EIGHTH ANNUAL WINTERFEST Dec.

28 at Ponca State Park in Ponca. This outdoor family tradition features a Yule Log Quest, the National Championship Fruitcake Fling, seasonal crafts, lighted hayrack rides, and more. 402.755.2284.

—outdoornebraska.gov/ponca

IOWA

GIRLS GETAWAY WEEKEND Nov. 1-3 at

Amana Colonies. This special trip is dedicated to women, for women. There are many special events planned, such as special menu selections at restaurants, shopping specials, and wine sampling. 319.622.7622.

—amanacolonies.com

MOTHER AND SON BALL Nov. 2 at Science Center

of Iowa, Des Moines. This event is meant to bring mothers and sons closer together. The ball includes food and music, along with a roaming photographer for professional photo opportunities.

-eventbrite.com

// 106 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

DISNEY ON ICE Nov. 27- Dec. 1 at Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines. Some of Disney’s most popular stories, such as those from Cars, Toy Story 3, The Little Mermaid, and more, will be performed on ice. 515.564.8000.

—iowaeventscenter.com

JULEFEST Nov. 29-30 in Elk Horn and

Kimballton. This celebration of the arrival of the Christmas season is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Events include a “Naughty or Nisse” 5K Polar Run, a pancake supper, and a concert.

WHITE CHRISTMAS Nov. 19-24 Nov. The Museum of Danish America at Des Moines Civic Center, Des Moines. This classic tale is and Danish Windmill will be open the stor y of a song-and-dance throughout the weekend. 712.764.7472. team putting on a show in a magical —danishvillages.com Vermont inn and falling for a stunning sister act in the process. 515.246.2300.

PRELUDE TO CHRISTMAS Dec. 6-8 at -desmoinesperformingarts.org the Amana Colonies. In this 34th annual tradition, guests can view candlelit streets, walk through the colonies’ Tannenbaum Forest, visit Santa, and see a special display of Christmas past in the Heritage Museum. On Saturday, the Amana Church presents a cookie walk. 319.622.7622.

—amanacolonies.com

19-24

YULE LOG CELEBRATION AT PLATTE RIVER STATE PARK Dec. 21 near Louisville.

Visitors can follow the clues and find the Yule Log. The shooting range is open during the day, as well as special crafts, hayrack rides, snacks, and more. 402.234.2217.

—outdoornebraska.gov/platteriver

LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE Nov. 23 in downtown Clarinda. Over 75 lighted floats decorate the Clarinda Downtown Square for this holiday parade. 712.542.2166.

—clarinda.org

FROM THE BARREL—DES MOINES’ WHISKEY FESTIVAL Nov. 23 at The River

Center, Des Moines. This event is designed for the connoisseur. The tickets include at least eight whiskey tasting (attendees can choose from over 200 options), bands, activities, and games, along with a special speaker and Q&A session. 515.371.4791.

—dsmwhiskeyfest.com

WHOSE LIVE ANYWAY Nov. 23 at Hoyt

Sherman Place, Des Moines. This show features the current cast of Whose Line is it Anyway? This 90-minute improv show is all based on audience suggestions to be performed by cast members Greg Proops, Jeff B. Davis, Dave Foley, and Joel Murray.

All ages are welcome. 515 .24 4 .0507.

—hoytsherman.org

SINTERKLAAS DAY Dec. 7 in downtown Orange City. Holland’s version of Santa arrives on his white horse during a large parade. Other activities include Dutch games and a puppet show. 712.707.4510.

—orangecityiowa.com NORWEGIAN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

Dec. 7 at The Vesterheim National Norwegian-American Museum and Heritage Center, Decorah. This lively day of events includes Scandinavian holiday traditions, crafts, music, a movie, and other treats. 563.382.9681.

—vesterheim.org

CHRISTMAS IN K ALONA Dec. 7 in

downtown Kalona. Children can fill their “walking stockings” with gifts from local merchants, have their picture taken with Santa, decorate cookies and ornaments, take a cookie walk, tour churches, and ride in a carriage. 319.656.2660.

—kalonachamber.com

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

OLD WORLD CHRISTMAS MARKET Dec.8-9

at the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, Cedar Rapids. This tradition includes live music and dance performances, seasonal treats, and free family activities for visitors to enjoy while shopping for specialty imports and handmade gifts by select artisans. 319.362.8500.

—ncsml.org

K ANSAS

WICKED WINE WALK Nov. 2 at Kansas City

Power & Light District, Kansas City. Bubble, bubble, boil, and trouble. Participants on this wine walk can listen to live music on 14th Street while sipping on wine and nibbling on small plates at each of the participating NOV. venues .

816 . 84 2 .1045 .

-powerandlightdistrict.com

02

FIND THE WINE Nov. 2 and 9 at Walter’s Pumpkin Patch, Burns.

Snacks and samples of wine will be available at this third annual event, but the guests must try to locate samples located within the corn maze. 21+ only. 316.320. 4150.

—thewaltersfarm.com

CHILI & SOUP FESTIVAL Nov. 3 in downtown

Hutchinson. This annual festival features a variety of soups and chilis, which can be voted on by attendees, along with music, enter tainment, and shopping in the downtown area. 620.694 . 2677.

—hutchgov.com

JERSEY BOYS Nov. 2 at Lied Center of Kansas, Lawerence. This story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons has won Tony and Grammy Awards, and left thousands singing along to the band’s hits. 785 .864 .2787.

—lied.ku.edu

HISTORIC CANDLELIGHT TOUR Nov. 9 at

Tallgrass Prairie National Reserve. Step back in time to learn about actual events that took place on the property over 100 years ago. Living history reenactors tell the stories of the ranch and American Indian culture on the prairie with firstperson vignettes of real life on a typical winter night in the prairie. Kerosene lanterns light the path. 620.273 .8494 .

—nps.gov/tapr

VETERANS DAY WEEKEND Nov. 10 in Fort Scott, Kansas. Fort Scott has been honoring veterans since 1842 . This signature event includes a parade through the downtown and a grand ball, in which 19th century costumes are encouraged, but gloves are required by all. 620.223.3566.

—fortscott.com

20TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY LUMINARY WALK

Nov. 29-30, Dec. 6-7, and 13-14 at Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens in Overland Park. Guests can stroll down candlelit paths through the gardens while viewing holiday lights and listening to live music. 913.895.6270.

—opkansas.org

SHAWNEE CHRISTKINDL MARK T Dec. 7 at City Hall in Shawnee. This city celebrates its German roots with its Christkindl Markt, featuring carolers, a Mayor ’s Christmas tree, holidaythemed dances, and more. 913.631.6545.

—visitshawneeks.com

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

// 107 //

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

HYDE PARK LUMINARIES Dec. 21 in

Hutchinson. Stroll, drive, or ride through this beautiful neighborhood for the 35th annual Christmas Luninaria. Meet Santa at the corner of 20th and Washington streets, listen to musical entertainment, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, drink cider, and eat cookies at Hyde Park. 620.694 .9310.

—hutchgov.com

MISSOURI

GREAT PUMPKIN SMASH Nov. 2-3 at

Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City Visitors can watch animals stomp, crash, and roll around with huge pumpkins after Halloween.

This is a great post-Halloween activity for children of all ages. 816.595 .1234 .

—kansascityzoo.org

THE CHAINSMOKERS Nov. 15 at Sprint Center, Kansas City. Grammy-Award winning band The Chainsmokers is known for their hits like “Selfie” and “Closer.” 888.929.7849.

—sprintcenter.com

BREWERY LIGHTS Nov. 22-Dec. 30 at

Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Brewery. This 34th annual event is family-friendly, with ice skating, a kids zone, walking tours of the area, a train, and photo opportunities with the famous Clydesdales. Those who want to tour the brewery can do so. 314.577.2626.

—budweisertours.com

90TH ANNUAL PLAZA LIGHTS Nov. 29 in

throughout Weston. Historic homes in this antebellum city will be open and the streets will be decorated with luminaries. Father Christmas will be present. 816.640.2909.

—westonmo.com

K ANSAS CIT Y SOUTHERN HOLIDAY EXPRESS Dec. 18-22 at Union Station, Kansas City. Back for its 19th annual run, the KCS Holiday Express train brings Santa Claus and his elves back to Union Station.

Guests can visit with Santa and tour the train for free. The event includes reindeer and a miniature village, a gingerbread boxcar, the elves' workshop, the reindeer stable, and a little red caboose. 816. 460.2020.

—unionstation.org

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CANDLELIGHT TOURS

at the Historic Daniel Boone House Dec. 6-7, 13-14 at historic Daniel Boone Home, Defiance. Frontiersman Daniel Boone’s home will be open and lit for the holidays.

The village will have historic scenarios and information about this time period, and campfires will be lit. People can drink hot cider and eat snacks while roaming through more than 1000 luminaries. 636.798.2005.

—sccmo.org

Event times and details may change.

Visist omahamagazine.com for complete listings.

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF CHRISTMAS

Dec. 7 in Atchison. This event is for kids of all ages, with children’s activities such as North Pole Village and a lighted Ch r i s t m a s Pa r ade . 8 0 0 . 2 3 4 . 18 5 4 .

—visitatchison.com

SINGLE TICKETS NOW ON SALE!

2018 NCAA HALL OF FAME WEEKEND

Nov. 25-26 in Kansas City. The National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Induction will take place on Sunday at the Sprint Center Kansas City, with the Hall of Fame Classic Tournament taking place the next day in the arena. 888.929.7849.

—halloffameweekend.com

CANDLELIGHT HOMES TOUR Dec. 7-8,

Kansas City. Each Thanksgiving evening, one of Kansas City’s most grand annual traditions happens on the Country Club Plaza. Those missing Omaha’s post-turkey dinner lights show can see a dazzling display in Kansas CIty that includes giveaways, performances, fireworks, and a post-ceremony concert. The lights display runs through mid-January. 816.753.0100.

—countryclubplaza.com

FEBRUARY 7 & 9, 2020

THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO

Mozart

ST. CHARLES CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS Nov.

30-Dec. 22. Locations vary, St. Charles.

In addition to the 80-plus characters who are always "making seasons bright,” there are a host of other activities in St. Charles at Christmastime. 800.366.2427.

—discoverstcharles.com

WINTERFEST Nov. 23-Dec. 31 at Worlds

of Fun, Kansas City. Millions of lights transform the park during the holiday season. The event includes live shows, and the chance to meet iconic holiday characters, join in holiday activities like ice skating and cookie decorating, and ride select park attractions. 816.454.4545.

—worldsoffun.com/play/winterfest

MARCH 25, 27 & 29 APRIL 4 & 5, 2020

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

Stradella

APRIL 3 & 5, 2020

THE CAPULETS AND THE MONTAGUES

Bellini

OPERAOMAHA.ORG | TICKETOMAHA.COM

// 108 //

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019

FOR LOCAL EVENTS.

NOT FUNNY // COLUMN BY OTIS TWELVE // PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL SITZMANN

HOW DEEP DO CABBAGE ROOTS REACH?

I

like cabbage.

I don’t love cabbage, but I like it. I like cabbage coleslaw.

I don’t like the sour, vinegar-type slaw. I like the sweet, creamy variety, and don’t get me started about the deviants who add tarragon or some other horror into their bastardized versions of slaw. Oh, and by the way, “broccoli slaw” is not slaw. Don’t try to sell me that. But I digress…I like ham hock soup with cabbage. I like corned beef and cabbage. But let me be clear, as an ethnic German, I am a bit ashamed to admit, I hate sauerkraut.

Sauerkraut is made by, basically, letting cabbage rot. I know, they say it’s fermenting. Fermenting as in sitting around while bacteria starts to feed on the cabbage and break it down into ghastly sour clumps of…well I say it’s just plain rot. Koreans do the same thing. They take cabbage and put it in a clay pot with peppers and garlic and then bury the pots in the backyard for a year. After they dig it up, they call it kim chee.

I like kim chee. It’s spicy. But German kraut? No, it’s just unpleasant rot.

In fact, I dislike kraut so much it made me question my heritage. I started to wonder if my parents had lied to me. Was I a foundling?

So, like any other American who has deep psychological doubts about the way his parents raised him and the various bits of domestic, Dr. Spock-inspired trauma I was subjected to by my doting parents, I spit into a vial.

Yes, in search of answers, I spit into a vial. Then I put my spit into a plastic pouch and mailed it to Utah. I think. It might have been Idaho, or even Nevada, but whatever. I put the spit into the plastic, and the plastic into the little cardboard box, and I mailed it in. Ancestry-dot-com was where my truth would be found.

Apparently, my encapsulated saliva made it where it was supposed to go. I knew that because there was no slightly damp box returned to my mailbox over the next few months.

Nothing came back. It was a long wait. Not like when I was a kid and I clipped the coupon on the back of the Sugar Pops cereal box and mailed it in, and then two short weeks later I got a four-inch-long submarine that I loaded with baking soda and watched it sink and surface in my Saturday night bathwater. Eventually the submarine that I had christened the USS Nixon disappeared into the murky depths of the guest bathroom when my brother T.J. pulled the flush lever. So many submariners were lost on that dark day.

But now, there was no news about my bit of drool. Was it lost in Utah? No one knew. And I still hated sauerkraut.

Sometimes at night I couldn’t sleep, wondering if I was Italian.

I know, I don’t look Italian. But I love pasta. Maybe I was Russian, a Slav. I do like beets. Or maybe I was Circassian.

I didn’t know much about them, but I know Dr. Oz is Circassian, so why not?

Finally, I got a letter in the mailbox. The DNA experts at Ancestry-dot-com were going to reveal all. It was kind of like being on “Maury Povich,” without the semi-rabid, slack-jawed audience. “And your ancestors are…”

I tore open the envelope. There, inside, was a short note and a map. And on the map was a big circle. The black marker was dead-center on Germany. No Circassia, no exotic genes from the diaspora. No Inuit blood or Icelandic Viking ancestors. Just one circle. One. No mark over Korea despite my love of kim chee. Just one big circle around Germany.

Ancestry-dot-com is obviously a scam. I will never spit into a vial again as long as I live.

Me? German? Impossible.

I hate sauerkraut.

For expanded content, open the camera on your smart device and hover over the QR code above.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

// 110 //

2019

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// 111 //

2019

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