Focusv2i10 by Focus Omaha

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 10 | MARCH 7 - MARCH 13 | 2018

YOUR FREE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, PERSONAL FINANCE, MUSIC & CLASSIFIEDS NEWSWEEKLY

LOCAL Remembering Brad Cordle

LIVE Shovels & Rope

HEALTH TB Treatment Made Easier

EVENTS Your Complete Daily Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

13 | 2018 | MARCH 7 - MARCH WEEKLY CLASSIFIEDS NEWS VOLUME 2 ISSUE 10 FINANCE, MUSIC &

TAINMENT, PERSONAL YOUR FREE ARTS, ENTER

FOCUS ON THIS WEEK! THE ARTS

FAMILY

Foundation One Bank will be sharing financial information relating to the markets, investments, financial news and other information with regard to finance.

EVENTS

HAPPY HOUR

10 ON TEN

GETTING OUT

13 THIS WEEKS FEATURE

30 CLASSIFIEDS

16 EARTHWEEK

To advertise email focusomaha@gmail.com or call today. Focus is your FREE Arts, Entertainment, Personal Finance, Music & Classifieds Newsweekly. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve brought all of these elements together for the first time, all in one weekly format. Our goal is to provide you, the customer, with the best possible publication to suit all of your needs. Focus 7914 W Dodge Rd. # 413 Omaha, NE 68114 (402) 208-6545 focusomaha@gmail.com www.focusomaha.com

LOCAL

le Remembering Brad Cord

LIVE

Shovels & Rope

HEALTH

TB Treatment Made Easi

EVENTS

e r Complete Daily Guid

You

Diary of a Changing World By Steve Newman

18 SPORTS Local Teams Await Tournament Fortunes By Focus Omaha

20 HEALTH TB Treatment Made Easier Sponsored by New Dawn Nutrition

22 LOCAL Remembering Brad Cordle 1953-2018 By Andy Roberts

24 LIVE

Family Folk By Jesse D. Stanek

FINANCE

backgrounds, immigrants and non-immigrants to join us. Day of Show: 7pm Art Show 8pm Comedy & performances

Thursday, March 8 | 7p Sound and Memory: The Afield and Alejandro T. Acierto KANEKO 1111 Jones St., Omaha, 68102 Generator Series looks inward, considering the ways our personal and shared histories impact our experience of sound. Featuring performances from multimedia performers The Afield and Alejandro T. Acierto: ----------------------------------------------Friday, March 9 | 7p -11p Nasty Women Omaha Presents: What the F!?K is Next!? What the F!?K is Next is a pop-up group exhibition that will showcase visual and performance art from throughout the Omaha area. The event serves to demonstrate solidarity among artists and individuals who identify with or support being an

Intersectional Feminist in the face of threats to Indigenous lands and lives, Black Lives, climate change, women’s rights, individual rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrant rights, abortion rights, and many more. It will examine what’s next for us in and around the Feminist movement, help raise funds to support local organizations defending these rights, and serve as a platform for organization in the midst of the current political landscape and administration. 100% of the proceeds from gallery sales will benefit Youth Emergency Services (YES). This exhibit is entirely inclusive. We welcome patrons of all ages*, races, religions, sexual orientations, gender or non-gender identifications, economic

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

limited for this event. Cost is $10 for General Admission.

After exploring KANEKO After Hours, walk across the street to Bricks & Mortar Bar & Bistro for a complimentary dessert and 10% off drink special! *Children are welcome, but parents ----------------------------------------------are encouraged to use their discretion. Saturday, March 10 | 6p - 10p Content is uncensored and will be Scoular Ballroom explicit, graphic, and controversial in 2027 Dodge St, Omaha, 68102 nature. An Evening to Share “The Heart and ----------------------------------------------- Art of Caring” Friday, March 9 | 8:30p -10p Live charity auction featuring a Jeff KANEKO After Hours Hanson original painting benefitting KANEKO the Children’s Respite Care Center 1111 Jones St., Omaha, 68102 (CRCC) of Omaha, NE. 6pm cocktail Experience KANEKO in a whole new hour, followed by dinner. #crccsilverlight! ribbon #silverribbon2018 ----------------------------------------------Grab a friend for KANEKO After Through March 23 Hours, an exclusive night exploring the Across Disciplines light exhibition. works by Adam Finkelston Process Omaha Gallery Want to experience the Infinity Room 144 S 39th St LL1, Omaha, 68131 without the long lines? Your ticket to artist, educator and magazine this event includes a visit to the exhipublisher, Adam Finkelston, will be bition, extended time in the Infinity exhibiting works from his series Across Room, a special KANEKO grab bag Disciplines in the gallery at Process. and an exclusive offer from Bricks & ----------------------------------------------Mortar Bar and Bistro. Through March 28 Max Church Registration is required and space is Star Deli

6114 Military Ave, Omaha, 68104 Star Deli Gallery presents, Max Church, a Lincoln based artist that will be showing his paintings at Star Deli during the month of March.

Petshop invites you to the opening reception for Lisa Guevara’s “stretch here / relax here / cry” on March 2nd 7-10pm during Benson First Friday. “stretch here / relax here / cry” is a re-self-discovery through continuous Join us for his opening reception on examination of old, personal valuables March 2nd during Benson First Friday. combined with an array of obsolete Meet the artist and view his work from necessities such as packing materi7p -9p. als and worn cloth. Impulse-driven paint marks create the trail from one The exhibition is free and open to the thought to another, shaping a dialogue public. Please contact artist directly between the past and present. for artwork sales. Exhibition March 2nd - April 27th ----------------------------------------------- Gallery hours Fridays 5-7pm and by Through March 31 appointment Fragments by Sophie Newell: ----------------------------------------------2nd Chance The Little Benson Gallery 5901 Maple St., Omaha If you haven’t had a chance to see Fragments by Sophie Newell, you’ve now got another month to do so. We’re holding the show over through March 31. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 6pm, Saturday from 10am to 1pm and by appointment. For more information, call 402.681.1901. ---------------------------------------------Through April 27 Lisa Guevara: stretch here / relax here / cry Petshop, 2725 N 62nd St., Omaha

1019 Howard St. Omaha, NE 68102 402-342-1737

Custom Jewelry  Pearls  Local Artists  Loose Gemstones  Watch Batteries  Jewelry Repair www.goldsmithsilversmith.com Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10 5

Saturday, March 10 |10a - 6p & Sunday, march 11 | 10a - 5p Nebraska Brick Days 2018 Mid_America Center Nebraska Brick Days will be a family fun LEGO event for all ages! Members of LOLUG and guests with a Full Access Pass who register to bring in your own creation will be displaying their custom creations and participating LEGO-inspired events throughout the weekend. Additional contest events include a mini-fig speed building challenge, a LEGO brick-built derby race, and LEGO Bingo!

Foundation’s Walk to Cure Arthritis! Gather your team members, friends and family, whether they’ve registered yet or not, and join us at the kickoff party on Sunday, March 11 ----------------------------------------------Through May 13 Metamorphosis Lauritzen Gardens 100 Bancroft St, Omaha, NE 68108 Through amazing creations- inspired by nature and built from reclaimed materials, artists Sayaka Ganz and Aurora Robson will change the way you see art, plastics and our environment.

Get your tickets online and avoid the line! Prepaid tickets get a fast pass entrance into the event!

Millions of pieces of plastic find their way into landfills and watersheds every year, causing harm and General Admission tickets are $8 each producing pollution to both wildlife day ($5 for children 8 years and young- and human beings. This winter and er, free for children under 2 years). spring, Lauritzen Gardens will present These allow entry into the event to an exhibit constructed of found, look at LEGO creations, play LEGO recycled and reused plastic objects. Bingo for prizes, play with 2×4 LEGO Playbricks, build LEGO cars and test Equal parts artistic and educational, them on the LEGO Speed Champions this exhibit will feature fine art, ramp, and buy from vendors. accompanied by a message of environmental stewardship and will Once you purchase your General Adchange the way that you see plastic. mission, you can also register for the Mini-Figure Speed Building Contest From birds to aquatic creatures to a ($5) and the Brick-Built Derby ($5) massive vortex, Sayaka Ganz and using the codes and links in your conAurora Robson will show how beautifirmation e-mail! ful reclaimed materials can be. As Ganz says, “When we think of these things Full Access tickets are $25 and allow as beautiful, we value them. If we value entry all weekend. Full Access also our resources we will waste less.” includes a gift bag with a “Nebraska Brick Days 2018” brick, a small Lego Guests can explore the indoor gardens kit (while supplies last), and registers and also create their own eco-art you for the Mini-Figure Speed Build arrangements using reclaimed bottle contest, Brick-Built Derby, and raffles caps at the magnetic creation station. for LEGO sets! You will also receive a code and link for if you want to bring This exhibit is included with admission, and display your LEGO creations. $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-12 ----------------------------------------------- and free for garden members and Sunday, March 11 | 3p - 6p children under six. More information Career Night online at www.lauritzengardens.org. Papio Bowl ----------------------------------------------204 East Lincoln St., Papillion, 68046 It’s time to officially kickoff registration and fundraising for the Arthritis

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

----------------------------------------------Spring Has Sprung Craft A Vendor Fair The Grass Wagon, 11a ----------------------------------------------The “Who Am I” Tour Oface Bar, 7p MONDAY, MARCH 12 Trivia NIght The Buck Snort, 6p

EVENTS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7 Wine Club Wednesdays Cellar 19 Wine & Deli, 1p THURSDAY, MARCH 8 Flights & Bites Barley Bar, 5p ----------------------------------------------Trivia Night Caddy Shack Bar & Grill, 7p ----------------------------------------------Thirsty Thursday Rodeo Saloon, 8p ----------------------------------------------DJ Lay-C & Wizdum CUBE Ultra Lounge, 9p FRIDAY, MARCH 9 20th Annual MDA Gala Mid-America Center, 6p

Knockout Parties with DJ Jake The Mile Away Hall & Tavern, 7p ----------------------------------------------The 402 Amerisports, 8:30p ----------------------------------------------DJ Lay-C CUBE Ultra Lounge, 8p SATURDAY, MARCH 10 March Pack Walk Bass Pro Shops, 10a ----------------------------------------------Nebraska Brick Days 2018 Mid-America Center, 10a ----------------------------------------------The 402 Amerisports, 8:30p

TUESDAY, MARCH 13 Wine Tasting Cellar 19 Wine & Deli, 5:30p ----------------------------------------------Seinfeld Trivia 3rd Base Bar & Grill, 7p ----------------------------------------------Winter Leagues Joe’s Karting, 7p

SUNDAY, MARCH 11 Nebraska Brick Days 2018 Mid-America Center, 11a

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10 7

WEDNESDAY MARCH 7 Happy Hippy Hour with Carrie Jean & Dr. Webb Music The Down Under, 5p ----------------------------------------------Michelle Eva’s Birthday Happy Hour The B. Bar, 6p ----------------------------------------------The Grease Band Ozone Lounge, 6:30p ----------------------------------------------Ray’s Piano Party Mr. Toad’s, 7p ----------------------------------------------Carolyn Harrell & Michael Adams The Omaha Lounge, 7:30p ----------------------------------------------Open Mic with Host Aly Peeler The Down Under, 8p ----------------------------------------------Karaoke Forte Music Hall, 9p ----------------------------------------------Jarrod Turner Harney Street Tavern, 9p

THURSDAY MARCH 8 The Jeff Jensen Band Chrome Lounge, 6p ----------------------------------------------Prairie Cat Ozone Lounge, 6:30p ----------------------------------------------Concierto Baile- Los Temerarios Ralston Arena, 6:30p ----------------------------------------------Come Together Vino Mas, 6:30p ----------------------------------------------Miranda Lambert: Livin’ Like Hippies Tour, CenturyLink Center, 7p ----------------------------------------------Resonance Soirée with Broadway Artist Siri Howard, Gallery 1516, 7p ----------------------------------------------Sound and Memory: The Afield and Alejandro T. Acietro, KANEKO, 7p ----------------------------------------------The Shineys The B. Bar, 7p -----------------------------------------------

Karaoke The New Frontier Bar, 7p ----------------------------------------------Metro Comedy Showdown The Side Room, 7p ----------------------------------------------The Hot Sardines Holland Center, 7:30p ----------------------------------------------Dave Landau Omaha Funny Bone, 7:30p ----------------------------------------------Ty Hakeem, Ed Archibald & Michael Adams, The Omaha Lounge, 7:30p ----------------------------------------------Old School Skate Nite SkateDaze, 8p ----------------------------------------------Jon Wayne & The Pain Slowdown, 9p ----------------------------------------------Podcast The Hard Way (Improv) The Backline, 8p ----------------------------------------------Jack Ingram The Waiting Room, 8p ----------------------------------------------Room 100 Barley Street, 9p ----------------------------------------------Miranda Lambert Concert After Party Bourbon Saloon, 9p ----------------------------------------------Sweet Tea Music Harney Street Tavern, 9p ----------------------------------------------The Fey with CJ Mills Reverb Lounge, 9p ----------------------------------------------Jarrod Turner Rose & Crown Pub, 9p ----------------------------------------------Omaha Comedy All Stars Live! (Standup) The Backline, 9p ----------------------------------------------An Evening with Dereck Higgins III The Down Under Lounge, 9p ----------------------------------------------Chris Shelton Dubliner Pub, 9:30p ----------------------------------------------Imprommptu Punchliness (Standup) The Backline, 10p

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

FRIDAY MARCH 9 Bill Sammon- Acoustic Music Growler USA, 5p ----------------------------------------------Dan/Jon Acoustic Happy Hour The Down Under Lounge, 5p ----------------------------------------------Josh Powell Black Oak Grill, 6p ----------------------------------------------Natalie Thomas Cantina Loredo, 6p ----------------------------------------------Kaylyn Sahs CRAVE, 6p ----------------------------------------------George Walker Della Costa, 6p ----------------------------------------------D.N.D. LP Release Party Sokol Auditorium, 6:30p ----------------------------------------------Texas Moon American Legion Post #1, 7p ----------------------------------------------Taxi Driver Bogie’s West, 7p ----------------------------------------------2 Man Party Band Therapy Bar & Grill, 7p ----------------------------------------------Dave Landau Omaha Funny Bone, 7:30p ----------------------------------------------Aaron Stroessner Quartet Jambo Cat, 8p ----------------------------------------------Dad Jokes (Improv) The Backline, 8p ----------------------------------------------Tyi Hakeem, Ed Archibald & special guest, The Omaha Lounge, 8:30p ----------------------------------------------DJ Donny Dahl & DJ Chaos Bar 415, 9p ----------------------------------------------The Toppings, Bluehound & Bound Barley Street, 9p ----------------------------------------------Ecstatic Debut Chrome Lounge, 9p -----------------------------------------------

Valley of Shadows, Propergander, OGH, SWM & Terradactyl Dr. Jack’s Drinkery, 9p ----------------------------------------------Cover Me Badd Forte Music Hall, 9p ----------------------------------------------Tucker Hill Harney Street Tavern, 9p ----------------------------------------------The Midnight Devils “Pink Halo” Tour Lookout Lounge, 9p ----------------------------------------------Soul Dawg Ozone, 9p ----------------------------------------------Bad Bad Hats with Jagaja Reverb Lounge, 9p ----------------------------------------------Revolution De Amor Rhythmz Lounge, 9p ----------------------------------------------Sam Riggs with The Belles Slowdown, 9p ----------------------------------------------Bach Mai + Fluff Howard The B. Bar, 9p ----------------------------------------------Cards of Destiny (Improv) The Backline, 9p ----------------------------------------------The 9’s, Joe Kopel & Josh Lawler The Down Under, 9p ----------------------------------------------Emo Nite La Presents: Emo Nite The Waiting Room, 9p ----------------------------------------------Flannigans Right Hook Dubliner Pub, 9:30p ----------------------------------------------Dave Landau Omaha Funny Bone, 9:30p ----------------------------------------------Red Delicious Two Fine Irishmen, 9:30p ----------------------------------------------American Cream Band, Celica and Church of Gravitron O’Leaver’s Pub, 10p ----------------------------------------------Interrogated (Improv) The Backline, 10p -----------------------------------------------

SATURDAY MARCH 10 Let’s Get Brunch’d Midtown Crossing, 11a ----------------------------------------------Michael Busch The Backline, 11a ----------------------------------------------Joanne Shaw Taylor Reverb Lounge, 7p ----------------------------------------------Big Canvas The Backline, 7p ----------------------------------------------Almighty American The Down Under Lounge, 7p ----------------------------------------------Aquarianfest 2018 The New Frontier Bar, 7p ----------------------------------------------Renewal Vino Mas, 7p ----------------------------------------------Take A Bow Productions “Karaoke” American Legion Post #1, 7:30p ----------------------------------------------Celtic Journey: The Return Holland Center, 7:30p ----------------------------------------------Dave Landau Omaha Funny Bone, 7:30p ----------------------------------------------The Matt Amandus Jazz trio Jambo Cat, 8p ----------------------------------------------Wolves & Wolves & Wolves & Wolves, Bad Idols, & Top-Notch Defective Lookout Lounge, 8p ----------------------------------------------Project Pat of Three 6 Mafia Forte Music Hall, 8p ----------------------------------------------Smokin’ Dance Lessons Rednecks, 8p ----------------------------------------------Singles Night Party Therapy Bar & Grill, 8p ----------------------------------------------“The Jet Squad” Terry Parker, Ed Archibald and Joel Ortiz The Omaha Lounge, 8:30p ----------------------------------------------Bazile Mills, The Bedrock & Township & Range, Barley Street, 9p ----------------------------------------------Bad Aqple Dr. Jack’s Drinkery, 9p ----------------------------------------------MidLife Crisis On The Q St Bar, 7p ----------------------------------------------Joanne Shaw Taylor & Sebastian Lane Band, Reverb Lounge, 8:30p -----------------------------------------------

Come Together Band The Waiting Room, 8:30p ----------------------------------------------Eckophonic Ozone Lounge, 9p ----------------------------------------------Vinyl Theater & Vesperteen Slowdown, 9p ----------------------------------------------AllSortsOfGood & The Sunks The B Bar, 9p ----------------------------------------------Missing Kitten (Standup) The Backline, 9p ----------------------------------------------DJ Pink Bunny The Cove, Lounge, 9p ----------------------------------------------Emily Ward & Guests The Down Under Lounge, 9p ----------------------------------------------Maiden Voyage and Sabbaths Disciples Chrome Lounge, 9:30p ----------------------------------------------Flannigans Right Hook Dubliner Pub, 9:30p ----------------------------------------------Big AL Show, Dereck Higgins & Army of 26 O’Leaver’s Pub, 9:30p ----------------------------------------------Dave Landau Omaha Funny Bone, 9:30p ----------------------------------------------DJ Yascoe & DJ Super Paul Bar 415, 10p ----------------------------------------------3/11 with DJ Twinsmith The Blackstone Meatball, 10p ----------------------------------------------Dorsia featuring As If The Sydney, 10p

SUNDAY MARCH 11 Balbomaha: Desiree Roffers Dance Workshop, Omaha Jitterbugs, 10a ----------------------------------------------Quinceañera Expo Ralston Arena, 12p ----------------------------------------------Celtic Journey: The Return Holland Center, 2p ----------------------------------------------Family Karaoke w/ Bolt The Down Under Lounge, 3p ----------------------------------------------Bill Sammon - Acoustic Music Steak & Grapes, 5p ----------------------------------------------21 & Up Micro Wrestling Show Bourbon Saloon, 8p ----------------------------------------------continued on page 11

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10 9

Thursday March 8

Jack Ingram WAITING ROOM

Saturday March 10

Open House/ Open Studios BEMIS CENTER

Thursday March 8

Miranda Lambert CENTURYLINK

Sunday March 11

Quinceañera Expo RALSTON ARENA

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

Friday March 9

Sam Riggs SLOWDOWN

Sunday March 11

Celtic Journey: The Return HOLLAND CENTER

Saturday March 10

Emily Ward & Guests DOWN UNDER

Monday March 12

Iron Bartender IX- The Final Throwdown REVERB LOUNGE

Saturday March 10

St. Patrick’s Parade OLD MARKET

Tuesday March 13

Quinn XCII: The Story of Us Tour WAITING ROOM

Kikagaku Moyo with Fontenelle Slowdown, 8p

MONDAY MARCH 12 Iron Bartender IX- The Final Throwdown, Reverb Lounge, 6p ----------------------------------------------Beginner Square Dance Party Mockingbird Hills Comm. Center, 6:30p ----------------------------------------------Gooch & His Big Las Vegas Band Ozone Lounge, 6:30p ----------------------------------------------Lorna Shore Dr. Jack’s Drinkery, 7p ----------------------------------------------Conan, The Ditch and The Delta & Rifflord, Lookout Lounge, 8p ----------------------------------------------Lobby Boxer O’Leaver’s Pub, 8p ----------------------------------------------Songwriter Death Battle Barley Street Tavern, 9p

TUESDAY MARCH 13 Open Mic & Jam NIght Therapy Bar & Grill, 7p ----------------------------------------------Mitch Towne Jazz Organ Trio Jambo Cat, 7:30p ----------------------------------------------One of Yours, One of Theirs Growler USA, 8p ----------------------------------------------The FLOcase: A Comedy Show Reverb Lounge, 8p ----------------------------------------------Taylor Bennett with Kami & BOTH Slowdown, 8p ----------------------------------------------Trivia with Spencer BigBear Barak The Down Under Lounge, 8p ----------------------------------------------Quinn XCII: The Story of Us Tour Part II, The Waiting Room, 8p ----------------------------------------------Karaoke with DynamicAir DJ’s Stoli’s Lounge, 9p ----------------------------------------------Open Mic (Standup) The Backline, 9p ----------------------------------------------Karaoke The Down Under, 10p

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10 11

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

schools and colleges and I tell the students I’m jealous of them because they have a HD camera right in their pocket. You know, making a quality image is super simple right now versus 15 years ago,” said Longbrake.

And their timing couldn’t be better. The Omaha Film Festival screens films just after the Sundance and Slamdance festivals and after the Oscars. That puts them ahead of the rest of the festival circuit. This means they often end up being the second or third festival to screen a lot of big films.

When the Omaha Film Festival began, YouTube wasn’t a thing so people in Omaha, didn’t really have access to short films. That meant the first few “Probably over half our features and was not as big as it is now. So he’s on message boards and he’s finding other years of the festival, the short film pro- documentaries will find distribution grams had low attendance. But now festival directors and he ends up putting together the framework for what short films draw the festival’s biggest crowds. within the year, especially with Netflix we still are today,” Longbrake said. and Amazon who buy up content. “How did you see a documentary in Though there are also some that The trio put out their first call for Omaha 15 years ago? There was no will get theatrical distribution,” said entries, having no idea what kind of such thing. It’s cool we have given our Longbrake. interest they would get. Longbrake audiences opportunities to be exposed expected they would get film submisto those things,” he said. But if they had one area to improve sions from Nebraska and Iowa and upon, Longbrake feels that would be maybe Kansas City. Longbrake admits documentaries are promotion, “You put a year of effort “But we got entries from 20 countries not on the top of his viewing list, unlike into a six-day festival. You open your doors and hope people come. I always that first year. And that sort of freaked 15 years ago. These days he can find several each year to enjoy, thanks to say you can show ten of the world’s us out because it was like, here we go, ” Fourteen years ago three friends headthe festival. best films and if no one knows about it, ed out to a film festival in Kearney, Ne- he said. no one will be there to see them.” braska, to watch films from Nebraska “Pick any documentary and you So, Longbrake became the program and South Dakota. He said the community has started to director, Decker is the festival director will find a filmmaker that has spent embrace the festival over the years as At the time, Jeremy Decker and Jason and Levering is the executive director. anywhere from two to five years (sometimes more) on a particular they have come to understand more Levering had a video business that subject. You know they’re going to and more about what it is, but LongOne of the most difficult challenges was sponsoring a prize in the festival. pour everything they have into that brake would like to see the festival was determining how to judge all these So, the two invited their mutual friend subject, no matter what it is. They are grow much bigger in the future. Marc Longbrake to go to Kearney with different films. going to dig deeply and find something them. interesting on that subject matter. It The Omaha Film Festival offers all “How do you judge someone else’s could be something really political or sorts of films from all sorts of genres art?” asked Longbrake. “It was small and indie but it was cool. something super fun that you never including drama, comedy and horror. And it was fun seeing films made by thought about, ” he said. And sometimes you will see a famous It took a while, but the directors have people sitting around us,” said Longfigured out a scoring rubric they think brake. Longbrake said documentaries have a keeps things balanced in terms of judging all these unique films alongside person’s passion, heart and soul baked continued on page 14 The thing that made the biggest iminto the movie. one another. pression on him though, was the time spent hanging with the filmmakers at Longbrake explained one of the biggest In talking about how the festival has the bars each night after the festival grown over the years, Longbrake is changes over the last 14 years is the events were over. quick to point out the sheer number sheer number of film festivals. When of films that are now being submitted the Omaha Film Festival began, there “It was fun to hang with people like each year. were just over 2,000 film festivals and us. So, we are driving back late one now that number has grown to more night after it was over and Jeremy is “We had close to 1000 entries to go in the backseat and he’s like, ‘Hey, why than 5,000. through this year. So we are getting doesn’t Omaha have a film festival?’ the cream of the crop films that are on And the independent filmmaking landSo Jason and I told Jeremy to start doing some research on it and told him scape has changed significantly as well, the festival circuit,” he said. “There are more websites that have we would be there to support him,” The Omaha Film Festival offers the access to all the different filmmakers’ remembers Longbrake. same quality of films and gives people information. A long time ago, there Decker started doing the research and was only Withoutabox and now you’ve an experience similar to what they would get at Sundance, but it’s right got FilmFreeway and Vimeo,” he said. then got laid off not long after. All of here in Omaha. a sudden, he had even more time to Additionally, Longbrake said filmmakfigure things out. ing has gotten easier with technology. Longbrake, Levering and Decker excel at judging and curating a festival. “I teach a lot of workshops in high “Fourteen years ago, social media

The Omaha Film Festival: Three friends with a shared dream By Cheril Lee

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10 13

New this year, the OFF is also awarding a prize for the best teleplay (or TV writing) as well. The festival directors and judging staff make the decisions on all the winners. But the audience does get to choose their favorites as well. They receive ballots prior to each film that’s in competition and can select which movies they enjoyed the most. actor pop up in one of the films.

The film with the most votes wins audience favorite.

“Usually it’s in a different kind of role. And it’s often in a film with more passion behind it,” said Longbrake.

Another newer addition to the festival schedule is its OFF Academy.

Now in its third year, the academy Attendees can choose from narrative brings in filmmakers from around the feature films, documentaries and short world who are attending the festival, films. The short films are offered in to do workshops with students. They blocks including animated, regular teach high school kids lighting, cinenarrative and documentaries. matography, screenwriting, producing, directing, editing, special effects makeThere are also three blocks of short up; all the elements of filmmaking. films from Nebraska filmmakers. “The first year we had 101 kids. Last “We award jury prizes for best feature, year it was up to 144 and this year we documentary and short film in animat- already have 130 registered so we are ed, narrative and Nebraska categories. thinking of capping it at 150,” LongWe also give prizes for best feature brake said. script and short script,” he said.

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

Even more exciting is that three of the students from previous academies turned in films that made it into the festival this year.

“Give us a try and check us out. If you come and see one of our programs, you will be hooked. We show good stuff,” Longbrake said.

“It’s a great way to give back and all the filmmakers that come into town and help out are all jealous of that program. They wish there had been a program like it when they were kids,” he said.

The Omaha Film Festival runs March 6-11. Films are screened at the Village Pointe Cinema. Single tickets are available to each film for $9 apiece. All-Films passes are $70 and offer you the opportunity to see as many films as you want over the week. Then there’s an All-Access pass that’s $100 and gets you into all the films, plus an OFF t-shirt and access to all the parties offered each night during the festival.

The OFF also has a Lunch and Learn program during the festival that puts five to six kids at different tables. One filmmaker sits down with each group of kids to talk with them. The students can ask them any questions they may have so it’s a great opportunity for them to talk with industry professionals.

A complete schedule of films, events and ticket options is available online at OmahaFilmFestival.org.

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10 15

Diary of a Changing World

3.2 5.7

By Steve Newman

3.9

Arctic Warmth

+43° Tillabéri, Niger

A freak warm spell across the Arctic during February has shocked seasoned observers and climate experts alike, some of whom say they may be forced to reconsider their worst-case predictions of climate change. Even though the polar region has been in the midst of a sunless Arctic winter for months, temperatures at the world’s northernmost land-based weather station, Cape Morris Jesup at the northern tip of Greenland, have been warmer at times than London and Zurich, thousands of miles to the south.

Hawaiian Lava

The partial collapse of a lava pit rim at Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano was followed by fresh flows of lava on the Big Island.

The lava channels posed no threat to populated areas, and did not reach the ocean. But they did provide a colorful The current wintertime Arctic warmth and dramatic landscape for Hawaiian may be only a onetime event, but residents and visitors to witness. experts point out that it’s the longestlived and most intense winter warming Earthquakes ever observed. Papua New Guinea’s most powerful earthquake on record killed at least 31 people as it flattened entire villages in the heart of the impoverished nation. The magnitude 7.5 temblor also destroyed roads and caused massive landslides.

Since 1950, American flamingos have been seen in greater numbers and more often. But because there were so few of them during most of the 20th century, some had argued flamingos weren’t a native species. New research finds that there were probably large flocks of the birds across the state before their colourful feathers and prized eggs led them to be hunted to near oblivion.

7.5 6.0

Bird Slaughter

A million migratory birds, many endangered or threatened, are believed to be illegally killed or captured each year while wintering at a single wetlands site along Iran’s Caspian Sea coast. Among birds being hunted for sale in local markets is the Siberian crane, which is designated as critically endangered. Other endangered or threatened species being killed or

• Earth movements were also felt in northeastern Japan, Indonesia’s Maluku province, northwestern England and islands of the eastern Caribbean.

Flamingo Return

The population of Florida’s iconic pink flamingos is This temperature anomaly image shows rebounding after the birds most of Europe shivering in late February were virtually eliminated across the as the Arctic region “baked.” Image: Univ. state by hunting in the late 1800s. of Maine

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

Flamingos are returning to Florida after the species was nearly annihilated in the state by hunting during the 19th century. Photo: Dale Kimberling

caught are white-headed ducks, redbreasted geese and falcons.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale currently ranges from Category 1 to Category 5, with the top end describing a storm that can cause near total destruction.

A leading Iranian conservationist says wildlife rangers meet with strong resistance from the hunters, who now use cheap transparent plastic nets that But scientists at a conference in New are not seen by the birds until they Zealand have proposed that stricter become snared. building codes and more powerful storms mean a new Category 6 may be World of Fishing needed to accurately warn the public Industrial fishing vessels are of the most powerful storms. now pulling in seafood across more than half of the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oceans, harvesting an area four times larger than all agriculture on land. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation says in the journal Science that many commercial fish stocks are now being caught at unsustainable levels.

Cat-6

Hurricanes, typhoons and other tropical cyclones around the world have become so intense in recent years that some climate scientists suggest that an even higher category of storm strength is needed.

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10 17

Local Teams Await Tournament Fortunes By Focus Omaha Nebraska Basketball

The Husker basketball team, 22-10 (13-5) Big Ten left its postseason hopes firmly in the hands of the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee after losing their Big Ten Tournament opener 77-58 to a red-hot Michigan team.

You saw today, Iowa is not easy to beat. At the end of the day if Quad 1 is the Holy Grail, that’s a tough deal. But I don’t think Quad 1 is the Holy Grail. There’s tough wins in Quad 3. You just have to see where it goes.” It’s also worth mentioning that many of the teams, including Nebraska, didn’t have an opportunity to practice on the court before their first game. As many players will tell you, that can have a profound impact when you’re playing in a new environment. All excuses aside, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. -With the loss, Nebraska falls to 3-7 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament

-Nebraska saw its three-game win streak at Madison Square Garden When asked after the game if he thinks snapped. Nebraska is a tournament team Head Coach Tim Miles said, “What we’ve -Nebraska falls to 2-3 against ranked done is we’ve won games away from opponents this season. home. We’ve beaten the teams that we should beat with maybe one exception. -Roby now has 62 blocked shots on the season, which ranks 10th on And to go through that type of season Nebraska’s single-season chart. He where you have to win, I think we won moved past Wes Wilkinson (61, 2005eight out of our last nine, four of those 06) on Friday. on the road, we showed we could win away from home.” -Nebraska finished with eight blocked shots, upping its season total to 178, Miles continued: “To put 13 league which is third in school history. It is the wins, I know that’s not a marker or 21st time this season that NU blocked anything like that, but to be able to do five or more shots in a game. that in a difficult environment, because those teams -- Indiana is a good team. Photo: Huskers.com

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

-Michigan’s 11 3-pointers marked the second-highest total the Huskers allowed this season (15 vs. UTSA). Nebraska led the Big Ten in 3-point percentage defense during the regular season.

Creighton Bluejays

-Roby shared team-high scoring honors, marking the second time this season that Roby led NU in scoring.

Creighton finished in a tie for third in league standings and earned the No. 4 seed in the 2018 Big East Tournament and will meet Providence on Thursday afternoon. The Friars have been a

The Jays (21-10, 10-8 Big East) split a pair of games during the week, handling DePaul on Senior Night in Omaha and losing a shootout at Marquette on Saturday, 85-81. All-Big East guard Marcus Foster led CU -Nebraska’s five assists were a season with 29 points in that game while low (6 at Ohio State) Khyri Thomas added 24. That duo will be the key to Creighton’s hopes at -James Palmer Jr. finished with 16 tournament time. The loss didn’t help points, and is now four points away the team’s NCAA Tournament resume, from 10th place on Nebraska’s single- but most figure the Bluejays are in the season scoring list. Palmer has reached Big Dance. A win or two in the Big East double figures in 30 of 32 games. Tournament wouldn’t hurt, though.

tough matchup for the Jays, and the teams split the regular-season series. A bigger concern for the team is the health of several front court players. Center Martin Krampelj is out for the season. Now, forward Ronnie Harrell Jr. has recently been sidelined with a foot infection and freshman Jacob Epperson, who burned a redshirt, was held out of the second half at Marquette over concerns about his knee. That leaves senior Toby Hegner as the only Bluejay with any size, and he has been fighting ankle injures all year.

Omaha Mavericks

A season that started 1-10 with all those losses on the road has ended. The Mavericks never recovered from that brutal start and finished 9-22. South Dakota beat UNO 87-73 in the Summit League quarterfinals. The team can begin looking forward to next year and, hopefully, a friendlier schedule. There is a building block in junior Zach Jackson, an all-conference selection who scored a game-high 26 points in Saturdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s game.

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10 19

many more people to get treatment for TB infection. Our findings will benefit people in Nebraska and around the world.”

TB Treatment Made Easier A one-month antibiotic regimen to prevent active tuberculosis (TB) disease was at least as safe and effective as the standard ninemonth therapy for people living with HIV, according to results of a large international clinical trial. Adults and adolescents in the trial were more likely to complete the short-course regimen consisting of daily doses of the antibiotics rifapentine and isoniazid for four weeks than the standard nine-month regimen of daily isoniazid. The Phase 3 clinical trial, called ACTG 5279, was sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and conducted by the NIAID-funded AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG).

Richard E. Chaisson, M.D., professor of medicine, epidemiology and international health at Johns Hopkins University and co-chair of the trial, presented the findings March 5 at the 2018 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections in Boston. Dr. Swindells and UNMC colleagues Courtney Fletcher, Pharm.D., and Anthony Podany, Pharm.D., also will be at the conference. “Globally, tuberculosis kills more people than any other infectious disease, and it is the leading cause of death for people living with HIV,” said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. “These results have the potential to dramatically change clinical practice by offering people living with HIV who are at risk of developing active tuberculosis an additional, shorterduration prevention option that is safe, effective and more convenient. This study also will inform future research on prevention of tuberculosis disease among HIV-negative people at risk for developing active tuberculosis.”

Worldwide, TB is the most common serious opportunistic infection in people living with HIV. In 2016, it accounted for 40 percent of deaths among people living with HIV, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). An estimated Susan Swindells, M.B.B.S., University of one-quarter of the world’s population Nebraska Medical Center Department has latent TB infection. of Internal Medicine professor and medical director of the HIV Clinic, is A person with latent TB is infected lead author of the study. with tuberculosis-causing bacteria but does not have any symptoms “I have spent my whole career trying to of the disease. Among people with help people, and it has been incredibly latent infection, the treatment rewarding,” Dr. Swindells said. “With recommendation is TB prophylaxis for this trial though, we may be able adults and adolescents living with HIV to help literally millions of people. who have either had a positive test Our results will change treatment for latent TB or have an unknown TB guidelines on a global scale, and we status and who do not have active TB. hope it will make it much easier for

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

HIV infection is the greatest risk factor for progression to active TB disease. Skin or blood tests can detect latent TB infection, but may not be readily available in resource-limited areas. WHO guidelines recommend TB prophylaxis for adults and adolescents living with HIV who have either had a positive test for latent TB or have an unknown TB status and who do not have active TB. Prophylactic antibiotic therapy to stop active TB from developing is effective, but current preventive regimens are lengthy, can be difficult for people to complete, and carry the risk of side effects such as liver damage. A six-to nine-month course of daily isoniazid has been the standard in many TBendemic countries, although WHO recommendations include different

options ranging up to 36 months in length for people living with HIV. Prior preclinical studies had suggested that an ultra-short course of treatment may be as effective as a longer regimen. Researchers suspected that it also may increase treatment adherence. Between 2012 and 2014, the ACTG 5279 study enrolled 3,000 people 13 years of age and older living with HIV in Botswana, Brazil, Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, Peru, South Africa, Thailand, the United States and Zimbabwe. Participants either lived in an area with a high TB burden or had had a skin or blood test indicating latent TB infection. When they entered the study, approximately half of participants were taking antiretroviral therapy to treat their HIV.

At the time of study enrollment, decisions on when to start antiretroviral therapy typically were based on a person’s CD4+ cell count — a measure of immune system health. Current WHO guidelines recommend that all people living with HIV begin antiretroviral treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis, regardless of CD4+ cell count.

For participants with low CD4+ cell counts — indicating an immune system weakened by HIV infection — at the start of the study, more cases of active TB occurred among those receiving the short-course treatment compared to the standard regimen. However, this difference was not statistically significant, meaning it might have been due to chance.

Study participants were randomly assigned to a one-month course of rifapentine and isoniazid or a nine-month course of isoniazid. Investigators monitored the participants for an average of three years.

Treatment adherence was significantly better for the shorter regimen. Nearly all (97 percent) of those assigned to the short-course therapy completed the full antibiotic course, compared to 90 percent of participants in the ninemonth arm.

Overall, TB incidence was lower than expected and was similar in both treatment arms, with 32 participants assigned to the one-month regimen and 33 to the nine-month regimen developing active TB disease. Regardless of treatment type, TB rates were higher among participants who were not on antiretroviral therapy at the start of the study and among those who had had a positive TB skin or blood test.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10 21

“Brad was one of the go-to guys in the Omaha music scene forever,” recalled Rogers, who stated playing in the market around 1975-76 in the folk lounge of The Joker in Council Bluffs.

Remembering Brad Cordle 1953-2018 By Andy Roberts

“I don’t know of any local musician who went to more shows than Brad. Not even close,” Balderston said. “He was at damn near every show that I played During the 1980s Rogers and High Heel and the Sneakers were often play- that wasn’t with him.” ing the same clubs as Cordle and The Mighty Jailbreakers, such as The Ranch Then, there was that magnificent, soulful voice that seemed able to hold a Bowl and Arthur’s. One night Rogers note forever. sat in with The Jailbreakers who were covering Little Feat’s “Let It Roll.” “That’s a big voice,” Balderston acknowledged. “We always gave him shit High Heel is in the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll because he had to put an end to it . . . Hall of Fame, but The Mighty Jailwe’d all be looking to our watches.” breakers had horns. “It was like this big locomotive pushing you across the stage,” Rogers recalled. “The difference Can that voice be replaced? was significant.” “The Jail Breakers will be done,” he said, For one night in the late 80s he played speaking of the great horn band that already has seen many members pass. guitar with the Jailbreakers at the Nashville Club in Council Bluffs. “We’re all getting older. You better get “For some reason their guitar player good at saying good bye.” couldn’t make the show.”

There simply was no one like Brad Cordle on the Omaha music scene. To say Rogers calls himself a front man and he will be missed is an understatement. singer who plays guitar. He begged off, but Cordle insisted. “I had a great time. Variously known as “The Round Mound It was a heads-up ball for me all night.” of Sound” or “The Chunk o’ Funk,” he was one of the most beloved folks Rogers has many memories of his old around. He sat in on performances with friend, but more than anything will almost everyone – who wouldn’t want remember Cordle for: “His constant that amazing voice – and supported support of the Omaha music scene.” music like no one else. In a sentiment repeated by almost That voice was silenced on February everyone, Brad Cordle heard and saw 26, with his passing that morning at the everyone play. too-young age of 64. Focus is remembering Brad Cordle this week by talking to a few of his friends and fellow musicians. To talk to everyone who loved him could fill an issue by itself. Cordle invoked that kind of emotion, he was one of the kindest and most gentle people to ever walk the planet. John Rogers of Peace, Love Etc., called Cordle a musical icon for the area.

The bass player also praised Cordle for his support of the local music scene.

Craig Balderston who played in The Brad Cordle Band and The Mighty Jailbreakers said Cordle’s death is painful but did not come as a shock. “Those of us who were close to him . . . knew that phone call was coming some time,” he said. “This one hurts.” Balderston added: “He’s a very gentle soul, I should say was . . . Miss everything about him.”

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

Keyboardist Mitch Towne, who played with Cordle in The Jailbreakers, had this reaction. “I mean he’s Brad Cordle. He was a fixture of the local scene as long as I’ve been around,” Towne emphasized. “Brad sort of kept me in Omaha,” Towne recalled. Having just graduated from college and considering a move elsewhere, Towne was invited to try out for The Jailbreakers. “He knew how to put together a band. He had a nose for guys with talent,” Towne stressed. “Anybody who heard The Jailbreakers heard an amazing band.” The Jailbreakers horns were just what the young jazz-loving Towne wanted to hear, and recalled being somewhat stunned to learn he had passed the audition. A month later they hit the road.

of Cordle. “We lost something that made Omaha special.” Guitar player Grover Lipkins recalled playing with Cordle in the 1970s. “We were always jamming together” he said, remembering weekly jams at The Howard Street Tavern. Those events featured an amazing collection of talent, including many musicians who still play today, but Brad Cordle stood out. “He could really go. He had chops . . . . a lot of soul,” Lipkins stated, adding he appreciated Cordle’s rhythm guitar playing and support for the local music scene. “He was always there.” Multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Bucky McCann played sax with Cordle in multiple groups and Cordle often sat in with him. “I played in his band and he played in my band. That was kind of the relationship,” McCann said. “I was never in an official band with him. Worked in the studio with him.” On some of those occasions, McCann helped on the production side of things. He, too, recalled Cordle’s support of the local music scene. “He supported live music more than anybody I know, cause he just liked being around it,” McCann said “He had to be around it. It was his life.” The two were great friends, McCann said. It was mutual respect, I think,” he stated. “There’s just so many people that loved the guy. That, to me, is what you take away from this,” McCann emphasized.

Greg Bowie played with Cordle when “He’s a generational talent,” Towne said the singer needed a bass player.

“He was a genuine gentleman,” Bowie recalled. “Through the years he’d come to see me play and I’d go to see him play.”

“I thought they were an act that was flown in here,” he recalled. “I’m from the home of soul music . . . I just went nuts.”

Bowie recalled how things were different back in those days of the late 80s and early 90s. Friends always used to go see each other and were invited to sit in with their buddies.

That led to him discovering more local groups and Eckleberry became an Omahan.

“He liked everybody being involved,” he said. “Some of the younger players don’t do it like back in the day.” Guitarist George Laughery called his old friend, “A great talent, a great singer . . . He was kind of like my brother, too, you know, so it was different for me.” Laughery knew Cordle for 36 years and they played in numerous bands, including an old band of Laughery’s that performed at Boomer’s in Fremont. That venue was a strip club during the week and a live music venue on weekends. Cordle used to come out and sing on “Every Step You Take,” Laughery recalled. Cordle later slept on Laughery’s floor for a year as they put together The Jailbreakers. The guitarist also praised Cordle as a tremendous supporter of live music. “Just a sweetheart, loved by children and dogs,” Laughery chuckled. “And a powerful singer.” He said he will remember his friend as: “A great artist with a kind heart.” But: “If you worked with him in a band you had your differences at times. It wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns.” Brian Eckleberry, keyboardist-vocalist of EckoPhonic, came to the metro area via the Air Force, and as his time in the service was coming to an end, he was planning to return to Georgia.

There are many things he will miss about Cordle, but what was to come tops the list. The two were starting to work on an R’n’B review with horns. Though they had performed together many times, this was finally a proper pairing up on a project. “I’m sad that didn’t get to happen,” Eckleberry stated. “He wasn’t ready to go.” Terry O’Halloran, the former bar owner and still a music promoter, often worked with Cordle going back more than a quarter of a century. He recalled how in 1998 Cordle and the late Dave Barger approached him about founding the Blues Society of Omaha. It has been a tremendous success. “The Thursday series is coming up on 20 years of doing national acts on Thursdays,” O’Halloran pointed out. He praised Cordle for not taking short cuts with The Jailbreakers in terms of numbers or talent. “He always had the top players in town.” Count O’Halloran among the chorus who agree that Cordle is not going to be replaced. “Biggest voice, very unique soulful style. He was definitely committed to the music,” O’Halloran said. “One of a kind.” He also will not be forgotten. A celebration of Brad Cordle’s life drew an overflow crowd to Chrome Lounge on Sunday afternoon and early evening. His red fedora graced an empty microphone stand.

“I loved the beach and was always going back to the beach.”

O’Halloran said $3,400 was collected for the Blues Ed program that teaches Then, two weeks before he was set to young musicians about the blues. It leave, Eckleberry decided to check out was announced that the local music scene. As a musician, he an annual event will be had planned to find work playing music. held in Cordle’s honor to raise funds for Blues He went to the hot spot of the times, Ed. Arthur’s, and saw The Mighty Jailbreakers. The multi-piece horn band You have to think he came as a shock. would have liked that.

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Family Folk

By Jesse D. Stanek Shovels & Rope ain’t trying to be Johnny and June. Their country-inflected, root-stomping brand of acoustic sing along owes as much to Nashville’s First Couple as it does to the fuzz-infested strains of The Ramones, Jesus and The Mary Chain and Nirvana. The music is acoustic to be sure. The songwriting is steeped in Americana characters and locales and the harmonizing is straight out of the classic Carter Family songbook. The sweat beading on their foreheads at set break, the rickety junkyardfound-and-built drum set, the oldschool western wear with just a hint of hipster-casual all attest to the band’s Americana leanings but certainly also belie something a little rougher at the core, something a little bit country and

at the same time a little bit CBGB after hours. The couple’s live energy seems to be what grabs folks at first. On the stage they are nothing short of ferocious, two souls hell-bent for sonic leather. Their harmonies are infectious and at times even hauntingly gorgeous; the musicianship is top shelf (both grew up with musician fathers) and some sort of country cosmic-intangible keeps Shovels & Rope from sounding like the legions of Americana wannabes picking dirges in second hand hats and coats. Shovels and Rope have arrived and for those of us who really get off on authentic music created and performed with heart, their arrival comes right on time. Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst are much more than two people playing in a band together, much more than even the prolific songwriting combo they’ve become. They are man and wife, mother and father. After both cut their teeth in various bands of various ilks, they were brought together by the close-knit Charleston, SC music scene. The couple eventually decided they liked playing and writing together enough to give it a go. And give it a go they have, releasing several studio albums to critical acclaim, playing virtually every festival our country has to offer and now raising their 2-year old daughter Louisiana Jean on the road, S&R have found their place not only in the modern-day musical climate but also have created a lifestyle which works for them both professionally and as a family.

tour bus now and that helps but we don’t sleep. We have a two year old. We kind of have this show that happens before the show now. Our energy to keep going comes from the show. We’ll do three or four shows in a row and then have a day off. We usually wake up around seven on the bus. We take a bus stop so everybody can use the potty. Normally we’ll do the load-in then it’s off to lunch with the baby. We’ll try to find somewhere fun to take her, then a nap, sound-check and it’s showtime.”

ally different for us every time,” Trent said. “We tend to write a lot separately. One of us will start with a verse or a chord and then we’ll check in with each other every few months and just ask ‘do you want to take it over?’” “You have that pile of unfinished songs and you just kind of hand it off,” Hearst added. “We’re not very precious about anything when we’re writing.”

The band’s latest two efforts are both albums of covers, Busted Jukebox Volume 1 and Volume 2. The records are not only chocked full of meaningful “Time management is probably the renditions expertly picked and plucked biggest struggle for us on the road,” with a plethora of friends, more than Trent chimed in. “We get to spend so anything else they are just plain fun. much time with her. A lot of people that pull nine-to-fivers don’t get to do The band didn’t stick to one genre or style when choosing what songs to that. We do take a nanny with us on cover. The collections offer versions the road though so there are a lot of moving parts to stay on top of. We’ll try of songs by the likes of Neil Young (“Unknown Legend”), Guns & Roses to carve out a half hour for ourselves “This lifestyle, it costs a lot,” Hearst but you never know, she’s a wild card.” (“Patience”), The Kinks (“Stranger”), The Hollies (“The Air That I Breathe”) said during a recent phone interview. “Michael and I aren’t twenty-five Shovels and Rope’s live energy is noth- and Concrete Blonde (“Joey”). anymore. The physical energy it takes ing short of bombastic, their enthuShovels & Rope play The Waiting Room can be exhausting but we’re also siasm for the songs is infectious and propelled by a need for that. We need I’ve personally yet to see a crowd they on Thursday, March 15th at 8pm. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 day of show. to perform. We need to do the show. haven’t completely won over. Their We just hope that now we’re as ener- compatibility is not only apparent on getic and explosive as we used to be the stage but also within the songs on stage. You know, we are on a nice they write together. “The process is re-

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

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Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10 25

Expert Answers to Mortgage Questions

By Steve Sorensen

Foundation One Bank Executive Vice President Chief Lending Officer NMLS: 1457428 17445 Arbor Street, Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68130 It is our daily mission to provide an unexpected experience by offering

personal comfort rather than skill in predicting the markets. If you will be most comfortable knowing you are Risk varies based on the type of loan. safely locked in, then a longer lock Before you decide whether to avoid or may be less stressful than taking your pay the premium for a longer mortgage chances on getting a better rate later. We pride ourselves on being accessible, rate lock, take into account the kind of Either way, we’re here and Our loans you’re considering. Mortgage loan officers are happy to responsive, knowledgeable and help. trustworthy. We also work proactively to understand our customers’ behavior Different loan types may have less by finding out their motivations, values volatility in the rate from week-toDo you participate in any down week. For example, an adjustable rate and even lifestyles to better evaluate payment assistance programs? loan may be tied to a slow-moving the specific products and services we RealtyTrac® (www.realtytrac.com), index rather than the day-to-day offer that will work best to retain the a reliable source for comprehensive key relationships we work so diligently market. housing data, recently released a joint to earn. analysis with Down Payment Resource, No one knows with absolute certainty Inc. on the availability of down what interest rates will do during your payment programs across the country. Do you offer loan rate locks, application and approval process. One They found that out of 2,290 down and can you describe them? thing is certain: Your loan has to be payment programs researched, and Yes! It’s all about risk/reward. In the more than 78 million U.S. single-family time between filling out an application locked before it can close. For many, homes and condos in 1,792 counties and closing a loan, interest rates will do the decision is better made based on what they always do-change. At times, the rate of change is exceptionally volatile, even from one minute to the next. “Locking In” your interest rate protects you from the risk of rising rates much like purchasing an insurance policy. The risk is not a one-way street, though. Protecting yourself from rising mortgage rates means you transfer that risk to the lender. In turn, lenders must purchase “hedges” to provide protection. These are financial instruments such as U.S. Treasury Bonds which have values that move in the opposite direction of rates. A hedge can be expensive, and just like other forms of insurance, longer policy periods cost more. As a result, exceptional, personalized service and valuable financial advice to our clients who desire a banking “Relationship” with people who genuinely care about their personal and financial well- being.

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

longer locks have a higher cost, which is reflected in the cost of your loan.

with sufficient home value data, more than 68 million (87 percent) would qualify for a down payment program available in the county where they are located based on the maximum price requirements for those programs and the estimated value of the properties. Income limits vary depending on the market and programs extend beyond just first-time homebuyers. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important for buyers to research down payment programs as part of their loan shopping process.

agents should take the time to research credit enhancement providers that are available to them which will put themselves in a much better position to successfully purchase a home when the time comes. Borrowers can check to see the down payment help programs available in their area that they may qualify for at http://downpaymentresource.com/ are-you-eligible.

Historically low homeownership rates across nearly every age group have led to a public policy push to lower the barrier to homeownership through down payments as low as 3 percent, but the fact is that the barrier to homeownership is often much lower than even 3 percent for borrowers who take advantage of the wide variety of down payment help programs available across the country. Prospective home buyers and/or their

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10 27

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

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PITCH PIZZERIA 5021 Underwood Ave./ 17808 Burke M-F 3P-6P $5 off any appetizer $5 off any pizza PLANK SEAFOOD & PROVISIONS 1205 Howard St. Monday-Saturday 3-6:30 pm & Sunday Noon-8 pm OMAHA TAP HOUSE 1401 Farnam St. & 579 N 155th Plz M-F 3P - 6P & ALL DAY SUNDAY $1 Off All TapBeers $4 Svedka, $4 Windsor, $4 Sauza Silver, $4 Cruzan Rum RAILCAR MODERN AMERICAN KITCHEN 1814 N 144th St. M-F 3:30-6:30P $4 Well Drinks $3 Off Signature Cocktails SCRIPTOWN 3922 Farnam M-F 4P - 6P $1 Off Beers & $1 Off Well Drinks THE DOWN UNDER 3530 Leavenworth St. MON-TUES 4P-7P WED-FRI 3P-7P SUNDAY-ALLDAY

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10 29

AUCTIONS EASTERN NEBRASKA FRIENDS OF NRA ANNUAL BANQUET & AUCTION THURSDAY, APRIL 5 | 5:30p Keystone Event Center 7803 Military Ave., Omaha 68134 Fun, Fellowship, Firearms & Fundraising There is something for everyone at a Friends of NRA event. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere is brimming with excitement. A fun family-friendly event that you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss! -----------------------------------------------NOW HIRING BOURBON SALOON 311 S 15th St., Omaha 68102 Bourbon Saloon is hiring immediately

EMPLOYMENT for bartenders, waitstaff, beer troft, shot servers, & security! Please call 402-813-6944 to set up an interview! -----------------------------------------------NOW HIRING BARTENDER AT OLD MATTRESS FACTORY BAR & GRILL 501 N 13th St., Omaha, 68102 Benefits include: Flexible hours, Free parking, Half price meals, AFLAC, Vacation & 401k ------------------------------------------------

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10

Focus | March 7 - March 13 | Volume 2 Issue 10 31