FocusV3I40 by Focus Omaha

YOUR

FREE

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 40 | OCTOBER 2 - OCTOBER 8 | 2019 ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, HEALTH, PERSONAL FINANCE, & MUSIC NEWSWEEKLY

LIVE

Patti Labelle-Soul Legend

REVIEWS

Las Cruxes, “Ilusiones, Depresiones”

SPORTS

Is It Time To Pull The Trigger?

FINANCE

Year-End Charitable Giving

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OCTOBER 2 - OCTOBER

YOUR

FREE

8 | 2019

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 40 | E, & MUSIC NEWSWEEKLY HEALTH, PERSONAL FINANC ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT,

THE ARTS

FOCUS ON THIS WEEK! 24

FINANCE

Year-End Charitable Giving By Michael Herek Sponsored By Blue Capitol Wealth SPORTS

LIVE

Patti Labelle-Soul Legend

REVIEWS

esiones” Las Cruxes, “Ilusiones, Depr

BENSON

er?

Is It Time To Pull The Trigg

FINANCE

Charitable Giving

FAMILY

EVENTS

ON TEN

This week’s top ten events you don’t want to miss! By Focus Omaha

OUTDOORS

A New Can of Worms! By Jody Green Extension Urban Entomologist At Nebraska Extension

REVIEWS

Las Cruxes, “Ilusiones, Depresiones” By Tatiana Ballinger

HAPPY HOUR

We gathered up some of the BEST Happy Hour spots in and around the Omaha metro!

THIS WEEKS FEATURE

LIVE

Patti Labelle – Soul Legend to Play Orpheum

REAL ESTATE

HEALTH

COUNCIL BLUFFS

LINCOLN

Pending Home Sales Grow 1.6% in August Sponsored By Eric Cano/ Meraki Realty Group

United States Gathers 350 Commitments to Combat Antibiotic Resistance, Action Must Continue & Health- Nebraska Families to Benefit from New Federal Child Welfare Prevention Law By Focus Omaha

SPORTS Is It Time To Pull The Trigger & Photos from Opening Night with Husker Hoops By Focus Omaha

Focus is your FREE Arts, Entertainment, Health, Personal Finance, & Music Newsweekly. We’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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 6 PM DAOMAHA LECTURE: CLIVE WILKINSON Joslyn Art Museum,2200 Dodge St. daOMA Welcomes Clive Wilkinson Lecture is at 7pm in the Witherspoon Concert Hall. -------------------------------------------------------THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 6 PM – 10 PM 2019 FASHION IMPACT AWARDS Empire Room Omaha, 200 S. 31st Ave. The Fashion Impact Awards is a fundraiser for Fashion Institute Midwest that recognizes individuals and organizations in our community making an impact on the Midwest through the art of fashion. -------------------------------------------------------FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 6PM-8PM SHAWNEQUA LINDER, JILL RIZZO, AND JENNIFER SHANNON ART EXHIBIT Star Deli, 6114 Military Ave, Omaha Exhibition open during business hours and will run through October 27th. Please contact artists directly for artwork sales. -------------------------------------------------------SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 6PM RE-MAKE/RE-MODEL | ART SHOW OutrSpaces, 1258 S 13th St, Omaha Re-Make/Re-Model is a group art show co-curated by Tyler Chickinelli and Drew Newlin. The show features 15 locally and nationally renowned Omaha-based artists who will all bring their diverse perspectives onto the same medium — a blank skateboard. -------------------------------------------------------FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 6PM LITTLE ITALY ABSTRACTS | THOMAS PRINZ + MIKE NESBIT Maple St. Construct, 5912 Maple St. Opening Exhibition & art on display. -------------------------------------------------------FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 6PM OPENING RECEPTION THE LITTLE GALLERY BENSON 5901 Maple St., Omaha The little gallery is pleased to host CARTÓN by John D. Muñoz during the month of October. The opening reception is Friday, Oct. 4, from 6-9pm in conjunction with Benson First Friday. CARTÓN runs through Oct. 26. The little gallery is powered by Polecat Communications. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 3-6pm, Saturday from 10am to 1pm + by appointment. For more information, call 402.681.1901 or email info@polecatcommunications.com. CARTÓN runs through Oct. 26. -------------------------------------------------------FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 6PM-8PM EDISON CREATIVE, 2922 NORTH 61ST Open house w/ animation and art on display! -------------------------------------------------------FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 6PM-8PM BFF OCTOBER: ARTIST FEATURE TOBIAS CABALLERO & CHRIS MARTINI Jake’s Cigars, 6206 Maple St, Omaha -------------------------------------------------------FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 6 PM – 9 PM FIRST FRIDAY OLD MARKET Omaha Old Market, 1100 Howard St, A free event celebrating local creativity in our historic neighborhood. Visit galleries

to explore fresh perspectives and meet the artists. To make your First Friday experience even better we’re offering free parking and free rides on Ollie the Trolley, 6-9pm. Park free in the lot behind the Creighton physician’s clinic (SW corner of 13th & Leavenworth). Park there and hop aboard the trolley to circulate the neighborhood. -------------------------------------------------------FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 7 PM – 9 PM KANEKO-UNO Library, 12th and Jones St. Join us for an evening of creative fun and exploration as local poets share their work! This event is free and open to the public. -------------------------------------------------------FRIDY, OCTOBER 4, 7P PETSHOP, 2727 N 62nd St., Omaha Opening Reception: Dwight Edward Brown III + On Display: Unite Us One by BARBER. BARBER will be on display through October 25th. -------------------------------------------------------FRIDY, OCTOBER 4, 7P WORD AND IMAGE: THE SAINT JOHN’S BIBLE MEMBERS PREVIEW Joslyn Art Museum,2200 Dodge St. Members, please join us for the opening celebration of Word and Image: The Saint John’s Bible. At 6 pm in the Witherspoon Concert Hall, enjoy a talk by special guest Tim Ternes, Director of The Saint John’s Bible Project at the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library at Saint John’s University. Following the talk, stay for exhibition viewing in the Pavilion galleries and cash bar. -------------------------------------------------------OCTOBERR 2-6, 7:30P CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY THEATRE DEPARTMENT PRESENTS: COMPANY Creighton University, Lied Education Center for the Arts 2500 California Plz. Weds/Thurs/Fri/Sat @ 7:30pm | Sun @ 2pm Adult: $18 | Senior: $15 | Student/CU Faculty & Staff: $5 Robert is a single man surrounded by married couples on his 35th birthday. Through a series of vignettes featuring his lovers and friends, Robert tries to make sense of the institution of marriage and comes to terms with what it means to be alive. Tickets can be purchased online at boxoffice.creighton.edu, over the phone at 402.280.1448, or in person at the Box Office in the Lied Education Center for the Arts -------------------------------------------------------SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 THROUGH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2019 FALL CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW Lauritzen Gardns, 100 Bancroft St, Omaha 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Experience a fascinating fabrication of flowers at the garden’s annual fall chrysanthemum show. Bold mums combine with vibrant colors, diverse textures and other design elements- that celebrate the 10th anniversary of the garden’s conservation program.Standard garden admission rates apply. Members are admitted free.

Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40

-------------------------------------------------------MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 7:30PM – 8:30PM JAPANESE SWORDSMANSHIP CLOCK A.V. Sorensen Community Center 4808 Cass St., Omaha Discover this traditional Japanese martial art of swordsmanship. Using a wooden sword, participants will learn kata, suburi, tachiuchi and battoho. -------------------------------------------------------THROUGH OCTOBER 2019 ARTELATINX El Museo Latino, 4701 S 25 St. “THE VOICE OF OUR ROOTS” The Office of Latino/Latin American Studies (OLLAS) in collaboration with El Museo Latino is organizing their second biennial art exhibition to be held at El Museo Latino (4701 S. 25th St, Omaha, NE) during Hispanic Heritage Month in 2019. This exhibition will be centered around the motto/lema “The Voice of our Roots/La Voz de Nuestras Raices.” The mission of ArteLatinX is to create a biennial art exhibition to bring together Latinx artists from all over Nebraska. -------------------------------------------------------THROUGH OCTOBER 13: ANNIE Omaha Community Playhouse 6915 Cass Everyone’s favorite red-headed orphan takes the stage at the Omaha Community Playhouse! Annie is the beloved tale of a young girl who never gives up hope of one day reuniting with her parents. After enlisting the help of Depression-era billionaire Oliver Warbucks, Annie finds herself in a tangled web of con artists, kidnappers and—worst of all—Miss Hannigan! With a little help from her orphan friends and her dog, Sandy, Annie ultimately finds a place where she belongs in this heartwarming classic. Featuring timeless songs like “Tomorrow” and “It’s The Hard-Knock Life,” Annie has been delighting audiences of all ages for decades. www.omahaplayhouse.com Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, & Saturday until

Saturday, October 12, 7:30p Every Sunday until Sunday, October 13, 2p -------------------------------------------------------THROUGH JANUARY, 19, 2020 EVERYDAY PEOPLE: THE ART OF JAMES E. RANSOME Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. This exhibition includes picture book illustrations celebrating inspiring stories of unknown characters, as well as individuals who made history, like Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, and Louis Armstrong. A Mind’s Eye Gallery exhibition. -------------------------------------------------------THROUGH OCTOBER 20: INFLUENCE Kaneko, 1111 Jones St, Omaha Creativity Begins with an Idea. Nothing exists by itself; everything has something next to it. Something changes drastically depending on what is next to it. – Jun Kaneko Through the exploration of physical space, artistic themes, history, and experience, the season of INFLUENCE will examine the history of change at KANEKO while celebrating the future of the organization which has become a driving force for inclusion and diversity of creative thought in Omaha. The exhibition is free & open to the public. -------------------------------------------------------THROUGH FEBRUARY, 9, 2020 EVERYDAY PEOPLE: THE ART OF JAMES E. RANSOME Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St This exhibition includes picture book illustrations celebrating inspiring stories of unknown characters, as well as individuals who made history, like Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, and Louis Armstrong. --------------------------------------------------------

WHAT’S YOUR FOCUS OMAHA? WWW.FOCUSOMAHA.COM

Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40 5

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2 LEADER READER, 11:45 a.m. Omaha Childrens Museum, 500 S 20th St. Join us for Leader Reader story time on the first Wednesday of the month! Miss Nebraska 2019, Allie Swanson will read a book about her industry to children. One child attending story time will win the book at the end of the story. Leader Reader is held in the Family Discovery Room inside Imagination Playground.

Benson neighborhood, Omaha Check out all the OCTOBER BENSON FIRST FRIDAY art walk events ------------------------------------------------------SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 11AM – 3PM MOODY MONSTER PARTY HAT CRAFT Lakeshore Learning 12005 W. Center Rd., Omaha Enjoy crafts and hands-on activities. Family Friendly. No registration required. Lakeshore’s Free Crafts for Kids Monster Leader Reader is included with museum admission. ------------------------------------------------------Celebration Saturdays in October ------------------------------------------------------THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1PM OCTOBER 3–6, 10–13, 17–20 & 24–27, 7pm GHOULS & GLOW Presented by Veridian Credit Union 4TH ANNUAL WINE WALK Ditmars Orchard & Vineyard Experience a brand new light-time adventure Join Ditmars Orchard, Prairie Crossing, Vine for the whole family this Halloween at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. This Street Cellars, and Sacrilegious Ciderworks fun and not-so-frightening event is an illuminat- for a FUN 3k walk through the scenic Orchard, ed spectacle for all ages and like nothing you’ve with a sample of wine at the end of each km. Receive one wrist band and one map to guide seen before! Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium will dawn about 400 larger-than-life you along the wine walk journey. Please be lantern displays— creating the first experience sure to keep your map with you as your ticket of its kind in the country—as part of an all-new for each wine tasting stop family friendly Halloween event. 1-5 PM: 3K Walk/Run October 3 – 6, 10 – 13, 17 – 20 and 24 – 27. 1-3 PM: BAND ------------------------------------------------------FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4- SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 Mike Bertrand JUNKSTOCK HARVEST EDITION 2019 NET proceeds will go to the American Cancer Sycamore Farms, Waterloo, Nebraska Society/Relay for Life One of a kind shopping, giant pumpkins, hayr- Limit of 250 entrants– ack rides, bonfires, beer garden, food trucks, must be 21 years or older and more! Junkstock: Harvest Edition is all of This event is open to everyone, so bring your the best things about fall...all rolled into one friends and family for a fun way to spend a magical experience! Saturday afternoon. However, it is not recommended to bring small Omaha’s original vintage festival, Junkstock, children, as this event is for a 21+ crowd, in features 150 junk and vintage vendors and which alcohol is being served. artisans from our own backyard and all over ------------------------------------------------------the country, livemusic, food trucks, and a SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2pm free Kids Village. Pet friendly & Children 12 & HALLOWEEN IS BREWING WITH FUN! under are free! Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Ashland, Ne Kids Costume Contest Parade, Pumpkin Junkstock is the place to be for vintage finds, Carving Contest (pumpkins cost $5 each, supplies unique antiques, handmade artisan food and may be limited), Bonfire & Kids Games. All event goods and one of a kind repurposed relics. activities take place at the Owen Marina. The The three-day curated vintage, junk & artisan event is free to attend; concessions, arts & festival that celebrates all things rusty, dusty crafts, pumpkins available for sale. A valid park & timeless is at the charming century-old entry permit is required per vehicle to enter the Sycamore Farms. state park. For more information, contact the HOURS: park office at (402) 944-2523 extension 7122. ------------------------------------------------------Early Bird* Hours + Friday 9am - 11am SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 5PM General Admission + Friday 11am - 7pm OBSERVE THE MOON NIGHT 2019 General Admission + Saturday 9am 6pm Branched Oak Observatory, Malcolm, Ne General Admission + Sunday 10am - 5pm Celebrate International Observe the Moon *Early Bird Ticket required. Night at Branched Oak Observatory. 5PM to 9PM. Come early to explore our amazing 25 This pet friendly event is $10 per day or $20 foot x 25 foot Giant Moon Map, then stay late for a full weekend pass. Children 12 & under to see the beutiful Planet Saturn. The figurative are free. Early Bird passes are also available for $30, that gets you in two hours early Friday “star” of the show, the Moon, will will visible in with a $5 voucher towards Junkstock gear (also the sky the entire time! includes admission for the whole weekend). SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 6pm You can visit junkstock.com for more information HOWL-O-WEEN SAFARI and to order your tickets in advance. Wildlife Safari Park, Ashland, Nebraska Make like a wolf pack and gather your family for OCTOBER BENSON FIRST FRIDAY Howl-O-Ween Safari on Friday, October 4 and Friday, October 4, 2019 at 5 PM – 11:30 PM Saturday, October 5 at 6pm

Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40

DIGGIN’ DINOS OPENS OCTOBER 12! Omaha Childrens Museum, 500 S 20th St. Diggin’ Dinos will place children in an imagined world where dinosaurs and humans work together to build a dinosaur research facility. The exhibit will include a combination of lifesized animatronic dinosaurs and construction Remember to wear your Halloween costume and walk in our costume parade at 7 p.m. Event equipment as well as a digging and building area. Children will be able to test out a variety also includes your very own candy bag and special visits from some of our animal ambasof S.T.E.M. careers including engineer, archisadors. tect, construction worker, vehicle operator, paleontologist, and veterinarian. Engineering Event is suitable for all ages. Reservations are required. VIP passes are available for early challenges and interactive presentations will entry at 5 p.m.: $30 per person for Wildlife Sa- also take place in the exhibit daily. ------------------------------------------------------fari Park members and $35 for non-members. HEALTHY TRICK-OR-TREAT NIGHTS Tickets for regular entry at 6 p.m. are $20 per Omaha Childrens Museum, 500 S 20th St. person for Wildlife Safari Park members and Fridays, Oct. 18 & 25, 4 to 8 p.m. $25 for non-members. ------------------------------------------------------Put on your costumes and head to the museum SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2019 // 1PM TO 6PM for a night of indoor trick-or-treating from 4 to 3RD ANNUAL PORCHFEST OMA 8 p.m. (while supplies last). Once you’re done Gifford Park Neighborhood | 33rd & California collecting your healthy or non-food goodies, Free and all ages! play throughout the museum. The event is Porchfest began over 10 years ago in Ithaca, included with regular museum admission and is New York and has expanded to 134 sister free for members. Sponsored by Learning HQ. festivals in the U.S. and Canada. It grows by about 20 each year! Join us ‘round the campfire for dinner (your choice of a BBQ pork sandwich, a BBQ chicken sandwich or macaroni and cheese with chips and a drink) and a marshmallow roast, ride on a straw-filled hayrack ride and play Halloween-themed games in the great outdoors at Wildlife Safari Park after-hours.

Gifford Park Neighborhood Stage, 520 N 33rd 1pm: The Shineys 2pm: Pony Creek 3pm: Southpaw Bluegrass Band 4pm: Jessica Errett 5pm: The Prairie Gators Porch 1, 3422 Cass Street 1:15pm: Virginia Kathryn2:15pm: Scott Severin LINCOLN AREA Fall Festival, Roca Berry Farm 3:15pm: Ro Hempel 4:15pm: Matt Cox 5:15pm: Township & Range 16531 S 38th St, Roca, NE (402) 421-2933 Porch 2, 3409 California Street (backyard) rocaberryfarm.com 1pm: Corey Stroud 2pm: Nation 3pm: Matt Cronin 4pm: Grace Giebler JK’s Pumpkin Patch 5pm: Jason Birnstihl of The 9s 757 Bluff Road Lincoln, NE (402-430-9135 Porch 3, 3411 Cass Street 1:15pm: Wooden Music 2:15pm: Dave Letcher jkspumpkinpatch.com 3:15pm: Bill King 4:15pm: Pickle OMAHA AREA 5:15pm: Brikwondo Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch Porch 4, 3320 Burt Street 3935 NE-133, Blair, NE 1pm: Root Marm Chicken Farm Jug Band (402) 689-7585 2:15pm: Robo Dojo skinnybonespumpkinpatch.com 3:30pm: The Bedrock 4:45pm: Daniel and the Deliverance Martin’s Hillside Orchard 2024 Ashland, Rd, Ceresco, NE Porch 5, 3415 California Street 402-665-2140 1:15pm: Union County Trio 2:30pm: Soul Tree 3:45pm: Lucas Kellison 5pm: The Wildwoods skinnybonespumpkinpatch.com Porch 6, 3406 Webster Street 1pm: Supper 2:15pm: Danny Burns & the John Lee Band 3:30pm: Mr. E & the Stringless Kite 4:45pm: Jaguar James Open Mic Porch 3201 California Street Hosted by Aly Peeler www.PorchfestOMA.com

Harvest Moon 1098 County Road N, Oakland, NE 402-380-1730 harvestmoonoakland.com Family events continued onto the bottom half of page 7.

Family events continued from page 6. Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard 12102 S. 180th Street Gretna, NE (402) 332-4200 valaspumpkinpatch.com Arbor Day Farms 2611 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 402-873-8717 arbordayfarm.org

Bloom Where You Are Planted Farm 911 108th Street, Avoca, NE (402) 267-4104 bloompumpkinpatch.com Wenninghoff’s 6707 Wenninghoff Road, Omaha, NE 402-571-2057 wenninghoff.com/pumpkin-patch/

Bellevue Berry Farm & Pumpkin Ranch 11001 S 48th St, Papillion, NE (402) 331-5500 bellevueberryfarm.com

Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40 7

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 2 Victim of Violence Support Group En Español, WCA Latina Resource Center, 9am

FRIDAY OCTOBER 4 Junkstock: Harvest Edition, Waterloo, NE, 9am

Bowling For Soup & Less Than Jake w/ Authority Zero - Slowdown, 8pm Daniel & the Deliverance, Harney Street Tavern, 8:30pm

Genealogy Workshop, Millard Branch Library, 10am Cody James w/ Randall Gruber, The Well, 8pm BED Trio, The Barley Stree , 9pm 89.7 The River Mega Fest w/ Dropkick Murphys, Spooky Soiree LGBT, Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, 5pm Clutch, and more, Westfair Fairgrounds, 1pm Great Team Hero, Chrome Lounge, 9pm Keystone Show and Shine, 7811 Military Ave, 5pm First Friday, Benson neighborhood, 5pm Old Market Haunted Walking Tour, The Monster Club, 9pm Nebraska Writers Workshop, Friday Night Food Truck, Kros Strain, La Vista, 5pm Ralston’s Baright Public Library, 5:30pm Ventura Blvd - Tom Petty celebration October BFF w/Eric In Outerspace/Universe The Waiting Room Lounge, 9pm Sexual Assault Support Group, WCA, 6pm Contest/BB Sledge, The Sydney, 5pm Flippin Whiskey, Two Fine Irishmen, 9pm Male Actor-Educator Auditions, R.E.S.P.E.C.T., Harvest Family Night Barbara Weitz Center, 6pm Union Pacific Museum, 5:30pm Ray Fulcher, Beer Can Alley Omaha, 9:30pm Jazz Quartet, the Jewell, 6:30pm Whiskey & Wine Date Night, Spirit World, 5:30pm Improv, The Backline Comedy Theater, 10pm Room to Breathe: Women’s AA, WCA, 6:30pm FRONT PORCH at the B-BAR, 5:30pm Landlord-Tenant Law, Barbara Weitz Center, 3pm

SATURDAY OCTOBER 5 Junkfest, Waterloo, NE, 9am Fall Chrysanthemum Show, Lauritzen Gardens, 9am Japanese Ambience Festival. Lauritzen Gardens, 9am Friends of OPL Book Sale, Swanson Library, 10am Omaha North Hills Pottery Tour, Big Table Studios, 10am Second Birthday, Barchen Beer Garden, 11am Toys for Tots Car Show Nebraska Brewing Company, 11am

Crop wap, The Union for Contemporary Art, 6pm OFF 48 Hour Challenge, Image Arts Building, 6pm

4th Annual Wine Walk Ditmars Orchard & Vineyard, 1pm

Acoustic Jam, Vino Mas, 6pm

Howl-O-Ween Safari, Wildlife Safari Park, 6pm

The Cat in the Hat, Rose Theatre, 2p

Fall Painting and Pints, The Hop Yard, 6:30pm

Gary Allan, Baxter Arena, 7pm

Progressive Rock, the B-Side of Benson, 7pm-

Monster Jam, CHI, 7p

THURSDAY OCTOBER 3

Angel Hill Band, Freedom Worship Center, 7pm

Pain Release Workshop, WCA, 11am-Noon

Ghouls & Glow by Veridian Credit Union Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, 7p

Enhancing Performance Through Emotional Intelligence, Harper Center, 11:30am-1pm

Rock and Roll Bingo Millard American Legion Post 374, 7pm

Trauma-Senstive Yoga, WCA, 5-6pm

The Cat in the Hat, Rose Theatre, 7p

Food Truck Thursday, Kros Strain La Vista, 5pm Eclipse Trio, The Jewell, 7p Othello: Nebraska Shakespeare, Highlander Accelerator, 6pm Silent Book Club, Autism Center of Nebraska, 6:30pm John Edward, Doubletree Hilton Omaha, 7pm Red Summer by Beaufield Berry, BLUEBARN Theatre, 7:30pm Darude, The Royal Grove, 8pm Sweet 98.5’s Homecoming Redemption Harrah’s Council Bluffs, 8pm “My Suicide Note”, The Backline Comedy Theatre, 8-9:15pm BSE Songwriters Showcase 2019 The Down Under Lounge, 9:30pm

Adam Hambrick, Reverb Lounge, 7pm Bill Sammon, Scriptown Brewing Company, 7pm Abbey Road, Holland Center, 7:30pm Red Summer by Beaufield Berry, BLUEBARN Theatre, 7:30pm The Rocky Horror Show Omaha Community Playhouse, 7:30pm Casey Muessigmann at 2019 Pink Ribbon Rodeo, Bushwackers Saloon, 8pm Bear Call, Talent Show, Tame Suns & Zero, B. Bar, 8pm The Mighty Shipwrecks, Rathskeller Bier Haus, 8pm Mac Demarco, Sokol Theatre, 8pm

Queer Nite, The Sydney, 10pm

Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40

The Trivia Crawl That Can Not Be Named Dubliner Pub, 4pm

Omaha North Hills Pottery Tour, Big Table Studios, 10am

The Cat in the Hat, Rose Theatre, 5p

Monster Jam, CHI, 10am

CathedralFest Spaghetti Dinner and Dance Saint Cecilia Cathedral, 6:30pm

UNMC Faculty, Student, and Officer LGBTW+ Alliance Employee Group Meeting, Noon

Woman’s Legacy Annual Dinner and Fashion Show, Scott Conference Center, 6:30pm

Third Annual Porchfest Omaha, Gifford Park Neighborhood,33rd & California, 1pm

Ghouls & Glow by Veridian Credit Union Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, 7p

The Cat in the Hat, Rose Theatre, 2p

Nick Moss Band featuring Anson Funderburgh The Jewell, 7pm Colin Michael Roberts Live - Twisted Vine, 7pm Rocky Horror Picture Show Play, Omaha Community Playhouse, 7:30pm Kansas: Point of Know Return Anniversary Tour, Omaha Performing Arts, 7:30pm

October Laughter Session, Cali Common, 2pm Free Show, The Jewell, 6pm Senses Fail, The Waiting Room, 7:30pm Red Summer by Beaufield Berry, BLUEBARN Theatre, 7:30pm House Music, Pageturners Lounge, 10pm

MONDAY OCTOBER 7

Red Summer by Beaufield Berry, BLUEBARN Theatre, 7:30pm

UPS Career Fair, UPS Customer Center, 2pm

Reggae Night on the Riverfront, Dam Bar, 8pm

Teen Support Group, WCA, 5pm

Silence is Madness, Haunted Hollow, 8pm

Domestic Violence Support Group, WCA, 6pm

The Jazzy Truth, Rathskeller Bier Haus, 8pm

Hora de Cuentos Bilingue/Bilingual Story Time, South Omaha Branch, 6:30pm

Graveyard Smash Halloween Bash The Waiting Room Lounge, 8pm Swampboy Blues Band at The New Frontier The New Frontier Bar , 8:30pm

Doc Hopper / Rad Owl / DSM-5 / The Lawsons Lookout Lounge, 8p Supermoon, The Trap Room, 8p

Jessica S//Sasha S//Angie S, Cedar Omaha, 9pm 1st Moday Blues Jam The Down Under Lounge, 9p Sinners N Saints, Chrome Lounge, 9pm Sailing in Soup, Harney Street Tavern, 9pm The TimsMen, Havana Garage, 9pm Heartland Boogie Band, Ozone Lounge, 9pm No Shelter w/ Chop Suey!- Slowdown, 9pm Getchasum & The Shineys The Down Under Lounge, 9:30pm

SUNDAY OCTOBER 6

TUESDAY OCTOBER 8 Underground Comedy, O’Leaver’s Pub, 8pm Hoodie Allen w/ Jake Miller at Slowdown, 8p Spencer’s Trivia Dojo 10/8 The Down Under Lounge, 8p Delta Rae at The Waiting Room, 8p Duets with Dylan Karaoke The Down Under Lounge, 10p

Japanese Ambience Festival, Lauritzen Gardens, 9am Heritage Days, Atkinson Park, 9am Fall Chrysanthemum Show, Lauritzen Gardens, 9am

Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40 9

THURSDAY OCTOBER 3 8PM AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD HARRAHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S STIR COVE ONE HARRAHS BLVD COUNCIL BLUFFS

SATURDAY OCTOBER 5 # 8PM BADFLOWER // WEATHERS DEAD POET SOCIETY THE BOURBON THEATRE LINCOLN

THURSDAY OCTOBER 3 8PM PLAGUE VENDOR SLOWDOWN 729 NORTH 14TH ST. OMAHA

SATURDAY OCTOBER 5 7PM

MONSTER JAM

CHI HEALTH CENTER

455 N 10TH ST., OMAHA

Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40

FRIDAY OCTOBER 4 8PM MAC DEMARCO SOKOL AUDITORIUM 2234 S 13TH ST. OMAHA

SATURDAY OCTOBER 5 7:30PM

KANSAS: POINT OF KNOW

FRIDAY OCTOBER 4 5PM BFF: OMAHA VARIOUS BUSINESSES BENSON NEIGHBORHOOD OMAHA

SUNDAY OCTOBER 6 # 1PM 3RD ANNUAL PORCHFEST OMA

FRIDAY OCTOBER 4 7PM ELUVEITIE & KORPIKLAANI THE ROYAL GROVE

340 W CORNHUSKER HWY

LINCOLN

TUESDAY OCTOBER 8 8PM

DELTA RAE RETURN ANNIVERSARY TOUR OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS GIFFORD PARK NEIGHBORHOOD WAITING ROOM 6212 MAPLE ST., OMAHA 1200 DOUGLAS ST., OMAHA 520 N 33RD ST., OMAHA

Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40 11

Ever since generic drugs were introduced as the cost-effective alternative to brand name prescriptions due to the Hatch-Waxman Act in 1984, rumors have persisted about them not being as safe as their higher costing counterparts. Technically, generic drugs are copies of brandname drugs that have exactly the same dosage, intended use, effects, side effects, route of administration, risks, safety, and strength as the original drug. In other words, their pharmacological effects are exactly the same as those of their brand-name counterparts. They’re 80%-85% less than brand names and are prescribed about 80% of the time.

The latest scare has originated from China. Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co., one of China’s largest generic companies, was producing the active ingredient used in the blood-pressure medicine valsartan. The FDA announced in July 2018 they had found NDMA , or N-Nitrosodinethylamine, in the active ingredient of the product. In addition to it once being used in rocket fuelaccording to Bloomberg Business Week, “It can form during industrial processes at tanneries and foundries as well as at pesticide, dye, and tire makers. It can be found in drinking water disinfected with chloramine. It’s in tobacco smoke, which is one reason secondhand smoke is dangerous, and it’s what makes eating a lot of cured and grilled meat potentially risky.”

European health regulators estimate one out of every 3,390 people could become sick from the contaminated valsartan which at its highest levels contains as much as 17 micrograms in a single pill, which is equivalent to 48 pounds of bacon per dose. The drug was originally made by a Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG which spent more than $1 billion to develop Diovan, whose active ingredient is valsartan. It went on the market in 1996 and accounted for 20% of Novartis’s $24 billion in pharmaceutical sales.

It’s U.S. patent expired in 2012 and companies were scrambling to compete with generic versions. The problem with Huahai occurred when The devil, as always, is in the details however they switched to a different, more cost-effecbecause these drugs, since already approved by tive solvent than the one Novartis had used. the FDA, don’t come under the same scrutiny NDMA is known to cause cancer in animals and This created a side reaction producing a resias new drugs which are being introduced into is classified as a probable carcinogen in humans. due that couldn’t be removed from the drug. the market and are more and more frequently A dose of 2 grams can kill a person in a matter being manufactured under less than sanitary of days due to the toxicity it causes in the liver. Now, Global health regulators are also sounding the alarm on the possibility Sanofi heartfacilities worldwide, especially in nations like The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says burn medication Zantac and generic versions China and India. it’s reasonably safe to consume as much as made by numerous manufacturers also conone microgram- or one-millionth of a gram- of According to Generic and Engineering News in NDMA a day. tains NDMA. Ranitidine, as the drug is known September of 2014, “In recent years, manuin generic form, is an antacid used to treat a facturing and quality issues have become a In addition to triggering a recall on valsartan, it wide variety of gastrointestinal disorders. significant stumbling block for the generics also now includes irbesartan and losartan made Almost 25 million prescriptions were written industry. Currently, FDA has banned imports by at least 10 companies. It’s estimated drugs from facilities owned by the Indian companies sold to millions of people in 30 countries could for Zantac in 2018 alone and the initial findings indicate suspected levels of NDMA could be 3x Ranbaxy Laboratories, Wockhardt, and Sun be tainted. higher than the levels in valsartan. Pharmaceutical Industries.”

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Despite the concerns, Allison Dering-Anderson, Pharm, D., RP and Clinical Associate Professor at the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the Nebraska Medical Center told Focus, “The moment something was identified as potentially problematic, everyone was notified. I live in the real world and don’t expect perfection.” She said she understands the frustration with the valsartan issue, however, she also pointed out that it was the industry itself that identified the issue and quickly moved to notify everyone through social media and every vehicle possible. She pointed out most of the company’s manufacturing generic drugs are actually located in Switzerland and Israel, but while she did address there are problems in the Chinese and Indian markets, she added, “I have concerns when any country doesn’t believe in human rights, minimum wage. women’s rights, etc. I am concerned these two countries regularly end up on the industries failure list here they skirt or cross the line.”

continued on page 13

continued from page 12

My question is this. How do we explain this failure in the supply chain to the tens of millions who have now potentially traded off indigestion and high blood pressure for cancer?

GET YOUR FOCUS ON!

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Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40

Patti Labelle –

Soul Legend to Play Orpheum By Andy Roberts

The voice that launched a thousand French lessons is coming to Omaha. “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi (ce soir)?” is the one bit of French most of us remember from our younger days. If you don’t know the translation, well, that’s why Google was created. The song from which that comes, “Lady Marmalade” was No. 1 on the Billboard charts for a week after it was released in 1974. Born in the Philadelphia area, Pattie LaBelle has experienced one of contemporary music’s longest and most honored careers. Not just a singer, but also an actress and entrepreneur, she launched her career in the 1960s with Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. Do yourself a favor and check out their album with the late, magnificent Laura Nyro. The group’s name was changed to Labelle in the 1970s when the iconic hit referenced above was released. During her career, Patti LaBelle has scored 13 Top 10 R&B singles and taken home two Grammy Awards. Yes, she made the cover of Rolling Stone. Reviewing a February 2019 Charlotte, North Carolina, performance in Broadway World,

Vickie Evans wrote, “Ms. LaBelle is certainly a musical legend with a proven track record, integrity, and work ethic that speaks loudly to ANY generation! Yes, a one of a kind... sophisticated lady!” LaBelle is also known for her humanitarian work and is an advocate for adoption, diabetes, cancer, HIV / AIDS among other causes. She has written six books and a few years ago introduced her Patti’s Good Life product line that includes sauces, sweet potato pie, cobblers and cakes. LaBelle stars in her own cooking show, Patti LaBelle’s Place. The “Godmother of Soul” comes to Omaha on Friday, October 18, for one show at the Orpheum Theater. The performance is sponsored by First National Bank, with tickets at the usual outlets. For more on Patti Labelle: pattilabelle.com Get Ticket information at: TicketOmaha.com .

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Pending Home Sales Grow 1.6% in August WASHINGTON- Pending home sales increased in August, a welcome rebound after a prior month of declines, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Each of the four major regions reported both month-over-month growth and year-over-year gains in contract activity. The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI),* www. nar.realtor/pending-home-sales, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, climbed 1.6% to 107.3 in August, reversing the prior month’s decrease. Year-over-year contract signings jumped 2.5%. An index of 100 is equal to the average level of contract activity. “It is very encouraging that buyers are responding to exceptionally low interest rates,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “The notable sales slump in the West region over recent years appears to be over. Rising demand will reaccelerate home price appreciation in the absence of more supply.” All regional indices are up from July, with the highest gain in the West region. The PHSI in the Northeast rose 1.4% to 94.3 in August and is now 0.7% higher than a year ago. In the Midwest, the index increased 0.6% to 101.7 in August, 0.2% higher than August 2018.

nately, so far in 2019, new home construction is down 2.0%. The hope is that housing starts quickly move into higher gear to meet the higher demand. Moreover, broader economic growth will strengthen from increased housing activity.” The National Association of Realtors® is forecasting home sales to rise 0.6% in 2019 and another 3.4% in 2020. Housing starts are predicted to increase by 2.0% in 2019 and jump an additional 10.6% in 2020, which in turn raises GDP to growth at 2.0% in 2020. The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. *The Pending Home Sales Index is a leading indicator for the housing sector, based on pending sales of existing homes. A sale is listed as pending when the contract has been signed but the transaction has not closed, though the sale usually is finalized within one or two months of signing.

The index is based on a large national sample, typically representing about 20% of transactions for existing-home sales. In developing Pending home sales in the South increased 1.4% the model for the index, it was demonstrated to an index of 124.4 in August, a 1.8% bump that the level of monthly sales contract activity from last August. The index in the West grew parallels the level of closed existing-home sales 3.1% in August 2019 to 96.4, an increase of in the following two months. 8.0% from a year ago. An index of 100 is equal to the average level of Yun noted that historically low interest rates contract activity during 2001, which was the will affect economic growth, especially home first year to be examined. By coincidence, the buying, going forward. volume of existing-home sales in 2001 fell within the range of 5.0 to 5.5 million, which is con“With interest rates expected to remain low, sidered normal for the current U.S. population. home sales are forecasted to rise in the coming GET YOUR FOCUS ON! months and into 2020,” said Yun. “Unfortu-

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Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40 17

United States Gathers 350 Commitments to Combat Antibiotic Resistance, Action Must Continue By Focus Omaha

. Forty-seven organizations made As yearlong ‘AMR Challenge’ concludes, progress continues worldwide to combat commitments related to safe drinking water, deadly public health threat sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). Access to The United States will celebrate the success of The AMR Challenge today during the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, having received since its inception last year nearly 350 commitments from 33 countries to implement specific actions to combat antibiotic resistance (also antimicrobial resistance or AMR). Led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), The AMR Challenge is one of the most ambitious global initiatives to date to combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. HHS Secretary Alex Azar will showcase the unprecedented challenge tonight at an event co-hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, American Society for Microbiology, Antimicrobial Resistance Fighter Coalition, and the CDC Foundation. Secretary Azar will celebrate commitments from pharmaceutical and health insurance companies, food animal producers and purchasers, medical professionals and healthcare systems, government health officials, and other leaders from around the world dedicated to building on progress against one of the greatest global public health threats. “The year-long initiative we launched last year around this time, the AMR Challenge, marks a historic step and sets a promising precedent,” HHS Secretary Azar will say at the event on Monday evening. “The success of the Challenge over the past year demonstrates what is possible, in the relatively short term, when we have real commitment to the fight against this pressing public health threat.” Among the AMR Challenge commitments received since September 2018: . Committed organizations represent more than 10,000 healthcare facilities around the world. Nearly 45 percent of commitments focus on improving infection prevention and control, which helps stop the spread of resistant germs and prevents infections. In the United States, for example, Premier—a healthcare improvement company of approximately 175,000 healthcare providers, including around 4,000 hospitals —reduced the rate of Clostridioides difficile infections by more than 46 percent across more than 500 hospitals since 2015.

adequate sanitation and hygiene (e.g., water for handwashing) can help to stop infections, reduce the need for antibiotics, and slow the spread of antibiotic resistance. Notably, World Vision will commit $100 million by 2021 in 35 countries in Africa to improve WASH in rural healthcare facilities.

. Nearly half of the commitments focus on improving antibiotic use, which helps slow the development of antibiotic resistance and protects patients from unnecessary antibiotics and their side effects. In human health, for example, Aetna, a CVS Company—whose healthcare network includes 1.2 million healthcare professionals and more than 5,700 hospitals—partnered with state health departments to successfully reduce the number of “over-prescribers” by 15 percent. . Major food corporations are using their purchasing power to improve antibiotic use, too. Among the 46 committed animal or food organizations, Yum! Brands— the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell— advanced its antibiotic stewardship work with Taco Bell’s commitment to reduce antibiotics important to human health in its U.S. and Canada beef supply chain by 25 percent by 2025. KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell in the United States already removed antibiotics important to human medicine from their U.S. poultry supply. . More than 55 pharmaceutical and biotech groups committed to develop or provide access to products that will prevent and treat resistant infections. For example, in August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug regimen, developed by The TB Alliance, to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis. . All 50 U.S. state public health departments and Washington, D.C. are participating in the national fight against antibiotic resistance. California, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. demonstrated the highest number of domestic commitments with action from more than 20 organizations in each. . CDC received more than 76 commitments

from 32 countries outside of the United States and across six continents to combat antibiotic resistance, reaching nearly 3 billion people around the world. This global action must continue to grow because any antibioticresistant germ in one country today could

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quickly spread to others tomorrow. In the United States alone, at least 23,000 people die each year from the more than 2 million antibiotic-resistant infections that occur (these data will be updated in the second CDC AR Threats Report, expected later this year). Since their discovery nearly a century ago, antibiotics have transformed the world, helping to cure serious infections. Infections are a part of the human experience, and it is vital that antibiotics work as intended when serious infections strike. But the spread of antibiotic resistance threatens to wipe out our global progress in healthcare, food production, and life expectancy. It is critical that the United States continue to take a global approach to combat this One Health problem, which affects humans, animals, and the environment. “Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest global health challenges today – it involves dozens of pathogens that are fast becoming untreatable,” said Robert R. Redfield, MD, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “CDC has a strategy to address

this threat, and we’re asking every nation in the world to join us.” Event attendees will include industry and world leaders. Among the speakers are HHS Secretary Azar; Juan Pablo Uribe Restrepo, Colombian Minister of Health and Social Protection; Regional Director of the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region Poonam Khetrapal Singh; and David Ricci, who survived an antibiotic-resistant infection and is featured in a new documentary on the topic. Guests will also be invited to participate in a multimedia experience, including viewing art exhibits and the U.S. premiere of the Antimicrobial Resistance Fighters documentary, which highlight the impact of antibiotic resistance on the world and the need for greater awareness and continued engagement on the topic. Read the commitments to The AMR Challenge and the progress made at: https://www.cdc. gov/DrugResistance/intl-activities/amrchallenge.html continued on page 19

Health- Nebraska Families to Benefit from New Federal Child Welfare Prevention Law By Focus Omaha

Nebraska is leading the nation as an early adopter of the federal Family First Prevention Services Act (Family First), which goes into effect with the start of the new federal fiscal year, today. The state has committed to implementing prevention-focused child welfare programs as part of the first major modernization and overhaul of the national child welfare system in three decades. “Family First supports our mission of helping people live better lives and creates an opportunity to be responsive to the specific needs of children, teens and families,” said Dannette R. Smith, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Chief Executive Officer. “By providing a federal funding stream that supports quality prevention services, Family First creates an opportunity for us to engage the entire community in our effort to keep children with their families and out of the child welfare system.” Previously, federal funding for child welfare was largely available to states only after a child enters the foster care system. Under Family First, states can utilize federal funds for programs that strengthen families and reduce the trauma that occurs when a child is removed from his or her home. As an early adopter of Family First, DHHS has submitted a five-year prevention program plan to its federal partners. The plan includes the implementation of an array of evidence-based prevention services designed to empower families at-risk of entering the child welfare system. The services include in-home, skillsbased training for parents; mental health care, including family therapy; and substance abuse treatment programs. “We know that separation causes trauma that can lead to a lifetime of emotional and psychological problems,” Smith said. “Children and youth do best in strong families and supportive communities.”

When children do need to be removed from their families for safety reasons, Family First calls for maintaining child and family connections and for children to be placed in the least restrictive, most family-like setting to meet their individual needs. DHHS’s Division of Children and Family Services (CFS) has been focused on prevention and reducing the number of children removed from their families in recent years. In the last two years, those placed in out-of-home settings for safety reasons has declined by nearly 15% and a majority of the children who are removed have been placed with family or friends. “CFS’ stated mission is to provide the least disruptive services when needed, for only as long as needed, to give children the opportunity to succeed as adults,” Smith said. “Family First aligns with that mission and will allow our agency to continue to strengthen families and keep children safe.” A copy of DHHS’ Five Year Prevention Program Plan and an overview of Family First can be found on the DHHS Family First website.

GET YOUR FOCUS ON!

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Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40

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OPENING NIGHT WITH HUSKER HOOPS | PINNACLE BANK ARENA FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

Is It Time To Pull The Trigger? By Focus Omaha

There was no recovery on the horizon after a series of unfortunate instances coupled with some poor decision-making by QB Adrian Martinez this week which left the NU vs Ohio State game all but over after the first quarter of play. Does anyone else see the comparisons between Adrian Martinez and “T Magic?” He seems to have the same lost look when the protection breaks down and there are some sad similarities in their ball throwing abilities. The big difference is Adrian doesn’t have the same explosive breakaway speed the magic man had, which is why he fell to the ground, clearly out of gas, on his one big run after being tracked down by the Buckeye defense. Am I being too hard on him? Here’s a stat to ponder. Martinez has 16 interceptions and 18 fumbles (10 lost) in 16 career games. Is it time to give some reps to freshman QB Luke McCaffrey? At the very least he brings a different look and is highly touted by his position coach, Mario Verduzco. Also, we’re a year into the new strength and conditioning program now and these guys are still being outmuscled up front almost every game. The reason the Power- I worked so well

and moved the ball wasn’t only because they weren’t prepared for it, but the old-school plays develop so quickly that they’re past the line before the defense has time to react. Placing the RB in the FB position gets him quickly past the D-line which was bulldozing the Husker O-line on every play. On to Northwestern. Defensive Coach Erik Chinander said, “Northwestern is a team that I think everyone always respects in this league because they’re never going to beat themselves,” he said. “They are a disciplined team. They’re a tough team. They’re going to be where they are supposed to be.” With that being said, let’s hope they aren’t in a position to call an early two-point conversion which didn’t help their cause last week against Wisconsin. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. and will be nationally televised on Fox and broadcasted on the radio on the Husker Sports Network. For those keeping track after the first 17 games: Former Coach Mike Riley 10-7 Scott Frost 7-10

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Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40 23

Year-End Charitable Giving By Mike Herek

With the holiday season upon us and the end of the year approaching, we pause to give thanks for our blessings and the people in our lives. It is also a time when charitable giving often comes to mind. The tax benefits associated with charitable giving could potentially enhance your ability to give and should be considered as part of your year-end tax planning.

communication (such as a receipt or letter) from the charity showing the name of the charity, the date of the contribution, and the amount of the contribution. If you claim a charitable deduction for any contribution of $250 or more, you must substantiate the contribution with a contemporaneous written acknowledgment of the contribution from the charity. If you make any noncash contributions, there are additional requirements. Year-end tax planning When making charitable gifts at the end of a year, you should consider them as part of your year-end tax planning. Typically, you have a certain amount of control over the timing of income and expenses. You generally want to time your recognition of income so that it will be taxed at the lowest rate possible, and time your deductible expenses so they can be claimed in years when you are in a higher tax bracket.

Tax deduction for charitable gifts If you itemize deductions on your federal income tax return, you can generally deduct your gifts to qualified charities. This may also help you potentially increase your gift. Assume you are considering making a charitable gift of $1,000. One way to potentially enhance the gift might be if you increase it by the amount of any income taxes you save with the charitable deduction for the gift. With a 24% tax rate, you might be able to give $1,316 to charity [$1,000 ÷ (1 - 24%) = $1,316; $1,316 x 24% = $316 taxes saved]. On the other hand, with a 32% tax rate, you might be able to give $1,471 to charity [$1,000 ÷ (1 - 32%) = $1,471; $1,471 x 32% = $471 taxes saved]. However, keep in mind that the amount of your deduction may be limited to certain percentages of your adjusted gross income (AGI). For example, your deduction for gifts of cash to public charities is generally limited to 60% of your AGI for the year, and other gifts to charity are typically limited to 30% or 20% of your AGI. Charitable deductions that exceed the AGI limits may generally be carried over and deducted over the next five years, subject to the income percentage limits in those years.

For example, if you expect that you will be in a higher tax bracket next year, it may make sense to wait and make the charitable contribution in January so that you can take the deduction next year when the deduction results in a greater tax benefit. Or you might shift the charitable contribution, along with other deductions, into a year when your itemized deductions would be greater than the standard deduction amount. And if the income percentage limits above are a concern in one year, you might consider ways to shift income into that year or shift deductions out of that year, so that a larger charitable deduction is available for that year. A tax professional can help you evaluate your individual tax situation. A word of caution Be sure to deal with recognized charities and be wary of charities with similar-sounding names. It is common for scam artists to impersonate charities using bogus websites and through contact involving email, phone, social media, and in-person solicitations. Check out the charity on the IRS website, irs.gov, using the Tax Exempt Organization Search tool. And don’t send cash; contribute by check or credit card.

Make sure you retain proper substantiation of your charitable contribution. In order to claim a charitable deduction for any contribution of cash, a check, or other monetary gift, you must maintain a record of such contributions through a bank record (such as a cancelled check, a bank or credit union statement, or a credit card statement) or a written

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Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40 25

A New Can of Worms!

By Jody Green Extension Urban Entomologist At Nebraska Extension Nebraskans are talking about an invasive worm. They are commonly referred to as “Asian jumping worms”, “jumping worms”, “crazy worms”, or “snake worms”. I like to call them crazy worms because whether they jump or move in a serpentine motion, they certainly behave in an uncharacteristic way for a worm.

identify worms to species without genetic testing or a dissecting microscope, so invasive worms have a number of common names which include Asian jumping worms, jumping worms, crazy worms, snake worms. When you see them, you will undoubtedly know that they are not your ordinary earthworms.

The short story is that they are popping up in home landscapes everywhere, now that a Backyard Farmer question brought them to our attention. They are jumpy creatures when disturbed, thrashing about wildly, and even dropping their tails to escape. They are bad for our environment because they feed on organic matter near or on the surface of the soil, releasing nutrients too quickly. Consequently, these nutrients wash away with heavy rains and change the soil structure in a non-beneficial way. What is left are loose, hard pellets that resemble spent coffee grounds. Without organic matter in the soil, plant roots have difficulty staying rooted. This is especially detrimental for forested areas and gardeners wishing to transplant seedlings in affected soils.

What do the worms look like? Visually, the worms will vary based on the time of year. If you see a large worm in March or April, this will not be an invasive worm because invasive worms have annual life cycles. Adults die each winter, but not before they produce (parthenogenetically/without mating) multiple cocoons in the fall. Cocoons are about the size, shape, and color of mustard seeds and cannot be easily detected in the soil. Cocoons survive the winter in the soil and hatch in the spring, developing rapidly to adulthood (60-75 days) by the end of the summer. Discovery of crazy worms is usually in August and September when worms are at their largest. Crazy worms appear smooth and glossy and are rubbery to the touch, rather than slimy and squishy. A telltale sign is to examine the clitellum (light band) on mature worms. If the clitellum is a cloudy-white color, completely encircles, and is flush with the body, you are looking at an invasive crazy worm. If you happen to be digging through the top layers of soil and come across a pocket of crazy worms, they thrash and flick their bodies about, move sideto-side in a snake-like motion, and break off tail segments to escape. It can be quite horrifying.

Crazy worms come in all sizes, but they are often found in large numbers near the soil surface feeding on mulch, fallen leaves, and other organic matter. (Photo: J. Green)

These crazy worms outcompete, outnumber, and out-consume other worms in our landscape and therefore have a significant impact on the ecosystem. If you find them in your landscape, please report your sighting to Nebraska Invasives and do your part to limit their spread. End of short story. Here is the long story if you want to know more… Where are these worms located? Jumping worms were discovered in 2013 in Wisconsin. Today they are found in many places in North America including Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Oregon. What should we call these worms? There are approximately 17 species of invasive jumping worms and some species have coinvaded and exist together. It is difficult to

Invasive crazy worm can be identified by clitellum, which is light in color, unsegmented, flush with body, and completely encircles the worm. (Photo: J. Green)

Without looking at the worm, a sure sign of crazy worms is the texture of the soil where they have inhabited. Rather than create a casting pile or middens like European earthworms and night crawlers, crazy worms will leave loose, granular soil particles that have the same consistency. Crazy worms are present in the topsoil, so if the mulch is being consumed at a faster rate than usual, crazy worms may be feeding underneath.

Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40

How are the worms spread? The initial spread of crazy worms could be from a number of avenues, all of which involve the transport by human activities. Some worms may have originated as fishing bait, while others purchased worms for composting or vermiculture. The most common means for spreading is by the movement of soil, mulch, or compost used for gardening and transferring plants into the landscape. Many people obtain plants and seedlings from community sales, friends, and neighbors in the fall. The soil that comes with the plants may contain tiny cocoons, which hatch the following spring. How can I find out if I have crazy worms in my landscape? If you are curious as to whether you have crazy worms, you can perform a mustard pour on a portion of your soil: 1. Mix 1/3 cup of ground yellow mustard seed with 1 gallon of water. 2. Clear a bare patch of soil and pour slowly over the soil. 3. Worms will move to the surface and you can determine whether they are crazy worms or common worms. What do I do if I find crazy worms? If you find crazy worms in Nebraska, please report your sighting. The Nebraska Invasive Species Group is tracking the spread and updating the distribution map of crazy worms across the state. Reduce the movement of soil to stop the spread of cocoons from one place to another. Clean equipment, garden tools, and personal gear like the treads of footwear between work sites. A good motto is “Arrive clean, leave clean.” For some infested areas in open areas, solarization may be an option to kill the cocoons. This process involves laying a clear,

plastic sheet over the affected area in order to bring the soil to lethal temperatures, which often takes a couple of weeks. Current research out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum showed that 104°F/40°C killed cocoons after three days. Are there any control methods? There are no EPA registered chemicals labeled for the control of crazy worms once they are in the landscape. Some products, like Early Bird Fertilizer (Nitrogen-based) and tea seed pellets (Active Ingredient Saponin) have been tested, but additional research is needed to determine application rates and long-term effectiveness. What can you do to prevent the spread of worms? . Educate others about crazy worms and how to identify them. . Buy plants from seed or bare-root (triple-rinse roots will remove cocoons). . Inquire at garden centers or plant sales about crazy worms. . Do not buy fishing worms advertised as “snake worms”, “Alabama jumpers”, “crazy worms” or “jumping worms” for fishing or composting. . Do not dispose of unused worms in the environment. Where can I go to find more resources? For more information and a pdf version of this information, go to the Nebraska Invasive Species Program. I had the pleasure of speaking to lead researcher at the University of WisconsinMadison Arboretum ecologist, Brad Herrick, who is currently working on research aimed at controlling the spread of the cocoons. There is so little known about invasive worms in our various ecosystems. At this time, invasive worms have not been reported in agricultural land or food crops.

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Las Cruxes,

“Ilusiones, Depresiones” By Tatiana Ballinger

Spanish Rock has landed in Omaha by way of Las Cruxes produced by Yayo Trujillo. Las Cruxes is represented by record labels Cintas of Mexico City, Afonico/Sony Latin and Gibson Guitars.

“I like having a girl up there with me,” said Yayo, “I need help singing these songs plus it just sounds cool. More bands should do it.” Las Cruxes is a living and breathing document shifting shapes from skeletons of nostalgic progression structures and typical band Well-respected Omaha musicians Landon line-ups. As the new resident back-up vocal, I Hodges from the Leafblowers, Jeff Lembelet support an aesthetic that speaks to shunning of Digital Leather, and Nate Van Fleet from See types and long-distance love, disappointment, Through Dresses have meshed with Midbad karma, and monotonous emotion. west newcomers of about one year: Abel of Chicago’s Fancy Macho, Yayo of Los Angeles, Expression from Spanish Rock groups like and yours truly from San Francisco to perform Soda Stereo inspire the sounds of Las Cruxes “Ilusiones, Depresiones,” “Ha-Ha-Ha,” and with other origins in that of Christian Death, “Casa,” by Las Cruxes next for Chicago, after Spanglish-speaking Pixies, My Bloody Valenopening Brother’s Lounge last Friday for The tine, and a crushworthy ode to a classic shaded Natural States and Brook Pridemore. What velveteen blazer, oxfords with no socks, pink, hospitality! rainbows and bananas. Enjoy a reclamation of realism: breadth between genres, lifestyles, Images of typical West Coast Rock and Roll and identities. reel from short garage lyrics. Avante-Garde beach goth brings warm attitude and audible fuzzies with the new record to drop this November. A familiar atmosphere for many victims of perfection has been curated from remnant gas lamps in ancient quarters. Upbeat energy and high vibrations summon maniacal laughter. Versions of self emerge along with rolling pop guitar riffs and combinations of vocals. Bad jokes and queer inclusivity walk together in solidarity. These extremes are met with thoughts of a particular empathy.

Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40

BARRETT’S BARLEYCORN 4322 Leavenworth St. M-F 4P-6P $2.25 Domestic Bottles $3.00 Well Drinks BROKEDOWN PALACE 8805 Maple St. Happy Hour 12P-6P $4 28 oz Domestic Frozen Mugs $5 28 oz Nebraska Brewing Cardinal Pale Ale Frozen Mug CADDYSHACK 2076 N 117th Ave & 7007 S 181st St M-F 2P-6P $1 Off Beer, Wine & Wells TUES- HAPPY HOUR All Day COHEN & KELLY’S LOUNGE 13075 W Center Rd M-F 4:30P - 6:30P Drink Specials DUBLINER PUB 1205 Harney St. Nightly Drink Specials &

Happy Hour 1P - 7P Everyday !! $1.00 off Pints and Bottles GETAWAY LOUNGE 4745 S 96th St M-F 2P - 6P $2 Busch Lite Bottles $2.25 Busch Lite Tall Boys $3 Fireballs $3 Apple Pie Shots JERRY’S BAR 6301 Military Ave Happy Hour Prices ALL Day EVERYDAY! JULIO’S 123rd & Center M-F 3P – 6P & FRI & SAT AFTER 9M $1 off all Tap Beer, $3 House Margaritas, $8 Pitchers of Bud Light & Miller Light, $2 Tacos & $8 Nachos KOZEE LOUNGE 5813 N 60th St. Daily Drink Specials!

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LEAVENWORTH BAR 4556 Leavenworth St. M-F 12P-7P LOOKOUT LOUNGE 320 S 72nd St. EVERY DAY 4-7, MIDNIGHT - 2 AM $2 PBR, $2.50 Domestic Bottles , $3 Wells, $3 Fireball NOSH WINE LOUNGE 1006 Dodge St. Everyday 4P- 6P Reverse HH 10P -12A $3 domestic beers and wells, $2 off Glasses of Wine, $4 House Wine PADDY’S McGOWN’S PUB & GRILL 4503 Center St. Happy Hour Specials from 3-6pm PARLIAMENT PUB DOWNTOWN 1212 Harney Street T-SUN 3P-7P Drink Specials PARLIAMENT PUB WEST 16939 Wright Plaza M-F 3-7PM ALL DAY SUNDAY! $2 Domestic Pints, $5 Vodka Red Bulls, $5 Shots & Bombs, 1/2 price Martini’s & Wines

Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40

Focus | October 2 - October 8 | Volume 3 Issue 40 31