A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
August 2013 VOL. 38 • NO. 8
ENOA 4223 Center Street Omaha, NE 68105-2431
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389
New Horizons ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
In his corner Terence “Bud” Crawford was growing up hard on the mean streets of north Omaha. After meeting and working with Midge Minor, a local veteran boxing trainer, Crawford has become one of the professional fight game’s rising stars, sporting a 21-0 record. Leo Adam Biga takes an in-depth look at the special bond Crawford and Minor have developed inside and outside the ring. See page 10.
War stories Garry Knittel, Bob Cole, and Warren Malloy (left to right) served in the 172nd Transportation Company during the Vietnam War. These days, all three men work for ENOA’s Meals on Wheels program. Using 8 mm film footage and hundreds of slides, Knittel produced a DVD, The Journey, that tells the unit’s story from Nebraska to southeast Asia and back. See page 16.
ENOA is recruiting volunteers for a variety of assignments The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Program, Ombudsman Advocate Program, and Senior Medicare Patrol Program are recruiting older adults to become volunteers. Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions must be age 55 or older, meet income guidelines, have a government issued identification card or a driver’s license, able to volunteer at least 15 hours a week, and must complete several background and reference checks. Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions receive a $2.65 an hour stipend, transportation and meal reimbursement, paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave, and supplemental accident insurance. Foster Grandparents work with children who have special needs while Senior Companions work to keep older adults living independently. Ombudsman advocates work to ensure residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities enjoy the best possible quality of life. Ombudsman advocates, who must be age 18 or older, are enrolled through an application and screening process. These volunteers, who are not compensated monetarily for their time, must serve at least two hours a week. The Senior Medicare Patrol program helps Medicaid beneficiaries avoid, detect, and prevent health care fraud. These volunteers, who are enrolled through an application and screening process, are not compensated monetarily for their time, For more information, please call 402-444-6536.
Written by a college professor
Book designed to slow spread of diabetes
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tatistics on diabetes are very problematic as they continue to spiral out of control. As many as 5,225 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed each day according to the American Diabetes Association. This is hardly surprising. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates as many as 79 million adults in the United States are pre-diabetic, a condition that increases the risk of developing type II diabetes. In addition, the CDC estimates another 26 million adults in America already have diabetes. While Native Americans, Asian Americans, African-Americans, and MexicanAmericans are at higher risk for developing the condition due to genetics, adults over 45 years of age are also at risk. In an effort to stop the spread of this preventable disease clinical nurse, college professor, and author, Doris Woods, Ph.D., wrote the book, How to Prevent Diabetes – I Beat It and You Can, Too! Trying to help educate Americans on the devastating effects of diabetes and how they can live a healthy lifestyle, Dr. Woods shares her own experience of being diagnosed as pre-diabetic, and how she was able to prevent the disease through portion
control, weight loss, diet, and exercise. “Pandemic levels of obesity have triggered epidemic levels of diabetes. Many serious conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and amputations are related to diabetes,” says Dr. Woods. “Millions of people are not aware they have diabetes, or are pre-diabetic.” Throughout the book, Dr. Woods also provides a simple but effective plan of action that readers can follow to reduce their own chances of becoming a diabetic, or to bring their diabetes under control. Dr. Woods also reveals: • How a diagnosis of diabetes is made. • Why it’s important for Americans to get a blood glucose test. • How emotions can sabotage weight loss efforts. • Warning signs of type II diabetes. • Advice on portion control for weight loss and diabetes management. • Why Americans need to read food labels to compare sodium, fat, and sugar contents. • Dr. Woods’ Obesity-Buster Fitness Kit, and easy ways to incorporate exercise into your daily schedule. • Tips to living a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle for anyone.
Diabetes? Major Medicare coverage Changes July 1st Effective July 1st testing strips must be purchased through mail order*
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*Does not apply to patients physically walking into pharmacies to purchase strips
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Take steps to help keep pests out of your home By Carol McNulty Most pests reach their maximum population levels around August or September, and their favorite places to escape the heat or the oncoming winter cold are inside homes. Keeping fall pests outside can be a challenge, but being prepared and properly treating infestations can make fall a much more pleasant time for homeowners. According to Dennis Ferraro, extension entomologist, the first invaders – crickets, cockroaches, centipedes, millipedes, ground beetles, spiders, and ants – come inside homes on the ground. These pests are attracted to the leaf litter and debris found around the foundation of houses as well as the shade offered by surrounding landscape vegetation. From the foundation, these ground invaders wiggle their way into homes through crack or crevices. Every fall, homeowners should systematically walk around their homes and look for any potential openings bugs can slip through. All cracks should be caulked and sealed. Check the seal around windows and replace any broken screens. Make sure door gaskets are firmly in place and all other openings are sealed. Also check plumbing fixtures like water spouts for potential entryways into homes. Ferraro says homeowners who are anticipating a ground pest problem also can apply a perimeter spray. A number of insecticide products are available at garden centers and superstores, but make sure they’re labeled for outside use. Spray up the house walls for three to four feet and out from the house for three to five feet. This will establish a barrier that kills bugs. The second type of fall invaders – house flies, cluster flies, yellow jackets, fruit flies, box elder bugs, miller moths, and mosquitoes – enter homes in the air. Unlike ground invaders, these airborne pests are generally
not affected by foundation sprays. Because of this, it’s even more important to seal and caulk all cracks and openings. Many of these pests are also highly attracted to outdoor lighting such as porch lights, and enter homes when nearby doors are open. Turning off outdoor lights when they’re not in use not only saves energy but also helps keep pests out of homes. Fruit flies, however, can still get into homes because they’re small enough to fit through window screens. Fruit flies may also enter homes as eggs already laid in fresh produce, or they may be attracted to fruits and vegetables sitting inside. Keeping all produce in secure containers inside refrigerators and dumping compost buckets daily will help prevent homes from becoming attractive destinations for fruit flies. If bugs do get inside a home, Ferraro says the first step should be to set out sticky traps. Not only will this remove many of these unwanted guests, it will also help monitor which pests are inside. If any unidentifiable spiders are captured in sticky traps, take them to a garden center or local extension office to ensure they’re not the poisonous brown recluse variety. For more serious problems, indoor-use aerosol sprays are available. If the infestation is severe, it’s always best to hire a professional pest control operator. However, there’s no need to call pest control at the sight of a single cricket or centipede. Sticky traps, along with the old-fashioned strategies of sucking bugs up in a vacuum cleaner or picking them up in a tissue, can usually get the job done without chemical sprays. When using sprays, Ferraro says to always follow label directions. Chemicals are only effective and safe for humans and pets when used according to their directions. (McNulty is an educator with the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Office in Douglas and Sarpy counties.)
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New Horizons New Horizons is the official publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The paper is distributed free to people over age 60 in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Washington, and Cass counties. Those living outside the 5-county region may subscribe for $5 annually. Address all correspondence to: Jeff Reinhardt, Editor, 4223 Center Street, Omaha, NE 68105-2431. Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402-444-3076. E-mail: jeff.reinhardt@nebraska.gov
Whether you’re moving to a new house, apartment, or retirement community; our dedicated professionals help sort, pack, and move your belongings. We’ll also help unpack and organize your new home. We know life is busy and handling a household liquidation or estate sale can be overwhelming and confusing. MovingOn decreases stress as it acts as your on-site advocate by taking care of all the details.
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August 2013
Advertisements appearing in New Horizons do not imply endorsement of the advertiser by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. However, complaints about advertisers will be reviewed and, if warranted, their advertising discontinued. Display and insert advertising rates available on request. Open rates are commissionable, with discounts for extended runs. Circulation is 20,000 through direct mail and freehand distribution.
Editor..............................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers......Nick Schinker, Leo Biga, Barc Wade, & Lois Friedman Fremont Delivery.........................Dick Longstein ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Jim Warren, Sarpy County, vice-chairperson; Jerry Kruse, Washington County, secretary; Gary Osborn, Dodge County, & Jim Peterson, Cass County. The New Horizons and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging provide services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, or age.
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Tips for staying healthy, aging happily By Jen Vogt
T Someday this button might save your life. For now, it sets you free. With Lifeline by Immanuel, you can enjoy an independent lifestyle in your own home—knowing that you can get help if you ever need it. In a fall or emergency, every second counts. Lifeline by Immanuel with AutoAlert is a medical alert pendent that can automatically call for help, even if you can’t push your button. Getting you connected to someone with access to your medical history, someone who can evaluate your situation and immediately send To learn more about and peace of mind provided Withhelp. Lifeline by Immanuel, youthe cansecurity enjoy an independent lifestyle in your byown Lifeline, call (402) 829-3277 toll-free at (800) home—knowing that youorcan get help if you676-9449. ever need it. In a fall or emergency, every second counts. Lifeline by Immanuel with AutoAlert is a medical alert pendent that can automatically call for help, even if you can’t push your button. Getting you connected to someone with access to your medical history, someone who can evaluate your situation and immediately send help. To learn more about the security and peace of mind provided by Lifeline, call (402) 829-3277 or toll-free at (800) 676-9449. www.immanuellifeline.com
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here is no shortage of advice on how to get older without feeling like you’re becoming old. Researchers, writers, and even celebrities chalk the solution up to socializing, diet, exercise, and many other factors. It can be overwhelming to sift through all this information and determine what applies to your life and what doesn’t. The following are five essential tips for staying healthy and aging happily: • Keep stress to a minimum: Everyone is familiar with the advice to “slow down” and “relax” but sometimes it can be more complicated than just having good intentions to reduce stress in your life. Finding a good balance is key. Overwhelming stress can lead to debilitating effects on your wellbeing. However, never dealing with a stressful situation can make you completely unprepared and likely to fail when stressors do arise. Every individual’s perfect balance is different; find one that works for you. • Stay active: If you want to stay vital and healthy in later years, exercise is a must. Regular exercise can help you maintain physical abilities, and it’s mentally empowering to continue to do activities you’ve done all your life. Starting now can
Diabetes education event The Sarpy/Cass Department of Health & Wellness in partnership with Alegent Creighton Health and Diabetic Outreach of Lincoln are sponsoring a free education and foot evaluation event on Wednesday, Aug. 21. The 9 to 11 a.m. forum will be held at Alegent Creighton Health-Midlands Hospital, 11111 S. 84th St. in Papillion. The event’s goal is to increase awareness of diabetes-related health conditions and to connect diabetic older adults with community resources. One-hour talks will address how diabetes impacts overall health, healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices that can reduce the risk of health complications associated with diabetes, and available resources to help people manage their diabetes. From 9 to 11 a.m. participants will have an opportunity to receive a foot evaluation from a certified pedorthist. Individuals wishing to receive a foot evaluation must schedule an appointment by calling 402339-4334, ext. 209. To register – which is required by Aug. 19 – or for more information, please call 402-339-4334, ext. 209 or send an e-mail to HorizonAD-2010:HorizonAD-08 2/4/10 8:00 AM nevans@sarpy.com.
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have an impact many years down the road. Studies have shown people who are active in midlife are less likely to develop chronic health conditions in their later years. • Plan your future: Life expectancies are rapidly increasing, so you’ll have the opportunity to live longer and more independently than generations before you. This means you can plan your future more actively. Rather than sitting around and waiting to get old, find something that interests you and that you can look forward to such as gardening, traveling, or learning a new skill. • Remain socially engaged: Maintaining the connections you have in your life with friends, family, and the community is critical to staying healthy, both mentally and physically. You have the opportunity to learn from your friendships and avoid social isolation which can cause depression and affect your physical health as well. • Change your thinking: Ageism in our society, as well as hearing messages that imply becoming older means your mind and body are failing you, can lead to a selffulfilling prophecy. Learning to accept the natural changes that are happening to your mind and body as you age is a huge part of combating the problem. Everyone will get older. Maintaining the right attitude about aging and keeping up with your physical health can help you stay young at heart. By looking at getting older as an opportunity - a chance to focus on what’s really important in life - you can actually look forward to becoming happier and healthier with age. (Vogt is with Midwest Geriatrics, Inc. in Omaha.)
Classes designed to prepare you for the unexpected A six-week series of classes designed to help prepare men and women for the unexpected will be available during September and October. Called Because Life Happens, the programs will be presented by Geneva James, the series’ co-creator. The sessions are scheduled for: • Sept. 10 through Oct. 15: Tuesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at EngAge Wellness, 38th Avenue and Leavenworth Street. • Sept. 10 through Oct. 15: Thursdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 1055 N. 115th St., Suite 200. • Sept. 13 to Oct. 18: Fridays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at 1055 N. 115th St., Suite 200. To RSVP or for more information, please call 402-827-5547. Page 1
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August 2013 events calendar 1, 8, & 15 Jazz on the Green Venue opens @ 5 p.m. Show starts @ 7:30 p.m. Midtown Crossing FREE 3 Family Fun Carnival Strategic Air & Space Museum 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $6 & $12 402-944-3100 Riverfront Wine Festival Stinson Park @ Aksarben Village 4 to 8 p.m. $10 & $35 402-850-6776 8 Tour de Zoo Henry Doorly Zoo 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. $15 & $20 402-738-2038 9 7 Annual Nebraska Balloon and Wine Festival Also August 10 Coventry Campus (South of 204th & Q streets) Friday 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday 3 to 11 p.m. 402-346-8003 th
16 Sirens Through September 15 Omaha Community Playhouse Thursday – Saturday @ 7:30 p.m. Sunday @ 2 p.m. 402-553-0800 17 Back to School Bash Henry Doorly Zoo 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free with zoo admission 402-733-8401
Dora Bingel Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • Aug. 1, 8, 15, 22, & 29: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m. • Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30: Grief Support Group @ 10 a.m. • Aug. 7: Holy Communion. • Aug. 15: Red Hat Club meeting @ noon. • Aug. 21: Music by Ase’ L’Bert with the Merrymakers @ 11:30 a.m. The cost of the Regeneration lunch is $3. • Aug. 21: Birthday Party Luncheon @ noon. Eat free if you have an August birthday. • Aug. 23: Hard of Hearing Support Group @ 10:30 a.m. The center will be closed Aug. 26 through Aug. 30. A nutritious lunch is served on Tuesday and Friday. A fancier lunch is offered on Wednesday. A $1 donation is suggested for the meals, other than $3 for Regeneration. Round-trip transportation is available for $3. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for all meals. Other activities offered at the facility include: Tuesdays: matinee @ 12:30 p.m. Wednesday: Devotions @ 10:30 a.m., Tai Chi @ 11:15 a.m., Bingo @ 1 p.m., and Bible study @ 1 p.m. Friday: Joy Club Devotions @ 9:30 a.m. Bingo @ 1 p.m. A foot care clinic is offered the third Wednesday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon for $10. For more information, please call 402-898-5854.
20 Millard Days Anderson Park Various times 402-895-3248 22 Cox Classic Golf Tournament Through August 25 Champions Run $10 & $20 402-399-1800 23 Brix Wine Festival Also August 24 Midtown Crossing 25 North Omaha Play Streets North 24th Street between Lake and Parker streets 2 to 7 p.m. FREE 402-934-7469
Participants needed for a COPD Research Study IRB # 024-09-FB A multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to assess the pharmacodynamics, efficacy, and safety of 50mg Tetomilast administered as oral tablets in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with emphysema. (Protocol 197-08-250) Do you have emphysema or think you may have emphysema? The University of Nebraska Medical Center is conducting a clinical trial of an experimental medication for people with emphysema. Participants must be 40 to 75 years of age and be a current or former smoker. You will receive medical testing and medication at no cost to you, and will be reimbursed for your time. If you are interested in participating in this study for people with emphysema, call Sandy at 402-559-6365 or email her at stalbott@unmc.edu.
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RSVP Retired and Senior Volunteer Program The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is recruiting persons age 55 and older for a variety of opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-444-6536, ext. 224. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402721-7780. The following have volunteer opportunities in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties: • The Disabled American Veterans need volunteer drivers. • Good 360 is looking for volunteers to process donations and sort items. • The Douglas County Health Center wants volunteers for a variety of assignments. • Together Inc. is looking for an intake assistant and a volunteer to coordinate its communication efforts. • Keep Omaha Beautiful/Helping Hands, Inc. wants volunteers for onetime yard cleaning projects. • The Omaha Police Department needs volunteers for its telephone response unit. Spanish speaking volunteers are especially needed. • The Strategic Air and Space Command is looking for volunteer tour guides. • The American Red Cross wants volunteers for a variety of duties. • Creighton University
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needs volunteers to provide student support services. The following has a volunteer opportunity in Dodge County: • The Fremont Car-Go Program needs volunteer drivers to take older adults to medical appointments, etc. once a week. RSVP wants to thank these businesses who have contributed to the Car Go Program in Fremont and Blair: Compression Dental Care of Blair, the Memorial County Hospital Foundation of Blair, Fremont Eye Associates, and the First State Bank of Fremont. Alzheimer’s disease support groups
The Midlands Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Disease Association offers a variety of free support groups in eastern Nebraska. A new support group is set for the fourth Thursday of each month beginning Aug. 29. The 6 p.m. sessions will be held at the Ridgewood Retirement Community, 12301 N. 149th Cir. in Bennington. To view a complete list of these support groups, log on www.alz.org/midlands. For more information, please call Betty K. Chin at 402-502-4301.
Art show scheduled at JCC on Aug. 4
ENOA menu for August 2013 Thursday, August 1 Meatballs & Mushroom Gravy
Friday, August 16 Roast Beef w/Brown Gravy
Friday, August 2 BBQ Chicken Leg
Monday, August 19 Western Baked Beef
Monday, August 5 Beef Chili Macaroni
Tuesday, August 20 Chili Dog
Tuesday, August 6 Apple Glazed Pork Patty
Wednesday, August 21 Pork Loin w/Mushroom Gravy
Wednesday, August 7 Oven Fried Chicken Leg
Thursday, August 22 King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Thursday, August 8 Cheeseburger
Friday, August 23 Meatloaf w/Gravy
Friday, August 9 Cheesy Lasagna Rollup
Monday, August 26 Pineapple Glazed Chicken Breast
Monday, August 12 Herbed Pork
Tuesday, August 27 County Fried Steak
Tuesday, August 13 Crunchy Pollock
Wednesday, August 28 Spaghetti Casserole
Wednesday, August 14 Turkey Breast w/Gravy Thursday, August 15 Sloppy Joe
An art show and reception featuring the work of Omaha artist Constance Stilwell is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, 333 S. 132nd St.
New Horizons
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August 2013
Thursday, August 29 Creole Steak Friday, August 30 BBQ Rib Patty
Read it & eat By Lois Friedman readitandeat@yahoo.com
Recipes from around the world! Time for your armchair travels. This array of cookbooks will take you to delicious destinations. Africa: Tastes of Africa By Justice Kamanga (Struik, $30) Capture some of the tastes of this sprawling continent and explore the flavors in eight chapters.
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Morocco By Jeff Koehler (Chronicle, $29.95) Moroccan culinary history/tour/pantry, helpful chapter and head notes, and more than 70 recipes in this beautifully photographed and formated cookbook. Italy: Italy Dish By Dish By Monica Cesari (Little Bookroom, $24.95) Use this translator to understand local specialties and the bounty of the area with a recipe for each region. The Country Cooking of Italy By Colman Andrews (Chronicle, $50) This award-winning author and storyteller celebrates the culture, traditions, lore, and more than 230 regional country recipes like Mamma cooked. A feast for the eyes, too!
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Serves 6
Toasts (optional) 18 slices baguette, 1/4 inch thick Chowder 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1/2 cup grated onion 1/2 cup sliced scallions, including some green 4 cups milk 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 3 cups corn kernels (from about 5 ears) For the optional toasts: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Arrange the bread slices in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Bake for eight to 10 minutes, until browned on both sides (they brown without turning). Set aside. For the chowder: Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onion and scallions, and then saute over medium heat for about two minutes, until soft and sizzling. Add the milk, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Add the corn and stir. As soon as the soup boils again, remove it from the heat. Serve with (or without) the toasts, either on the side or in the soup.
Law Offices of Charles E. Dorwart 31 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • In Home Consultations • Free Initial Consultation 440 Regency Parkway Drive • Suite 139 Omaha, NE 68114 Office: (402) 558-1404 • Fax: (402) 779-7498 Cdorwartjd@aol.com
Open: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. evenings by appointment
(402) 571-1207
The New Horizons is brought to you each month by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
The Iraqi Family Cookbook By Kay Karim (Hippocrene, $19.95) Considered one of the world’s oldest cuisines, sample more than 150 recipes with the flavors of the Middle East.
Corn Chowder
(NW Corner of 120th & Center) Belair Plaza
(402) 727-7866 1-800-239-7866
Italian Edited By Fine Cooking (Taunton, $19.95) From the pages of Fine Cooking magazine are 200 Italian recipes in seven chapter from starters to desserts with lots of color photographs.
Essential Pepin By Jacques Pepin (HMH, $40 with DVD) Experience bite by bite recipes from Pepin’s incredible six-decade award-winning career. Utilizing the late-summer corn crop, try this soup:
OMAHA 12100 W. Center Rd.
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enoa.org
The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Web site includes information about: • • • • • • • • • • •
Bath aides Care management Chore services Community education Durable medical equipment Emergency food pantry Emergency response systems ENOA facts and figures ENOA Library ENOA senior centers Grandparent Resource Center
August 2013
24 hours a day, • Homemakers 7 days a week! • Information & assistance telephone lines • Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha • Legal services • Meals on Wheels • Medicaid Waiver • New Horizons • Nutrition counseling
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Ombudsman advocates Respite care Respite Resource Center Rural transportation Senior Care Options Senior employment Support of adult day facilities • Volunteer opportunities
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Corrigan Senior Center August 2013 events calendar You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St. this month for: • Thursday, Aug. 8: Cheeseburger lunch and Jesse’s Produce Market. Buy fresh veggies and fruit from Jesse @ 12:30 p.m. The market returns to Corrigan on Thursday, Aug. 22. • Monday, Aug. 12: Hawaiian Beach Party and Bingo. Wear your tropical clothes, Hawaiian shirts, sandals, etc. We’ll supply the fun! Beach ball blast and costume contest @ 10 a.m. Great island music by Ase D. L ‘Bert @ 11 a.m. Enjoy a noon lunch of herbed pork or deli crabmeat macaroni salad @ noon. • Thursday, Aug. 15: Lazy, Daisy, Crazy Days of Summer Dinner and Mega Bingo. The special noon lunch menu is BBQ beef on a seeded bun, tator tots, green beans, tossed salad, and strawberry shortcake. Mega Bingo will follow lunch. Win part of the $75 jackpot. The suggested donations are $3 for lunch and $3 for Bingo. The reservation deadline is noon on Friday, Aug. 9. • Monday, Aug. 19: Birthday party and Bingo. Party with us to the great music of Hillbilly Hal Cottrell from the
Where are all the butterflies?
The monarch butterfly that is able to migrate as far as 2,800 miles is a true wonder of nature. Each year monarchs Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. A noon lunch with travel from Canada and the United States to hibernate in the a hot or cold choice is available. forests of central Mexico. But in recent years the monarchs • Thursday, Aug 22: South Omaha have been in sharp population decline due to habitat loss, Trivia @ 11 a.m. Bring your South Omaha eradication of the plants it depends upon, and other enviquestions and answers to play the game ronmental factors. with guest Don Preister @ 11 a.m. Stay The decline in monarchs has been going on for two defor a lunch featuring King Ranch Chicken cades, but the last few years have been particularly worriCasserole or a roast beef with Swiss cheese some. Mexico’s National Commission of Natural Protected sandwich. Bingo follows lunch. Areas reports a 59 percent decline in the area of its forests • Monday, August 26: Dog Days of occupied by monarchs since December 2011. Summer with lunch, Bingo, and ice cream. Meanwhile, the World Wildlife Fund reports monarch Enjoy Songs of Summer by St. Peter & Paul butterfly populations along the California coast have shrunk students @ 11 a.m. Bingo, dog trivia, and from more than a million counted at 101 sites in 1997 to ice cream floats follow the noon lunch. less than 60,000 at 74 sites in 2009. The Corrigan Senior Center is open The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is which maintains the served at noon. A $3 donation is normally “Red List” of endansuggested for the meal. Reservations are gered species around normally due by noon the business day the world, recognizes prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. the monarchs’ annual We offer chair volleyball Tuesday and migration as an “endanThursday @ 11 a.m., Tai Chi on Tuesday gered biological pheand Thursday @ 10 a.m., card games, nomenon.” Bingo, ceramics, exercise, woodcarving, According to Monand loads of fun! arch Watch, an eduFor meal reservations or more cational outreach program based at Kansas University information, please call Lynnette at 402that engages citizen-scientists in monarch monitoring and 731-7210. conservation efforts, habitat destruction is one key driver in the monarch’s demise. “New roads, housing developments, and agricultural expansion all transform a natural landscape in ways that make it impossible for monarchs to live there,” it said. Also, drought and record-high temperatures in North America in 2012 triggered an earlier-than-usual monarch migration. This disrupted the butterflies’ breeding cycle by drying out their eggs prematurely. The hot weather has also reduced the nectar content of the milkweed plants on which the monarch larvae depend. In addition, milkweed is becoming scarce due to farmers’ increasing reliance on herbicides. Most of the soy and corn crops grown in the U.S. are genetically engineered to resist herbicides. This means even more chemical spraying and far fewer milkweed plants. Nectar producing plants that attract adult butterflies are facing a similar fate, further complicating survival for the monarch. It won’t be easy to stem the tide of human development that threatens the monarch butterfly’s long-term survival. In 2008 the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, set up under the North American Free Trade Agreement to help the U.S., Canada, and Mexico coordinate on environmental initiatives, published its North American Monarch Conservation Plan to establish a conservation blueprint for the butterflies. Key aspects of the plan include the creation of incentives for the conservation of winter sites and the restoration of breeding habitat throughout the butterfly’s extensive range. In the meantime, the Mexican government has worked with WWF and other groups and made strides in restricting logging in areas critical to monarch populations. Monarch habitat restoration work in California and other parts of the U.S. have helped provide the butterflies some relief. Whether these and other efforts are enough to rescue the monarchs remains to be seen. (EarthTalk, written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss, is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine.)
S e l l Yo u r H o u s e “As Is,” At a Fair Price, On the Date of Your Choice !!!! • We use private funds so we can close fast. • You don’t have to do any repairs. • Move when you want. • Leave any or all of your stuff. • No Commissions or Fees. We pay Closing Costs. Call Today for a Free Report: (402)-291-5005 or www.7DaysCash.com The Sierra Group LLC / We are a Professional Home Buying Company BBB Member Member of The Sierra Group LLC is a licensed real estate agent
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Minor is trainer, friend, father figure for boxer Crawford By Leo Adam Biga Contributing Writer
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Terence Crawford, age 25, has been taining under Midge Minor’s watchful eye at the CW Boxing Club since the Omaha fighter was 7 years old.
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Contact Saint Joseph Tower Assisted Living Community to learn more.
www.stjosephtower.com 2205 S. 10th St.
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Omaha, NE 68108
New Horizons
(402) 952-5000
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August 2013
erhaps Nebraska’s best ever hope for a world professional boxing champion works out of the CW Boxing Club in north downtown Omaha. As 25-year-old lightweight contender Terence “Bud” Crawford goes through his paces, he’s watched intently by an older man in a sweat suit, Midge Minor. Though separated in age by four-plus decades, the two men enjoy a warm, easy relationship marked by teasing banter. Crawford: “I’ll beat this dude up right now.” Minor: “You’re scared of me, you know that.” Crawford: “You be dreaming about me.” Minor: “You stick that long chin out to the wrong man.” Crawford and Minor have been going back and forth like that for decades. At age 7, Crawford got his boxing start under Minor at the CW, 1510 Davenport St., and he still trains there under Minor’s scrutiny. The facility is part of the CW Youth Resource Center, whose founder and director, Carl Washington, spotted Crawford when he was a kid and brought him to the gym. Crawford, an Omaha native and resident, owns a 21-0 pro record with 16 knockouts and a reputation among some experts as the world’s best fighter in the 135-pound division. The smart money says it’s only a matter of time before he wins a title. That time may come in January when the Top Rank-promoted boxer is expected to get his title shot and the opportunity to earn his first six-figure payday. Since showing well in two recent HBO-telecast fights, Crawford has been riding a wave of fame. He’s the pride of the CW, where the number of fighters who train there is up because Bud learned to box there, made it big, and never left the club. “He’s one of the causes of our gym being full now,” says Minor. “They all look up to him. It’s kind of like he put us on the map.” Crawford doesn’t act the role of a star though. “I’m the same person, I’m regular, I just want to be able to make it and provide for my family,” he says earnestly. Bud engages everyone at the gym and offers instruction to the other fighters. “I’m always going to have CW somewhere inside of me because this is where I started. Never forget where you came from. I’m always going to be a CW fighter. I just feel comfortable here. It does feel like home when I walk through them doors because it’s the only gym I knew when I was coming up. I’ve been coming here and going to the donut shop (the adjacent Pettit’s Pastry) ever since I was 7,” he says. For a long time, boxing promoters pressured Crawford to leave Omaha, where quality sparring partners are rare and pro boxing cards even rarer. But he’s remained true to his team and his home. “A lot of people came at me with deals wanting to get me to fight for them, sign with them, and move out of town. They kept telling me I can’t make it from Omaha and (I) need new corner men – that they took me as far as they could. But I’m loyal and a lot of people respect me for it. My coaches have faith in me and trust me that I’m not going to do nothing to jeopardize our relationship, and I trust them and have faith in them. “I’ve just stayed with it and continued to have confidence in my team,” Bud adds. “I just keep pushing forward.” Crawford keeps a tight circle of confidantes around him and all share his same CW and Omaha lineage. “We all family,” he says. “Every person I turn to in my corner that’s giving me instructions came up under Midge.” For his last fight, Bud – who always sports gear to show his Nebraska pride – wore trunks emblazoned with “OMAHA” on the back of them.
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s Crawford shadow boxes inside the ring at CW, looking at his reflected image in a bank of mirrors against the near wall, the 73 year-old Minor takes it all in from his spot in the corner, just outside the ropes. Minor has been in Crawford’s corner, both literally and figuratively, since the fighter first got serious about the sport at age 12. They initially met five years before that, when Crawford became argumentative with the trainer. Minor demands obedience. He barks orders in his growl Please turn to page 11.
Midge: Bud’s heart, persistence keys to fighter’s ring success --Continued from page 10. of a voice. He’s known to curse, even with kids. He doesn’t take guff from anyone, especially a brash, back-talking youngster. When Crawford wouldn’t mind him, Minor banned Bud from the CW. The trainer says he hated letting Crawford go, too, because he recognized the kid as something special. “I saw that he had a lot of heart and that goes a long way in boxing. He never wanted to quit on me.” Bud’s heart reminded Minor of his own. Back in the day, Midge was a top amateur flyweight, twice winning the Midwest Golden Gloves. But prospect or no prospect, Minor wasn’t going to stand for disrespect from Crawford. The two eventually reconnected. “I kicked him out of the gym for five years,” says Minor, a father many times over. “Then I brought him back when he got a little more mature, and then we went from there.” Crawford acquired some rough edges growing up in Omaha. Being physically tested was a rite of passage in his family and neighborhood. It toughened him up. He needed to be tough, too, because he was small, always getting into scuffles, and playing against bigger, and older guys in football, basketball, (or) whatever sport was in season. He learned to always stand his ground. The more he held his own, the more courage and confidence he gained. “I was taught to never be scared…to never back down. That was instilled in me at a young age,” Crawford says. “My big cousins (were) pushing me, punching me, slamming me, (and) roughing me up. My dad (was) wrestling me. After going against them it wasn’t nothing to me going against somebody my size, (or) my age. “I’d fall and get jacked up or get bitten by dogs or get scratched. I’d need stitches here and there, and my mom would be like, ‘You’re all right.’ There was no going home and crying to your parents or nothing like that. No babying me. I don’t know what it feels like to be babied.”
Carl Washington opened the CW Boxing Club in 1978.
Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Crawford knocked out Andre Gorges in the fifth round during an April 2012 bout in Las Vegas. There was something about Crawford, even as a child, that pegged him for greatness. “Before I even started boxing, my dad used to make me punch on his hands, teach me wrestling moves, (and) throw the ball with me. He always said, ‘You’re going to be a million dollar baby.’ Ever since I was little he was like, ‘You can be whatever you want to be, just go out there and do it. Don’t let nobody hold you down or hold you back.’” Bud’s father, grandfather, and an uncle all boxed and wrestled in their youth. His dad and uncle trained at the CW. His grandfather boxed with Minor. They all had talent. “It was just in me, it was in the blood line for me,” Crawford said. “I just took after them. My dad always gave me pointers.” By the time Bud returned to the CW, he was less belligerent and more ready to learn. The no-nonsense Minor and the hot-tempered youth bonded. Like father and son. “When I came back to the gym Midge and I were like instantly close. Midge was like my dad,” says Crawford. What was the difference the second time around at the CW? “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I accepted Midge ain’t going to change for nobody. I didn’t really know him like that at the start. So for him to be talking to me crazy I took that as disrespect. I was of-
fended by it. But when I came back, I realized that’s just Midge being Midge. “Some people get intimidated by him but one thing about Midge is if he likes you he’s going to roll with you. If he don’t like you, he don’t like you and there’s nothing nobody can do to make him like you. If he’s with you he’s with you to the end. “When I got to know him more I realized Midge will have my back till the day he dies and I’ll have his back to the day I die, and that’s just how close we are,” Bud continues. “Midge put a real big hold on me.” When you ask Crawford if he could have gotten this far without Minor he says, “Probably not because Midge kept me out of the streets. He taught me a lot. Without Midge, I don’t think so. He taught me a lot of responsibility.” Crawford came to know he could depend on Minor for anything, which only made him trust Midge more and made him want to please the older man more. “I used to ride my bike to the gym with a big old bag on my back, that’s how dedicated I was. Then Midge started taking me to the gym. Over holidays he’d come to my house to take me to the gym. On school days he’d come get me at school and take me to his house. We’d just sit there together and watch boxing tapes. I would watch any kind of fighter just for the
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simple fact that you never know when you might see that style. He’d tell me what they’re doing wrong and what I could do to beat ‘em.” Minor also became Crawford’s mentor. “Anytime I needed anything or needed someone to talk to he was always there,” says Crawford. “He’s a great father figure in my life. Just an all around good guy. He loves kids.” All of Minor’s work with Crawford inside and outside the ring had the full support of Bud’s mother, Debra. “It was a little like school to me. Sometimes I’d try to duck him and tell my mom to tell him I wasn’t there, and she wasn’t having it,” Crawford says. “Sometimes my mom would call him and say, ‘Come and get him Midge,’ and I’d spend the night at his house, watch tapes, (and) work out. It was like that.” When Bud got into trouble at school his mother informed Minor because she knew he’d hold her son accountable. When Minor got his hands on the youngster he worked him extra hard. It was all about getting the young man to learn lessons and to pay his dues. Instead of resisting it, Crawford took it all in stride. “It was instilled in me early that what don’t kill you will make you Please turn to page 12.
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Bud: Midge is the brain that dictates team’s fight strategy --Continued from page 11. stronger. It was helping me,” Bud says. Midge says he knew he was making an impact on Crawford. “He appreciated it. He respected me,” says Minor. “We got along real well.” The troubled child no one could reach found a friend and an ally to push and inspire him. “Midge always instilled in me, ‘Nobody can beat you, especially if you work hard and put your heart into your training.’ He drilled that in my head. He believed in me so much. There were times I kind of doubted myself in my mind and he was just like, ‘Nobody can beat you.’ “The fight’s the easy part. Preparing for it, that’s the hard part,” Crawford says. “I’ve been fighting all my life so to get in there and fight, that’s easy. That’s 30 minutes. Sometimes only three minutes, or 30 seconds if I get an early knockout. That’s compared to training for hours and hours a day.” Over the years, Minor routinely put Crawford in the ring with much more experienced guys. “That’s how much confidence he had in me. Seeing him have that much confidence in me made me even more confident,” says Crawford. Minor believed in his training program. “It didn’t make no difference who I fought him (Crawford) with because he was going to fight ‘em. I’ve had a lot fighters but they didn’t have the heart that he has.” The legend of Terence “Bud” Crawford began to grow when as a teen amateur he sparred with professional fighters and outfought them. Even today he likes to spar with bigger guys. “I like to try myself,” he says. Crawford is now on the cusp of boxing royalty and Minor is still the man with whom Bud puts his complete faith and trust. “He’s still there for me taking good care of me,” Crawford says. “I’m always going to have his back. You know he looked out for me when I was little and I’m going to look out for him now that he’s older.” Having Minor in his camp as he preps for the biggest fight of his life in January is exactly where Crawford wants him. Having Midge in his corner on fight night is where he needs him. “It means a lot to have Midge there. Midge is the brain. Everything goes through Midge before it’s all said and done for me to go in there and fight. Without the brain we can’t do nothing, so
Photo courtesy/Top Rank
In winning his first 21 professional fights, Crawford has knocked out 16 opponents.
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it’s very important that Midge is there. “Before every fight I bring him a disc of who I’m fighting and I ask him what he thinks about the guy, and he tells me what I should do, and we go from there,” Crawford says. The strategy for any fight, he says, is “a team effort” among Bud’s co-managers Brian McIntyre and Cameron Dunkin, trainer Esau Diegez, Minor, and himself. “We all work together and dissect our opponent but Midge is always the one that’s like, ‘All right, this is what you’re going to do to beat this guy. This is how you’re going to fight ‘em.’ And we all go by what Midge says. He’s great for seeing things I don’t see and making me see it. “He gives me the instructions to beat ‘em, and all I have to do is follow ‘em. He’s got the wisdom.” Minor says Crawford is a great student who picks things up quickly, including a knack for altering his methods to counter his opponent’s ring style.
CW’s anniversary celebration slated for late November
Minor directs the action from his corner outside the ring at the CW Boxing Club.
arl Washington, executive director of the CW Boxing Club and the CW Youth Resource Center – 1510 Cass St. – is hosting a celebration recognizing the facility’s 35th anniversary in late November (a specific date will be set later). Over the years, the organization has reached out to thousands of area youths and offered them an opportunity to participate in boxing, music, dancing, singing, and a variety of other activities. “Our mission is to develop programs and activities which prevent youth and young adults from becoming involved in negative behaviors,” Washington said. For more information, contact Washington at 402-671-8477 or carlwashington1510@ gmail.com.
I’ve got it all – hand speed, power, movement, (and) smarts. I can take a punch.” Crawford is always in top physical shape and lives a clean lifestyle, Minor says admiringly. The trainer never has to worry his fighter isn’t working hard enough. Minor’s trained several successful pros from Omaha, including Grover Wiley and Dickie Ryan, but he says he’s never had anyone as accomplished as Crawford this early in their career. Neither Bud nor Midge believes Crawford has reached his full potential. “I’ve got a lot of things to work on,” says Crawford. “So I figure once I get those bad habits out of the way then I’ll be better than I am now. Little things like not keeping my hands up, not moving my head. Sometimes I’ll get in there and I’ll feel like he (the opponent) can’t hurt me, and I just want to walk through him without coming with the jab.”
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“He can observe different fighters and he can adapt to their styles. He doesn’t have problem adjusting to them,” says Minor. “He listens to me and he produces for me.” “Oh yeah. I see it one time and I do it,” Crawford says. “You gotta practice it though, you can’t just think you’re going to perfect it by doing it one time. You gotta keep on trying it in the gym. You might not get it the first time, you might not get it the second time, but you gotta keep trying until you get it right.” Still, when all is said and done, it’s Crawford who’s alone in the ring on fight night. “You can tell me this, you can tell me that, at the end of the day I’m the one that’s gotta take those punches and get hit upside my head. The difference between me and other people is that I’m willing to go through the fire to see the light.” Crawford’s aware of the strides he’s made in recent years. “I feel like I’m more relaxed in the ring. I know more about the game. I know what to do, when to do it, and I’m not just throwing punches just to be throwing them. I’m pinpointing my shots more. Yeah, all around my whole arsenal is just way better.” Minor has also seen Bud’s improvement. “Early in his career he used to just throw punches. He learned to settle down and adjust.” Crawford says his overall skill set has developed to the point he doesn’t have an obvious weakness. “I can adapt to any style. I’m a boxer (and) a puncher. I’m elusive. I’m whatever I need to be. I’m always confident and I just come to win.
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inor’s always watching to make sure Crawford doesn’t abandon his fundamentals. The veteran trainer guided Crawford through a highly successful amateur career that saw the fighter compete on the United States’ Pan American Games team and advance all the way to the 2006 national Golden Gloves 132-pound title bout in his hometown of Omaha. Crawford dropped a controversial decision in the finals that left him disillusioned by the politics of amateur boxing scoring and Minor “broken hearted.” Midge continues to be the guru Crawford turns to for advice. Perhaps a turning point in their relationship and in the fighter’s development was getting past the anger that seemed to fuel Crawford early on and that threatened to derail his career. When his temper got the better of him, Crawford was suspended from the U.S. national team. He says American amateur boxing officials “put a bad rep out for my name. They called me hotheaded and a thug.” He feels the stigma hurt him in his bid to make the U.S. Olympic team. The fighter acknowledges he had issues. He got expelled from several schools for fighting and arguing. He grew up playing sports and fighting in the streets, parks, and playgrounds of northeast Omaha, where his mother mostly raised him and his two older sisters. His father, Terence Sr., served in the U.S. Navy and was separated from his mother, only periodically reappearing in Bud’s life. Please turn to page 20.
Study examines dementia, diabetes relationship
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iabetes-associated episodes of low blood sugar may increase the risk of developing dementia, while having dementia or even milder forms of cognitive impairment may increase the risk of experiencing low blood sugar, according to a University of California San Francisco (UCSF) scientist who led a new study published online recently in JAMA Internal Medicine. Researchers analyzed data from 783 diabetic participants and found hospitalization for severe hypoglycemia among diabetic older adults in the study was associated with a doubled risk of developing dementia later. Similarly, study participants with dementia were twice as likely to experience a severe hypoglycemic event. The study results suggest some patients risk entering a downward spiral in which hypoglycemia and cognitive impairment fuel one another, leading to worse health, said Kristine Yaffe, MD, senior author and principal investigator for the study. Dr. Yaffe is an UCSF professor of psychiatry, neurology, and epidemiology based at the San Francisco Veterans Affair Medical Center. “Older patients with diabetes may be especially vulnerable to a vicious cycle in which poor diabetes management may lead to cognitive decline and then to even worse diabetes management,” she said. The researchers analyzed hospital records of patients from Memphis and Pittsburgh, ages 70 to 79 at the time of enrollment, who participated in the federally funded Health, Aging, and Body Composi-
tion (Health ABC) study, begun in 1997. The UCSF results are based on an average of 12 years of follow-up study. Participants in the Health ABC study periodically underwent tests to measure cognitive function. Nearly half of participants included in the newly published analysis were AfricanAmericans and the rest were Caucasian. None had dementia at the start of the study, and all either had diabetes at the beginning of the study or were diagnosed during the course of the study. “Individuals with dementia or even those with milder forms of cognitive impairment may be less able to effectively manage complex treatment regimens for diabetes and less able to recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia and to respond appropriately, increasing their risk of severe hypoglycemia,” Yaffe said. “Physicians should take cognitive function into account in managing diabetes in elderly individuals.” Certain medications known to carry a higher risk for hypoglycemia – such as insulin secretagogues and certain sulfonylureas – may be inappropriate for older adults with dementia or who or at risk for cognitive impairment, according to Yaffe. Previous studies in which researchers investigated hypoglycemia and cognitive function have had inconsistent findings. A strength of the current study is that individuals were tracked from baseline over a relatively long time, and the older age of participants may also have been a factor in the highly statistically significant outcome, Yaffe said. (UCSF provided this information.)
BBB warns consumers about fake checks
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xperts estimate billions of dollars have been lost as the result of fake checks. Scams involving phony checks come in many different forms and can be very hard to identify as the printing technology used by scammers improves. The Better Business Bureau warns that check scams are common and offers advice on the red flags to look out for. An unusual twist to a check scam was recently reported to the local BBB by a consumer in Lincoln. She was looking at her daughter’s actions on mocospacee.com, a website advertising an opportunity to “meet people, chat, and play games.” The consumer decided to use this website herself and quickly received a text message from a man called “Rick.” Rick texted a message to the consumer telling her he was in the military and asked her to open an account in her name for an orphanage. She refused. He mentioned she could receive a tax refund for doing this, but the consumer again refused. He continued to communicate by texting photos and telling her he loved her.
Eventually, Rick drew the consumer in with his emotional appeals. The consumer told Rick she struggles to pay her bills. At this point, he offered to send her $400. Shortly after, she received a check via FedEx for $4,850. The check appeared to have been issued by Workday Inc. located in Pleasanton, Calif. She deposited the check at her bank, waited a few days, and used some of the money to pay overdue electricity and phone bills. She also gave some money to her son. Unfortunately, the $4,850 check did not clear and she now is now owes her bank $627.75. The local BBB contacted the Bureau that serves Pleasanton to check on Workday, Inc. It was confirmed Workday Inc. is a legitimate company whose identity had been falsely used on the check and Workday, Inc. was in the process of addressing the issue with their bank. “It can be practically impossible to tell a fake check from a real one using only the naked eye because fake checks can be printed in full color and even include watermarks,” said local BBB President and CEO
Jim Hegarty. “Many check scams plaguing consumers in the U.S. are the work of scammers operating outside of the country and originate in Canada, Jamaica, and Africa which makes it extremely difficult for law enforcement to track them down and bring them to justice,” he added. Fake check scams aren’t limited to the scheme already mentioned. Fake check schemes are often associated with Lottery and Government Grant Scams, Mystery Shopping Scams, and Overpayment Scams. The BBB offers the following red flags to look out for: • You’re told you won a lottery or received a grant you didn’t apply for. • The name on the check does not match the name of the company or individual you’re supposedly dealing with. • You’re given instructions to deposit a check into your account and promptly wire part of those funds back to the sender or to another specified company or contact. For more advice you can trust from your BBB on avoiding common scams, visit www.bbb.org.
August 2013
Please see the ad on page 3
NH Club membership roll rises $10 Joe Goodroe Josephine Kocol $5 Rose Saitta
Diabetes education classes available The Diabetes Education Center of the Midlands is offering a six-hour basic skills diabetes self-management class on Aug. 20 and 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. each evening. The class, which costs less than $100, is ideal for persons who are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or those who need updated information on type 2 diabetes. The DECM is also offering a two-hour class on intensive insulin management on Aug. 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. This class is designed for persons wishing to intensify their insulin management or who are considering insulin pump therapy. The classes will be held at the DECM office, 2910 S. 84th St. To register or for more information, please call 402-3990777, ext. 230.
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DHHS.ENOA@nebraska.gov We appreciate your interest in ENOA and the New Horizons.
WHITMORE LAW OFFICE Wills • Trusts • Probate
Ask A Lawyer: Q — In addition to avoiding probate, what are some benefits of a trust? A — Gifts to minors can be held in the trust until they are ready to inherit, without court supervision. A trust provides you with more privacy than a will, and is difficult to challenge. A trust can prevent unintentionally disinheriting a child, which can happen in a blended family, even with a will. You can make provision for beneficiaries with special needs, or choose for professional management of your trust if you become disabled. The benefits of a trust are for everyone, not just for “rich people.” Have a question about estate planning? Give us a call!
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Research conducted at UCLA
AARP is offering driving class AARP is offering a four-hour course on safe driving. The class is designed to teach older drivers how to boost safety awareness, refresh and improve their driving skills, and minimize crash risks. There are no exams or tests involved. Participants will receive a certificate of completion. Insurance discounts may apply. The class cost $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-AARP members. Here’s the course schedule for this month:
Saturday, August 10 1 to 5 p.m. AARP Information Center 1941 S. 42nd St. Call 402-398-9568 to register Wednesday, August 21 Noon to 4 p.m. Midlands Community Hospital 11111 S. 84th S. Call 800-253-4368 (toll free) to register Please support New Horizons advertisers!
Fontenelle Tours Omaha/Council Bluffs: 712-366-9596
Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy. For more information about our tours, please call Ward or Kathy Kinney at Fontenelle Tours at the number listed above.
2013
At the request of some of our travelers, we are offering several oneday trips to see if there is an interest in these shorter trips. If there is an interest, we will continue to offer them. If we have to cancel them because we don’t have a minimum number of travelers, the one-day trips will be discontinued. Sunday Dinner at Parker’s Smokehouse. September 8. $45. Come along and meet your travel friends for another delicious Sunday evening dinner, this time at Parker’s Smokehouse. Call to reserve your seat while there’s still room! (NEW) Nebraska Junk Jaunt. September 27 – 28. $260. Come along on our fifth annual “Junk Jaunt,” covering more than 220 miles in central Nebraska. Participating towns have city-wide garage, yard, and bake sales. Two full days of treasure hunting! “Nunset Boulevard” at the Lofte. October 13. $99. ($89 if reserved before 8/13/13.) Enjoy another great performance at the Lofte Community Theater in Manley, NE. This Sunday afternoon performance of the comedy “Nunset Boulevard” will be followed by a home cooked meal at the Main Street Café in Louisville, NE where you will have your choice of three great selections. “Fox on the Fairway” at the New Theater. October 16. $119. ($109 if reserved before 8/16/13.) Take a Wednesday trip to Kansas City and enjoy a great comedy about country club life during a golf tournament, as well as a wonderful lunch buffet at the New Theater. Tracks to Boone & Corn Crib. October 19. $169. ($159 if reserved before 8/19/13.) A Saturday trip to Boone, Iowa, with a stop for a catered lunch at the “Corn Crib” in Madrid, and wine tasting from the Snus Hill Winery. Includes a 1-hour and 45-minute steam locomotive train ride on the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad, a ride on the electric trolley, and the Railroad Museum & History Center. Daniel O’Donnell in Branson. November 4 - 7. $689. See Daniel O’Donnell, Mel Tillis, Red, Hot…& Blue!, Dinner with Yakov, The Haygoods, and your choice of either Miracle of Christmas or The Legends in Concert. Christmas at the Lofte. December 8. $99. ($89 if reserved before 10/8/13.) Enjoy another Sunday afternoon performance of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and a great home cooked meal after the play. Kansas City Christmas. December 11 - 12. $299. Enjoy a special holiday luncheon at the Webster House, New Theater Restaurant buffet dinner and evening performance of “Never Too Late” starring George Wendt from “Cheers,” “Christmas in Song” at the Quality Hill Playhouse, Toy & Miniature Museum, tour of Strawberry Hill Povitica Bakery, shopping at Crown Center and Zona Rosa, and lodging at the Drury.
The Respite Resource Center, a Partnerships in Aging program, is offering respite provider/respite volunteer training in Douglas and Sarpy counties. Respite Resource Center Coordinator Elizabeth Chentland is a certified trainer for an evidencebased course called Respite Education and Support Tools that was developed by Marklund, an Illinois-based organization. The course prepares respite providers to understand what a family might need or expect when caring for their loved one, how
(Let us help you find a Collette Vacation to your special destination when YOU want to go. Collette offers trips to numerous destinations both within the United States and throughout the world. Each trip is offered on many different dates throughout the year. Call us for further information.) In 2014 we will be offering the following trips with Collette Vacations: Reflections of Italy, Northern National Parks, Spectacular South Africa, and New York City. (Exact dates will be available in next month’s ad.) (NEW)
Laughlin
Laughlin in August (by Air). August 16 - 19. $270. Some like it HOT! Includes non-stop, round-trip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, three nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport. Laughlin in October (by Air). October 7 - 10. $290. Includes non-stop, round-trip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, 3 nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport.(NEW) Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our 2013 trip schedule. Our new address is: 2008 W. Broadway #329, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
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New Horizons
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nited States residents are living longer than previous generations thanks to improved public health and medical treatment. But they’re also living longer with chronic geriatric health conditions like dementia, urinary incontinence, depression, and debilitating falls, which often require complex medical care. Doctors spend significant time and resources treating individuals with chronic conditions and the average family physician can become severely overtaxed managing care for such patients. The picture becomes even worse with chronic geriatric conditions. Several heath care treatment models have been designed over the years to improve medical care for chronic geriatric ailments. One model, for instance, helped improve patient care by teaming geriatricians in an academic medical center setting with nurse practitioners to co-manage care. But can the same model work in community-based primary care settings? The answer is yes, according to a UCLAled study published in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study’s findings highlight the crucial role nurse practitioners can play in treating chronic geriatric conditions. “It is becoming increasingly clear that care of chronic geriatric conditions is better when it’s done in teams,” said the study’s lead author, Dr. David Reuben, chief of the geriatrics division in the department of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “There are some things that nurse practitioners do better than doctors and some things that doctors do better than nurse practitioners,” he added. Reuben noted while doctors are generally good at treating acute medical conditions and those requiring highly complex decision-making, some chronic conditions tend to be “swept by the wayside” because physicians either don’t have the time or are not as skilled in dealing with them. In addition, doctors often can’t make the time to deal with both patient symptoms and the management of chronic illnesses that may not have acute symptoms. “There just isn’t enough time in the office to do both,” Reuben said. For this study, researchers screened
1,084 patients at two primary care facilities in southern California for four chronic geriatric conditions: falls, urinary incontinence, dementia/Alzheimer’s disease, and depression. Of those patients, 658 had at least one condition; 485 of the 658 patients were then randomly selected for medical review. Of those 485 patients, 237 (49 percent) were seen by a nurse practitioner, for comanagement with a primary care physician of at least one condition. The rest were seen only by a primary care physician. The researchers examined whether a set of measures known as “quality indicators” were performed for each condition. For example, if a patient had a history of falls, did the care provider assess whether the patient might be taking medications that increase the risk of falls and assist the patient in reducing or stopping the use of that drug? The study authors found the percentage of quality indicators that were satisfied for patients whose cases were co-managed by a nurse practitioner and a physician was higher than for those seen only by a physician. For falls, 80 percent of quality indicators were satisfied for co-managed cases, compared with 34 percent for physicians alone; for urinary incontinence, 66 percent of indicators were satisfied, compared with 19 percent; for dementia, 59 percent were satisfied, compared with 38 percent; and for depression, 63 percent were satisfied, compared with 60 percent. Much of the difference was due to the fact the nurses were likely to take far more detailed patient histories and to perform other assessments. For instance, the pass rates – that is, whether the measure was performed – for taking a patient’s history of falls was 91 percent for co-managed cases, versus 47 percent; vision testing was 87 percent, versus 36 percent; and discussion of treatment options for urinary incontinence was 79 percent, versus 28 percent. The findings were limited by several facts, the researchers said. Some cases that primary care physicians considered “mild” were not referred for co-management, the study was conducted in only two facilities within a single geographic area, and it was a one-time intervention with minor revisions as the study went along rather than a longer, continuous learning process. (UCLA provided this information.)
Respite Resource Center offering training for providers, volunteers
In Partnership with Collette Vacations
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Study examines nurse practitioners’role in treating chronic geriatric conditions
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August 2013
to identify and respect the family caregiver’s and care recipient’s needs, preferences, and privacy, and how to ensure a safe and healthy environment. At the end of the course, participants will be able to: • Define respite care. • Describe the role, qualities, and boundaries of a volunteer respite worker. • Recognize the importance of coping strategies for the volunteer and caregiver. • Properly begin a respite relationship. • Practice good health and safety practices in respite
situations. • Demonstrate proper assistance techniques. • Deploy effective communication (verbal and nonverbal) with the care recipient, caregiver, and organization resources. • Create a positive environment to handle ordinary and challenging respite situations. If your interested in hosting respite provider training, please contact Chentland at 402-996-8444 or echentland@gmail.com for more information about the course, its availability, and costs.
The benefits of vegetable oil A typical American consumes approximately three or more tablespoons of vegetable oil each day. Vegetable oils, like those from soy, corn and canola, are a significant source of calories and are rich in linoleic acid (LA) which is an essential nutrient. Since the 1970s, researchers have known that LA helps reduce blood cholesterol levels, and for decades scientists have known that consuming LA can help lower the risk of heart disease. However, some experts have been claiming recently that Americans might be getting too much of a good thing. A new study from the University of Missouri contradicts that claim. In the study, Effect of Dietary Linoleic Acid on Markers of Inflammation in Healthy Persons: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials, researchers at the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois found no link exists between vegetable oil consumption and circulating indicators of inflammation that are often associated with heart disease, cancer, asthma, and arthritis. While earlier animal studies have shown a diet rich in LA can promote inflammation, MU animal sciences researcher Kevin Fritsche says humans respond to LA differently. “In the field of nutrition and health, animals aren’t people,” said Fritsche, an MU professor of animal science and nutrition in the Division of Animal Sciences. “We’re not saying you should just go out and consume vegetable oil freely. However, our evidence does suggest you can achieve a heart-healthy diet by using soybean, canola, corn, and sunflower oils instead of animal-based fats when cooking.” Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid that’s a major component of most vegetable oils. This fatty acid is an essential nutrient and comprises 50 percent or more of most vegetable oils. Fritsche, along with Guy Johnson, an adjunct professor of food and human nutrition at the University of Illinois, conducted a thorough study on LA questioning whether this fatty acid promotes inflammation in humans. When the evidence from numerous clinical trials was gathered and examined, Fritsche said it was clear LA consumption did not promote inflammation in healthy people. “Some previous studies have shown inflammation, which is an immune response in the body, can occur when certain fats are consumed,” Fritsche said. “We’ve come to realize this inflammation, which can occur anywhere in the body, can cause or promote chronic diseases. We know animal fats can encourage inflammation, but in this study, we’ve been able to rule out vegetable oil as a cause.” Fritsche and Johnson reviewed 15 clinical trials that studied nearly 500 adults as they consumed various forms of fats, including vegetable oils. The researchers could find no evidence that a diet high in linoleic acid had any links to inflammation in the body. Due to this discovery, the researchers say it’s important to continue following the current recommendations from the Institute of Medicine and the American Heart Association to use vegetable oil when cooking and consume between two and four tablespoons of vegetable oil daily to reach the necessary amount of linoleic acid needed for a heart-healthy diet. “While limiting the overall fat intake is also part of the current nutrition recommendations, we hope people will feel comfortable cooking with vegetable oils,” Fritsche said.
Millard Senior Center
Sells for $24.95
Guide can help people with food sensitivities
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he Let’s Eat Out! Allergy Free Passport is a new how-to guide that instructs people with food sensitivities or allergies how to eat what they want, where they want, and when they want, whether in their own localities or traveling abroad. Let’s Eat Out! is a visa to the world of dining out for people who normally have to worry constantly about having a bad reaction to a meal, giving them a full range of information about cuisines, ingredients, preparations, what questions to ask, and how to ask them. This can help these men and women communicate their food requirements, order allergy-free menu items, and enjoy allergy-free meals anywhere in the world. Let’s Eat Out! addresses seven popular cuisines (American, Chinese, French, Indian, Italian, Mexican, and Thai) and gives people the tools to enjoy each cuisine anywhere in the world while avoiding 10 of the most prevalent allergens (gluten, peanuts, soy, fish, eggs, dairy, wheat, nuts, corn, and shellfish). The passport also covers more than 175 specific menu items, 200 breakfast and beverage suggestions, 300 questions to ask and how to say them in the specific language, 130 snack and light meal ideas, 50 global airlines, and hundreds of tips from 15 chefs and culinary experts, 10 health, medical, and nutritional experts, and 20 longterm sufferers of various food allergies with extensive experience in dining out throughout the world The Let’s Eat Out! Allergy Free Passport retails for $24.95. For purchasing info, please visit glutenfreepassport.com or call 312952-4900.
You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., for the following: • Aug. 9: Ice cream social @ noon. Enjoy ice cream sundaes and root beer floats. The Millard Senior Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30. A $3 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. Center activities include a walking club (join and get a free t-shirt), Tai Chi class (Mondays and Fridays from 10 to 10:45 a.m. for a $1 suggested donation), chair volleyball (Tuesdays @ 10 a.m.), quilting (Tuesdays @ 9 a.m.,), card games, and Bingo (Tuesdays and Fridays @ noon). On Sept. 11, we’ll resume making dresses and shorts for young girls and boys in Africa. We’re also planning to have a basket weaving class in September. For meal reservations and more information, please call Susan Sunderman at 402-546-1270.
Poetry contest submissions due March 5
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ubmissions for the 2014 Poetry Across the Generations competition – sponsored jointly by the University of Nebraska at Omaha, the Omaha Public Library, and the Omaha Public Schools, are due Wednesday, March 5. The annual event features separate contests for poets in grades 7 through 12 and poets age 50 and older. Participants are asked to write two poems each: one about life as a teenager and another about life as a person age 60 or older. Prizes of $100, $50, and $25 for first, second, and third places, respectively will be awarded. Seven honorable mention finishers will receive $10 each. Winning poets can col-
lect their cash prizes at a Sunday, March 23 poet recognition reception at UNO’s Milo Bail Student Center from 1 to 3:30 p.m. The event will include poetry readings, refreshments, and intergenerational poetry dialogue. Adult poetry submissions may be sent to Cindy Waldo, Sigma Phi Omega, Department of Gerontology, CB 211, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 6001 Dodge St, Omaha, Neb. 68182-0202 or online to www.omahapoetsplace.net. Teen poets may submit their poetry to Omaha Public Library, Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch, Attn: Karen Berry, 2100 Reading Plz., Elkhorn, Neb. 68022 or online to www.omahapoetsplace.net. For more information, contact Cindy Waldo at cwaldo@unomaha.edu.
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August 2013
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Transportation unit’s Vietnam journey chronicled in DVD
Garry Knittel, then age 19, was working at Hinky-Dinky when he learned he was going to Vietnam. By Jeff Reinhardt New Horizons Editor
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hat particular day in April 1968 began like many others. Before the sun set that evening, however, the lives of Omaha residents Garry Knittel, Bob Cole, and Warren Malloy, then ages 19, 23, and 21 respectively, would change forever. The Tet Offensive was underway 8,000 miles away in southeast Asia, and this trio of U.S. Army Reserve members from Nebraska was being called up by President Lyndon Johnson to serve in Vietnam. Knittel got the word while working at a Hinky-Dinky grocery store when his father telephoned him. Malloy’s mom called her son at Lozier where he operated a forklift. Cole heard the news on the radio as he was returning to work at the Union Carbide plant in Carter Lake. “It’s got to be a mistake,” Knittel thought to himself. “This isn’t going to work,” said Cole whose wife, Jane, was expecting the couple’s second child. Despite the uncertainty, a month later these three men and more than 120 other reservists in the Omaha-based 172nd Transportation Company were headed for advanced training at Fort Lewis, Washington. The soldiers – toting their M-14 rifles – began their trek by boarding an airplane at Eppley Airfield heading west to Washington state. After five months in the Pacific Northwest where the transportation unit was fully trained, the Nebraskans were sent to Cam Ranh Bay to begin their yearlong assignment in Vietnam. Cole became the company clerk. Malloy and Knittel were drivers.
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he 172nd Transportation Company’s job was to haul shipments from the port at Cam Ranh Bay along the South China Sea to bases as distant as the Cambodian border 200 miles away. The trucks were filled with a variety of cargo including ammunition, jet fuel, barbed wire, lumber, asphalt, food, beer, and soda pop. The convoys – which sometimes numbered 180 vehicles long - navigated winding, steep,
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When his Army Reserve company was called up, Bob Cole, then age 23, and his wife were expecting their second child.
Warren Malloy was among the 172nd Transportation Company drivers that often worked 17-hour shifts.
narrow, dusty, and often rain-slicked roads that featured ruts and foot deep holes. Speeds rarely topped 15 miles per hour, according to Knittel who drove 22,000 miles without an accident during his tour.
The best part – if there was one – was the friendships they made. Strong bonds that continue to this day. Malloy, Knittel, and Cole are active at VFW Post 2503 doing volunteer work. Each is also employed by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Meals on Wheels program.
“That was the hardest I ever worked in my life. Everything else has paled in comparison.” Malloy said a typical day began at 3 a.m. and often ended 17 hours later. “Our day was over when we got to our destination and unloaded.” The drivers rarely got time off. Knittel’s first five-day stretch of “rest and relaxation” came nine months after arriving in Vietnam. “That was the hardest I ever worked in my life,” he said. “Everything else has paled in comparison.” Cole’s down time was Sunday afternoons. “I jumped into my bed and slept,” he recalled. In addition to the horrible roads and the oppressive southeast Asian heat and humidity, the 172nd Transportation Company also had to deal with occasional sniper fire. Helicopters and gun trucks normally protected the convoys, but once the sun fell below the horizon, danger was always a possibility for the Americans. “The day was ours, but the night was ‘Charlie’s’ (North Vietnamese soldiers),” Knittel said. Each member of the 172nd Transportation Company survived his Vietnamese tour that lasted 11 months and 18 days. Cole, Malloy, and Knittel agreed the hardest part of serving overseas was being away from their families, friends, and jobs.
New Horizons
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August 2013
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t the 172nd Transportation Company’s 40year reunion in 2008, many of its members brought and shared photos and slides they took in Vietnam. Believing the unit’s story should be preserved for historical purposes as well as to show to the men’s family and friends, Knittel collected rolls of 8 mm film and hundreds of slides to create a video. His daughter, Stefani Lane – who works for Omaha’s Dynamic Productions – added her expertise. Malloy helped select the music for the sound track. Interviews were taped with eight company members. Two years later, the project, called The Journey, – a 65-minute long DVD documentary – was ready for viewing. “The DVD shows exactly what we did in Vietnam and why we did it,” Knittel explained in the introduction. “Garry did a fantastic job,” Malloy said. The Journey features the men leaving Omaha, training at Fort Lewis, the convoys, drinking beer at the Omaha Bar, Christmas in the barracks, and stories about “The Crow,” a seven-feet tall fiberglass bird the company acquired in Washington state. The black and yellow mascot followed the men to Vietnam and today rests in the U.S. Army Transportation Museum at Fort Eustis, Va. n Aug. 17, the 172nd Transportation Company will reconvene at VFW Post 2503 – 8904 Military Ave. – for its 45th reunion. More than 85 Vietnam veterans from around the country are expected to attend. Knittel, Cole, and Malloy said the men of the 172nd Transportation Company are proud to have served their country with honor and distinction, and look forward to reuniting this month. For more information about The Journey, contact Knittel at 402-677-6994 or send an e-mail to him at we7plus2@cox.net.
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Tips for getting medical information
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r. Peter Kowey, author of Deadly Rhythm and an international expert in heart rhythm disorders, shares his 10 best ways to extract critical information from physicians. He offers his expert advice on how to avoid a misunderstanding of medical facts that can impact directly and importantly on your medical care. Follow these 10 simple rules and you’ll get the healthcare answers you need, make better medical decisions, and improve the chances of a successful medical outcome. • Pick your doctor carefully. Rely on people you trust, especially health care professionals who work in the medical specialty. Nurses are particularly good at spotting the good and the not so good doctors. Make communication an important part of the qualifications you seek in a doctor. Find out how your doctor handles phone calls and e-mails. Can you get through to someone to ask a question when necessary? • Pre-read judiciously. Informing yourself about your condition before you see your doctor is fine, but understand medical literature is complicated and many times controversial. Therefore your reading is for background only and not to make decisions about treatment options. Ask your doctor if there’s a relevant article or book he recommends. • Bring written questions when you visit. A doctor’s visit is stressful, so relying on memory will be problematic. It’s much better to bring a list of written questions and to have someone with you to listen and take notes. • If you don’t understand something, don’t stop asking questions. There’s nothing more important than your health. If you don’t grasp your problem, you’ll never be able to make good decisions about treat-
ment. • Get your answers in quantitative terms whenever possible. Information has to be conveyed in a way you clearly understand. Percentages are helpful in some circumstances, but can be confusing and hard to place in perspective. Knowing the number of persons who must receive any given treatment to obtain one good result is a particularly good way to put a procedure into perspective. • There are always options. Make sure your doctor tells you all of them. He may favor one over another, of course, but you need to know the pros and cons of each, including doing nothing or taking a very conservative approach. • Consider a second opinion. As the seriousness of your problem increases, and as your familiarity with the consultant decreases, the more likely you’ll want to get another opinion. This is a very important consideration for new and/or potentially risky procedures. Once again, get the name of a trusted expert. • Don’t be bashful. No topic is taboo. Be persistent in your questioning. If your doctor becomes inpatient and is making you uncomfortable, hit the eject button and find another physician. • Don’t lie or exaggerate. Admit when you’re taking a medicine, exercising, or dieting as you’ve been instructed. You’ll never get what you need if your doctor is in the dark. • Insist on care integration. You need to have a good generalist who is responsible for your overall care and to whom your specialist reports. Consultant hopping or going to different institutions fragments care and increases the chance of a miscommunication.
Theatre Organ show scheduled for Aug. 18 at The Rose The River City Theatre Organ Society is presenting Let’s Take a Musical Stroll on Sunday, Aug. 18 at The Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. The 3 p.m. show will feature world-renowned theatre pipe concert organist Walt Strony on the Rose’s mighty Wurlitzer Theatre pipe organ. The afternoon will also feature a silent Laurel & Hardy comedy accompanied by the organist. Also returning this year by popular demand will be the Pathfinders, an 80 member award-winning men’s chorus from Fremont. General admission tickets
AARP needs vols for its information center AARP is recruiting older men and women to serve as volunteers at its Nebraska Information Center, 1941 S. 42nd St. (Center Mall). Volunteers can choose the days and hours they wish to volunteer at the center that is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please call 402-398.9568.
are available through the mail for $15 thru Aug. 9. To order tickets by mail, send a check to the RCTOS, 2864 Katelyn Cir., Lincoln, Neb. 68516.
Tickets are $20 at the door the day of the event. Groups are welcome to attend. For more information, please call 402-421-1356.
Elder Access Line
Call 402-661-9611 for details
Six-week series of free programs on Alzheimer’s disease is offered from Sept. 14 through Oct. 21 ers with Cathy Wyatt from You’re invited to attend Financial Visions, LLC. a six-week series of free For more information, programs titled Alzheimer’s please call 402-661-9611. Disease: The Bridge to Acceptance on Saturdays from Sept. 14 through Oct. 21. Bellevue Senior The 10 to 11:30 a.m. proCommunity Center grams will be held at 1055 You’re invited to visit N. 115th St., Suite 200. the Bellevue Senior ComHere’s the schedule of munity Center, 109 W. 22nd programs: Ave. this month for: • Sept. 14: Alzheimer’s • Aug. 5: Speaker on Disease: The Road to a Healthy Cooking for Two @ Diagnosis with Grace Uni11 a.m. versity adjunct professor, • Aug. 6: National Night caregiver, and wife Terry Out @ 6 p.m. Johnson. The center is open Mon• Sept. 21: Legal Docudays through Wednesdays ments: What if Something and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 Happens to Me? with Niel p.m. and Thursdays from 8 Nielsen from the Carlson a.m. to 8 p.m. Burnett Law Firm. Other activities include • Sept. 28: Protecting the Veggie Truck WednesYour Assets: What to do When the Forecast Calls for days at 10 a.m., chair volleyball Mondays and Rain with representatives Wednesdays @ 10:30 a.m., from Financial Visions, a light breakfast and free LLC. bread distribution on Thurs• Oct. 7: Family Dynamdays, ping pong, cards, ics: How Do We Talk With Our Kids with Matt Mainelli Bingo, billiards, and more. On Thursday, an evening from Home Instead Senior meal is served at the facilCare. • Oct. 14: Community Re- ity. The Bellevue Senior Censources: Industry Bestsellers with Michaela Williams ter’s annual spaghetti dinner is scheduled for Oct. 18. from Care Consultants for For more information or the Aging. • Oct. 21: Your Plan B: A to make meal reservations, please call 402-293-3041. Reality Check for Caregiv-
VAS needs volunteers for SHIIP training Volunteers Assisting Seniors, a local nonprofit organization and the regional office for the Nebraska Senior Health Insurance Information Program, is looking for volunteers to help older adults and persons with a disability to make informed choices with their health insurance options. For more information on the next two-day SHIIP training class, please call 402-444-6617.
Legal Aid of Nebraska operates a free telephone access line for Nebraskans age 60 and older. Information is offered to help the state’s older men and women with questions on topics like bankruptcy, homestead exemptions, collections, powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid, grandparent rights, and Section 8 housing. The telephone number for the Elder Access Line is 402827-5656 in Omaha and 1-800-527-7249 statewide. This service is available to Nebraskans age 60 and older regardless of income, race, or ethnicity. For more information, log on the Internet to http://www. legalaidofnebraska.com/EAL.
Maplewood Estates
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Call: 12801 Spaulding Plaza www.maplewoodestatesonline.com Omaha, NE 68164
August 2013
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New Horizons
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Are you TURNING age 65 or are you new to Medicare? Do you need HELP understanding your MEDICARE OPTIONS? CALL ME to discuss your Medicare rights, options, & entitlements TODAY!
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402-968-1500 kimshulters@gmail.com
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Traditional funding sources are making it more difficult for ENOA to fulfill its mission. Partnership opportunities are available to businesses and individuals wanting to help us. These opportunities include volunteering, memorials, honorariums, gift annuities, and other tax deductible contributions.
! t r o p p su
I would like to become a partner with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, and help fulfill your mission with older adults.
ENOA
$30 = 7 meals or 1.75 hours of in-home homemaker services or 1 bath aide service for frail older adults.
Retired federal employee groups to meet at Amazing Pizza Machine The National Association of Retired Federal Employees’ Chapter 144 meets the first Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S Plz. For more information, please call 402-333-6460.
The National Association of Retired Federal Employees’ Aksarben Chapter 1370 meets the second Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S Plz. For more information, please call 402-392-0624.
Vols needed at The Rose Theatre The Rose Theater, Omaha’s professional theater for
young audiences at 2001 Farnam St., is seeking volunteers of all ages to serve as ushers, assist with box office and other administrative tasks, sell concessions, help backstage, and in the costume shop. Day, night, and weekend shifts for volunteers are available during the 2013-14 season as The Rose has daytime school shows and weekend public performances. The Rose offers exceptional benefits for volunteers. For each show or event worked, a volunteer will receive two vouchers that can be redeemed for two tickets to a performance at The Rose. Vouchers may be used the day the volunteer works or may be saved for a show later in the season. Volunteers also enjoy an ice cream social in January and a special appreciation night in June with prizes, awards, and private performance of the theater’s summer musical. All volunteers must attend an orientation meeting scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 15 at 6 p.m. or Saturday, Aug. 17 at 10 a.m. For additional information, contact Niki Mulkey at 402-502-4650 or at nikim@rosetheater.org.
At Millard branch library
Lewy Body Dementia support group to convene on Tuesday, August 20 The Metro Omaha Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) Support Group will meet on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. at the Millard branch of the Omaha Public Library, 13214 Westwood Ln. LBD is a group of progressive brain diseases that are the second leading cause of degenerative dementia among older adults, affecting more than 1.3 million American families. More information about Lewy Body Dementia is available online at www.lbda.org/go/awareness. For more information about the support group, please log on to annt88@cox.net or call Ann Taylor at 402-452-3952.
A Caring Community Called HOME!
$75 = 17 meals or 4.75 hours of in-home homemaker services or 4 bath aide services for frail older adults.
Independent & Assisted Living
$150 = 35 meals or 9.5 hours of in-home homemaker services or 8 bath aide services for frail older adults. $300 = 70 meals or 19.25 hours of in-home homemaker services or 16 bath aide services for frail older adults.
• No Entrance Fee • Medicaid Waiver Approved • All Utilities & Housekeeping Included • Spacious 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments
Other amount (please designate)__________________________ Please contact me. I would like to learn more about how to include the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging in my estate planning. Name:_____________________________________
Please ma donationil your tax deducti with this fo ble rm to: Easter
n Office oNebraska n Aging Address:___________________________________ Attention : Jef City:______________State:_____ Zip: __________ Phone:____________________________________
4223 Ce f Reinhardt Omaha, nter Street NE 6810 5-2431 (402
) 444-665
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49th & Q Street • 402-731-2118 www.southviewheightsomaha.com
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August 2013
Omaha, NE 68152 Lynette, Here’s your ad for the classified section for the August issue. I increased your ad 1/2 inch your additional copy, which makes your payment Thousands of patients will beforenrolled $40.00 for the August issue. Please let me know if this is okay, or if you have any changes, give me a call @ 402-444-4148. Do you want us to charge this to your Visa card? Please let me know.
Local hospitals involved in national diabetes drug study
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Please call 402-444-4148 or 402- 444-6654 to place your ad
CLASSIFIEDS POOL TABLES
OLD STUFF WANTED
(before 1975) Moving, refelting, assemble, repair, Thanks! he University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Postcards, photos, drapes, tear down. Used slate tables. Mitch Center, Laudenback Omaha VA Medical and 36 other sites 1950s• and before fabrics, pay CASH slate pool tables. Eastern Nebraska a Office lamps, on Aging 4223 Center Street •We Omaha, NEfor68105 will take part in@aNew nationwide study to compare Horizons clothes, lady’s hats, Big Red Billiards & men’s ties, pictures, pottery, the long-term benefits and risks of four widely 402-598-5225 glass, jewelry, toys, fountain used diabetes drugs in combination with metformin. pens, furniture, etc. The five-year, $2.1 million study funded by the Lamplighter II Call anytime Some of the nicest, newer 1 bedroom National Institutes of Health aims to enroll about 5,000 402-397-0254 or 402-250-9389 apartments. Elevator, w & d, heated patients nationwide diagnosed with type 2 diabetes parking garage. Small complex. By bus within the last five years that are only taking metfor& shopping. No pets or smoking. LEND A HAND min. During the study, participants will take metformin, 93rd & Maple • 402-397-6921 Non-Medical In-Home along with a second medication randomly assigned from Respite Care for Seniors among four classes of medications, all approved for use Services include: Tree Trimming with metformin by the U.S. Food and Drug Administra• Home care • Skilled nursing care • Hospice • Respite care tion. Beat the • Alzheimer’s care services Lisa, have shown the effectiveWhile short-term studies falling leaves! CNA & Medication Aide Certified. CPR & First Aid An affordable helping hand when needed. let me formetformin, the classified section Certified. for the August issue. Please ness of different drugsHere’s whenyour usedad with there Chipping & removal. Dedicated to helping families in need. have been no long-term studies ofiswhich know if this ok. Ifcombination you have any changes, give me aadifference call “Making Your prunings chipped. works best and has fewer side effects. When metformin oneto: step at a time” @ 402-444-4148, or mail your check for $80.00 Experienced & insured. Licensed and insured is not enough to help manage type 2 diabetes, physiNew Horizons Senior discount. Please call for more information: cians may add one of several other drugs to c/o lower JeffgluReinhardt, Editor 402-686-6200 cose (blood sugar). 402-894-9206 4223 Center Street lendahand01@yahoo.com “We know the effectiveness of drugs in lowering Now accepting applications. Omaha, NE 68105 the blood glucose levels in the short term, but we don’t
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PAID THROUGH March 2013
know which combinations of medications work the best Thanks! work,” said Cyrus Deand how long the combinations souza, M.D., professor and chief of the UNMC Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology, & Metabolism. “We’ll also evaluate what works better diverse populations such Mitch for Laudenback as in African Americans and Hispanics @ New Horizons and how long the drug combinations remain effective in patients,” Dr. Desouza added.
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he study will compare the effects of drug combinations on glucose levels, adverse effects, diabetes complications, and quality of life over an average of nearly five years. Study participants will receive diabetes medications for glycemic control including blood glucose, glucose strips, and glucose monitor supplies. Participants will make four clinic visits each year, including for laboratory tests for monitoring lipids, A1c, and blood pressure. Patients will continue to receive health care through their primary care providers. The providers will receive quarterly reports from UNMC. Dr. Desouza, who is the study’s principal investigator, said he hopes the information will provide new drug treatment guidelines, as the current guidelines are very general. “This also will help primary care providers so that they can apply it in their practices,” he said. Participants needed for a COPD Research Study IRB # 397-11 A clinical outcomes study to compare the effect of Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol Inhalation Powder 100/25-mcg with placebo on survival in subjects with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a history of or an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. (Protocol HZC113782) Do you have COPD and a history of cardiovascular disease? The University of Nebraska Medical Center is conducting a clinical trial of an investigational medication for people with emphysema. The study drug combines a long-acting beta-agonist with corticosteroid in a single inhaler. You may be eligible if you: • Have a diagnosis of moderate COPD. • Have a history or risk of heart disease. • Are between 40 and 80 years of age. • Are a current or former smoker.
402-996-8444 or echentland@gmail.com
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Subsidized housing for those age 62 and over with incomes under $25,050 (1 person) or $28,600 (two persons)
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Best & honest prices paid for: Old jewelry, furniture, glassware, Hummels, knick-knacks, old hats & purses, dolls, old toys, quilts, linens, buttons, pottery, etc. Also buying estates & partial estates. Call Bev at 402-339-2856
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Avoid the nursing home! Don’t bother your family or children. Pre-paid home care services or companion care assistance is available for as low as $5.70 an hour. No health questions or underwriting. Everyone is accepted. No age limit! No co-pays, no deductibles, no claim forms! 10% discount for married couples.
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Long-term care insurance also available. Premium returned if you never need to use the policy!
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Call United Insurance Group @ 402-216-8833
Senior Citizens (62+) Accepting applications for HUD-subsidized apartments in Papillion & Bellevue. Rent determined by income and medical expenses.
We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.
REPUTABLE SERVICES, INC.
BUYING or SELLING?
• Remodeling & Home Improvement • Safety Equipment Handrails Smoke and Fire Alarms
Use the New Horizons CLASSIFIEDS! Call 402-444-4148 or 402-444-6654 to place your ad.
You will receive an investigational study drug or placebo, & study-related medical and study procedures at no charge.
• Painting Interior & Exterior • Handyman Services • Senior Discounts • Free Estimates • References • Fully Insured Quality Professional Service Better Business Bureau Member
402-4 5 5-7 0 0 0
ENOA Aging
Please call Sandy Talbott at 402-559-6365 or email her at stalbott@unmc.edu if you are interested in participating in this study.
August 2013
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Crawford plans to follow in Minor’s footsteps by helping kids --Continued from page 12. No one seemed able to get to the root of Crawford’s rage. Not even himself. “I really can’t say about my temper. It was just something that was in me. Everybody asked me, ‘Why do you be so mad?’ and I never could pinpoint it or tell them why. I’d be like, ‘I’m not angry.’ But deep down inside I really was. I was ready to fight at any given time and that’s how mainly I got kicked out of all the schools.
slowed the bullet it would have likely killed Crawford. “I was lucky, I was blessed. That just opened my eyes more. I took it as a sign, (and) as a wakeup call.” Becoming a father – Bud and his girlfriend, Alindra, are raising their son and her daughter – also helped Crawford mature. Through it all Minor was that steadying voice telling Bud to do the right thing. Crawford’s temper cooled eventually and his life got more settled.
They’d say, ‘You can’t talk back to the teachers when they’re trying to tell you something you need to know. You don’t talk back to your coach when he’s teaching you how to throw a punch.’ I began to look at it like that and I said, ‘You’re right, I messed up.’ That really got me through my high school years doing what I had to do.”
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ow that Crawford’s come so far he’s looking “to give back” to the community through his own boxing gym in the same community where he grew up. “I’ve got my mind made up, I’ve got my He wants his North Omaha-based B & B Boxing Academy, which he goals set, and I’m going to get it. recently opened with Brian McIntyre, to be a place to go that will I’m not going to let nothing or keep kids off the street and give nobody keep me from them some structure. Bringing a world title belt back to conquering my dreams.” Omaha is Bud’s main focus though. “Oh, it would be great. A lot of “I was in counseling, anger man“It took him a while,” says Minor. people look up to me, so for me agement, (and) all that stuff. None “He was hard-headed. I used to to bring that belt home to Omaha of it ever worked.” make him come over to my house would mean a lot, not only to me Crawford’s favorite way of copand I’d sit him down to watch boxbut to Omaha. Boxing is not real big ing with the turmoil was to go fishing tapes. The more he observed in Omaha. It used to be and I’m trying at the Fontenelle Park pond. other fighters he learned his teming to bring it back and I feel I can He knows he could have easily perament had to change to be where do that. I could inspire some little fallen prey to the lures and risks of he’s at now.” guy that later on could be the chamthe inner city. Friends he ran with Crawford also credits his maturpion of the world. Who knows?” included gang members. On the eve ing to two men who took him under Crawford’s not leaving anything of his first big nationally televised their wing at Omaha Bryan High to chance in his bid for glory. pro fight, Bud was shot in the head School, then principal Dave Collins “I’ve got my mind made up, I’ve after leaving a heated dice game he and assistant principal Todd Martin. got my goals set, and I’m going to had no business being part of in the “They would always talk to me get it. I’m not going to let nothing first place. Doctors told him if the if I got in trouble. They put it in or nobody keep me from conquering car window it passed through hadn’t terms like I was in the gym training. my dreams.”
Although Bud has two managers and a trainer, he says Midge is the one that tells him what he needs to do to beat his opponent.
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Minor won two Midwest Golden Gloves titles. “That’s that confidence,” Minor says. “I’m so proud of him.” Crawford knows he wouldn’t be where he is today without Minor. “He’s played a big factor in my life.” Bud values all that Minor has meant to him. “You got to. Nothing lasts forever, so cherish it while it’s here.” (Read more of Biga’s work at leoadambiga.wordpress.com.)
In January, Crawford is expected to get a title shot and the opportunity to earn his first six-figure payday.
August 2013