New Horizons August 2016

A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

August 2016 VOL. 41 • 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

Zoo nerd In January 2009, Dennis Pate left the Jacksonville, Fla. Zoo and Gardens to become the executive director and CEO of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. Acclaimed for its role with animal conservation and research, the Omaha zoo was rated the world’s best by TripAdvisor in 2014. By early July, the zoo had already welcomed more than 1 million guests this year. Nick Schinker’s profile of Pate begins on page 10.

Pamela Sue Singer Pam Kragt has been entertaining audiences at area nursing homes and retirement communities as a member of The Merrymakers for more than three years.

See page 12.

Stan’s plans The city of Ralston hired Stan Benis to manage the Ralston Arena in 2014.

Benis has helped implement several ideas to turn around the facility’s bottom line.

See page 18.

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: Book Club @ 10 a.m.

• Aug. 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26, & 31: Ceramics @ 9 a.m.

• Aug. 3: Holy Communion @ 10 a.m.

• Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, & 31: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m.

• Aug. 12: Music from the Merrymakers @10:30 a.m.

Lunch is $3.

• Aug. 17: Foot care clinic from 9 to noon for $10.

• Aug. 25: Red Hats @ 11 a.m.

• Aug. 26: Hard of Hearing support group @ 10:30 a.m.

• Aug. 31: Birthday party luncheon @ noon. Eat free if you have an August birthday.

Lunch is served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

A $1 donation is suggested for the meals other than $3 on Merrymakers Day. Round-trip transportation is available for $3.

Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for all meals.

Other activities offered at the facility include: Tuesday: Free matinee movie @ 12:30 p.m. & quilting @ 1 p.m.

Wednesday: Devotions @ 10:30 a.m., Bible study @ 1 p.m., Bingo @ 1 p.m. Friday: Joy Club @ 9:30 a.m., Bingo @ 1 p.m.

For more information, please call 402-898-5854.

Giving families tools to know when older loved ones should stop, limit their driving

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new scratch on the bumper of your car or avoiding activities that require leaving home are often the first signs families should talk with their aging loved ones about driving. Unfortunately, those conversations aren’t happening enough.

A new survey by Home Instead Inc., found 95 percent of the surveyed older adults haven’t talked to their loved ones about driving, though 31 percent of them said a recommendation from family or friends that they transition from driving would make them reconsider driving.

“As adults, we don’t hesitate to talk to our teenage children about driving, but when we need to address concerns with our Millard Senior Center parents, we drop the ball,” You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at said Elin Schold Davis, an Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., for the following: occupational therapist and • Aug. 3: Workout Wednesday @ 10 a.m. project coordinator for the • Aug. 5: Treat day. Bring a treat to share with the group. Older Drive Initiative of • Aug. 8: Indoor Senior Olympics Games @ 12:15 p.m. the American Occupational • Aug. 11: Music by George and the Jr.’s @ noon.

Therapy Association.

• Aug. 15: Go back to your childhood years and get out “We know discussing the colors @ noon. driving with aging loved • Aug. 19: Hawaii Admission Day celebration. Wear ones reduces their discomyour Hawaiian attire and begin hula hooping @10:45 a.m. fort around limiting or stop• Aug. 29: Play indoor baseball @ noon. ping their driving. Often, • Aug. 31: Omaha Police Department presentation on families just need to know identity theft and scams @ noon. how to start the dialogue.”

The Millard Senior Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m.

For many older adults, to 2 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30. A $3.50 contribution is the idea of giving up drivsuggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the ing sparks feelings of anger, business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. anxiety, and loneliness. To Center activities include daily walking, card games, help families navigate these quilting/needlework, dominoes, Tai Chi class (Monday sensitive conversations and Friday @ 10 a.m. for a $1 suggested donation), chair about driving cessation, the volleyball (Tuesday and Thursday @ 10 a.m.), and Bingo Home Instead Senior Care (Tuesday and Friday @ noon). network has launched a new For meal reservations and more information, please call public education program, 402-546-1270.

titled Let’s Talk About Driving, available at www.LetsTalkAboutDriving.com.

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he new program offers free resources and tips to help families build a roadmap, together with their older loved one for limiting or stopping driving when the time is right. These resources include an interactive Safe Driving Planner to help families assess their older loved one’s driving habits and provide tools to help older adults drive safely, consider options for driving reduction or cessation, and identify alternative transportation options.

“The ability to drive gives seniors the freedom to do what they want, when they want—and we want to respect that independence,” said Tim Connelly of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Bellevue.

“Proactively talking about driving with seniors allows them to take an active role in deciding when and why their driving should be reduced or eliminated.”

Nearly 90 percent of older adults rely on their cars and driving to stay independent, according to the survey.

Though many men and women age 70 and older are able to drive safely, it’s critical for families to have a plan in place before a medical or cognitive condition makes it no longer safe for their older loved one to get behind the wheel.

“Physical and cognitive changes, such as those caused

by Alzheimer’s disease, changes in vision, or medication usage, can put older adults in jeopardy on the road,” said Schold Davis.

“Many drivers can continue to drive safely as they get older, but it’s important for families to work with their loved ones to create a roadmap that explores new technologies and solutions, while planning ahead. The solution may not be to stop driving completely, but could include adding senior-friendly safety features to the car or taking a safety class.”

Family caregivers can look for several potential warning signs their older loved one may be losing the confidence or ability to drive, such as unexplained dents, trouble turning to see when backing up, increased agitation while driving, and riding the brake.

“We often receive calls from families after an incident occurs behind the wheel. This may be a sign their loved one needs assistance maintaining their independence in and outside of the home,” said Connelly. “Our hope is that by having these discussions and knowing the potential warning signs in advance, we can help ensure seniors and their families stay safe and independent on their terms.”

To access the Safe Driving Planner, or to view other program resources and tips, please visit www.LetsTalkAboutDriving.com.

Network’s available to help with mesothelioma

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eople with an aggressive, incurable cancer called mesothelioma sometimes outlive their prognosis because of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.

Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It can develop several decades after ongoing, heavy asbestos exposure. It may take 20 to 50 years for asbestos to damage DNA in ways that may lead to cancer.

This type of cancer most commonly develops in the lining of the lungs and is called pleural mesothelioma. Sometimes it develops in the abdomen lining. That condition is known as peritoneal mesothelioma.

Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for mesothelioma. Some people may also receive radiation therapy. A few patients are diagnosed early enough to qualify for surgery, which can significantly extend survival rates.

Clinical trials are testing immunotherapy drugs on mesothelioma. Several immunotherapy drugs have helped patients live well

The Sierra Group, LLC FREE Book & CD Call Us: (800) 309-0753

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August 2016

beyond the average one-year mesothelioma survival rate.

Cases of people living with mesothelioma beyond three, five, and 10 years are becoming more common thanks to treatment advancements. These long-term survivors are sources of hope and inspiration to people diagnosed with mesothelioma.

The Mesothelioma Prognosis Network (MesotheliomaPrognosis.com) provides free information and resources to people with mesothelioma and their loved ones.

Its patient advocates are available seven days a week to answer questions and provide assistance.

They help veterans with mesothelioma file VA claims, assist with filing for Social Security disability, and connect patients with expert oncologists and clinical trials.

Patient advocates can find financial aid for patients, such as travel grants and nonprofit programs. They also host a monthly online mesothelioma support group.

It takes a team to support someone with mesothelioma, and the Mesothelioma Prognosis Network can help.

Survey: Older adults want more strength, energy

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hile Americans are redefining what it means to age well and stay healthy, many men and women age 50 and older are still feeling the effects of aging.

AARP and Abbott surveyed 1,480 Americans age 50 and older and found while a majority see themselves in good health, one in two reported they wished they had more strength or energy to participate in the activities they enjoy.

The AARP-Abbott survey found a majority of older adults are living healthier, better lives.

• 85 percent said they were in good or better health.

• 82 percent said good nutrition was either very or extremely important to their overall health.

• 74 percent said they exercise weekly and more than half (56 percent) did so more than three times a week.

• 57 percent said cardio was their preferred exercise, but exercises geared towards rebuilding muscles – weights (24 percent) and yoga or stretching (14 percent) – weren’t as common.

When it came to a person’s muscle health, nearly three-fourths (73 percent) of the people surveyed knew adults naturally lose muscle with age and 28 percent said they already noticed some muscle loss.

Despite the fact twothirds had concerns about the impact of muscle loss, many respondents weren’t very concerned about the loss at this time.

The benefits of making changes now to keep muscles healthy go beyond just having strength.

Muscles play a key role in a person’s movement including balance, posture, and the body’s metabolism.

Muscle loss can also contribute to a lack of energy,

making normal activities like carrying heavy groceries or golfing more difficult.

“Many of us expect to slow down as we get older, but the science shows there’s a lot we can do to prevent or delay some of the more debilitating effects of aging,” says Gabrielle Redford, AARP’s Executive Editor for Health.

“Exercising and eating right are critical to staying healthy starting in our 40s when we start to lose muscle mass, right through our 50s, 60s, and beyond,” she added.

The survey findings match the science that shows people naturally start to lose up to 8 percent of muscle mass each decade starting at age 40. The rate accelerates to 15 percent at age 70 and can worsen with an illness or health setback.

When asked in the survey, nearly all (95 percent) of the respondents said they had a serious or chronic health condition after turning age 50, and many listed the health of their muscles as a concern when managing a health condition.

• Over a third (35 percent) reported being hospitalized due to serious or chronic health conditions. Among those, loss of strength (40 percent) and muscle loss (21 percent) were among their top concerns.

• More than 60 percent said their top concerns with losing muscle mass are having decreased mobility, loss of strength, and less independence. More than half surveyed listed being less active and the ability to fight infections as their top concerns.

These concerns aren’t far from reality. You can lose lean body mass – made up mostly by muscles – up to three times faster when you’re sick or injured, making it harder to recover and get back to daily activities. The good news is rebuilding muscle is possible.

While age and illness-related muscle loss is inevitable, exercise and nutrition can help rebuild strength. Protein is a critical part of the recipe. In the survey, 62 percent of adults believed they get enough protein and 70 percent have increased their intake of high-protein foods to minimize the risk of muscle loss.

Yet, a majority of people (83 percent) didn’t know how much protein they need. Adults need roughly 53 grams of daily protein if they weigh 150 pounds and 63 grams if they weigh 180 pounds. Yet research shows older adults may need about two times the daily recommend amount of protein. That’s because people start absorbing and storing nutrients like protein differently as they age.

“Fueling the body with the right nutrition – particularly proteins and other muscle-building nutrients – is important for overall health, and enables you to experience all that life has to offer,” said Tiffany DeWitt, RD, a registered dietitian at Abbott.

“By keeping well-nourished with age, you’ll have more strength and energy to take on any challenge from achieving everyday goals to recovering from a health setback.”

Adults over age 50 should have regular muscle health and nutrition conversations with their doctors to help them create a plan with regular exercise and good nutrition to live a healthier, fuller life.

(AARP provided this information.)

Florence Home Healthcare

Live your life to the fullest!

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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 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, & Lois Friedman ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Jim Peterson, Cass County, vice-chairperson; Gary Osborn, Dodge County secretary; Brenda Carlisle, Sarpy County; & Lisa Kramer, Washington 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.

www.omahaseniorcare.org

August 2016

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The dangers of mosquito bites

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he World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the spread of the Zika virus to be a global public health emergency. The Zika virus is spread by the Aedes mosquito species. Symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes that may last for a week.

The virus is especially dangerous for women who are pregnant or considering becoming pregnant since it increases the chance of babies being born with microcephaly.

Along with causing a red itchy bump, a mosquito bite can spread other diseases such as West Nile and encephalitis.

While the Aedes mosquito is unlikely to spread as far and wide as it has in the Caribbean and Latin America, it’s important to choose products and follow successful safety precautions.

Remember the 3 D’s to keep you safe against mosquitos.

• Drain: Mosquitos can breed in the amount of water that fills a plastic bottle top. Dump water from garbage cans, tarps on furniture, coolers, planters, and pet bowls.

Check for standing water after every rain and every time you water. Wipe birdbaths every few days.

• Dress: Remember the 3 L’s – loose, long, and lightcolored. Dress children in clothing that covers their arms and legs. Cover crib, stroller, and baby carrier with mosquito netting.

• Defend: Consider using a fan when sitting on a deck, as mosquitos are weak flyers. Plant Marigolds or Citronella that are easy to grow and are considered to be natural mosquito repellents. LED lights are preferred outside, as they don’t attract mosquitos like regular light bulbs.

Insect repellent is one of the best ways to prevent a mosquito bite. Here are some tips: • Don’t use insect repellents on children younger than two months old.

• When applying insect repellent avoid eyes and mouth.

Apply to your hands and then apply to your face.

• Don’t apply insect repellent on cut or scraped skin.

• Don’t use repellents under clothing. At the end of the day, wash off repellent with soap and water.

• EPA-registered insect repellents are proven to be safe and effective, even for pregnant and breast-feeding women.

• DEET containing repellents come in concentrations ranging from 4 to 100 percent. Studies have shown concentrations of 30 percent provide the same protection as higher percentages.

For more information, please contact the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Volunteers needed The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is looking for volunteer drivers for its Meals on Wheels Program.

Flexible weekday schedule delivering midday meals to homebound older adults in the greater Omaha area.

Call Arlis at 402-444-6766 for more information.

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Elder Access Line 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 402-827-5656 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.

Wednesday dancing You’re invited to attend a dance each Wednesday afternoon from 1 to 4 at American Legion Post #1, 7811 Davenport St. Admission is $2.

For more information, please call 402-392-0444.

Older computer users group meets monthly

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ou’re invited to join the Omaha Computer Users Group (OCUG), an organization dedicated to helping men and women age 50 and older learn more about their computers.

Anyone can join OCUG regardless of his or her computer skills.

The organization’s 50 members meet the third Saturday of each month from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Abrahams Library, 5111 N. 90th St. Annual dues to OCUG, which has existed for 15 years, are $25.

OCUG has a projector connected to a Microsoft Windows 7 computer and a Windows 8 computer to show users how to solve their computer problems.

Bring your questions concerning your computer problems to the meetings for answers.

For more information, please call OCUG’s president Phill Sherbon at 402-333-6529.

August 2016

Read it & eat

By Lois Friedman readitandeat@yahoo.com

Hot weather, hot recipes Savor the season, the joys of summer, enjoy the outdoors, celebrate this glorious time of the year, and all the delicious things to eat. These cookbooks have go-to ideas to get you started cooking.

Summer Cooking from the Chicago Tribune Test Kitchen (Agate, $$24.95) More than 100 easy-to-use recipes from the Chicago Tribune Test Kitchen. Summer quenchers for a thirsty crew, warm weather appetizers, refreshing eats, and cool treats.

The Plantpower Way

By Rich Roll & Julie Platt (Avery, $39.95) Julie & Rich, a husband and wife duo, share their plantbased eating and philosophy in this handsome cookbook with more than 120 recipes as part of their sustainable wellness solution. A nutritional evolution/revolution to a healthier mind, body, and spirit lifestyle for their family.

Smokin’ Hot in the South

By Melissa Cookston (Andrews McMeel, $22.99) From the winningest woman in BBQ comes more than 85 recipes for the smoker and grill in 10 chapters to hone your BBQ skills. A creative assortment of dishes, Melissa's Tips, and more gathered along Cookston’s BBQ journey.

Dinner Solved!

By Katie Workman (Workman, $17.95) Happy cooking for family and friends with a “honkinig big batch” of 100-plus recipes open to modification and adaptation. If you prefer, make it vegetarian.

Churrasco

By Evandro Caregnato (Gibbs Smith, $30) Grilling the Brazilian gauchos’ comfort food way meshed with Texas cowboys’ methods from his Dallas upscale restaurant, Texas de Brazil, which began catering from a van in Brazil and grew to this churrascaria chain.

Grilled Cheese Kitchen

By Heidi Gibson & Nate Pollack (Chronicle, $19.95) Gibson, seven times winner of the Grilled Cheese Invitational and her husband, Nate – owners of their San Francisco restaurant, American Grilled Cheese Kitchen – share 39 recipes from basic to ultimate cheese sandwiches with tips and techniques plus side-dishes, soups, mac & cheese, pickles, and spreads. Try a Keep On Truckin’ attitude for this version.

Mousetrap Grilled Cheese Serves 1 1 1/2 tsp. salted butter at room temperature 2 slices California sourdough bread 1 slice medium Cheddar cheese 1 slice Havarti cheese 1 slice Monterey Jack cheese Heat a cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Spread the butter on one side of each bread slice, dividing it evenly. Place one slice, butter-side down, on a clean cutting board. Layer the Cheddar, Havarti, and Jack on top. Finish with the second slice of bread, buttered-side up. Using a wide spatula, place the sandwich in the pan, cover, and cook until the bottom is nicely browned (two to three minutes). Turn and cook until the bottom is browned and the cheese is melted (about two minutes longer).Cut the sandwich in half, if desired, and serve immediately.

The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging has been serving older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties since 1975.

Hospice care

By Phil Rice

According to a TSCL survey

Older SS beneficiaries are losing their buying power

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ocial Security beneficiaries have About 20 years ago a group of friends and I visited an lost 23 percent of acquaintance who was in a special hospice wing of a local their buying power hospital. We were told he had been taken there to die. We since 2000, according to the visited, and the next day he died. For several years after 2016 survey of older adult this experience, my immediate association with the word costs released recently by “hospice” was a one-dimensional scenario of hopelessness The Senior Citizens League personified. But my impression would change.

(TSCL).

In 2005, my mother, who was suffering from non-HodgThe findings indicate kin’s lymphoma and various other ailments, moved in with except for higher medical my 11-year-old son, Paul, and me. Mom was still ambulaand prescription drug costs, tory, but osteoporosis, arthritis, and phlebitis were making overall prices have changed movement increasingly difficult. During the first year of relatively little over the past this arrangement she acquired vascular dementia brought year. Inflation remains very on by a series of mini-strokes. low, almost nil, mainly due Paul and I spent several months caring for her at our to the dramatic drop in oil home but we were woefully unprepared for the task. When prices.

Mom’s falls became more frequent and she clearly needed “TSCL is concerned,” fulltime attention, I reluctantly agreed to let her be taken to says its chairman Ed Cates. a hospital. Five days later she was in a nursing home, and “There appears to be a high four months after that she was in an assisted living facility. risk of either an extremely After three difficult years of such care, my cousin, Starr, low annual cost-of-living asked me if I had considered hospice. My response was to adjustment (COLA) next assure her that although Mom was in deep dementia and year, or worse — none at completely dependent upon physical assistance for even the all.” simplest of tasks, there was no indication her passing was Older Americans and imminent. Nevertheless, Starr urged me to look into hosdisabled Social Security pice. I finally took her advice, and thus began a profound beneficiaries received no learning experience. cost-of-living adjustment A hospice evaluation soon confirmed Mom indeed quali- in 2016 due to low inflation fied, and her insurance would cover the services. This was last year, but TSCL’s new an amazing revelation. From that day forward a hospice survey found lower inflation caregiver came by three times a week and made sure Mom didn’t translate into lower was properly bathed and treated well. household expenses in A registered nurse visited at least once a week to moni2015. In fact, nearly 1,200 tor any medications and health concerns, keeping me fully survey respondents said informed along the way. If there was a specific concern, the monthly household expensnurse visited more frequently. A chaplain and social worker es made steep increases in each made regular visits to see Mom. 2015.

Having hospice involved was a huge benefit toward enThe majority (72 percent) suring Mom was comfortable and safe, which in turn eased indicated their monthly my own stress. This became even more important a couple expenses went up by more of years later when my fiancée, Janice, had emergency brain surgery to remove a malignant brain tumor.

Unable to visit with my usual frequency, hospice became my lifeline to Mom during those weeks. When it became apparent Janice wasn’t going to win her battle, hospice again stepped to the front.

After two months in the hospital we were able to bring Janice home. Hospice provided all of the necessary equipment and supplies for us to properly care for her needs. The caregiver showed me how to bathe Janice and change her clothing and sheets with the least amount of discomfort.

The RN made sure I understood how to use the feeding tube and how to gage Janice’s need for medication. I spent many hours a day alone with Janice, but I never felt alone.

There was a team involved.

I have accrued years of experience in dealing with healthcare professionals and caregivers, from the top hospitals to the bare-boned assisted living facilities and nursing homes. I’ve never encountered a hospice worker who was anything less than fully and passionately engaged with the difficult task at hand.

Where I once associated hospice with death, I now regard hospice as representing the essence of life itself. Because of hospice Janice and I were able to experience life to the fullest in her final weeks, and I was able to share in her journey as much as humanly possible.

As a society we ascribe deep significance to the beginning of life; for many, birth is the moment where the physical is most connected with the spiritual. Hospice provides an opportunity to embrace the end of life just as profoundly and lovingly.

Easing the transition of a loved one and sharing the moment of passing are among the finest gifts we can hope to give and receive in this life. I consistently seek new ways to express my gratitude to hospice for my gaining this awareness.

(Phil Rice is a native Tennessean and author of Winter Sun: A Memoir of Love and Hospice.)

August 2016

than $79.

“With today’s Social Security benefit averaging $1,230 per month, that’s an unsustainable level when there’s no benefit increase to match,” Cates says.

In most years, Social Security beneficiaries receive a small increase in their Social Security checks, intended to help them keep up with rising costs. But since 2000, the COLAs rose a total of 36.3 percent while typical older adult expenses jumped 75.3 percent.

“Going without any COLA in 2016 has long-term consequences for retirees when real costs continue to climb,” Cates says. “People must spend down retirement savings more quickly than expected, and those without savings are either going into debt, or going without,” he says.

A person with average Social Security benefits in 2000 received $816 per month, a figure that rose to $1,166.30 by 2016. However, according to the survey, that individual would require a Social Security benefit of $1,430.50 per month in 2016 just to maintain his or her 2000 buying power.

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he study examined the increase in costs of 38 key items between 2000 and January 2016. The items were chosen because they’re typical of the costs most Social Security recipients must bear. Of the 38 costs analyzed, 29 exceeded the amount of increase in the COLA over the same period. The selected items represent eight categories, weighted by approximate expenditure.

“This study illustrates why Congress should enact legislation to provide an emergency COLA this year,” says Cates. “To put it in perspective, for every $100 worth of expenses seniors could afford in 2000, they can afford just $77 today.”

A majority of the 57 million older and disabled Americans who receive Social Security depend on it for at least 50 percent of their total income, and one in four beneficiaries relies on it for 90 percent or more of his or her total income.

To help protect the buying power of benefits, TSCL supports legislation that would base COLAs on the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly. TSCL and its members are lobbying Congress for an emergency COLA for 2016.

To learn more, visit www.SeniorsLeague.org.

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Heartland Generations Center

Expert offers unique landscaping ideas

You’re invited to visit the Heartland Generations Center – 4318 Fort St. – for the following: • Aug. 5 to 21: 2016 Summer Olympics Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Cheer on your favorite team on the big screen. Participate in activities representing cultures from around the world. Games, Wii bowling tourney, beanbag toss, snacks, and refreshments.

• Tuesday, Aug. 16: WHY ARTS? Back to School night with Karaoke Josh from 6 to 7:30 p.m. An Italian dinner will be served.

• Wednesday, Aug. 23: Birthday Party with music by Joyce Torchia from The Merrymakers @ 10:45 a.m. A free sundae for those with an August birthday.

• Friday, Aug. 23: Card game day with prizes and food from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

• Wednesday, Aug. 3: Picnic (10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)

The Heartland Generations Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is normally served at noon.

A $3.50 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to attend. Bus transportation is available within select neighborhoods for 50 cents each way.

For meal reservations and more information, please call 402-553-5300.

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.

Riverboat Cruise Mississippi River Cruise – Autumn Colors. September 18 – 26. Nine days from $2,149. Eight-day cruise up the Mississippi River aboard the steamboat American Queen from Alton, Illinois (near St. Louis) to Red Wing, Minnesota (near St. Paul). Includes deluxe hotel in St. Louis the night before the voyage, all cruise meals, onboard entertainment, daily lectures by The Riverlorian, and pre-arranged shore excursions in each port of call. Optional transportation to and from your residence.

(Other Mississippi River Cruise destinations available.)

Motorcoach Mark Twain and the Amish. August 3 – 5. $489. Explore Hannibal, Missouri, take a dinner cruise on the Mark Twain River Boat, RockCliffe Mansion Tour, wine-tasting at the Cave Hollow West Winery, Mark Twain’s Cave, “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” play, Amish Farm Tour, shopping, and home-cooked Amish meal in Jamesport.

Christ Our Life Catholic Regional Conference. September 23 - 25. Hear the teaching and witnessing of world-renowned Catholic speakers in Des Moines, Iowa, including Mark Hart, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, Jesse Romero, Alex Jones, Archbishop Charles Chaput, Bishop Richard Pates, Fr. Tom Hagan, Fr. Michael Schmitz, Jackie Fancois Angel, and Steve Angrisano.

By Melinda Myers

P

erk up your containers and add a bit of sparkle to your landscape with bright colors, unusual materials, or a unique purpose.

Include an elevated garden to increase planting space and make planting, weeding, and harvesting easier on the back and knees. Liven things up with a washtubs elevated on a support for a bit of rustic charm.

Add wheels to make it easier to move planters around the patio or deck. This allows you to follow the sun or make room for company at summer gatherings.

Recycle items into containers or invest in some of the new planters made from galvanized metal, wooden apple crates, and more.

Look for new colors or personalize them to create a warm greeting for you and your guests.

Increase growing flexibility with lightweight grow bags. They now come in a variety of colors and sizes.

These fabric containers fold flat for easy storage when not in use.

Save space with sleek designs and built in trellises.

You’ll be growing pole beans, tomatoes, and flower-

Fall in the Carolinas. October 16 - 23. $1,779. Mississippi River Cruise, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Biltmore Estate and Gardens, Antler Hill Village Winery, Blue Ridge Mountain Opry’s “Bluegrass and BBQ” Show, Magnolia Plantation, Charleston City Tour, Boat Trip to Fort Sumter National Historic Park, North Carolina Chimney Rock State Park, “America’s Hit Parade!” Show at the Grand Majestic Theatre, Jim Beam Distillery, and much more.

You can receive your FREE copy of the New Horizons each month in any of ways!

Branson Christmas. November 7 - 10. $689 before 8/7. ($729 after 8/7.)

Enjoy Daniel O’Donnell at the Welk Theater, Jim Stafford, Puttin’ On the Ritz (with Dino), Texas Tenors, “All Hands on Deck”, and either “Moses” at the Sight and Sound Theater or the Oak Ridge Boys, including dinner at Landry’s Seafood House. “’Twas The Night Before Christmas” at the Lofte. December 4. $95 before 9/4. ($105 after 9/4.) “…Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” But a mouse IS stirring……because Santa missed his house last year! Before you can say “Merry Christmas!”, we’re off on the wild adventures of a mouse, an elf, and a spunky little girl who just won’t take no for an answer. This journey is an exciting one for the whole family. Dinner afterwards at the Main Street Café in Louisville.

Kansas City Christmas. December 13 - 14. New Theater Restaurant, Webster House Luncheon, and more details coming.

Florida in February. February 5 – 15, 2017. Save these dates for a trip to Florida in the heart of winter. We are currently planning a warm weather getaway to sunny Florida---more details soon.

Laughlin (There are currently no Laughlin trips available out of Omaha. Check with us for updates on these very reasonably priced charter flights to Laughlin, Nevada. They typically sell out fast.)

In Partnership with Collette Vacations Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy, and do not include airfare. More destinations available!

Reflections of Italy. 10 days from $2449. Visit a land rich in history, culture, art, and romance including Rome, the Colosseum, Assisi, Perugia, Siena, Florence, Chianti Winery, Venice, Murano Island, and Milan. Extend your trip in Turin.

Irish Splendor. Eight days from $1699. Return to times gone by as you experience fabulous accommodations, stunning scenery, and sumptuous food visiting Dublin, the Guiness Storehouse, Blarney Castle, Killarney, Dingle Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher, Dromoland Castle, and Tullamore Whiskey Distillery. Extend your trip in Dublin.

Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule.

11808 Mason Plaza, Omaha, NE 68154

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ing vines in a compact space. The colorful flowers and fruit will brighten a blank wall or screen a bad view.

Use containers and elevated gardens to increase the fun factor at your summer gatherings. Start your party with a trip to the outdoor bar. Weather-resistant butcher-block with built in planting space is sure to get the conversation going. Fill the planting space with some favorite cocktail herbs. Then mix up your beverage and let your guests add a bit of homegrown flavor.

Include the next course by growing your own salad bar. Guests will enjoy harvesting and creating their own bed of greens to accompany the main course.

Fill a pot or elevated garden with greens, radishes, onions, carrots, herbs, and your other favorite salad fixings.

Keep your containers healthy and productive with proper care. Water thoroughly whenever the top inch of soil is dry. Check pots daily and water as needed. Extend the time between watering with self-watering pots. Look for features such as weep holes that allow excess water to drain, funnels for top watering, and moisture indicators that let you know when it’s time to add more water.

Further reduce maintenance by adding a slow release fertilizer to the potting mix at planting. Small amounts of nutrients are released over time, eliminating the need to mix and fertilize weekly. Give planters a mid-season boost or when making a second planting by sprinkling slow release fertilizer over the soil surface.

Harvest regularly to keep vegetables producing and looking their best. Replace early plantings as they fade with a second crop. You’ll extend the harvest and your enjoyment.

So take a second look at your patio, deck, or front steps and move in a bit of color, fun, and flavor for this growing and outdoor entertaining season.

(Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author, and columnist Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience.)

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Pick up a copy at one of the more than 100 distribution sites (grocery stores, restaurants, senior centers, libraries, etc.)

Through the United States mail New subscribers should send their name, address, and zip code to: New Horizons, 4223 Center Street, Omaha, NE 68105.

Online on your computer* Send your email address to jeff.reinhardt@nebraska.gov * Online subscribers will not receive a hard copy of the New Horizons each month.

For more information, please call 402-444-6654.

August 2016

Alzheimer’s support groups

There are a variety of ways to deal with your water runoff

By Megan Wild

S

urface water runoff can cause a variety of problems. Instead of nourishing your garden, the water runs away and takes your fertilizer with it. Fertilizer chemicals and lawn debris get washed into local water sources, causing pollution and eroding your landscape.

There’s more than one way to deal with runoff while protecting your lawn and the environment. Below you’ll find the right solution for you and your garden.

Rain gardens are lowered garden areas that gradually slope towards the center.

The ideal place for a rain garden is a location in your yard that has a natural depression. For best results, you’ll want to choose plants that are native to the area and can withstand both wet and dry conditions.

You can also plant according to the slope, putting plants that tolerate dryness the best on the outer rim and plants that prefer wet conditions towards the center. To make sure the area you choose drains properly, you’ll want to dig a six-inch hole and fill it with water. Once the hole is filled, measure how long the water takes to empty. The hole should be drained in six hours. If a location takes more than 24 hours to drain, it won’t curb runoff.

Your rain garden should be at least 10 feet from your house, especially if it has a basement, and don’t build rain gardens within 50 feet of septic tanks.

Grading your yard isn’t cheap and will require professional equipment for the best results. Grading your yard results in a more level lawn and reduces the rate

of runoff. Your garden gets watered as it needs and none of your fertilizer runs down into local water sources.

If your lawn is fairly level and water isn’t being absorbed, this could be due to soil compaction. There are very few solutions for soil compaction other than replacing, aerating, or burying the compacted soil.

If you only need to level a small area, use a steelheaded rake.

Moist soil will grade better than dry soil.

Collecting rainwater to use later for your lawn or garden is another option for handling runoff.

If you plan to use the water for livestock or human consumption, you’ll need to fit your pipes and tank with special filters. If sunlight reaches inside your tank, it may begin to grow algae, making the water unsafe for use.

Call 811 before you dig to find out about the location of utilities in your yard.

A dry well connects straight to one of the downspouts on your home to capture rainfall from the roof.

Locate the downspout you’d like to use to create your dry well. Your dry well must be located 10 feet or more from your basement, 10 feet away from any nearby buildings, and 25 feet from any buildings downhill from the well.

Call 811 at least two days before beginning this project to discover any utility lines at your planned dig site.

You’ll need to modify your downspout with an elbow piece so the water flows into a swale you dig.

Your swale will carry water into the dry well.

Calculate the size of the dry well needed for your specific runoff problem.

Impermeable surfaces

are barriers that water can’t penetrate and will instead have to roll off from. Objects like roofs, hard soil, and asphalt are all examples of impermeable surfaces.

While getting rid of asphalt isn’t the cheapest option, it should be considered, especially if the asphalt needs to be replaced or redone anyway due to landscape erosion. If you’re replacing asphalt, put in a different surface such as gravel or small pavers, as these allow water to soak into the spaces between them and slow the flow of water to reduce runoff.

If your house is on a relatively level grade, consider converting your roof into a green roof.

It may not be possible to stop every bit of garden runoff, but you can put a cap on the damage done by practicing safer habits at home. Reducing the number of chemicals being used in your lawn greatly cuts down on what eventually gets washed away into water sources.

Little drops of oil on your driveway might not seem like a big deal at the time, but runoff will wash that (along with any other harmful items) down through your yard, eventually returning to water sources and creating a pollution risk.

Handling runoff may seem like a huge task, but the payoff makes whatever effort you put in worth it.

While it’s not always a cheap project, the benefits of reducing runoff make it easy to see why so many people invest in rain gardens and other options. Reducing runoff results in a healthier garden and reduces the amount of land damage and erosion while protecting the planet’s water supplies.

The Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter offers several caregiver support groups and specialty support groups each month in Cass, Dodge, Douglas, and Sarpy counties. These support groups offer valuable space and educational opportunities for families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia to engage and learn. For more information about any of the groups listed below, please call (toll free) 800-272-3900.

CASS COUNTY • PLATTSMOUTH Second Tuesday @ 6 p.m.

First Lutheran Church (chapel) 1025 Ave. D DODGE COUNTY • FREMONT Last Wednesday @ 2 p.m.

Nye Square 655 W. 23rd St. Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m.

Shalimar Gardens (second floor community room) 749 E. 29th St. DOUGLAS COUNTY • OMAHA

much as possible.

• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

• Outdoor activities should be limited to the cooler morning and evening hours. Athletes participating in outdoor activities need special attention.

• Men and women age 65 or older are more at risk to the effects of hot weather than children. You can help by checking on older adults throughout the day.

• A sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher should be used when outside.

“Heat-related injuries are a real concern,” Dr. Pour said. “Please don’t let it happen to you.”

(The Douglas County Health Department provided this information.)

August 2016

Caring for Your Parents Second or third Saturday @ 11 a.m.

Call Teri @ 402-393-0434 for locations Spanish Language Support Group Second Tuesday @ 4 p.m.

Intercultural Community Center 3010 R St. SARPY COUNTY

Second Thursday @ 10 a.m.

Country House Residences 5030 S. 155th St. FREE on site adult day services are provided.

Every other Monday @ 7 p.m.

Brighton Gardens 9220 Western Ave. First & third Monday @ 1:30 p.m.

New Cassel’s Franciscan Centre 900 N. 90th St. FREE on-site adult day services are provided.

Third Tuesday @ 5 p.m.

Immanuel Fontenelle 6809 N 68th Plz.

• BELLEVUE Third Monday @ 7 p.m.

Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave. First Wednesday @ 1 p.m.

Eastern Nebraska Vets Home (Vets and non-vets welcome) 12505 S. 40th St. Fourth Thursday @ 6 p.m.

Hillcrest Grand Lodge 6021 Grand Lodge Ave. Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m.

Heritage Ridge 1502 Fort Crook Rd. South

Third Tuesday @ 6 p.m.

Temple Israel (media room) 13111 Sterling Ridge Dr.

Please support New Horizons advertisers

Affordable Foot Care by Experienced Certified Foot Care Nurses

Douglas County Health Department offers tips to help keep you cool during the hot weather It’s important to be prepared for the summer heat, which is, on average, the biggest weather killer in the United States. With the high temperatures, the Douglas County Health Department wants you to take some simple steps to prevent heat-related illness.

“Nebraskans love their outdoor living,” DCHD Health Director Dr. Adi Pour said.

“Don’t let the hot weather ruin your fun.”

Here are some suggestions to help you avoid heat-related problems: • Never leave a person or an animal in a closed, parked vehicle.

• Drink plenty of fluids before you get thirsty, and avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine. Water is the best drink in hot weather.

• Take advantage of air conditioning as

Early Stage Support Group Every other Tuesday (Beginning June 14 for eight sessions) @ 6 p.m.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED Call Diane @ 402-502-4301 X 8251 for locations & to register.

THICK PAINFUL TOENAILS & CALLOUSES? USING BLOOD THINNERS? DIABETIC? CAN’T REACH YOUR FEET?

WE CAN HELP !

Discount for Seniors & Veterans

Precision Foot & Ankle Center 7828 Wakeley Plaza • Omaha, Ne

402-926-2600 •

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Podiatrist: Epsom salt can reduce swelling, other foot irritations An internationally acclaimed podiatrist recommends soaking in Epsom salt to reduce swelling and other foot irritations that are common in the summer.

“Our feet tend to swell more from the summer heat, looking less attractive at a time when they are more visible in open shoes,” says podiatrist Dr. Suzanne Levine.

“Treat your feet the way you treat your face,” she says.

“Swelling can cause problems year-round, but it’s especially troublesome in the summer, when people wear sandals and other shoes with straps,” she says. “The inflammation aggravates bunions, bursas, corns, and hammer toes.”

“Your feet have swollen to a (shoe) size 8.5, and now you’re trying to squeeze into an 8 or 7.5,” Levine says. “It’s like trying to squeeze into a dress after you put on weight.”

To combat the swelling and to soothe sore feet, Levine says to add half a cup of Epsom salt to a gallon of lukewarm water and soaking your feet for 15 minutes a day.

“Ideally, it would be done every day, but if people are too busy, it should be done at least three times a week.”

You can also make a paste with Epsom salt and use it to exfoliate your feet, Levine says. Mix half a cup of Epsom salt with a holistic, natural moisturizing agent, such as 5 or 10 percent glycolic cream. She keeps a Tupperware container with the paste in the shower, she says.

“It’s fabulous,” Levine says. “It works on the callouses, makes the hard skin disappear, and makes the foot feel better.”

Other foot advice from Dr. Levine: • Prevent ingrown toenails by trimming toenails straight across without cutting into the sides.

• Use a pumice stone and a moisturizing agent to soothe callouses.

• Bring your own equipment to your nail spa to help guard against fungus and other infections.

• Apply zinc oxide sunscreen to your feet to reduce sun damage, including sun burn, premature aging of your skin, and hyperpigmentation (an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin color).

‘We Need to Talk’ class set for Aug. 6 AARP is offering a free program designed to help families determine when it’s time for loved ones to stop driving.

A We Need to Talk class is scheduled for Aug. 6 at the Westside Community Conference Center, 3534 S. 108th St. The class begins at 10 a.m.

Topics addressed will include the meaning of driving, observing driving skills, and how to have this important conversation.

To sign up or for more information, please call 402457-5231.

One-to-one, family, and group We Need to Talk sessions can be arranged by contacting Lana at fitzlana@gmail.com or 1-888-227-7669.

Hearing loss group to meet on Aug. 9

T

he Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America, a support group for hard of hearing adults, will next meet on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Dundee Presbyterian Church, 5312 Underwood Ave. Participants are asked to enter the church on the Happy Hollow Blvd. (east) side.

The 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. meeting will feature social time and a speaker.

The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America meets the second Tuesday of the month from September through December and from March through August.

For more information, please contact Beth Ellsworth at ellsworth.beth@ cox.net or Verla Hamilton at 402-558-6449.

Fed employee groups gather at local eatery

T

he National Active and 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 402-292-1156.

The National Active and 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 402-342-4351.

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August 2016

Overcoming the stigma when applying for public assistance One in three Americans aged 65+ is economically insecure—lacking the resources needed to meet basic food, housing, and medical needs. While there are numerous public benefits programs that can help, the stigma surrounding these programs often is a key reason that eligible older adults don’t enroll in them.

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) recently released An End to Stigma: Challenging the Stigmatization of Public Assistance Among Older Adults and People with Disabilities to better define the challenges stigma poses and provide recommendations for overcoming it.

The report is based on in-depth interviews with 40 local counselors who work each day to find and enroll eligible older adults into benefit programs. It examines the stigma surrounding five core public benefits programs, including: • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

• Medicare Savings Programs.

• Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy.

• Medicaid.

• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

“The value of these benefits can exceed more than $6,000 annually, which for many low-income older adults would raise their income to more than twice the federal poverty level,” said Leslie Fried, senior director of the NCOA Center for Benefits Access.

“It’s critical we can illustrate how and why stigma stops people from considering these programs and share ways to overcome it. These programs can help struggling older adults pay for basic needs, reduce debt, and maintain their health and independence.”

According to the survey, not all benefits programs carry the same level of stigma. Counselors reported universal benefits like Social Security and Medicare are popular and face less stigma. SNAP and Medicaid, however, often have stigma attached to them, which prevents eligible individuals from applying.

The report states that benefits stigma manifests itself in two ways: • Internal stigma arises from negative perceptions or connotations about oneself when deciding to learn about, apply for, and participate in benefits programs. Shame and embarrassment about participation in the program are the most common manifestations of internal stigma.

• External stigma arises from experiences or perceptions about the benefits themselves. Administrative burdens, such as long applications or difficult-to-reach social service agencies, and misconceptions about the value of a given benefit may lead eligible people to decide the reward isn’t worth the cost.

Overcoming benefits stigma takes a coordinated effort.

For benefits counselors, the report recommends they: • Challenge the narrative of “deserving” and “undeserving” to dispel notions a person is “accepting a handout.”

• Focus on the structure of the program to demonstrate other older adults are also struggling and that applying for assistance isn’t a personal failing.

• Correct misconceptions about benefits by explaining exactly how they work.

• Provide person-centered benefits enrollment assistance to screen clients for all benefits available and help them apply.

• Demonstrate the value of a benefit to show how it can free up money for rising costs, such as expensive medicine or healthcare.

“Counselors are extremely important in overcoming the stigma that threatens to keep older Americans from enrolling in these important programs, but a growing senior population, and shrinking budgets often limit these resources,” said Fried.

“Just recently a Senate appropriations bill proposed eliminating funding for the State Health Insurance Program – or SHIP. The 15,000 local SHIP counselors provide assistance with Medicare issues and with enrolling in the Extra Help and Medicare Savings Programs, making them instrumental in dispelling the stigma around other important benefits programs.”

Agency administrators and policymakers also have a role to play. The report recommends they improve enrollment processes through existing waiver programs such as shorter applications, experiment with new processes, and improve data sharing between agencies.

Dementia series held Sept. 10 and Oct. 8

R

egistration is underway for a free educational series that will help caregivers understand how to provide the best possible care for their loved ones with dementia. Learning to Live with Dementia focuses on the various types of dementia and how to manage symptoms.

The series is held Sept.

10 and Oct. 8 at the Servite Center of Compassion, 7400 Military Ave. The four components of the program are: dementia basics, mystery and reality of living with different dementias, person-centered care, and compassionate care.

To register, contact Sister Margaret Stratman at 402951-3026 or scc@osms.org.

For more information, contact Nancy Flaherty at 402-312-9324 or flahertyconsulting@cox.net.

August 2016

Volunteer instructors are needed for AARP’s Driver Safety Program

A

ARP is recruiting men and women who have access to a computer to serve as volunteer instructors and coordinators for its Driver Safety Program.

To learn more about the AARP Driver Safety Program, log on to www.aarp.org/drive.

For more information about volunteering, log on to www.aarp.org/volunteernow or call 1-888-227-7669.

RSVP RSVP 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 402-721-7780.

• The Salvation Army needs volunteers for its one-dayper-week food pantry at the Kroc Center, 2825 Y St. • The Office of Public Guardians is looking for volunteer court visitors.

• The Blair and Fremont Car-Go Program needs volunteer drivers.

• The Fremont Friendship Center wants volunteers for a variety of assignments.

• The Low Income Ministry in Fremont is looking for eight to 10 volunteers to help out Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m. at its clothing center.

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Page 9

Pate is working to make Omaha’s world-class zoo even better

By Nick Schinker Contributing Writer

I

n his office with the panoramic windows that look out at sauntering giraffes, ostrich, impala, and streams of people passing by, Dennis Pate keeps a first edition copy of the charming classic by Dr. Seuss, If I Ran the Zoo. It is an appropriate read for Pate, who serves as the executive director and CEO of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium. The 1950 book is also credited as the source of the word “Nerd,” the name given a creature that the narrator, Gerald McGrew, promised he’d bring back from the land of Ka-Troo – if he ran the zoo.

Pate tells the story of an assistant in Florida, when he served as executive director of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, who thought being a nerd meant someone who specialized in animals. “A zoo nerd,” Pate ponders. “I’d be proud of that name.”

More than a zoo nerd, Pate is a remarkable visionary who can look at a world-class zoo and see ways to make it better. At Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, that plan is worth $185 million. Unveiled little more than a year after his 2009 arrival in Omaha, the plan has been tweaked a bit along the way but is making extraordinary progress toward its ambitious goals.

Even he is surprised a bit.

“If you had told me that in my first seven years here, we would have already completed the improvements to 13th Street and C.L. Werner Parkway, expanded our parking lot by a thousand spaces, built First National Bank Entrance Plaza and the Gateway Gift Shop and guest services, opened the Omaha Steaks Grill and Patio, completed the renovations at the Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium including an 11,000-square-foot education and conference center, begun construction of our $27 million education project, and opened the African Grasslands,” he says, “that would have been a fairy tale.”

And yet, there it is, much of it visible from his office windows.

Pate credits two main factors in making that kind of progress possible: the groundwork laid by his predecessor, Dr. Lee Simmons, and the support of the people of Omaha.

“When I came here, I had no idea of the generosity of the community,” he says. “To have a community behind you that believes in you, and in what you want to do enough to raise the money to make that happen is truly phenomenal.”

D

ennis Pate was born on Christmas morning at the Great Lakes (Ill.) Naval Station.

His father, Eugene, was serving in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. His mother, Kay, lived on the south side

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Dennis Pate’s $185 million improvement plans for Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium include exhibits highlighting Africa, Asia, and Alaska. He credits his predecessor, Dr. Lee Simmons, and support by the people of Omaha for helping make this progress possible. of Chicago. When it came time for her to deliver her baby, an ambulance was summoned. “But the ambulance ran out of gas on Lakeshore Drive,” Pate says, chuckling. “So they commandeered another ambulance and got her to the naval base.”

His was a “typical” military family, he recalls, living in Newfoundland, Canada, as well as California and Virginia before moving back to California after his father retired.

The family moved to Champaign, Ill. for his senior year in high school. Pate attended the University of Illinois, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science and zoology, and went on to Northeastern Illinois University for his master’s in biology.

Like most children, Pate liked animals and had an assortment of pets including a hamster, a dog, and a parakeet. But those pets were more than simple companions. They became a compass pointing in the direction of his life.

“I found a kinship with animals,” he says. “It was just something inside, something that stuck with me. I found them fun and fascinating like a lot of kids do, but it ran a little deeper in me. I stayed with it.”

In his last year of high school and in college, Pate worked part time at a veterinarian’s office. “I cared for the dogs and cats in the kennel, gave medicated baths, did some minor lab work, and assisted with the X-rays,” he recalls.

He began his zoo career as a seasonal keeper at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, at the children’s zoo. After serving in several positions there, Pate spent 10 years as general curator of the zoo in Portland, Ore. He returned to the Lincoln Park Zoo in 1998, first as general curator, then as senior vice president before accepting the post of executive director in Jacksonville

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in 2002.

His work in Jacksonville was impressive. In just seven years, he led the transformation of nearly twothirds of the facility. He oversaw the design, construction, and completion of six major exhibits: Range of the Jaguar, Giraffe Overlook, Savanna Blooms, the Gardens at Trout River Plaza, Sting Ray Bay, as well as the Asian Bamboo Gardens and Komodo dragon exhibit, in total worth about $35 million.

His efforts attracted more than attention. In his time there, the Jacksonville facility’s attendance grew 34 percent (150,000 people).

Revenue from admissions doubled to $13 million, and the zoo property was expanded from 89 acres to 120 acres.

So how does someone with accomplishments like that on his resume lead a zoo that already ranks in the top 5 percent of the world’s zoos? A zoo that attracts 1.4 million visitors a year and pumps millions of dollars into the local economy?

A zoo with world-renowned conservation programs, molecular genetic labs, and rare plant propagation labs led by Ph.D. scientists?

Pate created a plan.

T

o Pate, without a master plan, a vision is always going to sit somewhere on the horizon – just out of reach. “I’m the kind of person who needs to see the picture on the puzzle box,” he says, “before I put the jigsaw together.”

His vision is spread on drawings and maps and architect renderings that cover the walls and fill the easels in his office. The highlights still to come include: • Asian Highlands. A new anchor exhibit that will showcase the zoo’s tiger collection along with leopards, takin, gaur, camels, red

August 2016

pandas, sun bears, and birds. This includes enhancement of the Desert Dome Plaza with the addition of a Komodo dragon exhibit.

• Alaskan Adventure. This area calls for new sea lion and polar bear exhibits surrounding a North American coastal themed children’s splash zone and play area. It will be adjacent to the existing carousel area.

• Equatorial Africa. Expanding on the success of adjacent Hubbard Gorilla Valley, this project will add Central Africa forest dwellers such as okapi, red river hogs, and bongo as an immersive outdoor forest trail experience.

• Adventure Education. A new Adventure Education hub near the Desert Dome with special classrooms linked to active hands-on laboratories, small mammal exhibits, and adventure play areas. It will include a 350-student kindergarten and high school, expanding the zoo’s current commitment to education.

Once again, the product of Pate’s vision is attracting attention far and wide. Attendance is up 180,000 for the first six months of 2016, even though the $73 million, 28-acre African Grasslands exhibit, the largest project in the zoo’s history, has only been open a month.

Although he had been to the Omaha zoo for a conference in 1993, Pate was astounded by the facilities he saw when he came to Omaha to interview for his current position.

“What my predecessor had done was pretty remarkable for a city this size,” he says. “To have a zoo that punches way above its weight, and to have a donor base as is in place here, is very unusual. Cities this size don’t build a $17 million jungle building and restaurant. They don’t --Please turn to page 12.

Zoos focusing more on animal conservation, public education --Continued from page 10. build a $32 million Desert Dome.

They don’t build a conservation department that has an impact on preservation efforts worldwide.”

Pate was also intrigued by the potential he saw. “To be able to start there and build on that is a rare opportunity,” he says. “I thought I could take all that even further.”

As the Henry Doorly Zoo has changed, so has the role of zoos worldwide, Pate says.

“Forty years ago, the animals served to entertain the people who visited,” he says. “They more or less filled slots on a list of expectations. Now, zoos have taken on the role of serving the animals. Conservation and education are important parts of what an elite zoo needs to be doing.”

Perhaps that explains Pate’s answer when asked what he would do if handed a blank check for the Omaha zoo.

“I would build an even bigger conservation department,” he says.

“People in this community feel an ownership for this zoo. They think of it as ‘our zoo.’ It is among the best in the world and they are proud of that fact. I want their next thought to be, ‘I am so proud of what our zoo does for animals in the wild.’”

To help reach that goal, Pate will

Dennis recently completed his term as chair of the board for Saving Animals From Extinction. add a chief conservation officer, starting work in January. He declined to name the new hire.

The many conservation efforts in which the Henry Dooly Zoo is a participant includes the Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE)

project, a commitment to harness collective resources, focus on specific endangered species, and save them from extinction by restoring healthy populations in the wild.

It is led by the 230 accredited zoos and aquariums of the Associa-

tion of Zoos & Aquariums, from which Pate recently completed his term as chair of the board.

“Zoos have been evolving the past several decades,” he says, “but the rate of evolution has to pick -Please turn to page 13.

Walnut Grove Retirement Community Come join us for our

2nd Annual Health Fair sponsored by Comper Care & Rehab Inc.

Saturday, August 20 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm There will be questions and answers with community experts, health & wellness resources, vendor booths, door prizes and a reception.

The Red Cross will be conducting a blood drive during our Health Fair starting at 11:30 am and continuing until 4:30 pm.

Please call to let us know you are coming or to schedule your blood donation time with The Red Cross

402-609-7373 4901 S. 153rd Street



Omaha, NE 68137



August 2016

WalnutGroveRetirement.com

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Pamela Sue has a smile on her face, a song in her heart

Pam Kragt during a July performance for some of the residents at the Good Samaritan Society Millard. approached 4 p.m. Kragt encouraged her fans to sing along as she performed favorites by Dolly Parton, the Andrews Sisters, and Billie ifteen minutes before her Holiday. show began, the tall blonde “Good job everybody; I heard moved amongst the 20 men that singing,” she said. and women that filled the activities The performance concluded with room at the Good Samaritan Society God Bless America. Some audience Millard. She smiled, asked quesmembers sang, while others proudly tions, and shared a few stories. shed a few tears.

Then shortly before 3 p.m. on Before leaving, Kragt encouraged a hot, humid Nebraska summer the residents to acknowledge the day, Pam Kragt – dressed in a blue Good Samaritan Society staff memblouse and white pants – began her hour-long performance with Singing bers. “Take their hand, look them in the eye, and thank them,” she said. the Blues done in a low alto voice.

At that point a silver-haired lady Pam’s July appearance at Good sitting in a wheelchair turned to a Samaritan was sponsored by The neighbor and reviewed Pamela Sue. Merrymakers, a nonprofit group “She’s really good.” dedicated to brightening the lives

of older adults at local retirement ragt has been sharing her communities and skilled nursing musical talents with audifacilities through quality musical ences since age 8 when the entertainment.

“How many of you used to watch former Pam Van Gelder began singing for the First Reformed Church Hee Haw?” asked Kragt, also congregation in Hospers, Iowa. known as “Pamela Sue.” A half Pam and her two older brothers dozen of the older adults raised their grew up on family dairy farms near hands.

Hospers and Rock Rapids in north“Here’s a song Lynn Anderson sang on Hee Haw. It’s called I Nev- west Iowa.

She fondly recalls spending time er Promised You a Rose Garden.” with her dad and mom listening to Kragt said she goes by the stage and singing along with their favorite name “Pamela Sue” for two simple country music and gospel songs. “I reasons, “Nobody can spell or proguess I learned to sing behind the nounce my last name (rhymes with cows,” Kragt said with a smile on cot).” her face and a twinkle in her eye.

Songs by country music legends At Rock Rapids Central Lyon like Waylon Jennings, Leroy Van High School, Pam sang in choirs, Dyke, and The Judds filled the first starred in school plays and musihalf of Pamela Sue’s show.

Near the outset of the show’s final cals, and dated her future husband, Jon Kragt, who now works for the 30 minutes, Kragt sang Elvis Presley’s Don’t Be Cruel and Johnny B. Army Corps of Engineers in Omaha.

Goode by Chuck Berry.

The Kragts – who were married After the gentle applause stopped, in 1986 – have two children. Son, Pamela Sue thanked the audience Matt, works for Adams Construcmembers, shifted gears, and asked, tion in central Nebraska. Daughter, “Now, who likes Patsy Cline?”

The music continued as the clock Nikki, is majoring in chemical engiBy Jeff Reinhardt New Horizons Editor

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Affiliated with The Merrymakers since 2013, Pam has also been a member of the AVI8TORS and DeJa Blu. neering at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

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n 2005, Pam joined the AVI8ORS, originally an eight-person Omahabased ensemble that sang and danced to 1940s-era music dressed in World War II uniforms. The group disbanded in 2011.

A year earlier, Kragt and fellow AVI8OR Diane Thomas started DeJa Blu. The duet sang popular Big Band favorites and tunes from the ‘40s, ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s for audiences at veterans clubs, retirement homes, senior centers, and churches.

“We also sang the national anthem at the College World Series and for the Omaha Storm Chasers,” Pam said. “We continue to sing together a couple of times a year for various groups.”

In 2014, Kragt began a solo career after Thomas and her husband, John, moved to Colorado to care for her parents and mother-in-law.

“At that point I was forced to ask myself who I was and what I wanted to do,” Kragt said. “I’m just a simple country gal that loves to sing.”

Pam, who has been part of The Merrymakers since 2013, said she loves entertaining her older friends. “I have so much respect for them and the sacrifices they made for our country. They need to be appreciated. They have so much to offer.”

Before each performance, Kragt reminds herself of a simple goal. “On this one day, I will reach one person to create one memory with one song.”

Each month, Pamela Sue does 10 to 13 shows for The Merrymakers.

The humorous between songs banter Pam interjects into the act is a byproduct of her stand up comedy career where she’s been known as the full-figured, matronly, purple-haired “Grace Fully” since 2002.

Kragt said she enjoys watching audience members sing along with her while tapping their toes, smiling, and reminiscing.

“I help break up their daily routine while we remember the good times.”

n addition to her on stage career, Kragt works part-time at Brookestone Meadows in Elkhorn as a public relations assistant. She also enjoys gardening, floral designing, landscaping, decorating, and hosting University of Nebraska football parties at home.

Pam is proud of the impact she has on the men and women she entertains as well as the Brookestone Meadows residents. “It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you that’s important, it’s what you leave behind when you go,” she said.

For more information on The Merrymakers, please call 402-697-0205.

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August 2016

Dennis Pate...

Dealing with that pain in your neck

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f your day involves using a smartphone or laptop, reading a book or magazine, or curling up on a couch to watch TV, your day may also include some nagging neck pain. That’s because you may be bending your body in an unhealthy position for a prolonged period of ate is a man who clearly loves his job. “Who time. wouldn’t want to work at the zoo?” he asks. “I “It’s an overuse injury. Your body was get to make things better for animals and visitors. designed to move, but you’re forcing your I work on a blend of everything from education neck and shoulders into one static position to exhibit design to conservation to employee for too long,” says Dr. Clare Safran-Norton, benefits. I love that range. a physical therapist and clinical supervisor “It’s easy for me to be impassioned about this. It is such of rehabilitation services at Harvard-affiliatan exciting place to be.” ed Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

He also loves the state that he, his wife, Jessica, and their Looking down flexes your neck forward.

12-year-old son, Thomas, now call home. The man who has Supporting this position requires the help of ridden elephants in Nepal to view Indian one-horned rhinos the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles in chose western Nebraska and South Dakota for the most your neck, and sometimes the shoulder and recent family vacation. shoulder blade muscles such as the levator “We visited the state and national monuments,” he says. scapulae, the upper or middle trapezius, and “We drove the ‘fossil freeway,’ Agate Fossil Beds National the rhomboids.

Monument and Toadstool Geologic Park, Scotts Bluff “After a while, the muscles will get tired, National Monument, and we had dinner with the zoo direc- overstretched, and weak. If you do this tor there, the Hudson-Meng bison research site, and up to excessively, your neck and shoulders will Mammoth Hot Springs in the Black Hills. begin to hurt,” says Dr. Safran-Norton.

“To be able to stand on those rutted wagon roads and The same is true if you’re slumped on think about the pioneers who traveled there so long ago, the couch or sitting with poor posture at that was a goose bump moment for me.” your desk for a prolonged period of time, The man who enjoys looking backward still can’t help with your shoulders rounded and your neck but look forward when it comes to the Omaha zoo. “Once bent forward. we are close to finishing this master plan,” he says, smilIf you notice some neck soreness, Dr. ing, “there will be another master plan. The jungle building Safran-Norton recommends raising your is showing its age, and there are other exhibits that need screen or reading material to eye level, so updating and rethinking.” you don’t have to look down as much. Even small changes can make a big difference. ne of the few things Pate isn’t planning is his For instance: retirement. “I turned 65 this year,” he says, • Place a pillow on your lap, and then rest “so maybe in five or six years, we’ll see. your laptop or computer tablet on the pilThere’s a window between 70 and 80 that low. would be nice to fill with travel and adven• Raise your computer screen to eye level ture, things I might not be able to do after 80.” by placing the monitor on a stack of large, And when he does retire, of all the places in the world he sturdy books. could pick, what’s the most likely destination for Pate and • Prop up a book in a book holder, and his wife? then place that on a pillow or table.

“Omaha,” he says without hesitation. “We love it here.”

• Keep your arms supported on the armAfter all, this is the city where fairy tales come true. rests of a chair.

Your posture is important, too. If you’re sitting at a desk or a table, sit up straight, Weekend retreat offered for women with your neck in line with the rest of your and keep your shoulders back. Get up who are caring for military veterans spine, every hour to give your muscles a change he Brain Injury Alliance and the Nebraska of position.

Veterans Brain Injury Task Force are sponIf you’re lounging on a comfy chair or soring a weekend retreat for women who couch, Dr. Safran-Norton suggests you supare providing care for service members and port your arms on armrests or pillows. veterans of any military conflict.

“The neck muscles are connected to the Called Women of Warriors, the retreat is scheduled shoulder blade muscles, so when you take for Sept. 23 and 24 in Aurora, Neb. pressure off your arms, you take pressure Topics are designed to educate, encourage, and off your shoulders, and the shoulder and empower these women and provide them with a brief neck muscles can relax,” she says. Again, respite from their caregiving duties that will offer hope, try to get up every hour.

HorizonAD-2010:HorizonAD-08 2/4/10 8:00 AM healing, and restoration.

If neck pain lasts more than two weeks, The $50 registration fee covers the three-day retreat, two nights lodging, pampering sessions, and all meals.

To register and for more information, please contact Cindy at 402-304-8103 or cindy@biane.org --Continued from page 11. up. We want to take some of the exciting work we do here and expand it into other species. SAFE is a developing program, and our lemur work in Madagascar is one good example of how we are taking the lead.”

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Social Security’s future

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ARP Nebraska invites the public to participate in a free community conversation about Social Security’s future on Monday, Aug. 1.

The session will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Omaha Public Library’s Charles B. Washington branch, 2868 Ames Ave. According to Social Security trustees, Social Security benefits will be cut by nearly 25 percent after 2034 if no action is taken to strengthen the program’s long-term finances.

“Nebraskans have paid into Social Security and deserve to know what changes are being proposed by candidates in this year’s election and how each might affect them, their children, and their grandchildren,” said Mark Intermill, advocacy director for AARP Nebraska.

For more information, contact Intermill at mintermill@aarp.org or call him toll free at 1-866-389-5651.

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Attorneys at Law

Class for early stage Alzheimer’s caregivers on tap for Aug. 18 at chapter’s new office

he Midlands chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is sponsoring a free class on Aug. 18 at the Alzheimer’s Association’s new office, 11711 Arbor St., Suite 110.

Titled, Living with Alzheimer’s: For Early Stage Caregivers, the class will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

For more information, please send an email to echentland@alz.org or call 800-272-3900.

Registration is requested but not required.

Dr. Safran-Norton suggests seeking professional help. More serious causes of neck pain include arthritis, neck bone spurs, ruptured discs in the spine, fractures, scoliosis (sideways curvature of the spine), and old whiplash injuries.

A good place to start is with a visit to your primary care physician or an orthopedic specialist. One of those doctors, after ruling out or addressing any underlying conditions, will likely refer you to a physical therapist.

A physical therapist can teach you neck exercises, such as a neck stretch. Start with your head in a neutral forward-facing position, and then slowly turn your head to the right. Hold for a few seconds. Return to starting position, then turn your head to the left and hold the position for a few seconds.

Don’t roll your neck, however.

“The neck was designed to mostly rotate left and right, forward and back, but it doesn’t have as much motion for bending side to side,” says Dr. Safran-Norton.

Neck strengthening exercises can also help, such as a neck retraction. A neck retraction also helps stretch the SCM muscles in the sides of your neck.

Dr. Safran-Norton suggests doing these exercises daily at first; later, a few times a week. Then, keep up good posture and eyelevel reading to prevent further neck pain.

(Harvard University provided this information.)

William E. Seidler Jr.

www.seidler-seidler-law.com 10050 Regency Circle, Suite 525 Omaha, NE 68114-5705

402-397-3801

Delivering quality legal services since 1957.

August 2016

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New Horizons

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Page 13

Bilingual resource information is available

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ilingual information about hospice care, palliative care, helping loved ones with grief and loss, and caregiving is available through the Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership.

The number for the Cuidando con Carino Compassionate Care HelpLine is (toll free) 1-877-658-8896.

The service is offered weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Florence AARP chapter schedule The Florence chapter of AARP meets monthly at Mount View Presbyterian Church, 5308 Hartman Ave. Each meeting features a noon lunch and a speaker at 12:45 p.m. The cost is $8 per person each month. Rides are available.

For more information, please call Ruth Kruse at 402453-4825 or Marge Willard at 402-455-8401.

Here’s the schedule for the rest of 2016: August 15 Picnic September 19 Restoring bee hives With Carol & Fred Richart October 17 Years at North High School With Mark Schulze November 21 Music with Greg Owen December 12 Christmas music

AARP offering driving course AARP is offering a new four-hour, research-based Smart Driver Course for older adults.

By completing the course, participants will learn research-based driving safety strategies that can reduce the likelihood of having an accident; understand the links between the driver, the vehicle, and the road environment, and how this awareness encourages safer driving; learn how aging, medications, alcohol, and health-related issues affect driving ability and ways to allow for these changes; increase confidence; know how to share the road safely with other drivers, and learn the newest safety and advance features in vehicles.

The fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonAARP members.

No tests or examinations are involved, course completion certificates are provided, and auto insurance discounts may apply. Here’s this month’s schedule: August 12 @ 9:30 a.m.

Metro Comm. College 829 N. 204th St. 402-457-5231 to register

August 13 @ 1 p.m.

AARP Nebraska Info Center 1941 S. 42nd St #220 402-398-9568 to register

August 13 @ 10 a.m.

The Premier Group 11605 Miracle Hills Dr. #205 402-557-6730 to register

August 17 @ 9:30 a.m.

CHI Midlands Hospital 11111 S. 84th St. 800-253-4368 to register

Law Offices of Charles E. Dorwart 35 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • In-home consultations • Free Initial consultation 6790 Grover Street • Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68106 Office: (402) 558-1404 • Fax: (402) 779-7498 cdorwartjd@dorwartlaw.com

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Harvard physician: It’s critical to learn about your medications, and the responses to them

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re you taking more than one drug?

Are you taking a few different types of medications? Are you seeing several different doctors? If so, you may be at increased risk for drug interactions, which occur when a drug, a supplement, or even a food affects the way your body processes a medication.

Such interactions can make a drug more powerful – so that a standard dose becomes an overdose – or can render it less potent or altogether ineffective.

“It’s critical people learn about their medications and become aware of their response to them,” says Dr. Shobha Phansalkar, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Her research centers on exploring ways people can better manage their medications to avoid side effects.

The term “drug interactions” is somewhat misleading. Drugs don’t combine in the body to produce chemical reactions.

Instead, a drug, supplement, or food may affect how long a medication stays in the body, often by stimulating or inhibiting the production of specific enzymes in the liver or intestine. These enzymes are part of the cytochrome p450 system, which plays an important role in metabolizing many medications. Drug interactions usually occur in one of the following ways: • Interactions with other drugs. Interactions between two drugs occur when one drug affects the cytochrome enzyme that process the other.

In other instances, two drugs taken for different purposes may have the same effect, producing something like an overdose. A common example of this is when over-the-counter pain relievers – aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and to a lesser extent, acetaminophen (Tylenol) – are taken with blood thinners like warfarin and clopidogrel (Plavix). Since the pain relievers also have anti-clotting effects, the combination can result in severe bleeding.

• Interactions with nutrients. Several foods can also block or stimulate the enzymes that break down drugs. People who wash down atorvastatin (Lipitor) or simvastatin (Zocor) with large amounts of grape-

fruit juice may experience muscle pain and other side effects from statin “overdose,” because the juice inhibits the enzyme that clears the statins.

Fish oil supplements can have a similar effect when taken with warfarin, increasing the risk of severe bleeding. Iron supplements can diminish the effects of levoxythyroxine (Synthroid), the medication used to treat an underactive thyroid.

• Interactions with your body. Your body itself may react to drugs in unexpected ways. There is more than one version of each of the 50 or so CYP450 enzymes, and there is no easy or reliable way to identify which ones you have inherited.

You may have reactions to certain drugs because you break them down faster or slower than most people. Also, as we age, we tend to metabolize drugs more slowly, so a dose lower than the one usually recommended may be sufficient.

Kidney or liver disease can also slow the rate at which drugs are metabolized. For those reasons, it’s important to carefully monitor your reaction to any new drug you take.

• Minimizing the risk of interactions.

Dr. Phansalkar acknowledges it isn’t realistic to expect us to memorize every possible interaction for every medication we take.

But the following can go a long way in reducing problems: • Know why you are taking each medication. Drug names are often hard to pronounce, difficult to remember, and easy to mix up. An error when you list your drugs could mean a potential interaction will go unnoticed. For example, Klonopin (the brand name of clonazepam, used to treat panic attacks) may be mistaken for clonidine, a common blood pressure medication.

However, if you tell a pharmacist or health care professional you’re taking Klonopin to bring down your blood pressure, he or she is likely to realize that you’re actually taking clonidine.

Consider labeling each pill bottle or package with the reason you’re taking the drug—for example, “blood pressure.”

• Know how to take the drug. It’s im--Please turn to page 16.

Fremont Friendship Center

211 Network

You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field), for the following: • Aug. 1: Tai Chi classes (to be held each Monday and Thursday from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.) begin today. A contribution of 50 cents per class is suggested.

• Aug. 3: Line dance lessons to polka music @ 9:30 a.m.

• Aug. 4: Michaela from ENOA will discuss the Ten Red Flags of Junk Science @ 10 a.m.

• Aug. 8: Photos for the Aug. 20 ENOA Walk-a-thon will be taken today around 11 a.m.

• Aug. 10: Entertainment by Wayne Miller @ 10:30 a.m.

• Aug. 17: Music by Joyce Torchia @ 10:30 a.m.

• Aug. 20: ENOA Walk-a-Thon. We’ll leave the center for Benson Park @ 9 a.m. Enjoy a free massage, a tai chi class, access to the Lifestyle Expo, hot dogs, pop, and other goodies. After the Walk-a-Thon, we’ll go on a riverboat cruise. We’ll return to the center by 4:30 p.m. Space is limited and a $30 payment reserves your place.

• Aug. 24: Music by Reuben Adkins @ 10:30 a.m.

• Aug. 31: Music by Jim Rathbun @ 10:30 a.m.

The Fremont Friendship Center is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 contribution is suggested for lunch. Reservations must be made by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy.

For reservations, please call Laurie at 402-727-2815.

The 211 telephone network has been established in parts of Nebraska to give consumers a single source for information about community and human services.

By dialing 211, consumers can access information about: • Human needs resources like food banks, shelters, rent and utility assistance, etc.

• Physical and mental health resources.

• Employment support.

• Support for older Americans and persons with a disability.

• Volunteer opportunities and donations.

The 211 network is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The information is also available online at www.ne211.org.

August 2016

Corrigan Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., this month for: • Aug. 3, 10, 17, & 24: Crafts & Social class with Anita @ 10:30 a.m. Make whimsical angel wings and paper windowsill flowers. Stay for a tasty noon lunch following the class each week.

• Aug. 4, 11, 18, & 25: Visit by representatives from the Thomas Farms Produce Market @ 10:30 a.m. Bingo @ 1 p.m. after the noon lunch.

• Aug. 5: Country music by the Heartland Ensemble Band during the noon hot dog or chicken club salad lunch.

• Aug. 9: Tai Chi @ 10 a.m., hall bowling @ 11:15 a.m., and meatloaf or a turkey and Swiss on rye bread sandwich for the noon lunch.

• Aug. 15: Talk on Smart Steps to Saving Energy with Paula from OPPD @ 10:30 a.m. Order a ham loaf/baked sweet potato or a deli lunch.

• Aug. 18: We Honor Veterans program, dinner, & Mega Bingo beginning @ 11 a.m.

The patriotic ceremony will include military guest speakers, heartwarming videos, and a pinning ceremony. Order an oven baked chicken breast dinner or a Greek chicken salad deli lunch. The reservation deadline is Friday, Aug. 12 @ noon.

• Aug. 22: Aloha Hawaiian Party @ 11 a.m. Paul Siebert’s beach songs and ukulele playing will bring us the islands. Wear your beach clothes and we’ll provide the leis.

Beach ball blast and more games with door

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE

prizes @ 10 a.m. Hot turkey breast or egg salad on wheat bread deli lunch, Bingo, and more.

• Aug. 25: Dog Days of Summer birthday party featuring music by Pamela Sue from The Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. Stay for a lime tarragon chicken breast or southwest ham salad deli lunch. Bingo following lunch.

• Aug. 29: Learn more about the Teammates mentoring program @ 11:30 a.m.

Noon BBQ beef on a bun or a tuna macaroni salad lunch. Stay for Bingo @ 1 p.m.

• Aug. 31: Meet and greet writer Jeanie Jacobson @ 11 a.m. Fish or a chicken berry almond salad for lunch.

Everyone, including new players, is welcome to play chair volleyball every Tuesday and Thursday @ 11 a.m. A noon lunch will follow.

Join us for Tai Chi – a relaxing and fun activity that’s proven to improve your balance – Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. in our spacious gym.

Bingo, ceramics, exercise, woodcarving, and loads of fun are also available.

The Corrigan Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $3.50 contribution is normally suggested for the meal.

Reservations are normally due by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy.

For meal reservations or more information, please call Lynnette at 402-731-7210.

Please see the ad on page 3

New Horizons Club membership roll rises $20

J.F. Lane $15 Vlasta Kennebeck $10 Lois Sorensen Mary Brady $5 Barbara Sims Don Kirschbaum Reflects donations received through July 22, 2016

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!

AARP Legal Service Network • No Charge For Initial Consultation

7602 Pacific Street, Ste 200 • (402) 391-2400 http://whitmorelaw.com

The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging has been providing programs and services for older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties since 1975.

We need your

! t r o p sup

I would like to become a partner with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, and help fulfill your mission with older adults.

ENOA

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 contributions.

$30 = 7 meals or 1.75 hours of in-home homemaker services or 1 bath aide service for frail older adults. $75 = 17 meals or 4.75 hours of in-home homemaker services or 4 bath aide services for frail older adults. $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.

Other amount (please designate)__________________________

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August 2016

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Survey shows reasons why Americans don’t eat better

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ver one third of American adults are obese and one of the top contributing factors is an unhealthy diet. Home Chef conducted a survey of more than 1,000 Americans about their eating and cooking habits and found 75 percent of them never, barely, or occasionally eat healthy foods.

The survey showed reasons for unhealthy eating habits include lack of time, the convenience of unhealthy food, a lack of cooking skills, and little healthy food knowledge.

The time it takes to find healthy recipes, go grocery shopping, and prepare the ingredients for a meal can be a deterrent for healthy home cooking. As a result, most Americans are eating unhealthy meals at home and fast food while on the go.

Some of the key highlights from the Home Chef survey are: • Food for thought: More than 40 percent of respondents said the convenience of fast food and food delivery is why they don’t eat healthy, while nearly the same amount of people said they simply don’t have time to eat healthy foods.

• Cooking 101: More than 40 percent of respondents don’t consider themselves to be good enough cooks to eat healthy all the time.

• Too much of a good thing: Of those who make food at home, 91 percent admitted they occasionally, most of the time, or always make too much food, which can lead to overeating.

More than 50 percent of the survey respondents believe they are or may be overweight. When asked why: • 60 percent said the portion sizes they eat are too large.

• 52 percent said their family doesn’t know how to buy healthy food.

• 25 percent said their family doesn’t have time to cook healthy meals.

• 16 percent said their family doesn’t know how to cook healthy meals.

When asked why they or their family don’t eat healthy meals: • 58 percent said convenience of fast food or fast food delivery.

• 51 percent said time was a factor.

• 44 percent said money was a factor.

When asked if their kids could prepare a healthy meal, 68 percent said no. However, when asked if their kids could prepare a healthy meal if it was simplified, 66 percent responded yes.

Over 80 percent of respondents agreed that a meal kit delivery service containing easy-to-follow recipes and preportioned ingredients could help them and their families eat healthier.

(Home Chef provided this information.)

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--Continued from page 14. portant to learn whether to take your medication with food or on an empty stomach.

For example, taking a bisphosphonate (a class of drugs used to arrest bone loss) with milk, coffee, or juice, or eating anything within 30 minutes of taking the medication will negate its effects. On the other hand, some drugs are better taken with food, either to aid their absorption or to prevent them from irritating the stomach lining.

Some drugs are not to be taken with specific foods. For example, the antibiotic tetracycline shouldn’t be taken with dairy products because calcium interferes with the drug’s absorption.

• Fill all your prescriptions at the same pharmacy. The health care system is still fragmented. Your primary care team is likely to have a record of the prescriptions you’ve gotten from that office, as are the specialists you have seen. However, each isn’t likely to know what the others have prescribed.

Although pharmacies store records of all prescriptions they fill, one pharmacy may not have access to the records of another and so may not have a complete record of your medications. Keeping an updated list of your medications would be very helpful, especially in emergency situations.

• Be suspicious of supplements. Some of the most serious drug interactions involve prescription medications and supplements.

Not only are supplements less likely than FDA-approved medications to be listed in the databases of drug interactions, health care providers also may not know what supplements people are taking. Since there isn’t much evidence that supplements have health benefits, it’s best to avoid them unless your doctor prescribes them.

• Go easy on grapefruit juice. While it’s true grapefruit juice affects the metabolism of several drugs, it usually takes about a quart of the juice to make a difference.

If you love grapefruit juice, ask your pharmacist if any of the drugs you take are affected by it. If they are, you should still be able to enjoy half a grapefruit or an eightounce glass of juice daily as long as you wait a few hours after taking the medication.

• Limit alcohol. It isn’t a good idea for

women to have more than a drink a day in general, and it can be even worse to drink while you’re taking drugs. Alcohol increases drowsiness—an intended effect of sleeping pills and a side effect of many antihistamines, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medications. It can also irritate the lining of the esophagus and stomach—a special concern if you’re taking aspirin, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or an oral bisphosphonate for low bone density.

• Talk to your pharmacist. When you pick up a prescription, you may find as many as three different sheets or leaflets with your medication, each detailing the conditions the drug is approved to treat, how to take the drug, and the drug’s possible side effects.

If your first reaction is “too much information,” your next step should be to ask the pharmacist to summarize how to take the drug and what to expect.

Pharmacists have an extensive knowledge of how drugs work, their side effects, and the medications, supplements, and foods they interact with. In fact, you may want to bring all your prescription and nonprescription drugs, as well as any supplements you take, to the pharmacy when you pick up a new prescription.

If the pharmacist identifies any possible interactions among your medications, he or she may be able to suggest a schedule for taking them that will minimize the likelihood of interactions.

Your pharmacist may also be willing to talk to your health care team about adjusting a medication dose or finding an alternative that will work better. Some health plans have medication therapy management or programs that allow an annual in-depth consultation with a pharmacist. Check to see if you qualify for these services.

The repository of medication information is growing. Although printed list of potential drug, drug-supplement, or drug-food interactions is soon out of date, the consumer website developed by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (www.consumermedsafety.org) has information on prescription and non-prescription drugs and supplements, including potential interactions and safety alerts from the Food and Drug Administration.

Getting your psoriasis under control

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• Spacious 1 & 2 bedroom apartment homes • Elevator • Washer/dryer in every apartment • Garage included in rent • Beautifully landscaped grounds • Within walking distance of Ralston Park

Responses to medications...

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caly skin. Raised, reddish spots. Rough texture and cracking.

Sound familiar? If you’re suffering with these symptoms, it could be psoriasis.

The pesky condition is one of the most vexing in the beauty world and has no known cure.

Don’t despair; Dr. Rebecca Kazin of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery and the Johns Hopkins Department of Dermatology shares some of her tried and tested tips to get the condition under control: • Psoriasis is notoriously stubborn and resistant to at-home remedies; so don’t delay in seeing your dermatologist. Ask for a topical

August 2016

solution with corticosteroid to lessen inflammation.

• For at-home maintenance, you can control psoriasis and limit those pesky plaques with NeoStrata Psorent. It creates a lightocclusive barrier on afflicted areas and significantly reduces the odor and staining associated with traditional coal tar products.

• If you need to have a problematic patch, exfoliate the area to temporarily even out the surface so you can apply makeup over any redness. Use tweezers to gently lift off any larger flakes that are hanging on.

• If you’re out in public and the flaking worsens, hand lotion will help mask

symptoms in a pinch. Apply a thin layer to the driest areas, and then blot gently with paper towel or tissue to limit shine.

• At least half of the 7.5 million Americans who have psoriasis have it on their head. Different from dandruff, scalp psoriasis is silver and powdery rather than yellow and greasy.

Your dermatologist will likely prescribe a medicated shampoo with active ingredients like clobetasol propionate (a topical steroid), salicylic acid, antifungal medication, Blue Lagoon algae, and zinc pyrithione to soften and loosen the scales so they can be washed away.

Preparation, right tools can Orthopedic surgeon offers seven tips help with painting projects Check your POSTURE to help reduce back pain

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I

f painting is on your list of home upgrades to tackle this year, you may find yourself procrastinating to avoid a painful process.

However, with the right tools and a little preparation, you can achieve the new look you want and a finished product that makes you proud.

Before you get started, take inventory of your painting supplies and ensure you have plenty of brushes (including extras, if you’ll have help), paint trays, masking tape, cleaning rags, and drop cloths to protect your floor or furniture.

Make a list of any items you need to purchase, and before you head to the store, measure your space one last time to ensure you know how much paint you need to buy.

Follow these additional tips for a painting project that delivers a big home improvement gain without the pain: • Lights on, lights off.

Think about lighting when choosing your paint. It’s easy to pick a color solely based on a photo or swatch, but it’s important to think about your specific room and how the lighting may affect the color’s appearance. What is the natural light like? Will you still like the color once the sun goes down?

• Timing is everything.

Prime painting season runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day. One important reason is when the weather is nice, you can open up the windows and get some circulation running through the room for faster drying times and better air quality.

• Prepare for everything. Before you begin painting, protect surfaces and ensure sharp lines by masking off your painting area. Pull off a better paint

job with new ScotchBlue Platinum Painter’s Tape, which tears by hand at a straight, 90-degree angle for fast cornering. The tape is made from advanced poly material that helps prevent paint seepage and removes in one piece without tearing or slivering.

• Make it fun. Get the whole family involved in the project. Having kids take part will help give them a sense of ownership and responsibility for the family home, and make the end result more personal.

• Revel in the results.

Putting in the legwork in advance will pay off when you get the freshly painted look you want, and you’ll want to celebrate the accomplishment. Make sure to take before and after photos to show off your hard work.

Find more tips to pull off a better paint job at scotchblue.com.

(Family Features provided this information.)

elatively low gas prices, high airfare, and painfully long TSA lines are pushing more people than ever to head out on the highways this summer.

Before the rubber meets the road, spine specialists caution travelers to check their “POSTURE,” an easyto-remember acronym for seven tips to keep back pain at a distance.

“Many people think of a road trip as a lazy and inexpensive vacation, but it’s actually a tough workout for your back and can end up costing you big in health care costs and lost work down the road,” said Chad Patton, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and the chair of the NASS Public Affairs Committee.

“By using the seven preventive tips from ‘POSTURE”, travelers can stay pain-free and keep the focus on enjoying this special time.”

• Position your body for comfort and support as soon as you get into the car and put on your seatbelt. Adjust your seat to a 100-degree angle to prevent slouching. Make sure you can see mirrors and dashboard gauges without turning your head when it’s supported by the headrest. Support your lower back’s natural curve with a pillow or rolled-up shirt or towel placed in the small of your back. Be close enough to the steering wheel that your elbows and knees are slightly bent.

• Only pack what you ab-

August 2016

solutely need. Lifting suitcases and coolers can cause back strain, so pack less and work with a partner to lift any heavy items, using your leg muscles, not your back.

• Share the driving. Don’t drive the entire route—let others take a turn at driving. Use the extra time to relax and enjoy watching the passing scenery.

• Take a break every 45 to 60 minutes to drink water, walk around to improve circulation, and gently stretch your back, neck, and hip flexor muscles. In between exercise stops, try to move a little in your seat—even 10 seconds of movement and gentle stretching is helpful.

• Use cruise control. Resting both feet on the floor is easier on your back and hips than constant foot pedal movement.

• Remove items from your back pockets. It sounds unbelievable, but sitting on or against a wallet or cellphone for a long period of time can throw your spine out of alignment and trigger back and leg pain.

• Easy does it. Replace worn shocks, brakes, or tires before your trip to ensure a smooth ride. Choose a route with the least traffic, construction, and potholes.

And the self-care shouldn’t stop there. Dr. Patton recommends resting and considering some stretching exercises when you get to your destination, too.

“It’s only natural to want to hop on the thrill rides the second you get to Universal Studios or go hiking when you make it to the Grand Canyon. If you can, try to build enough time in your schedule to rest your back, perform some gentle stretches, and decompress emotionally from your long drive for a few hours or ideally, overnight.”

(The North American Spine Society provided this information.)

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New Horizons

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Page 17

Ralston Arena turns to Stan Benis to stop the flow of red ink

After stints at the Omaha Civic Auditorium, the CenturyLink Center Omaha, and the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Stan Benis was hired as the general manager of the Ralston Arena in March 2014.

By Jeff Reinhardt New Horizons Editor

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he posters on his office walls featuring stars like Elvis Presley, Simon and Garfunkel, and Dolly Parton are signs Stan Benis has spent all or parts of five decades working at Omaha-area entertainment venues. The smile on his face and the confidence in his voice are indications Benis believes he’s up to the task of turning around the finances at the Ralston Arena which opened in 2012.

During its first three years of operation, the 3,500-seat multipurpose facility at 7300 Q St. lost nearly $2 million. That doesn’t include $41 million in construction bonds the Ralston taxpayers will have to pay off.

A 1975 graduate of Omaha’s Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School, Benis said a major reason for the arena’s early fiscal difficulties was that its first manager, Curtis Webb, booked big name acts like Martina McBride and Wynonna Judd that required ticket prices of $100 and higher to offset the performers’ $200,000 to $300,000 fees.

“That’s a tough sell,” Stan said.

“Those were good shows but they

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should have been at the Orpheum Theater or the CenturyLink Center.”

Empty seats and mounting monetary losses were the initial results at the Ralston Arena.

Webb came in with “bigger ideas than our little town could handle,” Ralston Mayor Don Groesser told The Ralston Recorder newspaper in 2015.

The Ralston Arena’s second manager, Paul Hendrickson, tried to shift the focus from music to politics, booking conservative TV commentator Bill O’Reilly and former U.S. President Bill Clinton in 2013. The O’Reilly show lost money and Clinton’s appearance was cancelled.

As the arena’s losses grew, Mayor Groesser and the City of Ralston turned to Benis in March 2014.

I

n 1977, Benis began his Omaha Civic Auditorium career setting up for shows. Working under the tutelage of mentors Charlie Mancuso and Terry Forsberg, Benis worked his way up during the next 23 years, serving as foreman and events coordinator before taking over as the facility’s manager in 2000.

Two years later, Benis – who has a son, two daughters, and four grandkids – moved to the metro area’s

New Horizons

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new riverfront arena, today known as the CenturyLink Center Omaha, where he served as its event services manager.

In 2012, Stan’s city pension kicked in so he took an early retirement, a decision he soon regretted.

“I realized none of my friends were retired.”

A year later, bored and looking to rejoin the labor force, Benis became the production manager at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs.

As the red ink continued to flow at the Ralston Arena, former Omaha city official Walt Peffer – who became an advisor for the City of Ralston – asked Benis to take over the reigns at the Ralston Arena.

Never afraid of a challenge, Stan accepted the position as general manager, and began developing and implementing his plan immediately. The Benis formula includes booking acts like rock-and-rollers from the 1970s and ‘80s, local Indie bands, and Christian rock shows. In short, bringing in performers that can fill 3,500 seats with $25 to $35 ticket buyers.

The Ralston Arena also began a relationship with local radio station owner NRG Media who wants to

August 2016

promote and bring in six or seven classic rock shows each year. The partners split the expenses and the revenues in half.

“We get free advertising (on NRG’s radio stations) for each show,” Benis said.

While concerts will always be important to the Ralston Arena’s bottom line, Benis is also proud of the bonds he’s built with tenants like the Omaha Lancers, the Omaha Beef, and the Omaha Roller Girls whose hockey, indoor football, and roller derby teams, respectively, combine to welcome fans on more than 40 nights a year.

The facility, which sits on land formerly occupied by the Lakeview Golf Course, also hosts craft shows in the spring and fall, 25 to 30 wedding receptions annually, a circus, the Nebraska Hispanic Festival, and the City of Ralston’s Fourth of July festivities.

“We try to do 15 to 20 non-sports shows a year,” Benis said.

I

n just his third year at the Ralston Arena helm, Benis believes he’s on the right track.

“Our goal is to break even. We’re very careful in how we spend the --Please turn to page 19.

Offered in Fremont, Blair

Volunteer drivers are needed for RSVP’s transportation program

T

he Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is recruiting volunteers age 55 and older to provide free transportation services for older adults in Fremont and Blair.

Sponsored locally by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, RSVP is a national program of the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Senior Service Corps.

RSVP and ENOA which serve Dodge, Washington, Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties realize many older men and women live alone, are on fixed incomes, are no longer able to operate their own vehicle, and don’t have family members available to drive them to their various appointments.

In response, RSVP’s Car-Go Project offers free transportation for men and women age 55 and older through volunteers age 55 and older who use their own vehicles.

Free rides can be given to medical appointments, pharmacies, grocery stores, beauty parlors, barbershops, banks, and other personal business locations.

Rides for persons who use wheelchairs (they must be able to transfer themselves) will be considered on a caseby-case basis.

“We’re especially interested in providing transportation services for military veterans,” said Pat Tanner, who coordinates the RSVP for ENOA. The Car-Go Project – which isn’t available to nursing home resident – operates in Fremont and Blair Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information on becoming a volunteer driver or to make a reservation (24 hours notice is required) for a ride, please call RSVP’s Fremont office at 402-721-7780.

Camelot Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center inside the Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave., for the following: • Aug. 8 & 22: Chair volleyball @ 10:30 a.m.

• Aug. 10: Birthday bash • Aug. 11: Book Club @ 10:15 a.m.

• Aug. 18: Jackpot Bingo @ 12:15 p.m.

• Aug. 19: Beach party patio cookout • Aug. 26: Line dancing Older adults are also encouraged to participate in the second annual Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging Walk-a-Thon on Saturday, Aug. 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at Benson Park.

Other activities include Tai Chi (Tuesday and Friday @ 10:15 a.m.), Bingo, pinochle, card games, other games, crafts, candy making, and scrapbooking.

The Camelot Friendship Center is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy.

For reservations or more information, please call Amy at 402-444-3091.

Stan’s Senior Services We offer daily, weekly, or occasional ERRAND and AT-HOME (inside/outside) services for older adults in the Omaha area.

-- INSURED, HONEST, RELIABLE --

Please call Stan Bartak @ 402-350-6840 HelpingSeniorsAtHome@cox.net www.StansSeniorServices.com

Need a hand at home? Stan can help!

Stan Benis, Ralston Arena...

--Continued from page 18. taxpayers money.”

Stan is being paid $70,000 a year, which is $20,000 less than his predecessor.

State subsidies, Keno profits, and a restaurant tax are pumping money into the City of Ralston’s coffers. Some of these funds are being used to pay for the arena’s bricks and mortar.

It’s the job of Benis and his 10-person full-time staff to manage the arena’s $4.1 million annual operating budget.

The late summer and early fall schedule in 2016 in-

cludes a BBQ festival Aug. 5 and 6, the Happy Together tour Sept. 3, and the legendary Alice Cooper on Oct. 8.

Other potential revenuegenerating ideas Benis has include selling the arena’s naming rights and hosting Dynasty Combat Sports’ mixed martial arts fight cards.

Beginning in September, the Omaha Chargers of the National Basketball League of America will play 10 games at the Ralston Arena during its inaugural season. The Chargers will try to avoid going head to

head with the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Creighton University roundball squads by playing its home games on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Benis is confident the Ralston Arena can turn a profit within three years.

“We have a great group of tenants who are energetic about filling seats with people who will buy popcorn and beer,” he said.

For more information about upcoming events at the Ralston Arena, log on to ralstonarena.com or call 402-934-9966.

RETAINING WALLS

Lonergan Lawns

Incontinence products Nutritional drinks Medicaid approved Express Medical Supply

All types. Chuck’s LLC

402-208-0596

Mow, fertilize, aerate.

Trim trees & bushes.

Clean gutters.

Build walls. Haul junk.

Call Tim @ 402-612-3576 FOR SALE

• 2009 Honda Goldwing trike 1800.

36,000 miles. V-6. Helmet & extras $25,000 or best offer.

402-234-2003 Lamplighter II

Some of the nicest, newer 1 bedroom apartments. Elevator, w & d, heated parking garage. Small complex. By bus & shopping. No pets or smoking.

93rd & Maple • 402-397-6921

• 2001 Suzuki 650. $2,500 or best offer.

FOR SALE Never been used wheelchair. $400 402-453-0728

• 1980 Buick Park Avenue $4,500 or best offer.

HOUSE CLEANING Personalized Service!

• 2006 P.T. Cruiser. $3,000 or best offer.

• 2006 HHR. $3,500 or best offer.

402-208-1665

RICK’S

Call Judy

402-885-8731 REFRESH CLEANING

EAGLE EYE AND POEMS BY BIG RICH

located at the

New Generation Flea Market 5222 South 136 Street th

785-407-0491 TOP CASH PAID Best & honest prices paid for: Nice old vintage and costume jewelry, old watches, vintage toys, Fenton glassware, old postcards, advertising items, military items, pottery, and antique buttons.

Also buying estates & partial estates.

Call Bev at 402-339-2856

deFreese Manor

Subsidized housing for those age 62 and over with incomes under $25,500 (1 person) or $29,150 (two persons) 2669 Dodge Omaha, NE 402-345-0622

August 2016

HANDYMAN SERVICES

Big jobs or small, I’ll do them all!

GET RID OF IT! Haul away, garage, basement, rental clean out…

[Bonded & insured]

Johansen Brothers

rickfitzlerhomeimprovement.com

402-312-4000

402-658-1245 OLD STUFF WANTED (before 1975)

Military, political, toys, jewelry, fountain pens, pottery, kitchen ware, postcards, photos, books, and other old paper, old clothes, garden stuff, tools, old household, etc.

Call anytime 402-397-0254 or 402-250-9389

Senior Citizens (62+) Accepting applications for HUD-subsidized apartments in Papillion & Bellevue.

Bellewood Courts

Call Frank

Tree Trimming Beat the bursting buds!

Chipping & removal.

Your prunings chipped.

Experienced & insured.

Senior discount.

402-894-9206 REPUTABLE SERVICES, INC. • Remodeling & Home Improvement

1002 Bellewood Court Bellevue (402) 292-3300 Bellewood@KimballMgmt.com

• Safety Equipment Handrails Smoke and Fire Alarms

Monarch Villas

• Painting Interior & Exterior

201 Cedar Dale Road Papillion (402) 331-6882 Monarch@KimballMgmt.com

• Handyman Services • Senior Discounts • Free Estimates

Managed by Kimball Management, Inc. PO Box 460967 Papillion, NE 68046 www.kimballmgmt.com We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.

•

• References • Fully Insured Quality Professional Service Better Business Bureau Member

402-4 5 5-7 0 0 0

New Horizons

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Page 19

ENOA orchestra’s 32nd season begins on Aug. 28

Y

ou’re invited to attend the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha’s first public performance of the 2016 season on Sunday, Aug. 28 at the Sumtur Amphitheater, 11691 S. 108th St. in Papillion. The free concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.

In its 32nd season, the IGO is a special program of the Eastern Nebraska on Aging. The ensemble consists of eight vocalists and 48 musicians under age 25 and age 50 and older.

The theme of the 2016 season is the music of the Beatles.

For more information, please call Chris Gillette at 402-444-6536.

T

River City Theatre Organ Society

he River City Theatre Organ Society of Omaha will present From Broadway to Hollywood on Sunday, Aug. 21 at the historic Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. The 3 p.m. concert will feature world-renowned theatre pipe organist Donnie Rankin who will accom-

Your home. Your care. Your pace.

Our program provides a complete system of health care. The service is called PACE, which stands for: Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly. We provide primary and hospital care as well as prescription drugs, transportation and so much more to our participants. Services are provided in the home, at the PACE Center and in the community.

PACE participants may be fully and personally liable for the costs of unauthorized or out-of-PACE program services. Emergency services are covered. Participants may disenroll at any time.

For complete program details and benefits, please call 402-991-0330 or visit www.immanuel.com.

Serving Nebraska in the Counties of Douglas and Sarpy 5755 Sorensen Parkway | Omaha, NE 68152 | 402-991-0990

Page 20

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New Horizons

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August 2016

pany a Buster Keaton silent movie on Nebraska’s only mighty Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ.

Special guests will be The Pathfinders, an award-winning 80-man Fremont-based chorus.

Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 by mail for older adults through Wednesday, Aug. 10. To order through the mail, send a check made out to the RCTOS to Jerry Pawlak, 2864 Katelyn Circle, Lincoln, Neb. 68516.

For more information, please contact Pawlak at 402-421-1356 or jerpawlak@windstream.net.

THEOS THEOS, a social organization for singles age 60 and older, meets from 1 to 4 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at New Cassel, 900 N. 90th St. Older men and women are encouraged to meet for a fun afternoon and to sign up for other activities throughout the month.

For more information, please call Dorothy at 402399-0759, Mary at 402-3933052, or Joan at 402-3938931.