A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
July 2015 VOL. 40 • NO. 7
ENOA 4223 Center Street Omaha, NE 68105-2431 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389
New Horizons
Moving right along
Photo courtesy of David E. Corbin and Josie Metal-Corbin
David E. Corbin (back) and his wife, Josie Metal-Corbin (front), are seen here vacationing in British Columbia. David is a University of Nebraska at Omaha emeritus professor of health education and public health. Josie will soon retire from UNO where she was a dance instructor and choreographer. These noted educators and advocates – married for 38 years – have taken their passion for movement, health, and dance to audiences across the nation and around the world. Leo Adam Biga’s feature on David and Josie begins on page 10.
Pressure situation Richard Giblin had his blood pressure checked recently by Carli Zegers from UNMC during the Senior Fair at the Millard Senior Center. The event was hosted by members of United States Sen. Deb Fischer’s staff. See page 20.
What’s inside Meet ENHSA board member Gary Osborn...............3 WWII aircraft are coming to Omaha .........................3 Dining with your family is important .......................4 Identifying the signs of a stroke...............................5 Learning how to talk with your spouse ....................6 What you need to know about poison ivy ................7 ‘Read it and eat’ .......................................................8 Getting rid of all that junk mail ..............................14 Summer driving fuel economy tips .......................15 We all need to have friends ...................................16
Jazz on the Green returns July 9
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maha Performing Arts again presents Jazz on the Green at Midtown Crossing this summer. The free outdoor concert series runs six consecutive Thursdays from July 9 through Aug. 13 in Turner Park at Midtown Crossing. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. on the permanent stage of The Pavilion at Turner Park. The lawn opens at 5 p.m. Omaha Performing Arts has partnered with the Blues Society of Omaha and Omaha Ballroom to present free pre-show entertainment at most of the performances. A band from the Blues Society of Omaha’s nonprofit youth artist development program, BluesEd, will perform before the start of three Jazz on the Green performances. An instructor from Omaha Ballroom will lead a preshow dance lesson at two of the performances. Instructors at Omaha Ballroom, under the direction of Elizabeth Edwards, have been teaching dance for more than a decade. The pre-show runs from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
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.
ENOA is offering volunteer opps
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he Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Companion Program, and Ombudsman Advocate Program, are recruiting older adults to become volunteers.
Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions must be age 55 or older, meet income guidelines, have a government issued identification card or a driver’s license, able to volunteer at least 15 hours a week, and must complete several background and reference checks.
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oster Grandparents and Senior Companions receive a $2.65 an hour stipend, transportation and meal reimbursement, paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave, and supplemental accident insurance. Foster Grandparents work with children who have special needs while Senior Companions work to keep older adults living independently. Ombudsman advocates work to ensure residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities enjoy the best possible quality of life. Ombudsman advocates, who must be age 18 or older, are enrolled through an application and screening process. These volunteers, who are not compensated monetarily for their time, must serve at least two hours a week. For more information, please call 402-444-6536.
Fed employee groups meet at Omaha eatery The 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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Gary Osborn enjoys serving Dodge County as secretary of ENHSA’s governing board
Make a donation to help support the
“Voice for Older Nebraskans!”
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irst elected by the voters of Dodge County to represent District 7 on its Board of Commissioners in 2014, Gary Osborn will serve as the secretary of the Eastern Nebraska Human Services Agency’s Governing Board in 2015. Osborn was appointed to the Dodge County Board in 2012 following Danny Stoeber’s death. The ENHSA Governing Board consists of an elected official from Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties. Board members oversee the activities of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, ENCOR, the Alpha School, and Region VI Behavioral Healthcare in its five-county service area. ENOA provides programs and services designed to help keep men and women age 60 and older living in their own homes with independence and dignity for as long as possible. ENCOR serves individuals of all ages who have developmental and intellectual disabilities. The Alpha School’s mission is to help students with behavioral and emotional conditions that have been unable to maintain a traditional school placement. Region VI Behavioral Healthcare organizes and provides a system of behavioral health programs including mental health, substance abuse prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation services.
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Fremont resident, Osborn spent 33 years as a senior business manager for the Union Pacific Railroad. Gary and his wife, Rita, have been married for 47 years. The Osborns have three children and five grandchildren. Osborn has an Associates Degree from Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Md. He also attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha for one year. Gary said he got into public service in
b u l C s n o z i r New Ho
Join the
Membership includes a subscription to the New Horizons newspaper. New Horizons Club Send Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging 4223 Center Street to: Omaha, NE 68105-2431 A Fremont resident, Gary Osborn worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for 33 years. 2012 as a way to make a difference in his community. Appointed to the ENHSA board in 2013, Osborn said his role with the agency is simple. “I want to provide representation for Dodge County and make sure my constituents are well informed about all the benefits ENHSA offers.” Osborn said the greatest challenge the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging faces is to have enough money to offer programs and services for older adults in its fivecounty service area today and in the future. “ENOA will need to find efficiencies in its operation and look for funding through grants and other alternatives,” he added. Osborn said he enjoys representing Dodge County on the ENHSA board and looks forward to finding ways to move the agency ahead in the future.
Call 800-568-8924 for more information
Flights aboard military aircraft are available July 17 to 19 as Collings Foundation brings Wings of Freedom to Omaha
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he Collings Foundation is bringing its Wings of Freedom tour to Omaha July 17 to 19. This living history display will feature the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, a dual-seat P-51 Mustang C model, and the Consolidated B-24 Liberator J model. The exhibit will be held at 3737 Orville Plz. (Eppley Airfield’s TAC Air). Walk through tours will be available from 2 to 5 p.m. on July 17 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 18 and 19. The cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children age 12 and under. Thirty-minute flights on the B-17 or the B-24 will be available for $450 per person. Thirty and 60-minute P-51 flights are offered for $2,200 and $3,200, respec-
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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.
The Wings of Freedom display will feature military aircraft like this B-24 and B-17. tively. The majority of these flight and training costs are tax deductible. The Wings of Freedom tour is designed to honor America’s WWII veterans, promote education of future generations about the role of military flight crews and aircraft, and to preserve aviation history. For reservations or more information, please contact www.cfdn.org or call 800-568-8924 or Michael at 402-4931961.
July 2015
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.
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Effort aims to increase the number of family dinners
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ifty percent of men and women living near older relatives agree they don’t have enough sit-down dinners with those loved ones, according to a recent survey of North Americans. More than one in four (27 percent) of North Americans who live with other family members admit they aren’t having family dinners often enough. This data represents a growing trend, as nearly half of surveyed adults (45 percent) agree the frequency of these mealtime experiences have decreased since their childhood. To help reverse this trend, Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with celebrity chef and mother of four, Melissa d’Arabian to encourage U.S. families to bring back the Sunday dinner and commit to having a sit-down dinner with their loved ones. “For seniors, mealtime is VOTES WANTED PLEASE GO TO
www.lightthebridge.org 100% non-profit addressing hunger VOTES TO DATE • For: 2,569 • Against: 90 • Please vote today to address hunger.
a key component of healthy aging. It’s proven to be critical to quality nutrition, medication management, and preventing feelings of isolation,” says d’Arabian. “Sharing nutritious and balanced meals not only helps families physically, but also emotionally.” According to the survey, most families (73 percent) only sit down for a family meal with older loved ones for special occasions, events, or holidays. Despite the importance of keeping this tradition, many people list time as the culprit for not hosting more family dinners – both not having enough time (40 percent) and conflicting schedules (52 percent). To encourage families to make time for these Sunday meals, the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation will donate $1 to Meals on Wheels America (up to $20,000) for each person that pledges to hold a family dinner at the website SundayDinnerPledge.com through July 31. Visitors will be asked to commit to scheduling a meal with their families on a regular basis with the hope of bringing back the Sunday family dinner tradition. Pledging to have a sit-down dinner with a older loved one will help ensure older adults will have a quality meal, a friendly visit, and a safety check delivered by Meals on Wheels programs across the country. “In our over-scheduled lives, so many of us have let the Sunday dinner take a back seat to picking up fast food and catching up on the DVR,” says d’Arabian. “Mealtime traditions should not be so quickly dismissed. Committing to sitting down and eating together can have a big impact on the health of our families and loved ones.” To help families host their own Sunday dinner, Home Instead Senior Care is offering several free resources including tips for how to involve older men and women in meal planning and preparation, pre and post-dinner activities, and recipes for easy, inexpensive meals all generations can enjoy. For more information, please go to SundayDinnerPledge.com. (Home Instead provided this information.)
Join the Facebook generation! The Grand Reserve at Elkhorn is offering a two-hour class on Facebook for just $20! The Grand Reserve at Elkhorn’s amenities include: • Standard cable • Stack washer & dryer • Walk-in showers & tubs with shower • 40-seat movie theater • Game room & lounge with library • Community room with outdoor fireplace • Exercise room • Private patios & balconies • 100% non-smoking • Two elevators • Small pet friendly • Secured areas with security cameras • Storm shelter
Thursday, July 23 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Computer experts from eSpark Media will teach you: • How to set up your Facebook page. • How to post information and photos to your Facebook page so you can keep in touch with family and friends around the world. Although it’s not required, bring your laptop computer or tablet if you have one. For more information or to register by Monday, July 20, please call Steve at 402-502-7565. After the class, you’re invited to stay for refreshments and to take a tour of
The Grand Reserve at Elkhorn A 55+ Calamar Community
3535 Piney Creek Drive • Elkhorn, NE 68022 (Just east of 204th and West Maple Road)
402-502-7565 www.calamar.com/elkhorn
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July 2015 events calendar 1 Shakespeare on the Green As You Like It Through July 5 Elmwood Park 8 p.m. FREE 402-280-2391
18 Brew at the Zoo Henry Doorly Zoo 7 to 10 p.m. $50, $55, and $60 402-738-2038 22 Dancing with the Stars Live Ralston Arena 7:30 p.m. $44.50 to $64.50 402-934-9966
4 Independence Day Celebration NewSong & Chris August With Michael Joiner Ralston Arena 6 p.m. $10 to $45 402-934-9966 9 Jazz on the Green Midtown Crossing 7:30 p.m. FREE 402-345-0606 10 Bridge Beats Lee Bowes Bob Kerrey Bridge 6 p.m. FREE 402-444-4640 11 Railroad Days Also July 12 Various locations 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. $15 for a family pass (2 adults & 2 children) 402-444-5071 14 Tempo of Twilight @ Lauritzen Gardens 6 p.m. $5 and $10 402-346-4002 17 RiverFest Community Festival Also July 18 Haywood Park (Bellevue) $1 402-898-3000
FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Through July 26 CenturyLink Center Omaha 24 Bridge Beats Gators Band Bob Kerrey Bridge 6 p.m. FREE 25 Wild, Wild, West Day Durham Museum 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $6 to $9 402-444-5071 26 Joslyn Castle Classic Car Show Joslyn Castle 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $10 402-595-2199 28 Tempo of Twilight @ Lauritzen Gardens 6 p.m. $5 and $10 402-346-4002 29 Omaha Days Through August 4 North Omaha www.nativeomahaclub.org
Law Offices of Charles E. Dorwart 33 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
Recognizing the signs of a stroke The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are encouraging people to learn the signs of stroke. While stroke can be preventable and treatable, it is the fifth leading killer in the United States. The sudden signs of stroke can be easy to recognize using F.A.S.T., which is: • Face dropping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven? • Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? • Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly? • Time: If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, it’s time to call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Quicker treatment can lead to a quicker recovery. Check the time so you’ll know when the first symptoms
appeared. Stroke victims need people who can recognize the signs of stroke, as rapid reaction can be the difference between full recovery and permanent damage. By learning the signs of stroke today, you could be a hero tomorrow, saving the life of someone who is experiencing a potentially deadly stroke emergency. You can download the free Spot a Stroke F.A.S.T. mobile app available on iTunes and Google Play, to use as a helpful resource in case of a stroke emergency. The app also provides stroke prevention information. Anyone can experience a stroke regardless of age so awareness is important for youth and adults. In the United States, about 795,000 people have a stroke every year, which is about one stroke every 40 seconds. One in 20 Americans die from a stroke each year. In 2010, worldwide prevalence of stroke was 33 million, with 16.9 million people having a first stroke. Stroke was the second-leading global cause of death that year behind heart disease, accounting for 11.13 percent of total deaths worldwide. Although heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases are 80 percent preventable with simple lifestyle changes including more physical activity and a healthier diet, 2,150 Americans die each day from heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association encourage people to recommit to the simple seven: get active, control cholesterol, eat better, manage blood pressure, lose weight, reduce blood sugar, and stop smoking. About 85.6 million Americans, many in Nebraska, are living with some form of cardiovascular disease or the after-effects of stroke. (For additional information on American Heart Association events in Nebraska, please contact Jamie Schneider at 402-810-6851.)
Confidence may help you avoid unhealthy behavior
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ear, insecurity, self-doubt, and the like can be the biggest obstacles many of us face in life. In order to overcome that negativity, many people turn to unhealthy behaviors such as overeating or alcohol abuse. “Compulsive or addictive behavior may temporarily numb that negativity, but it won’t put you on a healthy and wholesome path,” says Darlene Hunter, a renowned speaker and author of Win-Ability, Navigating through Life’s Challenges with a Winning Attitude. “While some people buy very expensive things to feel more confident, there’s an affordable way to yield the same result – positive thinking,” Hunter says. The power of positive thinking has been well publicized. Recently, the Dove beauty experiment, in which women wore a “beauty patch,” yielded multiple positive behaviors. Since then, hundreds of academic papers have been published in support of positive thinking. “Confidence starts with your attitude; expensive purchases aren’t required,” says Hunter, who maps a path supporting the living-with-confidence lifestyle. • Do what you love doing. What is that thing that you love doing? At the end of the day, would you miss doing it if you could never do it again? You get a great sense of accomplishment and joy when you do what you love doing or, as some say, what you were born to do. It could be baking, cooking, taking care of children, writing, drawing, dancing, any-
thing at all that makes you happy as you travel through your life. • Pursue your passion. Your passion is what you’ll do even if you don’t get paid for it. Following your passion allows you to gain skills in areas you’re already strong in, and will push you to become better. You’ll gain a great sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and joy in doing what you love and doing what you were born to do. Once you discover what you’re passionate about, it generally connects with your purpose. • Be true to yourself. Don’t set your career path in a certain direction based on what your friends or family members want for you. If you dream it, you can live it. Don’t let fear turn you around. It’s also important for you to be honest about your resources, skills, and abilities, what you have and what’s needed to help you move forward. Don’t think you have all of the answers. Be open to suggestions and advice from others who are already doing what you’re trying to do. • Stay the course; be resilient; never give up. No matter what you might be facing or the challenges that are ahead of you, as you move forward in your quest to accomplish your goals and dreams, you must stay the course. As you set forth to achieve your goals and dreams, you can’t be thin-skinned. You must be durable and strong with a determination that you’ll get to where you want to go. Quitting isn’t an option and failure isn’t a word you should use when you’re seeking to reach your goals and dreams.
July 2015
Dora Bingel Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • July 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, & 31: Ceramics @ 9 a.m. • July 1: Holy Communion served. • July 6, 13, 20, & 27: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m. • July 7, 14, 21, & 28: Grief Support Group @ 10: a.m. • July 15: Music by Joe Taylor with the Merrymakers @ 11:30 a.m. Lunch is $3. • July 15: Foot care clinic from 9 a.m. to noon for $10. • July 24: Hard of Hearing Support Group @ 10:30 a.m. • July 29: Birthday Party Luncheon @ noon. Eat free if you have a July 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: Matinee @ 12:30 p.m. and quilting @ 1 p.m. Wednesday: Devotions @ 10:30 a.m., Tai Chi @ 11 a.m., Bible study @ 1 p.m., and Bingo @ 1 p.m. Friday: Joy Club Devotions @ 9:30 a.m., Bible study @ 1 p.m., and Bingo @ 1 p.m. For more information, please call 402-898-5854.
Corrigan Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., this month for: • July 2: Independence Day celebration with a BBQ rib patty lunch and Bingo. Wear your red, white, and blue. Come early for 10 a.m. T’ai Chi and 11 a.m. chair volleyball. • July 2: WhyArts? painting classes with Kathleen Keller begin @ 10 a.m. Call 402-731-7210 to register. Paint and supplies are furnished. Stay for a delicious noon lunch. • July 8 & 29: Crafts with Anita. Create a beautiful feather and floral hat on Wednesday, July 8 and a wind chime on Wednesday, July 29. These are easy, fun crafts and no experience is necessary. Lunch and ceramics class will follow. • July 13: The Art of Aging series begins @ 11 a.m. An apple glazed pork cutlet or a turkey with Monterey Jack cheese chef salad lunch will be served at noon. • July 16: Annual indoor picnic @ 11 a.m. featuring dancing and the Red Raven Polka Band. Lil’ Willy’s is catering a delicious fried chicken lunch at noon with potato salad, baked beans, a tossed salad, a dinner roll, and ice cream for $7. Stay for Bingo after the meal. The reservation deadline is noon on Friday, July 10. • July 20: Birthday party with music by Michael Lyon from the Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. Order a noon lunch of sweet and sour chicken with fried rice or a roast beef and cheddar cheese chef salad. Bingo following lunch. The center will be closed on July 3 for the Independence Day celebration. 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.
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Millard Senior Center
The art of communicating with your spouse
You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., for the following: • July 2: Independence Day celebration featuring a singalong to patriotic songs and ice cream after lunch. • July 21: The staff and participants will share their talents during an America’s Got Talent program. The center will be closed on Friday, July 3. On quilting day (Thursdays @ 9 a.m.) we’ll have a quilt with 20 squares. Participants will get a new 10-inch block every two weeks. We’ll supply the sewing machines and the fabric. The Millard Senior Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30. A $3.50 donation (free on your birthday) is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. Center activities include a walking club @ 8 a.m. (join and get a free t-shirt), Mahjongg on Wednesdays @ 1 p.m., Tai Chi class (Mondays and Fridays from 10 to 10:45 a.m. for a $1 suggested donation), chair volleyball (Tuesdays and Thursdays @ 10 a.m.), card games, and Bingo (Tuesdays and Fridays @ noon). During Bingo, we have baked goodies from Baker’s or Panera to give away as prizes. For meal reservations and more information, please call 402-546-1270.
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.
Motorcoach “Godspell” at the Lofte. July 19. $99. Composed of various musical parables from The Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus Christ recruits a group of followers and teaches them lessons through song and dance. The show is followed by a delicious dinner at the Main Street Café in Louisville. Michigan Lakeshores & Resorts. September 19 – 25. $1449. Explore Michigan’s east lakeshores and resort towns including the Saugatuck Art and Craft Galleries, guided sand dune buggy ride, Holland Windmill Island Gardens, dinner cruise on Lake Michigan aboard the Holland Princess, Castle Farms in Charlevoix, Mushroom Houses guided tour, Music House Museum, private tall ship sail in Grand Traverse Bay, Old Mission Peninsula guided tour, Grand Traverse Winery and Wine Tasting, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, The Cherry Republic—largest cherry store in the world – Silver Beach Carousel & Amusement Park Museum, and two nights (and a full day to relax) at the Marina Grand Resort. Branson Christmas. November 9 – 12. $729. ($689 before 8/9/15.) Enjoy SIX–The Knudsen Brothers, Dixie Stampede, Shoji Tabuchi, Pierce Arrow, Dublin’s Irish Tenors with the Celtic Ladies, Mickey Gilley, and the Trail of Lights, as well as Landry’s Seafood House. (Call by August 9.) “Dear Santa” at the Lofte. December 13. $99. ($89 before 9/13/15.) This play is composed of a number of short scenes that range from the hilarious to the touching. Many views of Santa are seen including from the point of view of the child who alphabetizes her Christmas list and sends it out in August as well as that of children at various stages of belief—and disbelief. The show is ollowed by another delicious dinner at the Main Street Café in Louisville. (Call by September 13.) Kansas City Christmas. December 2 - 3. TBD. Enjoy “Out of Order” at the newly remodeled New Theater Restaurant, Webster House holiday lunch. We’re working on more holiday surprises!
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arried couples should have plenty to say to each other, but research says communication is one of the issues they struggle with the most. Part of the problem may be communication is a two-way street, requiring both partners to do it well. And some subjects are more ticklish than others to bring up. “Healthy couple communication is not just about expressing your needs, but also about being an active listener and desiring to understand your partner’s perspective,” says Dr. Anne Brennan Malec, clinical psychologist, marriage and family therapist, and author of the book Marriage in Modern Life: Why It Works, When It Works. For couples, she says, communication is like oxygen. The relationship needs it to stay alive. “Couples never come into my office and say, ‘We are talking way too much,’” Dr. Malec says. “It is always, ‘We have a problem with communication.’” That rarely means they shut each other out completely, Dr. Malec says. They talk, but often they sidestep what’s really troubling them. “Couples sometimes avoid difficult conversations and conflicts because they fear it will turn ugly,” Dr. Malec says. She says when it comes to communicating, there are a few traps to watch out for and some effective strategies to employ. • Getting passive-aggressive. Some people act out their feelings instead of talking about them. That’s called being passiveaggressive and as a relationship strategy it ranks near the bottom, Dr. Malec says. “You say one thing and do another, or worse, you say nothing but roll your eyes or sigh dramatically,” she says. “This communicates judgment and contempt, which is disrespectful to your partner.” People usually act passive-aggressively because discussing their thoughts, feelings, and opinions makes them uncomfortable or seems too risky. “I see it all the time,” Dr. Malec says. “A partner agrees to do something they have no intention of doing just to get the spouse to stop nagging.” Passive-aggressive habits foster distance between partners so it’s absolutely neces-
sary to replace them with healthier communication strategies to restore the connection. • Assuming your partner is psychic. Sometimes spouses don’t communicate their needs or desires because they expect their partner to somehow know. “Expecting your partner to know intuitively what you want without saying it sets your partner up to fail,” Dr. Malec says. “None of us are mind readers.” It’s far more effective, and people stand a much greater chance of getting their needs met when they learn to share their thoughts directly. • Checking in. Communication often devolves into a heated argument over the family’s latest crisis, or involves the resurrection of old grievances. But communicating should be a way to head off problems instead of causing them, and can be if the right steps are taken, Dr. Malec says. She encourages clients to have at least a 20-minute daily check-in. This is a time to catch up on the day’s events and talk about what’s coming up the next day. • Addressing the bigger picture. In addition to short daily check-ins, couples should schedule weekly sessions to discuss bigger-picture items. That might include financial goals, work issues, or parenting concerns, Dr. Malec says. Some couples do better if the agenda is set ahead of time. “A spoken agenda works fine for a lot of people,” she says. “But conflict-ridden couples may need a written agenda to stay focused and keep the conversation running smoothly.” If necessary, use a clock to ensure equal talking time. Partners also can use an object such as a spoon or a book that’s passed back and forth to indicate whose turn it is to speak. Dr. Malec says that will help keep the couple centered and reduce the likelihood of either partner becoming overheated. Partners are more willing to engage in a conversation if they know they will have a chance to be heard. “For many of us, our natural instinct is to avoid situations that feel complicated and confrontational,” Dr. Malec says. “But keeping and maintaining a successful marriage depends on learning how to fight the ‘avoidance’ instinct and discuss difficult issues.”
Laughlin Laughlin in July. July 5 - 9. $259. Includes non-stop, round-trip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, four nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport. You will also be able to enjoy, at your option, the “Beatles vs. Stones – A Musical Shootout” show performed at Harrah’s during your stay.
RSVP
In Partnership with Collette Vacations
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy, and do not include airfare. More destinations are available! Classic Danube. 11 days from $3349. Features a seven-night Danube River Cruise visiting Wurzburg, Rothenburg, Munich, and Passau in Germany, Wachau Valley, Emmersdorf, and Vienna in Austria, Bratislava in Slovakia, and Budapest in Hungary. 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. Alaska Discovery Land & Cruise. 13 days from $3069. Featuring a seven-night Princess Cruise, you will visit Anchorage, Mt. McKinley, and Denali National Park, ride a luxury domed railcar to Whittier to board the Princess ship, cruise past the Hubbard Glacier, through Glacier Bay, to Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, through the Inside Passage, and into Vancouver, then fly home from Seattle. Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule. Our mailing address is: 2008 W. Broadway #329, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51501
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The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is recruiting persons age 55 and older for a variety of opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-444-6536, ext. 224. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402721-7780. The following have volunteer opportunities in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass
counties: • The Disabled American Veterans need volunteer drivers. • The Douglas County Civic Center/Hall of Justice wants volunteers to host tours. • The American Cancer Society is looking for volunteers to assist walk in guests and for other duties. • Bergan Mercy Medical Center is looking for volunteers to help in several areas. • Rebuilding Together wants volunteers to work on home projects. • Catholic Charities Christ Child Center North wants volunteers to help older adults with crafts, outings, and other activities.
• The Livingston Plaza Apartments need a volunteer teacher. • HELP Adult Services is looking for family care companions. The following have a volunteer opportunity in Dodge and/or Washington County: • The Blair and Fremont Car-Go Program needs volunteer drivers. • The Fremont Friendship Center wants volunteers to facilitate classes. • The Danish American Archive Library needs volunteers to help with its archives. • The American Red Cross (Dodge County chapter) is looking for volunteers for a variety of duties.
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July 2015
Survey: Young physicians more likely to Some facts about poison ivy seasons change so do the types of calls coming work for someone else than go at it alone intoAsthetheNebraska Regional Poison Center. This is a good
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oung medical doctors have apparently lost interest in going solo. A recent survey of doctorsin-training in their final year of residency showed that just 2 percent want a go-it-alone practice. Instead, their goal is to seek balance between their private and professional lives by working for someone else such as a hospital, clinic, or large group practice, according to the survey by MerrittHawkins, a physician staffing firm. It wasn’t always that way. A mixture of technological advances, health insurance payment models, corporate-business models, and other factors have brought drastic changes to the medical profession that have been building for decades, says J. Joseph Marr, author of the book Fall From Grace: A Physician’s Retrospective on the Past Fifty Years of Medicine and the Impact of Social Change. “People of my vintage went into medicine for what seemed to be all the right reasons,” says Marr, a retired physician. “We expected to work long hours, to be at the call of someone in distress, to sacrifice youth to gain knowledge and experience, and to sacrifice time with family to alleviate the suffering of others.” Marr says selfless philosophy makes it all the more puzzling why his generation of doctors allowed health care to evolve into an industry more concerned about profits and quarterly earnings than patient care. “I think the trend probably began in the early 1960s when physicians declined the opportunity to take an active role in the management of hospitals and health care,” Marr says. “Instead, they hired administrators to do that work and did not pay close attention to the results. That was just the beginning of the shift, though. Over time, the groundwork was laid for the practice of medicine to be controlled by the reimbursement polices of insurance companies and corporate business practices. Physicians lost control of the health care system and became managers of therapeutic teams. “Today there is a decreasing emphasis on self-sacrifice and individualism, and an increase in group practice or organizational medicine where hours are predictable,” Marr says. “You can’t necessarily blame young doctors for the decisions they are making. It’s just been the natural progression of things.” Marr says until the profit motive is purged from medicine, any talk and action to improve the health-care system will be of little or no benefit. He says there are barriers to the needed changes happening,
though, such as: • Health care as an industry comprises 18 percent of the gross domestic product. “No one will tamper with it for fear of uncomfortable or egregious economic fallout,” Marr says. “It could have been done during the formation of the Affordable Care Act, but it was not. In fact, the behavior of Congress during this charade demonstrates the difficulty of creating the changes that will make a better system for consumers. No politician will touch this.” • There are far too many stakeholders in the current system to consider shutting it down or even to make large changes. Many industries support healthcare organizations with day-to-day services and supplies. Other industries create, provide, and manage the increasingly complex technology used in health care.
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ntire educational systems, from medical schools to community colleges that train lower-level technical and nursing staff, are engaged in supporting the system. The insurance industry that manages payments is an enormous employer that’s responsible for driving up the cost of care, Marr says. Finally, he says, the individuals employed in all of the above are dependent upon the continued functioning of this “out-of-control creation” for their livelihoods. All is not pessimistic in the world of medicine, Marr says. Technological advances have helped both patients and doctors by providing the tools and knowledge to diagnose disease more accurately and treat it more efficiently. So while some of the human touch in the doctor/patient relationship is gone, which Marr bemoans, the importance of better patient outcomes shouldn’t be dismissed. “Although I find a personal healthcare visit to be a sterile interaction, I cannot deny it is more efficient and more effective than the medicine we practiced. Our model has gone and another has taken its place.”
Sarpy County Museum More than 75 quilts will be on display at the Sarpy County Museum, 2402 Clay St. in Bellevue through Saturday, Aug. 15 as a part of the Great Sarpy County Quilt Exhibit. The museum is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, go to www. sarpymuseum.org or contact the Sarpy County Museum at 402-292-1880 or info@sarpycountymuseum.org.
time to review some information about common summertime poison ivy. Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac can release a substance called urushiol when the leaves or other parts of the plant are damaged or burned. Almost 85 percent of people exposed to the oil will have an allergic reaction. It only takes a small amount of oil to cause a reaction. Typically there will be an itchy, red rash with bumps and blisters. Poison ivy isn’t contagious unless you spread the oil from person to person. Keep in mind pets can carry the oil from the plant on their fur and pass the oil to any human coming in contact with them. Garden tools and sporting equipment should always be rinsed off after use. The urushiol can linger for years on a surface if it isn’t washed off with water. The poison ivy rash doesn’t spread to other parts of the body unless you haven’t washed properly and have the oil still on your hands or under your fingernails. Here are some tips for dealing with poison ivy: • Recognize what poison ivy looks like: “Leaves of three let them be” or “1, 2, 3 let it be” are catchy phrases to help you remember. Wash your hands with soap and cool water as soon as possible if you come in contact with poison ivy. • Wear long sleeves and pants and impermeable gloves when working in areas you think may have poison ivy. • Wash any exposed clothing immediately. • Wash garden tools and gloves often. • Don’t scratch your rash as it can cause an infection. • Lukewarm baths with a colloidal oatmeal preparation may help relieve the itching. • Applying cool compresses, calamine lotion, or hydrocortisone cream may also help to relieve the itchy skin. • Contact the poison center at 1-800-222-1222 if you have any questions about poison ivy. (The Douglas County Health Department provided this information.)
NEED A BREAK? Are you caring for a loved one with special needs such as a developmental or physical disability or a chronic health concern? Could you use a break to relax, go to church, go grocery shopping, visit a friend, or see a movie?
Call us at 402-996-8444
to learn more about respite care (short-term relief).
Partnerships in Caregiving, Inc.
Covering the Eastern Region of the Lifespan Respite Network
Third Tuesday of the month programs continue
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he University of Nebraska Medical Center’s EngAge Wellness program and The Art of Aging are co-sponsoring a series of free programs the third Tuesday of each month through November. The 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. presentations will be held at the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging, 38th Avenue and Leavenworth Street.
Here’s the schedule: • July 21: Memory Changes: What’s Normal and What’s Not with Barb Bayer, APRN, from UNMC. • Aug. 18: Swallowed by A Snake — Everyone Grieves with Joy Johnson, founder of Centering Corporation and Ted E. Bear Hollow. • Sept. 15: Age to Age: When Do We Need a Geriatrician? With Elizabeth Har-
low, M.D., from UNMC. • Oct. 20: On the Move! Successfully Getting from One Home to Another with Mike Fujan of True North. • Nov. 17: Home for the Holidays: A Recipe for Peace with Diane Hendricks from UNMC. To register or for more information, please call 402-552-7210 or log on the Internet to www.artofaginginc.com.
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Support group for widows, widowers
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HEOS, a group for older widows and widowers, meets at 6 p.m. the second Monday of each month at the Presbyterian Church of the Cross, 1517 S. 114th St. The organization offers weekend activities, Wednesday night dinners, and pinochle twice a month. For more information, please call Dorothy at 402399-0759, Mary at 402-3933052, or Joan at 402-3938931. VOTES WANTED PLEASE GO TO
www.lightthebridge.org 100% non-profit addressing hunger VOTES TO DATE • For: 2,569 • Against: 90 • Please vote today to address hunger.
Camelot Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center inside the Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave., for the following: • July 1: Candy crafts @ 10:15 a.m. • July 2: Independence Day celebration. • July 7 & 14: Puzzles @ 10:15 a.m. • July 7, 14, 21, & 28: Tap class @ 1:30 p.m. • July 8: Birthday bash. • July 9: Book club @ 10:15 a.m. • July 10, 17, 24, & 31: Walking club @ 10:15 a.m. • July 13: Chair volleyball @ 10:30 a.m. • July 15: Music by Michael Lyon from the Merrymakers @ 11:45 a.m. • July 22: Presentation by Carole Lainhoff @ 11:45 a.m. • July 24: Movie day @ 12:45 p.m. • July 30: Garden club @ 10:15 a.m. The facility will be closed on July 3 for Independence Day. Other activities include Bingo, pinochle, card games, other games, crafts, 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 donation 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.
Read it & eat By Lois Friedman readitandeat@yahoo.com
Popular summertime recipes Summertime and the living is easy. And easy living is all about the pleasures of delicious eating, pleasing cookbooks, and recipes for sharing with family and friends. Ample Hills Creamery By Brian Smith & Jackie Cuscuna (Abrams, $24.95) If your summer plans don’t include heading to this Brooklyn ice cream shop, check out this cookbook to make these 54 ice cold ooey gooey treats at home. From Chronicle Books:
Eggs on Top By Andrea Slonecker ($24.95) The best fast food featured in two parts of this charming cookbook. Part I: Let’s Get Cracking highlights classic techniques. Part II: Things to Put Eggs On features six chapters of what you can top with eggs. Waffles By Dawn Yanagihara ($16.95) More than 30 recipes for sweet and savory waffles, which are descendents of wafers made in the Middle Ages. Childhood memories for wafflephiles and others who love how they soak up butter and syrup. Done By James Peterson ($27.50) The award-winning writer has compiled this “cook’s guide to knowing when food is perfectly cooked” when 85 foods from Artichokes to Zabaglione are done perfectly! Harvest By Max Watman (W.W. Norton, $15.95) Join this culinary exploration along with Bubbles, his steer, and “The Girls,” his chickens, in this memoir of the recording of his adventures in his “far-flung pursuit of real food.” Watman writes of the year he spent trying to eat dishes only made from scratch with friends and family. The Animal Farm Buttermilk Cookbook By Diane St. Clair (Andrews McMeel, $27.99) The elixir of the gods...history, folklore, uses, and beneficial qualities of buttermilk. The recipes are for breakfast to desserts in nine chapters. Try this recipe to update Waldorf salad, on fruit or green salad, or as a dip for fruits and veggies. Buttermilk Curry Dressing (Makes a generous 1/2 cup)
1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt 1/4 cup buttermilk 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon mild curry powder 1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest Whisk together all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Fire Department will install free smoke, carbon monoxide detectors
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he Omaha Fire Department’s Public Education and Affairs Department is available to install free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors inside the residences of area homeowners. To have a free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detector installed inside your home, send your name, address, and telephone number to: Omaha Fire Department Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Requests 10245 Weisman Dr. Omaha, NE 68134 For more information, please call 402-444-3560.
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Study examining green tea benefits
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ccording to the National Institutes of Health, Alzheimer’s disease may affect as many as 5.5 million Americans. Scientists are seeking treatments and therapies found in common foods that will help stave off the disease or prevent it completely. University of Missouri researchers have determined a compound found in green tea, combined with voluntary exercise, slows the progression of the disease in mice and may reverse its effects. Further study of the commonly found extract could lead to advancements in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. “Symptoms can include increased memory loss and confusion, agitation, and a lack of concern for your environment and surroundings,” said Todd Schachtman, a professor of psychological sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences at MU. “We looked at ways of preventing or postponing the onset of the disease which we hope can eventually lead to an improvement of health status and quality of life for the elderly.” Increases in inflammation have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease patients and recent studies have suggested the benefits of dietary antioxidants in reducing the risk of AD. Based on previous research conducted at Mizzou, researchers decided to investigate the effects of voluntary exercise and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a green tea extract, on memory function and
A-beta levels in mice known to show plaque deposits and behavior deficits. First, mice were placed in the center of a specialized maze and allowed to move around with the aim of finding the right hole or “goal box.” Schachtman and his research team, including Jennifer Walker, a graduate student in psychology, and Agnes Simonyi, research associate professor in biochemistry, watched the mice to determine whether they could find the goal box, demonstrating memory and cognition. In the second test, small “nestlets,” or squares containing materials to create nests, were placed in the habitats for different groups of mice. A day later, nests were scored based on shape and the amount of material used. “Mice exhibiting symptoms of the disease had nests that were poorly formed or erratic,” said Schachtman. “Further, we found mice with Alzheimer’s symptoms, much like people, can be apathetic about their habitat, or have forgotten how to ‘nest’ appropriately.” Researchers then administered EGCG in the drinking water of the mice and gave them access to running or exercise wheels. After re-administering the maze and nesting tests, they found remarkable improvements in the cognitive function and retention in the Alzheimer’s affected mice that were given EGCG and were allowed to exercise. Finally, a team of biochemists led by Grace Sun, professor emerita of biochemistry in the School of Medicine and the College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources at MU, analyzed mouse brain tissues to determine the effects of EGCG and exercise on A-beta levels in affected regions of the brain. “Oral administration of the extract, as well as voluntary exercise, improved some of the behavioral manifestations and cognitive impairments of Alzheimer’s,” said Sun, who also serves as the director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Program at MU funded by the National Institutes of Health. “We also are excited to see a decrease in A-beta levels in the brains of the affected mice as well as improvements in behavior deficits in mice with AD.” Consumption of natural products as potential remedies to prevent and treat diseases and to maintain human health is an ancient one, said Sun. Future studies of green tea extracts and other botanicals, also known as nutraceuticals, are being explored at MU and through collaborations with other international institutions. (The University of Missouri provided this information.)
Heartland Intergeneration Center You’re invited to visit the Heartland Intergeneration Center, – 4318 Fort St. – for the following: • July 2: Watch the movie American Sniper. • July 7, 14, & 21: WhyArts? projects with Youth Links. • July 8: Birthday party with musical entertainment by Michael Lyon from the Merrymakers. • July 16: Presentation by a Master Gardener. • July 23: Watch the movie Still Alice. • July 23: Cottage BBQ. • July 30: Presentation by Melissa Brooks on living wills and powers of attorney. The center will be closed July 3 for Independence Day. The 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. Transportation is available within select neighborhoods for 50 cents each way. Regular activities include Tai Chi classes (Tuesday and Thursday @ 10:15 a.m.), a walking club (Monday and Thursday @ 10:15 a.m.), Bingo (Wednesday @ 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and Friday @ 10:30 a.m.), crafts, cards, games, speakers, and musical programs. For meal reservations or more information, please call 402-553-5300.
Fremont Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field), this month for the following: • July 1: News with Nye @ 10 a.m. followed by music with Wally Wolfe. • July 15: Line dance lessons @ 9:30 a.m. followed by music with Johnny Ray Gomez @10:30 a.m. • July 22: Line dance lessons @ 9:30 a.m. Board meeting at 9:30 a.m. Music with Al Knoell @ 10:30 a.m. • July 29: Tuba and accordion music by Ron Schulzkump and Dennis @10:30 a.m. • July 30: The Happy Players Youth Polka band @ 10:30 a.m. For a full schedule of events, please go to www.fremont.ne.gov. 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 donation is suggested for lunch. Reservations must be made by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. For meal reservations and more information, please call Laurie at 402-727-2815.
Introducing
Series of programs for caregivers of persons with dementia begins Sept. 9 A free educational series of programs that will help caregivers of persons with dementia understand how to provide the best possible care for their loved ones will be offered this fall. Called Learning to Live with Dementia, the presentations focus on the various types of dementia and how to manage symptoms. The series takes place Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, and Dec. 9 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Servite Center of Compassion, 7400 Military Ave. To register, contact Sister Margaret Stratman at 402-951-3026 or scc@osms.org. Registration is limited so persons who sign up are asked to attend all four sessions. The four components of the program are: • Dementia basics focusing on four types of dementia. • Mystery and reality of living with dif-
ferent dementias covering the symptoms, behaviors, and preserved skills of the four types of dementia. • Person-centered care discusses the importance of short-term and long-term individual planning for both the caregiver and the care receiver. • Compassionate care outlines resources available for support and talks about the Compassionate Journey. “Taking care of a person with dementia presents unique challenges, and this series provides caregivers with helpful information and also provides a forum for caregivers to learn from and support each other,” said Nancy Flaherty, president of Flaherty Senior Consulting. For more information, contact Nancy Flaherty at 402-312-9324 or log on the Internet to flahertyconsulting@cox.net.
July 2015
• Companionship • Light housekeeping • Cooking • Grocery shopping/Errands • Personal hygiene/Care • Personalized transportation • And more… “Empowering the individuals we serve to live life to the fullest.”
Toll free: 844-44-EMPOWER or 844-443-6769 www.empowerhomecare.com
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David, Josie have led a life of educating, dancing, advocating
Jamie Burmeister, a graduate student of David Corbin’s, created this sculpture titled, David and Josie. By Leo Adam Biga Contributing Writer
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osie Metal-Corbin and David E. Corbin are aware not everyone is as fortunate as they are in being able to passionately follow their work. Their magnificent obsession happens to be health, physical education, dance, and, more broadly speaking, the humanities. They were already married and established in their respective fields when they joined the University of Nebraska at Omaha staff in 1980, where during the next four decades Josie and David pursued their professional lives. Today, they look back fondly on distinguished educational careers that often intersected with one another. A soon to be retired dance educator and choreographer, Josie led UNO’s award-winning resident dance troupe, The Moving Company, whose concerts explore myriad subjects in diverse spaces. David’s an emeritus professor of health education and public health who led many community health initiatives and is now an environmental activist. Besides their mutual interest in health education and recreation, they share in common a passion for performance – she’s a dancer and he’s a musician – along with art, activism, and advocacy. In addition to being each other’s favorite dance partner, he’s often accompanied, on guitar, performances she’s danced in or directed-choreographed. David has even danced with The Moving
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Company himself. The two actually met over dance – at a Brigham Young University social ballroom dance workshop in Provo, Utah. He came to the workshop from Saskatchewan, Canada, where he was teaching at the University of Regina. She traveled there from back east, where she was teaching at Robert Morris University in her native Pittsburgh. They both actively promote healthy aging through activities like dance and Tai Chi and they use their expertise to support progressive, humanist causes.
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arried 38 years and residing in the same Dundee house they’ve shared throughout their marriage, Josie and David are parents to a daughter, Quinn Corbin. She describes her folks as “an incredibly inspiring couple,” adding, “They always follow their passion and work incredibly hard while still taking the time to meditate every day as well as view life through a positive yet realistic lens. They both care for so many others and are heavily involved in the community.” Quinn’s parents are friends, colleagues, and collaborators within a large circle of fellow creative artists and concerned citizens. These Omaha transplants were both teaching in Pittsburgh when they accepted offers from UNO. He was completing his Ph.D. and she was following him wherever he landed. David weighed options in Boston and Indiana when jobs
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Josie Metal-Corbin and David Corbin, her husband for 38 years, dance in the living room of their Dundee-area home. serendipitously opened for each at UNO. Before Omaha, Corbin never lived anywhere longer than eight years. His educator parents moved the family from Ohio to New Mexico when he was young and he came into his adolescence in that sun-swept and desert land, living on a ranch in a small Sandia Mountains town. His folks taught at a tworoom schoolhouse. David attended a school 18 miles from home. He often rode into town on one of the family’s horses. Before David’s senior year, his parents accepted positions at an American school on a U.S. military base at Fort Buchanan in Puerto Rico. That’s where Corbin graduated from high school. After getting his teaching degree at the University of New Mexico he returned to Puerto Rico to make his living as a teacher and musician. Music’s been a big part of his life since age 12. As a young man Corbin’s father played bass in touring bands. When the folk and rock explosion struck David, his father gave him his first guitar lessons. David headed up a band during high school in New Mexico. A popular song then, El Matador, by the Kingston Trio was naturally adopted as the fight song for his school, nicknamed the Matadors. David’s group performed the tune before basketball games. His band’s gigs extended to ski resorts. “We didn’t get paid. We got room and board and free lift tickets. We
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didn’t care,” he recalls of those freespirited adventures. David led a band all through college at UNM. “After college I became solo in Puerto Rico. I worked on cruise ships and I was teaching by day and playing by night in bars.” A teetotaler, Corbin never imbibed at those nightspots, but he was burning the candle at both ends. “Looking back, I wonder why in the world was I doing that? After working a full school day I’d get home at 4 p.m., take a nap, go to work at 10 to sing and play guitar, get off at 2 a.m., and then have to be back at school at 7:30.” Even though his parents were educators, David says it was really his older brother Charles “Chuck” Corbin, a noted fitness-wellness educator and author, who influenced him to pursue a physical education track. After Puerto Rico, David’s roaming began again. He studied at the University of Oslo (Norway), taught in Fort Worth, Texas, earned his Master’s degree from the University of Ohio, taught in Maryland, lectured in Canada, and attended an intensive course on human sexuality at the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. Josie, meanwhile, rarely left Pennsylvania before Corbin came into her life. Her father was a coal miner turned hobo hell-bent on being a lumberjack before contracting tuberculosis. He then learned the craft --Please turn to page 11.
Josie’s brought dance to all ages, races, languages, religions --Continued from page 10. of fine motor watchmaking and clock making. Metal-Corbin’s father and mother raised the family in an undeveloped Pittsburgh suburb that was more like the country. The eldest of three children, Josie led adventures in “these great woods behind our house.” But it was work, not play, combined with a self-sufficient attitude that was most impressed upon Josie by her folks. “Work, work, and work. We were the Metal girls and we could do anything – this was the philosophy. We went hunting and fishing, we skinned rabbits, (and) we chopped off cement from bricks so my father could salvage brick.” Running parallel to that blue collar, tomboy lifestyle was the dance lessons Josie took from age 3 on. “This Metal girl had an unbelievable opportunity. The Carnegie Museum of Art had this wonderful program called the Tam O’Shanters. Kids from the public schools were selected to come every Saturday for free. I did that from third grade through high school, by which time we were going to the Carnegie Mellon Institute of Art. So I had free art lessons. I saw different exhibitions. It introduced me to this whole other world. It was really amazing.” That experience is so ingrained in Josie, she says, “When I go to museums or older institutions to get a drink from the old brass fountains it just all floods back.” One of the highlights of Metal-Corbin’s life came when the Durham Museum in Omaha asked her to be a scholar in residence, she says. Fine art and higher education were not part of her parents’ experience and she appreciates that these things became a vital part of her life. “I was first generation college,” she says. “I went to Slippery Rock Sate College (in Pennsylvania). I actually played soccer on a sheep field there. I was always in dance. Dance then was part of physical education. Now you go to study dance. Then I went to the University of Pittsburgh (for her Master’s degree). I taught three
David and Josie in front of a beautiful waterfall during a vacation in Iceland.
years in the public schools – health and physical education – and did dance and choreography. Then I went to Robert Morris, where I founded Orchesis (the Greek word for dance).” UNO’s dance company was originally called Orchesis after a nationwide modern dance movement and honorary society. Metal-Corbin stretched herself while at Robert Morris. “Not only did I found the dance company, I joined folk dancers from Duquesne University as an itinerant grad school teacher for Penn State University. I coached varsity basketball for women. I was the softball director, (and) I was the cheerleader sponsor. I did a million things there.” Once she came to UNO, Metal-Corbin contributed to The Moving Company’s long legacy. “I’ve been involved in the work of carrying on a tradition of modern dance at UNO that goes back to 1935. We’re in our 80th year of continued existence, which makes us one of the oldest modern dance university companies on the planet.” The Moving Company has had four directors – Ruth Diamond Levinson, Aileene Lockhart, Vera Lundhahl, and Josie Metal-Corbin.
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ringing dance to people and places that don’t often see the art is one of Josie’s passions. She’s done that as a Nebraska Arts Council Artist in Schools and Communities and via the Moving Company, whose mission, she says, is community oriented. “We were doing community engagement before it became the byword of institutions.” Indoors or outdoors, kids and older adults, Josie’s made dance accessible everywhere and for everyone. “We invite the community. When I came to UNO I wanted to see the dancers and the audience reflect north, south, east, and west Omaha. I worked for a very long time to get diversity of audience and performers and today we are diverse in age, religion, language, race; you name it. That is, I think, my biggest accomplishment.” Metal-Corbin has done outreach work with the Omaha International Folk Dancers and the African Culture Connection. She’s worked with a local ballroom dance group. She also formed Reach for It, a dance class for people with Parkinson’s disease. Her interest in dance as a cultural rite, symbol, and storytelling device found full expression in a native Bosnian dance-inspired piece she choreographed. The performance was accompanied by authentic music and projected images of the Bosnian-Serb War. Among the dancers and musicians were Bosnian refugees living in Omaha. “I love collaborations, I thrive on collaborations, I always have from day one in my teaching career. You see, dance is very ecumenical. Dance is physics, dance is force, gravity, weight, flow, and time, so connecting it to science in any way is a natural connection. We’ve done the water cycle dance, (and) the spider dance. “There’s an easy connection to math with patterns and forms and shapes. There’s most definitely a connection to fine art, to music, to language arts.” Josie says “dance is very universal” but American culture doesn’t readily see its broad integration until someone like her choreographs a site-specific work where you least expect it. “A recent book I published a chapter in is about site-specific dance. I illustrate how you can have dance on bridges, in the middle of water, (and) on mountaintops. There’s vertical dancing now where people are hooked up on rigs and they do the mountain or climbing wall.” Some of her favorite site-specific work has intersected with some of the area’s most sublime
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spots. “The first meaningful site-specific piece I did here was with artist Catherine Ferguson, storyteller Nancy Duncan, and musician Michael Fitzsimmons. We did it in a Joslyn Art Museum gallery with words, music, and dance within a Catherine Ferguson installation of slate and rope. Then we did something through the galleries at the Sheldon Art Museum in Lincoln with works by artist Jamie Burmeister.”
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etal-Corbin recalls another Joslyn performance that brought nontraditional dancers together for a piece that took some improvising. “In 2005 The Moving Company was commissioned to respond to an exhibition, Renaissance to Rococo. I wanted the dance performed in the galleries among the works of art but was denied permission due to security issues. Our performance was relegated to the Witherspoon Concert Hall. I was disappointed but richly rewarded with the premiere of a piece I made for five physical education majors. They were future teacher candidates learning ways of integrating dance, language arts, and sign language into the physical education setting. “A quarterback, a coach, an assistant at Boys Town, and two K-12 physical education majors made their dancing debut, much to the amazement of their peers. Although the site was a traditional stage to our Moving Company dancers, it was a very unexplored place to these newcomers. In this new environment they learned to navigate space, time, effort, and relationships on a stage versus on a playing field.” A few years earlier Josie assembled dancers at UNO to serve as models for sculptor John Lajba and his commission to create what became The Road to Omaha bronze sculpture for the College World Series. “Lajba and a photographer came to the UNO Dance Lab and worked with dancers as they performed combinations of running, jumping, --Please turn to page 12.
Josie and David dance at the Glacier Creek Preserve near Bennington.
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David expanding his interests in music, travel, writing, nature --Continued from page 11. and lifting. Lajba used photos of the dancers as departure points for maquettes and ultimately some dancers sat for wax casts,” Metal-Corbin says. Then there’s her work for and in the great outdoors. “Two times we did a dance on the Glacier Creek Preserve,” she notes. Northwest of Omaha near Bennington, this topographically diverse nature preserve is dedicated to the study and appreciation of the tall grass prairie and associated ecosystems of eastern Nebraska. “The first prairie dance was based on a poem. It came out of an environmental presentation I did at Kaneko (Omaha art project). Then when the preserve’s barn was dedicated we performed in the loft. David played music for it.” Josie describes how a public byway became a medium for dance. “Last year we did a dance along the full length of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. The theme was the fragility of U.S. waterways and our performance was synched with performances by dancers across the nation at 3 o’clock on April 6 to bring attention to the issue.”
Quinn Corbin grew up expecting the unexpected with her parents. “At times them dancing in the aisles of the supermarket or singing loudly on the street corners in New York City was embarrassing but I’ve always pretty much embraced it as have my friends.” Retired or not, Josie’s spontaneity to break out in dance will never go away as long as she can still move. Even when she stopped concert dancing more than a decade ago, teaching still brought out the performer in Metal-Corbin. “When I’m teaching I also am performing. Every teacher who is a good educator is looking for a performance level. So every time I go into that classroom or studio I humbly feel I have a captive audience and I’m pulling out all the tricks in the book to engage people.
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avid Corbin has his own recognized body of work separate from Josie. They respect that they are their own persons, professionally and otherwise. “We’re two independent people,” Josie says. “We don’t speak for each other and people have honored that because I think we’ve kind of insisted on it. I’m not Mrs. Corbin. I have a hyphenated last name. I have my own professional title. He has his own professional title. David has his teaching, his writing, and all these other initiatives that retirement allowed him to expand.” Corbin confirms he’s a man of varied interests, saying, “I have many passions. Certainly teaching and advocacy are among them. But I also enjoy music, nature, travel, and reading.” Writing, too. He’s authored or
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s she retires, Metal-Corbin’s pleased UNO is going to carry on the dance company with an interim director. Josie says while she’s stepping out of the field, she’ll always remain a part of dance. “I don’t want to say that I’m through. I am a dancer, I’ll be dancing in my kitchen, I’ll be on the highways and byways dancing, but it’s not going to be these huge events. I am setting boundaries. There are other people that can do this now. I’ve done it and it takes a lot of energy. I now want to take my energy and put it somewhere else. “I’m not fading away. I am leaping and stepping out and landing – I don’t know where. We will see what kind of a landing it will be. I’m OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), and so it’s unlike me not to know what the next step is.” There are still bound to be those whimsical moments, at home or in public, when the mood strikes and she, and sometimes David, too, trip the light fantastic, not caring about what people think. “Once while visiting a shop in Quebec City, I became engaged in conversation with the hat maker at a millenary store concerning the art of modern dance,” Josie recalls. “She was intrigued I was a dancerchoreographer. Before I knew it, she suggested a ‘trade.’ She asked me to create a dance within the store, and in turn, I would receive a discount on the beautiful hat I had been admiring and trying on. She locked the front door and for a few minutes I improvised dancing through the aisles and around the displays. “She got her dance and I walked out with the hat,” Metal-Corbin adds.
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Josie and David at a barn dedication ceremony at the Glacier Creek Preserve, an area of northwest Douglas County dedicated to the study of ecosystems in eastern Nebraska. “Even though I stopped performing in formal concert at age 56 I was still directing, choreographing, and teaching.” She says the passion she expresses for her work is contagious. “My (teacher) evaluations have always said, ‘She’s energetic, she’s enthusiastic,’ and the truth is it’s a quid pro quo. I get my energy because there’s people there, so they reflect things back to me. Or if they don’t, I have a genre to get them to move or to respond.” Metal-Corbin’s ability to connect with students and to be a leader in her profession earned her National Scholar-Artist recognition from the National Dance Association in 2012, one of many awards recognizing her work in the studio and in the classroom. All in all, she’s content with how her career evolved. “I have worked very hard to create a body of work on the academic side and on the artistic side that’s been very rewarding. I’ve had the chance to work with so many different people I’ve given to but that in turn have given back. That quid pro quo is what I always try to do.”
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co-authored many books in his field, including a pair of high school textbooks he worked on shortly after retiring. His brother, Charles, whom he considers a mentor, was a co-author on those projects. An earlier book the Corbin brothers did, Homemade Play Equipment, landed David on the Late Show with David Letterman program. He’d sent a copy of the book to the TV show’s staff. Years passed when a staffer called to request a video of what he’d demonstrate if he were a guest. Thus, Corbin ended up showing Letterman reuses of bicycle inner tubes, milk jugs, panty hose, and other throwaways as resistance and strength training tools. Corbin still utilizes some of these devices in an exercise program he conducts at Omaha’s deFreese Manor. He even gives Green Fitness workshops that emphasize getting in shape using fun, repurposed, low environmental impact devices. He’s traveled extensively for his work, once serving as a consultant in Romania. He and Josie taught a stress management workshop in China.
July 2015
Metal-Corbin says she’s grateful for the support David has shown her to go after certain professional opportunities. The couple has merged their interests and expertise to do many projects together. For years he’s taught – with Josie assisting – exercise classes and workshops for older adults, many of them for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The pair ended up writing a book together, Reach for It, that grew out of their shared interest and experience in getting older adults moving to improve their health. “The subtitle of that book is A Handbook of Health, Exercise and Dance Activities for Older Adults,” Corbin says. “I was teaching healthy aspects of aging at UNO. Part of it was at that time there were no decent textbooks around, so it was kind of meant to be background information on aging, plus activities that people could do.” David says introducing exercise to older adults may meet with resistance at first but once people participate they’re hooked. “We were giving a workshop for ENOA and it was pretty obvious the group was very reticent to get involved. Some people had canes. We actually had a parachute canopy (a tool to stimulate perceptual, cognitive, and motor skills) and we said, ‘OK, we’re going to try this,’ and finally everyone was up. Then we got the activity going and one person took his cane, threw it down, and started dancing. We felt like Oral Roberts or someone,” he says, laughing at the memory. “So it turned completely around. It went from people rolling their eyes and I don’t want any part of it to active joyful engagement and movement.”
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osie borrowed the book’s title for a dance program at UNO she started for persons with Parkinson’s disease. “There are inherent therapeutic benefits of dance no matter whether you’re ill or you’re well,” she says. “The joy of movement, being with other people in a community of learners, sharing in the rhythm and the music – that’s the therapeutic part of it. You have a chance to be creative, sometimes to do problem solving. You’re moving in the kinesthetic domain, so if you’re under stress your body gets a chance to get rid of some of the stress products.” She says the Parkinson’s program has been well received. “It’s a very sound program. It’s based on one I studied in New York that is worldwide. At Reach for It we do 10-week sessions. This last semester we had speech, language, and hearing students come. That’s really important because with Parkinson’s you have to exercise your voice as well as your body. We let in free the caretakers or drivers of the persons with Parkinson’s --Please turn to page 13.
Josie, David never at a loss for things to do alone, together --Continued from page 12. disease. So we have usually a nice circle of maybe 20 people at the UNO Dance Lab. We always have live music. “We’re in our fifth year. The Nebraska chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association and The Moving Company are the sponsors. We just got a grant to carry it forward, which I feel good about because I’m leaving and at least the funding’s in place. The person leading them now is Danielle Laurion, who is a dance therapist and a choreographer.”
Metal-Corbin started a dance program at UNO designed for persons with Parkinson’s disease.
Corbin is on a continuing mission to connect people with public health issues. David says the benefits of dance for men and women with Parkinson’s are well documented. “Part of the philosophy behind it is that the rhythm of the music helps with the tremors and things like that. Music is part of it and rhythm is part of it. People will usually report they have an after-effect, too – they feel better for a couple of hours.” “When you’re losing some of your physical movements in your flow, to get it back even for a short while is reassuring,” Josie says. “It’s well known in the Parkinson’s community that dance is beneficial. This is all about the healing powers of dance. Participants are moving in all ranges of motion and they’re with other people. You have
a community of learners and these people want to have music and dance in their life. Instead of going to play Bingo maybe or going to a book club, they’re going to a dance class.” Last year Metal-Corbin directed an impromptu private performance in the backyard of a longtime Moving Company supporter battling a terminal illness. Josie says the patron’s daughter shared that her mother seemed like her old self for the first time in a while during the dance. David says whatever your age, the best advice he can offer is “keep moving and exercising and emphasize what you can do and not what you can’t do.” He’s living proof of that philosophy. After a 23-year gap, he did the Bike Ride Across Nebraska last year and found it to be much tougher this time. But he did it. With that same can-do attitude Corbin’s taken on public health issues and affected change. He helped get the smoking ban in Omaha and statewide. He helped get funding from the Master Tobacco Settlement to establish new public health departments in Nebraska so for the first time, every county in the state is covered by a local or district public health department. “Both of these were collaborative initiatives, but I am proud to have played a role in each of them, Corbin says. His mission to connect people with public health issues is ongoing. “I am still educating about the relationships between public health and climate change. If you ask people whether or not they support public health or taking steps to reduce the consequences of climate change, you get somewhat tepid support. If you ask people if they support clean air and water and safe and healthy foods, you get very high support. Good public health programs and slowing or mitigating the consequences of climate change are essential to clean air and water and safe and healthy foods.” Corbin says he wishes President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act would have gone much further. “It baffles me the U.S. is one of only a few so-called developed countries that does not have universal health care. I think we should.” David’s not shy in expressing his views in public forums. “I’ve certainly been active in writing letters to editors and op-ed (opinion-editorial) pieces for as long as I can remember. I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in kind of major things. Sometimes they’re little. For example, I’m trying to get something going for a plastic bag ban here in Omaha, not because it’s the biggest issue in the world but it’s a way to get people talking about recycling in general – to get the argument going. “The average person uses 500 single-use plastic bags a year and most of them get used for less than
20 minutes and then they’re tossed (into the garbage). We did a trash day at Prospect Hill Cemetery. I put all the trash on display – there were over 70 plastic bags. Of all the times I’ve been in the newspaper more people remember me for picking up trash. I still pick up the trash every day when I walk.” David even produced videos about the evils of plastic bag proliferation. In one, he does a dance he choreographed himself. Corbin’s focused on environmental issues these days. He’s on the Sierra Club board. He’s president of Nebraskans for Solar. He’s on the Public Health Association of Nebraska board. He’s also a self-appointed watchdog at all Omaha Public Power District open board meetings. “I think we’ve been pretty successful in getting them to have more wind power and less coal,” he says of his and other activists’ pressure on OPPD. “I follow a lot of the legislation.” Environmental events he attended in 2014 included Earth Day Omaha, the People’s Climate March, and the Harvest the Hope Concert in opposition to the Keystone XL Pipeline.
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ust like Josie, David’s never at a loss for what to do. “The first thing people said (upon her retiring) was, ‘Oh, you and David will get to spend more time together.’” She’s quick to point out, “We don’t need more time – we have good time. We’ve managed to figure out our own space. We’re not a couple that has to do everything together. But we do a lot together. We travel. We’ve done a lot of very good trips together.” They celebrate wedding anniversaries trekking to exotic locales. “For our 30th we did Argentina and Patagonia,” Metal-Corbin says. “In Buenos Aires we took tango lessons at an Armenian social club late at night. Then we took a little plane down to Patagonia and stayed on this sheep ranch. To me, it was what the creation of Earth must have looked like because we were on the water (with) no lights. Beautiful. “For our 35th we went to Iceland,” Josie says. “It was the best. Beautiful. Little hamlets, horses, black and white sheep on the hillsides, no telephone poles, (and it was) geothermic.” David marveled at Iceland’s 100 percent renewable energy. They both like that Iceland’s tech savvy enough to have Wi-Fi in the most remote regions yet protects its pristine, lush, and green environment. On another trip they enjoyed the vistas of Vancouver, British Columbia, at one point staying in a tree house with all the amenities. They got around by seaplane, kayak (see front page photo), tandem bicycle, hiking, bus, car, and ferry. In 1998 Josie made her New York City dance debut and has also performed in Lisbon, Portugal, Paris, France, and Italy. In 2001 she led a large group of Moving Company dancers to Cesena, Italy to compete in the international Dance Grand Prix Italia. The UNO team won second place in Theatre Dance. David made the trip, too. For their own personal travels, Josie and David often do self-guided tours she extensively researches, though their itineraries leave plenty of room for unexpected discoveries and adventures. Like taking tango in the wee hours of the night or suddenly dancing when the spirit moves them, wherever they happen to be. A miniature sculpture by artist Jamie Burmeister, who was a graduate student of David’s, captures the effervescent couple in, what else, a dance pose that reflects their embrace of life. “Their commitment to making the world a better place through their activities really inspires me,” says Burmeister, who simply titled the piece, David Photo by Deborah S. Kaplan and Josie. When it comes to living Josie and David at a farewell reception and relating, the couple for Metal-Corbin held recently at UNO. answers a resounding yes to the question: May I have this dance? Their life is a living metaphor for the symbiotic give and take and affirmation that is dance. (Read more of Leo Adam Biga’s work at leoadambiga.com.)
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Ten-point checklist is available
Check your deck to make sure it’s safe The experts at the North American Deck and Railing Association are offering safety tips for homeowners and encouraging you to check your deck. “It’s springtime and we all want to get out and enjoy our decks,” says Bob Lett, vice president of market development for WOLF Home Products. NADRA wants to help keep homeowners safe. Deck maintenance means so much more than just cleaning your deck. It means making sure your entire deck structure is in good, safe order. Just like your car, you need to evaluate, tune up, and keep your deck in safe operating condition on a regular basis. This checklist from NADRA can help you do just that. • Search for split or decaying wood. Check several different areas of the deck to be sure the wood is still sound, including the ledger board (where the deck attaches to the house and a common source of deck failure), support posts and joists under the deck, deck boards, railings, and stairs. Look for soft, spongy areas in wood that can indicate insect damage or decay. • Test railings and banisters. Assure the security of these key pieces of the deck by gently pushing on them to assure they are firmly attached with no give that could indicate failure. Then, get the yardstick out. Most codes require a 36 inches high railing (and usually encourage 42 inches high railings) with rails placed no more than four
inches inches apart (measured from the inside of the rails) to keep small children and pets from squeezing through. • Check your fasteners. Over time, fasteners may pop from wood, loosen, or corrode. Check nails, screws, or anchors and reinforce or replace anything that looks suspicious. • Step carefully. Check each step to make certain of security and lack of decay. If an area behind the stair treads is open, this opening should be no more than four inches high. Keep stair pathways clear of planters, décor, toys, and other items that can present a tripping hazard. • Clean up debris. Clean away leaves, branches, or other debris from your deck. When left in place, these can be slippery and promote mildew. Now’s the time to clean and apply a new waterproof coating if you’re already seeing mildew on the deck or the deck coating has worn away. “Your deck and stairs should appear even without sagging, and should not sway or move when tested,” says Lett. “Plus, it’s important to check on anything used on the deck, such as grills, lighting, storage, and furnishings. Making these easy evaluations part of your yearly springtime maintenance can help keep your entire family safe.” For a complete 10-point consumer safety checklist and more deck safety tips from NADRA, visit http://bit.ly/NADRA10PointConsumerChecklist.
We need your
! t r o p sup
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.
I would like to become a partner with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, and help fulfill your mission with older adults.
ENOA
$30 = 7 meals or 1.75 hours of in-home homemaker services or 1 bath aide service for frail older adults. $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)__________________________ Please contact me. I would like to learn more about how to include the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging in my estate planning. Please ma il with thisyofour donation rm to: Eas
tern Office oNebraska n Aging Address:___________________________________ Attention : Jef Name:_____________________________________
City:______________State:_____ Zip: __________ Phone:____________________________________
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July 2015
The benefits of reducing the amount of junk mail The amount of junk mail has increased to a massive scale in recent years, with the average American receiving 16 pieces of junk mail each week. While this might not seem like much, your junk mail adds up to weigh an estimated 41 pounds each year, according to leading anti-junk mail organization, 41pounds.org. What’s more, 44 percent of junk mail is never opened, though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates about 40 percent is recycled properly. This enormous waste of paper has triggered the U.S. Postal Service to install more than 4,000 postal recycling stations around the country. From a financial perspective, nearly $320 million of local tax money is used to dispose of and recycle junk mail each year. However, junk mail has environmental repercussions on a larger scale than individual inconvenience or waste of tax money. The paper for these mailings comes from more than 100 million trees each year. Not only does this cause deforestation and other direct problems to the local environment, it also creates an imbalance of the planet’s carbon levels. While forests usually act as “carbon sinks” to maintain constant levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, chopping down these trees and converting them into paper emits this stored carbon prematurely back into the atmosphere. On top of that, according to 41pounds.org, the carbon emissions from junk mailings each year are roughly equivalent to those of nine million cars. ForestEthics.org, another leader in the charge against junk mail, estimates junk mail produces 51.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year. Ciara O’Rourke reports in The New York Times that this is roughly the same amount of emissions produced by heating 13 million homes in the winter. ForestEthics’ report, Climate Change Enclosed, likens junk mail’s carbon burden to 2.4 million cars idling 24/7 year-round. Another negative impact of junk mail is the water waste it creates. As drought becomes an increasingly important problem across the country, Americans continue to waste upwards of 28 billion gallons of water on junk mail production and recycling every year. Thankfully, these enormous environmental costs can easily be reduced by taking basic steps to get off mailing lists. By registering at 41pounds.org, junk mailings can be reduced by 80 to 95 percent for $41. Similar to a no-call list for telemarketers, you can also opt out of these mailing lists at catologchoice.org. By contacting dozens of these mailers directly, these organizations aim to eliminate junk mail waste. After five years, 41pounds.org estimates “you’ll conserve 1.7 trees and 700 gallons of water, and prevent global warming emissions, and you’ll gain about 350 hours of free time.” Although you must re-register every five years, this simple action can make a huge impact in stopping the torrent of junk mail being crammed into your mailbox each week. (EarthTalk® is produced by Doug Moss & Roddy Scheer and is a registered trademark of Earth Action Network Inc.)
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Alzheimer’s support groups available in Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy counties The Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter offers several caregiver support groups and specialty support groups each month in 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. Please call Elizabeth at 402-502-4301 for more information. DODGE COUNTY
• OMAHA
• FREMONT Last Wednesday @ 2 p.m. Nye Square 655 W. 23rd St.
Third Tuesday @ 5 p.m. Immanuel Fontenelle 6809 N 68th Plz. Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m. Heritage Pointe 16811 Burdette St.
Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m. Shalimar Gardens 749 E. 29th St.
Second Wednesday @ 5:30 p.m. Espirit Whispering Ridge 17555 Emmet St.
DOUGLAS COUNTY
First Thursday @ 6:30 p.m. Early Stage Support Group Security National Bank 1120 S. 101st St. REGISTRATION REQUIRED
• BENNINGTON Last Thursday @ 6 p.m. Ridgewood Active Retirement Community 12301 N. 149th Cr.
Second or third Saturday @ 11 a.m. Caring for Your Parents Teri @ 402-393-0434 for location
• ELKHORN Third Monday @ 6 p.m. Elk Ridge Village Assisted Living 19400 Elk Ridge Dr.
• RALSTON Third Monday @ 9:30 a.m. Ralston Senior Center 7301 Q St. • Suite 100
• OMAHA Second Thursday @ 10 a.m. Country House 5030 S. 155th St. Adult day services provided.
SARPY COUNTY • BELLEVUE Third Monday @ 7 p.m. Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave.
Every other Monday @ 7 p.m. Brighton Gardens 9220 Western Ave.
First Wednesday @ 1 p.m. Eastern Nebraska Vets Home 12505 S. 40th St.
Third Wednesday @ 3 p.m. Fountain View Senior Living 5710 S 108th St. First & third Monday @ 1:30 p.m. New Cassel/Franciscan Centre 900 N. 90th St. Adult day services are provided on-site.
Maximizing your hot weather fuel efficiency
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h, the summer road trip, that classic American experience. But long drives through steamy weather can burn through a lot of gas and cause untold wear and tear on your car’s engine and systems while putting you at risk for overheating. Doubling down on tactics to help your car run better will not only improve fuel efficiency, but could also help you avoid spending a large chunk of your vacation time in the breakdown lane waiting for a tow. According to the American Automobile Association, there are lots of ways to conserve fuel on hot weather road trips that also will help prolong the life of your car. “In summer, drive during cooler parts of the day,” reports AAA. “Cooler, denser air can boost power and mileage.” While it may seem counterintuitive, using your car’s air conditioning is actually a smart idea in hot weather. “Today’s air conditioners create less drag on the engine than driving with the windows open,” says AAA. Meanwhile, if you have a hybrid car, precool it before you get in so it can devote more electricity to driving when you’re on the road. But don’t warm-up (or pre-cool) a conventional
car, as the extra idling doesn’t do the car any good, wastes fuel, and creates extra heat. Another key tip for hot weather driving is to park in the shade when you can. The Green Car Reports website suggests utilizing cruise control and overdrive features on cars that offer them on long summer roads trips. These features help normalize the energy demands of the engine which in turn helps conserve fuel. According to AA1car. com, a leading online information resource on auto repair and maintenance, placing a sunshade under the windshield and opening the windows slightly when parked can help keep the interior cool between drives. This can also “lighten the cooling load on the air conditioner when the vehicle is first started.” The website also reports changing old dirty motor oil with a fresh higher viscosity oil will help keep your car’s engine lubricated and running smoothly on those summer road trips. You might want to change from 5W-30 to 10W-30, 10W-40, or 20W-30 for hot weather driving. Synthetic motor oils are even better for high temperature protection, reports AA1car.com.
Of course, some fuel saving tips apply any time of year. For instance, jackrabbit starts are a big no-no. Drivers should always try to accelerate gradually. Taking your foot off the gas as early as possible when approaching a red light is another way to save gas. Keeping filters clean, maintaining recommended tire pressure, and driving the speed limit are additional ways to conserve fuel, reduce emissions, and treat your ride nicely. Summer road trips can also be hard on drivers and passengers, so pack plenty of sunscreen especially if you plan to have the windows open or the top down. Bring along a cooler with healthy drinks so everyone can stay hydrated. (EarthTalk® is produced by Doug Moss & Roddy Scheer and is a registered trademark of Earth Action Network Inc.) VOTES WANTED PLEASE GO TO
www.lightthebridge.org 100% non-profit addressing hunger VOTES TO DATE • For: 2,569 • Against: 90 • Please vote today to address hunger.
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AARP Chapter 2269 is meeting on July 20
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he Florence AARP Chapter 2269 meets each month at the Olive Crest Methodist Church, 7180 N. 60th St. (one mile north of Sorensen Parkway.) The meetings begin at noon with a lunch that costs $7 per person each month. Here’s the schedule of programs for the rest of 2015: • July 20: Presentation on her time in the Ukraine by Elizabeth Meyers. • Aug. 17: Picnic. • Sept. 21: Compassion in Action with Teela Mickles. • Oct. 19: Immigration turmoil with Joann Feller. • Nov. 16: DJ music and karaoke with Jonathan Kellerk. • Dec. 14: Christmas music program. For more information, please contact Ruth Kruse at ruthkruse@cox.net.
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: Friday, July 10 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Immanuel Lakeside Village 17475 Frances St. 402-829-9024 to register
Friday, July 24 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Metro Community College 9110 Giles Rd. Class # AUAV 004N70 402-457-5231 to register
Saturday, July 11 12 to 4 p.m. AARP Information Center 1941 S. 42nd St #220 402-398-9568 to register
Saturday, July 25 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Premier Group 11605 Miracle Hills Dr. #205 402-321-7244 to register
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Friends are an essential ingredient in a healthy life Numerous scientific studies show that developing friendships is an essential ingredient to a healthy life. But few people are intentionally trying to avoid heart disease or improve their blood pressure when they seek out, or stumble into, new friendships. Instead, they just want someone to hang out with, confide in, or trust in times of trouble, says Darlene Quinn, an author whose latest novel, Conflicting Webs uses friendship as an underlying theme. “Friends can start out from a variety of places, but still share the same incredible bond,” Quinn says “Sometimes that bond can span a lifetime. Other times, the bond is just for a short period. Either way, friendships are a vital part of life.” As she researched her novel, Quinn became fascinated by the motivations behind friendships. Not all friendships are equal and, over the long haul, not all turn out the way people might like. “Having a mutually beneficial relationship is crucial,” Quinn says. “If only one person is willing to put in time and effort, that friendship won’t work. “We tend to intuitively know who real friends are and which friendships are worth our time and energy.” Quinn said she found at least six factors that can lead to great friendships –
three that bring people together and three that keep them together: • Similarity. The phrase “birds of a feather flock together” has been around at least since the 16th century, and it’s no wonder it became such a well-worn cliché, Quinn says. It happens to be true. “We surround ourselves with people whose style, attitudes, personalities, likes, dislikes, and mannerisms are similar to ours,” she says. “Those similarities help to build an instant bond. We feel comfortable around those people and easily slide into conversations about topics that interest both of us or schedule activities we both enjoy.” • Intrigue. Sometimes people are so fascinating that we can’t help but be drawn to them, Quinn says. “We can build a great bond of friendship with someone when we are genuinely curious about their stories, their lifestyle, or their backgrounds,” she says. • History. Growing up together, or going through the same or similar experiences, can lead to a lasting connection between two people. “Other people may not be able to have a good understanding of, or empathy for, a situation you went through,” Quinn says. “But this person understands you because they went through it, too. Sharing a past with someone definitely can create a special bond.” • Positive influence. A great friend will be someone who is a good influence and will support you and your goals, Quinn says. “They should inspire you to live up to your highest potential so you can be your best self.” The world has enough negativity, she says. • Your happiness. True friends want to see you happy. “The best kinds of friends are the ones who have your best interests at heart, even to a fault,” Quinn says. “They may tell you something you don’t want to hear at the risk of fracturing the friendship, just because they know it is in your best interest. At the same time, a true friend will never ask you to compromise or jeopardize any part of yourself in order to be their friend.” • Loyalty. A loyal friend will have your back no matter what, Quinn says. “They will stand up for you and with you when the need arises,” she says. “They won’t speak ill of you to others and they don’t let others speak bad about you either.” Loyalty is not an easy trait to find, but it’s essential to any really good relationship, Quinn says. “As years go by, I think most of us start to realize that it is no longer the quantity of friends that matter, but the quality,” Quinn says. “You just build a great bond with some people and you can call on each other in times of trouble. Good friends are hard to find, but impossible to forget.”
‘Because Life Changes’ series Alzheimer’s chapter is sponsoring runs July 11 through Aug. 15 monthly programs through October A session of Because Life Changes, a complimentary, six-week series is being offered on Saturdays during 2015 at the St. James Parish Center, 4701 N. 90th St., from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sessions are scheduled for July 11 through Aug. 15 and Sept. 12 through Oct. 17 • Week 1: Dementia & Other Chronic Illnesses: The Road to a Diagnosis and Beyond with certified care manager Jan Hannasch. • Week 2: L.T.C. Planning: A Process; Not a Product with Cathy A. Wyatt. • Week 3: Legal Documents: Have Them, Have Them Up to Date, Have Them Accessible with estate planning attorney Niel Nielsen. • Week 4: Safe Environment Training: At Home & In the Community with occupational therapist BevVan Phillips and mobility expert Mark Zach. • Week 5: The ‘Moving’ Parts: Successfully Getting from One Home to Another with real estate broker Mike Fujan. • Week 6: Community Resources: Know What You Don’t Know with Michaela Williams of the ElderCare Resource Handbook. For more information, call: 402-6619611.
July 2015
The Alzheimer’s Association is sponsoring a series of free caregiver education sessions the third Thursday of each month through October. The 5:30 to 7 p.m. programs will be held in the boardroom at the Visiting Nurse Association, 12565 W. Center Rd. Walk-ins are welcome to attend, Here’s the class schedule: • July 16: Know the 10 Signs: Early Detection Matters. • Aug. 20: Living with Alzheimer’s Disease Mid-Stage Caregivers.
• Sept. 17: Effective Communication Strategies. • Oct. 15: Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Chentland at 402-502-4301 or echentland@alz.org.
Research shows 300 minutes of light exercise per week provides significant health benefits for persons age 65+
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n easy walk, slow dancing, leisurely sports such as table tennis, household chores, and other light-intensity exercise may be nearly as effective as moderate or vigorous exercise for older adults – if they get enough of that type of activity. New research indicates 300 minutes a week of light exercise provides some significant health benefits for people over age 65, said Brad Cardinal, a professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State University. “You get a nice array of health benefits by doing five hours of light physical activity per week,” said Cardinal, who is a national expert on the benefits of physical activity and a co-author of the study. “There appears to be some real value in devoting at least 3 percent of the 168 hours available in a week to these light forms of physical activity.” Medical recommendations suggest all adults engage in 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. The researchers wanted to know whether exercise of less intensity, done more often, would produce similar health benefits. Light exercise is more appealing to people over age 65, and such activities don’t generally require the approval of a physician, Cardinal said. Older adults, in particular, may be more reluctant to participate in moderate to vigorous exercise because of health
concerns, including fear of injury. The researchers examined data from the 2003 to 2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, or NHANES, which was conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics and is a nationally representative sample of the U.S. population. They found older adults who participated in light intensity exercise activities for 300 minutes or more were 18 percent healthier overall than peers who didn’t log that much light activity. They had lower body mass index, smaller waist circumference, better insulin rates, and were less likely to have chronic diseases, Cardinal said.
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“These findings highlight that, in addition to promoting moderate-intensity physical activity to older adults, we shouldn’t neglect the importance of engaging in lowerintensity, movement-based behaviors when the opportunity arises,” said lead author Paul Loprinzi, an assistant professor of exercise science and health promotion at the University of Mississippi. “For example, instead of talking on the phone in a seated position, walking while talking will help increase our overall physical activity level.” The study was published in a recent issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion. The findings are part of a growing body of evidence that indicate light activity can lead to improved health, but more study is needed to better understand how the two are connected, Cardinal said. It may also be time to rethink current exercise guidelines, with new recommendations geared specifically to adults over age 65 that emphasize the benefits and ease of participation in light activity, he said. “This research suggests doing something is dramatically better than doing nothing,” he said. “For the average, every day person, that’s a much more palatable message than the current guidelines that emphasize moderate to vigorous exercise.”
2008, 2 bedroom 2 bath nice porch & huge tuff shed financing available with approved credit. Price $25,000
Schedule released for Blue Barn Theatre’s 2015 - 16 season
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he 2015-16 schedule at the Blue Barn Theatre has been announced. The 27th season will be the Blue Barn Theatre’s first in its new location at 1106 S. 10th St. TRUBLU membership season ticket prices are $110 for adults and $90 for seniors and students. • Sept 24 to Oct. 18: The Grown Up by Jordan Harrison. • Nov. 27 to Dec. 20: Little Nelly’s
Naughty Noel by Tim Siragusa and Jill Anderson. • Feb. 4 to 28: Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan. • March 24 to April 17: The Christians by Lucas Hnath. • May 19 to June 19: Heathers – The Musical by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy. For more information, please call 402345-1576.
Lot # 393, 3 bed 2 bath Price $ 35,000
Theatre organ show scheduled for Aug. 9
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he River City Theatre Organ Society’s summer concert is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 9 at the Rose Theater, 20th and Farnam streets. Titled, Let’s Get Lost in the Music, the 3 p.m.
show will feature a silent film accompanied by Dave Wickersham at the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ. Omaha Street Percussion will be the special guests. Tickets, which are $15 through Aug. 3, are available by sending your check
made out to RCTOS to RCTOS, 2864 Katelyn Cir., Lincoln, Neb. 68516. Tickets are also available at the door on Aug. 9 for $20 for adults and $5 for students. For more information, please call 1-402-421-1356 or log on to www.rctos.com.
July 2015
Lot 238 • Price $ 19,500
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Pick up your free copy of New Horizons each month The New Horizons is available at locations throughout eastern Nebraska. Stop by and pick up a free copy each month at one of the following: Adams Park Senior Center 3230 John Creighton Blvd.
Evans Tower 3600 N. 24th St.
Leo Vaughn Manor 3325 Fontenelle Blvd.
Ridgewood Apts. 6801 Spring St.
Aksarben Manor 7410 Mercy Rd.
Florence Heights 3320 Scott St.
Livingston Plaza Apts. 303 S. 132nd St.
Rorick Apts. 604 S. 22nd St.
The Ambassador 1540 N. 72nd St.
Florence Home 7915 N. 30th St.
Louisville Senior Center 423 Elm St.
Royal Oaks/House of Hope 4801 N. 52nd St.
American Red Cross 3838 Dewey St.
Florence Senior Center 2920 Bondesson St.
Lutheran Home 530 S. 26th St.
St. Bernard Church 3601 N 65th St.
Arlington (Neb.) Senior Center 305 N. 3rd St.
Fremont (Neb.) Friendship Center 1730 W. 16th St.
Mangelsen’s 84th & Grover streets
St. Bridget Church 4112 S. 26th St.
Maple Crest Condos 2820 N. 66th Ave.
St. Joseph Tower 2205 S. 10th St.
Mercy Care Center 1870 S. 75th St.
St. Joseph Villa 2305 S. 10th St.
Millard Manor 12825 Deauville Dr.
St. Mary’s Church 811 S. 23rd St. Bellevue
Bank of Nebraska 7223 S. 84th St. Bellewood Court Apts. 1700 Lincoln Rd. Bellevue Bellevue Library 1003 Lincoln Rd. Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave. Bennington (Neb.) Senior Center 322 N. Molley St.
Friendship Program 7315 Maple St. GOCA 3604 Fowler Ave. Gold Coast Square 1213 Gold Coast Rd. Papillion Hallmark Care Center 5505 Grover St.
Benson Tower 5900 NW Radial Hwy.
Heartland Family Service Senior Center 4318 Fort St.
Bickford Cottage 11309 Blondo St.
Hickory Villa 7315 Hickory St.
Dora Bingel Senior Center 923 N. 38th St.
Hillcrest Care Center 1702 Hillcrest Rd. Bellevue
Blumkin Home 333 S. 132nd St. Camelot 6 Apartments 9415 Cady Ave. Camelot Friendship Center 9270 Cady Ave. Carter Lake Senior Center 626 Locust St.
Hooper (Neb.) Senior Center 208 N. Main St. Immanuel Courtyard 6757 Newport Ave. Immanuel Medical Center 6901 N. 72nd St.
Millard Montclair Senior Center 2304 S. 135th Ave. Mission Vue Apartments 406 E. Mission Ave. Bellevue Monarch Villa 201 E. Cedardale Dr. Papillion Montclair Nursing Home 2525 S. 135th St. Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition 2240 Landon Ct. New Cassel 900 N. 90th St. Nehawka (Neb.) Senior Center North Bend (Neb.) Senior Center Oak Grove Manor 4809 Redman Ave.
Central Park Tower 1511 Farnam St.
Immanuel Trinity Village 522 N. Lincoln St. Papillion
Christie Heights Senior Center 3623 P St.
Immanuel Village 6803 N. 68th Plz.
OEA Apts. 122 S. 39th St.
Chubb Foods 2905 N. 16th St.
Intercultural Community Senior Center 3010 R St.
OEA Manor 320 N. 22nd St.
W. Dale Clark Library 215 S. 15th St. Corrigan Senior Center 3819 X St. Croatian Cultural Society 8711 S. 36th St. Crown Pointe Retirement Center 2820 S. 80th St. Crown Tower 5904 Henninger Dr. deFreese Manor 2669 Dodge St. Dodge (Neb.) Senior Center 226 N. Elm St. Douglas County Housing 5449 N. 107th Plz. Durham Booth Manor 3612 Cuming St. Eagles Club 23rd & L streets Eagle (Neb.) Senior Center 509 4th St.
Jackson Tower 600 S. 27th St. Kay Jay Tower 25th & K streets Kohll’s Pharmacy 50th & Dodge streets Kohll’s Pharmacy 4230 L St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 2923 Leavenworth St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 12739 Q St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 3427 S. 84th St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 617 N. 114th St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 1413 S. Washington St. Papillion Kubat Pharmacy 4924 Center St.
Elmwood (Neb) Senior Center 144 N. 4th St.
LaVista (Neb.) Senior Center 8116 Parkview Blvd.
Elmwood Tower 801 S. 52nd St.
Leo’s Diner 6055 Maple St.
Oak Valley Apts. 12425 Krug Ave.
OJ’s Mexican Restaurant 9201 N. 30th St. Omaha Nursing Home 4835 S. 49th St. The Orchards at Wildwood 7454 Gertrude St. Papillion Senior Center 1001 Limerick Ave. Park East Tower 539 S. 26th St. Park Tower North 1501 Park Ave. Petrow’s Restaurant 5914 Center St. Phil’s Foodway 3030 Ames Ave. Phil’s Foodway 4232 Redman Ave. Pine Tower 1501 Pine St. Plattsmouth (Neb.) Senior Center 308 S. 18th St. Ralston (Neb.) Senior Center 7301 Q St. Remington Heights 12606 W. Dodge Rd.
St. Mary Magdalene Church 1817 Dodge St. St. Vincent DePaul 5920 Maple St. Sarpy County Courthouse 1261 Golden Gate Dr. Seven Oaks at Notre Dame 3439 State St. Skyline Manor 7300 Graceland Dr. Snyder (Neb.) Senior Center 2nd & Elm streets Social Security Office 7100 W. Center Rd. Suite 200 Social Settlement 4868 Q St. South Omaha Eagles 6607 Sunshine Dr. Southview Heights 49th & streets Swanson Library 9101 W. Dodge Rd. Joe Tess Restaurant 5424 S. 24th St. Thrift Store 7328 Maple St. Trinity Cathedral 18th Street & Capitol Avenue Twin Tower Apts. 3000 Farnam St. Underwood Tower 4850 Underwood Ave. Veterans Hospital 4101 Woolworth St. Villa de Sante 6032 Ville de Sante Dr. Ville de Sante Terrace 6202 Ville de Sante Dr. Village Inn 309 N. Fort Crook Rd. Bellevue JC Wade Manor 3464 Ohio St. Walgreen’s Pharmacy 5038 Center St. Weeping Water (Neb.) Senior Center 101 E. Eldora St. The Wellington 501 E. Gold Coast Rd. Papillion
Please see the ad on page 3
New Horizons Club gains new members $25 Jacob Dinan Sherry Thompson $20 Eula Nilius Ruth Amaral-McGavern $15 Jeanne Nistl $10 Josephine Luttrell Carl A. Anderson Carol Kolb $5 Tom Matteson Ann Schrader Bernadine Zielinski Jay-Dee Pooley Reflects donations received through June 22, 2015
Dance Wednesdays at Legion Post #1 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.
Alzheimer’s program set for July 25 AARP Mid-City Chapter 5253 is sponsoring a free program titled Seniors on the Move: Helpful Living Information on Saturday, July 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Malcolm X Foundation, 3448 Evans St. Vivyonne Ewing and Clayton Freeman from the Alzheimer’s Midlands Chapter will be the featured speakers. For more information, please call Mary at 402-4575169.
Hearing loss group The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America, a support group for hard of hearing adults, will next meet on Tuesday, July 14 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 at ellsworth.beth@cox.net or Verla at 402-558-6449.
PARKSIDE SMOKE FREE
Independent apartment living for persons age 55+ • 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
PARKSIDE
402-339-9080
Some of the nicest, newer 1 bedroom apartments. Elevator, w & d, heated parking garage. Small complex. By bus & shopping. No pets or smoking.
Chaplain Royal Non-denominational minister for funerals, weddings, and baptisms. 402-575-7006 InclusiveLife.org
OLD STUFF WANTED
HOUSE CLEANING
93rd & Maple • 402-397-6921
(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
Call today to view your new home in the park!
7775 Park Drive • Ralston, Nebraska
CLASSIFIEDS Lamplighter II
• Emergency alarm system • 24-hour emergency maintenance • Controlled access entry • Community areas on every floor • Microwave • Icemaker • Window blinds furnished
Personalized Service To Meet YOUR NEEDS! REFRESH CLEANING SERVICES JUDY: 402-885-8731
BUYING or SELLING?
Please call 402-444-4148 or 402- 444-6654 to place your ad POOL TABLES Moving, refelting, assemble, repair, tear down. Used slate tables. We pay CASH for slate pool tables.
Big Red Billiards 402-598-5225
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
Use the New Horizons
CLASSIFIEDS Call 402-444-4148 or 402-444-6654 to place your ad.
GET RID OF IT! Please support NH advertisers
REPUTABLE SERVICES, INC.
Someday this button might save your life. For now, it sets you free. With Lifeline by Immanuel, you can enjoy an independent lifestyle in your own home—knowing that you can get help if you ever need it. In a fall or emergency, every second counts. Lifeline by Immanuel with AutoAlert is a medical alert pendent that can automatically call for help, even if you can’t push your button. Getting you connected to someone with access to your medical history, someone who can evaluate your situation and immediately send help. To learn more about the security and peace of mind provided by Lifeline, call (402) 829-3277 or toll-free at (800) 676-9449.
• Remodeling & Home Improvement • Safety Equipment Handrails Smoke and Fire Alarms
Haul away, garage, basement, rental clean out…
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Senior Citizens (62+)
402-312-4000
Accepting applications for HUD-subsidized apartments in Papillion & Bellevue. Rent determined by income and medical expenses.
Call Frank
• Painting Interior & Exterior
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• Handyman Services • Senior Discounts
Bellewood Courts 1002 Bellewood Court Bellevue (402) 292-3300
• Free Estimates • References • Fully Insured
Managed by Kimball Management., Inc.
Quality Professional Service Better Business Bureau Member www.immanuellifeline.com
We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.
402-4 5 5-7 0 0 0
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Monthly programs, speakers at Walnut Grove through December
Sen. Fischer’s staff hosts Senior Fair
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ou’re invited to attend a free series of monthly programs with speakers from July through December in the theater at the Walnut Grove Adult Living Community, 4901 S. 153rd St. • Tuesday, July 14: Dementia: The Elephant in the Room with Cathy Wyatt from The Art of Aging. • Tuesday, Aug. 11: A Health Change: Assessing the Situation with Jan Hannasch from ElderLife Consultants. • Tuesday, Sept. 8: Safe Environment Training: Starting with Fall Prevention with BevVan Phillips from Total Home Access Solutions. • Tuesday, Oct. 13: 55+ Community Resources and Support with Michaela Williams from Care Consultants for the Aging. • Tuesday, Nov. 10: Swallowed by A Snake: Everyone Grieves with Joy Johnson from the Centering Corporation and Ted E. Bear Hollow. • Tuesday, Dec. 8: The Sandwich Generation: Caring for Family with Cathy Wyatt from the Art of Aging. Each program begins at 1 p.m. To RSVP or for more information, please call 402-8611611.
TRAINING
Would you like to provide a respite for someone who is caregiving for a loved one with special needs but don’t know where to start?
Consider this to be a great training opportunity that is being offered at NO CHARGE.
Partnerships in Caregiving is conducting REST Training Thursday, August 6, 2015 • 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Home Instead Senior Care Training Center 622 N. 108th Court, Omaha NE 68154 Please contact Ellen at (402) 996-8444 to get more information or to register. You may also email: edbenne@gmail.com
FREE
HEARING TEST This Week Only
• Find out what you are hearing and what you are not. • We do computerized audiometric testing of your hearing. • This is a wonderful opportunity to determine if hearing help is available.
8313 Cass St., Omaha • 301 E 6th St., Fremont 402-512-5022
Ana Lara-Ramirez from the University of Nebraska Medical Center checked Julie Wollen’s height during the first annual Senior Fair.
Paralegal Kathleen Stolarskyj attended the Senior Fair last month to help educate older adults about Legal Aid of Nebraska.
he Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, Legal Aid of Nebraska, the Better Business Bureau, the Nebraska Attorney General’s office, Volunteers Assisting Seniors, the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the United Way’s 211 telephone network, the Social Security Administration, the Visiting Nurse Association, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the Omaha Fire Department, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, and the Nebraska Medicaid Eligibility office were among the organizations represented last month at the first annual Senior Fair. Held at the Millard Senior Center at Montclair – 2304 S. 135th Ave. – the event was sponsored by United States Sen. Deb Fischer’s office.
“We’re providing information about some of the health and community resources available to older adults in eastern Nebraska,” said a constituent services representative for Sen. Fischer.
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he older adults who attended the Senior Fair had an opportunity to meet members of Sen. Fischer’s staff and ask them questions, interact with and pick up materials from representatives from the various organizations, and receive a variety of healthcare screenings. “I’m here to give information to seniors to help them know they have a place to go if they have questions about legal issues,” said Kathleen Stolarskyj, a paralegal with Legal Aid of Nebraska. To learn more about activities at the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, please call 402-546-1270.
Omaha Computers Users Group You’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 10 a.m. to noon at the Abrahams Library, 5111 N. 90th St. Annual dues 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. For more information, call Phill at 402-333-6529.
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