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AARP offering free tax preparation
Published by Steerforth Press Dr. Tracey Gendron’s new book examines how to end society’s bias against aging
Steerforth Press has recently published a book described as “essential reading for everyone who aspires to purpose and meaning to the end and is willing to challenge the ageism that stands in our way.”
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Called Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It, the 192-page hardcover book is written by Dr. Tracey Gendron.
Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It reveals the biases behind the false understanding of aging by sharing powerful opportunities for personal growth and strategies to help create an anti-ageist society.
Gendron’s book exposes the way cultural norms and prejudices have seeped into everyday lives and quietly shaped the treatment of others based on their age and misconceptions about aging.
Some of the topics addressed in the book include letting go of the need to stay young, appreciating the challenges and opportunities aging offers, showing how ageism impacts younger and older people, resetting expectations for getting old, and anticipating older age as a time of renewed meaning and purpose.
Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It, which sells for $19.95, is available through online booksellers.
AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program providing free tax counseling through April 18
Through April 18, The AARP Foundation – the nation’s largest volunteer-based free tax preparation service – is providing free tax assistance and preparation services for older adults through its Tax-Aide program.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified annually to ensure they understand the latest changes to the United States Tax Code.
AARP’s Tax-Aide program has several options for providing taxpayer assistance. These options vary by location and are subject to change. Visit aarpfoundation. org/taxaide for details. • Drop-off: Taxpayers interact with fully COVID-vaccinated IRS-certified Tax-Aide volunteers in a short, in-person meeting at one of the locations listed below. Appointments must be scheduled in advance. Returns will normally be prepared the day of the appointment.
Details for making appointments are available at aarp.org. • Contact-free: Taxpayers interact with Tax-Aide’s IRS-certified tax counselors online or by phone and will exchange documents electronically.
For more information, go online to aarpfoundation.org/taxaide. Search for Nebraska Virtual Site.
You can also begin this process by sending an email to omahaaarp@gmail.com. • Self-preparation: Tax-Aide provides taxpayers with free access to software so they can prepare their own taxes.
Go to aarpfoundation.org/taxaide and select Self-Filing Software. You’ll input your own information and file your return electronically.
Taxpayers using this software can request help from an IRS-certified counselor to coach them through the process by phone or through computer screen-sharing.
The Tax-Aide locations listed below will adhere to CDC guidance for COVID-19 safety. Masks and social distancing will be required at all locations.
For more information about the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program, including what type of service is available where, and which documents you need to file your taxes, visit aarpfoundation.org/taxaide or call 1-888-AARPNOW (1-888-227-7669).
Locally, United Way’s 211 operators will assist in making the appointments.
Here’s a list of the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide program sites, days, and hours of operation:
Abrahams Library 5111 N. 90th St. Tuesday & Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Bellevue University Library 1000 Galvin Rd S. Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bellevue Volunteer Fire Hall 2108 Franklin St. Tuesday & Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Church of the Resurrection 3004 Belvedere Blvd. Monday & Tuesday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Papillion Landing 1046 W. Lincoln St. Tuesday & Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday 3 to 7 p.m.
Ralston Baright Library 5555 S. 77th St. Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sons of Italy 1238 S. 10th St. Sunday 12 to 4 p.m.
Tangier Shrine Center 2823 S. 84th St. Thursday & Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Appointments are required at all sites. United Way 211 operators can assist persons without Internet access.
Features seven Broadway shows O-Pa annouces schedule of performances for 2022-23
Omaha Performing Arts (O-pa) is bringing seven Broadway performances to Omaha as part of its 2022-2023 season including several Tony Award winners. In addition, O-pa will host performances such as Ballet Hispanico, Madagascar the Musical, the National Geographic Live speaker series, and the return of the Holland Music Club.
O-pa President Joan Squires made the announcement including Broadway, jazz, dance, comedy, concerts, and more during an online season reveal event recently.
“We are thrilled to announce a spectacular season for 22-23,” Squires said. “The Broadway shows include audience favorites and current hits that we’re excited to bring to Omaha. And our performances of jazz musicians, dance companies, family shows, and more provide a season filled with outstanding talent to delight audiences.”
Broadway season performances include Disney’s Frozen, Six the Musical, Annie, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, and Hairspray. Subscribers may also add Les Misérables to their package. Beloved actor Richard Thomas will star as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Other highlights include Air Supply, Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett & Chris Isaak, family favorite Dragons and Other Mythical Beasts, dance company Philadanco, jazz great Terence Blanchard, Beautiful – The Carol King Musical, and fan favorite Rise of the T-Rex from National Geographic Live.
The Holland Music Club returns on the second Friday of the month from October through May for dinner, drinks, and high-energy performances in a unique space. Concerts include Sammy Figueroa, Bad Bad Hats, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, and more.
Current Broadway subscribers may renew their season subscription at TicketOmaha.com by calling 402-345-0606 or in person at the Ticket Omaha Box Office located inside the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St.
New Broadway season subscriptions are also available starting at $242. More information is available at TicketOmaha.com.
Performances in jazz, dance, family, and more are available in a flexible Create Your Own package. Patrons may select three or more of these performances to make their own packages. National Geographic Live subscription packages are also available.
Subscription or Create Your Own benefits include price savings, same seat (subscriptions only), advance purchase opportunities, and more. For more information, visit TicketOmaha.com.
Omaha Senior Living Series
Never a sales pitch, only the truth! FREE SEMINARS
Join us for a monthly series of candid conversations focused on providing answers to questions and solutions to challenges facing Omaha mature homeowners.
How does a downsize work, and what will it cost me?
Come listen to our Panelists to sort out the issues and give you the TRUTH!
April 27, 2022
1:30-2:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Millard Public Library
13214 Westwood Lane Omaha, NE 68144 Call 402-201-8051
to reserve your seat!
Hosted by: Bud & Jane Thomsen
ENOA’s Ombudsman Advocates visit area long-term care facilities and assisted living communities two hours each week to make sure the residents are living the best quality of life possible.
Delivering hot meals on a cold day, a special conversation between friends, helping a child learn how to read, shoveling snow from a driveway, making sure a long-term care facility resident is enjoying the best quality of life possible, and knitting caps for babies.
These are just a few examples of the important work being done in the community by the men, women, and children in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties who volunteer in programs sponsored by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.
Each year, ENOA’s volunteers provide over 200,000 hours of service worth more than $5 million.
In April, National Volunteer Month is being celebrated by ENOA and millions of Americans as a way to thank the volunteers, recruit new men, women, and children into these vital programs, and encourage volunteerism throughout the United States.
“Collectively and individually, our volunteers are making a tremendous difference for more than 1,000 individuals in our region,” said Mary Parker, director of ENOA’s Volunteer Services division.
“Each day, our volunteers step back from their busy lives, generously offering
Volunteers deliver Meals on Wheels to ENOA clients.
their time to improve the quality of life for someone else. The value of their contributions is immeasurable, and we’re truly grateful for these exemplary role models of service.”
ENOA’s Meals on Wheels program provides more than 200,000 hot meals to homebound older adults annually. Many of those midday meals are delivered by volunteers from the community and local businesses.
Retired Millard Public Schools educators Bob and Mary Lykke, ages 86 and 81, respectively, have been a part of ENOA’s Meals on Wheels volunteer delivery force for more than 10 years.
“Delivering meals allows us to do something that’s worthwhile,” said Mary.
“It acquaints us with aging in America,” said Bob. “We believe in giving back. We’ve received plenty. If we can bring a smile to the folks we deliver to, we’ve had a great day.”
“Our more than 100 volunteer drivers are kind and compassionate people who Monday through Friday help SeniorHelp Program volunteer Kristen Deane helped deliver bags of produce to ENOA clients.
us deliver more than 600 meals,” said Katelyn York who coordinates Meals on Wheels for ENOA. “I can’t thank these men and women enough for the tremendous service they provide.”
During the pandemic drivers have put the meals inside plastic bags and placed the bags on a doorknob or a nearby table. York said she hopes the drivers will soon be able to start handing the meals directly to the men and women on their routes.
“For many of the meals’ recipients, the driver will be the only human contact they have all day,” she added.
Additional volunteers are needed to deliver meals in various parts of the Omaha area. Drivers are contacted each Wednesday to see if they’re available to help the following week.
ENOA’s Ombudsman Advocates visit area long-term care facilities and assisted living communities two hours each week to make sure the residents are safe and being cared for properly by the facility’s staff.
“Ombudsman Advocate volunteers – who are a variety of ages and come from all kinds of professions – are men and women who enjoy solving problems and making life better for the residents,” said Beth Nodes, who coordinates the Ombudsman Advocate program for ENOA.
“For some of the residents, the Ombudsman Advocate may be the only face they see other than the facility’s staff. Our volunteers are appreciated because they spend time getting to know the residents. They work hard to advocate for things like timely responses to call lights for help, medications being given on time, and making sure the residents and staff are on the same page when it comes to the care plan.”
Volunteers of all ages provide services designed to keep older adults living independently at home for as long
