New Horizons August 2020 by Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

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Celebrating 45 Years

A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Offce on Aging

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August 2020 Vol. 45 No. 8

ENOA 4780 South 131st Street Omaha, NE 68137-1822

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

The

Wenninghoffs

Since 1956, Wenninghoff Farm has grown and sold a wide variety of fresh produce and spring bedding plants. Leo Adam Biga takes a closer look at this Irvington landmark and its third generation of proprietors, Paul and Amy Wenninghoff. See page 6.

New director On July 1, Patricia Bergman became the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s executive director replacing Dennis Loose. Bergman was the agency’s deputy director from 2014 through June 2020. See page 7.

Fire investigator David Sobotka and Alley, a 6-year-old Golden Labrador, are part of the Omaha Fire Department’s Accelerant Detection Canine Program. The effort is designed to identify fires caused by arson. See page 12.

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DCHD’s COVID-19 hotline available to answer your questions in English, Spanish

he Douglas County Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention want to educate Nebraskans about the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. Families need to deal with the COVID-19 just as they do for flu outbreaks, tornadoes, and floods. That means everyone should have at least a two-week supply of food, bottled water, and medicine on hand. The DCHD, working with colleagues at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine, has created a COVID-19 information line at 402-444-3400. The information line will be open seven days a week (until further notice) from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Callers will be able to have their questions answered in Spanish and English. “Our website and social media platforms will continue to provide the best and most current information,” said Douglas County Health Director Dr. Adi Pour. COVID-19 symptoms include a fever, cough, and shortness of breath. They may appear as soon as two days or as long as 14 days following exposure.

Illnesses have ranged from mild to no symptoms to others experiencing severe illness. A percentage of those who become ill have died. Dr. Pour said the best advice to avoid the COVID-19 is to practice good hygiene like you would with the seasonal flu. Good hygiene includes: • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Hand sanitizer is a second option. • Don’t touch your mouth, nose, or eyes, especially with unwashed hands. • Avoid contact with people who are sick. • Stay home while you’re sick. • Wear a mask when around other people. • Don’t cough or sneeze into your hands. • Frequently clean and disinfect your home, car, and workplace A COVID-19 vaccine isn’t available yet. Most people have recovered by drinking lots of fluids, resting, and taking pain and fever medication. If symptoms worsen, medical care might be needed.

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August 2020

Elder Access Line

egal 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. Its hours of operation are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 1 to 3 p.m. Friday. For more information, log on the Internet to http:// www.legalaidofnebraska. com/EAL.

AARP Information Center

ue to the coronavirus and its potential impact on older adults, the AARP Information Center, located at the Center Mall, will remain closed during August. To learn more about AARP online programs available, go to aarp.org/ne or facebook.com/aarp.ne. This is also a great time to read the AARP Bulletins. Recent articles have included one by AARP’s CEO Jo Ann Jenkins on The Promise of America. In the meantime, please continue to stay home, stay well, and follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

Metro Women’s Club of Omaha The Metro Women’s Club of Omaha whose motto is “Extending the Hand of Friendship,” holds a monthly luncheon on the second Tuesday of each month. The organization also offers a variety of other activities including Bunco, Bridge, and Gadabouts. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, all Metro Women’s Club of Omaha events are on hold until further notice. For more information, please go online to metrowomensclub.org.

UNMC study examining remdesivir, a treatment for persons hospitalized with the coronavirus

major scientific study on the results of the drug remdesivir, used to treat patients hospitalized with coronavirus, was published recently in the New England Journal of Medicine. University of Nebraska Medical Center/Nebraska Medicine infectious disease physician Andre Kalil, MD., is one of the study’s authors. He led the research at UNMC where the first study participant in the United States was enrolled on Feb. 21. Subsequently, another 1,063 participants from 10 countries were enrolled in the study. The randomized, doubleblind study found patients who were given remdesivir had a significantly faster recovery time from COVID-19 than those who received a placebo and a trend to improved survival. The median time to recovery was 11 days for patients treated with remdesivir compared with 15 days for those who received a placebo. “This is not a cure, but it can make people get better sooner and survive,” Dr. Kalil said. “We still have work to do.” Researchers also reported a survival benefit, with a 14day mortality rate of 7.1% for the group receiving remdesivir versus 11.9% for the placebo group. However,

the difference in mortality wasn’t statistically significant. The study analyzed hospitalized adults with COVID-19 with moderate to severe disease. Investigators found remdesivir was most beneficial for hospitalized patients with severe disease who required supplemental oxygen. The study compared 538 patients who received a 10-day course of the intravenous, antiviral remdesivir drug developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc., to 521 patients who received standard, supportive care, and a placebo. Dr. Kalil said because the medication shortens the disease duration, it’s shortening time spent in the hospital. “The medication shortens the duration of the time it takes to recover by about 30 to 40%, so some patients end up spending four to six days less in the hospital, requiring less oxygen, or less mechanical ventilation. Four to six days is an eternity when you’re real ly sick,” said Dr. Kalil who added there are 300 more patients’ data to be analyzed from the study (currently data on 75 percent of patients has been analyzed). Dr. Kalil and colleagues have recently begun the next phase of the study to evaluate the effects of remdesivir with another drug called Baricitinib. Researchers want to know if Baricitinib, used to reduce inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis patients, in combination with remdesivir, can reduce the inflammation in the lungs in COVID-19 patients. UNMC/Nebraska Medicine was the first in the country to enroll a patient in the new study. Dr. Kalil complimented collaborators local and worldwide, thanked patients who enroll in the trial, and praised University of Nebraska leaders. “It’s a real team approach. We’re fortunate to have the leadership here at the University of Nebraska and we have been leading the way with several other centers. We have to win as a team with everyone united. There’s no other way. This is the only way we’re going to defeat this pandemic. “Patients and families who volunteer to participate in the clinical trial are heroes to me because it is with their participation that we could discover a new treatment for this virus. With their continued participation we’re going to find more treatments.” (UNMC/Nebraska Medicine provided this information.)

COVID-19 can increase chances of poisoning

ith social distancing, school closures, changes to in-person services, and other measures to reduce transmission of the COVID-19 virus, this pandemic has caused significant changes to daily life for everyone. Social distancing presents challenges beyond decreased access to basic needs and services. Disruptions to daily routines, isolation, and anxiety around circumstances can lead to poisoning, both accidental and intentional. Children are naturally curious and like to mimic adults in their lives. Because of this, it’s important to: • Teach children to ask before touching or tasting anything they find on their own. • Purchase medication in child-resistant packaging whenever possible. • Never refer to medicine as “candy” or another appealing name. • When taking medication remember to be out of the sight of children. • Read all labels closely and take only as recommended. Cleaning surfaces followed by disinfectant is a best practice measure for the prevention of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. Remember these safety tips: • Do NOT mix cleaning products together. Mixing bleach with an acid such as vinegar and some toilet bowl cleaners or

ammonia will result in a highly toxic chlorine or chloramine gas. • Store household chemicals and all cleaning products in their original container. • Always use in a well-ventilated area. • Wear gloves to avoid skin contact. • Follow label directions. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizers may help decrease unwanted germs on hands. Children are attracted to hand sanitizers because packaging may be in brightly-colored bottles and smell like candy or food. These products usually contain ethyl alcohol which could cause alcohol poisoning. Some of the “homemade” sanitizers may not have labeling of ingredients and could pose a danger with exposure in mouth or eyes. Tips to keep in mind: • Always supervise children when using hand sanitizer. • Only use a dime-sized amount and rub in skin until dry. • Avoid eye exposure. • Keep hand sanitizers out of children’s reach and sight. The Nebraska Regional Poison Center is a free community service for the public. When you call 1-800-222-1222, you will speak immediately to a registered nurse or pharmacist 24/7/365.

August 2020

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, 4780 S. 131st Street, Omaha, NE 68137-1822. Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402-444-3076. E-mail: jeff.reinhardt@enoa.org 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 9,000 through direct mail .

Editor....................................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers......Nick Schinker & Leo Biga ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Janet McCartney, Cass County, vice-chairperson; Lisa Kramer, Washington County, secretary; David Saalfeld, Dodge County, & Angi Burmeister, Sarpy 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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‘We’re in this (COVID-19) together’ For the first time in my many decades on earth, I’m facing the same catastrophe as all my friends, siblings, cousins, parish colleagues, and everyone else I know. All of us, no matter where we live, are facing a common threat, the COVID-19 virus with all the fear, anxiety, and stress this reality entails. We’re all having a common experience. In order to successfully combat this pandemic, we need to examine a mindset deeply imbedded in our Western culture, that of “individualism.” As Americans, we’ve happily cherished the benefits of personal freedom, initiative, and creative expression; all good things which come from respecting the individual. However, as with anything good, the extreme is detrimental to our society. Extreme individualism leads to selfishness, survival of the fittest, excessive acquisition to benefit one’s own desires, and impatience. All of us have fallen victim to these negative attitudes at some time. For-

tunately, as we’ve lived our lives, the challenges we face have exposed these self-defeating attitudes as obstacles to true happiness.

Call 1-844-268-5627

Legal Aid is hosting relief hotline to provide advice during pandemic

our culture. Again, it’s no surprise that young people are having the hardest time practicing the restrictions of social distancing, mask

Conscious Aging By Nancy Hemesath

Our own suffering opens our eyes to the suffering of others which begets compassion and a willingness to sacrifice for one another. Young people, particularly those who enjoy affluence, often exemplify selfishness, intolerance for delayed gratification, and expectations of unbridled independence; all centered on “me.” Over time these individualistic tendencies are normally tempered by the responsibilities of parenting, the challenges of our work life, and facing the inevitable difficulties thrown at us by life. With growing maturity, self-centered individualism abates. As I stated earlier, never before has our whole society been so challenged by the need to rise above the individualism that’s prevalent in

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usage, and delayed social gatherings. It’s not easy to have personal freedoms curtailed and to respond in a mature way. As older adults, we’re responsible for demonstrating behavior which is for the common good. Even though our hearts hurt when we can’t hug our grandchildren, we delay that gratification for the benefit of all. We miss our friends, but we’re willing to use technology, even though it may be difficult for us to learn to stay connected. Instead of refusing to wear masks because “this is America and we’re free to do as we please,” we should accept the discomfort for the welfare of all. This pandemic is a common experience that individualism is ill-equipped to handle. In addition to the shared pain we have, however, is the opportunity for shared growth. No matter what our age, individualism is a part of the social fabric. We have the chance to rise above it by professing in word and action that “we’re in this together.” It’s the only way forward, and as older adults, we’re best suited to model this conviction. (Note: I’m starting a book study via ZOOM on Conscious Living, Conscious Aging in the next couple of weeks. There’s still room if you want to join. If you’re interested, please email me at nhemesath@cox.net. It’s a useful way to spend this stay-at-home time.) HorizonAD-2010:HorizonAD-08

ebraskans who have questions or who are experiencing legal problems due to the coronavirus/ COVID-19 public health emergency can get legal advice and help through the free COVID-19 Disaster Relief Hotline. Hosted by Legal Aid of Nebraska, working closely with the Nebraska State Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP), this hotline aims to make key legal assistance easy and accessible. If you’re a Nebraskan facing legal issues related to the virus, or the owner of a small, locally-owned business (less than 50 employees, and not a franchise) that’s closed, in risk of permanent closure due to the virus, and where the payment of fees would significantly deplete your resources, the hotline may be reached at 1-844-268-5627. Callers will be connected to the hotline’s voicemail. Callers should leave their name, phone number, brief details of the problem and the assistance needed, and in what county they’re located. Callers will receive a call back from an experienced Legal Aid staff member. Individuals and businesses that don’t qualify for Legal Aid’s free services will be directly referred to the VLP. The VLP will work to place cases with Nebraska volunteer lawyers who will provide free legal assistance. The types of legal issues associated with COVID-19, and focused on by the hotline include: • Tenants with rent issues, including those facing eviction. • Debt problems, including debtors with garnishments or who are ordered to appear at a debtor’s exam. • Mortgage foreclosures, including advising on options for delinquent payments. • Unemployment insurance denials. • Employee rights, including sick leave and wage payments. • Government benefits available to low-income persons such as ADC, SNAP, AABD, and SSI. • Medicaid and medical insurance claims. • Drafting wills, health care power of attorney, and transfer on death deeds. • Domestic abuse and safety issues. • Elder abuse and exploitation. • Access to education. • Helping small, locally-owned businesses with business and employment related matters, including human relations issues, unemployment benefits, and contracts. More information on these legal issues, including ways you can directly help yourself, are available at www.legalaidofnebraska.org. 2/4/10 8:00 AM Page 1

Attorneys at Law William E. Seidler Jr.

www.seidler-seidler-law.com

4801 N. 52nd St. Omaha, NE 68104 omahaseniorcare.org 402-557-6860

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New Horizons

10050 Regency Circle, Suite 525 Omaha, NE 68114-5705

402-397-3801

Delivering quality legal services since 1957.

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August 2020

Have an action plan

Some tips to help protect yourself against ID theft By Ginny Czechut

ou may be hearing a lot about identity theft lately. Someone “pretends” to be you, maybe by using your credit card online, or by using your Social Security number information to secure credit. By learning how you might be vulnerable, arming yourself with a plan to protect against identity theft, and knowing the steps to take should the theft happen, you can set your mind at ease knowing your personal information is safe. Your identity can be stolen in a variety of ways including by phone and e-mail scams, rifling through your trash, or by purchasing personal information from a business. Some identity thieves may use a change of address form at the post office to divert your mail to another location. Here are some tips to protect yourself: • Secure your mail. Consider a locking mailbox if you’re not home when mail is delivered. Ask a trusted neighbor to hold your mail until you’re home. Make sure to stop your mail when you’re away from home for an extended time. • Guard your personal information. Don’t let your wallet or purse out of your sight when in public and consider leaving important documents like your Social Security card or banking information at home. • Never provide personal information to phone or e-mail solicitors. • Shred papers you throw out to prevent thieves from going through your trash to find information. Remember, a bank or the IRS will never send you an email to ask for your username and password. If you receive an email stating your account is locked or you might have been hacked, call your bank to confirm the information.

FTC warns about scammers using COVID-19 as a way to steal money, sensitive information The Federal Trade Commission warns consumers that bad actors are working hard to use the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to deceive Americans and steal their money and sensitive information. Scammers may set up websites to sell bogus coronavirus products from face masks to vaccine cure-alls, and use fake emails, texts, and social media to get consumers to share payment and/or personal information. Americans may see emails or social media posts claiming to promote awareness or offering prevention tips which include false information about COVID-19 cases in your neighborhood. Scammers may use the pandemic to tout can’t miss

investment opportunities like face masks. They may also ask for donations to raise money to help victims. The FTC reminds Americans there’s no vaccine for the coronavirus, and that any opportunity to ride the wave of economic activity due to the virus is probably a scam. The FTC suggests: • Don’t click on email links from sources you don’t know. These could download malware on your electronic devices. • Ignore online offers for vaccinations or treatments. • If you receive a communication from a source claiming to be a government agency like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, close the email and visit that agency’s website. • Engage your inner skeptic when confronted with donation requests. Before giving money, examine the charity with watchdogs like give.org or charitynavigator.org.

Historian needs your help Omaha historian Howard Hamilton is writing a book about Omaha’s outdoor monuments and memorials. If you know of an outdoor

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cammers are counting on you to panic and immediately start trying to clean up the mess online where they’ve set up a fraudulent website to snag your information. Your bank will always have safeguards in place to keep your account information safe. Check your credit reports on a regular basis. You can make inquiries about your credit history to any of the three national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can receive one credit report per year for free. You’ll be charged for additional reports during the same year. These credit bureaus can also help you freeze your credit, so it’s not so easy for thieves to steal. You may have to go through a few extra steps to release your credit but take it from one who knows…it’s worth the peace of mind. If your identity is stolen, contact one of the three national credit bureaus listed above to let them know. Call your creditors to inform them your identity has been stolen. Local law enforcement should also be contacted and informed about the theft. Here are a few final tips on handling specific identity theft situations: • If debt collectors call, explain to them that your identity was stolen. You’re not responsible for fraudulent bills. Ask for confirmation in writing that you don’t owe the debt and the account has been closed. • If your credit card is stolen, call the card issuer immediately to cancel the account. It’s a good idea to have a list of all your credit cards, account numbers, expiration dates, and issuer phone numbers kept in a secure place away from the cards themselves. • If your checks are stolen, put stop payments on all outstanding checks. Cancel your checking and savings accounts and obtain new account numbers. • If your ATM or debit card is stolen, report it to the bank or issuer immediately. They’ll issue a new card, account number, and PIN number. Take responsibility for monitoring your statements closely during this process. A little education and an action plan are the best ways to keep yourself and your identity safe. (Czechut is with the Florence Home Healthcare Center in Omaha.)

monument or memorial in Omaha that should be included in the book, please contact Hamilton at 402672-9162.

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August 2020

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Farm in the city provides a good life for Paul, Amy Wenninghoff By Leo Adam Biga

Amy quips at the end of another dawn to dusk day. A lot happens on those 37 acres. “We’re kind of three businesses in one,” Amy says. “An indoor farmer’s market, a greenhouse for bedding and other plants, and come fall, a pumpkin patch with hayrides and bonfires. We have bunnies, chickens, and goats starting for a little petting zoo.” Wenninghoff’s “Farm Market” is in a barn made over as a traditional country store that serves a steady clientele. “It used to be pretty much fresh fruit and vegetables, but we’ve added meat, eggs, cheese, dairy, homemade jams, honey, pickles, salsa, sauces, rubs, etc., all sourced from local suppliers,” Amy says. Paul says customers who get the eggs, meat, jams, and pickled stuff, are normally reminded by Amy that the Wenninghoffs also sell produce. “We get some customers that are very health conscious, but mostly they’re coming because it tastes good,” Amy adds. An on-site prep kitchen allows the team to expedite an array of cut watermelon and other prepackaged produce. “Society’s changing to the point where people don’t want to cut watermelon, they don’t want to make their own salad – they want it prepared for them,” Amy says.

Contributing Writer

n the south side of Sorensen Parkway between 72nd Street and Blair High Road unwinds a sight for sore eyes: a working farm in the heart of metro Omaha. This oasis known as Wenninghoff Farm has been there for eight decades and the surrounding suburbs grew up around this landmark. In an era when few urban dwellers claim direct ties with agriculture outside of farmers’ markets anymore, Wenninghoff’s represents both a throwback to the past and a model for the future. Organic, health-conscious, farmto-table sustainability movements are driving an urban agriculture revolution that includes backyard farms and community gardens. During the coronavirus pandemic, home gardens have sprung up at a rate not seen since the Great Depression. Wenninghoff’s, situated on 37 acres of lush, undulating land in the unincorporated village of Irvington within northwest Omaha, intersects with food trends by doing what it does naturally: growing bedding plants and edible crops. Third-generation family farmer Paul Edward Wenninghoff, his wife, Amy, and their son, David, run the spread today. Paul grew up there and saw housing developments and commercial spaces spring up around it until the farm became a green island amidst an ocean of concrete sprawl. Soon after Paul’s grandparents Frank and Sophia Wenninghoff started the farm in 1928, the family suffered hardship. First, the Great Depression hit. Then Frank abandoned the family. His oldest child at home, Paul F. Wenninghoff (Paul Edward’s father), quit school to support his mother and four younger siblings. The family built a commercial customer base from a produce district stall in what’s now Omaha’s Old Market district. When household consumers asked if they could buy goods right from the farm, a direct retail trade began there in 1956. Direct selling was a necessity due to the slim profit margins that were made selling to stores. “Twenty-five cents is what our family got paid for an eight-quart market basket, which is a quarter of a bushel or 15 pounds,” Paul says. “After mom and dad got done delivering it, buying the baskets, and paying the help to help pick the crop, they had nothing. “In 1956 they put an ad in The Omaha World-Herald classifieds (advertising section) under ‘Good Things to Eat’ that read: ‘Pick your own tomatoes for a $1.25 per bushel.’ The response was tremendous.” Still, he says, “It took about 15 years, adding various items like sweet corn and cucumbers, to get to the point of making a living that supported the family. Our retail hours were 7 in the morning until dark, seven days a week. In July, that’s 100 hours a week. That’s what it took to

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Paul and Amy Wenninghoff live and work on 37 acres of lush, fertile farmland in the heart of metropolitan Omaha. get a foothold and establish a business.” The long hours and hard work made an impression on Paul. “My folks used their brains and backs, built something, and gave all three of their children an opportunity for a college education they never had. So, truly the American dream – they lived it.”

aul was the only one among the siblings to make farming his life. After high school, he pursued careers at two different corporate giants, InterNorth and Campbell Soup Co., before taking over the family farm in 2000. As stewards of the land and legacy-keepers, Paul and his wife, Amy, maintain the same bedrock approach as those who preceded them. “The philosophy has always been we have to try to put out a product better in not only flavor but in freshness versus the store,” Paul says. “It’s always been do the best you can do and put it out at a fair price. Day in and day out we’re competitively priced with anybody.” The Wenninghoffs are painfully aware a Baker’s supermarket is within walking distance of their farm. Getting customers to buy from Wenninghoff’s rather than the grocery store is all about providing farm-to-table freshness. “What we’re about is picking what’s needed and anticipated for sales, keeping it moving and fresh. We grow up to 30 different varieties of produce and you’re getting something maybe only hours to a day since harvest,” Paul says. “You’re buying it direct, taking it home, then cooking the meal. It doesn’t come any more direct from farm to table than that. It’s not gone to a warehouse, been redistributed to a store, and marketed that way.” He’s proud carrying on the tradition of his sturdy, entrepreneurial German Wenninghoff stock who originally settled in the eastern United States. “The ancestors fought for the North in the Civil War. They settled with a land grant northwest of Freeman, Neb., near Dodge-Snyder. That’s what brought them out from Pennsylvania.” The Irvington farm used to be 53 acres but when land got sold for construction of the Sorensen Parkway the place was left with its current 37 acres. An urban legend has it the Wenninghoffs owned the entire valley before selling to developers. “If we owned the entire valley, would I be out here working like this?”

New Horizons

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August 2020

s a food producer, Paul’s dismayed by how few Americans know where their food comes from and what it takes to grow it, though he acknowledges some are becoming more aware. Anyone complaining about the high cost of food, he says, needs educating. A 2015 World Economic Forum study found 6.4% of U.S. consumer expenditures are spent on food consumed at home. “That’s very cheap. It’s the cheapest on this planet,” he says. Paul believes the more people know about their food, the better. “We need to start Education 101 on how your food happens.” He feels old perceptions don’t do justice to how advanced farming’s become with technology increasing efficiency and productivity. “How many people know that most of American agriculture on the cropping side has GPS involved for the processes? We use it. I can show you how straight the rows are. We record on GPS as we’re planting the sweet corn, cabbage, and broccoli, so we have the location, the date, and that knowledge of what crop is in what field.” The general public doesn’t understand the toil it takes to harvest a single crop. Paul says many kids and even some adults don’t know the produce they eat comes from the ground. “The problem is the majority of Americans are removed from agriculture. They just have no reason to know. The last census said 1.3% of --Please turn to page 7.

The Wenninghoffs... --Continued from page 6. our population is in agriculture. We really are at the infancy stage of trying to educate the general public about food, how it comes about, and what it takes to make it all happen.” He’s encouraged some high schools offer urban ag programs and some community gardens get youth involved in cultivating crops. Amy didn’t know a hoe from a hammer when she met Paul. “He needed help picking pumpkins one year, so I donned my baseball hat, came out, and worked for him,” she recalls. “A pretty good pumpkin picker,” Paul says. When the couple got hitched and started a family, they lived off the farm but commuted there to work. “The first seven years were very difficult because I was a city girl and I thought you worked 9 to 5. It didn’t quite work out that way,” Amy says. “I had a very hard time adjusting. I said then if I ever got farming in my blood, I want a blood transfusion – because I didn’t like it. Then we moved here onto the farm in 2000 with the kids after his folks passed away. Eventually I came to like it. It is a good way of life.” All four of their sons have worked the farm. Three of them learned to drive trucks in their early teens. “Agriculture forces responsibility in many cases at an earlier age,” Paul says. “A community is what makes business successful and it’s important for business to be active in the community giving back,” he continues. “Our son, Joey, has Down’s Syndrome and we’re still involved with the special needs school he attended.”

aul says farming, like life, is a series of peaks and valleys. “No question the soil and climate – the temperature and humidity – have a significant influence on the flavor that comes in the produce. “When you harvest ‘hardware items’ like potatoes and onions, you can cure them, and they’ll keep for extended periods of time. We have coolers that further extend their life. My folks never had coolers. Things like sweet corn don’t have a long shelf life unless you can pull the heat out of it in a cooler.” Staple favorites never grow old for consumers. “We seem to have a following for sweet corn and tomatoes. People anticipate that homegrown tomato. Peppers are very popular items,” Paul says. “We have a big assortment. Dad grew bell peppers and hot banana peppers.” Today, Wenninghoff Farm grows and sells varieties of bell peppers, an Italian frying pepper (Marconi), jalapeños, sweet banana, hot banana, and poblanos. “We grow several things Dad never grew like broccoli, okra, cauliflower, and kohlrabi (a wild cabbage),” Paul says. “Times have changed. It used to be acorn squash was --Please turn to page 8.

Trish Bergman looks forward to leading ENOA’s staff, helping older Nebraskans

Bergman brings 33 years of human services experience to her new role as ENOA’s executive director. By Jeff Reinhardt New Horizons Editor

s Patricia Bergman began her new duties as executive director of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging last month, she didn’t anticipate making any major changes in the operation of the agency that serves older adults and their families in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties. “I think flexibility, however, will be necessary as we’re going to see a new generation of clients and our workforce dynamics are changing. I also see the need to expand services in our rural areas,” she said. “I believe my greatest challenge will be sustaining and growing the agency with the recent funding cuts. It’s time for ENOA to start exploring other funding streams through grants and potential private pay services.”

Directing an agency that provides a variety of programs and services designed to keep older adults living in their own homes with independence and dignity for as long as possible is the latest role in Bergman’s 33-year human services career. “I’m very pleased that Trish Bergman will be leading ENOA. Her commitment to the agency and her passion for ensuring older adults receive the services and support they need is evident,” said Dr. Julie Masters, a professor in the University of Nebraska’s Department of Gerontology, and chair of ENOA’s Advisory Council. “Her understanding of the agency’s fivecounty service area, the Older Americans Act, and Nebraska’s aging network are critical to achieving ENOA’s mission.”

orn and raised in Scottsbluff, Nebr., Bergman is a graduate of Scottsbluff High School. A highlight of her four years at SHS was playing the clarinet in the Bearcats’ band during a European tour that included performances in Germany, France, Great Britain, Switzerland, and Holland. Trish graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1983 majoring in psychology and sociology. After college, she worked for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from 1987 though 2009. Her HHS resume featured stints as a family support worker for three years, eight years as a social worker and an Adult Protective Services worker, and four years as a business system analyst. From March 2002 to January 2009, Bergman was the administrator for the state of Nebraska’s Transitional Assistance to Needy Families Program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Lincoln. --Please turn to page 9.

The Wenninghoffs met when Paul hired Amy to pick pumpkins at their farm near Irvington.

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Paul, Amy battling regulations to sustain Wenninghoff Farm... --Continued from page 7. a big seller. Not anymore.” Don’t go looking for carrots at Wenninghoff’s. “Our soil doesn’t work for carrots,” Amy explains. “We have a clay soil and carrots need more of a sandy soil. We go with a pitchfork to try to dig that carrot up and we chop it in half – and it’s dirty.” Despite all the hard work, Paul knows his farm is not the only game in town. “There’s been a push by grocery stores to have more fresh local produce. They want the market. So, they’ve worked to source local produce. Now how local is it? Hy-Vee’s in multiple states, so in theory sweet corn from Illinois is local to their business. Nobody can have all the business though. You’ve got to pick your niche and try to be good at it. Hopefully you survive.” While Wenninghoff’s supplies some food service clients, it doesn’t do much with restaurants. “What they think is volume isn’t sustainable for us on the business side,” Paul says. “A restaurant might go through 25 pounds of Roma tomatoes in a week. That’s one case. I can’t run a truck to your restaurant for one case. Not that I wouldn’t appreciate that business.” He’s grateful for the customers they do serve. “We have a great, broad base of customers that have been very loyal, including multiple generation family customers. It’s people who appreciate getting something fresh. You see all walks of life here. Everybody needs to eat. We have people who do very well and people who are very challenged to get the next week’s groceries together. Everyone’s welcome.”

esponding to customer trends is vital for the Wenninghoffs. “What consumers want has changed and we’ve tried the best we can to adapt,” Paul says. “When I started 30 years ago customers routinely came out to buy 10 bushels of tomatoes or bell peppers for their family,” Amy says. “Then it got to be people would come get one bushel. Now they want a quart, maybe two.” Canning fruit and vegetables was a thrifty way to stretch home-cooked meals that families typically sat down to eat together. Frozen and packaged foods, along with a proliferation of restaurants, especially fast food, changed that dynamic. It’s only recently Baby Boomers and millennials are rediscovering the benefits of farm-to-table, homemade eating. “You’re definitely seeing a movement of millennials having more genuine interest in where their food’s coming from,” Paul says. Most consumers hold unreasonable expectations for how produce should look, according to the Wenninghoffs. Produce grown outdoors, subject to weather and pests, will have imperfections. It still retains the same flavor and nutritional value as pristine items. But try as they might, the couple has a tough time getting folks to understand dings or bugs come with buying fresh. “More often than not people’s purchases are based on looks, not nutritional value, so that’s why they want it looking perfect,” Paul adds. Amy says most of the sweet corn grocery stores sell now is cut and wrapped with the tips and husks off for presentation purposes. The Wenninghoffs take pride in satisfying customer demand. “Once we start sweet corn, until the season is over, we work hard on the production side to have sweet corn every day,” Paul says. “I believe that’s part of what’s helped build the customer base. If you don’t have it the first time people come, they’re pretty understanding. If you don’t have it the second time, you start losing customers.” As stores source far and wide, consumers don’t

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understand the concept of seasonal produce since everything’s in stock year-round. A Nebraska farmer doesn’t have that luxury. “Americans are so spoiled. There is such a plentiful, safe food supply compared to many parts of this planet and we’ve worked so hard as a nation to take seasonal out of the thinking,” Paul says. Wenninghoff Farm offers a Community Supported Agriculture program that sends enrolled customers a basket of fresh seasonal produce from the farm every week over 17 weeks. “Each week depending on what’s in season we try to put in four or five varieties of items,” Amy says. “We mix it up week to week. Early on it starts with your lettuces and zucchini, then sweet corn, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Everything we grow here gets in the CSA. It exposes a lot of people to the farm and it’s an educational tool to teach about seasonality. I email members what they’re getting, what’s next, and recipes to use with the products.” Paul says another positive aspect of the CSA is that people try things they wouldn’t otherwise. Over time, the Wenninghoffs have offered less pick-your-own options because fewer people want to work in the field. “But now, people are wanting it as a learning experience for their children. We do a pick your own herb garden,” Amy says. “Customers can also pick their own bushels of tomatoes when they’re in season.” Having the public in the fields used to be routine, but it’s become problematic in a regulatory era, Paul says. “The government is getting concerned about the general public contaminating the fields with diseases. Food safety is a huge change being implemented into agriculture.” “That means we are advised not to let people on our fields unless they sign a waiver and wash their hands before they come in,” Amy says. “I have to document the staff has learned to wash their hands properly.” COVID-19 has added extra precautions (physical distancing and extra washing of things). Paul and Amy feel the non-pandemic related strictures go too far. “Regulations require we go into our fields to do a pre-harvest inspection and if any deer relieved themselves, we have to flag that to mark a seven-foot no-harvest zone. We can’t let the dog out in the field because it might poop there. We can’t have a cat to catch the mice,” Paul says. “One of the things we’re required to do when harvesting anything in the field is it to cover it for transport to our loading dock to protect a bird from pooping on it,” Amy adds. “If a just-picked cucumber that grows on the ground falls on the ground when we’re carrying the crate to the wagon, it’s no longer a sellable product. You have to destroy it. That’s the law,” Paul says. “The new laws of the land mean more and more regulation. Why would anybody want to be in agriculture?” While Paul says he enjoys planting seeds and bringing them to harvest, government restrictions have made farming challenging.

enninghoff Farm features eight greenhouses filled with bedding plants, the first being erected around 1950. “I grew up in greenhouses, hotbeds, and cold frames.” Paul recalls. “We grew all our own field production plants and bedding plants. Petunias were a popular flower. But mainly the greenhouses were to grow our field production needs.” Today’s greenhouses still serve that purpose. “We start with seeds and grow the plants for our field production needs,” Paul says. “Our season really starts that last week of January to the first week of February with the initial seeding of crops that go into our fields in the spring.”

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When the couple first designated a greenhouse for retail sales, Amy thought it would just be for flowers. Customers, however, kept begging for vegetable plants. The farm now has two retail greenhouses that cover a combined 11,000 square feet. Amy says many first-time customers are awed by the selection in the greenhouses. “We’ve worked hard to be diversified. We have the bedding plants to start the season. That helps get cash flow, which means you don’t have to borrow as much from the bank,” Paul says. “Our work season ends when the ground freezes so tight we can’t dig dirt. Then we’ll start the greenhouses up the first of February.” There’s little down time for the Wenninghoffs even in the dead of winter. “You tie out all the paperwork for your season and get all the supplies ordered in to start the next season.” Paul says. “There’s something to do every day in my world. Welcome to small business.”

he challenging work and the sacrifices involved with agriculture aren’t for everyone, but Amy says she and Paul meet young people that want to farm because they want that lifestyle. Paul says if a young person wants to be in farming, he’d recommend going to school, getting an engineering degree, and making equipment to pick the tomatoes and pull the carrots because there isn’t enough labor in America to do that kind of work by hand. “We’ve got to resolve the border issue. There are people with lesser lives than we experience in America who want an opportunity. They will pull carrots for $12 an hour. Why do we have a problem with that – most Americans are not going to do it. “From my side as a grower the toughest thing we have is finding labor. Growing food is not high in American society as a job.” Then there’s the economics of farming. “If you’re successful in agriculture, you live poor to die rich,” Paul says. Farmers spend a lot of money on their equipment, Amy says, pointing to a used tractor and a planter that combined cost $237,000. Paul says getting into farming is very difficult unless you inherit the land. Return on yield is another challenge. Most Nebraska farmers hope to break even growing corn and soybeans, according to Paul who says many end the year with less money than when they started despite hours of hard work. He says the decision-making, managing, and investing in the American food chain is in the hands of too few people. The Wenninghoffs, however, aren’t going anywhere. “I’m very blessed. I’ve had reasonably good health. The business has grown, and we’ve worked to put that name out and hopefully in a positive way,” Paul says. He could auction off everything, but says he’d have to pay taxes on the depreciated equipment and accept less dollars per acre than the land’s really worth. Paul believes in what he does. “I’m a person of faith. I maybe can’t cut a pair of two-by-fours straight, but I can grow sweet corn or flowers. Everybody has their niche. I just believe that. Some people are lucky to find it. Some find it late in life. Some never find it.” He’s found his niche running a farm in the city. “The business we have, you can’t buy this education of starting a seed or a plant, raising to a product that’s marketable, and dealing with the general public. That’s the kind of learning experience you can’t get from a formal education.”

Mobile lifting chairs can provide ENOA Executive Director Trish Bergman... assistance lifting, transferring a --Continued from page 7. day-to-day work, but they’ve stepped up to challenge, embraced the changes, and In 2009, Trish left HHS to join Julie loved one in and out of bed, chair Osnes Consulting, LLC and Rightmanual, every done good work every day.” By David Kohll, Pharm, D. o you have a family member who needs care assistance? Does your loved one occasionally slide out of bed or out of their chair and end up on the floor when being transferred or transferring on their own? Is it difficult to lift them off the ground when they’ve fallen? When I was helping care for my dad who had vascular Parkinson’s and was living in his own home with a caregiver, I’d occasionally get a call asking me to help lift him from the floor and into his bed. If necessary, they’d call the fire department to pick him up. In some municipalities, fire departments may charge approximately $750 for this service which isn’t billable to insurance. The solution is the Raizer mobile lifting chair, made by a company named Liftup from Denmark. The Raizer works for persons who have fallen and can’t get up on their own. The user is raised comfortably up to a sitting or almost standing position in a way that supports their entire body and helps them in a dignified, safe way. The state-of-the-art Raizer mobile lifting chair is used in care facilities, hospitals, public buildings, and hotels, as well by ambulance services and anyone lifting, moving, and repositioning individuals with reduced mobility. The Raizer requires minimal physical effort with lifting and moving without putting excess stress on the back, arms, etc. Injuries are common for individuals manually lifting, transferring, and repositioning patients or impaired persons. Using the Raizer mobile lifting chair can help reduce workplace injuries. The Raizer is easy to disassemble and transport and can be used via a battery-operated remote control in any situation. The materials Liftup used to design the Raizer were carefully selected focusing on stability and durability in consideration of the assistant and the fallen person. I wish I had the Raizer when my dad was being cared for at home. The caregivers and I could’ve have easily gotten him out of a bed or a chair without worrying about being injured, giving us all peace of mind. (Kohll is with Kohll’s Rx in Omaha.)

LLC. She also became senior vice-president of Quality Government Solutions (QGS), a Lincoln-based firm specializing in managing and consulting with state and local government. While with QGS, Bergman began working at ENOA in 2010 as a program analyst before being named the agency’s deputy director in 2014. On July 1, she became ENOA’s executive director following Dennis Loose’s retirement.

To remain successful, Bergman said ENOA will need to adapt to new technology and plan for the Baby Boomers. “Their needs and wants are totally different than previous generations.”

hen not working, Bergman enjoys spending time with her family that includes Jeff, her husband for 37 years who works as an agriculture research technician for the University of Nebraska; son, Dustin,

“I’m confident Trish will continue Dennis Loose’s good work and lead the ENOA team to great success in the future.”

ergman said the best part of working with older adults is the opportunity to help them meet their essential needs like wellness, shelter, and financial stability that provide safe, comfortable, and happy lives. “The older adult is always so appreciative of any help they can get even if that only means a phone call or a smile from a volunteer, a warm meal, or services that allow them to stay in their home for as long as possible. “The most difficult part is not being able to help all those in need and knowing there are many people that should be getting help but are too proud to ask for it,” she added. Trish is pleased to take the helm at ENOA where she’ll lead a dedicated group of men and women. “The staff is invested in their work. They’re passionate, ambitious, and always willing to go the extra mile for the people we serve. There have been a lot of challenges in the last year, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on our

a 34-year-old UI/UX senior developer for First National Bank of Omaha; 31-year-old daughter, Chelsea, a medical radiographer who works in Lincoln and lives in Ithaca; grandchildren Addison (age 7), 4-year-old A.J., and Demi (10 months). Trish’s hobbies include flower and weed arranging, reading, and listening to audio books.

s she begins her tenure as its executive director, Bergman is confident ENOA will continue to do an excellent job serving older Nebraskans. “There’s amazing teamwork within and between each of the nine divisions. The agency’s mission has and always will be sustained, even when resources are tight.” “I’m confident Trish will continue Dennis Loose’s good work and lead the ENOA team to great success in the future,” Dr. Masters said. “I look forward to working with her as a member of the advisory council.”

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ENOA is recruiting volunteers to become Ombudsmen Advocates

Adjusting your travel plans during a pandemic

he Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is looking for men and women age 21 and older to join its Longterm Care Ombudsman Program which is co-sponsored by the Nebraska State Ombudsman Program. ENOA’s Long-term Care Ombudsmen volunteer in local long-term care facilities and assisted living communities to protect the residents’ rights, well-being, and quality of life. Long-term Care Ombudsmen must complete 20 hours of initial classroom training and 12 hours of additional training every two years.

uring the training, the volunteers learn about the residents’ rights, aging issues, Medicare, Medicaid, communication skills, how to investigate the residents’ complaints, the importance of confidentiality, and about the federal and state rules, regulations, and laws regarding Nebraska’s long-term care facilities and assisted living communities. Before being assigned to a long-term care facility or an assisted living community, new volunteers will make four visits to a site with an experienced Ombudsman Advocate to learn more about what the program entails. After a threemonth probationary period, the new volunteers are certified as Ombudsman Advocates. Certified Ombudsman Advocates will be assigned to a long-term care facility or an assisted living community where they’ll visit for two hours a week to meet with administrators, residents, and the residents’ family members to address concerns. For more information about ENOA’s Long-term Care Ombudsman Program, call Beth Nodes at 402-444-6536.

Intercultural Senior Center The Intercultural Senior Center, 5545 Center St., is offering in-person outdoor exercise classes including: Mondays and Fridays: Tai Chi and Wednesdays: Zumba. Classes are held from 9 to 9:30 a.m. Participants are asked to bring a bottle of water. Masks – which are available upon request – are encouraged but not required. Participants are invited to take part in a small crafts class after each exercise session. The center – which is open weekdays from 8 a.m.

to 4:30 p.m. – offers online learning videos that can be accessed from home. These videos are available at interculturalseniorcenter.org and on Facebook at ISC Class Connect. The ISC also offers a food pantry to adults age 50 and older even if they’ve never participated in other ISC programs. Pick-up and delivery options are available. All other programs and activities at the facility are suspended due to the pandemic. Please call 402-444-6529 for more information.

By Chris Holbert

ravel plans may not be exactly what people imagined at the beginning of this year. Many people are still hoping to get out of town and visit family and friends or explore a new destination. According to a survey of consumers by travel center operator Pilot Flying J, 53% of people planned a road trip for this summer. For at-risk populations, a road trip can reduce the opportunities for exposure. Thirty-five percent of people surveyed said they’d prefer driving over flying because of fears they could be exposed to the coronavirus on an airplane. Make sure you’ve planned ahead and are well supplied on the road with backup plans in place. This isn’t the summer to simply open a map to a random page and start driving. Here are some travel tips: • Travel at off times: Build a few extra days into your trip if necessary so you can avoid rest stops and restaurants in the middle of the day. • Overpack personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies: It’s impossible to predict where you might have to stop on the road if

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you’ll have a breakdown, and what condition restrooms at rest stops will be in when you arrive. Be prepared for any situation by packing enough PPE such as hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, paper towels, and other cleaning supplies. Calculate how many stops you plan on making and then double that number of supplies. • Do It Yourself meals: Instead of stopping at restaurants, pack meals you can prepare and eat in the car. Pack a cooler with meat and cheese for sandwiches, a loaf of bread and peanut butter, or seasoned tuna in cans or pouches. Snack bars, chips, and fruits like bananas, citrus, and apples will also travel well and be easy to eat. Consider packing freeze-dried meals or Meals Ready to Eat (MRE) you can easily prepare with hot water. If you want to enjoy local restaurants along your route, research them ahead of time so you know their service hours and if you can get curbside takeout without leaving your vehicle. • Keep friends and family informed: Most people have a cell phone, but you never know if you might get caught in a situation where you have no signal or the battery dies. It’s best to provide friends and family with your travel itinerary before you leave home. If you have to make any changes, update them along the way. A check in every few hours with an updated location is a good idea when driving so if anything goes wrong, people know where to look for you. • Call ahead: Call the non-emergency number for the highway patrol, the local police, or forest service in the areas you’ll be driving through that day. Talking to a real person will give you better insights into road and weather conditions than you’ll get from searching online. • Rely on technology: Portable power is a must for the road or air travel to ensure your phone is always powered. Keep your mobile personal emergency response devices in an accessible garment pocket. This way if you have an emergency and can’t dial your phone, it will be easier to call for help. Download helpful weather, route guidance, gas station finders, and other relevant travel apps to your phone. These can give you alerts about bad weather, where to find gas, traffic delays, and other local news alerts. This year the planning may take extra steps and require extra gear, but after months of staying at home the investment in a well-planned trip will be well worth the effort. (Holbert is the CEO of SecuraTrac.)

‘They have the courage to care’

UNO gerontologist recognizes efforts of ENOA, its partners helping older adults deal with the impact of the coronavirus (This article appeared as a Midlands Voices column in The Omaha World-Herald. The writer is a gerontology professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. This essay expresses the opinions of the author and not the policies or positions of UNO or any related entities.)

he value and needs of aging adults are strikingly clear as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults living in the community, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes face restrictions that limit or exclude visits with family members and friends. Concerns of loneliness and further isolation are merited for those already with limited human interaction.

In the midst of this is a silent and courageous group of beautiful souls, including aging adults themselves, who are working to ensure elders are not forgotten. In the midst of this is a silent and courageous group of beautiful souls, including aging adults themselves, who are working to ensure elders are not forgotten. The tremendous work performed by agencies in the metropolitan area including the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, Legal Aid’s ElderAccess Line, the Alzheimer’s Association-Nebraska Chapter, University of Nebraska Medical Center healthcare students, along with home care agencies, are working to ensure elders and their caregivers are safe and cared for. Notable examples include ENOA’s Grab and Go meals, pantry and hygiene items from the Intercultural Senior Center, telephone reassurance and support from ENOA’s Senior Help and Senior Companion volunteers, along with the agencies care managers who are unwavering in their support of frail clients. Other agencies are branching out into the “tele-world” through such innovative initiatives including Telelaw from the Legal Aid-ElderAccess Line, Telesupport for caregivers through the Alzheimer’s Association-Nebraska Chapter, and Telemedicine from University of Nebraska Medical Center healthcare students in cooperation with ENOA. In addition, staff of assisted living and nursing facilities who are members of the Nebraska Health Care Association and Leading Age Nebraska are committed to making life better for aging adults whose home has changed but is still intended to be a place of safety, security, and compassion. Certified nursing assistants, dietary staff, and maintenance workers are supporting elders during this time of uncertainty. Worth noting is the tremendous generosity of area businesses that are donating money and supplies to support the efforts of these agencies. When much is given, much is expected. Businesses and private donors are demonstrating their commitment to the greater good and are not showing any signs of slowing down. Out of the challenges of a global pandemic, a number of people, including UNO’s own gerontology graduates and local agencies are giving it their all to ensure aging adults receive the support they Charles E. Dorwart Massih Law, LLC 38 years of legal experience

need to survive and thrive. The year 2020 marks a worldwide expansion of an aging population like never before. As we prepare for the next several years of growth among our aging population, finding creative ways to engage elders and the community is critical. It appears the bright minds and caring hearts of the metro area are well along in this effort. As gerontologists, we are all grateful to those who have the courage to care.

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Sobotka, Alley working to sniff out arson for the OFD

Investigator David Sobotka and his partner – Alley the Arson Dog – have been an Omaha Fire Department team since 2016. By Jeff Reinhardt New Horizons Editor

avid Sobotka, a 17-year Omaha Fire Department veteran, and Alley, his 6-year-old partner, walk to the white Chevrolet SUV parked outside the OFD’s Fire Investigation Unit at 3124 S. 16th St. Sobotka opens the back door on the passengers’ side, and Alley, a Golden Labrador, hops into the vehicle ready for her next assignment. Sobotka and Alley are two of the unit’s nine investigators (eight humans and one canine) who are trained to determine the origin and cause of all unknown fires and explosions under the OFD’s jurisdiction. Shortly after the pair arrive at the scene of a housefire, Sobotka fills a small pouch with dog food, then attaches the pouch to his belt before securing Alley to the end of a sixfoot leash. The duo proceeds to the home’s front door, pause for a moment, then enter the residence as David voices a firm command: “Seek.” Sobotka says the message to Alley is clear. “It’s time to go to work.” During the next 30 minutes, David holds the dog on a leash while Alley sniffs the premises for signs an accelerant (gasoline, Diesel fuel, lighter fluid, etc.) may have been

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used to start the blaze. Nearing the corner of an upstairs bedroom, Alley sits down over a spot where she has detected the scent of gasoline. Sobotka walks past the dog, waits for a moment, then rewards the canine with food from his pouch. Once the entire home is searched, Alley returns temporarily to the SUV. David goes back inside the home and cuts out two pieces of carpet the Golden Lab has identified as possible sites for accelerants. Sobotka places each piece of carpet he’s removed from the home inside separate empty one-gallon paint cans. Those cans and another empty paint can are then placed next to each other on a nearby sidewalk. Alley sits down each time she sniffs the two paint cans with the tainted carpet while bypassing the empty paint can. David again rewards his partner with a handful of dog food. The carpet samples are then sent to the Douglas County Crime Lab for verification and possible use in an arson investigation.

tion Canine Program. Since 1993, State Farm has placed 400 dogs trained in accelerant detection in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and three Canadian provinces. The grant money given to the OFD was used to fund start-up costs which included a five-week, 200-hour training session in Gray, Maine where Sobotka and Alley were united. David has worked in OFD’s investigative unit for seven years. Alley was adopted into the unit four years ago from Cause for Paws, a program that rescues dogs and cats who deserve a safe and loving home. Dogs can identify accelerants more quickly and accurately because they have 220 million olfactory receptors in their noses compared to five million for humans, according to Sobotka. David says Alley has been a great addition to the OFD. In 2015, the year before the dog joined the unit, there were 86 confirmed cases of arson in Omaha and 25 arrests (a 29 percent clearance rate). In 2018, there were 36 arrests from 88 confirmed arson cases (a 41 percent clearance rate). his fictional series of events is “All 24 of the samples collected typical of the work Sobotka for testing in 2018 were confirmed and Alley perform 30 to 40 as positive (for having accelerants) times each year for the OFD. by the Douglas County Crime Lab,” In 2016, a $25,000 grant from Sobotka says. State Farm Insurance allowed the Part of the reason for the proOFD to create the Accelerant Detec- gram’s success in Omaha is the

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August 2020

solid bond and special relationship David and Alley have formed. “I always try to keep things positive and exciting,” Sobotka says. “What goes down the leash, goes up the leash.” When not working, Alley lives with Sobotka, his wife, and their three children ages 8 to 17. “She’s my partner and a living, breathing creature that’s a member of my family,” David says of Alley.

n addition to helping Sobotka sniff out suspected arson cases, Alley is used by the OFD to promote fire safety during presentations to groups of children, persons with special needs, and people of all ages in the Omaha area. David said 100 percent of the Accelerant Detection Canine Program’s budget comes from tax-deductible donations made to the First Responders Foundation of Omaha. For more information, call 402-2181234 or log on to contact@firstrespondersomaha.org. Sobotka says he’s proud of the service he and Alley are providing in their community. “The Omaha taxpayers can have peace of mind knowing we’re doing our due diligence to combat arson which helps keep their home insurance rates down.” For more information on booking a presentation by David and Alley, please call 402-444-3560.