New Horizons March 2019 by Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

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A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

March 2019 VOL. 44 • NO. 3

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

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

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New Horizons old • er 74 adul ts since 19

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Under the microscope This summer, Dr. Ken Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., will step down as director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer. During his tenure – which began in 1999 – Dr. Cowan helped position the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine among the nation’s top facilities for cancer care and research. Nick Schinker examines Dr. Cowan’s life and career beginning on page 8.

Valentine’s Day Baker’s Supermarkets’ Debra Haug (right) and ENOA’s Sandy Blackman with some of the roses Baker’s donated for delivery on Valentine’s Day to ENOA’s Meals on Wheels recipients. See page 5.

Margie the Milliner Margie Trembley fabricates and sells beautiful hats in her Springfield store. Margie’s wares were recently displayed at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. See page 16.

Fremont Friendship Center

A good personality could help you avoid diabetes

You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field), for the following: • March 6: Hints with Home Instead @ 10 a.m. followed by pianist Wally @ 10:30 a.m. • March 13: Music by Kim Eames @ 10:30 a.m. • March 14: Blood pressure checks @ 9:30 a.m., bingo @ 9:45 a.m., followed by music with Jerry Stingley. • March 15: The person wearing the most green on this day wins $5. Enjoy corned beef and cabbage for lunch. • March 18: Movie Monday with Marv’s marvelous popcorn. • March 19: Rich Hirshman’s presentation on Nebraska history @ 10:30 a.m. • March 20: Enjoy cinnamon rolls from Nye Square @ 9 a.m. followed by music with The Links @ 10 a.m. • March 21: Presentation on the Fremont Alzheimer’s Association. • March 27: Board meeting @ 9:15 a.m. • March 27: Music by Tim Javorsky @ 10:30 a.m. • March 28: Presentation on Pro-Med. Walking in the main arena Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. is encouraged. Keep track of your miles in our walking book. 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 $4 contribution 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.

t’s been said that a good personality can help one succeed in life. But can it also guard against disease risk? A new study based on data from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) shows positive personality traits such as optimism, may help to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Results were published online recently in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). More than 30 million Americans, or 9.4 percent of the U.S. population, have diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes increases with age, with a 25.2 percent prevalence in those age 65 or older. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type, accounting for 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases in adults. Obesity, a family history of diabetes, race/ethnicity, and physical inactivity are major risk factors for diabetes. But these aren’t the only determinants. Accumulating evidence supports the fact depression and cynicism are also associated with an increased risk of diabetes. In addition, high levels of hostility have been associated with high fasting glucose levels, insulin resistance, and prevalent diabetes. Few studies, however, have investigated the association of potentially protective personality characteristics with diabetes risk. This study’s objective was to examine whether personality traits including optimism, negativity, and hostility were associ-

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ated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in postmenopausal women. The study went on to explore whether the association could be mediated by behavioral pathways such as diet, physical activity, smoking, or high alcohol consumption. The study concluded low optimism, high negativity, and hostility were associated with increased risk of incident diabetes in postmenopausal women, independent of major health behaviors and depressive symptoms. “Personality traits remain stable across one’s lifetime; therefore, women at a higher risk for diabetes who have low optimism, high negativity, and hostility could have prevention strategies tailored to their personality types,” says Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, NAMS’ executive director. “In addition to using personality traits to help us identify women at higher risk for developing diabetes, more individualized education and treatment strategies also should be used.” For more information about menopause and healthy aging, visit www.menopause.org.

Caregiver Support Program staff, caregiver meet with College of St. Mary OT students

taff members from the Eastern Those services may include up to six Nebraska Office on Aging’s Carehours per week of respite care at home or giver Support Program and a family days in an adult day caregiver who works with and ben- services program. Supefits from the program, recently spoke with plemental assistance occupational therapy students at Omaha’s may feature nutrition College of St. Mary. counseling, home-deENOA’s Caregiver Support Program oflivered meals, durable fers specialized care management services medical equipment, a that help caregivers age 18 and older who personal emergency response system, and are caring for a frail loved one age 60 and counseling to help caregivers make deciolder or a person of any age who has been sions and solve problems related to their diagnosed as having dementia. caregiving duties. “Our main emphasis is to provide re spite services for the caregiver,” said Mike he Caregiver Support Program Osberg, who coordinates the program for staff members and the caregiver ENOA. met with students in Dr. Ellie’s He said caregivers age 60 and older tend Cusic’s classes at CSM. to be more vulnerable to declining health Osberg said among the topics discussed due to the emotional, physical, and financial were the hardest and the best things about toll of caring for a loved one. being a caregiver, the types of support An estimated 34 million Americans available to caregivers, the role physical, provided unpaid in-home care for a loved occupational, or speech therapy play in carone during the last 12 months. The value of ing for a loved one; and how the caregivers those services is estimated at nearly $500 Back to took Junecare 30 of their own needs. billion. “I’m pleased we had an opportunity to in 2020. The Caregiver Support Program’s respite meet with the students and address some of services can reduce a caregiver’s stress their questions and concerns about being a which helps them keep their loved one at caregiver,” Osberg said. home and out of a skilled nursing facility, For more information on ENOA’s Careaccording to Kathy Daniels, a care manager giver Support Program, please call 402-444with the program. 6536.

Return homestead exemption applications by July 1

pplicants whose names are on file in the assessor’s office in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties should have a homestead exemption form mailed to them by early March. New applicants must contact their county assessor’s office to receive the application. The 2019 forms and a household income statement must be completed and returned to the county assessor’s office by July 1, 2019. A homestead exemption provides property tax relief by exempting all or part of the homestead’s valuation from taxation. The state of Nebraska reimburses the counties and other government subdivisions for the lost tax revenue. To qualify for a homestead exemption, a Nebraska homeowner must be age 65 by Jan. 1, 2019, the home’s owner/occupant through Aug. 15, 2019, and fall within the income guidelines shown below. Certain homeowners who have a disability, are developmentally disabled, are totally disabled war veterans, or the widow(er) of a totally disabled war veteran – including those who have remarried after age 57 – may also be eligible for this

annual tax break. When determining household income, applicants must include Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits plus any income for which they receive a Form 1099. The homestead exemption amount is based on the homeowner’s marital status and income level (see below). Maximum exemptions are based on the average assessed value for residential property in each Nebraska county.

he Douglas County Assessor/Register of Deeds’ office (1819 Farnam St.) is sending volunteers into the community to help older adults complete the application form. The volunteers will be located at sites throughout the county. A list of these locations will be included with your application. Assistance is also available by calling Volunteers Assisting Seniors (see page 15) at 402-444-6617. Here are the numbers for the local assessor’s offices: Douglas: 402-444-7060, option #2; Sarpy: 402-593-2122; Dodge: 402-727-3911; Cass: 402-296-9310; and Washington: 402-426-6800.

Household income table Over age 65 married income

Over age 65 single income

Exemption %

0 - $34,400.99 $34,401 - $36,300.99 $36,301 - $38,100.99 $38,101 - $40,000.99 $40,001 - $41,900.99 $41,901 - $43,700.99 $43,701 - $45,600.99 $45,601 - $47,400.99 $47,401 - $49,300.99 $49,301 - $51,100.99 $51,101 and over

0 to $29,300.99 $29,301 - $30,800.99 $30,801 - $32,400.99 $32,401 - $33,900.99 $33,901 - $35,400.99 $35,401 - $36,900.99 $36,901 - $38,500.99 $38,501 - $40,000.99 $40,001 - $41,500.99 $41,501 - $43,100.99 $43,101 and over

100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

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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, 4780 S. 131st Street, Omaha, NE 68137-1822. Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402-444-3076. E-mail: jeff.reinhardt@nebraska.gov Advertisements appearing in New Horizons do not imply endorsement of the advertiser by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. However, complaints about advertisers will be reviewed and, if warranted, their advertising discontinued. Display and insert advertising rates available on request. Open rates are commissionable, with discounts for extended runs. Circulation is 20,000 through direct mail and freehand distribution.

Editor....................................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers......Nick Schinker & Leo Biga ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Lisa Kramer, Washington County, vice-chairperson; Janet McCartney, Cass County, secretary; David Saalfeld, Dodge County, & Jim Warren, 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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Dora Bingel Senior Center

The joys of decluttering your home, your life

You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • March 1, 6, 8, 13 ,15, 20, 22, 27, & 29: Ceramics @ 9 a.m. • March 4, 11, 18, & 25: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m. • March 6, 13, 20, & 27: Tai Chi • March 6: Holy Communion served @ 10 a.m. • March 13: The Merrymakers present music by the Links @11:30 a.m. Lunch is $3. • March 14: Book Club @ 10 a.m. • March 27: Birthday party luncheon @ noon. Eat free if you have a March birthday. • March 29: Hard of Hearing Support Group. Lunch is served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A $1 donation is suggested for the meals, other than $3 for Merrymakers. 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: Joy Club devotions @ 10 a.m., matinee @ 12:30 p.m., and quilting @1 p.m. Wednesday: Devotions at 10:30 a.m., bingo @ 12:30 p.m., and Bible study @ 12:30 p.m. Friday: Bingo @ 12:30 p.m. For more information, please call 402-898-5854.

Camelot Friendship Center You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center inside the Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave., this month for the following: • March 4 & 18: Word search. • March 6, 14, & 28: Riddles and jokes @ 10:15 a.m. • March 7: Book Club @ 10:15 a.m. • March 8: Senior Council meeting @ 12:15 p.m. • March 13: Birthday party. • March 15: St. Patrick’s Day Hurrah. • March 20: Westroads walk or journal @ 10:15 a.m. • March 21: Music by Billy Troy sponsored by the Merrymakers @ 11:45 a.m. The center is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $4 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. Regular center activities include chair volleyball, Tai Chi, bingo, art classes, and card games. For meals reservations or more information, please call 402-444-3091.

A Caring Community Called HOME! Independent & Assisted Living

erhaps you’ve heard of Marie Kondo and her television show and book called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The gist of her show is to go into people’s homes and teach them the joy associated with decluttering. This intrigues me because, having moved recently, I’m so aware of the amount of “stuff” that accumulates over the years. Stuff becomes a burden when drawers are so full it’s impossible to find the one thing I really need. Kondo teaches her clients to simplify and improve the quality of their lives by letting go of any items that don’t bring joy into their lives. For example, she has clients pile all their clothes on a bed, go through items one by one, then asking if this item sparks joy. If not, the item is discarded. The result is a closet with clothes that are easy to find and desirable to wear. The overall effect of using this method throughout the house and garage is a sense of a new beginning that’s orderly and simple. Her method reminds me of all transitions. Major changes start with letting go before one can move into a new beginning. This is certainly true of the retirement transition but applies to others as well—emptying the nest, having a health decline, moving into assisted living, etc. There’s a need to let go of what served us well in the past but no longer fits our needs or desires. Letting go isn’t easy. Often letting go of material things is symbolic of letting go of a part of our lives we once enjoyed. A few years ago, I decided it was time to let go of my golf clubs that had been taking up space in the garage. Because of an arthritic shoulder, I hadn’t golfed in four years. Still it was hard to admit to myself that my golfing days were over. Instead of pretending I would take up the sport again, I made space for my new bike—an activity I can handle and enjoy. I look at this as a metaphor for all the transitions in the aging process. We may realize it’s time to let go of life as we’ve known it. Usually there’s a period of denial until we face reality. “This big house and yard are really getting to be too much for me.” However, we’re slow to let it go because of the joy and memories attached to our history in this house. When the burden becomes too heavy, we decide to let go and Fr

Friday, March 15, 2019

about yardwork in the spring and life has become simpler. The change has opened up more time to read, write, and pursue my hobbies.

he process of letting go according to Kondo should be governed by that which brings us joy. Many people older than I are golfing because they enjoy it. Others are enjoying their gardens and yardwork. On the other hand, some may be hanging on to properties, responsibilities, or activities that have lost their allure. When making life decisions, the key question is “Does this (blank) still bring me joy or is it a burden that brings me stress?” Another great question is “If I weren’t spending my time and money on (blank), what might I spend them on?” Whenever we make a decision to let go, it’s beneficial to follow another one of Kondo’s counsels. She advises that we express our gratitude and bless that which has served us well, whether it be a set of old golf clubs or a house we’ve enjoyed. We bless the past and look forward to what life has in store for us. (Hemesath is the owner of Encore Coaching which is dedicated to supporting people in the “third chapter of life.” You can follow her blog at lifencorecoaching.com. She also provides personal coaching and book studies for those in the retirement transition. She can be reached at nhemesath@cox.net.)

12 p.m. Lunch

1 p.m.

Musical entertainment by Wayne Miller

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New Horizons

By Nancy Hemesath

Free Annual St. Patrick's Day Food,

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that’s not easy. We know what we’ve had but don’t see clearly what new opportunities the future may hold for us. Again, I’m speaking from experience having recently downsized from a large corner lot and house to a smaller townhouse in a neighborhood association. It was a great house in a nice neighborhood. The transition – buying one home, selling the other – was a painful process and a lot of work. However, each day it snows, I’m grateful I don’t have to shovel. I won’t have to worry

March 2019

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March 13

Heartland Generations Center

ou’re invited to visit the Heartland Generations Center – 4318 Fort St. – for the following: • March 4: Pancake breakfast @ 10 a.m. • March 6: Presentation by Methodist Nursing College students @ 10 a.m. • March 7: Krafts with Kina @ 10 a.m. • March 11: WhyArts with Sarah Rowe @ 10 a.m. • March 13: Manicures by Wanda @ 10 a.m. Noon birthday party with music by Joyce sponsored by the Merrymakers. • March 19: Natural healing meeting @ Denny’s. We’ll leave the center @ 10:45 a.m. • March 20: Show & Share @ 11 a.m. • March 21: Taste of Culture. • March 25: Presentation on a Grandparents Mentoring Program @ 11:45 a.m. • March 26: Lunch and a movie @ 11 a.m. • March 27: Manicures by Wanda @ 10 a.m. • March 28: Visit the Boys Town Hall of History. We’ll leave the center @ 11 a.m. A series of senior education groups will be announced later. Play bingo on Wednesdays and Fridays @ 1 p.m. Tai Chi Tuesday @ 10:45 a.m. The Heartland Generations Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is normally served at noon. A $4 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to attend. Bus transportation is available within select neighborhoods for 50 cents each way. For meal reservations and more information, please call 402-553-5300.

Volunteers Assisting Seniors

olunteers Assisting Seniors is committed to helping older adults make good life decisions. Through a network of trained and certified volunteers, VAS provides Medicare counseling and Homestead Exemption filing assistance. VAS is offering a Basic Estate Planning class developed and presented by volunteer attorneys on April 25. The workshop provides an opportunity to learn in a classroom environment using simple language. The goal is to develop a better understanding of estate planning, so you’ll have an easier time making the important personal decisions necessary to design plans that meet your needs. The workshop will cover financial and medical powers of attorney, living wills, wills, living or revocable trusts, alternatives and supplements to wills, taxes related to death, and mistakes to avoid. The free class is scheduled for Thursday, April 25 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the VAS office, 1941 S. 42nd St. (Center Mall), Suite 312. To reserve a spot, please call VAS at 402-444-6617.

Part of its Heart to Heart campaign

Baker’s Supermarkets donates Valentine’s Day roses to Meals on Wheels recipients

hanks to Baker’s Supermarkets, 5555 N. 90th St., its customers, and the grocer’s annual Heart to Heart campaign, Valentine’s Day 2019 was a little rosier for 140 older adults who receive Meals on Wheels through the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. Each year, during a two-week period, Baker’s asks its customers to buy roses and balloons for boys, girls, men, and women involved in a variety of area programs including ENOA’s Meals on Wheels. “Once again this year, I want to thank Baker’s and its customers for including ENOA and 140 of the men and women we serve in this amazing effort,” said Arlis Smidt, who coordinates the agency’s Meals on Wheels Program.

NARFE

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, call 402-342-4351.

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Elder Access Line Legal Aid of Nebraska operates a free telephone access line for Nebraskans age 60 and older. Information is offered to help the state’s older men and women with questions on topics like bankruptcy, homestead exemptions, collections, powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid, grandparent rights, and Section 8 housing. The telephone number for the Elder Access Line is 402-827-5656 in Omaha and 1-800-527-7249 statewide. This service is available to Nebraskans age 60 and older regardless of income, race, or ethnicity.

Omaha Computer Users Group You’re invited to join the Omaha Computer Users Group, an organization dedicated to helping persons age 50 and older learn about their computers regardless of their skill level. OCUG meets the third Saturday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Swanson Branch Library, 9101 W. Dodge Rd. Participants will have access to a projector connected to a computer with Microsoft Windows 10 to show users how to solve their computer problems. For more information, please call Phill Sherbon at 402-333-6529.

Charles E. Dorwart Govier, Katskee, Suing, & Maxell, PC, LLO 37 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • Medicaid Planning • In-home consultations • Free Initial consultation 10404 Essex Court • Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68114 Office: (402) 558-1404 or (402) 391-1697 chuck@katskee.com

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Workshops for caregivers are scheduled for March, April Registration is underway for four workshops designed by Flaherty Consulting of Omaha to help caregivers provide the best possible care for their loved ones. • Alzheimer’s Related Research at UNMC Friday, March 15 • 10 to 11 a.m. Servite Center for Compassion 7400 Military Ave. • VA Benefit Coordinator Wednesday, March 20 10 a.m. St. Timothy Lutheran Church 93rd and Dodge streets • Ambiguous Loss Thursday, April 4 10 a.m. Servite Center for Compassion 7400 Military Ave.

• Stress Management for Busy Family Caregivers Friday, April 12 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Servite Center for Compassion 7400 Military Ave.

Participants may attend any or all of the sessions, and registration is required. While there’s no charge to attend, a free-will offering will be taken. To register for the March 15 and April 12 sessions, please call Sister Margaret Stratman at 402-951-3026 or email her at scc@osms.org. To register for the March 20 and April 4 sessions, contact flahertyconsulting.net or call 402-312-9324.

Program on dementia in Norfolk April 24-26

he National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG) along with the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s MunroeMeyer Institute are presenting a program titled Dementia Capable Care of Adults with IDD and Dementia on April 24 and 25 at Northeast Community College, 801 E. Benjamin Ave. in Norfolk, Neb. The cost for the two-day workshop is $150, which is

March 2019

a huge savings thanks to the support of the Nebraska Planning Council on Developmental Disabilities.

three-day workshop which adds a third day for persons wishing to become an NTG affiliated trainer, will be held April 24 to 26 at Northeast Community College in Norfolk. The reduced rate for the three-day workshop is $250. The workshops acknowledge the emerging need for professionals capable of screening, assessing, and managing the interventions and supports for clients with dementia and intellectual disabilities. For more workshop information, please contact Janet Miller at janet.miller@unmc.edu or Kathleen Bishop at bisbur1@earthlink.net. For workshop registration questions, please contact Kathryn Pears at ntgeducation@gmail.com

Corrigan Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., this month for: • March 1: Movie, The Quiet Man. • March 5: Mardi Gras celebration. • March 12: Music on DVD Series, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. • March 15: St. Patrick’s Day party. • March 20: Advisory Council. • March 20: Toenail clinic. • March 21: Dinner dance with Aaron Shoemaker. • March 27: Ireland Travel Day. • March 28: Bluegrass music with Billy Troy. Other activities include jewelry craft show and social hour Wednesday @ 10:30 a.m., bingo Monday and Thursday @ 1 p.m., ceramics class Wednesday @ 1 p.m., Happy Hands crochet group Tuesday @ 10 a.m., and Tai Chi Monday and Friday @ 10 a.m. The Corrigan Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $4 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 402-731-7210.

Millard Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., this month for the following: • March 1: Class on smartphones, laptops, and tablets by Mary Beth @ 9 a.m. • March 1: Music by The Links @ 10 a.m. • March 5: Blood pressure checks @ 9:30 a.m. • March 7: Presentation by Nebraska Methodist College nursing students @ 9:30 a.m. • March 12: Presentation on pain management @ 10:45 a.m. • March 13: Board meeting @ 9:45 a.m. • March 15: Wear green for St. Patrick’s Day. • March 16: We’ll attend the Nebraska Brass Band’s 6 p.m. performance @ Marian High School. • March 19: We’ll attend a movie. Details TBA. • March 27: P.A.W.S. field trip with children. Other activities at the facility include Tai Chi on Monday @ 10 a.m. and Thursday @ 8:30 a.m. The center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served @ 11:30 a.m. A $4 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the meal the participant wishes to enjoy. Other center activities include walking, card games, dominoes, quilting, needlework, chair volleyball, and bingo. For reservations or more information, please call 402546-1270.

THEOS

HEOS, a social organization for singles age 60 and older, meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at New Cassel, 900 N. 90th St. Older men and women are encouraged to meet for a fun afternoon and to sign up for other activities throughout the month. For more information, please call Dorothy at 402399-0759 or Mary at 402393-3052.

211 network The 211 telephone network has been established in parts of Nebraska to give consumers a single source for information about community and human services. The 211 network is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The information is also available online at www.ne211.org.

The New Horizons is brought to you each month by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.

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

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Dr. Ken Cowan will continue his fight to eradicate cancer By Nick Schinker Contributing Writer

en Cowan, M.D., Ph.D., doesn’t just care for people. He cares about them. In his more than four decades as a physician and leader in the advancement of precision cancer care and oncology research, Dr. Cowan has treated thousands of people. He has seen the shock and fear of a cancer diagnosis reflected in their eyes, and on the faces of their family and friends. And, from that moment on, Dr. Cowan is dedicated to helping them every way he can. When cancer becomes your enemy, he never gives up the fight. “Dr. Cowan is the best doctor a person could ever have,” writes one patient on the Nebraska Medicine website. “He is smart, kind, thoughtful, and caring. I feel so very lucky to have Dr. Cowan. My problems are tough ones, and he keeps after them with unbelievable fortitude.” After nearly 20 years at the helm, Dr. Cowan will step down this summer as director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer. He will continue to serve as a fulltime faculty member, pass-

ing on his skills and incredible experience to the next cohort of future physicians and oncologists. And, as he has since he completed his residency in 1978, he will see and treat cancer patients. Because, at 71, there is still plenty of fight left in him. “Seeing patients is what I really love to do,” Dr. Cowan says. “There is not a day I go to clinic that something about a patient doesn’t make me humble. “Patients make this building what it is. I try to teach everyone I work with, everyone I walk through these doors with every day, that our entire focus needs to be on the well-being of the patients who walked in with us. It helps to understand that we have only one purpose in being here. “We are here to find ways to eradicate cancer.”

enneth H. Cowan was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the second child of Dan and Elizabeth Cowan. The family moved to Queens when he was about 2 years old, then to Freeport, N.Y., on the South Shore of Long Island, when he was 5. His father was a salesman and manufacturer’s representative for an outerwear company founded by his grandfather.

Dr. Cowan is interviewed by Jane Pauley, host of CBS Sunday Morning. On Dec. 3, 2017, Dr. Cowan and the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center were featured during a segment on the popular television program. “I spent my summers working in my father’s office,” Dr. Cowan recalls. “I remember traveling the Midwest with him, carrying sample cases of clothing.” He also recalls learning to drive in New York at age 15. “(That was) an acceptable age at the time – and my father was tired of doing all the driving on those long road trips.” Growing up was fun in Freeport, he says. “We lived blocks from the water, and from when I was 7 or 8 on,

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we had a little boat. It was a motor boat, and it had bunk beds in the cabin. We’d spend our weekends fishing, or camping on the boat.” The spark for his interest in medicine can be traced to science classes in high school, followed by a bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of Rochester. Research in organic chemistry led to a summer of study in microbiology. “I fell in love with microbiology research and molecular biology,” Dr. Cowan says. He earned his medical and doctorate degrees from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, and a fellowship in oncology at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Bethesda, Md. Dr. Cowan worked 21 years in the Public Health Service at the NCI, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), serving the last 11 years there as chief of the Medical Breast Cancer Section, Medicine

Branch. In his NCI position, he was responsible for overseeing laboratory researchers and clinical staff involved in basic and clinical research in breast cancer. The NCI was where he met his wife, Alison Freifeld. “She was a medical student at Johns Hopkins, and was on summer rotation in our lab when I was a fellow in the lab. Our lab was infamous for its annual Christmas parties. Alison came back her first Christmas vacation for the party, and we started dating.” The two have been married 36 years, and have two daughters, Sara and Eliza. Dr. Cowan says he felt that one day he would leave NIH for a university cancer center, but always believed it would be on the East Coast. “I looked up and down the coast, but nothing ever fit right. My wife had a good career at the NIH as well, and nothing had a big enough pull to take us both away.” Until a friend told him about an opportunity in --Please turn to page 9.

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Dr. Cowan and Pamela Buffett visit with a patient at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.

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Cowan, wife have fallen in love with Nebraska, its people --Continued from page 8. Omaha, so he made a trip west, and he liked what he saw. “I remember flying into Eppley and then going to the Embassy Suites in the Old Market,” he says. “I was amazed how attractive the city was. The fact that it had preserved an older district was something unique.” Then he visited the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) campus. “I was impressed by the commitment to research dating back to 1961, and the focus on cancer. Most large universities don’t develop a focus on cancer. UNMC was also at the forefront of the multidisciplinary approach to cancer care.” Three visits later, Dr. Cowan joined UNMC – with really no idea of the incredible opportunity that awaited him.

n Omaha, Dr. Cowan became the sixth director of the Eppley Institute, which was founded in 1961. Under his direction, all cancer researchers throughout the campus were united into a single entity. Originally titled the UNMC Eppley Cancer Center, it has evolved into the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. From 2013 until its opening in 2017, Dr. Cowan shepherded the design and building of the $323 million Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, the largest construction project in the University of Nebraska’s history. Pamela Buffett was the facility’s lead donor. She was married to Fred Buffett, Warren Buffett’s first cousin. Fred died of kidney cancer, and Pamela’s gift was in her husband’s honor. Under Dr. Cowan’s leadership, the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center has advanced from a basic laboratory cancer center to one of only 70 cancer centers to earn the National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation, and the only NCIdesignated cancer center in Nebraska. It is also one of 14 founding members of the alliance of leading cancer centers known as the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). In his two decades at UNMC, more than 250 faculty members have been recruited to the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, while research funding has increased more than three-fold – from $19 million in 1999 to more than $60 million in 2018. He says the roots for the Omaha center reach back to his days in Bethesda. “I worked in a building just like this,” he says, watching the snow fall outside the floor-to-ceiling windows in his corner office at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. “It was Building 10. It combined a hospital, clinics, and research in the largest building on campus. I could leave the lab and walk down the hall to see patients. The concept

Dr. Cowan with world famous glass artist Dale Chihuly. Chihuly and his team worked closely with UNMC and Nebraska Medicine staff members to create the Chihuly Sanctuary at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. Located on the facility’s fourth floor, the sanctuary offers a great place to relax, reflect, and meditate. we have employed here, of combining clinical facilities, a research tower, and a full hospital, goes literally back to my days at NIH.”

he Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center was an ambitious dream, and Dr. Cowan is grateful for the part he played in making it come true. “To be able to combine precision medicine with individualized care, and to bring researchers in as partners as we study the human genome, to understand the genetic drivers of each person’s cancer,” he says, smiling. “This is the future of cancer care, here and now.” Dr. Cowan and his wife, Dr. Freifeld, who serves as director of oncology infectious diseases at UNMC/Nebraska Medicine, have not only fallen in love with Omaha. They have fallen in love with Nebraska. Among the first outstate events they attended was the 1999 Cattleman’s Ball, one of the Midwest’s premier fundraising events benefitting cancer research. Held in a different Nebraska location each year, the Cattleman’s Ball pulls everyone in town – and often the entire county – together to focus on making the two-night event

a success. In 2018, the ball in Hebron raised nearly $1.75 million for cancer research. Ninety percent of the profits benefit the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, with 10 percent donated back to local community health and wellness programs. Over the past 21 years, the ball has raised more than $15.8 million. Dr. Cowan and Dr. Freifeld attended the second Cattleman’s Ball, held that year in Lexington – and haven’t missed one since. “It is amazing how each year, more than 700 people from an often small community will work together for a year to bring 4,500 people together in a large tent for two nights of food, music, and fun, all for a very good cause,” he says. “Every rural part of Nebraska is raising money for cancer.” He says the Cattleman’s Ball is a prime example of the generosity and philanthropic nature of all Nebraskans. “It really told me something about the incredible commitment Nebraskans have to each other, and I have seen it grow year after year.” --Please turn to page 10.

“Wonderful World” “Chain Gang” “Cupid” “Mr. Bojangles” “The Candy Man” Wayne Brady, the Emmy-winning singer, dancer, actor and comedian, takes center stage with the Omaha Symphony for an unforgettable tribute to two entertainment icons: Sam Cooke and Sammy Davis Jr. With his trademark humor and extraordinary talent, Brady delivers classic hits and more, in a high-energy, one-night-only event!

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Vols are needed to At Brownell Talbot drive vets to VAMC Free dental clinic is

he Disabled American Veterans need volunteers to drive veterans one day a week to and from the VA Medical Center, 4101 Woolworth Ave. in Omaha. While the volunteer drivers don’t need to be veterans, they do need a valid driver’s license, and be able to pass a drug screening and a Department of Transportation physical given at the VA Medical Center. Drivers will be given a lunch voucher on the day they volunteer for the DAV. For more information, please contact Command Sergeant Major (retired) Lance Fouquet at 402-5051482 or sgmman1447@ gmail.com.

set for March 29, 30

he Nebraska Mission of Mercy – a free dental clinic – will be held March 29 and 30 from 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at Brownell Talbot School, 400 Happy Hollow Blvd. in Omaha. Up to 2,000 people who don’t have insurance or who are under-insured will receive free dental care on a first come, first served basis. Cleanings, root canals, fillings, and prosthetics for kids and adults will be available from the 400 to 500 dental professionals who are expected to volunteer their time those days. For more information, please go online to nebraskamissionofmercy.com.

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Cancer center head stepping down... --Continued from page 9. sked his greatest accomplishment, Dr. Cowan hesitates only a moment. “It would be easy for me to say it was building this building and setting the environment for the next decade of cancer care, but it’s more than that. By helping to raise awareness through research, I believe we have more hope.”

“Dr. Cowan is the best doctor a person could ever have. He is smart, kind, thoughtful, and caring.” He knows personally how important it is to have hope when facing cancer, and how easily it can slip away. Both his parents had cancer, as did two brothers-in-law, and a cousin who died of breast cancer, whom he helped until she passed away. “It’s definitely affected my view of how to deal with patients,” Dr. Cowan says. And while the decisions he has made, and the guidance and knowledge he has provided, have saved countless lives, he cannot save every-

We started working with Collette in 2009 when we were looking for a way to offer international trips to our travelers. We wanted to find a company that shared our core values of providing quality tours, well hosted, and at a reasonable price. We were not looking for a low-cost alternative. Our first personal experience was when we took about 24 people on the “Shades of Ireland” tour. It was an incredibly positive experience! Since then we have helped others to experience Collette Tours on: Historic Trains of California; New York City; Canada’s Atlantic Coast with Nova Scotia; Pilgrimage to Fatima & Lourdes; Austrian Delight - Oberammergau (coming up again in 2020); Pasadena Rose Parade; Islands of New England; Canadian Rockies & Glacier National Park; Islands of New England; Reflections of Italy; Canadian Rockies by Train; Tropical Costa Rica; Alaska Discovery Land & Cruise, and others. Please call if you have one of Collette’s many destinations on your bucket list. We can help make it happen! Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule. 2019 trip plans are in process. 2708 Franklin Ave. Council Bluffs, IA 51503

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Photo courtesy of Nancy McGill

Dr. Cowan (third from left), with a check from the Cattleman’s Ball of Nebraska planning committee in Hebron. The 2018 festivities raised more than $1.75 million for cancer research in the state.

one. Caring deeply about his patients means feeling every loss. “It’s very difficult to turn it off, especially when it is a patient you have followed for a very long time,” Dr. Cowan says. “It’s tough. You have to find a way to compartmentalize it. We all feel we have failed when a patient dies.” There are times when being able to cope means attending the funeral of a patient with whom he had become very close. “I don’t do it routinely, because it is so difficult,” he says. “It’s about the need to pay my respects.” Much as the leadership of the Cattleman’s Ball is handed on to a different community each year, Dr. Cowan says it is time for him to pass the reins of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center to another director. “The cancer center is in an excellent position to recruit a younger, talented director who also has a commitment to take this to the next level, not only in national reputation, but also global recognition.” Though the name of his successor is not yet known, it will be a person who realizes the weight of the duties, the responsibilities, and the commitment that is involved. Dr. Cowan will be certain of that, because he cares about each and every patient who comes to the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. Even those who have not yet walked through those doors.

Aging conference scheduled for Tuesday, March 19 at UNO

he 2019 Aging with Passion and Purpose Conference is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19 at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The theme of this year’s 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. event is “No One Left Behind.” The keynote speaker will be Israel Doron, Ph.D., head of the Center for Research and the Study of Aging at the University of Haifa in Israel. He’ll address ageism, legal issues with aging, and human rights. Other presenters include Mary Beth Maxwell, an advocate for the LGBTQ community, Janet Miller, the parent of a daughter who had Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease, Carolina Padilla, executive director for the Intercultural Senior Center, and Dr. Steven Wengel, a geriatric psychiatrist with UNMC. The conference is designed for healthcare providers, especially those seeking continuing education. The registration fee is $99 on or before March 8. After that, it will be $125. The fee includes the conference sessions materials for all sites, parking, lunch, and continuing education credit for participants. For more information, please go online to www.gerontology.unomaha.edu.

IGO alums invited to perform at concert honoring Penington

lums of the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha (IGO) are invited to perform with the 201819 IGO at its annual Pops & Pie concert. The Sunday, April 14 performance will begin at 3 p.m. at the Witherspoon Concert Hall inside the Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. The concert will be a special tribute to Chuck Penington, the longtime IGO conductor who died in November 2018. A special project of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, the IGO – in its 34th season – consists of musicians age 20 and younger and age 50 and older. IGO alums will join this season’s orchestra on two selections: Crane Day (an original Penington composition) and Second Wind, the IGO’s theme song. Crane Day will be conducted by Chuck’s son, Logan Penington. A rehearsal for the concert will be on Sunday, April 7 from 2 to 5 p.m. at First Christian Church, 6630 Dodge St. A dress rehearsal will be held at the Witherspoon Concert Hall on April 14 at 1 p.m. For more information, IGO alums are asked to contact Chris Gillette by Sunday, March 31 at 402-444-6536, ext. 1021 or chris.gillette@nebraska.gov.

Vision Resource Fair coming to Baxter Arena April 6,7

et answers to your questions about vision loss at the free Vision Resource Fair April 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Baxter Arena, 2725 S. 67th St. This event features more than 20 exhibitors providing information about managing eye conditions, living independently, enjoying social, cultural, and recreational activities; working or returning to work, getting around town, using digital eyewear and other new technology, as well as handling stress, change, and emotional health. Conditions like diabetes, glaucoma, and aged-related macular degeneration are increasing the odds of severe vision loss. As their sight declines, individuals and those who support them have more questions and concerns about the effects on work, social, and daily activities. Held in conjunction with Omaha’s Health Expo, the Vision Resource Fair provides a single location for learning about community resources to help those experiencing vision loss. Free vision screenings for all ages will be offered courtesy of the Omaha Lions Clubs. Outlook Nebraska is offering complimentary tickets, available online at outlookne.org/resourcefair. When entering Baxter Arena’s main entrance, let the staff know you’re there

for the Vision Resource Fair to receive the free admission. Outlook Nebraska is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to positively impacting everyone who is blind and visually impaired. Those dealing with vision loss turn to Outlook Nebraska to find the resources, learn how to stay independent using technology, explore employment opportunities, and enjoy recreational and cultural activities. Outlook Nebraska employs blind and visually impaired individuals in its paper products converting facility and its contact center. To learn more about Outlook or to contribute to its mission, please call 402-614-3331 or visit outlookne.org.

Medicare/SHIIP counselors needed Volunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS) is looking for men and women to become volunteer Medicare/SHIIP counselors. Because Medicare is confusing, the federal government, through the Administration of Community Living, funds a senior health insurance assistance program in every state. In Nebraska, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is part of the Nebraska Department of Insurance and contracts with VAS to serve the metro Omaha area. The next Medi-

care/SHIIP training will be held in late May and early June. Medicare/SHIIP counselors receive training on Medicare and other types of health insurance and have access to resource materials and continuing training. Once certified, these volunteers are able to offer unbiased, personalized counseling to help others navigate the complex Medicare system. For more information, please contact Sue at 402444-6617.

Ralston Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Ralston Senior, 7301 Q St., this month for the following: • March 4: Korean Community activity from noon to 3 p.m. • March 6: Dancing Grannies @ noon. • March 12: Bus trip to WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa. The bus leaves @ 7:30 a.m. and returns around 4 p.m. The cost is $5. Call Dorothy @ 402-553-4874 for reservations. • March 13: Board meeting @ 10 a.m. • March 13: The Merrymakers present music by Tom Strohmyer (Woody) @ noon. • March 14 & 28: Line dancing @ 10 a.m. Bingo @ 3 p.m. Other activities include exercise on Tuesday and Friday @ 10 a.m. Lunch is catered in on Wednesdays. A $4.50 contribution is requested. Reservations are due by noon the Tuesday before the meal you wish to enjoy. Call Diane @ 402-8858895 for reservations. The center will be closed on any day the Ralston Public Schools are closed due to the weather. For more information, please call Diane West @ 402339-4926.

Notre Dame Housing Seven Oaks Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Notre Dame Housing/Seven Oaks Senior Center, 3439 State St. for the following: • Second, third, and fourth Friday: Community food pantry @ 1 p.m. Third Wednesday: Community food pantry from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • March 5: Presentation by a fair housing counselor @ 10 a.m. Focus group on nursing @ 1:30 p.m. • March 7, 14, 21, & 28: Extension office programs on nutrition @ 10:30 a.m. • March 12: Program on allergies/asthma @ 1:30 p.m. • March 18: Lunch & Learn program @ 12:30 p.m. with Susie Davern from ENOA’s nutrition division. • March 20: Program on Medicare/Medicaid assistance @ 10 a.m. Health clinic @10 a.m. • March 21: Program by John J. Bright, homeless education coordinator for the Omaha Public Schools, @ 7 p.m. • March 25: March birthday party with music by The Links sponsored by the Merrymakers @ 1:30 p.m. • March 26: Wellness Experience @ 1:30 p.m. The Notre Dame Housing/Seven Oaks Senior Center is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $4 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by 11 a.m. the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. For meals reservations and more information, please call Brenda at 402-451-4477, ext. 126.

REHAB, RENEW AND

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Czech-Slovak Festival

he 2019 Omaha Czech-Slovak Festival is scheduled for Sunday, April 14 at the St. Nicholas Community Center, 5050 Harrison St. The free event – which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. – features a program and Czech dinners from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu is roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut or a hot dog plate for children. Take out meals are available. Vendors selling gifts from the Czech/Slovak Republics, Czech beer, ethnic foods, baked goods, children’s activities, raffles, the coronation of a festival queen, and dancing to the Mark Vyhlidal Band from 2 to 4 p.m. will also be included during the day’s festivities. For more information, go to www.omahaczechclub.com.

March 2019

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Bettys Club of Nebraska

f you’re named Betty or Elizabeth and are interested in meeting other Bettys, the Bettys Club of Nebraska wants to hear from you. The Bettys meet for lunch at 1 p.m. the third Friday of each month at a different local restaurant predetermined

a month or two in advance. The minimal annual dues are $12. In late April, all the Bettys Clubs in the state will hold a conference somewhere in Nebraska. For more information, please contact Betty K. at 402-292-4024.

Omaha Fire Department

he Omaha Fire Department’s Public Education and Affairs Department will 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 1516 Jackson St. • Omaha, Neb. 68102 For more information, please call 402-444-3560.

Spring is just around the corner

t’s March, and you’re looking out the window and possibly seeing sunshine and snow. You think to yourself, wasn’t Groundhog Day in our favor this year? Isn’t spring supposed to be here soon? Rest assured, spring is on its way. Just as every season takes its time making its appearance, so too will our spring. Soon we’ll see the crocus peeking through the ground. The gardening catalogs are making their way into our mailboxes and spring fever will eventually catch us. After being cooped up in the house for the last few winter months, it’s fun to start thinking about warmer weather and ways to enjoy the fresh sunshine. If you’re having trouble navigating distances, gardening and outdoor events may seem more treacherous than enjoyable. Rest assured, there are ways to accommodate any physical ability when it comes to enjoying the great outdoors. We all need that little boost of sunshine in our lives, and the benefits are many. Research proves having some exposure to sunlight feeds our bodies much needed Vitamin D while it lifts our spirits and helps our bones and muscles. So, when you get a chance to bask in the sunlight – take a few minutes to do just that each day. No need to get a sunburn, so wear your sunscreen.

Gardening is another mood lifter. Even if you don’t have a plot of land to grow a big garden, you can still enjoy the benefits of homegrown vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Start a container garden. A flower pot or a fivegallon pail, some good soil, and seeds are all you need. Planters and flowerpots make great patio gardens and are easier to manage than navigating on rough ground. Raised flower beds also help those who prefer to garden from a chair. Houseplants can be clipped and rooted in a glass of water then replanted in your favorite container. It doesn’t have to involve a lot of money, but the benefits are priceless. Plants, flowers, vegetables, herbs, and succulents are all fun ways to bring the outside indoors or “decorate” your outdoor space. Start those plantings now and in a few short weeks you’ll reap the benefits. (Midwest Geriatrics, Inc. provided this information.)

RSVP RSVP is recruiting men and women age 55 and older for a variety of volunteer opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-444-6536, ext. 1024. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402-721-7780. • The VA Medical Center needs volunteers for a variety of assignments. • Partnership 4 Kids is looking for volunteers to mentor Pre-K through high school students. • Food Bank for the Heartland needs volunteers to help with the SNAP program. • The Fremont Low-Income Ministry wants volunteers for its food pantry. • Care Corps Family Services is looking for volunteers Thursdays from 1:30 to 5 p.m. • Fremont’s Habitat for Humanity and Fremont Health need volunteers for a variety of duties. • Nye Legacy Health & Rehabilitation is looking for volunteers to help with its bingo games Tuesdays at 2 p.m. • Premier Estates of Fremont wants volunteers to assist its activity director.

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Florence AARP chapter

he Florence AARP chapter meets monthly at Mountview Presbyterian Church, 5308 Hartman Ave. The programs begin each month with a noon lunch followed by a speaker. For reservations, please call Gerry Goldsborough at 402-571-0971. Rides to the meeting are available by

calling Ruth Kruse at 402453-4825. Here are the next two programs: March 18 Verrelle Gordon Fire safety

April 15 Jim Dingman Transitional living for ex-cons

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Nebraska Brass Band’s ‘Night of Nostalgia’ set The Widowed Persons Group of Omaha hosts a luncheon for Saturday, March 16

Widowed Persons Group

the third Monday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at Jericho’s Restaurant, 11732 W. Dodge Rd. For more information, please call 402-278-1731 or 402493-0452.

AARP’s Tax-Aide program is offering help filing tax returns

he AARP Tax-Aide program provides free income tax preparation assistance at 11 Omaha area locations. The program is designed to assist low and moderate-income older adults, but also serves a variety of other clients, including students. With a few exceptions, each site will be open through mid-April. The names, locations, and open days/hours for these sites are listed below. When coming to the tax preparation sites, clients must bring a photo identification, all documents related to their income, Social Security cards for all persons named on the tax return, and last year’s tax return. For more information, please call 402-398-9582 or go to www.nebraskataxaide.org. Walk-in sites No appointments necessary Arrive early to sign in Abrahams Library 5111 N. 90th St. Friday Noon to 4 p.m. AgeWell by Immanuel 6801 N. 67th Plz. #100 Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bellevue Volunteer Firefighters Hall 2108 Franklin St. Monday & Wednesday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

St. Joseph Villa Community Room 2305 S. 10th St. Sunday (through April 7) Noon to 4 p.m.

Bellevue University Library 1000 Galvin Rd. S. Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

By appointment only sites

Kids Can Community Center 4860 Q St. Tuesday & Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers about telephone callers pretending to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) who are trying to get your Social Security number or your money. In one version of the scam, the caller says your Social Security number has been linked to a crime involving drugs or that’s sending money out of the country illegally. He says your Social Security number is blocked, so he might ask you for a fee to reactivate it or to get you a new number. He’ll ask you to confirm your Social Security number. In other variations, the caller says somebody used your Social Security number to apply for credit cards, and you could lose your benefits. He also might warn your bank account is about to be seized and you’ll need to withdraw your money. He’ll tell you how to keep it safe. All of these are scams. Here’s what you need to know: • The SSA will never call and ask for your Social Security number. It won’t ask you to pay anything, and it won’t call to threaten your benefits. • Your caller ID might show the SSA’s phone number (1-800-772-1213), but that’s not the SSA calling. Computers make it easy to show any number on caller ID. • Never give your Social Security number to anyone who contacts you. Don’t confirm the last four digits, give a bank account or credit card number to anybody who contacts you by phone. If you’re worried about a call from someone who claims to be from the Social Security Administration, hang up and call 1-800-772-1213. (The FTC provided this information.)

Montclair Community Center 2304 S. 135th Ave. Tuesday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. St. Martin de Porres Center 2111 Emmet St. Monday & Tuesday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday 4 to 7:30 p.m.

Crossroads Mall (east corridor) 7400 Dodge St. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Noon to 4 p.m.

he Nebraska Brass Band is presenting a Night of Nostalgia on Saturday, March 16 at the Marian High School Performing Arts Center, 7100 Military Ave. The 6 p.m. show will feature music from the 1940s, ’50s, and ’60s. Special guests will be Karly Jurgensen Daniel from Mannheim Steamroller and Hollywood actor Ron Chvala as Winston Churchill. Free tickets are available by calling 402-704-NEBB or online at nebraskabrassband.com.

FTC warning consumers about scammers wanting your Social Security information

AARP Information Center 1941 S. 42nd St. Suite 220 (Center Mall) Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 402-398-9582 Kids Can Community Center 4860 Q St. Thursday 5 to 7 p.m. Call 402-731-6988 (9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)

LaVista Community Center 8116 Parkview Blvd. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday • 3 to 7 p.m.

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Hearing Loss Support Group

UNMC adds state-of-the-art MRI scanner

The Omaha Area Hearing Loss Association of America, a support group for hard of hearing adults, will next meet on Tuesday, March 12 at Dundee Presbyterian Church, 5312 Underwood Ave. at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Verla Hamilton at 402-558-6449 or verlahamilton@cox.net.

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

First Thursday @ 6:45 p.m. King of Kings Lutheran Church CORE Conference Room 11615 I St. Call Karen @ 402-584-9088 to arrange for adult day services.

• FREMONT Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m. The Heritage at Shalimar Gardens 749 E. 29th St. DOUGLAS COUNTY • OMAHA Second Thursday @ 10 a.m. Second Thursday @ 5:30 p.m. Country House Residences 5030 S. 155th St. Call Christina @ 402-980-4995 for free adult day services. Every other Monday @ 7 p.m. Brighton Gardens 9220 Western Ave. First & third Monday @ 1:30 p.m. New Cassel’s Franciscan Centre 900 N. 90th St. Call Melanie @ 402-393-2113 for free adult day services. Third Tuesday @ 5 p.m. Immanuel Fontenelle First floor classroom 6809 N 68th Plz.

Third Tuesday @ 6 p.m. Temple Israel 13111 Sterling Ridge Dr. SARPY COUNTY • BELLEVUE Third Monday @ 7 p.m. Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave. First Wednesday @ 1 p.m. Eastern Nebraska Vets Home (Vets and non-vets welcome) 12505 S. 40th St. • PAPILLION Fourth Thursday @ 6 p.m. Hillcrest Grand Lodge 6021 Grand Lodge Ave. WASHINGTON COUNTY

Second Tuesday @ 6:45 p.m. For caregivers of individuals with an intellectual disabilty/dementia. Barbara Weitz Center 6001 Dodge St. (UNO campus)

• BLAIR Third Wednesday @ 6 p.m. Memorial Community Hospital Howard Conference Room 810 N. 22nd St.

PARKSIDE for March move in

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New Horizons

Q — What considerations are involved in estate planning for a nontraditional family? A — Our laws for distribution of property and rights upon death are based on the traditional nuclear family, consisting of a husband and a wife and the children conceived by them. The law establishes a default Will designed for the nuclear family. In the case of blended families (two sets of children), unmarried partners, and same sex couples, the default pattern does not work. For those who don’t fit the nuclear family mold, planning is very much more important, because the law doesn’t protect you. Don’t put it off.

Have a question about estate planning? Give us a call!

AARP Legal Service Network • No Charge For Initial Consultation

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402-339-9080

Page 14

enhances our already outstanding research environment, raises our national profile in the neurosciences, and improves our ability to win extramural research awards. It further distinguishes UNMC as the regional leader in brain imaging, while rallying our strong local neuroscience community around an essential core resource.” “Having this instrument will not only speed up our ability to conduct this type of research, but it also will allow us to participate in national multicenter trials focused on brain research,” said Jennifer Larsen, M.D., UNMC’s vice chancellor for research. “Neuroimaging is critical to understanding how the brain works or is impacted. This MRI will allow us to explore brain development and brain deterioration. It will help us understand how cancers develop or move to the brain and determine which medications are most effective in treating certain neurological conditions.” Dr. Larsen praised the College of Medicine for providing the majority of funding needed to purchase the MRI. “This imaging tool will allow investigators from around the region to examine the precise structure, function, and chemical composition of all parts of the body, but especially the brain,” said Dr. Tony Wilson, Ph.D., associate professor in UNMC’s Department of Neurological Sciences. “The brain is considered the final frontier in research – we know far less about the brain compared to the heart and other organs. This scanner will enable investigators to begin to unravel how diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis cause aberrations in the brain that severely affect behavior and quality of life,” he continued. “The MRI also will enable us to identify how brain activity changes when people perform mental tasks that require our attention, decision-making, and memory capacities. These and other critical abilities make us human, and understanding how these are implemented in the brain will have a major impact on future health care. I think it is fair to say that we are entering a new era for brain research in Nebraska.” (UNMC/Nebraska Medicine provided this information.)

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A new arrival has joined the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and it will allow UNMC to compete with the country’s elite research institutions in better understanding the brain’s complexities. The new arrival is the most advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner in Nebraska – a state-of-the-art, 28,000-pound unit that will provide the highest resolution imaging available while cutting in half the time the subject has to be in the MRI. “This is truly a game changer,” said Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “Having an MRI that is dedicated to research is the missing piece of the puzzle we needed to take our research to the next level. “It will not only have a huge impact on research, but it also will enhance our education and clinical care. Ultimately, it will help us unlock the mysteries of the brain and hopefully provide some answers to complex neurological problems such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease,” The unit – the Siemens Prisma MRI scanner – cost $2.5 million with an additional expense of about $1.5 million for installation. It’s conveniently located in the heart of the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine campus on the first floor of the Hixson-Lied Center, which connects the Clarkson and University hospital towers. Primary funding – about $3 million – was provided by the UNMC College of Medicine under the leadership of Dean Bradley Britigan, M.D., with the remaining $1 million coming from a National Institutes of Health research grant. Matthew Rizzo, M.D., professor and chair of the UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences, is the principal investigator on the grant, which supports clinical and translational research (CTR) among a collaboration of nine institutions in Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Kansas. The research-dedicated MRI will be used by UNMC researchers in neurological sciences, psychiatry, cardiology, and neurosurgery, Dr. Rizzo said. It will also be available for investigators who are part of the four-state collaborative grant as well as any other researchers who can benefit from it. “This is a key addition to UNMC’s research toolbox,” Dr. Rizzo said. “It greatly

http://whitmorelaw.com

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March 2019

Pie contest

ou’re invited to enter the first annual pie contest at the Mockingbird Hills Community Center, 10242 Mockingbird Dr. Bakers can bring in their best pie to the center on Wednesday, March 20. First place honors will be awarded in the fruit and non-fruit pie categories. The judging will begin that morning at 11 a.m. Participants may register at any Omaha Parks and Recreation Department community center or online at parks.cityofomaha.org before Friday, March 15. The contest registration is free. For more information, please call 402-444-6103.

Physical therapist recommends prehabilitation before surgery

ith about a million knee and hip replacements performed each year in the United States, Bellevue physical therapist Paul Gardner says it’s more important than ever for future joint replacement patients to create the best possible outcome for themselves after surgery. They can actually do this by beginning rehabilitation before surgery. It’s called prehabilitation – a process during which a physical therapist prepares patients for joint surgery through a strengthening or range-of-motion program the helps set the table for a quicker and more successful rehab and recovery following the procedure. “There is research indicating some individuals who have greater strength and better range of motion will have a better outcome after the surgery,” says Gardner, the administrator of Community Rehab at Hillcrest Rehab Services in Bellevue. A typical prehabilitation program will begin four to six weeks in advance of surgery. The benefits of such a program are many including strengthening the body. Establishing and executing an exercise program developed by a physical therapist and tailored specifically for the patient can help strengthen the body and integrate neuromuscular pathways before surgery. This can result in a shortened hospitalization stay and a reduced recovery duration. “Prehabilitation prior to joint replacement surgery can reduce post-surgery rehab time by 25 to 50 percent,” Gardner said. “Since the body is stronger before surgery, it will also be stronger after surgery.” Prehabilitation is also an opportunity for a physical therapist to prepare a patient mentally for surgery so they know what to expect. This can reduce pre-surgery stress levels. Education and knowledge can decrease the amount of stress and fear leading up to the procedure. “There is a psychological benefit of having knowledge of what an individual is going to be working with,” Gardner explains. “There is also the benefit of function and quality of life. The better I am set up for after that surgery, I am going to be able to function at a higher level, which plays out with me being more satisfied.” A portion of the prehabilitation process includes practicing the exercises needed post-surgery, as well as modifying the home and becoming familiar with adaptive equipment. This may include rehearsing with a walker, crutches, or a cane in and around your home, and making modifications such as cleaning up clutter, increasing lighting, reorganizing the kitchen, or modifying a shower or toilet. The physical therapist may also discuss ways to manage pain after surgery through positioning, ice, and massage techniques. Gardner says it’s a good idea to reach out to your support system and organize a plan for after surgery, such as how to get the groceries or transportation to and from rehab. Since many older adults undergo joint surgery, the reality is there are other chronic conditions to consider such as diabetes, hypertension, or congestive heart failure. Physical therapists are able to understand the conditions that are more prevalent in older adults and can evaluate a person’s health regardless of the perception of age. “We can look beyond age and understand the complex care that will be involved for each individual, and the assets that this individual possesses to reach a positive rehab outcome,” Gardner said. (Hillcrest Rehab Services provided this information.)

TRAVEL CAT TOURS, LLC. • 2019 TOURS • Tulip Time in Pella, Iowa – May 8 & 9 • Spring Lilacs at Arbor Day Farm – May 17 • Religions of the World Tour – July 30 • Old West & Scenic Flint Hills – August 15-17 • Iowa Wine & French Icarian Village – August 28 • Elk & Buffalo Ranch Tour - September 10

We are an Omaha-based company MORE TOURS ARE LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE For reservations, call 531-777-2124 or register online at travelcattours.com • email: info@travelcattours.com

VAS can help file your homestead exemption application The Nebraska Homestead Exemption program can provide relief from property taxes for persons who qualify by exempting all or part of their home’s valuation from taxation (see page 3 for more information). Volunteers Assisting Seniors is avail-

able to help older Nebraskans file their 2019 homestead exemption application. See below for the sites and dates VAS representatives are available. All appointments will be scheduled between 10 a.m. and noon. Please call 402-444-6617 to schedule an appointment.

Tuesday, March 12 DAV 4515 F St.

Thursday, April 18 Florence Rec Center 2920 Bondesson St.

Tuesday, May 21 Goodwill Industries 4805 N. 72nd St.

Tuesday, March 19 Salem Baptist Church 3131 Lake St.

Thursday, April 25 Goodwill Industries 4805 N. 72d St.

Friday, March 22 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312

Thursday, April 30 IBEW 13306 Stevens St. #200

Tuesday, May 28 Northwest Hills Church 9334 Fort St.

Thursday, March 28 Iron Workers Union Hall 14515 Industrial Rd.

Thursday, May 2 Ralston Senior Center 7301 Q St. #100

Tuesday, April 2 Northwest Hills Church 9334 Fort St.

Tuesday, May 7 DAV 4515 F St.

Thursday, April 4 Highlander Accelerator 2112 N. 30th St

Thursday, May 9 St. Andrews Church 15050 W. Maple Rd.

Tuesday, April 9 DAV 4515 F St

Tuesday, May 14 St. Cecilia’s Cathedral 701 N. 40th St.

Friday, April 12 Faith Westwood Church 4814 Oaks Ln.

Friday, May 17 Benson Baptist Church 6319 Maple St.

RICK’S

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Friday, May 31 VAS 1941 S, 42nd St #312 Tuesday, June 4 Elkhorn Eagles 20276 Wirt St. Saturday, June 8 Sheet Metal Workers Union 3333 S. 24th St. Tuesday, June 11 Douglas-Sarpy County Extension Office 8015 W Center Rd. Tuesday, June 18 VAS 1941 S. 42nd St #312

OLD STUFF WANTED (before 1975)

Military, political, toys, jewelry, fountain pens, pottery, kitchen ware, postcards, photos, books, and other old paper, old clothes, garden stuff, tools, old household, etc. Call anytime 402-397-0254 or 402-250-9389

Call 402-444-4148 or 402-444-6654 to place your ad.

Apartments for Rent

Affordable 1 & 2 bedroom apartments in Bellevue, NE. Tax credit. 55+ community. Please call Morgan @ Tregaron Senior Residences

402-292-1818

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402-312-4000 Senior Citizens (62+)

Please call 402-444-4148 or 402-444-6654 to place your ad.

Accepting applications for HUD-subsidized apartments in Papillion & Bellevue.

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

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

March 2019

Call TODAY & MENTION this AD to receive 15% OFF all products! Hurry, offer ends soon!

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Best & honest prices paid for: Vintage, Sterling, Turquoise, & Costume jewelry, old watches, old quilts, vintage toys, old postcards, advertising items, military items, pottery, and antique buttons. Also buying estates & partial estates. Call Bev at 402-339-2856

Subsidized housing for those age 62 and over with incomes under $28,600 (1 person) or $32,650 (two persons)

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deFreese Manor

New Horizons

2669 Dodge Omaha, NE 402-345-0622

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Page 15

Springfield milliner Trembley’s hats displayed at NYC art museum Kiewit built. Yes, that Peter Kiewit. An Arkansas native, Margie met Glenn while he attended the College of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Ark. The couple has two children, three grandsons, and one great-granddaughter. The Trembleys moved to Omaha from Joplin, Mo. in 1981. At that time, Glenn worked in human resources for the Catholic Health Corporation. Margie had her own relocation business then. “I was selling Omaha to people who were moving here,” she said.

A Margie began selling her hats in 2014.

ebbie is an Omaha real estate agent who recently decided to add some style, flair, and color to her wardrobe. “I’ve always loved felt hats, so I think I’ll have one made for me,” Debbie told her husband. So, she made an appointment with Margie Trembley, the 73-year-old proprietor of Margie Trembley Chapeaux, 183 Main St. in downtown Springfield. Moments after entering the Sarpy County store, Debbie was greeted by a smiling lady seated at a desk near the front door. “Hi there, come on in,” Trembley said with a soft Arkansas accent still present despite living in Nebraska for 38 years. During the next 90 minutes, Margie helped Debbie order a custom-made hat by choosing the material, color, style, and size desired. Trembley’s questions included what kind of dress would be worn with the hat? Will Debbie be wearing the hat frequently? How will the realtor’s hair be styled when wearing the chapeaux? “I wanted to know what she thought looked good on her,” Margie said. “Comfort is always the most important thing.” While this particular scene is fictitious, the back and forth between customer and milliner is typical, according to Trembley who has run her store in the front half of the 2,500 square-foot building since 2014. She shares the space with Glenn, her husband for more than a half century, who operates a glass fusing business in the back half of the structure Margie said bricklayer Peter

fiber artist as well as an architectural glass etcher and carver, Margie took her first hat-making class in 2011 using an embellishing machine to create firm felt. Wanting to combine her artistic and felting skills, Trembley enrolled in her initial professional milliner’s class three years later. “There was so much to learn because this is a lost art,” she said, seated in a room filled with several sizes, styles, colors, and shapes of hats on racks, desks, and benches; and inside a tall display case. In 2014, Margie Trembley Chapeaux opened in Springfield. “This just seemed like the right place,” she said looking around her shop. Each year, Trembley fabricates and sells 25 to 30 hats, 75 percent of which are custom made and sell for $300 to $650 each. “Those hats are for the discriminating buyer,” she said. The store also carries a supply of modestly priced, ready-to-wear hats. “I try to work with every budget,” Margie said. Each year, Trembley sells as many as 15 hats local women buy to wear to the Kentucky Derby. Margie uses materials from places like Australia, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, and the Philippines to create her own special style of headwear for women. “Ideas for hats just come to me. I guess I’m inspired by nature and by walking near my materials,” she said. Her hats are made from felt, silk, velour, suede, lace, and sinamay (a lightweight fabric which comes from Philippine tree trunk fibers). Designing and creating a hat can take up to a month, according to Trembley. Once the material, color, and size for the chapeaux have been determined, Margie selects a wooden block to use as a mold, then cuts two to three yards of fabric into a square piece. The material is stretched and pinned to the block. The fabric is steamed, then dried using an old fashion hair dryer. After the moisture is re-

Trembley’s hats feature materials from all over the world.

Page 16

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New Horizons

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Trembley relocated to Omaha in 1981.

moved, the material is unpinned from the block, trimmed, turned under, and sewn to a bias strip around the hat’s edge. “I stay in touch with the buyer throughout the whole process,” Trembley said.

argie is a member of the National Milliners Guild in New York City. That organization was influential in getting a purple suede hat adorned with a purple butterfly Trembley created displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the “Big Apple” during the first several weeks of 2019. Trembley – whose hat was one of 28 in the show – visited the exhibit on opening night thanks to $1,100 she raised through gofundme.com. Her wares have also been featured at the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney and during Omaha Fashion Week festivities. While Margie is passionate about her business, she said it’s unfortunate more ladies don’t wear the types of hats she creates. “I guess they don’t want to mess up their hair,” she added, shrugging her shoulders. For those ladies, however, who do enjoy making the occasional unique fashion statement, Margie Trembley Chapeaux in Springfield is a great place to visit. “I’ve never made two hats that are exactly the same,” Trembley said proudly. For more information, email her at margietrembley@gmail.com.

Margie makes and sells custom-made hats that go for $300 to $650.

March 2019