New Horizons Newspaper

A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging

May 2012 VOL. 37 • NO. 5

ENOA 4223 Center Street Omaha, NE 68105-2431

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

New Horizons ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

CPA

Jean Howard, 83, became a certified public accountant in 1969, and then worked as a CPA at Dutton & Associates.

The Papillion resident was a founder of the Institute for Career Advancement Needs and still serves as a SAC Federal Credit Union board member. Nick Schinker chronicles Howard’s career.

See page 12.

Old Glory

Strokes of genius

Mike Johanns, Nebraska’s junior United States senator (right), presented an American flag recently to Dennis Loose, ENOA’s executive director.

See page 3.

Kathy Pipkins with WhyArts? instructor Joe Broghammer during a recent acrylic painting class at the Corrigan Senior Center.

See page 22.

Photo by Kristi Andersen

Advances in surgical techniques have improved outcomes for knee replacement recipients According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, there are about 270,000 knee replacement operations performed each year in the U.S., about 70 percent of them on people over age 65. From 1979 through 2002, the rate of knee replacement procedures in that age group increased eightfold.

A growing number of knee replacements are being done on younger patients as well. Changing attitudes toward aging and expectations of an active life after retirement have made more people unwilling to endure years of discomfort or resign themselves to a restricted level of activity.

“Advances in surgical techniques have improved outcomes for our patients,” says Dr. Stuart Styles of Somers Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Group. “And now we can take advantage of leadingedge technology for another leap forward with customized total knee replacement, a technique that is less invasive than traditional knee replacement surgery, resulting in less blood loss, faster recovery time, and better implant fit and knee alignment.”

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The most common cause of chronic knee pain and disability is arthritis which wears away cartilage, causing pain and stiffness.

When non-surgical treatments fail to correct functional limitations and relieve progressive pain, knee replacement is often the best option.

In a total knee replacement, damaged cartilage and bone are removed from the surface of the knee joint and replaced with a man-made surface of metal and plastic.

“The important advance in this next-generation technology for knee replacement is that now we can use computerized images to model the patient’s knee and then create custom-designed cutting guides for use during surgery,” says Dr. Styles. “This enables the surgeon to preserve more of the patient’s own bone and ligaments and achieve a more precise fit and alignment when inserting the prosthetic knee.”

In a traditional knee replacement procedure, the surgeon matches the patient’s original knee size and alignment as closely as possible to the replacement knee model using measuring devices based on standard anatomical sizes and selecting

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from available replacement joints.

The surgeon then makes adjustments for fit during the operation, while the patient is under anesthesia.

With custom knee replacement, the process starts several weeks prior to surgery with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and x-rays that map the exact dimensions of the patient’s knee. Computer software transforms the images into a three-dimensional model that corrects any deformity to conform the model to the patient’s knee in its pre-arthritic state. The surgeon reviews the computerized model and makes any necessary adjustments.

A custom surgical-grade nylon knee form is then created with pinholes and blocks that align precisely to the mechanical axis of the patient’s knee and serve as a cutting guide during surgery.

“There are several important benefits with custom knee replacement,” Dr. Styles says. “First, we can do the matching and measuring using the computerized model before surgery rather than while the patient is on the table. This makes the surgery more efficient, reduc-

May 2012

ing the time the patient is under anesthesia and the knee is open to infection. Second, because the cutting blocks are molded specifically for the patient, doctors can work in a smaller area and preserve more of the patient’s bone and ligaments, making the surgery less invasive and reducing recovery time.

The blocks also enable greater accuracy by removing the guesswork when making cuts, enabling more precise alignment. Alignment is critical when performing knee replacement surgery; eight out of 10 knee implants that fail do so because the implant is misaligned.

Custom knee replacements are precise to within several tenths of a millimeter, whereas the traditional approach has up to five millimeters of variability in the fit. Inserting a prosthesis with more precision means potentially greater longevity and improved function.

The new surgery is not recommended for those who have had previous corrective knee surgery or those with damaged ligaments. It is also not recommended for patients who have hardware around the knee, pacemakers, or vascular clips.

From Washington, D.C. to ENOA

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An American flag – presented to the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging by United States Sen. Mike Johanns of Nebraska – flies on a flagpole in front of the agency’s office at 4223 Center St. The flag once flew over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

A

Return homestead exemption applications by June 30

pplicants whose names are on file in the assessor’s office in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties should have had a homestead exemption form mailed to them by early March. New applicants must contact their county assessor’s office to receive the application.

The 2012 forms and a household income statement must be completed and returned to the county assessor’s office by June 30, 2012.

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, 2012, the home’s owner/occupant through Aug. 15, 2012, and fall within the income guidelines shown below.

Certain homeowners who have a disability and totally-disabled war veterans and their widow(er)s 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.

The Douglas County Assessor’s 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 the Volunteers Assisting Seniors at 402444-6617.

Douglas County residents can also have their homestead exemption questions answered by calling 402-597-6659.

Here are the telephone numbers for the assessor’s offices in the counties served by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging: Douglas: 402-444-7060; Sarpy: 402593-2122; Dodge: 402-727-3916; Cass: 402-296-9310; and Washington: 402426-6800.

Household income table Over age 65 Married Income

Over age 65 Single Income

Exemption Percentage

0 - $30,300.99 $30,301 - $31,900.99 $31,901 - $33,500.99 $33,501 - $35,100.99 $35,101 - $36,700.99 $36,701 - $38,300.99 $38,301 and over

0 to $25,800.99 $25,801 - $27,200.99 $27,201 - $28,500.99 $28,501 - $29,900.99 $29,901 - $31,200.99 $31,201 - $32,500.99 $32,501 and over

100 85 70 55 40 25 0

May 2012

NAME ADDRESS CITY/STATE/ZIP

$5

$25

$10

$50

$15

Other _______

New Horizons New Horizons is the official publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The paper is distributed free to people over age 60 in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Washington, and Cass counties. Those living outside the 5-county region may subscribe for $5 annually.

Address all correspondence to: Jeff Reinhardt, Editor, 4223 Center Street, Omaha, NE 68105-2431.

Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402-444-3076.

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

Editor..............................................Jeff Reinhardt Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148 Contributing Writers......Nick Schinker, Leo Biga, Barc Wade, & Lois Friedman Fremont Delivery.........................Dick Longstein ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Ron Nolte, Cass County, vice-chairperson; Bob Missel, Dodge County, secretary; Jim Warren, Sarpy County, & Jerry Kruse, Washington County.

The New Horizons and the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging provide services without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, or age.

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Deceased veterans’ burials feature long-established traditions

The Fallen Heroes Marsh features a battlefield cross, a granite marker dedicated to 50 military casualties, and a plaque listing donors and supporters who help fund the site. and eventual death on St. Helena Island.

For many years that date was observed as Decoration Day. In later years it became known as Memorial Day for all deceased, not just to honor veterans. The day is now observed on the last Monday of May. Civil War deaths launch day of remembering

T

he horrific toll of the Civil War resulted in 662,511 casualties. Of these deaths, 204,000 came from the battlefield; the remaining from disease. These figures have recently been significantly upped.

By comparison, World War The Fallen Heroes Marsh – dedicated in 2009 near Aurora, Neb. II deaths totaled 405,399, which – was developed by Ducks Unlimited to honor Adam Herold. included those from the battlefield An avid hunter, Herold, age 23, was killed in the Iraq War. or while performing non-combat burial services.

By Barc Wade service.

Which war claimed the most lives Contributing Writer Casualties from other wars of service members? include: Revolutionary, 4,435; Where are fallen Nebraska ith the winding down War of 1812, 2,260; Mexican War, veterans honored 365 days a year? of the Iraq War 12,283; Spanish-American, 2,446; Little wonder the United States recently, moving WWI, 116,516; Korean, 36,574; of America pays homage to military Vietnam, 58,220; Persian Gulf, 383; stories reporting the veterans for their service to the return home of service men and Iraq, 4,484; Afghanistan, 1,876. country; after all, more than one women have received deserved This May 28, cemeteries million have made the ultimate media attention. Nearly all are everywhere will become veritable sacrifice while in combat. happy events; veterans returning to flower gardens as families Honoring the fallen became a the arms of their families. remember their loved ones with nationwide observance three years But there are stories with notdecorative floral arrangements and after the end of the Civil War. so-happy endings. The flag draped flags. Meanwhile, at 131 national Originally called Decoration coffins that still arrive from cemeteries throughout the United Day, it was officially proclaimed Afghanistan and before that, Iraq.

States, veterans are honored every on May 5, 1868 by General John Once back home, their sacrifice is day of the year.

Logan, the national commander of observed with solemn ceremonies (NOTE: For information blending traditions conceived years the Grand Army of the Republic. relating to eligibility for burial The choice of May 30 as the day ago. at a national cemetery, see of remembering is believed to have information at the end of this But what do you know about the had its origin in France. ways military veterans are honored article.)

Cassandra Oliver Moncure, at the end of their lives and beyond?

Best known is Arlington (Va.) a Virginia woman of French How would you answer these National Cemetery where each background, was among a group of Memorial Day the U.S. President questions?

Southern women who campaigned Are you of the age that rememlays a wreath at the Tomb of the to decorate the graves of both Union Unknown Soldier. The same year bers Decoration Day? What was the origin of Taps, the and Confederate soldiers. Harking the Arlington National Cemetery back to her heritage, she recalled soulful tune played at memorial was established as a national May 30 was the date France services for veterans? cemetery (1864), so too were nine observed The Day of the Ashes that other cemeteries including one in What is significant about the celebrated the return of Napoleon way U.S. flags are folded for Keokuk, Iowa.

Bonaparte’s ashes from his exile presentation to family members at Nebraska’s oldest is Fort

W

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May 2012

McPherson, 11 miles east of North Platte, two miles south from Interstate 80 at exit 190.

McPherson, established in 1863 as a military fort, became home for a national cemetery 10 years later.

Today, there are more than 7,000 burials on the site, including four recipients of the Medal of Honor and notables from the era of Indian wars.

The latter includes such historic notables as California Joe, who scouted for Generals Crook and Custer; “Little Bat” Baptistie Garnier, a trapper and also a scout for General Crook; Spotted Horse, a Pawnee Native American; and the entire troop commanded by Lt. John L. Grattan, massacred by Indians in retaliation for the murder of their chief Brave Bear.

All the remains from burial sites at Fort Robinson were moved to McPherson in 1947.

Unfortunately for veterans and their families in eastern Nebraska, burials at McPherson – 280 miles to the west – aren’t practical.

Good news! That may soon have a solution, with the likelihood of a national cemetery being located in the Omaha metro area.

The chances were enhanced with a 2008 Veterans Administration study that showed the Omaha area ranked second among the nation’s five most under-served areas for veterans by national cemeteries.

As a result, a five-year process for cemetery development was authorized. Several sites in the Omaha metro area have been under study and negotiations with the landowners are underway.

The Memorial Ridge Association of the Midlands, a not-for-profit advocate for the cemetery, is pushing for the burial grounds to also have sites for memorials. They use as their model, the Riverside (Calif.) National Cemetery that has memorials dedicated to the Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as another dedicated to all recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

--Please turn to page 5.

Military memorials can be found throughout Nebraska --Continued from page 4.

Expanding the cemetery site to include memorials would serve to educate future generations about the sacrifices made by so many to preserve our freedoms.

The origin of folded flag ceremony and Taps

P

erhaps most heart rending of the traditional salutes to deceased veterans is the gift of the ceremonial American flag to the next of kin. From its place atop the casket, it is carefully folded into a triangular shape. It takes 13 folds and originally had no special meaning. In later years, an unofficial religious significance was applied to each fold, starting with the claim that 13 folds were to honor the 13 original states.

At the end of the service, Taps is sounded, played by a single bugler.

The haunting melody of Taps was first sounded early in the Civil War. The circumstances were highly unusual. It happened when Union Army Captain Robert Elliscombe – following a battle near Harrison’s Landing, Va. – heard the cry of a wounded soldier in the dark of night.

Crawling to the site of the moan to escape enemy fire, he dragged the soldier to his own encampment where by the light of a lantern he discovered it was his deceased son.

It seems his son had been studying music in the South when war broke out and, not known to his father, he had enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The captain made a request to his superiors that his son have a full military burial complete with an army band. Because his son was a Confederate soldier, the request was turned down but they did allow him one musician for the service. The bugler, who was his choice, played a series of musical notes found in the pocket of his dead son’s uniform. Those notes were those of Taps. Today it is played at nearly every military funeral.

Salutes by firing guns are employed in several ways, but not included with every burial. Visiting heads-of-state are always welcomed with a 21-gun salute. For other

occasions the number of volleys varies. Veterans organizations often supply the bugler.

Military memorials can be found throughout Nebraska. One of the newest and most unusual is the Fallen Heroes Marsh dedicated in 2009. A project of Ducks Unlimited, it sits far from the beaten path on marshlands 20 miles southeast of Interstate 80 at exit 332 near 80 Aurora.

This remote site was chosen following the death in Iraq of 23-year-old Adam Herold of Omaha. An avid hunter within a family of Ducks Unlimited sportsmen, Herold and other fallen military, are honored at land set aside by the organization for youthful hunters.

The visible honors include a life-size bronze sculpture of a “battlefield cross.” It is made up of a boot that supports an upright rifle topped by helmet, forming an imaginative cross. Sitting on a brick platform, it is flanked on one side with a granite marker and bronze plaque dedicated to more than 50 military casualties. On the other side a plaque listing donors and supporters who provided funds for the site.

The Nebraska Veterans Cemetery in Alliance sits on 20 acres that were once part of a WWII army airbase. Funded with $5 million from the Veterans Administration, it is a part of the national cemetery system but maintained by the State of Nebraska. The VA refunds the $750 cost of each internment.

Beautifully landscaped and carpeted with native buffalo grass, it’s accessed by circular drives, one of them teardrop shaped to reflect

the grief that surrounds burials.

Eventually 51 American flags will flank the drives, one for each state and Puerto Rico. A campaign to fund the flagpoles is now underway.

Since its first internment on Jan. 21, 2011, 74 other plots have been added. The burial sites include seven couples, two brothers, and two fathers and sons, each plot identified by a white marble tombstone with their names inscribed.

The dead have come from five other states and from all regions of Nebraska. A unique feature is an area where missing-in-action veterans, whose remains were never recovered, are honored.

At the far end of the complex sits the administration building and an open sanctuary where burial services are observed. Within the building is a conference room that also houses shadow box displays that contain memorabilia on loan from families of those interred.

For more information, please call 877-BOX-TRSM or log on the Internet to visitboxbutte.com.

North Platte’s 20th Century Veteran’s Memorial also has unique characteristics. Located at the crossroads of Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 83, it honors veterans of all major conflicts of the 20th Century.

Bigger-than-life bronze statues sculpted by internationally known North Platte artist Ted Long honor each branch of the service. A 15 x 40 feet brick bas relief mural features a panel which on one side honors 20th Century women who served in the military, while another panel pays tribute to the five major

ethnic groups who have served in the United States military.

Thousands of commemorative bricks flanking the pathways show the names of Nebraska veterans. They lead to the “Place of Meditation” where the names of veterans who lost their lives in combat are on display.

Families from all over the United States contribute to the growing exhibit, sponsoring 5,294 bricks from 43 states and 160 Nebraska communities.

Who is eligible for national cemetery burial?

E

ligibility requirements for burial at a national cemetery are broader than most people would think.

For instance, as noted by National Cemetery Administration, the spouse of a veteran is eligible as are minor children and adult disabled children.

When an eligible spouse dies before the veteran and the veteran remarries, the second spouse also attains burial eligibility.

In certain cases, officers of the U.S. Public Health Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and WWII veterans of the U.S. Merchant Service may also qualify.

Internment benefits include a burial plot; assistance with a committal service; a graveliner; the opening and closing of the gravesite; a headstone, a gravesite marker or columbarium cover with inscriptions; a United States burial flag; perpetual care of the gravesite; and a memorial certificate signed by the President.

Photo courtesy of the National Cemetery Association

A winter scene at the Fort McPherson National Cemetery, 11 miles east of North Platte.

May 2012

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Whether you’re around the corner or across the country, stay connected.

When families can’t be together, the affordable, easy-to-use Lifeline system provides the safety net many people need to continue living independently at home in familiar and comfortable surroundings.

Caregivers will have peace of mind knowing their loved ones are safe thanks to the most advanced personal monitoring technologies available and a 24-hour connection to professional assistance whenever it’s needed.

For more information call (402) 829-3277 or toll free at (800) 676-9449.

Free Activation for Mother’s Day

Available May 1- May 31 To receive Free Activation you must mention this ad

www.immanuelcommunities.com

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

RSVP

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is recruiting persons age 55 and older for a variety of opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-4446558, ext. 224. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402-721-7780.

The following have volunteer opportunities in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties: • The Omaha Visitors Center is looking for a volunteer Ambassador.

• Together needs a volunteer intake assistant.

• Mount View Elementary School wants a TeamMates mentor.

• Alegent Health Bergan Mercy Hospital needs volunteers for its information desks and as patient and family escorts.

• The Omaha Police Department wants volunteers for a variety of assignments.

• Boys Town wants volunteer mentors and a volunteer office assistant.

• The Disabled American Veterans need volunteer drivers.

• The Douglas County Health Center wants volunteers for a variety of assignments.

• The Franciscan Centre is looking for volunteers for a variety of assignments.

• The Fund Fighting Fibromyalgia is looking for volunteers for a variety of duties.

• The Ronald McDonald House Charities needs a receptionist and an operations volunteer.

• ENOA’s Grandparent Resource Center wants volunteers to help walk sheep associated with the Luv a Lamb Program.

• The Omaha Home for Boys is looking for volunteer mentors.

• Omaha Serves needs volunteers to help with disaster recovery.

• Pathways to Compassion Hospice needs volunteers for a variety of duties.

• The Omaha Children’s Museum wants a volunteer member check-in assistant.

The following have volunteer opportunities in Dodge and Washington counties:

Vista

Woodbridge

In La

Senior Village

• The Fremont Chamber of Commerce wants a volunteer for its visitors center.

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

• The Building Blocks Boutique needs volunteers to help with young mothers and babies.

• The American Red Cross needs a receptionist.

• The May Museum is looking for volunteers to serve as tour guides and for its gift shop and garden.

• The Washington County Recycling Center needs volunteers to handle quality control.

• The Fremont Friendship Center needs help with its Tuesday Supper Club.

Bridge club for men Retired men are being recruited to play bridge on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Pipal Park Community Center, 7770 Hascall St. Members can choose to play either or both days.

The cost is 25 cents per day, with proceeds going to prizes for the winners.

To learn more about joining a group of retired men for bridge, call John at 402-391-7976.

Harrison Heights

Senior Village

Brand new one and two bedroom apartments in Northwest Omaha for those age 55+ young.

Brand new one and two bedroom apartments in LaVista, Nebraska for those age 55+ young.

There are NO entry fees, buy-ins, or surcharges.

There are NO entry fees, buy-ins, or surcharges.

• Free standard cable TV

• Free standard cable TV

• In-suite laundry connections • Elevators • Pet friendly • 100% non-smoking building • Exercise rooms • Garages available • Convenient to shopping and services

Retirement living at 1/3 the cost One bedroom - $795 Two bedrooms - $910

7205 North 73rd Plaza Circle

Omaha, NE 68122-1715 Call 888-478-8316 Inquire about move-in specials

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• In-suite laundry connections • Elevators • Pet friendly • 100% non-smoking building • Exercise rooms • Garages available • Convenient to shopping and services

7544 Gertrude Street LaVista, Nebraska Call 888-605-7345 Inquire about move-in specials

• And much more…

SELF

SELF

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Retirement living at 1/3 the cost One bedroom - $820 Two bedrooms - $940

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May 2012

ENOA is recruiting drivers for its Meals on Wheels program

Jim Jackson enjoys the camaraderie he shares with his fellow drivers.

Delivering meals allows Jim Evans plenty of time to work on his golf game.

Nelson said the folks on his route always have something interesting to say.

he reasons why this group of dedicated men and women deliver meals for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging are as diverse as the older adults who receive the hot, nutritious meals weekdays.

“The hours I work are just right for me,” said Howard Nelson, who retired six years ago from the grocery store industry. “I enjoy visiting with the clients. They always have something interesting to say.” “(Delivering meals) has helped me find my niche in life,” said David Whitney. “It gets me out of the house and it’s good cardiovascular exercise,” added the retired Union Pacific Railroad conductor who suffered a heart attack in 2009.

Jim Evans, who retired 10 years apart from careers with First Data Resources and Hy-Vee, said his parents received Meals on Wheels in Iowa, so he knows the program’s importance. He said the work schedule also affords him time to golf.

“I look at it as 10 hours a week of community payback,” said driver Gene Parrish.

“Delivering meals makes me feel good,” said Jim Jackson. “I’ve met a lot of good people and I enjoy the camaraderie with the other drivers.”

“It keeps me out of mischief,” said Darlene Burham, who has delivered meals for ENOA for 35 years.

20 to 45 meals and takes 90 minutes to three hours to deliver.

Smidt said the volunteer routes, which are normally filled by representatives from the corporate sector, community groups, and area churches are much smaller than the paid driver routes.

T

N

elson, who has had both of his knees replaced, said the drivers do a lot more than deliver a meal; they bring socialization into the homes of the men and women on their route.

“For some of these people, the driver may be the only person they see all day,” he said. “I try to make their day a little brighter.”

From ENOA’s perspective, the driver also brings another set of eyes and ears into the clients’ homes, according to Smidt.

“The drivers get to know the people on their route. They’re instructed to call our office if they have any concerns about the (meals) recipient’s condition.”

When necessary, an ENOA employee will make a follow-up phone call or a home visit to check on the client’s well-being.

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elson, Whitney, and Evans said delivering meals for ENOA is a great way for men and women to make a meaningful contribution to their com-

NOA uses drivers – both paid employees and volunteers – to deliver meals Monday through Friday in metropolitan Omaha, according to Arlis Smidt who coordinates the program for the agency.

A typical route for a paid driver ranges from

Vince and June Pravacek

munity.

“It’s doing something you can feel good about,” Nelson said.

“Spend a day with me on my route, and you’ll fall in love with the people,” Whitney added.

“It’s very rewarding work,” Evans said.

Smidt would like to invite individuals looking for a great part-time job or a rewarding volunteer opportunity to consider Meals on Wheels.

For more information about delivering meals for ENOA on a paid or a volunteer basis, please call her at 402-444-6536.

Whitney said delivering meals is great cardiovascular exercise for him.

Gene Parrish has delivered meals for ENOA since he retired from OPPD.

Darlene Burham with ENOA’s dock supervisor Bob Cole.

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May 2012 events calendar

Dora Bingel Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • May 7, 14, 21, & 28: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m.

• May 16: Regeneration Lunch. Steve Fowler sings @ noon. The cost is $3.

• May 17: Red Hat Club @ noon.

• May 25: Hard of Hearing Support Group @ 10:30 a.m.

• May 30: Birthday Party Luncheon @ noon. Eat free if you have a May birthday!

The center will be closed on May 8 the for Goldenrod Party at the Kroc Center, 2825 Y St. A nutritious lunch is served on Tuesdays and Fridays; a fancier lunch is offered on Wednesdays. A $1 donation is suggested for the meals, other than $3 for Regeneration.

Round-trip transportation is available for $3.

Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for all meals.

Other activities offered at the facility include: • First and third Wednesdays: Crochet class.

• Wednesdays & Fridays: Bible study and ceramics class.

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

THE

Intergeneration

ORCHESTRA

of

Omaha

on 3 s a e S t r e c n o C 28 201 Fall 2012-Spring

1 Batter Up… Baseball at Boys Town Through September 30 Hall of History 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

FREE 402-498-1186

12 Omaha Symphony Baroque Fireworks Holland Performing Arts Center 8 p.m. $15 to $60 402-345-3560

4 Men’s Garden Club Plant Sale Also May 5 Douglas-Sarpy County Extension Office Friday: 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

FREE

13 Omaha Symphony Ensemble Concert First United Methodist Church 2 p.m. $19 402-342-3560

5 Omaha Symphony: Stayin’ Alive A Celebration of the 70s Holland Performing Arts Center 8 p.m. $25 to $70 402-342-3560

th

Auditions

For musicians age 50 and older and age 25 and younger First Christian Church • 6630 Dodge Street Saturday, May 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, May 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information and appointments, call Asst. IGO Project Director Elizabeth Ferrin at 402-618-5067 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. www.igo-omaha.org

Rockbrook Village Spring Fever Craft Show 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FREE 402-390-0890 6 Bill Cosby Orpheum Theater 2 p.m. $49.50 to $69.50 402-345-0606 11 Spring Awakening Through June 17 Blue Barn Theatre Thursday – Saturday @ 7:30 p.m.

Sunday @ 6 p.m. $10 to $25 402-345-1576 Momix “Botanica” Orpheum Theater 402-345-0606

Page 8

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May 2012

18 Omaha Symphony Radiance Through May 20 Holland Performing Arts Center Friday & Saturday @ 8 p.m.

Sunday @ 2 p.m. $15 to $80 402-345-3560 19 Genealogy: Land and Military Records Mormon Trail Center 9 a.m. to noon FREE 402-706-1453 25 Hairspray Through June 24 Omaha Community Playhouse $24 & $40 402-553-0800 26 Omaha Symphony: Gifts from the Sea Strauss Performing Arts Center A U. of Nebraska Omaha 7 p.m. $30 402-345-3560

Tips for selecting the ‘right’ assisted living community

By Jen Vogt

A

fter deciding it’s time for you or a loved one to move into an assisted living community, you’ll need to pack your belongings, gather paperwork, and maybe even sell your home.

There will be many things to notice and to ask questions about as you search for the “right” assisted living community including: • Staff: Take note of the staff as you tour your potential new home. Do they seem warm and caring? After all, these are people you will encounter every day.

Staff members who seem genuinely concerned about you as a person will make sure you adjust to your new home and continue to enjoy your time there. They should welcome you and answer any questions you might have about living in their care community.

Ask to meet key staff in the community such as the administrator, director of nursing, and life enrichment staff, as well as some of the people who will be directly caring for you. These conversations will help you determine if you can feel comfortable and cared for in this assisted living community.

• Residents: Part of any

residential move is meeting your new neighbors.

You could wait until you’ve moved into your new home, but what if you find out the fit isn’t right for you? Take the time during your tour to notice the residents who are living in the community. Do they seem to enjoy living in this assisted living community? Are they out of their apartments and engaged with each other and the staff either informally or in a scheduled activity?

When scheduling your tour, ask the senior living professional if you could meet with some residents in the care community to get their opinions on what it’s really like to live in this assisted living community.

• Amenities: The senior living professional will highlight some of the features, but take notice of the things that are most important to you or ask about features that aren’t mentioned during the tour.

Many assisted living communities feature salons, banking services, life enrichment opportunities, housekeeping and laundry services, and restaurant-style dining. Some assisted living communities offer only served meals, while others have kitchens available for you to cook a favorite dish.

Your beloved pet may be able to join you in some com-

munities. Before your tour, identify the things that are important to you or that you would like to see in your ideal assisted living community, and make sure to ask about them during your visit.

• Policies: During your tour of an assisted living community is the perfect time to ask about the community’s policies on certain issues. You may want to ask how doctor’s visits are coordinated? Will you be responsible for that or will a nurse coordinate them? Perhaps your physician will be able to visit you in your new home.

Though you may not need therapy now, ask if the community offers rehabilitation services. Is there a nurse on site in case you have health questions that need answering? Will you be able to take your own medications?

Be sure to discuss your financial situation with the senior living professional, including any insurance benefits. Ask about the community’s policy if a time comes when you’re no longer able to pay privately.

Many of these questions aren’t things you think of when living at home, but they will become considerations as you move into an

assisted living community.

Once you’ve received satisfactory answers to your questions, you can make an informed decision about the best care community for you or your loved one. Taking the opportunity to meet with staff and residents, asking questions about amenities, and understanding the

community’s policies will help you to make the move to an assisted living community with confidence in your decision and hopefully, provide you with a sense of excitement about a new chapter in your life.

(Vogt is with Royale Oaks & the House of Hope Assisted Living in Omaha.)

Corrigan Senior Center You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St. this month for: • Thursday, May 3: “Power your Plate” presentation

by Alegent Heart & Vascular Institute dietitian Toni Kuehneman @ 11a.m. Stay for lunch and bingo.

• Mondays, May 7 & 14: Salute to Mom’s Week.

Enjoy the Offuttaires spring show on May 7 @ 11:15 a.m. Dress up in your favorite hats, accessories, and jewelry. Bingo follows @ 1 p.m.

• Monday, May 14: Entertainment by the high steppin’ Omaha Dancing Grannies @ 11:15 a.m. Stay for lunch and bingo.

• Thursday, May 17: Roast beef dinner and Mega Bingo. Enjoy a delicious noon lunch and your chance to win part of $100 in cash prizes during bingo. The menu is roast beef with gravy, mashed potatoes, California blend veggies, a tossed lettuce salad, a wheat roll, and strawberry shortcake. The reservations deadline is noon on Tuesday, May 15.

• Monday, May 21: Birthday party and entertainment

by The Links from the Merrymakers @ 11 a.m. Stay for a noon country fried steak and baked potato lunch or turkey pasta salad. Bingo will follow lunch.

• Wednesday, May 30: Trip to Ameristar Casino @ 11:30 a.m.

Join our fitness programs: • T’ai Chi class Tuesday @ 10 a.m.

• Chair volleyball Tuesday and Thursday @ 11 a.m.

• Daily walking club.

• A free exercise equipment room is also available.

The Corrigan Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $3 donation is normally suggested for the meal. Reservations are normally due by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy.

We offer card games, bingo, ceramics, exercise, woodcarving, and loads of fun. For meal reservations or more information, please call Lynnette at 402-731-7210.

MOVE-IN SPECIAL

Leo Vaughan Manor

Independent living Apartments for seniors 55+ 3325 Fontenelle Blvd.

NEW

LOCATION OMAHA 12100 W. Center Rd. (NW Corner of 120th & Center) Belair Plaza Open: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. evenings by appointment

(402) 571-1207

FREMONT 33 West 6th Street (402) 727-7866 1-800-239-7866

Call for an appointment today!

402-453-1070

“Lowest prices on the latest technology guaranteed.”

www.glassmanhearing.com

May 2012

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• Historic building • One and two bedroom apartments • Near Benson and Saddle Creek Shops • Quality living – affordable rent • Secured entry • Elevator • Community room • Washer/dryer laundry room

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Page 9

The advantages, disadvantages of various types of mulch

By Carol McNulty

M ife Is What You Make It...

L Make It Great, Blossom at Saint Joseph Tower!

• Quality living at an affordable price

• Outstanding activities program

• Licensed nurse staff and certified staff on duty 24 hours a day

• Locally owned & operated

Fontenelle Tours Omaha/Council Bluffs: 712-366-9596

Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy. For more information about our tours, please call Ward or Kathy Kinney at Fontenelle Tours at the numbers listed above.

2012 MOTORCOACH “Singin’ in the Rain”on a Sunday Afternoon. August 5. $89. Enjoy another great performance at the Lofte Community Theater in Manley, NE. This Sunday afternoon performance of the musical “Singin’ in the Rain” will be followed by a home cooked meal at the Main Street Café in Louisville, NE where you will have your choice of three great selections.

Iowa State Fair. August 15. $89. Come along to one of the best state fairs in the country. Enjoy mouth-watering food, free entertainment, grandstand concerts, and plenty of blue-ribbon competition. We will also arrange for (we’ll pick it up, have it on the bus, and return it) rental of a scooter for the day.

Nebraska State Fair & “Chances R.” August 24. $99. Check out the fair’s new location in Grand Island! Besides mouth-watering food, free entertainment, contests, competitions, parades, and just plain fun, enjoy dinner at “Chances R” in York on the way home. We will also arrange for (we’ll pick it up, have it on the bus, and return it) rental of a scooter for the day.

Chicago and the Cubs. August 28 – 31. $699. Take a tour of Wrigley Field, see Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers afternoon game, Chicago highlights tour, Adler Planetarium, Food Tour, Willis Tower, Tommy Gun’s Garage dinner theater, Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Magnificent Mile, dinner cruise on Lake Michigan, and much more!

Nebraska Junk Jaunt. September 28 – 29. $245. Come along on our fourth annual “Junk Jaunt,” covering more than 220 miles in central Nebraska. Participating towns have citywide garage, yard, and bake sales. Two full days of treasure hunting!

NEW! --- Follow the Rails Art Trail. October 19 – 21. $439. Join us and a step-on guide for this annual event to discover local art and artists in 11 communities along Highway 2 beginning in Grand Island. Enjoy stops such as Nebraska National Forest, Carhenge, Stuhr Museum, and the Secret Garden. Visit art galleries, attend workshops and demonstrations, and learn about the railroad as we travel through the Sandhills. Purchase paintings, pottery, sculptures, and drawings along the way!

Daniel O’Donnell in Branson. November 14 - 17. $689. “Daniel O’Donnell,” “SIX,” “The Knudsen Brothers,” “Joseph” at the Sight & Sound Theater, “Chubby Checker,” “Gatlin Brothers with Debby Boone,” and the “Brett Family.” A total of six great shows! Stone Castle Hotel with hot breakfast buffet each morning, comfortable Arrow Stage Lines Motor Coach, seven delicious meals and plenty of time for exploring the shops in Branson! (Sold out – Wait list only)

ulch comes in two varieties, organic and inorganic. It’s important to know the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Turf specialist Rich Gaussoin, Ph.D., says organic mulches are derived from plants or animals. They break down over time, add organic matter to soil, and improve soil structure. In sandy soils, they may increase water-holding capacity. In clay soils they can improve water drainage.

Organic mulches may be incorporated into the soil when beds are renovated or removed, but nitrogen may need to be added to the soil to prevent nitrogen deficiency in surrounding plants.

Some consumers don’t like organic mulches because of their tendency to move out of landscape beds during heavy rainfalls or gusty winds. Watering organic mulches after installation will increase their ability to hold together and minimize movement.

Gaussoin says inorganic mulches are materials that come from nonliving sources.

They rarely break down or break down slowly. Because inorganic mulches don’t break down quickly, they only need to be replenished when they are worked into the soil or are moved off site.

Inorganic mulches are difficult to remove when beds are planted, renovated, or eliminated. Many consumers prefer inorganic mulches because of their longevity; however, inorganic mulches will increase reflexive heat and soil temperatures. As a result, landscapes may be uncomfortable to be in or view on sunny days, and increased temperatures may damage plants.

According to Gaussoin, for good plant health, organic mulches are generally preferred. Organic mulch types include: • Straw mulch is unattractive and as a result is primarily used for short-term projects such as seeding turf grass areas. It will decompose quickly once the turf has been established; however, some straw mulch contains high levels of weed seed that may germinate and compete with the turf grass.

• Woodchips can come from branches, bark, or recycled wood pallets. Fresh woodchips may contain seeds of trees that can become a weed problem in landscape

AARP offering driving class

NEW! --- Kansas City Christmas. December 4 - 5. $289. Enjoy a special holiday luncheon at the Webster House, the American Heartland Theater’s performance of “Nuncrackers, The Nunsense Christmas Musical,” New Theater Restaurant buffet luncheon and “The Game’s Afoot” performance starring Marion Ross from “Happy Days.” Lodging at the Drury, and more holiday surprises!

AARP offers a four-hour refresher driver safety class that reviews the rules of the road and emphasizes driving strategies for persons age 50 and older.

There are no exams or tests involved, and each participant receives a certificate of completion.

Fees are $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers. Insurance discounts may apply.

Please call the numbers below to register for a class.

Here’s the class schedule:

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COLLETTE VACATIONS Heritage of America. May 25 – June 3. Tour New York City, visit Philadelphia, Lancaster, Gettysburg, Shenandoah National Park, Monticello, Williamsburg, and Mount Vernon. In Washington, D.C. visit the Smithsonian, Capitol, monuments, memorials, museums, White House Visitor Center, Arlington National Cemetery and Kennedy gravesites, and more.

Islands of New England. June 8 – 15. Enjoy a tour of Providence, Rhode Island, Newport’s historic mansions, Marble House, Boston, a cranberry bog, Plymouth Rock, enjoy a New England lobster feast, tour Martha’s Vineyard, cruise to Cape Cod, ride the ferry to Nantucket, tour Hyannisport—home of the Kennedy compound, and enjoy dinner aboard an elegant dinner train.

Canadian Rockies & Glacier National Park. July 17 – 24. Beginning in the Canadian province of Alberta, travel to Waterton Lakes National Park, then Glacier National Park and the “Going to the Sun Road,” tour Banff, overnight at the “Castle in the Mountains,” travel to Jasper by way of the Icefields Parkway, see the Maligne Canyon, and visit the vibrant city of Calgary.

San Francisco with Lake Tahoe. August 23 - 29. Enjoy a sightseeing tour of San Francisco with the Twin Peaks, Seal Rocks, and Golden Gate Bridge, visit Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, ride a cable car, visit the wineries of Sonoma Valley, Monterey, Pebble Beach, the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento, the old west town of Virginia City, and spend two nights at the Montbleu Resort & Spa in Lake Tahoe including a cruise on beautiful Lake Tahoe.

Greece and its Islands. September 23 – October 6. See the Acropolis, Royal Palace, and Olympic Stadium in Athens, visit Thermopylae, Kalambaka, remote monastaries in Meteora, the ski resort town of Arachova, Delphi, tour Olympia where the first Olympic games were held, visit the excavations at Mycenae, ferry across the Aegean Sea to Mykonos, sail to the island of Santorini, see vineyards, whitewashed chapels, volcanic cliffs, mountains and valleys in this beautiful country.

Alpine Christmas. December 4 - 11. Explore the Christmas markets of Austria and southern Bavaria. Stay in the Austrian Alps in same hotel for the entire trip! Tour Innsbruck, visit Munich, Oberammergau, Salzburg, and much more.

Watch our website at www.fontenelletours.com

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New Horizons

beds. Dyes are available to color woodchips any desirable color. Woodchips may create access for an existing termite population if they’re placed against a foundation.

• Corncobs are generally weed free, lightweight, and easy to handle. They decompose slowly and can be used around perennials, trees, and shrubs. They can be dyed various colors to match other landscape features.

• Grass clippings are typically used in perennial and vegetable gardens. Only clippings from a well-maintained turf should be used. Clippings from turfs with a lot of weeds will contain weed seeds and may cause future weed problems. Grass clippings should be dried before use. Fresh grass clippings are high in water and nitrogen and will readily ferment. The heat and ammonia released from fermentation can damage plants.

• Leaves are readily available. They should be shredded and partially decomposed before placed around plants. As with grass clippings, thick layers of leaves may interfere with water and air movement.

• Pine needles are attractive and add fragrance to a landscape. They decompose slowly and therefore don’t change soil pH quickly. Thick layers may mat down. Bales of pine needles are becoming more readily available.

• Sawdust is readily available but doesn’t make good landscape mulch. It breaks down slowly and will pull nitrogen from the soil. This may result in nitrogen deficiencies for surrounding plants.

Inorganic mulch types include: • Plastic mulch is available in different thicknesses and colors. Plastics may be used early in the season to increase soil temperatures and extend the growing season or to help ripen fruit. Plastic isn’t recommended in landscape beds. It inhibits weed growth but will also inhibit the growth of desirable plants. Plastic restricts air movement, water, and nutrients to and from the soil, affecting surrounding plant health.

Landscape fabrics are typically a black, woven fabric that contains small holes in the surface to allow air, water, and nutrients to move to and from the soil. They’re not aesthetically pleasing by themselves -Please turn to page 14.

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Friday, May 4 Noon to 4 p.m.

Metro Community College 9110 Giles Road To register, call 402-457-5231 Class # ID-AUAV-004N-70

Saturday, May 12 Noon to 4 p.m.

AARP Information Center 1941 S. 42nd St. To register, call 402-398-9568

Friday, May 11 Noon to 4 p.m.

Metro Community College 2909 Babe Gomez Ave. To register, call 402-457-5231 Class # ID-AUAV-004N-71

Friday, May 18 Noon to 4 p.m.

Metro Community College 204th Street and West Dodge Rd. To register, call 402-457-5231 Class # ID-AUAV-004N-72

May 2012

Paint-a-Thon apps are due by June 8 Applications are available at area Wells Fargo Bank locations and through the United Way’s 211 phone network for the annual Brush up Nebraska Paint-aThon.

Applicants must live in Douglas or Sarpy counties, be age 60 and older or permanently disabled, live in a single-family dwelling they own or are buying, and meet income guidelines.

The applications must be returned by Friday, June 8.

If selected, the older adult or person with a disability will have their home painted by a team of volunteers at no cost to the homeowner on Saturday, Aug. 18.

For more information, call 211 or 402-965-9169.

Read it & eat

By Lois Friedman readitandeat@yahoo.com

Begin the summer by trying these recipes Nothin’ says lovin’ like somethin’ from the oven like a warm loaf of bread. Enjoy the satisfaction of baking something in your own kitchen with these helpful cookbooks and recipes.

How Baking Works

By Paula Figoni (Wiley, $45) Everything about baking in this comprehensive guide and workbook covering the basics of health and wellness for practicing and future bakers.

Good To The Grain

By Kim Boyce (Stewart Tabori & Chang, $29.95) Master baking with 12 different whole grain flours from amaranth to teff developed by this trained pastry chef motivated to create goodies her family and friends would enjoy.

Seventy-five recipes using these diverse flours with detailed clear instructions and beautiful photographs.

The Original King Arthur Flour Cookbook

By Brinna Sands (Countryman Press, $35) This commemorative edition of 200 years of Baking Wisdom is packed in a three-ring binder with chapter tabs from America’s oldest flour company. Enjoy and discover the joys of baking using these user-friendly recipes and techniques.

ENOA senior center May 2012 menu Tuesday, May 1 Sliced Ham

Thursday, May 17 Cheeseburger

Wednesday, May 2 Beef Strip Patty

Friday, May 18 Breaded Chicken Patty

Thursday, May 3 Grilled Chicken Strips

Monday, May 21 Country Fried Steak

Monday, May 7 Pork Dijon

Tuesday, May 22 Chicken Cacciatore

Tuesday, May 8 Beef Cabbage Casserole

Wednesday, May 23 Meatloaf w/Gravy

Wednesday, May 9 Sliced Turkey Breast

Thursday, May 24 BBQ Rib Patty

Thursday, May 10 Breaded Fish

Friday, May 25 Sliced Turkey Breast

Friday, May 11 Maple Glazed Chicken

Monday, May 28 CLOSED FOR MEMORIAL DAY

Monday, May 14 Turkey Noodle Casserole

Tuesday, May 29 Grilled Pork Patty

Tuesday, May 15 Italian Style Pork

Wednesday, May 30 Salisbury Steak w/Gravy

Wednesday, May 16 Meatballs w/ Tomato Sauce

Thursday, May 31 Honey Baked Chicken

Fast Breads

By Elinor Klivans ($19.95) Fifty sweet and savory recipes incorporating detailed instructions for superfast breads of all different shapes, sizes, and flours with toppings. Begin your love affair with baking using this recipe.

Butter Drop Biscuits (6 biscuits)

6 tbsp unsalted butter 1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1/4 cup cake flour 1 tbsp granulated sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp kosher salt 1/4 cup cold shortening, cut into pieces 1 cup cold buttermilk any fat content Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 475 degrees. In a heavy, nine-inch ovenproof frying pan, melt the butter over low heat. Set aside. Sift both flours, the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Scatter the shortening over the top. Using your thumb and fingertips, two table knives, or a pastry blender, work the shortening into the flour mixture until flourcoated pea-sized pieces form.

There will still be some loose flour. Make a well in the center, pour the buttermilk into the well, and use a large spoon to mix the buttermilk into the dry ingredients to form a soft dough.

Using a 1/4-cup capacity ice cream scoop or the large spoon, drop six rounded scoops of dough into the prepared pan, spacing them about 1/2 in apart (drop five biscuits in a circle around the edge of the pan with one biscuit in the middle).

Using the large spoon, carefully turn over each biscuit to coat both sides with butter. Bake until the tops are golden, about 12 minutes. Serve warm, directly from the pan.

The biscuits can be baked up to three hours ahead and left in the pan, covered loosely with aluminum foil. To serve, preheat the oven to 275 degrees and reheat the covered biscuits until warm, about 10 minutes.

Elder Access Line offers legal information to older Nebraskans 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 402827-5656 in Omaha and 1-800-527-7249 statewide.

This service is available to Nebraskans age 60 and older regardless of income, race, or ethnicity.

For more information, log on the Internet to http://www.legalaidofnebraska.com/EAL.

May 2012

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New Horizons

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Page 11

Howard took jobs, met challenges normally reserved for men smile returning. “I could take my playmate over to the soda fountain and we could have anything we wanted. Anything.”

T

Jean, who was adopted when she was three days old, holding a picture of herself and her mother.

By Nick Schinker Contributing Writer

J

ean Howard has spent her life cutting trails for women everywhere. She has been a Girl Scout leader, school board member, Air Force family services coordinator, U.S. Small Business Administration advisory council member, a member of the SAC Federal Credit Union board of directors, and was one of the first women to become a Certified Public Accountant in Nebraska.

She has founded and led several organizations designed to help empower ambitious women like her to overcome obstacles and succeed. She’s also a survivor, having endured bouts of ovarian and breast cancer. Because of all she has done, countless people consider the 83-year-old Howard to be a role model, a mentor, and an inspiration.

Remind her of all that and she just smiles.

“Each period of my life,” she says, “I did something I enjoyed doing.”

And though she has the awards and stacks of photos and newspaper clippings to prove her legacy as a leader, she says the real pioneer was Margaret Simpson Gay, the woman who adopted her when Jean was just three days old.

“Now, hers is a story that needs to be told,” Howard says.

Both women took on jobs and challenges that at the time were reserved almost exclusively for men. Just because women weren’t doing the work, Howard says, didn’t mean they couldn’t do the work.

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“Man or woman,” she says, smiling warmly, “somebody has to be the first.”

Early in 1929, a young woman knocked on the door of a house in Wichita, Kan. When Margaret Simpson Gay answered, the girl explained she was pregnant and could not keep her baby. Although Mrs. Gay was a widow with three grown children, she did not simply turn the girl away. She took her to the Salvation Army’s home for unwed mothers so she’d be cared for. Three days after the birth of a baby girl, Mrs. Gay adopted the child and named her, Honey Jean, later changing it to Peggy Jean.

“My adoptive mother was a true pioneer in her day,” Howard says.

“As a young woman she married a man who worked in the oil fields of Oklahoma and they had three children. But when the oldest got to be high school age, they were living in a work camp and she didn’t like that. She took the car and the two youngest children and left for California.”

There, Margaret Simpson met a woman who made corsets but had no way to market them. “So she went into business with her, taking the corsets to San Francisco to the department stores to sell them,” Howard says.

To make ends meet, Margaret also delivered mail on horseback to residents in the California mountain areas, and did some modeling.

Howard has a photo postcard of Margaret and another woman modeling ladies’ hunting clothes.

“Eventually, she made enough money in California that she bought

New Horizons

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a share in a mine in Joplin, Mo.,” Howard says. “It was zinc or lead, I don’t know which.”

Margaret Simpson fell in love with the mine’s foreman and married him, adding Gay to her name. “He was killed in World War I,” Howard says. “Because they were partners, she inherited the mine.”

Gay sold the mine and used the money to go into the oil business.

Howard has several letters from bankers introducing Margaret Simpson Gay as president of the Salt Fork Oil and Gas Co. and president of the Tonkawa Development Co., “owner of 600 acres of (oil and gas) leases in the Tonkawa Field.”

“She had leases in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas,” Howard says. “She owned all the rigging and had a crew. She would go out and lease the land and put her crew to work. I never heard of another woman like her.”

Howard recalls traveling with her mother by car to visit the oil fields.

“I hated riding in the car for those long trips,” she says.

They traveled to many small towns, places with wooden sidewalks and dirt streets. “The hotel would have maybe 10 or 12 rooms. As soon as we checked in, she would have the owner find me a family close by with a little girl I could play with while we were there.”

That and another facet of each trip made the long car rides worthwhile.

“They always had a soda fountain,” Howard says, her

May 2012

he oil business back then “was basically gambling,” Howard says. “Eventually she (Margaret) lost all her money.”

Living in Wichita, Margaret and Jean survived on a war pension from Gay’s late husband. Howard attended school and got her first summer job at age 12. “I was a car hop in seventh and eighth grade, taking frozen custard and fried chicken out to cars and hooking the trays onto the windows.”

The summer of her ninth-grade year, she and a friend took jobs at a steam laundry, feeding sheets through a giant steam press. “It was hot and the place wasn’t air conditioned,” she says. “We did that for two weeks, quit, and took jobs as theater usherettes. We wore cute uniforms and got free movie passes.

We kept that job for two summers.”

About that time, Jean’s adoptive mother told her a few details about Howard’s birth mother, including the story of the young girl coming to her door prior to Howard’s birth.

“I had always been told I was adopted,” she says, “but I never really knew much more than that.”

Howard later worked as an elevator operator in several downtown Wichita buildings. As a student at Wichita University, she got a job at the courthouse typing copies of abstracts, long before the advent of Xerox machines.

“We had to type as many carbon copies as we could get,” she says.

“What we typed had to be identical to the original. If they spelled a word wrong in the original, I had to spell it wrong.”

During her two years in college, she showed an affinity for math and was encouraged by her instructor to take an accounting course. “Math was always my best subject, so I did.”

That was also the time she met an Air Force Reserve Office Training Corps (ROTC) cadet named Ray Howard. They were married in 1948 when Jean was 19.

Margaret Gay died of a stroke a week before the wedding. But her spirit would live on for many years to come.

A

s Ray Howard rose from the rank of Second Lieutenant to Lieutenant Colonel, the couple moved to air bases in San Antonio, Denver, Biloxi, Miss.; Rapid City, S.D.; Topeka, Kan.; and Eielson AFB near Fairbanks, Alaska, where she served on the school board. Jean assumed many other roles during those years, including family services coordinator for what was then called the Rapid City Army Air Base.

“When Brigadier General (Richard) Ellsworth was killed in a plane crash” in 1953, she says, “I --Please turn to page 13.

Even in retirement, Jean remains a vital cog in the business world --Continued from page 12. went with the chaplain to notify his wife.” The base was later renamed Ellsworth AFB. Howard also was the Girl Scout leader for the base.

“I took the girls to survival camp in the Black Hills,” she recalls.

“Because of our connection with the air base, we even had a helicopter come and simulate a rescue. I can’t remember all the things we did, but we had a lot of fun.

“With the girls, I always concentrated on the outdoor activities. I figured they learned about the arts in school and homemaking at home. But they hardly ever had a chance to do camping stuff.”

She and her husband adopted two children: a son, Rick, and a daughter, Jane. As the children grew, so did Howard’s urge to return to college.

“Alaska University was offering classes on base,” she says. “I told my husband I wanted to go back and take some accounting classes.

Well, he didn’t like that. But I took one, and I got an ‘A.’ he said as long as I got A’s, I could keep going. I don’t believe he thought I could do it.”

Howard continued concentrating on accounting courses, continuing to earn A’s, enrolling at then Omaha University when the family moved to nearby Offutt Air Force Base. “I did not get my degree,” she says. “I had enough accounting hours, and so I took the CPA exam. Back then, you could work as an accountant even if you didn’t have a degree as long as you passed the exam.”

This time, Howard wasn’t so sure she could do it. Two sections of the exam concerned topics she had never studied. Her professor signed her up anyway, and she took the test as a student.

“I was on pins and needles waiting to hear,” she says. “As soon as I found out I passed, I started looking for a job.”

H

oward passed the CPA exam in 1969, becoming one of the first women to do so in

Nebraska.

“I might have been the first but I’m not sure,” she says. “There may have been two others, but I’m not sure they were CPAs. I never met them.”

She worked six months as a temporary accountant before earning a recommendation for a job opening at Dutton & Associates in Omaha.

“Paul Dutton asked about my grades, and I said I had all A’s. He seemed impressed that I could pass the exam in the first sitting, and that I could pass two parts of it without any classes in them. So I got the job.”

She also thinks the fact Dutton had daughters at home might have worked in her favor. “I think he looked to me as an example,” she says.

Howard says launching a career “didn’t sit well” with her husband, Ray. They divorced in 1975.

Confident from overcoming her own challenges, Howard began to pave the way for other women in business. In 1976, she founded the Omaha chapter of the American Society of Women Accountants.

In 1979, the two credit unions serving Offutt merged and became SAC Federal Credit Union.

Administrators wanted a woman to be on the newly formed board of directors.

“She also had to be a CPA,” Howard says. “Since I was the only female CPA who was also a credit union member, they picked me.”

In 1980, she was one of the founders of the Omaha chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, a networking group to encourage women in business.

One year later, Howard was one of the founders of ICAN, the Institute for Career Advancement Needs in Omaha. ICAN has since grown to become a force in professional self-development for men and women, with seminars and training programs that are respected and well attended. The annual ICAN Women’s Leadership Conference, for example, attracts

Jean with Mary Prefontaine, executive director of ICAN, at a 2010 event where Howard received ICAN’s Legacy Award.

Jean (standing in center) with her Girl Scout troops at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. more than 2,000 people. “I think the first year we had a conference,” she says, “we had maybe 200 women show up.”

In 1982, the Small Business Administration recognized Howard as its Nebraska Women in Business Advocate of the Year.

She stayed with Dutton & Associates until retiring eight years ago at age 75 after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Jean overcame that as well as breast cancer, both of which are in remission.

Howard still sits on the SAC Federal Credit Union board and is proud to display her 30-year pin.

“I’ve seen a lot of changes,” she says. “Back then, each of the two credit unions was worth about $15 million. Today, we’re over $500 million.”

In recognition of her service she was inducted into the Defense Credit Union Council Hall of Honor at the organization’s 2011 convention in New York City Even though she has retired, she still does taxes for one client. “I have one lady in her late 90s who absolutely refuses to let me go.”

The list of people Howard has touched and inspired would likely fill its own hall of fame. One is Julie Masters, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Gerontology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. They met when Masters’ grandparents and parents were Howard’s clients.

“Jean has fought adversity from the day she was born,” Dr. Masters says. “Women didn’t become CPAs back then, and yet she stepped into what was known as a ‘gentleman’s business’ and forged ahead, earning the respect of fellow accountants and her clients.

“She’s also a firm believer in supporting the underdog. Her interest in ensuring people get the support they need to succeed is just one of many endearing qualities.”

Howard always believed her trailblazing entrepreneurial nature

May 2012

•

was something she learned from her adoptive mother. About three years ago, however, she found out it may be an inherited trait. That was when a relative told her that Margaret Simpson Gay was not only her adoptive mother; she was also her biological grandmother.

One of Margaret’s sons, she was told, was actually Howard’s father.

Because he was married at the time, his alleged relationship with Howard’s biological mother was never acknowledged.

The “Honey” in Howard’s original name, she says, was her biological mother’s name.

“I can’t be certain that it’s the truth because he and my grandmother are dead,” she says.

“But I have a portrait of me with Margaret, and people say there’s a distinct resemblance between us.

Being my real grandmother would explain it.”

It makes sense that the extraordinary spirit Howard has exhibited all her life isn’t just in her heart.

Maybe it’s in her blood.

Roland “Arty” Arteaga, president and CEO of the Defense Credit Union Council presented his organization’s Hall of Honor Award to Jean.

New Horizons

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Page 13

Please see the ad on page 3

NH Club membership rises $50 Dr. Peter Suzuki $25 Gwen Howard $20 Reba Benschoter $10 Patricia Remm Vlasta Schweiger Walter Kujawa Karen Wagner Beverly Nielsen $5 Joyce Clark Reflects donations received through 4/20/12

Fremont Friendship Center

You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field) to socialize, enjoy a nutritious meal, exercise, play pool, visit the computer lab, play cards, etc. The facility is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays (supper club @ 5:30), and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $3 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. This month’s activities include: • May 1: Midland College nursing students @ 10: 30 • May 2: Music with Christine Coulson @ 10:30 a.m.

• May 3: Learn more about the ENOA’s Chore Services Program with Deb Marquardt @ 11:15 a.m.

• May 9: Enjoy the Fremont Middle School Jazz Band at 10:30 followed by our monthly birthday party.

• May 10: Learn more about Medicare in the home with Angels Care Home Health at 10:30 a.m.

• May 15: Presentation by the Attorney General’s office on senior fraud at 10 a.m.

• May 16: Accordion music with Charles @ 10:30 a.m.

• May 17: Art and Gwen Schmidt will play your favorite music.

• May 22: Enjoy a movie with Larry • May 23: Roger Webb will sing @ 10:30 a.m.

• May 24 & 25: Annual garage sale fundraiser. May 24 from 3 to 7 p.m. and May 25 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• May 30: Special music with Rich Hayes @ 10:30 a.m.

For meal reservations or for more information, please call Laurie Harms at 402-727-2815.

Experience Counts

Catered living at an affordable price • NO ENTRANCE FEE! • Independent, assisted living, & skilled nursing care.

• Ask about our $750 studio special (meals, utilities, and cable TV included).

Serving older adults for more than 40 years

So much more– you have to explore!

Call today to schedule a tour!

402-572-1870

7300 Graceland Drive • Omaha 68134 • www.skylinerc.com

Page 14

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New Horizons

Know your rights, owner’s rights when using a self-storage facility

By William E. Seidler, Jr.

the notice, the notice must be delivered to any address known by the landlord in which such person may reasonably be expected to receive the notice. f you decide to downsize and move If the landlord reasonably believes the from a house into an apartment, retireitems in the storage unit are worth more ment community, or an assisted living than $250, then notice of a sale must be facility, you may decide to keep some household furnishings in a self-storage facil- given in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the sale is to be held. ity. If this is the case, you should be aware of your rights and the rights of the self-stor- Notice must be published once a week for two consecutive weeks. The public notice age facility’s owner. must sufficiently identify the goods so the All self-storage units will have a written owner could recognize them. contract describing the rights and duties of From the sale’s proceeds, the landlord the facility’s owner and the renter’s rights and duties. The contract will describe which may deduct the reasonable cost of storage, the cost of the sale, and advertising. After unit is being rented and require the renter deducting those costs, any proceeds of the to pay the monthly rental fee. The contract sale not claimed by the former tenant and will usually contain a provision about who ‘s responsible if items in the storage unit are owner – other than such tenant or another person having an interest in the proceeds – damaged. The landlord will typically claim is remitted to the state treasurer for disposithey have no responsibility in these cases. tion pursuant to the Uniform Disposition of When the person renting the storage unit Unclaimed Property Act. has homeowner’s insurance, the policy If a family has heirlooms kept in a selfusually provides extended coverage for storage unit, care should be taken to ensure items stored outside the house. When the they know where the units are located, what house is sold, this coverage disappears. It’s is in the unit, and that the contents are propimportant for people who are downsizing erly insured. The family should make sure to purchase a renter’s insurance policy that the facility owner has a secondary contact provides the same type of extended coverto notify if a rent payment is missed. age.

(The information contained in this colOne risk in using a self-storage facility umn is general. Slight changes in individual is someone may forget to make the payfact situations may require a material variment for the facility. In other cases, after ance in the applicable advice. You should the renter’s death, the family will overlook not attempt to solve individual problems the self-storage unit. There can be an issue based on the advice contained in this colabout what should happen to the items in umn. If you have questions regarding the storage. above, you should contact an attorney.)

In Nebraska, the rights of the landlord to dispose of items are governed by the Disposition of Personal Property Landlord Tenant Woodcarving class Fridays Act. The act provides an orderly method of Men and women are needed to join disposing of personal property when storage the woodcarving class held Friday morncharges are not paid. ings at the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 That act provides if the tenancy is terX St. minated, a landlord must send notice by For more information, please call first-class mail postage prepaid to the owner Lynnette at 402-731-7210. at his last known address. If the landlord has reason to believe the owner will not receive Seidler & Seidler, P.C.

I

The pros, cons of using mulch...

---Continued from page 10. and typically are used with mulches placed on top.

While they’re purported to inhibit weed infestation, many species, such as nuts edge and filed bindweed, can grow through the fabric. Seed deposited on the surface also may still germinate. Landscape fabrics are more suitable for inorganic mulches than organic types.

• Crumb rubber is a product primarily generated from recycled car tires. This type of mulch typically is found in turf areas subjected to high traffic areas, such as near a cart path or on sports turfs or playgrounds. In high traffic areas, it helps reduce soil compaction, improves wear tolerance, and provides padding for those using the turf. Its use as a landscape mulch is limited and not recommended.

•

May 2012

• Rock (lava, river, white, or pink) mulches increase temperatures around plants, resulting in increased plant stress and greater vulnerability to insect and disease problems. Rock mulches also may increase the temperatures in outdoor living areas, the cost of air conditioning within adjacent buildings, and cause glare if mulch is light-colored.

Using rocks also can be dangerous because mowers and children can throw

them. Rock mulches are a good choice under down spouts or in dry bed streams to help slow water down and reduce soil erosion and the washing of organic mulches into turf grass areas. In areas where rock is used, select a color that matches other elements of the house or hardscape.

(McNulty is an educator with the University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension office in Douglas and Sarpy counties.)

Florence Senior Center to reopen soon The Florence Senior Center, 2920 Bondesson St., – which has been undergoing remodeling for several weeks – will be reopening soon. An open house will be held on a date to be announced later.

The facility is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lunch is served at noon. A $3 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the meal the participant wishes to enjoy.

For more details, call Amy or Carol at 402-444-6333.

Lifestyle changes can help you maintain mental edge as you age If you’ve ever walked into a room to look for something but forgotten what you were looking for, you’re familiar with the feelings of forgetfulness and frustration. Unless you take immediate action, these feelings may worsen each year. There are easy lifestyle choices you can make every day to sustain your mental edge as you age.

Cognitive decline, including memory loss, is one of the top fears among people over age 55. More than half of baby boomers fear the loss of mental capacity, and 41 percent are afraid their brain fitness has decreased in the past 10 years, according to a 2010 report in Today’s Dietitian.

“New research shows that by changing our lifestyle habits we can help grow key parts of our brains, resulting in better memory, improved learning speed, and mental agility,” said Majid Fotuhi M.D., Ph.D., chairman of the Neurology Institute for Brain Health and Fitness.

Here are some brain health and fitness tips: • Give your brain a physical workout. Exercise helps maintain a healthy body and brain. Research has found associations between physical activity and reduced risk of cognitive decline. Give your body and brain a workout by engaging in physical activities such as yoga, walking, and weight lifting, at least 30 minutes every day. It helps keep cholesterol levels in check, maintains good blood flow, and encourages the growth of new brain cells and connections.

• Nourish your mind. Help protect your brain cells from memory loss by following a diet that includes foods rich in good fats such as DHA, a major structural fat accounting for up to 97 percent of the omega-3 fats in the brain. DHA intake has been associated with a decreased risk of mental decline associated with aging. The body doesn’t make DHA, so you need get it though food or supplements.

“The more omega-3 fat you eat, the more it is incorporated into brain cells, the more flexible your brain cell membranes become, the better you think, the more you remember, and the happier you are,” said Elizabeth Somer, M.A., dietitian and author of Eat Your Way to Happiness.

You can find DHA in certain foods, but another easy way to get it is by taking a daily DHA supplement like BrainStrong Adult, which contains 900 mg. per serving of life’s DHA, which is clinically shown to improve memory in adults over age 55, according to a study published in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

• Activate your mind through mental stimulation.

Develop a “use it or lose it” philosophy when it comes to your brain. Studies have shown brain cells, much like muscle cells, can grow bigger and stronger with cognitive challenges and stimulation.

Pursuing education, learning a new language, reading, working crossword puzzles, and even playing board games are fun ways to exercise your mind. Keep your brain active by engaging in brain-boosting activities you enjoy. Commit to learning something new each month.

• Stay socially connected. Friends and family are often the key to happiness, and they just may be the key to brain health as well. Social interaction not only makes your life more fun and meaningful, but it also stimulates your brain.

Stay connected with others by being part of an in-person interaction, whether it’s in the workplace, a card club, a network of friends, or a religious congregation. Seek out friends and family for emotional support to help manage stress and stay happy. Put your passions into action by volunteering for a cause you feel passionate about.

By giving your brain a little more attention, you’ll not only lead a fuller life, but you’ll also be helping to keep your mental edge.

For more about brain health, visit www.brainstrongdha.com.

(Family Features provided this information.)

Heartland Family Service Senior Center

Service has bilingual resource information

You’re invited to visit the Heartland Family Service Senior Center, 2101 S. 42nd St. for the following: • Join Patty in the crafts room Tuesdays @ 10 a.m.

• Thursdays, May 3, 10, & 17: Joe from WhyArts? is offering an acrylic painting class.

• Friday, May 4: Speaker on Medicare rights @ 10:45 a.m.

• Tuesday, May 8: Celebration at the Kroc Center – 2825 Y St. – from noon to 2 p.m.

• Friday, May 11: Mother’s Day Brunch featuring soprano Beth Asbjornson. Men are welcome to attend.

• Monday, May 14: Birthday party with entertainment by Tim Javorsky from the Merrymakers @ 10:45 a.m.

• Wednesday, May 16: ENOA’s RSVP luncheon.

• Thursday, May 31: Trip to the Henry Doorly Zoo. Zoo admission is free. The bus costs $3. Bring a sack lunch or eat at a zoo concession stand. Call 402-5535300 to register.

The center will be closed on Memorial Day. The Heartland Family Service Senior Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is normally served at noon. A $3 donation is suggested for the meal.

Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to attend.

A nurse visits Mondays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Call 402-392-1818 to schedule an appointment.

Regular activities include Bingo on Wednesday and Friday and free Tai Chi classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday @ 10:15 a.m.

For meal reservations or more information, please call Karen Sides at 402-553-5300.

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

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

Monthly programs for older nature lovers

The Fontenelle Nature Association’s SUN (Seniors Understanding Nature) program has an activity for older adults the second Tuesday of each month at the Fontenelle Nature Center, 1111 Bellevue Blvd.

North.

The programs, held from 9:45 to 11 a.m., feature an indoor program, an optional nature walk, and refreshments.

The cost is $5 per person each month.

While walk-ins are welcome, registration is preferred. To register, or for more information, please call Catherine Kuper at 402-731-3140, ext.

240.

Here’s information abot the next program: • May 8: The Whitetailed Deer with naturalist Debbie Beck.

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   

Volunteers needed at AARP’s info center

 

AARP is recruiting older men and women to serve as volunteers at its Nebraska Information Center, 1941 S. 42nd St. (Center Mall).

Volunteers can choose the days and hours they wish to volunteer at the center which is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, please call 402-398-9568 or 402-393-2066.

  

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    

 

 

Alzheimer’s chapter offering six-week series The Alzheimer’s Disease Association’s Midlands chapter is offering a six-week caregiver educational series Tuesdays between May 1 and June 5.

The free sessions will be held at the House of Hope, 4801 N. 52nd St., from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

For reservations or more information, please call 402-502-4301.

May 2012

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New Horizons

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Page 15

Retired federal employees meet monthly The National Association of 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 402-333-6460.

The National Association of Retired Federal Employees’ Aksarben Chapter 1370 meets the second Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S. Plz. For more information, please call 402-392-0624.

We need your

! t r o p p su

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

ENOA

Military Appreciation event set for May 27 You’re invited to attend Military Appreciation Day on Sunday, May 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the GermanAmerican Society, 3717 S. 120th St. The event will feature the Duffy Belorad Orchestra from noon to 3 p.m., an active military color guard and the singing of the National Anthem at 11:30 a.m., patriotic and cultural entertainment from 3 to 4 p.m., dancing, and lots of great food and beverages.

Members of the general public are asked to make a $5 donation at the door.

The money will be given to the Disabled American Veterans Association. All active and retired U.S. military personnel will be admitted for free.

Free parking is available for everyone attending.

For more information, please call 402-333-6615 or log on the Internet to www.germanamericansociety.org.

Traditional funding sources are making it more difficult for ENOA to fulfill its mission. Partnership opportunities are available to businesses and individuals wanting to help us.

These opportunities include volunteering, memorials, honorariums, gift annuities, and other tax deductible contributions.

$30 = 7 meals or 1.75 hours of in-home homemaker services or 1 bath aide service for frail older adults. $75 = 17 meals or 4.75 hours of in-home homemaker services or 4 bath aide services for frail older adults. $150 = 35 meals or 9.5 hours of in-home homemaker services or 8 bath aide services for frail older adults. $300 = 70 meals or 19.25 hours of in-home homemaker services or 16 bath aide services for frail older adults.

Other amount (please designate)__________________________ Please contact me. I would like to learn more about how to include the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging in my estate planning.

Name:_____________________________________

Please ma donationil your tax deducti with this fo ble rm to: Easter

n Office oNebraska n Aging Address:___________________________________ Attention : Jef City:______________State:_____ Zip: __________ Phone:____________________________________

f Reinha 4223 C rdt Omaha, enter Street NE 6810 5-2431 (402

) 444-665

4

When used properly, DEET is the best way to keep bugs away While the industry standard insect repellents rely on the insecticide DEET to keep bugs at bay, many environmental and public health advocates worry regular long-term exposure to even small amounts of the chemical can negatively affect the human nervous system.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports in studies, DEET has been shown to be “of low acute toxicity,” although it can irritate the eyes, mouth, and skin.

The EPA concluded after a comprehensive 1998 assessment that DEET does not present a health risk as long as consumers follow label directions and take proper precautions. And since nothing works quite as well as DEET in deterring disease-carrying ticks and mosquitoes, the Centers for Disease Control is relatively bullish on its use in order to reduce incidences of Lyme disease, encephalitis, and other insect-borne diseases.

Regardless, many consumers would prefer natural alternatives and there are several companies already selling DEET-free insect repellents, many of which use essential oils as their active ingredients.

WebMD reports soybased repellent formulas (such as Bite Blocker for Kids) are the most effective substitutes for DEET, usually lasting for 90 minutes, which is longer than some low-concentration DEET formulas.

WebMD adds despite popular opinion, products containing citronella are not the best non-chemical choice, as their effectiveness typically wanes within an hour. Likewise, peppermint oil and some other plant-based oils are also effective as insect repellents.

Beyond repellents, there are many other ways to keep pests away. For one, avoid floral fragrances from perfume, deodorant, or other sources that can attract

mosquitoes and other bugs.

The EarthEasy website recommends eliminating standing water around your home to keep mosquito breeding at bay. Birdbaths, wading pools, and pet water bowls should be changed at least twice a week. Also make sure your gutters are draining properly. Since mosquitoes are attracted by carbon dioxide released from campfires and barbeque grills, EarthEasy recommends throwing sage or rosemary on the coals to repel the mosquitoes.

If all else fails and DEET is your only option, use it sparingly. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using repellents with no more than a 30 percent concentration of DEET for kids over twomonths old (and no repellent for younger babies). Keep in mind formulas with lower concentrations of DEET may work just as well as others but not for as long. A 10 percent DEET concentration, for instance, should work for up to two hours outside.

Applying DEET-based bug spray to your clothing instead of skin can help minimize any negative effects of exposure. Also, kids and grown-ups alike should wash off any DEETbased repellents when they are “out of the woods” so to speak.

(EarthTalk® is written and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine.)

Divided Berlin topic of

May 25 presentation You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center, 9270 Cady Ave., on Friday, May 25 at 11:45 a.m. for Webster Bell’s presentation titled, Life in the Divided City of Berlin, Germany.

For more information, call 402-444-3091.

Basic computer skills made easy!

LEARN HOW TO:

Dr. David M. Cohen, Ph.D.

• Send and receive e-mails. today to see how we • Use Word, Excel, & PowerPoint. Call can tailor our services to • Use SKYPE for video-conferencing. meet your needs.

• Organize addresses, phone numbers, etc.

Computer Club • Play games on the computer.

402-637-3935 • Shop, read publications, www.CohensComputerClub.com and watch videos online.

Cohen’s dmc@ieee.org

Page 16

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New Horizons

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May 2012

Report: Growing number of older Americans will force baby boomers into a housing crunch

T

he fact baby boomers are swelling the number of older Americans is well documented, but do we really understand the consequences of this important shift for the housing needs of older adults?

A new report from the Center for Housing Policy, Housing an Aging Population – Are We Prepared? explores the effects of this demographic change on the demand for housing, the challenge of providing meaningful housing choices for older adults of all incomes, and the policies that could help communities respond to the dual challenges of providing older adults with affordable housing and adequate services.

The nation’s 65 and older population will more than double by 2050 to nearly 90 million, growing at a rate faster than any other age group. According to Census data, by 2050, one in five Americans will be over age 65.

Housing an Aging Population – Are We Prepared? finds older adults are more likely than younger adults to have housing affordability challenges. As a result, the population’s aging is likely to increase the overall proportion of the country with severe housing cost burdens.

The report finds many older adults lack access to meaningful housing choices. For example, to move into a multifamily development that would provide services an 85-year-old might need to continue living independently and to avoid costly nursing care.

The report further covers trends affecting older adults in terms of demand, housing costs, finances, location, and housing type, offering recommendations on existing policies that help address the coming crisis.

“Given the sharp increase in the population of older adults cited in the report, it’s essential that we focus now on strengthening the nation’s policy response,” says Sydelle M. Knepper, founder and CEO of the New York-based development firm SKA Marin.

“HUD’s Section 202 supportive housing for the elderly program has done a lot to fund housing for older adults and people with a disability, providing more than 400,000 homes during the last 50 years. We need to act at a much larger scale to have a hope of meeting future need.”

Advocacy groups for older adults have also begun tackling this issue in large part working to spread awareness and to offer solutions that build on the existing policy framework.

Rodney Harrell, a policy advisor at AARP’s Public Policy Institute, says communities and states must understand the challenges before they can address them.

“As the older population grows, meeting the housing needs of older adults is certain to become a significant challenge across the nation. States and communities need to effectively respond by adopting policies that ensure adequate, affordable housing for people of all ages.”

Key findings of the report include: • As the U.S. population ages, the share of the population with severe housing cost burdens will likely rise. Older adults are more likely than younger adults to spend more than half their income on housing. Cost burdens also increase with age.

One in four households age 85+ spend at least half their income on housing as compared with about one in five households age

65 to 74 and about one in six households younger than 65.

• As the overall population ages, the numbers of the most vulnerable will grow as well. This refers to people with a disability, women living alone (who account for 40 percent of women age 65 and older), and minorities. Meanwhile, the Great Recession has eaten into the reserves of many older households, reducing home equity and retirement accounts.

• Even some older homeowners without mortgages face serious housing challenges. While homeowners age 65 plus are more likely than younger households to have paid off their mortgages, many of these men and women have high housing cost burdens.

The incomes of older adults tend to decline with age, as reflected in rising poverty rates. But property taxes, maintenance, and utility costs all tend to rise over time for both older homeowners and renters as reflected in higher rents. Accumulated savings can help, but these too diminish with age.

• An older population with health issues will drive demand for modified housing and housing with supportive services. Both men and women are living longer, and as a result, more older adults will be living with disabilities. About one quarter of older households ages 65 to 74 and nearly two thirds of households with a member age 85 and older include someone with a disability.

The demand for renovations and retrofits to accommodate disabilities and for moves to housing with supportive services will likely rise. About one in five older Americans age 85 and older are in community housing or a long-term care facility. That’s more than 10 times the share of adults ages 65 to 74. The supply of these types of housing is unlikely to keep pace with burgeoning demand. Many suburban communities – home to half of older adults – continue to limit multifamily or group housing.

• Existing and emerging policies can help older adults continue to live in their own homes as they age. These include policies to assist with home modification using deferred loans or grants from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME, or housing trust funds.

They can also connect residents to social services through expansion of the Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid Waiver program, volunteer efforts, and other mechanisms. Policies can help residents afford high housing costs through housing vouchers and property tax abatement programs; and expand public transit and volunteer driver programs to help residents get around without driving.

• Equally important are policies to expand housing choices for older adults.

By adopting more flexible zoning policies, communities can help foster a diverse range of housing types including accessory dwelling units (i.e., granny flats), high-density rental developments, assisted living residences, continuing care retirement communities, and congregate housing.

Subsidies will be needed to help ensure older adults with low and moderate incomes have access to affordable choices. The report also recommends experimenting with more cohousing efforts that promote “active neighboring” and/or allow professional caregivers to live among residents.

May 2012

•

Farmer’s Market produce coupons available through ENOA senior centers During June 2012, the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging will again be offering coupons that can be exchanged for produce through the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program.

Recipients must be 60 years of age or older and have an annual income of less than $20,146 for one person and $27,213 for a two-income household.

One set of coupons will be allowed per household.

More information should be available through your ENOA senior center at the end of May. For a complete list of ENOA senior centers, log on to enoa.org.

The coupons are expected to be available for distribution in early June.

For more information see the June New Horizons.

Call 402-738-5100 for more information

Silver Ridge creates booster club for older baseball fans

S

ilver Ridge Assisted Living in Gretna has joined forces with the Omaha Storm Chasers Pacific Coast League baseball team to create the Silver Chasers Club for men and women age 60 and older.

For $20, members receive free admission to nine Wednesday night Storm Chasers games, a special t-shirt, free coffee at the games, a birthday card, a newsletter, a membership card, pre-game chats with the players, coaches, and staff, and a year-end picnic at Werner Park.

“My original idea was to approach the booster club at Gretna High School and create a group called the Silver Dragons,” said Lisa Sedlacek-Arp, marketing coordinator at Silver Ridge.

Before she could get that project off the ground, Mark

Nasser, who doubles as an advertising salesman and the team’s radio announcer, approached Sedlacek-Arp about advertising with the Storm Chasers.

“You have a club for kids, can you have a club for seniors?” Sedlacek-Arp asked Nasser. “He loved the idea and the Silver Ridge Silver Chasers Club was born.”

For more information about joining the Silver Ridge Silver Chasers Club, please contact Brian Logan with the Storm Chasers.

Logan can be reached at 402-738-5100 or brianl@ omahastormchasers.com.

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New Horizons

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Page

17

Europeans LePatourel, Heller are regulars at Millard Senior Center

Valerie LePatourel

Eseda “Bobbie” Heller

Thanks to Valerie LePatourel and Eseda “Bobbie” Heller, participants at the Millard Senior Center, 2304 S. 135th Ave., are able to enjoy a slice of European culture three days a week.

LePatourel, 86, moved from Wales to Bellevue with her parents, husband, and son in 1957 to be near Valerie’s sister, June, who had married an American GI who was later stationed at Offutt Air Force Base.

Heller, 89, married an American soldier in her native Belgium near the end of WWII, then spent the next 60-plus years living in California. She moved to Omaha in 2008 to live with her son Gary.

These days, LePatourel and Heller visit the Millard Senior Center thrice weekly to visit with friends, play cards, and eat a delicious meal. Heller also enjoys playing chair volleyball at the facility.

“Everyone here (at the center) is so friendly and I love to play cards,” said LePatourel, who has one child, one grandchild, and two great-grandchildren.

LePatourel, whose husband of 60 years, Edward, died in 2010, worked for several years at the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute. She retired after losing her left eye following an automobile accident.

“I think about Wales a lot,” she said. “I was very happy there, but I don’t miss it.”

Heller said the transition to life in the United States was difficult for her initially. “I missed my family and I didn’t speak English.”

The mother of four, grandmother of seven, and greatgrandmother of four, Heller became acclimated to American life working as a housekeeper and a nursing assistant and by listening to the radio.

While she misses the food and people of Belgium, Heller, who lives in Omaha with her son, Ray, is glad she came to the United States.

For more information about the Millard Senior Center, please call 402-546-1270.

Travel can make a difference in a woman’s life

W

omen are on the move — especially women of the Baby Boomer generation.

If you’ve felt the urge to see different places and experience a new adventure, you’re not alone. The Travel Industry Association estimates 32 million single American women traveled at least once last year — and a lot of them were Boomers.

“I’m in my early 60s, and in the last year, I traveled thousands of miles with my husband and children, with girlfriends, and alone,” says Harriet Lewis, vice chairman of Grand Circle Corporation. The company specializes in international travel and adventure for Americans age 50 or older.

Lewis says travel can make a difference in our lives as individuals, and in the lives of those we meet.

“During a recent trip to Egypt, I climbed Mount Sinai late at night in order to see the sunrise. The experience changed my life,” says Lewis. “The Middle East was an area of the world I had explored before, but not in such depth, and spending time with people in Syria, Jordan, Israel, and the Sudan in the past year has shifted my worldview.

“Travel changes us. It makes us more curious, more thoughtful, more tuned in to our world,” Lewis adds.

Immanuel Affordable Communities Immanuel Communities offers beautiful affordable independent apartment homes for seniors who are on a fixed income.

Call today to schedule a personal visit.

Income guidelines apply

Immanuel Courtyard 6757 Newport Avenue Omaha, NE 68152 402-829-2912

Assisted Living at Immanuel Courtyard 6759 Newport Avenue Omaha, NE 68152 402-829-2990

Affilated with the Nebraska Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Page 18

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Trinity Courtyard 620 West Lincoln Street Papillion, NE 68046 402-614-1900

www.immanuelcommunities.com

New Horizons

•

May 2012

S

he advises other women who are considering traveling to ask themselves some questions as part of their preparation: • What do you want to gain from your travel experience: Adventure?

Culture? Relaxation?

Inspiration?

• Which destinations, countries, or regions interest you most? Make a list, put them in order, and outline the steps you need to take to make your “bucket list” a reality. Do you need to schedule vacation time or start saving?

• Do you want to travel with friends, family, or go it alone? Do want to make your own travel plans or go with a tour operator that will handle the planning for you?

• If you choose a tour operator, consider the size of the groups (the smaller the better), your cost per day, and what you are getting for your dollar. Are the guides local, knowledgeable, and able to connect you with local homes, schools, and communities so that you get a real taste of local life?

• If you are traveling with a tour as a solo traveler (popular among women these days regardless of marital status), ask what the company offers solo travelers in terms of making them feel comfortable. Will they help match you with a roommate of the same

gender? How will they break the ice? What do they do when it comes to meal times to ensure that solos have partners or friends to eat with?

• How can you get the best value for your dollar?

Compare what a tour operator can offer you versus what you can find on your own. Can you use your airline miles to save costs?

If you choose a tour, are the single supplement fees free or reasonable? Are there certain times of the year where costs are lower based on seasonality?

L

ewis believes taking the time to ask these key questions will ultimately give you a much more fulfilling experience.

“Travel is the best way I know to enhance your life,” she says. “I really believe what Mary Anne Radmacher said about travel is true for women: ‘I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.’”

To learn more and start planning, please visit www.gct.com and www.oattravel.com.

(Family Features provided this information.)

Workshop set for May 1, 3, 8, 10 at Bellevue Center The Eden at Home Workshop will be held at the Bellevue Community Senior Center, 109 W. 22nd Ave., from 12:30 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1 and May 8 and Thursday, May 3 and May 10.

Participants can be people relying on individuals for care to remain living safely at home. Their family and professional caregivers are also encouraged to attend these four sessions.

Eden at Home is an evidenced based approach to eliminating the loneliness, helplessness, and boredom that can be experienced by any or all members of the care team by providing tools for empowerment of all, including the person relying on care.

There is a $20 fee to cover the cost of workbooks. Scholarships, however, are available to cover the registration fee or the cost of respite care.

For additional informationm, call Danielle of the Bellevue Community Senior Center at 402-293-3041.

Lewy Body Dementia support group meets May 15 at Millard branch library

T

he Metro Omaha Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) Support Group will meet on Tuesday, May 15 at 1 p.m. at the Millard branch of the Omaha Public Library, 13214 Westwood Ln. LBD is a group of progressive brain diseases that are the second leading cause of degenerative dementia among older adults, affecting more than 1.3 million American families.

More information about Lewy Body Dementia is available online at www.lbda.org.

For more information about the support group, please log on to annt88@cox.net or call Ann Taylor at 402-4523952.

VAS looking for volunteers, offering workshops for those new to Medicare Volunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS), a local nonprofit organization, is seeking volunteers to review the required annual reports submitted by guardians and conservators and to report any discrepancies to the court. This opportunity is ideal for someone with an interest in working with numbers and a desire to assist the court in determining if the finances of vulnerable individuals are being managed in their best interest.

For more information, please contact Nicole at 402-4446617 or at nmeyer@vie.omhcoxmail.com.

VAS also sponsors free New to Medicare workshops on the last Wednesday of each month for persons: • Approaching Medicare age who are confused about their options.

• Who are employed but aren’t sure how Medicare works with their employer insurance.

• Who are caring for their parents and have questions about Medicare coverage.

The New to Medicare workshops are held at Vatterott College, 11818 I St. For more information or to register, please call VAS at 402-444-6617 or visit www.vas-nebraska.com.

Millard Senior Center May 2012 events calendar You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., this month for the following: • Wednesdays: Needlework classes.

• Thursdays: Quilting classes.

• Tuesday, May 15: Lunch Bunch.

• Tuesday, May 22: Trip to the Durham Museum to see Millionaires and Mansions Gold Coast South. The cost is $10. Reservations are due by May 15.

• Tuesday, May 29: Pinochle tourney.

The center will be closed on May 28 for Memorial Day. The Millard Senior Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30. A $3 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy.

Center activities include a walking club, Tai Chi, chair volleyball, card games, and bingo.

For meal reservations, please call Susan Sunderman at 402-546-1270.

Tony Award winner at Blue Barn Theater May 11 through June 17 Spring Awakening, winner of 8 Tony Awards, will be on stage at the Blue Barn Theatre, 614 S. 11th St., May 11 through June 17.

Spring Awakening is described as an electrifying

fusion of morality, sexuality, and Rock and Roll.

Show times are 7:30 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. There will be no performance of Spring Awakening on

Thursday, June 7.

Tickets are $20 for persons age 65 and older and $25 for persons younger than age 65.

For reservations, please call 402-345-1576.

Paint-A-Thon Need your

house painted?

You could have your home painted at absolutely no cost, by volunteers from area businesses, congregations, and service clubs.

If you live in Douglas and Sarpy counties or Council Bluffs, are 60 or over, or are permanently disabled at any age, and meet financial guidelines, you could qualify.

Phone 211 for an application, or pick one up at any Wells Fargo Bank.

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at

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For more information, call

Paint-A-Thon at 402-965-9169 Brush Up Nebraska is a privately funded program

Application Deadline June 8, 2012

AgeWell and Immanuel Village Celebrates Senior Health and Fitness Day Immanuel Affordable Communities Immanuel Communities offers beautiful affordable independent apartment homes for seniors who are on a fixed income.

Call today to schedule a personal visit.

Income guidelines apply

Immanuel Courtyard 6757 Newport Avenue Omaha, NE 68152 402-829-2912

Assisted Living at Immanuel Courtyard 6759 Newport Avenue Omaha, NE 68152 402-829-2990

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May 2012

6801 N. 67th Plaza, Suite 100

•

New Horizons

•

Omaha, NE 68152

Page 19

Paws to Angels is Nebraska’s Research: Older adults who have infections first full service pet loss center

more likely to be hospitalized with blood clots

Cherie Fry in the Paws to Angels chapel.

Everyone knows the adage, “dog is man’s best friend.”

But mankind’s love affair with their pets goes much deeper than that. In 2012, owners are expected to spend more than $53 billion on their pets, according to the American Pet Products Association.

For the estimated 62 percent of Americans (72.9 million households) that own a pet, few things in life are more difficult to deal with than the death of their beloved dog, cat, bird, etc.

On New Year’s Eve 2009, Chadz – a Chihuahua-Pekingese mix – died from cancer. Her owner for the previous 11 years, Cherie Fry, was overwhelmed with grief, unprepared for her emotions, and unhappy with the options available for honoring, memorializing, and paying tribute to Chadz.

“I wanted her treated with the same love, respect, and dignity humans receive when we die and I wanted to know Chadz would be treated as well in death as she was in life,” Fry said.

Not satisfied by the type and quality of the end of life services available to “pet parents” in the Omaha area, in January 2012, Cherie opened Paws to Angels, the first pet loss center in Nebraska and the 50th of its kind in the nation.

Fry is a certified pet loss professional, a certified pet loss grief companion, a certified pet cremation specialist, and a pet and animal chaplain.

Paws to Angels, 11718 W. Dodge Rd., provides grief --Please turn to page 21.

Older adults who get infections of any kind – such as urinary, skin, or respiratory tract infections – are nearly three times more likely to be hospitalized for a dangerous blood clot in their deep veins or lungs, University of Michigan Health System research shows.

The most common predictor of hospitalization for venous thromboembolism – a potentially life-threatening condition that includes both deep-vein and lung blood clots – was recent exposure to an infection, according to the recently released study.

“Over half of older Americans who were hospitalized for such blood clots had an infection in the 90 days prior to the hospitalization,” says lead author Mary Rogers, Ph.D., M.S., research assistant professor in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and research director of the Patient Safety Enhancement Program at the U-M Health System and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

“This is important because infections are common and many people do not link infections with developing blood clots. In fact, many educational websites do not list infections as a risk factor for blood clots – but they are.”

The study comes as the rate of hospitalization for venous thromboembolism steadily increases in the United States, with more than 330,000 hospital ad-

missions for this condition a year.

“We would like to decrease the number of preventable hospitalizations, both for the benefit of the patient and to help bring down the cost of medicine,” says Rogers. “We wanted to study the triggers of hospitalization to help us understand what is driving such admissions and to think about actions we can take in order to prevent these hospitalizations.”

If the infection occurred during a previous hospital or nursing home stay, patients were nearly seven times more likely to be admitted for a blood clot. Those who got the infection at home were nearly three times more likely to be sent to the hospital for a blood clot within 90 days.

The study also found other strong predictors of hospitalization for blood clots included blood transfusions and drugs prescribed to stimulate red blood cell production (known as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents), which are sometimes given to treat anemia.

The risk of hospitalization for blood clots was nine times greater after the use of these drugs.

Rogers and her colleagues conducted the study using participants in the Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of older Americans, and combined their information with Medicare files.

The Health and Retirement Study is conducted by the

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Page 20

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New Horizons

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•

May 2012

U-M Institute for Social Research on behalf of the National Institute of Aging.

“There is a national effort to decrease infections in hospitals but we need to pay attention to prevention regardless of where we are.

Older Americans can help out by keeping up-to-date with their immunizations and practicing good hygiene such as hand washing,” Rogers says. “This is particularly important for people who are already at higher risk of blood clots. This includes smokers, people who are overweight, and those individuals who are immobile.”

“Often we don’t think about the downstream consequences of infection,” Rogers adds “The infection itself may trigger blood clots in your deep veins which may travel to your lungs and block the arteries there. This can be fatal.

It’s a risk both patients and physicians need to be aware of.”

(The U. of Michigan provided this information.)

Volunteer groups may include RSVP in their disaster relief plans Omaha Serves and Senior Corps are in discussions to bring Senior Corps’ Retired and Senior Volunteer Program volunteers into United Way of the Midlands to help update and complete a comprehensive volunteer disaster relief plan.

United Way’s Volunteer Resource Center is prepared to execute a strategic volunteer recruitment and deployment to any future disaster.

That plan, however, is always in need of updating and perfecting.

Omaha Serves and United Way of the Midlands are committed to updating a database of CERT trained volunteers and volunteers ready for disaster relief. It is excited Senior Corps is bringing to this mission the recruitment of committed volunteers who will work with Omaha Serves and United Way of the Midlands to update the database and recruit volunteers for CERT training.

This collaboration will help Omaha Serves and United Way meet its collaborative goals and also bring the vitality and experience of Senior Corps volunteers to the collaboration.

Paws to Angels...

--Continued from page 20. support for the pet parents, children, and other family pets, and a variety of pre-planning, visitation, memorial, cremation, funeral, memorial items (including urns and caskets), personal art pieces, guidance with euthanasia, and burial options for their pets.

“At Paws to Angels, the pets are treated like family,” Fry said. “They’ll rest in their casket swaddled in a blanket.”

Paws to Angels works closely with local veterinarians who, when necessary, can euthanize the pet in their office, the pet parent’s home, or at Paws to Angels. Fry said some people prefer to have their pet laid to rest away from the clinical environment.

For many people, Fry said their pet is a family member who has been raised and nurtured like a child. They offer unconditional love and don’t judge their owners. As a result of the special relationship built over time between the animal and its owner, she said the pet parent is likely to go through a grieving process after losing their companion.

“Eighty-three percent of pet owners refer to themselves as ‘Mommy’ or ‘Daddy,’” Fry said. “These are the people I can help.”

Paws to Angels offers individual and group support sessions, and Fry is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year if a pet parent needs someone to talk with.

“They have a grief journey to follow,” she said. “I walk with them and I listen to them. I provide a safe atmosphere where they can mourn, where they can cry, where they can yell if they need to. I understand them, and I don’t judge them. I understand the depth of their feelings and I know how to help. ” While Paws to Angels is the first of its kind in Nebraska, Fry expects the number of the nation’s pet loss centers to increase dramatically. “People want more for themselves and their pets,” she said.

For more information on Paws to Angels, call 402-5070585 or log on the Internet to www.pawstoangels.net.

Meeting space is available at the Corrigan Senior Center Groups and organizations needing a meeting room our encouraged to consider using space at the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St. A large, classroom-size room is available on Wednesday and Thursday mornings and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons.

A noon lunch is available for purchase. The center also has a full-size kitchen.

For more information, please call Lynnette at 402731-7210.

WHITMORE LAW OFFICE Wills • Trusts • Probate

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A — Gifts to minors can be held in the trust until they are ready to inherit, without court supervision. A trust provides you with more privacy than a will, and is difficult to challenge. A trust can prevent unintentionally disinheriting a child, which can happen in a blended family, even with a will.

You can make provision for beneficiaries with special needs, or choose for professional management of your trust if you become disabled. The benefits of a trust are for everyone, not just for “rich people.”

Conducted at McGill University

Study: Cholesterol drug Zocor shown to restore blood vessel function in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

A

cholesterol drug commonly prescribed to reduce cardiovascular disease risk also restores blood vessel function in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study in a recent issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.

The drug simvastatin (Zocor®) – which works by slowing cholesterol production – also improves learning and memory in adult, but not aged Alzheimer’s model mice. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that early treatment with statins protects against some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease destroys nerve cells and compromises the function of blood vessels in the brain. Recent studies show people who begin taking statins as adults have reduced incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, while those who do not take them until they are older do not experience this benefit.

While these studies point to the agedependent benefits of statins, scientists continue to question how cholesterol treatment affects brain function in Alzheimer’s disease.

In a previous study, Edith Hamel, Ph.D., and colleagues at McGill University tested older Alzheimer’s model mice (age 12 months) that received a low dose of simvastatin for eight weeks. The drug helped improve blood vessel function, but did not boost memory in the older mice.

In the new study, Hamel’s group tested younger mice (age six months) and older mice (age 12 months) that received a higher dose of simvastatin for three to six months.

While simvastatin restored brain blood vessel function in both groups, only the young-

er mice showed improvements in learning and memory tests. These younger mice also had higher levels of two memory-related proteins in the hippocampus – a brain region involved in learning and memory – compared with untreated mice.

“This study shows that simvastatin can protect against some of the damaging effects of Alzheimer’s disease on nerve cells involved in memory, if administered early in the disease process,” said Hamel, the study’s senior author.

In people with Alzheimer’s disease, protein fragments called amyloid-b (Ab) form plaques between nerve cells that disrupt cell communication. Normally, these protein fragments are broken down and removed.

In Alzheimers disease, the protein fragments clump together, a factor believed to contribute to memory loss.

H

amel’s team measured the presence of Ab proteins in younger and older Alzheimers model mice that received simvastatin. Despite the learning and memory improvements in younger mice, the drug did not reduce Ab protein levels in either group.

“This article joins an increasing number of preclinical studies demonstrating that statins, in particular simvastatin – which easily penetrates the brain – can counteract some aspects of Alzheimer’s disease, despite seeing no effects on amyloid-b protein, said Ling Li, PhD, an Alzheimers expert from the University of Minnesota.

“Although several clinical trials have yet to show the benefits of statins for Alzheimer’s disease, the key now is to figure out how to translate these exciting findings from bench to bedside,” she added.

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May 2012

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New Horizons

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Page 21

Program exposing people of all ages to visual, performing arts

WhyArts? student Dee Bayer.

Joyce Horvath works on a barn scene.

Corrigan participant Sarah Andrade.

he instructor, Joe Broghammer, looked over his student’s shoulder and examined her work. “I like what you’re doing. It fits the canvas well,” he told Kathy Pipkins during a recent art class at the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St. Pipkins was one of a dozen Corrigan participants enrolled in a 10-hour (over five sessions) acrylic painting class offered by WhyArts?

WhyArts? was created to expose people of all ages and abilities to the visual and performing arts. WhyArts? workshops provide extensive painting, dancing, writing, music, poetry, and theater programs for older adults at places like Corrigan, the Heartland Family Service Senior Center, the Florence Senior Home, the Intercultural Community Center, the Franciscan Adult Day Center, and the House of Hope.

WhyArts? believes access to the arts is achieved when people of all ages and abilities have an equal opportunity to attend, participate

in, and learn through a variety of arts experiences, according to information on its Website.

The acrylic painting class taught last month at Corrigan allowed the students to express themselves individually while socializing and improving their eye-hand coordination, according to center manager Lynnette Staroska.

Joyce Horvath said she took the class “to have fun and to learn something.”

One of Sarah Andrade’s paintings featured a horse running around in a corral.

“Put some water on that,” Broghammer suggested to her. “That will help wash some of the brown out.”

He teaches students of all ages, and said there’s something special about working with older adults. “They’re not afraid to take on the big projects, and that’s fun.”

He said WhyArts? has an important role in teaching older men and women about painting, dancing, writing, music, poetry, and theater.

“The more they’re exposed to art the more they like it.”

Pipkins began painting while in college, and said there are some days she just “feels like painting.”

She said Broghammer has a unique teaching style. “He tells us to not try to make the painting ‘perfect,’ but to make it your own.”

To learn more about WhyArts?, please call 402-333-4450 or log on to www.whyartsinc.org.

For more information about other events and activities at the Corrigan Senior Center, please see page 9 of this month’s New Horizons or call 402-731-7210.

T

B

roghammer has a fine arts degree from the University of South Dakota. His work has been displayed at group shows and solo exhibitions and can be found in museums, public and private collections.

WhyArts? instructor Joe Broghammer and student Laura Jean O’Connor share a laugh.

Page 22

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New Horizons

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Broghammer with painting students (from left): Dee Bayer, Kathy Pipkins, and Laura Jean O’Connor.

May 2012

Get help securing assistive technology Older adults may notice gradual changes in their hearing, memory, vision, and mobility that could create the need for assistive technology. Some of these older men and women may need a cane, a scooter, a listening device, or a lighted magnifier.

At4all.com, is a free online service that lists and can help you find these devices in Nebraska.

The service can help consumers borrow and try the equipment before buying, buy used and/or free equipment, and list items they want to share or sell.

For more information, please call 1-888-806-6287.

Barc Wade to be inducted into journalists’ Hall of Fame June 9

B

arc Wade, whose informative column can be enjoyed on pages 4 and 5 of this month’s New Horizons, will be inducted into the Omaha Press Club Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame on Saturday, June 9.

The event – which begins with a no-host 5:30 p.m. reception – will be held at the Omaha Press Club on the 22nd floor of the original First National Bank tower, 1620 Dodge St.

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

Moving, refelting, assemble, repair, tear down. Used slate tables.

We pay CASH for slate pool tables.

TOP CASH PAID

Will transfer your cassettes, LPs, & 8-tracks to CD. Also VHS tapes to DVD.

93rd & Maple • 402-397-6921

Best & honest prices paid for: Old jewelry, furniture, glassware, Hummels, knick-knacks, old hats & purses, dolls, old toys, quilts, linens, buttons, pottery, etc.

Also buying estates & partial estates.

Call Bev at 402-339-2856

Support NH advertisers

Integrity Builders Free estimates & inspections • Roofs • Windows • Siding • Gutters Storm damage specialist

AARP, Shred-It offering free document shredding on May 19 AARP Nebraska and Shred-It will host a free document-shredding day on Saturday, May 19 at the Center Mall, 42nd and Center streets.

People can help themselves avoid becoming identity theft victims by shredding sensitive documents such as old bank and financial statements and medical bills.

“Consumer fraud and identity theft are becoming an epidemic in our communities,” said Shred-It District Sales Manager Greg Romans.

“Bring your unwanted private papers, cancelled checks, credit card offers, and other documents with any personal information you want to shred,” said Diane Millea, an AARP Nebraska Information Center volunteer who is coordinating the shredding event.

The drive-through shredding session will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the east end of the top level of The Center Mall’s parking lot. People should enter the parking lot at 41st & Center streets. State-of-the-art mobile shredders will be set up on site. Unloading assistance is available.

Shredding is limited to two bags or boxes of paper per person. The free service is offered to consumers (no businesses please) who bring their household documents.

For more information, please call AARP at 402398-9568.

Lamplighter II

Call Colin @ 402-510-7360

Big Red Billiards 402-598-5225

PAID THRO APRIL 2012 402-345-3232

A+ Heartland Concrete Const.

Driveways, garage floors, sidewalks, retaining walls. patio specialists.

Insured/references.

13 year BBB Member

402-731-2094

John Bouska STUFF 1913OLD Farnam St.WANTED #708 (before 1975) 68102-1915 Postcards, photos, drapes,

lamps, 1950s and before fabrics, clothes, lady’s hats, & men’s ties, pictures, pottery, glass, jewelry, toys, fountain pens, furniture, etc.

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

BBB Honor Eastern Nebraska a Office on Aging • 4223 Center Street • Omaha, Roll member

deFreese Manor

Subsidized housing for those age 62 and over with incomes under $25,050 (1 person) or $28,600 March 19, 2012 (two persons)

Tree Trimming Beat the bursting buds!

Chipping & removal.

Your prunings chipped.

Experienced & insured.

Senior discount.

402-894-9206

Barc Wade, who became publisher and editor Basement 2669 Dodge of AAA’s Home and Away magazine inBob, 1980, Omaha, NE apartment Here’s your ad for the 402-345-0622 classified section for the April issue.

Please let me has a 65-year career in journalism. for rent

W

know if this is ok, or if you have any changes, give me a call @ 402-444-4148 ade has had a 65-year career in journalism.

SW Omaha. Off-street parking. or mail for $80.00 to: (62+) He founded Home & Away magazine for your check Senior Citizens Private entrance & bath.

AAA in 1980 and won several awards for New Horizons Accepting applications for promoting Nebraska tourism. In 1954, he TV & refrigerator furnished. c/o Jeff Reinhardt, Editor HUD-subsidized apartments in began Motor Club News for the AAA Cornhusker Motor Papillion & Bellevue. Rent determined 4223 Center Street $375/mo. + $100 deposit by income and medical expenses.

Club. The publication later became Nebraska Living.

Omaha, NE 68105+ tenant will need to mow lawn.

He proposed that AAA clubs, mostly in the Midwest, Monarch Villa West pool their resources into one magazine, Home & Away, and 201 Cedar Dale Road 402-612-4145 Papillion (402) 331-6882 in 1980 became its first publisher and editor. At its peak, Home & Away had a circulation of about 3.3 million, the Thanks!

Bellewood Courts 13th largest paid circulation of any U.S. magazine, ranking 1002 Bellewood Court Mitch Laudenback between Sports Illustrated and Playboy.

Bellevue (402) 292-3300 New Horizons After graduation from Kearney State Teachers@College SENIOR LIVING CONDO at Managed by MAPLE CREST CONDOMINIUMS (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney), Wade beKimball Management., Inc. 2820 N. 66TH AVENUE #306 came sports and news editor for the Kearney Daily Hub. PRICED AT $ 44,500 We do business in He taught journalism for five years at Fremont High School accordance with Senior independent living, handistarting in 1949. the Fair Housing Law. cap accessible, condo for persons Reservations for the Omaha Press Club Journalists of 55 years and older. Secured Excellence Hall of Fame dinner can by made by calling the entrance, heated, inside parking REPUTABLE club at 402-345-8008 or by e-mailing jeaniec@opc.omhand emergency alert system, are SERVICES, INC. coxmail.com. The cost, which includes hors d’oeuvres and just a few of the amenities. This • Remodeling & dinner, is $40.

2 bedroom, 1 bath unit has new Home Improvement Congratulations Barc for this well-deserved recognition. carpet, paint and window blinds.

FOR SALE

• Safety Equipment Handrails Smoke and Fire Alarms

S e l l Yo u r H o u s e

• Painting Interior & Exterior

“As Is,” At a Fair Price, On the Date of Your Choice !!!!

• • • • •

We use private funds so we can close fast.

You don’t have to do any repairs.

Move when you want.

Leave any or all of your stuff.

No Commissions or Fees. We pay Closing Costs.

• Handyman Services • Senior Discounts • Free Estimates • References • Fully Insured

Call Today for a Free Report: (402)-291-5005 or www.7DaysCash.com

Quality Professional Service Better Business Bureau Member

The Sierra Group LLC / We are a Professional Home Buying Company BBB Member Member of The Sierra Group LLC is a licensed real estate agent

May 2012

402-4 5 5-7 0 0 0

•

New Horizons

Furnace and air conditioner are 2 years old. Refrigerator, stove and dishwasher are also included.

The building has 2 elevators, free laundry, community room and exercise room. Salon, meals and transportation are available from the Maple Crest nursing home located next door to the condominium. Building is located on a bus line.

To arrange a viewing or get additional information, please call 402-680-0174 or 402-963-9002.

•

Page 23

C e l e b r at i n g 5 2

years

i M P r o V i n g y o U r H e a lt H !

of

KEYSTONE HOME CARE

7 3 2 8 M a p l e S t re e t • O m a h a , N e b r a s k a • 402-391-2659

Open six days a week • Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. • Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Closed Sunday

Bath chair

Bath transfer bench

with back

88

$

Save $

15

.88

Steel Commodes Save

$30

59.99

$

Transport chairs starting at

97

$

77

50

$

Invacare non-locking raised toilet seat

$

.

$1,000 off retail

18

Rollators With handbrakes, seat, and basket.

Starting at

88

$

.88

(Compression)

BUY 1 GET 1 for1

/2 price

19.99

Starting at $

15 - 20 mmHg, 20 - 30 mmHg, and 30 - 40 mmHg

Need a Kinetec knee CPM for post surgical rehab?

We can rent for a small fee

88

All other power wheelchairs

SUPPORT HOSIERY

$40 $ 59.88

888

$

Save

.

Carex Bed Support Rail Save

4 Wheel Elite Traveler

.88

34

$

Pride GO GO

88

.

Automatic Blood Pressure Wrist Monitors

$

Save

66 .

26

33

$

.33

WE RENT knee walkers and wheelchairs

Knee high, thigh high, or pantyhose

Hospital beds for sale or rental Prices good through May 31, 2012

We repair walkers, wheelchairs, & lift chairs