New Horizons October 2022

Jeff Barnes: Great Plains author

By Ron Petersen

From the great plains in the west to the urbanization in the east, from corn and beef to famous Nebraskans like Warren Buffet, Bob Gibson and Gerald Ford. The rich history of Nebraska goes on and on.

One of the best ways to learn about the history of Nebraska, is through Great Plains author and speaker, Jeff Barnes.

“My books are primarily about Nebraska his tory,” Jeff Barnes said. “I try to come up with a new book and presentation every year. For my own entertainment and education, I like to find out new things and share that information with the public.”

The Omaha native went to school at the Uni versity of Nebraska-Lincoln and later worked at his first job in Nebraska City.

Early on his career, Barnes bounced around working for KFRX in Lincoln, the Nebraska City News-Press, Midlands Business Journal in Omaha and was even the Press Secretary for Ben Nelson.

Although he changed jobs, he never left Nebraska.

After working in the newspaper industry and for a couple public relations firms for nearly 30 years, Barnes felt like it was time to be a free lance writer and work full-time on the topics he enjoyed writing about.

“I was tired of working in the cubicles and went strictly freelance,” Barnes said. “I’ve al ways been paid by others to write for them, but I thought maybe I’ll write for myself for a while and see how that works out. I love it—I don’t get into the office politics, I don’t get the dress codes or the strict office hours. It’s the way to go.”

Breaking records

Harriet Bloemker, 90, broke a world record in the javelin throw and a national record in the dis cus in Lincoln. The Fremont native isn’t quite finished.

In 2008, Barnes came out with his first book, Forts of the Northern Plains: Guide to Historic Military Posts of the Plains Indian Wars, a guide on 51 fort sites in Iowa, Minnesota, North Da kota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana.

When his book started to sell, Barnes said he wanted to go out and talk about his book to vari ous audiences around Nebraska.

As an introvert, Barnes knew this was going to be a challenge, but after speaking in front of his family, he was ready to do it in front of large crowds.

“I got kind of an adrenaline rush from speak ing,” he said. “I got on as a speaker with Humani ties Nebraska in 2009 because they were looking for someone to give a talk on forts of Nebraska. I started putting together talks and it went on from there.”

Over the last 13 years, Barnes is averaging one presentation a week whether that is speaking at a library, museum or a book signing. His 750th apperence is coming up at the end of 2022 in Curtis, Nebraska.

Barnes has been to 74 counties in Nebraska and has presented in nine other states around the Midwest.

Barnes is currently working on a book that is similar to a travel guide of Nebraska.

“I’d like to have a guide for people to throw in the glove compartment,” he said. “I really like to get people to get off of the main highways and in terstate because that is where a lot of this history happened. I’ll also have GPS coordinates, road conditions and directions.”

Every topic Barnes presents is a different aspect of the history of Nebraska. A few topics is also based off of one of his seven books he has written, to not only promote the book, but to go more in depth about the history through the presentation.

“I’ve done a speech on Buffalo Bill and how he went from an obscure army scout, to a famous superstar, the Oregon trail and the many ways you could die getting across Nebraska,” he said. “The latest thing I’m working on is usually what I’m most excited about because I’m learning new things. I’d love to have an image loaded during my presentations because my audience is going to see and hear new things they haven’t heard or seen before.”

--Jeff Barnes continued on page 9.

Mother returns to orchestra with son; season is underway

By Ron Petersen

Just this last January, Kristine Wolfe had turned 50-years-old, celebrating a milestone of living half of a century. The mother who has a passion for music has a son who also shares the same passion, found the best oppor tunity to play in an orchestra together.

An orchestra that only consists of musicians who must be 25 and under or 50 years and older.

“With my son going off to col lege next year, I felt like this might be the one opportunity to play with him in an ensemble,” Kristine Wolfe said.

Kristine Wolfe, a Papillion native, found a love for music growing up as a kid.

Wolfe attended Papillion-La Vista high school, where she and her music friends stumbled upon the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha (IGO).

--Wolfe continued to page 9.

Tips from a dentist: Different ways to keep a healthy mouth

By Ron Petersen

In the month of October where candy is purchased and exchanged freely on Halloween, it’s also a month celebrated by those in the dental field.

October is a month celebrated by many for the costumes worn and the candy re ceived, but for dentists and dental hygien ists, they recognize October as National Dental Hygiene Month.

“We acknowledge how important our hygienists are,” Montclair Dental dentist, David Olson said. “It should be celebrated more than ever because hygienists are as valuable to patients as they have ever been. Their part of everyone staying healthy over time and keeping inflamma tion down is what the hygienists do when they are cleaning teeth.”

There are many things dentists and hygienists stress when it comes to main taining a healthy mouth including brush ing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily and drinking plenty of water. The biggest thing dentists recommend is going in for a teeth cleaning twice a year.

“We’re cleaning things up, keeping inflammation down, making sure that patients are doing a good job of clean ing their mouth and then performing an examination to document any conditions that are changing,” Olson said.

Not only is it important to get a teeth cleaning from a hygienist but to listen to the advice a hygienist has because every mouth is different, Olson said.

“The biggest thing is getting feedback from a hygienist on any area that a patient is missing,” he said. “It can be specific as teaching a patient to brush their teeth or what tool would be best for their mouth

because every mouth has its own vari ables and intricacies.”

For older adults, especially for those who have taken multiple medications throughout their life, it is very important to go in to see the dentist or dental hygienist regularly.

The problems older adults may encounter with their teeth includes darkened teeth, root decay, gum disease, teeth loss, thrush and dry mouth.

“The one systemic factor that effects the mouth is dry mouth,” Olson said. As we age our salvatory glands don’t work as well as they did when we were younger and when you add any medication to that system, often times dry mouth gets worse. As we get dry mouth it’s hard to keep clean and teeth become more cavity prone.”

Being a dentist and hygienist have been difficult over the last couple of years with encouraging patients to come in during COVID.

But dental offices around the area have seen an uptick in numbers once again as they continue to encourage patients to come in for their annual visits.

“We’ve seen patients get out of the routine because they were worried about contracting COVID, but when they did come in, it was after they had something bothering them. Patients got behind for a while, but they are getting caught up again,” Olson said. “There are cancers of the mouth so going in twice a year will also help hygienists and dentists stay on top of any soft tissue changes.”

October is also National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Healthy Lung Month.

UNMC to host the Women’s Health and Wellness Conference

Registration is now open as the upcoming event will focus on adaptability, resil ience and hope. The 25th annual Omaha Women’s Health and Wellness Con ference will be held Friday, Oct. 7 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be available via Zoom with a limited number of in-person registrations offered.

Focused on a theme of “adaptability, resiliency, hope,” this year’s confer ence will feature six main sessions, a poetry reading, one breakout session and three panel discussions concerning caregiving for disabled family members, barriers to wellness and pelvic floor health/prolapse. The conference also will offer insights into managing chronic pain, acknowledg ing the healing power of humor, and informational sessions on cervical cancer,

self-care and the factors influencing women’s health and well-being during a pandemic.

The conference is hosted by the Olson Center for Women’s Health, the Uni versity of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medicine and the University of Ne braska at Omaha.

Continuing education will be provided for nurses and social workers. Reg istration fees for in-person attendance, which includes lectures, lunch and refresh ments, is $75 for the public and $110 for nurses and social workers. Registration fees for virtual attendees, which includes lectures only, is $15 for the public and $50 for nurses and so cial workers. Registration is now open at OmahaWomen sHealthAndWellness.com. For more information about the event, call the Olson Center at 402-559-6345.

Elder Access Line

Legal Aid of Nebraska operates a free telephone access line for Nebraskans ages 60 and older.

Information is offered to help the state’s older men and women with questions on topics like bankruptcy, home stead exemptions, powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid, and Section 8 housing.

The number for the Elder Access Line is 402-827-5656 in Omaha and 1-800-527-7249 statewide.

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

Its hours of operation are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to noon on Friday.

Omaha Metro Women’s Club

The Metro Women’s Club is hosting a silent auction on Tuesday, October 11 at the Arbor Hall, 14040 Arbor St.

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. with the luncheon to follow at noon.

Reservations - which are $20 - can be made by calling Ginny at 402-319-1121.

For more information about the silent auction/luncheon or joining the Metro Women’s Club, please call Ginny at 402-319-1121.

Omaha Fire Department

Omaha Fire Department’s Public Education and Affairs Department will install free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors inside the residences of area homeowners.

The

To have a free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detector installed inside your home, send your name, address, and tele phone number to: Omaha Fire Department Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Requests 1516 Jackson St. Omaha, Neb. 68102

For more information, please call 402-4443560.

New Horizons welcomes editor

Dear NH readers:

HiNew Horizon readers, I am Ron Petersen, the new editor of the New Horizons newspaper.

Growing up in Omaha, I am familiar with the area despite living outside of eastern Nebraska over the last several years.

After graduating high school in 2014, I attended the University of NebraskaLincoln where I received my bachelor’s degree in journalism.

My career started in the newspaper industry where I went on to work in Grand Island, Elkhorn and most recently, Norfolk.

My knack for journal ism started in 2018 when I became a sports reporter for the Grand Island Indepen dent. In Elkhorn I became the sports editor and com munity journalist for the Douglas County Post-Ga zette and then I moved on to be the assistant editor and reporter in Norfolk for the Norfolk Daily News.

I’ve learned to take on several responsibilities and develop different skills in cluding working on putting a newspaper together along with going out to report on a story.

I’ve covered dozens of sporting events, school board meetings, city council meetings and celebratory events.

While I will go out and cover these various events, I enjoy writing feature stories the most.

Being able to tell a person’s story through storytelling is ideal since I believe everyone has a story, and it is my job, as a journalist to tell it.

I love meeting new people and enjoy listening to differ ent walks of life.

After spending nearly four years away from Omaha my wife, Julie, and I decided it was time to move back. We have a 19-month-old daughter, Lillian, and we are ex pecting a baby in March.

We are both happy to be closer to family again and blessed to have found New Horizons and ENOA.

I am excited to meet and get to know everyone around the community, and I am eager to get the ball rolling.

Ron Petersen Editor New Horizons

Prescription help from states and drug manufacturers

The National Council on Aging (NCOA), the national voice for every person’s right to age well, explains the key elements of State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs).

Roughly half of all states have a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs) to help older adults afford prescrip tion medication.

Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) are offered by drug manufacturers to help people pay for brand-name medications.

Benefits counselors who help low-income seniors and persons with disabilities can get helpful tips on assisting clients with these programs.

Two lesser-known programs that can help older adults afford their medications are available from state governments and drug manufacturers.

WHAT ARE SPAPS?

State Pharmaceutical Assistance Pro grams (SPAPs) are state-run programs that assist low-income seniors and adults with disabilities in paying for their prescrip tion drugs. SPAP coverage varies by state, but the programs generally provide Part D “wraparound” coverage, meaning that they pay costs that Medicare Part D does not pay.

DOES EVERY STATE HAVE AN SPAP?

No. Fewer than half of all states have an SPAP. To find out if one is available in your area, visit Medicare.gov and select your

state from the drop-down menu.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR AN SPAP?

Eligibility rules vary by state. Some states require applicants to be enrolled in Medicare and unable to qualify for the Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS/Extra Help). Other states may only offer SPAPs to individuals with certain chronic conditions, such as those who are HIV+.

WHAT ARE PAPS?

Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) are offered by some drug manufacturers to help older adults, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities pay for pharmaceu ticals.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR A PAP?

Program eligibility guidelines vary. Some PAPs offer limited supplies of free prescrip tions to anyone with demonstrated financial need.

Other programs are limited to those who lack any type of insurance, or whose pre scription drug coverage does not cover the medication being requested.

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE ABOUT AVAILABLE PAPS?

Medicare.gov has a PAP database search able by prescription drug name.

Rx Assist offers a database of PAPs, searchable by drug or manufacturer name.

NCOA’s free online BenefitsCheck Up® links people to a variety of prescrip tion assistance programs, including the Part D Low Income Subsidy (LIS/Extra Help).

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 five-county region may subscribe for $5 annually. Address all correspondence to: Ron Petersen, Editor, 4780 S. 131st Street, Omaha, NE 68137-1822. Phone 402-444-6654. FAX 402-444-3076. E-mail: ron.petersen@enoa.org

Advertisements appearing in New Horizons do not imply endorsement of the advertiser by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. However, complaints about advertisers will be reviewed and, if warranted, their advertising discontinued. Display and insert advertising rates available on request. Open rates are commissionable, with discounts for extended runs. Circulation is 9,000 through direct mail .

Editor....................................................Ron Petersen

Ad Mgr................Mitch Laudenback, 402-444-4148

Contributing Writers.........Nick Schinker & Leo Biga

ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Angie Burmeister, Sarpy County, vice-chairperson; Lisa Kramer, Washington County, secretary; Pat Tawney, Dodge County, & Jim Petersen, Cass 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.

Millard Senior Center

You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Mont clair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., this month for the following:

• October 3, 4, 17, 19, 20, 26: Beginners Spanish class @ 10 a.m.

• October 3: Rotella’s (car pool) tour @ 12:15 p.m.

• October 6: UNMC to check on blood pressure, stu dents will line dance and play volleyball @ 1:30 p.m.

• October 10: THEOS (To Help Each Other Socially) @ 12:30 p.m.

• October 12: Board Meeting @ 9:30 a.m.

• October 12: Making clothes to be sent to Haiti and to the Orphan Grain Train @ 10 a.m.

• October 13: Dominoes @ 12:30 p.m.

• October 18: Desire to be heard; Art culture and Human Experience by Christopher Krampe @ 10 a.m.

• October 24: Book Club @ 1 p.m.

• October 25: Making Center Pieces (sign up by Oct. 18) @ 9 a.m.

• October 28: Harvest Festival, costume party and pulled pork lunch (sign up by Oct. 24)

Line dance Thursdays @ 9 a.m.

Chair volleyball Thursdays @ 10 a.m.

For more information, please call 402-546-1270.

La Vista Senior Center

You’re invited to visit the La Vista Senior Center, located at 8116 Park View Blvd. The facility provides activity programs and meals Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call 402-331-3455 for general Community Center hours.

Meals are served weekdays at 11:30 a.m. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the date the par ticipant wishes to attend and can be made by calling 402331-3455. A $4.25 contribution is suggested for the meal if you are age 60 and older. If you are under age 60, then the meal cost is $11.

In addition to meals being served daily, the La Vista Senior Center offers a variety of activities such as: bingo, outings, cooking classes, computer classes, movies with popcorn, crafts, a variety of card games, quilting, tai chi, exercise classes, musical entertainment and various parties. Please visit our website at cityoflavista.org/seniors for updated information or call 402-331-3455.

Respite Across the Lifespan

Life can bring on stress for many of us. Finding ways to relive stress are important to our overall health and wellbeing. Caregivers are not immune to this stress.

Please contact Respite Across the Lifespan at edben nett@unmc.edu or 402-559-5732 to find out more about respite services and to locate resources in your area.

Walk-in tubs: Elegance and safety

The bathroom could be considered the most valu able space in your house. It’s possibly used the most, so combining elegance and safety is key to your com fortability in the house. One increasingly popular feature for many bathroom updates is the walk-in tub, which allows users to step into and out of a bath with less risk of falling. I’ll walk you through all the things you should consider before pur chasing and plunging into your new walk-in bathtub.

UNDERSTANDING WALK-IN TUBS

What Are Walk-In Tubs?

A walk-in tub is exactly what it sounds like: A bath tub designed for users to be able to walk directly into. Unlike a standard bathtub, which requires users to climb over the side to enter, walk-in bathtubs have a low entry threshold and a door on the side with a water proof seal to prevent leaks when the tub is full.

Walk-in entry is the defin ing feature of the category, but walk-in tubs usually have several other design elements that set them apart from a standard tub. For ex ample, walk-in bathtubs fre quently have a built-in seat, greater water depth, and safety features like handrails or an anti-slip surface. Some of the specific key features to look for will be discussed later in this guide.

One of the main ben efits of walk-in tubs is that they are more comfort able, accessible, and safe for seniors, the disabled, and other individuals with mobility issues. However, a walk-in tub can be desirable for anyone seeking a safer, more comfortable bathtub experience.

WHEN TO BUY A WALK-IN TUB

For many people, a walkin bathtub is more luxury than necessity, which makes the decision whether to buy a walk-in tub more difficult. These tubs have unique ap peal compared to standard tubs and showers.

Three of the most com mon cases where people opt to purchase a walk-in tub include disability, aging in place and adding home value.

PROS AND CONS OF WALK-IN BATHTUBS

If you are thinking about purchasing and installing a walk-in tub, you should be fully aware of the benefits and drawbacks. There are arguments for and against choosing a walk-in tub.

The benefits of a walk-in tub includes accessibility, safety and comfort.

The drawbacks of a walk-in tub involves the fill and drain time, temperature control, inward facing doors and cost.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN WALK-IN TUBS

Most companies that sell walk-in bathtubs offer a va riety of types with different features, designs, and price points to accommodate various desires within the market. It can be difficult to sort through all the different configurations and features — even before considering additional challenges you might face when installing the tub in your unique home setting or factors like the reputation of the company you purchase from.

This section of the guide will define many of the key terms and concepts you might encounter when comparing walk-in tubs, al lowing you to make the best

possible purchase for your needs.

TUB TYPE AND SIZE

Like standard bathtubs, walk-in tubs come in dif ferent shapes, sizes, and designs to enable users’ comfort and meet home owners’ personal preferenc es. For walk-in tubs, these differences can be especially important given that many people choose walk-in tubs to manage certain health concerns or the challenges that come with aging.

Here are some of the key walk-in tub types that you might encounter in the market: Soaker, lay-down, bariatric, shower-tub combi nations and 2-person tubs.

DOOR STYLE AND ACCESSIBILITY

One of the distinguishing design features of the walkin tub is the side door, but doors can be configured in multiple different ways with associated pros and cons. There are a few key details about the walk-in tub door to consider when evaluating your options:

Walk-in bathtub with an inward-swinging U-shaped door, seal, inward vs. out ward-swinging doors, door shape, wheelchair accessi bility and threshold height.

SAFETY FEATURES

High on the list of reasons why someone might choose to install a walk-in tub is safety. Walk-in bathtubs are typically designed with safety in mind, with features that are well-suited to the needs of older or disabled users and that address the common risks associated with baths and showers.

These features include: Handrails, floor and seat height.

Peripheral Artery Disease Research: Volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed to participate in a study titled Impacts of mitochondriatargeted antioxidant on leg function, leg blood flow and skeletal muscle mitochon drial function in peripheral artery disease patients.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is caused by blockages (plaque) that obstruct blood flow to the legs. These blockages can cause discomfort, numbness, cramping, and pain during activity and sometimes during rest, also known as claudication.

Supplements, such as mitochondrialtargeted antioxidant (MitoQ), may increase blood vessel relaxation capacity, blood flow, increase antioxidant capacity, and increase

oxygen transfer capacity to your muscles and other tissues.

The Vascular Research Lab at the Univer sity of Nebraska at Omaha will be examin ing the effects of Mito-Q on blood flow in the legs and arms, how much oxygen is getting to your muscles, antioxidant ca pacity, walking ability, and other vascular parameters.

There will be two study visits. You will be compensated for your time in this re search study.

Page 4 • New Horizons • October 2022 David Kohll of Kohll’s RX

Eligibility includes a diagnosis of stage I or II PAD, 50-85 years of age, must have a history of chronic claudication and must have claudication that limits daily activities.

A brief look at the history of Omaha Steakhouses

Sarah Baker Hansen Flatwater Free Press

Omaha’s history with steak dates back a century. Now, as the oldest restaurant in Omaha, Johnny’s Cafe, celebrates its 100th an niversary, we look back at the steakhouses of old and tell the stories of those still serving red meat.

NOW CLOSED:

Trentino’s Years: 1933-1976

Address: 1001 Pacific St. The Pirruccello family moved to Omaha from Sic ily and opened Trentino’s. It later became Angie’s.

Original Piccolo Pete’s Years: 1933-2015

Address: 2202 S. 20th St.

Grace Caniglia married Tony Piccolo Sr. and to gether they founded Piccolo Pete’s in 1934. Their son, Tony Jr., ran the steakhouse, and then daughters Donna Sheehan and Dee Graves took over in 1999. They operated Piccolo’s until it closed in 2015.

In 2021, Scott Sheehan, Tony’s grandson, reopened a new version of Piccolo’s in Papillion, near First and Washington Streets. He also runs a Piccolo’s food truck.

Marchio’s Years: 1939-1985

Address: 4443 S. 13th St. Louis Marchio, an Italian immigrant, ran Marchio’s in Omaha for decades. His grandson Jeff Marchio runs Marchio’s Grill in Fort Col lins, Colorado, using some of the family’s recipes. It is now Howard’s Charro.

Original Caniglia’s Years: 1946-2005

Location: Seventh and Pierce streets

Sicilians Cirino and Giovan na Caniglia introduced the city of Omaha to pizza.

Cirino started an Italian bakery on the site in 1920, and it was also the location of Caniglia’s Pizzaria.

Mr. C’s

Opened as drive-in in 1952, became Mr. C’s in 19702006

Addresses: 5319 N. 30th St.

What began as Sebastiano and Mary Caniglia’s drivein called Caniglia’s Royal Boy eventually morphed into the enormous Mr. C’s, which at its height could seat 1,400 diners both inside and out.

Ross’ Steakhouse Years: 1956-1996

Address: 909 S. 72nd St.

The family who owned Ross’ decided to close rather than sell it to a non-family

member. Eli Caniglia’s Venice Inn Years: 1957-2014

Address: 6920 Pacific St. Nuncio “Eli” Caniglia opened Caniglia’s Venice Inn, and his sons, Jerry and Chuck, started working there as children and ran it until it closed.

Anthony’s Years: 1967-2022 Address: 7220 F St. Anthony “Tony” Fucinaro Sr. started his namesake res taurant in 1967. An adjacent lounge, the Ozone, opened in 2005. A fiberglass steer on the roof made Anthony’s an Omaha landmark.

Angie’s Years: 1977-2007 Address: 1001 Pacific St. Angie’s closed after owners Jim and Karen Bonofede ran the steakhouse for more than 30 years. The site had been home to a restaurant since the 1930s.

OPEN: Johnny’s Café Opened 1922 Address: 4702 S. 27th St. Frank Kawa opened John ny’s as a bar in 1922 and turned it into the icon it is today. Members of the Kawa family, including Frank’s son Jack and his daughters, Sally Kawa and

Kari Harding run it today. Gorat’s Opened 1944 Address: 4917 Center St. Louis S. Gorat and his wife, Nettie, opened the restaurant in 1944. Their son, Louis N. “Pal” Gorat, and his wife, Shirley, took over the restaurant in 1960. In 2012, the Gorat family sold the restaurant to Gene Dunn, who remodeled it, restored its historic sign and updated its menu. Dunn sold the steakhouse in 2019 to current owners Jimmy and Tammy Chen.

Cascio’s Opened 1946 Address: 1620 S. 10th St. Brothers Joe and Al Cascio opened the steakhouse at its current location in the 1940s after running the Rinky Dink Bar and Grill. Most of the dishes the brothers came up with more than 75 years ago are still on the menu today.

The Drover Opened in 1968 as Cork and Cleaver, rebranded in 1979 Address: 2121 S. 73rd St. The Drover became known for its salad bar, one of the first in Omaha, and still attracts customers from across the country with its

whiskey-marinated steak. It closed temporarily but then re-opened after a fire in 2018.

Brother Sebastian’s Steakhouse & Winery Opened 1977

Address: 1350 S. 119th St. Owner Loren Koch, inspired by Spanish monasteries in California, opened Brother Sebastian’s in Omaha with a “rustic abbey” theme. Serv ers wear dark robes, and, in the parking lot, guests are greeted with Gregorian chants, and each small din ing room has its own fire place. The restaurant burnt down in a 1996 fire, and it reopened 8 months later with the same look and feel.

Jerico’s Opened 1978 Address: 11732 W. Dodge Rd. For years, the late Chuck DiDonato ran Jerico’s, known for its prime rib and dining rooms full of Nebras ka Cornhusker memorabilia. He purchased the restaurant in 1989.

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraska’s first indepen dent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that mat ter. Learn more at flatwater freepress.org.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s event planned

The Walk to End Al zheimer’s event will be held on Saturday, October 15 at 10 a.m. at Prairie Queen

Recreation Area. Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, the Alzheimer’s

Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest fundraiser for Al zheimer’s care, support and research.

This inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to join the fight against the disease.

Health and safety is their top priorities. the Al zheimer’s Association will continue to closely monitor CDC, state and local guide lines to ensure Walk events adhere to the latest recom mendations.

While there is no fee to register for Walk, all par ticipants are encouraged to raise critical funds that al low the Alzheimer’s Asso ciation to provide 24/7 care and support and advance research toward methods of prevention, treatment and, ultimately, a cure.

Registration will open at 8:30 a.m. followed by the ceremony at 9:30 a.m.

For more information contact Karen Campbell at 402-210-5841.

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Mary Addison Grace Royston Terry

Barbara Bures Colleen Leise Shirley Merimee Marilee Kelly

Kathleen Koons Ruby Larson

Is the (real estate) sky falling?

Back in 2008 it seemed that the real estate market would continue strong indefinitely. Now we know that wasn’t the case. Home owners that were con sider ing selling, but had somewhat unrealistically high expectations were very disappointed with what they could sell their house for just a year or so later, if they could even find a buyer for it.

Here we are now in 2022, with possibly hav ing seen the top in the most recent real estate cycle. Just a few months ago, a seller could put a house “on the market” and likely have multiple offers, above asking price, in just a few days.

Although we’re still in what I would consider a “seller’s market,” it is much different than earlier this year.

One of the biggest reasons for this change is the increase in interest rates. Thirty-year fixed rate mortgages were below 3% in the last 12 months. Now they are more than twice that rate at approximately 6%.

Although I have no crys tal ball, I would be willing to bet interest rates will continue to rise, given that the Federal Reserve needs to raise their rates to get inflation under control.

This will further nega tively affect a potential buyer’s ability to purchase a home.

The interest rate increas es along with the increases in home values, especially over the last couple of years, has greatly negative ly affected the affordability to buy a home.

If you are or were con sidering selling, using a neighbor’s house that sold earlier this year as a “com parable,” will most likely not be accurate.

Earlier this year, buyers were often making offers “as is” and not having a whole house inspec tion contingency as part of their offer. Now, like in most typical markets, they are wanting to get a whole house inspection to ensure there are no hidden deficiencies before moving forward with a purchase.

Having multiple buyers bidding on your house is not near as likely to happen.

Earlier this year, buy ers were much more likely to overlook a house that needed some repairs and updating. Now, like in most typical markets, buyers can be more selective of mov ing forward with a home purchase only if it’s in a “nice” updated condition.

However, depending on your specific situation, the current market conditions may not have any effect on a decision to sell or not sell your house.

If you have been waiting for a specific type of apart ment to become available, like a ground floor unit that takes pets in a specific part of town, that may be more important than the current market conditions in your decision to sell or not.

If you have decided it’s time to move closer

to family or friends, find ing the right new home or apartment close to them may determine when to sell your current house. And unfortunately, if you or a loved one has a health issue or emergency, getting the care and type of apartment or community needed can be much more important than the timing of selling a house in the best market conditions.

Because of market condi tions, maybe you’d like to stay in your current house, if it had certain updates or modifications to make it more livable for your current needs. There are options available to utilize the equity in your house to make those improvements or pay for in home care.

If you have only bought and/or sold one or two houses in the last 20 to 40 (or more) years, determin ing how or when to sell your current house can seem daunting. Having the right real estate pro fessional that can provide information on current neighborhood valuations, the multiple ways to sell a house, and the resources to help you get from the house you’re in now to the new home or apartment you want or need to get to, can be priceless!

Ben Souchek is an author of the book Home Downsiz ing Secrets, and the owner and founder of Home Downsizing Solutions, a company that specializes in helping home owners transition from their cur rent house to a new home, apartment, or other senior living community for more than 25 years.

Medicare Open Enrollment period begins

“A very smooth transaction with a

market price, I’m glad we didn’t go the

estate route. Very professional and everything was upfront with

ing

Terry

Medicare’s Annual Open Enrollment period begins on October 15 and runs through December 7.

This is the time of year to review your current Medicare Part D coverage or your Medicare Advantage coverage. By re viewing your coverage, you may be able to save money on your prescription drug costs in 2023.

Volunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS) will be available to help you review your plan. VAS provides this service free. Counsel ors are not insurance agents nor are they compensated in any way.

The counseling you will receive will be unbiased. The objective is to provide information and assist you in making the best choice for your personal circum stances.

Part D drug and Medicare Advantage plan reviews are being offered and over

the phone. Limited in person counseling is available. In person counseling will require the wearing of a mask. Phone counseling, at home, sessions will be available daily. Limited evening and weekend appointments are also avail able. Please call VAS at 402-444-6617 to schedule your in-person or phone session with one of our trained, certified Medicare counselors.

Souchek

Omaha woman celebrates 100th birthday two years later; her son relies on Caregiver Support Program

By Ron Petersen

A local woman celebrat ed a century of living, with family and friends by her side.

At 102-years-old, Marie Wilcher, hasn’t changed her lifestyle much and seems to be getting stron ger as she gets older.

“I am still doing the same things that I’ve always been doing,” Marie Wilcher said. “I am able to do whatever I want.”

Marie Wilcher had to put down the car keys when she turned 101-years-old, but she still cleans her house, does her laundry and helps with the grocer ies when they arrive at her door.

“I am still capable of taking care of myself,” she said. “But not being able to drive anymore was a major change.”

In 2020, Marie Wilcher turned 100-years-old and had a celebration planned, but due to COVID it got postponed. Wilcher even contracted COVID when she was 101 years old, which put her in the hospi tal for three nights.

Wilcher’s son, Butch, felt uneasy during the time, but he had confidence that she was going to battle through.

“I was scared because she wasn’t eating a lot and she didn’t get a lot of sleep,” Butch Wilcher said. “After she got out of the hospital, she stayed with my wife and I for three weeks and she had two therapists visit to check up on her. She got through it and the therapists who stopped by were amazed to see someone who didn’t need a walker or cane at 101 years old.”

Despite attracting CO VID, Marie Wilcher felt better and had her celebra tion of life in August this year. There were 95 of her closest family and friends who were in attendance from 10 different states, Butch Wilcher said.

“It was good to see everybody,” Marie Wilcher said. “It was nice being able to see some of the friends and family that I haven’t seen in years. Some of them were teen agers and now they are grown with their own children.”

There was even a flag

that had been flown over the capitol on Marie’s 100th birthday, which was presented to her at the celebration.

Caregiver Support Program

While Butch Wilcher doesn’t have to worry about taking too much care of his mother, he still relies on the Caregiver Support Program (CSP) at Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging for he and his wife to use.

Butch Wilcher, who plays the alto saxophone, performs in two bands in cluding the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha.

When he leaves to re hearsal every Sunday, he relies on a caretaker from the Caregiver Support Pro gram to stay at home with his wife, Marquita.

“I have the caretaker come every Sunday so I can get to rehearsal and performances,” Butch Wilcher said. “It’s respite care for me so I can have a little bit of free time.”

Eastern Nebraska Of fice on Aging offers the

Caregiver Support Pro gram (CSP), which has the primary goal to provide “respite” to caregivers.

A caregiver in CSP is someone (18 years of age or older) who provides daily cares to an older per son who needs help with at least 2 activities of daily living. The person receiv ing assistance must either be 60 years of age or older, or someone who has been diagnosed with an early onset of dementia.

A case manager works with the caregiver to deter mine eligibility, develop a care plan to meet the needs of the caregiver, and offer monthly support. Respite is provided either through an in-home agency or an adult day program under contract with ENOA.

Butch and Marquita have used the program over the last 15 months, and they plan to continue so Butch can focus on performing the alto saxophone.

“It really is stress free thanks to the care we re ceive,” Butch said.

Free interactive courses State Unit on Aging, GetSetUp working to bridge digital divide

TheNebraska State Unit on Aging, serving Nebras kans ages 60 and older, and GetSetUp, a virtual social learning platform designed specifically for older adults, have partnered to help bridge the digital divide and combat social isolation for Nebraskans. The partnership provides live interactive classes by older adults and for older adults from the comfort of their own homes.

“We are excited to offer access to these classes to Ne braskans,” said Cynthia Brammeier, the administrator for the State Unit on Aging. “There is a growing need for digi tal literacy. Once people are comfortable with their device, the learning opportunities are limitless.”

As broadband internet access expands across the state, the need for older adults to learn using digital devices is be coming critical for healthy aging. The Nebraska State Unit on Aging is sponsoring these online training opportunities for adults ages 60 and older to learn in a safe environment how to effectively use their smartphones, laptops, or tablets to reach out to family and friends more easily, meet with their doctors over telehealth, learn a new skill, socialize, and more.

Two live interactive starter classes are recommended, including Getting Comfortable with Your Device – A Cell Phone, Tablet, or Laptop and New Member Orientation, which helps users find and sign up for other classes on the GetSetUp website. After completion, Nebraska residents can take classes on a multitude of topics over the next year.

GetSetUp’s customized platform offers an interface for older adults to learn, create, and share safely. The plat form addresses social determinants of health by helping older adults stay connected to the tools they need to age in place. Older men and women who learn how to utilize their tech devices can stay connected with family and interact with others more efficiently.

GetSetUp’s video learning interface is tailored to older adults of all levels of technology proficiency. The platform offers support via phone and in all classes to assist learners with technology, as well as a booking system with regular reminders and after-class notes.

More than 4.4 million adults use this platform, which features 4,000 classes that promote digital literacy, social ization, health and wellness, and new learning experiences. Classes shift weekly and are available around the clock in multiple languages including Spanish and Mandarin.

“We hear learner feedback daily about how technology is helping to connect older adults not only to friends and fam ily but also to opportunities to learn and age healthier,” said GoSetUp President and Co-Founder Lawrence Kosick.

COURTESY PHOTO Marie Wilcher (center) stands with her two sons, Butch (right) and Skip (left).

Local javelin and discus thrower breaks records at the Cornhusker State Games

By Ron Petersen

Notall records are made to be broken. Some records will stand forever. But not all of them.

Harriet Bloemker, 90, broke a world record in the javelin throw and a national record in the discus in Lincoln.

“I didn’t expect to break either record,” Harriet Bloemker said. “I was pleasantly surprised.”

Bloemker who grew up playing every sport you can think of couldn’t continue to play the sports that she loved as she got older.

“I started to compete in the senior games in about 1999 after I retired,” she said. “Travel later became difficult, so I started to compete in the Cornhusker State Games in Lincoln.”

Leading up to the Cornhusker State Games in 2022, Bloemker understood the importance of staying active as she trained every week.

Bloemker continued to run on her treadmill, lift weights and ride her bike, but she ran into a problem when it came to practicing the javelin and discus throw. Where would she go practice and how would she get there.

“On Tuesday’s I would ride in the ENOA van out to Christenson field. On Friday mornings, the church secretary at Peace Lutheran Church would pick me up and take me to practice discus and javelin throwing. Then on Wednesday’s or Thursday’s, I would hop on my bike, and I would ride up to the wellness center and workout on the rowing machine,” she said. “I knew I had to come up with different ways to keep exercising.”

WANDA BLOEMKER/COURTESY PHOTO

The 90-year-old has no plans of slowing down as she will train to beat her own record next year at the Cornhusker State Games in July.

In July at the Cornhusker State Games, Bloem ker didn’t have anyone to compete against in the 85 and older division, so the records in front of her were the only thing she had to worry about.

“All I had to do was compete against the na tional records,” she said.

In the field events, Bloemker broke the world record in the javelin throw with a throw of break

ing the previous record of 15.32 feet.

“The world record I thought was probably out of reach, unless everything came together in one throw, which it apparently did. I was not looking to break a world record,” she said. “I knew out of the hand it was a very good throw.”

About an hour-and-a-half later, Bloemker broke the American women’s record for discus throw for ages 85 and older with a throw of 47.4 feet.

“I knew I had a chance to break the record, but the fact that I did was a surprise,” she said.

The next month, Bloemker had received a let ter from the Cornhusker State Games Athlete of the Year Committee, saying that Bloemker was named the 2022 Senior Female Athlete of the Year.

“The committee was most impressed with your world-record throw in the javelin and Americanrecord throw in the discus; also the remarkable fact that you are competing at the highest level at the age of 90. All of Nebraska can be inspired by your example,” the Cornhusker State Games Ath lete of the Year Committee stated in the letter.

Although Bloemker has a couple records under her belt, she is still motivated to keep going in the future, and competes for her husband, Gene, who passed away five years ago.

“He wanted me to keep going. He was my best supporter and the happiest fan that I had, but life still goes on and that’s the way it is,” she said. “If the Lord allows my body to be at the Cornhusker State Games next year, then I will be there.”

WANDA BLOEMKER/COURTESY PHOTO

Harriet Bloemker of Fremont competed in the discus and javelin events in the 2022 Cornhusker State Games. Bloemker broke the world record in the javelin throw for women ages 85 and older and she broke the American women’s record for discus throw for ages 85 and older.

--Wolfe

The Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha is a unique musical ensemble that consists of musi cians that are either age 50 and older or age 25 and younger.

“It is such a wonderful opportunity for young and older people to come together to make mu sic. As a kid I remember all of the different loca tions we would go to, which was an interesting experience because I had only other experiences of playing at my high school, in an auditorium. But with IGO we would play at people’s homes and backyards. It’s very different than a tradi tional orchestra,” Wolfe said. “I only played in it one year before I went off to college.”

After graduating from Papillion-La Vista high school in 1991, Wolfe went on to major in music where she later earned her master’s degree in music from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Wolfe is an ASOA Approved Teacher Educa tor, and she also presents workshops for local and national conferences around the United States.

In addition to being a music teacher at La Vista West elementary school, Wolfe plays the recorder and the oboe.

Earlier this year, Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha director Mark Benson reached out to Kristine Wolfe’s son, Parker, who is his saxo phone instructor, about joining the IGO orches tra.

But instead of playing the saxophone, Benson encouraged Parker to learn to play a different instrument, the flute, to help Parker learn about getting really good at playing another instrument. This left Kristine Wolfe no choice but to come back and join the orchestra she had once joined 30 years ago.

“It’s been so cool—having been a music major and then being in band together is pretty cool,” Wolfe said. “We’ve talked about some of our favorite pieces and it’s fun to have a different perspective from being in a different part of the band, from what you hear.”

Rehearsals for the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha started in the beginning of August as they prepared for concerts that started in September.

Parker has been practicing playing the flute, while Kristine has stuck with the oboe, the same instrument she played in the Intergeneration Or chestra of Omaha when she was a kid.

“It’s a neat experience—as a kid, it was neat seeing people who were older continuing to make music. So now as an older person I really like seeing how much younger people enjoy making music,” Wolfe said. “My other favorite part is the breaks that are built into rehearsals. It is designed for you to sit down at a table and have a conversation with people you may not know.”

The Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha performed on a beautiful day at Gene Leahy Mall on September 25.

In the photo above, Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha performed at Gene Leahy Mall on September 25.

In the photo to the right, Kristine Wolfe (left) and her son Parker, pose for a photo taken at Gene Leahy Mall

The Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha will get to perform in eight different occasions with the last performance coming on April 30 at the Jewish Community Center.

Despite being away from the Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha for so long, Wolfe is happy to have found herself back in it once again, espe cially since this time it is with her son.

“I love that I am an older person continuing to do things that I used to do as a young person because I still feel like a young person,” Wolfe said. “The music we play has both modern and old pieces. There’s music for anyone to enjoy.”

--Jeff Barnes continued from page 1.

Barnes uses most of his books as a focal point to help focus on a specific topic during a presentation. He likes to keep his presentations conversational and have plenty of knowledge of the topic beforehand, but if the presentation isn’t about a book, he will also have other topics to talk about such as Jesse James, the Oregon Trail or other re search projects.

Barnes said he is very fortunate to be doing what he loves to do since he loves to learn about Nebraska, and he gets to travel around talking to people while doing it.

“After a few talks and after getting a few more books out I felt like this is what I always wanted to do and I’m getting paid to do it,” he said. “I’ve really developed a new impres sion of Nebraska. I’ve always loved my home state, I’ve always lived here. Over the course of doing these books, the topics I choose forces me to get off the main roads and I get to see places in Nebraska I would not have seen before. It’s a fantastic place and the people are incredible. There’s spectacular landscapes and Nebraska is a gorgeous place.”

You can find Barnes’s books online and you can also find his latest book, Cut in Stone, Cast in Bronze: Nebraska’s Historical Markers and Monuments, 1854-1967 on Amazon.

COURTESY PHOTO

Author and speaker, Jeff Barnes, speaks during a Humanities of Nebraska presentation at the Millard Branch of the Omaha Public Library in 2017.

Fremont Friendship Center

You’re

invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field). The facility is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

A meal is served weekdays @ 11:30 a.m. Reservations, which are due by noon the business day prior to the meal the participant wishes to enjoy, can be made by calling 402727-2815. A $4.25 contribution is suggested for the meal.

This month’s activities will include:

• October 4: Craft class (pumpkins) @ 1:30 p.m.

• October 5: Music by Julie Couch @ 10:30 a.m.

• October 6: Nye- “Therapy into Wellness” @ 10 a.m.

• October 6: Bill Chrastil Concert @ 6:30-8 p.m. The cost of tickets is $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m. Award winning Branson artist, Bill Chrastil.

• October 11: Craft class (witch door) @ 1:30 p.m.

• October 11, 25: Balance Screening with ATI Physical Threapy (please sign up at card table) @ 10:30-11:30 a.m.

• October 12: Music by Pam Kragt @ 10:30 a.m.

• October 13: Library Book Mobile @ 9:30-10:30 a.m.

• October 14: Flu shots with Three Rivers (bring insur ance information) @ 9:30-10:30 a.m.

• October 18: Craft class (art journaling) @ 1:30 p.m.

• October 19: Music by the LINKS @ 10 a.m.

• October 24: Funny Money auction @ 10-11 a.m.

• October 26: Merry Maker’s performance with Bill Chrastil @ 10:30 a.m.

• October 31: Costume contest followed by Halloween bingo @ 10:15 a.m.

• November 1: Craft class (turkey canvas with easel) @ 1:30 p.m.

For meal reservations and more information, please call Laurie at 402-727-2815.

Community gardens and urban farms spread through Omaha

By Kim Carpenter Flatwater Free Press

Growing up on a hill overlooking North Omaha during World War II, Mary Carpenter remembers the numerous vegetable plots, called Victory Gardens, that dotted her Florence neighbor hood.

“Everybody had one,” said Carpenter, the reporter’s mother-in-law. “We grew every thing – asparagus, potatoes, tomatoes, black raspberries, pears, even grapes. That’s what fed us and supplemented our food.”

the Decatur Urban Farm in North Omaha, which features fruit trees, berry bushes and community programming.

Manager Shannon Kyler said the differ ence between community gardens and urban farms is scale. The first generates produce, often in raised beds, for a specific com munity; the latter is more about large-scale production. “At an urban farm, we’re plant ing, harvesting, processing and distributing. And we’re using a tractor. You name it, we grow it.”

Jiffy Lube partners with Meals on Wheels for fundraising campaign

For the entire month of October, Jiffy Lube will host an in-store customer fundraising campaign to benefit Meals on Wheels.

Customers will be invited to donate $3 when they checkout at any of the Jiffy Lube stores that opted in for the campaign.

Meals on Wheels America will distribute 75% of the funds raised through a revenue share model to all members who join the campaign. En gagement will be simple and turn-key.

Jr

Over the ensuing decades, many of those gardens disappeared as grocery stores started carrying seasonal produce year round. Yet 80 years later, everything old is new again.

Drive anywhere in the Omaha metro – West, North, South O, Midtown – and you’ll see a community garden or an urban farm.

People throughout Omaha are return ing to practices that nourish, sustain and strengthen communities, a movement that started around 2014 and has grown expo nentially in the ensuing eight years.

Vacant lots have been turned into attrac tive green spaces. Food is being grown for people with accessibility issues. Community gardens are offering produce not always available in grocery stores.

Omaha’s self-proclaimed “urban ag guru,” John Porter, an educator with the Nebraska Extension office, believes these gardens are proliferating because the “foodie” movement created an interest in food and the story behind it. The pandemic heightened it. Many people now want more control –particularly when supply chains are broken and shipments are delayed.

“They want to support the lo cal economy,” Porter said. “But above all, it’s about access to fresh food.”

City Sprouts was one of the first organizations in Omaha to address that access. Estab lished in 1995, the nonprofit now boasts 45 garden plots and

In addition to local communities, City Sprouts’ produce goes to organizations like the Food Bank for the Heartland and Bountiful Harvest food pantry. City Sprouts serves hundreds of area families every day, Kyler said. “This is a really super localized way to address access to fresh food,” he said. This feels like you are sharing with the community and not an act of charity.”

Nancy Williams founded the grassroots nonprofit No More Empty Pots in 2010 to improve self-sufficiency, economic re silience and regional food security. She pointed out that access isn’t always limited by income. Often, it’s tied to issues like transportation, mobility issues and language barriers. Senior citizens who can no longer drive, for example, often rely on public transportation. There is also the challenge of living in food deserts, where grocery stores are scarce and quantity and quality of food are often inferior.

Williams encountered that when she moved from West Omaha to North Omaha in the 1990s. She grew up in Louisiana, where she participated in 4-H and her fam ily maintained a garden.

Williams wanted to feed her four children the way her parents had fed her. She had to drive out of North Omaha to do it. “I had the means to leave to shop,” she said. “My neighbors did not…They wanted to feed their kids what I was preparing for mine. I realized the discrepancy.”

Land usage has been a driver behind ad dressing that discrepancy. In 2014 the City of Omaha Planning Department saw com munity gardens as a way to ease the blight of vacant lots. With the help of No More Empty Pots, eight were transformed into

turn to page 11.

Flatwater Free Press

Nancy Scott (left), horticulturist for Pop-Up Oasis, works on tying tomatoes with Josh Perez, Juana Sanchez and Lizandra Lorenzo. The community gar den at Leavenworth and 13th Streets incorporates Native farming practices.

--Continued from page 10.

community gardens, the first located in North Omaha’s Prospect Village.

Today, there are 58.

Gus von Roenn wanted to get involved in the effort, so he founded Omaha Perma culture in 2015 to create a seasonal gardening agree ment for city-owned empty lots in low-income neigh borhoods.He looked at the map, he said, and it showed that North Omaha’s Adams Park neighborhood was pockmarked with empty lots.

“That underutilized land was so sad,” he said. “It was often used as a dumping ground for trash.”

Omaha Permaculture cleaned up designated properties and remediated soil to establish 17 commu nity gardens. The majority of produce is distributed in the community, including to homeless shelters and social service organizations like Black Men United.

A major unacknowledged benefit: A noticeable reduc

tion in crime, von Roenn said. “We’ve looked at retro crime maps, and if you click on one of our com munity gardens and look at the crime statistics, we do observe a dramatic decrease. Just the act of keeping a lot clean and dignified makes an impact.”

Terri James, associate extension educator at the University of NebraskaLincoln’s Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, agreed. “When community gardens go in, we see lower crime rates. The areas get cleaned up, and garbage gets picked up. There’s less vandalism. It goes handin-hand with having more people having community pride.”

There’s also historical pride. Clarice Dombeck founded the Healing Roots Garden on 24th Street in 2021. Inspired by her own family history of sharecrop pers and backyard garden ers, the recent University of Nebraska at Omaha gradu ate sought to create a space

that acknowledged her cultural heritage.

Using African American heritage gardens as a tem plate, Dombeck and roughly 60 volunteers plant Truelove seeds, which are cultur ally significant to the Black community. They grow produce like collard greens, Paul Robeson heirloom tomatoes and fish peppers. Some of the selections were historically grown by en slaved people. Others were brought by Haitian refugees. There’s a sense of legacy behind every vegetable harvested.

“I wanted to do some thing for Black culture,” Dombeck said. “This is an African diaspora garden where all the plants are re lated to or symbolize Black cultures around the world.”

The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraska’s first indepen dent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that mat ter. Learn more at flatwater freepress.org.

Omaha’s Broadway Season opens with smooth moves, magical music

It’s the music people danced to at high school prom and still sing along to on the radio. The best part – the kids and grand kids enjoy it too.

Songs like “My Girl” and “Just My Imagination” have been around for so long, it’s hard to recall a time that they were not on the playlist. In fact, the legendary group, The Temptations, have contributed to the soundtrack of our lives for 62 years. Incredibly, one founding member of the group, Otis Williams, is still dancing with the group at 80 years young. Starting in the streets of Detroit, The Temptations are now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with 42 Top Ten Hits. But the road to becoming legendary isn’t always smooth.

AIN’T TOO PROUD – The Life and Times of the Temptations is the incredible

new Broadway musical that shares the jour ney of what Billboard Magazine calls “The greatest R&B group of all time!” Featuring some of the best of Motown and their signa ture dance moves, AINT TOO PROUD tells the thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty and betrayal – even as the group’s personal and political conflicts threatened to tear them apart.

The show was nominated for 12 Tony Awards™ and won the 2019 Tony for Best Choreography. It is an electrifying way to launch Omaha Performing Arts’ (O-pa) 22/23 CHI Health Broadway Season Octo ber 18-23. All O-pa Broadway shows are at the Orpheum Theater and tickets are only available through TicketOmaha.com. The second show of the season is the classic ANNIE November 8-13.

Courtesy Photo

Tickets are now on sale for the first national tour of AIN’T TOO PROUD –THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS. AIN’T TOO PROUD will be at Omaha’s Orpheum Theater from October 18-23.

This Month’s Sudoku

This Month’s Crossword Puzzle

It’s no PRANK studying children to understand Alzheimer’s at UNMC

Alzheimer’s disease affects 50 million people worldwide, and experts expect that number to grow. Scientists are ac tively studying what causes it, how to prevent it, and eventually how to treat it.

Researchers at the Univer sity of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha are working with healthy 8- to 13-year-old children to understand Alzheimer’s disease better. But why study children when we know the disease affects older adults?

Researchers in UNMC’s Warren Neuroscience Lab want to understand Al zheimer’s disease from a new perspective: One that recognizes that the disease takes a lifetime to develop with contributions from environmental factors, lifestyle, and genes.

Understanding the rela tionship between childhood brain development, cogni tive development, and the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease could lead to a

foundational breakthrough.

To view Alzheimer’s dis ease through this new lens, the research study, “Poly genic Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in Nebraska Kids” (or PRANK for short), will look at genetic data, cogni tive tasks testing memory (among other abilities), and a brain scan with MRI (magnetic resonance imag ing).

During the PRANK study, the research team collects saliva to analyze genes from DNA.

Participants perform memory tasks so research ers can understand how functional brain networks develop.

The MRI scan allows researchers to examine the brain’s structure and ob serve how brain networks interact over time. This combination allows the team to understand how the brain activates to form new memories or to perform daily tasks.

The Warren Neurosci ence Lab wants to use this

data to explore whether ge netic risk for Alzheimer’s disease influences brain and cognitive development during childhood, specifi cally in the 8-13-year-old age range. The PRANK study may have a funny name, but it’s grounded in serious science.

Unlike most Alzheim er’s disease research, the PRANK study focuses on children to gain a compre hensive lifespan perspec tive of Alzheimer’s disease, with the goal of improving outcomes for those with and without the disease.

To learn more about the PRANK study or to ask about enrolling, please get in touch with the War ren Neuroscience Lab by phone at (402) 559-3158 or by email at WNL@unmc. edu. The Warren Neuro science Lab’s principal investigator is Dr. David E. Warren. The lab is located on the UNMC campus in Clarkson Doctor’s Building North (4242 Farnam Street, Omaha, NE).

Traditional funding sources are making it more difficult for ENOA to fulfill its mission. Partnership opportunities are available to businesses and individuals wanting to help us. These opportunities include volunteering, memorials, honorariums, gift annuities, and other contributions.

These gifts are tax exempt.

$30 = 7 meals or 1.5 hours of in-home homemaker services or 1 bath aide service for frail older adults.

$75 = 17 meals or 3.66 hours of in-home homemaker services or 3 bath aide services for frail older adults.

$150 = 35 meals or 7.3 hours of in-home homemaker services or 7 bath aide services for frail older adults.

$300 = 70 meals or 14.63 hours of in-home homemaker services or 14 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.

Camelot Friendship Center

You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center, 9270 Cady Ave., this month for the following:

• October 7, 28: Bingo @12:15 p.m.

• October 12: Craft Day (fall gnome) @12:30 p.m.

• October 14: Karaoke with Chuck and Fred @12:15 p.m.

• October 20: Jackpot Bingo @12:15 p.m.

• October 21: The Merrymakers present music by Joyce Tochia @ 11:45 a.m.

• October 31: Camelot’s Annual Halloween Party with games and prizes

The first and last Friday of each month is Bingo Day @ 12:15 p.m. (along with regular bingo times on Tuesday and Thursdays).

Other regular activities include chair yoga, card games, Tai Chi, chair volleyball, chair Zumba, cornhole, and bingo.

Lunch is served weekdays at 11:30 a.m. A $4.25 contri bution is requested. Reservations, which are due a day in advance, can be made by calling 402-444-3091.

For more information, contact Barb at 402-444-3091 or barbara.white@cityofomaha.org.

Intercultural Senior Center

You’re invited to visit the Intercultural Senior Center (ISC), 5545 Center St.

The facility – open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. –offers programs and activities from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Participants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend the ISC. Men and women are asked to wear a mask and bring their vaccination card with them when visiting the center.

The ISC offers a light breakfast, lunch, fitness classes, programs, and activities. Technology classes are held Tues days and Wednesdays @ 10:20 a.m. and Wednesdays and Fridays @ 12:30 p.m.

You can receive the flu vaccine on October 6 and 8 from 9-11 a.m.

The Intercultural Senior Center will be closed on October 11 in observance of Columbus Day.

During October, the Intercultural Senior Center will be festively decorated in remembrance of the Day of the dead celebration.

Lunch reservations are due by 9 a.m. A voluntary contri bution is suggested for the meal. Please call 402-444-6529 for reservations.

Monthly food pantries are available for men and women ages 50 and older.

ISC’s SAVE bus can bring case management services to your doorstep.

For more information, please call 402-444-6529.

Ralston Senior Center

You’re invited to visit the Ralston Senior Center, 7301 Q St., Suite 100 this month for the following:

• October 5 & 19: Bingo @ 12:15 p.m.

• October 12: Board meeting @ 12:15 p.m.

• October 13 & 27: Bingo from 1 to 3 p.m.

• October 26: Music by Ben Tomasello sponsored by the Merrymakers @ 1 p.m.

Lunch is catered in on Wednesdays @ 11:30 a.m. A $4.50 contribution is normally suggested for the meal. Reserva tions are due by noon on Tuesday. Play games and bingo after lunch. Contact Diane @ 402-885-8895 for reserva tions.

Obtain an annual Ralston Senior Center membership for $10.

Participants are needed to play cards and other games on the second and fourth Thursday morning of each month. Call Ron Wilson at 402-734-3421 for more information.

The center may be used on weekends for various activi ties such as weddings, memorial services, anniversaries, family reunions, birthdays, baby showers, wedding show ers, etc.

For more information, please call Darla @ 402-651-5009 or 402-331-1529.

On days, the Ralston Public Schools are closed due to the weather, the Ralston Senior Center will also be closed.

Immanuel Pathways PACE program provides services for older adults

Live happy, healthy and independently at home. Imagine all your health care needs are taken care of, including transportation to and from appointments and access to enriching social opportunities. Take the stress out of managing communication with mul tiple providers or agencies. That’s life at Immanuel Pathways. This revolution ary approach to healthy aging enables nursing home eligible individuals to con tinue living independently with access to all the sup port they need for wholeperson health and wellness.

Immanuel Pathways serves seniors through PACE® (Program of All-in clusive Care for the Elder ly), an innovative, national model that offers a complete health plan for individuals with chronic health care needs who wish to remain in their homes. Qualifying individuals receive the care they need beginning with our interdisciplinary centers staffed with a team of health care professionals.

The PACE movement is one that began in the 1970s, when medical profession als were looking for homebased programs to help their patients. The first center was opened in San Francisco and today, there are more than 270 PACE centers in the US. The national PACE program was developed at

that time to focus on com munity seniors. Immanuel operates the only center in Nebraska and two of three centers in Iowa.

Immanuel Pathways PACE centers are hubs for seniors to receive medical appointments, life enrich ment, social opportunities, wellness activities and more. With transportation to and from the center, as well as meals and snacks provid ed, this program is invalu able to community seniors and their families. Services at Immanuel Pathways in clude, but are not limited to:

• Primary care

• Prescription drugs

• Physical and occupational therapy

• Dentistry

• Social services

• Nutritional counseling

• Recreation and life enrichment

• Transportation Families and participants alike love Immanuel Path ways. Participants have reported better self-rated health status, less pain with daily activities, less likeli hood of depression and bet ter management of health. Plus, for those eligible for Medicare and Medicare, Im manuel Pathways costs are provided at no charge.

As part of a nationwide program, there are eligibil ity requirements for PACE services at Immanuel Path ways. Participants must:

Five steps to self-care first aid from a caregiver

The Eastern Office on Ag ing with host a presentation about self-care first aid on Saturday, November 5.

The speakers who will be presenting in clude Dept. of Gerontology at UNO, Dr. Julie Masters; Home Modifications Program Coordinator, BevVan Phil lips; and Dept. of Veterans Affairs, General Caregiver Support Program Coordina tor, Lori Jones.

There will be tables and resources provided by area Adult Day Programs and in-home respite agencies, a bag of caregiver’s self-care first aid, snacks, and time to spend with other caregivers.

Doors open at 8:45 a.m. at the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging office building located at 4715 S. 132nd St.

For more information contact Mike Osberg at 402-444-6596 Ext. 1075.

Corrigan Senior Center

You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St. this month for a variety of activities.

The Corrigan Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $4.25 dona tion is suggested for the meal. Reservations, which are due 24 hours in advance, can be made by calling 402-731-7210.

• Be 55 years or older

• Live in an Immanuel Pathways service area

• Assessed to meet nurs ing facility level of care

• Able to live safely at home with the support of Immanuel Pathways

Immanuel Pathways serves nearly 600 commu nity seniors in Nebraska and Iowa. For more information regarding the program and eligibility visit Immanuel. com.

PACE® participants may be fully and personally liable for the costs of unau thorized or out-of-PACE® program agreement servic es. Emergency services are covered. Participants can disenroll at anytime.

Want to stay home, but can’t do it alone?

Stay safely in your home AND make sure you get the care you need - with Immanuel Pathways.You will have a team of caregivers and someone to manage and coordinate ALL your services.

For complete program details call 402.991.0330 or visit Immanuel.com

This program is offered in a joint effort of Douglas County and the National Association of Counties (NACo). For more information call 1-877-321-2652 or visit nacorx.org

This plan is not insurance. Discounts are only available at participating pharmacies.

Immanuel Pathways PACE®: Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

Vascular fitness measurements offered at Vascular Research Lab/School of Health and Kinesiology

The Vascular Research Lab (VRL) at the Univer sity of Nebraska at Omaha is conducting two research projects and are currently recruiting volunteers. These studies include researching how uninterrupted and inter rupted sedentary behaviors impact vascular function in healthy older adults and investigating how an anti oxidant supplement can af fect the vascular function in adults who have peripheral artery disease.

The VRL also offers a Vascular Fitness Assessment package for individuals who are interested in learning about their vascular health and how they can make lifestyle changes. So, what defines your cardiovascular health?

As we age, our bodies become more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases, and we should routinely examine our cardiovascular health, such as blood pres sure, arterial stiffness, and

endothelial function to pre vent/reduce cardiovascular diseases.

The UNO Vascular Re search Lab offers a vascular fitness assessment, which includes measurements of blood pressure, arterial stiff ness, and endothelial func tion.

• Blood pressure: High blood pressure, specifically hypertension, is strongly associated with increased risks for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.

• Arterial stiffness: Arterial stiffness is the hardening of the arteries and stiffening of the arteries is thought to be connected to stroke, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular diseases.

your cardiovascular health?

Previous research in UNO’s Vascular Research Lab has shown that regu lar exercise, both aerobic and resistance training, has beneficial effects on these measurements of vascular fitness.

simply confident on

• Endothelial Func tion: The endothelium is the single-cell lining on the inside of your blood vessels, and endothelial dysfunction is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases.

How can you improve

Stay in the home you love

Stairlifts are $199* off!

Discover Bruno® stairlifts. Made in the USA. Veteran Founded and Family Owned.

Enjoy a walk-in tub and eliminate the dangers of stepping into a bathtub.

Purchase any Sanspa walk-in tub and receive a FREE toilet, installation included!

A value of $450*!

Implementing a regular exercise program will be beneficial for you to im prove your vascular fitness and help prevent/reduce risks for cardiovascular diseases. However, prior to initiating your exercise pro gram, you should evaluate your cardiovascular health/ fitness to design an optimal training program.

By getting your vascular fitness assessed, you may be able to implement or adjust your regular exercise pro gram to help prevent/reduce your risks for cardiovascular diseases.

We work in conjunction with UNO Personal Train ing Services and can help you get going in the right direction. The vascular fit ness assessment tests blood pressure, arterial stiffness and endothelial function.

For more information contact UNO’s Vascular Re search Lab at 402-554-3779.

Alzheimer’s programs

The Nebraska Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Associa tion offered a Knowledge is Power for Successful Aging program.

For more information, please call 402-552-7210.

This Month’s Crossword Answers

This Month’s Sudoku Answers

Flaherty Senior Consulting

Caring for a loved one is difficult, and the challenges are amplified during a pandemic. Join Flaherty Senior Con sulting for a series of Solutions Group gatherings that will address the questions and challenges caregivers face.

Solutions Groups provide opportunities for caregivers to learn how to deal with various issues, obtain skills and knowledge, engage in discussions, and interact with others in similar circumstances.

Upcoming meeting dates and locations are:

• Nov. 8

St. Vincent de Paul Church 14330 Eagle Run Dr.

• Nov. 16

St. Timothy Lutheran Church 93rd and Dodge streets

• Oct. 6, & Dec. 1

The Servite Center of Compassion 72nd St. and Ames Cr.

• Oct. 22

Faith Westwood United Methodist Church 4814 Oaks Ln.

The Solutions Groups are facilitated by Nancy Flaherty, MS, CDP, president of Flaherty Senior Consulting. She has extensive experience working with family caregivers and caregiver groups.

Registration is required to attend each gathering. Masks are mandatory and social distancing will be observed.

Visit flahertyconsulting.net or call 402-312-9324 for more information.

Flaherty also provides private consultations with family caregivers to help them develop individual plans for their loved ones.

For information on private consultations, Solutions Group meeting times, and/or to register to attend a Solu tions Group, email Nancy at flahertyconsulting@cox.net or call/text her at 402-312-9324.

Volunteer Connect offers a variety of opportunities

Doyou have some spare time, a skill to share, and wish to contribute to your community?

Private and non-profit agencies are looking for your help.

Please contact Tia Schoenfeld with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Vol unteer Connect program at 402-444-6536, ext. 1045 for more information on the following volunteer opportunities:

• Men and women are needed to write greeting cards of encouragement for res idents living in skilled care and assisted living facilities.

• The American Cancer Society wants volunteers to help provide food and to perform other duties at its Hope Lodge Nebraska.

• Volunteer quilters are needed to create Busy Lap Blankets for long-term care facility residents.

• The Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy Hospital wants volunteers to take a dessert cart to new

Moms who recently gave birth and to help out in its mail room.

• The Catholic Charities/St. Martin dePorres Center is looking for volunteers for a variety of duties.

• The Siena Francis House needs volun teers to serve breakfast and lunch.

• Volunteer Connect wants men and women to participate in a focus group.

• The Omaha Girls Rock summer camp is looking for volunteer band coaches, instrument instructors, counselors, and workshop leaders.

• Volunteers are needed to knit/sew baby caps/clothing and prayer shawls.

• Boys Town is looking for volunteers to help out at its Visitors Center and Hall of History Museum.

402-444-4148 or 402-444-6654

TOP CASH PAID

OLD STUFF WANTED (before 1975)

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

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

ENOA holds 6th annual ‘Step Out For Seniors Walk-a-thon’

By Ron Petersen

Olderadults from around the area gathered with their family, friends and caregivers for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging (ENOA) Step Out For Seniors Walk-a-thon at Benson Park on August 12.

The Step Out For Seniors Walk-a-thon is a fun draiser to help update programming and services at the 21 senior centers in the Eastern Nebraska area.

“The event helps update programs at senior centers around the area,” said Christina Ochoa, ENOA nutrition program assistant.

The last time ENOA hosted the Step Out For Seniors Walk-a-thon was in 2019. The event was

cancelled the last three years due to COVID.

But in 2022, the Step Out For Seniors Walk-a-thon returned in full force with about 90 people in attendance.

“It went really well—everybody loved it, and it went very smooth,” Ochoa said.

Along with the walk around the park, there were other activities planned for those in atten dance including a line dancing demonstration put on by Lori Adams and the Silver Steppers from the Fremont Friendship Center, followed by a Tai Chi demonstration.

Throughout the morning older adults had a chance to get massages in the pavilion, play with dogs from the Nebraska Humane Society and

receive food from the Big Garden farm stand.

“The farm stand was a great addition we had this year,” Ochoa said. “There were a couple of farmers there that sold some of their food items and there was a mobile kitchen that had a few samples as well.”

A few senior centers were in attendance this year including those from the Fremont Friend ship Center, Intercultural Senior Center, Camelot Friendship Center, Notre Dame Housing and a group from United Methodist Church. Ochoa was happy with the turnout, but she hopes even more will attend next year’s walk-a-thon.

“We always encourage senior centers to come,” Ochoa said.

The Step Out For Seniors Walk-a-thon had plenty of entertainment including a line dancing demon stration put on my Lori Adams and the Silver Step pers from the Fremont Friendship Center, a tie chi demonstration along with a walk in the park.

Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging hosted its 6th annual Step Out For Seniors Walk-a-thon in August at Benson Park.