A publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging
September 2016 VOL. 41 • NO. 9
ENOA 4223 Center Street Omaha, NE 68105-2431
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OMAHA NE PERMIT NO. 389
New Horizons ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
m o r f s Talethe ld West O
Ron Hansen is an Omaha native who graduated from Creighton Prep High School and Creighton University. Hansen has written several novels about the Old West including The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford which was made into a 2007 movie starring Brad Pitt. Leo Adam Biga chronicles Hansen’s life and career beginning on page 10.
Honored Rollin Harman, who served in the U.S. Army, was among the 29 military veterans honored last month during a special ceremony at the Corrigan Senior Center. See page 15.
Valor Bill Robinson is with the Omaha chapter of Quilts of Valor, an organization that makes and awards quilts to cover service members and veterans touched by war. See page 17.
Alzheimer’s support groups The Alzheimer’s Association Nebraska Chapter offers several caregiver support groups and specialty support groups each month in Cass, Dodge, Douglas, and Sarpy counties. These support groups offer valuable space and educational opportunities for families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia to engage and learn. For more information about any of the groups listed below, please call (toll free) 800-272-3900. CASS COUNTY • PLATTSMOUTH Second Tuesday @ 6 p.m. First Lutheran Church (chapel) 1025 Ave. D DODGE COUNTY • FREMONT Second Tuesday @ 5:30 p.m. Shalimar Gardens (second floor community room) 749 E. 29th St. DOUGLAS COUNTY • OMAHA Second Thursday @ 10 a.m. Country House Residences 5030 S. 155th St. FREE on site adult day services are provided. Every other Monday @ 7 p.m. Brighton Gardens 9220 Western Ave. First & third Monday @ 1:30 p.m. New Cassel’s Franciscan Centre 900 N. 90th St. FREE on-site adult day services are provided.
Third Tuesday @ 6 p.m. Temple Israel (media room) 13111 Sterling Ridge Dr. Caring for Your Parents Second or third Saturday @ 11 a.m. Call Teri @ 402-393-0434 for locations Spanish Language Support Group Second Tuesday @ 4 p.m. Intercultural Community Center 3010 R St. SARPY COUNTY • BELLEVUE Third Monday @ 7 p.m. Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave. First Wednesday @ 1 p.m. Eastern Nebraska Vets Home (Vets and non-vets welcome) 12505 S. 40th St. • PAPILLION Fourth Thursday @ 6 p.m. Hillcrest Grand Lodge 6021 Grand Lodge Ave.
Third Tuesday @ 5 p.m. Immanuel Fontenelle 6809 N 68th Plz.
Volunteers Assisting Seniors
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olunteers Assisting Seniors (VAS), a local nonprofit organization serving older adults, needs volunteers to review the required annual reports submitted by guardians and conservators in Nebraska and then report any discrepancies to the court. This opportunity is ideal for someone interested 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 than 39 years VAS and its network of trained volunteers have provided unbiased information, one-on-one counseling, and advocacy to help older adults navigate complex government programs. This past year VAS provided services to 10,200 older adults and persons with a disability in the metropolitan Omaha area. For more information on the volunteer court auditor opportunity, call VAS at 402-444-6617.
The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging has been providing programs and services for older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Cass, and Washington counties since 1975.
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September 2016
Held at Benson Park
Second annual Walk-a-Thon raises money for ENOA’s senior centers
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articipants enjoyed a fun day that included walking, eating, massages, Tai Chi, and a bit of clowning around at the second annual Step Out for Seniors Walk-A-Thon sponsored by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Nutrition Division. The event – designed to support the agency’s senior centers and the men and women who attend them – was held on Saturday, Aug. 20 at Benson Park. ENOA would like to acknowledge the generous sponsors including Scheels, Methodist Health System, the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Department of Gerontology, Care Consultants for the Aging, Special Kneads, LLC, Walgreens (60th Street and Radial Highway location), Stripes the Clown, and Nancy Hemesath. In addition to the business sponsors, many of the ENOA centers provided baskets that were raffled off. All proceeds from the event will be used at the senior centers to update programming and provide more educational opportunities for the older adults.
Among the volunteers helping out at the annual Walk-a-Thon were ENOA staff members (top row, from left): Arlis Smidt, Tara Thomas, and Jay Schuoler. Bottom row: Maria Champion.
ACTIVE study shows brain exercises can reduce the risk of dementia in older adults
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unique brain exercise cut the long-term risk of dementia nearly in half in a large study of older adults that was presented recently at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Toronto. Researchers from the ACTIVE study (Advanced Cognitive Training in Vital Elderly) tracked 2,802 cognitively healthy, community-dwelling older adults for 10 years. The study participants were age 74 to 84. The randomized, controlled trial compared three different types of cognitive training – speed, memory, and reasoning – against a control group to determine if brain training might help with healthier aging. The speed training was found to cut long-term dementia risk by 33 percent among those asked to complete 10 hours of training in the first year of the study. The other types of training had no significant effect. Sub-groups of participants were asked to complete an additional four hours of training in months 11 and 35 of the study. Those who were asked to complete 11 or more hours of speed training were found
to reduce their dementia risk by 48 percent over the 10-year study. Memory and reasoning training were found not to have any significant effect on dementia risk. Previously published results from the ACTIVE study showed participants in speed training also improved at measures of brain processing speed and at measures of tasks related to independent living. They also did better than the control group at measures of mood, confidence, health, and driving. “Clearly, the time spent on effective brain training has potential long lasting benefits for many aspects of older adults’ lives,” said Dr. Jerri Edwards from the University of South Florida, who announced these latest ACTIVE study results. The computerized speed training pushes a user to progressively improve visual speed of processing, with attention demands at both the center of gaze and periphery. The training was developed by Dr. Karlene Ball of the University of Alabama-Birmingham and Dr. Dan Roenker of Western Kentucky University. It is now exclusively licensed to Posit Science Corporation. A web version is available as the “Double Decision” exercise of the BrainHQ.com brain-training program. “This type of exercise has been shown to improve various measures of speed, attention, and memory, as well as quality of life across many different studies,” said Dr. Henry Mahncke, CEO of Posit Science. “It targets elemental sensory systems of the brain, where a split second improvement can serve you well during every waking hour of every day.” For additional information, contact Jeff Zimman at jeff.zimman@positscience.co
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New Horizons New Horizons is the official publication of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. The paper is distributed free to people over age 60 in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Washington, and Cass counties. Those living outside the 5-county region may subscribe for $5 annually. Address all correspondence to: Jeff Reinhardt, Editor, 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, & Lois Friedman ENOA Board of Governors: Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County, chairperson; Jim Peterson, Cass County, vice-chairperson; Gary Osborn, Dodge County secretary; Brenda Carlisle, Sarpy County; & Lisa Kramer, 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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Fremont Friendship Center
The many benefits of consuming tomatoes
You’re invited to visit the Fremont Friendship Center, 1730 W. 16th St. (Christensen Field) for the following: • Sept. 2: Traveling pitch tournament @ 9:30 a.m. Participants should bring a snack by 9 a.m. • Sept. 7: Music by The Neals @ 10:30 a.m. • Sept. 8: The Brian Brietbarth Trio @ 10:30 a.m. • Sept. 9: Trip to the Bill Chrastil Show at the Fremont Opera House @ 7 p.m. The cost is $15 per person. Meet at the center at 5 p.m. Supper at Hy-Vee before the show. • Sept. 12: AARP Driver’s Safety Training from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call Laurie @ 402-727-2815 to register. • Sept. 14: Music by Kim Eames @ 10:30 a.m. • Sept. 15: Presentation on managing your pain @ 10 a.m. • Sept. 20: Karaoke with Bob Furr @ 10:30 a.m. • Sept. 21: Music by The Links @10 a.m. • Sept. 23: Cari from the State Lakes @ 11 a.m. • Sept. 28: The Old Rusty Minstrels @ 10:30 a.m. • Sept. 29: Sister Rita on the autumns of our life @ 10 a.m. The Fremont Friendship Center is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 contribution is suggested for lunch. Reservations must be made by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. For more information, call Laurie at 402-727-2815.
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 number listed above.
Motorcoach Christ Our Life Catholic Regional Conference. September 23 - 25. $228. Hear the teaching and witnessing of world-renowned Catholic speakers in Des Moines, Iowa, including Mark Hart, Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, Jesse Romero, Alex Jones, Archbishop Charles Chaput, Bishop Richard Pates, Fr. Tom Hagan, Fr. Michael Schmitz, Jackie Fancois Angel, and Steve Angrisano. Two nights lodging at the Fairfield Inn. Branson Christmas. November 7 - 10. $729. Enjoy Daniel O’Donnell at the Welk Theater, Jim Stafford, Puttin’ On the Ritz (with Dino), Texas Tenors, “All Hands on Deck”, and either “Moses” at the Sight and Sound Theater or the Oak Ridge Boys, including dinner at Landry’s Seafood House. “’Twas The Night Before Christmas” at the Lofte. December 4. $95 before 9/4. ($105 after 9/4.) “…Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” But a mouse IS stirring……because Santa missed his house last year! Before you can say “Merry Christmas!”, we’re off on the wild adventures of a mouse, an elf, and a spunky little girl who just won’t take no for an answer. This journey is an exciting one for the whole family. Dinner afterwards at the Main Street Café in Louisville. Kansas City Christmas. December 13 - 14. $359 before 10/13. ($379 after 10/13.) Webster House Holiday luncheon, Strawberry Hill Museum with Christmas decorated ethnic exhibits, Crown Center, “Sister’s Christmas Catechism” performance at the indoor Starlight Theater, “Fabulous Lipitones” performance at the New Theater Restaurant starring George Wendt from “Cheers”, and a Christmas Party (just our group) at the New Theater before the luncheon show. Watch for upcoming details about a winter getaway. Laughlin Laughlin in September. September 9 - 12. $279. Includes nonstop, round-trip airfare to Laughlin, Nevada, three nights lodging at the Riverside Resort and Casino on the banks of the Colorado River, and shuttle transportation to and from the airport. It is a very affordable way to get away for a while. During this stay, you will have the option of seeing a performance of “Man in Black”, a tribute to Johnny Cash at the Riverside Resort. In Partnership with Collette Vacations Quoted prices are per person, double occupancy, and do not include airfare. More destinations available! Reflections of Italy. 10 days from $2449. Visit a land rich in history, culture, art, and romance including Rome, the Colosseum, Assisi, Perugia, Siena, Florence, Chianti Winery, Venice, Murano Island, and Milan. Extend your trip in Turin. Irish Splendor. Eight days from $1699. Return to times gone by as you experience fabulous accommodations, stunning scenery, and sumptuous food visiting Dublin, the Guiness Storehouse, Blarney Castle, Killarney, Dingle Peninsula, Cliffs of Moher, Dromoland Castle, and Tullamore Whiskey Distillery. Extend your trip in Dublin. Watch New Horizons and our website www.fontenelletours.com for our trip schedule. 11808 Mason Plaza, Omaha, NE 68154
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By Dr. Karin Hermoni
been proven in many scientific studies to have a protective effect in several health indications supporting everything ll that glitters from cardiovascular health to benefiting gender specific is not gold. But conditions such as prostate health for men and menopausal when talking bone loss in women. about tomatoes Other carotenoids, although present in lower amounts, - looks do matter. A shiny have been shown to be very important. Examples would be ripe red tomato that’s attrac- beta carotene (also prevalent in carrots as well as in green tive to the eyes also gives vegetables, and the colorless carotenoids phytoene and benefits to the rest of your phytofluene.) body. Tomatoes are known Recently, there’s a growing body of scientific evidence to be a very powerful fruit linking tomato carotenoids to skin wellness and anti-aging with many health benefits. properties. One of the mechanisms is the protective effect Interestingly, many of the of the combination of tomato carotenoids from UV damage, potent tomato phytonuwhich is the leading cause of skin aging. Unlike traditional trients are fat-soluble and sun screens, the dietary ingredients (from nutrition or in reside in the oily part of the the form of a supplement) provide their protective effect tomato. not merely by blocking the sun rays but by enhancing the One of the most important body’s own protective mechanisms and activating cellular groups of phytochemicals processes that help the skin cells better protect themselves contributing to the beneficial from the oxidative stress and inflammation that are associeffects of tomatoes is the ca- ated with UV damage. rotenoid family. This group So, if you don’t want to look like red as a tomato after of fat soluble, amazingly a day in the sun, eating tomatoes regularly may help you beneficial nutrients gives a protect your skin from getting sunburned. tomato its attractive color Interestingly, the combination of these fat-soluble tomato and so much more. In fact, phytonutrients is more effective than the single ingredients carotenoids help the tomato in skin photo-protection (as well as all the other health benitself (by protecting the fruit efits that were studied). from access light damage) If you’re not a tomato person, or you need that extra and those who eat it. boost, using a supplement is a good way to absorb extra Other important phytogoodies and improve your health and your appearance. In nutrients with major health that case, you should choose a supplement that contains benefits are the group of natural tomato extract rich in all those powerful tomato antioxidants called tocophingredients. It will work so much better for you than lycoerols (vitamin E) and even pene alone. phytosterols that naturally Here are a few tomato tips: occur in the tomato. • Cook your tomatoes with a bit of good oil such as olive The oily part of the toma- oil to allow better absorption of lycopene as well as the rest to is packed with amazing of those fat soluble phytonutrients from red ripe tomato. nutrients we all want and • If you like your tomatoes raw, in a salad, add some need. It’s no wonder tomato olive oil for better absorption of the oil soluble carotenoids oil and the phytonutrients it in the body. possesses are building their • When preparing your dinner combine tomatoes with diway up as a dietary ingredi- verse diet that includes other phytonutrients from fruits and ent in our plates, as well as vegetables. When consumed together, these phytonutrients in the dietary supplement work synergistically to better protect our skin (and generindustry. ally improve our well-being). The major tomato carot• For a skin healthy meal, add some tomatoes and roseenoid lycopene gives tomato mary to the oven baked potato dish you’re making. Sprinthat red vibrant hue. And kle healthy olive oil to improve the extraction and absorpso, the redder the tomato the tion of those fat-soluble carotenoids from the tomato. This more lycopene it contains. combination if consumed regularly will do wonders to your This strong antioxidant has skin.
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Legal Aid of Nebraska offers Elder Access Line
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egal Aid of Nebraska operates a free telephone access line for Nebraskans age 60 and older. Information is offered to help the state’s older men and women with questions on topics like bankruptcy, homestead exemptions, collections, powers of attorney, Medicare, Medicaid, grandparent rights, and Section 8 housing. The telephone number for the Elder Access Line is 402-827-5656 in Omaha and 1-800-527-7249 statewide. This service is available to Nebraskans age 60 and older regardless of income, race, or ethnicity. For more information, log on to http://www.legalaidofnebraska.com/EAL.
September 2016
AARP’s Florence chapter The Florence chapter of AARP meets monthly at Mount View Presbyterian Church, 5308 Hartman Ave. Each meeting features a noon lunch and a speaker at 12:45 p.m. The cost is $8 per person each month. Rides are available. For more information, please call Ruth Kruse at 402-453-4825 or Marge Willard at 402-455-8401. Here’s the schedule for the rest of 2016: September 19 Restoring bee hives With Carol & Fred Richart October 17 Years at North High School With Mark Schulze November 21 Music with Greg Owen December 12 Christmas music
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ENOA is recruiting Senior Companions, Foster Grandparents en and women age 55 and older who want to earn a tax-free stipend while making an impact in their community are encouraged to join the Senior Companion Program and the Foster Grandparent Program. Sponsored locally by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, the SCP and FGP are national programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Senior Service Corps. Senior Companions help other older adults maintain their independence by visiting them at home to discuss the news, read mail, play cards, run errands, etc. Foster Grandparents serve as positive role models for children who need special
Retreat designed for caregivers of service members, veterans The Brain Injury Alliance and the Nebraska Veterans Brain Injury Task Force are sponsoring a weekend retreat for women who are providing care for service members and veterans of any military conflict. Called Women of Warriors, the retreat is scheduled for Sept. 23 and 24 in Aurora, Neb. Topics are designed to educate, encourage, and empower these women. The $50 registration fee covers the three-day retreat, two nights lodging, pampering sessions, and all meals. To register, please contact Cindy at 402-304-8103 or cindy@biane.org
attention with education, healthcare, and social development in schools, Head Start programs, and child development centers. SCP and FGP volunteers must meet income guidelines and complete an enrollment process that includes references and background checks. In exchange for volunteering 15 hours or more each week, Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions receive a $2.65 an hour tax-free stipend, mileage reimbursement, an annual physical exam, supplemental accident insurance coverage, and other benefits including an annual recognition luncheon. The stipend does not interfere with rent, disability, Medicaid, or other benefits. For more information, please call 402444-6536.
Stan’s Senior Services We offer daily, weekly, or occasional ERRAND and AT-HOME (inside/outside) services for older adults in the Omaha area. -- INSURED, HONEST, RELIABLE --
Please call Stan Bartak @ 402-350-6840 HelpingSeniorsAtHome@cox.net www.StansSeniorServices.com
Need a hand at home? Stan can help!
The New Horizons is brought to you each month by the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging.
September Savings:
Blue Barn Theatre The 2016-17 season has been announced for the 28th season at the Blue Barn Theatre, 1106 S. 10th St. • Sept. 22 to Oct. 16 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui By Bertolt Brecht • Nov. 25 to Dec. 19 The Ultimate Christmas Show (abridged) By Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor • Feb. 2 to 26 HIR By Taylor Mac • March 23 to April 15 Silent Sky By Lauren Gunderson • May 18 to July 1 Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – The Musical By Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott
Season subscriptions are $110 for adults and $90 for persons age 65 and older. To order your tickets or for more information, please call 402-345-1576 or go online to www.bluebarn.org.
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Camelot Friendship Center
Most concerned about visiting the Middle East
You’re invited to visit the Camelot Friendship Center inside the Camelot Community Center, 9270 Cady Ave., for the following: • Thursday, Sept. 8: Book Club @ 10:15 a.m. • Friday, Sept. 9: Senior Field Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. @ Dodge Park. • Tuesday, Sept. 13: Presentation on OPPD @ noon. • Wednesday, Sept. 14: Birthday bash. • Thursday, Sept. 15: Jackpot Bingo @ 12:15 p.m. • Friday, Sept. 16: Movie day @ 12:15 p.m. • Monday, Sept. 19: Chair volleyball @ 10:30 a.m. • Wednesday, Sept. 21: Music by Paul Siebert from The Merrymakers @ 11:45 a.m. The center will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5 for Labor Day. Other activities include Tai Chi (Tuesday and Friday @ 10:15 a.m.), Bingo, pinochle, card games, other games, crafts, candy making, and scrapbooking. The Camelot Friendship Center is open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. A $3.50 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. For more information, please call Amy at 402-444-3091.
Heartland Generations Center You’re invited to visit the Heartland Generations Center – 4318 Fort St. – for the following: • Thursdays, Sept 8 and 22: Quilt making. • Monday, Sept 12: WhyArts? 3D arts project with Tom McLaughlin. • Monday, Sept. 19: Walking club. • Wednesday, Sept. 21: Trip to Nebraska City. The cost is $5 for the first 20 to sign up by Sept. 9. • Friday, Sept. 23: Visit by Creighton Prep students from 10 to 11:30 a.m. • Monday, Sept. 26: Birthday party with music by Kim Eames from The Merrymakers @ 12:30 p.m. • Friday, Sept. 30: Visit by Methodist Nursing College students from 10 a.m. to noon. The Heartland Generations Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is normally served at noon. A $3.50 donation is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to attend. Bus transportation is available within select neighborhoods for 50 cents each way. Regular activities include Bingo (Wednesday @ 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. and Friday @ 10:30 a.m.), crafts, and free Tai Chi classes (Tuesday and Thursday @ 10:45 a.m.) For meal reservations, please call 402-553-5300.
Terrorism impacting travel plans of older Americans
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he majority of Americans (86 percent) are concerned about terrorist attacks occurring while they’re on vacation in various regions of the world, prompting many to make major changes to their travel plans, according to the annual Vacation Confidence Index released recently by Allianz Global Assistance. The region Americans are most concerned will be the site of an attack is the Middle East (75 percent), followed by Europe (66 percent), and Africa (63 percent). With a series of recent attacks, almost a quarter of Americans (22 percent) say the fear of further violence has influenced their vacation planning in some way; whether cancelling (6 percent); changing locations (5 percent), travel dates (4 percent), mode of transportation (4 percent), local
tours (4 percent), local accommodations (3 percent), or purchasing travel insurance (3 percent). As Americans get older, the fear of terror attacks happening while they’re traveling increases significantly. That trend, however, is reversed for travel within the U.S. and Canada, where millennials ages 18 to 34 have the greatest fear of an attack happening on home soil (57 percent) compared to generation X (51 percent) and baby boomers (48 percent). Those Americans influenced by an act of terrorism are more likely to be traveling within the U.S. or Canada (50 percent). Americans who have changed their plans were most likely to be visiting Europe (42 percent), followed by Asia (29 percent), Latin America (26 percent), Australia and the South Pacific (26 percent), the Middle East (22 percent), or Africa (21
Corrigan Senior Center
You’re invited to visit the Dora Bingel Senior Center, 923 N. 38th St., this month for the following: • Sept. 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, & 30: Ceramics class @ 9 a.m. • Sept. 5: Book Club @ 10 a.m. • Sept. 5, 12, 19, & 26: Al-Anon meeting @ 7 p.m. • Sept. 7: Holy Communion @ 10 a.m. • Sept. 21: The Merrymakers present music by Joyce Torchia @ 11:30 a.m. Lunch is $3. • Sept. 21: Foot care clinic from 9 a.m. to noon for $10. • Sept. 28: September Birthday Party Luncheon @ noon. • Sept. 29: Red Hats @ 11 a.m. • Sept. 30: Hard of Hearing Support Group Lunch is served on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. A $1 donation is suggested for the meals other than $3 on Merrymakers Day. Round-trip transportation is available for $3. Reservations are required 24 hours in advance for all meals. Other activities offered at the facility include: Tuesday: Free matinee movie @ 12:30 p.m. & quilting @ 1 p.m. Wednesday: Devotions @ 10:30 a.m., Bible study @ 1 p.m., Bingo @ 1 p.m. Friday: Joy Club @ 9:30 a.m., Bingo @ 1 p.m. For more information, please call 402-898-5854.
You’re invited to visit the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St., this month for: • Sept. 2: Labor Day weekend lunch featuring fried chicken @ noon. Summer theme movies will start at 10 a.m. • Sept. 6: End of Summer Fun Day @ 10 a.m. The Omaha Walking Club will host a walk to Morton Park. David Garrison will talk about the health benefits of walking. Noon lunch of Swedish meatballs and pasta or a deli ham and cheese sandwich on a ciabatta roll. Stay for 1 p.m. Bingo. • Sept. 7, 14, 21, & 28: Crafts & Social @ 10:30 a.m. Make a T-shirt tote bag, leaf art, and more this month. Stay for a tasty noon lunch and a ceramics class after lunch. • Sept. 8: Grandparents Month lunch and Bingo @ 10:30 a.m. Share your favorite parenting and grandparenting tales. Prizes for the most unique, funniest, etc. story. Chair exercises and chair volleyball @ 9:30 a.m. Noon lunch and Grandparents Bingo after the meal. • Sept. 12: Information on home and personal safety will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Representatives from the Omaha Fire and Rescue Department and the Omaha Police Department will join us to present the latest tips and devices to keep our homes safer including fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, emergency evacuation plans, etc. A Parmesan chicken breast or a deli roast beef and provolone cheese chef salad will be served @ noon. • Sept. 15: River City Western Days Party. A noon roast beef dinner with peach
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percent). An analysis of flight bookings showed a 10 percent increase in travel to Europe during the summer, despite recent acts of terror. Europe as a whole recorded an overall increase this year compared to 2015. “What we’re seeing is the American traveler is a complex demographic that shares common fears and concerns, but deviate greatly on where they find those fears and how they face them,” said Daniel Durazo, director of communications at Allianz Global Assistance USA. “We’re pleased to see whatever those differences are, one thing that remains consistent is they are finding ways to follow their passion of seeing the world despite the challenges that come with traveling in a time of terror.” (Allianz Global Assistance USA provided this information.)
crisp. Mega Bingo @ 1 p.m. The Country Kickers America @ 2:45 p.m. Wear your favorite Western dress attire. The reservation deadline is Friday, Sept. 9 @ 11 a.m. • Sept. 19: Birthday party featuring music by Joe Taylor @ 11 a.m. Thanks to our Merrymakers sponsors Dawn and Sid Dinsdale for providing the musical entertainment. Order a cheese lasagna rollup or deli tuna salad sandwich for lunch. Bingo will follow lunch. • Sept. 22: First Day of Fall Hoedown @ 11a.m. Square Dance Omaha will take the Corrigan floor for a lively square dance demonstration. Start the day with T’ai Chi or chair volleyball @ 9:30 a.m. Ham loaf with sweet potatoes or a deli turkey breast and Swiss on rye bread sandwich will be served @ noon. Bingo @ 1 p.m. • Sept. 26: Presentation by Katie Pile of the Visiting Nurse Association @ 11 a.m. Learn about the many differences in care levels when considering senior living for you or a loved one. Noon lunch and 1 p.m. Bingo. Everyone, including new players, is welcome to play chair volleyball every Tuesday and Thursday @ 11 a.m. A noon lunch will follow. Join us for Tai Chi – a relaxing and fun activity that’s proven to improve your balance – Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. in our spacious gym. Bingo, ceramics, exercise, woodcarving, and loads of fun are also available. The Corrigan Senior Center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch is served at noon. A $3.50 contribution is normally suggested for the meal. Reservations are normally due by noon the business day prior to the meal you wish to enjoy. For meal reservations or more information, please call Lynnette at 402-731-7210.
Read it & eat By Lois Friedman readitandeat@yahoo.com
Some healthy fall recipes Cookbooks the are sure to feed your imagination in the coming season. Recipes to inspire you to try healthful additions to your “it’s-going-to-be-getting-cold-soon” menus. The Taco Cleanse By W. Allison, S. Bogdanich, M. Frisinger, & J.Morris (The Experiment, $17.95) Prevent and/or reverse your taco deficiency with 75 vegan recipes from these Austin, Texas cooks. From breakfast – the most important taco of the day – to holiday tacos, margaritas, yoga, and more. Just fold the tortilla once. Eat Clean Live Well By Terry Walters (Sterling Epicure, $30) A clean food family journey with healthy choices. Recipes to celebrate the seasons with lifestyle tips. Drinks and Dips, Soups, Vegetables, Grains, Legumes, and Desserts. Recipe lists begin each season with added suggestions for healthy alternatives. Nom Yourself By Mary Mattern (Avery, $25) Love, a food passion for cooking, and a compassion for animals motivated Matter, a self claimed “activist cook” to share her vegan lifestyle online presence. Everything plant based with recipes from breakfast through desserts.
Consider benefits of downsizing your home By Ben Souchek Older homeowners are often bogged down by the weight and responsibility of their possessions and the size of their home. Downsizing is a common solution to these challenges, and moving to a smaller place can help individuals relax without the worry of maintaining a larger property. Possibly the biggest benefit of moving into a smaller place during retirement is that a smaller home often comes with less upkeep. Perhaps you’re a homeowner no longer wanting to deal with your oversized yard or garden. In this case, you might find an apartment or condo appealing because there’s less outdoor space to mow, prune, weed, plant, and rake. These activities can be tiring and expensive. Housing where there’s less outdoor space or where
outdoor space is maintained by a property management team is ideal for people looking to move away from these kinds of responsibilities. Large homes also come with more indoor maintenance. Regular repairs on a three or four bedroom home, for example, can become time consuming. If left unattended, these seemingly small maintenance chores can create a host of new problems and expenses. Living in a smaller home, apartment, or condo where maintenance workers take care of your regular repairs can relieve some of the burden. One of the most common reasons homeowners want to downsize is to relax, unwind, and enjoy their retirement without the hassle of keeping up a big house. With less home maintenance required, older adults can use their free time and savings to do the things they love.
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falls/balance loss Identify areas of weakness Restore function after a fall Determine if a referral is needed for a physical/ occupational therapist or specialist
Year-Round Indoor Salad Gardening By Peter Burke (Chelsea Green, $29.95) Dare to think small. Grow an abundance of sprouts for home harvest. Indoor year round salad gardening from Adzuki to zucchini sprouts in 10 days. Eat Drink Paleo Cookbook By Irena Macri (Chronicle, $24.95) More than 100 recipes for your well-being, promoting good nutrition and a healthier lifestyle suitable for cooks of any level. Recipes are new and from her website. Soupelina’s Soup Cleanse By Elina Fuhrman (DaCapo, $24.99) The author’s walk to wellness from cancer included using food to repair, treat, and restore her body. Souping is the new juicing. Enjoy the variety and power of plant based soup. “Soup-rises” include And The Beet Goes On, BaBaBa Boom, and this Easy Peas-y recipe: Easy Peas-y (Serves four, hot or cold) 1 tablespoon coconut oil 1 large onion, chopped 1 pound green peas 2 celery stalks, cubed 5 cups boiling filtered water Generous handful of mint, finely chopped Himalayan pink salt Heat the oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat, add the onion, and saute until soft. Add the peas and celery and mix everything together. Add the boiling filtered water, cover, and simmer over medium-low heat for 45 minutes. Stir in the mint, add salt to taste, transfer everything to a Vitamix, and puree until a smooth and light consistency. Add more previously boiling water if the soup is too thick to achieve the light, brothy texture. Taste and adjust the salt to your taste.
Admission is $2
Dance Wednesday afternoons at American Legion Post #1 You’re invited to attend a dance each Wednesday afternoon from 1 to 4 at American Legion Post #1,
7811 Davenport St. Admission is $2. For more information, please call 402-392-0444.
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Replacing your household items
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here are items in your home you know to replace on a regular basis such as a toothbrush, air conditioner filter, or water heater. There are also things in your home you may not replace until they’re worn out, when in fact; most household items also have a shelf life that should be adhered to for efficiency, safety, and health reasons. Here are eight household items that could need to be replaced: • Refrigerator. According to Good Housekeeping magazine, there are several signs your fridge is going from running to walking. If it no longer cools to below 40 degrees or is more than 15 years old, it’s time to check out the appliance aisle. You could consider getting it repaired, but first weigh the cost savings of investing in a new one versus paying for potentially recurring repairs. A general rule of thumb: pay for repairs only if the cost is less than half the price of a new refrigerator. • Microwave. Generally, microwaves last 10 to 12 years, but it varies based on the amount of use. Some internal issues that often arise include longer than normal time to properly cook food or worn out gaskets inside the door. However, some outward ways to tell it might be time for a new one, include the keypad sticking or it sounding like a lawnmower when warming up food. • Toaster. While any household appliance can be a hazard, toasters are particularly temperamental as they get older. If a toaster isn’t cleaned regularly, leftover crumbs inside have the potential to catch fire. Six to eight years is the recommended maximum amount of time you should wait before replacing your toaster. • Mattress. According to a Mattress Firm and an Oklahoma State University study, mattresses more than eight years old contain large amounts of fungus and bacte-
ria, which can increase allergy and asthma symptoms. An old mattress can also contribute to aches and pains in your neck, back, and shoulders. While there are some proactive measures you can take such as using a mattress protector, it’s best to replace your mattress every eight years to ensure you’re getting a great night’s sleep. Learn more at MattressFirm.com. • Pillows. Between makeup, dirt, hair products, dust, and sweat, your pillow collects debris – just like your mattress – that can affect your sleep. While proper care of your pillows, including washing every two weeks, can help keep this problem in check, it’s best to replace pillows every 18 months to two years. • Washer/dryer. If your washer is more than 10 years old, it may be close to its last spin cycle. Dryers generally follow the same shelf life. These items are often expensive to fix, plus by upgrading to an energy efficient model, you save money in the long run by reducing your energy bills. • Vacuum. While the EPA suggests replacing your vacuum cleaner every five to eight years, people tend to replace them more frequently. Replace belts, bags, and filters as recommended by the manufacturer to extend the life of your machine. Once it won’t start or is no longer sucking up dirt and dust, it’s time for a new one. • Smoke Detector. The U.S Fire Administration recommends testing your hardwired smoke detectors at least once a month and replacing the batteries yearly. A chirping sound is an indicator it could be time to replace the unit altogether. To get the most out of your household essentials, make sure you replace them regularly. (Family Features provided this information.)
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Pick up a copy at one of the more than 100 distribution sites (grocery stores, restaurants, senior centers, libraries, etc.) Through the United States mail New subscribers should send their name, address, and zip code to: New Horizons, 4223 Center Street, Omaha, NE 68105. Online on your computer* Log on to enoa.org, scroll down until you see the New Horizons cover, then click on click here for pdf version. * Online subscribers will not receive a hard copy of the New Horizons each month.
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Help your lawn bounce back from summer stress, prepare for winter By Melinda Myers
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s summer fades into fall it’s time to help lawns recover from summer stress and prepare for the winter ahead Continue to mow your lawn as long as it continues to grow. Grow cool season grasses like bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass two to three inches tall. Warm season grasses like Bermuda grass, carpet grass, centipede grass, and zoysia should be grown at one to two inches tall while St. Augustine should a bit higher, two to three inches, for best results. Taller grass is better able to compete with weeds. And there is no need to cut it shorter for the lawn’s health. Mow often, removing no more than one-third the total height. Leave the short clippings on the lawn. They will quickly break down, adding organic matter, moisture, and nutrients to the soil. As you mow you can take care of those fall leaves at the same time. Shred the fall leaves and allow them to remain on the lawn. As long as you can see the leaf blades through the shredded leaves your lawn will be fine. And just like the clippings, they add nutrients and organic matter to the soil. Fertilize your lawn with a low nitrogen, slow release fertilizer like Milorganite (milorganite.com). University research has shown fall fertilization is the most beneficial practice for home lawns. Less disease problems and slower weed growth means your lawns - not the weeds and pests benefit from the nutrients. Fall fertilization also helps lawns recover from the stresses of summer because it encourages deep roots and denser growth that can better compete with weeds and tolerate disease and insects. Those in colder regions growing cool weather bluegrass, fescue, and perennial ryegrass should fertilize around Labor Day and sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving, but before the ground freezes. Homeowners in warmer climates growing warm season grasses like centipede, Bermuda, and zoysia should fertilize around Labor Day. Apply a low nitrogen slow release fertilizer then and in early October if over-seeding the lawn. Make sure the last fall application is at least one month prior to the average first killing frost. Fertilizing later can result in winter damage. Weeds often gain a foothold in the lawn during the stressful summer months. A healthy lawn is the best defense. Even with proper care weeds can bully their way into the lawn. Try digging, root and all, to remove small populations of weeds. Weeding can be a great tension reducer and physical workout. If this isn’t possible, consider spot treating weeds or problem areas with a broadleaf weed killer. Those looking for more organic options may want to try one of the more eco-friendly products with the active ingredient Fehedta or Hedta. Whether using traditional or environmentally-friendly products read and follow label directions carefully. All these products are plant killers and can cause damage to other plants if not applied properly. Fall, when the lawn is actively growing, is the best time to core aerate or dethatch northern lawns suffering from thatch build up or compacted soil. Thatch is a layer of partially decomposed dead grass plants that prevents water and nutrients from reaching the grass roots. Use a dethatching machine to remove thatch layers greater than a half inch. Or core aerate the lawn to create openings in the thatch layer and help reduce soil compaction to encourage root growth and allow water and nutrients to infiltrate the soil. Over-seeding your lawn in the fall helps increase thickness and improves the overall health and appearance of the lawn. For best results, over-seed directly after aerating. Begin implementing some of these strategies and soon you’ll be on your way to a healthier, better looking lawn for the coming growing season. (Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written more than 20 gardening books.)
AFib increases stroke risk
Help yourself, your spouse by learning all you can about Atrial fibrillation
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aking care of someone you love is an important job, but it comes with extra responsibilities and challenges. Atrial fibrillation (sometimes called AFib) is a common heart rhythm disorder that affects more than five million Americans and can increase your loved one’s risk of stroke more than five-fold. Find out how you can support your loved one by learning more about AFib, understanding the treatment options, and making doctor appointments more productive. Here are some tips for caring for a loved one with AFib: • Learn about atrial fibrillation: Learning more about your loved one’s condition can help you understand what they’re going through and help you provide the support and care they need. • Know the signs of a stroke: People with atrial fibrillation have a five times greater risk of stroke than those with normal heart rhythms. As a caregiver, it’s important to know the signs of a stroke so you can get your loved one immediate medical attention if necessary. Signs of a stroke include sudden numbness, weakness, or paralysis of the face, arm, or leg (especially only on one side of the body); confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech, difficulty seeing in one or both eyes, trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or lack of coordination; and severe headache with no known cause. • Be aware of bleeding risks: Blood thinners are very effective in reducing AFib stroke risk, but they can also increase the risk of bleeding. Help your loved one by watching for signs of bleeding and seeking medical attention if he or she finds bruises or blood blisters, falls or has an accident of any kind, notices red, dark brown, or black stools or urine; bleeds more with periods, has bleeding gums, feels sick, faint, weak, or dizzy; or experiences a bad headache or stomach ache that doesn’t go away. • Watch their diet: If your loved one is taking warfarin, it’s important to keep their intake of vitamin K consistent from day to
day in order for the medication to work properly. Foods rich in vitamin K include green leafy vegetables (such as kale, collards, mustard greens, spinach, and turnip greens), cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and parsley. You and your loved one can still enjoy these foods, but don’t increase or decrease the amounts suddenly. • Avoid AFib triggers: Alcohol and caffeine can trigger an atrial fibrillation episode in some people. Eliminating or reducing your loved one’s consumption of alcoholic and caffeinated beverages may help. Nicotine can also aggravate AFib and increase the risk of coronary artery disease. So if your loved one smokes, be sure to talk to their doctor about ways to help them quit. • Discuss all the AFib and stroke risk treatment options: The good news is there are a number of treatment options to reduce your loved one’s risk of AFib, stroke, and other complications, so you can keep enjoying the special moments in life together. Be sure to learn about the available treatment options, and talk to your loved one and his or her doctor to find the best AFib treatment plan for their situation. • Get more out of doctor appointments: Joining your loved one at doctor visits is important to show your support and make sure you’re getting all your questions answered.
State’s death penalty repeal topic of Sept. 13 meeting
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ou’re invited to attend a program sponsored by the Retirees Group at Second Unitarian Church – 3012 S. 119th St., – on Retaining the Repeal of the Death Penalty in Nebraska. The Tuesday, Sept. 13 program will run from 1 to 2 p.m.
The guest will be Marylyn Felion, who will share her experience of accompanying Robert Williams to the electric chair. Williams was the last person executed in Nebraska. For more information, please call Jaime Short at 402-334-0537, ext. 114.
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$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. Please ma il with thisyofour donation rm to: Eas
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Place Ron Hansen’s name on the list of Nebraska’s literary greats By Leo Adam Biga Contributing Writer
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on Hansen, the author of such esteemed novels as Mariette in Ecstasy (1991) and Atticus (1996), long ago joined the ranks of Nebraska literary greats such as Willa Cather, Mari Sandoz, Wright Morris, and Loren Eiseley. The Omaha native is also among the Creighton Prep High School graduates to have made their mark in arts and letters, including filmmaker Alexander Payne, novelist Richard Dooling, and singer-songwriter Conor Oberst. Hansen’s Jesuit education continued at Creighton University. The 1970 CU graduate went on to study at the Iowa Writers Workshop, where he was a student of American novelist John Irving (The World According to Garp), and at Stanford University. He is a devout Catholic and permanent deacon in the church. His work is funneled through the prism of faith and morality. Even though he writes about deeply flawed souls who are sometimes psychopaths and murderers, Hansen doesn’t caricature them. Instead, Ron creates multi-dimensional characters through careful observation rooted in context and circumstance and tinged by occasions of grace. He has a historian’s penchant for the truth rather than some convenient approximation to satisfy the story.
PEN/Faulkner finalist. His novels often draw on historical figures and incidents. One that does not, Mariette in Ecstasy, details the intense inner journey a postulate faces when the stigmata appear on her body and the experience causes a crisis of faith in her and in her convent. Hitler’s Niece imagines the romance the dictator may have engaged in with a niece with whom he was infatuated. Exiles explores what made a tragic shipwreck the inspiration for a famous poem. A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion examines what led illicit lovers to plan and commit murder in a real-life case that inspired Double Indemnity. Hansen’s particularly fond of the 19th century, owing partly to his late grandfather being a conduit to its Old West legacy. Ron’s 2016 novel, The Kid, is in his estimation the Hansen with Brad Pitt on the ‘The Assassination of most accurate portrayal of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford’ movie set. legendary outlaw Billy the tional terms, not religious. Writing is his vocation Kid yet produced. Ron lives in northern Calfor not only expressing his “All the events in it are ifornia with his wife, novel- true,” Hansen said. “In some Christianity but also his ist Bo Caldwell, and teaches ways they’re my interpreboundless curiosity and at Santa Clara University. creativity. tation of what occurred. I He’s the author of acHansen’s humanism and think there’s a lot of newclaimed collections of Catholicism are most eviness to what I did with this essays (Stay Against Confu- book as opposed to all of dent in some of his essays: sion), short stories (Nebras- the other accounts. For one Hearing the Cry of the Poor: The Jesuit Martyrs of ka Stories), and historical thing, this is the only time fiction books across wide El Salvado; Affliction and you see him with a sweetsubject matter and eras. Grace: and The Pilgrim: heart. None of the other Atticus was a finalist for Saint Ignatius of Loyola. treatments have had him the National Book Award Yet there’s nothing overtly speaking Spanish.” and the PEN/Faulkner religious about his fiction A Publishers Weekly rewith the exception of Mari- Award. The Assassination of view called The Kid “enterJesse James by the Cowette and even it’s framed in taining and lively,” adding, spiritual, psychosocial, emo- ard Robert Ford was also a “Hansen’s colorful descrip-
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tion of the New Mexico Territory as a lawless land of lying politicians and thieving businessmen is historically accurate, resulting in an excellent, transportive read.” The life and times of William H. Bonney (Billy the Kid’s real name) have inspired many writers and filmmakers but they usually ignore facts for sensationalism. Disregard for history rankles Hansen, who takes great pains hanging his stories on actual incidents. He authentically recreates the way people spoke and dressed then. Like all great storytellers, Ron immerses readers in that world. The Kid completes Hansen’s western trilogy that began with Desperadoes (1979) – his take on the Dalton gang. He continued the outlaw theme with Jesse James (1983) – another subject oft interpreted in print and film. Andrew Domink closely adapted the latter book into a 2007 film starring Brad Pitt as James and Casey Affleck as his assassin Bob Ford. Though a critical success, the film struggled at the box office. Hansen was delighted with the adaptation. Dominik consulted Hansen during the writing process and had him on set the entire shoot in Canada. The script is so close to the book that many passages from the novel are spoken verbatim in the film as voice-over narration or dialogue. Hansen was on hand to ensure costumes, sets, and lines were historically correct. He also enjoyed being an extra in a scene where he played a frontier dude reporter (see the photo of page 11). It wasn’t the first time a Hansen novel made it to the big screen. He adapted Mariette himself for a 1996 film directed by noted cinematographer John Bailey. Hansen said he admired Bailey’s original vision but the film was taken out of his hands and “mangled by higher-ups.” The book has also been adapted to the stage, including an award-winning theatrical play in Chicago.
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n a spring 2016 visit to Omaha for his Prep High School 50th class reunion, Hansen spoke at length about his work. He --Please turn to page 11.
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Author would like to see his latest novel turned into a miniseries --Continued from page 10. especially focused on The Kid, for which he has great hopes. “I’m hoping at least it becomes a miniseries because there’s so much story to tell. I couldn’t imagine how to turn it into two hours. It could easily be six hours.” He also touched on other projects, some realized, some not, and what we can expect in the future.
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o belong. To be liked. To be famous. To be feared. In the novel, Hansen has Billy say those four things to a trail mate who asks The Kid what he wants. They’re the aspirations of a mercurial man-child who lived fitfully and died violently at age 21. “In the movies especially he’s often portrayed as illiterate and a psychopath and when you read memoirs of other people they never say that about him,” Hansen said of Billy. “They say he was really smart, loved to read, and was always very pleasant to be around. Billy obviously was very intelligent because even with very little school-
Hansen (center, in black) had a small role as a frontier dude reporter in the film ‘The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford’. ing you can see in his letters he was very literate. He wrote a lot of letters actually. Maybe six have survived, mostly because they were letters he sent to the territory’s governor, Lew Wallace.” Billy, like other outlaws, also enjoyed reading stories about himself to see where fact left off and fiction took flight. “He once wrote an editor after reading an article about
himself and said, ‘Whoever wrote that had a very vivid imagination because I didn’t do all those things,’” Hansen noted. “But he could have been denying what he really did do, too. That’s the way criminals act.” For a lover of words like Hansen, it’s important he capture the richness of language people used then. “There was a kind of grandeur to speech. Most of the time in Westerns people
talk very simply, not very interestingly, but reading these accounts you realize people were very literate and very self-conscious about the way they wrote. They took time with things. For a lot of cowboys, their literature was basically the Bible, and so there was an ancient sound to a lot of their language because that’s the only thing they’d read or heard. “It was a different kind of
education then and maybe a reverence for the written word that caused people to be careful how they spoke and wrote.” Saying the wrong thing to Billy could be fatal, Hansen said, if The Kid’s “dark side” erupted after insult or injury. “That complexity naturally draws a novelist to show the shadings and not try to explain it really, just experience it.” Hansen said like other famous figures Billy is basically everybody’s wild invention. “Nobody can pin him down. It’s like Jesse James – everybody has an attitude about him. For some, he’s still a hero and they name their kid after him. “And I think the same thing is true of Billy the Kid,” Ron continued. “He was very charming in real life. Everybody talked about what a nice smile he always had, so it makes him more likable than a lot of the outlaws.” Hansen said you have the possibility of two faces – the angry killer and the sweet guy all the women loved and liked to dance with. Bil--Please turn to page 12.
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Ron’s work, life shaped by his colorful grandfather -Continued from page 11. ly learned Spanish somehow and the Hispanic people liked that he would speak to them in Spanish and that he knew the Old World customs, so they protected him,” Hansen said. “They thought what the authorities said was all untrue. In fact, it was trumped up a lot of the time. The newspaper accounts show how the description of Billy changes. He has black hair when they make him a negative figure and he has blonde hair when they make him positive.” The Kid’s legendary status was secured as soon as he died at the hands of sheriff Pat Garret. “Almost immediately after his death there were five books about Billy the Kid and he was largely a figment of people’s imaginations even then,” Hansen said. “Then he faded from memory until Walter Noble Burns wrote The Saga of Billy the Kid. It became an immediate bestseller. A movie followed that. There’s been something like 30 movies about Billy the Kid.” Hansen believes the fires raging inside Billy were fueled by abandonment and rejection. Billy also caught much grief for his slight build and fancy, fussy ways. When bullied, assaulted, or cornered, he could be deadly. The great conflict within him was a desire to be accepted, even respected, and an urge to rebel. “It was a real hot and cold thing going on with him,” Hansen said. “I think I have Paulita Maxwell, who was almost certainly his girlfriend, toward the end telling him he attracts people and repels them at the same time. They never know where they stand and they make him more and more anxious to please him. That’s why he became the leader of almost any group he was in. Nobody could quite figure him out because of those contrary aspects of his personality.” Given his charms, it’s no wonder The Kid won over a dandy land baron in the New Mexico Territory named John Tunstall, whose high breeding did not prevent their hitting it off. Tunstall became his boss and benefactor, remarking to others his admiration for The Kid’s wit and guile. When Tunstall was killed by archenemies, Billy got his revenge as he swore he would.
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here’s no telling if Hansen would have developed his same interest in the Old West without the influence of his grandfather. But there’s no doubt that crusty old man and his tales stirred something in Ron. “My grandfather, Frank Salvador, had a ranch in eastern Colorado. He was from Spain originally. He and his mother and father seem to have sailed from France to America and settled in Utica, N.Y., where his mother died. Then his father passed away in a gruesome mining accident.” As a child Salvador was put on an orphan train bound for Iowa.
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There were other Western models in his life, too. “There were a lot of farmers in my family and I remember visiting them and hearing them talk and they had a completely different vocabulary than the people I knew in Omaha. I think even being in Omaha you have a sense for the past you don’t have in other cities. Like where I am, the city of Cupertino, Calif. It didn’t exist really until 1970 and so there’s such a newness about it, whereas here (Omaha) you can still see houses and buildings from the 19th century. It would only take me about five minutes from West O to be in cornfields.”
H Ron and his wife, novelist Bo Caldwell, live in Cupertino, Calif. “Orphan trains began conveying children from the East – mostly New York City – in the early 19th century and didn’t stop until after World War I,” Hansen said via email. “The idea was to get orphans out of the slums and into better living conditions of the wide open spaces farther west. Unfortunately, children sometimes became indentured servants to farm owners, as was the case with my grandfather on the farm near Adair (Iowa).” While there, Hansen’s grandfather swore he had a close encounter with an infamous outlaw. “My grandfather told the story of when he was really young a group of guys rode up to the farm to water their horses. Then they heard galloping in the distance – it was a posse after them – and they jumped on their horses and ran off. He thought that was Jesse James. Jesse James actually robbed a train in Adair. It could have been another outlaw gang. But he (Salvador) was convinced of it and he had a reputation for being really honest.” Frank settled a score, peacefully, before lighting out for the West to make his own way. “When he was in his late teens, my grandfather filed suit against the farm owner who’d misused him and never paid for his labor. The court ruled in Salvador’s favor and he left Iowa for eastern Colorado where he bought land with his court settlement and called the ranch Wages. “He was a real interesting character because he was a 19th century man essentially. He would go some-
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place and nobody would see him there again for a year and they’d still remember him because he was so charismatic.” Hansen said. “He chewed tobacco and always carried around this coffee can he’d spit tobacco juice into, and I was charmed by this. Once I got a bee sting and he put a wad of chewing tobacco on it to take the hurt away. Maybe it was a child’s imagination but I thought it really did work. The sting went away after he applied that poultice.” The impressionable Hansen loved hearing the old man’s yarns and perhaps inherited some storytelling prowess from him. “He would tell me stories – how some hands still wore their Civil War overcoats. He must have worked on horseback for a good while because it was only when he became prosperous that he bought the first tractor in the county. He was also the first rancher (there) with indoor plumbing. He still had a bunkhouse that must have held at least 12 men. It was remarkable to visit there and think what a different life that was back then. So I felt like I had contact with the 19th century just through him.” Naturally, once a writer, Hansen drew on his grandfather – making him the subject of the essay A Nineteenth Century Man. He’s the model for the title character in Atticus. Hansen said. “Some of his attitudes survive in Jesse James and all my Westerns have some element of my grandfather.”
September 2016
ansen said growing up in Omaha in the 1950s, the West was very much alive because open country was just beyond the then city limits of 72nd Street. Plus, the stockyards in South Omaha found ranchers bringing livestock to market in epic volumes. Ron also saw his share of Western movies as a kid. Though steeped in images, artifacts, and stories, he didn’t burn to write about the West until poverty sparked inspiration. “I was really poor and I thought what can I sell to a magazine? I ran across this book about the Dalton gang. I knew they weren’t well known. They were a violent gang. I was charmed by the fact they tried to rob two banks at the same time in their hometown where everybody knew them. I thought that’d be a great story. I was writing it as a short story and then I realized I had like 30 pages and I hadn’t even touched the whole story. So I decided I’ll write this as a novel.” That story became Desperadoes. “The same thing happened with Jesse James,” he said, when a short story he started morphed into his novel about the outlaw. Much as he came to be with Billy the Kid, Hansen said he was entranced by the differing opinions about Jesse James – how the newspapers thought he was the worst guy possible. “Then you saw memoirs where people said how gentle and fun he was and that he was very witty. Those kinds of complexities of character draw me to writing about these characters.” That rascals and varmints inhabited the West and deadly conflicts happened with alarming frequency is not surprising given the conditions of that wild place. As Hansen explained, “The area of Lincoln County (New Mexico) was the size of the state of Connecticut. It had one lawyer and one sheriff to cover all that. So people had to make do on their own basically. They had to be the law themselves. This was open range with no fences. Cattle would run away all the time – mavericks they called them.” People claimed, worked, and defended land they had no clear title --Please turn to page 13.
Writing fiction is intellectually satisfying for Hansen --Continued from page 12. to. When questioned or challenged, disputes arose, and with no practical legal remedy in sight, opponents often settled things with a gun. The same held for disputes over cattle, cards, and any number of other things. If you killed someone in a conflict, you invoked the Code of the West, which roughly translated to, “He left me no choice.” Billy used that one himself. Men protected their honor by any means necessary. Feuds often resulted in bloodshed. A wanted outlaw might take his chances with the Army, a sheriff, or a posse. Hired guns targeted anyone their employers wanted “regulated.” At one time or another, Billy was on every side of these fights and pursuits. “New Mexico residents thought of the government as being in Washington and they were their own government, so in some ways it was almost like the secession the South did with the North,” Hansen said. “There weren’t telephone lines, there weren’t fences, there weren’t roads. There were trails, so it was really open country. The Apaches and the Comanches were still on the warpath and you constantly heard about people losing their lives. It affected Billy, too. He was attacked by Apaches and they stole his horse once. I don’t know how he got away with his life but he did.” Billy specialized in stealing cattle and Army horses. Hansen said neither practice was uncommon. “A lot of people did it back then,” he said. “What’s ironic is that when Pat Garrett started his own herd of cattle, they were all stolen.” Hansen makes no apologies for Billy’s crimes but insists he “kept getting blamed” for things he didn’t do. “Anytime he was around he got blamed for the murder when in fact many times he didn’t fire his gun. Partly that’s why he became so famous – that round up the usual suspects (mentality).” Not all outlaws are created equal. “Jesse James was far more of a psychopath than Billy the Kid. Because Jesse James was very violent – and intentionally that way,” Ron said. “When we were shooting the movie The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Andrew (Dominik) and I both agreed it’s not really a Western, it’s really a gangster story. Typical of the gangster movie, a guy has accumulated wealth and power and all that stuff but then he gets paranoid and starts killing off all the guys who made him famous. “Yet he had these kids he loved and his wife loved him and all that. But at the same time he was capable of murder and robbing banks and trains.” Hansen said though “Billy the Kid was like that, it was more impetuousness, especially when all these people were out to get him. He was
constantly facing mobs and a lot of times they didn’t have warrants, and so in some cases it’s justifiable homicide. “He was not as vicious as Jesse James. Sure he was stealing cattle to make a living but so did almost everybody. That was the way people started their herds. That was the natural way of doing things back then,” Hansen said. “Billy’s crimes were never against people unless they shot at him or were trying to kill him, and then he shot back. Billy’s death wasn’t accepted by everyone even though he clearly did die at the hands of Garrett,” Hansen said. “All these people who knew Billy were on this committee or jury that Pat Garrett urged be put together to say that the body was that of Billy the Kid. He did get killed by Pat Garrett – but it was justifiable homicide.” Further evidence The Kid’s life ended then, Hansen said, was that his flame, Paulita, never saw Billy again. “In the Walter Noble Burns book she comes off as a woman wrongfully accused of being Billy’s sweetheart. She said she liked him very much and if they had been sweethearts she would have run off with him. So I actually have her say some of the things in the book she said to Burns.” Years later, people claimed to be Billy under assumed names. The same claims attended Jesse James after his death. “Officials finally did do a DNA sample and found out Jesse really was in that grave in Missouri,” Hansen said. “I always knew he was in that grave because he was well known as a good family man and yet he left his wife destitute. It’s very unlikely he would have allowed that to happen. People just don’t want these legends to die.”
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ust as no two outlaws are alike, no two writing projects are either. One constant of the craft is that it’s hard work. But some projects are more enjoyable than others. Though it took much research and imagination, The Kid was a relative breeze for Hansen. “I had more fun writing this than almost any other book I’ve done just because there’s such a variety of activity – so many different things are described. “He’s a fascinating character. My wife was kind of irritated because I was writing in earnest for one year and she’s been on her book for four years. But it just came quickly to me.” Not all of Hansen’s books perform as well as he’d like, including his 2011 historical novel A Wild Surge of Guilty Passion drawn from a real life “case of the century” that saw a tryst lead to a 1927 murder. The culprits, Ruth Snyder and her lover Judd Gray, were both executed at Sing Sing prison in 1928 after being found guilty of killing Ruth’s
husband. Albert Snyder. Hansen happened upon the case and couldn’t shake it. There was a wealth of material about the crime and the trial. “Judd Gray was a corset salesman who had dropped out of high school, and yet at the trial the judge said, ‘We can see what a well-educated man you are.’ While in prison, to make money for his daughter, he wrote a very literate memoir about how he ended up killing Snyder.” Hansen’s book about the case didn’t do very well at all. He believes that was due to early negative reviews in trade publications that outweighed later positive reviews. Ron had been with the publisher Harper Collins before parting ways and going to Scribner, which published Wild Surge. “Then Scribner published my book of stories She Loves Me Not (2012). I wanted them do a paperback of it and they said we won’t until you give us a novel, so I decided to write The Kid.” Hansen cowrote a feature film script with good friend and fellow novelist-short storywriter Jim Shepard (The Book of Aron). Their script Lie Down with Me, which tells another 19th century story, though this one in the East, was written for Casey Affleck to produce and direct for Relativity Media. Everything was a go before things fell apart. “Casey Affleck was counting on doing this as a labor of love and in the same week we were expecting our writing checks in the mail, Relativity declared bankruptcy.” Hansen said Affleck still wants to get the movie made and is trying to secure a name actress in the key role of a character named Abigale. “It’s set in farm country in upstate New York in the 1850s. He wants it filmed in all four seasons, so he would get people on the set for one week and let them go home and get them for another week, and so on.
He wants it to be basically a diary of Abigale, who’s telling all these things that happened. It has very ornate language because she’s concentrating hard when she’s writing her diary, but when she’s talking it’s very plain language. “A female actress would really be intrigued by this project just because it’s so much her (Abigale). Virtually every page is her and there aren’t many big parts like that for women.”
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sked why he’s so drawn to the past, Hansen said, “Some of my fascination as a fiction writer is the requirement to imagine so much more than if he were writing about a contemporary world or from autobiographical experience. “I have to take on unfamiliar roles in unfamiliar settings, so I feel more creative. Even the spoken language is different. And it’s intellectually satisfying that there’s so much learning that needs to go on in order to persuade the reader that a scene must have happened pretty much as I present it.” As for a next project, Hansen said he wants to do a sequel to Mariette in Ecstasy. “Mariette would be like 80 years old and she will have moved from upstate New York to Big Sur, Calif., but I don’t know anything else about the plot. The idea for a sequel just came to me. People like Mariette in Ecstasy a lot and wouldn’t it be nice to see what she’s up to (these days). “That was a book I liked writing. I had kind of a ready-made plot with that and I don’t have a plot with this.” It’s a chance for his imagination to take full flight with one of his favorite characters whose life details he gets to fill in. Sounds like a state of bliss for the author. Read more of Leo Adam Biga’s work at leoadambiga.com.
For his next writing project, Ron Hansen would like to pen a sequel to his 1991 novel ‘Mariette in Ecstasy’.
September 2016
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New Horizons
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$115.1 million in 2015-16
Please see the ad on page 3
UNMC receives record amount of research funds
New Horizons Club gains new members
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esearchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center brought in a record total of $115.1 million during the 2015-16 academic year. Dr. Jennifer Larsen M.D., UNMC’s vice chancellor for research, said many factors contributed to the increase: • Recruitment of new faculty, which resulted in new awards by early career scientists; • An increased effort to diversify UNMC’s funding through greater recruitment to clinical trials; • Building new collaborative research partnerships; • Strong contributions from the community to build outstanding facilities that provide places for research to be conducted and attract nationally recognized researchers; and • Working closely with the National Strategic Research Institute to attract more Department of Defense research funding. UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D., joined Dr. Larsen in praising the outstanding work of the researchers whose dedication, excellence, and effort made the funding milestone possible. “That is what distin-
$50 Howard H. Roberts $30 Allegra Sorensen $25 Bob & Carole Buczkowski $10 Jeanette Harbert $5 Darlene Monk Reflects donations through August 26, 2016
Caregivers invited to a daylong retreat Oct. 5 on UNO campus
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re you providing care, support, or advocacy for a person with special needs such as an intellectual or developmental disability or a chronic health issue like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease? Have you thought it would be nice to have a special day to meet other family caregivers and learn how to reflect, energize, and create? If so, you’re encouraged to register for a daylong retreat that will give you an emotional, physical, and mental respite that’s vital to your well-being. The retreat is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus. On-site parking will be available. Participants will make new friends, learn new relaxation techniques, new self-care techniques, new life activities, and constructive ideas for future success as a caregiver. The cost is $20. Participants must register to attend. To register or for more information, please contact Ellen Bennett or Janet Miller at 402-559-5735.
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The fall 2016 schedule has been announced for the Eclectic Book Review Club which has met since 1949. • Sept 20: Omaha World-Herald editor Cate Folsom & retired U.S. Marine Col. John Folsom will review their book Smoke the Donkey: A Marine’s Unlikely Friend. • Oct 18: Astronaut Clayton Anderson from Houston will review his memoir Ordinary Spaceman. • Nov 15: Omaha World-Herald columnist Mike Kelly will review his book Uniquely Omaha. The monthly meetings, which include lunch and a book review, are held at noon at the Field Club, 3615 Woolworth Ave. The cost is $13 per person per month. To reserve a seat, call Rita at 402-553-3147. The reservation deadline is the Monday morning prior to the Tuesday meeting.
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guishes academic medicine, in the United States and around the world, that we not only provide great quality care and educate the next generation, but we’re figuring out what causes diseases, how to prevent them, how to detect disease in the early stages, and how to turn our research into effective clinical practice,” Dr. Gold said. “We are so grateful for all of the hard work and dedication that makes this possible.” The 2015-16 total represents an increase of 23 percent from the previous fiscal year. Dr. Larsen said all categories of awards increased: • Federal awards by 20 percent; • Commercial sources by 24 percent; • State sources by 36 percent; and • Other sources – which includes foundations, gifts, and subcontracts from federal awards received by other institutions – by 31 percent. As in previous years, the majority of the funding – 64 percent – came from federal funding sources, predominantly the National Institutes of Health. Both Dr. Gold and Dr. Larsen see the new record as a jumping-off point for UNMC’s next research goal of $200 million.
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The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging’s Web site includes information about: • • • • • • • • • • •
Bath aides Care management Chore services Community education Durable medical equipment Emergency food pantry Emergency response systems ENOA facts and figures ENOA Library ENOA senior centers
24 hours a day, • Homemakers 7 days a week!
• Information & assistance telephone lines • Intergeneration Orchestra of Omaha • Legal services • Meals on Wheels • Medicaid Waiver • New Horizons Grandparent Resource Center • Nutrition counseling
September 2016
• • • • • •
Ombudsman advocates Respite care Respite Resource Center Rural transportation Senior Care Options Support of adult day facilities • Volunteer opportunities
Millard Senior Center
Vets honored during Corrigan Senior Center ceremony
You’re invited to visit the Millard Senior Center at Montclair, 2304 S. 135th Ave., for the following: • Sept. 12: Volunteers Assisting Seniors’ presentation on Medicare @ noon. • Sept. 15: Our version of a spelling bee @ 12:15 p.m. • Sept. 19: Fitness 101 presentation by Dr. Kris Berg @ 12:15 p.m. • Sept. 22: Coloring @ noon. • Sept. 26: Shuffle board @ 12:15 p.m. • Sept. 29: Blood pressure checks by Methodist College Nursing students @ 9:30 a.m. The center will be closed on Labor Day. The Millard Senior Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch is served at 11:30. A $3.50 contribution is suggested for the meal. Reservations are due by noon the business day prior to the lunch you wish to enjoy. Center activities include daily walking @ 8 a.m. and card games @ 9 a.m., quilting/needlework (Thursday @ 9 a.m.), dominoes (Tuesday and Thursday @ 8:30 a.m.), Tai Chi class (Monday and Friday @ 10 a.m. for a $1 suggested contribution), chair volleyball (Tuesday and Thursday @ 10 a.m.), card games @ 9 a.m., and Bingo (Tuesday and Friday @ noon). For meal reservations and more information, please call 402-546-1270.
U.S. Navy veteran Gil Hill (center) flanked by Lt. Col. (retired) Martin Apprich (left) and LeRoy Richards (right) at the Corrigan Senior Center.
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erhaps the words on Rollin Harman’s t-shirt summed up best the reason for the packed gymnasium on a humid August morning at the Corrigan Senior Center, 3819 X St. “If you love your freedom, thank a vet,” the t-shirt read. Harman, who served in the U.S. Army, was among the 29 military veterans recognized by more than 100 men and women during the We Honor Veterans ceremony. The honored vets were Alvin Barraclough, Chris Bolton, Mike Burke, Dano Danoff, Frank Dwornicki, Dale Flyr, David Guy, Rollin Harman, Gil Hill, Phil Holmes, Leonard Jarecki, Eugene Krysl, Al Levene, Melvin Meyer, Sandy Murdock, Larry Noland, Larry Peek, Roger Peterson, Charles Petrmichl, Grace Pfeifer, Vic Pfeifer, Martin Plack, Bill Renze, Bob Satorie, Max Snowden, Ed Sobczyk, Ed Thomas, Ben Tomasello, and Frank Wanek. The festivities included The Pledge of Allegiance, guest speaker Lt. Col. (retired) Martin Apprich, a pinning ceremony, videos, and a rose presentation to some of the veterans’ wives. During his address, Apprich said America should thank its veterans every day of the year, not just on Veterans Day. “I’m not a hero, but I served with many,” he added. As each vet received a pin from Apprich and a special card from LeRoy Richards, he or she was encouraged to say a few words about their military experience. A few simply said, “thanks,” while others
went into more detail. “Every day I thank Harry Truman for dropping the bombs (on Hiroshima and Nagasaki that ultimately ended WWII),” Navy veteran Gil Hill said. “I wouldn’t be here today if he hadn’t.” The We Honor Vets ceremony concluded as everyone in the gymnasium stood and saluted the Stars and Stripes while a recording of Taps was played.
Volunteers needed The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging is looking for volunteer drivers for its Meals on Wheels Program. Flexible weekday schedule delivering midday meals to homebound older adults in the greater Omaha area. Call Arlis at 402-444-6766 for more information.
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U.S. Air Force veteran Mike Burke (left) received a pin from Lt. Col. (retired) Martin Apprich.
Lung Force Expo scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 13
T
he American Lung Association is sponsoring its Lung Force Expo on Thursday, Oct. 13 at the Embassy Suites, 555 S. 10th St. The Lung Force Expo is designed to allow patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers to learn more
about the latest trends, resources, and research in lung cancer, COPD, and asthma. Speakers will present medical information on the topics that have had the most impact on their lives and discuss ways to help support lung cancer patients and their caregivers. The programs for health-
care professionals begin at 7:30 a.m. Sessions for lung patients and their caregivers start at 10 a.m. The early bird admission price for healthcare professionals is $75. Lung cancer patients and their caregivers will be admitted for $10. For more information, please call 402-502-4950.
September 2016
49th & Q Street • 402-731-2118 www.southviewheightsomaha.com
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New Horizons
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Pick up your free copy of New Horizons each month The New Horizons is available at locations throughout eastern Nebraska. Stop by and pick up a free copy each month at one of the following: Adams Park Senior Center 3230 John Creighton Blvd.
Evans Tower 3600 N. 24th St.
Life Care Center 6032 Ville de Sante Dr.
Ridgewood Apts. 6801 Spring St.
Aksarben Manor 7410 Mercy Rd.
Florence Home 7915 N. 30th St.
Livingston Plaza Apts. 303 S. 132nd St.
Rorick Apts. 604 S. 22nd St.
The Ambassador 1540 N. 72nd St.
Florence Senior Center 2920 Bondesson St.
Louisville Senior Center 423 Elm St.
Royal Oaks/House of Hope 4801 N. 52nd St.
American Red Cross 3838 Dewey St.
Fremont (Neb.) Friendship Center 1730 W. 16th St.
Lutheran Home 530 S. 26th St.
St. Bernard Church 3601 N 65th St.
Mangelsen’s 84th & Grover streets
St. Bridget Church 4112 S. 26th St.
Maple Crest Condos 2820 N. 66th Ave.
St. Joseph Tower 2205 S. 10th St.
Mercy Care Center 1870 S. 75th St.
St. Joseph Villa 2305 S. 10th St.
Millard Manor 12825 Deauville Dr.
St. Mary’s Church 811 S. 23rd St. Bellevue
Arlington (Neb.) Senior Center 305 N. 3rd St. Bank of Nebraska 7223 S. 84th St. Bellewood Court Apts. 1700 Lincoln Rd. Bellevue Bellevue Library 1003 Lincoln Rd.
Friendship Program 7315 Maple St. GOCA 3604 Fowler Ave. Gold Coast Square 1213 Gold Coast Rd. Papillion Hallmark Care Center 5505 Grover St.
Millard Montclair Senior Center 2304 S. 135th Ave.
Bennington (Neb.) Senior Center 322 N. Molley St.
Heartland Family Service Senior Center 4318 Fort St.
Mission Vue Apartments 406 E. Mission Ave. Bellevue
Benson Tower 5900 NW Radial Hwy.
Hickory Villa 7315 Hickory St.
Bickford Cottage 11309 Blondo St.
Hillcrest Care Center 1702 Hillcrest Rd. Bellevue
Monarch Villa 201 E. Cedardale Dr. Papillion
Bellevue Senior Center 109 W. 22nd Ave.
Dora Bingel Senior Center 923 N. 38th St. Blumkin Home 333 S. 132nd St. Camelot 6 Apartments 9415 Cady Ave. Camelot Friendship Center 9270 Cady Ave.
Hooper (Neb.) Senior Center 208 N. Main St. Immanuel Courtyard 6757 Newport Ave. Immanuel Medical Center 6901 N. 72nd St.
Montclair Nursing Home 2525 S. 135th St. Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition 2240 Landon Ct. New Cassel 900 N. 90th St. Nehawka (Neb.) Senior Center North Bend (Neb.) Senior Center
Carter Lake Senior Center 626 Locust St.
Immanuel Trinity Village 522 N. Lincoln St. Papillion
Central Park Tower 1511 Farnam St.
Immanuel Village 6803 N. 68th Plz.
Oak Valley Apts. 12425 Krug Ave.
Christie Heights Senior Center 3623 P St.
Intercultural Community Senior Center 3010 R St.
OEA Apts. 122 S. 39th St.
Chubb Foods 2905 N. 16th St. W. Dale Clark Library 215 S. 15th St. Corrigan Senior Center 3819 X St. Croatian Cultural Society 8711 S. 36th St. Crown Pointe Retirement Center 2820 S. 80th St. Crown Tower 5904 Henninger Dr. deFreese Manor 2669 Dodge St. Dodge (Neb.) Senior Center 226 N. Elm St. Douglas County Housing 5449 N. 107th Plz. Durham Booth Manor 3612 Cuming St. Eagles Club 23rd & L streets
Jackson Tower 600 S. 27th St. Kay Jay Tower 25th & K streets Kohll’s Pharmacy 50th & Dodge streets Kohll’s Pharmacy 4230 L St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 2923 Leavenworth St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 12739 Q St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 3427 S. 84th St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 617 N. 114th St. Kohll’s Pharmacy 1413 S. Washington St. Papillion Kubat Pharmacy 4924 Center St.
Oak Grove Manor 4809 Redman Ave.
OEA Manor 320 N. 22nd St. OJ’s Mexican Restaurant 9201 N. 30th St. Omaha Nursing Home 4835 S. 49th St. The Orchards at Wildwood 7454 Gertrude St. Papillion Senior Center 1001 Limerick Ave. Park East Tower 539 S. 26th St. Park Tower North 1501 Park Ave.
St. Mary Magdalene Church 1817 Dodge St. St. Vincent DePaul 5920 Maple St. Sarpy County Courthouse 1261 Golden Gate Dr. Seven Oaks at Notre Dame 3439 State St. Skyline Manor 7300 Graceland Dr. Snyder (Neb.) Senior Center 2nd & Elm streets Social Security Office 7100 W. Center Rd. Suite 200 Social Settlement 4868 Q St. South Omaha Eagles 6607 Sunshine Dr. Southview Heights 49th & Q streets Swanson Library 9101 W. Dodge Rd. Joe Tess Restaurant 5424 S. 24th St. Thrift Store 7328 Maple St. Trinity Cathedral 18th Street & Capitol Avenue Twin Tower Apts. 3000 Farnam St. Underwood Tower 4850 Underwood Ave. Veterans Hospital 4101 Woolworth St.
Petrow’s Restaurant 5914 Center St.
Ville de Sante Terrace 6202 Ville de Sante Dr.
Phil’s Foodway 3030 Ames Ave.
Village Inn 309 N. Fort Crook Rd. Bellevue
Phil’s Foodway 4232 Redman Ave. Pine Tower 1501 Pine St.
Eagle (Neb.) Senior Center 509 4th St.
LaVista (Neb.) Senior Center 8116 Parkview Blvd.
Plattsmouth (Neb.) Senior Center 308 S. 18th St.
Elmwood (Neb) Senior Center 144 N. 4th St.
Leo’s Diner 6055 Maple St.
Ralston (Neb.) Senior Center 7301 Q St.
Elmwood Tower 801 S. 52nd St.
Leo Vaughn Manor 3325 Fontenelle Blvd.
Remington Heights 12606 W. Dodge Rd.
JC Wade Manor 3464 Ohio St. Walgreen’s Pharmacy 5038 Center St. Weeping Water (Neb.) Senior Center 101 E. Eldora St. The Wellington 501 E. Gold Coast Rd. Papillion
Volunteers creating Quilts of Valor In 2003, Catherine Roberts – a Delaware resident – had a dream about her son, Nat, who was deployed with the United States Army in Iraq. “I saw a young man sitting on the side of his bed in the middle of the night,” she said. “Then, as if viewing a movie, I saw him wrapped in a quilt. His whole demeanor changed from one of despair to one of hope and well-being.” From that dream, Roberts developed the Quilts of Valor Foundation, a nonprofit organization of volunteers from throughout the country who donate their time, talent, and materials to make quilts for returning service members and military veterans touched by war. Since its inception, the Quilts of Valor Foundation has awarded more than 140,000 quilts across the United States. Roberts said each Quilt of Valor has to be quilted, not tied. They’re then awarded to men and women who are touched by war to thank them for their service, sacrifice, and valor serving our nation. Members of the Quilts of Valor’s Omaha branch meet twice a month to make quilts at Sunshine Stitches, 525 N. 155th Plz. The local craftsmen were busy recently making 20 quilts to enter into competition at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island this month as a way to raise awareness for QOV. The Omaha chapter – in its third year – includes Nichole Arth, Lori Bain, Martha Bellavia, Kathy Booth, Nancy Burch, Sharon Buzzell, Kathy Cavanaugh, Mary Cave, Betty Cook, Alice Cunningham, Barb Felt, Marilyn Fitch, Judy Fletcher (regional coordinator), Mary Gentrup, Mary Hanke, Jeane Harbert, Kristin Harper, LindaKay Hermesch, Diane Inman,
Betty Johnson, Deb Korves-Gunnik, Peggy Koziel, Ann Kroll, Joyce Kuykendall, Janet Mardis, Nancy McCabe, Beth Meier, Janine Morrell, Mary Ann Morris, Sandy Pihlgren, Pat Rees, Bill Robinson, Judi Robinson, Lorrie Rusk, Darlene Schiefelbein, Eileen Siefert, Sara Sellgren, Mary Steffen, Judi Thelander, Pat Tworek, Sally Viola, and Patti Wright. “We don’t think our veterans have been honored enough,” said QOV Omaha chapter member Marilyn Fitch, whose husband, Gary, is a Vietnam veteran. “This is a small way we can thank them for their sacrifices and our freedom.” During its first twoplus years, the Omaha group has donated nearly 150 quilts, each measuring 60 by 80 inches. Every Quilt of Valor takes 30 to 50 hours to create depending on the intricacy of the pattern, and requires up to nine yards of fabric. The quilts are awarded at ceremonies that feature a presentation about the foundation’s history and the singing of The Stars Spangled Banner. The recipients Patti Wright is a QOV also receive a certifivolunteer in Omaha. cate and have their name registered with the National QOV Foundation. The service members and military veterans receive a unique quilt that’s wrapped around their shoulders as a warm way to say thank you, Fitch said. During June and July 2016, the local QOV branch awarded more than 20 quilts at five Omaha-area ceremonies. Each member of the Omaha chapter has his or her own reason for joining the organization. Bill Robinson served in the United States Air Force in Vietnam. He joined the QOV in January. “This is a project I believe in, I have the skill (to make the quilts), and it’s fun,” he said. “Quilting is something we all enjoy, and it’s nice to have a special purpose for the quilts we make, ” Patti Wright said. Since a quilt can cost up to $250 to complete, Fitch said help is needed. Individuals can donate materials or cash to the Omaha chapter. New members are encouraged to join the quilters on the first Wednesday of each month from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the third Thursday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. “Longarm quilters are particularly needed,” she added. While a lot of people have played vital roles in the Omaha chapter’s success, Fitch wanted to thank Becky Taylor and Carol Coniglio, owners of Sunshine Stitches, who provide a meeting place, lunch, and storage space for the organization each month. For more information, go online to www.qovf.org. To nominate a service member or veteran for a Quilt of Valor, go to www.qovf.org, click on Take Action, and then click on Request a Quilt.
RSVP
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SVP is recruiting persons age 55 and older for a variety of opportunities. For more information in Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties, please call 402-444-6536, ext. 224. In Dodge and Washington counties, please call 402-721-7780. • The Together Inc. Food Pantry wants volunteers to help with a variety of assignments. • The Blair and Fremont Car-Go Program needs volunteers to drive older adults to their appointments once or twice a week.
AARP offering driving course AARP is offering a new four-hour, research-based Smart Driver Course for older adults. By completing the course, participants will learn research-based driving safety strategies that can reduce the likelihood of having an accident; understand the links between the driver, the vehicle, and the road environment, and how this awareness encourages safer driving; learn how aging, medications, alcohol, and health-related issues affect driving ability and ways to allow for these changes; increase confidence; know how to share the road safely with other drivers, and learn the newest safety and advance features in vehicles. The fee is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonAARP members. No tests or examinations are involved, course completion certificates are provided, and auto insurance discounts may apply. Here’s this month’s schedule: Sept. 7 @ 10 a.m.
Maple Ridge 3525 N. 167th Cir. 402-415-2321 to register
Sept. 12 @ 9 a.m. Fremont Friendship Center 1730 W. 16th St. 402-727-2815 to register
Sept. 10 @ 10 a.m. The Premier Group, LLC 11605 Miracle Hills Dr. #205 402-557-6730 to register
Sept. 14 @ 10 a.m. Rolling Hills Ranch 4324 N 132nd St. 402-391-1055 to register
Sept. 10 @ noon AARP Information Center 1941 S. 42nd St. #220 402-398-9568 to register
Sept. 16 @ 11:30 a.m. Metro Community College 2709 Babe Gomez Dr. 402-457-5231 to register
Sept. 27 @ 10 a.m. Do Space 7205 Dodge St. 402-457-5231 to register
Florence Home Healthcare
Rehab...renew return home!
Call 402-827-6000
The Sierra Group, LLC FREE Book & CD Call Us: (800) 309-0753
www.omahaseniorcare.org
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Omaha Computer Users Group You’re invited to join the Omaha Computer Users Group (OCUG), an organization dedicated to helping men and women age 50 and older learn more about their computers. Anyone can join OCUG regardless of his or her computer skills. The organization meets the third Saturday of each month from 1 to 3 p.m. (during September, October, and November) at the Abrahams Library, 5111 N. 90th St. In December the meeting time will switch back to 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Annual dues to OCUG are $25. OCUG has a projector connected to a Microsoft Windows 7 computer and a Windows 8 computer to show users how to solve their computer problems. Bring your questions concerning your computer problems to the meetings for answers. For more information, please call 402-333-6529.
Living with dementia series set for September, October Registration is underway for a free educational series that will help caregivers understand how to provide the best possible care for their loved ones with dementia. Learning to Live with Dementia focuses on the various types of dementia and how to manage symptoms. The series is held Sept. 10 and Oct. 8 at the Servite Center of Compassion, 7400 Military Ave.
The four components of the program are: dementia basics, mystery and reality of living with different dementias, person-centered care, and compassionate care. To register, contact Sister Margaret Stratman at 402951-3026 or scc@osms.org. For more information, contact Nancy Flaherty at 402-312-9324 or fl flahertyconsulting@cox.net.
LL
SPEC
Studios at $595 1 BR’s at $695 2 BR’s at $795
L:
$50
Graceland Senior Apartments
I
A
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Fall Into Savings OFF FIRST 3 MONTHS RENT
CALL TODAY
402-557-6643
55+ Apartments
• All utilities included • Laundry facilities • On bus line • Secure building • Club & fitness room
7350 Graceland Drive Omaha, NE 68134 • SkylineRC.com
WHITMORE LAW OFFICE Wills • Trusts • Probate
Ask A Lawyer: Q — What is the difference between a will and a living trust? A — Both a Will and a Trust state your wishes for transfer of your property at your death. A Trust can avoid the need for the delay and expense of probate, which is needed if you transfer your property by Will. A Trust also provides protection for you if you should become disabled and unable to handle your financial affairs, at which time the Trust provides management of your assets for your benefit until you recover. Have a question about estate planning? Give us a call!
AARP Legal Service Network • No Charge For Initial Consultation
7602 Pacific Street, Ste 200 • (402) 391-2400 http://whitmorelaw.com
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12th edition offered in book format, online
New ‘ElderCare Resource Handbook’ available
magine having the answers to your senior care questions in the palm of your hand. It’s possible thanks to Care Consultants for the Aging. The 12th edition of the Omaha ElderCare Resource Handbook for 2016-2018 became available recently in both the book format and online. The handbook serves as a valuable resource for information about services offered to older adults in the Omaha area. The handbook list options divided into five tabbed sections: • Government, Financial, & Legal. • Medical Support. • Home Health Care & Support Services. • Living Options. • Senior Services. It also includes an index of services and companies to make the right business or organization easier to find. The ElderCare Resource Handbook is updated every two years and used by social workers, medical professionals, pastors, human resource professionals, police
officers, and the general public. “The handbook is my ‘go to’ place to start any search for senior services and solutions,” said Carol Schrader of Nebraska Realty. “Nothing else compares to this valuable resource.” You can obtain the handbook in any of five ways: • For $8 at the Care Consultants for the Aging office, 7701 Pacific St., Suite 100. • To have a copy mailed to you, send a check or money order for $12 to Care Consultants for the Aging, 7701 Pacific St., Suite 100, Omaha, Neb. 68114. • Call 402-398-1848 with a credit card to have a copy mailed to you for $12. • Log on to www.careconsultants.com and click on the ElderCare Resource Handbook link to view a copy for free or to have a handbook mailed to you for $12. • Copies are also available at Kubat Pharmacy, Nebraska Medicine’s CornerStone gift shop in University Tower, the Clarkson Hospital gift shop, and Think Whole Person pharmacy. For more information, please call 402398-1848.
Fontenelle Forest offering raptor rescue hotline
N
ebraskans who find an injured or orphaned bird of prey will now have one number to call for help no matter what part of the state they call home. The Fontenelle Forest raptor rescue hotline (1-866-8887261) connects those who discover a raptor in danger with a regional expert. This expert will help the caller survey the situation, provide direction, and, if necessary, arrange a pick-up of the affected raptor. Fontenelle Forest is the only organization in Nebraska permitted by the state and federal government to rehabilitate orphaned or injured raptors. Fontenelle Forest’s Raptor Recovery program has a team of dedicated staff and volunteers that coordinate the transportation and care of birds of prey from every corner of the state. “The hotline will allow us to react more quickly to birds in need of assistance and help our organization provide better service to the community,” said Janet Stander, director of Raptor Recovery. “This is a very important part of our efforts to help educate the public about the importance of these birds and generate support for raptor conservation.” So far in 2016, Fontenelle Forest’s Raptor Recovery has rescued 347 birds of prey of 21 different species from Nebraska and western Iowa. The organization has rescued over 12,000 raptors
since its inception in 1976. The raptor rescue hotline is available year round, 24/7, by calling 1-866-888-
7261. More information is also available online by visiting fontenelleforest.org/ found-raptor.
Better Breathers Club The American Lung Association invites persons living with lung cancer and their caregivers to attend its Better Breathers Club on the fourth Monday of each month from Sept. 26 through April 24 (except in July and December). The free 3 to 4:15 programs are held at the American Lung Association’s office at 8990 W. Dodge Rd., Suite 226. Colleen Hoarty – a social worker with the Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center – will teach participants how to better cope with lung cancer. Here are the topics. September: Relationships; October: Managing medical costs; November: Medications, oxygen, and rehab; January: To be determined; February: Ask a physician; March: Nutrition; April: Caregiving. For more information, please contact Hoarty at colleen.hoarty@nmhs.org or 402-354-5893.
Respite training The Respite Across the Lifespan staff is holding a six-hour REST (Respite Education and Support Tools) training at a location in the Millard area on Saturday, Sept. 17. This unique, interactive training program provides participants with the tools to be confident and successful when providing respite care to adults and children with special needs. This free training – valued at $75 per person – runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is provided. For more information or to register, contact Ellen Bennett at 402-559-5732.
September 2016
Fire Department
T
he Omaha Fire Department’s Public Education and Affairs Department is available to install free smoke and/or carbon monoxide detectors inside the residences of area homeowners. To have a free smoke and/ or carbon monoxide detector installed inside your home, send your name, address, and telephone number to: Omaha Fire Department Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Requests 10245 Weisman Dr. Omaha, NE 68134 For more information, please call 402-444-3560.
Volunteer drivers needed
Car-Go program focused on providing transportation for veterans in Blair, Fremont The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is recruiting volunteers age 55 and older to provide free transportation services for older adults in Fremont and Blair. “We’re especially interested in providing transportation services for military veterans,” said Pat Tanner, who coordinates the RSVP for the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging. Sponsored locally by ENOA, RSVP is a national program of the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Senior Service Corps. RSVP staff members who serve in Dodge, Washington, Douglas, Sarpy, and Cass counties realize many older men and women live alone, are on fixed incomes, are no longer able to operate their own vehicle, and don’t have family members available to drive them to their various appointments. In response, RSVP’s Car-Go Project offers free transportation for men and women age 55 and older through volunteers age 55 and older who use their own vehicles. Free rides can be given to medical appointments, pharmacies, grocery stores, beauty parlors, barbershops, banks, and other personal business locations. Rides for persons who use wheelchairs (they must be able to transfer themselves) will be considered on a caseby-case basis. The Car-Go Project – which isn’t available to nursing home resident – operates in Fremont and Blair Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on becoming a volunteer driver or to make a reservation (24 hours notice is required) for a ride, call RSVP’s Fremont office at 402-721-7780.
Retired fed employee groups meet monthly at Omaha eatery The National Active and Retired Federal Employees’ Chapter 144 meets the first Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S Plz. For more information, please call 402-292-1156.
The National Active and Retired Federal Employees’ Aksarben Chapter 1370 meets the second Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. at the Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S Plz. For more information, please call 402-342-4351.
Maplewood Estates Lifestyle • Community • Convenience • Family Values
Move-in Specials Get 6 months of FREE lot rent for moving a single wide home Amenities include: into the park, or $3,500 for • Playground • Off street parking doublewide for moving expenses. • Clubhouse • Pool • RV’s welcome Call for more information.
402.493.6000
Call: 12801 Spaulding Plaza www.maplewoodestatesonline.com Omaha, NE 68164
Law Offices of Charles E. Dorwart 35 years of legal experience • Wills • Living Trusts • Probate • Healthcare and Financial Powers of Attorney • In-home consultations • Free Initial consultation 6790 Grover Street • Suite 100 Omaha, NE 68106 Office: (402) 558-1404 • Fax: (402) 779-7498 cdorwartjd@dorwartlaw.com
211 network The 211 telephone network has been established in parts of Nebraska to give consumers a single source for information about community and human services. By dialing 211, consumers can access information about food banks, shelters, rent and utility assistance, support for persons with a disability, as well as physical and mental health resources. The 211 network is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Tickets are $15 at the door
Travel film series begins Sept. 28 Omaha World Adventurers will celebrate 60 years of armchair travel films as it offers six productions during its 2016-17 season. Here’s the schedule: • Sept. 28: Cruising Europe • Oct. 13: Norway • Nov. 17: Taiwan • Feb. 8: Japan • March 23: Caribbean • April 13: Pacific Coast Top to Bottom Each film will be shown at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Village Pointe Theaters, 304 N. 174th St. Tickets are $15 at the door. For a free schedule or more information, please send an email to ralph@traveladventurecinema.com or call (toll free) 1-866-385-3824.
CLASSIFIEDS SUNSHINE CLEANING Professional. Friendly. Affordable prices. Free estimates. Senior discounts. Serving Omaha and surrounding area. 402-359-3947
93rd & Maple • 402-397-6921
FRESH START ROOFING
Mow, fertilize, aerate. Trim trees & bushes. Clean gutters. Build walls. Haul junk. Call Tim @ 402-612-3576
Haul away, garage, basement, rental clean out…
Johansen Brothers Call Frank
402-312-4000 TOP CASH PAID Best & honest prices paid for: Nice old vintage and costume jewelry, old watches, vintage toys, Fenton glassware, old postcards, advertising items, military items, pottery, and antique buttons. Also buying estates & partial estates. Call Bev at 402-339-2856
Your local company Your local roofer
402-208-0596
A+ Heartland Concrete Const.
Driveways, garage floors, sidewalks, retaining walls. patio specialists. Since 1985 Insured/references. 15 year BBB Member
402-731-2094
Support NH advertisers
OLD STUFF WANTED (before 1975)
Military, political, toys, jewelry, fountain pens, pottery, kitchen ware, postcards, photos, books, and other old paper, old clothes, garden stuff, tools, old household, etc. Call anytime 402-397-0254 or 402-250-9389
JOB OPENING Resident Manager of defreese Manor
• Handyman Services • Senior Discounts
Quality Professional Service Better Business Bureau Member
HOUSE CLEANING Personalized Service! Call Judy
402-885-8731 REFRESH CLEANING
RICK’S
HANDYMAN SERVICES
Big jobs or small, I’ll do them all! [Bonded & insured]
402-658-1245 rickfitzlerhomeimprovement.com
Buying or selling? Use the New Horizons CLASSIFIEDS Call 402-444-4148 or 402-4440-6654 to place your ad.
Bellewood Courts
• Painting Interior & Exterior
• References • Fully Insured
402-208-0596
Accepting applications for HUD-subsidized apartments in Papillion & Bellevue.
• Remodeling & Home Improvement
• Free Estimates
All types. Chuck’s LLC
Senior Citizens (62+)
REPUTABLE SERVICES, INC. • Safety Equipment Handrails Smoke and Fire Alarms
RETAINING WALLS
Lamplighter II
Some of the nicest, newer 1 bedroom apartments. Elevator, w & d, heated parking garage. Small complex. By bus & shopping. No pets or smoking.
Lonergan Lawns
GET RID OF IT!
Please call 402-444-4148 or 402- 444-6654 to place your ad
2669 Dodge Street Omaha, NE
402-345-0622
1002 Bellewood Court Bellevue (402) 292-3300 Bellewood@KimballMgmt.com
Monarch Villas
201 Cedar Dale Road Papillion (402) 331-6882 Monarch@KimballMgmt.com
Managed by Kimball Management, Inc. PO Box 460967 Papillion, NE 68046 www.kimballmgmt.com We do business in accordance with the Fair Housing Law.
402-4 5 5-7 0 0 0
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Elite Professionals Home Care is focused on helping our clients maintain their independence. Elite’s RN staff members are on call 24 hours per day, 7 days a week!
Full Service Home Health Care • MEDICARE/MEDICAID & insurance certified • Bathing, skilled nursing & therapy services
• Homemaker/Companion Program • Customized to fit YOUR lifestyle • 24 hour care with only 3-4 caregivers to reduce anxiety Care provided to clients range from 1 to 24 hours per day!
The Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging has been providing programs and services for older adults in Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Washington, and Dodge counties since 1975.
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ID theft protection tips
W
hile anyone can be a victim of identity theft, older adults may be at a greater risk than the general population. According to the Department of Justice, the number of older victims of identity theft increased from 2.1 million in 2012 to 2.6 million in 2014. This increase is likely due to the fact older men and women often live alone, may crave companionship, and could have fading memories which makes them easy prey for identity thieves who take advantage of their loneliness and vulnerability. Identity theft with older adults can be tragic as bank accounts are drained and retirement funds vanish, leaving these older men and women without resources in their golden years. Protecting yourself against ID theft can be simple if you know where to start. Here are some ways to keep your nest egg safe. • Use a shredder. A small crosscut shredder can really go a long way to protect against identity theft. With thieves dumpster diving for personal information, shredders can be used to destroy unneeded personal documents, receipts, pre-approved credit offers, unused or old checks, and any other items that include personal information about your accounts. • Protect your mail. Leaving outgoing mail in the mailbox for the postman is never a good idea. Thieves can easily snatch mail waiting to be picked up, including letters that include checks or other personal information. Take your outgoing letters to the post office and purchase a mailbox with a lock for added protection. • Monitor your accounts and credit information online. Set up credit monitoring and bank alerts to make this a seamless process. • Educate yourself about identity thieves. Realize thieves take many forms. Never give out personally identifiable information like a Social Security number or a bank account number over the phone. A legitimate business would never ask for this type of information. To learn more about identity theft and how identity protection services can help you, visit www.Experian.com.
September 2016