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September/October 2016 VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 5
EDITORIAL
MCKINNIS
ROOFING
SIDING
WINDOWS
Executive Editor DOUG MEIGS Associate Editor DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN
GUTTERS
402.513.6620 www.mckinnisroofing.com
Contributing Editor SANDY MATSON
13315 B Street, Omaha, NE 68144
164 S 1st St Blair, NE 68008
Editorial Assistants JARED KENNEDY ALEC MCMULLEN MICHAEL NICHOLS Editorial Interns LUKE BULLER LINDSAY WILSON Events/PR Intern ALESHA OLSON Contributing Writers CHELSEA BALZER • MARIAN HOLDEN, ASID PATRICK MCGEE • CALLIE RIETFORS GARY ROSENBERG • KARA SCHWEISS WENDY TOWNLEY
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OmahaHome September/October 2016 Molly Maid’s “Small Efforts. Big Results.”
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OmahaHome September/October 2016
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from the Editor
H144
Sandy Matson
“Autumn is the second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
H158 H138 FEATURES H144 THE KOHLLS
Midcentury Wonder
H158 LIVING GREEN The Zanottis'
Backyard Escape
Thank you for reading OmahaHome. This standalone magazine is also featured as a section of Omaha Magazine.Want to read the entire magazine? Visit: omahamagazine.com/ digital-flip-book
DEPARTMENTS H126 SPACES
A Home for Husker Healing
H132 ARCHITECTURAL STYLES
Jacob Maag’s Craftsmanship Appeals to Modern Architects
H138 AT HOME
The Ortons: Tiny House, Big Life
H154 NEIGHBORHOODS
Sheelytown: Polka Parties and Meatpackers
H156 HARVEST
Foraging and Fermenting Wild American Grapes
H164 TRANSFORMATIONS
Clean, Classic Design with a Contemporary Twist
G
— Albert Camus
R AB YOUR FAVORITE hot drink and cozy up by the fire pit. Fall is officially here! It’s funny how fast each season goes, and we find ourselves right back in fall (which is my favorite time of year).
Slowly each leaf will fall from its tree, leaving bare branches. So, how do we recognize the beauty in the simple pleasures of what remains? The Ortons in this issue of Omaha Home do just that. They show us what more and more people are catching onto. Simplifying their lives and living a very minimalistic life, they still find the beauty in their surroundings while appreciating the “stuff" that is not for sale. Now for the majority of us who are not quite ready to give up our “stuff” and space, the Kohlls have brought back to life, both inside and out, an architectural staple in their mid-century redo. And what would a Sept./Oct. issue be without showcasing some Nebraska football pride? We thought it would be fun to feature a Husker “Fan Cave,” not to be confused with man cave, although it could be considered the same. Tait Reif’s is just one example of what this season means to so many of us Nebraskans. As always, if you have any ideas—or a hidden talent—let us know. We would love to hear your feedback. You could even get chosen to be in our next issue of Omaha Home.
Sandy
Spaces story by Callie Rietfors / photography by bill sitzmann / design by Rachel Joy
The Winning8 Fan Cave A Home for Husker Healing
September/October 2016 • omahamagazine.com
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N
EBR A SK A FOOTBA LL FA NS’
nationally recognized devotion to their team—the “Sea of Red” spilling from Memorial Stadium throughout downtown Lincoln on game days, and the subsisting pride of the `90s glory days—is epitomized by Tait Rief of Seward, Nebraska. Reif was a kid in the `90s, a kid captivated by the era’s Huskers heroes. His bedroom and basement are a testament to Nebraska football pride. Huskers décor fills the rooms: National Championship mugs, vintage Cornhusker Beverage soda bottles, rugs, pillows, pins, and team pennants—which, as a kid, Reif ordered each week by conference standings, always placing Nebraska first. In his bedroom, a bookcase displays three encased autographed footballs—signed by Joel Makovicka (fullback, 1994-1998), Grant Wistrom (rush end, 1994-1997), and Sam Koch (punter, 20012005)—and a copy of the book Hero of the Underground signed by author Jason Peter (defensive tackle, 1993-1997).
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OmahaHome September/October 2016
Reif ’s most cherished pieces of his collection—and his first autographs—are signed 1997 offense and defense posters. During a tour of Memorial Stadium when he was nine, Reif had his picture taken in then-head-coach Tom Osborne’s office and by the championship trophies, and then stood outside the weight room with his posters as the players came out. They signed his posters, and Scott Frost—all sweaty—patted his shoulder. “I was just in awe for the next week or two and never wanted to wash my shoulder again.” Reif hung up the posters with tacky in his room, circling Tom Osborne’s autograph in excitement. The `97 posters now hang framed in the basement, where Reif’s expansive collection continues. On the same wall is a Husker quilt, each block signed by members of the 2001 football team, a hutch displaying a miniature Nebraska helmet signed by Tommie Frazier (quarterback 1992-1995), a Memorial Stadium poster signed by head >>>
"Tait’s always been a Husker fan. He always told me that he was going to be on the football field at Memorial Stadium one way or another."
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As a freshman in 2001, Reif was involved in a Seward High School bus accident that left him with partial paralysis and short-term memory loss. In his bedroom and the basement are two identical small black-framed collages. Each collage depicts black-and-white photographs of Husker players including Rodgers, Wayne Meylan (middle guard, 19651967), and “Thunder” Thornton (fullback and lineback, 1960-1962), foregrounded with a color photograph of Jeff Kinney (halfback, 1969-1971) in the 1971 Game of the Century. “DETERMINATION” is printed in bold red lettering across the bottom of the image, followed by the quote, “The Harder You Work, The Harder It Is To Surrender.” Reif says that he values these words, as they “always inspired me to keep focused . . . during recovery.”
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<<< coach Mike Riley (his collection’s most recent addition), and a framed note signed by Ahman Green (I-back, 1995-1997) that reads, “Keep it going!!” On the opposite wall sits another hutch with more autographed footballs, including the signatures of Zach Wiegert (offensive tackle, 1992-1994), head coaches Osborne, Bo Pelini (2007-2014), and Frank Solich (1998-2003), and most of the 2001 team starters; a square of `90s Memorial Stadium turf; and ball caps signed by Osborne and Heisman winners Johnny Rodgers (wingback, 1970-1973), Mike Rozier (I-back, 1981-1983), and Eric Crouch (quarterback, 1998-2001).
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His dad, Tom, recalls, “Tait’s always been a Husker fan. He always told me that he was going to be on the football field at Memorial Stadium one way or another—either as a player, because he was a pretty good football player himself before his accident, or (Tait) said, ‘If I have to, I’ll play in the band or be a male cheerleader.’”
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Much of Tait’s memorabilia was acquired after the accident. His collection is both meaningful and joyful. As for expanding it, he says, “I’d like to add a picture of me shaking Mike Riley’s hand.”
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September/October 2016 • omahamagazine.com
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Architectural Styles story by Gary Rosenberg / photography by bill sitzmann / design by Rachel Joy
JACOB MAAGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CRAFTSMANSHIP APPEALS TO MODERN ARCHITECTS
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OmahaHome September/October 2016
September/October 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com
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Architectural Styles
Jacob Maag held impressive credentials. His training included a four-year apprenticeship in Baden, Switzerland, where he earned top marks in his class. Maag then attended the Art Academy in Milan, Italy, and worked for sculptor Angelo Magnioni. He returned to Switzerland and then came to Omaha.
D
ISTINCTIVE ELEMENTS OF a residence in the Aksarben
After the Westmans agreed to include their home on Restoration Exchange Omaha’s Fall Neighborhood Tour, they started piecing together the answers.
Since purchasing the home in 2006, the Westmans have been both fascinated and puzzled by the architectural embellishments of their 742-square-foot brick house. Those features—including brown sandstone trim around the front door and decorative plaster crown moldings in the foyer, living room, and dining room—seemed out of place for a small dwelling.
Restoration Exchange Omaha (REO) rewards those who open up their homes with a portfolio containing information and newspaper clips about the home’s architecture, history, and occupants. Last fall, University of Nebraska at Omaha honors students conducted research on the homes in the Aksarben neighborhood as part of a servicelearning project for REO. UNO junior Justin Korth prepared the research for the Westman home.
neighborhood attracted architects Eric and Trina Westman when they were house hunting.
While the couple sat in their living room, they would look up at the plaster cornices and contemplate. “I sat here staring at the walls a lot,” says Eric, a project architect at Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture. Trina adds, “We literally stared at it for 10 years, thinking, ‘Why? Where? Who?’” Visiting friends and colleagues were equally mystified. Why would a house of this size, in this neighborhood, have such grand features?
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OmahaHome September/October 2016
Korth’s research detailed the history of the original residents who lived at 1310 S. 63rd St. Edwin and Regina James built the home in 1939 and lived there for 25 years. Edwin was an assistant dean at Omaha University. His father, W. Gilbert James, was twice the acting president of the university and its first dean of the School of Fine Arts. >>>
September/October 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com
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Architectural Styles
<<< Regina James was a librarian at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. Her parents were Freida Maag and her husband, master craftsman Jacob Maag. Trina read the report, which included an extensive obituary of Jacob, and began a quest to find out more about him. “I started reading a little more and went down to the library that same week. They had a file on him, a couple of articles and some pictures of him carving,” she says. She also ran across a document called “Mallet and Chisel: A Fifty Year Saga of Architectural Sculpture by Jacob Maag.” Primarily a transcript of a 1962 interview with Maag by members of the Greater Omaha Historical Society (now the Douglas County Historical Society), the document includes an indepth interview with Maag and listings of his stone carving and ornamental plaster work. “I think now we have an answer, and it makes sense,” says Trina, who works for the City of Omaha Planning Department. “His daughter, her first home— she was building it in 1938 and that’s when he was doing this kind of work. ‘Sure, your little 742-square-foot house, I’ll put up some fancy plaster work and stone trim,’” she imagines Maag saying. Maag held impressive credentials. His training included a four-year apprenticeship in Baden, Switzerland, where he earned top marks in his class. Maag then attended the Art Academy in Milan, Italy, and worked for sculptor Angelo Magnioni. He returned to Switzerland and then came to Omaha at the urging of his uncle, John B. Kuony, one of Omaha’s earliest pioneers. Maag left his mark on some of Nebraska’s most impressive and enduring buildings. He created stone carvings for St. Cecilia Cathedral, Central High School, the University of Nebraska Stadium, the
Scottish Rite Cathedral, and dozens of others. He created ornamental plaster moldings for Union Station (now Durham Museum), the State Capitol, and Burlington Station, among many others. He could carve wood and inscribe metal. In fact, one would be hard pressed to find a material Maag could not manipulate into some artistic statement. A true Renaissance man, he even wrote poetry. Maag moved to Albion, Michigan, in 1961 to live with his younger daughter, Jacqueline. He continued to fashion works, mostly in alabaster and marble, in his retirement. He died at age 98 in 1980. To date, no documentation of the archway or plaster cornices at the Westman home has been found. There is mention in “Mallet and Chisel” of a cast cement fireplace in the home, one of many Maag fashioned. The fireplace is no longer there, though the Westmans see evidence of where it once stood on the north wall of their living room. They speculate that Edwin and Regina James took it with them when they moved to Texas in 1965. The Westmans plan to build an addition in the next few years and may include a stone fireplace on the far wall. Maag railed against modern architecture and its “straight up and down” look. He called the new buildings of the day “crackerboxes with holes.” He told the Omaha World-Herald in 1961, “I believe a person should remember the arch over the door he enters.” Thanks to Jacob Maag, the Westmans can remember the arch over their door and other impressions he left behind. OmahaHome
RESTORATION EXCHANGE OMAHA’S 2016 FALL TOUR: THE AKSARBEN NEIGHBORHOOD Date: Sunday, Oct. 2 Time: Noon-5 p.m. Eric and Trina Westman’s home is one of 11 sites on the tour, which features a variety of residences in the Aksarben neighborhood (between Leavenworth and Center streets, running from 50th to 72nd streets). Styles include Tudor revival, bungalow, Spanish colonial, and foursquare. The starting point, Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, is also featured. TOUR SITES: 5525 Leavenworth St., Mount Calvary Lutheran Church 5501 Leavenworth St., owned by Jennifer Bauer 1301 S. 52nd St., owned by Sarah Cavanagh 5848 Hickory St., owned by Scott Swanson 5844 Pine St., owned by Royce Cannerley
1310 S. 63rd St., owned by Eric and Trina Westman 6239 Poppleton Ave., owned by Kim Riege 6024 Poppleton Ave., owned by Katie Blesener and John Royster 5611 Leavenworth St., owned by Rebecca Anderson 5522 Marcy St., owned by Steven and Amy Thompson 5542 Marcy St., owned by Russell Hollendieck Tickets are $15 apiece or two for $25, with a discount available for Restoration Exchange Omaha members. Tickets can be purchased the day of the tour at Mount Calvary. They include a tour booklet with the histories of the tour sites and a history of the neighborhood. The route is 2.6 miles and accessible by walking, bicycling, or driving. A free shuttle to the locations will also be provided. Visit restorationexchange.org for more information.
September/October 2016 • omahamagazine.com
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At Home story by Wendy Townley / photography by Bill Sitzmann / design by Rachel Joy
The
Ortons TINY HOUSE, BIG LIFE
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OmahaHome September/October 2016
At Home
W
H I LE MOST HOM EOW N ER S —E SPECI ALLY married couples—decide to down-
size in their 40s, 50s, or even their 60s, newlyweds Lucas and Andrea Orton opted to do so much earlier.
The Omaha couple had only been married four months when they left their 850-square-foot rental in midtown and began building a 280-square-foot house on wheels. By today’s tiny house standards, that’s slightly larger than most. Lucas, 33, and Andrea, 34, love the outdoors. They met near the Elkhorn River and married there in May 2015. While camping at Lake Cunningham one morning, they noticed a number of RVs parked outdoors. It was then they began discussing their dream of tiny house living. Neither Lucas nor Andrea watch much TV. They were not aware of the tiny house trend until they began researching their next steps online. >>>
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OmahaHome September/October 2016
Lucas and Andrea Orton show their custom-built tiny house during their household downsizing (prior to moving in).
In September of last year, construction of the Ortonsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tiny house began. Lucas quit his job as a sound engineer to pursue building the tiny house full-time.
At Home
<<< “We started looking into (tiny houses) and said, ‘Oh, wow. This is a thing,’” Andrea recalls. Soon after, Lucas and Andrea hosted a garage sale at their midtown home. Organizing items for the garage sale was the first of what would be many eye-opening experiences of separating their stuff: what to keep and what to sell. “We were literally pulling stuff out of the house for four hours,” Andrea explains. “And we’ve gotten rid of truckloads since the garage sale. One minute you’re saying, ‘I love this. I’m going to keep this.’ And eight months later, it’s ‘I don’t really love that.’” In September of last year, construction of the Ortons’ tiny house began. Lucas quit his job as a sound engineer to pursue building the tiny house full-time. The couple moved in with Lucas’ father in northwest Omaha, first building the tiny house in the barn. Once the walls, roof, and windows were complete, they hitched the house to a truck and pulled it permanently outdoors. Friends and family unexpectedly showed up to witness the big (or should we say small?) move. “Pulling it out of the barn and dealing with centimeters of clearance, it was like giving birth,” Andrea says with a grin. The tiny house now sits a few hundred feet from the barn. Lucas works on the house just about every day, with their spunky French Bulldog/Boston Terrier mix, Gus, by his side. Lucas used to remodel houses, so mastering the basics proved fairly easy. The rest—such as plumbing and electrical—he learned how to do from blogs, websites and online videos. When it is finished, the house will feature contemporary interior design, with white walls, dark flooring, and natural woods. LED lighting has been installed throughout, but an abundance of windows allows natural light to stream in during the day. They plan to add a modular front porch, which will provide additional seating outdoors (weather permitting). For Lucas (an Omaha native) and Andrea (a Louisiana transplant), building and living in a tiny house has two primary purposes: consolidating their lifestyles and living without debt. The couple has budgeted around $30,000 for the project, and they have been paying for supplies and materials as they go. Most items were purchased locally at The Home Depot and Lowe’s, while others have been ordered online (including windows and the air conditioner). The house has standard electrical but has been wired for solar energy.
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“I like to shop, and I work in a retail environment. But even when I go to the store now, I don’t spend nearly as much or get nearly as much as I normally would because it’s not going to fit. We’ve been going through multiple stages of purge, just tapering, tapering, and it’s still too much.” -Andrea Orton
And while more is continually added inside (and outside) the house, the purging continues, which Andrea describes as “one crazy ride.” She adds that getting rid of their belongings has been almost spiritual: “I like to shop, and I work in a retail environment. But even when I go to the store now, I don’t spend nearly as much or get nearly as much as I normally would because it’s not going to fit. We’ve been going through multiple stages of purge, just tapering, tapering, and it’s still too much.” Lucas and Andrea’s worldly possessions now reside in eight large bins in their temporary bedroom. “Well, that’s not completely true,” Andrea says after a brief pause. “There’s a little bit more spilling into another room, and I’m trying to reel that in. There’s a get-rid-of pile, and every day I’m adding to it.” Lucas and Andrea continue to research other pieces of living in a (tiny) house on wheels, among them mail delivery and internet access. They eventually plan to purchase a large pickup truck that will allow them to tow the house as needed, and even store larger items in the truck’s bed.
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They expect to park their home at its current address, live in it through the winter, and move it elsewhere in 2017—likely on vacation while exploring parts of the United States. For homeowners (and even apartment dwellers) intrigued by tiny house living, Lucas and Andrea have a bit of advice: Draft a lengthy list of pros and cons. Look at tiny houses online. Tour them if they’re nearby. Finally, minimalize and consolidate all belongings, and try to live in a single room. OmahaHome Visit tinyhouseswoon.com for more information.
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THE KOHLLS MIDCENT URY WONDER story by Daisy Hutzell-Rodman photography by bill sitzmann design by Rachel Joy
September/October 2016 â&#x20AC;¢ omahamagazine.com
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Every where in the house, light and lighting fixtures prevail. Mimran-Kohll claims lighting is like jewelry to her, and she shops at Design Within Reach for her fixtures.
M
ON T R E A L N AT I V E BR IGI T T E Mimran
spent hours in front of students, teaching them about spatial arrangement, points, lines, and angles. As a busy math teacher, grading papers took precedence over interior decorating. That all changed in 2007. She married Total Wellness owner Alan Kohll, changed her name to Mimran-Kohll, and timewarped into a house with 1970s flair.
Mimran-Kohll knew she wanted to leave a mark on the home, but didn’t quite know how. No longer teaching, she enrolled in online interior design classes. Following a year of thinking and learning, she discovered what she wanted to do with her home. Mimran-Kohll took the 1950s house back to its roots, with a modern twist. She wanted light and color in the house that once featured lots of wood. To do this, she planned the main room without the wall separating it from the kitchen. >>>
September/October 2016 • omahamagazine.com
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<<< “It was nice, it was Prairie Style,” Mimran-Kohll says of the structure. “I just couldn’t stand being in a kitchen where I couldn’t see outside.” The wall spoke of years past. The couple found within it a Zeta Beta Tau fraternity paddle and toys. They removed layers of plaster and orange wallpaper. Once the wall came down to open up the space, Mimran-Kohll looked at the rest of the room and realized the built-in wood cabinets now looked too formal for her whimsical, retro redo. Out they came. Removing the wood cabinets made room for a brighter, airier kitchen with multiple stainless-steel appliances and large countertops. The space’s clever design provides a variety of stations. The main portion of the kitchen contains a prep station for dinners, with a two-drawer dishwasher, a fridge hidden behind cabinetry, and a cooktop built right into the white quartz countertops. “Quartz is non-porous,” Mimran-Kohll says. “I would have loved marble, but I couldn’t keep up with it.” >>>
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<<< Marble, a porous material, stains easily and requires lots of maintenance. On the other end of the kitchen is a breakfast nook. A separate refrigerator contains juice, milk, and other dairy products. A freezer in that area holds several varieties of ice cream. Nearby is Mimran-Kohll’s baking station, with drawers for spices and flours. The expansive dining room contains a curio cabinet and two cabinets that curiously resemble each other. “They sent mismatched legs,” Mimran-Kohll says of the purchase from Design Within Reach. Because of the mix-up, the company sent a second, perfect cabinet, which now resides where it was meant to go, near the fireplace. The outdoors shine into the great room. The back wall was replaced with large glass panels, and beyond the glass is a patio and a large turquoise pool, used daily during nice weather. Alan Kohll competes in triathlons and, in fact, is president of Race Omaha, which organized the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships. The pool measures 60 feet across so Kohll can train in his own backyard. >>>
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OmahaHome September/October 2016
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In the lower level is a bathroom with lots of room. “I specifically made it this size so when people come to swim they have somewhere to change,” Mimran-Kohll says. Weight-training equipment can also be seen in the corner of the basement. In place of Kohll’s former “man-cave,” Mimran-Kohll wiggled in a kitchen and a living space, mostly used for entertaining, and the weighttraining equipment was scooted towards the back corner. The downstairs fireplace is one of MimranKohll’s favorite features, especially the tile surrounding the hearth. The handmade, period-appropriate tile came from Heath Ceramics in California, and once MimranKohll saw it, she fell in love with the product…but not the price. “I wanted it for the upstairs, but it was too costly,” she says. Back upstairs, daughter Abby’s room features bright colors and lots of musical instruments. “She is really talented,” Mimran-Kohll says. “She loves the Beatles.” A white midcentury-looking chair and ottoman hold special memories. “This was my parents’,” Mimran-Kohll says. “They were upholstered in orange.” Everywhere in the house, light and lighting fixtures prevail. Mimran-Kohll claims lighting is like jewelry to her, and she shops at Design Within Reach for her fixtures. While still working with spatial relations and geometry, Mimran-Kohll has slowly gained an appreciation for the artistic side of her brain.
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Neighborhoods
sheely story by Chelsea Balzer photography by Bill Sitzmann design by Rachel Joy
E
VER SINCE THE days of pioneer
trails, immigrants from all over the world have managed to make their way to Omaha—smack-dab in the middle of the U.S.—to forge a new start for themselves and their families. Today, the descendants of earlier generations of Omaha immigrants continue to build on the roots planted by their forebears. Areas of town where many locals’ ancestors once lived and worked have been restructured within the city’s changing landscape, leaving behind unique traces of history and communities determined to maintain a connection to their heritage. One such local area is Sheelytown. The City of Omaha annexed Sheelytown in 1887. Interstate construction in the 1960s cut through the neighborhood’s main street, flattening storefronts and homes. Much of the old Sheelytown is now buried under an endless stream of interstate traffic zipping past.
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Sheelytown was once an important center of opportunity for Polish Americans. In the 1860s, the Stockyards thrived, and many in need of work headed here to be a part of that growth. The neighborhood—from Edward Creighton Boulevard to Vinton Street, and from 24th to 35th streets—was already occupied by Irish immigrants, but quickly expanded, promising steady income to the many arriving families.
their time away from work. They enjoy getting together.” In other words, Polish people work hard and play hard. For Szalewski, this is a part of what he loves about polka: “People feed off the energy from the band. We grew up with it, and the Polish tradition brings us together.”
Joseph Sheely, the area’s namesake, owned one of the meatpacking plants near Hanscom Park. Families there were hardworking, but low-income, and therefore generally looked down upon by the wealthier residents of Omaha. Still, they made their own fun, and even developed a reputation for throwing rambunctious parties and dance events.
Polka music, however, is not the only part of his family lineage that remains with him. “It’s very heartwarming when you walk into a South O establishment and they know your dad.” Other members of the Sheelytown band also have family ties to the neighborhood, including violinist Patrick Novak. Patrick is the son of accordion player Leonard Novak, a local musician who used to perform with The Polonairs.
John Szalewski, a second-generation Polish American and member of a local polka band named Sheelytown, says this kind of energy is representative of Polish culture. In his mind, Polish people are “hardworking, and enjoy
These days, most of what remains of Sheelytown is the memory of what it once was. Szalewski continues, “I think most of the people that talk about the area talk about its history.” Still, he hasn’t lost the feeling of
town
polka parties & meatpackers
On the south side of Dinker's Bar & Grill, artists began work on the Polish Mural Project during the summer.
belonging, and says, “I don’t ever feel ill-atease going into that area.” For younger generations, the memories are present, but not quite as clear. Ryan Dudzinski, Omaha resident and thirdgeneration Polish-American, is able to recall more general aspects of his heritage through stories and recollections of Polish family members. His great-grandparents came to Sheelytown as a young family with small children in the early 1900s. “They couldn’t speak English. My grandfather (Edward) Dudzinski spoke fluent Polish, as could all of his brothers, but my dad (James) never learned it.” He says they all settled in South Omaha and remained there, with most of their descendants still in the area today. Like so many immigrants, some level of assimilation was a necessary part of survival, and many traditions were ultimately lost. Dudzinski says grandpa Edward insisted
that his father speak English only. While this meant that Ryan Dudzinski never learned the language, he understands why. When asked to describe how he experienced Polish culture, Dudzinski echoes Szalewski’s sentiments, “There’s lots of drinking, singing, and dancing. They are fun people.” Regarding the cuisine, he’s not as much of a fan: “There’s lots of meat in tube form.” Today, one of Sheelytown’s biggest draws is Dinker’s Bar & Grill, a family-owned establishment at 2368 S 29th St. The current owners are great-grandchildren of a Polish immigrant by the name of Synowiecki. The most popular fare at Dinker’s is quintessentially American—hamburgers—but Polish sausages with kraut are also on the menu. Just as it occurs within families, much of what originally united the immigrants in South Omaha has given way to time. The melting pot of ethnic groups present here
allows disparate backgrounds to commingle and adapt to an evolving cultural climate. Still, the essence of what the Polish community brought to Sheelytown has not been lost entirely. It continues to be passed along by many who were raised here, and those who want to see future generations maintain an association with their history. Though it may be hard to spot, Sheelytown holds onto a sense of pride in its Polish traditions and continues to celebrate them today. If you look for it, you can see the community's impact on our diverse city, and you may even be able to catch the Sheelytown polka band warming up for a night of traditional Polish mayhem. OmahaHome Visit sheelytown.net for more information.
September/October 2016 • omahamagazine.com
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Harvest story by Patrick McGee / photography by Doug Meigs
FORAGING AND FERMENTING WILD AMERICAN GRAPES WINEMAKING FROM PRAIRIE TO TABLE
I
F YOU'VE EVER been interested in making wine
from wild grapes, Frank Sobetski says this is a good year to start. For nearly 25 years, Sobetski has been supplying local winemakers at Fermenter's Supply & Equipment (84th and J streets in Omaha, behind Just Good Meats). He sells kits, equipment, and supplies to experts and novices alike. He also offers useful advice on foraging and fermenting. Blue ribbons hang on his back wall, behind the counter of the small, tidy shop. The ribbons recognize the proprietor’s mastery of oenology (i.e., the study of wines). Sobetski has tasted a variety of local wines as the superintendent of the Nebraska State Fair Winemaking Competition for the past 33 years. He knows what to expect from local vintages. He has cultivated grapevines year-to-year since the mid1980s, and he opened Fermenter's Supply & Equipment in 1992. Sobetski has been serving winemaking wisdom soaked in his scientific knowledge ever since. FORAGING WILD GRAPES Wild American “fox” grapes differ from store-bought table grapes and wine grapes, which are largely of European origin. Wild grapes are more tart and less sweet than domestic varieties used in commercial winemaking. Fox grape varieties are known for having an earthy and sweet muskiness. The distinct aroma is called “foxy.” Nebraska's wild grapes are predominantly from the vitis labrusca and vitus vuplina species of American grapes. They are hardier than European vitis vinifera
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grapes associated with European, South American, and Californian wines. Nebraskan vitis labrusca and vuplina can better withstand Nebraska's frigid winters and brutally hot summers. Concord grapes are a wellknown cultivated variety of vitis labrusca. The ripening of wild grapes is known as “veraison” in viticulture and véraison in French. In Nebraska, veraison generally occurs from August to September. Harvest enough grapes and, with a bit of effort, aspiring winemakers can produce a unique wild grape wine that is unlike any familiar European wine. In July 2016, Sobetski predicted a good year for wild grapes in Nebraska because of “fortunate rainfall.” In early fall, the ripe blue-black clusters of wild grapes begin sagging from vines stretched between fence posts and tree branches. The low-hanging fruits can easily be collected by hand. Wild grapes are often found near rivers and streams, or associated woodlands. Plant guidebooks or a Google image search can assist with identification, and grapes are typically plentiful once located. UNDERSTANDING FERMENTATION Sobetski says that in order to produce a palatable wine from wild grapes, the “must” (i.e., the juice solution) should be made chemically like European grape juice, which remains the standard. Balancing the must is complicated by a number of factors. Wild grapes are more acidic and contain less sugar than European grapes. Sobetski says this condition can be ameliorated by adding water and sugar to the must.
The equipment generally needed for the initial fermentation stage is a primary fermenter (an airtight container to which a fermentation lock can be affi xed), a fermentation lock (a simple device through which gasses may escape but not go back through), and a mesh sack to hold grapes in the fermenter. Measuring cups, spoons, and scales are also necessary. A length of food-grade tubing and sealable bottles are needed to bottle the wine. A hydrometer—a buoyant glass tube that is calibrated to measure the amount of suspended solids versus straight water in a solution—is “the most important tool in winemaking,” according to Sobetski. Reading a hydrometer can tell a winemaker when fermentation is complete. Sobetski says that one can make wine without a hydrometer, but to pursue the hobby in earnest, a hydrometer is essential. “Sanitization is the most important thing,” Sobetski says. “Soap and water is not enough.” Phosphoric acid is a safe, nontoxic sanitizer that can be used. Diluted household bleach sanitizes effectively as well. Everything that may come into contact with the wine must be thoroughly sanitized or the wine is at risk of becoming infected. Infection will ruin a batch of wine, effectively destroying an entire grape harvest. MAKING FOXY WINE Making wild American grape wine is not diffi cult. First, sanitize all of your equipment. Then remove your grapes from the stems and wash them. Place the grapes in a mesh sack. Place the mesh sack in your primary fermenter. Crush the grapes in the sack, releasing as much juice as possible. Add water, sugar, pectic enzyme, and yeast nutrient. Add the crushed Campden tablet and mix thoroughly. Cover the primary fermenter. After 24 hours, pitch the yeast into the solution, attach a fermentation lock, and seal the fermenter. Wait a few days. If you are using a hydrometer, fermentation effectively stops when the density reading (known as “specific gravity”) reaches below “1.000.” Further fermentation in secondary and tertiary fermenters before bottling would improve the wine’s quality. But the additional steps can add several months (or years) to the process. Then, the wine can be siphoned into bottles using a small length of tubing. Store a few bottles. Share the rest. They will run out fast. The sweet, “foxy” tartness pairs well with autumn weather and is sure to please your holiday guests. They will never forget their first sip of wild American fox grape wine, and neither will you. Visit fermenterssupply.com for more information. OmahaHome
WILD AMERICAN GRAPE WINE RECIPE Frank Sobetski recommends the Winemaker's Recipe Handbook as a starting point for wild fruit wine recipes. The brief handbook costs less than $5 and is easy to read. Sobetski says that this book “assumes the reader has knowledge from other sources,” including knowledge of fermentation processes and equipment. Nevertheless, a novice winemaker can follow these recipes and expect “reasonable outcomes,” says Sobetski. His recommended wild-grape wine recipe is derived from the handbook. The following recipe makes one gallon of wine: •
6 pounds wild grapes. Forage them.
•
6 pints water. Avoid tap water if possible.
•
2 pounds white sugar.
•
½ teaspoon pectic enzyme. This breaks down the fruit fibers and releases the juices.
•
1 teaspoon yeast nutrient. This is a fertilizer for yeast. Sobetski says it “makes yeast happy.”
•
1 crushed tablet of Campden. This is a pre-measured sulfite dose that kills off wild yeast. Sobetski notes that it is impossible to make a sulfite-free wine, as yeast naturally produces sulfites.
•
1 package wine yeast. Montrachet is recommended for most wild-fruit wines. For grape wine, Pasteur can create a redder wine due to better extraction.
All supplies can be obtained via Fermenter's Supply.
September/October 2016 • omahamagazine.com
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Feature story by Kara Schweiss / photography by Bill Sitzmann / design by Rachel Joy
THE ZANOTTIS' BACKYARD ESCAPE
September/October 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com
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W
HEN LES AND Ce Ann Zanotti built a
house in Glen Oaks Estates (south of 99th Street and West Center Road) in 1972, the couple— from Iowa and Missouri, respectively—had only lived in Nebraska for a few years, and they were not really sure how long they would stay in the community. They both say, emphatically, that they never envisioned themselves still living in the same house four and a half decades later. “I don’t think we thought that far ahead,” Ce Ann says. “I was just starting a new business, so I didn’t know if I was going to be in business two years from then or not,” Les explains. The new business venture, Management Recruiters, thrived all the way to Les’ retirement. So as the Zanottis prospered through the years and put down deeper roots in Omaha, they modified and added on to the original house and landscaping. “We really kind of underbuilt, to be honest,” Les says. “Our house is just an ordinary house; it’s not something that’s a showpiece. But our backyard is spectacular.” The lot was a draw from the very beginning, Ce Ann agrees, recalling that the greenery was so abundant even before construction started that, during a site visit, she lost sight of a handbag she momentarily placed on the ground. And the Zanottis were thrilled to get the lot “for a steal” from its previous holder, a prominent local business owner in the midst of a divorce and eager to liquidate. Les may describe his house as “ordinary,” but the 3,400-square-foot, two-story, French Country-style residence boasts lovely features, such as a mansard roof and leaded glass front windows. Neighborhood covenants required that the house be set back 75 feet from the street, leaving plenty of room for now-mature trees and plants in the front. The sloping, 1.3-acre wooded property proved perfect for tiered landscaping in the backyard, the site for a breathtaking flower garden that’s matured beautifully over the last 10 years and become the envy of neighbors and visitors. “It’s been at its best for the last three or four years, but it took a long time,” Ce Ann says. >>>
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The Zanottis admit that they looked into building again in other neighborhoods—in the past. Every time they looked, they never found anything quite like what they already own.
September/October 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com
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<<< The large lot was also conducive to the house itself, evolving through a series of remodels that included a 1984 add-on, which doubled the size of the family room and created another eating area, and a 1990 project that converted a bathroom and bedroom into a larger bathroom and closet. A swimming pool came and went (their now-adult daughter loved it, but pools don’t mix well with squirrels and walnut trees or blackbirds and mulberry trees, Les says) and the original, one-car garage was expanded to a three-car garage at some point. The pinnacle, however, was the unique 2002 addition. “That was our last and final addition. That probably is the best room in the house,” Les says. Ce Ann adds: “It’s octagonal-shaped, there are windows on every side of the octagon (except the entrance), and a spiral staircase going down to the wine cellar. It’s kind of unusual.” The Zanottis admit that they looked into building again in other neighborhoods—in the past. Every time they looked, they never found anything quite like what they already own. “What kept us here was the lot,” Les says, and his wife agrees. “We like our trees, we like our lot, and we like our central location.” OmahaHome
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“What kept us here was the lot.We like our trees, we like our lot, and we like our central location.” -Les Zanotti
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curbcurb.net September/October 2016 • omahamagazine.com
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Transformations story by Marian Holden, ASID photography by Paul Piskorski, Amoura productions
MEET THE DESIGNER
Marian Holden ASID, Designerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Touch Transformations is a regular feature of Omaha Home that spotlights a recent project by a local ASID interior designer. Text and photos are provided by the designer.
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OmahaHome September/October 2016
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Transformations
T
HE ST Y LE OF this newly con-
structed home reflects the clean, classic taste of the homeowners with a contemporary twist. The homeowners' main issue was a strong preference for neutral colors. Whenever they previously tried to inject color into their décor, they quickly grew tired of it. I chose to embrace their love of neutrals and add interest with contrast and texture. For example, I chose a soft gray on the walls, but a dark, rich, wide-plank floor to add warmth. The fireplace remains neutral in color but adds interest with its stacked and staggered rough stone pattern. The light stone next to the dark floating wood shelves adds crispness to the space. Color was strategically placed in the intricate great room's ceiling to accentuate the architecture. The same deep blue-gray color was added to the dropped ceiling above the pendant lights in the kitchen. The kitchen is spacious enough to house a 10-foot island. To add a splash of contemporary design to a classic white kitchen, the cooktop tile was laid vertically in a herringbone pattern. The same concept was used on the exterior: crisp white and gray stacked stone, bright white trim, and a smoky gray vertical siding. All the design elements came together using timeless, classic neutrals, and a few splashes of soft cool colors. The homeowners couldn’t be happier with their new home! OmahaHome
All the design elements came together using timeless, classic neutrals, and a few splashes of soft cool colors.
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OmahaHome September/October 2016
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It’s everything you want in your home – from its fresh architectural style and detailing, to the classic timelessness that feels as perfect for your life today as it will in the years to come. It’s also why Curt Hofer & Associates is the area’s most inspired high-end homebuilder. Imaginatively conceived, flawlessly executed – let Curt Hofer & Associates create and build your new custom home.
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It begins with an idea. Please contact Curt Hofer & Associates at 402.758.0440. For an appointment, visit curthofer.com or see our Ideabook at houzz.com/curthofer.
16820 Frances St., Ste. 102 | Omaha, NE 68130 | Phone: 402.758.0440 | www.curthofer.com
—— A Curt Hofer Company ——
As Expansive As All Outdoors As intimate as a private retreat. As close to ideal as your imagination can take you. As close to civilization as you want to be yet as far away from ordinary as you can get.
Just off Blair High Road (Hwy 133) on County Rd 37
180th & Military Road Bennington
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SHOP THE LOOK: Encompass by Pella® vinyl sliding patio doors and casement windows.
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When it comes to window and door shopping, let us come to you. With just one call, a Pella Showroom professional will come to your home, show you samples — like our energy-efficient wood, fiberglass and vinyl windows — take measurements and provide a free quote. It’s all part of our start-to-finish replacement service that’s only available through your local Pella Showroom. Expert advice and great service — that’s The Pella Promise.
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