hen people think of law enforcement officers, they think of a variety of things: One person might think Lennie Briscoe (Jerry Orbach's character on Law & Order) while another might think of Brett Hankison, the Louisville Metro Police Department officer who, in March 2020, shot Breonna Taylor. No matter one's perception, I think we can all agree that being an officer of the law is a tough job one that takes its toll on employees' mental, and physical, health. Our cover story digs into how this happens, and what is being done about it.
March has long been one of my favorite months for several reasons, one of them being it is when Omaha Film Festival occurs. This year is the 20th anniversary of the festival, and Marc Longbrake and his team have cultivated an incredible event of which Omaha can be proud. At presstime, Longbrake was able to reveal to me that he's particularly excited about two films coming this year: Porcelain War, a documentary about three artists in the Ukraine who continue to create art as they defend their country, and culture; and "The Rose Man of Omaha," a short film produced here in Nebraska.
Omaha Community Playhouse is another reason to love Omaha, and, believe it or not, they are celebrating their 100th anniversary this spring with a gala fundraiser. John Lloyd Young is the entertainment for the evening, and this Tony- and Grammy-winning singer and actor cut his theater teeth at OCP, which also boasts Norbert Leo Butz, Henry Fonda, Andrew Rannells, and more.
Major League Baseball starts in mid-March with a series in Tokyo between the Dodgers and the Cubs, then opening day is on March 27. One team to watch this year might be the San Diego Padres. They have been great onfield, making it to postseason for the third time in five seasons last year, but moreover, you can watch one of Omaha's own on the pitching mound. Matt Waldron has been
throwing for the Padres since 2023, and he's often seen pitching the knuckleball, a wildcard throw at best. How Waldron became a name in baseball is the subject of our sports story.
At the editorial meeting to curate ideas for this edition, one of the employees brought up Everett's, stating she ate the "best sandwich ever!" at this restaurant. That's a big statement, especially in a foodie town such as Omaha, so I sent my friend, and former colleague, Mike'l Severe to go find out if the claim rang true for him. Mike'l wrote food reviews for the Omaha World-Herald and his own Run the Damn Kitchen podcast, among other places. You can discover his review in this issue.
Another article I am excited about is the story of Carver Jones. Many in the area may have known him as a basketball player for Millard North, but these days he's a successful musician who has written with McKenna Grace, the talented singer and actress who played Callie Spengler in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and its sequel, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
There are so many great articles in this issue. I'm excited for all the stories, and I hope you read them all.
Omaha Magazine has existed in Omaha since 1890, according to publisher Todd Lemke (center). Lemke himself entered the Omaha publishing scene in March 1983 with the first issue of City Slicker. That newsprint publication was the precursor to his Omaha Magazine, which launched its first issue in 1989.
Today, Omaha Magazine Ltd. is the parent company of Omaha Publications, which produces other community-focused magazines such as FACES of Omaha, B2B Magazine, Family Guide, and many custom publishing products.
The magazines would not be possible without the people behind them whether that's the people in between the covers or those behind the scenes. Lemke and his Omaha Publications staff take immense pride in presenting Omahans the best stories in the city and the company is always looking to improve the products. That sometimes means switching some features and departments to give the denizens of Omaha what they crave. In this edition, a third feature story was added, one that digs deep into a passionate issue. Future issues will include a new, mini-dining story that gives people a taste of a food trend or seasonal flavor.
At its heart, the Omaha Magazine team is one that works hard for its community.
Salina Anderson, APRN
Geraldine Alexis, LIMHP, PLADC
Julie Bierman, LCSW, LMHP
Chantel Bruha, LIMHP, LADC
Korrie Conners, LMHP, CSAT
Kirby Davis, LMHP
Peggy Deaver, LIMHP, CPC
Davin Dickerson, APRN
Beth Farrell, LCSW, LIMHP
Dumayi Gutierrez, PhD, LMHP
Lucy Hancock, MA
Charlene Hills, LCSW, LIMHP
KG Langdon, APRN
Mary Loftis, LMHP, CPC
Kim Mueller, LIMHP, CPC
Nicole Obrecht, LIMHP
Kara Schneider, BA
Marty Stoltenberg, APRN-BC
Kristi Tackett-Newburg, PhD, LIMHP
Greg Tvrdik, LIMHP, CPC
Sarah Wenzl, LMHP, CPC
Michele Yanney-Wehbi, LIMHP, CPC
STORY BY JOEL STEVENS
Omaha Film Festival Continues to Grow
he Omaha Film Festival was born in the backseat of a Jeep Cherokee.
The year was 2005. Somewhere west of Kearney, Nebraska, three film-loving 20-somethings, slightly hungover, watched the Platte River Valley roll past their windows en route to Omaha on their way back from a small regional film festival and an idea was born.
“Why doesn’t Omaha have its own film festival?” piped up Jeremy Decker from the backseat.
Marc Longbrake and Jason Levering, friends and co-founders of a small video production company, simply shrugged.
The question seemed as elusive as the answer.
Twenty years ago this spring, the Omaha Film Festival hatched from that very conversation and the minds of three filmmakers frustrated by the metro’s sparse offerings of independent film.
The Omaha Film Festival came to life as a means for the Omaha community to experience independent filmmaking through the exhibition of new films by aspiring and
established artists that would otherwise be unavailable in the market.
Today, the festival held at Aksarben Cinema in Omaha every spring showcases more than 100 short and feature films curated from thousands of annual entries from around the world. The week-long event includes special screenings, Nebraska-made films, and dozens of filmmakers on hand to discuss their films with the audience after each screening.
World premieres and award-winning films have flickered across its screens. Past guests have included Academy award winners and industry professionals. Four times MovieMaker magazine has named OFF one of its “50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.”
Big things often have small beginnings.
* * *
“It wasn’t a fully formed idea, it was just talking about it, throwing around the idea, why didn’t Omaha have a big film festival?” Levering recalled. “There was nothing close to what cities our size had.”
Levering, Decker, and Longbrake all agree they never quite envisioned the
seeds planted that day would grow into a two-decade run as a nationally recognized film festival.
The very thought of how ridiculous the idea was still makes Decker laugh.
“I’d call it a series of weird, fortunate events,” he said.
It was Decker who laid much of the groundwork. He dove headlong into researching film festivals all over the country. He called local venues open to the idea of hosting a film festival. He tried to learn as much as he could about the independent film ecosystem. He put all that together and brought it back to his friends.
“They looked at me and said, ‘Wait, you were serious?’”
He was. And Levering and Longbrake were on board.
“We had strengths and weaknesses that complemented each other,” Longbrake said of the founding group. He would be the festival’s program director, Levering the executive director, and Decker the festival director.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH LEMKE
DESIGN BY RACHEL BIRDSALL
The blueprint of the first festival came together quickly. They focused on showcasing independent films from local, national, and international filmmakers. A call for entries went out in fall 2005. Entries came in from all over the world.
Longbrake said the response surprised even them.
“It was hundreds and hundreds of entries, and we realized we probably had to take this more seriously than we thought,” Longbrake said. “We didn’t really get a chance to grow this small to big. It turned into a big thing right away. We had to learn all the lessons of judging and venues and ticketing right away.”
In the following years, OFF bounced around the metro before landing at Aksarben Cinema, its partner since 2019. One early decision about venues has pleased audiences.
“Getting under one roof was a game-changer,” Longbrake said. “Instead of having to drive to see a documentary one place and a feature at another theater across town, for our attendees and our filmmakers, they could just walk across the hall to see another film.”
After losing money that first year, the festival has finished in the black every year since. OFF is a true nonprofit, relying on a combination of ticket sales, sponsorships, and grants to cover costs. Every penny goes back into the operating budget.
“We didn’t really get a chance to grow this small to big. It turned into a big thing right away."
— Marc Longbrake
That first year, the festival screened 70 films, spread out over three venues: the former Bluebarn Theatre, Joslyn Art Museum, and a conference room at the Hilton Omaha.
They had few sponsors, fewer donations, and attendance was sparse. The number of entries did, however, exceed expectations. And the response, for all its fly-by-the-seatof-their-pants planning, was positive.
Decker called that first year “the best and worst of times.”
Juggling multiple venues, filmmakers, attendees, and volunteers, the trio spent much of the first year putting out little fires.
Metaphorical and as it turns out, actual fires.
A 35-millimeter film print burst into flames during the world premiere of the New Line Cinema produced family film Hoot staring Luke Wilson and Brie Larson.
“There were only three 35-millimeter prints of the film in the world, and we had one,” Decker said.
They had smaller crowds than expected, but relationships were formed with several filmmakers that first year.
“We knew we had to figure everything out,” Decker said. “But we also knew from those filmmakers this was a perfect thing where we could show these films to the people in Omaha and keep growing.”
For Longbrake, Levering, and Decker, the festival was a full time job for three people that already had full time jobs.
“It’s always been a labor of love,” Longbrake said.
OFF has evolved with the times; it’s grown up with Omaha’s ever-expanding art scene.
In 2005, there were 1,200 recognized film festivals in the world. Today, there are over 12,000. The rise of easy-to-use digital technology shoulders much of that explosion. Bridging the gap between professional and amateur filmmakers meant it has never been easier to make a movie.
The Nebraska filmmaking circle, while always active, was “clique-ish,” according to Decker. A coterie that sometimes lacked collaboration.
OFF sought to change that.
“There were quite a few filmmakers back then but there wasn’t quite a real community where they had the chance to intermingle and see each other’s films publicly,” Decker said.
A block of programming devoted to Nebraska-made films was a thoughtful and deliberate means to that end. Films that secure national distribution also make their way through the festival. OFF has built close relationships with Amazon Studios,
Bleecker Street Films, and several other streamers, studios, and distributors. Most sought out the festival for special screenings and world and regional premieres.
Websites like Film Freeway, the industry standard for digitally submitting films, has made the entry process easier.
Decker can still recall in those early years films arriving as physical media DVDs, Blu-Rays, and even VHS tapes in their P.O. box and occasionally raising a postmaster’s eyebrow.
“They had all kinds of questions why we’d be getting packages from Iran and North Korea,” Decker said, still laughing about the incident. “But it showed we were international. I think 63 different countries sent us films those first two years.”
Social media has made access to films, filmmakers, distributors, and studios easier. The festival’s reputation and growth has turned the event into one of the Midwest’s best.
In addition to the 100 or more films shown in a typical year, the festival has long offered nonfilm programming like its filmmaker’s conference and the OFF Writer’s Theater to help foster that growth.
The filmmaker’s conference promotes the discussion and study of filmmaking and works in conjunction with the OFF Academy, a two-day filmmaking workshop for high school students hosted by industry professionals. Past lecturers include Academy award-winning cinematographer Mauri Fiore and editor Mike Hill, along with “Iron Man III” writer and director Shane Black and screenwriting guru Lew Hunter.
The writer’s theater came along in 2013 as an offshoot of the festival’s long-running screenplay competition, gathering professional actors to perform selected scenes from the script finalists. The writer’s theater has typically been a hot ticket, selling out the last two years.
OFF’s film programming has a similar curated sensibility. Films that have made the North American independent film festival circuit from Austin to Sundance to Slamdance have made their way through Omaha, some in lieu of those perhaps more well-known events.
Levering refers to OFF’s success in prizefighting terms.
“I’ve always felt like OFF has been punching way above its weight,” he said. “And it still is and that’s OK. That’s the way the festival has fallen into its design.”
* * *
“I like to say, during that time, it was Omaha to the Oscars.”
In March 2020, Michael Govier brought he and co-writer/director Will McCormack’s debut film “If Anything Happens I Love You” to Omaha. The 2-D animated film tracking the devastating journey of grieving parents after their daughter is killed in a school shooting had its world premiere to rave reviews at OFF.
The film would go on to win the festival’s Best Animated Short Film award and a long festival run before being acquired by Netflix.
A little over a year later, “If Anything Happens I Love You” won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.
That snowball effect, Govier said, began at Aksarben Cinema.
“It was exciting because it was in this huge theater and I had never seen it that big,” Govier said of seeing his film run as part of the animated film block. “It was incredible to see it with an audience and see them respond to the film.”
Govier, who is currently co-writing a new Tom and Jerry film for Warner Bros. and prepping an animated feature and a short film with McCormack, said he can’t wait to come back to Omaha, a city he admits he fell in love with back in 2020.
“We’re in the early phases of jumping into (story) boards for the animated short,” he said. “My first phone call when it’s done is going to be to Omaha, asking if we can come back.”
Levering and Decker admit the decision to walk away from their baby was hard, but both knew they were leaving it in good hands.
“I had total faith Marc would do good things and it’s still doing well,” Decker said. “I’m proud of what they’ve done.”
Longbrake isn’t numbers-obsessed, so attendance is more a “feeling,” he said.
“You can feel it in the building when attendance is good; this screening will be full or that screening is sold out.”
You can’t beat it. The hospitality, the venue, the selection of films. Marc (Longbrake) has done such an incredible job making sure the Omaha Film Festival is this world class event.
Govier said OFF was a deliberate choice for the film’s premiere because of the festival’s reputation he being a MovieMaker magazine reader and wanting to roll out the film in the middle of the country before branching out.
“As a film festival, it so outperforms what you think it is,” he said. “It should be five times bigger than it is and it will be. With who they bring in, what they show, and how well it’s organized, it’s structured so well and accommodating, it’s a wonderful festival.”
That word of mouth has always been the festival’s best marketing tool; OFF is a platform for filmmakers to share their work in conversation with the community.
One of those Omaha-based filmmakers is writer and producer Christine Burright. She first attended OFF in 2018 and since attending that first year as a self-described “shy filmmaker getting her feet wet,” she’s won several screenwriting awards and had her first feature, The Headliner, premier at the 2023 festival.
“The Omaha film community has become a huge part of my life,” Burright said. “The festival is an amazing resource of incredibly talented, incredibly cool and fun people who love to work together and make films.”
Burright has attended festivals coast to coast and OFF, she said, stacks up with any.
“Omaha is one of the best,” she said. “You can’t beat it. The hospitality, the venue, the selection of films. Marc (Longbrake) has done such an incredible job making sure the Omaha Film Festival is this world class event.”
— Christine Burright “ ”
That’s music to Longbrake’s ears. That creative collaboration between his team and the filmmakers is so essential to what he sees as OFF’s mission.
“When you walk into a theater at OFF, we want you to feel like you’re in a thing,” Longbrake said. “You’re a part of something that’s awesome.”
Seasoned professionals, Oscar winners and amateur filmmakers, actors and writers, casual film fans and hardcore cinephiles all rubbing elbows at screenings or sipping a Nebraska-born craft brew at the many after parties was always the goal.
“What makes this worthwhile for me is hearing the feedback that people are inspired by what they see and inspired by a group of people and a shared experience that motivates them to go out and create and participate more in their community.”
In 2020, after 15 years and thousands of hours of work, Levering and Decker both stepped away from the festival. Thought was given to shutting down the festival.
But Longbrake forged ahead.
“With all the validation from the local community and the filmmakers and actors who create the work, and all the expense and amount of time that goes into putting on such a big event, it was worth it for me to continue to sacrifice and keep putting it on,” said Longbrake, the festival’s current executive director.
The attendance trajectory was consistently on the uptick right up until COVID-19 lockdowns, which happened about 10 days after OFF.
“In 2020 I think we were the last festival on the planet for something like nine months,” Longbrake said.
The next two years the festival pivoted to a “hybrid” format with some virtual screenings and a smattering of in-theater programming.
By 2023, audiences slowly found their way back. The 2024 event was one of OFF’s biggest. Filmmaker and audience attendance was overflowing. More than 70 filmmakers came out to show films. The programming slate included a record seven sell-outs.
“To have to bring folding chairs into a theater was incredible,” Longbrake said. “We had full crowds, and we felt like we were back. I think in 2023, people wanted to come out but were still afraid of the crowds. In 2024, it showed me people cared.”
The 2025 Omaha Film Festival runs March 11-16.
“There will be great shorts and documentaries and features and high-profile guests, I can promise you that,” Longbrake said. “The thing we envisioned 20 years ago is the thing we’re still doing. Bringing independent films to the city people wouldn’t normally have a chance to see.”
Visit omahafilmfestival.org for more information.
Brandi Long-Frank
Photography
Bill Sitzmann Design
Renee Ludwick
Carver Jones and bandmates Max and Alec
Chasing the American Dream The Story of Ca rver Jones
Carver Jones didn’t set out to become a musician in the traditional sense. In fact, when he fi rst hit the road, it wasn’t with any grand plan in mind. “Going to Oregon, at least on the songwriting side of things, just kind of opened up a whole new perspective and way to, like, pull things in that I would have never experienced here in Nebrask a,” he said.
There was one pivotal moment during Jones’ busking stint in Oregon: a chance encounter with Drew Kaklamanos—who would later become Jones’ manager—marked a turning point. “Drew’s brother found us on the street,” Jones shared. Th at meeting led to Kaklamanos connecting Jones with Cody Tarpley, an artist he’d been managing for years. Jones recalled, “He sent Cody some voice notes and songs of me playing, and Cody was really into it. They came out
to Omaha, and we just recorded a whole bunch of records at an Airbnb. He brought a whole mobile studio.” What began as a simple introduction turned into something far more significant. “We kind of became like family. Cody’s kind of just like a big brother,” Jones said.
Tarpley’s mentorship opened doors for Jones, helping him navigate the studio environment for the fi rst time. “He taught me a lot, just because I had never really been in the studio before and properly recorded songs. He helped me take my visions from just me singing with the guitar to making actual records out of it.” Th at mentorship was instrumental in transforming Jones’ raw talent into something tangible.
Jones also recounted a chance opportunity with another talented musician and producer, Doug Schadt. “Th at was kind of just like a
random thing,” he said. Jones was staying in New York at the time the opportunity came up. “They just invited me over to come do some songs and hang out, and we ended up making two songs,” he explained. For Jones, being in rooms with artists like Tarpley and Schadt proved invaluable. “They’re just really great musicians and artists, and it helps me get better in any scenario I’m in with those guys.”
Jones met with McKenna Grace, an artist signed to the label Photo Finish and vividly described the collaboration that followed. At Grace’s house, Jones shared the beginnings of a song called “Middle Name.” “I had written the fi rst part of it a few weeks before, and when I played it, she was like, ‘Oh, let’s fi nish that.’ So, we ended up writing the song right then and there.” The experience solidified his admiration for Grace’s talent. “McKenna’s super talented—one of the more talented people I’ve been in a room with. Writing with her ju st clicked.”
While Jones’ journey has been full of spontaneous moments and serendipitous meetings, his bandmates have also been a grounding force. Longtime friend Alec Allhijjawi, who plays bass and works as a creative director for music videos, has been by his side since they were teenagers. “We met through a mutual friend when we were 15,” Jones said. Their shared love for music and fi lm deepened their bond. After high school, Jones chose not to pursue basketball, and Allhijjawi became one of his closest collaborators.
Jones later connected with drummer Max Soderberg, whose passion for Grateful Dead music exposed Jones to new influences. “Max is a huge Grateful Dead fan, and I didn’t have my ears to that at all before,” he said. Now, the three of them have formed a close-knit musical collective. “We’re together every day, bouncing inspiration off each other. They’ve opened my mind to things I wouldn’t have been as interested in before.”
At the heart of Jones’ music lies the concept of world-building—creating something largerthan-life that still feels deeply personal. His debut body of work centers on the idea of chasing a dream, taking risks, and diving into the unknown. “The American dream isn’t really real, but your American dream is,” Jones explained. “There’s no set standard for what success or the American dream looks like. It’s whatever gets you out of bed in the morning and give s you life.”
For Jones, music isn’t just about the songs themselves—it’s about the journey. It’s the road trips, the late-night collaborations, and the friendships forged along the way. His path may not have been traditional, but it’s unique, and it’s shaped a vision of the American dream that’s as inspiring as it is al l his own.
Follow Carver Jones on Instagram @carverjones1.
One Detail at a Time
A+C VISUAL ARTS
Scenic Artist Micha el Torres
Acarved rock face here, a winding vine there—Michael Torres’ creations are so lifelike, they might fool Mother Nature herself. As the founder of de la Torre Art Design, the Omahaborn scenic artist specializes in crafting naturalistic environments that invite visitors to pause, marvel, and wonder if it’s all real.
Specializing in prop fabrication and architectural restoration, the team at de la Torre Art Design creates lifelike, functional exhibits prioritizing animal welfare and visitor experience. A core group of five—two laborers, an artist, a graphic expert, and Torres—most often split their time between Omaha and Tennessee while tackling high-profi le zoo and museum projects across the country.
Torres remains directly involved, from the structural planning to the fi nal layers of paint, ensuring that each creation meets his high standards. “I don’t want the company to be so big that my hands are not involved,” he shared. “Th at’s how I guarantee quality.”
His career began in the fi lm industry, honing his skills as an on-site decorator and props specialist for commercials and movies. A fi lm job in Tampa brought him to Orlando, home of major attractions like Universal Studios and Disney World. The transition from fi lm to designing environments wasn’t just a natural one for Torres—it was practical.
At a time when fi lm work was less abundant, Torres found himself immersed in themed entertainment. The abundance of work paired with the chance to collaborate with highly skilled artists gave him a chance to refi ne his craft. “Film sets taught me how to manage large, complex projects with lots of moving parts,” he said. “Having that background makes me much more attuned to the sma ll details."
In 2015, Torres founded de la Torre Art Design in Omaha and established one of the studio's most notable longterm partnerships, with the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, that same year. At the time, Torres was working with an Orlando-based company that brought him in to help design the zoo’s new entrance. That initial project blossomed into what is now a nearly decade-long collaboration.
“We’ve completed major projects there over the years,” Torres said. “Two of those exhibits have won awards from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and our latest Komodo dragon exhibit—the largest in North America—is being submitted for an AZA awa rd in 2025.”
The Nashville Zoo’s Expedition Peru: Trek of the Andean Bear received Top Honors in Exhibit Design from the AZA in 2019, followed by the Sumatran Tiger Exhibit: Tiger Crossroads earning the same distinction in 2020. Torres’ work in Expedition Peru also garnered unique recognition when the tamarin exhibit, cleverly located in the women’s restroom, was named “Best Restroom in the Country” in 2019 by Cintas Corp.
“We don’t just focus on what looks good—it has to function well for the animals and the people who care for them,” Torres noted. “We put in extra work on the back end to ensure the animals’ welfare.”
As the industry evolves, so does de la Torre Art Design. In recent years, Torres has embraced 3D printing as a way to meet the growing demand for custom-designed pieces. “We work with a designer in the Netherlands who creates our STL fi les, and we print everything here in Omaha,” Torres explained. “The printers are like another team member. They let us create things faster and more efficiently than e ver before.”
Th is technological pivot also addresses the larger industry challenge of a declining number of skilled sculptors—a dwindling resource in the industry. “I don’t have the time to sculpt things the way I used to, especially on this scale,” Torres admitted. “With 3D printing, we create highly detailed and realistic pieces while maintaining efficiency.”
As Torres looks to the future, he’s focused on expanding his presence in East Tennessee, where his work in Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, and Gatlinburg has gained traction. Locally, he’s eager to establish ties with more Omaha institutions, particularly the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. “I’ve done work there in the past with another company, but I haven’t been able to make that connection since then,” he shared.
While his own company’s reach continues to expand, Omaha remains the heart of his operations. “All my family’s here, and so are my team members,” Torres said. “Here, we can truly focus on 3D-printed sign work and museum artifacts—like dinosaur models, toys, and animal-themed signs. I can’t move that part of the business to Tennessee, because the expertise is here.”
For Torres, the work is as much about passion as it is about precision. Whether he’s crafting a lifelike tree for a zoo exhibit or restoring a piece of architectural history, that commitment to quality shines through—piece by intricate piece.
“We’re not just building environments; we’re creating experiences that tell stories,” he said. “When someone walks into a space we’ve created and feels transported to another world, that’s the ultimate reward.”
For more information, visit delatorreartdesign.com.
PHOTOGRAPHY
DESIGN
Acting
Requires Faith
KATE ROBERTSON PRYOR
ate Robertson Pryor, a SAG-AFTRA actor, writer, producer, shows herself off in shimming silver cowboy boots and hot pink attire. Her company, Heartland Honey Productions, is located in Omaha. Originally from Tennessee, she and her husband moved to Bellevue when he was stationed at Off utt Air Force Ba se in 2018.
“Nebraska is the best decision I never made,” she said gleefully. “I’ve been a performer since I was 3 years old. I was a dancer, I was in a traveling competitive show choir, we were ‘Glee’ before ‘Glee.’ Entertainment has always been who I am.”
She initially became a producer out of necessity to get her acting work seen. Producing was always part of the plan for her and acting was t he catalyst.
“My business background has defi nitely given me an edge in both the business of being on and behind the camera. I can see why the road to getting here and working in this industry full time was so long,” she said. “God knew I would need all of my former experiences to help set me up for my successes in the fi lm industry. I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be, and I could not be more thankful. It’s most fulfi lling to me when I get to do both, produce and act, on a project.”
Pryor’s faith, family, and friends are her greatest supporters and inspiration.
“I love Jesus. The Lord told me, ‘Kate, this is your time. I’m about to open doors for you, get ready to run through them.’ Around the same time I moved here my acting coach, Nicole Callahan, had also moved here. We hit the ground running. I was training 30 hours a week and found coaches out of Los Angeles and Atlanta. I’ll never forget my fi rst lesson with Nicole, I was really bad at acting,” she laughed. “All the time, energy, everything I’ve sacrificed is paying off. I’ve just completed my 14th fi lm as a producer and my 65th project as an actor including commercial work.”
Callahan, a SAG-AFTRA actress and resident TV/fi lm instructor at The 402 Acting Academy, said, “While it’s not a question that Kate is talented, talent doesn’t always translate to success in show business. One of the biggest challenges any actor faces is how to get noticed. When she was fi rst auditioning early on, she faced a lot of rejection, but rather than get frustrated and give up, or get resentful, she got creative and looked for other ways in. She used her background in business, as well as her actor training, to make connections
with those who could help her tell meaningful stories, and bonus, she could act in those projects. She wasn’t going to wait for someone to tell her ‘yes,’ she made it happen for herself.”
Pryor’s most recent project is Paramount’s 2024 release of Snack Shack, a movie produced by T Street and MRC.
“What a wonderful experience it was for me to be cast as ‘Sherry,’ ‘Moose’s’ (Gabriel LaBelle) mom, and work with some of my favorite named actors such as Nick Robinson, David Costabile, Gillian Vigman, and Conor Sherry,” Pryor said. “I’m forever grateful to Writer/ Director Adam Rehmeier and the entire team for the opportunities this fi lm brought so many of us here in Nebraska.”
Pryor has no qualms about giving flowers and accolades to the artists she’s journeyed with throughout her career. She speaks of a divine peace in this work and how she couldn’t plan to meet the people she has, such as Christine Burright, a screenplay writer and fi lmmaker, and Marc Longbrake, founder and executive director of the Omaha Film Festival.
“Without the Omaha Film Festival and the 48 hour fi lm festival, a lot of Nebraska fi lms would have never screened. It’s one of my favorite organizations. I’m extremely grateful to them,” Pryor said.
“I think Kate is doing exactly what she should be doing for herself right now,” Callahan said.
“Her season in life is well suited for the grind. While it makes it hard for us to plan a coffee date, I think those of us that know her well and support her endeavors understand that you have to make hay when the sun shines. I hope she continues to hustle as long as she has the endurance for it and recognizes when her body and soul need respite.”
According to Pryor, “Genuine curiosity in people is how you truly network. Some people go into networking thinking, ‘I need something from you.’ Find people you can support and champion and in turn they’ll do the same. What you give is what you get. There’s not enough hot pink and kindness in t he world.”
“I’m
exactly where I’m supposed to be, and I could not be more thankful. It’s most fulfilling to me when I get to do both, produce and act, on a project.”
—Kate Robertson Pryor
Alexandra Tran’s New Novel
A/C LITERATURE
STORY BY CLAUDIA MOOMEY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SARAH LEMKE
DESIGN BY RACHEL BIRDSALL
maha native Alexandra Tran saw problems in the fantasy/romance genre of literature known as “romantasy” and decided to fix them. Tran, author of the new romantasy novel, The Divine Shallows, faced various adversities throughout the publishing process, but her perseverance has paid off.
She first had the inclination to write while in nursing school. “I hadn’t really attempted anything creative, in my professional life or personal life,” she admitted. “I’ve always been very methodical, and the career path I chose is very STEM-focused, so I’d never really had the time to exercise my creativity.” In her last semester of nursing school, however, inspiration struck.
Tran, a nurse at UNMC at the time, needed an escape in 2020. “It was during COVID-19, which was a tough time for the world, but especially for the health care sector. There was just a lot of dark, heavy news all around, so writing was an outlet for me to cope,” she explained. “At work, I could focus on what I’ve always done, but when I got home I was so wound up and stressed out, and it was a nice way to creatively decompress and switch over from harsh realities to something really fun and unique that’s all my own.”
The Divine Shallows is categorized as an epic fantasy romance novel, the first in what will eventually be a multibook series. The plot centers around two sisters who each face various challenges that differ according to one’s societal acceptance and the other’s outcast status.
“The initial drafts were not the story it is now, but my main characters were always going to be sisters,” Tran said. “I drew inspiration from my own sister, Emily…I didn’t really see books that emphasized girlhood and sisterhood there’s always this thing where if you have a sister, she’s an enemy or it’s a competitive situation. I always wished that was a little different, because I think some of the most powerful relationships come from loyalty and friendship between sisters.”
Lack of positive sibling relationships is only one of the several issues Tran had with the literature world. “My favorite hobby is reading,” she said, “but I never found that perfect blend of romance and fantasy. There’s a lot of fantasy with romantic subplots, or romantic storylines with a little fantasy element, but I wanted a good amount of both. So, I decided to create that myself.”
With several beta readers and help from friends and family, Tran published The Divine Shallows on May 28, 2024. Claire Lavender, an English teacher at Chicago Public Schools, helped edit Tran’s manuscripts. “I spent pretty much an entire week reading it and making corrections to sentence structure, patterns, or word choice,” Lavender said. “She had thought a lot about the plot in general, so there wasn’t a lot of fixing the story. I think I caught a minor plot hole, but it wasn’t anything too significant.”
Though Tran’s drafts were promising, she faced some racial barriers during the publishing process. “My parents immigrated from Vietnam when they were young,” Tran said. “They sought refuge in America from the Vietnam War, and have been happy here ever since.” Tran’s Vietnamese heritage is an important part of her life, including observing family traditions and cooking authentic Vietnamese meals. With her writing, however, she wanted to tackle something bigger.
“In the literary world, a lot of people of color are only picked up by agents or published when they’re uplifting a story that’s very ethnic or has specific heritage aspects in it,” Tran explained. “I struggled with that while agenting out my manuscript. They wanted authors of color, but only those who wrote about being a person of color, or the story had that kind of theme to it. When I first decided to publish the book, I would get interest from agents, but then they realized it wasn’t specifically Asian fantasy, so they would reject it. So, eventually I decided, ‘I’m just going to put my book out there, I put so much work into it.’ I think I accomplished something in the fact that even though I’m not writing about my heritage or themes of Asian fantasy, it was still uplifting a voice that has rarely been seen before.”
The internet seems to agree. With 4 stars on Goodreads, 4.5 on Amazon, and 5 on Barnes & Noble’s website, along with much praise from readers around the world, Tran said the post-publishing affects have “been very rewarding.” Lavender was surprised at the quality of Tran’s writing. “I read a lot of writing and give lots of feedback, and the book was actually really great,” she said. “Romantasy has a lot of tropes, and the readers of that genre love those tropes. (Tran) is very good at balancing those tropes with new ideas she’s very imaginative.”
The Divine Shallows is currently being sold on Amazon, as well as in independent bookstores, such as The Bookworm on 90th Street and West Center Road. Tran has been writing the sequel, which “has been a totally different experience than writing the first, because it is officially out in the world now,” she said. “I think my author voice may change as I write, but it’s been very encouraging to get positivity from people all over the world.”
For more information or to purchase Tran’s first book, visit alexandramtran.com.
“There’s a lot of fantasy with romantic subplots, or romantic storylines with a little fantasy element, but I wanted a good amount of both. So, I decided to create that myself.”
— Alexandra Tran
Bringing Back the Knuckleball
Matt Waldron Pitches for the Padres
he thing about throwing a knuckleball in baseball is that no one, not even the pitcher, knows which way the ball breaks. One could say the same about the direction of Matt Waldron’s baseball career since his days at Westside High School and the University of Nebraska.
“That’s definitely the beauty of it. That’s what makes it hard to hit,” said Waldron regarding the pitch rarely thrown now in Major League Baseball. In 26 starts for the San Diego Padres in 2024, his first full season in the majors, he threw the “knuckler” 38% of the time the most of any pitcher in MLB since 2018.
Waldron was picked by Cleveland in the 18th round of the 2019 draft after four years with the Huskers. The Guardians then traded Waldron, now 28, to the Padres organization during the off-season between 2020 and 2021. He broke into the big leagues in 2023.
Matt and his twin brother, Mike, had always loved baseball and played together with the Huskers. With Mike as a catcher, Matt had toyed with the knuckleball while both attended Westside High School.
“He had asked to throw it in a game and I know I said, ‘I don’t care,’” said Bob Greco, Waldron’s baseball coach at Westside who has since retired. “I honestly didn’t know if he had thrown one.”
However, Waldron said he didn’t throw the knuckler in actual competition until 2021 in professional baseball.
Waldron finished his Husker career ranked fourth on the school’s all-time career strikeout list.
When Waldron said the Padres front office encouraged him to throw the slow fluttering knuckleball with more conviction after the trade, it was a lot to contemplate. He largely relied on his velocity with fastballs and more conventional breaking pitches as his ticket to the big leagues.
“That’s a big, big change that I had to really sit down and think about,” said Waldron, who still maintains his residence in the Omaha area during the off-season. “It was a very tough and dark spot.”
Ultimately, the results of successfully retiring hitters on a consistent basis was the final convincing factor toward throwing the knuckler more often. So much so that in 2021, between minor league stops in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and San Antonio, Texas, Waldron threw the pitch at a 70% rate.
“I had a really good feel for that pitch, even if I hadn’t thrown it for 10 years,” Waldron said. “I felt it’s like riding a bike. I just knew once I learned it I knew how to throw it.”
Apart from Waldron’s high school dominance with raw pitching ability, his alacrity to adjust his body while implementing subtle changes in pitching mechanics stood out to Greco at Westside.
“It was absolutely amazing,” said Greco, who specialized in working with pitchers on the high school level. “In many instances, he didn’t even have to practice it. That’s how aware he was of where his body was moving.”
Greco was gifted with coaching two future major leaguers at that time. Jake Meyers, now a center fielder for the Houston Astros, also doubled up as a pitcher with the Warriors, the three-time Class A state high school baseball champions from 2013 to 2015. Meyers was a Husker teammate, too, of the Waldron twins. Waldron got a taste of the October baseball playoff atmosphere last year when the Padres reached the postseason.
“That was amazing,” he said. “It’s so intense and important.”
Though Waldron was omitted from the team’s playoff roster, he was still in the dugout for the Padres postseason games. They won the National League Wild Card Series against Atlanta, but bowed out in the league Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the eventual World Series champions.
“You don’t always get a chance to soak it up in the moment,” said Waldron. “When the season ended, it was very bitter, but I’ll think back on that and how it was.”
After reaching the big leagues, the challenge now for Waldron is how to stay there.
“To stay No. 1 would be consistency,” said Waldron. “Being reliable week in and week out.”
Waldron acknowledged his unconventional path to the big leagues: throwing a pitch hardly anyone else uses in the big leagues and by doing an about-face in the minors on his pitching style.
“It was a very unique route for sure,” said Waldron. “I wouldn’t wish it on some people that have big aspirations.”
But Waldron is looking to continue paying off his aspirations.
“I had a really good feel for that pitch, even if I hadn’t thrown it for 10 years. I felt it’s like riding a bike. I just knew once I learned it I knew how to throw it.”— Matt Waldron
» Exhibitions «
SEVEN ART MOVEMENTS
A N R L D
Th rough Mar. 10 at Joslyn Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Th is exhibit aims for museum-goers to interact with art beyond the visual into the textural and auditory mediums, engaging people in a diff erent way and making art more accessible for the visually impaired.
402.342.3300 | joslyn.org
BARRAGÁN: A SPIRITUAL MASTER PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT DUNCAN
Th rough Mar. 16 at Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth St. The photographs on exhibit display the artistry of Luis Barragán’s work in Mexico City on how nature and architecture come together.
531.375.6643 | gallery1516.org
THE DEPORRES CLUB AHEAD OF THEIR TIME
Th rough Mar. 29 at Great Plains Black History Museum, 2221 N. 24th St. The DePorres Club was an activist organization that pre-dates the Civil Rights movement and advocated the idea that segregation and discrimination were sins.
402.932.7077 | gpblackhistorymuseum.org
POWER UP
Th rough Apr. 20 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Th is special exhibit teaches kids healthy learning habits in regards to physical and emotional health, relationships, and creativity.
402.342.6164 | ocm.org
ABRAHAM LINCOLN: PRESIDENT, EMANCIPATOR, CORPORATE PITCHMAN
Th rough Apr. 27 at the Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Th is immersive and multi-sensory exhibit will bring one of America’s most loved and iconic fi gures to life.
402.444.5071 | durhammuseum.org
ANTARCTIC DINOSAURS
Th rough May 4 at the Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. Embark on a thrilling paleontology adventure and witness the latest discovery in Antarctica: Dinosaurs! 402.444.5071 | durhammuseum.org
SYNCHRONICITIES: INTERSECTING FIGURATION WITH ABSTRACTION
Th rough May 4 at the Bemis Center, 724 S 12th St. Nine artists come together in this exhibition to focus on the ideas of abstraction and how many mediums of art can blend together in the artistic experience. 402.341.7130 | bemiscenter.org
HENRY PAYER: APPLIQUÉ SUR LE TERRAIN
Th rough Sep. 4 at the Joslyn Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Henry Payer uses Indigenous ribbon work to showcase the cultural landscape in modern Nebraska. 402.342.3300 | joslyn.org
THE FLOATING WORLD AND BEYOND: 200 YEARS OF JAPANESE PRINTS
Mar. 22-Aug. 24 at Joslyn Museum, 2200 Dodge St. Th is exhibit features printmaking and dives into how the art form informs the history and culture of Japan. 402.342.3300 | joslyn.org
BLACK CITIZENSHIP IN THE AGE OF JIM CROW
Apr. 2-May 31 at Great Plains Black History Museum, 2221 N. 24th St. Th is exhibit will emphasize the struggle of the Jim Crow era and the “separate but equal” laws and mindsets still in place after legal equality for all races was established.
402.932.7077 | gpblackhistorymuseum.org
Concerts
SULLIVAN KING
Mar. 5 at Steelhouse Omaha, 1100 Dodge St. Dubstep and heavy metal are the speciality of this DJ, whose fan base is called Rage Nation.
402.345.0606 | steelhouseomaha.com
GAELIC STORM
Mar. 6 at Steelhouse Omaha, 1100 Dodge St. Th is group of many members brings traditional Irish, Scottish, and Celtic music into the folk and rock genres. 402.345.0606 | steelhouseomaha.com
DIRTY DANCING IN CONCERT
Mar. 6 at Orpheum Th eater, 409 S. 16th St. Before it occurred to her to mind, Johnny was calling her "Baby" in this stage performance while the ’87 classic movie plays behind them.
402.661.8501 | orpheumtheateromaha.com
AL STEWART & LIVINGSTON TAYLOR
March 30 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. With careers spanning decades, these two folk music artists are combining forces to show audiences why they’ve performed alongside artists like Yoko Ono and Fleetwood Mac.
402.345.0202 | o-pa.org
KELSEA BALLERINI: LIVE ON TOUR 2025
Apr. 3 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. With special guests Th e Japanese House and Maryann Taylor, Kelsea Ballerini will perform songs from her latest album, "PATTERNS," alongside the songs that launched her into stardom from her debut album. 402.341.1500 | chihealthcenteromaha.com
FOLKHOUSE CONCERT AT THE CASTLE: BRAD COLERICK
Apr. 5 at Joslyn Castle and Gardens, 3902 Davenport St. Folk music in a very personable setting where the artist interacts with the audience and shares stories of the songs is what’s off ered here by Brad Colerick. 402.595.2199 | joslyncastle.com
LADY BLACKBIRD
Apr. 8 at the Holland Music Club, 1200 Douglas St. With inspiration from Nina Simone and Billie Holiday, Lady Blackbird combines blues, jazz, and soul to captivate her audiences.
402.345.0202 | o-pa.org
KAYZO
Apr. 9 at Steelhouse Omaha, 1100 Dodge St. Bringing EDM sets to Omaha all the way from Los Angeles, CA.
402.345.0606 | steelhouseomaha.com
All AboArd
The Railroad in American Art, 1840–1955
From technological marvel to symbol of modern life, trains transformed the landscape and society of the United States. All Aboard: The Railroad in American Art, 1840–1955 explores the significance of this theme for American painters during an era of US expansion, industrialization, and urbanization.
2200 Dodge Street Omaha, NE 68102-1292 (402) 342-3300 joslyn.org
Image: George Ault (American, 1891–1948), From Brooklyn Heights, 1925, oil on canvas, 30 × 20 in. (76.2 × 50.8 cm),
Collection of The Newark Museum of Art, Purchase 1928
The General Fund, 28.1802
Joslyn Art Museum
Presenting Sponsors: Julie & Lance Fritz
Major Sponsors: Stephanie & John Koraleski
Contributing Sponsors: The family of Shirley & Jim Young
PAPA ROACH AND THE RISE AGAINST: RISE OF THE ROACH TOUR
Apr. 10 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. Rock and punk rock groups Papa Roach and Rise Against come together with special guest Underoath to provide a rocking musical experience.
402.341.1500 | chihealthcenteromaha.com
FOLKHOUSE CONCERT AT THE CASTLE: CAROL MONTAG
Apr. 12 at Joslyn Castle and Gardens, 3902 Davenport St. With four studio albums under her belt and performances for Ballet Iowa and former ambassadors, Carol Montag is sure to impress.
402.595.2199 | joslyncastle.com
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE & TRIVIUM
Apr. 20 at Steelhouse Omaha, 1100 Dodge St. Releasing heavy metal music since 2006, Bullet for My Valentine rocks Steelhouse Omaha with special guest Trivium. 402.345.0606 | steelhouseomaha.com
BOSSMAN DLOW
Apr. 22 at Steelhouse Omaha, 1100 Dodge St. The 26-year-old rapper, originally from Florida, comes to Omaha with self-described “motivational music” and a 2024 song “2 Slippery” having reached 29th on the US R&B/hip-hop charts.
402.345.0606 | steelhouseomaha.com
ROCK ORCHESTRA BY CANDLELIGHT
Apr. 28 at the Orpheum Th eater, 409 S. 16th St. With a classical twist on classic rock, this orchestra is prepared to put on a theatrical show featuring rock from the past 40 years.
402.661.8501 | orpheumtheateromaha.com
Stage performances
NARUTO: SYMPHONIC EXPERIENCE
Mar. 2 at Orpheum Th eater, 409 S. 16th St. The beloved anime knits with an orchestral score and the original Japanese language with English subtitles to bring this movie to another level.
402.661.8501 | orpheumtheateromaha.com
BALLET HISPÁNICO
Mar. 12 at Orpheum Th eater, 409 S. 16th St. Th is performance showcases a blend of ballet with Latinx dance styles and costuming to thrill viewers. 402.661.8501 | orpheumtheateromaha.com
HADESTOWN
Mar. 14-16 at Orpheum Th eater, 409 S. 16th St. Orpheus and Eurydice have their stories told once again in this Broadway hit, following a narrative of poverty and how love can drive extreme actions. 402.661.8501 | orpheumtheateromaha.com
CHARLIE BERENS
Mar. 23 at Steelhouse Omaha, 1100 Dodge St. Th is comedian is also an Emmy Award winning journalist, as well as running his own podcast that has amassed a following for his comedy and storytelling.
402.345.0606 | steelhouseomaha.com
SOME LIKE IT HOT
Mar. 25-30 at Orpheum Th eater, 409 S. 16th St. The Prohibition Era plays no games and lots of jazz in this undercover swing band musical comedy. 402.661.8501 | orpheumtheateromaha.com
“I’M POSSIBLE”
Apr. 3 at Steelhouse Omaha, 1100 Dodge St. Presented by the Omnium Circus, this story follows Johnny through the whirlwind of fi nding himself through fantastical turns of events.
402.345.0606 | steelhouseomaha.com
WHO’S LIVE ANYWAY?
Apr. 4 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. The stars of TV show “Who’s Line is it Anyway?” bring high energy and a readiness to take audience suggestions and factor audience participation into their performances.
402.345.0202 | o-pa.org
LADIES OF HIP HOP BLACK DANCING BODIES PROJECT: SPEAK MY MIND
Apr. 10 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Th is hip-hop group tells a story with their choreography, performing at Lincoln Center and beyond and coming right to Omaha.
402.345.0202 | o-pa.org
JOHN CRIST: JOKES FOR HUMANS
Apr. 11 at Orpheum Th eater, 409 S. 16th St. Buckle up for a night of comedy with John Crist, a comedian since 2009.
402.661.8501 | orpheumtheateromaha.com
GOLDEN GIRLS
Apr. 12 at the Orpheum Th eater, 409 S. 16th St. The sitcom’s tour gives a look into the classic issues and shenanigans of the show while giving insight into how the Golden Girls would look at today’s world. 402.661.8501 | orpheumtheateromaha.com
SPRING BLIND 402 COMEDY FEST
Apr. 17 at the Orpheum Th eater, 409 S. 16th St. Karlous Miller, Chico Bean, DC Young Fly, and Money Bagg Mafi a take center stage in a comedic whirlwind. 402.661.8501 | orpheumtheateromaha.com
AMERICAN MIDWEST BALLET: ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Apr. 26 at the Orpheum Th eater, 409 S 16th St. Lewis Carroll’s fantastical adventure comes to the Orpheum stage for one night only, taking audiences with them down the rabbit hole.
402.661.8501 | orpheumtheateromaha.com
Family, Festivals, and More
FAMILY PORTRAITS
Mar. 7-30 at Hot Shops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St. Working with acrylic and gold leaf, Ang R. Bennet brings joyful Black childhood to the forefront with their pieces. 402.342.6452 | hotshopsartcenter.org
REFLECTIONS AND REFRACTIONS
Mar. 7-30 at Hot Shops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St. The Kappa Pi Art Club of Creighton University features a mixture of mediums aimed at reframing how we see the outer and inner workings of life. 402.342.6452 | hotshopsartcenter.org
PAW PATROL LIVE!
Mar. 8-9 at the Orpheum Th eater, 409 S. 16th St. Th is Mighty Adventure picks up where the Paw Patrol movie left off, giving kids the chance to watch and participate as the Paw Patrol team saves the day once again.
402.661.8501 | orpheumtheateromaha.com
KARAOKE NIGHT
Mar. 19 at Châm Pang Lanes, 910 Harney St. From 7-11pm, belt and harmonize with the spares and strikes at Omaha’s newest bowling spot. 402.513.7805 | champanglanes.com
STAINED GLASS WORKSHOP
Mar. 22 at Hot Shops Art Center, 1301 Nicholas St. Th is beginner-friendly class will teach the basics of stained glass artwork with the fi nal product of a honeycomb sun catcher. 16+.
402.342.6452 | hotshopsartcenter.org
WANNABE—A SPICE GIRLS TRIBUTE
Mar. 29 at the Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Five performers come together to bring back the power and excitement of the Spice Girls through their songs, dances, and perfectly '90s costumes.
402.884.5353 | waitingroomlounge.com
AGE OF STEAM SATURDAY
Mar. 29 at Spielbound Board Game Cafe, 3229 Harney St. A new map from the Age of Steam game, set in the era of American railroad-building, is uncovered at this event for beginners and experienced players.
402.763.8444 | spielbound.com
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF SHARKS WITH DR. JESS CRAMP
Mar. 30 at the Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Humans are just starting to understand the world of sharks, and Dr. Jess Cramp aims to educate as to how sharks are important to the ecosystem and why they have an impact on the lives of Pacific Islanders each day.
402.345.0606 | o-pa.org
OMAHA TATTOO ARTS FESTIVAL
Apr. 4-6 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. The 7th annual festival put on by Villain Arts returns to CHI and will feature tattoos, piercings, art, and more.
402.341.1500 | chihealthcenteromaha.com
QUEST AT THE CASTLE! AN RPG MICRO-CON
Apr. 26 at Joslyn Castle and Gardens, 3902 Davenport St. With contests, games, and indoor and outdoor activities, this event will be fi lled with adventure.
402.507.6633 | dungeoncrate.com
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Story by Julius Fredrick | Photography by Bill Sitzmann | Design by Joey Winton
If it’s held true that ‘necessity is the mother of invention,’ then perhaps in kind, strife is the sire of expression. For his part, visual artist William “Bill” C. Farmer wasn’t satisfied with the broad strokes of aphorism—strife, he would come to reveal over his 40-year career, was the domain of many mediums; his motivation, multimodal.
Prolific and politically minded, Farmer was born and eventually anchored in Omaha from where he’d launch extended retreats to Europe, East Asia, and most faithfully, Latin America. Over the course of these travels he developed a keen, if at times quixotic, eye for globa l injustice.
For example, after studying post-revolutionary murals of “Los Tres Grandes”—Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros—across Mexico in 1993, Farmer returned stateside the following year to complete his ambitious “Horrors of War,” a six-piece commission for Pleasant Dale’s (now defunct) Prairie Peace Park. And while rifles, regimes, and resistance loom large in his works, minute, even tedious cessions to pain draw largesse from his brushstrokes; like his “Portraits of Marge” series, a catalog of his wife’s bedfast battle with hepatitis, waged and colorfully recorded in Mexico City circa 1966.
Historically, Farmer’s pieces aren’t the committee-sanctioned ones framed by halogen lights and gilded placards. Rather, his work springs up organically—casting wide, weltering roots that seem to fi nd people as opposed to being found, especially in the dark.
Such was the case for famed anti-war activist Daniel Berrigan, the fi rst priest to claim a registry on the FBI’s most-wanted list, who wrote from his dank Danbury Prison cell, in part:
“The art of William Farmer spans the worlds of social and psychic violence with vision akin to Blake’s or Bosch’s…a voice in the desert, speaking words of salvation…a portrayal of death, a myth of the present world and its ways, a wrestling with real demons and false men … The world will know in its evil wisdom, how to deal with such a man; but his friends know another method—that of contemplation, wonder, and gratitude.”
While both iterations of the bookstore garnered world renown for their rare and eclectic volumes, the treasures on display were arguably outshined by the silver tongue and golden heart of Rudloff himself. Known to open the Antiquarium doors—and his pocketbook—to a menagerie of fresh-faced drifters and hard-luck raconteurs, his talent for quips (in no less than eight languages) belied an extreme generosity.
As recounted in a dedication by customer-turned-confidant Erich Christiansen and published in The Reader following Rudloff ’s passing in 2016, “Tom intervened and offered to create a space where Farmer’s work could be saved—and viewed by the public,” when the latter, beset by a fit of mania, threatened to destroy his life’s work. The result was the grand opening of the Bill Farmer Gallery in 1979, which, according to Christiansen’s account, saved whom Rudloff considered “one of the greatest artists of the 20th century” from an act of creative self-immolation.
Preserving this shared legacy has been no small task. When BECAH purchased the building in 2021, the intervening years following Rudloff ’s death found the building besieged on multiple fronts—by vandals, the elements, and worst of all, plumbing issues. Th ankfully, most if not all of Farmer’s work endured, and BECAH, with Dickutt personally investing a great deal of sweat into the project, has been revived and repurposed.
“You go through that tunnel so long and you don’t see any light, and all of sudden it’s like, ‘Hey, it’s starting to look good now.’ Hopefully something Tom would be proud of,” Dickutt recalled of the multi-year restoration efforts. “An art education center is what we’re doing here, and we’re going to have art classes, humanities classes, readings. We want to have traveling historical exhibits come in (too).”
“My dad said that (Farmer) always tried to look at ‘the spirit of things,’ and ‘paint the spirit,’”
Scrawled in thick, blackletter calligraphy, Berrigan’s epigraph accompanies hundreds of paintings, drawings, and sculptures, each Farmer originals, stored at the Brownville Education Center for the Arts and Humanities (BECAH) in Brownville, Nebraska. The works traveled there with Antiquarium bookstore proprietor Tom Rudloff when he exchanged the brick and mortar of the Old Market for that of a vacant Brownville schoolhou se in 2006.
– Ann McGill
“I’ve contacted several of his friends because I wanted to know more about Tom, and one of them told me something that really struck my heart, and that was that Tom took a vow of poverty at the age of 16, and that tells you a lot about the man,” said BECAH President Da le Dickutt.
Though the space has taken shape, the cataloguing of Bill Farmer’s works ensures Dickutt and the board members of BECAH have many more hours of work ahead. To ease the load and engage a critical eye, Dickutt enlisted Omaha native Teresa Gleason to help sort and appraise the art. Co-owner of the Benson neighborhood’s Ming Toy Gallery, Gleason lends both experience and exposure to the endeavor.
“BECAH is a very small organization, and Dale can only be in so many places at once,” noted Gleason. “I’m going to try and help coordinate the inventory and cataloguing process. And then, eventually, a sale of (Farmer’s) work at my gallery in Omaha. Obviously, the work would be sold through here (BECAH).”
She continued, “The other thing I’m trying to do is document the process. If you lived in
continued on pg. 56
History
For an audio version of this story, open the camera on your smart device and hover over the QR code.
Story by Claudia Moomey | Design / Illustration by Joey Winton
Charles Jackson French
Charles Jackson French was no extraordinary man, but by the time he turned 23 years old, he became a war hero.
French was a humble Black man born in Foreman, Arkansas, and learned to swim on his own in the Red River of the South. He joined the Navy after his 18th birthday and took one of the only positions available to Black men at the time: mess attendant.
After completing his enlistment in 1941, French made a new home in Omaha with his sister. Th is only lasted a short while, however, as the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred that same year, which prompted him to re-enlist.
Fate looked unfavorably, however, on French’s ship, the USS Gregory, in September 1942. When Imperial Japanese Navy ships fi red on the Gregory, it began to sink and many U.S. sailors were either killed or badly injured. Aboard a sinking ship with enemies nearby, hope seemed a ll but lost.
Mess attendant French was one of the few uninjured men after the incident, and as such, saw what he needed to do. Though he hadn’t been allowed to mix with the white sailors, either on board or during training sessions in the ocean, French threw the rules out the window and thus rescued several of his shipmates.
Tying a rope around his waist, French took it upon himself to collect his injured comrades adrift in the dark, icy, shark-infested waters, and pile them on a life raft. Several sailors aboard the raft were unconscious, but the few who weren’t urged him not to take the risk of coming across sharks or drowning. French is reported to have said, “I’m more afraid of the Japanese than sharks.” Th is was a rational statement, as capture by the enemy Japanese
military would likely have meant execution. As the only one able to swim, he boarded as many men as he could, telling them, “Just tell me if I’m going the right way.”
Then he swam. And swam. And swam some more, all the while hauling a raft full of 15 white men.
He swam until sunrise, an estimated six to eight hours from when the incident occurred, when a scout aircraft caught sight of them. French had saved the lives of all but 11 of the Gregory’s crew. Th is awe-inspiring feat earned him the nickname “The Human Tugboat.”
French died in 1956 and has since been posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for heroic actions, which was presented at Naval Base San Diego, where the base’s rescue swimmer training pool was also dedicated in his honor.
In June 2022, the U.S. post office located at 6223 Maple St. was designated the Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Jackson French Post Office. There is now a historical marker on the site of the post office, placed by the Nebraska State Historical Society, that tells French’s story, preserving his legacy and spreading awareness of the WWII hero.
Carlos Del Toro, Secretary of the Navy, announced on Jan. 10, 2024, that there will be a new U.S. Navy destroyer after French, projected to be delivered in 2031. Now getting some “long-overdue recognition,” according to Del Toro’s comments during the Surface Navy Association’s 36th National Symposium, French deserved the awards and praise he is now receiving. “He swam for hours, pulling 15 souls from the jaws of the sea, defying the odds and the sharks with nothing but his own grit and compassion,” Del Toro said.
The H uman Tugboat
JHow JJ Davis’ “Can Not Can’t” Mantra Took Him To Unimaginable Heights
J Davis suffered a broken wrist playing football, a cracked collarbone during wrestling practice, a broken collarbone playing baseball, and a fractured ankle playing soccer; he got stitches under his eye twice, broke a finger, and weathered a few concussions all before the age of 18. For most of his life, the Baltimore native who grew up in the city’s Loch Raven neighborhood had been told “you’re too small” for whatever sport he was pursuing, forcing him to accept the fact he’d never be a professional athlete.
“I weighed 86 pounds my freshman year in high school, and I weighed 100 pounds when I graduated,” he recalled. “I always loved sports. But as everybody was getting bigger, I stayed the same.”
That didn’t mean he didn’t try. Saddled with the nickname “Rickets” due to his weak bones “I knew my way to an X-Ray room,” he said with a chuckle Davis pivoted to sports like tennis, wrestling, and soccer, which weren’t necessarily contingent on size.
“I wrestled only because I was the only guy under 100 pounds, and I played tennis, which I really wasn’t any good at, but our high school team wasn’t that much better,” he explained. “I played those three sports and was only one of two seniors that got three varsity letters.”
Although his small stature held him back in some areas, Davis was set on becoming a sportscaster and fortunate enough to discover that early on.
“Curt Gowdy was my hero growing up in the ’60s,” he said. “He called a lot of major sporting events, so I knew I wanted to be a sportscaster, and when you're that age, most of us had no clue what we wanted to do. I was lucky. I knew what I wanted to do.”
Armed with limitless ambition and an encyclopedic Rolodex of sports facts, Davis graduated with a degree in mass communications from Towson University in 1978 and took an internship at WJZ-TV while juggling a job waiting tables at The Family Fish House. His dream, however,
was to work at ABC Sports in midtown Manhattan, something he eventually accomplished. But two weeks into the job, he realized it wasn’t for him.
“I wasn’t into being subservient,” he said matter-of-factly. “I wasn’t into scheduling the reservations, getting the ‘monies,’ or supplying the talent with all the statistics and things like that.”
So Davis left after 10 months and continued jumping around the country a lot. He had stints as a sportscaster in West Virginia, North Carolina, Montana, and South Carolina (to name a few), while simultaneously chasing his passion for theater. In 1986, he packed up his car and moved to Los Angeles, where he got an agent and landed a job as a room service waiter at Universal Studios.
“I was there for 10 months, got an agent, got head shots taken twice, auditioned for shows and didn’t get anything,” he remembered. “You think you look good? Go into a room and there’re 20 other guys that look better than you.”
Davis’ Hollywood dream was turning into a nightmare and he missed sports. So he took another sportscasting job in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and continued acting at the Scranton Public Theater.
Along the way, he met his wife, Joan, and they had three children. While his personal life was on course, Davis was still struggling to find stability in his career. Fate soon intervened and landed him in Omaha, where he worked at KPTM from
2002 to 2010. There, he shot, produced, edited, and anchored nightly sportscasts and live sports specials.
Needless to say, Davis has lived more lives than a cat. Now a producer at Iowa Western Television at Iowa Western Community College where he’s been since 2012 and the host of his own podcast, “In Focus with JJ Davis,” the 68-year-old has managed to keep his unwavering love of sports and storytelling alive.
“My gift is energy,” he said. “I have more energy than most people have at my age.”
It’s true; it comes across in everything he does. His infectious personality and unrelenting drive paired with his joie de vivre makes him a triple threat. His “can not can’t” mantra has taken him to unimaginable heights.
“I’m truly proudest of just ‘doing it,’” he said. “Lots of people talk about it, but not too many ‘do it.’ Perhaps the long-term dream never became a reality but in the end, it doesn't matter.”
He continued, “I have done what I have loved and not lived a life of quiet desperation. I have tried to stay humble. I know what I have done and the journey I have been on. No one else has a story that is close to mine, but we all have stories. One of my favorite sayings is ‘victory is in the attempt.’ No one has tried and believed any harder than me.”
In terms of the future, Davis is always setting new goals. After shooting, producing, writing, editing, and hosting “The Bluffs Sports Zone,” a weekly half-hour show he helmed for the first seven years at Iowa Western, he moved on to hosting a show called “IWTV News.” He’s also been the hand-held cameraman for MECA at the College World Series multiple times. For the past year, he’s been churning out stories about Iowa Western on social media platforms while juggling his theater career. He was last seen playing Jean Shepherd in the 2024 Rose Theater producer of “A Christmas Story.” Despite all of his accomplishments, Davis knows he has more work to do and vows to never retire.
“One of my new sayings is ‘keep going,’” he said. “I just want to keep working at Iowa Western, keep doing my podcast, keep doing theater, and make an audiobook of my story, ‘JJ of Loch Raven.’
“I’m always thinking about becoming a motivational speaker, too, as people tell me that I have a gift and should share it with people, inspire kids and so on. I am trying to enjoy life with my wife, Joan, and our kids, but I’m also never giving up or quitting on myself or my dreams. When you let go, when one just ‘settles,’ what else is there?”
Nebraska’s largest amusement park (it spans 35 acres) is remembered by many as the place to be each year when the sun came out after the winter months. Located on 49th and Cass streets, Peony Park was open from 19191994, and the name still elicits fond memories from Omahans.
Peony Park boasted a ballroom that was “one acre under one roof,” rides, a pool, and more. Its dance hall allowed for 3,000 visitors to boogie, waltz, and jive through the night. The ample space was an impressive feat for the park, as it also included a pool and surrounding beach that measured 4.5 acres, 700 feet long, and held approximately five million gallons of water in a range of one foot to 10 feet of depth. Developed from a natural spring-fed lake, the pool opened in 1926.
The Royal Terrace Ballroom hosted big name bands from the Swing Era, including Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, and Tommy Dorsey. It later welcomed renowned artists such as Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, and 311. Music was an integral part of the park, with an additional dancing space, the Royal Grove, an open-air stage and orchestra shell that were covered with a white roof. Omaha radio station KOIL hosted outdoor dance parties here, called “Under the Stars” and broadcast them live to local audiences listening in on the radio.
A softball diamond, recreation grounds, bathhouses, and refreshment stands peppered the grounds of Peony Park, completing the potential of the park and providing family fun all summer. Rides included the Galaxy Roller Coaster, a ferris wheel, the Scrambler, and a miniature roller coaster for children. The miniature golf course, “Around the World in 18 Holes,” was popular with visitors young and old, and the SkyRail was a signature ride that took riders for a loop around the park’s giant pool.
Visiting the park was not all lollipops and rainbows for all of its visitors, however. Until 1963, the park upheld segregation policies, which meant that Black swimmers were not allowed in the pool. Th is began to fade with the 1955 court case State of Nebraska v. Peony Park, which ruled that Peony Park discriminated against two black swimmers who were participating in the Amateur Athletic Union’s swim meet because they were not allowed in the pool. The park ended up paying a fi ne and related civil suits were settled out of court.
Th is event sparked a rise in protests, especially by teenagers and young adults, related to racial issues at the park. These protests helped ease tensions and eventually brought down the racial divide at the park.
Due to high operational costs and low revenue, Peony Park closed after the 1994 summer season, much to the dismay of regular visitors. While popular, Peony Park simply couldn’t keep up the grounds with the amount of business it brought in, especially since it was only open for warmer seasons. Despite its original site now being populated with restaurants, a bank, a grocery store, and an apartment complex, the memory of Peony Park remains in Omaha citizens’ minds a nd hearts.
A PLACE TO PARTY!
Story by Claudia Moomey
Design by Joey Winton
BEHIND THE SHIELD
‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ of Mental Health in Law Enforcement
n May 2004, a search party descended upon a remote stretch of woodland in central Minnesota. Crowded with copses of hackberry and bur, marsh-laden and slick with springtime thaw, the landscape was not only difficult to traverse, but disorienting. The searchers had prepared for this; as wind rattled the branches overhead, a bloodhound’s snout rose to meet it, paused, and bolted.
The dog was gone, carried away with the scent and swallowed up by the morass. Without her, the day too, was lost.
On the morning of the second day, the hiss of two-way radios broke the morning gloom. An urgent development, a request for assistance, crackled through the formation.
The missing hound, curled up and ragged with exhaustion, had been found by a local nearly 7 miles off a hiking trail.
Next to her, a shallow grave; dark soil, flecked white with human bone.
“You obsess about it every day and night, you know, until it’s resolved,” recalled Col. John Bolduc, acting superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol since 2017. “It consumed every minute of my day for a year-and-a-half.”
Nearly two decades ago, Bolduc served as police chief in Brainerd, Minnesota. Early on in his tenure, a young woman named Erika “Sunny” Dalquist vanished, her absence immediately felt by the quiet lakeside community of just under 15,000. The discovery of her body some 18 months later represented both a tragedy and the most pyrrhic of victories charges filed against the prime suspect in Dalquist’s disappearance had initially been dropped due to a lack of physical evidence.
The proceeding manhunt activated law enforcement agencies nationwide, including the Omaha Police Department, resulting in the capture and eventual conviction of Dalquist’s killer.
“Fortunately, in our case, we did resolve it,” Bolduc said. “But some of those cases go unresolved, and that can be haunting.”
Cold cases have a chilling effect on communities, especially in low-density areas. For the families of victims, the emotional whiplash between hope and grief offers no respite. For investigators, the lines between duty and personal responsibility can blur. Well-intended promises made at the onset of an investigation ring hollow as days turn into weeks, into months, into years; guilt hardens into obsession, or worse, shambles toward disillusionment.
Yet, despite the trials of the prior 18 months, dedication, compassion, “and a lot of tireless police work” found the then-young police chief accepting an invitation to speak at Dalquist’s funeral at her family’s bequest. He hadn’t reached the dais, nor the sense of closure it promised, alone.
“Thankfully, I had a good support system around me; friends at church that I could confide in, my family. My wife has been a great sounding board all these years,” Bolduc said. “(If you’re) coming on board, have a good support system around you because you’re going to need it. There are many challenges with this job.”
As Bolduc can attest, such protracted, highstakes investigations leave an indelible mark on one’s career, and for some, a fracture that never heals. However, Nebraska’s high homicide clearance rate of 82% (average between the years 1865-2023, according to the FBI’s most recent Uniform Crime Report) means such cases are relatively rare in the cornhusker state. For most Nebraska officers, and most officers in general, it’s the day-to-day encounters innate to police work volatile, occasionally dire scenes graciously liminal to the pedestrian experience that underlie a heightened risk for psychosis.
Recognizing this, the Nebraska State Patrol maintains programs designed to restore and reinforce the resilience of its staff, both sworn and civilian. This includes confidential peer-support groups, a wellness app tooled specifically for first-responders, and an in-house psychologist available for sessions upon request.
“We see things in law enforcement that most people don’t see. I call it the ‘Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ effect. We’re exposed to traumatic incidents. We’re exposed to danger. This is part of the job, and when you put others ahead of yourself, you’re willing to make those sacrifices,” Bolduc affirmed.
“That’s why it’s so important that we hire the right people, but we also have to take care of those people...In today’s modern law enforcement agency, we really have to be focused on the wellness of our personnel and how we can accommodate this thing of cumulative trauma that we know is the reality today where 38 years ago, when when I started, there wasn’t a focus on it.”
“But thankfully,” he said, “We’ve evolved.”
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer shares Bolduc’s gratitude. Having served with the Omaha Police Department for 29 years, the last 12 as chief, he’s “seen quite a few things” in his day, including serial killers on the lam, internal corruption scandals, and his share of “carnage.” As a result, the good in the world appears in sharp relief for Schmaderer and he’s keen to point it out.
Take the recent trends in precinct mental health care, for example.
We see things in law enforcement that most people don’t see. I call it the ‘Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ effect. We’re exposed to traumatic incidents. We’re exposed to danger. This is part of the job, and when you put others ahead of yourself, you’re willing to make those sacrifices
-John Bolduc
“The mental health of our staff and their general wellbeing took on an elevated need over time,” Schmaderer explained. “I would say over the last 10 years, the advancements in that aspect have vastly improved. It used be, ‘train, train, train’ to ensure your physical protection, train you how to do the job the laws, the procedures, policing tactics, all designed to keep you physically safe. Now we clearly understand that there’s more to that.”
Schmaderer noted stigma as an enduring barrier to this understanding. He’s glad to see it diminishing, and he’s proud of the men and women at OPD who prioritize their health over pride and tired pejoratives.
“In the past, when I first became chief, nobody would ask for mental health support. It was viewed as a weakness,” Schmaderer said. “Now, when they ask for (support) it’s viewed as a sign of strength. They recognize what they have seen is traumatizing and could cause them problems, and they want to get that help right away. It’s a respectful endeavor.”
Indeed, peer-reviewed studies conducted in the last 20 years indicate law enforcement officers may be nearly twice as likely than the general population to suffer from depressive symptoms as a result of work-related stress and trauma. This can lead to burnout, and in severe cases, suicidal ideation. Unfortunately, these realities went largely undressed until the turn of the century.
Schmaderer drew comparisons to the shift taken by the armed forces, wherein lackadaisical terms such as ‘shell shock’ matured into serious diagnostic nomenclature, i.e. post-traumatic stress disorder. With this refinement of language came a greater comprehension of pathology and thus, preventive measures.
Beyond voluntary peer-group and counseling services, Schmaderer described an agency-wide ‘early warning tracking system,’ which alerts command staff of behavioral patterns indicative of diminished mental fitness. If an officer appears to be spiraling, direct intervention can be a career, even life-saving act.
“This early warning system keeps track of nearly every aspect of every officer's career. ‘How many times have you been in pursuit? ‘How many times, within the month, have you used force?’ ‘How many times you’ve been off on sick leave?’ You name it,” Schmaderer explained. “And sometimes, when you get that alert, you have to reach out to that employee. And oftentimes we find that employee is going through a divorce, or where they’ve lost a loved one, and that allows us to get them help.
“The last thing I want is an employee that’s a police officer that’s there to make things
better suffering themselves. And it’s a huge thing for me as chief, not only for my employees, but for the macro-health of the community and department. It’s imperative that we make sure their mental wellbeing is solid at all times.”
Still, Schmaderer acknowledged how difficult being vulnerable, especially among peers, can be. He also admits to stifling his emotions throughout much of his own career, as was customary for his time. And stepping into leadership roles, he often felt compelled to put on a brave face for the sake of his subordinates.
“If I could say anything to any CEO or police chief out there, it’s: take care of yourself too. Because there was a time when I didn’t, I just was so concerned about everybody else,” Schmaderer said, recalling the fatal shooting of on-duty Officer Kerrie Orozco in 2015 as a major inflection point in his career. “Obviously, after the death of Kerrie Orozco, I spent my time ensuring my staff was well…and it wasn’t until after her funeral, (that) it hit me like a ton bricks.”
He continued, “As chief, I make sure my people are taken care of, but I also want to lead by example...and so I have somebody that I regularly talk to about every six months and we go to lunch. It’s something I look forward to.”
Through it all, Schmaderer remains a perennial optimist. He believes breakthroughs in policing training, technology, community relations, and of course, the wellness of his officers aren’t just exponential, but a bellwether for the advancement of society.
Omaha, with its relatively low crime rate and high trust in law enforcement, is where this belief has found praxis, and to Schmaderer’s credit, compelling results.
Still, progress never sleeps.
“In 2017, I made a public plea...to have more beds in the community, more resources for mental health, and this community stepped up tremendously,” Schmaderer said. “My plea today is this: we need more mental health providers. More of these professional employees that can come in and fill these voids, fill these jobs.
“That unique subset is hard to find, right?” He remarked.
That ‘unique subset’ is the domain of Shelley Pool. A licensed therapist working directly for the Omaha Police Department, she’s one of six mental health professionals (one for each precinct) who comprise the Co-Responder, or CORE, squad of OPD’s Behavioral Health and Wellness Unit.
She’s not there to practice psychotherapy on the officers. Rather, her support of the department is hands-on, utilizing her expertise to assist officers by request or fielding calls and dispatching on her own pending the security of a given scene.
She’d first heard of ‘co-responders’ decades prior, when the idea of licensed mental health professionals aiding officers during nonviolent, mental-health related emergencies was an intriguing but largely theoretical prospect. Formerly a principal at the faith-based Omaha Street School, she jumped at the opportunity to turn theory into a “dream job” with the OPD when the co-responder pilot program was fully integrated in 2020.
“Lutheran Family Services had a mobile crisis team, which was started and headed by my boss, Lindsay Kroll, and that had been around seven or eight years,” Pool said. “And then I think OPD began to see the need for mental health assistance with consumers because officers were attending so many non-law enforcement calls and mental health calls. Lindsay was able to transition into OPD and start our own co-responder program which is very unique because we’re embedded in the police department, right? Most police departments contract with social service agencies.”
Stationed at the northeast precinct, Pool is issued her own radio, call signs, and city vehicle. Typical calls include suicide intervention, on-site shock and grief mediation, and any situation that may be better served by de-escalation, active listening, and a measured dose of empathy. Follow-up is another important function of Pool’s job, checking up on individuals post-crisis and connecting them with resources and agencies throughout Omaha. However, the earlier Pool can shift the trajectory of a crisis, the better helping callers to avoid pricey ambulance rides and hospital stays, or even hard landings behind bars.
“People just really, truly want to be listened to, and being in crisis is a rollercoaster,” Pool explained. “Somebody could call requesting police because they have a loved one who’s stating they’re suicidal and very much intending to complete suicide. But then, once officers arrive, co-responders arrive and begin to interact and through (our) training, understanding what questions to ask, using those basic active listening skills and mirroring back and reflecting what people are saying they’re being heard, and that helps bring that crisis at the moment down.”
continued on pg.44
Celebrating a Century of Communit y Talent
Nancy Whit ted and the Omaha Community Playhouse Gala
A magical cottage seems ideal for a scarred war veteran and a nondescript woman to fall in love under tall trees and twinkling lights that cast a cozy springtime glow.
“Sometimes, we don’t realize when we are in an enchanted space,” said Marilyn Schooley Hansen, owner of The Designers.
Hansen hopes people will feel like they’ve stepped into a production of The Enchanted Cottage at The Century Gala on Apri l 5, 2025.
The fundraiser celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Omaha Community Playhouse. Hansen and four other designers had an opportunity to select one play as inspiration to transform a room for the gala that represented a 20-year period. Hansen drew 19251945, selecting The Enchanted Cottage, which starred Dodie Brando and Jayne Fonda at the Mary Cooper Dance Studio.
Tony and Grammy award winner John Lloyd Young, who starred as Frankie Valli in the Broadway production of Jersey Boys, will perform the night of the gala, and VIP ticket holders can meet him afterward backstage. Before his fame, Young acted in the Omaha Community Playhouse production of A Christmas Carol
“In Omaha, our playhouse gives people a chance,” Hansen explained.
The vision behind the gala belongs to longtime active volunteer Nancy Whitted, who stepped up to co-chair the event with Emily Tonniges. Bruce and Pam Friedlander serve as honorary chairs.
Whitted’s blue eyes grew soft as she reminisced over a heavy scrapbook fi lled with photographs, quotes, and clippings of a Some Enchanted Evening celebration when she was president of the now-obsolete ACT II guild
in 2002. Whitted wanted to bring back the timeless elegance of previous galas, enlisting resolute volunteers who love t he theater.
“It celebrates the past and looks forward to the future,” Wh itted said.
After moving to the metro in 1972, Whitted and her husband, Warren Jr., ushered the fi rst Sunday of every production, when the OCP recruited young couples from Creighton University. The couple also took tickets, handed out drinks, and enjoyed the plays while making like-minded friends for five years. Whitted, a kindergarten teacher at the time, recalls not having money to spend on tickets, so sometimes it felt like a date night.
“I think it was a smart thing for the playhouse to do to support the program,” Whitted said. “We’ve gone for years. It’s fabulous ente rtainment .”
The city embraced them, and under her watchful eyes as chairperson of the drive, membership rose to 10,000 in 1979. The mother of two children felt determined to stay involved in various volunteer projects to keep busy in the community. Whitted learned this attitude growing up in Fairmont, Nebraska, where giving back became part of life. The family moved to Hastings, Nebraska for seven years, but Whitted continued her work on their return to Oma ha in 1987.
The legacy of her charitable contributions spans two pages of serving and leading organizations, including the Joslyn Art Museum Association, the Lauritzen Garden Antique and Garden Show, and the Aksarben Foundation Women’s Ball Committee.
The latter seemed like a full-circle moment, since the former University of Nebraska Lincoln senior met Warren Jr. when he escorted her as a counte ss in 1971.
“If people didn’t give back, how would things get done?” Whitted, 74, asked. “I volunteer because I want to see these institutions continue, and it feels so good to help an org anization.”
Whitted seems soft-spoken, but the fierce woman knows how to manage something as important as The Century Gala. A black, gold-embossed “save the date” card demonstrates the classy instinct of the committee, which includes long-time theater advocate Cheryl Wild Goodrich.
Goodrich mentioned she jumped at the opportunity to work with the “oldie goldies” again, especially with Whitted and a “go-getter” like Tonniges at her side.
“(Nancy) will always show up. She does it with her whole heart and soul. When I found out she would be chair, I said, ‘Hell, yeah, put me on the board,’” Goodrich, 75, said.
Goodrich used to give tours and served on the ACT II guild board, volunteering her time from 1989 to 2009. She feels the gala has “emerged from the ashes” after disappearing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I loved the idea. Whenever I would go to a gala, it was like entering another world of wonder. You almost believe you are in the magic itself,” Good rich added.
Part of that magic means designers must transform their room sections, daring dressed-up guests to step into the sets of Bye Bye Birdie, A Christmas Carol, Th e Rocky Horror Picture Show, Jersey Boys, and Th e Enchanted Cottage. Hansen, who once played a nun in The Sound of Music in 1970 at the theater, decided to come back to “pull out all the stops” for this festival. However, she reminded designer Richard White that “we cannot have a dead person in a coffi n” for The Rocky Horror Picture Show space.
Profile Story by Lisa Lukecart
Photography by Sarah Lemke Design by Rachel Birdsall
“To me, it’s like a fantasy evening, wandering around and celebrating 100 years,” Hansen said. “I can’t top that next year. Th is is like the big deal, the big event.”
It adds ambiance during dinner and cocktails at the 50 tables of eight while reminding those in attendance of the challenging work that goes into the theater.
“It is the premiere, longest-lasting community theater,” said Keith Allerton, the developmental specialist of the Omaha Community Playhouse. “It takes a lot of manpower.”
Allerton, along with his wife and the executive director, Becky Noble, talked to Young after watching his performance in Des Moines, Iowa.
Despite the time and effort of putting on a gala, those like Goodrich believe it makes her feel young again. She realizes the need to tap into the younger generation like Tonniges, hoping this revival by the “oldie goldies” will spark momentum to continue fi lling the big shoes of those like Whitted and others who have served the community for years.
Hansen knows raising money for the upkeep of the playhouse remains vital, especially since the last renovation happened in 1975. Plus, the Omaha Community Playhouse lends a sense of belonging to Whitted, Hansen, and Goodrich, who see the importance of continuing theater in Omaha.
“Once it is in your blood, it’s addictive,” Hansen said, whose daughter, like Whitted’s son, played a part in A Christmas Carol.
“It captures your imagination when you watch a play live,” Goodrich believes.
“There is nothing like live theater,” Whit ted agreed.
Whitted feels confi dent that cocktails, dinner, fanciful décor, and an outstanding performance will draw newcomers and regulars to the gala. The throwback should draw a crowd who recall the appeal of a superb night of entertainment.
Whitted brings out a purple tote, pulls out a packed gala notebook, and glances through the pages.
“Th is will be my swan song,” Whitted said, but with the current community activities on her agenda and her commitment to the theater, one wonders if this stalwart advocate is serious.
continued from pg.39
Beyond providing unique skills and access to service networks, time is among the most valuable resources managed by Pool and her unit. Last year, co-responders intercepted a large volume of 911 dispatches, keeping cruisers on the move by de-escalating 425 crises over the phone.
“The average mental health call takes 60-90 minutes for two officers. That’s a lot of officer time being taken for nonenforcement calls, right?” Pool said.
As for Pool herself, the role hasn’t just been rewarding, it’s been revelatory.
“It has been so rewarding to be in this position and see what police officers do. Prior to taking this job, working in an alternative school, my opinion would flip-flop frequently based on how I would see officers and my school families interact,” she said. “Now that I’m on the law enforcement side, I see the heart and compassion of the officers, but now I (also) understand why safety has to be first...and it’s just really been a good experience for both sides to grow together in our program—to realize you can be present and have authority, but you can do that in a way that’s building rapport (with the community).”
With OPD’s inaugural in-house Crisis Response Intervention Team session held the week of Feb. 3, organized and led by the Behavioral Health and Wellness Unit, Pool is excited for yet another opportunity to build upon this foundation of trust and mutual respect. In the meantime, her colleagues in uniform continue to impress.
“One of my favorite parts about my job is to pull up to a scene and watch an officer who’s had a rough day, maybe they were on the scene of an accident or children died, and now we’re here with this frequent caller with mental health issues,” she added. “But they’re just so calm and patient and compassionate with their voice tone.
“Their resiliency just continues to amaze me.”
Just down the hall at the northeast precinct, her words are echoed by Lt. Dan Martin, exchanging the singsong quality of Pool’s voice for a brusque, staccato delivery tempered by 20 years on the force.
“Some of the qualities you need to be a successful police officer are grace, compassion,” Martin said. “You see everybody on their worst day. But, in my opinion, you shouldn’t judge someone on their worst day. We’ve all been there, we’ve all had bad days. We’ve all been through things in our lives, and everybody’s going through something different. We’re human, and we err.”
Martin continued, “And you know, unfortunately, we have to see a lot of that, and you just hope at the end of it, they become better people.”
This grace extends to his fellow officers. As vice president of the Omaha Police Officer’s Association, and with 36 officers and three sergeants under his command, Martin is well acquainted with the peaks and valleys of the profession.
“I think cops are professionals, and a lot of times, whether healthy or not, compartmentalize different aspects (of the job),” Martin said. “I highly recommend everybody go talk to a therapist or a counselor, clergy member, good friend, because a lot of times cops want to keep it inside...I’ve talked to other police officers that sit in the parking lot and cry before they go home, because they need to get it out, or they need to talk to someone, because they need to go home and be a good father or a good mother and a good spouse.”
Indeed, there are some circumstances that simply can’t be dealt with alone. Martin, with clear difficulty, recounted a particularly harrowing call to which he and fellow officers in the northeast precinct recently responded. Some circumstances, he’s quick to acknowledge, defy experience—rattling both rookies and seasoned vets to their cores.
“We were originally dispatched to a shooting,” Martin began. “Based on our experiences in the past, the way this was dispatched, it sounded like it was going to be an adult that shot themselves. Suicide. Still tragic, but something we see more regularly.
“I was the second one there after a two-officer unit showed up—and these guys are some of the best. They’re SWAT, highly trained, veteran. And I could tell, turning the corner, that their stress level was up based on the radio traffic. And a ‘help’ was actually put out, which is a city wide call for all cars. And if those guys are putting something like that out, I know it’s got be pretty bad...so I go into the house expecting to see an adult who had shot themselves, and I see on of my officers performing CPR on a 6-year-old girl… not what I was expecting. It was a chaotic scene, a lot of family, a lot of kids. And you also, at this point, have a crime scene to maintain—but how do you balance that with compassion for the family? These people are going through something I’ve never seen or experienced on a personal level. Their child, their sister, their brother, has been tragically killed. You feel horrible, but you also need to maintain control so the medics can get in. It could potentially be a crime scene with charges, or it could be an unfortunate accident. A lot of things go through your head at the time, and it's kind of a blur.
“I haven’t gone back to watch the bodyworn camera…I don’t want to.”
Martin emphasized that he’s “not the victim” here. His primary concern during the subsequent debrief was the wellbeing of the victim’s family. He’s remained in contact, even raising funds along with others in the precinct over the Christmas season to aid them in their time of crisis.
“We see things in law enforcement that most people don’t see. I call it the ‘Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ effect."
-Col. John Bolduc
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Martin and other responding officers were contacted by peer support and other OPD counseling resources. He’s glad that the department has become “more proactive” in this regard, and considers it a strong indicator of OPD’s progress in officer mental health care.
“I think that’s really good,” he said. “Because we can’t help people if we’re hurt or broken, too...We’re human beings, and if this doesn’t affect you, then you’re probably not normal.”
Scenes such as these represent some of the most heartbreaking, challenging aspects of an officer’s career. Yet, as Bolduc is quick to point out, there’s far greater weight to the ‘Good’ in the ‘The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly’ equation of the work. Schmaderer couldn’t agree more:
“Law enforcement is a very unique profession. In my opinion, it’s the greatest profession on earth,” Schmaderer affirmed. “When I have an employee retire, they’ll spend 15 minutes with me to talk about their career. And one thing I’ve noticed, that they all say, is ‘This job went so fast.’ And I’ve analyzed that statement, because no other career says that. Because you were making a difference, because you were making an impact, you were dealing with things that were high-octane. You were having fun with the camaraderie of your coworkers. You were getting satisfaction from helping others, and you were able to take care of yourself along the way."
For more information, visit police.cityofomaha.org and statepatrol.nebraska.gov.
Morale & Recruitment
Law enforcement agencies across the board have experienced declines in recruiting and morale. From processing and screening officers that only require a high school diploma to family engagement specialists that require a degree in criminal justice, there are plenty of open positions in the field—largely due to public perception.
With a law enforcement career spanning nearly 36 years, Sarpy County Sheriff Greg London has seen public support for the profession rise and fall with the temperature of the sociopolitical climate. Still, few events rival the fallout of 2020, when the murder of George Floyd sparked nationwide backlash and the birth of the “defund the police” movement.
“(When) law enforcement was hit with the George Floyd, Derek Chauvin incident…it really made law enforcement look terrible, (and) rightfully so,” London said. “George Floyd was killed, and so law enforcement as a whole probably deserved some criticism. However, it was one bad apple. Thankfully, (Chauvin’s) not wearing a badge anymore.”
London was sworn in as sheriff in January of this year, taking the helm after Sheriff Jeff Davis—who started as a 911 dispatcher and climbed to the position of sheriff over 35 years of service—retired. He also sits on a board that reviews professional misconduct, and admits that “even in Nebraska, once in a while, people have to give up their certification because of stupidity on their part.”
Still, London maintains a positive outlook. Though recruitment certainly declined post-2020, Sarpy County was and remains well-positioned to fill its ranks. This is due to the department’s proximity to Offutt Air Force Base, wherein soldiers can make an easy transition from military service to law enforcement, and its close ties area universities.
“We have a lot of alumni from UNO (University of Nebraska at Omaha) that work for us, and it’s a way we’re always trying to recruit, right? And we have a lot of Bellevue University graduates, too,” London explained. “We’ve got Offutt Air Force Base in our backyard…They want to serve, they want to help their community; help their country. I think most people still think it’s a noble profession.”
However, it’s not necessarily the quantity of recent recruitments that has London feeling confident in his new role, but the quality.
“A third of our deputies, we’ve hired in the last four years,” London said. “But I tell you, I am really impressed with our younger generation, because they get after it. They’re not lazy, they’re very detailed; they’re motivated, they’re energized. I am very pleased with what I see.
“So I’ve had people ask me, ‘Are you concerned about being sheriff? Are you anxious? Are you stressed about it?’ No I’m not. We have a really strong department. I’m not worried about any of those issues.”
in the Wake of
“Defund the Police”
STORY BY JULIUS FREDRICK
OMAHA’S HEALTH AND WELLNESS COMMUNITY FOR VETERANS
GIVING SPOTLIGHT
STORY BY Tamsen Butler
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Sarah Lemke
DESIGN BY Rachel Birdsall
erving in the military brings with it unique challenges, but also allows service members the opportunity to experience a camaraderie that can only come with relying on others. When service members make their exit from the military, the lack of camaraderie and purpose can feel like a profound loss.
Veterans have a higher suicide rate than the general population, making the need for a supportive community necessary. Team Red, White & Blue, or Team RWB, a national nonprofit organization, is “America’s health and wellness community for veterans” with more than 250,000 members and supporters, and more than 600 volunteers throughout the nation.
The Omaha chapter of Team RWB is led by chapter captain Rob Cordray, a veteran of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserve. A financial adviser with Edward Jones, he volunteers to lead the Omaha RWB chapter for a variety of reasons—chief among them is the desire to ensure fellow veterans have a community to call their own and that no veteran feels abandoned.
He originally joined Team RWB in 2015 after some RWB ambassadors visited his reserve unit in Lincoln, where he was the detachment commander. He started attending events, but when COVID-19 took over the nation, many of the local RWB activities were forced into being done remotely. Then, two things happened: the pandemic restrictions eased, allowing for more in-person activities, and Cordray lost some friends to suicide. He then felt compelled to step into a leadership role.
“I was just motivated to do something, and I remembered RWB and the mission it stands for,” he said, adding that he wanted to provide the community to others that he found when he originally joined.
“I wanted to serve,” Cordray said.
Ron Roen and his wife, Shannon, are Team RWB members—Ron as a veteran, and Shannon as a spouse and advocate. Ron, who retired as a Naval intelligence officer, found new purpose when he joined the organization in 2015. He’s active within several veterans’ organizations and urges veterans to “research the programs (they’re) most interested in, because there are many,” but added that Team RWB is a “great environment with nice people.” Shannon agreed, stating that she always feels welcome at Team RWB events even though she isn’t a veteran.
Together, members of the Omaha chapter of Team RWB enjoy an impressive variety of activities from which to choose, nearly all of which are either free or offered at a significant discount. And though most events feature physical activity as the focus, sometimes RWB members simply gather to mingle and
trade stories, such as during monthly game nights or the monthly Monday Morning Coffee at Starbucks on 72nd Street and Highway 370, which is a meeting point for, and a sponsor of, Team RWB.
Community support for Omaha’s chapter of Team RWB has been pivotal in the organization’s success. In addition to the Starbucks store that provides space, snacks, and drinks for Team RWB, Victory Boxing Club provides Team RWB members the space and the coaches for a challenging, fun workout once a month.
Coach Servando Perales of Victory Boxing Club, who saw a feature about Team RWB on a local news show, reached out to Cordray to offer his gym space. Perales, who has a son in the Army, is an advocate for veterans and an enthusiastic supporter of Team RWB.
Achieve Physical Therapy in Bellevue opens its doors to RWB members for the annual “Murph” workout—a Memorial Day tradition in which participants run one mile, then do 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, and 300 squats, followed by another one-mile run. The challenging workout is in honor of Lt. Michael Murphy, a Navy officer who died while serving in Afghanistan.
Activities hosted by Team RWB’s Omaha chapter for members include a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu clinic, rock climbing, yoga, boxing, Saturday morning workouts with a certified personal trainer, walks, runs, and more. Upcoming events include a SCUBA seminar and preparation for races, such as the Lincoln half marathon in May and the 50 Mile March in August.
The affiliation between Team RWB and 50 Mile March blossomed in 2024, when Cordray and other leadership from the Omaha chapter signed up for the challenging 22-hour march from Lincoln to Omaha that benefits homeless veterans. Cordray pursued a partnership with 50 Mile March because, much like when he was in the military, he saw the benefit of different branches working together toward a common goal. “In a cooperative fashion, we can be more impactful,” he said.
The Omaha chapter of Team RWB is growing, offering local veterans and advocates ample opportunities to gather. Cordray said that veterans of all ages and ability levels are “welcomed with open arms. There’s no cost or obligation to join. Members can attend what they want to attend—and we’re free!”
For more information or to join for free, visit teamrwb.org.
GIVING CALENDAR
MARCH/APRIL 2025
COMPILED
BY
ISABELLA M c ATEE
March 1
HEAT THE STREETS RUN & WALK FOR WARMTH
Benefits: Metropolitan Utilities District and Omaha Public Power District
Location: Aksarben Village — heatthestreetsomaha.com
March 1
OMA ART TALKS WINTER + SPRING 2025
Benefits: Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
Location: Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts — bemiscenter.org/events
Location: Garland Thompson Men’s Center Chapel — opendoormission.org
March 5
STRONGER TOGETHER
Benefits: Completely Kids
Location: Completely Kids on Mary’s Avenue — completelykids.org/events/stronger-together/
March 6
LECTURE: LISA SUTCLIFFE
Benefits: Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts
Location: Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts — bemiscenter.org/events
March 6
CELEBRITY CHEF - WITH A NEW TWIST!
Benefits: Food Bank for the Heartland
Location: CHI Health Center — foodbankheartland.org/celebrity-chef-2025/
March 8
34TH ANNUAL SPORTS FOR KIDS BENEFIT AUCTION
Benefits: Sports for Kids Foundation
Location: DC Centre — sportsforkidsfoundation.com/auction
March 9
FEATURED EVENT
March 6
CELEBRITY CHEF - WITH A NEW TWIST!
Benefits: Food Bank for the Heartland
Location: CHI Health Center
— https://foodbankheartland.org/celebrity-chef-2025/ Omaha chefs David Utterback, Tim Nicholson, and Nick Strawhecker join celebrity chef Tom Colicchio for a night of culinary competition. Colicchio has won eight James Beard Awards, bringing this event to an even higher level amongst the accolades of Omaha’s local chefs. Besides a delicious meal, guests will be able to enjoy an auction featuring tasting menus and vacations, along with enjoying the Celebrity Chef program. Table Sponsorships are also available, which even include signed cookbooks from Colicchio. In supporting this event, Foodbank for the Heartlands will be able to provide 2.1 million meals to those struggling with food insecurity.
28TH ANNUAL ART & SOUP FUNDRAISER
Benefits: Visting Nurse Association
Location: Omaha Design Center — vnatoday.org/events/art-soup/
The youth football coach peered at the player in front of him. The lad had just come out of the game after a sweep where he’d been hit from behind and something about the play felt decidedly off the way the ball carrier’s arm dropped, that he fumbled, something he was never k nown to do.
Peering into the 12-year-old’s eyes, the coach searched for a telltale sign of what was amiss. He asked the usual questions: “What’s going on, Derek? Are you hurt? What’s today’s date? What’s the score?”
The athlete answered every question and appeared to settle down. A few minutes later, he stood up, screamed, “My head!” and collapsed into his coach’s arms.
Derek Ruth’s football career and life as he knew it was over. A new chapter, however, wasn’t far behind.
“I vividly remember the week leading up to my injury on the football field—September 6, 2008,” Derek said. “Everything seemed to be falling into place: my training was going well and I felt stronger and more confident than ever. But during my second game of the season I was badly hurt, and in an instant, everything changed.”
One of the things that changed irreparably for Derek, now 29, was the manner in which he communicated with others. Though he readily comprehends things said to and asked of him, his traumatic brain injury has cost him his verbal skills. He now answers questions by typing on a device.
“The hardest part of the whole experience wasn’t just the physical pain or the long recovery process; it was facing the new reality I found myself in,” he said. “Suddenly, the future I had envisioned for myself seemed uncertain. The emotional and mental challenges were just as difficult to navigate as the physical ones, but through it all, I found strength I didn’t know I had.”
The fact he even survived is miraculous. His parents remember that for days after the injury, their son couldn’t hold his head up or move his extremities. He was, as his physical therapist would later describe him, a 2-month-old infant in a 12-year- old’s body.
“I was not expected to survive the traumatic brain injury,” he said. “I endured two major life-saving brain surgeries. The injury caused me to lose the significant functions of my body, including many of the little things that
Derek Ruth’s
Extraordinary Experiences
we take for granted. I have fought through many trials and tribulations to get back to where I am today, and it has not been easy.”
Somewhere in the fog of that physical trauma, however, Derek was not alone. Today he describes several visits he received from Jesus Christ, Mother Teresa, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, important figures from his spiritual life growing up in the Catholic Church.
To this day, his parents, Jennifer and Royce, say his faith and grit were always a source of inspiration to others. As a child, he took to praying the rosary every day, and that never wavered throughout his ordeal.
“Even from the times that he had zero movement or we didn’t think that he knew what was going on or we didn’t think he was cognitive enough to understand, he would show little signs of that by trying to figure out what was going on and trying to communicate with us,” Jennifer said. “He was very determined and I think that’s continued throughout this whole thing.”
“His example of his faith is amazing,” Royce said. “I tell people all the time, I’ve learned more from him than he has learned from me in life.”
As catastrophic as the blow to his body was, Derek’s spirit hit back harder. Not only did he relearn many functions of daily living, he reclaimed his place atop the pecking order over four younger brothers through his example and drive.
His determination also led him to earn a degree in sociology in 2019 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and, most recently, he published a book, The Eight-Minute Flight, an unfl inching look at the injury and what it did to his life, his family, and his faith.
“I have always striven for greatness in all areas of life, but when life repeatedly knocked me down, there was something extraordinary that helped me drive forward,” he said. “The Eight-Minute Flight recounts some of my most pivotal life experiences up to the age of 24, through the completion of my college graduation. As you read, you’ll be able to gain insight into my personal thoughts and reflections during t hose times.”
He continued, “I hope readers walk away with a renewed sense of faith, a deeper understanding of their own strength to overcome challenges, and a reminder not to take life for granted.”
Derek Ruth’s book is available for preorder at theeightminuteflight.com.
Story
Dwain Hebda
Photography
Sarah Lemke
Design
Joey Winton
on the toe. The hard shoe has a heel and a fiberglass tip; it’s not a tap shoe because tap shoes use metal, which produces a different sound. The boy’s soft shoe has a suede sole with a heel on the back.”
No school can do the same dance at a competition or record any dance at competition. Th at drive of creativity empowers Dowds when coaching competitive dance. “Boys can do what girls do, and girls can do what boys do. There are dances only girls can do, and when coaching you try to make it as flowy and graceful as possible,” he said. With the different shoes come different styles, taps, and moves that are distinct to their home and their culture.
It all comes back to home for Dowds. His decision to start a dance studio was motivated by a desire to share his heritage with the Omaha community. “I wanted to see where it would go, see how it would develop, and here I am 12 years later, still teaching.” His goal is to teach until he’s incapable. “If I can still dance, then I’ll still do it,” he said. The mental challenge of it keeps him enga ged as well.
Dowds didn’t chase his dream—he walked alongside it with patience, grace, and drive. He never gave up on what he loves. “Be true to yourself.” The lilt of his Irish accent is a joy to hear. “It’s not always as bad as it seems, and it never will be as bad as it is.”
For more information, visit dowdsirishdance.com
continued from pg. 29
Omaha during the ’70s, you probably knew who Bill Farmer was. But we don’t want his story and contributions to be lost—an important part of the project is to document the process and to try and gather as many resources and archival material a s possible.”
To this end, Gleason has dedicated a page on the Ming Toy website for chronicling the project and highlighting discovered pieces. For those unfamiliar with Farmer’s life and career, it’ll serve as a continuously growing resource. For those like Omaha native Ann McGill, Farmer’s history lies closer to home.
“So my father, Ed McGill—he was a realtor— rented this house on 42nd and Bert to Margie and Bill Farmer,” Ann said. “(Bill) painted on the interior walls of the entire home…on one wall, he painted Mary and the ‘Women of the Well.’ In the front room, it was the ‘Good Shepherd.’”
Back in 1959, Ed didn’t mind the Farmers redecorating after moving in. In fact, he collected and reframed pieces his tenants left behind; though, not everyone who visited the home shared this delight in their eccentricities.
“(Bill) was also a carver. In the basement of the house, he was carving a ‘Christos,’ a Christ,” Ann recounted. “He actually had the arms separated from the torso and legs…and my dad sent a plumber down…and he came up screaming!”
These personal anecdotes and artistic artifacts inspired Ann to record and assemble interviews with those who encountered the Farmers, including her father who described him as “contemplative” and drawn to nature.
“My dad said that (Farmer) always tried to look at ‘the spirit of things,’ and ‘paint the spirit,’” Ann continued. “He wasn’t always given the recognition he deserved (…) he’s always been on the edge.”
In life, Farmer not only exhibited a varied and robust creative output, but invested in the next generation of Omaha artists—holding teaching positions at Creighton University, the College of St. Mary, Metropolitan Community College, and Omaha University (now the University of Nebraska at Omaha). Because of people like Dickutt, Gleason, and McGill—and countless others who Farmer’s work has touched—that legacy continues, with all proceeds from the sale of his art going toward BECAH and its programming.
“We’ve got a room that we’d like to dedicate to Tom (Rudloff ) and to Bill Farmer,” Dickutt said. “Because their lives are a story within themselves.”
For more information, visit brownville-ne.com/ creativedistrict and mingtoygallery.com.
Keepi ng the Wh eels in Motion
How Bike Walk Nebraska Helps the Community Keep Riding Feature
Story
By Chris Hatch
Photography by Sarah Lemke
Design by Renee Ludwick
Like the bicycle itself, that pedal-powered motion machine that provides exploration and transportation to so many, there are two key components to what Bike Walk Nebraska does in the city of Omaha and the state of Nebraska: safety for those who need it most, be they pedestrians, bikers, or other vulnerable road users, and a team of fierce defenders who are willing to work in a variety of ways to maintain that safety.
But, as with the whirring gears and metal spokes and chains, there are many more moving pieces to what Bike Walk Nebraska provides its people—some clearly visible and tangible, others as imperceptible as a smooth gear shift when pedaling downhill.
“A lot of our work is focused on cycling and pedestrians, but we also look at safe streets and safe transportation systems as a whole for other vulnerable road users,” said Cait Dumas-Hein, associate director of Bike Walk Nebraska. “So, those would be postal service workers, construction workers, utility workers, motorcyclists, folks who utilize a mobility device. So really, we work to advocate for the safe and accessible transportation options of anything that’s not a car.”
There is a freedom to biking, a kind of blank page—a travel diary entry being written in real time with two legs and fresh Nebraska air. But there can also be dangers and red tape and all the potholes—literal and metaphorical— that come with this kind of humanmade speed.
Bike Walk Nebraska makes sure that they are there for the fun, joyous, rocket-propelled rides of young children on rural paths as well as the scheduled, methodical, pedaling of people on their way to the office with a different kind of metro commute.
They do this by focusing on getting the legislation to match the demand, the infrastructure to support the people who rely on it for safe thoroughfares and throughways and proving that a more bike-friendly Omaha is a more connected Omaha.
In doing this difficult work, there has certainly been progress and wins for the biking community.
“There’s a multitude of plans and proposals that have existed within our city,” Dumas-Hein said, lauding the steps taken by the city over the past 10 years.
“Over the last decade, there’ve been really great investments into our bike share system. (There's) Heartland Bike Share System, which is phenomenal, and we have some really great work happening
with trails in Omaha—like the North Omaha trail is phenomenal, the Beltline trail in Omaha, the South Omaha trail. Those have all been really necessary connected pathways.”
But, at times, the team at Bike Walk Nebraska has found themselves pedaling uphill, digging into the steep incline of lack of funding and some recent statistical analysis that doesn’t exactly pop off the page in a positive manner.
“Where Omaha is lacking, or where there needs to be more accelerated investment, is on street protected infrastructure from River Metro Area. And we used to have a singular protected bikeway, the one that was the Market to Midtown bikeway the last few years,” Dumas-Hein said. “That was just a pilot project that was recently taken out because they’re doing construction on that road for the (upcoming) street car. So it’ll be out for the foreseeable future, three or four years now, but for that to be our only protected bikeway inside the city of Omaha, it’s just not meeting the needs. It’s not providing a safe, accessible, connected transportation system for Omaha citizens.”
The team at Bike Walk Nebraska is looking to gather more information in an effort to show empirical evidence to go with the anecdotal stories of the passionate local biking community. They know that to continue to work directly with and impact local legislators, they need more information.
“We will be having a report of the entire state published here shortly,” DumasHein revealed. “Beyond what we will have with an Omaha-specific analysis, and we’ve seen nearly a 183% increase in vulnerable road user fatalities in 2024 in comparison to 2023, so Omaha streets are not a safe space for people who are not in cars.”
The team at Bike Walk Nebraska wants to ensure that all bike riders in the state of Nebraska, be they riding down the 187miles of crushed limestone surfaces of the Cowboy Trail that connect the western parts of the state, or the vibrant 8 miles of the tree-encircled North Omaha Trail, are safe, healthy, and happy.
-Cait Dumas-Hein
"We work to advocate for the safe and accessible transportation options of anything that’s not a car.”
Working with other bike-centric organizations throughout the state has enabled Bike Walk Nebraska to expand their impact. They realize that where there are bikes, there are people, and where there are people, there are economic opportunities.
“We do a lot of collaborative projects with fellow organizations across the state. So, we are pretty hand in hand with say, Nebraska Trails Foundation,” Dumas-Hein explained. “We are able to help with trail development and the economic development that comes with other tourism, but then also able to say, ‘OK, now you have a trail in your town. How can we be supportive? To be safer, to be more used, to be part of your transportation system.’”
One of those organizations that has worked closely with Dumas-Hein and her team is the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA). The organization has an agreement with six counties in Nebraska to help plan, fund, and execute transportation improvement plans, and has teamed with Bike Walk Nebraska on a variety of projects.
“I think a lot of where Bike Walk Nebraska has been particularly effective is within the policy environment and advocating at the state level and the local level for changes in policy,” said MAPA Executive Director Mike Helgerson. “And a couple examples of that was when, early on in Bike Walk Nebraska, soon after their formation, they were a really key stakeholder in the development of Omaha’s Complete Streets Policy.”
The Complete Streets Policy, completed in 2015 and still in effect today, has had a lasting legacy on the local biking community, with bike share programs, new signage, and various studies that have been implemented since then to help better understand the numbers of bikers and the number of pedestrians at key flow-points throughout the city. It included a commitment to be a “Bicycle Friendly Community,” a designation that it re-upped in 2019 for another 5 years.
Bike Walk Nebraska is also determined to aid those with little to no biking experience in discovering the freedom of human-powered transportation. No car, no problem.
“One thing we do is we offer free learn-toride classes to adults and older teens,” said Dumas-Hein. “It’s a two-hour class for people who want to come to either learn or relearn how to ride a bike. We do that in conjunction with a handful of partners in Omaha and Lincoln.”
The organization provides helmets, and bike lights, and allows people a judgment-free
zone to learn how to ride a bike. They are currently looking to expand this project to different areas of the city, one pedal at a time.
In 2025 and beyond, Bike Walk Nebraska and MAPA are both looking to continue making Omaha a more bike-accessible home to the residents of the city. According to Helgerson, Bike Walk Nebraska has already been on the cutting edge of providing new and innovative methods to keep bikers safe in the heart of the city.
“Through the Metro Smart Cities Collaborative, Bike Walk Nebraska facilitated the temporary bikeway on Harney Street, and that project was the first of its kind within Omaha,” he said. “And so that project, I think, is pretty innovative in many ways, one just from the facilitation of doing that kind of a project and Bike Walk was really kind of put in the driver's seat to deliver that.”
Bike Walk Nebraska and MAPA’s work together doesn’t stop at the implementation level—they are continually looking to study the impact of their work to improve biking in the state.
“They really focused a lot on evaluation,” Helgerson said. “And ‘how do we know that this is successful? How do we communicate that? How do we make sure that what we learned through this process is replicable and the benefits can be shared and actually put into future projects?’ And I think those are kind of two different realms where I’ve seen them be really effective.”
Bike Walk Nebraska, much like its namesake, has that same ethos at the core of their organization: forward motion is the answer. As such, they are constantly moving forward, keeping their eyes on the horizon and their wheels spinning.
They do this by embracing new technology, with their work on e-bikes leading the way in local legislative sessions and their new website featuring an encyclopedic database of ways in which bicycling enthusiasts can find the resources they need to reach out to local officials or get in touch with biking organizations.
“60% of adults would choose to ride if they had a safe space to do so,” Dumas-Hein said, “if they were removed from traffic or had a buffer from drivers. Yes, people want to ride.”
Visit bikewalknebraska.org for more information.
Dive into Nebraska Ever After, your go-to source for local wedding inspiration. Discover stunning vendors, the latest wedding trends, and everything you need to make your big day unforgettable. Locally produced and filled with real wedding stories, expert resources, and so much more. Let us help you plan your perfect day!
OBVIOUSLY OMAHA
COMPILED
BY
NATALIE VELOSO // DESIGN
BY
JOEY WINTON
Celebrate Spr in g in Omaha:
Six Upcoming Festivals to Add to Your Calendar
pring ushers in a season of renewal, and there's no better way to embrace the changing weather than with Omaha's lively festivals. As the city blossoms, so do these vibrant events packed with entertainment, tasty food, and fun for everyone. Whether it's running through colorful powders or enjoying local wines, these six festivals are an ideal way to welcome the season.
Holi Run – Festival of Colors (April)
13136 Faith Plz, Omaha, NE 68144 | facebook.com/holirunomaha
As one of the most colorful experiences of the spring, this event is a celebration of the Hindu festival of Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors. Participants are invited to run, walk, or dance through bursts of vibrant color powder on the Tri-Faith Initiative campus. Live music pumps up the energy, and food and refreshments are available to refuel after the fun-filled run. Attendees are encouraged to wear white—by the end, they'll be walking masterpieces.
Junkstock: Spring Edition (April–May)
1150 River Road Dr., Waterloo, NE 68069 | junkstock.com
Junkstock: Spring Edition takes place over two weekends in late April and early May, bringing the one-of-a-kind festival back to the historic Sycamore Farms in Waterloo. Known for its eclectic mix of antiques, vintage treasures, and artisanal goods, this spring festival draws shoppers from near and far. With over 200 vendors offering everything from upcycled furniture to handmade jewelry, there's plenty to explore at this true celebration of all things rustic and creative.
Sip Nebraska Spring Festival (May)
TOAST Nebraska Wine Festival (May)
2285 S. 67th St., Omaha, NE 68106 | toastwinefest.com
Join the largest gathering of Nebraska wineries at the TOAST Nebraska Wine Festival, held annually at Stinson Park in Aksarben Village. This event celebrates the state's growing wine industry, offering guests the chance to taste wines from at least 17 local wineries. General admission includes unlimited tastings, a wine tote, and access to artisan vendors, music, and dancing. Educational sessions also provide an opportunity for wine enthusiasts to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of Nebraska’s diverse wine offerings.
Renaissance Festival of Nebraska (May)
11001 S. 48th St., Papillion, NE 68133 | renfestnebraska.com
Travel back in time to the days of knights, royalty, and thrilling jousts at the Renaissance Festival of Nebraska, hosted at Bellevue Berry Farm in Papillion. For the first three weekends of May, attendees can experience medieval-themed festivities, including full-contact jousting, live performances, and an array of costumed characters. Visitors can also wander through the market, interact with skilled artisans, and indulge in turkey legs and other festival foods.
Cinco de Mayo Festival (May)
The Cinco de Mayo Festival in Omaha celebrates the rich Latino culture with a weekend full of music, food, and family fun. Held on historic South 24th Street, this vibrant festival draws over 200,000 visitors annually for its colorful parade, live entertainment, carnival rides, and diverse food offerings. The parade, one of the largest in Nebraska, kicks off the festivities each year by showcasing local talent and cultural pride. 1 3 5 2 4 6
28500 W Park Hwy, Ashland, NE 68003 | blurevents.com/sip-spring Wine, beer, and spirits enthusiasts will want to make their way to E.T. Mahoney State Park for the 12th Annual Sip Nebraska Spring Festival. This beloved event showcases the best of Nebraska's beverage scene, offering unlimited tastings from local wineries, craft breweries, and distilleries among the scenic beauty of Mahoney State Park. In addition to tastings, visitors can browse artisan vendors, indulge in food truck delights, and enjoy live music for a laid-back spring weekend with a live DJ and club lights, creating a party-like workout that’s equal parts nightclub and fitness class.
2314 M St., Omaha, NE 68107 | cdmomaha.com
The night of Ruhlman’s Steakhouse’s grand opening, 90 mileper-hour winds swept through Ashland, knocking the power out and wreaking havoc throughout the small Nebraska town and its surrounding areas. But miraculously, Ruhlman’s was spared and the event went on as planned.
“We had an entire full house for the grand opening; every seat was taken and we didn't lose power,” founder Philip Ruhlman recalled. “It was very, very unusual and strange. The next day, OPPD pulled the power down to repair everything around us. But our freezers, coolers, everything held up and we didn't get shut down.”
It’s a small symbol of the kind of success Ruhlman has experienced with the business. Before the brick-and-mortar opened in August 2024, Ruhlman’s Steakhouse had tested the waters for more than a year with its own food truck in an effort to build its customer base. People loved its selection of culinary delights, including the famous “smash burger,” RFactor brat, double bacon smash, and chili cheese jalapeño fries.
Chef John Benton, a graduate of the world-renowned culinary arts program at Johnson & Wales University, crafted all of the food truck items and is now the head chef at Ruhlman’s Steakhouse.
“When I knew I was going to do a restaurant, I was smart enough to know that you can’t just decide you’re going to do something you’ve never done before and be successful at it,” Ruhlman explained. “I reached out to a friend and said, ‘Would you introduce me to Willy Theisen?’”
Theisen, the founder of Godfather’s Pizza, obliged, met up with Ruhlman for a business meeting, and never looked back.
“I said ‘Willy, I need a master’s or a doctorate in restaurant science because I’m going to open this restaurant with or without it, and it would be a lot better to have it with that—would you be my chief consultant and adviser?’” Ruhlman remembered. Theisen agreed. At Theisen’s request, Ruhlman was introduced to Chef O’Malley at Metro Culinary School, who introduced him to Benton.
“I said, ‘John, I can’t pay you until the steakhouse opens and this going to be at least a year, but I will buy a food truck if you’ll join me and we’ll do as much as we possibly can to market our business,” Ruhlman said. “Once he said yes, I knew he had the right heart.”
Th at was three years ago. With Benton behind the line, Ruhlman’s Steakhouse has
flourished. From the crispy arancini, fritto misto, and house corned pastrami reuben to harvest boards, steakhouse Cobb salads, and French onion soup, the menu is full of diverse options— and those aren’t even part of the main courses. There’s the pasta, which includes the crispy chicken mac n’ cheese, and lots of steaks. The fi let mignon, New York strip, delmonico-style ribeye, and wood roasted pork secreto are staples on the menu, and Chef Benton even has his own dry-aged Connealy Angus beef selection on any g iven night.
Ruhlman, who was an executive at Gallup for 32 years (22 of those years he spent as the Omaha company’s chief information officer), fell in love with Ashland’s business community and the people, prompting him to invest. At this point, he might as well be mayor, although he’s confident he doesn’t want to be in politics.
“It’s a really nice, unique town that’s really growing,” he said. “When you invest $60 million in new schools, it begins to change the community. And the community was already changing quite a bit. It’s positioned exactly halfway between Lincoln and Omaha. It has a quaint downtown with brick streets—the local businesses have done a really nice job of providing nice, unique offerings for a small town.”
He was particularly impressed by the Chamber of Commerce run by Brad Pfeiffer, making the choice to build in Ashland even easier. He and his family have big plans for Ashland’s f uture, too.
“It’s just a very business progressive town, and I saw an opportunity to buy some land,” he said. “I’ve got six brothers and two sisters, but two of my brothers joined me in buying six acres of land right on Highway 6, and it allowed us to put together a brand new small business community for Ashland that hadn’t happened in a very long time.
From Truck to Ruhlman’s Steakhouse
Lands In Ashland
Brick & Mortar
Kyle E tice PHOTOGRAPHY
Sarah Lemke DESIGN
Ren Ludwick
DRY AGED WINTERFROST WAGYU STRIP, MILLION DOLLAR MUSHROOMS, CRISPY POTATO BITES, GARLIC BUTTER LOBSTER TAIL,
“We put in 22,000 square feet of retail, Runza signed a long-term lease with us. And then the steakhouse, which is 12,000 square feet. But then we also have 48 apartments going in that’ll be available here by spring.”
For now, Ruhlman is laser-focused on ensuring the steakhouse is running smoothly—and so far, he’s pleased with t he results.
“We’ve been going at an unbelievable pace since August fi rst,” he noted. “We feature some really amazing beef. My cousins have the largest Black Angus farm halfway between North Platte and Valentine, and we buy cattle from them—whole head cattle. We have a restaurant, we have a meat market, we have a contract with Hy-Vee where we put our hamburgers. It’s more than just a restaurant, it’s a pretty complex business model that we created, but it’s working very well right now.”
Even in Ruhlman’s “third chapter,” as he calls it, he’s still intrinsically motivated to aim high and try new things. He had a hand in designing the restaurant’s clean, modern interior, alongside his daughter, Olivia, and brother, Matt.
“Cisco is also an amazing company from their kitchen design work,” he added. “They’ve got an amazing kitchen design group that works on that. You’ve got a 12,000-square-foot building that can seat 250 people. You design it so that it’s functional and can handle events and a normal night’s business for the steakhouse. We also have an outdoor area with fi re pits, so it’s very flexible.”
Ruhlman also hired Schemmer Architecture to do the shell, although his vision clearly extends beyond t he surface.
“There’s a huge amount of satisfaction from being able to have a dream and an idea and have it come out almost exactly the way I envisioned it,” he said. “There’s a lot of hours making it work in the fi rst year, but I was never afraid of the number of hours and the hard work.”
But it’s the people, he says, that keep him going.
“I get the greatest satisfaction out of the people that come in here that live in the area within six, seven miles, eight miles, and say ‘thank you for bringing this to Ashland,’” he said. “About a third of all our customers come from Omaha, about a third from Lincoln, about a third from the area, but the people that are coming from Lincoln and Omaha, in many cases, had never been to Ashland before.”
He continued, “They had never come to this community, to this small town, and seen what it has to offer. And so when people from Ashland come in and say, ‘Th ank you for bringing so many fi rst-timers to see our wonderful little town,’ that's where I get the greatest amount of joy. I like to do large things that change people and communities, and that’s what I’m hoping to do here in Ashland.”
For more information, visit ruhlmansteakhouse.com.
Crispy Mac Bites, TrufflePecorinoBechamel
Maine Peekytoe
CrabCake ,
20LayerWoodRoastedLasagna,house
Old Fashioned
hef Dan Benigno, owner of Chef Around the Block, likes a challenge. The Bellevue native has had a long career working various roles in kitchens. From his fi rst job as a dishwasher at Sizzler, it became apparent that his true role in the kitchen was leading—he soon became the kitchen manager.
“In every job, I ended up in management quickly,” Benigno said. “I’ve been told my skill is managing people and pulling the best potential out of them.” He spent 10 years running restaurants before he went to culinary school at the Culinary Art Institute of Colorado in Denver. He was teaching as much as he wa s learning.
Before starting Chef Around the Block, Benigno worked for a corporate dining company, Guckenheimer, for 14 years, where he managed cafes in large corporations like Union Pacific, TD Ameritrade, and the Google data center. At U.P., he learned about making cultural dishes from the diverse group of employees who worked there. They would ask for certain dishes and give him tips on how to improve them.
Then he was promoted to national executive chef for training and development. He traveled and opened cafes, teaching the staff along the way.
“The summer of 2020, everything got shut down. I saw the writing on the wall. I interviewed at some restaurants, and it was a step back for me,” Benigno recalled. “I figured I could work for a jackass and be told what to do, or I could be my own jackass.” His solution to fi ll the need during the COVID-19 pandemic was with personal chef services, meal prepping, and some sma ll classes.
He saw a need to fi ll the void of restaurants during this time, so he did meal prep for a few months. He also worked as a personal chef at small, private parties to give clients a restaurant experience in their homes. He began to do online and in-person cooking classes. Now, he has transitioned his full focus to catering a nd classes.
Benigno puts together custom private classes, usually made up of couples, or small groups of family or friends. The students pick a country, and Benigno builds a menu around that choice. His classes have become popular with teenagers, too.
One of the things that makes Benigno different is his strong communication skills and willingness to customize dishes for his clients. “I’m not the best chef, but the ability to execute quality food in a timely manner is important to me,” Benigno said.
The name “Chef Around the Block” came from Benigno being the neighborhood chef and supporting the local community. He’s worked with Completely Kids for a few years with their Homework and Dinner program, in which kids and parents eat for free as tutors from UNO help the students work on homework. He’s happy to be able to support t his program.
the Block Creating Community with Food
For the past few years,
Benigno has been a part of the Kitchen Council located in the Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center. He enjoys coming up with themes for pop-ups, like his recent “Bob’s Burgers” pop-up, during which he and his family dressed up as characters from the hit TV show.
Benigno says that he wouldn’t be where he is without the Kitchen Council. “They give so much support. I enjoy being able to help other chefs as a colleague. It’s a great community to help each other,” he added.
Holly Benson, managing director of the Kitchen Council, says that Benigno brings a wealth of industry experience to the kitchen. “While he’s a relatively new food business owner, he has over 20 years of experience in the field, giving him a distinct edge,” she said. “Dan knows food. He knows his craft. More importantly, he knows how to teach, proving himself to be a mentor for those just starting out with little experience in a commercial space.”
She continued, “Chef Dan stands out because of his strong self-awareness and confidence. He knows his areas of expertise in the industry, yet he’s never afraid to ask for help or seek introductions when needed. He’s taking a leadership role in the kitchen and working to challenge and change some long-standing industry norms. He understands that being direct, yet kind and professional, goes a long way. You can’t yell at your staff and expect to earn their respect in return. Chef Dan is incredibly organized and brings a sense of calm to a kitchen.”
Benigno describes his culinary style as “simple food done well.” He adds that he uses quality ingredients, quality techniques, and he doesn’t overcomplicate things. “I’m not a ‘boujee’ chef,” Benigno laughed. “Food speaks to the heart. You are only as good as your last event.
“I love what I do. My friends and family benefit from it. The community benefits from it—that keeps me going. I want to feed as many people as I can,” Benigno said.
For more information, visit chef-around-the-block.myshopify.com
Story by Holly McAtee | Photography by Sarah Lemke | Design by Joey Winton
Brussels
Everett ’s Burger with C heddar
DINING REVIEW
Story | Mike’l
Photography | Sarah Lemke
Design | Joey Winton
Severe
is fi lled with different types of restaurants, from the sit-down, white tablecloth four star to a greasy spoon on a neighborhood corner. My favorite place to eat is a good old joint.
The latter defi nes Everett’s, located near 88th and Maple Streets. It sits in a strip center sharing space with a bar and laundromat—what is more joint than that?
The menu is fairly small, but complete with the basics and a few surprises. Great service from a knowledgeable server is another staple of a joint. But more than anything, a joint is where you get a great meal for an affordable price, on which Everett’s delivers.
Co-owner Tyler Theisen said one of the goals of having a smaller menu is to not waste food and to make sure the ingredients can be incorporated into multiple items on the menu. With the smaller location, it is critical to manage storage and have freshly made items that can be prepared quickly and be able to keep costs down and customers happy.
My family visited Everett’s on a Saturday night during football season and were seated right away. Most of the orders that night appeared to be takeouts.
The menu is divided into burgers, wings, pulled pork or chicken, and fries and appetizers.
I’m a sucker for Brussels sprouts, so I ordered them for the table. They were crunchy and fried perfectly, tossed in what the server called a “nottoo-spicy honey glaze,” complete with chopped bacon and a lime crema. Theisen says the key is to fry them for only a minute or so to add a little crunch, but not so long that they’re overcooked.
Our table ordered two burgers: the Everett’s Burger with cheddar and the mushroom Swiss burger.
The fi rst was perfectly cooked to our taste, sort of a medium-rare. I enjoyed the burger’s char that comes from the fl attop and a mixture of salt and cracked pepper. I would describe it as a “smashburger” but thicker than most. From my fi rst bite to the last it was as good as any burger I have had in Omaha.
5 STARS POSSIBLE
EVERETT’S
“BUBBA”
WING SAUCE
Fried chicken wing grilled with medium hot sauce, tossed with parmesan garlic.
My son’s mushroom Swiss burger was medium in the middle and served with huge slices of portabella mushrooms. The bun was perfectly toasted and I was pleasantly surprised how well the thick slices of mushrooms went with the burger.
The fries served with the burgers are hand-cut and fried to a crunchy fi nish, and as a table, we all approved.
I ordered 10 of the wings, fried, grilled, and sauced, in Omaha parlance, charbuffed style. My two sauce choices were the “saucy rossy,” which is a mixture of two-thirds medium hot and one-third Carolina barbecue. The rossy was right up my alley with a little kick combined with some smoky flavor. The wings aren’t huge, but good enough size to fi ll up on.
The second sauce is called the “Bubba.” Th is wing is fried and then grilled with medium hot sauce, then tossed with parmesan garlic. Th is is one of the most unique wing sauces I have ever had. With a strong garlic fl avor, there is a nice balance of parmesan and spice.
The pulled meat sandwich part of the menu features a choice of pork or chicken. The meat is seasoned and braised overnight with a mirepoix of carrots, celery, and onion. After chopping the meat, it’s stored in its own juices until it’s heated on the grill before serving.
We fi nished the meal with what was my wife’s favorite, Jill’s famous brownie, served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and caramel drizzle. Needless to say, there wasn’t anything left of that bowl.
Everett’s is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The owners say they are humbled by the attention they have received. The growth over the past three years has been a whirlwind and they are excited that their food has been so popular. Their hope is to continue to serve Omaha, whether folks are dining in or grabbing takeout, and maybe fi nd a larger space so they can continue to grow.
Visit everettsmaple.com to view the menu and order online.
CharbuffedWingswithSaucyRossy
DINING GUIDE Omaha
CHARLESTON’S - $$$
144th and Dodge streets - 402.651.0689
76th and Dodge streets - 402.991.0055
Charleston’s is a casual, upbeat restaurant with a menu filled with dishes prepared from scratch daily. We focus on providing our guests with excellent prices and selecting the highest quality ingredients. Whether you are new to Charleston’s or a long-standing guest, we look forward to seei ng you soon!
charlestons.c om/locations
D J’S DUGOUT SP ORTS BAR - $
Seven Metro Are a Locations:
Bellevue - 10308 S. 23rd St. - 402.292.9096
Miracle Hills - 777 N. 114th St. - 402.498.8855
Downtown - 1003 Capitol Ave. - 402.763.9974
Aksarben - 2102 S. 67th St. - 402.933.3533
Millard - 17666 Welch Plaza - 402.933.8844
Elkhorn - 19020 Evans St. - 402.315.1985
Plattsmouth - 2405 Oak Hill Rd. - 402.298.4166
Voted Omaha’s #1 Sports Bar, DJ’s Dugout is locally and Vietnam Veteran owned. DJ’s Dugout features delicious burgers, wings, wraps, salads, sandwiches and an impressive drink menu. Plus, DJ’s has huge media walls full of HD TVs and projector screens. Catch all the action at DJ’s seven Omaha-area locations. Dig In... At The Dugout! —djsdugout.com
JAMS MODERN AMERICAN- $$
7814 Dodge St. - 402.399.8300 1101 Harney St. in the OldMarket - 402.614.9333
An Omaha staple, our restaurant blends modern American cuisine, craft cocktails, and local beers with elevated service and creates seamless dining, event, and catering experiences. Celebrate life’s moments while embracing the traditions that make us special—where unforgettable meals and memories come together. —jamseats.com
LE PEEP - $
69th & Pacific - 402.933.2776
177th and Center St. - 402.934.9914
156th St. & W. Dodge Rd. - 402.408.1728 120th and Blondo St. - 402.991.8222
Le Peep puts a wholesome perspective on your favorite neighborhood breakfast and lunch spot. Fresh. Simple. Elegant. Inviting. We put the emphasis on people, both patrons and staff. We focus on providing each of our guests the fresh food and friendly service that they have come to expect. Open daily 6:30 a.m.-2 p.m. —lepeepomaha.co m
“Serving World Famous Hamburgers Since 1936”
106 GALVIN RD., BELLEVUE, NE
402-291-6088
OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY 11 AM - 9 PM
rotellasbakery.com
LISA’S RADIAL CAFE - $ 817 N. 40th St. - 402-551-2176
American. Cafe. Diner. Vegetarian-friendly. Gluten-free options. This old-school diner serves hearty portions of American comfort classics for breakfast and lunch. Family-owned and operated. This business is a must if you’re in the area. People rave about our chicken-fried steak, stuffed French toast, coffee, and friendly staff. Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m.-2 p.m
OOH-DE-LALLY - $$
4916 Underwood Ave, Omaha, NE 68132402.698.8333
Ooh De Lally is more than a restaurant; it's a beacon of hope. Nestled in Dundee, Ooh De Lally serves up new American cuisine while providing opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals through a groundbreaking partnership with Metropolitan Community College's 180 Re-Entry Assistance Program. Ooh De Lally is great food made by great people. —oohdelally.org
PACIFIC EATING HOUSE - $$ 1130 Sterling Ridge Dr. - 531.999.3777
We have developed our menu inspired by all that touches the Pacific Ocean. Starting with fresh fish flown from Honolulu, locally sourced steaks and natural chicken with an Asian flare and pairing our dishes with tiki libations and Pacific coast wines.
—pacificeatinghouse.com
PINE & BLACK BISTRO - $$
248 Olson Dr., Papillion - 531.999.3777
We opened in March of 2023 to bring a family owned bistro to the community, serving local steaks and fresh seafood. We offer a wide variety of Pacific Northwest wines, local beers, and craft cocktails. Pinot Noir translates to Pine & Black, our name originates from our love of wine. —pineandblackbistro.com
SAND POINT - $$$
655 North 114th Street, Omaha - 531-466-1008
Sand Point ‘New England Fare’ brings their favorite and unique dishes from New England to the Omaha food community. Freshest seafood, from seared crab cakes, lobster arancini, whole belly clams, New England clam chowder, lobster bisque to charcuterie boards and Angus beef tips and steak burgers, to be topped off with Boston cream pie, blueberry pie or Lemon canna cotta. Full bar to include, specialty cocktails, extensive wine lists, as well as beer and non-alcoholic drinks. –sandpointomaha.com
SMITTY'S GARAGE - $
7610 Dodge St. - 402-614-4949
Tasty burgers, ice-cold beer, fresh-cut fries, scrumptious tacos, mouthwatering appetizers and more. What else could you want? Besides the delicious food, each location also offers a full bar with an extensive craft beer list and a one-of-a-kind environment with arcade games and plenty of TV’s. Download our new rewards app, Smitty’s Garage, in the app store to start earnin g free grub! eatatt hegarage.com
STELLA’S - $
106 S. Galvin Road, Bellevue - 402.291.6088
Since 1936, we’ve been making our world-famous Stella’s hamburgers the same way. The family secrets have been handed down to each owner, ensuring that your burger is the same as the one you fell in love with the first time you tried Stella’s. And if it’s your first time, we know you’ll be back! Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., closed Sunday. —stellasbarandgrill.com
T ED AND WALLY’S - $ 1120 Jackson St. - 402.341.5827
Come experience the true taste of homemade ice cream in the Old Market. Since 1986, we’ve created gourmet ice cream flavors in small batches using rock salt and ice. We offer your favorites, plus unique flavors like margarita, green tea, Guinness, and French toast. Special orders available. Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.- Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday. Noon-10 p.m. —tedandwallys.com
VARSITY SPORTS CAFE - $$
Ralston - 9735 Q St. - 402.339.1944
Bellevue - 3504 Samson Way - 402.932.1944
Millard - 14529 F St. - 402.505.6660
Ralston, Bellevue and Millard. We are truly grateful to have been welcomed into each of these communities and welcome you in for good food, a cold drink and a comfy seat to enjoy the sport of your choosing! Determined to bring only the freshest ingredients, homemade dough and our specialty sauces to the table, we have worked hard to perfect our craft for you. Our goal is to bring the best food service to the area and show the best sports events that you want to see. Pick up and Delivery availalble. Please check website for hours of operation. —varsityromancoinpizza.com
ITALIAN
LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$ 45th and Leavenworth St. - 402.556.6464
La Casa Pizzaria has been serving Omaha its legendary Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta for 60 years. We offer dine-in, carry-out, party facilities, catering, and now pizza shipments to the 48 contiguous states. Open Tuesday-Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. —lacasapizzaria.ne
PASTA AMORE - $$
11027 Prairie Brook Rd. - 402.391.2585
Pastas are made fresh daily, including tortellini, fettuccine, and capellini. Daily specials and menu items include a variety of fresh seafood and regional Italian dishes, such as linguini amore and calamari steak, penne Florentine, gnocchi, spaghetti puttanesca, and osso buco. Filet mignon is also offered for those who appreciate nationally renowned Nebraska beef. To complement your dining experience, the restaurant offers a full bar and extensive wine list. Be sure to leave room for homemade desserts, like the tiramisu and cannoli. Monday-Thursday 9 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 10 p.m. Reservations recommended. pa staamore.com
An OpenTable’s Diners’ Choice for 2014 HotSpot Restaurant in America. Keeping up with the traditional way the first pizzas in Italy were made, our pizzas are cooked in a coal-fired oven. The menu also features seafood, hand-cut steak, housemade pastas, and burgers full of flavor. Our goal is to provide you with local, housemade, and imported ingredients. We offer a happy hour menu through the week. Our bar provides an array of in-house concoctions as well as your traditional libations. Our wine selection is wellthought-out and most impressive. You will enjoy Pitch. Monday & Tuesday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Wednesday-Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-9 p.m. pitch pizzeria.com
S PEZIA - $$$
3125 S. 72nd St. - 402.391.2950
Choose Spezia for lunch or dinner, where you’ll find a casual elegance that’s perfect for business guests, get-togethers, or any special occasion. Exceptional food, wine, and service, with a delectable menu: fresh seafood, certified Angus steaks, innovative pasta, risotto, gnocchi, cioppino, lamb, entrée salads, Mediterranean chicken, flatbreads, and fresh salmon daily. Enjoy a full bar, Italian and California wines, Anniversary/Lovers’ Booth (call to reserve), private dining rooms, and wood-fired grill. Open Monday-Sunday. Cocktail hour 4-6 p.m., when all cocktails, glasses of wine, and beers are half price. Evening reservations recommended. —speziarestaurant.com
CRESCENT MOON A LE HOUSE - $
3578 Farnam St. - 402.345.1708
Founded in 1996, we’ve grown into Beer Corner USA with the additions of The Huber Haus German Beer Hall, Max and Joe’s Belgian Beer Tavern, and Beertopia Omaha’s Ultimate Beer Store. With more than 60 beers on tap and Omaha’s best Reuben sandwich, we are a Midtown beer-lover’s destination. Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen hours: Monday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight. Cl osed Sunday. —beercornerusa.com
FIRST WATCH - $
1222 S. 71st St. - 402.932.5691
2855 S. 168th St. - 402.330.3444
3605 N. 147th St. - 402.965.3444
304 Olson Drive - 402.965.3444
18101 Chicago St. - 402.916.4109
2015 Pratt Ave., Bellevue - 402.991.3448
We begin each morning at the crack of dawn, slicing fresh fruits and vegetables, baking muffins, and whipping up our French toast batter from scratch. Everything is made to-order here at First Watch. We use only the finest ingredients possible for the freshest taste around. —firstwatch.com
GREEK ISLANDS -
$
3821 Center St. - 402.346.1528
Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. We are wellknown for our gyro sandwiches and salads. We cater and can accommodate a party for 65 guests. Carry-out and delivery available. Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. —greekislandsomaha.com
SAGE STUDENT BISTRO INSTITUTE FOR THE CULINARY ARTS - $
5730 N. 30th St.
Fort Omaha Campus, Building 22
At the Metropolitan Community College Sage Student Bistro, culinary and hospitality students learn hustle, fundamentals, community service and stewardship — all from scratch. Explore dishes from around the world during lunch, or celebrate the contributions of American culinary sages at dinner.
For reservations, visit: —mccneb.edu/Bistro
ZEN COFFEE COMPANY - $
West - 132nd and Center
Downtown - 25th and Farnam
One Pacific Place - Drive Thru Kiosk next to Trader Joes
Zen features over 50 popular drink options including Butter Beer, Honey Bee, Lavender Lady and Sunshine Daydream. Choose from hot or iced lattes, blenders, fruit smoothies and teas! Grab a flight or double cup to try the seasonal features! Delicious pastries and toasts made in house daily. —zencoffeecompany.com
STEAKHOUSES
CASCIO’S - $$
1620 S. 10th St. - 402-345-8313
Cascio’s is Omaha’s No. 1 steakhouse. We have been serving Omaha for 69 years. We feature steaks, chops, seafood, and Italian specialties. We have seven private party rooms, seating for up to 400 people, and plenty of parking.
—casciossteakhouse.com
Hop B
Friday, April 11, 2025 5:30 pm at The Granary
Join the CF Foundation Nebraska Chapter for a fourcourse beer pairing dinner featuring beer from Kinkaider Brewing
Ticket and sponsorship opportunities available - get your tickets before they’re sold out! events.cff.org/hopebrews 402-330-6164 nebraska@cff.org
Beer Dinner
THE DROVE R RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$
2121 S. 73rd St. - 402-391-7440
Famous for the original Whiskey Steak. Truly a one-of-a-kind Midwestern experience. Excellent food, wine, service, and value. Rare...and very well done.
Cocktails only 2 p.m.-5 p.m. —droverrestaurant.com
TWISTED CORK BISTRO - $$ 10370 Pacific St. - 531.999.3777
We arrived in Nebraska from Washington intent on purchasing from farmers, ranchers & fishmongers who share our commitment for wholesome, sustainable fare. Our recipes use the Earth’s bounty the way it is intended ~ Wild and Natural ~ We compliment our dishes, pairing them with exquisite Pacific Northwest wines. –twistedcorkbistro.com
MAHOGANY PRIME
STEAKHOUSE - $$$$ 225 N. 145th St. - 402.445.4380
In a town known for its great steaks, Mahogany stands above the rest. Conveniently located in the new Heartwood Preserve Center at 145th and Dodge, our Omaha location provides an intimate and classic fine dining atmosphere. Voted Best in Omaha.
dventure is not out of reach—It’s just dow n the road.
Bryan Findell didn’t want to wait for retirement to see the world. The 39-year-old motion designer has mastered the art of the extended weekend, transforming what could be two-day local trips into rich experiences across the country.
“It’s not Omaha’s fault, but it’s 10 hours from the mountains, 20 hours from the ocean,” Findell said. “We like to travel, and we didn’t want to wait around until we were older.”
As a motion designer for Gallup and freelance animator, Findell has built a career that allows him to work from anywhere. His philosophy is simple, yet profound: “If I can work from anywhere, I might as well work from everywhere.”
Th is mindset led to an innovative approach to weekend travel. Instead of the traditional Friday night departure and Sunday afternoon rush home that many Midwesterners know well, Findell and his girlfriend extend their adventures by working remotely on both ends of the weekend.
“We’ll leave Thursday night, work remotely Friday,” he explained. “Then Saturday and Sunday, we’ll do all the things we want to do. We’ll work remotely on Monday and drive back part of the way Monday night and then the next half Tuesday night. It just makes the trip way more worth it.”
Th ese long trips began as extensions to concert trips and professional c onferences.
“We’ll go spend a week somewhere remote to see a show or festival, or I spend a month in Oregon knowing I was going to spend a few days at a conference,” he said. “It’s a way to not take time off all in one chunk but to use one or two days of PTO to ‘extend the weekend’ and make a trip worth it.”
Th is travel strategy has enabled them to explore far beyond Nebraska’s borders, often with their dog in tow. Their setup includes a camper van for longer trips and a truck with a rooftop tent for shorter adventures, both outfitted to let them travel and work from campsites and c offee shops.
The choice of vehicle depends on the season and destination. The vehicles also enable Findell’s adventuring lifestyle.
“The camping rigs make that possible by keeping the cost down,” he said.
When he’s in Omaha, he still likes a little adventure, often working at various spots around town rather than from his home.
Recently, Findell’s adventuring reached its peak during a months-long journey that took them from Omaha to sites in the western United States and Canada, including Yellowstone, Banff, Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Big Sur, Joshua Tree, and the Grand Canyon.
Findell was hard at work the whole time.
“I was always working, just from different locations,” he said.
Findell’s mobile office setup rivals many traditional workspaces. Boasting Starlink satellite internet for a reliable connection, solar panels and a battery array for power, and a careful eye on campgrounds with electrical hookups, Findell has created a sustainable way to blend work and wanderlust. During the week, he and his girlfriend seek out campgrounds with amenities like laundry facilities. Weekends are reserved for more remote locations like mountain terrain and nat ional parks.
Findell hails from Omaha, and his professional journey began as a teenaged skateboarder teaching himself video editing to capture tricks and stunts. Th at led him to adding graphics to his videos, eventually landing him work at a video product ion company.
His career evolution continued through Omaha’s creative scene, with stops at local agencies including Secret Penguin and Grain & Mortar. After several years, he ventured into full-time freelance work before landing at Gallup. Five years into that role, he maintains both his corporate position and a thriving freelance business, Findell Design.
“The freelance side just sharpens the toolkit constantly,” Findell said, “So that I can bring that into Gallup and be a better partner at the company and still continue to grow.”
His clients’ work is varied, and he uses a multitude of physical and digital tools to bring his designs to life, often starting with pencil and paper before graduating to his computer. He’s also adapted these tools for remote work, allowing him to maintain productivity from anywhere with an internet connection.
When he’s not on the road, Findell keeps his adventurous spirit alive in Omaha. He’s camped every month this year, whether in the bitter cold or bubbling heat, including a recent trip to a reservoir near Ashland. His hobbies reflect his active lifestyle; he snowboards (complete with a backyard setup featuring a six-foot drop-in and rails for tricks) and rides in Toyota overlanding groups.
With travel, creative work, friends, family, a house, and outdoor adventures, Findell’s plate is full.
“I don’t need anything else right now,” he said with a laugh. He’s happy with his life blending work and adventure.
For Findell, the extended weekend is about expanding what’s possible within the constraints of a regular work week, challenging the notion that life requires choosing between career and exploration. Sometimes, all it takes is a different approach to time and technology alongside a willingness to go wherever the road leads.
As more companies embrace remote work, Findell hopes his lifestyle serves as a blueprint for others looking to maximize their time away from the office. His message is clear: with some creativity and planning, the adventure of a lifetime doesn’t have to wait—it can start with the next long weekend.
For more information, visit bryanfindell.com.
explore.
LET’S PLAN A ROAD TRIP!
COMPILED
BY Jacie Leibfried and Isabella McAtee
DAYTRIPS IN NEBRASKA, IOWA, KANSAS, MISSOURI, AND SOUTH DAKOTA
MNOZIL BRASS March 1 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln Returning to Lincoln by popular demand, Austria’s brass ensemble Mnozil Brass will light up the Lied Center. They are known as one of the world’s top brass ensembles and are celebrating their 30th anniversary with a stop in Nebraska. Referred to as the “Monty Python of the music world” they combine impeccable programs with comedy. 402.472.4747 —liedcenter.org/event/mnozil-brass-1
BEETLEJUICE THE MUSICAL March 4-9 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln The hit comedy thriller movie from 1988 following Barbara and Adam Maitland and their life being recently deceased hits the Broadway stage with Beetlejuice The Musical. With music and lyrics by Eddie Perfect and book by Scott Brown and Anthony King, this show will be “SEEMINGLY GOOD FUN” according to a Variety review. 402.472.4747 —liedcenter.org/tickets/ glenn-korff-broadway-series
ANNIE March 20-23 at the Lied Center for Performing arts in Lincoln The story of little orphan Annie everyone knows will come to the Lied Center stage. Generations of fans and theatergoers have come to see songs such as “Tomorrow,” “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” and “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” performed on stage. A show for the whole family. 402.472.4747 —liedcenter.org/event/annie
NEBRASKA
STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE MAESTRO March 28 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra will complete a trilogy of Star Wars concerts with the special program "Star Wars: Return of the Maestro." The program will feature music from iconic scores such as Ludwig Görranson’s "The Mandalorian," Michael Giacchino’s "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," as well as John Williams’ "Star Wars" trilogy. 402.472.4747 —liedcenter.org/event/ star-wars-return-maestro
ALTON BROWN LIVE: LAST BITE April 15 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln Famous foodie Alton Brown will celebrate and reflect on his decades in food media with “The Farewell Tour—Maybe?” Last Bite. His culinary live shows have sold out theaters across America since 2013. He will present some culinary hacks, sing comedic songs, and present a show that is incomparable. 402.472.4747 —liedcenter.org/event/ alton-brown-live-last-bite
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON April 22 at the Lied Center for Performing Arts in Lincoln Renowned astrophysicist and author Neil Degrasse Tyson will come to the Lied center for Performing Arts for his Earth Day event. He will present on “The Cosmic Perspective,” educating the audience on what he declares to be emotionally potent. Tyson will also talk about the influence on our universe relating to climate change and how to be sustainable. 402.472.4747 —liedcenter.org/event/neil-degrasse-tyson
SANDHILL CRANE TOURS Mar. 11 - Apr. 1 at North Platte Visitor Center Daytime bus tours, nighttime blind tours, and morning blind tours will be offered throughout the month of March to watch these beautiful birds settle temporarily back into their Nebraska habitat. This is just a stop on their journey into Canadian and Alaskan territory as they return to their breeding grounds from Southern states like Texas and Florida. 308.532.4729 —visitnorthplatte.com
ZENFEST! Mar. 21-22 at Heartland Events Center Want to get your aura photographed or learn more about the world of astrology? This exposition brings in vendors from all over to learn about holistic practices and meet inspirational speakers in order to help you on your wellness journey. Many workshops throughout the day are free, and vendors will be selling beautiful crafts like crystal jewelry to carry Zenfest with you into everyday life. 308.657.8060 —grandisland.com
THERESA PAYTON “THE FUTURE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INNOVATION” Apr. 15 at North Platte Community Playhouse One of four speakers in the Town Hall Lecture Series, Payton has worked in the White House and various parts of the banking industry in joining the age of technology. Her lecture will focus on the ways AI can be a positive and helpful tool as it becomes more prevalent in workplaces across the world. 308.532.8559 —northplattecommunityplayhouse.com
IOWA
IOWA HOME EXPO March 7-9 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Jacobson Building The Iowa Home Expo allows guests to engage with industry experts from home fields, learn tips, tricks, and insights, and see top brands compared side-by-side every year. Anyone who is wanting to browse to renovate, decorate, or rebuild can come to the expo for valuable connections. Bring your visions to life with the Iowa Home Expo. 319.666.HOME —iowahomeexpo.com/
CLARINDA SPRING GUN SHOW March 7-9 at the Page County Fair Grounds The Fair grounds will host the Clarinda Spring Gun Show, held by the Southwest Iowa Gun Show. 712.427.3696 —facebook.com/pagecountyfair
HOMESTEAD VINTAGE & MAKERS MARKET 2025 March 14-1 5 at the Waterloo Convention Center The Waterloo Convention Center will host many small business vendors selling their hand-crafted or vintage/ antique items. Friday is geared more towards adults and Saturday includes more family activities for all ages. 319.509.7632 —homesteadvintagemakersmarket.com/
FACES OF SIOUXLAND MULTICULTURAL FAIR March 30 at Sioux City Convention Center The Sioux City Convention Center hosts the day-long event as a celebration of the cultural diversity of the area. The fair will feature dancing, food, music, fashion shows, art, and more. The event is open to anyone and is free. It is run by the Sioux City Human Rights Commission. 712.279.4800 —siouxcityconventioncenter.com/
WINTER JAM ’25 March 21 at Wells Fargo Arena The Wells Fargo Arena will host Skillet, Anne Wilson, KB, Colton Dixon, Newsong, Micah Tyler, and Zane Black for Winter Jam ’25 in Des Moines. This event is a faith-based concert run through JAM NATION. 515.564.8000 —iowaeventscenter.com/events/detail/ winter-jam-25
THE BOOK OF MORMON April 30- May 1 Stephens Auditorium Ames The tour of this musical will be coming through Ames for one weekend. The show follows Mormon missionaries in Uganda as they attempt to convert the locals to Mormonism. 515.294.2479 –center.iastate.edu/
2025 SPRING FEVER SYMPOSIUM April 5 at the Iowa Arboretum and Gardens The Iowa Arboretum and Gardens will host its largest educational event of the calendar year. This event will include speakers Kelly Norris, Lois Girton, Eric Foley, and Fatima Najar as they talk about proper plant and garden care, along with information about native plants. 515.795.3216 —iowaarboretum.org/event/ 2025-spring-fever-symposium/
KANSAS
CAPITAL CITY CARNAGE DEMO DERBY 2025 Feb ruary 28- March 1 in Landon Arena at Stormont Vail Events Center 395 drivers bring their cars to compete in this demolition derby for prizes up to $2,500 in individual events and $40,000 in the group event. These events will be full of noise, lights, and the skills necessary to send pieces of other cars through the air. 785.235.1986 —stormontvaileventscenter.com/p/ facilities/landon-arena
IMMERSED: A WALK INSIDE ART Now until March 2 in Alice C. Sabatini Art Gallery at Topeka 7 Shawnee County Public Library This art show had been reimagined by the library staff: this library has converted their art collection from physical to digital, using the different medium to display the art in a new way. The animated clips of the paintings are meant to bring them to life and provide movement in a more direct way. 785.580.4400 —tscpl.org/articles/ immersed-a-walk-inside-the-art
DEFINING BLACK WICHITA: NEW HORIZONS, 1970S-TODAY Now - April 15th at the Kansas African American Museum The museum exhibit in the third part of a trilogy of exhibits about the Black community in Wichita over the last 55 years. The focus will be on the ways the Civil Rights Movement in the '60s opened windows of opportunity for black people to access Wichita in ways they previously were not allowed. 316.262.7651 –tkaamuseum.org/
HARLEM GLOBE TROTTERS March 28 in Landon Arena at Stormont Vail Events Center The Harlem Globe Trotters stop in Topeka for their 2025 World Tour. The tour will feature “all-new, exciting challenges,” according to their website. The team was founded in 1926 and originally known as the Chicago Globe Trotters before moving to Harlem, giving the tour a rich history as the team approaches its 100th year. 785.235.1986 —stormontvaileventscenter.com/p/ facilities/landon-arena
WAITRESS playing Now-March 29 at the Topeka Civil Theater The Main stage of the Topeka Civic Theater will be performing Waitress, a comedy musical about a young woman who is attempting to leave her small town and husband behind. The original Broadway musical debuted in 2016, and a live studio recording was made with singer Sara Bareilles in 2019. The Topeka Civil Theater is a dinner theater, so dinner and a show are rolled into one experience here for a hilarious and delicious evening. 785.357.5213 —topekacivictheatre.com/shows/waitress/
SOUTH DAKOTA
SOUTH DAKOTA SNOW MOBILE TRAILS SEASON Now - Ma rch 31 in SD State Parks With over 1,500 miles of snowmobile trails, there is plenty of exploration to be had throughout the various state parks. Out-of-state residents must purchase a temporary permit for their motorcycles, as well as a trail pass. These can be done online. 605.223.7660 —gfp.sd.gov/snowmobiling/
SPRING SIOUX EMPIRE ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW March 14 -15 at the W. H. Lyons Fairgrounds This art show has traditionally been a winter show only, so the offering of this spring show is a new addition to their program. The weekend is geared toward the appreciation for craftsmanship and fun for the whole family. Over 200 vendors will be in attendance with their art and craftsmanship in tow, as well as several food trucks for a variety of meals. 605.332.6004 —blackincevents.com/spring-arts---craftsshow.html
58TH ANNUAL 2025 SIOUX EMPIRE SPORTSMEN’S SHOW March 13-16 at Sioux Falls Arena & Convention Center Shows over this 4-day event will include a Camping Show, an Outdoor Equipment Show, a Family fun show, and more. Introductions to resorts, fishing boats, and RVs are all in store during this event. They are even featuring Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel! 605. 367.7288 —dennysanfordpremiercenter.com/event/ sioux-empire-sportsmens-show/54/
ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION March 14-15 in Deadwood The city of Deadwood is putting on their St. Patrick’s Day celebration that includes a PubPort, parade, pub crawl, and parties in their historic downtown district. There is no sign-up or fees associated with participating in this 21+ event. They will also provide the Deadwood Trolley, a transportation option within city limits to get everyone safely to their next destinations. 800.344.8826 —deadwood.com/event/ st-patricks-day-weekend/
FORKS, CORKS, AND KEGS April 11-12 in Deadwood Deadwood puts on their food, wine, and beer festival for the 11th year in a row. This 21+ event takes visitors to various venues throughout the day before heading to the Grand Tasting. The Standard Festival Pass for the weekend includes all tastings, an event guide, trolley rides, and a commemorative glass. VIP tickets are also available. 800.344.8826 —deadwood.com/event/forks-corks-kegs/
KC HOME AND FLOWER SHOW February 28-March 2 at Bartle Hall The Yoderbilt Kansas City Home and Flower Show is a lawn and landscaping experience, featuring special events such as a stunt dog show, a quilting exhibit, and a Q & A with Jennifer Bertrand. This event has spaces and activities geared towards children as well, giving the whole family a fun-filled experience. 816.678.1200 –rjpromotions.com/home-page/shows/ missouri-shows/kc-mo-home-show/
BUD LIGHT GRAND PARADE March 1 in the Soulard Neighborhood Just a few days before Mardi Gras, the Bud Light Parade claims to be the biggest parade for the special day outside of New Orleans itself. The parade’s theme this year is “Cooking Up A Celebration” and will wind its way to the original Anheuser-Busch Brewery. 314.771.5110 —stlmardigras.org/events/ bud-light-grand-parade
SILENT SKY Mar. 7-8 at Liberty Center Based on a true story, this play follows astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, who’s discoveries led to the findings of galaxies outside of the Milky Way. Leavitt’s research in real life included the relationship between time and light of stars, as well
MISSOURI
as the magnitude of many stars. Experience her life and research brought to the stage in Sedalia, MO. 660.827.3228 —libertycentersedalia.com
THE QUILTS OF KAY BEACH Mar. 3-28 at Sue Ross Arts Center Come explore the intricacies of pattern, color, and story that are sewn into these unique quilt pieces. The Ellebracht Gallery inside Sue Ross Art Center will host these gorgeous blankets for only a short time, so make sure to plan your trip accordingly. 660.665.0500 —Kirksvillearts-sarc.org
BRANTLEY GILBERT - THE TATTOOS TOUR 2025 March 1 5 at the Cable Dahmer Arena The Cable Dahmer Arena in Independence will host Brantley Gilbert for the 9th stop on his tour for his 2024 album “Tattoos.” Additionally, the show will feature artists Black Cherry, Austin Snell, and Colt Ford. 816.442.6100 —cabledahmerarena.com/
MARY J BLIGE: THE FOR MY FANS TOUR March 12 at Enterprise Center Nine-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige returns to the stage with Ne-Yo and Mario. The hip-hop and soul fusion of Blige’s music spans decades, and Blige stated on her Instagram that
the tour is a “reflection of [her] love and gratitude” for all the fans and support she has garnered over the years. Her most recent album, released last year, is titled “Gratitude.” 314.622.5400 —enterprisecenter.com/events/detail/ mary-j-blige-1
VALHALLA BLOOMS: A VIKINGS SPRING FAIRE Apr. 12-13 at White Hart Renaissance Fair Grounds This faire will feature events for all ages to enjoy, such as traditional Viking music and combat demonstrations for their twentieth anniversary. Food and drink of the Viking variety will also be available, like fish, stew, and mead. Artisans will be coming to offer handcrafted goods like swords and jewelry, so there is truly something for everyone. Workshops for axe throwing and crafting are also offered to give fair-goers the variety of a Viking experience. 417.241.8088 —whitehartfaire.com
CLAY COUNTY CLAY COUNTY Adventure Awaits in
IRUSTY MEMORIES OR, HOW TO FRIGHTEN YOUR FAMILY
t seemed like a good idea at the time. It almost wrecked my life.
As I reached the hoary age of three score and 15 the pressure began to build behind my eyeballs. I could feel the urge growing, starting to crowd the space in my skull usually reserved for odd, discarded, mutated, and immature fantasies that had lived and multiplied in my head like fungi in a damp cellar. Fantasies like being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame based solely on that one diving catch I made in Little League, barhopping with Ray Bradbury, discovering a cure for Bezos, winning an Oscar for set decoration, owning a helicopter (which I would never actually sit in, because I just don’t trust flying machines that can’t glide), becoming fluent in Québécois, owning a Wienerschnitzel franchise, being an Emperor with the power to knit while watching The Americans, and finally, the life goal of not having to shop for my clothes at the Store For Large and Oddly Shaped Men ever again.
Yes, the urge was strong and growing stronger. Retirement only made the siren’s call of the concept more insistent. I began spending long hours online trying to suppress the compulsion by web surfing from YouTube videos about wet-pour versus dry-pour concrete slabs, Uruguayan real estate for digital nomads, the hidden history of the Scythians, how to make Roman garum fish sauce, DIY jet turbine engine repair…on and on…anything to spare my family the agony they would surely suffer if I acted on the insidious idea gradually taking shape in the mist of my mental fog—assembling itself slowly particle by particle; becoming more and more real; transforming slowly from ghostly silhouette into blurred apparition until finally it was a flesh-and-blood, living horror from a Lovecraftian nightmare.
What was this threat to my domestic bliss? What was this threat to my very heritage and my standing among my ancestors, ancient furry forbears and the handsome blonde ones still living in Iowa? What is it that could have
such a great, profound impact on so many lives? Simply, I was thinking that I should write a memoir. Yes—I stifled a scream – a memoir!
A memoir is a narrative nonfiction composition based on the author's personal memories. The assertions made in the work are thus understood to be factual. Therein lay the problems—my memories, and that whole “factual” thing.
As I began to put the project together, I realized my timescale was distorted. Everything in my life had happened in the following categories:
1. Last week
2. A year ago
3. Five years ago
4. A while back
5. Back before JFK got shot.
Those were the only time markers I had to go by. As for “facts,” I started by trying to write about how when I was 5…or 10…or 13…and Rusty Culp’s vicious German shepherd, Otto, mauled me in the backyard (leaving me on the brink of death).
My sister then informed me that Rusty’s dog was a three-legged Pomeranian named Phoebe with no teeth in her lower jaw and I wasn’t bloodied except for the scrape on my knee I got from tripping over the sandbox while I fled the fluffy canine howling in terror.
So, after much reflection—including my now-corrected recall of how many times I “borrowed” mom’s Corvair to visit the Red Dog in Lawrence, and intense negotiations with my family members, including the settlement of the truth concerning certain baking incidents involving expired Crisco—I have decided not to write the darn thing.
And my wife has now returned my car keys.
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