Omaha Magazine - October 2020 - The Education Issue

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FROM THE EDITOR // LETTER BY DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN, MANAGING EDITOR

SCHOOL NEWSPAPERS, GEOLOGY COURSES, AND MORE O ct o ber I ss u e P ro mi s e s

W

e at Omaha Magazine promise that you will find something in this issue you will enjoy.

The University of Nebraska also made a promise this spring—that in-state students whose parents make less than $60,000 annually will be able to attend a UN college tuition-free.

It’s called the Nebraska Promise program, an expansion of the previous College Possible program of which few took advantage. The details of the Nebraska Promise program and how it works is the subject of one of our features this month.

Some of our readers likely have adult children or teenagers with internships that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and closures of education systems. This can also impact a graduating senior’s job search. According to information gleaned from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), approximately 30 out of every 100 students who got a job after graduation had an internship during college.

With schools and internships shut down this spring, many students were affected. The story of what a few companies in this area did with their internships is the subject of another feature this month.

I come from a family of educators and those interested in education: my dad wanted to be a college professor before changing plans and becoming a clinical psychologist; my mom earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education before becoming a stay-at-home mother, and my sister is now earning a degree in education. I took a different route of educating the public through nonfiction writing as a journalist, but the October Education edition is still one of my favorite issues of the year.

As a writer, I admit to being a bit of a snob about pens and paper, they are, after all, the tools of my trade. Like many, I have fond memories of school-supply shopping. I smile when I see a metal Strawberry Shortcake or Care Bears lunch box in a thrift shop, and I love the smell of freshly sharpened pencils.

Our 60-Plus Nostalgia article highlights some school supplies of yore that many readers who attended school in the 1960s and 1970s will appreciate.

LeAnne Bugay also learned at a young age to use her pen to educate others. This young woman, the subject of this month’s Gen O, was named Nebraska High School Press Association 2020 Student Journalist of the Year and was accepted to the Omaha Film Festival.

to

E d u cat e

Several months ago, when planning a different issue, we sought input from Bryan O’Malley, chef educator at Metropolitan Community College. In learning more about O’Malley, we realized he was worthy of a profile—the list of chefs in Omaha who have trained under O’Malley’s watchful eye is vast.

The Big 10 is not playing football this year—a loss felt around the state by many Husker fans, among others. Those needing a Big Red fix might be interested in the dining feature this month. Former lineman Matt Vrzal has graduated from the field to the restaurant business. His current venue, Piezon’s Pizzeria, is a clever play on the Italian word for “friend” and a great spot for those in the Millard neighborhood near 156th Street and West Center Road to grab a slice of pizza and chat with friends and neighbors.

One reason I became a journalist is because it enables me to write about a wide range of interesting topics. That said, as a liberal arts student in college, I enjoyed taking several classes that had nothing to do with journalism. One of those courses was introduction to environmental geology, where I studied a variety of gems and rocks, and many fascinating facts, such as that the Loess Hills area in Southwest Iowa is one of two places on Earth where loess silt is up to 200 feet deep and creates an intricate terrain—the other is the Loess Plateau in Shaanxi, China. I remembered many geological facts this year while watching the miniseries Prehistoric Road Trip on PBS World, which included scenes from Western Nebraska.

Harmon Ma her doesn’t need to watch television to learn about Nebraska’s physical makeup—he lives it.

The UNO geology and geography professor studies the earth’s makeup here in Nebraska and in Norway, relying on helicopters and boats to get him to remote places with more animals than people.

October is one of my favorite months for several reasons. One of those reasons is Halloween. I enjoy

OCTOBER

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dressing up, spending time with friends and family around a fire, and watching the young ones trick-or-treat. Halloween also evokes memories of my favorite apple of the year. One of our family friends owned an apple orchard, and they would hand out Red Delicious apples instead of candy. No matter how many apples I ate each year, that fresh-picked Halloween apple was my favorite, and always ended up in my lunch bag the next day.

The Omaha area offers several places where people can pick their own apples—from the popular Vala’s offering a variety of rides and attractions along with produce to Ditmar’s Orchard, which offers 20 different varieties, encouraging people to come pluck a peck all season long.

Happy October. I hope this issue inspires you to try a new food, explore a new hill, pick up a new book, or simply keep you entertained in lieu of football. * Note: The hotel edition of Omaha Magazine has a different cover and does not include all of the editorial content included in the magazine’s full city edition. For more information on our city edition, visit OmahaMagazine.com.

TAB L E of CON T E N T S THE USUAL SUSPECTS 003 From the Editor

School Newspapers, Geology Courses, and More

006 Between the Lines 008 Calendar of Events 034 Adventure

Prairies to Polar Seas

046 History

The Founding of A School

073 Obviously Omaha Area Apple Orchards

092 Explore!

095 Instagram 096 Not Funny Worry

A R T S + C U LT U R E 014 Music

Mariachi Zapata

016 Comedy

Cameron Logsdon

018 Photography

André Sessions Jr.

014

F E AT U R E S

026 030 // 4 //

INTERNS GO VIRTUAL Remote Internships Offer Opportunity

THEY PROMISE Nebraska Brings Higher Education to In-State Students

OCTOBER 2020

022 Visual

Josephine Langbehn

SPECIAL SECTION 042 The Education Issue 050 Top Dentists PE O P L E 038 Sports

Chris Wilkie

048 Gen O

LeAnne Bugay

215 trees have been reforested

due to the printing of our last round of publications.

Learn more at

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• MATT VRZAL’S PIZZERIA • ARTIST JOSEPHINE LANGBEHN • HARMON MAHER PROMOTES PLATES

O C T O B E R 2020 | U.S. $4.95

GIVING

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A B O U T T HE COV ER Online or in-person? Living in the dorms or staying at home? The 2020 school year is fraught with unknowns.

056 Calendar 60PLUS IN OMAHA 062 Active Living Lisa Worrall

066 Nostalgia

School Supplies of the Past

068 Profile

Pat Corbitt

070 Feature

Continuing Education

DINING 074 Review

Best Burger

078 Feature

Brian O’Malley

082 Profile

Matt Vrzal

084 Dining Guide

074

read online at omahamagazine.com

Between

THE LINES A LOOK AT FOUR OMAHA MAGAZINE TEAM MEMBERS

TAMSEN BUTLER—Contributing Writer A military veteran and California native, Butler is the award-winning author of five nonfiction books. She works as a copywriter for Oriental Trading Company, writes freelance on the side, and teaches fitness classes in the little spare time she has. She’s a certified personal trainer, certified fitness nutrition specialist, and a group fitness instructor.

Currently she teaches indoor cycle classes at Papillion Landing. Butler is an active advocate for stroke survivors and heart health, having survived a massive stroke in 2015. She’s also a mom to two ridiculously clever and talented teenagers.

ED COCHRAN—Director of Sales Originally from Chicago, Cochran’s experience includes time with Allstate Insurance, American Express, and IBM. He is also the founder of “Leadership RocketFuel,” a consulting firm focused on leadership, sales growth, and resilience, and is a proud recipient of a key to the city of Savannah, Georgia. Cochran is active in community organizations. He currently serves on the board of Nebraska Children’s Home Society and is a former president and CEO of the Urban League of Nebraska. Cochran’s passions also span academia, where he is a faculty member of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and has appeared as a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School. In his spare time, Cochran enjoys salsa dancing and can be found anywhere he can hit a golf ball.

JEFF LACEY—Contributing Writer Lacey has lived most of his life in Omaha and has been a secondary school teacher for 20 years, having taught everything from seventh grade English to 12th grade AP English. Currently, he teaches American literature, creative writing, AP literature, and AP composition at Ralston High School. He believes one should ‘practice what you preach’ as far as writing goes, so he has been freelancing since 2019. Besides being a teacher, Lacey is also a certified Nebraska Master Naturalist and enjoys supervising the writing hike program at Fontenelle Forest. Lacey earned a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, an M.Ed. from the University of Arizona, and has a master’s degree in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

LISA LUKECART—Contributing Writer It started when Lukecart drove to work at 3 a.m. In the grand scheme of things, who cared if some bigwig in California’s e-mail server was down? As snow drifted down on her windshield that cold January day, Lukecart decided to change careers from a software engineer to a teacher. She wanted to make a difference. Lukecart has taught at Millard West for the past 12 years, eight of those as the journalism adviser. She started with four newspaper staff members and transformed it into a prestigious program. That “Fab-4” launched the school’s first online paper and weekly broadcast.

The Pawprint became the top paper in the state. After winning a second state championship and numerous national awards, Lukecart was removed that same year after advocating alongside her students for a free press. She now teaches English 9 and 11 and still reminds students to leave a legacy. She thanks her “legacies,” her mentor Karen Palmer, and her dog, Izzy, for making her a better educator and person. // 6 //

OCTOBER 2020

OCTOBER 2020 VOLUME 38 // ISSUE 5

EDITORIAL Managing Editor

DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Senior Editor

TARA SPENCER Associate Editor

LINDA PERSIGEHL Contributing Writers

KAMRIN BAKER · TAMSEN BUTLER VIRGINIA KATHRYN GALLNER · JENNA GABRIAL GALLAGHER CHRIS HATCH · JEFF LACEY · JENNIFER LITTON · LISA LUKECART SEAN MCCARTHY · PATRICK MCGEE · PATRICK MAINELLI KATRINA MARKEL · SEAN ROBINSON · KARA SCHWEISS SCOTT STEWART · TIM TRUDELL · NIZ PROSKOCIL JOEL STEVENS · DOUGLAS “OTIS TWELVE” WESSELMANN

CREATIVE Creative Director

MATT WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer

DEREK JOY Graphic Designer II

MADY BESCH

Explore the groundbreaking work of Jim Henson—and his transformative impact on popular culture—this fall when The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited comes to The Durham Museum.

An exhibition organized by Museum of the Moving Image Photo: Jim Henson and his iconic creation Kermit the Frog, in front of a mural by Coulter Watt. Photo by John E. Barrett.

Kermit the Frog © Disney/Muppets.

Courtesy The Jim Henson Company/MoMI

Contributing Photographers

JUSTIN BARNES · KEITH BINDER · COLIN CONCES SCOTT DRICKEY · JOSHUA FOO · WILLIAM HESS · SARAH LEMKE

SALES Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing

GIL COHEN

801 S. 10TH ST, OMAHA, NE 402-444-5071

Director of Sales

ED COCHRAN Senior Branding Specialist

MARY HIATT Publisher’s Assistant & OmahaHome Contributing Editor

SANDY MATSON Senior Sales Coordinator

ALICIA HOLLINS Branding Specialists

DAWN DENNIS · GEORGE IDELMAN Digital Sales Manager

JILLIAN DUNN

OPERATIONS Operations Officer & Local Stubs Ticketing Representative

JOSHUA PETERSON Ad Traffic Manager

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MIKE BREWER Accounting Associate

KENDRA HILL

EXECUTIVE Executive Publisher

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GREG BRUNS Associate Publisher

BILL SITZMANN For Advertising & Subscription Information:

402.884.2000 Omaha Magazine Vol 38 Issue III, publishes monthly except February, April, August, November, December, totaling 8 issues by Omaha Magazine, LTD, 5921 S. 118 Circle, Omaha, NE 68137. Periodical postage at Omaha, NE, and additional offices and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Omaha Magazine, 5921 S. 118 Circle, Omaha, NE 68137

from the people that love this city as much as you do, we bring to you amazing stories of interesting people, arts, food, music and events that make Omaha the cultural epicenter of the Midwest.

OmahaMagazine.com/subscribe OCTOBER 2020

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EVENTS

» Exhibitions « AMERICA TO ZANZIBAR: MUSLIM CULTURES NEAR AND FAR

Through Oct. 18 at Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. Visitors can enjoy innovative hands-on experiences and discover fascinating objects, images, and information from over 50 countries. Children can explore ancient trade routes on a two-story Indian Ocean dhow (boat) or on a camel. They can thrill to the excitement of a global marketplace as they pretend to buy, sell, and trade fruit, fish, spice, ceramic, textiles, and rugs. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

(Wednesday-Sunday). Admission: $10 adults, $10 kids (2-15), $9 seniors (60+), free for members and kids under 2. 402.342.6165.

–ocm.org

THE NITTY GRITTY ON A STREETCAR CITY

Through April 1 at General Crook House, 5730 N. 30th St. This exhibit is about Omaha’s streetcar system, which operated from 1868-1955, and includes artifacts from the cars, a streetcar seat, replica uniforms, and route maps. 402.455.9990.

–douglascohistory.org

BUG SQUAD

Through April 11 at Omaha Children’s Museum, 500 S. 20th St. In this immersive world of insects, children will explore the science behind each bug’s unique abilities and traits while realizing their own superpowers. Families will encounter real bugs and huge animatronic bugs. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. (Wednesday-Sunday). Admission: $10 adults, $10 kids (2-15), $9 seniors (60+), free for members and kids under 2. 402.342.6165.

–ocm.org

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OCTOBER 2020

DOTTIE SEYMOUR, GLENDA MUSILEK, LINDA HATFIELD

Oct. 1-25 at Artists’ Cooperative Gallery, 405 S. 11th St. Fans of the abstract won’t want to miss this show from three Omaha artists. Admission: free.

402.342.9617 –artistscoopomaha.com

THE JIM HENSON EXHIBITION: IMAGINATION UNLIMITED

Oct. 3-Jan. 10 at Durham Museum, 801 S. 10th St. This exhibit explores Jim Henson’s groundbreaking work for fi lm and television and his transformative impact on popular culture. Its reveals how Henson and his team of builders, performers and writers brought to life the enduringly popular worlds of “The Muppet Show,” “Sesame Street,” “Fraggle Rock,” “The Dark Crystal,” “Labyrinth” and much more. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $11 adults, $8 seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for children 2 years and under and members. 402.444.5071 –durhammuseaum.org

REVISITING AMERICA: THE PRINTS OF CURRIER & IVES

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Oct. 3-Jan. 1 at Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Dodge St. In 2016, Conagra Brands donated nearly 600 Currier & Ives lithographs to Joslyn Art Museum. Th is exhibition sheds new light on the famous firm’s artistic and commercial practices, revealing the complex social relationships and surprising modernity of its lavish prints, which found their way into the homes of tens of thousands of Americans in the nineteenth century. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Admission: $10 adults, free for students with ID, Joslyn members and children under 17. 402.342.3300.

–joslyn.org

DAY OF THE DEAD/ DÍA DE MUERTOS

Oct. 10-Nov. 14 at El Museo Latino, 4701 S. 25th St. Combining elements from indigenous Aztec and Christian traditions, the Day of the Dead celebrates departed loved ones through the remembrance of an “ofrenda” (offering) which include the elements of flowers, candles, incense, candy, favorite foods and special bread such as “pan de muertos.” Guided tours are available with advance reservation. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

(Wednesday-Friday), 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (Saturday). Tickets: $5 adults, $4 students, $3.50 seniors and students K-12, free for children under five. 402.731.1137.

–elmuseolatino.org

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GET OUT THE VOTE

Oct. 10-Nov. 1 at Union for Contemporary Arts, 2423 N. 24th St. Th is exhibition is part of a series that will innovate the means by which art is experienced while also supporting the creative practices of local and regional Black artists of multiple disciplines by using their windows to display art. Admission: free.

402.933.3161.

–u-ca.org

OCTOBER 2020

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OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

Four Old Market

JOYOUS OCCASION

Through Nov. 27 at Modern Arts Midtown, 3615 Dodge St. View the exhibition of new work by artists Catherine Ferguson, Barbara Kendrick, Chris Cassimatis, Merrill Peterson and Terry Dushan at Modern Arts Midtown. By appointment only, Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission: free. 402.502.8737.

–modernartsmidtown.com

» Concerts «

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OCTOBER 2020

Oct. 2 at Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. King Iso was born and raised in Omaha and has since been signed to the legendary Strange Music label with Tech N9ne. Th is show features King Iso with support from Taebo, Snake Lucci, Forget Finch, AshSten James, and TKO. Hosted by Strawstone. 8 p.m. Tickets: $20 advanced, $25 day of show. 402.884.5353.

–waitingroomlounge.com

ANDREA VON KAMPEN

YESTERDAY AND TODAY: THE INTERACTIVE BEATLES EXPERIENCE

LOUD IN BENSON

MDOU MOCTAR

Sept. 26 (moved from Oct. 24) at Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Andrea von Kampen is an independent folk singer-songwriter based in Lincoln whose effortless vocal delivery has been described by Ear To The Ground Music as having “the conviction of a gospel track and the sincerity of a Dylan folk ballad.” 8 p.m. Tickets: $13 advanced, $15 day of show. 402.345.7569 –theslowdown.com

Oct. 1 at Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. The LOUD series highlights local artists from the Omaha and surrounding areas. Attendees can expect a fast-paced and action-packed night of hip-hop. Th is version of LOUD features Nice Enough Entertainment’s very own touring artist Jay Influential. With support from C10, Bate$, Goonie Gang, NeVes and Modest K. 9 p.m. Tickets: $10 advanced, $15 day of show.

402.884.5353.

–waitingroomlounge.com

PETROCK

Oct.1-2 at Slowdown, 729 N. 14th St. Attendees can travel back in time to the ’70s with PetRock. Th is ’70s tribute band is dedicated to delivering the most devoted, loving and downright accurate ’70s musical experience possible. 7 p.m. (Thursday), 8:30 p.m. (Friday). Tickets: $15-$40. 402.345.7569 –theslowdown.com

Travel essentials plus souvenirs and Nebraska-made gifts.

KING ISO

Oct. 2-Nov. 1 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. Anchored by brothers Billy, Matthew and Ryan McGuigan, fan favorite Yesterday and Today is the only all request show where the band has learned the entire Beatles catalogue and are ready to play any song at the drop of a hat. Times vary. Tickets: $45.

402.553.0800.

–omahaplayhouse.com

Oct. 3 at Reverb Lounge, 6121 Military Ave. Mdou Moctar immediately stands out as one of the most innovative artists in contemporary Saharan music.

His unconventional interpretations of Tuareg guitar have pushed him to the forefront of a crowded scene. 9 p.m. Tickets: $15. 402.884.5707.

–reverblounge.com

BLACKBEAR FT. MARC E. BASSY

Oct. 15 at Baxter Arena, 2425 S. 67th St. Concertgoers can groove to the beats of hip-hop and R&B singer and songwriter duo Blackbear and Marc E. Bassy.

7 p.m. Tickets: $63-$400. 402.554.6200.

–baxterarena.com

CHICAGO PLAYS THE STONES

Oct. 29 at Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St. Guitarist and vocalist Ronnie Baker Brooks and harmonica master and vocalist Billy Branch will travel back to the future with blues renditions of “Gimme Shelter,” “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and more. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $35. 402.345.0202.

–o-pa.org

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

» Stage Performances « JEFF DUNHAM: SERIOUSLY!?

Oct. 2 at CHI Health Center, 455 N. 10th St. Comendian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and his somewhat-inappropriate proteges, Peanut, Walter, José Jalapeño, Bubba J., and Achmed the Dead Terrorist, are hitting the road again on their brand-new international tour. 7 p.m. Tickets: $50.50. 402.341.1500.

–chihealthcenteromaha.com

CHAD PRATHER

Oct. 4-5 at Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Prather is a comedian, armchair philosopher, musician and observational humorist. He is often referred to as “the modern day Will Rogers.” He is a fast-talking combination of Lewis Grizzard and Jeff Foxworthy. CNN has labeled him the “Pick-up Pundit” and Fox News’ Tucker Carlson has called Prather “supernaturally articulate.” He is known for his comedic family stories told from an adult perspective onstage. Times vary. Tickets: $35-$70. 402.884.5353.

–waitingroomlounge.com

BRIAN REGAN

Oct. 11-13 at Waiting Room Lounge, 6212 Maple St. Critics, fans, and fellow comedians agree: Brian Regan is one of the most respected comedians in the country, with Vanity Fair calling Brian, “the funniest stand-up alive,” and Entertainment Weekly calling him, “your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian.” 8 p.m.

Tickets: $60. 402.884.5353 –waitingroomlounge.com

PENGUIN PROBLEMS

Through Oct. 18 at Rose Theater, 2001 Farnam St. People might pretend that penguins don’t have problems, but mopey Mortimer certainly begs to differ.

He finds the frozen life to be free of fun and far from festive. Despite the calm, cool, and collected attitudes of the other penguins of his pack, Mortimer has no chill.

He constantly complains that he’s got serious penguin problems. Times vary. Tickets: $25. 402.345.4849.

–rosetheater.org

GROUNDED

Through Oct. 18 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St. An ace fighter pilot finds herself grounded when an unexpected pregnancy cuts her career in the sky short. Reassigned to military drone operation, she patrols Afghanistan by day and returns to her family at night. As professional pressure mounts, the lines between the desert where she lives and the desert where she hunts high-profi le terrorists begins to blur. Times vary. Tickets: $36. 402.553.0800.

–omahaplayhouse.com

JOSH WOLF

Oct. 22-24 at Funny Bone, 17305 Davenport St. Josh Wolf is a comedian, actor and New York Times bestselling author best known for his work as a roundtable guest and writer on E!’s Chelsea Lately and After Lately.

He has become one of the most sought after personalities in comedy, headlining stand-up comedy tours across the nation. Times vary. Tickets: $20. 402.493.8036.

–omaha.funnybone.com

I AM MY OWN WIFE

Oct. 30-Nov. 15 at Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass. St. The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning true story about Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, an East Berlin transgender woman who survived two of the most repressive totalitarian regimes in history—the Nazis and the Communists—while openly flouting gender norms. An incredible tale fi lled with danger, intrigue, and conspiracy that examines the balance between morality and survival. Times vary. Tickets: $36. 402.553.0800.

–omahaplayhouse.com

» Family & More « JUNKSTOCK HARVEST EDITION

Oct. 2-4 & 9-11 at Sycamore Farms, 1150 River Road Drive. Junkstock is known for being one of the best vintage festivals in the country. Over 180 vintage, antique, and junk vendors will join makers, food trucks and bands to create the magic and wonder that is Junkstock. Times vary. Tickets: $10-$75. 402.765.8651.

–junkstock.com

LITTLE TIKE HIKE

Oct. 3-12 at Hitchcock Nature Center, 27792 Ski Hill Loop. Families with young learners are invited to hit the trails for a self-guided hike full of fun nature learning available during regular park hours. As hikers enjoy the sights and sounds along the Boardwalk Trail, they will spot trail activities posted along the route that are designed to help learners age 3 to 5 experience nature in a new way. 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Admission: $3 per vehicle. 712.545.3283.

–pottconservation.com

GARLIC PLANTING CLASS

Oct. 5 on Zoom. Fall is the perfect time to plant Garlic.

Class attendees can learn when, where, and how to grow beautiful bulbs. 6-8 p.m. Register on Growing Gardeners website. Tickets: free. 402.504.1910.

–growinggardeners.org

LEASHES AT LAURITZEN

Oct. 5 & 12 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Attendees can bring canine friends to walk the grounds and enjoy the great outdoors together. Th is is an informal, fun way to enjoy and explore our 100 acres and miles of trails with the family and the family dog.

Water and treats will be available at stations throughout the garden. 5-8 p.m. Admission: $10. 402.346.4002.

–lauritzengardens.org

MEAN GIRLS

Oct. 20-25 at Orpheum Theater, 409 S. 16th St. Direct from Broadway, Mean Girls is a ferociously funny hit musical. Full of inside jokes and a wicked sense of humor, Mean Girls gets to the hilarious heart of what it means to be a true friend, and above all, a human being.

Times vary. Tickets: Only available as group sales or part of a season subscription. 402.661.8501

OCTOBER 2020

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OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM/PAGES/SUBSCRIBE

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OCTOBER 2020

OMAHA MAGAZINE | EVENTS CALENDAR

ELDERBERRY SYRUP CLASS

Oct. 7 on Zoom. Class attendees can learn all about elderberry, a wonderful medicinal, native shrub, and how to capture its potency in a syrup that can be preserved and used year-round. 6-8 p.m. Register on Growing Gardeners website. Tickets: free. 402.504.1910.

–growinggardeners.org

THE SCIENCE OF FALL

Oct. 10 at Hitchcock Nature Center, 27792 Ski Hill Loop. Attendees can join instructor Ron Cisar as they celebrate the life and legacy of famous naturalist and philosopher Aldo Leopold. Th is session will focus on Leopold’s essay “Red Lantern” and feature guest speaker Dan Poggensee, professional photographer with Wind Rider Images. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Admission: $15.

712.545.3283.

–pottconservation.com

THE FOOD TRUCK WORLD TOUR

Oct. 11 at the Mastercraft Building at Millworks Common, 1111 N. 13th St. The Food Truck World Tour (FTWT) is the Immigrant Legal Center’s annual fundraising event. The 6th annual FTWT will be held in a drive-thru format, allowing attendees to remain in their vehicles as they pick up delicious food from local food trucks. 2-6 p.m. Tickets: $50. 402.898.1349.

–immigrantlc.org/foodtruck

BRAINIAC TRIVIA: NEBRASKA SCIENCE FAIR EDITION

Oct. 13 at O’Leaver’s, 1322 S. Saddle Creek Road.

Th is edition of trivia will have a science theme to each category in support of the Nebraska Science Festival which runs April 3-26. Join host Zach for a night of trivia. Prizes and giveaways for the winning team. Teams can be up to four people. Categories: Science Fiction, Who Made That?, Top 10, And Other Science Facts. 9 p.m. Tickets: free (21+). 402-556-1238.

–oleavers.com

TRICK OR TREAT WITH THE ANIMALS

Oct. 17 at Gifford Farm Education Center, 700 Camp Gifford Road. A special day fi lled with chickens, pigs, goats, farm games, and trick-or-treating. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission: $5 for trick-or-treaters, free for accompanying adults. 402.597.4920.

–esu3.org

BIRD-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPES CLASS

Oct. 17 on Facebook Live. Nothing brings a garden to life like a host of native birds making the space their home. Class attendees can learn more about how to attract more backyard birds. 10-10:30 a.m. Register on Growing Gardens website. Tickets: free. 402.504.1910.

—growinggardeners.org

FIRE CIDER CLASS

Oct. 21 on Zoom. Class attendees can learn how to make fire cider, which is a long-used prevention and remedy for many winter ailments. 6-8 p.m. Register on Growing Gardens website. Tickets: free. 402.504.1910.

–growinggardeners.org

GHOULISH GARDEN ADVENTURE

Oct. 27 at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Attendees can explore a variety of educational and fun activity stations throughout the garden. Families can learn about the mysteries of nature, get up close and personal with the amazing creatures that make the fall so festive, and make their very own crafts to take home. 12-4 p.m. Admission: $10 adults, $5 children (6-12), free for garden members and children under six. 402.346.4002.

–lauritzengardens.org

Event times and details are correct as of presstime, but are subject to change. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, many events are canceling and/ or changing dates/time/places as needed. Most venues base these decisions on direction by the Douglas County Health Department and Nebraska’s publication of guidance on canceling events and limiting the number of people in public gatherings.

Omaha Magazine encourages readers to visit venues' websites and/or calling ahead before attending an event or visiting a museum.

OCTOBER 2020

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A+C MUSIC // STORY BY VIRGINIA KATHRYN GALLNER // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

Mariachi Zapata's Cultural UNITY Preservation and Education

THROUGH MUSIC R

amon Hernandez named his band Mariachi Zapata after Emiliano Zapata, a heroic figure from the Mexican Revolution. Founded in 1989, the group’s first performance was on May 13, 1990. They were the second mariachi group in the city.

“Some think it is an organization of just performers, and we have fun. What we really are [doing] is keeping the culture alive—the Mexican culture, Chicano culture.”

Originally, they were part of Cuicacalli Centro de Arte at 24th and N streets, an arts center founded by Martin Ramirez in 1989 and dedicated to people of color.

The center encompassed all disciplines, including music, theater, performing arts, and visual arts.

“We built a bridge between North Omaha and South Omaha,” Hernandez said.

His uncles, Mauricio and Erasmo Hernandez, were core members of Mariachi Rey Azteca, the first mariachi group in the city. Now, as the leader of Mariachi Zapata, Ramon wants to create a similar intergenerational atmosphere.

“One of our reasons for being is to keep the culture alive, keep the music alive,” he said. “My push is to have any members [who] join us [to] have two things: they have to be able to sing some of the songs, and they have to be able to learn an instrument, and before they can leave, they have to teach somebody else the traditional mariachi music and culture.”

Playing with Zapata has been a profound experience for Alex Schmer, an upright bass player who moonlights on guitar for the group. “Being classically trained, immersing myself into mariachi was a complete shock. I was taught purely by ear, which is the norm for most mariacheros…[it has] everything to do with experiencing the moment.”

Learning mariachi music by ear is no small challenge. Hernandez said they could probably perform for six hours without repeating a single tune or using sheet music.

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OCTOBER 2020

“Putting on the suit brings with it a sense of pride and community,” said trumpet player Jimmy Cuadros, another member of Mariachi Zapata’s younger generation.

Zapata features a wide range of traditional instrumentation. Hernandez plays the guitarron, a guitar that’s eight inches deep, which provides the bass foundation for the music. The guitarron’s original partners in mariachi music were the vihuela and the folk harp. One of the most characteristic sounds of mariachi today is the trumpet, which did not arrive until the 1920s.

Over 500 years ago, the mariachi tradition started as a trio or quartet playing at festivals, weddings, baptisms, and quinceañeras. According to Hernandez, at the time, the Catholic Church thought they were pagan musicians. To this day, some Orthodox Catholic churches do not allow mariachis to perform at Mass. This history is still relatively unknown—even on college campuses.

After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in music, Hernandez was asked to give a mariachi presentation for a world music class at University of Nebraska at Omaha.

In preparation for the class, he was given a textbook to follow. He did not find a single page in the book about mariachi.

Instead, he wrote his own curriculum, initiating his teaching career.

He presented this curriculum to the principal of Marrs Magnet Middle School and was granted funding to continue. This school is especially important, he said, because the majority of the students are Mexicano, Chicano, and Latino.

Over the past two decades, Hernandez has worked to bring world-class mariachi musicians to Omaha for workshops, master classes, and performances.

Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano,

a group representing the Smithsonian Institute, taught for a whole weekend in the early 2000s. Mariachi Cobre, the band in residence at Disney World, performed at the Orpheum Theater and offered intensive workshops for dedicated musicians. Nydia Rojas held a master class in partnership with the South Omaha Arts Institute.

As part of his educational initiatives, Hernandez also gives back to the community through nonprofit work. He serves on the board of directors at Arts for All, a nonprofit dedicated to providing arts education for adults and children of all experience levels. For about seven years, he has hosted a mariachi class focused on music history and appreciation. Until this year, he collaborated with their executive director, Judy Mallory, who passed away in June.

He served on the grant review board of the Nebraska Arts Council from 1984 to 1990, pushing for multicultural grants.

He felt there was a lack of representation on the boards of nonprofit organizations at the time. “It took some hard advocacy work just to get these folks to say it’s all right,” he said. “[Then] everyone started to apply for multicultural grants.”

Mariachi Zapata has been nominated for four Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards, winning Best World Music in 2018. This Mother’s Day, Mariachi Zapata celebrated their 30th year as a group, and they are still going strong.

“Music lets you perfectly unify any lives that participate,” Schmer said of the mariachi tradition. In Mariachi Zapata, that reaches past many boundaries, bringing generations together.

Visit facebook.com/MariachiZapataOmaha for more information.

FROM UNO TO NBC

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A + C C O M E D Y // S T O R Y B Y K AT R I N A M A R K E L // P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y B I L L S I T Z M A N N // D E S I G N B Y M A T T W I E C Z O R E K

CAM E RON LOGSDON IS OMAHA FAMOUS AN D LO V I NG IT “The goal was to leave. I should say from my perspective that was the goal, but I think Cameron is Omaha,” Syrek said. “I think that Cameron is an embodiment of all of the different types of experiences, the people, and opportunities that you see in Omaha.”

C A M E R O N L O G S D O N I S A LW AY S P E R F O R M I N G . AT L E A S T, T H AT ’ S W H AT H I S F R I E N D A N D F E L L O W U N I V E R S IT Y O F N E B R A S K A AT O M A H A C O L L E G E O F C O M M U N I C AT I O N FA C U LT Y M E M B E R ABBI E SYRE K SAI D. ˆˆ

“I started coaching [the forensics team] at UNO and Cameron was one of the first students that I recruited. I heard that there was this very electric and powerful and passionate young man—he’s from Bellevue East High School—but what’s so interesting is that when I talked to him he didn’t really have college plans,” said Syrek, who is a lecturer in the UNO School of Communication.

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Logsdon was recently appointed as the “Despite having done so much with public public spea k ing course coordinator speaking, despite having so much college at UNO, but he might be best known speech performance background and so around Omaha as a comic. Whether it’s much performance background, I bombed stand-up at the Funny Bone, improv so hard,” Logsdon said. at the Backline, emceeing high-profile events, or performing sketches on social Determined to erase the devastating feeling media and WOWT’s “Omaha Live!” of bombing, he found another open mic the YouTube channel, Logsdon’s presence in following night and tried again. the Omaha comedy scene is ubiquitous.

“The truth is that my life is such a way that I don’t necessarily have that luxury to just go try to chase it, you know?” Logsdon said.

“IT WE NT A LITTLE BIT BETTE R, B U T T H AT N I G H T I T F E LT L I K E I T WAS TH E BEST PE RFORMANCE I’D EVE R G IVE N I N MY LI FE,” L O G S D O N S A I D . “A N D I ’ L L C O N T E N D T H AT T O T H I S D A Y I’M J UST CHASI NG TH E H IG H O F C R U S H I N G T H AT N I G H T.”

She helped Logsdon through the application and enrollment process for the university.

The challenges of being a teen parent, firstgeneration college student, and a person of color—Logsdon refers to himself as multiracial— mean that the relatively young faculty member has an important connection with students.

Syrek said many UNO students fit into one or more of those categories.

“When Cameron really started rising through the ranks at UNO, I personally witnessed so many students flock to him,” Syrek said, noting the importance of diversity among college faculty members.

Ups-and-downs go with the territory of being a stand-up comedian.

“At the time, I didn’t think I could get into college,” Logsdon said. “I didn’t know how to apply, I didn’t know anything about college life—from registration to textbooks to financial aid. I was pretty much in the dark.”

“If you have a bad night you’re like, ‘Oh, I can’t go out like that. I’ve got to go try it again.’ And if you have a great night you’re like. ‘I wanna do this everyday!’ So, no matter what it is you’re going to keep going,” Logsdon said.

Until this year, Syrek was the director of the forensics team and Logsdon was the assistant director. It’s a huge commitment that involves weekend travel and daily practice. She’s watched him rise from being an undergraduate student to the team’s graduate teaching assistant to working alongside her as a coach.

“I try to encourage students from similar backgrounds to strive for higher education,” said Logsdon, who is now in a position to do for others what Syrek did for him. “It can be too easy for them to stay in their own socioeconomic and educational stratosphere.

Access to knowledge is a major factor in the lack of social mobility. I often think about how much easier it’ll be for my kid to go to college simply because I know how to help him apply.”

Syrek explained “I feel like all of our discussions are just fodder for comedy. We’re always on the lookout.” She’s often Logsdon’s “Guinea pig” when it comes to testing out new comedy bits.

She recalled giving her friend feedback on his successful submission packet for the NBC Late Night Writers Workshop in 2016.

Logsdon said that being a young father, fulltime graduate student, graduate teaching assistant, and forensics team coach was “all-consuming.” When he completed his master’s degree in communication studies in 2013, he discovered a little free time and was eager to try something new.

As for continuing his performing career here, Logsdon is characteristically upbeat.

“I want to be in Omaha and I want more talent to get recognized from here,” he said, “I want more recognition for this place because I think it’s special, I think it’s cool.”

“It’s a really cool program where you spend a week or so, a little over a week, in New York City and you’re in 30 Rock and you’re writing and they bring people from all over and you work with them,” Logsdon said.

Logsdon started with an open mic night at Barley Street Tavern and had a common first experience for a novice stand-up comedian.

Follow Cameron Logsdon on Instagram, YouTube, and Tik Tok.

He remembers there were questions about whether or not he’d move to New York City or another entertainment hub to pursue a seemingly more glamorous career.

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Logsdon became a father at age 17, an experience he shared in an insightful 2015 TEDxUNO. Co-parenting his son, who is now almost 14, and a dedication to teaching at UNO has kept him here. Whenever possible, Logsdon said he performs at comedy festivals around the country and in entertainment hubs such as New York, Chicago, and LA.

ˆˆ OCTOB E R 2020 / /

17

A+C PHOTOGRAPHY

story by............................................. Patrick Mainelli photography by......................... Bill Sitzmann design by........................................... Derek Joy

RF AMING E H T G N I EY E , T N E S E THE PR FUTURE

PHOTOGRAPHER ANDRÉ SESSIONS JR. CAPTURES THE MOMENTS OF A MOVEMENT

I TRY TO LOOK

at things not just for what they are now, but for what they will be—what they can become,” said Omaha photographer André Sessions Jr. Sound advice, it seems, not just for the photographic eye, but for all of us in search of a path forward on the ever-shifting ground of 2020.

As an artist and documentarian, Sessions’ talent is emerging in a moment in desperate need of fresh eyes. His poised-yet-vibrant photos from the many rallies and protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement over the last several months are some of the most poignant local documents of the uprising. ..................................................................... // 18 //

OCTOBER 2020

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OCTOBER 2020

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A+C “ PHOTOGRAPHY

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....................................................................................................................................................

t’s great to have the documentation because it’s recorded history,” he said. “We didn’t know it originally, but this has become the biggest sustained protesting movement in history, all around the world.”

You look at early photos of Fred Hampton or Medgar Evers and in the moment they were just living and doing what they were passionate about, but 60 years later those images are so powerful because of what the person has done.

Sessions’ work depicting protesters and police squaring off on 72nd and Dodge streets following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis -ANDRÉ SESSIONS JR. appeared in print this summer in Th e New ..................................................................................................................................................................................

Territory. The Missouri-based quarterly is committed to presenting a fresh understanding of life in the lower Midwest.

Five years later, it’s clear Sessions is still taking this lesson to heart. Beyond his photography work, he is finding numerous Katie Young Foster, creative director with New Territory ways to fight for justice. Currently, he is involved in the develnoted, “With deft framing and a keen sense of timing and opment of three different nonprofits in pursuit of greater racial perspective, Sessions captured movement—and a moveand economic equity in Omaha. ment—in a way that communicates both story and history.”

In a moment when so many new initiatives are coming into being, Sessions and his fellow organizers are advocating for concrete Sessions’ recent work makes clear that he doesn’t hesitate action: creating community gardens, organizing neighborhood to put himself in the middle of the action. Gabrielle cleanups, and providing personal hygiene products and cosmetic Gaines Liwaru—educator, social change artist, and care for low-income high schoolers. longtime mentor to Sessions—observed that he is temperamentally well-suited to putting a careful frame on “Growing up, I can relate,” Sessions said. “You don’t feel like going moments that sometimes lean toward chaos. to school if you don’t smell good. You get bullied and picked on if your clothes are dirty. So a lot of times, my attendance was horrible “He’s got a demeanor about him, a mannerism,” because being poor, I would make up reasons for staying home, just Gaines Liwaru said. “As a spectator, he can move so I didn’t have to go to school with dirty clothes.” fearlessly. He can be very quiet, but the role of being behind the camera is critical for the way his Sessions has also worked as a communications intern with North mind works.”

Omaha nonprofit The Union for Contemporary Art for nearly a year.

That work has included photographing the organization’s many com“I go into [protests and rallies] with a different munity programs and producing a fi lmed virtual tour of their Undesign frame of mind,” Sessions said. “I’m always thinkthe Redline exhibit, exploring the roots of systemic housing inequality. ing of moments as being potentially historical. I’m thinking of images from the civil rights era and “Everything is part of a bigger chain for the greater good,” Sessions noted. the early days of Black Panther Party, and how “All this work goes hand in hand, getting this all recorded for the future. powerful those are. I want people to have that I look at [the intersection of ] 24th and Lake; in 10 years we’ll look back same sense of awe that I did, looking at these at where it all started. We might see this whole area as the cornerstone of images from more than 50 years ago.” change. There’s just so much that needs to be remembered.”

Th at sense of awe took fi rm root during a 2015 high school trip retracing the historic 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Birmingham. Th anks to the leadership of Gaines Liwaru and her husband Sharif Liwaru (then the president of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation), Sessions and 24 other Omaha Public School students gained a fi rsthand appreciation for many of the historic locations of the civil rights movement.

Gaines Liwaru explained, “What we wanted to drive home was the fact that, in order to move forward and really fi nd your purpose and passion and know your mission in life, you need to explore sacrifices of ancestors who made a huge impact by putting their life on the line, trying to create a more sustainable presence in African American life.”

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OCTOBER 2020

“[Sessions] gets that he’s been blessed with some insights,” Gaines Liwaru said. “He is under 25 years old and he knows that it’s beyond time to get people to wake up and not keep sweeping things under the rug. André knows that as African Americans, we are already at a systemic disadvantage from finding a path to let our talents flourish. The way he humanizes these folks he documents, he celebrates something special about who that person is and where they are at now in their journey—one face of many in what some might consider Black America.”

Like all great recorders of history, Sessions recognizes that it’s in the present moment—the fleeting snap of a shutter—where the past and future are most alive.

“You look at early photos of Fred Hampton or Medgar Evers and in the moment they were just living and doing what they were passionate about, but 60 years later those images are so powerful because of what the person has done,” Sessions reflected. “I look at some of my images…I know we can look back years from now and really see the power then. Th at’s when we’ll recognize this was just the beginning.”

For more information, visit asessionsphotography.com and follow Sessions on Instagram at @epicandre.

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With deft framing and a keen sense of timing and perspective, Sessions captured movement and a movement in a way that communicates both story and history.

-KATIE YOUNG FOSTER ....................................................................

OCTOBER 2020

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A + C V I S UA L s t o ry b y K a m r i n B ak e r

jos e ph i n e l angb e h n teaches , paints , and dances t h rough h i story

A

popular quote by Albert Einstein poses that a cluttered workspace equals a creative, genius mind. But Josephine Langbehn’s workspace is neat; a third of a studio space inside Hot Shops Art Center, a simple, subdued white wall highlighting a small supply cart topped with acrylic paint, brushes, and a small bag of almonds. A few paintings line the side of the room like beautiful, blown-up versions of the old photographs grandmas keep in boxes in their attics.

Bill Sitzmann M at t W i e c z o r e k

p h ot o g r a p h y b y design by

OCTOBER

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2020

A + C V I S UAL

L

angbehn’s workspace isn’t cluttered, but it is full—of meaning, story, and intention.

Her work echoes that style. Langbehn paints people in grayscale against stark white backgrounds. She is inspired by old photographs and the stories they contain within their grainy interiors.

“When I was little, I was always asking my mom to bring out photographs, really old ones from the early 1900s, 1920s, ’50s, you name it,” Langbehn said. “I loved them. The grayscales, the aesthetic of an old photograph, the white frame that goes around them. Even the thickness of the paper, I always thought was really cool—that vintage quality has always stuck with me.”

While the curious, collective quality of old photographs drew Langbehn in, the stories of the people in the images kept her imagination on a hamster wheel, and she began churning out immaculate, realistic grayscale portraits.

Some have faces, others are odes to family members (a piece depicting three generations of women in her family adorns the wall as one of the sole hangings in her workspace), and all of them add a dimension to the similar pieces of film that exist in almost every American household.

“There is so much we can learn from others,” Langbehn said. “I took time to dig through family trees and gave a dialogue to those stories.”

lesson planning and relationship building in the classroom,” she said. “But it all connects.”

Langbehn has used her professional experiences to bring a more honest approach to the classroom, encouraging her students to write artist statements about their work, be able to discuss art, and come up with original ideas.

“Middle schoolers are at such a special place of self-discovery, and the little kids are so excited to explore without judgement,” Langbehn said. “It just shows that art is self-expression, and you can have multiple answers that are all great answers. Nothing needs to look the same.”

Langbehn’s coworker John Balcer, a Palisades Elementary music teacher, said he works alongside Langbehn to collaborate on art and music curriculum for students.

“Her immersion in the Omaha art scene has had a keen impact on our students and influences how she teaches in her classroom,” Balcer said. “Josie works hard to help students realize that art is a powerful, living craft which carries so many far-reaching positives for all of us. I think Josie does a terrific job in teaching students that art is all around us, being made by all kinds of people just like the students in her classroom.”

Along with her in-school pursuits to bring art to life, Langbehn works hard to develop arts education with the Nebraska Art Teachers Association, which she has been a part of for nearly a decade. She finished her co-presidency with the organization in July this year and is on the board as a co-past president until July 2022.

Langbehn is a natural documentarian (she was a yearbook editor during her time at Benson High School), aching to learn more, to share more, and to expand her understanding of the human experience. Entering her 13th year of art education, she has taken her perspective to an array of middle and elementary school classrooms in Omaha Public Schools—and now Gretna Public Schools.

“This is a nonprofit that is advancing the importance of arts education in schools and how it increases the human potential,” Langbehn said. “Just being around other teachers who care to push for the best arts education is so rewarding. It’s an amazing community.”

“At first, my own artwork went on the back burner because I was so busy with

When Langbehn has a moment away from painting or teaching a future crop of artists,

she is moved by another form of art: Lindy Hop. Langbehn and her husband, Brian, teach swing dance classes together at Omaha Jitterbugs and have traveled nationally and globally in Lindy Hop competitions.

“I’m super introverted, and Lindy Hop has always been there for me when I needed it most,” Langbehn said. “It’s a level of self-expression, of being who you are, and all these people who swing dance, we can come together with this shared language.”

While swing dancing has been an ongoing hobby of hers for about 20 years, she has been working on a piece to give back to that specific community.

Langbehn has interviewed dancers of the Savoy, a ballroom with great significance in the founding of the dance, as it was one of the first integrated ballrooms in Harlem and normalized the Lindy’s roots as an African street dance.

“Lindy Hop is a Black dance and understanding why the dance exists and making sure it is honored is really important to me,” Langbehn said.

“It’s more than just this fun, happy dance. There’s a whole lot more to it. I want to take the time to really know that, to listen, to reflect on all of that through my art.”

While telling the stories of others is at the crux of Langbehn’s work as an artist and teacher, she finds her groove in the action of creation.

“There’s some stuff I don’t teach because art isn’t just about people who are in museums,” Langbehn said. “Art is alive.

It’s real. People create it every day. My classroom isn’t just ‘We’re going to recreate “[The] Starry Night”’ because that’s not what it’s about. It’s about using your own voice and empowering children to use their own voice.

Art teaches us about compassion and understanding others. We can’t live without that.”

Visit josephinelangbehn.com for more information.

just shows that art is self-expression, and you can have multiple answers that are all great answers.

Nothing needs to look the same.” -Josephine Langbehn

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Feature

S TO R Y B Y S C OT T S T E WA R T

[ SUMMER PL ANNED TO WRAP UP HER JUNIOR YEAR OF COLLEGE.

[

K

AT E N O U H A N H A D T H E P E R F E C T

Nou ha n a rra nged a n internship with the Television Academy Foundation—the organization that presents the Emmy Awards—where the Creighton University marketing student would have the opportunit y to shadow professionals working in a Los A ngeles casting off ice as actors audition for projects.

Those who have not been hiding in the wilderness since early March should know where this story is going.

26

“I’ve been trying to go out to LA to do an internship there since I was a freshman,” Nouhan said. “It’s really competitive to find something paid so you’re not working for free out there. Obviously, I was crushed when I found out it was canceled.”

The foundation instead offered a summer fellows program that included virtual one-on-one visits with TV industry professionals, professional development sessions, and remote networking opportunities—but not the hands-on experience of the traditional internship.

“There’s still some great stuff happening,” Nouhan said.

27 REMOTE INTERNSHIPS OFFER O P P O R T U N I T Y T O S H I N E I N D I V I D U A L LY

She also found a second internship working remotely at Marketing Mission, a marketing agency based in Phoenix that offers discounted and free services to nonprofit organizations. The agency recruited nationally for the opening, and Nouhan connected with the organization through a posting with Creighton’s career center.

“It is really cool that I get to work at an organization that directly helps people who are hurting due to COVID,” Nouhan said.

Many students found themselves in a similar position to Nouhan this past summer, as they saw their plans evaporate once companies and organizations began sending workers home when the pandemic hit the United States. Some of those internships and summer jobs shifted to being conducted remotely, while others were postponed or outright canceled. [ DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK ]

Feature

INTERNS GO VIRTUAL

[ [

T

he National Association of Colleges and Employers found in May that more than one-fifth of employers nationally revoked offers to summer interns, and about half moved their internships to a virtual environment. About 41% shortened their internships, according to the association.

“With the uncertainty that continues to surround the economy and the job market during this pandemic, employers are cutting budgets, which may result in internship programs being scaled back or temporarily suspended,” Shawn VanDerziel, NACE’s executive director, said. “Fortunately, the more common response we are seeing is that many employers are moving their summer internship program to the virtual space or reducing the length of internships by delaying their start date.”

Jeremy Fisher, director of John P. Fahey Career Center at Creighton University, said he believes Omaha interns fared better than others. Many companies adapted to a new reality as the coronavirus blew up on the coasts before cases began swelling in Nebraska.

Nevertheless, there are fewer internship opportunities in Omaha now than before the pandemic, Fisher said. Postings for job and internship openings were down about half at the end of the summer for the fall, and some employers were waiting to see what health guidelines and economic conditions were in place before committing to bringing on new people.

Fortunately, recent graduates were largely able to find jobs. Fisher said normally about 70% of Creighton alumni report having confirmed plans at graduation. This year, it was 66%.

“That, to me, was way better than we were anticipating with a pandemic,” Fisher said.

“It is taking longer, though, for students to find jobs, because many companies did go on hiring freezes or they furloughed employees—they’re trying to wait it out a bit financially. They’re not hiring as actively or as much as they typically would.”

Fisher said a lot of jobs were lost in the service and retail sectors, which hurt Creighton and other college students looking for part-time jobs to supplement their

28

incomes. The university prioritized helping juniors and seniors find those all-important internships this summer, and Fisher said a lot of younger students struggled to land any internship.

“The weird silver lining of this whole situation is that it’s actually forcing employers to focus more on virtual recruiting, virtual interviewing, and virtual experiences,” Fisher said. “Making things more virtual is going to provide more access to opportunity, but it is also going to make the job market more competitive.”

Fisher said virtual internships have largely been worthwhile, and they cut out some of the coffee running, photocopying, and other menial tasks sometimes assigned to interns.

“Students are still gaining valuable learning experiences,” Fisher said. “If anything, they’re probably getting just as good or even better higher-level experiences just because they’re not in person to do the little administrative stuff that typically an internship would come with.”

Of course, not every internship is able to be conducted remotely. Some work has to be done in person, whether that’s making deliveries, providing direct services, or harvesting mushrooms.

Claire Gillespie is a Metropolitan Community College student who spent her summer tending to mushrooms at Flavor Country Farm in Honey Creek, Iowa. She learned how to cut mushrooms off a block and how to grow them on substrate. She also learned about greenhouse production.

Flavor Country sells directly to consumers at farmers markets, Wenninghoff Farm’s retail market, a roadside farm stand, and a subscription box. It also sells mushrooms, microgreens, and other produce to restaurants, but that side of the business has taken a hit during the pandemic.

Gillespie said her experience hasn’t changed much as a result of the coronavirus. She has, however, learned important lessons working for her boss as he figures out how to navigate keeping his small operation af loat while many farmers have debated whether to even plant vegetables this year amid all the uncertainty surrounding getting them to market.

“I definitely know not to put your eggs all in one basket,” Gillespie said. “If he was just doing one thing, he would have been in a lot of trouble or set back quite a bit. I think it’s good to have a variety.”

Gillespie studies horticulture at MCC, which she said provides mostly theoretical knowledge of how to care for plants.

The hands-on experience she gets with her internship is crucial, as she hopes to assist others in getting their operations off the ground after she graduates.

“I really like to travel, so in some sort of way I’d like to coordinate traveling with helping people starting their own small farms or small gardens,” she said. “I am very thankful that I’m still working and especially working at a job that I love. I feel very grateful for that.”

While agriculture faces its own challenges, the pandemic has put a spotlight on the importance of local producers to the area’s food chain.

“It does show that people maybe need to buy more locally and [buy] more fresh things, especially since we do live in a farm state,” Gillespie said.

Valmont Industries, a global leader in infrastructure products and irrigation systems based in Omaha, has demonstrated the importance of adaptability in the face of the coronavirus. The company has about 45 summer interns spread across engineering, manufacturing, technology, and business support.

At the onset of the pandemic, it shifted those interns to a virtual environment, providing the same tools that it gave to its permanent employees.

29 F O R T U N AT E LY, R E C E N T G R A D U AT E S W E R E L A R G E LY A B L E T O F I N D J O B S . F I S H E R S A I D N O R M A L LY A B O U T 7 0 % O F C R E I G H T O N A L U M N I R E P O R T H AV I N G C O N F I R M E D P L A N S AT G R A D U AT I O N . T H I S Y E A R , I T WA S 6 6 % .

Many activities were conducted virtually, while striving to preserve the company’s culture, said Pat Groves, Valmont’s senior director of talent management.

“We have learned that we are still able to connect effectively with our partner campuses and students in a virtual environment and that our intern [population], much like the rest of our administrative employee population, is highly adaptable and has been able to continue working effectively and delivering results for our customers,” Groves said.

Internships are an important pathway to find future employees, and that’s even more true when a pandemic erects barriers to recruiting. Valmont, for example, retains more than three-fourths of its interns in some capacity after their programs conclude.

“While the pandemic has changed some of the mechanics of our intern experience, the program itself remains just as valuable,” Groves said.

Jorden Hansen has been a global marketing intern at Valmont for the past year and a half.

She said the internship provides an opportunity to own her projects from start to finish.

“I am extremely happy with my internship experience,” Hansen said. “I have gained tremendous exposure to marketing and project management at Valmont. I am very impressed with the caliber of work that I was assigned.”

Hansen said the past several months have improved her adaptability and critical thinking skills. Those skills are just as important for employers, who can find opportunities to grow their bottom lines while less agile competitors struggle.

The Berry Law Firm saw an opportunity to show leadership when the pandemic hit.

Many major law firms began postponing or canceling clerkships. The Lincoln-based firm instead opted to invest more in its clerk program, adding nine additional law clerks to its team this summer, many of whom had lost other opportunities to the pandemic.

Those clerks worked remotely for part of the summer before returning to the office for the conclusion of their full clerkship experience—complete with social distancing and other safety protocols, according to the law firm. Meanwhile, the firm has continued to hire and grow its business in Lincoln and Omaha.

“If opportunities were to shift in favor of online internships, online meetings, that would definitely be something I would continue to be interested in,” Herzberg said. “Some people who previously had an aversion to online meetings are going to change their minds or the people who are in favor of them will have a lot louder voices.”

“You go on defense only long enough to go back on offense,” managing partner and CEO John S. Berry Jr. said.

Nouhan said that despite losing her in-person Hollywood experience, she wouldn’t have this summer go any other way.

Abbie Morlock, a second-year law student at the University of Nebraska College of Law, said that working from home provided a chance to develop stronger communication skills while developing the same legal skills available from a traditional summer clerkship.

“I have grown a lot as a person during this pandemic,” she said. “I don’t think I would trade that for the experience of having the internship and not going through this.”

“I was able to work as if there was no COVID19,” Morlock said.

Haley Herzberg found the shift to remote work afforded more opportunity than a traditional internship had offered at Metropolitan Community College, where she works on the school’s literary magazine, The Metropolitan.

Herzberg, a senior studying English and creative writing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, started the final edits on the magazine last spring. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she shifted her focus to the website for the next edition of the magazine and began meeting with her internship coordinator weekly via Zoom.

At first, she was intimidated by the idea of working remotely, but it turned out to be a lot easier than she expected.

“While I miss meeting people in person, and I would much prefer it, I don’t feel like I’m missing out,” Herzberg said. “I don’t feel like my experience is any less because I’m meeting online. If anything, it feels like I have a lot more independence.”

Herzberg said she hopes that remote internships are here to stay, even once the pandemic has subsided, because they allow for greater flexibility and provide important lessons on how to manage time and prioritize tasks.

Beyond the two internships, Nouhan said she’s also spent a lot of time networking virtually with Creighton alumni this summer. She plans to move to California after graduation to do marketing communications in either the technology or entertainment industries, and she has built her network by reaching out on LinkedIn and asking to talk on the phone.

Her self-determination paid dividends, and she was able to learn new skills and make a lot of connections despite the more informal environment of working from home.

“In general, you don’t need a formal internship to be able to grow a lot,” Nouhan said. “For any small businesses considering taking on remote interns, it doesn’t need to be anything fancy.”

Life is what you make of it, and that’s no less true during a pandemic. Work hard, look for opportunities, roll with the punches, and enjoy what you’re doing. Luck certainly helps, but it’s not everything.

“A lot of it is about making your own opportunity,” Nouhan said.

Visit valmont.com, jsberrylaw.com, and Flavor Country Farms on Facebook for more information.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

K atie Burton

OCTOBER 2020

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FEATURE // STORY BY SEAN McCARTHY

THEY PROMISE NEBRASKA BRINGS HIGHER EDUCATION TO MANY IN-STATE STUDENTS

S

itting (socially distanced) at Stories Coffee Co., Ralston High School graduate Briana Orellana’s eyes lit up when she began to talk about law enforcement. When she was younger, she wanted to be a lawyer. Now, she’s studying criminal justice at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Her mother, Jackie Merino, encouraged her to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Then, Orellana’s aunt told her about an article she read that mentioned a program offering free in-state tuition for Nebraska students. Orellana contacted her school in Ralston and found out she qualified for the program. Suddenly, UNL became more of an option. A visit to the Lincoln campus sealed the deal for her.

“I thought it was really nice,” she said. “I was excited I was able to attend.”

The cost of tuition remains a major barrier to higher education for low-income families in Nebraska, as well as middle-income ones. According to UNO’s financial calculator, the cost of tuition for the 2020-21 academic school year is $8,136. UNL’s financial calculator estimated tuition cost for its university at $9,690. Those students with families earning less than $60,000 a year, however, may find the tuition cost at $0 under the Nebraska Promise program.

The program automatically renews after each academic year. To continue receiving the funds, one needs to be a full-time student, a Nebraska resident, and maintain a 2.5 grade point average. Families do not need to apply for Nebraska Promise; eligibility is automatically checked when they fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms, and the money goes directly to their bank accounts. Graduate students are not eligible for Nebraska Promise.

The program was unveiled in April by University of Nebraska president Ted Carter. In a phone interview, Carter said the $60,000 figure was chosen because it represented the median income for Nebraska households.

The U.S. Census placed the median household income for Nebraskans at $59,116 (in 2018 dollars).

Nebraska Promise replaces Collegebound Nebraska, a similar tuition relief program. With Collegebound Nebraska, students from families that made less than $40,000 a year were able to go to school tuition-free. Carter, a former superintendent at the U.S. Naval Academy, began his role as president of the University of Nebraska system in January. Carter said Nebraska Promise was a top priority of his at the beginning of the year, but as COVID-19 went from a concerning illness to a pandemic capable of shutting down entire universities, the need to implement the tuition-free program became critical.

“Had we not done this, we probably would be down 10% enrollment,” Carter said.

On April 17, Carter announced Nebraska Promise would be available for the fall 2020 academic year. He estimated the cost of the program to be around $5 million.

Carter said the program was paid from the estimated $43 million in cuts over the next three years. Even with the $43 million in cuts, the University of Nebraska system estimated a $50 million shortfall for the last budget year, which ended on June 30.

This fall, universities are facing a shortage of students, further adding to their budget woes. The University of Wyoming forecast a 20% enrollment drop for the fall semester. In April, the American Council on Education predicted a 25% drop in enrollment from international students because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Carter hoped interest in the Nebraska Promise program would offset some of the anticipated enrollment losses from international students. A look at the number of university applicants (applied, not enrolled) showed the program has already proven to be a success. Carter said he hoped the news of the program would result in about 1,000 additional applications. Instead, he saw 3,000 new college applications since the program was unveiled.

Carter said he didn’t look at other university tuition-free programs as a model (for example, the University of Virginia covers tuition for students whose families make less than $80,000 a year). Instead, he just sought to expand the Collegebound Nebraska program. When Nebraska Promise was unveiled, Carter said he routinely heard from people who didn’t know about the previous Collegebound Nebraska program.

OCTOBER 2020

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Briana Orellana

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OCTOBER 2020

// FEATURE

A STUDENT PLEDGING TO ATTEND UNL WHOSE FAMILY MAKES $45,000 PER YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR PELL GRANTS. IF THAT STUDENT RECEIVED $2,500 IN PELL GRANTS AND A $2,500 SCHOLARSHIP, NEBRASKA PROMISE WOULD SUPPLY THE REMAINING $4,690 IN TUITION MONEY. s university president, I was kind of happy that people saw this in a completely new way, as if it was a brand-new program,” he said.

“It’s helping our whole family too. It’s not just helping me. It’s helping my brother [a junior at UNL], and you,” Katie said, pointing to Tracie. “It’s a blessing.”

“It generated a lot of buzz, and that’s what we want,” Carter continued. “I want to see as many people be able to take advantage as we can.”

Tracie works as an early childhood special educator at Anchor Pointe Elementary. She found out about Nebraska Promise through an article from KETV.com on her phone app. Two weeks after filling out Katie’s FAFSA forms, the funds from Nebraska Promise showed up in her account.

According to a U.S. News & World Report article about college costs, 46% of University of Nebraska-Lincoln undergraduates receive some sort of need-based financial aid. For the University of Nebraska at Omaha, that number is much higher at 58%.

This program is best described as supplemental insurance. A student pledging to attend UNL whose family makes $45,000 per year, for example, would be eligible for Pell Grants. If that student received $2,500 in Pell Grants and a $2,500 scholarship, Nebraska Promise would supply the remaining $4,690 in tuition money.

An important point is that, while the possibility of a tuition-free college experience lifts a tremendous financial burden from students, tuition is only half of the cost of education. The combined costs of books, room and board, fees, and parking can cost just as much, if not more. And these costs are not covered by Nebraska Promise.

Dr. Jeffrey Gold, chancellor of UNO and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, said Pell Grants and other types of aid such as work study can cover non-tuition costs like room, board, and books. The estimated yearly cost of room and board at UNO is $10,196 ($11,830 at UNL). To further alleviate some of the costs to students, the University of Nebraska system froze tuition rates for students for the next two years.

“That’s a commitment to all of our students—that whatever they’re paying in tuition this fall, they’ll pay for at least the next three years,” Gold said.

Almost two weeks before moving into the UNL dorms, Katie Burton sat with her mom, Tracie, at Scooter’s.

Katie graduated from Bennington High School this past spring and is studying pre-P.A. (physician’s assistant) at UNL. Katie ultimately wants to be a dermatologist, but she heard about UNL’s pre-P.A. program through a mentor who was assigned to her during New Student Enrollment. Katie said Nebraska Promise did not affect her decision to attend UNL. Still, she was happy to be graduating with less debt.

“We jumped up and down I think a couple of times,” Katie said.

Tracie herself was able to graduate from UNO debt-free.

While studying in Omaha, Tracie lived at home.

“Back then, tuition was like $1,500 a semester.”

A report published by LendEDU (sort of a LendingTree for college loans) estimated the average student loan debt for Nebraska graduates to be about $26,225 in 2019.

Tracie hoped her son and daughter wouldn’t have as big of a financial burden to shoulder after graduation.

“I don’t want my kids to come out of school with a tremendous amount of debt,” Burton said. “I think with this [Nebraska Promise], they’re not going to have the debt that they would have.”

Once students like Katie and Orellana graduate, they will make the decision about whether to stay in Nebraska. Legislators, professors, and business leaders have wrestled with the state’s persistent “brain drain” problem. Orellana said she would like to move out of Nebraska after she graduates. Katie is leaning toward staying in the state.

Carter said he heard some suggestions of requiring students who receive Nebraska Promise funds to stay in the state after graduation. He preferred a more positive approach to prevent other states from poaching new graduates. Carter said combatting brain drain is one of his goals as university president. He hopes that Nebraska Promise will be part of the solution to that problem.

“By offering this [free tuition], these young men and women who are already Nebraskans are very likely to stay in this state…and turn this into another path to being a much better citizen for the state of Nebraska,” Carter said.

Visit nebraska.edu/nebraska-promise for more information.

OCTOBER 2020

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ADVENTURE // S T ORY BY JEFF L ACEY P HO T OGR APH Y BY BIL L S ITZ MA NN DE SI GN BY MATT WIEC Z O RE K

H

A R M O N M A H E R G R E W U P I N GA R R I S O N, N E W YO R K , A S M A L L T OW N A B O U T 5 0 M I L E S O U T S I D E O F N E W YO R K C I T Y N E S T L E D N E X T T O T H E H U D S O N R I V E R . A S A B O Y, MAHER SPENT MUCH OF HIS CHILDHOOD OUTDOORS. HE F O L L O W E D A N I M A L T R A C K S , B U I LT D A M S I N S T R E A M S , A N D E X P L O R E D B A C K R O A D S . T RU E T O T H E W O R D S W O RT H I A N S U G G E S T I O N T O “ L E T N AT U R E B E YO U R T E AC H E R , ” M A H E R H AU N T E D T H E W O O D S F O R H O U R S . “A S L O N G A S I C A M E H O M E F O R D I N N E R , M Y PA R E N T S W E R E H A P P Y W I T H T H I S A R R A N G E M E N T, ” H E E X P L A I N E D .

Part of those outdoor childhood adventures involved collecting gems, minerals, and fossils. At the time, Maher didn’t realize that this aspect of his youth would prepare him for his future career in geology, and, consequently, much larger adventures.

The kind of adventures that require survival training.

Maher is a professor of geology and geography at University of Nebraska at Omaha. His fields of research include the geology of the Great Plains, structural geology, geologic mapping—“sort of like reverse engineering the blueprints of a building,” he explained—geologic fracture development, and structural diagenesis. He has written books and articles on local landscapes, such as Roadside Geology of Nebraska. He spends much of his time in Spitsbergen, an island in northern Norway. Spitsbergen is a place of ice and snow—the largest island in the Svalbard archipelago. It is an area of a little over 15,000 square miles, about 280 miles long, and landscaped with glaciers, fjords, and fields of sea ice. It is untamed; home to polar bears, whales, and seals. The terrain juxtaposes vast beauty and epic danger.

Maher visits this isolated, dangerous area of the arctic to read the great plates of the world from which he and his team can learn about natural history and the future of geologic time.

This work sends Maher to different places, in different ways. He has crewed boats from 30 feet long to 100 feet long, spending weeks at a time conducting research afloat. Some days, watercraft is not his favorite way to travel, especially when boats forge through rough arctic waters. “I get seasick,” he explained. “I have a certain threshold.” Much of the time, however, Maher is required to use Zodiacs—rigid hull inflatables that come in all shapes and sizes. They are considered the workhorse of the arctic. // 34 //

OCTOBER 2020

Incredibly durable and maneuverable, Zodiacs are the kind of craft Jason Statham might pilot at breakneck speed in the latest soldier-for-hire adventure. In order to be cleared to take a Zodiac, Maher underwent survival training at the Norwegian University of Polar Science. He trained in how to use a survival suit. This training required him to go out in a Zodiac, jump into the freezing water (which ranges from 28 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit), and then climb back in. “If you go into the water, you’ve got five minutes, 10 max, before you pass out,” Maher explained. “They want us to know what we are dealing with in case it actually happens.”

Maher’s work also relies on helicopters.

Maher loves this part of the work. “The helicopter flies us to an arctic ridge, sets us down, and we walk along the ridge.

You do your work, and you leave when they tell you they are going to leave.

You fly for an hour and a half over such beautiful country. There are sling loads underneath with tents. The helicopter drops you off for two or three weeks. You hope for good weather. Some people have bad luck, and have to wait longer than expected.” Once the team arrives, they are on their own. “I have even had to work in situations where everything’s on my back and we walk for a day. In those situations, oatmeal and bacon bits get you a long way.”

Whether he arrives by sea or air, once Maher arrives in the Svalbards, he is in love. The landscape appears barren, but is geologically varied and has been shaped by glaciers grabbing rocks as though they are football players heading for an end zone, ice wedging apart chunks of mountain like lumberjacks planning for a long winter, gravity pulling pieces of topography further into the landscape, waves cutting cliffs like a watery Michelangelo, and more. Maher is specifically interested in the geology of that area that appeared in the Triassic period more than 200 million years ago.

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“PART OF THE SCIENTIST’S JOB IS TO GET PEOPLE TO SEE THE WORLD IN A NEW WAY.” -Harmon Maher

Spitzburg isn’t the only place he has studied. Every year, he takes students on a 10-day geology field trip. He has been overseas to Ireland and Iceland, and stateside to northern California, Mount St. Helens in Washington, and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Some of the trips have been six-day canoe trips, camping on the way. Maher’s willingness to share his adventures have earned him high praise. In 2005, he won a UNO Alumni Outstanding Teaching Award. His colleagues speak highly of him. Robert Shuster, a fellow geology professor at UNO, can’t say enough good things about Maher. “When I think of Harmon Maher, several things spring to mind. Harmon is one of those rare faculty members who excels in research, teaching, and service.”

Shuster has accompanied Maher into the field, and recalled being especially grateful for one particular experience. “I could tell many stories from one field excursion to Spitzburg, including a midnight visit from a polar bear into our camp, but… the night before we were about to be picked up by the helicopter, none of us could sleep, and about 4 a.m., we heard, and then saw, a pod of beluga whales swimming just offshore in the adjacent fjord. It was so still and serene. We all had a deep sense of wonder and appreciation for the surrounding nature and geology, and I understood why Harmon loves to go to this special place. I thank him for including me in that research project.”

Maher believes his work is more important than ever. “We’ve got an excess of 7 billion people now,” he emphasized. “We weren’t on the edge of resource use a hundred years ago, but we are now.”

Maher continued, “Part of the scientist’s job is to get people to see the world in a new way. We scientists could help with all kinds of things if you’d let us.”

Visit unomaha.edu for more information.

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// 37 //

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

S P O R T S // S TO R Y B Y C H R I S H AT C H

Chris Wilkie is Ready for the Next Challenge

There is the future Chris Wilkie built in his mind all those years ago in Omaha, Nebraska; the seed that was inexorably planted as he fogged up the bodycheck-swaying plexiglass of various hockey arenas with his tiny, awestruck face.

OCTOBER

// 39 //

2020

S P O R T S //

The same seemingly preordained path that he dreamt of when he would toddle into the locker rooms of professional hockey teams and look up to see his own father, David Wilkie, towering above him on blades of steel; when he first had his parents help lace up his own skates so he, too, could glide with each step.

“I started skating when I was around 3 years old, and was also always on rollerblades playing mini hockey around the house when I was little,” Chris said. “I looked up to my dad and the players on his team, so I was always doing something related to hockey instead of playing with toys or anything like that.”

The dreams of his future began to take shape in those years. No longer were they the fluid droplets of faraway thoughts.

The molecules were firming up, taking shape. Like water turning to ice. And the real, varied paths forming before him continued to expand as he aged. His new plans and actions accelerated that internal desire for greatness and those seeds he had planted all those years ago, back when he was sitting on his father’s knee and listening to the wise words of an architect who long ago cracked the blueprint of becoming a professional hockey player.

Two years spent at Bennington High School, and suddenly the future was no longer just a synapse whisper lurking in his prefrontal cortex. Chris was ready to take the real life next step. But it would require that he leave his home behind.

That he remove all the delicate scaffolding placed around building a future and that the real construction begin. He was ready.

The high school student grabbed his skates and headed to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to play USA Hockey.

“Those times after moving away are big for hockey players, making the sacrifice to move away from home, but it is something that is necessary to move up the ranks.”

He began harnessing the alchemy of hard work and opportunities, channeling the athletic photosynthesis that takes place when all the hours spent on deserted ice rinks late at night and all the time spent practicing slap shots in the driveway start to pay dividends.

Chris kept pushing forward, with stints playing for the Omaha Lancers (for which David is now head coach) in 2010-2012 before moving into the Kearney Tri-City Storm, part of the United States Hockey League, and the U.S. National Team Developmental Program. // 40 //

OCTOBER 2020

Eventually some of college hockey’s biggest programs took notice—that’s when the University of North Dakota came calling.

“UND was the first school I talked to and after my visit it was the only place I wanted to go to school,” Chris said. “I fell in love with the school and facilities right away so I was set on that decision.”

Team success followed soon after. “My freshman year we won the [NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey] National Championship and it was awesome. We had an incredible team and many players that are now in the NHL.” There is the future Chris built in his mind, as carefully tended to and smoothed as a Zamboni making rough ice into a frozen silk sheet. Then there is the future that arrived; that landed at his twin-bladed feet.

His sophomore year did not end like freshman year. He knew it was time to head back in the opposite direction.

“I felt that it was time to move on and get a fresh start at CC [Colorado College],” Chris said. “I felt that I needed a chance with more opportunity and a chance to prove that I could produce more with more ice time and belief from a new coaching staff.”

After sitting out a year due to NCAA transfer regulations, Chris began to make an impact.

“It was a tough year for him, that first year, sitting out,” said Colorado College head coach Mike Haviland. “But, I give him a lot of credit. He stuck with it, did well in the classroom, and the first year he played for us, he did really well.”

He wasted little time in winning over the coaching staff and his teammates, fully blossoming in his senior campaign, a year in which he was awarded the team assistant-captaincy and was second in the nation in goals.

“Chris is a student of the game,” Haviland said. “His dad is a really good coach.

And when your dad’s a coach, most of the time players have that mentality that allows you to really understand the game. Chris does understand it at different levels.”

The college hockey playoffs were canceled at the end of the 2019-2020 season due to the COVID-19 virus that has ravaged much of the country and the world, and Chris once again found himself dreaming of what has yet to come.

Fully blossoming in his senior campaign, a year in which he was awarded the team assistant-captaincy and was second in the nation in goals.

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Drafted by the Florida Panthers, but having his rights traded to the Ottawa Senators in November 2019, the 23-yearold is waiting for another shot and if there’s one thing that’s consistent about Chris Wilkie, it’s that he doesn’t miss very often.

“He’s a natural goal scorer,” said the man who helped Chris craft his latest chapter.

The future is now. And the future is in Omaha, once again. That’s where Chris’ circuitous journey has taken him once more.

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The

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eventy schools in 23 Nebraska counties comprise Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic Schools, which “educate and nurture the heart, mind and soul of the whole person,” Assistant Superintendent Tracey Kovar said.

The schools strive to accommodate all families desiring faith-based education, Kovar added. Plus, a focused diversity initiative in place for several years supports the district’s diverse body, ref lecting that students of all backgrounds are welcome, financial assistance available.

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OCTOBER 2020

Heart, All Saints, and Holy Name. CUES schools provide excellence in education with special concern for the entire family.

The values-based education uses blended learning, an approach combining online education and traditional classroom methods, and offers support for students and families beyond the classroom.

This year the CUES School System will serve more than 600 youth and their families. A majority of these students, pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, have already faced the pain that not having the economic means to handle their basic daily needs has wrecked upon their family and extended family structures.

CUES Student and Family Support Services directly benefit families facing socioeconomic problems by connecting them to resources in the Omaha metropolitan community. Families have been connected to a variety of services including meals, transportation, afterschool programming, and financial literacy education. “We break through language barriers, cultural differences, and economic challenges to help our students and families,” said Jim Swanson, student and family support services director.

With the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CUES School System is expanding its technology-based classroom model. The digital divide is a fundraising initiative, led by the CUES Fund, to provide technology to students so they can participate in e-learning.

MOUNT MICHAEL BENEDICTINE SCHOOL 402.289.2541 mountmichael.com

ount Michael Benedictine School M boasts a storied past. “Mount Michael began as St. John’s Seminary for young men looking to join the priesthood in 1955,” says director of admissions Thomas Maliszewski. “In the year 1970, it shifted to a college prep boarding school for young men. It has been Mount Michael Benedictine ever since, and many of the same monks and priests that began in the seminary remain at Mount Michael to this day.”

As a boarding school, Mount Michael stands out within the Omaha metro area.

“The college prep curriculum, teaching staff, and monastic community are the highlights of a Mount Michael learning experience, however, the residential side adds a layer of independency, selfdiscipline, structure, and communal brotherhood that you absolutely cannot get at any other school in the area,” Maliszewski explains.

Students are challenged each day at Mount Michael in many different ways. The Benedictine values of Community, Hospitality, Integrity, Ser vice, and Moderation are preached to the young men. W hile a Mount Michael education develops their minds, these values develop their soul.

The CUES School System is supported by private donations through the CUES Fund.

Please visit their website to learn more.

SPONSORED CONTENT

CLARKSON COLLEGE 402.552.3100 clarksoncollege.edu

r. James Hauschildt assumed his role as President of Clarkson College on July D 20, so he particularly appreciated the opportunity to address the newest group of incoming students at the recent fall orientation a few weeks later.

“I told them this: There are a lot of great educational institutions in Omaha and in this region and nationally, and you’ve chosen one known for preparing health care workforce professionals to enter into leadership positions and complex clinical delivery,” he said. “(Clarkson College graduates) are exceptionally prepared, sought out and highly regarded.”

Dr. Hauschildt’s extensive educational background includes master’s degrees in nursing and business and a doctorate degree in education from the University of Northern Iowa. The Iowa native began his nursing career at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Iowa, and was a clinical nurse during his four years of service in the U.S. Air Force; he continues to maintain a license as a registered nurse. Prior to joining Clarkson College, Dr. Hauschildt led Good Samaritan College in Cincinnati and St. Luke’s College in Kansas City as president. At Clarkson College, he oversees more than 200 team members supporting 1,200 students pursuing health-related majors and occupations.

We are health care.

“We serve not only the Omaha area, but the Midwest and nationally; about half our students are online,” he said.

Our institutional Values of Learning, Excellence, Integrity, Commitment and Caring are among the many factors which drew him to the College, Dr. Hauschildt said. He also respects the 132-year-old institution’s success in evolving to meet changing needs such as a shortage of health care workers for rural communities, a growing geriatric population, and focus on new platforms for delivering education. And he’s proud to advance initiatives that are cultivating an increasingly diverse student body.

“I think this organization has responded very, very well to supporting our communities and approaching health care differently in the past, including health care delivery and how health care is funded,” he said. “I’m so very impressed and humbled to be here amidst a group that works so hard and is committed to service and education, helping provide people with opportunities they might not have otherwise had, especially in times of challenge.”

SPONSORED CONTENT

ClarksonCollege.edu OCTOBER 2020

// 43 //

ONLINE MBA DEGR EE CAN BE A ‘CAR EER ACCELER ATOR’ Bellevue University Continues to Build on 20+ Years of Online Expertise

Bellevue University’s online Master of Business Administration program has produced nearly 2,500 graduates since the mid-1990s.

BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY 402.293.2000 bellevue.edu

ellevue University first introduced B its online Master of Business Administration program in the 1990s—

making it one of the first in the country.

After three decades, the university and its College of Business have both culminated a long history of experience that makes it an expert in online learning.

“Bellevue University has been successfully recognizing and meeting the challenges of effective, online learning since the mid1990s,” said Dr. Kevin Schieuer, Professor of Finance. “Many of the requirements and challenges of successful online education that institutions are just learning about today are ones BU recognized and began building institutional solutions for over 20 years ago. Through our commitment to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement, we are continually refining, improving, and advancing those educational solutions to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.”

Dr. Rebecca Murdock, dean of the College of Business, who took over the college in April 2015, has spent her career fostering innovation in education. // 44 //

OCTOBER 2020

“Graduate degrees in general help students advance their careers,” Murdock said. “However, MBA degrees are still viewed around the globe as career accelerators. In other words, earning an MBA degree has the potential to boost a career because the individual becomes broadly prepared to lead at a strategic level across organizations.”

Bellevue offers 19 concentration areas within its MBA program, ranging from accounting to cybersecurity to health care and more. All courses address their respective topics from international and global perspectives, which is part of the inherent reality of modern business.

Students who enroll in the MBA program at Bellevue University can choose to attend via an online cohort or a traditional track.

Students in the traditional and cohort MBA options progress with tight-knit groups of peers who contribute unique academic and professional perspectives and experiences. Through dynamic and engaging real-world course activities and projects, students develop and strengthen their leadership skills, including those

in problem-solving, decision-making, and team building; and thereby prepare themselves for today’s collaborative and dynamic business environments. The online MBA cohort allows students to take one six-week course at a time, while traditional MBA students take one or two courses over the traditional 12-week terms depending upon their personal schedules.

Bellevue University alum Megan Jorgensen is working behind the scenes as a medical lab scientist at one of the world’s leading health care organizations to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Jorgensen completed an MBA with a health care concentration at Bellevue University in 2019 to position herself for future career advancement opportunities.

“My MBA opened me up to the bigger picture of the business side of health care,” said Jorgensen, the 34-year-old wife and mother of two. “I believe it also helped me grow and become more capable of filling a leadership position as someone who can understand and integrate the business and clinical sides.”

SPONSORED CONTENT

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE Nine locations 531.MCC.2400 mccneb.edu

R e-Think. Re-Solve.

Everyone’s normal routines and activities have been interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are working and learning from their homes.

Businesses and schools are also adjusting to better help people work and learn from home.

Metropolitan Community College has made changes to help all its students be able to learn anytime anywhere. Nearly all classes have been moved online, or precautions have been put into place to keep everyone healthy and safe, without cutting the quality of the classes.

MCC Continuing Education provides a full continuum of lifelong education and engagement opportunities to meet the needs of all ages. Signature programs include College for Kids and Teens, MCC Explore: Lifelong Learning for 50+, Science On a Sphere and a variety of courses that fit the needs and wants of our community. This fall, MCC Continuing Education courses have also moved to an online format SPONSORED CONTENT

to ensure safety for learners of all ages.

Now, no one has to leave their home in order to learn a new skill.

or supply pickup will be available at an MCC location so everyone can properly participate safely from home.

MCC Continuing Education is still offering courses on a wide variety of topics, with hundreds of options to choose from. Even with the courses being entirely online, the quality of the classes will remain first-rate.

Many classes will be offered via Zoom teleconferencing, with an experienced instructor leading the class virtually.

This fall, MCC Continuing Education is offering new courses that are topical.

In the class Buying Groceries Online, students will learn how to use various grocery ordering apps on iPhone and Android. Also offered is Mental Wellness During the Pandemic. This class will help navigate pandemic life successfully and how to stay mentally healthy during this difficult time.

In College for Kids, children can take different art, robotics, coding, animal and Science on a Sphere courses.

College for Teens is also offering courses, including Becoming a YouTube Star, ABCs of Sign Language and Animation Using Photoshop.

To see the full list of all MCC Continuing Education offerings, or to sign up for courses, visit mccneb.edu/ce/ online or call 531-MCC-5231.

For adults, MCC Continuing Education has many classes that are normally offered, now all online. This includes culinary, music, dance, technology, horticulture and more. For classes that require certain supplies, such as culinary courses, supply lists will be provided OCTOBER 2020

// 45 //

History

Story by Tim Trudell

­ Photography contributed by University of Nebraska at Omaha Design by Matt Wieczorek

T

oday, the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s campus spans nearly two miles, from 60th and Dodge streets south to Baxter Arena on West Center Road. With more than 15,000 students, it’s difficult to tell that the university once struggled to stay afloat. With the thought of creating a nonsectarian college run by a Christian organization, the University of Omaha opened its doors in 1909 with 30 students.

Located in the Kountze Place area of North Omaha, the University of Omaha occupied the property of Oak Redick, who sold his mansion and 10 acres to the school’s founders.

Redick Mansion, near 24th and Pratt streets, served as the university’s first academic hall, with upper floor rooms serving as classrooms. The university’s founders were instructors at the nearby Presbyterian Theological Seminary. They believed the city needed a university that could counter Creighton, then the major university in Omaha, said Les Valentine, the University of Nebraska at Omaha archivist.

“They thought it would appeal to all people—high income, low income, working class,” Valentine said. “Everybody could come to [University of Omaha].

Not everyone could go to Creighton, so that’s the real reason they wanted to have the school.”

The University of Omaha was the brainchild of the Presbyterian church and Bellevue College (not related to the current Bellevue University). Bellevue College once changed its name to the University of Omaha, but it didn’t last long. However, the school supported the church’s idea for a new university in Omaha. Bellevue College leaders thought the school could become part of a larger University of Omaha program, but some people feared the school would lose its identity and eventually be absorbed and moved to Omaha, according to the book, A History of the University of Nebraska at Omaha 1908-1983, by Tommy R. Thompson, a UNO professor at the time it was published. Bellevue College eventually removed itself from the new school’s development, so the Presbyterian church proceeded on its own. // 46 //

OCTOBER 2020

“They thought it would appeal to all people—high income, low income, working class, everybody could come to OU.ˮ -Les Valentine With Redick serving as one of the new school’s trustees, the University of Omaha’s founders were determined to have the school succeed. They turned to funding assistance from the Rockefeller and Carnegie foundations. Each organization required the school’s boosters to raise $200,000 in order to receive about $300,000 in grants. This would prove to be the first of several unsuccessful fundraising efforts on behalf of the University of Omaha. In order to ensure the university could open its doors in 1909, Redick offered to accept a smaller down payment for his property if the school’s trustees could raise enough money to open the school. Having achieved that goal, the Presbyterian Theological Seminary teachers realized their dream of opening the University of Omaha.

It seemed the school operated year-toyear in its early days. Besides Redick’s 10 acres, the wealthy businessman wanted the school to add another 15 acres adjacent to his former property.

The school never had enough money to purchase the entire acreage. However, the University of Omaha would eventually expand to 15 acres.

The University of Omaha quickly outgrew Redick Mansion, so George Joslyn—who built Joslyn Castle for he and his wife, Sarah—donated money for a new building.

Joslyn Hall, named in his honor, opened in 1917 with 30 classrooms. Redick Hall was eventually sold, dismantled, and moved to Minnesota, where it later opened as a hotel, said Adam Fletcher Sasse, who writes the North Omaha

When the University of Omaha Called North O Home

T H E F OU N DI NG O F A S C HOOL

History blog. Several buildings would be located on the main campus, as well as the College of Finance and Commerce, and College of Law, at 13th and Farnam streets. Among the main campus buildings were Jacobs Gymnasium and Saratoga Science Hall.

As student enrollment continued to increase, student activities developed, including sports, fraternities, and other social organizations, as well as several incarnations of a student newspaper, with names such as The Censor and Yellow Sheet (it was printed on yellow paper) before settling on The Gateway, which is still published.

As academic programs increased, including a successful education program, with about half of the school’s first graduating class of 13 becoming educators, the school continued to struggle financially.

During its first decade, school leaders started looking for new sites, because they believed the school couldn’t expand in North Omaha, Valentine said. The North

Central Association of Colleges and Schools declined to give the University of Omaha accreditation because it lacked facilities, he said.

“It had to move,” Valentine said. “It couldn’t be viable without accreditation, which it didn’t achieve until 1939.”

School trustees hired Charles Alden, a financial consultant, to organize a $30,000 fundraising campaign and a $1 million endowment campaign. The fundraiser proved successful, but the endowment hit multiple road blocks, eventually leading to Alden resigning and moving away from Omaha. In the late 1920s, as financial and physical issues continued, school leaders started to explore options.

In the end, they decided to donate the university to the city of Omaha. This move required a public vote by Omahans.

In 1930, the measure passed by a little more than 1,000 votes, garnering about 56% of the approximately 53,500 votes cast. The school moved to its current location along Dodge Street in 1938.

Sasse wonders what might have been if the school remained in North Omaha.

“Look at Creighton,” he said. “They stayed. They’re an economic juggernaut. It’s easy to see that if [University of Omaha] had stayed, it could have dragged the rest of the community to grow, too.”

Visit unomaha.edu for more information.

OCTOBER 2020

// 47 //

Le Anne Bugay

// 48 //

OCTOBER 2020

GEN O // STORY BY KARA SCHWEISS

D E D ICATE D TO TE LLI NG STO R I ES I N ALL FO R MS BELLEVUE STUDENT’S PEN FIGHTS FOR TRUTH PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

B

ELLEVUE WEST HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER ADVISER JULIE ROWSE SAID SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHEN SHE REALIZED LEANNE BUGAY WAS GOING TO STAND OUT AS A STUDENT JOURNALIST. A GROUP OF BELLEVUE WEST STUDENTS, INCLUDING THEN-SOPHOMORE BUGAY, ACCOMPANIED ROWSE’S FELLOW JOURNALISM ADVISER AARON STUEVE TO THE NEBRASKA STATE CAPITOL IN 2018 TO REPORT ON LEGISLATIVE HEARINGS RELATED TO LB 886. ROWSE, WHO WAS TESTIFYING IN FAVOR OF THIS BILL PROPOSING FREEDOM OF SPEECH PROTECTION FOR STUDENT PUBLICATIONS, WATCHED BUGAY CONFIDENTLY APPROACH STATE SENATOR ADAM MORFELD AND NATIONALLY KNOWN STUDENT JOURNALISM ADVOCATE FRANK LOMONTE.

“She was fearless,” Rowse said. “I had never seen that in one of my student journalists before, that level of assertiveness and the desire to talk to the right people and get the story. I knew at that moment she was going to be the type of journalist I had been wanting to see since I took over the newspaper program at Bellevue West.”

“Our goal is to provide the most holistic journalistic experience for our students so that when they go into journalism—or marketing or business or nursing or education or whatever—that they have this skillset of communication they can apply to pretty much any career they choose,” she explained.

Bugay said that as she attained leadership roles on the three student media teams, she enjoyed transitioning into becoming a mentor for younger student journalists. By her senior year, Bugay was editor-in-chief of the Thunderbeat for a second year, director of the video yearbook, and she joined the print yearbook staff to serve as copy editor. The larger world had taken notice of her skills, too. A five“My freshman year I did a couple of activities here and minute documentary she produced about a student athlete there, but it didn’t really stick until I got into journalat Bellevue West, “Grace,” was accepted to the Omaha Film ism,” she said. “I found that this is the thing I really like.” Festival this past March, one of the last large-scale area events before COVID-19 hit. In summer 2019, she spent a The next year, through an application process, she week in Washington, D.C., as the Nebraska representative joined the staffs of the Thunderbeat student newspaper, at the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference which has web and print components, and the school’s for incoming high school seniors interested in journalism. video yearbook, which publishes online and supplies Bugay relished the immersion experience and made likesupplemental content, in disk form, to Bellevue West’s minded contacts. She said they have become “some of the print yearbook. best friends I will ever meet.”

The 2020 graduate said she had an interest in writing growing up and was intrigued by visual media, but her interest in journalism solidified after she took three semester-long elective classes in introductory journalism her freshman year.

Rowse characterized Bugay as “someone dedicated to telling stories in all forms,” and said the school’s journalism program is comprehensive. Rowse and Stueve are published writers who have high expectations for their journalism students, but also foster an encouraging atmosphere.

“SHE WAS FEARLESS, I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT IN ONE OF MY STUDENT JOURNALISTS BEFORE, THAT LEVEL OF ASSERTIVENESS AND THE DESIRE...I KNEW AT THAT MOMENT SHE WAS GOING TO BE THE TYPE OF JOURNALIST I HAD BEEN WANTING TO SEE.” -J U LI E ROWSE

“I’ve always been a very dedicated and hardworking person, and journalism is something that you definitely have to be invested in and work hard at to get good at,” Bugay said. “I had learned early on from some mentors, like my teachers, that in the journalism and communication fields nowadays it’s really important to have a wide variety of mediums you can work through. I enjoyed those mediums, so I invested in learning how to take good photos, how to make a good video story, how to write clearly, how to do short, tight news writing and also try to expand to some fluffier entertainment writing,” she said. “I’ve really tried to expand my skills across all mediums and I enjoy all of them. I don’t think I have a favorite.” continued on page 55

OCTOBER 2020

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ENDODONTICS THOMAS J. BEESON Creighton University School of Dentistry

TOBIN N. DRAKE Endodontic Associates

JACOB L. FIMPLE Advanced Endodontic Therapy INTRODUCTION: This list is excerpted from the 2020 topDentists™ list, a database which includes listings for 110 dentists and specialists in the Omaha Metro Area. The Omaha list is based on thousands of detailed evaluations of dentists and professionals by their peers. The complete database is available at www.usatopdentists.com. For more information call 706-364-0853; write PO Box 970, Augusta, GA 30903; email info@usatopdentists.com or visit www.usatopdentists.com.

Nebraska Micro-Endodontics

SELECTION PROCESS: “If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?”

Heartland Endodontic Specialists

This is the question we’ve asked thousands of dentists to help us determine who the topDentists should be. Dentists and specialists are asked to take into consideration years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies and of course physical results.

JOSE L. IBARROLA

The nomination pool of dentists consists of dentists listed online with the American Dental Association, as well as all dentists listed online with their local dental societies, thus allowing virtually every dentist the opportunity to participate. Dentists are also given the opportunity to nominate other dentists that they feel should be included in our list. Respondents are asked to put aside any personal bias or political motivations and to use only their knowledge of their peer’s work when evaluating the other nominees.

Voters are asked to individually evaluate the practitioners on their ballot whose work they are familiar with. Once the balloting is completed, the scores are compiled and then averaged. The numerical average required for inclusion varies depending on the average for all the nominees within the specialty and the geographic area. Borderline cases are given careful consideration by the editors. Voting characteristics and comments are taken into consideration while making decisions. Past awards a dentist has received as well as status in various dental academies can factor into our decisions.

Once the decisions have been finalized, the included dentists are checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions to make sure they have an active license and are in good standing with the board.

Then letters of congratulations are sent to all the listed dentists.

Of course there are many fine dentists who are not included in this representative list. It is intended as a sampling of the great body of talent in the field of dentistry in the United States. A dentist’s inclusion on our list is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow dentists. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, we remain confident that our polling methodology largely corrects for any biases and that these lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate, and useful list of dentists available anywhere.

DISCLAIMER: This list is excerpted from the 2020 topDentists™ list, which includes listings for 110 dentists and specialists in the Omaha Metropolitan area. For more information call: 706-364-0853 or email: info@usatopdentists.com or visit: www.usatopdentists.com topDentists has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Copyright 2010-2020 by topDentists, LLC of Augusta, GA. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without permission of topDentists. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.

PATRICK K. HAFFEY MICHAEL S. HERMSEN

Creighton University School of Dentistry

COREY K. KARIMJEE Midwest Endodontics

CACI I. LIEBENTRITT Omaha Endodontists

DAVID A. MAIXNER Midwest Endodontics

STEPHEN P. PRYOR Endodontic Specialists

CHRISTOPHER J. REDD Heartland Endodontic Specialists

FRANK S. SLEDER, SR. Creighton University School of Dentistry

GENERAL DENTISTRY GREGORY M. BEALS Pacific Springs Dental

SARAH T. BILLESBACH Mancuso Dental

ANTHONY R. BOLAMPERTI Maha Laser Dentistry

THEODORE J. BOLAMPERTI Bolamperti Family Dentistry

JARED D. BOLDING

WILLIAM J. BRESNAHAN T. PAT BURCHFIEL Burchfiel Dental

BRAD W. CARSON Pacific Village Dental

AMY T. CHADWELL Chadwell Family Dentistry

JEFFRY F. CHEREK RALPH M. CORPUZ Corpuz Family Dentistry

MICHAEL C. DANAHAY Dental Innovations

KATHERINE L. DEFORD DeFord Family Dental

JAMES R. DEMMAN The Dentists at Dundee

SCOTT C. DILORENZO 40th and Dodge Family Dentistry

JEFFREY D. DWORAK Capehart Family Dentistry

JEFFREY T. GARVEY Midlands Dental Group

JAMES G. GERNER Montclair Dental

KENDRA L. GOSCH Gosch Family Dental

JEROME F. GRADOVILLE Creighton University School of Dentistry

BENJAMIN G. HARDY Hardy Dental

GREGORY A. HAVELKA

TERRY F. LANPHIER

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JAMES F. MCCASLIN Evergreen Dental Group

STUART J. MCNALLY Millard Hills Dental Health Center

CAROL M. MURDOCK Creighton University School of Dentistry

WILLIAM T. NAUGHTON Creighton University School of Dentistry

MATTHEW C. NEUMANN Serenity Dental

JEFFREY R. NIELSEN Bel-Drive Dental

MARK J. PANNETON Panneton Dental Group

BRIAN S. PENDLEY The Dentists at Village Pointe

SCOTT M. RADNIECKI Creighton University School of Dentistry

RICHARD J. RONK, JR. THOMAS O. RUDERSDORF Family Dentist Bellevue

AMY M. RUF The Dentists at Ralston Square

JAY D. SAMUELSON The Dentists at Hillsborough

MICHAEL R. SESEMANN Nebraska Institute of Comprehensive Dentistry

ALLAN M. SMITH Bellevue Family Practice Dentistry

MICHAEL J. HOOVER

RANDY E. STOUT

Hoover Dental

Creighton University School of Dentistry

MICAH JEPPESEN

CAROLYN L. TAGGART-BURNS

Your Family Dentist

Millard Oaks Dental

VILLAGE POINTE ORAL SURGERY & DENTAL IMPLANT CENTER AT VILLAGE POINTE Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center, the treatments recommended by oral and maxillofacial surgeon Michael Shnayder, DDS, MD, are the same treatments he’d recommend to loved ones.

“Our mission is to provide patients with the utmost quality care,” Dr. Shnayder said. “We are proud to treat every patient as part of our family.”

The practice provides a full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery from dental implants and wisdom-tooth removal to facial trauma and oral pathology. The practice serves patients of all ages and uses state-of-the-art technology and surgical procedures, with a patient-centered focus on conservative treatment. This may mean using special instruments to conserve bone tissue, leaving a small root tip to prevent nerve damage, or recommending leaving wisdom teeth alone that aren’t posing a problem for the patient.

Established in 2011, the practice recently moved to a new location at 171st and Pacific streets. Patients can expect not to only receive quality surgical services, but also experience excellent customer service from a dedicated team of professionals in a comfortable, calming environment.

Village Pointe Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center 17121 Marcy St., Ste. 102 Omaha, NE 68118 402.317.5657 vpoms.com

OCTOBER 2020

// 51 //

BRETT H. TAYLOR

JOHN P. WEWEL

KIMBERLEY A. STAFFORD

Taylor Dentistry

Midwest Oral Surgery & Dental Implants

Stafford Orthodontics

DAVID E. WILLIAMS

Weber Orthodontics

BRETT S. THOMSEN Thomsen Dental Group

STEVEN D. WEGNER DEBRA S. WEST KARRY K. WHITTEN Whitten Dentistry

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY COREY J. AUCH Oral Surgery Associates

STEPHEN A. COFFEY Oral Surgery Associates

VALMONT P. DESA Nebraska Medicine

JOHN D. ENGEL Oral Surgery Associates

AFOLABI O. OGUNLEYE Premier Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

ROBERT M. PFEIFLE Oral Surgery Associates

MICHAEL I. SHNAYDER Village Pointe Oral Surgery

JEROME M. WEES Midwest Oral Surgery & Dental Implants

Creighton University School of Dentistry

THOMAS J. WEBER JULIE WEES

ORAL PATHOLOGY

Wees & Low Orthodontics

HARDEEP CHEHAL

MICHELLE S. WULF

Creighton University School of Dentistry

ORTHODONTICS MATTHEW J. BECKER

Southwest Orthodontics

PETER A. ZIEGLER Ziegler Orthodontics

Imagine Orthodontics

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

KELLY R. CONWAY

ANNE S. AIELLO

NEIL E. DUNLOW Dunlow Orthodontics

THOMAS J. HUERTER Huerter Orthodontics

KORT A. IGEL Igel Orthodontics

TAERA KIM Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics

LAURA E. LOW Wees & Low Orthodontics

BRIAN MCINTYRE Omaha Orthodontics

MARK MENDLIK Mendlik Orthodontics

JULIE E. OLSON Olson Orthodontics

BARBARA J. RIES TIMOTHY J. SHEEHAN The Orthodontic Group

Creighton University School of Dentistry

CARMEN L. DANA Pedodontics

ERIC D. HODGES Children’s Hospital and Medical Center

J. BRYAN HOHENSTEIN Smile Station Pediatric Dentistry

DARIN L. KOTIL Smile Academy

MATTHEW D. SCHIEBER Smile Station Pediatric Dentistry

LISA F. STRUNK Pedodontics

MARK H. TAYLOR Taylor Dentistry

ANGELI J. THAKKER Belleview Pediatric Dentistry

BARRY W. WEBBER Walnut Creek Pediatric Dentistry

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MATTHEW R. KELSEY Kelsey Periodontal Group

W. PATRICK KELSEY V Kelsey Periodontal Group

MELISSA S. LANG CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY School of Dentistry

Dr. Ogunleye & Team specialize in wisdom teeth extraction, implants, bone grafts, and IV sedation/general anesthesia.

TIMOTHY P. MCVANEY Specialty Dental Care

546 S. Washington St. Papillion, NE

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OCTOBER 2020

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TAKANARI MIYAMOTO Metro West Orthodontics & Periodontics

STACY L. MOFFENBIER

PROSTHODONTICS ANDREA L. HALL Millard Hills Dental Health Center

THE FACE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP bankofthewest.com/we

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Doing business in South Dakota as Bank of the West California.

Omaha Family + Cosmetic Dentist At our practice, we excel in Cosmetic Dentistry, Restorative/Implant Dentistry, Family Dentistry and Preventative Dentistry. We use the most current dental technology available, including Cerec, one visit dentistry for all-ceramic restorations and digital radiographs.

boldingdentistry.com . 402.393.4400 . 10110 Nicholas St., Suite #101, Omaha, NE 68144 // 54 //

OCTOBER 2020

// GEN O //

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-LEAN N E B UGAY continued from page 49 She may not have a favorite, but it has all paid off. This past spring, the Nebraska High School Press Association named Bugay 2020 Student Journalist of the Year.

Rowse and Stueve also selected Bugay for the Omaha World-Herald Key Staffer honor for Bellevue West, submitting a statement that called Bugay “a talented designer, editor, filmmaker, and photographer.”

“It’s definitely a validation to a lot of the hard work I’ve put in for the past three years. I’m very thankful,” Bugay said of the honors. At the same time, she added, she’s more comfortable seeing her byline or credit than she is being the subject of an article. “It’s weird to be put in the spotlight because I’m used to writing about other things that are put in the spotlight.”

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“What I am looking the most forward to about LeAnne and her future, what I told her, is ‘Your life is actually very long and you can have second acts,’” Rowse said. “She is able to create and capitalize on opportunity. Her future is unlimited because of all the skills she took the time to develop while she was still in high school.”

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OCTOBER 2020

// 55 //

GIVING

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Elaine Weiss is an award-winning journalist and writer. Her byline has appeared in The Atlantic, Harper’s, New York Times, Boston Globe, and Philadelphia Inquirer. She will be speaking about her most recent book, The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote.

Oct. 1 ESCAPE HUNGER FUNDRAISER (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Heartland Hope Mission Location: Online —heartlandhopemission.org Oct. 1-2 ANGELS AMONG US GALA (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Angels Among Us Location: Online —myangelsamongus.org Oct 1-31 MARGE DURHAM WALK FOR THE ANIMALS (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Nebraska Humane Society Location: Online —nehumanesociety.org Oct. 2 NINTH ANNUAL DAVID RUBACK MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT Benefitting: Nebraska Adaptive Sports Location: Eagle Hills Golf Course —@nebraskaadaptivesports on Facebook

// 56 //

OCTOBER 2020

Oct. 3 STEP UP FOR DOWN SYNDROME WALK AND FESTIVAL Benefitting: Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands Location: Werner Park (walk) and online (festival) —dsamidlands.org

Oct. 4 LITTLE GIANTS SEVENTH ANNUAL FARM RUN (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Little Giants Foundations Location: online —thelittlegiantsfoundation.org

Oct. 3 12TH ANNUAL A VINTAGE AFFAIRE GALA Benefitting: Autism Action Network Location: —autismaction.org

Oct. 7 FOOD TRUCK WORLD TOUR (DRIVE-THROUGH) Benefitting; Immigrant Legal Center Location: The Mastercraft at Millwork Commons —immigrantlc.org

Oct. 3 BIKETOBER IN THE BLUFFS Benefitting: 712 Initiative Location: Pottawatamie County Trails System, 100 Block —712initiative.org

Oct. 8 LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AUCTION & DINNER Benefitting: Open Door Mission Location: Ramada Plaza —opendoormission.org

Oct. 3 NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS GALA (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Location: Online —crohnscolitisfoundation.org

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OCTOBER 2020

// 57 //

// GIVING CALENDAR //

Oct. 10-11 HEALS TO THE PAVEMENT (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Grief ’s Journey Location: online —griefsjourney.org

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Oct. 11 MORE THAN PINK WALK (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Susan G. Komen Location: walker’s choice with online opening ceremony —komengreatplains.org Oct. 13 CHANGEMAKERS 2020 Benefitting: Nebraska Children and Families Foundation Location: Embassy Suites - La Vista —nebraskachildren.org Oct. 15 WINE, WHISKEY, AND WISHES Benefitting: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska Location: Champions Run —nebraska.wish.org

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OCTOBER 2020

Oct. 16 LEGACY GALA Benefitting: Women on a Mission for Change Location: TBA —womenonamissionomaha.org Oct 16-18 KIDS & CLAYS SPORTING TOURNAMENT Benefitting: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Omaha Location: TBD —rmhcomaha.org Oct. 18 OMAHA HOT CIDER HUSTLE HALF MARATHON & 5K Benefitting: Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Location: Skutt Catholic High School —nebraskaruns.com/hotciderhustle Oct. 18 BAGS & BEER Benefitting: Kicks for a Cure Location: Nebraska Brewing Co. —kicksforacure.org Oct. 20 A TIME FOR HOPE & HEALING 2020 WITH SCARLETT & JT LEWIS (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: The Kim Foundation Location: online —kimfoundation.org Oct. 20 FREMONT FAMILY FRIENDS (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Lutheran Family Services Location: online —lfsneb.org

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OCTOBER 2020

// 59 //

// GIVING CALENDAR //

Oct. 20-24 KIOS FALL FUND DRIVE Benefitting: KIOS Location: On-air, online —kios.org

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Oct. 23 VISION BEYOND SIGHT Benefitting: Outlook Nebraska Location: Embassy Suites - La Vista —outlookne.org Oct. 24 2020 ANGEL FLIGHT Benefiting: Skutt Catholic High School Location: Skutt Catholic High School —skuttcatholic.com

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Oct. 28 PARTNERS IN POSSIBILITIES (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Mosaic Location: Online —mosaicinfo.org Oct. 29 SIGNATURE CHEFS AUCTION (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: March of Dimes Location: Online —signaturechefs.marchofdimes.org Oct. 30 HOPS & GRAPES FESTIVAL Benefitting: Partnership 4 Kids Location: Hilton Downtown —p4k.org Oct. 30 BEMIS BENEFIT AUCTION (VIRTUAL) Benefitting: Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Location: Online —bemiscenter.org Event times and details may change.

Visit omahamagazine.com for complete listings.

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OCTOBER 2020

60 OMAHA s u l p

Ocotober 2020

L

isa Worrall opened the

door to reveal an explosion of color. The retired teacher blushed and stepped back, revealing triangular, multihued, painted, and papered steps leading up into her world. A person might squint at the dazzling brightness of it all, like being exposed to the sun after staying too long indoors. But this is her indoors, a brilliant array of playful pinks, steadfast blues, and psychedelic purples.

“I found my voice in colors. It’s who I am,” the self-taught artist explained.

60+ Active living

story by Lisa Lukecart

Late to a Fabulous Party

Retired Teacher Finds Her Voice In Color

Worrall, 65, arrived “late to this fabulous party.” She always thought of herself as a teacher, working with special education and first-grade students for 36 years.

Even so, Worrall once dressed up in her grandmother’s red beret and her father’s denim apron on Career Day at Westside’s Prairie Lane Elementary School.

“I’m going to be an artist someday,” Worrall quipped to her students.

Worrall’s creative side surfaced when she inherited her grandmother’s antiques.

The furniture ricocheted drab vibes in her space. Paint and décor were costly items on a teacher’s salary. Instead, inspiration emerged in the form of fun papers.

Elementary school students cut, glued, and created with the same beautiful results. A flower, for instance, pasted onto a pink background with yellow star-shaped petals added vibrant hues to her classroom.

Colleagues and friends noticed her talent and soon asked her for portraits, murals, and illustrations. Worrall, at that time, had few spare hours in the day as a single mother with a full-time job.

All of it changed in 2010. Worrall designed a Christmas card for friends and family. She loved how her students wore mismatched hats, coats, and scarves in the winter. Worrall drew her vision on tracing paper then cut out a final version. Four children gazed at an evergreen tree with a yellow star on top. White-painted, dotted snowflakes drifted down in night sky, adding a simplistic touch of nostalgia. ›

photography By Bill Sitzmann // design by Derek Joy OCTOBER 2020 • 60 PLUS

// 63 //

// 60+ Active living //

F

riends thought

the cards could sell.

Deborah Conley took a bundle with her to Methodist Hospital where she works as a senior executive.

Another friend headed to The Bookworm.

“I have seen her totally blossom ever since then. It just exploded,” Conley said. “I think as people grow older they have more life experiences to determine what they want to do next. I always say, ‘you retire to something, not from something.’

It opens up avenues.”

Worrall still seemed unsure of her artistic abilities but didn’t want to waste the opportunity. She strode into the gift shop at Joslyn Art Museum and showed them to retail manager Jane Precella. Rather than rebuffing the cards, Precella asked to see more work.

Worrall felt like an imposter. What did a special education teacher know about logos, pricing, and packaging? She didn’t even know how to create an invoice and had only a couple of weeks to figure it all out before her product needed to be delivered. After school, ideas poured out of her. Her confidence grew as she sketched faces with her pencil, snipped paper with scissors, and patiently placed small details with her tweezers. The logo became a girl walking on a tightrope in a red beret just like she wore all those years ago in her classroom. Worrall delivered her cards by deadline.

“I felt like a total imposter, but I did it,” Worrall said.

Dundee Gallery called the next day.

Forty of her cards sold in one day and a new order was placed for a Valentine’s Day line. She moved holiday to holiday that first year while working over breaks, nights, and weekends. The business, Iddy Biddy Boo Design (named from her brother’s nickname for her, “Iddy” and her sister’s, “Boo Boo”) took off. Worrall figured close to 50,000 cards have been purchased over the past 10 years, and her confidence increased along with it.

The myriad array of colorful cards on display in her basement is a breathtaking mix of emotion. Old photographs are sometimes used as concepts. A photograph is re-created on a card of her son Jeff on his first birthday in a devil’s costume. Another of her grandmother Mimi in a wedding dress from the 1920s era. Or a lesson learned about letting go from her school days when a caterpillar // 64 //

60 PLUS • OCTOBER 2020

was released from the cage after changing into a butterfly. Others contain poignant messages. A breast cancer survivor with flowers on her bald head is opened to the words, “Strong is the new beautiful.” A card with a mother and daughter dressed in flowing red superhero capes strongly suggests, “Behind every girl who believes in herself stands a mother who believed first.”

Even her darker works contain some light. The “Marionette” contains a sinister faceless puppet master controlling a dancer. At first, the ballerina looks frail but on closer inspection a pair of scissors are held in one hand while a smirk rolls across her face.

Iddy Biddy Boo Design has been seen in museums, bookstores, and art galleries.

“The other day a lady came in specifically to find a sympathy card because someone she knew died of COVID in his 40s… it was sold out. Lisa had it to me within two hours.”

-Patti Van Buren, owner, House of J “The other day a lady came in specifically to find a sympathy card because someone she knew died of COVID in his 40s… it was sold out. Lisa had it to me within two hours,” said House of J owner Patti Van Buren, who is collaborating with Worrall on an open house on Oct. 21.

It’s true that the cards don’t appear as if created from cut paper.

An original work stands striking and immense before it is printed. Worrall saw a tightrope walker at the circus fall to her death as a child. The piece titled “The Tight Rope Walker” showcases risk-taking just like her stepping into the art world. All of it is made from paper, except the face, which is drawn with a pencil. She made the tight rope walker’s petticoats from women’s literature, editions of the 1937 New York Times, a Braille book, and musical notes. The skirt is white vintage with gold dots, the vest two-cent stamps, and the cuffs chocolate wrappers. The blonde clinched some of the tightrope in one hand, showing the last resource, as she walks over a town in her fishnet stockings and boots. The other hand holds a parasol. Around the edges of the frame are curled signatures of all the women in Worrall’s life who surrounded her. Even her great grandmother’s ancestors make an appearance since she photocopied original letters from that time on the Oregon Trail.

“She is on a tight rope coming from somewhere, but still going,” Worrall added.

The company branched out to puzzles, wall art, ornaments, and needlepoint.

Worrall needed to know if a national market was out there. It was time to cut the ties and move on to bigger endeavors.

A breaking out point came two years ago at AmericasMart in Georgia. Two women approached her stand and mentioned their boss specifically told them to see her booth. It turns out they were retail buyers from the Biltmore Estate and wanted her to re-create a scene from the movie Titanic for their current costume exhibit. The deadline was a tight two weeks, so Worrall designed Rose in her black and white dress as soon as she returned home.

“I was so excited and wanted to show them I was serious about working with them,” Worrall said.

The Biltmore Estate also commissioned her to re-create the Vanderbilt home.

This project seemed a bit more daunting. Sure, she had designed her mother’s house, but nothing this elaborate on such an architectural scale. After being flown out in June 2018, she spent the rest of the summer constructing it. Some windows required almost 50 bits of paper. It was finished by September for the Christmas exhibit. The artist’s goal, though, has never been to make money, but to do something different with her life.

“I’m like Donny Osmond is to music, but not like a Beethoven,” she explained.

“People relate to it and respond. If I make a connection, I’m happy.”

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// 65 //

60+ NOSTALGIA · story by Jeff Lacey · design & illustration by Derek Joy

Pencils, Paste, Phonetics

A Zoom Through School Supply Aisles of the Past

T

he seasonal aisle of grocery stores in late July and early August features a cardboard kiosk leaved with fliers from local elementary schools that detail the requisite school supplies for each grade. The same store might also display a few of those supplies, mercilessly searched and disheveled.

These are sure signs of back-to-school shopping. However, the quest for perfect backto-school supplies is not a new phenomenon. Who remembers these back-to-school items from the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s?

Big Chief writing tablets These were a common classroom staple item in the 1950s and 1960s. Produced by the Western Tablet Co. in St. Joseph, Missouri, the tablets consisted of lined newsprint paper bound in a red card stock cover depicting a Native American in full headdress. Although politically incorrect, these were especially used in elementary schools across America, but were eventually eclipsed by the rise of the spiral notebook.

Metal lunch boxes with thermoses Those who were not interested in eating the cafeteria’s mystery meat had the option of bringing their own lunch, often including a sandwich made of plastic-wrapped cheese, processed meat, and yellow mustard; an individual can of gelatinous chocolate pudding; a piece of fruit; and soup or a drink in a plastic thermos that fit perfectly into one-third of the box. While the contents may have been conformist, the boxes themselves were key—and now, sometimes pricey. A lunchbox featuring cartoon space family The Jetsons made in 1963 can sell for upward of $1500 online, while the more popular Walt Disney school bus can be bought for around $50.

Mucilage in a rubber-nippled bottle While not as delicious as paste, this dark amber adhesive was also nontoxic.

Mucilage, a naturally occurring plant exudate, also offered the user the chance to pick the crusty crystals from the thinlipped rubber applicator after extended use.

LePage’s Mucilage, in a clear bottle, was the most commonly used brand.

Paste

Steno tablets

While not intended as food, this product was ubiquitous in 1950s and 1960s elementary schools. Packaged in bulk, and served to students on paper towels or scraps of paper, adhesive paste was a staple of classrooms because it was a fairly effective adhesive and, importantly, nontoxic. Paste was often mint-scented, and therefore, to the curious gradeschooler, irresistible.

The odds are good that if you went to high school in the 1950s or 1960s, you might have taken a shorthand class, which often required a yellow-paged steno tablet. These were used to practice shorthand, a system of abbreviated writing that allowed the recorder to write as fast as a person spoke, and was commonly taught in American high schools.

There were different types of shorthand, including Gregg Shorthand and Pittman Shorthand, and were considered valuable skills for professions like journalists, secretaries, and law enforcement officers.

Phonetic word wheels Paper wheels held together with brads have gone the way of the calculator, but from the 1950s through the 1970s, students learned spelling, vocabulary, word recognition, and more by aligning the outer wheel containing consonants and consonant combinations with the inner wheel containing syllables. Str-ange.

Slide top pencil case These were all the rage in the 1960s and 1970s. Unlike pencil boxes of earlier decades, often made of wood, these were made of that fantastic material called plastic, two-toned, and the top slid back and disappeared into the bottom half, making it easier to grab a writing tool than from wooden pencil boxes, which tended to expand and contract with weather, meaning good luck trying to extract a pencil from it during the humid Nebraska days in September.

Vintage plastic pencil boxes range from $25-$50 online.

Song flutes (also known as recorders) The Fitchhorn Song Flute says right on the box “Always in tune,” but anyone who survived late elementary school knows that is false advertising. Often a precursor to band, these cheap plastic flutes were used during music class to irritate the teacher adjacent to the music room and instill pride and bad hearing in parents who listened to their kids perform “Jingle Bells” at the school’s annual Christmas performance.

Vacuum-mounted pencil sharpeners Do you recall ever wrestling with the lever on a vacuum-mounted pencil sharpener? The Boston pencil company, which started in 1899, sold hundreds of thousands of these sharpeners during their existence, and was eventually bought by the Xacto company. A vacuum-mounted pencil sharpener is still available online for around $20 for those up to the challenge of getting it to stick.

Writing utensils of yore The ACT, SAT, and other tests helped popularize No. 2 pencils, these days by far the mostly commonly produced pencils in the United States, but they weren’t always. In the 1930s, it was discovered that the Scantron machines used to score the SATs were unable to read the scratches from the harder lead of a No. 1 pencil, or the smudges from the softer lead of a No. 3. While it’s easy to grab a package of No. 2 lead pencils at the local school-supply store, those in need of a softer or harder lead often wind up paying higher prices at the art supply store. Those who learned how to write in cursive prior to the late 1970s likely learned the Palmer method of handwriting as scribed by an approved Palmer method fountain pen.

OCTOBER 2020 • 60 PLUS

// 67 //

Pat Corbitt Escapes From Reality

Lord of the Manor, Treasure-Hunting Pirate 60+ PROFILE // STORY BY JENNIFER LITTON // PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY DEREK JOY

B

ETWEEN DROPPING

students off and picking them up on his Ralston School bus route, Pat Corbitt, 62, spends his time managing operations for his escape room business, Omaha’s Industrial Escape Rooms. When the pandemic abruptly shut Omaha down in March, his days shifted to the escape room full-time.

Corbitt helps others escape the day and travel to an alternate world using their imagination and some cleverly built theme rooms. One such room is set in an 1890s London manor house. Another pirate-themed room gives players a chance to steal hidden treasure.

He says he enjoys giving people something to work with when they visit his entertainment venue. Players are given one hour to search the room for hidden objects, solve puzzles, and unlock the locks to complete the objective and win the game.

Corbitt, who was raised in Texas, was born on Oct. 3, 1957, the day before Sputnik 1 was launched by the former Soviet Union. He said he likes to think of himself as one of the last pre-space age babies. “I really do enjoy science fiction.”

His favorite movie is Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

“I have, on occasion, told people that— should the police ever find my car abandoned out in the country and there’s an odd circular patch in the field nearby— tell them I went willingly.” His several years as a manager at Douglas Theatres likely contributed to his fascination with the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

“I think it would be amazing to actually meet an alien. I like to think that there’s actually people out there. And they’re just too smart to come down and go ‘hello.’ I’m not entirely sure that the human race is ready to be let loose on the universe.”

Corbitt first came to Omaha by way of Offutt during his 14-year stint with the Air Force. After spending six years in Omaha, he decided that he liked the city.

“In spite of the winters and the taxes, I’ve grown to really love the city. It’s just the right size that I like. Dallas is way too big for me.”

“People would say there is nothing to do in Omaha and they’re idiots,” Corbitt said. “There really is a lot to do.”

Corbitt likes to think that he is adding more diversity to the entertainment landscape with his newest project, Industrial Escape Rooms. He got the idea after reading about escape rooms in a magazine.

He thought, “Oh, I can do that.” He attended a trade show and purchased pieces to create Moriarty’s Parlor, a Sherlock Holmes-themed room. The previous owner traveled to Omaha to help him set it up, teach him how the puzzles were done, which furniture to buy, and how to give hints to players when they get stuck. “The way I run games is I tell them when you’re ready for a hint, just give me a big group wave, and I’ll come in and get you back on track.”

Things really started taking off for him in December 2019. He said that being a homeowner has helped him in his new job as owner of the escape rooms because he works with his hands. He also credits time he spent working at Regal Awards.

“I actually learned how to do a type of engraving while I was at the Air Force.

So I began engraving with them.” He also built trophies and learned sandblasting. His time at Regal Awards helped him learn how to put things together and build things, which are skills he uses quite a bit now building games.

He said that the fastest anyone has ever solved a game is about 35 minutes. He said that he’s only had a few groups that fell into the “deadly serious, hate-to-lose category.” “At the end of their game, there were not a lot of smiles.”

Most patrons find spending an hour at Industrial Escape Room is good, oldfashioned fun. Corbitt said that quite a few people say they like the amount of details in his game rooms. “They like the amount of puzzles and the difficulty of the puzzles.”

One reviewer on Yelp.com recently said of their time there, “We had a good experience. It’s fun to see how your family operates under pressure and trying to work together.”

Visit industrialescaperooms.com for more information.

OCTOBER 2020 • 60 PLUS

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60+ FEATURE // STORY BY JENNA GABRIAL GALLAGHER // DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION BY DEREK JOY

Building Connections Through Lifelong Learning Continuing Education Expands Options and Builds Community

“There’s a pretty significant number of the Baby Boomer generation who want to stay relevant and connected.”

-Gary Girard

E

SSAYIST MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE

once said of Socrates, “There is nothing more notable than that he found time, when he was an old man, to learn music and dancing, and thought it time well spent.”

Older adults in Omaha are following this Socratic method for enriching their lives and engaging with others through myriad continuing education opportunities throughout the city—and the offerings just keep growing.

“The Kroc Center has always had a history of robust programming for physical activities that appeal to older adults, including aquatic exercise, strength maintaining, and Zumba,” said Glenda Wood, who recently started her third year as senior life specialist at the Kroc Center, “I came onboard to create a more holistic approach.”

This has included partnerships with organizations including the Visiting Nurse Association, the Alzheimers Association, and a local law firm specializing in elder law to host lunch-and-learns on topics related to aging issues—from brain and body health to finances to sharing final wishes with one’s family. They have offered a Life Stories series, in which participants gather for eight weeks to write on a different autobiographical topic each week, and various sewing, quilting, and crafting classes, often led by older adults themselves. “We’re trying to build toward a volunteer army of people who want to share their interests and talents with others,” Wood said.

In addition to the programming specifically created for people over 55, one of the goals of the Kroc Center is for all programming to be intergenerational.

Older adults are also regular fixtures in arts programming, such as pottery classes and a drum circle, alongside younger students, and sometimes it’s all in the family. “One of our members, who is 65, would come to our Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Tai Chi class and she started bringing her mother, who is 88, to our Wednesday Crafts and Conversation class,” Woods explained.

“As a caregiver, she really appreciated that this gave them both a way to get out of the house.”

›

OCTOBER 2020 • 60 PLUS

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60+ FEATURE

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OOD SAID THAT THE SOCIAL ELEMENT IS as important to older

adults as the learning, which is why programming with meals, including a potluck the first Wednesday of every month (during nonpandemic times) is always a big draw. “If you offer food, more people will attend.”

That’s how Donna Van Riper, a retired music teacher, started getting more involved with older adult education. Van Riper, who is 76, was first drawn to the Kroc’s aquatics classes after a serious pool accident at her former health club. “At first I only interacted with the staff. They would notice that my walking was improving and they’d encourage me. Then I started waving to people in the classes as I walked down the hallway.

Eventually, I went to a potluck, and started getting to know people, and now I try to go to as many classes and lunch-and-learns as possible,” Van Riper said.

Although the Kroc reopened on June 1, not all of its programming is back up and running, and many older members are still cautious about returning to public spaces.

Van Riper has stayed in touch with her Kroc friends over the phone and via a private Facebook group that Wood set up for that purpose. “Just the other day, I was walking in the park and I ran into someone I know from my cross-country skiing aquatics class. We both just had the biggest smiles on our faces. We all have a real connection,” Van Riper said, later noting an incoming call was from a 92-year-old friend she knows from the pool.

“We have offered a watercolor course for older adults for about 10 years and we started to notice was that it was the same students enrolling in it, quarter after quarter.

They were developing their own social network and becoming more and more advanced in their work. That indicated to us that our older students wanted more communityrelated courses.”

-Gary Girard

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60 PLUS • OCTOBER 2020

Gary Girard, executive director of continuing education at Metropolitan Community College, said that the sense of community is also central to the DNA of MCC Explore, Metro’s lifelong learning program for students aged 62 and older. “We have offered a watercolor course for older adults for about 10 years and we started to notice was that it was the same students enrolling in it, quarter after quarter. They were developing their own social network and becoming more and more advanced in their work. That indicated to us that our older students wanted more community-related courses.”

Like at the Kroc Center, MCC Explore’s financial classes, including those centered around retirement planning, Medicare, and Social Security, are popular, as are classes on aging wellness and lifestyle topics. The college has partnered with organizations such as Home Instead Senior Care to answer the call for classes that meet the needs of the modern aging population. “We have a community of learners who increasingly want to remain educated and it’s our responsibility to provide relevant courses that make them engage in critical thinking,” Girard said, adding that technology courses are also a hot ticket. “There’s a pretty significant number of the Baby Boomer generation who want to stay relevant and connected,” Girard said of classes such as Appy Hour for Seniors, which is designed specifically for mobile smart phone users and meets on Zoom.

With several campuses and satellite campuses around the city, MCC is able to offer a level of flexibility that appeals to older adults. They even have a variety of “lost arts” classes, such as upholstery, spinning, and weaving, in the New North Makerhood District. “We’ve had several older folks enrolled in courses, like upholstery, that started as a hobby and turned into a second income for them,” Girard said, adding that one student, in her mid-80s, created a handmade wedding basket, full of gifts she had learned to craft from various MCC classes, for her granddaughter.

With a few exceptions—like the Italian wine pairing class that traveled to Italy for nine days—most of MCC’s classes are available at half-tuition for students over 62 years old, which makes continuing education more accessible to those on a fixed income.

Accessibility is also central to the mission of Arts for All. “Our classes are very affordable, but we don’t turn anyone away if they can’t afford the tuition,” said Juliana Taber, who directs the nonprofit with classes in churches and community centers throughout the Omaha area, as well as on Zoom. They have held art classes specifically designed for visually impaired students and routinely make modifications to musical instruments and art supplies to accommodate the needs of students.

“We see a lot of older adults joining younger family members, such as a grandfather who’s been taking guitar lessons with his two grandsons, as well as retirees who are getting back into a hobby or finding new ones, now that they have more time. So much of it is about staying active and the social aspect,” Taber said.

Like at the Kroc Center, Arts for All encourages the students to become the teachers when they’re particularly passionate about a subject. “We have several seniors that are teaching for us part time. They have the experience and skills to share and we are lucky to have them.”

That feeling is echoed by those in every echelon of continuing education for older adults throughout Omaha. As Van Riper put it, “You come back home from a class and you feel nurtured for the whole day.”

OBVIOUSLY OMAHA // STORY BY PATRICK McGEE // PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED

HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES?

01

SIX APPLE ORCHARDS TO PICK NEAR OMAHA

Ripe, red apples hanging on heavy branches are a symbol of fall in Nebraska. Apple picking, like pumpkin carving and hayrack rides, is a safe, family-friendly outdoor activity perfect for appreciating the season. Many prospective apple pickers will first think of Nebraska City’s Arbor Day Farm, but there are other options to enjoy.

01. VALA’S PUMPKIN PATCH

12102 S. 180TH ST., GRETNA, NE 402.332.4200 | VALASPUMPKINPATCH.COM

Vala’s is a family favorite complete with pumpkins, hayrack rides, and haunted houses. Those who have fired apples out of Vala’s apple cannons or drunk their delicious hot apple cider might wonder where all these apples come from. The answer is that Vala’s has been home to an apple orchard and cider mill since 2014. The farm includes a total of 30 acres of apple trees producing 45 varieties. They began a pick-your-own-apples business in 2017 to complement their everpopular pumpkin-picking business.

02. FONTANELLE ORCHARD

26982 N.E. HIGHWAY 91, NICKERSON, NE 402.727.5272 VISITNEBRASKA.COM/NICKERSON/ FONTANELLE-ORCHARD

Fontanelle Orchard is a family-owned orchard with nearly 500 apple trees.

Apple pickers can harvest many varieties, including the crowd favorite Jonathan. Harvested apples are gathered and weighed on the big scale in front of the old apple barn. Inside the barn, guests will find a niche store with pumpkins and home-canned items for sale. The pies—made on site—are a local favorite. Fontanelle has been operating for nearly 30 years.

03. 3 BEE FARMS

14922 535TH ST., GRISWOLD, IA 712.778.4256 | 3BEEFARMS.COM

This family-owned business began in 1993 with an emphasis on bees and honey production. Since that time, it has expanded its operation to include an apple orchard that welcomes apple pickers. Other fall activities offered at 3 Bee Farms include a pumpkin patch to peruse, corn maze to wander through, and hayrides. The farm is about 45 miles east of downtown Omaha and will provide a more remote experience for apple picking.

02

04. SUPER BEE ORCHARD

4571 U.S. HIGHWAY 75, FORT CALHOUN, NE 402.468.5265 | FACEBOOK.COM/SUPER-BEEORCHARD-207414122616489

Guests of Super Bee will enjoy the mom-and-pop atmosphere.

Visitors can expect to harvest many different varieties of apples in the fall. Super Bee also offers pony rides for young visitors. Those hoping to pick apples should be aware that Super Bee closes around the weekend before Thanksgiving.

03

05. DITMAR’S ORCHARD AND VINEYARD 19475 225TH ST., COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA 712.256.7053 | DITMARSORCHARD.COM

Ditmar’s boasts autumn activities such as apple picking, a hayrack ride, a corn maze, and, of course, a pumpkin patch. The orchard offers over 20 varieties of apples (they are not all ripe at the same time, so serious pickers will need to take multiple trips in the season in order to try them all). Guests can ride the tractor-pulled wagon to the orchard and back. Ditmar’s is also home to a vineyard and produces their own wine as well as other homemade goodies.

04

05

06. TREES, SHRUBS, AND MORE

3803 CORNHUSKER ROAD, BELLEVUE, NE 402.291.9374 | TREESSHRUBSANDMORE.COM

Trees, Shrubs, and More is a multifaceted landscape and garden center, and it is also home to TS&M Orchard Inc. The orchard contains approximately 3,000 dwarf apple trees planted in a combined length of nearly five miles of tree rows.

Guests can harvest 13 varieties of apples with distinct flavors.

TS&M also has rows of pear and peach trees. The orchard boasts clean, manicured lawns between each row for ease of access.

OCTOBER

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2020

06

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN // DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

D I N I N G R E V I E W // S T O R Y B Y N I Z P R O S K O C I L

D E S P I T E PA N D E M I C , FA M I LY- O W N E D B U R G E R S P OT T H R I V E S

BURGER BLISS What makes a good burger?

There’s the flavor of the meat, the meat-to-bun ratio, the meat-to-fat ratio, the freshness of the toppings, the cooking process, the type of bun, and many other factors.

H WIT , T S A CON BRE Y BA N A N E O CKE ITH URK TO CHI E, T TOMA D W .

E D R S I ES LLE HEE AND . PA FRI GRI TI C UCE O UN T B R T A T E OTA HAV H LE IOCH T- P S E R E E B R F SW D STE UT, TOA ND C HA

But the owners of a recently opened Florence restaurant aren’t satisfied making a good burger. Best is what they’re after.

OCTOBER 2020

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DINING REVIEW

O

maha residents Ashlei Spivey and her partner, who goes simply by the name Universal, own and operate Best Burger. The restaurant opened in April across from Florence Park. Universal serves as chef, and Spivey helps out everywhere else.

The menu is small, but it features a variety of toppings, sauces, and buns so diners can customize their own creations, whether it’s a classic burger or something more creative. Diners can choose a grilled chicken breast or one of three patty options: turkey, vegan, or grass-fed black Angus beef.

Universal’s interest in food began early.

His grandmothers both cooked for a living and passed down their cooking and baking skills to him. After high school, he attended a culinary arts program through Job Corps. Although his career path led to the manufacturing industry, where he worked at a warehouse for 15 years, he never stopped thinking about pursuing his passion for food.

Also available are brioche and standard white buns, which are buttered and toasted. There’s a choice of cheese, ranging from cheddar to pepper jack.

Sauces such as barbecue and garlic aioli are made in-house.

“That’s my American dream. It always has been,” Universal said. “I enjoy seeing people enjoy my food. It feels good that people like something that you do.”

The couple, who live in Florence, saw a need in the community for a quick, casual spot that served a “homemadestyle hamburger,” Universal said. It was also important to offer a healthier alternative to the typical fast-food burger and fries. They believe the way to a better burger is to focus on quality ingredients. That means fresh not frozen patties and using grass-fed beef.

My dining partner and I tried the restaurant in July. We called in an order for curbside pickup, and the food was ready 20 minutes later, neatly packaged and promptly delivered to our car. Customers can also order and pay online. Inside, there are a couple of tables for guests, but it was takeout only when we visited. Universal said it wasn’t hard adjusting to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic because the plan all along was to operate mainly as a takeout spot.

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OCTOBER 2020

Instead of medium or medium well, all burgers are cooked done, Universal said. That’s slightly longer than I prefer, but I thought the 5-ounce patty was seasoned well and delivered a rich, beefy flavor. My one quibble with the burger is that it was a tad tough, perhaps due to a tightly packed patty.

Best Burger uses hormone- and antibiotic-free beef and turkey from a small, family farm in Kansas. Fresh produce and other ingredients are sourced locally whenever possible. Instead of standard french fries, the menu features sweet potato fries. The spuds are sliced thick, tossed with a garlic-based seasoning, and roasted with their skins on because “that’s where the nutrients are,” Universal said.

My dining partner, not normally a fan of anything sweet potato, enjoyed the fries and said he preferred them over traditional ones.

Universal puts a flavorful spin on a Thai-inspired vegan burger packed with black beans and other vegetables, spices, and breadcrumbs. The patty has a savory, slightly spicy, and satisfying flavor. Unlike some plant-based burgers that can have a mushy texture, this one holds together well and doesn’t fall apart when you take a bite.

The vegan patties are prepared fresh each morning, Universal said.

All burgers come with lettuce, pickle, onion, and tomato, served on the side so the veggies stay crisp. There’s also a selection of “craft toppings” such as sautéed mushrooms, avocado, and Thai slaw for an additional charge.

Popcorn and desserts from local businesses such as Still Poppin' Gourmet Popcorn and Crum Cakes Bakery are available, as well as Zapp’s chips. New menu items in the works include a gyro-inspired burger.

Before opening their restaurant, Spivey and Universal held a series of successful pop-ups at the nearby Cups Cafe, part of the No More Empty Pots food hub on North 30th Street. The Omaha-based nonprofit helps develop strong, food-secure communities through education, food distribution, entrepreneurial programs, and more.

The group, which promotes self-sufficiency, offers several programs that support their core values of education, stewardship, and sustainability, said Britney Gibilisco, startup and skills manager at No More Empty Pots. Caterers, cooks, and other food entrepreneurs can use commercial kitchen space, available for rent by the hour. The space has proven popular, Gibilisco said, and there are currently more than a dozen active food entrepreneurs using it.

Best Burger is among the businesses that rely on the kitchen. It’s equipped with a commercial oven that’s perfect for roasting big batches of sweet potatoes, Universal said. He appreciates all the support No More Empty Pots has given throughout the process of launching his restaurant. “They’re an invaluable resource,” he said.

Visit bestburgeromaha.com and nmepomaha.org for more information.

“THAT’S MY AMERICAN DREAM. IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN, I ENJOY SEEING PEOPLE ENJOY MY FOOD. IT FEELS GOOD THAT PEOPLE LIKE SOMETHING T H A T Y O U D O.” -UNIVERSAL

BEST BURGER. K BLAC THAI R, E BURG BEAN TH I W ED TOPP AW I SL A H T

8319 N. 30TH ST. | 531.999.1308

FOOD SERVICE AMBIANCE PRICE OVERALL

N/A (takeout only during our visit)

$ 5 STARS POSSIBLE

OCTOBER 2020

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN BY MATT WIECZOREK

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OCTOBER 2020

[ DINING FEATURE ] STORY BY SEAN ROBINSON

teaching the recipe for success

BRIAN O’MALLEY PREPS THE NEXT GENERATION OF CULINARY GREATS

OCTOBER 2020

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[B] Blended burgers of bison and wagyu beef from The Grey Plume. Coneflower Creamery’s contemporary twist on ice cream. Any number of the Old Market’s finest dishes. All cause the mouths of many to salivate and define what it means to eat well in the Big O. If not for Brian O’Malley, none of these eats and sweet treats may have come to be. As a chef instructor and associate dean for Metropolitan Community College’s Institute for the Culinary Arts, O’Malley’s greatest work is whipped up in the classroom, not the kitchen.

“It’s the act of teaching that really brought together everything I love in the restaurant world,” O’Malley said. “Feeding people. Crazy-ass hustle. The craftsmanship of cookery. Working on a crew.

When I found a way that I could build lessons for other people to get better at all these things I love, it was all over for me.”

In the 16 years he’s been with MCC’s institute, which is regularly named one of the top culinary schools in the nation, O’Malley estimates he’s taught around 500 students. As important as learning to baste and broil, he instills the values of hard work and a passion to serve others through cooking—two principles he learned years before he began training some of the best chefs to ever come out of Nebraska.

O’Malley credits his time in Boy Scouts as the start of his culinary career, remembering a childhood spent cooking over a campfire’s warm glow. It was hot dogs, not haute cuisine, and badges instead of Michelin stars that paved his path. He just didn’t know it yet.

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OCTOBER 2020

[ DINING FEATURE ]

“I never had a moment where I was like, ‘This is it. This is what I’m going to do with my life.’ I just really loved cooking for my other scouts. Maybe that was the start of it all,” he said.

To become the celebrated classroom chef he is today, O’Malley began climbing his way up the culinary ladder by working odd jobs in restaurants as a teenager—bussing tables here, tending bars there, waiting on guests just about everywhere. When he thought he had his fill of the restaurant world after high school, he pursued a degree in architecture.

Turns out the appetite was still there.

In 1996, after building his credibility in the restaurant industry for years, he was offered the position of head chef at Bojo Grill on 13th and Jackson streets. He still thought of it as an in-between gig before returning to school until his parents visited him at the restaurant. Witnessing him in action—helming a kitchen crew and leading the charge on an experimental menu of American cuisine—they gave one nod of approval and architecture went out the window.

“That was when I first felt comfortable that I could do this and make a life out of it,” he said.

O’Malley knew formal training was the next step, so he enrolled at the New England Culinary Institute, the same school that trained one of the Food Network’s most celebrated chefs and personalities, Alton Brown. After earning his degree in 2001 and staying on as an instructor, he moved back to Omaha to open Mark’s Bistro at 49th Street and Underwood Avenue two years later.

“I wasn’t making any money because Mark’s wasn’t open yet, so I started teaching at Metro as adjunct faculty,” O’Malley said. “I found more joy in teaching, and it just dovetailed the other way. I started devoting more time at Metro and became full time in fall 2004.”

After more than 15 years at the helm of the classroom instead of the kitchen, O’Malley has taught everything from Intro to Professional Cooking to World Cuisine to Restaurant Consulting. In that time, he’s witnessed teaching strategy evolve drastically even as the content remains fairly constant.

Learning how to jockey a knife or manage a pan above heat doesn’t change. O’Malley said it’s the art of giving feedback that has taken new form in recent years. Culinary education has adopted a coaching mindset as opposed to the sink-or-swim approach many experience when learning in restaurants. It’s not trial by fire anymore. It’s empowerment, encouragement, and engagement coming together to help students find better success.

“As a chef instructor, we have the responsibility to help someone get better, not just expect them to get better,” O’Malley said.

For many instructors, the most rewarding part of teaching is watching the good become great. O’Malley isn’t most. Instead, he enjoys watching students achieve greatness together. He says the craftsmanship, watching the casserole come out, is only half the reward—and one that’s much sweeter when achieved as a team.

“The most valuable thing I learned from him is collaboration,” said Chase Grove, a 2013 MCC-ICA graduate and current adjunct instructor and outreach coordinator for the program.

“The act of bringing those around you into the fold results in accomplishment of the highest order with fulfillment baked in.”

For a program that’s heavily focused on lab work, MCC-ICA and O’Malley faced a new challenge with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Almost immediately, they shifted to take-home kits after the city began shutting down in the spring. A student picks up all the supplies they need to complete a lab at home in their own kitchen as they virtually follow along with the instructor. For the fall, O’Malley sees it being a blend of in-person and virtual lessons.

As the associate dean, finding that balance falls on O’Malley’s shoulders. His day-to-day is now more administrative, regardless if he’s working in-person or via Zoom. He helps faculty build courses, students navigate accommodations, and develops the overall program. It’s all about creating an environment that cultivates the minds behind the next Coneflower Creamery or Grey Plume.

“The thing I love about culinary education is I think everybody can do this,” O’Malley said. “Believing in somebody long enough that they try a third or fourth time is a critical component of being a good teacher. I found that to be an easy part of my job—and my heart.”

Visit mccneb.edu for more information.

CULINARY EDUCATION HAS ADOPTED A COACHING MINDSET AS OPPOSED TO THE SINK-OR-SWIM APPROACH MANY EXPERIENCE WHEN LEARNING IN RESTAURANTS. IT’S NOT TRIAL BY FIRE ANYMORE.

DINING PROFILE // Story by Joel Stevens Photography by Bill Sitzmann Design by Matt Wieczorek

Nebraska football player.

Financial manager.

Bar owner. Football coach.

Radio host. Restaurateur.

Matt Vrzal has worn many hats.

As the owner of Piezon’s Pizzeria in Omaha, Vrzal has taken a decidedly circuitous route to successful pizza joint owner. He’s worked in finance. He’s coached offensive line at a handful of high schools—and still does at Skutt Catholic. He’s an occasional sports radio talk show host on 1620 the Zone.

But it’s slinging homemade pies—made from handtossed dough, with their own sauce, layered in mozzarella and fresh ingredients, all baked on a 650degree stone—where Vrzal, 46, has found his home.

“I like it when people tell me I can’t do something,” Vrzal said of those who questioned opening a pizza place in a crowded Omaha market. “That’s their opinion. The rubber is going to meet the road and we’ll see who’s right. I’ve won some of those and lost some of those.”

Those same people told him it was a bad idea to walk on at Nebraska over scholarship offers from Iowa State and Wyoming. Vrzal did his own thing. He played in 31 games at Nebraska, won two national titles in the 1990s, and forged lasting friendships. He tackled the pizza business with the same tenacity he did as a walk-on more than 25 years ago.

“Now you’re in business and you bear down and make great food with great service and seven years later, here we are,” he said.

Circuitous may not quite sum up Vrzal’s route to restaurateur.

Vrzal was 24, working as a market rep for Anheuser-Busch in Lincoln, when he bought into Lazarri’s Pizza and another bar. A few months later, he bought into an ownership group for Lincoln watering holes the Sidetrack Tavern and the Lizard Lounge.

“In six months, I went from working at AnheuserBusch to owning four bars in Lincoln that I frequented a lot,” he said. “Everyone will tell you; everything is about timing.”

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OCTOBER 2020

PIES CREATED BY A NEIGHBORHOOD PAISAN Former Husker Feeds His Friends With Gusto

Vrzal, who still has the build of a former lineman, is a self-described people person.

His colorful storytelling style bounces from his days playing for Ken Fischer at Grand Island High School to his days as a Husker walk-on to watching his beloved Chicago Cubs and back to football as metaphor for life.

“Football is the best game to prepare for your life, better than any game, anywhere,” he said. “Because your team, your organization’s success, relies on 10 other people at any given time. Everyone has to be working for a common goal all the time.”

After a decade in the bar business and the death of his father, Vrzal was ready to move on. He sold his share in the Lincoln bars and put his finance degree to work. He joined the suit-and-tie life and went to work as a financial adviser.

It wasn’t for him.

He gave it up and bet on himself. He and two business partners decided to open a pizzeria in Omaha.

And Piezon’s was born.

Vrzal admits it was an ambitious plan: a takeout-only pizza place near 156th Street and West Center Road that would pride itself on being a part of the neighborhood.

“If we service well, our product speaks for itself,” he said. “If you provide great service then you have something cooking.”

The Piezon’s name is a play on the Italian word for friend (paisan) but the pizzeria actually owes its name to an appliance. A Blodgett 1048 Deckstone oven to be precise.

“We put the ‘pies on’ the stone to crisp the crust,” he said. “So, we checked if Piezon’s was available and it was for $9.99 a month. I bought it for 20 years.”

Vrzal soon bought out his two partners.

After five years, Piezon’s outgrew its 1,000-square-foot, takeout-only location and moved a few doors down to its own building in the same retail strip. The current spot is over 3,000 square feet and has a dining room.

A patio is expected to be completed late this fall, if the weather permits.

Piezon’s serves more than 900 pizzas a week from a menu that’s as personal as it is unique in a manner Vrzal has come to call “perfect on purpose.”

“We only have one expectation at Piezon's and it’s to be perfect,” Vrzal said. “Coach Osborne was always looking for the perfect practice and the perfect game. It’s something you’re never going to achieve but if everyone in there is working with you trying to achieve it every night, then a lot more will go right than wrong.”

Piezon’s vibe is as neighborhood pizzeria as it comes. The menu is the same: pasta and salads; subs, wings and calzones. But it’s the pizza that brings customers back again and again.

The homemade pies come in a dozen varieties. The names of the pizzas are inside jokes or references to Vrzal’s friends and family.

The menu descriptions, colorful stories in their own right.

Vrzal had no pizza-making experience before opening Piezon’s. He doesn’t consider himself a chef and the fine art of making a pizza is no art at all, he says. It’s quality ingredients and attention to detail.

“We’re not building bombs, we’re making pizzas,” he said. “We’re pizzamakers, not chefs.”

Many former Huskers have tried to capitalize on their success on the field as restaurateurs, with varying degrees of success. Vrzal didn’t want to pigeon-hole his place as just another Husker place.

“I don’t mean that in a bad way,” he said.

“We’re a neighborhood spot. People chirp at me, ‘Why don’t you have your jersey up?’ or ‘Why don’t you have pictures up?’

Because you can go anywhere and see that stuff. We’re just a neighborhood pizza spot [where] you can bring your kids and have a nice dinner. I’d rather talk to people than point to my jersey on the wall. We wanted more substance than style.”

He continued, “I think we’re doing OK.” Visit piezons.com for more information.

OCTOBER 2020

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—charlestons.com/locations

DJ’S DUGOUT - $

636 N. 114th St. - 402.498.8855 1003 Capitol Ave. - 402.763.9974 10308 S. 23rd St. - 402.292.9096 2102 S. 67th St. - 402.933.3533 180th and Q streets - 402.292.9096 192nd & West Maple St. - 402.315.1985 HWY 75 & Oak Hill Road - 402.298.4166 Catch all the action at DJ Dugout Sports Bar’s seven Omaha-area locations. DJ’s Dugout features delicious wings, burgers, wraps, salads, appetizers, and an impressive drink menu. Plus, DJ’s Dugout Sports Bar has huge media walls full of HD TVs and projectors. Dig In at the Dugout!

—djsdugout.com

JAMS- $$

7814 Dodge St. - 402.399.8300 17070 Wright Plz, Ste. 100 - 402.810.9600 1101 Harney St. in the OldMarket - 402.614.9333

Jams is an Omaha restaurant legacy, an “American Grill” that offers a melting pot of different styles and varieties. The dishes are made with high-quality ingredients that pair well with award-winning wines or creative cocktails.

—jamseats.com

LE PEEP - $

69th & Pacific - 402.933.2776 177th and Center streets - 402.934.9914 156th Street & W. Dodge Road - 402.408.1728 120th and Blondo streets - 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.coms

// 84 //

OCTOBER 2020

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 chickenfried 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

OLD MATTRESS FACTORY - $ 501 N 13th St. - 402.346.9116

Keepin' it real in a renovated mattress factory built in 1883, remodeled in 2007 within walking distance to Omaha's major entertainment venues. Three private dining rooms for your own events, or stop in before or after any downtown Omaha event. Open daily at 11am-1am.

—themattomaha.com

STELLA’S - $

106 S. Galvin Road, Bellevue 402.291.6088 Since 1936, we’ve been making our worldfamous 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! MondaySaturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., closed Sunday.

—stellasbarandgrill.com

TED 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

ek Dining Gre

Greek Islands Restaurant Omaha, NE

Family Owned Since 1983 CATERING / PARTY ROOM AVAILABLE HOMEMADE, FRESH FOOD, ALWAYS.

3821 Center St. / 402.346.1528 GreekIslandsOmaha.com

• Private Parties & Events, Full & Partial Venue Buyout • Serving Burgers, Beers, Salads & Cocktails

402.502.9902 6209 MAPLE ST. • BENSON GM@BARCHENBEER.COM BARCHEN BEER.COM

BEER GARDEN & BEER HALL

Omaha

DINING GUIDE

I TA L I A N LA CASA PIZZARIA - $$

45th and Leavenworth streets 402.556.6464

Get a Little Saucy. CHANGE

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

LO SOLE MIO RISTORANTE ITALIANO - $$

3001 S. 32nd Ave. - 402.345.5656

SPEZIA SPECIALTIES WOOD FIRE STEAKS & SEAFOOD INNOVATIVE PASTA—RISOTTO—GNOCCHI FRESH SALMON DAILY

Open 7 Days a Week for Lunch & Dinner

NO CASH VALUE. EXPIRES 10/31/2020 Not Valid with Happy Hour or Any Other Promotions.

One Per Check.

Catering

Patio Dining, Take Out, & Curbside Pickup Available!

. Private Party Rooms . Walk-Ins Welcome

PASTA AMORE - $$

3125 South 72 nd Street

11027 Prairie Brook Road - 402.391.2585

(Easy access off I-80, take 72nd Street Exit)

402.391.2950 . Call today to make your reservation

FRESH...NEVER FROZEN ANGUS BURGERS!

The restaurant is located in a residential neighborhood, surrounded by charming homes. Everyone is greeted with homemade bread, a bowl of fresh tomatoes and basil, a bowl of oven-roasted garlic cloves, specially seasoned olive oil, and (at night) a jug of Chianti! The menu includes a large variety of pasta, chicken, veal, seafood, and even a delicious New York steak. Traditional dishes such as lasagna, tortellini, and eggplant parmigiana are also available. Lunch offerings include panini, salads, and one of the best pizzas in town. Patio seating, full bar, and a great wine list complete the atmosphere. No reservations, except for private rooms.

—losolemio.com

GREATER OMAHA

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 FridaySaturday 10 p.m. Reservations recommended.

—pastaamore.com

Sports Bar

DJSDUGOUT.COM

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

OCTOBER 2020

// 85 //

Helen Rotella 1930–2020

A Legacy of Love The Rotella family honored their beloved “Nana� years ago on their special bread crumbs bag, she instilled a legacy of love, high moral standards, and family values for generations.

Helen Rotella was a loving and supportive wife, mother and great grandmother who was the center of our family. She passed away of natural causes this year at 89 years old.

rotellasbakery.com

The Rotella Bakery Family

Omaha

DINING GUIDE Breakfast

SPEZIA - $$$

3125 S. 72nd St. - 402.391.2950

156th & Dodge • 408-1728 177th & Center • 934-9914 120th & Blondo • 991-8222 69th & Pacific • 933-2776

Thanks for Voting Us # BREAKFAST YEARS in a Row!

12

1

Drive-Thru Open (Center St. Only) Open Daily 6:30am-2:00pm Serving Breakfast & Lunch All Day!

LEPEEPOMAHA.COM | @LEPEEPOMAHA

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

MEXICAN FERNANDO’S - $

7555 Pacific St. - 402.339.8006.

380 N. 114th St. - 402.330.5707 Featuring Sonoran -st yle cooking made fresh daily. C atering and par t y rooms also available. M onday-Thursday 11 a . m .-1 0 p. m ., Friday-Saturday 11 a . m .-11 p. m . , Sunday 4 -9 p. m . —fernandosomaha .com

LA MESA - $$

OMAHA’S

#1 MEXICAN RESTAURANT

17 YEARS IN A ROW!

OMAHA – 158TH & MAPLE (402) 557-6130

PAPILLION – 84TH & TARA PLZ (402) 593-0983

OMAHA – 110TH & MAPLE (402) 496-1101

BELLEVUE – FT. CROOK RD & 370 (402) 733-8754

OMAHA – 156TH & Q (402) 763-2555

COUNCIL BLUFFS – LAKE MANAWA EXIT (712) 256-2762

158th St. and W. Maple Road - 402.557.6130 156th and Q streets - 402.763.2555 110th St. and W. Maple Road - 402.496.1101 Fort Crook Road and Hwy 370 - 402.733.8754 84th Street and Tara Plaza - 402.593.0983 Lake Manawa Exit - 712.256.2762 Enjoy awesome enchiladas, fabulous fajitas, seafood specialties, mouth-watering margaritas, and more at La Mesa. Come see why La Mesa has been voted Omaha’s No. 1 Mexican restaurant 16 years in a row. SundayThursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. —lamesaomaha.com

ROMEO’S MEXICAN FOOD AND PIZZA - $

90th and Blondo streets - 402.391.8870 146th St. and W. Center Road - 402.330.4160 96th and L streets - 402.331.5656 Galvin and Avery roads - 402.292.2028 29th and Farnam streets - 4402.346.1110 Romeo’s is your friendly, family Mexican food and pizza restaurant.We take real pride in serving our guests generous portions of the freshest, most flavorful dishes made with the finest ingredients available. Zesty seasonings and the freshest ingredients combine to ensure the ultimate in flavor. Our savory taco meat is prepared every morning at each location. Make sure to try our chimichangas; they’re the best in town. —romeosomaha.com

OCTOBER 2020

// 87 //

STEAKS • CHOPS • SEAFOOD ITALIAN SPECIALTIES 7 private party rooms Seating up to 400 Lots of parking

1620 S. 10th Street

402-345-8313

www.casciossteakhouse.com

Bringing Italy to Omaha Since 1919

Take a Taste of Italy Home Today!

HAPPY HOUR:

Tues–Sat 3-6pm & All Day Sunday

Tues-Thurs: 8:30am-8pm Friday: 8:30am-8:30pm Saturday: 7:30am-8pm Sunday: 7:30am-6pm

REVERSE HAPPY HOUR:

Friday & Saturday 9-11pm $1 OFF TACOS, $3 MEX BEERS, $5.50 MARGS 735 N 14th St. Omaha, NE 68102 402.933.4222 | hookandlime.com

An Omaha favorite for over 100 years (1919-2019)

402.345.3438 621 Pacific St, Omaha NE orsibakery.com

OMAHA MAGAZINE it’s about all of us.

WALKING DISTANCE TO

CHI HEALTH CENTER OMAHA & TD AMERITRADE PARK CLEAR BAG POLICY IS IN EFFECT. 402.346.9116 | 501 N. 13th Street | theMattOmaha.com /the old mattress factory omaha

@Matt_factory

We publish stories about interesting people who live next door and fascinating former Omahans. Read stories about the arts, the food, the music, and the events that make Omaha the cultural epicenter of the Midwest.

OmahaMagazine.com/Subscribe

Home of the

h Steak ouse

FAMOUS WHISKEY STEAK

@The Drover Restaurant & Lounge | Gift Cards Available 2121 S. 73 St. | (402) 391-7440 | DroverRestaurant.com Open Monday - Friday 11am - 2pm | Dinner nightly from 5pm

// 88 //

OCTOBER 2020

Omaha

DINING GUIDE

SPECIAL DINING BÄRCHEN BEER GARDEN - $

6209 Maple St. - 402.502.9902

Located in Benson, Bärchen is a modern American beer garden and beer hall influenced by German communal drinking culture. Indoor seating for approximately 125 people and outdoor seating in our beer garden for approximately 125-150 people.

The laid-back atmosphere pairs well with our 30 rotating taps, international beer list, unique sausage & sandwich menu, and locally made pretzels. We are family and dog friendly—all are welcome. Hours: TuesThurs 3 p.m.-11 p.m.; Fri & Sat 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information or to host an event, please email gm@barchenbeer.com —barchenbeer.com

CRESCENT MOON ALE 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: MondaySaturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Kitchen hours: MondayWednesday 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-midnight. Closed 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

DINING GUIDE LEGEND

$=$1-10 • $$=$10-20 • $$$=$20-30 • $$$$=$30+

OCTOBER 2020

// 89 //

Omaha

DINING GUIDE GREEK ISLANDS - $

3821 Center St. - 402.346.1528 Greek cuisine with specials every day at reasonable prices. We are well-known for our gyro sandwiches and salads. We cater and can accommodate a party for 65 guests.

Carry-out and delivery available. MondayThursday 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.- 7 p.m.

—greekislandsomaha.com

STEAKHOUSES Thank You, Thank You,

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

Thank You

an Dining Itali

For Continually Voting For Us!

Serving Lunch & Dinner Mon-Sat 3001 S. 32nd Ave / Omaha, NE 402.345.5656

n Sandwi ube ch Re

PARADISE BAKERY - $

17305 Davenport St. - 402.934.5757 120 Regency Parkway - 402.991.3000 Paradise Bakery offers freshly prepared baked goods made from scratch every morning with the finest ingredients available. Offering a variety of meals including soups, salads, and sandwiches.

Our associates are extremely proud of the reputation Paradise has earned for providing exceptional service and producing the finest-quality products.

—paradisebakery.com

THE DROVER RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - $$$

Try Omaha’s Favorite Reuben!

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. Lunch Monday­- Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., cocktail hour 3-6 p.m., dinner nightly 5 p.m.

—droverrestaurant.com

Omaha’s largest selection of craft beers.

3578 Farnam St • 402-345-1708 www.beercornerusa.com

Dine-in / TakeouT / CurbsiDe / ouTsiDe available Pasta

xican Dining Me

Rockbrook Village (108th & Center) 402.391.2585 www.pastaamore.com

THANK YOU FOR VOTING OUR PASTA #1

We can accommodate parties of 30 or more, by reservation only

Mon.-Thurs.: 4:30-9 PM // Fri.-Sat.: 4:30-10 PM // Closed Sunday

Like Us on Facebook

Hamburger

Catering Available

thanks to our customers for voting us the “BEST BURGER

IN OMAHA www.romeosOMAHA.com

// 90 //

OCTOBER 2020

“Serving World Famous Hamburgers Since 1936” 106 Galvin Rd., Bellevue, NE • 402-291-6088 • Open Monday-Saturday, 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

OCTOBER 2020

// 91 //

NEBRASK A

GRE AT PUMPKIN FES TIVA L Oct. 3-4 along Main Street, Crete. There is fun for the entire family at this event. A car show, fun run scarecrow competition, and the Great Pumpkin Competition are just a few of this year’s listed activities. 402.826.2136.

—cretepumpkinfest.com HARVES T FAIR AND M ARK E T Oct. 5 at

The Pumpkin Patch at BE Farm, Bayard.

Featuring the “Paint and Cider” event with artist Kelly Bhenke, this event also offers pumpkin picking, a duck race, and the Farm Yard with a giant hay bale slide.

308.641.5336. —bepumpkinpatch.com

ELYRIA PUMPKIN FES TIVA L Oct. 6,

Elyria. Festivalgoers can enjoy a free slice of pumpkin pie at the 28th annual event, along with checking out the pumpkins for sale. There are many activities for children, as well as vendors and a tractor display.

308.728.7875. — ordnebraska.com

OLD TIME AUTUMN Oct. 10-11 in Brownville. This weekend celebration— taking place where it all began for Nebraska—focuses on historic sights and sounds, with activities such as buggy and trolley rides. 402.825.6001.

—brownvillehistoricalsociety.org HARVES T MOON FA LL FES TIVA L Oct. 3 in Hemingford. Featuring a goat roping contest, lip sync battle, haunted maze, home-brewed beer contest, and a 5K run/ walk, this festival offers something for everyone. 308.487.3562.

—hemingfordharvestmoonfallfestival.com // 92 //

OCTOBER 2020

NEBR ASK A COUNTRY MUSIC FES TIVA L Oct. 18-19 at Lincoln County

Fairgrounds, North Platte. Music, dancing, and entertainment will be plentiful, and this year’s theme is “Nebraska Country Stars.”

308.390.1804.

—necmf.net

IOWA

OK TOBERFES T Oct. 4-6 at Amana

Festhalle Barn, Amana. Beginning with the official keg-tapping OCT. ceremony, this festival features special food, events, and music—all with a German flare—and has been celebrated in the Amana Colonies since 1965.

319.622.7622. —amanacolonies.com

4-6

BERTR AND FA LL CR AF T SHOW Oct. 17 at Bertrand Community Building, Bertrand. Arts, crafts, beverages, and pastries are offered at this event featuring crafters and vendors from across Nebraska.

308.472.5029.

—holdregechamber.com MEE T CHADRON Oct. 22 at Bean Broker Coffeehouse and Pub, Chadron.

Newcomers, long-time residents, and visitors to the Chadron area are invited to this community OCT. gathering to connect with others.308.432.4401. —chadron.com

06

BOO AT THE ZOO Oct. 26-30 at Lincoln Children’s Zoo. Nearly 40 trickor-treat booths will be on-hand to give out candy, coupons, and more at Lincoln’s largest trick-or-treat event. All proceeds directly support the zoo and care for animals. 402.475.6741. —lincolnzoo.org

ANA MOSA PUMPKINFES T AND RYAN NORLIN GIANT PUMPKIN WEIGH OFF Oct. 3-4 on Main Street,

Anamosa. Titled the “Pumpkin Capital of Iowa,” thousands come to Anamosa to experience this weekend full of giant pumpkins. This year they will not have vendors or the parade, however they will have other Pumpkinfest activities, including the Pumpkin Roll and raffle.

319.462.4879. —anamosachamber.org

SCENIC DRIVE FES TIVA L Oct. 9-11 in towns in Van Buren County. Thousands of people will travel to Southeastern Iowa for this three-day event. This festival is home to one of Iowa’s largest flea markets and many different opportunities for food and activities. 319.293.7111.

—villagesofvanburen.com FL A MING PUMPKIN FES T PART DEUX

SUPERHERO SPOOK TACUL AR Oct. 26 at Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum, Ashland. Guests can arrive in costume and trick-or-treat around various stations, take photos with superheroes, and expect to see games and prizes throughout the event, which includes superhero-themed escape rooms. 402.944.3100. —sacmuseum.org

Oct. 12 at Squirrel Cage Jail, Council Bluffs. Tricks and treats for the whole family, pumpkin lighting, and a public investigation of the jail are some of the events offered at this event. 402.781.4181.

—unleashcb.com

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

A MES ARTIS T S’ S TUDIO TOUR Oct.

IMAGINE • INSPIRE • INNOVATE

10-11 at Various Art Studios, Ames.

Children and adults are invited to a “behind the scenes” look at the life of an artist.

These self-guided tours OCT. through participating studios in the area will allow viewers to learn more about artistry.

515.259.0494. —amesart.org

9-11

CA LL AHAN PROMOTIONS ART S AND CR AF T FAIR Oct. 10-11 at Mid-America

Just off I-80 at Exit 426

www.SACMuseum.org

Center, Council Bluffs. Over 175 exhibitors will show and sell their unique products, including paintings and prints; ceramics; yard and garden art; coffee cakes; salsa; jams and jellies; and much more. Every product sold has been handmade by the exhibitor.

563.652.4529. —iowastatefairgrounds.org

SPIRIT IN THE GARDENS Oct. 23-25 and Oct. 30 to Nov. 1 at Reiman Gardens, Ames. Dressing in costume will allow kids and families to participate in trickor-treating, storytelling, a Jack-O-Lantern Walk, and view 650 lit Jack-O-Lanterns.

515.294.2710. —reimangardens.com

@OmahaMagazine

OCTOBER 2020

// 93 //

// EXPLORE CALENDAR //

K ANSAS

WOOFSTOCK 2020 Oct. 1-3 at Sedgwick County Park, Wichita. “Fall’s Fluffiest Festival” has become one of the largest events of its kind in the Midwest.

This community building event gives attendees the chance to create a difference for homeless pets. This year will be a drivethru event, but supporters can participate in the Week of Woofstock featuring fun online activities leading up to the day of the event.

316.524.9196. —support.kshumane.org

MISSOURI

WES TON APPLEFES T Oct. 3-4 at downtown Weston. Come to Missouri’s “Best Small Town” for one of the area’s best fall festivals. This weekend offers a downtown parade, apple dumplings and apple pie, arts and OCT. crafts booths, and much more.

816.640.2909. —westonmo.com

1-3

ICT BLOKTOBERFEST Oct. 2-3 at WaterWalk, Wichita. Combining Oktoberfest with a Wichita Block Party, plenty of food and breweries will be available at this local, kid-and-dog-friendly event.

316.285.9227. —ictbloktoberfest.com PIONEER HARVES T FIES TA Oct. 2-4 at Bourbon County Fairgrounds, Fort Scott. This weekend features one of the largest flea markers in the region and has educational and historic exhibits for all ages. Rock crushing and corn shucking demonstrations are just two of many events happening at the festival.

620.670.2750. —visitfortscott.com MID A MERICA FLE A M ARK E T Oct. 6 at Kansas State Fairgrounds, Hutchinson.

A $1 admission fee will allow shoppers to view and purchase a wide variety of merchandise. 620.663.5626.

—midamericafleamarkets.com COLUMBUS DAY FES TIVA L AND HOT AIR BA LLOON REGAT TA Oct. 9-11

at Various Locations in Columbus.

One of the fastest growing festivals in southeast Kansas, the main attraction is hot air balloons, but the event also includes art exhibits, a car show, and more.

620.429.1492. —columbusdayballoons.com

K ANSAS CIT Y GRILLED CHEESE & M AC FES TIVA L Oct. 17 at Ilus

W. Davis Park, Kansas City. Due to rescheduling, The Great Grilled Cheese and Beer Festival of K.C. has combined with the K.C. Mac and Cheese Festival and will take place at the Berkley Riverfront. 816.812.1829. —kccrew.com

MIS SOURI DAY FES TIVA L Oct. 15-17 at Trenton High School, Trenton. The largest festival of the year in Trenton, around 10,000 people are drawn to the area for this family-friendly event. Vendors and events—such as a marching band competition—make for an exciting weekend. 600.359.4606.

—trentonmochamber.com

“What ARE We

g n i o D

this ? ” EKEND

WE

ic, dynam ced, -sour d w o cr nd live, a vents ate e d o t up

BOO AT THE ZOO, Oct. 15-30 at St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis. Explore the St. Louis Zoo after dark at Boo at the Zoo. Bring your little ghouls and goblins to this non-scary celebration designed just for kids. While there is not tricks or treats, costumes are encouraged. 314.781.0900.

—stlzoo.org Event times and details may change.

Visit omahamagazine.com for complete listings.

Check with venue or event organizer to confirm.

NASCAR PL AYOFF R ACES Oct. 18 at Kansas Speedway, Kansas City. The NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 playoff race is an action-packed weekend with excitement for everyone.

866.460.7223. —kansasspeedway.com

omahamagazine.com // 94 //

OCTOBER 2020

#OMAHAMAGAZINE SHARE YOUR PHOTOS OF OMAHA TO BE FEATURED HERE.

@_pinakimondal

@morealexvielee

@kdkader

@alderimages

@wanderrockphotography

@lolasblest

@kkutz.smith.photography

@huskertiara

instagram.com/omahamagazine

facebook.com/omahamagazine

@j.hudsonphotos

twitter.com/omahamagazine

OCTOBER 2020

// 95 //

NOT FUNNY // COLUMN BY OTIS TWELVE // PHOTOGRAPH BY BILL SITZMANN

WO RRY

L

et me start by saying unambiguously that the “Don’t Worry. Be Happy.” crowd is dangerously misguided. In fact, I worry about people who think that worrying is a waste of time, or worse, harmful to our emotional or physical health.

Worrying is a good thing. It keeps you alert and engaged in life, ready to face the fun challenges that life presents to all of us on a daily basis. Anyone who doesn’t worry is an accident of evolution, and unlikely to succeed in any meaningful way in this Darwinian culture that we thrive in.

Our furry ancestors were able to survive on the primeval veldt by worrying all the time—constant, all-absorbing, total, and perpetual worry. They would watch the tall grasses for stirrings unrelated to the breeze, “Where is that panther I saw yesterday?”

Or, staring at a blackish fungus at the base of a tree, “If I eat this will I curl up and die like Dug did last week?” Or after a long day of hunter/gatherer hunting/ gathering, “Can I sleep here, or am I too close to the 10-foot-tall fire ant colony?”

Worry is a survival mechanism. It is, as Martha Stewart said, “a good thing.” (In fact, if Martha had worried a bit more about her stock trades she might have stayed out of prison.) Those who brood and fret about every tiny, little thing, thrive. It is simply true that in our modern society we have too few worries. The complacency of serenity and security is a threat to our very nature as a species born for anxiety.

We are too safe. The predators that used to chase us, and occasionally catch and sup upon our entrails, have been mostly eliminated. True, there are some small number of us who still run, but those few who do, do it as a means of “sport” or “fitness.”

In other words, they are worried about either losing a game or gaining weight, so it’s another good example of worry as a motivation.

Since we no longer live in, or under, trees, lightning is no longer a worry, unless we do something stupid like play golf. And though food is still poisonous, or harmful, or unhealthy, or whatever, we rarely worry about it as a matter of constant concern.

“Don’t Worry. Be Happy.”

Beware, my fellow humans. Don’t be seduced by calm mindfulness. Don’t be calm.

That way lays the deadly charm of complacency.

“Worry. Panic. Be disturbed. Don’t sleep.”

If you think about anything hard enough, in enough agonizing detail…if you dwell on everything that can go wrong with every single step we take…if you lose the ability to truly rest, relax, or to even breathe without trembling…then you are being fully human. You are living our truest evolutionary destiny.

So, how do you reach this anti-Zen mindset that is the gateway to true knowledge?

There is no guru who will lead you there. There is no guidebook. If you wish to truly be one with the absolute truth of perpetual worry, fulfilling fretfulness, unease, and mental disturbance, there is only one path you need to take.

Facebook.

Otis Twelve hosts the radio program Early Morning Classics with Otis Twelve on 90.7 KVNO, weekday mornings from 6-10 a.m. Visit kvno.org for more information.

OCTOBER

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2020

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402-334-7546 | 2802 Oak View Drive | LovelySkin.com/Cosmetics 402-334-7546 | 2802 Oak View Drive | LovelySkin.com/Cosmetics

Skin Specialists and LovelySkin Spa are under the direction of Joel Schlessinger, M.D., Board-Certified Dermatologist and Cosmetic Surgeon. Copyright © 2020, Skin Specialists, P.C. Skin Specialists and LovelySkin Spa are under the direction of Joel Schlessinger, M.D., Board-Certified Dermatologist and Cosmetic Surgeon. Copyright © 2020, Skin Specialists, P.C.