Vol. 82 - No. 21 by The Omaha Star

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OMAHA STAR

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Proudly Serving Our Community for Over 80 Years Dedicated to the Service of the People that NO Good Cause Shall Lack a Champion and that Evil Shall Not Go Unopposed

Nebraska’s Only Black Owned Newspaper Vol. 82 - No. 21 Omaha, Nebraska

Friday, October 16, 2020

75 cents

Robert “Bob” Gibson

Family of the Week:

A quiet man that was athletic and a star. Born the youngest of seven children in Omaha, Neb., on Nov. 9, 1935, and named after his father, who died shortly after his birth, Gibson suffered from rickets, asthma and a heart murmur as a child and needed permission from a doctor to compete in sports. That didn’t stop him from becoming a baseball and basketball star at Creighton University, where he was the school’s first African American athlete in either sport. How good was Gibson on the hardwood? In 1957, even after signing with the Cardinals to play baseball, he suited up for the splashy, flashy Harlem Globetrotters, a marriage that certainly doesn’t jibe with Gibson’s no-fun, no-frills approach to pitching. But yes, he was quite good, which is why, as the story goes, the Cardinals had to give him an additional $4,000 to persuade him to give up basketball entirely. How good was Gibson on the hardwood? In 1957, even after signing with the Cardinals to play baseball, he suited up for the splashy, flashy Harlem

Johnny and Tierra Forever A love story contributed by LaQuinte Campbell

With all that is happening in the world around us, it is refreshing to see two amazing people in our city come together in love. Congratulations are in order for Johnny Nesbit and Tierra O’Neal as we join them in celebrating their engagement which took place on Saturday, September 27th, 2020. Johnny, who is the President of the Urban League of Nebraska Young Professionals popped the question in a classic display of thoughtful romance at the venue that houses Tierra’s plus size boutique, I AM CURVY RED. Leading her down a path of perfectly placed candles and rose petals, Johnny got down on one knee, and in his proposal affirmed his love and commitment to their future which Tierra excitedly accepted. Tierra and Johnny first met in 2008 at a barbeque where he was admittedly captivated by her beauty. Although, the sparks were there after the first introduction, it was years later at an event hosted by the Omaha Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. of which Johnny is an active member, where their true friendship began. In 2019, the couple made it official and began growing from friends to falling madly in love with one another. Through their work with the Urban League Young Professionals, the two have served the city of Omaha engaging in everything from advocacy to community clean ups, supply drives during the pandemic, supporting education initiatives, and more. Johnny’s passion for serving his community and family is what Tierra loves most about him. In her words, “Johnny is quiet, yet powerful. He consistently affirms me in every way. He is driven and focused on building a legacy for our family”. In Johnny’s words, “I love how Tierra’s inner beauty transcends her outer beauty exponentially. She has a huge heart and I love her passion for making everyone in her life feel loved and inspired”. When the two were asked what they looked forward to most about marriage their separate responses were almost verbatim. They both look forward to building a family in the community they both love with God as their foundation and their guide. Johnny and Tierra’s story is a true testament to the power of both friendship and love. At times, we may all feel the weight of the world and all of the stress and trauma therein, but if we are so fortunate, we find our partner; our better half to support us, build with us, and we are able to thrive, grow, and celebrate all that we become along the way. Love is a beautiful thing, and we wish Johnny and Tierra a lifetime of happiness, growth, and true love forever. Johnny and Tierra will be married in the fall of 2021 in the presence of their faith, and 200 of their closest friends and family members. Congratulations to both the O’Neal and Nesbit families!

Globetrotters, a marriage that certainly doesn’t jibe with Gibson’s no-fun, no-frills approach to pitching. But yes, he was quite good, which is why, as the story goes, the Cardinals had to give him an additional $4,000 to persuade him to give up basketball entirely. Gibson played his earliest professional games in the southern United States at a time when it could not have been easy for a Black man. He endured those ugly experiences, as well as the difficulty of an initial exposure to the big leagues in 1959 and ’60 in which his stuff simply didn’t play up as well as it eventually would. On the mound, Gibson had some wildness that had to be corralled. Off it, he dealt with racial prejudices that affected his role. But by 1962, he began to assert himself as a star on a Cards

club that had begun working to ease racial tensions. Bob Gibson was a Baseball Hall of Famer. Omaha Trivia Note: Time Out Foods was started by Bob Gibson (baseball) and Bob Boozer (basketball: (April 26, 1937 – May 19, 2012)), thus the reference of time out from the sports world. Now you know where the BIG BOB Burger comes from…RIP Robert Bob Gibson, an Omaha Native.

From the iPublisher’s Pen By Terri D. Sanders Census 2020 is VERY important to our community. The Supreme Court handed down a brief, unsigned order on October 13, 2020, that is likely to shut down the 2020 census count. Only Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented publicly from the Court’s order in Ross v. National Urban League, although it is possible that as many as two other justices dissented without making that dissent public. The case involves a late effort by political appointees to shut down the census count earlier than professionals within the Census Bureau determined that that count can be completed during a pandemic. The practical impact of the Court’s decision is that marginalized groups — including people of color, low-income individuals, and those who live on tribal lands — are especially likely to go uncounted. As Sotomayor explains in her dissenting opinion, the census count was originally supposed to end on July 31, but the Census Bureau decided to extend that date until October 31 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Over a ten-year period (until the next census in 2030) each person registered is valued at $20,000/ person. If you responded to the census, you helped your community gets its fair share of the more than $675 billion per year in federal funds spent on schools, hospitals, roads, public works and other vital programs. Businesses use census data to decide where to build factories, offices and stores, and this creates jobs. Census results influence highway planning and construction, as well as grants for buses, subways, and other public transit systems. Or think of your local schools: Census results help determine how money is allocated for the Head Start program and for grants that support teachers and special education. Over the next ten years your answers will affect funding in the community. The recent move by the Supreme Court has put communities of color and marginalized communities at risk to not receive a “fair” share of federal monies for said communities. See why who sits on

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the Supreme Court as a Justice is so important. The decisions made here have life altering effects on our lives. (#IJS) COVID-19 has put an end to many events. There will not be another Presidential debate, locally many buildings are closed, David Turnbo Photography programming for organizations have grinded to nothing, and there seems to be no end in sight. We are still being asked to wear masks for our own safety and the safety of others. Washing your hands? That is a no brainer and we should all have been doing that routinely. In spite of all this people are working, lovers get engaged (congratulations to the couple who are our Family of the Week), weddings are being celebrated, and babies are born. While all of these are joyous occasions there are persons who are suffering from lack of housing, food, and employment. Not everyone is going to bed on a full stomach. We must be mindful that everyone has various circumstances that they must negotiate day to day. Compassion is essential. Vote, Vote, Vote! Need I say more? Your life depends on it. Vote by mail or go to the polls on November 3, 2020. You do have a voice, make a plan and vote. I cannot tell you who to vote for but, I can tell you to do your civic duty and VOTE… Looking for a brain challenge? Check out the word search on Our Community page. The subject used was our very own Mildred D. Brown. Mrs. Brown was a community leader who was respected and gave respect. She was tough but kind and she was fair. She helped people get jobs, she helped businesses go forward, and she worked from North to South and even in Council Bluffs. As I look at the archives of the Omaha Star the documents show what has been done since 1938 and we are here for the 2.0 version.

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LOCAL NEWS

THE OMAHA STAR

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E-MAIL ADDRESS: Terri D. Sanders - publisher@omahastarinc.com Business Hours: Monday – Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Member of the National Newspaper Publishers Association Mildred D. Brown: Founder, July 9, 1938 Dr. Marguerita L. Washington: Publisher, 1989 - 2016 Phyllis Hicks: Publisher/Managing Editor, 2016 - 2019 Terri D. Sanders: Interim Publisher Ebony Hawkins: Administrator Barbara Reeves: Retail Distributor THE OMAHA STAR believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonism when it accords every man, regardless of race, color or creed, his human and legal rights. Hating no man, fearing no man in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as one is held back.

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This Week at the Forest Fall has officially arrived and there is not a more beautiful time to visit the Forest. Plan your visit now. Autumn is the time of year when the colors really come alive at Fontenelle Forest. The leaves are turning golden brown. Animals are beginning to forage for food and shelter, gearing up for the long winter months to come. There is a peacefulness riding on the crisp breeze, unlike any other season of the year. If you have never experienced fall at the Forest, now is the time. Take a stroll on our one-mile, ADAaccessible boardwalk where you can observe wildlife and scenic views of the Missouri River. Step down off the

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boardwalk onto Hickory Trail and venture down to Child’s Hollow. Or trace the path of the Mormon pioneers on Mormon Hollow to Prairie Trail, a ridgetop path through young oak woodlands. If you’re a history buff, check out History Trail, a 1.35 mile loop where you can learn about the history of Fontenelle Forest via the many historical markers featured along the path. You can learn more about History Trail in the article below. The fall foilage will not last long, so plan your visit to the Forest today. Membership or daily admission can be purchased online or in person. Fontenelle Forest is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily!

St. Benedict Fish Fry The “Best Fish in Town”, St. Benedict the Moor, every Friday in October. October 16, 23, and 30. Includes a fried or baked catfish fillet, green beans, spaghetti and dessert. St. Benedict Social Hall, 2423 Grant St., Omaha, NE 68111, 402348-0631, 11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m., TAKE OUT ONLY.

Girls Inc. Partners with two restaurants for Lunch with the Girls Girls Inc. is pleased to announce a new partnership with two North Omaha restaurants that will help make the 2020 Virtual Lunch for the Girls feel more like a real luncheon! Big Mama’s Kitchen and Best Burger are working with Girls Inc. to provide lunches on November 16 as part of Girls Inc.’s annual Lunch for the Girls event. Lunches are $25 each and are available for pick-up before, during, or after the virtual event (orders of 10 or more can be delivered). Girls Inc. will receive $5 of each lunch sold through this special promotion. Both restaurants are locally owned by Black and brown

women (one of whom is a Girls Inc. Omaha alumna!): • Big Mama’s Kitchen - 2112 North 30th Street, Accelerator Suite 201, Omaha, NE 68111. Pick-up only or delivery available for 10+ orders to same destination. • Best Burger - 8319 N 30th St, Omaha, NE 68112. Pick-up only or delivery available for 10+ orders to same destination. Please visit https://www.eventcombo.com/e/lunch-forthe-girls-2020-with-gloria-steinem-40775 and to purchase tickets for the virtual Lunch for the Girls featuring Gloria Steinem – and order your lunch at the same time.

Nebraska is #8 for new graduates to start their careers 28% of college graduates are rethinking their career paths because of COVID-19. That got the team at Business.org thinking: what are the best states for recent graduates to start their career during a COVID economy? We found that Nebraska ranks #8 in the US for new graduates looking to start their career in 2020. See our state-by-state analysis here: https://www. business.org/hr/best-states-for-new-grads/

• Jobs that require degrees: The District of Columbia has by far the highest percentage (52%) of jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher, followed by Massachusetts at 35%. The lowest percentage (18%) came from Nevada, so it’s a bigger gamble to find a job that matches (and pays for) your educational experience. • Nevada saw a 16.1 decline in the unemployment rate from April 2020 to July 2020, which was the best comeback out of any state, whereas the nation saw an average decrease of roughly 5 in the same period.

The highlights: • Utah stays busy as a bee: The Beehive State has the highest employment growth projection of 5.5 for 2019–2021 and the third lowest unemployment rate, making it the #1 state for new grads in 2020. • Too much spent on rent: You can expect one-third of your money to go to rent in the Sunshine State, which has the worst rent-to-income percentage of 33.3%. North Dakota had the best median rent as a percentage of income at 24.6%. The nation’s average is about 29%.

How To Balance A Retirement Plan In An Unstable Time The upheaval of 2020 has upended many financial plans, causing people to reassess their retirement strategies. More uncertainty lies ahead in 2021 with regard to COVID-19 and its effect on the economy. In this unstable setting, keeping a retirement plan balanced is essential, but many people are missing an important piece – a whole life insurance policy, says John Smallwood (www. johnlsmallwood.com), president of Smallwood Wealth Management and author of It’s Your Wealth – Keep It: The Definitive Guide to Growing, Protecting, Enjoying, and Passing On Your Wealth. “The key to a successful retirement plan is having beautiful balance in it,” Smallwood says. “A whole life insurance policy is the lynchpin in a balanced plan. With 20 to 30 percent of your net worth in life insurance cash values with a death benefit, you will have substantial funds to cover taxes, healthcare costs, and other needs, and leave money for your family. “Unfortunately, what often happens is that when people retire, they lose the policy because the premiums increase. The purpose of a sound financial strategy is to reduce taxes, risk, and fees, increase your retirement income and pass more money on to your family. But losing your life insurance in retirement defeats that whole strategy. With a strategy that has no insurance, you have to spend down your assets.” Smallwood explains the benefits of a whole life insurance policy as part of a retirement strategy: • Waiver of premium. “This is one of the main benefits of a whole life policy,” Smallwood says. “If you were to become disabled at some point while the policy is in force, then the policy itself pays the premiums.” • Increasing death benefit. “This pays your beneficiaries when you pass, and since there is guaranteed cash value on a whole life policy, it has value even if you pass prematurely,” Smallwood says. “When you die, the death

benefit is passed to your heirs income tax free, although some state taxes may need to be paid.” • Creditor proofing. “In many states,” he says, “the value of the policy is creditor-proof, meaning it is not subject to the claims of creditors.” • Dividends. A whole life policy has dividends, and those dividends have unique tax features. “You can take those dividends in cash, or you can reinvest them back into the contract,” Smallwood says. “If you have the dividend paid out to you in cash, you receive that tax-free until you receive your basis in the policy, which is figured as premiums paid multiplied by the number of years you’ve paid premiums. That tax-free dividend does not appear on your tax return, which can be a huge benefit.” • Guaranteed cash value. “The beauty of the cash value,” Smallwood says, “is that it is available at any time. And it is money you can use strategically, to take advantage of opportunities, or for emergencies.” • Loans. When someone borrows from their whole life policy, they’re actually borrowing from the premiums that they’ve paid in. These policy loans can be taken tax-free. However, “you must pay back the loan,” Smallwood says, “including interest, and failure to do so may make the loan taxable.” • Volatility buffer. Portfolio withdrawals in a down market put pressure on the portfolio and increase the odds of running out of money. “Here’s where the life insurance cash value can help you at a critical time,” Smallwood says. “It offers a volatility buffer. When the market is down, you could pull some income from your policy to use while the stock market portion of your portfolio returns.” “The whole life policy is the main tool at the foundation of your financial plan,” Smallwood says. “It allows you to do multiple things in retirement, and potentially can even increase your income.”

Plum Pie

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October 16, 2020

As cooked by Sherman Willis This pie has a decorative and tasty streusel topping on it. If using apples in this pie be sure to add 1/4 teaspoon of ground mace in streusel topping. Substitutions: walnuts may be used instead of hazelnuts; few drops of lemon oil may be used instead of lemon zest; also apple or cherries can be used in place of plums. Prep:30 mins

Cook:1 hr Servings:8 Ingredients • 3 cups all-purpose flour • ¾ cup white sugar • 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder • ⅛ teaspoon salt • ⅔ cup butter • 2 large eggs eggs • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 3 tablespoons milk • ½ teaspoon lemon zest

• • • • • • • • • • • •

½ cup all-purpose flour ¼ cup packed brown sugar ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon salt ⅓ cup chopped hazelnuts 1 teaspoon lemon zest 3 tablespoons butter 5 cups plums, pitted and sliced 1 cup white sugar ¼ cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg Plum Pie continued on page 3

October 16, 2020

LOCAL NEWS

THE OMAHA STAR

Page Three

Our Community

Plum Pie from page 2

Directions Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). • Step 1 To Make Crust: In a large bowl combine 3 cups flour, 3/4 cups white sugar, baking powder, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Mix thoroughly, then cut in 2/3 cup butter or margarine with a pastry blender, until pieces are the size of small peas. Stir in eggs, vanilla extract, milk and lemon zest. Mix just until all ingredients are combined. Allow dough to rest in refrigerator. • Step 2 To Make Streusel Topping: In a medium bowl mix 1/2 cup flour, brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon salt, chopped nuts, and grated lemon zest. Work in butter or margarine with fingers until all ingredients are well combined. Set aside. • Step 3 To Make Fruit Filling: Place pitted and sliced fruit in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix remaining sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg until thoroughly combined. Pour over fruit and stir gently until all fruit is evenly coated. • Step 4 Roll out pie crust and place in a 9 inch pie pan. Trim and flute edges, then pour in fruit filling. Evenly cover fruit with streusel topping and bake in preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes. Serve warm, or at room temperature.

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COMMENTARY

Page Four THE OMAHA STAR

Affirmative Action OPED By Cammy Watkins Citizen Affirmative action is not based on experience or seniority it’s based on taking into consideration the years of historical discrimination where certain groups were locked out of education, occupations, and industries. For many generations white people have benefited from institutions’ reliance on longevity and relationships. Relationships that have been historically denied to people of color and native or indigenous individuals. What many people fail to notice is that in the first 2 decades of affirmative action, white women saw more growth in the workforce than any racial group according to an article in Huffington Post 2017 “4 Key Points that Debunk Misconceptions around Affirmative Action.” This comes although 67% of White women oppose affirmative action (Cooperative Congressional Election Study 2014). With that context in mind let us think about the progress that white women have had in business and education in America. It is almost universal to our systems that Female leadership is crucial to progress and that is demonstrated by seeing female students outnumbering male students on university campuses. The Huffington Post article goes on to state “More than 30 years after affirmative action was extended to include women, the percentage of female physicians jumped from 7.6 to 25.2. However, these improvements are more likely to benefit white women than women of color.” Can we make the same argument about people of color? For example, have the percentages of Black physicians increased by that significant of a percentage? No, according to a 1998 Brookings Institute article, in 1970 the number of Black/African American physicians was 2.2% and in 2018 according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) 5% of physicians in the US are Black/African American. This leads me to the question of why? Why is affirmative action working so well for one marginalized group and not another? I think it comes down to bias. Even with all things equal when it comes to education, people of color seem to face similar excuses such as “she doesn’t have as much experience” or “we don’t know of his work experience or leadership experience.” That word experience can be being used as a weapon to hold us back more than a tool to

determine our capabilities. The phrase “lack of experience” sometimes is used as coded language for “I don’t know YOU or your family or where you grew up, so I don’t trust you.” I ask how can I get experience if I am never allowed an opportunity? Watching a recent PBS news hour story about race relations in Massachusetts. The founder of the NAACP chapter in the state discussed a case in which a Black female aspiring teacher graduated top of her class as an educator. However, when it came to the job hunt, she was only able to substitute teach during her career. When she applied for an open teaching position she was bypassed for the role by a white male. The reasoning was he had 10 years’ experience as a teacher, and she was just a substitute. This argument was countered through an Affirmative Action lawsuit which argued the position should not have been decided based on experience but qualifications. Her advocates argued if she is qualified to substitute teach, she should be qualified to teach full time, the type of teaching she did should not discount her experience. Addressing that discrepancy, then the question came down to, did the school give the position to the most qualified person. The ruling was, no, and the Black Female was given the position. Often the argument in opposition to calls for greater diversity or investment in diverse workforce lean towards saying, companies are not able to hire the most qualified person with these requirements. However, particularly in Nebraska, with the amount of nepotism that exists within some of our companies, it is clear that the most qualified person is often times code for “the person I know best” or “they were better at networking….” There are few reasons that in non-family run companies there should be children and siblings of the boss as a portion of the staff. If our city is to progress and grow, we must honestly acknowledge the barriers we intentionally or unintentionally have created for individuals who are part of “the family” of the “in crowd.” This expands beyond race as I have seen this favoritism impact opportunity within the Black and Latino/a communities as well. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that relationship is important, but when we use that as the primary determinant for hiring, we are possibly missing out on the most qualified person for the job. It is time for Nebraskans to take a deeper look at our norms for employment and reconsider our position on Affirmative Action.

October 16, 2020

A [White] House in Pandemic Cannot Stand By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent The virus is “coming from inside the White House,” blared the latest headline from The Atlantic, one of a multitude of news organizations to cover the surreal events surrounding President Donald Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis and subsequent behavior. “Asking whether the celebration of Amy Coney Barrett’s [U.S. Supreme Court] nomination was a ‘super-spreader’ event misses the point: Trump’s irresponsibility made this crisis likely,” The Atlantic continued. In his motorcade around Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, Trump’s ill-advised ride raised alarm bells inside and out of the White House and is only one incident in many that points to an administration in disarray. Dr. Sean Conley, who heads the White House medical team, told reporters that doctors had begun treating the President with dexamethasone, a steroid that the medical experts said is usually reserved for those with the most severe cases of Covid-19. Information from the World Health Organization (WHO) notes that dexamethasone can suppress the immune system and is “potentially harmful for patients who take it too early” after their COVID diagnosis. Trump announced a positive test on October 1 and, within two days, began the steroid treatment. “Trump’s dexamethasone drug is risky if used early,” tweeted Epidemiologist and Health Economist Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding. “The WHO warns that this drug used by Trump is a powerful antiinflammatory for ‘severely ill and critical patients,’ and can also increase viral replication too and make Covid19 worse.” Richard Stengel, an under Secretary of State in President Barack Obama’s administration and an editor at Time, suggested that Trump’s condition may have approached a fatal point. “I’m not a doctor, but throwing an experimental antibody cocktail, plus dexamethasone, plus remdesivir, plus supplemental oxygen all at the same

time suggests the house was on fire and they had to put it out. Not one of the 7 million Americans infected got the same treatment,” Stengel determined. Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency physician at the Rhode Island Hospital and an associate professor at Brown University, said dexamethasone could cause psychosis and mania. She also called some of Trump’s behavior, like the joyride around Walter Reed, “certainly concerning.” Added Dr. Vin Gupta, a member of the faculty at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation: “The treatment the doctors report they administered suggest the president has COVID pneumonia of at least mild severity.” Despite his unhealthy condition, Trump briefly left the hospital on October 4 and rode in his motorcade up and down Rockville Pike in Bethesda, Maryland. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced she had tested positive for the coronavirus. While the President had previously referred to the virus that has claimed more than 210,000 American lives as a hoax, he’s sending mixed signals about just how serious he’s taking his own diagnosis. It wasn’t immediately known what Trump’s personal physicians at Walter Reed Medical Center thought of the President’s impromptu trip outside of the hospital, but other doctors expressed disbelief. “It’s all ridiculous,” noted an exasperated Dr. Ebony Hilton, an associated professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Anesthesia at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. “If Donald Trump were my patient, White House on page 5

BUILD BACK BETTER JOBS AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY AGENDA Joe Biden believes we cannot build back better without a major mobilization of effort and resources to advance racial equity across the American economy

Ensure all small business relief efforts are specifically designed to aid businesses owned by Black and Brown people. Spur more than $150 billion in additional public-private venture capital and non-profit lending programs to minority-owned small businesses. Reform Opportunity Zones to Fulfill Their Promise. Ensure his housing plan makes bold investments in homeownership and access to affordable housing for minority families. Boost retirement security and financial wealth for minority families.

Visit joebiden.com/racial-economic-equity to learn more PAID FOR BY BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT

October 16, 2020

COMMENTARY

THE OMAHA STAR

Page Five

White House continued from page 4

in unstable condition with a contagious illness, and he suddenly left the hospital to go for a car ride that endangers himself and others, I’d call security to restrain him and then perform a psychiatric evaluation to examine his decision-making capacity,” declared former Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen. “This is infuriating,” blasted Dr. Taison Bell, an emergency department physician specializing in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Virginia. “The White House is past the point of just making wrong decisions at almost every juncture. They are now literally making up ways to do irresponsible things.” Tweeted Harvard Medical School graduate, Dr. Michael McClurkin: “I cannot believe the President endangered his staff by asking them to drive him around the block to take photographs. He’s mad.” Trump’s handling of his coronavirus diagnosis has even infuriated the Secret Service, a federal agency charged with protecting the President. Three agents, who spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity, expressed outrage at the President’s hospital antics. The network noted that agents have tested positive for the virus while traveling for Trump’s political rallies, which he insisted on maintaining even against federal health guidelines.

According to CNN, as employees selfquarantine or isolate in place, others have been forced to work longer hours to fill the void. “That should never have happened,” one current Secret Service agent who works on the presidential and first family detail said after Trump’s drive-by, adding that those agents who went along for the ride would now be required to quarantine. “I mean, I wouldn’t want to be around them,” the agent said, according to CNN, expressing a view that multiple people at the Secret Service also voiced in the wake of the October 4 appearance. “The frustration with how we’re treated when it comes to decisions on this illness goes back before this, though. We’re not disposable.” Another veteran Secret Service agent also expressed deep dismay at the Walter Reed ride. However, he was sympathetic for those around the President, given the difficulty in pushing back on the commander-in-chief. “You can’t say no,” the agent said. While agents in the Secret Service have the power to say no to activities that could put a president in danger, they can’t say no in situations that could put themselves in danger. A third agent told CNN: “It was simply reckless.”

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VOTING IN THE 2020 ELECTION IS EASY, CONVENIENT AND FLEXIBLE WITH YOUR SCHEDULE. HERE’S HOW YOU CAN GET IT DONE TODAY: 1

You can vote early in-person starting October 5.

Pick the day and time that’s best for you and vote at your county election office.

Go to iwillvote.com/NE for location and other information.

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QUESTIONS? Call our voter hotline at (531) 201-0333 or visit iwillvote.com/NE Paid for by the Nebraska Democratic Party (nebraskademocrats.org), not authorized by any candidate or committee.

Page Six

LIFE & STYLE/HEALTH & WELLNESS October 16, 2020 The Doctor Is Out; Healthcare Faces A Workforce Shortage

THE OMAHA STAR

When it comes to healthcare, 2020 continues to be a bitter pill – and people in the industry are reporting it could get worse. A nation already staggering from the COVID-19 pandemic also faces a shortage of healthcare providers in all areas, from family physicians, to dentists, to nurses and beyond. “This is a growing concern that everyone should be aware of,” says Dr. Cathy Hung (www.drcathyhung.com), an oral surgeon and author of Pulling Wisdom: Filling Gaps of Cross-Cultural Communication for Healthcare Providers. In many cases, the pandemic and the shortage of healthcare professionals are connected. Some older physicians, worried that they were especially susceptible to COVID-19, decided to speed up their retirements. Beyond that, Hung says, women in healthcare professions, like women in other careers, have been more likely than men to exit the workforce to care for children after schools went remote. Meanwhile, the remaining doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals still on the job also risk becoming overworked and overburdened, Hung says. “And it affects so much more than family physicians or medical specialists,” she says. “You are starting to see a

lack of the needed numbers of dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants, something that doesn’t always get as much attention. An alarming number of people are leaving the profession.” Finding replacements is proving difficult. A recent American Dental Associationsurvey showed that more than half of dental offices reported it is “extremely or very challenging” to recruit dental hygienists. Just over 40 percent say the same about dental assistants, and about 30 percent say that’s true for dentists as well. Hung says the dearth of dental hygienists is especially significant. “If we are losing the workforce who provide much of the preventive care, there will be more financial burden down the line for more terminal dental care, loss of dentition, etc,” she says. “Insurance reimbursement also has gone down each year for the providers. So what you are beginning to see is more work, less compensation, and more patient dissatisfaction. Ultimately, patients suffer in the long run.” Although the pandemic may be exacerbating the situation, the shortage of healthcare workers has been a concern for more than a decade. Contributing factors include an aging population that requires more health services; an aging healthcare workforce with many workers retiring;

and increases in chronic diseases, according to the Keck School of Medicine of USC. So, what are ways the problem is being addressed? • Some of the gaps with physicians could be filled by physician assistants and nurse practitioners, and a movement is afoot to remove some restrictions on what they are allowed to do. But physician groups, such as the American Academy of Family Physicians, are uncomfortable with that idea because physician assistants and nurse practitioners don’t have the same extensive education and training physicians do. • Healthcare workers will need to find ways to become more efficient. “Telehealth can help some, but there need to be other ways to improve efficiency,” Hung says. “Most medical care can’t be handled remotely.” • In some parts of the country, an effort is being made to speed up training for doctors and nurses. As just one example, two years ago the Medical University of South Carolina added a three-year medical degree to try to accelerate the education for a new generation of physicians. “Some of these efforts can get us headed in the right direction,” Hung says. “But there’s no doubt we are behind where we need to be and we must find ways to turn things around. Our patients’ health depends on it.”

Learning from Home Part 4 Tiffany White-Welchen LIMHP, LPC, NCC This article continues to drill down on each of the 5 Learning from Home Tips offered in my original article. My last article focused on Establishing Day and Nighttime Routines and this article focuses on Tip Number 4 ,“Setting consistent family activities”. Learning from home and parents working from home, allows families to engaged in family activities. Preparing meals, eating meals, reading time and watching movies are examples of family activities mentioned in my September 4, 2020 article. I want to challenge you to try a new family activity like hosting a family meeting! Family meetings involve the entire family including pets and everyone living under your roof. Meetings should not be mandatory according to Psychology Today but everyone in the household should have an open invitation to participate. Furthermore, Psychology Today states family meetings “helps families communicate better, brings everyone closer together to have fun and the support and understanding that comes from these gatherings creates more love and harmony” Don’t limit your family meeting to the dining room table, meetings can take place on the family room floor while sitting on pillows, in the backyard, a park or even a safe restaurant that offers myriad social distancing space. I often have to remind my clients when setting up family meetings, to make them

fun and engaging and more importantly family meetings are NOT a time to reprimand but rather a neutral time to discuss family business. Family meetings is a time to listen to the family happenings. Your kids should feel safe to express their feelings and you as a parent should feel comfortable listening to their feelings and possibly adjusting your behavior to meet their needs. Discussion topics like, school updates, weekly chore assignments, family calendar, saving money, family conflict and family activities are all topics to consider. During the first meeting remember to set ground rules created by the entire family. You can start by having everyone hold hands to assist with bonding. Some of my clients created playlist of their kids favorite tunes and play them lightly in the background. Have topics ready for discussion and for future family meetings, let your children decide the topics. Finally you can end your family meeting with a family cheer for example, “Best Family Ever”! One of my clients reported, “I had no idea my daughters favorite color changed to orange. I learned something about her and feel closer to her”. Another parent stated, “my kids told me I holler often and I realized I spent more time hollering rather than talking.” Family meetings is a great way to enhance familial harmony and a great way for children to tell you their true feelings. Use your creativity and make your family meeting fun, engaging and kid centered.

Path Forward

to full-time employment.

Find a new path. Apply for your $1,100 to start. If your employment was impacted by COVID-19, you could be eligible for the MCC Cares Scholarship — a one-time $1,100 amount you can use to enroll in short-term training programs, or apply toward an associate degree in more than 60 eligible programs. Find out if you qualify and apply at mccneb.edu/CaresScholarship by Oct. 1. To learn if you qualify and apply visit mccneb.edu/CaresScholarship or call 531-MCC-2400.

Metropolitan Community College affirms a policy of equal education, employment opportunities and nondiscrimination in providing services to the public. To read our full policy statement, visit mccneb.edu/nondiscrimination.

October 16, 2020

PRAISE, WORSHIP, DEVOTION, OBITUARIES & INSPIRATION

Hazel Pope Hazel Pope of Fort Madison, IA transition from this earthly life to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, March 27, 2020. She was born on Monday, March 17, 1924 in Lafayette County, Mississippi to the late Mossie and Shirley Williams. She moved to Omaha, NE at a young age with her family. She worked at the ArmourCudahy/Dial packing plant in Omaha, NE and later transferred to the plant in Iowa where she retired. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was a faithful, dedicated Christian who loved worshipping God. She attended Zion Baptist Church in Omaha, NE where she ushered and she later attended Second Baptist Church in Iowa where she ushered and was a mother of the church. Her hobbies included politics, bowling, exercising and water aerobics at the YMCA, where she was active until the age of 91 and she was a member of the NAACP. She leaves to honor her legacy and cherish her memory her daughter, Annie Williams of New York, Stepdaughter Janet Cooper of California; granddaughter, Stephanie Moss; great- grandson Nicholas Oates, both of New York; brother Boyce (Lynette) Williams Sr. of Eutaw, Alabama; sister, Ruby Lathan of Omaha, Nebraska and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband Carl Pope; parents Mossie and Shirley Williams; brothers, Warner Williams, Floyd Williams, Curtis Williams, Royce Williams; sisters, Ethel Maye Pettigrew and Durothia Grant.

Ground Turkey Chili with Butternut Squash 2 Tablespoon Olive Oil 4 Teaspoons Ground Cumin 4 Pounds Ground Turkey One 14oz Fire Roasted Tomatoes Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper One 28oz Crushed Tomatoes 6 Cloves Garlic, Finely Chopped 1 Quart Water 2 Large Onions, Finely Chopped 4 Large Poblano Chiles-Roasted, Peeled and Cut ½” pieces 2 Tablespoons Chipotle Chile Powder ½ Cup Tomato Paste 2 Tablespoons Ancho Chile Powder Two 15oz Canned Black Beans, Rinsed/Drained ½ Teaspoon Ground Cloves One Butternut Squash, Peeled, Seeded and Diced 1” pieces In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat the oil. Season the turkey with salt and pepper; cook over moderate heat until crumbled and browned, 15 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Add the garlic and onions to the pot and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 10 minutes. Add the ancho chile powder and chipotle chile powder, cumin and ground cloves. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and water; bring to a simmer. Return the turkey to the casserole; bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over low heat until tender, about 2 hours. Add butternut squash. Simmer over low heat until the squash is tender, 15 minutes. Add the rinsed black beans and roasted poblano chiles. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle 1 cup of chili into a bowl. Stir in the tomato paste until dissolved, then stir the chili/tomato paste mixture back into the casserole. Simmer for 5 minutes, then serve. Eight Servings; One Serving 400 calories, 9 gm total fat, 2 gm saturated fat, 42 gm carb. Garnish with low-fat sour cream and cilantro; serve with cornbread or crackers. The Sweet Potato can be substituted for Butternut Squash adding more fiber and nutrition, but more natural sugar.

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THOMAS FUNERAL HOME & Cremation Services TRADITION • RESPECT • DIGNITY

A Tradition of Caring Since 1939 3920 North 24th St. Omaha, NE 68110 402-453-7111 www.omahathomasfh.com

Page Seven

Follow the Leader Luke 9:57-62

Deaths & Funerals Sheila L. Smith Ms. Sheila L. Smith, age 65, passed away, Sunday, October 4, at a local hospital. Survived by daughter: Cecilia (Jermaine) Austin; brothers: Melvin & David Lovelace; nieces: Nadjai D. Moore & Mary Lovelace-Robinson; a host of other relatives. Memorial Service held 2 pm Thursday, October 8, Mortuary. Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Home

THE OMAHA STAR

By Velma Jean Sanders Do you remember the children’s game, Follow the Leader? It is the game where you line-up behind a designated person; follow him or her and copy their actions. Where the leader went, you went; what the leader did, you did. That simple game is, in a nutshell, the definition of discipleship. Jesus first uttered this call to follow Him with those early disciples: Peter, Andrew, James and John. Then one day, while Levi (Matthew) was sitting at the tax office, Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Hearing the call, these men left everything and never looked back. They are examples of true discipleship. In Luke 9:57-62, we have three candidates for discipleship. Let us look at each one of them. CANDIDATE #1 - One day he said, “Lord, I will follow you wherever you go.” These are commendable words. There is nothing to suggest that this man had any ulterior motives. In response, Jesus did not tell him “No,” because the call to follow Him is to all mankind. But, neither did He say “Yes.” Instead, Jesus’ reply was, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Jesus was on

a mission that had no earthly comforts and He let this candidate know that he will have to forsake his manner of life as he had known it if he chose to follow Him. CANDIDATE #2 - Unlike the first man, he received a direct call from Jesus. He replied, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” This man, personally called by Jesus, had misplaced priorities. It appears that he truly wanted to follow, but there was something more important to him. To the natural mind this appears to be a legitimate reason for delay. Jesus’ reply: “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” It is the living Christ that was calling the man; giving him work to do by telling him to go and preach. In other words, there were living people that needed him more. And, above that, our relationship with God should be above all others. CANDIDATE #3 – He said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” He too had a case of misplaced priorities and misplaced affections. Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” In other words, do not get distracted and do not turn back from following Jesus. We are not told what the final decision was for either of these men. Did they follow or not follow? We do not know. But what really matters is has each of us heard and answered the call to Follow the Leader. His Name is Jesus. Vsanders875@centurylink.net

Learning how to replace fear with faith By Billy Holland We’ve all had our share of battles this year with the virus and the devastation it has caused, and now as the election is just a few weeks away, many are experiencing stress and anxiety about the future. Each day I hear from people on both sides of the political spectrum about how afraid they are of what is going to happen if the other side wins. We agree, this election is one of the most important in the history of our nation, however, we need to take a deep breath and know that whoever wins, it is not the end of the world. No matter what is going on around us, we are still who we are, and we still have a very critical mission to accomplish for God. Whatever our world view, let us not allow politics to make us calloused and remove us from the hope and comfort of God’s peace. The Christian is called to avoid wallowing in the mud of strife and after we do all that He tells us to do, we lay everything down at His feet. We understand that

many are blind to the truth and there is so much deception that it’s nearly impossible to know who is telling the truth. The Bible reveals the world will continue to fall away from divine truth, but rebellion will never defeat us and should not discourage us from pressing forward in the confidence that God is in control. Since the garden of Eden, mankind has been facing spiritual warfare and at the heart of this negative resistance is the presence of fear. It’s important to know that man was originally created without this emotion and it was only after Adam and Eve sinned that the spiritual, physical, and mental curses came upon the human race. It’s true that fear involves a universal biochemical response as well as a highly sensitive emotional response and alerts us to the presence of danger or the threat of harm. This is a beneficial alarm system if we are being chased by a hungry bear, but on the other hand, fear can also be used as a destructive weapon against us by the enemy of our soul who is

trying to prevent us from enjoying the peace that God desires for us to live in. You see, it’s true there is much to be concerned about, but God does not intend for His people to live in a state of gloom and doom. Jesus wanted us to know that we have an enemy, but through Him we can also have the victory! “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, but I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” John 10:10. We can forget everything and run, or face everything and rise! Since we live in a physical body filled with an array of natural responses, it’s easy to be led by our own feelings instead of looking to the spiritual realm and depending on the Lord. There is an old saying which talks about how we cannot stop the birds of worry from flying over our head, but we do not have to let them build a nest. Discover more about the Christian life at - billyhollandministries

Junk Is a Matter of Personal Definition Dr. James L. Snyder I thought I had everything organized and in order. It just shows how useless my thinking is these days. There are many piles in my office and on my desk, and I know what is in each pile. Everything is organized to my specifications. My rule is: if I can’t find something, I don’t need it. Believe me; there’s a lot of things I don’t need. The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage came into my office area and said rather strictly, “What is all this junk?” The only junk I could see in my office area was the waste can, which was full at the time. So I picked up the waste can, took it out, emptied it, and brought the empty waste can back. “There,” I said with a degree of satisfaction, “I got rid of all the junk.” My method of organizing is not the same as hers. For example, on the other side of the house, she has what she calls her “Craft Room.” I walked into it once, and it was so organized I had to get out as quickly as possible. It gave me a headache. It looked like a well-organized store of craft products. Everything had its place, and every place had its thing. My idea of organization is that I know where everything is and if I can’t find it, well, you know the rest of that. “Look at all of the junk in your office. How can you work with all of this junk around you?” Still, I do not understand what her definition of junk in my room is. But the fact is, I work better when I’m

surrounded by what she calls “junk.” Then she said something that froze my liver. “I have some time so let me help you organize your office.” Then she briskly walked towards one of my “piles.” I almost panicked. “No, no,” I said as gently as I could even though I was in panic mode. “Everything is okay; I’ll take care of it, you don’t have to worry.” Then something happened that saved me from this predicament. My wife’s cell phone rang, and it was our daughter. She wanted to know something about a craft project she was working on and wanted to know if her mother could help her. I saw her eyes light up as she left my office area and went back into her craft room to help our daughter. I think that’s why God gives us daughters! One person’s junk is another person’s workspace. Just because you don’t understand how my office is organized doesn’t mean it’s not organized, and it doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing in my office. My workspace, or junk as my wife says, is my environment to think and to work. While my wife was back in her craft room, talking to our daughter, I happen to think of a verse of Scripture. “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Proverbs 16:3). When in my space, no matter how somebody else may do it, I am in an atmosphere to do the thinking I need to do. Most of the time, my thoughts are rooted in God and how he has marvelously blessed my life.

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Monday - Thursday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm 402-346-4041

Page Eight

PRAISE & WORSHIP DIRECTORY

THE OMAHA STAR

ST. MARK BAPTIST CHURCH

ALLEN CHAPEL A.M.E. Rev. Willie Morris, Pastor 2842 Monroe Street Omaha, NE 68107 Off: (402) 5734-3399 Email: admin@allenchapelomaha.org

Rev. Willie Morris

Sunday School...........................9:00 a.m. Sunday Praise & Worship.....10:00 a.m. Thursday Bible Study..............8:00 p.m. via teleconference, dial-in number 563-999-2090 and access code 576989

Pastor Jarrod S. Parker

MORNING STAR BAPTIST CHURCH 2019 Burdette Street Omaha, NE 68110 Ph: 402-342-0018

3616 Spaulding Street, Omaha, NE 68111 Phone: 402-451-0307 Email: smbcsecretary@ stmarkbaptist.org Pastor Jarrod S. Parker

Sunday School – Sunday 9:00 a.m.

Worship Service .............10:00 a.m. Sunday School .................8:45 a.m. Excluding First Sunday Tuesday Evening Service.........7:00 p.m.

“Where Life is for Everyone”

October 16, 2020

Live Streaming Sunday Service-10:00am on Morning Star Baptist Church-Omaha Facebook Page

SUNDAYS 10:00 AM

Worship Service – Sunday 10:15 a.m. Children’s Church (except 2nd Sunday) Holy Communion every 1st Sunday Prayer and Bible Doctrine Study Midday - 12:00 noon; Evening – 7:00 p.m. Televised Broadcast – Sundays at 6:00 p.m., KPAO Cox Channel 22 & CenturyLink Channel 89 Our Mission: “To exalt the Savior, edify saints, evangelize sinners and elevate society.”

awcchurch.org 402-341-1866 5417 N. 103rd St. Omaha, NE

MOUNT CALVARY COMMUNITY CHURCH

Drs. Mar n & Lynnell Williams Founders & Lead Pastors

Rev. Dr. Lorenzo S.L. Fincher Senior Pastor 5318 South 30th Street Omaha, NE 68107 Phone: (402) 731-1840

Mass Schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - 8:00 am in Rectory (2218 Binney) Thursday - School Mass 8:10 am in Church Sunday - 8:15 am and 10:30 am

MT. MORIAH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH Dr. Ralph B. Lassiter, Pastor 2602 N. 24th St. Off: (402) 451-8800 Fax: (402) 451-8522 mtmoriahomaha.net pastorlassiter@gmail.com Rev. Ralph Lassiter, Sr.

Sunday School .............................................. 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship ..........................................10:45 a.m. Overcomers in Christ......................Sunday 7:00 p.m.

CLAIR MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Fr. Dave Korth

Saturday - 5:00 pm

Sunday School .............................................. 9:30 a.m. Worship Services .............................................. 10:45 a.m. Wednesday Prayer Services ..........................................6:30 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study.....................7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Biblically Based, Family Oriented, Dynamic Fellowship

Bishop Kevin Chambers

Services: Sunday School .................................................... 9:30 a.m. Sunday Morning Worship Experience ......... 11:00 a.m. Word On Wednesday (WOW) ........................ 7:00 p.m.

“Large enough to serve you, Small enough to know you”

Rev. Dr. Lorenzo S.L. Fincher Senior Pastor

Fr. Dave Korth 2207 Wirt Street Omaha, NE 68110 Phone: 402-451-5755

5112 Ames Avenue Omaha, NE 68104 (402) 457-4216 Church Phone (402) 453-4084 Pastor’s Office

BETHEL MISSIONARAY BAPTIST CHURCH

SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH

“Jesus is the Light of the World” Bishop Kevin Chambers, Senior Pastor (Elect) www.m3comaha.org

Wednesday Bible-Prayer Service 11:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m

SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH Serving God and One Another in the Spirit of Excellence Rev. Dr. Selwyn Q. Bachus Senior Pastor 3131 Lake Street Omaha, NE 68111 402-455-1000 www.salembc.org

Rev. Dr. Selwyn Q. Bachus

Weekly Services Sunday Morning Worship Service .....................8:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. Children’s Church (2nd & 4th Sunday) ................8:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. Life Development (Sunday School) .........................................10:15 a.m. Wednesday Word and Worship (WWW) ................................ 6:30 p.m.

“Come Get Your Hilltop Experience” Rev. Portia A. Cavitt, Pastor 5544 Ames Avenue, Omaha, NE 68104 Telephone: 402-451-8322 • Website: www.cmumc.net Email: clairumc@cumc.omhcoxmail.com Rev. Portia A. Cavitt, Pastor

Sunday School………………………8:45 a.m. Sunday Worship Experience………...10:00 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study….…….…….6:00 p.m.

TABERNACLE OF FAITH CHURCH

MT. NEBO MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH “The Church Where Fellowship is Real”

Pastor Barbara Mitchell 2404 Fort Street, Omaha, NE 68111 402-455-1800 Church 402-455-3390 Fax

Pastor Terry L. Arvie 5501 N. 50th Street Ph: 402-451-4245 Fx: 402-451-2130 office@mtneboomaha.org www.mtneboomaha.org Pastor Terry L. Arvie

Sunday Morning Worship ...................................9:00 a.m. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting .....................7:00 p.m. Wednesday Night Church School ......................7:30 p.m. Youth/Children Ministry Focus (Wed.) ............7:30 p.m.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Rev. Kent H. Little, Lead Pastor Services on Sundays at 8:30 am & 10:50 am 7020 Cass Street, Omaha, NE 68132 402.556.6262 www.fumcomaha.org First United Methodist Church is a welcoming and inclusive community, inspired to grow with and in God.

PLEASANT GREEN BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. Kent H. Little

Pastor Barbara Mitchell

8:30 am Early Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 - 10:15 am Sunday Morning Breakfast 10:15 - 11:15 am Sunday School 11:30 am Sunday Morning Worship 6:30 pm Wednesday Bible Study 8:00 pm Friday Night Service Noon day prayer Thursday - Saturday

ZION BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. Kenneth A. Allen, Pastor

“Where CHRIST is Preeminent and the Word Prevails!”

2215 Grant Street Omaha, NE 68110 Ph: 402-346-1502 Fax: 402-344-2720

Pastor Brian Page 5555 Larimore Avenue Church: 402-346-8427 www.pleasantgreenomaha.org Pastor Brian Page

Wednesday: Prayer Power Hour ......................................12:00 p.m Thursday: Youth For Christ ............................................6:00 p.m Prayer & Bible Study ....................................6:30 p.m Sunday: Sunday School.................................................9:00 a.m. Morning Worship..........................................10:15 a.m. Charles Galloway - President, Rev John Deang - Pastor, Dr John Beasley - Elder

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH

Televised Broadcast Sunday @ 10pm on KPAO Cox Communication channel 22 & Century Link channel 89

Missouri Synod 2721 N. 30th Street 402-453-1583 Sunday School................................10:00 a.m. Church Service...............................11:00 a.m. YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME

SUNDAY Sunday Morning Worship……………10:00 A.M. Sunday School……………………….. 9:00 A.M. WEDNESDAY 11:00 A.M. ~ Hour of Power Bible Study Wednesday is Family Night! 6:00 P.M. ~ Prayer & Praise Service 6:30 P.M. ~ Feast & Fellowship (Light Meal) 7:15 P.M. ~ Discipleship Academy (Classes for ages 5 & up)

THE WORSHIP CENTER

ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH

North 24th Street Church of God “Presenting the Never-Changing GOD to an ever-changing World!”

2423 Grant St. Omaha, NE 68111 Ph: 402-348-0631 • Fax 402-342-4451 Sunday Mass: 9:00 a.m. Reconciliation: Sunday after Mass or by appointment

JOY OF LIFE MINISTRIES COGIC Pastors Eric and Cynthia Butler Rev. Vitalis Anyanike

6401 N. 56th Street Omaha, NE 68104 Ph: 402-399-9628 E-Mail: Jolpastor@aol.com Sunday School..........................9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship......................10:30 a.m. Sunday Evening Worship.......6:00 p.m. Wednesday Night ....................7:00 p.m. Bible Study and Youth Ministries

Pastor Kenneth A. Allen

HOLY NAME CATHOLIC CHURCH

Pastor Eric Butler and Co-Pastor Cynthia Butler

2901 Fontenelle Blvd. 68104 Ph: 402-451-6622 • Fax 402-457-6901 Mass Schedule: Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m., Sat. 8:30 a.m. & 5:00 p.m. Sun. 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. & Noon (Spanish) Reconciliation: Sat. 4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. or by appointment Pastor: Rev. Vitalis Anyanike

Dr. Stan Rone - Senior Pastor 2021 N. 24th Street • Omaha, NE 68110 (402) 341-4297 Dr. Stan Rone Senior Pastor

Sunday Kingdom Academy 9:00 a.m. Worship Celebration 10:15 a.m. Tuesday Prayer Hour 7:00 a.m. & 12:00 noon Wednesday Power Hour (Prayer/Bible Study) 6:30 p.m. Youth and Children 6:30 p.m. www.theworshipcenter24cog.org

October 16, 2020

BUSINESS BITES/CLASSIFIEDS

THE OMAHA STAR

Page Nine

Create a short-term financial plan October is National Financial Planning Month, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good time to think about your current situation. As you deal with the pandemic, unexpected natural disasters and the approaching holiday season, you may need to reevaluate your finances. Start by making a short-term plan for the next few months. (Next month weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll take a look at longterm plans.) Here are some good places to start: â&#x20AC;˘ Look at your current finances. Figure out your income and your bills each month. Putting due dates and paydays on a calendar may help you better visualize your cash flow. If you have to pay multiple bills at the same time, call your creditors to see if you can spread out your due dates.

â&#x20AC;˘ Track your expenses. If your spending plan works on paper but doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t add up at the end of the month, this can be a great way to find out where your money is going. Make a note in a journal or spreadsheet every time you spend money. Then review those purchases to see where you can cut back or save. â&#x20AC;˘ Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overwhelm yourself. Managing your finances can be difficult, especially if you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have enough income to cover your bills. Instead of thinking about your entire plan at once, consider one problem or opportunity at a time. â&#x20AC;˘ Focus on your goals. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to keep working on your goals even if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t save for

Is Your 401(k) Plan Adviser Costing You Retirement Money? With millions of American workers invested in 401(k) plans, they want to know that their retirement savings are in good hands. But recent legal action against some large companies indicates thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not always the case. LinkedIn is the subject of a classaction lawsuit for alleged mismanagement of a 401(k) plan that totals $818 million. Participants in the Costco 401(k) are suing their company for alleged mismanagement of its $15.5 billion defined contribution plan. Many companies have committees responsible for overseeing their employeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 401(k) plans. These committees often depend on plan advisers, and to do their best to help employees maximize their 401(k)s, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vital that committees vet those advisers and carefully judge their performance, says Brian Allen (www.pension-consultants. com), founder of Pension Consultants Inc. and author of Rewarding Retirement: How Fiduciary Committees Can Elevate Workers, Companies, And Communities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;An effective plan adviser puts more money in the participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pockets,â&#x20AC;? Allen says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;An adviserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most visible function is to take the lead in establishing the investment lineup and monitor those investments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But no one is tracking the adviserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance of fund selection. And it is costing participants money. In many cases, plan advisers add little or no value when selecting the investments for the plan menu. This is due to advisersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lack of transparency and thereby avoiding accountability. Transparency is necessary both to evaluate advisers and, more importantly, to improve the number of American workers who are prepared for retirement.â&#x20AC;? Allen says companiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 401(k) committees should consider the following points when selecting a plan adviser: â&#x20AC;˘ Beware of conflicts of interest. These are common in the plan adviser industry, Allen says, harming participantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 401(k) plans. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Be sure to select a plan adviser without any conflict of interest that could sway their recommendations â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for example, a compensation arrangement with an outside fund company or investment manager,â&#x20AC;? Allen says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This includes accepting upfront commissions or so-called â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;trailing commissions.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; The only

compensation that plan advisers should receive is from the fees paid for services to the plan. A good plan adviser, free of conflict and experienced in the industry, can be a valuable resource. And they will share insights that you need when looking for the right qualities in a record-keeper, plan custodian, or other service provider.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ Select only a plan adviser who accepts fiduciary responsibility in writing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Plan advisers can fall under one of two classes of fiduciary, based on the level of control over the investments,â&#x20AC;? Allen says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One is a 3(21) adviser, who has a co-fiduciary role. The adviser provides the plan and gives advice on the investments offered and the overall lineup. But the employerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investment committee retains discretion and makes the final decisions. A 3(38) adviser has full discretion to make and implement fund and investment lineup decisions. The committee offloads the fiduciary risk of asset class and fund selection to the adviser in this situation.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ Have advisers report their own performance with fund selection. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Often, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no transparency,â&#x20AC;? Allen says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;because the advisers are not reporting their own performance regarding the funds they selected. What advisers typically donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t account for is the performance of the funds they selected after the time those funds, at their direction, were added to the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 401(k) plan. What their reports show is the fundsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; past track record before they were added to the plan. It doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t show the actual returns the participants are getting on those funds since they were added.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Plan advisers tend to find such transparency threatening,â&#x20AC;? Allen says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nonetheless, this information is not difficult to compile, and it is necessary given whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at stake for all 401(k) participants.â&#x20AC;?

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YOUTH/EDUCATION NEWS October 16, 2020 Jesuit Academy Virtual Learning Champions at Mandela

Page Ten THE OMAHA STAR

Our young men at Jesuit Academy are also sharing a great appreciation of being educated in a 21st century classroom. Please take a moment to read about what one of our amazing young men in the 6th grade would like to say about being a student at Jesuit during the 2020-2021 school year! -Dr. LeDonna Griffin

Photo of a renovated Theology classroom at Jesuit Academy Hi I am Langston Griffin, grandson of Sherley Harrison and I am a Sixth Grader at Jesuit Academy. I am writing about the new and improved Jesuit Academy. The first thing I would like to talk about is why I am excited that my parents enrolled me. I am excited to come to Jesuit because Jesuit is a safe place for learning. There are no bullies and you can make friends easily despite what your personality is. They have the best curriculum out of every school that my parents tried to enroll me in. It’s never too late to enroll at Jesuit Academy. We follow the Boys Town Model. When your teacher corrects you, we accept feedback, say ok and go on with our day. Teachers might take away the punishment if you do good for the rest of class. Next, I will talk about the renovations of the building. First, I will talk about the classrooms. In the back of every classroom one of the five pillars is posted on the walls: Intellectually Competent, Open to Growth, Religious, Loving and Committed to Justice. There are now quotes on most of the windows for example, “Go forth and set the world on fire.” What that means is you need to be a leader not a follower. They building has been repainted pretty much everywhere. For the lunch room the teachers have set chairs six feet apart and the number one priority right now is wearing a mask to keep us all safe. Finally, I will talk about the benefits of coming to Jesuit Academy. Every Christmas we get 100 dollar gift cards but you have to give 50 dollars to others. We get positive times where we go anywhere as a reward for doing good. One time we went to an arcade and another time we also went to the Iowa West Field House. I love going to Jesuit and I think you should consider learning more about Jesuit Academy and enrolling your child too! Langston Griffin Jesuit Academy 6th Grader

When asked, “if you could have any superpower, what would it be?” most people give standard answers: reading minds, invisibility, flying, etc. At Mandela, the teachers and paras already have one: motivation. The Mandela team are experts when it comes to motivating scholars to be their absolute best, and that did not change during virtual learning. One fourth-grade teacher, Callie Burks and her para, Jaylan Ashley, used assignment boards to keep their scholars organized. Each scholar had their own cardboard trifold, which was colorfully decorated with schedules, pockets for assignments, login codes and anything else they would need to be successful. Having these boards gave the scholars a sense of control and ownership over their learning—something undeniably important in such a chaotic world. In a first-grade classroom, paraprofessional Bailey Shirley incorporated a kindness wall into their social studies lessons. She explains, “We are trying to fill the wall with hearts. The hearts represent any kind

thing they have done at home or in the community. The scholars love doing this, and it also encourages them all to try something that is kind.” The wall was a positive way to keep scholars excited about their lessons and improve the community. In this same classroom, Tracy Jones, teacher, Bajah Pittman, student teacher, and Bailey Shirley, para came up with a point-reward system in which scholars earned stars for good behavior (following directions, not leaving the screen without permission, etc.). Scholars had the opportunity to earn these stars throughout the day for each subject. They earned a home visit when they reached a certain number of stars. Masked up, outside, and socially distanced, scholars got to see their teachers in person and choose a prize. Virtual learning has been a challenge for educators around the world, and The Mandela team has done a fantastic job of making the best of the situation and keeping scholars motivated and engaged to learn.