30 minute read
NEWS An Uncomplicated
Politician in a Complicated Time
Can JuaniTa Johnson Find The answers To Change omaha?
PHOTOS AND STORY BY ChRIs BowlINg
The view outside Juanita Johnson’s office is not spectacular. Across from City Hall she can see a six-story parking garage while city buses flow westward down Farnam Street. Inside, the room’s sparse decorations include a portrait of a young Black person looking upward. Two photo albums sit empty on a shelf. She hopes to fill them with evidence of her accomplishments, a kind of proof of purchase to show community members in years to come.
That’s the kind of legislator Johnson wants to be: utilitarian, analytical and, above all, beholden to the people she represents — an uncomplicated philosophy that connects back to the reason Johnson ran in the first place.
“We needed a change,” said Johnson, 59, a Democrat, who beat 12-year incumbent Ben Gray, also a Democrat, in May to represent District 2 on Omaha’s City Council. “We needed someone that would represent the community [by] being the change agent for that community. And I identified myself as being that.”
But Johnson is stepping into this office at a time that’s anything but uncomplicated. Preceded by protests and a pandemic, the 2021 city elections carried more drama, controversy and urgency to address inequity, especially in her district of northeast Omaha, than in recent years. And while every race from mayor to city council was challenged, Johnson, a political outsider and longtime community advocate, was the only candidate to unseat an incumbent.
The question now is how will Johnson fit into the dynamics of the city council, which includes two other new members in seats that were either vacated or filled by an appointee. Topics like reallocating funds from the police and slowing the destruction of properties to make way for new development gained little traction before. Now some hope Johnson’s election, as well as close calls in other races, will send a message that the community needs the city to be more proactive.
“I think there has to be a real reckoning with how the city is run,” said activist Ja Keen Fox. “Currently, city council rubber stamps [everything] without question, or if there are questions, they’re not presented in front of the public. And so we need to better understand who our city council people are, and they should be willing to perform in front of the people.”
Others wonder whether the results of the 2021 election were enough to send that message. Mayor Jean Stothert won a third term by large margins. Many candidates, like Jasmine Harris who ran for mayor and espoused social justice causes, never made it past the primary.
“It almost feels like, will people see how serious it is?” Harris asked. “Because it’s a lot of the same people who do the work [year after year], right? And people are getting tired.”
Johnson herself may not use the language some want to hear. As of right now, she isn’t in favor of taking money from the police if it means cutting back training. When she talks about bringing jobs to the community, she said the city needs to reexamine how it hires labor for contracts. It’s a balancing act, she said, and often there won’t be clear, onesize-fits-all answers.
Accessibility and commitment to the community she’s lived in nearly all her life are at the center of Johnson’s political philosophy. And if she can let those principles guide her, Johnson said she’ll have a good shot to set local politics in a new direction.
“That kind of input is good,” she said. “It’s challenging; it’s thought-provoking. It says [citizens] care. Only when we identify issues and concerns are we able to make a difference. A huge difference. A change. Are those conversations uncomfortable? Yeah, they’re uncomfortable. But we have to get past being uncomfortable and deal with ‘Where do we go from here?’”
“My Neighborhood Is a Reflection of Me”
Though Johnson was born in Omaha, her family moved to
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ErniE ChambErs, 83, hEld his sEat in thE nEbraska lEgislaturE for a rECord 46 yEars.
BY Leo AdAm BigA | PHOTOs BY Lend Frison
Though term-limits have exiled Ernie Chambers from the Nebraska Legislature a second time, he has not stopped playing the prickly social justice conscience for this conservative white state. There’s interest in what the 83-year-old is up to without the bully pulpit he held a record 46 years, mostly as that body’s lone Black state senator. He’s not saying much about his plans, but he’s full of things to say about systemic racism.
Minus the platforms of the legislature and public access television, Chambers said in an interview with The Reader, “I will do what is available for me to do and what I think I ought to do.” He recently showed up for new Omaha City Council member Juanita Johnson and the man who won his Unicameral seat, Terrell McKinney.
Chambers knows his legacy is tied to his champion-of-the-underdog work in the legislature. “Every day I knew when I went there it was going to be a battle,” he said. “Being on the floor of the legislature is something like being a gladiator thrown in the arena surrounded by beasts. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my. You’ve got to do what is necessary to defend yourself.
“I didn’t feel all things are fair in love and war. When it came to the application of the rules and debate, there were no holds barred. I didn’t ask for a quarter. No quarter was given. I was outnumbered more than 40 to 1. The main thing was to try to get them [elected colleagues] to just do what they swore an oath to do in the first place. To the extent I could, I was going to cajole, embarrass, antagonize, taunt, ridicule and, naturally, condemn their failure to do those things they have the power to do.”
Chambers said if lawmakers did their jobs, “nobody would have to go to bed hungry; nobody ill would be unable to attain medical treatment; no child would be treated unfairly in school or deprived of a meaningful education. But they’re not going to do it. Their religion doesn’t lead them to do it. Their political party makes them think in narrow terms. It’s us against them. And the ordinary people fall by the wayside. I had to work extra hard to try to the extent one man could to get laws passed that would help these people, to stop bad laws from passing that would hurt them.”
In assessing the ledger of his legislative tenure, Chambers can point to bills he authored that “may have done some good.”
“A much longer list and one I maybe take greater satisfaction in,” he said, “is the bad bills I stopped or by way of amendment I made not so onerous, unjust or unfair. Through all of that, win, lose or draw, if I stayed true to what I believe, then there was inner peace.”
Unassailable integrity made him impossible to buy.
“Nobody had anything I wanted, and they couldn’t give me anything. I don’t care what it was, to get me to do something other than what I thought I should do.”
Long before Critical Race Theory came along, Chambers kept things real. He still does when it comes to white supremacy.
“I’m always aware of the fact I’m a Black man in America,” he said. “No matter what I do, no matter what I achieve, white people are not going to accord me full humanity. I don’t need that from them to have respect for myself, but because they have that attitude toward me and all Black people, they create situations where I have to respond and react in a way I’d rather not.
online Food stories
The pandemic pushed restaurant owners to their financial, emotional and mental limits. But from that same chaos rose a slate of innovative, young, diverse Omahans who either opened their doors after March 2020 or found new meaning behind why they make their meals in the COVID19-induced solitude. Their food doesn’t just reflect culinary invention but pays homage to their families’ stories and finds solutions to static issues such as access to good, nutritious meals. In this issue, check out the story of rené Guzmán and his adventure into making Latin, vegan cuisine with Little Ve’s. Check online at thereader.com throughout July to read stories about Grainolia, Nice rollz and Ital Vital Living.
Obed N SaNchezLibOriO, OwNer Of GraiNOLia.
PHOTOs by CHRis bOwliNG
The Pressure Cooker
EnTréE-PrEnEurs wiTh ThE griT And AudACiTy To oPEn in A PAndEmiC
BY Sara LoCke
when the pandemic threatened their dream, it brought out the Fight in this team. the power couple oF piero cotrina and wendy delgado are serving sweet treats and house-made pasta at wd cravings. PHOTO by NAT OGURA
As of January 2021, The National Restaurant Association (you know, the other NRA) was reporting that more than 17% of restaurants in the United States had either temporarily or permanently closed their doors since the onset of the pandemic. This represented a loss of approximately 2.5 million jobs and $240 billion for the dining industry. As restrictions lifted and establishments began to regain their footing, the numbers shifted to a still-devastating 79,500 permanent closures, or about 10.2% of existing restaurants.
While food trucks were hit the hardest, and established restaurants had a slight advantage over those that were greener on the scene, the pandemic didn’t discriminate about casting its pall over establishments of any age or size. Delivery services swooped in to save the day, but at a cost that was sinking restaurants faster than they could swim. Soon, drive-throughs were erected, online ordering was launched, menus were restructured, and a few restaurants even found ways of redistributing out-of-work waitstaff as delivery personnel. Locally, a movement was enacted empowering restaurant owners to launch their own ethical delivery service, and Omaha LoCo Delivery was born.
While the numbers seem to have plateaued, the problems haven’t subsided for those in the industry. Staffing has become an issue, as many people are hesitant to return to low-paying, high-stress jobs where their titles shift quickly between “essential worker” to “I expect this meal to be comped.” Meanwhile, food supply chain issues are doing their part to create ingredient shortages and add to skyrocketing prices.
WD Cravings wdcravings.com
In spite of these ever-mounting odds, a few innovators stepped on the scene in the midst of the pandemic chaos, nimble and ready to battle. Some relied on the traffic of social halls to attract a loyal customer base, which has worked well for spots like Dirty Bird and the food trucks that frequent Trucks and Taps. Others had to find a different hook to make dining out work while stuck inside.
Among those brave enough to launch a new dream in 2020 was Omaha culinary star Piero Cotrina and his wife, Wendy Delgado, with their offering, WD Cravings: An American Patisserie, at 7110 N.
102nd Circle.
The couple boasts professional and cultural culinary expertise in French, Italian, Peruvian and Mexican cuisine. It may seem that opening their own eatery would be a no-brainer, but their March 2020 grand opening was never their Plan A.
The pair met in New York when Delgado was baking in acclaimed restaurants like Parm and the infamous and now COVID-closed patisserie Financier Patisserie. Cotrina was making his rounds in New York’s kitchens and was struck both by Delgado’s talent and her smile. After another stint in Omaha at Via Farina, Cotrina returned to New York for an internship at Stash. This time, he decided to take a chance on convincing Delgado to return to Omaha with him.
“I was always telling her about the quality of life in Omaha. I’ve lived all over — Colorado, Florida, New York, California — but there wasn’t a community anywhere else like Omaha. The cost of living, the work opportunities and just the people. We are so lucky to have the people we have in Omaha, and the way everyone is so ready to help each other. You can build relationships, and those people will really care about you.”
Cotrina’s endorsement won Delgado over, and two weeks later the pair sold her car and drove to Nebraska together to start their new lives. Soon after, Cotrina and Delgado had found work at Avoli and Dario’s,
From whimsical treats to elegant sweets, wendy delgado has an eye For art and a palate For perFection in the patisserie she shares with her husband, piero cotrina. PHOTO by NAT OGURA
DiscOvEr NOrtH O!
BY MArk MC GAUGH, 1ST SkY OMAHA
With an increasingly diverse population and an equally rich history, the communities of Omaha have much to be proud of. North Omaha is no exception with a wide array of shops, restaurants, parks, murals and gardens bringing life to this historic community.
The pride and deep-rooted heritage of North Omaha reaches a fever pitch every odd-numbered year when thousands of Native Omahans return home for Native Omaha Days. Nothing short of a supercharged community-wide family reunion, Native Omaha Days sees relatives who have left for better opportunities, or simply a new start, reconnect with loved ones and friends. As you prepare for hot days at Carter Lake and long nights on The Deuce, take a look at this list and discover North O!
North O! Art & Events
Native Omaha Days
This year’s Native Omaha Days is slated to be the biggest yet! The event takes place July 26 through August 1 and will feature outdoor jazz concerts, golf tournaments, movie nights, gospel fests and a parade down North 30th Street. The biennial event was founded by two African-American women, Bettie
McDonald and Vera Johnson, for the Black population living predominantly in North Omaha. Its purpose was to reunite family and friends that have moved away from their hometown throughout the years.
Since COVID-19 restrictions have loosened, many are expected to attend this year to join in the fun. • July 27 — Movie Night at
Film Streams • July 28 — Gospel Fest at Morning Star Baptist
Church • July 28 through July 31 —
Festival Square at the Bryant Center on 24th Street. • July 28 — UNO Black Studies 50th Anniversary at
UNO (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.) • July 29 — Jazz at the
Greens at Dodge Riverside
Golf Course (Council Bluffs,
Iowa) • July 30 — Native Omaha Days Golf Tournament at Dodge Riverside Golf
Course (Council Bluffs,
Iowa) • July 30 — A Stroll Down
Memory Lane • July 31 — 23rd Biennial
Homecoming Parade Celebration! 30th and Lake to 30th and Sprague (8:30 a.m.) • July 31 — Culture Fest at the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation (noon to 5 p.m.) • July 31 — (Evening) Blues
Night featuring Pokey Bear and Big Robb at the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation (7 p.m. to 11 p.m.) Events reported by Paul B. Allen IV
Juneteenth Celebration
June in North Omaha marks one of the nation’s longest
Juneteenth festivals, lasting an entire week. The festival, which celebrates the abolition of slavery, features a large parade, concerts and many other commemorative events.
See visitomaha.com.
Union for Contemporary Art
The Union offers fellowships and gallery space to some of the most promising artists in
North Omaha. For more information visit u-ca.org.
Culxr House
Founded by local rapper and organizer Marcey Yates, the Culxr House is one of the premier community centers in Omaha and a home for artists of many disciplines. To keep up with everything happening at the Culxr House be sure to follow them on social media!
African Cultural Festival
Presented by Afromaha, the
African Cultural Festival is an annual event that honors
Omaha’s growing population of African refugees and immigrants. Omaha is home to one of the largest populations of
South Sudanese immigrants in the country, and the festival has grown to be a celebration of multiple African countries and cultures. This year’s event takes place September 4 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets visit afromaha.com.
Street Art and Murals
North Omaha is home to many beautiful murals and street art projects that have been commissioned by the city and local nonprofits. With projects like the Justice for James mural on 24th and Browne, this beautiful art illustrates the spirit of North Omaha.
North O! Historic Locations
Great Plains Black History Museum
Looking for a trip down memory lane? Located just a few blocks south of Lake Street, the Great Plains Black History Museum is a library of North Omaha. The museum features
HOODOO Summertime Blues
OutdOOrs and in the cLubs, Live music is back with festivaLs, tOuring shOws and star-studded events weLcOming fans tO share the jOy
BY B.J. HuCHTEMANN
Live music is coming back full force around the metro, with new announcements and schedule additions happily becoming regular occurrences. Here are some highlights.
Lincoln’s historic Zoo Bar has been hosting indoor shows again and has announced the return of its popular ZOOFEST anniversary celebration. This summer’s ZOOFEST moves to August, with outdoor shows recently announced for Thursday and Friday, Aug. 12-13, on 14th Street in front of the bar. Details on performers will be coming in the weeks ahead at zoobar.com and facebook.com/ zoobarblues. You’ll also find the latest shows booked for the club on those sites.
Jazz on the Green is back in Omaha at Midtown Crossing. The longstanding free concert series kicks off July 8 with Sammy
Figueroa Latin Jazz
Ensemble. July 15 features Vincent Herring
& The Celebration of
Life Ensemble; July 22 puts the spotlight on Louisiana’s Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble; and July 29 showcases celebrated jazz saxophonist, songwriter and vocalist Curtis Stigers. The park opens for seating at 5 p.m., and pre-show music begins at 6:30 p.m. with the headliners going on at 7:30 p.m. Find all the details under the “events” menu on the Jazz on the Green tab at midtowncrossing.com.
Lincoln community radio station KZUM’s popular Stransky Park free concert series begins July 1 and continues on Thursdays, 7-9 p.m., for six weeks featuring a variety of genres. Check out the calendar at kzum.org. Music for the City
Local promoter and Playing With Fire founder Jeff Davis continues his tradition of offering the community great live blues music in a new free series, Music for the City. While Playing With Fire had to go on hiatus this year due to circumstances beyond the organizer’s control, Music for the City is offering three free events this summer. The second show Saturday, July 24, puts the focus on female artists and soul-blues with Blues Music Award-winning vocalist and entertainer Annika Chambers and friends. The friends performing include phenomenal roots violinist Anne Harris and San Francisco Bay area soul vocalist Terrie Odabi. The ensemble also in-
cludes guitarist J.P. Soars and frequent Playing With Fire performer, Canadian guitarist Paul DesLauriers. Opening the show is former Omahan Heather Newman and her band, following a solo set from Héctor Anchondo at 5:30 p.m. This will be a memorable night of world-class, award-winning artists. The event takes place at the Dam Bar on the River City Star landing. A third show is set for Saturday, Aug. 21. Gates at 1 p.m. See all the details at musicforthecity.net. Happy 50th to Alligator 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of Alligator Records, the Chicago blues label founded by Bruce Iglauer when he was a 23-year-old blues fan. After spending his savings recording his favorite blues band, Hound Dog Taylor & the HouseRockers, Iglauer built Alligator into a label that has become a benchmark for traditional blues and for its more contemporary artists. The label has also stood the test of time while several other midsized blues labels have closed their doors. Alligator Records-50 Years of Houserockin’ Music dropped June 18 and features 58 artists from Hound Dog Taylor, Koko Taylor, Professor
Longhair, Johnny Win-
ter and Albert Collins to
Luther Allison, Tommy Castro, Janiva Magness, Shemekia Copeland, Curtis Salgado, Toronzo
Cannon and more. The three-CD set also includes a 40-page color booklet. For more on Iglauer and the Alligator story, fans AnnikA ChAmbers heAdlines A dAzzling ArrAy of blues tAlent At the free musiC for the City show July 24 At the dAm bAr. Photo courtesy AnnikA can check out Bitten by the Blues: The Alligator Records Story (2018) written chAmbers music. by Iglauer and Patrick A. Roberts. Visit alligator.com to find out more about the anniversary anthology, the book and the latest Alligator releases.
Hot Notes
Steve Earle plays The Waiting Room Thursday, July 8, 8 p.m. Extremely talented duo The Mastersons, who are also members of Earle’s band, The Dukes, open. See onepercentproductions.com.
The BSO Presents shows are happening in different venues around town. Check omahablues. com and facebook.com/bluessocietyofomaha for current and late-breaking bookings. BSO highlights include a special free show on Saturday, July 10, at Rathskeller Bier Haus with Matt Cox, Matt Woods and Dustin Arbuckle.
Chicago’s top-flight guitarist-singer-songwriter and harmonica player Studebaker John & The Hawks are back at the B. Bar for a 5:30 p.m. show Friday, July 16. Soulful Memphis band Southern Avenue plays a double-bill with Kris Lager Band at the ongoing Holland Center Outdoors series Saturday, July 24, 7-10 p.m. See ticketomaha.com for tickets.
Mark your calendar now for the In the Market for Blues festival Saturday, Aug. 7, in the Old Market. The multi-venue event offers 14 hours of live music at 14 venues and is a collaboration between founder Héctor Anchondo and the Blues Society of Omaha, assisted by sponsors, volunteers and a growing number of venues. Popular blues-rock guitarist Ana Popovic was recently announced as the headlining artist. Advance tickets are $20 on eventbrite.com until Aug. 6 when the cost will go to $25. Follow facebook.com/ inthemarketforblues for details and updates.
FILM Appetite For Discussion 5 Filmmakers I Want to Eat With
Who is on Your List?
By RyAn SyRek
For this year’s food issue, I first contemplated penning an examination of popcorn’s movie snacking monopoly. I also considered weighing in on whether serving full meals in a theater during a film is neato-cool or should be punishable by death. I decided the former idea was as boring as ogling unpopped kernels and the latter may get me punished to death by those opposed to my (fully correct) stance.
So instead, let us talk not about consumption but about conversation.
Of living directors, who would you most like to break bread with? To be clear, this is not as simple as “list your favorite movie makers.” Some, if not many, filmmakers are very well-known to be total assholes, and you only have to eat with those at family reunions and state dinners. The question being asked here is who would be the most interesting, engaging and insightful director guest? The assumption is that you obviously also like their work or they wouldn’t have made your shortlist. Unless it was to poison them! Oh, you’re bad.
My “shortlist” was like 30 people long. Cutting it down was absolutely brutal. To those slighted, please remember that old familiar saying: “It’s an honor just to be considered as a theoretical dining partner for a movie critic in Omaha.”
Here are the five folks with a standing offer for a home-cooked meal at Casa Del Syrek. We do not allow substitutions, and extra bread costs $3.
a shoT of Lexi aLexander from The seT of
Punisher: War Zone. Credit: Lionsgate FiLms
The quesTion isn’T “Which direcTor is your favoriTe?” The quesTion is “Which direcTor do you mosT WanT To dish and dine WiTh?”
Guest Number One: Lexi Alexander
If you’re not familiar with Alexander’s work, that’s because there’s no such thing as a meritocracy in America, only variations in nepotism, evil and greed! She’s a German/Palestinian filmmaker and martial artist whose every effort — such as Green Street Hooligans and Punisher: War Zone — has been violently vibrant. Although her IMDB page should be bursting like a Nostromo crew member’s chest, she’s been blacklisted for being legendarily outspoken when it comes to social issues, specifically equity problems plaguing the film industry. Her Twitter account is as fiery and honest as is legally allowed. She is, objectively, pretty much the best.
I want to hear every single thing she has to say about every single thing she wants to talk about. She sure seems to be my favorite type of dinner companion: passionately opinionated. Tell me what you hate! What should I hate? Let’s hate things together, Lexi!
Guest Number Two: Taika Waititi
This can’t be a surprise to anyone with even the most minimal brain electricity. Apologies to Werner Herzog, but Waititi has firmly established himself as the coolest working director (Thor: Ragnarok, What We Do in the Shadows, Jojo Rabbit). The biggest problem with inviting him for some chow would be my immediate insecurity. But then he’d say some terribly clever joke that
FILM Bodega Bops and other families’ photos
BY Ryan SyRek
Virtually every song in virtually every musical is about what a character (a) says they are going to do, (b) says they are not going to do or (c) says they regret doing. Virtually none are about someone, you know, actually doing something. This will forever and always be my inherent problem with movie musicals: Cinema’s “show don’t tell” principle butts heads with musicals’ “I can literally only tell you things” framework.
In the Heights is a vibrant romp through a very specific set of memories that unfurls against a hyperactive playlist, assembled by someone way cooler than me. It is a powerful, profound, prideful parade of Latino joy, sorrow and struggle. And virtually nothing actually happens. Because it’s a movie musical. I wholly understand that this is not the point! Still, it remains true that the biggest narrative progression is someone moving “Song A,” as described above, to “Song B.”
The film is, as Lin-Manuel Miranda’s original Broadway version was, a love song dedicated to a certain set of GPS coordinates. It is an ode to New York City Latino life that resonates deeply with those who see the musical as a mirror or who can squint and see a family photo. The adoration that others have for it is addictive. As someone whose entire communal cultural experience is “my family sometimes watches Chicago Bears games together,” I sincerely love how much other people love In the Heights.
What passes for a plot is this: Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) says he is going to leave Washington Heights to purchase his late father’s bar in the Dominican Republic. Nina (Leslie Grace) says she’s not going back to Stanford, despite the neighborhood hailing her as their hero for “making it.” Benny (Corey Hawkins) says he’s happy Nina is back because he loves her and stuff. Vanessa (Melissa Barrera) says she’s going to move to a nicer neighborhood and become a fashion designer. Usnavi says that he and Nina should get together. Everyone says that it is very hot out and that they’d like to win the lottery and should have a party.
There’s no real antagonist, unless you count the invisible machinations of capitalism, the passive malevolence of gentrification, the murderous nature of crumbling urban infrastructure or the oppressive shadow of immigration policies. None of those gets their own villain song though.
Director John M. Chu and cinematographer Alice Brooks offer about a dozen or more legitimately pleasant variations on “people walking down a street toward a camera while extras dance behind them.” Olga Merediz’s solo number as Abuela Claudia is an emotional eyeball jackhammer that will free a torrent of tears from anyone not simply pretending to be human. At the end of the day, In the Heights should ultimately either hit you where you live — electrically capturing a culture to which you belong — or feel like the absolute best-case scenario for someone telling a story about their family reunion.
Lin-ManueL Miranda’s first hip-hoppy MusicaL didn’t win a puLitzer, but it aLso didn’t gLorify a sLave owner. it has other
virtues, too, but that fact is up there. CREDIT: WARNER BROS. Grade = B+
OtheR CRitiCal VOiCeS tO COnSideR
Andres Cabrera at Geeks of Color says “As said in the film, ‘We are powerful,’ and it’s about time that we see ourselves up on the big screen where we can freely showcase our talent, voice, and stories.” Rendy at Rendy Reviews says “No matter how this summer pans out for cinema, In the Heights is THE movie of the summer. It’s a fun, energetic, incredibly directed, and colorful music epic that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen. It’s a beautiful love letter to Latinx culture and the dreamers who inhabit NYC, the greatest city in the world.” Fico Cangiano at Cinexpress says “In The Heights is a Latinx celebration. A party where we can finally really see ourselves on the big screen. A film gathering where we can laugh, cry, dance, sing and most of all celebrate life in our own way. He who knows, knows. In The Heights is a triumph.” Dolores Quintana at her own Medium site says “While I was typing the first paragraph of this review and right now, thinking about the film, I am moved to tears. Why? I don’t expressly know why, but it’s the feeling whenever I give thought to In the Heights.”
HEARTLAND HEALING Summer Help is Here
BY MIcHael BrauNSteIN
note from the editor: Heartland Healing columnist Michael Braunstein is currently on sabbatical. this column was originally published June 15, 2020.
Summer is here. Nature beckons and EGBOK, “everything’s going to be OK.”
Let’s look at some reasons why Nature is going to save your soul this summer and steps you can take to avoid conflict with her.
Sun and vitamin D. Nature’s design is wondrous. Just when we need it most, the sun and human biology step right in to provide one of nature’s strongest medicines, vitamin D. With increased sun exposure in the summer, your body produces bountiful amounts of vitamin D. Now you may think vitamin D is in food sources like dairy products. Well, yes and no. Milk doesn’t contain vitamin D unless it is artificially added. And vitamin D supplements, while helpful, are not as good as the real thing.
Vitamin D is known to relieve depression, significantly combat cancers, boost the immune system and, of course, help build strong body parts, especially bone. It’s linked to lowering blood pressure, promoting insulin regulation, improved digestion and mental clarity. As far as life support is concerned, vitamin D is a superhero, and it is free and plentiful. All you have to do is get out in the sun.
Negative ions. Boy, was the “negative ion generator” a thing in the 1970s! You couldn’t go anywhere in Hollywood without finding one in homes, studios, restaurants or theaters. What the trendies were trying to replicate was the generation of negative ions that are naturally created in certain outdoor settings. Negative ions have long been associated with uplifting spirits and overall contentment and are the result of certain natural processes, including the agitation of water molecules. Ever notice how hardly anyone is in a bad mood at the beach? Right! And I visited Niagara Falls one time and no one was grumpy there! The same thing happens in verdant forestland. Those towering, leafy trees also generate tons of negative ions.
Happy dirt. We’ve touched before on the uplifting benefits of playing in the dirt. You know — gardening, pulling weeds, basic yard work — and we told you one of the reasons why. Mycobacterium vaccae is everywhere you want to be when you play in healthy soil. Contact with this beneficial bacteria improves mood, possibly by stimulating the release of serotonin and other hormones that elevate mood and alleviate depression.
Just in case. Summer also presents challenges that can try men’s souls. Insects are rampant. Soaring temps can dehydrate rapidly. Close encounters with allergenic plant life can trigger epidermal eruptions. Safer, natural methods of addressing these challenges are available if one but looks.
Insects and biters. Repel and quell are things you can do. Keeping the bugs off is step one. Plenty of toxic chemicals are around at the store, but you can do better. First, wear clothing that gives some protection. White or light colors help you identify ticks and insect “cling ons.” And keeping your home area devoid of breeding grounds for mosquitoes cannot be emphasized enough. A teaspoon of water is incubating territory for millions of skeeters.
Citronella: Everyone has heard of citronella candles. They work. And they won’t ravage your DNA. They keep bugs at bay.
Lavender oil: As with all essential oils, dilute properly if applying to skin! Absorbent swatches of cloth with full strength though can be placed around your yard. Replace and replenish when no longer effective. Dilute proportions can keep buggers off exposed skin.
Herbs: You can plant some of these around the yard — or in windowsill planters if you happen to be an apartment dweller. Basil, rosemary, mint, lavender, lemongrass — all will help deter the dickens out of those biting fliers and crawlers.
Don’t dry out. It’s just crazy to buy high-priced sugar water at the corner store, you know that junk in wasteful plastic bottles. Usually ends with the letters “ade” something or other.
For starters, nothing hydrates better than water. But if you want to embellish your bottle, then try it the old-fashioned way. Switchel is a word you probably don’t know. A drink called variously switchel, Haymaker’s Punch or ginger water dates as far back as the 1600s in the Western Hemisphere, and similar drinks go back even further. Starting with water, you add some vinegar, spice it with ginger and sweeten with honey, maple syrup or molasses. Some historians note that lemon was a favorite additive, also. In the heat of harvesting hay, switchel was a popular drink for farmers in the 1930s. It hydrated and nourished them. The components contain natural elements that are similar to the good things in sports drinks.
So, while you are recovering from the panic of the pandemic, recognize that summer holds some relief from the crazies. Embrace it.
Be well.
Heartland Healing IS A METAPHYSICALLY BASED POLEMIC DESCRIBING ALTERNATIVES TO CONVENTIONAL METHODS OF HEALING THE BODY, MIND AND PLANET. IT IS PROVIDED AS INFORMATION AND ENTERTAINMENT, CERTAINLY NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER AND PASS ON TO OTHERS: FOR A WEEKLY DOSE OF Heartland Healing, VISIT HEARTLANDHEALING.COM.
