September/October 2015 60 Plus in Omaha
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Transcript of September/October 2015 60 Plus in Omaha
ldquoCONVOYrdquo The big 10-4 turns 40
CHUCK ROBERTS CNNrsquos fi rst anchor revisits Omaha
SeptemberOctober 2015
DONNAMALONE 60 Years at the Pink Poodle
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S2 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
Until next issue
GwenGwen LemkeContributing Editor 60PLUS In Omaha
FAMILIAR FACESnames we know and love
T HIS ISSUE HAS SEVERAL stories about accomplished deserving award-winning men all age 60-plus who have interesting stories to tell many who you know by
first and last name if not face Chuck Roberts who reported for CNN for 28 years tells us his story of going to Atlanta from his previous jobmdashright here in Omaha Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller fame tells us the improbable story of how an advertising campaign helped launch his music career one that is soon to be featured in a PBS retrospective
But our cover story is about a woman Donna the first-name-basis friend to many is a hard-working 70-plus woman who spends her days as a legal secretary in west Omaha By night she slings prime rib at the Pink Poodle Restaurant just across the river in Crescent Iowamdashas she has for the past 60 years She shows no interest in slowing down and is a tribute to all women
We admire you Donna
60PLUS FROM THE EDITOR
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S3
FEATURE Chuck Roberts
From Corn Reports to CNN S4
HOBBIESMark Erikson
Life in Four-Part Harmonys S8
HISTORY ldquoConvoyrdquo 40 years Later
Thatrsquos a Big 10-4 Good Buddy S10
COVER FEATURE Still Taking orders
60 Years of Waiting Tables at the Pink Poodle S14
HEALTH Is Testosterone Replacement
Right for You S18
HISTORY You Know Yoursquove Lived In Omaha A Long Time
If You Remember S20
THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES What Happened to My Lincoln Logs
Thinking Outside the Box S22
CONTENTS volume 3 bull issue 4
CHUCK ROBERTSfrom corn reports
to CNN
S4 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan | photography provided by CNN
60PLUS FEATURE
C HUCK ROBERTS BLEW INTO Omaha the same day as the May 6 1975 tor-nado that spread death and destruc-
tion Covering the infamous storm was the newsmanrsquos introduction to his new job as a KMTV reporteranchor
ldquoWe were wall to wall on that story for a couple of weeks working 12 hours a dayrdquo he recalls
Viewers may remember Roberts anchoring Today Show cut-ins and noon news Later he was promoted to weeknight news co-anchor-ing with Jeff Jordan
KMTV news director Mark Gautier who hired him had a good eye for talent Gautier also hired Tom Brokaw who went on to a national stage with NBC News Roberts also ended up with a much wider audience after seven years in Omaha
It started when Ted Turner took a liking to Roberts The media mogul was launching the countryrsquos first 24-hour cable news station CNN2 which was renamed CNN Headline News one year later
Turner sent scouts across the country to find talent to anchor his news They found Roberts in Omaha ldquoThey told me lsquoTed fan-cies yoursquordquo Roberts explains ldquoand that I was a finalist They said lsquoCanrsquot offer you a contract Canrsquot pay what yoursquore making nowrsquordquo says Roberts of his soon-to-be pay cut
He packed up a U-Haul and drove 1000 miles to Atlanta and a new life
Roberts became the first anchor on the first 24-hour national news network and his was the first face seen on camera when the station went live The paint was still wet on the CNN set when the cameras rolled
ldquoWe were told our job was threefold look plausible stay sober and read the lines yoursquore given Those were our marching ordersrdquo
Roberts anchored four-hour weekday news-casts on CNN Headline News He also was CNNrsquos election anchor ldquoI would drive to the Birmingham (Alabama) library and isolate myself and prep for election night Election night 2000 was the most memorable Went on the air at 6 pm and off air at 7 amrdquo the following morning
In 2010 Roberts left CNN and an inter-national television audience of 160 million viewers After 28 years he was the longest-serving anchor among all the CNN networks He then spent three years carrying out media training sessions in eight provinces in China for his alma mater the Missouri School of Journalism
ldquoWe so-called experts were sent to teach media training to start up provincial-level news operationsrdquo says Roberts ldquoIt was a slow process Everything had to be translatedrdquo
The newsmanrsquos enthusiasm for a broadcast career began near a Nebraska farm his family owned ldquoThere was a radio station in the base-ment of a hotel in Falls City I was fascinated by that as a 9-year-oldrdquo
Roberts has high praise for the quality of broadcast news in this city ldquoOmaha is so much better than its market size and a great place to start a career I learned my craft in Omahardquo
Because of his many acheivements Roberts was inducted into the Omaha Press Club Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame in June
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S5
S6 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
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A Dial Retirement Community
S8 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by bev a carlson | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HOBBIES
MARK ERIKSON
life in four-part harmony
Barbershop harmonizing and a cappella singing in general have enjoyed resurgence in popularity in recent years thanks to movies like Pitch Perfect and Jimmy Fallonrsquos ldquoRagtime Galsrdquo skits
ldquoIt really has made a differencerdquo says Erikson ldquoItrsquos bringing barbershop to the forefront of a new generation introducing a music style that can fit them too They donrsquot have to stop singing after high school They can keep singing their whole livesrdquo
The youngest member of Pathfinder Chorus is 13 the oldest 85 with all ages in between represented Professions range from student to dairy farmer to military veteran There are even a couple of pilots on stage One flies B-52s the other flies commercial jets All have one thing in common a love for music harmony and fellowship
Erikson discovered his passion for bar-bershop singing while he was in the mili-tary almost by accident He was stationed at Norfolk Navy Base An elderly lady who sat near him in church kept urging him to join the choir So he did Later he downloaded a four-part menrsquos arrangement of ldquoThe Irish Blessingrdquo encouraged friends to sing with him and never looked back That was 11 years ago
At 63 Erikson now serves as district presi-dent He really wants to leave the chorusmdashand his communitymdashbetter than he found it He also umpires baseball And many of the
Pathfinder concerts are fundraisers In 2014 they donated over $10000 to the Salvation Army and Goodfellows charities
ldquoMark has been crucial to the success of the grouprdquo says retiring music director Pete ldquoPDrdquo Stibor ldquoMark has the passionrdquo
The passion and the practice pay offmdashand not just at competition On a sunny Saturday this summer the Pathfinders per-formed at Burke High School Despite beauti-ful weather the auditorium was full of fans and groupies eager to spend the next 90 minutes enjoying perfect harmony It was delivered with only voices as instruments exploring great pop tunes ballads and the Beatles complete with choreographymdasheven ldquojazz handsrdquo
ldquoI want to do this as long as I canrdquo says Erikson ldquoThen have the good sense to step down when the time is right We give our-selves goose bumps on the risers We look at each other and sayWe just did thatItrsquos such a personal thing Such an emotional thing to be able to share that with your friendsrdquo
D ONrsquoT BOTHER TRYING TO contact Mark Erikson on a Monday night
From now until wellmdashforevermdashhersquos booked
On Monday nights yoursquoll find Erikson and more than 100 other Nebraska men singing their hearts out at a Presbyterian church in Fremont They travel in from all over Erikson drives from Papillion an 80-mile round trip Other members make the trek from South Sioux City Beatrice and Columbus Eriksonrsquos work life may take him to another state but hersquoll fly in just for practice then back He moves mountains to make sure hersquos in his spot on the riser
ldquoJust a solid fact of liferdquo he explains Therersquos always a quorum for rehearsal of
the Pathfinder ChorusldquoEvery Monday at practice we put all of
lifersquos challenges aside Itrsquos like a three-hour break in the week Irsquom with my buddies And wersquore singing really wellrdquo says Erikson ldquoI guess itrsquos kind of a guy thingrdquo
That ldquoguy thingrdquo is an award-winning nationally-recognized barbershop chorus Eriksonrsquos modesty masks the uniqueness of this ensemble Widely diverse both in age and professions the 43-year-old group first quali-fied to perform at the Barbershop Harmony Societyrsquos International Competition in 2010 Theyrsquove continued to qualify and place every year since a rare feat for a group made up of non-music professionals
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S9
S10 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by max sparber | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HISTORY
Chip Davis is celebrating 40-year anniversaries for both ldquoConvoyrdquo and the founding of Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoCONVOYrdquo 40 YEARS LATER
thatrsquos a big 10-4 good buddy
I N THE 1975 TRUCKER song ldquoConvoyrdquo a voice can be heard on a CB radio ldquoWhatrsquos your 20rdquo the voice asks code for
ldquowhatrsquos your locationrdquo The answer comes back ldquoOmahardquo
Of course it did The song itself was from Omaha And while there were a lot of trucker songs in the 1970s few could boast the sort of strange backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo could and none could look to the sort of future the song had
First the backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo was the product of a successful advertising campaign The product was Old Home Bread the adver-tising agency was Omaharsquos Bozell amp Jacobs They conceived of a series of ads featuring a truck driver delivering bread to a diner wait-ress The waitress was named Mavis Davis The truck driver was CW McCall
The campaign proved to be popularmdashso much so that McCall broke off to be an independent character releasing a number of recordings The lyrics and singing voice for McCall belonged to Bill Fries while the songs were written by Chip Davis Fries later became mayor of Ouray Colorado while Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoI said one time that I would never live in Nebraska and I would never write country musicrdquo Davis explains ldquoI guess we see how that all worked out My love of music was really in the classical area but my good for-tunemdashand I mean fortunemdashcame by way of writing ldquoConvoyrdquordquo
The song tells the story of a lawbreaking protesting collection of truckers riding cross-country together as a miles-long ribbon of working class antiheroes communicating on CB radios It became a crossover hit spend-ing six weeks in the number one slot on the
country charts and a week as number one on the pop charts
As a result ldquoConvoyrdquo joined the ranks of country songs in the lsquo70s that became films along with ldquoHarper Valley PTArdquo ldquoOde to Billy Joerdquo and ldquoTake This Job and Shove Itrdquo The film version began shooting in 1977 and boasted an impressive collection of talent Country legend Kris Kristofferson was cast in the lead along with Oscar-nominated Ali MacGraw and character actor Burt Young Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine was the vil-lainous county sheriff determined to break up the I-canrsquot-drive-55 convoy
ldquoConvoyrdquo was a pop culture sensation and helped spawn an era when CB radios were all but ubiquitous in every vehicle even your momrsquos station wagon but Davis and Mannheim Steamroller are also celebrating a pair of even more notable milestones
This summer public television stations throughout the US will air Mannheim Steamroller 3040 Live The concert spe-cial marks two anniversaries for the hugely successful act their debut album Fresh Aire was released four decades ago followed ten years later by the release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas their first holiday album to huge success
lsquoldquoConvoyrsquo and the other 12 hits we hadrdquo Davis explains ldquoultimately funded Mannheim Steamroller and [record label] American Gramaphone Irsquom a lucky guy Going from a semi to a steamroller wasnrsquot all that difficultrdquo
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S11
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For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
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Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
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Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
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Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
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Mayor Jean Stothert
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SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
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JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
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OmahaBVampElkhornBM_Ad - Omaha 60+ Mag_111612_60+ Omaha Magazine Ad - BSV amp BSM 3112014 354 PM Page 1
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12739 Q Street4024081990
wwwkohllscom
Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
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S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
VNA Complete In-home Care
402-342-5566 wwwtheVNAcaresorg
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Retire Your Lawn to the Prorsquos
100 Satisfaction Guarantee10 Discount for All Seniors
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bull Plant CutbackHedge Trimmingbull Aerationbull Power Rakingbull Over-Seedingbull Drill Seedingbull Concrete Edging
plus more
S2 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
Until next issue
GwenGwen LemkeContributing Editor 60PLUS In Omaha
FAMILIAR FACESnames we know and love
T HIS ISSUE HAS SEVERAL stories about accomplished deserving award-winning men all age 60-plus who have interesting stories to tell many who you know by
first and last name if not face Chuck Roberts who reported for CNN for 28 years tells us his story of going to Atlanta from his previous jobmdashright here in Omaha Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller fame tells us the improbable story of how an advertising campaign helped launch his music career one that is soon to be featured in a PBS retrospective
But our cover story is about a woman Donna the first-name-basis friend to many is a hard-working 70-plus woman who spends her days as a legal secretary in west Omaha By night she slings prime rib at the Pink Poodle Restaurant just across the river in Crescent Iowamdashas she has for the past 60 years She shows no interest in slowing down and is a tribute to all women
We admire you Donna
60PLUS FROM THE EDITOR
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S3
FEATURE Chuck Roberts
From Corn Reports to CNN S4
HOBBIESMark Erikson
Life in Four-Part Harmonys S8
HISTORY ldquoConvoyrdquo 40 years Later
Thatrsquos a Big 10-4 Good Buddy S10
COVER FEATURE Still Taking orders
60 Years of Waiting Tables at the Pink Poodle S14
HEALTH Is Testosterone Replacement
Right for You S18
HISTORY You Know Yoursquove Lived In Omaha A Long Time
If You Remember S20
THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES What Happened to My Lincoln Logs
Thinking Outside the Box S22
CONTENTS volume 3 bull issue 4
CHUCK ROBERTSfrom corn reports
to CNN
S4 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan | photography provided by CNN
60PLUS FEATURE
C HUCK ROBERTS BLEW INTO Omaha the same day as the May 6 1975 tor-nado that spread death and destruc-
tion Covering the infamous storm was the newsmanrsquos introduction to his new job as a KMTV reporteranchor
ldquoWe were wall to wall on that story for a couple of weeks working 12 hours a dayrdquo he recalls
Viewers may remember Roberts anchoring Today Show cut-ins and noon news Later he was promoted to weeknight news co-anchor-ing with Jeff Jordan
KMTV news director Mark Gautier who hired him had a good eye for talent Gautier also hired Tom Brokaw who went on to a national stage with NBC News Roberts also ended up with a much wider audience after seven years in Omaha
It started when Ted Turner took a liking to Roberts The media mogul was launching the countryrsquos first 24-hour cable news station CNN2 which was renamed CNN Headline News one year later
Turner sent scouts across the country to find talent to anchor his news They found Roberts in Omaha ldquoThey told me lsquoTed fan-cies yoursquordquo Roberts explains ldquoand that I was a finalist They said lsquoCanrsquot offer you a contract Canrsquot pay what yoursquore making nowrsquordquo says Roberts of his soon-to-be pay cut
He packed up a U-Haul and drove 1000 miles to Atlanta and a new life
Roberts became the first anchor on the first 24-hour national news network and his was the first face seen on camera when the station went live The paint was still wet on the CNN set when the cameras rolled
ldquoWe were told our job was threefold look plausible stay sober and read the lines yoursquore given Those were our marching ordersrdquo
Roberts anchored four-hour weekday news-casts on CNN Headline News He also was CNNrsquos election anchor ldquoI would drive to the Birmingham (Alabama) library and isolate myself and prep for election night Election night 2000 was the most memorable Went on the air at 6 pm and off air at 7 amrdquo the following morning
In 2010 Roberts left CNN and an inter-national television audience of 160 million viewers After 28 years he was the longest-serving anchor among all the CNN networks He then spent three years carrying out media training sessions in eight provinces in China for his alma mater the Missouri School of Journalism
ldquoWe so-called experts were sent to teach media training to start up provincial-level news operationsrdquo says Roberts ldquoIt was a slow process Everything had to be translatedrdquo
The newsmanrsquos enthusiasm for a broadcast career began near a Nebraska farm his family owned ldquoThere was a radio station in the base-ment of a hotel in Falls City I was fascinated by that as a 9-year-oldrdquo
Roberts has high praise for the quality of broadcast news in this city ldquoOmaha is so much better than its market size and a great place to start a career I learned my craft in Omahardquo
Because of his many acheivements Roberts was inducted into the Omaha Press Club Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame in June
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S5
S6 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS FEATURE
A Dial Retirement Community
60PLUS feature
Like talking to a friend whorsquos an expert tooOf course we do basic home care The ldquoabove and beyondrdquo care we provide is what wersquore known for
bull Whether itrsquos Alzheimerrsquos or another condition we will create a care plan designed specifically for your mom or dad and provide him or her with a professionally supervised and trained caregiver of his or her choice
bull Your Care Manager is available to go to the doctor with your parentsand be an advocate for him or her on your behalf
bull Our Proactive Approach to home care means your Care Manager will get to know your parents their lifestyle and their current health and wellness goals
bull Wersquoll provide our services as long as yoursquore satisfied no contract required
Call us today 402-763-9140 bull HomeCareAssistanceOmahacom
Hear what yourneighbors are sayingldquoWe have been so thankfulfor Home Care Assistancethey found caregivers whofit well with Mom helpedher increase her strengthand stamina and generallyimproved her quality oflife She is so happy nowgetting out and visiting herneighbors She has returnedto being ldquoMomrdquo to somedegree Home Care Assistance made all the differencerdquo
mdash Linda Omaha
This certification is an honor a testament to our high standard of care mdash and a reminder that we must always strive to exceed our own expectations to better care for you Our twelve experienced highly-skilled cancer specialists are dedicated to complete cancer treatment and research with over 100 clinical trials available
CHI Health Cancer Center - Bergan (402) 393-3110Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center (402) 354-8124Midwest Cancer Center Papillion (402) 593-3141
Midwest Cancer Center Legacy (402) 334-4773Health Park Plaza-Fremont Health (402) 941-7030
Margaret Block MD
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Ralph J Hauke MD
Timothy K Huyck MD
Robert M Langdon Jr MD
Kirsten M Leu MD
John M Longo MD
Geetha Palaniappan MD
David A Silverberg MD
Gamini S Soori MD
Yungpo Bernard Su MD
Stefano R Tarantolo MD
Benefit from everything we can offer as the largest independent QOPI-certified cancer practice in Nebraska
Receive the Highest Level of Cancer Care
NEBRASKA CANCER SPECIALISTS IS QOPIreg CERTIFIED
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S7
A Dial Retirement Community
S8 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by bev a carlson | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HOBBIES
MARK ERIKSON
life in four-part harmony
Barbershop harmonizing and a cappella singing in general have enjoyed resurgence in popularity in recent years thanks to movies like Pitch Perfect and Jimmy Fallonrsquos ldquoRagtime Galsrdquo skits
ldquoIt really has made a differencerdquo says Erikson ldquoItrsquos bringing barbershop to the forefront of a new generation introducing a music style that can fit them too They donrsquot have to stop singing after high school They can keep singing their whole livesrdquo
The youngest member of Pathfinder Chorus is 13 the oldest 85 with all ages in between represented Professions range from student to dairy farmer to military veteran There are even a couple of pilots on stage One flies B-52s the other flies commercial jets All have one thing in common a love for music harmony and fellowship
Erikson discovered his passion for bar-bershop singing while he was in the mili-tary almost by accident He was stationed at Norfolk Navy Base An elderly lady who sat near him in church kept urging him to join the choir So he did Later he downloaded a four-part menrsquos arrangement of ldquoThe Irish Blessingrdquo encouraged friends to sing with him and never looked back That was 11 years ago
At 63 Erikson now serves as district presi-dent He really wants to leave the chorusmdashand his communitymdashbetter than he found it He also umpires baseball And many of the
Pathfinder concerts are fundraisers In 2014 they donated over $10000 to the Salvation Army and Goodfellows charities
ldquoMark has been crucial to the success of the grouprdquo says retiring music director Pete ldquoPDrdquo Stibor ldquoMark has the passionrdquo
The passion and the practice pay offmdashand not just at competition On a sunny Saturday this summer the Pathfinders per-formed at Burke High School Despite beauti-ful weather the auditorium was full of fans and groupies eager to spend the next 90 minutes enjoying perfect harmony It was delivered with only voices as instruments exploring great pop tunes ballads and the Beatles complete with choreographymdasheven ldquojazz handsrdquo
ldquoI want to do this as long as I canrdquo says Erikson ldquoThen have the good sense to step down when the time is right We give our-selves goose bumps on the risers We look at each other and sayWe just did thatItrsquos such a personal thing Such an emotional thing to be able to share that with your friendsrdquo
D ONrsquoT BOTHER TRYING TO contact Mark Erikson on a Monday night
From now until wellmdashforevermdashhersquos booked
On Monday nights yoursquoll find Erikson and more than 100 other Nebraska men singing their hearts out at a Presbyterian church in Fremont They travel in from all over Erikson drives from Papillion an 80-mile round trip Other members make the trek from South Sioux City Beatrice and Columbus Eriksonrsquos work life may take him to another state but hersquoll fly in just for practice then back He moves mountains to make sure hersquos in his spot on the riser
ldquoJust a solid fact of liferdquo he explains Therersquos always a quorum for rehearsal of
the Pathfinder ChorusldquoEvery Monday at practice we put all of
lifersquos challenges aside Itrsquos like a three-hour break in the week Irsquom with my buddies And wersquore singing really wellrdquo says Erikson ldquoI guess itrsquos kind of a guy thingrdquo
That ldquoguy thingrdquo is an award-winning nationally-recognized barbershop chorus Eriksonrsquos modesty masks the uniqueness of this ensemble Widely diverse both in age and professions the 43-year-old group first quali-fied to perform at the Barbershop Harmony Societyrsquos International Competition in 2010 Theyrsquove continued to qualify and place every year since a rare feat for a group made up of non-music professionals
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S9
S10 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by max sparber | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HISTORY
Chip Davis is celebrating 40-year anniversaries for both ldquoConvoyrdquo and the founding of Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoCONVOYrdquo 40 YEARS LATER
thatrsquos a big 10-4 good buddy
I N THE 1975 TRUCKER song ldquoConvoyrdquo a voice can be heard on a CB radio ldquoWhatrsquos your 20rdquo the voice asks code for
ldquowhatrsquos your locationrdquo The answer comes back ldquoOmahardquo
Of course it did The song itself was from Omaha And while there were a lot of trucker songs in the 1970s few could boast the sort of strange backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo could and none could look to the sort of future the song had
First the backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo was the product of a successful advertising campaign The product was Old Home Bread the adver-tising agency was Omaharsquos Bozell amp Jacobs They conceived of a series of ads featuring a truck driver delivering bread to a diner wait-ress The waitress was named Mavis Davis The truck driver was CW McCall
The campaign proved to be popularmdashso much so that McCall broke off to be an independent character releasing a number of recordings The lyrics and singing voice for McCall belonged to Bill Fries while the songs were written by Chip Davis Fries later became mayor of Ouray Colorado while Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoI said one time that I would never live in Nebraska and I would never write country musicrdquo Davis explains ldquoI guess we see how that all worked out My love of music was really in the classical area but my good for-tunemdashand I mean fortunemdashcame by way of writing ldquoConvoyrdquordquo
The song tells the story of a lawbreaking protesting collection of truckers riding cross-country together as a miles-long ribbon of working class antiheroes communicating on CB radios It became a crossover hit spend-ing six weeks in the number one slot on the
country charts and a week as number one on the pop charts
As a result ldquoConvoyrdquo joined the ranks of country songs in the lsquo70s that became films along with ldquoHarper Valley PTArdquo ldquoOde to Billy Joerdquo and ldquoTake This Job and Shove Itrdquo The film version began shooting in 1977 and boasted an impressive collection of talent Country legend Kris Kristofferson was cast in the lead along with Oscar-nominated Ali MacGraw and character actor Burt Young Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine was the vil-lainous county sheriff determined to break up the I-canrsquot-drive-55 convoy
ldquoConvoyrdquo was a pop culture sensation and helped spawn an era when CB radios were all but ubiquitous in every vehicle even your momrsquos station wagon but Davis and Mannheim Steamroller are also celebrating a pair of even more notable milestones
This summer public television stations throughout the US will air Mannheim Steamroller 3040 Live The concert spe-cial marks two anniversaries for the hugely successful act their debut album Fresh Aire was released four decades ago followed ten years later by the release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas their first holiday album to huge success
lsquoldquoConvoyrsquo and the other 12 hits we hadrdquo Davis explains ldquoultimately funded Mannheim Steamroller and [record label] American Gramaphone Irsquom a lucky guy Going from a semi to a steamroller wasnrsquot all that difficultrdquo
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S11
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
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Mayor Jean Stothert
Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
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Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
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JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
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(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
Proud Members of the Vetter Health Services Family
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12739 Q Street4024081990
wwwkohllscom
Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
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S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
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EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
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Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
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Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
Until next issue
GwenGwen LemkeContributing Editor 60PLUS In Omaha
FAMILIAR FACESnames we know and love
T HIS ISSUE HAS SEVERAL stories about accomplished deserving award-winning men all age 60-plus who have interesting stories to tell many who you know by
first and last name if not face Chuck Roberts who reported for CNN for 28 years tells us his story of going to Atlanta from his previous jobmdashright here in Omaha Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller fame tells us the improbable story of how an advertising campaign helped launch his music career one that is soon to be featured in a PBS retrospective
But our cover story is about a woman Donna the first-name-basis friend to many is a hard-working 70-plus woman who spends her days as a legal secretary in west Omaha By night she slings prime rib at the Pink Poodle Restaurant just across the river in Crescent Iowamdashas she has for the past 60 years She shows no interest in slowing down and is a tribute to all women
We admire you Donna
60PLUS FROM THE EDITOR
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S3
FEATURE Chuck Roberts
From Corn Reports to CNN S4
HOBBIESMark Erikson
Life in Four-Part Harmonys S8
HISTORY ldquoConvoyrdquo 40 years Later
Thatrsquos a Big 10-4 Good Buddy S10
COVER FEATURE Still Taking orders
60 Years of Waiting Tables at the Pink Poodle S14
HEALTH Is Testosterone Replacement
Right for You S18
HISTORY You Know Yoursquove Lived In Omaha A Long Time
If You Remember S20
THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES What Happened to My Lincoln Logs
Thinking Outside the Box S22
CONTENTS volume 3 bull issue 4
CHUCK ROBERTSfrom corn reports
to CNN
S4 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan | photography provided by CNN
60PLUS FEATURE
C HUCK ROBERTS BLEW INTO Omaha the same day as the May 6 1975 tor-nado that spread death and destruc-
tion Covering the infamous storm was the newsmanrsquos introduction to his new job as a KMTV reporteranchor
ldquoWe were wall to wall on that story for a couple of weeks working 12 hours a dayrdquo he recalls
Viewers may remember Roberts anchoring Today Show cut-ins and noon news Later he was promoted to weeknight news co-anchor-ing with Jeff Jordan
KMTV news director Mark Gautier who hired him had a good eye for talent Gautier also hired Tom Brokaw who went on to a national stage with NBC News Roberts also ended up with a much wider audience after seven years in Omaha
It started when Ted Turner took a liking to Roberts The media mogul was launching the countryrsquos first 24-hour cable news station CNN2 which was renamed CNN Headline News one year later
Turner sent scouts across the country to find talent to anchor his news They found Roberts in Omaha ldquoThey told me lsquoTed fan-cies yoursquordquo Roberts explains ldquoand that I was a finalist They said lsquoCanrsquot offer you a contract Canrsquot pay what yoursquore making nowrsquordquo says Roberts of his soon-to-be pay cut
He packed up a U-Haul and drove 1000 miles to Atlanta and a new life
Roberts became the first anchor on the first 24-hour national news network and his was the first face seen on camera when the station went live The paint was still wet on the CNN set when the cameras rolled
ldquoWe were told our job was threefold look plausible stay sober and read the lines yoursquore given Those were our marching ordersrdquo
Roberts anchored four-hour weekday news-casts on CNN Headline News He also was CNNrsquos election anchor ldquoI would drive to the Birmingham (Alabama) library and isolate myself and prep for election night Election night 2000 was the most memorable Went on the air at 6 pm and off air at 7 amrdquo the following morning
In 2010 Roberts left CNN and an inter-national television audience of 160 million viewers After 28 years he was the longest-serving anchor among all the CNN networks He then spent three years carrying out media training sessions in eight provinces in China for his alma mater the Missouri School of Journalism
ldquoWe so-called experts were sent to teach media training to start up provincial-level news operationsrdquo says Roberts ldquoIt was a slow process Everything had to be translatedrdquo
The newsmanrsquos enthusiasm for a broadcast career began near a Nebraska farm his family owned ldquoThere was a radio station in the base-ment of a hotel in Falls City I was fascinated by that as a 9-year-oldrdquo
Roberts has high praise for the quality of broadcast news in this city ldquoOmaha is so much better than its market size and a great place to start a career I learned my craft in Omahardquo
Because of his many acheivements Roberts was inducted into the Omaha Press Club Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame in June
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S5
S6 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS FEATURE
A Dial Retirement Community
60PLUS feature
Like talking to a friend whorsquos an expert tooOf course we do basic home care The ldquoabove and beyondrdquo care we provide is what wersquore known for
bull Whether itrsquos Alzheimerrsquos or another condition we will create a care plan designed specifically for your mom or dad and provide him or her with a professionally supervised and trained caregiver of his or her choice
bull Your Care Manager is available to go to the doctor with your parentsand be an advocate for him or her on your behalf
bull Our Proactive Approach to home care means your Care Manager will get to know your parents their lifestyle and their current health and wellness goals
bull Wersquoll provide our services as long as yoursquore satisfied no contract required
Call us today 402-763-9140 bull HomeCareAssistanceOmahacom
Hear what yourneighbors are sayingldquoWe have been so thankfulfor Home Care Assistancethey found caregivers whofit well with Mom helpedher increase her strengthand stamina and generallyimproved her quality oflife She is so happy nowgetting out and visiting herneighbors She has returnedto being ldquoMomrdquo to somedegree Home Care Assistance made all the differencerdquo
mdash Linda Omaha
This certification is an honor a testament to our high standard of care mdash and a reminder that we must always strive to exceed our own expectations to better care for you Our twelve experienced highly-skilled cancer specialists are dedicated to complete cancer treatment and research with over 100 clinical trials available
CHI Health Cancer Center - Bergan (402) 393-3110Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center (402) 354-8124Midwest Cancer Center Papillion (402) 593-3141
Midwest Cancer Center Legacy (402) 334-4773Health Park Plaza-Fremont Health (402) 941-7030
Margaret Block MD
M Salman Haroon MD
Ralph J Hauke MD
Timothy K Huyck MD
Robert M Langdon Jr MD
Kirsten M Leu MD
John M Longo MD
Geetha Palaniappan MD
David A Silverberg MD
Gamini S Soori MD
Yungpo Bernard Su MD
Stefano R Tarantolo MD
Benefit from everything we can offer as the largest independent QOPI-certified cancer practice in Nebraska
Receive the Highest Level of Cancer Care
NEBRASKA CANCER SPECIALISTS IS QOPIreg CERTIFIED
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S7
A Dial Retirement Community
S8 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by bev a carlson | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HOBBIES
MARK ERIKSON
life in four-part harmony
Barbershop harmonizing and a cappella singing in general have enjoyed resurgence in popularity in recent years thanks to movies like Pitch Perfect and Jimmy Fallonrsquos ldquoRagtime Galsrdquo skits
ldquoIt really has made a differencerdquo says Erikson ldquoItrsquos bringing barbershop to the forefront of a new generation introducing a music style that can fit them too They donrsquot have to stop singing after high school They can keep singing their whole livesrdquo
The youngest member of Pathfinder Chorus is 13 the oldest 85 with all ages in between represented Professions range from student to dairy farmer to military veteran There are even a couple of pilots on stage One flies B-52s the other flies commercial jets All have one thing in common a love for music harmony and fellowship
Erikson discovered his passion for bar-bershop singing while he was in the mili-tary almost by accident He was stationed at Norfolk Navy Base An elderly lady who sat near him in church kept urging him to join the choir So he did Later he downloaded a four-part menrsquos arrangement of ldquoThe Irish Blessingrdquo encouraged friends to sing with him and never looked back That was 11 years ago
At 63 Erikson now serves as district presi-dent He really wants to leave the chorusmdashand his communitymdashbetter than he found it He also umpires baseball And many of the
Pathfinder concerts are fundraisers In 2014 they donated over $10000 to the Salvation Army and Goodfellows charities
ldquoMark has been crucial to the success of the grouprdquo says retiring music director Pete ldquoPDrdquo Stibor ldquoMark has the passionrdquo
The passion and the practice pay offmdashand not just at competition On a sunny Saturday this summer the Pathfinders per-formed at Burke High School Despite beauti-ful weather the auditorium was full of fans and groupies eager to spend the next 90 minutes enjoying perfect harmony It was delivered with only voices as instruments exploring great pop tunes ballads and the Beatles complete with choreographymdasheven ldquojazz handsrdquo
ldquoI want to do this as long as I canrdquo says Erikson ldquoThen have the good sense to step down when the time is right We give our-selves goose bumps on the risers We look at each other and sayWe just did thatItrsquos such a personal thing Such an emotional thing to be able to share that with your friendsrdquo
D ONrsquoT BOTHER TRYING TO contact Mark Erikson on a Monday night
From now until wellmdashforevermdashhersquos booked
On Monday nights yoursquoll find Erikson and more than 100 other Nebraska men singing their hearts out at a Presbyterian church in Fremont They travel in from all over Erikson drives from Papillion an 80-mile round trip Other members make the trek from South Sioux City Beatrice and Columbus Eriksonrsquos work life may take him to another state but hersquoll fly in just for practice then back He moves mountains to make sure hersquos in his spot on the riser
ldquoJust a solid fact of liferdquo he explains Therersquos always a quorum for rehearsal of
the Pathfinder ChorusldquoEvery Monday at practice we put all of
lifersquos challenges aside Itrsquos like a three-hour break in the week Irsquom with my buddies And wersquore singing really wellrdquo says Erikson ldquoI guess itrsquos kind of a guy thingrdquo
That ldquoguy thingrdquo is an award-winning nationally-recognized barbershop chorus Eriksonrsquos modesty masks the uniqueness of this ensemble Widely diverse both in age and professions the 43-year-old group first quali-fied to perform at the Barbershop Harmony Societyrsquos International Competition in 2010 Theyrsquove continued to qualify and place every year since a rare feat for a group made up of non-music professionals
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S9
S10 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by max sparber | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HISTORY
Chip Davis is celebrating 40-year anniversaries for both ldquoConvoyrdquo and the founding of Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoCONVOYrdquo 40 YEARS LATER
thatrsquos a big 10-4 good buddy
I N THE 1975 TRUCKER song ldquoConvoyrdquo a voice can be heard on a CB radio ldquoWhatrsquos your 20rdquo the voice asks code for
ldquowhatrsquos your locationrdquo The answer comes back ldquoOmahardquo
Of course it did The song itself was from Omaha And while there were a lot of trucker songs in the 1970s few could boast the sort of strange backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo could and none could look to the sort of future the song had
First the backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo was the product of a successful advertising campaign The product was Old Home Bread the adver-tising agency was Omaharsquos Bozell amp Jacobs They conceived of a series of ads featuring a truck driver delivering bread to a diner wait-ress The waitress was named Mavis Davis The truck driver was CW McCall
The campaign proved to be popularmdashso much so that McCall broke off to be an independent character releasing a number of recordings The lyrics and singing voice for McCall belonged to Bill Fries while the songs were written by Chip Davis Fries later became mayor of Ouray Colorado while Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoI said one time that I would never live in Nebraska and I would never write country musicrdquo Davis explains ldquoI guess we see how that all worked out My love of music was really in the classical area but my good for-tunemdashand I mean fortunemdashcame by way of writing ldquoConvoyrdquordquo
The song tells the story of a lawbreaking protesting collection of truckers riding cross-country together as a miles-long ribbon of working class antiheroes communicating on CB radios It became a crossover hit spend-ing six weeks in the number one slot on the
country charts and a week as number one on the pop charts
As a result ldquoConvoyrdquo joined the ranks of country songs in the lsquo70s that became films along with ldquoHarper Valley PTArdquo ldquoOde to Billy Joerdquo and ldquoTake This Job and Shove Itrdquo The film version began shooting in 1977 and boasted an impressive collection of talent Country legend Kris Kristofferson was cast in the lead along with Oscar-nominated Ali MacGraw and character actor Burt Young Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine was the vil-lainous county sheriff determined to break up the I-canrsquot-drive-55 convoy
ldquoConvoyrdquo was a pop culture sensation and helped spawn an era when CB radios were all but ubiquitous in every vehicle even your momrsquos station wagon but Davis and Mannheim Steamroller are also celebrating a pair of even more notable milestones
This summer public television stations throughout the US will air Mannheim Steamroller 3040 Live The concert spe-cial marks two anniversaries for the hugely successful act their debut album Fresh Aire was released four decades ago followed ten years later by the release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas their first holiday album to huge success
lsquoldquoConvoyrsquo and the other 12 hits we hadrdquo Davis explains ldquoultimately funded Mannheim Steamroller and [record label] American Gramaphone Irsquom a lucky guy Going from a semi to a steamroller wasnrsquot all that difficultrdquo
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S11
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
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Mayor Jean Stothert
Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
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Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
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JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
4330 South 144th StreetOmaha NE 68137
(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
Proud Members of the Vetter Health Services Family
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OmahaBVampElkhornBM_Ad - Omaha 60+ Mag_111612_60+ Omaha Magazine Ad - BSV amp BSM 3112014 354 PM Page 1
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Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
CHUCK ROBERTSfrom corn reports
to CNN
S4 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan | photography provided by CNN
60PLUS FEATURE
C HUCK ROBERTS BLEW INTO Omaha the same day as the May 6 1975 tor-nado that spread death and destruc-
tion Covering the infamous storm was the newsmanrsquos introduction to his new job as a KMTV reporteranchor
ldquoWe were wall to wall on that story for a couple of weeks working 12 hours a dayrdquo he recalls
Viewers may remember Roberts anchoring Today Show cut-ins and noon news Later he was promoted to weeknight news co-anchor-ing with Jeff Jordan
KMTV news director Mark Gautier who hired him had a good eye for talent Gautier also hired Tom Brokaw who went on to a national stage with NBC News Roberts also ended up with a much wider audience after seven years in Omaha
It started when Ted Turner took a liking to Roberts The media mogul was launching the countryrsquos first 24-hour cable news station CNN2 which was renamed CNN Headline News one year later
Turner sent scouts across the country to find talent to anchor his news They found Roberts in Omaha ldquoThey told me lsquoTed fan-cies yoursquordquo Roberts explains ldquoand that I was a finalist They said lsquoCanrsquot offer you a contract Canrsquot pay what yoursquore making nowrsquordquo says Roberts of his soon-to-be pay cut
He packed up a U-Haul and drove 1000 miles to Atlanta and a new life
Roberts became the first anchor on the first 24-hour national news network and his was the first face seen on camera when the station went live The paint was still wet on the CNN set when the cameras rolled
ldquoWe were told our job was threefold look plausible stay sober and read the lines yoursquore given Those were our marching ordersrdquo
Roberts anchored four-hour weekday news-casts on CNN Headline News He also was CNNrsquos election anchor ldquoI would drive to the Birmingham (Alabama) library and isolate myself and prep for election night Election night 2000 was the most memorable Went on the air at 6 pm and off air at 7 amrdquo the following morning
In 2010 Roberts left CNN and an inter-national television audience of 160 million viewers After 28 years he was the longest-serving anchor among all the CNN networks He then spent three years carrying out media training sessions in eight provinces in China for his alma mater the Missouri School of Journalism
ldquoWe so-called experts were sent to teach media training to start up provincial-level news operationsrdquo says Roberts ldquoIt was a slow process Everything had to be translatedrdquo
The newsmanrsquos enthusiasm for a broadcast career began near a Nebraska farm his family owned ldquoThere was a radio station in the base-ment of a hotel in Falls City I was fascinated by that as a 9-year-oldrdquo
Roberts has high praise for the quality of broadcast news in this city ldquoOmaha is so much better than its market size and a great place to start a career I learned my craft in Omahardquo
Because of his many acheivements Roberts was inducted into the Omaha Press Club Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame in June
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S5
S6 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS FEATURE
A Dial Retirement Community
60PLUS feature
Like talking to a friend whorsquos an expert tooOf course we do basic home care The ldquoabove and beyondrdquo care we provide is what wersquore known for
bull Whether itrsquos Alzheimerrsquos or another condition we will create a care plan designed specifically for your mom or dad and provide him or her with a professionally supervised and trained caregiver of his or her choice
bull Your Care Manager is available to go to the doctor with your parentsand be an advocate for him or her on your behalf
bull Our Proactive Approach to home care means your Care Manager will get to know your parents their lifestyle and their current health and wellness goals
bull Wersquoll provide our services as long as yoursquore satisfied no contract required
Call us today 402-763-9140 bull HomeCareAssistanceOmahacom
Hear what yourneighbors are sayingldquoWe have been so thankfulfor Home Care Assistancethey found caregivers whofit well with Mom helpedher increase her strengthand stamina and generallyimproved her quality oflife She is so happy nowgetting out and visiting herneighbors She has returnedto being ldquoMomrdquo to somedegree Home Care Assistance made all the differencerdquo
mdash Linda Omaha
This certification is an honor a testament to our high standard of care mdash and a reminder that we must always strive to exceed our own expectations to better care for you Our twelve experienced highly-skilled cancer specialists are dedicated to complete cancer treatment and research with over 100 clinical trials available
CHI Health Cancer Center - Bergan (402) 393-3110Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center (402) 354-8124Midwest Cancer Center Papillion (402) 593-3141
Midwest Cancer Center Legacy (402) 334-4773Health Park Plaza-Fremont Health (402) 941-7030
Margaret Block MD
M Salman Haroon MD
Ralph J Hauke MD
Timothy K Huyck MD
Robert M Langdon Jr MD
Kirsten M Leu MD
John M Longo MD
Geetha Palaniappan MD
David A Silverberg MD
Gamini S Soori MD
Yungpo Bernard Su MD
Stefano R Tarantolo MD
Benefit from everything we can offer as the largest independent QOPI-certified cancer practice in Nebraska
Receive the Highest Level of Cancer Care
NEBRASKA CANCER SPECIALISTS IS QOPIreg CERTIFIED
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S7
A Dial Retirement Community
S8 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by bev a carlson | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HOBBIES
MARK ERIKSON
life in four-part harmony
Barbershop harmonizing and a cappella singing in general have enjoyed resurgence in popularity in recent years thanks to movies like Pitch Perfect and Jimmy Fallonrsquos ldquoRagtime Galsrdquo skits
ldquoIt really has made a differencerdquo says Erikson ldquoItrsquos bringing barbershop to the forefront of a new generation introducing a music style that can fit them too They donrsquot have to stop singing after high school They can keep singing their whole livesrdquo
The youngest member of Pathfinder Chorus is 13 the oldest 85 with all ages in between represented Professions range from student to dairy farmer to military veteran There are even a couple of pilots on stage One flies B-52s the other flies commercial jets All have one thing in common a love for music harmony and fellowship
Erikson discovered his passion for bar-bershop singing while he was in the mili-tary almost by accident He was stationed at Norfolk Navy Base An elderly lady who sat near him in church kept urging him to join the choir So he did Later he downloaded a four-part menrsquos arrangement of ldquoThe Irish Blessingrdquo encouraged friends to sing with him and never looked back That was 11 years ago
At 63 Erikson now serves as district presi-dent He really wants to leave the chorusmdashand his communitymdashbetter than he found it He also umpires baseball And many of the
Pathfinder concerts are fundraisers In 2014 they donated over $10000 to the Salvation Army and Goodfellows charities
ldquoMark has been crucial to the success of the grouprdquo says retiring music director Pete ldquoPDrdquo Stibor ldquoMark has the passionrdquo
The passion and the practice pay offmdashand not just at competition On a sunny Saturday this summer the Pathfinders per-formed at Burke High School Despite beauti-ful weather the auditorium was full of fans and groupies eager to spend the next 90 minutes enjoying perfect harmony It was delivered with only voices as instruments exploring great pop tunes ballads and the Beatles complete with choreographymdasheven ldquojazz handsrdquo
ldquoI want to do this as long as I canrdquo says Erikson ldquoThen have the good sense to step down when the time is right We give our-selves goose bumps on the risers We look at each other and sayWe just did thatItrsquos such a personal thing Such an emotional thing to be able to share that with your friendsrdquo
D ONrsquoT BOTHER TRYING TO contact Mark Erikson on a Monday night
From now until wellmdashforevermdashhersquos booked
On Monday nights yoursquoll find Erikson and more than 100 other Nebraska men singing their hearts out at a Presbyterian church in Fremont They travel in from all over Erikson drives from Papillion an 80-mile round trip Other members make the trek from South Sioux City Beatrice and Columbus Eriksonrsquos work life may take him to another state but hersquoll fly in just for practice then back He moves mountains to make sure hersquos in his spot on the riser
ldquoJust a solid fact of liferdquo he explains Therersquos always a quorum for rehearsal of
the Pathfinder ChorusldquoEvery Monday at practice we put all of
lifersquos challenges aside Itrsquos like a three-hour break in the week Irsquom with my buddies And wersquore singing really wellrdquo says Erikson ldquoI guess itrsquos kind of a guy thingrdquo
That ldquoguy thingrdquo is an award-winning nationally-recognized barbershop chorus Eriksonrsquos modesty masks the uniqueness of this ensemble Widely diverse both in age and professions the 43-year-old group first quali-fied to perform at the Barbershop Harmony Societyrsquos International Competition in 2010 Theyrsquove continued to qualify and place every year since a rare feat for a group made up of non-music professionals
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S9
S10 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by max sparber | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HISTORY
Chip Davis is celebrating 40-year anniversaries for both ldquoConvoyrdquo and the founding of Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoCONVOYrdquo 40 YEARS LATER
thatrsquos a big 10-4 good buddy
I N THE 1975 TRUCKER song ldquoConvoyrdquo a voice can be heard on a CB radio ldquoWhatrsquos your 20rdquo the voice asks code for
ldquowhatrsquos your locationrdquo The answer comes back ldquoOmahardquo
Of course it did The song itself was from Omaha And while there were a lot of trucker songs in the 1970s few could boast the sort of strange backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo could and none could look to the sort of future the song had
First the backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo was the product of a successful advertising campaign The product was Old Home Bread the adver-tising agency was Omaharsquos Bozell amp Jacobs They conceived of a series of ads featuring a truck driver delivering bread to a diner wait-ress The waitress was named Mavis Davis The truck driver was CW McCall
The campaign proved to be popularmdashso much so that McCall broke off to be an independent character releasing a number of recordings The lyrics and singing voice for McCall belonged to Bill Fries while the songs were written by Chip Davis Fries later became mayor of Ouray Colorado while Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoI said one time that I would never live in Nebraska and I would never write country musicrdquo Davis explains ldquoI guess we see how that all worked out My love of music was really in the classical area but my good for-tunemdashand I mean fortunemdashcame by way of writing ldquoConvoyrdquordquo
The song tells the story of a lawbreaking protesting collection of truckers riding cross-country together as a miles-long ribbon of working class antiheroes communicating on CB radios It became a crossover hit spend-ing six weeks in the number one slot on the
country charts and a week as number one on the pop charts
As a result ldquoConvoyrdquo joined the ranks of country songs in the lsquo70s that became films along with ldquoHarper Valley PTArdquo ldquoOde to Billy Joerdquo and ldquoTake This Job and Shove Itrdquo The film version began shooting in 1977 and boasted an impressive collection of talent Country legend Kris Kristofferson was cast in the lead along with Oscar-nominated Ali MacGraw and character actor Burt Young Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine was the vil-lainous county sheriff determined to break up the I-canrsquot-drive-55 convoy
ldquoConvoyrdquo was a pop culture sensation and helped spawn an era when CB radios were all but ubiquitous in every vehicle even your momrsquos station wagon but Davis and Mannheim Steamroller are also celebrating a pair of even more notable milestones
This summer public television stations throughout the US will air Mannheim Steamroller 3040 Live The concert spe-cial marks two anniversaries for the hugely successful act their debut album Fresh Aire was released four decades ago followed ten years later by the release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas their first holiday album to huge success
lsquoldquoConvoyrsquo and the other 12 hits we hadrdquo Davis explains ldquoultimately funded Mannheim Steamroller and [record label] American Gramaphone Irsquom a lucky guy Going from a semi to a steamroller wasnrsquot all that difficultrdquo
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S11
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
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Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
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Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
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JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
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(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
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Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
C HUCK ROBERTS BLEW INTO Omaha the same day as the May 6 1975 tor-nado that spread death and destruc-
tion Covering the infamous storm was the newsmanrsquos introduction to his new job as a KMTV reporteranchor
ldquoWe were wall to wall on that story for a couple of weeks working 12 hours a dayrdquo he recalls
Viewers may remember Roberts anchoring Today Show cut-ins and noon news Later he was promoted to weeknight news co-anchor-ing with Jeff Jordan
KMTV news director Mark Gautier who hired him had a good eye for talent Gautier also hired Tom Brokaw who went on to a national stage with NBC News Roberts also ended up with a much wider audience after seven years in Omaha
It started when Ted Turner took a liking to Roberts The media mogul was launching the countryrsquos first 24-hour cable news station CNN2 which was renamed CNN Headline News one year later
Turner sent scouts across the country to find talent to anchor his news They found Roberts in Omaha ldquoThey told me lsquoTed fan-cies yoursquordquo Roberts explains ldquoand that I was a finalist They said lsquoCanrsquot offer you a contract Canrsquot pay what yoursquore making nowrsquordquo says Roberts of his soon-to-be pay cut
He packed up a U-Haul and drove 1000 miles to Atlanta and a new life
Roberts became the first anchor on the first 24-hour national news network and his was the first face seen on camera when the station went live The paint was still wet on the CNN set when the cameras rolled
ldquoWe were told our job was threefold look plausible stay sober and read the lines yoursquore given Those were our marching ordersrdquo
Roberts anchored four-hour weekday news-casts on CNN Headline News He also was CNNrsquos election anchor ldquoI would drive to the Birmingham (Alabama) library and isolate myself and prep for election night Election night 2000 was the most memorable Went on the air at 6 pm and off air at 7 amrdquo the following morning
In 2010 Roberts left CNN and an inter-national television audience of 160 million viewers After 28 years he was the longest-serving anchor among all the CNN networks He then spent three years carrying out media training sessions in eight provinces in China for his alma mater the Missouri School of Journalism
ldquoWe so-called experts were sent to teach media training to start up provincial-level news operationsrdquo says Roberts ldquoIt was a slow process Everything had to be translatedrdquo
The newsmanrsquos enthusiasm for a broadcast career began near a Nebraska farm his family owned ldquoThere was a radio station in the base-ment of a hotel in Falls City I was fascinated by that as a 9-year-oldrdquo
Roberts has high praise for the quality of broadcast news in this city ldquoOmaha is so much better than its market size and a great place to start a career I learned my craft in Omahardquo
Because of his many acheivements Roberts was inducted into the Omaha Press Club Journalists of Excellence Hall of Fame in June
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S5
S6 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS FEATURE
A Dial Retirement Community
60PLUS feature
Like talking to a friend whorsquos an expert tooOf course we do basic home care The ldquoabove and beyondrdquo care we provide is what wersquore known for
bull Whether itrsquos Alzheimerrsquos or another condition we will create a care plan designed specifically for your mom or dad and provide him or her with a professionally supervised and trained caregiver of his or her choice
bull Your Care Manager is available to go to the doctor with your parentsand be an advocate for him or her on your behalf
bull Our Proactive Approach to home care means your Care Manager will get to know your parents their lifestyle and their current health and wellness goals
bull Wersquoll provide our services as long as yoursquore satisfied no contract required
Call us today 402-763-9140 bull HomeCareAssistanceOmahacom
Hear what yourneighbors are sayingldquoWe have been so thankfulfor Home Care Assistancethey found caregivers whofit well with Mom helpedher increase her strengthand stamina and generallyimproved her quality oflife She is so happy nowgetting out and visiting herneighbors She has returnedto being ldquoMomrdquo to somedegree Home Care Assistance made all the differencerdquo
mdash Linda Omaha
This certification is an honor a testament to our high standard of care mdash and a reminder that we must always strive to exceed our own expectations to better care for you Our twelve experienced highly-skilled cancer specialists are dedicated to complete cancer treatment and research with over 100 clinical trials available
CHI Health Cancer Center - Bergan (402) 393-3110Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center (402) 354-8124Midwest Cancer Center Papillion (402) 593-3141
Midwest Cancer Center Legacy (402) 334-4773Health Park Plaza-Fremont Health (402) 941-7030
Margaret Block MD
M Salman Haroon MD
Ralph J Hauke MD
Timothy K Huyck MD
Robert M Langdon Jr MD
Kirsten M Leu MD
John M Longo MD
Geetha Palaniappan MD
David A Silverberg MD
Gamini S Soori MD
Yungpo Bernard Su MD
Stefano R Tarantolo MD
Benefit from everything we can offer as the largest independent QOPI-certified cancer practice in Nebraska
Receive the Highest Level of Cancer Care
NEBRASKA CANCER SPECIALISTS IS QOPIreg CERTIFIED
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S7
A Dial Retirement Community
S8 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by bev a carlson | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HOBBIES
MARK ERIKSON
life in four-part harmony
Barbershop harmonizing and a cappella singing in general have enjoyed resurgence in popularity in recent years thanks to movies like Pitch Perfect and Jimmy Fallonrsquos ldquoRagtime Galsrdquo skits
ldquoIt really has made a differencerdquo says Erikson ldquoItrsquos bringing barbershop to the forefront of a new generation introducing a music style that can fit them too They donrsquot have to stop singing after high school They can keep singing their whole livesrdquo
The youngest member of Pathfinder Chorus is 13 the oldest 85 with all ages in between represented Professions range from student to dairy farmer to military veteran There are even a couple of pilots on stage One flies B-52s the other flies commercial jets All have one thing in common a love for music harmony and fellowship
Erikson discovered his passion for bar-bershop singing while he was in the mili-tary almost by accident He was stationed at Norfolk Navy Base An elderly lady who sat near him in church kept urging him to join the choir So he did Later he downloaded a four-part menrsquos arrangement of ldquoThe Irish Blessingrdquo encouraged friends to sing with him and never looked back That was 11 years ago
At 63 Erikson now serves as district presi-dent He really wants to leave the chorusmdashand his communitymdashbetter than he found it He also umpires baseball And many of the
Pathfinder concerts are fundraisers In 2014 they donated over $10000 to the Salvation Army and Goodfellows charities
ldquoMark has been crucial to the success of the grouprdquo says retiring music director Pete ldquoPDrdquo Stibor ldquoMark has the passionrdquo
The passion and the practice pay offmdashand not just at competition On a sunny Saturday this summer the Pathfinders per-formed at Burke High School Despite beauti-ful weather the auditorium was full of fans and groupies eager to spend the next 90 minutes enjoying perfect harmony It was delivered with only voices as instruments exploring great pop tunes ballads and the Beatles complete with choreographymdasheven ldquojazz handsrdquo
ldquoI want to do this as long as I canrdquo says Erikson ldquoThen have the good sense to step down when the time is right We give our-selves goose bumps on the risers We look at each other and sayWe just did thatItrsquos such a personal thing Such an emotional thing to be able to share that with your friendsrdquo
D ONrsquoT BOTHER TRYING TO contact Mark Erikson on a Monday night
From now until wellmdashforevermdashhersquos booked
On Monday nights yoursquoll find Erikson and more than 100 other Nebraska men singing their hearts out at a Presbyterian church in Fremont They travel in from all over Erikson drives from Papillion an 80-mile round trip Other members make the trek from South Sioux City Beatrice and Columbus Eriksonrsquos work life may take him to another state but hersquoll fly in just for practice then back He moves mountains to make sure hersquos in his spot on the riser
ldquoJust a solid fact of liferdquo he explains Therersquos always a quorum for rehearsal of
the Pathfinder ChorusldquoEvery Monday at practice we put all of
lifersquos challenges aside Itrsquos like a three-hour break in the week Irsquom with my buddies And wersquore singing really wellrdquo says Erikson ldquoI guess itrsquos kind of a guy thingrdquo
That ldquoguy thingrdquo is an award-winning nationally-recognized barbershop chorus Eriksonrsquos modesty masks the uniqueness of this ensemble Widely diverse both in age and professions the 43-year-old group first quali-fied to perform at the Barbershop Harmony Societyrsquos International Competition in 2010 Theyrsquove continued to qualify and place every year since a rare feat for a group made up of non-music professionals
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S9
S10 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by max sparber | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HISTORY
Chip Davis is celebrating 40-year anniversaries for both ldquoConvoyrdquo and the founding of Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoCONVOYrdquo 40 YEARS LATER
thatrsquos a big 10-4 good buddy
I N THE 1975 TRUCKER song ldquoConvoyrdquo a voice can be heard on a CB radio ldquoWhatrsquos your 20rdquo the voice asks code for
ldquowhatrsquos your locationrdquo The answer comes back ldquoOmahardquo
Of course it did The song itself was from Omaha And while there were a lot of trucker songs in the 1970s few could boast the sort of strange backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo could and none could look to the sort of future the song had
First the backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo was the product of a successful advertising campaign The product was Old Home Bread the adver-tising agency was Omaharsquos Bozell amp Jacobs They conceived of a series of ads featuring a truck driver delivering bread to a diner wait-ress The waitress was named Mavis Davis The truck driver was CW McCall
The campaign proved to be popularmdashso much so that McCall broke off to be an independent character releasing a number of recordings The lyrics and singing voice for McCall belonged to Bill Fries while the songs were written by Chip Davis Fries later became mayor of Ouray Colorado while Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoI said one time that I would never live in Nebraska and I would never write country musicrdquo Davis explains ldquoI guess we see how that all worked out My love of music was really in the classical area but my good for-tunemdashand I mean fortunemdashcame by way of writing ldquoConvoyrdquordquo
The song tells the story of a lawbreaking protesting collection of truckers riding cross-country together as a miles-long ribbon of working class antiheroes communicating on CB radios It became a crossover hit spend-ing six weeks in the number one slot on the
country charts and a week as number one on the pop charts
As a result ldquoConvoyrdquo joined the ranks of country songs in the lsquo70s that became films along with ldquoHarper Valley PTArdquo ldquoOde to Billy Joerdquo and ldquoTake This Job and Shove Itrdquo The film version began shooting in 1977 and boasted an impressive collection of talent Country legend Kris Kristofferson was cast in the lead along with Oscar-nominated Ali MacGraw and character actor Burt Young Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine was the vil-lainous county sheriff determined to break up the I-canrsquot-drive-55 convoy
ldquoConvoyrdquo was a pop culture sensation and helped spawn an era when CB radios were all but ubiquitous in every vehicle even your momrsquos station wagon but Davis and Mannheim Steamroller are also celebrating a pair of even more notable milestones
This summer public television stations throughout the US will air Mannheim Steamroller 3040 Live The concert spe-cial marks two anniversaries for the hugely successful act their debut album Fresh Aire was released four decades ago followed ten years later by the release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas their first holiday album to huge success
lsquoldquoConvoyrsquo and the other 12 hits we hadrdquo Davis explains ldquoultimately funded Mannheim Steamroller and [record label] American Gramaphone Irsquom a lucky guy Going from a semi to a steamroller wasnrsquot all that difficultrdquo
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S11
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
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Mayor Jean Stothert
Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
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Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
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JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
4330 South 144th StreetOmaha NE 68137
(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
Proud Members of the Vetter Health Services Family
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OmahaBVampElkhornBM_Ad - Omaha 60+ Mag_111612_60+ Omaha Magazine Ad - BSV amp BSM 3112014 354 PM Page 1
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12739 Q Street4024081990
wwwkohllscom
Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
S6 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS FEATURE
A Dial Retirement Community
60PLUS feature
Like talking to a friend whorsquos an expert tooOf course we do basic home care The ldquoabove and beyondrdquo care we provide is what wersquore known for
bull Whether itrsquos Alzheimerrsquos or another condition we will create a care plan designed specifically for your mom or dad and provide him or her with a professionally supervised and trained caregiver of his or her choice
bull Your Care Manager is available to go to the doctor with your parentsand be an advocate for him or her on your behalf
bull Our Proactive Approach to home care means your Care Manager will get to know your parents their lifestyle and their current health and wellness goals
bull Wersquoll provide our services as long as yoursquore satisfied no contract required
Call us today 402-763-9140 bull HomeCareAssistanceOmahacom
Hear what yourneighbors are sayingldquoWe have been so thankfulfor Home Care Assistancethey found caregivers whofit well with Mom helpedher increase her strengthand stamina and generallyimproved her quality oflife She is so happy nowgetting out and visiting herneighbors She has returnedto being ldquoMomrdquo to somedegree Home Care Assistance made all the differencerdquo
mdash Linda Omaha
This certification is an honor a testament to our high standard of care mdash and a reminder that we must always strive to exceed our own expectations to better care for you Our twelve experienced highly-skilled cancer specialists are dedicated to complete cancer treatment and research with over 100 clinical trials available
CHI Health Cancer Center - Bergan (402) 393-3110Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center (402) 354-8124Midwest Cancer Center Papillion (402) 593-3141
Midwest Cancer Center Legacy (402) 334-4773Health Park Plaza-Fremont Health (402) 941-7030
Margaret Block MD
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Ralph J Hauke MD
Timothy K Huyck MD
Robert M Langdon Jr MD
Kirsten M Leu MD
John M Longo MD
Geetha Palaniappan MD
David A Silverberg MD
Gamini S Soori MD
Yungpo Bernard Su MD
Stefano R Tarantolo MD
Benefit from everything we can offer as the largest independent QOPI-certified cancer practice in Nebraska
Receive the Highest Level of Cancer Care
NEBRASKA CANCER SPECIALISTS IS QOPIreg CERTIFIED
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S7
A Dial Retirement Community
S8 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by bev a carlson | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HOBBIES
MARK ERIKSON
life in four-part harmony
Barbershop harmonizing and a cappella singing in general have enjoyed resurgence in popularity in recent years thanks to movies like Pitch Perfect and Jimmy Fallonrsquos ldquoRagtime Galsrdquo skits
ldquoIt really has made a differencerdquo says Erikson ldquoItrsquos bringing barbershop to the forefront of a new generation introducing a music style that can fit them too They donrsquot have to stop singing after high school They can keep singing their whole livesrdquo
The youngest member of Pathfinder Chorus is 13 the oldest 85 with all ages in between represented Professions range from student to dairy farmer to military veteran There are even a couple of pilots on stage One flies B-52s the other flies commercial jets All have one thing in common a love for music harmony and fellowship
Erikson discovered his passion for bar-bershop singing while he was in the mili-tary almost by accident He was stationed at Norfolk Navy Base An elderly lady who sat near him in church kept urging him to join the choir So he did Later he downloaded a four-part menrsquos arrangement of ldquoThe Irish Blessingrdquo encouraged friends to sing with him and never looked back That was 11 years ago
At 63 Erikson now serves as district presi-dent He really wants to leave the chorusmdashand his communitymdashbetter than he found it He also umpires baseball And many of the
Pathfinder concerts are fundraisers In 2014 they donated over $10000 to the Salvation Army and Goodfellows charities
ldquoMark has been crucial to the success of the grouprdquo says retiring music director Pete ldquoPDrdquo Stibor ldquoMark has the passionrdquo
The passion and the practice pay offmdashand not just at competition On a sunny Saturday this summer the Pathfinders per-formed at Burke High School Despite beauti-ful weather the auditorium was full of fans and groupies eager to spend the next 90 minutes enjoying perfect harmony It was delivered with only voices as instruments exploring great pop tunes ballads and the Beatles complete with choreographymdasheven ldquojazz handsrdquo
ldquoI want to do this as long as I canrdquo says Erikson ldquoThen have the good sense to step down when the time is right We give our-selves goose bumps on the risers We look at each other and sayWe just did thatItrsquos such a personal thing Such an emotional thing to be able to share that with your friendsrdquo
D ONrsquoT BOTHER TRYING TO contact Mark Erikson on a Monday night
From now until wellmdashforevermdashhersquos booked
On Monday nights yoursquoll find Erikson and more than 100 other Nebraska men singing their hearts out at a Presbyterian church in Fremont They travel in from all over Erikson drives from Papillion an 80-mile round trip Other members make the trek from South Sioux City Beatrice and Columbus Eriksonrsquos work life may take him to another state but hersquoll fly in just for practice then back He moves mountains to make sure hersquos in his spot on the riser
ldquoJust a solid fact of liferdquo he explains Therersquos always a quorum for rehearsal of
the Pathfinder ChorusldquoEvery Monday at practice we put all of
lifersquos challenges aside Itrsquos like a three-hour break in the week Irsquom with my buddies And wersquore singing really wellrdquo says Erikson ldquoI guess itrsquos kind of a guy thingrdquo
That ldquoguy thingrdquo is an award-winning nationally-recognized barbershop chorus Eriksonrsquos modesty masks the uniqueness of this ensemble Widely diverse both in age and professions the 43-year-old group first quali-fied to perform at the Barbershop Harmony Societyrsquos International Competition in 2010 Theyrsquove continued to qualify and place every year since a rare feat for a group made up of non-music professionals
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S9
S10 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by max sparber | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HISTORY
Chip Davis is celebrating 40-year anniversaries for both ldquoConvoyrdquo and the founding of Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoCONVOYrdquo 40 YEARS LATER
thatrsquos a big 10-4 good buddy
I N THE 1975 TRUCKER song ldquoConvoyrdquo a voice can be heard on a CB radio ldquoWhatrsquos your 20rdquo the voice asks code for
ldquowhatrsquos your locationrdquo The answer comes back ldquoOmahardquo
Of course it did The song itself was from Omaha And while there were a lot of trucker songs in the 1970s few could boast the sort of strange backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo could and none could look to the sort of future the song had
First the backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo was the product of a successful advertising campaign The product was Old Home Bread the adver-tising agency was Omaharsquos Bozell amp Jacobs They conceived of a series of ads featuring a truck driver delivering bread to a diner wait-ress The waitress was named Mavis Davis The truck driver was CW McCall
The campaign proved to be popularmdashso much so that McCall broke off to be an independent character releasing a number of recordings The lyrics and singing voice for McCall belonged to Bill Fries while the songs were written by Chip Davis Fries later became mayor of Ouray Colorado while Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoI said one time that I would never live in Nebraska and I would never write country musicrdquo Davis explains ldquoI guess we see how that all worked out My love of music was really in the classical area but my good for-tunemdashand I mean fortunemdashcame by way of writing ldquoConvoyrdquordquo
The song tells the story of a lawbreaking protesting collection of truckers riding cross-country together as a miles-long ribbon of working class antiheroes communicating on CB radios It became a crossover hit spend-ing six weeks in the number one slot on the
country charts and a week as number one on the pop charts
As a result ldquoConvoyrdquo joined the ranks of country songs in the lsquo70s that became films along with ldquoHarper Valley PTArdquo ldquoOde to Billy Joerdquo and ldquoTake This Job and Shove Itrdquo The film version began shooting in 1977 and boasted an impressive collection of talent Country legend Kris Kristofferson was cast in the lead along with Oscar-nominated Ali MacGraw and character actor Burt Young Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine was the vil-lainous county sheriff determined to break up the I-canrsquot-drive-55 convoy
ldquoConvoyrdquo was a pop culture sensation and helped spawn an era when CB radios were all but ubiquitous in every vehicle even your momrsquos station wagon but Davis and Mannheim Steamroller are also celebrating a pair of even more notable milestones
This summer public television stations throughout the US will air Mannheim Steamroller 3040 Live The concert spe-cial marks two anniversaries for the hugely successful act their debut album Fresh Aire was released four decades ago followed ten years later by the release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas their first holiday album to huge success
lsquoldquoConvoyrsquo and the other 12 hits we hadrdquo Davis explains ldquoultimately funded Mannheim Steamroller and [record label] American Gramaphone Irsquom a lucky guy Going from a semi to a steamroller wasnrsquot all that difficultrdquo
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S11
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
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Mayor Jean Stothert
Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
Omaharsquos Best Doctorsreg
Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
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JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
4330 South 144th StreetOmaha NE 68137
(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
Proud Members of the Vetter Health Services Family
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Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
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Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
60PLUS feature
Like talking to a friend whorsquos an expert tooOf course we do basic home care The ldquoabove and beyondrdquo care we provide is what wersquore known for
bull Whether itrsquos Alzheimerrsquos or another condition we will create a care plan designed specifically for your mom or dad and provide him or her with a professionally supervised and trained caregiver of his or her choice
bull Your Care Manager is available to go to the doctor with your parentsand be an advocate for him or her on your behalf
bull Our Proactive Approach to home care means your Care Manager will get to know your parents their lifestyle and their current health and wellness goals
bull Wersquoll provide our services as long as yoursquore satisfied no contract required
Call us today 402-763-9140 bull HomeCareAssistanceOmahacom
Hear what yourneighbors are sayingldquoWe have been so thankfulfor Home Care Assistancethey found caregivers whofit well with Mom helpedher increase her strengthand stamina and generallyimproved her quality oflife She is so happy nowgetting out and visiting herneighbors She has returnedto being ldquoMomrdquo to somedegree Home Care Assistance made all the differencerdquo
mdash Linda Omaha
This certification is an honor a testament to our high standard of care mdash and a reminder that we must always strive to exceed our own expectations to better care for you Our twelve experienced highly-skilled cancer specialists are dedicated to complete cancer treatment and research with over 100 clinical trials available
CHI Health Cancer Center - Bergan (402) 393-3110Methodist Estabrook Cancer Center (402) 354-8124Midwest Cancer Center Papillion (402) 593-3141
Midwest Cancer Center Legacy (402) 334-4773Health Park Plaza-Fremont Health (402) 941-7030
Margaret Block MD
M Salman Haroon MD
Ralph J Hauke MD
Timothy K Huyck MD
Robert M Langdon Jr MD
Kirsten M Leu MD
John M Longo MD
Geetha Palaniappan MD
David A Silverberg MD
Gamini S Soori MD
Yungpo Bernard Su MD
Stefano R Tarantolo MD
Benefit from everything we can offer as the largest independent QOPI-certified cancer practice in Nebraska
Receive the Highest Level of Cancer Care
NEBRASKA CANCER SPECIALISTS IS QOPIreg CERTIFIED
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S7
A Dial Retirement Community
S8 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by bev a carlson | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HOBBIES
MARK ERIKSON
life in four-part harmony
Barbershop harmonizing and a cappella singing in general have enjoyed resurgence in popularity in recent years thanks to movies like Pitch Perfect and Jimmy Fallonrsquos ldquoRagtime Galsrdquo skits
ldquoIt really has made a differencerdquo says Erikson ldquoItrsquos bringing barbershop to the forefront of a new generation introducing a music style that can fit them too They donrsquot have to stop singing after high school They can keep singing their whole livesrdquo
The youngest member of Pathfinder Chorus is 13 the oldest 85 with all ages in between represented Professions range from student to dairy farmer to military veteran There are even a couple of pilots on stage One flies B-52s the other flies commercial jets All have one thing in common a love for music harmony and fellowship
Erikson discovered his passion for bar-bershop singing while he was in the mili-tary almost by accident He was stationed at Norfolk Navy Base An elderly lady who sat near him in church kept urging him to join the choir So he did Later he downloaded a four-part menrsquos arrangement of ldquoThe Irish Blessingrdquo encouraged friends to sing with him and never looked back That was 11 years ago
At 63 Erikson now serves as district presi-dent He really wants to leave the chorusmdashand his communitymdashbetter than he found it He also umpires baseball And many of the
Pathfinder concerts are fundraisers In 2014 they donated over $10000 to the Salvation Army and Goodfellows charities
ldquoMark has been crucial to the success of the grouprdquo says retiring music director Pete ldquoPDrdquo Stibor ldquoMark has the passionrdquo
The passion and the practice pay offmdashand not just at competition On a sunny Saturday this summer the Pathfinders per-formed at Burke High School Despite beauti-ful weather the auditorium was full of fans and groupies eager to spend the next 90 minutes enjoying perfect harmony It was delivered with only voices as instruments exploring great pop tunes ballads and the Beatles complete with choreographymdasheven ldquojazz handsrdquo
ldquoI want to do this as long as I canrdquo says Erikson ldquoThen have the good sense to step down when the time is right We give our-selves goose bumps on the risers We look at each other and sayWe just did thatItrsquos such a personal thing Such an emotional thing to be able to share that with your friendsrdquo
D ONrsquoT BOTHER TRYING TO contact Mark Erikson on a Monday night
From now until wellmdashforevermdashhersquos booked
On Monday nights yoursquoll find Erikson and more than 100 other Nebraska men singing their hearts out at a Presbyterian church in Fremont They travel in from all over Erikson drives from Papillion an 80-mile round trip Other members make the trek from South Sioux City Beatrice and Columbus Eriksonrsquos work life may take him to another state but hersquoll fly in just for practice then back He moves mountains to make sure hersquos in his spot on the riser
ldquoJust a solid fact of liferdquo he explains Therersquos always a quorum for rehearsal of
the Pathfinder ChorusldquoEvery Monday at practice we put all of
lifersquos challenges aside Itrsquos like a three-hour break in the week Irsquom with my buddies And wersquore singing really wellrdquo says Erikson ldquoI guess itrsquos kind of a guy thingrdquo
That ldquoguy thingrdquo is an award-winning nationally-recognized barbershop chorus Eriksonrsquos modesty masks the uniqueness of this ensemble Widely diverse both in age and professions the 43-year-old group first quali-fied to perform at the Barbershop Harmony Societyrsquos International Competition in 2010 Theyrsquove continued to qualify and place every year since a rare feat for a group made up of non-music professionals
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S9
S10 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by max sparber | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HISTORY
Chip Davis is celebrating 40-year anniversaries for both ldquoConvoyrdquo and the founding of Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoCONVOYrdquo 40 YEARS LATER
thatrsquos a big 10-4 good buddy
I N THE 1975 TRUCKER song ldquoConvoyrdquo a voice can be heard on a CB radio ldquoWhatrsquos your 20rdquo the voice asks code for
ldquowhatrsquos your locationrdquo The answer comes back ldquoOmahardquo
Of course it did The song itself was from Omaha And while there were a lot of trucker songs in the 1970s few could boast the sort of strange backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo could and none could look to the sort of future the song had
First the backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo was the product of a successful advertising campaign The product was Old Home Bread the adver-tising agency was Omaharsquos Bozell amp Jacobs They conceived of a series of ads featuring a truck driver delivering bread to a diner wait-ress The waitress was named Mavis Davis The truck driver was CW McCall
The campaign proved to be popularmdashso much so that McCall broke off to be an independent character releasing a number of recordings The lyrics and singing voice for McCall belonged to Bill Fries while the songs were written by Chip Davis Fries later became mayor of Ouray Colorado while Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoI said one time that I would never live in Nebraska and I would never write country musicrdquo Davis explains ldquoI guess we see how that all worked out My love of music was really in the classical area but my good for-tunemdashand I mean fortunemdashcame by way of writing ldquoConvoyrdquordquo
The song tells the story of a lawbreaking protesting collection of truckers riding cross-country together as a miles-long ribbon of working class antiheroes communicating on CB radios It became a crossover hit spend-ing six weeks in the number one slot on the
country charts and a week as number one on the pop charts
As a result ldquoConvoyrdquo joined the ranks of country songs in the lsquo70s that became films along with ldquoHarper Valley PTArdquo ldquoOde to Billy Joerdquo and ldquoTake This Job and Shove Itrdquo The film version began shooting in 1977 and boasted an impressive collection of talent Country legend Kris Kristofferson was cast in the lead along with Oscar-nominated Ali MacGraw and character actor Burt Young Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine was the vil-lainous county sheriff determined to break up the I-canrsquot-drive-55 convoy
ldquoConvoyrdquo was a pop culture sensation and helped spawn an era when CB radios were all but ubiquitous in every vehicle even your momrsquos station wagon but Davis and Mannheim Steamroller are also celebrating a pair of even more notable milestones
This summer public television stations throughout the US will air Mannheim Steamroller 3040 Live The concert spe-cial marks two anniversaries for the hugely successful act their debut album Fresh Aire was released four decades ago followed ten years later by the release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas their first holiday album to huge success
lsquoldquoConvoyrsquo and the other 12 hits we hadrdquo Davis explains ldquoultimately funded Mannheim Steamroller and [record label] American Gramaphone Irsquom a lucky guy Going from a semi to a steamroller wasnrsquot all that difficultrdquo
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S11
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine
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Mayor Jean Stothert
Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
Omaharsquos Best Doctorsreg
Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
trade
JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
4330 South 144th StreetOmaha NE 68137
(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
Proud Members of the Vetter Health Services Family
PhysicalOccupationalandSpeechTherapy Careaftertotaljointreplacement Strokerecovery Strengtheningaftercancertreatment Careaftersurgery Recoveryfromafallorextendedillness
Visit ourwebsite
to find outmore about us
OmahaBVampElkhornBM_Ad - Omaha 60+ Mag_111612_60+ Omaha Magazine Ad - BSV amp BSM 3112014 354 PM Page 1
Trouble Getting Up amp Down the StairsRegain your independence and the rest of your home
Largest showroom in the nationMultiple modelsone sure to fit your needs
Call for special pricing
12739 Q Street4024081990
wwwkohllscom
Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
S8 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by bev a carlson | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HOBBIES
MARK ERIKSON
life in four-part harmony
Barbershop harmonizing and a cappella singing in general have enjoyed resurgence in popularity in recent years thanks to movies like Pitch Perfect and Jimmy Fallonrsquos ldquoRagtime Galsrdquo skits
ldquoIt really has made a differencerdquo says Erikson ldquoItrsquos bringing barbershop to the forefront of a new generation introducing a music style that can fit them too They donrsquot have to stop singing after high school They can keep singing their whole livesrdquo
The youngest member of Pathfinder Chorus is 13 the oldest 85 with all ages in between represented Professions range from student to dairy farmer to military veteran There are even a couple of pilots on stage One flies B-52s the other flies commercial jets All have one thing in common a love for music harmony and fellowship
Erikson discovered his passion for bar-bershop singing while he was in the mili-tary almost by accident He was stationed at Norfolk Navy Base An elderly lady who sat near him in church kept urging him to join the choir So he did Later he downloaded a four-part menrsquos arrangement of ldquoThe Irish Blessingrdquo encouraged friends to sing with him and never looked back That was 11 years ago
At 63 Erikson now serves as district presi-dent He really wants to leave the chorusmdashand his communitymdashbetter than he found it He also umpires baseball And many of the
Pathfinder concerts are fundraisers In 2014 they donated over $10000 to the Salvation Army and Goodfellows charities
ldquoMark has been crucial to the success of the grouprdquo says retiring music director Pete ldquoPDrdquo Stibor ldquoMark has the passionrdquo
The passion and the practice pay offmdashand not just at competition On a sunny Saturday this summer the Pathfinders per-formed at Burke High School Despite beauti-ful weather the auditorium was full of fans and groupies eager to spend the next 90 minutes enjoying perfect harmony It was delivered with only voices as instruments exploring great pop tunes ballads and the Beatles complete with choreographymdasheven ldquojazz handsrdquo
ldquoI want to do this as long as I canrdquo says Erikson ldquoThen have the good sense to step down when the time is right We give our-selves goose bumps on the risers We look at each other and sayWe just did thatItrsquos such a personal thing Such an emotional thing to be able to share that with your friendsrdquo
D ONrsquoT BOTHER TRYING TO contact Mark Erikson on a Monday night
From now until wellmdashforevermdashhersquos booked
On Monday nights yoursquoll find Erikson and more than 100 other Nebraska men singing their hearts out at a Presbyterian church in Fremont They travel in from all over Erikson drives from Papillion an 80-mile round trip Other members make the trek from South Sioux City Beatrice and Columbus Eriksonrsquos work life may take him to another state but hersquoll fly in just for practice then back He moves mountains to make sure hersquos in his spot on the riser
ldquoJust a solid fact of liferdquo he explains Therersquos always a quorum for rehearsal of
the Pathfinder ChorusldquoEvery Monday at practice we put all of
lifersquos challenges aside Itrsquos like a three-hour break in the week Irsquom with my buddies And wersquore singing really wellrdquo says Erikson ldquoI guess itrsquos kind of a guy thingrdquo
That ldquoguy thingrdquo is an award-winning nationally-recognized barbershop chorus Eriksonrsquos modesty masks the uniqueness of this ensemble Widely diverse both in age and professions the 43-year-old group first quali-fied to perform at the Barbershop Harmony Societyrsquos International Competition in 2010 Theyrsquove continued to qualify and place every year since a rare feat for a group made up of non-music professionals
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S9
S10 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by max sparber | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HISTORY
Chip Davis is celebrating 40-year anniversaries for both ldquoConvoyrdquo and the founding of Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoCONVOYrdquo 40 YEARS LATER
thatrsquos a big 10-4 good buddy
I N THE 1975 TRUCKER song ldquoConvoyrdquo a voice can be heard on a CB radio ldquoWhatrsquos your 20rdquo the voice asks code for
ldquowhatrsquos your locationrdquo The answer comes back ldquoOmahardquo
Of course it did The song itself was from Omaha And while there were a lot of trucker songs in the 1970s few could boast the sort of strange backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo could and none could look to the sort of future the song had
First the backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo was the product of a successful advertising campaign The product was Old Home Bread the adver-tising agency was Omaharsquos Bozell amp Jacobs They conceived of a series of ads featuring a truck driver delivering bread to a diner wait-ress The waitress was named Mavis Davis The truck driver was CW McCall
The campaign proved to be popularmdashso much so that McCall broke off to be an independent character releasing a number of recordings The lyrics and singing voice for McCall belonged to Bill Fries while the songs were written by Chip Davis Fries later became mayor of Ouray Colorado while Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoI said one time that I would never live in Nebraska and I would never write country musicrdquo Davis explains ldquoI guess we see how that all worked out My love of music was really in the classical area but my good for-tunemdashand I mean fortunemdashcame by way of writing ldquoConvoyrdquordquo
The song tells the story of a lawbreaking protesting collection of truckers riding cross-country together as a miles-long ribbon of working class antiheroes communicating on CB radios It became a crossover hit spend-ing six weeks in the number one slot on the
country charts and a week as number one on the pop charts
As a result ldquoConvoyrdquo joined the ranks of country songs in the lsquo70s that became films along with ldquoHarper Valley PTArdquo ldquoOde to Billy Joerdquo and ldquoTake This Job and Shove Itrdquo The film version began shooting in 1977 and boasted an impressive collection of talent Country legend Kris Kristofferson was cast in the lead along with Oscar-nominated Ali MacGraw and character actor Burt Young Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine was the vil-lainous county sheriff determined to break up the I-canrsquot-drive-55 convoy
ldquoConvoyrdquo was a pop culture sensation and helped spawn an era when CB radios were all but ubiquitous in every vehicle even your momrsquos station wagon but Davis and Mannheim Steamroller are also celebrating a pair of even more notable milestones
This summer public television stations throughout the US will air Mannheim Steamroller 3040 Live The concert spe-cial marks two anniversaries for the hugely successful act their debut album Fresh Aire was released four decades ago followed ten years later by the release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas their first holiday album to huge success
lsquoldquoConvoyrsquo and the other 12 hits we hadrdquo Davis explains ldquoultimately funded Mannheim Steamroller and [record label] American Gramaphone Irsquom a lucky guy Going from a semi to a steamroller wasnrsquot all that difficultrdquo
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S11
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
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Mayor Jean Stothert
Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
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Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
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JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
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(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
Proud Members of the Vetter Health Services Family
PhysicalOccupationalandSpeechTherapy Careaftertotaljointreplacement Strokerecovery Strengtheningaftercancertreatment Careaftersurgery Recoveryfromafallorextendedillness
Visit ourwebsite
to find outmore about us
OmahaBVampElkhornBM_Ad - Omaha 60+ Mag_111612_60+ Omaha Magazine Ad - BSV amp BSM 3112014 354 PM Page 1
Trouble Getting Up amp Down the StairsRegain your independence and the rest of your home
Largest showroom in the nationMultiple modelsone sure to fit your needs
Call for special pricing
12739 Q Street4024081990
wwwkohllscom
Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
MARK ERIKSON
life in four-part harmony
Barbershop harmonizing and a cappella singing in general have enjoyed resurgence in popularity in recent years thanks to movies like Pitch Perfect and Jimmy Fallonrsquos ldquoRagtime Galsrdquo skits
ldquoIt really has made a differencerdquo says Erikson ldquoItrsquos bringing barbershop to the forefront of a new generation introducing a music style that can fit them too They donrsquot have to stop singing after high school They can keep singing their whole livesrdquo
The youngest member of Pathfinder Chorus is 13 the oldest 85 with all ages in between represented Professions range from student to dairy farmer to military veteran There are even a couple of pilots on stage One flies B-52s the other flies commercial jets All have one thing in common a love for music harmony and fellowship
Erikson discovered his passion for bar-bershop singing while he was in the mili-tary almost by accident He was stationed at Norfolk Navy Base An elderly lady who sat near him in church kept urging him to join the choir So he did Later he downloaded a four-part menrsquos arrangement of ldquoThe Irish Blessingrdquo encouraged friends to sing with him and never looked back That was 11 years ago
At 63 Erikson now serves as district presi-dent He really wants to leave the chorusmdashand his communitymdashbetter than he found it He also umpires baseball And many of the
Pathfinder concerts are fundraisers In 2014 they donated over $10000 to the Salvation Army and Goodfellows charities
ldquoMark has been crucial to the success of the grouprdquo says retiring music director Pete ldquoPDrdquo Stibor ldquoMark has the passionrdquo
The passion and the practice pay offmdashand not just at competition On a sunny Saturday this summer the Pathfinders per-formed at Burke High School Despite beauti-ful weather the auditorium was full of fans and groupies eager to spend the next 90 minutes enjoying perfect harmony It was delivered with only voices as instruments exploring great pop tunes ballads and the Beatles complete with choreographymdasheven ldquojazz handsrdquo
ldquoI want to do this as long as I canrdquo says Erikson ldquoThen have the good sense to step down when the time is right We give our-selves goose bumps on the risers We look at each other and sayWe just did thatItrsquos such a personal thing Such an emotional thing to be able to share that with your friendsrdquo
D ONrsquoT BOTHER TRYING TO contact Mark Erikson on a Monday night
From now until wellmdashforevermdashhersquos booked
On Monday nights yoursquoll find Erikson and more than 100 other Nebraska men singing their hearts out at a Presbyterian church in Fremont They travel in from all over Erikson drives from Papillion an 80-mile round trip Other members make the trek from South Sioux City Beatrice and Columbus Eriksonrsquos work life may take him to another state but hersquoll fly in just for practice then back He moves mountains to make sure hersquos in his spot on the riser
ldquoJust a solid fact of liferdquo he explains Therersquos always a quorum for rehearsal of
the Pathfinder ChorusldquoEvery Monday at practice we put all of
lifersquos challenges aside Itrsquos like a three-hour break in the week Irsquom with my buddies And wersquore singing really wellrdquo says Erikson ldquoI guess itrsquos kind of a guy thingrdquo
That ldquoguy thingrdquo is an award-winning nationally-recognized barbershop chorus Eriksonrsquos modesty masks the uniqueness of this ensemble Widely diverse both in age and professions the 43-year-old group first quali-fied to perform at the Barbershop Harmony Societyrsquos International Competition in 2010 Theyrsquove continued to qualify and place every year since a rare feat for a group made up of non-music professionals
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S9
S10 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by max sparber | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HISTORY
Chip Davis is celebrating 40-year anniversaries for both ldquoConvoyrdquo and the founding of Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoCONVOYrdquo 40 YEARS LATER
thatrsquos a big 10-4 good buddy
I N THE 1975 TRUCKER song ldquoConvoyrdquo a voice can be heard on a CB radio ldquoWhatrsquos your 20rdquo the voice asks code for
ldquowhatrsquos your locationrdquo The answer comes back ldquoOmahardquo
Of course it did The song itself was from Omaha And while there were a lot of trucker songs in the 1970s few could boast the sort of strange backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo could and none could look to the sort of future the song had
First the backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo was the product of a successful advertising campaign The product was Old Home Bread the adver-tising agency was Omaharsquos Bozell amp Jacobs They conceived of a series of ads featuring a truck driver delivering bread to a diner wait-ress The waitress was named Mavis Davis The truck driver was CW McCall
The campaign proved to be popularmdashso much so that McCall broke off to be an independent character releasing a number of recordings The lyrics and singing voice for McCall belonged to Bill Fries while the songs were written by Chip Davis Fries later became mayor of Ouray Colorado while Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoI said one time that I would never live in Nebraska and I would never write country musicrdquo Davis explains ldquoI guess we see how that all worked out My love of music was really in the classical area but my good for-tunemdashand I mean fortunemdashcame by way of writing ldquoConvoyrdquordquo
The song tells the story of a lawbreaking protesting collection of truckers riding cross-country together as a miles-long ribbon of working class antiheroes communicating on CB radios It became a crossover hit spend-ing six weeks in the number one slot on the
country charts and a week as number one on the pop charts
As a result ldquoConvoyrdquo joined the ranks of country songs in the lsquo70s that became films along with ldquoHarper Valley PTArdquo ldquoOde to Billy Joerdquo and ldquoTake This Job and Shove Itrdquo The film version began shooting in 1977 and boasted an impressive collection of talent Country legend Kris Kristofferson was cast in the lead along with Oscar-nominated Ali MacGraw and character actor Burt Young Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine was the vil-lainous county sheriff determined to break up the I-canrsquot-drive-55 convoy
ldquoConvoyrdquo was a pop culture sensation and helped spawn an era when CB radios were all but ubiquitous in every vehicle even your momrsquos station wagon but Davis and Mannheim Steamroller are also celebrating a pair of even more notable milestones
This summer public television stations throughout the US will air Mannheim Steamroller 3040 Live The concert spe-cial marks two anniversaries for the hugely successful act their debut album Fresh Aire was released four decades ago followed ten years later by the release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas their first holiday album to huge success
lsquoldquoConvoyrsquo and the other 12 hits we hadrdquo Davis explains ldquoultimately funded Mannheim Steamroller and [record label] American Gramaphone Irsquom a lucky guy Going from a semi to a steamroller wasnrsquot all that difficultrdquo
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S11
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
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Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
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Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
trade
JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
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12739 Q Street4024081990
wwwkohllscom
Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
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EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
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11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
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travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
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If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
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Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
S10 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by max sparber | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS HISTORY
Chip Davis is celebrating 40-year anniversaries for both ldquoConvoyrdquo and the founding of Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoCONVOYrdquo 40 YEARS LATER
thatrsquos a big 10-4 good buddy
I N THE 1975 TRUCKER song ldquoConvoyrdquo a voice can be heard on a CB radio ldquoWhatrsquos your 20rdquo the voice asks code for
ldquowhatrsquos your locationrdquo The answer comes back ldquoOmahardquo
Of course it did The song itself was from Omaha And while there were a lot of trucker songs in the 1970s few could boast the sort of strange backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo could and none could look to the sort of future the song had
First the backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo was the product of a successful advertising campaign The product was Old Home Bread the adver-tising agency was Omaharsquos Bozell amp Jacobs They conceived of a series of ads featuring a truck driver delivering bread to a diner wait-ress The waitress was named Mavis Davis The truck driver was CW McCall
The campaign proved to be popularmdashso much so that McCall broke off to be an independent character releasing a number of recordings The lyrics and singing voice for McCall belonged to Bill Fries while the songs were written by Chip Davis Fries later became mayor of Ouray Colorado while Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoI said one time that I would never live in Nebraska and I would never write country musicrdquo Davis explains ldquoI guess we see how that all worked out My love of music was really in the classical area but my good for-tunemdashand I mean fortunemdashcame by way of writing ldquoConvoyrdquordquo
The song tells the story of a lawbreaking protesting collection of truckers riding cross-country together as a miles-long ribbon of working class antiheroes communicating on CB radios It became a crossover hit spend-ing six weeks in the number one slot on the
country charts and a week as number one on the pop charts
As a result ldquoConvoyrdquo joined the ranks of country songs in the lsquo70s that became films along with ldquoHarper Valley PTArdquo ldquoOde to Billy Joerdquo and ldquoTake This Job and Shove Itrdquo The film version began shooting in 1977 and boasted an impressive collection of talent Country legend Kris Kristofferson was cast in the lead along with Oscar-nominated Ali MacGraw and character actor Burt Young Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine was the vil-lainous county sheriff determined to break up the I-canrsquot-drive-55 convoy
ldquoConvoyrdquo was a pop culture sensation and helped spawn an era when CB radios were all but ubiquitous in every vehicle even your momrsquos station wagon but Davis and Mannheim Steamroller are also celebrating a pair of even more notable milestones
This summer public television stations throughout the US will air Mannheim Steamroller 3040 Live The concert spe-cial marks two anniversaries for the hugely successful act their debut album Fresh Aire was released four decades ago followed ten years later by the release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas their first holiday album to huge success
lsquoldquoConvoyrsquo and the other 12 hits we hadrdquo Davis explains ldquoultimately funded Mannheim Steamroller and [record label] American Gramaphone Irsquom a lucky guy Going from a semi to a steamroller wasnrsquot all that difficultrdquo
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S11
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
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Mayor Jean Stothert
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Omaharsquos Best Doctorsreg
Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
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JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
4330 South 144th StreetOmaha NE 68137
(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
Proud Members of the Vetter Health Services Family
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OmahaBVampElkhornBM_Ad - Omaha 60+ Mag_111612_60+ Omaha Magazine Ad - BSV amp BSM 3112014 354 PM Page 1
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Largest showroom in the nationMultiple modelsone sure to fit your needs
Call for special pricing
12739 Q Street4024081990
wwwkohllscom
Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
ldquoCONVOYrdquo 40 YEARS LATER
thatrsquos a big 10-4 good buddy
I N THE 1975 TRUCKER song ldquoConvoyrdquo a voice can be heard on a CB radio ldquoWhatrsquos your 20rdquo the voice asks code for
ldquowhatrsquos your locationrdquo The answer comes back ldquoOmahardquo
Of course it did The song itself was from Omaha And while there were a lot of trucker songs in the 1970s few could boast the sort of strange backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo could and none could look to the sort of future the song had
First the backstory ldquoConvoyrdquo was the product of a successful advertising campaign The product was Old Home Bread the adver-tising agency was Omaharsquos Bozell amp Jacobs They conceived of a series of ads featuring a truck driver delivering bread to a diner wait-ress The waitress was named Mavis Davis The truck driver was CW McCall
The campaign proved to be popularmdashso much so that McCall broke off to be an independent character releasing a number of recordings The lyrics and singing voice for McCall belonged to Bill Fries while the songs were written by Chip Davis Fries later became mayor of Ouray Colorado while Davis founded Mannheim Steamroller
ldquoI said one time that I would never live in Nebraska and I would never write country musicrdquo Davis explains ldquoI guess we see how that all worked out My love of music was really in the classical area but my good for-tunemdashand I mean fortunemdashcame by way of writing ldquoConvoyrdquordquo
The song tells the story of a lawbreaking protesting collection of truckers riding cross-country together as a miles-long ribbon of working class antiheroes communicating on CB radios It became a crossover hit spend-ing six weeks in the number one slot on the
country charts and a week as number one on the pop charts
As a result ldquoConvoyrdquo joined the ranks of country songs in the lsquo70s that became films along with ldquoHarper Valley PTArdquo ldquoOde to Billy Joerdquo and ldquoTake This Job and Shove Itrdquo The film version began shooting in 1977 and boasted an impressive collection of talent Country legend Kris Kristofferson was cast in the lead along with Oscar-nominated Ali MacGraw and character actor Burt Young Oscar-winner Ernest Borgnine was the vil-lainous county sheriff determined to break up the I-canrsquot-drive-55 convoy
ldquoConvoyrdquo was a pop culture sensation and helped spawn an era when CB radios were all but ubiquitous in every vehicle even your momrsquos station wagon but Davis and Mannheim Steamroller are also celebrating a pair of even more notable milestones
This summer public television stations throughout the US will air Mannheim Steamroller 3040 Live The concert spe-cial marks two anniversaries for the hugely successful act their debut album Fresh Aire was released four decades ago followed ten years later by the release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas their first holiday album to huge success
lsquoldquoConvoyrsquo and the other 12 hits we hadrdquo Davis explains ldquoultimately funded Mannheim Steamroller and [record label] American Gramaphone Irsquom a lucky guy Going from a semi to a steamroller wasnrsquot all that difficultrdquo
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S11
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
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Mayor Jean Stothert
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Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
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war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
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The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
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NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
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The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
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Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
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Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
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Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
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Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
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EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
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Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
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Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
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530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
with Travel and Transport
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
For over 68 years Travel and Transport has made vacation dreams a reality In total our knowledgeable and seasoned travel specialists have visited over 50 countries on all seven continents and have sailed on over 50 cruises We provide our clients with the most advantageous pricing upgrades with leading hotels resorts spas cruise lines tour companies rail lines airlines and ground operators And through our partnership with Virtuoso we are able to offer exclusive amenities experiences and privileged access not available to the general public
Hotel Contessa Grand Cayman
Close To HomeSan Antonio TXTake the short journey to San Antonio for a wealth of activities to delight people of any age or interest Learn about iconic American figures at historic sites like the Alamo For something a bit more adventurous glide over the city in a hot air balloon If itrsquos just a relaxing stroll you seek saunter along the San Antonio River Walk where yoursquoll pass countless upscale shops attractions and restaurants When it comes time to rest your head enjoy luxurious accommodations right on the River Walk like the beautifully classic Hotel Contessa or the Mokara Hotel amp Spa And to experience a bit of the countryside make your way to the Eilan Hotel Resort amp Spa nestled into the picturesque Texas Hill Country
Our RecommendationsMokara Hotel amp SpaHotel ContessaEilan Hotel Resort amp Spa
Food amp Wine AdventureCayman Cookout Grand CaymanA foodiersquos dream come true this informative experience brings you face-to-face with some of the worldrsquos most renowned chefs Meet No Reservationsrsquo Anthony Bourdain Top Chefrsquos Tom Colicchio and head of the Cayman Cookout Eacuteric Ripert host of Avec Eric Spend the weekend celebrating all aspects of the epicurean from tastings and demonstrations to meals tours and mixology lessons There is a reason the Cayman Islands are crowned the culinary capital of the Caribbean Add this adventure to your itinerary and find out for yourself
Our Recommendations17-day Sand Sea and Stars Cruise on board Oceania Cruises Regatta7-night Ritz Carlton AirHotel Package with Pleasant Holidays5-night Marriott Grand Cayman AirHotel Package with Delta Vacations
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine
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Mayor Jean Stothert
Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
Omaharsquos Best Doctorsreg
Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
trade
JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
4330 South 144th StreetOmaha NE 68137
(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
Proud Members of the Vetter Health Services Family
PhysicalOccupationalandSpeechTherapy Careaftertotaljointreplacement Strokerecovery Strengtheningaftercancertreatment Careaftersurgery Recoveryfromafallorextendedillness
Visit ourwebsite
to find outmore about us
OmahaBVampElkhornBM_Ad - Omaha 60+ Mag_111612_60+ Omaha Magazine Ad - BSV amp BSM 3112014 354 PM Page 1
Trouble Getting Up amp Down the StairsRegain your independence and the rest of your home
Largest showroom in the nationMultiple modelsone sure to fit your needs
Call for special pricing
12739 Q Street4024081990
wwwkohllscom
Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
travelandtransportcom Located at 72nd amp Mercy | 4023994555 CORPORATE TRAVEL | EVENTS | LOYALTY | VACATIONS
Call today to book your getaway4023994555omahavacationstravelandtransportcom
Ultimate ExperienceHolland America Line and On Stage AlaskaFor a truly unique and exhilarating experience venture to Alaska ndash the Northern jewel of the United States With glaciers fjords mountains rivers and vast expanses of untouched woodlands Alaskalsquos natural wonder and beauty are sure to amaze any traveler With Holland America experience Alaska by land sea or both View Glacier Bay from a luxury cruise liner explore Denali National Park with an experienced tour guide or sail through Tracy Arm to spot a whale in the wild Visit Alaska for an experience you will cherish for the rest of your life To find out more about all the different opportunities to explore Alaska please join Holland America and Travel and Transport for a complimentary informative presentation on Thursday November 5th at 700 pm For more information on the event or to RSVP please call or email us at (402) 399-4555 or omahavacationstravelandtransportcom Attend this exciting event and be entered into a drawing for two round trip airline tickets
Our Recommendations7ndash14 Day Alaskan Explorer via Glacier Bay Tracy Arm or Hubbard Glacier11ndash14 Day Denali Land and Sea Journeys10ndash20 Day Yukon + Denali Land and Sea Journeys
Alaska
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine
trade
Mayor Jean Stothert
Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
Omaharsquos Best Doctorsreg
Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
trade
JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
4330 South 144th StreetOmaha NE 68137
(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
Proud Members of the Vetter Health Services Family
PhysicalOccupationalandSpeechTherapy Careaftertotaljointreplacement Strokerecovery Strengtheningaftercancertreatment Careaftersurgery Recoveryfromafallorextendedillness
Visit ourwebsite
to find outmore about us
OmahaBVampElkhornBM_Ad - Omaha 60+ Mag_111612_60+ Omaha Magazine Ad - BSV amp BSM 3112014 354 PM Page 1
Trouble Getting Up amp Down the StairsRegain your independence and the rest of your home
Largest showroom in the nationMultiple modelsone sure to fit your needs
Call for special pricing
12739 Q Street4024081990
wwwkohllscom
Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
ldquo
STILL TAKING ORDERS
60 years of waiting tables at the Pink Poodle
S14 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by carol crissey nigrelli | photography by bill sitzmann
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine
trade
Mayor Jean Stothert
Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
Omaharsquos Best Doctorsreg
Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
trade
JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
4330 South 144th StreetOmaha NE 68137
(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
Proud Members of the Vetter Health Services Family
PhysicalOccupationalandSpeechTherapy Careaftertotaljointreplacement Strokerecovery Strengtheningaftercancertreatment Careaftersurgery Recoveryfromafallorextendedillness
Visit ourwebsite
to find outmore about us
OmahaBVampElkhornBM_Ad - Omaha 60+ Mag_111612_60+ Omaha Magazine Ad - BSV amp BSM 3112014 354 PM Page 1
Trouble Getting Up amp Down the StairsRegain your independence and the rest of your home
Largest showroom in the nationMultiple modelsone sure to fit your needs
Call for special pricing
12739 Q Street4024081990
wwwkohllscom
Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
Donna Malone
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S15
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine
trade
Mayor Jean Stothert
Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
Omaharsquos Best Doctorsreg
Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
trade
JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
4330 South 144th StreetOmaha NE 68137
(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
Proud Members of the Vetter Health Services Family
PhysicalOccupationalandSpeechTherapy Careaftertotaljointreplacement Strokerecovery Strengtheningaftercancertreatment Careaftersurgery Recoveryfromafallorextendedillness
Visit ourwebsite
to find outmore about us
OmahaBVampElkhornBM_Ad - Omaha 60+ Mag_111612_60+ Omaha Magazine Ad - BSV amp BSM 3112014 354 PM Page 1
Trouble Getting Up amp Down the StairsRegain your independence and the rest of your home
Largest showroom in the nationMultiple modelsone sure to fit your needs
Call for special pricing
12739 Q Street4024081990
wwwkohllscom
Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
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S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
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Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
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530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
T HE YEAR 1955Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower
occupy the White House gas costs 22 cents per gallon ldquoThe Ballad of Davy Crockettrdquo hits the top of the record charts and Donna Malone greets the very first customers at the Pink Poodle Steakhouse
Time has a relentless way of relegating things to the past but both the waitress known simply as Donna and the Pink Poodle have outraced the last six decades They have persevered through fire flood five owners and an uncertain economy How With affordable prime rib and in Donnarsquos case a strong work ethic
Excitement came to tiny Crescent Iowa in May 1955 when Jake Brummer a local developer who owned three other restaurants in western Iowa bought an establishment at 633 Old Lincoln Highway called the Black Glove and gave it a new name with a quintes-sential rsquo50s flair The Pink Poodle served up a variety of steaks chicken and seafood pro-viding a quality entertainment venue across the Missouri River from north Omaha and a source of income for a teenage farm girl from just up the road in Honey Creek
ldquoThe Brummers were real good friends with my mom and dad and Irsquod known them foreverrdquo Donna recalls ldquoJake asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant and I said lsquoSurersquo I was 15rdquo
The new restaurant drew crowds imme-diately Donna started out as a cashier and hostess carefully observing how others did their jobs One night Brummer asked her to fill in as a waitress With her characteristic ldquoI can do thatrdquo attitude Donna found she liked waiting on tablesmdashand the benefits that came with it
ldquoBack then if you got a quarter per person per table it was a heck of a tip a dollar from four peoplerdquo says Donna 75 shaking her head at the thought ldquoOne Saturday night I remember making $32 The other girls just couldnrsquot believe it absolutely unreal Of course a lobster dinner back then was $795 Things have changed But I still make real good moneyrdquo
Itrsquos hard to pinpoint when Donna became as sought-after as the Pink Poodlersquos signature prime rib (introduced to the menu in the
early 1960s) The ease with which she talks to customers vanishes when asked to talk about herself A private humble person by nature Donna will only credit ldquogreat food and a wonderful clientelerdquo for the restaurantrsquos continued success Current owner Doreen McNeil who began as a waitress in 1983 and worked with Donna in the party room shows no such reluctance in focusing the spotlight
ldquoA lot of people come in here because of you Donnardquo McNeil tells her friend ldquoPeople who were children when Donna first waited on them now bring their grandchildren to meet herrdquo
Even first-time customers like Marianne and North Witcher of Omaha find them-selves easily drawn into Donnarsquos orbit ldquoShersquos fabulous as a waitress very knowledgeable and courteousrdquo says North ldquoShe got our orders exactly right knew the specials and their prices by heart We were floored when we learned how long shersquod been thererdquo
Donnarsquos journey to a 60th anniversary hit a roadblock in January 1972 when fire ravaged the Pink Poodle ldquoOne of our regulars spent too much time at the bar late one nightrdquo recounts Donna in her slow deliberate deliv-ery ldquoand a lit cigarette got away from him and fell in a booth It started smoldering By 3 in the morning the place was on firerdquo
In the four-year interim it took to secure the cash to rebuild Donna worked at another
Crescent establishment where she ran into Kenny Malone a trucker she had met years earlier They married in 1974 With no chil-dren of her own to raise Donna continued waitressing at night in addition to her day job as a legal secretary
ldquoIrsquove worked for the same lawyer in west Omaha for the past 45 years and one before him for 10rdquo she says matter-of-factly
Donnarsquos knowledge of Omaha came in handy during the Missourirsquos record flooding in 2011 McNeil decided to keep the res-taurant open despite closures from June to November of the Mormon Bridge leading into Crescent and sections of I-29 McNeil says whenever a customer from Omaha called asking for a way to get to the restaurant ldquoIrsquod just give the phone to Donna Shersquos our resident GPSrdquo
A solid regular customer base that includes Chip Davis of Manheim Steamroller (see page S10 for more on Davis) and KMTV meteorologist Jim Flowers helped keep the restaurant afloat during a tough time one of many Donna has faced Tall and thin with porcelain skin and blue eyes Donna shows no interest in slowing down ldquoNot unless Doreen fires merdquo she says half seriously
ldquoOh Donna Irsquoll never do thatrdquo McNeil quickly responds ldquoI wish I could find 10 more of yourdquo
Donna Malone talks to Pink Poodle owner Doreen McNeil
S16 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
60PLUS COVER FEATURE
omamagcomsave
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine
trade
Mayor Jean Stothert
Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
Omaharsquos Best Doctorsreg
Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
trade
JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
4330 South 144th StreetOmaha NE 68137
(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
Proud Members of the Vetter Health Services Family
PhysicalOccupationalandSpeechTherapy Careaftertotaljointreplacement Strokerecovery Strengtheningaftercancertreatment Careaftersurgery Recoveryfromafallorextendedillness
Visit ourwebsite
to find outmore about us
OmahaBVampElkhornBM_Ad - Omaha 60+ Mag_111612_60+ Omaha Magazine Ad - BSV amp BSM 3112014 354 PM Page 1
Trouble Getting Up amp Down the StairsRegain your independence and the rest of your home
Largest showroom in the nationMultiple modelsone sure to fit your needs
Call for special pricing
12739 Q Street4024081990
wwwkohllscom
Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
omamagcomsave
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
Donrsquot miss a single issue of Omaha Magazine
trade
Mayor Jean Stothert
Jim FlowersWeathers the Storm
Omaharsquos Best Doctorsreg
Omaharsquos 2013 BIG GIVE
Leading in a Manrsquos World
SEPTEMBEROCTOBER bull 2013
$2a$10$BV2a7VBdNEaP8TLqH43gOY8GyBeii959fEMuGFh6fTZktxU5toeU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$VQy5sjVaOIi93aOzrmXNOWOEUlVTxtUp4KLHYoUvJHGImzEGnKqU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$BSUej3mkaYgBL6SHdzkruVCLTOdrTeuMC7tENIJRio4k7r1S522U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8lJaZ1bjql9MsIVt9chbEODEK1V4DMh2sWCqgO3EOkcmLDpuOcv2OU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$bokog0hs0YeIDLS08Mtz1OiPJn75Gm7kUVRGxWiMvmNK96K15omCU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$6PwNCHEGBFnlVxWvtvWyOIUae5YKMbG9AKx4P0QQdYkJFnuQBedGU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$0zda1EWkCNLfq3f8IgljO0gl8u8SQWc9tfTcstxEmJlYbx85kAKU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$8HQyCRFmAbwq2RC1u3RBOGPwfqXvS4nK4obI8uQeYNWIAST0cM2U1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$UvJ6oFqd71pgpO03WVqRuAqoS2JG9CR1BvNEHKqLySgt2C7hVUWU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$FmIjrLTWACeLTrwoJXJu8b8hgthtLuGDBy0sV8EJZjyFkEni0NyU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$CjZNVV1n0igQ5i4xti7ehyyyTwczBJ4Or3CNfvQsAtx1fHkrPXmU1BBQ0UgR09FUyBIRVJFTkVXTElORSBHT0VTIEhFUkU=n$2a$10$uPCaJPhRy7F01s3YTceEkeAtZvK9r2seNkqA5w3PCqdyBr0eWmCOVER TEXT DECODED INSIDE
trade
JULYAUGUST bull 2014
war amp PeaceChuck Hagel battles for a future free of the quagmires of the past
OmaharsquostopDentiststrade
Best of Omahatrade Campaign 2015
The Loyal Royal Alex Gordon
Malorie MaddoxOmaha Stories
tradetrade
NOVEMBERDECEMBER bull 2013
The Road Home
Prescription Drug Abuse
Among Teens
Nebraskarsquos Premier Wealth Advisors
The Making of NebraskaJohn Jackson
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S17
WhenExperience Counts
Experience our State-of-the-Art Facilities
600 Brookestone Meadows PlazaElkhorn NE 68022 | (402) 289-2696wwBrookestoneMeadowscom
QUALITY LIFE | QUALITY CARE | EXCELLENT TEAMS | QUALITY REPUTATION | STEWARDSHIP
4330 South 144th StreetOmaha NE 68137
(402) 614-4000wwBrookestoneVillagecom
Proud Members of the Vetter Health Services Family
PhysicalOccupationalandSpeechTherapy Careaftertotaljointreplacement Strokerecovery Strengtheningaftercancertreatment Careaftersurgery Recoveryfromafallorextendedillness
Visit ourwebsite
to find outmore about us
OmahaBVampElkhornBM_Ad - Omaha 60+ Mag_111612_60+ Omaha Magazine Ad - BSV amp BSM 3112014 354 PM Page 1
Trouble Getting Up amp Down the StairsRegain your independence and the rest of your home
Largest showroom in the nationMultiple modelsone sure to fit your needs
Call for special pricing
12739 Q Street4024081990
wwwkohllscom
Recipient of
PLATINUM AWARD
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
T ODD WEBER WAS TYPICALLY a fairly active man A senior radiation protection technician for Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) by day he often spent his weekends
racing stock cars with his teenage son or building cart racing accessories in his garage Racing stock cars was a life-long hobby and something Weber loved to share with his son
But about a year ago that all began to change Weberrsquos energy started to dwindle and his interest in cart racing waned with it
ldquoI had no energy or driverdquo recalls Weber ldquoI just wasnrsquot enjoying life anymore I knew something was seriously wrong when my son asked me to work on his car with him and I said nordquo
His wife encouraged him to go to a doctor The first doctor put him on an antidepressant But Weber saw no change in his energy or mood Then Weber saw something on the Internet about low testosterone levels His symptoms matched up He made an appointment with Chad LaGrange MD urologist at Nebraska Medicine who tested his testosterone level
ldquoMy level was so low that he said my wife had more testos-terone than merdquo says Weber
Weber received a hormone pellet injection and within a few weeks his energy had returned he had a renewed interest in life and was able to cut out the afternoon nap that had begun to be a part of his daily routine
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40 and beyondrdquo explains LaGrange ldquoAbout 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
Testosterone is the main male hormone that maintains muscle mass and strength fat distribution bone mass sperm productions sex drive and potency Very low testosterone levels can place men at higher risk for osteoporosis obesity diabetes and heart disease
This decline in hormones can result in symptoms such as low motivation decreased stamina and energy depression hot flashes loss of muscle mass and mood swings
Testosterone replacement therapy can be very effective at reducing these risks and improving symptoms However
IS TESTOSTERONE REPLACEMENT
right for you
S18 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by susan meyers
60PLUS HEALTH
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
testosterone therapy is not without its side effects and therefore men should be carefully screened by licensed physicians to determine if they are a candidate for therapy says LaGrange In some cases a drop in tes-tosterone may be related to cancer brain-related diseases diabetes obesity and other hormonal abnormalities
ldquoIf not diagnosed and treated properly testosterone injections may cause blood clots stroke heart attack and liver toxicityrdquo says LaGrange ldquoWhile there has been some debate over the safety of testosterone replacement therapy most physicians agree that it is safe when provided for the appropriate reasons and monitored carefullyrdquo
Additionally men with treated or untreated prostate cancer should not use testosterone therapy unless they have spoken with their urologist about the risks and benefits
Dr LaGrange also cautions men to beware of over-the-counter testosterone boosters which are not regulated and could cause harmful side effects
ldquoI feel like a new manrdquo says Weber ldquoItrsquos so good to feel better againrdquo
ldquoTestosterone production begins to decline in men each year as they reach age 40
and beyond About 15 percent of men will experience a drop in levels that is clinically
significant particularly those who are obese andor have other chronic illnessesrdquo
-Chad LaGrange MD urologist Nebraska Medicine
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S19
wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom 402-905-2794
Helping Seniors with Topaz EZ
Nebraska Low Vision has the industryrsquos simplest lowest cost desktop video magnifier the Topaz EZ which comes with free delivery free training and lifetime support Magnification from 35X to 60X
a dial retirement community
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
S20 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by judy horan
60PLUS HISTORY
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
YOU KNOW YOUrsquoVE LIVED IN OMAHA A
LONG TIME if you remember these moments
Johnny Carson hosting a show on WOW-TV in 1950 called The Squirrelrsquos Nest The Omaha show was the television debut for the Nebraska native who went on to national stardom as a late-night TV host Remember when Carson took a microphone onto the ledge of the county courthouse to interview the pigeons He wanted to give their side of the controversy surrounding pigeonrsquos loiter-ing on the ledges
You followed your nose to South Omaha The neighborhood was mal-odorous because of nearby stockyards Some neighbors referred to it as ldquothe smell of moneyrdquo Nicknamed ldquoThe Magic Cityrdquo in the 1890s South Omaha is an histori-cal and culturally diverse area with eclectic neighbor-hoods like Little Italy and Little Bohemia Each year Cinco De Mayo adds fun and music to the streets
The Omar Baking Company near 43rd and Nicholas streets filled the neighborhood with sniff-worthy aroma by delivering bread door to door You may remember the jingle ldquoIrsquom the Omar man (tap tap tap) Knocking at your door (rappa tap tap) When you taste my bread (mmmm boy) yoursquore gonna want more (rappa tap tap)rdquo The building is now used for offices and events
Perhaps your brush with fame was graduating from Westside High School in 1959 with actor Nick Nolte eventually named People Magazinersquos 1992 Sexiest Man Alive Or living nearby when Jane and Peter Fonda resided with their aunt on Izard Street You may have gone to UNO with Peter or cruised Dodge Street with Jane
You might have tasted the worldrsquos first TV dinner (98 cents each) in the 1950s introduced by Omaha broth-ers Gilbert and W Clarke Swanson The package was designed to look like a TV set at a time when only 20 percent of American homes had a television The TV dinnerrsquos aluminum tray ended up in the Smithsonian Institute in 1986 as an American cultural milestoneThe Swanson name lives on in Omaha on W Clarke Swanson Public Library Swanson Elementary School Creightonrsquos W Clarke Swanson Hall and Durham Museumrsquos Swanson Gallery
The Orpheum a movie theater built in 1927 as a burlesque theater closed in 1971 Maybe you were there in January 17 1975 for the renovated theaterrsquos grand reopening We know you werenrsquot there in 1971 for the last movie shown the theater was empty
The Indian Hills movie theater built in 1961 near 84th and Dodge streets was called ldquothe hat boxrdquo because of its shape Perhaps you were among the people who tried to save the wide-screen Super-Cinerama the-ater building before it was torn down in 2001
The Cooper theater near 15th and Douglas streets a former ldquobastion of bumprdquo (burlesque) when its name was The Moon was a place to see movies until it was demolished in 1975
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S21
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
T HE INTERWEBS TELL ME that the aca-demic term Irsquove been searching for is something called ldquostructured block
playrdquo You know LEGOS building blocks and the like
My 5-year-old grandson Easton is particu-larly enthralled with structured block play Such toys in the hands of growing minds have many benefits in childhood development Besides the obvious of honing fine motor skillsmdashthat ability to dope out how this piece fits into that onemdashthere are higher cognitive functions at work here
Children must be able to envision a fin-ished product one that begins with nothing more than a mental blueprint of their own making They are confronted with a hodge-podge of disparate parts and must somehow envision a cohesive whole Along the way they learn about spatial relationships geometry math and problem-solving
But thatrsquos not Eastonrsquos gameHe almost never sets out to build anything
Sure hersquoll occasionally erect a towering sky-scraper of sorts but his structured block play is almost always a lot lesshellipwell structured
He can occupy himself for what seems forever assembling intricate two-dimensional patterns on the floor ones that seemingly serve no purpose other than to fuel his imagi-nation Some look like abstract art Others evoke images reminiscent of those spindly models of molecules seen in science labs The only common denominator appears to be the establishment and repetition of pattern for patternrsquos sake
Further distancing himself from the intended purpose of his toys he eschews the ldquoconnectednessrdquo functionality of the blocks Instead of joining the pieces together he lays them end-to-end
Easton is usually at a loss for words in describing his convoluted creations and I learned long ago to consider his installation art as something dwelling in the realm of the arcane even the trippy
Irsquod give anything to get inside Eastonrsquos head to survey the workings of his brain as he puzzles through these puzzling arrays Just what the heck is going on in that noodle of his as he conceives such fantastical explosions of variegated color
I intended to begin this column reflect-ing on childhood memories of playing for hours on end with a set of Lincoln Logs The problem is that such a statement would be a lie It was impossible to tinker with toys like Lincoln Logs for any period of time without quickly losing interest Maybe thatrsquos because they represented an entirely different form of play one decidedly lacking in possibilities compared to the limitless selection of block toys available today
No young children now have a more unfet-tered mode of play Millennials are the first generation to have had the benefit of such free-association upbringings and theyrsquore the people who are defining a brave new world where imagination is the most prized of skills
Baby Boomers like me had the endgamemdashthe desired finished productmdashhanded to them for all to see right there in the picture of a fort on that box of Lincoln Logs
Easton is learning to think outside the box
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LINCOLN LOGS
thinking outside the box
S22 60PLUS | septemberoctober 2015 | omahamagazinecom
by david williams
60PLUS THE GRANDPA CHRONICLES
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
septemberoctober 2015 | 60PLUS S23
DIRECTORY
Elk Ridge Village on the Lake Retirement CommunityElk Ridge Village provides Independent and Assisted Living and Alzheimerrsquos Care and is committed to providing services of the highest quality
19303 Seward Plaza402-312-1198402-216-8835wwwelkridgeseniorlivingcom
Brookestone MeadowsBrookestone VillageSkilled nursing communities provid-ing short-term rehabilitation including physical occupational and speech ther-apy as well as long-term nursing care
wwwBrookestoneVillagecom402-614-4000 bull OmahawwwBrookestoneMeadowscom402-280-2696 bull Elkhorn
Home Care Assistance
Our services are distinguished by the caliber of our caregivers the respon-siveness of our staff and our expertise in Live-In care We embrace a positive balanced approach to aging centered on the evolving needs of older adults
402-763-9140homecareassistanceomahacom
EJ Militti JrFinancial AdvisorThe Militti Group at Morgan Stanley
Wealth and Estate Planning Risk-Management Executive Services Foundations amp Endowments
(402) 399-1513wwwmorganstanleyfacommilittigroup
Saint Jude Hospice
Rooted in Christian Love and Guided by the Holy Spirit our Radical Loving Care brings healing to those when their hope has changed from a cure to comfort
10506 Burt Circle402-609-4818saintjudehospiceorg
Steven D Wegner DDS
Dr Wegner has 35 years of clinical experi-ence and thousands of hours of continuing education He knows how to help seniors and all ages to achieve and keep a healthy smile
11840 Nicholas StSuite 210Omaha NE 68154402-498-0400
Travel and Transport
Travel and Transport is proud to be the 5th largest travel agency in the US servicing clients throughout the country as well as globally
travelandtransportcom 402-399-4500
Nebraska Cancer SpecialistsNebraska Cancer Specialists is dedicated to providing complete cancer treatment for patients medical oncology radiation oncology surgical specialists and diagnostic services
5 Convenient LocationsFor address and phone infovisit our websitenebraskacancercom
Kohllrsquos Pharmacy amp Homecare
8 locations amp free delivery Providing retail amp compounded prescriptions all medical equipment amp supplies
402-408-1990 wwwkohllscom
Home Instead Senior Care
If yoursquore looking for someone to help you or a loved one a few hours a week or need more comprehensive assistance Home Instead Senior Care can help
Metro 4024983444West 4029324555
Nebraska Low Vision
Regain the Joy ofreading and writing today
In Home Demo Call 402-905-2794wwwNebraskaLowVisioncom
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors
2015 March of Dimes and Omaha Magazine Nurse of the Year Awards
Every day people throughout Nebraska and Southwest Iowa experience the extraordinary care and compassion of our outstanding nurses
Help celebrate nursing excellence and the achievements in research education quality patient care innovation and leadership of these
outstanding medical professionals We are proud to partner with Omaha Magazine to bring you the 2015 Nurse of the Year Awards
530 PM Thursday November 12 2015Hilton Omaha | 1001 Cass St Omaha NE 68102
For more information or to purchase tickets go towwwmarchofdimesorgnebraska
or call 402-496-7111
Thank you to ourEvent Sponsors