Nebraska Wildlife Rehab in urgent need of pet food, towels, sheets: Short Takes

The organization is in the middle of a record-breaking year, having cared for more than 4,800 orphaned and injured wild animals so far in 2024. The rehabilitation center expects to receive more than 8,000 animals in need of help by the end of the year, around 20% more than average.

After Tuesday’s storms destroyed their home, 24 birds of various ages from a purple martin colony arrived at NWR and will stay until they fledge.

Items can be dropped off at the Baldwin Wildlife Center at 9777 M St. in Omaha during regular business hours. The center is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Financial donations are also appreciated to cover the cost of veterinary care, food and other necessities for the more than 950 patients at the center. Checks can be mailed to 9777 M St., Omaha, NE 68127. Donations can also be made online at nebraskawildliferehab.org.

In addition to caring for orphaned and injured wildlife from across the state, Nebraska Wildlife Rehab offers internships for undergraduate students and provides programming to middle and high school students about wildlife and conservation. The organization also has advanced veterinary internships and externships and aids the public with wildlife conflicts issues. The organization partners with organizations and agencies across the country to help wildlife and collaborate on research benefiting public health.

The nonprofit organization doesn’t receive any state or federal funding and depends on donations from the public.

To help keep the community healthy, Keep Omaha Beautiful offers a free, step-by-step cleanup guide for the safe disposal of fireworks waste.

Taking simple steps to clean up fireworks helps protect local waterways and the urban ecosystem. Fireworks contain a variety of poisonous materials, including lead, heavy metals, sulfur-coal compounds and chemicals like perchlorates. These properties create colors and effects in fireworks, but can leave behind toxic pollution that negatively impacts people, wildlife and natural resources.

With proper cleanup practices, citizens can prevent fireworks waste from entering storm drains on the street. Many people do not realize that the storm drain system flows to local rivers and streams without being filtered or treated first. When fireworks debris enters a storm drain, pollutants are washed into local waterways and cause harm to aquatic ecosystems.

After the show, take these four, simple steps:

» Be safe and wait 20: After lighting a firework, wait 20 minutes before picking it up to ensure any flame is out, and use caution.

» Soak fireworks: Submerge all used or misfired fireworks in a bucket of water for 15 minutes or until saturated.

» Sweep and bag: Sweep up all dust and debris, and seal it in a plastic bag along with the wet fireworks waste. Place the sealed bag in the trash, away from buildings.

» Flush the water: After removing the wet fireworks, flush the water from the bucket used for soaking down a toilet. Do not dump the water in the street or grass, and do not hose down the area, as this will wash debris into storm drains.

Kristín Jónína Taylor’s recording of Mike McFerron’s Sonata No. 2 has been awarded two silver medals in the Global Music Awards’ Composer and New Release categories.

She is an associate professor of piano at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

The sonata, written in 2022, tells the story from the point of view of parents whose children died in the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting.

Global Music Awards is an international music competition that honors talented musicians around the world.

“Midwest Piano Sonatas,” Taylor’s recording featuring McFerron’s sonata alongside two other piano sonatas by Midwestern composers, will be released by Navona Records on Aug. 2. Album information can be found at www.navonarecords.com/catalog/nv6653/.

Three Omaha-based organizations — the City of Omaha, Omaha by Design and Conservation Nebraska — have been awarded grants from AARP Nebraska.

The funding through AARP’s 2024 Community Challenge grant is part of $3.8 million awarded among 343 organizations nationwide. Grantees will implement quick-action projects that help communities become more livable by improving public places, transportation, housing, digital connections and more, with an emphasis on the needs of adults ages 50 and older.

“AARP Nebraska is committed to working with local leaders, advocates and policymakers to make our communities better places to live for Nebraskans of all ages, especially those 50 and older,” said Todd Stubbendieck, state director for AARP Nebraska. “We’re proud to collaborate with this year’s grantees as they make immediate improvements to address long-standing and emerging challenges across our communities.”

Grant projects funded in Omaha:

The City of Omaha will be awarded $22,249 under the category of “Flagship Grant–Transportation” with funding support provided in part by Toyota Motor North America. Their project creates a safer crossing near two busy bus stops in a diverse urban community. It will immediately enhance accessibility, encourage walking and support a pedestrian-friendly community — especially for residents age 50 and older. The pedestrian refuge islands will be at 24th and B and 24th and Oak Streets.

Omaha by Design will be awarded $23,500 under the category of “Demonstration Grant–Housing Choice Design Competitions.” This project will create a design competition for innovative and accessible duplex designs to serve as models for Missing Middle Housing that can provide affordability while serving the increasing number of residents over the age of 50.

Conservation Nebraska will be awarded $6,716 under the category of “Flagship Grant-Public Places.” Their project will install planter boxes and accessible benches at two community gardens in North Omaha. Volunteers and the community will work together to install and maintain these gardens.

Researcher, physician, author and speaker Neal Barnard will hold a presentation in Omaha on July 24.

He is the founder of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and leads a clinical research team that has demonstrated symptoms of diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, menopause and many other conditions can be minimized or reversed using food as medicine.

His latest book, subject of his presentation in Omaha, is “The Power Foods Diet.” He will present his latest research showing how certain foods can trap, tame and burn calories for easy and permanent weight loss.

The event will be held at the Scott Conference Center on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus at 7 p.m. on July 24.

The event is open to the public, but advance registration by July 16 is required. The event is organized by the nonprofit Lifestyle Health Alliance. Registration and details at healthyforalifetime.org.

Last week marked a historic milestone for Dreamweaver Foundation, as seven bucket list dreams were fulfilled in one week.

Four dreamers enjoyed local experiences, one person going to the Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium and another indulging in his ultimate comfort meal of pizza. Two gathered their loved ones to enjoy each other’s company and delicious meals.

Three others embarked on road trips. They went to Great Wolf Lodge, Worlds of Fun and Nebraska’s Pine Ridge.

Dreamweaver Foundation’s mission is to bring joyful experiences and meaningful connection to older adults on low incomes. For more information, call 402-990-1343 or visit dreamweaver.org.

The seventh annual Thriving Children, Families, and Communities Conference is set to take place on Sept. 17 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska. Registration is now open and free to the public.

Linda Smith is scheduled to headline the event. She is a national early childhood leader and serves as the director of policy at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska.

The statewide conference brings together hundreds of Nebraska community leaders from a variety of backgrounds, including business, economic development, government, health care, philanthropy and education. These leaders will join experts and community members to discuss the child care crisis in Nebraska and solutions to address it.

To register, contact Greta Morris at gretamorris@nebraska.edu or 402-679-3135.

For 45 years, LifeNet of the Heartland has served Omaha and the surrounding area with life-saving care. In recognition of that milestone, many of those who have had a hand in the success of LifeNet 1-1 joined together in a recent celebration at Falconwood Park.

“Among the first civil air medical programs in the country, LifeNet of the Heartland has shown unwavering commitment to this community,” said Derek Strohman, account executive for Air Methods, the parent company of LifeNet of the Heartland. “For 45 years, everyone from our nurses and paramedics to our pilots and mechanics have shown an unparalleled dedication to this program and we are so happy to help them celebrate this anniversary.”

A selection of photos from nearly half a century, along with a display of flight suits from over the years, highlighted the evolution of the program.

LifeNet 1-1 offers comprehensive critical care across all ages, from infants to seniors, encompassing cardiac, trauma, high-risk obstetrics and various other serious medical conditions.

Originally known as Life Flight, the program was founded in 1979 by Creighton University Medical Center as the ninth air medical program in the United States. The program merged with University of Nebraska Medical Center’s SkyMed in 1997 and in 2000, changed its name to LifeNet. Acquired by Air Methods in 2003, the program has grown to include bases in Norfolk, Columbus, Crete, Kearney and North Platte.

Short Takes is a compilation of lightly edited press releases from various organizations. If you’d like to have your information included, send it to ducey@owh.com at least 10 days before the item needs to run.