Author: OmahaNebraska

Veterans Day Program & Free Lunch for Veterans at The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, 11 November

Veterans Day Program & Free Lunch for Veterans at The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum – Nov. 11 (11 a.m. – 12 p.m.)

The Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum honors America’s military veterans with a special program on Veterans Day, featuring posting of the colors and a keynote speaker. Veterans are encouraged to attend this event in uniform.

For the entirety of the day, active, retired and veteran service members receive FREE admission into the Museum.

 

For more information and  updates visit,
https://sacmuseum.org

Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum
28210 W. Park Hwy.
Ashland, NE 68003

Salute to Veterans 2020: La Vista, 11 November

From our friends in La Vista:

Virtual Event at 4 p.m., Nov. 11

Every Veterans Day, the La Vista Community Foundation hosts a Salute to Veterans event to pay tribute to local veterans and military members. This year, like many public events, the 2020 Salute to Veterans event cannot be held in person. Instead, the Foundation will offer an entertaining virtual event starting at 4 p.m. on November 11 to honor the incredible sacrifice of our veterans.

The FREE one-hour event will include keynote addresses from former U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and University of Nebraska President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. The event will also feature patriotic music and tributes to every branch of the military.

We invite you to watch our 10th annual event starting at 4 p.m. on November 11 on the La Vista Community Foundation’s Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

Facebook: La Vista Community Foundation

YouTube: http://bit.ly/LVCFyoutube

The 2020 Salute to Veterans event will remain online on both the Facebook page and YouTube channel for people to view at their convenience after Veterans Day.

Omaha Zoo Offers Free Admission to Military Families On Veterans Day, 11 November

From our friends at the zoo:

For Immediate Release
Contact: Diane Kohout (402) 738-2015
Zoo Public Relations (402) 980-9285

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

Offers Free Admission to Military Families on Veterans Day

Omaha, Neb. (Nov. 9, 2020) – Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is pleased to offer free gate admission to all active military members, veterans, and their immediate families on Veterans Day, Wednesday Nov. 11.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium will be open on Wednesday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Zoo grounds and buildings close at 5 p.m. This is the eleventh year that Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium has honored veterans with free admission.
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Consistently ranked as one of the world’s top zoos, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is an independent not-for-profit organization accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Zoo is recognized nationally for its conservation, animal care and exhibit design. As a leader in conservation, the Zoo’s Center for Conservation and Research focuses on areas to benefit animal husbandry and species conservation including conservation genetics, conservation medicine, reproductive sciences, and comparative nutrition. More information is available at http://www.omahazoo.com.

 

Omaha Restaurant: Enjoy food from Togo at Okra African Grill

From Okra African Grill:

Okra African Grill offers slow-cooked comfort food made from the heart. As chef and owner, Nina Sodji, says with a warm smile, “You always have to eat, so make it simple and enjoy.”

About Okra

Nina Sodji is originally from Togo, a small coastal country in northwest Africa. Nina immigrated to America 26 years ago, pivoted careers, ran a few businesses, and went to culinary school, all while raising two small children. In culinary school, Nina realized the foods she grew up enjoying in Togo were inspired by many cultures: French, Spanish, German, Indian, and neighboring African countries. She loves experimenting with her favorite dishes, making the food she grew up with accessible to all. Nina’s passion for cooking and entertaining is evident in every dish.

What Should You Order At Okra African Grill?

With ingredients like garlic, onions, parsley, peppers, and tomatoes, and slow-cooked sauces and meats, every meal tastes familiar, even for those new to African cuisine.

Okra’s “Build-a-Bowl” option is popular and is set up similarly to Chipotle or Goodcents. Guests “build” rice bowls to fit their tastes, adding protein, sauce, and fresh toppings. Okra also offers African Specialties, like Grilled Fish Filet with Attiéké and Ablo, which are traditional African dishes with Nina’s flair. To finish your meal (or as a treat on the go), they have a wide assortment of desserts like Beignets and Chocolate Chunk Cookies, and freshly squeezed flavored lemonades.

For many, Okra is the closest thing to the food they grew up with in the Motherland. For the health-conscious, not only are there several hearty vegan dishes, but nearly any menu item can be made to accommodate special diets like Keto and Gluten-free. For people on the go, Okra is a delightful new option. New to African food? Nina and her staff are incredibly knowledgeable and friendly, from explaining new-to-you ingredients to suggesting their favorite menu items.

Okra Opened In March 2020

Okra opened its doors just days before the world shut down due to the global pandemic. It was simply a case of bad timing, as many can relate to. Though this summer’s surge of support for Black-owned businesses gave Okra a much-appreciated boost, people are still hesitant to dine out. This year has been anything but easy. Okra is open at limited seating capacity, and taking extreme sanitation precautions. If you’re still uneasy about dining out, they do offer carry-out, curbside pick-up, and delivery (through DoorDash or Grubhub), plus gift cards are available for dining at a later time. They also have catering and family-style meals to enjoy a nice meal at home.

Okra’s struggles in 2020 are not unique, unfortunately. What does make Okra unique, however, is that their food gives you a sense of comfort that typically only comes from home-cooked meals surrounded by people you love. So, on those hard days during (waves arms around) all of this, get some Jeloff Rice and Nina’s Famous Ginger Lemonade, and forget your troubles, if only for a moment.

Try Okra African Grill Today

1303 S 72nd St #101
Omaha, NE 68124
Just southeast of 72/Pacific
402-884-7500

www.okraafricangrill.com

Delivery through Grubhub and Doordash

Follow Okra on social media for specials and promotions @okraafricangrill

Instagram okraafricangrill
Facebook okraafricangrill
info@okraafricangrill.com

Veteran Entrepreneur Listening Session, 5 November

From our friends at the SBA:

Please join us on Thursday, Nov 5th at 2pm for a Veteran Entrepreneur
Listening Session hosted by the Veteran Business Opportunity Center and
the SBA Nebraska District Office. We want to hear from you about YOUR
entrepreneur experience. What services did/do you use? What services do
you wish you had access to? Please share your thoughts with us on
Thursday!

Register here:
https://sba-vboc.ecenterdirect.com/events/19059

Help Build Cat Shelters, 24 October

Bring a 14-20 gallon storage container with a lid to use for the project and Felius Cat Café will have the rest of the supplies(straw and styrofoam) ready for you to build a winter cat shelter for kitties in need.

Contact: Bre Phelan bre@felius.org

https://felius.as.me/schedule.php?appointmentType=8923137

Felius Cat Café (Event is outside in the backyard)
522 South 24th Street
Omaha, NE 68102

Omaha Event: Prospect Hill Cemetery Tour, 23 October

Tour historic Prospect Hill Cemetery this Friday at 6:00 PM with a knowledgeable guide. Tours include stories of the those buried there, settlers, Omaha historical figures and symbols on the gravestones.

Cost is $25.00. Discounts are available for groups.

Contact:shannon@historywalksnebraska.com

Website to order tickets and learn more:
http://historywalksnebraska.com/store/p39/PHCTourOct2320.html

Location:
Prospect Hill Cemetery
3202 Parker Street
Omaha, NE 68111

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo: Zoo Superheroes

From our friends at the Omaha Zoo:

For Immediate Release
Contact: Diane Kohout (402) 738-2015
Zoo Public Relations (402) 980-9285
Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium Recognizes
“Zoo Superheroes” for Wearing Masks

Omaha, Neb. (Sept. 25, 2020) – Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium announces a program to recognize Zoo Superheroes who wear their mask to help keep others healthy. Once a week, a special Zoo Squad will be on Zoo grounds looking for children and families who keep their masks on even when there is not a rule to do so, such as outside. Recipients will become official “Zoo Superheroes” with a sticker and animal face mask for each child. “As we continue to figure out new ways to go about our regular activities, the Zoo wants all our visitors to know how much we appreciate them going ‘above and beyond’ to keep other people and our animals safe by wearing a mask, even when they don’t have to,” said Dennis Pate, president and CEO of Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. “ That extra effort to keep everyone safe is what will get us back to normal faster than anything else.”The Zoo is committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, animals, and employees, and will make changes as needed based on actual operating conditions and guidance from public health experts and elected officials. Please check the Zoo’s website at OmahaZoo.com and social media channels on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest details and the most current schedule.

When the Zoo gates closed due to the Coronavirus crisis on March 16, 2020, dedicated staff continued to care for over 30,000 animals every day. Because of the closure, there is a significant revenue shortfall expected. In response, the Omaha Zoo Foundation has launched an Emergency Fund campaign to support ongoing Zoo operations. Members of the community who would like to contribute can visit the Zoo’s website, OmahaZoo.com.

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Consistently ranked as one of the world’s top zoos, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium is an independent not-for-profit organization accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The Zoo is recognized nationally for its conservation, animal care and exhibit design. As a leader in conservation, the Zoo’s Center for Conservation and Research focuses on areas to benefit animal husbandry and species conservation including conservation genetics, conservation medicine, reproductive sciences, and comparative nutrition. More information is available at www.OmahaZoo.com.