Journalist with a love for new media and old-fashioned reporting
During my internship at the World-Herald, I compiled information on Fourth of July celebrations in Omaha and throughout Nebraska, and managed an online map with the location and details of each.
The map was updated multiple times during the week before Independence Day, and can be viewed here.
Read more: multimedia and social media, Omaha World-Herald
By Emily Babay
Just minutes after Mission for All Nations opened the doors to its food pantry Tuesday night, dozens of people filled the waiting room, eager to stock up on cereal, fruits and vegetables. Cars were double-parked outside the faith-based charity near South 21st and Q Streets.
And that, executive director Mary Anaya said, was a slow night.
The previous week — at the end of the month, when paychecks, unemployment benefits and food stamps run low — more than 400 people received food.
As the economy continues to lag, area food programs are seeing big increases in the number of people seeking help, forcing food banks and pantries to spend more money and be more aggressive in seeking donations and volunteers.
Read more: enterprise, Omaha World-Herald, writing
By Emily Babay
Outside the livestock pavilion at the Sarpy County Fairgrounds, Payton Holling’s hand slipped from the red rope holding his sheep. The 7-year-old’s wheelchair veered to the side.
Priscilla, a 1½-year-old ewe wearing a hot pink feather boa, started to saunter away.
Morgan Cox, a two-year veteran of a local sheep club, reined both back in.
“Priscilla, we lost him!” the 16-year-old said good-naturedly as she handed the Suffolk-Hampshire cross sheep’s rope back to Payton, who has Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.
Payton is a member of the True Buddy sheep club, a new program that pairs special-needs children with local 4-H’ers who show sheep.
The club has met every other week since mid-June. This week, at the Sarpy County Fair, its members will show the sheep they have learned to walk and care for.
Read more: enterprise, features, Omaha World-Herald, writing
By Emily Babay
It’s a daily routine for many teens and young adults: open the laptop, log on to Facebook, send messages to friends.
And learn about their grandfather’s knee replacement and view a former teacher’s vacation pictures?
More adults are using social-networking Web sites such as Facebook to communicate with friends and family, marking Facebook’s shift from a place where college students interact with their peers to one that attracts a more mainstream audience.
Read more: enterprise, features, Omaha World-Herald, writing
By Emily Babay
At a pace of five or six titles a week, Lyla Thompson is steadily reading the books in her collection.
All 6,000 of them.
The Omaha woman is a lifelong reader and book collector. Since she retired in 1999, Thompson, 69, has pursued her passion with new enthusiasm; her reading hours resemble a full-time job.
Read more: features, Omaha World-Herald, writing
By Emily Babay
When Lyons, Neb., celebrates its 125th year this Independence Day, the recession isn’t going to get in the way.
The town of about 1,000 in Burt County is spending twice as much as usual on its fireworks display, said Denise Johnson, chairwoman of the Fourth of July committee.
About four years of fundraising efforts have gone into the fireworks show and a weekend-long bluegrass festival.
The town supported suppers, barbecues and dances to raise the funds, Johnson said. And this weekend, the streets will be filled with games, music and fireworks.
It’s a sharp contrast to cities large and small throughout the country, including Miami and Ridgefield Park, N.J., that have canceled Independence Day events because of the economy.
In Lyons, scaling back wasn’t an option.
“It’s our 125th. We really didn’t want to do that,” Johnson said.
In the Midlands, even communities not celebrating milestones aren’t cutting back on festivities. Fundraising has been a bit tougher, celebration planners say, but a less-severe economic downturn here and communities willing to support long-standing traditions are keeping celebrations alive.
Continue reading »
Read more: enterprise, Omaha World-Herald, writing
Omaha World-Herald
By Emily Babay
Drummer and vibraphonist Luigi Waites has played before live audiences thousands of times in his decades-long career.
In 2005, the Omaha arts community celebrated his 1,500th jazz performance at Mr. Toad’s in the Old Market with a party at the bar. Waites, then in his late 70s, was lauded for his energy and longevity.
“For an old man, he’s got a lot of spunk,” Doyle Tipler, a trumpeter in his band, said at the time.
Now, the spunk of Waites’ live shows — heard by generations of Omahans — will make its way to a CD. He has performed weekly at Mr. Toad’s since the mid-1970s.
The album will be the first recorded live for Waites, now 81, and his band, Luigi Inc.
And Waites expects it to be his last recording.
Read more: enterprise, features, Omaha World-Herald, writing