As retired Omaha firefighter Steve Vrbanac celebrated his 95th birthday on June 18, he got a special surprise.
Firefighters and rigs from Station 53, the fire station near 80th and Dodge Streets he retired from 41 years earlier, paid him a visit to wish him a happy birthday.
The firefighters manning Tower Truck 53, Engine 53 and two police cars drove to his home near Lewis and Clark Middle School, sounding a siren to help summon him. Steve even donned his old firefighter captain helmet and took a seat in the big rig.
Capt. Vrbanac is the oldest living retired Omaha firefighter and has lived in the same home for 70 years.
Steve’s daughter, Sally Vrbanac Rehmeier, noted her father retired at age 54 due to heart problems. She said his family feels lucky that he’s around to see such a milestone birthday. Firefighting can be a tough life.
“Kind of crazy to think that he had a double bypass, and with everything they probably inhaled that long ago, he is still with us,” she said. “He is our energizer bunny.”
Cleanup helps reduce fireworks pollution
Fireworks and outdoor parties are quintessential to celebrating the Fourth of July, but the waste that’s left behind can pose pollution challenges.
The nonprofit Keep Omaha Beautiful encourages the Omaha community to stay mindful of this during Independence Day by cleaning up after neighborhood fireworks shows and celebrations.
Fireworks contain a variety of chemicals, including heavy metals, sulfur-coal compounds and perchlorate. These materials create colors and effects in fireworks, but can leave behind pollution that’s known to harm people, wildlife and natural resources.
Cleaning up litter from fireworks prevents it from entering storm drains on the street. The storm drain system flows to local rivers and streams without being filtered first, so any debris that is left on the ground has the potential to wash directly into local waterways.
Cleaning up after fireworks not only helps prevent pollutants from impacting water quality, but also keeps local neighborhoods and parks clean and safe for everyone.
Keep Omaha Beautiful offers a free Fireworks Cleanup Guide with step-by-step tips to safely dispose of fireworks waste. After a show, it’s generally advised to:
Be safe and wait 20 minutes before picking up spent fireworks. This is to ensure any flame is out.Soak used or misfired fireworks in a bucket of water for 15 minutes or until saturated. (Alternatively, you can place used fireworks in a metal container with a lid for 24 hours.)Sweep up fireworks dust and debris, and remove the wet fireworks waste from the water. Seal all fireworks waste in a plastic bag. Set the bagged fireworks waste in a metal container with a lid overnight, and keep it away from buildings before placing it in the trash the next day.If your residence is connected to the municipal sewer system, flush the water used for soaking fireworks down a toilet after removing the wet debris. 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.
On a holiday like the Fourth of July, individual cleanup efforts throughout the community will help protect natural resources and the health of our shared environment. Learn more about the organization’s litter clean up resources and volunteer opportunities at KeepOmahaBeautiful.org.
Chamber announces Hall of Fame inductees
The Greater Omaha Chamber has announced the 2025 inductees into the Omaha Business Hall of Fame, honoring a distinguished group of leaders whose exceptional achievements have shaped Omaha’s business landscape and enriched its community.
This year’s honorees represent the highest caliber of entrepreneurial leadership, civic dedication, and transformative impact:
Roger A. Dixon, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Entertainment & Convention AuthorityTodd & Mary Heistand, owners of NuStyle Development CorporationChris J. Murphy, executive chairman of First Westroads BankThe Simon Family of Omaha Steaks. That includes Bruce Simon, former president and CEO, and Todd Simon, chairman and chief steak evangelist.
The Omaha Business Hall of Fame was initiated in 1993 as part of the chamber’s centennial celebration and has since become a hallmark event, celebrating business excellence and legacy. The 2025 honorees will be formally inducted at a gala event held Aug. 20 at the Holland Performing Arts Center.
The evening will include an hors d’oeuvres and cocktail hour, an induction ceremony and a dessert reception. Proceeds from the event support the Greater Omaha Chamber Foundation and its efforts to develop the next generation of Omaha young professionals. Honoree achievements will also be commemorated in a permanent Business Hall of Fame exhibit at the Durham Museum.
“We are honored to recognize these outstanding business leaders whose vision, dedication, and service have had a profound influence on Omaha,” said Heath Mello, president and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber. “Each of these honorees exemplify what it means to have pride in your community and commit yourself to make a difference. This is a special achievement and we are proud to enshrine this class of inductees in the exclusive club of the Omaha Business Hall of Fame.”
To learn more about the Omaha Business Hall of Fame or to purchase tickets, visit OmahaChamber.org/BHOF.
Volunteers needed for ICan bike camp
Volunteers are urgently needed for the iCan Bike Camp July 7-11 in Omaha.
The event is co-hosted by Down Syndrome Alliance of the Midlands, Pediatric Therapy Center and Autism Society of Nebraska.
The program teaches individuals with developmental disabilities to ride a two-wheel bike independently — many for the very first time.
Volunteers are needed to support and encourage participants as they work toward reaching this important milestone during the 75-minute session. No prior experience is required.
Several session are available at the camp at the Lied Fitness Center at the College of Saint Mary.
To sign up or learn more, visit dsamidlands.org/bikecamp.html or contact Tracy Wimmer at [email protected].
Executive Travel is on 2025 Power List
Executive Travel in Lincoln, one of the nation’s premier travel management companies, is proud to announce its inclusion on Travel Weekly’s prestigious 2025 Power List, marking the fifth time the company has earned a place among the travel industry’s top performers.
The Power List, compiled annually by Travel Weekly, recognizes the world’s highest-performing travel agencies based on annual global sales. The 2025 list highlights 70 companies that surpassed the rigorous new threshold of $125 million in annual travel sales, reflecting the strength and resilience of the travel industry amid inflationary pressures and evolving market dynamics.
Executive Travel joins an elite group of agencies that collectively account for over $450 billion in travel sales worldwide. The company’s continued placement on this list underscores its commitment to innovation, white-glove service, and strategic growth in both corporate and leisure travel sectors.
“We are honored to once again be recognized by Travel Weekly as one of the top travel companies in the world,” said Paul Glenn, CEO of Executive Travel. “This recognition is a testament to the passion and dedication of our team, the trust of our clients, and our relentless pursuit of simplifying travel with high-touch and high-tech solutions.”
Founded in 1986, Executive Travel has grown to become a nationally respected travel management company serving Fortune 500 firms, midmarket businesses and discerning travelers. In the past year, Executive Travel has further expanded its digital tools, adviser training programs and corporate travel automation solutions — helping clients manage their travel programs more efficiently and cost-effectively than ever before.
Fireworks allowed at 3 state rec areas
Guests at three state recreation areas will be allowed to set off fireworks on the Fourth of July, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Those visitors should use caution when lighting fireworks.
The following SRAs, with designated lighting sites, will permit fireworks from 8 a.m. until midnight on July 4 only:
Branched Oak State Recreation Area: Lieber’s PointPawnee SRA: Area 1 beach and the Area 4 Lakeview CampgroundWagon Train SRA: beach
Signs at recreation areas will point the way to designated fireworks sites and their boundaries will be clearly marked. Use of fireworks elsewhere in state areas or at other times is prohibited.
Only fireworks approved for sale in Nebraska by the state fire marshal are permitted, and visitors must pick up expended fireworks and deposit them in appropriate containers. Have a bucket of water or fire extinguisher nearby and soak used fireworks in water before discarding them. Minor children must be supervised when discharging fireworks. Use, possession and the discharging of fireworks is at the sole risk of the users.
Family caregivers can call 211 for support
Family caregivers in Nebraska and across the nation now have easier access to vital support, thanks to the expanded Caregiver Support Program from AARP and United Way Worldwide.
This groundbreaking initiative connects caregivers to essential services for themselves and their loved ones through the 211 helpline. Since its launch in 2021, the program has already supported more than one million caregivers. Now available in 25 states and Puerto Rico — including the recent addition of Nebraska — it reaches 36% of the U.S. population and an estimated 14.6 million family caregivers.
“Caring for a parent, spouse, or other loved one is truly a labor of love, but it also comes with significant challenges,” said Todd Stubbendieck, state director of AARP Nebraska. “Through this expansion of 211, we’re making it easier for family caregivers to find the help they need, when and where they need it.”
With nearly 179,000 Nebraskans currently caring for a loved one — often without pay, training, or support — the need for accessible, trusted help has never been greater. The 211 helpline is a free, 24/7, and confidential service offered in 180 languages that connects people to local health and human services. By simply dialing 211, caregivers are connected with trained Community Resource Specialists in their own communities that can help match caregivers with:
Local referrals for transportation, food delivery, home safety, respite care, veterans’ benefits and moreSupport to address the caregiver’s own basic needs, like housing, employment or emotional supportSimplified access to relevant AARP caregiving tools and guides across a range of specialized topics
AARP and United Way Worldwide created the Caregiver Support Program to address the number one need for the nation’s 48 million family caregivers: navigating the system to find relevant caregiving resources and local support.
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