Kelly: Omaha, Lincoln make top 10

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» Lincoln (No. 5) and Omaha (No. 8) have made Daily Finance's list of the 10 Best U.S. Cities for Raising a Family.

The America Online financial site noted the low unemployment in both Nebraska cities and said both ranked highly in parkland and playgrounds per 1,000 residents, as well as adults with at least high school diplomas. Both also were cited for low rates of violent crime.

Madison, Wis., ranked first overall, followed by Virginia Beach, Va., Raleigh, N.C., and Irvine, Calif.

Omaha was cited for its "bustling economy, with a large insurance, health care and finance presence." Daily Finance said Lincoln offers "plenty of places for families to spend quality time outdoors," including the 1,500-acre Wilderness Park.

» Colleen Wuebben of Omaha is a fighter, but she never thought she would take up boxing.

Especially not at 59. But she goes to classes as part of her therapy for Parkinson's disease.

"We don't hit each other," she said. "It's training, sparring and agility drills — a great workout. Boxing really focuses on the right and left (brain) hemispheres and helps with sequencing, speed and balance. All of those are issues for us."

Ice skating is not part of her therapy, but next weekend marks the second annual 24-hour Skate-a-Thon for Parkinson's at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's outdoor rink. It's northeast of 42nd and Emile Streets, just east of the 120-foot-high campus light tower.

She and husband Ted originated the fundraiser in their northwest Omaha backyard, but it moved to UNMC last year. The event starts at 5 p.m. Friday.

Colleen, who also takes yoga and tai chi, was diagnosed with Parkinson's six years ago. Last year she was hit with cancer. She is punching back at both.

» Former longtime Nebraska resident Jean Moudry celebrated her 83rd birthday this month with a giant leap of faith — from an airplane.

After graduating from high school in Plattsmouth, Neb., Jean earned a degree from Cal-Berkeley and worked as a registered nurse in New Haven, Conn., and at the American University in Beirut.

Visiting a friend in Ord, Neb., she got sidetracked by a 1958 blizzard, met Al Moudry, married him six months later and settled into a farm and town life for 45 years.

"My mother couldn't believe I ended up in a small rural community," she said, "but it was great."

Jean's daughter, Dana Moudry-Cooper of Omaha, calls her mom "a firecracker." In 2008, Jean and Al moved to Mission, Texas, where Jean volunteers at a school. She decided to celebrate her birthday at South Padre Island with a first for her — skydiving.

"I'm not comfortable with heights and tall buildings, but I was surprised — it went well," Jean said. "The winds are bombastic, your hair is straight back and the free fall takes about a minute."

Then her tandem jumper pulled the cord on the parachute "and you're just floating for about seven minutes. It was a beautiful day."

Now that she's crossed that off her bucket list, Jean wants to travel to a major tennis match in France, England or Australia.

» Nearly 500 baseball teams have traveled to Omaha to play in the College World Series since 1950, but one likes to say it never disbanded — the 1962 Santa Clara University club.

The team has held a reunion every year since and is doing so again this weekend at its alma mater, a Jesuit university 40 miles south of San Francisco.

Loren Harper, a pitcher who became a stockbroker, said the teammates are being honored at halftime of Santa Clara's basketball game today to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the school's only CWS appearance.

Santa Clara finished second, losing 5-4 to Michigan in a 15-inning finale, the longest title game in CWS history. Four Broncos made it to the majors, and two more played in the minors. A few have died, but the team is still bonded — by a great season and a trip long ago to Omaha.

Contact the writer:

402-444-1132, michael.kelly@owh.com

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