bmonthly April 2026

upfront

Welcome to April, friends. We just officially celebrated the first day of Spring yesterday, on March 21st. Today, Sunday, March 22nd, as I write this, it’s 92 degrees outside, so I’m wondering if Spring just skipped over us. As you know, living in Oklahoma, you never know what Mother Nature will throw at us.

In April, there are many milestones for Christy and me. Nine years ago, we were leaving a little coupon magazine that we started 2 years prior in Joplin, Missouri. We drove 4 days a week to Joplin to build this magazine. We did not know what we were doing. The most important thing and the blessing that came out of this was learning to work together as husband and wife. When we decided to leave Joplin, we didn’t know what we were going to do to put food on the table. The individual who helped us start this magazine in Joplin had been doing the same kind of publication here in Bartlesville, and his name was Brian Engle. Brian had recently bought a failing magazine called Bartlesville Monthly Magazine which had been published since 2011. He asked us if we would like to sell advertising for the magazine. It was barely 36 pages and maybe had 1000 readers. We prayed about it, and the next day we called him and said YES. We were back home and working with people who knew us and we knew them. This was a total change from Joplin, where no one knew who we were. We prayed, put our heads down, and by August of 2017, I was designing the covers, writing the Upfront, and starting to write stories of the great history of Bartlesville and the surrounding area. That was nine years ago, and today we have over 20,000 readers in four different counties and have subscriptions in 25 states. We have over 140 outlets where you can pick up the magazine, and 85% of our advertisers have been with us for over 7 years. We have become the largest media in Bartlesville, and it’s all because of YOU, the readers, who have embraced our vision and the belief that Brian had in us. What we love to do is bring eyeballs to Bartlesville. When we started, we had a little over 13,000 people who followed us on Facebook. Through the hundreds of videos we have done from the Baby Contest to the Holiday videos and the bmonthly

show we do each month, we have had over a million people see Bartlesville. Today we have close to 30,000 people who follow us on Facebook. Together with all of our social media, over 100,000 people see what I always say is “The best little city in America.”

Every April, we have always had the “Best of Pets” contest. This is where you submit your pet, and we have a contest on Facebook where you vote on the People’s Choice winner. Then we have a panel of 9 judges who pick the cover for April - just as we do in January for the Baby contest. This year was a record year. We had 106 pets submitted in less than 2 hours, and this year’s People’s Choice winner was Beatrice. Congratulations, Beatrice, on such a commanding picture of strength and beauty.

Well, I never thought in the 9 years of putting these covers together that I would put a pot-bellied pig on bmonthly magazine but here we go. Our Judges’ Choice for this year’s Best of Pets 2026 cover is Pickles. Every year we send the top 15 vote getters to our panel of judges, and they select the winner. Six of the 9 judges picked Pickles. We had a blast taking this picture. Before we took this picture I was like where do I take a picture of a pig? The obvious place is a farm or ranch. I wanted something different, so I thought why not the beautiful Johnstone-Sare Building. Thank you, Crystal Sare, for letting us take this picture at your incredible building. It’s one of a kind, and that is what I love about our covers.

Finally I want to write about my beautiful wife and my best friend, Christy. She celebrates her birthday on April 8th. What is special is that this is also my mom’s birthday. While my mom dances in heaven, I get to celebrate the love of my life. I have known Christy for over 40 years. This July we celebrate 21 years of marriage, which you know I will have a story for that special day. What can I say about this light that God shined on me! Who would have ever known that in 1985 I would meet my best friend and the love of my life. If you see Christy - who is a friend to many, an incredible mother, and a Lolly to 8 grandchildren come July - then you met and talked to a very special person! God bless and Happy Birthday, baby, Keith

Volume XVII Issue IV

Bartlesville Monthly Magazine is published by ENGEL PUBLISHING

New office located in the B the Light Mission 219 North Virginia Avenue, Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74003 www.bartlesvillemonthly.com facebook.com/bartlesvillemonthly

Publisher Brian Engel brian@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Graphics Engel Publishing matt@engelpublishing.com

Director of Sales & Marketing Keith McPhail keith@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Community Liaison Christy McPhail christy@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Project Manager Andrea Whitchurch andrea@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Administration Shelley Greene Stewart

Delivery and Distribution Dewayne Engel Calendar/Social Media calendar@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Contributing Writers

Debbie Neece, Kay Little, Kelly Hurd Jay Hastings, Keith McPhail. Jay Webster Mike Tupa, Lori Just, Joe Todd Greg Wheat, Maria Gus, Brent Taylor

Contributing Photographers

Bartlesville Area History Museum Jen May, Becky Burch, Debbie Neece Chance Franks, Kristi Bray Calendars

Debbie Neece, Jessica Smith

ABOUT THE COVER

Meet Pickles, the Judges’ Choice Winner in our Best of the Pets 2026 Contest!

Creative concept by Keith and Christy McPhail

Design by Engel Publishing

Cover photo by Chance Franks

Keith and Christy McPhail, Managing Editors, with Pickles.

We live, work, and play in Bartlesville, and we’re proud to serve our neighbors with integrity

Experienced, Honest, Local

Toly Arutunoff A Life Driven by Passion

by Lori Just

A journalist remarked Anatoly “Toly” Arutunoff was a real-life embodiment of the daring fantasies of James Thurber’s Walter Mitty in The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. Born in Tulsa, in 1936, Toly became known as a racer, car collector, author, racetrack designer and storyteller. But his story begins rooted in a family whose ambitions and inventions helped shape the early oil industry in Bartlesville.

Toly’s father, Armais Arutunoff, was an Armenian engineer and inventor born in Russia who fled the turmoil of the Russian Revolution. In Berlin, an accidental encounter with a friend crossing the street allowed his father to get a loan for his company Russian Electrical Dynamo of Arutunoff (REDA). Armais developed a revolutionary inground electric pump for oil wells and the technology transformed deep-well pumping.

By 1923, Armais and his Ukrainian wife Kyra had made their way to the United States. The Arutunoffs settled in Michigan followed by a move to Los Angeles where the first electrical, centrifugal pumps for oil wells were built in this country. The Arutunoffs arrived in Bartlesville in 1928 when Armais joined Phillips Petroleum Co. With the company’s backing, he refined his pump and first successfully demonstrated it in a well in Kansas. By 1938, two percent of all oil produced in the US was lifted by an Arutunoff pump. His company grew rapidly in the petroleum industry, and he achieved over 90 patents.

The family thrived at their home called “The Little Squires” at 1200 Cherokee Ave. His father quietly became a philanthropist in town. According to Toly, Hensley Blvd was originally meant to be named after his father. However, Armais felt their family name was too difficult for people to pronounce and suggested the simpler “Reda Ave.” In the end, the street was named after a former mayor. Armais was eventually honored by the Oklahoma Legislature as “Mr. Americanism of Bartlesville” and inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and as the inaugural recipient of the Heritage Family Award by Bartlesville Community Foundation.

“I never fully understood all the details of his God-guided life,” he said. “I would hear bits and pieces over time, but I never thought to ask many questions. Each little story satisfied my curiosity for a while. Every new piece made me think, ‘Wow,’ and that was enough.”

The Arutunoff children pursued their own paths. Toly’s brother Sergei was 17 years older and attended Black-Foxe Military Academy where students played polo and traveled by train with their horses to compete including Claremore. The actor Errol Flynn gave their

commencement speech when he graduated. He went on to USC, served in WWII in the South Pacific and became executive VP for REDA Pump.

Toly’s sister, Anait, 14 years his senior, was an innovator in a holographic art medium called Holodeons attracting collectors like Salvador Dalí. She also founded Gallery 707 in Beverly Hills, believed to be the first women-only art gallery in the world.

Time in Bartlesville, Toly said, was full of picnics, scooters (technically illegal) and close calls with a lenient cop he called “Preacher John.” School was lively with wild assemblies, Sadie Hawkins dances and even staged gunfights with blanks. He recalled eating at the Bulingame Hotel, Silver Castle and indulging in candies at Dunalp’s Bakery.

The Lyric and Osage theaters were an easy bus stop downtown from his home where kids flocked for cheap reruns.

“For about thirty cents, I could spend an entire afternoon at the movies with popcorn and a Coke,” he said. “We just enjoyed the freedom of being young.”

He was on the school newspaper staff, the Gusher then the Natuilus. He got into photography ranging from landscapes to automobiles and even nudes which later led to an exhibition at The Center and sales of his work.

“Finding models was surprisingly easy back then,” he laughed.

Life was simpler, he continued, different and full of small adventures. He graduated from high school early in 1952 and headed to college at fifteen and felt it was probably a bit too soon as he was “smart enough but not as mature as the others.”

He attended several colleges, including OU, Colorado College and TU, eventually earning a degree in mathematics, with some philosophy and English along the way. He later earned a master’s in English at TCU, writing his thesis on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s character development, then pursued astronomy at Vanderbilt before deciding it wasn’t the right career path. After turning down an opportunity with the RAND Corporation, he followed his real passion, cars.

Toly traced his love of automobiles to Los Angeles. The family

had lived among the elite, including Hollywood figures, renting Harold Lloyd’s former beach house and later selling a mansion to Vincent Price. At three, he recalled, he saw a red sports car roar past the Beverly Hills Hotel.

“My parents used to joke that instead of saying ‘Mama’ or ‘Dada’ first, I probably said ‘car,’” he said.

At 14, Toly was given the chance to drive a friend’s Peugeot convertible. He drove it everywhere. His parents eventually bent the rules to support his enthusiasm, helping him obtain a driver’s license at 15. Soon afterward they bought him a Chevrolet Bel Air, which he insisted must have a manual transmission.

He began racing in the late 1950s, when American sports-car racing was exploding. Though never a full-time professional, he competed across the U.S. and Europe, sharing tracks with Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Bob Bondurant and Carroll Shelby. He raced at Sebring, Daytona and the dangerous Targa Florio in Sicily, driving a Ferrari 250 GT SWB. He held 17 lap records in five different classes. His greatest competitive success came in 1981 at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs. Starting 11th in the H-Production race in a Morgan 4/4, he took the lead by lap six and held it for twelve laps to claim the H-Production National Championship and the SCCA President’s Cup. In 2024, he was inducted into the SCCA Hall of Fame.

He is known for building and driving nonconventional machines. The most famous was the Lapin Agile. Named after a famous Paris cabaret, the tiny car looked more like a sculpture. Toly built it himself as a minimalist sports car stripped to essentials weighing only 1,200 pounds. The goal wasn’t power but a car that was light and balanced. Eventually he donated the fabric-bodied “art rod” to the Lane Motor Museum, ensuring that the strange little car would live on as a piece of automotive art.

His enthusiasm for driving eventually extended to building a place to race them. In the early 1970s he founded the Hallett Motor Racing Circuit, a 1.8-mile road course in the hills west of Tulsa. He simply looked at the terrain and thought it would be fun to drive.

His adventures extended to outlaw events, including the Cannonball Baker Sea to Shining Sea Memorial Trophy Dash and European rallies. He also co-developed an early version of variable valve timing in the 1970s, now common in modern cars, though the patent expired before it became widespread, and he never profited from it. He ran imported car dealerships in Tulsa, first as Oklahoma’s first Honda dealer, later

“Automobiles of Italy,” and eventually as a Ferrari dealer.

“Things didn’t always go smoothly,” he admitted. “At one point I ended up facing potential bankruptcy and an IRS claim of about $3.5 million. My lawyers discovered an obscure Oklahoma law from 1913 about the commingling of assets that had never been used in a case before. The judge applied that law in my favor, which ultimately saved me financially.”

He turned his experiences into a memoir. One Off: The Roads, The Races, The Automobiles of Toly Arutunoff recounts his life in a way that reads like a long story told in a garage about childhood memories, European racing adventures, mechanical experiments and improbable road trips.

He met his wife, Karen, through her hairdresser, who invited him to a New Year’s Eve party he didn’t know he wasn’t really invited to. Despite not knowing anyone, Karen made room for him at her table. They spent the next day together watching Notre Dame at a sports bar, and their connection grew from there.

They were married at the Hôtel du Palais in France three weeks before Toly’s 60th birthday in 1996. Every year for 25 years they would rally around Europe in a cool car navigating from one place to the next with their Michelin guidebook in hand, never missing the best restaurants or antique sales along the way.

He stepped away from serious racing in 2001, but Toly’s life took a more dramatic turn in 2011. During a snowstorm near Amarillo, he stopped to help a stranded motorist and was struck by another vehicle, resulting in the amputation of one leg and severe damage to the other. For many people such an accident would have ended a lifetime of automotive adventure. Not for Toly. He approached recovery with the same humor and stubborn determination that had carried him through decades of racing. He remained active in the car community and continued telling stories about the machines and people who shaped his life.

Asked how he sums up his life, he said, “I’m a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. I believe He saved my life many times sometimes by minutes, sometimes by seconds. I believe He still has things in mind for me to do.”

He also believes in the visions he’s had and what “some people might call psychic.” He says both he and his parents have experienced moments where they’ve seen loved ones and celestial beings or felt things, especially after someone passes. To him, those experiences are not separate from his faith, but part of it. “So, when people ask what my purpose has been, I honestly don’t know for sure. I think perhaps I’m meant to help people in some way, and we’ll see how that works out.”

He reflected, “I’ve had a blessed life. I had wonderful parents who survived incredible hardships and built successful lives in America. I’ve made mistakes along the way, but still, I believe the Lord has guided me through it all. My faith tells me that despite my imperfections, my sins have been forgiven, and my life has meaning. In the end, what matters most is that God’s love is limitless and unconditional.”

AXOOLTL PRINCESS

ALEXANDER

ARLO ARLO

ACE

ARCHER

B-CAT

ACE

ARCHIE

BAMBI

BEAR

BELLA

BLAZE

BENNY

BEATRICE

BELLA

BROCK LEE

BEAU

BENNETT

BUDDY

CARTER REIGN

CHARLIE DIESEL

CASEY

CHEECKS ECLIPSE

CATRICK SWAYZE

DARYL

FRANCIS GREY

FROST GRIFFIN

FRANKIE

GERALDINE

GUNNER

FREIDA

GIBSON

HARLEY

HARVEY

HUNTER

JUBILEE

JELLY

HAZEL

JACK LINUS

HOLLY

JARVIS

LIZA

LOLLI

LUNA

MIA MERLE

LOLLIE

MAX

MIA MOOSE

LUCA

MAYBELLINE

MISSY

MOLLY

MUFFIN

MOPAR

MURPHY OLIVER

MORTY

MURPHY

OPIE JO

PAPI CHULO

PETER

PEACH

PETEY

PENELOPE

PICKLES

REECE

REMI

ROSCOE

SCOUT

SAMMY

RIGGS

ROWDY

SHY

ROCKY & COOPER

ROXIE

SILVIE

SQUISHY

TILLIE

VIXON

VIOLET

STELLA

TOMMY TOM

WALTER

TEDDY BEAR

VIOLA

WILLOW

WYNNIE ROO

XENA

In Search of . . . The New Beginning

by Debbie Neece

Bible studies detail the story of Noah, his Ark, and 40 days and 40 nights of cleansing deluge as the “new beginning.” Centuries later, man began relentless pursuits of material proof, some vesting their life and savings. The searches have been purposed with connecting truth to what some claimed to be a fable, requiring the dedication of theologists, archeologists, geophysicists, scientists and a few Doubting Thomases.

Researchers believe the elusive Noah’s Ark rests upon Mount Ararat, a currently dormant stratovolcano in eastern Turkey. Eruptions have been recorded throughout history with the last known in 1840. With each eruption, the flow of lava carved and reshaped that area of Turkey, creating landslides, often accompanied by earthquakes. Therefore, the area believed to have been the final resting of Noah’s Ark, has been repositioned many times. During WWI, a Russian aviator observed what he reported as a “large ship partially submerged in a glacial lake on Mount Ararat.” An expedition of surveyors, photographers and scientists was dispatched to investigate the findings and upon their return, an Armenian man marveled at the detailed reports of a petrified barge extending from beneath an icy peak. The soldiers spoke of returning with photographs of the site and pieces of the petrified wood for scientific analysis. That young man was Armais Arutunoff, Bartlesville’s founder of the REDA electric submergible pump.

During the 1917 Russian Revolution, all but two of the Ark expedition participants were killed; the escapees were a

“1991,

2019 and 2021 Ground Penetrating

European surveyor and a photographer who immigrated to America. Later, Arutunoff and the photographer shared stories and Arutunoff was given two photos taken of the Ark. After Arutunoff’s death, his family did not find the photos; however, they continue to treasure a petrified Ark specimen.

Throughout history, there have been countless expeditions in search of the new beginning…the proof of Noah’s Ark. In 1960, the Archaeological Research Foundation organized an expedition to Mount Ararat. After two days of digging and dynamite use, the crew returned, claiming failure.

Ron Wyatt (1933-1999) was a nurse anesthetist in Tennessee, who became intrigued by a Life magazine article about a boatlike structure found on Mount Ararat. In 1977, he began his second career, as a world renown amateur archaeologist. Ron walked the edge of Noah’s Ark and devoted his life and livelihood to solving biblical mysteries. His detailed explanations of the mountain-high embedded structure brought the attention of onlookers, including a youngster by the name of Andrew Jones. Jones was full of questions and Ron had the answers.

After Ron’s death, Andrew has devoted his life to forwarding Ron’s mission. As scientific equipment improved, archeologists have been able to take the mystery to mastery. Fossils have been found at 6,300 feet above sea level and Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Ground Penetrating Radar testing of the Mount Ararat structure have brought forward 3-D images.

Andrew’s research continues, allowing inquisitive visitors to take tours of Mount Ararat and what is believed to be the final resting place of Noah’s Ark. In the late 1980s, the Noah’s Ark Commission was created; and, in 1987, Turkey’s Noah’s Ark Visitor Center was built, overlooking the Ark. If you are looking for a unique biblical experience, the Ark Encounter at Williamstown, KY, is a five-story museum replica of Noah’s Ark; or check out Andrew Jones’ research at NoahsArkScans.com.

Radar Scan”

Armais Arutunoff

APRIL CALENDAR SPONSORED BY

Varsity Soccer vs Mustang

5PM (G); Custer Stadium 8PM (B); Custer Stadium

Good Friday; No School All Day; District-Wide

The Great Easter Egg Hunt

10AM; Unity Square

Bruin Baseball vs Deer Creek

4:30 & 6PM; Doenges Stadium

Varsity Soccer vs Westmoore

5PM (G); Custer Stadium 8PM (B); Custer Stadium

Varsity Soccer vs Sand Springs

5PM (G); Custer Stadium 8PM (B); Custer Stadium

Songs for Springtime 7PM; The Center

Bruin Baseball vs Muskogee

6PM; Doenges Stadium

6:00 pm

Varsity Soccer vs Owasso

5PM (G); Custer Stadium 8PM (B); Custer Stadium

Art Walk – Artful Day in the Ville

6PM; Downtown Bartlesville

Bruin Baseball vs Tulsa NOAH

5PM; Doenges Stadium

The Sleeping Beauty 7PM; The Center

The Sleeping Beauty

2PM; The Center Mon April 20

Bruin Baseball vs Bixby 6PM; Doenges Stadium

2 3 4 7 10 13 14 17 18 25 28 30 19 23 24

Bruin Baseball vs Muskogee 6PM; Doenges Stadium

Bruin Baseball vs Coweta 6PM; Doenges Stadium

Live from Laurel Canyon – Songs and Stories from American Fold Rock 7:30PM; The Center

Bruin Baseball vs Putnam City 6PM; Doenges Stadium

Dinosaur World Live –Presented by Broadway in Bartlesville! 7PM; The Center

Every Monday

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

FREE Beginning Spanish Class

APRIL EVENTS CALENDAR

Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue

Every Monday

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

FREE Intermediate Spanish Class

Bartlesville Public Library 600 S. Johnstone Avenue

May 1–July 7

8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Bartlesville Area History Museum

Presents “Our Culinary Past” BAHM, 401 S. Johnstone Avenue, Bartlesville

Every Tuesday

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Price Tower Exterior and The Center Tour

Every Tuesday

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Bartlesville Public Library ELL

Conversation Class

Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue, Literacy Office

Every Tuesday through Saturday

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Bartlesville Kiddie Park Open for summer season

Kiddie Park, 205 N. Cherokee Avenue, Bartlesville

Every Tuesday

6:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.

Bartlesville Public Library ELL

Conversation Class

Casa Hispana, 3850 Frank Phillips Blvd., Bartlesville

Every Wednesday 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. and

Every Thursday

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

FREE Citizenship Classes

Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue

Every Thursday

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Crossing 2nd Trivia in the Garage Crossing Second, 215 E 2nd Street, Bartlesville

Every Thursday

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Bartlesville Public Library ELL

Conversation Class

Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue, Literacy Office

Every Friday

9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Tai Chi with Dixie at Unity Square Tower Center at Unity Square, 300 SE Adams Blvd, Bartlesville

Thurs, April 2

6:30 p.m. –8:00 p.m. Monthly on the First Thursday OSU Alumni Chapter Monthly Meeting - Washington County Scissortail Brewing Company, 623 E Don Tyler Ave., Dewey

Sat, April 4

9 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Easter at the Frank Phillips Home

Frank Phillips Home. 1107 Cherokee Avenue, Bartlesville

Tues, April 7

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

In the Kitchen with Susan at the Bartlesville Public Library

Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue, Meeting Room A

Wed, April 8

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

HeartSaver CPR/First Aid/AED Training

Tri County Tech, 6101 Nowata Road, Bartlesville

Thurs-Sat, April 9-11 |

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Spring Traders Encampment

Woolaroc Museum 12 miles SW on Hwy 123 from Hwy 60, Bartlesville

Fri-Sat, April 10-11

Times TBA

Lion King Performances

Children’s Musical Theatre, 101 S. Wyandotte, Bartlesville

Fri-Sat, April 10-11

Fri 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Sat. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Evans Annual Appreciation Sale 111 Beck Drive, Bartlesville

Sat-Sun, April 11-12

Saturday 11-7, Sunday 12-5

Time Travelers Geeks & Antiques Indoor Market

Washington Park Mall, 2350 SE Washington Blvd Suite 320

Sat, April 11

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.  Visit Dewey Second Saturday Downtown Dewey Merchants

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

YMCA - Mother Son Nerf War

Richard Kane YMCA, 101 N. Osage Ave, Bartlesville

7:00 p.m. - Open Songs for Springtime

Bartlesville Community Center, 300 SE Adams Blvd.

Wed, April 15

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

OSU Alumni Chapter - Washington County Bedlam Softball Watch Party

Scissortail Brewing Company, 623 E Don Tyler Ave., Dewey

Thurs, April 16

12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The Bartlesville Public Library presents Fabulous Chef Hilary Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue, Meeting Room A

7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Third Thursday

3-D Thursday at the Bartlesville Public Library

Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue, Meeting Room A

Fri, April 17

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Art Walk- Artful Day in the Ville Downtown Bartlesville

Sat, April 18

8:00 a.m. – Open

Safe Rider Motorcycle Safety Course (space is limited) Bartlesville High Schools, 1700 Hillcrest Dr, Bartlesville

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Third Saturday Lego Club for All Ages at the Bartlesville Public Library

Bartlesville Public Library, 600 S. Johnstone Avenue, Meeting Room A

Sat-Sun, April 18-19

Sat 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Sun 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

The Sleeping Beauty

The Center, 300 SE Adams Blvd, Bartlesville

Mon, April 20

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Finance For Your Future Truity Credit Union NJCR Basement 501 S. Johnstone Ave, Bartlesville

Sat, April 25

8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

OSU Extension Washington County Master Gardener’s Annual Plant Sale

Washington County Fairgrounds, 1109 N. Delaware, Dewey

11:00 a.m. – OPEN

Bartlesville Harley-Davidson Poker Run

The Harley Party Poker Run, 231 NE Washington Blvd

6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Harley Party 2026

Boys & Girls Club of Bartlesville, 401 S. Seminole Avenue

7:30 p.m. – 9:30

Live from Laurel CanyonBartlesville Community Concert Assoc.

Bartlesville Community Center, 300 SE Adams Blvd, Bartlesville

The Little Theater Guild

Theatrical culture was slow to develop in Washington County; however, the need was addressed by traveling “tent shows” with melodramatic plays, comedy skits and musicals, which often stayed a week and incorporated a band or orchestra. The earliest documented traveling “tent show” was advertised in the May 6, 1904, Bartlesville Weekly Examiner newspaper. A waterproof canvas tent was staged on the west side of Dewey Avenue between Third and Fourth Streets with a seating capacity of 1,200 people and the Beecher and Stanley Production of “Ten Nights in a Bar Room” played to a full house.

Then, about 1912, the Little Theatre Movement began spreading across the United States; however, this form of entertainment progressed slowly as well. The theatrical performance of “Mr. Pim Passes By” was first presented throughout England during the last quarter of 1919 with inspirational reviews crossing the pond to American newspapers.

On April 13, 1923, the Little Theater Players of Tulsa traveled to the Bartlesville High School auditorium with a truck load of scenery to perform three short plays, “Happiness,” “In the

by Debbie Neece

Zones” and “The Beau of Bath.” On December 14-17, 1925, Tulsa’s Little Theater Players presented a three-night, three-act, comedy play, “Mr. Pim Passes By” written by A.A. Milne. With a minimalist budget, a non-commercial level production was brought to stage, utilizing local “all-star” talent to create a wellreceived amateur performance.

Bartlesville was looking over Tulsa’s shoulder and was impressed with what they witnessed; so, on January 28, 1926, a group of individuals met at Maude Kerlin’s home to discuss the possibilities of creating a local Little Theater. Then, on Tuesday, February 9, 1926, a group of thirty-five Bartlesville ladies and gents gathered at the home of Eugene Carman with a combined theatrical interest. They organized themselves as a drama league with the purpose of producing short theater performances. On February 17, that group met at the home of Howard and Nellie (Johnstone) Cannon, where they selected the name of the organization, the Little Theater Guild.

In 1926, the Little Theater Guild became a hot topic in the society section of the Bartlesville Morning Examiner, announcing

their first public play, the threeact “Mr. Pim Passes By” to be performed at the Liberty Theater, 107 West 3rd Street, later renamed Frank Phillips Blvd. The play was directed by Mrs. R.J. Riggs of the Tulsa Little Theater, just one year after Tulsa had performed the same play.

In 1945, the State of Oklahoma incorporated the Little Theater Guild of Bartlesville as a nonprofit organization; the name later changed to Bartlesville Theater Guild. Plays were held at several of the elementary school auditoriums, the high school, the old Civic Center and eventually at the Bartlesville Community Center.

Beginning at the end of the 1947-1948 season, an eerie air of Hollywood consumed Bartlesville as the Theater Guild closed their season with what became an annual award banquet. Much like the Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Oscar awards presented to movie stars, the Theater Guild highlighted their season by presenting highly coveted faux-gold statuettes, fondly referred to as the “Oswald” awards. Recognized were the outstanding stage performers, as well as awards for support staff in varied categories. The dining and dancing parties were held at prestigious locations…Hillcrest Country Club (southeast of the city on State Highway 23), the Clover Club (5 miles south of Bartlesville on Old Highway 75), the Burlingame Hotel and the Elks Club. The final award banquet was celebrated in 1963.

The Bartlesville Theater Guild has built their legacy “one play at a time” and they were comfortable performing where space permitted, until the generosity of Paul and Narnie Roll entered their path. The Rolls have been deeply appreciated community supporters and highly recognized in Tulsa and Bartlesville for their exceptional generosity. Mr. Roll operated an insurance business at Tulsa’s Mayo Hotel. In 1963, he invested in Bartlesville nursing care facilities; and, finally moved his family to Bartlesville in 1973. The Roll family’s phenomenal generosity has touched every aspect of Bartlesville, which brought them recognition as the 2015 Legacy Family presented by the Bartlesville Community Foundation.

In 1999, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Roll donated a 10,000 sq. ft. Bartlesville building at 312 S. Dewey (previously the old J.C. Penny store) to Theater Bartlesville. After renovations, September 2002 brought the performance of “Steel Magnolias” to the stage and the Little Theater Guild of Bartlesville rebranded themselves as

Theater Bartlesville.

As an additional blessing, famed playwright, actor and life-long Bartian, Joe Sears joined Theater Bartlesville in 2013 as the Artistic Director. Mr. Sears brought with him a best actor Tony nomination for his Broadway performance in the “A Greater Tuna” series; and he is best known for his performances as the hilarious, shenaniganfilled, Aunt Pearl. It was under Joe Sears’ direction that Theater Bartlesville performed the musical, “The Little Shop of Horrors,” which brought sold-out performances and rave reviews.

Theater Bartlesville has been a community partner for a CENTURY! In celebrating their 100th Anniversary of Bartlesville service, their February and March performances have been none other than, “Mr. Pim Passes By,” directed by Kevin Mnich. As this issue of the Bartlesville Monthly Magazine arrives for your reading pleasure, you will have missed the performances; however, fear not! Theater Bartlesville is preparing many more delightful performances for you this year, including performing scenes from “Mr. Pim Passes By” as part of the April 17th Art the Ville tour in connection with the Bartlesville Art Association.

It requires an army to fund the arts and Bartlesville has been extremely supportive. As Theater Bartlesville crosses the threshold into a bright new century, please consider helping them with your attendance or a donation in order to forward their building repairs and budget goals. With your help, they can continue performing theater magic for another century.

Did You Know?

Bartlesville’s first traveling theatrical performance was staged under a canvas tent, on the west side of Dewey Avenue between Third and Fourth Streets. Now, Theater Bartlesville celebrates their 100th Anniversary at 312 S. Dewey, the location directly across the street, to the east, of our initial introduction to American theater.

Now You Know *

Congratulations Regional Champions!

Grease is the Word

BHS Brings Classic Musical to Stage

Bartlesville audiences will soon be transported back to the 1950s when the Bartlesville High School Fine Arts presents the high school edition of Grease at the Bartlesville Fine Arts Center. Packed with energetic dance numbers, colorful characters, and classic rock-and-roll style, the production runs May 1-3 and features more than 50 students bringing the beloved musical to life.

Performances are scheduled for May 1 at 7:30 p.m., May 2 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and May 3 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 for students and teachers and $20 for adults, and can be purchased at www.bartlesvillechoir.com or at the Fine Arts Center box office one hour before each show.

Directed by Bartlesville High School Choir Director Tamara Walker, the production highlights the talents of a large group of student performers, musicians, and technicians. Walker said the show was selected not only for its enduring popularity, but also for the opportunities it gives students across many areas of theatre.

“Grease is one of those shows that just makes people smile,” Walker said. “It’s full of memorable songs, big dance numbers, and characters that audiences will recognize right away. It also allows us to showcase a large number of talented students both on stage and behind the scenes.”

The high school edition of the musical keeps the fun spirit of the Broadway show and classic film while remaining family friendly, making it a great choice for audiences of all ages. Many parents and grandparents will recognize songs and scenes that became iconic in the 1978 movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, and younger audiences will enjoy the highenergy choreography and colorful characters of Rydell High.

The show is packed with recognizable songs that have become part of pop culture, including favorites like “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightning,” and “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” along with the iconic opening theme “Grease.” Walker said one fun aspect of the production is that audiences will hear music from both the original Broadway musical and the film adaptation.

“Several of the songs people associate with Grease were actually written for the movie and weren’t part of the original stage production,” Walker said. “We’re excited that our version includes those favorites, but audiences will also hear some great songs that weren’t in the movie at all. It gives the show a few surprises even for people who know the film by heart.”

To give more students the chance to perform leading roles, the production features two separate casts. The “Greased Lightning” cast will perform the opening night show on May 1 and the May 2 matinee. The “Summer Nights” cast will take the stage for the May 2 evening performance and the closing show on May 3.

In the leading roles of Danny and Sandy, audiences will see four talented students sharing the spotlight. Ryker Burch and Eli Swanson will portray Danny Zuko, while Presley Osborn and Alana Jackson play Sandy Dumbrowski. Burch and Osborn appear in the Summer Nights cast, while Swanson and Jackson perform in the Greased Lightning cast.

Walker said the decision to split the cast was an easy one

because of the depth of talent in this year’s program. “We had so many students who were ready for these roles that we decided to split the leads so more of them could have the experience,” she said. “The two casts bring their own personalities and energy to the characters, so the performances will be a little different each time. It’s a great reason to come see the show more than once.”

While audiences will see the singers and dancers under the stage lights, many other students are working just as hard behind the scenes. Students are responsible for nearly every technical aspect of the production, including building the sets, managing lighting and sound, running backstage crews, and performing in the orchestra. “This show truly belongs to the students,” Walker said. “They are learning how every part of a production works, from performing to design. It’s exciting to watch them take ownership and see the show come together.”

Walker is joined on the creative team by Chelsea Arnold, assisting with music and choreography, and accompanist Jan Watt. Allis Roddy serves as assistant director, while Seth Weimer, manager of the Fine Arts Center, supports the production from the venue side.

After six weeks of rehearsals filled with music, choreography, and staging, the students are ready to bring the world of Rydell High to Bartlesville.

“We’ve worked hard to create something that’s energetic, colorful, and fun for the whole community,” Walker said. “If you love classic musicals, great dancing, and a little 1950s nostalgia, this is a show you won’t want to miss.”

Because each cast offers its own take on the story, Walker encourages audiences to consider attending multiple performances.

“Both casts are fantastic,” she said. “If you can, come see both versions. You’ll be amazed at the talent these students bring to the stage.”

Tickets are available now at www.bartlesvillechoir.com, and advance purchase is recommended as performances are expected to draw strong crowds.

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She Was Once the Oldest Resident in Oklahoma Grandma Patiacow

by Kay Little, Little History Adventures

According to the local paper on March 12, 1924, the oldest resident and oldest Indian in Oklahoma, is dead; Grandma Patiacow, 114 years old. But wait, her gravestone says 107 years old and other news articles say she was 118, while another said 130. So, which is it? We will never know because she did not know what year she was born. We do know that she was over a century old Delaware and buried at White Rose Cemetery.

Patiacow remembers as a little girl seeing the stars fall twice. This means she would have been born before the 1817 birth date on her gravestone, since the comets came in 1799 and 1803. She lived through five wars: War of 1812, Spanish-American, Mexican War, Civil War and WWI. As a young girl, she enjoyed dancing, riding her pony, having doll dances, in which she dressed them in war paint.

She married Jim Wagon, a scout with Marcy’s railroad survey expedition in the 1850’s. She lived in Texas during the Civil War and decided she wanted to go back to Kansas to be with her people, the Delaware. She and her son Joe rode on her horse to Kansas. They traveled at night to keep from being found by soldiers. We don’t know what happened to her husband. Several years after arriving in Kansas, the government moved the tribe to Indian Territory. She and her son settled in Washington County in 1868, in the vicinity of Circle Mountain. Some of her favorite people were George Keeler and William Johnstone, merchants near the Caney River. She traded her homemade beaded moccasins, other Indian articles, and her solid maple sugar made from her maple tree for groceries and goods. She also sold eggs to neighbors.

She was her own doctor, making her medicines from herbs she gathered in the woods near her home. She ate meat without seasoning, her own homemade bread and hominy. She hardly drank coffee but drank milk from her cow. In her younger years, she liked beer and buffalo meat.

She lived alone until the last days of her life. She did not

depend on others to go into town because she had a horse with a single seated rig. In fact, on her last trip to town, she stopped traffic on Third Street as she jay turned across the street to park in front of the bank. White man’s rules didn’t mean anything to her.

She loved being outside in nature. She credited this and her eating habits as to why she lived so long. She also believed that as long as a person stays busy, she would never be lonely. She had more energy than people many years younger and was a wealth of history info. She never wore glasses and sewed by hand.

In 1924, Patiacow died of pneumonia at the home of her granddaughter, Lucy, who she helped raise. She was a friend to many and her home was always open to the less fortunate.

Following You Home

by Greg Wheat

I’ve had dogs around most of my life. If you’ve ever owned one, you know that dogs have a funny way of becoming part of the family before you even realize it.

It was around 1981 when I was attending the original Madison Jr. High. Many people from Bartlesville probably remember that old school building with its unique and dramatic angled roofline that seemed to stretch toward the sky.

One afternoon, while walking home from school, a small puppy decided to follow me. Well… maybe “follow” isn’t quite the right word. It may have taken a little coaxing on my part. By the time we made it home, I had already decided the puppy’s name would be Levi. He was small, full of energy, and wagging his tail like he had already decided he lived there.

When I walked through the door, my parents quickly gave the response most parents give:

“No.”

But something interesting happened that evening. As the puppy sat there on the floor looking around like he belonged, and as I kept calling his name—“Levi”—the hours passed, and hearts slowly softened. By the end of the day, Levi had quietly become part of the family.

Years later, after I had kids of my own and was pastoring a church, another dog story began. One Sunday after service, one of our Kids Church leaders pulled me aside and said, “Pastor, you need to get your daughter Kylie a dog.”

I asked why.

She smiled and said, “Because every Sunday in Kids Church she prays for one.” Apparently, it had become part of her regular prayer list.

That’s a pretty hard request to ignore. Before long, we

found ourselves bringing home a tiny little teacup Yorkie that quickly won all of our hearts.

I could tell you many more dog stories, but maybe those will have to wait for an in-person visit. The truth is, most of you reading this probably have a few of your own. Dogs and pets have a way of weaving themselves into the memories of our lives.

But maybe that’s why those stories mean something.

Pets remind us of things that matter—loyalty, patience, showing up every day, being happy to see the people you love, staying close to home, and sometimes simply following where the heart leads.

Life is a lot like that little puppy walking beside me years ago. Sometimes we don’t know exactly where the road leads. Sometimes we hear a few “no’s” along the way. But if we keep moving forward with faith, love, and determination, amazing things have a way of finding their place in our lives.

Our goals, our dreams, our work, our marriages, our families—even our walk with God—are all built the same way: one step at a time, one day at a time, and often with a little faith that things will work out.

And if you think about it, some of the best things in life start the same way Levi did.

They simply follow you home.

So keep walking forward. Keep believing in the dreams in your heart. Keep loving the people around you. And keep trusting that God is guiding your steps.

Because sometimes the greatest joys and blessings in life arrive quietly, walk beside us for a while… and before we know it, they’ve become part of the story we wouldn’t want to live without.

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Restaurant: Mon - Sat 11a - 9p

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TECH TALK TRI COUNTY TECH

ALL THE TALK HAPPENING AT TECH

UPCOMING ADULT PROGRAMS

Take the next step in your career with upcoming training opportunities at Tri County Tech. Whether you’re looking to learn a new skill, advance in your current field, or explore a fast-growing industry, these upcoming classes can help you get there.

Welding: Shielded Metal Arc 2

Starting April 13, this course meets two evenings per week, and helps students build on foundational welding skills while advancing their technical abilities.

Advanced EMT

Beginning April 27, this program meets two evenings per week and prepares students for the next step in a fastpaced, in-demand EMS career.

CMA - Refresher Diabetics

This is a one day course that will take place April 24.

Have questions?

Contact us at 918.331.3333 or EnrichingLives@TriCountyTech.edu

Join us for our Career Fair on May 8! This come-and-go event gives you the flexibility to attend during the time that works best for you. Stop by during our morning session from 9–11 AM or our afternoon session from 12–2 PM to connect with businesses and companies. Businesses and companies are invited to showcase their opportunities at this FREE event. We’ll provide lunch, tables, and tablecloths—just bring your materials and be ready to network. Organizations interested in serving as vendors can sign up by scanning the QR code below. We look forward to partnering with you!

If you have any questions, please contact Randall Jones at 918.331.3269 or Randall.Jones@TriCountyTech.edu

REGISTER!

REGIONAL FIRE LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

The Mikey Smith Northeast Regional Leadership School is a three-day regional conference focused on developing strong, effective leaders within the fire service. Hosted by Oklahoma State University Fire Service Training, this engaging and informative event will be held May 1–3 from 8 AM - 5 PM at Tri County Tech (6101 S.E. Nowata Rd., Bartlesville, OK 74006). Attendees will gain practical leadership strategies, valuable insight from experienced instructors, and opportunities to connect with fellow fire professionals from across the region. This conference is FREE for all participants. To register or to learn more, scan the QR code.

COMMENCEMENT IS ALMOST HERE!

Tri County Tech’s Commencement Ceremony is set for Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Join us as we celebrate the hard work and accomplishments of our graduates. We’re proud of this year’s class and excited to honor this milestone together.

Tickets are required. Additional details, including ticket information and ceremony logistics, will be shared with graduating students soon.

Our STEAM Summer Camp is a fun-filled, week-long day camp for students currently in 3rd-6th grade 3rd and 4th-grade participants will attend a half-day in each of the camp themes. 5th and 6th grade participants will select and attend two themes for a half-day each, all week. STEAM Summer Camp is fun & exciting, featuring themes in a safe, small-group instruction environment. STEAM Summer Camp is from 8:30 AM –3:00 PM with lunch provided, as well as morning & afternoon snacks. Visit TriCountyTech.edu/SummerCamp to register. Register by April 1 to receive a discount! Registration ends May 29, 2026.

Scholarships are available, please contact Camp Director, Heather Pollock for more information on how to apply. Heather.Pollock@TriCountyTech.edu | 918-331-3314

Patriotism Over Politics

by Kelly Hurd

I recently got my perspective shifted.

I wasn’t sure how I felt when the news media reported we were attacking Iran.

I’m old enough to remember back to the hostage crisis, to Oliver North and to Ronald Reagan.

I’m educated enough to know that when two opposing world views collide militarily, you better know your desired outcome and have all your ducks in a row before you whack that hornet’s nest.

I’m confident enough in our strategic ability –especially after the Nicolas Maduro capture – but am also confident in Iran’s devious ability not to play by the rules.

I have a high enough sense of justice to know someone needed to do something after Iranians were slaughtered in the streets.

I wasn’t born yesterday, so the thought of negotiations accomplishing peace from a regime’ bent on bringing “Death to America” would have been naive.

And I also have an acute enough awareness politically to know it was only a matter of time until Iran gave us a rude awakening on our own front porch.

But none of that led me to a concise conclusion as to what Kelly Hurd felt about it all. I only knew it was concerning, unsettling and unfortunately divisive within our country.

But then I was told a story of one morning as B-1 Bombers were taking off from a Texas airbase. In the quiet little Texas town near the base, as folks were out for a morning walk or working in their yards, they suddenly stopped to look up at the sound overhead of a military force of great strength taking to the skies to answer their call of duty.

One young pilot in particular, who couldn’t tell his wife where he was going or when he would return, left her at home that morning with a knowing that he was on his way to rattle the gates of Hell.

She had told friends in the past of his other missions from

which he had returned. Upon his arrival home she found his back and body bruised from the extreme G’s pulled while executing a mission of precision in a place he couldn’t tell her about – and his need for sleep due to the hours awake in the air.

As the planes flew out of sight, she, like so many other spouses, was again home waiting and I’m sure praying for his return.

Suddenly it hit me and I had to turn the negative news off. As we here in America, on the right and on the left, give our opinions, criticisms, and political advice – our young men are giving their lives to defend a way of life that we are all here at home enjoying. Their families’ hearts are grieving and believing that this country is worth fighting for, that American principles are worth standing for, and that freedom is a gift worth dying for.

President Ronald Reagan’s words spoken in 1964 still echo through the ages and maybe those young B-1 Bomber pilots hear them whispering through the night skies, “You and I are told increasingly we have to choose between a left or a right. Well, I’d like to suggest there is no such thing as a left or a right. There is only an up or a down – (up) man’s aged-old dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order, or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. And regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.”

And I hope those young pilots hear Reagan shouting, “You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We’ll preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we’ll sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness.”

Not only did my perspective change, but so did my posture – to one of prayer for those in service to and in leadership of our country, and for the families who are also sacrificing here at home and keeping an eye to the sky - for their return.

God. Bless. America.

baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, and Doctor of Nursing Practice program at Oklahoma Wesleyan University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (ccneaccreditation.org).

by Jay Webster

Recently, I heard comedian Pete Holmes talk about a mantra he’s adopted: Yes. Thank you. Here’s how he uses it: Say your flight is suddenly delayed -Yes. Thank you. You get a flat tire - Yes. Thank you. Gas prices suddenly spike - Yes. Thank you.

The idea is to quickly accept the unchangeable.

Anxiety often arises when we try to control what is out of our control. What if it rains? What if the “thems” win the election? What if the package doesn’t arrive on time? So, when difficult or bad things happen, Holmes utters Yes. Thank you. as a way of accepting what cannot be changed and maintaining some inner peace. The trick is to say it immediately and as if you’re almost grateful for the inconvenience. He believes the absurdity of it is so jarring that our nervous system becomes confused into harmony.

I know myself. I’m not that good.

I wish I were. I wish I were Zen-y enough to embrace all of life’s hardships like a double dip Sunday of bliss and rainbows, and not a cow patty on a stick. But I have a highly developed sense of homeostasis, to the level of a comfort ninja master. I can sense discomfort hours, even days away.

I think the best I can do is OK. Now what?

It’s most effective if you recite it: OK. (Period. Full stop. Let it sink in. And then…) Now what?

We are involved in a War/Not-a-war. That’s not what I want, but it is our reality. OK. Now what? The “now what?” part of that mantra is this: I can’t change the unchangeable, but what can I do to make things better? Well, as far as my sphere of influence

will reach (which isn’t far), I can choose to be actively kind, loving, generous, and aware. In short, I can do all the good that is available to me to do.

My flight is delayed. OK. Now what? I can breathe deeply, which seems easy, but trust me, it isn’t always. I can be grateful— also a choice—that I will eventually get to where I’m going, that I get to wait in the relative comfort of this climate-controlled airport. I can also promote calm and kindness to my fellow travelers, who may be feeling anxious. Each of these is an active decision: acceptance, seeing the bigger picture, not making a fool of myself at the first sign of inconvenience, and choosing to actively look for good, all of which can distract me from my own discomfort, are all deliberate choices.

My taxes are due. OK. Now what? I can accept what is unchangeable. I can do it without complaint or heavy sighing. I can be proactive and schedule a time to simply get them done, so it doesn’t continue to spin and grow and take up room in my thought life.

My car battery is dead. OK. Now what? I can choose to stay calm. I can remind myself that this isn’t personal. Car batteries fail all the time; they don’t last forever. This is just an inconvenience, not an attack. With that calmness, I can see the best way to move forward more clearly. I can think about who I need to call and what I might need to reschedule. And I can ask for help.

A family member is arrested. OK. Now what? First, I can choose to avoid post-shaming. Post-shaming is when we respond to a mistake with a load of shame that we believe is so logically sound and morally right that it can somehow turn back time and stop this poor individual from doing whatever stupid thing they just committed. It doesn’t work. But maybe if we pause and get still for a moment, we’ll see or hear what might actually help this person find a way back to a better life and avoid pushing them further into a corner.

Someone we love gets a bad diagnosis. OK. Now what? Well, what do they need? Food. Space. A friend to talk honestly with and consider all the options? Maybe someone to talk about anything but being sick.

There is another thought that I think is related to this.

My wife and I have run our own production company for thirty years. (Thank you. It is remarkable.) In those three decades, besides our main work to pay bills, we’ve created music videos, plays, community events, concerts, independent films, albums, books, and short films, as well as our current podcast, Hope for Humans. We’ve loved each of these projects. We approached each one thoughtfully and with awareness of the costs involved before moving ahead. All have gained some success and connection, but as artists, we always wish for more. We want our reach to extend further. If we’re not careful, we can become anxious and start chasing an audience, success, or returns that are ultimately beyond our control.

“Chasing” has plagued me throughout most of my professional life. Running after an endgame that is often elusive or even unattainable. The challenge has been understanding how to differentiate passion from chasing. Passion has also played

a major role in our story—passion to grow and improve our community, passion to push ourselves to enhance our projects, and passion to tell moving stories that matter. However, there is a point where passion overheats and spoils into chasing. Passion will energize and motivate you. Chasing will wear you down and pull you along. One ignites you; the other anxiets you.

So, in the OK. Now What? decision, I can feel anxious that my sphere of influence isn’t larger. That I can’t help more people or bring relief to a greater number—that my reach isn’t wider. Or, I can recognize the reach I do have and make the most of those opportunities. One only frets, the other actually makes a difference.

OK, now what? will allow me to meet people in a business setting and let a sincere, natural connection be enough. Chasing will create pressure during the meeting, making it seem like they are solely responsible for the success of our effort, which will cause me to pursue them desperately. That approach will quickly ruin our relationship.

OK, now what? will allow me to enjoy the food or drink in front of me. Chasing will say, if this plate or pint is good, how much better would three be?

OK, now what? will say, this Hope for Humans podcast is something you really enjoy doing. You love the process. You love the conversations. You love your co-host (who happens to be your beautiful wife). And you have an attentive, responsive audience that has become a sort of community, inviting you into their homes, cars, or headphones with them. Embrace that. Chasing says, yes, this is good - but wouldn’t it be better with a thousand more listeners? Now your enjoyment depends on reach. What you were enjoying, you can’t enjoy anymore because your matrix has changed.

Maybe what’s powerful about OK, now what? Is that it stops us from wasting our energy on actions that are futile at best, actually negative at worst, and allows us to redirect our energy into things that are genuinely helpful (even if those things are simply gratitude and holding still so we don’t do anything stupid).

Anyway, that’s my mantra, and I’m holding to it. What’s yours? What do you repeat to keep yourself sane? Tell me when we see each other on the street.

Until then, my friends, there is so much good to be done out there. Let’s go do it.

When Mortality Creeps Near...

by Brent Taylor

Karen and I were once DINKs… Double Income, No Kids.

We were young and relatively unencumbered. Karen taught high school math in New Jersey. I practiced as a CPA — which meant I spent my days talking about depreciation schedules while wondering why no one invited me to interesting conversations.

The partners at our firm were Jewish. I liked them — energetic, sharp, fond of argument and laughter. One day the office felt strangely hollow. The partners were missing.

“Where is everybody?” I asked.

“It’s Yom Kippur,” someone said. “Holy day.”

“Oh,” I said.

I didn’t think much about holy days back then. Anna did.

Anna worked at the front desk. She was young, smiling and steady, devoutly Catholic. One morning I breezed through the door and noticed something dark on her forehead.

“You’ve got a smudge,” I whispered. She smiled. “It’s Ash Wednesday.”

I nodded, pretending I knew what that meant.

“It’s a reminder,” she said gently. “From dust we come, and to dust we return.”

I had read Genesis. I had just never connected the verse to a forehead.

I walked to my office slightly embarrassed — not by her faith, but by my own lack of understanding, about Ash Wednesday, and mortality.

Memento mori.

Remember that you will die.

The phrase was whispered, tradition says, to Roman generals during their victory parades. Conquer the world if you must — but don’t forget you are dust.

When you’re young, you don’t need someone whispering that in your ear. Until you hear the word cancer in a doctor’s office. That is when the abstract grows hard.

Life and death become house guests, eating your food, sitting on your sofa, keeping you awake at night banging into furniture, writing on your dry erase calendar with impertinent Sharpies.

An old preacher once told me, “Live every day like Jesus is coming back. Bags packed. And don’t keep more money in your accounts than you need.”

Today, we are closer to SIKM. Single Income, Kids Many.

Which is what another old preacher used to tell me as I was on my way to lead the congregation in singing. “Sic’em,” he said like a hunter sending a dog up a tree to fetch a coon. Strangely, that down home encouragement calmed my young nerves.

Sic’em these days is about picking up toys. They migrate like herds of buffalo. Stuffed animals appear in the pantry. We walk

gingerly at night fearful of stepping on a plastic stegosaurus.

But that’s not the only change in our lives— when mortality creeps near, you start spending your money differently.

Karen wanted a greenhouse. Years ago, we might have said, “Someday.”

Instead, we bought one. Stained wood. Ribbed glass. A heater for cold nights. A fan for summer heat. The grandchildren call it Keke’s Greenhouse. They follow her inside as if entering a small cathedral — holding watering cans.

For one week while Karen was in Arizona, I became the cathedral keeper.

It turns out tending living things is more complicated than it looks.

Turn the heaters on before the freeze. Open the doors before the glass traps too much heat. Water deeply but not foolishly.

One morning I stepped inside before sunrise with a longspouted watering can. A moth fluttered against the glass and brushed my ear. Lettuce appeared upright and expectant. Spinach lay low and earnest. A tomato vine displayed green fruit the size of a baseball.

And behind them all stands a singular cactus — perfectly vertical, self-righteously judging the fragile herbs and vines.

In the afternoons, Holland and Emmy run toward me in the driveway.

“Uppie, Bubs!”

They grab my legs like sunflowers seeking water.

They carry a turtle-shaped watering can toward the greenhouse. They spill half of it before we reach the door. What remains they pour out indiscriminately — on leaves, soil, their shoes.

The world feels right watching children water flowers.

At night I close the greenhouse like a careful innkeeper.

Miracles happen in that quiet space.

Seeds split open in darkness.

Roots reach downward.

Vines climb upward.

From what looks like burial, life insists.

Dust to dust indeed, like Anna’s smudge, like you and me.

One day someone will close the doors on my fragile greenhouse and turn out the light.

From the outside, it may look like burial.

But I believe the Gardener returns.

And when He does, it will be to a place where nothing freezes, nothing withers, and even the cactus — proud and rigid — will soften.

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From the Barre to the Beyond

by Candis Grover

For the Bartlesville Civic Ballet, the studio on Second Street is more than just a place to perfect dance technique; it is a training ground for life. For years, our dancers have poured countless hours into rehearsals at the studio and performances at The Center, embodying our mission to promote the art of dance through education and community outreach.

This spring, as our 2026 graduating seniors prepare for their final bow in The Sleeping Beauty, we celebrate five remarkable individuals. Whether they are headed to the university lecture hall, the musical theatre stage, or a professional dance company, they carry with them the “dancer’s edge”: a unique blend of grit, grace, and unbreakable perseverance.

Sofie Doubt

A cornerstone of the studio for 14 years, Sofie has quite literally grown up within the heart of BCB, evolving from a three-year-old “Baby Angel” into a company soloist and mentor. Over more than a decade of rehearsals, she has found that the most meaningful “behind-the-scenes” moments are those spent guiding the next generation: “The younger dancers are all like my little siblings to me,” she says. While her favorite role was the dramatic Anna in Arvola’s Dracula, her time en pointe taught her to “always take it easy on yourself, especially when life is challenging.” Ballet taught me to persevere, but also to give myself grace and rest when I need it.” As she prepares to major in Sonography at the University of Oklahoma, Sofie is most excited to share the stage one last time with her “favorite people.” Artistic Director Melissa Zervas Hahne notes that Sofie’s longevity is fueled by “true grit,” adding, “She graced the stage with beauty and talent born from hard work; no challenge scares her away.”

Cadence DeWitt

In her three years at BCB, Cadence has become a vital part of the studio’s daily life, now sharing her expertise as a substitute instructor for the Academy’s foundations and beginner classes. For Cadence, the most meaningful “behind-the-scenes” moments are the ones of pure relief and love: “Running to my sister and best friend for a hug and a cry right after the curtain falls,” she says. Her favorite role was Rose in The Nutcracker, a part that perfectly matched her “fun-spirited” nature. As she prepares to pursue a professional dance company and college next year, Cadence is most excited to share her final high school show alongside her mama (Instructor Nicole DeWitt) and sister (Cassidy). Her advice to the younger dancers she mentors is simple: “Enjoy every part of it, have joy every time you dance, and show respect and gratitude to your teachers.” Melissa Zervas Hahne notes that “Cadence doesn’t let a correction go by; she puts everything into motion to make her dance beautiful.”

Alana Sherman

With 11 years of dance experience, the last four years spent at BCB, Alana has mastered the discipline required to excel both onstage and in the studio. For Alana, the heart of the studio is the bond shared in the wings: “Hanging out backstage with my friends, laughing, and calming each other’s jitters” is her most cherished memory. While her favorite role

was the Spanish lead in The Nutcracker, her greatest takeaway is a mental toughness found through the art form. Alana shares that ballet taught her “how to persevere through physical pain while still keeping a smile on my face” and “how to stay strong mentally and push through challenges.” As she prepares to major in Biology at Kansas State University with the goal of becoming a doctor, Alana leaves the younger dancers with a final charge: “Give 110% in every rehearsal. Hard work pays off, and the effort you put in each day makes all the difference.” Melissa Zervas Hahne notes that Alana’s “musicality remains unmatched; she carries herself with ease and aplomb.”

Eli Swanson

For Eli, it only took two years at BCB to leave a lasting mark on the Bartlesville arts scene, seamlessly bridging the worlds of ballet and musical theatre. A familiar face to local audiences, Eli has starred in several Children’s Musical Theatre (CMT) productions. At BCB, his portrayal of the Nutcracker Prince showcased a rare blend of technical skill and theatrical charisma. For Eli, the studio was a place to sharpen his professional resolve: “My time at BCB taught me to utilize my perseverance and consistently try to become a better performer,” he notes. He fondly remembers the energy of his first show back and advises the younger generation “to always stay kind and tolerant, no matter the situation.” As he prepares to major in Musical Theatre this fall, Melissa Zervas Hahne describes him as a “natural talent,” adding that his “stage presence took our productions to a new level.”

Xavier Reeves

After making his debut in the 2024 production of The Wizard of Oz, Xavier quickly became a powerhouse presence within the company. Over the following seasons, he brought his signature athleticism and determination to roles in Dracula and The Nutcracker, culminating in his final performance with BCB in December 2025. Beyond his time on stage, Xavier left a lasting mark on the studio by instructing the boys’ class for a semester, serving as a vital mentor and role model for younger male dancers. Artistic Director Melissa Zervas Hahne recalls his undeniable impact on the stage: “Xavier wowed us with his sheer determination. He jumped higher, lifted longer, and loved to entertain.”

A Final Bow

The Bartlesville Civic Ballet invites the community to witness the culmination of these dancers’ hard work and artistry. Please join us at The Center as our company brings the timeless magic of The Sleeping Beauty to life. It is more than a performance; it is a celebration of years of dedication, the strength of our community, and a final bow for our departing seniors. Congratulations to the Class of 2026! We are so proud of the grit and grace you have shown, and we cannot wait to see where your journey takes you next.

The Sleeping Beauty photo courtesy of Jen May, featuring Cadence DeWItt and Lorelai Landham. Senior photos courtesy of Kristi Bray.

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Jerry Hains ... And His Life of Photography with the Army

by Joe Todd

Jerry Hains was born 6 Jun 1945 in Bartlesville. His parents operated the Hains Greenhouse and Jerry worked in the greenhouse. He said his grandfather, Noah Hains bought the greenhouse in 1945 from Mr. and Mrs. Meyers. When he turned 16, he began delivering flowers from the greenhouse all around Bartlesville. He recalled the Christmas parties Frank Phillips put on every year for the schools and the best thing was the silver dollar each student received. When Mr. Phillips died, those were stopped.

Jerry graduated from College High School in 1963. While in high school, he was very interested in photography. He went to Oklahoma State for two years and was in ROTC. He left OSU and joined the Army October 1966. He was sent to Fort Polk for Basic Training and, due to his ROTC experience, he was a squad leader. Basic lasted three months and he was sent to Fort Monmouth, NJ, for Signal School. He had requested photography and trained on moving pictures with a 16 mm Elma Camera. He really wanted still photography, but no slots were open. After basic training, he was sent to Fort Shafter, Hawaii, May 1967, where he was assigned to the Department of the Army Special Photo Office for more camera training. DASPO had teams that rotated into Thailand, Vietnam and Korea. His first assignment was in Thailand and his job was to photograph American installations. He said all of their assignments came from the Pentagon.

They lived on the local economy and said the people were very friendly. Each rotation was three months and returned to Fort Shafter. His second rotation was to Vietnam, where they lived in a villa about a mile from Tan Son Nhut, north of Saigon. He said, “The local people were not too friendly because the French were there for years and we replaced the French. There were many young men; and, if they were in a war, why were they not in the military.”

Jerry photographed a story on Chaplains in Vietnam. He was sent to Da Nang on an assignment and he thought he heard fireworks for the Chinese New Year, but it was the beginning of Tet Offensive in 1968. He went down to where

there. His next rotation was back to Vietnam and he was on a river patrol boat. He said they went up the Mekong River and he realized there was no place to hide on the boat if they came under fire.

the fighting was active; but when he arrived, the fighting was over and Viet Cong bodies were being gathered. Due to the amount of death and destruction he witnessed that day, he did not shoot one frame of film because he was in total shock.

He returned to Fort Shafter and his next rotation was to Korea. He was based near Seoul and went to the DMZ to photograph the peace talks. He said there was a table with a line down the middle and we were on one side and the North Koreans were on the other side. He could not take photos in the room so he took photos through a window. They lived on the local economy and the local people were so glad the Americans were

He said he did assignments in Pleiku, Nha Trang, Da Nang and Vung Tau photgraphing different assignments. He had one assignment with a Chaplain at a leper colony near Nha Trang. He rotated back to Fort Shafter, was discharged October 1969, and returned to Bartlesville.

Fast Track Tire & Service

. . . Built on Service, Driven by Family

by Maria Gus

In Bartlesville, the Tate name has become synonymous with something more than just tires. For generations, it has stood for service, relationships, and a genuine commitment to the community. Today, that legacy continues with Fast Track Tire & Service, founded in 2024 by cousins Clay and Mitch Tate.

For Mitch, the family’s roots in the industry run deep, stretching back more than five decades.

“Our family has been in the tire business in Bartlesville for over 50 years,” he said. “My grandfather managed the Otasco store in the 70s, then opened Bob Tate’s Tire in 1988 after coming out of retirement. My dad and uncle carried that forward until 2020.”

While the business itself has evolved over time, the foundation has remained the same. According to Mitch, it was never just about tires.

“It’s really about service,” he said. “Our grandfather and our dads showed us what it looks like to take care of people. Every customer matters. It’s not just a transaction.”

That mindset stayed with Clay and Mitch as they built their own careers in the family business. After years of experience and leadership, the sale of the company in 2020 left them at a crossroads. But for both, the answer was clear.

“We were ready to get back in the game,” Mitch said. “We love Bartlesville. We were born and raised here, and now we’re raising our families here. This is home.”

Fast Track Tire & Service was their way of bringing that legacy back, while building something of their own. They launched their first location in downtown Bartlesville in August 2024, starting with just the two of them and a shared vision.

That vision quickly gained momentum.

“We opened with just Clay and I, and now we’ve got more than 20 teammates,” Mitch said. “We’ve been able to reconnect with people we’ve worked with before and also meet new folks who have trusted us and joined the team. That’s been one of the most rewarding parts.”

The growth didn’t stop there. A second location on Highway 75 followed, along with a continued presence on the west side of town.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “We saw a need and just kept moving forward. And as we grow, we’re excited about

creating more jobs here in Bartlesville.”

Despite that growth, the heart of the business remains simple.

“We care,” Mitch said. “You’re not going to find another shop that cares like we do. That’s what we’ve been taught, and that’s what we’re building into our team.”

At Fast Track, those values are summed up in two words: Heart and Hustle.

“We love and care for our community, our customers, and our teammates,” he said. “And we hustle to get people back on the road quickly.”

That commitment shows up in both service and speed. Customers can expect efficient, high-quality work without the long wait times often associated with auto service.

“Our typical wait time is less than 30 minutes for an oil change or tire service,” Mitch said. “We know people are busy, and we respect that.”

Fast Track offers a full range of services, including new and used tires, preventative maintenance, brake repair, and work on suspension and steering systems. And when something falls outside their scope, they lean on long-standing relationships within the community to help customers find the right solution.

“If we can’t take care of it, we’ll point you to someone we trust,” Mitch said. “That’s part of being in this community as long as we have.”

That connection to Bartlesville is at the core of everything they do. From youth sports to everyday interactions, the Tate family has always believed in showing up for their community.

“Bartlesville is a special place,” Mitch said. “The support has been incredible, not just for the business but for us personally. People stop by just to say hello, have coffee, and catch up. That means a lot.”

Today, Fast Track Tire & Service is more than a new business. It is a continuation of a family legacy built on trust, carried forward by a new generation committed to doing things the right way.

“We’re proud to carry that on,” Mitch said. “At the end of the day, it’s about taking care of people. That’s what we’ve always known, and that’s what we’ll keep doing.”

Compassionate Care

Patient-Centered Care in Bartlesville

In today’s healthcare environment, patients are seeking more than quick appointments and routine checkups—they are looking for providers who listen, understand, and walk alongside them in their health journey. At Ascension St. John in Bartlesville, two dedicated nurse practitioners, Hester I. Ferguson, CNP, and Nedra Edwards, APRN, CNP, embody this approach through years of experience, compassion, and a deep commitment to their patients.

Hester I. Ferguson is a board-certified family medicine nurse practitioner known for her attentive and thoughtful approach to care. She prioritizes truly listening to her patients—taking time to understand not only their immediate health concerns, but also their family history, lifestyle, and long-term goals. This deeper understanding allows her to create personalized care plans that are both effective and sustainable.

Her services span a wide range of non-surgical care, including diagnosing illnesses and injuries, prescribing medications, and supporting overall wellness. Whether a patient is facing new symptoms or working toward long-term health improvements, Ferguson provides care that is both compassionate and accessible.

Ferguson’s strong educational background supports her clinical expertise. She completed her medical education through Kaplan University/Purdue Global, earned her graduate degree from Southern Nazarene University, and completed her undergraduate studies at Oklahoma Wesleyan University. This foundation, combined with her patient-first philosophy, allows her to deliver high-quality care tailored to each individual she serves.

Alongside Ferguson is Nedra Edwards, a seasoned family practice nurse practitioner whose career reflects both dedication and longevity in the field of healthcare. With 33 years of experience in the medical field, Edwards brings a depth of knowledge that only comes from decades of handson patient care. Her journey began as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), followed by becoming a Registered Nurse (RN), and ultimately advancing her education to become a nurse practitioner.

For the past 10 years, Edwards has been part of Ascension Medical Group, where she has cared for patients ranging from age five through adulthood. Over that time, she has built lasting relationships with many individuals and families—some of whom have remained under her care for the entire decade. This continuity speaks not only to her clinical skill but also to the trust and connection she fosters with her patients.

Edwards openly acknowledges the challenges of working in healthcare, describing the profession as demanding, yet deeply meaningful. Despite the stress that can come with the role, she cannot imagine doing anything else. Her perspective is simple but powerful: while she is employed by Ascension Medical Group, she ultimately works for her patients. That mindset shapes every interaction and decision she makes in her practice.

Outside of the clinic, Edwards enjoys a full and creative life. She values time spent with friends and family and has a love for music, often attending live concerts. At home, she finds joy and companionship in her three long-haired miniature dachshunds, who keep life lively and rewarding. Her creative side is expressed through hobbies such as oil and watercolor painting, reading, and writing poetry—interests that reflect her thoughtful and expressive nature.

Together, Ferguson and Edwards represent the heart of patient-centered care in Bartlesville. Their combined experience, compassion, and dedication create an environment where patients feel heard, valued, and supported. In a healthcare system that can often feel rushed or impersonal, these two providers stand out by offering something increasingly rare— genuine connection and a commitment to treating the whole person.

For individuals and families seeking trusted, compassionate care, providers like Hester I. Ferguson and Nedra Edwards remind us that healthcare is at its best when it is rooted in relationships.

History of April Fools Day

by Jay Hastings

April Fools!

We’ve all heard or said it but have you ever wondered how it started? April Fools’ Day is an annual custom in many Western cultures consisting of practical jokes and pranks, played on the first day of the month. The shenanigans are usually revealed with the initiator exclaiming, “April Fools!”

One association between April 1st and foolishness isattributed to Geoffrey Chaucer’s collection “The Canterbury Tales” (1392). In the “Nun’s Priest’s Tale”, a character in the story is tricked by a fox, “since March began, full thirty days and two,” or, the 32nd day beginning with March 1st, arriving at April 1st. That’s far from the only origin theory, though.

Some historians suggest April Fools’ Day originated duringthe Middle Ages when New Year’s Day was celebrated on March 25th in many European towns, with celebrationscontinuing in some areas of France through April 1st. Those who celebrated New Year’s Day on January 1stmade fun of those who celebrated months later, presumably culminating in April Fools’ Day. In 1508, French poet Eloy d’Amerval referred to a poisson d’avril. The phrase, translated loosely as “April fool” and more literally as “April’s fish”, is believed by some to be the first French reference to the celebration.

In 1686, English writer and philosopher John Aubrey referred to a celebration as “Fools’ Holy Day”, believed to be the first British reference. On April 1, 1698, several people were tricked into going to the Tower of London to “see the lions washed”.

Popular April fools’ pranks in Armenia include common, harmless tricks like tying a friend or co-worker’s shoes together, hiding plastic spiders in drawers of people in their workplace, and switching sugar for salt in hopes of startling an acquaintance as they take a sip of their morning coffee.

In Germany, it’s common for folks tell made-up stories as truth, usually to be later revealed by shouting “April, April!” at the listener.

In Ireland, April Fools’ Day traditions have included entrusting the target with an “important letter” to be given to a named person. That person, after reading the letter, then asks the target to take it to someone else, and so on. The letter simply contained such words as “send the fool further”.

In Italy, France, Belgium, and French-speaking areas of Switzerland and Canada, the April 1st tradition is often known as “April Fish”. Pranks include attempting to attach a paper fish to the target’s back without being noticed. The popular fish feature is prominent on many late 19th- to early 20th-century French April Fools’ Day postcards. Many newspapers also spread a false story on April Fish Day, and a subtle reference to a fish is sometimes given as a clue to the fact that it is an April Fools’ prank.Bakeries, and chocolate shops in France sell chocolate fishes in their shop windows on the day.

In the UK, April Fools’ mischief is supposed to cease at noon, after which time antics are no longer acceptable. If people are caught playing pranks after midday, they are the ones considered to be April’s fools.

Since 1986, New York City has hosted the Annual April Fools’ Day Parade which was originally founded by artist and activist Joey Skaggs. The parade features satirical floats and performances that lampoon political figures, celebrities, and current events. Participants often dress in costumes and carry props to embody the year’s most notable “fools.” The event begins at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street and proceeds to Washington Square Park, where a “King (or Queen) of Fools” is crowned. The parade has become a platform for public commentary and satire, drawing attention to societal issues through humor and performance art.