Upfront

It's too much cute! upfront

It’s a New Year! I know it’s February, but since we’re a bi-monthly publication (hopefully to be monthly sometime in the near future) our New Year issue didn’t fall on January. We had so many cute kids to put in and ... yada, yada ... we’re doing it this issue.

Whew!

With all that said, this time is such a wonderful time of optimism and excitement, and I enjoy it every year. I really like reflecting on how wonderful our life is, and plotting out how great the next year will be. I have to admit though, I keep being amazed at how far we keep going. I mean, I remember when 1990 seemed out of reach. It seems sort of weird that we are at 2020, it still kinda sounds like a science fiction film date or something. With all that said though I think this is going to be a great new year and decade, and as you’ve already seen on the cover, we have an adorable bunch of kids to ring in the new year with.

As you probably know, it was a contest — actually two contests — one judged by Facebookers, and the other by our panel of celebrity judges — but I’ll get to that a little later. Anyway we set up a pro-photo shoot, moms and dads signed up their little ones, and one afternoon we took a bunch of cute pictures. Luckily for all of us, you can see the fruits of that labor in these pages.

While we did have the aforementioned contests going on — and I’m sure you’ve heard this speech before — all these kids really are winners here. They are all as cute as they can be and we are all happy that they are a part of this issue. Major thanks to Dayna Christ with Star Jewelers, Stacy Davis with Allie Ballie Boutique, Dr. Clarence Oliver, Dawn Seing with McGraw Realtors, and Mayor Craig Thurmond, for doing the hard part — the judging. You all were great and we are eternally grateful.

And in other new and absolutely no less earth-shattering news, we have some really good stuff from Representative Ross Ford. Ross shares several bills up for consideration this session, including his Domestic Strangulation Bill. This forward-thinking bill would toughen up punishment for perpetrators that attempt to strangle their domestic partner. We appreciate Representative Ford for protecting victims of domestic violence and for being an all-around good guy.

We also hit the “Out and About” jackpot this issue. Lots of cool things going on, with lots of Broken Arrow faces. The School of Rock stuff does my heart good every time I see it. Lots of kids with a lot of good times ahead of them. And also the best flash mob you’ll see this year (hint: done by a bunch of seniors)!

All that, and the usual looks at the military museum, the pastor’s corner, and everything that is buzzing in BA with the BA Buzz.

Anyway enough of this, turn the page and get to it.

From your family at Broken Arrow City Magazine!

Volume II Issue I Broken Arrow City Magazine is published by ENGEL PubLishiNG 1216 E. Kenosha St., Ste.129 Broken Arrow, OK 74012

Publisher Brian Engel brian@brokenarrowmagazine.net Art Direction Copper Cup Images design@coppercupimages.com Senior Editor Tim Hudson 918-815-2653 thudson@brokenarrowmagazine.net Account Executives Melissa Lambert 918-698-3334 mlambert@brokenarrowmagazine.net Andrea Whitchurch 405-512-8791 awhitchurch@brokenarrowmagazine.net Peg Wilson 918-914-2965 peg@brokenarrowmagazine.net Brandy Swift 918-841-8808 bswift@brokenarrowmagazine.net Jodi Fry 918-720-5060 jfry@brokenarrowmagazine.net

Calendar/Social Media calendar@brokenarrowmagazine.net

Contributing Writers Tim Hudson, Rep. Ross Ford, Deb Wimpee, Jack O’Connor, Mayor Craig Thurmond, Devin Williams, Melissa Lambert, Roger Moon, Ruben Tate, Jack Robie, Jason Lucas, Rich Manganero

Contributing Photographers Tim Hudson, Melissa Lambert, Dana Pugh, Museum Broken Arrow, Prairie Song,’ NatureWorks, Rhea Lana BA, Tulsa PAC, Rose District Ice Rink, BA Police Department, Steve McNicholas

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All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or otherwise, without prior permission of Broken Arrow Magazine.

ABOUT THE COVER

Photo by Dana Pugh. 8-month-old Daniel Blalock won Judge’s Vote in the Baby New Year 2020 Contest.

Creative concept by Tim Hudson