January 17, 2019

January 17, 2019 Vol. 19, No. 34

In This Issue ROUGH CUT SWISS

A I N T M R E E T N N T E

G A LORE

Rough Cut Swiss, in real life, is located in front of Othello’s Restaurant at the southwest corner of Main and Broadway, but this week it is hidden somewhere in our paper.

Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information see page 4.

Good economic news See Page 21

Attractions heat up winter calendar PHOTOS PROVIDED

The Golden Dragon Acrobats will be in action this Friday at Oklahoma City Community College.

If interested in seeing, please call (405) 682-7579 for ticket information.

Voctave will be at UCO Friday for the Broadway Tonight series.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 18 Cloudy High 62° Low 26°

SATURDAY, JANUARY 19 Snow Showers/Wind High 30° Low 12°

SUNDAY, JANUARY 20 Sunny High 27° Low 22°

If you’re looking for entertainment this winter, you’re in luck.

Several groups in the metro will be having productions this month and next.

The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, “The Phantom of the Opera,” continues through the weekend at the Civic Center in Oklahoma City. Worldwide the famous show has done more than 65,000 performances in 29 countries. Call (405) 594-8300 for more information.

Other attractions include: n Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) welcomes the Golden Dragon Acrobats Friday, Jan. 18, at 8 p.m. in the OCCC Visual and Performing Arts Center (VPAC) Theater. The Golden Dragon Acrobats represent the best of a time-honored tradition that began more than 25 centuries ago, and are recognized throughout the United States and

abroad as the premiere Chinese acrobatic touring company. To purchase tickets, visit tickets.occc. edu or call the OCCC Cultural Programs Box Office at 405-6827579. n Closer to home the Russian National Ballet returns for the fifth time to the Armstrong Auditorium stage in Edmond on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 p.m. to perform Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake,” one of the classics of the ballet repertoire.

“Interpreted by some of the world’s finest dancers, this celebrated ballet will captivate audiences of all ages,” Armstrong Auditorium Concert Manager Ryan Malone said. “This company is widely known to be one of the world’s best, and we are honored to bring it back to Oklahoma to perform. This production is consistently praised by our audiences each time they take the Arm-

strong Auditorium stage.”

Tickets to the Russian National Ballet performance begin at $31.

For more information about ticket options, subscriptions, group rates or current exhibits, please visit www.ArmstrongAuditorium.org or call 405-285-1010. n And please don’t forget the University of Central Oklahoma’s Broadway Tonight Series continues its 2018-19 season with a concert by one of the country’s premier a cappella groups, Voctave, at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19 in the historic Mitchell Hall Theatre on UCO’s campus.

Throughout their career, Voctave has performed dynamic arrangements ranging from gospel music, musical theater, contemporary Christian, barbershop, pop music to choral specialists. The group’s versatility and range have catapulted them to Internet stardom, continued on Page 6

Page 2 • January 17, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 17, 2019 • Page 3

Tea Time in Edmond Tea at the Rodkey House will be held Feb. 2 and Feb. 9.

Join the Edmond Historical Society Museum for a tea in 1920's Edmond.

Enjoy a living history performance while indulging in our traditional tea fare of savories, scones, sweets, and tea.

This multi-generational event is ideal for tea enthusiasts and the tea curious ages five and over.

Reservations are required, tickets are available below for $20 each.

To register please visit www.edmondhistory.org FILE PHOTO/MELINDA INFANTE

North Pom Squad Takes First Place Edmond North Pom won first place at the state competition earlier this month. They were in the 6A large mix category. They also won the High Point Mix award. Pictured from left to right on top row are state team members Madi Suddock, Bailey Reynolds, Kendall Carrier, Olivia Leonard, Mena Suddock, Tatum Richardson, Paige Rounsavall, Avery Johnson and Kaitlyn Goldsmith. On the middle row Hayden Choate, Noelle Eccellente, Raegan Reece, Alexa Allen, Reece Ford, Sarah Szukala and Reese Spencer. On the bottom row Grayson Flaherty, Kaleigh Brown, Graycen Guthrie and Courtlyn Burton.

Page 4 • January 17, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Vote ‘Yes’ on school bonds While the first round of voting for our Edmond Mayor and Edmond City Council will take place on Feb. 12, there will be another set of important items to be voted on the same day by qualified voters who live in the Edmond School District.

There will be two bond issue proposals that total $93 million Ray Hibbard to increase school security, improve school buildings and fund the construction of additional classrooms. Nearly $40 million of the bond issue would be used to purchase land and fund the construction of two elementary schools.

We join with the Edmond Chamber of Commerce to endorse passage of the Feb. 12 school bond issue.

For the school bond proposals on the ballot you do not have to be a resident within Edmond city limits. All registered voters who live within the Edmond Public School district boundaries qualify to vote. Folks will vote at their regular precincts. The Edmond School District and Edmond city limits overlap but do not match up completely. The city of Edmond elections being on the same ballot could be confusing for voters eligible to vote on the bond issues but not the city elections.

Edmond Public Schools are incredible stewards with taxpayer dollars. They also have done a fantastic job over the years in managing their bond debt so as not to be a burden to property owners through property tax. Wisely, the administration at Edmond Public Schools has always waited for older bond issues to roll off before acquiring additional bonds. This has kept the tax levy close to the same throughout the years. It also allows the school district to keep up with needs at a planned pace.

Too many of our school districts in Oklahoma wait until their entire fleet of buses are falling apart before they float a new bond issue to voters.

Edmond Public Schools manages their capital expenditures and bond issues through careful research and planning for the needs of the district.

Edmond Public Schools Superintendent Bret Towne said passage of the bond issue is not planned to raise homeowner’s taxes. The district has planned this bond issue to keep the millage level between 24 and 25 mills.

“The timing of bond sales will coincide with the retirement of existing bonds to support the district’s objective of sustaining a stable millage rate,” Towne said.

So often, you will hear folks say that they sure wish government could manage themselves in the same way businesses have to manage themselves.

Edmond Public Schools does just that folks. Instead of letting equipment and buildings get run down, they plan for the useful life of their assets and then retire and replace them a little at a time.

Buses are a great example. A business would do the same thing with their fleet of trucks.

“Many of our elementary schools are full and we have had to bring in portable buildings in order to have adequate space for the students,” said Towne. “The construction of numerous apartment complexes in the southwest quadrant of our district and large housing additions east of I-35 necessitates building new schools in these areas to

accommodate for the growth in our elementary student population,” he added.

The district has already purchased land at Douglas and Coffee Creek for an elementary school.

Ideally, the district would like to build another elementary school in the far southwest quadrant of the district in the Quail Springs Mall area. Absent from this year’s bond proposal is a request for funds to build a fourth high school.

“The student population of our secondary schools has not grown at the same rate as it has in our elementary schools. We believe the district’s focus should be on alleviating the congestion in our larger elementary schools, several of which now have between 900-1000 students,” Towne said.

Other noteworthy updates and improvements in the 2019 bond proposal include $3.7 million for enhanced safety features at schools. Last spring, the district formed a committee comprised of staff, students, parents, community members, law enforcement, and federal officials to review the district’s current security procedures and practices.

“Among the immediate improvements the committee recommended is implementing the use of student/staff photo ID cards at all secondary schools which would be used for card-swipe access to buildings, installing more video/audio buzz-in systems for patrons and visitors, and installing more video cameras on the exterior entries of schools to display images of individuals who approach school buildings,” said Towne. “We want to take every measure to protect students and staff.”

The breakdown of the Feb. 12, 2019 bond issue is as follows: Proposition #1 $90,700,000 Technology – School Security- School Equipment Technology: Purchase and install computers, digital devices, software, wireless networking equipment, phone systems, and technology support services. $10,000,000 School Equipment: Purchase fine arts and athletic equipment for secondary schools, library/media center books, software subscriptions, instructional equipment/materials, maintenance and school support vehicles, grounds equipment, woodshop equipment and tennis center furnishings. $7,900,000 School Security: Improve and upgrade security as needed to include but not be limited to electronic security and door control devices, shatter-resistant glass film, student/staff photo ID badges and card reader systems and video surveillance camera systems. $3,700,000 HVAC: Improve HVAC systems at Angie Debo Elementary School, and Charles Haskell Elementary and Summit Middle School Gymnasiums. $2,000,000 Transportation: Construct access road, fueling station and additional bus parking at the district transportation facility. $2,000,000 Roofing: Replace roofs of Cimarron Middle School and Washington Irving Elementary School. $1,900,000 Parking Lots/Roads: Construct, resurface and/or modify existing parking lots and access roads at

North High School, John Ross Elementary and Sunset Elementary School. $1,550,000 Flooring: Replace flooring as needed at Cimarron Middle School, Northern Hills Elementary School, Russell Dougherty Elementary School Clyde Howell Early Childhood Center and Orvis Risner Elementary School. $800,000 Elementary Schools: Construct Elementary School East of I-35: Construct Phase 1 of an elementary school at S.E. corner of the intersection of Douglas and Coffee Creek. $18,000,000 Construct Elementary School Southwest Corner of the District: Construct Phase I of elementary school located in the Southwest quadrant of the district. $17,600,000 Purchase Land: Buy land for the site of new Southwest Elementary School and purchase properties to expand selected school sites as needed. $3,500,000 Cross Timbers Elementary School: Construct a STEM room and multi-purpose room/storm shelter. $3,000,000 Heritage Elementary School: Construct classroom addition/storm shelter. $2,850,000 Will Rogers Elementary: Construct multi-purpose room/storm shelter. $1,500,000 Middle Schools: Heartland Middle School: Construct classrooms. $3,500,000 Summit Middle School: Construct classrooms/storm shelter. $2,700,000 Cheyenne Middle School: Construct a practice gymnasium. $2,100,000 High Schools: Memorial High School: Improve and secure front entrance, add offices and classrooms, upgrade auditorium stage, lights and sound system. $3,100,000 Santa Fe High School: Upgrade auditorium stage, lights and sound system. $1,300,000 North High School: Upgrade auditorium stage, lights, and sound system. $1,300,000 Boulevard Academy: Renovate gymnasium. $400,000 Proposition #2 $2,300,000 Transportation Vehicles: The purchase of small and large buses and high capacity sport utility vehicles.

We encourage voters in the Edmond School District to turn out and vote in for the passage of these important bond issues.

While much of government functions can be frustrating to tax payers, our Edmond Public School District is a shining example of how important government operations such as educating our children can be done in an organized and efficient process. Administration, staff, teachers, parents and students of the Edmond Public School District have earned our support.

(Ray Hibbard may be reached by e-mail at ray@edmondpaper.com)

Check out what’s inside! n n n n n n n n n

Weekend calendar of events ........................................................Page 7.

The Electoral College still a good idea ..........................................Page 8.

Fort Sill marks 150 years ..............................................................Page 9.

UCO faculty concerts continue ..................................................Page 13.

Movie review by George Gust ....................................................Page 15.

Crossword ..................................................................................Page 15.

Senior news ......................................................................Pages 16 & 17.

Business News ............................................................................Page 21 Worship directory ......................................................................Page 23.

Find the ‘Rough Cut Swiss’ Rough Cut Swiss, in real life, is located in front of Othello’s Restaurant at the southwest corner of Main and Broadway, but this week it is hidden somewhere in our paper. E-mail contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing.

Rough Cut Swiss is by artist David Phelps. Phelps is an Oklahoma based sculptor whose work has been featured throughout the state. He is inspired by expansive spaces and hopes his works will inspire meaningful meditation.

Said Phelps, “I grew up on a farm in the central valley of California where the fields became an extension of oneself. I continue to live in the wide open spaces of Oklahoma where my sculptural images expand to include their environments as part of the aesthetic experience.”

Publisher Ray Hibbard Jr. ray@edmondpaper.com Partner Christopher T. Hoke Editor Steve Gust news@edmondpaper.com Production April Burgess, Deanne York

Cover Design April Burgess Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2019 by Edmond Media Publishing 107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax)

Advertising Director Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083

Advertising Account Executive Chris Thomas chris@edmondpaper.com

All rights reserved.

Material contained herein may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission from Edmond Media Publishing.

Contributing Writers Dave Farris, Mallery Nagle, Kacee Van Horn, Rose Drebes, George Gust.

Photographer Melinda Infante

edmondlifeandleisure.com facebook.com/edmondlifeandleisure twitter.com/edmondlifeandleisure instagram.com/edmondlifeandleisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 17, 2019 • Page 5

Law enforcement museum State Sen. Greg Treat marking 10th anniversary voted in leadership post

By Robert Medley NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman When Richard DeLaughter retired after a 33-year career with the Oklahoma City police, he saw a need to recognize law officers who have made a difference in their communities.

DeLaughter, 77, of Edmond, was the Oklahoma City assistant police chief when he retired in 1998. Ten years later, DeLaughter got a telephone call from former Edmond Mayor Carl Reherman, who said he had an idea for a future museum and hall of fame to recognize law officers.

DeLaughter liked the idea and joined him as treasurer of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Museum and Hall of Fame that is located inside the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive.

“We wanted to recognize law enforcement in Oklahoma and it seemed like there wasn’t anything to do this,” DeLaughter said.

Among the first inductees into the museum and hall of fame were the territorial lawmen William “Bill” Tilghman, Chris Madsen and Henry “Heck” Thomas in 2009.

The inductees for 2018 were: n Michael C. Thompson, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper who rose to the rank of Commissioner of Oklahoma Department of Public Safety. n The late David Real, a polygraph examiner for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. n Mike Huff, Tulsa police detective who investigated the 1981 murder of Tulsa businessman Roger Wheeler. n M. Gayle Wells, Grove police chief who improved the department’s communication system and trained an underwater dive team that works along Grand Lake.

“There are a lot of hardworking, dedi-

cated police officers who deserve to be remembered for all they have done in their communities,” DeLaughter said.

“They are people who have made a difference and a contribution to help law enforcement.”

The museum includes exhibits with historic photographs of law officers from the days they rode on horseback to motorcycles and patrol cars. Video kiosk presentations are also in the museum. One exhibit features the history of black law officers in Oklahoma.

The first female police officers in Oklahoma are in the museum and hall of fame: Jean Latham, Lois Moore, Mildred Jones, Iona Chapman, Edna Jean Linn and Ina Mae “Tiny” Miller were all Oklahoma City officers in the late 1940s and 1950s.

Roger Webb, a former law officer, is in the hall of fame for establishing the Institute of Forensic Science while he was president at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Dennis Lippe, chairman of the Oklahoma Law Officers Memorial, which is located outside the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety headquarters in Oklahoma City, said the hall is important to state history.

“Law and order in Oklahoma would not have happened had we not had the officers,” Lippe said. “We want to always remember the people and their sacrifices they have made.”

The hall of fame inducts up to four law officers a year, DeLaughter said.

Applications are taken for future inductees each year through August.

DeLaughter said fund-raising efforts are underway to expand the museum on the second floor of the history center.

“We will keep the museum and hall of fame going as long as we can,” DeLaughter said.

For more information about the museum and hall of fame go to olemhof.comolemhof.com.

UCO president candidates will be interviewed this month Eight people will be interviewed this month for the job of president of the University of Central Oklahoma.

The Board of Regents for the Regional University System of Oklahoma narrowed the field of candidates in a meeting Monday. Regents declined to reveal any details about the eight candidates selected for interviews.

"The confidentiality of our search process helps to create a broad and highly qualified applicant pool," said Regent Mark Stansberry, chairman of the board.

"Experienced and well-qualified candidates are more willing to be considered in presidential search processes when they are given the freedom to explore the opportunity without having to disclose their candidacy," Stansberry said.

The interviews will be conducted in late January.

UCO President Don Betz an-

First Place Reese Spencer, a sophomore at Edmond North High School, took first place at the state solo pom competition held at Oklahoma City University earlier this month. Reese was in the 9th/10th grade category. state Pom competition. Reese performed a contemporary style dance. Reese is on the Edmond North Pom squad. She had to go to Tulsa in November and perform her solo in order to qualify for the state competition. There were 50 solos in her category. Only eight advanced to the finals. And then Reese won first. Related photo, Page 3.

nounced seven months ago that he will retire June 30, the end of the academic year. Betz was named UCO's 20th president in June 2011.

UCO is one of six universities governed by the RUSO Board of Regents. As such, the regents are tasked with hiring a new president.

They advertised the position nationally and 62 applicants responded.

An advisory committee, chaired by Regent Jeff Dunn, was appointed to help with the search process. Three additional regents serve on the committee — Amy Ford, Connie Reilly and Susan Winchester. Also named to the committee were members of the UCO faculty, administration, staff and student body, as well as UCO alumni and community members.

Founded in 1890 as the Territorial Normal School, UCO has nearly 16,000 students in 121 undergraduate areas of study and 74 graduate majors.

Members of the Oklahoma Senate last week voted Senator Greg Treat as president pro tempore, the chamber’s top leadership post.

Treat previously served as the majority floor leader, the Senate’s second-highest leadership office, and was selected by Senate Republicans last year as their choice to lead the Senate. On Tuesday during organizational day, the entire Senate made it official and voted to name Treat as the Senate leader.

“I am humbled and honored to serve Sen. Treat as the leader of the Oklahoma Senate. I very much appreciate my colleagues for their trust in my leadership and look forward to the challenge ahead. I also want to thank my wife and children. Without their love and support, I would not be able to serve in the Senate,” said Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

“As leader of the Senate I promise our chamber will work hard, we’ll work together across political parties, and we’ll work toward policies that are good for all Oklahomans. There are certainly challenges facing our state, but there is nothing standing in our way that we can’t overcome together. I am optimistic about the future of our state and feel very blessed to be in a position to help lead Oklahoma to an even better and brighter future.”

Treat lives in Oklahoma City with his wife Maressa and their three children: Mason, Cooper, and Olivia. The Treat family attends Frontline Church. He was elected in a 2011 special election to represent District 47, which encompasses northwest Oklahoma City and portions of Edmond, Deer Creek, and Bethany. Treat serves on the executive committees of both the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Southern Legislative Conference.

The Oklahoma Constitution calls upon the Legislature to meet before the start of each two-year session to formally elect its leaders and certify the previous year’s election results. On Tuesday, the Senate certified the 2018 election results and officially elected Treat and other senators to Senate leadership positions. The Senate GOP leadership includes: •Senator Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, President Pro Tempore •Senator Kim David, R-Porter, Majority Floor Leader •Senator Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, Appropriations chair •Senator Jason Smalley, R-Stroud, Majority Caucus chair •Senator Rob Standridge, R-Norman, Majority Whip •Senator Stephanie Bice, R-Oklahoma City, Assistant Floor Leader •Senator Frank Simpson, R-Springer, Assistant Floor Leader •Senator Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, Majority Caucus vice chair •Senator Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, Assistant Majority Whip •Senator Casey Murdock, R-Felt, Assistant Majority Whip •Senator Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, Assistant Majority Whip •Senator Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, Rural Caucus chair

Page 6 • January 17, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Last year 488 lives saved

Group continues to urge public to become organ donors For the fifth consecutive year, LifeShare broke its previous record and coordinated the donation of lifesaving organs from 188 donors whose generous gifts resulted in 542 organs transplanted in 2018, saving 488 lives.

LifeShare is the federally designated organ procurement organization in the state of Oklahoma and is responsible for organ and tissue donation statewide.

In 2017, LifeShare recovered 183 organ donors, passing the organization’s all-time high record of 180 donors set in 2016.

“As we look back on five years’ of unprecedented growth and recordbreaking performance, we are humbled by the generosity of Oklahomans and their willingness to help others, by the support of our community and hospitals, and by the talents of our staff,” explained Jeffrey Orlowski, President and CEO of LifeShare of Oklahoma.

Last year, LifeShare also broke its previous record and coordinated the donation of life enhancing tissue from 1,036 donors whose generous gifts could impact more than 77,700 people. Tissue donation will impact people through bone donations to improve mobility, skin donations to heal burn patients, cornea donations to restore sight and heart valve donations to repair life-threatening defects.

In 2017, LifeShare recovered tissue

from 789 donors, passing the organization’s all-time high record of 725 donors set in 2016.

“We are proud of these accomplishments and hope to continue to have an impact on nearly 114,000 people currently waiting across the nation for a lifesaving transplant,” said Orlowski. “We encourage all Oklahomans to register to be organ, eye and tissue donors so more lives can be saved.”

This record breaking year, more than 488 lives were saved through organ and tissue donation. The need for transplant is growing, and there are still approximately 700 Oklahomans currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant.

LifeShare encourages all Oklahomans to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor and to share your decision with your family. You can give the gift of life by registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at www.LifeShareRegistry.org. For more information about LifeShare, visit www.lifeshareok.org.

About LifeShare LifeShare is a nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissue for transplant purposes. We work closely with five transplant centers and 145 healthcare organizations in the state of Oklahoma to facilitate donation.

Francis Tuttle helps offer upcoming OSHA safety classes Francis Tuttle Technology Center and the Associated General Contractors of Oklahoma Education Foundation are offering Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety trainings in a new, flexible format for 2019.

Enrollment is now open for 10 and 30-hour OSHA safety training, allowing participants up to five months to complete the required sessions. Participants may select classes to attend based upon personal schedules and availability.

These sessions will cover specific OSHA standards and equip participants to identify, predict and prevent potential hazards in the workplace.

Topics include protection from crane hazards, confined space hazards and choosing appropriate protective equipment, among other safety topics. Sessions are held at AGC of Oklahoma offices at 605 NW 13thStreet in Oklahoma City.

OSHA 10 participants must complete one full-day and one half-day session.

Participants who successfully complete the course will receive a valid OSHA 10-Hour Card. The cost for the OSHA 10-hour program is $159, or $109 for AGC of Oklahoma Members.

OSHA 30 participants must complete four full-day sessions. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a valid OSHA 30-Hour Card. The cost for the OSHA 30-

hour program is $449, or $299 for AGC of Oklahoma Members.

For enrollment or more information, visit http://www.agcok.com/education/ or contact AGC Education Coordinator, Monica Marin, at monica.marin@agcok.comor (405) 528.4605, or Francis Tuttle Safety Coordinator, Robert Aldridge at (405)717-4761 or robert.aldridge@francistuttle.edu.

Francis Tuttle Technology Center serves high school students and adults in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area with career-specific training, in support of developing and maintaining a quality workforce for the region.

Francis Tuttle also offers complete business and industry training and consulting services, and short-term training for career development or personal enrichment. With four locations in Oklahoma City and Edmond, Francis Tuttle offers central Oklahoma diverse training programs in fulfillment of the school’s mission to prepare customers for success in the workplace.

More information is available at francistuttle.edu or by calling (405) 717-7799.

The Associated General Contractors of Oklahoma is a statewide, fullservice, non-profit organization for construction professionals. AGC actively represents all types and disciplines of contractors and related affiliates.

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earning them more than 100 million video views, a spot on Billboard’s Top 25 Chart and multiple number one singles on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.

For tickets, visit www.mitchellhalltheatre.com or call the Mitchell Hall Box Office at 405-974-3375. n Also Shakespeare in the Park will begin its 35th season beginning Feb. 7 with “Twelfth Night,” directed by Kathryn McGill. The production runs to March 2. For ticket information

please call 1-800-838-3006. The theater groups performs in two main locations in the metro, the Myriad Botanical Gardens Water Stage and Shakespeare on Paseo at 2920 Paseo.

And, please try to get out to support high school and middle school plays and musicals this winter and spring from our entertainment stars of the future. And, as always, each week check our Weekend of Calendar of Events listings.

Integris seeks volunteers for its Hospice program Integris Hospice and the Integris Hospice House seek volunteers for the next training session. This free, in-depth training is open to anyone who has a compassionate heart, and provides information necessary to help hospice patients and support for their caregivers.

Integris Hospice provides care in nine counties, including the metro and surrounding areas. Hospice care includes physical, spiritual and emotional support for the terminally ill.

The hospice team is comprised of the medical director, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains and trained community volunteers.

“Integris Hospice volunteers provide a unique kind of support to caregivers and patients at critical times,” says Carol Prewitt, RN, manager of Volunteer Services. “Their

support makes a big difference and leaves a lasting impression for our families.”

Volunteers may run errands for caregivers, stay with a patient while caregivers take a break, or volunteer their time at the Integris Hospice House by sitting at the bedside, answering phones or assisting the hospice staff. Hospice volunteers provide special comfort and support to hospice caregivers and patients.

Integris Hospice and the Integris Hospice House are affiliates of Integris, a Medicare certified, non-profit agency dedicated to providing quality care to terminally ill persons and their families.

For more information about the volunteer program or to enroll for training, please contact Carol Prewitt at 405-848-8884.

Local student named to honor roll More than 270 students at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma were recently named to the university’s two honor rolls for the fall 2018 trimester.

Among those named to those named to the Regents Honor Roll is Araina Leatherock of Edmond.

Among those named to the USAO

Honor Roll is Grace Holub, also of Edmond.

The USAO Honor Roll recognizes students whose GPA is 3.5 or higher for 12 or more hours of class work.

The Regents Honor Roll recognizes those who have been named to the USAO Honor Roll for three or more consecutive trimesters.

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Edmond Life & Leisure • January 17, 2019 • Page 7

Constitution experts will speak at Edmond GOP Women’s Club

Thursday Jan. 17 ---- In the Gallery ---- Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered ---- Devon Ice Rink ---- Downtown in December ---- Phantom of the Opera

Friday Jan. 18 ---- In the Gallery ---- Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered ---- Claire Piersol Band ---- Grown Ups Paint Night ---- YA Author Kiersten White ---- Vigils ---- Devon Ice Rink ---- Downtown in December ---- Phantom of the Opera ---- International Finals Rodeo ---- Oklahoma Winter Bead & Jewelry Show ---- Oklahoma City Home & Garden Show

Saturday Jan. 19 ---- In the Gallery ---- Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered ---- Vigils ---- Ken Jeong ---- Brandi Reloaded ---- Downtown Edmond Historic Tour ---- Devon Ice Rink ---- Downtown in December ---- Phantom of the Opera ---- International Finals Rodeo ---- Oklahoma Winter Bead & Jewelry Show ---- Oklahoma City Home & Garden Show ---- Oklahoma Gun Show ---- Signature Tour

Sunday Jan. 20 ---- In the Gallery ---- Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered ---- Vigils ---- UCO Broadway Tonight: Voctave ---- Devon Ice Rink ---- Downtown in December ---- Phantom of the Opera ---- International Finals Rodeo ---- Oklahoma Winter Bead & Jewelry Show ---- Oklahoma City Home & Garden Show ---- Oklahoma Gun Show ---- Total Lunar Eclipse Viewing ---- Signature Tour

help you every step of the way on the project you select.

YA Author Kiersten White Location: Best of Books Extra Info: 6 – 7:30 p.m., She will be signing copies of her new book, SLAYER, on Friday, Jan. 18 at 6:00 pm. In order to reserve a line number for the event, you must pre-order a copy of SLAYER online (https://www.bestofbooksok.com/ev ent/ya-author-kiersten-white-comingbest-books-jan-18) or by phone at (405) 340-9202.

Vigils Location: UCO – Mitchell Hall Theater Extra Info: 7:30 p.m., Thurs and Fri; 2 p.m. Sun, A surprisingly funny and wildly imaginative story of love, grief, and the difficulty of letting go by Noah Haidle. For more info visit uco.edu.

UCO Broadway Tonight: Voctave Location: UCO – Mitchell Hall Theater Extra Info: 7:30 p.m., $25-$30, for more info visit site.uco.edu Ken Jeong Location: Showplace Theatre, Riverwind Casino Extra Info: Crazy Funny Asian, Show at 7 p.m., Door open 6 p.m., for more information visit riverwind.com.

Brandi Reloaded Location: River Lounge, Riverwind Extra Info: 9:30 p.m., for more info visit riverwind.com Downtown Edmond Historic Tour Location: Downtown Edmond Extra Info: $5, by appointment only for groups of 5 or more. For more info visit edmondhistoricaltrust.com.

Devon Ice Rink Location: Myriad Botanical Gardens Extra Info: Mon – Thurs. 3 – 9 p.m., Fri. 3 – 11 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Sun 12 – 7 p.m., $13 per person, $8 if you bring your own skates.

Advanced reservations required for groups and private parties available.

For more info go to downtownindecember.com

Extra Information on Weekend Happenings

Downtown in December Location: Downtown Oklahoma City Extra Info: for list of events visit downtownindecember.com

In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Featuring works by Cody L Rains For information go to: http://www.edmondfinearts.com/

Phantom of the Opera Location: Civic Center Music Hall Extra Info: for info visit okcciviccenter.com

Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered Location: Armstrong Auditorium Extra Info: Free Admission; an archaeological exhibition that will enable visitors to discover the history of ancient Judah’s most famous kingprophet pairing—a story which illuminates how Jerusalem escaped annihilation at the hands of King Sennacherib’s Assyrian army at the end of the 8th century B.C. For more information visit armstrongauditorium.org.

Grown Ups Paint Night Location: Unpluggits Paint & Play Extra Info: 7 – 10 p.m., $12+, Bring your snacks, friends, and favorite beverages. Leave the kids at home.

Choose from a generous collection of ceramic items. We will be there to

International Finals Rodeo Location: Oklahoma State Fair Grounds Extra Info: for information visit iprarodeo.com Oklahoma Winter Bead & Jewelry Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: for information visit aksshow.com Oklahoma City Home & Garden Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: for information visit oklahomacityhomeshow.com Oklahoma Gun Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: for information visit Oklahomagunshow.com

Gourmet Gallery schedules tasting event Jan. 25-26 The Gourmet Gallery, located in Edmond at 1532 S. Boulevard and in Oklahoma City at The Shoppes at Northpark, 122nd & N. May (on the May Ave. side), will have a Pre-Inventory tasting event on Friday, Jan. 25 and Saturday, Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The trained staff will be sampling

products complete with recipes, perfect for super bowl & meal planning. with 20 percent off storewide will be offered at both locations.

“Don’t miss this opportunity to stock up,” one store official said.

For more information please contact The Gourmet Gallery at 7153663.

Well known area attorneys and U.S. Constitution scholars, Don and G. Kay Powers will be the guest speakers at the next Edmond Republican Womens Club meeting which will be held January 21st, 2019, at Johnnies Charcoal Broiler, 33 E. 33rd St., in Edmond.

The meeting begins at 11:30 a.m. for those who would like to have lunch before the meeting begins. A short business meeting will take place at noon with the guest speakers scheduled for 12:15 p.m.

Don Powers received the George Washington Honor Medal from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge in 2012. This is the highest honor that the foundation awards. Mr. Powers was recognized for his teaching of the Constitution and his efforts to educate people about the founding documents. A life-long learner, Don is

social and civic minded and has served the community through various social, civic, and church organizations.

Dr. G. Kay Powers was selected in October 2008 as one of Edmond’s most influential women of the last 100 years, and has served Edmond in various capacities, including the City of Edmond Capital Projects Committee, Charter Review Committee, CityChamber-University Coordinating Committee. She is also known for her work with the Juvenile Court System.

In preparation for the meeting, the Powers have suggested that each person in attendance come prepared with a question they might have regarding the Constitution.

Area Republican women, active and inactive, prospective members, as well as interested parties are welcome to attend.

Oklahoma County 4-H Chili Cook Off & Auction Saturday Residents who want to get their fill of some of the best homemade chili around are invited to attend the Oklahoma County 4-H Annual Chili Cook Off and Auction, Saturday, Jan. 19 at the OSU Extension Center, 2500 NE 63rd Street Oklahoma City.

The chili cook-off, complete with the fixings, will get started at 5:00 p.m.

Suggested donation is $5.00 per person. They will be having a silent and live auction during the night.

Another great treat will be sweets made by 4-H members at the fantastic Sweet Shoppe. “This is one of the very few events where the entire family can come, eat a great meal, and have a wonderful time,” commented Kacie Jasper, Oklahoma County 4-H Youth Educator.

Officials invite the public to join them for an evening of great food and fun to support youth and 4-H educational programs. All proceeds for the night will go to benefit the Oklahoma County 4-H programs.

Last year, 4-H members in Okla-

homa County donated more than 30,000 hours working in their communities. Some of their projects included National Youth Science Day, Lego Robotics, Shop with a Cop, and the H.U.G.S. project. “Our chili cookoff fundraiser goes to support the wonderful work our 4-H clubs do all over the county,” Jasper explained.

“In addition to allowing us to offer scholarships to our 4-H members for leadership conferences, we also use the proceeds to help with school enrichment projects and other 4-H camps and projects.

Oklahoma County has fifteen 4-H clubs that meet across the county.

“Our 4-H clubs can offer something valuable to every kid in the county,” Jasper said.

For more information about the 4H chili cook-off and/or 4-H clubs in Oklahoma County contact the OSU Extension Center 405-713-1125 or visit the Oklahoma County website at http://oces.okstate.edu/oklahoma/4-h.

Engagement, Wedding notices Do you have a wedding or engagement notice? If so, please contact us at Edmond Life & Leisure, either by phone, 340-3311 or e-mail, news@edmondpaper.com. We will then send or fax you an engagement or wedding form.The cost is $35, which includes a photograph. Payment is due upon submission by noon Thursday.

Page 8 • January 17, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

New year, same tone Electoral College works

Anyone hoping that a new year would bring a more gentle political tone must be sorely disappointed.

If anything it’s worse.

As of a presstime a partial government Steve Gust shutdown still has both sides pointing fingers at each other.

The new majority party in the U.S. House has been pretty vocal in its condemnations of all things conservative.

Seems to be the nature of the beast.

I usually have to be careful about what I write here. I am not anti-Democrat.

Usually when I say something I get an e-mail wondering if I ever said anything nice about the Democrats.

In Oklahoma we seem to have a different kind of Democrat. Moderation appears to be more common here.

Drew Edmondson, although he didn’t make it to the Governor’s job, is a good guy and probably gave the Democrats the best chance to take that seat.

And Edmondson did win four counties, the most populous in the state.

I’ve also always liked George Nigh. If he ran for something today I’d vote for

him. I think I probably voted for him all the times his name was on the ballot.

On the national level, the Democrat party seems to have gone far left.

It baffles me why Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer thought a southern border wall was a good idea once.

Now it’s immoral?

I wonder if anyone can explain that?

When Schumer or House Speaker Pelosi start to speak, red flags go up for me.

I’m sorry but I’m very wary of anything they say or believe.

I hope the political tone changes sometime in the future but it doesn’t look like it anytime soon.

---I congratulate all of the people Monday who took the oath of office for state posts.

Some of those people, like Treasurer Randy McDaniel and Attorney General Mike Hunter, have strong Edmond connections.

I hope all of them, including new Gov. Kevin Stitt, do a great job for all of Oklahoma. The state’s future is relying on sound decisions and choices by each of them.

(Steve Gust, editor of Edmond Life & Leisure, may be reached at news@edmondpaper.com.)

By The Oklahoman Editorial Board Alabama lastweek finally lost a football game.

In the process, the Crimson Tide failed to defend its college crown. What happened in the Yellowhammer State nearly 60 years ago could have cost John F. Kennedy the presidency — but only if the Electoral College weren't around to put JFK in the White House.

After two recent elections (2000 and 2016) in which the Republican nominee lost the popular vote but won the Electoral College, Democrats lobbied for a change in the constitutional method of electing presidents.

They believe the popular vote should be determinant.

Would they have thought that in 1960, when Kennedy narrowly won the popular vote across the wide swath of America? Historians cite the “Alabama ambiguity”

to show that Richard Nixon, the Electoral College loser, actually outpolled Kennedy nationwide.

The winners of five presidential elections (not counting 1960) were supported by fewer voters than their leading opponent. In 1824, when the first popular vote tally was taken in a presidential race, Andrew Jackson bested John Quincy Adams. But the former couldn't secure an Electoral College majority.

The House of Representatives ultimately named Adams the winner.

In 1876, Republican Rutherford B. Hayes trailed Democrat Samuel J. Tilden in the popular vote and in the initial Electoral College count. A prolonged post-election dispute ended with a compromise that allowed Hayes to take the Oval Office. Tilden is the only candidate in history to lose the presidency de-

spite receiving a majority of the popular vote. In the other elections cited above, the popular vote leader won a plurality but not a majority.

Hillary Clinton won nearly 3 million more votes than Donald Trump. The Democratic base renewed its demand for an Electoral College reboot. At the time, we renewed our commitment to a system that protects a geographical majority from the dictates of a geographical minority.

Just three states (California, New York and Illinois) provided one-fifth of Clinton's total votes. And don't forget that Trump would be back in his Manhattan tower today had Clinton done a bit better in states critical to her Electoral College success.

But with the 2020 election approaching, Electoral College detractors persist. This is mostly rhetoric because changing the Constitution would require substantial support from states (including Oklahoma) that would lose clout if the Electoral College were scrapped. Who's to say, though, that a disputed election favoring a Democrat won't lead Republicans to demand Electoral College reform?

In Alabama nearly 60 years ago, voters chose electors individually rather than as a slate. Of the 11 electors, six were “unpledged.” (Their votes ultimately went to alternative candidate Harry F. Byrd.) Five chose JFK. Nixon got zero. In the popular vote, the Byrd electors had more support than either Kennedy or Nixon.

Awarding Nixon a share of the unpledged Alabama popular vote would likely have put the Republican ahead of Kennedy in the national popular vote.

The extant system makes this moot. So let's stop trying to fix what isn't broken.

Taxing the rich won’t cover ambitious green plan

By The Oklahoman Editorial Board Since the night in June when she upset a 10term incumbent in a primary, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has been the most talkedabout new member of Congress. Her star tour continued recently on “60 Minutes,” a feature that included tidbits about the “Green New Deal.”

Ocasio-Cortez, 29, wants to see the United States wean itself off all fossil fuels in the next 12 years. To say that's ambitious is putting it mildly, considering that renewables today produce less than 20 percent of U.S. power.

“It's going to require a lot of rapid change that we don't even conceive as possible right now,” she acknowledged to interviewer Anderson Cooper.

“What is the problem with trying to push our technological capacities to the furthest extent possible?”

The answer is nothing. However, there is the

question of how to pay for the Green New Deal, which among other things proposes building a new energy-efficient grid, upgrading every residential and industrial building to make them more energy efficient, and even includes a federal job guarantee that would provide every American a living wage.

How to fund it? “People are going to have to start paying their fair share in taxes,” said OcasioCortez, a democratic socialist.

By “people,” she means, of course, the rich. She is suggesting a tax rate of 60 percent or 70 percent on earnings above $10 million per year. The problem is that dinging those super-wealthy at that rate would prompt them to look for ways to avoid the tax. And even if they all paid it at that rate, the revenue generated wouldn't be nearly enough to cover the tab — in 2016, only about 16,000 tax filers made $10 million, according to The Washing-

Letters to the Editor policy We love mail, especially mail from Edmond Life & Leisure readers with complaints, compliments or comments about what they read here. The rules, even for e-mail letters: 1) You must tell us your full name; 2) You must give us your complete address and phone numbers (but we will identify you only by name); and 3) We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity and taste (our taste).

Send mail to Letter to the Editor, Edmond Life & Leisure, 107 S. Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034, or fax to 340-3384 or e-mail to news@edmondpaper.com.

ton Post.

Ocasio-Cortez says her policies most closely resemble those seen in places such as the United Kingdom, Norway and Finland.

However, economist Brian Riedl counters that no country in the OECD has a 70 percent tax bracket. “Indeed, America's top combined income- and payroll-tax rate already Rep. Ocasio-Cortez exceeds that of England, Germany and Norway, and is only 7 points below that of France,” Riedl writes at National Review.

Riedl and others argue persuasively that the middle class, not the ultra-wealthy, would wind up paying for most of this plan and others that are being floated by Democrats, such as single-payer health care, free college tuition and expansion of Social Security.

Ocasio-Cortez told Cooper that the United States pays more, per capita, in health care and education “for lower outcomes than many other nations. So, for me, what's unrealistic is what we're living in right now.”

She certainly is idealistic. Some might say radical, and Ocasio-Cortez is OK with that. She cited Abraham Lincoln's signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and FDR's creation of Social Security.

“If that's what radical means,” she said, “call me a radical.”

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 17, 2019 • Page 9

Chamber urges a ‘yes’ vote on upcoming bond election

PHOTO PROVIDED

Last week Fort Sill, in Lawton, Okla., marked its 150th anniversary. The Army base, which has trained thousands of soldiers, has a rich history as well. The famous 19th century Indian Chief Geronimo, and more than 300 other Apaches, were taken to Fort Sill in 1894. Also the General of the Army Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, visited Fort Sill in 1871. Gen. Sherman was a top Union military leader during the Civil War.

Lawmakers commend Fort Sill on the base’s 150th anniversary Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jim Inhofe (ROK), and Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK) recognized the 150th anniversary of Fort Sill. Lankford and Inhofe introduced S. Res. 11 last week to recognize Fort Sill’s milestone.

Cole introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“I am very proud of Fort Sill’s 150 years of important work to further our military’s mission and also train and equip thousands of our soldiers and Marines,” said Lankford. “Fort Sill and the Fires Center of Excellence are pivotal to our military and the surrounding communities, including and especially Lawton. I am grateful for our many Oklahoma communities who continue to serve the families who serve our nation. I would like to personally thank Fort Sill’s leadership for continuing to provide my office with important updates on activities at Fort Sill and for remaining engaged with me and my staff to help answer any questions and work through specific military legislative issues. I offer my congratulations and thanks to everyone at Fort Sill on this important milestone.”

“I am proud to recognize Fort Sill as they celebrate their 150th anniversary,” said Inhofe. “Fort Sill and the Fires Center of Excellence play a critical

role in achieving the Army’s top priorities in military readiness and modernization by ensuring our soldiers are trained and equipped to fight and defend this country. The importance of Fort Sill’s mission, coupled with unparalleled community and state support, has resulted in continued growth for the installation and I look forward to their bright future. Congratulations to the men and women of Fort Sill and the community of Lawton on this significant milestone.”

“As the home of field artillery, Fort Sill’s contributions over the last 150 years have been numerous and long lasting,” said Cole. “The Army’s Fires Center of Excellence has greatly prepared service members and indeed increased the overall strength and readiness of our nation’s total defense. During my many visits while serving the Fourth District of Oklahoma, I have had the great privilege of observing firsthand the incredible role Fort Sill plays in the development and implementation of Air Defense and Field Artillery training for the Army of the future. In celebrating 150 years of excellence, I am confident Fort Sill and the Fires Center of Excellence will remain a driving and pioneering force that prepares our military to successfully complete every mission.”

Senators, including Lankford, want pro-life measure in ACA plans

Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined a group of fourteen Senators, led by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (RMS), last week to encourage the Trump Administration to move forward with a final rule that would ensure pro-life consumers enrolled in Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans aren’t subsidizing abortion services.

In a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, the Senators expressed their support for an HHS rule on ACA Section 1303. The rule, titled “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Exchange Program Integrity,” would require policy holders to submit separate payments for basic insurance and additional coverage for abortion.

“The proposed rule aligns with the clear meaning and congressional intent of Section 1303 by eliminating the hidden abortion surcharge in many ACA plans,” the lawmakers wrote.

“The Hyde Amendment protects federal health care dollars from funding elective abortions and insurance plans that include elective abortion.

The ACA deviated from this longstanding precedent by creating its

own funding stream making taxpayer dollars available to buy abortion-covering health insurance plans in ACA exchanges throughout the country,” they said.

The Senators also strongly encouraged HHS to strengthen the final rule to clarify the illegality of the Obama Administration’s interpretation of ACA Section 1303.

“The Obama Administration’s misinterpretation created a hidden abortion surcharge on many health care plans in exchanges throughout the nation,” the letter said. “The meaning of Section 1303 is straightforward and congressional intent is clear. We are concerned that the proposed rule’s analysis fails to adequately acknowledge the illegality of the prior regulation. We ask that the final rule directly addresses this concern.”

In addition to Hyde-Smith and Lankford, the letter was signed by Senators Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Mike Enzi (R-WY), John Barrasso (R-WY), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Roy Blunt (RMO), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Todd Young (RIN).

The Board of DiEdmond Schools rectors of the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce has unanimously endorsed the passage of the Edmond Public Schools bond issue.

The $93 million bond issue is scheduled for Feb. 12 and aims to increase school security, improve school buildings and fund the construction of additional classrooms and schools, specifically two new elementary schools.

“Edmond Public Schools has an excellent record of serving our community and its students” said Sherry Jordan, President and CEO of the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce. “Edmond’s population is growing quickly, and we have to think ahead for our students. This bond issue will update school equipment and technology, improve security, add two new elementary schools and allow Edmond to continue its legacy of being one of the best school districts in the state.”

All registered voters who live within Edmond Public School district boundaries qualify to vote, including those residents who live outside the city limits of Edmond. Individuals should vote at their regular precincts. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 12.

Due to projected growth in the district's property valuation and the retirement of outstanding bonds, passage of this bond issue is not expected to effect property taxes.

Page 10 • January 17, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Each winner shares in $1 million

OKC Community Foundation awards grants After reviewing nearly 100 proposals submitted in the $1 million Great Idea Challenge, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation has selected to fund six projects in areas ranging from the arts, small business and community health to animal welfare and employment for the homeless.

“The winning proposals will benefit a broad array of stakeholder groups with diverse services designed to enhance quality of life for central Oklahoma residents,” said Community Foundation Chairman Steve Agee.

“We are very excited about the ideas selected for funding and the collaborative momentum generated by The Great Idea Challenge. These projects will further strengthen and enhance our community throughout the next 50 years.”

The Community Foundation launched The Great Idea Challenge last spring in recognition of the organization’s 50th anniversary in 2019.

Nonprofits, community organizations and even individuals and businesses collaborating with nonprofits were invited to propose programs that would connect resources, plant seeds, leverage assets and launch new ventures for central Oklahoma.

“We have seen a multitude of innovative proposals that could make an enormous impact on our community,” said Community Foundation President Nancy Anthony. “We faced the difficult task of selecting only six.

While we can’t fund them all, we are excited to share three runner-up proposals with the community to encourage support from other sources.”

In recognition of Community Foundation Founder John E. Kirkpatrick, the organization will award the six winning programs with a share of the million dollars in funding, as well as awards for three runner-up projects.

In the spirit of Kirkpatrick’s ingenuity and vision for Oklahoma City, the Great Idea Challenge is intended to launch new, bold initiatives that will carry Oklahoma City and Central Oklahoma into the next 50 years.

Founded in 1969, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that works with donors to create charitable funds that will benefit our community both now and in the future. To learn more about the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, visit www.occf.org.

The Winning Proposals Each of the programs are detailed below, followed by three runners-up.

Great Art for a Great City

perience to help with the transition to further community-based employment. n Collaboration with local business mentors, real estate developers and floral wholesale and retail businesses.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Oklahoma City Community Foundation's 50th anniversary culminated in awarding $1 million in grants to six projects proposed in the organization’s Great Idea Challenge initiative. Representing their organizations during the announcement were Mark Barth, left, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma, Kim Schlittler, executive director of Best Friends of Pets, Ranya Forgotson, director of The Curbside Chronicle, Deborah McAuliff Senner, president and CEO of Allied Arts, Steve Petty, system administrative director of INTEGRIS Wellness and David Castillo, executive director of the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Allied Arts will build a new website featuring an online cultural calendar of nonprofit arts events taking place throughout the community. The initiative will include: n An online hub to find theatrical performances, dance productions, art classes, museum exhibits and other nonprofit arts programming in central Oklahoma. n A menu of art educational programs for youth, linking educators with free and low-cost arts opportunities for schools across the state. n A vital tool for growing audiences and increasing cultural engagement across central Oklahoma. n Collaboration with Allied Arts member agencies, local nonprofit arts organizations and the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Pets for Life: Serving People and Pets Best Friends of Pets will bring the ‘Pets for Life’ national community outreach model to Oklahoma City, connecting residents in underserved communities with free or low-cost veterinary care for pets and social services for their owners. The initiative includes: n Outreach to residents living in targeted zip codes through a door-to-door approach that offers free or low-cost pet wellness services, such as vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, pet supplies, identification tags and food. n Increased access to pet resources, keeping pets in their homes and reducing the number of pets surrendered to Oklahoma City Animal Welfare.

n Neighborhood liaisons who will help connect underserved residents with needed health and social services. n Collaboration with Central Oklahoma Humane Society, Oklahoma City Animal Welfare, Health Alliance for the Uninsured, Oklahoma CityCounty Health Department and others.

OKC HUB (Helping Urban Business) Thrive Greater OKC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will establish a business development and support program for women entrepreneurs from underrepresented groups, including Hispanics and other minorities. The initiative will include: n Guidance and support to female business-owners. n Implementation of bilingual, small business development curriculum. n Bilingual business counseling, training, mentoring and networking opportunities to help women launch, sustain and grow business ventures. n Collaboration with University of Central Oklahoma, SCORE, Simmons Bank, Metro Technology Centers, Oklahoma City Community College and Rose State College.

Employment and Training Alliance of Central Oklahoma Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma will create an alliance convening central Oklahoma employment organizations, training providers and other partner agencies to help jobseekers navigate the services that support sustainable employment. The initiative will include: n In-depth information about programs, training and services to help underserved jobseekers follow a career pathway. n Collaboration among partner agencies to provide better access to information for jobseekers who face significant challenges to employment. n A program that matches industry and employer needs with opportunities for training and career goal-setting for jobseekers. n Collaboration with Catholic Charities, Homeless Alliance, TEEM, United Way of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and others.

Curbside Chronicle Center for Social Enterprise Homeless Alliance will launch a network of supportive employment enterprises, expanding on the Curbside Chronicle program and creating jobs for individuals who face significant barriers to employment, such as homelessness. The initiative will include: n A new brick-and-mortar flower shop, creating the first of a network of businesses that engage underemployed populations. n An incubation space, where new ideas and products can be tested for future employment programs and social enterprise ventures. n Employment and job-training opportunities to build skills and gain ex-

INTEGRIS Mobile Wellness Clinic INTEGRIS Foundation will establish a mobile wellness clinic to provide medical, disease prevention and educational services for underserved communities with limited access to healthcare.

The initiative will include: n A comprehensive mobile-healthcare unit in Oklahoma County, led by a team of nurses and health educators serving vulnerable populations with poor health and limited access to health care. n Outreach to underserved patients in their neighborhoods through case management, chronic disease support, health screenings, food distribution, cooking demonstrations, support groups and wellness resources. n Connection to consistent care, improving the health of Oklahoma families long-term. n Collaboration with the Oklahoma Lions Service Foundation and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

Runners-up The following projects advanced to the final stage of the Great Idea Challenge but were not selected for complete funding. The Oklahoma City Community Foundation awarded each organization a grant to further develop their project and encourages consideration by other funders.

The Family TREE of Oklahoma County Citizens for Children and Families proposed a collaborative project to provide a more integrated system of care to strengthen families and improve outcomes for children in foster care.

The initiative includes: n A family resiliency team, working in a comprehensive assessment, referral and resource center to strengthen families and correct conditions that lead to removal of children. n On-site programs to serve medical, mental, behavioral, developmental and crisis needs. n Greater frequency and quality of family visits through a visitation center. n Collaboration with the Children and Family Council of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma Department of Human Services Child Welfare Service and others.

Rewild OKC Myriad Gardens Foundation proposed the re-envisioning of Oklahoma City as an urban garden, curating vacant lots throughout the downtown area into naturalized green zones. The initiative includes: n Introduction of new urban and natural environments that challenge the public to see naturalized plants in an aesthetic way. n Cultivated vacant lots throughout the downtown area, featuring vertical gardens on walls and fences, using low maintenance, native plants. n Collaboration with Midtown Renaissance and Downtown OKC. Block Builder: Improving OKC, Lot by Lot Urban Land Institute proposed a project to provide training and support for a cohort of citizens to improve neighborhoods throughout the city with small-scale real estate development, filling physical and market gaps while creating job opportunities.

The initiative includes: n An effort to build better blocks, one lot at a time, through neighborled reinvestment. n A program to fill gaps in Oklahoma City neighborhoods with dignified, income-producing buildings that underpin the long-term wealth of a city and its citizens. n Training and one-on-one mentoring to help for residents to establish small-scale development opportunities from existing buildings or lots. n Collaboration with the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma and The Alliance of Economic Development of OKC.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 17, 2019 • Page 11

Scene from a wildfire near Okmulgee.

Wildfire damage studied Oklahoma Forestry Services (OFS) has released its Calendar Year 2018 wildfire statistics as it prepares for the dry, windy weather so common now through spring green-up.

It reports that 2018 was another busy year for wildfire suppression, responding to and assisting on a total of 1,086 fires that burned approximately 466,864 acres. While it is the state’s lead wildland firefighting agency, Oklahoma Forestry Services works alongside local fire departments and interagency partners to achieve efficient and effective wildfire suppression.

Wildfires can occur during any month of the year in Oklahoma. However, fire activity is typically the heaviest during the months of January through April when live wildland fuels across the state are dormant.

March experienced 436 wildfires, the highest number in a single month in 2018. April saw the most acres burned (367,458) during the year.

April also hosted the most challenging single day, April 12, with numerous large and devastating fires occurring.

Some of the exceptional fires include the Rhea Fire in Dewey County, the 34 Complex Fire in Woodward County and the Shaw Fire in Roger

Mills County. (See Oklahoma wildfire monthly details above.)

“As we prepare our firefighting resources for response in 2019, we encourage homeowners to prepare and protect their homes for possible wildfires,” said State Forester and Director of Oklahoma Forestry Services Mark Goeller. “Everyone can take proactive steps to protect their property by simply removing excessive vegetation and other flammable materials from around their home.”

Homeowners are also encouraged to assess their property by looking at construction materials, landscaping, access for emergency personnel to property and maintenance of a defensible space around their home.

Those living in or near heavily vegetated areas are especially encouraged to take precautions for wildfires. For more information visit http://www.forestry.ok.gov/firewisefor-you.

The Rhea Fire in Dewey County last year was one of the more serious wildfires attacked by officials.

Page 12 • January 17, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

‘Morning Music’ on tap at Arcadia’s Round Barn

Singer-songwriters T.Z. Wright and Anne Luna will present acoustic music from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 in the ground-floor museum of the Arcadia Round Barn.

Wright, who divides his time between Norman and Mooreland, is a longtime member of the Woody Guthrie Folk Festival House Band. Luna, a bass player who lives in Fort Sumner, N.M., is also a vocalist with a group called the Hard Road Trio.

Wright describes his music as “country-influenced Americana” and has performed at the Norman Music Festival, GFest in Muskogee and the Skyline Music Festival in Tulsa.

He has appeared at the Blue Door in Oklahoma City and Bob Childer’s Gypsy Café in Stillwater, and in the mid1970s he led the first house band at The Motherlode in Red River, N.M. Luna has performed at the Desert Bluegrass Festival in Tucson, the Santa Fe Old Time and Bluegrass Festival, the Black Hills Bluegrass Festival and at Poor David’s Pub in Dallas. She has recorded with such musicians as Alan Munde, Kenny Maines and Amanda Shires. She says she was “harmonizing in her mother’s lap before attending school, playing bar gigs before she was of legal drinking age and touring before she could rent a car.”

Wright and Luna will be joined in the performance by Midwest City singer-songwriter Joe Baxter, who coordinates live music at the Round Barn.

The Arcadia Round Barn is six miles east of Interstate 35 on Route 66. Admission is free but donations are accepted for the maintenance of the barn, which was built in 1898.

Anne Luna

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 17, 2019 • Page 13

PHOTO PROVIDED

Musical compositions of ‘All Mozart’ performed by Jenny Rucker and the UCO Faculty String Quartet will conclude the month’s Faculty Artist Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the UCO Jazz Lab in Edmond. Performers include from left: Doris Morris; Ralph Morris, D.M.A.; Sallie Pollack, D.M.A.; Jenny Rucker; Tess Remy-Schumacher, D.M.A.; and Hong Zhu, D.M.A.

UCO Faculty Concert Series continues The University of Central Oklahoma School of Music continues its Faculty Artist Concert Series (FACS) with a trio of concerts in January.

UCO piano faculty David Forbat, D.M.A., Chindarat Charoenwongse, D.M.A., Sallie Pollack, D.M.A., Natalie Syring, Rachel Cho, Linda Owen, D.M.A. and Jennifer Mansour, as well as artist-in-residence Valery Kuleshov and special guest soprano Hayley Grigg, performed earlier this week at the UCO Jazz Lab, 100 E. Fifth St. in Edmond.

Central’s School of Music Redbud Brass Quintet will present composer George Gershwin’s “Preludes” at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at the UCO Jazz Lab. The concert will also feature major works by Eugene Bozza and American composer Eric Ewazen. The Redbud Brass Quintet includes Ryan Sharp, D.M.A. and Brian Lamb, D.M.A., (trumpet) Peggy Moran, D.M.A., (horn) Jeff Kidwell (trombone) and Paul Nesper (tuba).

“This program of brass music features the Redbud Brass Quintet in newer standards of the repertoire,” said Moran, associate professor of horn.

“The quintet members will perform a variety of ensemble combinations to bring versatility to the entertainment lineup.”

“What I like most about being a

part of the brass quintet is getting a chance to play challenging pieces with great colleagues,” added Kidwell, assistant director of jazz studies and trombone instructor.

Clarinetist Jenny Rucker’s “All Mozart” concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the UCO Jazz Lab. Her repertoire includes the Mozart Clarinet Concerto and will be accompanied by Sallie Pollack, D.M.A., associate professor of collaborative piano.

“I chose the ‘All Mozart’ program to fulfill a long-time goal,” Rucker said.

“The length of the pieces are perfect to program on one recital and you just can’t go wrong with Mozart.”

The UCO Faculty String Quartet, which includes Hong Zhu, D.M.A., Doris Morris, Ralph Morris, D.M.A. and Tess Remy-Schumacher, D.M.A., will join Rucker on stage for a Mozart Quintet for clarinets and strings. Proceeds from the FACS generate scholarship funds to support UCO School of Music students.

Tickets are free for students with a valid UCO ID and $10 for all others.

Tickets may be purchased at the door, online at www.centralconnection.org/facs or by calling 405-9745004.

PHOTO PROVIDED

As part of the 2019 UCO School of Music Faculty Artist Series, the Redbud Brass Quintet will perform a variety of ensemble combinations at 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 22 at the UCO Jazz Lab in Edmond. Performers include from left: Jeff Kidwell; Ryan Sharp, D.M.A.; Paul Nesper; Brian Lamb, D.M.A.; and Peggy Moran D.M.A.

Page 14 • January 17, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

PHOTO PROVIDED

A girl disassembles a computer tower during as part of an electronics take-apart tinkering activity at Science Museum Oklahoma

Science Museum Oklahoma set for ‘Late Nite Lab’

PHOTO PROVIDED

A family works to build a cardboard airplane in Science Museum Oklahoma’s Tinkering Garage.

Science Museum Oklahoma is pleased to offer its first sensory sensitive evening program.

Oklahoma families can animate, automate, build, break and create from 6-10 p.m. on Feb. 8 at Science Museum Oklahoma during the latest Late Nite Lab, “Tinker ‘Bout It” presented by Express Employment Professionals International.

Designed for families with children of all ages, SMO’s Late Nite Lab program offers a variety of unique activities connected to each lab’s theme as well as access to the museum’s permanent exhibits. The night will include shows in the museum’s recently upgraded Kirkpatrick Planetarium at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. and a Science Live show at 9:30 p.m. Seating is on a firstcome, first-served basis for all shows.

“Tinker ‘Bout It” will focus on the curiositydriven, hands-on learning that takes place at the intersection of science, art and technology.

“Things can get loud here. Planned explosions occur here daily. We do some pretty shocking science. Though we are very well known for these, they are not the only experiences we invite our guests to engage in. For this Late Nite Lab, we are purposefully creating another experience, one that encourages participation and discovery without all the loud noises, bright lights, and surprises that can be distracting or

even startling,” said Clint Stone, vice president for programs at Science Museum Oklahoma.

To make the evening enjoyable for people with sensory sensitivity, the museum is taking steps to minimize overstimulation. Lights in some areas will be dimmed, loud and potentially startling exhibits will be turned off or altered, atmospheric noises will be dampened or eliminated and live shows will be tailored to reduce noise and extreme motions. The museum’s sensory sensitive kits, which are always available on request, will also be available while supplies last.

“This evening is designed for the entire family to explore the museum in a new way and encourage prolonged engagement with the exhibits and activities,” Stone added.

SMO’s Tinker ‘Bout It Late Nite Lab will take place at the museum located at 2020 Remington Place in Oklahoma City. Tickets are $18 per person for museum members, $20 for nonmembers and children under age 3 are free. Tickets may be purchased online or at the door, however there will be no sales after noon on Feb. 8.

For more information about the Tinker ‘Bout It Late Nite Lab at Science Museum Oklahoma or to register, call 405-602-3760 or visit www.sciencemuseumok.org/late-nite-labs.

A family builds works together to build a cardboard car, a tinkering activity at Science Museum Oklahoma.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 17, 2019 • Page 15

Review of film ‘Roma’

Quiet movie packs a real punch

By George Gust The only thing that is consistent in life is change. If you had told me just three years ago that a big time Oscar contending movie would be released to Netflix’s streaming inventory, I would have called you crazy.

Here we are in 2019 and with Netflix’s support of Academy award winning writer/director Alfonso Cuarόn to create whatever passion project he wanted, and -voila! - you’ve got yourself an Oscar frontrunner for Best Picture streaming directly to your living room.

“Roma” follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a young scenes in the film that can make it difficult to watch, but the moments of pain are punctuated nanny for a family in a middle-class neighborhood by the little moments of joy that make this film in Mexico City. Set in the early 1970’s amidst a backdrop of political turmoil in a turbulent Mexico one of the most emotionally affecting movie in recent memory.

City, “Roma” paints the picture of year in the life Overall, “Roma” is a movie that feels endlessly of a middle-class family. personal to Cuarόn, and his phenomenal visual On paper, “Roma” some may say that this film filmmaking and brilliant performances make this checks too many of the Oscar-bait boxes (filmed film feel bigger and important in a way that no in black and white, Spanish with subtitles, no superheroes) and is just another pretentious piece of amount of franchise crossover could. There was a filmmaking. However, once you see the film, you’ll time you would have to find your local independent movie theater to find the one or two showings realize that this is an incredibly moving work of of this film, but now with the Netflix juggernaut cinema. It’s no secret that Cuarόn is a master of throwing their weight behind true auteur’s like visual filmmaking with his previous films, such as Cuarόn more people are able to experience film“Gravity,” “Children of Men” and “Harry Potter making at its highest level. and the Prisoner of Azkaban” being some of the “Roma” is available on Netflix right now and is most visually dynamic and exciting films in recent rated R for graphic nudity, some disturbing immemory. In “Roma” there are no space shuttles, ages, and language. apocalyptic events, or wizarding brooms, only a 4.6 out of 5 stars deeply personal glimpse into Cuarόn’s childhood and the women who shaped him, told with the same visual flair and emotional furor.

“Roma” is not a fast-paced movie, but the striking cinematography and genuine performances draw you into the story of a year in the life of this family and their nanny during a tumultuous time for the city and their family. It is a quiet movie, but given enough time to breath, “Roma” takes you on an emotional journey that has Cuarόn’s Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira star in Alfonso Cuarón's latest unmistakable personal touch. spanish language film ‘Roma.’

There are several upsetting

Official proud of his service As new state leaders are sworn in this week, John D. Doak reflects on his eight years as Oklahoma’s insurance commissioner. Doak was elected the state’s 12th insurance commissioner in 2010 and was reelected for a second term in 2014.

“I’m honored that Oklahomans chose to elect me to represent them, both in terms of insurance company solvency and ensuring fair claims handling,” Doak said.

“I’ve been privileged to witness the courage and resilience of Oklahomans in the face of difficult natural disasters. It’s also been a pleasure to work with our state Legislature and governor and to travel to every one of Oklahoma’s 77 counties, meeting and working with the people who live there.”

During his tenure, Doak has tirelessly worked to raise awareness of the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) and how it can help Oklahomans. He started a field representative program to reach every corner of the state.

He also made it a mission to have boots on the ground as soon as possible after a disaster.

Many times Doak himself would visit with storm victims to reassure them that his office was there to help, if needed.

Another issue Doak worked on during his time in office was lowering the rate of uninsured motorists.

Crossword Puzzle DOWN 1. Bird-to-be 2. Horsefly 3. Infantry's last rows 4. Unwind 5. Precursor to #5 Across,

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: SUPER BOWL ACROSS 1. Hose hue 5. Flower precursor 8. Gershwin brother 11. Scottish valley 12. After hedge or mutual 13. Headquartered 15. *Cleats, helmet, pads 16. Hip bones 17. Road-tripping guide 18. *Hometown of first Super Bowl winner 20. Big Bang's original matter 21. Be 22. Bygone bird 23. *Last year's Super Bowl champions 26. Came around the corner 30. 100% 31. Donate, 2 words 34. Salty drop 35. #50 Down, pl.

37. Mythical giant bird 38. Latin dance 39. A famous Amos 40. Packing a punch 42. In the know 43. Relating to River Styx 45. Sodium ____, or NaI 47. Needlefish 48. Beta's follower 50. Phishing attack 52. *NFL Trophy name 55. Completely or exactly 56. Adam and Eve's son 57. U, on the road 59. Casts a ballot 60. Barn top?

61. Do like exhaust pipe 62. *2019 Super Bowl broadcasting netork 63. Tally 64. *Player's 40, e.g.

pl.

6. Uniate church member 7. June 6, 1944 8. Small island 9. Paper unit 10. *As entertaining as Super Bowl game?

12. Last line to cross 13. Louisiana swamp 14. *Home of MercedesBenz Stadium 19. *Goodell and such 22. "My" in French 23. Sunrise side, pl.

24. Give out 25. 1989 Civil War drama 26. *Player with most Super Bowl points scored 27. Capital territory of India 28. Alleviated 29. Window treatment 32. *Grid____

33. Leprechaun's gold holder 36. *Popular Super Bowl nickname 38. Pore in a leaf 40. Even ____ in golf 41. Jack be that!

44. Poetic feet 46. Flitted 48. Spoil 49. Change the Constitution 50. No neatnik 51. Butcher's piece, pl.

52. Mount Veniaminof output 53. Russian governmental agency 54. Pupil controller 55. Pipe material 58. Indefinite degree

See Answers on Page 23

Answers on Page 23

Page 16 • January 17, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Smart Home devices that can help seniors

By Jim Miller NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman DEAR SAVVY SENIOR: I recently read an article about how “smart home” devices can help seniors with aging-in-place. What types of smart home products can you recommend that can help with this?

— Inquiring Senior DEAR INQUIRING: There are actually a wide variety of affordable smart home devices you can add to your home that can help make it safer and easier to live in as you age.

Here's what you should know.

Smart home technologies While most Americans today use technology and enjoy the conveniences they provide, there are millions of seniors who still don't have much use for it. But you don't have to like technology or be tech savvy to benefit from the many different smart home automation devices that can help seniors age-in-place.

Smart home devices can also give family members and caregivers the ability to electronically keep tabs on their elder loved one when they can't be there, which provides peace-ofmind.

If you're interested in adding some smart home products to your house, you need to know that these devices require home Wi-Fi, and for many of the products, you'll need either a smartphone, tablet or voice-enabled assistant to operate them. Here are some popular aging-in-place smart home products to help you get started.

Voice-enabled assistant: Popular products like the Amazon Echo (Amazon.com/echo), Google Assistant (Assistant.google.com) or Apple HomePod (Apple.com/homepod) will let you operate compatible smart home products with simple voice commands.

These devices also can play your favorite music, read audiobooks, make calls, set timers and alarms, provide reminders for medications, appointments and other things, check traffic and weather, ask questions, and much more — all done by voice commands. n Smart lights: Falls are common concerns among elderly seniors, which are often caused by fumbling around a dark room looking for a light switch. Smart lightbulbs like the

Philips Hue (MeetHue.com) can turn on and off the lights by voice command, smartphone or tablet. These bulbs can also dim the lights and you can program them to turn on and off whenever you want.

There are also smart electric plugs like the Wemo Mini (Wemo.com) that offer remote control automation for lamps, fans, or other electrical devices. n Video doorbell: Safety is also a concern for seniors who live alone.

Smart doorbells like the Ring video doorbell (Ring.com) would allow you to see, hear and speak to someone at her door (via smartphone, tablet, Google smart displays, Amazon Echo Show or Spot) without having to open it. n Stovetop shut-off: To help seniors prevent home cooking fires, stovetop shut-off devices like the IGuardStove (IGuardFire.com) uses motion sensors to turn off electric and gas stovetops when left unattended for a predetermined amount of time. It will also alert family members via text. n Medication management: Seniors on a complex medication schedule can benefit from a smart medication tracking system like the PillDrill (PillDrill.com) that reminds you when pills are due, tracks that you've taken them, and notifies loves ones. n Home monitoring: Family members can keep tabs on older loved ones from afar with smart home video cameras like Lighthouse Al (Light.house/elderly-care) or a smart home sensor system like TruSense (MyTruSense.com). n Other options: Some other helpful smart home products to consider include smart door locks like Kwikset Kevo (Kwikset.com), smart thermostats such as the Nest (Nest.com), and smart nightlights like Aladin (Domalys.com), which detects falls and alerts caregivers.

The costs for most smart home products range anywhere from a few dollars to several hundred dollars and can be found in many local home improvement stores, as well as online.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or go to SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Grant will help fund Mobile Meals groups The Oklahoma City Community Foundation is helping provide warm meals to homebound older residents by awarding $53,400 in grants to 51 area churches and organizations that participate in Mobile Meals of Oklahoma County.

In addition, $5,000 each was awarded to Meals on Wheels of Norman and Edmond Mobile Meals.

The Oklahoma City Community Foundation has supported Oklahoma City metro area Mobile Meals programs since 2008, awarding more than $350,000 throughout the past decade.

"Today, one in five Americans is over the age of 60 with the population expected to nearly double by 2060. Roughly 17 percent of Oklahoma's senior population struggles with hunger. Nine percent of those seniors in our state are living in poverty, and 26 percent of Oklahoma seniors live alone," Cristi Twenter, executive director of Edmond Mobile Meals, said in a news release.

"Grant programs to assist Mobile Meals programs are crucial in helping to keep pace with the growing de-

mand for services. We believe no senior in our community should have to make a choice between paying for food, medication and other necessities, which is why we never base service on a client's ability to pay for meals."

Volunteers with area churches and organizations provide nutritious meals, wellness checks and meaningful contact to more than 1,300 homebound senior citizens living in central Oklahoma who are unable to prepare their own meals. Edmond Mobile Meals prepares more than 1,000 meals per week, and the Norman Meals on Wheels program serves more than 300 clients a day.

“For nearly 50 years, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation has listened to both the needs of our community and to the wishes of our donors, leading us to focus on the health and wellness of senior citizens in the community,” Nancy B. Anthony, the foundation's president, said in a news release. "Our local Mobile Meals programs are crucial to seniors in this community, and we're privileged to have the opportunity to support their work."

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 17, 2019 • Page 17

Winter increases risk of slipping

By Melissa Howell NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman Those who may be venturing out during the winter months would do well to watch their step ― especially older adults, who are at greater risk of falling.

“Outside it's particularly treacherous this time of year. There are snow storms, wind, ice ― all those things make you more likely to fall,” said Dr. Donald Courtney, chair of geriatric medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center So, why are falls such a big deal?

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries for older Americans. Falls threaten seniors' safety and independence and generate enormous economic and personal costs, according to the National Council on Aging.

In fact, every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall. Every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall, according to NCOA statistics.

The most common fall injuries in the elderly are fractures of the hip, wrist, ankle, pelvis, as well as compression fractures in the back, said Dr. Ben Panter, an orthopedic surgeon with McBride Orthopedic Hospital.

"Even if we do things perfectly, if someone falls and breaks their hip, 'normal' flies out the window. We can put people back together as best we can, but it won't be 'normal,' Panter said. "Obviously the goal is to mitigate that as much as possible.

That's where therapy comes into play."

Often the fall itself is less serious than the physical aftermath, said Dr. Eliza Chakravarty, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation immunologist.

“It's not the fall, but the cascade of events that follow,” Chakravarty said.

“Most often it's pneumonia that causes death. When you're on bed rest, you're not up and breathing normally, and often you don't take deep breaths because it hurts. If you don't fully expand your lungs, you're at high risk for pneumonia."

A fall also puts you at higher risk for blood clots, she said.

But there is good news.

“It used to be that somewhere around 50 percent of people who broke their hip were dead at six months. Twenty percent of those were in the first month. That's not the case anymore,” Courtney said.

“So many of those early deaths in particular were due to blood clots.

So, everyone gets blood thinners

Tips to prevent falls Consider six simple fall-prevention strategies. n Make an appointment with your doctor. Begin your fall-prevention plan by making an appointment with your doctor. Be prepared to answer questions such as what medications are you taking, have you fallen before, and could your health conditions cause a fall? n Keep moving. With your doctor's OK, consider activities such as walking, water workouts or tai chi. n Wear sensible shoes. High heels, floppy slippers and shoes with slick soles can make you slip, stumble and fall. So can walking in your stocking feet. Wear properly fitting, sturdy shoes with nonskid soles. n Remove home hazards. To make your home safer remove obstacles and cords from walkways; secure loose rugs with double-faced tape; store clothing, dishes, food and other necessities within easy reach; immediately clean spilled liquids, grease or food; and, use nonslip mats in your bathtub or shower. n Light up your living space. Keep your home brightly lit to avoid tripping on objects that are hard to see. n Use assistive devices. Your doctor might recommend using a cane or walker to keep you steady.

Other assistive devices can help, too, such as hand rails, grab bars for shower or tub or a raised toilet seat. If necessary, ask your doctor for a referral to an occupational therapist. He or she can help you brainstorm other fall-prevention strategies.

SOURCE: Mayo Clinic

now. The likelihood of getting placed in a nursing home after hip fracture is lower. The likelihood of dying after hip fracture is lower than it used to be, so people live longer. They are likely to regain more independence than they used to,” he said.

Courtney tells his patients who have canes to get a set of picks or grips that will keep the cane from sliding.

Is there anything that can help?

Yes, Courtney says.

Purchase good footwear, re-evaluate your environment for fall hazards and take up tai chi.

For more information on fall prevention, go to www.ouhsc.edu/ohai.

Pierce tabbed to head panel to study senior care services Baptist Village’s Pierce to Chair Strategic Planning Committee Dr. Bill Pierce, President of Baptist Village Communities (BVC), has been elected chair of the Oklahoma Long Term Care Services and Supports Advisory Committee.

The committee will develop a long range strategic plan for senior services in Oklahoma. Members of the committee have been appointed by the governor, senate president pro tempore and speaker of the house.

Pierce was appointed by State Sen. Greg Treat.

The committee will formulate and recommend a long term strategy for serving seniors in Oklahoma including the identification of possible sources of stable, sustainable funding to support projects.

Bill Pierce

Page 18 • January 17, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Theater group receives $50,000 Kirkpatrick grant Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park (OSP) is pleased to announce it has received a $50,000.00 grant from the Kirkpatrick Family Fund.

The grant will be used to assist in funding the development of a strategic plan for the renovation of and subsequent move to The Plunge in the Paseo Arts District as well as operating expenses for the 2019 season.

"We are so pleased to have received this grant," says Kathryn McGill, OSP Executive and Artistic Director. "The grant allows us to take our first steps toward the renovation of The Plunge into a theater complex that will serve the community" said McGill. "We appreciate the continued support of the Kirkpatrick Family Fund and the added support we received this year."

The grant supports a consultant from Management Consultants for the Arts in Chicago working with the company to create a plan over a six month period.

For over 35 years, Management Consultants for the Arts (MCA) has worked with hundreds of cultural organizations throughout the United States in strategic planning, organizational development and executive search.

"We are thrilled by the faith that The Kirkpatrick Family Fund has in our organization", said Ms. McGill, "and that their belief matches ours, that Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park is ready to take the next big step in it's development.”

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park was founded in 1985 by the late Jack O’Meara and artistic director Kathryn Huey O’Meara McGill. Find out more about OSP’s history here.

Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park is a non-profit organization overseen by a Board of Directors. Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, Inc. employs two full time employees year round. During the summer season, over 120 seasonal theatre artists are employed through union and non-union contracts.

Read this first before lending others money

Naval Security Training PHOTO PROVIDED/ U.S. NAVY’S MASS COMM. SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS RYAN M. BREEDEN

ARABIAN SEA - Quartermaster 2nd Class Tyler J. Gilbert, from Edmond, clears a ladder well during a visit, board, search, and seizure training exercise aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) while on a deployment of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). The Essex ARG/13th MEU is flexible and persistent Navy-Marine Corps team deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and the Pacific through the western Indian Ocean and three strategic choke points. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan M. Breeden/Released)

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that more than a quarter (26 percent) of mortgage borrowers who used FHA loans received down payment assistance from a relative in the 12 months through September 2018.

It’s natural to want to help a friend or family member when they need financial assistance, but be careful.

Money can drive a wedge into friendships and family relationships. Plus, there are tax-related considerations.

The Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA) offers some advice before you commit to lending money, not only to ensure everyone understands the details of the loan, but also to reduce the likelihood of breaking a tax law.

Think it through completely. n Lend only what you can. Before you lend someone money, you need to evaluate your own situation. Can you afford it? Do not lend more than you can afford to lose. n Don’t take from your future. If you do not have cash on hand to make the loan, do not take the funds from your own retirement accounts. n Communicate. Who else will be impacted by your decision? If you have a significant other, discuss the request with him or her. n Ask questions. What is the money for? Money to cover an emergency car repair may impact your decision-making process differently than money for a risky investment scheme or a beach vacation. n Be detail oriented. Your loan may be to a friend or family member, but treat it like a business arrangement. Agree on the loan amount, terms, interest rate, payment schedule, and any penalties for late or missed payments. Determine what will happen if the borrower defaults. n Write it down. Perhaps the most important step of all is creating a formal contract. Writing it down will help make everyone more accountable in the long run. n Have a witness to the loan.

Have the document signed and dated by you and the person you are lending the money to. Have the document notarized or at least have a third person sign off on it. n Don’t be afraid to say no. While helping your family and friends is a lovely idea in theory, someone who repeatedly needs money because of bad decisions and poor money management will not be further helped if you throw good money after bad.

The greatest gift may be the gift of financial planning services. Keep in mind there is a reason the person is asking you for a loan instead of a lending institution or someone else. n Let go. Once you have given the loan, acknowledge that you have no control. Don’t obsess over how the money is spent. Just follow the terms

of the loan, or you may find yourself angry and resentful.

Be cautious of co-signer requests.

Co-signing on a loan as opposed to handing over your own money may sound like a less risky way to help someone, but attaching your name to someone else’s loan comes with potential pitfalls.

Be aware the loan would appear on the credit reports for both the borrower and the co-signer. That may reduce the amount of money you might otherwise be able to borrow and, if there are late payments, it would impact the co-signer. In the worst case scenario, if the primary borrower defaults on the loan, you would be the one responsible for repaying the loan and the negative information would appear on your credit report.

Understand the tax implications.

If you loan money and the loan is not repaid, you can usually deduct the money not repaid as a bad debt.

To deduct bad debt, you must have documented the loan with a promissory note or other similar documentation of the terms of repayment, or the loan will be indistinguishable from a gift.

Be aware of any taxes you may be assessed if you decide to loan money.

You may be subject to a gift tax if you lend someone more than $15,000, which is the amount set by the IRS for 2019. Spouses can combine their annual exclusions to double the amount of the gift. Consult a CPA to determine how you will be impacted by the loan. If your borrower defaults, be sure to document your attempts to collect the funds.

You will need this information to write off the loan down the road.

If you don’t charge interest on the loan, the IRS may get curious. And if the interest rate you do decide to charge is less than the most recent applicable federal interest rates, the loan can be considered a gift and trigger a taxable event on a federal income tax return. In addition, interest received by a lender of a loan is generally taxable. While the amount of interest payments on a personal loan may not be large, it is important to know interest payments on unsecured personal loans are not tax deductible.

Trust your judgment.

If you’re feeling uncomfortable with the process of lending to a friend or family member, you may want to step back and reconsider.

Maybe there are other ways you can help. Offering to buy groceries, donating a gift card, helping with a job hunt or connecting someone with a personal financial planner may help someone restart their financial journey on a positive note.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 17, 2019 • Page 19

Get some ideas on how to spruce up your lawn this weekend at the State Fairgrounds during the annual Home & Garden Show.

PHOTO PROVIDED

OKC Home & Garden Show this weekend

If you’re looking to take a break from the gloomy weather, the Oklahoma City Home + Garden Show is the perfect opportunity to look forward to spring. This year’s show will be Jan. 18-20 and will feature more than 450 exhibitors and experts in landscaping, gardening, remodeling and home décor. Show highlights include: Derek and Dustin Diedricksen, hosts of HGTV’s Tiny House Builders – HGTV stars Derek and Dustin are known for creating micro structures with salvaged materials. They are also the authors behind several books, including the bestseller "Microshelters" and the newly released "Micro Living.” The brotherly duo will be doing one hour long live demonstrations on tiny home building projects in the Bennett Event Center.

America’s Test Kitchen – The hosts from PBS’s America’s Test Kitchen, including Julia Collin Davison, will display their recipe hacking talents on the cooking stage located in the Centennial Building. They will recreate

Fr. Richards

Julia Collin Davison several popular foods and allow the audience a chance to taste-test.

Landscaper’s Lane – More than 3,000 sq. ft. of the Bennett Event Center will be transformed by five metro-area landscapers into a lush landscape for guests to walk through and even take a rest at several sitting areas.

Make It, Take It – Guests learn from local contractors, artists and

Fr. Landry

Leonetti

Catholic men’s conference in Norman on March 9

By John Helsley Father Larry Richards broke into writing with his 2009 book “Be a Man! Becoming The Man God Created You To Be.” Richards’ message, ongoing still, comes to Norman for the 23rd annual In the Father’s Footsteps Oklahoma Catholic Men’s Conference.

The event, titled Building the Bridge Between Repentance and Faithfulness, is set for March 9, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the Embassy Suites Conference Center and Hotel, 2501 Conference Drive.

Richards, a noted speaker, preacher, retreat master and author, as well as the pastor of St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community in Erie, Pa., is among four featured speakers highlighting a day of faith, renewal and evangelization.

He will be joined by Catholic author and speaker Jason Evert, Father Roger Landry of Fall River, Mass., and popular Catholic radio host Jon Leonetti. The conference will also feature Steve Angrisano, a Catholic musician and composer offering his worship and praise talents.

“Our conference day will begin with a powerful examination of the lives we live – our challenges, temptations and obstacles,” said Ray Haefele, conference director. “We'll gain

insights and tools throughout the day and move toward a clear vision of how to claim the lives we're called to live; lives forged by the way and the truth, built upon bedrock values and placed in service to God, family and faith.”

Evert will open the conference with a message entitled “Porn Detox.” Richards will follow with his talk, “Knowing God’s Mercy.” Following lunch, Leonetti will present his talk, “Back to the Basics – A 3-Step Action Plan to become a Saint.”

Fr. Landry will close with his talk, “Coming to the Father by Faithfully following Jesus the Way, Believing Jesus the Truth, and Receiving from Him the Life He’s Received from the Father.”

There are also opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation and to attend mass at the end of the conference, led by the Most Rev. Paul S. Coakley, archbishop of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

The cost of the conference is $59 if submitted by Feb. 11, $69 thereafter, and includes breakfast, lunch, beverages and afternoon snacks.

There are discounts for younger attendees: $29 for high school students, $39 for college students.

Tickets are available at www.catholicmen.net.

crafters to build their own creations.

Attend one of the classes in the Centennial Building.

Hero Day – There will be free admission on Sunday, Jan. 20, for active and retired military, firefighters and police officers.

Made in Oklahoma – 10 of Oklahoma’s best companies for home and garden products will be featured in the Bennett Event Center for attendees to view and support local businesses.

Foodieville Truck Rally – Venture out on Sunday to enjoy a variety of tasty treats from some of Oklahoma’s finest food trucks located between the Bennett Event Center and Centennial.

The Cantina – Stop through the Cantina in the Bennett Event Center to sample and learn about some of the best wineries and vineyards in the region.

Tiny Street – Stroll down a landscaped street constructed in the Bennet Event Center to visit tiny homes with big style.

The Oklahoma City Home + Garden Show, held Jan. 18-20 at the State Fair Park, offers national and local professional advice for gardening and home improvement, as well as the opportunity to shop, save and compare on home and gardening products. The show will be held in the Bennett Event Center and the Centennial Building.

The show will be open Friday, 12 to 9 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission for adults is $12 at the box office or $10 when purchased online at www.oklahomacityhomeshow.com. Attendees can also receive discounted tickets at the customer service desk at Buy For Less, Smart Saver and Uptown Grocery Co. locations. Children under 12 are free.

Hero Day will be hosted on Sunday, and all active and retired military, police and firefighters will receive free admission by providing a valid service ID. For more information or questions about the events or tickets, visit the website or call 321-662-4796.

Page 20 • January 17, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Famed Beach Boys to do benefit show America’s Band, The Beach Boys, featuring Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, will make a stop in Oklahoma City as part of their “Now and Then” Summer Tour to help raise money for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma “Food For Kids” program and The Oklahoma Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. All net proceeds raised from this show will be donated to both charities.

The concert will be held at The Civic Center Music Hall, May 4 at 7.

Tickets go on sale Friday January 11th and can be purchased online at www.okcciviccenter.com, over the phone at 405-594-8300, or in person at The Civic Center Music Hall, located at 201 N. Walker Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73102. Guest staring, with The Beach Boys, will be Surf Rock Icon Dean Torrence of “Jan and Dean” fame.

As a special offer to all fans attending the show, a digital download of Mike Love’s new album, Unleash the Love is included with every purchased ticket. Details provided by The Civic Center Music Hall.

This marks the second time the band has played Oklahoma City since 2007 said show producer and Edmond resident John Occhipinti.

“We are excited to make OKC part of our tour stop and could not think of a better way to kick off our Tour. Mike and Bruce are very excited to once again play Oklahoma City especially given the causes at hand.” said Occhipinti. “We’ve invited the community together for a night of “Fun, Fun, Fun” music while helping raise funds to fight childhood hunger, blood, and all other horrible cancers. Oklahomans are second to none when it comes to helping others. We expect the turn out to be huge.”

In Oklahoma, one in four children lives with hunger every day. Every $100 raised from The Beach Boys’ concert will support a child in a Food for Kids program for an entire school year.

Last school year, the Regional Food Bank provided more than 2.3 million meals for chronically hungry children through its Food for Kids Programs.

“In order to thrive, children need access to nutritious food and that’s what we provide through the Food for Kids Programs,” said Katie Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma. “We are so thankful for The Beach Boys and their devoted fans for joining us in the fight against childhood hunger.”

“We are sincerely grateful to The Beach Boys and their fans for joining us in the fight against blood cancer

and all types of cancer,” said Kacy Lowe, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. “Funds from The Beach Boys’ benefit concert will expand research and provide support to patients who are living battling blood cancers today. LLS gave more than $656,000 to support Oklahomans battling cancer in the last year alone.”

You can capsulize most pop music acts by reciting how many hits they’ve had and how many millions of albums they’ve sold. But these conventional measurements fall short when you’re assessing the impact of The Beach Boys.

This band has birthed a torrent of hit singles and sold albums by the tens of millions. But its greater significance lies in the fact that The Beach Boys’ songs have forever changed the musical landscape, profoundly influencing countless performing artists to follow.

The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, who, along with Jeffrey Foskett, Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill, Keith Hubacher, Christian Love and Scott Totten continue the legacy of the iconic American band. Grammy-winning songwriter Bruce Johnston joined The Beach Boys in 1965, replacing Glenn Campbell, who filled-in for Brian Wilson, on vocals/bass, when he retired from touring. Highly regarded in his field, Johnston’s vocal work with such legendary artists as Elton John and Pink Floyd firmly established him among rock’s elite artists.

Captained by Mike Love, The Beach Boys play an astoundingly busy schedule of concerts, averaging 150 shows a year, ranging from sundrenched summer festivals to gala New Year’s celebrations and special events across the globe.

Few, if any, acts can match The Beach Boys’ concert presence, spirit and performance. They were centerstage at Live Aid, multiple Farm Aids, the Statue of Liberty’s 100th Anniversary Salute, the Super Bowl and the White House. On one day alone— July 4, 1985— they played to nearly 2 million fans at shows in Philadelphia and Washington, D. C. The Beach Boys have continued to create and perform with the same bold imagination and style that marked their explosive debut over 50 years ago. Tickets are expected to sell out, so we encourage you to buy your tickets quickly.

For All Show / Ticket information please contact: Civic Center Music Hall (405) 594-8300.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 17, 2019 • Page 21

Treasurer: Economy ends on a strong note activity from October when West Gross Receipts to the Treasury Texas Intermediate crude oil at grew at a double-digit pace, inCushing averaged $70.75 per barcreasing by more than $1.5 billion, rel. Collections in January will reduring calendar year 2018, State flect November production, when Treasurer Randy McDaniel anoil prices averaged $56.96 per barnounced last week. rel.

Gross receipts for 2018 were slightly less than $13 billion and New Tax Revenue grew by 13.2 percent compared to Revenue generated by increased calendar year 2017 collections. tax rates approved in House Bill During the month of December, 1010 during special session last total receipts topped $1.1 billion year added $62.6 million to and were up by more than $135 monthly collections, 5.5 percent of million, or 13.4 percent, compared Randy McDaniel December gross receipts. to December 2017.

The largest share, $38.5 million, “Oklahoma’s economy has been came from the increase from 2 percent to 5 perperforming admirably,” Treasurer McDaniel said. cent in the incentive tax rate on oil and natural gas “Gross receipts have improved significantly, while gross production. Higher tax rates on gasoline and unemployment remains low. These and other ecodiesel fuel generated $9.5 million, and the $1 per nomic indicators point to a favorable outlook for the state, but could be restrained by the downturn pack hike in cigarette taxes added $14.6 million to December’s total. in energy prices, global trade uncertainty, and Other indicators stock market volatility.”

The Oklahoma Business Conditions Index has Every major revenue stream expanded during topped growth neutral for 17 consecutive months.

2018 at rates ranging from 84 percent for gross production taxes on oil and natural gas production The December index rose to 56.4 from 55.9 in November. Numbers above 50 indicate anticipated to 2.5 percent for motor vehicle taxes. economic growth during the next three to six For the month of December, every major revenue months. source except individual income tax receipts showed Oklahoma’s seasonally adjusted unemployment growth. The tax commission reports a 1 percent rerate of 3.3 percent in November is down by oneduction in individual income tax collections was likely tenth of a percentage point from October. The due to one less remittance deadline for withholding U.S. jobless rate of 3.7 percent is unchanged from taxes this December compared to last.

Officials continue to closely watch gross produc- the prior month, according to figures released by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. tion tax collections due to the recent downturn in December collections crude oil prices. December gross production collecDecember gross collections total $1.1 billion, up tions of $118.4 million are up by $62.2 million, or $135.2 million, or 13.4 percent, from December 110.7 percent, compared to December 2017.

2017.

However, December collections reflect oilfield

Energy Index sees first decline in eight months Sharply falling crude oil prices have resulted in the first decrease in the Oklahoma Energy Index in eight months and foretells an inevitable slowdown in oilfield activity in the months ahead.

Dr. Russell Evans, executive director of the Steven C. Agee Economic Research and Policy Institute, said Oklahoma oil and natural gas companies have been forced to rethink capital allocation for the coming year thanks to the 38 percent decrease in crude oil prices over the past three months.

“As current budget commitments wind down and are replaced with more moderate budgets in 2019, oil and natural gas activity in the state will slow considerably,” Evans said. “A significant industry slowdown will extend to other areas of the economy with a general slowdown in economic

activity expected to materialize in the second half of the year.”

The most recent Energy Index saw a decrease of 1.1 percent. However, the Index has grown by 10 percent from one year ago, and today stands at 227.7 using data collected in November.

The 19 percent decline in crude oil prices seen for the month was offset slightly by stable oil and natural gas industry employment and rig activity and increased natural gas prices, although Evans said those price gains are not expected to hold for the long term.

The OEI is a comprehensive measure of the state’s oil and natural gas production economy established to track industry growth rates and cycles in one of the country's most active and vibrant energy-producing states.

New hire at Arledge & Associates

Sienna Phillips

Arledge and Associates announced that Sienna Phillips has joined the Edmond-based accounting firm.

Phillips joins the firm as an audit specialist. Phillips, who participated in Arledge and Associates’ summer internship program, is a recent graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma.

“Sienna showed great promise when she joined our staff as part of our summer intern program last year,” Managing Partner Jim Denton said. “We’re excited she is joining our growing team fulltime.”

Arledge & Associates, PC is a recognized leader in the accounting industry offering practical solutions in the areas of tax planning, auditing, consulting, accounting advisory services and client accounting.

Smith

Hatch

Integris & new executives Doug Smith is the new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Integris.

He joined the health system in December 2018.

Smith has 28 years of financial experience in health care, and comes to Oklahoma from Stanford Health Care, where he served as the Vice President of Finance. Prior to his time at Stanford, Smith worked at Intermountain Healthcare for many years in various CFO capacities over 12 of Intermountain’s hospitals.

Smith also has extensive finance experience working with Intermountain’s large medical group and health plan. He is a highly regarded, principlebased leader who couples a strong finance background with a deep commitment to mission-based health care. He is passionate about improving health care for patients and his fellow caregivers.

Smith earned a Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Brigham Young University.

---Mike Hatch joined Integris as the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer in 2018. His responsibilities include strategic planning and forecasting, market intelligence and positioning, and growth and development.

Hatch graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree and MBA. Prior to joining Integris, he worked for Intermountain Healthcare for 16 years in various regional and system strategic planning roles.

Page 22 • January 17, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Globe Life donation

Summer camps for visually impaired kids gets a boost NewView Oklahoma believes that every child deserves to have a summer camp experience, and that’s why OWL Camp, or Oklahomans Without Limits, was created in 2000 for children who are blind or visually impaired. Therefore, NewView is excited to announce the recent acquisition of a Lake Tenkiller property that will host future OWL Camps through an incredibly generous gift from Globe Life.

Globe Life is donating their corporate meeting facility, complete with a caretaker’s cottage and guest house on a 3-acre waterfront property that is valued at $1.8 million. The donation is one of the most significant gifts in the history of Globe Life.

“We became aware of NewView’s mission to serve sight-impaired children through various summer camps at lakes throughout Oklahoma, and the donation of the Globe Life property at Lake Tenkiller seemed like a perfect fit,” said Globe Life Direct Response President and CEO Bill Leavell.

“Globe Life has used the lodge as a meeting and teambuilding facility for over 50 years. As the company has grown, we’ve outgrown the space, so we are thrilled to be able to pass it on to support NewView Oklahoma. We believe the property will be a terrific venue for NewView’s programs. We can think of no better organization to use the facility to support Oklahoma children.”

OWL Camp activities are carefully planned and designed to encourage collaboration, improve confidence, self-esteem and independence and challenge societal and self-imposed limits. Along with sighted buddies, campers will surely enjoy the property’s many amenities including a tennis court, putting green and two boats for activities such as water skiing and water tubing.

“We are incredibly humbled by Globe Life’s generous gift,” says NewView President and CEO Lauren Branch. “This facility allows us to further enhance the unique experience OWL Camp offers to our clients and volunteers. We look forward to using this facility for many years to come and know the impact will be great.”

OWL Camp is structured specifically to engage sighted children and those with vision loss. Each blind or visually impaired camper is partnered with a sighted buddy for the entire week, and they do everything together. The goal is to provide lasting effects by allowing the sighted buddies to understand that people with vision loss can do anything they can do, with very little adaption.

Branch explained, “Our hope is that the sighted buddies will go back to their peers and share their experience to help eliminate the stigma that is too often associated with kids and disabilities.”

To learn more about NewView OWL Camp and other programs and clinical services operated by the organization, visit www.newviewoklahoma.org.

State Realtor group’s new appointments The Oklahoma Association of Realtors (OAR) has announced the addition of two experienced policy and communication professionals to the association’s team. Josh Cockroft and Will Gattenby will help further OAR’s communication efforts and government relations as Senior Director of Government Affairs and Senior Director of Membership and Communications, respectively.

“The Oklahoma Association of Realtors is committed to having the most experienced and professional team in place to help further serve Oklahoma Realtors through advocacy and education,” OAR President Lisa Weaver said. “We continue to grow and add knowledgeable and skilled professionals to our team which enables us to be a united voice and first source of information, expertise and advocacy for all who practice real estate in our state.”

Cockroft is a former Republican member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, who represented District 27 from 2010 to 2018. He has served as a member of the House leadership under two speakers, as assistant majority whip, as a presiding officer in the House, as the chairman of the House Rules Committee and as the chairman of the House Special Investigative Committee.

Josh Cockroft As the Senior Director of Government Affairs, Cockroft will provide professional service, expertise and government affairs representation to more than 11,500 members represented by OAR. He will educate and mobilize members on government, regulatory and policy issues as well as develop policy initiatives.

Gattenby brings nearly ten years of experience in communications and policy. His previous roles include director of communications for Mick Cornett's gubernatorial campaign and a U.S. Senate campaign in New Jersey, , press secretary for former Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt and account services coordinator for Sagac Public Affairs. Gattenby also co-founded William & Lauren, Inc., an onlinebased, custom clothing business, in 2015. He serves on the advi-

Will Gattenby sory board for the University of Central Oklahoma’s Strategic Communications Program and is a member of Edmond Young Professionals.

In his role as Senior Director of Membership and Communications, Gattenby will be responsible for administering and managing event and program planning as well as membership and data quality. He will develop member leadership volunteer activities and serve as staff support for local board relations.

OAR provides members with information and a forum for participating in the conversation while working to promote favorable policies for real estate property owners. More information about OAR’s work with the Oklahoma Legislature can be found at http://okrealtors.com/government-affairs/.

Fitness expectations can be daunting

By Brian Attebery Fitness expectations are usually very high this time of the year.

We spend many weeks, months or even years procrastinating about taking care of our health. When we finally get to the point that it is time to get into shape, we tend to have way too high of expectations. What Attebery should we expect to happen?

How long should it take to reach your goals?

The vast majority of people are participating in an exercise program for the primary purpose of losing weight. Healthy weight loss is generally 1-2 pounds per week. Some of you may say, “I have a friend that lost 10 pounds the first week.” Yes, that happens sometimes but it is primarily water weight loss. When we clean up our diets, we tend to cut back on sodium-rich foods along with preservatives, sugars and high carbs.

Sodium, carbs, sugars and preservatives all contribute to water retention. Throw in some exercise routines that involves burning calories and sweating and you can see that amount of weight loss initially. In addition, you will hear people mention that they experience very minimal weight loss but notice the inches are falling off and their clothes are fitting differently.

These are all common occurrences and drive home

the point that we are all individuals and any of these combinations can occur. Do not focus too much on the weight but what you are doing to get if off. It is not that weight doesn’t mean anything, it just doesn’t mean everything.

Gaining muscle is another common goal for starting an exercise program. Men will gain much quicker than women due to their inherent levels of higher testosterone that women do not have as much of.

Women will not ever gain as much muscle as men.

Some men gain faster than other men. I do not care who you are, it takes time to gain an appreciable amount of muscle. Gaining 10-20 pounds in a year is possible with males ages 15-30.

This will slow down tremendously at some point and you will be lucky to gain five solid pounds of muscle per year. That is why it is important to be consistent and understand that this is a journey and not a destination. If you quit because you are frustrated that you did not gain as much or as quickly as you would like, then you will really hurt your progress by quitting completely because you will go backwards. Stay the course. Be consistent. Seek help from experts but do not expect to look like a pro bodybuilder in a year or even five years. It is much harder than you think.

Focus on being strong, healthy, tone, and capable of more than you were before you started.

Fitness is intended to be a combination of strength,

See Fitness, Page 23

Integris action hopes to increase drug supply & lower costs Integris is joining other hospitals and health centers around the country in a national effort to produce a stable supply of generic drugs. The venture is designed to address the growing frustration caused by persistent shortages of simple yet vital medications.

Utah-based not-for-profit generic-drug company Civica Rx is spearheading the initiative. “Drug shortages have become a national crisis, with patient treatments and surgeries canceled, delayed or suboptimal,” says Martin VanTrieste, chief executive officer of Civica Rx. “We thank these organiza-

tions for joining us to make essential generic medicines accessible and affordable in hospitals across the country.”

The benefit of the Civica Rx initiative is expected to be two-fold. Hospitals will not only have access to generic drugs that are frequently in short supply, but they will also be able to purchase those medications at a reduced cost. A savings that can then be passed along to patients.

“We are excited to be a partnering member in this venture,” says Tommy, Ibrahim, M.D., chief physician executive at INTEGRIS. “We enjoy a

proud tradition of being a leading-edge health care provider known for a pioneering spirit that has paved the way for many medical firsts and technological advancements. We believe this initiative is another example of that. It is an innovative approach to providing quality, accessible, more affordable medicine to the citizens of Oklahoma.”

Civica Rx plans to bring 14 hospital-administered generic drugs to market in 2019. The overall vision is to become a model generic drug company that provides high-quality Food and Drug Administration-approved products at affordable prices.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 17, 2019 • Page 23

Baha’is to present race unity film

The Baha’i Faith of Edmond invites the community to join it for a screening of “An American Story: Race Amity and the Other Tradition,” which is being broadcast nationally on PBS and the WORLD Channel.

The goal of the film is to promote public discourse on race relations.

The free event begins with a luncheon at noon Sunday, Jan. 20, to be followed by the film screening at 1 p.m. at the Edmond Baha’i Center, 321 E. Campbell St. near downtown Edmond.

A panel discussion featuring dignitaries from local churches and other community organizations will wrap up the event by focusing on how to build better race relationships within our community.

The Baha’is of Edmond also will observe World Religion Day during morning devotions Jan. 20, beginning at 10 a.m. and followed by classes for adults and children at 11 a.m. at the Edmond Baha’i Center. The public is invited.

As the title implies, the race amity film will look closely at “the other tradition” of friendship and collaboration among the races in the United States.

The National Center for Race Amity, a Baha’iinspired organization, produced the film in hopes it will be a catalyst for new models of behavior and dialogue that Americans can emulate as they build their communities together.

“Many people are looking for opportunities to move the dialogue on race relations in a positive direction that will allow different groups to work together in a more unified manner on some of today’s most pressing issues such as racial inequality,” said Terri Angier, Baha’i Faith of Ed-

mond spokeswoman. “This film screening and panel discussion leads up to the nation’s observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 21 and provides an opportunity for dialogue at the local level.

Learn more about the film at http://raceamityfilm.org/ while more information about the National Center for Race Amity and its efforts may be found at https://raceamity.org/. The Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’i Faith of Edmond is sponsoring the Jan. 20 event.

For more information about the event or the Baha’i Faith, call the Edmond Baha’i Center at 405348-9992, e-mail edmond@edmondbahai.org or find more information at https://www.facebook.com/edmondbahaifaith/ Additional information may be found at www.edmondbahai.org or www.usbahai.org.

Fitness From Page 22 endurance, cardiovascular health, mental health and over all bettering of oneself. Be your best version.

Focus on one day at a time. Focus on one meal at a time. Do not focus on what you have not accomplished such as the other 46lbs of the 50lbs you want to lose because that can be overwhelming. Focus on the fact that if you lose those 4lbs in a month, that can average out to be 48lbs for the year. If you only reach half of that number, you are still 24lbs ahead of the game for next year plus you feel BETTER! Thiscan be your year. Don’t focus on past experiences of failure or even success. That was the past. Focus on today for your daily choices for wellness. When you end this year, you will be glad you started today for YOU. (Brian Attebery is a Degreed/Certified Trainer. He owns and operates Results Fitness and Nutrition Center, L.L.C. in Edmond. www.resultsfitnessusa.com)

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t

Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi Good Shepherd Anglican Church (Traditional Episcopal) 1000 N. Broadway, Edmond •314-8715 Sundays - Holy Communion 8:00 & 10:00am Animal Friendly Parish “If you have people who exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have those who deal likewise with their fellow human being.”

St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

www.anglicancgsedmondok.com 1928 Book of Common Prayer • anglicancgesedmondok.com

SCRIPTURE • TRADITION • REASON

Page 24 • January 17, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure