Edmond Life and Leisure - November 2, 2023

November 2, 2023 Vol. 24, No. 24

In This Issue FOUR SEASONS

Vets remembered

Four Seasons, by Kevin Box, in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the UCO campus, but this week 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.

Cycle66 in Edmond this weekend See Page 3

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Sunny High 66° Low 51°

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4 Partly Cloudy High 69° Low 51°

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5 Partly Cloudy High 72° Low 55°

Museum will host third annual celebration Scenes from last year’s Veterans Day celebration.

Edmond History Museum is hosting Edmond’s third annual Veterans Day Celebration on November 11th at 4:30 to -6 p.m.

The ceremony will begin at 4:30, followed by the opportunity to visit veteran-related booths and time to view museum exhibits.

Event speakers include Rex Ice with the Edmond American Legion Post #111, Deric Duncan with the Edmond Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #4938, and Edmond Mayor Darrell Davis. The National Anthem will be performed by Alicia Vanderschaaf and the Service Medley sung by the Edmond Community Chorale. Edmond North Jr. ROTC will do the Presentation of Colors.

The event is under the direction of Retired Colonel Mustafa “Kujo” Koprucu, with support from the City of Edmond, Downtown Edmond Business Association, and community leaders.

The Edmond Veterans Day Celebration was created in 2021 by Craig & Stephanie Brudzinski and David & Stephanie Carel to commemorate Edmond veterans.

“Veterans hold a special place in our hearts. We wanted to create a tradition for our community in the downtown area and involved leaders from the military and our city to plan this event,” said Stephanie Carel, whose husband, David, served as a combat medic in the Oklahoma National Guard for 21 years.

This year’s event will be hosted indoors at the Edmond History Museum, since the event faced weather challenges in its first two years. “The museum is housed in Edmond’s first armory, built for the 179th Infantry, 45th Division—so it’s an appropriate venue,” said Amy Stephens, museum director.

“I also encourage attendees to visit

PHOTOS PROVIDED

our exhibit, Love, Leo Messages & Mementos From the Pacific, featuring letters and memorabilia mailed home during WWII by Edmond soldier, Leo Richard.”

Information booths at the event include: Edmond VFW, Edmond American Legion, Neptune Society, Cordelia Steen Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, and Oklahoma National Guard Family Programs services.

Museum Information: The mission of Edmond History Museum is to celebrate Edmond history through preservation and education. Museum hours are 10:00-5:00 Monday – Friday, and 1:00-4:00 Saturday.

Please visit the museum website at www.EdmondHistory.org<http:// www.EdmondHistory.org> or by calling the museum at 405-3400078. Museum admission is free.

Page 2 • November 2, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • November 2, 2023 • Page 3

There will be bikes galore in Edmond this Sunday.

To be held this Sunday

Hundreds of bikers due in Edmond for Cycle 66 Organizers expecting up to 1,000 riders for the annual urban and rural bicycling tour and festival along historic Route 66 Bicyclists from across the nation will be in Edmond on Nov. 5 when Cycle 66 Presented by Mercy returns for its third year.

Tagged “Cycle 66 is for everyone,” the urban and rural bicycling tour and festival along historic Route 66 – beginning and ending in downtown Edmond near Frenzy Brewing Co. – literally has something to offer for riders of all ages and skill levels.

Among the routes and rides available are: 1-Mile Kids’ Route: Kids of all ages are welcome to join Cycle 66 on its 1-mile Kids’ Route. Training wheels, tricycles and strollers are welcome, and kids also can decorate their rides-of-choice and come ready for fun.

10-Mile Route: The 10-mile tour takes riders through Oklahoma Christian's campus before heading back to Downtown Edmond for a finish down Broadway.

33-Mile Intermediate Route: Riders can experience a 33-mile route that covers a not-so-hilly tour toward Downtown OKC. The route takes the ride past museums and onto OK's Katy Trail – a safe and tranquil spin before turning back north past the state capitol to Edmond.

66-Mile Advanced Route: On this hilly adventure, riders will experience the most elevation gain on the event routes to date. See Arcadia, Luther, Jones, Spencer and the Katy Trail in OKC prior to returning to Edmond. This one, while tough, will be a beautiful Sunday pedal through Central Oklahoma and around Route 66.

The Crit @ Cycle 66: Cycle 66 is partnering with OKC Velo, a local cycling non-profit, to offer a Criterium. Amateur athletes will race on a closed course in downtown Edmond. The high-speed races will occur throughout the day, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in conjunction with the Cycle 66 “fondo” routes, culminating in a shared finish line. The Crit is free for spectators.

Riders can register online for $45 at www.cycle66ok.com. Youth 12 and under can participate in the 10-mile route for $10. The 1-mile kids’ route is free, but registration is required.

An estimated 1,000 riders are expected for the ever-growing event. In 2022, Cycle 66 featured four different routes and a crit race that attracted 823 registrations from across 11 different states, a significant increase from 550 riders in 2021.

City of Edmond Mayor Darrell A. Davis is an avid cyclist and will be riding in the event for a third straight year. He said, “I look forward to this event every year as it continues to grow in popularity throughout the region and beyond. The fact that it attracts riders of all levels from 11 states tells you just how popular this event really is and that it will continue to grow.”

Gabriel Taylor and his wife Desiree, from Oklahoma City, rode 66 miles in the past two years. “My favorite part of Cycle 66 is the camaraderie and fellowship,” said Taylor.

Bill Senn, from Bentonville, Arkansas, has traveled to Edmond since Cycle 66 began. “It has become a fun tradition for me,” said Senn.

Page 4 • November 2, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Halloween origins not so festive It is on purpose that I waited to do this column after Halloween this year. I did not want to put a damper on anyone’s celebration. Then again it might have enhanced some of the adults that I know Ray Hibbard who insist on a big Halloween celebration each year.

Lisa asked me if I had ever written on the origins of Halloween. I told her no and had to admit I did not know much about how it all came about. I am not a huge fan of this holiday. It is nothing more than a quick sugar rush for me. I stopped dressing up at about the age of 12.

To me it is one of those “celebrations” that should be for little kids.

It does seem to me that the event has changed over the last five years.

Too many ghost and ghouls for me to be honest. Death and evil seem to be more to the forefront these days and I do not care for it at all. Too much evil in our world right now and not enough kindness. Turns out that the origin of this holiday is rooted in evil.

The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in) when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-olanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.

Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.

The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago, mostly in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1.

This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. For a mostly kids’ holiday this is creepy to me. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to

earth.

In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other’s fortunes. This just represents evil to me.

When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.

By A.D. 43, the Roman Empire had conquered most of the Celtic territory. In the course of the 400 years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.

The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple, and the incor-

poration of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of bobbing for apples that is practiced today on Halloween. My friend Ranger Dave used to suggest bobbing for French fries.

How Did Halloween Start in America?

The celebration of Halloween was extremely limited in colonial New England because of the rigid Protestant belief systems there. Halloween was much more common in Maryland and the southern colonies.

As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups and the American Indians meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included “play parties,” which were public events held to celebrate the harvest. Neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other’s fortunes, dance and sing.

Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds. By the middle of the 19th century, annual autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country.

In the second half of the 19th century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing the Irish Potato Famine, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally.

History of Trick-or-Treating Borrowing from European traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today’s “trick-ortreat” tradition. Young women believed that on Halloween they could divine the name or appearance of their future husband by doing tricks with yarn, apple parings or mirrors.

In the late 1800s, there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday more about community and neighborly get-togethers than about ghosts, pranks and witchcraft. At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties focused on games, foods of the season and festive costumes.

Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything “frightening” or “grotesque” out of Halloween celebrations. Because of these efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.

This was a good development.

By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become a secular but community-centered holiday, with parades and town-wide Halloween parties as the featured entertainment.

Despite the best efforts of many schools and communities, vandalism began to plague some celebrations in many communities during this time.

By the 1950s, town leaders had successfully limited vandalism and Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at the young. Due to the high numbers of young children during the fifties baby boom, parties moved from town civic centers into the classroom or home, where they could be more easily accommodated.

The most growth in Halloween was probably when the candy sales folks got involved. Mass commercialism took over and that is when you started seeing Halloween candy on the shelf in July. Nothing drives a holiday like a hard charging marketing event. Besides, if it was not for Halloween, how would stores know when to put the Christmas stuff out?

I just hope we are not swinging back the other way. Happy to give candy to kids and see their cute costumes but the scary evil stuff can go away from my viewpoint. I will eat a candy bar and wait for Thanksgiving if you do not mind.

(Ray Hibbard may be reached at ray@edmondpaper.com)

Check out what’s inside!

---- Weekend Calendar ..................................................................Pages 6.

---- Police booking report ................................................................Page 6.

---- Obituary notice ........................................................................Page 7.

---- GOP Women make plans for next meeting ..............................Page 9.

---- Bedlam football to pause, columnist notes ..............................Page 10.

---- Elaine Warner and her trip in the metro ..................................Page 11.

---- George Gust reviews “Five Knights at Freddy’s” ......................Page 14.

---- Crossword ................................................................................Page 14.

---- Business ..................................................................................Page 17.

---- Comics ....................................................................................Page 18.

This, and so much more, in this week’s edition

See if you can find ‘Four Seasons’ “Four Seasons” in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the University of Central Oklahoma campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper.

Please e-mail contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing.

Commissioned as a partnership between UCO, the City of Edmond and the Edmond Visual Arts Commission, “Four Seasons” was created by sculptor Kevin Box of New Mexico and was dedicated on the campus on March 24, 2011.

Kevin is a member of the National Sculptor’s Guild. His Box Studio LLC is a strong supporter of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle concept, using recycled metal as part of the casting process for his sculptures. All of his work is 100 percent recyclable.

For more information on Edmond public art, please visit http://visitedmondok.com/public-art.php.

Publisher Ray Hibbard Jr. ray@edmondpaper.com Partner Christopher T. Hoke Editor Steve Gust news@edmondpaper.com Production Deanne York Advertising Director Business Editor Alexx Reger alexx@edmondpaper.com Contributing Writers Mallery Nagle, Patty Miller, Rose Drebes, and George Gust.

Photographer Melinda Infante

Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2023 by Edmond Media Publishing 107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax) Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083 All rights reserved.

Material contained herein may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission from Edmond Media Publishing. edmondlifeandleisure.com facebook.com/edmondlifeandleisure twitter.com/edmondlifeandleisure instagram.com/edmondlifeandleisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • November 2, 2023 • Page 5

Changes coming to ambulance service

By Jack Money Oklahoman.com An ambulance service selected in December to replace the Emergency Medical Services Authority has secured a new base of operations to serve residents while a contract governing what it will provide continues to be negotiated.

American Medical Response Ambulance Service Inc. (AMR) will pay Edmond $3,750 monthly to use an old fire station at 1315 S Broadway as its operational headquarters.

Edmond City Council members approved the agreement unanimously this week. It takes effect Nov. 1.

The building is well-suited for ambulance service operations because it originally was built as a fire station.

"I can't think of a better location," Fire Chief Chris Goodwin told council members.

Goodwin and Edmond's City Attorney Stephen T. Murdock told council members they expect to have a contract ready for them to consider at their next meeting. AMR will begin serving Edmond residents Dec. 5, Goodwin also said.

"This property's location in the city's core should help ensure citizens of Edmond will receive timely ambulance responses," briefing language included in the agenda about the lease stated.

AMR was selected by an evaluation committee to provide Edmond with ambulance service because it could station units in the community exclusively to provide aroundthe-clock service.

The committee also reported to the council AMR's annual subsidy

costs and transport fees it charges patients were lowest among those who offered service. AMR's annual membership subscription benefits were also best and the committee believed AMR's size, experience and resources (and a compatibility between its equipment/software and the city's) would allow for a smooth transition.

City officials previously said they expected the agreement also would prohibit automatic exclusions for late calls, include contingency provisions allowing for disruptions by possible future pandemics and would task AMR with providing ambulances for special events.

AMR additionally said it would accept a requirement to provide nocost-to-patient emergency medical transports involving people living in Edmond households enrolled in the city's ambulance services membership program.

Residents can get that coverage by paying a $3 monthly fee on their utility bills. Any residents who live in Edmond but don't pay utilities can receive the same service by enrolling in AMR's membership program, which costs $65 per household annually.

Council members thanked the city's staff for putting together a page on the city's website that answers frequently asked questions about the coming changeover.

AMR is replacing EMSA, which provided emergency medical transports in Edmond for more than 30 years. EMSA consistently failed to meet promised response times since mid-2020, prompting city council members to seek other providers earlier this year.

(AMR) will pay Edmond $3,750 monthly to use an old fire station at 1315 S Broadway

Edmond Wine Shop: Celebrating 50!

This November I have the distinct pleasure of celebrating the 50th anniversary of my store, Edmond Wine Shop.

I founded it on a shoestring budget in 1973 with the belief that my fellow Oklahomans would become as fascinated with fine wine as I had.

That fascination really started on my first trip to Napa in June 1972.

At that time, there were plenty of horse pastures, olive groves and almond orchards along with a patchwork of vineyards mostly on the Valley floor.

The city of Napa then was little more than a sleepy farming city with few restaurants or tourists.

Although wine production in Napa dated back to the mid-19th century, it was the passion of the 1960’s-era winemakers that began to push Napa and the rest of California into international acclaim. It was on that trip at a little Italian restaurant in downtown Napa that I tasted a 1965 Charles Krug Vintner’s Select Cabernet Sauvignon and everything just clicked.

The original idea for the store was adopted from some of the wine shops that were springing up in northern California.

I was amazed at the many producers they had available there but were unavailable in Oklahoma. When I started the shop, there were less than a dozen Cabernets available, even fewer Chardonnays or Pinot Noirs. At that time, California wines did not enjoy the status they do now; in fact, the majority of wine buyers scoffed at them and believed that France was the only true source of fine wine. I still remember the elation I felt when I was finally able to get some Mondavi Napa Cabernet in stock, only to see it sit on

the shelf for far too long. Since Oklahoma had very strict laws in place regarding any alcohol advertising, I wasn’t able to have a mailing list, promote in any newspaper or even place wine description shelf-talkers inside the shop.

The condescending attitude toward California wines changed dramatically in 1976, after the seminal Steven Spurrier tasting in Paris that pitted French producers of worldclass wines against their California counterparts. The California wines that won that tasting, Chateau Montelena Chardonnay and Stag’s Leap Cabernet, sent shockwaves around the wine world. No longer would domestically produced wine be scorned.

Since I had been such a proponent of California wines and featured as many of them as I could afford to stock, that event really spurred my success as a local wine resource.

It also silenced the many critics I had who criticized the way I merchandised my store.

Most every liquor store at the time had a wine “corner” or relegated their meager wine selection to a back shelf. I took after the California stores I had seen and flipped

that model, placing my liquor selection on the perimeter and broadly featuring the wine inventory on the main floor. Doesn’t sound too radical now but the idea at the time met with more than a little skepticism if not outright derision from my contemporaries in the trade.

Even before liquor by the drink was “officially” recognized, I helped train many restaurant waitstaff in basic wine service and consulted on wine lists throughout the metro.

Some of them are still loyal customers here. Since I had attended wine conferences in Monterey and Napa that featured speakers like Robert Mondavi, Maynard Amerine, Mike Grgich and Andre Tchelistcheff, I was inspired to spread the word about the enjoyment of wine to diners as well as my customers.

Through the recessions, oil booms and busts, liquor “Modernization” and the recent Pandemic, we have managed to survive and prosper. In 2003, I was able to build our present space with a distinctive tower in front that was inspired by the iconic white tower at Silver Oak winery, an homage to the way it all started for me.

As you all know, I have had many great employees to thank for my success. I wouldn’t be writing this without them.

And I most certainly wouldn’t be celebrating this without you, the many loyal customers who have supported what I still try to do here.

I am forever grateful that I can continue to do what I love: offer a great selection of wine and spirits with competent service in a comfortable, well-stocked store.

Here’s to all of you!

- Vance Gregory

1520 South Boulevard • Edmond, OK 73013 • 405-341-9122 • www.edmondwine.com Visa • Mastercard • Discover • Amex

Page 6 • November 2, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

(Editor’s Note: The following arrest reports are provided by the Edmond Police Department. Guilt or innocence is determined in a court of law.

Also, CDS is controlled dangerous substance; APC is Actual Physical Control; DUI is driving under the influence.)

Oct. 17 Joshua Lantz Rasp, 44 of Edmond.

Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Lakell Ranee Franklin, 29 of Oklahoma City. Larceny from building.

Linda Faye Truitt, 42. Obstruction of police officer and (felony) larceny from retailer.

Jacob Calvin Smith, 35 homeless.

Trespassing after being warned.

Oct. 18 Joshua Caleb Brock, 35 of Guthrie.

Felony DUI/APC. George Pernel Galbreath, 60 of Oklahoma City. Possession of drug

paraphernalia and three counts of failure to appear.

Erica Danielle Colbert, 39 of Edmond. Failure to appear.

Roy Lee Campbell, 38 of Edmond.

Driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked and felony DUI/APC. David Chance Johnson, 18 of Arcadia. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked and speeding (10 mph or less excess.)

Oct. 19 Matthew John Hooper, 36 of Edmond. Possess drug paraphernalia, possess CDS, obstruction of police officer and (misdemeanor value) obtaining by false pretense, trick or deception.

Wesley Lee Hipp, 29 of Claremore.

Public intoxication.

Jeremy Raymond Hammons, 45 of Edmond. Obstruction of police offi-

cer and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and any other intoxicating substance.

Oct. 20 Lane Richard Sheffield, 23 homeless. Possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and non-assault resisting officer.

Dukhan Durand Flowers, 49 of Omaha, Neb. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Oct. 21 Shuntel Martez Bowen, 42 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant, transport open container of intoxicating beverage or beer and felony DUI/APC. Syeda Masooma Abedi, 43 homeless. Trespassing.

Addision Riley Hawthorne, 20 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a

motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Tramal Donell Ivy, 27 of Edmond.

Driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked, misdemeanor warrant, possess CDS and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and any other intoxicating substance.

Jessie Lee Baker, 39 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant.

Eddie Lee Woods, 47 of Bristow.

Misdemeanor warrant.

Heather Shaun Knox, 45 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Oct. 22 Sabrina Dawn Elliott, 44 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant, expired tag — over three months, no proof of insurance and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

John Kevin Phillips, 47 of Edmond.

Public intoxication.

Weekend Calendar of Events, Nov. 2-5 Weekend Calendar of Events Nov. 2-5 ---- In the Gallery ---- Unveiled: Edmond’s Bridal Fashion 1875 ---2020 ---- Beginners Pickleball Club ---- Guthrie Haunts ---- Cocoa & Carols ---- Community Through Beer Fest ---- Cycle 66 Tour and Festival ---- Edmond Ice Rink ---- Signature Tour ---- Traditional Cowboy Arts Exhibition & Sale ---- Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch ---- Fall Festival At the Orr Family Farm ---- OKC Ghost Tour ---- American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show ---- Photocon OKC ---- Mistletoe Market ---- Guthrie Ghost Walk ---- Oklahoma City Train Show Extra Information In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Featuring Behnaz Sohrabian; Gallery opening: Thu, Nov 2; 5 – 7; free; Gallery is open Mon – Thu ; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; edmondfinearts.com Unveiled: Edmond’s Bridal Fashion 1875 – 2020 Location: Edmond History Museum Extra Info: Sat, Jul 1 – Sun, Dec 31; visitedmondok.com Beginners Pickleball Club Location: Kickingbird Pickleball Center Extra Info: Sat, May 6 – Sat, Dec 30; 8 – 10:30 a.m.; Free; edmondok.com

Guthrie Haunts Location: 4524 Riverside Circle, Guthrie, OK Extra Info: Fri, Sep 29 – Sat, Nov 4; Fri: 7 – 11 p.m.; Sat: 7 – 11 p.m.; Halloween Night: 7 – 11 p.m.; guthriescaregrounds.com Cocoa & Carols Location: Oklahoma Christian University – Baugh Auditorium Extra Info: Thu, Nov 2; 7 p.m.; free; oc.edu/events/ Community Through Beer Fest Location: The Patriarch Craft Beer House Extra Info: Sun, Nov 5; 1 – 4 p.m.; $60 ---- $180; facebook.com Cycle 66 Tour and Festival Location: Downtown Edmond Extra Info: Sun, Nov 5; 8 a.m.; Adults: $45; Kids 1mile: free; Cycle66OK.com Edmond Ice Rink Location: Mitch Park Extra Info: Sat, Nov 4 – Mon, Jan 15; $10 - $14; edmondicerink.com Signature Tour Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sat, Nov 4 ---- Sun, Nov 5; 1 – 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Traditional Cowboy Arts Exhibition & Sale Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Fri, Oct 6 – Tue Jan 2; tcaa.nationalcowboymuseum.org Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch Location: 720 S Henney Rd, Arcadia, OK

Extra Info: Fri, Sep 15 – Sun, Nov 5; Wed – Fri: 1 p.m. – dark; Sat: 10 a.m. – dark; Sun: 12 p.m. – dark; parkhurstranch.com Fall Festival At the Orr Family Farm Location: Orr Family Farm Extra Info: Sat, Sep 23 – Sat, Nov 11; orrfamilyfarm.com OKC Ghost Tour Location: 101 E Sheridan Ave, OKC Extra Info: Thu, Oct 5 – Sat, Nov 4; Oct 5: 7 p.m.; Oct 6 & 14: 10 p.m.; Oct 21: 6:30 & 8:30 p.m.; Oct 26: 7 p.m.; Nov 4: 7 p.m.; eventbrite.com PhotoCon OKC Location: Embassy Suites by Hilton, 3233 NW Expy Extra Info: Thu, Nov 2 – Sat, Nov 4; Thu: 6 – 9 p.m.; Fri & Sat: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.; photoconokc.com Mistletoe Market Location: OKC Convention Center Extra Info: Thu, Nov 2 – Sun, Nov 5; Sun: 11 a.m.

– 5 p.m.; Thu: 6 – 9 p.m.; Fri & Sat: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; jloc.org American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show Location: Oklahoma City Fairgrounds Extra Info: Thu, Oct 26 – Thu, Nov 16; aqha.com Guthrie Ghost Walk Location: Apothecary Garden, Guthrie, OK Extra Info: Fri, Nov 3 – Sat, Nov 4; 7:15 p.m.; guthrieghostwalk.com Oklahoma City Train Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: Sat, Nov 4 – Sun, Nov 5; Sat: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sun: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; okctrainshow.com

Don’t forget that Cycle66 will be in Edmond this Sunday — with hundreds of bike enthusiasts — some from outside of Oklahoma. Please see Page 3 for additional information on the event.

Edmond Life & Leisure • November 2, 2023 • Page 7

UCO to host International Festival Nov. 11 The University of Central Oklahoma International Student Council will host the 48th annual International Festival from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Nov. 11, at the Edmond Festival Market Place, 30 W. First St., in Edmond.

The festival is free and open to the public.

“The International Festival is UCO’s way of celebrating International Education Week, a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education,” said Jared Scism, assistant director of the Centre for Global Competency and Global Learning at UCO. “This event provides citizens of Edmond the opportunity to learn and expose themselves to some of the largest populations living in their

community firsthand without needing to leave Edmond.”

International students will showcase their culture through food, performances and displays. Countries, cultures and regions that will be highlighted at the festival include Africa, Bangladesh, India, Japan, South Korea, Latin America, the Middle East, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam.

In case of inclement weather, the festival will be moved to the Liberal Arts building, located on UCO’s campus. Information regarding the festival can be found on the UCO International Student Council’s Facebook and Instagram.

For more information, contact Scism at jscism@uco.edu.

Obituary notice Shirley Dian Hoke

To be held in downtown Edmond The University of Central Oklahoma International Student Council will host the 48th annual International Festival from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Nov. 11, at the Edmond Festival Market Place, 30 W. First St., in Edmond. The festival is free and open to the public. Pictured, a UCO student performing at the 2022 festival.

Shirley Dian Hoke of Edmond passed away Oct. 23, 2023, surrounded by her family. She was 92.

She was born April 2, 1931, in Stillwater, Okla. to E. Bernice Glover and Dr. Harry Glover.

Shirley is survived by her son Christopher and his wife, Valerie as well as grandchildren Alexander Trent Hoke and Elizabeth Dian Evans; and brother Michael Glover of Tucson, Ariz. Nieces and nephews include Kim Kendrick of Arkansas, Kelly Gaddis of Massachusetts, Diana LaRay of Florida, Stephanie Crouch and Kelly Ward of Lousiana.

She was preceded in death by husband, Jim, and daughter Kay Marie Evans.

Shirley attended Oklahoma A&M and Central State College. She was an accomplished artist and, among other things, held a commercial and private pilot’s license.

Shirley and Jim spent many years in Maine. They explored Central and North America, including Canada and Alaska by air. They also piloted boats in the waters off the East Coast, Caribbean, Virgin Islands, West Indies and Antilles.

She ran for fun and competition. Her passion led to many memories of 5Ks, 10Ks, Half Marathons, and a handful of Marathons.

Private services will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

Arrangements are being handled by Matthews Funeral Home of Edmond.

Page 8 • November 2, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

This cold and flu season, make sure you understand the difference between a cold, the flu, COVID and RSV.

This cold season, make sure you understand symptoms

Supprt local merchants

There’s much to look forward to with the start of cold weather. The holiday season starts off with a bang, while outdoor enthusiasts know their chances to hit the slopes and ski and snowboard are just beginning.Travelers who need a little winter warmth often designate February as a month to soak up some sun in a faraway locale.

With so much to do each cold season, it’s especially problematic when you come down with a cold. However, late fall and winter tend to be cold and flu season in many areas, as viruses tend to spread more easily when people spend more time indoors.

This year, people may wonder if their sniffles indicate they have a cold, the flu or a sign of something more serious, such as COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Anyone unsure of what’s behind a coldlike illness is urged to speak with their physician.

In addition, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases notes that the common cold, the flu, COVID-19, and RSV present some similar symptoms, but also some unique ones.

Though each illness is complex, the frequency with which some symptoms present may indicate which issue a person is dealing with. Knowledge of those symptoms and their frequency can help people determine if the culprit behind their winter illness is a cold, the flu, COVID-19, or RSV. Cold • Aches: Sometimes • Difficulty breathing: Rarely

• Fatigue: Sometimes • Fever: Rarely • Loss of taste or smell: Rarely • Sore throat: Often • Wheezing: Rarely Flu • Aches: Often • Difficulty breathing: Rarely • Fatigue: Often • Fever: Often • Loss of taste or smell: Rarely • Sore throat: Sometimes • Wheezing: Rarely COVID-19 • Aches: Sometimes • Difficulty breathing: Often • Fatigue: Often • Fever: Sometimes • Loss of taste or smell: Sometimes • Sore throat: Often • Wheezing: Rarely RSV • Aches: Rarely • Difficulty breathing: Sometimes • Fatigue: Rarely • Fever: Sometimes • Loss of taste or smell: Rarely • Sore throat: Rarely • Wheezing: Often Individuals who are concerned by the presence of cold- or flu-like symptoms are urged to speak with their physicians. Though many instances of cold, flu, COVID-19, and RSV will go away without medical intervention, each condition can pose a significant health risk in certain situations.

—- METRO NEWS SERVICE

Nov. 3-5 in the metro

Mistletoe Market nears The Junior League of Oklahoma City (JLOC) welcomes shoppers to the 30th annual Mistletoe Market, Nov. 3-5, at the Oklahoma City Convention Center, 100 Mick Cornett Dr. in downtown OKC. The event features more than 100 vendors ranging from women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, toys, home decor, jewelry, skincare, food, gifts for pets and more.

“Mistletoe Market is unique in that it both supports our community and celebrates small businesses. You can shop for a cause and get the Christmas mood at the same time,” said Anastasia Svec, Mistletoe Market chair. “With this being the 30th annual Mistletoe Market, this year holds even more significance, as we are proud to celebrate three decades of community impact!”

Mistletoe Market raises funds to support the mission of the Junior League of Oklahoma City. Proceeds from Mistletoe Market ticket sales help fund JLOC’s vital health and wellness-based community projects in the Oklahoma City metro and supports JLOC’sleadership development and training activities.

“Mistletoe Market is the premier holiday shopping event in OKC. Not only can you find the best gifts for everyone on your list, but by attend-

ing, you can help make an impact in the lives of Oklahomans all year long,” Svec said.

Mistletoe Market is open 10 a.m.7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 and Saturday Nov. 4 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5. Tickets purchased online prior to Nov. 3 are $12 for adults and $8 for seniors. After Nov. 3, tickets can be purchased online or at the door at $15 for adults and $10 for seniors. Children 12 and under are free.

In addition to three days of shopping, Mistletoe Market offers an array of other special events throughout the weekend including the Preview Party on Thursday, Nov. 2, a Children’s Event with Santa on Saturday, Nov. 4 and Sunday FUNday with brunch and mimosas on Sunday, Nov. 5.

Mistletoe Market is made possible through the support of generous sponsors including News 9, Variety Care, Midfirst Bank, Magic 104.1, Santreece Foundation and many more.

For more information on Mistletoe Market, special events details and to purchase tickets, visit mistletoemarket.org. For a list of community projects supported through the funds raised at Mistletoe Market, visit jloc.org/community.

Edmond Life & Leisure •November 2, 2023 • Page 9

City Councilman to be guest speaker

Edmond GOP women will meet at Okla. Christian to make Edmond the The next meeting of best place to raise a famthe Edmond Republiily and call home by encan Womens Club will suring Edmond has the be held Monday, Nov. best transportation, edu13th, 2023, in the cation, recreation, public Gaylord Event Center safety, and public servof Oklahoma Christian ices for its residents and University. The guest employers. And also to speaker this month will give Edmond voters the be Edmond Ward 1 opportunity to vote up or Councilman, Tom down dedicated funding Robins. Our sponsor Tom Robins to support the best transfor the month of Noportation, education, vember is our clubs 2nd recreation, public safety, and public VP - Membership, Becky Grau. services for its residents and employTom Robins and his wife Emily, ers. have three active children attending Becky Grau and her husband, Edmond Public Schools. ProfessionRichard, have three grown children, ally, Tom is the Founder and President of Solid Foundation Consulting, seven grandchildren, and one great grandson. She has enjoyed serving as working with companies, organizations, and industry leaders to identify 2nd VP of Membership for the last new approaches to their biggest chal- two years and hopes to see ERWC conlenges. As a part of Solid Foundation tinue to grow. Becky retired from fulltime work as an administrative Consulting, Tom founded the Oklaassistant for several companies in the homa Innovative Technology Aldifferent states in which they lived. She liance, a trade association for has worked the past nine years at Oklahoma Innovation and TechnolOklahoma Christian Academy part ogy companies. Tom also created an time with the extended care program award-winning national program for and loves being part of this school. She Teen Drivers to navigate work zones safely called Work Zone Safe. He also has invited Dr. Will Blanchard, President of Oklahoma Christian Academy facilitates the Oklahoma Auto attend the meeting as her guest. tonomous Vehicle Working Group, The club, along with Republican which evaluates challenges and opportunities related to autonomous ve- Women of Central Oklahoma, and hicle technology in Oklahoma. Before Heartland Republican Women, will sponsor a Candidate Forum for the founding Solid Foundation ConsultRepublican Candidates who have ing, Tom served as Oklahoma's filed for the special election to fill the Deputy Secretary of Energy and was vacant position of House District 39. a Manager of Government Affairs at Chesapeake Energy. As Deputy Secre- This will be Nov. 14th, 2023, begintary, Tom worked with the public and ning at 6:30 pm, in the Gaylord state energy-related boards, agencies, Event Center of Oklahoma Christian University, 2501 E. Memorial Rd., Edand commissions to help implement mond 73013. If you feel you need Oklahoma's energy plan. He also more information regarding the Reserved as the Governor's representapublican candidates who have filed tive to the Interstate Oil and Gas for this office, please plan to join us.

Compact Commission, the Southern Our General Meeting on Nov, States Energy Board, and the West13th, begins at 11:30 am, with the ern Governors Association. Tom buffet lunch served at 11:30 am. The serves on the Board of Oklahoma program starts at 11:45 am, and our STEAM Engine, dedicated to unlocklocation is in the Gaylord Event Cening the potential of Oklahoma youth ter of Oklahoma Christian University, through hands-on STEM and Arts 2501 E. Memorial Rd., Edmond (STEAM) programs.

Tom was sworn in as the represen- 73013. To make a reservation or ask tative of Ward 1 of the Edmond City questions, please go to ERWC1787@gmail.com.

Council in May, 2023. His goals are

Bronchos blanked at Hays Central Oklahoma struggled to get the offense going in an MIAA contest at Fort Hays State Saturday afternoon as the Bronchos were dealt a 27-0 loss.

UCO is now 4-5 overall on the season and 35 in the MIAA. The Bronchos host Washburn next Saturday afternoon in Week 10. Fort Hays State, which is receiving votes in the AFCA Top 25, improved to 7-2 overall on the season and 6-2 in league play.

"We couldn't get anything going on offense today," UCO head football coach Adam Dorrel said. "We did a good job in the first half forcing turnovers. That gave us a chance. But we just couldn't get it going.

We're asking our defense to do too much.

We have to be better on offense and give them a break."

Central Oklahoma got the ball first on Saturday, but the Bronchos were forced to punt.

Fort Hays State went down the field and scored a touchdown (6 plays, 62 yards) to take an early lead. The Bron-

Related article, on Page 15 chos continued to be stuck in a similar situation all day.

UCO punted on its first three possessions before missing a 33-yard field goal attempt. In the second quarter, it was another punt, a turnover on downs, and the end of the first half.

Central had just two possessions in the third quarter and the Bronchos threw interceptions on both of them. In the fourth quarter, UCO was forced to punt again twice before a third interception as Fort Hays State closed out the win.

UCO managed 186 total yards of offense on Saturday. The Bronchos ran the ball 22 times for 58 yards and threw for 128 passing yards.

Stephon Brown was 11-for-25 with 94 yards and two interceptions and two sacks in his first game back after missing two weeks with injury.

Dawson Herl was 1-for-2 with minus-3 yards and Jacob Delso was 1-for-2 with 37 yards.

Trevon Woolfolk led the Broncho rushing at-

tack with 14 yards on six carries. Jaylen Cottrell (3-13), Tariq Logan (1-12), Payton Scott (212), and Brown (8-8) also chipped in on the rushing attack.

Central Oklahoma hosts Washburn in Week 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Chad Richison Stadium.

The Bronchos conclude the 2023 season in Week 11 at Pittsburg State on Saturday, Nov. 11.

Page 10 • November 2, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

Rivals to take a break?

By Steve Gust The end of Bedlam?

After this Saturday, it may be awhile before Oklahoma and Oklahoma State get together again on the football field for Steve Gust their spirited rivalry.

Everyone knows that OU is leaving for the SEC conference next season.

OSU will stay in the Big 12. I’m not a fan of the decision of OU leaving, but it’s a done deal. I imagine the dollars involved made a lot more sense for the Sooners.

Nebraska did the same thing over 10 years ago, when they left the Big 12 and went to the Big 10. I’m sure the athletic director of Nebraska probably looked at television markets and stadium sizes. It made more sense for them to play before 100,000 at Penn State, rather than 20,000 at Kansas. I wonder if the Cornhuskers ever regret their decision? They’ve gone through some hard seasons in recent years.

And what about the average OU fan? Currently it’s possible for most people to drive to a game at Kansas

State or Kansas. But how many fans want to drive to Florida, Mississippi or Alavama? And the travel costs for the other sports will go way up as well.

The Oklahoman had an article about this on Sunday. They think there’s a chance the series may resume in the early 2030s. I hope so, but it just doesn’t seem like it will be the same.

OU dominated the football series with OSU, but every now and then, the Pokes made life miserable for OU. It was a fun series and will be missed.

— Speaking of playing Kansas, OU is still wondering what happened over the weekend. The Sooners had about 20 different chances to make a play and win it, but didn’t. While it’s disappointing for OU and a lot of fans, at least KU got some good news. It’s been about 20 years since they were competitive in football. A lot of their games didn’t draw a lot of people. In 2021 KU beat Texas at Austin and it marked their first road conference win since beating Iowa State in 2008.

(Steve Gust may be reached at news@edmondpaper.com)

Bring back Reagan Doctrine

By Senator Markwayne Mullin At the Republican National Convention in July 1980, then-candidate Ronald Reagan boldly declared: “We know only too well that war comes not when the forces of freedom are strong, but when they are weak. It is then that tyrants are tempted.”

President Reagan’s foreign policy was rooted in the idea that investing in our national defense was key to not only contain communism, but to defeat it.

Under the Reagan Doctrine, America embraced “peace through strength” – ultimately placing U.S. leadership at the forefront of democracy to preserve liberty and freedom for all.

Now, more than 30 years later, a new axis of evil has emerged among Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea to test American resolve. It’s more important than ever for the United States to embody peace through strength on the

world stage as a matter of national security.

Unfortunately, despite growing allegiances among America’s toughest adversaries, Joe Biden has repeatedly chosen appeasement over deterrence.

Time after time, this administration has elected to bend the knee to foreign threats at the American people’s expense.

Look no further than the Biden administration’s disastrous and chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan which resulted in the tragic death of 13 American servicemembers. Joe Biden sent a message to the world that the United States would abandon our own citizens and our closest allies in a botched military action. What’s worse, we set a precedent that the U.S. could not be counted on in times of emergency.

While the decay of peace through strength has intensified under Joe Biden, this toxic appeasement strategy didn’t start under this administration.

Barack Obama too sat back and watched while Russian President Vladimir Putin took influence in Syria, expanding power in the Middle East to a scope not seen since the 1970s.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would love nothing more than to destroy American leadership and sever our alliances to expand their authoritarian influence around the globe. North Korea is upping their military exercises and test launches as they grow their nuclear arsenal. Iranian forces are working overtime to escalate nuclear capabilities while financing brutal terrorist regimes.

Russia is looking to overtake Ukraine, reestablish the Soviet bloc, and expand malign influence operations around the world.

Make no mistake: this new axis of evil is partnering to weaken America and facilitate their anti-western authoritarian autocratic takeover by any means necessary. President Reagan knew that in the absence of strong American leadership, there is chaos. Oklahomans aren’t afraid to call out the evil regimes around the world that threaten to destabilize a U.S.-led world order.

Official calls criminal justice system broken Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, held an interim study to detail his ideas on restructuring the state's entire criminal justice system.

IS23-025 was heard by the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, which Humphrey chairs.

"We believe the criminal justice system in Oklahoma is broken and that what we are doing as legislators is simply putting Band-aids on the system," Humphrey said. "This isn't going to work. We need a new system, one that actually changes criminal behavior and reduces our prison population while keeping our people safe."

During the three-hour-plus study, Humphrey – who said he has worked in nearly every job within the corrections system, from serving as an officer in corrections, law enforcement, probation, drug court and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) – laid out his proposal for improving the system.

Community corrections, or parole and probation, is one area where Humphrey said the system is fragmented and dysfunctional.

"We have DA supervision, we have DOC supervision, we have community sentencing, we have private," he said, "And we don't have anything across the state that links all of us together."

This is not the fault of people who work in the system currently , Humphrey said, but rather it's a problem 60 years in the making, partly because of various laws being cobbled together.

Humphrey gave the example of State Question 780. The intention behind the law is great, he said, to reduce incarceration by reducing from a felony to a misdemeanor certain drug and property crimes.

But without adequate funding and with unintended consequences, the law has not worked as hoped, he said. Instead, the law decimated drug courts and community sentencing programs. With little to no supervision and no programs that change root behaviors, this has led to more crimes and less public safety, he said.

One solution Humphrey has suggested before is funding district attorneys so they don't have to come up with ways to fund themselves through fees and fines. He also wants to see greater offender accountability at lower levels before they are charged with a felony and get an extended sentence.

Better quality supervision options but ones that adhere to a statewide standard that needs to be established is another must. Restoring drug courts and community sentencing to pre-SQ780 levels would be another step in the right direction. Better

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training and funding that reaches the community level also are imperative, he said.

Humphrey said his proposal will greatly improve supervision and reduce criminal behavior as well as the state prison population. It will increase sanction alternatives so people who do not go to prison still have consequences to deter criminal behavior. The overall goal is to put Oklahoma in the top spot for community corrections, he said.

Humphrey gave examples of programs that have worked well in other states, such as Georgia, Texas and Arizona, to reduce crime and prison populations.

He also called in several speakers from Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, Michael Olson and Damion Shade.

Olson spoke about the need for community supervision that prioritizes public safety and actually focuses on the offenders that need the most oversight. He said his group tries to craft evidence-based policies that ensure the criminal justice system is working for all Oklahomans. Taxpayers want true public safety not programs that don't work.

He said over one-third of the Department of Corrections population is being supervised through probation in our communities right now. The state has more women on probation than the national average. In fact, Oklahoma is near the top of the country in this category, he said. We're lower than the national average for black individuals on probation, he said, even while the incarceration rate for black Oklahomans is higher than the national average.

This is an indicator that this population is not getting probation at the same rate as other populations, he said.

Oklahoma's supervision sentences are much longer than the national average – the fourth longest in the nation, he said, a statistic that has increased over 30% since 2000. But this doesn't actually enhance public safety, he said. Instead, it just means someone on probation will more likely be reincarcerated because of a technical violation.

Edmond Life & Leisure • November 2, 2023 • Page 11

From the 2nd floor hotel check-in area, guests can take in elegant elements of the building’s design – from the elaborate wrought-iron work to the magnificent Great Hall.

This hotel room has a great view of Leadership Square and “Galaxy,” the colorful steel sculpture by artist Alexander Liberman.

Metro sights that take your breath away

By Elaine Warner Early in Oklahoma’s statehood, visionaries in Oklahoma City began building significant and sophisticated structures. The 1909 Baum Building, now destroyed, was patterned after the Elaine Doge’s Palace in Venice. The city’s first “official” skyscraper, the Colcord Hotel, opened in 1910. The Skirvin Hotel followed soon after. A variety of churches built impressive houses of worship – so many that by 1930, Robinson Avenue was referred to as the “Avenue of Churches.” But it was in 1931 that the city’s pièce de résistance opened.

Visitors gasped as they climbed the stairs to the Great Banking Hall of the First National Bank Building. Rivaling palaces and the Parthenon, this temple of commerce was a coda to the Gilded Age in the depths of the Great Depression. And that’s the reaction I had when I ascended the escalator from street level.

Crowded into the downtown cityscape, it’s hard to get the full impression of the building’s magnificence. Two blocks away, the Devon Tower soars above the skyline. Catercorner across Park and Robinson, the shiny, stacked, mirrored Leadership Square calls attention to itself. But on the southeast corner, like a dignified dowager at a debutante ball, the First National Center, an architectural cousin of New York City’s Empire State Building, stands 32 stories tall.

Its black granite and Indiana limestone façade is embellished with sleek aluminum panels elaborately decorated with flowers and flourishes.

Once home to Oklahoma’s largest bank, it sank into ignominy following the bank’s failure in 1986. Office occupancy struggled and finally gave up and the building languished, waiting for revival. Developer Gary Brooks stepped forward in 2017.

The task of bringing the building back to life was gargantuan – requiring years of stripping out asbestos, reducing the interior to a skeleton while saving and/or restoring many unique, decorative elements. Today, much of its early elegance restored, it is a showplace for Oklahoma City, providing a hotel for visitors, luxury flats for residents, and a variety of

Aluminum elements on the façade of the First National Center put an Art Deco stamp on the building’s design

shops and eateries for all of us. And I got to stay there.

Brooks’ team did an amazing job of recreating the magnificence of the public spaces. The Great Hall really is. What was once a shrine to big business – I can see moguls of finance wielding fat cigars and fatter checkbooks – is now a gracious space for gathering.

The lavishly decorated ceiling rises nearly three-stories to a massive skylight. Fourteen colossal marble and limestone columns with gold, multileaved, Corinthian capitals run down the sides of the room. Murals in the four corners have been restored.

Tellers restaurant is tucked where some of the tellers’ cages would have been. A central bar offers libations.

This is now a place to meet, greet, and eat.

The National Hotel check-in is situated on the west end of the 2nd floor. Service here is top-notch. And I loved the opera glasses which were sitting on the counter so guests can get close-up views of the beautiful ceiling.

Hotel rooms occupy the third through eighth floors. My room fea-

tured dark gray walls and large windows with white woodwork. The custom carpet was gray in the bed area with swirling blue, gray and white designs near a seating area and desk.

The gray and white bathroom boasted a roomy shower with a great rain showerhead and interesting white tile patterned walls. Gold-colored faucets, towel racks and trim on light fixtures added warmth and sparkle to the décor. And after busy days, I sank happily into the comfort of the bed.

Guests and visitors to the hotel have a variety of dining choices. Of the four available, I only got to sample two of them. I missed seeing the

steakhouse, Stocks and Bonds, and only stuck my head in the Library of Distilled Spirits in the former bank’s immense, basement vault.

I did have a wonderful breakfast in the Gilded Acorn, an Andrew Black venture, which offers breakfast and lunch items. You won’t find biscuits and gravy on this menu, but whatever you order, from a simple croissant to a superb Benedict, it will be outstanding. Lunch selections include soups, sandwiches and salads. Top it off with a sweet pastry, macaron, or a house-made chocolate. For the ultimate in decadence, schedule a high tea. Eat your heart out Fortnum and Mason’s – Oklahoma City has Andrew Black.

Dinner the last night was hosted at another local restaurant in conjunction with the Society of American Travel Writers conference. Returning to the hotel, I suggested to one of my fellow travelers that we try Tellers for a taste of something sweet. We just wanted dessert, so instead of sitting in the restaurant, we chose a cozy couch nearby and ordered a sundae to share. Oh, my! The base was caramel hazelnut ice cream topped with salted caramel popcorn, toasted peanuts and whipped cream.

If that wasn’t enough, our server poured hot chocolate sauce over everything. Several more writers came into the area and spotted us.

Our server brought more spoons and we still couldn’t finish the whole, wonderful confection.

We all had sweet dreams that night. What a fitting ending to a marvelous stay. The National Center – Great Hall and all – is a grand addition to any Oklahoma City experience.

FYI: The SATW Conference was sponsored by Visit Oklahoma City and partners. My Chickasaw pre-tour was hosted by Chickasaw Country and the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.

(All photos by Elaine Warner) The Gilded Acorn specializes in delicious, French pastries.

Page 12 • November 2, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

New FAI exhibit opens tonight

Send local news to news@edmondpaper.com

Join us at Edmond Fine Arts Institute for Behnaz Sohrabian's Gallery Open on Thursday, November 2nd from 5pm to 7pm featuring her newest work "Celebrating the Essence of Humanity".

Step into a world where the brushstrokes of emotion, the petals of expression, the lines of identity, and the strokes of empowerment converge. "Eternal Femme" is a solo art exhibition that reverently pays homage to the myriad facets of human existence throughan exquisite collection of abstract art, floral compositions, soulful portraits, and intricate drawings.

Photo of Behnaz Sohrabian’s Artwork provided by the artist.

About the Exhibition: Every stroke of paint, every contour of a stroke and each hue paints a portrait of strength, face, and every meticulously drawn line comes tograce, and individuality. gether to form a symphony that resonates with the Join us in this artistic journey that celebrates the spirit of life. This exhibition is a journey through essence of humanity in all its forms and expresthe intimate spaces of human experience, offering sions. We look forward to sharing this celebration a visual narrative that transcends conventional with you, embracing the diversity and unity that boundaries. define our shared human experience.

"Eternal Femme" is not just an art exhibition; it's The Edmond Fine Arts Institute Gallery is open a celebration of the timeless spirit that unites peodaily for public viewing Monday – Thursday or by ple across generations, cultures, and backgrounds. appointment. Monthly gallery exhibits are a proThrough the language of art, this exhibition invites gram of the Edmond Fine Arts Institute, with supyou to explore the canvas of life, where each port from presenting sponsor, BancFirst.

Pistol Pete turns 100 Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt proclaimed Oct. 28, 2023, as the 100th anniversary of Pistol Pete.

This comes as Oklahoma State University celebrates the 100-year anniversary of Frank Eaton’s first appearance in Stillwater’s Armistice Day parade in 1923. The Year of the Cowboy campaign kicked off this fall and will continue into 2024 with a slate of events and commemorative celebrations in honor of Eaton and the beloved mascot he inspired.

The governor’s proclamation coincides with America’s Greatest Homecoming, which also carries “The Year of the Cowboy” theme and celebrates all things Pete, as well as all the students and alumni who have added to and carried on the legacy.

According to the governor’s proclamation, Pete is modeled after Frank Boardman Eaton, a former cowboy, gunslinger, scout, trail rider and rumored deputy U.S. Marshal under Isaac Parker.

After seeing Eaton lead the 1923 Armistice Day parade in Stillwater, a group of students from then Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College asked permission to use his “Pistol Pete” persona as the symbol representing what they believed to be the true spirit of their school.

Eaton relished his role as the original Cowboy.

He was a regular fixture on campus as well as at athletic events. After his death in 1958 at age 97, “Pistol Pete” was made the official mascot of OSU. Since then, 96 men have stepped forward to carry on the “cowboy spirit” tradition and legacy. He is now arguably one of the nation’s most recognized college mascots.

Edmond Life & Leisure • November 2, 2023 • Page 13

Did your child excel in sports or an academic event?

Send their photo to news@edmondpaper.com

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Kenneth Humphries, Ph.D.

Involving those with Type 2 diabetes

Research could help cut heart attack risk People with Type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease as those without. However, an Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist’s recent discovery could someday reduce that statistic.

During experiments involving mice fed a high-fat diet, scientist Kenneth Humphries, Ph.D., found that increasing a naturally produced enzyme prevented those mice from developing heart problems.

“This discovery opens the door for future research targeting that enzyme to treat or prevent heart disease resulting from diabetes,” Humphries said.

Type 2 diabetes is among the most common chronic and often preventable diseases. It develops when cells stop responding normally to insulin.

In response, the pancreas makes more insulin but can’t keep up with demand, causing blood sugar levels to rise. While some people are more genetically at risk than others, Type 2 diabetes typically results from obesity and lack of exercise.

About 1 in 10 Americans have Type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A far greater number – roughly 1 in 3 American adults – have prediabetes. In prediabetes, blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough yet to be diagnosed as Type 2 diabetes. Up to 70% of people with the condition will progress to the actual disease.

Over time, diabetes can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control your heart. People with diabetes also are more likely to have other conditions that raise the risk for heart disease.

Humphries and scientist Maria Mendez Garcia, Ph.D., found that in-

creasing the enzyme PFK-2 had beneficial effects not only for the heart but also for the metabolism of mice who ate a high-fat diet for 16 weeks.

The lab’s finding comes with a caveat, however, Humphries said. It involves glycolysis, the body’s process of breaking down glucose to produce energy.

“Other labs have looked at the same general idea that we did,” he said. “The difference is, those labs simply had the heart take up more sugar, and in doing so, the health effects were bad, especially for the heart.”

Humphries said his lab instead targeted PFK-2, which helps break down sugar. The results demonstrated that the key is for the heart to metabolize sugar properly, he said.

“Dr. Humphries’ work shows that the harmful effects of western diets on the heart can be prevented by increasing the use of glucose in the heart,” said scientist Benjamin Miller, Ph.D., who leads OMRF's Aging and Metabolism Research Program.

“More surprisingly, though, it shows that by changing the use in the heart, the whole body responds in a positive way. This research could lead to heart-centric approaches to improving metabolic health in people with diabetes.”

Humphries’ findings were published in the journal iScience. His study was supported by National Institutes of Health grant Nos. R01HL160955, P30AG050911, P20GM103447 and R24GM137786, and by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Funding for Humphries’ preliminary data was provided by Oklahoma City’s Presbyterian Health Foundation.

Page 14 • November 2, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ a tad goofy

By George Gust In the current climate of the rapidly changing culture of the Internet there is more and more niche content for more narrow audiences available. This is a nice development for those voracious fans of whatever the tv show, internet personality, or video game, but if you happen to come across content made for that narrow group you may feel like you’re on the outside of an inside joke. Would this be the case of this week’s new horror release “Five Nights at Freddy’s”, or would this adaptation be a jumping off point for the next big thing in horror?

A troubled security guard (Josh Hutcherson) begins working at a near abandoned Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. During his first night on the job, he realizes that the night shift won’t be so easy to get through. Pretty soon he will unveil the dark history of happenings at Freddy’s. For the uninitiated (me included prior to this film adaptation) the online video game “Five Nights at Freddy’s” rose to popularity as an independent video game series which was picked up and streamed by some well-known YouTube personalities launching it into viral internet sensation status.

Now the internet sensation comes to the big

screen in this PG-13 film adaptation that starts strong with its twisted take on childhood nostalgia for birthday destinations like Chuck-eCheese, but loses steam as the tension is released almost completely midway through. As is the problem with many other video game adaptations “Five Nights at Freddy’s” has an entertaining premise for an engaging gaming experience, but when you dig into the story and lore of the characters there’s less to hang onto in a cinematic sense.

Where “Five Nights at Freddy’s” is truly lacking is

the lackluster, by-the-numbers horror movie script that is predictable and gives little for the actors to play on. Hutcherson is serviceable as the protagonist and audience cipher, but the way the characters are written in this movie feels so flat that it’s hard for any performance to break through that mediocrity. The only real stand out is the twitchy and broad performance of Matthew Lillard who brings a nervy and creepy energy to the film that feels like it should have more of.

Overall, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” is a starter horror movie for the 13–16-year-old kids who are familiar with the YouTube videos of people playing the games but does little to attract a new audience. The animatronic characters are effective for scares for the first part of the film, but the PG-13 tone shift in the movie leaves you feeling that they are more goofy than ghoulish. If you or someone in your circle is a fan of the video games you may have a good time spending five nights at Freddy’s in this movie, but for general audiences you’d be okay only staying 2.5 nights.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s” is rated PG-13 for strong violent content, bloody images, and language. Now available in theaters and streaming with a Peacock subscription.

2.5 out of 5 stars.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Answers on Page 19

The big screen adaption of the wildly popular online horror video game brings a creepy twist to the beloved childhood birthday arcade/pizza milieu, in ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s.’

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: Famous Scientists

ACROSS 1. Dylan lyric, "There was music in the ____ at night and revolution in the air" 6. *Many scientists have this 9. Alpha Centauri B, e.g.

13. Measured in kilowatt-hours, on electric bill 14. Ring of flowers 15. TV's "____ Blinders" 16. Make believe 17. Public promotions 18. Appropriate for Halloween 19. *F unit of capacitance named in whose honor?

21. *Marine biologist and "Silent Spring" author 23. L.A. baller 24. Not on a rolling stone?

25. Value added reseller 28. New Zealand fruit 30. Option at a hot dog stand, adj.

35. One's final notice 37. Without, in French 39. Time being 40. Toy construction set brand 41. Turning token taker 43. Jewish month 44. Jab on field of play 46. A ride up ski hill 47. Short for Milton 48. *A unit of electric current named in whose honor?

50. Home to Zion National Park 52. Wood-shaping tool 53. Morays, pl.

55. One little piggy 57. *A telescope was named in his honor 60. *Primatologist and world's foremost expert on chimpanzees 64. Popular snorkeler's attraction 65. Have a cold 67. Sphere in Las Vegas, e.g.

68. Pond buildup 69. To and ____ 70. Gives off 71. Goes with a rod 72. Small dog's bark 73. Tears down DOWN 1. Take into custody 2. On a deck?

3. So-so 4. a.k.a. tent caterpillar or lappet moth

5. Maurice of "Where the Wild Things Are" 6. Eugene O'Neill's creation 7. He had 8. Popular 70s genre 9. Witnesses 10. Hawaiian tuber 11. Similar 12. Kind of bourbon 15. P in POI 20. Out of whack 22. Cleopatra's killer, according to legend 24. Not a full size bus 25. *V unit of electric potential named in whose honor?

26. Crosswise, on deck 27. Build temporarily (2 words) 29. *W unit of power named in whose honor?

31. Type of rich soil 32. Most populous country 33. Burn with water 34. *Synonymous with unit of frequency and a car rental com-

pany 36. Muscle quality 38. Floor plank 42. Muse of love poetry 45. The ____makers of "Pitch Perfect" 49. #53 Across, sing.

51. Vacuum cleaner, in U.K. 54. Like kale or spinach 56. Swelling of human organs 57. Golfer's destination 58. Desires 59. Ancient Semitic deity 60. Lump of stuff 61. Black tropical cuckoos 62. Guitar forerunner 63. Is it really more?

64. *Carl Benz invented the first practical modern one in the 1880s 66. Retirement plan, acr.

Answers on Page 19

Edmond Life & Leisure • November 2, 2023 • Page 15

Bronchos to honor vets Saturday Central Oklahoma is hosting Military Appreciation Day Saturday, Nov. 4 as the Bronchos host Washburn in an MIAA football game at Chad Richison Stadium.

Veterans, active-duty service members and members of their immediate families will receive free admission. Throughout the game, UCO will recognize those individuals that have given back to the Edmond community through service.

"Military Appreciation Day is a small but important way for UCO and our surrounding communities to say 'Thank you' for the sacrifices made by military men, women and families," UCO Director of Athletics Stan Wagnon said. "It will be our honor to host these heroes and their families."

"The Broncho community truly supports those who have severed and continue to serve our great country," Lukas Toth, Professor of Military Science at UCO, said. "It is an honor to serve in a commu-

nity that shares the same values as our armed forces. UCO clearly stands behind our veterans and they appreciates the sacrifice made by generations of Oklahomans."

This event is sponsored by UCO's ROTC program, the Oklahoma Army National Guard, and the Force 50 Foundation.

The University of Central Oklahoma has received national recognition for its commitment to military-connected students, according to Viqtory Media's 2023-24 Military Friendly Schools list.

Central was named a gold-level Military Friendly School in the category of public universities with more than 10,000 students, for the second consecutive year.

Central Oklahoma hosts Washburn with kickoff scheduled for 2 p.m. The Bronchos will honor their Senior class prior to the game as they play their final home game at Chad Richison Stadium.

E.S.A. Gamma Zeta members attending Western District Leadership meeting in Guthrie: Linda Coniglio, Jacci Gantz, Ruth Foote, Liz King, and Ruth Simpson.

ESA has leadership training Thirteen western Oklahoma chapters of Epsilon Sigma Alpha were invited to the semi-annual Western District Leadership meeting in Guthrie recently. The topic was All Aboard the Learning Train and a delicious fall-themed lunch was served.

Learning stations were set up so participants could examine and acquire knowledge about Epsilon Sigma Alpha, an international philanthropic organization. A history station had chronicled past experiences from as far back as 1929. Also a 1976 executive proclamation by then Governor David Boren declaring Epsilon Sigma Alpha International week in Oklahoma was on display. A membership table explained different ways to share the ESA story to encourage new people to

join & engage in this service organization. A fundraising table demonstrated unique ways to raise money such as a craft fair, bunco, book swaps, spaghetti dinners, etc. A book swap table let participants share books and reasons for reading.

Corn hole, football throw, baseball throw, and wheel of fortune games let members move around. 3 tables of silent auction items were available to bid on. A quilt from a past Oklahoma president and a quilt from a Midwest Area Regional Council president were exhibited.

Good friends, good works, and good times are waiting for you in Epsilon Sigma Alpha. Call Jacci Gantz, 405-922-5954, if you would like to participate.

Page 16 • November 2, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Signs your child may be bullied Most parents are familiar with bullying and have seen the harmful role it can play in the lives of children. While we know what it is, we may not always know the signs to look for to identify it. We are also not usually sure what to do about it if we spot the warning signs. One organization, Stand for the Silent, is on a mission to change that and help end the bullying problem in our schools nationwide.

“We know firsthand how devastating bullying can be and the damage it can lead to," says Kirk Smalley, co-founder of Stand for the Silent. "We don't want others to live through the heartache we have endured due to bullying. We want to empower others to help identify and stop it in its tracks."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bullying is any unwanted aggressive behavior by another youth that involves a perceived power imbalance. It can include physical actions, verbal, damaging one's property, and cyberbullying. The CDC reports that 1 in 5 high school students reports being bullied on school property and that bullying is at its highest in middle school.

Here are crucial signs that your child may be

being bullied: Sudden changes in school attendance, avoiding recess, or being withdrawn.

Complaining of headaches, stomach aches, or a loss of appetite before going to school and returning home.

Having difficulty concentrating, displaying signs of anxiety or depression, or talking about running away or suicide.

Has a noticeable difference from other students or a learning disability.

Lacks the ability to be self-assertive or has insufficient social skills and body language that reflects low self-esteem.

Has injuries and does not provide clear explanations of how they obtained them.

"When we visit schools to do a presentation, we focus on helping to create an atmosphere that will keep bullying from growing," adds Smalley. "Together, we can help reduce bullying and its harmful impact on our children and, ultimately, our nation."

Not only can identifying bullying and addressing it help make a child's life more comfortable, but it can be a matter of life and death and of having good mental health. A study published in the No-

vember 2023 journal Current Opinion on Psychiatry reports that evidence indicates that bullied kids have higher odds of developing mental health problems. They say that identifying bullying and intervening is crucial.

The first step is to create an anti-bullying atmosphere in schools nationwide. Identifying that a child is being bullied is the second step. Once it has been identified, it must be addressed immediately. There are things that schools can do to help prevent the problem in the first place. When bullying does happen, parents and educators can immediately address it and speak with the parents of all the students involved.

Smalley and his late wife, Laura, started the organization following their 11-year-old son ending his own life due to bullying. They turned their pain and loss into a mission of helping others. He travels the country giving presentations about bullying to schools, providing bullying prevention, giving out scholarships, offering intervention strategies, and more. Those interested in getting involved can start a chapter of the group in their area, obtain a free K-2 bullying prevention curriculum, host a presentation at their school, and donate to help support the cause. To get more information, visit the site at: https://standforthesilent.org/

Edmond Life & Leisure • November 2, 2023 • Page 17

Coleman Clark elected chairman of group Jewelers of America & its 2,000 retail member firms

Coleman Clark

Coleman Clark, president of BC Clark, was recently elected as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jewelers of America from among its more than 2,000 retail member firms.

The Clark family has a long history of serving the jewelry industry on a state and national level in various capacities.

A new executive committee and new directors were also named in early October. Clark looks forward to collaborating with his fellow thought leaders to propel the jewelry industry forward.

"It is an honor to have been chosen by my industry peers to serve as the new Chair of the Jewelers of America Board of Directors. I look forward to serving alongside this talented group of individuals as we help Jewelers of America continue to serve and represent our jewelry industry in powerful and meaningful ways," he said.

Clark has served on the Jewelers of America Board in several roles since 2012. He is a GIA Graduate Gemologist and

AGS Certified Gemologist, continuing the Clark family tradition of bringing quality jewelry, watches, and personal service to local customers.

BC Clark, now in its 131st year, continues to be familyowned and operated, serving Oklahomans with locations in downtown Oklahoma City, Classen Curve, and Northpark.

Jewelers of America represents companies from all areas of the jewelry supply chain. Its members include independent jewelry stores such as BC Clark, jewelry retail chains, jewelry manufacturers and suppliers, jewelry designers and brands, and service providers to the jewelry industry.

The strategic direction of Jewelers of America is advised by executives who represent the diverse fine jewelry marketplace – from multi-generation jewelry store owners to executives of national jewelry chains and luxury brands. The common thread among them is their passion for thejewelry industry and its continued success.

Should sales tax be waived for nonprofits?

Rep. Marilyn Stark, R-Bethany, organized an interim study Monday morning examining the fiscal impact of providing sales tax exemptions for certain nonprofits.

"Our state's nonprofits do more with a dollar than any other group I know," Stark said. "If they can keep more of their donations to better serve their clients, all of Oklahoma benefits. Let's stop standing in their way and empower them to do what they do best."

Last session, Stark introduced House Bill 1568, which would provide a sales tax exemption to nonprofit organizations with $3 million or less in annual gross revenue. Under the bill, alcohol and tobacco purchases are not considered exempt purchases.

Lauren M. Corbut, vice president of external affairs at the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, spoke to members on the economics of nonprofit organizations. She said that about 6,500 Oklahomabased nonprofits filed income with the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) last year, but those dollars aren't stretching as far in the current economy.

"Although the total dollars fundraised are up, they're not meeting with the rate of inflation," Corbut told the House Appropriations and Budget Finance - Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee. "This means that multi-year grants don't have the buying power that they used to."

Corbut highlighted a recent internal survey of Oklahoma nonprofits, during which some organi-

Peers honor UCO professor Mark Hanebutt, J.D., professor of journalism at the University of Central Oklahoma, has been named Teacher of the Year by the Oklahoma Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

The Society of Professional Journalists’ Teacher of the Year Award is given to an individual that to educates, motivates and inspires students in the classroom. The Society of ProfesHanebutt sional Journalists is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.

“Professor Hanebutt has been a crucial part of UCO mass communication students’ education for more than three decades,” said Mary Carver, Ph.D., chairperson UCO’s Department of Mass Communication.

“He is passionate about student preparation and learning, and his students recognize how much he cares.

I’m so pleased he is being recognized with this well-deserved award.”

Hanebutt, who has taught at UCO since 1987, is also an attorney who practices media law. He has worked for

newspapers in in Indiana, Florida and Oklahoma as a reporter, editor and nationally syndicated writer. His work has appeared in other newspapers and magazines across the country.

He is also the author of the textbooks “The Journalist’s Primer: A NoNonsense Guide to Getting and Reporting the News” and “Media Law: A Guide to Understanding Mass Communication Law,” which are used at numerous colleges and universities. He has worked with journalism and open records organizations to promote government transparency and with the Oklahoma Bar Association to assist journalists in their coverage of the courts. Hanebutt has also received fellowships from the Gannett Foundation and the American Press Institute.

UCO’s Department of Mass Communication, housed within in the College of Liberal Arts, provides with students with a hands-on approach to learning that creates qualified graduates. The department offers five undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degrees in interpersonal communication, organizational communication, professional media, photographic arts and strategic communications. Additionally, UCO offers a Master of Arts in strategic communications—leadership in communication fully online through UCO’s Connected Campus.

Rising school insurance rates have state lawmakers concerned Sen. Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, held a joint interim study in the Education Committee Thursday alongside Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon. The study evaluated rising school insurance rates and the effect on school budgets.

“Inflation, catastrophic weather events and other factors have caused school property insurance rates to drastically increase across the region,” Jech said. “Oklahoma schools have very few options when it comes to insurance providers, and the rising costs are taking up large portions of their budgets. Education is the state’s largest investment year after year,

and the more dollars going directly to the classroom, the better. Today’s meeting gave us further insight on these cost issues and offered information that will be very helpful if legislation results from this study.”

Presenters at the study included K12 and Career Tech superintendents, policy analysts, independent insurance agents, Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready, and representatives from the Oklahoma School Insurance Group.

The full interim study can be viewed at: https://oksenate.gov/liveproceedings.

zations reported over half of their revenue going toward sales tax. Additionally, among Oklahoma's nonprofits, data shows that of $6.9 billion given in grants, about $5.2 billion is directly returned to the state's economy.

United Way of Southwest Oklahoma President and CEO Lauren Ellis spoke on the impact of sales tax exemptions.

She told the subcommittee if United Way of Southwest Oklahoma could save on their sales tax, it would total less than $10,000, which would provide 40,000 meals through the Lawton Food Bank.

HB1568 passed the House 70-17 in March and is viable to be considered in the Senate next session.

Page 18 • November 2, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Watch tire pressure, AAA advises A new study by AAA found that invehicle tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are generally accurate, but drivers should still check their tire pressure manually. Why keep tabs on your tires? They are the only part of your car in contact with the road, and proper inflation is the key to safety and better gas mileage.

“Whether in rain, sleet, snow, or dry conditions, tires are the unsung heroes of your car,” said Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of automotive engineering. “They are designed to work best when properly inflated.

Our research found that the pressure monitoring systems that provide data for instrument displays or trigger the amber dashboard warning worked as intended. But we recommend always having a dependable old-school manual pressure gauge to check them once a month because a tire can be more than 20% deflated before it triggers the dashboard warning.”

According to the AAA study, the average percentage difference between displayed and actual tire pressure was between 1.2% and -1.5%, depending on tire location. Addition-

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ally, the amber warning TPMS light illuminated when tires were underinflated to 75% of the posted pressure (located on the sticker inside the door jam) for five of eleven test vehicles. Five of the six remaining test vehicles illuminated the TPMS warning dashboard light when tires were deflated to 70.3 to 72.9% of posted pressure, depending on the test vehicle.

Key findings from the study No significant error in displayed tire pressure readings was noted for any vehicles evaluated within the study.

The largest percentage difference in reported vs. actual tire pressure was 3.3% percent. This large pickup truck had a significantly higher posted pressure than other test vehicles.

One vehicle did not illuminate the TPMS warning light even when one of its tires was deflated to only 65% of the recommended posted pressure, despite the immediate update of pressure readings in the instrument clu

Edmond Life & Leisure • November 2, 2023 • Page 19

Groups using November for diabetes awareness This November, Shape Your Future and the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline are joining forces to highlight National Diabetes Awareness Month. These two Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) programs focus on improving the health and wellbeing of all Oklahomans.

Type 2 diabetes is one of the top preventable health issues in Oklahoma and costs the state $3.8 billion per year through direct medical costs and indirect costs, such as lost productivity. The condition mostly affects adults and some children who don’t get enough physical activity, which negatively impacts insulin production and leads to elevated blood sugar levels.

“Too many Oklahomans suffer the complications and impacts of Type 2 diabetes, with reduced quality of life and shorter lives,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “A lack of access to healthy foods and limited opportunities for physical activity contribute to rising rates of diabetes across the state. National Diabetes Awareness Month is an opportunity to reflect on how we can make healthier choices available and accessible to all Oklahomans.”

Smoking is another risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.

People who smoke are more than 40% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes compared to people who do not smoke, according to the CDC. Oklahomans can prevent or delay diabetes through healthy lifestyle changes.

Prevention Tips for Families: Exercise Regularly: Incorporate at least 30 minutes of regular physical activity for adults and 60 for children, whether it's a family walk, a bike ride or screen-free playtime.

Eat Nutritiously: Maintain a healthy diet emphasizing whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables.

Sleep Well: Prevent the onset of chronic disease by getting high-quality sleep each night.

Quit Smoking: For help quitting tobacco, reach out to the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline at 1-800QUIT NOW or visit OKhelpline.com to explore the free, personalized help available to all Oklahomans.

Teens who want to quit tobacco can use services provided by My Life, My Quit by texting “Start My Quit” to 36072 or visiting MyLifeMyQuit.com.

Shape Your Future is a community health education intervention that encourages Oklahomans to eat better, move more and be tobacco free. Shape Your Future strives to educate parents, teachers,

caregivers and all Oklahomans on how to make the healthy choice the easy choice. Find more information online at ShapeYourFutureOK.com.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a free service for Oklahomans wanting to help themselves, loved ones, patients or employees live tobacco free. Funding is primarily provided by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, in partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline has served more than 520,000 Oklahomans since 2003 and has been ranked among the top quitlines for reaching tobacco users seeking treatment for the last 10 years,

In light of CO COVID OVID 19 for the e time being, some s worship services suspended online. servi ces may be su uspended or on nline.

Please information.

Ple ease check with h your house of o worship for more m informati ion.

Page 20 • November 2, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure