Edmond Life and Leisure - September 28, 2023

FOUR SEASONS

UCO getting some Top recognition

The University of Central Oklahoma was recently recognized as a leading institution for delivering an exceptional student experience in America’s Best Colleges 2024 Wall Street Journal ranking, in collaboration with Statista and College Pulse.

Central ranked 34 in student experience among the top 400 institutions in the country and is one of only five institutions ranked in Oklahoma, making UCO the top-ranked institution in Oklahoma for student experience.

“UCO is known as a leading institution for higher education. Our dedicated faculty and staff play a critical role in the student experience at Central. This ranking is a testament to their commitment to creating an unforgettable college experience for all,” said Christopher Lynch, vice president for Enrollment and Student Success.

“We recently welcomed our largest year-over-year increase in college freshmen and our residence halls are at capacity. It’s truly an exciting time to be a Broncho!”

UCO also ranked as a top university in the areas of salary impact and social mobility, as well as being part of the overall best colleges list. Rankings were based on two pillars including student and alumni surveys and student outcome metrics.

Central is dedicated to developing

in students the confidence to succeed through transformative learning experiences, preparing future leaders in an opportunity-rich environment with access to more than 200 student organizations and the internship, employment, entertainment and cultural offerings of the rapidly growing Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

Undergraduate applications for the fall 2024 academic year are now open and prospective students are encouraged to apply early.

For more information about the America’s Best Colleges 2024 rankings, visitwww.wsj.com/rankings/college-rankings/best-colleges-2024.

For more information about Central, visit uco.edu.Also The University of Central Oklahoma’s Connected Campus has been recognized as one of the top 100 Best Online Colleges in the U.S. according to Abound, a college guidance system for degree-seeking adults. Central is one of three institutions in the state recognized on the list.

The rankings are based on four distinct criteria including accessibility, affordability, acceleration and advancement. Data is sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

“UCO’s Connected Campus is a prime example of the many ways we ensure access to a quality college

education for our community,” said Todd Lamb, UCO president.

“This recognition reflects the fact that UCO continues to own workforce development through the accessibility of online courses and creatively meeting students where they are.”

Online degree offerings provided through UCO’s Connected Campus include the Bachelor of Business Administration in human resource management, management, marketing or finance, the professional Master of Business Administration and the Master of Education in library media education, the Master of Public Administration in either urban management or public and nonprofit management, Master of Arts in strategic communications, Master of Music in music education, Master of Science in nursing, as well as the RN to B.S. in nursing track.

UCO also offers adult degree completion programs designed for adults who have earned prior college credits and want to complete their degree. Students can earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in general business, a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership or general studies or a Bachelor of Arts in applied liberal arts.

For more information about Central’s online degree programs and Connected Campus, visit online.uco. edu.

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

PHOTO PROVIDED

The University of Central Oklahoma was recently recognized as a leading institution for delivering an exceptional student experience in America’s Best Colleges 2024 Wall Street Journal ranking, in collaboration with TStatista and College Pulse

First protected bicycle lanes open near UCO campus

Cyclists in the University of Central Oklahoma and surrounding areas can now “Skip the Hike! Ride a Bike!” more safely and easily with the opening of the first protected bicycle lanes in the Edmond city limits.

The new section of lanes covers just under a mile, with one portion extending from Broadway to University Drive west of the UCO campus, and another section extending from Chowning Avenue to Bryant Avenue on the east side of campus.

Protected lanes use a combination of different delineators/dividers to ensure a safe distance between bicycle and vehicular traffic and prevent vehicular crossover into the dedicated cycling lanes, providing more protection for cyclists.

“The protected bike lanes are a welcome safety measure for a growing group in the Broncho community who choose to bike to the UCO campus. This project is yet another example of the positive, collaborative relationship the university enjoys with the City of Edmond. We’re proud to call Edmond home,” said Kevin Freeman, vice president for Finance and Operations at UCO.

This is a key corridor identified in the City of Edmond Bicy-

cle Master Plan. This $284,748.50 project was funded partially through the Federal Highway Administration’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program.

Funding for this program is made available through the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG).

The City is committed to expanding and improving safe multi-mode methods of transportation around the community.

The Edmond Shift/Bicycle

Master Plan has overseen the completion of more than 33 miles of bike lanes, protected bike lanes, side paths and multiuse trails.

In design are more than 3 miles of new trails for the Creek Bend Trail and western portion of the Route 66 Trail. Funding has been identified for another 4 miles of trails that would include multi-use trails from KickingBird Road to Hafer Park, Spring Creek to Carl Reherman Trail, and a side path along Route 66 from Arcadia Lake to Westminster Road.

Learn more about bike trails and plans for multi-mode options at www.edmondok.gov/1483/EdmondShift.

Emporia State tops Bronchos

Central Oklahoma put up its best offensive numbers of the season Saturday, but it wasn't enough as the Bronchos dropped an MIAA road game at No. 11 Emporia State, 38-27.

UCO (1-3, 1-3 MIAA) returns home in Week 5 for Homecoming against Missouri Southern. Emporia State is 4-0 overall on the season and 3-0 in the MIAA.

Central Oklahoma put up 578 yards of total offense on Saturday – a high for the two-year Adam Dorrel era. Of that, 363 came through the air and another 215 came on the ground. The Bronchos outgained Emporia State in both facets of the game. The Bronchos unfortunately went 0-for-4 on fourthdown attempts and threw two interceptions in the game.

Dawson Herl made his first start in a

College football

Broncho uniform and put up big numbers. The junior quarterback and transfer from Missouri Southern went 26-for-49 with 363 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran the ball eight times for 37 yards and one score.

Terrill Davis made six catches for 110 yards. Christian Romero (3-69), Jacob Delso (5-54), Darius Melton (3-48) and Oscar Hammond (4-35) were all key in the passing attack. Dominique Dunn (227) was too. Trevon Woolfolk (1-11), Payton Scott (1-6), and Tariq Logan (13) all made a catch too.

Central Oklahoma hosts Missouri Southern in Week 5 for Homecoming. The Bronchos are scheduled to play three of four games in October on the road.

Across America’

Edmond’s Samuel King Chapter of National Society Daughters of the American Revolution participated in Bells Across America on September 17th at Edmond’s first Territorial School House. The signing of America’s Constitution took place on September 17th, 1787 in Philadelphia at 3pm. Members pictured are: Gracie Ferate, CAR State President, Suzan Reeves, Mary Merritt, Chapter Vice-Regent, Missie Bobo, Linda Marley, Melba Broyles and Denise Tribbey, Constitution Week Chair.

‘Bells

Part of the 33 miles of bike lanes, protected bike lanes, side paths and multi-use trails in Edmond.

No place like home

We love our travels. They are the best for clearing your mind and just seeing how other folks do things in communities all over the world. However, no matter how much fun we have, there is no better feeling than to return home. It truly is where the heart is, and our grandkids!

with ammo inside jars of peanut butter at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Dec. 22.

TSA officers at JFK Airport stopped a passenger who was traveling with two jars of peanut butter in a checked bag when the bag triggered an alarm. Upon closer inspection, the TSA officers removed parts of a disassembled .22 caliber handgun that had been artfully concealed in what was packaged to look like two unopened jars of peanut butter.

2. Gun inside of chicken

Ray Hibbard

Our travels took us to Germany, Luxemburg, Switzerland and France. We will have more on the trip in a later issue but since we just got back before our next deadline, I wanted to share some observations of flying these days, Paris and traveling in general. It was a great trip but there were a few things that made me shake my head and wonder what kind of world we live in. They also gave me a great appreciation for Edmond.

The whole travel gig went smooth as silk this time. It was delightful. When it doesn’t go well is when you will have wished that you had used a travel agent. Does it add to the cost of your trip? I guess it might, but Prime Time Travel has always saved me money. In addition to the expert advice and information, they are at the other end of the phone if a problem occurs. Good luck getting a real person on the phone from one of those internet booking services. The folks on the other end of the phone at Prime Time are a lifeline when things do not go well, and it is comforting. Not worth a few dollars giving that up folks.

I am still amazed by what people wear on airplanes. The era of folks dressing up a bit is gone, and I understand the need to be comfortable, but it has taken an incredible turn for downright ridiculous. They come in PJ’s, bunny slippers and even way too much person stuffed into leather stripper clothing. Where in the heck are these folks going? Is there someone on the other end to meet them?

I like to be comfortable when I fly but even on a long overseas trip I have shoes, shirt and pants. All the night clothing in the world will not make that economy seat laydown any more or be any more comfortable than before. The flights just could not be that long in the United States.

The Transportation Security Administration agency's recently released list of the "Top 10 Catches of 2022" at U.S. airports serves as an important reminder to double-check your crutches, raw chickens and peanut butter jars for drugs, grenades or guns before heading through airport security.

Here were TSA’s top finds in 2022:

10. Soiled money in crutches

TSA agents discovered a pair of crutches stuffed with soiled money at the El Paso International Airport. You just have to wonder why?

9. Inert grenade

A hand grenade was found inside a carry-on bag at Milwaukee Mitchell Airport on July 29. The grenade was found to be inert after the Mil-

waukee County Sheriff’s Department’s bomb squad was called to the scene.

8. Cattle Prod

Three cattle prods stuffed inside a passenger’s carry-on guitar case were found on Sept. 14 at Dulles International Airport. The passenger was allowed to repack them into a checked bag, a TSA spokesperson said at the time. I think they should have kept the person around for a few days and not given them the cattle prods back

7. Gun in a PlayStation

A handgun hidden inside a gutted PlayStation console was discovered by TSA agents at Hartsfiel Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Dec. 14. Officer Theodosia White said she flagged the PlayStation after it went through an X-ray and didn't show a mass of computer parts.

6. Drug scrunchies

Drugs hidden inside hair scrunchies were found in Boise Airport in Idaho, according to a video from TSA. When the drugs were found was not immediately known.

5. Knife in laptop

A man from Williamsburg, Va., was stopped by Transportation Security Administration officers at a Richmond International Airport security checkpoint after they detected a double-bladed knife that was concealed inside the inner workings of his laptop. on Nov. 11, 2022. “Detecting artfully concealed weapons points to the training and skill of our officers who are focused on their mission to ensure that prohibited items that could cause harm are not carried onto flights," said TSA Federal Security Director Robin Burke.

4. Gun in medical sling

A TSA officer at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport in New York reported finding a gun in a medical sling in September. In September, a man alleged that he forgets to remove a loaded 9mm handgun from a medical sling before going through security at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport in New York.

3. Peanut butter firearm

Officers found disassembled parts of a handgun wrapped in plastic and a magazine loaded

TSA agents recovered a gun stuffed inside a chicken.

On Nov. 7, TSA agents experienced an unpleasantly early Thanksgiving feast when they discovered a handgun stuffed inside a raw whole chicken at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida.

1. Fentanyl candy

TSA officers confiscated about 12,000 fentanyl pills from a suspect who had allegedly hidden them inside candy boxes and bags while going through the Los Angeles International Airport, according to the LA Sheriff’s Department.

We really only had one full day in Paris at the end of the trip. It was enough. I am probably not as down on Paris as some folks. My problem with Paris is that there is not much that is French about Paris. It is a big city full of lots of cool stuff. Once you have seen your fill of the cool stuff, not much of a reason to go back.

In general, the food is terrible. When I think of eating out in Paris, I am reminded of the Chevy Chase classic, “European Vacation”. People are ordering out front and the cooks are unboxing frozen dinners in the back, running them through the microwave and sticking them on a plate. The customers are out front saying how wonderful the food is.

The truth about eating in Paris is that there is no food that it is famous for. There is no Paris cuisine. Great chefs from around France who are known for their regional cuisine make there way to Paris and set up shop. Best plan is to go cheap while in Paris. Eat at a wine bar or bistro that one of the hotel workers recommends. Skip the fancy restaurant where they are probably opening those frozen boxes in the back.

My experience has been that folks are not as rude in Paris as you are led to believe. Sure, you will find some big city rudeness, but the folks that actually live in Paris are nice.

We had a great conversation with a lone gentleman at dinner one night sitting next to us. Of course, he was quick to tell us that he is really not from Paris but from the southwestern part of France.

When it comes to the upcoming Olympics in Paris, get ready. Charles de Gaulle airport is a mess most of the time, but it will be a total cluster during the Olympics. More detail on the fantastic small towns we visited in the different countries in another story.

(Ray Hibbard, publisher of Edmond Life & Leisure newspaper, may be reached for comment at ray@edmondpaper.com)

“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.

Last one of the 2023 season

Edmond artist Caleb Helm featured at upcoming VIBES

The last VIBES event of the 2023 Season is in Downtown Edmond on Thursday, October 5th, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Enjoy the visual arts, live performances, and more during VIBES Edmond’s First Thursday on October 5th!

More than 50 local artists will be lining 15 blocks of Downtown Edmond. All types of art will be on display and available for purchase, including painting, ceramics, stained glass, woodworking, fiber art, and more.

October performing artists include the talents of Stardust playing at Weathers TV, The Brave Amigos performing at Citizens Bank, MAiGuY at Frenzy Brewing, and many more!

Check out special features happening at this VIBES, including the OKC Ballet performing at the entrance to the Festival Marketplace at 6 pm, and the Japan American Society of Oklahoma Drum Group performing on the Post Office lawn. Be sure to stop by Frenzy Brewing to catch Caleb Helm doing live screen printing on tote bags. Attendees can purchase a one-of-a-kind, functional work of art and support the upcoming 2024 VIBES Season. There is truly something for everyone at this free, family-friendly event. We can't wait to experience the magic in Downtown Edmond with you! Stay up to date on all the monthly features by following @Edmond_Vibes on Instagram or the www.edmondvibes.org website.

VIBES, Edmond's First Thursdays is a program of

the Fine Arts Institute, Edmond's nonprofit community arts organization providing visual and performing art classes for children and adults year-round. For more information, visit EdmondFineArts.com or call 405340-4481. The 2023 VIBES Season is made possible by Citizens Bank of Edmond, Mercy, Edmond Electric, Broadway Development Group, Empire Slice House, and other businesses that believe in the importance of access to creativity.

Nevada leads nation in number of divorces

A new study on divorce rates by Formrush reveals some interesting data on which states have the highest and lowest rates.

Divorce data reveals fascinating insights into the disintegration of marital bonds across America.

Our exhaustive analysis of CDC and Statista metrics sheds light on regional splitsville trends, with Nevada leading the way and Massachusetts bringing up the rear. Oklahoma is listed No. 2.

Nevada clinches the top spot for the highest divorce rate nationwide - an eye-opening finding that

challenges preconceived notions of relationships in the Silver State. Massachusetts, meanwhile, is an oddball outlier boasting the lowest divorce rate in the country, a remarkable revelation given regional dynamics.

This study scrutinizes divorce rates across 45 states, omitting California, Hawaii, Indiana, Minnesota, and New Mexico from calculations. Careful evaluation of 18 diverse statistical factors related to cost of living, socioeconomic, and demographics provides a multi-layered perspective.

Edmond Artist Caleb Helm screen printing during the April 2023 VIBES Event. Photo by Eriech Tapia.

(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.)

Sept. 7

James Arthur Vanfleet Jr., 44 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant.

Mandi Marie Luis, 23 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Kristin Louise Olney, 41 of Yukon. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .15 or more.

Vipada Dozaki, 41 of Edmond. Engage/solicit prostitution.

Myong Chil Witt, 74 of Edmond. Pandering.

Yeong Jeoung Kim, 49 of Edmond. Violation of massage therapy act.

Johnny Lee Perry, 62 of Oklahoma City. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Rece Alexander Shelby, 21 of El Reno. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of anything other than alcohol.

Sept. 8

Tiana Jane Childs, 27 of Mustang. Possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, two misdemeanor warrants and two counts of failure to appear.

Donald Hapgood Goike, 23 of Obrien, Fla. (Felony value) obtaining by false pretense, trick or deception, (felony value) possess incomplete credit cards or tools to reproduce card, present false ID for purpose3 of committing felony, misleading office or avoid prosecution and false personation of another.

Jonathan Lee Meierhoff, 40 of Edmond. Felony warrant.

Sept. 9

Jaydee Linn Smith, 20 of Oklahoma City. Operate (DUI nor APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .15 or more.

Kai Yixing Marks, 18 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Sereen Mohammad Ourani, 25 of Edmond. Shoplifting.

Syeda Masooma Abedi, 42 homeless. Failure to appear.

Aaron Paul Ambriz, 28 of Edmond. Three misdemeanor warrants.

Kevin Michael Clark, 32 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

Sept. 10

Lana Jean Blasingame, 43 of Edmond. Felony DUI/APC.

Markeisha D’Nea Johnson, 28 of Oklahoma City. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .15 or more.

Marjorie Lynn Bigpond, 28 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant and public intoxication.

Luis Alberto Maldonado, 38 of Oklahoma City. (Misdemeanor) Domestic abuse assault.

Anthony Nicholas Carlisle, 44 of Wichita, Kan. Felony DUI/APC.

Alixandra Elizabeth Bataille, 24 of Del City. Public intoxication and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Austin Walker Devine, 26 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant, false representation to a police officer and public intoxication.

Sept. 11

Chad Wesley Schwerdtfeger, 51 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Sept. 12

Joseph David King, 42 of Oklahoma City. Possess drug paraphernalia and possess CDS.

Sept. 13 Christian Lynne Smith, 28 of Edmond. Two misdemeanor warrants.

Tasia Jessie Burgess, 24 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication.

Wuilmer Alberto Barrios, 23 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication.

Francisco Cortes-Perdamo, 48 of Oklahoma City. (Misdemeanor value) receive stolen property.

Juan Carlos Padilla Buezo, 35 of Oklahoma City. (Misdemeanor value) receive stolen property.

Eduard Joan Cortes-Corea, 20 of Oklahoma City. (Misdemeanor value) receiving stolen property.

Travis Lynn Gibby, 56 of Edmond. Six counts of failure to appear.

Jose Luis Ramirez, 38 of Wichita, Kan. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked, failed to yield at an intersection.

Sept. 14

Matthew Alan Tribble, 59 homeless. Public intoxication.

November Annanicole Mullican, 23 of Yukon. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Antonio Trejo, 46 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) with a blood alcohol level of .08 or more.

K Two Two Sam, 31 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Kevin Michael Clark, 32 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Joshua Wayne Blevins, 44 of Edmond. Stop sign violation and shoplifting.

Sept. 15

Jordan Bristol Miles Workman-Shrum, 33 homeless. Misdemeanor warrant.

Elizabeth Katherine Workman-Shrum, 32 homeless. Misdemeanor warrant.

Alex Miquel Rocha, 32 of Woodward. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

John David Miracle Amaya, 29 of Moore. Possession of marijuana and public intoxication.

Carey Scott Kirk Jr. , 36 of Edmond.M Public intoxication.

Sept. 16

Jamie Trey Hicks, 39 of Oklahoma City. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and any other intoxicating substance.

Syeda Masooma Abedi, 42 homeless. Misdemeanor warrant.

Kaybreaunna Louise Wright, 24 of Edmond. Felony warrant, expired tag — over three months, no proof of insurance and driving while privilege is canceled suspended, denied or revoked.

Roy Costillo, 28 of Moore. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Anthony Dean Davis, 39 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Jason Lee Minter, 38 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Tony Allen Burley, 54 homeless. Public intoxication.

Brandon Devon Moore, 36 of Oklahoma City. Two counts of failure to appear and a misdemeanor warrant.

David Andrew Kann, 62 of Oklahoma City. Shoplifting and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Cali Rene Saunders, 37 of Luther. Shoplifting, three misdemeanor warrants, two felony warrants and one count of failure to appear.

Sabriyah Hadiah Perkins, 24 of Edmond. Three misdemeanor warrants and failure to appear. Carteair Lequen Gaffney, 32 of Edmond. Three misdemeanor warrants, two felony warrants and public intoxication.

Sept. 17

Jasmine H. Hopkins, 22 of Edmond. Three counts of assault (misdemeanor) on police officer or peace officer and public intoxication.

Jim Click Rutledge, 61 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant, obstruction of police officer and burglary in the first degree.

Charles Lynn Monroe, 79 of Edmond. Driving while impaired by consumption of alcohol (DWI).

Colin Jeffery Judge, 21 homeless. Public intoxication.

Jeremiah Adam Hurst, 42 of Guthrie. Felony DUI/APC.

Tyler Michael Wasson, 36 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .15 or more.

Weekend Calendar of Events, Sept. 28-Oct. 1

What’s Happening This Weekend Sept. 28-Oct. 1

---- In the Gallery

Unveiled: Edmond’s Bridal Fashion 1875 ---- 2020

Beginners Pickleball Club

Farmer’s Market

Guthrie Haunts

Board Game Night at Frenzy

Live Music at Frenzy ---- UCO Jazz Lab

UCO Homecoming Festivities ---- Color Run Festival

Beatriz Mayorca-Hernandez Masterclass

Western Dressage World Championships

Brown Bag: Fred Morohashi and the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate)

OktoberWest

Lyric Theatre presents: Concerto

Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch

OKC Broadway presents – Six

UCO Department of Theatre Arts presents – August: Osage County

Fright Fest

Fall Festival At the Orr Family Farm

Lyric Theatre’s Broadway Bash

ZOObrew

Painted Sky Opera presents: The Turn of the Screw

Oklahoma Regatta Festival

Guthrie Ghost Walk

Guided Gardens Tour

Wicked Forest of Terror

Great Plains Corvair Roundup

Fall Oklahoma Wedding Show

Outdoor October: Thrive Outside

Wunderlust Pop-Up Shops

Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute

Extra Info: Featuring David Padgett; 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

Farmer’s Market

Location: Festival Market Place and Farmers Market

Extra Info: Sat, Apr 15 – Sat, Oct 28; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; edmondok.gov

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

UCO Homecoming Festivities

Location: Various Locations

Extra Info: Mon, Sep 25 – Sat, Sep 30; Central 5K; Student Leadership Reunion; Distinguished Alumni Awards; Golden Broncho’s Reunion Brunch; Rock the Block; centralconnection.org

Board Game Night at Frenzy

Location: Frenzy Brewing Company

Extra Info: Thu, Sep 28; 6 – 10 p.m.; Free; facebook.com

Live Music at Frenzy

Location: Frenzy Brewing Company

Extra Info: Fri, Sep 29; John the Franklin @ 8 p.m.; Sat, Sep 30; Rocky Kanaga @ 7:30 p.m.; frenzybrewing.com

UCO Jazz Lab

Location: University of Central Okla. – UCO Jazz Lab

Extra Info: Thu, Sep 28; Tim Armacost Quartet @ 7 p.m.; $20; Fri, Sep 29; Champian Fulton @ 8 p.m.; Sat, Sep 30; Tres Amigos Productions: Girl Named Tom @ 8 p.m.; $60; calendar.uco.edu

Color Run Festival Location: Mitch Park

Extra Info: Sat, Sep 30; 8 a.m.; $15 ---- $30; ewc.org

Beatriz Mayorca-Hernandez Masterclass

Location: UCO College of Fine Arts and Design, Melton Gallery

Extra Info: Thu, Se[ 28; 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.; uco.edu

Western Dressage World Championships

Location: Lazy E Arena

Extra Info: Tue, Sep 26 – Sat, Sep 30; lazye.com

Brown Bag: Fred Morohashi and the 100th Infantry Battalion (Separate)

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Thu, Sep 28; 12 – 1 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

OktoberWest

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Fri, Sep 29; 6 – 10 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Lyric Theatre presents: Concerto

Location: Lyric at the Plaza

Extra Info: Wed, Sep 13 – Sun, Oct 1; Wed & Thu: 7:30 p.m.; Fri & Sat: 8 p.m.; Sat & Sun: 2 p.m.; lyrictheatreokc.com

See Calendar, Page 7

Discovery could lead to treatment for heart valves

A discovery at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation could lead to a new treatment for a heart valve condition impacting more than 6 million Americans.

In mitral valve prolapse, the heart’s mitral valve doesn’t open and close completely, leading to inadequate blood flow. The disorder results from a birth defect or natural wear and tear over time. It can cause fatigue, stroke and, in severe cases, heart failure.

OMRF scientist Sathish Srinivasan, Ph.D., studies the lymphatic system, which transports tissue fluid throughout the body with the assistance of lymphatic valves. He wondered whether lessons learned from the lymphatic valves could also be applied to the heart valves.

“Lymphatic and heart valves are different, but we wondered, do the same molecules play roles in their function?” Srinivasan said. “It turned out to be a good guess.”

Srinivasan’s study, published in the journal Circulation Research, found that two proteins essential for lymphatic valve function – PROX1 and FOXC2 – are also key for good heart valve function.

In people who don’t have one or both of the proteins, Srinivasan said, valves continue to enlarge out of check. Preventing this overgrowth may be an effective new approach to treat dysfunctional valves.

“We tested a treatment that can imitate the job of the two proteins in research models, and the valves showed major improvement in function,” Srinivasan said.

This discovery is just the beginning, said Yen Chun Ho, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in Srinivasan’s lab.

“We have observed that other molecules known to operate in the lymphatic system are also pres-

Calendar

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

OKC Broadway presents – Six

Location: Civic Center Music Hall

Extra Info: Tue, Sep 26 – Sun, Oct 1; 7:30 p.m.; okcbroadway.com

UCO Department of Theatre Arts

Presents – August: Osage County Location: UCO Mitchell Hall Theatre

Extra Info: Thu, Sep 21 – Sun, Oct 1; Tue – Thu: 7:30 p.m.; Fri: 8 p.m.; Sat: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sun: 1:30 p.m. & 7 p.m.;

uco.edu

Fright Fest

Location: Frontier City

Extra Info: Sat, Sep 23 – Sun, Oct 29; Thu & Fri: 6 – 11 p.m.; Sat: 12 – 11 p.m.; Sun: 12 -10 p.m.; sixflags.com

Lyric Theatre’s Broadway Bash

Location: Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, Nichols Hills, OK

Extra Info: Thu, Sep 28; Happy hour: 6

ent in the heart valves, so we know this is a promising direction for future work,” Ho said.

The research was supported by grant R01HL163095-01A1 from the National Heart,

From Page 6

p.m.; Performance: 7 p.m.; lyrictheatreokc.com

ZOObrew

Location: Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden

Extra Info: Fri, Sat 29; 7 – 10 p.m.; okczoo.org

Painted Sky Opera presents: The Turn of the Screw

Location: Civic Center Music Hall

Extra Info: Fri, Sep 29 – Sat, Sep 30; 7:30 p.m.; paintedskyopera.org

Fall Festival At the Orr Family Farm

Location: Orr Family Farm

Extra Info: Sat, Sep 23 – Sat, Nov 11; orrfamilyfarm.com

Oklahoma Regatta Festival

Location: Boathouse District

Extra Info: Fri, Sep 29 – Sun, Oct 1; riversportokc.org

Guthrie Ghost Walk

Location: Apothecary Garden

Extra Info: Fri, Sat 29 – Sun, Sep 30; 7:15 p.m.; guthrieghostwalk.com

Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, and funding from the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research, a program of TSET.

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientists Yen Chun Ho, Ph.D., and Sathish Srinivasan, PhD.

Senator’s office taking applications for academies

The office of U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (ROK) is accepting applications for service academy nominations for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: the U.S. Military Academy, U.S Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

The deadline to apply for a nomination is Friday, October 13th, 2023. Mullin released the following statement regarding this years’ nomination process:

“The decision to apply to a service academy is an incredibly personal and courageous one, and I am humbled to be a part of the process,” said Sen.

Mullin. “No matter the branch, rank, or role, each of our men and women in uniform play an important part in maintaining our national security and defending our way of life. I encourage Oklahoma’s qualified high school seniors to consider if this path is right for you. I wish you all the best of luck in the process, and I look forward to reviewing your applications.”

Details:

A nomination does not guarantee admission. If an individual receives a nomination from the Senator’s office, next, they must receive an appointment from the service academy.

The honor of attending a U.S. service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years

upon graduation. At that time, individuals receive a bachelor’s degree and are commissioned as military officers.

In addition to meeting the minimum eligibility requirements, the Senator’s office recommends that each applicant excel academically and demonstrate involvement in extracurricular activities through their schools and in their communities.

Applications and additional information can be found on the Senator’s website: https://www.mullin.senate.gov/services/serviceacademy-nominations/

Students must submit four copies of their completed application, along with four copies of their 3x5 photo, by mail to the Senator’s Oklahoma City office.

Preps youngsters for school and workforce

Early child care & education are vital

By Carrie Williams

During the first three years of a child’s life, the brain grows faster than at any other point in their development, laying the foundation for future learning, health and success. Early childhood care and education (ECCE) programs influence development, preparing children for school, the workforce and beyond.

The number of ECCE centers in our state has declined sharply. From 2015-2021, one in three childcare centers closed. Currently, 55% of our state’s population lives in a child care desert. What’s more, a 2021 study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation found that one in 10 Oklahomans quit a job, declined a job or changed jobs due to problems finding quality child care.

ECCE programs aren’t just crucial for families, they are critically important to the state’s workforce development as well. Investing in these programs creates positive impacts on families, local businesses and state revenues.

Addressing the Issue

The Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR) is celebrating 20 years of helping families access the care, education and mental health and health care services they need to support their children from birth to age 5. OPSR created a collaborative effort between state agencies and industry stakeholders to maximize the use of public and private funding to better serve Oklahoma families.

OPSR recently launched a collaborative telemedicine and teletherapy program, providing complimentary care to members of our Thrive Network. This collaboration comprises home-based child care providers who offer high-quality child care programs from their homes.

While we are proud of our decades-long history of working with partners across the state to en-

hance quality child care, there is still more to do. Addressing the ECCE shortage will take a collective effort among organizations statewide if we are to effectively serve children and keep our neighbors working.

Here at OPSR, we envision a bold approach encompassing the visionary actions outlined below:

Business Community

Implement dependent care stipend benefits to employees or dependent care FSA programs supported through employee contributions.

Contract with existing ECCE providers to hold slots for employees, especially for non-traditional care.

Non-Profit Community

Provide student scholarships to students in early child care studies.

Provide grants to make child care more affordable to low income families and innovation grants to improve quality or to expand access to child care.

Higher Education Community

Provide student scholarships to students in early child care studies and advocate for student loan forgiveness for early child care students.

Re-establish child care development centers operated by career techs and higher education.

Government

Pass meaningful public policy that supports the ECCE industry.

Extend Child Care Desert Grants. Raise and expand subsidy levels for childcare and move from an attendance-based subsidy to an enrollment-based allocation system. Utilize novel funding programs to build or expand existing child care programs.

Consider the use of new municipal bonds to provide incentives to developers and operators to build/fund new child care facilities.

Most importantly, we must all recognize that today’s children are the workforce of tomorrow. Quality early learning allows our children to build and learn key life and work skills such as problem solving, getting along with others and reading at grade level. These are the building blocks for success in school, work and life. If we want Oklahoma to thrive in the future, it starts with an investment in early child care education today.

Carrie Williams serves as executive director of the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Foundation. She oversees Oklahoma’s Early Childhood Advisory Council and facilitates the streamlining of programs and services on behalf of Oklahoma’s children and families.

Carrie

Just mad about mangoes

The mango tango - Coping with that magnificent fruit

By Carol Smaglinski

Oops! The much anticipated juicy mango that I waited for days to ripen was a complete flop and all my fault.

It was the end of that romance because I had just waited too long.

However, I knew that unripe mangos taste bitter.

When I sliced it open, it had over-ripened and I was left with a black mess that even the birds would back away from if given the chance. I neglected to place the mango in a brown paper bag in a dark, cool place, but left it in the warm kitchen.

In my defense, I did stick a toothpick into the mango to see if the fruit was ready, but I thought I would give it just one more day. Bad choice!

But how do you really work with fruits that are not completely ready to eat such as mangos or peaches? For instance, grapes, lemons and limes, cherries and citrus fruits do not ripen after they are harvested.

What you see is what you get. It is usually a crapshoot starting with people pushing shopping carts lingering around the melons in the produce section wondering just which one will be the best. Mother Nature is wonderful, but enough is enough and we need more information.

First of all, what makes fruit so desirable? Fruit tastes good because of a balance between astringency, its acid content and carbohydrate content, mostly in the form of sugars.

The mango, a kidney-shaped fruit with flavor between a peach, a pineapple and an apricot, is known as a clingstone, which means the flesh sticks to the pit. Holding more Vitamin C than an orange, it is in season from December through August with other varieties from May to September.

A friend once said the mango is “as sweet as sin,” and that the fruit was recognized as the apple of the tropics. Ubiquitous in India, mangoes are grown here in Hawaii and Florida (only 10% of mangoes grown) but can be difficult to ship and store. I’ve seen mangoes from Peru in Edmond stores. They are fully mature when they yield to gentle pressure. It should give, but just slightly, but don’t choose one with brown spots. The smaller ones are better and the color

changes as the fruit ripens.

Before cutting, find your sharpest knife. Initially, the mango must be scored lengthwise dividing it into quarters. The pit in the middle is huge and flat. Peel half of the fruit just like you would a peach.

Then rest the unpeeled half in your palm and slice the peeled flesh, scraping each slice from the pit with your knife. Peel and slice the cother half of the fruit, Have fun and get the job done. If the mango is too soft and the flesh seems to be too ripe, puree the flesh and use it as a sauce.

Mangos are fantastic in salsa, or included in a marvelous fruit salad.

Mango

Salad

2 small mangoes, peeled and diced into large pieces

1 medium cucumber, peeled and sliced thinly

1 red onion, sliced into thin rounds

2 Tbsp. lime juice

3 Tbsp. fresh cilantro chopped

In a medium sized bowl, mix the mangoes, cucumber and red onion.

Sprinkle the fruit with the lime juice and add cilantro. Chill before serving along with the serving plates.

Present on a bed of fresh lettuce.

By Steve Gust

Looking over some recent headlines.

Checking the news Democrats: Langston underfunded by state

I noticed that Attorney General Merrick Garland went before a Congressional hearing last week and denied there is a two-tiered system of justice in the nation.

Then again he couldn’t name one person charged for protesting at a Supreme Court Justice’s home. — which is illegal. He rightfully claimed that he isn’t the attorney for the president or the Congress. But his actions haven’t matched that statement. All we ever hear from the left is “nobody is above the law.” That still doesn’t seem to be the case for many people. Did I say many? I meant millions – as in millions of people who march into the nation illegally. I still believe it would be a great idea for Garland to step down.

—With September coming to an end, a lot of the online video feeds may ease up on showing Sept. 11 images.

It still amazes me to see Twin Towers footage. The first thought I have now, some 20-plus years later, is how completely evil that was. What kind of a mind dreams that up? I guess I didn’t realize it, or had forgotten, what happened in the South Tower. Rick Rescorla was head of security for Mor-

gan Stanley. After the North Tower was struck, officials wanted everyone to stay in their offices in the South Tower. But Rescorla had figured out that the first strike was probably an attack by terrorists. He got more than 2,700 Morgan Stanley workers evacuated. Sadly he died while trying to get even more people to safety.

It was incredible he saved so many.

—We were talking at the office about a lady who claimed to have survived the 9-11 attack while in the World Trade Center.

Turns out she was a fraud, but she inserted herself in all kinds of events for survivors and their families. For some reason, imposters are probably more common than what people believe.

Some claim to be war veterans heroes who may have never been in the armed forces. Then there are old timers, who might say they’re a baseball star from the fifties. I heard of one guy who claimed that and went down to the field to meet real players before a game.

I guess some folks aren’t happy with their reality and need fantasy to spice up their life.

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

Sen. George Young and Rep. Jason Lowe both expressed disappointment, but not surprise, after the release of a federal report on Oklahoma’s underfunding of Langston University. Last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Education notified governors of 16 states, including Oklahoma, that their landgrant Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) had been underfunded by more than $12 billion compared to white land-grant institutions. Land-grant colleges and universities such as Langston and Oklahoma State University (OSU), were created in the 1890’s to provide access to agricultural education and other programs.

The funding disparity in Oklahoma was reported by federal officials as approaching $419 million over the last 30 years, compared to OSU. The lawmakers issued statements Thursday saying the resources are available and that a resolution was long overdue.

“$419 million is a lot of money to the coffers of almost any institution,

but to Langston it’s a substantial sum to help the realm of education in our state. Langston is world renowned for its agriculture work and for physical therapy. We can’t recoup the lost opportunities, but we can build from here. I can only imagine how that will enhance the addition of the broadcasting facility recently acquired in Oklahoma City. This ‘oversight’ has been well publicized and investigated. It is time to correct it! PAY UP!!!” - Sen. George Young, DOklahoma City

“As a proud HBCU graduate and Langston University supporter, I am disappointed to learn that Langston has been underfunded by $419 million by the state of Oklahoma. Clearly, Democrats and Republicans have failed this great institution. Education is the gateway to success, and Langston University should be funded on the same level as other public institutions across this state. I look forward to examining this issue in greater detail during the upcoming legislative session.” - Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City

Special session called by Stitt

Governor Kevin Stitt has called the Oklahoma Legislature into special session beginning Oct. 3 for the purpose of tax cuts and budget transparency.

In his call, the Governor wants a trigger instituted if tribal members or others are found not required to pay a state tax due to their race, heritage, or political classification by a state or federal court, then no Oklahoman will have to pay the tax.

Stitt has previously called for an income tax cut and a grocery tax cut. For this special session he’s calling for the trigger, a tax cut plan to eliminate the income tax and increased budget transparency. In reaction to the call, Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat (SD 47) has requested the Governor appear before the Senate Appropriations Committee to better explain the intent of his call while House Speaker Charles McCall (HD 22) said the House will be well-prepared to address the Governor’s call when the special session convenes.

Governors criticize Biden border policy

Last week, 25 Republican Governors, led by Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, sent a letter to President Joe Biden regarding how the crisis at the Southern border is impacting every state.

The letter calls on the Biden Administration to immediately relay accurate, detailed, and thorough data to the states about who is crossing the Southern border illegally, where they are relocating, how the federal government is processing their asylum applications, and whether they are being deported.

Led by Governor Greg Gianforte (MT), additional signatories include: Governor Mike Dunleavy (AK), Governor Kay Ivey (AL), Governor Sarah Sanders (AR), Governor Ron DeSantis (FL), Governor Brian Kemp (GA), Governor Kim Reynolds (IA), Governor Brad Little (ID), Governor Eric Holcomb (IN), Governor Tate Reeves (MS), Governor Mike Parson (MO), Governor Jim Pillen (NE), Governor Doug Burgum (ND), Governor Chris Sununu (NH), Governor Joe Lombardo (NV), Governor Mike DeWine (OH), Governor Kevin Stitt (OK) , Governor Henry McMaster (SC), Governor Kristi Noem (SD), Governor Bill Lee (TN), Governor Greg Abbott (TX), Governor Spencer Cox (UT), Governor Glenn Youngkin (VA), Governor Jim Justice (WV), and Governor Mark Gordon (WY).September 19, 2023

President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President,

The crisis at the southern border extends to every state. As a result of your policies which incentivize illegal immigration, our states are carrying the burden of both the years-long surge in

illegal border crossings and cartels’ coordinated trafficking of drugs and human beings. States are on the front lines, working around-the- clock responding to the effects of this crisis: shelters are full, food pantries empty, law enforcement strained, and aid workers exhausted.

As governors, we call on you to provide honest, accurate, detailed information on where the migrants admitted at the southern border are being relocated in the United States, in addition to comprehensive data on asylum claim timelines and qualification rates, and successful deportations. We ask for this information immediately, but also regularly as the crisis at the southern border continues.

Your administration can no longer ignore simple facts that threaten our citizens’ public safety and strain their public resources. Since you have taken office, there have been over 5.8 million illegal crossings at the southern border. In addition, your Customs and Border Protection agency estimates 1.6 million crossers have evaded apprehension.

Even illegal crossings at the northern border have increased exponentially under your administration, in some areas by nearly 850%. In the past two years, 244 people on the terrorist watchlist were stopped trying to cross the southern border—an all-time record. Absent transparency from your administration, though, we cannot know how many terrorists have evaded capture and are now freely moving about the bcountry. Your administration admitted under oath to Congress that cartels prioritize the southern border as a major corridor and exploit it daily for human and narcotics trafficking. Our country cannot tolerate 100,000 deaths every year from a fentanyl crisis fueled by cartels pouring the fatal drug into our communities, nor can it tolerate the horrors of human trafficking and the lifelong scars it leaves on victims.

Though we remain committed to addressing these issues, States cannot afford to respond to a challenge of such magnitude while the federal government continues to turn a blind eye. Analysts estimate the annual net cost of illegal immigration for the United States at the federal, state, and local levels is at least $150.7 billion. States are forced to provide financial, educational, and medical support to migrants entering our country illegally– support that is skyrocketing in cost due to record inflation and the unprecedented influx of migrants into our states. The financial impact on the states is staggering, and it is our hardworking citizens who shoulder that burden.

This is not a partisan issue. Democrat New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated, “This is not a New York City problem. This is a national problem....[Funding for the influx of migrants to New York City is] going to come from our schools’ services.

It’s going to come from our streets. It’s going to come from what we provide to children.” Our fellow governor, Democrat Maura Healey of Massachusetts, declared a state of emergency due to the number of migrants in her state, and described the federal government’s mismanagement of immigration as “a federal crisis of inaction.”

As we have made clear repeatedly, every state is now a border state. As governors, we call on you and your administration to relay immediately accurate, detailed, thorough data and information to the states about who is crossing the southern border illegally, where they are relocating, how the federal government is processing their asylum applications, and whether they are being deported successfully. Without such information, we cannot fulfill our fundamental duties to protect our citizens while vproviding our communities with appropriate services.

Annual Plaza District Festival Saturday

Festival goers will see and experience new activities at the 24th Annual Plaza District Festival on Saturday, September 30, from 12 p.m. - 10 p.m., in The Plaza District, 1745 NW 16th St. The event is free, family-friendly, and open to the public.

Everyone is encouraged to stop by the Groovemeant Community’s Street Dance Stage, presented by the Arts Council OKC Art Moves. The stage will be at the corner of 16th and Indiana, featuring open street dancing, cypher battles, and much more!

Festival attendees are also invited to join Plaza District civic leaders Senator Kay Floyd, Representative Mauree Turner, and Oklahoma City Councilwoman JoBeth Hamon for a question and answer session moderated by Let’s Fix This Oklahoma.

Also new this year, Plaza Fest is going zero-waste, with vendors using only compostable or recyclable materials. Recycling and composting receptacles will also be available around the festival.

“By becoming zero-waste this year, we’re continuing to further the mission of the Plaza District to create a vibrant place where arts, local businesses, and community thrive,” says Anna Farha Miller, Plaza Fest co-chair. “It’s important to us that Plaza Fest positively impacts all of the Plaza District.”

Plaza Fest will also feature a Fine Arts area for the first time. Artwork from several local artists will be available for peo-

ple to see and purchase.

“We’re excited to bring in even more local artists into Plaza Fest this year,” says Mark Miller, Plaza Fest co-chair. “With the addition of fine art to our already thriving Artist Vendors Market, we’re expanding the Plaza Fest experiences for people of all ages.”

Everyone is invited to the day-long Plaza Fest, filled with music, art, food, and free kid’s activities. For the full entertainment line-up and other festival details, visit Plazafest.org.

The 24th Annual Plaza District Festival is The Plaza District's largest annual event, drawing over 30,000 attendees. All proceeds from the annual festival go to support The Plaza District Association, a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting the district and Oklahoma City community through free, monthly arts and culture programming, including Live! on the Plaza, Plaza Walls’ Mural Expo, Milk Crate Jam, and Calderon Dance Festival. The Plaza District Festival is presented by Braum's, Fowler Automotive, and Oklahoma's Credit Union. Additional support provided by Members of The Plaza Business Alliance, Friends of the Plaza, Inasmuch Foundation, Renewal by Andersen, Randy & Sandra Cassimus, Express Employment, Anthem Brewing, Oklahoma Shirt Company, Mosteller Music Productions, Stonewall Security, ACM @ UCO, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Arts Council Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Gazette, Native Wrecking, SoFarSounds, and Taro Health.

The colorful Plaza District in the metrro will have its 24th annual Plaza District Festival Sept. 30.

All ages are planning to have fun at the Plaza District Festival

UCO & ‘War on Truth’ conference

The University of Central Oklahoma will host local, national and international speakers at the annual student-run Media Ethics Conference from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 3, in the Communications building, located on Central’s campus and via Facebook Live. The theme of this year’s conference is “The War on Truth: Confronting Deception in the Media.”

The Media Ethics Conference will kick off the event with a welcome from Todd Lamb, UCO president, followed by the first keynote, “John F. Kennedy: I Was There,” led by Joe Carter, hall of fame journalist. Carter will discuss his journey as a journalist and how he witnessed the assassination of John F. Kennedy as a young reporter 60 years ago.

Additional keynote speakers include Ben Montgomery, a Pulitzer Prize finalist; Tanya Gordiienko, a Ukrainian media analyst and journalist; and, Dannagal G. Young, Ph.D., a professor and author. The keynotes will address ethical concerns with war propaganda, conspiracies and the lack of media literacy.

The conference panel about the Tulsa Race Massacre will feature speakers Randy Krehbiel, reporter for the Tulsa World and author of “Tulsa 1921: Re-

porting a Massacre;” Marc Goulding, Ph.D., chairperson for the Department of History and Geography at Central; and, B. Seth-Bryant, managing partner for Bryant Rabbino LLP in New York.

An additional panel at the Media Ethics Conference includes “AI: Threat or Tool?,” which will focus on artificial intelligence and its impact on the media. The panel will feature Laura Dumin, Ph.D., professor of English at Central; Young; and, Rob Collins, executive director for the Oklahoma Media Center.

The conference will also include a special photo exhibition curated by Purdue University titled “Ukrainian Grit & Hope: A Traveling Photo Exhibition,” created by Vitalii Nosach, photographer. The exhibition focuses on the war in Ukraine and will be available for viewing throughout the conference.

The conference is organized by students in the Department of Mass Communication’s media conference leadership class. Joe Hight, Edith Kinney Gaylord Endowed Chairperson of Journalism Ethics at Central, is the adviser for the leadership class.

For more information and to view the conference via Facebook Live, visit facebook.com/ucomediacon2023.

Annual benefit at Governor’s mansion set for Oct. 4

Save the date for a memorable evening as Governor and First Lady Stitt extend their warm invitation to the 2023 Boots, Bandanas and Barbecue event. This annual gathering promises Oklahoman’s a night of celebration and community spirit at the historic Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 4 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Friends of the Mansion, Inc., a non-profit, nonpartisan organization. Established in 1995, Friends of the Mansion, Inc., strives to ensure the preservation and upkeep of the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion for Oklahomans now and in the future. Tickets to the evening event are $50 per person. Admission is free for Mansion Society members.

This year's Boots, Bandanas and Barbecue promises an evening of authentic Oklahoma flavor. Delight your taste buds with genuine Oklahoma barbecue by Head Country BBQ and quench your thirst with an assortment of refreshing local brews. One of the event’s highlights is the return of the silent dessert auction featuring a variety of desserts made by local celebrities and some of Oklahoma's finest bakers and restaurants.

The evening's musical entertainment will be provided by Tulsa country group Voth. The group's harmonious sound and genre-blending style will surely make for a memorable performance following the release of their most recent EP, "'92 Bronco" this past August.

Attire for Boots, Bandanas & Barbeque is “boots to business.” Sponsorships and tickets to the event are still available. For more information on tickets, sponsorships or contributions, please contact Friends of the Mansion, Inc., at 405-5570198 or by e-mail at friendsofthemansion@gmail.com. The mansion is located at 820 NE 23 St. Oklahoma City, OK. Registration ends Wednesday, September 27.

National Weather Festival Oct. 14

The National Weather Center is hosting the National Weather Festival on Saturday, October 14th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The National Weather Festival is open to the public and free to attend.

The event features many weather-related organizations, including the National Weather Service, the Oklahoma Mesonet, and the NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center. Local broadcast meteorologists from News9, KOCO5, KFOR, Telemundo Oklahoma, and Fox 25 will also make an appearance, along with helicopters and storm vehicles. Other activities include hourly weather balloon launches from the National Severe Storms Laboratory and drone demonstrations from the Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations.

Other entities present will include the National Weather Museum & Science Center, Norman Firehouse Art Center, metro-area emergency management, the Oklahoma Aviation Academy, and more. Food trucks and a DJ will be on site.

For a regularly updated list of vendors and further information visit: https://www.ou.edu/nwc/nwf

‘Queen Esther’ story draws Edmond interest

By Kimberly Burk, For Edmond Life and Leisure

BRANSON -- The costumes are lavish, the script is compelling, and the 50-ton, 37-feet-tall Persian palace is the largest set piece ever built for a Sight and Sound Theatres production.

The biblical story of Esther, the young Jewish woman “with a crown on her head and a secret in her heart,” is regularly selling out the 2,000-seat theater now celebrating its 15th anniversary in Branson.

“Queen Esther” is an original stage production nearly four years in the making that brings the Old Testament to life with music, drama and special effects including the use of live animals.

Oklahomans make up about 10 percent of the theater’s annual audience of 600,000 visitors, said Kortney Neal, marketing and customer relations manager.

“This show, just the message and the timing of the message, that the Lord is in every detail of our lives, I really do think it’s been resonating with audiences like never before,” Neal said.

Founded in 1976, Sight and Sound Ministries operated a state-of-the-art theater in Lancaster, Penn., before launching a second location in Branson in 2008. Attendance has grown every year except in 2020, Neal said.

Sandra Thompson, music professor emeritus at

the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, has attended two of the shows.

“I felt the authenticity of the storytelling,” Thompson said.

“I know we read our Bibles, and we’ve seen the movies about the Bible, but live theater allows you to be a part of the story. There should be a production of all the major stories in the Bible, it would stick with us longer.”

Productions typically are presented for two seasons, and this is the first year for “Queen Esther” following a two-year run of “Jesus.” Previous shows have focused on such Old Testament prophets as Noah, Moses, Jonah and Samson.

Keith Haygood, executive pastor of fine art for First Baptist Church in Edmond, said senior adults from his church regularly make the trip to Branson.

“They went to see ‘Queen Esther’ and absolutely loved it,” Haygood said.

“The nice thing about Sight and Sound, is that while they take a little dramatic license here and there, they really stick with the word of God.”

For people who are not as likely to read the Bible, “it just helps them to visualize at least in part what actually happened in those biblical stories,” said Haygood, whose own church is planning a musical production called “The Best of Christmas” the first weekend in December.

“This is a visual society,” Haygood said. “For

people to see something positive on the stage, and to couple that excellence in music with the word of God, it just really helps bring it home.”

Hundreds of people from across the nation apply every year to be part of the show, which this year features a cast of 55, Neal said.

Animals featured this year include camels, donkeys, miniature horses, parrots and Afghan hounds. When the children see the animal performers “their jaws just drop and their eyes get wide,” Neal said.

“Queen Esther” is on stage every Tuesday through Saturday, 10 to 11 shows a week, through Dec. 30.

If you go

For one of the easiest commuting experiences to be had in Branson, stay in a villa at the Westgate Branson Woods Resort on Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, which is less than 2 miles from the Sight and Sound Theatre.

The resort features indoor and outdoor pools and amenities such as a nature trail, sand volleyball, video games, a pool table, miniature golf, scheduled crafts activities, a fitness center and a marketplace featuring pizza and ice cream.

“Our goal is to be the next cruise ship on land,” said Brian Grabowski, area general manager.

OCU offers program to help nursing shortage

Oklahoma City University is making a move to help address the nation’s critical nursing shortage by introducing the state’s first and only in-person 12-month accelerated bachelor of science in nursing degree.

At the same time, the school is making substantial scholarship money available to almost all students accepted in the program to help pave the way for those interested in pursuing the degree and becoming a nurse.

“An accelerated bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree is one of the strongest tools we can employ to help fill the nursing employment pipeline,” said Gina Crawford, dean of Oklahoma City University’s Kramer School of Nursing. “We’re confident in our ability to educate the next generation of nurses, and this option allows us to have an even greater impact on health outcomes in our city and state.”

The first cohort of students in the program will begin classes on campus in January, with a second start scheduled for the fall 2024 semester. The degree track is open to any student with a non-nursing associate or bachelor’s degree. Courses are offered in eight-week blocks.

To help increase financial access to the program, the Kramer School of Nursing (KSN) is making its Kramer Way Scholarship available to at least 10 students who begin in January. The scholarship is awarded through a competitive application process; it provides $15,000 to each of the selected students.

Oklahoma City University (OCU) also offers transfer and departmental scholarships, as well as special nursing scholarships for some students transferring from Oklahoma City Community College. These scholarships – based on a student’s col-

lege GPA – provide an opportunity to defray a significant portion of the program’s costs.

For example, all students with a college transfer GPA of at least 3.0 will automatically receive nearly $10,000 in scholarships. All students with a GPA of 3.6 or higher will receive more than $17,000 in scholarships.

The 12-month accelerated BSN degree is the second major initiative OCU has unveiled this year in its efforts to help combat the nursing shortage. In February, the school announced the Saints & Stars Program, a five-year partnership with SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital. Saints & Stars allows certain OCU nursing students to work part-time with SSM Health while receiving scholarships and tuition discounts during their junior and senior year of college.

OCU President Kenneth Evans said it’s important that higher education institutions continue to play an active role in helping address societal needs.

“We view ourselves not only as a school, but as a member of our local and broader community,” Evans said. “We have an obligation to help tackle the difficult issues our community faces, and to play a leading role where we can.

“We feel that we can play a leading role when it comes to the nursing shortage.”

In addition to the new 12-month accelerated BSN program, OCU offers a variety of other nursing programs with options both on-campus and online, including master’s and doctoral degrees; a registered nurse-BSN degree; a licensed practical nurse-BSN degree; and a traditional, two-year BSN track.

More information about the 12-month accelerated BSN and OCU’s other nursing programs can be found at www.okcu.edu/nursing.

PHOTOS PROVIDED/Sight and Sound Theatres.

ABOVE — the opulent city of Susa stands four stories tall in a set that covers more than 11,000 square feet for the production of “Queen Esther.” RIGHT — Nearly 1,000 costumes were created for the production, including 16 gowns for Queen Esther.

Review of movie ‘Dumb Money’

Film has a few issues, but still fun

By George Gust

In today’s constant stream of news and viral trends, stories tend to come and go faster than any other time in recent memory.

So don’t feel embarrassed if you missed the story about a small online community gaming the financial system in a wholly unorthodox way. And as the windows of relevance continue to shrink we already have “Dumb Money” the film adaptation of this strange moment in recent financial history that aims to poke fun at the Wall Street world the same way the real life retail investors did.

“Dumb Money” is a modern-day David vs. Goliath tale. Based on the insane true story of everyday people who flipped the script on Wall Street and got rich by turning a floundering outdated mall video game store Gamestop into the financial world’s hottest company.

“Dumb Money” is a fast-paced comedic take on this absurd ‘only in 2021’ kind of story. Juxtaposing the Joblo culture of the internet versus the pompous and stuffy Wall Street elites is a formula that is bound for success and mostly works in this film. While “Dumb Money” doesn’t feel as mo-

mentous as previous films in this new ripped from the headlines financial story mini genre (“The Wolf of Wall Street” and “The Big Short”), its light and breezy tone and runtime make it feel like an entertaining dip into this strange story, but ultimately a disposable one.

In terms of performance, “Dumb Money” centers around the phenomenal performance of Paul Dano, as the mastermind behind the grass roots get rich quick scheme. Dano shows his range for playing the internet fueled investor and giving the

Answers on Page 19

character a little more dimension in an overloaded cast of characters. And as the fast pace of the film whips between characters you get a bunch of fun one note performances from character actors like Nick Offerman and Sebastian Stan, but by the end of the runtime none will stick out in your memory.

Overall, “Dumb Money” is a fun little movie with a ‘eat the rich’ tone, but ultimately feels like its story been stretched to its maximum and doesn’t support the need for the full “Big Short” treatment.

There’s a lot of recognizable talent that bring a fun energy to this film, but the film has plenty of derivative filmmaking choices and musical cues that will remind you of better films in this genre.

“Dumb Money” is rated R for pervasive language, sexual material and drug use.

3.3 out of 5 stars

To reach George for comment on this review or any for others movie reviews, please e-mail him gust.george@gmail.com

Melton Gallery to host exhibit

UCO's Melton Gallery to Host Exhibition and Opening Reception Featuring Artist Gayle Singer, Oct. 5

The University of Central Oklahoma's Melton Gallery will host a free, public opening reception featuring the work of artist Gayle Singer from 5-7:30 p.m., Oct. 5, at the Melton Gallery, located on Central’s campus. The exhibition will be on display Sept. 25-Nov.

2.

Gayle Singer, professor emeritus, taught ceramics for 22 years at Central before becoming a full-time studio artist. This exhibition follows Singer's creative path from her teaching career to her current work exploring dynamic and colorful abstract sculptures.

"I appreciate the opportunity the Melton Gallery and the UCO College of Fine Arts and Design have provided me to showcase my lifelong journey in the world of ceramics," Singer said.

The Melton Gallery is free and open to the public noon-5 p.m., Mondays–Thursdays, and Fridays by appointment.

Crossword Puzzle

Paul Dano (right) and Pete Davidson (left) lead an ensemble cast in ‘Dumb Money’ - the retelling of an absurd financial scheme that started as a meme on the internet.

First National Bank & Trust opens first Edmond location

First National Bank & Trust recently held a ribbon cutting with the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate their first location in Edmond and grand opening at 1763 W 33rd St., Ste #120.

For over 130 years, 1NB has bolstered the people and businesses in various Oklahoma communities through trustworthy financial services. They've evolved their operations over decades of service, and have upheld an enduring track record of com-

munity service, dependability and innovation.

They’ve proudly cared for the financial well-being of Oklahoma residents and businesses for generations and look forward to continuing the tradition of excellence in the years to come. At 1NB, the community is their priority. They live, work and raise their families in the cities they serve.

As one of the leading community investors in southern Oklahoma, they are committed to continuing to inspire success in Edmond and the state at

large. 1NB advances the prosperity of others through contributions to local schools and nonprofits, scholarship programs and partnerships with community organizations. The experienced professionals at 1NB continue to look after our local communities through unparalleled money management options.

To learn more about First National Bank & Trust visit Home - First National Bank and Trust Company of Ardmore (1nb.com).

Reflecting on Buffett’s passing & summer’s end

By John Goetz Edmond Family Counseling

James William Buffett (December 25, 1946 – September 1, 2023)

I’ve written past articles about Country and Western Therapy using country music songs to help describe the human condition. In respect to his passing this month and to the passing of summer I would like to remember Jimmy by a brief reflection on his song Margaritaville.

erful insight into resolving the problem, but it requires another step.

Goetz

In the first chorus while searching for his lost shaker of salt we hear Jimmy state, Some people claim that there's a woman to blame, But I know it's nobody's fault. Often when we experience a problem in life, we tend to blame someone else. At best, this is a distraction. It may delay a speedy resolution to the problem. At worst, it is denial and may prevent us from dealing with problems that truly impact our life and relationships.

The second chorus changes slightly to, some people claim there is a woman to blame, now I think heck, it could be my fault. If we reflect on a reoccurring problem, we might realize that we are the common denominator. Self-reflection or perspective may cause us to see our part in the situation at hand. This can be a pow-

The third chorus changes again to, some people claim there is a woman to blame, but I know it’s my own darn fault. Now our singer is taking full responsibility for the situation at hand and seems to know that only by acting will they resolve the situation. Of all the variables in any situation the only ones that we control are our own actions. It is when we experience and accept responsibility for the consequences of our choices and actions, we are motivated to make change or continue even in the face of hardship. A simple way to sum this up is by asking yourself two magic questions. One, what did I do that I would keep doing, what’s working? Two, what did I do that I would do differently?

With summer 2023 ending, place an album on the turntable or stream music on your smart device and take stock of the passing year. What are you doing that you wish to continue to do and what is something you might do differently?

(John Goetz M. Ed LPC-S, is the Clinical Director of Edmond Family Counseling and Staff Therapist).

‘Some people claim that there's a woman to blame, But I know it's nobody's fault.’

Well wishers, chamber members and employees of First National Bank & Trust mark the bank’s opening its first location in Edmond

City updates projects

This is a weekly report that provides updates on public and private construction projects, road/lane closures, alternative routes, and other information that is of importance to our downtown community. Anyone interested in getting the email notifications can sign up at https://www.edmondok.gov/list.aspx?ListID=273.

To see an interactive map of on-going projects, check Downtown Project Updates (arcgis.com).

SEPT. 21, 2023

struction site are closed, including the Littler Lawn parking areas, the east parking lot behind the PPW building, and a portion of the City-owned parking lot on the northwest corner of Littler and Main. Work to complete the project and open all street and parking closures is expected to be completed by March 2025.

Boulevard lane closures: Boulevard southbound between 9th Street and 15th Street will continue to have intermittent lane closures as part of water line construction for the FY20 water line improvements project.

‘Broadway Our Way’ show to be at OCCC this Oct. 15

Much-loved numbers from hit Broadway musicals will be presented in the spirited style of the Ambassadors’ Concert Choir during “Broadway Our Way,” the choir’s season-opening Oct. 15 concert at Oklahoma City Community College.

Tickets are now on sale for the 7 p.m. concert at OCCC’s Performing Arts Center, 7777 S. May Ave.

Members of the choir and selected soloists will perform showstoppers such as “You Will be Found” from “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Seasons of Love” from “Rent,” “Ease on Down the Road” from “The Wiz” and the title song from “Ain’t Misbehavin.’”

New projects

None.

On-going projects

Main and Littler closures: Physical demolition of the Downtown Community Center (DCC) and the Planning and Public Works (PPW) building has begun. Demolition of the DCC could mean periodic short-term closures of Main Street. Littler Avenue, between First and Main streets, is closed and will remain closed through the demolition and construction processes. Except for periodic short-term closures, Main Street will remain open through the end of this year. Beginning January 2024, Main Street will close from the Littler intersection to half a block west of the four-way stop and will remain closed for the duration of the City Center Complex project work. Several parking areas near the con-

Main Street closure: Main Street is closed west of Broadway at the railroad tracks to N. Santa Fe Street while work is being completed on the Oxlley multi-family project, as well as streetscape and additional on-street parking on Main Street. With cooperative weather, the street will reopen in early December.

Fourth Street parking closure: As part of the Stephenson Park improvements project, Fourth Street between Boulevard and Littler Avenue is now open. While the road is open, the parking stalls along Fourth Street will remain closed while work on the park continues.

Completed projects

Signal work at 1st and Broadway: Signal maintenance at 1st Street and Broadway was completed on Sept. 20 with minimal impact to traffic.

The choir will bring its signature sound to the performances, modifying the music slightly to give it a more bluesy/gospel feel, said Sandra Thompson, artistic director of the Ambassadors’ Concert Choir.

Thompson said the program was inspired by the success of last year’s sold-out “Motown Revue” staged at The Douglass, which featured a couple of medleys by the choir as well as spine-tingling solo performances of classic Motown hits.“The Motown concert was so great, we thought perhaps we could do a concert in a larger venue,” Thompson said.

To buy tickets, go to tickets.occc.edu or call (405) 682-7579. The hard-working choir will be on the road the following weekend, for a reprise of Motown Revue at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Freeland Center for the Performing Arts in Bristow. Tickets for that concert can be found at the Freeland Center’s website.

Hi and Lois

Shoe

Zits

Family Circus

Beetle Baily

Blondie

Hägar the Horrible

Time running out on matched donations

Learning can’t begin until hunger ends. Through Sept. 30, every donation to the Regional Food Bank’s Food for Kids Programs is matched, dollarfor-dollar, up to $300,0000 thanks to the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma, Chesapeake Energy, Mark and Beth Brewer, Dolese Bros. Corp, Energy Transfer, David Gorham, David and Lezlie Hudiburg and Marathon Oil. KOCO 5 News, official television sponsor of the Food for Kids Match, will feature the impact of the Food for Kids Programs throughout the match.

“We are thrilled to support the Regional Food Bank and their Food for Kids Programs,” said Chris Curia, chairman of the Energy Transfer/Sunoco Foundation. “Strengthening local communities by prioritizing critical issues, such as hunger and health, is essential to us. The work that the food bank does to fight hunger in central and western Oklahoma positively impacts the lives of so many.”

Oklahoma is consistently ranked as one of the hungriest states in the nation. The state also ranks among the worst for childhood food insecurity. The Regional Food Bank's four Food for Kids Programs help children and their families in all 53 counties served by the Regional Food Bank in cen-

tral and western Oklahoma.

"Hungry children cannot learn. The Regional Food Bank works hard every day to provide essential nutrition for thousands of Oklahoma children so they can thrive," said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. "We couldn't do that without the incredible generosity of our match sponsors, like Energy Transfer, and our donors."

The Food for Kids Programs are the Backpack Program, the School Pantry Program, the Summer Feeding Program and Kids Cafés.

The School Pantry Program provides chronically hungry middle and high school students with food to sustain them after school and over the week-

ends and during school holidays. Located on school grounds, school pantries make accessing nutritious food easy for the students. Jesse, a school pantry coordinator in Oklahoma County, said having an on-site pantry means they can send food home with the students, and they know it’s helping to provide meals for the entire family.

"The pantry has been such a blessing to the families of our students,” Jesse said. “Many of the students rely on school lunches as their main source of food.”

Make a donation to the Food for Kids Match today at foodforkids.us or call 405-600-3136. An automatic $10 donation can be made by texting "Kids" to 501-501.