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October 2012
30 Down on the Farm The Webster family of Providence Farms shares their world of sustainable living right here in Edmond.
DEPARTMENTS FEATURES 08 Arts
Fame and the Fiddle
10 Sports
Water You Wading For?
12 Louise
Rescued
13 Shopping
Fall Finds
15 Food
Nothing Bundt Cakes Food Favorites
18 Business
Cabinet Cures OK Christian Academy Mid America Cycle
22 Home
Craftsman Style Homes
24 Style
Color Me Fabulous
26 Fun Fall Festivities Exciting events you won’t want to miss!
28 Model Student Opportunity knocks for Edmond North teen
33 Production Value Local filmmaker uses his creativity for fundraising
34 Dream Come True Edmond author has a series of dreams that become a book
38 My Edmond Outlook
Staci Patton, Salon Owner Cover photo by: Justin Morris Makeup/Stylist: Karen Snyder Hair: Bernice Armstrong Model: Ellen Taylor
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80 East 5th St. Ste. 130 Edmond, OK 73034 Office: 405-341-5599 Fax: 405-341-2020 www.edmondoutlook.com info@edmondoutlook.com
PUBLISHER Dave Miller EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Krystal Harlow EDITOR Erica Smith ADVERTISING SALES Laura Beam Lori Cathey PRODUCTION DESIGN Karen Munger PHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins www.sundancephotographyokc.com Sara Wheeler www.saraephotography.com DISTRIBUTION The Edmond Outlook is delivered FREE by direct-mail to 50,000 Edmond homes.
(Volume 8, Number 10) Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc. Š 2012 Back40 Design, Inc. Articles and advertisements in Edmond Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Back40 Design. Back40 Design does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by Edmond Outlook does not constitute endorsement of the products, services or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Edmond Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.
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Fame and the Fiddle by Heide Brandes
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ome men were born with music in their soul and an instrument in their hand. With that birthright comes a lifetime of plucking and stroking strings and passing on the magic. Music legend Byron Berline, owner of Double Stop Fiddle Shop and Music Hall in Guthrie, was born in Oklahoma to music. His father played. His mother was a pianist and his siblings all perform. At 5 years old, Berline played his first tune on his first fiddle. “My dad played and my whole family played music,” he said. “I don’t ever remember not playing. I guess I gradually took a liking to it. That’s what kids do. All kids are drawn to music.” That fascination and love of music carried on throughout a multidecade career for the talented fiddle player. While growing up, he’d accompany his father to fiddle contests, performed at PTA events and showcased his talent at fairs and festivals. After earning a football scholarship to the University of Oklahoma — as well as a spot throwing the javelin for the track team — Berline again found himself drawn to the flirts of the fiddle. “I started up a bluegrass band,” said Berline. “During that time, I met a group called the Dillards, and that opened my eyes to going further with music and making a living at it.” The Dillards knew talent when they saw it, and they recruited the young Berline to record an album with them. That led to a gig at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, which led to a chance meeting with bluegrass great Bill Monroe. “He asked
me to perform with him,” Berline said. “I knew how to use those opportunities when they came. I also knew you had to be practiced up and offer something they wanted. People used to say I was lucky, but it’s not luck, it’s being prepared to take those opportunities when they come.”
“I met a group called the Dillards, and that opened my eyes to going further.” Although Berline doesn’t believe in luck, luck was on his side when he was drafted in 1967 for the Vietnam War. “I was lucky this time. A colonel heard me play, and he had me play for a general,” said Berline. “I was chosen for the entertainment leg of the Army and for its track team. When I was drafted, I got to do something I loved and entertain the troops.” And just a day before Berline was discharged from a two-year stint with the Army, Doug Dillard of the Dillards made a call. “He asked me what I was doing, and I told him I was getting out of the Army,” Berline recalls. “He said, ‘Good. I want you to come to California and record with us.’ ” From that point, Berline and his bride Betty packed up and spent 26 years performing and recording in California for a variety of bands and bluegrass groups. Besides performing with such notables as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Lee and Willie Nelson, Berline also recorded movie and commercial soundtracks, working with names like Henry Mancini.
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He scored his first major motion picture in 1975, “Stay Hungry,” and appeared in other movies like “Basic Instinct,” “Star Trek” and “Back to the Future III.” When not scoring for commercial work, Berline toured the United States, Europe, Japan, Northern Africa, China, Australia and the South Pacific. He was inducted into Oklahoma’s Musicians Hall of Fame, named Oklahoma’s Ambassador of Goodwill and was named the featured artist for the Violin Society of America international convention. Finally, after accruing a collection of instruments, Berline was ready to settle down and open a store. “Betty and I were from Oklahoma, and her father had left her a house in Guthrie. All our family was here and I knew I couldn’t get a shop in California, so we decided to move back,” Berline said. “I didn’t have to ask Betty twice. So in 1995, we moved back, and that May we opened the shop.” The Double Stop Fiddle Shop and Music Hall carries all stringed instruments in the violin family for beginners, professionals and collectors. From guitars, banjos and fiddles, the shop also offers repair services and lessons for all ages. Berline also conceived and planned the Oklahoma International Bluegrass Festival since its beginnings in 1997. Above the shop, the Byron Berline Band holds concerts twice a month, open to the public. “We still perform. People keep asking when I’m going to retire. Why would I want to do that? I’ve been doing what I love for 40 to 50 years now.” Because of his lifetime in music, the International Bluegrass Music Association presented Berline with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Nashville on September 27. “My plan is to keep playing until I can’t,” he said. “Why would I want to quit?”
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Zhenya Ingram, Ally Robertson, Alexa Halko
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Water You Wading For?
s Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte, Rebecca Soni and Missy Franklin wowed the crowd at the Olympic Games in London this past summer, there was a group of youth watching intently. Members of the Extreme Aquatic Team (EAT), an Edmond-based United States Swimming competitive program, watched hoping that one day that would be them. EAT was founded in 1998 as a USA-S competitive swimming program aimed at teaching children the sport at all skill levels. Today, EAT boasts a resume that includes qualifiers for the Division II Championships, Oklahoma Age Group Championship, Meet of Championships, Junior National Championships, Central Zones Championships, Region VIII’s and the Open Water Championships. The USA Swimming registered organization is a year-round sport and includes ages 5-19 while the Extreme Masters program is for those 20 and older. Cindy Goddard has been with the team for nine years, serving as the head coach for the past six years. Goddard earned Oklahoma Age Group Coach of the Year honors 2007-2009 and has taken EAT from a youth program to a program for both children and adults during her tenure. When Goddard first arrived, there were just 50 youth participants
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by Cassie Gage
and no adult program. Today, EAT has 130-plus registered youth members and 10-12 adults annually. “Physically, swimming is a great aerobic sport, and you can continue to swim your entire life,” Goddard said. “Socially, we’re a sport where everyone practices together and they come from different areas. We feel like we offer a great amount of technique and endurance work starting at a young age.”
“I was really awed by the people I was competing against.”
Team members come from all over the area, attending rival schools and living in different communities. Three of those athletes are Ally Robertson, Zhenya Ingram and Alexa Halko. All three have been a part of the program for a few years now and each have a growing list of accomplishments. Ally, a sophomore at Edmond North, got her start in the Learn to Swim Competitively class. She set a meet record this past year at the Central Zones Senior Championship and now helps coach the class that launched her swimming career. “I went into the meet knowing I had trained well all season,” Robertson said. “Before the race, I saw the record, and just pushed it away, but had it
in mind as a goal. I ended up winning by one onehundredth of a second.” The win was truely a Michael Phelps moment. The Olympian edged out Milorad Cavic in the 100-meter butterfly by the same margin at the 2008 Olympics. “You do feel a little like (Phelps),” Ally added. “You just think if you didn’t kick or put your head down, something so small could have made all the difference.” Zhenya is only 10, but he wants to be the next Phelps. It is fitting that his signature event is the butterfly, one of Phelps’ best events. The homeschool student scored his AAAA time, one of the fastest motivational times, this past year in the 50-meter butterfly at the 14-under Central Zones Championship in Indiana. “I just kicked as hard as I could,” Ingram said. “It felt pretty good to get that AAAA.” Zhenya started swimming at age seven, and says two of the things he likes most about being a member of EAT is having Goddard as a coach and hanging out with his friends. And just like most swimmers, Ingram’s ultimate goal is to make the Olympics one day. Alexa is the heart of the EAT program. Born with a disability, she got involved in the program
after getting involved with track and field and made the move to swimming almost two years ago. Halko went to the Junior National Disability Championship in Mesa, Arizona, and won all of her events and set several records. “I was really awed by the people I was competing against,” Alexa said. “They were really good. I set a personal best in the freestyle.” But what Alexa’s gotten from EAT has been much more than just wins and records. “I had a surgery to fix my legs in the second grade,” she added. “A friend’s mom got me involved, and I started making friends, and I’m still making friends. At first, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to play sports, and now I’m playing basketball, track and field and swimming.”
Extreme Aquatic Team Coach Cindy Goddard While tryouts continue throughout the year, the team is gearing up for its fall/winter competition season beginning in October. There are several different programs offered, all geared towards competitive swimming. While competitive swimming is a focus, some team members are there for the health and exercise benefits. Each summer, the group also offers a swim lesson program for school age children looking to learn water safety and basic swimming skills. This past summer, Goddard and the Swim America staff provided over 1,900 hours in swimming lessons. The majority of local meets are held at Oklahoma City Community College. The team’s signature event is the EAT Turkey Meet, scheduled for November 16-18, 2012, at OCCC. For more information visit www.extremeaquatic.org.
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About the Author
Rescued
Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author and inspirational speaker. Author and co-author of four books, her work has been featured in numerous publications. Contact her at: LouiseTJ@cox.net or LouiseTuckerJones.com.
by Louise Tucker Jones
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have a friend who is so terrified of getting stuck in an elevator that she refuses to get on one alone, even though she has never had such an experience. I have! Twice! The first time was after checking into the hospital to give birth to my youngest son. A nurse wheeled me into the waiting car with my husband, Carl following and pushing the proper button. The elevator whooshed up to the floor and stopped but no doors opened. The nurse casually remarked that they were having problems with that elevator and she should have taken a different one. Agreed! But being in early labor I wasn’t concerned. However, my husband’s face registered panic. He was never a calm, expectant daddy. With our first son, we ended up on a one-way street going the wrong way en route to the hospital. Thankfully there was no midnight traffic. With our second son, Carl bolted out of bed at my announcement of needing to get to the hospital and grabbed his shirt and cigarettes (a habit he broke) and was ready to escort me to the car until I reminded him he might want to grab a pair of jeans. So here we were, baby number three and stuck in an elevator. Suddenly the calm broke as the nurse began banging and kicking the elevator doors. Carl acted in kind, whacking every button on the control panel. In minutes the doors opened and the nurse reclaimed
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her composure, wheeled me into the hallway and announced that she wasn’t really worried. Sure! As it was, there was really no rush. I would wait 18 hours for this last son to arrive.
“Today, it still gives me pause to board an elevator and never without my cell phone.” Our second demise with an elevator was much more dramatic but thankfully no baby on the way so I had a calm and helpful husband. We attended a concert at the old, OKC Civic Center and were proceeding down the walkway from the balcony. With new shoes rubbing blisters on my feet, I voted to ride. A bad choice! Inside, the young lady operating the old fashioned lift got the car moving but it suddenly jolted to a halt. No doors whooshed open. She tried again. Nothing. She used the antiquated phone to call for help but no answer (no cell phones in those days). Almost in tears, she confessed it was her first day on the job. A teenage girl in the back started to cry and said she was going to be sick. “Oh, please don’t be sick!” was everyone’s sentiment. About half of our passengers were teenagers.
One felt the Civic Center should supply pizza when we were rescued. Another contributed, “I sure hope there isn’t a fire!” Okay, now I’m getting nervous and am glad I’m in front—more air. Carl and another gentleman removed the top panel of the elevator and managed to see outside the car and confirm we were stuck between floors. Time passed and the noise outside the elevator diminished. People had gone home. Finally, after half an hour, the Fire Department came to our rescue, forcing open the steel doors of the floor above us then putting a ladder down into the elevator through the opening of that top panel. One by one we climbed up the skinny steps then grabbed a fireman’s hand who helped us “leap” from the top of the elevator car through the open doors to a safe landing. It was a scene right out of the movies. One I don’t wish to repeat. I gladly took off my shoes and walked barefoot down the path on which Carl and I had started before taking the detour. Today, it still gives me pause to board an elevator and I never do so without my cell phone. I just hope reception can reach inside that cubicle if I ever need help since my courageous husband, my knight in shining armor, is no longer here to help rescue me.
The Balanced Life Weight Loss Clinic
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Fancy! & Friends
Winter Market!
With 28 years combined experience, the two sisters of Fancy Like That! are back in action for their 2nd Annual Fancy! & Friends Winter Market, November 2-3 at the Edmond History Museum. Stop by from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Call Cut'n Loose, a Paul Mitchell Focus Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday to salon, for a great new look for fall! Enjoy shop the amazing selection of jewelry, artwork, a women's cut & color for only $75 or ask home decor and more. 5th & Boulevard about our Keratin Complex smoothing treatin Edmond • www.fancylikethat.com ment specials. Men's and children's cuts are just $15. Stop by our Open House, Friday, Nov. 9th 4-7p.m. for food, drinks and prizes! Located at 708 W. 15th in Edmond between Kelly & Broadway. 340-HAIR www.cutnloosesalon.net
Don’t miss the Creek Boutique: A Holiday Market hosted by Deer Creek Prairie Vale Elementary School Saturday, November 3rd from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is just $2 or FREE with this ad. For booth information, email inquiries to: dcpvto@gmail.com. Located at 22522 N. Pennsylvania www.prairievale.org
Beaucoup Boutiques has all the latest looks for fall, featuring over 15 vendors with boutique clothing, decor, purses, hand-made jewelry and children’s items! Mon-Sat 10-5:30 • 111 S. Broadway in downtown Edmond • 285-7511 www.BeaucoupBoutiques.com
Indulge in the local phenomenon that is Sara Sara Cupcakes. Executive chef Eric Smith has perfected over 20 cupcake flavors such as the decadent cherry cheesecake with cream cheese frosting or blackberry maple with maple butter cream frosting. Buy one get one FREE when you mention you follow Eric on Twitter! Open Tues-Sat 9-9 • 17 E. 5th Street in Edmond • 216-3562 www.sarasarabakery.com
Diamond in the Ruff is a great, full-service mobile pet spa that comes to you! Your furry friend will enjoy expert care in a climate-controlled and kennel free environment. DiamondInTheRuffPetSpa.net Call 471-7741 today!
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Recipe:
Mummy Dogs
OPENING in OCTOBER! CREATIVE KIDS LEARNING CENTER • 150 th and PENN •
Ingredients One package of hot dogs Two packages of Pillsbury (8 oz) crescent rolls Yellow mustard
Directions Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Open the crescent rolls and separate and flatten all of the pieces. Take a knife and slice into small strips - the thinner the better. Next, take each hot dog and wrap the strips around them leaving a bit of room at the top for some eyes. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. After they have cooled, use mustard to create the eyes.
Submitted by: Carol Brooke Carol works at Jerel Wright State Farm and loves playing with her puppy Duke, trying new recipe ideas from Pinterest, and spending time with her boyfriend. To submit a recipe for consideration in future publications, email: info@edmondoutlook.com
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Let us Eat:
Nothing Bundt Cakes! by Kim Hickerson Owner Marie Hicks
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n the world of food lovers, everyone is looking for the next dessert trend. There was the rise of the cupcake, the entrapments of the colorful macaroon and currently the gourmet doughnut is king, but many desserts remain deliciously timeless and come into the light again and again when they get a little reinvention. That’s how I’ve come to know the Bundt cake as a modest, flavorful, adaptable cake with wide appeal. At Nothing Bundt Cakes in Oklahoma City, they have a Bundt for every occasion whether you have a sweet tooth for a party of one or 100. This new fascination has been brought to Oklahoma by Marie and Toby Hicks who, upon looking for a bakery that inspired them, went to a little Nothing Bundt Cakes store in South Lake, Texas, and according to Marie, they “bought one of every flavor, sat in the car and had a bite of everything and decided right there, this is the way to do it.” The couple opened the only Oklahoma branch of Nothing Bundt Cakes in February 2012. They
make everything from scratch in-house and Marie bakes the Bundt cakes daily and tops them with icing prepared using fresh ingredients. Marie loves to bake and coming from a family in Oklahoma that cooks and bakes a lot, owning a bakery seemed “kind of a natural progression.” After all, as Marie says, “I mean, who doesn’t like cake?” The cakes at Nothing Bundt Cakes are moist and thoughtfully flavored. The Chocolate Chocolate Chip has mini chocolate chips enveloped in a sponge of chocolate cake. The Bundtlet I tried was an intense two bites of chocolate that I plan on revisiting. The lemon is the perfect combination of bright, friendly, sweet and just a little tart. I’d have to say Marie is the real expert and her favorite, the White Chocolate Raspberry “knocked (her) socks off.” It has a burst of raspberry flavor and is nicely complemented by the cream cheese frosting. In addition to the standard flavors, there is always a featured flavor of the month, and for October it is America’s beloved Pumpkin Spice, a perfect complement to fall festivities. Bundtinis are bite-sized cakes that are the per-
fect size for one, or possibly someone who is better at sharing than I am. The Bundtlets are big enough to split with your closest friends. For larger groups, they also have 8-inch, 10-inch and tiered Bundt cakes that can be decorated with a large variety of toppers and designs to suit any occasion. I’ve already had daydreams about picking up an 8-inch Pumpkin Spice Bundt cake to share with my friends this month. For Marie, this elementary school teacher turned friendly neighborhood baker, “it’s just amazing to be able to help people celebrate.” Nothing Bundt Cakes is at 2520 W. Memorial Rd. Suite B, in Oklahoma City. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. For orders and delivery, call 751-8066.
Kim Hickerson is a culinary-enthusiast and local food writer who enjoys exploring new restaurants, foods and recipes wherever they're happening. She writes, photographs and occasionally podcasts about her adventures at www.enamoredwithfood.com
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FOODFAVORITES by Krystal Harlow
Running Wild Catering
Nothing Bundt Cakes
Cimarron Casino & Grille
Bring all the gourmet touches and delicious variety of this legendary catering company to your family dinner this holiday. Running Wild’s superb holiday dinner packages serve 6-8 people with a whole roasted or smoked turkey as the crowning centerpiece of your festivities. Relish the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ as hungry dinner guests scoop up spoonfuls of creamy mashed potatoes and gravy, old fashioned cornbread dressing, green beans and cranberry sauce. Finished with dinner rolls and a pumpkin or pecan pie, this feast offers all the homemade tastes you crave without spending hours in the kitchen! Order early and ask about their catering menu of chef-prepared appetizers, entrées, desserts and custom menus for parties and corporate events. Professional servers and bar service available, too. Call 751-0688 or visit runningwildcatering.com.
When nothing bundt the best will do, these luscious cakes spark a festive mood that makes every occasion a special event. As your seasonal to-do list grows, fall back on the quick, easy delight of a moist, handmade bundt cake lovingly prepared each day with fresh eggs, real butter and cream cheese. Perfect for a personal indulgence or a show-stopping centerpiece, each light-as-air cake is artistically draped in thick petals of cream cheese frosting. Stop in and choose from scrumptious flavors like Cinnamon Swirl, Lemon and Pumpkin Spice or order your favorite decorated in one of 40 gorgeous designs. Mix and match Bundts, Bundtlets and Bundtinis in tiered or towered creations for gifts or parties. These beauties bring nostalgic wit and charm to the table every time! Stop by 2520 W. Memorial Rd. or visit nothingbundtcakes.com.
Grab your friends for a fun evening getaway– October is your month to howl! All month, Cimarron Casino & Grille brings you Girls Night Out each Monday and Guys Night Out each Tuesday. Ladies, enjoy $3 Margaritas plus $10 match play on your special night. Guys, you’re treated to $1.50 beer and $10 match play to rev up the excitement on Tuesdays. Open 24 hours, seven days a week, this entertainment hot spot thrills guests with state-of-the-art games, million dollar jackpots, a friendly and attentive staff and delicious dining. Kick back in the Grille and catch the latest sports on TV while you enjoy your favorite appetizers, breakfast served 24 hours, dinner items, burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and five meals under $5. Located at 821 Freeman Ave., Perkins, OK. Call (405) 547-5352 or visit cimarroncasino.com.
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Cabinet Cures by Linda Treadway Don Childress, owner of Cabinet Cures, Edmond’s newest cabinet remodeling company, opened its doors in May 2011. He now has three employees plus a designer working for him as well as a shop and design showroom located at 129 W. First St., in the heart of downtown Edmond. Childress decided to start his own business and get back to a lifelong passion of working with wood after many years of working in the corporate world. “I loved to work with wood as a child. I fell into corporate management and sales as an adult. When a friend pointed out this business, it stuck. I knew this was a way to get back to where I wanted to be all along,” he explained. “Cabinet Cures is based on a unique system using water-based stains and lacquers with very low VOCs that are non-intrusive in the home. This allows us to provide quick turnaround and high-quality, custom finishes,” Childress explained. “We don’t just put up new wood in the case of a reface. We put a beautiful finish on, that is guaranteed for a decade. Nobody else does that.” Cabinet Cures can reshape the look of an exist-
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ing cabinet. If a customer likes the shape, Cabinet Cures can work with the existing patina of the wood by stripping it and then giving it a beautiful, brandnew stain and lacquer finish. Childress provides before-and-after examples of stripped and refinished cabinets in his design showroom. “Our forte is not building new cabinetry. Of course, we are willing to do some light reconfigurations. We simply wish to make your old cabinetry look like new, and even add functionality. So if you like the footprint of your kitchen or bathroom cabinets, we don’t want to rip them all out. We want to make them look beautiful again,” he said and adds, “It’s a very environmentally conscious, or ‘green’ solution.” Any remodeling project can be a daunting process. His designer, Ashley Lacks, is certified by the International Interior Design Association and attended the University of Oklahoma studying environmental design. Lacks helps customers sort through the infinite number of options including 286 stain colors, lacquers, cabinet fixtures, molds and cabinetfacing styles. The stains are custom mixed, water-
Owner, Don Childress based, and guaranteed for a decade of wear. In the design showroom, they have approximately 70 styles of doors on display, but there are literally hundreds available. Together, Childress and Lacks guide customers through cabinet door options while being mindful of cost, often comparing similar styles for additional savings. Available extras include under-the-counter addons like slide-out shelves, drawer boxes and hidden European door hinges, among others, most on display in the showroom. Call 285-5700 to schedule a free consultation. For more information and recommendations, visit www.cabinetcuresofoklahoma.com.
OK Christian Academy by Linda Treadway Oklahoma Christian Academy recently welcomed a newly appointed president. Brandon Tatum took over for Floyd Coppedge, interim president, as of June 1. Coppedge, a well-known educator of 39 years, previously serving under former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating for eight years as education secretary, led the search committee responsible for hiring Tatum. Coppedge now serves as vice president of education for the school. Tatum previously served as director of development for Brentwood Christian School in Austin, Texas which included approximately 700 students, pre-K4 (for 4-year-olds) through grade 12. Oklahoma Christian Academy’s current enrollment is 252 with plenty of room to grow. The school boasts a student to teacher ratio of 11:1, and averages 15 students per classroom. Established in the fall of 1987, the first class to graduate was in 1993. Oklahoma Christian Academy then consolidated all grades, pre-K through 12, onto one campus in August 2001. “The term ‘Kingdom Education’ is what Oklahoma Christian Academy is all about and the
foundation is Christ,” said Tatum. “Our teachers teach according to the core standard but they are also passionate about revealing God through the academic content. We teach core standards and curriculum from a Christian world view using a biblical perspective.” Tatum adds, “I’m really excited about this being our first year to have a pre-K3 program for 3-yearolds. It’s a blessing to see the little ones on campus every day and our extended care program after school, open until 5:30 p.m., really helps our working parents.” Well above the national average, 95 percent of Oklahoma Christian Academy seniors pursue college after graduation. The school often sends students to local career tech schools and encourages seniors to take college credit courses during the day, mostly from the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Christian University. Extracurricular activities include photography, film, art, debate, theater, choir and more. The school offers 17 Class B sports teams for both boys and girls. This is also the first year they’ve re-established
President Brandon Tatum with students Photo by Adam Herndon
a competitive cheer team. Some of their ongoing sports teams include eight-man football, girls’ and boys’ basketball, girls’ softball, boys’ baseball and cross-country. Students are encouraged to participate in one or as many activities as they would like. Tatum espouses Oklahoma Christian Academy’s mission statement: “To partner with parents to raise kids to love the Lord through an academic setting.” For more information, contact the admissions office at 844-6478 or visit www.ocacademy.org. Oklahoma Christian Academy is located at 1101 E Ninth St. in Edmond.
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Mid America Cycle by Linda Treadway With the retreating summer heat, riding enthusiasts are hauling out their motorcycles and ATVs to enjoy the cooler fall weather. Woody and Nikki Smith own and operate Mid America Cycle along with their son, Steve Smith who is a certified Arctic Cat ATV Technician and has helped with the family business since he was 14 years old. In operation since 1980, Mid America Cycle moved to its current location off I-35 and Waterloo Road from Guthrie in 2011 in order to expand their showroom and service space. “We’re not the big million-dollar business but we’re trying to keep it to where we are familyoriented and we treat you like we’d like to be treated,” Nikki said. “That is how we’ve always tried to run our business.” The Smiths have hired Nate Hill, a certified Suzuki, Triumph Motorcycle Technician and a certified Arctic Cat ATV Technician. “Nate has fit right into our family. He can work on anything,” said Nikki. The majority of their service customers include those getting ready for hunting season and farmers
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ready to gather their fall harvests. Owning an ATV helps them get around on rougher terrain rather than using their trucks. Others just anticipate the cooler weather and want to get out and have some fun. Customers can leave their motorcycles or ATVs for servicing and just kick back, enjoy a pop and watch some TV in Mid America Cycle’s trophy-lined waiting area. Woody, Steve and Nate are avid riders. Woody raced motorcross in his younger years and Steve and Woody both raced cars at the State Fair Speedway in OKC for 28 years. Nikki shared, “Those are our championship trophies lining the walls. Nate raced motorcycles in the OCCRA series so all three guys have had their blood mixed with racing fever.” “Motorcycles have always been my hobby,” Woody added. “Owning a motorcycle business has always been my dream.” Woody takes trips as far away as Canada and plans other trips with local riding groups. Nikki and Woody handle sales and general business duties. A large showroom displays the newest
(L to R) Nate Hill, Woody, Nikki & Steve Smith ATVs and a selection of used motorcycles, all lined up waiting for prospective buyers. The back wall and sides have a variety of accessories including an array of riding helmets. No matter the sport, safety depends on the appropriate size of ATV for each rider’s age, and training is critical in preventing accidents. Every ATV displays a federally appropriate age designation. Nikki recommends attending a training course with either Arctic Cat or one through the DMV. Having certification also helps lower insurance premiums. All ATVs are currently marked down for hunting season. All the used motorcycles for sale are listed on www.midamericacycleandatvs.com. For more information, call Nikki at 282-0086.
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The New Old Fashion
prinkled amongst the predominantly Old-World-style new homes throughout Edmond are a handful of homes that appear a little different. They have an aura of nostalgia reminiscent of freshly squeezed lemonade and home-baked cookies. They echo the old-fashioned Arts and Crafts homes of the 1900s through 1930s — the homes that fill the old neighborhoods; have large, deep porches and heavy, tapered square pillars, with lowslung gabled roofs, wide overhangs and exposed rafters, dormers, shake shingle siding and shutters. The homes appearing in new housing additions in Edmond have many of these same features and this same style yet they have none of the problems associated with older homes. Local builders have begun lines of custom residences to bring back the Craftsman style with a modern appeal. “The concept is to build a sense of community, where neighbors know neighbors,” said Edmond resident Andy Crum, co-owner of Beacon Fine Homes, one of several local builders who are offering modern Craftsman homes. “The norm now is small entryways and everything is private. You get home
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and shut your garage door behind you and shell up.” Crum wants to change that, to redirect society’s path from self living to community living. One step in that direction is designing homes with large covered front and back porches, “so when neighbors come over to visit, they have a place to stand in the shade and chat,” Crum said. This atmosphere is true to the original Arts and Crafts style, which developed as an answer to the Industrial Revolution-embracing, mass-produced décor of Victorian design — a design in which machine-made products became readily affordable to the middle class, so homeowners filled their Victorian homes with as much furniture, fabric and accessories as they could. Those who began the Arts and Crafts movement in England emphasized quality craftsmanship — which again made furnishings expensive — in rebellion to what they saw as a cheapening of products. Gustav Stickley brought Arts and Crafts style to America, with the goal of making the style truly affordable. His solution was to use the best of both worlds — machine-cut and hand-finished furnishings. This married quality with affordability.
by Dena A. Edwards
The style affected not just furniture, but architecture and interior design as well, emphasizing natural products and craftsmanship throughout. Craftsman homes are generally limited in square footage — averaging 1,400 to 2,400 square feet — and are models of practical design and creative use of space. The bungalow home of the early 1900s was even smaller. They gained popularity as kit homes, offered through mail order catalogs such as Sears. Although mass production caused craftsmanship and detail to be watered down, the homes were good quality and affordable. “(Eric Thornhill and I) started looking at smaller house plans about seven years ago,” Crum said. “We took a lot of pictures and really liked the Craftsman homes — their timeless, clean look. We also realized the layouts were different. All the square footage was usable; no wasted space.” The new Arts and Crafts-style homes in Edmond uphold the Craftsman practice of creative design. Unlike standard floor plans, these homes have minimal hallways and lots of pocket doors throughout, so as to not waste floor and wall space with door swings. The living spaces are open floor
plans, with the fireplace being the focal point. “We kept the character and feel of the older homes,” said Kellie Clements, a 2011 HGTV Design Star semifinalist who designed the Craftsman series homes for Beacon. But other floor plan changes strayed from the traditional by increasing the size of the kitchen and storage space, specifically in the closets. “It’s the perfect marriage between the best of what the older houses offer and what we offer today.” The interior features of these reinvented homes include a variety of windows to allow lots of natural light — most with multiple upper lights in keeping with Arts and Crafts style — as well as wood plank flooring, and mission style light and plumbing fixtures. Other possibilities include bench seats, exposed beams, wainscoting, bead board inserts in the interior doors, rectilinear trim on the woodwork and even traditional plate rails. The interesting juxtaposition of contemporary materials, such as travertine, granite and stainless steel appliances, alongside traditional wood and glass is what gives potential buyers a modern home that makes them feel at home. “My goal was when people walked through, they liked the way the home felt, not just the way it looked,” Clements said. The color palette — exterior as well as interior — tends toward earth tones, blues and greens, with contrasting white or cream trim. Stained wood also works well for the traditional Arts and Crafts look. “(Homeowners) were braver with the color choices back then,” Clements said. “They used a lot of color, not just white or taupe walls like we tend to do today. People are tired of the dark dungeon look. They are spending more time at home, because of the economy and they want homes that are bright places; fun and still functional. There are a lot of pretty houses out there, but just because they are pretty doesn’t mean they work.”
Call for Free Estimates!
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Style
Light Hair, Light Eyes
Color Me
Fabulous
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by Kay Byrd
or years, I had been wearing the wrong colors, completely unaware that they were not flattering on me nor did they complement my complexion, hair or eye color. I was just a kid in the ’80s when color analysis became popular. I vividly remember women at my local department store armed with color swatch booklets searching for outfits within their color palettes. At the time, my young mind thought it was a ridiculous idea and a strangely over-the-top activity. But times have changed. After wasting hundreds of dollars on the wrong colors, I now know the value of purchasing items from my color group. With a downloaded color palette on my smartphone, I shop with confidence knowing that the right selections will make me look and feel great. Whatever your budget, the fashion choices are endless. While increased choices can be exciting, it can also be overwhelming, especially when it comes to choosing new items each season. The key is to know what color group you belong to and in doing so, you will be able to confidently and effortlessly navigate through the change of seasons and the shopping process. Color groups are broken down into six categories: light or dark (hair and eyes), warm or cool (skin undertones) and clear or soft (determined by a fuchsia/salmon color test). There truly is a science to this, but if you take it one step at a time, you’ll train your eye to detect which colors are meant for you regardless of the season or what designers say are in style. Take it from a stylist: What is ALWAYS in style is what looks best on you! Anyone, regardless of hair color and complexion, can find something suitable within the colored fabrics and accessories widely available in stores, with a little expert guidance.
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You will radiate in neutrals such as stone, taupe and cocoa. Granny Smith apple green, cornflower blue, apricot and geranium red are your power colors. Black should be avoided almost entirely since your coloring is so delicate. If wearing black, wear it away from your face and never with a white top. Opt for peach, celery green or creamy tapioca white instead. All gradients of gray, navy and stone are your black substitutes. Photo by: George Braswell, ESQ//Photography Hair & Makeup: Shelly Price Katie Hall Model: Aundie
Highlighted & Strawberry Blonde
Those who highlight their hair and have darker eyebrows and those with strawberry blonde hair will light up the room while wearing creamy buttermilk white, golden butternut, Wagoner County peach, a green resembling fading pasture grass and the red from an Oklahoma’s Black Diamond watermelon along with the neutrals of chestnut, pewter and navy. If wearing black, be sure it’s never a black/white pattern around your face. If you prefer wearing black and white, choose one or the other, but never in the same pattern. Keep in mind that neither color is particularly flattering on you. Creams or rice white, deep espressos, khakis and tans are your substitutes. When black is a must, choose open necklines with a peek-a-boo color of pink, lavender or salmon underneath or layer the outside of a black top with a scarf or jacket.
Photo by: Ashley Thomas, Adoralee Photography Hair & Makeup: Sharon Tabb Model: Janet from KJ103FM, Mary Lujan
Warm Red Heads
You can flaunt the season in every harvest color imaginable! Try golden mustards, rich caramels, mahogany and cowboy coffee browns with tomato red, rust and the orange found in yams. Apply the same rules regarding black as with highlighted hair.
Photo by: George Braswell, ESQ//Photography Hair & Makeup: Katie Hall Model: OKC Ballet's, Callye McCollum
Photo by: George Braswell, ESQ//Photography Hair & Makeup: Shelly Price Tabb Model: Victoria
Brunettes, Light Eyes
Dark Hair, Dark Eyes
The best fall colors for you are plum and raspberry along with pumpkin orange and asparagus paired with chocolate brown and black bean. Black on top or bottom can be worn by you at all times. Pair it with other colors to show your personality or to send nonverbal messages which can imply being approachable (blue), friendly (green) and feminine (pink). Black is wonderful on you!
Gray, Ash or Salt & Pepper
Model: Nancy Teague-Horner
Photo by: Lacy Hammack, Adoralee Photography Hair & Makeup: Sharon Tabb Model: Amy Blackburn
You look best in colors that call to mind the season of spring, but you can also wear taupe and all gradients of gray such as pewter and gun metals extremely well. You are equally gorgeous in all shades of blue as well as baby, rose and hot pinks. When you want to be bold, try reds like cranberry and raspberry, or black which looks fabulous on you at all times.
Dark mysterious brunettes with dark eyes stop traffic in Santa Rosa plum, pomegranate, fern, forest and pine green, scarlet or bittersweet red, paired with espresso brown and black angus. Black will make up a large portion of your wardrobe. You will always look stunning in black with or without other colors. Wear it from head to toe if you like!
If you’re unsure of the category you fall into, I can help! ‘Like’ my page on Facebook (Kay Byrd, Personal Development Coach) and then message me the key word: ColorEdmond for your free color analysis. Be sure you have a visible profile picture which shows your hair, skin and eyes and please allow two to four weeks for results.
Kay Byrd, CPC, CSC, is a certified style coach and the president of the Oklahoma Modeling Academy. Coach Kay can be heard at 8:30 a.m. every Thursday on KJ103FM. www.kaybyrd.net
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FUN FALL FESTIVITIES
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Photos by: Simon Hurst, Justin Morris Makeup/Stylist: Karen Snyder Hair: Bernice Armstrong Model: Ellen Taylor
Model Student
by Lauren Wright
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ackling the fashion world is no easy feat — especially in a relatively small market like Oklahoma. It takes a lot of charisma, dedication, hard work and passion to open a fashion academy, especially outside major metropolises such as New York City, Los Angeles and Dallas. Locals Karen Snyder and Ragan Butler, both veterans of the fashion and entertainment worlds, took a leap of faith nearly six months ago and opened A-List Fashion Academy in Oklahoma City. Little did they know that their big break would come from Edmond before they even opened the academy’s doors. Fifteen-year-old Ellen Taylor is a 5’10” natural blonde, blue-eyed Edmond North student who loves to strut her stuff in all things pink and frilly. But modeling had never really crossed her mind until her grandmother took notice of her statuesque build and suggested she give it a try.
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Weeks away from opening, A-List Fashion Academy got their first knock on the door. “Ellen and her grandmother actually showed up on our doorstep while we were in the middle of redecorating,” Snyder said. Taylor was inexperienced with walking in heels and A-List figured they had a long road ahead. But she surprised them all by making her way into print and runway in no time. “After my grandmother got me into modeling, I just really loved it a lot,” Taylor said. She began by soaking up all the information she could in A-List’s in-depth lessons on makeup, runway, healthy eating habits and body image. “We don’t just give them a 45-minute training session and unleash them on the world because they don’t know where to go or what to do,” explains Butler. “What we do give these young girls, 14 and 15, is a positive body image and self-confidence which puts them hands and feet above everyone else.” Unfortunately, there are no guarantees in the fashion world. “No one can guarantee that people will hire you. What we can guarantee is that these
girls will come out of here trained, knowing how to do what they want to do,” Butler said. For Taylor, there’s no doubt that adjusting to life in high school while balancing a modeling career has had its challenges. For now, she makes sure all her homework is done before she takes a job and tries her best to eat healthy. “It takes some hard work, that’s for sure. Staying healthy is really important to me,” she said. She adds that having a supportive family is really important when working in the modeling industry and her friends think, “It’s just so cool.” Snyder and Butler plan to attract even more fresh faces for fashion by keeping their academy “oldschool” where the attitude of “what you see is what you get” reigns supreme. In just six short months, they’ve placed models in Getty Images, Dillard’s fashion shows, a market show at Oklahoma State University and are currently working with Ford Models in Los Angeles. Taylor looks forward to many new doors opening for her. And the academy? They’re looking forward to many more knocks. To learn more, visit A-listfashionacademy.com.
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Down on the Farm by Cassie Gage
We really felt like God led us here. If it hadn’t been for God providing and doing some awesome things, we might not have made it.” The Websters pride themselves on offering Jennifer, Ella, Kolten and Justice Webster a natural experience at ennifer Webster’s lifelong plans did not their 25-acre range. The cows and goats are all grassinclude running a farm. Webster grew up fed and the chickens receive nongenetically modia country girl but her plan included leavfied grass feed from Ohio and Washington. The last ing the country life behind for a corporate two seasons’ droughts could have done Providence position in a big city. in, but faith, hope and a whole lot of love have kept But, such as life, circumstances change and now it going. the Edmond resident finds herself mother to three What the Websters are providing their kids is children, six cows, 37 goats and dozens of chickens. a chance at sustainability. The couple lives by the Webster and her husband, Chris, own Provipremise that food shouldn’t come from a box. All dence Farms in north Edmond. The couple homethree kids are involved in the upkeep of the farm, school their three children, Ella, Kolten and Justice. even naming the animals. The animals may provide On top of that, Jennifer and Chris both hold down the family with nutrient-dense food, but they’re also full-time jobs to support the family and farm venture. an extension of the household. Webster spends her nights working for the “We try to do everything as naturally as posEdmond Police Department as a jailer. She still has sible,” Webster said. “I really believe that a lot of the dreams of becoming an officer, but as she puts it, reason people are sick, struggling and unhealthy is with three children and a farm, her life has taken a because the foods they’re eating aren’t giving their little bit of a twist. body what they need. When your body doesn’t get “The farm is where I feel called to be right now,” what it needs, it reacts. Our vision is to continue to she said. “Our farm is named Providence for a reason. hone what we’re doing here with the grass-fed dairy
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goats and dairy cows.” The drought has put a financial burden on farmers all over the country, the Websters included. Grain that was once readily available is now harder to come by. The family is currently feeding alfalfa hay to its stock because there’s no grass. Typically, the stock would have access to green grass through October. The hay comes at a cost of almost $30,000 just to get through the winter.
“My kids have a love for animals, a respect for nature and a strong work ethic.” “It’s a lot easier to be conventional when it comes to farming — just do what has been done the last 50 years — than it is to make a stand and go back to the older ways of farming,” Webster said. “One hundred years ago, farmers didn’t use pesticides or chemicals. They didn’t have the option and they couldn’t have afforded it even if they did.” Webster points to small farming practices as a way for the country to get back to healthy. The family invites the public to come out and meet the animals. For them, it is about teaching people that food-sourcing animals shouldn’t be an afterthought. There’s Squeakles the goat, Big Bess and Little
Bess, the cows, and Maggie the hen. They’re all a part of the Webster family – human or otherwise. And they’re all part of a growing sustainability movement that got its start back in 1954 with the publication of “Living the Good Life” by Helen and Scott Nearing. Today, its following has grown internationally. The couple finds inspiration and motivation from Joel Salatin, a well-known author and holistic farmer from Virginia. “(Joel) is a big fan of ours,” Webster said. “He’s a pioneer in the grass-fed movement. He’s paved the way for others and has written a lot of good books on the subject.” The movement is evident in national food store chains like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s and people growing gardens in their backyards. While the Websters hope to teach others about the advantages of sustainable living, Jennifer is grateful to share the experience with her children. “My kids have a love for animals, a respect for nature and a strong work ethic,” she said. “They know that these animals depend on them, and we depend on the animals to give us good milk and provide for us. It’s a relationship. It’s taught them a lot – they see business ethics, moral ethics and all those other things.” The Websters see the farm as a means to educate and make their community better. The family is always willing to discuss the benefits of sustainability for anyone interested, and hopes that Providence Farms is just the beginning of the return to a true organic period in Oklahoma agriculture. “We never want to force a sustainable lifestyle on people,” Webster said. “We want people to come to us because they’re interested. We’re here to answer questions.” For more information visit www.providencefarmsok.com or call 359-8359 or 240-2626.
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Local Production Value by Nathan Winfrey
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en years ago, it was impossible for the average person to make their own movie — unless that person was okay with cardboard sets and laughably bad cameras, or unless they were especially wealthy. But Edmond filmmaker Kyle Roberts is determined to bring the movie that’s in his head into the world, and he’s using some innovative techniques to make that happen. “Posthuman” is a teen movie in the spirit of nostalgic ’80s high school flicks like “The Breakfast Club” and “Sixteen Candles,” except in “Posthuman,” the teens happen to be superheroes. “I’m a big fan of your angsty teen movies. Throw in some superpowers and there’s no way you’re going to go wrong with that,” relates Alex Harris, who plays a goodhearted cheerleader who develops the ability to stop other characters’ powers. “It’s an allaround good story and it’s something anyone and everyone can relate to.” Harris, an Edmond Santa Fe graduate, found out about the film through a casting director, auditioned and got the part. “I love stories. I read about
a book a week, so if I can become a story and show that to others, there’s nothing better,” she says. The film is about four high school students who evolve into something greater, but the flick, which is about to start shooting, is proof that filmmaking itself has evolved. Today, top-quality cameras are more accessible, the Internet has provided an array of opportunities for artists to find support, and affordable software can create blockbustercaliber special effects. To raise the bare-minimum $50,000 budget, Roberts has staged two music festivals, used a billboard, employed social media, set a benefit banquet, appeared on TV, commissioned a tie-in comic book, made a page on donation site indiegogo.com, whipped up a variety of promotional art and participated in a reality show in Los Angeles. Every attempt gets him closer to that number. Roberts is sworn to secrecy about the reality show, but he can say that it pits filmmakers from across the country against each other. “I know it’s a cash prize,” he says, and he promises, “I know I’m going to give every dollar to ‘Posthuman’ because I really want to see this thing made.” He has already made a name for himself with stop-animation shorts and music videos, and his work is all over YouTube, but “Posthuman” is his first attempt at a feature-length, live-action production. The goal is a 24-day shoot, spread out over 30 days, making the most of his young cast’s school breaks.
Collin Place, who plays an unpredictable “cool nerd” in the shadow of his popular older brother, is, in real life, a freshman at Edmond Santa Fe. “He’s got the smarts,” Place says of his character, one who develops super strength. “He’s probably the smartest guy in the school, including the teachers, but he doesn’t get much respect.” He explains that the abilities the characters develop, like his strength, Harris’s protective ability, and other characters’ teleportation and pyrokinesis, have to do with what each character needs or desires. Place’s character tries to discover the source of these powers, and he and the other characters run into some trouble. Roberts plans to release the film online split into about 12 episodes, but release it on DVD as a full-length film. The episodes will appear regularly on posthumanmovie.com and on a tablet app, and the next week they will appear on YouTube. Roberts says they may have it in a few fesitvals, but bypassing the typical indie film fesitval circuit, will save them $10- to $15,000. For now, Roberts plans to do all of the visual effects himself. They shot a “test scene” months ago to entice investors. They’ve raised just under $20,000, and they’re inching toward their goal. Roberts explains that they need $30,000 to shoot the film and $20,000 for postproduction. They’ve been in preproduction since January. So far, all of the money has been crowd-raised or from Roberts’ own pocket. Ultimately, he says, great movies aren’t about budgets, but creativity. Partly, Roberts just wants to prove that something like this can be done in Oklahoma. He explains there are pros and cons to shooting in this state. One of the hurdles is that if he needs special equipment he has to have it overnighted from another state. However, on the plus side, “The film crews that are here are very talented and they want to be here,” he said. Although this is his first feature film, Roberts says about 20 people on his crew have worked on features. “We don’t have to wait for Hollywood to ‘green-light’ projects like this,” he says. “We can do it right here in Oklahoma, as a family.”
“We don't have to wait for Hollywood to 'green-light' projects like this.”
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Dream Come True by Sarah Paige Berling
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ometimes life takes you places you never thought you’d go. Such is the case with Oklahoma-born-and-bred published author, Stefne Miller, who says the idea of writing never occurred to her until God led her down that path in a dream. Miller grew up an Army brat, and lived all over the United States, from Hawaii to Georgia to Virginia. She says that life growing up was great, with parents who were always present, loving and attentive. After graduating high school in Pennsylvania in 1988, she moved back to Oklahoma, a place she always considered home, to study political science at the University of Central Oklahoma, with a minor in public administration. After graduating in 1994,
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she had a variety of jobs, including working in children’s ministries with her husband and being cabinet liaison for former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating. Even though her father had written several novels, she says she never thought about becoming a writer.
When she woke, she knew she'd had a dream of great importance. It wasn’t until she had a series of dreams about the characters in her debut novel, “Salvaged,” that the idea of being a full-time writer was realized. In
an interview with Gabrielle Caroline at ModPodge Books, Miller said that during the first dream, she and God had a lengthy conversation about the “journey” the two of them had taken together thus far. Then He asked her if she wanted to go on a brand-new journey with Him. When she woke up, she knew she’d had a dream of great importance, so she immediately wrote down everything she could remember. The next night, she had a dream about a girl standing in front of a pickup truck, talking to a boy standing on a patio. The boy kept calling the girl “Charlie.” Right then, two of her characters were born. Every night after that, she had a dream about people who would turn out to be the main characters in her first novel. Each morning, she woke up and wrote down the latest installment, adding setting and mood, and by the time the dreams stopped two weeks later, she had the first six chapters of the book. She just couldn’t bear to let the story end there, so three months later “Salvaged” was complete. Miller has since written three other books in this young adult series: “Rise,” “Collision” and “Brave.” She’s also begun another series, with the first book in that series called “Gifted.” She says that “Salvaged” and “Rise” are Christian-inspired books. The running theme in these two novels is faith through adversity. In some stories, she explains, the faith message might be emphasized, while in others it is downplayed. “When I start writing a story, I ask myself if it is a story that I want to tell or [if it is] a message I want
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...continued from page 34 to tell through a story,” said Miller. “Once I decide that, it determines the level of faith in the story itself.” Miller’s success is growing by leaps and bounds. “Collision” has gone on to be developed into an independent film, with screenwriter Tracey Ann-Marie Nelson and director Paul Morrell on board. The story focuses on a Hollywood actor who falls in love with the daughter of missionaries who live in Uganda. It’s set against the backdrop of the 25-year war that has gone on in Northern Uganda and their two worlds start to collide. “Our next step is to find a producer and/or investors. The movie will be filmed for the most part in Asheville, NC, and Gulu, Uganda,” explains Miller. While her stories for older teenagers are inspired by Christianity, she says that the books themselves are too secular to be popular in the Christian market, and too Christian to be popular in the secular market, which is one of the reasons she chose the route to publication that she did. Most authors query literary agents or try to win contests that promise publication as the prize. And while Miller originally tried the former, no agent took her on. Instead of letting this discourage her, she skipped over the literary agent altogether and went straight for the publishing company. “One of the things that all agents consider when choosing authors to represent is that they have a platform,” she says, “which is basically an audience that is already built up and ready to purchase your book once it is released. I felt like I was better served releasing the book and using it to build a platform versus trying to build a platform without a product. I also understood that due to its content and the fact that the story didn’t necessarily fit a specific genre, chances of finding an agent and a publisher were small.” So Miller took it upon herself to approach a small publishing company, Tate Publishing. She explains that small publishers tend to be more open to new authors and more willing to take chances. The downside, though, is that there is little to no visibility. There were no advertising campaigns for her books. In order to make up for this deficit, she’s had to be an avid self-promoter. It worked. Last year, an agent queried her, wanting to represent her. But she eventually turned them down because, “They wanted me to severely sanitize my stories to better fit the guidelines suggested by Christian publishers,” she said. However, she says it was great to have validation that she was, in fact, a writer. Miller has this advice for new writers: “Believe in yourself and never give up. Research the industry. Know it well so that you will understand your options. Surround yourself with other writers. Nobody else can or will understand your passion or what all is involved in pursuing your dream. And don’t stop writing. As soon as you do, your mind will start flooding with doubt.” For more information about Miller’s work visit www.stefnemiller.com or www.cabotandkei.wordpress.com.
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MY EDMOND
OUTLOOK by Krystal Harlow
Name: Staci Patton, Salon Owner What were you like as a kid growing up in Edmond? I was busy! My mom started me in dance at 3. I also got into power tumbling. But my athletic passion was BMX racing. I raced BMX (Bicycle Motocross) for 11 years. I won quite a few titles in my age group and finished top 10 in the country most of those years. I even finished 5th in the world as a 16-year-old and 7th in the world as a Junior Elite. I had sponsors that would send me to at least 15 nationals a year, so I missed school frequently. So you've traveled all over the country? What have been your favorite places to visit? I have! I've even been able to travel over seas a few times. A favorite would be Jackson Hole, WY. My team went white water rafting down the Snake River and camped out for a few days in our RVs. Argentina and France are neat places too. I just love to travel. How did you transition from being a BMX racer to a hair stylist? I've always had a knack for hair and nails, so after my hairstylist encouraged me to do so, I attended cosmetology school while I was a junior and senior in high school. I graduated when I was 17 and had my first career job two weeks later! And now you own a salon? I sure do! I opened S Studio Salon eight years ago. I was only 20 and had been doing hair for two years. Recently the salon moved to a new location, which I designed with my contractor. I have so much fun as a business owner. Oklahoma is a wonderful place for it. What do you like to do in your spare time? I enjoy healthy cooking, running and cycling. I ran my first half marathon in November of last year. I'm also a contributor on the health and fitness blog Runhers.com. How do you stay motivated to work out and eat right? Any tips? It's a lifestyle choice. It's so much easier to keep a regular schedule of workouts and food choices instead of having to start over and over again. I have found a boot camp I love and have been going three days a week at 6 a.m. since February 2009. As far as eating right, I don't follow diets or the next eating trend. I like to be active so I need to fuel my body to perform. What is your favorite go-to healthy meal to make? For dinner, grilled cedar plank salmon with mixed veggies. It's quick and so easy. Depending on the mood, I'll use pesto on the salmon, other spices or a brown sugar and spice mixture that my friends swear is the best salmon they've ever had. Do you have any children or pets? I have five chihuahua fur babies - three of them were rescued. They are all girls and so sweet! What are some items on your bucket list? Oh goodness...Ultimately I want to travel the world. I love culture, so no matter where I end up I want to experience what that culture has to offer. I'm passionate about learning and educating and I would love to be an educator in my industry. Describe a typical day in the life of Staci. Alarm: 5:15 a.m. Workout: 6-7. Feed pups, myself and get ready for work. Make people even more beautiful than they already are! Come home and relax in the kitchen then on my patio with my wonderful boyfriend. Usually in bed by 10 p.m.
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