Edmond Outlook - October 2020

October 2020

Dream Dresses Made To Order

Local Eats: The Barlor Local Teacher Brings History To Life Drifting Around The Metro

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Features

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ASK EDMOND

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LOCAL EATS: THE BARLOR

I miss my hair. And I really didn’t have great hair. I never noticed how many guys are bald. I don’t think this guy or that guy would look better with hair - it’s not a judgement thing, I just notice my brothers more now that I’m in the club. But for me, I miss it.

Alison assures me that she likes my “Bruce Willis” look. She says it’s handsome. I appreciate her comparison to the “Die Hard” action movie hero, I prefer her sentiments over one of my riding buddies. He refers to my follicle-free look as “Daddy Warbucks.”

No hair means I have less to do in the shower. I guess that’s good, or at least time and cost efficient. But showers just don’t feel done without scrubbing and rinsing my golden-brown, peppered-with-gray locks. So I just stand there lamenting the loss.

And what a pain, all my baseball caps had to be readjusted (all two). I had never really put much thought into the density and thickness of a healthy collection of follicles. Okay, not exactly a major inconvenience, but it’s something. I’m complaining, don’t stop me.

I also miss the natural protection of hair. I was up in the attic recently, crouching around looking for something, and I thought, if I bang my head on a rafter, like I occasionally do - there’s no hiding my “dumb guy” move. There’s gonna be a bruise. I know this from experience.

Truly, all minor inconveniences, I’ll get over my vanity. I think the saddest part of all this is catching a glimpse of my bare noggin in the mirror or a reflection in a window.

That, unfortunately, reminds me of my present schedule of medical treatments. On the upside, I’m told my hair will likely grow back. I’m hoping for super-tight red curls.

Goodbye Daddy Warbucks - Hello, Annie! That would be fetching.

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What is your favorite Halloween memory?

Have your cake and drink it, too GRAYWOLF DRIVEWAY BAND

Local musicians perform for neighborhood fans DREAM DRESSES MADE TO ORDER

A self taught designer, Terri Owens helps women feel glamorous

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DRIFTING AROUND THE METRO

Daniel Fuentes shares his drifting experience

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BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE

Shari Carney re-enacts the lives of famous women in small group re-enactments

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WINGS FALL FESTIVAL

Wings gives future to developmentally challenged adults

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THE ‘BUSINESS’ OF BEDPANS

An unintentional collection brings unexpected joy to retired nurse

Business 22

Customized training programs deliver an efficient workout

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COVER YOUR PERGOLA

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LEGACY PAINTING

THE EXERCISE COACH

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Strong, lightweight coverings make pergolas even better Building an enduring legacy through connections C&J APPLIANCE SERVICES

Affordable, same-day service for appliance repair

Columns

Dave Miller Back40 Design President

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RECIPE: CRANBERRY OAT DOG COOKIES

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LOUISE TUCKER JONES

Cover photography by Sikander Lodhi

Crunchy fall treats for your pups A Great Neighborhood

ADVERTISING l 405-301-3926 l sales@edmondoutlook.com MAILED MONTHLY TO 50,000 HOMES IN THE EDMOND AREA 1024 W Covell, Edmond, OK 73003 l 405-341-5599 l edmondoutlook.com l info@edmondoutlook.com October 2020 Volume 16, Number 10

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Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc.

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© 2020 Back40 Design, Inc.

PUBLISHER Dave Miller l EDITOR Jennay Wangen l ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Angie Clemens Byers l GRAPHIC DESIGN Adrian Townsend, Anne Richardson PHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins www.sundancephotographyokc.com l DISTRIBUTION Edmond Outlook is delivered FREE by direct-mail to 50,000 Edmond area homes.

Articles and advertisements in the 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 the 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. The Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

LOCALLOOK

Ask Edmond

What is your favorite Halloween memory?

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Scout Stanley Student - UCO The Fixx

Enrique Ruiz III Marketing Administrator Standards IT

David Forrest Independent Business Owner Highland 55

My favorite memory from Halloween is spending time with my sister, whom I look up to the most, and having a night to be whoever we wanted to be, and most importantly, just being able to be goofy together!

My most favorite childhood Halloween candy has got to be homemade popcorn balls. I remember making them with my mom for our classroom parties in elementary. All that gooey mess and the color die all over our hands was definitely my all-time favorite.

I was born a triplet – me on the left.

My favorite Halloween memory is coming home from trick or treating with a pillowcase full of candy, hiding the candy (sock drawer), then trading candy with my brother and sister.

Peyton Palacios BSN Student - OU Shift Lead at Zoe’s Kitchen

Jillian Whitaker Langston University Annual Giving Officer

Jay Ortiz Assistant Manager Yankee Candle

I was probably 4 when my sister and I made “chocolate soup” by mixing all of our halloween chocolate and water together. Obviously, our mom had no idea and was heartbroken that we’d even used the king size Snickers a neighbor had given her!

I used to love eating M&M’s, no matter if they were plain, peanut, or almond!

I loved them so much that I asked my friend, who loved M&M’s just as much as me, to be the beloved candy with me, for Halloween. It was such an easy costume to create!

When I was 4, after seeing Toy Story, I wanted to be a soldier like the ones in the movie. It was the first year my parents let me go to the door by myself for trick or treat. It was scary, but the candy was worth it!

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FOODLOOK

The Barlor

By Maggie Murdock Nichols

Have your cake and drink it, too.

Maggie Sermersheim

Maggie Sermersheim opened The Barlor to provide a cozy place when a little distance from home is needed. Inspired

by European bistros specializing in coffee, beverages and pastries, Maggie came up with “The Barlor”, a play on words combining bar and parlor with the slogan, “have your cake and drink it, too.”

No newbie to the industry, Maggie has worked in food service for more than twenty years. Her mom Mary Hoch began adding flavor to metro events more than forty years ago. Maggie watched and learned from her mother, taking over the catering business 5 years ago. Maggie knows that the ingredients needed for a great party consist of two main components: craft beverages and sweet treats. Of course the appetizers and main course are important, but drinks and dessert add that extra flare to make gatherings memorable.

More Than Just a Bakery Maggie opened The Barlor in Edmond to fulfill her need for a kitchen equipped to handle the demands of her thriving catering business. The Barlor provides a tasty escape with a cozy couch, sitting area and bar. Maggie envisions parents getting away for a quick drink and dessert or running in to pick up pre-made dinners on a busy weeknights. She wants The Barlor to be a place for girlfriends to gather for girls night or for deep conversations over coffee and a pastry. She plans to host chef’s table cooking demonstrations, drink and dessert pairings and other events that will be delectable, yet affordable.

Connection over Confection Maggie’s business partner Chris Kriley often finds Maggie in deep conversation with customers and will playfully scold her, “Get back to work!” Maggie’s favorite part of owning a storefront 10

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is the community it brings. She takes every opportunity to connect with customers, if only for a minute. Maggie mentioned a recent experience, “A mom came in to get her son a slice of rainbow cake. She told me he’d been having a really hard time and the cake brightened his day.” Maggie, also a mother of boys, could relate to the challenges of mothering and how a simple gesture, like cake, can bring connection where words fall short.

Chris and Maggie make a great team, the lighthearted banter they share in the kitchen comes through in their flavorful food.

Chris labors over housemade scones, adding seasonal additions, like cranberry orange and pumpkin. The case is loaded up with a variety of cookies. Maggie bakes made to order cakes and also sells them by the slice. Her coconut cake is a best seller.

The cinnamon rolls have been dressed up for fall with apple cinnamon crumbled on top and an orange glaze added to the others, classic cinnamon rolls will always be a staple. The duo loves to play with the flavors of the seasons and is excited to have the opportunity to do that daily, not just at events.

The Barlor sources from local farms like Indigo Acres, Ruzycki Farms, Whitmore Farms and the croissant and baguette experts, La Baguette. Maggie loves wowing her guests with simple, yet elevated dishes. They offer lunch specials daily, family meals to take home, and a drive-thru for convenience. Maggie eagerly awaits the day she receives her liquor license and can begin incorporating the bar aspect of her vision. The Barlor catering is not going anywhere. Although the pandemic brought about an unexpected pause in events, The Barlor will be ready to liven up your next event.

Follow The Barlor on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the know. Located at 2524 W Edmond Rd, Edmond, OK 73012. Their menu can be found at www.thebalor.net.

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FEATURELOOK

By Gina A. Dabney

Driveway Concerts Give People a Chance to Get Out On Tuesday nights, music and harmonies drift through the air at NW 150th Street and North May Avenue as Graywolf band performs an outdoor concert in the driveway.

Jim Gray, who along with Rick Hill started the group over twenty years ago, talked about how they missed performing since everything came to a halt in March due to COVID-19.

The driveway jam sessions have been a way for the band to reconnect, practice, and perform while unexpectedly bringing people out to enjoy music, all while social distancing.

“We have just as much fun practicing as performing,” Gray said. Gray, who is a semi-retired teacher, plays rhythm guitar. He finds music helps break down barriers and brings his guitar to the classroom when he substitutes. “The kids really enjoy that,” Gray said. “It helps us connect.”

The other band members are Rick Hill, John Koons, Keith Stelting, Dennis Haikin, and Sarah Gray. Hill, who is retired from OG&E, plays the bass guitar. Singing for the band is Koons, who works in public relations for OG&E. Stelting, who is retired, performs percussion. Playing lead guitar is Haikin, who works 12

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From Left: Dennis Haikin, Keith Stelting, Jim Gray, Sarah Gray, John Koons, Rick Hill

for the City of Oklahoma City. The newest member is Gray’s daughter, Sarah, who sings soprano. She works at the Heart Hospital. The band works together seamlessly.

“There is a really great comradery between us,” Gray said.

Early on the band performed harmony-rich Everly Brothers songs, western songs by the Pioneer Brothers and western swing music by Bob Mills. Now they play a variety of music from different eras and original music. One rule they established early is that enjoyment is a priority. “If it is not fun, we’re not going to do it anymore,” Gray said.

Over the years Graywolf has performed at various venues including farmers markets, the Paseo Arts District, Scissortail Park, and Canterbury Retirement Community. “Jim and his band have performed at our community several times in the last few years,” Rebecca Strong, Community Life Director of The Fountains at Canterbury said. “Jim and his band always play a variety of songs everyone knows from almost every era.”

“When residents in our memory care or nursing home hear a song from years ago, you can see them mouthing the words and tapping their fingers and toes. Jim’s music put a lot of smiles on the faces of our residents whenever they performed here,” Strong said.

Whether the band is giving driveway concerts or performing at local venues, one thing is certain: their music delights others.

“We are giving people good memories,” Gray said.

For more information about Graywolf band, visit the members’ Facebook pages.

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FEATURELOOK

Dream Dresses Made to Order

By Maggie Murdock Nichols

Sitting in her studio, Terri gazes at the piece of fabric in her hands. She notices the color, texture and envisions how it will flow. She waits for it to speak to her. Soon a vision will reveal itself and she’ll get to work.

Terri began sewing at the age of 9. “My 91 year old mother is my inspiration. She made all of my sister and I’s clothes. She’d save the scraps for us and encourage us to sew Barbie clothes and later, our own clothes.” A self taught designer, Terri loves helping women feel glamorous in a dress made just for them.

Elevating Edmond Style Terri moved from Sacramento to Edmond 22 years ago after her husband was recruited to work for Tinker Air Force Base.

With many suburbs to choose from, Terri was drawn to Edmond in part by Hafer Park and the small, but not too small, town feel.

Her kids graduated from Memorial and her grandkids have followed the same path. She creates wedding wear, evening gowns, prom dresses, after 5pm attire, and suits. She works with her clients to establish a budget, select a style and fabric, creates an illustration and pattern, and ensures she’s created the perfect fit before presenting the finished product.

Terri’s studio is in what used to be the family room of her home. Terri fully converted the space into her studio complete with a handmade sewing table, sewing machines, fabric and accents, purses, shoes and mannequins.

Wedding dresses are Terri’s favorite. She designs bridal, bridesmaid, flowergirl, mother of the bride and groom dresses. Terri says, “I work tirelessly to ensure my brides are satisfied.

I love seeing their faces when I present the finished product.” She is now working on an exclusive couture bridal experience scheduled for the spring.

Fashion with Passion With a passion to help women feel beautiful comes a passion to give back to women in need. Terri produces the I Will Survive Fashion Shows with proceeds Terri Owens donated to women who are victims of domestic violence and women fighting breast cancer. Terri sews with intention and with her clients in mind. Terri explains, “I can’t just sew to sew, I have to have inspiration and serving others is a passion.”

Terri encourages women to consider custom design before making a mass produced purchase. “Connect with someone who has you in mind from start to finish. Give an artist a chance to create the garment of your dreams.” Terri loves when her clients get involved in the process and always accepts ideas. The love and care she puts in her garments, top to bottom, sets her apart as a designer and earns the loyalty of her clients.

Visit Terri’s website www.terri-madetoorder.com to bring your dream dress to life!

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FEATURELOOK

By Katie Standlee

Drifting Around the Metro

Daniel Fuentes

Revving the engine, drifting sideways at high speeds, and “There’s a lot of guys, that from the time we get there until the pilling up smoke. Daniel Fuentes says there’s nothing that time we leave, will give people a ride,” Daniel said. During ridecompares. “It’s something you have to feel for yourself,” he alongs, passengers either scream or have an everlasting smile, chuckled as he reminisced on his first drift. and they always come back. The events are family friendly, and Six years ago, Jeremy Hansen introduced Daniel to drifting for Daniel, seeing his six daughters, son and grand babies enjoy events while working at Daniel’s shop, Automotive MD. Daniel drifting is one of the best highlights. has been drifting ever since and doesn’t plan to hit the brakes on Daniel looks forward to entering the first competition of the events any time soon. He started out with a Lexus SC 400 and year with his friend Hugo Areias and his maroon 2016 Mustang. graduated to a red Corvette before finding his Larger competitions are on the horizon, he said, beloved black ’98 Corvette. and his bucket list goal is drifting the Texas Motor “That’s the coolest The neverending adrenaline rush and sense Speedway. thing about Full Lock of controlling an out-of-control car is what As a member of Oklahoma’s drift organization, Drift, it’s really like a Full Lock Drift, Daniel is a part of a tight-knit keeps bringing him back to the track. The big huge family” coolest feeling is seeing the other drifter on the drifting community that looks out for one track when you’re sideways, and there’s the another at events and helps beginners. He said appearance the cars will T-bone. anyone can get involved by attending drifting events.

“That’s when it gets fun, when you actually can have fun with “That’s the coolest thing about Full Lock Drift, it’s really like a other drivers,” Daniel said. “This last event one of the guys we big huge family,” Daniel said. “For anyone that’s new to drifting, drift with spun out and was facing toward me, I went right by find a cheap car that you don’t mind tearing up and just go for it. him, and we high-fived.”

Get as many laps as possible.”

Once a month, Daniel drifts 40 to 50 laps at Norman or For more information about drifting follow Full Lock Drift on Oklahoma City events and will go through six to eight tire sets.

Facebook, @FullLockDrift.

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FEATURELOOK

Bringing History to Life

By Amy Dee Stephens

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As a living-history interpreter, Shari Carney portrays the lives of twenty famous women, ranging from Grace Kelly to Rosie the Riveter. Each year, after months of research, she writes a script, creates a costume, and steps into the historical role. She never knows how her audience is going to respond.

“I once portrayed Edna St. Vincent Millay, the first woman to win a Pulitzer for poetry,” Shari said. “I started reciting one of her works, and a gentleman stood up to quote the poem with me. Then two other men joined in. They’d all memorized Millay’s work—and it stayed with them. It was touching to evoke such a spontaneous response.”

Shari’s best-known portrayal is of Sacagawea, the Native American woman who went on the Lewis and Clark expedition.

“In 1999, I was recovering from a burn accident, and my friends asked what books they could bring me to read. I’d just become interested in Sacagawea, so they brought me every book on her they could find,” Shari said. “They convinced me to start speaking at book clubs and various groups. I’ve done a new character every year since.”

Shari spends countless hours diving into the lives of each woman she re-enacts, feeling drawn to the woman’s story. “I felt like Anne Spencer Lindbergh, the wife of Charles Lindbergh, never got proper attention, but that she deserved to be heard.

On the other hand, I once planned to do Coco Chanel, until I learned how she helped the Nazis during WWII. It upset me to the point that I decided not to do her after all.”

As a 40-year, tenured Political Science teacher at the University of Central Oklahoma, Shari strives to provide both entertainment and education as accurately as possible. Even Shari’s costumes are carefully researched. When she noticed that the pockets on her Susan B. Anthony suffragette costume had visible zippers, she wondered when zippers were invented. When she discovered they weren’t common until after their introduction at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, it was doubtful Susan B. Anthony wore them, so Shari changed her costume.

Her efforts at accuracy often pay off, and Shari is frequently surprised when audiences forget that she isn’t actually the person she is portraying, which includes Martha Washington, Alice Roosevelt, Kate Barnard, Sonia Sotomayor, Lauren Bacall and more.

“I always end on a happy note, but the life of holocaustsurvivor, Gerda Weissman Klein, is haunting. She nearly died in a labor camp, marched barefoot in the snow, and experienced horrible things. I was performing Gerda for a group when two women in the front row started crying, one sobbing to the point that I nearly stopped. When I finished, these women jumped up to hug me, their clothes soaked with tears. One pulled up her sleeve and showed me the prison numbers tattooed on her arm, evidence that they were holocaust survivors.”

It was a moment Shari will never forget. “I never know what I might encounter, but I do want my audience to feel like they’ve been carried away to spend time in another era. Each of these characters has intrigued me, so I try to capture the essence of that woman for other people.”

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FRESHLOOK

Cranberry Oat Dog Cookies As a new dog mom, I wanted the best for my dog Emmett. When I would go to the pet store to get him treats, I saw such a huge variety of ingredients on the labels and found them difficult to understand. That’s when I decided to start making my own recipe with nutritious ingredients that would complement my dog’s diet. Being able to make treats has turned into a hobby I never thought I would have.

Ingredients • 1 cup whole wheat flour (extra will be needed for rolling and kneading) • 1/2 cup oats (quick oats or old fashioned will work) • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree • 1 egg • 1/2 cup dried cranberries (less sugar version preferred) Directions: 1. Preheat your oven to 300°F. 2. In a mixer, combine the oats, pumpkin, egg, and cranberries. Mix on a medium speed for 1-2 minutes until combined.

3. Add in the flour while mixing on a low speed.

4. On a floured surface or baking mat, pour the dough out. Use additional whole wheat flour to knead the dough until it is no longer sticking to your hands.

5. Roll out the dough using a rolling pin until 1/4 inch thickness.

6. Use cookie cutters to cut out cookies and place on either a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a baking sheet.

7. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cookies feel firm.

8. Store in an airtight container. You can freeze the cookies for 3-4 months and take out treats as you need them. Thaw cookies before giving them to your dog.

Tips: • For crunchier/firmer dog treats, roll your dough out thinner.

• You can use this dough with any dog-friendly fruit.

• If you are unable to find pumpkin puree, peanut butter can be used instead.

Peanut butter must be Xylitol free.

• Any cookie cutter will work. Using a 4-in, small cookie cutter, this recipe will make approximately 60 dog treats.

• Mason jars make good freezer and counter-safe airtight storage containers.

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Geena Rhoades is a local dog mom and home baker. Follow Emmett (the dachshund) on Instagram @emmett_skips_leg_day

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BIZLOOK

The Exercise Coach

By Maria Veres

If the same old workout isn’t working for you anymore, consider The Exercise Coach. The Edmond studio provides a concentrated, science-based full-body workout in just twenty minutes.

A Smarter, Safer Gym Alternative The Exercise Coach focuses on resistance training. “It makes bones stronger, increases metabolism, and helps you burn fat,” says co-owner Valero Aquino. Clients work muscle groups using machines—but these machines are nothing like the bench presses you love to hate.

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All Exerbotics® equipment is exclusive to The Exercise Coach franchises and carefully designed to deliver an efficient workout. There are no cumbersome weights to adjust. The machines use digital technology to save each person’s settings and track progress. Display screens show the amount of force you’re using and help you stay in the target zone.

The Exercise Coach is open by appointment only, with a maximum of five clients in the studio at once. Trainers work with clients in individual or group sessions.

Fitness for Everyone The Exercise Coach is safe even for people with physical limitations. The studio serves clients of all ages, with many in their sixties and seventies.

Valero co-owns The Exercise Coach with his wife, Dr. Jodilyn Caguioa-Aquino, MD. They are walking testimonials of the method’s success. A retired veteran, Valero played recreational volleyball until the pandemic hit. Jodilyn has put in long

Valero and Jodilyn Caguioa-Aquino, owners hours caring for Covid-19 patients. Both of them have maintained their fitness through twice-weekly workouts at The Exercise Coach.

But even more rewarding for them is the impact on clients’ lives. “We end up helping a lot of people,” says Valero. “It’s a new age of how we do fitness, and I’m excited to bring it to Oklahoma.”

The Exercise Coach is located at 130 NE 150th St., Suite 300, Edmond, and online at exercisecoach.com/edmond.

BIZLOOK

Cover Your Pergola

By Maria Veres Pergolas have always been a popular outdoor living option in sunny Oklahoma, and now there’s a smarter way to cover them. A leader in the plastics industry since 1971, Cover Your Pergola builds strong, lightweight polycarbonate coverings that make great spaces even better.

Outdoor Living at Its Best Until recently there weren’t many options for pergola covers that allowed light to filter in. The Polygal material used

by Cover Your Pergola has changed that.

It’s translucent, but it’s also more durable and lighter than glass.

These coverings are tough enough to withstand almost anything Oklahoma weather might hurl at them. “It doesn’t break, it bends,” says CEO Chad Gono.

To give an idea of just how strong the coverings are, a similar material is used on the bullet-proof Pope Mobile.

The Polygal comes in several colors and is used for outdoor spaces like restaurant patios and greenhouses. It cools temperatures beneath it by ten to fifteen degrees. Every covering is treated with a coating that blocks 100% of harmful UV rays.

Coming Home to Oklahoma Cover Your Pergola is headquartered in Texas, but the Gonos have roots in Pauls Valley. Chad’s grandfather, who founded the company, grew up there. The Oklahoma division of Cover Your Pergola opened in February 2020.

Along with creating great products, the company focuses on helping employees achieve greatness. Its passion statement

Cover Your Pergola is “Work doesn’t have to suck.” Team members love their jobs, and that shows in their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction.

Cover Your Pergola works with outdoor living companies and other businesses, and it also sells coverings directly to homeowners. “It’s exciting to be in Oklahoma, and it’s exciting to be involved with Oklahoma companies,” says Chad.

Cover Your Pergola is located at 7424 Melrose Lane in OKC and at coveryourpergola.com.

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BIZLOOK

Legacy Painting

By Maria Veres

Legacy Painting didn’t get its name by accident. Owner Kevin Calmes and his team strive for excellence as painters, but even more, they seek to build an enduring legacy through the connections they form in the community.

Building Bridges No one embodies Legacy Painting’s values better than Jeremy Canaday, Team Coordinator and Estimator. “He’s the heart of this company,” says Kevin. Jeremy has been with Legacy since 2000. He’s also a full-time Oklahoma City firefighter who

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connects with clients in ways that go far beyond conversations about paint colors.

At a recent estimate appointment, Jeremy learned the client’s daughter had passed away. Jeremy had been one of the firefighters on the scene at that tragedy. He was able to offer a special kind of support and comfort to the grieving family.

On another call, he learned that a client’s father, a New York City fire captain, was battling cancer. When Jeremy got in his truck to leave, he felt moved to do something more for the family. So he gave the client his OKC Fire Department ball cap to send to her father, with a message— “Keep the good fight going.”

“Thank goodness, we have lots of these stories,” says Kevin. “That’s who we are.”

A Tradition of Service Founded in 1999, Legacy Painting is the only Oklahoma company accredited by the Painting and Decorating Contractors Association. Team members proudly

Team Coordinator, Jeremy Canaday complete every part of every job—nothing is subcontracted out. Kevin is deeply committed to giving his best not only to clients, but also to employees.

“We’re here to serve the people who work here and pass that service into our community,” says Kevin. “The first thing we do is make connections. The second thing we do is paint.”

Legacy Painting is located in Edmond.

Visit them at WeRLegacy.com.

BIZLOOK

C&J Appliance Service

By Maria Veres

Household appliance breakdowns are stressful, but the repairs don’t have to be.

C & J Appliance Service, LLC, offers sameday service for most jobs at prices that won’t break the bank.

Quick, Dependable Service “Our company is based on honesty, integrity, and trust,” says co-owner Steven Duggan. Transparent pricing is a key part of that foundation. The company offers competitive rates that usually fall far below blue-book recommendations.

There are no hidden fees or nasty surprises when customers get their bills.

All technicians on C&J’s small, handpicked team are highly qualified, with at least five years of experience in appliance repair. Their goal is to do each job right the first time, and they’ve earned high praise from the customers they serve. C&J follows up each repair job with a personal phone call.

When an appliance breaks down, homeowners need to get it working again quickly. Steven and his team provide same-day or next-day service for most jobs. They’re fully insured, and all parts and repairs come with a warranty.

Meeting All Your Appliance Repair Needs Some repair services only work on a limited number of brands. C&J will repair almost any make of kitchen or laundry appliances, even older ones that aren’t widely available.

The Edmond-based, Oklahoma-owned company has an extensive service area.

They’ll travel anywhere in or near the

Steven Duggan, owner OKC metro area. They make repairs seven days a week.

Although the C&J team strives for excellence in every job, the company’s vision reaches beyond one-time service calls. “We don’t want our repairs to be a one-and-done job,” says Steven. “Our goal is to build a lifetime relationship with our customers. We want to be their go-to company for all their appliance repairs.”

Contact C&J Appliance Service at (405) 818-1757 or online at cjapplianceservicellc.com.

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FEATURELOOK

By Gina A. Dabney

Wings Fall Festival

Fall is now and pumpkins rule. Come celebrate at Wings during its annual Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch event, which runs every weekend through October 18. With the event on five acres, there will be plenty of room to social distance, stay COVID-19 and flu protected with hand sanitizing stations throughout the property, and enjoy family time. Executive Director Cheri Weaver estimates that 6,000 to 8,000 will attend this fundraising event, which is Wings’ largest outreach to the community.

Wings enhances the lives of adults with developmental disabilities through an active social, vocational and residential program. The program, which currently has 60 members, is available to those 18 years and older. Their oldest member is 62. Since Weaver began with the nonprofit in 2016, there have been major changes.

“We are fully-accredited and nationally recognized,” Weaver said. Once students reach 18, there are few options for them to continue into adulthood. The program at Wings fills that void to help them be independent. The mission of Wings is to enhance the lives of adults with developmental disabilities through social, vocational, and residential programs guided by principles of the Bible. “There is great hope and great opportunity after high 26

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school,” Weaver said. Many of the members are non-verbal so during their Life Skills Classes they learn different ways to communicate.

Computer skills, for example, help members communicate with their family via e-mail. Google helps them research an upcoming family trip. During their health and wellness classes circuit training is taught and a different goal is set each week.

There is an apartment where the members learn skills such as laundry, sorting silverware, and hanging clothes as well as opening and reading mail.

Community outreach is an important component of the program. The members volunteer to help on various projects for other nonprofit organizations such as Citizens Caring for Children, the Hope Center, and Infant Crisis Center. Members make baby blankets for the Infant Crisis Center and then hand the blankets to the recipients so that members see and make a connection to those community members receiving their work. Other examples of community outreach include packing food snack packs, hygiene kits, for the memorial marathon the members made 10,000 swag bags.

“A lot of work goes back to the community,” Weaver said. One of Wings’ founding members is Margo Price who now volunteers regularly. Her youngest of three boys is James, who attends the program at Wings. She speaks wholeheartedly about how James, who will be 32 years old in November, has changed while at Wings.

“My son has blossomed,” Price said. “It has made a huge difference in his life. I want him to have as much of an independent life as possible.” Wings makes it a reality.

Wings is located at 13700 N. Eastern Ave. For more information, visit wingsok.org or call 405-242-4646.

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ALOOKBACK

A Great Neighborhood

By Louise Tucker Jones When our children were young, my late husband, Carl and I moved our little family to a housing addition just outside of town. Only one street in and out. Being new to the neighborhood that winter, it was a blessing to live at the bottom of a hill where cars often stalled due to snow or ice. Having no cell phones in those days, people often came to our door to use the phone. We loved sharing a cup of coffee and conversation while they waited for help.

The following summer, residents formed a neighborhood watch association, complete with holiday celebrations. Dozens of kids decorated bikes and paraded the streets of our little community that was surrounded by fields

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and trees. Our oldest son and his friends spent hours exploring the woods behind our home.

Being a beginning writer, I published a monthly newsletter about things happening in the neighborhood. My kids and their friends delivered the free, one page bulletin to every household. It was through the newsletter that several of us ladies started a monthly game night, meeting in each other’s homes. Then one friend offered ceramic classes and we loved that. I still have a vintage-type pitcher and bowl set and a lighted, ceramic Christmas tree from those fun times.

And we always helped each other, checking on next-door neighbors and older friends when storms occurred. We took cookies to new families moving into the area and watched over each other’s kids as if they were our own.

I don’t know if neighborhoods like that exist anymore. I hope so. I hope people still share cookies and a kind word with new neighbors. I hope young couples

still cross the street or walk next door to check on an elderly person or a single mom. I hope our way of life in that little neighborhood where my children grew up has not vanished.

We definitely need each other. And if you’ve never experienced such a caring community, perhaps you could be the first to start a “welcome” tradition in your neighborhood. It just might become a trend!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author, inspirational speaker & founder of Wives With Heavenly Husbands, a support group for widows.

LouiseTJ@cox.net or LouiseTuckerJones.com.

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FEATURELOOK

By Amy Dee Stephens

The ‘Business’ of Bedpans Willa Mills, age 95, is a little embarrassed for people to know that she collects bedpans. “I don’t usually show them off, because who’s interested in bedpans, for heaven’s sake?” Willa laughed.

Although she finds them terribly interesting, the collection was rather accidental. “My husband and I bought the first one at an antique store on vacation back in the eighties. It was made out of stoneware, very old and unusual. I showed it to my sister, and while she was on a vacation, she saw a similar one at an antique store and bought it for me. She seemed to think that after I bought one, I was starting a collection. She turned it into a collection!”

Now, a variety of bedpans and even urinals are hanging on Willa’s bathroom walls. She has three made of glass, several metal ones, and more of stoneware; one to which she added a scenic picture, artificial grass and a bird sitting on a nest. “I enjoy seeing them on the walls, and I’m the only one who is supposed to enjoy them--but don’t worry, I cleaned them with bleach,” Willa said.

Willa, who comes from a long line of nurses, had over forty years of experience working in the medical field. She mostly did private-duty nursing for patients in critical care in a time before most hospitals had Intensive Care Units. In 1957, she moved to Edmond and even remembers working with a few patients in Edmond’s first hospital, located above the movie theater (now Othello’s Restaurant). “Back then, Edmond had a population of 8,000, with one traffic light and one high school,” Willa said. “I’ve seen lots of changes in my life, and I’m seeing lots of changes right now.”

As a young woman during World War II, Willa witnessed a pivotal time in history. Like many women, she went into nurse’s training right out of high school in 1944. She had actually planned to be an airline stewardess, but back then, stewardesses had to be registered nurses.

It was during her time as a nursing student that she gained a fair amount of experience with bedpans. “Students had to clean the bedpans. We had to use our hands and hand brushes to wash out the bedpans in a deep sink. I don’t remember if we had rubber gloves on,” Willa said. “As far as I know, bedpans are still used, but I think they are plastic now, and probably for one-time use.”

“Anybody not in the medical field will think I’m a crazy old woman for collecting bedpans—but they mean something to me.

They bring back memories.” Willa chuckled. “I guess I do enjoy talking about them.”

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1024 W Covell Rd., Edmond, OK 73003