Edmond Outlook - March 2018

March 2018

Take a Book Leave a Book

The Little Libraries of Edmond 6 Ways to Brunch Around Town Local Drivers on the Fast Track OKC Zoo’s Joe Branham: My Life with Reptiles

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Features

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10 Some anniversaries are meant to be celebrated, some simply get an acknowledgement. I’m not sure where this one falls. Maybe it’s just a milestone – but it’s here. This month marks 30 years without a drink for me. Yep, and I’m not even thirsty.

Yes, I’m one of those people who shouldn’t drink. So I don’t. It’s simple.

My life and the life of others are better that way. I have nothing against the “heathen devil alcohol” – just kidding about the “heathen devil” part. I don’t mind being around people who enjoy a glass of wine, or a craft beer.

It’s just not for me.

How’d I figure all this out? Well, by the ripe old age of 24, I found myself alone, unemployed, depressed and paranoid (and those were my good days). I blamed others for my problems. My life centered around drinking, which I thought was a solution but only made things worse. I was without hope.

What happened? By chance, I found myself listening to a radio program (for you younger folks, that’s kind of like a podcast). The host was interviewing Billy Carter, President Jimmy Carter’s brother. If you remember, Billy was a mess – but he cleaned up and changed his ways (shortly before dying of pancreatic cancer). Billy talked about what he was like, what happened, and what he was like afterward. For the first time, I related to someone who was like me and I wanted what he had: a different way of life. I call it a spiritual experience of the educational variety.

Shortly after that experience, I walked into a 12-step meeting (no treatment center for me; I did the home study method) figuring my life was over. I had no idea it was just beginning. Am I saying a 12-step program is for everyone? No, but it worked for me. Rather, the steps of that program worked for me. Do I still go after 30 years? Yes. Sometimes more.

Sometimes less. What’s the next milestone? Today. I’m doing it one day at a time.

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BEST OF BRUNCH

6 Top Picks Around Town TAKE A BOOK, LEAVE A BOOK

Little Libraries of Edmond Make Big Impact CYBER SENIORS

Seniors Learn Technology from Francis Tuttle Students

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JOE BRANHAM: MY LIFE WITH REPTILES

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THE HOUSE THAT ANNA BUILT

30 Years of Lizards, Alligators and Snakes Local Non-profit Provides Support for Foster Care Families

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FAST TRACK

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BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS

Sports Car Enthusiasts Share Thrills Woodworker Thurman Davis Crafts Friendships

Business

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HOME CARE ASSISTANCE

Changing How the World Ages SHE-SCAPES

Beautiful Lawnscapes are Her Business

Columns 26

DR. J. DAVID CHAPMAN

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LOUISE TUCKER JONES

The Passion Behind the Project A Hallmark Romance

Dave Miller Back40 Design President Cover photography by Marshall Hawkins

ADVERTISING l Laura Beam at 405-301-3926 l laura@edmondoutlook.com MAILED MONTHLY TO 50,000 HOMES IN EDMOND/NORTH OKC 80 East 5th Street, Suite 130, Edmond, OK 73034 l 405-341-5599 l edmondoutlook.com l info@edmondoutlook.com March 2018 Volume 14, Number 3

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Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc.

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© 2018 Back40 Design, Inc.

PUBLISHER Dave Miller l ADVERTISING MANAGER Laura Beam l GRAPHIC DESIGN Adrian Townsend and Sable Furrh PHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins l www.sundancephotographyokc.com l DISTRIBUTION Edmond Outlook is delivered FREE by direct-mail to 50,000 Edmond & North OKC 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.

FEATURELOOK

Best of Brunch

By Bethany Schwarz

If everybody is working toward the weekend, we better start doing the weekends right! Here are some fun Sunday (primarily) brunch options to fill your proverbial (and actual) cup.

1 Pepperoni Grill

1000 W. Covell Rd. Edmond • Sunday Brunch 10:30-3:00 www.pepperonigrill.net

Everything on the menu is made in house and brunch is no exception.

Pepperoni Grill would be an ideal location for a brunch event with mimosa bar in the private dining room. Its convenient location, children’s menu and sizeable portions make Pepperoni Grill a delightful Sunday brunch venue; even with 3 kiddos under 6. There is something for everyone in the family on the menu and a delightful wait staff. The must-try dish would be the Eggs Florentine – artichoke, spinach dip with roma tomatoes and poached eggs!

Custom omelets from scratch are a dream come true.

2 Brent’s Cajun Seafood & Oyster Bar

3005 S. Broadway, Edmond • Saturday and Sunday from 10-3 www.brentscajunseafood.com

Jazz Brunch…don’t mind if I do. If you are looking for some authentic Cajun food, with live jazz (on Sundays), you have to swing by Brent’s Cajun Seafood. Executive Chef and Owner, Brent Hickman recommends the crab cakes eggs benedict paired with an Absolut Peppar Bloody Mary. The Bananas Foster French Toast is a customer favorite as well as the mimosas (available by the pitcher). Unlike anything in the area.

3 Covell Park

1200 W. Covell Rd, Edmond • Sunday 10am-2pm www.covellpark.com

Complimentary Bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys.

COMPLIMENTARY and BOTTOMLESS. I am really not sure what else to say. Covell Park offers a Sunday brunch buffet for $12.99, featuring items like house-made gravy and waffles, fresh fruit and four Bloody Mary flavors.

Families, friends and groups alike will leave completely satisfied!

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4 Interurban

1301 E. Danforth Rd, Edmond • Sundays only 10-1 www.interurban.us

Interurban runs a plated brunch, ordered off a menu. The most popular item is the border omelet with ham, bacon, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers and fried potatoes topped with a vegetarian chili, melted cheese and sour cream.

Adult beverages available. Bring your family to enjoy an Oklahoma tradition, 32 years serving the Edmond community!

5 Cafe 501

501 S. Boulevard St., Edmond • Sunday Brunch 9-2 www.hrgok.com/cafe-501-edmond

This Edmond staple is typically counter service, but Sunday brunch is full service accompanied by full bar menu. 501 specializes in artisanal breads, so try anything with the English Muffin and you won’t be sorry. *Sheree’s Sandwich is delicious. The in-house jalapeno bacon infused vodka adds a unique twist on the traditional Bloody Mary.

6 Hacienda Tacos

12086 N. May, OKC • Saturdays 11-2 and Sundays 10:30-3:00 pm www.haciendatacos.com

Opened for 13 months now and excited to be offering a fun brunch atmosphere. I have on good authority that you need to try the Quigley Omelet – named after a Hacienda regular/good friend – consists of a 10-inch omelet, Portabello mushrooms, smoked onion, hickory shrimp, raja vegetables, house bacon, Chihuahua, jack and cheddar cheese, topped with avocado, tomato and Salsa Verde and comes with a side of brunch potatoes. Worth the drive to the Northpark Mall to check out this new hopping joint. Everything from scratch and paired with a full bar – $2 mimosas.

Bethany Schwarz is the mother of 3 active children (6, 5, and 18m). She is in pursuit of building community while getting to know her neighbors through story and shared experience.

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FEATURELOOK

Take a Book, Leave a Book

By Amy Dee Stephens

You may have seen some fancy new bird houses popping up in neighbors’ yards all over the metro.

If you look closely, they aren’t bird houses, they are “book houses.”

The Little Free Library movement began in 2009 and has spread to 70 countries. Participants create a weatherproof box to hold a small selection of free reading materials. Most include the official slogan “Take a book, Leave a book.” Although each library has its own look and personality, the goal is the same: to share the love of reading and to make the community a little friendlier.

Eleven-year-old Isabella is the owner of a Little Free Library in Edmond.

She loves to read, and her family supported her interest in opening a library. “I wanted to do something for the community, so I asked my Grandpa to build me one,” Isabella said. He agreed, but surprised her by installing it in her front yard as a birthday present. “The first thing she did was to pick out paint colors and decorate it with our family handprints on the back,” said Tawnya Baxter, Isabella’s mother.

Admittedly, Isabella’s been known to peek out the window to see who is at her library, but she’s just as likely to rush outside to say hello.

Sometimes she even leaves notes or treats for her visitors. Isabella checks in with her mom if she thinks a book is inappropriate. “Some romance book covers are pretty risqué, but that’s been the extent of it,” Tawnya said.

Lainee Copeland’s family created their Little Free Library four years ago. “We mounted it to our mailbox. The boys would get so excited when someone stopped by that they’d rush out to meet the people. We’ve made a great number of friends that way, including a neighbor across the street who now has a Little Wee Library for young children.”

Both parents agree that the libraries are low-maintenance and have the added benefit of teaching their children about civic engagement and responsibility.

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Not all Little Free Libraries are run by individuals. In some cases, a group comes together to create and monitor a community-based library.

In the metro, examples of this can be seen in art districts, historic neighborhoods and even at dog parks and local businesses.

Mayfair Church of Christ added a Little Free Library to their community playground when a neighbor approached the church about putting one in and offered to help monitor it. The children’s minister recruited church members to build and install the library, which is specifically aimed toward children. The church has found it to be a lowcost community outreach that makes the park friendlier.

Because Little Free Library is a registered trademark, anyone interested should send for a charter number and information packet, which provides strategies for building the boxes and being good stewards of its usage. Once the library is registered, the location is added to their website so that people can find it. “When we go on vacation, we make it a point to visit Little Free Libraries in the area—it’s a fun way to connect with people,“ Lainee said.

For the Copeland family, the library has expanded into new avenues of neighborhood interaction. Lainee added a “seed swap” box onto the side of her library. Most recently, she became part of The Turquoise Table movement.

“But there’s nothing like it to see a kid come skipping down the road, grab a book and skip back.”“Having a turquoise picnic table in your front yard is a symbol of hospitality. It’s a community gathering place for neighbors. With the table and the library, we have people coming and going in our yard almost daily. It’s neat that my kids are growing up in a neighborhood where people actually are getting to know each other,” Lainee said.

To learn more or to find nearby libraries, visit littlefreelibrary.org.

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FEATURELOOK

Cyber Seniors

Clyde Buchanan and Chris Williams

By Amy Dee Stephens

What happens when Grandpa finally gives up his flip phone and buys a shiny new iPhone? Often a lot of frustration--but these days, senior citizens are having to get tech-savvy to communicate with their children and keep up with their grandchildren.

friends. The two joke as they work. John shares a favorite “funny” that he’s found online, and he shows Daniel some picture posts of his grandkids.

Francis Tuttle Technology Center has created an innovative 8-week course that pairs senior citizens with volunteer students for a weekly hour-and-a-half of customized tech training. The Cyber Seniors course allows students to share their knowledge. For the seniors, it’s like having their own personal “young person” to teach them the basics.

In a quiet office nearby, a new senior/student pair are meeting each other for the first time. Kenneth Carmichael signed up for Cyber Seniors in hopes of learning how to do crossword puzzles on his computer. “Only easy ones,” he clarifies. His trainer is Chasity Rincon. Her motivation for volunteering is because her grandpa recently passed away, and she’s seeking to reconnect with the older generation.

Jim and Destinee

“I got this new cell phone jobbie, but it’s useless since I don’t know how to work the doggone thing,” said senior, Jim Waite. “I don‘t know how to use my pressure cooker, either!” he laughs.

Jim is 90 years old. He’s been working with his teacher, Destinee Martinez, on how to understand his new phone. They are seated in an unused classroom so that they can easily hear each other without distraction. Today, Jim wants to learn about voice messaging.

“This week, I’m taking notes, because my retention is practically zilch-but she hasn’t chewed me out yet,” Jim joked. “She’s been very patient with me.”

Destinee laughs, obviously enjoying his company and his stories about his life as a salesman. “He’s learning about a phone, but I’m learning about his life. That’s pretty special to me,” Destinee said. “I think I’ll go into sales, too.”

John and Daniel

In a different classroom, senior John Martin is looking at an iPad with his teacher, Daniel Luna. Daniel volunteered to help with Cyber Seniors because he likes helping people. Last week, he showed John how to turn his phone on and off, and he set John up on Facebook.

“I’m not sure I want to stay on Facebook,” John said. “All these people keep wanting to be my friend, and I have no idea who these people are.”

Daniel grins and explains the process of selecting and de-selecting

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Kenneth and Chasity

Clyde and Chris

Not all of the Cyber Seniors are novices at technology--sometimes they seek to learn advanced skills. In a small computer lab, Clyde Buchanan and Chris Williams are leaning in close together, focused on a computer screen. Chris is showing Clyde how to edit a video, and Clyde is responding with excited exclamations of “cool” and “got it!” Clyde joined Cyber Seniors to learn how to work with audio and video files so that he can help people at the senior living community where he lives.

“We have lots of memory care patients there, so my wife and I put their favorite music on an iPod,” Clyde said. “Sometimes they don’t know their own name, but they can sing the words to all the old songs. That’ll get to you.”

Clyde finds that when loved ones pass away, families often need help editing a compilation of their photos and videos—it’s the skill Chris is helping him learn. Chris was initially “volun-told” to help with Cyber Seniors, but he’s discovered his talent for teaching. “I love serving people, and I love technology. Put those two together, and then teach someone like Clyde, and it’s been an amazing experience.”

Cyber Seniors are gaining valuable technology skills from their personal trainers, but the evidence clearly suggests that these young people are the ones gaining the most knowledge.

To learn more contact Terry Wallace at Terry.Wallace@francistuttle.edu or 405-717-4204

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FEATURELOOK

Joe Branham: My Life with Reptiles

By Amy Dee Stephens

For 30 years, Joe Branham has been a Herpetologist at the Oklahoma City Zoo. Lizards, alligators, and venomous snakes are an everyday part of his job— but there’s nothing routine about caring for the most dangerous animals in the world.

Branham’s been called a “snake whisperer,” but he insists that it’s about observation, not some telepathic connection. Each day, Branham and his employees observe their 400+ reptiles and amphibians to identify their moods and physical needs. “Just because something is venomous doesn’t mean it will hunt you down and bite you,” Branham said. “You have to read an animal’s body language.” As proof of Branham’s skill in observation, he has no dramatic bite stories, a 30-year record of which he is proud.

Branham’s earliest nature experiences occurred in France, where his father was stationed with the Air Force. His neighborhood backed up to a forest which still had bomb craters from the war. “Of course, they told me to stay out of there,” Branham said, “but those craters would accumulate water, and amphibians would go there to reproduce. Guess where I was every day?”

During Branham’s youth, he bred and traded snakes as a hobby. His selftaught knowledge gave him expert status at a time when herpetology was still in the “dark ages.”

“I like unlocking mysteries—and there were lots of mysteries back then,” Branham said. “Herpetologists had no communication with each other until the 1990s. The internet allowed us to exchange information, so there was a learning boom.”

One of Branham’s most dramatic moments occurred in the 1980s when a king cobra needed medical attention. The use of shift boxes and snake tubes hadn’t been invented yet, so capturing the snake by hand was the only known option. Branham and a trusted co-worker devised a plan to remove the cobra from its habitat, which had two 2’x2’ft access doors.

“I called my wife and said, ‘If I’m not home for dinner, I won’t be home.’ Then, we sneak-attacked the snake. Without warning, we each threw open a door and jumped inside with our shields. I grabbed the head and he held the body, but I was squatted down and I had to step out onto a ladder to get out. I couldn’t find it with my foot, so I grabbed the door frame with one hand to get my balance.”

His childhood observations would eventually lead to his groundbreaking success as the first Herpetologist in the world to breed black tree monitors and to successfully hatch Gila monsters. Following this breakthrough in the 1990s, National Geographic filmed an entire episode about Branham.

“When I took one hand off that snake’s head, his eyes went straight to my knee. He started stretching his mouth open with all his might. I was holding on, shaking like crazy to keep him back--but he was winning, so I grabbed him back with my second hand. My boss reached through and placed my foot on the ladder, and we exited. That brief moment of struggling for position with a cobra—now that was scary.”

Branham is also a successful trainer. At home, he trains horses; at work, he’s trained sea lions, elephants, an anaconda, and he once trained nine alligators to move to their separate locations on cue. “As part of a misspent youth, I trained dogs for the police department. By “trained,” I mean I was the guy in the suit that got bit.” Branham laughed.

Not your typical work story! Being a Herpetologist has provided Branham a lifetime of interesting experiences. He’s directly responsible for many of the industry’s improved methods for managing reptiles, especially venomous ones--but for Branham, it’s all a result of simply admiring and observing animals.

To learn more go to www.okczoo.org

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BIZLOOK

Home Care Assistance

By Morgan Day

Home Care Assistance of Oklahoma opened its doors in 2014 and set out on a mission to change the way the world ages. The home care provider has helped numerous older adults in the Edmond and surrounding community “age in place” in the comfort of their own homes.

We’ve been steadily growing and are able to serve more families — and of course we’re thrilled about that,” said Greg Bridges, Home Care Assistance co-owner and administrator.

“Our company is growing as an employer, and we have an expanding roster of certified, experienced caregivers and staff who we place in our clients’ homes to provide high-quality home care services.”

Bridges and co-owner Melissa Hill look forward to new programs arriving in 2018 that should further enrich the lives of their

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clients, keeping them engaged in meaningful activities and active mentally and physically.

The first is the pursuit of a Music & Memory program certification that would allow caregivers to download customized playlists to iPods given to clients.

“It’s a way to provide personalized music to help stimulate memories, alertness, calming and reduce agitation,” Bridges said. “It’s a non-pharmacological intervention type used for patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s.”

Home Care Assistance also will focus on brain health as it incorporates a set of physical exercises into its cognitive therapy program. The exercises, dubbed Cog-Motion, combine cognition with physical motion, and, like the music and memory program, are tailored to each client.

“This incorporates movement so they are actually having to trigger that part of the brain,” Bridges said. “Instead of having a pen and paper and recording something in writing, there’s a physicality to this. Sometimes it’s problemsolving, sometimes they have to physically move items into place.”

Greg Bridges & Melissa Hill

Meanwhile, Home Care Assistance also was recognized for client and caregiver satisfaction, winning the 2018 Best of Home Care® – Provider of Choice and Employer of Choice Awards from Home Care Pulse, the home care industry’s leading firm in satisfaction research and quality assurance.

“This award reflects the high standards we expect from our caregivers as well as our office and management team,” Hill said. “We are extremely selective and intentional in our hiring and client/caregiver matching process.

Visit homecareassistanceoklahoma.com or call (405) 285-4191 to learn more.

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FEATURELOOK

The House that Anna Built

By Lance Evans

It’s a picturesque home, nestled in a quiet Edmond neighborhood with a vibrant family waiting on the inside. The Boggs’ make you instantly feel like part of the family as you enter their warm home. The family dog—that gently caresses visitors with her beautiful fur—is one of the first family members to greet you. The Boggs family just finished dinner and their latest addition— twenty-one-month-old Liam—managed to throw the majority of his food around the kitchen table. His parents, Sarah and Matt Boggs, simply shake their heads and marvel at the joys of raising a smart and active child.

During the summer of 2015, The Boggs were living a comfortable life when they were profoundly affected by a series of messages at their family church.

“It really stems from one verse in the bible, James 1:27,” Sarah said. “We have two older kids, but at the time, we had a four-year-old and three-year-old and we started praying about having a third baby. We then ended up hearing four sermons about that verse and orphan care. At that point, I took Matt aside and said ‘I think we need to consider adoption.’”

After committing to praying for six months about fostering, the Boggs became familiar with the foster care system in Oklahoma. “We read seven to eight books on foster care, adoption… any book I could get my hands on,” Sarah said. Matt and Sarah were initially surprised about the growing need for foster families in Oklahoma. “At the time, there were over 10,000 children living in Oklahoma’s foster care system,” Matt said. The Boggs went into fostering with the hopes of helping a child successfully reconnect with their biological family. “We truly believe God didn’t design families to be broken,” Sarah said. “But, we can’t fix that brokenness.” Through their friends at Quail Springs Baptist Church, the Boggs built a family of supporters. A number of their friends who also decided to become foster parents told the Boggs about Anna’s House Foundation.

Anna’s House Foundation is a faith-based organization dedicated to providing a network of support for families caring for children in foster

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care. “The namesake of our organization was a baby who was born in Oklahoma County jail,” Executive Director Katherine Craig said. “She was premature and announced clinically dead and on the way to the hospital, she miraculously regained her heartbeat.” The Harkins family eventually adopted Anna and today she is living a happy and thriving life. The staff at Anna’s House Foundation prays that a similar happy ending will happen for the hundreds of children who the organization works to support.

In February 2016, Sarah and Matt met a representative from Anna’s House at an adoption seminar at their church. In March of that year, they started paperwork and were certified to become foster parents in May. “It was really astounding,” Sarah said. “We have friends that are going through the adoption process through other organizations and they are six months into the paperwork. It’s hard because you’re waiting and still thinking about the kids who need help.”

Anna’s House Foundation has a goal of 60 days to open a home for placement. Shortly after reaching that goal the calls began. “We received eight different calls for placement,” Sarah said. After a number of false starts, the Boggs family finally received the call that would change their lives forever.

The family met Liam on June 30, 2017. Liam was born two months early at three pounds. As soon as the family completed their neonatal intensive care unit training, Liam left the hospital and moved into his forever home. Today, Liam is a happy, healthy one-year-old who enjoys playing baby brother to six-year-old Chloe and four-year-old Isaac. “Our home was blessed by Liam,” Sarah said. “Yes, he throws lettuce and cheese at the dinner table, but what one-year-old doesn’t?”

For more information go to www.annashousefoundation.org

FEATURELOOK

Fast Track

By Ian Jayne

What do you do if you love fast cars, but have no place to drive them?

If you’re Andy Brant, you found Enhanced Motorsports Performance (EMP), a private track group for car aficionados based in Oklahoma.

Different from NASCAR and drag racing, track events are a fast-growing trend for car hobbyists, Brant said. Interested in cars since he first started driving his 1978 Porsche 911 SC, Brant has since raced with a Porsche club, held a membership with the National Auto Sport Association and placed 3rd in a 2014 regional racing competition.

After 25 years of driving and racing, Brant said he decided to see if there was any interest among his colleagues and friends. In 2012, Brant, who works in the medical profession, started hosting a quarterly “doctor’s race day” that repeatedly sold out. “With any hobby, you find friends that have similar interests,” Brant said. “Oklahoma’s car scene is just amazing.”

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Having received such a positive reception, Brant decided to make the event more wide-ranging. “I had to find a name that encompassed anyone who was interested,” Brant said. In 2013, EMP got a new name and form, offering an “eclectic, high-end car experience” for owners of sports cars.

Now, Brant said he is EMP’s “ringleader,” a “one-man show” who organizes and hosts premier track events at regional locations within driving distance. EMP rotates between Hallett Motor Racing Circuit in Oklahoma, as well as tracks in Texas and Kansas. EMP’s largest gathering, the organization’s version of the “Super Bowl,” takes place at the only Formula One track in the country — the 4-mile Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Getting out on the Track

Over the course of any given private track day, Brant said attendees split the rental fee, as well as costs for flaggers, safety crews and track insurance. Friends and family are welcome to watch — or ride along — and Brant and other coaches offer help to novices.

At EMP events, it’s about driving for fun, Brant said. Drivers are welcome to go fast or slow. Track days focus more on instruction and driving; they are not competition-based or considered a race for places. As a result, the experience allows for camaraderie amongst car lovers. “You drive at your comfort level,” Brant said.

Attendees at EMP’s private track days can show off their honed skills by participating in a contest where the quickest one lap around the track merits its driver an inscription on a

shared trophy — EMP’s version of the Stanley Cup, Brant said. “That brings a level of passion to our sport. Everyone wants to learn left-foot braking, threshold braking… It gives everyone a chance to improve,” Brant said.

EMP has also allowed for other, adjacent hobbies, Brant said. The events feature a social dinner, and many of the attendees also utilize GoPro cameras to create videos they post online. The group’s relatively small scale —150 members, about 30 of which are active attendees of a given private track day — means “maximum track time,” according to Brant. Unlike larger groups with necessarily rigid schedules, EMP provides a “turnkey” autonomous experience, Brant said.

To the Future

EMP’s small scale allows for community and for relaxed events, but this can also mean higher costs for members. The organization’s biggest obstacle is having enough attendees to pay for track rentals, Brant said. Consequently, Brant hopes to increase the active member base, work on branding merchandise and possibly even organize a West Coast racing trip.

“It’s been really exciting,” Brant said. “I have dreams of making this a big opportunity.”

For Brant, EMP has been both a hobby and a second job. “It’s rewarding to build something from scratch and look back over the last four years,” he said.

Visit Enhanced Motorsports Performance’s Facebook page for more information. www.facebook.com/groups/ enhancedmotorsports/

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BIZLOOK

She-Scapes

Landscaping

By Morgan Day

After working for 12 years in Dallas and L.A. as a clothing designer and manufacturer, Nina Viviani was ready for a change — something equally creative that would take her back to her Oklahoma roots. Finding no manufacturing jobs in her home state, she knew she had to reinvent herself and turned to another passion: landscaping.

“The industries are very similar in that it’s about color, texture, balance — but the difference is now I’m working in the dirt!” said Viviani, who has 14 years experience in the industry and five years as owner of She-scapes Landscaping.

Located at 2716 Charleston Road in north Edmond, the company creates an atmosphere through landscaping that is functional, low maintenance and a reflection of clients’ individual personalities and needs. Viviani and her crew have

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been winning over customers throughout Edmond and Oklahoma City with their creativity and ability to see all aspects of a project through from start to finish.

She-Scapes handles everything from installation to maintenance, including weed control, fertilization and overseeding with core aeration. They also tackle flower bed maintenance, which includes leaf cleanup, mulching, fertilizing, weed treatment and prevention, infestation inspection, pruning and annual flower installation.

When it comes to customer feedback, Viviani tends to hear one remark over and over again.

“They say I took their idea and made it amazing,” she said. “When we get started, we’ll go through photos, we’ll go through our website, and I always have ideas on me. We just get to brainstorming then off we go.”

Another selling point is customers communicate with one person — Viviani — throughout the entire process. “I let my crew stick with their strengths, and they’re amazing at it,” she said. “If I don’t have to get out on the field and work with them, that means they’re doing a great job, and I spend my time communicating with the customer.”

Nina & husband, Dante Viviani

While housing developments pop up around the Edmond community, Viviani and her crew are quick to spot much-needed grading corrections at those homes and work to correct them — something customers are always thankful for in the end.

“We foresee issues and we bring them up and address them,” she said. “When customers get estimates from other companies, they’ll tell us, ‘The other company never even talked about that.’

It’s sort of troubleshooting and foreseeing issues and addressing them and giving customers the option to work on it now.”

Learn more about She-Scapes Landscaping by visiting myshescapes.com or call (405) 412-7820.

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CITYLOOK

The Passion Behind the Project

Cliff and Iris supported the Edmond community through donations, time, and support of organizations such as the Hope Center, UCO, and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. While these charities were important to the couple, the biggest impact may have been the contribution to lowerincome UCO students who struggled to pay for school, family obligations, and housing. This little

By Dr. J. David Chapman

When dirt turns in Edmond, I tend to get calls from people asking, “What’s going on?” When demolition began on an old bungalow on the northwest corner of Littler and Hurd, such was the case. Initially, I go to the Oklahoma County records to seek ownership. The home was owned by Dr. Henderson and Iris Henderson. Dr. Henderson was a local dermatologist who invested in a few real estate properties including a strip shopping center, an historic home at 230 E. 2nd Street, and this home at Littler and Hurd. About three years ago, the death of her husband prompted many changes in Iris’ life, including the sale of their real estate portfolio, with the exception of the bungalow on the corner of Littler and Hurd.

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Iris Henderson

bungalow was special to Cliff and Iris because it allowed them to make a difference in the lives of many UCO students by making it a little easier for them to get their degree and improve their lives. Often, Cliff and Iris would set the rent based on what the student could afford by simply

asking them what they were able to pay, and that was sufficient. Iris said, “Cliff just had a way with people, understanding their needs.”

Today, the lot where the little bungalow sat, will continue to be a blessing. With the advice from her kids, banker, and builder, Iris is building an income-producing project to aid in her retirement.

Within the two 2-story buildings are four flats, each with three bedrooms, two baths and 1400 square feet. Iris expects each unit to rent for more than $1,500 each. With the planned amenities, size, and price point, she is hoping to attract UCO graduate students, professors, and other Edmond professionals with an appreciation for the urban environment being created in downtown Edmond.

Iris’ passion and excitement for the project is contagious, and I can hardly wait to see her success.

Dr. J. David Chapman is an Associate Professor of Finance & Real Estate at UCO. jchapman7@uco.edu

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ALOOKBACK

A Hallmark

Romance

instant attraction to each other but didn’t act on it since I was already engaged to my high school sweetheart—our Hallmark complication.

By the time I broke my engagement, Carl had left school for a job in Tulsa.

By Louise Tucker Jones

I have never watched so many TV movies as I have this cold winter. Hallmark was my chosen channel. At one time I turned to my friend and said, “That’s what I want—a Hallmark Romance!” We both laughed.

Later, it dawned on me that I actually had a Hallmark Romance with my late husband, Carl.

If you have ever watched their movies, you know the formula. Boy meets girl unexpectedly.

They have an immediate conflict that keeps them from a romantic relationship, but by the end of the movie they have fallen in love.

Simple, but it works—even in real life.

Carl and I met in college one September weekend. I needed a ride home and my friend arranged one for me with Carl. We had an

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practically jumped from his car into the front seat of mine, one on each side of me, and asked where I had been all summer. Wow! They missed me!

Suddenly, his friend asked me for a date, and like lightening, Carl interjected that I already had a date with him. Surprise to me, but I went along since there was definitely still some chemistry between us. The next night, a year from our first meeting, we had our first date and the first of many kisses, and like Hallmark, we knew this was a forever romance.

I won’t say how many years ago that date was, but this month would have been our 52nd wedding anniversary. Now you see why I’m thinking romance. And if by chance you are single, I wish you a Hallmark Romance.

A semester and a summer went by with me in Tahlequah then Texas, and Carl in Tulsa. When the summer ended, I went home for a few days and guess who pulled up next to my car at the local Dairy Queen. Carl and his friend. They

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

Building Friendships

By Amy Dee Stephens

Why does Thurman Davis, age 82, have 60 wooden stepstools in his garage? It started with loneliness. His wife, Peggy, passed away in 2016.

After 61 happy years of marriage, the house was too quiet. Davis needed a way to keep busy. Four months ago, Davis starting building folding stepstools. Now, he’s finished 163--and so far, he’s given away 95 of them!

“When people walk down my street, I offer them a stool if they want one,” Davis said. “At first, they look at me like I’m crazy—but I open the garage and let them pick one. I’ve had more fun meeting my neighbors this way. Now, they drive by and wave at me.”

One of Davis’ favorite stories is of greeting a young couple coming down the street with their two little girls. “They were twins, jet black hair, cute as could be,” Davis said. “I happened to have two lavender stools, so after we talked, I gave each of them one. Before they left, each one had to hug my neck. You talk about being paid!”

Building stools isn’t new to Davis’ life. Early in his retirement, he opened Gramp’s Wood Shop in Yukon. For three years, he tinkered at woodworking, making similar furniture out of oak. “It was practically a non-profit business,” Davis said, “because I wasn’t really making any money. It was actually a pastime where I got to meet people. I made so many good friends then.”

Prior to retirement, Davis had a long career in data processing. He entered the field in the 1950s when computer mainframes were in their infancy. It was a time when a farm boy with a high school degree and an aptitude for math could work for General Electric and help launch a rocket into outer space.

“I spent five years on a NASA contract, and I worked in the lab where they tested the Saturn rocket. Our lab would run tests on it and check out the electrical circuitry. Anytime a component failed, I processed the reporting.”

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Davis also printed off the launch instructions, done by cranking a cylinder onto multi-lift paper. “It’s hard to realize that we were thinking about going to the moon, and we didn’t have copy machines,” Davis said.

“Needless to say, they got to the moon exactly as Dr. Wernher von Braun planned it. I used to pass him in the hall all the time. He was brilliant.”

Davis also had the honor of being present when President Kennedy visited the base. He remembers standing along a rope that lined the street. Kennedy walked right past him. Before the moon landing occurred, Davis had transferred to Oklahoma City, but he’s still amazed to have had an early role in its success.

“Man could never have performed the calculations fast enough to travel to space—they had to have computers to do that. The ones I worked with could fill a house,” Davis said. “I was blessed and gratified to have learned a career like that on the job.”

These days, Davis’ computer use is at a minimum. Although he does keep up with emails from friends. He’d much rather be making friends in person. “I spend a lot of time at the hardware store buying pine for these stools,” Davis said. “I’ve come to enjoy the friendship of the staff. Right before Christmas, I took some stools up there to give to those folks. They were so happy, and I felt so good. After that, I went to the grocery store, and a lady in line paid for my groceries. I don’t think that happened by coincidence.”

“Some people probably think I’m crazy for building all these stools, but it’s good entertainment for me. People like choosing their colors, and some people ask me to autograph them. I don’t know how long I’ll keep doing it, but believe me, I’ve been well repaid by the smiles and friendships.”

The author of this article, Amy Dee Stephens, is proud to have received stepstool #28.

80 East 5th St., Ste. 130 Edmond, OK 73034