Edmond Outlook - November 2017

November 2017

Beyond the Treehouse How a Crisis Became a Calling

6 Places to Donate & Give Back This Season Horseshoe Road’s China Tour

Features

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10 I received a wedding invitation this past summer. Nothing out of the ordinary - except it was from the family of my late wife, Sandy. How thoughtful… I wonder should I go? I saved the date and got on with my summer.

A few months later, I notice Sandy’s cousins are liking some of my Facebook posts that include the lady I am dating, Alison. How thoughtful… I wonder if they’re upset with me. You know how Facebook is.

Then as the date approaches, one of Sandy’s cousins, JW, the father of the soon-to-be-bride sends a friend request to Alison. How thoughtful… we both feel, well, we don’t know what to feel. And she accepts.

It’s early October and as I half expect, JW messages me and asks actually requests - that I bring Alison as my “plus one.”

TIMELESS IS THE SEASON’S BEST TREND

Creating a versatile wardrobe BEYOND THE TREEHOUSE

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THE SOUND OF HONOR

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Couple escapes tragedy to help others Teen trumpeter enlists students across the US to play taps at military funerals GIVING BACK

Donate, volunteer and experience giving as a family KAMRYN’S OUTREACH CLUB

Santa Fe High School students help the homeless

Business

SCENTSY

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This is all new territory for Alison, them and me. There are lots of feelings and memories, I won’t deny that - but I’m doing what Sandy wanted me to do to go on, live my life, and find happiness.

Bringing American folk music to China

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The wedding was beautiful on a perfect Texas Hill Country evening. The bride was lovely. I could tell Alison was nervous, but she pushed through her feelings and found herself enjoying the evening. And me? I found continued acceptance, support and the same good-natured ribbing I’m used to... I was still “that Yankee” who married into their family.

HORSESHOE ROAD LEADS TO CHINA

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Nancy Dobbs

COSMETIC SURGICAL ARTS & REJUVENATION

Look your holiday best with non-surgical cosmetic procedures RTS MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS

Grow your business downtown

Columns 26

DR. J. DAVID CHAPMAN

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LOUISE TUCKER JONES

Dave Miller Back40 Design President

What the heck is a TIF? November Prayer

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 November 2017 Volume 13, Number 11

PHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins

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Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc.

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© 2017 Back40 Design, Inc.

PUBLISHER Dave Miller l ADVERTISING MANAGER Laura Beam l GRAPHIC DESIGN Adrian Townsend 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

Horseshoe Road

Peter Markes, Brent Saulsbury and Kyle Dillingham get a “thumbs up” from Tang Renjian, the Governor of Gansu

Leads to China You probably grew up hearing American folk music like, “Take Me Home Country Roads,” but when was the last time you heard a traditional Chinese folk song? Likely never. Hearing such foreign music might cause you to react with curiosity. You might be deeply moved by the sound.

This is exactly the reaction that Kyle Dillingham and Horseshoe Road received from audiences in the Gansu Province of China. The professional music trio, made up of Dillingham, Peter Markes and Brent Saulsbury, played gospel, bluegrass, swing and country music on the fiddle, guitar and bass.

The people of China had never heard such music, but listeners responded with enthusiasm. They became emotional. They held back tears to songs like Tennessee Waltz and I’ll Fly Away. And yet, they had no idea what the words meant. “Lyrics are a very small part of music,” Dillingham said. “The real vocabulary of music is the structure and intention of the sound. What you hear is way beyond the spoken word, and it can touch people deeply.”

Making deep connections was exactly the chord these talented musicians hoped to strike in China. Dillingham’s band was asked to represent Oklahoma at China’s Silk Road International Cultural Expo in September.

The invitation came because of a partnership between Edmond, Oklahoma and its sister city of Qingyang, China. Edmond Mayor, Charles Lamb, signed the sister city agreement in 2015 as a chance for local citizens and students to connect with a similar community on the other side of the world.

“Edmond and Qingyang are equally yoked. Each has an affluent quality of life, a sophistication about it, and a rich cultural and industrial history.

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By Amy Dee Stephens

The cornerstone of this relationship is the strong involvement of Edmond’s universities in student exchange programs,” said Dillingham.

In China, Horseshoe Road performed in a variety of settings, from intimate gatherings to a flash concert in the city’s central park. Formal concerts were performed before thousands of people. The show opened with a video about Oklahoma while the band played the state’s centennial anthem, Oklahoma Rising. No one in the audience knew about “country music.” Many had also never seen a Westerner in person, and certainly not three men over six feet tall! In all locations, the music was greeted with blatant curiosity and emotional enthusiasm.

“Music is the international language,” Dillingham said. “It brings people together and accelerates relationships. That’s why musical diplomacy is a cultural vehicle for unification. It’s good for us to imagine we have friends somewhere else in the world. It’s much better than imagining enemies.”

According to Dillingham, who has played music in 37 different countries, the Chinese officials treated Horseshoe Road with unequaled hospitality, and Edmond will have the opportunity to reciprocate when a delegation from Qingyang visits Edmond next year.

By then, Dillingham hopes to have completed a new folk song, as requested by his new friend in China, Director He Jufeng. As Jufeng told Dillingham, “You’re not only a musical ambassador, you are a musical angel. Your music touches us so deeply. I want you to write a new folk song for the city of Qingyang. I’m sure that it will be loved by Americans and Chinese, and it will be a song we can all sing together.”

For more information visit horseshoeroad.net

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HOMELOOK

Timeless

By Lance Evans

is the Season’s Best Trend

Get the real look of the season by ditching all the trends and stocking up on key wardrobe essentials. There’s no need to break the bank for trends that will only last a season. Putting together a capsule wardrobe creates a streamlined collection that is perfect for multiple wearings. Here are a few items sure to punch up your personal collection.

The Blazer

A tailored blazer will help you transition from the office to any nighttime event. Yes, bright colors and patterns are the rave this season, but go classic when assembling your capsule wardrobe. A chic black blazer will do the trick.

The Blouse

This is fashion 101. Don’t overthink it. A simple flowy blouse can be paired with a blazer for the boardroom and with a quick bathroom change, be appropriate for happy hour with the girls. North OKC’s Rosegold has the core pieces you need. “[Our pieces] are intended to be realistic,” said owner Amber Kern. “They are wearable pieces that will last.” Kern and her team at Rosegold are offering an assortment of quality blouses this season. “We have silk blouses that you can take day to evening--they’re beautiful!”

The Denim

Pull a ‘Janet’ with the right denim--anytime, anyplace, anywhere. A wellfitted jean is always a great look. The boyfriend fit, cropped and ripped jeans are the look of fall 2017, but these may not work best for your capsule collection. A clean tailored silhouette will give you the transitional style you seek.

The Shoes

Stick to shoes that can transition between various outfits. The Chelsea boot is a returning favorite this season. The great thing about the Chelsea is its ability to pair with different looks. Instead of going for a black boot, stick to a clean brown suede or leather.

The Dress

The little black dress is a classic staple that can go a long way this fall when you pair it with a blazer, layer it with an oversized jacket or make it pop with accessories. Comfortable, oversized knit dresses are essential to your collection, too, when paired with cardigans, jackets and accessories. Studio 405 Clothing Company offers the perfect knit dress at a convenient price point. “We offer oversized dresses for a wide variety of women,” said owner Gloria Sullivan. “I try to keep my prices extremely affordable.”

The Sweater

Sweaters for fall--how revolutionary! Lightweight sweaters are easy to layer and easy to transition between day and night. Stay away from the Christmas fuzz and itch-filled fabrics. A solid color U-neck sweater is key!

Whether you starting from scratch or assembling missing pieces for your fashion game, capsule shopping is the way to strut through the fourth quarter.

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FEATURELOOK

Beyond the Treehouse

By Amy Dee Stephens

Couple Escapes Tragedy to Help Others

Four years ago, George Shafer’s life was on a cliff. He was floundering in a haze of military Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a brain injury, alcoholism and drug addiction. George felt hopeless and worthless. His wife, Meredith felt overwhelmed and desperate. She was trying to keep the family together, raise three children, and find a way to rescue her mentally-damaged husband.

The terrifying moment of truth came when Meredith, very pregnant with their fourth child, climbed up into the family treehouse. She had to talk her husband into laying down the gun he intended to use on himself.

George says that his wife’s voice saved him, but Meredith says it was her faith. Two nights before, Meredith had met with George’s military commander and shared her fear that George was going to kill himself or someone else if something wasn’t done soon. They had already taken steps to set him up with medical treatment the following week. It had taken Meredith a long time of floundering around to find a viable solution.

George agreed to treatment, but the real turning point came when he returned home and realized he had no relationship with his children. “My two-yearold daughter took me by the hand and toured me around the house, room by room, as if I were a stranger,” George said.

Next in the healing process, George pushed past the shame and started telling his story at church. The result was that, “People embraced us so hard.”

Now that George is free from addiction, the couple likes to say that they have “reclaimed life.” As a show of gratitude for being rescued from their tragic situation, the Shafers have created a non-profit organization to help others survive crisis. It’s called Storm Inc., Strategic Treatment Options and Recovery Ministries.

“Crisis can take many forms—marital, financial, health, grief, addiction.

These are all heavy things, and we want to provide a life raft for anyone in 14

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those situations,” Meredith said. The Shafers have partnered with local and national treatment facilities, so they can point anyone, in any crisis, in the right direction for professional help.

Their resources include everything from treatment facilities to parole officers and counselors. The demand is so great that prior to their official opening on October 1st, the Shafers had already served 84 families. Many had heard about Storm Inc. because of the Shafers’ testimony at Victory Church, others had read Meredith’s book, Mad Cow: A PTSD Love Story.

Being in the crisis business is not easy. It can be very emotional. “On our second day, we had a call about a horrific abuse story,” George said. “I got off the phone and openly cried. As I was trying to imagine what I would do if someone had set fire to my daughter, it hit me that if we don’t do this, who’s going to?”

“Nobody comes to us when things are going well,” Meredith said. “We have hard days. Sometimes people aren’t ready to commit yet--but it’s extraordinarily worthwhile when we get someone into treatment and see progress. Next week, I get to advocate for a homeless teenager in court—he’s really turned his life around!”

“Opening Storm Inc. has been rewarding, therapeutic, and powerful. My story has lost its negative power because it’s gained momentum in the healing process, and it’s helping bring other people out of their own darkness,” George said. “My wife loved me until I loved myself.

Now, I am sober. I am free from addiction. I am the spiritual leader of my family. I am a leader in my community. I am redeemed.”

To learn more, visit www.storminc.org.

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FEATURELOOK

By Amy Dee Stephens

Teen trumpeter recruits students across the US to play taps at military funerals The mournful bugle call played at military funerals is the most recognized and emotionevoking of all trumpet calls. Over 1,500 veterans pass away daily, and there aren’t enough military buglers to attend every funeral. It is increasingly common to hear an audio recording played instead.

To teen musician, Katie Prior, this seemed tragic. Three years ago, on Memorial Day, she contacted a local funeral home and volunteered to play taps.

“My first funeral was for a homeless veteran with no family,” Prior said. “It was a lifechanging experience, and I wanted to get my trumpet-playing friends involved.”

Prior recruited ten friends to join her on a crusade to honor deceased veterans with a live rendition of taps. At the same time, she was working to achieve her Girl Scout Gold Award by developing an action plan to address a community problem. So, she developed Youth Trumpet and Taps Corp, an organization which has now recruited 120 teens in 30 states to voluntarily play taps.

“Teen trumpet players have a specialized musical training, but we mostly just play for family or at school band concerts,” Prior said.

“My organization allows young people to use their skill to serve a specific community need.”

Potential volunteers must attend Prior’s live or online training, in which she teaches proper taps technique and funeral etiquette. Next, the player’s band director certifies that the bugler can play taps correctly and from memory.

Although Prior is homeschooled, many of her volunteers attend public school and must get permission to get out of school. Fortunately, Oklahoma has an educational clause that allows students to leave school to play at a funeral.

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“I think it’s important for older people, especially veterans, to see that my generation does care. They do amazing things for the right reasons,” Prior said. “At funerals, we get to hear stories about amazing people from the older generations who fought for our country.”

Taps was officially adopted as the National Song of Remembrance by the military in 1874. While there are no official lyrics, the following words are often associated with the tune:

Fading light dims the sight God is near, do not fear -- Friend, good night.

It’s a haunting tune. Prior, alone, has played at 20 funerals since January. She keeps her emotions in check by focusing on the importance of her job.

“It’s touching to hear what family members say at the ceremony. I tell myself to stay strong, because I want to honor that veteran the best I can.”

Prior, now 17 and principal trumpet for the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra, hopes to continue recruiting volunteers to replace those who age out of the organization because, not only is it a valuable service to military families, but the volunteers’ lives are enhanced, as well.

“Volunteers tell me how honored and how protected they feel because of the veterans’ sacrifices,” Prior said. “I want to inspire young people to use their skill to do something to change the world.”

Visit trumpetandtaps.org to learn more.

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BIZLOOK grooming products like lotion and shaving cream.

It’s always exciting to see what they can come up with.”

By Morgan Day Nancy Dobbs has sold Scentsy products since 2009, and in those eight years, the company has impressed her time and again with the innovative products they roll out each year.

Scentsy, known best for its wickless candles and scented fragrance wax, has dived into the world of natural and essential oils, laundry room staples like detergent and dryer disks, and even portable diffusers for on-the-go use at the office or on the road.

“When they release a new catalog, there’s always something new and fresh in it,” Nancy said.

“When I first started, I never thought we would have counter cleaner, hand soaps and men’s

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As an independent consultant, Nancy manages her own online shop, providing personalized customer service as she caters to shoppers around the country. She also markets the evergrowing array of products at vendor shows across Oklahoma. The nurse-by-day finds that most customers usually discover their favorite scent and they’re hooked. Nancy and her husband Doug are no exception.

“Everything we buy is French lavender — counter cleaner, washer and dryer products, Scentsy wax,” Nancy said. “When you walk into our house it’s like walking into a lavender field.”

Scentsy products make great Christmas gifts, with fragrances perfect for fall and winter, like cider mill, cranberry garland, farmstand pumpkin, peppermint rush and pumpkin roll. A holidaythemed collection features Christmas cottage, cozy fireside, iced pine and many others.

Nancy enjoys being an independent Scentsy consultant and firmly believes in the company’s

mission: “Warm the heart, enliven the senses, and inspire the soul.”

The role allows for a flexible work schedule and perhaps most importantly, an option to explore fragrances more safely than with burning candles. Before she discovered Scentsy, a candle in a glass jar had overheated, burst and started a fire in her kitchen, leaving her with extensive home damage.

Nancy threw away her candles, purchased her first Scentsy product through a friend at work and never looked back.

Although her products are available across the country, Nancy said it’s especially gratifying to serve customers in the Edmond community.

“I like that small, hometown feel we have here.

We moved here from Indiana in 1985 and raised our kids here and we plan to be here through retirement.”

Learn more about Scentsy and shop through a local consultant at elegantcandlegifts.com.

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FEATURELOOK

Look Your

Holiday Best With non-surgical, cosmetic procedures

The holidays are upon us. Elaborate meals, new decorations, the perfect party dress--everything needs to be just right. There’s no better time to put some sparkle in your own appearance. Did you know many simple cosmetic procedures don’t take a lot of time but deliver amazing results?

Dr. Michell Cohn of Cosmetic Surgical Arts & Rejuvenation in OKC says, “Even though I am a surgeon, I am a strong proponent of non-invasive facial rejuvenation.” Her warm and personable nature puts people at ease as she takes time to discuss any concerns patients may have. “I know it is a big decision to have cosmetic procedures or surgery. An attentive physician is essential to the process,” she comments. Drawing on her 12 years of technical expertise, she recommends the best treatments for many common concerns women may have with their appearance.

Aging, Wrinkled Hands

The Viora Laser is an advanced light technology treatment that immediately, visibly tightens tissue in the hands. Treatments are rapid, customized, and require zero downtime. Another effective treatment for volumizing the hands is the Fat Transfer. I’m seeing some real resurfacing success in wrinkles with this procedure. It involves removing fat from a fat-rich area of the body, cleaning and draining it and injecting it into the skin. Like a filler, it adds volume, but resurfaces skin as well, and can last three to five years with one treatment.

Sagging, Sunken Face

Sculptra Aesthetic works at a deeper level than other fillers, treating more than just wrinkles, lines and folds. It actually addresses an underlying cause of facial aging, stimulating the skin’s own natural collagen production which reinforces the inner structure. It volumizes the whole face and lasts up to two years after two or three treatments. It’s also reasonably priced and results develop gradually, making it ideal for those new to cosmetic procedures.

Facial Lines, Wrinkles and Texture

Micro-Needling is one of the greatest tools in the battle against aging because it reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, smooths the skin’s rough texture and shrinks the appearance of pores. Using fine needles to puncture the top layer of skin, it stimulates the body’s natural woundhealing process, increasing collagen and elastin production. At Cosmetic Surgical Arts, our micro-needling procedures are performed with growth factor and hyaluronic acid, producing amazing results with little to no downtime. The Fat Transfer procedure is also an effective treatment for fine to deep lines and wrinkles, and Dysport is an excellent treatment for relaxing frown lines between the eyebrows without giving rest of the face a ‘frozen’ look.

Necklace Lines on Neck

PDO Threads can be used throughout the neck to smooth skin and eliminate wrinkles. The mesh of threads is injected, instantly repositioning the skin and creating three-dimensional volume that is smoothly distributed throughout the area. The threads are fully absorbable and cause tissue to build new collagen which thickens and supports the skin. The Viora Laser is another option for treating neck lines. It immediately, visibly tightens tissue, stimulates collagen production and requires no downtime.

Cellulite

PDO Threads can aid in the reduction of the appearance of cellulite by tightening and smoothing the skin. Sculptra can help with this concern as well.

Cosmetic Surgical Arts is located 12324 Saint Andrews Drive in OKC. Visit cosmeticsurgicalartsokc.com or call (405) 607-1333.

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FEATURELOOK

Giving Back

By Bethany Schwarz

November is upon us! While we busy ourselves with holiday preparations and shopping lists, there are some in our community who could use something different this season – your time, energy and donations. Check out these awesome opportunities for your family to give back to our community and focus on what matters most this season!

Fostering Sweet Dreams

Fostering Sweet Dreams is a non-profit that provides tangible needs such as cribs, child beds, car seats, high chairs and strollers to Kinship foster care placements along with unexpected traditional foster care placements. Get the kids involved by sharing the process with them and help them understand exactly what foster families do in our community. fosteringsweetdreams.com

Arise Ministries

Imagine this season as a single mom. This six-week stretch is grueling for most of us, but utterly exhausting for single moms. Arise Ministries focuses on the emotional and spiritual well-being of single mothers and supports them in this monumental effort. You can show your support monetarily and look into their website for more opportunities to serve single mothers in Edmond. ariseministries.net

Project 66

This non-profit’s mission is to serve the undernourished in our community and provide each family enough basic food to last two weeks; combined with the hope and belief that they will feel loved well beyond that time. Project 66 is looking for Monday and Thursday evening and day shift volunteers as well as retail recovery volunteers four days a week to transport food donations from local grocers. project66.org

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U R Special

This amazing organization focuses on fulfilling clothing needs for low income and at risk children (ages 3-9) within our community. November, in particular, is time for winter wear and warm clothing distribution. Volunteer to help with this month’s distribution, or take the whole crew out shopping for specific items requested such as dress-making supplies, fabric, new clothes and new shoes. urspecialedmond.org

Hope Center

Their mission is to meet the basic needs of the people in our community who are having personal emergencies or crises. As a family: • Come to the food pantry and clothing room to assist with sorting and organizing.

• Donate canned goods, non-perishable food items, household items, diapers/wipes, personal hygiene items, and clothing.

• Sponsor another Edmond area family to make this holiday one everyone can remember. hopecenterofedmond.com

Edmond Mobile Meals

Oh what joy your family could bring someone when you walk in the door with hot food and smiling faces. Volunteering to provide hot and nourishing meals to members of our community who would otherwise go without is a perfect opportunity to serve others this fall. Edmond Mobile Meals could use gift cards to grocery stores, monetary donations, and meal delivery volunteers this season. Families are welcome and encouraged to deliver meals together. What an opportunity!! edmondmobilemeals.org

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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BIZLOOK

Grow Your Business

Downtown

RTS Management Concepts

By Morgan Day

Independent small business owners will have a new option for officing in downtown Edmond starting this winter when RTS Management Concepts’ 8,000 square-foot office building opens its doors.

The newly constructed single-floor brick building at 14 W. Edwards St. features 24 offices, front and back entrances, parking spaces, a sizeable shared conference room and shared break room with amenities, and it’s slated to open officially on Dec. 1.

“It’s really a Class A building,” said Roger Shortt, owner of RTS Management Concepts. “This is perfect for the small-business person who just wants an office; they don’t need 1,400 square

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feet or an entrance with a lobby. This is great for someone who wants a professional office space because maybe they don’t get as much privacy at home or their productivity suffers while working out of their home.”

Rent runs $629 a month, and tenants have the option to add internet service for $35 and wifi connectivity for $10. That, Shortt said, could save them the time, hassle and installation charges from cable companies installing a separate internet service within the office.

What’s more? An office could come fully furnished, with, for example, a 72-inch desk, credenza, a hutch and two chairs for an additional $59 a month.

“Plus, there’s a lot of incentive for leasing office space and furniture, both from tax purposes and from individual purposes, because it’s a 100 percent tax deduction if you lease, and you don’t have to manage it — someone else will do that for you. It’s completely turnkey,” Shortt said.

In addition, lessees don’t have to worry about property management, cleaning services or other matters associated with owning an office building.

Shortt — who lives in Edmond with his wife, Judi K. Shortt, a retired psychology teacher from Norman North High School — worked as a food broker for Keith & Associates before retiring in 2009. Not too long after, he happened upon a career in commercial real estate. The father of two is proud his children also chose to live and work in Edmond, a community he’s been a part of since 1987.

“We love Oklahoma and we love living in Edmond, and have no plans of ever changing that.”

For a free tour or more information, contact Shortt at (405) 706-4327 or rtsmgt@hotmail. com.

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CITYLOOK

What the heck is a

TIF?

By Dr. J. David Chapman

I believe that cities in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan area should work together. This means collaborating on regional transportation, ecological concerns, public safety, and job creation. But understand - these same OKC metro cities are in competition to grow their individual cities. If you haven’t heard the term Tax Increment Financing (TIF) you soon will be hearing Edmond politicians and business leaders debate the subject.

The first TIF was used in California in 1952, and has been used significantly in Oklahoma City’s renaissance. TIF subsidizes development by refunding or diverting a portion of taxes to help finance development in an area or a project site. Done correctly, communities can use TIF to incentivize developers to build in areas that the city prefers or need development. Normally,

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TIF helps pay for infrastructure improvements such as streets, sewer, water, parking lots, streetscape, and train quiet/safety zones. It is advantageous for cities to have developers build and create in areas near the city core with existing infrastructure and city services such as police, fire, electric, gas, water, and sewer. This urban-type development instead of suburban-sprawl development aids public transportation, walkability, and biking options and is effective in increasing density with little impact on traffic.

encourage this type of development they must consider incentives for developers. The incentive of choice for other suburban cities in the metro including Del City, Midwest City, The Village, and Norman is TIF. TIFs are politically appealing because they do not require the City to raise tax rates. TIFs generate money for development by raising the value of the property that is taxed. Simply put, the increase in taxes go into the TIF fund and is reinvested in that area.

If Edmond wants to continue to be competitive with other metro communities, fund necessary infrastructure improvements without significant tax increases, and create amenities that citizens are demanding, they will have to consider capturing the new taxes created by those developments and deploy the money in those areas.

Having done urban-style, in-fill develop in downtown Edmond, I can tell you it costs at least 20% more to develop in these environments. Required streetscape, upgrades to water, sewer, electrical, flood control, parking and other systems simply increase the cost to the builder/developer. So, if city officials want to

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

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ALOOKBACK where he was prescribed rest, elevation, ice packs, compression, meds and so forth.

By day four, with Jay still unable to walk, Mom decided to entertain, digging through stacks of games. Jay rolled his eyes but humored me with a card game. However, he gave me that “Really, Mom” expression when I pulled out the Cracker Barrel peg puzzle. Yep, I knew that games were over!

By Louise Tucker Jones I’m not sure how it happened but autumn slipped in without me realizing it. I was still enjoying summer when leaves started falling from trees and my son, Jay was struck with a knee injury.

Jay woke up to severe pain and a swollen knee.

I assumed he twisted it, which had happened before, and expected him to use a walker for a few days then be back to normal.

Didn’t happen. Too painful to even stand. We hit the ER at McBride Bone & Joint Hospital

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And so it went throughout the month. Pain and boredom can actually coexist. Jay’s saving grace was a daily trip to Sonic for a Coke, using a wheelchair to get from house to car.

It took a full week before he could even use a walker, and even longer to walk independently.

And just when we thought the injury was well, it hit again. Now you see why fall caught me off guard.

But now, I’m anxious for November to usher in Thanksgiving, which always reminds me of family reunions and food feasts of turkey, dressing and scrumptious desserts. Love those memories and still share a meal with family on this holiday.

This month also announces my mother’s birthday. We had her grand, centennial celebration last year—picture of us included—with tons of friends and family attending. So this will mark 101 years for my sweet mama. I’m sure she will expect some festivities, and we will definitely have a cake but limit those candles.

So here’s my November prayer. May God grant a full and speedy recovery for my son, Jay. A very happy birthday for my mother. And a blessed, bountiful Thanksgiving for all of us.

Happy November!

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.

FEATURELOOK

Kamryn’s Outreach Club

Santa Fe High School students help the homeless

By Amy Dee Stephens Although Kamryn Yanchick lives a middle-class life in Edmond, she is not immune to the challenges of poverty. She is steeped in the knowledge that one generation ago, her mother was raised in a 100-year-old house that was falling apart. Rats infested the neighborhood. No one had hot water. Some neighbors found it safer to sleep outside in the yard than under a caving roof.

Instead of running from her past, Kamryn’s mother instilled in her children to be grateful for their present comforts. The Yanchick family regularly returns to their now-abandoned lot in inner-city Oklahoma City. It is a reminder and a lesson: give back by helping the less fortunate.

“My great-grandmother was a full-blood Native American who barely spoke English. She washed clothes in order to feed her seven children, but she would always invite needy people to dinner—even if it was just beans,” Kamryn said.

Since Kamryn’s childhood, her family and extended family have had the monthly tradition of getting together at the old house to hand out sandwiches to the homeless people in the area. “I didn’t realize it was abnormal to say, ‘Let’s go buy snacks and pass stuff out.’ It never seemed inspiring to me—it’s just what we did.”

Then, a lightbulb came on for Kamryn. Her mother passed through the old neighborhood on the way home from a Girl Scout camping trip. Kamryn remembers seeing a woman freezing in a thin coat. She urged her mom to stop the car.

“I handed the woman my new, insulated sleeping bag and everything else I could find in the car to give her. That night, I worried about where that poor woman was sleeping,” Kamryn said. “That’s when I understood why my family helps the homeless.”

Kamryn is now a senior at Santa Fe High School. After reading a true story during English about a homeless man and an upper class man forming a

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friendship, Kamryn talked to her teacher about inviting some students to join her family in handing out food. She was pleased by the interest of her fellow classmates. One month, over fifty teenagers arrived to pass out sack lunches.

One cold weekend, a handful of students insisted on showing up—eager to help, despite the cold.

For safety, the family has ground rules. They recently moved their operation to a parking lot near the City Rescue Mission. Men escort the students as they walk around asking people if they need anything. They don’t door-knock, and they know which areas to avoid.

“Mostly, these people are just grateful. When you give them something, they say, ‘God bless you.’ I especially remember a lady named Margie who started crying and telling us how scary her life was. It was so heartbreaking that we all started crying. My classmates were shocked to hear how homeless people live.”

This fall, Kamryn approached her school about forming a Homeless Outreach Club. She easily acquired the minimum requirement of 25 signatures from interested classmates, and 33 people showed up for the club’s first meeting in October. Kamryn appreciates their giving spirit and hopes the club will carry on after she graduates. Regardless, she knows that she’s in the helping-the-homeless business for life!

“Although I am fortunate to have never known the struggles of hunger or cold, I am not blind to its harshness,” Kamryn said. “My life has been paved by generations of hard workers and strong, selfless women who have motivated me to honor my roots. I’ll definitely be raising my own children someday to carry on this tradition. I’m glad there are other people who want to join me in impacting others.”

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