April 2022

A FREE PUBLICATION

Uniquely SIMILAR:

UNDERSTANDING AUTISM IN ENID

APRIL 2022

2 | APRIL 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

Sponsored by

MICHAEL P. WRIGHT

This month’s Local Legend is Michael P. Wright. Mike was born in Enid and is an Enid High Graduate. As an all-around athlete he was a member of two state championship football teams, captain of the basketball team and an all-state baseball player. After graduating high school, Mike attended Oklahoma State University where he was a member, President and Treasurer of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. He graduated OSU with a degree in accounting and became a Certified Public Accountant. In 2002, he earned AAMS certification through the College of Financial Planning. In 2008, he was granted the use of Certified Financial Planner certification.

Upon his return to Enid, Mike has spent the last several decades leading and volunteering in so many capacities, it is impossible to list them all, but of note he served as President of the Northwest Chapter of the Oklahoma State Alumni Association and

Oakwood Country Club. In addition, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce, R.S.V.P., Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Enid, and Autry Technology Center Educational Foundation. He has also served as a statewide director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He also served as Chairman of the Board of the Joint Industrial Foundation, Military Affairs Committee and Federal Government Committee of the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce.

He served as Chairman of the Board of the Denny Price Family YMCA during a $4 million campaign to build a new building for the YMCA. He has been an avid supporter of the Boy Scouts of America.

In 1995, he convinced the Enid City Council to start the Vance Development Authority on behalf of the City of Enid, Oklahoma to enhance relations between the City of Enid and Vance Air Force Base. The model was later used by several communities throughout the nation to better enhance their relations with their respective military installations. In addition, he served as co-chairman of the Save Vance Committee in connection with the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Process of the United States Government. In 1997, he was a founder and elected as the initial Chairman of the Board of the Enid Regional Development Alliance.

The late Governor Henry Bellmon appointed him in 1988 to serve as trustee of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement and Retirement Board, Governor David Walters appointed him in 1994 to serve as a member of the Oklahoma Military Advisory Commission and Senator Don Nickles appointed him in 1997 to be Treasurer of the Republican Majority Fund of the United States Senate.

But most importantly, Mike is the husband to Kelley and the father to daughter Meredith and Whitney, and soon to be grandfather.

Mike’s personal motto is “Generosity Leads to Prosperity” and you’d be hard pressed to find someone as generous with his time, talents, and treasure as Mike Wright. And for that, he is a true Local Legend.

ENID MONTHLY | APRIL 2022 | 3

APRIL 2022

VOL. 2 • NO. 7

LOCAL LEGENDS...........................

Michael P. Wright

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4 DOWNING'S DOODLES................. 4 COVER STORY......................... 6 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR...........

Uniquely Similar: Understanding Austism in Enid

FOCUS ON HEALTH.............

12

Hope for Non-Healing Wounds

TWEEN SCENE......................

Embarrassing Moments

ADULT BOOK REVIEW...............

A Pilgramage to Eternity:

14 16

CROSSWORD PUZZLE.........

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YOUNG ADULT BOOK REVIEW....

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Autism Awareness Month

This Poison Heart

17 ENID'S E-VENTS.................... 18 THE ARTS IN ENID...............20 SUDOKU PUZZLES....................

THE LAW OF THE LAND......

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Enid, American, Home tot he One and Only Grand National Quail Club

24 THE GARDEN PATCH..........25 PUZZLE ANSWERS..............

Healthy Soil Through Composting

PRIDE OF THE PLAINS........

26

LONGHORN ROUNDUP......

28

FIT TIPS WITH FAST............

30

REAL LIFE..............................

32

THE WORDY GIRL................

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KRISTI'S KITCHEN...............

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Pacer Soccer

Softball

Training for Life

Go Green! 6 Easy Tasks You Can Do Today to Go Green Around the House

Social Media Today - News & Trends Protein Balls

Enid Symphony Hosts Acclaimed Pianist, followed by a Fundraiser Soiree Publisher and Editor: Robert R. Faulk Designer: April Prenzlow

For ad placement, specifications and rates, call: 109 E. Randolph, Enid OK 73701 405.826.0418

enidmonthly.com

LETTER from the EDITOR

Robert R. Faulk at 405.826.0418 or robert@enidmonthly.com Tracy Crissup at 817.372.1135 or tracy@enidmonthly.com

Enid Monthly is a monthly publication by Enid Monthly, LLC serving Enid and Garfield County. Enid Monthly is free to the public. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Enid Monthly is not responsible for the care and/or return of unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, photography, books, or any other material that is submitted for possible publication.

4 | APRIL 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

RO

B E RT FA U L K

Best of Enid Several months ago someone came to us with the idea of doing a community “Best Of” edition, and at first I was a little skeptical.

There is already a similar award given out by a local publication, and didn’t want to seem to “copy” what they were doing. But after stewing on it for several weeks, and talking to people in other communities, we decided to do it – and here’s why: Enid is home to a LOT of excellent businesses that deserve to be recognized. If that means two awards in town?

Oh well. Maybe you can win both!

In any event, voting is now open for “Enid Monthly Best of Enid 2022!” You can vote on enidmonthly.com, and there is no limit to votes (but after you vote, you will have to wait a bit to cast another vote). We have some other ideas we are finalizing, but at the very least the winners will receive an awesome custom trophy! Several winners will be highlighted in a future issue of Enid Monthly, and you will get the knowledge that the community thinks you are amazing too! And while we would love for you to advertise (Call Tracy! (817) 372-1135), it is not necessary for you to be a winner.

So, share on Facebook, tell your friends, and good luck on winning this year!

Robert Faulk Editor Enid Monthly

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Uniquely

SIMILAR: UNDERSTANDING AUTISM IN ENID

smell or hearing expressed in an unusual way. Reactions can have either a positive or negative effect depending on the situation.

I

f you have met one person with autism, you have met one person with autism. Short for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which is a developmental disorder that affects how a person communicates and behaves. Autism can be diagnosed at any age but is referred to as a developmental disorder since symptoms generally surface during the first two years of a person’s life.

Due to the wide range of possible symptoms, autism is specified as a spectrum. The severity of symptoms varies significantly therefore individuals with ASD can have very different experiences.

While experiences and levels of severity differ, individuals often share similar characteristics including behavioral difficulties, issues with social interaction and sensory sensitivities. Sensory sensitivity often results in unusually strong reactions to sight, sound, touch, 6 | APRIL 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

April has been recognized by the Autism Society as Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The goal of a month dedicated to autism awareness is to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism. In addition to awareness, understanding is also very important. Offering understanding can help lend support to not only individuals with autism, but also to parents that are navigating life alongside their sons and daughters offering as much guidance and support they can along the way.

Tripp Henry Chastain

Bananas, they could not make it past the bananas. Carrie Chastain will never forget what was supposed to be a quick visit to the store to pick up a few things, however, she and her son barely made it past the entrance before the mission came to a complete halt in the produce section in front of the display of bananas. There was no bribing, motivating or begging young Tripp. He was fixated on the

yellow fruit and nothing could get to him. Rather than scoop him up and cause a scene with the tantrum that was sure to ensue, Carrie made a quick call to her husband Chris who came within a few minutes to take over and take Tripp home so she could finish shopping. It took teamwork and flexibility to accomplish a quick run to the grocery store, something most people take for granted.

Carrie’s experience has given her a whole new perspective that can easily serve as a lesson to everyone. When she sees a parent struggling with a child that appears disruptive, she looks for opportunities to help with the situation even if it is just offering support.

When she sees abandoned grocery carts, rather than judging the person for leaving abruptly she thinks to herself, I’ve been there.

Tripp Henry was the first child for Carrie and Chris. As he progressed through his first few years Carrie kept a calendar of “firsts.” He was right on target or early with all the gross motor milestones, he even took off walking at ten months.

Carrie said he learned to walk in between the family’s three yellow labs so he had amazing balance. He smiled, he laughed, he was a good eater but two things were apparent: Toys did not interest him and he didn’t talk. Tripp was very interested in television and the iPad from an early age but he did not play with toys, no matter which ones they tried. He might pay attention to a new toy for a minute but never return to it. He was not interested in being read to. Later on, they would discover he had his way of reading books and he would spontaneously read from his favorites. Most of them would involve robots or astronauts. They would learn later that Tripp could read before he spoke. He was great at reading signs and took in everything around him. He just did not read them out loud.

Carrie recalled observing a little girl about Tripp’s age at eighteen months old singing a song and inside she thought to herself: her son had yet to even say Mom. At three and a half, he would say a few words and word remnants. He had sounds that meant certain things and used one phrase “right there” but would not say Mom or Dad. Tripp was four before Carrie would hear him call her mom. Over this period, they ruled out hearing issues and the doctor would offer reassurance there was no reason to worry and would often chalk it up to “being a boy.”

It wasn’t until they switched doctors and Tripp underwent further testing that he would have an actual diagnosis for what he was experiencing. The new doctor diagnosed him with Pervasive Development Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified (PPD-NOS). PDD-NOS is on the spectrum but made up of individuals that have a lot of signs of autism but will look you in the eye and laugh and smile. While Tripp would interact, he still had a speech delay, sensory aversions and social issues. He was a happy child and did not have some of the more evident stimming behaviors (a repetitive or unusual movement or noise some autistic children use to cope with overwhelming situations) such as hand clapping or making loud noises. Tripp’s go-to stim is the wringing of his hands and fingers in front of his face.

A baby sister, Quinn, was added to the family when Tripp was two. As she grew, Carrie noticed that she was very sensitive to certain things as well. She is a picky eater, is very sensitive to smells and the way things feel, especially clothes, however, she can recognize that she may not like something and quickly move on.

Carrie had a lot of support early on and recognizes the people in her life for helping her in “amazing” ways. Some of that support came from his first set of teachers. Tripp attended Learning Tree Pre School. It was there that his teachers noticed that he would be fine until it came time to switch rooms. Transitioning from room to room would be very difficult and he would become upset. They were supportive and looked for ways to ease the transition.

They discovered if he had a transition object such as a book or an item from home, he would transition fine. It was at that time the idea of getting a service dog for Tripp developed and a fundraising campaign began.

The money was raised and Tripp would soon receive his very own dog to help him with day-to-day activities. Every day Carrie and Chris would talk to Tripp daily telling him he was getting a dog but he would not provide much of a response. Carrie said that someENID MONTHLY | APRIL 2022 | 7

times it was hard to remember to just talk to him like he understands joked, she hoped they did not regret creating the power couple. when you don’t get a response. Sometimes it felt like she was talking just to hear herself talk but he could hear and he could understand.

Jake took his job very seriously; Tripp was his They continued to tell Tripp about Jake and boy, and he always knew where he was. Jake ask if he was excited. He assisted with keeping Tripp from going in the would not offer one street, a very important trait for autism service word of acknowledgdogs. He was able to learn how to find his boy ment that he underduring training exercises for a wandering situastood what they were tion. Jake could find Tripp and alert to where he saying. Naturally, they was, not letting him out of his sight. Jake would were worried that he worry when Tripp was in the yard by himself wouldn’t care about although Carrie would be close enough to Jake. He liked the family snap a picture for Facebook along with a fundogs but he did not pay ny caption such as don’t these people realize much attention to them. this boy is outside by himself.

So, when Jake arrived and they first introduced The lovable service dog was not all work the Golden Retriever to and no play. He got along with the other Tripp a wave of relief went dogs in the house and often played tug of through Carrie’s heart as war over his favorite toys. It wasn’t unusual Tripp grabbed the leash for Jake to take two bones outside and try and “was so happy.” to bury one to hide it from his buddy. When Carrie tried to shame him when snapping his picture, he simply Jake’s trainer stayed with the family smiled and posed. for four days and then they were on their own. Carrie compared the experience to bringing a newborn home from the Jake was good for the whole family; he was hospital after a c-section and being coached by the nurses on close to Quinn as well and taking care of yourself and the baby and then all of a sudden you they all loved him. He was are just instinctively supposed to know what to do on your own. good for Tripp. He gave But all was well, in fact, it was amazing. Tripp’s anxiety level was him the confidence he cut in half. He knew Jake was his dog. He walked so proudly needed to learn to comwith him down the sidewalk and the aisles of the “supermarket” municate and take part in as Tripp calls it because that is what the Bubble Guppies call things he might not have it. Yes, the supermarket! Right. Past. The. Bananas. Carrie had otherwise experienced. He tears in her eyes. Jake could “unstick” Tripp. Something that helped with school to the no iPad, mommy’s phone, or anything else could do. Tripp’s point that Tripp was ready vocabulary increased, something they were skeptical of defor a mainstream classroom. spite the claims that autism service dogs could increase voAt that point, the activity and cabulary, but it was happening. number of kids would make it hard for Jake to relax during They went everywhere over the next four days, Benthe day as it was not always nie’s Barn, school, Chili’s restaurant, two different grocery possible to keep close watch stores, occupational therapy, sister Quinn’s preschool and over his boy. It was then they finally a bouncy house birthday party. Places that they said decided to keep Jake at home could look like a child abduction would be taking place as during the school day. Tripp they took a screaming flailing kid out the front door. While continued to do well. the meltdown tendencies still existed, they were able to distract him with Jake.

By January of this year, Jake had been in Tripp’s life longer One of the most exciting days for Carrie was when she realized than he had not.

He came to live with the family that Tripp no longer only thought about himself. They were at Urgent just after Tripp turned five and he was now eleven. After six years Care and had a long wait. Deciding he had had enough, Tripp picked together, Jake was still working hard for his boy and the family could up the leash and said, “come on, Jake!” It was at that point she not imagine life without him.

8 | APRIL 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

February 19, Jake and Tripp’s story came to a devastatingly abrupt halt. It was only a few short nights before that Jake stopped eating.

Something was wrong. They took Jake to Enid Pet Hospital and to Blue Pearl Specialty Hospital in Oklahoma City. He went down so rapidly; Carrie could not wrap her head around it. Just a few days before he was running around the front yard chasing his canine friend, he loved to hide bones from and then suddenly, he was gone. It was cancer and although the veterinarians did everything in their power, his liver failed. Jake’s work on earth was done and losing the irreplaceable pup left the family devastated. They delivered the news to Tripp and while he seemed to understand, he would ask when they were going to pick him up and bring him home. A mold of his paw print, a photo book dedicated to his memory and his collar resting upon the personalized box that holds his ashes sits on the shelf honoring the dog who “changed it all for Tripp.”

While any dog that follows would have big paws to fill, the family decided to start training Jake 2.0. The initial thought was that would happen sometime later this summer, however, as Carrie put it, “Jesus and Jake are up there opening doors, closing doors and making crooked paths straight! They must have thought Tripp needed a wingman faster than we expected!” Goose is the name of Tripp’s new “wingman” and he will start his journey to Oklahoma from Maryland on March 23. The family is taking on training efforts themselves this time under the direction of one of Jake’s trainers.

It was when Zac was 18 months old and a trip in the car down a gravel road prompted a level of misery for Zac above and beyond the usual. Zac did not like the car. He did not like being in a car seat. He would cry and scream and throw a fit. They would find out later through research that the sun, heat and the noise from the road added to sensory overload. This particular day, the sound of the gravel made the experience much worse than usual. Theresa pulled the car to the side of the road after looking in the rearview mirror to find he was covered in blood. She checked to make sure he was not severely injured. He was sweaty and his nose was running from crying and had blood on his head. She made sure he was safe, returned to the driver’s seat and drove directly to the doctor’s office even though it was lunchtime, and the doors were locked. As they waited in the hall for the office to open Zac continued to be upset and was screaming. One of the staff members came to check on the situation and asked if Theresa was okay.

She of course was not and said that the doctor needed to see him in the current situation to understand what she had been dealing with. It was important for the doctor to see Zac and what he was going through. The staff was very kind and helped watch Zac while Theresa got herself cleaned up. The doctor examined him and gave them a referral.

Carrie has kept a blog and Facebook page featuring not only thoughts and stories but also many pictures tracking their journey. Retrieving Tripp With the referral, they were able to obtain services through Sooner is an honest, heartwarming, realistic archive that is a great resource for Start. One of the first things they did was prescribe a helmet to help anyone interested in learning more about life with Tripp. protect his head during outbursts. With the help of Sooner Start at the age of 15 – 19 months, Zac was able to undergo testing to identify issues that needed attention. Sensory was a major point of concern along with speech as he had not started talking yet. He was able to Twenty-three-year-old Zacary Donald Sharp (Zac) was born with au- get assistance through occupational therapy, speech therapy and tism and has spent his life in the community of Lahoma. Having experi- physical therapy. Zac was able to learn some simple sign language ence raising Zac’s sister, Brittany, who was seven years older, Theresa to communicate. The overall evaluation was that it was the lack of noticed some significant differences with Zac when he was very young. communication skills that were causing frustration that resulted in She would later learn that his actions had a lot to do with sensory issues. acting out. Zac stayed with Sooner Start until he aged out at three For example, Zac would move from a carpeted area of floor to con- years old. It was then, they were able to transition to Head Start. crete to flail himself back and land on his head. Additionally, he would Through in-home visits, they were able to assist with communication hit his head on walls and cabinets. She brought up concerns with the through sign language, creating binders and a palm pilot-like device explaining they were having trouble and what he was doing. The doc- Zac was able to use to communicate. tor advised they might be holding him too much. When the behavior Zac started attending speech therapy early through the school increased and Theresa expressed concern, the response was he was a boy, boys are headbangers, no worries. She noticed he was not quite system in addition to private speech therapy with Cathy Chambers at Hedges Speech and Hearing at the age of three. To this day both walking yet and was concerned he was not developing.

Zacary Donald Sharp

ENID MONTHLY | APRIL 2022 | 9

Theresa and Zac think the world of Cathy and are very thankful for opening the lid and putting trash inside, Zac knows what types of her role in helping Zac. trash carts exist and which ones are better than others.

Zac can also be seen around the community pulling a cart with As time progressed so did the equipment he used to communicate his bike, his main mode of transportation. The cart is very handy for and interact with. Zac learned to use a Dynavox, a speech-generating device that could read stories and allowed his parents to learn picking up treasures he finds and is good for an occasional ride for one of his smaller friends. Zac is very popular with the what he enjoyed learning about. younger crowd. They all enjoy riding bikes together. His generous spirit has led him to find ways to A few of Zac’s favorite things in fix bikes or have bikes or bike parts donated for his the world still today are vacuum friends that otherwise do not have a bike to ride. cleaners and trash cans and trash According to Theresa, their “bike gang” is quite a trucks. Through the years, Zac has sight to see. learned a lot about vacuum cleaners. He enjoys all types of upright Zac enjoys hanging out with his friends, including vacuum cleaners and shared that Peanut (nicknamed by his mom) and Cash. He has his favorite right now are Hoovers. too many friends to try and mention them all. Zac He has become well known in the also enjoys listening to music. Right now, his faarea for cleaning and fixing vacuum vorite artist is Tim McGraw and his favorite song cleaners. He also likes to clean rugs. is Together by Gary Clark. Zac enjoys making Tik The situation is good for people that Tok videos for entertainment and enjoys keepneed rugs clean and good for Zac ing up with his favorite “TikToker”, Ryder from who always has a vacuum cleaner rydertheprinceoftiktok09. He loves his “sweet to try out. He collects vacuum cleangirl” Jessie. A two-year-old Aussiedoodle that er parts to use to fix and rebuild the gets jealous of her “manster” when he gets machines that fascinate him. One of home and has doggy smell on him. his most memorable experiences was a trip with his sister Brittany to visit the He is overall a joy to be Vacuum Cleaner Museum in Missouri. around. Zac is kind and is a The trip proved a little nerve-wracking hard worker. To his mother’s surfor Theresa, but she was glad the two had prise a few years ago, Zac came the adventure together and made memhome from the local Jiffy Trip ories. For Zac fixing vacuum cleaners is and announced he had a job. not about making money as he truly enShe knew he visited the store ofjoys what he does and likes helping peoten but was surprised to find out ple. In lieu of money though he might ask that yes, he had negotiated a job for help or for people to be featured with for himself. He stocks shelves and him in one of his Tik Tok videos. He is helps with tasks around the store.

He is a good worker. His consisbecoming quite popular on the platform tency and hard work earned him and enjoys making videos. the honor of employee of the month last November. This was a Most of his neighbors support Zac’s very proud moment, especially for love of helping others and his intrigue his mother who never gave up and with trash trucks allowing him to pull has always worked to do her very their trash carts to the curb to be empbest to make sure he had the suptied and then put them back in place port he needed. once the trash truck has been by. He is well known by the usual crew and is quick with a wave as they pass by. With the help One thing that both Tripp and Zac have in common is they have both of a friend and his drone, they recently made a video featuring Zac on trash day. The video shows his weekly routine of pulling the carts been honored by the City of Enid with Proclamations in honor of Auto the curb and returning them and gives viewers a glimpse of the tism Awareness Month/Day. The idea of Autism Awareness Month is excitement trash day brings. His intrigue with trash trucks and trash not only to create awareness once a year but to expand beyond that cans has turned into quite the knowledge base of different types of to put a spotlight on the hurdles that people with autism and those around them face every day. A little understanding can go a long way trash cans and carts. While most people might not think much past when it comes to supporting these individuals and their loved ones.

10 | APRIL 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

ENID MONTHLY | APRIL 2022 | 11

FOCUS

ON

Wellness News from

Hope for Non-Healing Wounds

St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center offers a wound care and hyperbaric medicine program to help patients with chronic wounds. Program director Nikki Johnston answers common questions about our services.

Q. What is the purpose of the St. Mary’s Wound Care and Hyper- of 82 percent. Patients who follow their treatment plan may heal within baric Medicine program? a matter of weeks.

A. A person with a non-healing wound may benefit from our specialized care. Using advanced treatQ. Does each patient have a cusment methods you can’t get at tomized treatment plan? your primary doctor, we help to A. Our multidisciplinary team folheal these wounds quicker, potenlows nationally accepted stantially reducing the risk for disease dards for wound care. Individual or amputation. * treatment plans are developed based on each patient’s healthQ. Are there many people within care needs. The patient’s response the Enid community who have or to treatment is evaluated during are at risk of developing chronic, each visit. The treatment plan is hard-to-heal wounds? revised as needed based on the A. There are people in every comwound-healing progress. munity who have or are at risk for chronic, non-healing wounds.

Q. How is the patient’s progress One of the major causes of these monitored? types of wounds is diabetes. Our A. At each visit, the patient’s program has been open for over wound is reassessed. The clinical 20 years and our patient base has information is entered into the prodoubled. We see approximately gram’s database so medical staff 150 patients on a weekly basis per can track the patient’s progress month. compared to clinical benchmarks for wound healing.

Q. How do patients benefit Learn more at stmarysregional.com from the wound care program?

A. Many of our patients begin with wounds so severe that they can’t even walk into our office. By the time they complete their treatment plan, * Individual results may vary. they can get back to enjoying the simple pleasures of everyday life.

Q. What percentage of your patients heal?

A. Because we provide comprehensive wound care treatment and have skilled physicians on staff, we have a comprehensive healing rate 12 | APRIL 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

Physicians are on the medical staff of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.

ENID MONTHLY | APRIL 2022 | 13

BY

SOP

L U A F HIA

K

Hi guys and welcome back to Tween Scene!

This month Giselle, Bree and I thought it would be a good way to wrap up ALMOST the end of the school year with funny/embarrassing incidents that have happened to each of us during our 8th-grade year! Let’s go!

g n i s s a r r a b m E s t n e m Mo

To start off this embarrassing story started on a Monday last December. I was going to the office to give a new student a tour of the school (which doesn’t seem too bad but we haven’t gotten to the good part). We were walking up the stairs to the second floor when I completely tripped on my own feet and fell forward on the stairs almost making the student fall too!! It was so embarrassing! I didn’t know whether to dip and let my friend keep giving him a tour or just laugh it off! I ended up laughing it off and we still laugh about it to this day!

-Sophia

One of the most humiliating experiences I have had during soccer practice was the time I fell on the concrete in front of everyone!

There was a ball on the concrete and I decided to kick it over. Knowing that I had cleats on probably wasn’t the best idea but I still did it anyway. I had a bruise for almost 2 weeks and it wouldn’t go away. Another humiliating experience happened at school. When I was going upstairs I tripped on air somehow and fell. I don’t think many people were looking luckily, but it did hurt a bit.

trying to set the ball and my hands were too far out and it hit my face and I fell on the floor!!

Also, one time I fell asleep in language and slept until the second-hour bell in school. NO ONE WOKE ME UP! So I was late for my class and super embarrassed! One last thing, it was 3rd hour and I walked into my 4th hour thinking it was already 4th hour, sat down, and everything like it was a normal day. Everyone I think the most embarrassing thing that’s was looking at me weird and I was so conhappened to me was last year during school fused why! volleyball, this girl served the ball and I was

-Giselle

-Bree

14 | APRIL 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

Thanks for listening to our most funny incidents!! I think all 3 of us are very excited to move to Enid high and be freshmen!! I know I sure am….. we would love to hear some funny things that have happened to you this year so email us at tweensceneenid@gmail.com!

Also feel free to give us an email for any comments, questions, concerns, or any ideas for upcoming articles! We hope u have a great April and a Happy Easter!! See u next month!!!!

ENID MONTHLY | APRIL 2022 | 15

Adult Book Review

Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore

A Pilgrimage to Eternity:

From Canterbury to Rome in Search of a Faith

Author: Timothy Egan

A Pilgrimage to Eternity is a 2019 non-fiction book from Timothy Egan, author of the incredibly-written The Worst Hard Time (2006). His more recent book, Pilgrimage, is a travelogue combined with history, biography, and theology, as he journeys by foot, car, and public transit from England to Italy. Egan, a “lapsed but listening” Irish Catholic, is struggling with his faith, as are more and more people today. He decides to embark on the Via Francigena trail – roughly 1,200 miles – to reflect on both the history and future of Christianity in Europe, as well as his own relationship to religion now.

As Egan makes his way through the small towns, he uses them as jumping off points. For example, in Saint-Omer, France, he explains how monks used to transcribe sacred texts by hand onto parchment to keep the stories alive.

Later, in Laon, he discusses the miracles of the Bible, and in Brienne-le-Chateau, the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. In Geneva, Switzerland, he explains the work of Martin Luther and John Calvin, and in Italy, he considers Augustine and the concept of free will in the village of Bollengo. As he gets closer to the Vatican, he tells the story of Saint Francis of Assisi in the thirteenth cen-

tury and talks of how Pope Francis is changing the Catholic Church in the twenty-first century.

A Pilgrimage to Eternity is not just a history book though – Egan adds hilarious quips here and there and describes the interesting people he meets on the route and the delicious food and drink he has too. It’s a nicely balanced book – light on one page and thought-provoking on the next – with numerous quotes to pull out as well (“for many of us, malnutrition of the soul is a plague of modern life”). So, sit back in your favorite reading chair and let the author be your personal tour guide across four countries and thousands of years – all without any blisters or knee pain.

Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of A Pilgrimage to Eternity today!

Puzzle Answers on Page 24 16 | APRIL 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

Young Adult Book Review

Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore

This Poison Heart Author: Kalynn Bayron

This Poison Heart is a young adult fantasy book by Kalynn Bayron, and it was recently named to the Oklahoma Sequoyah list for high school students. The main character is a normal teenager in Brooklyn, except for one thing – plants react to her. She can grow new ones in an instant, she can bring dead ones back to life, and living ones reach for her as she travels past them. What is even more astonishing though is that poisonous plants don’t cause her any harm at all.

Briseis and her adoptive parents are struggling with many things – friendships falling away, grades slipping, rents increasing – when they learn that the sister of Briseis’s birth mother has left a 40-acre estate to Briseis in her will. They decide to go stay there for the summer as a nice break, and as a way for Briseis to learn more about both her

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family history and her relationship to plants. What they come to realize very quickly though is that the house is keeping many dark secrets. There is a room behind a fake fireplace, a hidden compartment in a desk – not to mention a garden full of poisonous plants behind a locked gate deep in the woods. As Briseis learns more about her ancestors and the power passed down to her, she must defend herself and her parents as wicked individuals seek to use her abilities for their own evil gains.

This Poison Heart doesn’t have too strong of an initial hook, but the story gradually picks up speed and definitely hits its stride by the end.

It becomes a beautifully complex book, combining Greek mythology, magic, suspense, and of course, botany and gardening. There are some rather intense scenes, but the book ends on a very compelling cliffhanger. The sequel comes out in June 2022, so this book makes for a wonderful springtime read now.

Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of This Poison Heart today!

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Puzzle Answers on Page 24 ENID MONTHLY | APRIL 2022 | 17

Enid's

E-vents

April Events APRIL 1-30 Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm All Aboard: Examining the Orphan Trains Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th) (Exhibit runs through June 4) APRIL 1-30 Thursday 5-9 pm, Friday-Saturday 1-9 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm Sugar High: An Immersive Art Experience PJ’s (220 N. Washington) Sugar High presents a surreal sugar dream addressing our modern world’s prioritization of immediate satisfaction over all else. To depict this future, an immersive, interactive art installation has been created for visitors to explore the Sugar High world.

Free admission.

APRIL 1 6 pm-9 pm First Friday Downtown Enid Live music, great shopping, delicious food 7 pm Basketball: Enid Outlaws vs.

Potawatomi Fire Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand) 7 pm Live Music: Buffalo Jones and the Heard Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) 7:30 pm Live Music: Levi Thompson Settlers Brewing Co. (202 E. Randolph) 9 pm Live Music: Beautiful Disaster The Spot (417 N. Grand) APRIL 2-3 1 pm & 3 pm Saturday, 3 pm Sunday Gaslight Children’s Theatre presents Puss in Boots

Gaslight Theatre (221 N. Independence) APRIL 2 9 am-4 pm Corvette Expo Chisholm Trail Expo Center (111 W. Purdue) Largest indoor Corvette show in Oklahoma 10 am-5 pm The Market Neighborhood Shops Craft Show Stride Bank Center Grand Ballroom (301 S. Independence) 11 am-3 pm History Alive!

Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St.) Re-enactment characters portray life at the time of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893

9 pm Live Music: Godlike and Same Ol’ Joe CW Scooters (3630 N. Van Buren) 9 pm Karaoke Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple) APRIL 7 7 pm Trivia!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) 9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott) 9 pm Open Mic Night (Singers, Poetry, Spoken Word) Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple)

7 pm Live Music: Stacey Sanders Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)

APRIL 8 7 pm Basketball: Enid Outlaws vs.

Potawatomi Fire Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand)

7:30 pm Auto Racing: Sooner Late Models Enid Speedway (302 E. Oxford)

9 pm Live Music: The Revolt The Alibi Bar (224 W. Broadway)

9 pm Live Music: Robert Allen Band Boondocks (302 E. Maple)

9 pm Live Music: Fildio The Spot (417 N. Grand)

APRIL 4 4:30 pm Baseball: Enid High vs. Muskogee David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand)

APRIL 8-9 9 am-7 pm Friday, 9 am-5 pm Saturday Spring Book Sale Hospice Circle of Love (314 S. 3rd St.) Hardbacks $1, Paperbacks $0.50

APRIL 6 7:30 pm Trivia!

Settlers Brewing Co. (202 E. Randolph) 9 pm Live Music: Greg Demyon The Spot (417 N. Grand)

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APRIL 9 9 am-12 pm Enid Cars & Coffee Blazes BBQ (1002 W. Willow) 9 am – Noon Superhero Saturday!

Meadowlake Park (1200 W. Rupe) Fun family event/education/career

fair with superheroes, Putt Putt, Paddle boats, and more!

1 pm Baseball: NOC-Enid Jets vs.

NOC-Tonkawa David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand) 6 pm Basketball: Enid Outlaws vs.

Rockwall 76ers Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand) 6 pm-11 pm Youth & Family Services Charity Gala: Caribbean Nights Stride Bank Center Grand Ballroom (301 S. Independence)

9 pm Karaoke Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple) APRIL 14 1 pm Baseball: NOC-Enid Jets vs.

Redlands David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand) 7 pm Trivia!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) 9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)

9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)

9 pm Open Mic Night (Singers, Poetry, Spoken Word) Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple)

APRIL 11-13 Make-A-Wish Fundraiser Jiffy Trip (5314 W. Garriott) KOFM/KGWA announcer Alan Clepper broadcasts live atop a lift to raise money and awareness for the Make-A-Wish Foundation

APRIL 15-24 Times TBA Tri-State Carnival Oakwood Mall (4125 W. Garriott)

APRIL 12 6 pm Baseball: Enid High vs. Bixby David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand) APRIL 13 10 am Easter Egg Hunt Enid Public Library (120 W. Maine) 7:30 pm Trivia!

Settlers Brewing Co. (202 E. Randolph) 9 pm Live Music: Gus Burns The Spot (417 N. Grand)

APRIL 15 3 pm – 5 pm Easter Egg Painting sponsored by the City of Enid Champion Gym (700 N. 10th St.) 7:30 pm Live Music: Stacey Sanders Settlers Brewing Co. (202 E. Randolph) 9 pm Live Music: The Revolt The Spot (417 N. Grand) APRIL 16 7:30 am-10 am Breakfast Fly-In Woodring Regional Airport (1026 S .66th St.) Fly-in aircraft & static displays on the ramp, Barnstormers breakfast buffet $8

If you would like a free listing for your event, please email robert@enidmonthly.com by the 5th of the month PRIOR to your event! Events are as accurate as possible as of print date. Please see VisitEnid.org for any updates/changes.

10 am-4 pm Pop Ups on Park St. Park Street (Downtown Enid) 10 am-5 pm Spring Market Red Bird Farm (8812 N. Hwy. 81) 11 am-3 pm History Alive!

Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St.) Re-enactment characters portray life at the time of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893 11 am Cornhole Tournament: Fudnraiser for Enid Bruins Softball Youth Building (305 E. Oxford) Call (580) 541-8881 for more details 1 pm – 4 pm Easter-Apalooza sponsored by the City of Enid Crosslin Park (1520 W. Oxford) 6:30 pm Vance Spouses Club Charity Auction Stride Bank Center Grand Ballroom (301 S. Independence) Tickets: vsc.yapsody.com 9 pm Live Music: BC & The Big Rig/ Buffalo Jones & The Heard The Alibi Bar (224 W. Broadway) 9 pm Live Music: All town The Spot (417 N. Grand) 9 pm Live Music: Born in November Boondocks (302 E. Maple) 9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott) APRIL 17 9 am Easter Brunch Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) APRIL 18 7 pm Baseball: Enid High vs. Bartlesville David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand)

APRIL 20 7:30 pm Trivia!

Settlers Brewing Co. (202 E. Randolph) 8 pm Live Comedy Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) 9 pm Live Music: Chloe Beth The Spot (417 N. Grand) 9 pm Karaoke Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple) APRIL 21 7 pm Basketball: Enid Outlaws vs.

Houston Push Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand) 7 pm Trivia!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) 9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott) 9 pm Open Mic Night (Singers, Poetry, Spoken Word) Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple) APRIL 22-23 Hanor Smokin’ Red Dirt BBQ Stride Bank Center (301 S. Independence) APRIL 22-24 12 pm-7 pm Friday, 9 am-7 pm Saturday, 11 am-5 pm Sunday Enid Home Show Chisholm Trail Expo Center (111 W. Purdue) $5 admission, children 12 and under admitted free APRIL 22 12:30 pm (registration) Golf Tournament (Fundraiser for EHS Project Graduation) ($275 per team) Meadowlake Golf Course (2013 W. Rupe) 5 pm-7 pm United Way Bacon Bash

Stride Bank Center (301 S. Independence) Parking lot west of Convention Hall

9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott)

7 pm Red Dirt Roadshow Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand) Stoney Larue, Cody Canada and the Departed, Micky and the Motorcars; Tickets $32-$52, available at StrideBankCenter.com, 580.616.7380 or SBC administration office

APRIL 24 1 pm Baseball: NOC-Enid Jets vs. Carl Albert David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand)

7:30 pm Live Music: The Revolt Settlers Brewing Co. (202 E. Randolph) APRIL 23 10 am Baseball: Enid High vs. Berryhill David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand)

4 pm Leonardo’s Princess Ball 81 Ranch (5220 N. Hwy 81) Tickets available at leonardos.org! $35 members, $40 non-members (Also on May 1) APRIL 25 6 pm Baseball: Enid High vs. Stillwater David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand)

11 am-4 pm Oklahoma Miss Majorette, State Twirling Championships Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand)

APRIL 27 7:30 pm Trivia!

Settlers Brewing Co. (202 E. Randolph)

1 pm-5 pm Enid Author Fest Enid Public Library (120 W. Maine)

9 pm Live Music: Hayden Lewis The Spot (417 N. Grand)

5 pm Enid Symphony Orchestra presents, “Wildflowers, featuring Ya-Fei-Chuang, Pianist” Enid Symphony Center (301 W. Broadway) Tickets $30 for adults, $27 for military, $15 for students

9 pm Karaoke Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple)

7 pm Black & White with a Touch of Red Soiree Enid Symphony Center (301 W. Broadway) 8 pm Live Music: The Birdsongs Band Moose Lodge (302 E. Purdue) ($10 Cover) 9 pm Live Music: Special Case The Spot (417 N. Grand) 9 pm Live Music: Jase Holtom CW Scooters (3630 N. Van Buren)

APRIL 28 11:30 am-1 pm United Way 2022 Annual Meeting & Awards Ceremony Stride Bank Center Grand Ballroom (301 S. Independence) 7 pm Trivia!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) 9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott) 9 pm Open Mic Night (Singers, Poetry, Spoken Word) Boondocks Tavern (302 E. Maple)

David Allen Memorial Ballpark (301 S. Grand) 5 pm Steak Night!

Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) APRIL 30 9 am-6 pm Foster Care Ride & Roll Cycle Ward (319 N. Independence) 11 am-5 pm Spring Fling!

Leonardo’s Children’s Museum (200 E. Maple) Flower & insect crafts, nature walk, plant seedlings to take home! Regular admission price.

7 pm Live Music: Sean Gallagher Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence) 7 pm Comedy: Rodney Carrington Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand) Tickets are $194.75 & $44.75, available at StrideBankCenter.com or 580.616.7380 8 pm Live Music: Backstage Pass Moose Lodge (302 E. Purdue) 9 pm Live Music: Back Stage Pass The Alibi Bar (224 W. Broadway) 9 pm Karaoke (No Cover) The Lounge @ Ramada (21+) (3005 W. Garriott) APRIL 30-MAY 1 10 am-4 pm Kites over Enid Autry Technology Center (1201 W. Willow) Bring your own kite or purchase one on site, see the giant inflatable kites.

APRIL 29 5 pm Baseball: Enid High vs. Ponca City

ENID MONTHLY | APRIL 2022 | 19

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Enid Symphony Hosts Acclaimed Pianist, followed by a Fundraiser Soiree After listening to the beautiful playing by Chuang, the Enid Symphony Association is excited to host their annual fundraiser for the ESO: “Black and White with a Touch of Red Soiree” at 7:00 p.m. The Soiree will feature three rooms with differing music, such as the “Top of the Knox Club” featuring Evan Parrish, “The Regency Room” with Big Band Music and “The Cool Cat Lounge” featuring Steven Harwood. Dinner will be catered by Land Run Steakhouse, desserts by Class and Sass Bakeshop, live and silent auctions and the Enid Symphony Association’s famous wine pull! Enid Symphony Association President Kegan Tuohy said “While the association’s focus in centered on music, on April 23rd we are shifting to FUN! Exquisite food, premium cocktails and dancing. What more could you want on a Saturday night in Enid? I guarantee a good time will be had!”

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at ESO (301 W. Broadway, 9 am -1 pm, M-F) or online at enidsymphony.org. It is fundraisers like this that provide the ability for ESO to bring international talent like Ya-Fei Chuang to Enid.

After several tries at getting the season restarted, Enid Symphony Orchestra is excited to welcome Pianist Ya-Fei Chuang to Enid at 5:00 p.m. on April 23rd. Ya-Fei has appeared at numerous important international festivals and collaborated with some of the most impressive symphonies and conductors in the world including the Israel Symphony, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and Radio Symphony Orchestra Berlin. When she is not out performing, she also teaches piano at Harvard. Piano superstar Alfred Brendel has praised her as “a pianist of extraordinary ability, intelligence, sensitivity and command.”

According to ESO Maestro Douglas Newell, “Ya Fei is one of the foremost interpreters of the piano music of Chopin in the world today. We are thrilled to have an artist of this international stature to perform with the Enid Symphony Orchestra and hosting an artist like this elevates both the orchestra and the audience with a performance quality not generally found in communities of our size.”

Tickets to this show are available at enidsymphony.org and are $20 for adults and $10 for students.

20 | APRIL 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

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Enid, America, Home to the One and Only Grand National Quail Club

If you’ve lived in or around Enid very long, you’ve most likely heard stories about this organization and the hunt it puts on yearly. Since 1967, the Grand National Quail Club has put on an invitational celebrity quail hunting event. (www.gnqh.org). It’s conducted in November each year and is intended to bring businessmen (mostly from out of state) to Northwest Oklahoma with the hopes of enticing folks to establish businesses here. The hunt has hosted numerous professional athletes, actors, comedians, singer/songwriters, and business owners from across the nation.

For us local members, it’s great camaraderie and a chance to get together to talk about hunting, a thing we all have in common. Confined to 150 members, one must be invited by a member to join the club and then must be approved by a committee. Upon admittance, the member is given a particular task to perform during the hunt. Members themselves don’t hunt, but are responsible for dog-handling, food and

drink, hosting celebrity guests, and the like. Local members can also serve as “Ranchers” which own the land the members take our guests to hunt. It takes a year’s worth of preparation and planning of numerous people to make the hunt successful each year.

The GNQC website sums it up best: The Grand National is truly a state/community effort consistent with the proud tradition of Oklahoma and its genuine, friend, progressive people. For the nation’s top wing shots and most avid quail hunters, the Grand National represents the pinnacle. There is nothing else like it – no other place where a participant can join with a select fraternity of sportsmen and celebrities dedicated to the enhancement of the long-stand game bird hunting traditions of America.

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ENID MONTHLY | APRIL 2022 | 23

PUZZLE ANSWERS CROSSWORD PUZZLE FOUND ON PAGE 16

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EASY SUDOKU FOUND ON PAGE 17

HARD SUDOKU FOUND ON PAGE 17

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Garden

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Healthy Soil Through Composting

In my previous article, we looked at soil and the best types of soil for growing gardens and lawns. This article focuses on maintaining that healthy soil through composting. Compost adds fertility to the soil. The microbial life in organic matter converts other soil elements into essential nutrients that plants need. Fibrous humus adds texture to the soil, preserving air pockets and providing spaces for plant roots.

The spongy nature of humus absorbs and retains moisture for plants while draining away excess water from plant roots. Additional benefits of composting save you money from unnecessary chemical fertilizers and less waste to dispose of in your local landfill. The best advantage to composting is beautiful, healthy lawns, flowers, and vegetables.

To create compost the gardener can be involved in an elaborate process or as hands-off as desired. The main step in the composting process is to provide a suitable environment for your compost to decompose. It can be as simple as an area set aside to create a pile of brown stuff, green stuff, air, and water. Brown stuff is carbon-containing materials such as dried leaves or straw. Nitrogen-containing green materials are fresh grass clippings, weeds, and kitchen waste. Or composting can be as involved as creating compost teas and using worms to aid in the decomposition process in elaborate containers or roller bins.

Perhaps the simplest route is to create a compost pile or bin using wire mesh and corner posts or a wooden box in which to contain your compost. Using a container rather than just piling it in a corner of the yard helps prevent animals from getting into your compost, as composts can be toxic to pets and lure in unwanted, potentially harmful wildlife. You can find many designs for compost bins in books and online. Two factors to keep in mind when building a composting bin are the needs for air and water. Bins need to provide circulating air and moisture for the microbes to break down the materials containing carbon and nitrogen. Keyhole gardens provide one of the best direct uses of a composting bin in the center of a raised bed. Other composting bins require moving the decomposed material and incorporating it into the garden soil, but may provide soil that is broken down more thoroughly.

Once you have determined where and how you want to process your compost, you just need to start feeding your compost. Many different types of materials can be composted. Kitchen scraps such as egg shells, coffee grounds, tea leaves, vegetable trimmings can all be processed. Be mindful to never put animal proteins such as meat scraps, uncooked bones, or fats and oils into your kitchen compost. These substances, when broken down, turn into deadly toxic fumes. Also,

animal feces from cats and dogs should never be put into compost.

Herbivores such as rabbits, guinea pigs, cows, horses, and chickens create manure that can either be put directly into the garden soil but is better converted to composting soil in the compost bin. Yard wastes (grass and leaves) and garden trimmings and weeds can be put into the compost bin as long as care is taken to ensure no diseased trimmings or grass or weed seed heads are composted as they may grow in the garden when the compost is incorporated into the soil.

About once a month take a garden rake or pitchfork to your compost and turn it over to introduce some air into the decomposition process.

In addition, when you water your garden, turn the hose on your compost to keep it moist, especially if it hasn’t rained in a while. As the compost breaks down into soil and humus it will sift itself toward the bottom of your compost bin. So the best compost to use in your garden comes from the bottom of the bin. The three best times to add compost to your soil are during the initial spring tilling, a little in mid-summer or a bit throughout the summer to add a little nutritional boost to your soil and in the late fall as you put the garden bed to rest. This last addition allows the soil to finish the composting process over the winter months and start again in the spring with the healthiest soil possible.

Using that yard waste and kitchen vegetable scraps will lighten the load on trash day and will give you a healthier, heartier garden allowing you to enjoy vibrant flowers, delicious fruits and vegetables and beautiful luscious shrubs, bushes, trees and lawns all year long.

ENID MONTHLY | APRIL 2022 | 25

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Fresh off a 1-0 victory over archrival Ponca City, Enid High Girl’s Soccer Coach Tm Lavoie is excited about the future of his young team.

“Winning the “Battle of 412” Trophy was huge for our girls. This is the first time we have won it since it’s creation, and it was great to see their hard work pay off” said Lavoie.

The Pacers suit up 9 freshmen for the Varsity team, and 6 of the 11 starters are either freshmen or sophomores. “We play one of the toughest schedules in the state, so we are going to have some growing pains with the youth of this team. Union and Jenks are usually nationally ranked, and Owasso and Mustang are always in the running for a state championship, so I expect we will be challenged. The key for us is to not lose faith and confidence, to continue to compete, play hard and grow and learn from our mistakes,” Lavoie said.

While we have great programs for the very young, he believes that exThe team is led by senior Captain Jarely Cassilas who plays Center Back cellent facilities will help keep kids (and coaches) interested in soccer (defense). Coach Lavoie said she is an excellent player who the younger after the initial few seasons. “Players and coaches like to play in nice girls really look up to as a leader. She brings a lot of great experience and facilities. That, and the events that they plan to bring in, really promote has played a big role in development of the younger players. She keeps the game of soccer and hopefully those kids will want to be part of something great.” the team clam and organized and her confidence is infectious.

As part of the youth development, Coach Lavoie wanted to give credAs a junior, Cassidy Fitzgerald (Forward/Attacking Mid) is also looked to for leadership on the pitch. She plays at a high level and creates op- it to a lot of his players that help out with the high school camps and activities. Along with the excellent Middle School coaches that Enid has portunities for scoring for both herself and her teammates. been able to bring in, and the fact that we actually have middle school Coach Lavoie also highlights two sophomores who have made a big teams, which we didn’t have several years ago, portends a bright fudifference this year: Captain Tabitha Miller, who he describes as “re- ture for Enid High Soccer. Go Pacers! lentless, with a high work rate, and is really the engine that drives the team. Her positive attitude reflects to the other kids and is really important piece of the team.” Center Back Marisa Chavez is also part of the leadership group and is a “bowling ball on defense. Her tackles are exceptional, and her tenacity and work ethic is unmatched. She really takes pride in what she does and it shows on the field,” he said.

As for soccer as a whole in Enid, Coach Lavoie is excited about the new soccer fields being built as part of the Advance Soccer Complex.

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ENID MONTHLY | APRIL 2022 | 27

Longhorn Roundup SOFTBALL Written by Rosalia Arana, #24 CHS Softball

Emily Arnold, junior

Shyla Miller, junior

As they welcome the 2022 season of Slow-pitch Softball, the coaches and the team are excited to announce that they greatly appreciate the help and support of the new athletic director Gary Riley and the new principal Anglea Avila. As a team they are working hard to achieve greatness this season, entering with new teammates and goals. The Lady Longhorns are excited to get back on the field and are ready to take on any challenge to get to the State Championship. As the legendary Babe Ruth once said, “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game!” This season they are at 14 players, 8 home games, and 9 away games. The Lady Longhorns play their next home game on April 7 at 4:30 at the Chisholm softball field. The Lady Longhorns would love for anyone and everyone to come out and support them. The next home game will be April 11 at 4:30 against Blackwell.

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Jessi McDowell, sophomore

In the past year, the Lady Longhorns were district champions and regional finalists with a record of 25-12. Anticipating that the Lady Longhorns will win another championship for the year 2022, Coach Burns and Coach Jimmy Johnson have been working hard with these ladies to bring them success. Not only have the coaches seen many talented players during the years, their dedication to Chisholm High School Softball has made an impact not only on the school but also on the players! Coach Burns always says, “It's not all about winning, but about having fun as a team and playing as a family.”

They are excited for this season and they would love for everyone to come and support them! 4 bases, 3 strikes, 2 Teams, 1 Winner! GO LADY LONGHORNS!

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Training for Life right foot. Shifting your body weight over this foot, bend your right knee and let your hips drop to the floor. During this entire movement, keep your weight situated over the heel of your right foot. When you feel some tension in your right leg, return to a standing position with feet shoulder-width apart. Work to complete 10 on each side, starting and finishing one side at a time. Work up to 3 sets. This exercise can be started with body weight. Hand weights can be added if more challenge is desired.

Seated knee-in: Start by sitting on a bench or a chair. Slowly pull your knees up together toward your chest and then back down towards the ground without allowing your feet to touch the ground. Ultimately, you want to work toward doing this exercise seated straight up and not leaning backward. This will come with increased core strength. Try to get 12 of these knee lifts without touching your toes to the ground. When you can complete one set, try to do 3 sets of 12.

Squat to press: Grab 2 dumbbells or any 2 household items of similar weights. Start with a weight in each hand and arms rested by your sides. Start with your feet shoulder-width apart. Slowly squat and drop your hips toward the ground while keeping your chest forward-facing. Focus on keeping your body weight balanced in the heels of your feet. When you have squatted as low as you are able while still keeping a good form, push back up to your starting position and raise the weights in your hands up over your head into “touchdown”.

Safely and with control, bring your weights back down to your sides. This is one rep. Work to perform 3 sets of 10 on this exercise.

The term “Functional Training” is confusing to some people. It is assumed that functional training is only for athletes - full of exhausting sets and too much jumping. The way FASST uses functional training is by adding in physical exercises that are life applicable. As we age, good quality of life is our goal when looking at physical training. “Look good, feel good, play good” is our motto. The best way to accomplish these goals is by functional training.

When you implement even just a few of the following exercises into your daily routine, you should notice an increase in flexibility, improved balance, and easier movement. Functional training is applicable in many settings - from playing sports to chasing grandkids in the backyard. If you want to maintain healthy physical function or want to regain some physical function, we recommend adding functional training to your routine.

ROUTINE: Side lunge: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Step out to the side with your

30 | APRIL 2022 | ENID MONTHLY

Bench push up: If you can perform a traditional push-up, that’s great - you can do that for your functional training. However, if performing a traditional push-up is too challenging for you, try doing a push-up with your hands on a bench. This is a great way to get a muscle contraction in the chest while incorporating your core. Keep your elbows under your shoulders (do not let your elbows flair straight out to the side). If a bench is too challenging, try the countertop.

When you can do 12 reps for 3 sets easily, it's time to move down to something lower and continue until 12 reps is easy. Eventually, a traditional pushup will be able to be done correctly.

SNACK OF THE MONTH: Pre-Workout nutrition To fuel your workout, carbs and healthy fats are great. My go-to pre-workout snack this month is a small tortilla with a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of peanut butter. This provides great fuel to make it through a challenging workout. Be easy with the peanut butter, it is extremely nutrient-dense and packs a lot of calories. A tablespoon is about half of a golf ball so keep that in mind while preparing your snack.

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Go Green!

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6 Easy Tasks You Can Do Today to Go Green Around the House

Want to be more eco-friendly, but not sure where to start? Use these tips to make your household tasks environmentally wise—and save some money, too!

Big goals are great, but small switches add up, especially when it comes to sustainability. It might not be feasible to cut household waste to zero or completely avoid single-use plastic. But there are many simple, everyday choices that you can tweak or substitute to make your home and lifestyle greener. Start by trying out a few new habits, then work your way up to larger eco-friendly commitments. Here are 6 easy things you can do today to lessen your environmental impact—and save some cash while you do it. These steps will get you on the road to an eco-friendly home fast. for other stuff we use, like oil-based paint, municipalities want to help you dispose of these materials responsibly. Local recycling rules are 1. Focus on maintenance - Proper maintenance ensures things work clear about what you can (and cannot) toss into your bin. If you're in the way they should and don't prematurely need replacement, which doubt, the internet can help you find where to unload hazardous items. creates more waste and expense. Change filters in appliances regularly to improve their energy efficiency. Take care of your tools, and keep 5. Switch to LED bulbs - Swapping conventional light bulbs for LEDs up with routine maintenance. Every time you invest a few extra minutes is a simple way to make a day-to-day change that does trim your enerin maintenance, you'll save yourself from having to spend extra dollars gy and purchase costs.LEDs use up to 75% less energy and last up to on new things.

25 times longer than other types of bulbs. They also come in dimmable options and are available for nearly every use, from outdoor to indoor 2. Repair things when they break - This might seem obvious, but fixtures. ignore a fix and you'll have to either spend more on upkeep or replacement. That can lead to all sorts of non-green costs, such as when you 6. Assess your shopping habits - A big part of living more sustainbuy a new model and have to throw away all the packaging. Consider ways to repair or refurbish damaged goods instead of immediately ably is considering the big picture. That means thinking about more than the product on the shelves and the choice in front of you. As you trashing them. shop, consider what it takes to make a product and get it to you. What 3. Check your stash before you shop - Many of us are guilty of does the manufacturing process look like? Is there a locally made or grabbing an item while we're at the store without realizing we already closer-to-you option? Then think through what the product does once have one (or several) at home. This wastes not only your dollars but it's in your home. For example, off-gassing, which can harm indoor air also product and packaging. Always take a quick inventory before you quality, is a common problem with paints, furniture, and other houseshop—and store like items together so it's easy to see what you have hold items. How long the product will last and how much use you will get out of it are also key considerations. Lastly, ask yourself what hapand what you don't. pens to the product when you're done with it. Can it be transitioned 4. Be conscious of your trash - Whenever you get rid of something, back into the manufacturing stream, or can it return to the earth in a consider whether the garbage can is the best place for it. In many com- way that doesn't add any trash? Taking a few moments of pause bemunities, paper, plastics, glass, and metal can all be recycled, while fore you make a purchase can help you shop more consciously and food scraps and other organic materials can be used as compost. As sustainably.

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Social Media Today - News & Trends IZ A

I’m already pumped. Buh-bye to extra video post-production time!

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LinkedIn Launches “Future of Skills” Tool This new tool has the potential to change the game for job seekers. Via this new feature, you can search a specific country, industry or job title, and view a list of trending job skills.

Staying up to date with trends and new releases in the social media and search engine marketing realm is a top priority at Wordy Girl Creative.

New features are often celebrated, but sometimes they’re a cause for pause, like the MetaVerse or Instagram’s new “Shake Violently to Report a Technical Issue” feature. Per my usual quote on this: “[They] were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should,” as Jeff Goldblum said in Jurassic Park.

Please add an invisible “(Cough Cough Facebook)” title under both the Meta and Instagram headers.

Here’s my deep dive into the ever-evolving social media landscape: Meta Releases Widely Viewed Content “Facebook’s obsession with managing its reputation often gets in the way of its attempts to clean up its platform,” Kevin Roose, New York Times Reporter, said.

After a debacle with Facebook-owned CrowdTangle and a Twitter account called @FacebooksTop10 (Google this for the full scoop!), the social media giant had a knee-jerk reaction and launched the new “Widely Viewed Content” tool.

Now you can see Facebook’s most widely viewed content at transparency.fb.com, which is quite educational, whether you’re wanting to keep up with algorithm knowledge or are simply curious about how social media culture is shifting.

The concerning part of this is that the number one viewed page in 2021, with 121.8 million views, is titled “This Page was Removed by Facebook for Violating Community Standards.”

This brings to mind some advice my first boss

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This list is reportedly based on the skills users are posting on their profiles, not the ones job posters are including on listings.

gave me: “If you find yourself in the hole, the best thing to do first is…stop digging.”

Instagram Automations & Upgrades On a more positive note, Instagram has released some automation tools that could make both your personal and business time spent on the platform more efficient and effective.

The biggest news is that Instagram now allows links in messages. While links in captions are the dream, links in messages allow businesses to respond to inquiries with a link to their website or another resource. Talk about streamlining messaging conversations!

Second, both landscape and portrait images can be easily shared in messages now, allowing you to skip an extra photo editing session. Also, the platform reported that the new vanish and save options on messages have upped their DM users by 75 million.

Lastly, and perhaps equally as exciting as links, is the video caption automation tool. I’ve yet to dive into this, but

From a marketing and promotions perspective, this could be used similarly to the Google Keyword Planner, showing keywords related to target markets. I.e., if you’re targeting artists, hop on and grab a list of the keywords listed in art industry profiles to ramp up your ad copy.

Keeping up with new features is a great way to ensure you’re always tweaking your social media marketing strategy to get the right eyes on your content.

What new social media developments are you most excited about? We’d love to hear from you on Facebook or the blog!

Until next time.

Cheers, Wordy Girl

REAL ESTATE ROCKSTARS Liz Price, Realtor

Sondra Hernandez, Broker/Owner

Torrie Vann, Realtor

Cobblestone Realty Partners 402-G S. Oakwood Enid, OK 73703 (580) 297-9901 (O) / (580) 402-0424 (C) Email: sjhernandez08@gmail.com www.cobblestonerealtypartners.com

Coldwell Banker Realty III 101 N. Van Buren Enid, OK 73703 (580) 233-8833 (O) / (580) 747-6079 (C) Email: tvann@cbrenid.com www.sellingenid.com

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Starr Prince, Broker Associate

Tara Dalton, Realtor

Tanner Fore, Realtor

McGraw Realtors 1220 W. Willow, Ste. A Enid, OK 73703 (580) 297-5250 (O) / (580) 541-8008 (C) Email: ishinerealestate@gmail.com www.ishinerealestate.com

Coldwell Banker Realty III 101 N. Van Buren St. Enid, OK 73703 (580) 233-8833 (O) / (580) 484-1427 (C) Email: tdalton@cbrenid.com www.enidsbest.com

Cobblestone Realty Partners 402G S. Oakwood Rd (580) 297-9901 (O)/ (580) 478-5446 (C) Email: tannerfore@gmail.com www.cobblestonerealtypartners.com

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Kristi’s Kitchen 2101 N. Van Buren (Inside Finer Physiques) (580) 297-6788 Mon-Thu: 6 am – 6 pm, Fri: 6 am – 3 pm www.kristiskitchenok.com

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Swadley’s 4722 W. Garriott Rd. (580) 297-5227 Mon-Sat: 10:45 am - 9 pm www.swadleys.com

Urban Fire 4(580) 297-1171 4125 W. Garriott (Food Court) T-Thu: 11 am – 8 pm Fri/Sat: 11 am – 9 pm Sun: 11 am – 8 pm

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Enid Brewing Co. & Eatery 126 S. Independence (580) 297-5214 Wed-Thu: 11 am-10 pm, Fri-Sat: 11 am-11:30 pm, Sun: 9 am-2 pm www.enidbrewing.com

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Protein Balls April Recipe

Maci Nichols’ Protein Balls Ingredients • • • • •

1 cup peanut butter or almond butter 1 cup honey ½ tablespoon ground flax 1 tablespoons chocolate whey protein powder ¼ cup chia seeds

Instructions

Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl. Transfer to a flat pan and chill for 1 hour. Remove from the fridge and cut into desired size squares.

OR Pinch a small portion of dough and roll between both palms.

Chill in the fridge.

Makes roughly 35 balls.

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