Ballet Ball goes west for a very successful event

Oklahoma City Ballet presented Ballet Ball: The New West at the Omni Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City.

Co-chaired by Kylee Claire Rainbolt and Bailey Gordon, the gala was a smashing success in terms of both number of attendees and dollars raised for the Ballet’s year-round programs.

More than 500 guests attended, wearing westerninspired evening wear that ranged from jeans to ball gowns and lots of turquoise jewelry. The event included cocktails, a seated dinner, dancing and a lively live auction which broke all previous records for the Ballet Ball. The highlight of the evening was a special performance by the Ballet’s professional dancers, featuring music by Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline, choreographed by artistic director Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye.

“We are beyond grateful for our event co-chairs, dozens of amazing spon- sors, and hundreds of attendees who looked amazing in their western-inspired evening wear. The Ballet Ball raised more than $425,000, which will fuel our year-round initiatives, including free community programs for thousands of Oklahomans each year,” said Whitney Cross, director of development and communications. Attendees were asked to donate toward the Ballet’s pointe shoe fund, which raised $64,000, equaling 640 pairs of pointe shoes. Each year, the Ballet spends nearly $75,000 on pointe shoes for the ballerinas. One pair of pointe shoes costs about $100 and can wear out in one week at the professional level.

The western theme is inspired by George Balanchine’s Western Symphony, which is to be presented May 5-7 as part of Oklahoma City Ballet’s “Shorts” production. Like its name, “Shorts” features three short ballets by some of the most iconic choreographers of the 20th Century: Gerald Arpino’s “Birthday Variations”; Twyla Tharp’s “The Golden Section”; and Balanchine’s “Western Symphony.”

Save the date for next year’s Ballet Ball to be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024. For information on Oklahoma City Ballet’s programs and performances, call (405) 838-TOES (8637), visit okcballet.org, or follow Oklahoma City Ballet on social media @okcballet.

Traveling, and sticking with, club volleyball

T o many people, boys’ volleyball appears to be a sport that requires little athleticism, work, and training.

However, there is a commitment that must be made to play at a high level and a lot of training when it comes to specific skills. With club volleyball comes daily workouts, weekly practices, and a lot of traveling for tournaments.

Club volleyball will not only take up time in your schedule, but it can affect other things like school if you don’t manage your time.

For our club, Kaizen 17’s Black, we practice three days a week for 2-3 hours and are given workouts we complete every day. This season, we have traveled to Anaheim,

by Krish Vasan

Calif.; St. Louis, Mo.; and Austin and Dallas, Texas so far. With these 3-4 day tournaments, we would spend around 7-8 hours in a convention center and would usually play eight-nine games. These tournaments can not only take a toll on your body, but they can be mentally tough as well. That’s why we usually have a team meeting after the first or second day of the tournament. It also helps that my school team, Casady, has a mental toughness rou- tine. Mental toughness is when our team sits in a completely dark and silent room where a senior leads a breathing exercise and a visualization exercise. We close our eyes, take in a deep breath for a few seconds, then hold, and then breathe out for a few seconds.

During this breathing exercise, someone tells us to think about our personal highlight reel, moments where we made mistakes and what we learned, our future goals for the season, and more. We did mental toughness everyday before practice and in the locker room before every game this school season.

Now why would I still stick with club volleyball even though it is a relatively small sport and takes a lot of time and commitment?

The answer is quite simple. Although words cannot fully explain it, I can simply say that I just love the sport. Every time I am on the court, all my thoughts, stress, and worries disappear. I also love to travel, and it is even better when you travel with a team where you develop a bond throughout the year. Lastly, I have aspirations to keep playing volleyball when I go to college. I find so much joy in this sport that I hope to play it for years to come.

Although boys volleyball may be often misunderstood compared to other sports, I recognize the tremendous effect it has had on me.

Academy of Christian Studies places in mock trail

The Academy of Classical Christian Studies in Oklahoma City took fourth place at the Oklahoma High School Mock Trial’s competition. Owasso High School ultimately won the state championship during the final round of competition on March 7 and will represent Oklahoma in the national competition in Little Rock, Arkansas, in May.

The Mock Trial program, now in its 43rd year, involves teams of students portraying attorneys and defendants in a courtroom setting, with judges and attor- neys evaluating their performance. The case the teams argued was a fictional criminal trial in which drivers in Wheatville, Okla., were terrorized for months by “The Freeway Menace,” who See TRIAL, Page 12

(Published in OKC Friday, Friday, April 14, 2023; Friday, April 21, 2023;

Friday, April 28, 2023)

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA Case No. FD-2022-3153

IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF: Deborah Jean Witt,) Petitioner,) and) Michael Anthony Witt,) Respondent.)

NOTICE BY PUBLICATION

THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

TO THE ABOVE NAMED

Respondent: Michael Anthony Witt GREETINGS:

You will take notice that you have been sued in the above names Court by the above petitioner, for a Dissolution of Marriage on the grounds of incompatibility and that unless you answer the petition filed by the petitioner in said Court on or before the 13 day of May, 2023, said Petition will be taken as true and judgement granting to the petitioner a Dissolution of Marriage, annulling, canceling, setting aside and holding for naught the marriage contract with you and for other relief and orders rendered according to the prayer thereof.

WITNESS my hand and the seal of said Court this 17 day of January, 2023.

/s/Deborah Jean Witt Petitioner

SUBSCRIBER AND SWORN to before me this 4th day of October, 2022.

Notary: /s/Bernardo Moreno

My commission expires: 11/09/2026

Commission Number: 22015166 (SEAL)

(Published in OKC Friday, Friday, April 14, 2023; Friday, April 21, 2023; Friday, April 28, 2023)

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA FD-2021-2523

IN RE THE MARRIAGE OF:

ANTONIO HAWTHORNE,) Petitioner,) and) ELIZABETH HAWTHORNE,) Respondent.)

SUMMONS

To the above-named Respondent:

ELIZABETH HAWTHORNE

You have been sued in the abovenamed Petitioner, and you are directed to file a written answer to the attached Petition in the Court at the above address within 20 (twenty) days after service of this Summons upon you, exclusive of the day of service. Within the same time, a copy of your answer must be delivered or mailed to the attorney for the Petitioner. Unless you answer the Petition within the time stated, judgement will be rendered against you with costs of the action.

Issued this 17 day of August, 2021.

COURT CLERK By: /s/illegible signature

DEPUTY COURT CLERK (SEAL)

REDMOND P. KEMETHER, OBA No. 10872 500 North Walker Suite I OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73102 (405) 235-7639 Office

(Published in OKC Friday, Friday, April 14, 2023; Friday, April 21, 2023; Friday, April 28, 2023)

IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF OKLAHOMA COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA

Case No. FD-2023-763

In Re the Marriage of: ) Ndeye M. Paye) Petitioner,) -and-) Kollin J. Bruner,) Respondent.)

NOTICE BY PUBLICATION

THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA TO:

(Published

Case No. CJ-2022-4742

Judge Richard Ogden WILLIAM BRAD TROUTMAN, ) an Individual,) ) Plaintiff,) vs.) ) RUSS DEWAINE MCKENZIE, an) Individual;) ACR HEATING, AIR ) CONDITIONING AND) REFRIGERATION, LLC; and) EAN HOLDINGS, LLC,) Defendants.)

ATTORNEY’S LIEN CLAIMED NOTICE BY PUBLICATION TO ACR HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING AND

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The Island of Extraordinary Captives

By Simon Parkin

Just as readers think they have read all the fascinating non-fiction tales of World War II, Simon Parkin writes another. This is the true story of a Jewish orphan who escapes Nazi Germany for England only to be arrested and sent to an internment camp on the British Isles. His story unwinds from unpublished, recently declassified documents from the British government and amazing firsthand accounts uncovered and researched by the British author Simon Parkin who lives in England and writes for The Observer, New York Times and Harper’s magazine.

The boy’s name is Peter Fleischmann, and his story begins with the paranoia in England between fear and compassion. There is fear of Nazi Germany and compassion for the inhumane treatment of Jews. Peter has been abandoned and fled Germany but was soon arrested in Britain and sent to an internment camp on the Isle of Man which had been a Prisoner of War Camp for Italian and German prisoners during World War I. There were 11 of these camps on the Isle of Man and by the luck of the draw, Peter was assigned to Hutchinson Camp which already had been sent numerous musicians, intellectuals, artists, an heiress and even some spies. During the 1930s tens of thousands of German and Austrian Jews had found refuge in Britain but were shuttled off to these POW camps with mesh and barbed wire outlining their quarters. In 1938 things got tighter for these suspected enemy aliens after the events of Kristallnacht crushed the hope for acceptance of Jews on any terms. Kristallnacht on November 11 was the scene of degradation, intimidation, humiliation and destruction from the Gestapo to all Jews whom they terrorized with violence in cities where Jews had been relocated. Obviously, there would be no acceptance of Jews.

The amazing population of Hutchinson where Peter had landed was full of renowned professors, composers, journalists and artists. These people came together to bring life to the residents of Hutchison. They did this to preserve their own sanity and became a source of culture with art exhibitions, lectures, musical performances and poetry readings. Indeed, these artists opened their arms and minds to those who took advantage, and the course of Peter’s life was changed.

In The Island of Extraordinary Captives Britain’s wartime mistake is told from all angles, and sixteen pages of photographs attest to the ability of creativity and talent emerging from the dark shadows. Many learned far too young the dangers of pop- ulism at the same time their talents began to emerge thanks to the touch of the brilliant intelligentsia and musicians. They had concerts, readings, poetry writing, but from a confined life. There was no freedom and little reason to trust those in or out of the British uniforms. Despair remained with many, and Parkin skillfully describes those who were driven to suicide by their loss of hope.

This was not a time of romance and humor in the camp. This is, however, a true story where people find purpose and some meaning as “the miracle of the human will to live and to work.” The stories of the individuals caught in this time frame of history are inspiring even though they reveal treachery and lying on all sides of the White Cliffs of Dover.

After WW II had ceased on the Western front, the Isle of Man still existed in the 1970s and operated with militant Irish Republicans as the captives. Unfortunately, these who lived there during this period did not benefit from the captives’ university that Peter’s peers did.

In spite of the suffering and pain of daily living, these internees in the Hutchinson “university” pulled off a miracle as The Island of Extraordinary Captives celebrates their names and history, and we behold this marvel while hoping that never again there will be a need for a camp like Hutchison.

Thanks to Full Circle Book Store for sharing these books with FRIDAY readers.

European artist creates architecture sculpture specifically for Oklahoma Contemporary and OKC

Opening April 26 in Campbell Art Park, Multiple Voices is the first public artwork in the United States by Eva Schlegel, the Austria-born and -based artist known for engineering steel and mirrors into spectacular, architectonic sculptures.

When Schlegel visited Oklahoma City in 2020 for the opening of Bright Golden Haze (which included one of her photographs), she was struck by both Oklahoma Contemporary’s architecture and the special quality of Oklahoma’s light. The interplay between the built environment and the natural world sparked a series of conversations about light, place and perception that led to Multiple Voices.

Multiple Voices opens 5:30 pm April 26 with a reception and an artist talk featuring Schlegel and poet Bellin-Oka.

As one of the featured writers, Bellin-Oka will also be reading select works. Free tickets available at oklahomacontemporary.org.

Oklahoma Contemporary programs Campbell Art Park through a public-private partnership with the City of Oklahoma City. The unique space along Broadway Avenue provides a home for installations, events, programs and more. Perhaps most importantly, the space remains a public park, accessible to residents and visitors alike. Schlegel, who has permanent installations in Switzerland and Austria and work in collections in New York and Los Angeles, is one of many international artists who Oklahoma Contemporary has brought to the park, including Tomás Saraceno, Orly Genger, Erwin Redl, Jen Lewin, Gonzalo Lebrija and Chakaia Booker.