About our schools, Page 5 • CDC Back to School recommendations for parents, Pages B1 & B4 • Academic Calendars, Pages B2 & B3
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 54 No. 12 • Two Sections • 16 pages July 31, 2020
www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills, The Village, Quail Creek, The Greens and Gaillardia for 46 years
Masking up
2019 Beaux Arts Chairman Margo Ward presents Oklahoma City Museum of Art President and CEO Michael Anderson with a $75,000 check — the proceeds from last year’s ball. The 2019 Beaux Arts King David Huffman made a matching donation thus it was the largest contribution in the history of the Beaux Arts Society. For more photos from the luncheon, see Pages 11 & 12.
OKC MOA receives biggest check in Beaux Arts history
Like its neighbors, Nichols Hills gets on board with mandate By Rose Lane Editor
- Photo by Rose Lane
By Rose Lane Editor Thanks to a matching donation from 2019 Beaux Arts King David Huffman, the Oklahoma City Museum received the largest donation in the history of the Beaux Arts Society. 2019 Chairman Margo Ward presented the $75,000 check to the museum’s President and CEO Michael Anderson during a luncheon for the moms of the 2020 Beaux Arts court at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. 2020 is also the 75th anniversary of the Museum of Art and the Beaux Arts Society.
“For both the Museum and Beaux Arts Society to mark their 75-year anniversaries is monumental and a testament to our community’s devotion to the arts,” Huffman said. “(My wife) Lucinda and I are very pleased to be able to support them.” Aimee Harlow is the 2020 chairman. Karen Raupe is the co-chairman. They have been researching the museum archives and are producing a special book for the 75th anniversary celebration. Harlow said that is more than half the time of statehood for the state of Oklahoma.
“We are proud to be celebrating youth, family and community leadership,” Harlow said. Debutante balls themselves go back 600 years to England. Wealthy dads came up with the idea of a ball as a way to find husbands for their daughters. As 2020 has presented challenges for the Beaux Arts Committee, Anderson lauded Harlow. “You have the right leader,” he said. The 2020 Beaux Arts Society Debutante Ball is set for Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club.
Sheriff investigating Village shooting By Rose Lane Editor The investigation is continuing by the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Department into a shooting by a Village police officer of a man who allegedly confronted him during a domestic call. Police were asked on
Saturday afternoon to come to a residence in the 1600 block of Downing as a standby. A woman was retrieving her belongings and wanted to ensure her safety. A confrontation between a man at the residence and the officer reportedly ensued. The policeman discharged
his firearm, hitting 49year-old Christopher Poor who later died at a local hospital. Deputy Police Chief Russ Landon said the officer is on administrative leave while the sheriff conducts the investigation. He said once the Sheriff’s Department completes its investigation, the
results will go to the district attorney for him to consider if the shooting was justifiable. The Village will then conduct its own administrative investigation, Landon said. The sheriff was called in so the investigation would be full, independent and complete, Landon said.
FRIDAY’s
Dog and Babies of the Week Twin brothers Eilon Giacobassi and Lev Taylor pose with BIG “brother” Malcolm. The babies were born April 30 in OKC to Jacqueline and Eitan (EJ) Reshef. SabiE Dr. Eli Reshef and SatiE Edie Roodman are over the moon adding two more boys to Team Reshef. Aunt Er, Uncle D, Mayr, Mav, Uncle Ev and Aunt Mandelles can’t wait to welcome back the new family to New York City.
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Like Oklahoma City, masks are now required in indoor spaces in Nichols Hills. The fines are the same — $9 for the first and second offenses and $100 for the third. Like OKC, Nichols Hills will offer masks to those who aren’t wearing them. One difference is that the OKC mandate expires on Sept. 7, while Nichols Hills’ will remain in effect until it is repealed. Another difference is 42 residents spoke in favor or against OKC’s mandate. No one signed up to speak to the Nichols Hills resolution. The vote by the City Council was unanimous. The Village also has passed a version of OKC’s ordinance. But that city is not imposing fines. Three people spoke to the The Village City Council in favor of a mask mandate. The Nichols Hills City Council was actually presented with two ordinances. One placed a limit on the number of people to 50 who could attend a banquet or reception. The other was exactly same as OKC. The Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club was addressed as the potential site of many such gatherings. Vice Mayor Peter Hoffman said the club is already operating at only onethird to one-half capacity. “They are extra vigilant and careful,” Hoffman said. Mayor Sody Clements said that she originally thought there should be limits. “But it is not appropriate,” she said. City Manager Shane Pate said Nichols Hills is stocking up on masks to hand out to those who aren’t wearing one. “Like OKC, what you are doing is creating a societal expectation and helping people accomplish that,” Pate said.
Fridayland schools top Hidden Gems list By Rose Lane Editor Fridayland’s Quail Creek Elementary and Ridgeview Elementary have been named No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, on SchoolSparrow’s Top 5 Hidden Gems in Oklahoma City. Schoolsparrow.com publishes public K-12 school rankings that are normalized for parent income, elevating diverse schools to the forefront and shifting focus away from family income. According to schoolsparrow.com, the problem with other current school rankings is that they are often biased toward schools in wealthy neighborhoods. School Sparrow’s mission is to provide all parents with equitable school rankings. Both Quail Creek Elementary and Ridgeview Elementary are part of the Oklahoma City Public School District. Quail Creek Elementary earned a rating due to the students’ performance on the National Assessment of Academic Progress See GEMS, Page 3