Fall Fashion
Maestro’s Circle
See what our local fashion experts have to say about fashion trends. Pages B1, B2 & B5
Eddie Walker speaks after being inducted into the OKC Philharmonic’s Maestro’s Circle. Page 2
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 53 No. 21 • Two Sections • 18 Pages • September 27, 2019
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 45 years
Friendship Dinner set for Thursday
FAIR TIME
By Rose Lane Editor The Oklahoma Israeli Exchange and its Executive Director Edie Roodman, Orhan Osman, Mohammad Farzaneh, Jalal Farzaneh and St. Augustine of Canterbury will be honored during the Annual Friendship Dinner and Awards Ceremony hosted by the Dialogue Institute and Raindrop Turkish House. The two organizations are “Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present and Building the Future Together” by recognizing the outstanding achievements, professional dedication and service to society of the honorees. The event is set for Thursday, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Petroleum Club of OKC. Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis will deliver the keynote speech on “Education constructs a peaceful world.” Tickets are $100 each and other sponsorship levels are available. Visit www.dialogueok.org for more information.
OK Teacher of the Year ‘humbled’ by the recognition By Ford Watkins Student Intern
Fridaylander Drew Kaiser was having a ball at the Oklahoma State Fair after the rain shower passed. The 2-year old is Barbara Simons’ petite cousin.
Jena Nelson has received the most prestigious award in Oklahoma education: the Teacher of the Year. Nelson teaches seventh and eighth grade English at Deer Creek Middle School, where she has certainly left an indelible impact on her students. Now, as Oklahoma’s teacher ambassador, she will promote public education as a stepping stone in students’ lives across the state. Nelson said she got her start in education when she was working as a director and agent and was asked to teach an acting class to some inner-city kids. “I was hooked,” she said. “I loved watching these kids come alive and find joy in creating art. I started teaching full time, and I have never looked back.” Eighth grade, in particular is an “amazing” year of growth for students. “They start to form their own opinions and become more comfortable sharing them in their writing,” she said. “It is the first glimpse of the possibility of greatness before they enter high
JENA NELSON
school.” “They also don't take themselves quite so seriously, so it is a lot of fun to teach them.” Nelson said she believes there are many components to being a successful educator. “My philosophy of teaching is simple — inspire them, teach them and get out of their way,” she said. “I believe that in this day and age that kids need someone to look up to.” “In the era of YouTube stars, and flash-in-the-pan celebrities, kids need true professional role models that See TEACHER, Page 3
53rd Heritage Hills Home Tour features five historic homes Kathy and John Michael Williams are the co-chairman of the Heritage Hills Historic Homes Tour set for Oct. 5-6. Tour hours are 12-5 p.m. each day. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Historic Preservation Ordinance in Oklahoma City. Heritage Hills Historic Preservation District
is the oldest preservation district in the city, which as a neighborhood has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1969. This year’s 53rd annual Heritage Hills Historic Homes tour offers the opportunity for guests to view a group of Oklahoma City’s most beautiful historic residences, not
usually open to the public. Also featured on the Tour will be the historic Overholser Mansion, as well as Wilson Elementary Arts Integration School. Children from the surrounding neighborhoods have filled its halls for the past 100 years.
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week King loves camping and kayaking. His human is Blake Batchelor who lilves on Fenwick. Email Dog of the Week, Baby of the Week and Cat of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com. Submissions are used in the order they are received.
Sponsored by Paulette and Leo Kingston of WePayFast.com
This home at 1815 NW Hudson Ave. will be featured on the tour.
See TOUR, Page 3
21 named Merit semifinalists By Rose Lane Editor Twenty-one Fridayland students are among 16,000 semifinalists in the 65th Annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically-talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be
offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. Over 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. Our semifinalists
by high school are: Deer Creek — Julie Dawkins, Chandler Dean, Robel Tesfaselassie and Lauran Zheng. Classen School of Advanced Studies — Dimitri Bradford. Crossings Christian School — Delaney Barghols, Olivia Rouse and Nicholas Willingham. Harding Charter Preparatory High School — Sean Dobson. See MERIT, Page 3