Chargers win again!
Private Reserve
The Heritage Hall boys tennis team tied with Tulsa Kelley for its sixth straight Class 5A state championship last Saturday. Sports, Page 4
Macy Beeler and Sheridan Leake at the event benefiting the Community Literacy Center. Page B1
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 53 No. 2 • Two Sections • 18 Pages May 17, 2019
www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned newspaper with all local news Serving Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills, The Village, Quail Creek, The Greens and Gaillardia for 45 years
Leslie and Cliff Hudson are 2019 Renaissance Ball honorees Leslie and Cliff Hudson will be honored during the 44th Annual Renaissance Ball, the largest annual fundraiser benefiting the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. The event is set for Friday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Oklahoma City Golf
and Country Club. Caroline and Durward Hendee are the chairmen of the blacktie gala. “We are thankful to the Hudsons for their years of support and service to the Museum,” said E. Michael Whittington, president and CEO. “Their personal, as
well as their corporate, support enables the Museum to have an even greater impact on our community. “I also thank the Hendees for chairing this year’s Renaissance Ball. Their longtime support is greatly valued, and I am looking forward to seeing
their exciting take on this year’s event.” The evening features an open bar cocktail reception followed by an elegant dinner. The late night celebration, a separate ticketed event, begins at 9:30 p.m. with an open bar and refreshments continuing
Saturday fair to benefit The Village Library
See BALL, Page 9
Animal shelter volunteers sought By Mike W. Ray Staff Writer
By Mike W. Ray Staff Writer A community fair to benefit The Village Library is scheduled for Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at First Liberty Bank, 9601 N May. Activities will include “family friendly shopping,” inflatables and face painting for children, pet row vendors, food trucks and a bake sale, and at least one vehicle from The Village Fire Department. “At a minimum we will have our primary engine there, and depending on our staffing that day, we may have our rescue unit there, too,” Deputy Fire Chief Chris Brigan said. If the weather is uncooperative, the fair will be rescheduled for Saturday, May 25. The fair is sponsored by Special Friends of The Village Library. Proceeds from the event “are to benefit the library in any way the board decides is appropriate,” said See FAIR, Page 3
- Photo by Mike W. Ray
A longtime resident of The Village wants to enlist volunteers whose goal would be to save the lives of dogs and cats confined at the municipal animal shelter. “Ours is a little shelter that’s outdated, underfunded, and staffed only part-time,” said Cheryl Steckler. She has been a resident of The Village for 33 years and is an animal rescue volunteer who operates Pet Limousine, a service that transports pets to and from groomers and veterinarians, for example. The Village’s animal control officer, Bryan Balenseifen, “indicated he’s willing to create a Facebook page and post pictures and information about animals that are taken in at the shelter,” Steckler said. “But he’s also the city’s code enforcement officer and that job demands most of his time.” A cadre of volunteers could assist by mounting efforts to locate foster and adoptive families willing to take custody of strays confined at the animal shelter, Steckler suggested. Volunteers also could play a role in encouraging pet owners in The Village to get their
Public Works Employee David Joslin plays with a kitten confined at The Village animal shelter.
Nearly 12 percent of new Merits hail from Fridayland Three Fridayland students are among the 26 Oklahoma recipients of $2,500 National Merit Scholarships financed by the program’s own funds. They were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 finalists in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program. National Merit $2,500 scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners
until midnight. “We’re honored to be the chairs of the Renaissance Ball this year and are thrilled to have Lindsay and Jeff Graham join us as co-chairs,” said Durward. “The Renaissance Ball is
named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s high school seniors. Our National Merit Scholarship winners are: Caitlin A. Harrington, Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, possible career field — mechanical engineering. Matthew M. Ivester, Deer Creek High School, possible career field — undecided. Claire A. Richardson, Casady High School, possible career field — law enforcement.
FRIDAY’s
Cat of the Week
See SHELTER, Page 3
Harlan Matzell may not be the world’s most interesting cat, but he is definitely the most interesting cat in the Matzell household. When not begging for treats during the day with pathetic big eyes, Harlan, a.k.a. Fluffs/Ewok is busy doing … well, nothing. However at night, Harlan becomes a ninja cat and resolves to torment his humans by leaving random Nerf bullets, children’s toys and (alarmingly) small pairs of scissors outside bedroom doors. His rather smitten owners are Tim, Lynne and Ian West Matzell. In his next life, Harlan hopes to be a Green Beret or spokesperson for a certain beer company.
Sponsored by Paulette and Leo Kingston of WePayFast.com