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Mission statement Oklahoma Gazette’s mission is to stimulate, examine and inform the public on local quality of life issues and social needs, to recognize community accomplishments, and to provide a forum for inspiration, participation and interaction across all media.

P.4-10, P.12-16 and P.30-31 It’s everyone’s democratic

and civic duty to vote on Nov. 8, and this year’s ballot is an important one. This issue includes stories on Oklahoma’s multiple state questions, the Libertarian party, races to watch, our roundup of uncommon candidates and more. It also features the League of Women Voters of Oklahoma’s 2016 Voters Guide. The election doesn’t have to be scary. Oklahoma Gazette helps you navigate the many elections and issues. Cover by Anna Shilling.

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election

NEWS

Wait, what?

The 2016 Oklahoma ballot questions explained.

By Laura Eastes

Oklahomans face seven state questions in the Nov. 8 general election that cover subjects ranging from agriculture and education to the use of public funds for religious purposes.

Voters must decide whether they favor or oppose the policies set forth in the state questions. While that seems straightforward, reading the ballot language can be complicated and confusing. Remember, voting “for the proposal” means you support changing existing law. Voting “against the proposal” means you want to stick with current law or are against a new law.

Oklahoma Gazette distilled this year’s state ballot questions to help everyone understand what their votes “for the proposal” and “against the proposal” actually mean.

SQ 776: Death penalty Yes: A “yes” vote for State Question 776 supports adding a constitutional amendment to Oklahoma’s Constitutional Bill of Rights, which enumerates the rights of all state residents. The constitutional amendment would allow the Legislature to determine methods of execution not expressly outlawed by the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution, such as firing squad and electrocution. Additionally, it declares the death penalty shall not be considered cruel or unusual punishment.

No: A vote against State Question 776 keeps the death penalty as a legal option under law, but not written into Oklahoma’s Bill of Rights. House Bill 1879, passed in 2015, already allows for execution methods like firing squad and electrocution.

supporting: Few public groups have officially supported this state question. opposing: Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Libertarian Party, NAACP Oklahoma City branch, Oklahoma Conference of Churches and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City

SQ 777: Agriculture Yes: Voting “for” State Question 777 supports amending Oklahoma’s Constitution to add “strict scrutiny” rules to protect farming and ranching.

Specifically, it would prohibit lawmakers from passing any laws to hinder the advancement of agriculture technology, livestock procedures and ranching practices, except in instances of “compelling state interest.”

No: Voting against the proposal would allow the Legislature and local municipalities the ability to pass laws relating to the regulation of agriculture, including technology, livestock procedures and related ranching practices.

Note: The amendment does not impact trespassing, eminent domain, dominance of mineral interests, 4

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easements, right of way and other property rights.

Laws passed before Dec. 31, 2014 would be exempt from this amendment.

supporting: Oklahoma Farm Bureau, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, Oklahoma Pork Council, many other agriculture organizations opposing: The Oklahoma Stewardship Council, Oklahoma Municipal League, Sierra Club, Humane Society, Save the Illinois River, Oklahomans for Food, Farm and Family and others

SQ 779: Education Yes: A vote for State Question 779 backs amending the Oklahoma Constitution to add a new article to create the Education Improvement Fund. The state sales and use tax would increase by one cent per dollar to provide additional funding to the state’s Department of Education, Regents for Higher Education and Department of Career and Technology Education. From the fund, a $5,000 salary increase will be provided to public school teachers, but funds would not support an increase to superintendent salaries. Specifically, 69.5 percent of funds would be allocated to school districts, 19.25 percent to public colleges and universities, 3.25 percent to CareerTech programs and 8 percent to early childhood education.

No: A vote against SQ 779 is against adding an article to the state constitution outlining the Education Improvement Fund and its ability to raise the state’s sales and use tax by one cent per dollar to help fund three state education agencies.

supporting: Oklahoma’s Children, Our Future; Stand for Children; Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration; Oklahoma State School Boards Association and Oklahoma Education Association opposing: OCPA Impact, Oklahoma Municipal League and Edmond City Council

Oklahoma City voters cast ballots during the 2014 midterm election. | Photo Gazette / file

No on 781: A vote against SQ 781 eliminates the channeling of savings to a fund intended for community services in all of Oklahoma’s 77 counties.

items. State residents could place wine shipment orders from wineries up to 30 9-liter cases per year and no more than six 9-liter cases from a single winery.

supporting SQ 780 & 781:

supporting: Oklahoma Retail Merchants

Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, Right on Crime, Oklahoma Policy Institute, American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Impact opposing SQ 780 & 781: Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Washburn, Washington County District Attorney Kevin Buchanan and Oklahoma City Fraternal Order of Police

Association, Oklahomans for Consumer Freedom, Oklahoma Grocers Association, Homeland, WalMart and 7-Eleven Stores opposing: Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma

SQ 790: Use of public resources for religious purposes

Election Day: What you need to know >> Electoral College: Oklaho-

Yes: A vote for State Question 790 would amend

mans vote for a presidential

the Oklahoma Constitution to repeal Article 2, Section 5, which prohibits public money or property from benefiting religion or religious groups in any capacity.

and vice presidential candidate.

No: A vote against SQ 790 supports restricting the use of public money or property to benefit religion or religious groups.

Supporting: Rep. John Paul Jordan, R-Yukon; Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman; Rep. Jeffrey W. Hickman, R-Fairview; and Rep. Randy Grau, R-Edmond Opposing: American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma

On the ballot with each party candidate’s name, you will see seven elector names under these candidates. These are our members of the U.S. Electoral College, which convenes the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December to officially cast the state’s votes for president. >> Write-in candidates: Under Oklahoma law, write-in voting is not allowed. Should a voter write a name on a ballot, their vote for that specific race will be

State Questions 780 & 781: Law enforcement

SQ 792: Alcohol

Yes on 780: A vote for State Question 780

Yes: A vote for State Question 792 supports

supports amending state laws to reclassify simple drug possession crimes from felonies to misdemeanors as well as raise the dollar amount that determines whether property crimes are a felonies or misdemeanors from $500 to $1,000. The overarching goal is to reduce prison populations and better address issues related to mental health and substance use.

amending the Oklahoma Constitution to repeal Article 28 (Alcoholic Beverage Laws and Enforcement) and enact Article 28A as outlined in Senate Joint Resolution 68. SQ 792 addresses state liquor sales laws. An individual or corporation could own multiple beer and wine stores but would be limited to two licenses if spirits were sold. If passed, the law would take effect Oct. 1, 2018.

use of smartphones to look up

No: A vote against SQ 792 supports current alcohol

For more

No: A vote against SQ 780 retains state statutes regarding drug possession and simple property crimes.

Yes on 781: A vote for State Question 781 supports funneling anticipated related SQ 780 cost savings toward counties via the County Community Safety Investment Fund, under which county commissioners would distribute monies to local mental health, job training and addiction recovery services.

law, which allows grocery and convenience stores to sell 3.2 beer and liquor stores to sell wine and beer at room temperature. Owners of liquor stores are limited to a single license.

invalidated. >> Phones and cheat sheets: There is no law forbidding the information while at the ballot box. Polling places may post signs requesting people turn off phones as to prevent distracting noise. Voters can also bring a cheat sheet for reference when voting.

Find more answers to voting questions in the 2016 Oklahoma Voter Guide on P.12, and pick up Oklahoma Gazette’s Nov. 2 issue for continuing coverage leading

Note: SJR 68 allows grocery and convenience stores to sell wine and high-point beer. Liquor stores could sell refrigerated beer and wine and sell limited grocery

into the Nov. 8 election. Also visit okgazette.com for ballot samples and more information.

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NEWS

election

Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson | Photo Johnson Weld campaign / provided

Third-party ticket

The Libertarian Party returns to Oklahoma’s ballot after a 16-year absence. Will it be able to remain? By Laura Eastes

Norman resident Robert Lorrah believes former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party’s candidate for president, said it best.

“I do believe that the vast majority of the people in this country are Libertarian; they just don’t know it yet,” Johnson told a CNBC business news cable network reporter in March.

That’s the sentiment Lorrah, who serves as the state director for the Johnson/ Bill Weld campaign, has for Oklahoma.

“The Libertarian Party is the missing element in the political spectrum,” he recently told Oklahoma Gazette. “We have one party this is supposedly in favor of limited government intervention and is dominated by social conservationism. We have another party that is socially liberal, but it comes with the cost of increased government intervention. So what about the people — most Oklahomans I believe — that are not concerned with or are themselves socially liberal but do not want government interventions in all aspects of their lives?

That’s where the Libertarian Party fits in.”

Ballot access

The Libertarians are a new fit in the landscape of Oklahoma politics, which has been dominated by Republican and Democratic parties for decades.

Earlier this year, national and state Libertarian leaders announced the party received support from more than 42,000 Oklahomans in 76 counties to get the party on the ballot. The Nov. 8 general election marks the first time in 16 years Libertarian candidates for local, state and federal offices are listed on the state ballot. In the past, Libertarians could run, but had 6

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“Independent” listed under their names.

Under Oklahoma’s restrictive ballot access laws, alternative parties — Libertarian, Green, Constitution and others — struggle to gain ballot spots. The struggles continue, as the statewide general election ballot does not include Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein.

Dax Ewbank, Libertarian Party of Oklahoma spokesman, said a large financial investment mixed with diligence from state Libertarian leaders led to a successful signature petition paving the way for ballot inclusion. With Johnson expected to win more votes nationally than any third-party candidate in 20 years, Oklahoma Libertarians have rallied to educate voters about the party’s platform and talk about Johnson and his running mate Weld, former governor of Massachusetts. As the Libertarian presidential ticket continues to pick up national media coverage, the Libertarian Party of Oklahoma also has seen public interest rise.

A vote for Johnson does something pretty significant.

Dax Ewbank “The circle that identified itself as the party has now seen new blood and made new friends,” Ewbank said. “We will carry that forward with keeping the Libertarian message alive and growing it in Oklahoma.”

More than four decades ago, the Libertarian Party emerged in American

Libertarian Party of Oklahoma spokesman Dax Ewbank | Photo Gazette / file

politics as a party grounded in principles like liberty, unique expression of freedom, a caring and humanistic approach to politics, consistency of principles and tolerance.

Now, as the nation’s third largest political party, Libertarians also support free trade, marriage equality, abolishing the death penalty, less government regulation and lifting most immigration restrictions.

Metro voters will find libertarian candidates in addition to Johnson and Weld on their ballots when they vote on Nov. 8.

Libertarian Robert T. Murphy challenges Republican U.S. Sen. James Lankford. Libertarian Sevier White seeks Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District seat currently held by GOP Rep. Tom Cole, whose district includes parts of south Oklahoma City, Moore and Norman.

Democrat Christina Owen also is a contender.

In Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District race, voters in Oklahoma, Seminole and Pottawatomie counties will see Republican Rep. Steve Russell, Libertarian Zachary Knight and Democrat Al McAffrey on the ballot.

Libertarian candidates are also contenders in multiple Oklahoma City metro area state house and senate races.

Popular vote

According to Oklahoma statute, for the Libertarian Party to maintain party status and have access to the 2018 ballot, it must capture 2.5 percent of the total number of votes cast in the presidential election.

In other words, Johnson supporters must show a strong turnout Nov. 8. If the party fails to meet the retention law requirement, it would be forced to begin the petition process again to regain ballot access.

The last time Oklahoma voters had an alternative party option for president was when Libertarian Harry Browne ran in 2000. In that election, the party failed to gather 10 percent of the popular vote, which was the requirement at the time.

While polls show Libertarians have a long way to go to rival Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Ewbank said a vote for Johnson would not be wasted in Oklahoma.

“A vote for Johnson does something pretty significant,” Ewbank said. “It sends a message that people are tired of what the two parties are offering and are ready for something more substantive. If we can get the 2.5 percent, it makes sure there is another voice on the ballot in Oklahoma.”

According to poll and political analysis website FiveThirtyEight, at Gazette deadline on Friday, Trump has a 99 percent chance of winning Oklahoma’s seven electoral votes. FiveThirtyEight predicts Johnson has less than a .1 percent chance of earning the state’s electoral votes.

Modern election

Through social media and the internet, voters have more access to alternative parties than ever before. Technology has benefitted Johnson and Weld’s Oklahoma campaign.

“When reaching out to Oklahomans who may not have every even heard of Gary Johnson’s name, we asked them to ‘Google Gary Johnson,’” Lorrah said. “Once people Googled his name, they are introduced to his online presence.”

Lorrah also sends voters to I Side With at isidewith.com, an unaffiliated political website that features a simple survey on eight issues, from domestic policy to education. After taking the survey, the website matches results to presidential candidates who have similar platforms.

Lorrah said Oklahoma Johnson supporters tend to be millennials born between 1982 and 2004, which are most likely to get political information from social media rather than television news.

Johnson has received little national television time. Instead, his exposure happens more via alternative news sources and social media.

Libertarian leaders like Lorrah and Ewbank are optimistic the election results will favor the Libertarian Party. In fact, it’s never too early to think about the next election.

“After Nov. 8, the party will switch gears into looking for our candidate for governor in 2018,” Ewbank said. “That will be a requirement for ballot access, but we also want to put up a good candidate.”

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NEWS

Watching races

3. House District 92

There are top metro races to watch ahead of the Nov. 8 election. By Laura Eastes | Photos provided

There is a good chance Oklahoma City metro voters will see either an Oklahoma House or Senate contest on their general election ballots on Nov. 8.

Nearly three-quarters of the state house seats and 20 senate seats are in contest, which could alter the state’s political landscape. As Election Day nears, here are the top metro races to watch and a rundown of federal and local elections.

seat for Democrats for the first time in a 2015 special election. Munson’s victory did little to change the makeup of the 101seat state House, which last session was comprised of 29 Democrats and 72 Republicans. The victory was viewed as momentum for the Democrats in an area of the city that is growing more diverse as millennials and new families move in.

Before the 2016 session began, Republican challengers began to announce their candidacy for the district seat. Four appeared on the Republican primary ballot, which went to a runoff election. Matt Jackson, former Oklahoma County Republican Party chairman, emerged from the August runoff. He faces Munson Nov. 8.

Jackson’s platform includes pledges to keep taxes low, expand business opportunities and support traditional Oklahoma values.

Much of Munson’s message is about education, jobs and women’s issues, and the lawmaker also references her passed legislation, which includes tackling issues faced by homeless youth and veterans, when speaking with constituents.

Cyndi Munson

Elle Collins

2. House District 87

When Republican floor leader Jason Nelson said he would not seek re-election to his District 87 House seat, the surprise announcement opened the field and six contenders filed to run.

Among the Republicans, Bruce Lee Smith beat Edward William Granger and Bo Broadwater. And Collin Walke squeaked by Kelly Meredith in the Democratic primary race. Now, attorney Walke, civil engineer Smith and Libertarian Elle Collins, a mother of three, face off in the general election.

Walke is a second-time candidate, earning 46.9 percent of the vote in 2014 when he challenged pro-school choice lawmaker Nelson, who earned 53.1 percent. Walke has concerns about mental health, education and the criminal justice system, and his primary focus is reforming the state budget process.

Smith points out that he is not a politician and isn’t interested in a political career. He wants to serve the community.

Collins is the first Libertarian to seek the seat. She believes in “all rights, all people, all the time.” House District 87 includes portions of west OKC and Warr Acres.

Bruce Lee Smith

Matt Jackson Forrest Bennett

1. House District 85

House District 85 was once a Republican stronghold. In the 1990s, Mary Fallin, now a two-term governor, began her political career representing a section of northwest OKC, which includes neighborhoods near Lake Hefner and parts of Nichols Hills, The Village and Crown Heights. Then, Republican Odilia Dank was elected to the position. After serving 12 years, voters elected her husband, David Dank, who held the seat from 2007 until his death in 2015.

Rep. Cyndi Munson, who challenged the longtime incumbent in 2014, won the 8

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Collin Walke

Joe Griffin

The top Democratic candidate to emerge during June’s crowded House District 92 primary was Forrest Bennett, a college government teacher.

He seeks the seat of term-limited Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, who has served in the role for 12 years.

House District 92 includes portions of south OKC, downtown and some northwest OKC neighborhoods.

Bennett faces Republican Joe Griffin, who ran unopposed in the June primary.

Griffin most recently served as press secretary and communications director for Oklahoma House Speaker Jeff Hickman. Griffin’s platform pushes a message of safety. He advocates for a “smart-on-crime” approach to nonviolent offenders, which involves expanding drug courts and improving the juvenile justice system.

Griffin lists jobs as a priority and plans to work toward building new industry in OKC’s southside. Griffin supports teacher pay increases and policies to train educators on how to teach English to non nativeEnglish-speaking students.

Bennett advocates for revising the state’s process of constructing the state budget, acknowledging that lawmakers and the public need ample time to review the document before a vote is called.

Bennett wants to increase access to quality, affordable healthcare and increase funding and support to public education. He believes investments in children, infrastructure (including public transit) and social services can make Oklahoma brighter, healthier and more productive.

Other important races

Federal: The only Senate race this year in Oklahoma is for U.S Senator James Lankford’s seat. The junior senator faces Libertarian Robert T. Murphy, Democrat Mike Workman, independent Mark T. Beard and independent Sean Braddy.

In Congressional District 5, Libertarian Zachary Knight and Democrat Al McAffrey challenge U.S. Rep. Steve Russell.

Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Cole runs for re-election against Democrat Christina Owen and Libertarian Sevier White for Congressional District 4.

Local: In Oklahoma County, Republican David B. Hooten faces Libertarian Chris Powell for county clerk. Rep. Mike Christian, a Republican, challenges longtime Sheriff John Whetsel, a Democrat, for the top position in law enforcement.

Sen. Anastasia Pittman, a Democrat, faces Court Clerk Rick Warren in the contest for presiding over the county clerk’s office.

Voters who reside in Oklahoma City Public Schools districts will be asked to decide on three bond issues totaling $180 million that will cover maintenance, technology and transportation.

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election

Elizabeth Larios talks with Patricia Fernandez during a recent visit to a Moore neighborhood. | Photo Garett Fisbeck / file

Uncommon contenders

Candidates for the state Legislature include millennials, educators and a transgender woman.

By Laura Eastes

After Elizabeth Larios declared her candidacy for the Statehouse, the independent hit the neighborhood streets of Moore, Valley Brook and areas of south Oklahoma City to get the word out about her campaign.

Anticipating voters’ questions, Larios was prepared to discuss her beliefs on education funding, the future of the state’s Medicaid program and other state services. At times, the first question many asked was about her age.

“It never crossed my mind that I might be perceived as too young,” Larios said.

“As soon as I started hitting the doors, people asked, ‘How old are you?’ I told them I was 24.”

Some voters jokingly asked Larios if she was old enough to vote, and others respected her interest and efforts to make the state better. It surprised Larios, whose service in high school and college leadership sparked her interest in public service and politics.

In general, millennials — those born after the early 1980s — are less likely to be

interested in running for office, and few serve in such roles. Nationally, they hold 5 percent of state legislative seats, according to a 2015 survey by Stateline and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

In Oklahoma, millennials make up 6 percent of the Legislature, despite comprising a majority of the population. The average age of an Oklahoma legislator is 56, the survey reports. Those figures could change. At least 13 new senators and more than 30 new House members will take office following the Nov. 8 election. In Oklahoma County districts and districts that include parts of the county, 16 millennials seek seats.

In eastern Oklahoma County, before 25-year-old Tess Teague began her campaign for House District 101, she wondered how voters would respond to a young, unmarried woman seeking office.

Oklahoma also ranks No. 48 nationally for the low number of females in state Legislature, according to the Center for American Women and Politics.

“For every door that I knocked [on], I thought I had three hurdles: I was young, a woman and not married,” said the Choctaw Republican. “That wasn’t the case. People in my area were … excited to see someone young who cared about politics.”

For the past four years, Teague has worked at the state Capitol. As manager of The Journal Record Legislative Report, she read thousands of bills, amendments and floor and committee substitutes and observed countless committee meetings, interim studies and floor votes.

Marina Mangiaracina challenges George Young for the House District 99 seat. | Photo Garett Fisbeck/ file

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“You see things you agree with or disagree with,” Teague said. “You see what it takes to make a good representative or senator. I figured I’d put my hat in the ring.”

Christopher Crawford, a 24-year-old University of Central Oklahoma graduate student, wants to represent House District 82, which covers portions of northwest OKC and Edmond. As an independent, he became interested after reviewing state budget trends when he studied at the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center.

“The more I looked at it, the more I started seeing the complicated issues,” said Crawford, who moved from Nevada to Oklahoma for higher education. “This is new to me, and it’s a challenge, but it’s a way to put myself in a position to help.”

In recent weeks, Larios has worked to deliver her final pitch to voters on the campaign trail.

The number of millennials running in Oklahoma County encourages Crawford, who is pursuing his master’s degree in political science.

“We could challenge the status quo,” Crawford said.

Teague believes millennials running for office have already challenged the status quo. Grassroots millennial campaigns are built on getting to know neighbors and hearing the issues, as opposed to posting their platform on social media alone.

“We’ve put mileage on our shoes,” Teague said when speaking of door knocking efforts. “We are working hard for it, and I think that speaks to our work ethic.”

Transgender candidates

When North Carolina’s governor signed into law an anti-transgender bathroom law in March, it served as a defining moment for OKC resident Marina Mangiaracina.

The 24-year-old trans woman decided to run for House District 99, which includes portions of northeast and northwest OKC. Her campaign is largely focused on advancing nondiscrimination protections for the LGBTQ community with an end goal to protect people from housing, workplace and public discrimination. She would like to see Oklahoma’s hate crime law cover sexual orientation and gender identity.

As a candidate, Mangiaracina listened to the audio from the committee meeting when Oklahoma lawmakers debated a similar transgender bathroom measure in May. “It was just ridiculous,” Mangiaracina recalled. “They all seemed to be scared of something they didn’t have [an] understanding of.”

Mangiaracina is not the first transgender to seek a spot in the Statehouse, nor is she the only trans woman seeking office this November. Outside Oklahoma, two trans women are seeking congressional seats.

“Now that I am here, I see it as a lifetime commitment,” she said. “I want to continue to work towards change even after this election.”

‘I want your seat’

When Shawn Sheehan first entered the classroom six years ago, he found his calling. An innovative math teacher, Sheehan was keen on teaching how to solve for x and enjoyed becoming a confidant among his students.

His popularity propelled him to Teacher of the Year for Norman Public Schools, which led to Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year in 2015.

During that time, Oklahoma media regularly devoted headlines to issues such as teacher shortages, low pay, school performance and funding drops. Teachers like Sheehan lived those issues daily. He is willing to pause his life’s work to positively impact the outcomes of the state’s biggest education challenges.

“My running is out of frustration,” said Sheehan, who seeks to represent people in Norman and parts of Moore and Del City as an independent in Senate District 15. “I want your seat, and I want to be at the table.”

Former U.S. Grant High School teacher Mickey Dollens can relate. He was one of 208 teachers laid off due to budget cuts affecting Oklahoma City Public Schools in the last academic year. Now, the 29-yearold teacher is one of 61 pro-education candidates who competed or are competing for a legislative seat. Known as the “teachers caucus,” the candidates hold high hopes of earning seats and improving education.

“All the years of teachers gathering at the Capitol to have their voices heard, but coming back to schools empty-handed has been the tipping point,” said Dollens, a Democrat running in House District 93.

Educators have a front-row seat to issues of poverty, mental health, addiction, immigration, family law, the economy and others. Oklahoma public schools showcase society’s diversity, said Cheryl Mooneyham Hessman, Democratic candidate for House District 101 and principal at Clara Reynolds Elementary School in Harrah.

A parent encouraged Mooneyham Hessman to seek the seat, which represents parts of Midwest City, Choctaw, Harrah and unincorporated sections of OKC. “I spend a majority of my day with children, but there are many times when I am with parents and grandparents,” Mooneyham Hessman said. “Regardless of their economic situation, they have troubles in their home life. I am usually a sounding board.”

On doorsteps, Oklahoma voters ask, “What makes teachers think they can do it any better?” said Kevin McDonald, an Edmond Democrat for Senate District 41.

The Edmond Memorial High School teacher said he and other teacher candidates are often asked about their credentials outside of the classroom.

“I think it is a fair question,” McDonald said. “We have the practical experience of being on the receiving end of legislation for our day-to-day existence. Perhaps we have a fundamentally different view of what a piece of legislation does and how it should impact its passage.”

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a coalition of Oklahoma entities from both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. After many months of planning, we are proud to offer readers a high-quality resource with analysis and education for the 2016 general election. This voter guide does not endorse or oppose any candidates for state or federal office, nor does it take any position on the state questions.

We welcome your feedback and encourage you to share this guide, which is available for download on all partner websites [partners listed below] and at okvoterguide.com.

community. It’s everyone’s democratic and civic duty to vote on Nov. 8, and this year’s ballot is an important one. Please visit okgazette.com for more Gazette coverage and pick up our Nov. 2 print issue for more pre-election coverage. >> Find the full Oklahoma Voter Guide, including more information about presidential, federal and state house and senate races and state judicial and executive office races, as well as Oklahoma’s seven state ballot questions, at okvoterguide.com. >> Please see P.17 of this week’s Gazette for the full list of Oklahoma Voter Guide Coalition members and contributors.

A message from Oklahoma Gazette

Learn more at:

A message from Oklahoma Voter Guide contributors: Oklahoma Voter Guide is a nonpartisan effort by

editor-in-chief Jennifer Chancellor:

Oklahoma Gazette’s excerpts of the 2016 Oklahoma Voter Guide were made possible by a partnership between League of Women Voters of Oklahoma, KOSU, OETA, Tyler Media, KGOU, Oklahoma Watch, The Oklahoman Media Company and Kirkpatrick Foundation. The Gazette humbly thanks all involved with the project for encouraging our news publication to share this important information with the

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Election day is November 8, 2016 You are allowed to bring notes into the voting booth, but you are not allowed to show them to anyone. This cheat sheet will help you make an informed decision and reduce ballot fatigue—there are many decisions to make in the voting booth on Election Day. Find your polling place, confirm your registration, and even view a sample ballot at

# OKVOTES 1 6

Polling Place Address:

elections.ok.gov.

President Hillary Clinton Donald Trump Gary Johnson

Congress District # I am voting for

State House district # I am voting for

State Senate District# I am voting for

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StateQuestionS SQ776 | Death Penalty.....................................

YES

NO

SQ777 | Agriculture..........................................

YES

NO

SQ779 | Education Funding Tax......................

YES

NO

SQ780 | Law Enforcement...............................

YES

NO

Sq781 | Criminal Rehabilitation......................

YES

NO

SQ790 | Religion and the State.......................

YES

NO

SQ792 | Alcohol................................................

YES

NO

2016O K L AHO M A

VOTERGUIDE

Election Day &

VotingInformation The 2016 General Election is 7 a.m.to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 Q: which races will appear

Q: Will I need identification

Q: Will I need to get my absentee

The U.S. Presidency. One U.S. Senate seat, four A: U.S. House seats, and seven state questions.

Many seats in the Oklahoma Senate and Oklahoma House of Representatives. Retention votes for seven members of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals and the Court of Civil Appeals. At the county level, many court clerks, county clerks, county sheriffs and county commissioners. In some locations, municipal officials and local bond issues.

A:

unless you are in the military, living A: Yes, overseas, physically incapacitated, providing care to an incapacitated person or confined to a nursing home or veteran’s center.

Q: Do I need to make decisions about

employers must provide employees A: Oklahoma with up to two hours of paid time to vote on

all of those?

No. You can cast as many or as few votes as you A: like.

If you only vote in one race or on one state question, that vote will still count.

Q: Where can I find a sample ballot listing my choices?

Individualized sample ballots are available on A: the State Election Board website, elections. ok.gov. County election boards provide sample ballots, too.

Q: Why isn’t my Senate or House district on the ballot?

If a candidate ran unopposed or faced only sameA: party opposition, he or she has been elected and will not appear on the November 8 ballot. In addition, only half of the Oklahoma Senate’s 48 seats are affected by this year’s elections.

Q: Why aren’t the governor and other statewide officials on the ballot?

Most of them will appear on the 2018 ballot.

A: One Corporation Commissioner was re-elected automatically this year when her opponent withdrew from the race.

Q: Who is eligible to vote?

Oklahoma residents who are U.S. citizens, A: atAllleast 18 years old, legally competent and

not subject to a current felony sentence. A convicted felon is allowed to vote in Oklahoma after their original sentence is completed.

Q: Where can I vote?

On Election Day, only in the precinct where A: you’re registered. For a list of precinct polling places and other voter information, visit the Oklahoma State Election Board website, elections.ok.gov.

when I go vote?

Generally speaking, yes. You may present valid photo identification issued by federal, state or tribal authorities, such as a driver’s license or passport. If you do not have a photo ID, you can present your voter identification card.

If you have no identification, you may cast a provisional ballot accompanied by a sworn affidavit.

Q: I have a full-time job. Is my employer required to let me go vote?

ballot notarized?

Q: Where else can I go for information?

State Election Board website is a good A: The place to start: elections.ok.gov. County election boards also provide election information.

Hero Images/getty images

on ballots across the state?

Election Day, unless their shifts give them plenty of time to do so before or after work.

You must notify your employer of your intention to vote at least one day before the election.

Q: How can I change my registration name, address, or political affiliation?

need to submit a new voter registration A: You’ll form with the correct information. You can’t

make changes in your voter registration online or by telephone.

Q: I’m registered in one place

in Oklahoma but I am attending school or visiting someone in another part of the state, can I vote there?

you will be away from the precinct where A: Ifyou’re registered, you might consider voting by absentee ballot or participating in early voting prior to Nov. 8.

Q: Can I vote by absentee ballot?

You can request an absentee ballot before A: Yes. 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2. Requests can be

submitted online, downloaded from the State Election Board website or obtained from your county election board.

Q: How do I turn in my absentee ballot? state began distributing absentee ballots A: The on Friday, Sept. 23. Completed ballots must be returned by mail to your county election board and received no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8.

What if I have problems or witness possible voter irregularities on Election Day?

Selfie control Even in the political sphere, selfies have been used to boast civic engagement as voters proudly pose with iconic “I Voted” stickers, or their marked ballot in the voting booth, better known as the ballot selfie. As Election Day approaches, it is important for voters to know how these means of expression fit within state laws.

Though there is no federal law banning the ballot selfie, each state defines its own guidelines regarding the use of media in a polling place.

In Oklahoma, Statute 26 § 7-109 states that it is illegal to share your marked ballot while voting, and according to Statute 26 § 7-112, reporters and photographers may not photograph any voter marking a ballot in a polling place.

The Oklahoma State Election Board recommends that voters should not photograph their marked ballot and post their ballot selfie to social media, but, there is no legal penalty for doing so. However, taking a photo of another voter’s marked ballot is illegal and could lead to criminal charges.

You should call the State Election Board at 405-521-2391 or your county election board.

These national hotlines also might be able to help:

1-866-OUR-VOTE 1-888-VEY-VOTA (Spanish language) 1-888-API-VOTE (Asian languages)

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Death Penalty Ballot title This measure adds a new section to the Oklahoma Constitution, Section 9A of Article 2. The new Section deals with the death penalty. The Section establishes State constitutional mandates relating to the death penalty and methods of execution. Under these constitutional requirements: • The Legislature is expressly empowered to designate any method of execution not prohibited by the United States Constitution.

• Death sentences shall not be reduced because a method of execution is ruled to be invalid.

• When an execution method is declared invalid, the death penalty imposed shall remain in force until it can be carried out using any valid execution method, and • The imposition of a death penalty under Oklahoma law­—as distinguished from a method of execution—shall not be deemed to be or constitute the infliction of cruel or unusual punishment under Oklahoma’s Constitution, nor to contravene any provision of the Oklahoma Constitution.

Shall The Proposal Be Approved?

For The Proposal – Yes AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO

Ballot title This measure adds Section 38 to Article II of the Oklahoma Constitution. The new Section creates state constitutional rights. It creates the following guaranteed rights to engage in farming and ranching: • The right to make use of agricultural technology, • The right to make use of livestock procedures, and • The right to make use of ranching practices.

These constitutional rights receive extra protection under this measure that not all constitutional rights receive. This extra protection is a limit on lawmakers’ ability to interfere with the exercise of these rights.

Under this extra protection, no law can interfere with these rights, unless the law is justified by a compelling state interest-a clearly identified state interest of the highest order. Additionally, the law must be necessary to serve that compelling state interest.

The measure—and the protections identified above—do not apply to and do not impact state laws related to: • Trespass, • Eminent domain, • Dominance of mineral interests, • Easements, • Right of way or other property rights, and • Any state statutes and political subdivision ordinances enacted before December 31, 2014.

Shall The Proposal Be Approved?

For The Proposal – Yes AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO 14

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StateQUESTION S UMMARY

776

State Question 776 does two things: It addresses the method of execution for an inmate on death row, and it states that the death penalty shall not be deemed cruel and unusual punishment. If the proposal is approved, a new section would be added to the Oklahoma Constitution that allows the state to continue to impose the death penalty, even if a specific method of execution becomes unavailable. Death sentences would remain in effect until they can be carried out by any method not prohibited by the U.S. Constitution.

If approved, the constitutional amendment would apply to the state constitution but not the federal constitution or courts applying federal law.

The Oklahoma death penalty law, enacted in 1976, has been consistently applied by Oklahoma elected officials: The state executed 191 men and three women between 1915 and 2014 at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary (82 by electrocution, one by hanging, and 111 by lethal injection). Statutes specifically allow gas inhalation, electrocution, and firing squad as backups to the Proponents say:

Yes

Agriculture

StateQUESTION S U MMARY

NO

• Oklahomans are increasingly opposed to the death penalty, citing inconsistent application of it as a punishment, a preference for life sentences and the increasing frequency of exonerations.

• This measure could make it much more difficult to rule Oklahoma’s death penalty unconstitutional and could make use of barbaric practices such as the firing squad more likely.

• The amendment’s only purpose is to undermine the current moratorium resulting from the recent mistakes in the administration of the lethal drug method of execution.

legislators for a vote of the people. Oklahoma’s State Question 777 is inspired in part by opponents of Proposition 2 in California.

Proposition 2 required certain farm animals to be able to lie down, stand up, fully extend limbs and turn around freely. SQ 777 is unique in that it added the “compelling state interest” clause.

Oklahoma’s top agricultural products in revenue are cattle, hogs, poultry, wheat and dairy. Agriculture is the state’s 14th highest economic sector, accounting for less than 2 percent of GDP (higher than agriculture’s national rate). For decades, as technology and yields have advanced, the number of agricultural jobs and farms has declined. Nine in 10 Oklahoma crop and animal operations are owned by private citizens, many of whom contract with larger corporations.

FOR MOR E INFORMATION oklahomarighttofarm.com votenoon777.com and okfoodfarmfamily.com kirkpatrickfoundation.com/sq777-right-to-farm

BOTHSIDES

• The amendment would shield Oklahoma farmers and ranchers from needless red tape and attacks from out-of-state special interests, overzealous environmentalists, animal rights advocates and other groups who promote stricter regulation of agriculture.

• The amendment may protect farm-related jobs and could provide long-lasting protection for farming and ranching families who don’t have a lot of resources.

• Family farmers and ranchers work hard to pass their farm on to the next generation. This amendment would help ensure that transition to the next generation by giving farmers and ranchers another tool to defend themselves from onerous laws and regulations in the future.

opponents say:

777

If the proposal is approved, the measure would prevent lawmakers from passing legislation to regulate agriculture unless there is a compelling state interest.

The proposal would forbid the state of Oklahoma from regulating the use of agricultural technology, livestock procedures, and ranching practices. The standard of “compelling state interest” is a key component to the question because it sets a very high standard for a law to be judged.

If passed, the proposal would apply to any democratically elected body that can trace its creation to the state legislature, including county and city governments, but not school boards.

Federal laws would not be impacted; current state laws about farming and ranching would be grandfathered in, and would not be repealed by this amendment. Grandfathered laws could be amended or repealed in the future. Similar proposals have been presented to voters in other states, first in North Dakota. A similar amendment passed in Missouri in 2014; another amendment was considered in Nebraska earlier this year but was not approved by

Yes

fo r m o r e i nfo r matio n thinktwiceok.com supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-7955_aplc.pdf (The U.S. Supreme Court Opinion Allowing Use of Execution Drug)

BOTHSIDES

• The death penalty is legal in Oklahoma and has a history of support from officials and the general public. The state’s ability to carry it out must be protected at a higher, constitutional level.

• There is a chance that certain drugs used in lethal injections, or even the use of lethal injection itself, will be ruled unconstitutional. Oklahoma needs options so that the death penalty can continue to be used.

• The state of Oklahoma should have more flexibility to designate and use any available, legal method of execution.

Proponents say:

primary form of execution by lethal injection.

In October 2015, Oklahoma suspended executions for a review of lethal injection protocols. One of the drugs most commonly used for lethal injection is sodium thiopental, which is no longer manufactured in the United States. In 2011, the European Commission imposed restrictions on the export of certain drugs used for lethal injections in the United States.

As a result, many states no longer have the drugs used to carry out lethal injection. Oklahoma has turned to other drugs as a substitute for sodium thiopental. However, recent instances of executions around the country in which alternative drugs were used may have produced adverse outcomes.

The death penalty is legal in 31 states, and illegal in 19.

opponents say:

NO

• The amendment, introduced by out-of-state “Big Ag” entities, is contrary to the ideals of democracy and representative government and would remove the rights of Oklahoma voters by putting agricultural lawmaking into the hands of the judiciary and large corporate enterprises that have the resources to wage long-term legal battles.

• The amendment is designed to protect large-scale, corporate-industrial farms — often owned by foreign entities — rather than to defend the heritage and rights of small Oklahoma farmers. It gives free rein to industrial agriculture and factory farms to pollute the water and environment and erode local economies.

• Serious, unintended consequences could give puppy mills, cock fighters and factory farm employees license to treat vulnerable creatures with cruelty.

Education Funding Tax Ballot title This measure adds a new Article to the Oklahoma Constitution. The article creates a limited purpose fund to increase funding for public education. It increases State sales and use taxes by one cent per dollar to provide revenue for the fund. The revenue to be used for public education shall be allocated: 69.50% for common school districts, 19.25% for the institutions under the authority of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, 3.25% for the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, and 8% for the State Department of Education.

It requires teacher salary increases funded by this measure raise teacher salaries by at least $5,000 over the salaries paid in the year prior to adoption of this measure. It requires an annual audit of school districts’ use of monies. It prohibits school districts’ use of these funds for increasing superintendents’ salaries or adding superintendent positions.

It requires that monies from the fund not supplant or replace other educational funding. If the Oklahoma Board of Equalization determines funding has been replaced, the Legislature may not make any appropriations until the amount of replaced funding is returned to the fund. The article takes effect on July 1 after its passage.

Shall The Proposal Be Approved?

For The Proposal – Yes AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO

Ballot title This measure amends existing Oklahoma laws and would change the classification of certain drug possession and property crimes from felony to misdemeanor. It would make possession of a limited quantity of drugs a misdemeanor.

The amendment also changes the classification of certain drug possession crimes which are currently considered felonies and cases where the defendant has a prior drug possession conviction.

The proposed amendment would reclassify these drug possession cases as misdemeanors. The amendment would increase the threshold dollar amount used for determining whether certain property crimes are considered a felony or misdemeanor. Currently, the threshold is $500. The amendment would increase the amount to $1000. Property crimes covered by this change include; false declaration of a pawn ticket, embezzlement, larceny, grand larceny, theft, receiving or concealing stolen property, taking domesticated fish or game, fraud, forgery, counterfeiting, or issuing bogus checks. This measure would become effective July 1, 2017.

Shall The Proposal Be Approved?

For The Proposal – Yes AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO

StateQUESTION S UMMARY

779

If this proposal is approved, Article 8-C would be added to the Oklahoma Constitution creating a limited purpose fund — the Education Improvement Fund.

An increase of the sales and use tax by one cent on the dollar would provide revenue for the fund. School districts that benefit from the fund would be subject to an annual audit. Funds generated by the tax cannot be used to replace other state funding of common, higher, career and technology and early childhood education.

The provisions of the new article require a minimum $5,000 salary increase for teachers over the salaries paid in the year prior to adoption. The funds generated would not be used to increase the salaries of school superintendents or to add superintendent positions.

Oklahoma’s average compensation for teachers, including salary and benefits, is $44,921. According to the National Education Association, Oklahoma ranks 49th in the nation in teacher pay.

Proponents say:

Yes

Law Enforcement

StateQUESTION S UMMARY

Yes

fo r m o r e in fo r matio n sos.ok.gov/documents/questions/779.pdf ocpaimpact.com yesfor779.org

NO

• A sales tax disproportionately impacts lower-income people, a concern especially in Oklahoma, whose poverty rate is higher than the national average.

• If approved, SQ 779 would set a harmful precedent in public policy making by weakening the state legislature’s obligation to fund education adequately.

• Higher state sales taxes would hurt city governments’ ability to raise or maintain their own sales taxes, on which they rely heavily to pay for services such as police and fire protection and water, sanitation and streets services.

on probation or parole.

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections indicated in August 2016 that the prison system was at 104 percent of its capacity with 27,097 inmates being held. Drug offenders comprise 26.3 percent of inmates. Another 23.3 percent of inmates are imprisoned for other nonviolent crimes. According to the Oklahoma DOC 2015 annual report, the Oklahoma prison population has increased by 22.6 percent since 2006. In fiscal year 2016, the Oklahoma legislature appropriated $485 million to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. If the measure is approved, the changes proposed would not be retroactive.

Sentences for current inmates would not change.

FOR MOR E INFORMATION okjusticereform.org ok.gov/dac

BOTHSIDES

• If the measure is approved, SQ 780 would result in reduced prison populations, which would reduce costs to taxpayers.

• Treating drug addicts through appropriate rehabilitation and mental health services is more effective than placing them in jail or prison. The prison system does little to equip drug offenders to successfully re-enter society, which increases their chances of recidivism.

• Misdemeanor charges would carry a punishment of up to one year in jail. Prosecutors would continue to have discretion as to whether to pursue a drug case as simple possession or as possession with intent to distribute.

opponents say:

780

If the measure is approved, State Question 780 would reclassify certain offenses, such as simple drug possession and property crimes, as misdemeanors rather than felonies.

The reclassification of the drug possession offense is intended to be applied to persons who use the drugs, not to those who are selling or manufacturing the drugs. The measure also would change the dollar amount threshold for property crimes charged as felonies from $500 to $1,000.

The goal of this measure is to reduce the size of the state’s prison population and to reduce the amount of state funds being spent on prisons. SQ 780 proposes to change Oklahoma statutes, not the constitution. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice in 2014, Oklahoma had the second highest incarceration rate in the nation at 700 inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents. Oklahoma also had the highest incarceration rate for women that year. The total correctional population of a state includes people incarcerated and Proponents say:

VOTERGUIDE

A section within the new article to the state constitution establishes that monies collected would be distributed as follows: • 69.5 percent to common education: 86.33 percent of common education funding would provide teachers with a minimum $5,000 raise and otherwise address or prevent teacher and certified instruction staff shortages; 13.67 percent of common education funding would be used to adopt or expand, but not maintain, programs, opportunities or reforms for improving reading in early grades, improving high school graduation rates and increasing college and career readiness.

• 19.25 percent to higher education • 3.25 percent to career and technology education • 8 percent to early childhood education

BOTHSIDES

• There is no greater need in Oklahoma than the adequate funding of education for our children. As of 2016, the Oklahoma Legislature has not approved an across-the-board salary increase for teachers in eight years.

• The measure would ensure a guaranteed source of additional education funds that cannot be used for other purposes by the legislature.

• The proposed salary increase would be permanent, not a one-time “bonus.” This would aid in the recruitment of new teachers and retention of experienced teachers.

201 6 O K L A H O MA

opponents say:

NO

• Reducing the charges for possession of drugs, such as methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin, along with date rape drugs, (from a felony to a misdemeanor) could endanger the citizens of the state. There are certain situations in which the possession of drugs, especially more powerful substances, needs to be considered a felony.

• If the measure is approved, county jail populations could increase from the number of misdemeanor offenders being charged. County jails are not adequately equipped or funded to handle an increase in jail population.

• Eliminating felony possession charges would reduce the incentive for those charged with drug crimes to complete treatment programs and would weaken prosecutors’ leverage in cases involving more serious offenses.

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15

Ballot title This measure creates the County Community Safety Investment Fund, only if voters approve State Question 780, the Oklahoma Smart Justice Reform Act. This measure would create a fund, consisting of any calculated savings or averted costs that accrued to the State from the implementation of the Oklahoma Smart Justice Reform Act in reclassifying certain property crimes and drug possession as misdemeanors. The measure requires the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to use either actual data or its best estimate to determine how much money was saved on a yearly basis. The amount determined to be saved must be deposited into the Fund and distributed to counties in proportion to their population to provide community rehabilitative programs, such as mental health and substance abuse services. This measure will not become effective if State Question 780, the Oklahoma Smart Justice Reform Act, is not approved by the people. The measure will become effective on July 1 immediately following its passage.

Shall The Proposal Be Approved?

Criminal Rehabilitation

StateQUESTION S UMMARY

The implementation of State Question 781 is contingent on the passage of State Question 780 (see P.15). If SQ 781 is approved by voters, but SQ 780 is not, none of the changes described in SQ 781 will be enacted.

If both measures are approved, SQ 781 would create the County Community Safety Investment Fund. That fund would hold any cost savings achieved by reducing numbers of people incarcerated — a decrease resulting from reclassifying certain property crimes and drug possession as misdemeanors. The new Investment Fund would be a revolving fund not subject to fiscal year limitations. Any savings or averted costs would be calculated by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

If savings are determined, the legislature would be required to appropriate that amount from the general fund to the County Community Safety Investment Fund.

The money must be used for county rehabilitative programs, including those that address mental health and substance Proponents say:

Yes

Religion & the State

StateQUESTION S U MMARY

Shall The Proposal Be Approved?

For The Proposal – Yes AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO 16

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Yes

NO

Monument Display Act was passed by the state legislature and, three years later, a privately donated Ten Commandments monument was erected on the grounds of the State Capitol.

Lawsuits followed, and by June 2015, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled the monument’s placement on state property was unconstitutional, ordering that it be removed.

The basis for the court’s decision was Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma State Constitution.

In October 2015, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin called on the legislature to repeal that section of the state constitution in order to allow the monument at the State Capitol.

FOR MOR E INFORMATION aclu.org/issues/religious-liberty/free-exercise-religion johnpauljordan.com/john-paul-news

BOTHSIDES

• The Oklahoma Supreme Court’s interpretation of Article 2, Section 5 in the Ten Commandments case “can potentially make our state hostile to religion and have damaging impacts on our counties, cities and school districts.”

• Religious liberty should allow the placement of the monument on the grounds of the State Capitol.

• If approved, the repeal would remove an obstacle to the state allowing religious institutions to participate in public programs on an equal basis with nonreligious institutions.

opponents say:

790

State Question 790 addresses public funding and property use regarding the separation of church and state. It is a proposal to repeal a section of the state’s constitution. If the measure is approved, Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution would be repealed. By removing this section, public expenditure or property use for religious purposes would not be explicitly prohibited.

Under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Under the Oklahoma Constitution’s Article 2, Section 5, state money or property cannot be used directly or indirectly to support a church, sect, denomination or system of religion.

This state question is a response to recent controversy over display of the Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Oklahoma State Capitol. In 2009, the Ten Commandments Proponents say:

f o r m o r e i n fo r matio n : okjusticereform.org ok.gov/dac

• . The revenue stream for the County Community Safety Fund is not guaranteed. The monies are subject to appropriation by the legislature.

• Lowering possession to misdemeanors will remove offenders’ fear of going to prison — a fear that is an incentive for them to participate in drug court.

• The measure could provide a way to finance mental health and drug rehabilitation services at the county level for citizens who might otherwise be imprisoned under current laws.

• Data indicate that treatment programs for low-level offenders are more effective than incarceration in preventing recidivism.

AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO

This measure would remove Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution, which prohibits the government from using public money or property for the direct or indirect benefit of any religion or religious institution. Article 2, Section 5 has been interpreted by the Oklahoma courts as requiring the removal of a Ten Commandments monument from the grounds of the State Capitol.

If this measure repealing Article 2, Section 5 is passed, the government would still be required to comply with the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution, which is a similar constitutional provision that prevents the government from endorsing a religion or becoming overly involved with religion.

abuse, or provide job training or education. The money would be distributed to Oklahoma counties in proportion to their population.

The Office of Management and Enterprise Services will use actual data or make its best estimate when calculating cost savings per year. Its calculation would be final and would not be adjusted because of subsequent changes in underlying data.

The intent of SQ 781 is to focus on root causes of criminal behavior such as addiction and mental health problems, as opposed to placing more people charged with lower-level offenses behind bars.

BOTHSIDES

For The Proposal – Yes

Ballot title

781

opponents say:

NO

• Passage of SQ 790 would open the state to expensive federal lawsuits that the Oklahoma Attorney General would have to defend at the expense of Oklahoma taxpayers.

• Passage of SQ 790 would affect many areas of religious freedom, including state money and property being appropriated for specific religious purposes, including religion-based schools or activities.

• The state could be faced with proposals from other religions and religious groups to place their own monuments on public property or grounds, leading to difficult and divisive decisions and lawsuits.

Ballot title This measure repeals Article 28 of the Oklahoma Constitution and restructures the laws governing alcoholic beverages through a new Article 28A and other laws the Legislature will create if the measure passes. The new Article 28A provides that with exceptions, a person or company can have an ownership interest in only one area of the alcoholic beverage business-manufacturing, wholesaling, or retailing. Some restrictions apply to the sales of manufacturers, brewers, winemakers, and wholesalers. Subject to limitations, the Legislature may authorize direct shipments to consumers of wine. Retail locations like grocery stores may sell wine and beer. Liquor stores may sell products other than alcoholic beverages in limited amounts. The Legislature must create licenses for retail locations, liquor stores, and places serving alcoholic beverages and may create other licenses. Certain licensees must meet residency requirements. Felons cannot be licensees. The Legislature must designate days and hours when alcoholic beverages may be sold and may impose taxes on sales. Municipalities may levy an occupation tax. If authorized, a state lodge may sell individual alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption but no other state involvement in the alcoholic beverage business is allowed.

With one exception, the measure will take effect October 1, 2018.

Shall The Proposal Be Approved?

792

Alcohol

StateQUESTION S UMMARY

If the proposal is approved, it would repeal Article 28 of the Oklahoma Constitution and replace it with Article 28A, which restructures the laws governing alcohol. If approved, the measure will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2018.

Currently, under Oklahoma law, liquor stores can sell fullstrength, unrefrigerated beer but cannot sell cold beer or chilled wine. Liquor stores can sell wine and spirits but no other items.

Grocery and convenience stores can sell cold low-point beer (3.2 percent alcohol by weight) but not spirits, wine, or high-point beer.

State Question 792 would change the current alcohol laws to allow grocery, convenience and drug stores to sell cold, highpoint beer (up to 8.99 percent alcohol by volume) and wine (up Proponents say:

Yes

For The Proposal – Yes AGAINST THE PROPOSAL – NO

VOTERGUIDE

to 15 percent alcohol by volume).

Liquor stores would be allowed to sell cold beer and any item that also may be purchased in a grocery store or convenience store — except motor fuel — in limited amounts.

Liquor or spirits will still only be available for purchase from licensed retail liquor stores.

f o r m o r e i n fo r matio n conveniencecosts.com yeson792.com

BOTHSIDES

• Oklahoma’s alcoholic beverages laws are Prohibition-era laws and need to be modernized.

• Passage of SQ 792 would provide Oklahomans with the same level of access to wine and beer as consumers in 45 other states and would allow customers to purchase wine and cold beer more conveniently throughout the state at all levels of retail.

• State tax dollars are being driven to other states where alcohol laws allow the sale of high-point beer and wine in grocery stores.

201 6 O K L A H O MA

opponents say:

NO

• T. he additional competition from grocery and convenience stores would hurt the state’s independent liquor retailers. Many current retail liquor stores would go out of business, resulting in job losses and inconveniencing consumers, especially those in smaller cities.

• Allowing grocery and convenience stores to sell strong beer and wine would concentrate more power in the hands of fewer corporate owners, reduce competition and result in higher prices.

• SQ 792 contains language that would allow out-of-state distributors to buy controlling interests in wholesalers and then designate themselves as the sole wholesale distributor of any product they represent. Retailers would not be able to choose between competing wholesalers but would have to buy each product from only one particular wholesaler.

Editors

Contributors

Alana Salisbury,

Managing Editor david fritze LouisA McCune

oklahoma voter guide coalition KGOU

Kelly Rogers

OETA

kgou.com

Warren vieth

oeta.tv

Karen Holp, General Manager

DAN SCHIEDEL, Executive Director

Jim Johnson, Program Manager

Cassie Gage, Vice President of Marketing and Communications Bill Perry, Vice President of Content Production Steve bennett, Managing News Editor

Kirkpatrick Foundation

kirkpatrickfoundation.com

Louisa McCune, Executive Director Paulette Black, Senior Program Officer Alana Salisbury, Managing Editor (ArtDesk)

Oklahoma Watch

oklahomawatch.org

David Fritze, Executive Editor

theomc.com

Mike Day, Senior Account Executive

Rachel Hubbard, Associate Director/General Manager

lwvok.org

Kathleen Kastelic

Judy Reynolds Karen Melcher Ron Wilkinson Mandy Winton

Tyler Media League of Women Voters

Martha Bales Bill Hinkle

Jerry Wagner, Audience Sponsorship Manager

Kelly Burley, Director

Sheila Swearingen

Erica Mackey

The Oklahoman Media Group kosu.org

Mary Jane Lindaman, Chair Sandy Bahan

Kelly Rogers, Assistant Editor (ArtDesk)

KOSU

League of Women Voters Writing Team

tylermedia.com

Tony Tyler, Vice President

Sheila Swearingen, President MARY JANE LINDAMAN, Voter Service Chair

Art Direction Steven Walker, Walker Creative, Inc.

Factchecking, Copyediting, and Research Emily JErman schuster NEAL schuster

With special thanks to Bryan Dean of the Oklahoma State Election Board.

For public relations inquiries, please contact Propeller Communications, (918) 488-0110 or thinkpropeller.com

Manda Overturf Shank

Advisors Art LeFrancois Andrew Spiropoulos Robert Henry Oklahoma City University O kg a z e t t e . c o m | o c to b e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

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chicken

friedNEWS

Pray day

Give us this day our daily bread — bread as in money. Hey, God! This state needs money.

Gov. Mary Fallin issued a proclamation earlier this month naming Oct. 13 Oilfield Prayer Day in Oklahoma, as requested on behalf of the Oilfield Christian Fellowship. The proclamation originally stated that Christians acknowledge that these natural resources were “created by God,” though Fallin later changed the language to be more religiously inclusive.

If anyone somehow missed the Oct. 13 date, hopefully their unspecified deity accepts late calls and isn’t a stickler for deadlines.

“There are many people suffering right now who have lost their jobs in the energy sector... there are a lot of families who have been hurt, and I think prayer is always a good thing, for anyone,” Fallin told the Associated Press.

This is not the first time the governor has called for heavenly solutions to Oklahoma problems. In 2011, she urged the state’s faithful to pray for rain to end a near record-level drought.

Michael McNutt, Fallin’s communications director, told TheDailyBeast.com that Fallin is “not opposed to legitimate requests for divine intervention.”

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Clowning around

Oklahoma City ain’t afraid of no clowns!

The clown craze sweeping the planet seems to be having almost no impact on local residents.

Even those connected to clowns in some way don’t think of it as anything more than a mild annoyance.

News9.com reported that local retailer Party Galaxy isn’t buying into the fear and will continue selling clown masks. News9. com also reported that most sales are to kids and teenagers looking for an innocent joke.

“We have always sold clown,” Party Galaxy employee Colette Carter recently told News9.com. “We have never had any issues with them. No one has complained to us about it.”

In fact, all the negativity also really bugs longtime clowns.

“A clown is someone who brings laughter and joy to the people that we meet.

Clowning is an art. It’s an art form,” Justin Brodie, a clown who goes by the name of Big Red, told News9.com. “I’ve seen story after story if creepy clowns, creepy clowns, creepy clowns, creepy clowns, creepy clowns, creepy clowns, and it would just be nice to see a different spin and a different side of it.”

Even horror author Stephen King, the creator of Pennywise the Clown, the antagonist in It and the most terrifying clown in recent memory, is over it and knows when to stop.

“I have a button that says CAN’T

SLEEP, CLOWNS WILL EAT ME,” he tweeted Sept. 9, almost a month after the clown buzz started. “Probably not true. But what if it was? What if they’re just waiting?”

He definitely changed his tune in October — probably after all his gullible relatives on Facebook started losing their minds.

“Hey, guys, time to cool the clown hysteria — most of ’em are good, cheer up the kiddies, make people laugh,” he tweeted Oct. 3.

If only everyone else on social media knew when to stop.

Arty argument

A modern take on a classic theatrical farce unfolded earlier this month when the universe (i.e. Facebook) brought together Oklahoma City artist and Current Studio cofounder Romy Owens and state Sen. Bill Brown (R-Broken Arrow).

Owens shared a link to a huffingtonpost. com article that was critical of party leaders

who support Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. She also said the few Trump supporters she knows are “alt-right racist christian [sic] homophobes who have been brainwashed to be afraid.”

Sen. Brown, who is not Facebook or real-life friends with Owens, somehow saw her post and decided to toss his two cents into the fray.

“Romy, your [sic] are the racist,” he wrote.

“If someone does not believe like you, you demonize them. Typical Democrat Policy.”

His post launched string of responses.

Some simply corrected Brown’s grammar.

Others addressed how proud Broken Arrow voters must be of their elected official.

But Brown’s own responses proved most illuminating. Specifically that he didn’t quite grasp how Owen’s original post ended up in his timeline, as he suggested she remove him as a Facebook friend and that people who don’t agree with him should remove themselves from Oklahoma entirely.

“You guys might want to move to New York, or California,” he wrote. “Some place where you might fit in better.”

His tenor changed after Owens invoked obscure local blog (and Oklahoma Gazette Best of OKC winner) The Lost Ogle.

Brown wrote, “You are right, I don’t know how face book [sic] works, and how your post got on mine. However I have enjoyed the conversation, and hope maybe we can sit down an [sic] talk. God able [sic]

you … Sorry, I meant God Bless you.”

The entire exchange has many of us at Chicken-Fried News wondering if the exchange counts as performance art.

Cheating kids

Kids know that cheating is wrong.

After all, how often is the phrase “Keep your eyes on your own paper” said in classrooms around the country? We at ChickenFried News estimate about a gazillion.

Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) didn’t intentionally cheat kids out of state funding or cause an imbalance in funding.

However, schoolchildren felt cheated when it was discovered a misinterpreted law led to more than $14 million in motor vehicle collections incorrectly distributed to public schools.

According to Tulsa World, tax officials misconceived a 2015 law, which led to incorrect distributions impacting 419 school districts.

School leaders at Sand Springs, Muskogee, Altus, Canton, Lone Wolf, Mid-Del, Ponca City and Quapaw noticed something was off and pushed a lawsuit against OTC. The 2015 law, passed by the Legislature, was intended to cap the amount of motor vehicle tax money schools received.

“In months when there were not enough collections to give all school districts the amount of money they received the previous year, OTC made distributions based on each district’s student population, but the plaintiff school districts contended the Tax Commission should have decreased each district’s portion equally,” Tulsa World reported Oct. 18.

In mid-October, a judge sided with the plaintiffs, aka the school districts, the Tulsa newspaper reported.

Next month, the problem will be corrected.

Sexy statistics

both a book and a movie, so Oklahomans probably aren’t searching for earthworm recipes so much as they’re trying to cheat on a book report.

“How to whistle” and “How to smoke ribs” are both valid queries. They kind of go together. Anybody who figures out how to perfectly smoke a rack of juicy, flavorful ribs will want to call over their friends with a jaunty whistle.

That said, the search query ChickenFried News cannot abide is the last one on the list: How to sext.

Oklahoma had a 13.5 percent divorce rate in 2014, which puts the Sooner State at No. 3 nationally. This is a state that knows how to send a lewd message via phone.

We’re guessing the good news for the real estate market is that the more sexting Oklahomans do, the more likely people will be looking to buy a new home.

Estately.com online real estate website recently compiled a list of the “how to” questions people in each state ask more often than people in other states.

While Texans Googled questions such “How to read minds” and “How to sell your soul” and people in Florida wanted to know “How to get out of Florida,” Oklahoma’s most searched “how to” questions were perplexing and hilarious.

First of all, How to Eat Fried Worms is

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letters

NEWS Oklahoma Gazette provides an open forum for the discussion of all points of view in its Letters to the Editor section. The Gazette reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity. Letters can be mailed, faxed, emailed to jchancellor@okgazette.com or sent online at okgazette.com.

Include a city of residence and contact number for verification.

People before party

I saw a television commercial by Sen. Jim Inhofe asking you to vote for Donald Trump to lead our nation.

Sen. Inhofe wants you to support the party that put presidential nominee Donald Trump within reach of the presidency and who puts the Republican Party first, first before the ideals of democracy and respect for everyone, including women.

Sen. Inhofe wants you to vote for constitutional amendment SQ 777, which weakens your rights to protect life, health and the environment in Oklahoma.

It is obvious to me Sen. Inhofe puts his position and reputation on the side of partisan politics, retaining power and protecting big moneyed interests like putting foreign owned industrial farms off-limits to regulation.

Sen. Inhofe has stayed in office 22 years not because he cares about us and the future of Oklahoma, but because he cares about promoting and protecting the 1 percent and the longterm, self-serving objectives of individuals like the Koch brothers and groups like ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council).

It is time we voted people into office who will work together to solve our many challenges rather than obstruct and misdirect Congress and the people. Most important, we need to vote for representatives who care about people and the environment before party or profits.

Susan Schmidt Oklahoma City

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Outsmarting Russia

“The Democrats, Independents and our weak Republican brothers and cousins need to repent of their political corruption and moral failures and save our country from being a weak culture that is fodder for the Russian, Chinese or Muslim leaders of the likes of Khan” (Opinion, Letters to the editor, “Trumping Kirk,” Michael Moberly, Oct. 5, Oklahoma Gazette).

If that’s true, then maybe he can send that memo to his moralistic locker room hero Donald Trump, who apparently views the current leader of Russia as a cuddly teddy bear who needs a hug.

When Joe Scarborough said, “He also is a person that kills journalists, political opponents and invades countries,” Trump responded, “Our country does plenty of killing also, Joe … He’s running his country and at least he’s a leader, unlike what we have in this country.”

“Yeah, sure there are allegations. I’ve read those allegations over the years,” Trump said, “but nobody’s proven that he’s killed anybody, as far as I’m concerned.” (Thirteen journalists have been killed in Putin’s Russia in the last decade alone.) Maybe President Trump (god forbid) could pardon O.J. Simpson and send him to Russia to help Putin find the real killers. (A mirror will do the trick.)

Russia is a corrupt, autocratic kleptocracy under Putin, where officials, oligarchs and organized crime are bound

together to create a “virtual mafia state,” according to leaked secret diplomatic cables.

Trump has a very long way to go before he is going to “outsmart” Putin on anything, amply displayed in his incoherent position on Ukraine: “He’s not going into Ukraine, OK, just so you understand. He’s not going to go into Ukraine, all right? You can mark it down. You can put it down. You can take it anywhere you want,” Trump said in an interview with George Stephanopoulos.

“Well, he’s already there, isn’t he?”

Stephanopoulos responded.

Trump said: “OK, well, he’s there in a certain way. But I’m not there. You have Obama there. And frankly, that whole part of the world is a mess under Obama with all the strength that you’re talking about and all of the power of NATO and all of this. In the meantime, he’s going away. He takes Crimea.”

What exactly does this mean? Putin’s there in a “certain way” (brazen invasion), and all the power of NATO (which he would “certainly look at” pulling the United States out of because it is “obsolete” and “is costing us a fortune”). Is he saying that President Trump and NATO would go to war with Russia over Ukraine?

Is this how he is going to “outsmart” the Russians, confusing them?

He has apparently outsmarted his running mate Mike Pence, disowning Pence’s comment, “The United States of

America should be prepared to use military force to strike military targets of the Assad regime to prevent them from this humanitarian crisis that is taking place in Aleppo.”

“He and I haven’t spoken, and I disagree,” Trump said.

Really? He hasn’t even talked to Pence about the most serious foreign policy question facing us, the ongoing civil war in Syria, and how to deal with it? We don’t know what the Don’s secret plan is to defeat ISIS, but you have to figure a Patton-like charge into Syria with U.S. ground forces, embroiling us in the civil war quagmire with no clear idea how long we stay and who takes our place when we leave, not to mention that the Russians have already bombed a “secret” base in Syria with U.S. forces. Russians killing US soldiers.

What could possibly go wrong with that?

As for the need to repent of the “moral failings,” yeah, right, Trump that paragon of virtuous behavior.

DW Tiffee Norman

‘Second Amendment solution’

In 2010, then-Senate majority leader Harry Reid was opposed in his re-election bid by Sharron Angle in Nevada.

Republican Angle was an NRA favorite who posited that, should she lose the election, “There is always a Second Amendment solution.” Sound familiar?

She lost, 55-45. Thankfully, no gunplay actually ensued re: Sen. Reid.

This election year has resurrected the idea of a “Second Amendment solution,” should a certain candidate lose. Fearful as that dark cloud might be, it has the potential of a “silver lining” if it also conveys to women the idea that concealed carry might be useful in deterring potential sexual predators.

Just imagine the possibility of a presidential candidate being wounded or killed in the act of sexual depredation? Wouldn’t that be a lasting game-changer!?

Frank Silovsky Oklahoma City

EAT & DRINK Cattlemen’s Steakhouse serves food for thought with its breakfast of calf brains and eggs. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

f e at u r e

Steamed barbecue pork buns are part of dim sum brunch at Fung’s Kitchen. | Photo Gazette / file

Brunching out Restaurants across the metro are breaking away from brunch basics to give customers a taste of the unexpected. By Greg Elwell

For a meal that gets more ubiquitous by the day, brunch is kind of boring.

Even as Saturday and Sunday morning texts grow increasingly desperate, begging friends to commit themselves to a blearyeyed quasi breakfast on the town, many brunch menus seem like carbon copies of each other.

There’s nothing wrong with eggs Benedict or huevos rancheros. In fact, there’s so much not wrong with them that many restaurants open at 11 a.m. Sunday to serve them to hungry patrons along with a pitcher of mimosas or a bloody mary in a tall glass.

Were customers yawning because they are tired or just bored? Oklahoma City restaurateurs are bucking brunch trends with dishes that wake diners up with new flavors and innovative ingredients before getting them so full they need a nap.

Shell raiser

Hatch, 1101 N. Broadway Ave., is the newest eatery from Provision Concepts.

Located just north of another Provision eatery in the same building, Broadway 10 Bar & Chophouse, Hatch is a breakfast and lunch restaurant specializing in “early mood food.”

Hatch doesn’t shun the old favorites.

There are a number of Benedicts available, from the classic with ham to Benedict Johnny with beer-braised pork, chipotle hollandaise, chorizo and red chili sauce over a griddled grit cake. And its pancake list is long and varied, including all sorts of sweet and savory toppings.

But the real innovation comes on the

appetizers menu, where Hatch offers a starter of chicken-fried eggs.

Where chicken-fried steaks involve pounding a tasty cut of beef to a perfect, tender texture, this eye-catching preparation begins with de-shelled soft-boiled eggs dipped in batter and flash fried. The result is an egg with a golden crisp batter shell over firm egg white and a still-runny yolk. The dish comes with Cholula ranch and smoked cheddar hollandaise sauces on the side for dipping.

Love that yolk? Consider ordering an English muffin as a side to make sure none of it goes to waste.

For another dish that’s new to the local brunch game, Guernsey Park, 2418 N. Guernsey Ave., serves okonomiyaki.

Pancakes are old hat for most breakfasts, but this savory Japanese version hides a surprise inside: a mix of cabbage, onions and bacon. The egg on top helps round out the dish’s flavor by adding the rich, creamy taste of yolk to the mix.

Another traditional food with a twist is five-spice chicken and waffle, combining Guernsey’s spicy take on fried chicken with the comfort of syrup and a waffle.

Sweet kick

Adding new toppings is a tried-and-true way to update a classic dish, but The Mule, 1630 N. Blackwelder Ave., starts by adding something new to the base of its candied bacon French toast: jalapeño cornbread.

Boring toast has no place in this dish, which uses the spicy bread as a staging ground for cinnamon whiskey syrup and red pepper candied bacon. It’s the perfect pairing for chiliheads with a sweet tooth.

For a more savory option, The Mule also serves an FYDH (for your damn hangover) sandwich on Sunday mornings. A

grilled sourdough sandwich is stuffed with creamy avocado and goat cheese, tangy pepperoncini, bacon and an over-easy egg.

Heat is also the watchword in Sunnyside Diner’s, 916 NW Sixth St., Eggs in Purgatory. Three eggs are simmered in spicy marinara and topped with Parmesan cheese for an Italian twist on breakfast.

Use the Tuscan toast on the side to soak up more of that hot tomato-based sauce mixed with the delightfully fatty egg yolk.

The restaurant also serves a backwoods beauty of a hash, a dish traditionally made with chopped meat, potatoes and seasonings. Hillbilly Hash uses barbecue pork and sauce from Sunnyside’s sister restaurant Hillbilly’s, 1 NW Ninth St., with seasoned fried potatoes and a pair of freshly cooked eggs. The final product has a sweet and spicy flavor and is full of tender meat and starchy potatoes that are just as good at any other meal.

Think fast

For a truly thought-provoking early morning bite to eat, head to Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, 1309 S. Agnew Ave., and ask yourself, If one is willing to eat a steak with eggs, does that extend to other parts of the cow?

Calf brains and eggs is a dish that is precisely what its name suggests. The staff scramble together gray matter with eggs for a dish that is easier to eat without thinking about what it is. The brains give the dish a slightly mineral taste, but that’s easily palatable with a liberal application of hot sauce.

With delicious derivations on favorite brunch dishes popping up all over Oklahoma City, the question isn’t if you’re going to eat them, but if you can wait for the weekend to get here.

Asian persuasion

Is breakfast ever delivered to your table that looks nothing like how the menu described it? The solution to that problem is dim sum, a delightful meal of traditional Chinese small bites that customers order by pointing at the food as it comes by.

Two top spots for dim sum are Fung’s Kitchen, 3321 N. Classen Blvd., and Grand House Asian Bistro, 2701 N. Classen Blvd.

Served Saturday and Sunday mornings, the Chinese brunch features servers pushing carts covered in plates and steamer baskets.

Be sure to ask if it’s hard to tell what the dish is. While curry squid and fried baby octopus are definitely different than the same old brunch, they might not be exactly what you’re looking for.

A best bet is to look for savory steamed barbecue pork buns. The slightly chewy, steamed dough easily gives way for big bites of sweet roasted meat.

Chicken-fried eggs at newly opened breakfast and lunch spot Hatch | Photo Garett Fisbeck

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EAT & DRINK

f e at u r e

Golden Phoenix plans to raze long-vacant nextdoor property Pipkin Cameras and Imaging to make room for a three-story expansion. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

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Not valid for online orders. Not valid with Lunch special or discounts. Taxes no included. No cash value. Offer valid at participating restaurant and pick up order.

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Golden future

Asian District mainstay Golden Phoenix spreads its wings and its capacity with a planned three-story expansion slated for 2017. By Greg Elwell

Though it’s still in the planning and permitting stages, Golden Phoenix general manager Jason Xa said he hopes to see demolition begin on the long-empty Pipkin Cameras and Imaging building, 2700 N. Classen Boulevard, in early 2017.

Pipkin Cameras moved across the street decades ago before permanently closing its doors in 2010. Golden Phoenix has happily used the building’s empty parking as an overflow lot for its frequently busy Vietnamese and Chinese restaurant at 2728 N. Classen Blvd.

As useful as the additional parking has been, Golden Phoenix owner Larry Lee has bigger plans — three-story-tall plans. Once the area is cleared, the restaurant begins an unprecedented expansion to more than double the size of the dining room and give the Asian District a signature structure. Xa said it will also be a local event hub.

Currently, Golden Phoenix seats about 200 people, but Xa said it gets frequent calls for parties more than twice that size.

“A lot of people want to have banquets for 300, 400 or 500 people,” he said.

With construction of a three-story addition, the dining room alone would grow to accommodate another 500 guests. A party that size wouldn’t shut down the restaurant for other diners, because the second floor of the new building will be dedicated to banquet space.

When news of the planned expansion was announced, Xa said many customers were excited about the prospect of hosting large parties in the new space.

If all goes according to plan, the new Golden Phoenix banquet area will house parties with as many as 700 guests.

One thing that doesn’t need to grow, however, is the menu. Focusing on Chinese barbecue and classic Vietnamese fare, the Golden Phoenix menu has been tested and refined over a number of years.

A key to maintaining customers over several years, including when the restaurant was closed in 2012, is focusing on making food fresh to order.

The menu will stay mostly the same, Xa

said. Given the number of customers lining up to order lunch at 10:30 a.m., that’s probably a good idea.

Changing fortunes

What a difference five years makes.

In 2012, some in Oklahoma City worried Golden Phoenix might be done for. A fire caused by a blown transformer Jan. 11 put the next-door restaurant and Chinatown Supermarket, 1228 NW 27th St., out of commission for months right before Chinese New Year, one of the biggest holidays of the year for both businesses.

Xa was working at the restaurant during the fire, when sparks combined with 60 mph winds to create a devastating blaze.

Just like its namesake, fire was a rebirth.

Months after closing, the eatery reopened with a streamlined kitchen, a renovated dining room and customers eager to taste the restaurant’s fresh fare.

Though it was tough for a short time, the blaze hasn’t slowed down the restaurant or the grocery store, which is also owned by Lee. “We’ve grown a lot since then,” Xa said.

“Having the market next door makes it easier for us to keep our prices low and our food fresh.”

While many restaurants struggle with issues of stocking ingredients, Xa said Golden Phoenix chefs can get what they need when they need it without worrying about food going bad. That will be even more important after the expansion, because the kitchen is primed to get three times larger to keep up with demand.

Xa said he also looks forward to the addition of a wet bar, private rooms for guests and even a Cajun-focused crawfish restaurant attached to Golden Phoenix.

And there is talk of putting retail space on the third floor.

All of the plans are still pending city approval and permitting, but Lee is visiting China right now, shopping for furnishings for the new building.

“The old saying is, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,’” Xa said. “Well, we’re not fixing it.

We’re just trying to improve.”

b r i e f s By Greg Elwell

CommonWealth Urban Farms of OKC volunteers put up a hoop house to keep vegetable crops producing longer. | Photo CommonWealth Urban Farms of OKC/ provided

•Hoopapalooza

CommonWealth Urban Farms of OKC celebrated the construction of its new urban hoop house Oct. 22 with Hoopapalooza.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kyle Singler gave CommonWealth $10,000 in January to fund construction of a hoop house, which uses large metal hoops and plastic to create a greenhouse that provides a microclimate for plants and greatly extends the growing season.

The new hoop house, 1016 NW 32nd St., adds to CommonWealth’s mission that began in 2010 when a group of neighbors joined forces to reclaim vacant lots and turn them into productive green spaces. The program now sells vegetables and microgreens locally and produces compost with the help of volunteers.

“CommonWealth grew out of a shared desire to strengthen our community by working together and growing food together,” said cofounder Elia Woods.

Using funds from Hoopapalooza, the group plans to put the new hoop house into production and add to the amount of locally grown produce in Oklahoma City.

Visit commonwealthurbanfarms.com or call 405-524-1864 for more information.

Photo Gazette / file

Ave., and take the guesswork out of pairing wines with holiday favorites.

Though the menu is not yet finalized, McCarthy-Parham said she looks forward to classic dishes and sides such as turkey, ham, stuffing and mashed potatoes and perfect pairings arranged by Thirst.

Tickets are $35 on eventbrite.com.

Wine for the People attendees receive 20 percent off food at Vast or Flint, 15 N. Robinson Ave., following the event.

Time warp •Wine Christmas

As people prepare for the winter holidays, V2 at Vast and Thirst Wine Merchants want to give the gift of stress relief at the next Wine for the People event 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 10.

“The holidays can be a little daunting,” said V2 sales and catering manager Moira McCarthy-Parham. “Just the sheer amount of food at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah poses a problem for pairing.”

With bottles chosen by Thirst Wine Merchants and food prepared by chefs at V2 and Vast, it’s a gourmet affair with a purpose. It helps those harried by holiday activities get a relaxing evening with a great view from the 50th floor of Devon Energy Center’s tower, 333 W. Sheridan

Celebrate All Hallows’ Eve while watching Dr. Frank-N-Furter create his own Adam during Rockford Cocktail Den’s Rockford Horror Show party.

The 21-and-older event welcomes all manner of Riff Raff (and Rockys, Janets and Magentas) to celebrate the spooky season 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Oct. 29 at the bar, 317 NW 23rd St. There isn’t a costume contest, said owner Anna Mains, but costumes are encouraged. The staff is shivering with antici … pation to see what the customers come up with, whether they’re buttoneddown like Brad or kinky and crazy like Frank.

Rockford offers drink specials in addition to a menu already stocked with ’70sinspired cocktails, and the lounge also serves multiple viewings of the 1975 cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show during the event.

HOURS: mOn - tHURS. 11am - 10pm | fRi- Sat 11am - 11pm SUnday clOSed O kg a z e t t e . c o m | o c to b e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

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EAT & DRINK

f e at u r e

Jägerschnitzel mit Pilzrahmsauce and Spätzle, or hunter’s schnitzel, is breaded pork loin and homemade noodles covered in creamy mushroom-and-bacon gravy. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Kingly quaffs

Tucked away in Moore, Royal Bavaria serves German food perfect for Oklahomans’ palates.

By Greg Elwell

Germany is known for a great many things: well-made automobiles, diverse musical acts like Rammstein, Scorpions and Kraftwerk and, of course, Oktoberfest.

Just about every local bar pours Oktoberfest beer for thirsty customers thanks to King Ludwig I of Bavaria, hereafter referred to as The Party King.

Back when he was just Crown Prince Ludwig, The Party King married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen in October 1810. The following celebration was an epic rager that lasted several days.

The Bavarian people liked it so much, they kept doing it every year, even after a revolution made Bavaria part of Germany.

It’s hard to top a party so awesome it becomes a quasi-international holiday, but even if you aren’t The Party King, you can be pampered like one at Royal Bavaria, 3401 S. Sooner Road, in Moore.

Started by Jörg Kühne in 1992, it is now owned by original head chef and Munich native Andreas Gmeiner, but the food is classic Bavarian all the way. Do not go to Royal Bavaria looking for diet food. Of the four salads on the menu, only one doesn’t include meat.

A good start to any meal, or just a good snack while enjoying Royal Bavaria’s housemade beers, is the Oktoberfest Brez’n Plate ($9.59).

Getting pretzels at a restaurant can be a dicey proposition, but this is a sure thing. The freshly baked pretzel is enormous and comes with a trio of delicious dips and spreads. The Bavarian cheese spread has a buttery, almost Brie-like flavor, while the German mustard is spicy and stout. Some diners might be torn on the homemade pâté, which has a pinkish hue, but I thought the meaty paste was a 24

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savory delight.

Another good dish to share is German sausage sampler Gemischter Wurstteller mit Sauerkraut ($14.59). Artfully presented, the appetizer contains a selection of four Royal Bavaria sausages and some lovely sauerkraut.

A word about this oft-maligned condiment: Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage.

If the only sauerkraut you’ve had came from a hot dog cart, then the word alone is likely wince-inducing. Please give it another try. Taste the locally made stuff and discover a flavor as deep as the Mariana Trench, if it was made of cabbage.

Despite the name, wienerschnitzel is not a kind of hot dog. Rather, it’s a meal that should make Oklahomans feel right at home. A big piece of pork loin is pounded thin, rendering the meat extremely tender, and then it’s covered in buttery bread crumbs and fried to a color so golden it belongs in the Federal Reserve.

Schnitzel is kind of Germany’s answer to the chicken-fried steak, and like Oklahoma’s beloved meal, it’s best served with gravy.

Jägerschnitzel mit Pilzrahmsauce, Spätzle ($18.99) is sometimes called hunter’s schnitzel because it’s topped with a mix of creamy bacon-and-mushroom gravy.

Served with homemade German noodles called spätzle, the dish is almost reminiscent of the classic red sauce Italian favorite chicken Parmesan. The crunch of fried breadcrumbs is softened by gravy, which adds a different kind of richness to the flavor. The earthy taste of the mushrooms is mellowed by fatcooked flour and cream that brings the gravy together. The noodles make for a great side dish, or one can cut up the

than I prefer. That said, the home fries were tender and Royal Bavaria perfectly seasoned, walking the edge of being too salty 3401 S. Sooner Road, Moore royal-bavaria.com | 405-799-7666 without ever crossing the line.

What works: Schnitzel and gulasch are If beef is a must, Royal meaty masterpieces.

Bavaria serves a few different What needs work: The brisket dish was a kinds of steak with a variety little tough. of sauces. Don’t overlook Kessel-Gulasch mit Spätzle Tip: The Thursday night buffet is a good way ($15.99). to explore the menu on a budget.

A rich stew containing tender chunks of beef, a growing warmth from schnitzel, mix it evenly and enjoy it as a paprika and a blend of tomatoes, onions hearty mélange of meat, carbs and butter. and bell peppers, gulasch is a cold winter For a similar dish with a little more night dream come true. The stew comes served over spätzle and is finished with bite, Paprika Schnitzel mit Pommes Frites a dash of sour cream over the top. It’s a ($18.99) is a fabulous choice. The breaded big bowl of happiness. pork loin is the same, but hunter’s gravy is replaced by a paprika-spiced bell Royal Bavaria serves a homemade Apfelstrudl mit Vanille-Eis ($6.99) or pepper and onion sauce, and French fries apple strudel with vanilla ice cream. are substituted for spätzle.

While hunter’s gravy is kind of decaMuch as a good dessert can top off a meal, dent, the piquant onion-pepper sauce it seemed a bit wan compared to the offers a bit of sizzle. Paired with the intense flavors of the rest of the banquet. buttery schnitzel crust, it creates a lovely The restaurant also brews its own beer balance. according to German purity laws, so if Monday-Wednesday, Royal Bavaria you enjoy a glass boot filled with Germanmakes multiple schnitzels even more style beer, this eatery is a must. My faenticing with a two-for-one deal that vorite is Kings Gold, a smooth-drinking lager beer with a sweet malty flavor. ought to pack the place out.

Those on a budget might also enjoy Royal Bavaria is kind of like having the weekly Thursday night buffet. It’s an Oktoberfest year-round in Moore. Grab easy way for diners to try several German your crowns, party kings and queens, favorites without ordering full entrees. because this place is worth the drive.

It’s $7 for children ages 3-12 and $17 for diners age 13 and older. Reservations aren’t required, but it is pretty popular, so if having a table ready when you get there is important, call ahead.

While the flavor of Gekochte Ochsenbrust mit Rosenkohl, Bratkartoffeln und Meerrettichsauce ($18.29) was good, the texture of the dish — sliced beef brisket served with a sour cream horseradish sauce, Brussels sprouts and home fries — wasn’t a favorite.

Brussels sprouts were tender with a buttery flavor, the horseradish sauce was perfectly balanced and the sharp bite of horseradish quickly gave way to cooling sour cream, but the brisket wasn’t very beefy and the texture was a little tougher Kessel-Gulasch mit Spätzle is a spicy beef stew served over homemade noodles and topped with sour cream. | Photo Garett Fisbeck

Apfelstrudl mit Vanille-Eis, a homemade apple strudel with vanilla ice cream | Photo Garett Fisbeck

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25

g a z e di b l e s

eat & DRINK

Longtime favorites

How does a restaurant gauge success? There are happy customers, of course, or how many tables are filled and refilled each night.

But the true test of a successful eatery is how long it keeps going.

Through thick and thin, these Oklahoma City mainstays keep serving great food to hungry diners.

By Greg Elwell Photos Garett Fisbeck and Gazette file

Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili 351 N. Air Depot Blvd., Midwest City ronsburgersandchili.com 405-733-7667

With 17 locations spanning three states, Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili, established in 1975 in Oklahoma, has satisfied diners with big portions of filling favorites. What makes this burger joint so special? Maybe it’s Ron’s Special, a massive fried onion hamburger patty covered in bacon bits, a slice of Cure 81 ham and two kinds of cheese. It’s the kind of sandwich that should come with a pillow and a blanket because anyone who finishes it will need a nap.

Sheesh Mahal

4621 N. May Ave. facebook.com/sheeshmahal4621 405-778-8469 Though it has only been in Oklahoma City for a few years, Sheesh Mahal has a reputation as one of the metro’s best places for Pakistani and Indian food. First-time guests should try the exquisite butter chicken, which is a mild, creamy curry with ultra-tender pieces of chicken. Spoon it over zeera rice or dip chewy pieces of garlic naan into the luxurious sauce. Vegetarian or vegan? Halal? Sheesh has plenty of tasty options for every diet.

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TWEET TWEET! FOLLOW US! @OKGAZETTE

Casa Perico Mexican Grille

4521 NW 63rd St. casaperico.com | 405-721-3650 Casa Perico, or “Parrot House,” is a pair of great Mexican restaurants that have served Oklahoma City since 1996. The menu evolved over the last 20 years, adding some fan favorites like Tacos Mexicanos street tacos and a selection of crowd-pleasing classics. Treat the family to a jumbo portion of sizzling fajitas or the traditional carnitas de puerco, pork slow-cooked in a copper kettle.

A Family Affair Restaurant

Ann’s Chicken Fry House and Gift Shop

The Diner

Nothing satisfies like soul food, and the buffet at A Family Affair Restaurant gives customers plenty of options from which to choose. The sweet and spicy fried chicken is a must, but this old-school eatery is also known for crispy catfish, fried shrimp and peach cobbler better than anything your grandma ever made. It’s practically an Oklahoma City rite of passage, so get a group of friends together and become part of the fully fed family.

“Bigger than your head” is a relative measurement, but even those with a large cranium will find the description of the chicken-fried steak at Ann’s Chicken Fry is apt. Weighing in at half a pound, it’s a hand-breaded taste of home with a heaping helping of mashed potatoes on the side and cream gravy over the top. The interior of Ann’s is filled with eye-catching classic memorabilia, but the real collector’s item is outside: a bright pink Cadillac.

Nobody likes waiting for breakfast, but folks at Norman’s The Diner don’t seem to mind. That’s because they’re already dreaming about the massive Eggarito, a pile of eggs scrambled with tomato, onion, green chiles and cheese wrapped snugly in a flour tortilla and covered in tasty ranchero sauce. Missed the breakfast window? Not at The Diner, where the kitchen serves up breakfast and lunch from open (6 a.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. weekends) to close (2 p.m.) daily.

1742 NE 23rd St. 405-427-1919

4106 NW 39th St. 405-943-8915

213 E. Main St., Norman facebook.com/thedinernorman 405-329-6642

La Baguette Bistro

7408 N. May Ave. labaguettebistro.com | 405-840-3047 Brothers Michel and Alain Buthion’s La Baguette Bistro has been Oklahoma City’s home for fine French cuisine since the 1980s. Guests who walk inside the well-trod front door find a small grocery stocked with exquisite meats, fresh bread and desserts so beloved other restaurants brag about serving them. Like a great Parisian cafe, La Baguette serves breakfast daily and delicacies, including lamb persillade and a slowcooked veal cheek in mustard Madeira cream sauce, six nights a week.

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27

showCase your gift seleCtion in this

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Running November 23, 30 December 7, 14 & 21 Deadline is November 16

Call or email your aCCount exeCutive today!

405.528.6000 | speCialseCtions@okgazette.Com

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Performing arts

ARTS & CULTURE

Classic quest

The search’s scope and the great number of interested applicants point to the value of this type of position in the music community. Walker said there are about 50 orchestras OKC Phil’s size or larger in the U.S. and many, many more people in the world wanting to conduct.

He said candidate enthusiasm for the opportunities this city presents has been strong.

“We sometimes lose sight of how we appear today because we know where we’ve come from,” Walker said. “But these outsiders are coming in, and they don’t know anything about what it was like in the ’70s and ’80s and they see this place they think would be terrific to live in. So who wouldn’t want to come here?”

The search is intensive in part because an orchestra contains so many moving parts. Orchestra jobs can be as hard to come by as conducting jobs, so it’s not easy for a musician to just leave if they do not mesh with a conductor.

“Orchestras have personalities; they come to play in certain ways together,” Walker said. “That’s based on the players in the orchestra, but a lot on who has been their conductor and what styles they’ve had, what repertoire they play. Orchestras are very individual entities, so the matching of a music director with an orchestra is so special that the business has come to do their searches this way.”

The retirement of conductor and orchestra founder Joel Levine puts Oklahoma City Philharmonic in an unfamiliar position. By Ben Luschen

Guest conductor Classics 8 p.m. Nov. 19 (Alexander Mickelthwate), Jan. 7 (David Lockington), Feb. 4 (Andreas Delfs), March 4 (Daniel Hege) and March 25 (Vladimir Kulenovic) Civic Center Music Hall 201 N. Walker Ave. okcphil.org 405-842-5387 $19-$65

A fter founding Ok la homa City Philharmonic nearly 30 years ago, Maestro Joel Levine grew the orchestra and took classical music to places never before seen in this city.

Once again, OKC Phil finds itself in uncharted territory as it prepares for his absence. In December, Levine told Eddie Walker, executive director of the philharmonic, he will retire from OKC Phil in May 2018. Since then, the group’s board of directors has selected six candidates to publicly audition for the vacancy through March during the orchestra’s Classics programs.

Levine founded the Phil in 1988 after the city’s previous orchestra was discontinued by its board of directors. He is the only conductor and music director in OKC Phil’s history.

“There’s no institutional memory of how we did [a search like this] last time,” Walker said. “Which is good, I think, because we all started with a blank page.”

Andrés Franco was the first candidate to guest conduct with the orchestra during an Oct. 1 Classics performance. The other five are Alexander Mickelthwate (Nov. 19), David Lockington (Jan. 7), Andreas Delfs (Feb. 4), Daniel Hege (March 4) and Vladimir Kulenovic (March 25).

The finalists were selected from more than 200 applicants, including many from outside the United States. Of the six, only one was born in the U.S. Walker said the replacement decision will be made by the board’s search com-

Oklahoma City Philharmonic conductor and music director Joel Levine announced his retirement from the orchestra last year. | Photo Oklahoma City Philharmonic / provided

It will be extremely difficult to find another Joel Levine who can and wants to do as much as he could.

Eddie Walker

Fitting in

Andrés Franco, a candidate for Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s next conductor, guest conducts the orchestra during a recent rehearsal. | Photo Michael Anderson / provided

mittee with no special input from Levine, at Levine’s request. The committee values audience feedback, and surveys will be sent to everyone who attends a program.

Walker hopes to select a successor soon after the last guest concert March 25. It is not yet determined whether a new, fulltime conductor will be in place by next season.

He said, ideally, the committee wants a replacement who would be both a talented lead for the musicians and an affable new member to the orchestra and local community.

“We want someone who can continue the music-making, so musicianship really comes first,” he said. “A very close second is, ‘Are they a good human being?’”

Complex role

Levine’s successor will be OKC Phil’s new music director as well as its new conductor. The two jobs, Walker said, are very different.

The role of music director involves planning and programming vision. It is not just deciding what the orchestra plays on a concert-by-concert basis, but what direction it will go in the future. It also involves the practical juggling act of finding ways to grow the orchestra’s local following while also appealing to longtime patrons and the musicians themselves.

“It’s those behind-the-scenes aspects of the job that are the most important but the least visible to the public,” Walker said.

Tickets for the last Classics concert of the season April 15 are already in high demand from those expecting it to be Levine’s finale, but Walker reminds fans that it is still not known when the current conductor’s final show will be. He is technically under contract through the end of next season and might end up splitting time with his successor next year.

What is certain, however, is the impact Levine has had during his time as the orchestra’s leader.

“It will be extremely difficult to find another Joel Levine who can and wants to do as much as he could,” Walker said.

Whoever follows Levine will be wise to connect to his new home in the same way that made the conductor a fixture in the local community.

“I think [Levine] has been successful because the city’s appetite and his tastes were very much the same,” Walker said.

“They liked what he liked.”

Visit okcphil.org.

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29

elect i o n

ARTS & CULTURE

Tiger campaign

Joe Exotic’s White House run is just the beginning of his political aspirations. By Greg Elwell

Almost a year ago, Joe Maldonado was lying in bed when he decided to run for president of the United States.

“I wondered, ‘What does it take for a politician to listen to a normal person without filling their pockets with donation money?’” he said. “If you don’t like what’s going on, change it.”

The next day, he filled out the paperwork necessary to run for president.

Better known by his stage name, Joe Exotic is the president of The Greater Wynnewood Exotic Animal Park and a country music singer. He is also on the ballot, running for president against Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton — just not in Oklahoma.

“They require so many signatures from an Independent it’s physically impossible to get on the ballot,” he said. “If they really wanted to make it fair, they’d change the Constitution.”

Maldonado is hoping for write-in votes in most states — Arkansas, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina and South Dakota do not allow write-ins — but he’s on the official ballot in Colorado.

“All it takes in Colorado is 11 electors and you pay a $1,000 fee,” he said. “So what if 1,200 people sign up to run for president?

If 1,200 dumbasses pay $1,000, why not collect that money?”

Some do it just to say they were on the ballot for president, Maldonado said, but he’s been going all over the country trying to raise support for his candidacy.

Last Week

However successful his stumping efforts have been, arguably the biggest boost to Maldonado’s campaign came when some of his videos were featured Oct. 16 on HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

“Even though John Oliver’s thing was kind of a comedy, he did a good job,” he said.

“I’ve got some real solutions, but people won’t give me the time of day.”

The national spotlight shone on him during a segment on third party candidates is getting new people to pay attention to his policy suggestions.

“Who cares who kissed who or gave who a blow job in the Oval Office?” Maldonado said. “Let’s fix this country.”

He said he won’t hide from who he is.

He’s openly gay, married, used drugs in his youth, has had “kinky sex” and is “broke as shit,” according to one of the videos he posted about running for president.

“On my video message, the first one after signing up, I put it all out there, every skeleton I had in my closet,” he said. “I’m not ashamed of anything I’ve ever done.

That’s what made me who I am today.

Politicians who have never tried drugs won’t be able to stop America’s drug problem because they don’t know how that 30

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Despite calling Wynnewood home, presidential candidate Joe “Exotic” Maldonado is not on the ballot in Oklahoma. | Photo Joe Exotic for President 2016 / provided

world operates.”

He’s anti-welfare and said it’s too easy to stay on unemployment.

“Nobody wants to work,” he said. “This country has lost all sight of being responsible. Last week, I just got back from Belize.

I wanted to see a third-world country, how it operated, how they live.”

Non-citizens in Belize pay a monthly fee to the government to live there, which Maldonado would like to see implemented in the U.S. “Why should we pay everybody else’s way?” he asked. “Our politicians are out of touch. Where does Donald Trump think we can throw 10 million working people out of the country? I say we charge them and use the money to reform Medicare. Let everybody have free insurance instead of the worthless crap we have now.”

Long odds “Do I have a shot of winning? Hell no,” he said. “I’m not an idiot. But they’re going to hear me.”

Once the presidential election is over, Maldonado said he will run against U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-Moore).

“I’m not going to quit until politicians listen to some real solutions,” he said.

Among those ideas are revoking nonprofit status for every organization except for life-saving hospitals.

Though he’s a professed animal lover, Maldonado said animal rights organizations are still the U.S.’ No. 1 domestic terrorists, but they still receive tax breaks.

“They’re all putting campaign money into politicians’ pockets,” he said.

The same is true for religious organizations.

“Nobody needs to sit in a $10 million nonprofit church to talk to god,” he said.

Visit joeexotic2016.com.

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elect i o n

Polarizing political and social issues might stir up arguments before Election Day. | Photo bigstock.com / provided

Flack attack

As Election Day approaches, many seek help navigating potential disagreements. By Ben Luschen

Feeling tense? Many people are. Political overload combined with harrowing headlines about social issues, large-scale budget cuts and even early-season college football losses have combined to make some Oklahomans anxious about social and holiday gatherings with friends or family members who might hold opposing views.

Oklahoma Gazette recently asked Joshua Nichols, a licensed family and marital counselor and co-owner of Family Solutions Counseling, 10400 N. Vineyard Blvd., for tips on how to navigate potential drama in the countdown to the Nov. 8 election. Nichols recommends seeking professional help for serious altercations and specific guidance.

Oklahoma Gazette: Do you hear about family troubles stemming from election-season arguments?

Joshua Nichols: Families have been arguing around the dinner table about politics since the beginning of time.

However, I think most would agree that emotions are especially running high this political season. I have had people request that I help them learn how to manage and navigate through the holiday season, particularly with the stressors involving difficult family members. … With the heightened rawness of this election combined with the increased stressors that naturally come along with the holiday season, I can definitely see how, for a lot of families, trouble is lurking.

OKG: What are some tips for keeping out of heated exchanges the next few months?

JN: One, know your crowd. In any given situation this holiday season, think about the group, crowd or audience you are engaged with. Most people can make educated guesses on what the hot-button topics will be. Identify those prior to the event. Two, know yourself. Most of us have enough insight into ourselves to know not only what our hot buttons are, but also how

far we can go in a discussion before the hot buttons get pushed. Three, stay cognitive.

These conversations tend to go south when one or both parties transition to emotion land, which means their head is no longer behind the wheel as their heart has taken over the show. Four, have a plan. Before we engage in these situations, we all should have a strategy for politely and subtly abandoning ship. Abandoning ship with a big splash can often be more damaging to relationships.

OKG: What’s the best way to reconcile after unintentionally upsetting someone?

JN: If the person is someone that is typically reasonable and is willing to have a civil discussion, then the offending party can have more assurance that a sit-downtype discussion would end favorably, thus restoring that relationship. However, if the person is someone that has proven to be immature and unreasonable, then the offending party may have to resolve to simply offer an apology and move on.

Whatever efforts toward reconciliation you make, I would highly encourage you to make minimal use of technology. Inperson discussions … often hold us accountable to what we say and how we behave when attempting to repair the relationship.

OKG: Is it better to let someone know if they upset you or to just move on?

JN: Sometimes we often feel compelled to address someone who has caused us pain, but they really don’t serve in any kind of significant role in our lives. However, if the person that hurt you is of significance in your life, I think it is absolutely OK to bring the grievance to their attention, as they may not even know they have hurt you. Be gentle, understanding and mature.

Work hard at always being the calmest person in any given interaction when making an attempt at reconciliation.

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | o c to b e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

31

ARTS & CULTURE

the turnPike troubadours W/ Flatland Cavalry

& Kaitlin Butts

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enter to win okgazette.com/gWW 2016

Go to okGazette.com/GWW to enter to Win a pair of tickets

Gazette’s weekly winner will be announced each week in the table of contents. Printed winners have 7 days to claim tickets. must Provide email, full name & Phone number.

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ac t i v e

2 tickets to

Thunder theme nights like Mascot Night keep fans entertained throughout the season. | Photo Zach Beeker / provided

Roaring support The Oklahoma City Thunder honors its fans with special theme nights. By Michael Kinney

NBA seasons can feel very long. From late October to mid-April, teams play 82 games in different arenas around the country.

One of the ways Oklahoma City Thunder helps alleviate the monotony is by hosting special theme nights that can get fans, players and local businesses involved.

“Theme nights give us an opportunity to create different experiences for our fans throughout the season, since we always work to integrate our themes throughout the game presentation,” said Brian Byrnes, Thunder senior vice president of sales and marketing. “We also have the support of our business partners for certain theme nights, which gives them a chance to connect with and recognize our diverse fan base. We strive to make sure our theme nights have maximum impact and serve a purpose in helping us build meaningful connections with our community of fans.”

Each year, the Thunder develop a roster of theme nights for the upcoming season.

For 2016-17, they include Opening Night at Thunder Alley outside Chesapeake Arena (Friday), Native American Heritage Night (Nov. 16), Mascot Mania (Feb. 3), Black History Appreciation Night (Feb. 26), Military Appreciation Night (Feb. 28) and Hispanic Heritage Night (March 7).

“In the past, we’ve used some of the special player-worn warm-ups on theme nights in support of our Thunder Cares Foundation as auction items for fans to purchase or as donations to support other causes,” Byrnes said. “On Military Appreciation Night, we offer a special T-shirt for sale, and when fans purchase

one, we donate another shirt to service personnel stationed overseas or to military families.”

Fans can pick and choose which theme night they want to take part in.

“Every year, we challenge our staff to find new ways to create unique content that embraces our theme nights, whether on social media, on the web, for the game presentation or in our Thunder Shop,” Byrnes said.

League appreciation Every team in the NBA has its version of theme nights that are unique to each city, state or region.

But there are also leaguewide themes all 30 franchises take part in.

“The theme nights are a combination of league-wide initiatives and team influences,” Byrnes said. “For example, the NBA has taken the lead in recognizing Black History Month and Noches éne-béa, but our team has created traditions such as Native American Heritage Night and Military Appreciation Night to connect with other communities that are strong in our state.”

Native American Heritage Night was created specifically by Thunder brass last season.

It was so popular that it returns again this season when Oklahoma City hosts the Houston Rockets.

“For Oklahoma, Native American culture has been extremely important and influential, as it has been for our team, including the influence of choosing a bison for our mascot, as the bison has a strong presence in the symbolism of many tribes,” Byrnes said. “We work closely with several Oklahoma tribes for ticketing and more on this theme night.”

Black History Appreciation Night is just one of the events Thunder holds during Black History Month. One of the goals has always been to get kids involved in the celebration.

“We do plan to hold our ninth annual Black History Heroes Challenge this year,” said Christine Berney, vice president of community relations.

The contest asks students from across Oklahoma to submit an art piece or essay about an outstanding individual in black history or an impactful African-American in their lives.

“It’s a great way to get kids to express themselves creatively and to dig into black history on a personal level,” she said. “We’ll recognize the contest winners on court during Black History Appreciation Night on Feb. 26 and display their artwork on the concourse.”

For Byrnes, there is one night that stands out from the rest.

“We’re always proud of the response from our fans for Military Appreciation Night and the diversity of people and institutions we honor that night,” he said. “From Thunder staff and arena personnel to season ticket members, we have a lot of folks we honor that night and others who take part in making that night special.”

Through donations from season ticket members, Thunder typically provides over 1,000 tickets to local military groups, Byrnes said.

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Native American Appreciation Night is one of several OKC Thunder nights planned to honor the team’s diverse fans. | Photo Zach Beeker / provided

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TWO STRONG ORGANIZATIONS COMING TOGETHER TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY

BECOMING STRONGER TOGETHER INTEGRIS Pacer Fitness Center has joined the YMCA OF GREATER OKLAHOMA CITY and is now our 14th metro location, the YMCA HEALTHY LIVING CENTER-INTEGRIS. In celebration of this new partnership, we’re waiving our joining fee and first month’s dues at all 14 of our locations!

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o c to b e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 6 | O kg a z e t t e . c o m

OK Ale Trail 5K Run begins in front of The Patriarch Craft Beer House and Lawn in Edmond. | Photo bigstock.com

ac t i v e

CALL PAUL BROCKHAUS

Submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings.

Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible.

Saucy sprint

OK Ale Trail 5K Run combines running, brews, local music and food trucks. By Tyler Talley

Edmond hosts its first pub run next week, The Patriarch nextdoor, he said the time and proceeds benefit the city’s fine arts seemed right to make the run a reality. program. Hosted by The Patriarch Craft Kent said the owners of The Patriarch Beer House and Lawn and Edmond Fine were onboard with participating as a Arts Institute, the OK Ale Trail 5K Run service to the Edmond community. starts 3 p.m. Nov. 5 and features craft beers “They have been great stewards of specially brewed for the event. really just doing this because they think Local breweries participating include it’s a good event for the community,” he COOP Ale Works, Anthem Brewing said.

Company and Roughtail Brewing Co. The He praised the bar for changing the $40 registration covers the alcohol and a scope of downtown Edmond. souvenir beer mug.

“My thought process was it’s going to Beginning in front of The Patriarch at be a win-win for everybody. The Patriarch 9 E. Edwards St., parhas been great to us. ticipants will run, jog It gives us a chance to or walk the 3-mile fun bring some folks to OK Ale Trail 5K Run run stretched across the them,” Kent said. downtown Edmond, “It’s going to bring 3 p.m. Nov. 5 receiving compliawareness about who The Patriarch Craft Beer House mentary beer after we are at the [Fine and Lawn the completion of Arts] organization.”

9 E. Edwards St., Edmond each lap. While all However, one of edmondfinearts.com/ok-ale-trail the biggest appeals ages are welcome to 405-340-4481 join the race, only for him is that it is an $40 those 21 years old and event Edmond has older can drink. never hosted before.

Shannon Price, executive director of He explained that if the event is successthe Fine Arts Institute, cited board ful in its inaugural year, it has real potenmember Darin Kent as the creative mind tial to grow bigger and better each subsewho brought the idea to life. In addition quent year. He joked that if that is the case, to his time with the board, Kent also serves the run could be his “greatest contribution as president of Regent Bank in Oklahoma to the city” after about 12 years of being with the institute.

City.

Kent said he came up with the idea for In addition to local breweries, local a run six or seven years ago as a new event bands and food trucks will be on hand. to bring to the city.

Money raised by registrants will go toward the institute’s general revenue “We did that, and it was successful,” he said. “We earned a little chunk of money fund, which it puts toward various proevery year, but it never really grew ... if an grams around the city through multiple event like that doesn’t grow over a four- or partnerships. One such partnership Kent five-year period, to me, it means it’s probhighlighted includes offering art classes ably never going to.” to children of all ages enrolled in Edmond Kent said he then began to look into elementary schools. runs with gimmicks, adding that he landed “All these funds allow us to do those on a pub run because of his past participathings,” Kent said. tion in similar beer runs in Norman, Tulsa Visit thepatriarchedmond.com to regand Oklahoma City. With the opening of ister and for more information.

ac t i v e

Hopeful strides American Cancer Society’s Making Strides awareness and fundraising walk is Nov. 5 in Oklahoma City. By Mark Beutler

Just after her 30th birthday, Siri Ogg did a Dirty 30 mud run to celebrate the milestone. She was in the shower washing off the mud and discovered a lump in her breast.

“I’m young, I’m healthy, I don’t have much of a family history of breast cancer,” Ogg said. “Everything was pointing to a cyst, but I made an appointment with my primary care physician anyway. At that appointment she told me, ‘Breast cancer is really low on my radar,’ but she sent me to a specialist just to be safe.”

However, her mammogram showed a fairly good-sized lump.

“The doctor told me a biopsy was needed,” Ogg said. “I said, ‘For a cyst?’”

The doctor said it wasn’t a cyst but a solid mass. For the first time, Ogg felt anxiety.

“When I was told the biopsy had come back positive as cancer, I was determined not to do the stereotypical thing of not hearing anything else they tell you,” she said. “I did pretty good for about three minutes. It was when she started going into the treatment plan that I became completely overwhelmed.”

Ogg had stage two triple-negative breast cancer with multiple tumors in her right breast. Treatment included eight chemotherapy rounds.

She then had a double mastectomy followed by radiation.

“Chemo, mastectomy, radiation, reconstruction; this was not the ‘easy’ solution I was hoping for,” Ogg said. “I was completely overwhelmed, disheartened and essentially feeling like my life was over when it was clear this would be a oneto two-year process.”

Six months later, the cancer returned and Ogg again had surgery before undergoing more radiation.

“While I knew it was treatable, that I probably wasn’t going to die, I was still mourning the loss of my life before cancer,” she explained, “because this was definitely going to change everything.”

Ogg’s survival story is one of many. In Oklahoma, American Cancer Society statistics estimate 2,760 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and 530 will die from it.

“As terrible as breast cancer is, the one thing that has stood out is how loved I’ve felt through it all,” she said. “Of course there have been breakdowns, plenty of tears, but what’s kept me going is knowing everyone — family, friends, other survivors and even strangers — are encouraging and supporting me through it all. No matter what, love is stronger than cancer, always and in all ways.”

Raising funds and awareness to help end breast cancer is the goal of the

Siri Ogg | Photo provided

American Cancer Society’s annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk.

It starts 9 a.m. Nov. 5 in the Oklahoma City Adventure District, 2801 NE 50th St. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.

Since the walk was founded in 1993, more than 12 million supporters have raised more than $750 million to help finish the fight against breast cancer, said Ashley Bowlin, Oklahoma City event manager.

Last year, more than 1 million walkers across the country raised $60 million for American Cancer Society.

ProCure Proton Therapy Center medical director Gary Larson said he supports American Cancer Society campaigns for very personal reasons.

“I have taken care of thousands of women with breast cancer, and for the most part, it is one of the more gratifying types of cancer to treat since early detection usually results in a good prognosis, a likelihood of being cured,” he said. “Some women, however, have more aggressive forms of this disease, and we still have a long way to go to help improve their prognosis.”

Larson’s daughter died at age 21 from an extremely rare form of breast cancer.

“The American Cancer Society does more than any other organization to help with research into curing this disease,” he said.

Visit makingstrideswalk.org/okcok.

Making Strides 9 a.m. Nov. 5 Oklahoma City Adventure District 2801 NE 50th St. makingstrideswalk.org/okcok 918-477-5414

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film

ARTS & CULTURE

Streaming screams

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night 2014, unrated

A sleek, sexy vampire film in black and white, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a great moodsetting movie for a more macabre date. Female vampires run a city’s underworld while a young man stumbles into it heart-first. Only blood can come from this — you don’t want to wear your heart on your sleeve when vampires are around.

Couch your Halloween holiday with these seven delightful frights. By Jacob Oller | Photos provided

Another Halloween, another opportunity to show your friends how tough you are — ahem — to enjoy your favorite horror movies. There are few things more entertaining than being the person in the know for countless parties, dates and sleepless Friday nights when a horror movie enters the equation. Smugly anticipating your friends’ jumps is almost as fun as watching the movie. So load up on popcorn and candy before you fire up whatever box you use to stream things from your couch or bed, because we’re here with seven recommendations that will impress your friends (depending on how much they can see between their fingers) and rattle your chains.

The Fury

Witching & Bitching

HouseBound

Ever wonder what X-Men’s teenage mutants would be like if they were a tad more … realistic? This Brian De Palma film comes directly after his adaptation of horror master Stephen King’s Carrie and has the same throbbing take on adolescent mistrust of authority and adulthood.

Blood pours from eyes, heads explode and a carnival takes a horrific turn. It’s a completely strange ’70s take on psychic youths versus the “man.” This time, the CIA is personified by John Cassavetes.

A Spanish horror-comedy by rambunctious director Álex de la Iglesia, Witching & Bitching is part heist movie, part witch comedy and part cult horror film.

It’s one of the silliest movies I’ve ever seen, and the subtitles fly by as you only catch one in three jokes. Luckily, slapstick dominates the film, especially in an ending sequence unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed in cinema. A light movie without many scares, this is more for flavor and content than anything, as it takes place in a witch-run town with a group of costumed protagonists. Hopefully your trick-or-treating doesn’t end with as many hilarious fatalities.

New Zealand horrorcomedy (those two go together like chocolate and peanut butter; don’t ask me why) HouseBound focuses on a girl under house arrest who finds, to her dismay, that her house/ jail cell is haunted.

Some of the biggest laughs and jumps combine to a film that never slows down and never stops entertaining one way or the other. A twist near the end will leave you questioning every haunted house movie you’ve ever seen.

Re-Animator

The Invitation

Event Horizon

So you thought the last one was weird? Welcome to the modern Frankenstein-ian world of Re-Animator, where a crazed medical student (who also happens to be a complete jerk, which is odd for a main character in any movie) played by a completely terrifying and strange Jeffrey Combs brings dead bodies back to life with a serum and syringe. Hilariously campy and freaky with its gross-out effects (Including a decapitation!) and schlocky in the supreme, this is a cult classic for a reason. If you needed an excuse to show a midnight movie, this one is right on that line of despicable and lovable that houses so many exploitation movies rampant with sex, violence and total scientific weirdness.

One of the year’s most surprising sleeper horror hits, this quiet film takes place at a dinner party that slowly escalates to something abjectly horrible.

With tension as thick as the cheesecake they serve, The Invitation is one of the genuinely great films on this list thanks to some stellar performances and metered direction from Karyn Kusama. Some of these movies will have you laughing so hard that candy corn might come out your nose.

The Invitation will leave you a social hermit eyeing your friends more suspiciously than when you woke up to unclaimed vomit on your sofa.

1978, rated R

1985, unrated

2013, unrated

2015, unrated

2014, unrated

1997, rated R

This one’s for all you sobad-it’s-good fans. This Sam Neill and Laurence Fishburne-starring trek into space horror comes from Resident Evil director Paul W.S. Anderson, so you know what you’re getting into from the beginning.

Basically, Neill’s new spaceship tech opens, well, a gate to hell. Things get gross, but in a perfect way.

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ARTS & CULTURE

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Star treatment

Ed Harris takes a break from Hollywood to support Norman’s Women’s Resource Center with a personal film festival. By Ben Luschen

First 300 registered receive

free Brewfest t-shirt

General admission $35 Must Be 21 to enter $10 off with Military iD

tickets: okbio.org or 405.813.2428

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Actor Ed Harris was born in New Jersey, but make no mistake; he’s a true Okie.

Harris, known for playing devious or stern roles in films like A Beautiful Mind, The Truman Show and Places in the Heart, always had a connection to Oklahoma. It’s where his parents are from. He also studied drama at the University of Oklahoma.

Harris returns to Norman for a weeklong celebration of his film career, all benefiting Norman’s Women’s Resource Center (WRC), a nonprofit serving those victimized by sexual and domestic violence in Cleveland County.

The center hosts Ed Harris Film Festival with screenings featuring some of the actor’s most notable films Monday through Nov. 3 at Norman library locations at 225 N. Webster Ave. and 300 Norman Center Court.

Harris will attend a special screening of the 2000 biopic Pollock, a film that he directed and starred in, on Nov. 4 in OU’s Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communication auditorium, 395 W. Lindsey St. The actor hosts a questionand-answer session after the movie.

The week concludes with dinner and discussion 7 p.m. Nov. 5 during the charity gala An Evening with Ed Harris at Sam Noble Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave. “The Women’s Resource Center is an invaluable asset to the Cleveland County community,” Harris said in a WRC media release. “I’ve been a supporter ever since I learned of its existence and the great work they do there. The shelter, support and services for those who have been abused or sexually assaulted and are seeking shelter have saved countless lives and given women second chances.”

Getting connected

Backus said Harris has worked with WRC in the past, but not since she started serving on the board. She tried to reconnect with the star by mailing an old address for Harris they had on file.

Backus was thrilled we she received a response from the actor saying he was open to doing something with the nonprofit again.

She said her interactions with Harris have left her repeatedly impressed.

“He’s just the nicest guy,” she said. “I emailed him and I was afraid to tell him that we had lost the Evans Theatre, and I said, ‘Don’t worry; we’re rearranging it!’

He said, ‘I’m not worried, Mary Sue. I’m looking forward to being there.’”

All proceeds from the Harris events help support core WRC programs, including its family shelter, rape crisis center and education and counseling efforts. Backus said WRC in the last year received around 3,000 calls to its crisis hotline and conducted more than 60 post-rape examinations in its facilities.

“Like every nonprofit, we struggle for funding,” she said. “We’re so thrilled [Harris] is coming, and we hope it’ll be a big boost.”

Visit wrcnormanok.org for more information.

Making adjustments

Harris had a role in selecting the festival’s planned films.

The festival was originally scheduled at Evans Theatres Robinson Crossing 6 in Norman, but the theater unexpectedly closed after being evicted by its landlord just weeks before the Harris screenings.

WRC board president Mary Sue Backus said organizers scrambled to find a replacement venue and found a welcome home inside Norman’s two public libraries and at OU’s College of Journalism.

Backus said though the loss of the dollar theater is a blow to the community, she was pleased to see how many Norman residents offered assistance with the festival as it relocated. Tickets previously purchased through the Evans Theatres website will still be honored.

“There’s no hard feelings [with the theater],” Backus said. “It’s just a sad story that Evans went out of business.”

Moving the Pollock screening to OU might even improve the overall experience for guests.

Backus said the College of Journalism’s auditorium is a more intimate, personal space to share with Harris.

“It only seats like 170 people,” she said.

“It’s going to feel like you’re really having a conversation with him because it’s close.

You’re not in some distant movie theater.”

Those who attend An Evening with Ed Harris at Sam Noble museum should expect a catered Italian dinner by Benvenuti’s.

WRC will give a short presentation on its programs and mission before Harris speaks about his career and history with Oklahoma.

Ed Harris Film Festival screenings 6:30 p.m. Monday-Nov. 3 pioneerlibrarysystem.org Free Movies and locations: Creepshow screens Monday, Appaloosa screens Tuesday and Radio screens Nov. 2 at Norman Public Library Central, 225 N. Webster Ave., Norman, 405-701-2600. The Truman Show screens Nov. 3 at Norman Public Library West, 300 Norman Center Court, Norman, 405-701-2644.

Pollock viewing and Ed Harris Q&A 7 p.m. Nov. 4 University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communication 395 W. Lindsey St., Norman wrcnormanok.org 405-364-9424 $40 (students $15 day of show)

An Evening with Ed Harris 7 p.m. Nov. 5 Sam Noble Museum of Natural History 2401 Chautauqua Ave. wrcnromanok.org 405-364-9424 $100 (8-ticket table sponsorships $1,000)

calendar are events recommended

by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

deceased ghosts call in a bio-exorcist to remove the new owners of their house, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 28.

Boathouse District, 725 S. Lincoln Blvd., 405-5524040, boathousedistrict.org. FRI

BOOKS

Delicatessen, (FR, 1990, dir. Marc Caro and JeanPierre Jeunet) post-apocalyptic black comedy; a butcher prepares delicacies for the odd tenants in the building in which he works, 8 p.m. Oct. 29.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SAT

Chef Vincent Tropepe Book Signing, a multiaward winning chef that has deep roots in the hospitality field signs In My Whites, his culinary memoir and cookbook, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. THU

Dead of Night, (UK, 1945, dir. Alberto Cavalcanti) an architect attends a gathering and realizes he recognizes the setting and its inhabitants from a reoccurring dream, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 30. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-2363100, okcmoa.com. SUN

Last Sunday Poetry Jam, October’s featured poet is Jennifer Long followed by an open mic session, 2 p.m. Oct. 30.

Full Circle Bookstore, 1900 Northwest Expressway, 405-842-2900, fullcirclebooks.com. SUN

FILM A Man Called Ove, (SE, 2015, dir. Hannes Holm) the story of Ove, a grumpy retired widower who polices the neighborhood befriends a young family,

HAPPENINGS Pops Arcadia Corn Maze, bounce houses, fishing, face painting, paintball shoot, hay fort, pumpkin patch and more, through Oct. 31. Arcadia Corn Maze, 660 W. Highway 66, Arcadia, 405-642-4522.

33rd Annual Haunt the Zoo, join the most fa”boo”lous Halloween event in town with six nights of just-right-without-the-fright, trick-ortreating fun; make delightful family memories as children follow the pumpkin-lined pathway stopping at 21 fun fantasy-themed booths to collect tasty treats from volunteers, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 26-31. The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, 2000 Remington Place, 405424-3344, okczoo.com.

Terror on 10th Street Haunted House, face your fears at the 12th Annual event with new nightmares around every corner; take a guided tour of the home and learn the ghostly history behind the house of horrors, 7-11 p.m. open every night Oct. 26-31. Terror on 10th Street, 2005 NW 10th St., 405-232-1816, facebook.com/ terroron10thstreet. WED Spike’s Spooktacular Fall Fest, explore the galleries while hunting for prizes, snap a photo with props at the photo booth, get your face painted or create the perfect fall craft; everyone is invited to dress up in his or her best Halloween costumes, 4-7 p.m. Oct. 27. Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., Norman, 405-325-4712, snomnh.ou.edu. THU

2016 Neustadt Festival of International Literature & Culture The University of Oklahoma hosts the 2016 Neustadt Festival of International Literature & Culture Wednesday-Friday on its Norman campus.

It begins with a roundtable discussion on the European refugee crisis 4:30 p.m.

Wednesday in the J.J. Rhyne Community Room in Anne and Henry Zarrow Hall, 700 Elm Ave., in Norman. The capstone of the event is a keynote address by 2016 Neustadt International Prize for Literature winner Dubravka Ugrešić noon Friday in Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall in Catlett Music Center, 500 W. Boyd St., in Norman. Festival admission is free and includes a 90th birthday celebration for World Literature Today, a discussion about Baghdad by poet Lauren Camp, a discussion of Ugrešić’s work and a one-act comedy. Visit neustadtprize.org or call 405-325-4531. Wednesday-Friday Photo Judith Jockel / provided

5:30 and 8 p.m. Oct. 27, 8 p.m. Oct. 28, 2 and 5:30 p.m. Oct. 29, 2 p.m. Oct. 30. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. THU -SUN Peeping Tom, (UK, 1960, dir. Michael Powell) film chronicles the double life of an aspiring filmmaker who kills women and uses his camera to film their dying expressions, 5:30 p.m. Oct. 28. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-2363100, okcmoa.com. FRI Midwest Horror Shorts Film Festival, festival brings together filmmakers and fans of all things horror; an evening full of scary short films from all over the world, 7 p.m.-midnight, Oct. 28. IAO Gallery, 706 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-232-6060, iaogallery.org. FRI Hotel Transylvania 2 and Beetlejuice, (US, 2015, dir. Genndy Tartakovsky) Dracula and his friends try to bring out the monster in his half human, half vampire grandson; (US, 1988, dir. Tim Burton)

An Evening Under the Stars, event benefiting the Oklahoma Autism Center featuring music, drinks and hors d’oeuvres, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Allied Arts, 1015 N. Broadway Ave. #200, 405-278-8944, alliedartsokc.com. THU 4th Annual Downtown Norman Fall Festival, trick-or-treat in downtown Norman; enjoy games, prizes and crafts along with live entertainment, inflatables, face painting, food trucks and more, Downtown Norman, 122 E. Main St., Norman. FRI Edmond Historic Ghost Tour, learn about the history of Edmond and take a tour of the Downtown Area where many founding fathers of the city lived and worked; tour guides dressed in late 1800s and early 1900s period costumes play the parts of this deceased historical figures and bring them back to life, 6-8 p.m.

Oct. 28-29. Edmond Historic Preservation Trust, 28 Main St., Edmond, 405-715-1889, edmondhistoricpreservationtrust.com. FRI -SAT OLFC Venetian Ball, enjoy cocktails, dinner, casino games, live and silent auctions and dancing in celebration of another year of defending Oklahoma County’s abused and neglected children, 7 p.m. Oct. 28. Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, 7000 NW Grand Blvd., 405-8485611, okcgcc.com. FRI BarkHappy Howl-O-Ween Party, bring your pups and participate in some Singo to start your weekend off right; enjoy discounts, drink specials, prizes and more with proceeds benefiting the Central Oklahoma Humane Society, 7:30-10 p.m.

Oct. 28. Fat Dog Kitchen & Bar, 1234 N. Western Ave., 405-609-3647, fatdogokc.com. FRI Haunted Barn and Trail of Terror, tour the big barn built in 1950 and two other smaller barns and a walking tour through the Trail of Terror where you’ll encounter several spooks, a graveyard and the Headless Horseman, 8-11 p.m. Oct. 28-29.

Haunted Barn, 2701 W 10th St./E1060 Road, El Reno, 405-650-6651, trailofterror.org. FRI -SAT Haunt the River, take a ride on a high-flying double zipline, Candy Corn Climb, Screamin’ Swing and Dead Man’s Drop; explore the Kreepy Kayak and Spooky SUP Zone, noon-8 p.m. Oct. 29-30 Lake Overholser Boathouse, 3115 E. Overholser Drive, 405-7870900, riversportokc.org/lake-overholser. SAT-SUN Spooksville, festival including dog costume contests, kids costume contests, games, clowns, magicians, treats and more, 2-6 p.m. Oct. 29.

Yukon Community Center, 2200 S. Holly Ave., Yukon, 405-354-8442, cityofyukonok.gov. SAT Trick or Treat City, extravaganza including a candy village, cake walk, inflatables, carnival games and more, 2-4:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Joe B. Barnes Regional

October at Science Museum Oklahoma Science Museum Oklahoma, 2020 Remington Place, spends the spooky season teaching kids and adults how super the natural world can be. It features Dremel pumpkin carving and Creepy-Crawly Creatures and Funky Fall Fun 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Guests can meet some six- and eight-legged friends, make ghost bubbles, play with slime and watch staff smash a pumpkin using only rubber bands. The staff will wear family-friendly costumes Saturday-Monday, and guests can come dressed up, too. On Sunday, all visitors who come in costume get $1 off general admission. All events are free with admission, which is free-$15.95. Visit sciencemuseumok.org or call 405-602-6664.

Saturday-Monday Photo Science Museum Oklahoma / provided

Park, 8700 E. Reno Ave., Midwest City, 405-7391293, midwestcityok.org. SAT Edmond Fall Festival, seasonal fun for the whole family, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Festival Market Place, 26 W. First St., Edmond, 405-359-4630, edmondok.com. SAT Spooky Pooch Parade, spooky music and a parade of pooches, 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Myriad Botanical Gardens, 301 W. Reno Ave., 405-445-7080, oklahomacitybotanicalgardens.com/events. SAT Life In Color, world’s largest paint party featuring Jauz, LOUDPVCK and David Solano, 7 p.m. Oct. 29. Cox Convention Center, 1 Myriad Gardens, 405602-8500, coxconventioncenter.com. SAT 20th Annual Gatewood Home Tour, explore some of OKC’s beautiful historic houses and see what it’s like to live near Plaza District, noon-5 p.m. Oct. 30. 1901 NW 17th St., Gatewood, gatewoodokc. com. SUN Rock for Rescue, fundraiser for Boxer Rescue of Oklahoma featuring silent auction, dog costume contest, local bands, vendors and more, 1-6 p.m.

Oct. 30. Power House, 1228 SW Second St, 405702-0699, powerhouseokc.com. SUN Day of the Dead Festival, art, dancing, music, activities, vendors, food, group art show, the annual La Catrina Procession and more, 1-8 p.m.

Oct. 30. Plaza District, 1618 N. Gatewood Ave., 405367-9403, plazadistrict.org. SUN

FOOD October Plaza Beer Walk, walk through the Plaza visiting restaurants featuring a lineup of delicious craft beer from a different brewery each time, 6-10 p.m. Oct. 26 Plaza District, 1618 N. Gatewood Ave., 405-367-9403, plazadistrict.org. WED Tequila Tasting with Casa Noble, sample tequila and learn about the process of how tequila is derived, 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 27. The Plant Shoppe, 705 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-748-0718, plantshoppe. com. THU The Gabrielle Collection: October Wine Dinner at Vast, enjoy a selection of Cabernet Sauvignons perfectly befitting the season paired with a fivecourse dinner by Vast’s culinary experts, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Vast, 333 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-7027262, vastokc.com. THU Cheese, Wine and Charcuterie, explore cheese and wine pairing with artisanal cured meats; learn how to marry all elements together, 6:45-8:15 p.m.

Oct. 28. Forward Foods-Norman, 2001 W. Main St., Norman, 405-321-1007, forwardfoods.com. FRI Wine of Fame, wine tasting fundraiser event featuring eight celebrity wines; entertainment, great food and an auction, 7 p.m. Oct. 28.

Riverwind Casino, 1544 State Highway 9, Norman, 405-322-6000, riverwind.com. FRI Eats on 8th, food truck festival and night market, 6-11 p.m. Oct. 28. Midtown OKC, NW Eighth St. FRI

go to to okgazette.com okgazette.com for for full full listings! listings! go

Sunday Soup, a community meal that helps fund Current Studio programs; features soup from Elemental Coffee Roasters and bread from Prairie Thunder Baking Company, 6 p.m. Oct. 30. Current Studio, 1218 N. Pennsylvania Ave., 405-673-1218, currentstudio. org. SUN Cookie Decorating Class, Halloween cookies, 2-5 p.m. Oct. 30. The Black Scintilla, 1112 N. Walker Ave. #104, 405-824-7599, blackscintilla.com. SUN

YOUTH Storybook Forest, kids and their parents walk through the not-so-scary Storybook Forest to collect candy, enjoy a hayride, a game area and a campfire, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 26-30. Arcadia Lake, 9000 E. Second, Edmond, 405-216-7470, edmondok.com/parks.

Chef Masters, interactive cooking class for kids teaching them the basics of cooking while filling their appetites, 6-7 p.m. Oct. 27. Yukon Community Center, 2200 S. Holly Ave., Yukon, 405-354-8442, cityofyukonok.gov. THU Todd Par Book Signing, author signs and talks about his newest book, Be Who You Are, 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Best of Books, 1313 E. Danforth Road, Edmond, 405-340-9202, bestofbooksok.com. THU Mobile Dairy, an innovative program for the whole family; learn the ins and outs of the dairy industry including how to milk a cow, Oct. 28. The Orr Family Farm, 14400 S. Western Ave., 405-7993276, orrfamilyfarm.com. FRI Tractors & Treats, a night of costumes, games, prizes, trick-or-treating and, of course, candy, 6-8 p.m. Oct. 28. First Southern Baptist Church, 6400 S. Sooner Road, 405-732-1300, firstsouthern.tv. FRI Trunk or Treat, children trick-or-treat by going from decorated car trunk to car trunk to get their bag filled with goodies; decorate your car and don’t forget to wear a costume, 9-11 a.m. Oct. 29.

Skyline Urban Ministry, 500 SE 15th St., 405-6322644, skylineurbanministry.org. SAT Haunted Hikes, family-friendly nighttime hike with a Halloween twist; explore the trails with bats, spiders, snakes and other creepy creatures, 6:30 p.m. Oct. 29. Martin Park Nature Center, 5000 W. Memorial Road, 405-297-1429, okc.gov/parks/martin_park/ martin_programs.html. SAT Magic Lantern, a positive and art-focused event for youth and families; artists create a labyrinth, assist visitors in creating one-of-a-kind costumes and art and choreograph original dance pieces, 3-6:15 p.m.

Oct. 30. Paseo Arts District, 3022 Paseo St., 405525-2688, thepaseo.org. SUN Crown Heights Christian Church Trunk or Treat, enjoy treats, a cake walk, bounce houses and more, 5-6:30 p.m. Oct. 30. Crown Heights Christian Church, 4020 N. Western Ave., 405-528-5568, chccokc.org. SUN

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calendar c alenda r

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PERFORMING ARTS The Rocky Horror Show, one of Lyric’s biggest hits is back by popular demand; get weird and rock all night, Oct. 26-Nov. 5. Lyric Theatre, 1727 NW 16th St., 405524-9312, lyrictheatreokc.com.

The Woman in Black, a tale of the supernatural that will leave your spine tingling and your eyes disbelieving, Oct. 26-29. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. WED -SAT Scott White, White has dabbled in improv comedy and sketch comedy, including some forrays into video sketch as a director, 8 p.m. Oct. 26-27, 8 and 10:30 p.m. Oct. 28-29. Loony Bin Comedy Club, 8503 N. Rockwell Ave., 405-239-4242, loonybincomedy.com. WED -SAT Heathers The Musical, the story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High, 8 p.m. Oct. 27-29, 2 p.m.

Oct. 26. The Pollard Theatre, 120 W. Harrison Ave., Guthrie, 405-282-2800, thepollard.org. THU -SAT Killer Joe, written by Pulitzer Prizewinning playwright and native Oklahoman Tracy Letts; set in a trailer park, the story pits a struggling family against a detective who moonlights as a hit man, 8 p.m. Oct. 27-29. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-2972264, okcciviccenter.com. THU -SAT The Crucible, a young farmer, his wife and a young servant-girl who maliciously causes the wife’s arrest for witchcraft; this drama about the witch purge in old Salem is a gripping historical play and a timely parable of contemporary society, Oct. 2730. Oklahoma City University, 2501 N. Blackwelder Ave., 405-208-5000, okcu.edu. THU -SUN Green Eggs and Comedy Show, hosted by Jessi Kyle and Ebby Brown featuring improv, drag, Get Down dance troupe and comedian James Nghiem, 9 p.m. Oct. 27. The Root, 3012 N. Walker Ave., 405655-5889, facebook.com/therootokc. THU Tinderbox Circus Sideshow, working acts, burlesque and classic carnival appeal, Oct. 28.

The Root, 3012 N. Walker Ave., 405-655-5889, facebook.com/therootokc. FRI VAMP’D, RACE Dance Company presents a Halloween-themed, burlesque-inspired club show, 8 p.m. Oct. 28-29. The Loft on Film Row, 700 1/2 W. Sheridan Ave., 405-208-8836. FRI -SAT Discovery 1: Haunt the Phil, each one-hour concert is designed to entertain and educate youngsters ages 4 to 13 years old, 2 p.m. Oct. 30. Civic Center Music Hall, 201 N. Walker Ave., 405-297-2264, okcciviccenter.com. SUN

ACTIVE OKC Thunder vs Phoenix Suns, NBA basketball game, 7 p.m. Oct. 28 Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave., 405-602-8700, chesapeakearena.com. FRI Race for Hope, 12K, 5K and 1-mile memory walk; annual race raises funds for the Oklahoma Brain tumor Foundation benefiting children and adults in Oklahoma battling brain tumors, 9 a.m. Oct. 29.

Stars & Stripes Park, 3701 S. Lake Hefner, 405-2972756, okc.gov/parks. SAT University of Oklahoma vs Kansas, college football game, 6 p.m. Oct. 29. Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, 180 W. Brooks Drive, Norman, 405-325-8200, soonersports.com. SAT

November 10, 2016 – January 1, 2017

Ghost Runners 5K Dog Run, 5K and 1-mile race hosted by Heartland Weimaraner Rescue, 2 p.m.

Oct. 30. Stars & Stripes Park, 3701 S. Lake Hefner Drive, 405-297-2756, okc.gov/parks. SUN

• 2 million twinkling lights along with lavish holiday displays • NEW ICE! theme - 2 million pounds of colorful, hand-carved ice sculptures and slides featuring Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town

OKC Thunder vs Los Angeles Lakers, NBA basketball game, 7 p.m. Oct. 30.

Chesapeake Energy Arena, 100 W. Reno Ave., 405-602-8700, chesapeakearena.com. SUN

• NEW – Glacier Glide Ice Skating • Rudolph’s Holly Jolly™ Breakfast • The Elf on the Shelf® Scavenger Hunt • Snow Tubing, Gingerbread Decorating Corner and more!

GRAPEVINE, TX PRESENTED BY

ChristmasAtGaylordTexan.com or call (817) 778-1000

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VISUAL ARTS Child Labor in Oklahoma: Photographs by Lewis Hine, 1916-1917, exhibit highlighting a collection of 25 powerful photographs taken by Lewis Hine while he was in Oklahoma 100 years ago. Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, 405-5212491, okhistory.org/historycenter.

Tickets and Packages on Sale Now!

PEPSI, PEPSI-COLA and the Pepsi Globe are registered trademarks of PepsiCo, Inc. The Elf on the Shelf® and © CCA and B, LLC. All rights reserved. Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town © Classic Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and all related elements © & TM under license to Character Arts, LLC. All rights reserved. FUJIFILM and INSTAX are trademarks of FUJIFILM Corporation and its affiliates. © 2016 FUJIFILM North America Corporation. All rights reserved.

Rayo OKC vs. Indy Eleven, professional soccer game, 6 p.m. Oct. 30. Miller Stadium, 1777 S. Yukon Pkwy., Yukon. SUN

ICE! PRESENTED BY

Christie Owen: Surroundings, a diverse collection of abstract 2-D and 3-D works inspired by everyday environments; materials and compositions in Owen’s body of work perpetually change in relation to time and her life experiences. Gaylord-Pickens

Water in the Urban Landscape: Rain Gardens and Curb-Cuts Oklahomans are no strangers to droughts or flooding, but they might not know what they can do to help. SixTwelve, a nonprofit community learning center in Paseo Arts District, hosts Water in the Urban Landscape: Rain Gardens and Curb-Cuts 2-5 p.m. Saturday at SixTwelve, 612 NW 29th St. SixTwelve director of permaculture Paul Mays and landscaping botanist Phillip Koszarekz teach a three-hour workshop on creating a rain garden, including using street run-off water, passive water catchment basins and pollutant-cleaning native plants.

Admission is $15-$30. Visit sixtwelve.org or call 405-595-9595. Saturday Photo SixTwelve / provided

Oklahoma Heritage Museum, 1400 Classen Drive, 405-235-4458, oklahomaheritage.com.

Cloud City, walk inside the transparent and reflective installation made of steel and acrylic so that grass may appear overhead and the sky reflected on the ground; each module draws shapes from natural forms including bubbles, clouds, universes, bacteria and foam, open through Oct. 30. Oklahoma Contemporary’s Campbell Art Park, NW 11th St. and Broadway Drive, 405-951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org.

Color, Connections, Constellations, gifted photographer Caroline Cohenour finally releases her debut collection of original watercolor works. In Your Eye Gallery, 3005 Paseo St. #A, 405- 525-2161, inyoureyegallery.com.

Curiosities, dual exhibition featuring works from AK Westerman and Bombs Away Art, on display through Nov. 19. Mainsite Contemporary Art, 122 E. Main St., Norman, 405-360-1162, mainsite-art.com.

Drop-in Art, join guest artists each Saturday as they interact with families to create extraordinary works of art inspired by the museum’s collection, exhibitions and special occasions, 1-4 p.m. every Saturday. Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405-236-3100, okcmoa.com. SAT Featured Artists, Beth Hammack and Lu Beard showcase their works for the month of October. The Studio Gallery, 2642 W. Britton Road, 405-7522642, thestudiogallery.org.

Gayle Curry, showcase of new works and an installation by artist Gayle Curry. Mainsite Contemporary Art, 122 E. Main St., Norman, 405360-1162, mainsite-art.com.

Melvin Edwards Exhibition, a pioneer in the history of contemporary African-American art and sculpture, returns for his first solo exhibition in Oklahoma in the last 25 years; Edwards creates new, site-specific complex welded sculptures from chains, tools and steel found in Oklahoma scrap yards along with works from his noted Lynch Fragments series, though Dec. 27. Oklahoma Contemporary, 3000 General Pershing Blvd., 405951-0000, oklahomacontemporary.org.

Picturing Indian Territory, surveys how the people, land and history of Oklahoma were constructed visually by artists, illustrators and journalists from the early decades of the 19th century before and after the creation of Indian Territory in 1834 to the unification of Indian and Oklahoma Territories to create the state of Oklahoma in 1907, runs through Dec. 30. Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, 555 Elm Ave., Norman, 405-325-3272, ou.edu/fjjma.

go to okgazette.com for full listings!

Power and Prestige: Headdresses of the American Plains, original exhibition includes nine headdresses from Northern and Southern American Great Plains along with historical photographs and other supporting artifacts including ledger art depicting Indian warriors and bonnets from the museum’s permanent collection. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., 405-478-2250, nationalcowboymuseum.org.

Halloween fun for the whole Family!

Russell Hughes, oil paintings. 50 Penn Place Gallery, 1900 Northwest Expressway, Suite 113-R, 405-8485567, 50pennplacegallery.com.

Sacred Words: The Saint John’s Bible and the Art of Illumination, includes 70 selected folios from The Saint John’s Bible as well as other historical illuminated manuscripts, such as a Book of Hours, Quran pages and Torah scrolls, runs through Jan. 8.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Drive, 405236-3100, okcmoa.com.

Skull Themed Group Art exhibition, exhibit in celebration of DNA Galleries eighth anniversary, runs through Nov. 6. DNA Galleries, 1709 NW 16th St., 405-525-3499, dnagalleries.com.

Shoot approaching zombies from the safety of our double-decker battle wagon! Friday and Saturday nights from September 23rd to November 5th. Get tickets at BattleParkOk.com or call 405-433-2223 for info.

Solo Exhibitions, JRB Art at The Elms presents three solo exhibitions featuring southwest artist Carol Beesley, mixed media artist John Wolfe and colorist Bob Nunn. JRB Art at The Elms, 2810 N. Walker Ave., 405-528-6336, jrbartgallery.com.

Symbiotic, exhibition combining work from students and working artists. The Lightwell Gallery, 520 Parrington Oval, Rm. 202, Norman, 405-325-2691, art.ou.edu.

8th AnnuAl

Halloween Candy Buy Back November 1st • 9am-7pm Help us support our troops by bringing your unopened Halloween candy to our office. We will, in turn, ship it to our troops in care packages with the help of Operation Gratitude and Blue Star Mothers.

Children who attend the event will receive $1 per pound of candy (up to 10), a free toothbrush, and coupons to local eateries.

Lori M. LoVette, DDS 1211 N Shartel, Suite 1002 • Oklahoma City 405-525-5555 • drlorilovette.com

Mr. & Mrs. Vampire Pageant The inaugural Mr. & Mrs. Vampire Pageant 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Monday is a free event giving bloodsuckers a chance to shine (or sparkle) at HiLo Club, 1221 NW 50th St. Immediately after crowning the bloody happy couple, the bar hosts a best costume contest.

Winners of each receive cash prizes.

Guests must be at least 21 years old. Visit hilookc.com or call 405-843-1722. Monday Photo Bigstock.com

Submissions must be received

by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date.

Late submissions will not be included in the listings.

Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail them to listings@okgazette.com.

Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

For okg live music

see page 48

O kg a z e t t e . c o m | O C TO b e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

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UPCOMING EVENTS AT FIRELAKE ARENA

405-273-1637 • FIRELAKEARENA.COM 18145 OLD RANGELINE RD • SHAWNEE, OK

FIRELAKE.ARENA FIRELAKEARENA

3127 S. 4th St. Chickasha, OK • 405.825.3529

Join 107.7 The Franchise live in the parking lot at White & Asp on Campus Corner. Make The Franchise Tailgate Party your OU pre and post-game destination!

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MUSIC

event

This year’s Oklahoma Hip-Hop Festival moves to The Criterion after making its debut last year on Film Row. | Photo Oklahoma Hip-Hop Festival / provided

Top billin’

Oklahoma Hip-Hop Festival returns to celebrate culture and unity. By Ben Luschen

November marks the first official observance of Hip-Hop History Month in Oklahoma City, and the city’s second annual Hip-Hop Festival is one of the first events to usher in the celebration.

Oklahoma Hip-Hop Festival is Nov. 5 at The Criterion, 500 E. Sheridan Ave. An after-party will follow the festival 12:30-2 a.m. at the same venue.

Oklahoma Gazette first reported in March about a new proclamation by Mayor Mick Cornett adding Oklahoma City to the list of governments and organizations that recognize Hip-Hop History Month each November.

Local rapper and activist Gregory Jerome organized the first hip-hop festival in September 2015 but moved this year’s event back to November partly to coincide with the monthlong observance.

Jerome said he has invited Cornett to attend and perhaps speak at the festival’s kickoff party 6-9 p.m. Tuesday at Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO), 706 W. Sheridan Ave. The kickoff and other festival events are geared toward educating attendees about the culture.

“We will definitely discuss the history of hip-hop and introduce that to people, because a lot of people are not knowledgeable about it,” Jerome said.

Dallas-based rapper Blue, The Misfit. headlines this year’s event. Some fans might recognize his name from 2015 when he released Kendrick Lamar-assisted single “Drugs on the Schoolyard.” Local emcees L-Smooth, Guerilla Breed, Sativa Prophets and Chief Peace also will perform.

A few surprises from outside the genre make their way into the lineup of more than 17 music acts, including Latin alt-pop singer Lincka, jazz musicians Jeremy Thomas Quartet and electropop singer Scott AF. Jerome said he intentionally booked acts from outside the genre to emphasize the many past and contemporary influences that hip-hop music is based on.

“Those genres helped fuse hip-hop,” he said. “The festival itself is really an educational thing for the community, because I don’t think a lot of people know some of those beat elements that were used or helped inspire hip-hop culture.”

Finding purpose

Jerome also founded the Elemental Hip-Hop afterschool program, which uses the culture to connect elementary school students to music and the arts in ways they can relate to.

Oklahoma Hip-Hop Festival is primarily a fundraiser for that program, which has brought in professional musicians and artists to work with kids and teach them about the culture. Unfortunately, Jerome had to suspend Elemental Hip-Hop’s operations this year due in large part to school budget cuts.

Jerome wants to convert the program

Graffiti artists showed off their skills at last year’s Oklahoma HipHop Festival. | Photo Oklahoma Hip-Hop Festival / provided

into a nonprofit so it can better afford to pay employees and assist community schools no matter what the economic climate looks like. He said the first step in making that happen would be a successful festival.

“Instead of waiting on state or federal government agencies to give money to agencies to provide programs, why not just do it ourselves as a community?” he said. “That’s what we should be doing in the first place.”

In a time of statewide economic distress, Jerome sees his school program and the festival as a chance to make an impact.

“I feel like my due diligence is to create a situation where I could help employ and boost the economic empowerment of the city for working artists, because there’s not a lot of avenues for those artists,” he said.

This year’s hip-hop festival also comes at a time of widespread social unrest, especially as the nationwide conversation about the relationship between police and racial minorities continues.

Jerome said he hopes the event is a time when people from different backgrounds can come together in mutual understanding. Though marches and protests remain popular forms of expression, he said the power music has to impact social change should not be overlooked.

“I’m looking for a more peaceful manner to unify, to show and exhibit so people can actually picture it and visualize it for themselves,” Jerome said.

Gaining support

Oklahoma Hip-Hop Festival returns with an even stronger foundation than it had in 2015.

“We’ve gained a lot of support from the community,” Jerome said, “more than we did last year.”

He said part of the reason for the increased support is more general awareness of the event.

Some people are also starting to realize how important programs like Elemental Hip-Hop are in a time when many schools are forced to cut art programs.

Jerome stressed the importance of partners like Oklahoma City Community Foundation, Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO) and Downtown OKC, Inc. help make the event possible. It is something he said he could not achieve on his own.

“I’m not a big-name person,” he said. “I don’t have a lot of money or stock. This is a true grassroots festival, and I hope it will continue to grab momentum to expand and display the unity of the community and to empower and impact future generations.”

Visit oklahomahiphopfestival.com.

Oklahoma Hip-Hop Festival 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Nov. 5 The Criterion 500 E. Sheridan Ave. oklahomahiphopfestival.com 405-840-5500 $15-$50

Kick-off party 6-9 p.m. Tuesday Individual Artists of Oklahoma 706 W. Sheridan Ave. individualartists.org 405-232-6060 $15-$30

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event

MUSIC

Clean cut

Punk-rock outfit Bleached keeps the Halloween spirit alive at 89th Street Collective. By Ben Luschen

As she took her turn holding the droopythat it would be the perfect place to go if they ever needed to drop everything and eyed koala, it all finally made sense to disappear, because the weather along the Jessie Clavin.

“They would say in Australia, ‘Oh, the coast is so much like their southern koalas, they’re all baked,’” the Bleached California home. guitarist told Oklahoma Gazette during a “I feel like everyone ends up having recent phone interview. these personal connections to places we The Los Angeles-based punk act rego to,” she said. “Of course we all enjoy cently returned from its debut Australian everywhere we go, but with Australia, I tour and is on the road for its second U.S. feel like I belong there.” tour to promote Welcome the Worms, released April Fools’ Day. Off leash Clavin formerly played bass alongside Escape was an alluring concept for the her vocalist sister Jen for dynamic 2000s sister duo prior to the release of Welcome the Worms. garage-rock band Mika Miko. That ended in 2009, and the sisters joined bassist Jessie Clavin was evicted from her Micayla Grace to form Bleached in 2011. house and desperate to find a new place to The band performs Nov. 2 at 89th Street call home.

Collective, 8911 N. Western Ave. Jen ended a tumultuous relationship Before she held koalas, fed kangaroos, and attempted to move on through drinkvisited Sydney Opera House or even ing and partying. stepped foot on Australian soil, Clavin The upheaval resulted in the strongest developed a mild obsession with the strong Bleached album to date. The project was and intoxicating eucalyptus fragrance recorded with producer Joe Chiccarelli used in oils, soaps and perfumes. (known for his work with bands The White According to the Stripes, The Shins and My Australian Koa la Morning Jacket) in the Foundation, the marsupimiddle of a hot Los Angeles als almost exclusively eat summer. Like koalas, the Bleached leaves from eucalyptus sisters chilled in the studio with Beach trees in the wild. The lowair-conditioning and away Slang and calorie diet leaves them from the beating sun.

Hunny sleepy and sluggish for “We would go to the most of the day, hence the studio and just hibernate,” 7 p.m. Nov. 2 jokes about their sobriety.

Clavin said. “The studio has 89th Street Collective Clavin said she felt at to be cold inside for the 8911 N. Western Ave. peace on the island contiequipment.”

89thstreetokc.com nent. Her bandmates joke The guitarist said her $15 46

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Midweek mayhem

Bleached recently returned from its first Australian tour. | Photo Nicole Anne Robbins / provided

ideal day would be sunny but cool with a chilly breeze. The tone in Welcome the Worms could be described similarly. The music feels bright and cheery with a poppunk aesthetic, but beneath lies an authentic darkness that grounds the tunes with substance, keeping them in rotation even after the long days of summer sun are over.

Clavin said the new album is the closest the sisters have ever gotten to the kind of music they’ve always wanted to make.

“I think a lot of it was just unleashing this truth and honesty that is within us as well, maybe having more confidence and not being shy or scared,” she said. “We’ve been doing this for so long, I feel like it was time to say, ‘This is truly what we want to be doing with our music’ and ‘Here it is; take it or leave it.’”

Bleached plays its Oklahoma City show on a Wednesday, two days after Halloween. There might be no more perfect time for the band to play the album single “Wednesday Night Melody,” a headnodding cheer-up anthem given a fun, dark twist in the music video by director Gil Kenan. “[Kenan] was like, ‘OK, I have this idea: Jen’s dead the whole video,’” said Clavin, remembering how the video concept was developed. “We’re like, ‘What? This is awesome!’ It kind of gave us a Weekend at Bernie’s feel but bringing in our love of horror movies too.”

In the video, Clavin and Grace discover Jen pale and lifeless in her room before a show. Instead of cancelling the gig, they prop her up on stage like a marionette.

“Our parents can’t watch it though,” the guitarist said, “because they’re like, ‘Jen really looks dead.’”

Kenan directed the 2015 Poltergeist reboot, a film that makes multiple references to the band.

Bleached bandmates are huge fans of horror films.

Clavin remembers being snowed-in on their previous U.S. tour inside a large hotel in Utah. It reminded her of The Shining.

Like many other fans of the horror genre, Halloween is a special time for Bleached. Clavin said the band celebrates the holiday through October.

“We love Halloween; it’s a very big holiday for us,” she said. “We miss being home for Halloween, but it’s really nice being in a different place. We’ve been decorating the stage every night.”

Though it will technically be November by the time Bleached pulls into the lot at 89th Street Collective, Clavin said it is unlikely they will let the change in month curtail their fun.

“No one wants Halloween to end,” she said.

Image provided

Halloween Sat, Oct 29 Bash at baker street pub Live Music by

VooDoo No Cover Costume contest with Cash Prizes

2701 W Memorial • 405.751.1547 bakerstreetpub.com O kg a z e t t e . c o m | o c to b e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

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LIVE MUSIC These are events recommended

by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

WEDNESDAY, 10.26 Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley. COUNTRY Maurice Johnson, The R&J Lounge and Supper Club. JAZZ Scott Lowber/Will Galbraith/Ed VanBuskirk, Friends Restaurant & Club. COVER Tim Elliot, Vices Bar & Venue, El Reno. ACOUSTIC

THURSDAY, 10.27 Autograf/Goldroom, OKC Farmers Public Market.

ELECTRONIC

Ben Marshal, Wormy Dog Saloon. COUNTRY Chris Ragsdale and the Old Schools, Kendell’s.

R&B

Hazed & Confused, Blue Note Lounge. ROCK Steve Crossley Solo, Margarita Island. VARIOUS Tech N9ne/Krizz Kaliko/JL, Diamond Ballroom. HIP-HOP

Evanescence Evanescence has been bringing fans to life since 1995. Star vocalist and songwriter Amy Lee fronts the Grammy-winning alt-metal act. The Oklahoma City stop comes shortly after the band announced the Dec. 9 release of The Ultimate Collection, a 6-LP vinyl box set including its entire discography, unreleased material and some new recordings. The show begins 8 p.m. Sunday at Diamond Ballroom, 8001 S. Eastern Ave. Tickets are $39. Visit diamondballroom. com or call 866-977-6849. Sunday

Photo provided

Troye Sivan, The Criterion. SINGER/SONGWRITER Uncle Zep, Rock & Brews. ROCK

FRIDAY, 10.28

Nick Williams, Jazmo’z Bourbon St. Cafe.

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Shocker Boys, Brewskeys. COVER

50 Shades of Red, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK

Taylor Atkinson, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. COUNTRY

Aaron Newman, Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse.

Urban Addiction, Remington Park. COVER

Alter Ego, Lumpy’s Sports Grill. ROCK

SUNDAY, 10.30

Avenue, Riverwind Casino, Norman. COVER

Birthday Club, Red Brick Bar, Norman. POP

ROCK

Forum/The So Help Me’s/Space4Lease, 51st Street Speakeasy. ROCK

Ghostland Observatory, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. ELECTRONIC

John Baumann, Wormy Dog Saloon. COUNTRY

Jam Session, Ghost Riders Saloon. VARIOUS

Marcia Ball, Sooner Theatre, Norman. SINGER/

Kevin and Dustin Welch, The Depot, Norman.

SONGWRITER

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Martha Stallings, Lottinvilles Restaurant, Edmond. VARIOUS

The Black Lillies, The Blue Door. ROCK

Nick Williams, Jazmo’z Bourbon St. Cafe.

The Color Morale/Out Came The Wolves, 89th Street Collective. ROCK

Scott Keeton, Remington Park. BLUES

TUESDAY, 11.1

SINGER/SONGWRITER

Sports/Breakup, Opolis, Norman.

ROCK

Shaun Suttle, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO Surf Wax/Klamz, Blue Note Lounge.

The Grisly Hand/Don’t Make Ghosts/Caught Stealing, Blue Note Lounge. ROCK The Indigos, Vices Bar & Venue, El Reno.

ACOUSTIC

SATURDAY, 10.29

ROCK

VYCES/HELLRZZR, Thunder Alley Grill and Sports Bar. ROCK

WEDNESDAY, 11.2 Get Dead/Caught Stealing, The Drunken Fry. ROCK

Astral Planes, The Root.

ROCK

Avenue, Newcastle Casino, Newcastle. COVER Big News/Swatt/Stinky G, Blue Note Lounge.

ROCK

Dalton Domino, Legend’s Pub House, Chickasha.

COUNTRY

Grant Wells, Skirvin Hilton Hotel. PIANO Judah & the Lion, ACM@UCO Performance Lab. FOLK

September Mourning, Thunder Alley Grill and Sports Bar. ROCK

For King & Country, Firelake Arena, Shawnee.

ROCK

J French, VZD’s Restaurant & Club. HIP-HOP Jason Boland & the Stragglers, Legend’s Pub House. COUNTRY Jeremy Johnson, Grady’s 66 Pub, Yukon.

VARIOUS

Joyce Manor/Hotelier/Crying, 89th Street Collective. ROCK Left to Die/FollowTheWolves, Thunder Alley Grill and Sports Bar. ROCK Lip Service, Oklahoma City Limits. ROCK Los Eskeletos, HiLo Club. ROCK

Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date.

Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible.

Fax your listings to 528-4600 or e-mail to listings@okgazette.com.

Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.

Lost On Utica, Riverwind Casino, Norman. ROCK

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go to okgazette.com for full listings!

puzzles New York Times Magazine Crossword Puzzle Emotion

By Tom McCoy | Edited by Will Shortz | 1023

VOL. XXXVIII No. 43 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

20

92 “Eww!” 95 El ____ 96 Ones making lots of bucks?

98 Sap 99 Privileged time period?

103 Mulligans, e.g.

105 Purveyor 106 Make or break, e.g.

107 Nary ____ 108 Team VIP 111 Flock 112 Color used by teams from both San Jose and Jacksonville?

117 Like much of Chile 118 Strict disciplinarian 119 Rehnquist’s successor as chief justice 120 Unit of force 121 Self-government 122 Place to rub elbows?

DOWN 1 Follower of John 2 Rhyme for “door” and “more” in

the first verse of “The Raven” 3 Gone flat?

4 Giving chicken soup or a foot

rub, informally 5 Comics exclamation 6 Get in the loop?

7 Money in 74-Down 8 URL start 9 Reaction to a foot rub 10 Country whose capital is known

to natives as Baile Átha Cliath 11 Related in a different way 12 Magna ____ 13 Got room service, say 14 Mens ____ 15 Like the coda of “Hey Jude,” seemingly 16 Feudal superior 17 12 9 11 5 20 8 9 19 3 12 21 5 18 Adept 19 Gun supporters 24 Something not picked up at the beach 30 Make sense 31 “Mr.” of Star Trek 32 Athlete on Time’s list of the 100

most influential people of the

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62 The Price Is Right airer 63 Diamond’s Lou 64 Orchestra section 65 “… ____ he drove out of sight” 66 Blouse, e.g.

70 1/, 2/, 3/, etc.

71 Da ____ G Show 72 Retirement- community restriction 73 Give a heads-up 74 Neighbor of Den. 75 Equals 78 Was humiliated 80 Place to buy handmade goods online 82 Ecological role 84 What Artemis is the goddess of 85 ____ Taylor (apparel store) 86 Pet food brand

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G O I S I N S N S U D E L A T N T A E R E D S V O T P J O S O E

EDITOR-in-chief Jennifer Palmer Chancellor jchancellor@okgazette.com

87 Nutrition amts.

89 Model for an artist, maybe 90 For free 92 Bleak assessment of a situation 93 Optimistic 94 Temperature unit 96 “God Bless America” composer 97 Term of address with a tilde 100 Partner in crime 101 Turn inside out 102 “Goody!”

104 Ornamentation 107 Part of DA: Abbr.

108 Swamp 109 Nov. honorees 110 Covert “Hey!” 113 Torque symbol 114 Like “alumna”: Abbr.

115 49-Down, with each letter

shifted one place later in the

alphabet (coincidence?)

116 Thrice, in prescriptions

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Account Executive / Advertising assistant Leah Roberts Account EXECUTIVES Stephanie Van Horn, Saundra Rinearson Godwin, Elizabeth Riddle, Nathan Ward

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Z A P S P R E A O W T S O P H R E E E D I T S A D O O I M B S I O R N L A O P T T H E I D E S

Assistant EDITOR Brittany Pickering Staff reporters Greg Elwell, Laura Eastes, Ben Luschen Contributors Michael Kinney, Tyler Talley Mark Beutler, Jacob Oller Photographer Garett Fisbeck Circulation Manager Chad Bleakley ASSISTANT Circulation Manager Duke Fleischer Art Director Chris Street Advertising/Marketing Design Coordinator Erin DeMoss Graphic Designer Anna Shilling www.okgazette.com

Puzzle No. 1016, which appeared in the October 19 issue.

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Accounting/HR Manager Marian Harrison Accounts receivable Karen Holmes

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34 Ridge with a gentle slope on one

side and a steep slope on the other 35 Ideologies 36 One starting 37 You might wish upon it 39 Chaps 43 “Hey, whatever pays the bills” 45 Is annoying 46 The “palm” and “olive” of Palmolive 47 Orwellian hoi polloi 49 Malicious fictional computer 50 Something to shoot off 52 Kind of challenge 53 NYC org. that operates 24/7 54 Pose 58 Words before a chivalrous act 61 Try to win

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Fill in the grid so that every row, column and 3-by-3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9. www.printmysudoku.com

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Sudoku Puzzle Medium

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ACROSS 1 Full of sound and fury 8 Shampooing, e.g.

16 Hemsworth of The Hunger Games 20 Mine craft?

21 Endanger 22 ____-European 23 Goodyear’s carefully guarded secrets?

25 Neutral tone 26 Title for Palpatine or Amidala in Star Wars: Abbr.

27 Lose it 28 Novelist Pierre 29 Polynesian inn locale, maybe 31 Unnerve 33 Revision that satisfies both

author and publisher?

35 Offspring 38 Jog the memory of 40 Amer. money 41 UFO pilots 42 “Would you like me to?”

44 Be inclined (to) 45 Increases 48 What a pianist uses for triple-

time pieces?

50 Principia Discordia figure 51 ____ donna 55 Ready 56 Japanese honorific 57 Country with the smallest

national capital in the European

Union (about 9,000 people) 59 Fall times: Abbr.

60 Scalawag 63 Result of a Morton’s factory explosion?

67 Eng. or hist.

68 Strange and unsettling 69 “Stay” singer Lisa 70 Skater boys?

74 Absorbs 76 Count in Lemony Snicket books 77 Director’s circle?

78 Reaction to a puppy video, say 79 First in command?

81 Nurse 83 ____ Kringle 84 Dating site?

88 Dependent (on) 90 Unleavened cornbread 91 Makeup of many a tribal council

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49

free will astrology

By Rob Brezsny

Homework: Scare yourself with your exquisite beauty. Freak yourself out by realizing how amazing you are. Testify at Freewillastrology.com.

-- but that’s exactly as it should be. Halloween costume suggestion: a raindrop or bottle of wine.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) I invite you to fantasize

the heads of piranhas in the belief they’re aphrodisiacs.

In Zimbabwe, women may make strategic use of baboon urine to enhance their allure. The scientific name for Colombia’s leaf-cutter ant is hormiga culona, translated as “fat-assed ant.” Ingesting the roasted bodies of these critters is thought to boost sexual desire. Since you’re in a phase when tapping in to your deepest erotic longings will be healthy and educational, you may want to adopt elements of the aforementioned love drugs to create your Halloween costume. Here are other exotic aphrodisiacs from around the world that you might be inspired by: asparagus, green M&Ms, raw oysters, wild orchids, horny goat weed.

about what your four great-grandmothers and four great-grandfathers may have been doing on November 1, 1930. What? You have no idea how to begin? You don’t even know their names? If that’s the case, I hope you’ll remedy your ignorance. Your ability to create the future you want requires you to learn more about where and whom you came from. Halloween costume suggestion: your most interesting ancestor.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) At any one time, over

two million frozen human embryos are stored in tissue banks throughout Europe and North America. When the time is right, their owners retrieve them and bring them to term. That’s the first scenario I invite you to use as a metaphor for your life in the coming weeks. Here’s a second scenario: Scotch whiskey is a potent mindaltering substance. Any particular batch must mature for at least three years, and may be distilled numerous times. There are currently 20 million barrels of the stuff mellowing in Scottish warehouses. And what do these two scenarios have to do with you? It’s time to tap into resources that you’ve been saving in reserve -- that haven’t been ripe or ready until now. Halloween costume suggestions: a woman who’s nine months pregnant; a blooming rose or sunflower; ripe fruit.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) To create a bottle of

Cabernet Sauvignon, a winemaker needs about 700 grapes. Compare this process with rain-making. When water vapor that’s high in the sky becomes dense enough, it condenses into tiny pearls of liquid called cloud droplets. If the humidity rises even further, a million of these babies might band together to form a single raindrop that falls to earth. And what does this have to do with your life? I suspect that in the coming weeks, you will have both an affinity and a skill for processes that resemble wine-making and rain-making. You’ll need a lot of raw material and energetic effort to produce a relatively small marvel

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Some Brazilians eat

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Do you know how to repair a broken zipper or patch a hole in your bicycle tire?

Are you familiar with the art of caulking a bathtub or creating a successful budget? Can you compose a graceful thank-you note, cook a hearty soup from scratch, or overcome your pride so as to reconcile with an ally after an argument? These are the kinds of tasks I trust you will focus on in the coming weeks. It’s time to be very practical and concrete. Halloween costume suggestion: Mr. or Ms. Fix-It.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) In the film Terminator 2,

Arnold Schwarzenegger played a benevolent android who traveled here from the future. As a strong, silent action hero, he didn’t need to say much. In fact, he earned $30,000 for every word he uttered. I’m hoping your speech will pack a comparable punch in the coming days.

My reading of the astrological omens suggests that your persuasiveness should be at a peak. You’ll have an exceptional ability to say what you mean and mean what you say. Use this superpower with flair and precision!

Halloween costume suggestion: ancient Greek orator Demosthenes; Martin Luther King Jr.; Virginia Woolf; Sojourner Truth; rapper MC Lyte, Winston Churchill.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) It’s the prosperity-

building phase of your cycle. Let’s celebrate! Let’s brainstorm! Are there rituals you can create to stimulate the financial lobes of your imagination, thereby expediting your cash flow? Here are a few ideas: 1. Glue a photo of yourself on a $20 bill. 2. Make a wealth shrine in your home. Stock it with symbols of specific thrills you can buy for yourself when you have more money. 3. Halloween costume suggestions: a giant bar of gold, a banker carrying a briefcase full of big bills, Tony Stark, Lady Mary Crawley, Jay Gatsby, Lara Croft, the Yoruban wealth goddess Ajé.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) During this Halloween

season, you have cosmic permission to be a bigger, bolder, and extra beguiling version of yourself. I trust you will express your deep beauty with precise brilliance and imagine your future with superb panache and wander wherever the hell you feel like wandering. It’s time to be stronger than your fears and wilder than your trivial sins. Halloween costume suggestion: the superhero version of yourself.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) I won’t offer you

the cliché “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Instead, I’ll provide alternatives. How about this, from the video game *Portal 2*: “When life gives you lemons, don’t make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back! Get mad! Say, ‘I don’t want your damn lemons!’” Or you could try this version, from my friend Barney: “When life gives you lemons, draw faces on them like Tom Hanks did on his volleyball in the movie Cast Away, and engage them in sexy philosophical conversation.” Or consider this Brazilian proverb: “When life gives you lemons, make caipirinhas.” (Caipirinha is Brazil’s national cocktail.)

Suggestion: Play around with these themes to create your Halloween costume.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) All of us are

creators and destroyers. It’s fun and healthy to add fresh elements to our lives, but it’s also crucial to dispose of things that hurt and distort us. Even your body is a hotbed of both activities, constantly killing off old cells and generating new ones. But in my understanding,

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you are now in a phase when there’s far more creation than destruction. Enjoy the exalted buzz! Halloween costume suggestions: a creator god or goddess, like the Greeks’ Gaia or Prometheus; Rainbow-Snake from the Australian Aborigines; Unkulunkulu from the Zulus; or Coyote, Raven, or Spider Grandmother from indigenous North American tribes.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) In 1938, a chef named

Ruth Wakefield dreamed up a brilliant invention: chocolate chip cookies. She sold her recipe to the Nestlé company in return for one dollar and a lifetime supply of chocolate. Maybe she was happy with that arrangement, but I think she cheated herself. And so I offer her action as an example of what you should NOT do. During the next ten months, I expect you will come up with many useful innovations and intriguing departures from the way things have always been done.

Make sure you get full value in return for your gifts!

Halloween costume ideas: Thomas Edison, Marie Curie, Hedy Lamarr, Leonardo da Vinci, Temple Grandin, George Washington Carver, Mark Zuckerberg.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Speaking on behalf of

the cosmic powers, I authorize you to escape dull realities and go rambling through the frontier. Feel free to fantasize twice as hard and wild as you normally do. Avoid literalists and realists who think you should be more like them. This is not a time to fuss over exacting details, but rather to soar above the sober nonsense and see as far as you can. You have permission to exult in the joys of wise innocence.

Halloween costume suggestions: bohemian poet, mad scientist, carefree genius, brazen explorer.

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny’s expanded weekly audio horoscopes /daily text message horoscopes.

The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 or 1-900-950-7700.

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