Ponca City Monthly July 2022

Serving Northern Oklahoma

JULY 2022

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JULY 2022

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VOL. 3 NO.7 Publishing Company MyMediaMatters Creative Agency Editor-in-Chief Kelsey Wagner Associate Editor & Advertising Director Robyn Ryan 580-761-1295 robyn@poncacitymonthly.com

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Staff Writers Carey Head Jay Wagner Andy Hicks Chelsea McConnell Kayley Spielbusch Laina Smith Jill Rowe Jennifer Vaughan

THRILLERS, FILLERS & SPILLERS, OH MY!

Ad Designer Robyn Ryan Magazine Designer Andy Hicks

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BATTER THAN GOOD BAKING COMPANY

FEATURE STORIES Standing Bear Digital Revamp Ponca City Noon Lions Celebrates Centennial Luminous Essentials “Save A Seat” On The Cover

Exploring Blackwell’s Barn Quilt Trail What is a Certified Nurse Midwife?

The Grand Lady of Ponca City

JULY 2022

Copy Editor Patrick Jordan

TINKLENBERG HOUSE GALLERY

MONTHLY FAVORITES 7

15 23 27 35

Puzzles

Sounding Off Stew on That

Health and Beauty Book Reviews

Notes From a Tired Mama

44/45 46 47

53/54

58/59 60

Learning With Leaming

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Recipe: Grilled Corn and Black Bean Salad

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Cocktail Of The Month: Sangria

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Backyard Gardener

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Proud Member of the Chambers of Commerce of: Ponca City, Newkirk, Tonkawa, Blackwell, Arkansas City

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Story Editor Sherry Cable

Food Crush: Braums

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Contributing Writers Marlys Cervantes Patrick Jordan Amy Geurin Lorrie Layton Adam Leaming Kat Long Paul Muehlberg Steve Scott Rachel Stewart Chelsi Hendrickson Shannon Puetz-Sommers Tara Smith Melissa Ceceña © MyMediaMatters, LLC, dba Ponca City Monthly 2022.

For permission to reproduce any article in this magazine, contact editor@poncacitymonthly.com.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or by other electronic means without written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Ponca City Monthly is a Member of the Society of Professional Journalists.

We believe that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. We strive to ensure a free exchange of information that is accurate, fair and thorough. We pledge to: Seek the Truth, and Report It; Minimize Harm; Act Independently; and to Be Accountable and Transparent. To read our full pledge, visit: spj.org/ethicscode.asp

Letter from the Editor

I had the chance last month to revisit a meeting I had years and years ago. It was a meeting where the discussions were very tense, and the audio happened to be recorded. I had forgotten the meeting ever took place, and listening to the meeting was almost like hearing it for the first time.

Nearly a decade has passed since the meeting, but I remember ten years ago feeling so justified in my opinions. Relistening to the audio ten years later, what I heard now was someone young, ambitious, and overconfident in her abilities to discern a situation. In short, I was wrong, which was clearly evident to my present self. It was hard to listen to; if that same meeting had happened today, I would have handled the situation differently.

Change is truly the only constant in life. Some changes are so subtle that they are hard to

Serving Northern Oklahoma

JULY 2022

recognize until many years have passed. As I grow older, I realize how much more compound effects play a role in my life. Compound effects refer to small, seemingly insignificant actions that can lead to huge results over time. Compound effects can be for the better, and sometimes they can be for the worse.

Instead of embarrassment or anger at my past self’s performance in this meeting, I decided to be grateful. That audio was a gift. I appreciate that I have grown and changed, and the audio was evidence of it. I hardly recognized the person on the recording. I am different in all the ways that matter. Noticing that much change in myself gives me hope and comfort, knowing that my small efforts today will amount to big changes in the future.

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editor@poncacitymonthly.com

On The Cover: Exploring Blackwell’s Barn Quilt Tour. Pictured is Blackwell Co-op’s grain bin. Read more about it on page 43

Photo By Carey Head | Design by Andy Hicks

JULY 2022

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MJ&H Mfg. Osage Trading Co. Tyner Transmissions Heather Cannon Honda Wynn’s Thrift Shop The Axe Hole RCB Bank Custom Powder & Blasting Trackside Auto O’Reilly’s– Blackwell, Ponca City and Arkansas City, KS Watson Construction Sonic Danny’s BBQ Head Quarters

Bruce Davis Alignment Loftis & Wetzel Insurance Family Vision Care Equity Bank Domino’s Pizza Paladin Apartments Anderson Flooring Champlin Motors Shelter Insurance - Tom Henley A+ Printing Budget Towing Blanton Chiropractic Clinic Performance Plus Hwy 60 Tire Bill Correll Body Shop

Ward’s Air Conditioning Nicholson Auction Affordable Tree Trimming Steve’s Service Go Lightly Chiropractic Heartland Tank Sooner H&A Brower, Inc. City of Ponca City TEAM Radio Ponca City Police Ponca City Chamber and Tourism

r te en C n o ti ca u Ed d an m u se u Standing Bear Park, M

p m a v e R l a t i Dig New Website and Virtual Tour

Story by Chelsea McConnell/Staff Writer Photos by Speak Now Productions Something exciting is on the horizon for the Standing Bear Park, Museum and Education Center. Before we get to the solution, however, we must visit the problem. Director T.L Walker is honest about their current situation. “We had never had a fully developed web page. We’d never had a good social media presence and are way beyond the point that that should have happened. But it’s expensive.

We are a small nonprofit. So, even though we knew this was something we really needed, it wasn’t something we could afford.” To put it briefly, the Center was in need of a virtual revamp.

The Center’s mission is “To educate all nationalities about the Native American heritage and the important role Native Americans have played in developing our country’s diverse culture; To promote better understanding and communication among all our nations’ cultures; To increase economic and educational opportunities for Native Americans; and To provide a

catalyst to enhance the self-worth of all Native Americans.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic on the scene, the Center’s ability to communicate and therefore educate the outside world began to decline. Classes were no longer visiting

See REVAMP Continued on Page 8

JULY 2022

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REVAMP Continued from Page 7 the Center on field trips, motor coach tours hadn’t been taking place and foot traffic even slowed down. However, opportunity was also to be found due to the pandemic. T.L became aware of grant funding through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The grant T.L applied for on behalf of Standing Bear Park, Museum and Education Center will allow them to further pursue their mission of education on the online front. A plan was hatched to build a beautiful new website for the Center and include a virtual tour within the site. As a museum director, T.L is a natural protector of knowledge. This trait is incredibly important when one needs to build a contentheavy educational website.

When it came to content, T.L had

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JULY 2022

years’ worth of photos, voice recordings and video recordings from various notable events in the Museum’s timeline. T.L has been working closely with local companies, My Media Matters and Speak Now Productions, on creating the website and tour components, respectively.

T.L says this of her vision for the components, “Of course I wanted something that was going to be out of the ordinary, so what we’re aiming for is a very artistic piece.” What T.L goes on to explain is an immersive experience that will give anyone who visits the website the opportunity to feel like they were there to witness the story of The Standing Bear Park, Museum and Education Center from its very beginning stages to where it is today.

Jennifer Vaughan of My Media Matters speaks about the project and what it will mean for the Center. “The new

website for Standing Bear Park, Museum and Education Center was designed to ensure the preservation of, and worldwide access to, fundamental historical and cultural information that honors the legacy of civil rights leader Ponca Chief Standing Bear, who successfully argued in U.S. District Court in 1879 that Native Americans are ‘persons within the meaning of

the law.’ The website features video footage of the 22-foot bronze statue’s arrival to Ponca City in 1996, deeply impactful tribal elder interviews, historical photographs of Ponca Chief Standing Bear and a complete project history that details the story of the remarkable tribal and community leaders who joined together all of those years ago with a shared vision that

continues to unite and impact our world today.”

Ashley Ballinger with Speak Now Productions speaks to the virtual tour component of the project. “The art of filmmaking could essentially be summed up as painting with senses.

We use sight and sound to create one feeling. During the pre-production phases of the Standing Bear Virtual Tour Video, T.L describes the museum as a place of calmness and tranquility.

As we virtually sew together this video, our goal with the shots and sound design is to match that feeling of quiet calmness. The Standing Bear Park, Museum and Education Center has been touched by each of the tribes represented in the museum, along with many individuals. In a similar way, this virtual tour video and website could not have come together without the hands and minds of many gifted and knowledgeable people in this community.”

While it is certainly true that many gifted people are involved in creating the project, it also strikes that the

project itself will, upon completion, be a gift to our community and the world at large. Visit the new website and view the virtual tour at: Standingbearpark.com.

**This project is made possible by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act, administered by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries.

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Batter Than Good Baking Company New Bistro Coming to Downtown Ponca City Story by Laina Smith/Staff Writer

This year, a new business has plans to open in the building previously occupied by The Daily Grind. The Daily Grind restaurant originally opened in 1999 as a cigar shop.

Soon after it opened, the shop added coffee to its menu and then espresso and other drinks.

In 2001, the shop added lunch items to its menu.

The food and drink aspect of the shop became such a popular feature that the owners, David Broome

and Janna McDonald, phased out the cigar portion.

After years of serving the people of Ponca City, The Daily Grind closed its doors to the public over 10 years ago.

Batter Than Good Baking Company was started in 2020 and now serves customers in all 50 states.

The company was founded by husband and wife Rebecca and Jessie Casillas as a way to cater to the dietary needs of her battle with breast cancer. It was also an outlet for the two chefs

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“We really are trying to do for the place and bring back nostalgia and take care of other people. “

during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We ended up, both being chefs, kind of being a little furloughed and having a bit more time on our hands,” Rebecca said. “And obviously, I kind of needed the time off. My diet was pretty strict, and due to such, we went, and we created new recipes

that would be able to accommodate myself but taste pretty good, as well as making sure we could also accommodate other allergies in case they were to pop up or any warnings of the sort.”

Opening Batter Than Good Baking Company in the same building that

used to be The Daily Grind was essential to Rebecca.

“We really liked the fact that it was pretty much built out,” Jessie said.

“Also, the owner Janna McDonald, is also kind of a culinarian, and she’s got a love for food and for family, and we really wanted to make sure that we were giving back, not just to Ponca but establishing a working relationship with somebody that’s equally for small businesses and understands what we really are trying to do for the place and bring

back nostalgia and take care of other people. That’s really what she does too.”

The baking company is renovating the restaurant to create a 1980s and 1990s bistro-style atmosphere. They will also have a new neon sign outside the restaurant, as well.

Having a business like this back in downtown Ponca City will not only increase foot traffic to the area but also bring more tourism back to the downtown area.

See BATTER Continued on Page 12

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“I believe that it will increase tourism, and it’ll increase business in downtown Ponca,” Jessie said.

Something on the menu that Ponca City has never seen is their Chicagostyle, deep-dish pizza.

“We have had that requested so many times, and Ponca will be the first one to have it,” Jessie said.

Not only does Batter Than Good Baking Company offer meal options, they also have desserts such as cakes, cupcakes and more. Desserts are available for special order. However, the baking company is booked until 2023.

BATTER Continued from Page 11

“I believe that it will increase tourism, and it’ll increase business in downtown Ponca,” Jessie said. “Right now we see a lot of that going toward 14th Street and by having something we consider a food desert for food allergies available centrally, it’ll make it accessible and actually build Ponca up more, which is really what we were hoping for.”

Different from The Daily Grind, Batter Than Good Baking Company will be offering not only a lunch menu, but a breakfast and dinner menu. They will also be offering baked goods as well.

Not only does the restaurant benefit Ponca City by increasing interest in downtown and creating another food option, but it also builds the community back up and supports local patrons as well.

“The breakfast menu will have everything from your hearty steak that we get right from Kay County at a beef farm,” Jessie said. “It’ll have biscuits and gravy, pancakes. A very affordable kids’ menu. The lunch and dinner menu is a bit more wide. It has more flavor profiles from everything mild to spicy. Meat to salad. We actually will have a salad bar as well on Sundays.

We offer take and go as well.”

“We do have outreach programs that we do here in Tulsa right now, like clothing drives,” Jessie said. “We do food drives. We do hygiene drives.

Anything that can benefit a vulnerable population, we have done it and we will continue to do it.”

In addition to the new options, the baking company will be bringing back some notable favorites from The Daily Grind. Items coming back will include The Salad, Mad Cow, The Wrangler and the Chicken Club, as well as others.

12 JULY 2022

Quality of the food, as well as the locally-sourced products, make Batter Than Good Baking Company stand out against the many other restaurants in and around Ponca City.

“We do a lot of QA checks,” Jessie said.

“Everything we do is made in small batches to make sure it’s as good the first time we made it to the last when we close shop up for the day. Local produce; we have farmers that give us berries. They give us vegetables.

They give us anything that we need, including eggs, dairy, if we use it in a recipe at all.”

The baking company is also supplied beef by two farms out of Kay County, Wooderson Farms and Big Grass Beef.

The quality of product isn’t the only thing unique about Batter Than Good Baking Company. The business also plans to utilize the culinary program at Pioneer Vo-Tech. Jessie said that they will be offering externship opportunities to the students where they will learn everything they need to

See BATTER Continued on Page 14

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BATTER Continued from Page 12 know for the future.

“We have a larger staff of students,” Jessie said. “We have more people that are learning and learning from us than people that are established chefs all the time.”

Batter Than Good Baking Company is hoping to open their doors by Sept.

25, 2022.

They will be open to the public Wednesday and Thursday 6:30 a.m.4:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 6:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. They will be closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

In addition to later hours of operation on Friday and Saturday, on those days an adult entree comes with a free children’s meal.

The baking company will also offer a room for special occasions such as birthdays.

“We will have access to a private room in the back with tables and chairs and a TV and other fun items that people can use for their events,” Jessie said.

Food options will be available to add on if requested.

Employment opportunities for the baking company will open up soon.

The baking company offers paid paternity and maternity leave, as well as bereavement for pets.

“We understand that not everyone has human children,” Jessie said. “But we do believe that pets are valuable members of the family, so we will give you paid time off if your pet passes away. I think there are only seven companies in the United States that do that right now.”

For more information about food or employment options, as well as hours of operation and more, you can visit their Facebook at Facebook. comBatterThanGoodBakingCompany or visit BatterthanGoodBaking.com.

You can also keep up with them on Instagram.

Ponca City Noon Lions Celebrates Centennial Story by Andy Hicks / Staff Writer Photos Courtesy of Ponca City Noon Lions The Ponca City Noon Lions have been serving the community since 1922 with a membership list that reads like a who’s who of historical local leaders. E.W. Marland was the club’s first President when things were booming in Ponca City.

Marland helped organize and was elected the First President of The Lions Club of Ponca City while several other Marland oil company top men served as charter members and officers.

The first meetings were held at the Marland Oil Company. At one meeting a total of $8,960 was raised for the newly organized Oklahoma Crippled Children Society. It was said to be the largest contribution made by any civic club in Oklahoma.

Lions Spearhead Community Projects During the early years, it was a Lions Club Committee that spearheaded the movement for the construction of the Ponca City Hospital

and within a short time, gained the support of the entire community.

In 1927, under the leadership of Pat Woodworth, Lions Club members began working with Lion William H. McFadden for the development of a campsite for Camp Fire Girls.

The merging of the Marland Oil Company with Continental Oil Company and the depression in the 1930s created many changes in the club’s type of membership activities. Some new projects included paying dues for several needy Camp Fire Girls; providing numerous boxes of food for needy families at Christmas; and raising funds for payment for the treatment of 50 needy families.

In 1950, The Lions raised money to purchase Camp McFadden and former Lion William H. McFadden donated $25,000 in matching funds. Other projects throughout the 50s and 60s included the sponsoring of Kid League baseball teams and a student to attend Boys State each year. They loaned monies to PoHi students to secure pure-bred cattle for FFA projects; promoted the lighting of the Pioneer Woman Monument; raised funds for band uniforms, instruments, and trips for the Po-Hi Big Blue Band; and monies and pledges for the new YMCA building.

A Perfect Attendance Banquet held in the 30s. Presidents with multiple years of perfect attendance were honored.

Loans to FFA Students were arranged by the Ponca City Lions Club to buy show cattle. From Left, Lion Jake Hampton, an FFA instructor, and Lions Dave Burrows, Merle Rozell and DeRoy Skinner.

Knights Of The Blind In 1925, Helen Keller addressed the Lions at their International Convention, challenging them to become “Knights of the blind in their crusade against darkness.” Since that time service to the blind and visually impaired has become one of the association’s most significant activities. Over the years Lions International has raised millions of dollars to stop all preventable blindness around the world.

Eye Project Adopted In 1957 The Ponca City Lions Club joined with other Lion members across Oklahoma and signed pledge cards donating their eyes to Oklahoma Eye Bank. Through the Lions’ continued efforts today, thousands of Oklahomans have benefited from corneal transplants. During the 50s the club also began sponsoring eye care for the needy through the donation of free eyeglasses and exams. A tradition that continues to this day.

By the 90s the club was celebrating its 75th

See LIONS Continued on Page 16

JULY 2022 15

“I’ve always been about serving people.” said Claire. “I help people who need eyeglasses and can’t afford them. We help them with both the eye exam and the eyeglasses.” She says helping the community is why she has been in Ponca City Noon Lions for so long.

The Continental Oil Co. Cafeteria served as the Ponca City Lions Club meeting place in the 30s

LIONS Continued from Page 15

Anniversary and expanding its community reach. They began to donate time and labor to the Festival Of Angels Christmas Lights project.

Most importantly the organization committed to focusing more funds on eye exams and glasses for needy families.

Electronic Visual Aids One resource The Ponca City Noon Lions Club was able to provide to the community for many years was the use of Electronic Visual Aids. The E.V.A. is a hand-held or in-place electronic magnifier that the group would loan out to people who had muscular degeneration, retinitis, pigmentosis, or other low vision problems. The devices would help the visually impaired read, write, and read prescription bottles and many other tasks that most of us take for granted.

help you. I got it all turned on and she said ‘I can see a little bit’ so I started getting it all calibrated and she started crying and I thought oh lord, she hollered at her husband to bring her the scrapbook, she asked if it would see colors, I said yes, she looked at those pictures and really lost it.”

Danny explained, “To help somebody like that, and give them some independence back where they can see is a blessing. It’s a blessing for me to be there to help people.”

He said unfortunately the E.V.A. has been phased out as the machines became obsolete and began to break. Nevertheless, he is committed to helping his community get the eye care they need. Now he refers people to a company called AbleTech that can assist in getting devices.

Passing the Gavel On June 30th, 2022, The organization celebrated its 100th It was seeing anniversary with these amazing a banquet dinner machines and to mark the KidSight Trailer built 2015 the impact they had occasion. During the on the community celebration, Ponca that first sparked the interest of City Noon Lions President Claire Scott member and past-president Lion passed the gavel to new President Danny Flewelling. Danny joined The Bob Zehr.

Ponca City Noon Lions over ten years ago and he soon became interested in Danny explained that Claire’s father the E.V.A. after a trip to Kaw City. was who initially got him involved and together they encouraged “I was sent to help a lady in Kaw City.

Claire to join. He said it was Claire When we got there she said, ‘I can’t that organized the distribution of the see or nothing’ and I said well let’s see E.V.A.s. In her years with Ponca City if we can fix this up and see if we can Noon Lions Claire has served many

16 JULY 2022

Lion Danny Flewelling positions on the board including Governor, Treasurer, and Secretary at a state level.

Claire said that The Ponca City Noon Lions eye program typically can set up those who qualify financially for a co-pay of $30. She said of course the co-pay is completely dependent on what the individual can pay. “We’ve had people cry on the phone because they couldn’t get a job until they had eyeglasses and we can get them glasses in just a few days.”

For more information about The Ponca City Noon Lions check out their Facebook.

Current Projects

Vision Support Group Meets 1st Monday of every month at the First Christian Church. The meeting starts at 10 AM. Child Sight Program offers eye screenings for children as young as 6 months using the SPOT Camera. To schedule a screening contact Vicki Dailey at 580-763-4151.

Eye Glass Assistance Program by Ponca City Noon Lions offers assistance for those in need of eyeglasses. Applications are available at Drs. Stuever, Campbell, Mayer, Dorman or Zwanziger offices. For questions contact Claire Scott at 580-304-5689.

PCNL Officers for 2022 -2023 pictured left to right (back row) Lucy Nelson, Carl Yerkes, Lyn Boyer, Scott Corson, Joe Glaser. (Front row) 2021 - 2022 President PDG Claire Scott passing the gavel to incoming President, Bob Zehr, Katrina Sinor, Gary Nelson, Cathie Huddleston.

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Thrillers, Fillers & Spillers, Oh My!

By Andy Hicks /Staff Writer

A variety of Succulents. Thanks for sharing, Amber Morris

Vining Petunia, Ginger, Caladium, Wandering Jew, Angel Wing Begonia, and Euphorbia

Summer is heating up here in Kay County. We’ve spent the last few weeks getting our flower beds in order, as well as adding a bazillion plants to our wildflower and butterfly garden. We are extra excited as we are now officially a Monarch waystation, more on that another time.

Container gardens are a great way to add some extra flair to your patio and porch. These minigardens provide the perfect opportunity to showcase tropical and delicate plants. Much like your landscape, the container garden can be a mixture of plants that create a uniform design.

While container gardens can be any combination of plants from flowers to herbs and even succulents and cacti, there are three basic elements that make up the perfect container garden. The holy trinity of container gardens is thrillers, fillers and spillers. Thrillers are the showiest pieces in your container garden.

They stand the tallest, have the best flowers and get attention. Fillers are the flowers and plants you want to fill in the space between and cover the soil. Spillers are the flowers and plants that spill over the edge of the pot and have lots of dramatic flairs. The trend is so popular most garden centers sell a wide variety of

premade container gardens that you can take home and plant – no fuss! I know you want to make your own, so I will share with you some awesome “recipes” by members of the Plant People of Kay County Facebook group.

You can apply the “thriller, spiller and filler” concept to keep your pots looking festive and creative all year long. The City of Ponca City gardeners create magnificent container gardens throughout town. The ones downtown feature a more traditional and elegant design.

While the ones at L.A. Cann Gardens are more tropical and exotic. The Marland Mansion container, which is right in front of the main entrance, is a great one that changes seasonally!

I highly recommend drawing inspiration from their work!

Croton, Copper Leaf Plant, Mother In-Laws Tongue, Calibrachoa, and Vinca.

Your container size will determine how many plants and how tall your thriller can be. I’ve made gardens in all sizes of pots and all kinds of containers from hollowed-out tree trunks to tires.

Your imagination is the only limitation.

See THRILLERS Continued on Page 20

JULY 2022 19

THRILLERS Continued from Page 19

Thrillers Here are a few popular varieties of flowers you can use to create beautiful container gardens.

Thrillers

Sun Angelonia, Cannas, Celosia, Dracaena, Gaura, Pink Fountain, Gazania, Geraniums, Gerbera Daisy, Lantana, Nicotiana, Papyrus, Pentas, Purple Fountain Grass, Sun Coleus, Salvia.

Shade Caladium, Coleus, Cordyline, Dracaena, Fuchsia, Tricolor Plant, Impatiens, Caladium, Rex Begonias.

Fillers

Any plant that has a vertical growth habit can be your thriller. Its primary function is to provide height and interest to your design. Your thriller can be either a flowering plant like canna and hibiscus or foliage plants like coleus or ornamental grass. From a design perspective if your container will be viewed from all sides, your thriller will go in the middle, but if you plan to keep the container against a wall or will only be seen from one side, you can plant it on the back side of the container.

Fillers

So you found the perfect thriller. Now we turn our attention to the filler. Unlike the thriller, the filler should be a plant that spreads and mounds so it gives the container a full look. When designing your pot with a center focal point, your fillers will need to surround the thriller. If you’re working with a large pot, plant the fillers midway between the thriller and the edge of the pot. If you just have a small pot, you can alternate filler and spiller. They will sort out who goes where!

Spillers

Last, but not least, you have your spiller for dramatic flair.

Spillers can be any plant that trails, and it will give your container a waterfall effect. This aspect of your container design is really your choice. If you like a uniform flair, plant it all the way around the edge. I like a dramatic flair, so I typically only plant my spiller on one side.

Container gardening is fun and easy. I spent the majority of my younger adult life in rental houses, so I didn’t want to make permanent gardens. Container gardens were my way of gardening without a permanent gardening space.

There is no limit to what you can do with these.

Recipes

The Plant People of Kay County is a facebook group of all skill levels of gardeners. I asked them to share their container gardens and recipes, and here is what we got!

Love plants? Join the group!

Sun Ageratum, Alternanthera, Copperleaf, Cosmos, Cuphea, Dusty Miller, Euphorbia, Geraniums, Gomphrena, Icicles, Joseph’s Coat, Butter Daisy, Cupflower, African Daisy, Pentas, Petunia, Vinca, Zinnia.

Shade Begonias, Browallia (bush violet), Coleus, Dragonwing Begonia, Dusty Miller, Heliotrope, Hypoestes (Polka dot plant), Impatiens, Iresine, Nemesia, Oxalis, Pansy, Salvia .

Spillers

Sun Asparagus Fern, Bacopa, Brachycome, Calibrachoa ,Chenile, Fiber Optic Grass, Ivy Geranium, Lantana, Lysimachia, Plectranthus, Portulaca (ice plant, rose moss), Purple Heart (wandering jew), Scaevola, Sweet Potato Vine, Thyme, Trailing Petunia, Trailing Vinca, Verbena, Vinca Minor.

Asparagus Fern, Purple Heart, Coleius, and Vinca Vine. Thanks for sharing, Bailey Bowers Porter!

A variety of Coleius. Thanks for sharing, Karol Oakes-Daniel!

Golden Marigold, Dracena, White Vinca, Pink Gerenim, Aspargus Fern, and Purple Ageratum .

Thanks for sharing, Becky Poet!

Purple and Green Sweet Potatoe Vine and Agrostemma. Thanks for sharing, Bobbie Getman!

Salvia, Persian Sheild, Callabacoha, Petunia, Begonia and Geranium.

Thanks for sharing, Karol OakesDaniel!

Shade Asparagus Fern, Bolivian(wandering) Jew, Creeping Wire Vine, Silver Falls, Licorice Vine, Geranium Ivy, Variegated & Green Lamium, Beacon, Silver Lobelia, Purple Heart, Vinca Vine.

20 JULY 2022

Red Cordyline, Clematis, a variety of Lillies and Dichondra. Thanks for sharing, Melissa Maher Bowers!

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research, shipping, packing orders, ordering more supplies.

I literally do everything.”

She first had the idea to start a small skincare business in early 2021. Within about a month of deciding to pursue the dream, Klinger was up and running. As

a self-proclaimed perfectionist, she has put in hours upon hours of research to make sure that her products are safe and healthy for her customers. She makes everything herself and doesn’t

See LUMINOUS Continued on Page 24

JULY 2022 23

say Luminous has helped with their skin issues like eczema, inflammation and acne. My Resilience Facial Oil has been bragged on quite a bit for healing acne. I have quite a bit of returning customers.

I love that. I just want people to be happy with their results, and it makes me happy when I hear other people tell me about what Luminous items are doing for their skin.”

LUMINOUS Continued from Page 23 use any harsh or toxic chemicals.

Her products are cruelty-free and many are also vegan. Klinger’s hard work is paying off so far with good reviews from customers. “I’ve had a lot of people come back to me and

Initially when Klinger started the business, she was selling locally in the Ponca City area and doing some shipping around our region. By August of 2021 she began shipping her products all over. Today she has shipped to 32 states and one district with plans to continue to expand to Canada and other countries. She

started with lip scrubs and lip glosses.

Soon after she created her best seller and her pride and joy, the Luminous Body Butter. She makes it from scratch and it always sells out.

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“Save

a Seat” A PONCAN THEATRE CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE OLD SEATS IN THE THEATRE. Story by Laina Smith/Staff Writer

The Poncan Theatre has been a staple to Ponca City and the surrounding communities for over 90 years.

Sept. of 2022 will be its 95th year running.

The theatre was built in 1927 by the Boller Brothers, who are known for having an exciting way of creating their theatres.

“What was so special about the Boller Brothers was they could build theaters that have large balconies without supports underneath them that block the view of audience members downstairs,” Poncan Director Christopher Radaker-James said. “It was very unique to them, and they were the only theatre company in the Midwest that was

creating such good products.”

Every Boller Brothers theatre was designed in a unique way special to that specific building. For example, the Poncan is themed to resemble an Italian Villa.

The Poncan Theatre was known for showing vaudevilles and live talent acts, including Will Rogers in 1931. They were also one of the only theatres able to choose their selection of shows.

See SEAT Continued on Page 28

JULY 2022 27

“When you buy a seat at the Poncan Theatre at this point in time, you’re marking that you care about the history of Ponca City.” plaster alone were used to repair the walls inside the theatre.

The Poncan had its second grand opening on Sept. 18, 1994.

SEAT Continued from Page 27 From 1927 to 1985, the theatre went through many different repairs before it ultimately closed its doors to the public for 10 years.

In 1939, the theatre’s outside marquee was enlarged from its original.

From 1954 to 1955, the theatre was remodeled. A fire curtain was added; a new heating and air unit and new seats were added, as well.

into a parking lot.”

Members of the community took notice of what was about to happen to the Poncan Theatre and began to come together to save the structure even though, at the time, it was still closed to the public.

Before that, in 1988, the theatre became a nonprofit, which means the theatre has a private owner. This also means that all repairs have to be funded by the theatre or donations given.

The Poncan Theatre Foundation was created once it became a nonprofit in order to continue sustaining the theatre.

“The idea of the foundation was that it would feed into the longevity of the theatre,” board member Luke Garrison said. “So it would be something that gave back as there were direct needs that related to plumbing. That related to the roof.

That related to these things. That they would be able to give to the capital campaigns to ensure that we have some funding toward these things.”

are repairs for the theatre important, but maintaining those repairs are also vital.

In recent years, notable repairs have taken place, including upkeep of paint on the outside and a roof campaign in 2020, which needed almost $100,000.

“People came out and gave overwhelmingly,” Garrison said. “With $100,000 goal, we raised $179,000.”

In addition to the roof, the bottom level of the theatre is now handicap accessible. The outside of the theatre has also been waterproofed and improvements were made to the downstairs restrooms.

Even as new pieces are added to the theatre to make it what it is today, some pieces are still original to the 20s.

Restrooms were placed on the bottom floor in 1962, and in 1974, reclining seats were added.

One prominent influential figure in saving the Poncan was Larry Buck.

Along with Buck, several private donors came together to raise enough money to make necessary repairs before the Poncan could reopen.

No other renovations were made to the theatre before it shut down in 1985 when it was also placed on the national historic register.

“Larry Buck was one of the ones that was very pivotal in that,” Poncan board members Kalyn Kyler and Ballinger said.

In 1973, the Arcade Hotel, which sat directly across the street where O’Reilly’s sits, was demolished and turned into a parking lot. This became a wake-up call to the citizens of Oklahoma who didn’t want to see the Poncan Theatre come down.

Between the years 1990 and 1993, repairs began on the Poncan Theatre.

The stained glass that people can see from the front of the theatre is a recreation of the original glass.

“I know whenever they reopened it, it had to go through extensive remodeling in order to be opened,” Kyler said.

Since its reopening in 1994, the Poncan is used for many different events and purposes.

“I think a lot of people in Ponca regretted doing that,” Poncan board member Ashley Ballinger said. “And they had talked about tearing the Poncan Theatre down and turning it

Almost $1 million was needed to complete the entire restoration. Fifteen tons of

With the theatre now reopened, many repairs have taken place. Not only

“Most of the material that you can see in the theatre is original,” RadakerJames said. “The carpet, I think, is extremely impressive because it’s a recreation of the original carpet …

The flooring when you come into the theatre is original. The plasterwork is original.”

“We have rentals all the time for brand new reasons,” Radaker-James said.

“I’ve had baby showers, birthday parties, funerals and weddings. Of course, we do movies. Most of our

See SEAT Continued on Page 30

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Now because of the continued support the community shows to the Evans Children’s Academy and other shows at the Poncan, they have created a campaign to replace the seats in the theatre. This campaign is called the “Save a Seat” campaign.

“Evans is everything,” RadakerJames said. “I would estimate that The campaign began in April of Evans brings in 70% of our revenue 2022 and will run until July of 2022. right now. It’s gone from just barely Not only will new seats be put in, but supporting itself to now, I want to new lighting elements will be placed make this clear to any readers that in the aisles as well. all donations to Evans are used for the purpose of putting on shows Seats will still be available for in the Poncan in Evans Children’s purchase once the seat installation is Academy, but now we’ve come to a complete. point that money made off the shows not only feeds back into the Evans program but also enhances the See SEAT Continued on theatre.”

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In 2008, the Evans Children’s Academy of Performing Arts was created by Patricia Evans and has been a part of the theatre since. Evans helped revive the theatre and in continues to gro.

“We thought, there’s something here. There’s something to this,” Garrison said. “It just got to a point where we were seeing that as a Board we were starting to see what the Evans program and the Poncan Theatre offered … It is Poncan Theatre associated and grown Evans program. We’ve started to see that we didn’t need to fight that, we needed to embrace that the community had a need for that.

What’s happened is there’s been this steady growth, and over the last five years or so now, we see a Poncan Theatre that is in the black year after year.”

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SEAT Continued from Page 30 Seats in the downstairs portion of the theatre will now include cupholders and also be wider. The upper seating will not be as wide, but because of that, six new seats were able to be added to the theatre.

“The idea here is not just to put the seats in, but to build our capital fund up again in the midst of it,” Garrison said.

Seats range from $75 to $350 depending on placement. Most seats still available to purchase are in the cheaper price range.

When a seat is purchased, a placard will be added to the seat with the name of the individual or business that purchased the seat.

“It’s going on the seat face,” Garrison

said. “The bottom of the seat folds up, the placard actually sits there right where your number would be.

It’s built in with the number and the main reason is because you know that people will see the advertising if they’re looking for the number on the seat.”

Demolition will begin in August, and the theatre will reopen for a show the next month.

420 seats still need to be purchased of the 760 seats inside the theatre.

Seats can be purchased through the Poncan’s website poncantheatre.org/saveaseat.html or by calling the theatre and talking to

Chris RadakerJames at 580765-0943.

“It’s a piece of history,” Garrison said.

“When you buy a seat at the Poncan Theatre at this point in time, you’re marking that you care about the history of Ponca City. That you care about 1927. That you care about the growth and sustainment since then.

The theatre in itself replicates the city we live in. The ebb and flow, the ups and downs, the hardships – all of those things that building has

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34 JULY 2022

’s l l e w k c ing Bla

Explor

Story and Photos By Carey Head/Staff Writer Painted quilt blocks are blanketing Blackwell as an outdoor art installation called “Top of Oklahoma Barn Quilt Trail.”

This tribute to quilts and quilters is drawing appreciative visitors from across the region to drive the “trail” and appreciate the quilt block art on display.

What Is a Barn Quilt Trail?

While quilting has been around since the 15th century, the tradition of decorating barns with quilt blocks is credited to have begun in 2001 thanks to Donna Sue Groves, Adams County, Ohio.

Donna Sue was a champion of Appalachian culture and an arts enthusiast. As a traveling consultant with the Ohio Arts Council, Donna Sue appreciated how murals painted on buildings attracted visitors and built community spirit. She also enjoyed the abundance of barns these foothills of the Appalachian Mountains contained.

A brainstorming session with Planning Adams County’s Tomorrow (PACT) colleagues sought to answer the question, “How do we attract tourism dollars to our corner of the world?” Donna Sue threw out an idea she had been nurturing since 1989. This idea came to her shortly after her mother, Nina Maxine, and she purchased a small, nonworking farm with an old tobacco barn on the property. Donna Sue had promised her mother she would paint a quilt block on the boring looking barn to brighten it up. She said, “A quilt block came to me out of the clear blue sky. Not a mural or a coat of paint, but a quilt block.”

To boost tourism and economic development, Donna Sue carried out her suggestion by inspiring 20 neighbors to decorate their barns or outbuildings with a large piece of plywood painted to resemble a quilt block. This quilt block would be of the property owner’s choosing. She inspired these neighbors to decorate their barns with colorful painted wood squares resembling blocks in a quilt. Her intent was to promote regional tourism, while supporting Appalachian artists and preserving old barns.

See QUILT Continued on Page 37

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QUILT Continued from Page 35 “Why 20?” she asked. “It’s because I asked my mother how many quilt squares are in the average bed-size quilt and she said about 20,” Donna Sue explains in the documentary “Pieced Together” by filmmaker Julianne Donofrio. She also knew experienced quilters quickly could create a quilt block plaque, because “they understand design, color choice and quilt names.”

Her Barn Quilt Trail idea was a success for Adams County tourism and development. County after county took notice and began organizing their own quilt trails.

Today, similar barn quilt trails can be found from Maine to California, as well as Canada.

Donna Sue, who died in November 2021 at age 73, was passionate that barn quilt trails should be created and managed by communities that host the trail, not governed at a state or national level.

“There is no right or wrong way

to do this. There aren’t any barn quilt police,” she once said. “Each community decides how to build their own barn quilt trail.”

She explained communities typically identify barns to highlight and then come together to paint the designs on 8-foot-by-8-foot plywood squares and mount then on barns. The trail is then publicized to bring in tourists.

The camaraderie enjoyed while creating the squares is a nice bonus, she adds. “Children, elders, everybody can paint on them. If you can’t sew, you can at least pick up a paint brush and play, play, play! Then you will be a part of this forever – for as long as it lasts.”

Blackwell’s Barn Quilt Trail Honors Donna Sue’s Intent Blackwell’s “Top of Oklahoma Barn Quilt Trail” can trace its own roots to Donna Sue’s invention. After visiting a barn quilt trail in Dexter, Kansas, Dianne and Jim Braden began discussing what such a trail could do for Blackwell’s tourism numbers.

“They have them all through town, on barns, houses, the school and in the park. (It’s) a short walking trail with barn quilts along the way,” Jim says.

As the idea gained traction, the pair enlisted the expertise of Blackwell’s Cindy Oard to approach Blackwell Tourism and Development, as well as the Top of Oklahoma Historical Museum, for support.

See QUILT Continued on Page 38

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JULY 2022 37

“There is no right or wrong way to do this. There aren’t any barn quilt police.”

Cindy’s assistance with the project has inspired a cottage industry “Wonderfully Made Studio,” she owns and operates at 113 N. Main, Blackwell. Cindy offers classes on creating barn quilts. She provides the materials and participants choose patterns and colors. She also creates custom-painted barn quilts with designs reflecting the client’s wishes.

QUILT Continued from Page 37

Individuals Join the Quilt Block Craze

The Top of Oklahoma Barn Quilt Trail was established in the fall of 2017 as a partnership between Blackwell Tourism, Top of Oklahoma Museum and numerous volunteers.

The drivable trail offers 62 quilt block designs, with 50 quilt blocks dedicated to each of the 50 United States.

Outside of the coordinated trail, countless individuals have created quilt squares for their homes, businesses and outbuildings simply because they love the colorful pieces of art. Cindy is among the many quilt block creators who describe the process as “addicting.”

Count among them Ponca City’s Jeannie Meeks and Thomasine Hendrickson. Jeannie began her barn quilt collection with her husband’s gift of two purchased plaques made by an artist in Alabama. After painting her own design, Jeannie was hooked. Her collection now numbers 13.

Jeannie has quilted with fabric for 40 years and has a dedicated sewing room in her home. “I go to Wonderfully Made Studio in Blackwell to paint. Wonderfully Made Studio provides an environment that allows me to express a creativity I never knew I possessed.”

She adds, “I started off painting 2-footby-2-foot barn quilts. Then I decided I would like to display seasonal barn quilts at the apex above my garage. I switched to 3-foot-by-3-foot boards.

38 JULY 2022

The more complex the pattern, the easier it is with a larger board.

Painting a barn quilt, regardless of its size, is practically magical … it is a unique hobby, relaxing, invigorating and inspirational all at the same time.”

Thomasine owns and operates The Quilt Barn, located on the family farm just west of Ranch Drive on Coleman Road. Her stand-alone “barn” has all the amenities of a home, but with space for a long-arm quilter sufficient to handle a king-size quilt and a thousand bolts of fabric plus sewing machines, ironing boards and other tools of the trade for quilters to share and enjoy.

She displays seven barn quilts on her building and has plans to complete at least one more, an “Oklahoma Crossroads” pattern. Thomasine echoes what so many have said about these folk-art tributes to rural American life and the love of quilts, “choose colors, choose design, express personality — it makes me happy.”

See QUILT Continued on Page 40

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QUILT Continued from Page 38

The Process: From Board to Barn BLOCK BEGINS: Squares of Medium Density Fiberboard, or MDF, are cut, sanded and primed.

Students will use these boards to create their own barn quilts. In the background, Jim Braden and Cindy Oard take a break after prepping and placing the MDF boards for an upcoming class.

Instructor Cindy Oard, owner, Wonderfully Made Studio, has finished graphing her chosen pattern onto the board and applied the first color of the quilt block pattern. She now tapes the areas to receive the next paint color.

PICK PATTERN, COLORS: Rows of paint in nearly every shade imaginable are ready for barn quilt artists to make their selections. The number of colors used in a quilt block depends upon the design’s complexity.

Stacey Corneil, Blackwell, applies tape to a board to paint areas of yellow in need of a touch up. In the foreground are barn quilts ready for a protective sealant.

Crisp clean lines are created with careful taping off each color block boundary followed by judicious touch ups. A final coat of clear sealant will be applied before the quilt block is ready for display.

40 JULY 2022

Barn quilts are painted methodically one color at a time. The portable fan helps speed the drying process so the creator can move on to the next color to be applied. At top, the pattern is shown with several suggestions for paint color combinations.

See QUILT Continued on Page 43

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QUILT Continued from Page 40

Grain Silo’s Americana Quilt Is the

(with honors) in Fine Art and Design from Nottingham University, England. The Englishman calls Talala “home” and paints part time from his studio there.

“Cherry on Top” Story and Photo By Carey Head/Staff Writer Homage to America’s 50 states is being paid in a unique, city-wide outdoor art display. The “cherry on top of the cake,” as Tourism Director Sherry Buellesfeld says, is a massive mural featuring an American flag presented as a quilt.

The “Top of Oklahoma Barn Quilt Trail,” created in the fall of 2017, is a joint venture between Blackwell Tourism Development Board, Top of Oklahoma Museum and other civic groups and volunteers.

After meeting the original goal of “50 quilt blocks for 50 states,” eyes began to turn to another location for “quilting.”

For then Blackwell Tourism Board President Dewayne Muret, the grain silo near the north entrance to town seemed a perfect canvas for a quilt block.

A really, really, big quilt block.

Sherry Buellesfeld recounts the project’s origin, “Looking back, I’ve found that past board president Dewayne Muret first proposed the idea of a mural on the Co-op’s grain bin in May of 2019,” she said. At the same time, Daniel Koelsch, General Manager of Farmer’s Co-op, Inc., sought approval from his board of directors. Permission was granted to provide the canvas for the mural.

Then the world changed as a viral pandemic brought normalcy to a halt.

It took two years to get the idea back on the road to reality.

Sherry, retired Ponca City Police Department’s Public Information Officer, is well-versed in teamwork and building coalitions. She serves as the part-time director of Blackwell Tourism Development, a post she has held since September 2021. She says, “I contacted Daniel to make sure the agreement was still valid and was thrilled to find out it was.”

She continues, “Each of the 50 states is represented in our barn quilt trail and it just made sense to add a huge Americana quilt mural to complement the existing barn quilt trail.”

In preparation, Simon spent two weeks scaling the design and lettering. Once work began onsite, the mural was completed in just eight days.

She credits the Blackwell Tourism Development Board of Directors for the mural project’s success.

Current board members are Mitzi Neuman, president; Cindy Oard, past president; Deonne Gates, vice president; and directors Lynne Field, Brenda Russell, George Becker, Kim Shoffner, Lea Ann Bechtel and Lori Buesing.

Sherry says Simon wanted to add this huge mural to his portfolio “as he’s never done anything quite like this before. He’d never had a job before that required a lift, so that was a new experience for him. The single barn quilt measures a whopping 1,632 square feet!”

Three designs were presented to the Tourism Board. Sherry sent the chosen design, including the stipulation the final product must be at least 40 feet high and 40 feet wide. Three muralists presented bids. Muralist Simon Williams was awarded the commission.

Simon lives in Talala, Okla., population 270, which is located northeast of Tulsa in Rogers County. He is a degreed building inspector contracted to work with smaller towns.

This gives him flexibility in his schedule to pursue his passions as a professional painter and photographer.

In 1988, he earned a bachelor’s degree

A complete map of the barn quilt trail can be found online at RedCarpetCountry.com/visitor-guide.

JULY 2022 43

Story by Kayley Spielbusch / Staff Writer Ponca City residents Cheryl and Kevin Tinklenberg are “spreading joy with their funny bones,” their decorative yard displays featuring skeletons.

step further after reading an article where people spoke about their best neighbors during the pandemic. In the article, one person said they had the best neighbors because they had skeletons that they moved daily.

The skeletons, or “skellies” as the Tinklenberg family calls them, first made their appearance in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. They began by putting different lights on the house and decorations based on holidays or the season to lift spirits.

“So many people were quarantined and would just drive around town, so we thought we would give them something to do,” recalled Cheryl.

Around that Halloween, she decided to take it a

by Patrick Jordan

ACROSS 1. Batman is the "___ Crusader" 6. High in the sky 11. Sales agent, for short 14. Amazon's virtual assistant 15. Pop singer Abdul 16. Classic film star Gardner 17. Two of Superman's foes (2 wds.)

20. Breakfast or supper 21. Like Gwen Stefani's hair 22. Attorney's specialty 25. Legendary folk performer Bob 28. Forest grazer 29. Way out of a building 31. Drive-in restaurant chain 33. Dentist's degree (abbr.)

34. Chromosome parts 36. Caribbean resort island 39. Spider-Man's arch foe (2 wds.)

43. Metric unit of length 44. Speckled or rainbow fish 47. Resort with steam baths 50. Prize for achievement 53. Out of danger 54. Some smokehouse meats 56. Lipstick mishap 58. Weeding tool 59. Best sports squads (hyph.)

62. Horse's moderate pace 64. Two of Batman's foes (2 wds.)

70. Put a stop to 71. Harry Potter's invisibility garment 72. Wear away, as topsoil 73. City rds. (abbr.)

74. Unruly crowd of people 75. Mechanical humanoid

44 JULY 2022

DOWN 1. Taxi 2. Boxing great Muhammad 3. Candy with collectible dispensers 4. School test, briefly 5. Had the nerve (to) 6. Handsome Greek god 7. Frankenstein's workplace 8. Belonging to us 9. Liposuction target 10. Puppy's wagger 11. Showered 12. Managed to dodge 13. Indiana basketballers 18. Sunbeams 19. Agreement signal 22. Chicken drumstick 23. Lumberjack's chopper 24. Bird or butterfly feature 26. TIDE, for EDIT or DIET 27. Hollywood's Robert de ___ 30. Six years, for a senator 32. Baby bear 35. Get a look at 37. Sandwich initials 38. Is shown on television 40. Greek vowel 41. Anchorperson's presentation 42. Ark's captain 45. Flying saucer, e.g. (abbr.)

46. Golfer's peg 47. Squares and triangles 48. Inventor's legal protection 49. Changes, as a constitution 51. Second photo of the same scene 52. Item thrown in a pub 55. Droop 57. Person who works oars

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Unmannerly guy "The Godfather" group Needless fuss Tennis court divider

ANSWER ON PAGE 64

EPIC ENEMIES

She began posting photos of each display on their Facebook page, the Tinklenberg House Gallery. Initially, the online response was minimal. By week three of having the displays, Cheryl placed a sign with the hashtag #tinklenberghouse in the front yard and it began to grow.

“Then Kevin got onboard with the idea. He made the ET display and it

exploded. Everybody loved it,” stated Cheryl. “We went from 80 followers to around 200 and it’s just grown from there.” Currently, the Tinklenberg House Gallery Facebook page has almost 1,000 followers.

The feedback from the Ponca City community has been one of their favorite parts of creating their displays.

“The town’s been great. I enjoy seeing the way little kids react to the displays.

I’ve had people message me and tell me that they love it, and it gives them something to look forward to. So, then you end up in a long conversation together.”

7 - Medium

Sudoku Challenge

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4 9 2 2 9 3 2 5 5 6 4 1 3 7 1 6 8 7 2 2 7 8 ANSWER ON PAGE 64

Their one goal with the displays is to bring happiness. They want to keep the displays light-hearted and fun for the whole community.

“We try to keep it classy,” said Kevin.

“We want it to be in good taste.”

Currently, they are planning a display for the Fourth of July. In addition to the skellies, Cheryl also uses the Facebook page to promote her art and local attractions, including restaurants she and her husband recommend.

“We visited Capone’s Hoagies in Newkirk, and not only is the food good, but they had a skeleton sitting at a piano inside,” recalled Cheryl, “We hadn’t even started the restaurant stuff yet, but we had to take a picture.

Now, every time he changes the skeleton, he tags me!”

Keep up with the Tinklenberg House Gallery through their Facebook page 8 #tinklenberghouse.

- Medium and

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9 JULY 2022 45

4

Music in & Around Ponca City

Sounding

Off

Story & Photos by Steve Scott / Contributing Writer

It’s a busy July in Ponca City, so let’s get right into it!

Something Happening …

The 2022 Down by Downtown (DXDT) summer music series continues July 1 at 6 p.m. at the Central Fare picnic area, featuring two renowned artists: Shandee Layne and Cassy Kendrick. You may not have heard of these two musicians before, but after their performances on July 1, you will never forget just how great they are!

Shandee Layne When you are a musician at heart, the entire spectrum of emotions hangs in the balance as decisions can be difficult to justify, logically or otherwise. Shandee Layne made one of these “serious decisions” in 2022, to leave her career

as a teacher in Bristow, Oklahoma, and take her act “on the road.” Audiences traditionally enjoy her performances all over Oklahoma, Arizona, Kansas and Nevada. This summer, she is taking it further as her road schedule is full.

Ponca City is fortunate to have Shandee as the opening act for the July 2022 (DXDT) event. During our interview, I discovered that her father is a nationally recognized and award-winning Cowboy Poet, so she was born with the DNA of creativity. On her 14th birthday she received a guitar from her father with the condition she must learn 10 songs within a year. Shandee is self-taught, and learned 10 in three months, and was busy writing original songs while creating her own, unique sound. While attending college at UCO, she was further encouraged to play on KUSH Radio in Cushing on the “Tuesday Night Music Club.”

Shandee’s influences include Bluegrass performers like Allison Krause and Union Station, as well as Rhonda Vincent. The Oklahoma Red Dirt Music Scene plays heavily in Shandee, especially Reckless Kelly, Doc Watson and Tom Russell. Brenn Hill and his music were very instrumental in fashioning her sound. But listening to Shandee sing, you sense yet other surprising elements: Billy Squire and Bonnie Raitt, as she admits an affection for a “bit of the wild stuff.” Combine all of these musical styles and you have the wonderful songs of Shandee Layne.

Shandee Layne

46 JULY 2022

Nowadays, you can catch her close by at many Oklahoma venues such as Zanotti’s in Stillwater, The Enid Brewing Company and Mack and Ike’s

Cassy Kendrick

in OKC. Her personal mantra is, “What is meant for you will not pass you.” I cannot emphasize this point enough: Do not let the opportunity to hear Shandee pass by.

Cassy Kendrick Our second act for the July DXDT event is Cassy Kendrick. Cassy is a multi-talented person who teaches Kindergarten to 5th grade students and the lifeguard certification course in both Ponca City and Blackwell. Her youthful love of middle-of-the-road acoustic rock, like Matchbox 20 and Taylor Swift, provided the early inklings of a singing future to come. Then, hearing Cady Groves sing, Cassy decided she could do it too. She learned to play the guitar, and more importantly she started writing, letting her inner thoughts and feelings drive original compositions.

Now, she is working with a band, which is a new experience for her. Every day she frowns on politics, but practices gratitude. And she is always grateful and amazed when people say one of her songs really touched them and connected with their lives. As a tremendously talented musician, you can’t ask for much more than that.

See SOUNDING OFF Continued on Page 48

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You know the kind of people who really grind my gear? Logical people. People who talk reason and rationale to me. I don’t need that kind of negativity in my life, and if you pull that crap on me, I will cut you out of my life so fast. If a “friend” says anything like …

“Do you really need another purse?”

What did you just say to me?

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“You have one nearly identical to that.” And? “How many bags does one person need?” The limit does not exist.

I always enable and encourage my friends. If they say to me, “I’m thinking about quitting my job.” I’ll say, “You absolutely should, they treat you horrible, you deserve better.” Then a few days later when they change their mind and don’t want to quit, I’ll say, “I think that’s the right decision. Honestly they’ve been pretty good to you.” If someone says to me, “I’m thinking about breaking up with my boyfriend.” I’m like, “Dump. His. Sorry. Butt. He’s ugly and has a snaggle tooth” and when they change their mind later I’ll be like, “His tooth is kinda cute, plus in this town it’s slim pickings so I agree, I think you should stay with him.” And most importantly, if they’re like, “I’m thinking about buying this new hat. It’s $200,” I am their biggest hype girl. “GET IT! YOU WORK HARD! YOU DESERVE IT! It’s only $200 and I can think of at least 2 1/2 times a year you’ll wear it, you totally should get it.” And if I don’t get that same type of energy back from you, then you’re dead to me.

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One thing you need to know about me is I’m an enabler. I will enable my friends in all areas of their life, good bad or ugly, and I deserve the same RESPECT back from them. If I don’t hear, “Of course, Rachel, you absolutely need that new purse, it’s totally different from the other four black purses you already own and rarely wear,” then you and me – we’re through.

JULY 2022 47

SOUNDING OFF Continued from Page 46 As of the time of this interview, she has three original songs ready to go, and is working to finish a total of 10, necessary to go on a streaming service.

She is collaborating with other musicians, and while on spring break this year, traveled to Nashville to work with Buddy Owens, an awardwinning American country music singer and songwriter who was born in Tulsa.

I highly suggest you catch Cassy while you can. Her star is rising.

The Full Moon Concert Series, sponsored by the North Central Oklahoma Arts Council, is hosting Five Year Gap (PCM Dec 2021) on July 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the downtown gazebo in Tonkawa. We all love their original songs like “Chalk Houses,” “Karate” and my personal fav, “Concrete Sneakers.”

In addition, Five Year Gap is playing at Frenzy Brewing in Edmond on July 30.

Local Superstar Larry Newsom is running a marathon of performances in July. Hit the streets and catch him at the Solo Club in Bartlesville on July 1 and July 16, headlining at Zanotti’s in Stillwater on July 8 and July 23, at Back to Sighs in Ponca City on July 22, and at the Hideaway Marina on Kaw Lake on July 30.

Whew!

www.facebook.com/fiveyeargap

The Bandstand …

The list of events for July is proof positive of the world continuing its return to enjoying live entertainment. Pick your favorite artists and make sure you get to their shows!

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Ridin’ High is in full-boogie mode with Whiskey

River playing Mas Tequila on July 30.

Vortex is featuring artist Taylor Welborn in July.

Trivia nights will be July 14 and July 28, with Nena’s Taco’s on-site. Live music includes Isaac McClung on July 15 and the smooth sounds of Stacey Sanders on July 22.

Hideaway Marina on Kaw Lake has Five Year Gap on July 2 and Candice and the Casuals on July 16.

Pioneer Cove Marina has Matt and Mason Williams performing on July 23.

The Kay County Amphitheater in Newkirk has a July 8 double-header, starting with Salt Fork Revival at 6:30 p.m., followed by the “family friendly comedy” of Tavin Dillard. And if that’s not enough, July 9 will feature Reach for the Sky, an acoustic quartet from Wichita, Kansas, playing contemporary pop to toe-tapping bluegrass with outstanding vocal harmonies.

There will be pop-up shops and food trucks, so bring your favorite lawn chair or blanket and get set for two evenings of top-shelf entertainment!

Until next month …

If anyone has information on live music events, please write me at smscott54@hotmail.com.

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Taylor Lewis, APRN-CNP

Mark Oatman, MD

Gigi Campbell, APRN FNP-C

TRIAD WELCOMES

EVA CASE APRN FNP-C

Eva will see patients starting August 1st.

Appointments can be made now by calling 580-765-9451.

JULY 2022 51

ONE City – TWO Historic Mansions!

Marland’s Grand Home Come explore…

The Marland Estate

•Bryant Baker Studio and Gallery •A 24-karat gold-leaf ballroom ceiling •Native American artifacts •101 Ranch history •Scavenger hunts •Mysteries at the museum •Historic reenactments •Architectural wonder

Plan your trip at VisitPoncaCity.com or call 580-765-4400 for more information.

52 JULY 2022

Summer of Self-Care

Story Contributed by Shannon Puetz-Somers RN BSN/Owner, Aesthetic State of Mind Med Spa

Hair loss. Something that has been a hot topic with our patients in the last few months, but why? Well to be honest, we aren’t sure. There are a variety of reasons that one could be losing their hair. Stress, natural shedding, anxiety, trauma, or even severe illness can lead to post illness hair loss, that is why we are hearing the term “covid hair” being used as of late. Genetics, medications, hormones and various medical conditions are common reasons for hair loss.

Realizing that you’re losing some of your hair is not the most pleasant realization.

So, what can we do about it? Many things really. New treatments for hair loss are constantly evolving, making it possible for thousands of people to stop hair loss in its tracks. Today, we’ll talk about how PRP injections help with hair loss.

PRP, or platelet-rich plasma is a golden elixir, we joke, but only kind of. PRP is such a universal tool to help combat aging of all kinds. This liquid gold is also something we all have running through our veins. PRP is not a man-made chemical and it comes with virtually zero complications and side effects.

Instead, this is a liquid gold that is extracted from the patient’s blood. At Aesthetic State of Mind, one of our registered nurses will draw the patient’s blood, spin it down in a centrifuge where the blood and plasma are separated. After this process is complete, the PRP is then pulled from the tube and injected into specific areas of the patient’s scalp to help target regrowth.

You are probably wondering how this would work. PRP is rich in growth factors and these growth factors stimulate the production of new cells when the other cells have become old or damaged. An example of that is, if you were to cut your hand, there are growth factors sent to the site of injury to aid in new cell growth to heal the wound and replace the damaged tissue.

There are 17 distinct growth factors found in human plasma that can aim to generate new hair growth. When PRP is injected into the scalp, dormant hair cells are kicked into action and begin regrowing new hair.

There is no one universal treatment for hair loss that works for everyone. PRP has shown to be an incredibly effective treatment, not just for halting hair loss, but for actually growing new hair.

However, PRP injections are often accompanied by additional therapies that act as a booster. After your PRP injections, it may be recommended that a thickening shampoo and conditioner is used. We have found that the best shampoo and conditioner for this is RevitaLash, the makers of the eyelash serum that we carry at Aesthetic State of Mind. This shampoo and conditioner was specifically formulated for patients who had completed chemotherapy and were ready to begin focusing on hair regrowth.

JULY 2022 53

Story by Kera Kester, NASM Certified Personal Trainer/Contributing Writer

Protein Power

HEALTH During your fitness journey, you will (and should!) hear about the importance of protein. It is one of the greatest factors for any body composition goal and health in general. However, as important as it is to ingest protein daily, it is just as important to make sure you are taking in an adequate amount. So why is protein so important?

And how much is a good daily amount? Let’s talk about it!

Why Is Protein So Important?

The maintenance, creation and nourishment of every cell in our bodies are greatly affected by protein. When protein is digested, amino acids composed of nitrogen, carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are what is left. These 20 amino acids are needed for various processes of growth and functioning. Our bodies can produce all but nine, which are labeled essential amino acids (histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine). We must rely on our diet to provide these nine essential amino acids through animal and some plant proteins, or “complete” proteins. Here are five ways protein plays a major role in our bodies!

1. Builds And Repairs Protein, like collagen, is a building block of hair, nails, skin, bones, organs, bodily fluids and muscles. It allows for the repairing, growth and maintenance of tissues. Specifically, during strength training, micro tears take place within your muscle fibers. Adequate protein ensures these tears are repaired so that muscle growth can occur. During optimal functioning, your body breaks down the same amount of protein that is used. It is important to note that during illness or pregnancy, your body may break down more protein than it can create. This is when additional help from supplementation with a doctor or health care provider’s guidance can be beneficial.

2. Serves As A Neurotransmitter While, ACTH signals the release of cortisol, our bodies’ stress hormone. Cortisol affects your mood, regulates blood pressure, increases blood sugar, controls your sleep cycle and even manages how your body uses macronutrients. Elevated levels of cortisol have a major impact and can lead to weight gain, anxiety and muscle breakdown or weakness, to name a few.

My personal favorite protein hormone is the Human Growth Hormone. HGH stimulates bone and muscle growth, helps repair collagen, regenerates body tissue, improves bone density, repairs cells and helps burn fat.

54 JULY 2022

The highest production of HGH is between the hours of 10 p.m.-2 a.m., which is why sleeping during these hours is recommended.

3. Immune Health Your body fights against infection from harmful bacteria and viruses. Protein builds antibodies, or immunoglobulins, for protection. Once these antibodies fight a particular virus, your body can remember and quickly respond the next time it tries to invade your body. This means immunity for you by way of an enhanced immune system.

4. Transports And Stores Nutrients Protein allows nutrients like vitamins, minerals, blood sugar, cholesterol and oxygen to properly flow in and out of our cells. It also acts as a storage aid. For instance, the protein Ferritin stores iron. If we don’t have enough iron, there aren’t enough red blood cells to transport oxygen from our lungs into all parts of our bodies, which results in fatigue. In addition, we maintain a healthy pH and fluid balance by protein’s job of attracting and retaining water. If there is not enough protein being consumed, then fluid builds up and causes swelling, typically in the stomach region.

5. Satiety Bodily proteins, called digestive enzymes, help our bodies break down food. Therefore, getting enough protein not only helps us stay full, but also enhances our digestive system. Additionally, our bodies burn more calories digesting protein than carbs or fat. This means, that higher protein also increases caloric burn.

This is known as the thermic effect of food (or TEF). So, if you’re looking to boost your metabolism, produce more energy and not feel hungry all day, then protein is your best friend!

What Is A Good Daily Amount?

How much should we ingest per day? The answer – it depends. Many factors come into play, such as activity level, age, physical goals and muscle mass, for example.

For the average sedentary adult, 0.8g per kilogram of body weight is recommended. For those who have an active lifestyle or are athletes, it can range anywhere from 1-1.4g per kilogram of body weight. Start at 0.8g per kilogram of bodyweight then consider raising it if your lifestyle and individual factors call for it. Simply put, protein plays many major roles in fueling, protecting and benefiting our bodies. Make it a priority and ensure you get adequate amounts of it daily! Happy July!

Happy 4th of July!

580-765-2511 bobhurleyponca.com 3501 N. 14th Street Ponca City JULY 2022 55

Bummer!

We’ll make it new again… give us a call.

580-762-3716

14th & Lake Road Ponca City

Owned and Operated by Larry & Stephanie Klinger Foreign and Domestic Repair • Exclusive asTech Technology Genesis Laser-Guided Frame Equipment • Guaranteed Repairs ™

Offering Insurance and Risk Management Solutions Since 1931!

410 E. Grand • Ponca City • 580-765-5566 www.loftiswetzel.com • billwetzel@loftiswetzel.com

ADULT STUDENTS

NOW ENROLLING FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR

Start the process at pioneertech.edu/enroll or call Karen at 580.718.4234 Pioneer Technology Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex/gender, age, religion, disability or veteran status.

The Only Community-Owned Non-Profit Hospice

BASIC CARE (Required by Medicare): • Nursing service with 24/7 emergency care • Personal care by Certified Nursing Assistants • Medical social services • Spiritual support and counseling • Light housekeeping services • Volunteer services • Bereavement services • Ancillary services: Occupational therapy, Physical therapy, Speech therapy and Dietician service • Durable Medical Equipment and supplies for palliation of the symptoms for terminal illness • Medications used to treat symptoms of the terminal illness

EXTRA CARE offered by Hospice of NCO (Not required by Medicare): • Massage therapy • Community bereavement support including Butterfly Wings support for those who experience a miscarriage or infant loss 56 JULY 2022

Bill Wetzel President

• Pet therapy • We Honor Veterans Program • Community equipment loan program • Educational in-services to the community

445 Fairview Avenue Ponca City

(580) 762-9102

JULY MEETINGS & EVENTS

TUESDAY, JULY 5

• Ponca City Business Council will meet at 8 a.m. at the Chamber Office

WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY, JULY 6 & 7

• 36th Ponca City Leadership Class Interviews at the Chamber Office

THURSDAY, JULY 7

• Cash Mob at 11:30 a.m. at Rikki’s Market • Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 5:30 p.m. for the John McNeese Gallery in the City Central Building

THURSDAY, JULY 14

Weather or Not, You’re Always in Control.

• Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 10 a.m. for Central Café located in the City Central Building

TUESDAY, JULY 19

• Ambassador Committee will meet at 8 a.m. at the Chamber Office

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20

• Finance and Executive Committee will meet at 11 a.m. at the Chamber Office

THURSDAY, JULY 21

• Community Development Committee will meet at 10 a.m. at the Chamber Office

TUESDAY, JULY 26

• Chamber Board will meet at 11 a.m. at the Chamber Office

THURSDAY, JULY 28

• Business after Hours 5-7 p.m. hosted by the Ponca City Country Club

You can’t control the weather while you’re on vacation. But, with the Bryant® Evolution™ Connex™ Control, you can adjust the temperature in your home from anywhere. Turn things down and save energy dollars while you’ve got your toes in the sand. When you’re ready to head for home, turn things up a notch so you’re comfortable upon arrival.

Spreading Kindness Connects Ponca City!

Find other events taking place @ visitponcacity.com

CHAMBER OF

CITY

COMMERCE

info@wardsac.com

PONCA

To find out how Bryant puts you in control all season long, give us a call at 580-762-9513.

JULY 2022 57

CHILDREN’S

BOOK REVIEW

Review By: Lorrie Layton PROVIDED BY BRACE BOOKS & MORE

Dragon Storm Series: Tom and Ironskin (#1) & Cara and Silverthief (#2) written by Alastair Chisholm

Tom is a blacksmith’s son. He loves helping his father turn ugly lumps of metal into horseshoes, tools or dragonswords (special swords able to cut through a dragon’s tough hide). Tom has never seen a dragon, but they’re supposed to be huge, terrible, fire-breathers.

Tom and his parents are shocked when a young man, Malik, offers to take Tom as an apprentice and train him to be a clerk, working directly for the king. Clerks are rich! Tom’s parents encourage him to try out the apprenticeship.

Instead of taking Tom to the dorm where the apprentices stay, Malik takes Tom to a hidden place where he’s introduced to a dragon. This dragon isn’t a monster; he’s a hero. Tom is told he has a gift – he’s a dragonseer, someone who partners with one special dragon.

Cara has grown up on the streets. Her only friend – and the only one she trusts – is a voice she’s heard in her head for as long as she can remember. When she’s almost caught while attempting to steal a diamond brooch from the king’s royal chambers, Malik rescues her.

Malik tells her he also used to be a thief, but now he searches for special people: for instance, people who hear a voice that’s always there, that knows things and helps them. Malik offers to show Cara whose voice she’s been hearing. She’s intrigued by the creature she sees, who sounds just like the voice she’s heard in her head for as long as she can remember.

These are the first two books in a new series of beginning chapter books. The main characters are relatable and the adventures are exciting. It’s a great new series for early readers.

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ADULT

BOOK REVIEW

Review By: Tara Smith PROVIDED BY BRACE BOOKS & MORE

One of Us Is Dead

by Jeneva Rose

To the outsider, Buckhead appears to be the place to live. Massive mansions, designer handbags, elite parties and glamorous women, everyone wants to be a part of the inner circle. But everything is not as it seems. Each of these women is constantly in competition for the top spot in their society. Shannon has held the title for some time now, but only because of who her husband is. When he decides to trade her in for a younger model, the other ladies see their opportunity to seize her crown! Olivia, in particular, feels she is long overdue to be the reigning chairwoman of Buckhead.

Jenny is far from able to compete with this group of women’s status and money, but they all seem to run to her when they need to gossip. Why? She is their hairdresser, and we all know our hairdresser knows more secrets than our own spouse! Olivia chose

Jenny’s salon as the spot to hang out, taking it from an average hair salon, to an exclusive, members only, beauty club. While Jenny appreciated the high-end clients dropping large amounts of money for her services, she wasn’t so sure she liked being “owned” by them. Especially when tensions hit an all-time high and one of them ended up dead!

We start the book knowing someone was murdered; what we don’t know is who it was or who did it!

I was into the last 20 pages before I could make an educated guess on who it was and even then I was way off! So many events taking place had me struggling to not skip ahead to the end. I could not put the book down until I knew who pulled the trigger; when I did find out, I was blown away!

JULY 2022 59

NAPOLI’S Italian Restaurant 3202 N. 14th • Ponca City

580-765-2491

NapolisPoncaCity.com

Tuesday thru Saturday 11 am - 9:30 pm Sunday 11 am - 9 pm napolis2020@hotmail.com

Pizza Special

$25 2Anyfor size, up to 4 toppings

Restrictions apply. One coupon per table. One coupon per visit. Not valid with other offers. Expires 7/31/2022

Summer 10% OFF 2 Entrées of your choice Special excludes pizza, subs & sandwiches With coupon. One coupon per table. One coupon per visit. Not valid with other offers. Expires 7/31/2022

Dine-In Special

10% OFF total purchase of $35 or more, excludes alcohol

Restrictions apply. One coupon per table. One coupon per visit. Not valid with other offers. Expires 7/31/2022

Home is where your story begins, I can help you get there.

BECKY POET 580.763.1871

beckypoet@gmail.com

HERITAGE REALTORS®

3216 N. 14th • 580.765.8888

Bring your summer guests for a tour!

MARLAND MANSION

901 Monument Road • Ponca City • 580-767-0420 60 JULY 2022

THE MODERN MOM LIFE: Story Contributed by Chelsie Hendrickson The dictionary describes an identity crisis as a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person’s sense of identity becomes insecure, typically due to a change in their expected aims or role in society. Why is this relevant? Well, you see, if you had an experience like me and so many other new moms out there, you probably experienced this fun stage after having a child. While not every experience is the same, I would refer to an identity crisis as a time where I was not sure who I was, cried a lot and questioned everything in my life.

While that may seem dramatic, the fact of the matter is, when you bring that bundle of joy into the world, there is somebody else besides your baby in whom you meet that day, and that person is you. And while any change can be scary, there are ways to overcome this time of uncertainty.

For starters, let’s stop setting unrealistic expectations for ourselves. Just one of the many examples, my birthing experience included a c-section and a painful recovery. I have always been sensitive to pain medication and have never liked taking them. So, when I had to rely on my husband most of the time to take care of our son for those first couple of weeks, I was questioning myself as a mom from the start. And why wouldn’t my husband take care of OUR son? I just had a major surgery and could barely get up from lying down without feeling like somebody was ripping me in half (obviously, being ripped in half has never actually happened to me, but if I was a betting person, I would guess it was a similar feeling). The thing is this feeling of failure was all self-inflicted. I don’t know how many times my husband walked in on me crying and being so confused because it’s

his son too, right? The responsibility shouldn’t fall on just me. And why wouldn’t he pick up the slack when I am not 100% healed? Coming from somebody who can be as stubborn as they come and doesn’t like asking for help, just accept that sometimes it takes a village.

Secondly, understand that while there may be compromises along the way, you can have it all.

I questioned how I would be able to still have my career, friends and be a good mom. I know to some it sounds odd, but remember, not only are you going through a life-changing event, but your hormones are more chaotic

than Walmart at the Black Friday Sale.

Also, being gone on maternity leave for weeks really made me insecure in my position and everything that I missed. While that might seem selfish, even though I love being a mom, I still wanted the career and do things I am passionate about. I still wanted to be able to catch up with my friends and be involved in my community. And guess what? I still do all those things. The differences are in how I prioritize things now. I am more aware of my time when I am at work, not working into the evenings and weekends when I am not needed or realizing that some things like emails can wait until the next day if I am at home. For those who situations allow and being a stay-at-home mom is more important to you, then that’s great too! Although, to me that is still a full-time job. As far as friends go, there may be some you lose contact with or don’t see as often, but that’s life and I promise you the ones that truly matter will still be there. You

might have a tiny human in tow and not see them as often, but your real friends will want to be involved in your kiddo’s life and realize putting your child first is how it should be.

Lastly, embrace this new you.

Things may not be as exactly as they were before, but that isn’t a bad thing. Sure, there is probably more anxiety and stress, sleepless nights, questioning how in the world am I going to raise this tiny person to not be an entitled adult who thinks the world owes him everything (just me?) and the occasional crying in the shower. But time is nonrefundable.

And the love you have for your child outweighs all the hard times by a landslide. You are not alone in this time of questioning who you are, and eventually, even though you’re probably not the same person you were before, you will find her again.

Love her, take care of her, and in doing that, you become the happy momma your child deserves.

BE KIND to Parks and Nature!

• Pick up trash when you see it.

• When you are out and about, pick up your trash and if a trash can is not available, dispose of it at home.

• Pick it up trash on your walks and dispose of it.

• Learn how to recycle and do so whenever possible.

• Put out bird feeders and fill your bird baths.

• Plant flowers and shrubs that attract bees.

• Walk our nature trails and enjoy the outdoor recreation Ponca City has to offer.

• Turn off lights when leaving a room to conserve energy and help save our earth.

Saturday, July 23rd will be Adopt a Park Day in Ponca City.

We will encourage groups to clean one of our many parks from 8 am - 10 am. Call the Chamber at 580-765-4400 for more information.

Remember to leave no trace, especially on the 4th of July!

A unique dining experience, TS Fork is a destination for locally-sourced and farm-fresh food in plentiful servings with wonderful ambiance and atmosphere.

Dinner served by reservation Friday & Saturday.

Set menus may be viewed online or on Facebook.

Reservations online or by phone:

www.TSFork.com 800-928-1840

Catering & weekday parties available.

JULY 2022 61

www.poncacityok.gov/parksandrec-registration

DISCOVER SCUBA JUNE 18, 19

GET READY FOR YOUR KIDS TO HA

THE BEST SUM

62 JULY 2022

– JULY ACTIVITIES – KIDS NIGHT OUT PAINT NIGHT AT THE RECPLEX JULY 2 JULY 10 WENTZ INDEPENDENCE DAY SWIM LESSONS AT AMBUC POOL CELEBRATION JULY 11-14 & 18-21 JULY 4 PERFORMING ARTS CAMP, JULY 4TH CELEBRATION 3RD-6TH GRADEMEMBERSHIP Rates as low as $10/month AT LAKE PONCA JULY 11-14 YOUTH FISHING CLINIC Discounts on classes and activities JULY 4 Swim FREE at Ambuc and Wentz pools YOUTH TENNIS CAMP JUNE 7 YOUTH CLAY HANDBUILDINGJULY 11-14, 18-21, 25-28 YOUTH CLAY HAND BUILDING JUNE 7, 14, 21, 28 JULY 5, 12, 19, 26 - Tuesdays YOUTH VOLLEYBALL CAMP ADULT TENNIS LESSONS ADULT CLAY HAND BUILDING JULY 12, 19, 26 JUNE 7-9 JULY 6, 13, 20, 27 - Wednesdays SAND VOLLEYBALL CO-ED LEAGUE GLASS FUSING JUNE 7-JULY 12, Tuesdays SUNRISE KAYAK TOUR JULY 14 PAINT NIGHT JULY 7 SEW FUN! JUNE 12 GLASS FUSING POTTERY JULY 17, 24, 31 & August 7 JUNE 16 JULY 8, 15, 22, 29 - Fridays PERFORMING ARTS CAMP, SUNRISE KAYAK TOURS SCUBA CERTIFICATION JUNE 16, 23, 30 & JULY 7 7TH-12TH GRADE JULY 9-10 JULY 18-21 DISCOVER SCUBA

RECPLEX

JUNE 18, 19 • Ambuc Pool open Thursday – Tuesday 1 ACTING pm - 7 pm YOUTH STAGE CAMP 20-23 • Wentz Pool open Tuesday JUNE – Sunday 1 pm - 7 pm

SWIM LESSONS @ AMBUC POOL

• RecPlex open Mon. – Fri. 5JUNE am - 20-30, 10 pm,Monday-Thursday Sat. - Sun. 6 am - 8 pm

YOUTH BASKETBALL CAMP

JUNE 27-29 • Wentz Cabin Rentals 50/night

AVE

$

• Wentz Private Pool Rental 7:30 pm - 9 pm

MMER.

• Kayak Rentals Friday - Sunday • Camping Daily

• Daily Dock Rental

QUESTIONS? Call Parks & Recreation at 580-767-0420.

JOIN THE

RECPLEX!

• Rates as low as $10/mo.

• Discounts on classes and activities

• Swim FREE at Ambuc and Wentz pools

YOUTH SCHOLARSHIPS

for those who qualify are available for many Parks and Recreation programs; Please call the RecPlex at 580-767-0420 for more information.

JULY 2022 63

If you’ve been thinking of selling your home, there’s never been a better time to list.

Houses are going for top dollar.

Give me a call and let’s get your home on the market!

LIZ GREENE 580-763-4887

Email: LizGreene@kw.com View available properties at lizgreene.kw.com

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P E N G U I

411 N. 14th • Ponca City • 580-765-0825 Each Keller Williams office is independently owned & operated.

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3415 N. 14th Street • Ponca City cannonhonda.com

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What is a Certified Nurse Midwife?

Story contributed by Melissa Ceceña/Alliance Health Ponca City A Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) is a health care provider to women of all ages throughout their lives.

CNMs focus on preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and newborn care, as well as birth control and annual wellness exams.

Certified Nurse Midwives can write prescriptions, provide preventative care and educate on healthy lifestyle choices, like basic nutrition counseling.

Certified Nurse Midwives are Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) backed by the American College of Nurse Midwives. To become a CNM, registered nurses must graduate from a master’s or higher-level nurse-midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and pass

the national Certified Nurse Midwife examination through the American Midwifery Certification Board.

All CNMs must hold state licensure.

CNMs contribute significantly to better care for women and families. This is why a number of health care organizations across the country are embracing collaborative models and adding nurse midwives to health care teams.

Locally, Tammy Dexter APRN CNM collaborates with Dr. Robles and Dr.

Hoekstra. A collaborative care model, with hospital-based births, allows a mom the option of a more natural low intervention birth, while having medical interventions available at a moment’s notice if needed or mothers can also choose to have what is seen as a more traditional hospital delivery with pain medication and/or an epidural.

With this collaborative care model, the first-time c-section rate at the Ponca City hospital has gone from 20% in the first quarter of 2019 to 4% in the first quarter of 2022. Alliance Health Ponca City is also working on plans for a low intervention birth suite that will hopefully bring nitrous oxide, as another pain control option.

“We are here to educate women, so they are empowered, not just told what to do.” – Tammy Dexter Tammy Dexter, APRN, is a certified nurse midwife (CNM), licensed through the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) and the State of Oklahoma. She received her RN in 2000 and worked as a labor and delivery nurse until graduating from the University of Cincinnati with her master’s degree in Nurse Midwifery in 2009.

Tammy sees each patient and delivery as special and unique, striving to provide quality care to each individual. Her philosophy is that pregnancy is a normal process and the human body is amazing. She enjoys working in a collaborative practice that gives women the best of both worlds – allowing the woman and her body to do what it is designed to do with minimal intervention while having access to immediate medical intervention and care should the circumstances arise.

Tammy joined the AllianceHealth Ponca City team in 2018.

Now Enrolling for Fall Classes!

There are THOUSANDS of dollars in scholarships available for students attending the UC this semester, including tuition waivers for high school students.

Visit ucponcacity.com to learn more or to schedule an appointment today.

2800 North 14th St. • Ponca City • 580-718-5600

JULY 2022 65

The Grand Lady of Ponca City

Story and Photos by Marlys Cervantes / Contributing Writer

Sure

, to some she was that princess on the prairie, while to others she was the girl to be pitied after she had grown up and then lost her husband and grandeur. If you grew up in Ponca City, chances are you have a story that fits somewhere in that mix depending on if you only heard the version that fits with Marland’s Grand Home and the Marland Mansion, or if you were here in the 1970s and 1980s and witnessed the mysterious woman as she strolled through the city.

My family saw Mrs. Marland as she would take a break from her walks and watch basketball at Unity Gym when my husband and brother and others played. She would simply come in, sit down on the front row of the bleachers, and just rest and watch the game.

Never intrusive, and never asking for anything. It was hard for our children to believe she had once lived in the beautiful estates we showed them later after they had played around her feet while the games went on. To them, she was just the nice, quiet lady who must like basketball.

What I believe I can say about Lydie Marland is, she was her own woman. At least, she was during those years when she came back to Ponca City in 1975 until her death in 1987, and I would think she had to be during her time gone from this city. She was not embarrassed by her circumstances, even after

66 JULY 2022

coming back to Ponca City with little to nothing after being gone for years. She did not hide out from the people around her, nor did she try to insert herself into the city or its people in any overt manner. Such is her mystery. And that may be precisely the mystery of the woman we can watch come to life on the Ponca Playhouse stage in July.

In 2017, Ponca Playhouse hosted the premiere of “Lydie Marland in the Afterlife,” a drama by Isabella Russell-Ides. That year the Pickens were sponsors of the production, and Hugh Pickens believes it was his wife’s persistence that led the Playhouse board of directors to agree to deliver this unorthodox view of the life of Lydie Marland.

Pickens says, “And so, in her memory I am dedicating this year’s performance of ‘Lydie Marland in the Afterlife’ to my late wife Dr. S.J. Pickens, who will have died five years ago this October.”

Hugh grew up in Ponca City, and the Pickens moved back here in 2005 and began contributing to the cultural aspects of the city immediately, making Dr. Pickens an adopted lady of the City herself, even if we were only lucky to have her a few years. Her

Allie Saunders as Young Lydie rehearsing.

impact, as well as that of Ponca City’s Hugh Pickens, can be seen in numerous aspects of the city and surrounding areas.

Pickens is pleased to bring the production back to Ponca City this year. He even has a website with information about the production, its history and importance. On it, Pickens states, “Everyone knows the dry facts of the Marlands’ lives but sometimes it takes a playwright or a poet to help us understand those facts. I hope everyone who comes to see this play will leave with a new recognition of the role E.W. and Lydie Marland played in our community, a new understanding of the decisions they made in their lives and a new appreciation of the influence the Marlands continue to have on Ponca City right up through the present.”

“This is such an incredible story that I loved it the moment I heard about it.”

Others agree with this and knew they wanted to be part of the

production when it was first announced as this year’s summer fund-raiser. For instance, Ryan Brown, who was a director in 2017, was honored when asked to serve as co-producer this year.

Brown had directed the staged reading for the Pickens and the Playhouse board of directors to gauge their initial interest that first year. Brown says, “This is such an incredible story that I loved it the moment I heard about it.”

Playing the role of the older Lydie Marland as she reflects on her own life is Meghann Borum, a veteran Playhouse actress, who also played the role five years ago. Since then, Borum has dealt with the loss of her own father, leading her to have a deeper understanding of the portions of the drama where Lydie speaks of both Mr. Marland and her birth father. It goes to show that even if

See GRAND LADY Continued on Page 69

Story by Adam Leaming, Ponca City Public Schools / Contributing Writer I wanted to present my top ten moments from the last 2021-2022 school year. I’m nearing my first full year on the job with Ponca City Public Schools.

I thought I would break down my personal milestone moments from the 21-22 school year. Number seven will shock you! Haha, I’m kidding, but now you’ll for certain read number seven.

10) Starting in my new role as Executive Director of Operations. It was a tall task stepping into a brand-new position in a large fast-moving organization. My first day I was welcomed with donuts and greeted with warm smiles, but it was instantly down to business. My first day we started with Superintendent’s cabinet and the happenings of the district. It was incredibly humbling how large the responsibility felt on day one, but I knew instantly I was back home.

9) Touring POHI. I had really never ventured deep into our high school. The first time I was being shown around the High School I felt lost and in awe of the vastness of the High School. I was shown ornate features of the high school and how the school has evolved in style and function over the last 100 years. I remember thinking I was transplanted to an entirely different community with its own unique names and acronyms. The Howell, Anderson, Commons, Retro, MSB, P-building have all found their way into my daily vocabulary. If you’ve never had the opportunity to take a tour of our high school, you’re missing out. It’s truly one of the gems of our community.

8) Installation of our video board and turning it on for the 1st football game. The video board was tucked into a locker room when I first started. I use the term “tucked,” very loosely. I had no idea of the scale and scope of that new scoreboard for Sullins stadiumuntil they had cranes brought in to install it. Wow! That scoreboard is definitely a prominent addition to Sullins and brought a whole new level to the spectator experience.

7) Passing the bond issue. When the bond issue passed in October, I was filled with pride for our community and was very excited

for what we could do with these funds to bring these incredible ideas to life. Little did I grasp the true extent of how impactful this bond would be in this position. I meet multiple times daily to plan and track these projects. At the time of publication, you can look around at most of our sites and witness some kind of improvement happening. I have come to understand first hand that behind each of these projects, is a team of professionals dedicating hundreds of hours of work to carefully plan and bring ideas to reality. To compound matters, we try and rush these projects to complete them over the summer which can create its own fair share of challenges.

None of these enhancements would occur without the support and encouragement of the community we serve. Thank you, Ponca City, for continuing to reinvest in your schools.

6) The flooded lawn of Howell. One beautiful January Sunday, my wife and I woke up and thought we would tackle the grocery shopping for the week very early in the morning. As we left our home and traveled on Overbrook to 5th Street, I pointed out how much water was on the road, which was odd, as at that time we were in a drought in our area. I was commenting about how sad someone was going to be that they had developed a water leak overnight.

As we neared the high school and I was mentally checking off the properties that the water was not coming from, I grew more alarmed as we neared the high school. Sure enough, the front lawn of the Howell was literally underwater. There were ducks on the corner of 5th and Overbrook. We had a water line that decided to fail under the lawn and it bubbled and flowed all night long. Our Sunday plans were changed as I scrambled to get Stolhand’s to rescue the high school. Thankfully they made quick work of the leak and now I have a newfound respect for how much water can come out of a water line overnight.

Next month, I will bring you my final 5. Until then Ponca City, enjoy your summer and know that we’re working hard to improve your school district and make you proud!

JULY 2022 67

Recipe and Photos by Paul

Muehlberg / Contributing Writer

Grilled Corn & Black Bean Salad with Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing

Grilled corn salad with crisp romaine lettuce and black beans topped with crunchy bacon and drizzled with a cool ranch dressing brightened with cilantro and lime is the perfect summer side for a backyard cookout.

Ingredients: • • • • • • • •

1 head of romaine lettuce, finely chopped

1 14 ounce can of black beans, drained & rinsed 6 ears of corn, shucked

1 red onion, cut into wedges

5 oz cherry tomatoes, halved 1 jalapeno, sliced

1 avocado, sliced into wedges

6 slices of bacon, cooked until crispy and chopped

Cilantro lime ranch dressing:

• • • • •

1 seasoning pack buttermilk ranch dressing Juice and zest of 1 lime

4-5 sprigs of fresh cilantro 1 cup mayonnaise 1 cup buttermilk

Instructions: Add all the ingredients for the dressing to a blender or food processor and pulse until smooth. Transfer to bowl and reserve. Add the avocado wedges to a small bowl and toss with the lime juice. Reserve.

Place the corn on the grates of a grill preheated to high heat turning until charred on all sides, about 10-15 minutes. 5 minutes before the corn is done, place the onion wedges on the grill turning until charred on all sides. 3 minutes before the onions are done, add the jalapeno to the grates turning until charred on all sides 2-3 minutes.

On a rimmed baking sheet, slice the corn from the cobs. Slice the jalapeno and chop the red onion. Next add the chopped lettuce, black beans, corn, jalapeno and onion to a large bowl. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper and toss until well combined. Top the salad with the tomatoes, bacon and avocado wedges. Garnish with additional cilantro leaves, if desired, and serve drizzled with the cilantro lime ranch dressing.

68 JULY 2022

GRAND LADY Continued from Page 66

as a one-act play in a festival for independent theaters in Dallas, later expanding it to a fuller production when asked to do so by the Pickens, the first individuals from Ponca City to experience the production.

you’ve seen this drama when it was produced in the past, your current experience may well be different.

Borum says, “It feels very empowering to play this woman who is coming to terms with her life and coming to terms with the choices she made for better or for worse.” Borum is reprising her role as the older Lydie, and newcomer Allie Saunders will be the younger version of Lydie.

Director Sam Stuart says, “This is an awe-inspiring cast. I am humbled by their trust and their willingness to be honest and gentle at the same time.

Lydie is a true Ponca City legend, and these women will do her proud.”

Diving into a character’s mind is something viewers will have witnessed in many films that are creative nonfiction, and it is one of my favorite types of writing. The author takes history, historical figures, and the impact of them on their

Lydie Marland was a debutante after being adopted by the wealthy E. W. Marland and his first wife, then she was the 2nd wife of oil magnate Marland, later becoming the first lady of Oklahoma, and then a woman who went missing for over 20 years. With that variety of persona, who was the real Lydie Marland?

surroundings, and then dives deeper into their minds than has been accomplished by past biographies or has been experienced because we did not live in their lifetimes and could not possibly know all of their internal thoughts. Playwright RussellIdes does just that in the intriguing drama that was first performed

Stuart explains it this way: “I think one of the reasons this play resonates with me so strongly is because it is about women’s issues, like ownership and identity. Even though it is about Lydie Marland, in many ways it is about all women, and who we are, who we allow ourselves to become, and who owns our lives. I think many of us will see a little Lydie in ourselves.”

In the drama, the older, dead Lydie

confronts her younger self in a series of questions and conversations that challenge our perceptions and will leave the audience thinking. Thinking about both her history and our own life stories. How have your choices, good and bad, made a difference in the outcomes of your life story?

How do you make sure you are your own person and not simply someone others want you to be? Then, even after all that, how does being that person fit into the community or the world around you?

Come see the production and give it some thought. “Lydie Marland in the Afterlife” is part of the “Oklahoma Pride Series” that started with two successful years of the production of “The Broken Statue.” The production will be presented at Ponca Playhouse at 301 S. 1st Street in Ponca City and will be performed on July 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. and on July 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $20 and can be purchased online at www.

PoncaPlayhouse.com. Please contact the Playhouse at 580-765-5360 for further information.

UPDATE ON FUEL PRICES Why is my Ponca City Energy bill higher than usual?

The electric grid relies heavily on natural gas for power generation.

Compared to 2021, natural gas market prices were up 291% in May of 2022 and 248% in April of 2022. Some factors cited for the rise in natural gas prices include: unusually high temperatures in some parts of the U.S., the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the rising demand for U.S. natural gas exports, and depleted natural gas storage.

1.79

2.62

4.90

1.74

2.66

6.60

1.75

2.91

8.14

Henry Hub Natural Gas Spot Price (Dollars per Million Btu)

20

21 MARCH

22

20

21 APRIL

22

20

21 MAY

22

“Our wholesale power supplier, OMPA (Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority) has informed us that it does not expect higher than normal market prices for natural gas to end anytime soon, stated Phil Johnston, General Manager of Ponca City Energy.” Johnston continued, “These prices have impacted the cost of electricity in recent months.”

Increases in natural gas prices are passed along from OMPA to member cities, such as the City of Ponca City, through the Energy Cost Adjustment.

The Energy Cost Adjustment is used to make up the difference in monthly changes to the cost of delivering power.

Increases in the Energy Cost Adjustment from OMPA are passed along to Ponca City Energy customers through the Power Cost Adjustment. Utility bills that are received through the mail refer to this cost as a “Power Cost Adjustment” and bills received through email refer to this cost as a “Fuel Adjustment.” Both are listed separate from base rate charges.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

JULY 2022 69

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Sangria Cocktail of the Month

Mixed by Jill Rowe/Staff Writer

Sangria is a drink of history. It has evolved from humble beginnings to becoming a famous, refreshing party punch sipped worldwide. Not only do I love Sangria for its rich history, but because it also has enough variation to please just about any palate.

The origin of Sangria is highly disputed. Some believe it was invented by the Romans when they invaded the Iberian Peninsula and planted grapes on its land thousands of years ago.

During that time, the water was unsafe to drink. It was customary to fortify it with alcohol to kill the bacteria. The first Sangrias were likely a highly dilute blend of wine, water, herbs, and spices. Sangria, punch, and bishop wine are all derivatives of spiced wines that have been drunk for thousands of years. These wines (with added spices and sweetened with sugar) were called Hippocras.

Sangria had its official debut in the United States at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The Spanish World area served this fruity wine punch to its visitors for the first time and had Americans craving this booze-filled punch!

There are many different interpretations of what “Traditional Sangria” is. The main components include fruit, sweetener (such as brown or cane sugar), base alcohol (such as brandy or rum), and a fruity, dry Spanish red wine (like Tempranillo, Garnacha, or other Rioja wine). Sangria’s original base is red wine, a long-standing tradition in Europe dating back to the Middle Ages.

Modern-day Sangria is a wine punch made with fruit and other spirits. Some Sangria recipes stray far from tradition. I always encourage people to mix their drinks the way they prefer, with the ingredients they enjoy. If you prefer red wine, try a fruity and dry younger wine. Avoid older, more complex red wine. If you enjoy white wine, try a lighter, unoaked chardonnay. Pink wine can be delicious in a Sangria. Look for a dry rosé and try incorporating raspberries, cranberries, and peaches as the fruit in the punch.

Do you have leftover wine from dinner last night? I applaud you for your self-control. Try making a Sangria with it. Throw in some fruit, pour some extra liquor, top with ice, add a little soda water for crispness, and you have an incredible summer sipper! Cheers!

Sangria

• Red Wine range • Sliced Lemon & O • 1 Cinnamon Stick • 4 oz Simple Syrup • 2 oz Brandy a big pitcher and the ingredients in Combine da water. top with ice and so

JULY 2022 71

OCT

22

KAY COUNTY EVENTS JUL

2

Live Music Five Year Gap @ Hideaway Marina 1000 McFadden Cove Road, Ponca City 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

JUL

4

Annual Fourth of July Fireworks Show Lake Ponca, Ponca City 9:45 PM - 10:45 PM The annual 4th of July Fireworks Show over beautiful Lake Ponca will be Monday, July 4, at 9:50pm (dusk).

This is a free fireworks display.

72 JULY 2022

The fireworks will be choreographed to music and can be heard on your local radio station if you tune to KPNC -FM 101 Country.

A safety zone will be buoyed off on Lake Ponca beginning at approximately 7:00 pm on the 4th.

If you are in a watercraft on Lake Ponca after 7:00 pm, please stay out of the buoyed-off area until the fireworks are over and the buoys have been removed.

As part of the safety zone, Lake Ponca Park will be closed on July 2, 3, and 4 to allow for the setup of the display that will be located on the west dam of Lake Ponca, adjacent to Lake Ponca Park.

Please remember that private fireworks are not allowed on or around the Lake Ponca Recreation

Area or any of the roadways or water areas around Lake Ponca. The City of Ponca City wishes you an enjoyable and safe 4th of July Holiday.

JUL

5

Free Movie Tuesday Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone 104 East Grand Ponca City 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

JUL

7

John McNeese Gallery Opening Reception 400 E. Central Ponca City 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM The City Arts organization has announced the opening of the John McNeese Gallery set for Thursday, July 7 with a reception at 5pm, followed by a dedication and ribbon cutting at 5:30pm. The new 1,000 square foot art gallery is located inside suite 101 on the first floor of the City Central building. The new gallery is to be dedicated to longtime arts advocate and philanthropist, Mr. John Porter McNeese. Following the dedication and ribbon cutting, the public is invited to view the one-night exhibition entitled “Maxine Warren:

Monotypes.” This exhibit is a selection of original works by Oklahoma artist and Ponca City native, Mrs. Maxine Warren (1927–2014), from her family’s private collection. Warren, a former art instructor for Ponca City Public Schools, obtained her art degree from Oklahoma State University in 1948 while studying under wellknown artist Doel Reed. All pieces will be for sale and proceeds from this exhibition directly benefit the City Arts organization.

Want to have your event listed? Submit your events to editor@poncacitymonthly.com before the 5th of the PRIOR month.

JUL

12

Dye and Dye Again 220 East Central Ponca City 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM Join us on Tuesday, July 12th for a fun-filled evening of visiting with friends and lifting up a pint or two or three while you tie-dye your own Vortex Alley T-shirt.

The cost is $35, and in exchange, you will receive a white Vortex Alley T-shirt, all the needed materials to tie-dye, and your first pint. Mo and Dana will be there to help you with any questions you have or any guidance that 1st timers may need.

Both times we have held this event, it was so much fun for everyone, and we were completely booked! Don’t miss out on making your very own 1-of-a-kind VAB T-shirt.

Let’s all get together and “Dye and Dye Again!”

JUL

12

Free Movie Tuesday Pinocchio (1940) 104 East Grand Ponca City 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

JUL

16

Live Music Candice and the Business Casual @ Hideaway Marina 1000 McFadden Cove Road Ponca City 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

JUL

17

Tap into PYE Sunday Funday Edition 1000 McFadden Cove Road, Ponca City Noon – 2:00 pm

Join Ponca Young Employees for Sunday Funday at Hideaway Marina.

Bar and grill will be open.

JUL

19

Free Movie Tuesday Shaun The Sheep 104 East Grand Ponca City 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Join us for a Sunday Funday at Hideaway Marina Sunday, July 17th Noon - 2pm

JUL

22

City Arts Film Series Pan’s Labyrinth 104 East Grand Ponca City 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

JUL

23

Kawfest/Christmas in July 700 Morgan Square N Kaw City 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM KawFest/Christmas in July promises a day of fun for the entire family on July 23, from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. Located on Pioneer Beach at Kaw Lake and at the Community Building in Kaw City, the festivities include a lighted boat flotilla, boat poker run, motorcycle poker run, fireworks, two bands, arts and crafts, kid’s games, dunk tank, and food booths.

As always KawFest is a day filled with great family activities. People of all ages will enjoy all of the activities on the beach including music.

The boat poker run starts at the McFadden Cove Marina and travels to various docks, ending at the Pioneer Beach.

Admission is $5 per car, and the gates open at noon.

JUL

26 JUL

29

JUL

Free Movie Tuesday Sonic The Hedgehog 2 104 East Grand Ponca City 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Ponca City Main Street’s Crazy Days Street Party & Sales 4th and Grand Ponca City 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM The Crazy Days Street Party is a free community event hosted by Ponca City Main Street on the last full weekend in July each year. The Party happens at the Veteran’s Plaza in downtown Ponca City, from 5:00 9:30 p.m. and includes food trucks, live music, and various other activities. The Party on Friday night coincides with Crazy Days Sales in downtown Ponca City that start on Thursday and run through Saturday, with many stores extending their business hours during these three days. This gives young entrepreneurs an opportunity to make, sell, and market refreshing beverages for our downtown shoppers. Visit merchant locations to see each store’s specials and sales during Crazy Days.

30

Live Music Larry Newsom @ Hideaway Marina 1000 McFadden Cove Road, Ponca City 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

AUG

6

Family Fun Day 1300 Summers Place Ponca City 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Join us for Family Fun Day 2022! We will have bounce houses, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, petting zoo, an indoor vendor show and so much more!

Admission is only $10 per car.

All proceeds go to supporting foster families in Kay County and surrounding areas.

AUG

6

PYE Golf Scramble 2928 L A Cann Dr, Ponca City, Registration Begins: 2:00pm Tee Time: 3:00pm Join us for an afternoon of fun with a 9-hole golf scramble at Wentz!

Buy-in is $30 a person with lots of great prizes. Plus, bring some school supplies to donate to PCPS for a chance to win Chamber Bucks!

JULY 2022 73

PONCA CITY MONTHLY

I

t is not easy to find a soul that doesn’t love summer. The sticky, mosquito thick, blistering heat of an Oklahoma summer is not what most people love. It’s the casual, sunlight soaked, lazy days state-ofmind that summertime brings. The sizzling heat paired with our carefree mindset naturally pushes us towards summer’s favorite sweet treat, ice cream. For the freshest, most delectable ice cream in the area, all roads lead to Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Store.

Oklahomans take Braum’s for granted. As one of only five states that house Braum’s, we take for granted that it is always here. It is always consistent. It always has the best Butter Pecan ice cream that is beyond compare. They have been scooping patrons the freshest and most delicious ice cream for over 50 years. With hundreds of stores throughout a five-state region, Kay County is lucky to have two locations conveniently located in Ponca City and Blackwell.

This exceptional freshness extends to their milk, ice cream, butter, cottage cheese, yogurts, dips and more, all of which Braum’s produces themselves.

What’s more, they bake all their breads, cakes, cookies, and bagels in house. Endless containers of dreamy ice cream, sherbet, and frozen yogurt are available to take home from their market, seven days a week.

A constant message from people who have lived in Oklahoma, but no longer live here, is “I never realized how good Braum’s was until it wasn’t always there.” Braum’s is truly an That unmistakable neon pink and blue ice cream cone attracts Oklahoma Oklahomans like moths to a flame. It screams treasure happiness and summertime. With 26 delightfully and is sometimes different, hand-dipped flavors to choose from at undervalued until that Butter Pecan ice cream any time, narrowing down the choices can feel craving hits and you’re outside their 330-mile endless. In Ponca City, Cookie Dough ice cream radius. Their scrumptious ice cream, sundaes 2508 N. 14th St., Ponca City. reigns supreme as the most beloved flavor and treats are fun and youthful, but don’t be according to Store Manager, Kim Hall. As luck 580.765.9038 fooled by that enthusiasm. The flavors are (and Braum’s) would have it, any flavor can be strong, and they are special. Summer is life at Hours: transformed into its best and as the thermometer is rising, chill Open daily a thick, signature out with the most sensational dessert that never 6:00am – 10:45pm Braum’s milkshake. fails to please. Ready. Set. Summer. Braum’s.

In addition to the Happy eating!! gobs of diverse flavors, Braum’s has an extensive Fancy Sundae selection, each crowned with a sugary, fiery red, maraschino cherry.

Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy Store

Braum’s is the only major ice cream producer in the country to milk their own cows, who are living the good life on a farm just southeast of Oklahoma City.

This means dairy products are delivered straight from the farm to Ponca City (and all locations) every other day. Stores are only built within a 330-mile radius of their farm to assure freshness is at its peak.

TOP THREE FOR ME

The orange sherbet. It’s a sweet, citrusy punch in the mouth, in the best way.

The previously mentioned Butter Pecan ice cream is rich, nutty, and irresistible.

This is one of the only places still around to get an old school Banana Split.

For more delicious food fun, check out @foodcrushok on IG and Facebook Show us what you’re eating! Tag us on IG with #LookAtMePC

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Backyard

Gardener

l a t n i M g Goin ealth h l a t n e m r u o y r o f – T MIN ing Writer Kat Long / Contribut Story and Photos by

I am a mint lover: I love the fact that it wanders all over the yard, that you cannot contain it no matter what you do and that it grows even in the dead of winter here in Oklahoma. Mainly, because dead of winter is all relative. February and 50 degrees? Let’s go find some mint. But the real love of mint comes from its many culinary uses. From drinks to desserts, let us celebrate and go a little MINTal. From the plant family Lamaiceae, mint is known and can be identified by the unique square stem and opposite leaves. Yup, it is actually square. There are always a few exceptions to any rule, but most square stems are mint. And the mint family is mighty.

Think basil, chia, lavender, oregano, thyme, savory, sage and on and on, including all those lovely flavored mints like mojito and spearmint.

Planting Mint Let’s address the wandering problem first. Don’t plant mint if you want a controlled environment. Put it in a pot and put that potted mint on a stand, on the balcony, in the yard, by the patio or anywhere. Just remember to water it occasionally and you will have a mighty mint plant. However, if you would like to embrace the chaos and wander that is mint, pick a little-used corner of the yard; might I suggest a corner that is occasionally mowed or weed-eaten.

Trimming your mints a couple of times of year will have it putting more energy into the leaves than into the rooting system. And freshly mowed mints smell heavenly.

What Mint To Plant The short answer is: it depends. Do you want a medicinal mint? Oregano, rosemary and basil are a great medicine cabinet.

Oregano is a natural antibiotic; rosemary can be used for soothing any body ache (great for headaches) and basil is a great tummy soother.

All are excellent kitchen herbs and grow well together at various heights.

I love the true mints and have an abundance of lemonbalm, mojito and spearmint all over the yard. We mow all of them at the end of June and then let them go to flower for fall. Lemonbalm, like its name, is an excellent balm for anxiety when steeped for tea, either fresh or dried. Also a great sleepytime tea. Mojito is of course for the mojito drink or what we have at my house, No-mos. Recipe is on Page 79. And spearmint. You can just chop up spearmint and mix into salads, add to strawberries, make tea, distill with 100% vodka to make mint extract for cookies and candies. Basically, what can’t you do with mint?

See GARDENER Continued on Page 79

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GARDENER Continued from Page 76 Toxicity What you can do is overdo mint. Sage, pennyroyal, shisho and hyssop are heavy in extracts of thujone, pulegone and perilla ketone, which are all naturally occurring terpenes. These have a range of therapeutic uses, but like anything in nature, large amounts can be, how shall we say, psychedelic in their delivery to the nervous system.

So, moderation is always a good path to follow with the mints. Just a caution.

Bee-Love Bees love mint! All kinds of pollinators will come to your yard if you have mint going to flower. Don’t be alarmed if you see wasps and small-winged creatures you cannot identify. Mint’s powerful bouquet is a siren call to all the littles. The wasps are not there for you and will pretty much ignore humans; just don’t get between them and the mint flowers. Mint flowers come in all shapes and sizes, so having a variety means a variety of pollinators. The mojito mint really brings the big guys: larger wasps, moths and sometimes hummingbirds.

The basil and thyme bring the little sweat bees and what look like flying ants, which are flying ants, but they are still cool. Check out this website for a native bee identification poster and information on each species at https://bit.ly/2ZHMdXX.

Another great thing about mint, especially for bees and beekeepers, is mint keeps the mites that set up shop in beehives population low to none. Having mint in your chicken area does the same thing. So feel free to plant some lemonbalm, catnip or spearmint around the bee box or chicken coop.

Crafty Lastly, for all the crafters and DIYers out there, sage, bergamot, rosemary and hyssop, after drying, make great sachets for pillows, storage chests or just to tuck in the linen closet. Drying herbs is as easy as twine, paper sack and a cat/dog-free environment. I use the spare closet and hang them to dry in the fall. All ready for use around Thanksgiving into Christmas for cooking, tea and gift giving.

I hope this gives those jaded about mint a new way to look at it, and for all the newbies, don’t listen to the jaded: you can always pull it up later. I promise. My mojito has migrated all over the yard and is currently set up shop in the strawberry plant. It is a lovely combination, mint and strawberries. Give it a try and of course, Happy Gardening!

NO-MOS

(Nonalcoholic Mojito) • • • • • •

Large jar (I use a 1/2 gallon) Muddler or wooden spoon

1 cup torn mojito (or your favorite mint) leaves 4 limes quartered (or a lime juicer for halves)

4 tablespoons agave (honey or simple sugar works too) 1 liter soda water (lime flavored is good!)

Put mint leaves, agave and 3 limes squeezed in the jar and muddle together for a couple of minutes. You can also do this in a bowl; then add some water and put in the jar. Fill the jar halfway with filtered water. Then fill jar with the soda water. Stir. Add ice to glasses and pour over the ice.

Strain if you like, but not necessary. Garnish with mint leaf and remaining lime wedges. Serves 4. Use large glasses.

JULY 2022 79

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