River's Edge Magazine March Issue by Rivers Edge Magazine

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Vol. 1 No. 10

Special pull-out Turkey Mountain trail map inside

Your guide to Business â&#x20AC;˘ Recreation & Living along Tulsa's River Corridor

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Losing the Wild Biking Tulsa Zippin' along Post Oak A vision for River Parks March 2013 | 1

2013

Vol. 1 No. 10

Special pull-out Turkey Mountain trail map inside

March

2013

Volume 1, Issue 10

Advertisers Please support our advertisers — they make this publication possible.

Beverly Atteberry, attorney . . . . . . . . . 25 Boomerang Printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Chick-fil-A Leadercast . . . . . . . Back cover Contract Clerical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

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Your guide to Business • Recreation & Living along Tulsa's River Corridor

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Losing the Wild Biking Tulsa Zippin' along Post Oak A vision for river Parks March 2013 | 1

A view of Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness from the east bank of the Arkansas River. PHOTO by vernis maxwell

River’s Edge Magazine is published monthly by the Southwest Tulsa Chamber. It is a guide to Business, Recreation and Living along the Arkansas River corridor. It is distributed at no cost from downtown Tulsa to Jenks and from Brookside to Berryhill and at other select locations in the Tulsa metropolitan area. Our advertising deadline is the 10th of the month preceding the ad’s scheduled insertion.

Articles and advertisements in River's Edge Magazine do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without expressed, written permission. River's Edge Magazine will be available on the website on the 1st of each month following the publication date. Copies may be mailed for a small fee to cover postage and handling.

River’s Edge Magazine

3210 West 51st Street • Tulsa, OK 74107 • 918.446.7010 email: editors@riversedgemagazine.com www.riversedgemagazine.com

River’s Edge Magazine publisher | Matt Crain managing editor | Tracy LeGrand creative director | Susan Coman copy editor/writer | Lisa Stringer writer

Sarah Crain

advertising | Kendra Threet photographer/editor | Vernis Maxwell events editor

Lucinda Grace

graphic designer | Treba Elledge

March 2013 | 3

Dr. Matt Crain

Biking Route 66

President Southwest Tulsa Chamber of Commerce

This stretch of the original Route 66 Highway is Bridgeport Hill, west of El Reno as the highway crosses the Canadian River. PHOTO BY JOHN SISTRUNK / www.jsistrunk.com

e know it as Interstate 44 (or the Skelly Bypass, if you have lived here a long time). The Interstate was commissioned in 1951 to “replace” Route 66 from Oklahoma City to Joplin, which only proves that not all progress will stand the test of time. The only thing that has been replaced is the surface of I-44 - multiple times - with the assistance of miles of dreaded orange barrels that seem to have a life of their own. Replace Route 66? Really? Tell that to hundreds of guests from Europe and around the world who find tracing the old route worth their time and money. A tourist traveling the road by bicycle was recently awakened from sleep by an officer who thought he was homeless. Maybe we locals are the ones

4 | River’s Edge Magazine

who fail to understand the significance of Route 66. The now one-year-old Task Force to reclaim the mystique and majesty of Route 66 in Tulsa is working feverishly on how to restore the former glory of our portion of the Mother Road. Many organizations and interested individuals are lobbying hard to replace the signage that instructs visitors to “bypass” Tulsa using the Interstate instead of enjoying our historic treasure beginning at Southwest Boulevard. Facebook now contains a Wikipedia article entitled, “U.S. Route 66 in Oklahoma.” The entire history of the Mother Road and the various routes it has taken is carefully chronicled there and other places. Two years ago, the Oklahoma Legislature passed a bill to declare Route 66 from Sapulpa to Edmond as the

Historic Route 66 Bike Trail. Thankfully, this bill was later amended to include all of Oklahoma’s portion of Route 66 and plans to fund bike lane construction “as funding permits.” Like the often-proposed and often-defeated efforts to put water in our portion of the Arkansas River (don’t miss Ann Patton’s installment in this issue), taxpayers and politicians have often been inconsistent in their support of reclaiming and restoring Tulsa’s portion of Route 66 (which we will continue to cover in upcoming issues). Why don’t we all get behind both efforts and ensure they have the attention and funding they will require? I’ve heard it said that Tulsa has the luxury of a “real river” and a “national treasure” in Route 66. Let’s put our money where our mouths are. ~

by Mayor Dewey Bartlett

Regional Collaboration Brings in New Jobs

hen it comes to Tulsa and our surrounding community, I wholeheartedly believe we live in one of the best places in America. This viewpoint was strengthened earlier this month when the Tulsa Regional Chamber and other regional partners joined me in announcing a near-record 907 primary jobs were added in January 2013. That’s terrific news for our region and is proof that our collaborative efforts and strategies are working. Tulsa’s Future program, a collaborative effort between the Tulsa Regional Chamber and regional partners, is dedicated to bringing high-paying employment and capital investment to the Tulsa region. This exemplary regional economic development program is gaining momentum that is certain to capture national attention. We all know we have a wonderful community – we just need to make sure everyone else does. We have a lot of capability here and a prosperous environment for employees and employers to work. Our regional area’s quality of

life, geographic location and access to all forms of transportation, workforce training capability, and pool of talent is not lost on those who want to move here. Tulsa’s Future is in its second five-year phase. The initiative is aimed at creating 10,000 primary jobs at an annual salary of $50,000 or greater and generating a capital investment of $1 billion. Those 10,000 primary jobs can, in turn, help create an additional 16,000 jobs. Last month’s job announcements included Verizon, with 500 jobs for a new financial services hub; SWEP, a heat exchanger manufacturer, plans to add up to 75 jobs by 2015; and Borets-Weatherford, an energy-sector manufacturing firm, announced its plans for a new Tulsa regional R&D center that will add at least 30 employees. The remarkable job creation and growth in our area – nearly 13,000 jobs added over two years – can be tied directly to strong, regional partnerships. I’m excited about this unified collaboration that will help us build a stronger, more prosperous community. ~

Dutton helps make dreams come true

on’t be surprised if you see pixie dust twinkling around Joe Dutton. Dutton, of Dutton Travel, joins an elite group of travel industry professionals who have attained a special knowledge of the Disneyland®, Walt Disney World®, Disney Cruise Line® Adventures, and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. As a recent graduate of the College of Disney Knowledge, Dutton has now become part of this elite group. “The College of Disney Knowledge was extremely beneficial to me,” said Dutton.“It was a fun and informative way to learn more about the Disney vacation portfolio. I also feel more confident about selling Disney destinations.”

Anyone who plans to visit any of the Disney properties will benefit from Dutton’s added expertise. “The College of Disney Knowledge has taught me how to add more value to each Disney itinerary so that I can help make every client’s magical dreams come true,” said Dutton. Contact Joe Dutton at (918) 518-5340 to book your trip or find out more information. ~

March 2013 | 5

A dream of River Parks:

by Ann Patton

Excel-ebration on the Tulsa River

The river city: From Tallasi to Tulsa The Tulsa skyline as seen from the west bank of the Arkansas River.

Photo by Vernis Maxwell. Photo of Katie Westby courtesy of the Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa.

On a sunny day in 1972, a society matron named Katie Westby gathered a small group of news reporters on a chunk of concrete debris on the river’s west bank.

Editor’s note: With this article, the River’s Edge continues a series about the heritage and little-known lore of the Arkansas River at Tulsa, part of a forthcoming book, The Tulsa River. ©Ann Patton 2013.

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This view of the Tulsa skyline as seen from the west bank of the Arkansas River is approximately the area where community leader Katie Westby helped demonstrate the need for taking care of Tulsa’s stretch of the river. Photo by Vernis Maxwell.

elow them, the river ran ugly, fouled from sewage treatment plants and unfettered industrial operations, along a meandering channel through unkempt banks that were littered with debris and scattered mounds of stray fill. Following the pollution pattern at the time of U.S. rivers, Tulsa’s share of the Arkansas River was an open sewer running through dumping grounds. It was the last place you would want to bring a visitor in Tulsa, which still thought of itself as America’s Most Beautiful City. Katie Westby, the city’s grand dame, spread out a sumptuous picnic feast with wine, fruit, and fine cheeses for the reporters, who were puzzled. What was afoot? She turned them to look back to the east, back across the river, where the city’s skyline rose majestically. It was a shock. Few people had ever looked at the stunning skyline view from that western vantage point, then used as an open dump for construction debris.

When the reporters filed their stories, they gave Tulsans a whole new perspective on their river, as they reported Katie’s vision of a clean blue river flowing peacefully through ribbons of green parks where families could romp and play. It could be, she said, a birthday present to ourselves in celebration of Tulsa’s 75th birthday in 1973. Many people thought it was folly, but they did not deter Katie. She called it “Excel-ebration.” Where did it come from, this idea to

The 1923 flood shown near the Home Gardens Station, a stop on the Sand Springs trolley line. Archive Photo courtesy of The Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society.

create Tulsa’s beloved River Parks? On a sunny day in 2013, when crowds of strollers, joggers, bikers, online skaters, and Frisbee golfers frolicked on the 45 miles of River Parks trails that stretch along both banks of the Tulsa River, it would be fair to guess that none of them – not the picnickers at the 41st Street Plaza, the runners on Turkey Mountain, or the kids struggling to hold kites soaring in the spring winds – knew how Arkansas River lands were transformed from a wasteland into Tulsa’s most prized strip of real estate. That story might begin a hundred years before, when pioneer visionaries created Newblock Park at the city’s old waterworks in the river lowlands west of downtown. The lush green park, frequently flooded, was in sharp contrast to the oil fields, refineries, and chemical operations burgeoning along the river west of downtown. Perhaps it was Newblock Park, or continued next page March 2013 | 7

above: Tulsa Waterworks in Newblock Park was once utilized as a water plant drawing water from the Arkansas River. Today the facility is used as a community center and resource for artists and art classes. below: One Technology Center at 175 E. 2nd Street in downtown Tulsa now serves as Tulsa City Hall. The structure was originally built by the Williams Company in 2001 following a surge of significant downtown construction in the 1970s that included the nearby Tulsa Performing Arts Center and the Williams Tower – shown at left – which is now known as the BOK Tower. Photos by Vernis Maxwell

maybe Owen, Tulsa’s first park, that inspired other visionaries, too. When city fathers crafted the city’s first master plan, The 1924 Tulsa Plan, envisioned a wellplanned community with landscaped hilltop boulevards (for Sunday drives in the tin Lizzy) overlooking verdant ribbons of green parks weaving along river valleys. Memorable floods at Newblock, and elsewhere, included the 1908 flood that devastated the city, the 1923 flood that wiped out the city’s waterworks and left thousands homeless, and the monster 1943 flood that swamped the region, including Tulsa valleys and the Sand Springs Line. During the ’43 flood, a young Robert J. LaFortune, then a high school student, helped sandbag around Wheatley Pump on the Sand Springs Line. “Water was coming out of manholes and flooding Brookside,” recalled LaFortune.“The water was high on Riverside Drive and all around the 11th Street bridge. There was no riverside development then, just a

8 | River’s Edge Magazine

Leonard Eaton enjoys the view from the east bank of the Arkansas River. Eaton was among the civic leaders who helped shape Tulsa’s skyline in the 1970s with key additions including what is now known as the BOK Tower. Photo by Tracy LeGrand

tangle of trees and weeds along the bank. The only way to see the river was from the 21st Street bridge or the Jenks bridge at 91st. “We would never have thought of going to the river for recreation in those days. Crow Creek ran through my yard, south of Philbrook, and when it flooded, we would swim Crow Creek, at our peril. My parents never knew. Kids would jump into the Crow Creek flood and float down until we could catch hold of a grate and climb out before the creek entered the river.” “The Great Flood of 1943” crested at 19.2 feet at Tulsa on May 20, killing 21 and flooding 4,000 homes. From the 1943 flood came the Corps of Engineers’ Tulsa/West-Tulsa Levees and then-Governor Bob Kerr’s dream of harnessing the river. Twenty years later, when LaFortune became Tulsa Street Commissioner, his secretary Ann Baxter urged him to make something of the Arkansas River. She had worked in the 1950s for Street Commissioner Dean Foster, who tried to stir up river interest. It was a time when the river demanded negative attention, first as something to be conquered when the Skelly Bypass bridged

Robert J. LaFortune served as Tulsa’s mayor from 1970 to 1978 – an era when he assisted in the development of the Tulsa Port of Catoosa and now-iconic additions to the Tulsa skyline including the Tulsa Performing Arts Center and the Williams Center. Photo by Tracy LeGrand

the river at 51st Street, then something to be feared during the massive floods of 1957 and 1959. Records show that the river flooded at Tulsa 50 times between 1907 and 1961. In six of those floods, the river rose as high as 20 feet. Bob LaFortune became Street Commissioner in 1964, by coincidence the same year the Corps closed Keystone Dam. Tulsans, believing flooding was over forever on the Arkansas River, could now begin making other plans for their “tamed” river. The completed dam was scarcely weeks old when it had to hold back flood water, according to the Corps. Nearly a decade later, in 1973 and twice in 1974, the Corps said the dam held back flood waters that could have been as deep as 22 feet in Tulsa. With Keystone Dam complete, some seized the opportunity to pursue a decades-long dream of what became known as River Lakes Park. The late Rex Ball, a legendary Tulsa architect with Hudgins, Thompson, Ball, was a leading spokesman for the beautification project, studied in 1965 for the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.The first problem: water quality. The study found

oil, detergents, coliform bacteria, algae, and other pollutants in the naturally sandy, silty water. “Residents of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area have traditionally, and not without reason, turned their backs on the Arkansas River,” HTB wrote. “Continual negative identification with the river – fostered in part by its odor and pollution – has created a visual and social barrier far more devastating than the physical difficulties of crossing it, which have long since been overcome.” Nonetheless, HTB wrote, these problems could be overcome, and a series of river lakes could be created through Tulsa County. Tulsa “can no longer ignore the possibilities lying literally at its feet. It must protect and develop these areas…. The Arkansas River improvement is the perfect impetus to initiate complementary recreation and open space planning (when) attention is at last focused on the river and its shores by the proposed river improvements… .” By 1968, HTB had completed plans for three “fabridams,”to be constructed of inflatable, rubberized fabric, plus a detailed proposal to beautify 14 miles of the shoreline – to reclaim, as HTB wrote, continued next page March 2013 | 9

“the nation’s largest open sewer ditch.” In 1969, Tulsa Mayor Jim Hewgley shepherded an omnibus bond issue to voters, which included $18.3 million to fund three dams and begin land acquisition. Voters turned it down, by a 70-30 margin. “Low-water dams on the Arkansas River,” said a health official,“would make the river look like a large glass of beer with a head on it.” But by the early 1970s, the nation was coming to terms with the need for environmental change, spurred in part by death-by-pollution water bodies such as Lake Erie. Maybe it would be possible to clean up the Tulsa River, starting with the sewage treatment plants and big industries that discharged directly into the river. Maybe the idea of saving our river was worth another look. Shortly after Bob LaFortune was elected Tulsa’s mayor in 1970, local visionaries began planning to celebrate

the city’s 75th birthday. They organized a program named “Tulsa Excel-ebration,” spearheaded by Darrell Lowrance, president of Lowrance Electronics, and Katie Wesby, the first lady of Tulsa arts, who raised the private funds to sponsor the program. The group hired an out-of-the box planner named Lawrence Halprin to help inspire big dreams and then sort out a slew of great ideas into a very few workable projects that could actually be carried out. “On a Wednesday and Thursday night, we – Bob LaFortune and Katie Westby and I – had maybe 30 people at a workshop in the basement of Trinity Episcopal,” remembered Leonard Eaton, newly imported from New York to Tulsa to be president of National Bank of Tulsa (later renamed Bank of Oklahoma). Halprin was in the dance business and had been instrumental in rebuilding Portland’s waterfront. “Our first goal was to

have everybody understand downtown and what was or was not going on,” Eaton said. “The first night, he assigned everybody to a street corner. He set the rules: each of you has to find a drink or a cup of coffee, but you can’t talk to anybody you know, then come back in an hour to report what you find. Well, this was long before liquor by the drink, so there were no drinks to be found, and the only place open to get coffee was the bus station, and there was nobody walking around to ask.” Some went to the river and found it a dark, empty wasteland. One went to cathedral square and reported nothing but metal fences with spikes on them. “Halprin told us, ‘You all live in the suburbs, and your city is not friendly,’” Eaton said. Eventually the group boiled down ideas to a half dozen projects, including something for the river, a new performing arts center, and a pedestrian mall.

Thanks to community leaders such as Katie Westby and Leonard Eaton, Tulsa enjoys the presence of its world-class facility – the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Photo by Vernis Maxwell

10 | River’s Edge Magazine

They selected advocates for each. The advocates made pitches for their projects, then Halprin made them all switch places and advocate for rival projects. “Joe Williams (then president at the Tulsa-based, multibillion-dollar Williams Companies) led the group advocating renovation of the old Akdar Shriner building for a performing arts center,” Eaton remembered. “But at the last minute, word came in that engineers decided the Akdar floor would not stand up to use of a performing arts center, so we needed to find a way to get a performing arts center downtown.” The Williams Companies was planning its $200 million downtown dynamo, Williams Center, with a dazzling complex of buildings to include a 50-story National Bank of Tulsa building designed by the famed Minoru Yamasaki, architect of the World Trade Center. Downtown was not the place to be in those days, but Williams hoped to revitalize downtown Tulsa with a bold redevelopment plan.

arts center atop Williams’ parking garage. and parks along the river -- city fathers (Earlier, the architect had two towers on agreed with Katie Westby that Tulsa the model, but when John Williams first should create these projects as self-awardsaw it, he picked up one of the tower ed birthday presents to celebrate our blocks and stacked it on top of the other. city’s 75th birthday. “This is the way it ought to be,” he said; The Park and Recreation Departthus was born the 667-foot tower that ment stepped up and built some bike was the tallest building in Oklahoma at paths along the Arkansas, but most Tulthe time.) sans still shunned the river that spawned It was a time when big deals could Tulsa. be struck in a wink. So, when it apWhat could be done to focus atpears that Tulsans wanted a new per- tention on the potential of the river? forming arts center but didn’t want to KRMG’s Ken Greenwood had an idea: pay for it. John Williams agreed to raise “Why don’t we just have a raft race on half the funding. When the cost esti- the river?” mate doubled, Williams just doubled his Greenwood’s question instigated commitment. more than one of the most quirky of “Joe and I just sat in the back of the Tulsa traditions. It also launched the (performing arts center) bus, and John next chapter of history for the Tulsa raised the money,” Eaton remembered. River… ~ They all went together to approach Mrs. Leta Chapman, a leading local philanthropist then living in Sophian Plaza Our Customers Always Return overlooking the river. “John Williams always told me, when somebody agrees, say thanks and get out of there quick. “Well, we all went to her apartment, Williams didn’t do the mayor and John Williams and me, things halfway. and put this big model in the middle of “A couple of days after the engi- the room. Mrs. Chapman looked at it Business Cards • Programs neers said we couldn’t use the Adkar for and said, ‘This is wonderful. We always Brochures • Postcards • Invitations a performing arts center,” Leonard Eaton wanted to do a performing arts center. Menus • Flyers •Newsletters remembered, “Joe Williams shows up at Of course I will give you $3 million.’ Letterhead • Envelopes • Forms my office in the National Bank of Tulsa John said, ‘Thank you,’ and we picked 3615 S. Harvard • 918-747-1844 and rolls out the plan for the Williams up the big model and got out of there boomerangllc@sbcglobal.net Center complex. He points to the pro- quick.” In short order, John Williams raised posed parking garage and says, ‘Look, we could build the PAC on top of the park- private pledges for half the cost of the $17.5 million performing arts center, and ing garage.’ Boomerang Printing add rivers edge.indd 1 5/22/2012 “Nothing would do, we had to take voters approved matching public dollars. the idea immediately to John (Joe Wil- Thus did the nine-block Williams Cenliams’s cousin John Williams, then CEO ter include a 50-story office tower, shopof the Williams Companies),” Eaton said. ping mall, ice skating rink, movie theater, “John called in a couple of construction parking garage – and a performing arts people, then called up Yamasaki and said, center for Tulsa. It took longer for the river parks ‘Take a look at your plans, see if this can project. work.’” When the Excel-ebration ideas were In short order, Yamasaki came back with his big tabletop model of the pro- announced -- the concept of a new Perposed complex, now with a performing forming Arts Center, a downtown mall,

Boomerang Printing

March 2013 | 11

8:48:1

Biking Tulsa

Story and photos by Ed Wagner

Street or sidewalks?

hy do bicyclists ride on the road rather than on the adjacent sidewalk? In Tulsa, Title 37 Section 1009 addresses sidewalk cycling.“No person shall operate a bicycle, rickshaw, or motorized scooter upon a sidewalk within a business district.” Since most arterial streets are lined with businesses, riding a bicycle on the sidewalk is obviously prohibited. Outside a business district it’s perfectly legal to ride on the sidewalk, but it’s neither safe nor smart. Statistics show that sidewalk riders have three times more crashes than bicyclists in the adjacent street. Let’s face it, though, no one cares about statistics because they tell us what happens to other people, not us. Consider sidewalk riding in another light which involves intersections. Most of us are licensed drivers, and we know that many crashes occur at intersections where crossing and turning movements produce conflicts. A quick glance at a city crash map shows this very well. On a sidewalk, every driveway, doorway, or

Statistics show that sidewalk riders have three times more crashes than bicyclists in the adjacent street. Let’s face it, though, no one cares about statistics because they tell us what happens to other people, not us. – Ed Wagner crosswalk is another intersection. Motorists and pedestrians do not expect fastmoving cyclists on a sidewalk, and this is compounded when a sidewalk bicyclist rides against the flow of traffic on that side of the street. Think about this from the motorist’s point of view. He’s about to pull out onto the street, so he’s looking for large, fast-moving vehicles. The sidewalk may be in his field of vision, but in all honesty, he may not see a bicyclist or pedestrian. Vision is an active process. In most cases, we see what we expect to see and our brains actively filter out unnecessary information. Sadly, that means we simply

do not see bicyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists. After a collision, motorists routinely say,“But officer, I never saw him!” It’s often the truth. Pedestrians, children, and pets bring more complications for sidewalk bicyclists.Their movement can be unpredictable, changing direction or stopping in a single step. The only safe way to ride near pedestrians is at pedestrian speeds, yet even an out-of-shape rider can travel at twice the walking pace. Meanwhile, out on the street, traffic moves in predictable ways governed by law and driver’s experience. Predictability is one intent of traffic law. All drivers have a common set of rules. When everyone abides by them, everyone benefits with smoother traffic flow and improved safety.The bicyclist who rides on the street rather than the sidewalk is less likely to crash and more likely to arrive at his destination safely. Ultimately, safety on the road is the responsibility of every driver, regardless of his choice of vehicle. ~

Next month: “But bicyclists run red lights and ride against traffic!”

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My Friend,

The Arkansas River by Lisa Stringer

y father retired from military service when I was 10 years old, and announced that we would be returning permanently to Tulsa, Okla. from Satellite Beach, Fla., leaving the sea behind us. I was disappointed; in my opinion,Tulsa was a fine place to have been born, but offered no sand, no surf, no shells, no sharks. “The Arkansas River runs through it,” my mother tried to assure me, but I was unimpressed. How could a river possibly compare to the Atlantic Ocean? My parents loved to take long drives and see the sights, and many a Sunday afternoon in my youth was spent reading Nancy Drew mysteries in the back seat of my father’s T-bird and ignoring the scenery. I felt these drives were largely a waste of time and gas, until we drove by the Arkansas River. And then I was hooked. When radio station KRMG began hosting its “Great Raft Race” events in the 1970s, I hounded my parents to let me participate, and at 14, a brave uncle and I set sail. Uncle Richard packed our lunch; I packed my cosmetic bag, my hair brush and my chewing gum, as 14-year-old girls have their priorities. When our inflatable raft sprung a leak, my chewing gum patched us up until we eventually crossed the finish line and my uncle swore he’d “never do this again” – as sensible adult males also have their priorities. Since that day, the Arkansas River has been my friend. In the 1990s, I lived for a time within two blocks of the river, and discovered the joy of rising early enough for bike rides before work, with the breeze blowing through my hair, dodging other early risers on foot or on wheels and delighting in one of Tulsa’s natural attractions. Getting the bicycle back up those three flights of stairs seemed nothing after such invigoration. Through the years, I have taken many long walks beside the river, lost in thoughts and plans and perusals but never losing my fascination with the feeling of freedom the river embodies. The river has been a source of both inspiration and outreach, and its serenity has accompanied me to other parts of the city as I have moved from home to home. These days, I make it a point to travel the length of Riverside Drive whenever I can, taking in its beauty and marveling at the changes that have been made to its landscape. I’m filled with civic pride at the pull of the Arkansas River, bringing people to its banks for seasonal recreation and healthful activity, loving the lighted paths and admiring the impressive statuary. I no longer care that I’m not beside the ocean.The Arkansas River has plenty to offer, including sand. There are shells to be found if one looks hard enough, and I can close my eyes and imagine that the din of the dam is the sound of the surf. As for the sharks, I can live without them. I am home. ~

March 2013 | 13

losing the wild T ulsans are extremely fortunate to have an urban wilderness just minutes from downtown. Runners, bicyclists and exploring families have enjoyed the area for decades. The park area closest to the Arkansas River is owned by the City of Tulsa, RiverParks Authority and the George Kaiser Family Foundation. Some of the property “up top” nearer to Highway 75 is privately owned. About 60 acres of Turkey Mountain – located at the northeast corner of 61st Street and Highway 75 – is now up for sale. It is zoned for commercial use and the owners are asking $3.2 million. According to Bob Parker, whose family owns the property, the development plans to leave a 13-acre “buffer” on the north and east sides of the property so that there will be plenty of green area left next to the Turkey Mountain park area. A detailed site map provided by the developer (facing page) shows commercial, office and multi-family areas with the family areas slated to be closest to the park land. Although many enthusiasts are disappointed in the recent development, they are hopeful that most of the wilderness will remain intact. RiverParks Authority Executive Director Matt Meyer says, “This is private property, and the owners are free to do what they wish with their property.” He added that he would like for the development to be “compatible with our urban wilderness next door.” In cleaning up the property, deadfall and briers were removed, leaving behind the viable oak, hackberry and pecan trees, says Parker, who is the managing realtor through Whiteside & Grant. According to Parker, about half-mile by quarter-mile

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plot of the “Old Boy Trail” would be the only Turkey Mountain trail to be possibly impacted if the land was to sell and be used for commercial purposes. “If you look at a map of Turkey Mountain, you see it is a combination of private and public ownership,” Parker says. “We’ve allowed our property to be used for park purposes, but it is actually private property. I’m a runner and rider, and I use it myself. We would love to sell it to Tulsa Community Foundation, RiverParks or the Kaiser Foundation. We think our land would make a phenomenal entrance for the park itself. Whatever gets done with it, we won’t let it take away from the natural beauty. We think it is one of the prettiest bits of land in Tulsa with its incredible woods and views.” Ken “TZ” Childress, who runs in the area several times a week and writes a blog about his experiences, says, “From where the Old Boys Trail turns north, everything west was deep, dense briers and deadfall. Most of the trees were choked off from the thick undergrowth.We really had no trails in most of what they cleared, other than Old Boys. “A few years back, I had the bright idea of cutting a loop through this area – but after hacking and clipping for an hour and a half, I had got about 30 feet and ditched the idea.” According to Childress, the area also was covered with “meat-eating thorns.” “The fact that prospective buyers could not see what was for sale is basically why this land was cleared. If these folks finish the job, smooth the dirt, and seed or sod, the place will end up looking like a park.” Brian Hoover of TATUR Racing organizes many of the

events held on the mountain. He is saddened by the development and says,“Although the land being razed now will have a minimal impact on the areas that most runners use, we feel that development often breeds other development and I’m worried that other parcels will soon be cleared and developed also.” Childress says, “If they develop all of the private property up there, the Half-and-Half Marathon, Turkey and TATURs and Keep It Wild will have to be re-routed. If they make the Pipeline Trail unusable, it’ll really mess things up. “I know the landowner has every right to sell his land, and it seems that they are doing the best they can to keep it natural. One of the equipment operators has said that they’d smooth the path where the unearthed trail was for us. A little bike traffic will bring this trail back in no time,” says Childress.“I would like to see another trail created to loop through the cleared area. We might even gain a quarter-mile of trail out of all this. The best thing we can hope for is for some generous somebody to buy this land and set it aside for park use.” Hoover speaks for many enthusiasts when he says,“Turkey is a rare and urban place where walkers, runners, hikers and mountain bikers go for fitness and fantastic scenery that we do not have to travel outside the city limits to enjoy. It is our hope that the land, not owned by the city, will be bought by foundations or individuals who have the preservation and sustainability of our beloved Turkey Mountain in mind and keep it from further development.” ~

Conceptual Site Plan 61st & Highway 75 ‐ Tulsa, Oklahoma You can read more on Childress’ blog, “...miles to go before I sleep ...” The map above shows the current ownership division of what is being used at www.trailzombie.com or find it on the TATUR blog site at www.tatur. org. To find out more about the property being sold, contact Bob Parker at 918-605-5865.

at the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness. Below shows a detailed site map illustrating what developers envision for the area. SITE MAP BELOW COURTESY OF WHITESIDE AND GRANT REALTORS

March 2013 | 15

16 | Riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Edge Magazine

Slash marks indicate area currently being developed by Whiteside and Grant Realtors.

This map shows the currently marked trails in the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness. The area indicated by slash marks at the northeast corner of 61st Street and Highway 75 is the proposed development by Whiteside and Grant Realtors. 2/11/13 2:00 PM

URBAN WILDERNESS AREA

More information about the wilderness, current events, training runs, and trail conditions can be found on several different websites including: www.riverparks.org www.tatur.org www.turkeymtn.com or search Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness on facebook.

Red Trail A good trail for beginners and families. It is slightly less than a mile and can be hiked in about 20 minutes

Blue Trail This trail goes through the upper part of the park and has some of the steepest grades. It is 1.5 miles long and goes past one of the most scenic ponds on the mountain.

Yellow Trail This is the main trail and most used. It’s a 4.4-mile loop up to a beautiful vista with views of the city and the river. Part of the trail is handicap-accessible and offers beautiful tree-filtered light from the east. While the entire trail takes two or three hours on foot, hikers can get to the vista and back in about 45 minutes.

Pink Trail This trail covers the scenic western half of Turkey Mountain. It’s the longest trail at 5.7 miles. While the lower trails are marked with new posts, this upper trail is marked with pink squares on the trees. The Pink Trail must be accessed from the upper parking areas or the YMCA. Part of these trails are on privately owned property and may be lost due to development.

March 2013 | 17

by Food Spies

New food concept debuts in Tulsa

Rolling out Made Market

e Food Spies love any new thing in food and Doubletree is rolling out a new thing with their Made Market. Tulsa is the test ground for a new concept under the Hilton brand and we hear everything Made Market makes is “homemade, ready-made or made to order.” Head Chef Jeffery Stark and Food and Beverage Manager Gary Bookout praised the menu for the quality and taste and say the food is mostly locally sourced and prepared in-house.Tours held before the Feb. 7 opening showed off a sleek, modern, upscale, calming, convenient, engaging, technology-friendly, and comfortable space. It is both grab-and-go and designed to make you linger. A glass wall hung with glass terrariums filled with plants suggest a meditative paradise, yet throughout the space are long communal tables and even at the dimpled, copper-topped bar with strips of electrical outlets designed for laptop use. Free Internet access is a nice perk. Big-screen TVs abound. It is possible

18 | River’s Edge Magazine

to have a semi-private space used for a private party with room for about 50 guests. All kinds of new relationships may blossom at the communal tables. It is more Internet gastro pub than café, or so they say. We are never quite sure what people mean by gastro pub, but at the Doubletree it means that there are eight beers on draft including our own local Marshall beer. There is a state-of-the-art wine-on-tap system that ensures that air is not forced into the wine. Madam appreciates the drink menu. All bars need drink menus!

Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865) was credited with the following: “It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.” We so heartily subscribe to this theory from our relationships with people to our relationships with restaurants; you must balance the bad with the good and hope for more good!

There is also a space housing baristas from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf that is supposed to surpass the offerings and quality of that big Seattle competitor. Lattés, espressos, cappuccinos, sofas and stuffed chairs. Lounging is encouraged. On display is a sort of a mini exhibition kitchen boasting a brick-fired oven for pizza and flat breads – an incredibly fast method of cooking. Being fast is part of their commitment to their customers. They hope to serve the majority of menu items within 11 minutes. This alone should make them adored by the lunch crowd and the to-go crowd, with the free parking sealing the deal. Bruce Sneller, a long time Tulsan and general manager of the DoubleTree by Hilton Tulsa Downtown, expressed pride in both what this new concept can mean to Tulsans and travelers alike. “Our guests who come for conventions are generally on a tight schedule and don’t always have time to seek out fresh, local food options. What’s great about Made Market is that it’s right inside

Made Market was made for both dine-in and grab-and-go dining.

the hotel and it is open from early in the morning until late at night for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests in a hurry for their morning sessions can grab coffee and a pastry on the way out the door, maybe come back at lunch for a fresh salad or a healthy afternoon snack, and then come back in the evening and unwind with a pint or two of locally brewed beer and a brick-oven pizza,” Sneller says. “A sky bridge connects DoubleTree by Hilton Tulsa Downtown with the newly enhanced Tulsa Convention Center, so we are the prime lodging option for convention-goers.” Special attention has been given to the to-go crowd, with specially designed to-go packaging for every menu item. Although the hotel needed this for their guests, they are deliberately catering to downtown Tulsans as well and will depend on Tulsans for their success. Not just your ordinary hotel food offering by a long shot. The rotisserie chicken should be a step up to juicy, because they are cooked on bells instead of on forks; and, with no piercing, this should mean the juice stays in the meat. We just want a drive-thru! But, alas, we have to settle for the fiveminute parking spaces for them to deliver the treats to the car.

Service is casual.You place your order or call it in and runners bring it to your table, your room in the hotel or your car. During parts of the day, there will also be a buffet and racks of selfserve items, in addition to the cookedto-order menu items. Since it opens at 6 a.m., it is a new option for the breakfast crowd as well. Traditional breakfast items are available. The restaurant closes at 10 p.m., with takeout and room delivery until 1 a.m. Menu items are $4-$17 and cater to most palates with classic American fare from yogurt, pastries, eggs, bacon, cereal, and French toast for breakfast to both traditional and flatbread pizzas, sandwiches, pulled pork, salads, soup, salmon, steak, and rotisserie chicken. Doubletree has high hopes for their new offering into the downtown food market, and so do we. ~ Food Spies is a South Tulsa-based family team of fervent foodies who refuse to ‘play nice’ and will only call it like they taste it. Food Spies reports on their culinary adventures in River’s Edge and other publications nationwide.

Courtesy photo

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March 2013 | 19

It’s Time Again...

by Sarah Crain Featured columnist, Sarah Crain studied Music and Theater throughout school and has two associate degrees from Tulsa Community College in Music and Theater. In 2002, Sarah decided to start her own business in an attempt to avoid the life of a “starving artist.” This allowed her the ability to make a living while enjoying the freedom to perform from time to time. Sarah has appeared in several Tulsa shows including Fiddler on the Roof, Once Upon a Mattress, & Jekyll & Hyde throughout her performance career, and currently writes music in her off-time.

Crystal City Carnival • April 3-6, 2013 • Wednesday to Friday, 5 p.m to 11 p.m. and Saturday, 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. • 4200 Southwest Boulevard • Special $15 wristbands available Wednesday from 5 to 11 p.m.; Saturday from 1 to 6 p.m. and $20 all other times. Midway by Pride Amusements and sponsored by Route 66 Village, Tulsa County Parks, Chandler Parks Partner, the Southwest Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Tulsa Education Initiative and Autozone

Photos by Gary Patton

20 | River’s Edge Magazine

Carnival at Crystal

otton candy. Neon lights. The laughter of children. These are just a few of the images that come to mind with the word “Carnival.” As a child, I longed to play the games, ride the rides, and watched the carnies with wonder. As a parent, my feelings looked quite different; including the fear of getting ripped off or playing a game where the odds are stacked against the player. However, a family trip to the Crystal City Carnival last year showed me that these feelings are valid at some fairs, but not this one. Last April, I decided to take my 5-yearold son to the Crystal City Carnival and pay the extra cash for an unlimited-rideswrist-band. I worried that the games would be rigged, that the rides would seem simple, and that I was going to spend a lot of cash and end up going home with a disappointed child. I was more than pleasantly surprised to discover that this carnival possessed the “good ole family fun” that so many others now lack. We played game after game and won

something at every booth.We rode ride after ride and laughed so much our cheeks hurt. We made multiple trips to the car to unload all of our winnings, and by the time the evening was done, my son didn’t want to leave, and neither did his parents. A year ago I filed for divorce, and when the Crystal City Carnival came to town I knew that I couldn’t afford to take my son on my own. I decided to ask his father if he would be willing to join us for our son’s sake, and to my surprise, he agreed.This was our last outing as a family, and we were able to show our son that we were capable of being together without fighting and tension. Given the pleasantness of the experience, I will be forever grateful that I made this request. My son made out like a bandit. He came home with two goldfish (complete with tank), a large stuffed shark, a blow-up baseball bat, a small ladybug, a pirate hat, and much more. He had memories of his parents laughing together and following him along on his adventure rather than asking

City him to follow us on ours. We rode every ride at least twice, shocked ourselves on the biggest “potato sack slide” I’ve ever seen, and enjoyed every minute. My son threw darts at balloons, tossed ping-pong balls into little glass jars, and went fishing for treasure. We laughed uncontrollably on a spinning ride, chased him through a two-story maze, and giggled along with patrons in the crowd when my son exclaimed that one of the rides caused his privates to tickle each time we suddenly dropped. Every carnival worker that we met was kind, encouraging, and ready to help my son have fun. In fact, the help was so awesome, I was able to safely recover my iPhone after dropping it on a ride, and the man working the slide simply handed it back to me while giving me the tip to “enable the lock feature” for my own protection. We weren’t scammed or mistreated. The carnival

workers didn’t steal from us or stare uncomfortably at the beautiful girls that walked by; they genuinely wanted to help every guest there have fun, to make sure that the kids won something at EVERY game, and to keep the parents laughing and happy as well. This April, it will be a mommyand-son outing, but the amazing experience I had last year will keep this parent coming back and willing to spend money. Our experience was so amazing we may attend the carnival on multiple nights just so my son and I can laugh and play more than once. I don’t know if the Crystal City carnival workers will ever know how their truly familyfriendly carnival brought joy into my life during a difficult time, but their honesty, hard work, and desire to ensure that each child has a blast, will keep this mom coming back for years to come! ~ March 2013 | 21

For work, play or romance

escape to Postoak by Tracy LeGrand

There is an abiding beauty and majesty to the 1,000 acres AT POSTOAK Lodge & Retreat. There, you can find relaxation, sports and even the opportunity to zip along the tree canopy about 60 feet in the air.

22 | Riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Edge Magazine

OSTOAK’s name reflects the band of timber running throughout the property. Predominately post oak, these trees provided early homesteaders shelter, warmth and comfort, says Jim L. Barnard, chief executive officer for POSTOAK. Local lore says adventurous pioneers fell in love with the Osage Hill’s woodlands, valleys and sparkling ponds. Storied outlaws like Jesse James, Belle Starr and the Dalton brothers are said to have found refuge in the area’s hills and caves. These days, the property is a versatile corporate training facility and social event venue. “Leadership Tulsa has been using Post Oak Lodge for years,” says LT Executive Director Wendy Thomas. “The facility is beautiful, the food delicious, and the woodsy setting a great getaway from the city hubbub – but it is really the hospitality of the great staff I appreciate the most. They’ll even help plan and execute events.” While the zipline canopy attraction shuts down until spring at the end of November based on weather, there is year-round fun including use of the pool and hot tubs. Other popular activities are hayrides, ‘Bonfires & S’mores,’ skeet shooting, shuffleboard, billiards, high and low ropes courses, walking trails and team-building activities with a facilitator. Barnard detailed the property’s history - “POSTOAK Lodge & Retreat is the perfect location to get away from

life’s distractions. That’s been true since before we opened our doors. Eventually the serenity of the gorgeous site caught the attention of Oklahoma’s Catholic Diocese. In 1983, Our Lady of Osage Hills was built on part of the acreage as a retreat and used by diverse groups from throughout the state.” Transition came in 1997 when The Williams Companies purchased the site, he says. The facilities were expanded as a world-class training and team development center for Williams’ employees and customers. Private investors acquired the assets in 2003.Thoughtful improvements were made while taking great care to maintain Persimmon Ridge’s natural and raw beauty. Barnard and staff have been delighted and amazed by the creativity some guests have used for events.Theme weddings have included New Year’s Eve nuptials and another featured horses and fireworks – all on a Thanksgiving Day. Yet another was cowboy-themed and included a square dance in the Pole Barn. Corporate event themes have ranged from Hawaiian pool parties to a pig roast. One of many proposals of marriage onsite included a horseback ride to the property’s Bald Hill landmark. Upcoming events include the March 2-3, 2013 POSTOAK Challenge Run with partners Fleet Feet and Tulsa Running Club. The event will benefit Tulsa Boys Home and Oklahoma Centennial

Botanical Gardens. Many area organizations utilize the facilities, says Kelly Jo Rickman, senior director of sales. She mentioned the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Weekend Getaway Event, Romance Writer’s Ink Retreat, and an instructive quilting retreat. POSTOAK hosts the Mercedes Benz Route 66 Tour Car Show and Awards Dinner. “POSTOAK’s team experiences help groups manage change, reduce stress and build cohesion,” says Barnard “Our activities break down barriers and encourage participation.” Food decisions are simple at POSTOAK, as all catering services are handled by the POSTOAK culinary team. Layne Maestas, director of sales, says, “The chef and his culinary staff are wildly talented and can create any menu the client might want.” Group casino games can be prearranged in conjunction with any event. Families can utilize POSTOAK beyond the usual events and reunions by renting a four- to 18-bedroom lodge with common areas, toaster, microwave and a refrigerator stocked with drinks and snacks. POSTOAK is located at 5323 W. 31st St. N. and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The process to rent a lodge or hold an event starts with the online Request For Proposal at www.postoaklodge.com or by calling Kelly Jo at 918728-2705 or Layne at 918-728-2765. ~ See page 24 for more about POSTOAK. March 2013 | 23

get ready to fly!

or a zip line of a good time – get ready to fly! The 2013 POSTOAK Canopy Tours season is time to book a high-flying experience. That is, as long as you’re at least 10 years old, can climb the rigging and weight less than 250 lbs. PCT is located about seven miles northwest of downtown Tulsa and is on the acreage of POSTOAK Lodge & Retreat. As long as your courage is intact, what is not to like about zipping along across the Osage Hills? It’s no wonder that many end the experience at the gift shop to find something emblazoned with bragging rights – and/or some re• Safety, safety and more safety are the freshments and snacks. priority. All guides earn more than First things first. Here’s what you 40 hours of specialized training with need to know before you go: the Association for Challenge Course • An orientation will teach you Technology. procedures and safety. You’ll be • Cost is about $90 a person and a outfitted in a helmet and harness discount is offered for groups of eight before leaping into the first of six zip or more when booked together.With lines.

24 | River’s Edge Magazine

notice, a large group or family can zip when the facility is typically not open. • Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your tour time. If you are late and miss your tour’s departure time, a voucher will be issued for a tour at another time. • Management says, “Your happy-level probably will be higher if you bring sunscreen, insect repellent, a hat and sunglasses.” • You just may see some wildlife. Your guide may be able to point out deer, cottontail rabbits, red foxes, wild turkeys and other birds. If you bring your camera, be sure it fits in a very small backpack or fanny pack. • Some health concerns will keep some feet on the ground: pregnancy, heart conditions, asthma, and balance or seizure issues. • Leave the booze and cigarettes at home. ~

BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS RETURN TO downtown tulsa

Visit BOKCenter.com to make a donation to provide tickets to area nonprofits ensuring the spirit of health and sport is shared throughout the community. For a complete schedule of men’s and women’s games, or purchase tickets, visit BOKCenter.com or call 1-866-7-BOK-CTR.

he University of Tulsa and the Tulsa Sports Commission are bringing Hurricane excitement and collegiate basketball to downtown Tulsa during the Conference USA basketball championship at the BOK Center, March 13-16, 2013. Not only is this an exciting time for TU basketball fans, it’s an exciting opportunity for all of Tulsa. Dubbed Tulsa’s Tournament, the entire community is invited to cheer for these collegiate athletes. Catch a game during the day or after work Wednesday through Friday, and attend the Conference USA championship game on Saturday, March 16. All-session tickets are on sale now, starting at $47 for a total of 21 games. The purchase of a men’s all-session pass includes all women’s games, providing 21 games over four days for one price. Purchase your tickets now for the

best seats in the house to check out teams like TU, Memphis, UTEP and more. Single-game tickets go on sale after the championship bracket is finalized on March 10 and will start at $20. To purchase tickets, visit BOKCenter.com or call 1-866-7-BOK-CTR. ~

Beverly A.

Atteberry, P.C. Attorney-at-law 918-605-1913 1861 East 15th Street Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104 Fax: 918-744-6300 E-mail: beverlyatteberry@aol.com

community news

Own a boat?

Trails changes near Casino possible Some great news out of February’s monthly board meeting: River Parks, the City of Tulsa, and the Muscogee Creek Nation are earnestly negotiating the movement of of the trail from 79th to 87th & Riverside to behind the River Spirit Casino. This has been a priority for River Parks for some time. These negotiations are the furthest progression in these talks thus far. Many cyclists and walkers have expressed concern about the danger in maneuvering the trails past the RiverSpirit Casino entrances. Several people have narrowly avoided accidents and one person said that a motor vehicle was actually driven onto the trail near the casino entrance.

61st & Peoria task force formed The Tulsa City Council voted recently to organize a task force for the improvement of the 61st & Peoria area. Items to be addressed are safety, education, after-school activities, Johnson Park use, health, and overall improvement of the quality of life and the facilities in the area. If you are interested in having your voice heard or to volunteer, email councilor Jeannie Cue at dist2@tulsacouncil.org for additional information.

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March 2013 | 25

by Jordan Crudo

eaching the halfway point of anything is an accomplishment. Completion of the first half of a semester, project, or a season, is a positive mark regardless of how the first half went. If the first half was great, you’re feeling good about knocking the rest out. If the first half was dismal, your feeling good about the first half being over and there being a point to gain a momentum change. The same feeling of “halfway there” has occurred for you’re Tulsa Oilers, who struggled through an extreme amount of adversity in the first half of the season. Injuries, roster shuffling, and inconsistency plagued the team, plummeting them to the bottom of the standings after a good start to the season. As bad as that seemed, though, is how good things are feeling now, as the Oilers have been one of the hottest teams in the league since the mid-way break of the season. The team is enjoying a three-game winning streak against top teams in the

Well-Oiled Machine

standings, something that hasn’t been done since November. With the winning momentum that is finally occurring, practices have been much more enjoyable. The tension in the locker room that can occur with a struggling team has finally taken a siesta, as the boys finally are having fun playing the sport they love. The recent success can be attributed by a number of players stepping up. Goaltender Shane Madalora has been an absolute ninja in the net, quickly becoming a fan favorite in Tulsa. Referred to as “Mads” or “Mad-dog,” Madalora has played every game since coming to Tulsa, even when he hasn’t started. He’s seen only one game where Tulsa wasn’t outshot. Mads had almost 60 saves (double the normal amount) in the latest Oilers win, a game where the Oilers donned pink jerseys to support breast cancer research for Pink the Rink night. Maddog’s jersey fetched the most money for charity during the post-game auction, sold for $1,300.

With the Oilers having the ability to lean on Mads heavily, the star offensive forwards have been able to shine. Ben Gordon has been putting up ridiculous numbers, including five assists and a goal in a single game. Ryan Menai has been lighting the lamp consistently enough to be named the CHL player of the week. Forward Drew Fischer has been a great team asset. He started the year on defense and did his job superbly while also scoring pretty goals from beyond the hash marks. Coach Ramsey decided to move him up to offense to spice things up and it has paid off, as “Fish” has not only been racking up goals, he has been collecting breakaways too, having four in the span of a handful of games, and scoring on three of them. He has also been clutch in shootouts, scoring every time including a game-winner at the Pink game. Now that the goaltending has stepped up and the offense has turned on, the players on defense are finally

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Tyler Fleck, left, is the Oiler’s team captain. Courtesy photo

are now poised to make a run for a playoff spot. They are looking at a daunting task Courtesy photo. of having to win almost every game, but so far they have not only stepped up, they have blown up. Fans usually are not able to see behind the scenes of the lives of the players. Each player has a unique story of how they wound up playing in Tulsa.The camaraderie of the player on the team is as strong as their hard work and dedication to the community. The Oilers visited a youth hospital, raised major charity money at every game this season, put countless time and money into local youth hockey, and able to relax and make fluid defensive put on successful game day promotions to plays that are resulting in the flurries up help fight cancer. the ice the other way. They have also Super Bowl Sunday, the team finally upped the hitting and fighting, as the Oil- took a break from the business when the ers now look like a well-oiled machine. coach hosted a party. With a food smorWith the recent good fortunes and mo- gasbord and players hanging out, it was mentum swing the team is in, your Oilers fun for everyone to spend time with Sledge.

the person and not the players. There is a lot of diversity in the players’ lives and families. For example, Drew Fisher is about to marry Ben Gordon’s sister. Fisher, Gordon, and forward Ryan Cramer all grew up together and are enjoying the ability to play together professionally. We got to meet wives, girlfriends and the coach’s kids – who are fantastic at floor hockey! The team watched old games of when the coach played pro. It was a great experience to get together with everyone when they aren’t on skates. These kinds of times show that the Oilers, and the sport of hockey, are both great examples of how important it is to always give back to those less fortunate, always take time to recognize and respect those around you, and to know that it is never too late to turn your fortunes all around in epic fashion. ~

March 2013 | 27

by Tracy LeGrand

All photos by Gary Patton

Capturing Westside Pride

he west side of Tulsa has produced great sports stars, city leaders and countless successful business professionals. Gary Patton of Gary Patton Photography is one such treasure, as he has been producing keepsake photographic images for area residents for decades. “Being a west-sider is a great source of pride,” says Patton. “We’re a unique part of town, kind of our own little town with our own identity.Very closeknit. My mother moved here from Missouri with her family around 1920 so my grandfather could work at the Texaco Refinery, so my family has been

28 | River’s Edge Magazine

here a long time. What I liked the best about growing up in West Tulsa was the broad range of people who live here and the strong community identity. I grew up in West Tulsa across the street from Robertson Elementary School and met my wife, Gerry, there when we were in the third grade. I began an on-again, offagain pursuit of her in fifth grade and finally made some progress when we began dating at Daniel Webster High School.” After graduating from DWHS, Patton went to work for Kentube in west Tulsa as an apprentice draftsman and

worked as a draftsman at several companies in Tulsa over the next several years. “When I was working for T.H. Russell Company, two of my coworkers were avid amateur photographers and their work caused me to become interested in photography,” says Patton. “I bought my first 35mm camera from one of them, began to use it photographing my kids, vacations, nature – it became a hobby. And as acquaintances found out I was a budding photographer, I was asked to photograph their children, asked to do some wedding photography.”

Patton’s hobby blossomed into a business after he heard a photographer being interviewed on a radio news show about his photography business. Patton decided that, “being a professional photographer would be a lot more fun and fulfilling than what I was doing. I liked the idea of producing something that people enjoyed and would cherish, the opportunity for artistic expression, the mixture of technology and art. I liked the idea of working with people and making them look their best. For the next few years, I pursued professional photography part-time, joined the local professional guild – the Indian Nations Professional Photographers Association – and attended as many photography lectures, seminars and schools I could, learning about portrait photography, wedding photography, posing and lighting and many other aspects of photography from some of the best photographers in the country. I quit my full-time job in 1998, and for the next 10 years pursued photography full-time working from my studio I built at my home. “My photography business thrived as I photographed weddings, high school seniors, families, children, and ball teams.” Patton’s work has received many honors and recognitions but two peergiven accolades are of personal significance for him, as he says, “Six years ago, I received my Professional Photographer certification and two years ago received my Photographic Craftsman Degree, both from the Professional Photographers of America.” The economy’s downturn in recent years sent Patton into the drafting profession again and he currently works as senior design draftsman at John Zink, but he continues to follow his photographic passions. “Succeeding in professional photography is dependent on creative and consistent marketing to get the public’s attention and set your studio apart from

all the others, skillful use of posing and lighting to make your client look their best so they will want to purchase your work, and pricing that is competitive but at the same time makes the studio profitable,” says Patton. “Pricing in photography, like any other business, is determined by the many costs involved in running a business: cost of goods, rent, insurance, utilities, wages for employees, continuing education, among other things. All those things factor in determining what you have to charge for your work. Photography studios generally will offer their photos in packages or individually. Some will charge a larger session fee with a portion of it used as a credit toward the purchase.” After years of experimenting with different pricing methods, Patton says he found what works best for him. “All of my portraits are sold individually – no packages, and no minimum purchase requirements,” says Patton. “This way, my client is free to purchase exactly want they want in the quantities they need. With this method, I have to estimate what my average order will be and set my prices accordingly so that I can remain in business and meet all my obligations. Not requiring a minimum purchase is a little risky but I like giving my clients the freedom to buy as much or as little as they want and make the entire experience as flexible as I can. “My current plan is to continue photography in my spare time, and jump back in full-time when I retire from my current job,” he says.“It’s just too fun and satisfying to give up.” Patton married his wife, Gerry, in 1976. The couple have four daughters, Laura, Emily, Sarah, and Rebecca – “all grown and married now,” says Gary,“Together, they have given us 12 wonderful grandchildren – six boys and six girls.” Gerry currently works as an accountant for Leaders Life Insurance Company. Patton can be reached via his website at www.garypattonphoto.com. ~ March 2013 | 29

News & Events receive a medal. Entrants will receive a technical fabric running shirt upon finishing. Come join Tatur Racing for this challenging and fun event.

Race for the Well 5K, 10K, Fun Run Sat, March 23, 5 p.m River West Festival Park 2100 South Jackson

TATUR’s Snake Run

Sunday, March 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Turkey Mountain Upper Lot 68th & Elwood Run Turkey Mountain’s Snake Trail for a three-hour or six-hour trail race. The slated course is fairly flat and “relatively” rock free. Both the three-hour and six-hour races start at 9 a.m. Entrants in the three-hour race must run for at least two hours to be considered a finisher and receive a medal. During the sixhour race, entrants must run for at least five hours to be considered a finisher and

The second annual running of the Race for the Well will be held on Saturday, March 23. RiverParks staff have mapped out a flat, fast course that will begin near the ampitheatre and take runners south on the River Parks’ trail and across the 31st Street Pedestrian Bridge. Then the 5K and

10K runners will turn around at their appropriate markers and head back to the start. One hundred percent of the registration fee benefits the charity, Water, which builds clean water wells around the world. Find more information by searching Race for the Well on facebook or or visit www.riverparks.org and click on the Events tab.

Training runs

Whether you are a Tatur member or not, join the Tatur gang each Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. in the Turkey Mountain Parking Lot for an early morning training run. Groups will be running distances from three to eight miles. Walkers, slower runners, as well as the fast crowd are welcome to join them. For more questions email sphillips@ jwenergy.com.

Register now Organizers of two popular running events scheduled for April are expecting record turnouts for their events. Run Tulsa Pink 5K and Fun Run will host a variety of participants from kids to senior citizens on Sunday, April 21. The event is held in conjunction with Turn Tulsa Pink, an organization that assists families and raises cancer awareness in the community. The Color Run will be held Saturday, April 20. Registration for last year’s event closed early due to the high number of runners/walkers. If you want to run/walk/volunteer sign up early at www.thecolorrun.com/ tulsa/. Tatur Racing and RunnersWorld are organizing volunteers for both events. Volunteers are needed for Packet Pickup, Race Day Registration, Course Volunteers and Event Cleanup. Visit www.runnersworldtulsa. com or www.thecolorrun.com/tulsa/ for more info.

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The 2012 Color Run sold out and this year’s event is expected to do the same.

tulsa area running/CYCing events Running Running 03.09.13 Run/Walk 03.02-03.13 Duct Tape Dash 5k, 03.23.13 Tulsa Running Club, Owasso 300 Impact Fun Post Oak Lodge Run, Mohawk Park, Running 03.16.13 Challenge (50K, Tulsa Runner’s World St. 25K, 10K), Tulsa Patrick’s Day Run, Running 03.23.13 Running 03.02.13 Tulsa Race for the Well, OSU Osteopathic RiverParks West Running 03.17.13 Scrub Run, 5K and Festival Park, Tulsa TATUR’s Snake Fun Run, Tulsa Run - 3 or 6 Hour Mountain Biking Running 03.04.13 Trail Race, 9 am 03.24.13 Brooks Ravenna start, Tulsa Sooner Stampede, Test Drive Event & Norman Running 03.23.13 Pub Run, Tulsa Seize the Moment Running 03.30.13 Run/Walk 5k Run/Walk, Elote Luchador 03.09.13 Owasso Run, Tulsa Band on the Run 5K and Fun Run, For more info on these, and other events in the area, Claremore visit www.oksportsandfitness.com/event-calendar/

Running 03.30.13 K-Life 10K Bartlesville Running 03.30.13 Luck of the Draw 5K, Muskogee Running 03.30.13 Fit as Hale 5K Run/ Walk, 1 mile Fun Run, Tulsa Running 04.06.13 Aquarium Run to benefit the Oklahoma Aquarium, Jenks. Details at www. okaquarium.org

March calendar Feb. 22-March 02 New Genre Arts Fesitval, times vary, Living Arts of Tulsa + other venues, 307 E. Brady St., details at www.livingarts.org Feb. 22-March 3 Loves’s Labours Lost, times vary, Henthorne PAC, details at www. cityoftulsa.org

Feb. 28-March 03 Akdar Shrine Circus, times vary, Pavillion, Expo Square, details at www.akdarshrine.org March 01 Tulsa 66er’s vs. Reno Bighorns, 7 pm, SpiritBank Event Center, details at www.nba.com/dleague/ tulsa Clint Black, 7 pm, River Spirit Event Center, details at www. riverspirittulsa.com First Friday Art Crawl, 6 pm, Brady Arts District, West Brady St. Downtown, details at www. livingarts.org March 01, 03 The Most Happy Fella, times vary, Tulsa PAC, details at www. tulsapac.com March 01-02 Radio Golf by August Wilson, 8 pm, Tulsa PAC, details at www. tulsapac.com Ewomen, times vary, Mabee Center, details at www.ewomen.net March 01-03, 07-09 Of Mice and Men, times vary, Tulsa PAC, details at www.tulsapac.com March 01-03, 08-10 Charlotte’s Web, times vary, The Spotlight Theater, details at www. spotlighttheater.org March 01-10 Hairspray, times vary, Tulsa Convention Center, details at www.tulsaconvention.com March 01-28 Artist Palette, 10 am to 5:30 pm plus, Tulsa PAC, details at www. tulsapac.com March 02 Bob Wills Birthday Celebration + The Texas Playboys, The Roundup Boys, 6 pm, Cains Ballroom, 427 N. Main, details at www.cainsballroom.com

March 02 Tulsa 66er’s vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce, 7 pm, SpiritBank Event Center, details at www.nba.com/ dleague/tulsa March 02-03 Post Oak Challenge, various distances, times vary, Post Oak Lodge, 532 W. 31st St. North, details at www.postoakrun.com March 03 Gospel Music Sunday Brunch (w/ Oklahoma Joe’s Barbecue), 10 am to 2 pm, Cains Ballroom, details at www.okjoes.com March 03,04,09 Just Between Friends, times vary, Exchange Center, Expo Square, details at www.jbfsale.com/tulsa March 05-06 Tulsa Oilers vs. Arizona Sundogs, 7:05 pm, BOK Center, details at www.bokcenter.com March 05-10 Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan, times vary, Tulsa PAC, details at www. tulsapac.com March 07 Crossroads Golden Gala, 6-9 pm, IDL Ballroom, 230 E. First St., details at www.crossroadsok.org Tulsa 66er’s vs. Iowa Energy, 11 am, SpiritBank Event Center, details at www.nba.com/dleague/ tulsa

March 07-10 Greater Tulsa Home & Garden Show, times vary, Expo Center, Expo Square, details at www. tulsahba.com March 08 Tulsa Oilers vs. Bloomington Blaze, 7:05 pm, BOK Center, details at www.bokcenter.com March 08-09 Opening: Aphrodite and the Gods of Love, times vary, Philbrook Museum of Art, www.philbrook. org March 09 Tulsa’s 4th Annual 24-Hour Play Festival, 7:30 pm, Tulsa PAC, details at www.tulsapac.com Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, BOK Center, 200 S. Denver, details at www.bokcenter.com Red Ribbon Gala, 6 pm, Convention Center Ballroom, details at www. tulsaconvention.com

Oklahoma Defenders vs. Wichita Wilds (indoor football), 7:05 pm, Tulsa Convention Center, details at www.tulsaconvention.com Philbrook Museum of Art (free admission Saturday with family activities), 10 am to 5 pm, Philbrook Musuum of Art, details at www.philbrook.org Basic Pruning Techniques Workshop, 9:30 am, Tulsa Garden Center, details at www. tulsagardencenter.com March 10 Muse, 7 pm, BOK Center, details at www.bokcenter.com March 13 Brown Bag It: Cairde Na Gael, 12:10 pm, Tulsa PAC, details at www.tulsapac.com Images of Rural America (Gallery Talk), Noon, Philbrook Museum of Art, details at www.philbrook.org March 13-16 Conference USA Basketball Tournament, BOK Center and Tulsa Convention Center, details at www.bokcenter.com March 14 American Red Cross Rescue Gala, 6 pm, Convention Center Ballroom, details at www.tulsaconvention. com March 14-17 Tulsa International Auto Show, Expo Center, Expo Square, details at www.exposquare.com March 15 Little Anthony & The Imperials, 7 pm, River Spirit Event Center, details at www.riverspirittulsa.com March 15-17 Oliver!, times vary, Tulsa PAC, details at www.tulsapac.com March 16 Tulsa Symphony: Violet, 7:30 pm, Tulsa PAC, details at www. tulsapac.com Backyard Fruit Production Workshop, 9:30 am, Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 S. Peoria Ave., details at www.tulsagardencenter.com March 16-17 R.K. Gun Show, times vary, Exchange Center, Expo Square, details at www.exposquare.com March 17 Quartetto Di Cremona, 3 pm, Tulsa PAC, details at www.tulsapac.com March 18-22 Clark Youth Theatre Spring Break Day Camp, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Henthorne PAC, details at www. cityoftulsa.org March 19 Dual Pianos Ragtime with Brian Holland & Paul Asaro, 7 pm, Tulsa PAC, details at www. tulsapac.com

March 19 Tulsa 66er’s vs. Bakersfield Jam, 7 pm, SpiritBank Event Center, details at www.nba. com/dleague/tulsa March 20 Creating a Container Garden Spring Workshop, 6:30 pm, Tulsa Garden Center, details at www. tulsagardencenter.com March 21 Music at the Mansion, 1:30 pm, Tulsa Historical Society, details at tulsahistory.org Third Thursday Poetry, 8 pm, Ida Red Boutique, 3336 S. Peoria Avenue, details at www. idaredboutique.com March 22 Maroon 5 + Neon Trees & Owl City, 7 pm, BOK Center, details at www.bokcenter.com March 23 A special intimate solo/acoustic performance by Citizen Cope, 7 pm, Cains Ballroom, details at www.cainsballroom.com Jim Gaffigan, 7 pm, Brady Theather, details at www.bradytheater.com Brown Bag It: Joesf Glaude & James Ruggles, 12:10 pm, Tulsa PAC, details at www.tulsapac.com Step Afrika, 7:30 pm, Tulsa PAC, details at www.tulsapac.com Tulsa Oilers vs. Wichita Thunder, 7:05 pm, BOK Center, details at www.bokcenter.com Tulsa 66er’s vs. Iowa Energy, 7 pm, SpiritBank Event Center, details at www.nba.com/dleague/tulsa March 24 Tulsa Oilers vs. Allen Americans, 4:05 pm, BOK Center, details at www.bokcenter.com March 25 R5, 6 pm, Cains Ballroom, details at www.cainsballroom.com March 27 Brown Bag It: Jambalaya Jass Band, 12:10 pm, Tulsa PAC, details at www.tulsapac.com March 29 Jonny Lang, 7 pm, River Spirit Event Center, details at www. riverspirittulsa.com March 30 Tulsa 66er’s vs. Austin Toros, 7 pm, SpiritBank Event Center, details at www.nba.com/dleague/tulsa

Peter Pan opening

March 5-10 Peter Pan the musical, staring Cathy Rigby, is currently touring the U.S., and will land at the Tulsa PAC on March 5 and running through March 10. According to critics and fans, Rigby steals the show and should not be missed. The Washington Post says, “Rigby has mastered the singing, dancing, and aerial shenanigans, but has also gotten to the core of the boy who wouldn’t grow up.”

The Shack author to visit April 9 Tickets will sell out fast for an April 9 one-night-only speaking engagement by New York Times best-selling author and former janitor William Paul Young. Tickets to the Mabee Center show presented by Celebrity Attraction are available beginning March 4. Young will share the stories behind the writing of his books The Shack and Crossroads and answer questions from the audience. For more info visit www.MabeeCenter.com.

Event Locations BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Brady Theather, 105 W. Brady St. Cains Ballroom, 427 N. Main Henthorne PAC, 4825 S. Quaker Ave. Mabee Center, 7777 S. Lewis Avenue Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S. Rockford Road SpiritBank Event Center, 107th & Memorial Spirit Event Center, 8330 Riverside Parkway Spotlight Theater, 1381 Riverside Dr. Tulsa Convention Center, 100 Civic Center (4th & Houston) Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 S. Peoria Ave. Tulsa Historical Society, 2445 S. Peoria Ave. Tulsa Performing Arts Center (PAC), 119 E. 2nd St.

March 2013 | 31