SLICE THOSE SUBSCRIPTIONS
t is not too difficult to let subscription costs get out of hand — $10 a month doesn’t seem like much until we’re doling that out to more services than we’re keeping track of. It’s easy to keep putting that number in our budgets monthby-month without putting our critical thinking skills to work. Make it your goal this month to question these choices. Here are some things to consider:
Rowland
Do I make active use of this service? It seems like an obvious question, but sometimes we like to lie to ourselves — insisting we will use it eventually. Things like gym memberships come to mind, but some streaming services or publication subscriptions may also fall under this category. Maybe you don’t have anything you’re watching regularly on a particular service or that stack of unread magazines is growing every month. If you’re not actively using it, cancel it. You can always re-subscribe when ready. Bonus: Many subscription services will bribe you into staying — offering promotional pricing for several months as a means to keep you around. If this was a service you “kind of” use and think you may still get some use out of keeping, this is a great way to still save some money on your monthly budget. Reconsider the service’s usefulness before this promotional period runs out.
Can I stagger this service? Maybe you do watch something on that service sometimes, but you really can only watch so much. Most streaming or digital subscription services offer a “pause” option. Consider alternating your services — pause one or two per month and focus on the one you’re still paying for. Over time, you may learn which ones you are less interested in using when it is the only one available. These are the ones to cancel.
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Angela Rowland is an OBU graduate and a stay-at-home mother of four. She enjoys finding new ways to stretch the paycheck and sharing her favorite tips and deals.
COMBINE TRAINING STRATEGIES WITH GOOD NUTRITION
A
s I am getting ready to run a half marathon in my 23rd state, I am trying a new-to-me method of preparation, though the method itself is not new at all.
The Jeff Galloway Run-Walk-Run Method has become a popular and effective approach for training for endurance events like a half marathon. Designed to reduce injury risk and improve performance, this method alternates short intervals of running with planned walking breaks. Rather than waiting until fatigue sets in, runners walk early and often, allowing them to go farther with less strain and faster recovery.
One of the biggest benefits of the Galloway Method is its accessibility. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced runner, using a run-walk interval — such as running for one minute and walking for 30 seconds — can help maintain a steady pace, prevent burnout and make training more enjoyable. Many runners find they can actually finish races feeling stronger compared to running continuously.
Nutrition plays a key role in supporting this training style.
Pomegranate Crunch
Yogurt Parfait
A bowl of yogurt can really help get your day started and in an easy way that doesn’t take too long to put together as you rush out the door.
Ingredients:
1 cup plain 5% Greek yogurt
1/3 cup granola (no cane sugar)
1 Tbsp chia seeds
2oz pomegranate seeds (about 1/3 cup)
Directions:
Scoop out 1 cup of Greek yogurt and place in the bowl. Top with chia seeds, granola and pomegranates. If you would like
The day before a long run, focus on balanced meals that include lean protein, healthy fats and a slightly higher intake of carbohydrates to fuel your muscles. On the day of your run, a small pre-run snack like fruit with nut butter or a smoothie can provide quick energy. For longer runs, fueling during exercise with easily digestible carbohydrates — such as dates or applesauce — can help maintain energy levels.
Recovery nutrition is just as important. Consuming a combination of protein and carbohydrates within 30 to 60 minutes after your run helps repair muscles and replenish glycogen stores. This not only improves recovery but also helps control hunger later in the day, supporting weight management goals.
By combining the Galloway Method with smart nutrition strategies, runners can train more efficiently, reduce injury risk and feel stronger on race day. Whether you are interested in a 5K, 10K, half marathon or full marathon, I highly suggest looking into this method for your training runs. Try the recipe below for a great post run breakfast.
the chia seeds to be softened, let them sit on the yogurt for about 5 minutes.
Makes: 1 serving
Nutrition Facts per Serving: Calories: 405
Total Fat: 19g Saturated Fat: 8g
Cholesterol: 35mg Sodium: 75mg
Carbohydrates: 36g Fiber: 9g Protein: 22g
Nutrition 101 Tip: This breakfast gives you an excellent source of protein to support staying full and muscle health while being high in fiber from the chia seeds, granola and pomegranate. The chia seeds serve as a double win as they also offer omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for our brain and heart. The parfait tastes sweet with the granola and fruit, which is always a great option to not have added sugar to start off your day.
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Andrea Beck, a registered dietitian and personal trainer, received her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. She offers personal training and nutrition education through an online platform, StrongHER along with functional nutrition and labs through Laser Focus. For inquiries, visit strongherwithandrea.com, or the Facebook page, Nutrition and Exercise 101 with Andrea.
art of the matter
Art Persist Across Cultures, Centuries
SUBMITTED BY DELAYNNA TRIM, CURATOR OF COLLECTIONS
MABEE-GERRER MUSEUM OF ART
R DRAGONS Legendary Tales,
ecently, I was researching a Chinese jade bowl. The bowl features two carved dragons. Dragons can represent power, prosperity and good luck in some cultures and there are many different kinds of dragons with different powers and attributes. Legends about Chinese dragons date back to 3000 B.C. In mythology, dragons can live in the sky, land or sea, and some can even control the weather.
Even the color of the dragon has meaning. The white dragon can represent purity or death. The red dragon represents good luck and happiness. The yellow dragon is seen as a sign of wealth and wisdom. The black dragon brings vengeance.
Most dragons in Chinese mythology do not have wings, but a few do. If they have wings, be careful as they often bring rain.
In the near east, there were depictions of dragons as early as the ancient Babylonians. Dragons appeared in Greek and Roman art and literature.
The idea of dragons protecting treasure is very old. Some historians say it dates back to ancient Greek and Roman stories. In fact, the museum’s ivory jewelry box – which dates to the 16th century – has a dragon’s head pro-
tecting the lock and a dragon on top of the box. Differing from some Chinese traditions, European dragons are often depicted with wings.
In the Middle Ages, there are sto-
Art from Asian and European cultures have long depicted dragons as representing a variety of attributes, whether as friend or foe.
ries of several Christian saints having interactions with dragons with St. George and the dragon being the most famous. St. George was a Roman soldier who was martyred in the third or fourth century BC. In the medieval stories, St. George arrived at the city of Silene where a dragon was terrorizing the town. The townspeople tried to satiate the dragon by giving him sheep, but eventually he wanted more. People
were then sacrificed to the dragon. Thankfully, George arrived and slew the dragon and saved the rest of the town. By the 14th century, St. George became a patron saint of England thanks to King Edward III.
But it wasn’t just the male saints who had conflicts with dragons. Both St. Margaret of Antioch and St. Martha vanquished dragons. St. Margaret was swallowed by the devil in the form of a dragon. She burst out of the dragon unharmed holding a cross. St. Martha tamed a dragon that was terrorizing a town in France using holy water and a crucifix.
For instructions and videos on this and more art projects with dragons, visit mgmoa.org/art-projects
Toilet Roll Dragon
Supplies: toilet paper rolls, paint, paintbrushes, pom-poms, googly eyes, tissue paper
• Paint the toilet roll
• Once dry, glue on two pom-poms for the eyes and two for the nostrils of the nose.
• Glue some tissue paper inside the toilet roll coming out for the fire that the dragon is breathing.
• Glue googly eyes onto the top pom-poms for the eyes.
Key Takeaways for Youth Alcohol Awareness:
• Prevent Underage Drinking: Early initiation of alcohol use (before age 15) increases the risk of alcohol dependence, with young drinkers being four times more likely to develop dependencies later in life.
• The Power of Conversation: Children who engage in conversations with their parents about alcohol are 50 percent less likely to drink than those who do not.
• Risks and Consequences: Underage drinking is linked to alcohol poisoning, impaired brain development, sexual assault, and vehicle crashes.
• Parental Influence: About 74% of teens report that parents are the number one influence on their decision to drink, making active involvement crucial.
• Setting Boundaries: Parents should set clear expectations, monitor their teen’s activities, and ensure alcohol is not accessible at home.
nativeconnections@astribe.com
"W over the fence
SHARE FIRST
Compassion Above Opinions Can Make A Bigger Impact
BY BRANDON DYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMUNITY RENEWAL OF POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY
hat would you do?”
Have you ever seen the television program series by this name featuring ABC reporter John Quiñones? His show is a social experiment where he scripts and produces uncomfortable social situations in public settings with actors and films the reactions of the bystanders. One scenario is a coach yelling at a young athlete telling him that if he kneels during the anthem, then he is off the team. Another is a mother leaving her eight-year-old son alone at the beach. There are dozens of episodes, and the reactions of the folks observing are what make it so interesting.
A few years ago, I darted into a local grocery store for a couple of ingredients we needed in order to cook dinner. I quickly nabbed my items and made my way to the long lines at the checkout stands. No one loves waiting in long lines at the grocery store, but instead of rolling my eyes and making impatient gestures, I decided to relax and began observing the people around me.
opinions about this subject, so it makes me wonder what Quiñones’s cameras would capture? Would people help as the fireman was eager to do? Or would their opinions cause a moment of personal conflict? I suspect that virtually every able person would have helped the young mother in that situation, regardless of their opinion. After all, people really do care.
Directly in front of me was a young fireman. He only had a couple of items and was probably there to get the necessary items to cook dinner like I was. In front of him was a woman with two or three sacks of groceries and was paying with her card. Her card only covered a portion of the balance, so she proceeded to reach into her purse for the remaining cash to complete the transaction. Unfortunately, she was short several dollars. She had her small children with her, and they were eager to leave, tugging on her jacket.
The line behind me was getting longer, now probably three or four additional people waiting impatiently. I saw the embarrassment and worry on her face. She began to put back the milk. And then the eggs. And before I could get to my wallet, the young fireman in front of me very politely asked the cashier to put those items on his ticket. He leaned over to the mother and told her that he didn’t mean to embarrass her, but that he had been there before and simply wanted to help. She managed a sheepish “thank you” as a tear began to form in the corner of her eye. Her children helped with the groceries, and she left. If John Quiñones had been there, his cameras would have caught a tear forming in my eye as well. You see, the card that didn’t have enough to cover the transaction wasn’t a debit card. It wasn’t a credit card either. It was a food benefits card. I’m certain the fireman noticed it as I did. People seem to have strong
Opinions on social issues are strong these days. Very strong. All the polls and statistics tell us that the war over opinions is becoming a zero-sum game. You are either right, or you are wrong. With me or against me. My goal is not to say that one opinion is right or wrong here. However, if we are ever to rebuild the foundation of our disintegrating society, it starts with our capacity to care for other human beings. Period. It starts with the generosity of spirit and goodwill toward our fellow sisters and brothers we live alongside in our communities. As important as the diversity of our opinions are, people must be more important than our opinions.
Share first. Ask questions later.
Dyer
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SPRING FEST
Second Annual Event Invites Residents To Enjoy Fun, Food April 25 At Woodland Park
BY DAVID DINSMORE
As the bees begin to reemerge this season, some folks in Shawnee are also starting to buzz with anticipation for the second annual Spring Fest, a citywide block party that will sprout on April 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Woodland Veterans Park at 100 E. Highland.
Following a successful inaugural event last year, the gathering is set to once again usher in the warmer weather with food, fun and a strong emphasis on building neighborly relationships, said Ed Bolt, neighboring coordinator for Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County.
Organized by Community Renewal in partnership with the
Community Renewal and the City of Shawnee have partnered to host a second annual Spring Fest featuring food, games, giveaways and fun from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 25 at Woodland Veterans Park. — Photos submitted
City of Shawnee, the event aims to be a kickoff for the season of outdoor block parties, encouraging residents to get out, be visible and forge stronger bonds within their neighborhoods.
“The intention is to have a citywide block party,” Bolt said. “We're getting to that time of the year where the weather gets nice, and it's easier for our block leaders to do block parties. So in a way, it's kind of a kickoff for that time of year
and encourages folks to get out and be visible and be seen by their neighbors and start building relationships in their neighborhood.”
The core philosophy behind Spring Fest is rooted in the belief that strong relationships lead to stronger communities.
“If you can build those relationships … you can build trust in your neighborhood and feel people feel better about where they're living,” Bolt said.
Last year’s event was a resounding success, with roughly 1,000 attendees estimated by a variety of tools available to the city to help gauge crowd size. For Bolt, that number seemed to be validated by the sheer volume of hot dogs consumed.
“That's another very scientific way to track that,” Bolt said.
The free hot dog lunch will be back for this year’s events as long as supplies last, Bolt said, with First United Bank is donating the hot dog buns while Jersey Mike's is providing the chips. Visitors also are encouraged to bring what they need to enjoy a day in the park with their friends and neighbors.
One of the most gratifying aspects of last year, Bolt said, was the consistent crowd.
“What I really liked last year is we had lots of folks, and it was that way the whole time,” he said. “It wasn't that we had a big peak and then people were suddenly gone. People were there the whole time and I thought that was great.”
The festival is also designed to be a block party for the array of organizations that do good work in Shawnee. Last year saw approximately 40 different organizations sign up,
and this year is shaping up to be just as robust with about 40 organizations already committed, Bolt said. This provides a valuable opportunity for groups to connect with residents, let them know what they do and share their plans for the summer.
“We wanted to be something that would benefit as many people
as possible,” Bolt said.. “We have lots of good groups here in town, and this is an opportunity for them to get their message out too. So we're just trying to be good neighbors with everybody.”
But beyond the free food and organizational tables, Spring Fest is fundamentally about the joy of gathering. The event promises a day of fun, laughter, and community spirit.
“My favorite part is when you see all those people out there … and having fun, and I think there's just nothing better than that,” Bolt said. “I just love seeing all the looks on people's faces, and the kids out there having fun.
“People just love getting out with their neighbors and getting to know them.”
The ability to host a successful event of this scale is a testament to the City of Shawnee's intentional investment in its public spaces, particularly Woodland Veterans Park, said Bolt, former mayor of Shawnee. The city's parks and recreation department is a key partner
in the event, helping with logistics, registration, space provision and even coordinating raffle items.
“The city has been very kind to partner with us,” Bolt said. “They provide the space down there at Woodland Park, which is an amazing place to have a gathering in town. That's sort of what that was designed to do.”
The park’s role in facilitating community gatherings was intentional. As the former mayor, Bolt was involved in the park's renovation and improvement, and for him, seeing the space utilized as envisioned is profoundly satisfying.
Looking ahead, Community Renewal aims to build on the momentum generated by Spring Fest — which also had a sister event held last fall in the park — to increase neighborhood involvement throughout the remainder of this year.
The goal is to see a rise in neighborhood block parties with a target of 150 this year, which will be an increase from the 120 parties held in neighborhoods last year throughout the community.
“We just want to keep making that bigger and bigger so that people can get to know their neighbors and build trust in their neighborhood,” Bolt said. “If you can get to that point, then you feel better about where you live, and I think that's an important thing.”
BRUSHING UP Statewide High School Art Show Exceeds Past Performance, Expectations At MGMoA
BY DAVID DINSMORE
The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art hosted its largest high school juried art show during its sixth year with 310 pieces submitted by more than 175 students from 19 different schools around the state. — Photos submitted
The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s High School Juried Art Show reached new heights this year, drawing record participation and celebrating the exceptional talent of Oklahoma’s young artists.
Now in its sixth year, the exhibition not only exceeded expectations but also provided a powerful platform for students to showcase their creativity and gain recognition for their work.
Shelley Keathley, programs and services manager at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, organized the show
for the first time this year and was thrilled by the results.
“I wanted my first year to be bigger and better… and we hit every single goal that I wanted,” Keathley said.
Keathley set what she felt were ambitious benchmarks for the event: at least 150 student participants, 250 pieces of artwork and representation from 15 schools.
The final numbers surpassed these marks.
“We had 175-plus students enter,” Keathley said. “We had 310 pieces that
were submitted, and we had 19 schools in Oklahoma, which is the highest ever.”
The growth came as a result of proactive outreach to all the state’s school districts — not to mention some homeschool organizations — and a focused strategy to expand the competition’s reach. Keathley personally researched and contacted every superintendent and principal in Oklahoma, sending weekly emails to encourage participation.
“Some of these schools had never
>
heard of us, never participated, knew nothing about this,” she said. “We were able to reach people we had never been able to get in contact with before. Stroud, for example, had only one student enter last year. This year, they had almost 50.”
The influx of submissions presented both a challenge and a triumph for the museum. With 258 pieces ultimately on display, the museum had to add extra walls to its gallery to accommodate the artwork.
“I was so worried at the very beginning that I wasn’t going to meet my goal,” Keathley said. “Then I got bombarded in such a great way that I was jumping with joy.”
The exhibition featured a variety of artistic media, from paintings and drawings to ceramics, photography and digital art. This year, organizers made a conscious effort to highlight the diversity of the students’ work.
“We wanted someone from each
subject to get acknowledged,” Keathley said. “We didn’t want there to be five paintings taking all the awards.”
Awards included Best in Show, which came with a $1,000 scholarship to Oklahoma Baptist University, as well as category-specific prizes for painting, ceramics, drawing, photography and digital art, Keathley said. Additional honors included three honorable mentions and 35 staff picks.
The response Keathley received from students, teachers, and parents was overwhelmingly positive.
“I had parents and teachers thank me for allowing their students to participate and for giving them this opportunity,” she said. “I had students come up and ask if they could intern at the museum or how they could get their foot in the door.”
For many young artists, Keathley said the experience of seeing their work displayed in a professional gallery can be transformative.
“It boosts their self-esteem,” she said. “It shows them, ‘Hey, I am good enough. The stuff that I’m doing will reach the right person.’ Even if they’re critical of their artwork, somebody else is going to love it.”
The show has also sparked interest from art buyers, with some students selling their pieces after the exhibition. For others, the recognition solidified their passion for art.
“Now that they’ve been in this show and seen that their work is so great,
Looking ahead, Keathley plans to make adjustments to ensure the show can continue to grow while maintaining
“We’re going to limit the entries from three to two per student so I can continue to accept every single student,”
*Most Insurances accepted.
Beyond numbers and awards, the heart of the event lies in its impact on students and the community. Keathley said the show has become a meaningful stepping stone for emerging artists and a celebration of Oklahoma’s creative youth.
“It’s a huge testament to what we can do to help these students get their work out there, get the acknowledgement and help them on this path,” she said.
The High School Juried Art Show remained on display at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art throughout March, giving the public a chance to see and celebrate the best of Oklahoma’s next generation of artists. Keathley said she hopes the show’s growth will continue to inspire other schools and students to join in future years.
“I just really want people around the community to know that there is remarkable talent out there,” Keathley said. “These students are extremely talented,and we need to acknowledge that as a state.”
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GETTING THERE
Streets Strategy Aims To Help Everyone Get Home Safely
BY JOHN BOBB-SEMPLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF POTTAWATOMIE GO
As April brings National Volunteer Month, Shawnee's landmark Safe Streets for All resolution, invites every resident to help build the community we all deserve.
And the timing couldn't feel more fitting. This resolution could reshape our streets for generations and came as a result of neighbors who selflessly showed up.
Bobb-Semple
Every one of us has felt it. That winceand-brace moment when a car runs a stop sign on Wallace. The white-knuckle grip turning onto Kickapoo. The worry that your kid will make it home safely from school. Now, real change is coming, but this didn’t start with policy. It started with people paying attention.
The City of Shawnee — in partnership
with the University of Oklahoma and Pottawatomie County’s Built Environment Committee — has passed a landmark street safety resolution, adopting a goal of zero traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2036 alongside a data-driven action plan developed with residents, local businesses, schools and community organizations.
Why the Time Was Now
Between 2017 and 2023, 32 people
died on Shawnee's roads. More than four families per year lost someone they loved to a crash.
That’s not just data. That’s neighbors. That’s families. That’s us.
A pedestrian hit at 30 mph has roughly a 45 percent chance of dying or suffering serious injury. At 20 mph, that drops to five percent. Walking audits around the city conducted by people in the community found crosswalks so faded they were functionally invisible, curb ramps that direct wheelchair users into the street and missing stop signs or traffic signals near residential neighborhoods putting pedestrians at risk.
Crash data show collisions occurring repeatedly at residential one-way streets where confusing traffic patterns catch drivers off guard and along commercial
corridors like Kickapoo where lane reductions appear without warning.
Think about who's most exposed. Nearly a quarter of Shawnee residents are minors and 16 percent are 65 or older. According to the Pottawatomie County Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), one in ten households rely on walking as their primary mode of transportation. More than 20 percent live below the poverty line, meaning a single serious injury could trigger a health and financial spiral that takes years to climb out of.
A poorly timed signal or a driver overlooking a crosswalk isn't a minor inconvenience. It's a genuine risk to life.
A Plan Built from Real Experiences
The Safe Streets Action Plan identifies Shawnee's most dangerous corridors — including Harrison Avenue and North Kickapoo Avenue — and prescribes evidence-based improvements like better crosswalks, safer signal timing, lighting upgrades and road design changes. It also includes a sidewalk gap analysis identifying roughly 69 miles of streets where sidewalks are simply missing.
Crucially, this plan was built with residents and not just for them all thanks to the work of countless volunteers.
More than 200 safety concerns were mapped by residents through an online survey. Residents serving on the Pottawatomie County Built Environment Committee gave months of their time to helping the Safety Action Plan Community Advisory Committee. City of Shawnee staff demonstrated trust by ensuring the University of Oklahoma and project partners prioritized resident feedback every step of the way.
At Pottawatomie Go, we’ve had the privilege of helping bring partners together to support our city, but this work belongs to the community.
What Comes Next
Every person who walked a route with an auditor, every parent who pointed to a faded crosswalk and said "this isn't safe for my kid," every city leader leaning in and doing this work, you changed something meaningful.
Now comes the part that matters most.
National Volunteer Month is a good moment to ask where you fit into this next chapter.
Join a walking audit. Attend a public meeting. Volunteer for programs that help children walk safely to school. Report lighting problems or unsafe intersections on the Safe Streets for Shawnee website.
The goal of zero traffic fatalities by 2036 is ambitious, but look at what this community already accomplished simply by deciding it was worth fighting for.
This April, the best way to honor that work is simple: keep going.
Because safer streets aren’t built by chance. They’re built by people who decide it matters.
To learn more about the street safety resolution and to read the City of Shawnee Safe Streets Action Plan, visit safe-streets-shawnee.org. S
ON AIR
Near OKC Broadcasts, Shawnee Citizens Enjoyed Early Days Of TV
DBY ANN MCDONALD, COURTESY POTT CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBER
o you remember your family buying their first television set, or have you always had a TV in your home — maybe two or three?
Just short of 77 years ago, in November 1939, a television demonstration was held at the Oklahoma City Municipal Auditorium for the public to see this was real and in the near future, but it would actually be years before TV became available to Oklahoma citizens. During that time, WKY was developed by The Daily Oklahoman publisher E.K. Gaylord.
In November 1944, WKY-TV channel 4 began televised broadcasting, and Shawnee residents could receive this new concept right in their own homes. Shawnee had the advantage of being near enough to Oklahoma City that if they had the right equipment a business or even a family had access to that early programming.
At first, television was limited to evening broadcasts from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and featured pre-filmed content — nothing live. As audiences grew, so did the programming even though there were some people still wary of this new electronic device – not to mention the cost of the receiving sets.
Shawnee but statewide and around the nation. In December 1953, Channel 9 (KWTV) came to Oklahoma City. Children raced home from school wondering how they would ever decide which channel to watch. Tulsa soon had a TV station, as did Lawton, Enid, Muskogee and others. Enid later moved to Oklahoma City as KOCO. These towns, not as fortunate as Shawnee, couldn’t yet access the OKC outlets.
Shawnee watchers became loyal to the people on channel 4 before national shows became part of the broadcasts. Old timers chuckle at today’s weather folks with comments, remembering “Harry Volkman and the little squeeze bottle with white paint to mark on the state map where we might have bad weather.”
Shawnee’s location near Oklahoma City allowed businesses and families who could afford television sets to enjoy new forms of entertainment during the early days of TV broadcasts, which originally featured much locally produced, pre-filmed offerings. — Photo submitted
Some of Shawnee’s furniture stores — such as Perry & McGee and Marquis — began stocking television sets, and local radio sellers advertised they were also now carrying TVs. The cost of those first sets was around $300 — a significant amount of a household’s income at the time — so many people were not able to grab them up. Instead, it was fairly common to see Shawnee folks gathered on Main Street in front of the stores that had a TV in their display window, or a family who did have one of the devices could expect to have a room full of friends in to see a movie broadcast right there in their living room.
Even though TVs only had 13 channels on the dial for a time, the popularity of television exploded, and citizens grew to love this new entertainment. Before long, children were hurrying in from play to see the marionette “Gismo Goodkin” and music lovers gathered to watch “Wiley and Gene.”
Television took hold of the public’s imagination not just in
Early favorites were ”Gismo Goodkin” and “Kukla, Fran and Ollie.” Miss Fran read storybooks, and Ken Wright was on the organ. Foreman Scotty had a cowboy-themed show that featured children sitting “in the corral” while movies were shown. A child celebrating a birthday got to sit on the horse. Several Shawnee youngsters got to be part of that long-running and wellloved show.
Most remembered from those early days was Danny Williams. He’d been a mainstay at WKY radio and then developed a space adventure show featuring himself as Dan D. Dynamo (3-D Danny) and his robot Bazark. He also had an afternoon show, “Danny’s Day,” interviewing Oklahoma citizens telling interesting stories. He was also the host on the Saturday night wrestling show.
Shawnee was fortunate to have the option of TV in the early years. Today, it’s common to have several television sets in the home. Their cost can be affordable depending on the size, but now the expense comes from a household having to pay for programming with dozens and dozens of options. In the early era of television, all a family needed was to live close to a TV station — which Shawnee residents did — and to stick one of those antennas on the top of their house so they could flip on the dial and have entertainment right there for free — and hope a tube didn’t burn out.
OKLAHOMA STANDARD
Standing Firm, Being Kind In The Good, Bad, Everyday Moments
BY PAULANN CANTY, MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST, MS, LMFT
Sometimes our wounds come from deeply personal moments that are ours alone to experience. Others may hold space with us, but we carry our pain. In other moments, common threads of recognition, of similarity, piece together the varied fabrics of our individual lives. No matter how unique or individual the experience, those stories reside in the shared space of community, but with a more clear distinction between those in need of care, those offering aid, and bystanders. There are moments, however, when the loss and
impact are so deep and broad that there is very little space between those hurting and the responders seeking to help. Everyone feels the weight of the wound. There is no place of respite, no safe place of security
and calm. The impact is felt so deeply that it seems there are no words to express the experience and its aftermath. And so we carry the weight, shared but not fully expressed, across time. Such was the case on April 19, 1995.
A crystal clear morning with a brilliant blue Oklahoma sky welcomed us into that spring day. At 9:02, a blast from a domestic terrorist’s 48-ton bomb was felt across a 50 mile radius around the state. In the space of a minute, the once blue sky was filled with billowing black smoke, and the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was destroyed. In that moment and in the
Paulann
days ahead, we were reminded that in 60 seconds life can be immediately and indelibly changed.
We were faced as never before with the difficult truth that, “There are events that must be endured and not resolved” (okhistory.org). And so in the midst of shock and grief, when the security and predictability of life had been shattered, we leaned into the foundation of being human. We leaned into community. We acknowledged its central place in our lives by giving it a name: the Oklahoma Standard. We became a picture to the nation and the world of that standard as we sat aside the ways we are different, and focused on the task of survival and of healing. The ability to be community in times of manmade hardships and natural disasters has served us well. The Oklahoma Standard has become a source of pride, providing a sense of satisfaction that we are “doing good.”
April is a time of celebrating life in the budding trees, spring flowers, and the return of color to the grey/brown of Oklahoma in winter. It is also a time of remembering death in the darkness and loss of the Oklahoma City bombing. April reminds us that joy and sorrow share space and that life can change in a moment. Thankfully we have a resource in the Oklahoma Standard, a roadmap of sorts to guide us through life’s difficulties and celebrations.
I am aware that we can become so comfortable with a phrase or idea over time that its meaning and power can be diminished. I decided it would be good for me to go back to the source, to be reminded of the meaning of the Oklahoma Standard identifier that brings us such pride. I went to the Oklahoma City National Memorial website where I found the definition in a lesson plan for school children across the state:
“Being an Oklahoman means that even during the worst disasters possible, we stand strong and not only survive, but thrive. The Oklahoma Standard means we are responsible for helping our neighbors and acting in kindness, without hesitation or expecting anything in return. In this state, we honor victims and serve those in need of comfort and support.”
Rereading the description of who we say we are as Oklahomans stopped me in my tracks. I was struck by how well we rise to the occasion of being our best selves in times of crisis; how those moments of unspeakable difficulty and loss are the ashes from which we rise like the Phoenix and display our ability to survive; how the process of survival inspires, equips and energizes us to thrive by being more complete selves than we were before.
I am also aware we are pretty adept at displaying the “Oklahoma Standard” in moments of celebration, those moments when what separates us feels less visible and we are
focused on sharing a joyful moment of community accomplishment, pride or commemoration. We can and should savor those moments when we do it well. But what if the Oklahoma Standard calls us to be and do better in the daily moments between tragedy and celebration?
I wonder what we would discover if we chose to begin each day embracing the Oklahoma Standard not just in words but in deeds, investing sweat equity. What if we chose each day to accept our responsibility and our opportunity to help our neighbors – whoever and wherever they may be? Choose each day to be kind without hesitation, no strings attached. Be Oklahomans offering respect to victims and grace to those in need. What if we leaned into practicing the Oklahoma Standard this spring and beyond? Not from a place of perfection but of willingness to learn. There is a big part of me that longs to embrace being in community, because in all its messiness and sometimes discomfort, community is the place we discover we are not alone. It’s the place we join together for the journey, partnering for the good of all.
Paulann Canty is a licensed marriage and family therapist and longtime Shawnee resident whose practice, Growthlines LLC, has decades of experience helping community members with a range of issues. She believes seeking therapy takes courage, and she will be answering questions from the community in the Shawnee Outlook every month.
April 1-27: Celebrate Poetry Month with the Friends of the Shawnee Public Library, which will accept submissions for the 6th annual Jim Spurr Live Loud Youth Poetry Contest. Students in grades 4-12 can send in their poetry by the deadline of April 27 for a chance to be recognized at the awards ceremony at 2 p.m. on May 3 at the library. Information: https://bit.ly/2026StudentPoetry
April 10: Get ready to dance and shout with us at Glow in the Dark Boogie Bingo at 7 p.m. at American Legion Post 16 at 522 W. Saratoga. Benefitting Worrel's Haven sober living homes, this night of fun mixes the classic thrills of bingo with groovy beats and a glow theme. Dancing is not mandatory but definitely encouraged. Information: facebook.com/ WorrelsHaven
April 11: Bring the kiddos to Touch-A-Truck and Beyond from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Raymond Peltier Park at 1702 S. Gordon Cooper to get a chance to get up close to some of their favorite big vehicles, ask questions, visit booths and learn all about emergency preparedness in this free familyfriendly event presented by the Pottawatomie County & Citizen Potawatomi Nations' emergency management teams. Information: facebook.com/PottCoOEM
April 11: Country/Southern rock veterans Showdown return to Shawnee with a show starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theater at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com
April 16: The Third Thursday Poetry Reading welcomes Tulsa physician David Jennings who likes to pair his poems with photographs. His first book, “The Smallest Hint,” won the 2023 Oklahoma Book Award in the photography/design category. Since then, he has published three more books of verse, including the latest in 2025, “Dreams Like Mine.” The reading will begin at 7 p.m. at the Lunch Box at 217 E. Main St. followed by an open mic session for attendees to read up to two poems of their own or from a favorite poet. The Lunch Box will have desserts and drinks available.
April 16: Bikes & Rods of Shawnee — formerly Bikes on Bell Bike Nights — returns at 6 p.m. in downtown Shawnee. This monthly family-friendly gathering/celebration of motorcycle enthusiasts, riders and their friends and family features events, vendors, giveaways and charity fundraising, A portion of the proceeds will benefit Shawnee High School band boosters. Information: facebook.com/ToolboxLLC
April 16-26: Oklahoma Baptist University Theatre presents “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the classic William Shakespeare tale of love, magic, and a bit of mischief. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays during the run. Information: okbu.edu/ arts/theatre
April 17: Check out the Comedy Blitz at the Ritz, an all-ages
friendly event featuring the stylings of Kyle Kubiak, Kendall Irving, and Arrow Smith. Information: ritzshawnee.com
April 18: Lace up your running shoes for a good cause at the 11th annual Cargo Classic 5K and 1-mile donut dash starting at 8 a.m. at 8895 Coker Road. Proceeds support Cargo Ranch, a nonprofit mentorship program using horses and outdoor activities to help support kids who have changes, struggles, or obstacles in their lives. Information: runsignup. com/cargoclassic
April 18: The City of Shawnee will host a Spring CleanUp from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Central Disposal/GFL Environmental Transfer Station at 700 E. 45th St. Shawnee residents with a recent water/sanitation bill and a valid ID can take advantage of this chance to throw out hazardous household waste (with the exception of tires, ammunition, explosives, pharmaceuticals, biohazardous and radioactive materials). Information: (405) 275-8084
April 23: Come play Bingo for Babies at 6:30 p.m. at the Grand Casino at 777 Grand Casino Blvd. Presented by OG&E, proceeds from this event will benefit Legacy Parenting Center’s work with families with young children in the community. Information: legacyshawnee.com/bingo >
April 24: The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art will host its annual Off the Wall art sale fundraiser at 6 p.m. at 1900 W. MacArthur St., Shawnee, OK 74804. Participants have 30 seconds to choose a piece of artwork donated by local artists on display at the event, which will also feature appetizers, drinks, desserts, live music and more. Information: mgmoa. org/off-the-wall
April 24: Comic Darren Knight will bring his famous “Southern Momma” character to the stage with a show starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theater at 10 W. Main St. and featuring guest star, Red Squirrel. Information: ritzshawnee.com
April 25: Join the fun at the free family friendly Spring Fest featuring food, games, music, giveaways and more from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Woodland Veterans Park at 100 E. Highland.
April 25-26: Travel hither to yon Shawnee Mall for the annual Secret Garden Medieval and Fantasy Fair for art, acrobats, music, workshops, carnival style games, entertainment and more. Information: facebook.com/ShawneeOkArts
April 26: Sine Nomine Choral Society and OBU Community Chorale present To The Stage: Works from the Musical Theatre and Opera Repertoire at 3 p.m. at University Baptist Church at 2515 N. Kickapoo. This free concert event will showcase some fun and familiar favorites along with the talents of local vocalists from around the community.
May 1: Songwriter Night @ Music Unlimited is back with a collection of featured artists every month starting at 7 p.m. at 1109 W. Kickapoo Spur. Information: www.mu1978.com
May 3: Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma will host its monthly public run 1-4 p.m. at 29626 Lake Drive in McLoud. Ride the rails on powered ⅛-scale locomotives right outside of Shawnee Twin Lakes. Information: locotrains.org
May 8: Sib Raza And Josh Stramiello’s 20 Questions Comedy Show is part Cards Against Humanity, part Would You Rather
and is coming to the stage at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theater at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com
May 9: Top Michael Jackson impersonator Danny Dash Andrews will performer one thriller of a tribute starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theater at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com
May 14: Oklahoma Baptist University will host the 2026 Oklahoma Kids Invention Expo (O.K.I.E.) featuring students in grades 2-8 presenting big ideas via poster boards and prototypes meant to solve real world problems at the intersection of imagination and engineering. Organized by Shawnee’s Blue Phoenix Robotics Team, the event showcases the power of STEM and gives students the chance to win cash prizes up to $100. Information: Blue Phoenix FRC 10661 Facebook page or contact bluephoenix10661frc@gmail.com
May 16: Monster Trucks Maniac will roar into the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center with a full slate of behemoths ready to thrill audiences along with motocross, human cannonball and more. Information: monstertruckmaniac.com
If you know of any events you would like to see featured, email editor@shawneeoutlook.com.
STRONG COMMUNITIES START WITH US
