keep the change
BRING IN THE DOUGH
f you spent your summer months decluttering, you may be sitting on an untapped source of income. It takes work to turn that stash into cash, so if you’re not up to it and don’t need the extra income, feel free to donate your old things without guilt If you’re up to it, though, here are some tips.
Rowland
The Old Stand-Bys. Garage sales and Facebook Marketplace are still great options for selling. A garage sale takes physical effort, especially if you want to tag and sort everything ahead of time (which will also likely earn more money), but it’s also relatively easy. One or two days in your driveway while your customers come to you? It’s a quick route to victory. What do you do with leftovers? Read on.
Sell Online. Outside of Marketplace, Facebook serves an option for re-selling via Buy/Sell/Trade groups. Search for specifics –a favorite brand or category of board games, clothing, card games, even specific toy brands. If the group is active, it will likely have thousands of potential collectors or buyers across the country looking for the exact things you’re selling. It’s a great way to maximize the sale. Likewise, online portals like eBay, Mercari, Poshmark and Vinted all have pros and cons to selling your things. Be aware that selling online does mean taking the time to photograph and list, as well as to package and ship.
Resale Shops. By far the quickest and easiest way to unload your haul – but also likely the smallest payout – would be resellers. Cinderella’s Closet, Half-Price Books, Uptown Cheapskate and more offer cash offers on your stash but likely much less than you imagine as they tend to be very selective. Even so, it makes for a quick buck and a quick cleanout.
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.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL, BACK TO LUNCHES A
s the school year begins, families everywhere are settling back into familiar routines. Along with earlier bedtimes, homework and after-school activities comes another daily task — packing healthy lunches.
While it may seem like just one more item on a busy to-do list, a nutritious lunch can make a big difference in a child's energy, focus and overall health throughout the school day.
A balanced lunch doesn't have to be complicated.
Start by including a lean source of protein like turkey, chicken, hard-boiled eggs, beans, hummus or Greek yogurt. Protein helps children stay full longer and supports growth and learning.
Next, add a whole grain such as whole wheat bread, tortillas, crackers or brown rice to provide lasting energy. Don't forget colorful fruits and vegetables like grapes, apple slices, carrots, cucumbers, berries or bell peppers to boost fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Packing a reusable water bottle is another simple way to encourage healthy hydration while reducing sugary drink
Chicken Feta Pasta Salad
This refreshing pasta salad is perfect for meal prep, potlucks, packed lunches or an easy weeknight meal. It combines lean protein, vegetables and whole grains into a balanced dish that's satisfying and flavorful.
Ingredients:
16 oz gluten free or whole wheat pasta
3 cups cooked chicken breast
1 cup cucumber, diced
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters
1 cup bell pepper, diced
1 cup broccoli, diced
½ cup feta cheese
Dressing:
¼ cup olive oil
2 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp salt (optional)
consumption.
If your child enjoys a sweet treat, consider including it in moderation rather than making it the main focus of the meal. Small changes over time can lead to lifelong healthy habits.
One of the best ways to reduce morning stress is to prepare lunches the night before. Wash and cut fruits and vegetables in advance, portion snacks into reusable containers and keep healthy grab-and-go options readily available in the refrigerator. Older children can even help pack their own lunches, giving them valuable life skills while encouraging them to make healthier food choices.
The back-to-school season is a fresh start for everyone. By creating a simple lunch-packing routine and filling lunch boxes with nourishing foods, families can help children stay energized, focused and ready to learn. Healthy habits built today can support success both inside and outside the classroom throughout the entire school year.
Try the recipe below that will make multiple lunches for your child and/or yourself.
pasta mixture and toss until evenly coated. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to blend.
Makes: 10 cups; 1 ¼ cup per serving
Nutrition Facts Per Serving:
Calories: 390
Saturated Fat: 3g
Sodium: 320mg
Fiber: 3g
Directions: Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, chicken, cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion and feta. In a small bowl,
Total Fat: 17g
Cholesterol: 55mg
Carbohydrates: 36g
Protein: 24g
Nutrition 101 Tip: Pasta salads can be more than just a side dish. By adding lean protein like chicken, colorful vegetables and a moderate amount of feta cheese, this recipe becomes a balanced meal that provides protein for fullness, fiber for digestion and nutrients to support overall health. It also stores well in the refrigerator, making a great option for meal prep and busy weekdays.
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
FUTURE OF ART
Art Survives Through Efforts Of People Who Care
SUBMITTED BY CARMEN WOLF, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF MABEEGERRER MUSEUM OF ART
Last month, our galleries were full of people looking closely, asking questions and choosing favorite works during On the Wall. Guests walked through the museum, found pieces that spoke to them and “adopted” works of art by making a monthly or annual gift in support of the museum.
It was a joyful evening, but it was also a meaningful one. At the center of the event was a simple idea: art does not survive by accident. It survives because people choose to care for it.
When we visit a museum, we usually notice what is in front of us: a painting on the wall, a sculpture in the gallery, a piece of pottery in a case or an object that makes us stop and wonder. But behind every object is a great deal of quiet care.
Museums are responsible for protecting art and artifacts so they can be enjoyed today and still be here for the next visitor, the next school group and the next generation. That kind of care is called stewardship. Stewardship means looking after something important so others can learn from it, enjoy it and be inspired by it in the future.
In a museum, caring for art can mean many different things. It means keeping artwork away from bright light that can
Many art pieces in existence at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art and places like it around the world speak to generations of admirers across centuries thanks in part to the care shown by those driven to preserve them.
fade colors over time. It means protecting objects from dust, moisture, insects and sudden changes in temperature. It means handling items carefully, keeping good records and knowing where each object belongs. It also means preserving the stories behind the art, because an object without its story can lose part of its meaning.
Even a frame has an important job. We often notice a frame because it is beautiful, but in a museum, a frame is not just decoration. It helps support and protect a work of art. It creates a safe space around the artwork and reminds us that what is inside deserves our attention.
That is one reason our On the Wall art adoption event was so special. When
someone adopts a work of art, they are not taking it home. They are helping care for it here, where the whole community can continue to see it, learn from it and enjoy it.
This month’s art project invites you to think like a museum professional. You will create your own artwork, then design a frame or display that helps protect it.
Art Project: Design a Frame That Protects
Supplies: paper, pencil, crayons or markers, scissors, glue or tape and optional cardboard, construction paper or recycled materials.
First, create a small artwork. It can be a drawing of a person, animal, landscape,
pattern, favorite place, or abstract design.
Next, design a frame around it. Think beyond decoration. How could your frame protect the artwork? Could it have strong corners? A backing? A label? A sign that says “Please do not touch”?
Add labels around your frame showing how you would care for the artwork. You might write: “Keep out of bright sunlight,” “Clean hands,” “Keep away from water,” “Safe backing,” or “No touching.”
Finally, make a small museum label. Include the artist’s name, the title of the artwork, the date and the materials used.
When you are finished, choose a safe place to display your artwork at home. Then explain to someone else how your frame helps protect it.
Museums care for art because art carries stories. Some are hundreds or even thousands of years old. Some tell us about people, places, beliefs, beauty, courage, imagination and daily life. When we care for art, we care for those stories too.
Scan the QR code for this and more art project ideas from MGMoA.
over the fence
10 SPOT
Community Renewal Marks A Decade Of Intentional Relationships
BY OLIVIA WILSON, DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RENEWAL OF POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY
We Care.
As I stepped into my role as Director of Development earlier this year, I was familiar with the slogan but was so unfamiliar with how much good is being done.
I spent my first few weeks observing, learning more about our programs so I could relay that into messaging for our socials. What I didn’t realize was that their stories would become my purpose.
Often, new college graduates have a weird sense of uncertainty about what their purpose is post-graduation. I was in that space for a while until I sat in a high school classroom and just listened to kids who have gone through the darkest of times as they cheered for each other. Became friends with each other. But most importantly, they had confidence to share their stories.
Confidence is our best currency. The work we do, enables people to be confident. With confidence comes success and strength, whether that be to become a better father, graduate high school or even just to wake up the next day.
People of Pottawatomie County are confident because of programs Community Renewal brings to the community.
We really do care. It might be hard work, but it’s life
changing work. And what a gift it is to be a part of it.
Anniversary Luncheon
Join us as we celebrate 10 years of Community Renewal.
Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County invites you to our
10th Anniversary Luncheon: A Decade of Connection and Impact at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20 at the Gordon Cooper Technology Center’s Safety Center at 1 John C. Bruton Drive. Together, we'll reflect on ten years of strengthening families, building meaningful relationships and creating lasting change throughout our community.
Come celebrate the stories, partnerships and people who have made this journey possible, and help us look ahead to the next decade of impact.
For more information, visit facebook.com/communityrenewalpc, call (405) 273-1035 or email info@communityrenewal.org.
Fall Programs
As summer winds down, our program team is already hard at work preparing for another exciting school year. Behind the scenes, staff are planning engaging Kids' Clubs that will provide students with opportunities to build friendships, grow in confidence, and experience a true sense of belonging.
At the same time, our Elevate classes are being thoughtfully developed to equip students with practical life skills, character development and encouragement they can carry well beyond the classroom. Every lesson, activity and volunteer role is being prepared with one goal in mind: creating meaningful relationships that help students thrive.
As these programs begin to take shape across schools, there will be opportunities for caring adults to be part of the story. If you've ever wondered what it looks like to invest in the next generation — even just a little — we'd love to have a conversation with you.
Contact info@communityrenewal.org for more information.
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BRIDGING THE GAP
8th Annual Cops N Kids Event Returns with New Adventures
BY DAVID DINSMORE
The free Cops N Kids 2026 event will feature games, activities, food, giveaways and family fun for everyone along with the chance to interact with the vehicles and gear of law enforcement and the men and women who use them to keep their communities safe. — Photos submitted
Families from across the region are preparing for a day of celebration and connection as the 8th Annual Cops N Kids event returns to Shawnee. Scheduled for August 22, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center, the event offers a unique opportunity for residents to engage with the public safety professionals who serve them every day.
Since 2017, the goal of this latesummer gathering has remained constant: to foster trust and open communication between families and the agencies responsible for community safety. While many childhood
interactions with law enforcement occur during high-stress, emergency situations, this event offers a relaxed environment for positive, face-to-face interaction.
Among the top priorities for the event is to promote positive relationships between youth and families and law enforcement in Shawnee and throughout the State of Oklahoma, said Cpl. Vivian Lozano, public information officer with the Shawnee Police Department and an event planner.
The event brings together a diverse array of public servants, including local police departments, sheriff’s offices, state troopers, tribal agencies, military
units, and federal entities. Alongside these are firefighters, paramedics, and emergency management personnel, all there to demonstrate their equipment and discuss their missions. For many event participants, the opportunity to educate children and parents about their role in the community is a highlight of the year. One event participant noted that these educational opportunities are vital, providing a dedicated space to discuss how they work to protect families and build a foundation of trust.
Attendees will have hands-on experience with the tools of the trade. Whether it is climbing into a helicopter, sitting on a tactical motorcycle, exploring a mobile command center or watching a K-9 demonstration, the event makes the work of first responders accessible. According to Lozano, the surprise vehicle arranged for this year’s event is expected to be a popular addition.
The community atmosphere extends beyond public safety agencies. Local businesses and community organizations are also key event participants, contributing games, activities, and giveaways. Event participants have remarked the importance of these interactions, noting that seeing entire families engage
together is encouraging. For those with relatives in public safety, the event reinforces the importance of the work being done to keep neighborhoods safe.
This year’s entertainment lineup is extensive. Kids can race through inflatable obstacle courses, slide down water features, test their skills at the bike rodeo, or join in a game of corn hole. New attractions for 2026 include exotic animal encounters, a tie-dye station, the iconic Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine, and a display featuring the Bigfoot monster truck.
Lozano highlighted that the first 1,000 attendees will receive commemorative T-shirt goodie bags. Additionally, all guests can enter to win prizes, including bicycles and helmets, which will be awarded as the day concludes. Free hot dogs will be available while supplies last, supplemented by a variety of food truck options.
As Lozano emphasizes, the event remains a cornerstone of the summer calendar because of the unique way it brings the community together. For those who return annually, the fun and connection are the main draws. As one event participant put it, the consistent engagement year after year is what makes this occasion so anticipated by both families and responders alike.
For the most up-to-date information about Cops N Kids 2026, check out facebook.com/Shawneecopsnkids or instagram.com/copsnkidsshawneeok. S
ROSE COLORED
Photographer Brings Sparkle To Shawnee Care Facilities
SUBMITTED BY LOOK FOR THE GOOD POTT COUNTY
Awoman at a local Shawnee care facility had just been done up with makeup and styled hair when a staff member walked in, looked at her and joked that she didn't recognize her. The resident didn't miss a beat.
"My name's Miss America," she said. She was ready for her glamour shot session. It was a small exchange, but for Kelly Brown — founder of the Rose Colored Lens Foundation — it captures exactly what she's spent the last several years building: a way to give people in their last stage of life one more chance to feel seen.
From Grief to a Calling
Brown didn't set out to found a
nonprofit. She's a working photographer who captures a little of everything — portraits, seniors, weddings, newborns. While trying to break into birth photography, a woman going through infertility reached out. She wanted Brown to photograph her someday, whenever she finally got pregnant.
Brown followed her through failed tests and a pregnancy loss, then
Photographer Kelly Brown established the Rose Colored Lens Foundation to honor and capture care facility residents in ways their families and caretakers will always remember.
through a sustained pregnancy, a baby shower and the excitement of finding out she was having a boy.
Then came the call. The baby — whom she'd carried to the point of knowing his name — had passed before birth. The family still wanted Brown there, and according to her, it changed the entire direction of her life.
“I've never lost a child, so I couldn't even imagine how that would feel,” Brown said. “But I do know a little bit about preserving moments, and I know how important that can be."
In that hospital room, Brown unearthed a passion for end-of-life photography. Not long after, she captured a mother with terminal, inoperable brain cancer alongside her adult daughters. The images went viral, landing Brown a moment of local news coverage — and, in her words, a responsibility to do something with it.
The Rose Colored Lens Foundation was born.
A New Kind of Legacy
Brown’s instinct that photos matter more than people realize helped point her toward an often overlooked population: residents in local nursing and care homes.
"People deserve a chance to leave a legacy that they choose," Brown said. "It's kind of the only tangible thing you can leave your loved ones when you're gone. They can't see the wrinkles in your eyes anymore, or how your smile looked, or the way your hands looked, without something like a photo to freeze it and preserve it forever."
For many care facility residents, Brown noticed there's no one left to
make that happen for them.
"A lot of these people don't have families,” Brown said. “They don't have people to reach out to me and say, 'Could we get a bereavement session? This person is really important to us.'"
Knowing that too often the photos a family is left to choose from for an obituary are blurry, decades old or simply just the only one on hand, she and her team began hosting glamour shot events to change that math ahead of time — and to make the process itself feel like a celebration rather than a chore.
"Their obituary photos should be as glamorous as they are in real life," Brown said.
A Photo Shoot Fit for Royalty
If you happen upon one of these glamour shot events, you might think you had stumbled upon a red carpet event. But instead of A-list celebrities, the paparazzi are capturing Shawnee’s true stars.
The events have grown into full community productions hosted alongside Cohesive Home Health
and Hospice and Petals of Light — an organization that repurposes donated wedding and event flowers into bouquets for seniors and veterans.
Local vendors, hairstylists and makeup artists volunteer their time. Cinderella’s Closet has donated
glamorous dresses, coats and jewelry. Shawnee Beauty College has signed on as a partner for an upcoming session. Volunteers do hair and makeup, help residents pick out tiaras, feathers, scarves and suit jackets, and some dish out relaxing hand massages along the way.
"It's not just about the pictures," Brown said. "I want it to be a full-service experience where they are just getting completely spoiled."
That enthusiasm shows up before the cameras ever come out. Brown remembers arriving three hours early to one of the first sessions and finding residents already dressed and waiting for her.
"I said, 'You guys are a little early,' and they said, 'We're just so excited to see you,'" Brown said. "It really is such a
fun thing."
The impact isn't limited to residents who can express it in words. Brown described nonverbal residents lighting up during their sessions in ways that needed no explanation, and said the joy of the day tends to erase every other label in the room.
“It didn't matter where you were at in your hospice or recovery,” she said. “It didn't matter if you were a man or a woman, verbal or nonverbal.
“Everyone got their chance to be a star.”
Learn more and sign up to become a volunteer with the Rose Colored Lens Foundation at rosecoloredlensphoto. com/foundation.
Have a positive Pottawatomie County story like this to share? Submit your good news to Look for the Good Pott County at PottCountyGood.com. S
SNEAK PEEK
Shawnee Residents Among The First To Hear Of
Plans For St. Jude
BY ANN MCDONALD, COURTESY POTT CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBER
Almost everyone has heard of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, maybe through TV, the internet, mail-outs and maybe even personal experience. It’s a world-famous and successful hospital helping youngsters and their families who have been diagnosed with cancer.
But did you know Shawnee had a small part in the early planning and efforts of the establishment of one man’s dream?
That man was born Amos Jacob Kairouz — though he is better known as Danny Thomas — in Michigan in 1912 to a family who immigrated from Lebanon. They then moved to Toledo, Ohio, where he graduated from high school. He was drawn to performing and got a job at a Detroit radio station in 1932.
After marrying Rose Marie Cassaniti in 1936, the couple moved to Chicago in 1940 where he changed his name to Danny Thomas (the first names of his two brothers) so his family wouldn’t know that he was working in clubs, something they would not approve of. The family was devoted to the Catholic Church and held to strict standards.
After those first radio appearances in the 1940s, he was then showing up by the 1950s in films and even had his own radio program. His talent and hard work brought him a role on the popular TV show “Make Room for Daddy,” which ran from 1953 to 1964. He then had The Danny Thomas Show and produced others, such as those with Dick Van Dyke and Andy Griffith.
When he came to Shawnee in April 1968, he was a wellknown TV personality and was invited to support the dedication of a $2.5 million St. Gregory’s upgrading and additional building projects. Reports said there were 4,000 in attendance with state and local dignitaries including Gov. Dewey Bartlett and his wife; Sen. Mike Monroney; U.S. Reps. James Smith and Tom Steed; and Shawnee Mayor Pierre Taron.
Also on the program was F.C. Love, the school’s chairman of the Board of Trustees and father of Tom Love (Love’s Country Stores), who was a star athlete while a student at St. Gregory’s High School in the early 1950s.
Most of those in the audience were not aware of Thomas’s efforts at building a hospital in Memphis through his fundraising efforts, which was to be known as St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. When he was struggling early in his ca-
Attendees of a ceremony at St. Gregory’s in Shawnee were among the first to hear from well-known TV personality, Danny Thomas, about his vision for what became St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. — Photo submitted
reer, working in bars to support his family, he prayed to St. Jude to show him a different path and promised St. Jude he would share his success with something important and needed. He was now fulfilling that promise.
For most of the Shawnee audience, this was the first they heard of his now famous endeavor. The event — including this news — was soon spread about and was helpful in Thomas’s effort to continue to build and support St. Jude’s hospital.
Nine years later in 1977, Thomas returned to Shawnee and St. Gregory’s. By then, he was mostly known around the county for St. Jude’s hospital and other philanthropic works. This time, he took part in the ceremonies dedicating the school’s Child Development Center to honor Congressman Lyle Boren. Thomas was also awarded the college’s Benedict Award for God and Country.
Thomas died February 6, 1991 in Los Angeles when he was 79, leaving his wife Rose and three children: Marlo, Tony and Terre. He was buried in Memphis on the grounds of St. Jude Hospital.
Marlo is now the executive director of the hospital. Danny Thomas’ legacy is one of what he was able to do by using his own funds and his well-known name to encourage help from others in support of children and their families. Many Shawnee people were some of the first to be aware of what can be done with promise and dedication.
LOOK FOR THE GOOD
New Initiative Highlights The Best Of Pottawatomie County
BY MACY MUIRHEAD
Snap!
It was midmorning in the middle of a school day when a boy's glasses snapped clean at the hinge. Suddenly, the lesson on the whiteboard turned blurry. He brought them to the office at Grove School hoping for a screw or some tape — anything.
The story should have ended with a makeshift fix. But Officer Harjo, the school's resource officer, was on his way to lunch. He loaded the spectacles into his cruiser, stopped by a local eye doctor and had them back in the boy’s hands good as new before the bell rang.
Nobody asked him to do this. It wasn’t protocol or part of the job. He just didn't like the idea of a child squinting through math class when he had an hour and a car.
Unless you were the boy's parents, you probably didn't hear about this. It didn't make the front page of the newspaper or light up a local Facebook group. Even if it had, it’s easy to get too busy with work, children, practice and church to notice a police officer doing a good deed on his lunch break.
But the truth is, stories like this happen every day in Pottawatomie County. You just have to know where to look.
Introducing Look for the Good Pottawatomie County
Since humans first gathered around fire, stories have been the glue. They’re how a scattered group of people and streets became something with a name and a ZIP code. They are how strangers become neighbors and neighbors become someone you would show up for at 2 a.m.
Stories — especially the good ones — are how a community knows it’s worth building up, staying for and handing down to
whoever comes next. The pride they build is how a place lives on long beyond our own lifetimes.
On Aug. 17, telling Pottawatomie County’s story gets a lot easier. Look for the Good Pottawatomie County is a new project brought to you by Pogo, built to elevate the good already happening across this county as told by the people living it.
This is the place to hear about the FFA students who spent their summer in the dirt turning a bare stretch of school grounds into blooming flower beds. It is for the family that took over a storefront that sat vacant downtown for years and brought the block back to life.
It highlights the middle school art teacher who turned blank hallway walls into a technicolor mural of memes; the quilting circle who set aside their needles to whip up casseroles for a sick friend; and the volunteer firefighters who drove straight into smoke to keep a grassfire from taking homes.
It features the neighbors who scoured backroads and pastures until a missing horse was found and led home, and the HVAC technician who left his own dinner table during a record cold snap to fix an elderly neighbor's heater free of charge because nobody should spend a night like that in the cold.
None of these stories are going to make the evening news — and that is the point. Our moments of kindness, selflessness, revitalization, resilience and simply showing up deserve their time in the sun, too.
Starting Aug. 17, if you see something good, tell Look for the Good at PottCountyGood.com.
You won't have to look far. You never did.
QUICK SOLUTION
Understanding Takes Time That May Not Create Fast Results
BY PAULANN CANTY, MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST, MS, LMFT
Dear Paulann, my brother came out last year and some of my family members have been really mean about it. We are having a family reunion this fall, and some of them will be there. I'm so stressed out just imagining people being rude to him or making little comments that I don't even want to go to the reunion.
I don't know the details of your brother's coming out or what direct conversations you have had with him since then. It is clear that you love your brother. You don't want to see him hurt or diminished by some family member's rudeness or harmful comments. You may feel uncertain or confused about how to support or defend him. It might feel easier to avoid the situation by skipping the reunion. There are certainly times to avoid situations that feel confusing or hurtful when there is little possibility of a positive outcome.
There are also situations where stepping into the uncertainty is the path to clarity and growth. If you haven't already talked with your brother, the first thing I would encourage you to do is be clear with him that you care, and that you want to actively support him in the most helpful ways. Listen to him to know how the world looks from where he sits. Then you can invite him to help you understand what acceptance and support look like to him. Remember that "becoming" a self is a life long process for each of us, not a single moment
of discovery. Listen to him in order to better understand and support him on his life's journey.
It is hard to be patient with a process when we just want a solution, a quick outcome. But the reality of life is that it’s messy. Nowhere is that messiness more present than in our individual stories that are lived out in public or relationship spaces. Sometimes in our well meaning attempts to help, we become the spokesperson for a story that doesn’t belong to us. Ask your brother how he wants you to hold his ongoing life story. Ask how you can support him as he continues his process of becoming his most authentic self.
You will discover your own growth opportunities as you offer encouragement and support to your brother. Life often uses the shared space of community to both “sand” and “fine tune” us toward greater clarity and better versions of ourselves if we will allow it. In
Paulann
relationships and community we have the chance to provide safe spaces for each other to ask the hard questions, acknowledge our uncertainty and our desire to be better, to challenge us to stretch outside our comfort zone, to celebrate and respect both our common ground and our differences. As you seek to understand and support your brother, these are a few resources you may find helpful.
• PFLAG — an organization for support and education of parents, family and friends of LGBTQ+ individuals. There are 6 chapters in OK, including one in Shawnee. Here is the link to the local chapter’s FB page, and the PFLAG National website.
• https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=pflag%20 shawnee
• https://pflag.org/
• Free Mom Hugs at https://freemomhugs.org
• "Coming Out, Coming Home: Helping Families Adjust to a Gay or Lesbian Child," Michael LaSala.
• "Straight Parents, Gay Children: Keeping Families Together," Robert Bernstein.
• "Unconditional: A Guide to Loving and Supporting Your LGBTQ Child," Telling Erikson.
• The Trevor Project, https//www.thetrevorproject.org.
• How to Support LGBTQ+ Children — www.childmind.org Understanding begins with love, being an active listener
and seeking to learn. I hope you will expand your understanding as you continue this journey across time, even as you wish for a quick resolution. I hope you will learn more and more from the many resources of research and stories available. Most of all I hope you will make sure your brother knows you love and support him unconditionally.
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.
ad. Their mailbox. Every month!
oticing good isn't just nice. It's good for you. Studies show that regularly noticing and naming good things even small ones — lowers stress and improves mood over time. So try it this week. Name one good thing you noticed today, out loud or in a note.
And if you have a good story, share it with Look for the Good Pott County at PottCountyGood.com.
Aug. 1-30: The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art will host a specially curated exhibit Echoes of Time and Place: Sauk Art and Culture featuring selections by Indigenous artists and educators Tony A. Tiger and Janae Grass with an opening reception at 7 p.m. on June 6. Information: mgmoa.org/echoes-of-time-and-place
Aug. 7-8: The FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival offers two days of balloon glows, balloon launches and balloon rides with a carnival, inflatables, food trucks, vendor market and live music in a family-friendly environment in and around Raymond Peltier Park at 1702 S. Gordon Cooper. Information: firelakeballoonfest.com
Aug. 7-8: After 70 years in Okmulgee, The Roy LeBlanc Invitational Rodeo will make its Shawnee debut at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center at 1700 W. Independence St. As one of the oldest Black rodeos, the event brings cowboys and their fans from all over the country and has garnered national attention — including a spot on the hit TV series, “The Simpsons.” It may be changing locations, but the heart of the rodeo remains the same. Information: royleblancrodeo.com
Aug. 8: Check out the Downtown at Sundown Car Show starting at 5 p.m. along Main Street with 100% of the vehicle entry fees and all proceeds from the event will benefit the MRCA Youth Rodeo Association, helping support local youth and the next generation of rodeo competitors. Information: facebook.com/downtownautobodyshawnee
Aug. 10, 12: Join Cinema Centre 8 for the last two dates of the Kids’ Summer Movie Camp featuring Muppet Treasure Island. Tickets and info: jonestheatres.com
Aug. 15: Get ready to roll with the third annual Marshal Rock Radio Festival featuring Aqua Fire, 19 Never, Rotten Cotton Candy, Beggars Whiskey and Grudge Finger. The show starts cranking at 7 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theater at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com
Aug. 16, 18: The Shawnee Peace & Praise Community Choir will host auditions for its upcoming 20262027 season. Appointments are required. Visit shawneepeaceandpraise.com or email shawneepraise@ gmail.com for scheduling and more information.
Aug. 20: The Third Thursday Poetry Reading will begin at 7 p.m. at the Lunch Box at 217 E. Main St. featuring Alan Berecka, author of four collections of poetry and an illustrated narrative, “The Hamlet of Stittville,” 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 open at 6 p.m. with desserts and drinks available.
Aug. 20: Bikes & Rods of Shawnee roars into downtown at 6 p.m. This free monthly family-friendly community gathering celebrates all things motorcycle and hot rods.
Aug. 22: The Rocket Man Run is an annual 5K race and on-mile fun run hosted by the Gordon Cooper Technology Center Foundation to raise funds to meet its goal of helping students succeed. The event is set to start at 7:30 a.m. at the Gordon Cooper campus at 1 John C. Bruton. Information: runsignup.com/Race/OK/Shawnee/ RocketManRun5KFunWalk
Aug. 22: Cops N Kids returns with a full afternoon of family fun featuring law enforcement and first responders from all levels showcasing the skills and tools that help keep communities safe. The event will also feature games, food, inflatables, giveaways, vendor booths and more from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center at 1700 W. Independence. Information: facebook.com/ Shawneecopsnkids
Aug. 22: Get Leppard will pay tribute to its namesake band, Def Leppard, with a show starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theater at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com >
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Aug. 27: World renowned blues/rock icon and King of Strings Carvin Jones, voted one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time by Guitarist magazine, performs live at the Historic Ritz Theatre at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com
Aug. 29: Bryan Adams tribute band Run To You will play the hits starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theater at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com
Sept. 1-30: Legacy Parenting Center will be hosting a month-long diaper drive for Diaper Needs Awareness Week (Sept. 15-21) to collect diapers and wipes for families in need in the areas they serve in Shawnee and beyond. Visit legacyshawnee.com/dnaw or call (405) 432-2844 for information about drop off sites.
Sept. 1: Join the monthly Main Street Shop and Stroll the first Tuesday of each month to see the latest food, shopping, and entertainment downtown businesses have to offer from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Grab your passport and fill it with stamps as you visit participating merchants to enter for a chance to win prizes at the end of the night. Information: visitshawnee.com
Sept. 9-12: Make your way to the Pottawatomie County Free Fair in Shawnee for an array of activities perfect for children and the whole family. Check out the open class competitions, arts and crafts, commercial vendors, educational booths and delicious fair food. Daily livestock shows and exhibitions will include poultry, goats, cattle, rabbits, sheep and more. Don't miss the fair's farmhand olympics, as well as an antique tractor display, garden tractor pull and demonstrations. Information: freefair.org
Sept. 10: Legacy Parenting Center will host its ninth annual Tapas and Trivia fundraiser at 6 p.m. at the Grand Events Center at 777 Grand Casino Blvd. to help fund its educational and diaper programs for young families. Information: legacyshawnee.com
Sept. 11: 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
If you know of any events you would like to see featured, email editor@shawneeoutlook.com.
is back with a collection of featured artists every month starting at 7 p.m. at 1109 W. Kickapoo Spur. Information: www.mu1978.com
The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art will host a
ages 18 and older. No prior experience required — just come ready to get your hands a little messy and have a great time.
will
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