keep the change
KEEP COOL ABOUT YOUR BUDGET
As the heat goes up, so do our energy bills. If you’re sweating over the cost of keeping cool this summer, there are some ways to manage that heat without cranking up the cost.
Look into money-saving opportunities with your energy provider. Smart Hours programs and Average Monthly Billing are options that, together, can lower your monthly cost and make your bill more predictable throughout the year.
Pre-cool and lower the AC during peak hours. Even without being on Smart Hours billing, you can still apply the same principles. If you lower the tem peratures in your home in the earlier hours of the day, your home will “pre-cool” before the hours of peak heat in the afternoon, allowing you to raise the temperature on the thermostat while retaining that cool air from the morning. Thus, your AC isn’t working its hardest during the hottest portions of the day, saving on your overall energy usage. Use a programmable thermostat to manage settings so you don’t have to think about it daily. Get out of the house. If reducing your AC usage is still leav ing you too warm, find somewhere else to stay cool in the mid dle of the day. Work from a coffee shop, take the kids to the pool, visit the library or save your grocery shopping for those midafternoon hours, and make the most of the cooler air in those public places.
Focus on cooling snacks. Keep popsicles or frozen grapes handy to add an instant cool to your day. Use frozen fruits and fruit juice to create delicious smoothies. If you have little ones, look into ways to make homemade popsicles and frozen treats to make keeping cool a fun experience for everyone.
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.
Angela Rowland
STAY HYDRATED WITH FOOD ON
s temperatures rise in July, staying hydrated becomes more important than ever. While most of us reach for a cold glass of water, food can also play a big role in keeping you hydrated — and energized — through long, hot days.
Dehydration can sneak up quickly, especially if you're active or spending time outside. Even mild dehydration can cause fatigue, headaches, dizziness, cravings, hunger and poor concentration. Hydrating regularly — through both fluids and foods — helps regulate your body temperature, keeps your joints lubricated and supports digestion and energy levels.
Many fruits and vegetables are made up of over 90 percent water. Including these types of foods in your meals and snacks is an easy way to boost hydration. A few examples include cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, oranges, lettuce, spinach, celery, zucchini and tomatoes. Add these to salads, blend into smoothies or enjoy as a refreshing snack straight from the fridge.
Citrus Electrolyte Drink
This drink is packed with essential electrolytes from coconut water, is free of added sugars and is perfect for staying hydrated during workouts or recovering after physical activity.
Ingredients:
Don’t forget your electrolytes too. On especially hot days or after intense activity, you lose not just water but also electrolytes like sodium, potassium and magnesium. Replenish these with coconut water, bananas, avocados, leafy greens, chia seeds or a pinch of sea salt in a homemade electrolyte drink. It can be helpful to have a few easy hydrating habits.
Try to include the following in your day:
• Start your day with a glass of water and a hydrating breakfast (like a smoothie with spinach and frozen fruit).
• Carry a refillable water bottle.
• Snack on fruits and veggies throughout the day.
• Try infused water with cucumber, mint, or citrus for flavor.
• Make your own electrolyte drink
The bottom line is this July, don’t just drink your water — eat it, too!
1 ½ cups unsweetened coconut water ½ cup orange juice
Directions:
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
Pinch of Himalayan salt
Ice for serving
Combine coconut water, orange juice, lime juice and salt in a large glass or pitcher. Stir until the slat dissolves. Pour into two ice-filled glasses.
Nutrition Facts per Serving: Makes 2 servings:
Calories: 50 Total Fat: 0g Saturated Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 324mg Fiber: 0g
Total Carbohydrates: 24g Protein: .8g
Nutrition 101: So why even mess with making your own electrolyte drink? Store-bought electrolyte drinks can be convenient, but many come with added sugars, artificial colors and preservatives that your body doesn’t need — especially if you’re drinking them regularly. Some contain as much sugar as soda, which can cause blood sugar spikes and add empty calories. A homemade electrolyte drink lets you control the ingredients. You can use simple items like water, a splash of 100 percent fruit juice (like orange or tart cherry), a pinch of sea salt and a squeeze of lemon or lime. Add chia seeds or coconut water for a natural boost of potassium and magnesium. These DIY options are cleaner, more affordable and just as effective for hydration without the artificial extras. Plus, they’re easy to customize for your taste and needs.
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. S
art of the matter
Fr. Gerrer Followed Many Adventures
Before, During His Time At Monastery
SUBMITTED BY DELAYNNA TRIM CURATOR OF COLLECTIONS
MABEE-GERRER MUSEUM OF ART
D EN PLEIN AIR
id you know that this month marks the 158th birthday of Fr. Gregory Gerrer, namesake of the MabeeGerrer Museum of Art? He was born on July 23, 1867 in the village of Lautenbach, Alsace, France.
This area is known for small farms and vineyards. The Alsace-Lorraine area of France has gone back and forth between France and Germany over the centuries. France controlled the area in the 17th and 18th centuries with Germany taking control from 1871-1918. After World War I, the area was returned to France. In fact, Fr. Gerrer’s family left their home and came to the United States because of the fighting in the area during the Franco-Prussian War.
The family initially settled in St. Joseph, Missouri but soon moved to Bedford, Iowa. In Iowa, his father was a baker as he had been in France. He taught Fr. Gerrer how to bake. This would be a helpful skill when Fr. Gerrer later joined the monastery.
Did you know that Fr. Gerrer played the guitar and clarinet? He taught himself to play guitar when he and his older brother Albert traveled to Portland, Oregon and ended up working on a mail ship off the West Coast.
When he returned a year later, Fr. Gerrer started taking clarinet lessons from Patrick Gilmore, who was a wellknown composer and military band leader. Fr. Gerrer played the clarinet in several bands, including the Fifth Regiment Band of the Iowa National Guard and with the Hurlbert & Leftwich Circus.
Gregory Gerrer worked several jobs — including as a clarinet playing horseback trick rider in a circus — before joining the monastery in Shawnee, where his abbott encouraged to follow other artistic pursuits. Scan this code to visit the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s athome
During his time with the circus, he played the clarinet while riding a horse, which then jumped over other horses. He continued playing clarinet when he joined the Sacred Heart Mission/St. Gregory’s Abbey in 1891. He joined an organist and a violinist to create a small band. Eventually, there were 14 monks and students in this band.
While Fr. Gerrer had sketched since he was a boy, it wasn’t until the Abbot Felix De Grasse sent him to Italy to get trained in 1900 that he had any formal artistic training. He studied under several talented Italian painters – Guiseppe Gonnella, Ciro Galliazzi, Salvatore Nobili and Antonio Ortiz Echagüe.
Fr. Gerrer enjoyed painting “en plein air,” which means that he would paint outside. These tend to be smaller, quicker paintings. Often, they would be preparatory pieces for larger works. He would paint “en plein air” pieces as he traveled around the world. Many of his “en plain air” pieces are from right here in Oklahoma. He would often paint in the Wichita Mountains and other scenic areas of Oklahoma.
For outdoor related art projects, check out mgmoa.org/artprojects or scan the QR code.
Flower Pounding
Supplies: fresh flowers, fabric, hammer/rubber mallet, Place your flower (the side you want on the fabric facing up) on a hard surface, then cover with your fabric. Cover with a piece of cardboard and hammer. You might have to check to see if the flower has been fully transferred. If not, continue hammering.
Remove the cardboard and peel the flower off the fabric to reveal the transferred colors.
Repeat until you have the image that you want.
Fr.
REMARKABLE FUTURES
Local Chick-fil-A Team Members Receive $2,500 Scholarships
BY DAVID DINSMORE
Tyler Vandivort knows what a difference Chick-fil-A’s Remarkable Futures scholarship can make in the life of a student working their way through school.
Vandivort started as a team member at the Shawnee location as a high school student and continued serving customers as he attended Rose State College and later Oklahoma Baptist University.
At the encouragement of owneroperator Jeff Madison, Vandivort applied for the scholarship to help cover his education costs and received it - four times.
“It definitely was very nice to have that available while I was working here because it took some pressure off,” Vandivort said. In the years since the scholarship program’s official founding in 1973, Chick-fil-A Inc. has been able to donate over $215 million to more than 122,000 of their team members pursuing postsecondary education.
Chick-fil-A Shawnee had 13 members receive $2,500 Remarkable Futures scholarships for academic and professional achievements. The scholarships can be used to pursue their postsecondary education goals. — Photos submitted
“Creating better access to education is one of the best ways Chick-fil-A serves communities,” said Andrew Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A, Inc. in an official release. “Our long-standing commitment to investing in the future dreams and aspirations of restaurant Team Members remains at the forefront of Chick-fil-A’s efforts to have a positive impact on the lives of others.”
This year, the Remarkable Futures scholarship program – in collaboration with Scholarship America – provided donations of $1,000, $2,500 or $25,000 to more than 15,000 recipients students with a total of $27 million awarded, which is the highest annual investment made by
the company in the more than 50-year history of the program.
Among those winners were 13 Shawnee team members who received $2,500 scholarships, comprising of:
• Caleb Brunet
• Jordan Carpenter
• Casen Chapman
• Isaac Dean
• Jekhi Dibler
• Jaxon Dubler
• Lily Hardwick
• Bradley Jager
• Maggie Langston
• Ashlyn Matthews
• Lani Matthews
• Carmella Penny
• Aubrey Terry
Chick-fil-A Shawnee has a history of counting scholarship winners among its team members since opening 10 years ago. The awards have helped local students attending Oklahoma Baptist University, Rose State, Seminole State
College and more readily afford their education while serving the restaurant’s customers.
Langston said her fellow Shawnee recipients are “hardworking, ambitious people who look for new ways to grow themselves constantly.”
“I'm very grateful to have received this scholarship,” said Langston, who plans to pursue veterinary sciences. “One of the tough things about going to school is paying for it, so this scholarship will help tremendously with that.”
Vandivort – now Chick-fil-A Shawnee’s director of operations – has enjoyed getting to see the scholarship recipients on his team succeed both at work and in their academic pursuits because he knows the challenges that come with working your way through school. They embody their goal of finding ways to be “one percent better every day.”
The Remarkable Futures scholarship traces its roots back to the early 1950s, when Chickfil-A founder S. Truett Cathy and his team set an empty mayonnaise container on the counter of the Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Georgia, for folks to donate to the college fund of team member, Eddie White. White went on to attend and graduate from nearby Morris Brown College with a degree in education and had a successful
teaching career, eventually serving as the assistant superintendent of schools in Clayton County, Georgia.
These scholarships are awarded to recipients up front and can be directly applied to tuition costs without requiring tuition reimbursement. They can be applied in any area of study at any accredited institution of choice, including twoor four-year colleges and universities; online programs; or vocational-technical schools.
Each candidate must receive a recommendation from their location’s higher level leadership and demonstrate academic and professional achievement, including testimony of demonstrated leadership, work ethic, teamwork, and other contributions, according to information available from Chick-fil-A Inc. They also must demonstrate care and service in the 12 months prior to application, and there is no requirement of hours worked or length of service to qualify.
Vandivort said the culture among the Shawnee team members helps many of them achieve the traits that make them scholarship winners.
“Our team is pretty awesome,” Vandivort said. “It’s a team of all stars, serving and caring for one another.” S
A over the fence
LIGHTS AND SIRENS
Some Personal Emergencies Not As Easy To Spot As An Ambulance
BY BRANDON DYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMUNITY RENEWAL OF POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY
few years ago, I had a meeting in my office to discuss some upcoming partnership opportunities with an organization when we suddenly had to stop speaking for a moment. There was a really loud noise that was getting louder and louder. Within seconds the loud sound began to subside, and we were able to resume our conversation. No one said a word about it, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. What was it, you ask? An ambulance.
A few days prior to that, I was on a video conference call with a colleague who happened to be in New York City. Our call lasted about an hour but was interrupted five or six times with the sound of sirens outside her window going past the building. Naturally, we paused each time to let the ambulance pass before resuming our conversation.
Flashing lights and sirens always indicate that something is out of the ordinary. Something is off. Something has happened, and now someone’s life has been interrupted. It could be an officer pulling one of us over for speeding, or perhaps the fire department is responding to a house fire. The majority of the time in my experience that I hear sirens and see flashing lights, it is an ambulance. It certainly was the other day in my office. If I’m being honest, most of the time I barely even notice anymore. It is a momentary pause of my life before returning to normal a few seconds later.
That day in my office, I did something out of the ordinary. I paused as usual, but instead of actively returning to the conversation, I did something I’m sad to say I don’t do often enough. I allowed my mind to wander a moment and intentionally consider that somewhere near me someone’s health was in crisis. Somebody had a need so great that they had no choice but to call out for help, and help came quickly.
I do hope that person received the help they needed and is doing better now, but what stuck with me was actually a different thought. How many people might we see every day who are moments away from crisis, carrying unspeakable burdens with them, not knowing to whom or how to reach out for help? How many times has that person been you? A loved one?
The sirens and flashing lights for these sorts of emergen -
cies are often difficult to notice, so difficult that someone could be sitting right next to you in the waiting room or standing in front of you in the check out line and be in full blown crisis mode without you knowing it.
The truth is, we are pretty good at smiling and carrying on like everything is fine when our world is falling apart on the inside. We tell ourselves that we don’t want to burden anyone with our problems. We ought to suck it up. No one would really care anyway. Nine times out of 10, none of that is true. Most human beings really do care and really do want to help a friend or even a stranger when emergencies happen.
Chances are you’ve been on both sides of this equation. Chances are good that someone in your life needs your help right now but doesn’t know how to ask for it. What are the chances that we may press pause long enough to check in on each other so that a bad day doesn’t become worse?
Brandon Dyer
RIDING STRONG
Youth Rodeo Remains Summer Staple For More Than 30 Years
BY DAVID DINSMORE
For more than three decades, Shawnee has played host to the best and brightest young rodeo athletes from around the nation and beyond during the International Finals Youth Rodeo, which will take place this year July 6-11 at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center at 1700 W. Independence.
The rodeo features high schoolage participants competing in a list of events comprised of cowgirls barrel racing, cowgirls pole bending, cowgirls breakaway roping, cowgirls goat tying, team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc riding and bareback riding.
Each day of the rodeo will feature a morning and evening session, and the events will run simultaneously in three different arenas on the grounds
in the grandstands area of the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center during each performance.
Last year saw more than 700 athletes coming from 35 states and four different countries, including the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, said Julia Dondero, IFYR director of communications. These athletes put in more than 1,000 entries in an attempt to win about $250,000 in payouts during the weeklong rodeo event.
Prior to IFYR, Shawnee had hosted national high school finals, but planners with the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center wanted to see it grow. Representatives approached the International Professional Rodeo Association about partnering to create a youth rodeo event that Shawnee could call its own. The IPRA agreed to get
involved in helping promote and provide a standard set of rules and other resources to help put on an event of this magnitude, but those involved since its inception said it has become something more than what they originally envisioned.
Before joining the IPRA as a media coordinator and then last year the director of communications for the IFYR specifically, Dondero had grown up as a rodeo competitor in Nevada. Though she did not attend as an athlete, she and those in her rodeo circle knew Shawnee and the IFYR were a top-tier destination for those entrenched in the Western lifestyle.
“In high school, there are a few big rodeos you keep your eye on throughout the year leading up to high school finals,” Dondero said. “This was definitely one of them.”
Whether competing at the high level
The International Finals Youth Rodeo will welcome the best high school rodeo competitors in the world July 6-11 at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center. — Photos submitted
offered by the IFYR or at other events throughout the world, rodeoing and other activities associated with Western lifestyle, benefit participants through the emphasis of hard work and responsibility, Dondero said. These are traits that apply to any pursuit in life and ones that each generation can pass along to the next through these distinctive traditions.
After almost 30 years of IFYR competition, longtime volunteers and planners have enjoyed seeing the next generation come as former competitors are now bringing their kids and even grandparents are coming that once brought their own kids to the event.
In addition to their activities in the arena, IFYR
competitors also engage with the community in a variety of ways during their week in Shawnee. The Shawnee Public Library brings in IFYR representatives each year for its Readin', Ridin' and Ropin' program. Youth directors from the IFYR entertain the audience with roping demonstrations and share what life is like as a rodeo performer – including balancing school, traveling, practicing and caring for their animals. Following the presentation, participants can enjoy a chuckwagon-style snack, and the youth directors are available to autograph rodeo posters.
Additionally, IFYR representatives meet with civic clubs and other local organizations to share their experiences in and out of
VOLUNTEER
the arena and to learn more about the people in the host community.
Alongside the IFYR, Shawnee will also welcome the Miss Teen Rodeo USA pageant beginning at 8:30 a.m. on July 8 at the FireLake Arena at 18145 Old Rangeline Road with introductions and on-stage interviews of the contestants. The festivities will conclude at 7 p.m. on July 11 at the expo center with the crowning event.
Check out Miss Teen Rodeo USA on Facebook for more information before and during the event.
For rodeo fans in the Shawnee community, IFYR has provided a great way to see the stars of the future in their own backyard, Dondero said. Many of those who come to this event will soon be featured in the
large rodeo events that travel across the country and make their way onto television. It has a reputation of featuring a “who's who” of rodeo as many of those now competing at a high professional level in rodeo now came through the IFYR when they were in high school.
For a schedule of events and information, visit IFYR.com.
Volunteers are on a journey. Along the way, they seek to find personal satisfaction by using and developing their skills and talents and to make a difference to people and organizations who need help. No other area of volunteering provides the opportunities that hospice volunteers have. At the end of life, the stakes are high. The needs are big. The laughs (and tears) are real.
SUMMER ENGAGEMENT
Library Hosting 30 Programs To Enhance Summer Learning, Fun
BY DAVID DINSMORE
Summer fun is shining bright at the Pioneer Library System Shawnee Public Library for everyone in the community with plenty more to come during the next couple of months.
Once again, every member of the family can sign up for the annual Summer Learning Challenge, which among other goals works to prevent the "summer slide" by prompting kids to read 20 minutes per day, Shawnee branch manager Mary Sim said. This helps kids from falling behind and to build skills steadily over summer months to start the school year back on track.
Elementary school students with high levels of attendance – at least five weeks –in voluntary summer learning programs
experience benefits in math and reading. High-quality summer programs improve math and reading skills and also build critical social and emotional skills of students, Sims said. These are skills that will help them not only in school but also in their careers and life. Research shows that high-quality summer programs can make a difference in reducing learning loss and closing the country's educational and opportunity gaps.
Of course, the Summer Learning Challenge provides a fun, enriching way
for families to spend time together during the summer months, Sims said.
“We encourage everyone to log 1,000 points of learning or reading before August 15,” Sims said. “This meets the goal of reading 20 minutes per day and contributes to our larger community goal of 18 million points. When we reach our overall community goal, PLS will donate books provided by the Pioneer Library System Foundation to children enrolled in WIC programs across our service area.”
Reading gets the mind working across different areas, Sims said. It involves comprehension, analytical ability, stimulates memories and even broadens imagination. Learning works out your brain muscles and can help slow down
>
The Shawnee Public Library is offering another summer full of fun and enriching activities to keep families engaged and learning throughout the school break. — Photos by Rachel Cleere
cognitive decline and even decrease the rate at which memory fades. Books can be both an escape and an adventure. It has been proven reading lowers stress as it increases relaxation.
Though much of the focus of the challenge is to help support kids, the summer-long event has something for all ages – “yes, even adults,” Sims said. The Summer Learning Challenge gives adults an opportunity to learn about different topics and ideas for free while connecting with friends and community members.
Challenges include fun activities like exploring one’s imagination to create a work of art in a Maker Lab, interviewing someone to learn about culture or experience different from your own, or taking moments to move your body or focus on mental health.
“Often as adults, we're on the go,” Sims said. “The challenge encourages us to take a moment to better ourselves and those around us.”
Adults can also log their learning to win a tote bag and enter to win the grand prize, an Amazon Kindle, Sims said. Adult points logged also contribute to PLS's community goal, meaning that by reading and learning this summer, everyone participating is helping make a big difference in the lives of children in the community.
In July, the Shawnee Public Library will host more than 30 programs, in addition to offering one-on-one Schedulea-Librarian appointments for Maker Lab projects, Sims said. This number doesn't include the many community outreach efforts, such as weekly STEAM sessions at south Pottawatomie
County schools, activities at the Shawnee Community and Recreation Centers and Story Time at the Splash.
In July, the library also will offer a sewing camp for kids as part of its Maker Lab and STEAM programming. This hands-on camp introduces children to basic sewing skills while fostering creativity, problem-solving and confidence through the art of making. Each week throughout the summer, the library's Get Moving Walking Group gathers to explore Shawnee's beautiful public parks and walking trails-offering a great way to connect with both community and nature.
For the past 15 years, Shawnee Public Library has proudly partnered with the International Finals Youth Rodeo to present a Readin', Ridin' and Ropin' program. Youth directors from the IFYR entertain the audience with roping demonstrations and share what life is like as a rodeo performer – including balancing school, traveling, practicing and caring for their animals. Following the presentation, participants can enjoy a chuckwagon-style snack, and the youth directors are available to autograph rodeo posters.
Another favorite the last few years is performer Bart Taylor – also known as Buckaroo Bart – who shares the lasting legacy of Will Rogers, highlighting his character, contributions to American history, and the cultural impact he made. Bart will also demonstrate some of the rope tricks that Will Rogers famously performed.
New to Shawnee Public Library this year are the Tornado
Alley Disc Dogs, showcasing their high-flying stunts, and The Sound of Music Interactive Theatre presented by Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma.
For teens and adults, the library is bringing back two popular programs: Forensic Osteology with the Skeletons: Museum of Osteology; and Together with Pinot's Palette, a step-by-step painting experience.
Pioneer Library System programming centers around five signature service areas, comprising early literacy and school readiness, health, STEAM, upward mobility and community conversations. Programs for all ages are designed to align with these focus areas, which they've found effectively meet the evolving needs of the community.
And the learning fun doesn’t stop with the end of summer.
For instance, the Shawnee library is proud to be a recipient of the Thinking Money for Kids financial literacy grant from the American Library Association. The programs will give kids a fun, hands-on way to learn the basics of earning, saving, budgeting and spending, Sims said. These interactive activities make financial literacy approachable, engaging and enjoyable for young learners.
“Thanks to this opportunity, we're offering a series of programs throughout the year designed to help children and their families build smart money habits,” Sims said.
For more information, visit pioneerlibrarysystem.org.
3813 N Harrison St Shawnee, OK 74804 405-214-4971
4010 N Kickapoo Ave, Ste 1 Shawnee, OK 74804 405-214-1978
39004 W MacArthur St, Ste 110 Shawnee, OK 74804 405-878-0990
Chris
2510 E Independence St, Ste 100 Shawnee, OK 74804 405-395-0068
923 E MacArthur St Shawnee, OK 74804 405-788-0040
W MacArthur St Shawnee, OK 74804 405-395-2006
HIGHER CALLING
Oral Roberts Attempted To First Establish His University In Shawnee
BY ANN MCDONALD, COURTESY POTT CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBER
Shawnee residents know about the two colleges –Oklahoma Baptist University and St. Gregory’s –that have been a part of our city almost since the town’s beginning. Although St. Gregory’s recently closed, it offered education to high school, junior college and college students for about a hundred years.
And also almost from the Shawnee’s beginning, there also existed specialty colleges, such as Western Business College operating as early as 1909. Central and Draughn’s business colleges were serving the community in the 1920s, and by 1940 Neff’s and Cheatham’s business colleges were popular.
Until OBU became a reality, local residents worked to get a postsecondary institution to come to town knowing it would help the city grow. Land and even funds were offered to entice several different groups looking for a community to develop a university.
Who knew there was a young man born on a farm down by Ada – influenced by his near death from tuberculosis – who would some day build a major university in the state.
World War II had ended, and Roberts envisioned a Bible-oriented college that could influence young people. He heard the building in Boy Scout Park plus 10 acres around it might be for sale. The structure had been built by the National Youth Administration during Roosevelt’s “New Deal” era for less advantaged young girls where they boarded while learning basic sewing, cooking, canning, etc.
Roberts saw it as the perfect place to begin his dream of a college, so he approached the Shawnee city commission with his plans. He brought preliminary architect sketches and reported several thousand dollars had been raised for the project. But he withdrew the offer when nearby residents disapproved of losing any part of the park.
Following the medical incident, Oral Roberts’s father Ellis – who was a farmer and Holiness Church preacher – believed the boy had been miraculously revived. Oral grew into an ambitious young man, and after marriage, he and his wife moved to Oklahoma City then Ardmore where he also felt the “calling” to preach.
In February 1945, the couple and their family moved to Shawnee. He had decided to help with the development of his “calling” that he would study at OBU while working with the Downtown Pentecostal Holiness Church located on the corner of Pennsylvania and 7th streets.
After moving briefly to Georgia, he came back to Shawnee and resigned as minister at the Pentecostal Holiness church. He founded Oral Roberts Evangelist Association, moving about the country, pioneering televangelism and speaking at hundreds of national and international events. By the early 1960s, he was the leader of a $120 million a year organization, employing more than 2,000 people. And he founded Oral Roberts University in Tulsa in 1963. In 1977, he also built a medical research hospital. After years as president of ORU, Roberts resigned in 2007 and retired to California.
The building in Boy Scout Park served the Shawnee community for several years as Teen Town and later as YMCA headquarters. For those few months, that space almost became the beginning of what is now a nationallyknown university, Oral Roberts University – “almost” a part of Shawnee.
Oral Roberts and family while working at the Downtown Pentecostal Holiness Church in Shawnee in 1945. — Photo submitted
mental health
GUNDERSTANDING GRIEF
Groups Help Provide Healing Through Community, Support
BY JOHN BLUM
ateway to Prevention and Recovery offers support for individuals facing challenges with substance use, mental health and gambling.
Grief often plays a significant role in these struggles, either as an underlying factor or as an additional burden.
Unresolved grief can intensify emotional pain, leading individuals to seek relief through substances. Research indicates that approximately 10-20 percent of bereaved individuals experience complicated grief, a prolonged and unrelenting form of mourning. This condition is associated with an increased risk of developing substance use disorders. Recognizing and addressing grief as part of the healing process can be a crucial step toward recovery and overall well-being.
I am a participant in a local grief support group held at the Redeemer Lutheran Church and like to share about my understanding of grief as well as the help that is available for any community member grieving a loss.
Grief is a series of events in everyone’s life. We often experience losses at a young age, between two to five years old. This
initial loss may manifest as the loss of a favorite toy or pet. As we mature, the complexity of grief increases as does its impact on our lives.
The event that causes a person to grieve is unique to the individual, their stage in life and their emotional state. An individual’s grief is most impactful to them personally. Events that trigger the grief process are multifaceted. These events can include life experiences such as the cancellation of a wedding due to COVID, the loss of a job, a couple's breakup or the death of a significant individual, such as a parent, sibling or spouse.
Grief is a deeply personal process that unfolds differently for each individual. The stages of grief may occur in a random sequence, but all stages are likely to occur for a person to truly process and begin to heal from the event that caused their grief. Often, the grief experience is composed of two parts:
• The actual event (what truly happened), and
• The mind’s perception of the perfect or ideal version of that event.
For example, this contrast may be seen in the loss of a bio-
Blum
logical parent versus the loss of a perceived or idealized parent figure. Loss often creates fear of the future and the unknown. However, it also provides an opportunity for personal growth and greater understanding.
The Stages of Grief
1. Denial
• Involves shock, confusion, and difficulty accepting the reality of the loss.
• It may serve as a protective mechanism, helping a person absorb the impact gradually.
2. Anger
• Can be directed at oneself, others or even God.
• Often stems from the perceived unfairness of the situation or as a way to express overwhelming emotion.
3. Bargaining
fosters an open atmosphere that gives everyone a voice to share experiences and offer support to one another without judgment. We recognize that each person's grief is a unique experience, and we honor each individual’s feelings with compassion and without judgment.
For more information, contact Karren Herron at (405) 6276470 or simply show up for a meeting. We meet Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. at 39307 West MacArthur. You are not alone. Visit gatewaytoprevention.org or scan the QR code to access local recovery support meetings in Pottawatomie, Seminole and Lincoln Counties.
• Involves trying to regain control or make deals with God or a higher power.
• Manifests as thoughts like “if only” or “what if,” reflecting a wish to reverse or change the outcome.
4. Depression
• Characterized by deep sadness, hopelessness and withdrawal.
• Often marks the stage where the reality of the loss fully sets in.
5. Acceptance
• Coming to terms with the loss and finding a way to move forward.
• May involve cherishing memories, adapting to a new reality or beginning to rebuild a sense of purpose.
6. Finding Meaning
• The stage where one remembers those who have died with more love than pain.
• Involves honoring loved ones and moving forward in a way that reflects their lasting impact.
Common questions that are asked during the grieving process include:
• Is it normal to feel this way after a loss?
• How long does the grieving process typically last?
• What are some healthy ways to cope with my grief?
• When should I consider seeking professional help for my grief?
• How can I support others who are also grieving? Our grief group at Redeemer Lutheran Church seeks to provide insight into the questions above and help those in the community who are grieving a loss. The group is focused on bereavement. We are committed to confidentiality. We provide a process for grief recovery, educational resources and coping strategies to help you navigate your grief journey. The group
Additionally if you or someone you know would like support on their journey with mental health, substance misuse or gambling, do not hesitate to reach out to Gateway at (405) 273-1170 or send us a message through our Facebook page, Gateway to Prevention and Recovery, Inc. Their team is committed to helping individuals and families find the path to hope, healing and greater health.
John Blum and his wife Mary were married for two years when she was diagnosed with the deadly lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. While her life expectancy was two years, she lived an additional 22 years. Attending the grief group at Redeemer Lutheran Church and meeting Karen Herron provided a place for John to understand this experience and showed him a process to become whole again.
Welcome Home
Welcome Home
What’s better than fun and free? When you host a Mary Kay® party, you could earn FREE* Mary Kay® products! Whether in person or virtually, get some friends together, and you could score some serious swag, such as Mary Kay® products women love. Contact me to get started.
Conway Independent Beauty Consultant www.marykay.com/dconway5
HAVE AND HOLD What Are Keys To A Lasting Marriage?
BY PAULANN CANTY, MARRIAGE & FAMILY THERAPIST, LMFT, MS
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. Have a question for Paulann? E-mail your question to editor@shawneeoutlook.com with the subject line, “Ask Paulann.”
Bella asks: I am engaged to be married soon. I love my fiancé, and I want this to be forever. Are there things we can do to keep our marriage strong across the years?
PC: I’m so glad you ask what you can do to keep your marriage strong. The picture we have had of marriage has often been limited to its beginning when it can feel magical and self sustaining. That honeymoon chapter is an important foundational time of building connection. When we read the honeymoon chapter like it is the whole book, we expect our marriage to survive and thrive on its own without much input from us. When it falters, we begin to see it as a fragile object at risk of being broken beyond repair if pressed. Almost any other human venture I can think of asks us to engage in an ongoing, often strenuous life cycle in which we commit, invest, evolve, explore, expand, confirm and recommit. What if we allowed ourselves and our marriage that same freedom of movement?
Couple therapist and researcher, David Schnarch, called marriage a “people growing machine.” I find that description appealing. It allows us to look at marriage as a living, breathing space shared by two mes and an us. Sharing that space stretches us to become more and more our best self. Choosing to explore the ways marriage is pushing us to grow allows us to be present in the moment. Marriage is a deep and wide subject that deserves time and attention.
Thank you for your question. Here are a few ways to continue the conversation:
• Ask yourself, “How is this pushing me to grow?” You sit in a perfect position to see the ways your spouse needs to change. You just don’t have the power to make that happen. Starting with yourself helps you and often invites your spouse to lean into their own growth.
• Keep talking. Communication is at the core of every marriage. Effective communication is more an ongoing rough
draft than a finished paper. If talking is important, listening is its necessary companion. Listen to see and know, not to prepare your defense or attack.
• Choose to allow space for an ongoing picture of the partnership that is marriage. Courtship and weddings offer some amazing photos for the beginning of your life album. Make sure you keep adding photos daily that remind you that your relationship is a living, breathing thing.
There is a wide array of resources available on marriage and committed relationships. That’s good news. The bad news is sometimes the volume of resources can be overwhelming, and not all information is grounded in research and evidence-based practice. Here are some options worth exploring:
• Couple therapy can be a good resource, and finding the right therapist for you is important. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and Psychology Today both provide online search tools to help in that process. You can access both sources by going to www.aamft.org and click on the Find A Therapist tab.
• There is a strong community of researchers and clinicians who have contributed to the field of marriage and family therapy. I have listed some of the most impactful below. Many of them have written books, published videos and/ or have websites filled with information and resources.
• David Schnarch - “Secrets of a Passionate Marriage,” and “Intimacy and Desire: Awaken the Passion in Your Relations”
• John Gottman - The Gottman Institute at www.gottman.com; “The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work,” and “Eight Dates.”
• William J. Doherty - www.thedohertyapproach.com; “Take Back Your Marriage: Sticking Together in a World that Pulls Us Apart.”
• Esther Perel - www.estherperel.com; “Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence”
• A few good books:
• “Hold Me Tight: Your Guide to the Most Successful Approach to Building Loving Relationships,” Dr. Sue Johnson
• “A Year of Us: One Question a Day, a couple’s journal” by Alicia Munoz, LPC
• “Marriage Rules: A Manual for the Married and the Coupled Up,” Harriet Lerner, Ph.D S
Canty
July 1-Aug. 1: Grab the whole family, neighborhood kids or those friends they just can't live without this summer and head to Cinema Centre 8 at 3031 N. Harrison for free movies all summer at 10 a.m. every Thursday and Friday. Sponsored by Rocket Wash & Fold. Information: (405) 275-7512 Ext. 2 or jonestheatres.com
July 6-11: The International Finals Youth Rodeo is the ultimate rodeo event for up-and-coming cowboys and cowgirls. This six-day event features two performances each day by contestants from all over the U.S. Bring the family out to the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center at 1700 W. Independence to watch barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, goat tying, team roping, calf roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc riding and bareback riding. Information: ifyr.com
July 8-22: Join Lanette C. Clark from Ocean’s Echo Healing Therapies for Yoga in the Park at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday at KidSpace Park at 1330 N. Center St. Information: oceansechowellness.com.
July 11-Aug. 1: Head downtown for the Theopolis Concert Series at 7:30 p.m. every Friday at Theopolis Social Club at 419 E. Main St., featuring Chanda Graham on July 11, Mallory Eagle on July 18, Derek Harris on July 25 and Hosty on Aug. 1. Information: facebook.com/theopolissocialclub or (405) 7884404
July 11: The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art will host a free reception and gallery talk for its special exhibition Reflections on Water, featuring artwork ranging from the seventeenth century to contemporary that includes rivers, lakes, oceans or other bodies of water by Fr. Gregory Gerrer, Theodore Robinson, Alfred T. Britcher, Albert Bierdstadt, and William A. Brigl. Information: mgmoa.org
July 12: The Historic Ritz Theatre will host a night of metal featuring Alloy and Rid Them All starting at 8 p.m. at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com
July 17: 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
July 17: Come play Bingo for Babies at 6:30 p.m. at the Grand Casino’s Eagle Room at 777 Grand Casino Blvd. Presented by SSM Health St. Anthony Shawnee, proceeds from this event will benefit Legacy Parenting Center’s work with families with young children in the community. Information: legacyshawnee.com
July 17: The Third Thursday Poetry Reading will begin at 7 p.m. at the Lunch Box at 217 E. Main St. with a reading by a featured guest followed by an open mic session for attendees to read up to two poems of their own or from a favorite poet. The
www.shawneeoutlook.com
Lunch Box will open at 6 p.m. with desserts and drinks available.
July 19: The Salvation Army of Shawnee will host a night of music and mystery with its Who’s That Singer fundraiser, which will challenge attendees to compete in guessing the identity of local vocalists who will perform incognito. Information: facebook.com/SalArmyShawnee
July 23: Shawnee Splash will host Teen Waves & Worship at 7 p.m. at the waterpark at 100 E. Highland for a night of fun followed by a candlelight devotion led by Brandon Baumgarten. Information: (405) 275-3986
Aug. 1: Redeemer Lutheran Church will host a free monthly movie night presented by for a fun night of fellowship, movie, pop and popcorn at 7 p.m. at 39307 MacArthur St. Parents and grandparents can enjoy a worry-free evening of movie entertainment while the kids watch an age-appropriate movie. Information: facebook.com/redeemerlutheranshawnee
Aug. 2: The Pops Diecast Triple-C Expo will feature Collectors, Creators, and Crafters featuring wares for a wide variety interests and hobbies from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center at 1700 W. Independence. Information: popsdiecast.com
Aug. 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
Aug. 8-9: 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. 8-9: The Outdoor Nation Expo returns to the FireLake Arena at 18145 Old Rangeline Road with a free event to help families find all the ways to enjoy the great outdoors featuring camping, hunting, and fishing events along with booths and attractions. Information: outdoornationexpo.com
Aug. 8-9: The Spinning Spools Quilt Guild 2025 Quilt Show will feature dozens of beautiful handmade quilts on display in 11 judged categories, plus non-judged quilts and the opportunity to vote for your personal favorite in the People's Choice Award at the Geiger Center on the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University at 500 W. University. Information: ShawneeSpinningSpoolsQuiltGuild.com.
Aug. 9: Pay tribute to classic rock bands Foreigner and Boston with a show featuring Double Vision and Dallas Boston Experience at 8 p.m. at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com
If you know of any events you would like to see featured, email editor@shawneeoutlook.com.
Earn 1 00 points Sunday–Saturday from July–September for entry into the FireLake Bronco Giveaway with Seminole Ford on October 4, 202 5 at 1 0 PM
