Boyd Street June 2020

The Day Sports Were Put on Pause

Timeout

One Family’s Battle Against Rare Cancer

#BakerTough

Normanite in the Spotlight

Kyle Allison

June 2020 • Issue 6 • Volume 19

Joseph Harroz OU’s 15th President

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Features

JUNE CONTENTS 2020

ISSUE 6– VOLUME 19 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Doescher

#BakerTough

16 by Callie Collins

MANAGING EDITOR Lindsay Cuomo

Norman family raises awareness about rare cancer, shares infant son’s journey.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mark Doescher

CONTRIBUTORS

The Well

22 by Lindsay Cuomo

16

Cleveland County finalizes plans, begins construction on a health and wellness complex.

Normanite in the Spotlight:

33 Kyle Allison

Roxanne Avery | Sharla Bardin Heidi Brandes | Stefanie Brickman Callie Collins | Lindsay Cuomo Kathy Hallren | Joy Hampton Shannon Hudzinski | Chelsey Kraft Bill Moakley | Chris Plank Chat Williams

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PUBLISHER Randy Laffoon

by Chelsey Kraft Fun is the family business for Kyle Allison.

Boyd Street Magazine 2020 E. Alameda Norman, Oklahoma 73071 Phone: (405) 321-1400 E-mail: editor@boydstreet.com Copyright © Boyd Street Magazine

OU’s 15th President

42 by Lindsay Cuomo

Board of Regents names Joseph Harroz Jr. OU’s next president

Timeout

46 by Chris Plank

The day sports stopped. Sooner coaches, staff and athletes reflect on abrupt end to season.

42

Service Spotlight:

by Sharla Bardin In-person camps to be offered at The Studio of The Sooner Theatre.

Cleveland County project aims to reduce prescription drug misuse.

28

by Lindsay Cuomo

Boyd Street Teacher Features

38

Detective Alan Smith Service Spotlight:

by Lindsay Cuomo Hospital staff shares details on patient safety measures.

Saxon Realty Group LLC

78 by Roxanne Avery

A new Norman-based realty group offers sellers a flat listing fee. sportstalk1400.com

by Joy Hampton

Celebrating Milestones Amid the

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65 Blanc

Refresh Summer with Sauvignon

Visit Norman

61 Coronavirus Pandemic

Norman Regional Resumes 72 Elective Procedures

by Bill Moakley

14 by Stefanie Brickman

46

The Power of Prevention

56 by Heide Brandes

Spotlights 10

Sgt. Tim Smith

Arts Re-start at Sooner 52 Theatre

Any articles, artwork or graphics created by Boyd Street Magazine or its contributors are sole property of Boyd Street Magazine and cannot be reproduced for any reason without permission.

Any opinions expressed in Boyd Street are not necessarily that of Boyd Street management.

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69 by Chat Williams - Youth Performance

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Cover photos by: Mark Doescher

LOCALLY OWNED. LOCAL DECISIONS.

COMM U N I T Y

BY: BILL MOAKLEY

Service Spotlight: Sgt. Tim Smith

W

hen Norman Police Department Sergeant Tim Smith, a Norman native, decided on a career in law enforcement, where he wanted to work was easy to decide.

“I looked at Oklahoma City and I looked at Moore, but I wanted to work in my hometown,” Smith explained. “When I started in Norman almost 25 years ago, that was one of the things they asked about. I said I wanted to help the people in my town.”

His path in law enforcement started at the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office. Smith joined the department as a jailer and worked his way into a patrol position and a corporal’s rank. In August 1995, Smith began working as a patrol officer with the City of Norman.

During his quarter-century with the department, Smith has patrolled Norman streets on four wheels and now two after bringing back Norman’s motorcycle officer program, something that pleases both his taste for patrol and his love of local history.

“It’s the most fun job I’ve ever had,” Smith said. “I loved community relations and loved teaching D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), but this I look forward to going to work every day. We had motors in 1958 up until the mid-90s. Just getting to bring back a piece of Norman’s history was cool to me. I’m a big department history buff and just getting restarted was a big plus.”

Smith and Sergeant Brandon Wansick serve as the city’s two motorcycle officers. They work in tandem with two patrol cars watching the streets of Norman.

“We look for high accident areas or citizen complaints of speeding,” Smith explained about the process involved in deciding where to work on a given day. “We look for speeding, texting while driving, seat belt usage, etc., anything that will result in somebody getting hurt if they’re in an accident.”

One of the advantages of two-wheel patrol is being able to expand exactly where an officer can patrol.

“We can get places where the cars can’t,” Smith said. “If we can go up and down an area that we’ve had complaints where a car can’t get, it’s huge.”

10 | June 2020

Motorcycle officers undergo extensive training under a cooperative program run by Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety and Harley Davidson, the type of motorcycles Smith and Wansick ride.

“It’s an extensive 80-hour school,” Smith said. “ It’s the hardest law enforcement school I’ve ever been to. Hands down, if you talk to a motor cop anywhere, they’ll tell you motor school is the hardest school you’ll ever go through. You spend about 30 minutes in a classroom and the next 79.5 hours you’re going through cone patterns learning how a motorcycle works and how it behaves. I bet I fell 200 times during that school.”

Smith has also been instrumental in helping to establishing NPD’s Citizen’s Police Academy, worked with the D.A.R.E. program and has worked with citizens on using the natural environment as a means of crime prevention.

When he’s not on his Harley, Smith designs and creates highend ink pens that are sold in a number of central Oklahoma jewelry stores. His 1907 Pen Company provides a huge stress relief for the veteran officer.

“It’s amazing therapy,” Smith said. “I have wood and acrylic. I do exotic woods. It’s a blast.”

Smith pens can be seen on Instagram at 1907_pencompany. – BSM

12 | June 2020

Eat

Stay

Play

Events

COMM U N I T Y

BY:CALLIE COLLINS

Photo by: Emily Kuehn-Studio 802 Photography

#B akerTough

Norman family raises awareness about rare cancer, shares infant son’s journey

M

organ and Chance Grubb sound like typical parents of small children as they talk about milestones like starting school, sleeping through the night and learning to crawl. Their sons, Cooper, 5, and Baker, who will be 1 in July, keep them busy.

Like so many families at this life stage, the days are long but the years are short, occupied with the constancy of care all children require. Despite the familiar details of the Grubb family, an extremely rare diagnosis is now also part of their daily life.

Baker, 10 months, is the world’s youngest Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis patient. A rare form of cancer, the disease causes lesions throughout the body. The only newborn with the condition specific to the lungs, Baker was diagnosed at just under a month old, despite an otherwise uneventful pregnancy.

Connections to the University of Oklahoma, a lifelong tie for the couple, the

16 | June 2020

OU football season ticket holders found support in the Norman community.

“Baker was a Big 12 Title baby. The Tuesday before he was born, we started talking about naming him Baker,” Chance said, a reference to quarterback Baker Mayfield. “Now, it seems very fitting for the tenacious, tough little fighter we didn’t know that he would have to be.”

Morgan, a nurse, was in a minor traffic accident on the way to work at OU Medical Center while 35 weeks pregnant.

Her mother-in-law, who also works at the hospital as a perinatal clinical nurse specialist, insisted she get checked out.

She turned out to be in labor and proceeded to have a c-section.

“It was a pretty crazy two-hour span.

We went from the work week about to end, being a regular Friday, to having a car accident that was more of an annoyance than any real risk, to having a baby who then went into the NICU,”

Morgan shared.

Baker had trouble breathing from the very beginning.

“We were waiting there in the operating room for our newborn son to cry and that didn’t happen,” Chance remembered. “Usually, when you have a baby, you see him right away and really get to look at him. Not this time.

They held him up for me for just a second then took him off to the side.”

Although respiratory insufficiency is not uncommon in premature infants, Baker had to be resuscitated multiple times during his NICU stay. His right lung collapsed and doctors also noticed an unusual number of skin lesions.

A CT scan the day before discharge later showed lesions were also visible on his lungs. No other Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis patients had ever been as young as Baker.

“When we went home, there was still a possibility that maybe Baker wouldn’t require further treatment,” Morgan said. “We went from being NICU parents to cancer parents in a flash. Baker’s diagnosis came at a follow-up appointment the next day and it was definitive.

His lungs were full of lesions and an oncology consult followed.”

At that point, the couple made a decision to take a positive approach: “We can’t give up because we made a commitment to our children,” Chance said. “The most important thing we can do is not give up.

“We want to be advocates for the families with this disease. It’s rare. This is the first known case of being present in a newborn. We want to raise awareness about this disease.”

Baker started treatment in September and continues to receive chemotherapy at Jimmy Everest Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases in Children at The Children’s Hospital. He receives daily injections for one week every month.

The COVID-19 pandemic has limited Baker’s visits to the hospital, but his labs are checked each week.

“Everyone is worried about the same things we’ve been worried about now because of COVID and for us, it’s magnified to a whole new level of awareness and caution,” said Chance.

“Hand sanitizer became a religion for us. There was one point where Morgan got sick and she had to quarantine herself in one part of the house, then I got sick and had to quarantine myself to another section. We’ve been living the way a lot of families are now with the virus for almost a year.”

The family has adjusted to their new normal, including new big brother, Cooper.

“Introducing a baby brings a new dynamic to any family, but this circumstance is really different for a kid who’s 5 and now knows more about getting sick than other kids his age,” said Chance. “He didn’t ask for any of this. We have friends that will come pick him up and take him to the water park for the day. Grandparents will take him to a movie. There are times boydstreet.com

we’re definitely distracted as we deal with the symptoms of chemotherapy in a baby like nausea, vomiting, irritability and lethargy.”

happened,” Morgan said. “We still get shout-outs on social media, people still care and they are still loving on us even from a distance.”

Support from friends and family makes an important difference, as well as from the broader community. The family started their website, bakertough.com, and social media accounts to keep everyone informed.

The Grubbs remain focused on Baker’s treatment, taking care of Cooper and raising awareness about Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.

“I work in IT so it was second nature to me and our therapist recommended it as a form of emotional journaling and so we didn’t have to keep explaining the same issues over and over again,” Chance explained. “We knew people cared. They wanted to know and wanted to help.”

The website is usually updated quarterly while their social media schedule has a more fluid approach. Lincoln Riley liked and commented on a recent post and, within the Norman community, friends of friends and beyond follow the Grubb family.

A meal train and a GoFundMe have helped with practical household needs.

“That assurance of knowing people are there for us is huge. Once we got past the initial announcements and social media set-up, I feared people would forget about us but that hasn’t

“We want you to know about this diagnosis,” said Morgan. “If donations go to the American Cancer Society, funding doesn’t necessarily go toward the research for histiocytosis. That weighed heavily on my heart. Families like ours are part of a club nobody wants to join, first in the NICU, and now this is an even more exclusive club that nobody wants to be part of. It’s this community of incredibly strong families.”

Talking about the disease from a mental health standpoint is also an important aspect of both living with an ill family member and reaching out to the family.

“There’s an assumption when you have a baby with cancer that people have to tiptoe around you,” said Chance. He encourages others to get past the awkwardness and know they won’t bring parents down by asking.

“I don’t want you to feel sorry for me.

We need help. We need support. Yes, BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 17

it’s a terrible situation but we’re always going to be positive about it. We’ll figure out a way to handle it because this is our family and it is every day for us,” said Morgan. “There are amazing families that we’ve met who are going through far worse than what we’re facing and they’re doing it without the friends and family we have.”

“You can’t let it define you, because when you do, that’s a victory for the disease. It’s all about positive emotion,” Chance added. “The human spirit is a strong spirit. You’d be amazed at what you can achieve. Nothing good ever comes from a negative emotion.”

Chance admits not every day is positive.

“There is a rollercoaster of emotions we go through on a regular basis but being in a dark place is not good,” he said.

“There are parts of me that appreciate this situation. I would have never in 100 years wished for this but it has made me reevaluate what’s important. What used to make me upset is pretty insignificant, considering what Baker has gone through.”

Morgan and Chance plan to host a charity event after COVID-19 concerns subside. In the meantime, they are enjoying their young family as much as possible.

“Baker smiles and I see the pure beauty of it,” Chance shared. “Cooper and Baker sit there and make each other laugh. That’s what keeps us going.”

To learn more about Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, visit histio.org and keep up with the Grubbs online as Baker celebrates turning 1 this July. – BSM

TIPS FROM MORGAN AND CHANCE GRUBB Advice on how to help if you know someone whose family member is ill: • Make a specific offer of help rather than broad statements like “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.” Bringing by a meal, completing a household chore or helping with other children in the family may be just what the family needs.

• Start the conversation. “Don’t be scared to reach out to them,” Morgan encouraged. “They need that support.”

• Recognize the situation. “Sometimes, I look at people and I know what they’re thinking but they don’t want to ask about our son who’s sick.

I understand the hesitation but just say it. Ask the questions,” Chance said.

From parents, for parents: • Find others in a similar situation. “Nobody should fight a disease alone,” Morgan said. “I wish I had known about support groups sooner.”

• Leverage social media resources that are available even with social distancing. “We talk to other families with cancer through Twitter and connect with others to find what works,” she added.

• Give yourself grace. “Not every day is going to be a good day,” Chance said. “Give yourself permission to get angry and frustrated before you get back to a positive place.”

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

The Well

I

Cleveland County finalizes plans, begins construction on a health and wellness complex

n 2017, county leadership envisioned a plan to strengthen Cleveland County through community access focused on the physical wellbeing of its residents. At the center of this lofty goal is the development of a complex called The Well, a partnership between the county and the Cleveland County Health Department.

“Our vision for The Well and the reason we included it in the master plan is to make the residents of Cleveland County the healthiest and happiest they can be,” County Commissioner Darry Stacy said.

Breaking ground in the heart of downtown Norman, construction is set to begin on the complex that will feature a two-story community building and a walkable outdoor space. The goal is to create an all-in-one destination where residents can take part in classes, wellness activities and community events as well as a place to access important resources.

Stacy said The Well is a new concept to Oklahoma, a conglomeration of the

22 | June 2020

best practices surveyed from across the country.

“When the community approved the plan for The Well, we travelled the country looking at places that are successful at bringing together health resources, community classes and events that everyone wants to be a part of,” Melody Bays, the executive director of The Well, said. “We are creating a healthy destination for our residents but also for our visitors.”

“We are excited to be the first to do this,” Stacy added.

Bays said that health and wellness initiatives of this magnitude are another unique feature.

“Working in public health it’s usually a grassroots effort but to have this support from the top level is incredible,” Bays said.

“We met with community leaders to see what they would want and need and how to address barriers in the community,” Tara Douglas, the director of community engagement for The Well, said. “The sky is the limit and

we have really great partners who are brainstorming ideas. We have about 40 partners that have agreed to provide free or low-cost programming.”

With support from community organizations like Norman Regional Health Systems, Pioneer Library System and Moore Norman Technology Center, Stacy said the complex’s design allows for many functions.

“There will be parking and walkable green space as well as multi-use classrooms and meeting spaces,” Stacy explained.

People will also be able to visit The Well virtually, accessing events and classes through the website, an option that was already planned but whose importance has been highlighted by the current health crisis.

“During the COVID-19 outbreak, we’ve learned a lot about the different ways people need to access information and connect with their community. We’re confident we’ve brought the best ideas and technology to benefit the health of our residents and visitors,” Bays said.

A centerpiece of the anticipated activity at The Well, Norman Farm Market, currently located at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, will relocate to the new space in 2022. The market will have both indoor and outdoor space as well as added technology and resources available to recruit and cultivate new vendors.

“When we visited markets around the country, what we found was that these farmers markets were a snapshot of that city’s culture, a social festival each time it opened,” Kate Cooper, market manager for the Norman Farm Market, said. “Our farmers market is the oldest in the state and has seen a decline in attendance in the past ten years.”

24 | June 2020

“We want to invigorate the market and build up a new generation of farmers and shoppers.”

Cooper plans to provide educational resources and courses to support farmers in all areas of their business from getting started to marketing their products.

Complementing the market, The Well will also have a state-of-the-art demonstration kitchen where residents can learn how to utilize the local, in-season produce found at the market in healthy ways. Organizers also plan to host farm-to-table events.

Additionally, the public will have access to a wide variety of health services and professionals at The Well, including dietitians and mental health

professionals as well as a health clinic providing free or low- cost screenings and preventive wellness care through a partnership with Norman Regional Health Systems.

“The Well will reach all ages and socio-economic backgrounds,” Douglas shared. “There will be something for everyone.”

Construction is scheduled to begin on the complex in July. The 14,000-squarefoot facility is designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris architects and will be built by GE Johnson Construction.

To stay up-to-date on the construction and for more information about the programs and services at The Well, visit thewellok.org. – BSM

COMM U N I T Y

Jessica Bigbee

F

or Jessica Bigbee, school was her safe place, a place she could explore, learn and have fun.

“I have wanted to be a teacher since I was in kindergarten,” she remembered. “My teacher was amazing and instilled a love of learning and community.”

Today, Bigbee works in special education, cultivating a safe place for her young students.

“I chose special education because of some relationships in my life. You are able to work with students for multiple years and really see their growth and success.”

She said that relationship is key to helping her students succeed.

“In my first year of teaching, I had a student who had difficulty in all as-

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

pects. I was told that he most likely wouldn’t learn to read.

“By the end (of our third year), he was reading, doing math independently and no longer tried to leave the building. This was so influential on my view of how important it is to establish relationships, keep your word and know that anything is possible.”

Bigbee teaches eight students in grades kindergarten to second grade, focusing on academic, behavior, emotional and social support. She also helps at-risk students.

“I teach all subjects to my students so that involves a solid routine that my paraprofessionals help me implement daily.”

Bigbee was named this school year’s Teacher of the Year for Washington Elementary.

“I was very surprised,” she said. “I didn’t expect it and it was a great feeling to be appreciated by your colleagues… truly an honor.” – BSM

Teaching Norman Richard Strayer

R

ichard Strayer is on his second career. After 25 years in the United States Navy, he decided his next adventure was to become a middle school teacher.

He teaches Eastern Hemisphere Geography, which focuses on Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, and a current events class. He also helps support his colleagues too.

“I chose social studies because I really enjoyed learning about history, traveling and studying places around the world,” Strayer said.

“I am the seventh-grade team leader which means that I collaborate and lead 20 awesome teachers every day.”

After only four years in teaching, he said that his favorite moment so far was when he got the news that he had landed his first teaching job.

“When I learned that I was getting hired to teach at Whittier Middle School, I felt like I had gotten a big break. Whittier was my first choice, geography was my first choice, the combination of the two was just awesome!”

28 | June 2020

Strayer said he loves teaching and exploring new strategies to use in his classroom.

“It is only my fourth year, and I still have a lot to learn and put into practice. I just love teaching and hope that I can continue to be a positive force for students for years to come.”

Strayer, who was named Whittier’s Teacher of the Year, has two children.

Both attend Norman Public Schools.

“One is graduating this year and the other is going to be a sophomore next year.” – BSM

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COM M UNI T Y

NORMANITE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Kyle Allison A

fter graduating from Norman High School, Allison attended Johnson and Wales University in Denver, Colorado, and earned a degree in sports and entertainment management. Allison then join the family business, Allison’s Fun Inc., an event and amusement rental company started by his dad, Russell.

“Growing up in the family business, I had been working with my family and helping them out my whole life,” Allison explained. “One of the reasons I went to college in Colorado was to see if I wanted to work in the corporate world or with my family. In college, I did get to work in the corporate world some, and then I realized my passion and my love for the family business and Norman.”

Allison’s move back to Norman in 2008 was good timing as the business was expanding and had just opened up Andy Alligator’s Fun Park and Water Park, located at 3300 Market Place Dr. in Norman. Allison now serves as general manager for the park and also owns Andy’s Altitude 1291, a new entertainment center in Midwest City.

customers, they are more relationship driven versus working for a large company,” Allison said.

Allison loves giving back to the community where he grew up. Some of his involvement includes serving three years as the Ward 8 City Council representative, which he called a rewarding experience, learning about how the city works, and serving as the chair of Norman Next when the young professionals’ organization was beginning.

Additionally, for the past couple of years, Allison served as a co-chair for the Tomorrow’s Leaders program, which works with local high school sophomores who are learning about becoming leaders.

“I was in the program when I was in high school, so it was kind of full circle to be a kid in it then get to lead a group of young adults later on in my life,” Allison shared. “It really just reaffirms how bright the students are here in Norman and the good future that we have ahead of us.”

For Allison, a plus of working for a small business is that decisions can be made on the owners’ own terms and in the moment instead of through the corporate ladder. He also appreciates the opportunity to connect with not only the business’ employees but also people in the community.

Allison and his wife, Amanda, a fellow Norman native who attended Norman North High School, have two daughters, 5-year-old Claire and 2-year-old Madelyn.

During their free time, the Allisons enjoy traveling and taking short trips to visit parks and trying out new restaurants around town with their children.

“There are challenges with small businesses, but the relationships you can create with your employees and your

As part of the hospitality industry, Allison’s Fun Inc. has felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitality

boydstreet.com

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 33

businesses have started to open up, but Allison said he expects there to be a slow bounce back.

“It is a lot of hard decisions that had to be made, that still have to be made, and our No. 1 priority is to take care of our employees, our guests and our clients at this time,” Allison explained.

“We are basically living day to day looking at how things change and what decisions we have to make to stay viable.”

34 | June 2020

While the pandemic has provided challenges, Allison said he and his family are working toward the goal of having people out riding the go-karts, playing the games and just having fun together – even if it looks different from before.

“Our businesses focus on gathering families and groups of people to get together to have fun,” Allison stated.

“Especially during this pandemic, people have realized that we as a so-

ciety like to be around people. We like to talk. We like to socialize. We like to entertain, and that is something that our venues allow, for groups to get together and enjoy time together. That’s really what we do. We just can’t wait to get people back out having fun.” – BSM

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: JOY HAMPTON

Service Spotlight:

D

etective Alan Smith started working at the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office less than a year ago, but he has already made his mark within the agency.

Earlier this year, Smith was instrumental in the arrests of five suspected child predators as part of an online operation. Smith and fellow detective, Matthew Sandburg, pretended to be young girls under 18 online.

“Detective Smith operated as an undercover chatter and a member of the designated take down team,” Sandburg said. “He was instrumental in identifying, interviewing and arresting two suspected child predators.”

While Smith assists other detectives in investigations like the child predator case, his primary role is to investigate incidents at the Cleveland County Detention Center. These can include cases dealing with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) and use of force complaints as well as internal affairs, inmate contraband, assaults and other crimes suspected at the facility.

“Alan Smith is a vital asset to our team,” said Chief Deputy Julie Tipton.

“He does his job professionally, and he

38 | June 2020

detective Alan Smith

has a positive, upbeat attitude no matter who he’s working with, whether it’s a new detention officer or one of the inmates.”

Most internal affairs investigations are for policy violations, not crime, Smith said. But it’s important to identify and address any problem areas to help employees uphold the high standards expected at the Cleveland County jail.

“One of the things I tell the detention officers is that if you treat the inmates with respect, you’ll get that respect back,” Smith said. “Be compassionate.”

Smith doesn’t really see himself as a mentor, but Tipton said the younger detention officers look up to him, and his optimistic attitude is contagious. He’s also quick to praise when praise is due, she said.

“I brought everything I learned on the outside of the jail to the jail, and it has helped me,” Smith said. “When someone goes above and beyond, I think it’s important to recognize and encourage that behavior.”

Smith credits the leadership at Cleveland County for his success on the job.

at this agency and the way Cleveland County is run by its mission, vision and values,” Smith said. “From Sheriff Green on down, the leadership really lives by those values, and it shows.”

Like many in his field, Smith knew early on what he wanted to do with his life.

“I always knew I would be a cop,” he said.

Smith started his career as a reserve with smaller agencies before becoming a full-time police officer with McCloud Police Department in 2011. He worked his way up to detective.

When Smith’s mentor told leadership at Cleveland County about the young detective, they took a look at his resume and offered him the job as detective at the jail. He decided to accept the challenge and take the job.

“We were impressed with his credentials, but more importantly, everything we learned about him indicated he would be a good fit with this team and our values,” said Sheriff Blake Green.

“Smith’s ability to make a positive mark in such a short time is evidence that our faith in him was well placed.”

“I love the level of professionalism This is a continuation of our series on public servants in Norman.

As Norman slowly reopens, please remember to...

#NormanStrong

#Together4Norman

COMM U N I T Y

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

OU’s 15th President Board of Regents names Joseph Harroz Jr. OU’s next President

T

The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents unanimously voted to name Joseph Harroz Jr. the university’s 15th president, effective immediately.

“Joe Harroz is an exceptional leader,” said Gary Pierson, chair of the OU Board of Regents. “His deep devotion to OU and compelling vision for its future are precisely what the university needs. There’s no one better suited to lead OU.”

Harroz, formerly the dean of the OU College of Law, has served as interim president since May 2019, following former President Jim Gallogly’s resignation.

“This is more than a promotion or a dream job to me,” Harroz said. “My role is not to carry a title, but to serve. At the end of the day, I am but one of many temporary stewards of this life-changing institution.

“It’s a chance to pay back the debt I owe our university. OU changes lives every day. I know firsthand because it changed mine. I wouldn’t be who I am if not for the education my father – the son of Lebanese immigrants – received at OU, and the education that I also received from this extraordinary institution. My family’s story is just one of countless others that prove the power and possibilities of an OU education.”

A native Oklahoman, Harroz earned a bachelor of arts in economics from OU in 1989, graduating Phi Beta Kappa, and a juris doctorate from Georgetown University in 1992. Harroz rejoined the University of Oklahoma in 1994, the beginning of nearly 25 years of service to the university. He served first as vice president for executive affairs and then for 12 years as general counsel, the chief legal counsel to the president, the OU Board of Regents, Rogers State University and Cameron University.

In 2008, Harroz became president of a publicly traded health care company, growing its market capitalization to more than $80 million, before returning to OU in 2010 as the dean and director of the OU Law Center and Fenelon Boesche Chair of Law. Harroz has taught law for more than two decades, focusing on employment, sports and health care law.

42 | June 2020

Photos Photos by: by: Mark Mark Doescher Doescher

“Students feel visible after meeting President Harroz,” said Justin Norris, president of the OU Student Government Association. “Over the past two semesters, he has immersed himself within multiple perspectives of student life by attending campus events, conversing with students, and most importantly, listening to them. He is an advocate, ally and role model, and he possesses what I believe to be some of the most important leadership attributes: compassion, connectivity and drive – all of which I believe are reflected in his work this past year.”

unique challenges before the university and the country.

“During the current unprecedented situation, I am thankful the board has voted to name Joe Harroz our president,” said Sarah Connelly, OU Staff Senate chair. “He has been an advocate for staff since stepping into the role of interim president last year. I appreciate that he has regularly engaged in open and honest conversations.

While we know there are still difficult times ahead, I believe President Harroz will lead with honesty, empathy and input from staff and other constituencies.”

Harroz said that the pandemic has forced the university “to be more introspective and focused than ever.”

Throughout his nine-year tenure as dean, the OU College of Law earned record national recognition, including the highest-ever U.S. News & World Report ranking by any Oklahoma law school and the first law school in the nation to achieve Apple Distinguished School status (Apple, Inc.). Under Harroz, National Jurist Magazine named OU Law one of the nation’s “Best Value Law Schools” for 10 consecutive years, and its graduates consistently led the state in bar exam passage rates.

In addition, his fundraising efforts more than tripled the size of the college’s scholarship endowment and expanded the annual amount of scholarship money given to students to more than $1.5 million.

At OU Law, Harroz also led efforts to create new joint degree and certificate programs to enhance the J.D., instituted a pro bono service commitment for all law students and launched the nation’s first-ever law school Digital Initiative, preparing students for success in the 21st century legal profession.

“OU needs strong, stable leadership to guide it successfully into a future that is ever-changing,” Pierson said. “Throughout the past year, while serving as interim president, Joe has exceeded our high expectations. His diverse experience and commitment to OU’s purpose and our university community is unparalleled.”

“I am extremely pleased with the OU Board of Regents’ decision to appoint Joe Harroz as the university’s next president,” said Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. boydstreet.com

“Joe is a devoted public servant and he has the leadership skills of a top chief executive. I am confident he will continue to lead OU successfully, ensuring its mission of service to state and society is fulfilled.”

During his year as interim president, university leaders connected with key stakeholders - students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, corporate partners and government leaders - to develop a strategic plan to move the university forward in its goal to “provide a world-class education that is affordable and accessible to all.”

“Through all of our feedback, we heard a clear overall message: OU must remain a place of opportunity and excellence,” Harroz said. “As our state’s public flagship institution, welcoming all who possess the talent and the drive to succeed is fundamental to our purpose. At our core, we must create and sustain a culture of inclusivity, making OU a welcoming place of belonging.”

“During the past year, Joe Harroz and the Faculty Senate leadership have developed a great working relationship, and we appreciate how much he values faculty input and perspectives,” said Amy Bradshaw, OU Faculty Senate chair. “With the uncertainties of his interim position now resolved, we look forward to collaborating on ongoing strategic priorities, including transparency, effective administrative search processes and achieving meaningful diversity, equity and inclusion goals.”

Amidst a global pandemic, leadership plays a vital role in navigating the

“Generating opportunity for the next generation has always been central to our purpose … Guiding us forward is our promise to remain a beacon of hope, knowing that we will emerge stronger from this crisis in a way that’s worthy of ourselves and our great state.”

Pierson also pointed to the Board of Regents’ most recent nationwide presidential search, noting Harroz’s candidacy and standing as a top finalist. Harroz went through the extensive search process; meeting with a 19-member search committee comprised of students, faculty, staff and alumni, and was presented to the board as the only internal candidate.

“I count it an immense privilege to serve my alma mater and our state’s flagship public research university as its president,” Harroz said. “Throughout our 130-year history, OU has been a source of limitless opportunity. Through the generations, thousands of our graduates have found purpose and meaning in their pursuit of an OU education, who go on to leave their own unique impact on the world.”

“As President, I pledge to work tirelessly with you – our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends – to be worthy of our extraordinary legacy. Together, we can realize the full potential of our purpose to change the lives of each next generation of students and to impact the world through what we discover and create.”

Harroz, a grandson of Lebanese immigrants to Oklahoma, is father to Joseph, Zara and Jude and partner to Ashley Tate. - BSM

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 43

LIFE MOVES FAST! AND SO DO WE.

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S P O RT S

BY: CHRIS PLANK

Timeout

The day sports stopped

THE FIRST DOMINO The Big 12 men’s and women’s basketball tournaments were primed to add to the excitement of March Madness. The first night of action on the men’s side did not disappoint. Oklahoma State knocked off Iowa State with a last second shot and the Kansas State Wildcats found a way to upset TCU. Despite the NBA postponing its season, the Big 12 seemed able to play games at the Sprint Center in Kansas City after the conference made the decision to limit the number of fans in attendance.

“Of course, there’s disappointment in not being able to participate, but it pales in comparison, what’s going on worldwide is much, much more significant than our disappointment in not being able to play. When you put it in context, it’s pretty insignificant.”

While the possibility of playing in the NCAA tournament was still on the table for Kruger’s crew, the Sooner women’s basketball season was over. There would not be an at-large bid waiting without a chance to steal one by winning the Big 12 tournament.

Legendary Head Coach Sherri Coale penned an article that was published by SoonerSports.com titled, “An Athletes Ache.” In it, she wrote, “at first it feels so personal, so specific and so unfair. Then quickly it just feels necessary. And very, very sad.”

The Sooner women’s basketball team did not have a senior on its roster this season, but the finality of the campaign registered with the upperclassmen.

However, just before the scheduled 11:30 am tip for round two, Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby announced the cancellation of both tournaments. No more games in Kansas City and the postseason beyond the conference tournament was also in peril.

“At the outset when we were leaving Kansas City, Anna (Llanusa) and Mandy (Simpson) as our juniors who are closer to knowing what the ‘no more shot period looks like,’ they were incredulous that we weren’t going to be able to make the tournament. It was really hard for them to wrap their head around that.”

“The message to the guys kept changing, and they handled it well,” said Head Men’s Basketball Coach Lon Kruger. “Obviously, any athlete is disappointed to not be playing, but they fully understand the gravity of the situation and understand that the primary concern was the health and safety of the student athletes and the staff and fans.”

LET’S PLAY

The changing messages were a challenge, but Kruger conveyed the gravity of the moment to his team.

46 | June 2020

Sooner Softball Head Coach Patty Gasso had no time to worry about the cancellations of the basketball tournaments. She was dealing with two teams pulling out of a weekend tournament in Norman. The Hall of Fame head coach wanted her teamprepared for the start of Big 12 play. Highly ranked Texas was waiting in the wings and the Sooners had a target squarely on their back, after winning eight straight Big 12 Championships.

Photos Photos by: by: Mark Mark Doescher Doescher

O

n March 11, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 and set off a chain reaction that brought the sports world to a grinding halt. As many in the sports world reacted, the University of Oklahoma was proactive.

Communication between Sooner Athletic Director Joe Castiglione, sport administrators, coaches, directors of operations and student athletes helped make what was a very confusing, challenging time easier to digest and navigate.

“I love challenges and for me it was how are we still going to play this weekend before opening Big 12 play… and with Texas as our first series we really needed to play,” Gasso recalled. “Kent State called and said they couldn’t come because they were shut down and they were very apologetic. Then New Mexico State called and had been shut down as well.

“So, I’m talking to Kristin Vesely, who is an alumni and the head coach at Houston. For me it was trying to make it happen … I just kept telling our team we were going to play, and I refused to believe this would cancel everything.

I’m just someone who always wanted to find a way to get it done. I am never one to surrender but then, when you realize you have no choice, you realize how minimal what you were trying to make happen truly was. In my head it was more like, what are you doing?”

As the frustration over not being able to play quickly subsided for Gasso, the realization of the public health risk became more and more clear.

Meanwhile across the map, OU Baseball Coach Skip Johnson had his team in California preparing for a big weekend series with Cal Poly. After beating UTA on Tuesday night, the Sooners flew to California to prepare for the match-up.

“We started seeing the information on Twitter and the kids know immediately, it’s hard to keep anything from them,” Johnson said. “As we went through the day, we saw things closing down. We practiced on Wednesday then wake up to find out we are not going to play and everything was up in the air moving forward.”

Two hours after the Big 12 had canceled the basketball tournaments, the Sooner Baseball weekend series against Cal Poly was canceled and the Big West suspended all athletic events. The Softball series against Houston was canceled too.

The dominos started falling one by one, even faster than most could keep up.

THE END It seemed inevitable but no one genuinely wanted to believe it. The college sports world was on the verge of a shutdown.

By 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, the boydstreet.com

NCAA announced the cancellation of the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. But it was not just hoops that had been canceled, all winter and spring championships were too.

No March Madness… No Women’s College World Series… No Omaha…

Nothing. In less than 24 hours the entire sports world turned upside down admist the fallout of the NBA’s decision..

“I told the kids… it was hard for those guys to take it, but they understood from where our administration was coming from,” Johnson said. “We would much rather have people overreact than under react. We have the best administration in the world and I’m proud of how they reacted. You gotta be honest with the kids.”

The cancellation of the rest of the schedule added to the responsibilities of each teams’ director of operations. Longtime Baseball Director of Operations Ryan Gaines and his softball counterpart Jackie Livingston each had similar but unique challenges.

“My head went to what’s the next game plan and what’s the next game and then you realize you’re not playing anymore,” Livingston said. “While our team took it well, I was almost in tears. From my perspective, I think about the hard work we put into it…from the coaches to marketing to event management, we were striving for a great home season.

“I was pretty devastated on that Friday. But the team took it well… really well. Eligibility concerns were the major questions along with academics. Those answers came quickly that day and everything was communicated to us efficiently,” she said.

For Gaines, the challenge included an added responsibility. First, it was making sure that everything was effectively communicated.

“We went from early that morning on our way to playing games in front of fans…to playing a game with no fans… to a few hours later no games at all and then even later in the day the season was over,” Gaines said. “Dealing with all those different emotions and then having our plans change was quite a challenge for

someone in my position to deal with.”

Second, he helped make sure the women’s golf team could get home too. The women’s golf team was in Mesa, Arizona preparing to play in the Clover Cup that weekend and, since the baseball team had chartered to California, he had to shift plans to not only move up the baseball team’s departure but also to pick up the women’s golf team in Arizona.

“The thing that became a challenge, since all the conference basketball tournaments were canceled, all the private aircraft was not available until Friday afternoon,” Gaines said. “The Women’s golf team was in Mesa at the same time and they needed to get home and get their equipment home. We coordinated with the Coach Veronique Drouin-Luttrell to get them added to our manifest.”

Both teams were home by that Friday evening.

“Toby Baldwin, Robert Fulton and Ryan Gaines very quickly worked with us and got us on the plane,” Drouin-Luttrell said. “I am grateful they could do that. They really took care of us and the athletic department has been amazing through all of this. When the plane landed, it really hit all of us. What is next? We quickly accepted that what is next was staying healthy and listening to government officials.”

THE DYNASTY UNFAIRLY ENDED Much like other head coaches, KJ Kindler was trying to find a way OU women’s gymnastics could compete in their final regular season meet.

The Sooners were slated to fly out on Friday morning for a Saturday night competition in Minneapolis, Minnesota against the Golden Gophers. The meet served as an opportunity for hometown hero Maggie Nichols to perform in her home state for the first time in her collegiate career. The event was sold out and anticipation was high. But, unfortunately, the Sooners never left Norman.

Once again, news quickly snowballed from a canceled event to a canceled postseason.

“It was so hard,” Kindler said. “Our seniors were devastated. I do not think BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 47

anyone really saw it coming. We knew obviously there were some things happening, but in a span of eight hours so much happened.”

“It’s hard to wrap my head around the situation,” Maggie Nichols said. “It doesn’t even feel real. But I don’t know if it could have ended any better. Just knowing that I ended on a pretty good night, I had a perfect 10 that night and some other pretty great routines and I just don’t think I could have ended any better which really does ease my mind with the whole situation.”

Nichols was one of three Sooner seniors this year, along with Jade Degouveia and Bre Showers, and she may have wrapped up one of the most prestigious careers in Sooner athletic history. Kindler said it was not easy to tell her athletes the season was over.

“I didn’t have a lot of wisdom to impart,” Kindler said. “I felt a little bit helpless in the situation.”

However, looking back it was obvious that the 2020 OU women’s gymnastics squad was championship material.

“Having not competed our last regular-season meet, not competed in our 48 | June 2020

conference championship, we weren’t able to go to regionals or nationals, you can only go off statistics,” Kindler said.

“We were ranked No. 1 every week of the season, we had the highest national qualifying score in the country, we were undefeated and had the highest high score in the country. Those are the only statistics you can really go off of for gymnastics. Our team certainly put themselves in an excellent position and that is really all I can say.”

“In their coaches’ eyes, they’re the national champions.”

WHAT’S NEXT Every sports’ story was different but in a lot of ways incredibly similar. You have a coach hoping for the opportunity to compete, only to realize that there was something much bigger at play.

“We were still planning on going to Arizona,” Ryan Hybl said, head coach for men’s golf. “By Thursday afternoon we were pulled off the road. By Friday night, we had a leadership meeting with Joe Castiglione and our leadership people, and it opened our eyes and the coaching staff as to how serious this was about to get. Our mission and our message changed from not having a season

to protecting ourselves. There was some closure knowing how serious this was going to be.”

For those who grind away behind the scenes, the amount of work that goes into preparing for a season was erased.

“The travel, the schedule, your umpires, game management, meals… all of those things were planned a long time ago,” Gaines said. “It takes a long time to plan those, but what I found is it doesn’t take long to undo them. It was hard to do it all, it was pretty easy to undo it all.”

In the end, the decision to shut down sports was frustrating, but the decision was made for the safety and well-being of the athletes, fans and staff to ensure that we will have healthy opportunities to support our teams for years to come.

“We just want people to know that we get it,” Castiglione said. “We want to be able to have what they love, and that’s the opportunity of sports, student-athletes, our teams – that’s a unifying element for many, many people. We get that. We want to be ready to make it possible when it’s right. We’re trying to do everything we can to be ready.” – BSM

boydstreet.com

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 49

COMM U N I T Y

BY: SHARLA BARDIN

Arts Re-start at Sooner Theatre

Students perform in the musical “Annie.” Students interested in acting, singing and dancing can register now for the performing arts summer camps offered by the The Studio of The Sooner Theatre.

In-person camps to be offered at The Studio of The Sooner Theatre

P

lans are in place to offer in-person performing arts camps for students this summer in Norman.

Registration is now open for camps offered at The Studio of The Sooner Theatre.

Staff has been working on processes to provide a safe environment for students attending camps and they are closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic situation to determine if additional steps or camp closure will be needed, said Nancy Coggins, public relations and development director for The Sooner Theatre of Norman.

“All of us are parents and we’ve all seen our kids try to navigate everything they’re having to do via screen and via video and it’s hard for them.

They miss their friends,” Coggins said.

“As much as we can give that back to them in a way that’s safe for the community, we want to be able to do that.”

The Studio of The Sooner Theatre, located at 110 E. Main St., is a perform-

52 | June 2020

ing arts academy that offers classes and summer camps for children ages 3 to 18. Summer camps include lessons on acting, singing, dancing and magic.

Coggins said Sooner Theatre staff has developed practices to bring students into the camps safely but they are also offering virtual options too.

A virtual camp will be offered June 1-12 for families who prefer their children participate online, Coggins said.

During in-person camp sessions, students’ temperatures will be taken before they come into the building, and parents will walk their campers to the building and staff members will meet them and take the student to class.

Also, class sizes will be limited to no more than 10 students in any room at all times, Coggins said.

She also said they’ll be lots of hand sanitizer used among students and teachers and “lots of breaks for hand washing.”

Camp staff will wear masks. However, students are not required to but

can if masks make them feel more comfortable, Coggins said.

Other plans include opportunities to get students outside including walks to nearby Andrews Park. In-person sessions are set for June 15-26, July 6-17 and July 19- 31. Classes are available for students entering pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

In addition, two productions for students are planned for late June and July – the youth edition of “Bye Bye Birdie” and the musical ““Bring It On” -- but Coggins said officials are monitoring community benchmarks before moving ahead with dates for those performances.

“We are working on creative ways to showcase those performances in a way that is safe for both audiences and performers,” she said.

To register for summer camp or learn more about The Sooner Theatre, visit www.soonertheatre.org.– BSM

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COMM U N I T Y

BY: HEIDE BRANDES

The Power of Prevention M

isuse of prescription medications, opioids, depressants and stimulants is a growing public health concern in the United States.

Although most people intend to take prescription medications responsibly, a large number of people are reported to have misused medications at least once in the past year.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, an estimated 18 million people aged 12 and older misused prescription medications in 2017, a number compiled from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. That same survey showed that an estimated two million Americans misused prescription pain relievers for the first time and more than one million misused prescription stimulants.

An additional 1.5 million misused tranquilizers and 271,000 misused sedatives.

“Prescription drugs have a wonderful benefit for the health and wellness of an individual, but when they are misused, they can become very harmful,” said Demetrick Jones, program administrator and coordinator for the Oklahoma State Strategic Prevention Framework Partnerships for Success Project (SPF-PFS project) for Cleveland County. “When old or unused medications are not disposed of properly, there is a risk for accidental poisonings in the home or the chance that medications can be taken by someone that they were not prescribed for.”

In Cleveland County, the project is aiming to do something about those numbers. The OU SPF-PFS project is

56 | June 2020

Cleveland County project aims to reduce prescription drug misuse funded by a state grant, awarded to the University of Oklahoma by The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, and is working to prevent the onset and reduce the progression of prescription drug misuse in the county.

Their mission also includes reducing the nonmedical use of prescription drugs and building a prevention infrastructure at the city and community levels to help residents prevent substance misuse. The program also encourages the proper disposal of prescription medications.

“Disposing of meds properly at any police department in medication disposal bins, at pharmacies like Walgreens or CVS or with a medication disposal system which our project mails out for free helps keep medications from being flushed or rinsed down the sink and getting in our groundwater,” said Jones.

In Oklahoma, the most commonly misused prescription drugs are opioids, which include oxycodone and hydrocodone and anti-anxiety medications like Xanax, Nordiazepam, Venlafaxine and Fluoxetine.

“When we speak of misuse of prescription medications, we are talking about taking too much medication or more than is prescribed, taking a medication different than what it was prescribed for, sharing or taking someone else’s medication and theft of medication,” said Jones.

“According to the Oklahoma Center for Poison and Drug Information, since isolation began, there has been an uptick of calls to the Oklahoma

Center for Poison and Drug Information for medication poisonings. I believe the uptick is attributed to more people being at home and thus, more chances that an accidental poisoning will occur.”

The project conducts free community presentations, training and webinars to the general public, companies and public schools and also offers free information and videos to help with understanding what prescription drug misuse is and how to prevent it and to keep residents informed about free medication disposal systems and drop off locations.

“We offer materials for health fairs and public events, and we can connect you to resources and treatment options if you know of someone that has a problem with addiction,” Jones added.

Drop off programs have been successful in collecting medications in Cleveland County. The City of Norman has an annual clean up event that allows residents to dispose of trash and prescription medications in a safe way.

Oklahomans should always store their medications in a locked container or locked cabinet at home. This will provide the best security to prevent accidental poisoning, he added.

“I would also encourage Oklahomans to follow our project on Facebook at OK SPF PFS Project Region 8,” Jones said.

To learn more about the project and for information about how to prevent prescription drug misuse, visit swpc. ou.edu. – BSM

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Celebrating Milestones Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic

A

s the ongoing coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt life and cancel plans across the world, people are finding creative ways to celebrate. From drive-by weddings and birthday car parades to virtual graduation ceremonies, there are so many ways you can celebrate while still maintaining proper social distancing.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can commemorate life’s happier moments during the coronavirus pandemic. Party on!

CAR PARADES

It’s like a drive-through safari, only instead of clusters of animals the guest of honor is the main attraction.

In what’s becoming increasingly popular around the country, Americans with reason to celebrate are inviting friends and family over to join in celebrations — from their cars.

The hero of the hour stands outside their home and waves as guests drive by to offer their warm wishes and gifts.

Sometimes, the inviter will offer pre-wrapped favors or packaged party treats to the parade of friends driving by.

Car parades have been happening to commemorate weddings, birthdays, graduations, baby showers and more.

Often, the parades are a complete surprise and are organized by well-meaning family and friends who want to extend well-wishes and be part of the happy occasion.

In a fun twist, some people are theming their parades and having participants decorate their vehicles to match the theme. The hosts will sometimes decorate their own car and join the parade, and other times, they’ll deck out their home and lawn while having guests drive by in their decorated cars to wave and offer their good wishes. It can be a Star Wars-themed parade for the die-hard fan, a football-themed drive-by party for the aspiring athlete or a princess theme for the little girl who is passionate about pink.

TAKING IT OUTSIDE

Some celebrations, especially those surrounding older people or the otherwise vulnerable, are taking place outdoors.

Family members gather outside the home of their loved one for singing, playing instruments, holding up signs and shouting “I love you!” or “Happy birthday!” as the quarantined celebrity watches from the safety of their home. Some merry-makers will also use sidewalk chalk to scrawl their good wishes on the pavement near the VIP’s home.

For Kathleen Bryne of Syracuse, NY, the outpouring of love at her outdoor celebration was tangible, even from a distance. The nonagenarian, mother of seven, grandmother of 22 and great-grandmother of 29, celebrated her 95th birthday in March. When the coronavirus outbreak disrupted the family’s plans of a giant celebration, they moved on to Plan B. Cousins and siblings gathered on Kathleen’s front boydstreet.com

lawn to sing “Happy Birthday” to the matriarch of the family and to spell out “Happy Birthday” in balloons. The birthday girl was deeply touched.

A couple in NY took it a step further and got married outside — with the officiant conducting the ceremony from a nearby apartment, four stories above street level.

Another couple in Israel invited their neighbors to come out and join their wedding celebration — from the safety of their own balconies.

Elissa Labbie-Snyder turned her son’s birthday into a fun outdoor game. She asked friends to leave birthday gifts, messages, balloons and treats for her son around the neighborhood. When they were done, she took her son, Alex, out on a three-hour birthday scavenger hunt to find the hidden treats.

ZOOMING IN

The videoconferencing platform that has become a household word since it is now host to thousands of business meetings, classes and long-distance visits each day. However, some people are turning to the app to host their virtual celebrations as well.

For graduating students of the Organizational Studies program at the University of Michigan, their anticipated in-person graduation turned into a Zoom videoconference event thanks to the ongoing lockdown. The virtual ceremony featured presentations and awards you’d expect to see at a college graduation, including greetings from the program’s director and keynote addresses from selected students.

To turn a Zoom event into a shared experience, Swasti Sarna, insights manager at Pinterest, suggests that all participants decorate the space being used to host the party so it feels more festive. She also recommends creating a program so the party is more than just a screen full of faces trying to keep up with an animated conversation. The program can include virtual games everyone can play together, like Psych or Jackbox Games, and a shared menu of homemade or takeout food that everyone can enjoy at the same time.

Some Zoom party hosts have upped the ante by mailing out a package ahead of the party with instructions to open them at the event. The party boxes can include a cupcake, party favors and/or a DIY craft kit for all attendees to create together.

Another great idea is for guests to send gifts ahead of the event for the host to open while everyone watches.

The rules of the game may have changed, but the milestones that make life go on can’t be stopped by a global pandemic. Here’s to continued celebrations of all of life’s most precious moments!

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 61

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LI F EST Y L E

BY: KATHY HALLREN | JOE’S WINES & SPIRITS

Refresh Summer with Sauvignon Blanc

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ummer is here and it’s time for white wine. Whether you are ready to expand your wine knowledge beyond Chardonnay or you want to take a hiatus from Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc is a good place to start.

The name Sauvignon evolved from the French word sauvage (wild) and blanc for white. The grape probably originated in the Bordeaux region and migrated north to the Loire Valley where it was extensively cultivated. Cuttings came to America in the 1880s, and became popular when Robert Mondavi marketed it as Fumé Blanc.

As the grape was cultivated in various regions of the world, it took on slightly different characteristics. Cold climate grapes tend to be zesty with high acidity (think green pepper and green grass with tropical fruit notes). While warm climate grapes tend to produce notes of grapefruit and peach.

In the Loire Valley, wine produced in the area of Sancerre became very popular in early 20th century Paris bistros and is still a popular, affordable option in France. Unfortunately, it tends to be pricey in the U.S.

Puilly-Fumé and Cheverny are also made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes. In Bordeaux, Sauvignon Blanc is generally blended with Chardonnay and Semillion for a white Bordeaux blend. Although Sauvignon Blanc is not generally oak aged, some white Bordeaux blends are. However, Sauvignon Blanc should generally be drunk young.

Sauternes is a French sweet dessert wine made from Sauvignon Blanc.

Sauvignon Blanc is a great wine to drink with lighter fare, such as roasted vegetables, white fish, pasta salad or sushi and is a great wine to serve on the patio to compliment lighter meals. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc is now available in cans, making it a convenient choice for the poolside.

Enjoy, Kathy

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BY: CHAT WILLIAMS | YOUTH PERFORMANCE

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Core Training

otal body training is a key component to the program philosophy at Youth Performance. The upper body, lower body and core training are all critical.

Training the core, or the abdominal region of the body, is an important component to include in strength and conditioning programs and can be accomplished through several methods.

The core can be challenged when performing traditional exercises like the squat or a power clean as well as with exercises that are specifically designed to target that area of the body including body weight crunches on the floor, resistance machine exercises, medicine ball exercises and stability ball exercises.

Core training should vary and be challenged with multiple modalities, different intensities and in multiple planes of motion to target all areas of the core.

Incorporating circuits with different movement patterns or multiple pieces of equipment is an excellent way to keep

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programs fresh and increase intensity, tempo and volume.

It also keeps the athlete engaged and motivated.

Improved balance, core stability and increased power through the hips and abdominal region are just a few of the benefits that can be achieved by core training. These improvements can lead to a stronger and more stable individual, potentially decreasing the risk of injuries while participating in activities that are physically challenging.

Once the individual has acclimated to multiple variations of an exercise and has been instructed properly on several pieces of equipment or modalities, exercises can be grouped together to develop circuits, increasing the overall intensity and volume of a routine. Combining multiple exercises using a medicine ball is an excellent example of a core circuit.

Chat Williams, MS, CSCS*D, NSCA-CPT*D, CSPS*D, FNSCA chat@youthperformance.net

www.youthperformance.net 701-3416

BOYD STREET MAGAZINE | 69

HE A LT H

Norman Regional Resumes Elective Procedures

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

Hospital staff shares details on patient safety measures

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ith phase two of the Open Up & Recover Safely Plan, Norman Regional began preparations to resume elective surgeries. Officials said the focus of those preparations is how to keep patients and employees safe.

“We are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of our patients and our staff,” said John Chace, MD, department chair of Norman Regional’s Surgical Services. “We’re ready to provide safe surgical treatment to those in our community who have been waiting for the care they need to improve their quality of life.”

Dr. Tom Connally, general and thyroid surgeon with Norman Regional, said testing and social distancing are two key safety factors, as well as increased patient screenings.

“We are using all of the best practices,” Connally said. “We have set strict guidelines to do a phased opening. We have tools and markers to help us make the safest decisions.

“We are limiting visitors… having less people in the office at one time and increasing screenings. It’s important to make sure patients aren’t going to get others sick.”

Additional safety measures include temperature screenings, the use of masks during patient encounters and in public or common areas, easily accessible hand sanitizer throughout each facility and social distancing signage reminders and visual cues.

The hospital also tests surgery patients for COVID-19 48 to 72 hours before surgery and requires patients to self-quarantine immediately following their test and up until their procedure, a policy Connally said helps protect the patient as well.

“There is the potential that patients that have the virus, even if they are asymptomatic, could have worse outcomes,” he explained. “After you get that swab, it’s a safer-at-home situation to protect yourself. I encourage immediate family members to isolate too.”

Based on national guidelines, the health system has created a phased approach to resume elective surgeries.

Physicians, based on their medical judgment, input from patients and guidelines from the American College of Surgeons and the Oklahoma State Department of Health, are prioritizing the scheduling of patients who need surgery.

72 | June 2020

“Our plan provides guidelines that prioritize patients based on medical necessity and complexity of the procedures being performed,” said Richie Splitt, president and CEO of Norman Regional Health System.

The hospital continues to utilize extensive safety measures inside operating rooms.

“The operating rooms have always been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to specifically control the spread of infection through the use of hospital-grade disinfectants, followed by the use of germ-zapping robots that destroys viruses, bacteria and bacteria spores,” Splitt said.

Connally said that the use of virtual technology is also helping protect patients.

“We are using Facetime so patients can see their loved ones,” he shared. “We can do pre- and post-op visits virtually so we can continue social distancing and not have patients out in the community more than they have to be.”

Connally wants to assure the community that hospitals are safe.

“If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please seek care. COVID-19 is dangerous but so are so many other things. Trust your healthcare providers and know that they have your best interest at heart. We are trained to deliver care with passion and we are, better than ever, doing that right now.”

To learn more about Norman Regional’s safety procedures and response to COVID-19, visit normanregional.com/ COVID19. – BSM

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

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BY: ROXANNE AVERY

Saxon Realty Group LLC A new Norman-based realty group offers sellers a flat listing fee

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husband-wife duo of veteran realtors, Terry & Jackie Saxon, are opening a new real estate company offering sellers a flat fee option to sell their home.

Commissions have been the standard way of doing business in real estate for years. Since the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission does not regulate commission fees, that process is negotiable between realtors and sellers.

The Saxon’s are now offering sellers another option.

“In our opinion, why pay thousands of dollars from your equity when the internet does the majority of the work selling your home? Nowadays, that just doesn’t make sense,” Terry said.

“Over the years, when a seller listed a house, there is generally a six percent fee. Three percent went to us, as the listing agent, and three percent goes to the buying agent.

“Now what we’re offering is to list your home for only $899, no matter the price of the home we are listing.”

The Saxons have been in real estate for more than two decades and Terry has been a broker for 14 years. They believe that the real estate industry is 78 | June 2020

evolving and they plan to evolve with it.

“The real estate industry has been evolving for several years,” he explained. “The most significant change is public access to the multiple listing service (MLS).”

For years, realtors held exclusive access to the MLS, the most powerful marketing tool in the business.

However, companies like Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia and other real estate-based companies now offer public listing and buying access.

“We always offer to pay the buying agent three percent but now we’re saving people thousands of dollars on the listing side. For example, on a $200,000 home, the seller was paying $12,000 in realtor commissions. Now, with what we’re offering, we would be cutting that $6,000 listing commission to $899. That’s a savings of over $5,000.”

Terry cautions sellers against trying to sell their home on their own.

“Don’t make the mistake and think you don’t need a licensed realtor and their expert skills and knowledge,”

he said. “We wouldn’t recommend trying to sell your home on your own.

That’s way too risky, and leaves you at a big disadvantage.”

Backed by twenty years of experience, the Saxons will help sellers navigate real estate rules and regulations, as well as all the negotiations that go on during a transaction.

“Our main goal is to save sellers money. Just because we are giving a big discount doesn’t mean we cut you short on service. We are not an MLS entry-only company. We’ll get you from listing to closing and everything in between,” assured Terry. “And if you’re looking for a replacement home, we can definitely help people buy homes as well.”

Terry & Jackie want to save people money because they know it’s needed for other important expenditures.

“The money we’re saving them will help them do so many other things they need to do like putting more money down on their next house, put it in their kids’ college fund, remodel or just put the money in their pocket,” he said.

The Saxon Realty Group is a full-service real estate office assisting both buyers and sellers, and for a low flat fee they will help sellers list and sell their property. In order to get the word out to the public effectively, the Saxons opened their own brokerage firm June 1, and in the month prior to their opening, they had already saved sellers over $48,000 in listing commissions.

Born and raised in Norman, Terry and Jackie have been married for nearly 40 years. They went to Wilson Elementary School together in second grade and were married their senior summer in 1981. Together they raised two kids and have five grandkids.

The Saxons lived outside of Norman for a few years when their children were young.

“In 1987, we decided we wanted to get out of Norman,” Terry remembered. “The truth is, one night while watching TV, a commercial came on for the Marine Corp. I had no money saved for college and the commercial said the Marine Corp would pay for college. I enlisted and eight years later after being in Desert Shield and Desert Storm and traveling all over the world, and earning a college degree after, we realized our hearts were in Norman.

“Our time away made us realize we needed to come back to Norman to raise our kids, and live in a city that offers so much more than it did when we left. And what we are offering, we thought it was a win-win for both parties, and a great way to give back to this community.”. – BSM

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