TulsaPeople February 2016

THE TEACHING SIEVE Low wages contribute to Oklahoma’s unprecedented teacher shortage February 2016

HIDDEN FOOD GEMS SIX TULSA RESTAURANTS THAT ARE UNDER THE RADAR

La Roma’s pizza

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Features FEBRUARY 2016 ✻ VOLUME 30 ISSUE 4

P.J.’s drip beef sandwich

37

Artificial intelligence

The push for STEM curriculum in schools is turning students into robot-building marvels.

by MARNIE FERNANDEZ

63 Under the radar Discover or revisit these six Tulsa food gems.

by NATALIE MIKLES

40

The teaching sieve

Low wages are contributing to an unprecedented teacher shortage in Oklahoma.

by MORGAN PHILLIPS TulsaPeople.com

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Departments

11

73 CityBeat

111 The Dish

Evan Taylor

Nathan Harmon Photography

FEBRUARY 2016 ✻ VOLUME 30 ISSUE 4

Agenda

11 In harmony Harmony Project Tulsa’s after-school programs

69 Spirits Italian wines to inspire Valentine’s Day

103 Cold hearted This month’s standout events

12 Notebook Topics of interest to Tulsans

70 Table Talk The buzz on Tulsa’s tastiest restaurants, products and events

106 Out & about See and be seen.

14 Passions Saving a species 16 Conversations YWCA’s Christy Huff advocates for immigrants and refugees.

18 Applause Dave Hentschel is honored with the Heart of Henry Award.

20 Cause and effect Saving Tulsa’s youth, one song at a time 22 The way we were Brookside through the years 24 Artist in residence Two Tulsans are Tulsa Opera studio artists.

26 Roots The ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ of leadership hails from Tulsa.

27 Postgame Dave Rader wears the ‘Blue and Gold.’

28 Musings I love you, sweetie

The Good Life 73 Love struck Gleeful Peacock designs are fun at heart.

74 Wright on Coming clean 76 Weekend getaways Museum mania in Oklahoma City 78 In the garden A plant named sunshine 81 Home Three inspiring home remodels 97 Health A Tulsa family’s heartache

107 Benefits Fundraisers and fun happenings 108 Behind the scene The art of forgiveness 110 Tulsa sound New music from Burning City Orchestra and Cucumber and the Suntans 111 Screen/Print Talking with Chris Kucharski, Tulsa film and music liaison 112 Flashback Celebrating TulsaPeople’s 30th anniversary

Special Section 59 Private School Guide A resource to jumpstart your own research on Tulsa-area private schools

32 A park grows in Tulsa A Gathering Place’s park programming is a living gift.

TulsaPeople.com

5

From the editor

THE TEACHING SIEVE Low wages contribute to Oklahoma’s unprecedented teacher shortage February 2016

by MORGAN PHILLIPS

February 2016 ✻ www.TulsaPeople.com

“M

ommy, I’m the teacher.”

I thought it would be a few more years before my daughter, age 2, started “playing teacher.” But play we did — with me as the student.

I can only hope that becoming a real public school teacher will be a viable option when she enters the workforce. For many in Oklahoma, it is not.

Our state is facing an unprecedented teacher shortage, largely because it does not offer competitive teaching salaries. Our feature on p. 40 is the first in a series called “The price of public service” that explores the daily challenges of some of Oklahoma’s most important professions.

This February issue of TulsaPeople also highlights other significant work being done across the city and the globe.

The after-school music and mentoring program Harmony Project Tulsa provides instruments and music lessons to more than 50 preschool and elementary students (p. 11).

Passionate Tulsan Phillip Hathaway recently began a nonprofit that seeks to improve the treatment of elephants around the world (p.

14).

Dealing with their son’s heart defects led a Tulsa family to help others with similar conditions (p. 97).

You might know plenty of Tulsans like these who are making a difference — fortunately there are many — but do you know the six “under-the-radar” restaurants in our food feature on p. 63? These are some of Tulsa’s bestkept secrets. (Well, probably not for long.)

Despite the challenges facing Oklahoma’s public schools, local robotics and STEM programs are teaching students new ways to solve problems while preparing them for jobs in technical fields (p. 37).

But what about the girls and boys who will forego professions in the private sector to teach Oklahoma’s greatest asset: its children?

Let’s ensure they can enter the teaching profession fairly paid and well respected.

To the teachers sticking it out right now, thank you. We know you deserve better. We hope help is coming soon. tþ

HIDDEN FOOD GEMS

Visit TulsaPeople.com all month long for exclusive content you won’t want to miss, including photo galleries, videos and much more.

SIX TULSA RESTAURANTS THAT ARE UNDER THE RADAR

La Roma’s pizza

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: S T E M C U R R I C U L U M T U R N S S T U D E N T S I N T O R O B O T- B U I L D I N G M A RV E L S 2 0 1 6 P R I VAT E S C H O O L G U I D E

2016 VENUE GUIDE

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TULSA

EVENT & WEDDING VENUE GUIDE

GUEST GUIDE

When planning an event — large or small — there are so many details to coordinate. From finding a place with the right amount of space to choosing from catering options and amenities, the to-do list can be overwhelming. Use this guide to wedding, event and conference venues around Tulsa as a resource.

AMBASSADOR HOTEL TULSA, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION 1324 South Main Street (918) 587-8200 AmbassadorHotelCollection.com Event rental contact: Joshua Ozaras Capacity: 70

DRESSER MANSION 235 West 18th Street (918) 585-5157 www.dressermansion.com Event rental contact: Bethany Faber Capacity: 200

ANDY B’S

EXPO SQUARE

8711 South Lewis Avenue (918) 299-9494 www.andybtulsa.com Event rental contact: Chuck West Capacity: 700

4145 East 21st Street (918) 744-1113 ext-2090 www.exposquare.com Event rental contact: Sarah Thompson Capacity: Multiple facilities available

THE BLUE COTTAGE

FOREST RIDGE GOLF CLUB

409 East “A” Street, Jenks (918) 299-8204 www.bluecottagejenks.com Event rental contact: Kay Greer Capacity: 50-60 (upstairs, no elevator)

7501 East Kenosha Street, Broken Arrow (918) 357-4407 www.forestridge.com Event rental contact: Brian Bodenstob Capacity: Up to 150

BLUESTONE STEAKHOUSE AND SEAFOOD

GILCREASE MUSEUM

10032 South Sheridan Road (918) 296-9889 www.bluestonesteakhouse.com Event rental contact: Bill Tackett Capacity: 60

1400 North Gilcrease Museum Road (918) 596-2771 www.gilcrease.org Event rental contact: Kacy Hughes Capacity: 60-250 in various locations

BROKEN ARROW LANES

MIKE FRETZ EVENT CENTER

4701 South Elm Place, Broken Arrow (918) 455-4616 www.brokenarrowlanes.com Event rental contact: Michelle Engelby Capacity: 250

11545 East 43rd Street (918) 663-1100 www.mikefretzeventcenter.com Event rental contact: Marlena Turley Capacity: 256

THE CAMPBELL HOTEL & EVENT CENTERS

OKLAHOMA AQUARIUM

2636 East 11th Street (918) 744-5500 www.thecampbellhotel.com Event rental contact: Cristen Burdell Capacity: 150-250

300 Aquarium Drive (918) 296-FISH www.okaquarium.org Event rental contact: events@okaquarium.org Capacity: Varies with room/area, 20-1,000+

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON TULSA DOWNTOWN

ONEOK FIELD EVENTS

616 West 7th Street (918) 587-8000 www.tulsadowntown.doubletree.com Event rental contact: Barbara Gresh Capacity: Up to 900

201 North Elgin Avenue (918) 574-8324 www.oneokfieldevents.com Event rental contact: Courtney Gemmett Capacity: 20-350

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VIDEO

In tune (p. 24) The voices of Tulsa Opera Studio Artists Stephen Clark and Elliott Deasy fill the air.

6

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

Evan Taylor

Morgan Phillips City Editor

WISHING YOU A

HAPPY HEART MONTH AND A HEALTHY HEART LIFE.

Today and every day throughout the year, your health is in great hands at St. John Heart Institute.

We’re standing by 24 hours a day with heart attack response times that are faster than the national gold standards of both the American Heart Association and The American College of Cardiology.

Heart Month is the perfect time to focus on early detection. A cardiac scan can save your life. Schedule yours today. No doctor referral required.

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Take good care of your heart and it will take good care of you.

Dr. Sharolyn Cook knows that the human heart is resilient.

As a cardiologist at the Heart Hospital at Saint Francis, she and her colleagues care for patients with a broad range of conditions that include heart attacks, arterial blockages, congestive heart failure, vein conditions, arrhythmias and so much more. But even though the heart is resilient, people should be mindful of preventing heart disease, Dr. Cook says. “It’s very important for people to monitor their blood pressure and cholesterol. However, taking those extra steps by quitting smoking, being more active, adding more fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains to their diets, and reducing sweets is just as important,” she says.

The Heart Hospital at Saint Francis provides experienced cardiac care, the latest technologies and treatments for patients. “I always tell my patients,” Dr. Cook says, “Take good care of your heart, and it will take good care of you.”

Dr. Sharolyn Cook INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST

Matthew E. Meyer, M.D. LAUREATE PSYCHIATRIST

Healthcare for life. saintfrancis.com/hearthospital | 918-488-6688

citybeat

NEWS ✻ PEOPLE ✻ OPINIONS

H

IN HARMONY

armony Project Tulsa is more than an after-school music program. Its approach is based on studies that demonstrate early music training significantly improves cognitive

function in disadvantaged children, especially for language processing and reading.

“Music is what kept me focused and grounded,” says Michael Nicholson, who is pass-

ing on those gifts as an HPT master teaching artist. “Even before I decided to make my career out of music, it was something that made me excited to get up and go to school.

“Getting these kids at a young age, like we do, sets them up for higher concentration, focus and commitment.”

See p. 20 for more about Harmony Project Tulsa. tþ

Nathan Harmon Photography

Harmony Project Tulsa students performed for more than 900 people at the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s April 2015 “Empty Bowls” fundraiser.

For the love of elephants P. 14

✻

Singing sensations P. 24

✻

Sweeth tooth P. 28 TulsaPeople.com

11

CITYBEAT

NEWS ✻ PEOPLE ✻ OPINIONS

Notebook

Topics of interest to Tulsans

FULL STEAM AT WHITMAN

When Henry Piwowarek and Karen Kruger began dating six years ago, she told him he’d better start volunteering at the Tulsa Community College VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education (PACE) if he wanted to spend time with her on the weekends.

“I’ve always loved live entertainment,” she says.

Although he was new to the whole scene, he took the hint and signed up to be a PACE ambassador, or usher, like Kruger. Now she is in her 14th year of volunteering, and Piwowarek is in his sixth.

They always volunteer together and, as a bonus, they get to see some of Tulsa’s best shows for free. It’s a new take on “date night.”

Ambassadors — whose duties include greeting guests, taking tickets and showing guests to their seats — are an important part of the patron experience at a Signature Symphony concert or other PACE performance, says Dana Edwards, Van Trease PACE volunteer coordinator.

She says ambassadors range in age from their 50s to 90s, but all ages are welcome. Volunteers must only be punctual and dependable and can choose the events they would like to “work.”

The ambassador program has just under 100 participants, but Edwards hopes to recruit 50-100 more. Large shows require 21-23 ambassadors, she says.

The next PACE ambassador training is at 10 a.m., Feb. 6.

For more information, contact Edwards at 918-595-7768 or dana.edwards1@tulsacc.edu.

12

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

who will receive tutoring and participate in activities related to science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).

Whitman parents also will receive opportunities to engage in literacy training and educational development for the family.

“The program is important because after-school programs keep kids learning, engaged, safe and active,” says Stephanie Gaines, YAH program co-director. “There is a huge demand for programs such as these nationwide, with over 10 million kids currently enrolled in after-school programs across the country.

It is our intent to work alongside Whitman staff with a common vision and goals for student success.”

Henry Piwowarek and Karen Kruger

THE COUPLE THAT VOLUNTEERS TOGETHER

Evan Taylor

TULSA NONPROFIT YOUTH AT HEART recently received a grant worth nearly $1 million over five years for work with students and parents at Whitman Elementary.

The grant is from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program of the U.S. Department of Education, which provides assistance to help students meet state and local performance standards and offers opportunities for academic enrichment.

Youth At Heart (YAH) facilitates after-school and summer programs for youth who live in Tulsa public housing and low-income apartment communities. It will use the grant funds to provide a comprehensive after-school program for up to 100 Whitman students,

Jennifer Doverspike

by MORGAN PHILLIPS

A recent trip with MotherRoad Travel.

HITCHING A RIDE

A new company, MotherRoad Travel, hopes to develop a daily commuter bus service from Tulsa to Oklahoma City.

MotherRoad Travel President Jennifer Doverspike and her husband, Adam, lived in the Washington, D.C., area for 12 years and witnessed the rise of budgetfriendly services such as BoltBus and MegaBus. After moving to Tulsa, they also saw the excitement around the Eastern Flyer passenger train service to Oklahoma City — and the disappointment when it was put on hold indefinitely.

“Our thought was, how can we offer this service so it is cheaper and still effective?” Doverspike says.

MotherRoad Travel, which started in February 2015, is testing interest in transit service by chartering Kincaid Coach Lines buses between Tulsa and Oklahoma City for Thunder home games.

Buses depart for weekday games from two locations: one in downtown Tulsa and one in south Tulsa. Weekend departures are from south Tulsa only.

Tickets are $40 for round-trip transportation; the price does not include a ticket to the basketball game. Riders can bring food and drinks on the buses, including alcoholic beverages.

“We just want to show people that this kind of transit works,” Doverspike says.

For more information, visit www.motherroadtravel.com. tþ

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PASSIONS

People, places and other things Tulsans love

Saving a species A Tulsa conservationist fights to protect elephants.

by BAILEY HELDMAR

14

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

John Shoemaker

A

t first glance, Tulsa seems to be an unusual location for a nonprofit devoted to ending elephant poaching.

However, the founder of the relatively new ElephantRescue. net, Phillip Hathaway, explains, “The people here are gregariously friendly. You can have a great conversation with a stranger at the grocery checkout. This makes it easy to spread the word.”

Hathaway, who grew up in Oklahoma City, circled the globe twice after spending time in the military and attending Oklahoma City University and the University of Kent in England. He moved to Tulsa to be near family.

Always an animal lover, he says elephants have a special place in his heart because they possess what he calls the “divine traits” of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control.”

He learned through online research in 2014 that elephants were in danger of extinction and was shocked to find how quickly the species was disappearing.

“We’ve lost 780,000 African elephants since 1980 to poachers,” he says. “There were 1.2 million African elephants in 1980 but only 420,000 in 2012.”

In response to these troubling statistics, he founded Elephant Rescue.net, whose mission is to ensure a safe, natural environment for all elephants. It became a 501(c)(3) in 2015.

Hathaway blames corrupt African leaders and the demand for ivory in southeast Asia for the elephant killings.

“China has 20 percent of the world’s population but only 7 percent of the arable land,” he says. “So, they must import raw material, and they’ve quite literally colonized

Through online research, Tulsan Phillip Hathaway discovered the troubling impact of poaching on African elephants. In response, he launched the nonprofit ElephantRescue.net in 2015.

Africa for this purpose (they barter mining, oil drilling and highway and infrastructure work in Africa for raw material). This gives them a feeling that they can take what they want, including elephant tusks.”

Hathaway hopes to put an end to this dangerous trend with ElephantRescue.net.

“To stop the killing, it is essential to destroy all stockpiles of ivory immediately for they always go to market, which in turn, drives demand and more killing,” he says.

This is part of the plan Hathway has developed to prevent elephant extinction; the entire plan is avail-

able on the group’s website. He says efforts will begin in Botswana, which is home to half of the African elephant herds.

“We will support Botswana through reforestation, water conservation, herd management and other ways” in cooperation with the government, he explains. “From Botswana, our work will spread to elephant ranges in other countries. We also hope to manage and purchase land bordering elephant ranges to control unprecedented human encroachment.”

Hathway, who is Elephant Rescue.net’s sole staff member, says

the organization has raised a little more than $2,000. However, saving a species could cost tens of millions of dollars and could take decades.

There are several ways Tulsans can support ElephantRescue.net, including attending a black-tie fundraiser planned for September.

Volunteers also are needed. But the most helpful way, he says, is to make a tax-deductible donation on the group’s website.

“Phillip’s dedication to the welfare and preservation of elephants as naturally wild and free to roam the many miles they travel each day is without question,” says ElephantRescue.net Advisory Board Member Donald Feare, an animal welfare attorney in Arlington, Texas, who has worked with Hathaway for the past year.

“He has taken on a David vs. Goliath battle worldwide even knowing he is fighting an uphill battle.”

Hathaway has another business, which is based on a book he wrote, that helps students discover their talents. Although he has only traveled to Africa once, he expects to eventually live there half the year. He has spent the past 14 months trying to get ElephantRescue.net off the ground from Tulsa.

“Much of the job of rescuing is done by faxes, emails, letters from attorneys, etc., that I do right from my little home office,” he says.

“Traveling is costly and often is not the best use of the elephants’ money — airfare and two weeks of accommodations for one person in Africa costs about $7,500.”

Although elephant conservation has many obstacles, Hathaway is confident that ElephantRescue. net will help end poaching.

“It is a long, hard war,” he says, “but we shall win.” tþ

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CONVERSATIONS

Tulsans’ points of view

NUMBERS

More immigration info

4

Areas comprise YWCA’s Department of Immigrant and Refugee Services: low-cost, reliable immigration services; a refugee department that interfaces with the federal government; interpretation and translation services; and English language services and Project Citizenship.

Project Citizenship is a government-sponsored program that helps people prepare for the naturalization process.

Evan Taylor

For details on U.S. refugee resettlement, visit www.refugees.org/about-us/faqs.html.

Christy Huff recently left the business world to become YWCA Tulsa’s director of immigrant and refugee services.

Welcome home Christy Huff advocates for immigrants and refugees.

by ANNA BENNETT

Y

WCA Tulsa’s new director of immigrant and refugee services, Christy Huff, speaks out for those she serves, and has proven herself with gusto over the past five months.

The Missouri native talks in a heartland drawl peppered with vocabulary alluding to her business background — an impression that belies her flawless Spanish, honed from years of working in Latin America.

What drew you to Latin America? There was a young lady who came to my high school in Fair Grove, Missouri. She was from Mexico. I befriended her because she looked like she needed a friend. The more she talked about her culture and the closer friends we became, the more interested I was in learning about other cultures, especially coming from such a land-locked, small town — a place where there were only 50 people in my graduating class.

After getting your MBA and working in so many facets of business — sales and marketing, human resources, management, tourism, the medical device industry — did you ever expect you’d be working for a nonprofit? No, no. But then again, I’m kind of one of those people that doesn’t necessarily plan every step of my career.

16

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

“Refugee” is a bit of a loaded word right now.

What are some misconceptions about refugees that you’ve encountered? There seems to be a misconception about refugees being lazy. I find that to be quite the opposite.

They don’t have to apply for work permits.

Refugees, the moment they step foot on our soil, have permission to work.

I think there’s a big misconception about the reasons they come here. They are escaping their country for some reason. I find them to be extremely thankful and compassionate.

You came into this position at a dramatic time, as far as backlash against refugees.

The YWCA directors were talking about that earlier. There has been a lot of rhetoric in the news, and honestly here we have been fortunate. We have people who support us. Not that it hasn’t affected us per se, because we all watch the news — we just really don’t feel it has been negative in our day-to-day world, which is wonderful.

Has this field been an adjustment? Being around people who are so passionate and compassionate toward others is sort of a different world because I come from corporate America.

And I’m still learning. I feel extremely green. But I feel less green than the day I started, so that’s good. tþ

99

Percent of people who go through Project Citizenship pass their citizenship test on the first try.

5

Years of U.S. residence (3, if married to a U.S. citizen), at least 3 years holding a Green Card (if married to a U.S. citizen) and 0 criminal convictions are required for an individual to participate in Project Citizenship. Participants also must be able to read, write and speak basic English and have a basic understanding of U.S. history and government.

63

Countries of origin were represented among the department’s clients in 2014.

1

Other nonprofit, Catholic Charities, works in tandem with the refugee department to address the “front-end” needs of refugees such as arrival, housing and cash assistance.

5,000 95

Burmese refugees (approximately) call Tulsa home.

Percent of Tulsa’s refugee population is Burmese. The rest is split among other groups, including Iraqis, Ukrainians, Russians and Iranians.

6 8 $476.5 million

Percent of Oklahoma residents are foreign-born.

Percent of the state’s workforce is comprised of foreign-born workers.

Is the annual revenue from immigrant-owned businesses in Oklahoma.

Sources: YWCA Tulsa, www.okpolicy.org, www.immigrationpolicy.org, The Partnership for a New American Economy

Chris Teel and Dan Schaudt

A BETTER

CHOICE

AT MEMORIAL

PARK

Tulsa Area Funeral Pricing Comparison

Pricing as reported on the Federal Trade Commission’s Mandated Price List (pricing subject to change without notice)

$6,000

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$5,000 $4,305

$5,045

$4,890

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$3,315

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$2,000 $1,000 0

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APPLAUSE

Tulsans receive honors and accolades

Spirit of giving Dave Hentschel comes full circle.

by MORGAN PHILLIPS

A

Sandra Lewis, executive director of the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless, and Dave Hentschel, 2016 Heart of Henry Award recipient. The annual Heart of Henry event is a major fundraiser for the Day Center.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

Evan Taylor

Feb. 6 — Fourth annual Heart of Henry 6:30 p.m. Southern Hills Country Club, 2636 E. 61st St. Honors Dave Hentschel, 2016 Heart of Henry Award recipient, and Katie Eller, 2016 Heart of Henry Youth Philanthropy Award recipient. $250, tickets; $5,000-$25,000, sponsorships. Benefits Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless. Contact Sharon Catalano, 918-556-6425 or scatalano@tulsadaycenter.org, or visit www.tulsadaycenter.org.

phone call in the 1980s introduced Dave Hentschel to a Tulsa organization he would support for the next three decades.

“Henry Zarrow called me on a work day around noon,” Hentschel remembers. “He wanted to know if I had a truck that would handle hauling a bunch of things. I had no idea what he was talking about.”

The two men proceeded to a south Tulsa Walmart, where they overflowed seven carts with approximately 1,000 cold weather items such as hats, gloves and socks for clients at the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless.

“When we left, we still had a little space left in the truck, so Henry said, ‘Let’s go to Sam’s,’” Hentschel says.

The shopping trip became an annual tradition for Hentshel and Zarrow, who previously had done the shopping on his own.

“I would get a call on the first cold day of the year from Dave or Mr. Henry,” says Sandra Lewis, executive director of the Day Center.

“They would call me and say, ‘We’re shopping. We’ll see you in 30 minutes or an hour.’”

Zarrow’s declining health eventually required that he turn over his role to Hentschel’s late wife, Clydella. But Zarrow remained the inspiration.

“It was never Dave and Clydella doing it,” Hentschel says. “We were only doing it because Henry couldn’t.”

Zarrow died in 2014, one year after the longtime philanthropist and Day Center supporter became

the namesake of the center’s Heart of Henry event and award.

The annual fundraiser recognizes one individual each year who has dedicated his or her life to bettering the Tulsa community by helping others and sharing the philanthropic vision Zarrow embraced. Past Heart of Henry Award recipients are Walt Helmerich III, Chester Cadieux and David L. Boren.

Hentschel, who is on the Day Center’s advisory board, actually came up with the name for Heart of Henry, Lewis says. And despite his reluctance, Hentschel will receive the 2016 award on Feb. 6 (see box).

The fundraiser also will recognize Tulsan Katie Eller, founder of Lemon-Aid, which raised more than $350,000 for the Day Center over seven years. She will receive the first Heart of Henry Youth Philanthropy Award.

If people compare him to Zarrow, Hentschel is quick to correct them.

“The truth is, I’ve never known anyone like him,” he says. “He was my mentor, not only in terms of business and ethics, but also in terms of personal life and the compassion that he and Anne Zarrow had for people who were disadvantaged.”

To Lewis and others, it’s clear the close friends of more than 50 years had more than a few similarities.

In keeping with Zarrow’s tradition, Hentschel and his wife, Susie Collins Hentschel, continue to annually donate two SUVs full of items for Day Center clients.

“Dave really just goes about doing good things very quietly,” Lewis says. tþ

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CAUSE AND EFFECT

Tulsa-area nonprofits

The meaning of music An after-school program is saving Tulsa’s youth, one song at a time.

by JAMIE RICHERT JONES

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

Evan Taylor

I

t’s no secret that arts in public schools are at risk — and so are many of the students.

One local organization is on a mission to bring music back to local schools, while helping students who might need music the most.

Harmony Project Tulsa (HPT) is an after-school mentoring program that provides violins, cellos and music lessons to more than 50 local students ages 4-10.

“They have a place to stay until after dinner,” says Kathy Rad, HPT program director and one of two master teaching artists for the program. “They get all their homework done, practice on their instruments and many get nourishment free of charge.”

Started in 2001 by Dr. Margaret Martin in Los Angeles, Harmony Project has served thousands of low-income youth and has been awarded numerous accolades, including two awards from President Barack Obama.

Tulsa became one of seven Harmony Project affiliate cities about two years ago, when Rad was education outreach director for the Tulsa Symphony. She was alarmed by the number of music programs being cut in local schools and launched HPT in response.

“She is one of the most dedicated musicians — but dedicated to kids,” says Kathy LaFortune, HPT board member.

The reasons behind Rad’s passion are the life-changing benefits of programs like HPT that have little to do with music itself.

Music programs are proven to improve students’ academic per-

Harmony Project Tulsa’s master teaching artists, Kathy Rad and Michael Nicholson, teach after-school music lessons to students ages 4-10.

Studies have shown that programs like HPT improve children’s cognitive abilities and their social, psychological and academic skills. formance, according to a 2012 report from the National Center for Education Statistics.

A study by Dr. Nina Kraus, principal investigator at the Auditory Neuroscience Lab at Northwestern University, found that over time, learning music forges the development of the brain and nervous system in a way that improves students’ ability to learn and comprehend language.

Music also improves a student’s ability to listen in a noisy environment and decipher important information.

“There are so many benefits academically from doing this, and, of course, the social benefits,” Rad says. “We’re not out to make

Carnegie Hall musicians, but some of them could be.”

There is no shortage of interest in HPT; Rad says there is a perpetual waiting list.

“Every school I go to actually wants to have this program at their school, too. They want it. We just have to find a way to make it happen,” says Rad, who also teaches orchestra at Will Rogers High School and four elementary schools. “We’d like this to be replicated in as many places as possible. First, in every school in Tulsa Public Schools as an after-school program.”

The challenge is funding.

HPT is supported, in part, by the Tulsa Symphony and the George

Kaiser Family Foundation. It is in the process of becoming a standalone nonprofit.

LaFortune, for one, believes the investment in HPT is essential.

“We have these underserved children who are not able to focus and not able to concentrate” because many times their basic needs are not met, she says. “They get behind early on, and they’re not able to catch up. What Harmony Project does through music is it forces the brain to listen to those around you, which improves social, psychological and academic skills.

“It is not just another music program. It’s a mentoring program that utilizes music to help these kids develop their brains.” tþ

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THE WAY WE WERE

A peek into Tulsa’s past

The 3300 block of South Peoria Avenue looking southwest in 1954 (left) and today. Guy Scroggs owned Brookside Drug Store and is believed to have coined the district’s name.

75 years of change Tulsa’s Brookside district continues to thrive.

I

t all started with a man named Guy Scroggs. “Brookside” was coined in 1940 when he opened a shop called Brookside Drug Store.

It is believed that the brook referenced Crow Creek, which crosses Peoria Avenue at East 32nd Street, according to the Brookside Neighborhood Association.

Although its boundaries are debatable, city maps refer to Brookside as midtown Tulsa from East 31st to 51st streets and the Arkansas River to Lewis Avenue.

In the 1940s and ’50s, Brookside was a family-friendly place. Scroggs gave free ice cream to Eliot Elementary School students. The Brook Theater opened in 1945 and is now The Brook restaurant.

Then, in the 1960s and ’70s, Brookside became known as the

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

Restless Ribbon, brimming with teenagers. It was later a streak of clubs and bars.

In 1979, new development began when Nelson Kifer opened Stonehorse, known today as the Consortium shopping center.

Now, Brookside is a neighborhood, a dining destination, a place to shop for everything from eyeglasses to groceries, and home to parks, churches and Tulsa’s first post office.

“I tease that I have a 3-mile radius, but it’s pretty true,” says Janine Morales, a State Farm insurance agent who has lived and worked in Brookside for 25 years.

“I think a lot of people think Brookside is 31st to 41st, but it’s not,” Morales says. “It’s actually 31st to 51st, so I’d really like to see

more activity and advancement from 41st to 51st and keep that tied in together with the heart of Brookside.”

Henry Aberson, CEO of Abersons clothing store and Aberson Development, is another longtime Brookside business owner.

“When I was in high school in Tulsa, Brookside was the Restless Ribbon,” he says. “People used to cruise up and down and go to Pennington’s Drive-in. My feeling way back then (when Abersons moved to Brookside in 1986) was I’d like to grow with that customer.

“When they were younger, they cruised the Restless Ribbon. When they’re older, they’re eating in nice restaurants and buying high-quality things.”

Aberson’s Center 1 facility has

transformed northern Brookside.

It houses Lululemon, Edit., Mondo’s and other businesses.

Aberson recently purchased the Consortium and will renovate it to match Center 1.

Aberson Development also encompasses the space that is home to national retailer Urban Outfitters.

“Back in the old days, Brookside was really Main Street,” Aberson says. “In a new, modern way, I’m trying to bring a new version of Main Street back to Tulsa.”

Today’s Brookside is a mix of mature and modern. Weber’s Root Beer Stand, which opened in 1933, still serves its 14-ingredient secret recipe root beer, but just twotenths of a mile down Peoria sits the new site of national grocery chain Trader Joe’s. tþ

Photo on left courtesy Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Historical Society

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23

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Highlighting local talent

Musical men

Two Tulsans finish the season as professional singers with Tulsa Opera.

by JUDY LANGDON

Tell us how you were chosen as Tulsa Opera studio artists.

SC: My path was a little different than others. I was performing the role of Gregorio in their production of “Romeo and Juliet” last season and was also singing some rehearsals as Friar Laurence. I had previously sung with (Tulsa Opera Artistic Director) Kostis Protopapas, and he was really impressed with my development. When the person he had originally hired to be the baritone in the studio artist program took another job, he offered me the spot.

ED: I auditioned to become Tulsa Opera’s Young Artist in Philadelphia.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

When did you realize you had the opera bug?

SC: There were probably a few moments for me, but the one that really stands out was when I went to a large conference for voice teachers at Texas and Oklahoma universities as a college sophomore. There were lots of competitions going on all at the same time, and you could go and sit in on any of the auditions you liked.

So, I did. And for the first time I was introduced to a vast amount of repertoire and all kinds of different voices. It was fascinating to me.

That was the big moment where I knew a life spent singing and listening to singers would be a rich and rewarding one for me.

ED: When I was 13, I was in the Tulsa Children’s Chorus. With that group I auditioned for a role in “Noye’s Fludde,” by Benjamin Britten. I got the role of Sem, Noah’s son. This was with a decent-sized orchestra, and I was blown away by what could be accomplished with music.

There’s a sequence when the rain begins where Britten strings up mugs to make the sound of the raindrops. From then on, I was fairly single-minded in what I wanted to do.

After the Tulsa Opera season ends in April, what’s next?

SC: This summer, I will sing the role of Angelotti in “Tosca” with Central City Opera in Colorado.

ED: I don’t really know what my next place will be. Audition season is from the end of November to January. Hopefully that will yield promising things for the summer.

And if possible I’d love to spend another year here in Tulsa, surrounded by the friends and supporters who’ve been around me the past 32 years. tþ

Elliott Deasy and Stephen Clark are two of five Tulsa Opera studio artists for 2015-16.

Studio artists are young, professional singers who live in Tulsa from September through April and perform roles for Tulsa Opera productions.

TulsaPeople.com VIDEO See Deasy and Clark practice their impressive repertoire.

Evan Taylor

T

ulsans Stephen Clark, 28, and Elliott Deasy, 32, are among Tulsa Opera’s five studio artists for 2015-16.

Each year, Tulsa Opera contracts four to six studio artists — young, professional singers — to perform Tulsa Opera roles and outreach functions, visit schools with the “Opera on Tour!” program and comprise the cast for the annual studio artist production. Studio artists receive housing in Tulsa, a travel allowance and a weekly stipend.

Clark, a bass-baritone, graduated from Nathan Hale High School, Northeastern State University and Oklahoma City University. He has appeared in major roles with Fort Worth Opera, Chautauqua Opera and Seagle Music Colony in New York and Sarasota Opera in Florida.

Deasy, a lyric tenor, graduated from Union High School and the University of Tulsa. He has appeared with the Bronx Opera in New York and at Costa Rica’s Jovenes Cantantes.

Both will appear in Tulsa Opera’s upcoming production of “A Streetcar Named Desire”; Clark as the doctor; Deasy as the young collector.

March 4, 6 — “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Andre Previn 7:30 p.m., Friday; 2:30 p.m., Sunday. Chapman Music Hall, Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Third St. Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Tennessee Williams.

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ROOTS

Checking in with former Tulsans

Jane Walton The ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ of leadership advising is an author, business consultant.

by ASHLEY VAN HORNE

V

Why did you start Jane Walton Consulting? HR is the eyes and ears of an organization, so early in my career, I saw the managers’ side of the story and the employees’ side of the story ... the reality is somewhere in between. I saw how decisions impacted people really profoundly. A leader can really lift people up or really destroy people.

I saw first-hand how a not-sogreat situation can quickly become a bad situation and, worse, a chronic situation. The brain sees the workplace as a social system, so we must treat it as a social system. My philosophy is that employees need to understand the business, and the business needs to understand its employees — and they both need to understand the customer.

Connecting those three things is critical.

In your book, you compare a workplace to an ecosystem, and a disengaged employee to a jellyfish. How did you come up with the concept? If we look at 26

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

Courtesy Floc5

ITAL STATS: She backpacked through Europe before earning a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Tulsa; holds a master’s degree in human resources management with an emphasis in organizational development from Webster University.

NOW: Described as the “ObiWan Kenobi” of leadership advising; she launched Jane Walton Consulting in 2010; authored her first book, “Why are the Jellyfish Taking Over?” in 2014; travels nationally giving keynote speeches about her innovative business management concepts; lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband, Parke Randall.

Business management consultant Jane Walton addresses “jellyfish” in the workplace, another term for disengaged employees, in her 2014 book (above). the balance of the ecosystem, and what happens when things start getting out of balance and why, there’s innate wisdom there. I went to the beach with my sisters and we splashed around in the ocean … We got back to the beach, and I heard someone talking about jellyfish in the water. I thought, if I had known about jellyfish, I would

have never gone out and been as carefree and fun. Jellyfish can ruin a perfectly good day at the beach, and, in the workplace, jellyfish can ruin a perfectly good day at work.

What is the most common reason for jellyfish, and how do you recommend solving it? Executives not involving people. They’ll

only involve a small group of people, and often times it’s the same group of people. A lot of times leaders are managing up — spending all of their energy managing to their superiors, and not enough time connecting and engaging with the people below them. That’s why what I call the DISH model is so important; the group needs Direction, Information, Support, and (the chance to be) Heard. What I tell leaders is that if something isn’t going great with their team, if people are starting to disengage, complain, be angry — one of those areas in their ecosystem is getting out of balance.

Your father, John Brooks Walton, was a renowned architect in Tulsa.

How did he shape your career?

I grew up with the antithesis of a jellyfish. My father was incredibly passionate about work and had a very resourceful, can-do attitude.

My dad is at a retirement community now in Tulsa and is even still speaking about architecture. I saw a video a couple of weeks ago from my brother-in-law of a room full of wheelchairs, and my father standing at the front of the room speaking to everyone. tþ

Catching up with former athletes and coaches

POSTGAME

Wearing the ‘Blue and Gold’ Dave Rader, University of Tulsa quarterback, head coach and now fan

by DOUG EATON

Evan Taylor | Inset: Courtesy TU Athletic Department

I

t’s not often that a Division I football player grows up, plays quarterback and becomes a head coach all at his alma mater in his hometown, but Dave Rader did just that for the University of Tulsa.

Athletically inclined, Rader excelled in football, basketball and baseball at Will Rogers High School, not far from the TU campus.

“I always wanted to go to Will Rogers and play for the ‘Blue and Gold’ because I had cousins who went there,” Rader recalls.

His coaches at Rogers planted the seeds that would later become the foundation for much of his philosophy in college coaching.

“Bill Eubanks (football), Wendell Wilkinson (basketball) and Gordon Morgan (baseball) all helped shape my approach to coaching, and I took some ideas from each,” Rader explains.

Despite receiving interest from several big name programs, including Southern Methodist University, Kansas, and Navy and Air Force, he opted to take advantage of a scholarship offer at TU, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

Quarterbacking four years of Division 1 football while majoring in such a challenging field is not for the faint of heart, but Rader is eager to share his success.

“I had tremendous support from my professors and help from some teammates who knew a lot more about engineering than I did,” he says.

Rader started at quarterback as he led the Golden Hurricane to one of its all-time best records in 1978.

Tulsa went 9-2 as Rader threw for 1,683 yards and 14 touchdowns.

He ended his college career with 2,674 yards passing and still holds the TU record for fewest career pass interceptions (nine) with a

RIGHT: University of Tulsa Head Coach Dave Rader and players celebrate the Golden Hurricane’s 28-17 victory over San Diego State in the 1991 Freedom Bowl played in Anaheim, California. minimum of 100 passing attempts.

His collegiate success caught the eye of the San Diego Chargers, who drafted Rader in the 11th round of the 1979 NFL Draft.

After the Chargers released him, he signed with the New York Giants and made their active roster for the last eight games of the season.

Then, the coaching bug bit him.

His first stop was the University of Alabama, on a staff desperately fighting the ghost of the departed legend Paul “Bear” Bryant.

Next was Mississippi State University, where at age 29, he was the youngest offensive coordinator in the highly respected and ultra-competitive Southeastern Conference.

TU came calling in 1987 and named him assistant coach/quarterbacks coach.

One year later, the Golden Hurricane elevated Rader to head coach.

At age 31, he was the youngest head coach in Division I football at the time.

Rader went on to coach more seasons (12) and more games (130) than any other coach in TU history.

Despite an overall record of 4980-1, Rader can claim victories over some prestigious programs — the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Missouri and Iowa.

Along the way, he helped to produce four All-Americans, three First-Team Academic All-Americans and 11 NFL draft picks.

His 1991 Golden Hurricane squad finished with a 10-2 record, a Freedom Bowl victory over San Diego State and ranked 21st in both

the final Coaches’ Poll and the final AP poll.

As one might expect, Rader’s specialty was quarterbacks. Not just coaching them, but identifying, recruiting and developing them.

The results speak for themselves. Seven of his quarterbacks from his various coaching stints went on to play professionally: T.J. Rubley, Gus Frerotte, Brodie Croyle, Mike Shula, Walter Lewis, John Parker Wilson and John Fitzgerald.

Since leaving coaching, Rader has worked in the energy industry.

In 2011, he fulfilled a longtime desire to write and publish a book.

“Missing Page from the Playbook: Fundamentals Behind the Physical, Mental and Emotional Elements of Commitment” discusses his perspective and philosophy on the importance of meeting one’s commitments in all aspects of one’s life.

The book is available at Amazon. com.

The charitable-minded Rader has taken steps to help his fellow Tulsans by engaging in various civic, religious and educational endeavors.

Being on the board of directors of Tulsa’s John 3:16 Mission for two years taught Rader the importance of caring for others. He also serves as a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Tulsa and on the board of the Will Rogers High School Community Foundation.

Rader recently tossed his hat into the political ring by announcing his candidacy for state senate representing District 39. The primary is June 28.

“Tulsa has been so good to me, I want to repay it, and I figure representing it would be a good first step,” he explains. tþ TulsaPeople.com

27

MUSINGS

Thoughts about everyday life

I love you, sweetie

by CONNIE CRONLEY

I

love February because it’s not March.

March brings the first day of spring and the urge to leap like lambs from the garden centers to our gardens. March is the cusp of digging, planting, mowing and strenuous effort. March — unless we are blessed by a heavy snow — is the threat of hard, outdoor work.

February is a time for nesting, dreaming of luxurious gardens and cooking. These short, dark, cold days are the times for making simmering stews, baking bread that lifts the whole house with its aroma and stirring up decadent desserts.

Unless you’re the laziest gal in town, as I am, and then this is the time to read about cooking: food in history, literary menus, celebrity cookbooks and mesmerizing recipes. This is the time to call people who like to cook and remind them how much you admire their culinary talents.

Inspired by Valentine’s Day, I started reading about sugar.

Sugar is rooted in commerce. In the sixth century B.C., sugar was a deep secret in India, where sugarcane was known as “the reed that gives honey without bees.” Then, Persia invaded India, and the Arab peoples invaded Persia in the A.D. seventh century, and then Arab’s spice trade took sugar to Sicily and Spain, and then Crusades of the A.D. 11th century ... Oh, you see what a tangled web it is — but the bottom line is that sugar was first recorded in England in A.D. 1099.

Skip, skip, skip to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, which began in 1558. She had such a serious sweet tooth and such a fear of dentistry, she suffered from frequent and severe toothaches. The Elizabethans became mad for sugar, which by

28

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

in 1983 when the Ballet Guild produced a cookbook titled “Nutcracker Sweets.” This was my contribution, with permission, from the popular Chalkboard restaurant: BAVARIAN FLUFF 1 ¼ cup flour ¾ cup butter 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 8 ounces cream cheese 1 cup powdered sugar 1 large carton Cool Whip 3 cups milk 1 small package regular vanilla pudding mix 1 small package regular chocolate pudding mix

then was readily available in large loaves. Before, sugar had been scarce and expensive; honey was the cheaper popular sweetener.

With sugar in abundance, England became known for its new sweets. Elizabethan cooks preserved fruits, nuts and flowers in sugar. They molded marzipan into little castles, animals and soldiers. The queen particularly liked candied fruits and marzipan. She carried candy and comfits with her, and she often had a bite of marzipan melting in her mouth. For one New Year’s holiday, she was given a chessboard and a model of St. Paul’s Cathedral made out of marzipan.

By the time she was 60 and nearing the end of her life, Queen

Elizabeth had lost so many teeth — and the remaining ones were yellowed, decayed and uneven — some courtiers had a hard time understanding her when she spoke.

Our love affair with sugar continues, and so does our troubled craving. Sailors of Columbus’ time, who spent long voyages eating diets heavy in salt and starch, developed a craving for sugar.

Now, some studies suggest sugar cravings can indicate a thyroid imbalance, adrenaline overload or estrogen/progesterone fluctuations.

So can stress, fatigue or eating too many potato chips. Ah, the quest for sugar/salt balance.

Which brings me to the recipe for one of my favorite desserts. I was working at Tulsa Ballet Theater

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

With a mixer, cream together the flour and butter. Add the nuts.

Press into the bottom of a 9-by-13 pan and bake for 15-20 minutes.

With the mixer, cream together the cream cheese and powdered sugar. Add ½ carton of Cool Whip and blend well. Spread on the crust.

In a pan, combine the milk and pudding mixes and cook until thickened. Cool slightly. Spread pudding over the cream cheese layer and over the entire dish with the remaining Cool Whip. Garnish with chocolate curls or nuts.

Serves 12-15, if you care to share.

Happy February. We’ll work off the calories in March. tþ

Connie Cronley is a columnist, an author of three books and a public radio commentator. She is executive director of Iron Gate soup kitchen and food pantry.

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ADMINISTRATION Working professionals in the Tulsa area have the opportunity to advance in their career by earning an internationally respected Oklahoma State University MBA degree at OSU-Tulsa. Our MBA students bring a richness to classroom discussions from their work experiences, enhancing the learning environment. OSU’s MBA graduates are highly recruited according to a ranking from corporate recruiters in the Wall Street Journal.

With in-class and online options available, students can tailor the program to fit their schedule. Whether you are looking for career advancement, a higher salary or the instant credibility that comes with an OSU degree, earning an MBA at OSU-Tulsa can help you get there. Learn more about the OSU MBA program at www.osuintulsa.com.

Downtown Tulsa

918-GET-HERE

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Art Show And Sale March 5th and 6th 2016 Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday 11am-4pm Renaissance Tulsa Hotel

www.natureworks.org

50 Nationally Renowned Artists

Conserving wildlife and nature through art.

NATUREWORKS MONUMENTS PROGRAM Each monument honors an individual or group that has voluntarily promoted strong wildlife conservation values and been responsible for important wildlife successes.

Monument Patrons provide the financial support required for the success of this program. Names of Patrons are inscribed on the bronze plaque that is displayed on the base of the monument.

The NatureWorks Monuments Program is only possible with the generous support of these Patrons.

If you want to give to the monuments program, contact Brett Biery at brett@huntercompaniesinc.com.

ABOUT US NatureWorks cherishes wildlife and shares its values with others. This non-profit organization assists in the development and conservation of wildlife preserves, introduces wildlife into new habitats, and provides education opportunities for adults and children on the values of sharing our homeland with wildlife.

NatureWorks, Inc. originated and resides exclusively in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There is no national or other organization affiliation. There are no paid employees and all management and activities are provided by volunteers.

The wildlife projects NatureWorks supports are selected by NatureWorks' Tulsa based board of directors. Some wildlife projects are local, some statewide and some are national level. Criteria is based on the value the project will create for wildlife.

PO Box 52551 • Tulsa, OK 74152 • www.natureworks.org

A PARK GROWS IN TULSA A GATHERING PLACE – PART 6

Cimarex employees Jose Severino, senior reservoir engineer; Dana Nichols, manager of production administration; Tom Jorden, president and CEO; Mandi Ammann, facilities coordinator; and Joe Anderson, manager of land administration.

‘Living gift’

Energy company gives $5 million for park programming despite downturn.

THE ELEMENT: PARK PROGRAMMING

As construction continues on A Gathering Place’s more tangible elements, plans are already underway for park programming.

“The park will have beautiful aesthetics, but it is the programming that will be the life of the park,” says Jeff Stava, executive director and trustee of Tulsa’s Gathering Place LLC. The all-ages programming will comprise five categories: cultural, arts and crafts, health/wellness/physical activities, nature/science/gardens, and annual events and festivals.

T H E D O N O R: CIMAREX ENERGY CO.

Cimarex is an oil and gas exploration and production company with operations across the Midwest, including Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. But it chose to make its largest single philanthropic gift of $5 million to endow programming for A Gathering Place for Tulsa.

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This, during an energy sector downturn.

“The vision of the George Kaiser Family Foundation and team for A Gathering Place was very persuasive,” says Tom Jorden, Cimarex president and CEO. “Following the example of some of our peers in participation was very meaningful to us.”

Jorden admits the economic climate is challenging but says Cimarex has remained relatively healthy. Tulsa is home to the company’s largest office, which employs more than 400 people.

“We viewed we had the where-with-all to make a statement” that would express Cimarex’s gratitude to Tulsa, Jorden says. “There is no more meaningful time to make the statement than when things are tough.”

And so, Cimarex and A Gathering Place will develop a programming series that will honor Cimarex’s Tulsa employees and all of the people of Tulsa, and afford all children and families the opportunity to play, learn and explore in the city’s largest park.

“We’re not so interested in having our name on buildings,” Jorden says. “This is more of a ‘living gift.’” tþ

Rendering courtesy Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates

by MORGAN PHILLIPS

SITE PROGRESS THIS MONTH Complete piers and foundations for the ONEOK Boathouse, Williams Cos. Lodge, Water Mountain, Mist Mountain and the maintenance building. Begin each building’s steel infrastructure.

Finish drilling and pouring piers and begin foundations and stem walls that support the land bridges.

Continue north and south bumpout construction, including armoring of the shoreline.

Continue sitewide dirt work, including stabilization of the slopes throughout the elevation changes of the park.

Finish detailed tree pruning.

City of Tulsa to continue work on two major stormwater projects on north and east sides of site.

City of Tulsa to continue upgrading water and sewer lines on west side of Riverside Drive.

City of Tulsa to continue reconstruction of Riverside Drive on north end of site.

Editor’s note: Construction plans subject to change.

For more information, visit www.agatheringplacefortulsa.com.

A rendering of the completed park from an aerial view.

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Farewell E. 21st St. Petty’s original store location at 1829

Store Manager Mike

Griffeth and Owners

Maureen and Scott Pe

tty

Another icon lost Petty’s closes its doors this month.

T

T  J   Petty’s Fine Foods would close its doors in February created immediate emotion from Tulsans living in midtown … and beyond.

Many openly struggled with the thought of our city losing another iconic, locally-owned retail store. Other favorites lost include Miss Jackson’s in January after 106 years in business; Renberg’s in 1998, 85 years; Trippets, 2015, 78 years; and Steve’s Sundry, 2013, after 66 years. Each was a store with a loyal following and a deep anchor in our city’s history.

After the Petty’s announcement, social media predictably lit up with comments, including: “What a huge loss for Tulsa! Their butchers are without equal in this city. Petty’s has long been the go-to store for anything I couldn’t find elsewhere, and they have been good corporate citizens and given back to this city.”

“I’m really going to miss it. I’ll bet I’m in there four times a week.”

“I always thought Petty’s was a good local brand name. There is a lot of goodwill in the Petty name.”

“Great, another Tulsa tradition going away.

What is it with this town — out with the old and in with the new. I’m a fourth generation Tulsan and it appears Tulsa is losing its sense of community.”

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by JIM LANGDON “Petty’s is truly the only place in town where real butchers know how to trim meat to perfection. Kids can go in and get a free cookie.

Their catering arrangements are fabulous.

Tulsa is losing a member of its family. Truly a sad day for Tulsa.”

And this one from Oklahoma City: “Petty’s was a living version of our old Kamp’s store in Oklahoma City. The old-style floors and the home-style service. The great German foods and the excellent meats. Maybe Petty’s can do like Kamp’s did and just open a small deli or meat market.”

The Petty’s store was established in February 1945 by L.G. Rowan and Robert D. Petty, each the grandfather of current owner Scott Petty. The business opened at 1829 E. 21st St. — the northwest corner of East 21st Street and South Wheeling Avenue — under the name Rowan & Petty Food Market.

The two partners financed their new store by pooling their savings of $750 each and borrowing $25,000 from a bank and $2,500 from Mrs. Bailey W. Vinson, a store customer. Several store customers prepaid grocery purchases for up to a year to help capitalize the new business.

During the 1940s and ’50s, Rowan & Petty established its reputation as a fine specialty food store offering charge accounts, delivery

service, quality meats and outstanding customer service. The store prospered. In 1957 Robert J. Petty, son of the co-founder, joined the business after service in the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command, and became an industry leader. Son Scott Petty joined the business in 1972 following his graduation from Oklahoma State University and then U.S. Army service in Vietnam as a combat helicopter pilot. He and wife Maureen purchased the business in 1985.

“Maureen’s launching and managing of what would become a very successful catering operation out of the store was a key contributor to our success,” Scott notes.

Longtime customers and observers of the seven-decade-old business seemed to recognize and appreciate Petty’s strict adherence to the store’s original mission of providing quality products and excellent service. Petty’s obtained longtime success despite being in a retail business challenged by high operating costs, low margins and plenty of competition for the food dollar.

“It’s been gratifying to be a part of the lives of so many families in Tulsa,” said Scott Petty.

“The loyalty of our customers and our dedicated employees the reason for the success and longevity of our company. It’s been a long run and we have so many memories.”

Petty said he and Maureen were “truly overwhelmed” by the response of people after the store closing announcement. tþ

PETTY’S TIMELINE 1944: Grocery manager L.G. Rowan and meat market manager Robert D. Petty, employees at Fikes Food Store, decide to pool their money and experience to open their own store.

1945: Rowan & Petty Food Market opens at 1829 E. 21st St. 1957: Co-founder Robert D. Petty retires and sells his share of the business to his son, Robert J. Petty.

1969: Co-founder L.G. Rowan retires from the business.

1972: Store moves from original location to 1964 Utica Square. Scott Petty, son of Robert J., joins the business.

1975: Brad Petty, son of Robert J., joins the business and serves as VP until 1991.

1985: Robert J. Petty retires and son Scott and wife Maureen Petty acquire full ownership.

1993: Maureen Petty adds a successful catering business.

2016: Scott Petty announces the closing of the store in February upon completion of Utica Square lease.

Scott Petty in a 1993 photo.

Rick BARtow things You know But cannot Explain

January 24 – April 24, 2016 Organized by the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon.

Support for the exhibition is provided by the Ford Family Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, Arlene Schnitzer, the Coeta and Donald Barker Changing Exhibitions Endowment, The Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts (a federal agency), the Ballinger Endowment, Philip and Sandra Piele and JSMA members.

Rick Bartow, Creation of Crow, 2014, acrylic on canvas, 36" x 48", Courtesy of the artist and Froelick Gallery, Portland, Oregon

Exhibition season title sponsor is the Sherman E. Smith Family Foundation.

Support also provided by Mervin Bovaird Foundation. TU is an EEO/AA Institution.

GILCREASE.ORG TulsaPeople.com

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W h at e v e r i s h a p p e n i n g i n y o u r l i f e ,

there’s a good chance your

college experience helped you get to where you are today. When you reflect on that tim e, you may be overwhelmed by fond memories — meeting your spouse, celebrating a big football win, pulling an all-nighter to study or laughing with people who became your lifelong friends. Today’s Oklahoma State University students are having the same experiences as they pursue bright orange futures.

Visit OSUgiving.com to lear n how you can be a par t of their journey.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE The push for STEM curriculum in schools is turning students into robot-building marvels.

by MARNIE FERNANDEZ

I

I’   S   Memorial High School. The gymnasium is filled with student teams with names such as the Flaming Watermelons, the Lego Ladies, I Chew Coffee and the Carnivorous Vegetarians. It seems more like walking into a school carnival than a scientific competition.

Welcome to the world of robotics, the latest darling of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. labor market has 5 million job openings, and 15 percent of those are in the tech field.

A growing number of jobs require STEM education, and there are a limited number of candidates to fill these positions. This shortage has led to a collective effort nationwide to incorporate more STEM learning in schools.

Robotics is STEM’s shining star. It provides visual, immediate results to students’ work, often with thrilling and active results. It also is a unique combination of many STEM-related skills and concepts.

“STEM curriculum focuses not only on the four disciplines in the acronym, but also highlights the wonderful cross-disciplinary realms that encompass so much of the world we face today, while building world-class problem-solving skills,” says Xan Black, program director for the Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance. “When students build robots together, they learn to persist in problem solving by becoming very good at critical and creative thinking.”

According to Black, many schools are incorporating robotics programs into their curriculum.

“When students build robots, they learn relevant skills — public speaking, coding, troubleshooting and, most importantly, teamwork,” she says. “All of these are taught in a way that fosters excitement and enthusiasm for their accomplishments.”

The various robotic teams will enter some

Union High School’s Ubotics team built the LEGO Mindstorm robot, which is used in the club’s outreach programs to mentor elementary students.

sort of competition in which the participants must build robots to accomplish certain tasks.

“Some of the parameters might include height, weight, materials used, time constraints or space constraints for the robots to work,” Black says. “Each competition is different, so the robots that are built vary in complexity and in the missions they must accomplish. Some robots can do everything from hitting a target with a Frisbee to stacking recycling bins.”

ROBOTICS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS University School, a private school for grades K-8, is one of several schools in the Tulsa area that offers robotics to elementary students as an extracurricular activity.

Reade Rex, a fourth-grader at University School, joined the robotics club at the beginning of the school year. The club meets after school and even on the weekends.

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“I signed up because it sounded pretty awesome to build robots,” Rex says, “but it has been just as awesome to figure out how to solve problems and learn how to work as a team.”

Rex is a member of the CHUDE team, which won second place in Strategy and Innovation at the state competition this past December with its invention of a compactor that keeps plastic bags from jamming recyclers.

According to Reade’s mother, Nancy Rink, it is not just about building robots.

“It has been exciting to see the changes in Reade since he started the program,” she says.

“At first, he was really frustrated because he didn’t understand a lot of the concepts, but the hands-on way they teach robotics has been a great lesson for him to learn how to solve problems on his own.”

By the way, CHUDE is an acronym for each team member’s favorite word.

And what are those words?

“COD (‘Call of Duty’), Hi, Unicorn, Death and Engineers,” Rex laughs.

MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SWIMMING ROBOTS

Emily Tran is the 11th grade electrical lead for Union High School’s Ubotics team.

Fourth-grade members of the University School’s robotics club, which is an after-school activity available to students.

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If building a robot seems like a daunting task, how about designing one that operates underwater?

For Memorial Junior High School’s Gateway to Technology pre-engineering class, it was no sweat. In fact, not only did students build a robot with underwater speed, maneuverability and retrieval skills, they also won first place in the SeaPerch Robotic Challenge.

SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program sponsored by the Office of Naval Research.

“This competition is a great example of the way we partner with other STEMrich institutions, industry, government and community organizations to accomplish our mission,” Black says.

“We partnered with the United States Naval Academy and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which brought in a team from Annapolis to train area educators to build SeaPerch, so that they could in turn work with students to build their own underwater remotely operated vehicle.”

The USNA and NOAA provided the tools for teachers to help students build remote operated vehicles from kits they provided, which were comprised of low-cost, easily accessible parts. They follow a curriculum that teaches basic engineering and science concepts with a marine engineering theme.

Stanley is the award-winning underwater robot designed by the Memorial Junior High Robotics Team. Last year he even made an appearance on KOTV Channel 6.

Union High School’s Ubotics team and co-sponsors Ernest Young (back row, striped shirt) and Tiffany American Horse (far right). The team has won several prestigous awards and made it to the FIRST National Championships several times.

“The SeaPerch competition encourages students to explore naval architecture and marine and ocean engineering concepts,” Black says. “The students are exposed to all the exciting careers possible in marine engineering.”

HIGH SCHOOL ROBOTICS AND BEYOND Union High School’s robotics team is aptly named Ubotics. Formed by a group of ambitious students in 2011, Ubotics has won several prestigious awards and made it to the national level of the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Championships several times. The program now has over 50 students.

“Union has a more comprehensive approach to STEM than most schools,” says Tiffany American Horse, computer science instructor and Ubotics co-sponsor. “We have adopted a district-wide STEM philosophy that encourages students to inquire, explore and problem-solve using our STEM design model.”

Ubotics participates in the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) every spring. After the “game,” or challenge, is revealed in January, the teams have six weeks to design and build a fully functional 120-pound robot. During those six weeks, experienced mentors come to the school to offer guidance as the team tackles the reallife engineering challenges of building their robot.

“Once the robot is built, it is locked into a plastic bag marked by a serial-numbered zip tie until we arrive at the competition,” American Horse says. “After the robot has been inspected, students have only a few hours

to make last-minute adjustments to prepare for competition.”

In FRC competitions, it’s not just about building the robot. Teams have to scout other robots, market their robot and get to know the competition. The teams compete in a bracketstyle playoff format in alliances of three versus three.

“Students are graded by their robot’s competition performance, award submissions, robot design and on the FRC’s philosophy’s of ‘cooperitition’ (a combination of cooperation and competition) and ‘gracious professionalism,’ which means competing teams must work together to score a bonus,” American Horse adds.

In addition to the work they do during the school year, Ubotics students also mentor hundreds of kids during the district-wide summer camps for coding and robotics.

“Dean Kamen, the founder of FIRST, describes it best,” American Horse explains.

“It’s the hardest fun they’ve ever had.”

OUTSIDE THE SCHOOLS Robotics programs aren’t just flourishing in the schools. Organizations such as the Girl Scouts have jumped on the robotics bandwagon, as well.

“A child’s learning does not stop at the school door,” Black says. “Girls Scouts is a wonderful place for STEM programming like robotics.

These types of informal learning settings are often interest-driven and not as constrained by time as in a formal setting like school.”

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma’s robotics program began in 2011 with two teams.

By 2015, the program grew into 16 teams and 85 participants.

“Our goal was to increase opportunities for girls to participate in STEM-focused activities,” says Lauren Zeligson, GSEOK communications/PR specialist. “Each team is coached by a Girl Scout volunteer and meets weekly from August through October in preparation for the competitions that take place in November and December.”

Kathryn Davis-Robb, program director for GSEOK, says they are helping Girl Scouts imagine a career that pays well and lets them be creative, all while changing the world for the better.

Most recently, two of the GSEOK teams won several awards at a local competition.

The LEGO Ladies won first place for their motorized creation that turns plastic bags into jump ropes, which they named “Sir Cranks-aLot.” Another team, the LEGO Queens, took home the second-place Robot Performance Award and first-place Championship Award.

The LEGO Queens then advanced to the state championship.

In March, the Girl Scout Troop 411 “Supergirls” team took their page-turning robot to the White House Science Fair. The group of kindergarten girls fashioned their robot from LEGOs and designed it to help people suffering from arthritis or paralysis.

According to Black, these robotics programs will help prepare students for the real world.

She says, “The STEM theories coupled with the teamwork, presentation and sportsmanship skills learned in these programs will serve them well throughout their life journeys.” tþ TulsaPeople.com

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TEACHIN LOW WAGES ARE CONTRIBUTING TO AN UNPRECEDENTED TEACHER SHORTAGE I N OKLAHOMA

A

BY MORGAN PHILLIPS

A shortage of anything is inconvenient at best. With turkeys in scarce supply, some families made other plans for Thanksgiving dinner. When FluMist was out of stock this past fall, disappointed parents and children opted for flu shots.

But what happens when a shortage is more serious? What happens when a state is running out of teachers?

The answer is, it makes do — but with potentially devastating consequences.

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NG SIEVE the PRICE of

PUBLIC SERVICE

the PRICE of

PUBLIC SERVICE

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MAKING DO

Patti Ferguson-Palmer is president of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association.

She pinpoints a lack of respect as one of the top reasons teachers resign.

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For decades, teaching in Oklahoma has been one of the lowest-paid public professions. In 2012, the state ranked 44th in the country for average starting teacher salary — $31,606 compared to the national average of $36,141, according to Tulsa Public Schools.

Even when adjusted for cost of living (Tulsa’s is nearly 4 percent below the national average) Tulsa ranked 109 in teacher pay of 125 districts nationwide.

Across the country, fewer people are becoming teachers. Over the past four years, the number of high school graduates interested in education degrees or professions decreased 16 percent, according to TPS. In the past eight years, the number of Oklahoma teaching candidates declined 24 percent.

Although science, technology, math and engineering (STEM) are educational buzzwords these days, in 2014 Oklahoma colleges produced only four certified physics teachers, 14 certified science teachers and 74 certified math teachers, according to TPS. The trend has prompted the University of Oklahoma to offer scholarships and forgive student loans for teaching graduates who commit to the state’s public schools for at least four years post-graduation.

TPS started the 2015-16 academic year with no teaching vacancies, but Chief Human Capital Officer Talia Shaull says that doesn’t mean each classroom had a certified teacher.

In fact, 83 teaching positions have been filled with emergency certifications since the beginning of the school year.

When a district demonstrates it cannot find a qualified, certified teacher to fill a position, it can ask the Oklahoma Department of Education to issue an emergency teaching certificate. The individual receiving the emergency certificate must pass a test in the subject area but is not required to have classroom training nor a degree in the field.

For example, a district might request to hire a nurse to teach biology if no certified biology teachers can be found. However, all candidates must complete the selection process, which includes teaching a classroom lesson, according to Shaull. The district, state and universities also offer professional development to address inexperience with specific, skill-based learning.

Oklahoma’s reliance on emergency certificates has skyrocketed, jumping from 32 granted in 2011-12 to 977 by December 2015, according to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister. Approximately 1,000 teaching positions across the state still have not been filled.

“We need a certified, well-supported teacher in every classroom,” says Hofmeister, a former teacher herself. “When we don’t have that, it stalls momentum academically.”

Unfortunately, the problem is not expected to quickly improve. In January, the Oklahoma Board of Education announced $47 million in cuts to public education due to an approximately $102 million state budget shortfall. As a result, TPS reduced its spending for the 201516 school year by $2.1 million. A second round of statewide cuts is expected.

AT A DISADVANTAGE Even as Shaull’s department has ramped up teacher recruiting efforts in the past year — widening its net to other states and starting recruitment earlier in the year — without the funding to offer better compensation, TPS and other districts are fighting an uphill battle.

Oklahoma teaching graduates often are wooed by the surrounding states, all of which offer teachers higher starting wages, according to a recent analysis by Stand for Children, a grassroots education advocacy group.

Texas offers the most attractive teacher salaries regionally; teacher salaries in Oklahoma are 16 percent lower than teacher salaries in Texas, according to a 2015 study by the Oklahoma Business and Education Coalition (OBEC) and the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA).

The legislature has not increased Oklahoma’s minimum salary schedule for teachers since the 2007-08 school year. Even worse, the state’s teachers do not receive raises in line with most other professions.

A worker with 10 years of experience in the private sector is likely to earn about 37 percent more than a teacher with the same experience, according to the OBEC/OSSBA study.

MIT’s Living Wage Calculator estimates it costs $42,970 annually to live in Tulsa County; however, it would take a teacher with a bachelor’s degree 17 years to reach that threshold, according to TPS. It would take the same teacher more than 27 years to earn the county’s median household income of $49,992.

Shaull says her team focuses recruitment strategies on what she perceives to be TPS’ strengths — the mentorship and many professional learning opportunities provided to first-year teachers and “a new superintendent with a desire to create effective educators” — but she’s not kidding herself.

“To be able to offer a competitive salary to teachers is huge,” Shaull says. “It doesn’t matter whether money is not a reason to go into education. It is unfathomable that we cannot pay teachers a living wage.”

UNDERPAID AND UNDERVALUED Retaining teachers is another battle fought by Oklahoma districts.

About 17 percent of new teachers exit Oklahoma public schools after their first year in the classroom, compared to 11 percent of new teachers in Texas, according to the OBEC/OSSBA study. Attrition is highest in the first six years on the job.

Patti Ferguson-Palmer, president of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association, says expectations for teachers are at an all-time high, especially in lower-income schools, and many teachers burn out.

Within TPS, she says there is “a great sense of urgency. They are so desperate for something to work.”

Ferguson-Palmer says the district previously pushed a lot of “products,” including scripted curricula, in a one-size-fits-all approach that diminished teacher autonomy. But she is hopeful Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist, a former elementary teacher, will help change that.

With 21 years of classroom teaching experience, Ferguson-Palmer pinpoints a general “lack of respect” as one of the top reasons teachers resign.

She says the attitude is evident even among state lawmakers.

“It’s this attitude that teachers don’t matter, kids don’t matter — except their kids,” she says.

Fourth-grade science teacher Kristen Nicholson’s job at Eliot Elementary was saved in 2015 thanks to a crowdfunding campaign organized by the school’s foundation.

PITCHING IN When district rebalancing — a result of lower-than-normal student enrollment and a shortage of teachers in Tulsa Public Schools — threatened to reduce the fourthgrade teaching staff at Eliot Elementary this past fall, a group of concerned parents took matters into their own hands.

“The loss of one of three fourth-grade teachers meant class sizes would have gone from approximately 20 to 30 or more,” says Carrie Gardenhire, a member of the Eliot PTA and the Eliot Elementary Foundation Board. “And, we were going to lose an amazing teacher.”

Through a crowdfunding account, the foundation raised $40,000 to cover the salary and benefits of fourth-grade science teacher Kristen Nicholson. Donors included Eliot alumni, students’ out-of-state relatives and even students themselves. They reached the goal in less than 24 hours.

Although the unorthodox measure was successful for Eliot and Nicholson, some feedback outside the midtown school has been mixed.

“I’m glad they were able to save (Nicholson’s) job, but every kid deserves small class sizes, not just the parents who can afford it,” says Patti Ferguson-Palmer, president of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association. “We need to be providing that to teachers out north and east. Zip code shouldn’t determine the quality of a child’s education.”

Gardenhire agrees and says Eliot’s fundraising was an opportunity to raise awareness about the urgency of funding needs at the state level. She says the board is cooperating with TPS in its communications with legislators to advocate for improvements in teacher pay and class size.

“We were very grateful to make an impact,” Gardenhire says. “We just want our kids to have the best, but it’s not just about our kids.”

For Nicholson, the generosity of the collective gift is difficult to comprehend despite the possibility that she might face the same threat this coming fall.

“I am just in a blessed position to get to stay at Eliot,” she says. “It was definitely in the interest of the students.”

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IDEAS WELCOME As the teacher shortage grows more urgent, some are proposing outside-the-box solutions.

Through the grassroots group Oklahoma’s Children — Our Future, OU President David L. Boren recently made headlines for his proposal of a statewide one-cent sales tax increase to fund education.

If approved by voters, the measure would generate approximately $600 million a year, providing a $5,000 pay raise for teachers, among other things. Opponents argue the increase would propel Oklahoma’s sales tax rate to the highest in the nation. However, Boren says the total tax burden on Oklahomans is one of the lowest in the nation, and polling data shows that a majority of Oklahomans would support the tax increase.

“We are lying to ourselves when we say there’s a ‘free lunch,’” he says of expecting educational improvements without paying for them. “Our parents and grandparents sacrificed for us, and we (supporters of the tax increase) feel like it’s our turn.

State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister

Courtesy

The Oklahoma Education Association, the statewide voice of education professionals, has tried to combat this mentality with its program called G.L.E.E. (Giving Legislators an Educational Experience). The statewide program invites legislators to visit a classroom for one day to experience the challenges teachers and students face.

Ferguson-Palmer says she has seen the program improve communication between teachers and legislators such as Sen. Gary Stanislawski (R-Tulsa) and Rep. Katie Henke (R-Tulsa), who made changes to the Reading Sufficiency Act in 2014. The modifications lessened the impact of a single high-stakes reading test at the end of the year — a test that previously determined whether a child could advance to fourth grade.

Plans are in the works to expand G.L.E.E. to school board members and city councilors.

In the meantime, Ferguson-Palmer encourages Tulsans — especially teachers — to make their voices known.

“Legislators have an obligation to listen to their constituents,” she says.

“I just feel it is a moral question,” Boren says.

“Are we going to do right by our students and teachers or not?”

Superintendent Hofmeister has not announced her position on the proposed bill but applauds Boren for being solutions-minded.

“We need more ideas, not fewer,” says Hofmeister, who naturally has several of her own.

She proposed OKhigh5 in January 2015, which requested $5,000 in teacher raises and five additional days of instruction. The proposal did not move forward in the February-May 2015 legislative session. She is currently requesting in a budget addendum a $1,000 teacher pay increase.

Hofmeister’s Red Tape Task Force — a group of 51 education leaders and stakeholders — also began meeting in early November to review the existing education budget and make recommendations for reducing administrative costs.

Although Ferguson-Palmer agrees with a thorough review of the existing education budget, she thinks more is needed to meet the needs of Oklahoma teachers and students.

“We need a dedicated revenue stream,” she says, adding that the Oklahoma Lottery was never the answer.

In 2004, Oklahoma voters approved the lottery as a way to increase the state’s education revenue.

Since lottery funds were first appropriated by the legislature in 2005, the Department of Education has seen $30 million-$39 million per year added to education coffers. While that sounds substantial, lottery funds comprise approximately 1.3 percent of the state’s total education funds.

“The way the lottery was sold to us was as dessert, and the state was going to provide dinner,” Ferguson-Palmer says. “But the state cut dinner. The lottery was not intended to be a main revenue stream.”

In an effort to help recruit and retain new teachers despite budget shortfalls, the Tulsa, Jenks and Union school districts, in conjunction with Tulsa Technology Center, submitted proposals for the Vision 2025 sales tax renewal.

If approved as part of the ballot measure, the proposals under consideration — called “Teach.

Live.T-Town.” — would subsidize housing costs and provide professional development training for new teachers.

Gist says the housing proposal would refurbish a city-owned property in the Pearl District into affordable micro-loft rentals for new teachers. The project would cost approximately $7.5 million.

The teacher training is estimated to cost $3.7 million in the first year and $2.4 million in the second year and beyond.

“The reason we got together and put these proposals forward is that for the health of our city and economic development, there is nothing more important than the health of our public schools,” Gist says.

Many believe the way forward starts with recruiting and retaining certified teachers.

The OBEC/OSSBA study found that to match Oklahoma’s teacher attrition rate to that of Texas, teacher salaries in Oklahoma need to increase about 12 percent. To equalize attrition rates across low- and high-income schools, teachers in low-income schools should be paid about 50 percent more than other teachers to entice them to stay, the study suggests.

Ultimately, Ferguson-Palmer says teachers need to feel valued and empowered to do what they entered the field to do — make a difference.

“Until you make teaching attractive, people aren’t going to want to do it,” she says. tþ

HOW OKLAHOMA FUNDS EDUCATION WHERE DOES OKLAHOMA GET ITS FUNDING FOR EDUCATION? Oklahoma school districts receive funding from a variety of sources, including state, federal, county and local dollars.

Although most local property taxes go directly to districts, some county- and state-dedicated and appropriated funding goes through a formula in order to calculate state aid.

Seven streams of revenue go into the formula: state appropriation, property tax, motor vehicle collections, school land earnings, rural electrification association (REA) tax, county 4-mill and gross production tax.

HOW IS EDUCATION MONEY ALLOCATED? The primary purpose of the funding formula is to provide equity to districts by adding weights for students with the highest needs — special edu44

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

cation students, English Language Learners, low-income students, etc. — and also to provide equity across districts by “charging” certain factors against a district’s total allocation. For example, those districts with higher property tax income (local revenue) receive less in state-appropriated funding through the formula than other districts without as much local revenue but with similar student characteristics and weights.

WHY IS THERE A SHORTFALL WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATIONAL FUNDING? Oklahoma’s student population continues to grow, operating with about 33,000 more students today than in 2010. Compounded with a reduced revenue stream, that means the formula funds must be spread thinner.

Source: Oklahoma Department of Education

Q&A

From Tulsa Professionals

For information about participating in Q&A, please contact adservices@langdonpublishing.com.

WILLS AND TRUSTS Q: Do I still need a trust since tax laws have changed?

A: Saving taxes is only one of many issues in determining the need for creating a trust.

Family dynamics and the types of assets a family owns truly drive that decision. Can all children handle finances? Is there a bully in the family? Is there substance abuse or chronic unemployment? Do you own more than one piece of property? Your estate-planning attorney can help you have the best plan for you and your family.

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Q: As a senior citizen, I own my home but could use some additional cash flow. Should I consider a reverse mortgage?

A: Approach this major financial decision cautiously, as new rules apply. You must be at least 62 and must own your home. Loan origination fees, closing costs and even monthly service fees can be expensive. Most agreements state the loan must be repaid if the home is unoccupied for a specified period of time.

If married, be careful that both spouses are included. Generally speaking, a reverse mortgage should be used as a last resort to generate cash.

J. Harvie Roe, CFP, President AmeriTrust Investment Advisors, Inc. 4506 S. Harvard Ave. • Tulsa, OK 74135 hroe@amerad.com • 918-610-8080

PSYCHOTHERAPIST The Evolution of Betrayal, Sex and Desire: In today’s world, Betrayal takes on many shapes and applies to much more than two married people having sex outside of their marriages. As technology has exploded, so has the world of Infidelity. What used to be called “Cheating” has been replaced with online self-seeking behaviors that simulate emotional and sexual gratification. Pornography and other sexual exploits soon turn into secret relationships that lead to deception and pain; any emotional relationship that requires Deceiving, Misleading or Distorting the truth to manage is an Extramarital Affair.

Karen L. Carmichael The Law Office of Karen L. Carmichael 918-493-4939 • 2727 E. 21st St., Ste. 402 www.tulsawillsandtrusts.com

Courtney O’Brien, PhD. 1723 E. 15th St., Suite 250 Office: 918-794-0570 • Cell: 918-639-0570 www.drcourtneyobrien.com

BEAUTY AND WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

GENERAL DENTISTRY

Q: I need something cost-effective to help my scaly winter skin. What treatments work best?

A: Our newest procedure, the HydraFacial®, is the best way to shed your winter skin before spring. This multi-step treatment evenly exfoliates and extracts to remove impurities and dead skin cells, while replenishing vital nutrients like antioxidants, peptides and hyaluronic acid. These performing ingredients help mitigate environmental damage, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and plump and firm skin for long-term results you can see and feel instantly. For more information on the HydraFacial® and to schedule your complimentary skin care consultation, call 918-872-9999.

Malissa Spacek and Dr. James Campbell BA Med Spa & Weight Loss Center 500 S. Elm Place • Broken Arrow, OK 74012 918-872-9999 • www.baweightspa.com

Q: Can poor dental hygiene affect the rest of my body?

A: Yes, it most certainly does. We will discuss this over the next few months. Have you heard the term halitosis? Lack of regular brushing and flossing leaves small food particles wedged between the teeth that collect bacteria and emit chemicals, like hydrogen sulfide — an unpleasant-smelling compound. Visit your dentist for a check-up and cleaning regularly.

Gene McCormick DDS SAFE/COMFORT Dentists 2106 S. Atlanta Pl. • Tulsa, OK 74114 918-743-7444 • www.genemccormickdds.com TulsaPeople.com

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Tulsa Community College 909 S. Boston, Tulsa • 918.595.8000 www.tulsacc.edu

T

ulsa Community College offers four fully equipped campuses — Metro, Northeast, Southeast and West — in the Tulsa area, along with community campuses in Owasso and Glenpool and classes at several other satellite locations. As Oklahoma’s largest community college, TCC ranks among the state’s top 3 institutions for first-time entering students.

TCC ranks among the leaders of the nation’s community colleges in several key academic areas, including degrees granted to Native Americans and engagement and outreach to students from other minority and ethnic backgrounds.

Most recently, Tulsa Community College was named one of 30 community colleges in the country, and the only college in Oklahoma, selected to join The Pathways Project, a national initiative funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and led by the American Association of Community Colleges. The project focuses on raising college graduation rates across the country through

guided academic and career pathways extending from high school graduation to completion of a college degree. Under the Pathways Project, programs, support services and instructional approaches are redesigned and focused to help students clarify their goals, choose and enter pathways that will achieve those goals and master knowledge and skills that will enable them to advance in the labor market and/or successfully pursue further education.

Popular and in-demand areas of study at TCC include pre-nursing/ nursing, business administration, allied health, liberal arts, psychology, enterprise development, pre-education in elementary and secondary, accounting, biology and mechanical engineering. Plus, with TCC’s open-door admission process and affordable tuition, students can easily and seamlessly pursue a path of study that is right for them.

Year Founded ..............................................1970 Enrollment ................................................27,000

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Student-Faculty Ratio .............................. 15-to-1

TCC ranks among the nation’s leading colleges in granting degrees in key areas such as health professions, business, management, marketing, education and communications.

Number of Undergraduate Degrees Offered ........................................ 220+

Tulsa Community College is pleased to provide up to 100 percent tuition and fees to Tulsa County high school graduating seniors who enroll at TCC. With Tulsa Achieves, you can avoid the financial burden of debilitating student loans, enjoy an excellent educational foundation, and begin your career with money in your pocket.

To learn more and complete your online application go to tulsacc.edu/TulsaAchieves.

The University of Tulsa 800 South Tucker Drive, Tulsa • 918.631.2000 www.utulsa.edu

T

he University of Tulsa is ranked among the nation’s top 50 private doctoral universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 edition of its annual America’s Best Colleges issue. Naming TU as one of the nation’s 50 “Best Value” private colleges and universities, the Princeton Review praised TU’s high-quality academics across all disciplines.

TU’s reputation as a top 100 national university is matched by the physical growth of its campus. In the past five years, the university has completed a number of key projects, including a remodel of the Allen Chapman Student Union and construction of the Lorton Performance Center — the new home for the music and film studies departments — and Hardesty Hall, which includes a 300-bed allsuites residence hall.

With generous support, TU opened the Oxley College of Health Sciences in 2015. The new college supports TU’s role in the OU-TU School of Community Medicine, a joint four-year community medical education program and a physician assistant program formed with

the University of Oklahoma to help address the state’s low health status, low health systems performance and physician shortage.

TU’s student-athletes have garnered accolades and conference championships through the years. Off the playing field, they have a very important and impressive stat: more than 50 Capital One/ CoSIDA Academic All-Americans. Intramural sports, special-interest clubs, pre-professional organizations, fraternities and sororities and campus ministry groups create ample extracurricular opportunities for the university’s students.

Through the years, TU students have received prestigious awards — 62 Goldwater scholarships, 59 National Science Foundation fellowships, nine Department of Defense fellowships, 18 Fulbrights, 11 Truman scholarships, 11 Phi Kappa Phi fellows, nine Morris K. Udall scholarships, five British Marshall awards, two Rhodes and one Jack Kent Cooke fellow — more nationally competitive scholars than all other Oklahoma universities combined.

Year Founded...................................................1894 Undergraduate Enrollment ............................3,478 Number of Undergraduate Degrees Offered .................................................61 Student-Faculty Ratio ...................................11-to-1 Graduate Enrollment ...................................... 1,193 Graduate Degrees Offered .................................51

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION TU is widely renowned for its engineering, business, computer science and psychology programs. In 2015, the freshman class had an average GPA of 3.9, an ACT score of 29 and an SAT score of 1260.

Healthcare professionals, brain researchers, fitness experts and more College is about more than developing a strong résumé. It’s about creating meaningful opportunities for the future. Undergraduate research, community engagement and international experiences are hallmarks of a TU education.

The University of Tulsa’s new Oxley College of Health Sciences is seeking students in growing fields such as nursing, sports science, neuroscience, healthcare delivery and speech

TU is an EEO/AA institution.

pathology. Faculty mentors are invested in our students’ success, and TU’s partnerships with major healthcare researchers and providers expand career options.

Students can find out more about what university life is like by scheduling a visit to TU: Tour campus, meet with faculty and have lunch with our university ambassadors. Experiences may be customized for each student. For more information, go to admission.utulsa.edu/visit.

n Top 50 Private University 2016 and Top 100 National University 2016 (U.S. News & World Report) n Colleges That Pay You Back 2016 (Princeton Review) n Best College Value 2016 (Kiplinger’s Personal Finance) n America’s Top Colleges 2015 (Forbes)

admission.utulsa.edu • 918-631-2307

The University of Oklahoma 550 Parrington Oval (OU Visitor Center), Norman • 800.234.6868 www.ou.edu

T

he University of Oklahoma is a doctoral degree-granting research university serving the educational, cultural, economic and healthcare needs of the state, region and nation. The Norman campus serves as home to all of the university’s academic programs except health-related fields. The OU Health Sciences Center, which is located in Oklahoma City, is one of only four comprehensive academic health centers in the nation with seven professional colleges. Both the Norman and Health Sciences Center colleges offer programs at the Schusterman Center, the site of OU-Tulsa.

OU enrolls more than 30,000 students and more than 2,700 fulltime faculty members. The University has 21 colleges offering 171 undergraduate majors, 263 graduate majors, 36 professional majors and 34 graduate certificates. While OU has all of the opportunities of a large, public university, its service and commitment to helping students succeed creates a sense of family, more like that of a small, private institution. OU has more than 400 student organizations, more than 30 intramural activities and 50 active fraternity and sorority chapters, leadership and volunteer programs. More than 80 informal book clubs have been created in the past three years.

The Joe C. and Carole Kerr McClendon Honors College offers one of the most energetic and creative honors programs among

public universities in the United States. More than 2,000 students participate in small classes, usually of 19 or less.

OU stands out with its number of National Merit Scholars enrolled. It’s ranked first in the nation among public universities in the number of National Merit Scholars. In fact, 311 freshman National Merit Scholars chose to make OU their choice for higher education in 2014.

As a pacesetter in American public higher education, OU offers a culture of academic excellence and opportunity. OU students experience a vibrant student life, a diverse community and beautiful campus.

Year Founded...................................................1890 Undergraduate Enrollment Norman ..................................................... 21,314 All Campuses ............................................ 22,152 Student-Faculty Ratio .................................. 18-to-1 Number of Undergraduate Degrees Offered ............................................... 171

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION On average, OU students have a high school GPA of 3.6, an ACT score of 26 and an SAT score of 1180. 70 percent graduated in the top 25 percent of their class.

Graduate Enrollment Norman ....................................................... 5,618 All campuses .............................................. 6,138 Number of Graduate Degrees Offered ............263

OU - Oklahoma’s Leader in Excellence

• In 2015 OU became the first public university in U.S. history to be ranked No. 1 in freshman National Merit Scholars enrolled.

• OU is the only Big 12 university to be named in the top 10 of the most impressive historic college campuses in the nation.

• OU was recently awarded the prestigious Davis Cup for the third consecutive year in recognition of its record-setting enrollment of United World College international freshmen. OU is the only public university to ever be awarded the Davis Cup.

• The OU Honors College is one of the top 25 programs at a public university in the nation based on A Review of Fifty Public University Honors Programs.

• OU is the only university in the nation, public or private, whose students have won Goldwater, Mitchell, Truman, Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright and National Security Education Program scholarships in the same year.

• This year’s freshman class is the academically highest ranked in OU history and in state history at a public university with an average 26.4 ACT for incoming freshmen.

• OU is the only Big 12 university to be selected as having one of America’s 25 most beautiful campuses.

• OU’s fall-to-fall retention rate this year for freshmen is at a university all-time high of 86.1 percent.

• The four-year School of Community Medicine – a joint effort of the University of Tulsa and the University of Oklahoma – welcomed the first entering class in the Fall of 2015.

• With construction underway, OU will become one of the first public universities in the country to build residential colleges for upperclassmen and women, patterned on those at Yale, Oxford, Harvard and Cambridge in England. The living/learning communities will become the cornerstone of the undergraduate experience.

• The One University Digital Initiative allows OU faculty to develop digital alternatives to high-cost textbooks, translating to an annual savings of almost $500 per student in textbook costs.

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo

- The Impact of Excellence

Holland Hall 5666 East 81st Street, Tulsa • 918.481.1111 www.hollandhall.org

H

olland Hall is an independent, Episcopal day school that has enhanced the educational landscape of Tulsa since its founding in 1922. Holland Hall provides each student with a comprehensive liberal arts curriculum designed to develop leadership and a strong moral foundation.

In addition to the Primary, Middle and Upper School facilities, the 165-acre campus in south Tulsa includes creeks and ponds, an outdoor classroom, a 5K wooded trail, numerous athletic fields and developmentally appropriate playgrounds. The Walter Arts Center and the All Saints Chapel round out the beautiful and engaging campus.

Athletics and the arts are very important at Holland Hall. Because every student participates in both artistic and athletic endeavors, the entire community respects and encourages excellence beyond the classroom. This creates an environment in which each student can discover their gifts and passions in both arts and athletics.

From the first day of preschool through high school graduation,

Holland Hall students are nurtured and challenged in their classes. The faculty has created an innovative program in each discipline in order to move students along the college-preparatory path that ends with 100 percent of the senior class matriculating to competitive colleges and universities. The most recent graduating class was offered more than $7 million collectively in scholarships. Students who graduate from Holland Hall are prepared for success in any university setting and for life beyond college.

Although Holland Hall provides an outstanding array of challenging courses and diverse offerings in the arts and athletics, the most important value at Holland Hall is the commitment to community.

Students, parents, faculty and staff love the school, the city of Tulsa and each other. Small class size, faculty engagement and supportive parents unite to provide every student with a village of care. The relationships are what make Holland Hall home.

Year Founded ..............................................1922

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

Enrollment .................................................... 950

A strong moral foundation accompanies rigorous academics while our more than 100 faculty members foster the gifts and talents of each individual child. Historically, 100 percent of graduates matriculate at four-year colleges and universities.

Student-Faculty Ratio ................................ 9-to-1 Grades ..................................... Pre-K-12th grade

Join us at the Holland Hall Book Fair!

February 27, 2016 From 8am – 5pm • admission $1 / person

Featuring tens of thousands of used, rare and children’s books, games, toys and movies.

HollandHall.org/book-fair

John Brown University 2000 W. University, Siloam Springs, Arkansas • 1.800.528.4636 www.jbu.edu

J

ohn Brown University, located in northwest Arkansas, serves more than 2,700 students from 39 nations and 42 states. JBU is a Christian university committed to providing quality academics within a distinctly Christian community.

The university is interdenominational and admits students of any faith. JBU is a vibrant and growing independent Christian university of the arts, sciences and professions.

Popular majors at JBU include engineering, graphic and web design, nursing, business administration, family and human services.

JBU ranked No. 1 “Best Value” among baccalaureate colleges in the southern region on the U.S. News & World Report 2015 America’s Best Colleges List. During the spring of 2015, JBU students took second and third place at the Reynolds Governor’s Cup business competition and took third place in the Enactus United States National Exposition in April 2015, propelling past 178 other teams for a prestigious finish. JBU engineering students won the Judges Innovation Award in NASA’s Lunabotics Mining Competition during the summer of 2015.

JBU graduates are regularly accepted into well-known medical and law schools, seminaries and other competitive graduate programs.

Year Founded........................................................................................... 1919 Undergraduate Enrollment ..................................................................... 2,279 Graduate Enrollment ................................................................................. 643 Number of Undergraduate Degrees Offered............................................... 40 Number of Graduate Degrees Offered ........................................................ 10

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION To be admitted, students must have a high school GPA of at least 2.5 and an ACT score of 20 or an SAT score of 950.

Student-Faculty Ratio............................................................................15-to-1

OUR ADVICE? Check out all the usual universities your friends choose, but before you decide to spend 4 years and a lot of money, give yourself a few minutes at www.jbu.edu and see what you might be missing.

We think you’ll be interested.

WE’RE LOCATED IN BEAUTIFUL NORTHWEST ARKANSAS, ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING AREAS IN THE NATION.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

Riverfield Country Day School 2433 West 61st Street, Tulsa • 918.446.3553 www.riverfield.org

R

iverfield is a nonsectarian school providing quality innovative education for children 2 weeks old through 12th grade. Founded in 1984, Riverfield is dedicated to academic excellence and college preparation, while remaining true to our family-oriented atmosphere and whole-student approach to education and learning.

Riverfield provides a student-centered approach to education with a program of authentic, experiential learning in which individuality is valued and the needs of the whole student are honored. Small class sizes, along with the collaborative nature of our classrooms, provide the opportunity for students to cultivate leadership, interpersonal skills and the confidence needed for success today and tomorrow. Personalized programming and flexible scheduling offer middle and upper school students the opportunity to develop talents and explore interests in a college prep setting.

Riverfield is home to the state’s first school rock band program, with 13 bands comprised of fourth-12th grade students. Through participation in the OSSAA, the school is finding success in athletic, academic and arts competitions.

Year Founded............................................................................. 1984 Enrollment ................................................................................... 613 Student-Faculty Ratio................................................................4-to-1 16-to-1 based on age/grade level Grades .................................................................. Infants-12th grade

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION Outdoor education is an important component of the Riverfield experience at all ages. The 120-acre campus includes a barnyard, hiking trails, gardens, freshwater system, outdoor classrooms and athletic fields.

YOU’LL  THE LEARNING

YOU’LL  THE ACTIVITIES

YOU’LL  THE SPIRIT

Visit Us And Yo u ' l l B e S ay i n g

OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE: INFANTS – 5TH GR ADE February 9, 9:30 am-noon February 23, 9:30 am-noon

6TH – 12TH GR ADE February 16, 1:00-2:30 PM

YOU’LL  THE CREATIVITY

2 4 3 3

W e s t

6 1 s t

S t r e e t

9 1 8 • 4 4 6 • 3 5 5 3 r i v e r f i e l d . o r g

TulsaPeople.com

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Monte Cassino 2206 South Lewis Avenue, Tulsa • 918.742.3364 www.montecassino.org

M

onte Cassino is a premier independent school with a powerful Catholic Benedictine identity and message. Founded in 1926, Monte Cassino has since served students and families with distinction and care by providing unparalleled education in all core subjects. Additionally, foreign languages, honors courses and stimulating programs in athletics, the arts, music, community service, computer education, academic bowl and National Junior Honor Society are offered. Faculty members embrace each student to drive spiritual and intellectual development by respecting the dignity and unique gifts of each child.

With an enrollment of 840 and a 12-to-1 student-faculty ratio, students receive individualized attention in the interactive, dynamic and lively classrooms. Enrollment is ongoing, and admission requires an entrance test, student records, previous test scores and teacher recommendation.

Tuition is $10,200 for kindergarten-eighth grade, with early childhood tuition ranging from $8,600-$5,400.

Monte Cassino is comprised of a beautiful 5-building campus in midtown that features a performing arts theatre, a chapel, a track, and more.

Every Wednesday is an open house and tour; to RSVP call 918-742-3364 or visit montecassino.org.

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION Year Founded..................................................................................1926 Enrollment ........................................................................................840 Student-Faculty Ratio.................................................................. 12-to-1 Grades .........................................................................Pre-K3-8th grade

Monte Cassino School is accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and North Central Association AdvancED. Monte Cassino School is an accredited member of the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) and Diocese of Tulsa Catholic Schools.

Precision craftsmanship. Exquisite Artistry. Timeless Quality.

The OSU Institute of Technology School of Watchmaking is among the leading watchmaking degree programs in the world. Join an elite caliber of luxury watchmakers backed by the exclusive Rolex brand.

Find out more at osuit.edu/watchmaking.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

University School

COME CHECK US OUT (918) 631-5060 • www.utulsa.edu/uschool

Educating Gifted Students

Since 1982

The University of Tulsa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

OPEN HOUSES EVERY WEDNESDAY RSVP 918.746.4238

Yes, at Monte Cassino we’re known as “the saints,” but it’s not simply a moniker students instantly acquire after enrolling, it’s an honor and a tradition students have earned for 90 years.

From the first day of Monte Cassino classes in 1926 to today, being a Saint is tantamount to what is important in being successful: hard work, respect for others, a passion to overachieve, a strong moral compass, and the ability to make good day-to-day decisions.

So for all reasons people have been choosing Monte Cassino for 90 years (nationally recognized academics, access to team-building athletics, community representation), our unique, creative Catholic social skills programs are what sets us apart then and now from our academic competitors. More importantly, it will set your son and/or daughter apart as well.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Flexible Schedules | Undergraduate & Graduate Degrees Small Class Sizes | Financial Aid Available ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– CLAREMORE | BARTLESVILLE | PRYOR www.rsu.edu | 1-800-256-7511

Want your child to have a better opportunity to succeed in life?

Be a Saint.

918.742.3364 | MonteCassino.org Tulsa People Magazine 1/2 Page Vert. 3.875x10 4c - Monte Cassino

Stay Connected and keep up with the latest news from RSU /RogersStateU

@RogersStateU

/RogersStateU TulsaPeople.com

57

Cascia Hall Preparatory School 2520 S Yorktown Ave, Tulsa • 918.746.2600 www.casciahall.org

C

ascia Hall has a storied history — a legacy of achievement, excellence and honor spanning nearly 90 years of graduates who have gone on to make indelible marks in the world.

Our tradition is alive and dynamic as today’s students excel in rigorous academic programs, the arts, sciences and athletics. Cascia’s Augustinian values of “Truth, Unity and Love” instill in each student the habits of mind and strength of character to achieve lifelong success. The school’s curriculum, technology and methods continue to ready today’s students for tomorrow’s opportunities.

Students prepare for an outstanding future at Cascia Hall.

For 90 years, Cascia Hall has been preparing young women and men for college and for life by focusing on the Augustinian values of Truth, Unity, and Love.

Year Founded.................................................................. 1926 Enrollment ........................................................................ 515 Student-Faculty Ratio.....................................................9-to-1 Grades ............................................................ 6th-12th grade AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION Students in grades 6-8 have opportunities to earn high school credit in math, science and world language. Students in grades 9-12 can earn college credit in the extensive Advanced Placement program.

Be...Creative Be...A Cascian

Unique to Cascia Hall is Minimester, an interim term in January, when juniors and seniors have the option of exploring careers.

•

Minimester 2014 - Intern at Polo Grill in Tulsa, Oklahoma

•

Minimester 2015 - Intern for Master Chef at White Street in New York City

•

Former Banquet Manager for Polo Grill

•

Pursuing a BA at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York

Ben Daffern Class of 2015 “The Minimester internship at Polo Grill allowed me to discover my interest in and talent for the culinary arts.”

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

2520 S. Yorktown Ave. Tulsa, OK

918-746-2600 www.casciahall.com

2 0 1 6 G U I DE TO T U LSA’ S P R I VAT E S CHO OLS T           —  -      . T    , ’     T  . F  - ,    .

C  A B

SCHOOL NAME

YEAR FOUNDED

GRADE LEVELS

ALL SAINT’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL 299 S. Ninth St., Broken Arrow 918-251-3000 | allsaintsba.com

1957

Pre-K-8th

Yes

AUGUSTINE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 6310 E. 30th St. | 918-832-4600 acatulsa.org

1997

Pre-K-12th

BISHOP KELLEY HIGH SCHOOL 3905 S. Hudson Ave. | 918-627-3390 bishopkelley.org

1960

9th-12th

CASCIA HALL PREPARATORY SCHOOL 2520 S. Yorktown Ave. 918-746-2600 (Upper School); 918-746-2616 (Middle School) casciahall.com

1926

6th-12th

UNIFORMS FINANCIAL AID

BEFORE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT TOTAL AND AFTER OR AFFILIATION ENROLLMENT SCHOOL CARE

STUDENT TEACHER RATIO

TUITION ANNUAL, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

Yes

19-1

See website.

Catholic

395

Yes

Registration: February; testing: summer

Yes

Yes

15-1

$5,250, Pre-K-5th; $5,950, 6th-8th; $6,750, 9th-12th

Christian

222

Yes

April-June

Yes

Yes

12-1

$8,500, Catholics supporting a parish; $10,800, all others.

Catholic, Lasallian

875

No

Registration: November 2016; testing: January 2017 Register online for entrance exam or shadow day. Call to schedule a campus tour.

Yes

Yes

REGISTRATION/ TESTING DATES

12-1

$13,125

Catholic, Augustinian

525

Afterschool care

Montessori

95

Yes

Call 918628-6524 to schedule a tour.

Christian

66

Yes, for all-day enrollees

Ongoing

CHRISTIAN MONTESSORI ACADEMY 3702 S. 90th E. Ave. 918-628-6524 montessorilearning.org

N/A

Preschool-8th

No

No

9-1

$490 per month, three days per week (ages 3-4); $590 per month, five full days (ages 3-6); $590 per month, ages 6-12; $645 per month, ages 12-15

HAPPY HANDS EDUCATION CENTER 8801 S. Garnett Road | 918-893-4800 happyhands.org

1994

Infant-K, deaf, hard of hearing, communication disorders

No

Yes

4-1, infants; 5-1, all others

Sliding scale

Episcopal

950

Grades 4-12 testing: Feb. Extended 6; March 8, 29; day for April 12, 26; May preschool10; separate 8th exam for primary school.

HOLLAND HALL 5666 E. 81st St. 918-481-1111 hollandhall.org

1922

Pre-K-12th

Yes

Yes

9-1

$6,675, preschool (3 days); $10,830, preschool (5 days); $12,485, Jr. K; $14,470, K; $14,950, 1st-3rd; $16,725, 4th-5th; $17,410, 6th-8th; $18,850, 9th-12th

HOLY FAMILY CATHEDRAL SCHOOL 820 S. Boulder Ave. | 918-582-0422 holyfamilycathedralschool.com

1899

Preschool-8th

Yes

Yes

10-1, preschool; 15-1, K-8th

$5,000, preschool; $4,000, K-8th (Catholic); $5,000, K-8th (non-Catholic). Multiple child discounts.

Catholic

184

Yes

Call for more information.

LINCOLN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1003 N. 129th E. Ave. | 918-234-8150 lincolnchristianschool.com

1997

Pre-K-12th

Yes

No

14-1, Pre-K; 16-1, K; 18-1, 1st-12th

Available upon request.

Christian

941

Yes

Registration: Feb. 1

Catholic

445

Yes

School tours by appointment.

Christian

1,013

Afterschool care

Open house: 9 a.m., Feb. 23; 6 p.m., March 29

MARQUETTE SCHOOL 1519 S. Quincy Ave. 918-584-4631 marquetteschool.org

1918

Pre-K-8th

Yes

Yes

12-1, Pre-K; 22-1, K-8th

$5,031, one child (parishioner); $8,211, two children (parishioner); $11,125, three children (parishioner); $13,543, four or more children (parishioner); $6,360 per child (nonparishioner). ECDC rates vary.

METRO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 6363 S. Trenton Ave. | 918-745-9868 metroca.com

1983

P3-12th

Yes

Yes

18-1

$5,875-$9,625

TulsaPeople.com

59

SCHOOL NAME

YEAR FOUNDED

GRADE LEVELS

UNIFORMS FINANCIAL AID

BEFORE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT TOTAL AND AFTER OR AFFILIATION ENROLLMENT SCHOOL CARE

STUDENT TEACHER RATIO

TUITION ANNUAL, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

REGISTRATION/ TESTING DATES

Christian

267

Yes

Open house: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Feb. 2 and March 29; enrollment: Feb. 2

MINGO VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 8720 E. 61st St. 918-294-0404 mingovalley.org

1976

K4-12th

Yes

Yes

13-1

$5,470, K4-6th; $6,000, 7th-8th; $6,447, 9th-12th

MISS HELEN’S PRIVATE SCHOOL 4849 S. Mingo Road | 918-622-2327 misshelens.com

1954

Preschool-5th

Yes

No

10-1, Preschool; 15-1, K-5th

$825 per month, preschool; $815 per month, kindergarten; $805 per month, elementary

N/A

180

Yes

Ongoing

MIZEL JEWISH COMMUNITY DAY SCHOOL 2021 E. 71st St. | 918-494-0953 mizelschool.org

1975

Preschool-5th

Yes

No

8-1

$8,066

Jewish

30

After-care enrichment program

Ongoing

$9,800, K-8th; $3,600, 2-day early childhood; $5,000, 3-day early childhood; $8,000, 5-day early childhood

Catholic

840

Afterschool care

Open house tours every Wednesday. To RSVP call Brooke Jones, 918-7464238.

MONTE CASSINO SCHOOL 2206 S. Lewis Ave. 918-742-3364 montecassino.org

1926

K-8th

Yes

Yes

15-1, elementary and middle; 10-1, ECLC

PEACE ACADEMY 4620 S. Irvington Ave. | 918-627-1040 peaceacademytulsa.org

1990

Pre-K-12th

Yes

Yes

15-1

$4,700, preschool; $4,400, K-12th

Muslim

200

Afterschool care

Registration: May-August

REGENT PREPARATORY SCHOOL OF OKLAHOMA 8621 S. Memorial Drive | 918-663-1002 rpsok.org

2000

Pre-K-12th

Yes

Yes

13-1

$2,650-$3,330, Pre-K-K; $7,330, 1st-6th; $7,950, 7th8th; $9,360, 9th-12th

Christian

470

No

Novembersummer

REJOICE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS 10701 N. 129th E. Ave., Owasso (preschool/elementary), 918-272-7235; 12200 E. 86th St. N., Owasso, (middle and high schools), 918-516-0050 rejoiceschool.com

1992

Preschool-12th

No

Yes

14-1

$2,470-$5,130, preschool; $5,690, elementary; $6,000, middle school; $6,450, high school

Christian

878

Yes

Registration: Feb. 15

RIVERFIELD COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL 2433 W. 61st St. | 918-446-3553 riverfield.org

1984

Infant-12th

No

Yes

4-1 to 15-1 based on age

$485-$1,110, monthly for preschool; $9,700-$12,025, yearly for primary-upper schools

Non-sectarian

605

Yes

School tours by appointment.

10-1

$3,957, one child (practicing Catholic); $6,624, two children (practicing Catholic); $9,063, three or more children (practicing Catholic); $4,882, one child (nonpracticing and non-Catholic); $9,047, two children (nonpracticing and non-Catholic); $13,259, three or more children (non-practicing and non-Catholic)

Catholic

115

Yes

Ongoing

Catholic

387

Afterschool care

Ongoing

SAINT CATHERINE CATHOLIC SCHOOL 2515 W. 46th St. 918-446-9756 saintcatherineschool.org

60

1927

Pre-K-8th

Yes

Yes

SAINT PIUS X SCHOOL 1717 S. 75th E. Ave. 918-627-5367 www.spxtulsa.org

1957

Preschool-8th

Yes

Yes

16-1

$5,100, preschool (one child); $7,862, preschool (two children); $4,483, K-8th one child (parishioner); $7,468, K-8th two children (parishioner); $9,057, K-8th three or more children (parishioner); $7,007, K-8th (non-parishioner)

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL SCHOOL 1428 N. 67th E. Ave. | 918-836-2165 peterandpaultulsa.org

1951

Pre-K-8th

Yes

Yes

10-1, Pre-K2nd; 20-1, 3rd-8th

$3,600

Catholic

200

Afterschool care

Ongoing

$4,935, one child (parishioner); $8,355, two children (parishioner); $11,086, three children (parishioner); $13,156, four children (parishioner); $6,082 (non-parishioner)

Roman Catholic

263

Afterschool care

As needed.

SCHOOL OF SAINT MARY 1365 E. 49th Place 918-749-9361 schoolofsaintmary.com

1954

K-8th

Yes

Yes

15-1, K-2nd; all other grade levels have a maximum of 30 students with smaller classes for math and language arts.

SOLID FOUNDATION PREPARATORY ACADEMY 4025 N. Hartford Ave. | 918-794-7800 sfpaeagles.com

2004

Pre-K-5th

Yes

No

12-1

$5,100, Pre-K; $4,800, K-5th

Christian

74

Yes

Enrollment: February

SUMMIT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 200 E. Broadway Ave., Broken Arrow 918-251-1997 | sca-eagles.com

1987

K-12th

Yes

Yes

15-1, K; 16-1, 1st-12th

$5,380, K; $5,880, 1st-6th; $6,380, 7th-8th; $6,690, 9th-12th

Christian

Approx.

380

Yes

Ongoing

THE LITTLE LIGHT HOUSE 5120 E. 36th St. | 918-664-6746 littlelighthouse.org

1972

Birth-age 6

No

No

8-2

Tuition-free

Christian

64

No

Ongoing

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

SCHOOL NAME

YEAR FOUNDED

GRADE LEVELS

THE SAN MIGUEL SCHOOL OF TULSA 2444 E. Admiral Blvd. | 918-728-7337 sanmigueltulsa.org

2004

6th-8th

UNIFORMS FINANCIAL AID

Yes

Not tuition based

BEFORE SCHOOL OF THOUGHT TOTAL AND AFTER OR AFFILIATION ENROLLMENT SCHOOL CARE

STUDENT TEACHER RATIO

TUITION ANNUAL, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

REGISTRATION/ TESTING DATES

12-1

$1,000 fee based on family, though not tuition driven.

Lasallian

71

Yes

Registration: March

148

Yes, for 1st-8th

Ongoing

TOWN & COUNTRY SCHOOL 8906 E. 34th St. 918-296-3113 tandcschool.org

1961

1st-12th

Yes

Yes

6-1

Available upon request.

Improving the lives of students with learning disabilities by providing a nurturing environment for academic, social and personal growth.

TULSA ADVENTIST ACADEMY 900 S. New Haven Ave. | 918-834-1107 tulsaacademy.org

1916

Pre-K-12th

No

Yes

15-1

$4,600, Pre-K-6th; $5,500, 7th8th; $6,000, 9th-12th

Christian

105

Yes

Registration: Aug. 4. Testing by appointment.

8-1

$6,150, primary half day; $9,220, primary full day (with or without nap); $9,720, lower elementary; $9,975, upper elementary; $10,045, middle school

Montessori

207

Yes

Ongoing

Gifted

234

Yes

Ongoing

UNDERCROFT MONTESSORI SCHOOL 3745 S. Hudson Ave. 918-622-2890 undercroft.org

1964

Ages 3-15

No

Yes

UNIVERSITY SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA 326 S. College Ave. 918-631-5060 utulsa.edu/uschool

1982

Ages 3-8th grade

No

Yes

5-1

$10,005-$10,520, early primary and primary 1, 2 and 3 (Plans A-C); $10,230$10,630, intermediate 1 and 2 and older intermediate 5, 6, 7 and 8 (Plans A-C); $5,515$10,520, early childhood (2-day to 5-day plans A-C)

VICTORY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 7700 S. Lewis Ave. | 918-491-7720 vcstulsa.org

1979

K-12th

No

Yes

15-1

$5,124, K3-K5; $5,723, elementary; $6,129, middle school; $6,427, high school

Christian

1,000

Yes

Ongoing

WRIGHT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 11391 E. Admiral Place | 918-438-0922 wrightchristianacademy.com

1989

Pre-K-12th

Yes

Yes

15-1

$5,041, Pre-K; $4,969, K-5th; $5,289, 6th; $5,623, 7th-8th; $6,046, 9th-12th

Christian

260

Yes

Enrollment: Feb. 1. Testing by appointment.

Available anytime, ANYWHERE THE TEACHIN G SIEVE Low wages contribut e to Oklahom

Since 2006

Flexible, Individualized Tutoring

a’s unpreced ented teacher shortage February 2016

February 2016 ✻ www.TulsaPeople .com

Tulsa’s Award-Winning City Magazine is available in a complete digital edition on your desktop or other mobile device 24/7!

H ID D EN FO O D G EM S SIX TULSA RESTAU RANTS THAT ARE UNDER THE RADAR

La Roma’s pizza

ARTIFICIAL INTELLI GENCE: STEM CURRICULUM TURN S S T U D E N T S I N T O R O B O TB U I L D I N G M A RV E L S 2 0 1 6 P R I VAT E S C HOOL GUIDE

Just visit TulsaPeople.com/digitaledition/ for the current issue and archives.

✔ Tutoring for All Ages – Children, Teens, and Adults

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Flexible schedules allow our highly qualified, professional tutors to come to you at your convenience. Contact us today to schedule an in-home consultation! www.benchmarktutors.com • 918-850-5363 TulsaPeople.com

61

Falls Lodge

This spring break, make memories to last a lifetime at Big Cedar Lodge. Situated on the shores of Table Rock Lake, the property offers a host of extraordinary amenities and activities for you and your family.

During your stay, enjoy numerous unique restaurants, a world-class spa, 100-slip marina and more.

Overnight accommodations range from charming cabins tucked into the hillside to a grand lodge perched high above the property. Located just minutes away are two extraordinary attractions, Top of the Rock and Dogwood Canyon Nature Park. These one-of-a-kind destinations offer unforgettable adventures like exploring the ancient Ozarks through a cave and museum, playing a legendary round of golf, throwing a line into trout-filled streams or enjoying a sunset dinner overlooking Table Rock Lake.

Contact Big Cedar Lodge to book your stay and make memories you will never forget.

800.225.6343 | BIGCEDAR.COM TP0216

Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum

Top of the Rock Golf Course

Top of the Rock Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail™

SWEET LISA’S CAFE 1717 N. Peoria Ave. (Serves lunch and dinner) 918-561-6099 782 E. Pine St. (Serves breakfast and lunch) 918-592-4423

Discover or revisit these six Tulsa food gems.

BY NATALIE MIKLES

Here’s how you know Sweet Lisa’s is good: The first time I ate there, a woman at a table next to me couldn’t stop talking about how great her meal was.

She had been traveling all day, and her first stop leaving the airport was Sweet Lisa’s. All day, as she ran through terminals and boarded planes, she thought about how good it would be to come home and eat at Sweet Lisa’s.

Sweet Lisa’s fried catfish and macaroni and cheese.

So, that’s Sweet Lisa’s — the first stop you make before you even roll your suitcase into the door.

“Boy, this food is good,” she said over and over again.

And it is. Fried pork chops, smothered potatoes, chicken wings, pineapple upside-down cake. I could order anything from this menu and be happy.

This isn’t fast food. After placing our order, we waited about half an hour to eat, even though we were only two of four customers that evening. We didn’t mind a bit since our catfish and chicken were fried to order.

Sweet Lisa’s fried catfish has a light, crisp breading with a hint of heat. It’s perfection with sides of brown beans and macaroni and cheese. Catfish and tilapia are available fried or grilled, as are other main courses, including chicken and pork chops.

Chicken wings are a customer favorite. Order three or four wings and a side, and you have the perfect dinner.

Sweet Lisa’s has two locations — one on North Lansing Avenue and a new location off North Peoria Avenue.

Peoria Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Wednesday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Thursday-Saturday; noon-4 p.m., Sunday.

Spring hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Saturday; noon-4 p.m., Sunday.

Pine Hours: 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Saturday.

In a city the size of Tulsa, you might think you’ve eaten everywhere.

You can pretty easily vet a foodie’s credentials with a short list of the best restaurants. But if you really want to name drop, throw in a hidden gem — a spot to stump even those who think they’ve tried it all.

These restaurants aren’t undiscovered. They actually have cult followings and passionate fan bases.

But some of those fans, however loyal, keep their favorite restaurants to themselves. Even some of these restaurant owners seem to want to preserve their undiscovered charm. And in an age of self-promotion, that can be a breath of fresh air.

TulsaPeople.com

63

Souhaila Azar

When R.J. and Souhaila Azar came to the U.S., they envisioned their American dream.

They hoped that dream would include a good education for their children and a comfortable life. But they had no idea it would be achieved through pizza.

The Azars came to Oklahoma in the footsteps of R.J.’s brother, then a student at the University of Oklahoma. They opened Azar’s Bakery in Tulsa but later closed it to open La Roma, a restaurant with two distinct menus — Mediterranean and pizza.

“When Mom and Dad opened the place, they didn’t know much about pizza,” says daughter Katia Azar. “They tried different dough and sauce recipes, giving slices to whoever happened to be walking by.”

The Azars took over space previously occupied by a pizzeria and once they perfected the pizza, creating a light crust and tasty sauce, things took off. But customers began asking for tabouli, cabbage rolls and hummus. So, Souhaila’s passed-down Lebanese recipes became a fixture.

Katia says orders today are about half and half for pizza and Mediterranean. Some customers order both. A pepperoni pizza and two cabbage rolls might sound like a strange order somewhere else, but not here.

La Roma has a dedicated customer base, to the point that the Azars have attended many customers’ weddings, children’s weddings and funerals.

The love is reciprocal, and Katia says it became evident when her father died in 2008.

“There were more than 200 people at my dad’s funeral, and most of them were customers,” she says. “We really have built a family here.

“The restaurant business is really hard.

I’m a single mom in my 40s, my mom is in her 70s, and it’s hard work. But as soon as our front door opens and customers come in, it makes us happy. It’s no exaggeration, they really have become family.”

But even with that familial following, Katia loves welcoming first-time customers, who are often surprised by the dual menu.

So, what to order?

For pizza, you can’t beat the R.J. with its olive oil base, feta cheese, onions and jalapeños. And anything on the Mediterranean menu is a win.

Katia and Souhaila make everything from scratch, even though it’s labor intensive.

“People want to know why our hummus is so good,” Katia says. “We don’t use cans.”

Chickpeas are soaked overnight, then cooked for at least three hours and crushed for a creamy hummus. I like the hummus so much I dip my pizza crust in it.

La Roma’s tabouli is heavier on the parsley and veggies than the cracked wheat, which gives it a light, fresh taste. The Azars sell tons of it, by the single serving all the way up to pints.

Another favorite is the falafel sandwich, with its delicious drizzle of tahini.

64

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

6027 S. Sheridan Road 918-491-6436 Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday.

La Roma’s falafel sandwich

1722 W. 51st St. 918-445-4633 Hours: 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday.

ARNOLD’S OLD FASHIONED HAMBURGERS Arnold’s triple-patty burger with onion rings and strawberry milkshake.

Frank and Vicki Arnold

Frank Arnold isn’t surprised when a customer asks to speak to the owner.

It happens a lot. And, he usually knows what they’re going to say.

“That’s the best burger I’ve ever had.”

That they say it with some surprise doesn’t bother him. First-timers at Arnold’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers tell Arnold they wish it hadn’t taken them so long to discover the place. But the first-timers are fewer than the regulars, who pack the west Tulsa restaurant for lunch and dinner.

Arnold’s is just enough off the beaten path that it’s not the kind of place you stumble upon. Most people are there because a friend or co-worker told them about this place on the west side that makes good hamburgers. These are good, old-fashioned hamburgers like you maybe haven’t tasted since childhood.

Thirty years ago when Frank and Vicki Arnold opened, they hoped for a few customers. Their plan was to be a neighborhood restaurant, a place customers could count on for a good burger.

They’ve got the good burger part down.

But the customer base has gone far beyond west Tulsa. People come from all over the city and beyond.

Arnold’s isn’t the place to go when you’re craving a salad. It’s the place for burgers and fries, light and crispy onion rings and homemade milkshakes.

The restaurant sells around 500 burgers a day. Arnold says they have always ground their meat fresh daily. Plenty of people have told him how much he could save by buying hamburger patties, but he’s not into cutting corners.

One-quarter-pound burgers are cooked on a griddle. They come with mustard, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes and onion, unless otherwise requested. Arnold also sells a lot of double- and triple-patty burgers.

“It’s nothing fancy,” Arnold says. “It’s not gourmet.”

And that’s just the way we hope it stays.

TulsaPeople.com

65

Emad Shahin

Emad Shahin knows there must be some people who are intimidated to come to a Middle Eastern restaurant. They might wonder what the food will be like or what to order when nothing looks familiar.

But Shahin, who goes by Eddie, is quick to make customers at Al Sultan feel right at home.

“I’m just an Okie with a different accent,” he says. “I’ve lived here since after high school, so Oklahoma is home to me.”

Shahin is Palestinian, and spent time in Saudi Arabia working in his father’s restaurant before coming to Oklahoma State University. His degree is in chemical engineering, but what he really loved was the restaurant business. Shahin worked his way up the chain restaurant hierarchy for years before deciding to open his own restaurant — with the food he missed from his childhood.

“These are my mom’s and grandma’s recipes,” Shahin says. “My mom is here, my wife is here. This is a family business.

What we cook here for the people is what we cook at home for ourselves.”

Al Sultan has a full menu, but most diners choose the buffet, which is open for lunch and dinner. Servers dish out the food cafeteria-style from behind the counter. It’s a great way for those new to Middle Eastern cuisine to have a taste of this and that to find their favorites.

Shahin makes hummus and baba ghanoush fresh daily, and both are creamy and delicious slathered on pita bread or scooped up with fresh beans or grilled chicken.

Beef and chicken kabobs are mildly seasoned and perfect with basmati rice, also nicely seasoned and studded with dried fruit. Eggplant is prepared several ways at Al Sultan, the most popular of which is stewed with onions, peppers and tomato sauce in a moussaka-like dish that’s also great with the basmati rice.

Loyal customers line up at lunchtime and bring their families in for dinner.

Those who have come to know Shahin and his family ask him for “off the menu” recommendations and tips for making their favorites at home.

Shahin has a small market next door to the restaurant where he carries imported cheese, meat, spices and hard-to-find Middle Eastern and European cooking ingredients. He’s happy to help customers recreate their favorite Al Sultan dishes at home using spices from the market.

66

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

AL SULTAN Mixed grillers platter with beef and chicken.

9515 E. 51st St. 918-622-2942 www.alsultangrillandbakery.com Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday.

BUFFALO’S BBQ Donny Teel

Hot links, pulled pork and ribs.

201 N. Highway 11, Sperry 918-288-6200 www.buffalosbbq.com Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday, or until the food runs out. Call ahead to ensure Teel is on location or to make dinner arrangements.

Donny Teel has regular customers who still don’t know the actual name of his barbecue restaurant.

For them, it’s simply the trailer next to the doughnut shop.

Buffalo’s BBQ is as low-key as it gets: Turn onto the gravel drive by the doughnut shop in Sperry, and just as the gravel turns to grass, you’ll see Teel’s trailer.

Teel is one of the top-ranked barbecue competitors in the country, spending his weekends traveling to defend his spot. He has taken grand champion at two of the biggest competitions — Jack Daniel’s and the American Royal. In 2007, he decided to set up shop, selling that award-winning ‘cue to customers.

Teel has a mix of friends from Sperry who stop by for lunch or to pick up dinner for the family on their way home from work. But he also has a decent lunch crowd of people who drive in from downtown.

“A lot of people want to get out of the hustle and bustle for a little bit,” he says.

“You can catch your breath out here. A lot of guys will come out and just leave their cell phones in the car.”

Most people take their barbecue to go, but some find a seat at the picnic bench in front of the trailer.

Teel’s menu is taped to the trailer’s window. Some linger over it, trying to decide between ribs or pulled pork, sliced brisket or bologna. Others just tell Teel to fix them whatever sounds good. If it’s a Wednesday, that has got to be Teel’s prime rib, which you can have as a sandwich or as a dinner with sides.

Sides are simple, but they’re just the right touch with the smoked meats. Teel’s beans are award-winning themselves, a nice mix of smoky and sweet. You also can choose potato salad or coleslaw.

TulsaPeople.com

67

Owner Peggy Jo Harrison, greatgranddaughter Lennon Nash, daughter Jan Dunn, granddaughter Jaden Dunn and granddaughter Raven Nash.

On your first trip to P.J.’s, you might wonder if you’re supposed to be there.

The front door isn’t easily visible from the parking lot. A small white sign near the hardware store leads you down a short path to the door. A friend asks me, “Is this place open to the public?”

But once inside, there’s no doubt you belong. Peggy Jo Harrison and her staff are warm, treating customers like family.

On a recent visit, a customer stopped in with homemade bread for Harrison and her daughter Tracy. You know you’re loved when customers bring food gifts to the cooks. P.J.’s is a place where customers give the waitress hugs and catch up before ordering their meatloaf sandwiches. Harrison’s daughter Jan also has helped since she was in eighth grade.

Harrison has been cooking in Tulsa for more than 40 years. She originally set up shop in Utica Square, and then moved to the Market at East 81st Street and South Harvard Avenue. Her customers have moved around with her, most recently in 2006 when she moved P.J.’s to Midtown Shopping Center, on East 31st Street between South Harvard and Yale avenues. But you get the feeling it wouldn’t matter where Harrison moved — her flock would find her.

4307 E. 31st St. 918-622-4662 Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday.

P.J.’s Frito chili pie

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

This is the place to come when you want a sandwich that tastes like home.

Tuna, chicken and egg salads are made without onions, nuts or fruit. It might sound like the order of a picky 8-yearold, but here, it works. These are sandwiches like your parents or grandparents might have made you, but with big portions to remind you of your age.

Turkey and ham are shaved thin and loaded on sandwich bread. P.J.’s Drip Beef, a roasted beef brisket, is perhaps the most loved menu item, and it’s the perfect antidote to the winter blahs. Beef is seasoned to perfection and cooked slow for this hot and messy (trust us, you won’t mind the mess) sandwich.

P.J.’s also has green salads and soups. Her chili and Frito pies are true comfort foods. And you’ll find some nostalgic sandwiches I bet you haven’t seen on a restaurant menu since the 1980s, like a ham sandwich with pineapple and cream cheese. tþ

SPIRITS

LaMarca NV Prosecco, Veneto, Italy — $12.99 Lively, refreshing and made in an off-dry style (with a hint of sweetness), this sparkling wine will please nearly anyone who loves bubbles.

Santa Margherita 2014 Pinot Grigio, Veneto, Italy — $33.49 This is one of the best expressions of Pinot Grigio I have found. Beautiful apple, lemon and pear notes are enveloped in a sweet floral package.

Villa Antinori 2012 Toscana, Tuscany, Italy — $24.99 A luscious blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. The fruit is ripe and perfectly suited for your Valentine’s meal of beef tenderloin or lamb chops.

Banfi Rosa Regale 2012 Acqui, Piedmont, Italy — $13.99 (375 ml half bottle) Enjoy this sparkling, sweet red wine with cheesecake or any chocolate delight you conjure up.

Mi amore

Let these Italian wines inspire you this Valentine’s Day.

C

C  V’ D — the Italian way. Instead of Champagne, try Spumante, or sparkling wines. The best choices are Franciacorta or Prosecco.

Franciacorta is made in the “method traditional” like French Champagne, with two fermentations taking place in one bottle. Prosecco, on the other hand, is a little lighter. Its second fermentation takes place in a tank rather than a bottle, keeping it very fresh.

Maintain the Italian theme with Pinot Grigio. When made well, it can be a terrific white wine. Inexpensive versions can have a slightly diluted taste, so be sure to get one of

by RANDA WARREN, MS, CWE, AIWS, CSS*

good quality. It is a wonderful wine as an aperitif or with a salad course, where it doesn’t compete with or dominate many ingredients.

There are scores of Italian red wines, as well.

The main grape you are likely to encounter is Sangiovese.

Sangiovese is higher in acidity with lively tart cherry flavors. It works well with high-acid or tomato-based dishes such as spaghetti Bolognese or marinara. When Sangiovese is blended with grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah — often called Super Tuscan wines — the other grapes complement the Sangiovese and enrich the overall blend.

Finish your romantic evening with a little Brachetto d’Acqui. This is a sweet, red sparkling wine from the area of Acqui in Piedmont.

It is the perfect accompaniment to chocolate, cheesecake or strawberry shortcake desserts.

Italian wines: Come un raggio di sole hai illuminato la mia vita. (Like a ray of light, you have brightened my life!) tþ *Wine columnist Randa Warren is a Master Sommelier; Certified Wine Educator; Associate Member of the Institute of Wines and Spirits; and is a Certif ied Specialist of Spirits.

TulsaPeople.com

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The buzz on Tulsa’s tastiest products, restaurants and events

by NATALIE MIKLES

Y

Y     ’                 in the first B’nai Emunah cookbook. But you will find boiled tongue.

I have such an affinity for community cookbooks, which date from the early 20th century to present day. I don’t love them so much for their casseroles, though there’s no shortage, but for their glimpse of culinary and cultural norms.

These often spiral-bound cookbooks are a snapshot into the kitchens and lives of families through the decades. That’s why the B’nai cookbook is particularly interesting, as it’s the fifth book the B’nai Emunah Sisterhood has published since 1952.

That first cookbook, “Kum Essen,” which means “Come Eat,” is a reflection of the cultural and religious positions of the congregation at the time. Recipes were strictly kosher, and Jell-O molds were the height of elegance.

Janet Dundee says the newest version of the book is yet again such a reflection. Recipes represent a number of the congregants’ countries of origin and cultures. But since the book is a celebration of B’nai’s centennial, it also includes some of those traditional recipes from the cookbooks of the past.

“Foods are a defining characteristic of all groups, and this cookbook will represent both 100 years of Jewish cooking, as well as current trends in the world of food,” Dundee says.

In other words, expect more curry and cumin and less gelatin.

Want your own copy of the book? They sell for $36 and are available beginning March 1.

Pre-order by emailing Jennifer Joels at jjoels@ cox.net or go by Congregation B’nai Emunah, 1719 S. Owasso Ave. tþ

Carol Mandlebaum and Nancy Cohen with Congregation B’nai Emunah Sisterhood, which will release the fifth “Kum Essen” cookbook in March in honor of the synagogue’s centennial.

NANCY’S KUGEL

Nancy Cohen’s kugel recipe is a year-round family favorite.

16-ounce package wide noodles, cooked and drained 16 ounces cream cheese ½ pound butter

3 cups milk ¾ to 1 cup sugar 2 eggs, beaten well 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Raisins or currants (optional) Cornflake crumbs, for topping 3 tablespoons cinnamon and 1 cup sugar mixed, for topping

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large saucepan (or in a bowl in the microwave), melt cream cheese and butter. Stir well. Add milk and sugar, and continue to stir until all is dissolved. This should be a light, custard consistency. Remove from stove. Add eggs and vanilla. Fold in noodles. If using raisins or currants, mix into the cooked noodles and custard.

Pour mixture into a buttered 9-by-13-inch casserole dish. Sprinkle with a coating of cornflake crumbs. Refrigerate pudding until ready to bake. Before baking, sprinkle top with cinnamon and sugar mixture. Bake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees for 20 additional minutes.

This dish can be prepared a day in advance and refrigerated before cooking.

B’NAI EMUNAH PRESCHOOL ICE CREAM

Remember this recipe when you’re looking for something fun to do with your kids, grandkids or nieces and nephews.

Natalie Mikles is a writer who loves food, cooking and the people behind the stove. If she could only eat one food every day, it would be pie — hands down. She explores life with her husband and three children, who she is determined will become adventurous eaters.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

½ cup half and half 1 tablespoon sugar ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

1 plastic sandwich bag 1 gallon-size plastic bag 3 cups crushed ice

1/3 cup rock salt

Put the half and half, sugar and vanilla in the smaller sandwich bag, and seal bag tightly. Put ice and rock salt in the larger bag, and then add the filled small bag. Seal the larger bag.

Squeeze bag until ice cream is thickened. Kids like to roll the bag like play dough and use some karate chop action to mix the ice cream. This will take about 10-15 minutes. Remove small bag, unseal and eat with spoon. No need to even dirty a bowl.

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12/30/15 12:32 PM

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Cupid’s arrow is sure to hit the mark with one of these Gleeful Peacock designs by Tulsan Nikki Halgren.

The jewelry is handmade in Tulsa and hand-painted to ensure each piece is as unique as its owner.

Hinged Mandala cuff bracelet, $34; Arrow cuff, $28; Fox necklace, $32; “On Target” necklace in cherry and mint, $32; “Tranquility” swirl earrings, $28; available at Gleeful Peacock, 1913 W. Tacoma St., Broken Arrow.

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73

WRIGHT ON

Coming clean

I

I  ’      Christmas tree.

Obviously, I grossly underestimated my winter-induced laze — which is honestly no different from my spring-, summer- and fall-induced lazes, just better accessorized, thanks to scarves and jackets.

Whatever. I thought that by purchasing a real tree, I would be forced to un-decorate it after New Year’s before it shed itself all over my house. But I also underestimated the strength of this life-prolonging Christmas Tree Fountain of Youth junk I found at The Home Depot the same night I bought a gorgeous Douglas fir.

Seriously, I don’t care if the label warns against human consumption; I’m contemplating turning it into a facemask nonetheless. If I weren’t so lazy, that is.

OK, I’m going to level with you, at the risk of sounding curmudgeonly: February is my least favorite month. If I’ve told y’all before that “I just LOVE February and Valentine’s Day and all the presidents and blah, blah, blah,” I boldfaced lied to you. It’s a gross little month made all the more freakish this year by having 29 days versus the usual 28.

No, no, I’m actually trying to make my peace with February, having spent 10-plus years “celebrating” Valentine’s Day by wishing people “Happy VD!” It’s an off-putting salutation that does not endear you to people, no matter how clever you mistakenly believe yourself to be. Some people will eat it if it’s spelled out in frosting on a sugar cookie, though.

Quick background on my February animus: I was dumped at an airport in Dallas early on Valentine’s Day — a Monday, no less — and had to high-tail it back to Tulsa for a full day’s work. That seems to have embittered me toward the entire month — which, I fully realize is ridiculous, thanks to the makers of Prozac and, perhaps, turning the more adult age of 29: Part 12. (Yeah, if I told you recently that I’m cool with acknowledging the fact I’m finally 40, I lied about that, too.)

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

by JASON ASHLEY WRIGHT

“It’s a gross little month made all the more freakish this year by having 29 days versus the usual 28.“

Anyway, it’s time to grow up and kick me, myself and I out of the pity party. Years ago, I started telling myself that the ideal situation for me was not only realizing that I might be single all my life but also being absolutely, no-lie, A-OK with it.

Very much to my surprise, I think I’m there.

No joke. At least, when I’m with my coupled friends or see folks walking together, hand-inhand, trading pecks on the cheek or even exchanging vows in some tulle-wrapped orgy of a fairytale wedding, my little green monster doesn’t bare its fangs or even come out of hiding. I’m actually happy for people — and not left wondering, “Why isn’t that me?” And I gotta tell ya, it’s liberating like pantless Sunday.

Yes, that’s a thing.

So, I’m not going to bring up venereal disease to passersby near and on Feb. 14. I’m not going to roll my eyes at public displays of affec-

tion. Won’t troll the discount bins for clearance candy on Feb. 15. Instead, I’m peppering my February with fun little outings and day trips here and there, with a couple of extra fitness-related classes added to the mix instead of seeing how many blue cheese-crumbled filets mignon and cheesecakes I can consume in self-pity.

First things first, though: Gotta exorcise the pine-needled Ghost of Christmas Most Recently Past from my living room before the fire department has to do it for me. I’d really hate for them to show up (lie). tþ

A Mississippi native, Jason Ashley Wright has called Tulsa home since 1998. He spends his free time f inishing a novel, contemplating his next meal and hanging with his Maine Coon, Ali Tabouli.

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W E E K E N D G E TA W AY S

Museum mania The capital city is host to a unique assortment of museums.

A    T T  mean a number of destinations are up for discussion. Why not visit a museum while you’re in town? With these five options, you’re sure to be entertained while learning something.

1.

Skeletons: A museum of osteology I was first introduced to this Oklahoma City attraction through an episode of “Dirty Jobs.” Mike Rowe assisted the folks at Skulls Unlimited, the for-profit side of the museum, to learn how they prepare animal bones for preservation and display.

The museum believes understanding and education lead to appreciation of the natural world and its conservation. The only skeleton museum in America, it displays more than 300 skeletons from all over the world in its collection that focuses on the form and function of the skeletal system.

One of the most impressive sights at the museum is the massive 40-foot humpback whale specimen suspended from the museum’s ceiling.

Warning: Not for the faint of heart.

10301 S. Sunnylane Road, Oklahoma City; 405-814-0006; www.museumofosteology.org

2.

American Banjo Museum Along with hosting several of the city’s biggest tourist draws, Bricktown also is home to the American Banjo Museum. The ABM houses the largest collection of banjos on public display and is the nation’s only museum dedicated to “America’s instrument.”

Visitors can learn how the banjo evolved over centuries and see some of the most elaborate, over-the-top examples — think gold, mother of pearl and other fine materials.

9 E. Sheridan Ave., Oklahoma City; 405-604-2793; www.americanbanjomuseum.com

3.

Science Museum Oklahoma Formerly known as the Omniplex, Science Museum Oklahoma is the perfect destination for kids and kids at heart.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

Recently the museum opened its newest family exhibit, CurioCity, a village of eight neighborhoods with individual personalities that allow kids to learn, explore and play.

The museum also boasts a planetarium and several other science-related exhibits.

Science Museum Oklahoma is located in Oklahoma City’s Adventure District, near Remington Park, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, the Amateur Softball Association National Softball Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma City Zoo. 2100 N.E. 52nd St., Oklahoma City; 405-602-6664; www.sciencemuseumok.org

4.

American Pigeon Museum Originally known as the American Homing Pigeon Institute, the American Pigeon Museum has called Oklahoma City home for more than 40 years. Visitors learn about pigeon breeds, racing and homing pigeons, and the history associated with the bird. Over the decades, the museum has come to house the continent’s largest memorabilia collection of racing and fancy pigeons (birds known for their unique coloring or fanning). Pigeons and their role in the military is closely investigated, too.

Numerous family events and special exhibits are held throughout the year; plus, don’t miss the live pigeon displays.

2300 N.E. 63rd St., Oklahoma City; 405-478-5155; www.theamericanpigeonmuseum.org

5.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art The Oklahoma City Museum of Art opened in 2002 and has since dazzled visitors with its collection of European and American art. One of the museum’s greatest assets is its Dale Chihuly glass collection — one of the most comprehensive in the world.

Through 2016, visit “The Modernist Spectrum: Color and Abstraction,” which explores post World War II American abstract expressionism.

415 S. Couch Drive, Oklahoma City; 405-236-3100; www.okcmoa.com tþ

Photos courtesy Skeletons: A museum of osteology, American Banjo Museum, Science Museum Oklahoma, American Pigeon Museum, OKC Museum of Art/Joseph Mills Photography

A

by ANNE BROCKMAN

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TulsaPeople.com

77

IN THE GARDEN

The Sunshine privet is bright yellow all year and does not produce flowers or seeds.

It was developed in 2002 by Pat McCracken at the McCracken Nursery in Zebulon, North Carolina.

A plant named sunshine The Chinese privet variation offers an abundance of yellow to the garden.

P

Story and photo by RUSSELL STUDEBAKER

P       this year with the yellow-leafed Chinese privet, Ligustrum sinense or “Sunshine.”

This plant mutation of the Chinese privet is a major breakthrough, not only because it is yellow-gold in color, but also because it is sterile and non-flowering.

Although privets are in the olive family and closely related to lilacs, they have been a bane to the environment in the United States.

After flowering, the green Chinese privet species produces many black waxy fruits, which are eaten and spread widely by birds. As a result, the green Chinese privet has become one of Oklahoma’s 10 most invasive plants, according to the Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council. It often is found in abandoned and wooded areas, as well as flood plains.

Conversely, the Sunshine privet is a welcome addition and accent to the landscape without any negative effects to the environment.

Sunshine privet is an evergreen — in this case, an evergold — and has tinges of orange

color in the winter foliage. It matures to a height of 5 or more feet with a width of 4-6 feet. You can choose to prune it or leave it in its natural growth shape.

Pests don’t bother it, and its color lasts yearround. There appears to be no downside to this remarkable ornamental shrub, and so I bought one, too.

Here are some of the many other advantages and characteristics of Sunshine privet:

• Deer resistant • Heat tolerant • Mildew resistant • Fast growing • Urban tolerant • Long living • Insect resistant • Salt tolerant • Great for making topiary shapes • Drought tolerant and adaptive to a variety of soil conditions

WHE RE TO FIND

Its best color is in full sun, but it will produce some color in part shade. It is not fussy about soil as long as it is well drained.

In the landscape, use Sunshine privet for hedges, screening or mass plantings or as a background plant for annuals, perennials and other shrubs and foundation plantings. It also can be planted in mixed small container plantings.

When using it for hedges, remember to trim the top width more narrow than the sides and the bottom so the sun can reach the lower growth. Otherwise, the foliage will die back for lack of light.

Brighten your garden not only in winter, but all year with Sunshine privet.tþ

Russell Studebaker is a professional horticulturist, book author and garden writer in Tulsa and can be reached at russell.studebaker@cox.net.

Local nurseries that have the Sunshine Privet: Colebrook Nursery, 918-445-0539; Sanders Nursery, Broken Arrow, 918-486-1500; and Southwood Nursery, 918-299-9409.

78

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

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This remodeled kitchen’s bamboo cabinetry is a modern storage solution for this cook’s domain. Custom cooktops and a custom sink provide ample opportunity for meal prep and entertaining space.

Ideas to inspire

Three recent remodels showcase hot trends in Tulsa kitchens and baths.

W

W      hunker down and focus on creating the custom kitchen or luxurious bathroom you’ve fantasized about for years.

But choices have never been more abundant with the thousands of perfectionist posts on blogs, Pinterest and Instagram. Do you want clean and minimal white, or will you be daring and choose a warm-colored wood? Should you go granite or quartz? Brushed nickel or bronze?

Good news for the decision weary: These three projects from

by KIM BROWN

Tulsa-area designers can guide and inspire you to try something new and make your vision more cohesive. All of these projects are customized for the homeowners’ lifestyles. That’s the only design rule that matters.

Custom kitchen creation A cook’s kitchen does not have to feel fussy or sterile. Lynn Knight Jessee of Kitchen Concepts created a chef ’s dream

space — complete with customized cooktop and sink — that has warmth and the simplicity of a more contemporary design.

“My client is a chef, and she wanted the kitchen as maintenance-free as possible,” Jessee says.

“She loves to cook, bake and entertain.”

Bamboo custom cabinetry provided a guide for the space. It’s warm but also has a modern edge.

“And bamboo is a green product, so that’s the nice thing about it,” Jessee says. “We accented the bamboo with the stainless steel shelves,

(existing) refrigerator and the toekicks at the bottom of cabinets.”

Granite was the choice for the countertops and the backsplash, which gives the area a seamless flow and a clean look. The appliances — a Bosch double oven and warming drawer — are handy when cooking for a crowd. And the cooktop was customized just for the cook.

“We did both a Thermador (gas) cooktop and an (electric) induction cooktop next to each other — it’s actually two units together,” Jessee says.

TulsaPeople.com

81

Stainless steel has reigned as the go-to material for kitchen appliances for nearly 20 years. But despite its continued popularity, as far as stainless goes, black is the new gray.

Linda Johnson of Metro Appliances and More says black stainless steel appliances (1) are the “softer, warmer alternative” to the classic stainless look.

“Every year, people ask me, ‘What’s the new color?’ and this year we finally have one,” she says. “It’s really beautiful.”

For remodelers who want to maximize appliance technology in the kitchen, Johnson highly recommends a newer oven on the market — the steam oven (2).

It’s often marketed as a convection steam oven, she explains, and cuts cooking time to a fraction, but the steam is what makes it special.

“It cooks with steam but browns, as well,” she says.

“It’s the healthiest way to eat — it doesn’t cook out all the nutrients and vitamins, and the taste and flavor are wonderful. Almost every brand carries one.”

And for the kitchen remodeler who wants that extra special touch — enter the wine dispensing station (3). Johnson says the model they carry, by Dacor, is a real treat for the wine lover.

“It has automated temperature control for four bottles and a wine preservation system that lasts up to three months,” she says.

Other kitchen technology trends to be on the lookout for in 2016 are double-doors or side-swing doors on ovens, Wi-Fi technology with smartphone control for appliances, refrigerators that dispense hot water (4) and even have built-in K-Cup technology for brewing a cup of coffee.

Emily Davis’ kitchen remodel included removing walls and re-thinking the space.

She used full-height cabinets to make the space feel taller. Materials like the Bianco Romano granite (below left) and the circle pendant light (below right) give modern touches.

Form over function When Emily Davis and her husband purchased their midtown Tulsa home a few years ago, the interior designer knew a kitchen remodel would happen eventually. So, she was patient — until their first baby was on the way.

“I knew the baby would change everything, so we had to finish the kitchen before he arrived,” she says.

First, she took out a wall in the galley kitchen to open it up and provide flow to the back living area and stairs. Then, she added a peninsula counter with a built-in custom cabinet behind it with glass doors to showcase her collection of glassware and dishes. The lighting above is a simple, but elegant circle pendant.

“I’m definitely a form-over-function girl,” Davis says. “I’m all about pretty. But I needed to maximize the space, so we had to reconfigure the layout. That’s why I chose the full-height cabinets. It makes the space feel so much taller.”

Davis used a good design trick to make a small kitchen appear clutter free. She covered 82

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

appliances with panel fronts, and incorporated them with the custom cabinets.

“I didn’t want to go all white,” she says. “As a designer you have to be willing to do something different so you can show your clients, so I painted the cabinets Urbana Bronze from Sherwin-Williams. It’s the perfect brown/ black/gray.”

And the granite she chose for the countertops has flecks of garnet — the slab is called Bianco Romano — which brings out the color of the cabinets.

“When you’re working with natural materials, every slab is different,” she says. “I got so lucky with this slab. It has a super unique veining for the kind of stone it is.”

Her advice: Don’t worry about what everybody else is doing.

“I think the main thing is to have more fun,” she says. “People tend to be really subtle with their kitchens, and while it’s a big investment, remember, nothing lasts forever.”

Continued on p. 84

Announce Your Recent Wedding In TulsaPeople

&Constance Tho

Travis Nicks

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by a reception.

OCT. 10, 2014 ny, followed sity med ceremo t at the Univer in a “Gatsby”-the met Thomas, a studen USS Santa Fe before 150 guests from Tulsa, ed with the he is station cer originally said their vows and Thomas submarine offi Hawaii, where is a U.S. Navy New York and eventually n Center, Nicks l, Nicks, who to c Tulsa Garde In the histori couple moved of Linguistics. r Power Schoo Navy Nuclea courtship, the i’s Department While in the ro. Over their B   Hawai eensbo of R sity na-Gr   of North Caroli ’s candidate in the Univer P  master and she is a

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Y 2015 TulsaPeople JANUAR

Abby Susman and Frank Gibson MAY 16, 2015 After meeting at a friend’s wedding, love blossomed over Skype conversations for Gibson, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and Susman.

Each visited the other in their hometown and eventually, Gibson moved to Oklahoma to further the relationship.

“Frank surprised me with a picnic one morning in May at Natural Falls State Park,” Susman says. “I complained during the entire picnic until he got down on one knee in front of the waterfall to propose.”

The couple married at First United Methodist Church and blended Scottish traditions into the ceremony. several

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E P 

TulsaPeople SEPTEMBER 2015

Joanna Slyter and David Jeffries APRIL 11, 2015 After nights of steak dinners and crossword puzzles during shifts at Doe’s Eat Place, friendship grew into love for Slyter and Jeff ries.

In celebration of her 30th birthday, a road trip to Santa Fe and sunsets inspired Jeff ries to propose. stunning The couple had an intimate morning ceremony and downtown reception. brunch “We are both fairly private people and don’t relish being the center tion,” she says. “We decided that of attena small ceremony with just family and a few close friends would be perfect for us.”

J L P 

Elaine Davis and Chris Jackson MAY 16, 2015 Tulsan Davis and Oklahoma City native Jackson met while working at Devon Energy.

While vacationing in Seaside, Florida, the couple rode bikes to the Natchez Pavilion to watch the sunset.

“After a couple glasses of Champagne, Chris handed me a card,” Davis “I was suddenly nervous. The says. card had a picture of our chocolate lab wearing a sign that said ‘Say Yes!’” They married in Seaside at the Seaside Interfaith Chapel, a unique found on a visit to the Gulf Coast site they community.

“I was never one of those girls who dreamed about my wedding day,” Davis says, “but at that very moment I knew.”

P  M J

Kaitlyn Nicholson and Sterling Schneider APRIL 25, 2015

These Charles Page High School graduates dated for nearly six years before becoming engaged in July 2014.

Prior to leaving for a vacation to St. Louis, Schneider asked Nicholson’s father for his blessing.

“We had a little vacation planned to see her brother graduate Army and watch a Cardinals game,” basics he says. “When everyone was gathered around I surprised her in front of her whole family and asked the big question.”

She is a teller with Oklahoma Central Credit Union, and he works for Geek Squad in home theater installation.

The couple volunteers with “Search Rescue,” a downtown Tulsa ministry. and K J

In 2016, TulsaPeople will feature REAL WEDDINGS in May and October.

REAL WEDDINGS announcements will include wedding photos of the happy couple along with other details from their special day.

Visit TulsaPeople.com/ tulsaweddings for more information.

Cancel Your Reservations.

1603 S. Boulder Ave. • 918-585-9924 www.TulsaPeople.com

5313 S. Mingo Road, Tulsa | 918-622-7692

*Available on a limited basis for weddings 6 months prior to publication date.

With a selection of more than 50 brands, make dining in your first choice.

MetroAppliancesAndMore.com

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Accommodating the homeowners’ every desire was critical when designing this bathroom remodel and addition. With custom his-and-hers vanities, heated porcelain tile floors and a large, walk-in shower, the bathroom connects to a walk-in closet and a large utility room for ultimate convenience.

Continued from p. 82

A contemporary convenience

ON TREND: BATHROOMS

Creating a dream bathroom for Denise Hendrickson was the final phase of a yearlong full-home remodel and addition designed by Robin Rogers and constructed by her husband, Glen Rogers of Rogers and Associates.

The home’s transformation resulted in a contemporary master bath that works well with the home’s traditional decor. When remodeling the home, the husband-and-wife team decided

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The cluttered, frilly bathrooms of the past are staying put in their photo albums. The look for 2016 is white, contemporary and clean.

“It’s getting a little more modern for everybody,” says Jodie DeArmon with Heatwave Supply. “We’re seeing a lot of older clients wanting fresh and new, and the Millennials are still leaning toward straight and minimal.”

Touch-free faucets, white tile and accents (1) and floating toilets (2) are just some of the sleek features remodelers are looking for.

“Not many colors are coming into the mix except for grays — ice gray and that dune color are popular for paint,” he says.

“We’re rarely seeing any wallpaper at all.”

For bathtubs, Heatwave Supply is selling more bubble

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

to add 1,100 square feet to the house to create Hendrickson’s ideal master suite.

The bathroom’s focal points are custom, hisand-hers vanities with quartz countertops, custom mirrors and polished chrome fixtures.

“They told me they weren’t bath people; they were shower people, so we created a custom bath cabinet where the tub would normally go, but we put in all the plumbing (for a tub) beneath, so if they ever sell the home, it would already be there,” Robin Rogers says.

The shower is the bathroom’s star. The large walk-in with multiple showerheads was created massagers and AirMasseur tubs (3).

“Instead of water shooting out from jets, it surrounds you with bubbles,” he says. “It’s a lot easier to clean and maintain the temperature than with jets. And the most popular tubs are now acrylic — cast iron tubs are very heavy, so these are a lighter alternative.”

For showers, custom is what it’s all about. Multi-headed showers with body spray or rain can features, and his-and-hers two-head showers are popular.

“Vanities are still very contemporary with straight lines and recessed panels,” he says. “Many have no legs or feet — they’re hung from the wall. It keeps everything really clean.

And wall-hung toilets are also becoming extremely popular.

All you see is the bowl and the dual-flush actuator.”

specifically for the couple with fixtures set to the perfect height for each.

They step out onto heated floors, which add luxury and comfort. With a travertine look, the practical porcelain tile is laid in a pattern that maximizes the space.

Rogers designed the whole area to accommodate the homeowners’ needs. Hendrickson can walk out of the bathroom into a custom walk-in closet, which leads to a large utility room.

“I never have to leave this area to do laundry,” she says. “The only things I have to gather are kitchen towels.” tþ

McGraw Realtors

Luxury ProPerTy GrouP aT mCGraw reaLTors ranCh aCres

Tim hayes

3919 S. Delaware Place Mid-Century Modern Ranch Style home with contemporary updates!

Granite kitchen has SS appliances and is open to family room with fireplace.

Master bedroom has en-suite expanded bath and big closet. Lower level game room and office with full bathroom. Park-like backyard! $539,000

918.231.5637 Tim@TimHayesJr.com

KeLLy howard 918.230.6341

Grand LaKe

khoward@mcgrawok.com

Sawmill Hollow Point Custom home built for large family gatherings.

Six bedrooms, Five full and one half baths, three living areas, huge open living space on main floor with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Grand, leading out to large outdoor living space on two levels to a two-slip dock. $2,100,000

diana PaTTerson 918.629.3717 dpatterson@mcgrawok.com

Braniff hiLLs

sherri sanders

2916 E. 68th Street Stunning contemporary home. Artisan craftsmanship throughout. Limestone and hickory floors, exotic granites and sleek cabinetry. Soaring ceilings, ceiling-to-floor stone fireplace and wet bar.

Dining, study, music, game and fitness rooms. Beautiful gardens and waterfall. $895,000

918.724.5008 ssanders@mcgrawok.com

Gordon sheLTon 918.697.2742 Gordon@GordonShelton.com

ConTaCT The Luxury ProPerTy GrouP and enjoy The

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The Luxury ProPerTy GrouP 918 739-0397 TulsaPeople.com

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McGraw Realtors

a neTworK of BroKers rePresenTinG The finesT ProPerTies worLdwide McGraw realtors has enjoyed the reputation of beinG northeastern oklahoMa’s leader in sellinG luxury hoMes. the luxury property Group at McGraw is an extension of this reputation. the luxury property Group brinGs toGether these experts in MarketinG luxury and unique properties, eMployinG the hiGhest standards.

ViLLaGe on uTiCa

aVaLon PLaCe

1630 E. 31st Street - Tuscany inspired home featuring walled courtyard with pool and outdoor fireplace. First floor master suite with second bedroom/bath on first floor. Beamed ceiling overlooks living. Open granite kitchen and dining. Spacious game/media room with wet bar. $890,000

3020 S. Trenton Ave. - One owner custom built smart home. Architect Rachel Zebrowski calls it “Desert Mediterranean”. Large pool overlooks green belt and Crow Creek. Four bedrooms, four full and one half bath. Three living areas and seven fireplaces. Two car garage. Granite, eat-in island kitchen. $1,150,000

VinTaGe on Grand LaKe

souTh Lewis ParK

Four bedrooms, four baths home with great lake views. Move-in-ready, completely furnished, including linens and dishes. 36’ X 14’ boat slip, space for one seadoo. Over-the-top appliances, awesome outdoor living space! $479,000

2441 E. 31st Street - Exceptional luxury with dramatic foyer, great room with fireplace and elegant dining. Culinary marble kitchen opens to pool with Cabana. First floor laundry, mud room, guest sroom with full bath. Master has marble bath and European closets. Second master with private bath and third bed room up. Lower level rec and theater room with fireplace. $989,000

The Luxury ProPerTy GrouP 918 739-0397 86

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

ParK TerraCe

Tim hayes

1630 E. 32nd Street Quality new construction in the heart of Midtown on a beautiful lot. Covered patio with outdoor fireplace.

Master down with one additional bedroom down.

Large kitchen opens to family room, stainless appliances, granite throughout. Three car garage. $879,000

918.231.5637 Tim@TimHayesJr.com

KeLLy howard 918.230.6341

5 aCre woods

khoward@mcgrawok.com

4821 E. 99th Street LUSH ESTATE! This masterpiece is full of old world charm. No detail has been overlooked during the remodeling stages. This property sits on almost 1 acre in the middle of south Tulsa. Close to shopping, dining and expressway.

Bonus could be 6th bedroom. $1,495,000

diana PaTTerson 918.629.3717 dpatterson@mcgrawok.com

sherri sanders

Grand LaKe Fox Pointe in Lawhead Hollow, three bedrooms, two full and one half baths.

Great views, 178’ of shoreline, dockable, brand new and construction completed, hardwoods, tile, stainless, three car garage, fireplace and open living space with great outdoor living! $650,000

918.724.5008 ssanders@mcgrawok.com

Gordon sheLTon 918.697.2742 Gordon@GordonShelton.com

ConTaCT The Luxury ProPerTy GrouP and enjoy The

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The Luxury ProPerTy GrouP 918 739-0397 TulsaPeople.com

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McGraw Realtors

Luxury ProPerTy GrouP aT mCGraw reaLTors

McGraw Realtors

918-629-3717

www.southgrandlake.com • Recognized As Achieving “15 Million Plus” in Volume In 2015 • Member Of The Luxury Property Group At McGraw

CONCEPT-BUILDERS.COM

Located on the southern shores of Grand Lake, The Grottos integrates elegant high-end Mediterranean inspired custom homes into a natural environment reminiscent of Italy’s Amalfi coast.

Designs range from bungalows to zero lot line homes to larger residences for growing families.

Each has spacious interiors with 12 ft. ceilings, high end finishes, fireplaces, plentiful windows to bring in natural light, and patios or balconies offering views of the lake.

Boat slips (limited availability), a covered pavilion, tennis/basketball court, and other outdoor amenities will provide year-round enjoyment for residents.

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McGraw Realtors TulsaPeople.com

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McGraw Realtors

B COT ulsa.com b ro wnan dc o @m cg r a w o k .co m

91 8 .8 8 4 .7 7 1 8

3810 S Utica Avenue - $750,000 Stunning remodel featuring show-stopping transitional finishes in an ideal Midtown location! Huge Gourmet Kitchen with gorgeous granite counters, soft-close cabinets, stainless steel appliances and commercial range with nearby coveted “her� Office or Craft Room. Open Family Room with stone fireplace, private Study, elegant Formal Dining and breathtaking Master Suite with dream Bath on first floor. Three oversized Bedrooms, cedar storage closet and large Game Room with built-ins up. Showcase of designer touches including wide-planked hardwoods, high-end fixtures, reclaimed wood accents and more. Circle drive, large yard with covered Deck and custom Pergola.

Carol Brown Janis Taylor Team Leader

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Realtor Associate

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

Gannon Brown Realtor Associate

Philip Shain Realtor Associate

Jane Luitwieler Scott Zittritsch April Jobe Realtor Associate

Closing Agent

Listing Agent

McGraw Realtors

CarmaGrigsby.com

Carma Grigsby

260-1800

Specializing in Fine Quality Homes

11415 South Sandusky

Exceptionally stunning, this luxury custom home features four bedrooms, four full and two half baths and four-car garage. Grand living and dining rooms with views, family room opens to wonderful chef’s kitchen with enormous Labradorite granite island.

Wide plank wood flooring throughout.

Entry door, office and doors to patio are 100-year-old hand-carved wood with special hardware. Down stairs basement features theater room. Staircase to second floor game room is made of 100-year-old Mountain Maple. Wet bar in game room.

In-ground gunite pool is surrounded by expansive patios. Words cannot express what an exceptional home this is. One of the most beautiful settings in this gated neighborhood. $1,850,000

14556 Courtney Lane

Like New, full brick split pan home. Open kitchen to family room with fireplace. Large nook area looking out to covered patio. Kitchen with granite, SS appliances and pantry. Wood floors in formal dining. Master has double vanity, separate shower, and Whirlpool tub. Great Location! $199,900

7435 S. Gary Place Stunning brick and stone French home on 1/2 acre corner lot in Guierwoods III, Jenks. Kitchen/Family room has dramatic vaulted ceilings with wood burning fireplace. Huge 10’ center island features 8’ X 4’ custom built, lighted pot rack, double ovens, sub zero refrigerator, cook top with built-in grill. Formal dining room and formal living room with fireplace. Office with boocase, hobby room and exercise room. Hardwood floors, crown moldings and decorative moldings around windows and doorways. Four bedrooms, four full baths and two half baths. In-ground Lagoon pool, gazebo and fire pit perfect for entertaining. Three car garage. Jenks Schools.

7907 S. Braden Avenue

Gated Holland Lakes. Gormet Kitchen unlike any in Tulsa.

Breakfast Bar & Dining nook, two Viking refrigerators, 6cm granite, three levels of living. Huge game room with wet bar, second gameroom, three bedrooms plus three bonus rooms, four car garage with safe room. 5 zones. $980,000

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McGraw Realtors

3458 s. delawaRe ave. - Over 1,000 sq. ft. of new construction.

Open contemporary concept with vaulted ceilings and lots of natural light. Kitchen is new with 12 ft granite island, custom sink & state-of-the-art applainces. New Master suite with luxury bath plus additional 2 bedrooms & 2.5 baths. New outdoor covered patio with fireplace and antique ceiling.

Call for list of updates. $645,000

10625 S. Garnett rd. Gracious Georgian manor home on 5 acres.

A winding drive and a pool with a fountain greet you through the gate. There are over 6000 sq. ft. of pure luxury in this home. Gorgeous woodwork, and deep crown moldings. Marble entry. Large 2651 center S. St. island LouiS kitchen.

- Orginial home views in John Book’s granite Fabulous andWalton balconies.

Salt-is exceptional in design. The water pool.marble $1,350,000 circullar staircase greats you as you enter with an imprssive 3 story entry with

orginial fixtures. Extensive use of wood and moldings throughout will be a feast for the eyes. The kitchen has been updated with large prep island. 4 bedrooms located on the 2nd floor. Master retains the orgianl tile bath. Basement clubroom with laundry and storage. Guest apartment is updated located over the 3 car garage. Pool. $1,150,000

3120 e. 71st stReet- Located on a cul-de-sac on over 1.4 acres of private grounds and mature landscaping. The house is sprawling with wing of three bedrooms having large master suite and pullman bath between the other two beds. Office opens to master suite. Poured terazzo floors in the living area and hallways. $495,000

6010 E. 117th St. Beautiful new listing in the prestigious South Tulsa neighborhood of River Oaks. This English Estate has every amenity possible to make easy. kitchen 6519 S. Gary ave. living - Located on aOpen culdesac behind and familyroom hasSouthernHills. granite and stainless appliances.

The The hosue is a beautiful drive up withmasgreat ter suite offers sitting area with fireplace to cozy up on winter landscaping, extra parking and a rear entry garage. The nights, the spa bathhouse has afeatures salted2 bedrooms soakingon tub. additional bedthe3first floor each having rooms. Billards room has full kitchen, media room and more. access to $2,995,000 a bath. Spacious kitchen with granite and tile Call for more information. flooring. Upsatirs has 2 bedrooms, bath, plus game room and exercise room. Ultimate outdoor kitchen with all the stainless applainces you need. Pool. $510,000

7306 s. GaRy Place - Gated Guierwoods has a beautiful view of the greenspace wich has beautiful mature trees and lanscaping. Two story entry with natural light and stone flooring. Open living and dining. Eat-in kitchen with Corian counters and large pantry. Master on first floor. Two bedrooms upstairs. $365,000

3266 e. 75th St. well - Custom2404 built home with quality 7777 S.front JameStown ave. with - Amazing customchairs built Jack Arnold 60 woodward BLvd. - Boston Cir. SquareThis Condos with close accessbackyard.

6623 S. Evanston could be your This E. 28th St. Wide porch rocking makes aRy adoor venueopen to office home built for the current owners. Attention to details are in 7245 s.you Gfront craftsmanship.

Beautiful to Riverparks and newwith Gathering Place. First floor features appointed home gorgeous wood, hardware and marble is glass feel welcome in this colonial style home. Large open rooms paneling, built-ins with & fireplace.

Formal living everymake room ofthe the house.

Hardwood beamed ceilings, combo living/dining area having fireplaceisand wetbar.

The with situated on 2.8 acres.

The ahouse close to 8000 sq. rich ft. beautifully a lots of windows house great floors, lots of living.

Gated Guierwoods offers private 2300floor.

RiveRside 12Glots- Best Viewfor in 2300!!

Custom and dining rooms.

Large center islanda kitchen with on beautiful cabinetry and ofsuite natural light make this house kitchen has solidand wood cabinetry Corianlot. countertops. landscaped has a largeandtreed The 6 bedrooms, kitchen Hardwood floors 1st Master plus additional oais with twotosepearte patioMaster areas suite one ofherringbone floors each havehaving just walk-in been has refinished. high-end opens family room. a kind.up.

6 bedrooms closetscenter and full Upstairs featuesliving master suite with double closets, large bath and formal areas are on one-level.

There are 7appliances full baths bedroom and 3 bedrooms Spacious kitchen each having beautiful views.game Theroom located on the first floor.

Upstairs features baths.

2 located on first floor.

Lower level has high ceilings, Open living area has pretty moldings and ceiling. and private balcony.

Second bedroom plus study, full bath and and one ½ bath. Large lower level gameroom with full kitchen island and double dishwashers. 3 living areas. $898,000 house isbedrooms. impecableWonderful with open plus two additional outdoor mediaKitchen room, with gamedouble room,ovens kitchenette plus work room. laundry.

Calloverlooks for more details and planning desk.out Third and bath a beautiful pool. $1,500,000 granitehaskitchen.

Two bedrooms entertaining space stone fireplace. $599,900on the first floor with private baths.

Upstairs feautres a guest suite having bedroom, bathroom and walk-in closet. $577,000

All outside surfaces are covered in Pennsylvia bluestone bedroom is open to the living area with custom tile.

Inground pool.doors.

Call for details.is being used has an French 3rdmore bedroom office with extensive built-ins. Two additional bedrooms. Master has spacious bath and closet.

Must see unit. $495,000

2165 E. 26th Place - Forest Hills Absolutely Gorgeous! Five bedrooms, five full and two half baths, livingE.areas andMagnificent four fireplaces. Excellent 3126 E. 87th PL Gated Wellington 4942 E. 103rd St. Custom Built in Wexford 10520 S.four 91st Ave. home in conditionPark insideIIand out. Widows, and all South has view of the pond. Recently by Murphy has been nicely updated. Formal Legacy built

by Bill skylights, Hayneskitchen Homes.

The baths remodeled.

Master could be down or up both having 6423 S. i ndianapoLiS a ve .

Modern twist with a great floorplan 11413 e.

132 nd p L .

Custom built home with attention to 59th pLKitchen . Gated Garden Parkbacksplash, with hardwoodopen floorplan is great for entertaining with remodeled with attention grabbing living2117 and e.dining. has tile make this in house one ofroom. a kind. Gated courtyard with2koi granite pond floorscounters detail inroom every Located on overOutdoor an acrekitchen. of land.

Master beautiful baths.room.

Pool.

Putting Green.

Backs and lots of natural Combo formal living andgreat details every 5 bedrooms, and light. stainless appliances. having stone fireplace.

Granite opens to double front1st doors.

Floating formalRedone living and dining plusCrown 2 additional bedrooms down.bridge.

Upstairs features game dining. Kitchen double windows overlooking front to Creek your personal $1,750,000 located on the floor.

Study.

Familyroom withhasbuilt-ins and fireplace.

3 kitchen has with stainless appliances and cherry is over a lower with level family stone fireplace. room, 2 other bedrooms and office.onOpen with patio. on Kitchen appliances. bedrooms. 2bedbaths.cabinets. gameroom wet room bar. having Beautifully bedroms 1st Aid floor with 2 2additional Office.

3 bedrooms the kitchen first floor.

Spacious eat-in kitchen with pantry. Bedroom wing features Alderwood cabinetry and Expansion granite counters.

Saferoom.

4 car used has a studio. landscaped. $760,000 roomsBonus up room + gameroom and $175,000 sitting area. New Plantation Shutters. space upstairs private study. Master suite plus 4 additional bedroomsRoof. and $475,000 garage.

Must See! with plans.

Call for more details. $334,500 pullman baths. Large lot. $419,000

Wonderful lot to build your dream home on in Woodlar. The property is 1.077 acres. $275,000 92

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

McGraw Realtors

7219 S. e vAnSton

3462 S. A tlAntA P lAce

Fabulous French Chateau. One of Tulsa’s most recognizable homes. Sits on several acres of groomed and landscaped grounds.

Unmatched luxury with tall ceilings and spectacular finishes. Several bedroom suites plus and apartment. Almost 20,000 sq ft.

Exclusive custom designers home. Most of the fixtures were purchased in Europe. Hand trowlled walls, custom cabinets. Fabulous paint finishes. The kitchen is a chef’s dream.

2 dishwashers, french range & oven & butlers area. Fountain & fireplace in outdoor area.

$4,950,000

$1,399,000

!

!

D OL

D OL

S

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1436 e. 35 th P lAce

2442 S. c incinAtti A venue

Fabulous newer construction in Brookside. Massive center island in the beautiful stainless & granite kitchen. Box car wood ceiling in dining area. Reclaimed beams from 1800’s in vaulted family room. Vaulted master and study. Extensive landscaping wrocks & boulders. Misting system in back. $619,000

Builder’s own home. Large open rooms and tall ceilings. Cast stone mantels and pillars.

Heated floors throughout most of the first floor! Five living areas! Outdoor living with kitchen and salt water pool. $1,095,000

1020 e. 21 St S treet Majestic historic home. Beautifully maintained and updated. Sits on one of a double-lot property. Recent 1st floor master suite add-on with large master bath and walk-in closet. Kitchen expansion with granite center island. Finished basement with fireplace and wet bar. Quarters.

$1,049,000

TulsaPeople.com

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McGraw Realtors

918.994.1235

chriszinngroup@mcgrawok.com www.chriszinngroup.com

1238 E 27th Place

$475,000

Perfect blend of modern & traditional in the heart of Sunset Terrace! Hardwoods, beautiful windows & great architectural design! Granite Kitchen, 2 Living, 2 Dining, Study & Master down. 3 large Bedrooms up with open landing area plus indoor safe room & storage room. Courtyard-style patio & mature landscaping. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2-car garage. Tulsa Edison Schools.

Chris Zinn Team Leader

Jill Taylor Realtor

Suzy Stewart Realtor

Brooks Cone Realtor

Kevia Buckley Realtor

Tuesdye Fletcher Closing Manager

Traci Zinn Listings/Staging

Esplanade - 7300 South Lewis Avenue

Esplanade Condominium Amenities Security ◆ Gated entry ◆ Entry by code or phone ◆ Security cameras Community ◆ Pool ◆ New clubhouse ◆ Community herb garden Maintenance ◆ Lawn ◆ Roof ◆ Exterior painting If you are considering an upscale lifestyle change, please consider Esplanade.

Esplanade is Tulsa’s finest garden-style condominium community. Enjoy lovely neighbors, beautiful gardens and walking paths. Each home has its own private courtyard, spacious living areas, two-car garage as well as additional guest parking area. Many properties have been updated to Architectural Digest standards and others you can treat as a blank canvas and make design changes to customize to your personal taste. Call Rodger Erker at 918-740-4663 to see available properties or to be put on the waiting list for future offerings.

Rodger Erker 918-740-4663

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

◆ Handyman available ◆ Termite Monitoring ◆ Water/Sewer/Trash included in dues ◆ Garages with storage and electric overhead doors ◆ Mature trees in charming private courtyards

McGraw Realtors

Allison JAcobs 918-850-2207 Call or Text

ajacobs@mcgrawrealtors.com

2677 Terwilleger Boulevard

2260 E. 33 r d S t r e e t -

Contemporary stone split-level home with concrete and wood floors. Kitchen has St. Charles cabinets and eating bar. Four bedrooms, three full and one half bath and two-car garage.

Complete remodel, beautiful!

Huge lot, mature trees, oneof-a-kind! $420,000

Want to own a piece of Tulsa History? Former Designer Showcase home sits on large Midtown lot, close to Utica Square and Philbrook. Remodeled, freshly painted inside and out, refinished hardwood floors and NEW kitchen!

Four bedrooms, two full and three half baths. In-ground pool with UV light filtration system - no chemicals needed. $1,100,000

Scott coffman

Bovasso

918-640-1073

scoffman@mcgrawok.com US EO M! G R TO GOCUS

3636 South Florence Place

7035 E. 118th Street Beautiful estate on cul-desac lot. Amazing kitchen! Oversized master, office plus second bedroom down! Multiple living areas and media room. Granite, hand scraped hardwoods, custom tile and iron work throughout. Safe room!

Lagoon pool and hot tub. Four+ car garage!

Price Reduction. $875,000 T !

EA ION R T G A C LO

Stunning one-level in Ranch Acres. Three bedrooms, two full and one half baths. Formal living and dining, wood floors. Beautiful entry, spacious living with fireplace and wet bar. Views of gorgeous yard with pool from kitchen, living and master. Eating bar and granite countertops in updated kitchen.

Totally updated baths. Two-car garage. Very large private lot with deck and mature trees. $449,000

& Beal Team

Sharna Bovasso (918) 605-2995 | sbovasso@mcgrawok.com Dee Ann Beal (918) 688-5467 | dbeal@mcgrawok.com

2235 S. St. Louis Avenue Midtown family home with great curb appeal! Hardwoods, three living areas, kitchen opens to den, nice master with en suite bath, spacious bedrooms, pool and quarters. Close to Utica Square, Woodward Park and St. John’s Hospital. $345,000

IC Y EN TR !

C N S U TE A CO ST E

6126 E. 191st Street Full brick custom home on 10 acres with additional land available. Chef’s granite kitchen and new Miele fridge. Four living areas and hardwoods. Master suite with sauna.

Saltwater pool. Morton 3250 sq.ft. building with stable and RV parking. New $100,000 Decra roof! $850,000 W G! NETIN S LI

7713 E. 28th Court Adorable home with nice curb appeal. Spacious family room with hardwoods opens to cute kitchen. Large eating area and counter top seating. Huge master (used to be two rooms) with double closets. Backyard is a nature lover’s dream. Backs to park and has a babbling brook. $94,900 TulsaPeople.com

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Gracelynn & Kylee S.

bonded at birth.

Kylee has had brain surgery, so when she learned she was pregnant, her excitement quickly turned to caution. After speaking with her doctor, she learned a c-section would be the safest option for delivery. Although disappointed she couldn’t have a natural childbirth, she understood it was for the best. Fortunately, the Peggy V. Helmerich Women’s Health Center at Hillcrest Medical Center offers gentle c-sections, allowing Kylee and daughter, Gracelynn, to bond immediately after birth. She remembers the moment Gracelynn was laid on her chest; it is a memory she will never forget.

To learn more about Kylee’s life-changing experience at the Peggy V. Helmerich Women’s Health Center, visit Hillcrest.com.

Hillcrest.com | 918.585.8000 “Like” us on Facebook.

H E A LT H

Ben, Sawyer, Natalie and Nolan Alexander at The Tavern, where Ben is the executive chef.

Find out more at www.heartsofsteelfoundation.org.

Brave heart

A Tulsa family helps others experiencing similar circumstances.

N

NATALIE  BEN ALEXANDER   the news during Natalie’s 10th ultrasound.

Their baby, Sawyer, had a congenital heart defect called Ebstein’s anomaly.

The multiple ultrasounds were necessary because Natalie had gestational diabetes, requiring regular monitoring. Otherwise, the defect would not have been detected.

“It kind of saved his life because he was so sick after birth,” Natalie Alexander says. “They made me do a Cesarean because we knew about it — so I don’t know if he would have survived a normal birth.”

After he was born, Sawyer was diagnosed with three more defects. He had two large holes in his right atrium and an electrical disorder called Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome (see box on p. 98).

Surgeons performed his first procedure when he was 1 day old. Sawyer was surgically attached to an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) bypass machine, which Alexander describes as a last-resort life support machine. It oxygenates and removes carbon dioxide from the blood, allowing the heart and lungs to rest.

by RACHEL WEAVER SMITH

“He was on that for eight days because his heart was so sick and so enlarged,” Alexander says. “(The heart) was taking up pretty much his whole chest cavity so his lungs were not able to develop and inflate fully.”

Sawyer’s medical team wasn’t sure how he would respond to the treatment, but his heart reduced in size and his lungs were able to develop and expand.

“We got really lucky,” Alexander says.

When he was 7 months old, Sawyer underwent ablation surgery for WolffParkinson White syndrome. At 13 months, he had open-heart surgery, which included seven procedures. He also has had four other surgical procedures.

Sawyer, now 2, is a happy child who smiles all the time. His mom calls him Super Sawyer.

Before his open-heart surgery, Alexander describes him as a serious kid.

“Once we had his repair done, we really saw and noticed how sick he must have felt all the time,” she says. “Within hours of surgery, he was a totally different kid. He just laughed all the time.”

Sawyer’s journey is still unfolding, even after open-heart surgery. He has some developmental delays that continue to be addressed through speech, feeding, occupational and physical therapy.

It’s a guessing game, but Alexander says he will need some maintenance procedures later in his life.

“The good news is, because he has been fully repaired, it should never be quite as treacherous as it was for us in the beginning,” she says.

Because of their own experiences, the Alexanders established a nonprofit called Hearts of Steel Foundation. It aids Oklahoma families who need financial assistance because of congenital heart defects and long-term hospital stays. They’ve helped families pay for their utilities and gas when they have to travel out of state, in addition to many other expenses.

“Our son was not supposed to make it,” Alexander says. “He almost died several times.

He’s going to have a lifetime working harder than everyone else. We knew congenital heart defects existed logically, but we didn’t get it. Awareness finds funding, and funding provides a cure.” tþ TulsaPeople.com

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February is heart month Feb. 5, 2016 National Wear Red Day Feb. 6, 2016 45th annual Tulsa Heart Ball Exchange Center at Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. tulsaheartball.heart.org Feb. 7-14 Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week

HEART EPISODE EMERGENCIES EMSA has one of the highest cardiac survival rates in the country.

The rate is high above the national average: 31 percent compared to 7-10 percent.

EMSA attributes the positive statistic to three factors: paramedics, 911 dispatchers and bystanders.

“EMSA paramedics receive some of the most rigorous medic training in the country,” says Stephen Williamson, EMSA CEO. EMSA paramedics, alongside firefighter first responders, operate in what Williamson describes as a pit crew-like fashion, allowing the patient to receive efficient, multi-layered care. This, along with employing the latest, scientifically proven medical treatments, adds to paramedics’ training.

Bystanders are important because the person nearest the victim is critical to saving their life during cardiac arrest.

“If a bystander is able to perform CPR while EMSA paramedics are en route, the survival chance increases significantly,” Williamson says.

EMSA’s 911 dispatchers can act as CPR coaches until the ambulance arrives so the patient can receive immediate care.

“We’ve implemented three main changes over these last five years in treating cardiac arrest: chest compression fundamentals, defined treatment roles and expectations for resuscitation team members, and use of the latest scientifically validated therapies such as patient cooling, and, just within the past few months, use of active compression-decompression CPR,” says Jeffrey M. Goodloe, MD, NRP, FACEP, who oversees the cardiac arrest treatment plan and survival data analysis of EMSA. “We’re pushing to be the largest EMS system in the U.S. with 50 percent-plus survival from witnessed, bystander-CPR supported, out-of-hospital shockable heart rhythm cardiac arrests.”

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS Nearly one in every 100 babies is born with a congenital heart defect, according to the Children’s Heart Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Heather Cha, a cardiologist with St. John Health System, shares what congenital heart defects are and explains Sawyer’s defects: Congenital heart defects (also known as congenital heart disease) are abnormalities present at birth.

A defect results when the heart or blood vessels near the heart don’t develop normally before birth. There are many different types of congenital defects, ranging from simple to complex. Some are genetic.

Ebstein’s anomaly is a congenital heart defect affecting the tricuspid valve.

The valve is malformed, so it does not function properly to keep blood flow moving in the correct direction. Ebstein’s anomaly can range in severity. If mild, surgery might not be needed; if severe, it might require surgery. It is associated with other abnormalities, including an atrial septal defect (or ASD, a hole in the wall dividing the two upper chambers of the heart).

Patients with Ebstein’s anomaly may have a rapid heart rhythm as a result of a condition called Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome. The abnormal heart rhythm can be treated with medications or a catheter-based procedure called radiofrequency ablation.

CARDIAC ARREST

A person experiencing cardiac arrest will become unresponsive, collapse if standing and gasp or otherwise struggle to breath.

“The warning signs can vary greatly by the individual, and can be affected by gender, age or other health issues,” Williamson says. “However, common signs to look for include painful pressure or squeezing in the chest, neck, back or arms lasting more than a few minutes, shortness of breath, and nausea or lightheadedness.”

When someone appears to be going into sudden cardiac arrest, remember the 3 Cs: 1. Check the victim. Ask, “Are you OK?” 2. Call 911.

3. Compress. Begin CPR, pressing the down on the victim’s chest hard and fast.

It’s important to call 911 first, so that paramedics can be on their way while you perform CPR. To schedule CPR training, visit www.emsaonline.com.

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Celebrating 45 years, the annual Tulsa Heart Ball raises money for heart disease and stroke research, education and advocacy. The Sweethearts and Mavericks are area high school sophomores who are recognized at Heart Ball for their service to the American Heart Association throughout the year.

For tickets please visit TulsaHeartBall.Heart.org or call 918.877.8361 #TulsaHeartBall Sarah Stinnett

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

agenda ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ✻ OUT & ABOUT ✻ BENEFITS

Courtesy Special Olympics Oklahoma

2/27

Freezin’ for a reason

by BRITT GREENWOOD

W

hat’s better than a cool dip on a hot day? A freezing plunge in February, of course. It’s time for the annual Tulsa Polar Plunge at Safari Joe’s H2O water park, so prepare to belly flop into the wave pool for a good cause. Participants must raise at least $75 for Special Olympics Oklahoma and are encouraged to come in costume. 10 a.m., registration; 11 a.m., plunge.

4707 E. 21st St. Visit www.tulsapolarplunge.mysook.org.

Feline friend P. 107

✻

Prodigal art P. 108

✻

Press play P. 110 TulsaPeople.com

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CALENDAR

Can’t-miss events

FEBRUARY SUN

MON

1 Guthrie Green’s free Fitness on the Green classes continue during winter months; just head across the street to the Fly Loft for some after-work yoga.

8

7

TUES

WED

3

2

The hit musical “Kinky Boots” steps into the Tulsa Performing Arts Center spotlight.

Sunning on the deck of a new boat sounds tempting, right?

Check out the Tulsa Boat Show at River Spirit Expo at Expo Square.

4

10

11

SAT

6

See Native American art and craftsmanship, taste fresh fry bread and see various performances at the Glenpool Conference Center during the Greater Tulsa Indian Art Festival.

12

13

Join the over 1 million couples who have attended the Christian-based marriage getaway “Weekend to Remember” from FamilyLife at the Renaissance Hotel.

We all have a story to tell, so tell yours at “Ok, So Tulsa Story Slam” at Enso Bar. This month’s theme: “online dating.”

FEB. 1-7

FRI

5

Gabriel Iglesias’ comedic delivery will get your gut rolling at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

FEB. 2-7

9

THURS

Free admittance to Philbrook Museum for Second Saturday with family-oriented art activities, tours and scavenger hunts.

FEB. 12-14

14

18

15

19

20

26

27

17 Union High School PAC Train enthusiasts young will host some of and old can’t miss the Tulsa’s finest young Great Train Show. musicians during the All aboard for Expo Square. Tulsa Youth Symphony’s FEB. 13-14 winter concert.

22 Watch student filmmakers debut their projects at TU’s Spring Film Festival on campus. The free, public event includes refreshments for spectators and awards for standout films.

28

Attention metalheads: Iron Maiden will rock out the BOK Center with “The Book of Souls” world tour. Warning: Moshing may be difficult in stadium seating.

Fill your thrill meter at Liquid Nitro Arenacross, where motocross riders will race across the Ford Truck Arena at Expo Square.

FEB. 26-27

29

Runners can ditch the urban marathon and experience the rural setting of the Post Oak Challenge.

FEB. 27-28

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

TulsaPeople.com Visit our online calendar for additional and updated event information.

OUT & ABOUT

People, places and events

Tulsa Foundation for Architecture A Dec. 14 holiday gathering at the Tulsa Fire Alarm Building celebrated the life and contributions of the late Herb Fritz, a respected architect and co-founder and first president of TFA. TFA also organized a silent auction at the party to benefit the proposed Tulsa Fire Museum in that location. Pictured are Susie Wallace; Herb’s wife, Debbi Fritz; and Tom Wallace.

LIFE Senior Services Puttin’ on the Dog Event Chairs Denise Redmond and John Redmond and LIFE Senior Services CEO Laura Kenny attended a Friends for LIFE event Dec. 1 at Southwood Nursery. The event gathered auction and wine pull items for Puttin’ on the Dog: The Platinum Party, LIFE’s 20th anniversary gala on Feb. 11.

Tulsa Children’s Chorus On Dec. 11, the Tulsa Children’s Chorus performed its annual Sounds of the Season holiday concert at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. Grammywinning Metropolitan Opera star and Oklahoma native Leona Mitchell sang with the group.

Pictured are Erik Collins, the chorus’ board vice president; Kimberly Norman, board president; Mitchell; and Charlotte Blakely, artistic director.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

National Multiple Sclerosis Society Tulsan Jason Kearney was among 431 riders and 49 teams who participated in this fall’s Bike MS: The Road Divided, a two-day cycling event from Norman to Stillwater. The 30th anniversary event raised $330,000 for the National MS Society.

Pictured are teammates Paul Bush, Kearney, Adam Vanderburg and Michael Jacobson. Kearney has participated in the Bike MS event for 15 years. He was diagnosed with MS in 2015 and finds cycling helps manage his symptoms.

Leadership Oklahoma The Ross Group hosted a come-and-go holiday party for Leadership Oklahoma on Dec. 11 at the construction company’s new downtown office.

Approximately 200 people attended, including Phil Kaiser, Mark Barcus, Miranda Kaiser and Ben Kimbro.

Prevent Blindness Oklahoma Pictured at a previous Sip for Sight Patron Dinner are Matthew Stockman, Wanda Miller and Brandon Miller. The 25th anniversary Sip for Sight fundraiser is a wine-tasting gala on March 5. The 2016 patron dinner will be March 3.

CHARITABLE EVENTS REGISTRY

Fundraisers and fun happenings

FEBRUARY

compiled by JUDY LANGDON

Volunteer Spotlight

by JUDY LANGDON

Vickie Sanborn

Feb. 5 CHAIRITY AUCTION Benefits Rogers County Volunteers for Youth Inc. www.volunteersforyouth.com

StreetCats volunteer Angela DeWalt with Julie Chin, emcee of the 2016 My Furry Valentine fundraiser.

A

ngela DeWalt, StreetCats volunteer and vice president, became involved with the organization on her first visit there 10 years ago.

“I went to look for a companion for my cat,” she says. “I was so impressed and surprised by the relaxed demeanor of all the resident cats, I picked up a volunteer form that same day. I also fell in love with a darling little cat named Tara and adopted her the next weekend.”

StreetCats houses felines while they await adoption and advocates for reducing the number of stray and feral cats in Tulsa. The all-volunteer staff hosts its annual fundraiser, My Furry Valentine, to support the costs of its spay/neuter programs. And that event is where you will find DeWalt on Valentine’s Day. StreetCats mission: StreetCats Inc. believes that all cats deserve a home. We wish to reduce the population of unwanted cats by maintaining a spay and neuter program for feral cats and by sheltering cats who no longer have people to care for them. We seek adoptive families who value animals and who will love and protect our StreetCats.

Approximately how many cats have found homes through StreetCats? Since 2004, we have had over 1,220 adoptions. We do not place a time limit on a healthy cat’s life; they stay with us until an appropriate home is found.

Tell us about your popular voucher program, “A Stitch in Time.”

“A Stitch in Time” helps reduce the population of homeless cats in the Tulsa area. These spay/neuter vouchers are available to the public each month at a reduced cost of $20 each. (StreetCats picks up the remaining costs.) Since 1998, more than 6,500 vouchers have been used to spay or neuter feral and stray cats. tþ

Feb. 14 — My Furry Valentine 1:30-4:30 p.m. Tulsa Historical Society, 2445 S. Peoria Ave. Hors d’oeuvres, desserts, wine, silent auction, wine pull; live entertainment by pianist Scott McQuade of Play It Again Scott Entertainment. $25 in advance or $30 at the door, individuals; $45 in advance or $50 at the door, couples. Benefits StreetCats Inc. Contact Kathy Balsiger, cats@streetcatstulsa. org or 918-521-4039, or visit www.streetcatstulsa.org.

Feb. 5 MARDI GRAS MASQUERADE Benefits New Hope Oklahoma. www.newhopeoklahoma.org/mardigras2016 Feb. 5 SUPER HERO BOWLATHON Benefits Junior Achievement of Oklahoma. www.jaok.org Feb. 5 WOMEN OF THE YEAR: PINNACLE AWARDS Benefits YWCA Tulsa. www.WOTY-PA.org Feb. 6 COOKING UP COMPASSION Benefits Catholic Charities. www.cctulsa.org

Feb. 13 SWEETHEART DINNER AND TROLLEY TOUR Benefits the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture. www.tulsawine.com Feb. 13-14 HUGS & FISHES Benefits Oklahoma Aquarium. www.okaquarium.org

Feb. 14 MY FURRY VALENTINE Benefits StreetCats Inc. www.streetcatstulsa.org Feb. 16 LIVE UNITED LUNCHEON AND AWARDS Benefits Tulsa Area United Way. www.tauw.org/annualmeeting

Feb. 19 STREET PARTY Benefits Street School. www.streetschool.org

Feb. 6 JUNIOR WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF TBH “BUTTERCUP BASH” Benefits Tulsa Boys’ Home. www.tbhjuniorwomen.com

Feb. 20 IDOLS & ICONS: PURE FORM Benefits Tulsa Ballet. www.iconsandidols.org

Feb. 6 THE HEART OF HENRY Benefits Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless. www.tulsadaycenter.org

Feb. 20 LUNAR NEW YEAR Benefits Dillon International. www.dillonadopt.com/lunar

Feb. 6 TULSA HEART BALL Benefits American Heart Association. tulsaheartball.heart.org

Feb. 20 VINTAGE OSTATE LOYAL & TRUE Benefits the OSU Alumni Association Tulsa. www.orangeconnection.org/tulsavos

Feb. 9 FAT TUESDAY CRAWFISH BOIL Benefits Leadership Tulsa. www.leadershiptulsa.org

Feb. 24-26 ABERSONS & FRIENDS WAREHOUSE SALE Benefits Family & Children’s Services. www.fcsok.org

Feb. 11 PLAYDATE Benefits Heller Theatre Company. www.hellertheatreco.com Feb. 11 PUTTIN’ ON THE DOG: THE PLATINUM PARTY Benefits LIFE Senior Services. www.lifeseniorservices.org Feb. 11 SUNNY SIDE UP Benefits CAP Tulsa. www.captulsa.org/sunnysideup Feb. 11-14 HARWELDEN CABARET Benefits Arts & Humanities Council of Tulsa. www.ahhatulsa.org

Feb. 25 DIFFERENT STROKES Benefits Town & Country School. www.tandcschool.org Feb. 26 MEMORY GALA Benefits the Oklahoma Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. www.memorygala.org Feb. 27 POLAR PLUNGE Benefits Special Olympics Oklahoma. www.sook.org/polar-plunge.html Feb. 27 RED RIBBON GALA 2016 Benefits Tulsa CARES. www.redribbongala.org TulsaPeople.com

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BEHIND THE SCENE

Perspectives on local art and culture

The art of forgiveness

by GAIL BANZET-ELLIS

Feb. 14-April 3 — The Art of Forgiveness 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday; 5:30-8 p.m., Wednesday; 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Sunday.

First Presbyterian Church, 709 S. Boston Ave. Free. Open house events coinciding with First Friday Art Crawl are 6-9 p.m., March 4 and April 1. Special lecture with collector and donor Dr. Larry Gerbens, 4 p.m., March 6. Call 918-301-1032 or visit www.firstchurchtulsa.org/artofforgiveness.

Pieces from Dr. Larry and Mary Gerbens’ personal collection of prodigal son artwork will be on display in Feb. 14-April 3 at First Presbyterian Church of Tulsa. The couple published a book, top right, about the collection.

The Gerbens often accompany the exhibition to host educational seminars on the parable and art it has inspired.

Larry says the Tulsa showing will be one of the largest to date and will include pieces from the Calvin College collection and the Gerbens’ personal collection.

The couple commissioned many of the pieces from internationally known artists, some of whom have become close friends.

“We asked them to create a single piece, a diptych, triptych, whatever they wanted to do,” Larry says.

“We told them they were chosen because we liked their art, so be true to your work.”

Ceramics, textiles, dramatic oil paintings, watercolors expressing

movement and tension and a series of scenes carved in Honduran mahogany wood — Larry can describe each piece in minute detail with reverent passion for art and the timeless story.

“Just as a picture is worth 1,000 words, so a parable is worth 1,000 pictures,” he says.

The Gerbens’ evolving repertoire of prodigal son art also inspired a book, featuring images of each piece, artist commentary and collector’s notes.

“Mary and I learned a lot about publishing and a lot about our own faith walk through the process,” Larry says. “The artists wrote beautiful statements about their art.”

Although they each enjoyed successful careers in the medical

field, Larry says he and his wife — who also are former co-owners of three Michigan art galleries — treasure the opportunity to share such a timeless parable through artistic expression.

“We live in a very visual culture where art elevates us all,” he says.

“The arts make people think outside the box.”

Best of all, Larry says art helps society understand how even the gravest sins can be forgiven. tþ Gail Banzet-Ellis has been fascinated with Tulsa since she was a little girl. It’s a dream come true to write about the city’s magic and charm.

ALSO HAPPENING The Altitude Project This exhibition features high-performing artists who take action and rise with passion, purpose and expertise in their works of art.

Opens Feb. 6. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Free. Lovetts Gallery, 6528 E. 51st St. Call 918-664-4732 or visit www.lovettsgallery.com.

108

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

Courtesy Grand Rapids Press

A

classic story of greed, painful regret, sweet redemption and unconditional love, the parable of the prodigal son is perhaps of one of the most relatable Bible stories of all time.

The parable has fascinated loyal arts patrons Larry and Mary Gerbens of Grand Rapids, Michigan, for decades. This month, First Presbyterian Church of Tulsa will exhibit a portion of the Gerbens’ personal collection of visual art, sermons, books, songs and other literature that relates the familiar story.

“It’s a wonderful story of grace and forgiveness,” Larry says. “It has been depicted in film, music and visual art more than any other parable. Society is interested in the story.”

In Luke 15, a son abandons his family, squanders his share of inheritance and finds himself hungry and homeless. He has no other option but to go home and beg for mercy.

When he does, his father not only forgives him, but also celebrates his return, declaring, “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

Larry, a retired ophthalmologist, and Mary, a retired nurse, gifted 40 pieces of their private prodigal son collection — which includes interpretations from Rembrandt to Thomas Hart Benton to contemporary artists — to Larry’s alma mater, Calvin College, in 2009. The collection has since traveled to at least 10 cities.

CHARITABLE EVENTS SUPPORTED BY

S a t u r d ay, M a r c h 1 2 3920 S. Peoria, Tulsa

w w w.SOOK .org / 918-481-1234 Presenting Sponsor

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TULSA SOUND

The local music scene

FEBRUARY’S BEST BETS FOR LIVE MUSIC 2/11 Martin Sexton, Cain’s Ballroom Singer/ songwriter, blue-eyed soul man, a musician’s musician — Martin Sexton is all of the above.

His performances are legendary for being incredibly intimate, but they likewise feature an unbelievable energy that rivals any arena show to grace the BOK Center.

The artist stops in Tulsa in support of his latest record, “Mixtape of the Road.” Show starts at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7.

2/14 Arlo Guthrie, Brady Theater When Arlo Guthrie was arrested for littering on Thanksgiving Day 1965, not even he could’ve guessed the incident would not only prevent him from being drafted into the Vietnam War, but also would become the basis for his signature song, “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree.”

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the incident, Guthrie has spent the past year performing the 18-minute long story song, among others from his catalog, as part of his “Alice’s Restaurant” tour.

Concert starts at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7.

Two for Tulsa

by WYNDHAM WYETH

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his month’s album reviews follow a Tulsa composer’s new project and the recent escapades of a ukulele player and his bandmates.

Burning City Orchestra, “Burning City Orchestra”

Noam Faingold has all the right credentials.

He serves as the director of Tulsa’s Barthelmes Conservatory and teaches music courses at the University of Tulsa and Tulsa Community College.

As a composer, arranger and orchestrator, he has worked with the London Symphony Orchestra and members of the New York Philharmonic.

But his current passion project is a genre-bending approach to challenging what an orchestra can or should be.

With Burning City Orchestra’s self-titled debut, Faingold infuses traditional chamber music soundscapes with elements of rock, jazz 110

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and punk. The result is a wholly unique experience that is simultaneously complex and yet highly approachable for classical and contemporary music fans alike.

Lush, soaring strings give every track an emotional surge that elevates Faingold’s crooning vocals and beautifully earnest lyrics. Honestly, it doesn’t even seem fair that someone so talented in composition should also be so gifted when it comes to songwriting.

Standout tracks include the energetic love song “Inspiration Hits Like an Atomic Bomb” and the epic “What Sweaters are for in the Summer.” However, the entire album is a fantastic must-have.

Cucumber and the Suntans, “Consumer Mono: I hope they don’t find this. E.P.”

Cucumber and the Suntans is a band that delivers. Its creative output is astonishing and rivaled by few other acts in the city.

Since TulsaPeople last spoke

to frontman Mike Gilliland and drummer Allen Martin in summer 2014, the group has released three albums to its Bandcamp page, recorded an hour-long song and distributed countless limited-edition cassettes of even more material.

John Langdon joined the band a year and a half ago on the keyboard and guitar, rounding out the group’s low-fi production.

The band’s most recent effort, titled “Consumer Mono: I hope they don’t find this. E.P.,” released in November. The majority of the record focuses on the age-old theme of love, a theme that seems to be a staple of Cucumber and the Suntans’ material.

But with each album, lyricist Gilliland delves deeper, examining the concept from a new perspective. On “Accord Omni,” one of the band’s previous releases, feelings of heartbreak and love lost permeated the album.

“Consumer Mono” picks up right where that record left off,

this time focusing on finding one’s footing and rediscovering oneself after grieving the demise of a relationship.

The album’s opening track, “I’ll Be Here,” sees Gilliland trying to reconcile his artistic ambition with his desire for genuine romance. “If I could really have my way, I’d pick up this uke and I’d never stop playing,” he sings. “But then I’d change my mind for fear I’d be an angry old man, no ring on his finger, no bride in his hand.”

“Consumer Mono” is a heartbreakingly honest record at times, and it’s this heart-on-the-sleeve songwriting that makes it so relatable and attractive. tþ

Wyndham Wyeth grew up hearing his mother sing John Denver tunes, so he will always have a soft spot for “Poems, Prayers and Promises.”

Tulsans’ takes on film and literature

SCREEN/PRINT

Chris Kucharski Tulsa film and music liaison for the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development

by HEATHER KOONTZ

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What movie are you most looking forward to this year? Sometimes there is nothing better than a big, giant, obscenely expensive blockbuster. Luckily Hollywood has been more than happy to indulge this guilty pleasure with none of its capital tied up in that pesky indie market.

If I sound elitist, I assure you, I also cannot resist reclining in the comfy chair and sipping on a gallon of lime-raspberry-vanilla Coke.

But just so we understand the distinction, here is my pick for “the best money can buy” and what will likely be playing at Circle.

BEST MONEY CAN BUY: “Suicide Squad” directed by David Ayer While Hollywood has proven that throwing money at a film does not make it good, Ayer can and has taken giant budgets and made great work with them (“End of Watch,”“Fury”).

As a fan of anti-hero comics, I could not be more excited.

CATCH IT AT CIRCLE CINEMA: “Certain Women” directed by Kelly Reichardt

Evan Taylor

hris Kucharski’s degree in film and video studies previously took him to the Oklahoma Film and Music Office, where he worked on a number of feature films and TV and commercial productions, including the made-in-Oklahoma films “To the Wonder” and “August: Osage County.”

As the City of Tulsa’s film and music liaison, he advocates for Tulsa’s creative communities and works to promote Tulsa as a creative hub for Oklahoma and beyond. His duties include supporting local film and music projects and working with other Tulsa-based film, music, arts and cultural initiatives.

Chris Kucharski also manages the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Film and Music, which advises the mayor on film and music issues and initiatives that support economic development.

Reichardt is an exceptional director working with regular contributor to the New Yorker Maile Meloy to write another film set in the American West. She is again teaming up with the very talented Michelle Williams (“Meek’s Cutoff,”“Wendy and Lucy”) in what will undoubtedly be a fantastic film.

If you had to pick one genre of film to watch for the rest of your life, what would it be? This is a really tough question. Most of my favorite films and filmmakers make a living with genre-bending works.

Can I pick genre-bending as a genre? Some examples:

is trying to work his way up the corporate ladder at an insurance agency while unfaithful superiors are using Bud’s apartment for latenight rendezvous. Looking for romance himself, Bud gets mixed up in his apartment’s double life. (“The Apartment” starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine) If you could pick someone to play you in a movie about your life, who would it be? This question is clearly based in fantasy, so I will go with a young Paul Newman (head over-inflates and explodes). tþ

“Vertigo” directed by Alfred Hitchcock “The Apartment” directed by Billy Wilder “Raising Arizona” directed by the Coen Brothers “Down by Law” directed by Jim Jarmusch Describe the plot of your favorite film without spoiling it for the rest of us. C.C. “Bud” Baxter

Heather Koontz is a graduate of the University of Tulsa’s Film Studies program. She enjoys spending time with her Westie and French bulldog, as well as remodeling her 100-year-old home with her husband, Byron.

FEBRUARY AUTHOR EVENTS Feb. 9, BookSmart Tulsa: Juan F. Thompson, author of “Stories I Tell Myself: Growing Up with Hunter S. Thompson.” 7 p.m. Circle Cinema, 10 S. Lewis Ave. www.booksmarttulsa.com Feb. 11, “Sunny Side UP: A Fresh Start to Success” featuring keynote speaker Kelly Corrigan, author of New York Times bestsellers “The Middle Place,” “Lift” and “Glitter and Glue.” 8-9:45 a.m. Cox Business Center, 100 Civic Center. Benefits CAP Tulsa. www.captulsa. org/sunnysideup

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Flashback 30 Archived photos capturing three decades of TulsaPeople Magazine

by MORGAN PHILLIPS

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1

3 1) Helen Wingo, founder of Miss Helen’s Private School, and her daughter-in-law Lynda Wingo, the school’s executive director, are pictured with a rendering of the school’s current location at East 48th Street and South Mingo Road. The building opened in 1996. Miss Helen’s, which teaches children from preschool to fifth grade, celebrated 62 years in January.

2) Academy Award- and Oscar-winner Estelle Parsons, far left, was one of three actresses to play the role of family matriarch Violet in the Broadway run of Tracy Letts’ Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “August: Osage County.” Parsons is pictured with Tulsa philanthropists George and Cookie Kaiser and Letts, who is a Tulsa native, during the show’s stop in Tulsa in January 2010.

3) The Schusterman Center at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa opened in 2001 to offer 16 degrees, mostly at the graduate level. The Tulsa campus now offers more than 30 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Pictured at the November 2001 dedication ceremony of the Schusterman Center are Steven Dow, executive director of CAP Tulsa; Ken Levit, then-president of OU-Tulsa; Lynn Schusterman, founder and co-chair of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation; David L. Boren, OU president; and Stacy Schusterman, co-chair of the Schusterman Foundation.

Help celebrate TulsaPeople’s 30th anniversary.

Share your favorite magazine photos and articles on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #flashback30.

Be sure to tag @TulsaPeople.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2016

Jeremy, Chris & Buford Goff Oklahoma Ranchers Mabrey Bank Clients

A family tradition.

Buford Goff got his first loan at age 16. Chris Goff borrowed $400 to buy a horse at just 14. Needless to say, the Goffs start their banking relationships early.

And they stick with them. For years now, the folks at Mabrey Bank have known the Goffs by name and worked hard to help the ranchers succeed—whether it’s offering a loan or advice to help them save on interest. And when the next young Goff is ready, Mabrey Bank will be there to keep the tradition going.

mabreybank.com • 888.272.8866

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