TulsaPeople February 2017

ESSAY: OKLAHOMA’S SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE February 2017

LOCAL CHEFS DESIGN FASHIONABLE DISHES

2017 PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE

A tall order

Growing Together targets neighborhoods to promote community and education

THE

Food Lover’s ISSUE

#valentinesday #dinneranddrinks #makeanightofit #romance

Capture, Share #uticasquare

uticasquare.com

It’s not just any night out. It’s the one with unspoken, bigger expectations. And you can count on Utica Square to make it memorable. Our unique restaurants are nestled throughout a romantic outdoor setting, so you can stroll over to whichever one you please. Quiet and romantic, energetic and fun, or cozy and casual, the mood is always right at Utica Square.

BE TRUE TO YOUR HEART

Built on a tradition of excellence, the Heart Hospital at Saint Francis is dedicated to providing comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care for a broad range of cardiovascular conditions and related issues. From preventative care and diagnostic testing to innovative surgical treatments, cardiac rehabilitation and emergency intervention, the physicians and staff of the Heart Hospital at Saint Francis are committed to providing the highest level of cardiac care for patients.

For more information on the programs and services offered at the Heart Hospital at Saint Francis, please visit saintfrancis.com/hearthospital or call 918-488-6688.

Healthcare for life.

O NLY T HE B EST.

FOR YOU. AND YOUR HEART. When it comes to matters of the heart, which physician you choose really matters.

The patients of Oklahoma Heart Institute are living proof. They trust the OHI team of subspecialists with every kind of heart problem, from the most complex to the more common.

Heart attack, heart failure, rhythm disturbances, valve and vascular conditions, aortic aneurysms, peripeheral artery disease, metabolic and sleep disorders – all of this and more is treated by the OHI team, with success rates that are second to none.

If you want only the best doctors who have been trained at the finest centers in the country, trust the doctors of Oklahoma Heart Institute. Aren’t you’re worth it?

naTionally recognized cardiovascUlar specialisTs | 918.592.0999 | www.oklahomaheart.com 1120 SOUTH UTICA AVE. Oklahoma Heart Institute (T he h earT h ospiTal ) | 1265 SOUTH UTICA (U Tica p hysicians o ffice ) | 9228 SOUTH MINGO (s oUTh p oinTe p hysicians o ffice ) | 8801 SOUTH 101ST E. AVE. (hillcresT soUTh)

Nationally Recognized Cardiovascular Specialists

918.592.0999 | www.oklahomaheart.com | 1120 S. UTICA AVE. Oklahoma Heart Institute (The hearT hospiTal) | 1265 S. UTICA (UTica physicians office) | 9228 S. MINGO (soUThpoinTe physicians office) | 8801 S.101ST E. AVE. (hillcresT soUTh)

dedicated to supporting

senior patients & their families.

Leanne H.

Leanne, through the Senior Care program at Hillcrest, is an advocate for senior patients and their families. She understands the anxiety that patients and their loved ones may face during a hospital stay. Leanne gained personal experience while helping her own mother navigate the complexities of healthcare. Senior Care team members like Leanne visit senior patients to provide comfort and assistance from talking through their concerns to finding doctors and services.

In Leanne’s words, she’s there to make hospital experiences the absolute best they can possibly be. To her, every patient is a VIP.

To learn more about the life-changing impact of Senior Care at Hillcrest Medical Center and Hillcrest South, visit Hillcrest.com or call 918-579-8040.

Hillcrest.com | 918.579.8040 “Like” us on Facebook.

We can.

MOST PEOPLE NEVER SEE

A HE A R T AT TA C K C O MIN G .

Even if you have no symptoms of cardiovascular disease, you

RISK FACTORS INCLUDE:

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FEBRUARY 2017 | VOLUME 31 ISSUE 4

11 CITYGUIDE Where to find adventure indoors, and a menagerie of local events. Oklahoman Leona Mitchell pops into Tulsa Opera.

28 TABLE TALK

Recipe for a Valentine’s treat: Flourless chocolate torte. Biga’s Tuck Curren names his most memorable meals.

31 COMMUNITY Two noteworthy Tulsa sites find new purposes. Local math and science teacher Moriah Widener gets proof of excellence.

21

Culinary couture Local chefs discuss what makes a beautiful dish.

BY NATALIE MIKLES

43 Essay

Oklahoma’s school-to-prison pipeline

71 LIFESTYLE

Laissez bon temps rouler in New Orleans, Louisiana, plus ideas for Valentine’s Day, design and kitchen goodies.

BY HANNIBAL B. JOHNSON

89 GIVING BACK A dream team increases access to healthy foods in Tulsa. Charitable events abound this month.

SPECIAL SECTIONS 47 Private School Guide 59 White Papers

ESSAY: OKLAHOMA’S SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE February 2017

LOCAL CHEFS DESIGN FASHIONABLE DISHES TULSAPEOPLE FEBRUARY 2017 THE FOOD LOVER’S ISSUE

A tall order

2017 PRIVATE SCHOOL GUIDE

A tall order

Growing Together targets neighborhoods to promote community and education

38

THE

Food Lover’s ISSUE

ON THE COVER Sushi Hana’s golden mango roll.

Growing Together targets two neighborhoods to promote education and community investment.

BY JANE ZEMEL

TulsaPeople.com

5

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WE’LL FEATURE OUR FAVES!

PLANNING A WEDDING OR EVENT? The NEW 2017 Venue Guide is available on TulsaPeople.com!

2016 NEW HOME

PLANBOOK & OFFICIAL GUIDE

June 18 to 26 • 1 to 7pm daily

FREE ADMISSION

Published by:

STONE CANYON • YORKTOWN • FOREST RIDGE • WOOD HOLLOW ESTATES BERWICK on CEDAR RIDGE • HYDE PARK

Showcasing over 150 new homes from metro Tulsa’s top building companies

POH2016_Cover.indd 1

6/1/16 9:34 AM

LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME THIS YEAR?

Visit TulsaPeople.com for the Official Parade of Homes Guide!

@kellystelly

She’s just the best #mytulsapeople

HAUTE IN THE KITCHEN (p. 21)

@johnny9tulsa

Felt like I was standing on the shoulders of giants.

It’s the closest I’ll get to playing the rooftop at the Mayo. #fortheloveofmusic #mytulsapeople

MEET THE WRITER

The NEW 2017 Tulsa Voice

is filled with entertainment, attractions and events!

NOW AVAILABLE ON THETULSAVOICE.COM! 6

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

@timlandesjr From notes to cover story. I’m thankful for the opportunity to share a story about our new mayor’s transition to the position.

Watch James Shrader of Palace Café and two other local chefs as they transform fresh ingredients into edible eye candy.

PLUS Through the end of the month, subscribe to TulsaPeople for ONLY $10 A YEAR at TulsaPeople.com/subscribe.

TULSAPEOPLE.COM fits in your pocket — check out our new mobile site!

Subscribe to THE INSIDER for the best in entertainment, arts and culture this weekend.

FROM THE EDITOR

Volume XXXI, Number 4 ©2017. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.

Performing on stage? No sweat.

Reading with an 8-year-old? Terrifying.

TulsaPeople Magazine is published monthly by

1603 South Boulder Avenue Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119-4407 918-585-9924 918-585-9926 Fax

PUBLISHER Jim Langdon PRESIDENT Juley Roffers VP COMMUNITY RELATIONS Susie Miller

At this point, I’m pretty much over stage fright.

Making up a scene on the fly based on audience suggestions? Easy, peasy. Dancing in 7/8 time for 12 minutes in Daisy Dukes? No sweat (figuratively).

But tutoring a struggling child one-on-one?

Utterly terrifying.

There is perhaps no critic harsher than an 8-year-old boy with an attitude.

As we put together this issue, the world seemed to being going to hell in a hand basket.

My newsfeed was filled with heartbreaking images and videos of civilians — children — under siege in Aleppo. I did what any Social Justice Warrior worth her weight in fair-trade conflict-free gold would do: Shared some articles, did some reading, made some donations, copied and pasted a letter to the White House urging intervention. I felt a little better; still queasy about the state of the world, but I did what I could, right?

But suffering and injustice certainly are not relegated to far off places. Tulsa has its own problems. Right here, we have a textbook example of the school-to-prison pipeline, which disproportionally funnels boys of color from classroom to incarceration (p. 43). Our state consistently ranks at the very bottom when it comes to things like health outcomes, poverty, teen pregnancy, education and more. Even putting food on the table is a daily struggle for many of our neighbors (p. 94).

The upside to this — if you want to call it that — is there’s no shortage of ways to make an appreciable difference right here. This has always been the case, but sometimes we all need reminding.

Growing Together (p. 38) partners with many other nonprofits to holistically improve education in two high-poverty neighborhoods. One of these partner organizations, Reading Partners, had a compelling pitch: Read with one kid, one hour per week, to make a life-changing difference.

As I read and edited our story, something was sparked inside me. I thought “you make a living on your reading and writing skills; you’re a poster8

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

child ‘community mentor’ and a single hour of your week is literally the very least you can do.”

I signed up right then at readingpartners.org.

So, fast forward to my first day, about to meet my tutee, hoping that I’ve managed to strike the right balance between professional but youthful and fun with my #ootd, reminding myself not to swear, generally being a weird nervous person.

We go to fetch my student (we’ll call him Sam*), but this kid clearly just wants to keep playing on the computer. (“Dang it,” he mutters, when he’s told it’s time for reading.) Our first session was just a getting-to-know-you activity. I try to make small talk, but it’s pretty clear Sam is unimpressed.

(Side note, is it weird that I so desperately want an 8-year-old to think I’m cool?)

I told him I didn’t have a lot of friends in elementary school, to which he replied he was friends with everyone in his class. I can tell Sam’s a good kid. Spirited for sure — his response to everything was “dang it” — but probably much more sensitive then he lets on. I’m definitely looking forward to our next lesson (probably much more than he is).

I cannot adopt a Syrian orphan, and I cannot sew up wounds in warzones. I cannot force my legislators to do the right thing, and I don’t have $1 million to give away. However, I can drive to west Tulsa and spend an hour with a kid in the hopes that it will improve his reading skills and make the rest of his education a little easier.

It’s not a lot, but dang it, it’s something. TP

Anna Bennett DIGITAL EDITOR

*name changed

EDITOR CITY EDITOR DIGITAL EDITOR ARTS & BENEFITS EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR ONLINE CALENDAR EDITOR

Anne Brockman Morgan Phillips Anna Bennett Judy Langdon Liz Blood John Langdon

EDITORIAL CONSULTING Missy Kruse, The Write Company CREATIVE DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER MANAGING PHOTOGRAPHER CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER VIDEOGRAPHER ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

CONTROLLER SUBSCRIPTIONS RECEPTIONIST INTERNS

Madeline Crawford Georgia Brooks Morgan Welch Michelle Pollard Valerie Grant Greg Bollinger Andrea Canada Steve Hopkins Betsy Slagle Mary McKisick Gloria Brooks Gene White

Jennifer Ratliff-Towner

MEMBER

TulsaPeople’s distribution is audited annually by

Langdon Publishing Company sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner. This issue of Tulsa People was printed on recycled fibers containing 20 percent post-consumer waste with inks containing a soy base blend. Our printer is a certified member of the Forestry Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and additionally, meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards. When you are finished with this issue, please pass it on to a friend or recycle it. We can have a better world if we choose it together.

Disregard any TulsaPeople subscription solicitation that is not directly mailed from the Langdon Publishing office at 1603 S. Boulder Ave. Contact Langdon Publishing directly if you are interested in subscribing or renewing your TulsaPeople subscription.

CREATIVE THINKING. INSIDE THE BOX. Good things happen inside the box— in our new Blue Sky Bank branch in The Boxyard.

George Bashaw (above, right), Blue Sky Bank customer and Barry Gibson, Vice President, Blue Sky Bank

The Boxyard is downtown Tulsa’s exciting new destination for shopping, entertainment, and dining. Innovative in concept and design, it’s the perfect setting to complement Blue Sky’s progressive new outlook backed by our long-standing dedication to serving the private banking sector as well as commercial accounts and forwardthinking entrepreneurs.

We invite you to come tour an exciting new development, dedicated to the revitalization of our downtown district.

Then visit with our team at Blue Sky Boxyard. We’re here with creative solutions to help turn your out-of-the box vision into reality.

Inside this box, your possibilities are sky high.

bluesky.bank

7 LUCKY PEOPLE ARE GUARANTEED TO WIN A NEW INFINITI SUV During Osage Casinos Spring Spectacular

MARCH 25 Details at Players Club.

Cash and prize amount is across all 7 locations.

Earn entries beginning March 5.

TULSA • BARTLESVILLE • SAND SPRINGS • PONCA CITY • SKIATOOK • HOMINY • PAWHUSKA ©2017 Osage Casino. Must be 18 to participate. Visit Players Club for details. Management reserves all rights. If you think you have a gambling problem, please call 1-800-522-4700.

osagecasinos.com

C A L E N D A R + E N T E R TA I N M E N T + C U LT U R E

COURTESY MIRÓ QUARTET

Feb. 17-26

C

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

hamber Music Tulsa presents the Miró Quartet performing Beethoven’s complete series of 16 string quartets in chronological order during its Beethoven Winter Festival. Culminating with the concert series, the festival featured a fall lecture series, community engagement activities and educational outreach.

One of Chamber Music Tulsa’s most celebrated guests, the Miró Quartet believes Tulsa is “ready for the challenge” of the entire cycle of Beethoven’s

quartets, which are considered by some to be one of the Western world’s greatest treasures.

The first five concerts begin at 7 p.m., with the final performance at 5 p.m., Feb. 26. All performances will be in the Westby Pavilion of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second St. Individual tickets are $35 at myticketoffice.com. A six-concert subscription is available for $168 or pick three for $99 at chambermusictulsa.org. TP TulsaPeople.com

11

FEBRUARY COMPILED BY EMMA GIDDENS

Tulsa Ballet’s “Dorothy and the Prince of Oz”

Jan. 30

Boats of all shapes and sizes will be on display at the Tulsa Boat, Sport and Travel Show at RiverSpirit Expo at Expo Square through Feb. 5.

9

17-18

The Tulsa Gridiron has roasted newsmakers since 1933.

See who takes the heat this year at the Cox Business Center.

25

3

10-12

18

25

10-12

21

26

3&5

See the Harlem Globetrotters dribble, dunk and conduct feats of basketball wizardry with a two-day stop at the BOK Center.

4

The country charts-topping Eli Young Band performs at the legendary Cain’s Ballroom. Down the street at the Vanguard, catch Illinois-based Americana band The Way Down Wanderers.

12

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

The Women’s Living Expo will feature food, prizes and home design information at the RiverSpirit Expo at Expo Square.

Tulsa Ballet presents the world premiere of “Dorothy and the Prince of Oz” in honor of its 60th season. The yellow brick road begins at the Tulsa PAC for one weekend.

11-12

All aboard!

Next stop: Expo Square for the Great Train Expo Tulsa model train show.

Sponsored by the Shillingford family, proceeds from the Fire and Ice Gala at the Hyatt Regency Hotel will support the Little Light House.

Catch Twenty-one Pilots perform their Grammynominated “Stressed Out” and other hits as they make a stop on their Emotional Roadshow World Tour at the BOK Center.

25

The Rock and Worship Roadshow brings Christian artists like Steven Curtis Chapman, Rend Collective and Francesca Battistelli to the BOK Center.

Laissez les bons temps rouler at the Shrine and be transported to New Orleans during the Tulsa Mardi Gras Masquerade.

Bookmark the 57th annual Holland Hall Book Fair, a fundraiser held inside the school’s middle school gym.

Duck the puck as the Tulsa Oilers take on the Missouri Mavericks during one of their final home games of the season at the BOK Center.

26

Just Between Friends, a biannual children’s consignment sale, takes over the Expo Square Exchange Center building through March 4.

VISIT TULSAPEOPLE.COM FOR MORE LOCAL EVENTS.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS: COURTESY BOK CENTER; STYX: COURTESY STYXWORLD.COM; TULSA BALLET: COURTESY TULSA BALLET

“Don’t ya” want to go see 2014 Country Music Association New Artist of the Year Brett Eldredge at RiverSpirit’s Paradise Cove?

Come sail away as STYX plays the Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

WHERE TO …

ADVENTURE INDOORS Three out-of-the-box Valentine’s Day date ideas

BY ABIGAIL SINGREY Skip the romantic dinner for Valentine’s Day this year and you might find that your significant other looks even more attractive than they do by candlelight. Scientific studies have shown activities that get your adrenaline up also increase your level of attraction. There’s a reason dating shows often have people work together to face their fears.

Climb Tulsa

Poseidon Adventures

Archery Outpost

Jason Burks, owner of Climb Tulsa, formerly New Heights, enjoys climbing for both the physical benefits and the community-building aspects.

“Rock climbing breaks down all the walls and forces you to trust and relate to each other,” Burks says. “The discipline and focus that are required are a nice distraction from life.”

Climb Tulsa will move to a brand-new space this October at East 31st Street and South Yale Avenue, but meanwhile it has plenty of opportunities to learn the ropes in its 4,000-square-foot gym. If there ain’t no mountain high enough to keep you away from your paramour, don the gear, strap in and prove it!

How deep is your love? Learning how to scuba dive with Randy Piper, a former Navy SEAL, could teach the skills needed for a romantic, adventurous getaway. Anyone can learn to dive, Piper says.

“It can be as easy or as strenuous as you need it to be,” he says.

After divers have gotten their feet wet with the beginning, open-water courses, Poseidon Adventures has approximately 20 specialty courses to take diving to the next level — some taught at its Peoria location and others at nearby lakes. Cavern diving allows clients to see gorgeous, one-of-a-kind views. The digital photography course allows them to capture their memories forever.

Never tried archery before? Why let Cupid have all the fun? Purchase a Groupon for an affordable indoor archery session for two. The one-hour class can teach beginners the basic steps to shooting a bow, while advanced classes troubleshoot your grip and stance. A 16-lane indoor archery range offers distances up to 20 yards and is a great place to perfect your skills.

“Many people don’t realize how easy it is to pick up and get good at it,” Manager Zack Frost says. “We’re a welcoming community, too.” TP

1140 S. 107TH E. AVE. | 918-439-4400 CLIMBTULSA.COM

3916 S. PEORIA AVE. | 918-749-3483 SCUBATULSA.COM

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

VALERIE GRANT

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HEALTHIER FOODS • GOURMET TREATS • UNIQUE TOYS • COMFY BEDS • TRENDY COLLARS

Brian Keller, Ian Gollahon and Phillip Martin are Animal Names.

ALL IN A NAME

Longtime friends and bandmates make music as Animal Names.

BY TIM LANDES

I

t’s a Thursday evening at Soundpony Bar. Ian Gollahon, 29, is drinking a stout and talking music. For more than half his life he has been playing in bands. He has a career outside of music, but the man loves the local music scene.

Since they were 14, he and best friend/constant bandmate Brian Keller have been making music together. First, they formed the teenage Christian punk rock band Decorative Destruction and then boisterous indie rock group I Said Stop!.

It was the local venues and bands of the early/ mid 2000s that fueled their passion.

“When I was 19, we constantly went to what is now The Shrine,” Gollahon says. “I was completely immersed in the music scene and excited about the goings-on of performers like Aqueduct. I wanted to join the local scene and be one of those bands who played in places like this one.”

Gollahon and Keller briefly relocated to Chicago for a few years then returned to Tulsa and tried to restart I Said Stop!, but they had outgrown that sound and decided to create a new band. Animal Names is more musically complicated and diverse than I Said Stop! was. The band’s sound features more complex chord structures, changing

tempos and time signatures, and more abstract song structures. I Said Stop! was about being catchy and dancy. Animal Names is about crafting a unique song and soundscape.

Inspired by zoologically named indie staples like Modest Mouse, Grizzly Bear and The Mountain Goats, the duo dubbed their new band Animal Names and immediately started recording their new sound in Gollahon’s garage. The band is comprised of Gollahon on vocals and guitar, Keller on guitar and keys, Phillip Martin on drums and Andrew Howard on bass.

After a successful fundraising campaign to help offset production costs, Animal Names released its debut self-titled album in August on Soundpony Records.

“We learned so much from this album and are already talking about the next one,” Gollahon says.

“We plan to release a single sometime in 2017 then have a new album out in a couple of years.

Until then we’ll keep playing live shows and working on our sound.”

Animal Names’ next show is scheduled for March 9 at Soundpony. TP

ACT OF KINDNESS

Jossie Spann and Kate McKinney rehearse for Courtyard Theatre Productions.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

Art can change lives and a nonprofit organization in Tulsa has built its success with this truth in mind. Courtyard Theatre Productions, a children’s theater group that produces two shows annually, began six years ago.

Since its inception, Courtyard has donated the proceeds of its shows to various organizations in the Tulsa community.

“Our students gain a deep appreciation for the arts as well as a working knowledge of basic theater and stage production,” says director Caroline Frame. “Our students truly become a community.”

Most recently, the group performed the award-winning musical “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and raised more than $3,000 for local organizations.

On March 2 and 3, Courtyard Theatre Productions presents “The Lion King Jr.,” held at the Jenks Church, 2101 W. 118th St., Jenks. A cast and crew of 80 will gather for the production to raise funds for the medical care of Haitians and Dominicans affected by Hurricane Matthew. – HEATHER KOONTZ

RECENT RELEASES

Animal Names “ANIMAL NAMES” Animal Names’ self-titled debut is a tight seven-song LP that runs 24 minutes, but once the music starts it feels like a longer journey that’s worth the experience.

What’s most impressive about the release is the subtle differences in the songs throughout the album, produced by Soundpony Records. Whether it’s the up-tempo rock sounds of “Denial,” “Deep South” and “Turquoise Mountains,” or the altcountry sounds of “Flowers in Your Hair,” “Headed Down to Dallas” and “Indian Headdress,” the songs flow seamlessly thanks to Ian Gollahon’s distinct vocals and Brian Keller’s outstanding lead guitar.

The album’s standout track is “Greens and Red,” which showcases the band at its best. Find “Animal Names” on vinyl at Soundpony, on CD at live shows, Mr. Nice Guys Tacos and the band’s website, or on Spotify.

Visit animalnames.bandcamp.com.

Erin O’Dowd “OLD TOWN” O’Dowd, 29, is currently recording her debut album, which is slated to drop at the end of April. A staple of the local music scene, O’Dowd has appeared on multiple compilations showcasing her Americana and country sounds.

“Old Town” is being recorded at Bell Labs in Norman. It will feature a new version of her incredible song, “Robin’s Egg Blue,” and one of the album’s singles, “Silver Lake,” which was recorded for the Folk Alliance in Kansas City.

O’Dowd is working with producer Travis Linville (multiple instruments), Roger Ray (pedal steel), Mike Byars (drums) and Ryan Jones (keys). A product of Horton Records, you will be able to find the album at Dwelling Spaces, Starship and more.

Visit erinodowd.com. — TIM LANDES

ANIMAL NAMES: GREG BOLLINGER; COURTYARD THEATRE: VALERIE GRANT; ALBUM COVERS: COURTESY

LOCAL TALENT

One of the country’s top doctors. Leading the charge against lung cancer right here in Tulsa.

Named 2016 Top Doctor by Castle Connolly Dr. Daniel Nader, Director of the Lung Center at CTCA® in Tulsa, has been recognized by Castle Connelly as one of America’s Top Doctors in pulmonary medicine for the last six years.

Since 1991, Dr. Nader and his team at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® in Tulsa have been dedicated to building a comprehensive Lung Center to fight this complex disease. With access to cutting-edge technologies, advanced treatments and supportive therapies, our experts specialize in personalized lung cancer care—helping our patients fight cancer.

800.515.9610 | cancercenter.com/tulsalung

©2016 Rising Tide

A Network Provider For

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT Tobias Picker and Leona Mitchell practice for the Feb. 25 “Puccini to Pop.”

CJ Miles

A composer and performer together again in Tulsa.

BY ANGELA EVANS

T

obias Picker has been the artistic director for Tulsa Opera since summer of 2016.

He had visited Tulsa a few years ago to attend an opera performance, but for all intents and purposes, Picker found himself among new faces. Until one day, someone mentioned a familiar name.

“Leona Mitchell?” he asks a board member.

“Leona Mitchell lives in Enid, Oklahoma? Wait, where is Enid?”

Picker has worked with opera companies around the country and is a prolific composer, but 30 years ago he met a talented soprano he never forgot. He decided to contact Mitchell, hoping she would remember the young composer she had worked with once.

Mitchell laughs, “Did I remember him? One of the most renowned composers in the world? Of course I remembered him!”

One of the opera world’s preeminent talents, Mitchell performed for 18 seasons at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and at major houses around the world. She also performed and recorded one of Picker’s compositions in Houston 30 years ago.

Today, they find themselves together again — Picker seated at the piano, Mitchell perched above him, voice soaring as they prepare for Tulsa Opera’s “Puccini to Pop.” “What are the odds?” she says.

Mitchell grew up in Enid. Semi-retired now, she moved back there to care for her parents, who have now died.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

“I didn’t know I’d be back in Oklahoma, but here I am. Having lived in New York and California,” says Mitchell. “It’s easy and quiet.”

But with upcoming performances and fundraisers for Tulsa Opera, her life won’t be as quiet.

In addition to the performance, Picker asked Mitchell to teach a November 2016 master class for the Tulsa Opera Young Artist Program. “It’s been wonderful to be part of Tulsa Opera again,” she says.

Picker conceived the star-studded “Puccini to Pop,” featuring Mitchell in her first performance with Tulsa Opera since the 1980s.

“There will be some popular items but also some surprises, beautiful pieces that some may not be familiar with,” Picker says. “We’re trying to invent a new kind of theatrical evening. There will be lighting design, scenery, moving pieces.

“We’ve tried to create a story with different genres, from jazz to opera. This is a show for everyone, truly, whether you are a serious opera-goer or just love theater.”

“Puccini to Pop” will be a one-night-only affair, with music full of “longing, jealousy, rapture and joy,” according to Picker.

The performance is 8 p.m., Feb. 25 at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center, 110 E. Second St. Tickets are $25-$118 for this unique evening.

“It’s a way of showing and reintroducing the Tulsa Opera to the community,” Picker says. “It’s going to be an evening people will be talking about for a long time to come.” TP

Creative

COMMUNITY W

riting is life for CJ Miles. To follow that passion, he paired up with fellow writer Adrean Messmer to create A Murder of Storytellers, a group for writing, sharing and advancing work.

Since 2012, the group has put together several anthologies.

WHAT’S THE THEME OF YOUR MOST RECENT ANTHOLOGY, “THE BOOK OF BLASPHEMOUS WORDS,” AND HOW WAS THE PUBLIC ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE? The theme is bad religion, the idea of people’s humanities or beliefs turning on them. We used the program Submittable for authors to submit their work. We received almost 300 pieces, so we had to cut it down to between 20-25.

WHAT MOTIVATES A MURDER OF STORYTELLERS? We want to find authors and stories that feature nontraditional characters — female, gay, transgender, minorities — people who don’t usually get represented fairly in fiction. We have several anthologies and their themes planned. It’s just a matter of deciding which one to publish next.

— GAIL BANZET-ELLIS

Visit amurderofstorytellers.com for more information.

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19

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

Palace Cafe’s baby beet salad, see p. 25

LOCAL CHEFS DISCUSS WHAT MAKES A BEAUTIFUL DISH

BY NATALIE MIKLES PHOTOGRAPHY BY

MICHELLE POLLARD

culinary couture

THERE’S A REASON INSTAGRAM IS FILLED WITH PICTURES OF RESTAURANT FOOD.

Who can blame us for pulling out our phones to snap a picture when it looks so good you just have to share it?

We take pictures of everything from fried onion burgers to seared sea bass — all worthy of a “like.” But it’s not every day we’re presented food that’s truly spoon- and swoon-worthy.

Some plates are so beautiful, we might as well call them “culinary couture.” Think about some of the best fine dining restaurant meals you’ve had, where architectural feats are topped with sprigs of hydroponic herbs. Or perhaps the dish wasn’t fussy — a poached halibut flanked by four corners of roasted new potatoes — but beautiful in its simplicity.

We talked to some of Tulsa’s best chefs about the beauty of food, the importance of plating and what factors make diners ooh, ahh and snap a picture to share with all their friends. They gave their restaurant’s dish that fits the bill.

TulsaPeople.com

21

THE DISH Five seared scallops are presented with a roasted red pepper risotto, sautéed spinach and a roasted red pepper coulis.

Color, texture and flavor blend harmoniously in this entrée.

General Manager Michael Funk Just walking in the door at the Polo Grill, the expectations are high. The elegance of the restaurant is matched by the plating of the food.

“Plate presentation for me is always dictated by the ability of the guest to be able to intuitively know how it is to be eaten so they are not confused on what they are meant to do,” says Executive Chef Wyatt Rogers. “We have always had a saying that once it hits the plate, like in golf, you have to play it where it lays.”

Rogers and General Manager Michael Funk know the importance of presentation, but agree it shouldn’t overshadow the service of the dish.

“Getting the dish to the table in its optimal form is the most important thing we do on a daily basis,” Rogers says. “You can have the best food in the world, but if you can’t get it to the table hot, presentation stops being important.”

Though there was a time when whimsical presentation was in style, Rogers says people no longer want a dish that looks like someone has been in the kitchen playing with their food. Plates today are more precise and natural, he says.

A chef ’s personal style also plays a role in how the food will be presented.

“I have always been a bit of a math geek, so symmetry is aesthetically pleasing to me,” Rogers says. “When working on large presentation pieces, it really helps define the look of the food.”

2038 UTICA SQUARE | 918-744-4280 POLOGRILL.COM 22

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

Executive Chef Stephen Lindstrom

Tallgrass Prairie Table

THE DISH Pan-seared pork belly represents the style and substance of Tallgrass and its sister restaurant, Bramble Breakfast and Bar. In a room kept a constant 52 degrees, the pork is butchered and cured for 24 hours, braised for four hours and allowed to rest another 24 hours before being served. It is then pan-seared and served with spiced beet puree, pea tendrils and sweet and spicy tomato jam.

“It has, from the beginning, been one of our guests’ favorite dishes, with the components ever-changing,” Hayes says.

“The pork belly has stood out on its own as a staple on our menu.”

Before the guest ever knows how it will taste, the plate arrives. After all, first impressions are everything.

“For the chef, it is their display of art,” says Stephen Lindstrom, executive chef at Tallgrass Prairie Table.

For Lindstrom, that art is made with a vibrant palette of carrot puree, beet salads, lemon preserves, pickled blueberries and bright greens. The colors are bold, but Lindstrom isn’t creating a rainbow.

“I like to keep the composure of my dish, as some would say ‘high and tight,’ meaning to build the component of the dish in order to give it depth on the plate,” he says. He keeps the food close together, built up rather than out, and is unafraid of leaving negative space on the plate.

For General Manager Johnna Hayes, the beauty of the food is important, but not as crucial as the feeling she wants guests to experience as they’re dining, which, in part, comes from the look of the food, she says.

“Though having a precise plate is important to the aesthetics as well as consistency, we want our guests to feel as if they are eating with family,” Hayes says.

So, while the food is artfully constructed, it should also put people at ease and make them feel comfortable.

“Our food is genuine to the chef,” Lindstrom says. “The preparation from beginning to end shows on each dish, using local vegetation, house butchering our own meats and putting together thoughtful ingredients.”

313 E. SECOND ST. | 918-933-4499 TALLGRASSTULSA.COM TulsaPeople.com

23

THE DISH Roasted lobster tail is an unpretentious yet elegant dish that starts with a 12- to 14-ounce cold water lobster tail. It is taken to greater heights — literally — with placement on a bed of pommes Anna. It’s served with creamed spinach and garnished with a bit of bright green fried spinach.

Owner Kathy Bondy “Garnishes are highly overrated,” says Kathy Bondy, owner of the French Hen. Those who’ve eaten at the French Hen know how insta-worthy the food is. But for Bondy, it can’t be fussy. That means garnishes should always be edible and only included if it makes sense with the dish. If it doesn’t, she leaves it off.

Perhaps it’s that combination of pragmatism and French aesthetic that makes the French Hen’s plating so enticing.

“A beautiful plate has color, varied heights and textures,” Bondy says. “But (presentation) is definitely not everything. Don’t stop there. The food must be hot and properly seasoned.”

Bondy started in her father’s fine dining restaurant in Arkansas when she was just 14 years old. That early start combined with years of experience managing and owning local restaurants gives her an innate understanding of what makes food a feast for the eyes.

7143 S. YALE AVE. | 918-492-2596 FRENCHHENTULSA.NET

FRENCH HEN 24

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

Chef and owner James Shrader

Palace Café

THE DISH The baby beet salad has a simple yet stunning arrangement of arugula, fennel, goat cheese and an orange vinaigrette.

“I always say, ‘Order the beet salad if you don’t like beets because I’ll make you a beet fan. Order it if you like beets because my beet salad is perfect,’” Shrader says.

Another visually impressive dish is Palace’s pan-seared sea scallops, which are served on a potato puree with bright dots of pesto.

Nothing at the Palace Café is done without thoughtful consideration and deliberation.

The mastermind behind it all is chef and owner James Shrader, who seems to dream in food — elevating the plate beyond what mere cooking mortals could imagine.

Shrader says that when creating a new dish, he puts taste as first priority, aesthetic second and his ability to consistently produce it as third. But actually creating beautiful food is the most fun, he says.

He always makes the main dish the star of the plate.

“I rarely cover my fish or meats with sauce,” he says.

“It is usually presented with sauce on the plate or on the side. I am mindful to leave space between items so they will stand out on the plate.”

The plates themselves have become a major factor recently, as the Palace spent $10,000 in 2016 buying new ones. The old functional plates were scrapped in favor of china and burger boards that suit the presentation of individual menu items. Special ceramics were purchased locally from Fat City Clay, and burger boards were purchased from Tulsa’s Fransen Furniture.

“If I can’t find the dish I want now, I have it made,” Shrader says.

He has seen a lot of changes in food presentation over the years, and he says that while the trend has been going toward a more casual atmosphere and service style, it comes with an elevated expectation for a clean and purposeful presentation. Shrader attributes diners’ heightened expectations to the explosion of images on Instagram and other social media.

“Early in my career, my main focus was, ‘Does it taste good?’ Directly after culinary school, my focus sharply changed to, ‘How nice can I make this look?’”

Shrader says.

It took years of experience, but Shrader says he has found a way to deliver both.

1301 E. 15TH ST. | 918-582-4321 | PALACETULSA.COM TulsaPeople.com

25

THE DISH The Golden Mango roll is a head-turner.

Shrimp tempura and crabmeat are rolled and then topped with slices of vivid yellow mango and a mesmerizing golden sauce.

SUSHI HANA 26

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

Owner Kenny Chan

For Kenny Chan, food and art are one and the same.

Whether he’s behind a canvas or a cooktop, beauty is on his mind.

“I’m an artist,” Chan says. “I paint using watercolor, oil, acrylics, everything. Every detail is important.”

When he has painted something he’s proud of, he likes the compliments. The same goes for a dish he has created at his restaurant, Sushi Hana.

“I like to hear, ‘Wow,’ when the server walks by a table with a plate,” he says. “I like to walk around, see the expressions, see everybody turn their heads.”

For Chan, an artful plate might include a bright vegetable or an unexpected pop of color on a plate of sushi.

“I really enjoy color,” he says.

But it’s also about the blurred lines of the senses — like the combined sight and smell of smoke rising from a plate of chicken teriyaki.

With sushi, Chan works to make each piece or roll have its own look.

“It’s like a song. I like to use different beats,” he says.

“When creating my rolls, a lot of them use the same ingredients, but we don’t keep them the same. We give a different hook to it.”

Chan gets his aesthetic inspiration from travel, and he collects ideas from any number of cuisines. Sometimes that inspiration comes from the restaurants of his own friends and family, many of whom are in the restaurant business in New York City and around the world.

“We have conversations about what’s new and how it should look,” he says.

His latest inspiration is a salmon ice cream he tried at a tiny New York City restaurant. Though fishy frozen dairy may not make it onto Sushi Hana’s menu anytime soon, “It made me think nothing is impossible,” says Chan, and the dish inspired him to keep cooking up the unexpected.

Wherever he goes, Chan notices details of beautiful food and considers how it might be applied in his kitchen. Recently at a Korean restaurant, he asked the waiter, “Hey, what’s this stuff on top?” and knew it was something he could try at Sushi Hana. Sure enough, he now uses jellyfish noodles on salads and in rolls, taking the unique texture and applying it in new ways. TP SOUTH: 9904 RIVERSIDE PARKWAY | 918-528-6688 BROOKSIDE: 3739 S. PEORIA AVE. | 918-712-9338 SUSHIHANATULSA.COM

AWARDWINNING TULSA RESTAURANTS A local family-owned business for over 40 years, Bodean is a fine-dining restaurant with an award-winning menu, wine list and service.

3375 E. 51st St. • 918.749.1407 bodean.net

A unique elegance and dedication to customer service and a menu that offers a wide variety of options using only the best seasonal ingredients and innovative design.

1324 S. Main St. • 918.582.1964 thechalkboard-tulsa.com

Mazzio’s is a Tulsa-based, family owned business with a passion for pizza perfection.

Over 40 Tulsa-area locations 918.644.4444 • mazzios.com

Restaurants receiving 2016 TulsaPeople A-List and The Tulsa Voice BOT Awards!

Based on family recipes and tradition, Dalesandro’s offers award winning authentic Italian cuisine with friendly service. Reservations are recommended but not required.

1742 S. Boston Ave. • 918.582.1551 dalesandros.com

Rib Crib is best known for serving authentic homestyle barbecue. It also offers catering for 10-10,000 and takeout to satisfy barbecue cravings on the go.

4535 S. Harvard Ave. • 918.712.7427 ribcrib.com

Located on historic Route 66 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Maxxwells Restaurant serves all your American favorites and offers a chance to step back to Tulsa’s history.

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Japanese Fusion

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Visit us for lunch, dinner or your next special occasion.

9904 Riverside Pkwy • 918.528.6688 3739 S. Peoria Ave. • 918.712.9338 sushihanatulsa.com TulsaPeople.com

27

CHEERS!

WHAT’S COOKING?

Flourless chocolate torte

THE BIG

EASY F

or this Sazerac — which is America’s oldest cocktail and New Orleans’ official cocktail — I used Bulleit Rye. Famous Oregonian bartender Jeffrey Morgenthaler prefers to use Buffalo Trace’s Sazerac 6-Year Rye. Pick your poison. If you want to up your know-it-all Sazerac game, Google Morgenthaler’s “The Do’s and Don’ts of Sazeracs.”

To make: Fill a rocks glass with ice and water to chill. Once cold, empty and rinse with Herbsaint or absinthe.

(Absinthe is best.) In a mixing glass, combine 1 teaspoon rich simple syrup (or a muddled sugar cube), 3 dashes Peychaud’s bitters, 1 dash Angostura bitters and 2 ounces rye whiskey.

Some recipes call for 2 dashes Angostura, and others call for none.

This drink is hard to perfect, so you’ll have to play around. Friends are typically willing test subjects.

Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir until everything is chilled. Strain into the rocks glass. Twist a lemon peel over the surface of the drink and discard. Bottom’s up! — LIZ BLOOD

28

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

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

BY NATALIE MIKLES

IT’S ALWAYS FUN TO SEE THE MENUS CHEFS PUT OUT FOR VALENTINE’S DAY. One of the busiest days of the year for restaurants, Valentine’s Day isn’t a time for kitchen restraint.

Rather, it’s the time to amp up the truffle oil, to be heavy handed with the cream sauce and to break out the Champagne. Everyone out on Tuesday, Feb. 14 is there to celebrate.

That doesn’t mean those of us staying in can’t celebrate. I’ve known for weeks how my Valentine’s Day would be spent — cozy fire, take-out from Stonehorse Market and a chocolate torte.

A flourless chocolate torte is one of my favorite desserts. You can top it with whipped cream or berries — but I love it pure and simple, made with the very best chocolate I can find.

This recipe is based on one from pastry chef Nick Malgieri.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE TORTE 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature 3/ 4 cup sugar 7 large eggs, separated

Serves 10 to 12

8 ounces good-quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled Pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan, then line with a circle of parchment paper.

Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add yolks one at a time, beating until smooth after each addition. Beat in chocolate.

In a clean, dry bowl, beat egg whites with salt until soft peaks form. Stir about a third of egg whites into batter, then, using a rubber spatula, gently fold in remaining whites.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 40 minutes or until risen and center is firm and bounces back when pressed lightly with a fingertip.

Cool cake in pan for 5 minutes, then invert onto a rack to cool completely.

Serve with whipped cream, fresh fruit or raspberry jam, if desired. Or, dust with powdered sugar. TP

WHAT’S YOUR EARLIEST FOOD MEMORY? I have three: Sunday dinners in New York with the family — salad, big roasts of meat, fresh vegetables and potatoes.

Walking into delis for sandwiches. And, eating at Thruway Diner after swim meets as a kid.

WHO WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO COOK FOR? Lidia Bastianich, the first lady of Italian food.

AND

THOUGHTS ON TULSA’S FOOD SCENE? I think it is great — lots of talent and great places to eat. I would put our food against any city.

WHAT MUSIC DO YOU PLAY IN THE KITCHEN? Usually I come in and they are listening to Mexican music. I will not change it.

WHAT’S IN YOUR REFRIGERATOR AT HOME? My wife is a great cook. There is always food, but fresh chicken stock is a must, bread from Biga for bruschetta and pasta.

CHEF TUCK CURREN and his wife, Kate, grew up in New York but met in Tulsa. Tulsans are lucky for it, because without them we wouldn’t have one of Tulsa’s restaurant jewels, Biga. Now 18 years old, Biga, located at 4329 S. Peoria Ave., is a foodie favorite with handmade pastas, artisan bread and a modern sensibility to classic Italian food.

The Currens have three children, two of whom are in the restaurant business. Daughter Lindsay does catering, son Zach owns Trenchers Delicatessen and another son, Ben, works in Silicon Valley.

Tuck is also a marathon runner, triathlete, golfer and tennis player.

NEW ON THE SCENE

Tacocue

MOST MEMORABLE MEAL? Sitting in a bistro in Paris with my wife looking out over the street just loving the food and the Baba Rhum dessert — with a bottle of rum on the table, if you wanted more on the cake.

WHAT WAS YOUR VISION FOR BIGA WHEN YOU OPENED? HAS IT CHANGED OVER THE YEARS? We wanted an Italian restaurant serving all regions of Italy and lots of fresh-made pasta. We have stayed close to that, but it seems guests are more casual now so we are adjusting accordingly.

WHERE DO YOU EAT WHEN YOU’RE NOT AT BIGA? We eat at home quite a lot, but we like casual little restaurants: Pho Nhi for Vietnamese, New York Pizza, and we grab sandwiches at my son’s place Trenchers, which are great. TP

Diners can build their entrees, like this salad, using their choice of proteins.

Can’t decide if you want tacos or barbecue for dinner? No worries. Tacocue, a new fastcasual restaurant concept from Jeff Jackson, co-founder of Billy Sims BBQ, combines smoky barbecued meats and Mexican flavors. Meats are seasoned and smoked in pecan wood, then combined for tacos, salads, rice bowls, burritos and quesadillas. Choose from pulled pork, smoked chicken, chorizo, brisket and more. Tacocue will be using those same meats, in combination with eggs, for a daily breakfast menu.

Tacocue is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner at 9701 S. Sheridan Road. TP

TUCK CURREN: COURTESY; TACOCUE: COURTESY TACOCUE AMERICAN EATERY

Breakfast taco with brisket

TulsaPeople.com

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

PEOPLE + PLACES + HISTORY

BIG IDEA

T

GREG BOLLINGER

wo high-rises familiar to commuters on the Broken Arrow Expressway are quietly on their way to a new purpose: providing much-needed administrative and program space for Tulsa nonprofits.

Located just east of 31st Street and South Yale Avenue, the two structures and a separate reservations center were well known for years as the headquarters for Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. Another rental car giant, Hertz, acquired the company and property in 2012.

In December 2015, the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, through 31st Street Plaza LLC, purchased the buildings, which total 291,273 square feet, to house the offices of various organizations.

See p. 36 for more on the nonprofits that are benefiting from the foundation’s generous gift. TP

TulsaPeople.com

31

NOTEBOOK

BY MORGA N PHILLIP S

Tulsan Becky Dixon was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame at its Nov. 17 ceremony. Dixon joins the ranks of 683 individuals who have received this commendation — the highest honor an Oklahoman can receive from the state — since it began in 1927.

Dixon began her career in broadcasting at Tulsa’s KTUL, then became the first woman to host a network sports show, joining ABC Sports as co-host of “Wide World of Sports.”

In 1994, she co-founded AyerPlay, which today provides marketing services to 7,000 clients nationwide.

TPS BRINGS

STEM INTO GYM

Girls in Kimberly Wandell’s physical education class at East Central Junior High measure the difference in thickness of two basketball materials — leather and rubber — to learn which held air better and how proper ball inflation relates to the transfer of energy as the ball bounces. The exercise is part of a partnership between the Tulsa Public Schools Athletic and Physical Education Department and STEM Sports — a national leader in sports-based science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming. Students engage in hands-on activities in PE class to discover the science behind sports such as basketball, volleyball and bicycle motocross (BMX).

PROGRAM KICKS OFF FOR AUTISTIC YOUTH Midtown Martial Arts’ newest training program is based on scientific data that shows martial arts can help improve the motor skills of children with autism spectrum disorder.

A group of Tulsa psychologists, occupational therapists and educational consultants selected the martial arts school in fall 2016 to launch the program, which has already seen positive results. “Witnessing firsthand the changes in physical ability and coordination in our students so far has been absolutely awe-inspiring,” says the school’s owner, Bryan Tosh.

Voices of Oklahoma “I don’t know how many people he was feeding all the time...People were coming into the store years later and saying, ‘You did this for us. You fed us then.’

They would say, ‘I’d like to pay you.’ That was great.”

Jim Economou, second-generation owner of Coney Island Hot Weiners, on his father, Christ, feeding hungry Tulsans for free during the Great Depression.

“VOICES OF OKLAHOMA” IS AN ORAL HISTORY PROJECT SUPPORTED BY THE OKLAHOMA CENTER FOR THE HUMANITIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA.

32

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

DIXON NAMED TO HALL OF FAME

MOMS AND SONS SERVE TULSA TOGETHER Tulsa is home to the state’s first chapter of the national nonprofit Young Men’s Service League, thanks to a group of service-minded mothers and their sons.

The YMSL Tulsa Midtown Chapter started in May with the goal of teaching high-school boys philanthropic service, life skills and leadership, says Kathy Pixley, one of six founding members. “(Volunteering together) gives moms and their sons dedicated time together, which is hard to come by as kids get older,” she says. “Hopefully volunteerism becomes part of who they are.”

Members — comprised of 35 mothers and 36 boys in grades 9 and 10 — must volunteer 20 hours per year at one or more of the chapter’s 10 adopted nonprofits.

Above: Patrick Pixley, Kathy Pixley, Benny Payne, Kim Stivers, Amy Lawson and Luke Lawson are members of the Young Men’s Service League Tulsa Midtown Chapter.

They recently volunteered at Emergency Infant Services.

MIDTOWN MARTIAL ARTS: VALERIE GRANT; VOICES OF OKLAHOMA: EVAN TAYLOR; MOMS AND SONS: COURTESY KATHY PIXLEY; TPS STEM: KIMBERLY WANDELL; HALL OF FAME: COURTESY BECKY DIXON

Midtown Martial Arts instructors who are specially trained to work with spectrum students teach classes twice a week at Whiteside Park.

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CHIEF JOSEPH RIDES TO SURRENDER (detail), oil on canvas, 1979

Unveiling of NatureWorks 28th Monument, Grand Lake White Pelican,

by Sculptor and 2017 Featured Artist, Bryce Pettit.

LOOKING WEST

The Rumley Family Collection Dec. 10, 2016 – March 26, 2017

www .natureworks. org

TU is an EEO/AA Institution.

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33

BIZ WHIZ Moriah Widener won a trip to Washington, D.C., and $10,000 from the National Science Foundation.

TEACHERS’ TREASURES A couple’s buying-and-selling website is teachers’ dream come true.

BY EMERALD DEAN

M

any teachers expect to reach into their own pockets to help cover the cost of school supplies, but these days the financial burden is heavier amid budget cuts around the country. Public schools statewide absorbed $74.4 million in funding cuts last fiscal year, according to Oklahoma Watch. Many Oklahoma teachers expect to spend hundreds of dollars — unreimbursed — on school supplies.

Most teachers in Tulsa spend $500 to $1,000 or more out-of-pocket annually for student and classroom supplies, with many spending much more, according to the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association.

But the giving attitude, while commendable, isn’t always practical for teachers with a modest income.

In 2008, Edward and Cheryl Shane noticed an absence in the market for a site to sell and buy school supplies. Two years later they founded Hoot of Loot — hootofloot.com, a classified ad website for educators.

Cheryl, a fifth-grade teacher, has been teaching for almost 17 years in various Oklahoma schools.

“My husband and I came up with the idea for

Hoot of Loot when I was sorting through my teaching supplies in storage, needing to purge some items, some of which were very costly at the time,” Cheryl says.

Hoot of Loot was launched with the hope of helping teachers get the classroom supplies they need. Instructors have the opportunity to register and create a free account. The site has more than 30 product categories to post ads. Teachers can buy anything from a remote control projection screen to reading games, skeleton models and puppet theaters.

“Teachers always have so many education related items they acquire over the years and providing a place to unload no-longer-needed items seemed like a win-win situation,” Cheryl says.

The website was rebuilt in December 2015.

Without a large advertising budget, Facebook became the main traffic source. Since January 2016, Hoot of Loot gained over 25,000 likes on Facebook.

“As the site continues to grow, we hope to reach many more educators through word of mouth, sharing our posts, or tagging their colleagues to check out our site,” Cheryl says. TP

STARSTRUCK

Kasey Littlefield poses with Mary Wilson, co-founder of the Supremes, and Deana McCloud, executive director of the Woody Guthrie Center. Wilson was in Tulsa for the June 16 unveiling of “Legends Of Motown: Celebrating The Supremes” at WGC. The exhibit offered visitors a unique look at one of the most successful American singing groups of the 1960s through rare artifacts from Wilson’s private collection. “Ms. Wilson greeted everyone with hugs and took photos with every single person she encountered,” says Littlefield, the media director at Beehive Communications. Today, Wilson is a successful author, speaker and businesswoman.

HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED IN THE NAME OF LOVE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH A CELEB? Our world is empty without you, so send your story to contactus@langdonpublishing.com.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

MEET AND GREET NAME: Moriah Widener AGE: 32 KNOWN FOR: Winning the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching in 2016; teaches at Jenks West Intermediate School.

Widener, on hearing the news: I was absolutely overjoyed. I was having lunch with my 5-year-old daughter and couldn’t help but do a quick celebratory dance in the kitchen.

On her passion for teaching: The academic challenge of meeting the needs of students with different learning styles, experiences and interests in a lesson about fraction multiplication, for instance, may not be for everyone. But for me, it’s invigorating.

On setting goals in the classroom: Some students set goals concerning grades. However, I hope to inspire them to reach for greater goals such as noticing patterns and relationships in mathematics, connecting math to the world outside and developing a positive disposition toward it.

On her role model grandmother: I credit her for my work ethic, grit and determination. She was tough but fair and unyielding in her dedication to me and my development.

On continuing her motivation: This award has certainly given me affirmation that what I do in my classroom keeps with best practices in education.

I am a teacher in my core, and I see every moment of teaching to be an opportunity for learning.

— LAURA DENNIS

BIZ WHIZ: VALERIE GRANT; MEET AND GREET: COURTESY; STARSTRUCK: COURTESY

Cheryl and Edward Shane launched hootofloot.com in 2010.

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1/13/17 9:31 AM

THE WAY WE WERE

Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences is now at the former Roosevelt Elementary School.

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO ...

A historic building gets a colorful update and a creative new life.

BY DOUG EATON

A

s the former Roosevelt Elementary building enters its 90th year, it also is welcoming new occupants.

The three-story redbrick, art deco building, just northwest of downtown Tulsa, recently became home to the Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences (TSAS), a public charter school educating students in grades 7 and 9-12. Grade 8 will be added next school year.

The site was originally home to the Tulsa Vitrified Brick and Tile Co., according to the Beryl Ford Collection/Rotary Club of Tulsa. The plant supplied many bricks used in the city’s original street paving.

The move to Roosevelt, at 1202 W. Easton St., is its third in five years for TSAS, which began in 2001 in an office building at East 51st Street and South Yale Avenue with four teachers. In 2012, TSAS thought it had found a permanent home at the former Barnard Elementary. Three weeks after school started, the structure was destroyed by fire.

It then spent four years in the former Sequoyah Elementary until moving to the Roosevelt building this past summer.

Eric Doss, executive director of TSAS, says the move to the new site required painting, updating a kitchen and cafeteria, converting a gym to a band room and a downstairs locker room to a photography lab, and adding three science labs.

Additionally, there was significant infrastructure improvement to the approximately 100,000-squarefoot facility.

“We added Wi-Fi throughout the building and upgraded all the electrical work,” Doss says.

Doss also noted that bold, bright colors and accents were used in many places in the building.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

The school in 1933.

“As you walk in and look upstairs, you’ll see the brightest green you’ve ever seen,” he says. “Our cafeteria is a bright blue that looks great.”

Faculty, parents and, most importantly, students have been “pleasantly surprised” with all the improvements. Doss told of one parent who had previously worked in the building remarking, “I can’t believe this is the same building” the first time she visited after the renovations.

Another positive element for the 375 students is the school’s location inside Owen Park, which is Tulsa’s first public park. Opened in 1910, the park has a lake, a rustic stone bridge, tennis courts, playgrounds, plenty of mature trees and Tulsa’s oldest surviving house. TP

T

he signage has been removed from the former Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group towers, but the cream-colored facades have otherwise remained unchanged.

Inside, however, the buildings are being transformed into a visionary project that will benefit various Tulsa nonprofits and the people they serve.

The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation purchased the campus in late 2015 and donated office space to nonprofits including Mental Health Association Oklahoma, Community Action Project, LIFE Senior Services, the Oklahoma Center for NonProfits and the Assistance League of Tulsa.

“The two towers and additional reservations center provide a significant opportunity for agencies needing additional or new space in our community,” says Bill Major, the foundation’s executive director.

“It will take time to develop, but we hope to see the benefits of collaboration and efficiency that come naturally with close proximity. The foundation believes that, in the long term, this purchase will improve service access for Tulsans.”

MHAO is utilizing one floor of interim space in the west tower but will soon begin design and construction on its permanent location: five floors in the east tower that will serve as the organization’s state headquarters.

Michael Brose, the association’s CEO, says the floors will provide needed conference and meeting space along with room for expansion. More importantly, it also will allow staff to work under one roof to tackle difficult issues — from supporting those impacted by mental illness, to reforming the criminal justice system, to ending homelessness.

— MORGAN PHILLIPS Above: Michael Brose, CEO of Mental Health Association Oklahoma, and Becky Frank who co-chaired the Association’s $12 million integrated capital campaign, which will help renovate the Association’s five floors of the east tower, among other things.

THE WAY WE WERE: VALERIE GRANT; HISTORIC PHOTO: COURTESY BERYL FORD COLLECTION/ROTARY CLUB OF TULSA, TULSA CITY-COUNTY LIBRARY AND TULSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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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.

Reading Partners is one of five key partners of Growing Together, which unites organizations, residents and teachers to advance education and enhance communities.

Gabriela, a student at Eugene Field, is one of 1,300 students helped by Reading Partners.

A TALL ORDER Growing Together targets two neighborhoods to promote education and community investment.

BY JANE ZEMEL

G

rowing Together provides no direct services, yet the nonprofit is the guiding force in changing the physical, social and educational landscapes of two of Tulsa’s most promising neighborhoods: Kendall Whittier and Eugene Field.

The idea is to unite organizations, residents and teachers to advance the quality of education, bring communities together and invest in the neighborhoods’ physical environment.

A tall order, for sure. That’s why Growing Together assembled gold-standard partners — including Communities in Schools, Talent Development, Reading Partners, City Year and the local YMCA — to collaborate in improving students’ futures.

“We’re the supporters of the tapestry,” says Kirk Wester, Growing Together’s executive director.

“We help them work effectively, to feel supported, so they can do amazing work.”

Other strategic partners have been added to the holistic mix, including the University of Tulsa, faith-based groups, Habitat for Humanity and Capital Homes.

Why so many partners? “I always assume there’s someone out there who knows how to do this better than I do,” Wester says.

This is more than a job to him. It’s a calling.

Wester grew up in Broken Arrow and married in 1996. Two years later, the couple decided to move into “a struggling neighborhood.” They chose Kendall Whittier, Tulsa’s red light district at the time. He and his wife felt strongly that they needed to be intentional about their support of social justice; that the best way to support a community was to be a part of it. They believe justice is truly a lifestyle.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

Amanda Bueno and Kei’veion read together during a recent Reading Partners session at Eugene Field Elementary.

Within a short time, a steady stream of projects popped up to improve the area led by a push among residents in the mid-1990s. Ultimately, in 2010, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, Community Action Project and Tulsa Area United Way decided to join forces to further ramp up the trajectory. GKFF provided funds to CAP, which formed a department in 2010 that ultimately resulted in Growing Together.

The holistic approach started with improving third grade reading levels, one of the key measures in school success. Partners such as Reading Partners and City Year were assembled to provide the services necessary to support young students.

Growing Together became an independent organization in 2014, but maintains a close relationship with CAP. Impact Tulsa, a nonprofit dedicated to high-quality education for all, conducted a study about Tulsa schools, which showed that although quality education is vital to every student, the greatest determiner of any child’s success is breaking the concentration of poverty within the school.

Armed with that information, Growing Together expanded its focus to include neighborhood revitalization. To involve families and communities. To tear down poverty and attract middle incomes.

Kirk Wester

Step one was to improve school quality. Parents who could afford it were transferring their students out of the area. “We have to get to a place where our schools are sought after by all people,” Wester says. (Read on to learn how member agencies contribute to this effort.)

Step two was to get people to be neighbors, followed by connecting them. Today, Growing Together employs three full-time community organizers, who develop strategies to connect neighbors, like Zumba classes, soccer tournaments, movie nights and community dinners.

“For us to be sustainably successful, we can’t be 100 percent free lunch,” Wester says, meaning the neighborhood has to work toward a 60-40 poverty-to-mixed-income ratio to succeed.

Amid these changes, however, special care is directed to make sure current residents are not priced out of their own neighborhoods. The creation of a community land trust assures affordability while protecting against gentrification.

Successes in this arena include West Park apartments, a mixed-income development at 2405 E. Fourth St. that now has a waiting list.

Capital Homes, builder of 17 market-value homes in Kendall Whittier, offered $4,000 in closing costs; $4,000 was offered through TU as down-payment assistance to TU employees to live in the area. Capital will build up to 10 homes in the neighborhood in the future and will continue to offer its incentive, along with $4,000 offered by Growing Together for teachers at Kendall Whittier and Sequoyah Elementary Schools and Rogers Junior High. Additionally, Habitat for Humanity has designed a new business model that gives owners equity in their new home on the day they move in.

In December the Westers moved into a new-construction residence, their third home in the neighborhood.

TulsaPeople.com

39

Jania and Kirk Wester with their children, Isabela Wester-Rivera, Markos Wester-Rivera and Sanjuana Alvizo. The family has lived in the Kendall Whittier neighborhood since 1998. They believe the best way to support a community is to be a part of it.

• Communities in Schools • Three years ago, Growing Together brought the country’s No. 1 dropout prevention program to Tulsa. Communities in Schools of Mid-America created a local office in Tulsa, and Jania Wester, Kirk’s wife, became executive director.

The organization supports schools and individual students, academically and socially. They can help schools with universal issues such as bullying or attendance, and provide case management services for students at risk of dropping out.

“Our students have adverse experiences on a daily basis,” Jania Wester explains. “We care for students after the loss of a home, following a visit to an incarcerated parent or in cases of neglect.”

Jania Wester was a teacher and assistant principal at Kendall Whittier Elementary and a principal at Zarrow Elementary before joining CIS. “I wanted to get back to the folks I have a heart for — the Latino community, the impoverished and voiceless,” she says.

Because CIS helps with non-academic issues, dedicated educators can focus on teaching. “In a climate and culture of support, teachers feel more validated,” she says. The outcomes are nothing short of remarkable for CIS caseload students: 90 percent stayed in school, 94 percent were promoted and 94 percent of targeted seniors actually graduated.

• Talent Development • “Education is the great equalizer,” says former TPS teacher Libby Tillotson, executive director 40

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

“We have to get to a place where our schools are sought after by all people.” executive director of Growing Together

problems at home, and was able to customize an intervention with the family. The group’s collaborative efforts resulted in the girl’s improved grades and an end to her behavior issues.

Studies have shown that if a student is off-track with just one component by sixth grade, there’s only a 25 percent chance he or she will graduate on time or at all.

Tulsa produces some of Talent Development Secondary’s best results nationwide, putting 67 percent of students who are off-track back on a path to success.

of Talent Development Secondary in Tulsa. “No one can take it away. And it opens doors like nothing else can.”

Tillotson’s organization is an important cog in the collaborative Growing Together wheel.

The program was developed by the Johns Hopkins University’s School of Education to support teachers, and help teachers help students.

Teachers are trained to use the Hopkins Early Warning Indicator system to monitor three key components (ABCs): Attendance, Behavior and Course in math and English. When teachers and counselors identify students who need special attention, they work together to develop interventions.

For example, the system flagged an elementary student whose grades were slipping and who was breaking class dress code rules. The team of educators discovered the girl was experiencing

• Reading Partners • The path to success also involves helping young students read at grade level. Reading Partners — a nonprofit that provides one-on-one tutoring by pairing community volunteers and struggling readers — serves 1,300 students in 24 reading programs at 22 schools in the TPS district — including the 325 students served by Growing Together.

Program Director Jessica Smith was an assistant principal at Kendall Whittier when she heard Reading Partners was coming to Tulsa. She thought the job description was written for her.

“I was an elementary teacher who wanted to make a positive difference with a large group of children … to make a positive difference through literacy they wouldn’t get otherwise,” Smith says.

She is a Reading Partner for a first-grader at Eugene Field.

Students need to read proficiently to learn science, history and all other subjects. Missing

— KIRK WESTER,

Connecting neighbors is a key part of Growing Together’s strategies.

Organizers plan get-togethers at neighborhood landmarks, like the Kendall Whittier park, for camaraderie and a sense of community.

Elena Snyder works with her Reading Partner, Kazhia, at Eugene Field Elementary.

this milestone can be catastrophic. Children who can’t read at grade level by the time they get to fourth grade are four times more likely to drop out according to a report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Reading Partners volunteers build positive relationships with their students simply by paying attention to them individually and being there consistently.

“Students with low confidence grow tremendously through this,” Smith says.

“It’s a great way to change a kid’s life. No place else you can volunteer and do that in an hour.” Potential volunteers can sign up at readingpartners.org.

• City Year • While even a few hours a week of extra attention can make a huge difference to a struggling child, sometimes a more constant presence is needed for broader results. Enter City Year Tulsa.

“We are the extra people, power and hands to reach the needs of the students, through the whole school and individually,” says Hollis McAllister, City Year’s chief of staff.

City Year’s 17- to 25-year-old full-time tutors, mentors and role models show up before school starts and stay long after the last school bell of the day. Their job: to create a positive school climate and increase graduation rates.

“The beauty I see is in near-peer relationships,” McAllister explains. “Our volunteers aren’t much older than the students they mentor.

Students confide in them as they might not with other adults.”

McAllister herself was a City Year volunteer

Although there is still much work to be done, the tireless staff, volunteers and supporters at Growing Together and its partner agencies no longer have to imagine what those ideas might look like in action. In 2013-14, all Growing Together elementary schools saw gains in third grade reading proficiency. During 2014-15, Clinton Middle School and Webster High School saw dramatic reductions in students failing English and math, being suspended and poor attendance.

in an underprivileged Boston school. “My world changed meeting those kids,” she says.

A fourth grader she met there became the little sister she never had. “She struggled with the same things I struggled with at that age, but she gained the confidence I didn’t have,” McAllister says, adding proudly that the girl graduated from eighth grade as second in her class.

“I came in (to the program) not having confidence as a leader,” McAllister adds, “but I did see myself as someone who can make a difference.”

In Tulsa, City Year has seen significant results.

Between 2013 and 2015, the graduation rate at Webster rose from 53.3 percent to 60.5 percent. In the 2015-2016 school year: • 90 percent of the off-track students at Kendall Whittier Elementary improved in English Language Arts (ELA) from startof-year to mid-year.

• 178 of 216 ELA students improved reading assessments (SRI) scores from startof-year to mid-year with average growth of 79 points across all grades; 102-point average for elementary schools and 56point average for secondary schools.

• 106 of 169 math students improved in their math assessment scores from startof-year to mid-year with an average growth of 63 points; 92-point average for elementary schools and 20-point average for secondary.

• YMCA • The YMCA was the logical choice for after-school services in the Growing Together partnership since it already managed similar programs in four Tulsa-area school districts.

The staff does far more than babysit. “We help with homework, provide 30 to 60 minutes of moderate activity, and provide nutritious snacks and lessons on nutrition,” says Caitlin Turner, YMCA senior director for educational initiatives. Students have access to education specialists in science, technology, engineering and math, as well as performing and visual arts.

The Y extends learning times for school breaks, summers and even weekend events for students and families. These Kendall Whittier and Eugene Field elementary student services are free, and operate on a referral basis.

The vision is for the elementary school to become the community hub — the gathering place. Not just for students, but where seniors, parents and kids of all ages can learn and experience new things. “This creates deeper connection to the school, so school becomes a priority,” Turner says.

She is proud the Y is a Growing Together partner. “We really get to dream big. We have the freedom to imagine what all these connections and collaborations look like … on a large scale,” she says. TP TulsaPeople.com

41

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ESSAY

GEORGIA BROOKS

OKLAHOMA’S SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE REIMAGINING DISCIPLINE IN OKLAHOMA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

BY HANNIBAL B. JOHNSON

“When schools are suspending students at high rates, we are, in fact, contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline.

(African-American students) are significantly more likely to be suspended than students of another race.”

— Former Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Keith Ballard, as reported in Sept. 11, 2015 edition of The Oklahoman TulsaPeople.com

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S

chools too often problematize students of color and exclude them. The disproportionate punishment of students of color in general, and young black males in particular, appears strikingly evident in both the Tulsa and Oklahoma City school districts, according to a 2015 report from The Oklahoman. This raises concerns about fairness and justice.

Nationally, schools suspend and expel three times more black primary and secondary school students than white students, as reported to the Oklahoma Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR). American Indian and Native Alaskan students comprise less than 1 percent of the student population, yet account for 2 percent of out-of-school suspensions and 3 percent of expulsions. Others students of color also experience disproportionate disciplinary sanctions. The U.S. Department of Education reports imbalances in school discipline begin as early as pre-K. These early discrepancies in how schools mete out punishment seed down-the-line hardships for disciplined students and social problems for communities. In 2015, the Civil Rights Project said the staggering and foreseeable consequences borne by suspended and expelled students include: learning deficits, an enhanced risk of becoming high school dropouts and a predisposition toward criminality.

The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy defines the school-to-prison pipeline as “a social phenomenon where legal policies, education policies and social constructs funnel struggling children from schools to jails and prisons.”

Contributing factors to the school-to-prison pipeline include poverty, implicit bias, school policies (e.g., zero-tolerance, overemphasis on testing), ineffective strategies for meeting the needs of students with disabilities and the failure to address trauma-related issues tied to the destruction of traditional Native American cultures.

The Oklahoma Advisory Committee to the USCCR hosted public hearings in 2015 on the “school-to-prison pipeline.” The USCCR is an independent, bipartisan agency charged with studying and advising the President and Congress on civil rights matters and issuing federal civil rights enforcement reports.

School administrators, teachers, legal professionals, nonprofit organizations, academics and advocates offered verbal and written testimony. The Oklahoma Advisory Committee to the USCCR sought to determine the extent to which the application of school disciplinary and juvenile justice policies in Oklahoma discriminatorily impact students on the basis of race, color and/or sex.

The Center for American Progress said that due in part to the pipeline, consignment to confinement now seems a mathematical probability for boys of color. “C” for convict has become the 21st century scarlet letter.

Dr. Paul Ketchum, professor of criminal justice at the University of Oklahoma, noted that the race

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

schools are properly trained and equipped to respond in an age-appropriate manner • State-imposed mandatory disciplinary policy reforms for schools with significant disparities in disciplinary actions on the basis of race, color or disability (e.g., cultural competence/implicit bias training) • School district-initiated measures to ensure that students receive a quality educational experience, even if in the context of an alternative schooling arrangement.

Hannibal B. Johnson, a graduate of Harvard Law School, is an attorney, author, consultant and college professor. He serves on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and is the author of books on African-American history and culture.

of the offender more profoundly influences the severity of juvenile court referrals, expulsions and school-based arrests than does the offense itself.

There is nothing to suggest that nonwhite students have worse behavioral problems than white students, though nonwhite students have disproportionate contact with “the system.” This leaves boys of color academically delayed, disinterested and virtually abandoned by educators. They drop out, not just from school, but from productive life — a vicious cycle begun.

For African Americans, the school-to-prison pipeline represents just one facet of “the New Jim Crow”: a latticework of laws, policies and practices that ensnare thousands of black men in the system’s vortex. That entanglement leads inexorably to incarceration and, with it, a pariah-like, lifelong status. This near-death spiral captures children, families and communities in a web of poverty and privation that saps our nation’s productivity and prosperity. Life in lockup adversely affects individual and family prospects across generations.

The Oklahoma Advisory Committee to the USCCR made several recommendations: • A national study on the impact of school funding on race/color-based gaps in educational outcomes • Uniform licensing requirements to ensure that all law enforcement officers working in

Disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline is both imperative and urgent. We must act with dispatch and decisiveness to reimagine discipline in Oklahoma public schools.

The Oklahoma Advisory Committee to the USCCR seeks to foster constructive dialogue leading to the creation and implementation of strategies that slow, and ultimately eliminate, the school-to-prison pipeline. The operative assumption is that knowledge-sharing must precede behavior modification.

The Oklahoma Advisory Committee to the USCCR conveyed its recommendations to its headquarters in Washington, D.C., together with a request to disseminate the suggestions to the following federal agencies with relevant jurisdiction: The Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights; the Department of Education, Office of Indian Education; and the Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. In addition, the proposals will be shared with Oklahoma’s Congressional delegation and public schools.

Local and state leaders should continue to monitor school discipline data and consider appropriate site and/or system-based interventions designed to reduce significant disparities in the application of discipline, especially suspensions and expulsions. Concerned individuals should request demographic discipline data from school boards and school administrators from which they may determine the prevalence and significance of a school-to-prison pipeline. Apathy and a lack of transparency serve no one’s interest.

Schools have begun to grapple with this troublesome issue. In July 2016, Tulsa Public Schools adopted new student discipline guidelines that introduced alternatives to suspension for less serious offenses. The TPS Board of Education adopted the TPS Behavior Response Plan for 2016-2017.

This plan reflects a new disciplinary approach emphasizing intervention over punishment in appropriate cases. While much remains to be done, such progress should spark hope and provide the foundation for a continued commitment to identify sustainable solutions. TP

VISIT USCCR.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS.

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guide to Tulsa’s

Private Schools Choosing the right school for your children can be a daunting task.

To help with your research, we’ve collected up-to-date information on private schools in the Tulsa area — from current tuition rates and uniforms to financial aid and student-to-teacher ratios. For additional information, contact the individual schools.

COMPILED BY EMERALD DEAN, LAURA DENNIS, EMMA GIDDENS AND MORGAN KRUEGER

SCHOOL

YEAR FOUNDED

GRADE LEVELS

UNIFORMS

FINANCIAL AID

STUDENTTEACHER RATIO

TUITION (ANNUAL, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OR AFFILIATION

TOTAL ENROLLMENT

BEFOREAND AFTERSCHOOL CARE

REGISTRATION/TESTING DATES

Catholic

351

Yes

Registration: February; Testing: summer

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

1957

Pre-K-8th

Yes

Yes

17-1

1 student: $4,450 (Catholic parishioner) or $5,082 (non-parishioner); 2 students: $8,324 (Catholic parishioner) or $9,593 (non-parishioner); 3 students: $11,704 (Catholic parishioner) or $13,606 (non-parishioner); 4 students: $13,561 (Catholic parishioner) or $16,099 (non-parishioner)

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

1997

Pre-K-12th

Yes

Yes

12-1

$5,850, kinder-prep; $5,825, K5-5th; $6,200, 6th; $6,475, 7th-8th; $7,275, 9th-12th

Christian

199

Yes

New students can apply in March; August enrollment deadline; admission stops when classes are full.

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

1960

9th-12th

Yes

Yes

13-1

$8,900, Catholics supporting a parish; $11,200, all others

Catholic, Lasallian

911

No

Registration: Nov. 2017; Testing: Jan. 2018

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

1926

6th-12th

Yes

Yes

12-1

$13,500 plus a $500 supplies fee, a $550 registration fee and a one-time $50 matriculation fee

Catholic, Augustinian

580

After-school care

Call the Office of Admission for tour, testing and application information at 918-746-2604.

Montessori

84

Yes

Call 918-628-6524 to schedule a tour and receive an admission application.

Christian

67

Yes, for all-day enrollees

Ongoing

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

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

N/A

Preschool-8th

No

No

8-1

Ages 3-6: $490 per month, 5 half days; $490 per month, 3 full days; $590 per month, 5 full days.

Ages 6-12: $590 per month.

Ages 12-15: $645 per month.

1994

Age infant to 6 for children who are deaf, hard of hearing or have communication disorders

No

Yes

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

Sliding scale

Episcopal

919

Yes

Middle and upper school test dates for 2017 are Feb. 4, March 7, March 21, April 4, April 18 and May 9.

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

1922

Pre-K-12th

Yes

Yes

9-1

$6,800, preschool (3 days); $11,075, preschool (5 days); $12,445, jr. K; $14,795, K; $15,275, 1st-3rd; $17,100, 4th-5th; $17,750, 6th-8th; $19,225, 9th-12th

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

1899

Preschool-8th

Yes

Yes

8-1

$5,000, preschool; $4,000, Catholic parishioner K-8th; $5,000, non-Catholic parishioner K-8th.

Multiple child discounts.

Catholic

185

Yes

Registration begins in February, continues until classes are full.

IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 400 N. Aspen Ave., Broken Arrow 918-251-5422 | ilcanews.org

2001

Pre-K-12th

Yes

Yes

12-1

$6,137, K-8th; $7,087, 9th-12th

Lutheran

150

Yes

Registration: Feb. 1.

Testing by appointment.

KIDS IN MOTION ACADEMY 1700 N. Redbud Place, Broken Arrow 918-258-5437 | kidsinmotionacademy.com

2008

Age 2-3rd grade

Yes

Yes

8-1, preschool; 15-1, K-3rd

Available upon request.

Biblical world view

130

Yes

Registration: February

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

964

Yes

Registration: Feb. 1

TulsaPeople.com

47

SCHOOL

YEAR FOUNDED

GRADE LEVELS

UNIFORMS

FINANCIAL AID

STUDENTTEACHER RATIO

TUITION (ANNUAL, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OR AFFILIATION

TOTAL ENROLLMENT

BEFOREAND AFTERSCHOOL CARE

REGISTRATION/TESTING DATES

Catholic

445

Yes

School tours by appointment.

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

Parishioner: $5,207, 1 child; $8,498, 2 children; $11,514, 3 children; $14,017, 4 or more children. Non-parishioner: $6,583 per child. Early Childhood Development Center rates vary.

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

1983

P3-12th

Yes

Yes

12-1

$6,025-$9,875

Christian

1,000

After-school care

Open houses: 9 a.m., Feb. 28; 12:30 p.m., April 1

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

1976

K4-12th

Yes

Yes

13-1

$6,106, K4-6th; $6,925, 7th-8th; $7,456, 9th-12th

Christian

235

Yes

Registration: Ongoing.

School tours by appointment.

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

$8,400, preschool; $8,300, kindergarten; $8,200, elementary

N/A

150

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

36

After-care enrichment program

Ongoing

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

1926

K-8th

Yes

Yes

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

$10,200, K-8th; $5,400, 3-day early childhood learning center; $8,600, 5-day early childhood learning center

Catholic

810

After-school care

Tours every Wednesday.

To RSVP call Brooke Jones at 918-746-4238.

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

1990

Pre-K-12th

Yes

Yes

15-1

$5,100, preschool; $4,800, K-12th

Islamic

230

After-school 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

$2,790-$3,550, pre-K-K; $7,720, 1st-6th; $8,350, 7th-8th; $9,700, 9th-12th

Christian

503

No

November-summer

REJOICE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS 10701 N. 129th E. Ave., Owasso, 918-272-7235 (preschool/elementary); 13407 E. 106th St. N., Owasso, 918-516-0050 (middle and high schools) rejoiceschool.com

1992

Preschool-12th

No

Yes

14-1

$2,340-$5,285, preschool; $5,860, elementary; $6,180, middle school; $6,645, high school

Christian

960

Yes

Registration: Dec. 1

Yes

4-1 to 15-1 based on age

$500-$12,375, infants-age 5; $1,195-$12,390, K-3rd; $1,260-$12,600, 4th-5th; $1,310-$12,615, 6th-8th; $1,480-$12,500, 9th-12th

Non-sectarian

605

Yes

School tours by appointment.

10-1

Practicing Catholic: $4,187, 1 child; $7,028, 2 children; $9,615, 3 children; $12,896, 4 or more children. Non-practicing and nonCatholic: $5,179, 1 child; $9,598, 2 children; $14,067, 3 children; $18,851, 4 or more children

Catholic

110

Yes

Ongoing

Catholic

392

Yes

Ongoing

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

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

1984

1927

Infant-12th

Pre-K-8th

No

Yes

Yes

SAINT PIUS X SCHOOL 1717 S. 75th E. Ave. 918-627-5367 mystpius.com

1957

Preschool-8th

Yes

Yes

16-1

$5,400, preschool (1 child/full time); $9,045, preschool (2 children).

Parishioner: $4,706, K-8th (1 child); $7,880, K-8th (2 children); $9,555, K-8th (3 or more children).

Non-parishioner: $7,177, K-8th.

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

1951

Pre-K-8th

Yes

Yes

10-1, pre-K-2nd; 20-1, 3rd-8th

$3,700

Catholic

200

Yes

Ongoing

Parishioner: $5,152, 1 child; $8,723, 2 children; $11,574, 3 children; $13,735, 4 children; $16,673, 5 children.

Non-parishioner: $6,350

Roman Catholic

250

After-school 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; 3rd-8th have 30-student maximum 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

15-1

$5,520, pre-K; $5,160, K-5th

Christian

73

After-school care

Ongoing

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

1987

K-12th

Yes

Yes

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

$5,440, K; $5,940, 1st-6th; $6,450, 7th-8th; $6,820, 9th-12th

Christian

412

Yes

Ongoing

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

1972

Birth-age 6

No

No

12-3

Tuition-free

Christian

91

No

Ongoing

48

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

SCHOOL

YEAR FOUNDED

GRADE LEVELS

UNIFORMS

FINANCIAL AID

STUDENTTEACHER RATIO

TUITION (ANNUAL, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED)

SCHOOL OF THOUGHT OR AFFILIATION

TOTAL ENROLLMENT

BEFOREAND AFTERSCHOOL CARE

REGISTRATION/TESTING DATES

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

2004

6th-8th

Yes

Not tuition based

12-1

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

Lasallian

73

Yes

Registration: March

162

Yes, for 1st-8th

Ongoing

TOWN AND 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

$4,800, pre-K-4th; $5,200, 5th-8th; $6,500, 9th-12th

Christian

115

After-school care

Registration: August.

Testing by appointment.

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

1964

Age 3-8th grade

No

Yes

8-1

$6,305, primary half day; $9,450, primary full day; $9,965, lower elementary; $10,225, upper elementary; $10,225, middle school

Montessori

205

Yes

Ongoing

Gifted

226

Yes

Ongoing

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

1982

Age 3-8th grade

No

Yes

5-1

$10,005-$10,520, early primary and primary 1, 2 and 3, early childhood (two-day to five-day, plans A-C); $10,380-$10,780, intermediate 1 and 2 and older intermediate 5, 6, 7 and 8 (Plans A-C)

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

1979

K-12th

Yes

Yes

15-1

$5,278, K3-K5; $5,895, elementary; $6,313, middle school; $6,620, high school

Christian

900

Yes

Ongoing

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

1989

Pre-K-12th

Yes

Yes

15-1

$5,195, pre-K; $5,120, K-5th; $5,450, 6th; $5,795, 7th-8th; $6,230, 9th-12th

Christian

241

Yes

Enrollment: Feb. 1.

Testing by appointment.

Since 2006

Flexible, Individualized Tutoring

Pursue your Passion. ✔ Tutoring for All Ages – Children, Teens, and Adults

✔ Homework Help & Study/ Organization Skills

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✔ ACT/SAT/GED Preparation ✔ All Levels of Mathematics/ Science/History

✔ Computer Skills ✔ Reading/Phonics/Writing/ Language Arts

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

The School of Culinary Arts at OSU Institute of Technology offers a place to express creativity and perfect technique while learning from a diverse faculty of professional chefs.

Known for lavish grand buffets, OSUIT’s culinary school demonstrates the spectrum of hospitality education through Okmulgee’s finest restaurant, the State Room. Visitors come from all over the region to enjoy the unique dining experience, operated by our exemplary culinary students.

ENROLL NOW AT OSUIT.EDU TulsaPeople.com

49

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, has more than 2,800 full-time faculty members, and has 21 colleges offering 170 majors at the baccalaureate level, 153 majors at the master level, 80 majors at the doctoral level, 32 majors at the doctoral professional level and 46 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 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.

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 .....................................................21,628 All Campuses ............................................22,455 Number of Undergraduate Degrees Offered ............................................... 170

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION OU is the only public university in U.S. history to ever rank first among both public and private universities in the number of freshman National Merit Scholars.

Graduate Enrollment Norman .......................................................5,696 All campuses .............................................. 6,193 Number of Graduate Degrees Offered ............ 311 Student-Faculty Ratio ...................................17-to-1

OU - Oklahoma’s Leader in Excellence

• This fall, for the first time in the history of the OU College of Medicine in Tulsa, all four years of medical school are offered at the Schusterman Center through the OU-TU School of Community Medicine. The OU-TU School of Community Medicine, a joint effort of the University of Tulsa and OU, is among the nation’s leaders in the growing field of community medicine, which focuses on population-based health outcomes.

• The Peggy Dow Helmerich School of Drama was recently named as one of the top 10 Bachelor of Fine Arts theatre design and production programs in the nation, according to OnStage. OU is the only school in Oklahoma and the only school in the Big 12 to be selected.

• An OU-Tulsa beautification project, a gift from the Stuart Family Foundation of Tulsa, will transform the Schusterman Center landscape and enrich the atmosphere of the growing campus to create a two-mile walking trail and two outdoor learning areas for students, faculty and staff. Stuart Square will improve campus accessibility and provide recreation and wellness opportunities for the community.

• OU is the only public university in U.S. history to ever rank first among both public and private universities in the number of freshman National Merit Scholars.

• OU has achieved an all-time record freshman-to-sophomore retention rate of 90 percent, ranking OU among the top universities in the nation. OU is one of only 34 public institutions in the nation currently reporting retention rates of 90 percent or higher.

• 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.

• OU was recently awarded the prestigious Davis Cup for the fourth 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.

• With construction underway and move in set for next fall, 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 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

F

rom the first day of pre-kindergarten through graduation, Holland Hall students are nurtured and challenged in their classes. An innovative, “scaffolded” program in each discipline moves 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 in scholarships. Students who graduate from Holland Hall are prepared for success in any university setting and for life beyond college.

At Holland Hall, students don’t have to choose between academics, athletics or the arts. The school provides a supportive atmosphere that encourages every student to pursue and excel in all three areas. The school’s focus on the whole individual is one of the reasons Holland Hall students thrive in all aspects.

Because every student participates in both artistic and athletic endeavors, the entire community respects and encourages excellence beyond the classroom. At Holland Hall, exceptional

Year Founded ..............................................1922 Enrollment .................................................... 922 Student-Faculty Ratio ................................ 9-to-1 Grades ............................Early Pre-K–12th grade

faculty and innovative programming provide an environment in which each student can discover gifts and passions in both arts and athletics. Developing every facet of each student is the school’s mission.

Although Holland Hall has called different locations home since 1922, its current campus at East 81st Street and South Yale Avenue is a gem in south Tulsa. In addition to the Primary, Middle, and Upper School facilities, the 165-acre campus includes creeks and ponds, an outdoor classroom, a regionally recognized 5K wooded trail, numerous athletic fields, and playgrounds.

The Walter Arts Center and the All Saints Chapel round out the beautiful and engaging campus.

The importance of community is a core value at Holland Hall, and this value centers on a strong sense of connectedness. Holland Hall’s small class sizes and intimate, wooded campus provide an ideal environment to form relationships that last a lifetime.

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION Out of all four-year high schools in Oklahoma, Holland Hall has the highest SAT scores with an average of 1366 (1600 scale) and the highest ACT scores with an average of 27.2 (out of 36).

Join us at the Holland Hall Book Fair!

February 25, 2017

FEBRUARY 25, 2017 FROM 8AM – 5PM • ADMISSION $1

Featuring thousands of used books, games, toys, movies, & more!

Stay connected on Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram @HollandHall

HollandHall.org/book-fair

John Brown University 2000 W. University St., Siloam Springs, Arkansas • 1.877.JBU.INFO www.jbu.edu

J

ohn Brown University, founded in Northwest Arkansas in 1919, serves over 2,700 students from 37 nations and 40 states. JBU is a private Christian university committed to providing quality academics within a distinctly interdenominational Christian community.

JBU students excel within their chosen fields. In April 2016, the Enactus team took second place in the Enactus United State National Exposition, propelling past 120 other teams. A JBU business team placed second in the undergraduate division at the 2016 Tri-State Donald W. Reynolds Cup Business Plan Competition. Recently, a team of JBU engineering students traveled to Kennedy Space Center to participate in the NASA Lunabotics Mining Competition. JBU is one of only a handful of teams that has been a part of the contest since it started. In 2015, the team won the Judges’ Innovation Award.

Outside the classroom, students enjoy 9 NAIA Division I athletic teams, men’s and women’s rugby clubs, a new on-campus mountain bike trail, a newly renovated health complex, on-campus concerts with artists such as Lecrae and Rend Collective, theater performances and plenty more activities and service opportunities JBU is a vibrant and growing independent Christian university of the arts, sciences and professions. The University seeks to provide Christ-centered education that prepares people to honor God and serve others by developing their intellectual, spiritual and professional lives.

Year Founded................................................................................................. 1919 Enrollment .................................................................................................... 2,708 Number of Undergraduate Degrees Offered..................................................... 37 Number of Graduate Degrees Offered .............................................................. 10

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION JBU is Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university according to U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges ranking 2017.

Student-Faculty Ratio..................................................................................13-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.

54

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

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 8 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 over a dozen 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 ................................................................................... 619 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.

Riverfield Varsity basketball teams have won the Cherokee Conference four years in a row. Most recently, the boys team won the Wilson Tournament, while the girls were Runners Up.

d l e i f r e r i v i n g . to g e t h e r . g row

OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE: INFANTS – 5TH GRADE F ebruary 7, 9:30 am - noon F ebruary 28, 9:30 am - noon

The Middle School Academic Bowl teams have won 13 State Championships since 2004. In November, they won the OKC Blue Academic Tournament.

Riverfield students are generous and understand philanthropy. In late 2016, they donated 3,024 pounds of food and $1,323 to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

6th – 12TH GRADE F ebruary 21, 12:30-2:30 Pm

riverfield.org TulsaPeople.com

55

Cascia Hall Preparatory School 2520 S Yorktown Ave, Tulsa • 918-746-2604 www.casciahall.com

C

ascia Hall has a storied history — a legacy of achievement, excellence and honor spanning 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

JOHN LEWIS

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...A Mentor Be...A Cascian

Anthony BArBer ClAss of 2003 “The great faculty at Cascia Hall prepared me to pursue a challenging Electrical Engineering degree in college, and I am very grateful to them.

Now, I am able to give back by mentoring tomorrow’s future engineers and business leaders in the Cascia Hall Commando Robotics (Commandobots) program.” Anthony Barber 56

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

•

Eagle Scout

•

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering The University of Tulsa

•

Masters of Education, University of Notre Dame

•

Served in AmeriCorps

•

Mentor, Cascia Hall Robotics Team

2520 S. Yorktown Ave. Tulsa, OK 918-746-2604

www.casciahall.com admissions@casciahall.com

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. For more than 90 years, Monte Cassino has 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, and drive spiritual and intellectual development by respecting the dignity and unique gifts of each child.

Monte Cassino boasts a five-building campus in the heart of midtown, which features a performing arts theater, a chapel, a track and more. Open house events are ongoing and individual tours are offered. Please contact Office of Admissions Director Brooke Jones at 918-746-4238 or bjones@montecassino.org for more information.

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION Year Founded.......................................................... 1926 Enrollment ................................................................ 815 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.

Look inside for all the excellent reasons to attend Monte Cassino.

See for yourself: www.montecassino.org It’s not easy to

but it’s worth it.

Monte Cassino is a premier private independent school with a powerful Catholic identity and message.

To schedule a tour, please call 918.746.4238.

TulsaPeople.com

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EQUIPPING FUTURE

WORLD CHANGERS Metro Christian Academy is a vibrant community focused on spiritual growth, intellectual development, and moral excellence. Upon graduation, our students are equipped to enhance the world through well-developed skill sets and unshakable character grounded in the pursuit of Christ.

RIGOROUS ACADEMICS

FAITH-FILLED COMMUNITY

6363 SOUTH TRENTON AVENUE TULSA, OKLAHOMA 74136

OUTSTANDING ACTIVITIES

918.745.9868

WWW.METROCA.COM

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

WHITE PAPER DeямБnition: An informational and authoritative document issue by a company to present a solution, product or service.

TOPICS PRESEN T ED MANAGED IT SERVICES ImageNet Consulting

COMMERCIAL INSURANCE INSURICA/Joe West Company

ASSET MANAGEMENT Trust Company of Oklahoma

PEOPLE ARE WORTH THE INVESTMENT Career Development Partners

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES First State Investment Advisors

ALTERNATIVE RETIREMENT PLANS Robertson Insurance Services

TulsaPeople.com

59

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

TOPIC : MANAGED IT SERVICES

Why Businesses Are Turning To Managed IT Services…

Organizations are increasingly turning to managed service At ImageNet Consulting, our mission is to provide IT soluproviders (MSPs) to handle elements of their IT needs. More than tions that improve each client’s bottom line. We excel at uncovtwo-thirds of companies surveyed by CompTIA, the IT industry ering problems, consulting and evaluating options, then delivtrade association, reported they have used the services of an ering solutions that enhance productivity while reducing costs. outside IT firm within the past We are confident no other company 12 months. can match our network of skilled Companies have become more technicians and our portfolio of prodfamiliar with managed services ucts and services. and are turning to them for manWe accomplish our mission by agement of certain IT functions, training our consultants to optimize particularly mail hosting, customer and enhance the management of relationship management (CRM) business processes for our clients. applications, storage, backup and Most studies reveal the inefficienrecovery and network monitoring. cies of paper-based processes. While While one-time projects account most business professionals agree for some of these business enwith these findings, they do not posgagements, a significant portion sess the time or expertise to evaluate is ongoing management of one or and improve the situation.

Tulsa President Alan Webb with IT Solutions Engineer Tucker Bidleman more IT functions by a managed ImageNet Consulting provides services provider, companies like ImageNet Consulting. our clients with the right technology solutions for their specifIt is important to note that while companies are increasingly ic business needs. By implementing an intelligent stratetic IT relying on outside providers for part of their IT needs, MSPs genplan, your company’s customized solution will work seamlessly erally complement rather than replace internal IT. Improving the and trouble-free in the background to enhance daily business efficiency and reliability of IT operations was a main driving factor procedures and increase operational effectiveness. It all adds for going with an MSP for 56 percent of companies with 100 or up to greater peace of mind, a heightened level of efficiency, more employees and 47 percent of companies with fewer than lower operational costs, and an enhanced bottom line.

100 employees.

We take pride in our manufacturer-agnostic and solution-led Other reasons? Enhanced security and compliance was a drivapproach. Our customers range from small businesses to some ing factor for 38 percent of companies of all sizes. ROI/cost savof the largest corporations in the world. We are confident no ings was a driving factor for 33 percent of companies with 100 other company can match our portfolio of products, solutions, or more employees and 28 percent of companies with fewer than and the expertise with which we deliver them.

100 employees.

The trade association found that 6 in 10 respondents that consider their technology usage advanced are using an MSP for physical security services, and 63 percent of the same group are – Alan Webb using an MSP for application monitoring.

President/GM, Tulsa Market

IMAGENET CONSULTING 7231 E 41ST ST S, TULSA, OK 74145 • (918) 585-8686 • IMAGENETCONSULTING.COM

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

TOPIC : ASSET MANAGEMENT

After Selling The Lake House, We Kept The Property That Matters: Memories As I made my last pass through the family lake house in 2005, I was overcome with emotion. I thought about the day my grandfather took me out on the lake with red beginner skis to teach me how to get up out of the water. I recalled the time I caught five large catfish in less than two hours, which sparked an impromptu fish fry on our deck. Almost every precious memory I hold from my childhood was made at that house, and now it was time to leave. In 2004, my grandfather’s health began to fail, so we had to prepare to sell the lake house. It was the right decision, but it wasn’t the easy one.

Family legacy properties are extremely emotional assets. The feelings triggered by the thought of parting with the family farm, lake cabin or beach house can become the cause of tension among family members. We see families hang on to these properties for all of the wrong reasons.

The challenge is to balance the emotion of the property against the practicality of the asset. Often times, generational-wealth transfer divides an estate, making retention of family properties difficult. Trying to hold on to it can be dangerous, particularly because this type of property often requires significant financial resources to properly maintain. Having lived through this experience, here is my best advice: 1) Analyze the property through the prism of the financial goals you had before the ownership of the property passed to you. No one wants to put a price on their memories or family history. It feels cold. However by doing so, a mathematical reality may appear.

2) Ask yourself if you would buy it today. Emotion clouds judgment. If you weren’t in the market for a second home before – you probably shouldn’t be now. Force yourself to analyze

the property independently, so you have something to keep your emotions in check.

3) Remember that your family member bought the property for his/her needs, not yours. Family farms are the ultimate culprit here. “Dad was a farmer. Dad quit farming, but he kept the farm.” If you are not a farmer, this is the time to monetize the asset. Your elder’s financial decisions and life goals are probably different than yours.

4) Keep the root of your emotion and memories. One of my prized possessions is a 1977 CJ-5 Jeep that my grandfather bought brand new. Every time I get in, I remember learning how to drive. In my office, I have a picture of my two daughters playing in it. My Scott Cravens grandfather drove it; I drive it; and they’ll learn to drive in it. Whether it’s a Jeep, a jar full of sand, a picture of the farm, or other personal mementos, let those objects carry the memories forward.

It’s been over 11 years since we sold the lake house. We did what was right for us, and I still have the “property” that really matters – all of my memories.

At Trust Company of Oklahoma, we have been helping individuals, families and organizations protect and grow their wealth for over 35 years. We provide tailored asset management strategies; we analyze each client’s assets from a holistic point of view, and concentrate on their investment objectives before making recommendations. We are committed to the financial peace of mind of the families and businesses we serve.

– Scott Cravens Senior Vice President

TRUST COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA 6120 S. YALE AVE., SUITE 1900; (918) 744-0553 1924 S. UTICA AVE., SUITE 500; (918) 745-2400 • TRUSTOK.COM

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

TOPIC : INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

Large-Cap Stock Investment Strategy Offers Advantages Most investors understand the importance of diversification tion to paying dividends and being large industry leaders, blue through asset allocation within a portfolio, which is designed chips have little debt, a long history of stable earnings and a to balance the risk and reward trade-off between equity, debt diversified business. and cash holdings. Under the equity or stock positions within The greatest advantage to large-cap is the stability they can a portfolio, however, investors have provide to a portfolio. Because a wide array of investment options, large-cap companies are so well each with different characteristics, established, they are less likely to advantages and disadvantages. come across a circumstance that Large-cap stocks are an investrenders them insolvent or forces ment option offering distinct adthem to stop revenue-producing opvantages and should represent a erations completely. portion of one’s equity investments.

Many large-cap stocks are public A large-cap stock investment is companies possess a track record defined as the stock of a compaof increasing profits, proven businy with a market capitalization of ness models and significant com$10 billion or more. Capitalization petitive advantages. is the company’s stock price times First State Investment Advisors the number of shares. Large-cap, was founded in 1971 to provide TulSid Shupack with Matthew Redmond, investment analyst or big-cap, stocks have unique adsans with a personalized, value-orivantages, including stability in size and tenure, steady dividend ented approach to portfolio management. payouts and clarity in valuations.

Our firm has engaged in “The Gold Chip” philosophy of inWell-known large-cap stocks include Apple, Google, Microsoft, vesting since our beginning. We believe in investing primarily in Walt Disney, Coca-Cola, Exxon Mobil, General Electric, Johnson & high-quality, large-cap stocks that can reduce the worry for cliJohnson and Proctor and Gamble. ents in the chaotic, up-and-down financial environment.

One can invest in individual large cap companies by buying To be considered a “Gold Chip,” a company must exhibit longtheir stocks. One can also invest in many large-cap companies term industry growth, market leadership, widespread recogniat the same time with mutual funds. tion, outstanding management, investment grade credit, large There are three compelling reasons to invest in large cap capitalization and a dividend payout ratio of at least 20 percent. stocks. First, the companies are stable, and are often the top We follow a set of strict guidelines in order to build a formibusinesses in their industries. Second, during a downturn, they dable portfolio, using our proprietary analytic approach to unare typically a safer investment. Third, large-cap stocks pay derstand how a company’s past and current performance may dividends that create another source of income for investors. indicate their future potential.

Conventional wisdom suggests that dividends account for approximately half a stock’s total return.

– Sidney Shupack Many large-cap companies are also blue chip stocks. In addiFounder

FIRST STATE INVESTMENT ADVISORS 8801 S. YALE AVE., SUITE 410 • (918) 492-1466 • FIRSTSTATE-OK.COM

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

TOPIC : COMMERCIAL INSURANCE

Insurance Provides Risk-Management and Protection From Loss With every endeavor, there exists a certain degree of risk. A a company in order to create a comprehensive program that is proper insurance review and analysis helps business owners designed to protect its financial assets. determine how much and what types of insurance products We are known for specialized expertise in aviation, profesand strategies are necessary to protect the company. sional liability, law firms, staffing companies, energy, manuMany of the products used in successful risk management facturing, financial institutions and public school insurance. include insurance analysis and planning. Such planning proWe have a long and proud history in Tulsa. Joe West opened tects the company from his insurance agency downproperty damage, liability town in 1918. Tim Driskill acclaims and the potential quired the agency in 1986 and loss of assets. The essence continued to grow it for 30 of risk management is to years through the acquisition identify what risks a busiof the Lon T. Jackson Agency, ness faces, how those risks McMasters Insurance Councan be addressed and what selors and Keystone Insurance tools are appropriate to Agency. Jeff R. Johnson Insurovercome the risks to proance Agency joined the firm in tect the business.

2014.

Insurance coverage is In 2014, Joe West Company designed to protect you, merged with INSURICA, the your business, and/or your 26th largest privately owned loved ones from the finaninsurance agency in the councial loss associated with try. Today, Driskill serves as risk. There are many difCEO of INSURICA/Joe West ferent types of insurance to Company and I, Joseph P. Sanconsider. It is important to chez, serve as the Tulsa presCEO Tim Driskill and President Joseph Sanchez explore insurance options, ident. identify exposure and quantify potential losses in the form of Our team of professionals is committed to protecting the an insurance-needs analysis. clients we serve. INSURICA provides us with added resources Ultimately, insurance is about peace of mind, and knowing and access to proprietary programs and services to benefit our that a business or individual will not have to bear financial customers. loss alone.

We welcome each and every opportunity to discuss insurAt INSURICA/Joe West Company, our objective is to unance as an integral part of a risk management system for any derstand your business. We do that by taking a consultative business. approach with a broad range of clients. We not only do policy – Joseph P. Sanchez reviews, but also site visits. We interview various people within Tulsa President

INSURICA/JOE WEST COMPANY 406 S. BOULDER AVE. • (918) 660-0090 • INSURICA.COM

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

TOPIC : PEOPLE ARE WORTH THE INVESTMENT

Character And Ethics Are A Business Advantage In 2017…

Over the extended Christmas holidays, I enjoyed spending time act ethically in all we endeavor to do. in Kapsowar, Kenya, where my son, Dr. Kyle Jones, is a missionary My son Kyle serves in a 120 bed hospital in Kenya. The hospital doctor in a small hospital. During part of my time in Africa, I enjoyed has a small nursing school so each day students and nurses join him reading books on the Kindle my staff gave me as a gift. on his patient rounds, at times 5-10 people at his side. He teaches, The favorite book read during my visit exhorts, corrects, prays and encourages a was “Serve to Lead: Your Transformagroup of people every day. He possesses a tional 21st Century Leadership System”. gift of serving and leadership that is imEthics and character go hand-in-hand pacting a generation of people for eternity. and the author James Strock quotes in As his father, I have been challenged and his book from those he believes underencouraged by his example of transformastand how this combination gives busitional leadership in serving others. nesses a competitive advantage in the Look around and find an example that you 21st century. can emulate in 2017 as an opportunity for CEO Dov Seidman, believes that you to out-behave the competition in serving “Character is increasingly a competitive and leadership. advantage and that character is making Career Development Partners (CDP) a comeback in the 21st century.” In fact, supports employers throughout the employDr. Kyle Jones and father Travis in the Kenyan hospital he says, “In a connected world, counee life cycle—beginning with identifying, tries, governments and companies have character and their characselecting and on-boarding the right people, to developing their leadter is how they do what they do, how they keep promises, how they ership skills, and to eventually exiting the organization. make decisions, how things really happen inside, how they connect Our purpose is to provide solutions and impact lives. We have a and collaborate, how they engender trust, how they relate to their positive influence on all who come in contact with CDP and serve our customers, to the environment and to the communities in which they market with relevant talent management services: search, leadership operate, and is now their fate.” development, career transition and practical retirement coaching.

Seidman adds by saying that in the “emerging relationship-based The CDP team has a combined total of over 300 years in Human society, we have the rare opportunity to out-behave the competition.”

Resources and Recruiting. Company leaders include: Bruce Riggs, How can we in society and business behave in such a way that President and COO; Mike Duke, Executive, Recruiting Practice it impacts our workforce and the people we serve for competitive Leader; Rick Christensen, Director, Career Transition Practice; Rick advantage? Consider Google’s employee-generated slogan: “Don’t Coltman, Director, Business Development; Nancy Love, Director, do evil”—it’s acting in the most practical, bottomline focused way.

Business Services; Rachelle Faught, Media Administrator; Elizabeth Another company declares “it’s more profitable to be ethical.”

Dexheimer, Office and Media Administrator; Vanessa Statum, Leaders must understand that service is the essence of leaderDirector of Network Recruiting; and Dr. Bill Young, founder and ship and character is the key to service. current Executive Coach, Leadership Development.

In the wired world of technology of the 21st century, the game is changing for everyone in leadership today. Leaders are on display – Travis Jones 24/7 and the world is watching. To create sustainable value we must CEO/Owner

CAREER DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS 4137 S HARVARD AVE, TULSA, OK 74135 • 918-293-0500 CAREERDEVELOPMENTPARTNERS.COM

SPONSORED EDITORIAL

TOPIC : ALTERNATIVE RETIREMENT PLANS

Why The “ROTH Alternative” Is Ideal For High Earners The Non-Qualified “ROTH Alternative” Plan was established under IRC 7702 to mimic a Qualified Roth IRA where after-tax contributions yield tax-free access derived from many years of untaxed growth. The Alternative Plan uses a hedged-index strategy with a historical look-back yield performance that exceeds the 20-, 30- and 40-year S&P 500 performances.

The plan is perfect for high earners due to reduced limitations and penalties: There are no caps on earnings or contributions, and no penalty for access before the age of 59.5. Additional benefits include tax-deferred growth and limited tax-free access for life, plus the Non-Qualified status allows discriminatory participation — which means a business owner can include just him/herself or hand-selected key employees (or even a non-employee spouse). The plan offers creditor and lawsuit protection in Oklahoma and most other states (notably, not California).

Many clients question the Roth-style approach: “Why would I want a plan that isn’t deductible?” A good responsive analogy might be: If you were a farmer, would you rather pay tax on the pounds of seed at planting time, or the tons of grain at harvest time? The end result of plan adoption is favorable access to strong untaxed growth over the participant’s entire lifetime.

Such plans, properly managed, offer extreme tax efficiency.

Roth-type plans may also have a growing value proposition thanks to current economic policy. As a result of on-going

government spending, most pundits agree tax rates are likely to rise at some point. In the event such rising tax rates do occur, it should be recognized that traditional Qualified plans (IRA, SEP, 401K, Defined Benefit Pension, etc.) would be profoundly disadvantaged.

Why? Because contributions are currently deducted under a historically low tax rate, and would then be distributed at retirement as ordinary income — at which point rates will likely be higher. It is entirely possible that taxpayers may be in a higher tax bracket at age 70 than at age 40 or 50, and this should be taken into account during the planning process.

Under current law, Roth-type plans sidestep this problem because they allow tax-free access (within plan limits) and are unaffected by future tax increases.

If you have an existing life insurance Thomas V. Robertson policy that you no longer need for coverage, you may want to explore converting those policy values to the “ROTH Alternative” concept. Just ask your agent or call us to learn how this works.

For more information, please visit our website at RothAlternativePlan.com. Also, you may want to go to the contact page tab and request a free copy of the e-book, “An Unfair Advantage,” which provides a much greater depth of the concept.

Please ask about February seminar.

– Thomas V. Robertson Managing Partner

ROBERTSON INSURANCE SERVICES THOMAS V. ROBERTSON • (918) 742.7772 • ROTHALTERNATIVEPLAN.COM

NEWS TO YOU Ruth’s Chris Steak House Tulsa general manager Barrett Byrd, executive chef Fuad Baitari and sales manager Shawnna Summers pictured in front of the downtown Tulsa window mural in the restaurant’s lounge area.

JANE A N

E V E N I N G

W I T H

MONHEIT WITH SPECIAL GUEST

NICHOLAS PAYTON

AND THE

TULSA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 TULSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER CHAPMAN MUSIC HALL

TICKETS @ TULSAPAC.COM OR CALL 918.596.7111 66

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

monheit_tulsapeople_ad.indd 1

1/13/17 10:22 AM

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE NOW OPEN INSIDE RIVER SPIRIT CASINO RESORT Ruth’s Chris Steak House opened its first Oklahoma location inside the River Spirit Casino Resort on Jan. 23.

The 13,000-square-foot restaurant is open seven days a week for dinner (including all major holidays) and offers American steakhouse favorites complemented by legendary service. Menu selections range from the signature USDA-prime steaks, served sizzling on 500-degree plates, to the highest quality seafood, along with a variety of salads and appetizers, sides and desserts.

The restaurant features rich textures and unexpected finishes reflecting Tulsa’s roots in the oil industry, the region’s verdant geography and its art deco architectural influences. Thoughtfully created by celebrity designer Taniya Nayak, the décor reflects the local Tulsa community while also paying homage to the New Orleans heritage of steakhouse founder Ruth Fertel.

“Our floor-to-ceiling windows offer breathtaking sunset views over the Arkansas River, and our sizzling steaks are the perfect accompaniment,” says Barrett Byrd, general manager of Ruth’s Chris Steak House Tulsa.

The restaurant features a large bar and scenic dining rooms, along with three private dining spaces that can accommodate parties of 15 to 80 people.

“With the creation of our world-class resort, Ruth’s Chris Steak House is the perfect addition to River Spirit,” says Pat Crofts, CEO of Muscogee (Creek) Nation Casinos. “Their upscale atmosphere along with their renowned steaks will offer our guests a wonderful fine dining experience. We are thrilled to have the first Ruth’s Chris in Oklahoma.”

Prior to opening, Ruth’s Chris hosted private team training dinners benefiting the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

Visit ruthschris.com or riverspirittulsa.com for more information. River Spirit Casino Resort is located along Riverside Parkway near East 81st Street.

QA &

From Tulsa Professionals

BEAUTY & WEIGHT MANAGEMENT Winter is almost over; how can I get rid of extra tummy fat and get my summer body back?

FDA-approved Coolsculpting®, a non-invasive procedure, uses cooling technology to target and destroy fat cells for a permanent solution.

Coolsculpting® can be done in an hour with no downtime. Following treatment, patients begin to see fat reduction in as little as three weeks and continue to see improvement for up to three months. This procedure is ideal for getting rid of a little extra in the tummy, love handles, bra fat, arms and thighs — for good. To schedule a complementary consultation, call 918-872-9999.

Malissa Spacek and Dr. James Campbell

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

DOG TRAINING How can I keep my dog from bolting out the door?

This is an easy fix and something we teach all the dogs that come through our program. We start with a basic sit and stay command, then move to the door. Ask the dog to stay, then slowly begin opening the door.

Once you are able to open it all the way, you can release him outside with a command.

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

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Due to retirement, my income will dramatically drop this year. Will my Medicare premium surcharge decline?

Not automatically. Medicare beneficiaries must pay a surcharge if adjusted gross income is over $85,000 on single tax returns and $170,000 on joint returns. The monthly adjustment is added to your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums. Unfortunately, the Social Security Administration normally uses tax information from two years prior to determine the surcharge. With a significant drop in income, you can appeal the surcharge by filing Form SSA-44 to to expedite the reduction.

Lola Carter

J. Harvie Roe, CFP, President

Zen Dog Training 45637 W. Hwy 16 • Bristow, OK 74010 (918) 609-0595 • www.zendogtulsa.com

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

VETERINARIAN

WILL AND TRUSTS

How can laser therapy help my pet?

Accidental felony?

Laser therapy is an exciting and relatively new development in veterinary medicine that helps to relieve pain and promote healing. This can be very useful for pets with injuries or chronic pain such as arthritis, back pain, and other musculoskeletal abnormalities. Laser therapy is safe and painless, taking only a few minutes to complete. We offer laser therapy by appointment only. Please contact us for more information.

Did you know that possession and transfer of any type of firearm to a “prohibited person,” even upon death, could result in a felony to the recipient and to the person distributing the gun? If you bequeath your firearm to someone who has been subject to a restraining order, even if it was in their divorce case, you may be leaving it to a prohibited person, and causing a felony to occur. Add firearm planning and gun trusts to your estate plan to protect against accidental felonies.

Dr. Kara Herrington

Karen L. Carmichael

15th Street Veterinary Group 6231 E. 15th St. • Tulsa, OK 74112 918-835-2336 • www.15thstreetvet.com

The Law Office of Karen L. Carmichael 2727 E. 21st St., Ste. 402 • Tulsa, OK 74114 918-493-4939 • www.tulsawillsandtrusts.com TulsaPeople.com

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Appliances for EVERY room

5313 S. Mingo | 918-622-7692 | MetroAppliancesAndMore.com 70

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

READY-TO-REST FASHION

U

pdating a room doesn’t have to be a daunting task, especially if those revisions can blend with timeless foundation pieces.

“Picking up on color trends is actually very simple,” says John Erdos, CEO and Chief Creative Director for Erdos at Home. “A subtle accent color in a rug could pick up that statement-making room color. Or, choose accessories and other soft furnishings in statement-making hues to add zest to an otherwise neutral room.”

Home fashion naturally follows ready-to-wear fashion trends, according to Erdos, and the colors accented in this room’s pillows, rugs and art show some on-trend variations and how easy some small changes can be. — ANNE BROCKMAN ERDOS AT HOME | 6516 E. 51ST ST. | 918-794-5252 | ERDOSATHOME.COM

TulsaPeople.com

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STOREFRONT

ORDER UP SUPPLY STORE CATERS TO RESTAURANT INDUSTRY AND HOME COOKS ALIKE

BY SARA PLUMMER

Jay Gulick

F

or 70 years, commercial kitchens in Oklahoma have turned to Curtis Restaurant Supply for everything from stoves to spatulas, bakeware to barware and everything in between.

Curtis Restaurant Supply was founded in 1946, and in 2002 Jay Gulick and three others bought the company.

“We were in the telecom business,” Gulick says.

“In 2001, the internet bubble burst, and the demand for telecommunications plummeted. The four of us were trying to figure out what we were going to do.”

Gulick, who is now the sole owner, says it was an interesting transition going from a corporate environment to a small company.

“The buck really stops with me,” he says. “You’re dealing more with customers. You interact and you have relationships with them. You’re looking out for employees. It has been fun but challenging.”

Customers of Curtis Restaurant Supply are not only restaurants, but also schools, churches, hospitals, casinos and even home cooks.

“Our main focus has been the commercial kitchen,” Gulick says. “We do have some residential customers. Our inventory is the mainstays in the commercial kitchen that don’t have the big shiny

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

price tags of other specialty home stores. Our items have great functionality at a reasonable price.”

The store is easy to navigate with signage throughout that lets customers know exactly where to find items like stockpots, cutlery, mixing bowls and baking sheets.

Gulick says the store offers about 3,000 different culinary items. And with the rise in popularity of the Food Network and the Cooking Channel, some of the more specialized items have become more popular in home kitchens.

“You’ll see people come and buy things (for residential kitchens) that you’ve never seen them buy before, like an industrial french fry potato cutter,” he says. “I think we have the biggest inventory of product than almost anyone else in terms of breadth and depth. Customers feel that if they need something, we’ll have it.” TP

Digital thermometer

Make sure food is cooked to its proper temperature every time with a digital thermometer. $28.80.

Dexter 8-inch chef knife

A versatile and durable chef’s knife that can be used for a variety of purposes in a home kitchen. $37.

Disher

To most home cooks it’s a cookie dough scoop that creates perfectly sized cookies. $11.30-$12.12.

Bar Maid blender

For those who like to serve as bartender and mixologist at home, a dependable blender that won’t burn out. $149.81.

Curtis Restaurant Supply 6577 E. 40TH ST. | CURTISEQUIPMENT.COM

8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday

8-ounce spoodle

Part slotted spoon, part ladle, a spoodle allows cooks to serve food without a mess and in equal portions. $3.10.

bust stop

Gift cards available for Valentine’s Day!

s t y l e . c o m f o r t. s e l e c t i o n .

7112 S Mingo Rd, Unit 106 Tulsa, OK 74133 918.250.0180 New location, new ownership, come visit us!

LKM Medical • Mastectomy Bras and Prosthesis 918-252-3111 • lkmmedical.net

A Tiny Feast For Your Beast GINGERBREAD MAN

d Custom Picture Framing d Fine Art

Our bakery case is full of Valentine’s treats.

Unconditional love deserves its rewards!

1778 Utica Square 918-624-2600

come see AT MARGO’S: JAN BARBOGLIO! We are pleased to feature select items in the Jan Barboglio Collection.

These unique and striking home accessories reflect the noted artist’s rich history and romance with Old Mexico. A wonderful idea for your home or a great gift.

d Home Accessories

Remembering Leon

6 N. LEWIS 918.584.2217 zieglerart.com

“My happy place.”

— Mike Pryor

Be-LOVED Actor & Singer

3747 South Harvard, Tulsa 918.712.8785 SweetToothTulsa.com

2058 Utica Square • 918-747-8780 TulsaPeople.com

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TRENDING

HOW SWEET IT IS

When it comes to spoiling the ones you love this month, keep it simple and sweet.

BY KENDALL BARROW

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Box of assorted truffles, seasonally wrapped, $15; Mudpie “Happy” serving dish and spoon, $30.75; truffles, $2.95 each; assorted bulk candy, $6-$14 per pound; and “love potion” candy-filled test tube (customizable), $2, all from Sweet Tooth Candy and Gift Co.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

Transitions 1335 E. 11th St. Suite E., Tulsa, OK 74120 located on historic Route 66 jenkinsandcotulsa

Before

Consortium | 3509 S. Peoria Ave., #180 Tulsa, OK 74105 | 918.748.8700

918.779.4165 www.anngarrett.com

CL ASSIC DESIGN MODERN PERSPEC TIVE

®

CUSTOM IS HOW WE MAKE IT...

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CASTLEBERRY’S AN AUTHORIZED ETHAN ALLEN RETAILER TULSA 6006 SOUTH SHERIDAN 918.496.3073 Ask a designer or visit ethanallen.com for details.

Sale going on for a limited time. ©2016 Ethan Allen Global, Inc.

TulsaPeople.com

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WEEKEND GETAWAYS

T

he first part of the year is a great time to head to New Orleans. Cool temperatures mean the humidity is low and wild Bourbon Street doesn’t yet smell like hot stale booze. Since Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 28 this year, the city will be busy this entire month — and the two weeks and weekends leading up to it mean huge parties, parades and tons of people. It doesn’t mean you can’t go then, just be aware. (And make reservations.)

Here are some tips for what to see, do, eat and drink in New Orleans.

If you’re driving, or if you rent a car, tune your radio to 90.7 WWOZ the minute you arrive. It’s a listener-supported radio station that plays excellent jazz, blues, Latin, Cajun, and funk that will put you in the Big Easy mood.

A city tour by bike is another immediately immersive experience. Go with the “Creole tour” at Confederacy of Cruisers (named after “Confederacy of Dunces,” set in the Crescent City) to learn about how the culture and history of the city unfolded. The tour guide’s storytelling is the best part. If you can, request Keith.

New Orleans is perfect for lots of things — day drinking in public chief among them. Buy an Abita beer in a convenience store near Lafayette Square, have the clerk open it for you, use a paper sack as a koozie, and have your fortune read or peruse the local art while you imbibe.

If you’re hungry, grab a muffuletta at Central Grocery or beignets at Café du Monde.

LAISSEZ les bon temps ROULEZ! THE BIG EASY IS PERFECT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

BY LIZ BLOOD 76

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

At night, head to Frenchman Street. There is live music in most bars and clubs and often brass bands playing on the street. Definitely visit the club D.B.A. — especially if the Jazz Vipers are playing.

Be sure to visit the massive and impressive National World War II Museum. I spent four hours there and did not see everything. TripAdvisor ranks it as the No. 4 museum in the country, and No. 11 in the world. Start with the 4D film “Beyond All Boundaries,” which is narrated by Tom Hanks. TP

FOR MORE INFORMATION: wwoz.org • confederacyofcruisers.com broussards.com • galatoires.com dbaneworleans.com • nationalww2museum.org

COURTESY NEW ORLEANS CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU/PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER

At Broussard’s in the French Quarter, seek out Master Bartender Paul Gustings — or one of his underlings — and have a Ramos Gin Fizz as he explains to you his pre-prohibition shaker/juicer. Make the 3-minute walk to Galatoire’s for dinner, where I recommend Oysters Rockefeller, the iceberg wedge salad, redfish topped with crabmeat Yvonne, bread pudding and an 1840 Sazerac.

(To make your own Sazerac at home, see p. 28.)

MUSINGS

MY OWN LITTLE PEA PATCH

BY CONNIE CRONLEY

T

here’s a lot to like about spring.

For one thing, months after the holidays, I’ve finally got “The Little Drummer Boy” out of my head.

For another thing: trees. Trees are waking up after their winter hibernation, stretching and saying, “Now. Where were we?”

This year, and I really mean it this time, I’m going to take tree hugging to a new level. I value loyalty, so I won’t be hugging all trees; I’ll be snuggling up to my own trees. My shrubs and perennials will get special affection, too. My own little pea patch, to borrow the phrase from Huey Long, will be a year-long focus.

I was inspired by reading about a book by English paleontologist Richard Fortey. (I had to look it up. “Paleontology lies on the border between botany and geology.”) When he retired he bought an ancient woodland of beech trees and bluebells and spent a year just looking at it. He wrote about that year in “The Wood for the Trees,” in which he quoted from a poem: “What is this life If, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.”

Years and years ago, I was inspired by the dedication of the late University of Tulsa botanist Dr. Harriet Barclay. It was hard to teach botany in fall semesters when trees had no leaves for the students to look at, she said, so she got a degree in art to have the skill to draw the leaves, stems and branches for her lectures.

Now that I am ready to stand and stare, I began with cursory (meaning Google) research about the giant sycamore tree in my front yard. It’s about 100 years old and 100 feet high. Over the years, 100 tons of it have fallen on my roof and picket fence. I call it my Grandmother Sycamore. The more I read about sycamore trees, the more I love them. I like knowing: • Sycamores have the largest trunk of any American hardwood and grow, not by stretching bark, but by shedding pieces of bark.

• The sycamore is a symbol of strength and eternity in the Bible and was so important in the Battle of Brandywine, it has become an American symbol of protection.

• In ancient Egypt, the tree was sacred to the goddess Isis who was known as the Lady of the Sycamore.

• Persian King Xerxes fell so in love with a giant sycamore he bedecked it forever with golden baubles and lingered with it so long he lost a battle.

I will never again look at my sycamore as merely the big tree in the front yard. She has a lineage far more glittering than my own.

In “The Hidden Life of Trees,” German forester Peter Wohlleben tells me that trees in a forest have a social life. They share nutrients and they communicate warnings of threat. That’s why isolated trees have a shorter life span that those in a family. More goes on underground than we imagine, he writes; the roots are the tree’s brain and work in partnership with the fungi around them.

In “The Long, Long Life of Trees,” English literature professor Fiona Stafford reminds us that throughout history we have been entwined with trees through myth, songs, poems, paintings and spiritual meaning. The yew, for example, is doubly fatal in Shakespeare because of its poisonous leaves and its branches made into longbows. Today, the yew tree yields the chemotherapy drug Taxol.

Author Jill Jonnes gets us out of the woods in “Urban Forests,” which focuses on trees in American cities. She celebrates tree evangelists from the founders of Arbor Day to contemporary city planners who recognize the importance of urban green space to public health.

Trees are a ubiquitous reference in our lives and language. When author E.B. White was suffering from depression, he wrote a friend that he was going to see a doctor about his head. “There seems to be a kite caught in the branches,” he said. TP TulsaPeople.com

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McGraw Realtors

Luxury Property Group at McGraw Realtors sHerri sanders

918-724-5008 ssanders@mcgrawok.com

Gordon sHelTon

918-697-2742 gshelton@mcgrawok.com Gordon@GordonShelton.com

diana PaTTerson

918-629-3717 dpatterson@mcgrawok.com

Tim Hayes

918-231-5637 thayes@mcgrawok.com Tim@TimHayesJr.com

Kelly Howard

918-230-6341 khoward@mcgrawok.com 78

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

Brookside 1248 E 31st Place Exquisite High-end Transitional Style Remodel!

One level full brick home situated on .26 acre lot. Hardwood Floors.

Gourmet Kitchen with 48” Viking Range. Master with fireplace, Laundry & Garden access. Restoration Hardware lighting, hardware & window treatments. Quaint street.

Professionally Landscaped.

Walk to Gathering Place! $550,000.

GrAnd lAke HUGE price reduction!!!

Sawmill Hollow Point custom home built for large family gatherings, 6 BR, 5.5 BA, 3 living areas, huge open living space on main floor w/floor to ceiling windows overlooking Grand Lake, leading out to large outdoor living space on 2 levels to a 2-slip dock. Nothing was left behind on the design of this lake home including a 3 car oversized garage.$1,495,000.

AvAlon PlAce 3020 S Trenton Avenue- Fabulous custom one owner home.

Open floor plan with high ceilings and designer finishes. Granite kitchen.

4 beds, 4.5 baths. 7 woodburning fireplaces.

“Desert Mediterranean” designed by architect Rachel Zebrowski. Pool overlooks greenbelt and Crow Creek. Smart house. $980,000.

Enjoy the Luxury Lifestyle you desire

McGraw Realtors

A Network of Realtors Representing the Finest Properties in NE OK

villaGe on UTiCa

THe reserve aT ForesT Hills

1630 E 31st Street- Tuscany inspired home in The Village on Utica featuring walled courtyard with pool & outdoor FP. 1st floor master suite with 2nd bedroom/bath on 1st floor. Beamed ceiling overlooks living - open granite kitchen & dining. Spacious game/ media room with wet bar. $780,000.

11707 S Granite Avenue- Pristine home in gated community. Hardwoods, soaring ceilings and heavy crown molding. Chef’s kitchen. Master and 2nd suite on 1st floor, 2 bedrooms up with game room. Fabulous granite outdoor kitchen. Large yard could accomodate pool. Storm shelter. Bixby North Elementary. $500,000

Grand laKe

Gorgeous Tuscan Villa overlooking the main lake! Gated neighborhood, 3 bdrm, 3.5 bath, sleeping loft, hardwoods, stamped concrete, outdoor fireplace, private dock, detached garage & professionally landscaped. $565,000

villa Grove ParK

4547 S. Gary Ave. Transitional Style Midtown home on .84 acre lot! (m/l) Hardwoods throughout. Formal living/dining, greatroom opens to granite kitchen. Master & 2nd bed down. Study & 3 beds up. 4 car garage & shop! $389,900.

CambridGe ParK

1022 N. Woodland Pl. Sand Springs - Beautiful home nestled among the trees on 1.26 acre m/l! Soaring ceilings, sweeping staircase, heavy crown, framed arches. Formals. Chef’s granite/ SS kitchen. Master with spa bath. Expansion area! $350,000

sTanFord elm

6707 E 112th Street S - Gated neighborhood. Traditional brick home featuring granite kitchen, newer Trane matching H & A systems, H20 and 2008 roof. Formals + spacious family room/ kitchen combo. 1st floor master suite + office! $419,000

Fairway villas aT THe Greens

5712 W Orlando Circle - Cedar Ridge gated Villa. 12’ ceilings, 8’ doors, hardwoods & heavy crown. 2 bedrooms down, 1 up all have private baths. Private courtyard, outdoor living with fireplace, grill & water feature. $425,000

Call any of the Luxury Property Group Realtors about one of these homes, or any property that you have an interest in.

They will provide you with superior personal service with the highest integrity.

The Luxury Property Group TulsaPeople.com

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McGraw Realtors

theEHC

Extraordinary Home Collection

Extraordinary Homes Extraordinary Realtors 10620 S Nandina Court, Jenks

$625,000

Outstanding backyard with covered deck overlooking greenbelt & custom gunite pool! Distressed hardwoods, granite island kitchen, game room with wet bar, study & beautiful master down plus theater & play room up. ◆ 4 Bedrooms

◆ 3 Full, 1 Half Baths ◆ 5 Living Areas ◆ 3 Car Garage ◆ Jenks Schools ◆ MLS 1635882

7392 E 124th Place, Bixby

$399,000

New Construction boasts transitional design. 2 bedrooms down & 2 up plus game/theater room. Large island kitchen opens to vaulted & beamed great room with stone fireplace & built-ins. Covered patio and firepit! ◆ 4 Bedrooms

◆ 3 Full, 1 Half Baths ◆ 2 Living Area ◆ 3 Car Garage ◆ Bixby Schools ◆ MLS 1641165

1228 E 18th Street, Tulsa

$425,000

Beautifully updated 1920’s classic in Historic Maple Ridge! Farmhouse Kitchen w/Wolf Range, refinished hardwoods, remodeled master w/marble bath & 2 closets, study, playroom, laundry/mud room & circle drive. ◆ 4 Bedrooms

◆ 2 Full, 1 Half Baths ◆ 3 Living Areas ◆ 2 Car Garage ◆ Tulsa Schools ◆ MLS 1634201

Curt Roberts 918.231.0691 80

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

Katie Lieberman 918.698.3800

Laura Hawkins 918.260.7885

McGraw Realtors

theEHC

Extraordinary Home Collection

Extraordinary Homes Extraordinary Realtors 11926 S 14th Court, Jenks

$1,850,000

5 acre wooded site with view! 4 outdoor fireplaces, gunite pool, fountains, spa & outdoor kitchen. 2 built-in refrigerators, 2 dishwashers & wine grotto. Home theater, game room, 3 bedrooms down, 3 up all w/private baths. ◆ 6 Bedrooms

◆ 6 Full, 1 Half Baths ◆ 4 Living Areas ◆ 4 Car Garage ◆ Jenks Schools ◆ MLS 1632092

1502 E 35th Place, Tulsa

$695,000

New construction designed by Jack Arnold steps away from Brookside dining & shopping! Remarkable open plan designed for today’s living offers luxurious amenities and the character you desire. Corner lot w/ mature trees. ◆ 3 Bedrooms

◆ 2 Full, 1 Half Baths ◆ 2 Living Areas ◆ 2 Car Garage ◆ Tulsa Schools ◆ MLS 1635057

8426 S Phoenix Place, Tulsa

$398,000

Green certified new construction in 55+ gated community! Geothermal & low maintenance. Beautiful open layout & luxurious master w/heated floors. Includes lawn service, pool, putting green, fitness center & more!

◆ 2 Bedrooms ◆ 2 Full Baths ◆ 1 Living Areas ◆ 2 Car Garage ◆ Jenks Schools ◆ MLS 1641374

Pam Case 918.809.3247

Chris Zinn Group 918.994.1235

theEHC

Extraordinary Home Collection

TulsaPeople.com

Ext Ex 81

McGraw Realtors

theEHC

Extraordinary Home Collection

Extraordinary Homes Extraordinary Realtors 4303 E 70th Street, Tulsa

$325,000

Picture perfect updates in Jenks Schools! Fabulous outdoor living & fireplace, extensive hardwoods, large eatin Kitchen, family room with fireplace, luxurious master, study & 3 large bedrooms up or 4th could be game room. ◆ 4 Bedrooms

◆ 2 Full, 1 Half Baths ◆ 4 Living Areas ◆ 2 Car Garage ◆ Jenks Schools ◆ MLS 1635697

4730 S 168th E Avenue, Tulsa

$313,000

Gorgeous one-owner home with 2 bedrooms down & 2 up! Beamed ceilings, handscraped hardwoods & custom details throughout. Granite island kitchen open to great room, study, large expansion area & neighborhood pool. ◆ 4 Bedrooms

◆ 3 Full Baths ◆ 3 Living Areas ◆ 3 Car Garage ◆ Broken Arrow Schls ◆ MLS 1700148

1315 E 27th Place, Tulsa

$1,300,000

Stunning contemporary a stone’s throw from Philbrook!

Bright, open floor plan w/tall ceilings & large rooms.

Chef’s level appliances including double dishwashers & Traulsen refrigerator. Guest house with full kitchen. ◆ 5 Bedrooms

◆ 3 Full, 1 Half Baths ◆ 3 Living Areas ◆ Indoor Pool ◆ 2 Car Garage ◆ MLS 1635383

Curt Roberts 918.231.0691 82

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

Katie Lieberman 918.698.3800

Laura Hawkins 918.260.7885

Extraordinary Homes Extraordinary Realtors

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$215,000 6519 E 84th Street, Tulsa

$359,900

$650,000 3610 S Jamestown Avenue, Tulsa

$106,900

$398,000 125 W 130th Place, Jenks

$329,900

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Extraordinary Home Collection

8422 S Phoenix Place, Tulsa

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Pam Case 918.809.3247

Pam Case

Chris Zinn Group 918.994.1235

Chris Zinn

Laura Hawkins

Curt Roberts

theEHC

Katie Lieberman

Extraordinary Home Collection

TulsaPeople.com

Extr Ex 83

McGraw Realtors 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 has afeatures salted2 bedrooms soakingon tub. additional bed3727 S.fixtures.

Utica Extensive Ave. use of wood and moldings throughout will be a feast for the $ 495,000nights, the spa bathhouse the3first floor each having orginial rooms.

Billards room has full kitchen, media roomspace and more.

Traditional house with beautiful hardwood floors and plenty of natural light.

Spacious familyroom on 1st floor with eating and access to $2,995,000 a bath. Spacious kitchen with granite and tile eyes. The kitchen has been updated with large prep island. 4 bedrooms located on the Call for more information. flooring. has 22.5 bedrooms, plus game on room built-ins.

Granite with stainless applainces andlaundry pantry. has 4 Upsatirs beds and baths.bath, Gameroom 2nd floor. Master retainskitchen the orgianl tile bath.

Basement clubroom with andFlexible bedroom floorplanand exercise room.

Ultimate outdoor kitchen with all the second floor with private bath could be a 5th bedroom.

Beautiful backyard has covered patio.

Call for your private showing. storage. Guest apartment is updated located over the 3 car garage. Pool. $1,150,000 stainless applainces you need. Pool. $510,000

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

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 craftsmanship.

Beautiful frontfeel doorwelcome open to officein home built for thestyle currenthome. owners. Attention to details are in to Riverparks and newwith Gathering Place. First floor features appointed home gorgeous wood, hardware and marble is glassyou this colonial 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, for lots of living. and dining rooms.

Large center island kitchen with on beautiful cabinetryMaster and lots ofsuite natural plus light make this house kitchen has solidand wood cabinetry Corianlot. countertops. landscaped has a largeandtreed The 6 bedrooms, kitchen Hardwood floors 1st floor. additional 1642formal E.featues 31stliving $opens 789,000 high-end tobedroom family room. Master one of a kind.up.

6 bedrooms each having walk-inhas closetscenter and full Upstairs master suite with double closets, large bath and areas are on one-level.

There are 7appliances full baths and suite 3 bedrooms Spacious kitchen Located inbath.

Midtown Tulsa’s newest Designed with angame open floorplan soaring ceilings andhas hardwood theby firstJack floor.Arnold Upstairs features room baths. 2having located 3on first floor.

Lower level high ceilings, and private Second bedroom pluslevel study,gated full batharea. and located and one balcony. ½ Large lower gameroom with on full kitchen island and double dishwashers. living areas. $898,000 twostainless additionalappliances. bedrooms. Wonderful media room, game room, kitchenette plus workprivate out room. laundry.

Call for more details floors.

High-end kitchen with granite countersplus and Master outdoor plus a second bedroom down each having and bath overlooks a beautiful pool. $1,500,000 baths. Private courtyard. 3-car garage.

entertaining space has stone fireplace. $599,900

All outside surfaces are covered in Pennsylvia bluestone tile.

Inground pool. Call for more details.

3126 E. 87th PL Gated Wellington 4942 E. 103rd St. Custom Built in Wexford 10520 S. 91st E. Ave. Magnificent home in South has view of the pond. Recently by Murphy has been nicely updated. Formal Legacy Park II built by Bill Haynes Homes. The 6423 S. indianapoLiS ave. attention Modern twist with a great floorplan 11413floorplan e. 132nd pLis. Custom with attention to 59th pLKitchen . Gated Garden Parkbacksplash, with hardwoodopen remodeled with grabbing living2117 and e.dining. has tile great built for home entertaining with make this in house one ofroom. a kind. Gated courtyard with2koi granite pond floorscounters detail inroom every room.

Located on overfireplace. an acre of land.

Master and lots of natural Combo formal living andgreat details every 5 bedrooms, and light. stainless appliances. having stone Granite opens to double front1st doors.

Floating formalRedone living and dining plus 2 additional bedrooms appliances down. Upstairs and features game dining. Kitchen double windows overlooking front located on the floor.

Study.

Familyroom withhasbuilt-ins and fireplace.

3 kitchen has stainless cherry is3904 over E. a lower stone fireplace. room, 2 other bedrooms and office.onOpen with patio. on Kitchen bedrooms. 2bedbaths.cabinets. gameroom wet room bar. having Beautifully bedroms 1st Aid floor with 2 2additional Office.

3 bedrooms the kitchen first floor.

64th with Plevel lacE family $appliances.

360,000 Spacious eat-inunit kitchen withmarble pantry. Bedroom wing features Alderwood and Expansion granite counters.

Saferoom.

4 car Bonus room usedKitchen has a studio. landscaped. $760,000 rooms up + gameroom and sitting area.nook New and Plantation Shutters. space upstairs Stunning with floors and high end finishes. has$175,000 breakfast eatingcabinetry bar.

Three bedrooms each having private study.

Master suite plus 4 additional and garage.

Must See! Roof. $475,000 with plans.

CallA for morecourtyard details. $334,500 private baths and spacious walk-inbedrooms closets.

Master could be up or down. Two different outdoor spaces. private in the front pullman baths. Large lot. $419,000 with French doors off the kitchen and then a spacious back deck area overlooking just one of Point South’s tennis courts.

Wonderful lot to build your dream home on in Woodlar. The property is 1.077 acres. $275,000

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

McGraw Realtors TulsaPeople.com

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McGraw Realtors

Specializing in Fine Quality Homes 260-1800

11503 S. Granite Avenue, Tulsa

Pristine upgraded home. 4BR, 6 full, 2 half baths. Gourmet remodeled kitchen, huge center island with quartzite counters. Spectacular resort-like backyard with in-ground heated gunite pool, spa and patio with complete privacy. Theater room with wet bar. $1,475,000

11706 S. Erie Avenue, Tulsa

Forest Hills Estates, 3 levels of living. Backs to a pond, Gourmet Kitchen w/Huge center Island. Five bedrooms, 7.5 baths. Office, sun room and living quarters in walk out basement. Recent remodel.

Corner lot. Bixby schools. $950,000

11415 S. Sandusky Avenue, Tulsa

4BR, 4 full and 2 half baths. Living & dining rooms with views. Family room opens to Chef’s kitchen with Labradorite granite island. Theater room. In-ground gunite pool & patios.

Jenks SE. $1,300,000

11402 S. Granite Place, Tulsa

Gorgeous home and yard. Pool with wrought iron fence around and privacy fence. Four bedrooms on main level, one bedroom up. Large three car garage. Office down, enclosed sun room, fifth bedroom up. $620,000

Royal Oaks - Elegant home located in one of the most prestigious and secure locations in the heart of Midtown Tulsa. Four bedrooms, two living areas, three fireplaces, three car garage. Breathtaking amenities! Designed and built by architect Mike Dankbar in 2007. Call Rodger Erker for an appointment. $3,500,000

Rodger Erker 86

TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

918-740-4663

McGraw Realtors

Wooded 1.73 acre property in Jenks SE Schools

11305 S Granite Avenue Almost 7,000 sq ft on one level - corner lot. Pool, Spa, Koi ponds, outdoor kitchen, lighted tennis court.

Great views from each room, multiple living, 4 bed, 6 full, 2 half baths plus guest apartment. $995,000

mike Keys 918.808.4780 mkeys@mcgrawok.com

Scott coffman

MK

918-640-1073 scoffman@mcgrawok.com

2813 E 56th Place - New Price. One level ranch with creek view. Very private, large yard, new driveway, 4 or 5 bed, flexible plan with possible mother in law or extra study/hobby room. Very unique original Jay Rambo retro kitchen.

Amazing yard and trees. $309,000

2533 S Birmingham Ave New Listing. Stunning 2 bed with totally remodeled kitchen in 2012, granite, soft close cabinets, Chef’s closet, 5 burner Dacor stove, kitchen open to 2nd living, breakfast bar, updated baths, huge yard. Newer windows. $277,000

4413 E 26th Street - New Price. 2 Bedroom, 2 living but could be 3 bedroom if needed.

Beautiful hardwoods, kitchen open to dining area. All newer windows, storage shed, fenced yard. $125,000

Wind River Lot Perfect to build on.

This extra large lot is two smaller lots combined. Jenks Schools. $99,000

TulsaPeople.com

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McGraw Realtors

1782 E 30th St

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Spectacular remodeled home in beautiful Forest Hills. Sleek oversized kitchen with a large center island has a full sized wine refrigerator and chef level appliances. Clean lines in the formal areas plus additional family living. Spacious master suite w/stunning walk in closet and heated master bath floors. The back yard retreat has an outdoor kitchen, multiple living areas and fireplace. Amazing pool and landscaping. Colisted w/Mike Keys. $1,629,000

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1315 E 27 t h P l a c E

Stunning contemporary a stones throw from Philbrook! Bright, open floor plan with tall ceilings & large rooms.

Chef’s level appliances including double dishwashers & Travisen refrigerator. Guest house with full kitchen. $1,300,000

DavEnPort loftS

Cutting edge urban living has arrived in Tulsa. The Davenport is in pre-construction phase and will feature just 24 2 and 3 bedroom single floor residences unlike anything Tulsa has ever seen. The floor to ceiling windows showcase amazing views. Tall open spaces with exquisite finishes and private terraces for outdoor living. Razor sharp technology and security will be installed. Nearly 50% committed!

$525,000 - $868,000 Co-listed with Curt Roberts 918-231-0691

Bovasso

& Beal Team

Sharna Bovasso (918) 605-2995 | sbovasso@mcgrawok.com Dee Ann Beal (918) 688-5467 | dbeal@mcgrawok.com

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3107 E. 88th Street Exquisite & gorgeous dream home w/chef’s kitchen & new high end appliances.

2 masters down & all beds have private baths!

Recording studio and 14 seat theater room. Backyard oasis w/ pool, spa, waterfall, Koi pond & outdoor kitchen. Located in beautiful gated Wellington South. $925,000.

2638 E. 65th Place Beautifully remodeled home with upscale design. Chef’s kitchen w/ state-ofthe-art appliances. Entertainer’s dream home with open floor plan & 3 living areas. Updated baths. New windows throughout & exterior paint. Large patio overlooks saltwater pool. $439,000.

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421 W. 77th Street Pristine home with flexible layout. Granite kitchen opens to great room. Master +2 beds down, gameroom & 1 bed up. Master closet connects to laundry. Custom features and beautiful hardwoods. Neighborhood park & pool. Move-inready! $369,000.

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

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2174 S. Sandusky Avenue 3 beds/2 bath move-in ready updated home. Remodeled kitchen with new stainless appliances, breakfast nook & new interior laundry. Both bathrooms gutted with new plumbing & designer tile. New windows. Nice hardwoods throughout. New deck! $174,900.

1502 E 35 t h P l a c E

Jack Arnold design. Remarkable floor plan with open living spaces. Corner lot. Walk to all that Brookside has to offer. $695,000

e r e h w e v o L you

live!

Sue Ann Blair Real Estate Agent since 2002

Designer Showcase Chair since 2011 Top 100 Tulsa Realtor

918.813.3477 • sueann@mcgrawok.com

BENEFITS + CAUSES + VOLUNTEERS

RACHEL WEAVER SMITH

PAINTING THE TOWN

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wenty-five budding artists participated in a Nov. 29 paint-andsip class that raised $1,000 for the Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges. Proceeds from this class — called Center Impressions — and others like it throughout the year directly support members who use the Center’s art studio daily.

Each Center Impressions begins with an informal happy hour featuring complimentary wine and appetizers. Led by instructor Sally

Ramirez, participants at the Nov. 29 class painted “Starry Night.” Each Center Impressions session will feature a different theme.

The next Center Impressions fundraiser is from 6-8 p.m., Feb. 9, and is specially designed for pairs, although individuals can participate.

Instructors Ron Smith and Rachel Weaver Smith will teach participants to paint a scene called “Love Birds.” Couples are $75; singles are $40. Register at tulsacenter.org. TP TulsaPeople.com

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Center Impressions 1.

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Kyle Miller, Melissa Eberhardt and Julie Crawford Center member Emeka Nnaka paints during the fundraiser.

Complimentary wine gets the paints flowing.

Center Art Instructor Sally Ramirez teaches guests to paint their version of “Starry Night.”

5. Hilary Hauth; Megan Meussner, Center board member; Lori Long, executive director; Erin Holland, community relations director; Erin Wambold, director of development 6. Twenty-five painters enjoyed the class where subject matter changes with each session. The event raised $1,000 for the Center.

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RACHEL WEAVER SMITH

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Spotlight on San Miguel

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1. Caroline Quinn, Jill Donovan and Missy Dill 2. Spotlight 2017 chairs will be Bob and Julia McCormick.

3. Bob and Jeanne Sullivan, Susan and Bill Schloss, and Susie and Dave Hentschel 4. The Spotlight 2016 dance couples were Annette Baird and Steve Allen, Stefan Easter and Mary Dill (seated), Linda Woodard and Jon Hamilton, Sunny Leigh and Ryan McDaniel, Charlie Bendana and Deborah DeLaney (seated), and Reagen Siegfried and Diana Easter.

5. Noah Roberts and Rose Washington, a 2014 Spotlight dancer 6. Charlie Bendana and Deborah DeLaney

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IAN DANZINGER AND MORGAN STREET STUDIOS

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Local celebrity dancers and their professional dance partners raised $528,000 for San Miguel School at the fourth annual Spotlight on San Miguel: Dancing with the Tulsa Stars on Nov. 5 at the Cox Business Center. Nearly 650 guests cheered and voted for their favorite dancers with donations at the fundraiser’s most successful night to date.

The champions were Steve Allen of Budco Inc. and his partner, Annette Baird of Allstar Ballroom Dance Co. Runners-up were Charlie Bendana of Ben-Trei Ltd. and Deborah DeLaney of Ballroom Revolution. The Judges Award for excellence went to Mary Dill of Perfect 8 Counts and her partner, dance instructor Stefan Easter.

Before and after the dance competition, guests dined and danced to the vocals of Ayngel and John. Emcees were LeAnne Taylor and Rich Lenz of KOTV’s 6 In The Morning.

FEBRUARY COMPILED BY JUDY LANGDON

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Dinner of Reconciliation The seventh annual John Hope Franklin Dinner of Reconciliation was held at the Greenwood Cultural Center on Nov. 17. The dinner celebrated the work of the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation with Marge and John Gaberino serving as honorary chairs. Former president and CEO of the national NAACP Benjamin Jealous was the keynote speaker.

The evening began with a reception and a flag presentation by the Booker T. Washington High School Color Guard. Guests were treated to a performance by the Voices of Unity Community Choir and the All Souls Unitarian Choir. The evening’s speakers included Alicia Latimer, the Rev. Jeff Jaynes, the Rev. Dr. Bill Crowell, Samuel Combs III, John W. Franklin, Minister Warren Blakney and Chris Bumgarner.

1. The Voices of Unity Community Choir and the All Souls Unitarian Choir sang at the event.

2. Benjamin Jealous and Julius Pegues 3. Former Mayor Susan Savage and State Rep. Regina Goodwin 4. The Booker T. Washington High School Color Guard performed a flag presentation.

5. Decorated tables of 10 filled the Greenwood Cultural Center.

3 JA Disco Bowl Benefits Junior Achievement of Oklahoma.

JAOK .ORG

Feb. 18 Fire and Ice Gala Benefits Little Light House.

FIREANDICETULSA .COM

4 Buttercup Bash Casino Royale Benefits Tulsa Boys’ Home.

TBHJUNIORWOMEN.COM

Feb. 18 The Heart of Henry Benefits Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless.

TULSADAYCENTER .ORG

4 Icons and Idols: The Key to Oz Benefits Tulsa Ballet.

ICONSANDIDOLS.ORG

Feb. 21 Live United Awards and Luncheon Benefits Tulsa Area United Way. TAUW.ORG / AWARDS

9 Center Impressions: experience, create, enjoy Benefits the Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges.

TULSACENTER .ORG

Feb. 21-May 15 Bowl for Kids’ Sake Benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma.

BBBSOK .ORG

9 Come and Get Your Love Valentine Show Benefits Tulsa Girls Art School.

TULSAGIRLSARTSCHOOL .ORG 9 Hearts Rebuilding Homes Benefits Rebuilding Together Tulsa.

REBUILDINGTOGETHERTULSA .ORG 9 K95.5 Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Radiothon Benefits St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

K 95 TULSA .COM

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10 Junior League of Tulsa Mentorship Luncheon Benefits Junior League of Tulsa.

JLTULSA .ORG 11 Heart Ball Benefits American Heart Association.

TULSAHEARTBALL .HEART.ORG 11 Hugs and Fishes Benefits Oklahoma Aquarium.

OKAQUARIUM.ORG 11 Pink Stiletto Benefits Susan G. Komen Tulsa.

KOMENTULSA .ORG

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11 Polar Plunge Tulsa Benefits Special Olympics Oklahoma.

TULSAPOLARPLUNGE.MYSOOK .ORG

TURNER GOODRUM/GOODRUM PHOTOGRAPHY

12 My Furry Valentine Benefits StreetCats Inc. STREETCATSTULSA .ORG 17 The Monarch Ball: All You Need Is Love Benefits Domestic Violence Intervention Services.

DVIS.ORG

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17 Mardi Gras Masquerade Benefits New Hope Oklahoma.

NEWHOPEOKLAHOMA .ORG

Feb. 23 Puttin’ on the Dog Benefits LIFE Senior Services.

LIFESENIORSERVICES.ORG 24 Street Party Benefits Street School Inc. STREETSCHOOL .ORG 24 Women of the Year – Pinnacle Awards Benefits YWCA. WOTY-PA .ORG 25 57th annual Book Fair Benefits Holland Hall.

HOLLANDHALL .ORG / BOOK-FAIR 25 Cooking Up Compassion Benefits Catholic Charities.

CCTULSA .ORG / CUC 2017 25 Dance of the Two Moons: Blue Moons Benefits Indian Health Care Resource Center.

IHCRC 2 MOONS.ORG 25 Lunar New Year Gala Benefits Dillon International.

DILLONADOPT.COM / LUNAR -NEW-YEAR 25 Winterset Benefits Osteopathic Founders Foundation.

WINTERSETTULSA .COM 28 Fat Tuesday Crawfish Boil Benefits Leadership Tulsa.

LEADERSHIPTULSA .ORG

VISIT TULSAPEOPLE.COM for a complete calendar of events.

Editor’s note: Highlighted events are sponsored by TulsaPeople.

TulsaPeople.com

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S W E E T H E A R T S & M A V E R I C K S 2 0 17

PHOTOGR APHY BY LESLIE HOY T PHOTOGR APHY

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Celebrating 46 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.

Megan Westbrock

Hailey Wilkens

OTHER SPONSORS

Hope Williams

Davis Woodliff

Advance Research Chemicals AT&T Entertainment Bob & Marjo Burk, The Vineyard on Memorial Central Liquor Company Community Care HMO

Jacob D. Wright

FRE Renewable Solutions Magellan Midstream Partners ONE Gas Parkhill’s Liquors and Wine South Price Waterhouse Coopers

For tickets please visit TulsaHeartBall.Heart.org or call 918.877.8363 • #TulsaHeartBall Republic National Distributing Company Spirit AeroSystems Wells Fargo Wiemann Metalcraft

MEDIA SPONSORS

DREAM TEAM

ACCESS ADVOCATES Three Tulsans want every person to have healthy food.

BY BRIA BOLTON MOORE

John McCarthy

Marianna Wetherill

Lindsay Blum

McCarthy remembers one of the first times he saw need in Tulsa. In junior high, he visited homes on 56th Street North to help install running water.

“You just got an awakening that not everyone was living at the same level as you are,” he says.

Helping others has always been important to McCarthy, and for nearly 35 years he’s been doing so by fighting hunger as a staff member of the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. McCarthy is the director of community initiatives and says one of his favorite programs is the Free Family Farmers’ Markets at Community Action Project Early Childhood Development Centers where families take home fresh produce, bakery items, recipes and nutritional information.

Thanks to Wetherill’s problem-solving skills, more than 37 uninsured patients are leaving doctors’ appointments with free, nutritious foods tailored to their health needs.

“I think the role of food is foundational for both disease prevention and management, and we don’t include it enough in the health care conversation,” says Wetherill, a Ph.D. in health promotion sciences.

In an effort to eliminate economic and geographic barriers keeping patients from nutritious foods, she led the launch of the Food Pharmacy, which began as a pilot program in July at OU Family Medicine. Food Pharmacy is a collaboration between the OU School of Community Medicine and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Patients with conditions like hypertension and diabetes receive a monthly box of items like beans, canned fish, dried fruit and anti-inflammatory spices along with helpful recipes.

“Hunger is everywhere,” says Blum, a Jenks High School senior.

Through her work as a junior ambassador with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, she hopes to communicate one thing: “The food bank is here, and it can help.”

As junior ambassadors, Blum and 13 other high school students raise awareness, funds and food. Their biggest event, Battle of the Bands, provided more than 32,000 meals in 2015.

“Getting out in the community and seeing what people struggle with is important,” Blum says. “I think it really changes you as a person to know that there are people around you struggling, and you can change their lives.” TP

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

CHARITABLE EVENTS SUPPORTED BY

S a t u r d ay, M a r c h 1 1 3920 S. Peoria, Tulsa

w w w.SOOK .org / 918-481-1234 Presenting Sponsor

Join

, formerly Prevent Blindness Oklahoma, at the Sip for Sight Spectacular and help advance children’s education through better vision.

THURSDAY, 6:30-10 P.M.

SATURDAY, 6:30-9 P.M.

SUMMIT CLUB

OSU TULSA

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit sipforsight.com or call (918) 496-3484.

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TAKE ME BACK

Bishop’s New Waffle House at 15 E. Third St. in the 1920s

VISIT TULSAPEOPLE.COM

BYGONE BITES F

BY JUDY LANGDON

or more than 50 years, one of Tulsa’s most popular dining places was Bishop’s Restaurant. Founded in 1913 as a counter-only café/diner by W. W. Bishop at 15 E. Th ird St., business boomed and it eventually was enlarged to become Bishop’s New Waffl e House.

In 1930, Bishop partnered with J. H. Powers, and the men moved the establishment to 510 S. Main St. The larger 24-hour, full-scale restaurant (with its U-shaped counter, red seats and black-andwhite tiled floors) catered to Tulans of all stripes,

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TulsaPeople FEBRUARY 2017

including J. Paul Getty, William G. Skelly and Harry Sinclair.

Customers flocked to Bishop’s in droves for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The menu included the mouth-watering Brown Derby: ground beef patties served with french fries or onion rings, grilled onions, hot rolls and Sauce Diablo. A Bishop’s opened in Oklahoma City, followed by a “Bishop’s Driv-Inn” at East 10th Street and South Boston Avenue. The original Bishop’s closed its doors Feb. 19, 1966. TP

PHOTO COURTESY TULSA HISTORICAL SOCIETY AND MUSEUM; HISTORICAL INFO AND RECIPES USED WITH PERMISSION FROM TULSAGAL.NET

for Bishop’s recipes for the Brown Derby, Sauce Diablo, Wine-Oil Salad Dressing and rum cake.

Local. Personal. Professional.

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