What’s Happening on Page 18!
VOL 20 ISSUE 11
November 2013
ROGERS COUNTY NE Oklahoma’s Leading Consumer Newspaper
30th Annual Christmas Home Tour The Junior Ocieleta Club celebrates three decades of its Claremore holiday event. By Cassie Woods The Junior Ocieleta Christmas Home Tour is a community tradition showcasing some of the fantastic homes in Claremore and the surrounding area. This tradition started in 1983, marking the 2013 home tour as the club’s 30th annual tour. This year’s tour will take place on December 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will feature four beautiful residential homes decorated for the Christmas holiday. The event continues to grow in popularity, and each year hundreds of people tour the homes and enjoy gathering their own holiday decorating ideas. Additionally, the club will feature a commemorative cookbook featuring family recipes from its members for sale at each tour stop.
“We have a great group of ladies organizing this year’s event,” said Emily Becker, Home Tour co-director. “I really do believe this may be one of the best tours yet, and I am excited that worked out in conjunction with our 30th anniversary.” Junior Ocieleta is comprised of young women who work together to raise funds for different charity needs. Through the annual Christmas Home Tour the group has been able to assist many charity organizations. This community tradition is the club’s main fundraiser, and proceeds are used to provide scholarships to local students as well as support numerous non-profit groups and projects in the community. “One hundred percent of the
proceeds from the tour go back into the community,” said Ashly Snyder, Home Tour co-director. “Some of the organizations we sponsor include Safenet, The Manger, United Way, Rogers County Youth Shelter, Rogers County School Foundations, Bitby-Bit, CASA and Big Brothers Big Sisters. We also provide scholarships each year to Rogers County high school seniors and have an Ocie Mayberry Scholarship Endowment for students at Rogers State University.” The stops on this year’s tour include the homes of John and Jan Belcher at 10099 Ratliff Dr., Shana Myers at 25185 S. 4109 Rd., Danny and Melinda Steelmon at 14646 E. 520 Rd., (continued on page 28)
Junior Ocieleta members (front row, L to R) Eileen Skocdopole, Emily Becker, (back row, L to R) Lacey Hendrix, Kate Pogue, Ashly Snyder, Megan Snyder, Kristin Roseberry and Savannah Haddock gear up for the club’s 30th annual Christmas Home Tour.
Shopping Local Pays Off
Bring the Outdoors In By Deanna Rebro
By Carol Beck-Round
“Wow! I have never seen anything like this!” This is a comment spoken over and over by first-time visitors to The Refuge Lifestyle. Store owners Clinton and Robin Taylor say they are thrilled every time they hear those words. The unique Bixby store at 7600 E. 151st St. is eye candy for anyone who wants the look of rustic elegance in their home, with something special that is not found in every big box retailer. “We strive to be the premier supplier of quality cabin, lodge, southwest and western furniture, décor and accessories in northeastern Oklahoma,” says Clinton. The Refuge Lifestyle offers furnishings and accessories for every room in the house, wall to wall and floor to ceiling. Natural materials such as logs, barn wood, iron, leather and animal skins capture the beauty of the outdoors and bring it indoors. In the four years the Taylors have been in business, they have gained a reputation for having just the right pieces for the comfortable look of a lake, ranch or mountain home. “We are happy when employees from other stores come in to see what all the buzz is about,” says Robin. Last year, they decided to go a step beyond their initial Aspen log furniture to feature new (continued on page 28)
If you need some extra money for holiday spending or for paying bills, patronizing Claremore businesses for the 11th annual Santa Cash promotion might help. Kicking off on Friday, November 8 at noon and ending at noon on December 20, the annual promotion sponsored by Claremore Chamber of Commerce encourages people to “shop local” for the holiday season.
Preferred Customer Requested Delivery November 1, 2013 Dated Material
Santa Cash is back for its 11th holiday shopping season, offering residents the chance to win a total of $10,000 in cash prizes to be given away.
PRSRT-STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 1000 TULSA, OK
The Refuge Lifestyle offers cabin, lodge, southwest and western furniture and home décor, including one-of-a-kind and custom pieces.
Clinton and Robin Taylor bring the outdoors in with unique merchandise, catalog orders and custom design work at The Refuge Lifestyle.
www.valuenews.com South Tulsa 39,625 homes (This is a geo-demographic mailing list and delivered to homes in Mid-Town and South Tulsa.)
Bixby, Jenks Glenpool & Sapulpa 23,266 homes Bixby- 74008–7,178 Glenpool–74033–3,700 Jenks–74037–5,010 Sapulpa–74066–7,378
Paid Mailing Circulation
As in past years, two cash prizes will be awarded to Santa Cash shoppers, on December 21 at 11 a.m. at the Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs Grandstands, east of Claremore on Highway 20. The grand prize winner will walk away with a check for $6,500, while the second-place ticket holder will receive a $2,500 check. Participants must be present to (continued on page 28)
Santa Claus and Santa Cash Committee Chair Julie Simmons will be on hand again this year at Will Rogers Downs Grandstands to draw the winning $6,500 grand prize winner, as well as the second place $2,500 prize.
Owasso/Collinsville 18,374 homes Owasso–74055–12,055 Collinsville–74021–6,319
Rogers County 22,655 homes Claremore–74017–8,951 74019–5,739 Catoosa–74015–2,584 Chelsea–74016–1,796 Inola–74036–2,159 Oologah–74053–1,426
Broken Arrow 34,022 homes 74011–9,439 74012–19,111 74014–5,472
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