bmonthly January 2015

Dish

Last Call

GUYS & DOLLS

SAMANTHA’S

POLAR PLUNGE

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bartlesville monthly

The Arts

January 2015

BABY NEW YEAR 2015

READER’S CHOICE

Levi

THIS MONTH: BRUINS SWIMMING N OK MOZART LAUNCHN COMPREHENSIVE JANUARY EVENTS CALENDAR

Guys & Dolls | Monday, February 2 | 7:30 pm Nice Work If You Can Get It | Tuesday, February 17 | 7:30 pm The Midtown Men | Thursday, April 16 | 7:30 pm *dates and/or shows are subject to change

918-336-2787 ★ 800-618-2787 www.bartlesvillecommunitycenter.com

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4160 SE Adams Road Bartlesville, OK 74006 918-336-2600 www.cady-sewellwealthmanagement.com Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, Member SIPC

bartlesville monthly

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what’s inside...

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23. 19.

15.

34.

13.

26.

5

Editor’s Letter A Year of Hope

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7

Feature Baby New Year 2015

21

Sports - BHS Swimming Team is ready to make a splash

23

January Calendar Find out what’s happening this month

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26

13 14

17

Out and About Photos from around town

Dish - Samantha’s New restaurant offers cozy atmosphere Profile - Liberty Galvin BHS Alum brings lifesaving work to Africa The Arts - Guys & Dolls Luck be a Broadway in Bartlesville show Music - Ready to Launch OKM Launch Party planned Last Call – Polar Plunge Event benefitting Special Olympics

January 2015 4

Bartlesville Monthly | JANUARY 2015

editor’s letter

A Year of Hope

bartlesville monthly

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January 2015 Volume 5, Issue 1 206 1/2 SE Frank Phillips Blvd.

Bartlesville, OK 74003 918.336.0681

www.bartlesvillemonthly.com www.facebook.com/bartlesvillemonthly PUBLISHER / OWNER

Chris Oldroyd chris@bartlesvillemonthly.com EDITOR

Laura Summers laura@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Hope – the feeling or belief that things are going to turn out well.

Love, faith and hope are vital to our happiness and well-being. Yet so many in our world, in our community, even among our closest neighbors, find themselves losing hope. They face a financial crisis, the loss of a family member or a mental illness – and in the whirlwind of physical and emotional chaos – their sense of hope can be blown away.

But don’t despair.

Bartlesville is full of people who specialize in bringing hope back to others.

Our beautiful community is full of kind souls who dedicate themselves to the good of others. We will celebrate them this year. We are declaring 2015 as The Year of Hope.

Bartlesville has many, many nonprofit groups created to meet the needs of others. We will look at some of the great work being done near and far by the hope specialists in our region throughout the year. We also will be working on a Hope Chest – our own effort to help contribute donations here and there to help in meeting the needs of Bartlesville.

Join us as we look to the good in the world – the beacons of light who are shining away illuminating the darkest corners.

There is hunger in our community, but there are also many groups and individuals working hard to fill those

tables with food. There are community gardens, food kitchens and pantries providing donations. There is hope.

There is homelessness, but there is a shelter for housing and efforts underway in the schools to help students and programs in place to try to help families cross the bridge out of poverty. There is hope.

There are horrible diseases that strike us and our loved ones – illnesses that want to rob us of joy – and yet we have in Bartlesville compassionate and kindred spirits who come to walk alongside victims and survivors helping them paint away the pain for a day, stretch away the aches and talk with others who support them. There is hope.

Behind the solid walls of the jail cell, there are many ministries taking place.

Sitting at tables in groups after school are mentors patiently tutoring students through homework assignments. At the hospital bedside, there are cheerful volunteers visiting with patients. There is hope and hope and hope again.

We are excited to embark on this year of highlighting the marvelous caregivers of our city. Along the way, perhaps all of us will find an area in which we can be the hope to others. I hope so anyway.

For local sales dial:

918-336-0681 sales@bartlesvillemonthly.com PHOTOGRAPHER

Tony Lehmer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mike Wilt, Wesley Taggart, Lori Esser CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Andrea Mann Photography Patrick McNabb Wesley Taggart CALENDAR MANAGER

Wesley Taggart calendar@bartlesvillemonthly.com

Visit us online at www.bartlesvillemonthly.com

All Rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or otherwise, without prior permission of Bartlesville Monthly, Inc.

About the cover: With nearly sixty beautiful babies showing up for Andrea Mann Photography to shoot our fourth annual “Baby New Year” contest, it was a hard decision for everyone! Reader’s Choice Award went to Levi Cruse and Judge’s Choice Award went to Carter Parsons.

We produced two covers in honor of each baby.

Laura JANUARY 2015 | Bartlesville Monthly

5

BREAKING NEWS

FRAUD PREVENTION MADE EASY

Introducing... smsGuardian Member FDIC

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Behold!

We

(918)336-0307 336-0307 •• www.Woolaroc.org www.Woolaroc.org (918) 6

Bartlesville Monthly | JANUARY 2015

AUSTIN

GRAYSON

RIVER

KYLEIGH

LOGAN

BABY NEW YEAR 2015

ADDISON Beautiful babies posed with

HADLEY

hat in hand or on head for photographer Andrea Mann in our fourth annual Baby New Year Contest.

This year’s event bought almost sixty darling babies to the camera. Here they all are for your enjoyment.

JAI

DAWSON

KARTER

JANUARY 2015 | Bartlesville Monthly

7

8

CARSON

LEVI

PAISLEY

ROSE

DREW

EASTON

WILLIAM

NAOMI

RILEIGH

BENEDICT

Bartlesville Monthly | JANUARY 2015

EVALYN

DAWSYN

LAILA

ZACHARY

GRAHAM

MADISON

KALEENA

MACY

BRAYLIN

CAYMAN

CORALINE

KYRIN

SHELBY

GABE

JANUARY 2015 | Bartlesville Monthly

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10

JAXTON

ROYCE

CARTER

CHARLES

JORDYN

RACEE

JOHNNY

MACKENZIE

CARTER

COOPER

Bartlesville Monthly | JANUARY 2015

HOPE

JERAMAE

ZAYLIN

STETSON

KENDRIX

JULIUS

ELI

LEO

BALE

ELIANA

ASHER

JOSHUA

JOHN

EMBERLYN

JANUARY 2015 | Bartlesville Monthly

11

Dr. Ron & Bernetta Hay Honorary Chairpersons Cordially invite you to

Sponsored by:

Family Healthcare Clinic Hillcrest Country Club 1901 Price Road, Bartlesville, OK 74006

February 13th, 2015 6:30 pm

Dinner │ Chocolate │ Dancing Limited tickets available for purchase $75 Call 918-336-4822

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Open an account with us today at arvest.com or at a nearby Arvest location.

Consult your wireless internet provider about applicable fees for required data plans.

Member FDIC

12

Bartlesville Monthly | JANUARY 2015

sports

Making a Splash

BHS Swimmer Thomas Downey

Bartlesville swim programs strong in numbers and results

BY LAURA SUMMERS Bartlesville swimmers are hitting the pool with strength this winter – both in terms of numbers and competitive edge.

The Phillips 66 Splash Club program, which started in 1950, has been growing champions through the decades and this year is no exception. Bartlesville High’s team finished second in last year’s state meet, and with most of the starters returning, the local swimmers have been racing past their competitors again in the meets held so far this season around the region.

“Bartlesville is blessed with outstanding swimmers,” sums up Coach Chad Englehart, who took the reins of both the Splash Club and Bruin Swim Team programs this year.

Bartians have the chance to see both teams in action locally this month.

Splash Club hosts the 64th annual Meet of Champions on Jan. 16-18 bringing swimmers from several states to the

Phillips 66 Aquatic Center, located on Keeler Avenue at Fifth Street. The storied swimming center, which has been the site of local, state and national meets through the years, will host a BHS meet on Jan. 27.

It has been a year for both anticipated wins to be championed and unexpected victories to be realized in the lane as so many individual swimmers for Bartlesville have won events in competition this season. And Bartlesville swimmers have a long tradition of success having captured 15 state championships for boys and 13 state championships for girls at the high school level over the years.

“I just want to stress that Splash Club is open to everyone in the community,” Englehart says. “You do need some basic swimming knowledge first, but we really want to reach out to 10-unders looking for a great lifelong sport.”

The programs have been growing tremendously in Bartlesville. New swimmers have been taking the plunge to join the Splash Club and high school

groups in record numbers.

The growth comes under the leadership of Englehart, who knows the path to success from personal experience.

Bartlesville’s new coach came to the Phillips 66 program from Fort Wayne, Indiana where his boys and girls programs at Homestead High produced 13 state championship team finishes and 123 national All-Americans. Englehart will be inducted into Indiana’s High School Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame this spring.

“Both teams have experienced significant growth this year,” Englehart says. “The Splash Club membership is up 40 percent making it the biggest roster in two decades. We are really trying to get younger kids involved and energized about swimming. The high school girls team is double the size of last year. We really want to expand swimming’s footprint in the community and show families the benefits of a great lifelong sport.”

JANUARY 2015 | Bartlesville Monthly

13

January Calendar BARTLESVILLE MONTHLY MAGAZINE AND EASTLAND FOUR THEATER PRESENT Know of an upcoming event that should be listed here?

Visit us at www.bartlesvillemonthly.com to submit a listing! It’s free!

All listings are by reader submission. Not responsible for errors. Bartlesville Monthly reserves the right to remove inappropriate content.

bartlesville monthly

Tuesday, Jan 1 Merle Jam Osage Casino, 222 Allen Road 9 PM

Wednesday, Jan 2 A+ Rewards Double Point Wednesday Washington Park Mall 2350 SE Washington Blvd.

Wednesday’s are Double Point Days! Make sure to drop your mall receipts at the A+ Rewards lockers next to JCPenney!!!

Hi-Fidelics Osage Casino, 222 Allen Road 9 PM

Free, Live Music!

Angelo’s Tavern, 130 S Cherokee Ave 9:30 PM

Thursday, Jan 3 Robert Hoefling Frank & Lola’s, 200 S.E. 2nd St 10 PM Robert Hoefling impressed us a ton when he played in November, and we had to have him back. He’ll be in this time with a full string band, guaranteed to play wellcrafted original tunes and some obscure, yet awesome covers.

Free, Live Music!

Angelo’s Tavern, 130 S Cherokee Ave 9:30 PM

Hi-Fidelics Osage Casino, 222 Allen Road 9 PM

Tuesday, Jan 6 BINGO The American Legion Post 105, 501 NE Washington 7:15 PM

14

Bartlesville Monthly | JANUARY 2015

Wednesday, Jan 7

Saturday, Jan 10

Walk-In Wednesday

Travis Kidd

Sugarica, 201 S Osage Ave 10 AM

Osage Casino - , 222 Allen Road 9 PM

Stop by for a freshly-baked sweet treat! Follow us on Facebook for each week’s menu. Open 10 AM - 2 PM

Free, Live Music!

every Wednesday.

Angelo’s Tavern, 130 S Cherokee Ave 9:30 PM

A+ Rewards Double Point Wednesday 2350 SE Washington Blvd.

Jacob Tovar and the Saddle Tramps

Wednesday’s are Double Point Days! Make sure to drop

Frank & Lola’s, 200 S.E. 2nd St 10 PM

your mall receipts at the A+ Rewards lockers next to

Just try to find a more true country voice than

JCPenney!!!

Jacob Tovar’s. Not likely. He’s resurrected that old,

Thursday, Jan 8

honest country and throws in originals in the same vein. Accompanied by Seth Lee Jones and Cooper Waugh on guitars, this trio is the real deal, throwback to the sound

Karaoke Thursdays

that made Cain’s the famous honky tonk it became.

Osage Casino, 222 Allen Road 9 PM

Hope Clinic

Children’s Storytime: Bear Snores On

1536 N.W. Sunset Blvd.Bartlesville

Tri County Technology Center,

FREE medical clinic. We treat minor illnesses & injuries.

6101 SE Nowata Rd., 9am

Call our clinic phone at 918-440-7692 to schedule an

Our Children’s Storytime is an interactive experience

appointment.

designed to help children develop pre-literacy skills.

Explore books, fingerplays, songs, and crafts!

Natural Cold & Flu Remedies and Prevention Hopestone Cancer Support Center of Bartlesville 120B SW Frank Phillips Blvd., 6:30pm

Tuesday, Jan 13

Maureen Forsythe, Annie Piper & Tim Morris discuss ideas on nutrition, aromatherapy, tinctures, salves, rubs

BINGO

and much more. Call to reserve spot 918-876-1709.

The American Legion Post 105, 501 NE Washington 7:15 PM

Karaoke Indian Coffee Company

Sushi Making

116 SW Frank Phillips Blvd

Tri County Technology Center, 6101 SE Nowata Rd., 6pm

Friday, Jan 9

Discover the Japanese art of sushi making. Students will learn to prepare California and Philadelphia rolls while trying a variety of Japanese vegetables.

Travis Kidd Osage Casino , 222 Allen Road 9 PM

Wednesday, Jan 14

Free, Live Music!

Walk-In Wednesday

Angelo’s Tavern,

Sugarica, 201 S Osage Ave 10 AM

130 S Cherokee Ave 9:30 PM

Stop by for a freshly-baked sweet treat! Follow us on Facebook for each week’s menu. Open 10 AM - 2 PM every Wednesday.

Friday, Jan 16

Mah Jongg Tri County Technology Center, 6101 SE Nowata Rd., 6:30pm

SeXtion 8

Mah Jongg is an ancient Asian game played with

Osage Casino, 222 Allen Road 9 PM

decorative tiles and dice. Learn this challenging and exotic game of strategy and chance.

Free, Live Music!

Angelo’s Tavern, 130 S Cherokee Ave 9:30 PM

A+ Rewards Double Point Wednesday

Saturday, Jan 17

Washington Park Mall 2350 SE Washington Blvd.

Wednesday’s are Double Point Days! Make sure to drop your mall receipts at the A+ Rewards lockers next to

SeXtion 8 Osage Casino

JCPenney!!!

222 Allen Road 9 PM

Thursday, Jan 15

“Coming Home” presented by Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra Bartlesville Community Center, 300 SE Adams Blvd

Hope Clinic

Coming Home featuring guest artists Jessica (violin) and

1536 N.W. Sunset Blvd.Bartlesville FREE medical clinic. We treat minor illnesses & injuries.

Call our clinic phone at 918-440-7692 to schedule an

Daniel (viola) Fellows they are brother and sister and former student members of the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra. These two young people have a made a

appointment.

name for themselves in the orchestra world and are coming home as polished adult professionals to be our

New Year, New You - Rodan+Fields Business Presentation

featured guest artists .

2107 SE Washington Blvd.Bartlesville

Free, Live Music!

Learn how you can achieve beautiful skin with our clinically proven products, and how partnering with the creators of Proactiv could change your entire future!

Angelo’s Tavern, 130 S Cherokee Ave 9:30 PM

KMOD Blood Drive

WCSC Soccer Registration Washington Park Mall 2350 SE Washington Blvd Washington County Soccer Club will be hosting a Soccer Registration in front of Hibbett Sports.

The Peculiar Patriots Frank & Lola’s, 200 S.E. 2nd St 10 PM This is the debut for this Laramie, WY jam/funk/rock/alt menagerie and we’re excited to have them in!

Day Dream Empire Painted Horse Bar & Grille 110 SW Frank Phillips Blvd, 8pm Live Music

Tuesday, Jan 20 BINGO The American Legion Post 105, 501 NE Washington 7:15 PM

Wednesday, Jan 21 Walk-In Wednesday Sugarica, 201 S Osage Ave 10 AM Stop by for a freshly-baked sweet treat! Follow us on Facebook for each week’s menu. Open 10 AM - 2 PM every Wednesday.

Washington Park Mall

Karaoke Thursday

2350 SE Washington Blvd, 10am

Osage Casino 222 Allen Road 9 PM

KMOD will be hosting a Blood Drive 10am - 4pm. Every donor will receive a free T-Shirt.

A+ Rewards Double Point Wednesday Washington Park Mall 2350 SE Washington Blvd.

Wednesday’s are Double Point Days! Make sure to drop your mall receipts at the A+ Rewards lockers next to JCPenney!!!

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15

Thursday, Jan 22

Saint John Catholic School Auction “Livin on a Prayer” 80s Prom

Hope Clinic 1536 N.W. Sunset Blvd.Bartlesville FREE medical clinic. We treat minor illnesses & injuries.

OK Mozart 2015 Launch Party

St John Catholic School

Call our clinic phone at 918-440-7692 to schedule an

Bartlesville Community Center, 300 SE Adams Blvd

121 West 8th St, 6:30pm

appointment.

The OK Mozart International Festival 2015 Launch

Cocktails, dining & dancing are part of the fun! Grab your

Party is set for Thursday, January 22, 5:30 to 9:00

hairspray & come totally have a rad time. Tickets are on

Intro to Songwriting

p.m. at Bartlesville Community Center. Artistic Director,

sale now! Look at www.sjcs-ok.org for info

Tri County Technology Center,

Constantine Kitsopoulos, will announce the lineup of the

6101 SE Nowata Rd., 6:30pm

concerts and guest artists for the annual event set for

Bread Making

June 6-13, 2015.

Tri County Technology Center,

learn the craft of songwriting. Discover harmonic rhythm,

6101 SE Nowata Rd., 9am

melodic development, and lyric writing.

Bring your guitar or accompaniment instrument and

Hope Clinic

Come have some fun, learn new techniques, and take

1536 N.W. Sunset Blvd.Bartlesville

home recipes you’ll use regularly, along with some lovely

Social Dance

FREE medical clinic. We treat minor illnesses & injuries.

fresh baked bread to share with family and friends!

Tri County Technology Center,

Call our clinic phone at 918-440-7692 to schedule an appointment.

6101 SE Nowata Rd., 7pm

Tuesday, Jan 26

Intro to Modern Calligraphy Tri County Technology Center,

Jewelry making: Tree of Life Pendant

6101 SE Nowata Rd., 6pm

Tri County Technology Center,

Discover various dancing styles from Line Dancing, Cha Cha, to the Waltz. Improve your personal comfort when dancing with any partner at any event!

Friday, Jan 30

Learn the basics of modern calligraphy. We will go over

6101 SE Nowata Rd., 6pm

the tools, how to properly use them, and give you the

Make your own unique jewelry! Learn wire wrapping

preliminary knowledge of pen-pointed calligraphy.

techniques and tips in this hands on class. Create a

Another Alibi

beautiful pendant using wire and your choice of stone.

Osage Casino, 222 Allen Road 9 PM

Wednesday, Jan 27

Free, Live Music!

Basic Drawing Tri County Technology Center, 6101 SE Nowata Rd., 7pm

Angelo’s Tavern, 130 S Cherokee Ave 9:30 PM

This class is designed for beginners and students with some drawing skills. Learn fundamental skills by drawing

Guitar for Beginners

still life, portraits, and the human figure.

Tri County Technology Center,

Saturday, Jan 31

6101 SE Nowata Rd., 6pm

Karaoke Thursday

Become the musician you’ve always wanted to be with

Osage Casino, 222 Allen Road 9 PM

Guitar for Beginners! Learn basic guitar skills with step-

Bartlesville Polar Plunge Benefitting the Oklahoma Special Olympics

by-step instruction and hands on experience.

Painted Horse Bar and Grill,

Friday, Jan 23

Ethiopian Cuisine

10am Registration, 11am Plunging A Polar Plunge is a fundraising challenge made to

Tri County Technology Center,

Imzadi

an individual or group challenging them to dive into a

6101 SE Nowata Rd., 6pm

cold body of water in order to raise money for Special

Osage Casino, 222 Allen Road 9 PM

Learn the basics of Ethiopian foods and a little about the

Olympics. Each participant collects pledges from family,

culture, also. It will be a lively class ending with delicious

friends and businesses in the hopes of raising lots of

foods you will want to make at home.

money for Special Olympics.

Thursday, Jan 28

Another Alibi

Free, Live Music!

Angelo’s Tavern, 130 S Cherokee Ave 9:30 PM

Saturday, Jan 24

Osage Casino, 222 Allen Road 9 PM

A+ Rewards Double Point Wednesday Travis Linville

Free, Live Music!

Washington Park Mall

Angelo’s Tavern, 130 S Cherokee Ave 9:30 PM

Frank & Lola’s, 200 S.E. 2nd St 10 PM

2350 SE Washington Blvd.

Guitarist, teacher, songwriter, producer, all around

Wednesday’s are Double Point Days! Make sure to drop

talented and awesome dude and musician. Travis

your mall receipts at the A+ Rewards lockers next to

Linville takes a break from the road to make a rare stop

JCPenney!!!

at FnL’s.

Thursday, Jan 29

Imzadi Osage Casino, 222 Allen Road 9 PM

Karaoke Thursday Osage Casino, 222 Allen Road 9 PM

Free, Live Music!

Angelo’s Tavern, 130 S Cherokee Ave 9:30 PM

16

Bartlesville Monthly | JANUARY 2015

out & about

2014 Christmas Parade in Downtown Bartlesville

JANUARY 2015 | Bartlesville Monthly

17

I.O.U .

2014 Christmas Christmas Crawl Benefitting Paths to Independence

WEDDINGS | ENGAGEMENTS | LIVE EVENTS | FAMILY | SPORTS COMMERCIAL | SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHS

918-408-6410 WWW.LEHMERPHOTOGRAPHY.COM 18

Bartlesville Monthly | JANUARY 2015

dish

Come on over

Samantha’s offers cozy setting with elegant dining menu

BY LORI ESSER If you have driven by the corner of Fourth Street and Shawnee Avenue in the last several years, you’ve noticed some progress being made on the southeast corner. Is it a restaurant? Is it a business? Is it a home?

The answer to all three of those questions is “yes.”

Ron and Samantha Nikkel purchased the lot in 2006 an hour after the city of Bartlesville condemned the property. The historical building was once a corner grocery store.They had no intentions of being in the food business and at the time considered renovating the two upstairs apartments for rental property. The downstairs was to be used as Ron’s woodworking and sculpture shop.

However, while restoring the old building, they fell in love with it. They made the upstairs their private home and remodeled the lower level to house Samantha’s business, 5 Elements Clinic & Spa. She is nationally certified in acupuncture and oriental medicine as well as a licensed massage therapist and licensed aesthetician. They added on a 1,600 squarefoot building, which is now Bartlesville’s newest downtown restaurant - Samantha’s.

“We were originally going to start out as just a coffee and tea shop using a local roaster,” Ron says. “Then we started experimenting with original recipes and added a small menu for lunch and dinner as well as desserts. We even sell whole cakes and bread pudding. And we offer a full bar.”

Samantha’s home-style atmosphere fits right in with the original 1923 building to which it is connected. Each table top in the inside dining room, is custom-made solid copper from Mexico with a refinished original cast iron stand that came from the historic Mayo Hotel in Tulsa. The tables are adorned by upholstered, hospitable high back wicker chairs. Outside patio seating areas have their own fireplaces and a view of organic vegetable gardens, flowers and 9-foot waterfall.

“There’s outdoor seating with a fire pit, and we even smoke our own meats back here,” Ron adds. “We have a garden with blackberries, raspberries, grapes and cherry trees. We have a waterfall with koi and a gazebo. We wanted people to feel like they were in our backyard with us. Guests can have a glass of wine and sit and visit.”

Samantha’s boasts a unique menu of original recipes for lunch including chicken salad, rib eye steak sandwich, seared

romaine salads with grilled salmon or sesame seared Ahi tuna, smoked bologna topped with a raspberry borbon sauce and mahi mahi tacos. Dinner menu is just as unique with a touch of elegance. The eatery also offers catering.

“There are some things people have not heard of before, but are really enjoying - like our meatloaf sliders,” says Samantha. “We make all our food from scratch. Our soups are freshly made on a daily basis. Our menu will always be a work-in-progress as we enjoy experimenting with new flavors. We want your dining experience to go beyond the great food.”

It’s all been word of mouth, and Ron and Samantha have seen steady increase since their Oct. 30 launch.

“We’re still developing,” Ron says. “I wouldn’t call it a restaurant as this isn’t just a box-like setting. We have lots of cozy niches and translucent windows. We want this to be our place open to you. So we like to think of it more as people coming over to our place.”

Samantha’s

601 E. Fourth St. 918-876-1591

JANUARY 2015 | Bartlesville Monthly

19

The Law Offices of Robinett ǀ King, a full service law firm serving the legal needs of Washington County and surrounding areas since 1928, announces the reorganization and renaming of the firm formerly known as‌ Brewer, Worten, Robinett Bruce W. Robinett David B. King James M. Elias P. Scott Buhlinger Bartlesville (918) 336-4132 Pawhuska (918) 287-2200 Facsimile (918) 336-9009

Thomas J. Brown Jess M. Kane Rick D. Tucker

500 Professional Building 117 W. 5th Street Bartlesville, OK 74003

www.robinettking.com

20

Bartlesville Monthly | JANUARY 2015

Liberty Galvin BHS alum brings lifesaving work to Africa

profile

Liberty holding Bashira, the daughter of her Njala Professor, Dr. Bashiru Koroma.

BY LORI ESSER After graduation, most students begin their career in the workplace. Liberty Gavin, Bartlesville High alum, had other plans after earning her environmental science degree from Oklahoma State University in 2013.

“A few years ago, I wanted to join the Peace Corps,” she explains. “So I was invited on a trip to Sierra Leone to help teach a village how to farm.This country is at 183/187 on the human developmental index. It was so eye opening.”

Liberty helped open an agriculture extension area and taught kids how to grow food by planting with seeds. She says her experience there concerned others as everyone thinks Africa is so “scary” and many are afraid of getting sick.

“It wasn’t that bad,” she says. “I never felt in a dangerous place. It was the creatures I was worried about and

very thankful for my mosquito nets. It’s an environmental factor you don’t think about. This trip was an adventure. There are lots of opportunities for development work.”

She felt an obligation to help. The people of the village are either not in a position to help themselves or not educated enough. Liberty went back nine months later after receiving a grant to build water filters at primary schools. It also paid for OSU engineering students to go as they had success with a project in Honduras. She was inspired by the work previously done by Jessica Lay. Jessica was being recognized for her Fulbright Research on a simple method creating clean drinking water.

“Our original intent was to turn these filters into a business, but we quickly realized this is a necessity to live,” she says. “We built four filters at four different primary schools in villages located around

Njala University to draw kids to school.

Education is the number one way to get a village out of poverty.”

On this trip, from December 2011 to January 2012, she was surprised to find all the work she had done on the last visit in March 2011 had been dug up and destroyed. She saw this as a learning experience and realized her efforts were not being focused on the right things, which lead her onto water filtration.

In May 2012, she went back to Africa to work with the Njala University students from the previous trip. They helped her speak to the local people and they created a “Sierra Leonian” model of bio-sand filter for $60.

“I was much awakened to the culture and skill of survival,” Liberty says. “It was very raw living. This is when I learned the struggle of living without supermarkets, ovens, showers, waste management and natural resource management. English is JANUARY 2015 | Bartlesville Monthly

21

their main language, but I also learned to speak krio.”

That didn’t stop her from returning a fourth time over spring break in 2013 where she was the student teacher for a study abroad class to Sierra Leone and exposed her students to bucket bathing and other daily routines. This was followed six months later with a fifth visit after she raised $8,000 for sponsorship and a majority of that came from this community.

On this trip, the focus was to go a step further beyond filtration. Half of her sponsorship was for her livelihood and the other was spent for a rain water system.

Her parents flew over in January for the ribbon cutting of her rainwater harvesting system. They were present along with representatives from UNICEF, the Sierra Leonian Ministry of Water Resources, the Bo District Council Chairman’s engineer, the Bo District Deputy Medical Officer, as well as the President and VP of the University.

“I was given a country cloth as a going away gift that was harvested there and weaved,” she says. “People in the village are happy to share their blood, sweat and

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Bartlesville Monthly | JANUARY 2015

tears.They gave me the name Lombeh. It’s a Mende name that means ‘live for me.’ They have one of the highest infant mortality rates so they give the surviving girl that name. It’s very cool. It brought me respect and it’s from me embracing the hospitality.

I now have a village-sized family in Sierra Leone that will welcome me and fight for me at any moment because of what I did for the health, education and future of their children.”

Liberty planned to go back this month to accept a job from the Ministry of Water Resources, but with the heightened threat of Ebola, she is staying put in Oklahoma.

She still maintains her strong ties to her village with daily chats. And while she’s not able to do hands-on work in Africa, she still is supporting in other ways. She just finished a successful Rice Bag Challenge raising funds to send one 50kg bag of rice to each family in the village.

She works at Martha’s Task and feels that the work she does there is reflective of what she was doing in Africa and it makes her feel like she is spending her time in a way that can benefit the largest amount of people in her community. She

also owns her own business, Gondwana International LLC. This organization supports international development projects related to food, water, education and engineering.

“In the village, they don’t have a market for their textiles,” she says. “I buy products and pay for the material and labor so I know the quality, and I only buy from people I know their stories. I’m focusing on women’s empowerment. These textiles are currently for sale through my shop.”

Her five year plan includes grad school and going back to Sierra Leone and building a cell phone charging tower using solar power from the sales in her shop. She gives credit to this community and the Bartlesville Women’s Network for supporting her efforts.

“It’s weird to come home to culture of everything and see people be unhappy,” she says. “Everyone has their talent. It’s important to do what you enjoy. Life is short. Life is about finding out who you are and creating a culture where teamwork is a part of life.”

the arts

Guys and Dolls

Luck be a Broadway in Bartlesville show this winter

Take a gamble on love this winter with the colorful cast of “Guys and Dolls” who bring their high stakes games and high energy show to Bartlesville Community Center as part of the Broadway in Bartlesville season line-up.

There is romance in the air, but it could get lost with the cards on the table, in this classic show that plays one night in Bartlesville. Tickets are available now at the Community Center Box Office for the Feb. 2 performance, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Call 918-336-2787 or visit www. bartlesvillecommunitycenter.com.

The show, which debuted in November 1950, is based on short stories by Damon Runyon who celebrated the world of Broadway by writing about characters who were humorous gangsters and hustlers.

Frank Loesser created the music and lyrics.

Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, “Guys and Dolls” is set in a mythical version of New York City with a cast of vivid characters. There is Sarah Brown, the upright but uptight “mission

doll” who is out to reform the evildoers of Times Square. Her counterpart is Sky Masterson, the slick, high-rolling gambler who woos her on a bet and ends up falling in love.

Then there is Adelaide, a chronically ill nightclub performer whose condition is brought on by the fact she’s been engaged to the same man for 14 years.

Nathan Detroit, her devoted fiance, loves Adelaide but devotes much of his time to his desperate search for a spot for his infamous floating crap game.

Among the more well-known songs of the musical are “Luck be a Lady,” “A Bushel and a Peck, ””I’ve Never Been in Love Before, ” “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat” and “If I Were a Bell.”

The original Broadway run of “Guys and Dolls” took the stage at the 46th Street Theater and lasted for 1200 performances.

The original cast for the show included Robert Alda and Isabel Bigley, along with Vivian Blaine, who also starred in the 1955 film adaptation alongside Frank Sinatra,

Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons.

The much loved show continued to have success through the years in Broadway revivals.

The

popular

“Guys

and

Dolls”

production has taken several awards through the years. The original Broadway version won Tony Awards in 1951 for Best Musical, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, Best Choreographer and Best Director.The show again won Tony Awards in 1992 for Best Director, Best Actress, Best Revival and Best Scenic Designer.

The show comes in the middle lineup spot in the 2014-15 Broadway in Bartlesville season. Bartlesville Community Center welcomed “Smokey Joe’s Café” and “Anything Goes” this fall and now comes “Guys and Dolls.” The season continues Feb. 16 with “Nice Work If You Can Get It” and wraps up April 16 with “Midtown Men.” Visit the community center website for details and tickets for all of the shows.

JANUARY 2015 | Bartlesville Monthly

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Bartlesville Monthly | JANUARY 2015

music

OKM: Ready for launch

Party and line-up announcement planned for January 22

BY MIKE WILT One of the hottest tickets during one of the coldest times of the year is to the annual OK Mozart Festival Launch Party.

Amid plentiful food and drink, festival organizers will unveil another extraordinary list of guest artists and performances for the 2015 season, as well as offer a special discount on season tickets that one cannot purchase at any other time.

This year’s special soiree will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22 at Bartlesville Community Center and will feature complimentary food from some 20 vendors, as well as an array of beer, wine and soft drinks.

“This is not only a wonderful way to unwind after work, but it is also a way to be among the first to find out who will be performing this year,” says OKM Executive Director Randy Thompson. “While the festival isn’t until June, people are always anxious to know the details and I promise we will not disappoint.”

The cagey Thompson doles out

just enough information to pique one’s curiosity.

He acknowledges this year’s theme will be “A Musical Tour of Italy” in which Mozart music will be included on each orchestral program. OKM Artistic Director Constantine Kitsopoulos will be shooting footage in Rome so he can incorporate video into his presentation of the 2015 festival program. Beyond those details, Thompson is enjoying being elusive.

“I can’t tell you how we are going to begin the main program at the launch party, but it will be pretty obvious to everyone that the unveiling is beginning,” Thompson grins.

What about entertainment at the party?

“I can’t tell you who will be appearing and I can’t tell you what they will be performing during the festival, but I can tell you that we will have some of the state’s finest operatic voices showcasing their talents at the launch party.”

And it’s quite likely one of the festival performers will be greeting patrons via video and playing a selection or two.

Launch party attendees will also be able to take advantage of a few ticketbuying perks. As in previous years, season tickets will be deeply discounted. Unlike in years past, patrons will also be able to choose their seats. And for the first time, tickets to the popular Woolaroc Outdoor Concert will be included in the season ticket package.

This year, three levels of tickets will be available and the ticket prices will include all applicable taxes and fees.

This year marks the 31st season of OK Mozart. The festival will be held June 6 through 13.

“This is a thrilling time for us,” says Thompson. “The launch party officially kicks off OK Mozart and it means that we are in full swing for another season.”

OKM Launch Party tickets are only $15 and are available by calling the OKM offices at 918-336-9900, visiting the offices in the Aurora Building at 415 S. Dewey Ave, Suite A or by logging on to the website at www.okmozart.com. Tickets are limited to the first 300 patrons.

JANUARY 2015 | Bartlesville Monthly

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last call

Polar Plunge 2015 Dive into a good cause

It is time for a gathering unlike any found in Bartlesville at any other time of the year.

They come to downtown Bartlesville in groups dressed in all manner of clothing.

There are ball gowns and tiaras, t-shirts and tutus, brightly-colored Hawaiian shorts and Speedos. Sometimes there are super heroes and Mariachi singers mingling in the crowd.

These are the hearty souls of winter who not only brave the initial cold of January, but take a dive into pools of water to prove their devotion to a cause. This is Polar Plunge.

The annual fundraiser for Special Olympics is scheduled at 11 a.m. Jan. 31 in downtown Bartlesville in front of Painted Horse Bar and Grille, 110 S.W. Frank Phillips Blvd. Registration starts at 10 a.m. and plungers and their supporters will have ample opportunity to purchase hot beverages and food at Painted Horse and neighboring Indian Coffee Company to help them keep warm during the big event.

Supporters of Polar Plunge and Special Olympics are very enthusiastic about this 26

Bartlesville Monthly | JANUARY 2015

unique fundraiser, which always draws a fun and interesting crowd.

“Sign up for the 2015 Polar Plunge – it’s the coolest thing you will do all year,” enthuses Jennifer Lightle, Special Olympics Oklahoma development director. “It’s only $75 to register and all of the money stays right here in Oklahoma to support programs for the 9800 Special Olympic Oklahoma athletes.”

To register as an individual or a team for Polar Plunge, visit www.sook.org where there are forms, details and tips for success aplenty. Find out about incentives for raising as much money as possible for Special Olympics. Prizes include t-shirts, beach towels, hoodies, jackets and more.

This is the 14th year in Oklahoma for the Polar Plunge fundraiser, which is held in communities across the state during January and February. Thousands of dollars are raised each year as participants make an ice cold splash for charity.

Bartlesville organizers have a set a goal to raise $50,000 at this year’s event.

Different communities around the

state have their own twist to the annual Polar Plunge. In Bartlesville and Norman, the jump takes place in tanks of water set up downtown where participants can socialize in the streets or head indoors when they are off duty to grab a coffee or hot cocoa.

In Stillwater and Wewoka, the plunge takes place in community lakes, while Durant and McAlester have the big event scheduled at local swimming pools.

Poteau and Lawton hold the Polar Plunge at country clubs, while Tahlequah holds its community event at a resort. Enid is holding the Polar Plunge at its Splash Zone water park and including a 5K run or fun walk in the fundraising plan as well.

Oklahoma City holds its event at White Water Bay, while Tulsa holds Polar Plunge at Big Splash Water Park.

All of the events have one thing in common – freezin’ for a reason. Head to the Special Olympics website to donate to the cause and plan on heading to downtown Bartlesville at the end of the month to catch all of the fun.

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