January/February 2011 by Claremore Progress

Surrey Taking You Places Today!

It It Begins Begins With With

YOU Giving Back And Changing the World Making a Difference in Rogers County and Beyond

Winter 2010 Vol. 2 No. 8 â&#x20AC;˘ A Claremore Daily Progress Publication

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Surrey

Taking You Places Today!

Vol. 2 No. 8 n LATE WINTER 2011

Making A Difference Organizations

6 7 8 10 12 15 22

Oklahomans Against Trafficking of Humans Rogers County Youth Services Safenet Services Owasso Community Resources William W. Barnes Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Advocacy Center Good Samaritan Ministry Pregnancy Resource Center

Individuals

13 25

Mickey Perry Lindel Stephens

12 Late Winter 2011 Surrey 3

Changing the world begins with You

ever doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has,” Margaret Mead said. It’s true that only by the devotion of individuals to making a difference do things change. In Rogers County examples of that commitment and devotion can easily be found. The difference groups and individuals are making for the good began with dissatisfaction of a series of events or the continual need of the community. What is important to remember is change begins with you. It is not something that is manufactured and packaged. It begins when one person sees a need and finds a solution. If they cannot accomplish the solution on their own, they reach out to their neighbors, coworkers, family and friends to join them in their cause. It is the way all movements of change have started. RANDY COWLING For the change to be sustained those same people have to continually work at sharing their stories of need and solutions, so others can be informed about the needs in the community. In this issue of Surrey we bring you an overview of several organizations and individuals who are making a difference in Rogers County. Each of these organizations began when one person saw the need and tackled the problem the best they knew how. Two individuals who have and are giving back to the community through their service are Mickey Perry and Lindel Stephens. Each have invested their lives in making Rogers County a better place to live, work and raise a family. There are many in our community who get up everyday with an attitude of helping others. These organizations and individuals are models of making a difference. Changing the world comes about through tiny, consistent steps taken by each of use. Changing the world begins with you. Let’s all follow the examples of these servants in our community.

Surrey Taking you places today! PUBLISHER Bailey Dabney EDITOR/DESIGN Randy Cowling CONTRIBUTORS Joy Hampton Rebecca Hattaway Tom Fink Zack Stoycoff Dorothy Willman ADVERTISING Misti Grannemann Kim McCool Duffy Hoagland Melissa Ring Cinda Vaughan LATE WINTER 2011 Surrey©2011 All rights reserved. Published Bi-monthly by The Daily Progress SEND COMMENTS TO: The SURREY @ The Daily Progress 315 W. Will Rogers Boulevard Claremore, OK 74017 P.O. Box 248 Claremore, OK 74018 E-mail — rcowling@claremoreprogress.com ADVERTISING INFORMATION: 918-341-1101 addir@claremoreprogress.com All copy and advertising in the Surrey are copyrighted and cannot be reproduced. Some photos used by permission of source.

4 Late Winter 2011 Surrey

CLAREMORE | BARTLESVILLE | PRYOR

www.rsu.edu | (918) 343-7777

RSU

“I was looking for a university where I would be more than a face in the crowd. At Rogers State University, I’m a member of the Honors Program and the varsity cheerleading squad, all while pursuing my degree in medical/molecular biology. I don’t know for sure where I’ll be ten years from now but I do know I’ll be working in the medical field and my education will have prepared me to be successful. RSU has given me so many opportunities that I would not have gotten at other schools. For that, I’ll always be grateful.”

KYLIE DENT

Pryor, OK | Medical/Molecular Biology | Cheerleader | Honors Student

OATH Mark Elam is the executive director of Oklahomans Against Trafficking of Humans .

Oklahomans Against Trafficking of Humans (OATH)

klahomans Against Trafficking of Humans (OATH) was organized in 2008 by a small group of concerned citizens that had become aware of trafficking problems in the state. e initial mission has been to bring awareness about human trafficking and the activity of traffickers operating in Oklahoma and to create a victim centered approach to advocacy. Victims of human trafficking are people forced or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. Labor trafficking in the US involves foreign nationals caught up in a variety of situations that encompass individuals in domestic service and farming, to larger scale operations such as sweatshops, construction, landscaping, restaurants and hotels, as well as major multinational corporations. Sex trafficking is the most profitable regarding the illegal trade in people, and involves

6 Late Winter 2011 Surrey

all forms of sexual exploitation including prostitution, pornography, striping, escort, bride trafficking and the commercial sexual abuse of children. Executive director of OATH is Mark Elam. In Febuary of 2009 Elam was invited by representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, US Department of State, US Attorney General’s Office, and Oklahoma City Police Department to become the statewide agency promoting awareness and education about human trafficking in Oklahoma. Additionally, Elam was asked to organize and moderate the FBI working task force on human trafficking and network agencies and service providers to join in the effort to identify victims of human trafficking and provide them the services needed. CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

Rogers County Youth Services

ogers County Youth Services provides a variety of opportunities and services for youth who are struggling or at-risk. Many of those programs are proactive and geared toward prevention and early intervention. One of these programs is the RCYS Family Academy. Family Academy is the First Offender program serving Rogers County juveniles before they get into the court system. Some of these kids have committed a first offense, others may simply have exhibited behaviors that indicate they are at-risk for becoming a future offender. “Over 90 percent of the kids who complete the program do not commit further offenses,” said RCYS Executive Director Herb McSpadden. e Emergency Youth Shelter provides a safe haven for youth in crisis, some waiting for a foster home, others who are chronic runaways who need a time out. Since 1976, Rogers County Youth Services has been helping young people to build a brighter future through its numerous services and programs. McSpadden said RCYS counseling services are made available to young people when referrals are made from concerned school councilors, teachers, parents, or principals about young people in crisis or at risk. Counseling services provided can be done individually or in groups, as well as family counseling. Topics covered during counseling sessions can range from Anger management, to life skills, as well as dealing with divorce, bullying, self-esteem issues, dropout prevention, peer pressure, and more. “We also involve the children’s parents in our ‘Love and Logic’ parenting classes, which helps equip the parents with an understanding of how to guide their children to make good decisions through compassionate and sensible means.” “Love and Logic” is a philosophy of raising and teaching children which allows adults to be happier, empowered, and more skilled in the interactions with children and mail to: Rogers County Youth Services, 2680 North Hwy 88, Claremore, OK 74017 or call (918) 341-7580. All donations are tax deductible. Late Winter 2011

Surrey

Safenet Services

ounded in 1989, Safenet Services served over 7,759 women, children and men last year in its various programs. In addition to shelter services, Safenet oﬀers counseling, advocacy, a protective order oﬃce, and a 52-week batterer’s intervention program. Other services include assistance and

8 Late Winter 2010 Surrey

referrals for safety planning, legal, employment, life skills assessment and training, housing, transportation, parenting skills and childcare. Last year, Safenet responded to over 5,400 crisis calls, which is up 30 percent from the previous year. e agency also oversees a family visitation and exchange program for fami-

lies with legal custody arrangements, such as mandated supervised visits. e agency’s Second Impressions Resale Boutique and Outlet in both Claremore and Pryor assists clients and others in need with clothing, household items, and furniture, as well as providing program ﬁnancial support. e proposed Donald W. Reynolds

Family Safety Center will double the beds for shelter clients. With the addition of two visitation rooms, additional counseling and training space, and a new secure outdoor supervised play space, program services will increase to meet the growing need. Updated technology will enhance safety for clients and staff and for the first time Safenet will be able to offer parent-child interactive therapy. e shelter will be fenced and have playground and walking areas with gardens to help families connect and heal in a safe living environment. While the capital grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation will construct the new facility, Safenet must now raise 20 percent of the grant amount for programs and will also raise additional funds to support future sustainability. To date, Safenet has raised over $425,000 toward its “Have a Heart….for ose at Have Broken Ones” Campaign. To contribute to Safenet’s campaign, contact Susan Wolfenbarger, assistant director, at 341-1424 or susan@safenetservices.org.

Southern Nazarene University

Late Winter 2011 Surrey 9

Owasso Community Resources

wasso Community Resources provides emergency food assistance to the Owasso/Collinsville area. Once every 90 days a qualifying family can receive enough for four days of meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner, said Executive Director Nadia Guevara. Utility assistance is also available once a year for each of the utilities. A family must bring in the cut-off notice and be within five days of losing service. “We’re an emergency service,” said Guevara Helping a family prevent a utility being cut off also means that the family won’t incur the additional charges associated with cut off. Other projects include a anksgiving meal. is year 210 families received a basket with a anksgiving turkey. If the person was unable to cook, a hot meal was delivered in

10 Late Winter 2010 Surrey

partnership with Trail’s End Barbecue and Grill. Another project provides back to school supplies. is year 557 children received supplies through that program. “We have about three diﬀerent annual projects,” said Guevara. Owasso Community Resources is a Tulsa Area United Way agency and receives funding from an annual beneﬁt dinner in the spring as well as through the generous donations of churches, groups, individuals, area foundations and grants. Right now there is a push for donations from businesses, corporations and foundations. An anonymous donor has committed a matching grant challenge of up to $100,000. “is matching opportunity ends December 31 this year,” said Guevara. “So far we are at 68 percent or $68,000 that

will be matched. Our goal is to be able to maximize this opportunity and raise the $100,000.â&#x20AC;? For information on how to help OCR reach their Dec. 31, 2010 deadline, call 918 272-4969 or donate through the website http://www.owassohelps.org.

Late Winter 2011 Surrey 11

William W. Barnes Children’s Advocacy Center

he William W. Barnes Children’s Advocacy Center was established in response to a state law requiring each district attorney to establish a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to respond to cases of sexual abuse, physical abuse or severe neglect of children. MDT representatives include personnel from the District Attorney’s oﬃce, law enforcement, the Center, and Child Welfare (DHS) along with medical and mental health professionals. One goal of this team approach is to investigate each case with a minimum number of interviews of a child — preferably just one. is followed a national trend of having a one-stop facility for child abuse intervention. In addition, the Center provides medical examinations, mental health treatment, and victim and non-oﬀending parent advocacy for suspected victims of abuse and neglect. All services are free of charge. In May 2000, members of the MDT formed a task

Bobbie Cary (from back), resource development director; Holly Webb, executive director; and Kelly Oxford, family 12 Late Winter 2011 Surrey advocate, sort snacks.

force to develop a children’s advocacy center in the Claremore area. e Center was dedicated in November 2000 and named in honor of Dr. William Barnes, a local pediatrician, because of his dedication and service to child abuse victims. Dr. Barnes’ enthusiasm for model trains is the reason a train is part of the agency’s logo and decor. “Our child-friendly facility helps put them at ease and makes them feel safe,” said Holly Webb, executive director. “We want to make the whole process less traumatic for the children and their families.” In 2002 it became a 501(c)3 corporation and staff conducted the first forensic interviews. In the first year, 98 children and 79 families received services at the Center. Today, more than 1,200 children and 830 families in Rogers, Mayes and Craig counties have benefited from one or more of the services. For more information, visit www.cacclaremore.org.

Each child who comes to the William W. Barnes Children’s Advocacy Center receives a stuffed bear.

Mickey Perry A life of service By DOROTHY WILLMAN

iming is everything,” said Mickey Perry. Retiring as Claremore’s Police Chief after a 41-year career in law enforcement, Perry had often been told that “you just know when it’s time to retire.” He didn’t quite believe it until a few months ago, when he started thinking that “the police department is in good shape, and would be in good hands with Stan.” (Stan Brown served as Perry’s assistant, and was recommended and approved to succeed him as chief.) Perry also remembers the timing that led him into law enforcement. He was 21 years old, and his previous work experience had included working alongside longtime friend Cliﬀ Braughton at Howard Johnson’s and Phillips 66 out on the turnpike, and then in a Tulsa machine shop. He and a buddy were driving through town when a police car passed them – ﬂashing lights and going fast. Right then, he thought police work “might be interesting.” Perry went and talked to Buck Johnson, then serving as Claremore’s police Police Chief Mickey Perry seldom wore a gun, but usually had a chief. CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

weapon nearby. The 38 caliber snub-nose pistol is similar to the one he wore while working undercover narcotics.

Late Winter 2011 Surrey 13

!DUL T -EMBERSHI PS

MONTHLY 3ENI OR -EMBERSHI PS 3TART AT MONTHL Y

Volunteer Steve Turney counsels a client. Each person who comes to Good Samaritan Ministry has the opportunity to pray with someone.

Good Samaritan Ministry

he Good Samaritan Ministry has been meeting the physical and spiritual needs of Claremore area residents for nearly 13 years. Established by Faith Baptist Church, today several additional churches are involved, providing funds and volunteers. “at way when somebody comes to them for help, (the churches) can refer them to us and we have the resources to meet those needs,” said Tina Shomaker, who has been involved with Good Samaritan Ministry since it began. Of the many services it provides, food is the main one. “Every other month people can come for groceries,” Shomaker said. “We receive our supply from food pantries and also rely heavily on churches for donations.” Canned food drives held throughout the year — including the US Postal Service’s annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive and the Canned Heat Motorcycle Ride and Food Drive — help keep Good Samaritan’s shelves stocked.

In addition, the ministry offers limited financial help, including paying a portion of a utility bill with a past due notice, and prescription help for non-narcotic medication. Good Samaritan also provides gasoline with verification of a job interview or doctor’s appointment. Clothing is another facet of the ministry. All types of clothing and coats are available and they also sell to the public by donation. “We put those donations back into our financial services so we are able to help even more people,” Shomaker said. People who walk through the doors at Good Samaritan Ministry are welcomed by friendly, caring volunteers ready to make them feel comfortable, meet their needs and share the love of Jesus. “We sit down with every person who comes in and share the Gospel and ask if they have any prayer needs,” Shomaker CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Late Winter 2011 Surrey 15

Mickey Perry “ere happened to be an opening, and I applied. Buck hired me,” recalls Perry. “Timing is everything.” It was July 1, 1969. At that time, there wasn’t much formal training for newly hired policemen. e newly hired patrolman learned by riding around with veterans like Virgil Still and Paul Hamil-

ton. Perry remembers being assigned to take over Still’s favorite shift, 3 to 11 a.m., while Still was away, and he proudly drove the streets to protect Claremore citizens. Worried about dealing with a trafﬁc accident, he reminded the chief that he had no training in working an accident.

“Buck told me if there was an accident to just call him and he’d come help me.” at ﬁrst accident occurred at 8 a.m. in downtown Claremore, and as instructed, Perry called the station and his chief came and helped him work the accident. He knows it was a good thing that wreck didn’t occur at 3 or 4 a.m. “Timing is everything.” As a rookie patrolman, he learned that a Claremore policeman’s duties were varied. He was dispatched to the old Franklin Hospital to meet George Raper. at’s where he learned that his duties included helping move bodies when such assistance was needed. e funeral direcCONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Reasors

16 Late Winter 2011 Surrey

Good Samaritan said. “We’ve seen lots of people accept Christ (in 2010).” Good Samaritan Ministry helps an average of 150 families — about 450 people — each month. “irty-three percent of them are brand new — people we’ve never helped before — and I think that number is increasing really rapidly,” said former director Sandy Mathis. “It’s no longer just those who we would consider ‘poor’ or ‘low income,’ but people who have lost jobs or had an illness that has unexpect-

edly devastated their income.” About 20 volunteers — many senior adults — serve in a variety of capacities, washing and sorting clothes, working in the kitchen, answering questions at the front desk, handling paperwork, counseling clients and countless other tasks that account for approximately 350 total hours of service each month. Good Samaritan Ministry is open Tuesdays and ursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call 341-0581.

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Tina Shomaker and Sandy Mathis arrange coats and other clothing items that are available at Good Samaritan Ministry.

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Volunteer Betty Beaver loads sacks of groceries to be distributed to clients. Canned food drives throughout the year help keep the shelves stocked.

Mickey Perry tor needed help carrying the body of a deceased elderly man down the stairs. It also happened to be Perry’s first look at a corpse outside the setting of a family funeral. Perry remained with the Claremore Police Department 10 years, working his way from uniformed patrol to detective and then captain before departing in 1979. His friend Warren Henderson was then director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics for the area. e Perrys (Mickey and his wife Kathy) talked it over, and when he went to discuss the possibility, he told the director that he was interested in the work but he could not leave Claremore. Henderson said he could live in Claremore and work out of the Tulsa office, and the change was made 10 years to the day from when he began working in law enforcement. Mickey Perry never left Claremore, but he “spent a lot of time on the road.” First drawn to the investigative side of the narcotics bureau, but was soon working undercover, and he loved it. He said he had partners that loved it as much as he did. “It was an exciting part of police work.” “It was also rewarding. If you can take people that deal drugs off the street – you get satisfaction.” He still remembers some of those exciting times. He and his partner met with three “bad guys” at a clandestine meth lab out in the country. Perry was wearing a wire and had his gun tucked in his waistband. It was hot, and as he started sweating, his gun started sliding. Fearing it was going to hit the floor, he stood very still and tried to control the pistol’s downward motion. It slid down to rest on his toes, undetected by the others. He suggested they “move on inside” and Perry managed to be the last person to enter the building, providing time to retrieve his gun. He said he didn’t know what would have happened if that gun had fallen on

the ﬂoor in full view. “But it wouldn’t have been good.” Another memory involves meeting next to a convenience store in Tulsa. His informant was with him and the drug dealers were intent on beating the man. Perry was trying to talk them out of the beating, seeking a way to get his hands on the weapon tucked in his boot, and

wondering if he should signal his surveillance team “to move in”. Just then a Tulsa patrol car pulled into the convenience store parking lot, giving Perry and his informant the opportunity to get away. “Timing is everything.” at encounter taught him to “carry CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

Late Winter 2011 Surrey 19

O. A. T. H.

n February 2010 Elam was invited with selected other national human trafficking experts to participate in the Bureau of Justice Affairs and the Upper Midwest Community Policing Institute “Focus Group” to review the previous 10 years of U.S. effort in ending human trafficking and to provide a new model for the Department of Justice and HHS Department to Combat Trafficking in Persons. In April 2010 OATH partnered with Oklahoma Regional Community Policing Institute in conjunction with a grant

Human Trafficking defined as: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

20 Late Winter 2011 Surrey

through the District Attorney’s Council to conduct eight-hour CLEET certified law enforcement trainings on human trafficking in every county throughout the state. To date, over 500 officers have attended this training. OATH Coalition formed the Tulsa Human Trafficking Task Force in July 2010 with over 40 federal, state and local agencies to expose and fight human trafficking in the northeast sector of the state. For more information, visit http://oathcoalition.org.

Mickey Perry his gun high” so he could reach it. He came back to Claremore to fill the post vacated when Chief Tubby Williams died. e stipulation was that at the end of that term he had to run for re-election. He was re-elected, without opposition, to a four year term. en a new city government formation meant he was appointed to the post. Mickey Perry has served under eight mayors and every city manager employed in Claremore. After becoming police chief, he remained qualified on the firing range, but seldom wore a gun. Perry has “never been a gun nut.” He sees guns as “a necessary evil.” “A gun is a necessary piece of equipment in this line of work,” he said. “I didn’t think I needed to walk around with an exposed gun,” he said, adding that he usually had a weapon nearby in case he needed it. In 41 years of law enforcement, he’s drawn his gun many times, but only had to fire it once. It was a shoot or be shot situation, but even so, he’s glad it wasn’t a fatal shot. He said he was fortunate that his 41 year career was divided into segments – as a uniformed cop and investigator, then in narcotics and finally in administration – meant he never, ever got bored. “Good people have made this job worthwhile,” he said. One of the challenges of being in law enforcement, is “remembering that even good people made mistakes. at doesn’t make them bad.” “ere are a lot more good people than bad ones” and he thinks that is especially true in Claremore. His retirement plans will not include leaving his much loved community. He already knows he’s going to keep working on the Share the Spirit drive to provide holiday food baskets to needy families. He will be searching out other projects, committees and volunteer slots that fit his need to serve, but that search is scheduled to begin after he and Kathy take “two weeks off”. “Timing is everything.” Late Winter 2011 Surrey 21

¹ <Z i V c V e e Z i ^ o ^ c \ c Z l X V g Z Z g º

Pregnancy Resource Center

t the Pregnancy Resource Center of Owasso parents find help when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. In the very near future, PRC is adding a medical clinic with ultrasound to the resources already provided to clients. “We will use ultrasound technology to confirm the presence of a viable intrauterine pregnancy,” said Executive Director Lindsay Bippus. PRC is a non-pressure center for support and referral. “Our purpose is to help with families that are experiencing unplanned pregnancy or just uncertain times in general,” said Bippus. In addition to parents experiencing unplanned pregnancies, the Center provides emergency assistance through clothing or other resources in the case of fire, change of income or other life challenging circumstances a family may encounter. One of the programs Bippus is most proud of is the “Earn While You Learn” program of classes for expectant and new parents. “Clients are paired with a volunteer mentor and they do lessons on prenatal care, baby care, parenting, and money management,” said Bippus. “ose are just a few, we have a lot of classes.” When the mothers do lessons, they earn “Mommy Money” which can

( % & H # H ] Z g ^ Y V c 22 Late Winter 2011 Surrey

CONTINUED ON PAGE 26

Lindsay Bippus, Executive Director of Pregnancy Resource Center of Owasso.

Late Winter 2011 Surrey 23

24 Late Winter 2011 Surrey

Lindel Stephens Generosity lifts spirits By TOM FINK

hile Santa Claus may visit good boys and girls once a year, there’s another jolly old elf whose generosity lifts spirits around the year — Lindel Stephens. As store manager for Wal-Mart Super Center in Claremore, Stephens makes a difference by giving back to the community through Wal-Mart’s contributions to community charities. “Wal-Mart routinely makes various contributions to charities and non-profit groups,” he said. “ere is (charitable) giving on the national level, of course — Wal-Mart donates to several organizations nationally, but the company also makes funding available to the local stores, to allow them to give back to the community. is is doing through grants and in-store donations of either money and/or merchandise.” While Wal-Mart’s donations are generally determined on a “case by case” basis, Stephens estimated direct store donations to average between $4,000 and $8,000 monthly. Among those who have benefited within the last year from the company’s generosity have been the Boy Scouts, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Safenet Services, Rogers County

Youth Services, Meals on Wheels, First United Methodist Church’s school supply drive, Claremore Chamber of Commerce, and the Sequoyah School Foundation, to name a few. “Donation (request) forms are reviewed weekly and we evaluate them and try to dispense the funds where we think they would do the most good in the community,” Stephens said. “While the company makes contributions to national charities, it also allows the local stores to determine who within the individual communities would most benefit from donations.” Although Stephens described himself as a mere conduit for Wal-Mart’s generosity, he did admit to feeling good that he was helping to “make a difference” through his involvement in Wal-Mart’s charitable work. “Obviously, we want to be good stewards of what we’ve got, and getting money and resources into the hands of people in the community who are deserving and most benefit from it is just one example of how Wal-Mart appreciates those within the communities it serves,” he said. In addition to Wal-Mart’s charitable donations, a newer company initiative has been introduced to address hunger in the United States.

Late Winter 2011 Surrey 25

Lindel Stephens “rough Wal-Mart’s sustainability efforts, the company has begun to give food to where it can beneﬁt those in need,” he said. “For example, here in our store, we donate food every month to the Northeast Oklahoma Food Bank in Tulsa — thousands of pounds ever month — things which would be perfectly good, but which we wouldn’t sell in our stores,

items such as dented cans, day-old bread, etc. which are still good food items, but which can be used to beneﬁt the hungry through local food pantries and food banks.” So, while Christmas may be over, the giving — and the generosity — continues throughout the year from Wal-Mart, both nationally and locally, making a diﬀer-

Largest Stove Dealer in Northeast Oklahoma

ence in the lives it touches. “Wal-Mart understands the greatest impact on our communities are made by supporting causes important to customers right in their own neighborhoods,” Stephen said. “We’re proud to be a ‘store of the community’ for Claremore and Rogers County, just like each WalMart is a store for the individual communities that they serve.”

Lindel Stephens, right, is active in a variety of community organizations including the Claremore Chamber of Commerce.

Pregnancy Resource Center be spent at the Baby Boutique located in the center. at boutique has everything from formula and diapers to fancy dresses with ruﬄes for babies through toddlers. Shopping at the baby boutique allows parents to aﬀord essential items. A “Young Parents Discovery” support group allows parents to meet and potentially bond with others in similar life situations. When teens become parents, priorities change and often former friends without children fall away. Building new relationships can help ease the transition. Clients come from Owasso, Claremore, Collinsville, Skiatook, Sperry, Oologah and Inola. For more information or to donate see www.owassopartners.org or call (918) 272-6888.

26 Late Winter 2011 Surrey

Things to Do

Rave On Buddy Holly America has dozens of names that have come to represent the faces of music. From Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash, there have been those that have come to define a generation through their music. One such man was Buddy Holly, a revolutionary of sound whose life tragically ended on the day of February 3, 1959. But though his death silenced the man, it has not silenced his voice. His music has sung out through the decades with such hits as “Peggy Sue,” “Every Day,” and “Love’s Made a Fool of You.” And now, today’s generation has a chance to come as close to hearing the voice of Buddy Holly live, as they ever have with acclaimed artist Billy McGuigan’s resounding tribute to the man whose voice defined an age -- “Rave On!” “Rave On!” captures the spirit of a bygone era as McGuigan expertly portrays the original Buddy Holly in every detail. And now, in a special encore presentation, Billy McGuigan will be returning to Claremore, Oklahoma with his popular performance. “Rave On!” has been “raved” about by audiences and critics alike. Ruby Quinn, Executive Director of the Robson Performing Center states, “It is sometimes difficult to find a show that the young and young at heart are both interested in attending, and I was delighted to see all generations enjoying this show so thoroughly.” But this will not simply be a repeat performance of his last stop at the Robson Performing Arts Center. Quinn states, “Billy will be doing different songs and incorporating the band more,” she says. “…he changes the show up a bit each year because he has a large following of repeat audiences.” McGuigan has built such audiences by his sincere and realistic portrayal of Holly. McGuigan has performed the role of Buddy hundreds of times, breaking box

oﬃce records and attendance records in several locations across the country. In fact, writers and producers have dubbed Billy as the “Preferred Buddy Holly” in the United States. “Rave On!” will perform Saturday,

February 12th at 7 pm and Sunday, February 13th at 2 pm. Tickets range from $20 to $40. For tickets or more information, call 918-699-7390 or purchase online at www.MyTicketOﬃce.com.

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Don’t Miss Our WINTER HALFǦPRICE SALE One Day ONLY!!! Saturday, February 12, 2011 ALL STORE LOCATIONS Stores Open Early 8:00 am—6:30 pm

All Clothing, Shoes & Purses 50% OFF (includes Children’s Clothing & Shoes)

Bring in this AD for a Special Discount in January & February

Buy ONE CLOTHING ITEM (at regular price) & get a 2nd Clothing Item (of equal or lesser value) for

50% OFF* Not valid with any other Sale, Special or Discount. Present coupon at time of purchase. Limit one coupon per customer. Valid thru 2/28/11

Coupon good at Owasso & Clare more Store s ONLY. Stores: Owasso—8525 N. 117th East Ave. Claremore—1204 N. Lynn Riggs

Hours: M—S 9 am—6:30 pm • Sun Noon—6 :00 pm Gooodwill accepts: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Checks & Cash

Go to www.goodwilltulsa.org for other locations in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Bartlesville, McAlester & Joplin.

Late Winter 2011 Surrey 27