January 25, 2018

January 25, 2018 Vol. 18, No.35

In This Issue BELLY DANCER

Belly Dancer, in real life is located in front of On Cue at 33rd and Kelly but is hidden somewhere in our paper this week. Email contest@ edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information see page 4.

Special Section: Focus on Education 2018

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26 Partly cloudy/Wind High 62° Low 37°

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 Partly cloudy High 55° Low 30°

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28 Sunny High 52° Low 33°

PHOTO BY MELINDA INFANTE

From left: Julia (Ray’s friend), Raymond Lueb, Jody Lueb, daughter-in-law and Rick Lueb, his son.

Inset: Ray Lueb as a young man.

An Edmond man continues to be recognized for his combat service as a Marine during the Second World War at the island of Iwo Jima.

Although his service was decades ago, an Edmond fraternal organization, the Elks Lodge, honored him just last weekend.

Ray Lueb, a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps. at the time, spent 32 days on the island and survived without a scratch. There he was part of the second assault wave and dodged Japanese machine gun fire. All of that took place almost 73 years ago in early 1945.

He witnessed the second raising of the American flag on the island, which became an iconic image taken by photographer Joe Rosenthal on Feb. 23, 1945.

The event drew cheering at the time from Marines all across the island. The flag was raised atop Mount Suribachi and became one of the popular images of the war. Later it was immortalized in a sculpture of the Marine Corps War Memorial, near Arlington National Cemetery.

The battle ended up claiming almost 7,000 American lives.

Last Friday, the Edmond Elks Lodge lauded Lueb for his heroic service, presenting him with a

plaque during a ceremony held at the lodge.

“I have never felt so honored in my life,” he said after Elk Lodge members honored him with the recognition.

The Marine Corps. also awarded Lueb a letter of commendation for putting out a fire in his mortar pit, which saved many American lives. He served as a Marine from January 1944 to May 1946. He was also stationed in Japan for six months serving as military policeman.

He has lived in Edmond for decades.

-STEVE GUST

Page 2 • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 3

Edmond School Board seat on Feb. 13 ballot

Incumbent continues race without challenger

By Steve Gust A challenger has decided to withdraw his candidacy to unseat longtime Edmond School Board incumbent Jamie Underwood.

Dave Evans, a father of two children in the district, said he recently added clients as a business consultant and his work deUnderwood manded more of his time "If I was on the board, I would have to be all in and I decided I just don't have the time now to do that," he said.

In December, Evans filed at the Oklahoma County Election Board to challenge Underwood for the five-year term. The incumbent has been on the board for almost 17 years.

Last week, Evans confirmed he was not actively campaigning for the Feb. 13 election. He planned to visit the Oklahoma County Election Board to have his name removed from the ballot.

Doug Sanderson, Oklahoma County Election Board secretary, said the deadline to do that was

in December and Evans's name would remain on the ballot. He was unclear how much the election would cost and if any of the district's precincts had any other issue to decide.

Underwood said there are nine and a half precincts involved with the District No. 3 Edmond Board of Education seat. District No. 3 is generally the central portion of Edmond bounded by 15th Street on the south, Kelly on the west, Sooner Road on the east, and split between Covell and Danforth on the north.

Evans said it was late last week when he finally decided business priorities would make it impossible for him to serve.

"In a way, it's (increased business) good news," he said. "I do remain vested in Edmond Schools. I wanted to run so all children in the district received the best education possible."

With Evans's name still on the ballot, Underwood plans to keep campaigning.

"I continue to remain committed to my campaign and serving on the board," she said.

Underwood was first appointed to serve April 2,

PHOTO PROVIDED

Recently Edmond high school band students toured England during the holidays. See article, Page 22.

2001, when former member Kathy Panas moved out of the district. Underwood, a mother of four, then won an outright election to the seat on Feb. 2, 2003.

She was re-elected to five-year terms in both February 2008 and February 2013.

Sanderson said although Evans has withdrawn, it doesn't affect his office's work.

"We will certify the candidate with the most votes," he said.

Underwood said a highlight of her work on the board in recent years was the search for a new superintendent to replace David Goin who retired after the 2014-15 school year. The board eventually hired then-associate superintendent Bret Towne.

Underwood has a double major in accounting and marketing and at one time worked at an energy company. Her interest in her children's education eventually drew her into being on the school board.

"I was also interested because both of my parents had been teachers," she said.

Page 4 • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Conference Center was star of the show Last Friday morning, around 100 members of the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce gathered for a pre-legislative breakfast to hear what our area legislatures had to say about the never Ray Hibbard ending special session and the upcoming regular legislative sessions. Used to being the stars of the show, Edmond’s State Capitol delegation was mostly upstaged by the new Hilton Garden Inn & Edmond Conference Center where the event was held.

While ground breaking was held back in 2016, the attached Hilton Garden Inn & Edmond Conference Center are now up and running for business. Last week, I had four meetings at the new Edmond facility that is located on the northwest corner of I-35 and Covell. The City of Edmond is a partner with a private developer for the construction of a 158-room Hilton Garden Inn hotel and conference center.

The City of Edmond invested in land, construction of the conference center, water, sewer, electric and road improvements. This public/private partnership will enable several hundred acres of commercial development to take place around this project as well as on the southwest and northeast corner of this intersection. Already near completion is a new Braums Ice Cream and Dairy store on that southwest corner with a Starbucks under construction as well as a small retail center. A ground breaking was held for a new movie theater and entertainment center to be located on the same corner as the conference center.

Whether you are in favor of taxpayer money being used as incentives for such projects or not, there is no debate about the first-class quality of what Edmond got for its dollar. I had toured the conference center in different phases of construction, but this was the first time I had been through the finished building with the hotel up and running. It is impressive folks and the hotel is nice as well. Our conference center will be a hot spot for many meetings and events in our state.

This facility is a dream come true for Edmond Convention and Visitors Bureau director Cathy WilliamsWhite. She has been waiting 15 years for a conference center in Edmond.

"I'm just thrilled and excited,” she said. Williams-White and her staff

Conference center have moved into the $37 million Hilton Garden Inn and conference center. We couldn’t have a better staff in place at the ECVB to help fill this new event center.

They work hand in hand with the management in place at the conference center and hotel. Even though the Edmond hotel and motel tax for this property will be rebated back to the operator over the next 10 years, the expectation is that having such events in your town generates a good return off tax dollar increases from purchases folks coming to town make. It is the best kind of tax dollar a community can receive. Folks come to town, buy stuff, pay sales tax and then leave avoiding the need to add any more services. Only time will tell if this is what happens, but the odds are good folks.

I can tell you the food is great. I looked around the room as folks began eating their breakfast and they all had the same happy expression on their faces. This is a big improvement from other facilities in Edmond where these types of events are held. I had forgotten what a genuine and professional chef can do for food quality at large events. Many facilities in Oklahoma City have such a chef but this will be a first for Edmond. The race will be on to move as many events in Edmond to the new conference center. Bookings are filling up quickly.

Other facilities in Edmond are going to have to step up their game or greatly reduce their pricing to compete.

The 100,000-square-foot Hilton Garden Inn and 20,000-square-foot

conference center is projected to provide a $5.7 million annual economic impact when it is completed. The center offers 20,000+ square feet of flexible meeting space, state-of-theart break-out space and the capacity to host large groups.

Hilton Garden Inn and Edmond Conference Center Amenities: n The Garden Grille & Bar® in the Hilton Garden Inn (offers a full cooked-to-order breakfast and dinner, cocktails, and evening room service) You don’t have to be a guest at the hotel to enjoy breakfast, dinner or cocktails. n The Market® (open 24 hours and features a selection of snacks, treats, beverages, and locally sourced specialty items) n 24-hour business Print Spots™ n State-of-the-art Fitness Center n Outdoor patio areas n Outdoor pool. n All 158 guest rooms boast the brand signature bedding featuring fresh, white duvets and crisp linens; a spacious and clutter-free work desk with an ergonomic chair, microwave, and an in-room mini fridge, microwave as well as a Keurig coffee maker. n Hilton Garden Inn Edmond & Edmond Conference Center participates in Hilton HHonors®. This is always a big deal for me. When we travel, Hilton Garden Inn and their honors program is the first place I try to book a room. n 42-inch HDTV with premium cable

There is also a complimentary shuttle for guests of the hotel to use. It has a five-mile radius so folks staying at the hotel will be able to get a free ride to many of our shopping areas and restaurants including those in downtown Edmond.

All rooms will have complimentary WiFi available from what I understand and of course the conference center has the fastest Internet possible. Meeting attendees will be able to jump on their devices to follow or track what a speaker is presenting.

Or, they can jump on pretending to be working and surf instead if the speaker happens to be boring. The amount of pre-function space is impressive and could hold a small trade show leaving the conference rooms free for meeting space.

Capacity for special events theatre style is 1,000 but for a banquet it reduces to 700. The conference center space is flexible and can be broken up to fit space for much smaller groups.

All that information doesn’t leave much room to tell you about what the Edmond legislative delegation had to say but honestly, it wasn’t much new and/or promising.

It is a mess at 23rd and Lincoln my friends. District No. 22 Sen. Stephanie Bice opened with comments complaining about the pay cut the legislature received. I know pay cuts can be hard but in private enterprise we get paid for performance Sen. Brice. I certainly believe there are many good people at the state capital that are trying hard, but they aren’t getting it done.

District No. 20 Sen. AJ Griffin did make an excellent point that we should keep in mind. She said that while it may look like our representatives don’t get along, 74 percent of them did agree on a plan to get the state’s budget problems in order. She said they are cordial and get along contrary to what you read in the newspapers. There was a common theme that the “media” misrepresented what was going on at the State Capitol.

I still haven’t figured out how it is the fault of those of us in the media that the state can’t get our budget problems solved in Oklahoma. What I do know is that when confronted with a challenge, blaming others doesn’t get the problem solved. It is at best a distraction from getting your job done. Rolling up the sleeves and getting to work is what does it.

If anything, the lack of transparency in our state government only contributes to the problem.

(Ray Hibbard may be reached by email at ray@edmondpaper.com)

Check out what’s inside! n n n n n n n n n

Weekend calendar of events ........................................................Page 7.

A discussion of free speech ..........................................................Page 8.

David Farris column......................................................................Page 9.

Top Sequoyah Middle School students ......................................Page 11.

Scenes from annual Home & Garden show ................................Page 13.

George Gust reviews movie about Tonya Harding ......................Page 15.

Crossword puzzle........................................................................Page 15.

Business News ............................................................................Page 21.

Worship directory ......................................................................Page 23.

Find the ‘Belly Dancer’ bear’ We are continuing the bear art for our regular weekly contest.

Belly Dancer, in real life is located in front of On Cue at 33rd and Kelly but is hidden somewhere in our paper this week. Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing.

Belly Dancer is by artist Joshua Tobey.

“We love that Edmond encourages business owners to purchase art. Beyond the aesthetic appeal of the artwork, our bear is friendly and greets our customers with a wave and a smile. Our bear has personality and has been known to dress up from time to time (we think he may be a Thunder fan). We encourage customers to take selfies with our bear and tag @oncueexpress and use the hashtag #MyOnCue.”- Laura Griffith Aufleger, VP Corporate Communications for OnCue

Publisher Ray Hibbard Jr. ray@edmondpaper.com

Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC

Partner Christopher T. Hoke

Copyright © 2018 by Edmond Media Publishing

Editor Steve Gust news@edmondpaper.com

107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax)

Production April Burgess, Enrique Ruiz III Advertising Director Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083

Contributing

All rights reserved.

Writers Dave Farris, Mallery Nagle, Kacee Van Horn, Rose Drebes, Anne Schmidt, George Gust.

Material contained herein may not

Photographer Anne Schmidt anne@edmondpaper.com

be reproduced in any form without the express written permission from Edmond Media Publishing. edmondlifeandleisure.com facebook.com/edmondlifeandleisure twitter.com/edmondlifeaneleisure

Cover Design April Burgess

instagram.com/edmondlifeandleisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 5

Involves two hotels & wellness park

Planning Commission opposes a zoning change near I-35

By Eriech Tapia NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman Residents pushed back and the Edmond Planning Commission listened, voting to give the Edmond City Council a negative opinion concerning a requested zoning change at Fox Lake Lane.

At question is the property where a proposed wellness park and two hotels would be built.

The Edmond Planning Commission voted 3-1, opposing a zoning change during a packed meeting this week.

Board member Mark Hoose voted in favor.

Board member Rob Rainey was not in attendance.

“There is more that can be done and you know that,” Planning Commission Chairman Barry Moore said.

“There is no reason for these variances.”

Several variances are a concern for neighbors and the commission, including the hotel height limit, setback for the hotels and changes in the parking lot landscape.

Neighbors were unable to discuss the project with developer Jim Tapp and his attorney, Randel Shadid, during a community connection meeting last week. Neither attended the gathering, although the purpose of the meeting, according to city offi-

cials, was for residents to meet with developers.

Shadid was unable to attend because he had to be at the Guthrie Planning Commission meeting that evening.

Tapp spoke at last week’s planning commission meeting, but at one point residents near the proposed development area began chanting, “Threat. Threat.

Threat.”

“If there was any way we can separate the emotion, that way we can address the issue here,” Tapp said.

Before last week’s meeting, two neighborhood petitions that had been circulated collected more than 200 signatures and were emailed to multiple city officials.

“The extent to which approving the rezoning shall detrimentally affect adjacent properties must also be considered,” the petition stated.

There are already multiple hotels north of the Fox Lake neighborhood on Meline Drive.

“It is an unreasonable request on the variances,” board member Bill Moyer said. The hotels will have to comply with the Interstate 35 zoning requirements.

Tapp also developed the area south of the area where Walmart and Sam's Club are located. That development also received

opposition at the time.

“I bump into these people at the shopping center all of the time,” Tapp said.

The planned hotels could be 15 feet higher than the current zoning requirement of 40 feet if the city council approves the variances.

“Another comment [by Shadid] was that we are zoning down. ...

How is that down? That is nearly 10 feet up,” neighborhood representative Matt Thomas said.

Thomas said, if needed, the development could be taken to district court.

Neighbors believe that those staying in a hotel could look down into the neighborhood pool, but it is already visible by driving down Fox Lake Lane and does not have a privacy fence around it.

For now, the two proposed hotels could include 169 rooms in total with the northern hotel being a Residence Inn by Marriott and the other one a Tru hotel by Hilton.

Both hotels would be 55,000 square feet and set back 25 feet from Fox Lake Lane. A portion of the hotel would be located in a floodplain.

There would be a minimum of 169 parking spaces for the hotels, along with a new exit onto the frontage road, which will not in-

clude a stoplight.

In parts of the floodplain, the developer would give the city land to develop a wellness park that would allow a connection to the Trails at Spring Creek.

The park would be donated to the city once the site plan is approved for the hotels, allowing them to build on the floodplain.

“We are not involved in the development of the park,” Shadid said.

While the plans could change, the developer will have to come back before the planning commission and city council for an approval of the site plan.

The zoning change proposal will go before the Edmond City Council at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 12.

If approved, Shadid said a site plan would be submitted fairly quickly and that they are ready to build if approved.

Page 6 • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Engagement, Wedding & anniversary notices Do you have a wedding, anniversary or engagement notice? If so, please contact us at Edmond Life & Leisure, either by phone, 340-3311 or e-mail, news@edmondpaper.com.

We will then send or fax you an engagement or wedding form.The cost is $35, which includes a photograph. Payment is due upon submission by noon Thursday.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Macey Mashburn, a camper at Camp ClapHans, and Devin Estrem, a counselor at the camp, pet Jessie, one of the horses featured at the camp in Norman for kids with disabilities.

For special needs children

Camp ClapHans registration starts for summer sessions Registration is under way for Camp ClapHans, a summer camp in Norman for kids with disabilities.

The camp is open to kids ages 8 to 18 and is an outreach program of the J.D. McCarty Center for children with developmental disabilities. Applications are due March 9. The cost to attend camp is $325, and scholarships are available to families who qualify.

Five camp sessions are offered this summer, and the sessions are from Sunday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon. The camp is located on the center's campus at 2002 E. Robinson St. in Norman and features two cabins and an activities building that are located next to an 11-acre lake.

Activities for campers include archery, arts and crafts, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, talent shows and swimming.

This summer’s theme is “Under the Sea,” and games, activities and crafts will be tailored to the theme.

“With all of the water activities that campers get to do, this theme is perfect for Camp ClapHans,” said Camp Director Bobbie Hunter.

Hunter said the camp offers exciting programs and the opportunity for kids to challenge themselves through new activities.

“Everyday kids are learning new

skills, making new friends and developing self-confidence,” Hunter said.

Camp ClapHans also features a 1to-1 staff to camper ratio, registered dietitians on site to address dietary needs for campers and a physician and nurses available to assist with medical needs.

Camp staff members are typically university students who are working toward a degree in allied health-care fields, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology; special and general education; outdoor recreation; nutrition and other related fields.

The camp, which opened in 2013, serves kids from across the state and can accommodate 60 campers each summer.

For more information about camp, contact Hunter at 405-307-2865 or email bhunter@jdmc.org.

Camp sessions: This year’s theme is “Under the Sea.” The camp sessions start on Sundays and end on Wednesdays. Here is the schedule for 2018:  June 10-13  June 17-20  June 24-27  July 8-11  July 15-18

Rain barrels are on sale For the third year in a row, the Central Oklahoma Storm Water Alliance (COSWA) member cities of Edmond, Yukon, Midwest City, Norman and Oklahoma City, are partnering with Upcycle Products Inc. in a regional effort to encourage Oklahoma residents to conserve water, reduce water pollution, improve air quality, and divert waste from landfills through the use of rain barrels and composters.

The partnership allows Upcycle Products to offer discounted rain barrels at $63.50 and composters at $59.50 or $109.50. To view Upcycle’s products and place an order for pick-up in Edmond, visit edmondok.com/rainbarrels. The online order deadline is 9 a.m. on Monday, March 5th. All orders may be picked up Saturday, March 10, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the City of Edmond’s Cross Timbers Complex at 2012 Old Timbers Drive.

Rain barrels are a simple, efficient, and low-cost method that reduce the amount of stormwater runoff leaving your property by collecting the water that drains from your home’s gutter

system. The stored water can be used to water your lawn and gardens, wash your car or even the dog! Using a rain barrel during the summer months may help reduce your utility bill by easing your reliance on City water.

Small-scale composting diverts food scraps and yard waste, which compose 20-30 percent of what we throw away, from landfills. The finished compost can then be applied to your lawn and gardens as a nonchemical fertilizer and will improve the soil’s structure and water retention, and grow healthier, more disease-resistant plants.

An additional benefit is that organics recycled in a backyard compost bin have a lower impact on our environment than they would if the materials were dumped in a landfill.

The methane produced by organic material breaking down in a landfill is a contributor to global climate change.

For more information about this event, contact Jordan Copeland at (405) 359-4763 or jordan.copeland@edmondok.com.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 7

Book signings scheduled at Edmond’s Best of Books

Friday, January 26 ---- Edmond Chamber 2018 Annual Awards Banquet ---- Brian Gorrell & Jazz Company ---- Jumpstart Your Marriage ---- OKC Boat Show ---- POPS3 |Cirque Music Presents Heroes & Villains

Saturday, January 27 ---- Jumpstart Your Marriage ---- OKC Boat Show ---- CECS Fair ---- 20th Annual 2-Man IronMan Golf Tournament ---- Equilibrium ---- Repticon Reptile & Exotic Animal Convention

Sunday, January 28 ---- OKC Boat Show ---- Repticon Reptile & Exotic Animal Convention ---- Oklahoma City Thunder vs Philadelphia 76ERS ---- School Open House More Information

Edmond Chamber 2018 Annual Awards Banquet Location: Edmond Conference Center located in the all-new Hilton Garden Inn Extra Information: 6:30 PM – 9 PM, Corporate Table of 8 ---- $750, Individual Ticket ---- $100, Non-Member Ticket ---- $125, The event will honor the following achievements: INTEGRIS Ambassador of the Year, Mercy’s Ambassador of the Year, RCB Bank’s Philanthropic Business of the Year, OU Medical Center Edmond’s Young Professional of the Year, Prosperity Bank’s Woman of the Year, First United Bank’s Small Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year

Brian Gorrell & Jazz Company Location: UCO Jazz Lab Extra Info: Doors open 7 PM ---Show 8 PM, $10, Instrumental Jazz---First come first serve seating

Jumpstart Your Marriage Location: Crossings Community Church Extra Info: Jumpstart is a conference for dating and married couples, various speakers, and activities to

strengthen your relationship and marriage.

OKC Boat Show Location: Bennett Event Center, Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: January 26, 11a.m. – 8 p.m. 27th, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., & 28th, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

POPS3 |Cirque Music Presents Heroes & Villains Location: OKC Philharmonic, 424 Colcord Drive, OKC Extra Info: Cirque Musica blends the grace and thrill of some of the world's greatest circus and acrobatic performers with stunning symphonic music performed by the OKC Phil.

With musical selections that celebrate the world of Heroes & Villains, you'll be absorbed in familiar themes from movies, comics and television. This evening will delight all your senses and have you on the edge of your seat.

CECS Fair Location: Prince Engineering Center, Oklahoma Christian University Extra Info: 7 AM – 5 PM 20th Annual 2-Man IronMan Golf Tournament Location: Kickingbird Golf Club Extra Info: 10 AM Tee Time, $75, 6Hole Scramble, 6-Hole Best Ball, 6Hole Modified Alternate Shot, Must have an official USGA Handicap Equilibrium Location: UCO Jazz Lab Extra Info: Doors open 7 p.m. Show 8 p.m., $10, Blues ---- First come first serve seating Repticon Reptile & Exotic Animal Convention Location: Hobbies, Arts & Crafts Building, Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., ends at 4 p.m. on Sunday Oklahoma City Thunder vs Philadelphia 76ERS Location: Chesapeake Energy Arena School Open House Location: St John the Baptist Church Call 340-0691 to know more.

City of Edmond announces changes to its office hours City of Edmond office hours will be changing beginning on Monday, January 29th. The new weekly office hours are as follows: Monday – Thursday: 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

This change will impact many city departments including: •Building & Fire Code Services •Emergency Management •Engineering •Facility Management •Financial Services •Human Resources •Information Technology •Planning •Public Safety Communications •Public Works Administration •Utility Customer Service Additionally, the following depart-

ments will extend hours on Monday through Thursday, but also stay open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday: City Clerk, City Manager, and Marketing & Public Relations.

By extending business hours on Monday through Thursday, the City of Edmond will offer improved flexibility for residents who were previously unable to visit during traditional business hours. To confirm the office hours of a particular city department before visiting, please visit http://edmondok.com.

As a reminder for those needing to pay a utility bill at a time when our Utility Customer Service offices are closed, there are several options that do not require visiting the office.

To learn more, please visit http://edmondok.com/paymentoptions.

Best of Books has announced the upcoming book signings for five nationally known authors and illustrators.

Tim Wasburn, national thriller author from Edmond, will be signing copies of his new book, The Day After Oblivion, at Best of Books on Tuesday, Jan. 30 starting at 6 p.m.

This is the third book to be released

by Wasburn. He is also the author of Powerless and Cataclysm. He is a member of the Author's Guild and the International Thriller Writers.

Robin Preiss Glasser, national illustrator of the Fancy Nancy series by Jane O'Connor, will be signing her final Fancy Nancy book, Fancy Nancy Oodles of Kittens at Best of Books on Saturday, February 3rd starting at 11 a.m. Line numbers for the event can be reserved by calling Best of Books for further details. Glasser has illustrated over 60 books in her career and won the Children's Choice Award for Best Illustrator in 2013 for Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet.

Matt de la Pena and Loren Long, both New York Times bestselling authors, will be signing copies of their book, Love, on Sunday, Feb. 4 start-

ing at 1 p.m. The event will take place at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School located at 925 S Boulevard in Edmond.

Matt de la Pena is also a Newberry Award winning author whose books include We Were Here, The Living, and Last Stop on Market Street. In addition to being a bestselling author, Loren Long is an acclaimed illustrator whose books include Otis, Otis and the Puppy, and Little Tree. He has been awarded multiple gold medal awards from the Society of Illustrators in New York.

Tammi Sauer, national picture book author from Edmond, will be signing copies of her new book, Wordy Birdy, and hosting a special story time at Best of Books on Saturday, Feb. 24 starting at 11 a.m. She is the author of 28 picture books, including Cowboy Camp, Chicken Dance, Nugget & Fang, and Princess in Training.

Chicken Dance: The Musical is on a national tour and Your Alien, an NPR Best Book, has been published in French, Italian, Korean, and Spanish.

Please call (405) 340-9202 if you would like to reserve signed copies after the events.

Page 8 • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

Rename annual protest

A Women’s March was held over the weekend in many different cities, including Oklahoma City.

I think it should more properly be called an “Hate-Trump,” rally.

Attendees said they were for justice and equal rights for women.

Steve I don’t see how that’s a conservative or liberal issue. All Americans deserve justice and equal rights.

Most of the people I know are very much in favor of treating everyone, regardless of gender, fairly and with respect. Yet if you really want to witness the lack of tolerance and treating people unfairly, read the editorial next to this one about free speech on college campuses.

Not even one year ago, two peaceful people, holding signs supporting Trump, were assaulted at OU. That’s real open-mindedness and respect for those who disagree with you, isn’t it?

Like the editorial’s author David Deming also says, I also find “hate speech,” to be an odd concept. If you disagree with something it’s automatically “hate speech?” That also is ridiculous.

Our college campuses suffer from

liberal extremism.

Perhaps most of the people in college land don’t understand the concept of “live and let live.”

This is an issue which should be receiving more attention from our mainstream media.

----There are other issues which Gust should be covered by the national press. I still believe a lot of what happened with former FBI Director James Comey and his investigation into Hillary Clinton was a sham.

Also, driving to work today, I heard a commentator say that the situation in Venezuela deserved more press. I agree.

That South Americans socialist state is facing some extreme challenges.

The same commentator wondered happened to actor Sean Penn. He had, allegedly at one time, been a big supporter of Venezuela and its socialist government.

Today a lot of the people there either loot a grocery store or starve.

Let’s open up dialogues on some serious topics like that.

(Steve Gust may be reached at news@edmondpaper.com)

Free speech must be protected on campus

By David Deming It's no secret that free speech at American universities is under siege.

At Middlebury College last March, protestors shouted down author Charles Murray. As he departed the venue, Murray and his host were subjected to a violent physical attack.

On Feb. 2, 2017, two peaceful people holding signs supporting President Trump were physically assaulted on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman. No one is immune from the forces of intolerance. Recently, an OU regent was forced to resign because he stated his personal conviction that homosexuality was immoral.

No learning can take place without intellectual freedom. The roots of the Western tradition are deep. In the fifth century B.C., Pericles acknowl-

edged the spirit of toleration essential for an open society by noting that Athenians did not become angry with people who thought or acted differently. And we have learned through the centuries that open and critical discussion is necessary for the progress of the human race. The minority viewpoint, no matter how offensive, is often proven in the long run to be the correct one.

One of the most significant aspects of David Boren's legacy as OU president has been his unwavering commitment to free speech. For more than 20 years, Boren has steadfastly maintained a policy of complete free speech for all members of the OU community.

As Boren explained in a 2001 letter in the OU Daily, "even in cases in which we may believe

that comments are unfair, insensitive, or in bad taste, the appropriate response is never to silence the expression but rather to express our own opinion in return."

Of course free speech also is a fundamental human right protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution. As the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in Matal v.

Tam (2017), "speech may not be banned on the ground that it expresses ideas that offend." But students, faculty and staff at OU shouldn't have to resort to the federal courts to defend their rights. Intellectual and political freedom ought to be recognized as administrative policy and celebrated as central values of the university.

One of the reasons executive leadership is needed on this issue is that neither students nor faculty may be trusted with the conscience of the university. A recent poll of American college students revealed that 44 percent believe that "hate speech" is not protected by the First Amendment. Last spring, the faculty senate at OU embarrassed itself by recommending that cases of "hate speech" be reported to the campus police. What is "hate speech"? There is no objective or legal definition.

"Hate speech" is anything a person might find offensive. It should be selfevident that no education can take place if people are able to silence any viewpoint they find objectionable by labeling it as "hate speech."

A great university supports free inquiry. It doesn't attempt to shield students from ideas they find offensive.

Deming is professor of arts and sciences at the University of Oklahoma.

Tax cuts help drive business back to Detroit

Fiat Chrysler will make Ram trucks in Michigan instead of Mexico beginning in 2020, and the company says this will mean 2,500 extra jobs at the plant in Warren, Detroit's largest suburb.

While this isn't the first bit of good economic news in the wake of big corporate tax cuts Republicans just passed, it's the one that cheers us the most, because it best reflects the way lower corporate taxes work.

The key is not bigger profits but increased competitiveness.

Lower corporate taxes will lead to higher pay, but the barrage of year-end bonuses major employers announced led to an oversimplified understanding of the economics here. The simplistic story — that with lower tax rates, corporations will have more money, and they'll pass

along some of that money to workers — is a tale of "trickle-down" economics, which is a term of abuse used by the left against free enterprise.

Unfortunately, many Republicans tell this simplistic story, too, because it's easy to tell and understand. “The whole purpose of the tax cut act was to put more money in companies,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin oddly said in a White House briefing last week.

“Put more money in companies,” is the way central planners talk about their industrial policy.

It's the way the left talks about tax cuts. It implies that tax cuts involve Mnuchin and Trump taking a pile of money and handing it to Walmart, and then hoping Walmart spreads the wealth.

But this isn't what tax cuts do, and conservatives and supporters of market economics

Letters to the Editor policy We love mail, especially mail from Edmond Life & Leisure readers with complaints, compliments or comments about what they read here. The rules, even for e-mail letters: 1) You must tell us your full name; 2) You must give us your complete address and phone numbers (but we will identify you only by name); and 3) We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity and taste (our taste).

Send mail to Letter to the Editor, Edmond Life & Leisure, 107 S. Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034, or fax to 340-3384 or e-mail to news@edmondpaper.com.

shouldn't take this rhetorical shortcut, because it leads into a thicket. Nobody gets money from a tax cut. Profitable businesses keep more of the money they already earned, thanks to tax cuts.

We don't know whether the parade of corporate bonuses after the tax cuts were more economic or political responses to the cuts. But we do know that the Fiat Chrysler move is more representative of what we can expect now with a much lower corporate rate.

More companies will set up more business in the United States, because it's now easier to compete by doing so.

Mexico has a 30 percent corporate rate.

When the United States had a 35 percent rate, it made sense for Chrysler to make its profits in Mexico.

Now the U.S. rate is 21 percent. Labor is still much cheaper in Mexico, but Chrysler weighs the pros and cons of where to manufacture, and the U.S. is suddenly much more appealing than it had been before the bill passed.

Lower tax rates aren't the only reason to move a plant to Michigan.

Better energy infrastructure, a more educated workforce, and a better legal system all weigh on that side of the scale. But reducing the tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent weighs heavily, and in many cases, it will tip the balance in favor of America.

So cheers to Fiat Chrysler. May it be the first of many.

From the Washington Examiner

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 9

‘Sage Brush Robin Hood’ loved by some

By David Farris In 1932, Charley “Pretty Boy” Floyd became as popular as any politician, athlete or movie star.

The infamous bank robber symbolized to many Americans the economic disparity and frustration experienced during the Great Depression. This was not hard to unFarris derstand; unfortunately, such opinions represented something greater. It was a critical reflection of how desperate times were, that a man who robs innocent people at gunpoint and kills lawmen could become so endeared. To his credit, the gangster was generous with his stolen loot and shared it with family, friends and neighbors around his hometown of Akins, Okla., near Sallisaw, in Sequoyah County, even if it was just to buy their silence. He was also known to destroy mortgages during his bank robberies which, at least temporarily, prevented the debts from being collected. His benevolence became so legendary that he was referred to by some people as the “Sage Brush Robin Hood.”

Lawmen were not so swayed by the flamboyant gangster, especially after he killed a retired sheriffturned-bounty-hunter, Erv Kelley, in an early-morning shootout near Bixby, on April 9. Floyd was wounded in both legs, but managed to escape with the help of his partner, George Birdwell.

Birdwell, for some reason, received less notoriety, even though he stood shoulder to shoulder with Floyd as they robbed their way through Oklahoma and surrounding states. He was often referred to in newspapers and by lawmen with the less-flattering title of Pretty Boy's “Lieutenant.”

With every law-dog in Oklahoma on the lookout for them, most men on the lam would lay low until things cooled down.

Instead, on April 21, Floyd didn't let the bullet that remained lodged in his left ankle stop him and Birdwell from robbing the First State Bank in Stonewall, Okla., of $800. This only intensified the manhunt for the bandits to include the world-famous, one-eyed, Oklahoma aviator, Wiley Post, who led an “aerial posse” of pilots from Oklahoma City to aid in the search.

In June, Pontotoc County Sheriff L. E. Franklin learned that the gangsters had returned to the area and were holed-up at a farm house one mile north of Stonewall. His suspicion was that they planned to rob the same bank again, just like they had in Earlsboro. Sheriff Franklin assembled an im-

pressive posse, which included local officers and State Crime Bureau agents, to converge on the isolated home owned by E. W. Echols.

The summer sun was still in the evening sky when lawmen arrived. Local residents learned what was afoot and a sizable crowd took positions around the outskirts of the farm in morbid anticipation of the upcoming clash. They had a chance to see the notorious Pretty Boy Floyd, himself, either kill, or be killed. It was an exciting event not to be missed, and the people were in for a show.

Mr. Echols was still working his field when the commotion began. His family immediately ran from the house to the safety of their storm shelter before the bandits made their break. Birdwell opened fire with a Thompson machine gun and Floyd with two revolvers as lawmen dove for cover. They ran inside the barn and took up positions in the hay loft. The two sides exchanged shots for several minutes, then officers heard an engine start and saw a car suddenly back out of the barn. It whipped around and sped forward as the gangsters made a desperate attempt to reach the road and escape. The lawmen emptied their guns into the getaway car, shattering windows, puncturing the radiator and blowing a tire. However, to their surprise, the outlaws' steel horse kept going as it smashed through a gate and disappeared north down a farm road. It was a sure bet that the bandits were wearing body armor. For some strange reason, none of the lawmen gave chase to the dilapidated, disabled vehicle, which it seems could have been easily overtaken.

The locals who came for a show certainly got one. This wouldn't be the last time that spectators would arrive to watch the legendary Pretty Boy in action.

Admiration for Pretty Boy Floyd continued to flourish among the residents of Sequoyah County.

A good example was when he returned to his old stompin' grounds in Sallisaw to rob the bank. This was a bold move, considering that most everyone in town, especially the sheriff, had known him for years. Apparently, his intentions were not a wellkept secret. The Floyd Clan and their neighbors knew that he had returned to his hometown with Birdwell, and they knew why. Once again, a chance to see the celebrated bank robber in action drew a crowd.

On Tuesday morning, Nov. 1, Pretty Boy's 75year-old grandfather, Charles Murphy Floyd, arrived in Sallisaw, clad in his new overalls, and found a place to loiter near the train station across

Trevor Pemberton gets nod as new county district judge Last week Gov. Mary Fallin announced the appointment of Trevor Pemberton to fill the Office 13 district judge vacancy in Oklahoma County. He is replacing former District Judge Roger Stuart who retired in August.

Pemberton’s appointment is effective immediately. A formal swearing-in ceremony will be scheduled later.

Pemberton, of Oklahoma City, has served as an Oklahoma County special judge since May. He spent the previous nine years in private practice trying domestic and civil cases as well as arguing a wide range of issues, both locally and nationally.

“Trevor Pemberton has exhibited the highest standards of professionalism, preparedness and respect for the legal profession,” said Fallin. “As a judge, he has worked tirelessly for the citizens of Oklahoma County, and before that for his clients. His personality and temperament serve him well when working with litigants, attorneys and other judges.”

Pemberton earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and a juris doctorate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law. “I appreciate Gov. Fallin’s confidence in me to serve as an Okla-

Trevor Pemberton homa County district court judge,” Pemberton said. “I take very seriously my role in the judicial system.

On and off the bench, I strive toward humility and impartiality. I am committed to serve well the citizens of Oklahoma County, and will be an even-handed, leveled-headed and hard-working district judge.”

Pemberton volunteers his time as a mentor to high school students. He is a board member of Salt and Light Leadership Training and is a member of the Downtown Exchange Club of Oklahoma City and the Robert J. Turner Inn of Court. Pemberton also serves on the professionalism committee of the Oklahoma Bar Association.

New book revisits 2011 crime

A 2011 Mustang crime, is the basis for a new fictionalized book released on Amazon.com, "Murder in Mustang."

The book is based on the 2011 death of Nichols Hills Fire Chief Keith Bryan, who was living in Mustang at the time of the crime. His wife, Rebecca Bryan, was arrested and subsequently convicted in a 2013 r Canadian County trial. She maintains

her innocence.

This book, by journalist Steve Gust, is based on that case. It's written as a fictionalized case and is investigated by a private detective, Wayne Chandler. "Murder in Mustang," can be ordered as either an eBook ($3.15) or a paperback ($9.99) at amazon.com.

Its subject matter is for mature readers only.

the street from the State Bank. He was joined by others who knew him and soon the old-timers drifted into their usual discussions which often involved politics. Of course, it wasn't the chit-chat that drew the men.

Just before noon, a shiny black sedan rolled into Sallisaw driven by 18-year-old Aussie Elliott, from Sapulpa, who, a couple of months earlier, had escaped from the reformatory in Granite, Okla. In the passenger seat next to him sat Floyd, looking sharp in his new suit with his hair combed just right, while Birdwell rode in the back armed with a machine gun. The youth pulled up in front of the bank on the wrong side of the road, and waited with the engine running, while his passengers quickly stepped from the car with their machine guns. Before entering the bank, Floyd walked inside the barbershop next door to inform a couple of old acquaintances that he was about to go to work and to “lay off that phone.” Both men nodded in agreement, and the bandit replied warmly, “Good to see you fellas.”

On the street, an old farmer recognized the hometown hero and yelled, “Give 'em hell!”

The bandits entered the bank to find assistant cashier Bob Riggs alone during the lunch hour. He offered no resistance as the affable, yet heavily armed, men grabbed $2,530. During those few minutes, nine customers entered the bank and encountered Floyd, who warmly shook their hands, then politely asked them to keep quiet. He further reassured the crowd saying, “Don't hurt 'em Bird, they're friends of mine.”

The bandits fled town before many of the spectators even knew what happened, including Grandpa Floyd who had been too busy talking with his friends. Someone else who missed the action was Police Chief Burt Cotton, who had been only about 75 feet away. No one even seemed to noticed Biggs, who was forced to ride on the running board as a hostage for five blocks, or that the bandits had left behind a large amount of change that accidentally spilled all over the sidewalk.

The Sallisaw bank robbery became just one more chapter in the legend of Pretty Boy Floyd to be cherished and recounted by his adoring fans. To many, the Sage Brush Robin Hood and his Lieutenant became symbols of economic justice who were striking a blow for the common man. It is doubtful, however, that members of law enforcement, bankers associations, or any of the widows or fatherless children left in their wake shared such an opinion.

Page 10 • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

KUCO’s Ferguson to get Governor’s Arts Award The Oklahoma Arts Council recently selected Brad Ferguson, general manager of the University of Central Oklahoma-based radio station Classical KUCO, as the recipient of the 2018 Governor’s Arts Awards, Media in the Arts category, for his contributions to the Oklahoma arts community.

Ferguson will receive the award, along with 19 individual recipients and organizations, at the 42nd Annual Governor’s Arts Awards ceremony at 4 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Oklahoma Capitol.

This award is the fourth Governor’s Arts Award to be presented to KUCO 90.1 FM, the region’s premiere public radio station offering a classical music format. In 1997, Ferguson accepted the award on behalf of KUCO, formerly KCSC, the first Oklahoma public radio station to receive a Governor’s Arts Award from the Oklahoma Arts Council.

The Media in the Arts Award also was presented to the station’s opera host, Clyde Martin, in 1998 and Kimberly Powell, director of programming, in 2013.

Ferguson began his professional career at KGOU in 1981, establishing new classical music programming there and then was invited to join KUCO to organize the student staff and polish the station’s sound, in anticipation of the station joining the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In 1984, he became the station’s first professional program director, and in 1991, he became the station’s general manager.

Under his 26 years of leadership, KUCO has successfully seen the completion of a number of initiatives, with the help of prominent local foundations and support from its core membership, including the expansion and upgrade of its service, the purchase of land in Oklahoma City’s antenna farm in

1996, the installation of a tower doubling the antenna height and reach of the station’s airwaves, and the establishment of a repeater station, KBCW, in McAlester. Other initiatives include the creation of the KCSC Classical Radio Foundation, the addition of HD service and audio stream, a rebuild of its second repeater station, KCSC, in Woodward in 2016 and the installation of a new Brad Ferguson antenna in the summer of 2017.

Ferguson also has enjoyed success and support for two nationally-syndicated, locally-produced programs, a children’s music show, and two local programs that help support and promote the fine arts in Oklahoma – “Spotlight on the Arts,” which he continues to host, and “Community Curtain Call,” which, in the hands of host and producer Kimberly Powell, later became “Performance Oklahoma.”

“Mr. Ferguson’s support and advocacy for the arts is broad and multi-faceted” said Don Jordan, founding director of CityRep. “He created and still hosts the ‘Spotlight on the Arts’ weekly radio program, which helps promote awareness of the creative community in central Oklahoma.”

Over the years, Ferguson has worked with sta-

tion staff to ensure that a quality fine-arts radio station continues to be available to communities across Oklahoma, offering the very best in classical music performances and programming; news briefs, local weather and traffic; and fine arts announcements about Oklahoma concerts and events. The station marked its 50th anniversary in 2017 and is noting strong and increased financial support from listeners in recent fund drives.

“He has led KUCO to become a radio station that presents high-quality music programming that challenges and educates listeners. It has also served the local community of performing musicians by fostering an audience base that has high standards and broad tastes and acknowledges the importance of the arts in our community,” said Warren Puffer Jones, director of the Kemp Concert Series.

Ferguson served on the boards of the Oklahoma Alliance for Liturgy and the Arts, Oklahoma Youth Symphonies, Chamber Music in Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Choral Association and is a member of the Putnam Heights Neighborhood Association and the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club.

KUCO 90.1 FM is the only public, locally-programmed and hosted, classical music station in the state of Oklahoma. The station’s airwaves extend across central Oklahoma, much of southeastern and northwestern Oklahoma, via our repeater stations KBCW 91.9 FM in McAlester and KCSC 95.9 FM in Woodward; across the world, via its audio stream at kucofm.com, and online through platforms including TuneIn, aha Radio, iTunes, Bose SoundTouch, Amazon Alexa and iHeartRadio.

For more information about Classical KUCO, visit www.kucofm.com.

United Way to honor trio at Snowflake Gala Friday There is still time to donate to the United Way's annual campaign, which will end Jan. 26. The bitterly cold weather in recent weeks has added to the needs, said United Way of Central Oklahoma CEO Debby Hampton.

"There's just these constant needs," Hampton said. "Truly, we've had emergency needs of our homeless population, having to shelter close to 200 additional homeless. The needs are great, and a lot of times that comes at a cost. ... That's where United Way steps in and helps."

The United Way of Central Oklahoma will honor community leaders who give of their time, resources and efforts at its annual Snowflake Gala on Friday evening, Jan. 26, at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Tim O'Connor, public relations representative at American Income Life Insurance Co., and president of the Central Oklahoma Labor Federation, AFLCIO, is the recipient of the Ray Ackerman Leadership Award. According to the United Way, this award recognizes those who share Ackerman's tireless efforts and devotion to the United Way mission and set the standard for volunteering, leadership and caring. O'Connor has been involved with the United Way for decades and served in leadership roles since 1992. He currently serves on the board and the campaign cabinet.

‘We are truly honoring three of our community's best this year, I cannot think of three more deserving honorees.’

Debby Hampton United Way CEO O’Connor

Nichols

Love

Another honoree at the gala is Polly Nichols, community volunteer. She is the recipient of the John and Berta Faye Rex Community Builder Award, which recognizes individuals who share the Rexes' vision in finding long-term solutions to community needs. Nichols' involvement in the community is vast, working with more than 25 nonprofit organizations over the years. Polly and her husband, Larry, were the first couple to chair the United Way's annual campaign and she serves as a trustee on the United Way board.

Judy Love, business leader and philanthropist, is the recipient of the Richard H. Clements Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors individuals who have a lifelong dedication to volunteering, leadership and philanthropy not only to United Way but to the community as a whole. Love has served on

the boards of 18 Oklahoma City-based nonprofits.

Love served as campaign co-chairman in 2015 of the United Way of Central Oklahoma and is a founding member and current co-chair of the Women's Leadership Society.

“We are truly honoring three of our community's best this year, I cannot think of three more deserving honorees,” Hampton said in a news release. “We commend them for their outstanding commitment to strengthening our community and appreciate all the ways they have impacted and contributed to United Way, our Partner Agencies and our community. Their work is so inspiring.”

To make a contribution to the United Way of Central Oklahoma, visit UnitedWayOKC.org or text UWCO to 91999.

For more information about United Way of Central Oklahoma, visit www.unitedwayokc.org or call 405-236-8441.

OKC Philharmonic to feature two gifted musicians Feb. 3 Join the OKC PHIL and The Inasmuch Foundation as they welcome Chee-Yun on violin and OKC's own Dan Schwartz on English horn for the fifth classics concert of the season, Feb. 3rd at 8 p.m. at the Civic Center Music Hall.

It will feature the Dvořák Symphony No.7, Sibelius The Swan of Tuonela, and the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto.

For more information or to purchase tickets beginning at just $19, call 405Tickets (842-5387), or visit www.okcphil.org/chee-yun or www.okccivicenter.com or call 405297-CCMH. Fees apply.

Said Joel Levine about one of his last programs as Music Director, "The Dvorak Seventh Symphony is the most profound of all his works. Filled with beautiful melodies, this famous work draws the listener into an unusually intense, dramatic world. It was the first symphony I conducted when I was engaged by the Oklahoma Symphony in 1979 and this performance completes a career circle for me.

The Swan of Tuonela is a wonderfully atmospheric short work by Sibelius that features a novel instrument - the English horn. Dan Schwartz, our soloist, is a true artist and I wanted the Phil audience to have a chance to enjoy one of the many wonderful musicians in the orchestra.

The Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto is simply one of those works that will live forever. Once deemed unplayable by

Chee-Yun anyone, its incredible technical demands are now merely very difficult!

That the work is played worldwide all the time is history's revenge on the original review that was so harsh it broke Tchaikovsky's heart."

The OKC Phil is pleased to have the Inasmuch Foundation as presenting sponsor for the 2017-2018 Classics Series, with additional support from Molly and Jim Crawley and Jean and Dave McLaughlin.

The Oklahoma City Philharmonic has gained recognition as one of the nation's premier regional orchestras.

Tracing its roots to 1924, when the OKC Philharmonic was formed.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 11

Sequoyah Students of the Month

PHOTO PROVIDED

The students in the attached photo were chosen as the students of the month for being good role models and showing respect to others and dedication to excellence. On the back row are Olivia Williams, Juan Parra and Laila Doyle. On the middle are Ryan Black, J.D. Evans, Gracie Poplin, Jase Scott and Emma Evans. And on the front row are Reagan Powers, Fernanda Rojo Arteaga, Annabelle Uehlien, Aryan Verigawala and Kris Blue.

Memorial girls win conference swim meet The Edmond Memorial girls swim team won the Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference Meet Saturday, taking gold in eight of 11 events and setting four meet and two school records.

Edmond’s Head Swim Coach Heather Devoe, a 23-year coaching veteran who is wrapping up her first year as head coach, was also awarded COAC’s 2018 Girls Swimming Coach of the Year.

Held at the Edmond Schools Aquatic Center, the competition included 12 high school teams from Deer Creek, Edmond, Moore, Mustang, Norman, Stillwater and Yukon.

North girls finished third and Santa Fe girls fourth. In boys’ action, North finished second behind Norman North, while Santa Fe came in third and Memorial seventh.

The Memorial girls were led by Katie Callahan, who won and set new conference records in the 200and 500-yard freestyle events. She swam the 200-yard freestyle in 1:52.91, smashing her 2015 record of 1:56.54. In the 500-yard freestyle, Callahan finished in 5:01.85, beating the 2015 record of 5:03.84.

Callahan also joined teammates Riley Bushey, Kellie Fischer and Sydney Parker to win and set two more COAC records, as well as break Edmond Memorial school records.

They finished the 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:35.58, shattering the conference record of 3:46.03 and setting a new school record. In the 200-yard freestyle relay, they touched the wall in 1:38.80, upsetting a school record held since 2001 and

breaking the conference record of 1:41.56.

Fischer captured another win for Memorial in the 100-yard freestyle, and Parker flew to gold in the 100yard butterfly.

Memorial’s Angelina Rossi reached for victory in the 100-yard breaststroke and then joined teammates Genna Callahan, Krista Parker and Elizabeth McAnally to win the 200yard medley relay.

Also ending the meet with a firstplace finish and two new school records was Memorial Bulldog Luke Davis. He won the 100-yard backstroke and broke a six-year-old school record with a time of 51.77. His time of 50.38 in the 100-yard butterfly earned him another school record as well as a second-place finish.

Santa Fe’s Chloe Case and Arrian Taton also set two school records.

Case swam the girls 200-yard freestyle in 1:57.10, while Taton finished the girls 100-yard butterfly in 58.92 to both set new school records and earn silver in their events.

“Today was an incredible day for EPS swimming. These athletes have trained relentlessly this season, and today showed how hard work pays off when it counts,” Devoe said. “I couldn’t be more proud of every swimmer in our program. The COAC and school records are icing on the cake.”

Next, the Edmond High School swim teams will face each other tonight, Jan. 25, in the Edmond City Championships. The meet will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Edmond Schools Aquatic Center.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Memorial 200 and 400 relay team consisters of Katie Callahan, Kellie Fischer, Riley Bushey and Sydney Parker. The Memorial girls had a great conference meet last weekend, taking gold medals in eight of 11 events at the Edmond Schools Aquatic Center.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Memorial Swim team celebrates their win last week.

Page 12 • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Sports

Edmond’s Mary Jekel earns acclaim as a top coach

Kobe Nhin

Awaiting new tennis center Practicing in 30 degree weather is the normal for Kobe Nhin. Until the new indoor courts are built on 15th and Kelly in Edmond, Kobe Nhin and his tennis friends practice outside in all kinds of conditions. The lowest it has been while they were on courts were 27 degrees.

“It really just depends on the wind chill if they practice or not,” said Mary Nhin, Kobe’s mom. “If the winds are blowing 10 mph plus, then it brings the temperature down by that much also. The normal practice session for him and his group see him playing for 3-4 hours a day five days a week. “ Previously outside coaches were not allowed to coach on indoor public courts in Edmond.

The new agreement with Edmond Tennis Services LLC allows outside coaches with approval to rent indoor

courts to train their students. This means Kobe and his friends will be able to practice indoor and not be forced to practice outside in inclement weather conditions.

Many tennis courts around the nation currently charge less to utilize tennis courts which makes the sport more accessible.

More accessibility lends itself to better competition.

At Phoenix Tennis Center, the charges to use 1.5 hours of court time is $4 per person. In Austin, Texas, the courts are $2/hr at South Austin Tennis Center.

The City of Edmond and Edmond Schools will spendr $14 million dollars on the new facility.

Kobe is currently home-schooled and has achieved a national and sectional ranking for his age division. He aspires to play for OU.

Earlier this month, Mary Jekel of Edmond was named the Oklahoma Coach of the Year for her seasons as head girls volleyball coach at Mount St. Mary High School in Oklahoma City.

She took over the program five years ago and took them to the State Championship finals four of those five. The other time they made it to the state semi-finals. The coach has more than 150 wins in those five years.

The award was made by the National Federation of State high School Associations. In making the announcement, the group commended Jekel for being a “leader and role model” to her student athletes.

Her husband Joe Jekel said his wife decided to step down to assistant coach for next season since the couple’s youngest daughter will be a senior on the team “The program once had maybe 20 girls and now it has between 40 and 50,” Joe Jekel said. “She has changed

Mary Jekel a lot of young girls lives.”

In a letter sent to Mary Jekel, Robert Gardner and Richard Baker of the group called her “the most deserving recipient” of the honor. The association is based in Indianapolis, Ind.

Big 12 baseball tourney tickets Oklahoma City All-Sports and the Big 12 Conference announced, today, that all-session tickets for the 2018 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City are now on sale. The championship will be played in a double-elimination format beginning Wednesday, May 23, and culminate with the championship game on Sunday, May 27.

“The Big 12 Baseball Championship has always been great event for our community”, said All-Sports Executive Director, Tim Brassfield. “The Conference’s baseball teams are consistently some of the best teams in the country and we are excited, once again, to host the championship in downtown Oklahoma City over Memorial

Day weekend.”

All-session tickets can be purchased by visiting www.okcallsports.org/big12bsb or www.Big12Sports.com/BuyTickets and include all games of the championship, including if-necessary games, totaling 15 contests. Tickets start as low as $69.00 for terrace seats, with field level $99.00 and club seats available for $169.00.

Tickets can also be purchased online and are available by calling the Oklahoma City Dodgers at (405) 218-2180.

Group tickets are available for groups of 10+. Group ticket prices start at $12.00 per session for terrace seats, with field seats $15 per session.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 13

Scenes from annual Home & Garden Show

The annual Home & Garden Show at the Fairgrounds again brought out thousands of people for its three-day run. Ideas on gardening and remodeling took center stage. More than 50 Edmond companies were also represented.

Kennady Smrcka, 5, pets a rabbit at the Home and Garden Show.

Photographs by Melinda Infante

Arianna Hill, 6, checks out the latest in playground equipment.

Page 14 • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Sports

PHOTO PROVIDED

Memorial junior Luke Davis turns in a strong time in the butterfly.

Memorial swim teams start year with wins

Edmond Memorial girls and North boys won their first swim meet of the year in a competition that showcased strong performances from several Edmond swimmers.

The meet, held Tuesday night at the Edmond Schools Aquatic Center, included teams from Edmond Memorial, North and Santa Fe, as well as Kingfisher, Moore, Southmoore and Westmoore.

In girls’ action, Memorial edged out North for the team win, while Santa Fe finished third. For the boys, North took gold, Santa Fe silver and Memorial bronze.

“This was a great meet to get back into the water and see how we are swimming in the new year,” said Edmond Public Schools Head Swim Coach Heather Devoe. “Many swimmers performed near season bests and were determined to win their races, and that’s a good place to be as we head into the championship season.”

Three girls achieved double-event victories during the meet – Memorial’s Katie Callahan and Sydney Parker and North’s Ryann James. Callahan was the champion in the 100-yard butterfly and 200yard individual medley, and Parker earned gold in the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard freestyle.

James won the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events.

Memorial’s Angelina Rossi added another victory for the Lady Bulldogs in the 100-yard breaststroke. Santa Fe’s Chloe Case won the 500-yard freestyle.

In relay action, Memorial girls grabbed gold in two events. Parker, Rossi and Callahan teamed up with Kellie Fischer to win the 200-yard medley relay, and Callahan, Parker and Fischer joined Riley Bushey to take the 400-yard freestyle relay.

The girls’ 200-yard freestyle relay featured a close race between North and Santa Fe, with North’s team of James, Ana Savva, Erin Sylvester and Lindsey Fuchs getting to the wall first for the win.

On the boys’ side, North’s Matt Hutson and Memorial’s Luke Davis earned two golds each.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Edmond North senior Matt Hudson competed in the 500-yard freestyle.

Hutson won the 500-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke, while Davis achieved victory in the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard individual medley.

Also winning events were North’s Alex Reynolds, 200-yard freestyle, and Chris Silva, 100-yard breaststroke; Santa Fe’s Braden Nicholson, 50-yard freestyle; and Memorial’s Max Myers, 100-yard

freestyle.

Reynolds and Silva also joined teammates Noah Froese and Brendan Healy to finish first in both the 200-yard freestyle and the 400-yard freestyle relay events. Memorial’s Davis and Myers joined Denton David and Samuel Hart to swim for gold in the 200-yard medley relay.

Bulldog hoop teams without a home -- for now

By Jacob Unruh NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman Edmond Memorial basketball coach Shane Cowherd is tired of the bus that's become an important part of his routine.

Each afternoon, he loads up his players and they drive a few miles to Solid Rock, a nearby basketball facility. They change clothes in the bathrooms. They practice. They head back to the school.

On game nights, they load up and head to their opponents' gym or Central Oklahoma's Hamilton Field House.

In a year where Edmond Memorial has become road warriors, the Bulldogs are the rare team without a home.

“I'm so tired of being on the road,” Cowherd said following last week’s “home” win over Moore at UCO. “On the flip side, we are thankful that UCO is being a very gracious host and allowing us the opportunity to play at least something in town so that our kids don't get home at midnight, 1 o'clock in the morning every Tuesday night.”

Edmond Memorial's gym is under renovations from a school bond issue and won't be available this season. As a result, it's chaos as the Bulldogs make the most of the situation.

Team bonding and strategizing is often done on buses.

“That probably is our locker room now,” Ed-

Edmond Memorial's gym is under renovations from a school bond issue and won't be available this season. As a result, it's chaos as the Bulldogs make the most of the situation. mond Memorial girls basketball coach Dandy Peeler said.

Edmond Memorial's boys played their first 12 games on the road. The girls played their first 11.

Only last week did they finally get to break out their white home jerseys at Hamilton Field House, where they will play a total of six games.

“It's not like any other years,” Edmond Memorial senior captain Beckham King said. “As a senior, you always look forward to playing on your home court. We've just been working hard every day and not taking it for granted.

“Obviously, it's disappointing. But you learn from it and work hard every day.”

Edmond Public Schools athletic director Mike Nunley said the school's activity fund is paying $1,500 per game to UCO, which allows the use of the facility, maintenance, cleanup and security.

Edmond Memorial provides the staff running the gate, scorer's table and concessions.

The price may be steep, but at least the players will have a place to call home.

“We just appreciate it,” Nunley said. “Not a lot of people in this world can call up a university to help out. I think it's been fun our kids. Now we have a senior night.”

But there are still challenges.

School officials have had to work harder to get students to attend games. There have been no pep assemblies.

Neither team has a locker room. Neither coach has an office.

“That's bigger than the gym,” Peeler said. “We don't have a place to call home. Every night is a different night.”

Cowherd is driven by analytics and film study.

The road schedule and practice travel times have lessened the use of both.

“Now it has to be how quickly they can take the information, digest it and apply it,” Cowherd said.

As playoff seeding nears, Edmond Memorial's girls have put themselves in great position with a 10-3 record and No. 5 ranking in Class 6A. The boys are 9-5 and No. 12.

They're road weary, but battle tested.

And they're thankful for at least a half-dozen “home” games.

“This is a great facility,” King said. “This court, this atmosphere, the student section shows up.

I'm just thankful.”

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 15

True drama of ‘I, Tonya’

Film about the American Dream

By George Gust “I, Tonya” is based on the unbelievable, but true events of American figure skater, Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie), and one of the most sensational scandals in sports history.

Though Harding was an accomplished Olympic figure skater, her legacy was forever defined by her association with an infamous, ill-conceived, and even more poorly executed attack on fellow Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan, by Harding’s ex-husband (Sebastian Stan) and his friend Shawn (Paul Walter Hauser). enting style provides Janney a wonderful showcase With the 2018 Winter Olympics right around for her remarkable performance, a performance the corner, it feels like the right time to reminisce which has garnered her a good deal of Oscar buzz on the great Olympic movies of all time. And for Best Supporting Actress. Also turning in a when you look at the list of films focused on the strong performance was Stan as Harding's ex-husOlympics, the catalogue is rife with inspirational band, whose mannerisms were a close match to stories filled with unlikely underdogs overcoming the real life Jeff Gillooly, especially when seeing long odds to achieve Olympic greatness. However the press footage shown during the closing credits. while covering a similar subject matter "I, Tonya" is Overall, "I, Tonya" is a strong film that showdecidedly unlike those inspirational films in a cases a couple of marvelous performances by Robunique and entertaining way, portraying a univerbie and Janney, and strikes a darkly comedic tone sally disliked public figure with nuance and a that is sad and funny at the same time. Featuring darkly American sense of humor. an "in your face" filmmaking style and southern Most people who lived through the Tonya Hardsoundtrack to match, "I, Tonya" is an effective film ing versus Nancy Kerrigan saga will remember the and an interesting commentary on America's obevents a certain way, but the brilliant thing that "I, session with fame and sensational news stories.

Tonya" accomplishes is to portray the characters in“I, Tonya” is rated R for pervasive language, viovolved in all of their trashy, half-baked and unlence, and some sexual content/nudity. apologetic glory while still giving the audience a strong sense of pathos.

4.1 out of 5 stars Robbie's portrayal of Harding owns the movie; her nuanced embodiment of Harding is incredibly entertaining and evokes sympathy from the audience that many people may not have expected to take away from the film. Given the harsh upbringing from her tough as nails mother, (Allison Janney) and the abusive relationship with her ex-husband, Robbie captures the trauma that abuse brings on and shows how Harding used that to fuel her drive to becoming an Olympic figure skater.

"I, Tonya" is a uniquely American movie, portraying the struggle that lower class people face in order to chase the American dream. This sentiment is expressed most clearly by JanMargot Robbie as controversial figure skater Tonya Harding in ney as Tonya's mother, who's harsh physically and emotionally abusive par- the new movie, ‘I, Tonya.’

Volunteers sought for board Oklahoma Humanities (OH) is looking for talented, dedicated individuals to serve a threeyear term on our volunteer board of twenty-four members.

We seek enthusiastic individuals who are active in their communities, have a passion for the humanities, and can dedicate time to attend board meetings three times a year.

Board members govern our organization, participate in strategic planning, attend OHsponsored programs, and help identify additional funding sources for our programs. They also approve grant applications from other nonprofits to support humanities programs in communities across the state.

More information and nomination packets can be found on our website, okhumanities.org, under "Who We Are." Consider submitting a nomination. We'd love to have you join us!

About Oklahoma Humanities Oklahoma Humanities (OH) is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to strengthen communities by helping Oklahomans learn about the human experience, understand new perspectives, and participate knowledgeably in civic life through humanities disciplines such as history & literature.

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: WINTER OLYMPICS ACROSS 1. Nordic gl¸hwein 6. *It last broadcast the Olympics in 1988 9. Sigma Phi Epsilon 13. Yokel's holler 14. Promise to pay 15. Pre-bun state 16. Dug up 17. Luftwaffe's WWII enemy 18. Provide with ability 19. *Country with most Winter Olympic gold medals 21. *Number of 2018 Winter Olympics sports 23. Dog command 24. Small island 25. Cul de ____ 28. Partial haircut 30. Geek and jock, e.g.

35. S-shaped molding 37. International Civil Aviation Org. 39. Best not mentioned 40. Pakistani language 41. *American skating icon 43. College cadet program 44. Crocodile ones are insincere 46. Make children 47. This and the other 48. Praise for a fearless one 50. Dispatch 52. Ornamental ponddweller 53. Classic sci-fi video game 55. Drag behind 57. *Done on 90m hill 61. "I love the smell of ____ in the morning."

64. UFO pilot?

65. 1973 Supreme Court decision name 67. "Complete ____'s Guides" 69. Short for incognito 70. Tokyo, in the olden days 71. Impulse transmitter 72. Indian

restaurant staple 73. D.C. bigwig 74. Like a rookie DOWN 1. *Olympic participant's hangout 2. Been in bed 3. *8-time American speed skating medalist 4. Regular visitors 5. Long-billed shore bird 6. Well-ventilated 7. Flapper's neckwear 8. Spots for links 9. Arial, e.g.

10. Ill-mannered 11. Malaria symptom 12. Subsequently 15. *"Agony of ____" 20. Like anchor aweigh 22. Not well 24. Ezra Pounds' poetry movement 25. *Which Korea is 2018 Winter host?

26. Come to terms 27. Closet wood 29. Frosts a cake 31. Fence prickle

32. Kindle content 33. Powerball, e.g.

34. *2014 Winter host city 36. France's currency 38. Shrek 42. Busybody, in yiddish 45. House cover 49. Opposite of pro 51. *Olympic no-no 54. Shrek and Fiona 56. Crane or heron 57. Jainism follower 58. Arm part 59. Isinglass 60. Lowly laborer 61. Rhymes with #60 Down 62. Plural of lira 63. Change of address 66. Lyric poem 68. X

See Answers Page 23

Answers Page 23

Page 16 • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Sports

Ex-OC Eagle golfer ties for third in tourney Former Oklahoma Christian golf standout Rhein Gibson opened his 2018 campaign on the Web.com Tour in strong fashion, tying for third in The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic that ended earlier this month.

Gibson fired a 5-under-par 67 in the final round at Sandals Emerald Bay to finish at 8-under 280 for the four-round event. Sungjae Im of South Korea won the tour's season-opening event at 13under, with Carlos Ortiz of Mexico second at 9under.

An Oklahoma Christian Athletic Hall of Fame member, Gibson went on one of his familiar birdie tears to start Wednesday's round and was 5-under for the round after only six holes. The 31year-old Australian – who now lives in Edmond, Okla. – cooled off a bit on the back nine, bogeying the par-3 No. 11 before closing with a birdie on the par-5 No. 18.

The 67 helped Gibson rebound from a rough third round, in which he shot 4-over 76 to fall into 19th place. He opened the tournament with rounds of 69 and 68.

The top-three finish was the fifth in Gibson's ca-

Rhein Gibson reer on the Web.com Tour, which he began playing in 2015. It was his first top-five finish since last July, when he tied for fifth in the Nashville Golf Open in Tennessee. He now has eight top-

five and 11 top-10 finishes on the tour.

Gibson is seeking to earn his way back onto the PGA Tour, which he played in 2016 after finishing fourth at the 2015 Web.com Tour Championship. The top 25 on the Web.com Tour's regular-season money list will receive PGA Tour cards for 2019, as will the top 25 during the Web.com Tour's four-tournament postseason.

While at OC, Gibson won four individual tournament titles while helping the Eagles to a pair of runner-up finishes and a pair of third-place team showings at the NAIA Championship. Shortly after his graduation in 2008, he won the Oklahoma state amateur title and was named as the Oklahoma state amateur player of the year in 2008. He was inducted into the OC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014.

He's most famous for a memorable round in May 2012 at River Oaks Golf Club in Oklahoma City, during which he set a world scoring record by shooting a 55. He also qualified for the 2014 British Open and played in a memorable thirdround grouping with Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth.

Broncho women romp; Now 16-2 on season The University of Central Oklahoma women's basketball team cruised to an 81-55 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association matchup at Hamilton Field House.

UCO gave up the game's first points, but soon led 8-2. After Northeastern State brought it to 109 with a free throw with just over five minutes to play in the first quarter, the Bronchos went on a 10-0 run to end the opening frame. UCO led for 37:33 Saturday, improving to 16-2 on the season, and 7-2 in league play.

"We played really well on defense today," UCO head coach Guy Hardaker said. "They have some really good shooters and I thought that could give us some trouble, but the girls did a great job today. Madison Lee was really good on their best player. She really shut her down, and that was a big difference early on."

Northeastern State's Cailyn Long came into the game as the team's best offensive threat. Lee kept her in check early and often. Long could only get two shots off in the first half. She finished with five points on 2 of 4 shooting. Her lone three came when Lee was on the bench in the fourth quarter of Saturday's blowout.

Saturday's game was the first of three straight at home for the Bronchos. UCO hosts Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern next Thursday and Saturday respectively.

UCO's defense came into the game seventh in the country in defensive field goal percentage, holding opponents to 34.1 percent from the floor.

Saturday, Lee and the Bronchos held NSU to 32.2 percent on 19 of 59 shooting. Northeastern hit just 29 percent of its threes, and the Bronchos forced 18 turnovers, which turned into 22 points on the other end of the floor.

Melinda Murillo led UCO's offensive charge. The senior point guard scored 22 points to equal her jersey number, had four rebounds, and added five assists and a steal. Jo'Nah Johnson added 10 points, six rebounds and three steals. Megan Hartness scored 10 points off the bench for the Bronchos and was the only other to score double figures.

UCO took its 11-point halftime lead to 14 with

the first points of the second quarter when Murillo sank a 3-pointer to make it 23-9. The Bronchos soon led 37-17 when Shatoya Bryson nailed a 3pointer of her own with just over two minutes to play in the first half. UCO took a 39-19 lead into halftime.

Central came out firing in the third quarter to put the game out of reach for sure.

Johnson opened the half with a jumper, Murillo hit a three, which was followed by three more from deep from Johnson, Blessington, and Johnson again. UCO suddenly by 29 points. That would be its largest lead of the game.

The Bronchos led by 29 again when Sadie Mason knocked down a jumper with 37 seconds to play in the third quarter. Central took that 6233 lead into the final frame.

With the win, Central Oklahoma sweeps the season series from Northeastern State for the second year in a row. The Bronchos have won fourstraight in the series.

Saturday's game was the first of three straight at home for the Bronchos. UCO hosts Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern next Thursday and Saturday respectively.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 17

Decided vocation by hearing voice of God

A lifetime love of animals Editor’s note: This is part of a continuing series of stories on Significant Women in Oklahoma Agriculture.

The project is a collaborative program between the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry and Oklahoma State University to recognize and honor the impact of countless women across all 77 counties of the state, from all aspects and areas of the agricultural industry. The honorees were nominated by their peers and selected by a committee of industry professionals.

By Betty Thompson CHANDLER — Growing up in Bridgeport, Texas, Dr. Rebekah Hartfield never saw herself becoming a veterinarian, much less inspiring others to become one.

Her love for animals began at a young age, when she first learned to ride horses.

“I was homeschooled and went to my grandparents’ house every day,” Hartfield said. “My grandma is the one who taught me to ride horses.”

Even though her grandma taught all four sisters to ride horses, Hartfield is the one who truly fell in love.

She began competing in Quarter Horse shows and judging contests through 4-H. As she grew older, her love and passion for equine also grew. It seemed fitting that she would study Equine Science when she went off to college.

However, after a semester at North Central Texas College, Hartfield started to feel it was not for her.

“I wanted to train horses and ride,” Hartfield said, “so, I left school and went to Colorado to work as a horse trainer at a dude ranch.”

She spent a summer in Colorado taking people on trail rides, breaking horses and teaching people how to ride.

As much as she enjoyed being a wrangler, she was surrounded by peers on break from college. Hearing their excitement to return to school encouraged her to give it another shot.

After Hartfield returned to Texas, she obtained an associate’s degree in equine science and a veterinary assistant degree, and began working as a vet tech at a local clinic.

She loved her work at the clinic, but it was not until her fiancé at the time—now husband, Preston, encouraged her to go to veterinarian school that Hartfield had ever considered becoming a veterinarian herself.

She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in animal science from Texas A&M, but Hartfield said she knew then it would be a long, hard journey to becoming Dr. Hartfield.

“After my first biochemistry test at Texas A&M, I thought ‘there is no way I will ever be able to get into veterinary school,’” Hartfield said. “After my second biochemistry test I was feeling even worse about those odds.”

Hartfield said her faith in God is what kept her going after not being

PHOTO PROVIDED/CYRSTL PERCELL

Dr. Rebekah Hartfield’s love for horses began at a young age and developed into a career as a veterinarian.

accepted to veterinary school the first year.

“When I didn’t get into veterinary school the first year, I thought ‘maybe I heard God wrong, maybe I was supposed to do something else with my life,” Hartfield said. “But there it was again, that burning desire in my heart. I knew I couldn’t give up.”

A year later, Hartfield was accepted to the veterinary program at Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater. Her total journey to becoming a veterinarian was 11 years.

She and Preston fell in love with Stillwater, and the university and decided to make it home. They purchased a 40-acre farm near Chandler, where they have horses, cattle, pigs, goats, several dogs and a cat. Her husband recently left the oil field to train horses full time, a passion they both share.

During her fourth year of vet school, a friend asked her for book recommendations for her 11-year-old daughter who was interested in becoming a veterinarian. To Hartfield’s surprise, she found very few children’s books about veterinarians.

Not long after that, her sister Sarah called and asked for ideas for a graphic design project. It was then Hartfield realized she could write children’s books and have her sister illustrate them.

The first book was inspired by her own pig Rosie, who was sick on their farm when her niece Abby came to visit. Since August, over 1,500 copies have been sold of “Rosie the Pig” across Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Hartfield said the Doctor Hartfield Veterinary Book Series will contain six books, each one about a different animal, and all of them based on events that have taken place on their farm.

The remaining books in the series will feature a horse, dog, cat, goat and a cow.

Hartfield said the goal of the books is to educate readers about veterinary medicine, instruments they use, and practices for different animals. All books include educational tools like a quiz to help summarize what they have learned and a glossary of terms that builds with each book.

Additionally, a portion of the proceeds from the book go directly towards the Doctor Hartfield Veterinary Book Series Mixed Animal Scholarship. This scholarship is specifically for a veterinary student wanting to practice in a mixed-animal rural setting. The first scholarship will be given out this April at the OSU-Veterinary Teaching Hospital awards banquet.

PHOTO PROVIDED/CYRSTL PERCELL

Since the release of “Rosie the Dr. Rebekah Hartfield is the author of ‘Rosie the Pig,’ a children’s educa- Pig,” Hartfield has read the book to tional book on veterinary medicine. classes in approximately 30 schools

across Oklahoma, in addition to her full time job at the Cushing Veterinary Clinic, and she has several more lined up.

She does not have to wonder if she is making a difference, she hears from readers on Facebook, is tagged in photos of children reading the book and even has visitors to the clinic who tell her how much they enjoy the book.

The series has also caught the attention of the Ag in the Classroom (AITC) program in both Oklahoma and Texas. Oklahoma’s AITC purchased several books, and Texas has asked for her to do skype calls with some classes when they use it in their

curriculum.

But even though they are written as Children’s books, Hartfield hopes these books will serve as an inspiration to readers of all ages. She also offers information and resources about becoming a vet on her website, doctorhartfield.com, where the Doctor Hartfield Veterinary Book Series is sold.

“Even if you don’t grow up wanting to be a veterinarian, I don’t think it’s ever too late to decide to go,” Hartfield said. “I don’t think you should ever put a limit on that—I didn’t decide until my 20s. There is a shortage of veterinarians in rural areas, and I’m hoping to help with that.”

Page 18 • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Avoiding a cold may hinge on sleep habits

Wash your hands. Eat a healthy diet. Exercise.

These are all mainstays on just about any list offering advice on fending off the common cold, which is hitting hard this time of year, along with the flu. But studies also suggest another piece of advice that’s just as important as hitting the gym: Hitting the hay.

Studies suggest if you find yourself sleeping less than five or six hours per night, you could be up to four times more likely to catch a cold than those who sleep seven hours or more. While these figures might seem a bit high, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation President Stephen Prescott, M.D., said there’s no question sleep is critical to human health.

“It’s pretty universally agreed upon by scientists, physicians and grandmothers everywhere that a good night’s sleep makes you healthier,” said Prescott. “Beyond that, I’m not sure how much we know for sure about the specifics of sleep’s regulatory role in the immune system.

That’s because it’s difficult to measure, not because the benefit isn’t there.”

The reason little is known about the sleep’s role in aiding the immune system, said Prescott, is because of the lack of reliability when it comes to self-reporting and also the natural inconsistencies in sleep cycles. While accurate sleep accounts are tough to rely on, there is no question ade-

quate sleep is important.

Poor sleep habits have also been linked historically to diabetes, heart disease, depression, weight gain and an extensive list of chronic illnesses.

A National Sleep Foundation survey reported that 20 percent of adults sleep fewer than six hours on an average work night.

There’s no doubt, Prescott said, that people who are run down, fatigued and haven’t been sleeping well are at a much greater risk for developing a common cold or contracting other viruses.

Tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption and poor diet can also increase your susceptibility to this ever-present virus. However, said Prescott, there are easy things we can do to protect our health that we often neglect. “Everybody always wants a diagnosis or a medication, but sometimes it’s as simple as listening when your mom says, ‘Eat your veggies and get some sleep.’ It can be amazingly effective.”

Getting adequate sleep falls really into the category of ‘common sense’ and good health practices but not just because it helps you fight colds, he said.

Sleep has been shown to improve concentration and results in better performance in physical work that requires dexterity and precision.

“The better you sleep, the better you perform overall,” he said. “Just follow your grandmother’s advice and get that eight hours.”

OCU prof to be in Boston Marathon Oklahoma City University music theory professor Erik Heine will be competing in the Boston Marathon this year to raise money for the Deb Heine Endowed Scholarship Fund.

The scholarship, when fully endowed, will be awarded to undergraduate music majors who have completed at least five semesters at Oklahoma City University, with at least one semester remaining.

“I want to do something that will have a positive lasting effect on the university. I don’t have the financial means to create this scholarship on my own, but I have a body that is still willing to do something that will hopefully be awe-inspiring, and will encourage alumni and friends to sup-

port me in this challenge,” Heine said.

This year marks the 123rd Boston Marathon, which is the only marathon in the United States where athletes must qualify by achieving a standard time based on age and gender. Heine completed the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in 3:11:21, almost four minutes under the time needed to qualify.

Heine invites alumni, faculty, staff and friends of the university to partner with him in the creation of the Deb Heine Endowed Scholarship. To learn more contact Christi Jeffreys at 405-208-5436 or to give securely online go to www.okcu.edu/endurancechallenge.

OMRF Foundation President Dr. Stephen Prescott

Knowing & leaving a toxic relationship

By Chad McCoy, LPC Audrey Woods, Staff Therapist Relationships, particularly new relationships, can be intoxicating. We all know a friend who has “hiberdated” (disappeared when starting a new relationship). But this toxicity isn’t reWoods served for romantic relationships. It can sneak its way into platonic, familial, and work relationships but no matter what, it becomes all-consuming or as Britney Spears puts it, “you’re toxic, I’m slippin’ under.”

There are certain characteristics you can look for to know when a relationship has gone from fun to unhealthy and potentially dangerous: n When someone criticizes you or puts you down n When you become dependent on them, i.e. they convince you to quit your job or you feel like you need their approval for things n When it’s too good to be true at the beginning or they are overly complimentary n When they isolate you by asking you not to hang out or communicate with other friends or family because they “love you so much they want to spend every waking moment with you” n Excessive jealousy n Wanting to move more quickly than you’re comfortable with and not respecting your boundaries n Past abusive relationships or not taking responsibility for their behavior n Keeping constant tabs on you like asking for your social media passwords or texting 24/7

Chad’s addition: The company that you keep says a lot of about the type of person you are, the type of people you’re willing to tolerate, and eventually will shape the type of person you will become.

McCoy So you find yourself identifying some of the characteristics of a toxic relationship: What do you do? Leave.

You get away as quickly as possible; and I’ll tell you why. If you remain in a poor relationship, your beliefs about, and behaviors within future relationships are skewed and normal the toxicity you experience in these relationships.

The dissonance you feel between what you perceive as your self-worth, and the amount of pain you’re willing to take is crushing.

One will have to bend, and the longer you allow this relationship to stand, the more at-risk your selfworth becomes. Then guess what: You become a part of the toxicity, because when in Rome…

Maybe Britney said it best: “I’ve had enough, I’m not your property as from today, baby; you might think that I won’t make it on my own; but now I’m stronger.”

Whatever you do, unless you’re both healthier, don’t return to these relationships. Otherwise, you might be singing, “Oops, I did it again.”

Edmond Family Counseling is a community resource devoted to mental health. If you would like more information, or if we can be of service, log on to http://edmondfamily.org.

Donations are appreciated!

Engagement, Wedding notices Do you have a wedding or engagement notice?

If so, please contact us at Edmond Life & Leisure, either by phone, 340-3311 or e-mail, news@edmondpaper.com.

We will then send or fax you an engagement or wedding form.The cost is $35, which includes a photograph.

Payment is due upon submission by noon Thursday.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 19

Home Gardening 101workshop starts next month The Home Gardening 101 Workshop will be held again in early 2018.

This popular three-day course of study provides University research-based information on a variety of garden and horticulture topics.

All of these presentations are by local horticulture experts and Certified Extension Master Gardeners.

Fun and instructional, this workshop will cover everything the home gardener needs to know for growing their garden from the ground up. Topics to be covered include soil preparation and composting, turf grass management, irrigation and water conservation, vegetable gardening, choosing appropriate and pollinator-friendly plants, and common plant diseases.

This gardening program will take place on three consecutive Saturdays, Feb. 17, 24, and March 3, from 9 am to 3 pm at the OSU Extension Conference Center, 2500 NE 63rd Street, Oklahoma City.

The Home Gardening 101 Workshop is open to the public.

Registration, along with a non-refundable charge of $50 per person, is due by Feb. 1. This fee includes all three days. Please bring your own sack lunch and a light jacket/sweater. Coffee and water will be provided.

A gift of this workshop would make an ideal gift for a gardener, whether a novice or veteran; seating is limited, so reserve your seat today. You may mail your $50 payment to OSU Extension Center, Attn: Master Gardeners, 2500 NE 63rd, Oklahoma City, OK, 73111.

“Like” the Oklahoma County Extension Master Gardeners on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter using the handle “@OkieMGs.” For more information, contact an Oklahoma County Extension Master Gardener at (405) 7131125 or okmganswers@gmail.com and visit our new website at okiemgs.okstate.edu.

New ESA Pledges

PHOTO PROVIDED

Epsilon Sigma Alpha’s Gamma Zeta’s newest pledges are Kathy Roderick and Bonnie Daye. Epsilon Sigma Alpha, an international philanthropic organization, volunteers hours and monies to the Baptist Boys’ Ranch Town, Project 66, Coffee Creek Riding Stables, No Boundaries International, Free to Live, You R Special, All Things Baby, and Mobile Meals. The national project is St. Judes' Children’s Research Hospital and the group volunteers and supports children at the Oklahoma School for the Blind and the Oklahoma School for the Deaf. If you would like to join this energetic group or give a donation, contact Jo Ann Bullard at 405-341-7271.

Ada Blankenship, Gamma Zeta member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, an international service organization, presented an educational on Lilyfield Christian Adoption and Foster Care.

PHOTO PROVIDED

More on Lilyfield Christian Adoption & Foster Care Based in Edmond, the Lilyfield Christian Adoption and Foster Care organization has an adoption program, a counseling service, a foster care service, and independent living services for youth who have aged out of the foster care system.

Volunteer opportunities are available to provide child care at monthly support groups, connect with and support a foster family, mentor Gateway clients, special

events teams or donate services like printing and lawn care, etc, or donate skills like photography and design, etc to the organization. Lilyfield is looking for partnership opportunities with 250 people to commit to becoming Monthly Partners by donating $25, $50, or $100 a month so that they can finance their ongoing expenses and find Christian families for children in need. If you can help, please call 405-216-5240.

Page 20 • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

COMMERCIAL - 5.73 ACRES – EDMOND

STUNNING, CASUAL ELEGANCE

SOLD! $2,750,000

1700 S. Bryant

1623 Saratoga Way

$1,395,000

Fabulous property on 5.73 ideally situated in Edmond! Currently being used as a church with an additional building for youth activities. The main building is approx. 19,189 sq.ft. and the second building is approx. 8,469 sq.ft. Large parking lot and playground areas! This property has unlimited potential!

Unbelievable home and yard! Approx.

6698 sq.ft., 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 1 powder bath and so many amenities-striking fireplaces, beautiful wood floors, cathedral and coffered ceilings, backyard oasis with waterfalls, streams, koi pond, hot tub, cabana, and more in this peaceful vacation-like setting!

#3 GREEN & #4 TEE AT OAK TREE

5TH FAIRWAY IN ROSE CREEK

1001 Oak Tree Road

$1,199,900

3433 NW 173rd Street

$1,095,000

Fabulous golf course home!

Truly unbelievable! Exceptional beauty and quality by Raymond Carter! Approx. 5554 sq.ft., Approx. 4727 sq.ft., 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 2 half 3 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 2 half baths, front courtyard baths, beautiful wood floors, professional appliances, w/water feature, master is huge w/sitting area, fp, his/hers stunning fixtures, private backyard with pool, hot bathrooms, sauna/safe room, pool and green house in outdoor living area, no details were overlooked! tub, fire pit, and golf course views!

EAST GOLF COURSE - 15TH HOLE

6601 Acorn Drive

$999,000

ACREAGE IN LAVENDER WOOD

3000 Lavendar

$795,000

Stunning home! Approx 6044 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 2 powder baths, 4 living (family room, game room, theater room, study), 2 dining, hand scraped wood floors, stunning fixtures, hidden safe room in the study, outdoor living space with fireplace, pool, and hot tub, 4 car attached garage!

Stunning home! Approx. 5286 sq.ft., 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 1 half bath, 4 living, including an impressive study w/secret door to master closet, 2 dining, granite in kitchen, safe room, unbelievable backyard, a must see!

COSMOPOLITAN COMFORT WITH ACREAGE

EDMOND SCHOOLS

1400 Hidden Lake

Approx. 4652 sq.ft., 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 1 half baths, 3 living, 2 dining, spacious master with sitting area, numerous amenities including gorgeous wood floors, granite counter tops, beautiful tile, stunning fixtures, private backyard, a true find!

6608 Mystic Valley Dr. $749,900 Brand new! Approx. 4335 sq.ft., 5 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 1 half bath, 4 living, 2 dining, all beds down, 1.73 wooded acres (mol).

GRAND TIMBER ADDITION (2.071 ACRES)

ROSE CREEK 9TH FAIRWAY

$749,900

4216 Grand Timber

$725,000

Gorgeous Ryan Kanaly home on just over 2 acres! This magnificent home has approx. 3950 sq.ft., 5 spacious bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, 1 half bath, 3 living areas (including family room, study, and upstairs bonus room), 2 dining areas, outdoor living area with covered patio and fireplace, truly stunning!

FABULOUS HOME ON 5 ACRES

7301 Tangle Vine Drive

$699,900

Exceptional home! Approx. 3989 sq.ft., 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 1 half bath, many amenities including hand scraped wide planked wood floor, stamped tin ceiling, cathedral ceiling & cedar beams in family room, gorgeous fireplace, great view of backyard, SS appliances, granite counter tops, beautiful builtin hutch, safe room, and more all on 5 acres (mol)!

EDMOND SCHOOLS

CREEK BEND

3901 Red Deer Crossing - $649,900 This fabulous home features approx 4442 sq.ft, with 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 1 half bath, 4 living areas, 2 dining, and 4 car attached garage. The home boasts loads of amenities – cathedral ceilings with wood beams, wet bar in game room, granite counter tops, built-ins and storage. The backyard is unbelievable with a pool, hot tub, and outdoor kitchen!

3416 Winding Creek Cir. - $630,000 Unbelievable property on approx. 0.703 acre lot at the end of a cul-de-sac! Approx. 4,585 square feet, 5 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 1 half bath, 4 living (family room, hearth room, study, game room up), 2 dining areas, garage apartment with stunning cathedral ceiling, sink, cabinets, and full bath.

CONTEMPORARY IN TWIN BRIDGES

9TH & BRYANT

1100 Iron Bridge Court - $475,000 Gorgeous home! Approx. 3040 sq.ft., 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, quality craftsmanship, soaring ceilings, wood flooring, large windows let in natural light, gourmet kitchen w/extra large island, SS appliances, walk-in pantry, large backyard, close to neighborhood lake and pool!

EDMOND SCHOOLS

1001 Teeside Blvd. - $379,900

928 Robtrice Court - $439,900 Smart and immaculate office space with quality appointments! Two separate spaces joined by a reception area with bathroom and storage/screening room. The right side has large open space and 4 offices. The left side has another large open space, kitchen space with dishwasher, and 2 offices.

HISTORIC GUTHRIE PROPERTY

116 W. Oklahoma - $359,900

Great floor plan! Approx. 3627 sq.ft., 4 Unbelievable Property! 5,000 sq.ft. building (2500 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1 half bath, 3 living, sq.ft. up/2500 sq.ft. down), 2nd floor is a spectacular 2 dining, gorgeous wood floors, granite, apartment w/12' ceilings, historic skylights, and many stunning fixtures, cedar closet, storm updates. Downstairs level is retail space and storage. shelter, great home!

DEER CREEK SCHOOLS EDMOND SCHOOLS

3200 NW 171st Place

$725,000

Gorgeous golf course home!

Approx. 3901 sq.ft., 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 1 half bath, floor-to-ceiling windows in living, granite in kitchen, rock wall and fireplace, built-in hot tub great views, elegant home you need to see!

STUNNING BORGATA HOME

2505 Portofino Place

$699,900

Owner has over $1M in this home! Unbelievable Quality! Approx. 5373 sq.ft., 5 bedrooms, 5 full baths, 2 half baths, 5 living, wood floors, custom cabinetry, impressive backyard w/covered slate patio, grill, water feature, and so many more features you need to see to appreciate!

EDMOND OFFICE BUILDING

2932-2934 NW 156th Street - $600,000

Fabulous office building! 2 suites with separate entrances, spacious entry, conference room, 7 offices, kitchen, great location!

TWIN BRIDGES

OAK TREE

1103 Saint Andrews Dr. - $599,900

Approx. 4930 sq.ft., 3 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 2 half baths, 2 living, 2 dining, contemporary design, 12' ceilings in great & game rooms, great view of pool and tennis court!

EDMOND SCHOOLS

4900 Coronado Bridge Ct. - $429,900

2308 Berryhill Circle – $399,900

Wonderful home! Approx. 3418 sq.ft., 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths, open and spacious, gorgeous wood floors, granite counter tops, large family room, community pool and rec center, and more!

EDMOND SCHOOLS

Wonderful home! Approx. 3374 sq.ft., 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 1 half baths, 2 living, 2 dining, tons of storage, beautiful deck w/in-ground pool and fountain on a cul-de-sac!

4301 Wild Plum Lane - $359,900 Approx. 3399 sq.ft., 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 half bathsThey , 4 living areas, 2 dining, spacious family room w/gorgeous rock fireplace, large kitchen, great backyard w/stained patio, check it out!

THE TRAILS

PRISTINE HOME IN VALENCIA

2205 NW 184th Court - $349,900

Approx. 3157 sq.ft., 4 bedrooms (enormous bed up could be game room), 2 full baths, 2 half baths, spacious and open plan, private backyard, neighborhood pool, great location!

ASHEFORDE OAKS

4800 Hillside - $339,900

1101 Frontier Circle - $279,900

2608 Bent Trail – $279,900

3025 Asheton Court – $259,900

Wonderful home! Approx. 2723 sq.ft., 6 bedrooms, 4 full baths, fabulous fireplace, sitting area in master, nearly one acre, storm shelter, come take a look!

Pristine home! Approx. 2727 sq.ft., 4 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, 2 living, 2 dining, beautiful brick fp, private & spacious master, unbelievable backyard w/stone patio and screened-in porch, neighborhood pool, fishing pond, and more!

Exceptional quality! Approx. 2,608 sq.ft, 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 living, 2 dining, plantation shutters, commissioned stained glass front door and side lights, covered patio w/pergola and more!

CHIMNEY HILL

THE TRAILS

Immaculately maintained & move in ready! Approx. 2,925 sq.ft., 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 half baths, 2 living, 2 dining areas, spectacular fireplace, upgraded dining, patio off of the kitchen and great room, a fabulous home!

MONTIGO FIELDS

7720 Hawk Lane - $212,400

7707 Hawk Crest Lane - $208,900

SOLD! 2201 Brixton Road - $239,900

2604 Trail Creek Road - $239,900

Wonderful home! Approx. 2310 sq.ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 living, 2 dining, hickory wood floors, open and spacious, huge private, treed, peaceful backyard!

Incredible home! Approx. 2457 sq.ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1 half bath, 2 living, 2 dining, stone fp, floor-to-ceiling windows in family room, remodeled kitchen, amazing home!

MONTIGO FIELDS

SOLD! Approx. 1860 sq.ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 full Recently completed! Approx 1882 sq ft, baths, 2 living (family room and study), 1 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 living, open dining, loaded with amenities: granite layout, large windows, granite, SS counter tops, SS appliances, quality fixtures, appliances all on 1.25 acres (mol)! situated on approx. 1 acre.

DEER CREEK SCHOOLS

MONTIGO FIELDS

SOLD! SOLD! SOLD! SOLD! 1707 N. Canary Drive - $204,900

Approx. 2259 sq.ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 1 half bath, 1 living, 2 dining, sun room, granite in the kitchen, creek lot, 2 car garage w/porte a cache!

7737 Hawk Crest Lane - $199,900

Recently completed! Approx. 1855 sq.ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 living, open and spacious, large windows, granite, SS appliances,on 1.25 acres (mol).

2109 Cedar Meadow Lane - $199,900

14921 Monticello Drive - $175,000

Approx. 1920 sq.ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 living, 2 dining, beautiful wood floors, stylish fixtures, marble counter tops, storm shelter, great backyard, neighborhood pool/park/ponds!

Approx. 1954 sq.ft., 2 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 living, 2 dining, former model home w/extensive wood trim, open floorplan, spacious kitchen, many neighborhood amenities!

LOTS & ACREAGES 3116 Basanova - $85,000 - Olde Edmond Lot • Great neighborhood in E. Edmond, Build your dream home here!

002 Montigo Fields - $117,000 • Approx. 7.816 acres (mol), lot with pond, great location!

Acreage Lots for sale $30,000 - $89,000 • You pick the builder - Some restrictions apply.

Nicholas Court (Lot 19) - $135,000 • Approx. 1.494 acres, Edmond schools - Great location!

Montigo Fields • Acreage Lots - $23,080 - $37,840 • 1,800 sq. ft min. N. of Waterloo on Broadway. Builders Welcome!

7705 Hawk Lane - $77,400 • 7.74 acres mol - Minutes from Liberty Lake!

13051 Hickory Hills - $150,000 • Approx 14.50 acres (mol), Great location in Arcadia - Minutes from I35

Get RESULTS. Call BRAD REESER today - 330-2626 To list YOUR home, ranch, or land, just call BRAD REESER!

Western and Sorghum Mill - $179,900 • Fabulous 3.2 acre lot, half mile north of Western and Sorghum Mill on Western.

Property to Sell? • Accepting New Listings • CALL US! WE SELL homes, ranches, acreages and developments.

PHOTO PROVIDED

The 1986 film didn’t portray a good image of this home, but it’s now on sale for $5.9 million.

‘The Money Pit’ film home goes on the market for sale One of the most infamous homes in movie history is for sale. 'The Money Pit' home on Long Island is on the market at $5.9 million. Not the film version as seen in the 1986 movie with Tom Hanks and Shelley Long but the real life version, more a candidate for 'House Beautiful' than 'Disaster Survival Magazine.'

More popular than ever before is the trend of flipping an investment house or buying an aging one stuck in another decade with the idea of turning it into your dream home.

Anyone who is mesmerized by the idea of restoring an old house should first watch 'The Money Pit.' Though exaggerated as filmdom will do to hold an audience’s attention - not so quick. Take another look. Tom and Shelley (as Walter and Anna in the movie) might have fallen through floors and set the house on fire due to worn-out wiring while the audience howled with mirth, but many do-it-yourselfers are falling through boards and igniting wiring every day, but their howling comes from anguish.

It was easy to see why Walter and Anna fell in love with 'The Money Pit' home’s potential. The house, that in real life was owned by Olympic gold medalist Eric Ridder, was grand at 14,000 square feet and wonderfully located in a preferred enclave on Long Island, close to Manhattan. It had a show-stopping entry with grand staircase and large formal rooms opening to the left and the right. It had all the attributes of the Gilded Age lady it was, even if the “lady” were more “bag” than gilded.

They were able to grab it for only $200,000 and felt they had managed to steal the bargain of the century.

Life was good. At first. Throughout the film, the audience vicariously

lived the redo process laughing at their inexperience and foibles. Fortunately, the destructive mess made out of the house by the contractors was filmed on studio sound stages and not in the actual mansion. When the couple managed to get through the film’s restoration that lasted over four months instead of the two weeks they were promised, it had almost destroyed their relationship. But they bounced back and ended up getting married standing in front of their dream home.

After the film crew finally left, the house still needed massive repairs.

Fortunately, a real life couple came along and bought the 1898 mansion named Northway, and immediately got to work on the house the right way. It took four years of hard work by the best designers, decorators and contractors to turn it into a jewel box that script writers and set designers for 'The Money Pit' could never have imagined. Now for sale as its best possible self, every detail has been addressed from its elaborate moldings to its gleaming ebony wood floors to the formal gardens and the soft sound of fountains. The 23-room home has seven large ensuite bedrooms plus a four-room master suite, an eat-in kitchen, eight fireplaces including one in the grand foyer, large formal rooms, study, pool and pool house. The mansion’s brick terrace overlooking the gardens and woods is a perfect place to sit and ponder your next home improvement task.

No longer a fixer upper as portrayed in the 1986 film 'The Money Pit,' Long Island’s Northway estate is priced at $5.9 million. The listing agents are Lois Kirschenbaum and Margaret Trautmann of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s in Locust Valley, New York.

‘An Affair of the Heart’ coming to OKC soon “An Affair of the Heart” Oklahoma City, February 2018 Show; is set for the 9th, 10th, and 11th at State Fair Park. Special room rates are available through Host Hotel, Wyndham Gardens OKC Airport for your three days of shopping pleasure.

Your February 2018 show sponsors include: Permanent Cosmetics by Vann Reece, State Farm, Renewal by Andersen, Bath Fitter, Advanced Body Scan, Cutco, Floor Covering International, and Shelf Genie.

The official AAOTH” Magazine will be available at building entrances free of charge.

Remember, the magazine can be an extremely effective tool for your shopping experience to locate your favorite vendors, show sponsors, television, and radio personalities.

Top television and radio personalities will also be on hand from media outlets including FM, 92.5 KOMA, Magic 104.1 KMGL, 98.9 KISS, KWTV 9 and KOCO.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 21

Lawmakers want reform to Tobacco Trust Freshman Senators Greg McCortney and Adam Pugh, along with House author Representative Mark McBride have filed a bill that will reform the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.

Senate Bill 1149 stabilizes TSET by allowing the board to spend 5 percent of the principal of the corpus as opposed to the current structure which allows 100 percent of the earnings to be spent. All three legislators agreed the reform allows TSET to make wise, long-term commitments to projects including funding for cancer research through the Stephenson Cancer Center and grants to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

“Our goal was to maintain the integrity of the wonderful work TSET is currently supporting through some of these organizations and allow a more focused vision on the type of support that will benefit the health of Oklahoma and our citizens” said Pugh, R-Edmond.

Among the additional changes, a portion of new settlement revenue will be sent to public education programs

that are health-centric such as speech language pathology, special education support and teachers, and resources for continued health programs in schools.

“TSET has done an incredible job addressing cigarette addiction. I’m excited to expand addiction programs to address the many challenges facing our state,” said McCortney, R- Ada. “This bill provides the necessary flexibility and revenue to help us combat opioid addiction. As we are able to responsibly redirect incoming monies to other agencies on the frontlines of this battle, we are confident this will not hurt the core mission of TSET.” McBride, R- Moore, said he was pleased about the collaborative nature of the bill.

“TSET reforms have been very popular among our constituencies for several years now and I believe this bill reflects the will of the people” he said. “We worked with all parties affected by these changes and came up with a good piece of legislation that should pass both chambers of the legislature this spring.”

GRAND OPENING --- S&B Burger Joint held a ribbon cutting earlier this month to celebrate the grand opening of their new Edmond location at 840 W. Danforth Road. S&B Burger Joint was founded by Shannon Roper and Bryan Neel in 2009, inside the kitchen of Oklahoma City’s former Electro Lounge. They opened their flagship location in Oklahoma City, and have since expanded to 10 locations in the state of Oklahoma. Offering gourmet burgers and a full service bar, you’re bound to get your fix at S&B’s. To learn more about their menu and locations, visit http://www.sandbburgers.com/.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Sales tax collections a good sign for city

By Eriech Tapia NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman The city has seen its largest sales tax checks ever as consumers spent more before the holiday season, giving the city a 5.2 percent increase over last year. “This is one of the biggest jumps we have seen in a long time,” City Finance Director Warren Porter said.

Overall sales tax collections are up 2.32 percent since the start of this fiscal year in July compared with last year.

The city collected a total of $3,020,027 in sales tax in its January payment, which Porter said is the largest ever. This check includes sales from the last two weeks of November and first two in December.

The largest collection is usually in February, and Porter is hoping next month’s increase will be even larger.

Consumer spending also has increased by 2.3 percent over last year at department stores and 10.7 percent at full-service restaurants.

A collection decrease of .5 percent was seen over last year at supermarkets.

Electronic shopping use tax is up 303 percent over last year to $519,952. Since last year, the city has begun collecting tax on Amazon purchases, which is a large contributor. The city began collecting from Amazon in May, but the specific amount collected is not public.

The use tax on oil and gas sup-

port continues to increase with a monthly collection of nearly $150,000 more than last January.

Growth projections for sales tax are at 1 percent this fiscal year, but the city has stayed above the threshold.

Porter recently gave a presentation about next year’s budget to the city council and projected that the city will have 2 percent growth for the next several years.

“We think we can support that conservative number,” Porter said.

The council agreed to have a public hearing and workshop for next year’s budget at 9 a.m. May 3.

Under state law, Edmond and other cities are reliant on sales tax to fund everyday services. Edmond has the lowest sales tax of any metro-area city, according to a recent report released by Porter.

Shoppers in Edmond pay 8.25 percent sales tax on purchases; 4.5 percent goes to the state; and 3.75 percent is returned to Edmond.

Building Edmond New residential building permits continue to rise to 44 with an average home price of more than $308,000.

In the springtime, home sales increase across Edmond, and Janet Yowell, Edmond Economic Development Authority executive director, said it is one of the best times to sell.

Gourmet Gallery to have tasting event The Gourmet Gallery, located in Edmond at 1532 S. Boulevard and in Oklahoma City at The Shoppes at Northpark, 122nd & N. May (on the May Ave. side), will have a Pre-Inventory tasting event on Friday, Feb. 2 and Saturday Feb. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The staff will be sampling products

complete with recipes, perfect for Super Bowl & meal planning. There will be 20 percent off storewide will be offered at both locations. Don’t miss this opportunity to stock up.

For more information please contact The Gourmet Gallery at 7153663.

Thomas Earley

New CFO at local hospital OU Medical Center Edmond names Thomas Earley, as its new chief financial officer. Earley will aid in the facility’s growth objectives through sound financial stewardship and provide support with the upcoming transition.

Earley has over 17 years healthcare management/finance experience and most recently comes to OU Medical Center Edmond from AllianceHealth Deaconess in Oklahoma City where he served as chief financial officer.

Earley earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and a master of business administration degree from Oklahoma State University. He is a certified public accountant and is a member of both the state and national CPA associations.

About OU Medical Center Edmond A cornerstone of the Edmond community for 71 years, OU Medical Center Edmond is a full service community hospital located at Second and Bryant streets.

Page 22 • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Trip to London over holidays

School officials look back on successful band tour

Send news or photos to news@edmondpaper.com

By Lillie-Beth Brinkman NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman Members of Edmond public schools’ music communities recently returned home from a successful music-inspired trip to London over the holidays to explore the city and perform at various venues.

The most visible of the performances — and the event that prompted the trip in the first place — came from the Edmond bands’ marching in the twomile, 32nd annual London New Year’s Day Parade winding through the city’s center. In all, 418 students made the trip to London this year, including the bands and orchestras from all three Edmond high schools and the choirs from Santa Fe and Edmond Memorial high schools.

Joining them were an

additional 249 adults, including chaperones and staff members. The last group of students returned late Jan. 4.

All of the Edmond groups attended each of the other Edmond events to cheer on their fellow district students.

A combined choir performed during the Grand Finale Concert of the London International Chorale Festival at Westminster Central Hall, built in 1912 and located near Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. In addition to Edmond Memorial and Santa Fe singers, the choirs for that performance included Ravenscroft Concert Choir, St. Paul’s Episcopal School Chorale and South Fork High School Carillon Singers; accompanying them were London’s Young Musicians Symphony Orchestra.

Each orchestra performed separately during the London New Year’s Day Festival Concert at the 110-year-old Cadogan Hall in Chelsea.

“They represented Edmond and the state of Oklahoma just amazingly well beyond any expectations, not just in their performances but just being around the city,” said Mike Lowery, who led the first Edmond trip to London in 1998 as Santa Fe’s

band director and who now is a consultant for the London-based organizers, LYNDP, short for London New Year’s Day Parade.

The Santa Fe band has marched in the London parade six times since its invitation that first year; a couple of those trips have included all-city (Edmond) combined bands, Lowery said. This is the first time that all three schools participated on such a wide scale across musical disciplines.

Edmond directors making the trip included orchestra directors David Koehn with Edmond Memorial, Christy Fine with Santa Fe and Justin Pourtorkan, with North; band directors Sarah Neeley with Santa Fe, Jeff Jahnke with Memorial and Greg Mangus; and choir directors Wes Singleton with Edmond Memorial and Shermie Potts and Jeanine Gully with Edmond Santa Fe choir.

“It was fabulous,” said Neeley, who has made the trip both as a Santa Fe band student years ago and now as director.

The students, separately by schools and musical group, took boat trips down the Thames River, visited Greenwich and the Royal Observatory, toured the Tower of London, took walking

tours of Harry Potter’s notable sites, visited Windsor Castle and Oxford University and much more.

The trip was designed to spark an interest in a world and culture beyond Edmond.

“It makes all those things they read about in their history books and in the literature books come to life,” Neeley said.

The students also got to see more of London’s musical offerings, including either “Wicked” or “Aladdin” in London’s theater district, similar to New York’s Broadway, and the Choral Evensong church service in the 350-yearold St. Paul’s Cathedral.

In addition, some of the students attended a reception at The Gladstone Library at One Whitehall Place, with officials such as Westminster Lord Mayor Ian Adams and Queen Deputy Lt. Roger Bramble.

Koehn noted how important it was to expose the students to a culture beyond the United States and have experiences that they can’t reproduce in this country, such as enjoying music performed in a centuries-old cathedral.

He wished that all of his orchestra members could have joined his group for the experience.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Santa Fe students take in the sights in London during their recent band tour of the English city.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 23

Lyric Theatre opens season with Gospel musical ‘Crowns’ Lyric Theatre will experience a convergence of faith and fashion next month when it opens its 2018 season with Crowns, a jubilant celebration of African American church ladies and their longstanding love affair with glamorous hats.

The first of eight productions this season, Crowns connects five women’s cherished custom with memorable occasions in their lives. The limited, three-week run opens Feb. 7 and continues through Feb. 25 at the Plaza Theatre, 1725 NW 16 St. The production is brimming with witty storytelling and rousing gospel greats, including “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” “Just a Closer Walk” and “When the Saints Go Marching In.” Based on the book by Regina Taylor, the story is a springboard for an exploration of how these hats are more than a mere fashion accessory; they’re a cherished custom in the African American community. As Taylor noted in her book, “There’s a little more strut in your carriage when you wear a nice hat.”

The musical is seen through the eyes of a young black woman who, after her brother was killed in New York, travels to the South to stay with her aunt. She discovers there are hats for just about every occasion and finds the tradition of the “crown” dates back to African rituals and

slavery and has become a part of modern-day fashion.

“This is a play about faith and family; about the tribe, about how and why, despite generational differences and geography, the tribe endures and grows,” said W. Jerome Stevenson of the Pollard Theatre, who is guest directing at Lyric for the first time. “Our team was encouraged to present a rich and nuanced story in all its complexities. We discovered that embracing the pain and joy in these stories enriched a sense of pride in our shared progress towards a larger human tribe.”

This production was adapted for the stage by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry and features choreography by Hui Cha Poos and music direction by Sandra Thompson. The cast of seven includes Kizzie Ledbetter (Mabel), M. Denise Lee (Mother Shaw), Ashley Arnold

(Yolanda), Delanie Phillips Brewer (Wanda), Kimberly Oliver (Velma), Nakeisha McGee (Jeanette) and Derrick Cobey (Man).

Crowns marks Lee’s first show with Lyric Theatre. Ledbetter previously appeared in Lyric’s productions of Aida and Hello, Dolly! and Arnold took to the stage last summer in Disney’s When You Wish and also Dreamgirls and The Wizard of Oz in 2016. Oliver also stared in Disney’s When You Wish. Brewer’s Lyric credits include My Fair Lady, My One and Only, George M!, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Wiz. Cobey appeared in Lyric’s 2011 production of Ragtime and the 2013 hit Big River. Additionally, audiences might recognize McGee from Lyric’s two most recent productions – Lyric’s A Christmas Carol and Rock of Ages.

Single tickets to Crowns start at just $25. For more information, visit LyricTheatreOKC.org or call Lyric’s box office at (405) 524-9312.

Brief A new Five Guys Burgers and Fries is planned to open Monday at 1540 E 2nd Street in Bryant Square shopping center. The restaurant will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is the 12th store in Oklahoma.

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.

Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”

Matthew 10:16

Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi Good Shepherd Anglican Church (Traditional Episcopal) 1000 N. Broadway, Edmond •314-8715 Sundays - Holy Communion 8:00 & 10:00am Animal Friendly Parish

“Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who wanders from his place.”

“If you have people who exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have those who deal likewise with their fellow human being.”

St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)

www.anglicancgsedmondok.com 1928 Book of Common Prayer • anglicancgesedmondok.com

SCRIPTURE • TRADITION • REASON

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Proverbs 18:24

Proverbs 27:8

Page 24 • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 1B

Page 2B • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Three Santa Fe students ace the ACT

Triple the perfection

PHOTO BY ERIKA WILLIAMS

Santa Fe High School students Michael Yu (left), Joshua Zu (center), and Brian Carlton (right) scored a perfect 36 on the ACT.

By Erika Williams Three Santa Fe High School students, Brian Carlton, Michael Yu, and Joshua Zu, have earned a perfect 36 composite score on the ACT college entrance exam. This is a rare achievement that, according to the ACT website, is only earned by onetenth of one percent of students who take the ACT. Carlton is a senior at Santa Fe High School, but earned his score as a junior. He says he took advanced placement classes to prepare for the exam.

“The previous time I had taken the test, I think I was a sophomore, I had gotten a 35, so whenever I took it as a junior, I had taken more AP classes so I knew it would be that again or a

36, so I wasn’t too surprised.”

As he prepares to graduate high school, Carlton has been thinking about his academic future.

“I want to go to OU, and my plan right now is to double major in computer engineering and math.”

Yu, who is a junior, said the use of online practice tests helped him achieve his score. These practice tests helped him become familiar with the types of questions on the exam.

“Last time, I think I was in seventh grade, I got a 30 so I went into it thinking that I’d at least get a 30, but when I walked out I realized there weren’t any questions I wasn’t sure about, so I thought I had scored pretty high.”

He said he found out about his

score when his mom woke him up with the news.

“I was sleeping and my mom woke me up for school and said, ‘Hey get up, and by the way, you got a 36.’ I was pretty tired. I didn’t even know what she was talking about.”

Zu, whose sister also scored a 36 on the ACT, earned a perfect score on his first time taking the exam. He said he felt that everything he had learned in school prepared him for the exam, but he was still surprised when he received his score.

“I did not expect it. I walked out of the test thinking that I didn’t score that high. I thought I did pretty well, but I didn’t think I scored that high, so I was very surprised when I saw

my score.”

Although he is only a sophomore, Zu is already thinking about his future.

“I’m not sure what college I want to go to, but an Ivy League would be great, and I’m interested in business right now.”

All three students are members of the Santa Fe High School Orchestra.

They believe that their dedication to their instruments has played a role in their academics.

“I think it really teaches us how to discipline ourselves,” said Zu. “We practice every day for orchestra, and because we created that discipline to motivate ourselves, it carries over to other things.”

Mother brings ‘purposeful play’ to Edmond

PHOTOS BY COURTNEY DESPAIN

By Erika Williams A new indoor children’s playground will open in Edmond on January 27.

Annalisa Douglass created Okie Kids Playground with the goal of creating a safe, fun, and educational play

space for children six and under.

“Children under six have different skills that they are learning with social play, numbers, letters, counting, writing skills,” said Douglass. “And, they are needing to learn in a friendly

and welcoming environment, so we are trying to create that here.”

The playground focuses on purposeful play which is a play atmosphere that encourages learning.

“It’s kind of like sneaky play because you don’t realize you’re learning.” Douglass added, “When we

look at kids and we think ‘Oh they’re just playing,’ they’re actually learning.

Purposeful play is giving them the opportunity to learn while playing.”

The playground offers museum quality exhibits, playhouses, a craft continued on Page 3B

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 3B

Okie Kids

area, a café and more.

Douglass, a mother of four, came up with the idea about a year ago after being stuck inside on some rainy days with three toddlers. She has spent countless hours choosing specific equipment for Okie Kids Playground.

“Each item has been specially researched and picked to make sure it gears toward each different level that those children are needing.”

Douglass added that the museum exhibits are from the same places that build for the top five museums in Oklahoma. She hopes to rent and feature new exhibits periodically so that the children always have a new learning experience to look forward to.

While the playground is intended for children under six, Douglass offers “Big Kid Days” where children ages seven to 10 can also play.

“Our Big Kid Days will be days that school is not in service, Fridays after school from 3-6, and then any event that’s a big event.”

Douglass plans to offer different events and support groups geared toward all ages.

From Page 2B

“We are community based. That’s something that makes us different from other playcenters.

We really want to build on community. We’ve got Kindermusik coming in to teach classes, lactation consultants, mommy support groups, and Wilson Chiropractic coming in to teach about physical health,” said Douglass. “We’ll have family night, Lego night, fire prevention safety week and more.”

There is a private event room that individuals or groups can rent out for parties or events. Douglass said she has already received interest from parents, daycares, and homeschool co-ops.

Each parent must sign a waiver for their child to play at Okie Kids Playground, but it can be filled out at Okie Kids Playground or online beforehand.

Parents can choose to buy a monthly membership which includes unlimited visits during the month and 10 percent off of parties, café, and retail purchases, or pay an admission fee every time they visit the playground.

A percentage of all admissions are donated to a different charity being sponsored each month. continued on Page 6B

Preparing for Pre-K

By Erika Williams Many parents do as much as they can to prepare their child for the first day of Pre-K. Here are some tips that can help foster a love of learning in your child before and during this transition period.

• Read to your child Reading to your child, even when he or she is an infant, helps instill a love of reading and builds a special bond between the two of you.

It also helps build their vocabulary, literacy, and language skills.

• Work with your child on the alphabet and writing their name This will give your child an introduction to how and what they will be learning in school.

There are different ways to do this that will be fun for your child. Use blocks, books, paint, puzzles, or anything else that will keep your child engaged and excited.

• Establish a daily schedule If your child has the same schedule every day, then he or she will not be overwhelmed by the timely structure in their classroom.

• If possible, visit the school ahead of time This will give your child a chance to explore a new space with a sense of comfort. This will make the first day of school much easier since your child will be familiar with the environment.

Page 4B • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

STEAM Books Can Help Kids Learn When shopping for books for kids, think about choices focusing on STEAM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) that encourage the pursuit for knowledge and offer opportunities for immersive, learning experiences.

Here are a few fun ideas.

Ultimate Book of Knowledge Packed with information, “DK Children’s Encyclopedia” explains virtually everything! Each entry features a key topic explained in a visual way, with fun facts and crossreferences, revealing the links between subjects. Covering arts, people, history, Earth, nature, science, technology, space, and the human body, this is an essential reference book for children who want to discover as much as possible about the world around them.

Cool Coding Kids can learn to code games and use Scratch with “Star Wars Coding Projects,” a visual guide that shows readers everything they need to know to create cool computer projects, animations and games.

Readers can build a game where they navigate a spaceship through an asteroid belt, as well as a jetpack simulation game. Kids can share projects with friends and challenge them to beat their scores. Each project consists of simple, illustrated steps.

Nature Up-Close A visual reference for kids that explores the natural world in stunning detail, “Explanatorium of Nature,” created in association with

the Smithsonian Institution, is the first in a brand new book Through close-ups and cross-sections, exploded images, X-rays and more, the book explores everything from fruit to flies, coral to clouds, and mountains to mammals -- and is a nice tool for curious minds to find out how things work and why they exist.

Virtual Reality Created in association with an educational virtual reality (VR) company, “Virtual Reality,” explores the history of VR and includes an app download for five VR experiences and a cardboard viewer with stickers to make it your own. Kids can come face-to-face with a T. rex, look inside a volcano, explore the Roman Colosseum, hop aboard the International Space Station and peek under the surface of a pond.

DIY Everything Using freely available software, “3D Printing Projects” provides inspiration and step-by-step visual instruction for simple builds and complicated pieces, from small treasure boxes to chess sets and model cars. This how-to guide covers such subjects as designing, scanning, modeling, digital sculpting, slicing and printing. Information on the 3D printing revolution and the science behind how it works is also included.

Whether it’s a special occasion or just for fun, give the gift of knowledge, with great books that explore the world.

-StatePoint

What are ‘STEAM’ Subjects and Why Do They Matter?

If you’ve heard your child’s educators talking about “STEAM” subjects, they are referring to Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. And these subjects are growing in importance, as more industries require a strong mastery of the concepts and skills involved.

What’s more, a growing body of research shows that exposure to the arts can have a positive impact on one’s performance in science and math-oriented subjects. As your children prepare to succeed in all their classes, keep these things in mind: The Right Classes Talk to your children about ensuring they stack their class schedules with courses that challenge but don’t overwhelm them. It’s easy to overload a schedule with far too many advanced science courses in one semester that can make success unattainable. By the same token, it’s important to ensure that your student is taking enough of the right classes to build a strong foundation for future endeavors. A guidance counselor can help your child strike the right balance.

The Right Tools STEAM success is built on having the right tools, so be sure students are well-equipped. New models of calculators are taking into account the demands on today’s students and offer expanded features that give students the ability to easily draw three dimensional graphs and

view them from various angles to better analyze their shapes. For example, the fx-CG50, the newest model in Casio’s calculator portfolio, features a picture plot function and color LCD with a full textbook-style display.

Likewise, students can build a strong arts foundation by learning to play an instrument. Modern music students may prefer using the most cutting-edge instruments, such as Casio’s Compact Grand Piano CGP-700, which features a touch display that gives them the option to choose tones, select rhythms and split and layer sounds, as well as the ability to record and playback music.

This digital piano has been engineered to have an authentic piano feel and concert grand piano sound.

The Right Programming After school programming can be an ideal opportunity to reinforce STEAM learning in a way that is fun, creative and social. From the robotics club to the orchestra, find out what your school and larger community offer, and encourage your child to get involved. This programming will likely improve grades and test scores, as well as help your child draw connections between disciplines.

While not all trends are worthy of your attention, the importance of STEAM learning can’t be understated and, as a parent, you can help bolster success in these subjects.

-StatePoint

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 5B

YMCA Takes Education Outside the Classroom

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Camp Classen is nestled in the heart of the beautiful Arbuckle Mountains.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

YMCA instructors teach valuable life lessons in the great outdoors at Camp Classen.

Feeling the leaves crunch beneath your feet while hiking, smelling the fresh air while you learn about insects and their habitat, or hearing the water glide along the canoe you’ve just learned to captain. These are all things that happen during the Outdoor Education program at YMCA Camp Classen.

YMCA works with school districts across the region to provide this immersive experience for students and teachers. The program is for fifth and sixth grade students and ranges from three days/two nights to a full week. The program is a balance of academics, camp activities and community development, the latter happening organically.

• Academics – teachers instruct from Y provided curriculum, while Outdoor Education staff lead hikes and instruct at education stations.

• Camp Activities – students learn archery, primitive fire making, rock climbing, fishing, orienteering, geocaching, horse back riding, canoeing and of course how to make the perfect s’more.

• Community Development – students and teachers are able to interact in a different manner and understand each other in a way that may not occur in a classroom setting.

“Community development is a big part of this program,” states Ben Radley, outdoor education director. “This is why teachers keep coming back.

They see the value in the immersion experience and can connect with the students in a different setting.”

Sessions are held Feb. through May and Sept. through Nov. Schools interested in participating should contact YMCA Camp Classen for more information.

About the Y The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the Oklahoma City Metro, 16 Ys engage more than 160,000 men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities across the country, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change.

Page 6B • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

DID YOU KNOW? Children have long been drawn to expressing themselves through art. According to developmental experts, coloring stimulates creativity, contributes to better handwriting, teaches color recognition, and can promote hand-eye coordination. Coloring books can help children learn to recognize boundaries and structure and develop spacial awareness. Adults, too, have recognized the benefits that coloring can bring, which includes stress reduction and improved focus. Crayons have long been a favorite tool for coloring, and over the years certain colors have emerged as fan favorites. Crayola® conducted polls in 1993 and 2000 to find out the most popular colors of crayons in America. Blue was voted the favorite both times. Six other shades of blue, including cerulean, midnight blue, aquamarine, periwinkle, denim and blizzard blue, finished among the top 10.

Purple heart, caribbean green and cerise rounded out the top 10.

‘Sensory activities’ vital part of child development, experts say

Allowing children to use their senses to explore is a vital part of child development, experts say. ”Children are wired to receive and utilize sensory input from day one,” Amanda Morgan, author of the website, www.notjustcute. com, said. “This is why children will dive in hands first, exploring a new substance.”

“The senses are their most familiar, most basic way to explore, process and come to understand new information.”

Children tap into the five senses – touch, smell, taste, balance, sight and hearing, as well as movement – through activity, both natural and organized.

Sensory play is part of the scientific process, Morgan said.

“Whether out loud or within the internal dialogue of the mind, children have developed a question, leading them to investigate, by grabbing, smelling, listening, rubbing, staring, licking, what have you,” she said. “Whether or not young children are always able to verbally communicate this process, it is still a valid exercise in scientific inquiry.”

Potential sensory activities are all over and children naturally initiate them on their own, Dr. LaDonna Atkins, a professor at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, said.

“Sensory activities can be as simple as play in the sand/dirt or playing in a water bin,” she said.

“These type of activities allow one

Okie Kids “Our donation process is 25 cents of the admission goes into our bucket, and 25 cents of the café purchases also goes into it. Five percent of the play passes and monthly memberships that are purchased go into the charity donation as well.”

The Okie Kids Playground grand opening is January 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be two character performers, three door prizes,

to explore through own environment, release stress and build on their own knowledge.”

Likewise, Morgan said, throughout the preschool room and throughout the preschooler’s day, there are appeals being made to the five senses.

“The sound of toppling towers in the block area, the feel of finger-paint sliding under their fingertips, the glow of the Light Brite at the small manip table, the smell of cinnamon play dough,” Morgan said.

Atkins and Morgan agreed that sensory activities provide an “opportunity for every child to succeed.”

“Sensory activities build language development, motor skills, problem solving and social skills and supports cognitive development,” Atkins said.

“Sensory exploration begins at birth and continues throughout the life span.”

Morgan said that the bin of sand, or foam or colorful rice is “more than just another way to keep kids busy, it is a bustling factory of developmental growth.”

“In addition to honing sensory and science skills, sensory play builds language, social and dramatic play skills as the children negotiate with one another to share tools, create stories and build dialogues,” she said.

“No matter whether you are gifted or delayed, learning a new language or mastering your first, you can’t really fail with a bin full of beans or a ball of play dough.

From Page 3B and 75 grab bags with treats for adults and kids.

Although this location is just opening, Douglass already has her sights set on the future.

“Hopefully this is first of four stores. That’s my big goal. Each one will have a different theme, and we’ve sort of got a spot located for our next one.”

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 7B

Preparing for college

4 things your college student doesn’t need

PHOTO PROVIDED

By Erika Williams Every year, over 2 million students in America apply to college. For many students and parents, it can be difficult to know exactly when and where to start. Here are some things to consider when thinking about higher education.

Choosing a College Choosing a college is a big decision. Students must consider admission requirements, degree field, price, and location. UCO Community Outreach and Scholarship Assistant LaTasha Giddings suggests that students can begin thinking about what colleges they might be interested in during their freshman year.

“Freshman and sophomore years, students should start looking at colleges and start getting a feel for what college is, what it’s about, and what they’re interested in.”

If students have an idea of where they want to go and what they want to study, then they can begin working towards their goal in high school.

They may decide to choose certain electives or take an ACT prep class based on their college plans.

Giddings suggests that students start planning college visits during their junior and senior years. She added that most colleges host visit days for high school students where they can talk to recruiters and other college students. Students can also choose to schedule an individual visit and tour.

Applying to College After deciding which colleges to apply to, students need to research the application process. It is important for students to become familiar with the requirements for each college they’re interested in.

Said Giddings, “Students definitely need to know each college has their own requirements and deadlines.”

Students can check the college’s website to find information on what they need, or their high school counselor may be able to provide information.

Some important things to look for

are: ACT requirements, GPA requirements, application deadlines, and required mail-in documents.

Paying for College Many students and parents worry about how to pay for college. Planning early can help relieve some of the pressure. Susan Prater, director of UCO Student Financial Services, said that there are several resources that can help students and parents plan early.

“Oklahoma residents should research the Oklahoma Promise available for application starting at the eighth grade, and should also research the 529 College Savings Plan.”

Most students planning to go to college will need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA application opens on October 1 each year and requires annual completion. The FAFSA not only determines eligibility for student loans and grants, it also allows students to be considered for federal and state grants and federal work study. So, it is usually a good idea to complete a FAFSA even if you are not planning to use student loans.

Said Prater, “The federal website studentaid.ed.gov provides excellent information for preparing for college. In addition, the FAFSA4caster available on the fafsa.gov website provides students an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid that helps families plan ahead for college.”

Another way students can pay for college is through student loans.

Students can begin looking for scholarships as early as their junior year.

Giddings emphasized that there are ample scholarship opportunities for freshmen.

“Most first-time freshmen have the opportunity to get scholarships no matter what institution they go to freshmen year,” said Giddings.

Prater also suggested that students visit College Board Online, FASTWEB, Online Scholarship Search, and Scholarships.com to search for scholarships.

PHOTO PROVIDED

With a little planning, students can enjoy a successful college career whether it’s at a local university such as the University of Central Oklahoma (above) or elsewhere.

Students enjoy a beautiful day on the Oklahoma Christian campus.

You know that college tuition and room and board are pricey, but you may be surprised by the many other costs associated with everyday life on campus. There’s a long list of additional expenses facing college students, which is why it’s so important to avoid paying more than you need to or making purchases that aren’t really required. The Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants reveals just a few items you probably don’t need to add to your shopping list.

Shiny new textbooks. According to a report from the National Association of College Stores, spending on course materials added up to an average of $579 in 201617. Instead of buying new books on campus, look into cheaper options including used or rental copies, e-books that can be accessed from a computer or mobile device or, in

some cases with classics or popular titles, copies that might be available from the school or local public library for free. Also, make sure to note which books are required and which aren’t before purchasing everything on the list, since your student may never actually use the ones that are optional. Search online for the best deals on textbooks, and get some of your money back by selling the books you’re done with at the end of the year.

A set of wheels. There are many expenses related to owning a car, including gas, insurance, depreciation, maintenance and repairs, license fees, registration fees, parking passes and taxes, as well as finance costs related to an auto loan or lease. In its most recent study, AAA found that owning and operating a car currently costs an average of continued on Page 9B

Page 8B • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Peace Lutheran Church offers preschool option

West Field Elementary visited by rodeo royalty

PHOTO PROVIDED

Peace Lutheran Preschool teacher Kym Tucker with her class during the Christmas holidays.

Peace Lutheran Church’s preschool program is designed to be an extension of the congregation’s ministry.

Director Sonya Easley has been with the program since the very beginning 31 years ago.

“We wanted it to be a ministry, an extension of our Christian principles,” she said.

Peace Lutheran Preschool offers a full early childhood education program for children ages three through Pre-K. Easley said the program provides growth, practical living, fine motor skills, the arts, language activities, pre-math and enrichment activities including Spanish, science, chapel and music. The school is located inside the church at 2600 E. Danforth Rd. in Edmond.

Parents have the choice of morning or afternoon classes, as well as extended care options.

Easley said she was a degreed school teacher when she took the helm of the preschool in 1987. Many of the teachers over the years and at present, have education degrees.

After she was “recruited” for the director position by the church where she is a member, the program “kept growing and growing.” Today, 70-75

children are enrolled at Peace Lutheran Preschool.

“I’m still here,” she said. “I feel like this is where God has placed me to be a minister to families and my teachers.”

“When I feel like this isn’t where He’s leading me, I’ll hand over the baton.”

Easley said that the preschool’s hours allow for teachers to be with their own children.

“It was so nice to be home with my kids after school,” she said. “We need to be God first and then develop our families.”

Peace Lutheran Preschool strives to provide a “warm, loving Christian environment” for children, Easley said.

“A child’s self-esteem is so important.”

Easley said these days a second generation of students are enrolling at Peace Lutheran Preschool. Their parents had such great experiences in the program that they want their own children to have that same introduction to education.

“That’s really special,” she said.

For more information, visit www. peace-lutheran.net/preschool. You can also call Easley at 341-1659 or contact her by email at peacepreschool@peace-lutheran.net.

PHOTO PROVIDED

West Field Elementary 8-year-old Kinsley Jester gets a hug from Brittany Howard, Miss Rodeo USA 2017. Howard, from Kentucky, spoke to the students about the importance of teamwork and staying focused on goals.

College $8,558 a year. Unless the student is a regular commuter, it probably makes sense to leave the car at home or forgo purchasing one at all. There will be travel costs for trips home during the summer and other breaks, but once you’ve estimated those you may find they’re less expensive than the price of keeping a car at school all year.

The wrong meal plan. Will your student be a cafeteria regular or will he or she find themselves grabbing a bite from a corner deli between classes or heating something up in a dorm

From Page 7B room? It’s tough to know in advance.

In picking a meal plan, find out if you can rollover any unused dollars on your plan into the next year, so they aren’t wasted. Some parents start by picking the most basic (and least expensive) meal plan and adding on later if that works best for their student (and if the school allows it). Remember that your student may need advice about budgeting and shopping to ensure he or she can manage meals that aren’t covered in their plan.

Pricey technology. If professors accept assignments via email, the cloud or flash drive, then there’s probably very little need to pay for a printer, as well as the ink and paper it will use.

If you’re on the fence, find out if your student can print papers for free or at a low per-page cost in the campus technology lab or library.

Your student will certainly need a computer, but carefully evaluate his or her needs (which may be affected by the selected major, among other considerations) to see if the most expensive model is really necessary.

As part of your shopping, check out netbook computers and similar options, which allow users to access a range of Internet-based applications.

Are you seeking ways to plan for and minimize college expenses? No matter what your financial objectives, your local CPA can help. Turn to him or her for expert advice on all your financial concerns. If you don’t have one, you can get a free referral and free 30-minute consultation at www.

FindYourCPA.com.

Reduce kids’ risk of getting colds at school

School-aged kids who catch colds or the flu from their classmates can quickly spread those colds to their family members, who then might spread the colds further when they go to work. Preventing the spread of colds and flu at school is a team effort that requires the assistance of not just parents, but also teachers and students. Still, parents might be the first line of defense when it comes to preventing the spread of cold and flu at school.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 38 million school days are lost to the flu each year. Those lost days can affect students who miss lesson plans, but also affect parents, who often must take days off from work to tend to their sick children.

While there’s no way for parents to guarantee their children won’t catch a cold or the flu this school year, they can take various preventive measures to increase kids’ chances of staying healthy and achieving perfect attendance.

• Make sure kids are immunized and that their immunizations are

current. Vaccinations bolster kids immune systems. That’s important, as kids’ immune systems are naturally less mature than adults’, making them more vulnerable to germs and viruses. The CDC recommends that adults and children receive their flu vaccinations in October while noting that such vaccinations can be administered as late as January and still prove effective. The CDC also recommends that adults and children receive flu vaccinations each year. Additional vaccinations may not need to be administered as often, but parents should still ensure kids’ are up-to-date with their shots.

• Make sure kids regularly wash their hands. Kids often catch colds by rubbing their hands that have been exposed to cold virus germs on their noses or eyes. To prevent that, parents can teach kids to wash to their hands thoroughly, including scrubbing the backs of their hands, between their fingers and around their fingernails. Kids should know to wash their hands regularly, but especially after they use the bathroom and before they eat, drink or touch their mouths, noses or eyes.

• Keep kids home when they are sick. Parents don’t want their children to miss school, but kids who are suffering from colds or flu should be kept home. This prevents the spread of colds and flu to classmates and teachers, and time to rest at home may help youngsters recover more quickly.

• Teach kids to avoid common germ spots. Germs can be lurking anywhere, but some spots seem to make more welcome homes for germs than others. Studies have shown that kids were most likely to encounter germs in schools on water fountain spigots and on plastic cafeteria trays. Teach kids to never put their mouths on fountains and to avoid eating any food that might fall onto their trays in the cafeteria.

School-aged children are susceptible to colds and flu when spending time in the classroom. But parents can reduce their youngsters’ cold and flu risk in various ways.

-Metro

Edmond schools to present Parent University February 12 Digital Dangers is one of 12 topics that experts will discuss at Edmond Public Schools’ third annual Parent University from 6-8:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 12. The free event will be held at the district’s administrative center, 1001 W. Danforth.

“The challenges parents face in the 21st Century are, in large measure, vastly different from the parenting they experienced in the 1980s and 1990s,” said Associate Superintendent Debbie Bendick.

“Just the infusion of technology into a family’s daily life, has added a layer of considerations parents must make from sunup to well past sundown. The goal of Parent University is to provide our parents access to some of the experts in our community who have valuable suggestions and solutions to the many questions that arise when raising children in today’s world.”

Sessions will be led by licensed counselors, Edmond police officers, family therapists, teachers and college prep specialists. The sessions will last 45 minutes and run simultaneously at 6 p.m., 6:50 p.m. and 7:40 p.m.

“The sessions are for parents of

children ages 4-18 and have been planned based on the questions and concerns most often posed by parents in meetings with our administrators and school counselors,” added Bendick.

Among the topics to be discussed at the event are the following: • “Parenting with Love and Logic in the Elementary Years” • “Once More with Feeling-the Art of Balancing the Emotional Child” • “Values Based Parenting” • “Recognizing Depression in Your Teen” • “Strengthening Emotional and Social Competency Skills in Children and Teens” • “College Admissions: Groundwork Begins the Day 8th Grade Ends” To view the complete list of session topics and to register, parents can go to https://goo.gl/ forms/4QiK1m2Tt6iYVHEq2.

Registration is limited to space available.

For additional information, email Laura Morgan at laura.morgan@ edmondschools.net.

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 9B

Page 10B • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

How to incorporate learning into your child’s daily routine Young children don’t need to be in a classroom to learn important skills. And the earlier you get started, the better. Here are some great ways to incorporate fun learning experiences into your child’s day.

Bath Time Don’t miss the opportunity to make bath time a fun and engaging experience. Count rubber duckies together, sing “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes,” complete with corresponding choreography, and read books -- just be sure they are of the waterproof variety! Even just talking to your children during this time can be educational, helping them pick up new vocabulary and develop language skills.

Play Time With careful consideration, your play area can serve double-duty, being a station for fun while encouraging a child’s curiosity and love of learning. Consider innovative learning toys that actively teach important skills, such as counting, shapes, colors and the alphabet, while introducing the problem-solving, creativity and social skills children will need to thrive as they grow.

Certain toy brands, such as LeapFrog, have created a variety of learning tools that are also fun to play with for young kids. For example, their new Scoop & Learn Ice Cream Cart can help children build memory and sequencing skills while they create ice cream cones with a scooper that recognizes colors and flavors. The brand also has a combination laptop and touch screen tablet called the 2-in-1 LeapTop Touch, which is designed to help kids learn letters, numbers and music.

“Childhood is a time of discovery, so seek out toys designed to foster children’s natural curiosity,” says Dr. Clement Chau, director of learning for LeapFrog. “Toys should provide a range of experiences that build a strong foundation of learning.”

Dr. Chau also recommends Step & Learn Scout, a pet pup that teaches kids letters and counting while they develop gross motor skills and get some exercise, as well as the Stack & Tumble Elephant, for building hand-eye coordination while learning songs, numbers and phrases.

Mealtime Mealtime is the perfect time of day to teach kids about their health, as well as good nutrition habits. You can teach kids about the five food groups, as well as vitamin basics, so they learn that what they put into their body can have a positive impact on their growth and wellness.

Kids can also develop motor skills by helping you in the kitchen. From pouring to mixing to measuring, there are many kitchen tasks perfect for little hands.

Bedtime Help kids wind down before bed with some great books. Read to your children until they can read to themselves. You’ll be forming a lifelong habit of learning.

The right tools and habits can make it easy to seamlessly incorporate education into your child’s daily routine.

-StatePoint

Edmond Life & Leisure • January 25, 2018 • Page 11B

Hofmeister convenes work group of community leaders to tackle student chronic absenteeism

State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister In a concerted effort to reduce chronic absenteeism in school, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) has launched a work group to study the problem and recommend potential solutions. The group, which consists of representatives of community nonprofits and education advocacy organizations, held its first meeting this week.

The work group is a result of an October 2017 Community Convening called by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister. Its nearly 300 participants were asked to commit to one or more of four critical areas addressing the “whole child” needs of Oklahoma schoolchildren. In addition to chronic absenteeism, they included children in trauma, reading readiness and child nutrition.

“By initiating a focus on reducing chronic absenteeism across Oklahoma, we hope to reshape conversations between schools and families,” said Hofmeister. “This new focus works to identify and remove barriers to strengthen attendance and learning for individual students. Attendance matters for student success. It is essential for building academic momentum and progress for kids.”

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10 percent (or approximately 18 days in a 180-day school year) and includes both excused and unexcused absences. In OSDE’s 8-Year Strategic Plan, called Oklahoma Edge, chronic absenteeism is

the nonacademic indicator of school success in the new school accountability system.

Attendance experts stress that every minute of instructional time is valuable. Attendance Works, a national initiative to reduce chronic absenteeism, reports that two missed days a month are equivalent to 10% of the school year and thus can be considered chronic absence when spread across the school calendar.

Among the working group attendees was Karrie Bales, school resource officer for the Stillwater Police Department. She works with students who struggle with a myriad of issues – such as bullying, drug addiction, abuse and teen pregnancy – that can make school attendance a challenge.

“What I realized early on was a lot of the students I was dealing with also had attendance issues,” Bales said. “There’s not a one-size-fits-all fix for chronic absenteeism. It can be a frustrating thing for schools because dealing with attendance is not always a priority.”

Representatives in the group said

a pattern of chronic absenteeism can begin as early as kindergarten and often follows students throughout school. Leaders from rural areas pointed to greater challenges in small towns where community resources are scarce or geographically distant.

“Low-skill jobs aren’t growing; they’re shrinking,” said Jerry Burch, deputy superintendent of curriculum, instruction and technology in Woodward Public Schools. “It’s important to be building relationships and building the desire of families and students to want to be in school. We need to create a culture that says it’s better to be in school than anyplace else.”

Other factors that contribute to absenteeism were identified as mental health obstacles, lack of transportation and poor nutrition, which can lead to obesity and bullying.

The group plans to tackle more specific areas within chronic absenteeism throughout the spring and summer. The goal is to finalize a list of action items and recommendations to OSDE in the fall.

PHOTO BY ERIKA WILLIAMS

Jersie Mollohan, 7 (left), and Madison Goyette, 6 (right), enjoy a moment of reading together.

Page 12B • January 25, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure