Edmond Life and Leisure - February 17, 2022

February 17, 2022 Vol. 22, No. 40

In This Issue FOUR SEASONS

A surge in events

Four Seasons, by Kevin Box, in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the UCO campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper.

Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing.

For more information, see page 4.

ND

EDMO

FAVORITES 2022 Vote for your Edmond Favorites See page 17

FRIDAY, February 18 Sunny High 51° Low 31°

PHOTO PROVIDED

SATURDAY, February 19 Sunny High 62° Low 39°

SUNDAY, February 20 Sunny High 65° Low 48°

King’s Singers

Many activities await the public Despite a recent surge of the virus, it may surprise many people to know that there is a lot to do in Edmond and the metro.

The King’s Singers are at Armstrong Auditorium in Edmond this Sunday beginning at 7:30 p.m.

According to Ryan Malone of Armstrong, the performers are “the most well-known of acappella ensembles in the world.” He added their unique style “which audiences just adore.”

Tickets range from $35 to $75.

Call the box office at (405) 285-

1010 to know more.

But it’s not just the King’s Singers.

The Edmond Historical Society and Museum has various exhibits including the Nancy Drew ‘Detective Adventure,” and a look at the Olympics with “From Athens to Atlanta.”

Later this month, the museum takes a trip back to the 1940s with “A Valentine Variety Show,” on Friday, Feb. 25th at 6:30 p.m.

The one-hour show features live local actors reading historic radio scripts.

Please see Page 22 for more information on the play.

Also, please see Page 6 for our weekly calendar of events. On the sports scene, the All-Star Team Roping will be done at the Lazy E Arena this Friday.

In addition, the high school and college basketball teams are coming toward the end of their seasons with many important games.

So please enjoy and stay current on events with Edmond Life & Leisure.

Page 2 • February 17, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 17, 2022 • Page 3

Prevention of child abuse awards

Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, joins homeschooled junior, Michael Greve, who served as a page for the Senate during the first week of the legislative session from Feb. 7-10.

Student serves as a page for Sen. Pugh Homeschooled junior, Michael Greve has completed a week of service as a page for Sen. Adam Pugh, REdmond. Michael served at the Capitol during the first week of session from Feb. 7-10.

Pages serve vital functions during the busy legislative session, attending Senate committee meetings and daily sessions of the full Senate. The group toured the Oklahoma History Center and the newly renovated state Capitol and also got to meet with Gov.

Kevin Stitt and Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat. The pages participated in a mock legislative committee meeting along with a floor session, called Pageville, where they got first-hand experience presenting and debating current bills from this session.

Michael’s hobbies include video games, video editing, weightlifting, and landscaping. After high school, he plans on obtaining a business degree. He is the son of Edmond residents, Robert and Liza Greve.

Edmond Republican Women’s Club to hear from Representative Miller On Monday, February 21 the Edmond Republican Women’s Club will host State Representative Nicole Miller.

Representative Miller grew up throughout the central United States. After earning a bachelor’s degree in government service from Texas Women’s University, she moved to Washington, D.C. There she worked on policy issues with a specific focus on the defense sector.

Miller spent the next several years a military spouse and served her country alongside her husband’s 20 year career in the Air Force.

After moving to Oklahoma City, she worked with the Oklahoma National Guard and Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. Since being elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2018, Miller has pursued legislation in a variety of policy areas, including military and veteran affairs, government efficiency, senior care and transportation. She currently serves as Chair for the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Transportation.

She also sits on the House Government Modernization and Efficiency committee and the full House Appropriations and Budget Committee.

Since her election, she has developed

Miller a reputation as a strong and articulate advocate on several legislative issues.

Members and the general public are welcome to attend. Meetings are held annually every third Monday of the month at the University of Central Oklahoma Nigh Center in the Cherokee Room (2nd floor). Doors open at 11:15pm and a lunch buffet available at 11:30pm for $20. Attendance only is $5 per person. Meeting time begins promptly at 11:45pm.

Enter main entrance of the university from Second Street and park in the East lot closest to the Nigh Center. Attendants will be handing out parking passes at the kiosks for those attending the meeting.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is now accepting nominations for the 2022 Oklahoma Child Abuse Prevention Awards, honoring outstanding Oklahoma individuals and organizations for demonstrating outstanding commitment, dedication, and leadership in child abuse prevention.

“It’s important that we recognize the efforts of those going above and beyond the call of duty to reverse the trend of increased rates of child abuse and neglect in Oklahoma,” Interim Commissioner of Health Keith Reed said. “Child maltreatment is a significant public health issue that has lifelong repercussions for those impacted.

Strategic initiatives directed at reversing those trends will elevate the long-term quality of life for all Oklahomans.”

Nominations are due by close of business on Wednesday, March 16.

There are different categories for nominations: Outstanding Home Visitor Award – Recognizes a professional working as a

home visitor who has demonstrated a high commitment to quality service and tremendous dedication to those served.

Outstanding Elected Official Award – Recognizes an elected official for distinguished service focused on the prevention of child maltreatment and/or support of vulnerable families.

Marion Jacewitz Award – Recognizes an individual in Oklahoma who has made significant contributions to the prevention of child abuse and strengthening families on a statewide level.

Nomination forms are available to download online. Email completed forms to Sherie Trice, M.S., CBCAP Grant Coordinator, sheriet@health.ok.gov.

Awards will be presented during a special ceremony at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 21 at the Oklahoma State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 100.

Page 4 • February 17, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Congresswoman addresses chamber Oklahoma’s 5th Congressional District representative, Stephanie Bice, spoke to the Edmond Chamber this week at their monthly luncheon held at the Edmond Conference Center on I-35 and Covell. Ray Hibbard She assumed office on Jan. 3, 2021. Her current term ends on Jan. 3, 2023.

Bice is a Republican that ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District. She won in the general election on Nov. 3, 2020, against incumbent Kendra Horn. Bice graduated from Putnam City High School. Bice earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from Oklahoma State University.

Her career experience includes working as the vice president of business development of a boutique digital marketing company.

Her current committee assignments include: House Committee on Armed Services Military Personnel Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Environment, Ranking Member She spoke on a number of topics including Russia and the Ukraine, the IRS delays and the supply shortages.

One of her main concerns is our economy and I must agree with her.

It is heading down hill quickly and it is going to affect low- and middle-income families the most. With other pressing issues, the economy has been on a back burner in most folk’s minds. However, they are now starting to feel the pinch of inflation.

Here is some of the latest information from AP that sums up our issues well and should have you concerned: “Inflation soared over the past year at its highest rate in four decades, hammering American consumers, wiping out pay raises and reinforcing the Federal Reserve’s decision to begin raising borrowing rates across the economy.

The Labor Department said last week that consumer prices jumped 7.5% last month compared with a year earlier, the steepest year-overyear increase since February 1982.

When measured from December to January, inflation was 0.6%, the same as the previous month and more than economists had expected.

Prices rose 0.7% from October to

RAY HIBBARD

Welcoming Fifth District Congresswoman Stephanie Bice, right, to the Chamber of Commerce luncheon, is Jan Moran, left, of AT&T.

November and 0.9% from September to October.

Shortages of supplies and workers, heavy doses of federal aid, ultra-low interest rates and robust consumer spending combined to send inflation leaping in the past year. And there are few signs that it will slow significantly anytime soon.

Wages are rising at the fastest pace in at least 20 years, which can pressure companies to raise prices to cover higher labor costs. Ports and warehouses are overwhelmed, with hundreds of workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the nation’s busiest, out sick last month.

Many products and parts remain in short supply as a result.

James Bullard, the president of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank, told Bloomberg News that he supported a sharp increase of a full percentage point in the benchmark short-term interest rate by July.

Over time, higher rates will raise the costs for a wide range of borrowing, from mortgages and credit cards to auto and business loans. That could cool spending and inflation, but for the Fed, the decision to steadily tighten credit could also trigger another recession.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled two weeks ago that the central bank would likely raise its benchmark short-term rate multiple times this year.

Stock prices declined after the in-

flation report was released and fell further after Bullard’s remarks. The broad S&P 500 index fell 1.3% in afternoon trading. The yield on the 10year bond jumped to 2.03%, a sign that investors see more Fed rate hikes ahead.

Prices for a broad range of goods and services accelerated from December to January — and not just for items directly affected by the pandemic. Apartment rental costs rose 0.5% in January, the fastest pace in 20 years. Electricity prices surged 4.2% in January alone, the sharpest rise in 15 years, and are up 10.7% from a year earlier. Last month, household furniture and supplies rose 1.6%, the largest one-month increase on records dating to 1967.

Food costs, driven by pricier eggs, cereal and dairy products, increased 0.9% in January. New car prices, which have jumped during the pandemic because of a shortage of computer chips, were unchanged last month but are up 12.2% from a year ago. The surge in new-car prices has, in turn, accelerated used-car prices; they rose 1.5% in January and are up a dizzying 41% from a year ago.

“Just as price pressures in some areas ease, inflation in other parts of the economy” is picking up, said Sarah House, an economist at Wells Fargo. “The upshot is that inflation is likely to remain uncomfortably high.”

The steady rise in prices has left many Americans less able to afford

food, gas, rent, childcare and other necessities. More broadly, inflation has emerged as the biggest risk factor for the economy and as a serious threat to President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats as midterm elections loom later this year.

In the past year, sharp increases in the costs of gas, food, autos and furniture have upended many other Americans’ budgets. In December, economists at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School estimated that the average household had to spend $3,500 more than in 2020 to buy an identical basket of goods and services.

Small businesses have also struggled to deal with higher costs for supplies and labor.

Even excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core inflation jumped 0.6% from December to January and 6% from a year ago.

Many large corporations, in conference calls with investors, have said they expect supply shortages to persist until at least the second half of this year.

Chipotle said it’s increased menu prices 10% to offset the rising costs of beef and transportation as well as higher employee wages. And the restaurant chain said it will consider further price increases if inflation keeps rising.

“We keep thinking that beef is going to level up and then go down, and it just hasn’t happened yet,” said John Hartung, the company’s chief financial officer.

Executives at Chipotle, as well as at Starbucks and some other consumer-facing companies, have said their customers so far don’t seem fazed by the higher prices.

Levi Strauss & Co. raised prices last year by roughly 7% above 2019 levels because of rising costs, including labor, and plans to do so again this year. Even so, the San Franciscobased company has upgraded its sales forecasts for 2022.”

After 42 years running a business, I can promise you what goes up must come down folks. There will be a crash. The good news is that prices will come down and inflation will come to a halt. The bad news is that so will increased sales and employment. For the time being, lower income families are going to be faced with the problem of being able to afford to put food on the table. A 7.5% increase may not sound like much to most Edmond families, but our town is full of folks that just barely make it and the increase can be crippling.

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

Check out what’s inside!

---- Police report ..............................................................................Page 6.

---- Weekend calendar of Events ......................................................Page 6.

---- Obituary notice ..........................................................................Page 7.

---- Business news ............................................................................Page 9.

---- Columnist looks at price gouging ............................................Page 10.

---- Elaine Warner looks back on her trip to Norway ......................Page 12.

---- George Gust reviews romantic comedy ‘Marry Me’ ................Page 16.

---- Crossword puzzle ....................................................................Page 16.

---- Edmond Favorites..............................................................Pages 17-20.

---- Comics ....................................................................................Page 22.

This, and much more, in this week’s edition!

See if you can find ‘Four Seasons’ “Four Seasons” in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the University of Central Oklahoma campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper.

Please e-mail contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing.

Commissioned as a partnership between UCO, the City of Edmond and the Edmond Visual Arts Commission, “Four Seasons” was created by sculptor Kevin Box of New Mexico and was dedicated on the campus on March 24, 2011.

Kevin is a member of the National Sculptor’s Guild. His Box Studio LLC is a strong supporter of the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle concept, using recycled metal as part of the casting process for his sculptures. All of his work is 100 percent recyclable.

For more information on Edmond public art, please visit http://visitedmondok.com/public-art.php.

Publisher Ray Hibbard Jr. ray@edmondpaper.com Partner Christopher T. Hoke Editor Steve Gust news@edmondpaper.com Production Deanne York Advertising Director Business Editor Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com Contributing Writers Mallery Nagle, Patty Miller, Rose Drebes, and George Gust.

Photographer Melinda Infante

Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2022 by Edmond Media Publishing 107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax) Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083 All rights reserved.

Material contained herein may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission from Edmond Media Publishing. edmondlifeandleisure.com facebook.com/edmondlifeandleisure twitter.com/edmondlifeandleisure instagram.com/edmondlifeandleisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 17, 2022 • Page 5

Lankford honored for work affecting American seniors Senator James Lankford (ROK) received the Lawmaker of the Month award from 60 Plus, the American Association of Senior Citizens, which is a nonpartisan organization working for the benefit of Senior Adults by supporting the repeal of the death tax, saving Social Security and Medicare, affordable prescription drugs, lowering energy costs, and other issues for seniors includPictured from left are Sen. James Lankford ing less government, fewer and 60 Plus Founder and Chairman, Jim taxes, and strict adherence to Martin. the Constitution.

“I am grateful our nation’s assembly, and so much more. We abseniors have groups like 60 Plus looking solutely cannot forget about our naout for what’s in their best interest and tion’s seniors, and I will continue to do tracking issues that matter to them,” everything I can for them to ensure we said Lankford. “Our seniors are active faithfully serve them.” and essential in our communities, but Presenting the award on Capitol they also face unique financial and Hill, 60 Plus Founder and Chairman health challenges. I have worked for the Jim Martin called Lankford “a tireless past two years to protect seniors from worker for the elderly who can be the health and economic impacts of counted on to protect Social Security COVID-19, but I have worked for years and Medicare.” to help senior adults by addressing the “Senator Lankford fights to protect lagging service by the Social Security the pocketbooks of seniors and to end Administration and the Office of Perwasteful spending of our tax dollars. sonnel Management for those nearing He agrees with 60 Plus that seniors retirement. I continue to work to adhave to live within their means and so dress skyrocketing drug prices, rising inshould our government.” Martin said. flation that hits those on a fixed income “The Senator is a legislator who hardest, and increasing energy costs reveres our Constitution and he’s a that make it hard to plan for the future. strong supporter of our military men Our seniors are also watching what we and women in uniform as well as our do about China, protecting our military, policemen and women who protect us protecting freedom of speech, religion, here at home.”

Page 6 • February 17, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

(The following arrest reports are provided by the Edmond Police Department.

Guilt or innocence is determined in a court of law.

Also, CDS is controlled dangerous substance; APC is Actual Physical Control; DUI is driving under the influence.)

Jan. 31 Kayla Marie Ouelette, 31, of Wichita, Kan. Property related – using computer to defraud, deceive, extort items of value, grand larceny, (misdemeanor first and second offense) larceny of merchandise from a retailer, conspiracy, possess drug paraphernalia and CDS possession.

Lydia Opal Justis, 38 of Edmond.

Felony warrant.

Jeremy Martinez Moore, 45 of Oklahoma City. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Patricia Leanne Painter-Hess, 39 of Oklahoma City. (Drug related) possession of contraband in a penal institution and obtaining property by false pretenses (UPC price tag or sales receipt switching/reproducing).

Jada Bre’Shaun Scott, 21 of Edmond. Possession of marijuana, no proof of insurance and driving while

privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Edward Anthony Runnels, 38 homeless. Two counts of failure to appear.

Devon Owen Crocker, 19 of Edmond. Possession of drug paraphernalia, under 21 operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substance and failure to appear.

Leann Nixie, 37, of Edmond. Two counts of CDS possession and failure to appear.

Feb. 1 Tom Tung Dang, 32 of Edmond.

Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Gage Marshall Langley, 26 homeless. Trespassing.

Elise Patricia Gutekunst, 25 of Oklahoma City. Expired tag one to three months and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Paige Nicole McNeal, 37 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Susan Ann Voyles, 46 of Edmond.

Two misdemeanor warrants and a felony warrant.

Jayson Todd Wylie, 51 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Feb. 2 Matthew Ryan Pompili, 43 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

Charles Ryan Carter, 36 of Edmond. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked, misdemeanor warrant and two counts of failure to appear.

Feb. 3 Fonda Anesi Coleman, 38 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .15 or more.

Kevin Michael Breggren, 21 homeless. Public intoxication and trespassing.

Lauren Ashley McAlexender, 31 of Edmond. Failure to stop – accident involving damage to vehicle, transport open container of intoxicating beverage or beer and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Feb. 5 Artis Alexander Reed, 29 of Oklahoma City. Possess drug paraphernalia, possess CDS and petit larceny.

Jeremiah Blue Cook, 38 of Oklahoma City. Possess drug paraphernalia, possess CDS and public intoxication.

Michael Antwone Eugene Railback, 37 of Oklahoma City. False

representation to an officer and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Kevin Lane Hutchings, 53 of Edmond. Expired license plate, transport open container of intoxicating beverage or beer and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Gage Marshall Langley, 26 homeless. Non-assault resisting an officer and trespassing.

Virgil Daniel Harris, 23 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant.

Brigham Kennedy Evans, 18 of Oklahoma City. Social host violation.

Feb. 6 Howard Dewayne Lumpkin, 51 of Oklahoma City. Felony warrant.

Alexander Stephen Koone, 19 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication.

Dawan Rashad Brooks, 43 of Midwest CIty. Felony warrant.

Angelica Lashae Yarbrough, 34 homeless. Trespassing.

Domoinique de la Juwon Markel Natt, 34 of Edmond. Possess drug paraphernalia, obstruction of a police officer, possess CDS, possess burglar’s implements, (felony) possession of another’s debit card and failure to appear.

Weekend calendar of events, Feb. 17-20 What’s Happening This Weekend Feb 17 -20 What’s Happening This Weekend Feb 17 ---- 20 ---- In the Gallery: Brad McNeill ---- Exhibit: The Clue in the Museum-A Nancy Drew-Inspired Detective Adventure ---- From Athens to Atlanta ---- “I Remember That:” Edmond in the 1980s Exhibit ---- Cabaret: A Night of Song and Dance ---- All Sar & Lazy E Arena Team Roping ---- The King’s Singers: Finding Harmony ---- Signature Tour ---- Read the West Book Club: Lady Long Rider: Alone Across America on Horseback ---- Bricktown Comedy Club presents: Josh Blue ---- Queen of Hearts APHA Horse Show ---- Oklahoma City Ballet presents: Make in the USA ---- International Dog Show ---- Monster Jam ---- Taste of OKC

Extra Information In the Gallery: Brad McNeill Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Feb featuring the art of Brad McNeill; edmondfinearts.com Exhibit: The Clue in the Museum-A Nancy Drew-inspired Detective Adventure Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: Sat, Jan 1 – Mon, Feb 28; edmondhistory.org

From Athens to Atlanta Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: Tue, Feb 1 – Sat, Feb 26; Free; edmondhistory.org “I Remember That:” Edmond in the 1980s Exhibit Location: Edm. Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: Tue, Feb 1 – Thu, Mar 31; Tue – Fri: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sat: 1 – 4 p.m.; Free; edmondhistory.org Cabaret: A Night of Song and Dance Location: Oklahoma Christian University Extra Info: Tue, Feb 15 – Sat, Feb 19; $12; 7:30 p.m.; oc.edu/events/cabaret All Star & Lazy E Arena Team Roping Location: Lazy E Arena Extra Info: Fri, Feb 18 – Sun, Feb 20; allstarteamroping.com The King’s Singers: Finding Harmony Location: Armstrong Auditorium Extra Info: Sun, Feb 20; $35 to $75; 7:30 p.m.; armstrongauditorium.org Signature Tour Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sat, Feb 19 & Sun, Feb 20; 1 ---- 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Read the West Book Club: Lady Long Rider: Alone Across America on Horseback Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Sun, Feb 20; 1 – 2:15 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Bricktown Comedy Club presents: Josh Blue Location: 409 Kings of Leon Ln, Oklahoma City Extra Info: Fri, Feb 17 – Sat, Feb 19; 7:30 p.m.; bricktowncomedy.com Queen of Hearts APHA Horse Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: Fri, Feb 18 – Sun, Feb 20; Fri: starts 6 p.m.; Sat & Sun: starts at 8 a.m.; oklahomapainthorse.com Oklahoma City Ballet presents: Made in the USA Location: Civic Center Music Hall Extra Info: Fri, Feb 18 – Sun, Feb 20; Fri & Sat: 7:30 p.m.; Sun: 2 p.m.; okcballet.org International Dog Show Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: Sat, Feb 19 – Sun, Feb 20; Sat: 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. & Sun 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; iabca.com Monster Jam Location: Paycom Center Extra Info: Sat, Feb 19 – Sun, Feb 20; Sat: Preshow Pit Party: 10:30 a.m. ---- 12 p.m.; starts at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Sun: Pre-show Pit Party: 10:30 a.m.

---- 12 p.m.; starts at 1 p.m.; monsterjam.com Taste of OKC Location: Oklahoma City Convention Center Extra Info: Sat, Feb 19; 6 p.m.; Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraiser; bbbsok.ejoinme.org Send events to infante318@cox.net

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 17, 2022 • Page 7

Obituary notice Bernice H Blair Bernice H Blair went home to be with Jesus on Monday morning, February 7, 2022. She was 98 years old.

Reva Bernice Hill was born on November 12, 1923, in Mansfield, AR, to Harry and Eva Hill. Bernice or “Bernie” was an excellent student graduating as Valedictorian of her class. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Bernie went to work as a typist at Camp Chaffee and quickly rose through the ranks becoming the Executive Secretary to the Commanding General at what would become Fort Chaffee.

After the war, Bernie met a young Navy veteran named Bill Blair at a Sunday evening youth church social. They were married on November 8, 1946. Bill and Bernie began their lives together in Okmulgee and then Stillwater as Bill entered college at Oklahoma A & M. Their first two sons, David Keith and Stephen Kent, were born while living in Stillwater.

Upon graduation, Bill’s career as an architectural engineer landed him a job at the university where the family moved to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia overseeing several joint projects led by Oklahoma A & M. After returning to the states, Bill and Bernie moved to Edmond in 1959 with Bill taking a job at the Benham Companies which eventually became Benham-Blair and Affiliates.

Bernie loved education and while being a full-time homemaker and mother, accumulated 90 hours toward a Business Degree at Central State College (UCO) in Edmond. In 1963, Bill and Bernie had their third and final son, Paul Kevin.

Bill and Bernie were faithful in their love for Jesus and served at First Baptist Church of Edmond (1959), were part of the founding families of the mission startup Henderson Hills Baptist (1966) and in 1969 Bill was named pastor of Fairview Community Church (now Fairview Baptist Church). Bernie was a faithful member of Fairview from 1969 until her graduation to heaven this week.

In 1978, Bernie’s best friend and sister “Lucy” moved to Edmond with her husband after retirement. Bernie and Lucy were fixtures together talking every night by phone, going to church together, grocery shopping together and faithfully attacking every Red Apple Sale at Foley’s.

In 1999, Bill suffered a severe stroke but survived. Bernie cared for her beloved husband in their home for almost three years before Bill’s passing in 2001. They enjoyed 54 years of marriage together on this earth before being reunited this week in heaven.

Nani and Papa, as they came to be known, adored their eight grandchildren: Nicole Leigh, Jason David, Kimberly Dawn, Lyndsey Michelle, Kyle Stephen, Matthew Keith, Joshua Paul and Jacob Andrew. At the time of her passing, Bernie also enjoyed holding all eleven of her great grandchildren.

Bernie Blair was preceded in death by her husband Bill, parents Harry Hill and Eva Koch, stepfather Buck Koch and her brothers Elba and Edwin. She is survived by sons David (and wife Debbie) of Edmond; Steve (and wife Debbie) of Edmond; Paul (and wife Cindy) of Edmond; sister Hazel “Lucy” Ruskowski of Edmond; nephew James Walter Ruskowski of Edmond; nieces Jane Garrett of Houston and Judy Ruof of Houston; eight grandchildren: Nicole Blair (and Brandon Dyer), Jason (and wife Lori) Blair, Kimberly Blair, Lyndsey Beck, Kyle (and wife Kristin) Blair, Matt (and wife Chelsea) Blair, Josh (and wife Brooke) Blair, Jacob (and wife MacKenzie) Blair and eleven great grandchildren: Hannah, Averi, Abby, Ashlynn, Elizabeth, Lilly, Landon, Noah, Beau, William, and Roman.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bernie’s name to Reclaiming America for Christ, a ministry of Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond.

Researching your Irish ancestors Just starting your Irish genealogy adventure?

The Edmond Genealogical Society’s Monday, Feb. 21, program can help.

With more than 32 million U.S. citizens claiming Irish ancestry, "Researching Your Irish Roots" aims to give those of Irish descent some tools to find the records and documents of their family. The history of Ireland and how that history impacted family names will be shared, along with how and where to look for records, and how to overcome some of the challenges of researching Irish genealogy.

Andrea Wallis Aven, an Oklahoman since 2011, has had a keen interest in genealogy for over 30 years. She has conducted significant research on her Wallis and Stewart family lines, and has delved into records in American Intelligence, with special interest in the CIA, and the Office of Aven Strategic Services, America’s first organized spy agency.

A graduate of Duke University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing, Andrea also has a Master's in Health Education and a Master's in Educational Administration from Montclair State University in New Jersey. She worked as a trauma unit nurse, which she has said was great practice in rearing four sons. She is a retired public school administrator and a former University of Central Oklahoma adjunct of Health Sciences. Andrea has had numerous articles published on health and wellness, a book about her aunt, Ellen O’Neil Dohrmann from Cincinnati, and articles published in various historical society journals.

Andrea is the immediate past president of the Edmond Genealogical Society, a former board member with the Edmond Historical Society and Museum, and a public speaker on historical and genealogical topics. She currently serves as the regent of the Cordelia Steen Chapter of the DAR, is the Oklahoma State DAR Women’s Issues Chair, and is on the DAR State Speakers Staff.

Meetings are free and open to the public. Programs start at 6:30 p.m. Edmond Genealogical Society meetings are held the third Monday of the month at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 15700 N. Penn, Oklahoma City.

Enter through the doors on the south side of the building.

The church offers plenty of parking and is fully handicap accessible. Masks are required for all attendees. For more information on EGS, go to: www.edmondgensoc.org, or visit us on Facebook at Edmond Genealogical Society.

If any changes are made to this event, we will post the information on our Facebook page and website

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.

Page 8 • February 17, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

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moved to plan B using Tessavale Grace pots and pans as a bear Fasching, 18, has earned deterrent and hoped for the rank of Eagle Scout, the best. No bears were the highest rank within encountered thank goodthe Boy Scouts of America ness! program. She is a member When not scouting, Tesof Troop 6001 chartered savale attends Edmond to St. Mary’s Church in EdNorth High School where mond, under the direction she is a member of the of Scoutmaster Jessica National Honor Society, Hukill.

Academic E, and works to Tessavale demonTessavale publish the yearbook, instrated leadership to othcluding the position of Editor in Chief. ers in a service project benefitting When asked about scouting TesHefner Middle School where she oversaw the assembly of Makerspace savale said “being one of the first fe(STEM) activity bins for the students. male Eagle Scouts in her Troop is The bins include Legos, snap circuits, important because she wants to help encourage the younger girls to stich brain flakes, and dash and dot rowith it and find their voice in the bots. All bins come with detailed inTroop, Community and themselves.” structions and photos.

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A bill to provide relief to Oklahoma families at the grocery store unanimously passed the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Finance last week.

House Bill 3621, authored by House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman, phases out the 4.5% state portion of the grocery tax over three years: • 3 percent, starting July 1, 2022 • 1.5 percent, starting July 1, 2023 • Fully exempt from state sales tax effective July 1, 2024 Democrats called for the end of the grocery tax last session in their 2021 Oklahoma Focused Budget.

This session, the initiative has found bipartisan support from members of the House, members of the Senate, and the Governor.

“Two of the top priorities of the House Democratic Caucus this year

are to eliminate the state portion of this tax and to increase the state earned income tax credit,” Virgin said. “These two things are realistic ways the Legislature can help Oklahoma families recovering from the pandemic.”

Virgin held a study over the summer on eliminating the tax. One of the biggest questions raised during the study was how legislation to eliminate the state tax would affect taxes levied by cities and towns that rely on the sales tax for revenue.

“This legislation does not affect the budgets of municipalities,” Virgin said. “As state lawmakers, we are only interested in ending the state’s 4.5 percent tax on groceries. I strongly believe that cities and counties should have the autonomy to set their own tax rate just as I believe they should have the autonomy to raise the minimum wage.”

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 17, 2022 • Page 9

Edmond Optical Shop hits 50-year mark

By Patty Miller A local Edmond business and its owners are celebrating their golden anniversary.

Lonnie and Vicki Masters first opened the doors to Edmond Optical Shop on Feb. 26, 1972. They were joined by their son Cody Masters and today the company employs five people.

The Masters are all opticians and are tested and certified each year.

“Lonnie has been making glasses since he was 18 and Cody has been in the business with us for 30 years,” Vicki said.

They sell eyeglasses and fit them and can fill any prescription that is brought in that is not over a year old.

The Masters moved to Edmond 51 years ago.

“We were in Norman and I was 29 years old and this ophthalmologist we were with said let’s go open up shop in Edmond,” Lonnie said.

“I was young and adventurous, and I can’t remember but it seems like in 1971 we may have called the Chamber of Commerce and they gave us a real good report,” he added.

Whomever they talked with at the chamber told them that Edmond was a bedroom community of Oklahoma City and explained how it had grown in the past few years.

“We opened up Feb. 26, 1972,” Lonnie said. “Things just fell into place and it has been a wonderful life. We have been so blessed.”

His wife added the people of Edmond have been great to them and they love what they do.

When the Masters first moved to Edmond they located in the building which now holds Flat Tire.

MELINDA INFANTE

Cody Masters, Vickie Boggs, Lonnie Masters, Debbie Hail and Vicki Masters celebrate 50 years for Edmond Optical in Edmond.

See 50 Years, Page 11

Results released from survey done on traffic in Edmond The focus of a nearly $4.5 million project – the ongoing improvements at the intersection of Second Street and Bryant Avenue – was top of mind for Edmond residents in a questionnaire offered to the public recently.

The City of Edmond last month sought input from residents regarding traffic in the community. Over a twoweek period, a special web form was available for residents to share their top three traffic “hot spots.” This data will serve as a tool to assist the City in future planning.

Between Jan. 3 and Jan. 16, more than 5,400 valid responses were submitted. Participants were allowed to place up to three pins on a map to ensure their exact location was included.

The top 10 traffic concern areas reported are: 1. 2nd Street & Bryant Avenue in-

tersection 2. Covell Road & Coltrane Road intersection 3. Danforth Road & Kelly Avenue intersection 4. 15th Street & Broadway intersection 5. 2nd Street & Boulevard Street intersection 6. Danforth Road & Sooner Road intersection 7. 2nd Street & Broadway intersection 8. Edmond Road & Kelly Avenue intersection 9. 15th Street & Bryant Avenue intersection 10. 33rd Street & Broadway intersection A map showing all areas that received a minimum of 10 responses can be viewed at https://www.edmondok.gov/DocumentCenter/View /7386/2022-Traffic-Survey-Results.

County Treasurer Butch Freeman announces plans for re-election bid Oklahoma County Treasurer Butch Freeman last week announced he will run for re-election as Oklahoma County Treasurer. If re-elected, this will be his eighth full term as County Treasurer and 9th, overall.

Freeman was first elected in a special election in December of 1993 to fill the unexpired term of County Treasurer Joe B. Barnes. Freeman then ran for re-election in 1994 and has not lost a race since.

“I have been blessed with a wonderful family, a great staff and the faith of our taxpayers for over two decades,” said Freeman. “I would be nothing without the support of my faith and my family,” he said.

“There’s never been any hint of impropriety during my tenure as Treasurer. Taxpayers benefit from

someone who has a spotless record and is dedicated to fiscal conservatism," he said.

Freeman, a Republican, is 78 years old. Before joining Oklahoma County he served in the United States Air Force for 23 years and retired as a Colonel. He was also the former Comptroller at Tinker Air Force Base.

Born in Macomb, Mo., Freeman received his Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri in 1965, and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Missouri in 1970.

He and his wife, Bobbie, have been married 55 years and live in Choctaw.

They have two children and three grandchildren.

The ‘go to’ place for eyeglasses in Edmond is the Edmond Optical Shop, at 920 S. Bryant.

Its owners are marking 50 years of business in Edmond this month.

MELINDA INFANTE

Page 10 • February 17, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

Our $1.4 billion debt More nurses now a top priority for lawmakers

By Steve Gust The other day I had to renew a credit card, which had expired.

It dawned on me that the next time I renewthe card, in five years, I’ll only have a little over 22 years left to pay on a recent debt I’ve incurred.

It’s the same debt most of you have also recently incurred. Actually the utilities incurred it for us. For years we’ll be making payments on the natural gas we used last year about this time during the arctic blast days.

If you’ll remember, the utility companies were forced to buy fuel which had been marked up some 600 times over the usual price.

The bottom line is that the price tag on all of this is $1.4 billion and customers are paying about $8 a month for the next three decades.

Last week The Oklahoman published a list of energy companies that were paid. Just incredible the amounts listed.

Remember something. If a twister leaves a path of destruction somewhere you might be tempted to take a few cases of water and sell it for $2 or

$3 a bottle. That makes you a pirate price gouger and subject to a fine and/or imprisonment.

But it’s a different story for these companies.

If you’ve read this column much, or at all, you know I’m a big proponent of free enterprise.

Having said that, this whole 2021 energy debacle just doesn’t seem right to me at all.

—— These are odd times.

I think one of the oddest things I saw last week was an interview NBC anchor Lester Holt had with Joe Biden.

Holt asked the president about a statement he made last summer, that inflation was temporary. Biden responded that Holt was being a “wise guy.” How bizarre. Holt probably is one of the more liberal journalists around and Biden took a swipe at him.

I guess it could have been worse. He could have treated the guy like he did the Fox reporter and cursed the guy.

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

The Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding – Health and Human Services Working Group today unanimously approved a number of projects to send to the full committee that would substantially increase the number of nurses in the state.

Funding for the total projects requested equals roughly $60 million.

The working group is chaired by Oklahoma House Speaker Pro Tempore Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, and Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow.

Reps. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma

City, and Sens. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton, and Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, serve as members of the working group.

The lawmakers issued the following joint statement after today's action.

"As this pandemic has exposed, we have a critical need for more nurses in our state to provide health care services to our citizens.

That's true in our busy metropolitan areas, but it's even more dire in our rural areas where we've faced closures of hospitals and clinics and where we often have a shortage of physicians.

The combined propos-

als would increase our number of nursing graduates by more than 1,000 over the next five years and will also address a critical shortage in Certified Nursing Assistants and Certified Medical Assistants in our long-term care facilities."

The working group today heard from the Oklahoma Hospital Association, Southwestern Oklahoma State University, Murray State College, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Moore-Norman Technology Center, Oklahoma City Community College, Tulsa Community College, Rose State College, Care Providers of Oklahoma, and the Physicians Manpower Training Commission.

The Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding is tasked with supporting the state planning of distributing nearly $1.9 billion in pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Funds can be used to respond to the public health and economic emergency, provide premium pay to essential workers, replace revenue lost due to the pandemic, and make necessary investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.

The Health and Human Services Working Group is one of four that are vetting projects before they are sent to the full committee.

ARPA funds must be allocated to specific projects by December 2024 and expended by December 2026.

Lankford: Biden nominees anti-U.S. energy Senator James Lankford (R-OK), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, raised his opposition to and concerns with three pending Biden nominees he sees as pushing their own climate-change or anti-traditional energy agenda when their posts would be specifically responsible for overseeing oil, gas, and Lankford minerals development in the US. This development is needed to help keep us energy independent and lessen our dependence on the foreign minerals we need for things like electronics and energy infrastructure. He raised these nominees as part of the pattern of other Biden nominees put in place not because of their qualifications but because of a specific liberal agenda they want to push on the American people.

The three nominees Lankford discussed were

Ms. Sarah Bloom Raskin, who was nominated to serve as the Vice Chair for Supervision at the Federal Reserve; Ms. Maria Robinson, who was nominated to serve as an Assistant Secretary for the Office of Electricity in the Department of Energy; and Ms. Laura Daniel-Davis, who was nominated to serve as the Assistant Secretary for the Office of Land and Minerals Management for the Department of the Interior. Lankford questioned Robinson at a hearing on her nomination earlier this week in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Raskin’s position would give her a tremendous regulatory and supervisory power to push her publicly stated agenda—particularly opposition to American energy independence—while controlling many facets of the American Economy at what is essentially our “central bank.” In May 2020, Raskin wrote an op-ed in the New York Times entitled “Why is the Fed Spending So Much Money on a Dying Industry?” The article asked the Federal Reserve to not use its emergency lending powers to assist traditional energy companies,

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an effort that will only make us more on foreign oil and gas.

Robinson’s views, if confirmed, may actually lead to increased emissions and jeopardize the energy reliability we depend on every day. Robinson has vocally opposed natural gas pipelines, despite a reliance on dirtier home heating oil in the northeast US. Robinson also supports speedy adoption of electric vehicles and eliminating the use of natural gas, which will further strain our power grid.

Daniel-Davis would be the person responsible for overseeing energy and mineral leases in the US, and she actually appears interested in pushing the US back toward energy dependence. Her stated views range between pushing to completely hold up the bureaucratic process for our nation’s energy developers, to essentially saying they are not part of our energy future. Through her current work under the Biden Administration, Daniel-Davis has already been involved in decisions that impact our ability to ensure an adequate energy supply now and in the future.

Transcript I really believe you can tell a lot about an Administration's priorities based on the people that they put in place in each location. That's true for every Administration. There are more than 300 million Americans, many of them are passionate about serving our nation. Many great federal employees that spend their entire life serving our nation. So there are a lot of individuals to be able to choose from to be able to put in different administration roles, but their background tells you a lot about what the priority is and the purpose is.

For instance, I would say Xavier Becerra, leading HSS who has no health care background right now, an attorney, now leading our nation's health care

See Lankford, Page 11

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 17, 2022 • Page 11

50 Years From Page 9 “We were there for about six months and then located to Third Street for 30 something years,” Vicki said. “From there we moved to our present location at 920 S. Bryant Ave., Ste. 101, where we have been for 18 years.”

They share their building with opthalmologists Dr. Robert Gourley, MD, and Dr. Michael Hogue, MD., who can do eye exams as well as surgery.

Every year on their anniversary the Masters go to Flat Tire and reminisce while they eat dinner.

Lonnie said that is where they will be found this year too.

“I have no plans of retiring,” Lonnie said. “I am in good health and I enjoy my job. I love it. We have great customers who have come to us for years.

Of moving to Edmond, Lonnie said, “It was a great decision.”

Lankford focus. The major issue for him, he was the most vocal proponent of abortion while he was in congress, while he was leading as attorney general in California. He was an activist pushing abortion in every single country, even suing other states when they limited abortion as the attorney general of California. He was an activist about abortion. He increased abortions in America.

That was a major reason he was put in that spot with HHS. Why else would you put an activist attorney leading our nation's health care area? You can say the same thing, some of the major nominations that have come in for DOJ, Kristen Clark, Vanita Gupta. Both of them were outspoken proponents of the defund police movement. Now they're actually in the Department of Justice. Kristin Clark wrote, “We must invest less in police and more in social workers.’ She also wrote, ‘We must invest less in police, more in mental health aid.’ It was the main focus of the defund the police movement that she continued to be able to rise. Vanita Gupta said, ‘It's critical for state and local leaders to decrease police budgets and police in our lives’ There's a reason that she is actually selected to be in that spot. It matches with the priorities and the values of the administration. The same thing

MELINDA INFANTE

Cody Masters, Vickie Boggs, Lonnie Masters, Debbie Hail and Vicki Masters celebrate 50 years for Edmond Optical in Edmond.

From Page 10

when with you look at defense. National defense WORD Alexandra Baker said she's outspoken and believes that climate change is the leading national security challenge that we face. The leading national security challenge. I'm sure the folks in Russia and Ukraine would be glad to be able to hear that our leading challenge currently is climate change in the Department of Defense. These are all sets of priorities.

It's the same when we look at Fed. Sarah Bloom Raskin being nominated to be the vice Chair of WORD at Federal Reserve. This is no just ordinary position. She will have an immense amount of regulatory and supervisory power to push her agenda and control every aspects of the federal economy.

She is in lockstep with President Biden's agenda to take on fossil fuels. The problem is, the direction that she's trying to lead the federal reserve is to be able to engage in picking winners and losers not just from a policy expect but from a capital aspect from the federal reserve. This is just something that it I’m being able to write in to be able to say. This is something she said, that the Federal Reserve should be able to reach in and make it more difficult to get capital for anyone who handles fossil fuels.

Page 12 • February 17, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Viewing platforms give visitors a bird’s-eye view of the stunning scenery at Voringsfossen waterfall.

Elaine relives her adventure to Norway

By Elaine Warner Frozen! That’s what it felt like recently – snowed in for two days. What better time to look back at one of the best trips my family as ever taken – to the land of the Disney movies – Norway. No lover of cold weather, we visited in the summer. Because we chose to travel by Elaine cruise ship, our visit was brief, but thanks to presentations on the Holland America ship, Nieuw Statendam, our Rick Steves guide book, and pre-planning, we got a great introduction to the land of trolls, deep fjords, and Grieg.

Our ship left port in Amsterdam late on a Sunday afternoon– first stop, Oslo, the capital of the country. We sailed into the Oslofjord, past a striking floating glass sculpture of a sinking ship.

We docked across from one of Oslo’s main attractions – the Akershus Castle and Fortress.

There were three of us – Jack, our daughter Zoe, and I. We skipped the group excursions – I often need extra time for note- and picture taking. The fortress with its massive stone walls and castle with spires are said to be the inspiration for Elsa and Anna’s home in the Disney movie. The

The Kristiansand McDonald’s is housed in an

The Kristiansand Cathedral, built in 1884, overlooks a central square in the town.

movie version is a stretch – the real thing is much more forbidding with fewer graceful steeples.

As interesting as that looked, we had about six hours to see the things we were most interested in. We checked the route of the Hop-on-Hop-off bus which was waiting on the dock, taking advantage of the city tour while getting off at our chosen spots.

No. 1 was the Norsk Folkemuseum. We planned to spend a good bit of time here. Over the 35 acres, more than 100 buildings from different parts of the country have been relocated and reassembled. We listened to folk music and tapped our toes with colorfully-clad dancers and watched costumed craftspeople demonstrating various skills.

Many of the old, log-built buildings have sod roofs, green with growing grass. Vegetable gardens grow near several of the ancient farm houses. My favorite building had to be the Gol stave church built in 1212. Moved from Hallingdal to Oslo in 1898, it has been carefully reconstructed – about a third of the present building dates back to the 13th century. Christianized in the 12th century, the stave church architecture incorporates older Norwegian symbols, like the dragons on the roof peaks.

An exhibition building on the grounds houses both permanent and temporary exhibits. Among the most attractive are Folk Arts: The Middle Ages to the 1900s and Folk Wear: Festive Dress and Work-wear. The jewelry collection is outstanding, including elaborately wrought, silver buttons and brooches.

A short bus hop took us to the Viking Ship Museum. Star attractions are three excavated Viking ships – the Oseburg, built about 820 A.D., the

Gokstad, 890 A.D., and the Tune, built around 910. One hears about Viking funerals with boats set adrift and set fire – but these were buried along with grave goods.

Currently this museum is closed, scheduled to reopen as part of a new complex in 2025 or 2026. Construction is taking place around the building as the artifacts are considered to fragile to be moved. I’m so glad it was still open when we were there in the summer of 2019. The ships are magnificent and, amazingly reconstructed of over 90 percent original wood.

Our third stop was Oslo’s City Hall, an impressive building where the annual presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize takes place. It is a mystery why Alfred Nobel stipulated in his will that the Peace Prize would be awarded in Oslo rather than in Stockholm where the other prizes are given.

The main chamber where the Peace Prize is awarded is massive. The walls are decorated with huge Socialist Realist murals depicting history, art, culture, and industry. We had to stand in line to take a guided tour – free. Had we carried our Rick Steve’s guidebook, its thorough descriptions could have provided a self-guided experience.

Travelers tip: Cut the pages out of the guide book and just take the ones you need for that day.

Chances are, by the time you visit that destination again, you’ll probably need a more up-todate book anyway.

Did we see all the sights of Oslo? Not by a long shot – but we felt that we had made good use of our time and seen the things we were most interested in.

Or next port was Kristiansand, a town of about 90,000. Again we chose to explore on our own.

We walked along the pier to a canal lined with boats and colorful houses. A highlight of the area was the large fish market full of marine delicacies and tanks of live fish and shellfish.

Making our way into town, we passed one of the most elegant McDonald’s I’ve ever seen. It’s housed in a former bank built in 1897.

The Kristiansand Cathedral is one of the largest in Norway. After touring the interior, we enjoyed the large public spaces around the church. Plenty of benches provided spots for people-watching; an outdoor market displayed beautiful fruits, vegetables and crafts; and a spacious green hosted families enjoying the fresh air – and blowing

See Elaine, Page 16

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 17, 2022 • Page 13

Chan Hellman

UCO alumnus Chan Hellman will speak on campus March 1 The University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Education and Professional Studies will host UCO alumnus Chan Hellman, Ph.D., at 7 p.m. March 1, in the Nigh University Center, Constitution Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Hellman will speak on “The Science and Power of Hope,” a research theory based on the importance of hope in determining resiliency in the lives of people impacted by trauma.

"As an alumnus of UCO, we are honored to welcome him back to campus,” said Lori Beasley, Ed.D., professor of child development at UCO. "Dr. Hellman’s research has given front-line workers in human services a credible framework to use for inter-

vention services aimed at a broad age of individuals. The tenets of hope-centered interactions provide an optimistic and imaginable journey as one works from trauma and stress to a future with possibility."

Hellman is a professor of social work at the University of Oklahoma (OU) and director of The Hope Research Center, a research center at OU focused on hope as a psychological strength helping children and adults overcome trauma and adversity. He has presented his research at national and international conferences worldwide, TEDx and Jane Goodall’s Activating Hope Summit.

For more information about the event, contact Beasley at 405-9742535 or lbeasley@uco.edu.

Page 14 • February 17, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Keep your baby sun-safe Spending time outdoors is a summertime tradition for people of all ages.

Sunny summer afternoons may be especially cherished in 2020, when people across the globe have been forced to spend more time indoors as they adhere to social distancing guidelines implemented to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Parents of infants may be extra excited to get outdoors this summer.

Chances to get out and about don’t come around very often for parents of infants, and those chances may be even more rare as social distancing guidelines remain in place. But before parents rush out the door to soak up some summer sun, it’s imperative that they take steps to protect their tiny tots from UV rays.

• Avoid exposing infants to the sun. The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that infants’ skin is especially sensitive to the sun, so the organization advises parents to shield children six months and younger from the sun rather than using sunscreen. Instead of applying sunscreen to their infants, parents should keep them out of the sun entirely. Seek shade between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are especially intense. When taking infants out in their strollers, make sure they are shaded at all times and avoid walking on the sunny side of the street.

• Dress babies for the sun. The SCF advises parents to dress their babies in brimmed hats and lightweight clothing that fully covers their arms and legs. Dressing babies for the sun may seem like common sense, but the SCF notes that researchers at the University of Miami found that only 43 percent of parents consistently cover their babies with hats, and even fewer (40 percent) cover babies with long-sleeved shirts and pants when going out in the sun.

• Consider sunglasses. Sunglasses are another way parents can protect their children from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Sunglasses can be an alternative for parents whose infants keep taking off their hats, as many baby-sized sunglasses are equipped with elastic straps to keep the glasses on.

Sunglasses may be vital because the melanin in infants’ eyes is still forming, and that development can be adversely affected if infants’ eyes are exposed to UV rays.

How parents can protect What is attachment parenting? their babies’ oral health The period when babies are teething can be tough on children and their parents. While parents who have dealt with teething infants in the past might be able to recognize when their new babies’ teeth are coming in, first-time parents may wonder why their baby suddenly seems so uncomfortable and irritable.

In a 2016 study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers who analyzed studies from eight different countries determined that teething can make babies feel miserable.

Thankfully, the researchers also found that teething usually does not make babies sick.

An examination of 10 major studies found that the most frequent symptoms of teething in infants and toddlers were gum irritation, irritability and drooling.

Because teething can be so uncomfortable for babies, parents must be patient as their children’s teeth slowly come in. As babies begin to exhibit signs of teething, parents also can take steps to protect their babies’ oral health.

• Discuss fluoride with your child’s pediatrician. A naturally occurring mineral that’s found in many foods, fluoride can benefit babies’ teeth in various ways.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, fluoride can strengthen tooth enamel and make it more resistant to acid attacks that contribute to tooth decay. Fluoride also makes it more difficult for plaque bacteria to produce acid. Parents of infants can discuss fluoride with their children’s pediatricians, who may recommend prescription drops of chewable tablets as babies’ teeth begin to grow in.

• Inspect and clean babies’ teeth.

Babies can’t brush their own teeth, so parents must perform this task for

them. The AAP notes that healthy teeth should be all one color. Any spots or stains should be brought to the attention of a dentist. Once a baby gets his or her first tooth, parents can use a smear of fluoride toothpaste that’s roughly the size of a grain of rice to clean the teeth at least twice daily. The AAP recommends cleaning teeth right after breakfast and before bedtime.

• Feed babies healthy diets. An-

other way parents can protect their babies’ teeth is to feed their children healthy diets. The AAP recommends foods and drinks that do not contain a lot of sugar, such as fruits and vegetables. When feeding babies fruit, be mindful of dried fruits, such as raisins, which can stick to babies’ teeth and may contribute to cavities if not thoroughly cleaned off the teeth.

• Do not put babies to bed with bottles. The AAP advises against parents putting babies to bed or down to nap with a bottle. Milk, formula and juice contain sugar, and babies who suck on bottles with liquids that have sugar in them before going to sleep may suffer from tooth decay.

Many parents aspire to develop close emotional bonds with their children. Children who understand that their parents are nearby and will respond to their needs effectively begin to develop trust in those around them. This nurturing can extend to being well-rounded and emotionally secure into adulthood.

Parents may subscribe to various parenting models as they look to bond with their children. One such approach is attachment parenting.

Proponents of this type of parenting include the well-known pediatrician William Sears, M.D., an author who coined the term “attachment parenting.” Attachment parenting promotes methods that aim to build attachments between parent and infant by responsiveness and also through continuous bodily closeness and touch.

Components of attachment parenting include bonding with the baby before and directly after birth, breastfeeding, bedding close to the child, and wearing the baby as much as possible. Attachment parenting may have evolved from anthropological studies of indigenous childrearing practices that put an emphasis on emotional responsiveness, according to Greater Good Magazine.

Another core component of attachment parenting, according to the organization Attachment Parenting International, is responding with sensitivity. API notes that babies communicate their needs through body movements, facial expressions and crying, and that infants learn to trust when their needs are met with consistency and sensitivity. It’s only after consistent and repeated

responsiveness in a sensitive manner that babies will learn to soothe themselves as they get older. These sensitivity strategies should be carried through as a child becomes a toddler or a school-aged child.

Proponents of attachment parenting also advocate against childcare for more than 20 hours a week for babies younger than 30 months old, says WebMD. At this early developmental stage, the nearly constant presence of a parent is recommended.

One potentially controversial aspect of attachment parenting is co-sleeping. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against sleeping with a young child in the same bed, as it may increase the risk for SIDS. However, workarounds, including having a baby in a separate cradle or co-sleeper very close to a parent’s bed so children can be touched and soothed through the night, are options.

Expecting parents who want to learn more about the philosophy behind attachment parenting and its techniques can visit www.attachmentparenting.org.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 17, 2022 • Page 15

Page 16 • February 17, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

‘Marry Me’ harkens back to old romance films

By George Gust “Marry Me” follows music superstars Kat Valdez (Jennifer Lopez) and Bastian (Maluma) are getting married before a global audience of fans. But when Kat learns, seconds before her vows, that Bastian has been unfaithful, she decides to marry Charlie (Owen Wilson), a stranger in the crowd, instead.

Over the past decade plus the legacy of the studio romantic comedy has largely become something of a punchline. With most of the nostalgia for the genre being relegated to the small screen and movie of the week Hallmark originals.

However, Lopez, as one of the Mount Rushmore leading ladies of the golden era of romcom, has enough star power, charisma, and money to produce the studio romcom “Marry Me” just in time for Valentine's Day. For those familiar with the tropes of the mid 2000’s romcoms, “Marry Me” hits on most of the unrealistic but loveable staples of the genre.

With a quick jump into the outlandish premise of the movie, we are treated to the instant unlikely chemistry between Lopez and Wilson (far removed from their brief onscreen appearance in the 1997 action film “Anaconda”). Now with the

real-life pathos of a life lived in the media spotlight, “Marry Me” plays up on Lopez’s tabloid celebrity past and her on again off again romances, which brings an unexpected authenticity to Lopez’s performance. And warmly playing opposite her, Wilson brings his trademark ‘awe shucks’ energy in an understated performance that makes plenty of room for Lopez’s larger than life persona.

There’s not much in the way of plot surprises in “Marry Me” as it follows usual getting together, breaking apart and getting together again storyline, but what was surprising was the amount of full-length music that was produced

for the film. Lopez clearly had a large creative influence on the film and it shows with the pop soundtrack and cashes in on her conflicting persona that is both larger than life (huge concerts) and charmingly albeit cheesy sweet (snuggling on the couch with her new husband and incorrigible dog).

Overall, what you see is what you get with “Marry Me”- a ludicrous romcom premise that features charming performances from the unlikely duo.

Pepper in a few comedic performances by the supporting cast lead by a fun take on the frumpy best friend character by Sarah Silverman and you’ve got yourself a throwback romcom that hits the nostalgia button for the cheesy romance movies of the late 90s mid 2000s.

“Marry Me” is rated PG-13 for some language and suggestive material. Now available in theaters and streaming on Peacock with a premium subscription.

3.7 out of 5 stars You can reach George Gust to comment at gust.george@gmail.com,

PHOTO PROVIDED

Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson snuggle up to the classic romcom tropes in the cheesy but lovable ‘Marry Me.’

Answers appearing on Page 23

Elaine giant bubbles.

The Cathedral is on the edge of the oldest part of the city with structures dating back to the 17th century.

This area survived a devastating city fire in 1892 and includes one of Northern Europe’s largest collections of low-rise, timber houses.

At Eidfjord, our next port, we stopped in a tourist center on the dock and signed up for a bus trip to Voringsfossen, the best known waterfall in Norway with several cascades tumbling over 500 feet into the innermost end of the Hardanger Fjord.

It’s hard to say which we enjoyed more – the land or the sea portions of our seven-day cruise.

Our trip was fantastic.

Cruising has taken a big hit during COVID, but cruise ships have made a number of adaptations to make traveling safer. If you’re ready to venture out, I couldn’t give Holland America a bigger endorsement. The cruise line is offering amazing deals between now and the end of the month – and this applies not only for bookings for this year, but for 2023 and 2024.

Check with Darci at Prime Time Travel – she’s their expert on Holland America cruises. Travel is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: U.S. Presidents ACROSS 1. Short for specification 5. Knave 8. *Like President Eisenhower's head 12. *One fourth of a Presidential term 13. Take-out handout 14. The Beast's problem in "Beauty and the Beast" 15. *Pres. Eisenhower established this space agency 16. Thought 17. Body of water 18. *#22 and #24 20. First-rate, slangily 21. Terminate, as in mission 22. Lingerie staple 23. Public speaker 26. Ivory tickler 30. "Fresh Prince of ____-Air" 31. Most likely to win 34. Pot contribution 35. By surprise 37. Indian restaurant staple 38. Lacking justification 39. Office communique 40. Greece and Bulgaria peninsula 42. Overnight stop 43. Indifferently 45. Sturdily built 47. English course abbreviation 48. "_____' it easy" 50. Oliver Twist, e.g.

52. *University of Virginia founder 56. African prairie 57. *Second mostpopular Presidential birth state, after Virginia 58. Arm bone 59. Poem at a funeral 60. German title 61. Arnold Lobel's "Mouse ____" 62. High school club 63. Clinton ____ Rodham 64. Hitler's Deputy

DOWN 1. Update a FitBit 2. Sound of bells 3. "At ____, soldier."

4. Modern tie forerunner 5. Aromatic lumber 6. Beside, archaic 7. Two of the same 8. *The only President who was a bachelor 9. ____ 51, Nevada 10. Law school entry requirement, acr.

11. Bear's room 13. Edith Piaf's hit 14. Meat of coconut 19. Digital tome 22. Trash container, e.g.

23. *One of three Presidents to win a Grammy 24. James Dean's famous role 25. Remember this battle 26. *First to serve coast to coast 27. Indo-Aryan, as in languages 28. Did not smell good

29. Like yellow polka dot bikini 32. June 6, 1944 33. Salt in cocina 36. *a.k.a. Silent Cal 38. Loosen ropes 40. Deli acronym 41. ____ ____ help 44. Hawaii's number 46. Mob offensive 48. High-pitched laugh sound, in print 49. Like Bananas Foster 50. "All's well that ends ____" 51. Away from wind 52. *Second most common Presidential first name, after James 53. Type of gin 54. Cross to bear 55. Midday slumbers 56. Chill, with 'out'

Answers on Page 23

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 17, 2022 • Page 17

D N O EDM

S E T I R O V FA 2022 VOTE ONLINE! EDMONDLIFEANDLEISURE.COM Simply answer each question below. Feel free to elaborate on a separate piece of paper! We will announce your Edmond Favorites in our March 3 issue.

Ballots can be mailed to:

EDMOND FAVORITES, 107 S. BROADWAY, EDMOND, OK 73034

You are welcome to drop your ballot at our office (same address as mailing address above).

DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 25

AT LEAST 50% OF BALLOT MUST BE COMPLETED FOR YOUR VOTE TO COUNT! PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY AND COMPLETELY.

FAVORITE FOOD / RESTAURANT: Asian Food

Ice Cream / Frozen Yogurt

__________________________

__________________________

Bakery

Italian Food

__________________________

__________________________

Barbecue

Lunch Spot

__________________________

__________________________

Breakfast / Brunch

Mexican Food

__________________________

__________________________

Brewery

New Restaurant

__________________________

__________________________

Burger

Night Spot

__________________________

__________________________

Caterer

Pizza

__________________________

__________________________

Chicken

Sandwiches / Subs

__________________________

__________________________

Coffee House

Seafood

__________________________

__________________________

Desserts

Special Occasion Restaurant

__________________________

__________________________

Ethnic Food

Steak

__________________________

___________________________

Food Truck

Sushi

__________________________

___________________________

Page 18 • February 17, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

D

N O M ED

S E T I R O FAV 2022 FAVORITE PLACE TO BUY: Antiques

Hobby Supplies

___________________________

__________________________

Appliances

Home Decor

___________________________

___________________________

Athletic Shoes / Apparel

Jewelry

___________________________

___________________________

Books

Mattresses

___________________________

___________________________

Children’s Clothing / Accessories

Men’s Clothing

___________________________

___________________________

Consignment / Resale

Plants / Landscaping

___________________________

___________________________

Flooring

Shoes

___________________________

___________________________

Furniture

Sporting Goods / Outdoor Gear

___________________________

___________________________

Gifts

Tires

___________________________

___________________________

Groceries

Wine & Spirits

___________________________

___________________________ Women’s Clothing / Accessories ___________________________

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 17, 2022 • Page 19

DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 25 VOTE ONLINE! EDMONDLIFEANDLEISURE.COM Simply answer each question below. Feel free to elaborate on a separate piece of paper!

We will announce your Edmond Favorites in our March 3 issue.

Ballots can be mailed to:

EDMOND FAVORITES, 107 S. BROADWAY, EDMOND, OK 73034 You are welcome to drop your ballot at our office (same address as mailing address above).

PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY AND COMPLETELY.

FAVORITE BUSINESSES/SERVICES: Automobile Repair

Fitness / Health Club

___________________________

___________________________

Barber

Florist

___________________________

___________________________

Birthday Parties

Golf Course

___________________________

___________________________

Car Wash

Hair Salon

___________________________

___________________________

Chiropractor

Home Maintenance

___________________________

___________________________

Custom Framing

Insurance Agent

___________________________

___________________________

Dance Studio

Lawn Care

___________________________

___________________________

Dentist

Live Music Venue / Live Music Spot

___________________________

___________________________

Dry Cleaning

Massage

___________________________

___________________________

Esthetician

Nail Salon

___________________________

___________________________

Eye Care

Oil Change

___________________________

___________________________

Financial Planner

Park

___________________________

___________________________

Page 20 • February 17, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

D

N O M ED

S E T I R O FAV 2022 VOTE ONLINE! EDMONDLIFEANDLEISURE.COM FAVORITE BUSINESSES/SERVICES (CONT): Pet Grooming

Senior Living Community

___________________________

___________________________

Pharmacy

Travel Agency

___________________________

___________________________

Physician

Veterinarian

___________________________

___________________________

Romantic Place To Stay The Night

___________________________

Kids

Corner

OTHER: Best Customer Service

Locally Owned Business

___________________________

___________________________

Most Attractive Building

Long Term Business

___________________________

___________________________

Civic Organization

Public Art Piece

___________________________

___________________________

Edmond Event Or Festival

Special Event Venue

___________________________

___________________________

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 17, 2022 • Page 21

Mental health part of fitness journey

By Brian Attebery Some people may say that being a personal trainer can be much like being a “bartender.” We tend to talk to people about lots of things.

Obviously, health is the primary one. Within that realm, we are not just talking about building Attebery muscle tone and losing weight.

Health expands into “wellness” and that includes mental and even spiritual health.

They all tie together at various levels. I have seen and heard multiple stories of struggles throughout my career as a fitness expert and I am empathetic.

We tend to get stuck emotionally and physically many times in this journey of life. These past couple of years, I have heard more and more stories of young kids and teens primarily, struggling with depression and stress. While I am not a Psychologist, part of my education is in that and I understand that many times the most important “muscle” we need to strengthen is the one between our ears.

Our mind determines much of where we our bodies and health are able to go.

Stress is a killer. The struggles in your mind can lead to physical manifestations in our physiology.

High blood pressure and heart disease are in the top of the spectrum. Many teenagers sit around on their phones and video games. They have this anxiety and stress but have no one to place it. In addition, those same electronic devices are creating and building up more stress in their bodies. We focus a lot on exercise for weight loss but what about “anxiety” loss? Exercise is a Catharsis. It is a positive way to help you purge some of your emotions, fears and anxiety. I see many people that need to exercise for that alone. There are other ways to release this but for my realm, exercise is where I focus on.

I recently had a conversation with a mother whose teen boy was struggling. Like many teen boys, he played a lot of video games, looked at his phone constantly and was not very physically ac-

tive. I explained to her that the physiological process that our bodies go through to release stress are similar towhat our bodies do when we exercise. Even if we still have the thoughts in our heads and the stresses we are facing have not gone away, at least we are physically releasing some of it. I use the analogy that your body is like a sponge that can only soke up so much fluid. Exercise helps to wring out the stresses we accumulate physically in our bodies. I have personally witnessed teens that get off their video games and start being more active have major positive shifts in their attitudes. They feel better and are enjoying life. For you adults, substitute those video game examples with the news and you can see how it is important for us too. We all need to exercise for more than just weight loss.

Getting exercise for stress relief can look as simple as going on a walk daily. It could mean running in place, jump rope or some basic stretches and along with some push ups and sit ups daily. Group exercise classes are fun and provide a social element we all could use. I love lifting weights and then doing the Elliptical or Treadmill while watching some fun shows or hobbies I am interested in on YOUTUBE. Combine another catharsis, music with your exercise and you have a double positive activity but just be aware of the type of music you are listening too.

Wellness is a full spectrum of health that we all need to address. Stress, anxiety and depression are a missed portion of this for many people. We have tools in fitness we can try but sometimes that is not enough. If you are dealing with depression and anxiety, don’t hesitate to contact a mental health professional as part of your journey. This is a great thing to do and just like a personal trainer, they are trained in what they do for a reason. Don’t hesitate to start your journey into feeling better today.

(Brian Attebery is a Degreed/Certified Trainer.

He owns and operates Results Fitness and Nutrition Center, L.L.C. in Edmond. www.resultsfitnessusa.com)

PHOTO PROVIDED/CADET RYAN RIGGA/EDMOND NORTH HIGH

R. Wayne Barron, Director, Region 7, announces Geno McCary and Sally Son's Selection for HQ AFJROTC's 4 Year J-100 Character in Leadership College Scholarship."

Cadets & elite scholarship Two outstanding Edmond North High School Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC) cadets, Eugene "Geno" McCary and Kyumbee "Sally" Son, earned an Air Force Reserve Officer TrainMcCary ing Corps (AFROTC) four-year college scholarship.

Headquarters (HQ) AFJROTC, uniting with Air University, the Holm Center and AFROTC, selected Geno and Sally as well as 98 other high school cadets for the J-100 Character in Leadership Scholarship.

Just in its second year, AFJROTC's J-100 identifies stellar high school senior cadets for the character and leadership that is embodied in AFJROTC and affords them the opportunity to compete for an invaluable commission as a United States Air Force or Space Force officer.

This ROTC college scholarship includes four-years of full tuition/fees; 4-years of on-campus housing ($10K max per year); books and a monthly stipend (between $300-500/month) at any college or university with an AFROTC program.

Major (Ret) Eric Weingaertner, Edmond North High School’s OK81st Senior Aerospace Science Instructor and his fellow instructors CMSgt (Ret) Corey Bowen and SMSgt (Ret) Roy Martos nominated Geno and Sally for this opportunity.

The cadets passed a comprehensive initial qualitative review, and were then interviewed by a three-person panel made up of active duty officers and senior non-commisSon sioned officers, and chaired by HQ AFJROTC civil servants.

Geno and Sally earned their scholarships through their sustained performance in high school, solid essays and excellent interviews in front of a HQ AFJROTC panel.

In coordination with Edmond Public Schools, HQ AFJROTC established the OK-81st in 1973. OK-81st cadets, alumni and instructors are proud to be a part of Edmond North High School's team since 1993.

There are almost 120,000 high school students enrolled in AFJROTC programs at approximately 870 high schools in the U.S. and overseas.

The mission of AFJROTC is to develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community while instilling values of citizenship, dedicated service to the United States of America, personal responsibility, and a sense of accomplishment.

AFJROTC provides a well-structured program consisting of topnotch curriculum, unique leadership opportunities and high standards of excellence.

Page 22 • February 17, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Delayed Valentine Variety radio show set for Feb. 25 Edmond’s 1940s Radio Theater presents: “A Valentine Variety Show” on Friday, Feb. 25th at 6:30 p.m. The show features historic comedy, romantic drama and Edmond lore. Folk legend, Kentucky Daisey, will jump off the train to claim both her homestead and her own true love, and Liz Cooper, from My Favorite Husband, will accidently receive an expensive gift from her husband with hilarious results.

Special operatic music provided by local soprano, Alicia Vanderschaaf.

The 1940s Radio Theater is an awardwinning performance series hosted by the Edmond Historical Society and Museum and directed by Barrett Huddleston. The one-hour show features live local actors reading historic radio scripts, with the addi-

Family Circus

Beetle Baily

Hi and Lois

Blondie

Shoe

Hägar the Horrible

Zits

tion of original material.

Because of the Covid spike, the show date was delayed to the end of February — but love has no time limit! Be sure to book your Valentine dinner at a local restaurant near Stephenson Park before or after the show.

Details: Tickets to A Valentine Variety Show are $15 each, children under five are free. Purchase tickets at EdmondHistory.org. The show will be performed live at the Edmond Historical Society & Museum, 431 S. Boulevard in Edmond.

Edmond Life & Leisure • February 17, 2022 • Page 23

Recent drive equates to millions of meals The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma's Holiday Match campaign will help provide more than 13 million meals to Oklahomans facing hunger. The match was made possible thanks to sponsors APMEX, the Cresap Family Foundation and an anonymous donor.

KOCO 5 News partnered with the Regional Food Bank to promote the match with special programming dedicated to fighting hunger in Oklahoma.

"The last few years have been tough for everyone, especially those who have found themselves in need of food assistance for the first time. The generosity of everyone who donated to the Holiday Match helps the Regional Food Bank get closer to our vision of an Oklahoma where no one goes hungry," said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. "We are so thankful for our match sponsors and partners whose leadership has helped make an incredible impact on hunger in Oklahoma."

Gifts from APMEX, the Cresap Family Foundation and an anonymous donor matched every donation made, up to $500,000, between Nov. 15 and Jan. 15.

“Seeing our community come together to serve those in need brings me so much joy,” said Ken Lewis, chief executive officer of APMEX. “Our decade-long partnership with the Regional Food Bank means so much to us because we know we are making a difference for our neighbors struggling with food insecurity in Oklahoma City.”

Overall, the match raised more than $3.4 million for the Regional Food Bank.

“Our fellow Oklahomans have risen to the challenge and once again exceeded expectations in the Holiday Match campaign,” said John Cresap, president of the Cresap Family Foundation. “We are immensely proud to partner with APMEX and support the mission of the Regional Food Bank.”

For the second year, KOCO joined the Regional Food Bank as the official broadcast partner of the Holiday Match. Coverage from KOCO featured Regional Food Bank programs and partners as well as highlighting the Holiday Match during national sports broadcasts and newscasts. KOCO employees also donated their time to pack food in the Regional Food Bank’s Volunteer Center during the Holiday Match.

Throughout the match, KOCO encouraged viewers to donate online or make a $10 donation through the Regional Food Bank’s text-to-give platform. Overall, KOCO viewers raised $30,500

through the text-to-give-platform.

"Growing up in Oklahoma, I've seen firsthand how food insecurity impacts local families,” said Shawnda Adams, KOCO 5 news director. “In our newscasts, we've shared stories that broke our hearts and we were determined to help. I'm so proud of how our entire team jumped in to support this incredible effort with the Regional Food Bank."

The Regional Food Bank's network of partners across 53 counties in central and western Oklahoma served more than 47 million meals in the past year.

Learn more about the fight against hunger in Oklahoma by visiting rfbo.org.

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Page 24 • February 17, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure