June 27, 2019

June 27, 2019 Vol. 20, No. 5

In This Issue DIRECTIONS

Directions, by Joe Slack, in real life is located in front of OnCue, at 15th and I-35, 4100 E. 15th Street, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Email c o n te s t @ e d m o n d p a p e r. c o m with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing.

For more information, see page 4.

Famed Edmond quarterback helps good cause See Page 7

FRIDAY, JUNE 28 Mostly Sunny High 95° Low 74°

PHOTOS BY MELINDA INFANTE

Above are a few entrants from last year’s LibertyFest parade.

This year’s parade will be held on Thursday, July 4, starting at 9 a.m.

SATURDAY, JUNE 29 Partly Cloudy High 96° Low 74°

SUNDAY, JUNE 30

Isolated Thunderstorms High 91° Low 68°

Arguably one of the best attended annual events in Edmond will be celebrated this time next week.

Thousands of people, many from outside of Edmond, will be here for the annual LibertyFest parade, Thursday, July 4.

The LibertyFest parade with dozens and dozens of entries will be held in downtown Edmond starting at 9 a.m. You might decide to stake out a place somewhere along the parade route. Thousands of people will be on hand to cheer on neighbors, volunteer groups, schools, businesses as well as first responders.

This year’s LibertyFest theme is “Snapshots of Freedom,” and the

vibrant colors, floats and people of the annual parade should provide plenty of material for snapshots.

There will be marching bands as well as other music.

This year’s parade marshal is Edmond native and United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy Gregory Slavonic.

He’ll preside over what organizers call the “moving show.” It begins at Ayers and University. It proceeds west along Ayers and then heads south on Broadway. It’s on Broadway near Main Street where it passes the review stand. The procession then turns left on Second Street and heads back to University. The route

covers 1.5 miles.

Law enforcement reminds people there is no parking of vehicles from Broadway from Second Street to Ayers.

For additional details on the parade, please visit the LibertyFest web page or consult your official LibertyFest Program, which was inserted in last week’s Edmond Life & Leisure.

Prepare now for a spectacular parade, which helps to celebrate the birth of freedom for the United States of America as well the patriotic heritage of Oklahoma.

And don’t forget fireworks, from E.C. Hafer park, will begin at 9:30 p.m. on July 4.

Page 2 • June 27, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 27, 2019 • Page 3

The impressive offices of Paycom, just off the Kilpatrick Turnpike west of the Hefner Parkway.

Paycom’s Chad Richison named one of Glassdoor’s top CEOs Paycom Software, Inc. (“Paycom”) (NYSE: PAYC), a leading provider of comprehensive, cloud-based human capital management software, announced last week that its founder and CEO, Chad Richison, has been named one of Glassdoor's Top CEOs in 2019, based on employee feedback. Richison is the only Oklahoma-based company CEO to earn a slot among the 100 selected in the category of large companies in the United States.

“I'm grateful to be recognized, as this honor reflects the cumulative opinion of those who are and have been part of the Paycom family," said Richison. "We are committed to supporting a workplace that’s attractive to members of today’s workforce, while also empowering them to fulfill our vision of digitally transforming organizations across the

Chad Richison country through our human capital management and payroll technology."

Among chief executives recognized by employees nationwide, Richison received an impressive 93 percent approval rating, based on the anonymous and voluntary reviews Paycom employees shared on Glassdoor’s website between May 2, 2018 and May 1, 2019. Earlier this year, Paycom was recognized as one of Glassdoor’s 2019 Best Places to Work, representing the top-ranked Oklahoma organization

and the only Oklahoma City-based organization on the list of large-sized U.S. companies.

“It’s an honor to recognize incredible leaders who, from their employees’ perspectives, exemplify exceptional vision, trust and communication. Glassdoor’s Top CEOs award continues to be more competitive every year, and I congratulate each leader on their achievement,” said Christian Sutherland-Wong, Glassdoor president and chief operating officer.

“Today’s job seekers are looking for leaders who share their values and will empower them to bring their full selves to work. More and more, we’re seeing Top CEOs make decisions to shape the culture of their organizations to help recruit and retain quality talent, which has a direct correlation to fueling business success.”

Glassdoor is one of the world’s largest job and recruiting sites, and

this year's award highlights leaders whom employees love working for, in countries throughout North America and parts of Europe.

Glassdoor’s Top CEOs in 2019 list is compiled using a proprietary algorithm, led by its Economic Research Team, and takes into account the quantity, quality and consistency of reviews.

As a leader in payroll and HR technology, Oklahoma City-based Paycom redefines the human capital management industry by allowing companies to effectively navigate a rapidly changing business environment.

Page 4 • June 27, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Wagner’s Carnival coming to Edmond Summertime is one of my favorite times of the year in Edmond. Our town just sparkles, folks are even more friendly and there is so much to do. In fact, it is hard to get everything in before the kids have to head back to school. My kids are all in their twenties, but I still miss not having them running in and out of Ray Hibbard the house all summer.

LibertyFest is the high point for the summer and for a year of great activities in Edmond. A Taste of Edmond fills you up, the car show takes you back in time and KiteFest gives you an opportunity to watch poetry in the air. There are concerts, a road rally, ParkFest and more to enjoy. All the information was in the official LibertyFest program that we produce each year. It is the only official publication for LibertyFest. The program was inserted in our newspaper last week but if you missed it, you can get it in full color online using the Issuu App. So, what could possibly be added to LibertyFest to make it any better?

How about a fantastic hometown carnival? You got it.

Wagner’s Carnival is coming to Edmond Wednesday, July 3 through Saturday, July 6 in Mitch Park.

Wagner’s Carnival has been providing safe family fun and entertainment for over 30 years. It is truly entertainment for all ages. There is something for everyone, from old-fashioned favorites like the Merry-Go-Round, Tea Cups and Ferris Wheel, and new fast and exciting rides such as the Zipper, Kamikaze, and Hurricane. Step up to win with games of skill and luck. When it comes to food, they’ve got it. Find over 30 attractions to fulfill your entertainment needs.

You can get more information at www.wagnerscarnival.com. Here is the breakdown on the days and times: Wagner’s Carnival Dates — Times Wednesday, July 3............Time : 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Thursday, July 4 ..............Time: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, July 5 ....................Time: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday, July 6 ................Time: 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

What I like most about this carnival is that it is a family owned and run business. You aren’t dealing with an out of state corporation that has hundreds of these things around the country. It has been family owned since the mid 1970’s and the Wagner family are from around these parts as they say. The company is based out of Aransas Pass, Texas, and travels between Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska setting up numerous fairs and festivals. They also have experience in the metropolitan area for the Fourth of July, but they picked Edmond this year and it will be a blast having them in town.

Wagner’s Carnival has folks with the last name of Wagner running it. I always like a business where the owner puts their name in it. There is no doubt where the buck stops in that case. In my conversations with Jason Wagner it was like talking with a neighbor.

Albert and his wife Denise Wagner started the business in 1977 after a long history of carnivals in their families. To this day they still own the MerryGo-Round that belonged to Albert's parents. They have three kids who all grew up on the carnival.

Their oldest, Jason, attended Texas A&M University, and has now taken over as owner of the show. Jason

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Wagner’s Carnival is coming to Mitch Park starting July 3 and will be offering lots of fun and rides, including a Ferris Wheel.

is married to Roxann and they have three kids. Haley, the only daughter, graduated from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi in 2011. She is currently a teacher and helps on the weekends and summers.

Haley and her husband, Abe, own rides on the show.

Haley and Abe have 2 kids. Their youngest, Albert II, graduated from Texas A&M University in 2008, and is currently a teacher and a football coach.

It isn’t just the ownership that is family. Many of the carnival employees are related and they are all considered family to the Wagners. It is what must keep the fun family atmosphere going. They pride their operation on safety and cleanliness. All of the staff wear a Wagner’s Carnival Uniform and an identification badge. The staff is trained to operate the equipment and are tested repeatedly throughout the year. The equipment is inspected daily and is watched throughout the day by the operator, supervisors and the owners.

They have kids rides, family rides and even thrill rides. The Merry Go Round, Tea Time, Farm Tractors, Puppy Love and Jet Skis all fit into the kids rides. The Giant Wheel, Rock Town and Para Trooper are a few of the family friendly rides. For you thrill seekers there is the Hurricane, Himalaya and something called the Supper Shot. These are just a few of them.

They also have fun games and they tell me the owners like their guests to win. You can do the familiar Balloon Pop, Alien Shootout and my favorite, Aaron’s Fishin’ Hole.

Located at the entrance of each ride there is a sign that allows parents to measure their child's height to make sure the child is tall enough to ride a particular ride. Also, at the front of each ride is another banner that explains the safety regulations for the ride and the height requirement for that ride. No matter what you are doing at Wagner's Carnival the owners want you to feel SAFE doing it.

The most important element, other than safety, for a carnival is food. Wagner’s Carnival has all the oldtime favorites at a booth called Denise’s Candy Shack. It includes Shaved Ice, Candy Apples, Funnel Cakes and Cotton Candy.

It cannot be a carnival without these classics. You can even get one of those giant turkey legs and fried Oreos, Twinkies and Snickers. They also feature an old-fashioned hamburger and of course hot dogs.

I first moved to Edmond in 1988 and don’t remember a carnival coming to town. I am sure there have been some in the past. We had one in Guthrie one year that I took the kids to but would have loved to have a family owned carnival come to Edmond. It will be a familiar crowd where you can see your friends and neighbors. My kids would have loved this. I’ve sent them a text letting them know it was coming but all I got back was “what?”. It could be that dad is more excited about it, but they will catch on.

Thank you LibertyFest volunteers For the last 47 years in Edmond, residents and visitors have enjoyed the bundle of activities now called LibertyFest. It has grown over the years to 10 events over a 10-day period and draws thousands of visitors into our town to help celebrate the birth of the greatest nation on earth. Edmond is proud of their town, state and country. LibertyFest reflects that pride and we are happy to share it with the world. In fact, one media group has named LibertyFest one of the top ten Fourth of July celebrations in the nation.

While most see the results of their efforts, the real unsung heroes are the members of the LibertyFest Committee and all the volunteers that lend a hand to make this celebration stupendous and mostly free to the public as it should be. The LibertyFest Committee works hard to make sure these events are conducted with safety as the key concern. The committee spends all year planning, meeting and organizing this great event for the rest of us to enjoy. It is the folks that have been in leadership roles for the committee that do the heavy lifting to get things done.

My hope is that those of you attending the activities will look around and have a moment of appreciation for these tireless volunteers that take time away from their businesses, jobs and family to make a great July Fourth celebration. If you see them out and about in Edmond please don’t be shy about telling them thank you. That is all the pay they get since this giant, award winning, 47-year-old celebration is 100 percent volunteer with no paid staff, ever.

(Ray Hibbard may be reached by e-mail at ray@edmondpaper.com)

Check out what’s inside! n Weekend calendar of events ........................................................Page 6. n State Senator reviews lawmaking session ..................................Page 10. n OC students and the national debt ............................................Page 11. n Learn about grilling safety ..........................................................Page 13. n ‘Toy Story 4’ review by George Gust ..........................................Page 15. n Crossword ..................................................................................Page 15. n Neverland 10 years after pop singer’s dies ................................Page 18. n Business News ............................................................................Page 22. n Worship directory ......................................................................Page 23.

See if you can find ‘Directions’ “Directions,” in real life is located in front of OnCue, at 15th and I-35, 4100 E 15th Street, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. E-mail contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing.

Local artist Joe Slack created the sculpture to draw the public in. “I just want to engage,” said Slack, “And for it to be part of the landscape.” At it’s tallest point of 17 feet ‘Directions' is the largest sculpture Slack has ever attempted. It features three huge faces with a rust patina. Located along I-35 it is certain to draw travelers in to engage with just one of the pieces of public art Edmond is known for.

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 April Burgess, Deanne York Advertising Director Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com Contributing Writers Dave Farris, Mallery Nagle, Kacee Van Horn, Rose Drebes, George Gust.

Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2019 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

Photographer Melinda Infante

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Cover Design April Burgess

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Edmond Life & Leisure • June 27, 2019 • Page 5

Participating from left, are professional dancer David Wood paired with Selina McGee, OD, Precision Vision; professional dancer David Elliot paired with Megan Meier, MD, Mercy; Tom O'Keefe, INTRUST Bank, paired with professional dancer Kinsey Marshall; Sean Conrad, RadVine Marketing, paired with professional dancer Sarah Pippenger; Chief JD Younger, Edmond Police Department, paired with professional dancer Elizabeth Wood; and professional dancer Brandon DeLong paired with Mallory Stone, Edmond Economic Development Authority.

Third annual Edmond’s Dancing with the Stars Edmond’s Dancing with the Stars (EDWS) will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 5 at the Edmond Conference Center, 2833 Conference Drive.

Back for the third year, the night will feature a dancing competition among six local celebrities, a small silent auction, catered dinner and a cocktail hour presented by The Scout Guide Edmond. EDWS is expected to attract 400+ attendees and will benefit the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce. The event is presented by Mercy. EDWS local celebrities are dancing with professional partners provided by Dance Makers.

Sean Conrad, Founder and President of RadVine Marketing, is among the six local celebrity dancers. Conrad is a Leadership Edmond graduate and an active volunteer in the community with Edmond Mobile Meals, Edmond Fine Arts Institute and the Endeavor Games.

Selina McGee, OD, is the visionary founder of Precision Vision and currently serves as the president for the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians. McGee is involved in several local organizations and non-profits including Edmond Beautiful and Edmond Rotary Club. She’s also a graduate of Leadership Edmond.

Primary care sports physician and director of sports medicine for Mercy are just two of many titles that Megan Meier, MD, carries. Meier is also the team physician for the University of Oklahoma women’s basketball, physician for Oklahoma Festival Ballet/OU dance, company physician for Oklahoma City Ballet, and helps care for the OKC Energy and US Rowing teams in Oklahoma City. When asked what she’s most looking forward to while participating in EDWS Meier answered, “I love to dance and love new experiences. This allows me to do both and support my community in

the process.”

INTRUST Bank Market President Tom O’Keefe will be competing for the EDWS trophy. O’Keefe is a longtime Edmond resident and current Board of Advisors member for the Edmond Chamber. After being diagnosed with nasal pharyngeal cancer in 2017, O’Keefe was declared a survivor in 2019.

Mallory Stone is the Client Services Manager for the Edmond Economic Development Authority and is a celebrity dancer in this year’s EDWS. Stone was raised in Edmond and graduated from Memorial High School.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Oklahoma where she was a gameday cheerleader. Stone is a Leadership Edmond graduate, serves on the Edmond YMCA Council and enjoys volunteering regularly at Project 66.

She’s also on the advisory board for both Edmond Young Professionals and Youth Leadership Edmond and is an active member of the Urban Land Institute and Commercial Real Estate Council.

Chief of Police J.D. Younger is the final celebrity dancer for the annual fundraising event. Younger was appointed as the Chief of Police for the City of Edmond in May 2017. His selection followed 23 years of service with the Norman Police Department.

He is a fourth generation Oklahoman and is deeply invested in the community.

The community is invited to attend this one-of-a-kind event in September.

Tables and individual tickets are available at www.edmondchamber.com/dancingwith-the-stars. Attendees, friends and family can visit the website to vote for their favorite dancer to win the People’s Choice Award.

How new Edmond families can enroll children in EPS New Edmond residents who want to enroll their children in Edmond Public Schools before the start of the 2019-2020 school year can do so at the district’s centralized enrollment center during the weeks of July 8-12 and July 16-19.

The center is located on the north side of Edmond Memorial High School, 1000 E. 15, inside the school’s Welcome Center. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., MondayThursday and close on Fridays.

Documentation needed at the time of enrollment includes two verifiable proofs of residency, a legal birth certificate, immunization records and a photo ID of the parent or guardian.

To speed up the enrollment process, parents and guardians are

encouraged to go to the district website, www.edmondschools.net, to download and complete the necessary forms in advance. Enrollment information is listed under Parents & Students in the website menu. For more information about the centralized enrollment center, call 726-7900 or 726-7901.

If new residents are unable to visit the enrollment center during the weeks it is open, they can enroll their child at their home school. Elementary schools will reopen August 6 and middle schools will reopen July 23 to serve parents. High Schools remain open during the summer from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday but are closed from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch.

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.

Page 6 • June 27, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Thursday, June 27 ---- In the Gallery ---- U-Pick Blackberries ---- Concerts in the Park – Classic Rock/Blues ---- LibertyFest: Concert in the Park ---- 2019 Native American New Play Festival ---- Summer Signature Tour ---- Summer Canine Olympics Friday, June 28 ---- In the Gallery ---- U-Pick Blackberries ---- 2019 Native American New Play Festival ---- Brian Gorrell & Jazz Company ---- 51st Annual LibertyFest Rodeo ---- USTRC Oklahoma Championship ---- Summer Signature Tour ---- Summer Canine Olympics Saturday, June 29 ---- In the Gallery ---- Edmond Farmer’s Market ---- U-Pick Blackberries ---- 2019 Native American New Play Festival ---- 51st Annual LibertyFest Rodeo ---- USTRC Oklahoma Championship ---- 19th Annual LibertyFest Car Show ---- Art in Public Places Tour ---- Old Bulldog Band ---- LibertyFest KiteFest ---- Moetown Alex & The NightView Band ---- Art Moments ---- Summer Canine Olympics Sunday, June 30 ---- In the Gallery ---- U-Pick Blackberries ---- USTRC Oklahoma Championship ---- LibertyFest KiteFest ---- Summer Canine Olympics Extra Information on Weekend Happenings In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Featuring works by Sabrina Sims, for information go to: http://www.edmondfinearts.com Edmond Farmers Market Location: Festival Marketplace & Plaza Extra Info: Free admission; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; for more information go to: edmondOK.com U-Pick Blackberries Location: Sorghum Mill Christmas Tree and Blackberry Farm Extra Info: During the month of June; call ahead for days and hours of operation: for information visit Christmastree.com Concerts in the Park – Classic Rock/Blues Location: Hafer Park Extra Info: Free; 6:15 – 8:45 p.m.; Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets. More information can be found at edmondok.com LibertyFest: Concert in the park Location: UCO Mitchell Hall Theater Extra Info: Free; 7:30 p.m.; for more

information visit libertyfest.org 2019 Native American New Play Festival Location: UCO – Mitchell Hall Theater Extra Info: 8 p.m.; for information visit okindigenostheatre.com Brian Gorrell & Jazz Company Location: UCO ---- Jazz Lab Extra Info: 7 p.m.; $10; for information visit ucojazzlab.com 51st Annual LibertyFest Rodeo Location: Edmond Round Up Club Carl Benne Arena Extra Info: 8 p.m.; $10 adults, $5 children 11 and under; for information visit libertyfest.org USTRC Oklahoma Championship Location: Lazy E Arena Extra Info: for information visit them on Facebook 19th Annual LibertyFest Car Show Location: Hafer Park Extra Info: Free; 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.; for information visit libertyfest.org Art in Public Places Tour Location: MAC in Mitch Park Extra info: $10; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; for information visit edmondok.com Old Bulldog Band Location: UCO – Jazz Lab Extra Info: $15; 7:30 p.m.; for information visit calendar.uco.edu LibertyFest KiteFest Location: Mitch Park Extra Info: Free; 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; for information visit libertyfest.org LibertyFest A Taste of Edmond Location: Festival Market Place & Plaza Extra Info: $12 in advance, $17 on the day; for information visit libertyfest.org Moetown Alex & The NightView Band Location: Riverwind Casino, River Lounge Extra info: 9 p.m.; for information visit riverwind.com Summer Signature Tour Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: 1 – 2 p.m.; for information visit nationalcowboymuseum.org Art Moments Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: 1 – 2 p.m.; for information visit nationalcowboymuseum.org Summer Canine Olympics Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: for information visit oksummercanineolympics.com Stars and Stripes River Festival Location: River Sport Drive Extra Info: 7 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.; for information visit riversportokc.org

PHOTO PROVIDED

From left, are actors Misty Red Elk, Cody Tabor and Johnlee Lookingglass.

Each will be peforming in ‘Neechie-Itas’ a comedy put on by the Oklahoma Indigenous Theatre. The performances of the stage production will continue this weekend at Mitchell Hall at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 27, 2019 • Page 7

Adam and Faith Kuykendall and their son, Gavin, pictured with Melanie and Brandon Weeden, right, at the eight annual Brandon Weeden Swing from the Heart Golf Challenge.

Famed Edmond QB helps Children’s Hospital Foundation National Football League quarterback, Brandon Weeden, announced last week the establishment of the CHF Brandon Weeden Endowed Research Chair in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery through Children’s Hospital Foundation (CHF).

The chair funds have been donated

by Brandon Weeden’s Annual Golf Challenge proceeds, along with matching funds from Children’s Hospital Foundation. The value of the chair is $1 million, but the intent is to continue fundraising to double the value, or more than double the value.

“It has taken several years to raise the funds to be able to establish our chair, but I am happy to announce that we have reached our goal to fund a full-time pediatric cardiac surgeon for children with critical heart conditions,” said Weeden. “I am very thankful for all those who have played in the annual golf challenge and donated at some capacity. I did not achieve this on my own. Your support is going to allow many families to create long-lasting memories that they may not have been able to without this program.”

Dr. Harold Burkhart, chief of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery at the Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center, will be the chairholder.

Brandon and his wife, Melanie, have witnessed the challenges for children in need of cardiac care and the impact it can have on children’s families. Faith and Adam Kuykendall, good friends of the Weedens, were blessed with their little miracle, Gavin, in 2006.

Before birth, Gavin was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), a rare congenital heart disease where the left side of the heart does not develop completely and is unable to send enough blood to the body. In an effort to do whatever necessary to give their son a chance at life, the Kuykendall’s chose a three-stage heart surgery for treatment.

Until recently, a child with such a rare heart problem would have had to be taken out of state to a hospital such as the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn., where Burkhart practiced until 2012. Burkhart came to Oklahoma City in 2014 to head

up the pediatric cardiology surgery team at the Children’s Hospital.

Now, instead of having to transport a sick baby to another state to be treated, Oklahomans can stay close to home and receive the high-quality, highly specialized care their babies need.

“We are grateful for the work that Brandon and Melanie have put forth in the effort to help fund a full-time pediatric cardiac surgeon,” said Chip Keating, Past CHF Board President.

“The Children’s Hospital has an incredible multidisciplinary team that takes care of children with heart defects, and it’s unmatched anywhere in the state. We are thrilled to have Dr. Burkhart hold this chair and position ourselves to be able to care for pediatric cardiac patients.”

After reviewing all the pediatric heart surgeries the team performed in the past years, “our outcomes are on par with all the top 10 hospitals rated in cardiac surgery by the U.S. News and World Report,” Burkhart said. “The Children’s Hospital team didn’t turn away a single sick baby to achieve those outcomes. Some hospitals might refuse an extremely highrisk surgery as it could reflect badly on their outcomes.”

“If (a baby’s) chances of survival are one in 10, our thoughts have been that you don’t deny the one-in10 chance,” Burkhart said. “Because if it was my child and somebody told me they had a one-in-10 chance of surviving, but they wouldn’t survive without the operation, I’d of course say, ‘I’d like you to do the operation.’”

Children’s Hospital Foundation funds pediatric research and education programs, ultimately supporting The Children’s Hospital in serving every county in Oklahoma with more than 242,000 patient encounters annually. All funds raised through Children’s Hospital Foundation stay in Oklahoma so children will have access to exceptional pediatric specialists without having to leave the state.

For more information about Children’s Hospital Foundation or the Brandon Weeden Endowed Research Chair, please call 405-650-1718 or visit www.chfKids.com.

Page 8 • June 27, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

OKC Philharmonic to perform

Metro offering music and fireworks July 3 Join the OKCPHIL for a FREE Independence Day Celebration including live music by the OKCPHIL, conducted by Alexander Mickelthwate, and a spectacular fireworks show at 10 p.m.

The annual Red White and Boom celebration is Wednesday, July 3 with the free concert beginning at 8:30 p.m. at State Fair Park. Join the celebration that brings Oklahoman's together from across the growing Oklahoma City Metropolitan area.

The concert is made possible through support from The Inasmuch Foundation and other local businesses and individuals.

Led by Maestro Alexander Mickelthwate, the 90 minute concert beginning at 8:30 p.m. offers a variety of musical selections for the whole family, ranging from Battle Hymn of the Republic and America the Beautiful to Star Wars and Sing, Sing, Sing.

This will be followed at 10 p.m. with the city's most spectacular fireworks display. Gates 5 and 6 open at 6:30 p.m., and parking is free. On-site concessions will be available or bring a picnic. NOTE - outside alcohol, glass bottles and pets are not permitted.

For more information go to http://okcphil.org/rwb Says OKCPHIL Marketing Director

Susan Webb,” We hope you’ll join us for our Red White and Boom event, held annually now for 13 years! It’s so fun to see how the expert paring of music followed by a spectacular fireworks display, can bring people together from across the metropolitan area and beyond! There is a special joy and pride to be had when looking at and walking through the audience for this event. Seeing the warmth and connection happening between folks, many of whom not only bring their friends and family to the celebration, but also take time to reach out to meet new neighbors with kindness while sharing the experience, is heartwarming. We hope you’ll come be a part of this joyful celebration on July 3rd!’

In addition to the founding presenting sponsor, the Inasmuch Foundation, support is provided by, The Oklahoman, State Fair Park, Magic 104, I Heart Media, Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages, the Oklahoma Arts Council, Allied Arts and Adventure Road.

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

Additionally, the Phil presents the free, annual Red, White and Boom concert on July 3.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 27, 2019 • Page 9

PHOTO PROVIDED

Jane tries to get her protesting husband Billy to try the cheesecake in the new comedy ‘Clever Little Lies.’ Pictured are Katy Hayes and Pat Meirick. For more information, visit www.carpentersquare.com, and for reservations, call 405-232-6500.

‘Clever’ comedy closes Carpenter Sq. season Carpenter Square Theatre presents the area premiere of “Clever Little Lies” June 28-July 20. Playwright Joe DiPietro mines the ups and downs of love and marriage to produce a gem of a comedy with just a bit of a sting. All performances will be held at the theater, located at 800 W. Main in downtown Oklahoma City.

Good comedies benefit from struggle, and this is very true for “Clever Little Lies.” The play delivers a lot of laughs, but really shines when its amiable characters turn unhappy. In the snappy opening scene, Billy, whose wife recently delivered their first child, confides to Bill, Sr. that he is having an affair. He has fallen in starry-eyed love with his much-younger mistress — a personal trainer at his gym — and his emotions are like a roller coaster, bringing him to alternately cry in confusion and rejoice in glee. With Billy’s confession comes a command: “You can’t tell Mom any of this!”

Good luck with that. Bill, Sr. vows to keep a tight lip, but he’s an easy target for Alice, his wife, who senses that something is amiss, almost as soon as he walks through their front door. Alice pries and probes, and in no time she’s on the phone summoning her son and daughter-in-law over for drinks and dessert in an attempt to save their marriage.

“This is what parents do, they help their children,” Alice informs an anguished Bill, Sr. “That’s why we have them, to help them.” Minutes after the younger couple arrives, the four are engulfed in a hilarious series of squabbles and misunderstandings, and soon a few buried secrets come to light. The play bubbles with high-spirited giveand-take among the characters, and then as Mr. DiPietro’s story explores a few trickier emotions, the melancholy moments actually lift the show even higher.

Chris Crain stars as Bill, Sr., the harried husband and father who can’t keep a secret. He is joined by Mary Sue Backus as his wife, Alice, who is a bookseller by day and the “family fixer”

by night. Pat Meirick portrays their beloved, but wayward, son Billy, and he is joined by Katy Hughes as his wife and the exhausted mother of their three-month-old daughter. Rhonda Clark directs the fast-paced production with assistance from Michael Tull as stage manager and Mark Fairchild as assistant stage manager. Ms. Clark is also the sound and costume coordinator, while Ben Hall is in charge of the set design and execution and Jay C. Schardt serves as lighting designer.

Over the years Carpenter Square has produced several of the playwright’s plays, including DiPietro’s heartwarming “Over the River and Through the Woods” and “The Last Romance,” and more recently, the thought-provoking “Creating Claire.” Audiences may be familiar with his musical works, the Tony Award-winning “Memphis” or the OffBroadway hit “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”

In conjunction with the play, the theater’s lobby art gallery will host the colorful artwork of Lacy Brown Gustafson.

The exhibit may be viewed starting one hour before each performance or by appointment Tuesday-Friday afternoons.

Specific performance dates and times over four weeks are: 8 p.m. June 28-29 and July 5-6; 7:30 p.m. July 11, 8 p.m. July 12-13, 2 p.m. Sunday, July 14, and the play continues at 7:30 p.m. July 18, and 8 p.m. July 19-June 20. The play is rated PG-13 for some strong language.

Regular adult tickets are $25 with $20 tickets available for seniors aged 62 or more, military, and groups of ten or more. Educator tickets are $10 and students are only $5. Two-for-one tickets may be purchased when presenting the Allied Arts City Card or when attending Thursday evening performances. Reservations are highly recommended for the intimate 90-seat theater.

For tickets, call 405-232-6500 or email csttix@coxinet.net. Visit www.carpentersquare.com for more information.

Page 10 • June 27, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

A look at the news Let’s look over some a items in the headlines, this past week. n If you’ve ever wondered why there is little to no bi-partisanship in politics anymore, look no further than Steve Gust the article in the Sunday Oklahoman where some in the state Democratic party decided to “punish,” a group of high profile Democrats who supported GOP Attorney General candidate Mike Hunter in the last election.

That group included former governors Brad Henry and George Nigh as well as former U.S. Rep. Dan Boren and ex-State Attorney General Mike Turpen. Also on that list was current Okla. County District Attorney David Prater.

It may be just me, but it’s a bit much to call these guys out just for not supporting the Democrat nominee in the race. Seems to me you’d want to keep Nigh, Boren, Turpen and the others fully on your side and not risk alienating them. n I really hope everyone has a great time over July Fourth. Please remember that pets, especially dogs, usually

have a hard time with loud noises.

I feel sorry for them. I remember one year a dog frightened by such a sound, tried to cross a very busy highway. He got across but it was a close and scary call. n Glad to see Arcadia Lake reopen last weekend. It’s been a heck of a year for rain. In six months, we’re only five inches away from our annual rainfall of 35.85 inches.

David Payne of KWTV has put in a lot of overtime this year. n It’s kind of scary that measles and some other diseases are making a return.

What I don’t understand is that some of the left apparently have no problem admitting anyone to the United States for any reason. But can’t we at least make sure these people aren’t carrying some kind of disease? n Edmond Police arrested a guy over the weekend who got high and decided it was a good idea to fire shots at police, who were not hit.

Officers were able to successfully use a Taser on the guy.

It’s tough to be a police officer, folks I’m glad we have the people willing to do the job.

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

Death penalty sentence becoming rare in Oklahoma

By Okahoman Editorial Board A jury in Canadian County recently convicted a man of killing a woman and her young child in 2013, and ordered a punishment seen less and less these days — the death penalty.

As The Oklahoman’s Nolan Clay reported, the death sentence for Derek Don Posey, 35, was just the fifth imposed by an Oklahoma jury since 2015 when the state put a hold on executions until it could get its protocol straightened out.

Nearly four years later, it’s unknown when executions — using nitrogen gas instead of drug injection — will resume.

A reluctance by juries to impose the ultimate punishment has been evident for some time.

Look no further than the state trial for Oklahoma

City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols in 2004.

Nichols faced 161 counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of 160 people and the loss of an unborn girl. Jurors spent 62 days on the trial, but ultimately deadlocked on whether Nichols should receive the death penalty. The judge sentenced Nichols to 161 consecutive lifewithout-parole sentences, and later said three jurors told him they felt that was a tougher punishment than death. (Nichols had previously escaped the death penalty in his federal trial, again due to a jury deadlock.)

The idea of making a killer spend the rest of his days thinking about his crime may be one factor in the reduction of death sentences. An-

other is a growing lack of faith in the system. In October, Gallup said fewer than half of Americans (49 percent) believe the death penalty is applied fairly. That’s the lowest point ever.

Cases like that of Anthony Hinton in Alabama contribute to the skepticism. Hinton spent 30 years on death row for a crime he didn’t commit, and then wrote a New York Times bestselling memoir. The Death Penalty Information Center, which advocates against the death penalty, says 164 former death row prisoners have been exonerated since 1973.

According to the DPIC, death sentences were imposed just 42 times nationwide in 2018, when Washington became the 20th state to outlaw capital punishment (New Hampshire made it 21 last month).

For the first time since 1973 when the death sentenced resumed in the United States, no county imposed more than two death sentences last year. The DPIC projects that 42 new death sentences will be imposed this year by 14 states and the federal government.

Oklahoma had only one death sentence imposed in 2018. Posey’s was the first imposed this year — he smashed his victim’s head after forcing his way into her home and raping her, then set the place fire, killing the woman’s 5year-old son.

A prosecutor told jurors the case “isn’t about vengeance, this is about justice” for the victims.

After just three hours of deliberation, the jury agreed that the appropriate form of justice was the death penalty. If the prosecutor was surprised, well, who could blame him?

From NewsOK.com

Pugh looks back on past session

By State Sen. Adam Pugh This year’s legislative session, which has been called one of the best in years, focused on milestone achievements including major investments in classroom funding, a pay raise for teachers for the second year in a row, transformational government accountability measures, increased Adam Pugh funding for criminal justice reforms, the passage of constitutional carry, and many other successes.

The budget for Fiscal Year 2020 also allows the state to put $400 million into the Rainy Day Fund, which currently already has a balance of upwards of $480 million, in addition to saving another

$200 million in a separate state savings account.

This will ensure the state is properly prepared for an economic downturn without jeopardizing core services or being forced to take funding from other sources. We were also able to secure $29 million for a fund to preserve Medicaid provider rates during times of economic uncertainty.

Education got a significant boost, with $157.9 million in increased funding for public schools, with $74.4 million in new classroom funding and an average $1,220 pay raise for teachers. A total of $18 million has been appropriated for CareerTech and another $28 million for higher education. We also passed Senate Bill 441 to increase classroom instructional time to benefit students.

On a more local level, I authored several key pieces of legislation which were recently signed

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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.

into law by the governor, and in the coming weeks, I’ll discuss each one in more detail. One of the bills I authored, Senate Bill 435, came from an interim study I held last fall to dive deeper into healthcare and the unique challenges many face when it comes to Alzheimer’s, dementia or other cognitive impairments. The measure implements important steps to ensure the state’s elderly populations who deal with dementia or Alzheimer’s are being properly cared for.

The bill, which was co-authored by Rep. Nicole Miller and Rep. Cyndi Munson, requires all Adult Protective Services specialists in DHS to undergo training to recognize individuals with cognitive impairment so they can effectively intervene in abuse or exploitation cases of people suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s. The measure goes into effect on Nov. 1.

Earlier this year, I was presented with a special Legislative Champion Award by the Oklahoma Alzheimer’s Association. It was an honor to be chosen for the award, as one of the most rewarding parts of my job as a senator is to identify ways to help others.

Authoring Senate Bill 435 is just one way I could help make a difference in our community to ensure those who face Alzheimer’s, dementia or other impairments are better protected. I will continue to seek ways to ensure those who need assistance with cognitive challenges have access to quality care.

(State Senator Adam Pugh is a Republican representing most of Edmond.)

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 27, 2019 • Page 11

Take part in competition in D.C.

OC students addressing debt crisis Motivating voters to take action regarding the nation’s budget is challenging work, and public relations students at Oklahoma Christian University are among the best in the country at doing just that.

The Eagle PR team’s efforts to raise awareness and organize student outreach to elected officials about the nation’s debt were selected in June as a top-20 campaign out of more than 100 submissions.

With the federal government’s debt projected to be $22 trillion this year, the nonpartisan organization Net Impact invited college students to help develop debt solutions this past school year. More than 100 colleges participated in the Up to Us competition.

In June, Net Impact selected a representative from the top-20 teams to attend a four-day trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with elected officials and staffers on Capitol Hill who help create and manage the U.S. government’s budget. The top-20 team representatives also attended the Peter G. Peterson Foundation’s prestigious 2019 Fiscal Summit where they heard from distinguished journalists, economists and politicians such as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney.

OC’s student campaign included multiple events, news media outreach, organic and paid-for social media messages, student club competitions and a letter-writing drive to deliver zip-code specific messages to elected officials. The OC team was able to achieve more than 300 messages sent to elected officials, which was 15 percent of the undergraduate student body. The team’s news and social media messages reached more than 100,000 individuals in the greater Oklahoma City area.

Members of Eagle PR, an award-winning, student-run public relations agency, led OC’s team.

The team lead was Edmond resident Christian Franklin, who begins law school in the fall. Other members of the team included Cypress, Texas, native Elizabeth Killough, Oklahoma City native Bayley Eckhart and Sallisaw, Okla., native Haleigh Evans. Assistant Professor of Communication Josh Watson advises Eagle PR and traveled to Washington to represent the OC team.

“I am incredibly proud of how hard these students worked for a cause that truly matters to our country’s future,” Watson said. “We want to especially thank OC alumni and Oklahoma state Reps.

PHOTO PROVIDED

From left, State Rep. Mike Osburn (R-Edmond), OC students Haleigh Evans, Bayley Eckhart, Elizabeth Killough and State Rep. Mike Sanders (R-Kingfisher) pose after an Up To Us event last semester. The OC student team was honored as a top-20 campaign in the national Up to Us competition to encourage students to take action regarding the nation's debt.

Mike Sanders (R-Kingfisher) and Mike Osburn (REdmond) for visiting our campus to talk about the importance of addressing our nation’s debt. Being named to the top-20 is a reflection of the support we received from the OC and Oklahoman City communities.”

According to Osburn, the student campaign was a logical fit for Oklahoma.

“While Rep. Sanders and I work at the state level, we believe seeking a balanced budget should be a priority for all elected officials,” Osburn said.

“This is especially important for people of faith who feel called to be responsible managers, and we’re excited to see ambitious students take action to solve problems they did not create.”

OC was the only school from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri or New Mexico to be selected among the top-20. The winner of the Up to Us competition this year was Oakland University near Detroit.

Franklin believes OC’s campaign helped more people realize that national debt is an urgent issue.

“The ballooning national debt will have a profound impact on the next generation if we don’t take action,” Franklin said. “Every voter is affected by this issue because of expected cuts in education and infrastructure funding for interest payments alone.”

PHOTO PROVIDED

OC Assistant Professor of Communication Josh Watson stands in front of the U.S. Capitol during Net Impact's fiscal budget conference in June. Watson advises the OC student team that was honored as a top-20 campaign in the national Up to Us competition to encourage students to take action regarding the nation's debt.

Up to Us is a nonpartisan organization in which students across the nation are encouraged to take action against the national debt crisis.

Funded by both Republican and Democratic groups, the Up to Us competition was created in partnership with Net Impact, the Clinton Global Initiative University and the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.

“The creativity and drive of the students involved in this year’s Up to Us competition leaves no doubt that America’s young people care passionately about the fiscal future and the economy they will inherit,” said Michael A. Peterson, CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation.

The finalists and winner of the 2018-2019 Campus Competition were determined by a panel of judges with expertise spanning civic engagement, economic policy and education: Shai Akabas, director of economic policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center; Fatema Basrai, assistant director of InnovateHealth at Yale University; Kristen Dupard, J.D. candidate at Columbia University and double alumnae of the Clinton Global Initiative University; Tony Pennay, chief learning officer at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute; James Roland, senior director of civic and community engagement at Emory University; and Nitiya Walker, founder of Seeds of Fortune.

Page 12 • June 27, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 27, 2019 • Page 13

Common sense grilling safety According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), July is the peak month for grilling fires, followed

by June, May, and Aug. 1 Annually, U.S. fire departments respond to an average of 10,200 home fires each year involving grills, hibachis, or barbeques.

With the summer season fast approaching, Nicholas Hickmand of SERVPRO of the metro, a fire and water damage cleanup specialist in the Edmond area, urges homeowners to check the readiness of their outdoor cooking equipment – like grills and propane tanks – to help ensure summer cooking fires don’t become house fires.

“The NFPA reports that seven out of every 10 adults in the U.S. has a grill or a smoker,” said Hickmand. “That statistic really highlights the risk that homeowners face of experiencing a home fire caused by grilling and other open flame cooking. It’s important to take some basic safety steps to help ensure you’ll spend your summer enjoying friends and family and not dealing with the aftermath of a grill-related house fire.”

According to the NFPA, the top three causes of grilling fires are failure to clean the grill, leaks in gas hose lines or breaks in the grill body itself, and proximity to flammable objects.

Hickmand says these risks are easily managed and offers the following tips2 from the NFPA to help Edmond area residents prepare and use their outdoor grills: General Grill Safety n Check your grill for cleanliness and damage. Remove grease or fat

buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill before the first use and after each subsequent use. n Position your grill well away from your home and deck railings, and out from under eaves and overhanging tree branches n Keep children and pets at a safe distance – at least three feet from the grill n Never leave the grill unattended when in use, and always grill outside.

Propane Grills n Check for leaks in the gas tank hose before using your grill. n Open gas grill top before lighting the grill. n If the flame goes out, turn the grill and gas off and wait at least five minutes before re-lighting it.

Charcoal Grills n Use only charcoal starter fluid or opt for a charcoal chimney or electric starter. n Never add charcoal starter fluid, or any flammable fluid, to the fire. n Dispose of coals in a metal container after the coals have cooled completely.

“It doesn’t take long to prepare your grill for safe cooking, but it can take months to recover from a fire and the resulting flame, smoke, and water damage,” said Hickmand. “Invest a few minutes now to get your outdoor cooking equipment clean and ready to go, and then spend your summer enjoying good times and great food, not dealing with the destruction and heartbreak of a house fire.”

SERVPRO is an industry leader and provider of fire and water cleanup and restoration services.

Page 14 • June 27, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Stay safe on the water known contributing facEach year about tor in fatal boating accithree out of four recredents. Wait to celebrate ational boat owners say with alcohol until after they plan to enjoy the you’ve safely returned Fourth of July holiday to homeport for the aboard the family boat. night. Added to the efWith nearly 12 milfects of sun, wind and lion registered vessels in waves, alcohol lowers the U.S., that could situational awareness spell mayhem at launch and slows reaction ramps, marinas and times. popular anchorages, ren After viewing firequiring extra skill, paPHOTO PROVIDED works from the water tience and courtesy.

Stay safe on the water over The nation’s advocate the Fourth of July. Make sure and pulling up anchor, you may have the urge for recreational boaters, children have life jackets. to rush home. Don’t.

Boat Owners AssociaSlow down. Opt out of taking that tion of The United States, (BoatUS) tricky, shallow shortcut home. Be causays the congestion and nighttime optious and patient – especially at the eration requires vigilance. Here are safety tips to help boaters survive peak launch ramp – and the odds for a safe return home increase. traffic days. n Avoid the two biggest mistakes. n Boaters will host thousands of guests aboard their vessels this holiday The TowBoatUS on-water towing fleet period – many with no boating experi- reports that battery jumps, as a result of running music or other accessories ence. Before you head out, give a all day, and anchor-line entanglements short orientation to guests, not only that occur at crowded fireworks show about essential items, such as how to move about a moving vessel (with one anchorages, are common requests for hand always connected to the boat) or on-water assistance over the holiday. how use the head, but also show them Monitor your battery drain, go slow while hauling anchor line, and be super how easy it is to use the VHF radio vigilant so you don’t run over someone and safety gear, especially life jackets. else’s anchor line after the fireworks n For that unexpected young guest show ends. As a backstop, boaters can without a life jacket, the non-profit prepare for the holiday period by downBoatUS Foundation’s free Kids Life Jacket Loaner program gives boaters a loading the free BoatUS App to summon on-water assistance. Purchasing a chance to borrow child-size life jackets BoatUS Unlimited Towing Membership for the day, afternoon, or weekend. before the holiday begins could save Nearly 600 locations across the U.S. ensure that there’s a location near you. you from a hefty towing bill. n The more lookouts you have n Don’t overload the boat. Be careaboard at night, the better. However, ful about adding extra passengers, after dark, white lights in the cockpit coolers and gear, especially with small vessels that are more prone to swamp- or on deck can interfere with your crew’s night vision and their ability to ing. It’s also important to keep everysee boating traffic or hazards. Turn off one in the boat and avoid allowing or dim the lighting, especially if using a passengers to ride or sit anywhere other than designated places while un- cell phone, or consider using only red helm or accessory lights on the boat. derway. Riding with legs over the side or on gunnels and seat backs is consid- Portable LED headlamps with red lenses can help your crew get around ered unsafe operation. the boat and preserve their sight for n According to the U.S. Coast spotting traffic.

Guard, alcohol use is the leading

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 27, 2019 • Page 15

‘Toy Story’ franchise delivers yet again

By George Gust In a summer filled with subpar sequels and tired live action re-imaginings it may seem exhausting trying to keep up with it all.

When you see yet another sequel coming out to theaters, you may be inclined to skip out on what appears to be a repetitive cash grab by the largest media company in the world. However, this is no ordinary franchise, this is the gold standard of animated movies, the literal granddaddy of modern CGI kids’ movies, “Toy Story.” A franchise that has been incredibly influential to a generation of movie-goers and filmmakers alike, so the if they’ve decided that a fourth installment is necessary, they must be onto something, right?

“Toy Story 4” follows Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) as he attempts to save Bonnie’s beloved new craft-project-turned-toy, Forky (voice of Tony Hale), who considers himself "trash" and not a toy.

But when Bonnie takes the whole gang on her family's end of summer road trip, Woody ends up on an unexpected detour that includes a reunion with his long-lost friend Bo Peep (voice of Annie Potts).

Many consider “Toy Story 3” to have a perfect ending for the “Toy Story” series, with an intensely emotional finale, so when a sequel was announced

it seemed that there was no further ground to cover, but “Toy Story 4” proves that the team at Pixar had more to say with the beloved toy franchise. Ostensibly, every good kid’s movie has an overall message that it wants to convey to the young audience and “Toy Story 4” is a film that explores the concept of self-actualization and finding your purpose in life. If those sound like topics too heavy for a children’s movie, then you’re not familiar with Pixar’s MO. And while there are some series favorites that take a backseat, “Toy Story 4” is another incredibly entertaining entry into the animated film franchise that started it all, that brings a satisfying conclusion to a character we’ve been following for nearly

25 years while still delivering top notch adventure and visual excellence.

When you re-watch the previous three “Toy Story” films you’ll notice the technology growing and perfecting from film to film as the techniques evolved over the years. The opening of “Toy Story 4” feels like a full flex of Pixar’s animation prowess and proficiency. The lighting, and detail that was given to this film only enriches the wonderfully complex and engaging storytelling. We’ve come a long way from having difficulty rendering human faces in 1995 to capturing all the intricate detail of what an RC car would look like if it were trapped in a muddy storm drain in pouring rainstorm illuminated by a flashlight.

Overall, “Toy Story 4” might seem like an unnecessary epilogue to people who felt the finality of the ending of “Toy Story 3,” but there is an engaging adventure and story to this fourth film that makes it well worth the price of admission. “Toy Story 4” is a great example of what happens when filmmakers continue to challenge themselves instead of sticking to a tried and true formula, like so many other animated franchises have fallen into.

“Toy Story 4” is rated G. 4.8 out of 5 stars

‘Toy Story 4’ gives us another remarkable entry into the beloved animated franchise as Woody (voice of Tom Hanks) welcomes an unusual new toy, Forky (voice of Tony Hale) to Bonnie's cast of toys.

History Center event The Oklahoma History Center is pleased to welcome Dave Wickerham as the featured organist for the July 2019 Kilgen Organ performance “Salute to America.”

This presentation will be Monday, July 15, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and will take place in the Devon Great Hall.

Tickets are $10 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $20 for nonmembers, and may be reserved by calling 405-522-0765.

Doors will open at 6 p.m., and seating is first-come, first-served.

The Oklahoma History Center is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive in Oklahoma City.

Wickerham’s “Salute to America” will be comprised of dozens of well-known compositions that are intended to pay tribute to the patriotic spirit of all Americans, as well as to honor those servicemen and servicewomen who have defended the freedom enjoyed in the United States.

Wickerham is recognized worldwide for his versatility on the theater organ and his popular recordings. Among the hundreds of venues where he performs and the thousands of dates that he books are various chapters of the American Theatre Organ Society, a society of like-minded and astute performers.

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: SAY IT IN FRENCH ACROSS 1. House of Winterfell 6. Sugar Ray Robinson's punch 9. Concert units 13. Water-resistant wool cloth 14. ____ Baba 15. Bay window 16. Wafting pleasantness 17. Between Big and Wolf 18. Halle or Chuck 19. *Face-to-face 21. *Feeling of familiarity 23. A pop 24. Cremation pile 25. *Geographic cape in French 28. Indira Gandhi's dress 30. Like an echo 35. Away from wind 37. Threads 39. Small drum 40. Do like buffaloes 41. "Peter, Peter Pumpkin ____" 43. Kind of pool 44. Monotonous sound 46. Facts and figures 47. Eminem, a.k.a. ____ Shady 48. Dines at home 50. a.k.a. The Islamic State 52. Rocks in "on the rocks" 53. Perfect houseplant spot 55. "T" in Greek 57. *Overused idea 60. *____faire 64. Southern chicken stew 65. Tire measurement 67. Branch of Islam 68. Discombobulate 69. Summer color 70. Worry or cause anxiety 71. Back talk

72. Be in a cast 73. Arm cast holder DOWN 1. Serb or Croat 2. Famous Amos 3. Tumults 4. Chart anew 5. Butcher, baker and candlestick maker 6. #6 Across, pl.

7. *Pie ____ ____ Mode 8. Fussy old woman 9. ____ code 10. Type of nuclear missile 11. Paddington Bear's homeland 12. "Rocky" star 15. Express disapproval 20. Extremely angry 22. Poetic "before" 24. Cindy Brady's do, sing.

25. *____ blanche 26. Luau greeting 27. Lively 29. Yellow brick one 31. Ugly old witches 32. Obelus, pl.

33. Not Doric nor Corinthian 34. *CrËme de la ____ 36. Flightless birds 38. Series of reps, pl.

42. Yogurt-based dip 45. Slip-up in pool 49. National Institute of Health 51. Talks back 54. Former Greek coins 56. Run-of-the-mill 57. Musical finale 58. Jar covers 59. Bodily disorders 60. Laundry room fire hazard 61. Opposing prefix 62. Involved in a secret 63. Sound of passing bullet 64. *Faux one 66. *Cul-de-____

See Answers Page 23

Answers Page 23

Page 16 • June 27, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Arledge Q&A

Finances in the storms’ aftermath (Editor’s Note: Below are questions and answers on financial matters addressed by professionals at Arledge & Associates.)

Joe Baxter

Holiday weekend music set at the Arcadia Round Barn Musicians from across Oklahoma will help celebrate the long Independence Day weekend at the Arcadia Round Barn.

The Sugar Time Band from Stroud will bring country classics and golden oldies as part of the Elm Tree Concert Series from 2-4 p.m. July 5. Midwest City singer-songwriter Joe Baxter will provide Morning Music from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

July 6.

The 4-H Music Corps will make its debut at the Round Barn from 2-4 p.m. July 6, and Cowboy Jones from Tulsa will round out the weekend offerings from 2-4 p.m. July 7.

Morning Music is held in the downstairs museum of the Round Barn, and the afternoon Elm Tree Concerts are held outdoors beneath the shade of a giant elm tree, weather permitting.

The Sugar Time Band is made up of singer-songwriter Joe Navrath, bass and dobro player Jack Harris, lead guitarist Billy Wilkerson and lead guitar and vocalist Dan Clement.

Baxter, who coordinates the live music at the Round Barn, has recorded several CDs of his own music including his latest, “The Weather.” He is also front man for “The Regular Joes,” an original rock and roll band.

The 4-H Music Corps, directed by Pittsburg County Extension educator Mike Carter, is composed of about a dozen 4-H members from across the state, ages 12-18, who sing, play instruments and write much of the music they perform.

Cowboy Jones, an Oklahoma roots band, is made up of Bob Wiles on vocals and rhythm gui-

tar, Anthony Pierce on lead guitar, Kurt Nielsen on mandolin, John Williams on harmonica, Dana Hazard on fiddle, Steve Huhn on bass and Jeff Overbeck on drums.

Admission is free but donations are accepted.

The Round Barn is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is owned and managed by the Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society.

The barn is six miles east of Interstate 35 on Historic Route 66. For more information about live music at the barn call Baxter at 405-833-1350.

An Oklahoma band named Cowboy Jones

By Mikayla Estes Arledge & Associates With all the severe weather we’ve seen this year, what should I do to proactively protect my personal and business financial information?

Before the storm hits, it’s a good idea to have all your important documents saved to an offsite storage facility. There are a few different ways to store information offsite. The two most common are safety deposit boxes and cloud-based storage.

A safety deposit box is a great way to store original copies of imEstes portant financial. The benefits of a safety deposit box include low cost, storm resistant and bank security. They are also fire and waterproof.

Cloud-based storage is an easy option that allows you to access your information from anywhere. The cloud enables you to store digital copies of important information on someone else’s infrastructure, like at an off-site data center. Start by scanning important documentation onto your computer. To add an extra level of security you can create a zip file that is password protected. The zipped file can then be added to an online storage provider. Pricing ranges from $15 to $250 a year, but the most important consideration should be the security of the cloud storage provider you choose to protect your important documents.

Who needs to know about back-ups?

It is important for more than one person to know where the backup documents are kept. For personal information, you should let a few trusted people know where the information is kept and how to access it in the event you are unavailable.

Businesses should have a written disaster policy that includes details of where the offsite information is stored and who is authorized to access it. A company should conduct annual meetings with employees to ensure everyone in the office is uniformly informed. Annual meetings may sound a bit excessive, but relying on only a few managers to know the disaster policy can slow the response time in a sensitive situation.

What if you lost your QuickBooks file?

If your desktop version of QuickBooks is lost or destroyed and no offsite backup was maintained, consider contacting any out-of-office source that the QuickBooks file had been sent to. For example, a CPA firm. If a copy is available, you can then update it with online bank and credit card statements to recreate the QuickBooks file. If no version of the file can be accessed or restored, create a QuickBooks file with starting information provided either from a prior year tax return, compilation or trial balance. In case you lost a copy of your most recent tax return you can request a copy from your CPA firm or login and download a copy from your online tax-filing provider. If neither option is available, the IRS will provide a copy for a $50 fee. However, if you are in a federally declared disaster zone they will send you one for free.

Can I deduct my losses on my tax return?

Personal casualty losses are now only deductible if you are in a federally declared disaster zone. If you are in a federally declared disaster zone, personal casualty losses of more than $100 are deductible, but limited to income thresholds. Business losses on the other hand are not as restricted as personal losses. You can deduct the property lost, but it must be the lessor of the property’s adjusted tax basis immediately before the loss or the property’s decline in fair market value.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 27, 2019 • Page 17

PHOTO PROVIDED

On hand for the award presentation, were, from left, Armstrong public relations team: Gino Chi, Monica Antonio, Deepika Azariah, Terry Lanham (Edmond Convention and Visitors Bureau), Shane Granger (Armstrong director of marketing and PR), Brianna Weeks, Katherine Harmon, Sherry Beezley and Nick Irwin.

Special exhibit singled out for recognition

Tourism promoters honor work of the Armstrong Foundation The Armstrong International Cultural Foundation received accolades at the 2019 Central Oklahoma Frontier Country Awards June 14 at the Grand Casino Hotel and Resort in Shawnee.

The Foundation was recognized for excellence in promoting tourism in Central Oklahoma, as the recipient of the "Outstanding Temporary Exhibit" award for its archaeology exhibit "Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered." The exhibit ran from June 10, 2018, to April 1, 2019, in the grand lobby of Armstrong Auditorium on the campus of Herbert W. Armstrong College in Edmond.

The Foundation was one of several organizations and businesses recognized at the 2019 annual meeting and awards luncheon. The recipients were acknowledged for outstanding tourist attractions, exhibitions, events, communities and tourism-related businesses in Central Oklahoma.

“It’s very special to be recognized

by Oklahoma’s tourism professionals, especially among such a field of distinguished nominees,” said Shane Granger, director of marketing and public relations for the Armstrong International Cultural Foundation. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to curate and exhibit such incredibly rare artifacts. I know the en-

tire Armstrong team, both in Oklahoma and in Jerusalem, are grateful for the honor to share them with the world—and this recognition is just the cherry on top.”

This is the second tourism award the Armstrong organization has received. The Foundation's Armstrong Auditorium was previously recognized during the 2014 Oklahoma Travel Industry Association's RedBud Awards as the “Outstanding New Attraction.”

The Armstrong International Cultural Foundation is a non-profit humanitarian organization sponsored by the Philadelphia Church of God in Edmond, Okla. The Foundation and its predecessor have, together for over 50 years, supported and financed archaeological excavations on the royal Ophel and at the City of David near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In 2018, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced the sensational discovery of the personal seal of one of the Old Testament’s most recognized figures, the prophet Isaiah. The Armstrong International Cultural Foundation was given the honor of curating and hosting the world premiere of the Isaiah seal, along with the personal seal of King Hezekiah of Judah, discovered in 2015. The exhibit showcased the two seals along with 40 artifacts from the 8th century B.C. First Temple period.

A grant to research lupus Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Patrick Gaffney, M.D., has received a five-year, $3.1 million grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases to investigate the underlying mechanisms that lead to lupus onset.

Lupus occurs when the immune system becomes unbalanced, leading to the development of antibodies and chronic inflammation that damage the body’s organs and tissues. The disease primarily strikes women and disproportionately affects certain minority groups, including African Americans, American Indians and Latinos.

Risk for lupus is believed to come from changes in the genome, said Gaffney, but researchers don’t actually understand why or how they confer risk. The grant will expand upon information gathered currently through genome-wide association studies, or GWAS. “In lupus, you have a disease with around 150 associated regions of the genome and maybe thousands of variants related to it,” said Gaffney, who holds the J.G. Puterbaugh Chair in Medical Research at the foundation and is the chair of OMRF’s Genes and Human Disease Research Program.

“Each one makes a small contribution to the overall risk of disease, but when we look at them in entirety, the power to predict disease becomes significantly better. All we have now is statistical analysis we’ve gathered from the genome studies. This grant will help us also understand the biology involved in the process.”

Dr. Patrick Gaffney GWAS data have been helpful but not particularly useful in getting research into clinics to help lupus patients, because they don’t convey enough about other possible contributing factors, Gaffney said.

To that end, Gaffney will look into the role of “epigenetic” factors, the chemical changes in the genome that affect how DNA is packaged and expressed but do not affect the underlying genetic sequence.

“This is the next step in helping us understand the biology of this data enough to actually generate a real impact for patients,” he said. “We are hopeful this work will lead us to alternative variants in the genome that may not necessarily be associated in a statistical way, but might prove important to the overall disease process.”

Page 18 • June 27, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

PHOTO PROVIDED

This was the former home of the late-pop singer Michael Jackson. At one time the asking price for this property was $100 million. That is now $31 million. It was 10 years ago this month, Jackson died.

Now called Sycamore Valley Ranch

Neverland gets new name & new price Michael Jackson died 10 years ago on June 25 and many people around the world commemorated his death through his music and videos.

They celebrated his astronomical career, remembering his childhood, replayed interviews and the work that went into organizing his last concert, This Is It, which he never had the chance to perform. Also remembered is his beloved Neverland Ranch, where he lived from 1987 until 2006. I t was where he could finally experience childhood, having never experienced that luxury as part of his hard-working, family-singing group The Jackson Five. Two years after his death, Neverland was put on the market for $100 million, but never sold.

Today, restored at great expense to its status as the original ranch when Michael purchased it, the estate is back on the market and reduced to $31 million.

In 1977, developer William Bone bought the bare acreage and engaged an architect to design all the main structures on the property, dig the lake and install formal gardens. It was his own fantasy land of sorts as he was able to design it his way rather than at the direction of clients. It took him two years working with architect Robert Altevers to get the design to his liking. He named it Zaca Laderas Ranch and lived there until selling to Jackson.

Jackson bought the 2,700-acre ranch in 1987 for about $25 million and then spent millions more to develop it as a child’s fantasy land, which he appropriately named Neverland after the Peter Pan story. The 13,000-square-foot main house, formal gardens, a four-acre lake with fountains and fivefoot waterfall, along with an attractive stone bridge had already been built when Michael purchased the property. Michael added three rail-

PHOTO PROVIDED

A spacious movie theater was part of the ranch, which has 2,700 acres.

roads, a petting zoo and a full amusement park with nine major rides and an arcade. He also put in an electric railroad with 100-feet of track behind the house for his own children.

Neverland was Michael’s home until 2006 when he was charged with child molestation, which supposedly took place at the ranch. Although he was acquitted, the association of so much negativity to the ranch made it difficult for him to continue to live there. Except for caretakers, the ranch was closed.

By 2007, Michael was behind in payments on his loan by about $23 million and the ranch was due to go on the auction block. However, investment group Colony Capital stepped in and bought

the loan, making them co-owners. In 2009, Colony began restoring the ranch by removing the zoo and amusement park and replacing them with a Zen garden. The amusement park rides are now a part of the California State Fair in Sacramento.

Located in Santa Barbara County in Los Olivos, California, on the 10th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death, his former Neverland Ranch, now renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch, has had massive price reductions from the original $100 million to $31 million. The listing agent is Suzanne Perkins of Compass Realty, Montecito, California.

Visit TopTenRealEstateDeals.com for more historic, spectacular and celebrity homes and real estate news.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 27, 2019 • Page 19

Parents Helping Parents meets on July 2 The Edmond Chapter of Parents Helping Parents will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 2 at McLaren's Pantry, 3414 South Boulevard, which is the southeast corner of 33rd and Boulevard.

The restaurant is closed to the public during the meeting. The speakers are Two Families - Fathers and sons sharing their recovery experiences.

Ruth Simpson

Club member outlines how VFW adopted the poppy Ruth Simpson, educational director for Epsilon Sigma Alpha's Gamma Zeta chapter, delivers her educational of how the Veterans of Foreign Wars adopted the poppy as its official symbol of remembrance for veterans.

Lt. Colonel John McCrae M.D. was a doctor in WWI and got a first hand look at the carnage during the war and wrote “In Flander’s Field” in the midst of the second battle of Ypres in Belgium in 1915. After WWI the poppy flourished in Europe. Scientists attributed the growth to the European soil becoming enriched with lime from the rubble left by the war.

In 1918 Moina Michael who worked for the American YMCA Oversea War Secretaries Organization was inspired by the poem, she

ESA holds meeting vowed to always wear a poppy in remembrance of war veterans.

In 1921 the Veterans of Foreign Wars adopted the poppy as its symbol to pay tribute to men and women who serve in the US Armed Forces.

Learning the poppy's history was interesting, many of the members of clubs later said.

Gamma Zeta has an educational address each month. Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the sufferage movement in America, each month’s educational this year will about an important woman in this country’s history.

Integris seeks art from artists with lives affected by cancer The Troy and Dollie Smith Wellness Center at the Integris Cancer Institute to invite the public to Integris’ 25th annual art exhibit dedicated to the curative powers of creativity and to all whose lives have been affected by cancer.

The exhibit showcases all forms of art including fiber, graphics, oil, watercolor, mixed media, photography, pottery, sculpture, writing and poetry. Register art by Monday, July 8.

Deliver art by Friday, July 19. Pieces will be displayed from July 25 through Sept. 6.

Artists of all ages wishing to express how their lives have been affected by cancer will have their work on display. The pieces may be by individuals or collaborative, done by professionals as well as first-time artists.

In lieu of a 10 percent sales commission, there will be a nominal $10

registration fee for each piece submitted (limited to two entries only) per artist. Registration proceeds will benefit the Integris Foundation’s Art Therapy fund to help continue the exhibit dedicated to all affected by cancer.

The registration fee will be due from the artist on the art drop-off day, Friday, July 19 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Registration fees will be accepted in cash or a check made payable to Integris. Registration of art is available at integrisok.com/celebration-of-life or by calling 405-7736600.

Artists, cancer survivors, families and friends will be recognized at the 25th annual Celebration of Life Art Show and Opening Reception on Thursday, July 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the INTEGRIS Cancer Institute, 5911 W. Memorial Road, Oklahoma City. To RSVP for the event, please call 405-951-2277.

Hosted by Ray Baker with Patriots In Recovery (sober living home).

Parents Helping Parents provides support, resources and hope for parents of addicted children (any age child).

This is an anonymous meeting and no cost or reservations required. For more information please call 405642-8198.

Page 20 • June 27, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

OCU exhibit to feature works by Chickasaw artist Oklahoma City University’s Nona Jean Hulsey Gallery will feature 23 paintings by renowned Chickasaw artist Brenda Kingery, starting next month. The collection, titled “Brenda Kingery: A Retrospective,” spans Kingery’s career and is inspired by her Native American background and her studies with Japanese artists.

An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 9 inside OCU’s Norick Art Center at N.W. 26th Street and Blackwelder Avenue. The exhibit will be at OCU from July 8 to Sept.

6.

A native of Oklahoma City, Kingery has shown her paintings around the world.

“What sets her apart as an artist and storyteller are her extensive travels and her love of all cultures she experiences,” said Heather Lunsford, director of Oklahoma City University’s School of Visual Arts. “Brenda Kingery gives life to her stories with pattern, shape, rhythm and color. She carries other’s cultures forward with these motifs in an abstracted form that highlights and honors their traditions in a way that is very personal.”

Kingery earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and history from the University of Oklahoma. She attended

Painting ‘Red Bride’ graduate school at Ryukyus University in Okinawa and finished a master’s degree in arts from OU. She was inducted into the Chickasaw Hall of Fame this year.

The Nona Jean Hulsey Gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday during the summer and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday after July 29.

For more information, call 405-2085252 or email hklunsford@okcu.edu.

Math & science scholarships The University of Central Oklahoma College of Mathematics and Science recently awarded scholarships to Edmond residents Adam Albahadily, Oswah Cheema, Madeline Clark, Khue Tu Doan, Lawrence Dongilli, Erin Drewke, Sarah Everhart, Kyra Gallagher, Sandi Jones, Wyatt Landrith, Kyuran Moon, Amelia Nathan, Amelia Perez, Patricia Salas, Yung-Dai Teng, Stephanie Walker and Gabrielle Williams in recognition of their academic excellence and outstanding service to the university.

Albahadily, an engineering physics – mechanical engineering major, received the Aerospace Alumni Endowed Scholarship.

Cheema, a biomedical sciences – biology major, received the Dr. Lee Beasley Endowed Scholarship for PreDental and the Biology Department Scholarships and Awards.

Clark, an engineering physics – mechanical engineering major, received the Engineering and Physics Scholarship.

Doan, a biomedical sciences – biology major, received the Biology Department Scholarships and Awards.

Dongilli, a mathematics major, received the Mathematics and Statistics Department Chair’s Scholarship.

Drewke, a biomedical engineering major, received the Engineering and Physics Scholarship.

Everhart, a nursing major, received the Martin Family Foundation Scholarship.

Gallagher, an engineering physics –

physics and biomedical engineering major, received the Beulah Rickard Fetterman Physics Scholarship.

Jones, an actuarial science major, received the American Fidelity Assurance Scholarship.

Landrith, a chemistry – health sciences major, received the Dr. David Hart Endowed Scholarship for Chemistry.

Moon, an engineering physics – electrical engineering major, received the Engineering and Physics Scholarship.

Nathan, a biomedical sciences – biology and forensic science – molecular biology major, received the Milt and Shirley Pugh Endowed Scholarship.

Perez, a biomedical engineering major, received the Engineering and Physics Scholarship.

Salas, a mathematics – applied mathematics major, received the Dorothea Meagher Award.

Teng, a forensic science and chemistry – health sciences major, received the Dr. James Dechter Endowed Scholarship in Chemistry.

Walker, a mathematics education and mathematics – statistics major, received the Dorothea Meagher Award.

Williams, a nursing major, received the CMS Dean’s Scholarship and the Martin Family Foundation Scholarship.

“On behalf of the faculty and staff in the College of Mathematics and Science, I congratulate each of our scholarship recipients,” said Wei R. Chen, Ph.D., dean of Central’s College of Mathematics and Science.

Oklahoma sculptor Brenda Angel

Artist, state GOP mark announcement by Trump The Oklahoma Republican Party last week hosted a reception at the Oklahoma GOP Headquarters in Oklahoma City in the hours leading up to the nationwide announcement

by President Donald J. Trump that he is running for re-election.

The event featured the grand unveiling of a sculpture of President Trump called “The President who Loved America” by acclaimed Oklahoma sculptor Brenda Angel, Ph.D. The public was invited to the event, which was also headlined by Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd and several State Senators and State Representatives, including State Senator Nathan Dahm and Major Jay Steagall, (Ret.), and more.

"I am excited about the announcement from President Trump that he will seek re-election," said David McLain, chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party. "The promises he made were the promises he kept. His strong leadership with proven global security and economic success has led to peace and prosperity. Oklahomans are eager to support their President!"

Senior United States Senator Jim Inhofe welcomed the announcement of the upcoming President Trump kickoff and the active efforts underway by the Oklahoma Republican Party to elect Republicans in the upcoming cycle, "President Trump has been a staunch ally of mine in rebuilding our military after years of neglect. I share his priorities of securing our country, rolling back burden-

some regulation, and protecting our men and women in uniform. I look forward to working with the Oklahoma Republican Party to ensure that we re-elect President Trump and keep Oklahoma red in 2020."

The event featured speeches from Republican party leaders and elected officials and focused on rallying supporters across the state of Oklahoma to do their part in 2020 to ensure the re-election of President Trump.

“It’s an honor to be with everyone at the unveiling of the Trump sculpture done by Angel, a fellow southeastern Oklahoman,” said State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd, the first female State Auditor, who was elected to statewide office by the highest margin in Oklahoma history. “It is an honor to support President Trump – he delivers on his promises. President Trump loves this country and its people, and it is evident by his accountability and transparency – he led the biggest tax and regulations cuts on businesses since the late ’80s. Trump delivers on expectations, and I look forward to what he will accomplish in the next four years.”

The same day, the Oklahoma Republican Party also began a push for fundraising for its "Victory 2020" campaign to train activists and to elect Republicans from the top of the ballot to local offices in all of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. To make your donation visit: https://causes.anedot.com/okgop

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 27, 2019 • Page 21

Edmond tops list for ‘worktirement’ When you imagine retirement, you might picture travel, cocktails by the pool and rounds of golf. For a lot of Americans, though, retirement doesn’t mean the complete end of work - it just means scaling back their hours or perhaps taking on a newer, less stressful job. Life as a retiree in America is expensive, and unless you were a prudent saver, you may need to keep earning some form of income to get by in your golden years. To that end, SmartAsset has once again ranked the best cities for a worktirement in the country. Coming out on top this year is Edmond.

To find the best cities for a worktirement, we considered the following nine metrics: effective tax rate, unemployment rate, medical centers, retirement centers, recreation centers, seniors as a percentage of overall population, median annual housing costs, me-

dian household income for seniors and senior unemployment rate. For details on this data, see the Data and Methodology section below.

Key Findings Think small. Smaller cities dominate the top of our rankings. Bigger cities like New York, Chicago and Philadelphia, meanwhile, all find themselves among the worst cities for a worktirement.

Go West. Cities in Western states like California, Montana, Washington and Oregon all score well.

There are six representatives from Western states in the top 10, and 12 in the top 25. The West is definitely a region to consider if you are looking to “worktire.”

Edmond, Okla.

The top city in our study is Edmond, Oklahoma.

Edmond is located just north of Oklahoma City, so you’ll have all the life and work opportunities that the capital city has to offer if you choose to live here in retirement. Edmond has the second-highest median income for seniors in our top 10 at $66,132. This is a top-20 rate in the study overall. It also has a low senior unemployment rate at just 0.89 percent and the second-highest number of medical centers per 1,000 residents (approximately four) in the top 10. The city ranks 18th and 17th respectively for these metrics among all 345 cities in the entire study.

Edmond doesn’t score as well in this list for number of retirement centers per 1,000 residents, with the third-lowest rate for this metric in our top 10.

See List, Page 22

Goodwill program aims to enhance job skills ophy of offering our own employGoodwill Industries of Central ees the same advanced training we Oklahoma is in the planning stage offer the public,” Barth said. “We to create an apprenticeship prohave a great many talented emgram available to its employees, ployees who deserve the chance to aimed at empowering them to furexpand their skillsets and apprenther their careers within Goodwill ticeships are a great way to do and acquire in-demand employthat. ment skills. These skills will be “Apprenticeships also help us transferable to advanced positions meet our own workforce demands within and outside the company.

This apprenticeship program is Mark Barth, CEO of Good- as an employer.”

Currently, the Goodwill Career seeded by a $10,000 grant from will Industries of Central Oklahoma, with Dudley Pathways Institute, in addition to the Oklahoma Office for Workforce Development (OOWD). Pre- Light, regional director for the Goodwill Job Connection Centhe U.S. Labor Department. ter, offer classes in digital skills, soft sented to Goodwill President and skills and other topics that are integral to comCEO, Mark Barth on June 18 by Interim Execupeting for quality jobs. tive Director of OOWD Sarah Ashmore, Barth “We encourage our employees to take charge says the funds will bring exciting new opportuniof their future career goals,” Barth said. “By ofties for front-line Goodwill employees who wish fering advanced training and apprenticeships, to follow a career path of moving into supervisory and management positions within the com- we hope to empower our employees, and anyone in need of such assistance, a path toward a pany. more successful future, benefiting them, their “This opportunity to begin an apprenticeship program fits well with our Begin at Home philos- families and the central Oklahoma community.”

Joins First Liberty mortgage team homa City Chamber and is Lainey LaRue Horton a seven-year member of BNI was born in Missoula, Executive Networking Group Mont. and grew up in where she has served in nuOklahoma, where she atmerous roles. Lainey thrives tended Cameron Univeron helping and giving to sity. others.

She started her profesLainey is a recipient of sional career in Dallas, United States Field Artillery Texas, working in telecomOrder of Molly Pitcher for munication sales. In 2010, Lainey LaRue Horton her years of providing selfLainey returned to Oklaless service to the families and solhoma and in 2016 began her mortdiers of the Oklahoma Army National gage career as an assistant loan Guard. As the wife of a military offiprocessor, while pursuing her Oklacer, she upheld the best traditions of homa State Mortgage License. As a the military service spouse. Lainey mortgage professional, Lainey takes loves spending time with her huspride in guiding her customers band Lt. Col. (Ret) Mike Horton and through every step of the loan process. Her philosophy of providing their three children and extended family and friends. superior customer service to her They enjoy spending their time clients has been the key to success watching sports, including Thunder throughout her career. First Liberty basketball, OU basketball and footBank is a locally owned, full-service ball, and Deer Creek sports, especommunity bank offering a wide cially Deer Creek basketball and range of high-quality bank products baseball. and solutions.

They live in the Deer Creek area of Lainey loves to network and give Edmond and are members of the Edback to her community. She is currently a member of the Greater Okla- mond First Baptist Church.

Clark new marketing director for Dobson Technologies Dobson Technologies. “Her Dobson Technologies hired seasoned level of experience Ali Clark as director of marand understanding of what keting to lead strategy, businesses need from their branding and advertising. technology and telecommuniClark is an Edmond resications resources will help us dent with 23 years of margrow our brand and products keting expertise with the last in Oklahoma.”

11 years working as a marDobson Technologies is an keting consultant for clients Clark Oklahoma-based and privatelyin healthcare, retirement livowned technology company. ing, city management, home construction and non-profits. She is a Dobson owns and operates a 3,500mile statewide fiber optic network graduate of the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in orga- and provides a full product suite of connectivity services including nizational communication. high-speed internet, data and cloud “Ali is returning to Dobson Techconnectivity, voice over internet telenologies where she started her caphone solutions, and managed IT reer in 1996 and we are thrilled to have her back,” said Frank Franzese, services for small to enterprise-level president of information technology, businesses. To learn more visit dobson.net. transport and telecom solutions for

Goodwill employees will soon have the opportunity to participate in apprenticeships to further their career goals thanks to an Apprenticeship Incentive Grant from the Oklahoma Office for Workforce Development.

Page 22 • June 27, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure

NORTH SECTION

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Growth has financial firm expanding with new branch

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PHOTO PROVIDED

It’s official: Retirement Investment Advisors, Inc. has expanded with a new metro location.

FAIRVIEW FARM

Last week Retirement Investment Advisors, Inc., with an Edmond office, celebrated the opening of its new, expanded location in Oklahoma City with a ribbon cutting and open house. Business leaders from throughout the community attended. “We are excited about our new location,� says CEO Randy Thurman. “Our new space allows us to continue to grow as a firm. We are planning to add additional Certified Planner professionals to our team and really need the additional space.

We will be able to serve even more clients as they plan for and enjoy retirement.�

Retirement Investment Advisors, Inc. a fee-only fiduciary retirement planning firm, has three locations, including offices in Edmond and Frisco, Texas. Since 1990, Retirement Investment Advisors, Inc. has helped clients prepare for the retirement that they deserve. They currently have more than $744 million under management.

Retirement Investment Advisors, Inc. is located at 2925 United Founders Boulevard in Oklahoma City. Its Edmond location is 2952 Via Esperanza.

They can be reached by telephone at 405-246-0404.

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1109 Irvine Drive - $465,000

5108 Keystone Circle - $450,000

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FAIRFAX ESTATES

5+ ACRES IN WEATHERS ESTATE

SELL YOUR HOME WITH BRAD! NEW LISTINGS ACCEPTED! 3325 Findhorn Drive - $449,900

+SVKISYW LSQI %TTVS\ WU JX [MXL FIHVSSQW FEXLW XSRW SJ EQIRMXMIW PMZMRK EVIEW FYMPX MR KVMPP SYX FEGO RIMKLFSVLSSH TSSP ERH QSVI ACREAGE IN DEER CREEK SCHOOLS

4324 Michael Road - $349,900

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QSP MR (IIV 'VIIO 7GLSSPW OAK TREE ESTATE

7409 Mid Iron Lane - $299,900

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804 NW 143rd Street - $234,900

CALL US AT

9900 Weathers Brook Lane - $389,000

330-2626 FAIRWAY ESTATES

2208 Augusta Avenue - $359,900

BIRNAM WOODS

1232 Lemon Ranch Road - $339,900

Charming home on 5+ acres (mol) with E 1-0 PE]SYX JVIWL TEMRX RI[ GEVTIX GSZIVIH TEXMS SZIVPSSOMRK XLI PERH and pond!

CENTENNIAL AT IRON HORSE

2932 Wind Call Lane - $315,000

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%TTVS\ WU JX FIHVSSQW FEXLW GS^] ERH GLEVQMRK [SSH žSSVW WXYRRMRK ½\XYVIW RIMKLFSVLSSH TSSP

VALENCIA

EDMOND SCHOOLS

18401 Carillo Road - $264,900

729 Longmeadow Lane - $239,900

ACREAGE IN EDMOND

VALENCIA PARK

UPDATED TOWNHOME

2565 Twin Ridge Drive - $189,900

2812 NW 189th Street - $158,500 3TIR ERH GSQJSVXEFPI %TTVS\ WU JX [MXL FIHVSSQW FEXLW UYEVX^ GSYRXIVXSTW MR OMXGLIR JYRGXMSREP HIWMKR WGVIIRIH MR TSVGL WXSVQ WLIPXIV ERH RIMKLFSVLSSH EQIRMXMIW

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;SRHIVJYP LSQI JIEXYVMRK WU JX FIHVSSQW FEXLW PMZMRK HMRMRK QEVFPI IRXV][E] WTEGMSYW PMKLX ½PPIH with a 4 car garage!

THE OAKS ADDITION

13401 Creekside Drive - $275,000

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14127 Crossing Way East - $145,000

LOTS & ACREAGES 3100 Basanova Drive - $85,000 3PHI )HQSRH 0SX +VIEX RIMKLFSVLSSH MR )HQSRH &YMPH ]SYV HVIEQ LSQI LIVI

1217 Woody Creek Court - $130,000 • ;SSH] 'VIIO %HHMXMSR 'YP HI WEG )HQSRH 7GLSSPW

3000 Basanova Drive - $122,500 - Olde Edmond • )EWX )HQSRH 'YP HI WEG PSX

1209 Woody Creek Court - $125,000 ˆ ;SSH] 'VIIO %HHMXMSR 'YP HI WEG )HQSRH 7GLSSPW

3016 Basanova Drive - $99,900 - Olde Edmond Lot • +VIEX 0SGEXMSR &YMPH ]SYV HVIEQ LSQI

7575 Hawk Lane - $49,900 ˆ EGVIW QSP 1MRYXIW JVSQ 0MFIVX] 0EOI

13051 Hickory Hills - $150,000 • Approx 14.50 acres

QSP +VIEX PSGEXMSR MR %VGEHME 1MRYXIW JVSQ -

3208 Basanova Drive - $118,900 3PHI )HQSRH )EWX )HQSRH 'YP HI WEG PSX

1624 Saratoga Way - $249,900 - Saratoga Farms • Approx. .7274 acre

Property to Sell? ˆ %GGITXMRK 2I[ 0MWXMRKW ˆ '%00 97 ;) 7)00 LSQIW VERGLIW EGVIEKIW ERH HIZIPSTQIRXW

SOLD!

From Page 21 Scottsdale, AZ Scottsdale, Arizona is a suburb of Phoenix, so those looking for a worktirement here will have all the amenities and opportunities of the state capital relatively close at hand. Scottsdale has 1.00 recreation center per 1,000 residents, which is a top-20 rate and tied for second-most in our top 10. The city also has the highest percentage of seniors in its population in our top 10 and ranks second for this metric in the entire study, at 22.40 percent.

Tyler, Texas Tyler, Texas has an average tax rate of just 16.10 percent, which ranks in the top 10 percent of the study overall for this metric, and is the third-lowest rate for this metric in our top 10. Tyler has average housing costs of just $10,356, also the third-lowest in the top 10. The city’s average senior income ranks in the top third of the study at $48,028.

Redding, CA Redding, Calif has easy access to nature and the outdoor beauty associated with northern California. Redding has 2.80 medical centers per 1,000 residents, tied with Tyler, Texas for fourth in this metric in our top 10. It also has a population that is 18.70% seniors, which is the second-highest percentage in the top 10 and which is a top-15 rate for this metric in the study overall.

Average housing costs are fairly high in Redding compared to the other cities on this list, at $12,612. This is the fourth-highest amount in the top 10 and ranks within the top 45 percent for this metric of all 345 cities in this study.

Spokane, Wash.

Spokane, Wash., found in the eastern part of the Evergreen State, takes the fifth spot. While it ranks toward the middle of the entire study for average tax rate, Spokane has the third-highest rate for this metric in the top 10, at 17.10 percent. It makes up for that with a relatively low senior unemployment rate of just 1.09 percent and ranks 26th for this metric in the study overall.

Spokane has an average senior income of $43,831, the fifth-highest amount in this top 10. It also ranks sixth out of all 345 cities in our study for number of retirement communities per 1,000 residents.

Billings, Mont.

Billings, Mont. starts the second half of the top 10. Billings has an average

tax rate of just 14.50 percent, which is the second-lowest rate in the top 10 and 11th-lowest in the entire study. The city doesn’t rank as well for medical centers, for which it has the second-fewest in the top 10, at just 1.60 per 1,000 residents. Billings leads the top 10, though, in the concentration of recreation centers, with 1.30 centers per 1,000 residents. That’s a top-15 rate overall.

Green Bay, Wis. Football fans are sure to be drawn in

by Green Bay, Wis., home of Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packers. In addition to the football team, though, Green Bay also boasts average annual housing costs of just $9,192. Those low housing costs might be offset by the city’s average senior income of just $33,919 annually, the lowest amount among the top 10 cities of our study.

But the senior unemployment rate is just 0.52 percent, which ranks seventh in the study overall and is the lowest in the top 10.

Eugene, Oregon Working retirees in Eugene, Oregon can enjoy the best average tax rate in our top 10, which is 13.40%. That’s a top-five rate. Eugene is also tied with Spokane, Washington for the secondhighest concentration in the top 10 of retirement communities per 1,000 residents - a top-10 rate in the study as a whole. The city has the fourth-highest average senior income in the top 10, at $50,121.

Bellevue, Wash.

Bellevue, Wash., an affluent suburb of Seattle, leads the top 10 in the metric of average senior income at $74,672, and ranks eighth for this metric in the entire study. Bellevue also leads the top 10 in average tax rate, though, at 17.80%, as well as average housing costs at $23,268 - so you’ll need that extra income to keep up with cost of living. Bellevue also has 0.50 retirement communities per 1,000 residents, the highest rate for this metric in the top 10 and a top-five rate for this metric in the study overall.

Abilene, Texas Located about 170 miles west of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, Abilene, Texas is the final entry in the top 10.

Average annual housing costs there are just $9,408, which helps the city rank in the top 10 percent of the entire study for low housing costs.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 27, 2019 • Page 23

Groups unite to provide free dental care for vets D-DENT was so excited to partner with the Crossings Community Clinic in order to be able to serve veterans in need.

D-DENT is pleased to announce that earlier this month D-DENT’s Community Dental Day was held at the Crossings Community Clinic in Oklahoma City.

Altogether, 26 dentists, hygienists, dental assistants, dental students and pre-dental students came together and donated their Friday and Saturday to help restore the oral health of24 low-income veterans with no dental benefits. The total value of the dental work provided - free of charge was $22,962.

The dentists present were Dr. Jorge Madamba, Dr. Susan Whiteneck, Dr. J. Don Harris, Dr. Sara Spurlock, Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, Dr. Darrell Guttery, Dr. Arpit Singh, Dr. Kami Chervilov and Dr. Hal Kessler.

Both, Dr. Chervilov and Dr. Kessler began volunteering with D-DENT as dental assistants. They continued to volunteer any time they had free time and promised that after graduation, with their Doctor of Dental Surgery degrees under their belt, they would continue to serve their community through charitable care provided in partnership with D-DENT. They fulfilled their promise at the event this month.

Dr. Kessler’s very first patient as a dentist was a D-DENT patient. His passion and commitment to serve through dentistry, along with all of D-DENT’s volunteers, is evident in his acts of kindness. One week after the Community Dental Day, Dr. Kessler

offered to help four more Veterans, providing an additional $3,194 worth of dental care, completely free of charge.

D-DENT is committed to helping veterans access dental care. One of the veterans served during this event, has no means of transportation. In order to attend the Community Dental Day event, he had to take three buses and walk a couple of miles to get to the clinic - a task made difficult given the fact that his toes had been amputated. This worried Shirley Harris, D-DENT’s Executive Director.

Not only did she personally provided him with door-to-door transportation, but also made sure that he had a hot lunch and dinner for the day.

When asked why, Ms. Harris simply replies, “they served us; it’s our turn to serve them.”

Drive to feed kids a success Through the generosity of Oklahoma businesses and residents, more than $163,350 was raised in less than two days during the Food for Kids Challenge. The donations will benefit the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma’s Food for Kids Programs.

Magic 104.1 KMGL's "Magic Man" Jeff Roberts broadcast live from on top of a billboard at Metro Ford of OKC until $150,000 was raised for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma's Food for Kids Programs. That total was met, and exceeded, after just 36 hours thanks to the generosity of fellow Oklahomans.

"We are in awe of the generosity displayed by Oklahoma residents during the Food for Kids Challenge. Their kindness will help to provide more than 653,400 meals for Oklahoma children living with food insecurity," said Katie Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank.

Donations to the Regional Food Bank's Food for Kids Programs can be made by visiting rfbo.org/donate or by calling 405-600-3136.

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 “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

Page 24 • June 27, 2019 • Edmond Life & Leisure