August 16, 2018

August 16, 2018 Vol. 19, No. 12

In This Issue ROUGH CUT SWISS

Rough Cut Swiss, in real life, is located in front of Othello’s Restaurant at the southwest corner of Main and Broadway, but this week it is hidden somewhere in our paper.

Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information see page 4.

Our annual Back to School High School/College Edition is here!

See B Section for details!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 Partly cloudy High 91° Low 72°

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 Scattered T-storms High 90° Low 72°

SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 Scattered T-storms High 86° Low 71°

By Steve Gust As students head back to school today, the Edmond School District has been busy getting ready for the start of the 2018-19 school year.

Thousands of students go back to more than 20 campuses serving youngsters from pre-kindergarten to high school senior.

In terms of staffing this has been one of the more productive years for Edmond. For the first time in at least four years, Edmond administrators won’t be scrambling to make sure teachers are in every class.

Superintendent Bret Towne said last week only eight teaching vacancies remained in the state’s third-largest school district “Our principals have done a great job in hiring,” Towne said.

Last year almost 25,000 students were enrolled in the district.

Edmond Public Schools grows by an estimated 500 students each year.

“We still have a few openings

PHOTO PROVIDED

Edmond Public Schools chief human resource officer Randy Decker, left, and superintendent Bret Towne are pleased to see almost a full staff of instructors hired for the 2018-19 school year. for science, foreign language and special ed teachers,” Towne told the Edmond Board of Education during its regular monthly meeting held last week. “We’ve even hired a couple of principals from Texas.”

In recent years, the district had dozens of teacher openings even as class bells were almost ready to ring.

Towne attributed the change this year to a state mandated pay raise, continued on Page 3

Page 2 • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

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Edmond Life & Leisure •August 16, 2018 • Page 3

‘Attitudes by teachers were very positive at the conference.’ (STEM Conference hosted by Edmond Public Schools earlier this month.)

Superintendent Bret Towne Speaking at School Board meeting Aug. 6

Cover From Page 1

with the minimum being $5,000.

Towne added some retired teachers had been lured back into the profession by the pay raises. The administrator already noticed a change among educators during a two-day STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) conference earlier this month hosted

by Edmond Schools.

“Attitudes by teachers were very positive at the conference,” Towne said.

The number of teacher emergency certifications issued for Edmond instructors is also down. Emergency state certified teachers lack a state teaching license.

Randy Decker, district chief human resource officer, said this year only 24 such certifications have been issued, down from 32 last year.

After the meeting, Decker said teacher recruitment is a process that continues year-round. He’s expecting to have just more than 1,550 teachers employed by the time school begins. That’s up from about 1,500 teachers last year. He added the number of first-year teachers should also be down from last year’s high of 100.

Meanwhile, Towne said some Edmond students’ school year started in the past few weeks.

“We have band, football, softball

and cross-country students already involved in practice,” Towne said.

Construction continues at Edmond Memorial High School, with a new gym and parking lot near completion, Towne said. He was hoping to see 120 extra parking spaces at Memorial by the start of school today.

Building work continues at Edmond North High School, where there is a parking lot expansion and widening of nearby Thomas Drive.

About 100 to 150 construction workers are involved in work there, he said.

The city is relocating electrical lines near the street at a district cost of $113,675. Board members Kathleen Duncan and Jamie Underwood questioned the charge and wondered why the city didn’t absorb the cost. The school’s chief operations officer, Justin Coffelt, said the project was initiated by the schools and he had negotiated the price down from $150,000. Most of the $113,675, Coffelt explained, is for labor.

In addition, storm shelter projects are wrapping up in the district, such as Ida Freeman Elementary School.

At last week’s school board meeting, the green light was given for a $3 million shelter at Cimarron Middle School, which will double as a media center and extra science classrooms.

See article Page 5.

Professional Development Day

A professional development day was held recently at the Sequoyah Middle School library. The Cimarron leadership team, Link Lowe, Carrie Higdon, principal Gabe Schmidt, and district math specialist Becky Archibald, exchange ideas on the opportunities possible with the new math techbook.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Summit's principal, Lisa Adams, and Cheyenne's principal, consider the four central questions for school's operating as a PLC: 1) What do we want our students to know and be able to do? 2) How will we know if they've mastered the expected objectives? 3) How will we respond when our students fail to learn? 4) How will we respond when our students master objectives ahead of their peers?

Governor’s Septemberfest nears The Oklahoma History Center and the Friends of the Mansion will be cohosting the governor’s 22nd annual Septemberfest on Saturday, Sept. 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This free fall festival is open to the public and features more than 60 events and demonstrations. The Oklahoma History Center will be the primary location for activities, and tours of the first floor of the Governor’s Mansion also will be offered.

This year’s Septemberfest theme is “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma!’” This celebrates both the 75th anniversary of the Broadway debut of the famous musical and the exhibit now on display at the Oklahoma History Center.

Septemberfest was initiated by Governor Frank Keating and the Friends of the Mansion, Inc., in 1997.

The original intent was to share “Oklahoma’s House” with Oklahoma’s

citizens. Septemberfest has attracted people from all over the world and it continues to grow in popularity. “This is an opportunity to showcase Oklahoma’s wonderful history and culture and things that make Oklahoma unique,” said Gov. Mary Fallin. The governor will be on hand to read a variety of stories to children. Visitors will enjoy arts and crafts, chuck wagon cooking, living history, face painting, laser tag, museum exhibits, pony rides, square dancing, live performances and much more.

No ticket or registration is required for this free event. The Oklahoma History Center will close at 3 p.m. on Sept. 8.

The Oklahoma History Center is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive in Oklahoma City. For more information, please visit www.okhistory.org/historycenter or call 405-522-0765.

Page 4 • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Facebook stumbles again Just when all the talking heads on financial television shows were declaring that Facebook was invincible, it took a giant fall in stock value.

Despite the social media giant persisting through numerous public relations nightmares, security issues and being business partners with the Russians by taking their advertising dollars, it Ray Hibbard seemed to be bullet proof. Regulators and customers seemed to believe the fresh-faced CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s “Gee, I’m sorry. My bad” routine when stock holders weighed in with their opinion. As often they do, the stock holders voted with their pocket books and dumped the previously untouchable stock.

During the phone conversation with investors, company executives failed to practice one of the most important business principles in existence.

They didn’t stop talking to explain the missed revenue projections. Young Zuckerberg did not teach his folks that when you are in a hole, stop digging.

The stock continued to free fall until it reached a record drop in stock market value for a stock of near 21 percent in the hours after trading.

It could also be a reaction by investors that assume people are finally fed up with Facebook’s privacy issues. In fact, all social media has given users reasons to distrust them over the past two years.

They may be fed up and not only are there fewer new users signing on to social media, but many are falling off as well.

Since the giant stock price fall, the social media company has hinted that not growing users might be a lingering problem. They have started using a new metric that they call “family audience.” It is a shiny new and made up statistic to distract folks from the suddenly problematic old ones. It looks like a total smoke and mirrors tactic to me and one I am familiar with from being in the media business for almost 40 years.

When I was at a weekly newspaper right out of college, I worked for a guy who dealt with a problem by making up a new statistic. This was almost 38 years ago so the idea isn’t new. In those days, newspapers costs to advertisers were measured by calculating a milline rate that used an agate line space.

The newspaper I worked for didn’t fare well when media buyers used that as the only measurement for comparing newspapers in a market. So, my boss invented what he called the visa milline rate. We compared much better for two reasons.

The first was that my boss created the calculation which he made sure put us in a much better light and secondly, he was the only one who really knew how to do the math on it. It sure sounded good. When we would drop the visa milline rate on a media buyer they would give you a strange look but none of them wanted to admit they didn’t know what it was, so they went along with the argument that our newspaper space could be purchased at a better price.

As it turns out, spending lots of time with our cell phones including the use of social media has become a damaging problem. A new study has found that parents who are addicted to their cell

checking texts during dinner or during playtime.

Parents in the study were also then asked to recall how often their child whined, were hyperactive, were irritable or grumpy, or in general acted out or behaved badly over the last two months.

After adjusting for stress, anxiety, income, education, and other factors relating to the parents, the study found that even a small amount of interruptions to parent-child engagement due to technology are associated with kids’ behavioral problems.

Technology is here to stay even if social media is not going to control our lives forever. Here are some things you can do now to cut back on the amount of cell phone or tablet time you spend instead of paying attention to the person sitting next to you.

Limit screen time for everyone.

Many parents put cap on amount of time spent on the computer or in front of the TV for their kids, but what about themselves? Creating rules for everyone in the household, including yourselves, and sticking to them, makes sure that each day you are have uninterrupted quality time with your kids

Limiting cell phone use for youngsters may not be a bad idea.

phones affect their children’s development. This is not a good thing folks by any stretch or calculation.

Older generations like to point fingers at the Millennials and younger generations for being attached to their technology, the reality is that parents and older adults aren’t any better. If you don’t believe me just look around the restaurant next time you are at dinner and notice the number of adult heads that are buried in their phones. Turns out we are damaging our children with this excessive cell phone use in addition to ourselves. This new study shows that parental screen time is more impactful than you might think.

We know that too much time spent on social media and with technology can have a negative impact on both physical and mental health in adults and that kids who spend hours glued to screens don’t fare any better. A new study from the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital shows that the amount of time parents spend staring at their own screens has a devastating impact on the mental health and development of their children.

What the researchers found is that the more time parents spend on their phones and other devices, the less meaningful interactions they have with their kids. When a child’s time spent with their parent is interrupted by technology, the child feels frustrated and unimportant. This then causes the child to feel the need to act out to gain the lost attention back, most often in a negative way.

In the study, parents were asked about their personal use of smartphones, laptops, tablets, and others: How they use them, when they use them, how long, with the research focusing primarily on how the usage interrupts family time, such as

No phones at the dinner table.

Dinner time is often one of the few times busy families have each day to spend together to chat, educate, and share stories about their day. Having phones, TV, or other forms of tech at the table leads to distraction and discourages important conversation. In addition, it is just rude. If you are going to take the time and go to the expense of taking your spouse, children or friends out to eat, leave the phone in the car.

Get outside and leave the phones at home.

Take time each weekend to get out and do something as a family, whether it be a hike, playing ball at the park, or going bowling or indoor mini-golf if the weather doesn’t cooperate and leave all forms of technology at home, or at least in the car. Without the option of checking texts, emails, or Instagram feeds, everyone is free to be fully present in the moment and enjoy each other’s company. Edmond is full of great parks and outdoor spaces so get out and take advantage of them as a family.

Put the phone on airplane mode without going anywhere.

If you find it extremely difficult to ignore your phone anytime you hear a “ping!”, set it to airplane or silent mode at least until the kids are off doing their homework or gone to bed.

Will Facebook and other forms of social media survive? I can’t answer that question, but I do believe that time with our loved ones is much better without an electronic device in your hand and your head down toward the screen. I can also tell you that life is short so use your time wisely. You will never hear a person close to death say they wish they had spent more time on their phone, but you will hear them say that they wish they had more time with their family.

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

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

Weekend calendar of events ........................................................Page 6.

Do your homework for Nov. ballot ..............................................Page 8.

Scenes from Pokemon Go event ................................................Page 13.

George Gust not impressed by ‘The Meg’ movie........................Page 15.

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

Senior News ....................................................................Pages 18 & 19.

Preview of upcoming State Fair ..................................................Page 20.

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

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

Find the ‘Rough Cut Swiss’ Rough Cut Swiss, in real life, is located in front of Othello’s Restaurant at the southwest corner of Main and Broadway, but this week it is hidden somewhere in our paper. E-mail contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing.

Rough Cut Swiss is by artist David Phelps. Phelps is an Oklahoma based sculptor whose work has been featured throughout the state. He is inspired by expansive spaces and hopes his works will inspire meaningful meditation.

Said Phelps, “I grew up on a farm in the central valley of California where the fields became an extension of oneself. I continue to live in the wide open spaces of Oklahoma where my sculptural images expand to include their environments as part of the aesthetic experience.”

Publisher Ray Hibbard Jr. ray@edmondpaper.com

Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC

Partner Christopher T. Hoke

Copyright © 2018 by Edmond Media Publishing

Editor Steve Gust news@edmondpaper.com

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

Production April Burgess, Deanne York Advertising Director Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com

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

Material contained herein may not

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

the express written permission from

Photographer Melinda Infante

facebook.com/edmondlifeandleisure

Cover Design April Burgess

be reproduced in any form without Edmond Media Publishing. edmondlifeandleisure.com twitter.com/edmondlifeandleisure instagram.com/edmondlifeandleisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 16, 2018 • Page 5

Schools & teachers association come to terms Edmond Public Schools and the Edmond Association of Classroom Teachers (EACT) have come to an agreement this week on teacher raises which will provide first-year teachers a starting salary of $40,000 per year.

“To be able to offer first-year teachers a $40,000 starting salary has been an objective for some time,” said Superintendent Bret Towne.

“Achieving that salary is more than symbolic. It signifies the value placed on teachers in this district.

This is not the end, but it is a new starting point to strengthen teacher compensation and make Edmond more competitive with districts in neighboring states.”

Last year, first-year teachers in Edmond earned $34,616. The legislated $5,001 salary increase for first-year teachers, plus additional funds allocated by the district pushes the starting pay for first-year teachers to $40,000. The minimum starting salary as provided by the state for 2018 - 2019 is $36,601.

In addition to increasing the starting base pay,

The legislated $5,001 salary increase for first-year teachers, plus additional funds allocated by the district pushes the starting pay for first-year teachers to $40,000. the district and EACT agreed on the following measures to increase compensation for teachers: n Balance salary schedules so teachers with more experience receive larger pay increases n Augment the legislated pay raise for certified staff who work more days than the standard 181day contract n Provide the entire legislated pay raise as base pay and add employee’s teacher retirement contributions as a district-paid benefit n Offer a step raise and other salary schedule adjustments The total cost of the certified compensation package over and above the legislated pay increase

Retired Lt. Col. Allen West to speak at benefit dinner Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Allen B. West will be the featured speaker at the Oklahoma City chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge’s major fundraiser at 6 p.m. Sept. 11 at Oklahoma Christian University. The event has been named the “Spirit of America Scholarship Dinner.”

“The OKC Chapter wanted this event to be meaningful to all people here in the metro,” said Don M. Powers, president of the Oklahoma City Chapter of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge. “This date, 9/11, is branded on American history and is a time for people to contemplate what it means to be an American.”

The dinner is open to the public, and corporate sponsors are welcome.

Individual tickets for the event are $100 each, and tables for eight are available for $1,000 with a listing as a sponsor in the program. Also corporate packages are available for $2,500 and $5,000, which have opportunities for photos with West and access to other planned VIP events.

Tickets can be obtained at ffv-

Allen West fokc@gmail.comffvfokc@gmail.com, with your name, address, phone number and number of tickets requested. David Harmer, the national president and chief executive officer of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, will be a guest at the event.

For more information or tickets, contact Don Powers at 405-3595999, or email the OKC chapter at ffvfokc@gmail.com.

Cimarron & Charles Haskell schools

Edmond District moves forward with two more storm shelters

By Steve Gust Edmond Schools' goal of providing ultimate storm protection for all 25,000 students is proceeding.

Last week the Board of Education contracted with a company to build a $3 million shelter at Cimarron Middle School. Meanwhile plans are under way for a new gymnasium at Charles Haskell Elementary School, which will double as storm shelter.

In the past five years the district has added shelters to schools, which double for another use. That can include gymnasiums, band rooms, class rooms, cafeterias and media centers.

These storm shelters are built according to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards and can withstand effects from an EF-5 tornado, which carry winds ranging from 262 to 317 mph.

The Edmond School Board, and administrators, made the commitment to the shelters following a deadly EF-5 twister which struck Moore in May 2013 killing schoolchildren.

In a letter to the board, the district's construction supervisor Jason Ferguson said Edmond received 10 bids to do work at Cimarron. That shelter will double as a media center as well as additional science rooms.

Ferguson recommended Pillar Contracting of Oklahoma City and its low bid of $3.08 million. That com-

pany is also wrapping up a shelter and media center at Ida Freeman Elementary in Edmond.

The board voted 4-0 to award Pillar the bid. Board president Meredith Exline was absent.

Preliminary plans were also presented for Charles Haskell's shelter in western part of the district that falls in Oklahoma City. In this case the shelter will be an addition on the school's campus, according to the district's chief operations officer Justin Coffelt. It would be built on an adjacent part of the the school, currently used as a playground.

The board signed off on the preliminary plans and, is expected to approve the final plans sometime this fall.

Coffelt wasn't expecting construction of the shelter to begin until the end of this school year and predicted a completion date sometime in 2020.

Both of the shelters will be funded by a bond package passed in 2017.

An upcoming 2019 bond proposal most likely will fund a shelter at Summit Middle School, which is near Charles Haskell. After the meeting Coffelt said Summit does provide good storm protection now by being built into a berm. Although, he added, the goal is to eventually have a FEMA approved shelter there as well.

is $2,405,000. Edmond Schools also pays the entire retirement contribution for all of its employees.

During negotiations with the Support Employees of Edmond (SEE), the district added $609,000 in local funds to the legislated raise of $1,250 resulting in a $1.21 per hour raise for all support employees in addition to a step raise and other salary schedule increases.

In all, the district provided an additional $3.7 million in employee compensation during the summer negotiation process with both EACT and SEE. Edmond Schools is able to add to employee compensation this year due to a solid fund balance, projected funding increases based on enrollment growth and continued conservative spending practices.

“The district and Board of Education are committed to supporting and rewarding all dedicated employees within our district and we believe that between the compensation increases provided by the state and the additional local funds, we have solidly met that commitment this year,” said Towne.

Page 6 • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Thursday Aug 16 ---- In the Gallery ---- Work, Fight, Give: American Relief Posters of WWII ---- WWII Edmond: Housewives on the Homefront ---- Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered ---- Saloon Series ---- Shakespeare in the Park: Sense and Sensibility ---- Slayer Friday Aug 17 ---- In the Gallery ---- Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered ---- Ron White at Riverwind Casino ---- Souled Out ---- Shakespeare in the Park: Sense and Sensibility ---- Friday Evening Glow Saturday Aug 18 ---- In the Gallery ---- TobyMac in Concert ---- Edmond Farmer’s Market ---- Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered ---- Equilibrium ---- Heard on Hurd ---- KOMA Fan Jam ---- Stars ---- Customer Appreciation Day ---- Beat The Heat Soccer Tournament ---- Art Moments ---- Shakespeare in the Park: Sense and Sensibility ---- Historical Spirit Tour ---- Vince Gill Sunday Aug 19 ---- In the Gallery ---- Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered ---- Shakespeare in the Park: Sense and Sensibility ---- Beat The Heat Soccer Tournament ---- Art Moments Extra Information on Weekend Happenings In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Featuring works by Jennifer Jones For information go to: http://www.edmondfinearts.com/ Work, Fight, Give: American Relief Posters of WWII Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: Traveling exhibit that offers a wide-ranging collection of original relief posters and memorabilia.

For more information go to: edmondhistory.org or call 405 340-0078.

WWII Edmond: Housewives on the Homefront Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: Housewives living in Edmond, Oklahoma made sacrifices and conformed to the government’s requests in order to help soldiers overseas. This exhibits demonstrates their efforts. For more information go to: edmondhistory.org or call 405 3400078.

Saloon Series Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.; $25 at the door includes a whiskey flight, one full drink ticket, one food ticket, whiskey class, live music and museum admission or $5 without the drink ticket. https://nationalcowboymuseum.org TobyMac in Concert Location: Frontier City Theme Park, Oklahoma City Extra Info: Concert under the stars included with admission to the park.

For more information visit FrontierCity.com.

Slayer Location: OKC Zoo Amphitheatre, Oklahoma City Extra Info: Doors open at 3:30 p.m., thezooamphitheatre.com Stars Location: River Lounge, Riverwind Casino Time: 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Souled Out Location: UCO – Jazz Lab Time: Doors open at 7 p.m., Show starts at 8 p.m., $20; for more information visit www.ucojazzlab.com or call the box office (405) 974-2100.

Equilibrium Location: UCO – Jazz Lab Time: Doors open at 7 p.m., Show starts at 8 p.m., $10; for more information visit www.ucojazzlab.com or call the box office (405) 974-2100.

Heard on Hurd Location: Downtown Edmond Time: 6 to 10 p.m.

Edmond Farmer’s Market Located: Fest. Market Place & Plaza Time: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; edmondparks.com or 405 359-4630 Exhibit: Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered Location: Armstrong Auditorium Extra Info: Free, Exhibit will be available until Aug 19. armstrongauditorium.org KOMA Fan Jam Location: Riverwind Showplace Theatre, Riverwind Casino, Norman, OK Time: Show begins at 7 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m.

For more information: www.riverwind.com Summer Signature Tour Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, OKC Extra Info: 1 – 2 p.m.; see some of the finest Western art in the country during this docent-facilitated Museum tour. For more information, visit nationalcowboymuseum.org Art Moments Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, OKC Extra Info: 1 – 2 p.m. A variety of 10minute spotlight talks throughout the galleries Shakespeare in the Park: Sense and Sensibility Location: Myriad Gardens, Oklahoma City Extra Info: oklahomashakespeare.com Customer Appreciation Day Location: A1 Pet Emporium Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Beat The Heat Soccer Tournament Location: Edmond Soccer Club Complex Extra Info: Boys & Girls Competitive Soccer Tournament For info go to www.edmondsoccer.com Friday Evening Glow Location: Riversport Rapids Patio Extra Info: 6 p.m.; for more information visit riversportokc.org Historical Spirit Tour Location: Fort Reno Chapel Extra Info: Check-in 7 p.m., tour begins at 8 p.m., hear stories of the restless spirits of the old post by lantern light. fortreno.org Vince Gill Location: Civic Center Music Hall, In Oklahoma City.

Time: 7:30 p.m.; okcciviccenter.com

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 16, 2018 • Page 7

From left are Jan Moran (AT&T), Debreon Davis (principal, Edmond North), Anthony Rose (principal, Edmond Memorial), Jason Hayes (principal, Edmond Santa Fe) and Lori Dickinson Black (Executive Director, Edmond Public Schools Foundation)

PHOTO PROVIDED

AT&T Foundation boosts STEM plans at Edmond high schools

The AT&T Foundation has joined this effort by awarding $25,000 to fund the request, “IGNITE Innovation and Technology for Edmond High School Students.”

An Edmond Public School district priority is to, “Plan and implement a quality STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program K-12 to increase rigor and application, career exploration, project-based learning, HS Robotics, AP computer science, and GTT (gateway to technology) programs.”

To this end, Edmond has formed an alliance with surrounding districts and the University of Central Oklahoma to create STEM committees at each school sight made up of members of the school and community.

Yet, to fulfill this goal, teachers need greater access to the tools, materials and supplies that allow them to carry out critical hands-on science activities that are integral to student understanding of complex science principles.

The IGNITE program in Edmond Public Schools will provide quality hands-on experiences that: n Spark innovative and technology solutions n Foster in-depth understanding of science concepts n Increase critical thinking n Make learning experiences more relevant n Help students gain important real-world problem-solving skills n Encourage healthy risk-taking and quick-thinking n Build soft skills needed in the workforce

“We truly thank Jan Moran for being an ardent advocate for quality public education and to AT&T for this generous grant,” said Lori Dickinson Black, Edmond Public Schools Foundation executive director. “This gives our students the ability to experience learning on a whole new level. Failing, redesigning, being innovative,

and problem-solving without consistent guidance are just some of the skills students will develop through this project. Studies provide evidence again and again that it is crucial for their ability to thrive in the workforce. When students can perform an experiment, the knowledge gained through experimentation is retained to a much high degree than if simply presented by an instructor.”

One teaching team at Edmond Memorial wrote that with hands-on science activities, “we have seen in just six months the transformation of students who never thought they could be engineers, designers, and researchers. They now question things that could benefit their community.”

The grant makes it possible for nearly 7,000 students at Memorial, North and Santa Fe. “This truly is the definition of ONE Edmond that the EPSF Foundation promotes,” added Black. “Recognizing that while we can be proud to be a Bulldog, Husky or Wolf, it benefits our entire community to work together to support all of Edmond’s students and teachers collectively when we can.”

The mission of the Edmond Public Schools Foundation is to connect the community and its resources with Edmond Public Schools teacher, student and school needs in pursuit of the highest level of academic excellence.

Since inception the EPS Foundation has provided over $2.4 million in direct support to the district.

These resources have funded: new technology, classroom curriculum, software, hardware, teaching aids, teacher trainings, student scholarships, playground equipment, textbooks, supplies, musical instruments, artwork, equipment, teacher awards, and numerous other educational aids.

To learn more about donating to Edmond Public Schools, go to www.edmondpsf.org or contact the Edmond Public Schools Foundation at (405) 340-2819.

Page 8 • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

Another school year begins Another school year is under way.

School has changed a great deal since my time. I don't think I ever used a computer until after I graduated.

Once I interviewed a cardiologist. Originally, he wanted to go into the computer field, but at the time Oklahoma University Steve Gust only had one computer. It was one of those about the size of two or three freezers put together. It used a stack of those old computer cards to spit out any information.

Those cards had holes in them which had been typed in by the computer programmer. If one of those holes wasn't right, it threw off all of the tabulations. This guy decided computer technology wasn't for him and he went into medicine.

Education means almost everything to Edmond.

It's one of the reasons, perhaps main reason, this city has thrived so much over the years. For the past several years I've seen what's involved with the Edmond Public Schools. They have lots of professionals who have one mission: providing a quality education for our youth.

This fall a lot of the students will have Chromebooks. That's a definite upgrade from the University of Oklahoma computer I described earlier.

The teaching technology has evolved to such a point that most teachers are given career development days so they can keep up with it themselves.

It's my hope this year that all our students continue to broaden their horizons and realize there is

a lot they can do with their lives.

If you're a parent, please remember to thank the teachers. They have a tough job and appreicate all the support and kind words possible.

I know a lot of the administrators in the district.

Their tasks are never ending also.

Lets all wish a everyone, staff and students, a great school year.

-----Tidbits. n Glad to see the new fast food Wendy’s restaurant sign on South Broadway. Seems like a storm blew it out months ago. But last week it was replaced finally. Looks good. n I see the close Congressional Ohio election last week has already came up with 500 "new" votes days after the polls closed.

It always, and I mean always, seems like every close election in the nation sees "new" votes that benefit Democrats. I've witnessed it with BushGore in 2000, the 2004 Washington Governor's election and the 2006 Al Franken larceny in Minnesota. Sometimes I question our election intregrity. n I saw the movie "Death of a Nation,' by Dinesh D'Souza. It’s an interesting political movie, which gives a blunt assessment of American history. D’Souza does a good job of making films.

Having said that, this is probably not the movie you want to see if you’re a big fan of liberalism or Democrats.

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

For Nov. general election

A full ballot awaits voters Turns out proponents of a state question to legalize recreational marijuana collected fewer signatures than they claimed they had, which means November's ballot likely will be a bit less crowded. But only a bit.

In addition to making their choices for county, state and federal offices — everything from governor to district judges — voters will decide at least four state questions, continuing the spirit of direct democracy Oklahomans have favored since statehood.

The November 2016 ballot had seven state questions, including a proposed increase in the state sales tax to benefit education and a proposal to allow

wine sales in grocery stores. Voter approval of the education lottery and a tobacco tax were among nine questions on the ballot in 2004.

This year, after medical marijuana was approved by voters in June, it appeared the question of whether to legalize recreational pot could wind up on the ballot Nov. 6. Time constraints and procedural hurdles made it a long shot, but proponents were optimistic.

Early last week Isaac Caviness, president of Green the Vote, said the organization had collected far more than the roughly 124,000 signatures needed to get the question on the ballot. Yet a Green the Vote board member who recently left the organization said Monday the actual total was far below that, and complained about how Caviness handled things.

Caviness placed the number of signatures at 85,336 last week, not counting others collected during the day in Oklahoma City before all were delivered to the secretary of state's office for processing.

Caviness said the discrepancy hurt his reputation and that of his organization, "but the movement is still strong."

Regardless, Oklahoma voters will have plenty of other issues to decide in November.

State Question 793 would allow eye doctors to practice inside Oklahoma retail establishments. This question figures to be the focus of considerable debate in the coming months.

Ballot Page 11

The left also needs to tone down the rhetoric

By Marc Thieseen National columnist Last week a New York man, Carlos Bayon, was arrested after leaving threatening messages for House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and Conference Chairman Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., promising to go after their families and “feed them lead.”

When police raided Bayon’s home, they found 200 rounds of ammunition as well receipts for an assault rifle and handgun and books with titles such as “How to create a foolproof new identity,” “Middle Eastern Terrorist Bomb Designs” and “Silent But Deadly,” instructions for making homemade silencers.

This is the same Steve Scalise who barely survived an assassination attempt last year when a Bernie Sanders campaign volunteer fired at least 70 rounds in his attack on Republicans practicing on an Alexandria, Va., field for the annual Congressional Baseball Game. Scalise was shot in the hip, spent weeks in the ICU and had to undergo multiple surgeries.

It’s worth keeping these incidents in mind as we listen to the rising chorus of warnings that the presi-

dent’s irresponsible attacks on the media will result in violence. CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta recently tweeted, “I’m very worried that the hostility whipped up by Trump and some in conservative media will result in somebody getting hurt.” And New York Times columnist Bret Stephens warned, “We are approaching a day when blood on the newsroom floor will be blood on the president’s hands.”

Let’s pray something so awful never comes to pass.

But by that standard, the blood on the Alexandria field was blood on the Democrats’ hands. Before shooting Scalise, the gunman joined Facebook groups such as “Join the Resistance Worldwide,” “Terminate the Republican Party,” and “The Road To Hell Is Paved With Republicans.” He posted that “Trump is a Traitor” and “Republicans are the Taliban of the USA.” Where did he get the idea to compare Republicans to terrorists? Well, just to give one example: During the 2016 campaign, Clinton compared Republicans to al-Qaida and the Taliban, declaring “Now, extreme views on women, we expect that from some of the terrorist groups, we expect that

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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.

from people who don’t want to live in the modern world, but it’s a little hard to take from Republicans.”

And Bayon, the man who threatened Scalise and McMorris Rogers, was reportedly driven to rage over Trump’s border policies.

Many Americans were outraged by the horrific policy of family separation, but it is inexcusably irresponsible for those such as Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to compare Trump’s policies with those of Nazi Germany and the detention centers along the U.S.-Mexico border to Hitler’s concentration camps.

Let’s be clear: No individual, Democrat or Republican, is responsible for the violent actions of a deranged person. But we are all collectively responsible for creating the climate of hatred that is permeating our politics today. Those who call Republicans Nazis and terrorists, and call Trump supporters “deplorables” who “didn’t like black people getting rights” are just as guilty of feeding this climate of hate as those who call journalists the “enemy of the people.”

If we are really concerned that the state of our political discourse is going to get someone killed, then maybe people on both sides should cut it out. I’ve been outspoken in my criticism of those on the right who engage in divisive rhetoric. It would be nice if voices on the left would do the same on their side.

Journalists are not “the enemy of the people,” and don’t deserve to be called such. But while they express understandable outrage over being labeled enemies, they should also be doing a better job of calling out Democrats who compare Republicans to our actual enemies. Because demonizing our fellow Americans is not wrong and dangerous only when Republicans are the ones doing the demonizing.

From NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 16, 2018 • Page 9

Page 10 • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

The Edmond Chamber, and other well wishers, greeted the Edmond Bulldog Youth Football Association with a ribbon cutting last week.

Youth football league readies for new season The Edmond Bulldog Youth Football Association (EBYFA) held a ribbon cutting with the Edmond Chamber last week to spread awareness about registration for their upcoming season.

EBYFA competes in the Indian Nation Football Conference (INFC), the largest youth football and cheerleading conference in Oklahoma. EBYFA competes at the highest level against teams from Jenks, Union, Bixby and other well-known football communities.

EBYFA is a not for profit organization that provides area youth with the opportunity to experience tackle football in a competitive and safe atmosphere. All coaches and assistant coaches are Heads Up certified through USA Football, which means they stay up to date on safe blocking and tackling fundamentals as well as safety and concussion protocols.

EBYFA teams have had success in previous seasons including the third grade Bulldogs (current fourth grade Bulldogs) finishing as a 2017 Dick’s Sport /INFC Championship Semifinalist. In addition, last year’s fourth grade Bulldogs (current fifth grade Bulldogs) finished as a 2017 Dick’s Sports/ INFC Championship Finalist.

They anticipate even more success in 2018.

The football games are played on Saturdays and practices are held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at St. Mary’s Episcopal School on Covell and Broadway.

For information regarding 2019 registration or donation and volunteer opportunities, contact Executive Director Kyle Rampey at 405-2741940 or email edmondyouthfootball@gmail.com or visit www.edmondyouthfootball.com.

Elks Lodge helps ‘Make Promises Happen’

Recently the Edmond Elks Lodge spent the evening setting up and running various fun table games for the campers at the Central Oklahoma Christian Camp in Guthrie. The Elks Lodge has been volunteering and donating to the ‘Make Promises Happen’ program at the camp for many years and this year, thanks to a Gratitude Grant from the Elks National Foundation, the Lodge donated $500 to the program. Above, John ‘Happy’ Griffin, camp organizer, right, accepts a $500 check from Gerald Hulsey, Lodge Exalted Ruler.

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 16, 2018 • Page 11

ROSE DREBES

FACEBOOK STARS IN METRO --- The stars of the ‘Ellen We Bought a Limo’ Facebook video series rolled into Oklahoma as they visit the 48 lower United States on a quest to appear on the ‘Ellen’ show. Along the way, they are blessing people with a special Go Fund Me account. They hosted a school supply drive for Wheeler Elementary at Wheeler Park.

Ballot From Page 8 Optometrists say the ballot language allows big box retailers such as Walmart to define the services their optometrists will be able to offer; consumer groups say approval would lead to more affordable eye care options.

SQ 794 would put “Marcy's Law” on the books in Oklahoma. The law would provide more services to crime victims, such as requiring authorities to notify victims of their rights and informing them when a perpetrator is released from custody. SQ 798 seeks to have the governor and lieutenant governor run on the same ticket.

The ballot also will include State Question 801, which would let school districts use property tax rev-

enue for operational costs such as teacher pay. Presently those funds are limited primarily to building improvements. The state's largest teachers' union objects to this proposed change and will fight it vigorously.

SQ 793 made it to the ballot following an initiative petition drive.

The other three questions were placed there by the Legislature because the proposed changes are constitutional in nature and thus require a vote of the people.

The result is more homework for Oklahoma voters in the months ahead.

From NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman

Please send local news to: news@edmondpaper.com

Page 12 • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

PHOTO PROVIDED

Oklahoma Christian University business and engineering students David Dickison, John Caldwell, Parker LaMascus, team sponsor Russ McGuire and Mark Ferringer receive the distinction of first place, Small Business division at the Love’s Entrepreneur Cup competition.

OC wins Love’s Entrepreneur Cup — again Two Oklahoma Christian University teams competed in i2E’s Love’s Entrepreneur Cup competition earning the top spot for small business, producing a scholarship finalist and impacting lives of ALS patients.

The win in the Small Business division establishes OC’s two-year win streak. The four-person team of business and engineering students developed a useful intellectual property licensing concept, produced a comprehensive business plan and presented to a panel of professional judges in competition with universities throughout the state of Oklahoma.

OC’s winning team included undergraduate accounting and finance junior, John Caldwell (Edmond), marketing junior and scholarship finalist, David Dickison (Tom Bean, Texas), mechanical engineering senior, Parker LaMascus (Edmond) and team leader, mechanical engineering senior, Mark Ferringer (Oklahoma City). OC’s Entrepreneur in Residence, Russell McGuire, served as the team’s

faculty advisor.

Competition rules state that teams can create a business plan for almost any type of product or service. OC’s team focused on creating a business plan around commercializing a technology developed at OC. Naming the winning business concept Impulse Drive, LLC, OC students pioneered a unique wind turbine technology that drastically increases the efficiency and power output of small wind generation. The technology makes wind power generation more affordable for individual homes and developing countries.

“The structure of our business was an obstacle for our team to overcome. Our business model as a licensing and intellectual property transfer company was very different from other businesses in the competition who created a product or service. Convincing the judges regarding our unusual organization was difficult,” said Caldwell.

The small business division competed for

$40,000 in cash prizes and scholarships beginning with an interview with a professional. Team members provided a one-page summary to the expert, discussed the business concept and asked questions.

Next, business plans were written, and judges selected eight teams to advance to the oral competition.

Presentations began with one team member making a 90-second pitch followed by a group, 20minute investor presentation judged on delivery, content and the ability to field tough questions. Finalists were chosen and the presentations repeated with a different panel of judges.

“The most rewarding aspect of the competition was all of the work that went into our product.

Learning from Russ and my teammates taught me what it means to be a Christian entrepreneur. This crystallized for me when the judges paused their

See OC, Page 14

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 16, 2018 • Page 13

Hundreds in downtown for ‘Pokémon Go’

BRADY TUCKER

Last weekend Citizens Bank was the site for the Edmond Gaming Group’s ‘Community Day.’ For three hours more than 200 registered players looked downtown to catch Pokémon ‘Eevee.’ More than $200 in raffle ticket prizes were also awarded.

APRIL BURGESS

Sullivan and Travis Gilbert were in the spirit of the day.

APRIL BURGESS

Dawn Graham shows off the backpack she won.

Before & after Left to right, Adelynn 8, Anderson, 6, with their dad James Hansen hunting Pokémon.

MELINDA INFANTE

APRIL BURGESS

One of the day’s winners was Olive O’Feery.

Page 14 • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

PHOTO PROVIDED

Oklahoma Christian University students David Dickison and John Caldwell get to meet two successful entrepreneurs, Judy and Tom Love, sponsors of the Love’s Entrepreneur Cup. The OC team of business and engineering students won first place in their division for the second year in a row.

OC

From Page 12 Q&A with us to energetically discuss our business amongst themselves. I realized we'd captured these judges' imaginations and really gotten them fired up, but it was only possible due to our hard work throughout the semester,” said LaMascus.

The Love’s Cup competition offered a rigorous opportunity for students to experience real-world, cross-departmental teamwork in business settings.

For OC’s team, it brought the aspect of production from engineering together with critical financial and marketing functions of business; important synergy according to McGuire.

“As a software engineer, I focused on writing beautiful code and designing graceful algorithms. When I launched a business, I had to expand my narrow speciality to include: customer service, finance, management, marketing, negotiating and communication. My role as Entrepreneur in Residence is to help create graduates with a broad base of disciplines, encourage teamwork and prepare them for whatever God calls them to do. These experiences will help them to be successful,” said McGuire.

Teams from 36 Oklahoma campuses compete in the Love’s Cup by conceptualizing an innovative business, researching its viability in the marketplace, writing a 20-page business plan and building a presentation.

“When I was asked to be a part of the Love's Cup team, I was a little nervous because I knew it would require weekly time commitment plus a big competition right before finals of my last semester at school. But, the experience was well worth the price. I learned about business planning, business management and interdisciplinary teamwork in concrete ways that would have taken me years in the workforce to learn, thanks to the expertise of my teammates and mentors,” said LaMascus Research for the wind technology developed by Impulse Drive team members happened in OC’s fluid/thermal lab using a subsonic wind tunnel.

Students can measure force and energy production at winds up to 120 miles per hour, and inject fog to see if an object is streamlined. The Impulse Drive team implemented impeller, or impulse, blades on wind turbines instead of the typical lift/drag blade design to generate energy beyond the Betz limit.

OC, one of the smaller universities participating, is new to the i2E entrepreneur competition that has a 14year history. In 2016, when OC first entered the competition, McGuire learned many teams present ideas generated as a part of their course work. But, the OC team creates a concept solely for the competition with a lot of added hours and demand on the students. Dean of the College of Business Administration Jeff Simmons believes it’s worth it.

“This competition gives students an opportunity to experience what it is like to work on a truly interdisciplinary team. In today's professional world, companies utilize cross-functional

teams to accomplish challenging tasks.

Often the the various backgrounds mean the team members have different skill sets, professional cultures and even language - due to discipline jargon. Students on the Love's Cup team gain valuable experience learning how to work with these challenges,” said Simmons.

OC brought home first place in the Small Business category in 2017 with their VisuALS concept; eye-tracking software that enables ALS patients to communicate. VisuALS launched as an entrepreneurial business marketing their concept and joining the ranks of 35-plus ideas that have received investor funding after the i2E competition. The software rushed to market in beta stage to fulfill the desperate need of a patient in Chickasha, Oklahoma, and now helps people across 15 states. Development for VisuALS has continued to increase features and functionality, helping individuals and families of stroke victims and other events that inhibit communication.

This year, OC entered a team, Hope Electronics, in the High Growth division presenting newly developed hardware with application for VisuALS and a far broader market. The hardware component improved function at a lower cost and lighter weight. The team making the business presentation included Rachel Greenlee (Bowie, Texas), David Burmeier (Kewanee, Illinois), Kevin McGuire (Overland Park, Kansas), Megan McKinley (Colorado Springs) and Jason Farber (Cheyenne, Oklahoma).

The fact that OC has won top honors two years in a row is no surprise to Steve Maher, chair of the Graduate School of Engineering. “This is a good competition for the university.

We can encourage students from all parts of campus to take ideas to market. We have a lot of great ideas that need a venue to take flight,” said Maher.

Students recognize the benefits of OC’s synergy. “Our campus had great organizational cooperation from legal, business and engineering along with the human and material resources to make it happen. I am grateful to have participated in the Business Boot Camp in years past. The knowledge and experience I gained in that arena applied very well to the competition,” said Caldwell.

OC approaches higher education from a liberal arts mindset with the objective of equipping students from all fields of study with a Christian worldview, problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, communication, selfdiscipline and teamwork. Impulse Drive team members credit OC’s liberal arts approach as the foundation for their success.

“By the time I was a sophomore, I knew the basics of my field, and I also knew the foundations of being an ethical, Christian professional due to the example of my professors and older peers. My teammates on Love's Cup were the same way, so we were able to start our business plan with professional expertise from the beginning,” said LaMascus.

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 16, 2018 • Page 15

Jason Statham and Li Bingbing prepare to do battle with a prehistoric shark known as a megalodon in the new cinema release ‘The Meg.’

PHOTO PROVIDED

‘The Meg’ a tad too goofy

By George Gust As the summer movie season winds down and the tent-pole blockbusters finish their theatrical runs, there’s room for one last gasp of summer fare.

Enter “The Meg” the over-the-top action focused take on the tried and true summer movie genre of shark movies. And while the advertisements would have you believe “The Meg” is “Jaws” meets “Jurassic Park” when in reality it’s more like “Deep Blue Sea” meets “Snakes on a Plane.”

After escaping an attack by what he claims was a 70-foot shark, Jonas Taylor (Jason Statham) must confront his fears when famous Chinese oceanographer Zhang (Winston Chao) recruits him, against the wishes of his daughter Suyin (Li Bingbing) to save those trapped in a sunken submersible.

As with any genre film the audience will inevitably come into the movie with certain expectations. In recent years theatrical shark movies have gone for a serious and thrilling tone (see “The Shallows” & “47 Meters Down”). However, “The Meg” aims to be an action B-movie send up to the shark thriller, full of cheeky asides and unbelievable action similar to the straight to DVD movies like “Sharknado” and the like. “The Meg” exists somewhere between a fun campy movie and a mindless Statham action flick, and results in an experience that only yields a few fun and over-thetop moments.

“The Meg” is at its best when Statham and Rainn Wilson are doing what they’re best known for. Statham bears most of the load in the film, snarling the cliché action lines in a graveled Eng-

Old West film series set to start Cowboy ethics and an unwritten Western creed have inspired the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s upcoming film series, The Code of the West – Western Movie Matinees, on Wednesdays from Aug. 29 to Sept. 19 at 1 p.m.

The Code of the West is the second in a series of four that discovers 20th century movies and how they teach the unspoken Western code in a unique and exciting way.

The series was created to bridge the gap between past generations to those who are eager to carry on and learn the traditions of those who came before them.

“A critical part of the Museum’s role is to keep the Code of the West alive and relevant,” said President and CEO Natalie Shirley. “Movies are a universal language and a fun way for all generations to connect with the values that built our great Western heritage. It is our honor to share these movies and values with our community!”

On Aug. 29, the featured movie is The Westerner (1940), followed by Wagon Master (1950) on Sept. 5, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) on Sept. 12, and 3:10 to Yuma (1957) on Sept.

19. Free popcorn is provided at each of the showings.

Admission is free on Wide Open Wednesdays courtesy of the Oklahoma Ford Dealers.

lish accent and mugging at the camera during every round with the massive CGI shark. And coming in with the comic relief is Wilson, who has fun playing a corporate billionaire who always believes he’s the smartest person in the room. Outside of these two standouts, the rest of the cast is pretty much relegated to playing out the silly (in all the wrong ways) plot with a straight face.

Overall, “The Meg” can be a satisfying movie going experience if you go into it with the right mindset. If you’re expecting a turn your brain off action movie with a huge shark, you’ll likely be satisfied. Even still, the sloppy editing and a multitude of sequences and storylines, which are hastily introduced and just as quickly dispatched, may make “The Meg” too goofy and unmotivated to enjoy. “The Meg” is a good enough movie to casually put on with friends, but isn’t necessarily the final must-see movie of the summer.

“The Meg” is rated PG-13 for action/peril, bloody images and some language.

Answers Page 23

2.2 out of 5 stars

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: THE 1930s ACROSS 1. Stopped from sleeping 6. Emergency responders 9. Much ado 13. Carl Jung's inner self 14. Old French coin 15. Approximately 16. Castrated bull 17. "Swan Lake" step 18. Relating to pond scum 19. *Great Depression state 21. *"The Maltese Falcon" author 23. *____ Row 24. ____-de-camp 25. Churchill's "so few" 28. *Subject of "Reefer Madness" 30. Herpes ____, a.k.a. shingles 35. Cain's victim 37. *Johnny Vander Meer and Ernie Lombardi 39. Go "Boo!" 40. Shower with affection 41. *Now demoted planet identified in 1930 43. Antioxidant-rich berry 44. Insect, post-metamorphosis 46. Slang for heroin 47. College cadet program 48. Elongated shape 50. Shining armor 52. Fifth note 53. One less traveled 55. Loudness knob 57. *First FIFA World Cup location 61. *FDR's brainchild 65.

Linoleums, for short 66. Hole-inone 68. Mr. Simpson to Marge 69. *Seabiscuit sound 70. QB exclamation 71. Imitating 72. *Johnny Hodges and Jimmy Dorsey played it 73. Group of

exercises 74. In the Queen of Hearts' oven?

DOWN 1. Yellowjacket 2. Cognizant of 3. Capital on the Dnieper 4. Mideast V.I.P. 5. Limited in scope 6. Sports award 7. Bygone bird 8. Uncooked seafood 9. *"The Mummy" or "City Lights" 10. Egg on 11. *Cab Calloway's improvised singing 12. *Gandhi's ____ March 15. Brooches with low relief carving 20. Pipsqueak 22. Wood-shaping tool 24. Cited as evidence 25. *Dominant mass media in the 1930s 26. Mushroom cloud maker 27. Prenatal 29. Snaky swimmers

31. Melee memento 32. Fiesta fare 33. One of the Muses 34. *Third ____ 36. Building block 38. Just for men 42. Nose of a missile 45. Military offensive 49. India's smallest state 51. Disinterested response 54. Nursemaids in India 56. Parkinson's disease drug 57. Arm bone 58. Cambodian currency 59. ____ of measurement 60. 1960s boots 61. Remaining after deductions 62. Another spelling for #4 Down 63. *"It Don't Mean a Thing (If It ____ Got That Swing)" 64. *Colbert showed them in "It Happened One Night" 67. Pool shark's weapon

See Answers Page 23

Edmond Life & Leisure LOCALLY Owned & LOCALLY Operated

Page 16 • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Guthrie Edmond Regional Airport receives aviation education grant Twenty-eight organizations, including Edmond’s regional airport, were last week awarded Aerospace and Aviation Education Program grants or contracts totaling more than $296,697 from the state’s Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC).

The record amount of funds will be used to expose more school-aged children in Oklahoma to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers, particularly those in aerospace and aviation. The funding was approved by the Commission at their most recent meeting.

The Commission approved an education grant for the Guthrie Edmond Regional Airport (GOK) Two-Day Summer Flight Camp to engage and inspire Oklahoma's next generation to become leaders in the aviation industry and in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

The program will include: Four Forces of Flight; Building Paper Airplanes & Styrogliders and learning parts of the airplane and what those parts do to control the aircraft; Building and Launching Rockets and how the four forces of flight effect the direction of flight on the airplane and rocket both.

Approximately 20 students will be served. The requested amount was $1,211.00 and the granted

amount was $1,211.00.

The program, which has been awarding aviation education grants for over 30 years, is part of the OAC mission to encourage and promote aviation throughout the state of Oklahoma. Director of Aeronautics Vic Bird said aerospace supports 240,000 jobs with an average salary of $73,300 annually.

“Last year, after a two-year study, we learned that the Aviation and Aerospace sector in Oklahoma supports $43.7 billion in annual statewide economic activity. A competent workforce, which includes our desperate need for aerospace engineers, will be needed to sustain this industry,” said Bird.

The nationally recognized program enjoys a positive reputation as one of the most robust aviation education programs among state aviation agencies. OAC has provided nearly $1.9 million in education funding within the last 10 years alone.

“OAC is proud to assist Guthrie Edmond Regional Airport as part of our aviation education grant program, and we look forward to seeing the progress they achieve with their students,” said Catherine Taber, aviation program manager and aviation education coordinator for the Commission.

Flight rally, Okie Derby, set Saturday The flying club, Oklahoma Chapter of 99s will hold its 40th Annual Okie Derby on Aug. 18 at Sundance Airport in Yukon.

The Okie Derby is a proficiency rally, open to all pilots of approximately 200 miles, flown under visual flight rule (VFR) conditions and conducted on a handicap system. Contestants choose their speed handicap in nautical miles per hour and estimate the fuel used to the nearest tenth of a gallon.

The Okie Derby is a fundraiser for “The Wings of the Future” scholarship.

The winner of the scholarship will receive $5,000 to use toward flight training. The scholarship recipient will be recognized at a banquet that evening. More information can be found at okiederby.com.

D-Dent benefit golf tourney assists vets & dental needs Win a car sponsored by Eskridge Lexus or a Rolex sponsored by BC Clark Jewelers with a “hole-in-one” at the 22nd annual D-DENT golf tournament in Edmond.

This is just one of many ways to win prizes and support veterans and

Local Briefs their dental needs.

D-DENT (Dentist for the Disabled and Elderly in Need of Treatment) is hosting its annual “Sgt. First Class Brandon Harris Golf Tournament.”

The tournament will benefit low-income uninsured veterans and will be held at River Oaks Golf Club at 10909 Clubhouse Road in Edmond on Aug. 20. The tournament will raise money in support of D-DENT’s Restorative Care Program. D-DENT is a non-profit that provides free comprehensive dental care to low-income uninsured veterans through a network of volunteer dentists.

Shirley Harris, D-DENT Executive Director stated, “People are often surprised that the Veterans Administration offers no dental care for veterans unless they have a 100 percent service-related disability.”

D-DENT often receives calls from veterans stating the VA has given them D-DENT’s phone number for dental care. Shotgun start begins at 9 a.m. You can register by calling DDENT at 405-424-8092 or at www.signmeup.com/ddentgolf.

PHOTO PROVIDED/Cody Adams / Healthcare Express

New Clinic Specialist Cody Adams diagnoses a teddy bear illness during a Teddy Bear Clinic. Healthcare Express hosts Teddy Bear Clinics to alleviate the fear of going to the doctor for young children.

Upcoming Teddy Bear Clinics will help explain healthcare to youth No one likes going to the doctor, but kids are especially afraid of the general malaise associated with a medical visit.

Healthcare Express is changing this belief with a Teddy Bear Clinic. Our stuffed animal specialist will be on site to diagnose, treat and educate parents and children on their teddy bear’s ailments. Little tikes will witness first hand that going to the doctor is not as scary as it may seem, and if their teddy bear can handle a couple of bandages they can too.

Each bear will be prescribed a heathy dose of candy pills that are sure to heal the direst illness.

Healthcare Express endeavors to educate patients of all ages on the

importance of healthy living and preventative care while also providing stellar customer service.

The Teddy Bear Clinic will be held Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon in Okie Kids Playground located at 321 W. 15th Street in Edmond.

More clinics will be held in the coming months after Healthcare Express opens its Edmond clinic Oct. 9 at 2300 E. 2nd St. All residents are invited to attend a ribbon cutting and VIP evening featuring free food, drinks and live music at the new clinic Oct. 8 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information email James Bright at james.bright@healthcareexpress.us or call 405-703-9321 ext.

4240.

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 16, 2018 • Page 17

PHOTOS PROVIDED

High school students build heart rate monitors during Boeing Engineering Days the University of Oklahoma. The event, hosted by the Gallogly College of Engineering at OU, spans four weeks in the summer and introduces young students to engineering through hands-on learning.

Summer program at OU

Engineering students prove they have heart

NORMAN – This summer, high school students from across Oklahoma and Texas traveled to the University of Oklahoma for Boeing Engineering Days, a summer program hosted by the Gallogly College of Engineering designed to whet the engineering appetites of high school juniors and seniors. Instead of sitting through a lecture or reading from a book, students were introduced to a variety of engineer disciplines by hearing from OU professors and current engineering students and participating in hands-on activities.

During the biomedical engineering session, participants built and tested heart monitors. They soldered components to a circuit board and then tested the monitors on themselves.

The most accurate monitors will be sent to Engineering World Health organization which will distribute the monitors to countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa for training in biomedical programs.

“It was really cool being able to understand how something worked not

only by reading about it, but by being a part of the process and creating it on your own,” said Preston Dean, who attends Edmond North High School. “Knowing that what we created was going to be used as a tool for others made it much more fun to make and be a part of.”

The program, sponsored by Boeing, crossed five weekends in June and July, and each session focused on a different engineering field. Students learned basic concepts and then applied what they learned to a project that demonstrates how that specific engineering is applied outside a textbook.

“These workshops were designed to show future engineers how they can use their skills to create, build and improve the world,” said Rachel Childers, assistant professor in the Stephenson School of Biomedical Engineering. “Engineering is more than just an equation, and we want students to see the direct results of their work, which can be something amazing and useful to others.”

Page 18 • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Bob and Charlotte Brackett

Couple marks 60th anniversary Bob and Charlotte Brackett are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary! They were married on Aug. 14, 1958 in Everett, Massachusetts where they are both from originally.

The Brackett’s have four children, 12 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.

They have lived in many different states throughout the years but they have called Edmond, The Bracketts in the 1950s Oklahoma their home for much of their travel and vacations reover 30 years. flect that.

Bob is retired and Charlotte works Both are extremely active in their as a Realtor. church and with friends, family and The Brackett’s are dependable peohobbies, as they always have been. ple who are amazing role models.

They are adamant about hosting They’ve been true examples of faith family get togethers, striving to get filled, God honored people and have all the family together as often as carried that through their marriage.

Their marriage has revolved around possible with big family cookouts.

Hospitality has always been present evangelism as they have strived to honor what God says over what peo- in their home.

The Brackett’s children invite all ple say. that know them to congratulate They are true patriots who share a them on this special, joyous occasion. passion for American history and

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 16, 2018 • Page 19

Many downtown merchants observing Senior Citizens Day Tuesday, Aug. 21 is National Senior Citizen's Day. On Aug. 19, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5847 declaring Aug. 21 as National Senior Citizens Day. This day was created as a day to support, honor and show appreciation to our seniors and to recognize their achievements. Many members of the Downtown Edmond Business Association (DEBA) will offer senior citizens a discount on this day. Those discounts include: Around the Corner - menu for senior citizens Broadway Antiques - refreshments and a giveaway Cinnamon Bears - refreshments & 20 percent off regular price merchandise for senior citizens.

Fashion Boutique - special discount for senior citizens The Gathered - refreshments and mention you're a senior citizen and

get 15 percent off Head Over Heels Boutique - 10 percent off full price shoes to 60 y/o and over Hello Love Salon and Boutique - 10 percent off retail products for senior citizens Mainstream Boutique - refreshments and 20 percent off entire store for senior citizens Maison Bleue will do 1/2 priced candles with any purchase over $25 for senior citizens LuLu and Lo's - 10 percent off entire store for senior citizens Rumors Salon - cookies and 20 percent off all hair care products for senior citizens Silver Leaf Gems - refreshments and 20 percent off all regular priced merchandise for senior citizens Sterling's Home Decor & Gifts - 20 percent off store wide (excludes Sid Dickens) for senior citizens

Prevent elder abuse

By Jim Killackey NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman As much as 10 percent of Oklahoma’s adults age 60 and older are victims of physical, psychological, sexual or verbal abuse.

Also, senior citizens are seriously neglected or victims of financial exploitation, according to a new report co-authored by Lance Robertson, assistant secretary for aging in the Trump administration. Robertson served as Oklahoma’s director of aging services from 2007 to 2017.

Now, elder-abuse costs in the United States are estimated to be $8.2 billion a year, according to Robertson and U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams.

“Elder abuse is a critical social, health and economic problem,” the report notes.

For example, scam artists cost older Americans an estimated $2.9 billion a year.

“In the most heartbreaking cases, it means the complete loss of savings earned through many decades of hard work,” the report states.

Abused or neglected seniors also have higher rates of hospitalization and institutionalization, at an estimated annual cost to the nation’s health care system of $5.3 billion, Robertson said.

Elder abuse, the federal report states, also is a critical public health issue because: Survivors report higher rates of depression; they often withdraw from social interactions; and many blame themselves, which results in shame and silence.

They are three times more likely to die prematurely.

Elder abuse overlaps with the opioid crisis. Medicine cabinets are theft targets. Addiction can drive family members to steal the life savings of vulnerable seniors to pay for drugs — and to become violent if denied.

Those who prey State Attorney General Mike Hunter said “those who would take advantage of the elderly engage in utter and complete moral depravity.

“There is no more important priority for me or my office than fighting these crimes.

“We focus on combating elder abuse by prosecuting individuals who take advantage of the elderly through a fraud or scam, getting restitution for those who become a victim and partnering with organizations like AARP to educate seniors and their families on how to avoid scams,” Hunter said.

Many elder abuses — including financial exploitation — are committed by greedy relatives, caregivers and friends, said Melissa Brooks, staff attorney for Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma.

That’s why exact numbers of Oklahoma’s abused senior citizens are difficult to obtain. They fear retaliation and retribution from any perpetrators, she said.

Many older adults also fear their family will believe that they are losing the capacity or ability to make decisions based on one incident of scamming or a fraud, Brooks added.

Fighting back State and federal officials stress these ways to fight financial senior abuse: If the senior hears about an offer or prize that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Never volunteer personal information over the telephone. Scammers want names, addresses, telephone numbers and birth dates. This personal information can allow scammers to possibly get the last four digits of a senior’s Social Security numbers and eventually rip them off.

If they are making a big purchase or investment, don’t let anyone rush them into a decision.

Seniors shouldn’t sign any document that they do not completely understand without checking with a lawyer or trusted family member.

Prevent isolation. Call or regularly visit older loved ones and ask how they are doing.

Provide respite breaks for caregivers Encourage bank managers to train tellers on how to detect elder financial abuse.

Request doctors to ask older patients about possible family violence in their lives.

Recognizing,stopping abuse These are among common “signals” of senior abuse: Bedsores, unexplained bruises, sudden changes in behavior, large bank withdrawals, and appearing frightened around particular individuals, health officials said.

A key measure to stop elder abuse in the state is House Bill 3064, a measure originally proposed by the Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature Alumni Association, then passed by state lawmakers and signed into law by the governor in mid-June.

The law creates Oklahoma’s first publicaccessible report regarding people convicted in a court of law for abusing, neglecting or exploiting an older Oklahoman.

The annual report is an official repository of information in an electronic form.

It will be administered and maintained by the state Attorney General’s Office and be available on or before Jan. 1, 2019, officials said. No telephone number or internet site is yet available.

Page 20 • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

What’s new at the Okla. State Fair The 2018 Oklahoma State Fair will feature an exciting lineup of new shows, exhibits, demonstrations and competitions! Don’t miss out on all the events that will ensure visitors to the 2018 Oklahoma State Fair experience old fashioned fun at our new fashioned fair.

The State Fair will be here from Sept. 13 to 23.

Pirate Magic of Rafael & Katia – Watch as these two talented pirates

pillage the audience for laughter with their exciting and hilarious magical comedy show on the Plaza Stage.

Puppies of Penzance – Fair fans won’t want to miss this wildly entertaining comedy dog show - the Puppies of Penzance! This show sets sail three times a day aboard a pup manned pirate ship on the Plaza Stage.

North American Trick Riding Championship – The North American

Trick Riding Championships are at the #OKStateFair this year on Wednesday, September 19! You'll be on the edge of your seat with these death-defying stunts and graceful acrobatics!

Stock Horse Versatility Competition – This competition will test stock horses in four different disciplines: pleasure, horse class, working cow horse and reining & trail. The competition will take place on Friday and Saturday, September 21 and 22.

SINGO / Trivia Night – Do you have a knack for identifying songs?

Are you a treasure trove of random facts? If so, you don't want to miss SINGO and Trivia Night! These events will take place in the Modern Living Building on Opening Night September 13!

Board Game Bonanza – The Oklahoma Board Game Community will host this gaming event in the Modern Living Building from noon to 10 p.m. on Friday, September 14. The event will include classic, modern and electronic games.

Cornhole on The PATIO – The OK Cornhole Association will provide two sets of cornhole boards for visitors to enjoy while listening to music and drinking beverages on The PATIO. The OK Cornhole Association will host a tournament for Fairgoers to compete in on the final Sunday of the Fair.

The One-Armed Bandit – Watch as Oklahoma horseman, Lynn Payne, performs an incredible act that has won the PRCA’s Specialty Act of the Year a whopping 10 times. This act has been described as a “must-see-tobelieve experience.” This show takes place in the Oklahoma Frontier Experience.

Jerry Thornton & Mr. Bojangles – Watch Jerry Thornton and Mr. BoJangles, a rescued black stallion from Hurricane Katrina, wave, dance, bow and walk around on two feet --- and that’s just the horse! This show takes place in the Oklahoma Frontier Experience.

Fiber to Fashion – Visit the Creative Arts Building on the final Sunday of the Fair to see the garment-making process from beginning to end with an all-day contest where teams of fiber experts start with raw wool and turn it into a wearable piece of clothing.

Metal Sculpting – In this timecrunching live contest, participants will have 45 minutes to create a masterpiece from scrap metal. This contest will take place in the Creative Arts Building on Thursday, September 20.

Pottery on the Wheel – Watch and learn how to create pottery with a live demonstration on this timeless technique. Beautiful pieces of pottery will be transformed before your eyes!

Leather Crafting – Visit the Creative Arts Building to test your hand at leather crafting! See how you can transform this raw material into something unique and beautiful!

Music with Larsen Music – Watch and learn as a professional from Larsen music provides Fairgoers with informative demonstrations, all to the tune of lively and beautiful music.

FILE PHOTO/MELINDA INFANTE

A portion of the JFK Exhibition, returning to the State Fair.

Book Signing by Gwendolyn Hooks – Meet and chat with children’s book author, Gwendolyn Hooks when she visits the Fair and makes a stop in the Creative Arts Building to interact with readers and fans.

In case you missed it last year…

Sky Eye Park – Fairgoers can enjoy a ride on North America’s largest traveling Ferris Wheel, delicious treats from local food truck vendors and carnival games all located in a central area, right beneath the Sky Eye Wheel.

JFK Exhibition – Take a step back to the time of John F. Kennedy’s presidency with a visit to the largest traveling exhibition of JFK artifacts. With hundreds of items, Fairgoers will have no shortage of historical information to take in at this exhibit – now in the Bennett Event Center.

Made in Oklahoma Store – Located in the Bennett Event Center, this store features hundreds of items from artisans across our beautiful state. Ice cream, preserves, home décor and clothing are just a few examples of the items shoppers can find in this corner of the Fair.

Oklahoma State Fair, Inc., is an official Adventure Road Travel Partner, which means we’re part of the best destinations you can find on I-35 between Oklahoma City and the Texas border. For more information, visit AdventureRoad.com.

Special event announcements and general updates for the 2018 Oklahoma State Fair will be released as information becomes available. Tickets to the 2018 Oklahoma State Fair, including Disney On Ice, PRCA Xtreme Bulls, outside gate admission tickets and carnival armbands,are on sale. To stay up-to-date on all the Fair fun, visit okstatefair.com, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. And don’t forget to share your Fair memories and stories with us using #OKStateFair and #NewFashionedFair.

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 16, 2018 • Page 21

Latest numbers show economic growth All signs point to ongoing expansion of the Oklahoma economy as July Gross Receipts to the Treasury of $1 billion and 12-month collections of $12.3 billion, both reached unprecedented high levels, State Treasurer Ken Miller announced today.

Miller said the July and 12-month numbers, which provide a general reflection of state economic activity, show growth of more than 10 percent each.

“Economic expansion is clearly driving the growth we see in Gross Receipts to the Treasury,” Miller said. “Continued improvement in state employment, notably in the oil fields, and positive numbers in other economic indicators are contin-

ued signs of ongoing growth.”

Increases are seen in each major revenue stream for both July and the past 12 months; employment is up by more than 32,000, including 5,200 news jobs in the oil patch, during the past year; and leading indicator indices show anticipated business expansion.

In July, income tax collections are up by 10 percent compared to July of last year, sales tax is up by almost 9 percent, and gross production is up by 64 percent.

For the 12-month period, income tax is up by 8.8 percent, sales tax by 11 percent, and gross production by 60 percent.

July indicators show stronger housing market this year The Edmond Board of Realtors (EBR) home sales statistics for July 2018 are now available online at http://www.edmondrealtors.com/sta ts . The statistics provided are published monthly by EBR based on MLSOK multiple listing service data.

The statistics are based on residential properties in the City of Edmond.

The total housing inventory at the end of July 2018 rose to 1,296 existing homes available for sale versus last year 1,224 homes.

Our market experienced upward momentum with the increase of median price this month. Prices increased to $247,000 versus the previous year at $242,000.

The median days on market decreased to 38 compared to last years 48.

The Edmond Board of Realtors was established in 1947 and currently represents over 900 Realtors members and 120 affiliate members serving the Edmond area.

New luxury jeweler at Spring Creek Kendra Scott will soon be the newest store in the Spring Creek Plaza as the company finishes work on its third store in Oklahoma.

“They are a hot retailer right now,” said Kent Ward, developer of the Spring Creek Plaza. “They will certainly bring a crowd.”

The store is expected to be open by early November, according to Ward.

Kendra Scott is a luxury jewelry retailer that prides itself on the use of vibrant colors and material in its jewelry.

Work continues on finishing up the 2,200-square-foot space along with

the company looking to fill multiple positions for the store.

After speaking with company officials and other tenants about the Tulsa location, Ward said having the store will also help other retailers with an added customer base.

The store will be located next door to White House Black Market and J. Jill at 1452 S Bryant Avenue.

The two other Oklahoma stores are in Classen Curve and in Tulsa at Utica Square.

From NewsOK.com/ The Oklahoman

Integris hires family medicine doctor evaluate their medical conIntegris Medical Group welcerns and develop a plan as a comes Craig Kupiec, M.D. to team that leads to a healthier Integris Family Care Edmond and more joyful life,” says KuEast. Kupiec is board eligible piec. “Whether a newborn in both family medicine and baby or a senior patient, I pediatrics. look forward to serving their He graduated from the needs with a balance of treatUniversity of Oklahoma Colment and preventive medilege of Medicine and comDr. Kupiec cine.” pleted his residency at the Kupiec joins Drs. Chris Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Hayes, Douglas Riddle, Justin Sparkes Residency Program at the University and Heather Wheeler at 4509 Inteof Oklahoma School of Community gris Parkway, Suite 200 in Edmond.

Medicine in Tulsa.

Kupiec will begin Aug. 27 and is ac“I’m committed to listening to my cepting new patients. To schedule an patients to find the health answers they deserve. I’m here to thoughtfully appointment, call 405-657-3650.

Leadership addition at arenas homa City from Vancouver, SMG, the worldwide leader British Columbia where he of public assembly facility most recently served as direcmanagement, announces the tor of live entertainment for addition of Michael Owens as Rogers Arena and the NHL's the new assistant general Vancouver Canucks. manager for the Chesapeake Under his leadership, the Energy Arena and Cox Conarena had consecutive recordvention Center, Oklahoma breaking years hosting the City.

Owens biggest names in music and Owens will oversee the sports, and was recently booking, ticketing and marranked as the 13th busiest arena in keting efforts for the complex.

North America for concert ticket “Michael is a highly respected prosales according to Pollstar. In addition fessional with a strong record of to booking top-selling artists, Owens booking achievements,” said Chris successfully negotiated and won bids Semrau, general manager, Chesapeake Energy Arena and Cox Conven- for major, globally-broadcast events including the 2018 JUNO Awards, tion Center. “We are thrilled to add the massive e-sports tournament someone with the strong booking The International DOTA2 team chamskill set and industry relationships pionship and the 2019 IIHF World which Michael possesses so we may Junior Hockey Championships. continue to create unforgettable guest experiences and secure high(Read this and other business artilevel events and artists.” cles online at www.edmondlifeanOwens makes his way to Okladleisure.com)

New revenue collections Revenue from tax increases that took effect on July 1, including hikes in cigarette, fuel and gross production taxes, will not begin flowing to the tax commission until next month and, therefore, have no impact on July’s report.

Other new revenue that resulted from legislative changes made in 2017, including sales tax on vehicles and gross production incentive rate changes, has generated approximately $340 million during the past 12 months, according to the tax commission. Total growth in gross receipts is more than $1.2 billion during the same time period, which

See Growth, Page 22

Page 22 • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Growth

From Page 21 means the new revenue accounts for slightly more than one-fourth of the increase.

Other indicators The Oklahoma Business Conditions Index has topped growth neutral for 12 consecutive months. The July index decreased slightly to 60.6, from 61.1 in June. Numbers above 50 indicate anticipated economic growth during the next three to six months.

Oklahoma’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.9 percent in June is down by one-tenth of a percentage point from May, according to figures released by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.

The U.S. jobless rate in June increased to 4 percent in June, up by two-tenths of a percentage point from the prior month.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Presenting the award to Patel was Sam Alamillo, right, OKC Market Manager for Expedia Group Lodging Partner Services. The award ceremony took place last week at the Ambassador Hotel in Oklahoma City.

Edmond hotel owner receives high honor Edmond hotelier, Mike Patel, was recognized on last week by Hotels.com of the acclaimed Expedia Group on-line reservation system.

Mike’s Stratford House Inn was named “Most Wanted Hotel” in the “Loved by Guests” category.

The competition was tough with an astonishing 3,400 properties across 91 countries being identified as truly outstanding.

Winning hotels had to receive a rating of 9.4 or above out of 10 to be categorized as one of the world’s “Most Wanted Hotel” properties.

Ratings were earned not by some corporate inspector but instead came strictly from personal guest reviews.

This award is based solely on guest

reviews on Hotels.com of this individual property.

It is truly the voice of the customers recognizing the awesome service they experienced during their stay at this Stratford House Inn. Cathy Williams-White, Director of the Edmond Convention & Visitors Bureau, said “We value the commitment of owner/operator Mike Patel and his family to the experience they provide Edmond visitors. The Stratford is a small property with a big heart when it comes to their guests.

The hotel is exceptionally well maintained and gives visitors a welcome they will long remember. This award is well deserved recognition for Mike Patel’s Stratford House Inn.”

July collections July gross collections total $1 billion, up $100.6 million, or 10.8 percent, from July 2017.

Gross income tax collections, a combination of individual and corporate income taxes, generated $300.7 million, an increase of $27.4 million, or 10 percent, from the previous July.

Individual income tax collections for the month are $283.8 million, up by $25.2 million, or 9.7 percent, from the prior year. Corporate collections are $16.9 million, an increase of $2.2 million, or 15 percent.

Sales tax collections, including remittances on behalf of cities and counties, total $420.5 million in July.

That is $34.1 million, or 8.8 percent, more than July 2017.

Gross production taxes on oil and natural gas generated $68.8 million in July, an increase of $26.9 million, or 64 percent, from last July. Compared to June reports, gross production collections are up by $704,356, or 1 percent.

Motor vehicle taxes produced $73 million, up by $5 million, or 7.4 percent, from the same month of 2017.

Other collections, consisting of about 60 different sources including use taxes, along with taxes on fuel, tobacco, and alcoholic beverages, produced $164.5 million during the

month. That is $7.2 million, or 4.6 percent, more than last July.

Twelve month collections Gross revenue totals $12.3 billion from the past 12 months. That is $1.2 billion, or 11.3 percent, more than collections from the previous 12 months.

Gross income taxes generated $4.3 billion for the period, reflecting an increase of $346.6 million, or 8.8 percent, from the prior 12 months.

Individual income tax collections total $3.8 billion, up by $277.3 million, or 7.8 percent, from the prior 12 months. Corporate collections are $473 million for the period, an increase of $69.3 million, or 17.2 percent, over the previous period.

Sales taxes for the 12 months generated $4.7 billion, an increase of $469.4million, or 11 percent, from the prior period.

Oil and gas gross production tax collections brought in $726.8 million during the 12 months, up by $272.7 million, or 60 percent, from the previous period.

Motor vehicle collections total $773.7 million for the period. This is an increase of $12.5 million, or 1.6 percent, from the trailing period.

Other sources generated $1.8 billion, up by $145.3 million, or 8.9 percent, from the previous year.

About Gross Receipts to the Treasury The Office of the State Treasurer has issued the monthly Gross Receipts to the Treasury report since March 2011 to provide a timely and broad view of the state’s macro economy.

It is released in conjunction with the General Revenue Fund allocation report from the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, which provides important information to state agencies for budgetary planning purposes.

The General Revenue Fund receives less than half of the state’s gross receipts with the remainder paid in rebates and refunds, remitted to cities and counties, and placed into off-thetop earmarks to other state funds.

Five tips on stock market investing Have you always wondered about investing in the stock market but were hesitant to give it a try?

Or maybe you’ve only recently accumulated enough extra money to start considering investing.

In either case, there are a few steps to take as you begin to navigate the market. The Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants offers five tips to help you get started.

The stock market can be a good investment, but there are clearly many things to consider before taking the plunge.

A CPA can help.

Understand the basics. When you buy a share of a company’s stock, you’re getting a small part of the ownership of that company. The price of the share is based on a variety of factors that reflect the market’s perceived value of the company based on numerous considerations, including its current earnings and future prospects. Variations in the price of a stock can also be driven by fluctuations in the economy, the industry of the company and the overall stock market.

Decide what to buy. Before buying a stock, you should investigate the company to decide if you think it’s a good investment. Among the many issues to consider are the overall strength of the industry and the company’s products or services.

Additionally, the company’s profits, earnings his-

tory and outlook should be considered. To get this information, you can turn to financial reports and online research.

Think long term. If you’re new to the game, it’s generally best to consider the stock market as a long-term investment. The stock market can be volatile, but if the value of your investment is increasing over time, the ups and downs along the way may not affect your long-term goals. It’s also a good idea to talk to your CPA about the tax implications of holding short-term vs. long-term investments.

Know the pitfalls. As part of your research, it’s important to consider the risk associated with the investment. Since the price of stocks can go up or down, there is a chance of losing some or all of

your money. That’s not the case with other investments, such as money market accounts and certificates of deposit, especially when interest rates are low. However, the return on those safer investments may be less than what you could earn in the stock market. Your CPA can help you determine the right amount of risk for you given your own financial situation and risk tolerance.

Address high-interest debts first. While investing can be an important part of smart financial planning, stock market investments shouldn’t take priority over paying your bills each month or lowering outstanding high-interest debt obligations, such as credit card balances. In addition, don’t invest using money you know you will need in the near future.

The stock market can be a good investment, but there are clearly many things to consider before taking the plunge. A CPA can help. If you don’t have one, get a free referral and free 30-minute consultation at www.FindYourCPA.com.

For more financial advice, like Know What Counts on Facebook, follow Know What Counts on Twitter or visit KnowWhatCounts.org, where you can sign up for a free e-newsletter, read financial columns and more.

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 16, 2018 • Page 23

Public invited to join Edmond Community Chorale Officials with the Edmond Community Chorale are inviting the public to join them for its 30th season. The non-profit choral group has a simple mission statement: “Choral art for the community.”

Since its debut in 1988, the group has collaborated with UCO choral groups, the UCO jazz band and orchestra, the Oklahoma City Community Orchestra, the UCO Wind Symphony, Santa Fe High School Chorus, the Edmond Children’s Chorus, Sequoyah Middle School Chorus, Jubilate Singers, Kyle Dillingham and Horseshoe Road and professional tap dancer Robert Reed.

The group has performed pieces from a variety of genres by composers such as Gilbert & Sullivan, Duke Ellington, J. S. Bach, Maurice Durufle’, Luigi Cherubini, Johannes Brahms, John Rutter, Morten Lauridsen, Samuel Barber, Lukas Foss, G. F. Han-

del, F. J. Haydn, Antonin Dvorak, Antonio Vivaldi, Gustav Holst, Francis Poulenc, W. A. Mozart, Carl Orff, Benjamin Britten, Leonard Bernstein, Felix Mendelssohn, Ludwig v. Beethoven, Franz Schubert, Giuseppi Verdi, Norman Dello Joio, Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, Carol Barnett and Rogers and Hammerstein.

It is not necessary for members to be able to read music, however, experience participating in a choral group is helpful, even if it has been a few years!

Rehearsals are on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. in room 135 in the music building at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. The first rehearsal of the season will be on Tuesday evening, Aug. 21.

We will be performing the Gloria by John Rutter

and selections from the Many Moods of Christmas in early December.

We do collect dues each semester, and UCO charges members a discounted fee for parking for anyone who wishes to park on-campus.

However, we do not want anyone to be excluded because of financial limitations, so a private conversation with one of the board members can allow us to insure no one is discouraged from joining. More information is available on the Edmond Community Chorale Facebook page and the website, www.edmondcommunitychorale.org.

If you will be joining us for the first time, we will be asking for contact information at the first few rehearsals. Please consider joining us to make new friends, make beautiful music, and share with the community.

Greg Slavonic is new assist. Navy Secretary Oklahoma City native Greg Slavonic was sworn in as assistant secretary of the Navy at the Pentagon last week.

About 50 family members and friends from Oklahoma City attended the swearing-in ceremony and other events in Washington last week.

Born in Great Bend, Kansas, Slavonic moved to Oklahoma at a young age and grew up in The Village and north Oklahoma City, near Penn Square.

Prior to being confirmed by the Senate, Slavonic was chief of staff for U.S. Sen. James Lankford, an Oklahoma City Republican.

From NewsOK.com

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 • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 16, 2018 • Page 1B

AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT OF EDMOND LIFE & LEISURE

Page 2B • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Santa Fe athletics under new leadership Sydney Varner Santa Fe Managing Print Editor Coach Rasmussen is taking over Santa Fe’s Athletic Director’s position.

Santa Fe’s athletics department is undertaking new leadership in 2018 as former assistant football coach Andrew Rasmussen is taking over the position of Athletic Director from former director Barry Blagowsky who retired on January 4th of this year.

Rasmussen has been working at Santa Fe as a football and powerlifting coach since 2000 but he first came to Santa Fe as a graduate assistant in 1996. He’s enjoyed coaching and was torn on his decision to leave his full time coaching position to become the athletic director.

“It was a hard decision to make; I was very comfortable being a football coach,” Rasmussen said. “But anytime you’re comfortable it’s not good so I tried to get out of my comfort zone.

This is something that has always intrigued me and the opportunity was there.”

Taking on this position means adopting a lot of responsibilities as the athletic director oversees all the coaches, players and sports programs at Santa Fe. Rasmussen has plans to expand and improve the athletics programs.

“I want to develop relationships with all sports because that’s where everything starts,” Rasmussen said. “I also want to start up an athletic Hall of Fame in the coming year as something that will build on and get bigger and better every year.”

Rasmussen has been coaching for 22 years and has had a lasting impact on Santa Fe’s athletics already. He coached the power lifting team to three state rings in the last three years and coached the football team to many victories opening the new stadium. As a result, many of Rasmussen’s athletes look up to his character and abilities as coach.

“He’s a traditional person with a lot of good core values,” senior powerlifter and football captain Amari Warhop said. “He believes in hard work so that’s what he wants; he wants everyone to work hard.”

Rasmussen has a history of being dedicated to athletics and Santa Fe athletes and administrators couldn’t see him fitting into any other position.

“He has been coaching and/or teaching at Santa Fe for more than 20 years and there is not another educator in our building who loves

Rasmussen Santa Fe more than him,” Santa Fe principal Jason Hayes said. “He knows what it means to be a teacher, a coach and a parent at Santa Fe.” Even though Rasmussen has more responsibilities to take on, he won’t be completely disconnected from football and the athletes.

“It’s going to be tough to not be coaching in that capacity, but the good thing is I’ll still be around it,” Rasmussen said. “I’ll still be around the guys, I’ll be their biggest fan and I’ll still be yelling and screaming at them to do their best.”

For more information, contact Sydney Varner at ruffdraftnews@gmail.com Editor’s note: This article originally ran in the ruffdraft January 29, 2018

Navigating tech choices for school use Technology is essential in the daily lives of students. Whether it’s kids learning their ABC’s or graduate students pursuing advanced degrees, technology has transformed the way lessons are taught and learned.

Statistics support the notion that technology in the classroom is irreplaceable. According to data from the tutoring resource PracTutor, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and various colleges, 98 percent of schools have one or more computers in the classroom. In addition, 77 percent of teachers use the internet for instruction, while 40 percent of teachers report students use computers during instructional time in the classroom.

Many instructors now assign homework that must be completed online. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development looked at computer usage among 15-year-olds across 31 nations and regions. Many students in high-performing nations reported spending between one and two hours a day on a computer outside of school.

Because computers are so necessary in and out of the classroom, families and students may want to revisit their options before buying new devices.

Desktop computer Desktop computers

used to be the go-to for families and students, and there are still many reasons why desktops make sense. In addition to their relatively inexpensive sticker price, desktop computers allow students to customize their packages according to their needs and get a powerful operating system in the process. New and advanced processing speeds also mean that many desktop computers can be relied on for educational purposes while also being fast enough to handle recreational gaming.

One of the main disadvantages of desktop computers is their lack of portability. Desktops are not easily moved, and if repairs are necessary, it can be a hassle to have them fixed.

Laptop computers Over the last decade, laptop computers have become more popular than desktop computers, largely because of their portability. Laptops are designed to be taken from place to place, so students can use them for note-taking in the classroom and then studying at home.

Although laptop processors have just about caught up to desktop processors, they may be lacking the processing pop unless consumers are willing to pay more for laptops with high

continued on Page 5B

How college students can cut living expenses

The cost of college tuition is a concern for many college-bound students and their families. The cost of a college education continues to rise, but it’s not just tuition and room and board that students and their families must account for.

College students may underestimate cost-of-living expenses when planning their school-year budgets.

But such expenses can be substantial, catching even the most well-prepared students off guard. Fortunately, there are several ways for college students to save money on living expenses and still make the most of their time on campus.

• Venture off campus. Towns that rely heavily on colleges or universities to support their economies typically offer great deals to students willing to venture off campus. Local businesses, including bars, restaurants and entertainment venues like mini golf facilities or bowling alleys, may offer student discounts to entice kids to leave campus. Students can take advantage of these offerings to save on food and entertainment, which tend to be among the more pricey cost-of-living expenses college students contend with.

• Buy secondhand furnishings.

College students living in their own apartments or dorm rooms may not have the financial resources to purchase new furniture. Rather than purchasing brand new items they are likely to discard after moving out or graduating, college students can purchase secondhand items from local thrift stores or used furniture

retailers that offer sturdy furnishings at low prices.

• Become a resident advisor. Resident advisors, often referred to as “R.A.’s,” typically receive free or reduced room and board in exchange for living in the dorms and monitoring the floors they live on. Competition to be an R.A. can be competitive, but students who become R.A.’s can save thousands of dollars on room and board costs over the course of their time at school.

• Make your own meals. Meal plans may be ideal for college students during their freshmen years, when students may still be adjusting to campus life. But older college students can skip the meal plan in favor of preparing their own meals.

Doing so can save students substantial amounts of money, and some students may even prefer the variety available at the local grocery store over the more limited offerings available at dining halls or other campus eateries.

• Move off campus. Some schools do not permit freshmen and sophomores to live off-campus, but older students may find that private housing is more affordable than on-campus apartments or dormitories. Students eligible to live in off-campus housing can contact local real estate agents to get a feel for the off-campus housing market before making a final decision.

Cost-of-living expenses at colleges and universities can be considerable, but savvy students can find various ways to save money. -MS

Strategies to improve teen driver safety

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 16, 2018 • Page 3B

be an added source of distraction inside of the vehicle and may goad drivers into behaviors they would otherwise avoid. Wait until you gain more experience behind the wheel before you start to hone your chauffeur skills.

• Stick to daytime driving. Driving at night can make it much more difficult for drivers to see their surroundings and recognize potential hazards. Within the first few months of earning their licenses, teenagers should drive only during the daytime and log plenty of practice hours driving at night accompanied by an adult until they feel more confident.

Teen drivers are at a higher risk of accidents than more experienced motorists. But certain strategies can help reduce that risk. -MS

LOCAL DRIVING SCHOOLS Young adults gain independence through a series of milestones throughout their youth. But few such milestones are more anxiously anticipated than the day when teenagers earn their drivers’ licenses.

Learning to drive and receiving a driver’s license makes for some exciting times for young drivers. Those first moments of freedom on the road open up many new possibilities for teenagers accustomed to relying on their parents to get them around town.

Although being a new driver is exciting, it also carries with it very real risk. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, taking the lives of six teens a day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Harvard Health Publications states that lack of experience behind the wheel is one factor behind high crash rates among teens, but other factors also may be in play. The prefrontal cortex, which contains the neural mechanisms of self-control, is one of the last parts of the brain to mature. As a result, teenagers are prone to taking risks, behaving impulsively and seeking sensation. These traits can be dangerous behind the wheel of a car.

Preventing teenage driving accidents requires some measure of dedication, awareness and education.

• Improve driving skills. A driver’s license does not mean drivers have learned all there is to know about driving. In fact, newly licensed drivers still have a lot to learn. Experience only comes with time and practice, and every day presents teen drivers with a new opportunity to expand their skills.

• Watch the speed limit. Speeding makes it more difficult to control a vehicle. Obey the speed limit, and recognize speed limits are suggestions during ideal driving conditions. When driving in inclement weather, reduce speed, even if that means driving below the speed limit.

• Reduce distractions. When driving, reduce distractions inside of the car.

This includes eating or talking on the phone while driving. It also means fiddling with the radio or checking social media. The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance —United States, 2015 states that 42 percent of high school students who drive report texting or emailing while driving. Texting while driving creates conditions similar to drinking or using drugs while behind the wheel.

• Avoid peer passengers. Teens should avoid having other teens or younger children as passengers in their first year as licensed drivers. Other kids can

Merkley’s Driving School (405) 348-6686 merkleys.com Tribble’s Driving School (405) 341-2984 tribblesdrivingschool.com Apex Driving School LLC (405) 748-6900 apexdrivingschoolllc.com Champion Driving Academy (405) 202-2279 championdrivingacademy.com Driver License Exam Station (405) 341-4930 28 E Main St. • Edmond

Page 4B • August 16, 2018 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Back to School Books For over 30 years, Best of Books has been Edmond’s go-to, family operated book store. From current best sellers to thrillers and romance, Best of Books carries it all.

They are also known for their section of children’s books, which the have in abundance. Here are some picks from the staff at Best of Books that are great reads for high school / college students. bestofbooksok.com

The Hate U Give

by Angie Thomas 8 starred reviews ∙ William C. Morris Award Winner ∙ National Book Award Longlist ∙ Printz Honor Book ∙ Coretta Scott King Honor Book ∙ #1 New York Times Bestseller!

“Absolutely riveting!” —Jason Reynolds Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

And don’t miss On the Come Up, Angie Thomas’s powerful follow-up to The Hate U Give.

Far From The Tree

by Robin Benway National Book Award Winner and New York Times Bestseller!

Perfect for fans of NBC’s “This Is Us,” Robin Benway’s beautiful interweaving story of three very different teenagers connected by blood explores the meaning of family in all its forms—how to find it, how to keep it, and how to love it.

Being the middle child has its ups and downs.

But for Grace, an only child who was adopted at birth, discovering that she is a middle child is a different ride altogether. After putting her own baby up for adoption, she goes looking for her biological family, including— Maya, her loudmouthed younger bio sister, who has a lot to say about their newfound family ties.

Having grown up the snarky brunette in a house full of chipper redheads, she’s quick to search for traces of herself among these not-quite-strangers. And when her adopted family’s long-buried problems begin to explode to the surface, Maya can’t help but wonder where exactly it is that she belongs.

Strange the Dreamer

by Laini Taylor An instant New York Times bestseller and Michael L. Printz honor book!

Eleven best of lists including an NPR Best Book, a Goodreads Best YA Fantasy and Science Fiction Nominee, and more!

From National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor comes an epic fantasy about a mythic lost city and its dark past.

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around--and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old, he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the form of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago?

Fall into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage.

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 16, 2018 • Page 5B

Finding balance with extracurricular activities Many high schools, colleges and universities emphasize their goals of producing well-rounded students. Extracurricular activities teach students important life lessons, provide them opportunities to socialize and often stimulate their minds and bodies in ways that differ from the stimulation provided in the classroom.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau states that, in 2014, 57 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 17 participate in at least one after-school extracurricular activity.

Children are more likely to participate in sports than clubs or lessons, such as music, dance and language, but each of these activities can be beneficial to students’ development.

Students who participate in extracurricular activities may want to limit their participation to 20 hours per week. This is according to a group of professors from Stanford University and Villanova University who have been collecting data on the issue since 2007. In their report “Extracurricular Activity in High-Performing School Contexts: Stress Buster, Booster or Buffer?”, Jerusha Conner and Sarah Miles found that 87 percent of kids who would be considered to have packed schedules were perfectly happy unless they were doing more than four hours a day.

The “over-scheduling hypothesis” may be overhyped. This is the concern that too much organized activity participation leads to poor

developmental outcomes. This hypothesis also suggests that hectic schedules also undermine family functioning, detract from schoolwork and possibly increase the risk of copycat behaviors and excessive competitiveness. However, in the study “The Over-Scheduling Hypothesis Revisited: Intensity of Organized Activity Participation During Adolescence and Young Adult Outcomes,” researchers J.L. Mahoney and Andrea Vest determined that, controlling for demographic factors and baseline adjustment, extracurricular intensity was a significant predictor of positive outcomes and unrelated to indicators of problematic adjustment (e.g., psychological distress, substance use, antisocial behavior) at young adulthood.

Even though extracurricular activities are largely positive — even when schedules are packed — parents need to be aware of the diminishing returns of too many activities. This is something called the “threshold effect.” Benefits from extracurriculars can level off when too many activities are being juggled. If a child is experiencing anxiety, sleeplessness or depression, or seems overly stressed, it could be time to reduce students’ time spent doing structured activities.

It’s essential that families use the cues given by kids to assess what students can handle. And children should be encouraged to be honest with their parents about their extracurricular activities as well. -MS

Navigating tech choices for school use

continued from Page 2B

performance. Another shortcoming of laptops is that they generally have smaller screens than desktop computers, which can make working on fine details more challenging.

Tablets Tablets offer the most in terms of portability. They’re lightweight and small and offer a wealth of access in a compact package. Today’s tablets offer much more than the first such devices to hit the market. Some can run apps and equivalent programs that were once exclusive to desktop and laptop computers. Tablets also tend to be less expensive than desk-

tops or laptops.

Where tablets may fall short is in the peripherals. It’s difficult to connect backup drives and other accessories to tablets. However, with advancements in cloud-based storage, this may not be an issue. Also, note-taking on virtual keyboards may be more challenging, and working on tablets’ small screens can be tiresome over time. Convertible tablet/laptops are now emerging to bridge these gaps.

Shopping for a new computer can be complicated, but basing purchases on need rather than want can help guide the process. -MS

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