Edmond Life and Leisure - October 26, 2023

October 26, 2023 Vol. 24, No. 23

In This Issue FOUR SEASONS

Happy Halloween

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

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

For more information, see page 4.

George Gust reviews “Killers of the Flower Moon” film See Page 14

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27 Partly Cloudy High 68° Low 50°

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28 Scattered Thunderstorms High 67° Low 58°

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29

Scattered Thunderstorms High 63° Low 37°

The spooky season is upon us and soon it will be Halloween on Tuesday Oct. 31.

While that is the official day, many other activities have already been held or will be held.

The Storybook Forest continues to be held at Arcadia Lake up until next Monday.

This Saturday it will be Trunk or Treat at Mitch Park from 5 to 9 p.m.

Tonight, Hallow Alley will be in downtown Edmond.

Areawide, there are other events — such as Frontier City’s Fright Fest. Many families also go out to Haunt the Zoo — at the Oklahoma

City Zoo. Whatever your pleasure is, please enjoy and be happy.

Halloween also marks the first of big holidays to enjoy. Next month it’s Thanksgiving — which will give way to Christmas and New Year’s.

And they’ll all be here before you know it.

Page 2 • October 26, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 26, 2023 • Page 3

Engagement, Wedding notices

Some good news about new teenage drivers Young drivers are nearly four times more likely to be involved in a fatal traffic crash than their older counterparts, but a new report released today by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) finds that the crash and fatality rates for drivers under 21 have improved drastically over the past two decades – more so than for other drivers. The report, Young Drivers and Traffic Fatalities: 20 Years of Progress on the Road to Zero, includes an analysis of Fatality Analysis Reporting System data for 2002-2021, identifies the policies and programs responsible for the gains in teen driver safety and makes recommendations for building upon that success.

Over the past two decades, fatal crashes involving a young driver fell 38%, while they increased nearly 8% for drivers 21 and older. At the same time, deaths of young drivers fell about 45%, compared to an 11% increase in fatalities for older drivers.

Young people are less likely to drive today than they were 20 years ago, but this accounts for only a small portion of the large decreases. Calculating fatal crashes per 10,000 licensed drivers shows the rate fell 34% for drivers under 21, compared to a 12% decrease for drivers 21 and older. The report also includes a state-by-state analysis that shows changes in the crash and fatality rates for young drivers vary substantially. Nationally, the young driver crash fatality rate improved in all but three states and the District of Columbia.

“Young drivers are the riskiest age group on the road, and the reasons are straightforward – immaturity and inexperience,” said GHSA Senior Director of External Engagement Pam Shadel Fischer, the report’s author and a national teen driver safety expert.

“The brain isn’t fully developed until the early to mid-twenties, particularly the prefrontal cortex, which controls risk assessment and decision-making.

Many young drivers simply don’t have the behind-the-wheel experience to recognize risk and take the appropriate corrective action to prevent a crash.”

“And this impacts the safety of everyone on the road, not just the teen behind the wheel,” she continued. “In 2021, 63% of the people killed in crashes involving a young driver were their passengers, occupants of other vehicles or pedestrians or bicyclists.”

Where Do We Go From Here?

Safer teen drivers make our roads safer for everyone around them – especially people walking, biking, scooting or using other forms of non-motorized transportation. The report discusses five proven policies and programs that research confirms the

teen driver safety gains can be attributed to. GHSA recommends building on these five countermeasures and proposes a sixth: Strengthen Graduated Driver License (GDL) laws. Every state has a GDL program, which phases in driving privileges for teens and imposes restrictions, such as banning nighttime driving or limiting the number of peers in the vehicle. GDL provisions apply to drivers 18 and up in only two states – Maryland and New Jersey.

More states should consider applying GDL provisions to 18- to 20-year-olds.

Bolster parent/guardian and other adult involvement. Parents and guardians play a key role in their child’s experience of learning to drive and should understand and enforce their state’s GDL provisions. The report recommends building a parent education element into state licensing requirements, among other changes.

Make driver training available to all.

Driver education and training should be available to everyone – regardless of race, income, gender, language, age or other characteristics. States should assess their driver education standards and ensure they are accessible and relatable to all, both culturally and financially. This is critical, as all young driver safety programs should be viewed through an equity lens.

Invest in impactful peer-to-peer education programs. Peer-to-peer education programs are an important way to reach young drivers, but they’re not all created equally and must be part of a broader effort. Effective youth programs should be teen-led, inclusive of all cultures, sustainable, positive and have measurable objectives.

Leverage driver assistance technology and apps. Technology advancements have made vehicles safer than they’ve ever been for drivers and passengers of all ages.

Features such as lane-departure warning, blind spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking can help prevent crashes involving young drivers, but both young drivers and their parents need to be familiar with how these features work and their limitations. There are also a range of invehicle and cell phone apps to either incentivize teens to drive safely or to help parents monitor their child’s driving.

Incorporate technology and driver responsibility into education. As vehicle technology continues to evolve, ensuring that our youngest and riskiest drivers understand it and use it correctly is critical. GHSA recommends that more information on vehicle safety features be incorporated into driver education programs, along with guidance on driving electric vehicles.

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

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

Payment is due upon submission by noon Thursday.

Page 4 • October 26, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Edmond Hero dies at 102 Lieutenant Colonel Oren Lee Peters, USARNG, Retd. of Edmond, Oklahoma passed on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at the age of 102 ½ surrounded by his family. He was born April 16, Ray Hibbard 1921, in Edmond, Oklahoma to parents Matt and Maude Peters.

Peters is truly a legend in this town. I first moved to Edmond in 1988 and his name is one of the first you got to know. Meeting him did not take long since he was active in all things Edmond. Of course, his military record could not be missed or taken for granted.

Oren Lee Peters started his volunteering early in life in his hometown of Edmond when he joined the Boy Scouts and took an oath to always help other people. At age 16, he joined the Oklahoma National Guard Headquarters Company 179th Infantry Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division. He volunteered for everything — the rifle team, drill team, working in the supply room after school and about anything that came up.

He had just started his junior year in high school in September when the National Guard was called to active duty for one year of training. Because it was to be only one year, his mother thought it would be good for him to have a year of military training and come back to finish school and have a little money in his pocket.

Then came Pearl Harbor in 1941 and he was in it for the duration.

Oren Lee still volunteered and being on the rifle team, he coached riflemen on the rifle range and anything else that looked like it would be fun.

After training at Ft. Sill, Camp Barkley, Texas; Louisiana Maneuvers, Ft. Devens, Miss; Pine Camp, NY; and New Port News, Va.; they headed for North Africa to join the famous Gen. George Patton. They made an amphibious landing at Gala Sicily. Oren Lee played a leadership role in the landing.

After serving in eight major campaigns, Sicily, Naples-Loggia, Anzio, Rome Anno, Southern France, Rhineland, Ardgannes-Alsace, Central Europe, and four amphibious landings, 511 days of combat in WWII, he was given a battlefield commission and returned home in 1945. He completed high school and received a life teaching certificate from Central

State Teachers College (now UCO).

Oren Lee coached football, basketball, and track at Edmond High School. He organized and coached the first junior high school basketball program in Edmond.

He became an assistant scoutmaster for one year and took over as scoutmaster of Troop 78 for 21 years. He served as District Line Commissioner, Commissioner, Camping Chairman, Advancement Chairman, Training Chairman, Organization and Extension Chairman. A member of the Council Executive Board, he became a member for Life in 2000. He served as Wood Badge Committee Chairman, and Council Commissioner for eight years.

He was president of the first College of Commissioner Science, served as Chairman of the Board of Regents from 1984-1989. He served on the South Central Region Training Committee for 31 years. He was Deputy Camp Chief for five Regional Wood Badge courses. He was Assistant Scoutmaster for the Region Nine World Jamboree Troop in Moisson, France and was a scout leader on the Region Staff for seven National Jamborees and was a voting member of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America for eight years.

“What scouting did for me, I am trying to repay,” he said. “I was involved in the scouting program for 74 years. Everybody should have the opportunities that I have had. Boys today should give scouting a chance.

You’ll get more out of it than you put in.”

Oren was married to the love of his life, Lucile Johnson Peters for 53 years and was preceded in death by his wife Lucile, parents; Matt and Maude, brothers; Art, Obert, ML, JW, sisters; Rosa, Betsy and grandson, Drew.

He is survived by his sister Patsy Miller, sons; Mike (Lisa), Pat, Shan (Jane) and daughter, Polly Goodier (Jeff), 9 grandchildren, 11 greatgrandchildren and many relatives and friends. This is a man who has inspired so many, but his legacy will continue to inspire many of us for years to come. He insisted on contributing back to his country and his local community.

You are invited to attend a Legacy Tribute Celebration Service on Friday, October 27 at Santa Fe Presbyterian Church, 1603 N Santa Fe Ave, Edmond, OK 73003. The family will be there from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. to share stories and celebrate Oren Lee's life. All are welcome to come-

and-go. A legacy service, including Military and Masonic honors, will begin at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to any youth serving organization or one you might have served with Oren Lee. St. Elijah Orthodox Christian Church Set to Host Its Annual Mediterranean Food Festival St. Elijah Orthodox Christian Church is hosting its annual Food Festival celebrating Mediterranean food, culture and church history on Friday, November 10, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday, November 11, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. St. Elijah is located at 15000 North May Avenue in Oklahoma City.

To be transparent, this is the church I attend. Please do not let the fact that they let me be a member dissuade you from enjoying such a great festival. The truth is I am cradle to grave Orthodox Christian so to be fair they really did not know how I was going to turn out.

St. Elijah will again offer its ever popular a la carte menu in both dinein and carryout and will feature Middle Eastern selections such as Ruz and Yahknee (Lebanese Rice Pilaf with Green Bean and Sirloin topping), Cabbage Rolls, Kafta Sandwiches, Chicken Sandwiches, Talami (Homemade Lebanese Bread), Salata (Lebanese Salad), Hummus (Garbanzo Bean Dip), Tabouli, Baklawa and Ruz Bi Haleeb (Rice Pudding), a sweet you are certain to enjoy, and so much more. Due to its popularity, we will again offer our Sampler Plate.

It’s a great way to try out our favorites. All are available in both dinein or carryout.

“We look forward to opening our Church home and sharing a part of our rich history with our friends and neighbors in Oklahoma City,” said Malek Massad, Co-Chair of the event. Our Parishioners are looking forward to this event and have already started preparing with anticipation of our faithful guests joining us once again. We are blessed that people come from near and far to attend this event and we won’t disappoint!”

In addition to the hot and ready food guests can dine on while at the festival, St. Elijah also offers The Culinary Cupboard which features some of the finest pastries, breads, cookies, cakes, pies and ethnic foods from around the world, made by the parishioners of St. Elijah. Guests can also find fresh-made refrigerated and frozen items to enjoy for long after the festival ends.

Beyond the delicious Mediterranean cuisine, guests are also invited to the Cultural Committee’s Hospitality Room to learn about the diverse cultural history of St. Elijah and its parishioners representing such countries as Lebanon, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Armenia, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Ethiopia, Greece, and Russia.

St. Elijah also proudly welcomes guests to learn about their ancient Faith, history, church architecture and beautiful icons during guided tours of the Church Sanctuary given throughout each day.

For more information about the St. Elijah Annual Food Festival, please visit Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StElijahAnnualFoodFestival/. For more information about St. Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, please visit www.stelijahokc.com (Ray Hibbard may be reached at ray@edmondpaper.com)

Bruce and Tina Harroz cut the ribbon to their new Crest Foods in Edmond last week. The store is located at the northwest corner of Sooner and Covell. It makes for the 10th Crest store and is considered a top of the line concept for the family owned business.

PHOTO/RAY HIBBARD

Check out what’s inside!

---- Weekend Calendar ............................................................Pages 6 & 7.

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

---- Smag discusses barley ..............................................................Page 8.

---- Not all news bad, columnist says..............................................Page 10.

---- A huge football win for UCO ..........................................Page 12 &13.

---- George Gust reviews “Killers of the Flower Moon” ..................Page 14.

---- Crosswords ..............................................................................Page 14.

---- Business ..................................................................................Page 17.

---- Comics ....................................................................................Page 18.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photographer Melinda Infante

Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2023 by Edmond Media Publishing 107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax) Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083 All rights reserved.

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

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 26, 2023 • Page 5

Vincent named to chair post The University of Central Oklahoma College of Education and Professional Studies recently appointed Daniel Vincent, Ph.D., professor and chairperson of the Department of CurVincent riculum and Instruction, as the LeRoy G. Coffman Endowed Chair in Education.

The LeRoy G. Coffman Endowed Chair in Education is a distinction given to a department chairperson who serves in the Educator Preparation Program (EPP), a pathway for students studying education that move on to become educators. Vincent will now serve as the director of the EPP Pipeline Initiatives—ensuring Central’s teacher education services are meeting the needs of the community and for future educators. Additionally, Vincent will oversee fundraising for the program.

“Dr. Vincent has more than two decades of experience in education, in-

cluding teaching in K-12, as well as teaching at the university,” said Bryan Duke, Ph.D., dean of the UCO College of Education and Professional Studies.

“His expertise in understanding how to develop teacher talent and how to transform our students to confidently being the teacher at the front of the room is tremendous.”

Vincent has been at Central since 2006, and was a professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction before his current designation.

He also served as the program coordinator for the elementary education program and assistant department chairperson. Vincent works closely with multiple teacher education pathways, including the undergraduate comprehensive pathway, UCO’s Teacher Path (TP) and UCO’s Paraprofessional Residency to Educator Pathway (PREP). He is currently working on UCO’s Accelerated Cohorts for Teaching Success (ACTS) grant as a further commitment to education.

Recalling Oren Lee Peters Oren Lee Peters leaves a legacy to friends, a loving family, and a grateful community.

In April of 2021, surrounded by friends and family at his 100th birthday celebration, Oren Lee Peters spoke to all who had gathered to commemorate a remarkable century.

He told of a specific moment in Italy during the 2nd World War when it looked like death might be imminent and he made peace with the short life he’d lived to that point. He told God that, if it were time, he was ready. But, if God had something left for him to do, Oren Lee would dedicate his life to doing it.

On October 14th, Oren Lee finally completed every last thing God set out for him (and then some) and passed on to rejoin his wife Lucile after seventeen years apart.

Surrounded by loved ones, Oren transitioned into the next life just as he did everything in this one: with a sense of gleeful determination and an absolute certainty of purpose.

No one will be happier to strap on a backpack and step once more into the great unknown.

A biography of Oren Lee’s life reads like a civics book about the history of Edmond, Oklahoma, and the United States over the past century. Born into a world where electricity and automobiles were novelties, Oren more than lived through many moments—he helped to create them. He navigated life with a Forest Gumpian ability to see and experience more of the world than should be possible in one lifetime.

Grandpa’s military service was the stuff of legends. Truly deserving of being a member of The Greatest Generation, he dedicated years of his life to protecting the freedoms and rights of his family as well as those abroad. His combat citations, lifelong involvement in veterans organizations, and the extensive network of friends he developed from his time in the military all show just how important a role it played in his life in addition to how impactful he was on it, just as with every organization that he joined.

Upon returning from combat in World War II, Oren Lee returned to Edmond, where he embarked on an extremely long, illustrious lifetime of firsts, beginning with being the first coach in Edmond history… as a high

school senior. Much of Oren Lee’s life proceeded that way, where he found himself neck-deep in myriad organizations, clubs, social circles, and civic efforts. The hurricane might constantly change, but Oren Lee was constantly in the middle of it.

An attempt to catalog all of the groups Oren Lee gifted his time, expertise, smile, and money to would fill pages of text and would still come up woefully short to describe the impact that he had on those around him. He did it all, and he did it the right way. Multiple different groups received from him the type of support and dedication usually reserved only for the most diehard contributors. For Oren Lee, that was his baseline. He was a fanatical joiner, a social maven, a man who had such an appetite for adventure and experience that it took him a full 102 years to exit the buffet of life.

Through his roles in Boy Scouts, his church, his volunteering, and the dozens of other clubs he was a part of, Oren Lee directly impacted the lives of thousands of others. Perhaps nowhere has his impact been felt more, however, than in the family legacy he leaves behind to four children, nine grandchildren and eleven great- grandchildren.

Oren Lee was a titan in his own way, a true patriarch in every sense of the word. The entire family looked up to Oren Lee, cared for him, and respected him. He was an example of how to live life the right way, and we all knew that. He was easy to admire even as he was difficult to emulate.

Joy, self-sacrifice, and a bit of good-hearted gruffness isn’t a common combination, but it’s precisely the legacy that Oren Lee Peters leaves behind to many friends, a loving family, and a grateful community. Everything he did was centered around wringing out every last droplet of life from the limited time we have on Earth. Whether during the decades of unceasing involvement and his own lifetime of adventures or in the burdens he took on so others could be free and happy, Oren Lee lived as full a life as one can. He embodies a generation and a community and we will always love him and miss him.

You are invited to attend a Legacy Tribute on Friday, October 27 at Santa Fe Presbyterian Church in Edmond. The family will be there from 3:00 to 6:00 to share stories and celebrate Oren Lee’s life. All are welcome to come and go. A legacy service, including Military and Masonic honors, will begin at 4:00.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to any youth serving organization or one you might have served with Oren Lee.

Page 6 • October 26, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

(Editor’s Note: The following arrest reports are provided by the Edmond Police Department. Guilt or innocence is determined in a court of law.

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

Nefertiti McClung, 29 of Edmond. No proof of insurance, expired tag over three months and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Keith Dwayne Tubbs, Jr., 46 of Oklahoma City.

Four felony warrants.

Oct. 9 Jason Leroy Lawrence, 46 of Edmond. Two felony warrants, carrying harmful weapon and misdemeanor warrant.

Anthony Todd Catania, 57 of Edmond. Failure to appear.

Bryan McCaelan Ward, 31 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Allen Jamieson Jones, 40 of Oklahoma City.

Four misdemeanor warrants and four felony warrants.

Calob Connor McElroy, 19 of Edmond. No proof of insurance, possession of marijauna and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Abigail Ann McElroy, 19 of Edmond. No proof of insurance, possession of marijuana and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Oct. 12 Mitchell Ryan Hammond, 26 of Oklahoma City.

Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Kyle Loyd Beaty. 34 of Savoy, Texas. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Cindy Phuong Tran-Nguyen, 50 of Piedmont.

Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked and speeding/School Zone (16-20 mph over).

Oct. 10 Bradley Daniel Hearn, 27 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant, public intoxication, assault & battery and vandalism.

Jeremiah Martin Leifheit, 45 of Edmond. Domestic abuse with prior pattern of physical abuse and public intoxication.

Ronald Joel Hidalgo-Bolivar, 23 of Edmond.

Three counts of failure to appear.

Oct. 11 Jacob Calvin Smith, 35, homeless. Public intoxication.

Carey James Kendall, 20 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant.

Oct. 13 Justin Aaron Curry, 27 of Fort Smith, Ark. Proceeds derived from illegal drug activity, possess with intent to distribute, use firearm while committing a felony and failure to appear.

Omarion Jakwan Martin, 18 of Baton Rouge, La. Obstruction of police officer, proceeds derived from illegal drug activity and possess with intent to distribute CDS. Tyler Michael Arnett, 25 of Oklahoma City.

Driving while license canceled, suspended or revoked and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Taylore Jaymes Deming, 25 of Norman. Speeding (15 mph over), operating a motor vehicle with no valid driver’s license and no proof of insurance.

Max Deryl Colvin III, 31 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Dewon Deshon Roberson, 20 of Oklahoma City. False representation to an officer and shoplifting.

Alaeshia Renne Wade, 21 of Oklahoma City.

Shoplifting.

Dezmon Dontez Parker, 28 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Hector David Triana, 40 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Darphus Murray, 57 of Edmond. Possess drug paraphernalia and possess CDS. Ralph Dwayne Shipley, 65 of Edmond. Possess drug paraphernalia, two counts of possessing CDS and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of anything other than alcohol.

Oct. 14 Conner Joseph Wyatt, 20 of Flower Mound, Texas. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Desmond A. Smith, 26 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Jose Eskusvel, 31 of Dallas, Texas. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .15 or more.

Diego Ivan Ramos-Diaz, 39 of Oklahoma City.

Misdemeanor warrant, speeding (15 mph over), no proof of insurance and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Eleuterio Chay Quiej, 23 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant, expired tag 1 to 3 months, no proof of insurance and driving while privilege is canceled suspended, denied or revoked.

Oct. 15 Tejhae Davon Moses, 28 of Edmond. (Misdemeanor 1st off) domestic abuse assault (in the presence of a minor child) and domestic abuse assault (strangulation).

Kelley Lashawn Granger, 48 of Oklahoma City.

Non-assault resisting officer and shoplifting.

Trey Michael Solomon, 18 of Edmond. Under 21 — operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under influence of alcohol or other intoxicating substance.

Weekend Calendar of Events, October 26-30 Weekend Calendar of Events Oct 26 ---- 30 ---- In the Gallery ---- Unveiled: Edmond’s Bridal Fashion 1875 ---2020 ---- Beginners Pickleball Club ---- Farmer’s Market ---- Guthrie Haunts ---- Board Game Day at Frenzy ---- World Cup Team Roping Finals ---- Storybook Forest ---- Edmond Historical Ghost Tours ---- Dam Zombies Endurance Race ---- October at Frenzy ---- Hallow Alley ---- Trick-or-Treat at The Icehouse Project ---- Trunk or Treat ---- $2k Cookie Contest ---- Rodney Carrington ---- Traditional Cowboy Arts Association Exhibition & Sale ---- Wild Weather Camp ---- HalloWest ---- Homeschool Day ---- Signature Tour ---- The Sanctuary Escape ---- Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch ---- Fright Fest ---- Fall Festival At the Orr Family Farm ---- Wicked Forest of Terror ---- OKC Ghost Tour ---- Haunt the Zoo ---- Haunt the Zoo All Grown Up ---- History & Haunts at the Overholser ---- Oklahoma River Cruises’ Haunt the River ---- Goosebumps the Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium ---- Scary Tale Park ---- Tase of Western ---- UCO Department of Dance presents: Kaleidocsope Dance Company ---- American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show ---- Guthrie Ghost Walk ---- Oklahoma Mineral & Gem Show ---- Oklahoma City Ballet presents: Hamlet ---- Ghost Stories in the Park ---- Spooky Pooch Parade ---- Halloween Train ---- Festival of Freaks ---- Guided Gardens Tour Extra Information In the Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Featuring Shelly Presley; free; Gallery is open Mon – Thu ; 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; edmondfinearts.com

Unveiled: Edmond’s Bridal Fashion 1875 – 2020 Location: Edmond History Museum Extra Info: Sat, Jul 1 – Sun, Dec 31; visitedmondok.com Beginners Pickleball Club Location: Kickingbird Pickleball Center Extra Info: Sat, May 6 – Sat, Dec 30; 8 – 10:30 a.m.; Free; edmondok.com Farmer’s Market Location: Festival Market Place and Farmers Market Extra Info: Sat, Apr 15 – Sat, Oct 28; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; edmondok.gov

Location: Downtown Edmond Extra Info: Thu, Oct 26; 5 – 7 p.m.; Free; downtownedmondok.com Trick-or-Treat at The Icehouse Project Location: The Icehouse Project Extra Info: Thu, Oct 26; 5 – 8 p.m.; Free; facebook.com Trunk or Treat Location: Mitch Park Extra Info: Sat, Oct 28; 5 – 9 p.m.; Free; facebook.com $2k Cookie Contest Location: Twisted Tree Baking Company Extra Info: Sun, Oct 29; 4 – 6 p.m.; $25; twistedtreebakingcompany.com

Guthrie Haunts Location: 4524 Riverside Circle, Guthrie, OK Extra Info: Fri, Sep 29 – Sat, Nov 4; Fri: 7 – 11 p.m.; Sat: 7 – 11 p.m.; Halloween Night: 7 – 11 p.m.; guthriescaregrounds.com

Rodney Carrington Location: Riverwind Casino, Showplace Theatre Extra Info: Fri, Oct 27; 7 p.m.; riverwind.com

Board Game Day at Frenzy Location: Frenzy Brewing Company Extra Info: Sat, Oct 26; Free; 6 ---- 10 p.m.; facebook.com

Traditional Cowboy Arts Association Exhibition & Sale Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sun, Oct 6 – Tue, Jan 2, 2024; nationalcowboymuseum.org

World Cup Team Roping Finals Location: Lazy E Arena Extra Info: Fri, Oct 20 – Sat, Oct 28; lazye.com Storybook Forest Location: Arcadia Lake Extra Info: Mon, Oct 23 – Mon, Oct 30; Child: $12; Adult: $5; 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.; storybookforestok.com Edmond Historical Ghost Tours Location: 1889 Territorial Schoolhouse Extra Info: Sat, Oct 28; 7 – 9 p.m.; $10; edmondhistoricaltrust.com Dam Zombies Endurance Race Location: Arcadia Lake Extra Info: Sun, Oct 29; 9 a.m.; $40; runsignup.com October at Frenzy Location: Frenzy Brewing Company Extra Info: Fri, Oct 27: Blake Bricker @ 8 p.m.; Sat, Oct 28: Chris Clark @ 7:30 p.m.; Tue, Oct 31; Spooktacular Halloween Karaoke Night @ 7 p.m.; frenzybrewing.com Hallow Alley

Wild Weather Camp Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Thu, Oct 26; 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org HalloWest Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Thu, Oct 26; 5:30 – 8 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Homeschool Day Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Fri, Oct 27; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Signature Tour Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sat, Oct 28 -Sun, Oct 29; 1 – 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org The Sanctuary Escape

See Calendar, Page 7

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 26, 2023 • Page 7

Choosing wisely — when it comes to Medicare plans

By Dr. Giri Chilukuri, Vice President of Health Services for Oklahoma, Humana As a physician, the last thing I want is for a patient to make decisions about their health and well-being based on the cost of care and medication rather than their actual care needs.

Right now is a critical time for the over 780,000 individuals in Oklahoma who rely on Medicare for their health insurance. Evaluating your own health care needs can help you select a plan that will cover you when you need it the most and fit within your budget.

While it’s impossible to foresee all health issues that may require treatment, there are several things to consider during the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Annual Election Period (AEP), happening Oct. 15 through Dec. 7: Future Health Risks: In addition to making sure your plan covers your current health needs, speak to your doctor about health risks that may require additional treatment. For instance, if you have prediabetes, consider the potential for future diabetes management.

Prescription Drug Benefits: Prescription drug coverage is included in many

Medicare Advantage plans, unlike Original Medicare. If you prefer Original Medicare, you can opt for a standalone Prescription Drug Plan through a private insurer.

Prepare a list of your current medications to compare costs while choosing plans.

Doctors and Hospitals: If you have a favorite doctor, ensure they accept your plan to avoid any additional expenses for out-of-network providers.

Also understand if the plan requires referrals for specialized care.

Other Benefits: Consider additional benefits that can positively impact your health and well-being. Medicare Advantage plans may include dental, vision and hearing coverage; fitness programs; transportation to doctor visits; and even allowances that help eligible beneficiaries pay for healthy food and other essentials, like rent and utilities.

Costs: Different plans have different costs, so understand the full picture when comparing plans in your area.

Look at monthly premiums, deductibles and co-pays for hospital stays and doctor visits. Also, pay attention to annual maximum out-of-pocket costs – if you reach the limit, you will pay

Music of Carpenters to be featured OCCC's Performing Arts Series presents "Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters" for one show only on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. in the Visual and Performing Arts Center theater on the OCCC campus.

Considered one of the best vocalists of all time, Karen Carpenter captured the attention of a generation with the surprisingly deep material of

her unabashedly catchy pop music.

Singer and playwright Lisa Rock has compiled a moving tribute to the music and life of Carpenter, and brings it to the stage with her sixpiece backing band.

Tickets to this event can be purchased online at tickets.occc.edu or by calling the OCCC Box Office at 405.682.7579.

Calendar From Page 6 Location: OKC Outlet Mall Extra Info: Now thru Tue, Oct 31; 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.; thesanctuaryescape.com Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch Location: 720 S Henney Rd, Arcadia, OK Extra Info: Fri, Sep 15 – Sun, Nov 5; Wed – Fri: 1 p.m. – dark; Sat: 10 a.m. – dark; Sun: 12 p.m. – dark; parkhurstranch.com Fright Fest Location: Frontier City Extra Info: Sat, Sep 23 – Sun, Oct 29; Thu & Fri: 6 – 11 p.m.; Sat: 12 – 11 p.m.; Sun: 12 -10 p.m.; sixflags.com Fall Festival At the Orr Family Farm Location: Orr Family Farm Extra Info: Sat, Sep 23 – Sat, Nov 11; orrfamilyfarm.com Wicked Forest of Terror Location: 9420 W 1-40 Service Rd, OKC Extra Info: Sat, Sep 30 – Mon, Oct 30; Box office: 7 – 11 p.m.; Wicked Forest of Terror: dark – close; wickedforestofterror.com OKC Ghost Tour Location: 101 E Sheridan Ave, OKC Extra Info: Thu, Oct 5 – Sat, Nov 4; Oct 5: 7 p.m.; Oct 6 & 14: 10 p.m.; Oct 21: 6:30 & 8:30 p.m.; Oct 26: 7 p.m.; Nov 4: 7 p.m.; eventbrite.com Haunt the Zoo Location: Oklahoma City Zoo Extra Info: Sat, Oct 7 – Sun, Oct 29; Sat & Sun: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; okczoo.org Haunt the Zoo All Grown Up Location: Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden Extra Info: Fri, Oct 27; 7 – 11 p.m.; okczoo.org History & Haunts at the Overholser Location: Overholser Mansion Extra Info: Sat, Oct 7 – Sun, Oct 29; Tours: Oct 7th, 14th, 27th, 28th & 29th; 6 p.m.; overholsermansion.org Oklahoma River Cruises’ Haunt the River Location: Oklahoma River Cruises Extra Info: Fri, Oct 13 – Sat, Oct 28; Fri & Sat; okrivercruises.com Goosebumps the Musical: Phantom of the Auditorium Location: UCO Jazz Lab Extra Info: Thu, Oct 26 – Sat, Oct 28; 7:30 p.m.; uco.edu Scary Tale Park Location: Scissortail Park Extra Info: Thu, Oct 26 – Sat, Oct 28; Thu: 4 – 6 p.m.; Fri: 4 – 9 p.m.; Sat: 3 – 9 p.m.; scissortailpark.org

nothing for covered services the rest of the year.

Quality: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reviews and rates all Medicare Advantage plans before the enrollment period each year to help consumers make informed decisions. Plans are rated on a scale of one to five, with one indicating poor performance and five indicating excellence.

Your health insurance carrier is a partner that helps you get the care you need. If you are eligible for Medicare, take time to research your options and ensure you select the plan that best

meets your personal health and financial needs.

The Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov can help compare plans and benefits and get an estimated cost for each plan. For more information, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800MEDICARE (800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, seven days a week (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048).

You can learn about Humana’s plans at Humana.com/Medicare or by calling 1-800-706-1368 (TTY: 711) 8.am-8 p.m., seven days a week to speak with a licensed sales agent.

Page 8 • October 26, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Barley gives more bang for the buck

By Carol Smaglinski During our travels in Scotland, we tasted its very filling Scotch Broth, the national dish of Scotland made with the essential grain of the grass family known as barley, a delicious natural thickener for soups and stews.

Back home, after experimenting with barley, I discovered that when making soup or a stew, the barley should only be added 30 to 40 minutes before the dish is ready to serve.

Barley was imperative in the Old World and it has a hearty nature, grows easily with a short season and can take a drought and frost as well. In the Middle Ages, the peasants ate the rye and barley bread while the upper-classed people ate bread made out of wheat.

However, I am sure that any Scotch Broth made these days is a far cry from the original version cooked way back in the Stone Age. Back then, the soup was made with bones from hooves, skulls and nothing went to waste. It was used for breads, cereals, and soups.

Today, it is the base for the production of beer, when the barley is made into malt, distilled liquors, and as animal fodder.

Scotch broth was known as a peasant meal and they made it so thick that a spoon could stand upright by itself in it. To the broth, they would add anything they could get their hands on including cabbage, turnips, onions, carrots and pearl barley for extra heft.

For meat, they made use of mutton, which is a mature sheep between one and three years old.

The head was used as were the trotters. Soup was usually cooked on a Saturday as Sunday was spent in church, and the soup was ready and waiting for their return.

These days, delicious lamb shanks are used and bay leaves are added for the perfect match.

Note that when making soup with bones, it should always be started in cold water which aids in letting the meat on the bones render its juices.

And, this also intensifies the flavor of the broth.

Heat the water gently and scrape off the albumin scum that rises to the top of the soup pot.

Rather than soup, I’ve provided an easy recipe for Barley and Mushroom Casserole.

For something a bit different than everyone is used to, try adding a certain panache to a dinner with chicken, lamb or barbecued pork and it is quite delicious with salmon.

Barley and Mushroom Casserole ½ lb. mushrooms, thinly chopped 4 Tbsp. butter 1 large onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup barley (Quick Cooking) Salt and pepper to taste 2 cups chicken broth or stock Have a casserole pan buttered and ready.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large skillet, melt the butter and add the onions and let them cook for 3 to 4 minutes stirring now and then.

Add mushrooms and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil, stirring so it won’t burn on the bottom. Mix in the barley and then place the mixture into the buttered casserole. Place in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

For added flavor, place a cup of seasoned croutons in a plastic bag and roll or pound until they turn into crumbs. Since they are already cooked, add them during the last 5 minutes of cooking, covering the top of the casserole with the crumbs.

Next time, change the recipe by adding chopped cooked bacon or sliced pepperoni for more flavor.

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 26, 2023 • Page 9

Local news?

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Simply e-mail the items to news@edmondpaper.com There is no charge.

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Linda Thompson, Ph.D.

A $6.4 million biology research grant at OMRF The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation has received a $6.4 million grant renewal from the National Institutes of Health to support an Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE). The grant will continue work to foster research in developmental biology.

The IDeA program builds research capacity in states where NIH research funding has historically been low by supporting basic, clinical and translational research, faculty development, and infrastructure improvements.

OMRF scientist Linda Thompson, Ph.D., has led the grant since 2013, when the NIH first awarded OMRF a COBRE to expand developmental biology in Oklahoma.

The latest renewal signals the third and final five-year grant phase. OMRF received $12.6 million in 2013 for Phase 1 and $13.1 million in 2018 for Phase 2.

Developmental biology is the study of how organisms grow and develop.

OMRF’s COBRE-supported scientists study a host of conditions, including how the intestine repairs itself after injury, how bones develop, and how genetic mutations cause hearing loss and neurological disorders.

“In those first two phases, the emphasis was on developing core facilities for specialized research and supporting new faculty,” Thompson said. “Now, we’ll expand the services provided by those cores and build sustainability through mentoring, training and pilot projects.”

OMRF scientist Lorin Olson, Ph.D.,

said Thompson’s first COBRE grant supplied crucial funding for his fledgling lab. More importantly, he said, it provided peers off whom he could bounce ideas. Olson, whose lab focuses on the intricate process of wound healing, has since secured two five-year grants from the NIH. “When you’re training, your mentor is the primary audience for your ideas and writing,” he said. “But when you start your own lab, you no longer have that person to give you undivided attention. The COBRE support walked me through that period of new independence and showed me how to write successful grant applications.”

The NIH has awarded highly competitive R01 and R35 grants to nine OMRF scientists supported through the first two phases of Thompson’s grant. In all, researchers supported by the grant have garnered a combined $16.6 million in additional federal and private funding to OMRF. The first two phases also buoyed core facilities that provide specialized microscopes, cutting-edge equipment to analyze cells and salary support for bioinformatics scientists to aid in data interpretation.

The NIH launched the COBRE program in 2000. The NIH has awarded three Phase 3 COBRE renewals to OMRF since the program’s inception.

OMRF has one other active COBRE grant, awarded in 2021.

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences, part of the NIH, awarded the grant, 1P30GM14937601.

Page 10 • October 26, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

Some hope in the world

By Steve Gust Not all the news out there is bad.

There are some groups and organizations, which go the extra mile to help people.

One of those is the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic service organization. I’ll disclose that I’ve been a member for many years The St. John’s Edmond Council marked its 50th year this year. Around year No. 20 I was honored to be grand knight of the council for two years.

There was a lot on my plate in those days.

I mention the Knights to note some of the charitable work done by the group. In the group’s magazine, The Columbia, the top Knight Patrick Kelly has his convention report reprinted.

With natural disasters, the group donated $5.3 million, including the wildfires in Maui. They helped 10,000 people worldwide get wheelchairs. In 20 years they’ve donated 144,000 wheelchairs..

There is a Coats for Kids effort established in 2009. This year they gave away the one millionth coat. Can you possibly imagine needing a coat or a wheelchair and not being able to get one?

But that only scratches the surface.

In the last five years, the Knights gave $21 million to the Special Olympics.

Closer to home, state Knights help the Center of Family Love in Okarche, which is a group home for many developmentally challenged.

There is an effort to help Ukraine as well, which also has brother Knights.

There are over two million Knights in the world – most of them covered by the Order’s group insurance. Overall Knights donated $185 million in 1 year and volunteered some 49 million hours.

It’s a great group of guys. Yet Edmond is blessed to have many groups that help others. I know the Rotary Club does. And ESA works very hard for the St. Jude’s Research Hospital.

The givers of our world aren’t the kind of people who seek out attention or publicity — but they are out there and we can all be glad they are.

—Odd two-point play selection Saturday for the University of Central Florida in their bid to upset OU Their quarterback had played well to get them to the point of tying OU. Yet they took the ball out of his hands for the twopoint play. I’m glad they did. It was odd.

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

Lankford wants action taken against antisemitism

By Sen. James Lankford .

Senator James Lankford (R-OK), founder and co-chair of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, joined Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) to introduce the Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act, which would rescind federal education funding for colleges and universities that peddle antisemitism or authorize, fund, or facilitate events that promote violent antisemitism. Lankford supports the bill’s use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which is widely accepted and relied upon nationwide.

“The brutal Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel demonstrate that antisemitism remains tragically on the rise worldwide, and American higher education institutions are feeding into that dangerous rhetoric with their soft approach on antisemitism on campuses, “said Lankford. “Oklahomans are fed up with run-amuck colleges and universities trying to brainwash young adults by encouraging wildly irresponsible ideologies like antisemitism and terrorist sympathizing. Students, professors, and

faculty have freedom of speech, but American taxpayers should not be compelled to pay for their incendiary events. Students can choose to attend other universities, alumni can choose to donate to other places, and Congress can save tax dollars by not supporting their hatred. If US colleges and universities want to push radical political agendas and incite violent protests, they can do it without federal tax dollars supporting them.”

“Any university or college that peddles blatant antisemitism, especially after Hamas’ brutal attack on Israeli civilians, women and children, has no place molding the minds of future generations, never mind receiving millions of taxpayer funds to do so,” said Scott.

“We must not only call out this hate, but crush it wherever it rears its ugly head. If these schools don’t change their ways, my legislation hits them where it hurts – their pocketbooks. No college or university should receive a single cent from the federal government to fund violent antisemitism.”

Some examples of universities pushing antisemitism include: Harvard University’s silence regarding over 30 Harvard student organizations releasing a statement blaming Israel for the Hamas terrorist attacks carried out against Israeli civilians A Cornell professor calling the Hamas terror attacks “exhilarating” and “exciting” A Columbia professor praised Hamas’ actions as “astonishing,” “astounding,” “awesome” and “incredible”

Sen. James Lankford

The challenges of life after incarceration House Majority Leader Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, last week week held an interim study examining transitional housing for those leaving the criminal justice system.

IS23-017 was held before the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee.

“Restarting life is a challenge under the best of circumstances, but it is even more so if you are trying to build a new life after incarceration” West said. "We know housing is a key component of long-term success. We also know there are solutions, and we know that there are roadblocks."

West said during the study she wanted to hear and have robust discussion about both so lawmakers and others involved in the criminal justice system can work to maximize and ensure stories of success for those formerly incarcerated. Her hope is to find solutions that can be implemented to make a positive difference in the lives of these individuals.

West gathered a team of experts on the topic asking each to share data or personal stories of how housing or lack thereof impacted them or those they serve in their personal, family and work life.

Sarah Decker, the Oklahoma legislative strategist for Prison Fellowship, spoke on the key causes of housing instability and gave examples of policy re-

sponses from other states that address this issue.

"When somebody has paid their debt to society and served a just punishment for an offense, any further barriers to success should always be limited to what's necessary to protect the public," Decker said.

At the state and federal level, however, there are more than 1,300 legal barriers to housing and residency that relate to a criminal record, she said.

There's also a lack of affordable housing in Oklahoma as well across the nation. Credit history issues and restrictions on public housing vouchers are additional hurdles.

A private landlord's discretion to refuse renting to someone with a criminal record is an area where Decker believes lawmakers can encourage and incentivize second-chance renting.

She also suggested housing providers that receive tax breaks or other benefits to create affordable housing shouldn't categorically exclude renters with a criminal record.

Joy Block, a Prison Fellowship volunteer, shared her personal story of how she left prison homeless.

She didn't have a stable address to give to her probation officer, and all the people who would allow her to live with them also had criminal back-

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ground records, something not allowed for the formerly incarcerated, she said. Yet these were the only people who would take her in.

Living from place to place or sometimes on the street, she felt unsafe and had a hard time securing adequate food for herself and her children. Not always having access to a place to clean up made it hard to find a job.

Block said she also had mental health issues that required medications. Without a stable address, she could not get insurance or the care she needed.

Block said she and her children eventually were accepted into the Exodus House, a Christian organization in Oklahoma City. She said it was a place where she gained spiritual growth that gave her the push she needed to stay out of prison.

"With them being there with open arms and helping me out of that situation of homelessness, it helped me to be the person that I am today," Block said. "I felt special and that someone actually cared about me. Being accepted gave me a sense of peace and knowing that I could overcome the things that I once struggled with – crime, drugs, homelessness, those things."

Block said at Exodus House she paid only a small fee for electricity, but they helped her start a savings account so she could build up money to transition into her own living space. This stability also helped her get off probation.

"You don't know how good that feels," she told study participants, relating how in the past housing instability had landed her back in prison.

Other study presenters included Damion Shade and Jennifer Williams with Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform. The two shared data correlating crime and adverse outcomes with lack of housing.

They also related experiences of working on reentry programs with the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

John Bae with VERA Institute for Justice discussed Oklahoma's survey supporting pro-housing polices and gave data on access versus barriers.

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 26, 2023 • Page 11

Le Consort — to be at Armstrong Auditorium Nov. 7

A fresh energetic take on some of the masterpieces of the past Paris-based quartet Le Consort will perform at Armstrong Auditorium, Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. Their program titled “Journey Through Baroque Europe” will take audiences through Italy, England, Germany, and France, illustrating the immense expressive range and grandeur of Bach, Vivaldi, Corelli, Purcell, Rameau, and others.

“Armstrong is the perfect venue for this trip back in time,” said Ryan Malone, who directs programming at Armstrong. “How special it is to host musicians from Paris who approach these ancient masterpieces with youthful energy to create something both historically authentic and yet totally current.”

Hailed as “ravishing, exhilarating and uniquely

beautiful” (BBC Music Magazine), Le Consort is a leading baroque chamber ensemble co-directed by harpsichordist Justin Taylor and violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte, and comprises four young musicians who interpret the trio sonata repertoire with enthusiasm, sincerity, and modernity. The group’s mission is to bring together compelling musical personalities in the service of chamber music from the repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries. Since its founding in 2016, Le Consort performances approach a level of musical integration typically found in long-standing string quartets. In 2017 they claimed First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Loire Valley International

Early Music Competition, chaired by William Christie. Their recordings have earned numerous awards and extensive critical acclaim.

Le Consort’s Armstrong program will include selections by Bach, Vivaldi, Corelli, Purcell, Rameau, and others. The program features two magnificent settings of “Follia” — the era’s most recognizable melody, and one which still resonates today.

Tickets for Le Consort — Journey Through Baroque Europe start at $35 for adults and $30 for youth aged 6 and up (under 6 not recommended). For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit ArmstrongAuditorium.org or call the Box Office at (405) 285-1010.

Page 12 • October 26, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

President’s Cup Champions The Bronchos celebrate defeating Northeastern State Saturday night in Tahlequah with a 37-21 victory . The win also means that UCO gets to keep the Preisdent’s Cup — for the ninth year in a row. Please read article, Page 13.

Despite world tensions, gasoline prices show dip Despite global tensions causing ripples through the oil market, the national average for a gallon of gas maintained its autumnal dip, falling seven cents since last week to $3.55.

Pump prices have lost 33 cents since their 2023 peak of $3.88 a month ago. This means drivers are saving about $5 every time they fuel up.

In Oklahoma, the gas average is $3.25 a few days ago, down seven cents in the last week and 23 cents lower than one year ago.

The national average of $3.55 is 32 cents less than a month ago and 28 cents less than a year ago.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand increased from 8.58 to 8.94 million barrels per day (b/d) last week. On the other hand, total domestic gasoline stocks decreased by 2.4 million barrels to 223.3 million barrels. Although higher demand and tightening supply typically increase pump prices, flat oil prices have had the opposite effect. If

oil prices remain steady or fall, drivers can expect further price drops at the pump in the weeks ahead.

At the close of Friday’s formal trading session, WTI settled at $88.65, marking its second straight weekly gain since the attack on Israel by Hamas. Markets remain focused on the Middle East for potential disruptions of oil supplies should the conflict spread in the region.

“While gas prices are falling about a penny a day, that feels like a glacial pace,” said Rylie Mansuetti, spokesperson for AAA Oklahoma.

“The oil market is watching to see if the war between Israel and Hamas widens, so the price is stuck at a rather elevated price in the mid-$80s per barrel. This, in turn, is slowing the decline in gas prices.”

AAA has a variety of resources to help motorists save on fuel: Fuel Price Finder (http://www.AAA.com/fuelfinder) locates the lowest fuel price in your area.

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 26, 2023 • Page 13

Sports

The North boys and girls swim teams are looking for more success as the new season nears

The Husky tradition built on excellence

North looking for more state titles The Edmond North boys and girls swim teams knew they were in place to compete for another state title as soon as the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) released the 2023-24 competition schedule.

Their success over the last two years provided high marks for both squads. The Huskies won the girls Class 6A championship in 2022 while the boys hoisted the Class 6A winning trophy at the Edmond Schools Aquatic Center in 2023. Both finished in the top three team standings since 2021 and maintain lineups with high-scoring athletes.

Experienced upperclassmen including seniors JD Evans and Collin Ho along with juniors Riley Conway, Garrett Levendofsky and Jack Starett, seek to defend their title against Jenks and Bartlesville high schools.

Conway and Starett are returning individual state champions, while Ho

and Levendofsky were vital contributors on winning relay races, which score double points.

Several Husky teammates expected to move into major scoring roles consist of senior Colton Hazzard and junior Jonah Beth who are joined by rising sophomore Dylan Eden. Key additions with significant potential include Jay Skoch, and a pair of brothers Rio Peña and Cruz Peña and Christian Turner and Nathan Turner.

The lady Huskies are fortunate to have virtually their entire state team returning to also compete with Jenks and Bartlesville. Last season, Jenks won the state championship by only a half point over Bartlesville, with Edmond North closely finishing third in the challenging meet. As with the boys, the Edmond North girls swept all three relays – 200 medley, 200 freestyle, and the 400 freestyle. Seniors Rachel Young, Caleigh Stoddard, and Caroline Glover seek to work

Nine years in a row

President’s Cup stays with UCO Central Oklahoma used a good start and a strong finish to fend off pesky Northeastern State Saturday night with a 37-21 victory that kept the President's Cup in Edmond for another year.

It was the ninth consecutive win in the rivalry for the Bronchos. That ties the most in the series that dates back to 1915. All three instances a team has won nine in a row were by the Bronchos.

"That was a tough physical game and we had a bad middle part of the game, but the team did a good job finishing it off in the end to get the win," UCO head football coach Adam Dorrel said. "We're proud of them for keeping the President's Cup again and getting another win."

Central Oklahoma is now 4-4 on the season with three weeks left. The Bronchos visit Fort Hays State in Week 9 before hosting Washburn in the final game at Chad Richison Stadium in 2023. UCO wraps up the regular season at Pittsburg State on Nov. 11.

Saturday, UCO's defense put on a tremendous effort in the first quarter.

Northeastern State ran 12 plays in the opening frame and had one sin-

gle yard of offense. The stellar effort also included a pick-six interception return for Johnathan Mosley.

That came after UCO already had a 14-0 lead. Mosley made it 20-0 with just over two minutes left in the quarter. The Bronchos went in front 23-0 in the second quarter before Northeastern State showed signs of life.

The Riverhawks, 1-7 on the season, took the ball 83 yards on 17 plays to score a 1-yard touchdown run. NSU was on the board with just under three minutes left until halftime.

In the third quarter, the hosts then outgained UCO 151-58. The Riverhawks used another big drive of 94 yards and punched in another 1-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 2314. Then a forced fumble on the kickoff gave NSU short field and a golden opportunity. Northeastern scored moments later to make it 2321, with 3:34 to play in the third quarter.

In the fourth, the Bronchos had enough. Dawson Herl connected with Terrill Davis on a 46-yard touchdown pass, and then he hit Oscar Hammond for a 22-yard score as UCO pulled away in the end.

closely with returning individual state champion juniors Laney Jones and Kelsey Healy. A strong trio of fast improving sophomores include Sarah Kingrey with Anna Young and Zoe Young.

Edmond North first year site coach Suzanne Smith is well aware of the existing culture of All-American swimmers and the return of multiple school record holders. Coach Smith believes her team will contribute to

the Edmond North legacy. “We have a lot of depth and speed this season.”

“The ultimate goal is working together while chasing a double championship.”

The Huskies begin the journey with the All-State Preview at the Jenks Trojan Aquatic Center on November 9.

The 6A Regional Meet is Feb. 2-3 with the State Championship meet finale scheduled two weeks later from Feb. 15-17.

Page 14 • October 26, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Review of movie ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’

Scorsese on his game with this film

By George Gust “Killers of the Flower Moon” is the long-awaited film adaptation of the2017 nonfiction book, by David Grann directed by renowned filmmaker Martin Scorsese. When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one - until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” has all the cliched hallmarks of a movie made for Oscar attention: adaptation of a challenging nonfiction book (check), legendary filmmaker (check), beloved dramatic movie stars (check), over 3 hour runtime (check). And they say cliches are cliches for a reason because this movie deserves all the critical attention that has been built up since its announcement. Between the attention to detail recreating the frontier of Oklahoma 100 years ago, brilliant cinematography, poignant musical choices and an enthralling ensemble of performances by the highly qualified cast.

At this point in his illustrious career Scorsese is a brand unto himself, so there’s no doubting that “Killers of the Flower Moon” is the realization of his artistic vision and throughout the 3 and a half hour running time you feel like you’re in the hands

of a master. The film opens with a bombastic unapologetic feel that you would expect from the “Goodfellas” or “Wolf of Wall Street” style of film, but this movie is not Rolling Stones style music in the rolling plains of Oklahoma. Instead “Killers of the Flower Moon” is a challenging meditation of the original sin of America and the darkness that comes out of greed.

The lifeblood of “Killers of the Flower Moon” is the phenomenal performances of Lily Gladstone and Leonardo DiCaprio that is the emotional core of the movie. There’s a version of this film that revolves more around the procedural whodunit and

the FBI aspect of the story, but the decision to use the perspective of this couple elevated this from an intriguing true crime history film to a moving film going experience. And in addition to the compelling performances of Gladstone and DiCaprio, long time Scorsese collaborator Rober De Niro is in rare form in this film and turns in one of his best performances in recent memory with an incredible ominous presence that was almost shocking for the 80 year old actor to still be able to pull off.

Overall, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is an astounding accomplishment in filmmaking from some of the masters in their crafts and introduces us to a new face in acting with Gladstone’s splendid performance that is on par with the tried-andtrue performers in DiCaprio and De Niro. While some may balk at the incredibly 3 and a half hour runtime, if you’re able to go on the emotional journey with Scorsese and company you’ll be rewarded to one of the best movies of the year that remind us that cinematic events don’t always need to involve superpowers and capes.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” is rated R for violence, some grisly images, and language. s 4.,7 out of 5 stars

PHOTO PROVIDED

Martin Scorsese brings the highly acclaimed book "Killers of the Flower Moon" to the big screen in his epic historical drama that will undoubtedly be in the conversation come Oscar season for filmmaking and the performances of its 3 stars: Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Answers on Page 19

Festival seeks performers Norman Music Festival organizers have announced the open call process for performers to apply for the 2024 edition of the free, three-day event April 25-27 in the Walker Arts District.

Open now through Nov. 15, candidates who perform original music of all genres may use the online portal, http://surl.li/mgqvq, to apply. The festival will feature one outdoor and 10 indoor stages April 25 along with four outdoor and 15 indoor stages both April 26 and 27. NMF organizers will book all outdoor stages and the Sooner Theatre lineup, approximately 75 selectees.

Most of the other 250 acts will be selected by the indoor venues from the open-call applications.

“Since NMF started in 2008, the intention has been to highlight Oklahoma musicians.

The open-call process has always been a priority for us to make sure we are offering the opportunity to continue to provide a stage for homegrown art,” NMF Executive Director Shari Jackson said.

For more information about NMF, visit NormanMusicFestival.com with links to its social platforms.

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: The 1940s ACROSS 1. Sylvester Stallone's "____ King" 6. And so forth, abbr.

9. Mongolian desert 13. Uniate church member 14. Additionally 15. Modified "will" 16. Heart surgery prop 17. Remains container 18. Follow 19. *Thor Heyerdahl's raft 21. *Jackie Robinson's new team, 1947 23. *Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., born in 1942 24. Animal prod 25. Give a nickname 28. Dwarf buffalo 30. Edible corn part 35. Functions 37. *____ Strip on Mediterranean Sea, 1948 39. Roman goddess, patroness of hunters 40. *Moscow ____ cocktail, created in 1940s 41. Beach souvenir 43. Inspiring horror 44. Not long 46. Home to Bryce Canyon 47. Smoothie bowl flavor 48. Become available (2 words) 50. Links hazard 52. Mozart's "L'____ del Cairo" 53. Back of the neck 55. Transgression 57. *Carmen of "The Gang's All Here" 61. *United _____, established 1945 65. Popeye's sweetie 66. *The BAA and NBL merged, forming this ball org., 1949 68. Battle royal 69. Denigrating statement 70. What divots and divas have in common 71. Audience's approval 72. Lad's counterpart 73. Number on a birthday cake 74. Not o'er

DOWN 1. Poacher's trophy 2. "Do ____ others..."

3. Bank claim 4. *1947's "Here Comes ____ Claus" 5. King of the Huns 6. Purse for the red carpet 7. High craggy hill 8. Type of dwelling 9. "The ____ Show" (19761980) 10. Yorkshire river 11. Hangover memory?

12. 15th of March 15. Tied the knot 20. *Leopold III of Belgium and Christian X of Denmark, e.g.

22. Acorn producer 24. Common newspaper name 25. *"When I See an Elephant Fly" elephant, 1941 26. Steal a throne 27. Misrepresent 29. *Pearl Harbor location

31. Capital of Latvia 32. Narcotics agent 33. *Considered first generalpurpose computer, acr.

34. a.k.a. vampire 36. Espied 38. a.k.a. Daminozide 42. ____ Apso 45. Tornado visual 49. Helicopter landing 51. Coal miners 54. Bear of bamboo forest 56. Brother's daughter 57. Gangster's gal 58. Hip bones 59. Barbecued anatomy 60. Birds 61. Part of cathedral 62. Cantina cooker 63. Sans mixers 64. Comedian Meyers 67. *"The ____ Sleep," 1946

Answers on Page 19

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 26, 2023 • Page 15

Social media’s impact and effect on mental health A closer look at influence of online platforms

By Jaira Draper, M.A., LPC-C Edmond Family Counseling It’s no secret that social media has embedded itself in our lives and changed the way we interact, exchange information, and see ourselves in a world driven by digital conJaira nectedness. However, there is growing worry about its effects on mental health behind the ‘highlight reel’. Recent research has explained the effects of excessive social media use on our health, motivating a closer look at the digital dilemma.

According to research, heavy social media use is associated with poor mental health outcomes. Social comparisons, idealized lives, and frequent exposure to curated information can all contribute to sadness, poor self-esteem, and depressive symptoms. Increased anxiety and problems with body image can be attributed to the pressure to fit in that is increased by online platforms and cultural expectations.

The situation is made worse by social media platforms' addictive qualities. Receiving likes, comments, and notifications can set off a dopaminedriven cycle that makes people want fast pleasure and validation, which encourages reliance and lessens genuine interaction with the outside world. As a result of this ongoing desire for validation, people may suffer from anxiety or FOMO (fear of missing out) when they aren't connected to the online world.

The number of incidents of cyberbullying and online abuse on social media platforms has also dangerously increased. These platforms' ability to provide anonymity may provide people with the confidence to act in a harmful way, which can result in psychological distress, social isolation, and in some cases, even self-harm.

The relentless exposure to negative interactions can significantly impact one's mental health, contributing to a sense of vulnerability and eroding self-confidence.

So, is anyone doing anything about this, or are we all just not logging out? Some social media platforms have started putting policies in place to encourage better mental health practices because they understand the seriousness of the matter.

Recent features such as time monitoring, notification management, and content filtering tools have been used to promote better online behaviors and lessen any potential harmful consequences. In addition, advocacy and mental health organizations aim to promote appropriate social media use

and offer options for assistance.

However, it is also up to everyone individually to develop a healthy relationship with social media. Here are some things you can do to prioritize your mental health over social media: Limit Screen Time: Set boundaries and allocate specific time for social media use. Excess screen time can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety.

Curate Your Feed: Unfollow accounts that make you feel unhappy or trigger negative emotions. Follow accounts that promote positivity, inspiration, and well-being.

Practice Degital Detox: Take regular breaks from social media to recharge and focus on real-life activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.

Practice Self-awareness: Become aware of your emotional responses while using social media. If you notice negative feelings while online, take a break, and engage in activities that foster relaxation and self-care.

Connect Authentically: Prioritize quality connections and engage in positive conversations rather than seeking validation through likes and comments. Avoid online arguments or engaging with negative content, instead try sharing your own experiences in a thoughtful manner.

As social media continues to evolve, so must our understanding of its impact on mental health. By fostering a collective effort between individuals, social media platforms, and mental health organizations, we can navigate the digital landscape with greater mindfulness and create a healthier, more supportive online environment.

Remember, your mental well-being is invaluable. Let us strive for balance in the digital age and prioritize our mental health over virtual validation.

Jaira Draper, M.A., LPC-C is a staff therapist at Edmond Family Counseling. Edmond Family Counseling is a non-profit organization. We may be reached at 405-341-3554 to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed professional counselors. Donations may be made to Edmond Family Counseling, 1251 N. Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034, or online @ www.edmondfamily.org by clicking the YELLOW DONATE button. Follow us on our Facebook Page @ Edmond Family Counseling for additional information regarding mental health awareness.

Free admission special The Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA) today announced that beginning January 2024 visitors of all ages will receive access to the Museum at no cost on the second Sunday of each month.

Thanks to the generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program, OKCMOA received $600,000 to be awarded over the span of three years. The Museum was the only Oklahoma art institution to receive this grant.

“This grant allows us to make an even bigger impact in our community,” said OKCMOA President and CEO Michael Anderson, PhD. “The funds guarantee that many more people will have the opportunity to be inspired by the art and the stories in our exhibitions – and that that inspiration no longer has to be hindered by financial barriers.”

OKCMOA strives to make art accessible to the Oklahoma City community and beyond. In recent years, it has done this by providing free children’s admission to all Museum exhibitions, making its galleries more accessible for the blind and low-vision community, and offering virtual field trips at no cost to schools anywhere in the country.

“The Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program gives our mission, to enrich lives through the visual arts, that much more meaning,” said Director of Development Kimberley Worrell, CFRM. “We have been thrilled to offer free children’s admission since 2020, and this grant from Art Bridges builds upon that by giving all adults access to that same benefit and that same joy.”

Engagement, Wedding notices Do you have a wedding or engagement notice? If so, please contact us at Edmond Life & Leisure, either by phone, 340-3311 or e-mail, news@edmondpaper.com. We will then send or fax you an engagement or wedding form.The cost is $35, which includes a photograph.

Page 16 • October 26, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

TSET grant applications The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) is accepting applications for TSET Discovery Grants to support innovative programs that increase healthy behaviors among Oklahomans.

TSET Discovery Grants are aimed at immediate, impactful programs in line with TSET’s constitutional areas of focus: tobacco cessation and prevention, health care access, senior health and improving the overall health of all Oklahomans. Grant funding will begin July 1, 2024 and run up to three years.

“As a grant maker with the mission to improve health, TSET is seeking innovative proposals with the potential to impact a wide range of Oklahomans,” said Julie Bisbee, executive director of TSET. “These grants give us the opportunity to partner with organizations doing exceptional work to promote health in the state.”

In 2022, TSET awarded approximately $5.5 million in Discovery Grants to seven organizations. These grantees are now impacting a wide range of people in Oklahoma, from seniors through wellness program improvements and activities, to visually impaired individuals of all ages through physical activity programming.

NewView Oklahoma, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit for Oklahomans with vision loss, received a TSET Discovery Grant for a comprehensive wellness initiative that included the creation of accessible outdoor wellness space for employees, clients and community members as well as physical activity programming for blind youth and adults.

Key information about the grants: Grant Amounts: Up to $250,000 per year for a maximum of three years, based on performance, availability of funds, and approval by the TSET Board of Directors.

Application Deadline: The application period for the Discovery grants opens Oct. 18, 2023. Proposals are due Nov. 30, 2023.

Eligibility Criteria: TSET Discovery Grants are available to Oklahoma local governments (towns, cities, and counties), non-profit 501(c)3 organizations, tribal nations, institutions of higher education, and public agencies and entities of the State of Oklahoma. All proposals must address one of the TSET constitutionally mandated purposes.

How to apply: To learn about this funding opportunity, go to the Discovery Grants page on the TSET website (tinyurl.com/TSET-Discovery-Grants) ### The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, cultivating innovative and life-changing research and working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health. To learn more, go to Oklahoma.gov/TSET.

Four truths of fitness

By Brian Attebery The fitness industry deals with a lot of fads and myths.

Every year, you hear various versions of what is “the best” way to build muscle, burn fat, have a lean look, or build endurance. The reality Attebery is there are many ways to go about your fitness. As a professional trainer with an Exercise Science Degree and coming up on 20 years of owning my facility, plus 8 years of prior experience training clients, there are some solid truths about fitness that I know to be true.

Fitness is a like a having a huge toolbox and inside there are many tools to achieve your building of your body. Each year, month or even day, you need to examine what all tools need to be included, excluded, or changed periodically. There is no “one way” to achieve your goals.

Your body will hit plateaus, your mind will get bored, your schedule will change, your equipment and exercise class options may change.

These challenges are what you must embrace to keep motivated and on track.

Regardless of the tools you utilize, you must include elements of strength (Muscle tone), endurance (Cardiovascular health), flexibility, and proper nutrition. These 4 key elements must be addressed daily in various forms. You are wanting to be a runner? That is great! You still need to include weights to maximize your performance and address your upper body needs at minimum. Look up VO2 Max Training and tell me weights won’t improve that. Wanting to build muscle and bulk up? You still need to do some cardio to build endurance, and this will allow you to have better circulation, heart efficiency, and lung capacity. Wanting to lose weight?

You better have your nutrition down but not starving but burning extra calories with both weights to build your resting 24/7 metabolism and cardio to burn the “right here and now” fat from your body. Finally, you need to stretch to optimize range of motion with your body and reduce risk of injuries. That may simply be

daily stretching or also may include a Yoga or Pilates class.

Those 4 elements are the building blocks of a solid fitness program.

Now, here is where the myths keep going. Weights have probably the most myths associated with them. I would rather use the word “resistance” training. Your body is a weight, exercise bands can be weights and even tin cans can be weights. Your body will LOSE muscle tone every decade of your life as you age. Just like in business, if you are not trying to go ahead, you will go behind with your muscle tone. Include a variety of free weights, body weight, machines, and bands in your workouts. Pay attention to form and vary the angles, rep ranges and overall volume you are doing. Little changes add up to big pay backs and keeps you focused.

Cardio training is what keeps our heart strong and burns fat if your diet is on par. You always need to factor in your orthopedic limitations when performing cardio. Bad knees, low back, or hips? Running is not a good choice. Choose an elliptical or stationary bike. Do you want to reduce your risk of having bad knees etc., you need to make sure you don’t ONLY run for cardio. You need to “prepare and prevent. Not repair and repent.” Think about all the modes of cardio you can perform and within those modes, how many variations of programs you can perform. High Intensity Interval Training (H.I.I.T.) is great but not all the time.

Sometimes just going on a nice walk and listening to calming music or your favorite pod cast are very therapeutic ways for your mental state as well.

Don’t fall victim to talking yourself into one type of training. Include all elements of your fitness and make it part of your lifestyle. Seek help from a fitness professional that understands how to design various programs that fit your need, goals, and lifestyle. Be realistic about the process and embrace new things.

Your body will thank you (Brian Attebery is a Degreed/Certified Trainer. He owns and operates Results Fitness and Nutrition Center, L.L.C. in Edmond. www.resultsfitnessusa.com

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 26, 2023 • Page 17

Keep work & family time balanced Individuals have to juggle many different responsibilities on a daily basis.

Those with full- or part-time jobs, children, spouses or partners, or aging family members that require assistance, will often find they are pulled in different directions. In many cases, work takes priority over family time because people rely on their jobs for the income that funds their lifestyles. Rather than jeopardizing that income, certain individuals will make time concessions that favor employment over personal relationships and family time.

Recent data indicates that many people are trapped in unhealthy work-life balances and can’t find the time to unwind and enjoy themselves. The e-commerce company Groupon asked 2,000 Americans about stress at work and 60 percent indicated that pressures and responsibilities of the workplace and home life do not have boundaries. Learning to balance work and life better may come from following these tips.

1. Find more time. While there’s no way to add extra hours to the day, you can add extra hours to your schedule. One way to do so is to wake up earlier or stay up later than the household. Some people prefer the quiet time to get things done while others are asleep. If you can afford to shave an hour from your sleeping schedule (provided you already are getting enough), this ap-

proach can make a significant difference.

2. Limit distractions as much as possible. Distractions pull attention away from tasks and that can make it harder to complete jobs on time. Schedule tasks that require your utmost concentration when others are not around. Perhaps this means coming into the office during offpeak hours or waiting until a spouse or the kids go to their respective places of work or school before you start on things that require greater concentration.

3. Figure out your home priorities. Schedule your home priorities just as you would work meetings and other responsibilities. While you may not be able to attend every sports practice or game, make it a point to get to as many events as possible.

Put it in the calendar or planner as a must-do.

4. Maximize your PTO. Chances are you are entitled to a certain number of days off. Do not squander the opportunity to use these days. It will not make you a hero if you give up on time off. Map out priorities for the next couple of months and see where your time away from work will be needed. Then utilize PTO for these events as well as vacations.

5. End work at a certain time.

There is a saying that “work expands to fill the time allotted.” It’s easy to let work infiltrate home time espe-

CareerTech enrollment up For the second consecutive year, Oklahoma CareerTech enrollment has risen in each of its delivery arms.

Systemwide enrollment was 489,635 in fiscal year 2023, up 9.5% from fiscal 2022’s 446,940.

Technology center enrollments -business and industry training, adult and career development, secondary and postsecondary full-time programs and single-course programs -- were 339,058, up 13.5% from 298,675 in fiscal 2022.

“In addition to enrollment increases across the board, membership in CareerTech student organizations rose to another all-time high in fiscal 2023,” said CareerTech State Director Brent Haken. “The increased enrollment reflects a growing realization of the value of a CareerTech education and the need for curriculums that emphasize career readiness.”

Secondary technology center enrollments were 21,765, up 7.9%.

In fiscal 2023, 86,414 ninth through 12th grade students in Oklahoma -- 42.3% of all students in those grades -- participated in a CareerTech program; 32.2% of all fifth through 12th grade students participated in a CareerTech program.

CareerTech offered programs in 397 PK-12 school districts during fiscal 2023, with 1,474 teachers. Its 29 technology center districts had 60 campuses and 1,305 teachers.

Enrollment in adult education and family literacy grew 13% from 8,925 to 10,081, with 32 providers offering AEFL programs at 118 sites.

CareerTech student organization membership reached a record high of 98,225 -- also for the second consecutive year. Membership grew to 98,225 in Business Professionals of America; DECA; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; FFA; HOSA; SkillsUSA; and Technology Student Association.

OG&E getting federal funding The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) selected Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (OG&E), a subsidiary of OGE Energy Corp (NYSE: OGE), to receive $50 million to strengthen the electric grid for Oklahoma communities.

“Improving reliability and strengthening the grid for our customers is one of our top priorities,” said Sean Trauschke, chairman, president and CEO of OGE Energy Corp. “Our customers know the impact of living in a part of the United States most impacted by severe storms and extreme weather, and grid automation technology reduces the number of power outages and their duration. This grant by the Department of Energy allows us to double our impact and reduce the cost to our customers.”

The $50 million federal grant will be used by OG&E, along with investments made by the electric company, for an adaptable grid project that will provide grid automation to 92 circuits and 26 substations, improving

reliability for approximately 90,000 OG&E customers. Additionally, the adaptable grid project includes the purchase of two mobile battery systems that can be deployed across OG&E’s service area during major restoration events to provide enhanced reliability and resiliency for customers and local infrastructure.

The funds are part of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program, which seeks to enhance grid flexibility and improve the resilience of the power system against growing threats of extreme weather and climate change. Funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, the GRIP program leverages federal and private investments to ensure that communities across the nation have a reliable grid that's prepared for extreme weather while also delivering affordable, clean energy and creating robust local opportunities for economic investment and jobs.

Lots of demands are made on the time of modern families. cially for those who are remote workers. Set a distinct end time for the job and reinforce it by turning off your computer or other devices, or physically lock the door to your office. Schedule tasks directly after work that are important to you, so

you won’t be tempted to continue working.

Finding work-life balance can take time and require breaking established habits, but it is one way to reduce stress and feel more personally satisfied.

Page 18 • October 26, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Learn how to preserve your photos at upcoming event Learn how to preserve your photos at the Oklahoma History Center on Friday, November 3, from 1-4 p.m.

The “Preservation and Care of Photographs” workshop will be put on with support from the Oklahoma Historical Society’s John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center, which has an estimated 11 million images in its archives. The workshop will focus on teaching participants how to care for their photographs.

The class costs $20 for members of the Oklahoma Historical Society and $25 for nonmembers. Tickets can be purchased online. All supplies will be provided. Attendees will take home a photo storage box.

The Oklahoma History Center is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City. It is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Please call 405-522-

0765 or visit www.okhistory.org/historycenter for admission costs and group rates.

The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.

To know more, call 405-522-0765

Family Circus

Beetle Baily

Hi and Lois

Blondie

Shoe

Hägar the Horrible

Zits

Edmond Life & Leisure • October 26, 2023 • Page 19

Christmas Connection to help state families in need As days grow shorter and crisp morning air signals the arrival of fall, children everywhere begin to anticipate the magic of Christmas.

But for many Oklahoma families in need, the joy of Christmas is overshadowed by the stress of not being able to afford Christmas gifts for their children.

For 42 years CHRISTMAS CONNECTION, has been helping central Oklahoma families in need find a personal shopping experience for holiday gifts and other household items in a dignified, retail setting — empowering all families to provide a magical Christmas season for their children.

Today Christmas Connection will begin welcoming the first shoppers of the season to its no-cost store located in Moore. Families in need engage with a personal shopper to help guide them through a dignified shopping experience. Unlike other Christmas assistance programs, Christmas Connection empowers parents and grandparents to personally select the gifts for their families in a respectful, retail environment. Shopping is available by appointment only and families are referred by community partner agencies.

"We are grateful for the generous support from the community in helping us stock the Christmas Connection store with new toys and gently used clothing and household items,” April Jolley, Christmas Connection CEO said. “However, in anticipation of the substantial needs within our community, Christmas Connection is actively seeking both donations and volunteers."

Christmas Connection accepts donations of new toys and gently used clothing and household items

at their headquarters located at 825 NW 24th Street in Moore. Most needed items are children’s coats sizes 5T to 18, toys for children ages 7-14 and new packages of children’s underwear and socks of all sizes.

“Volunteers play a critical role in fulfilling Christmas Connection's mission of delivering personalized shopping experiences for families,” Jolley said.

“You can help provide hope, dignity and joy to central Oklahoma families by signing up to volunteer.”

Individuals or groups can volunteer to stock shelves or assist families with shopping October 24 through November 18 at christmasconnection.org.

In addition, monetary donations will help Okla-

homa families in need provide a memorable Christmas morning by supporting the purchase of toys, clothing and household products.

To make a gift or volunteer, visit christmasconnection.org. Families interested in shopping at Christmas Connection can also find links to that process on the same website.

About Christmas Connection Since its establishment in 1981, Christmas Connection has grown to serve more than 6,000 Oklahoma families each year by providing a dignified shopping experience at no cost. Christmas Connection is a 501(c)3 and all gifts are tax deductible.

Learn more at christmasconnection.org.

In light of CO COVID OVID 19 for the e time being, some s worship services suspended online. servi ces may be su uspended or on nline.

Please information.

Ple ease check with h your house of o worship for more m informati ion.

Page 20 • October 26, 2023 • Edmond Life & Leisure