Edmond Life and Leisure - February 20, 2025

From the Publisher

ATC open for business 5 days a week

The last time I remember Around the Corner being open in the evening was in 1988 when we first moved to Edmond. We were looking at the first house I purchased and decided to discuss the large commitment of $70,000 we were making. I doubt you could find any house in Edmond these days for that amount.

Traveling through downtown Edmond we came upon a little y café that looked like so man that I had seen in small towns all around Oklahoma. It was Around the Corner, and it was owned by Charlotte at the time. It had a blue plate special for dinner Turned out to be a favorite. When I went to work for Ed and Marcia Livermore at the Edmond Sun in 1996, I told them working a block away from ATC was a selling point to the job in addition to being closer to my home.

They were not serving dinner and I never understood why it stopped. The good news is that current owners, The Weiss family, has it back opened for dinner five days a week. On Wednesday through Sunday, they are open from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and then the old hours of 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. The even better news is that you can order breakfast all day, which is perfect for Lisa and me. Having breakfast for dinner is one of my favorites but not so much for Lisa. She can order one of the perfect cheeseburgers from ATC while I enjoy a full pancake, bacon and egg dinner.

I talked to Nancy Weiss Meoli, co-owner, about the reason for the change and she said the family had been wanting to do it for a long time. This is a restaurant owning family, so they get the long hours. They also own Othello’s right down the street from ATC and in Norman. Another reason was that Frenzy Brewing Co. next door wanted folks to be able to order dinner from ATC and Othello’s.

Here is how it works. You feel like a cold adult beverage (although kids can come with you) so you wonder into Frenzy. There is a QR code at the table where you can order from either ATC or Othello’s, and they bring the food to you at Frenzy. How cool is that folks?

I love a small-town café. Lisa and I look for them wherever we travel ATC is the place in Edmond. I was so pleased when the Weiss family purchased ATC from Charlott when she decided to sell. They understood the importance of keeping it the small-town vibe that makes it “the” place for your favorite breakfast in Edmond. Generations have made it so including my children and now their children.

If you have not tried the famous cheeseburger with handmade onion rings, make plans to go soon and now you can do it for dinner folks. I receive no discount or free food for these comments, honest.

Save on Property Taxes

“File Your Homestead Exemption Application BEFORE MARCH 15th to save on your property taxes You can also file online to protect your property from fraud as well through the Oklahoma County Clerk’s Office. THESE SERVICES ARE OFFERED AT NO CHARGE TO OKLAHOMA COUNTY RESIDENTS,” Oklahoma County Assessor Larry Stein said.

You can file your HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION by mail, or you can file electronically online on the internationally recognized assessor website www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor.

“Some companies may offer filing the HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION and add a fee or service cost for ‘preparing and filing’ the document. There IS NO COST for filing the Homestead Exemption with Oklahoma County. Recently 190 applications were rejected by my office because a title company filed documents for Homestead Exemption which violated the state statutes regarding Oklahoma Tax Commission Approved Documents. Do NOT PAY for HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION FILING, it is free, and our office staff will help,” Stein said.

Seniors Earning less than $89,500 Eligible for Assessment Freeze

“If you are 65 years of age and older and earn less than $89,500 you may be eligible for an assessment freeze on the value of your home right now. Homeowners who qualify have saved more than $20 million in lower property taxes with the Assessment Freeze---NOT A PROPERTY TAX FREEZE,” Stein said.

“Here is a list of all property tax saving options available. If you have a question, please contact our friendly staff by phone at (405)713-1236. When you call, you will be talking with a real person who will be able to answer any questions you may have,” Stein said.

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

Homestead Exemption lowers your property tax bill on your home and can provide a property tax savings of $87 to $141 in Oklahoma County by exempting the first $1,000 of assessed value from taxation on your residential property and LIMITS ASSESSMENT INCREASES –NOT PROPERTY TAXES—to a maximum of 3 percent per year. For the property tax savings to be in effect for 2025, you must live in the house on January 1 and file by March 15, 2025, online at www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor, by mail or in person with the Oklahoma County Assessor's Office, 320 Robert S. Kerr, Room 315.

SENIOR VALUATION FREEZE

Senior citizens (65 and Older) earning $89,500 or less are eligible for the Senior Valuation Freeze which can reduce your property tax bill. This will freeze the taxable value of the property. For the property tax savings to be in effect for 2025, you must file by March 15, 2025, by mail or in person with the Oklahoma County Assessor's Office, 320 Robert S. Kerr, Room. 315. If you are currently benefiting from the SENIOR VALUATION FREEZE on your homesteaded property there is no need to reapply.

ADDITIONAL HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

An additional homestead will deduct another $1,000 from the assessed value of your home. This exemption will save you an additional $87 to $141 in taxes. Regardless of age, if the annual gross household income from all sources, received by all persons occupying the same household is $30,000 OR LESS you qualify for the additional exemption. Fill out both parts of the short application form and file it by mail or in person with the County Assessor by March 15th of the year in which the exemption will begin. You must file it annually with the County Assessor by March 15th as long as your income is $30,000 OR LESS until you reach the age of sixty-five.

100% DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS

American military veterans who are 100% service-connected disabled may be eligible for a total exemption from any property taxes on their homestead property. This exemption also allows the un-remarried surviving spouse to continue enjoying the property tax break for as long as he or she owns the property. If you are a qualified 100% service-connected disabled military veteran or have a family member or friend who might qualify, please have them call the Oklahoma County Assessor’s Office at (405) 713-1236 or the USDVA at 1-800-827-1000 for help getting this important property tax savings.

Protect Your Deed ALERT.OKCC.ONLINE

Is someone tampering with the title to your property? The Oklahoma County Clerk’s Office is offering a FREE SERVICE at ALERT.OKCC.ONLINE . This service will notify you by text, phone or email if anyone files a document at the Clerk’s Office containing your name. Registered accounts will receive notification if a document is recorded in the Oklahoma County Clerk's Office. Common names may trigger an alert that may not be yours. If you have any questions, please contact the Oklahoma County Clerk’s office at (405) 7131540 or email them at property.alert@oklahomacounty.org

(Ray Hibbard, publisher of Edmond Life & Leisure, may be reached at ray@edmondpaper.com)