Edmond Life and Leisure - June 4, 2020

June 4, 2020 Vol. 21, No. 3

In This Issue FOUR SEASONS

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.

Late-teacher’s $2 million plus donation See Page 5

FRIDAY, June 5

Mostly Sunny High 96° Low 72°

SATURDAY, June 6 Sunny High 96° Low 73°

SUNDAY, June 7

Sunny High 98° Low 71°

PHOTO PROVIDED

Science Museum Oklahoma, at 2020 Remington Place in the metro, is open again to again delight all ages with all kinds of wisdom. The museum is but one of many more places now opening for business as the state is now in Phase 3 of its reopening.

By Steve Gust Despite recent events, the news isn’t all bleak as businesses and events slowly spring back to life despite an ongoing pandemic.

Despite new cases, the infection rates and hospitalizations have decreased to the point where the state proceeded to a Stage 3 reopening this week.

In this issue of Edmond Life & Leisure, there are articles about some of the enterprises, which are back in business for the first time since March.

On Page 6 is an article about athletes starting to officially train again at the University of Central Oklahoma. Officials vow to keep health and safety at the top of their priorities.

The metro’s Science Museum Oklahoma is also back open, effective this week. They also are offering comprehensive new safety precautions and measures.

Please see Page 14 for the return of live music at Arcadia’s Round Barn. A concert is set for Saturday.

While many people return to work with the reopenings, there are a few grim reminders in this edition of the pandemic’s cost. There will be no Oklahoma Shakespeare in the

Park productions this year and the popular Endeavor Games at UCO will only be virtual this weekend.

Perhaps no group was affected by COVID-19 as much as small business in Edmond. On today’s commentary, Page 10, Chamber executive director Sherry Jordan has a request. She wants the public to show support for these buisnesses, many new.

“The Mule, Ellis Island, Nine on 33rd, Edmond Railyard, Cultured Cloths and Blocworks, just to name a handful. There are people behind these ventures who have given everything they have to make their community a better place to live.

For most, it took years of saving and planning to make their small business dreams come true. They took a chance, went out a limb and were met with a global pandemic.”

She also adds, “show up and help your neighbors.”

The state also has the following guidelines for Phase 3 reopenings, which officially began Monday.

Individual guidance: • Citizens should minimize time spent in crowded environments and continue following CDC guidelines regarding social distancing.

• If you are over 65 or part of

a vulnerable population, continue following safer-at-home policies.

• Visitation to hospitals is allowed within the guidelines provided in the OURS plan.

• Visitation to senior care facilities, except for end-of-life situations, will be prohibited until affirmatively lifted by Executive Order.

Employer guidance: • Summer camps (church and school) can open • Businesses can resume unrestricted staffing at their worksites by observing proper CDC-recommended social distancing protocols and are recommended to continue increased cleaning and disinfecting practices.

• Suggested guidelines regarding use of masks and other personal protective equipment can be found on the CDC website along with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce website.

• Businesses operating by appointment only may begin operating by appointment and walk-in at their discretion.

The state and medical officials, urge the public to remain vigilant against the virus with safety measures and social distancing,.

Page 2 • June 4, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 4, 2020 • Page 3

To be used to study infections

OU College of Medicine gets $11 million grant The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine has been awarded an $11 million federal grant to create the Oklahoma Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunity, a hub for research into many types of infections and how the immune system recognizes and destroys them, or succumbs to them.

The new center will be housed in the college’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology, chaired by Jimmy Ballard, Ph.D. The five-year grant is from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, a component of the National Institutes of Health. It represents a CoBRE (Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence) grant, which establishes multidisciplinary research in Oklahoma and enables talented researchers to compete for additional federal awards. A major component of the program is mentoring junior researchers, who contribute to better patient treatment with their projects, while building their careers and attracting additional grant funding that helps to drive Oklahoma’s economic growth.

While funds will not be used to investigate the COVID-19 virus, the grant is especially timely as the world is battling a new viral infection that overwhelms the immune systems of some people it infects while sparing others. Ballard’s team of researchers will use the grant money to further their studies into various fungal, bacterial, viral and parasitic infections, in

While funds will not be used to investigate the COVID-19 virus, the grant is especially timely as the world is battling a new viral infection that overwhelms the immune systems of some people it infects while sparing others the context of how the immune system recognizes and destroys those infectious agents, or the opposite occurs.

“Under most circumstances, our immune system does a good job of responding to and clearing infectious agents, Ballard said. “It happens all the time in our bodies. We want to better understand what makes our immune systems successful, but also finding the weak links that can be exploited by pathogens. When a battle is taking place, the microbes that are successful have come up with a way to short-circuit or interrupt the effective immune response, either by killing cells or altering the way those immune cells function.”

This CoBRE grant provides funding and mentorship to five junior researchers – three at the OU College of Medicine and two at Oklahoma State University. Mentors support the researchers during their investigations and as they leverage their findings to attract new federal grants. The CoBRE also supports a research core, in this case advanced technology in genomics and transcriptomics that can be used by all researchers.

Local researchers supported by the

Kevin Romo awarded scholarship Francis Tuttle Technology Center student, Kevin Romo, was awarded the 2020 SkillsUSA National Technical Honor Society Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship, honoring student leadership and educational excellence, assists students with college or post-secondary studies.

Romo completed Francis Tuttle’s Computer Aided Design and Drafting

program this spring and will attend Rose State College in the fall to study architecture.

“This award is a great investment in Kevin’s educational future,” said Jeremiah Cook, Reno campus CADD instructor. “With the skill and dedication he demonstrated while at Francis Tuttle, I am confident he will excel in the next phase of his education.”

Clerk’s Edmond office reopens In conjunction with the city leaders of Edmond, Rick Warren, Oklahoma County Court Clerk, has announced his office in Edmond is now open, effective this week.

The City of Edmond provides office space to the Oklahoma County Court Clerk.

“We want to thank the City of Edmond and their elected leadership during the past few months in keeping offices closed to the public due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Warren.

“Starting now, we will be open during regular business hours and, as always, we are closed from noon until 1 p.m.," said Warren.

Warren continues to encourage

lawyers to file electronically. “A friendly reminder that social distancing protocols could have an impact on time spent in the office,” said Warren. “To avoid delays and possible long lines, I would encourage using our free file by email service.”

Details regarding email filing are can be found at oklahomacountycourtclerk.org.

Note: The Edmond Office processes the following documents: Marriage Licenses; Small Claims; Civil; Divorce; and Probate. The Edmond Office only accepts checks or money orders. No cash is allowed.

Until further notice: The office is not doing passport applications.

Edmond Republican Women’s Club will hold June 15 meeting The next meeting of the Edmond Republican Womens Club will be Monday, June 15 at Johnnies Charbroil on 33rd St. in Edmond. The meeting will begin at 11 a.m. for those who would like to order lunch in advance. ( Please mention that you are there for the meeting when ordering). The meeting will begin at 11:30 am.

The guest speaker this month will be Dr. James Taylor. Dr. Taylor's topic for the meeting will be "What's Going on in America?" The meeting is open to the public and members are encouraged to bring guests. Special guests will be our local legislators and those seeking the office being vacated

by Rep. Lewis Moore. They will each take a few minutes to speak to those in attendance. You are more than welcome to wear a mask if you feel more comfortable doing so.

The Club will also be sponsoring a Candidates Forum for Republicans seeking the 5th District Senate Seat on Tuesday, June 23, at 6 p.m. in the Edmond Downtown Community Center located at 28 E. Main in Edmond. Co-sponsors for this forum are The Heartland Republican Womens Club and the North OKC Republican Womens Club. The public is encouraged to attend and meet these candidates.

GOP candidates forum set for Tuesday June 23

grant are: n Lauren Zenewicz, Ph.D., OU Department of Microbiology and Immunology, who studies infections and inflammation of the intestinal tract related to Clostridium difficile, which affects 500,000 people in the United States each year, often older adults who have been in the hospital and

have been taking antibiotics. n Kevin Fuller, Ph.D., OU Department of Ophthalmology and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, who studies fungal infections of the eye. n Hala Chaaban, M.D., OU Department of Pediatrics, who studies necrotizing entercolitis, a devastating disease in which bacteria invade the intestinal wall of premature infants. n Matt Cabeen, Ph.D., OSU, who studies biofilms and mechanisms of antibiotic resistance. n Karen Wozniak, Ph.D., OSU, who studies fungal infections of the lung.

Page 4 • June 4, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Council OKs Coffee Creek development Last week’s Edmond City Council meeting had some good news regarding sales tax revenue for the city.

While it had fallen off from the same period last year, it was not as bad as Ray Hibbard expected.

The decline was 3.09% over the same period for 2019. Edmond fared better than other metropolitan area cities and towns. Many saw double digit declines. As you might guess, the use tax amount was up over last year.

I guess that comes from folks sitting around in their pajamas ordering off the Internet.

Our smart meter system is moving down the road with training on platforms for the pilot program to begin June 2, 2020. This system will give more accuracy in reading your electric usage and water consumption. Last summer saw widespread complaints in Edmond over the summer utility bills.

The new system, once fully deployed, should provide even more accurate reading and monitoring of usage. Edmond owns its own electric company, so residents’ water and sewer bill includes electricity billing as well. This is something that is different from Oklahoma City and many other area communities.

After several board appointments, the council took up the more notorious action of the evening. Council members were presented with a PUD for the newest development in Coffee Creek. The council voted 5-0 for approval of the PUD giving a green light for the project to move forward.

Where would a new development fit into Coffee Creek you might ask? It is where the Coffee Creek Golf Club used to be located. The prospect of new housing and commercial use of

that land has been under a cloud of controversy for the last two years when residents of the former golf course neighborhood were surprised to learn that the owners of the course had sold the land to a developer.

Many residents did not even know that was possible.

In fairness, I do not think that the council had much of a choice in the way they voted last week. As Councilman Nick Massey pointed out there were only two options. The original zoning for the land would have allowed for much denser housing, which was not desired by anyone. The PUD presented to the council in the meeting offered less dense housing and a gentler use of the space. As Massey put it, “There isn’t a third option here.”

Still, it just makes me sick to see what has happened to the neighborhood. The developer has done nothing against the law in purchasing the land and developing it. My heart goes out to the homeowners who purchased homes with the idea and assurances from Realtors that they were buying a home in a golf course neighborhood. Many of the homes were squarely on the course.

“You know, the golf course could be sold out here in Coffee Creek and housing could take its place along with some retail,” was not heard by any home purchaser, ever in that neighborhood. For most folks, a home is their largest personal investment. It is where they plan to raise their family and retire. No matter how nice a new development is in Coffee Creek, it is not going to be what was expected when folks put down their money for a new home.

The neighbors could have continued the fight, but the expense would have been tremendous. Lawyers tell me that the fight would have been lost and they could have ended up with

more and smaller housing on the land where the golf course existed. They were just worn down for the fight. I think a lot of developers would have come to some agreement with options for the neighbors before they let the land deal go through. I just hate this for the folks in Coffee Creek and wish there were a way to undo it. No doubt, they will face years of construction through the process.

It is not a problem exclusive to Coffee Creek. From 1986 to 2005, there was a building boom in golf courses.

Almost 5,000 new courses were opened. Many were neighborhood developers that followed a business plan of building a golf course to attract home buyers. It worked for the most part until all the lots were sold but the expense of the golf course was far less attractive for the developer when they were not selling lots and building houses. The simple solution was to sell the golf course, but they found that owning a course is not as attractive as it used to be due to an over saturated market. Buyers beware because this contraction of courses is expected to continue for several more years.

The developer of the Coffee Creek project was able to snap up the land at a bargain price. Owners of golf courses are using the sale of the course as a quick exit strategy. “The dirt is worth more than the grass,” according to one golf association CEO. The golf courses are often sold to be repurposed as multi use parkland, nature conservation areas or, in the case of Coffee Creek, high density housing projects with retail surrounding them.

There is far more financial gain in some other use for this amount of land then staying a golf course.

Highlands Golf Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. was on the same path as Coffee Creek. It was purchased with the intent to transform the land into a housing development. After fur-

ther consideration, it decided to sell the property to the Blandford Nature Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit instead.

I am not sure what caused the owner to make such a move, but I am betting the folks that live in Coffee Creek would like to see the developer make a similar choice.

I asked my father-in-law a few months ago if he ever considered building a golf course with any of his housing developments. After retiring as a dentist, he became a developer for retail and housing in Edmond and other parts of Oklahoma City. He built, developed and still owns Kickingbird shopping center. He smiled and told me it was tempting but that he had never gone down that slippery slope and was glad that he had resisted the temptation.

In Prairie Village, Kan., an inner-ring suburb of Kansas City, Mo., VanTrust Real Estate recognized the potential for roadblocks when it bought the struggling 80-year-old Meadowbrook Golf and Country Club in 2010 for $4.2 million. After closing the club a few years later, VanTrust, along with Prairie Village and Johnson County officials, held numerous public meetings to solicit ideas and feedback on how the site should be reused.

Eventually the effort produced a plan for a 45-acre (18.2 ha) mixed-use development surrounded by an 84acre county-owned park that features jogging trails, a playground, open space, a community center, and other amenities. I hope as the Coffee Creek project goes forward that the developer will continue to work with the neighborhood and find ways to give them back a part of what they thought they had originally purchased.

Or as they now say, “Do the next right thing.”

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

Check out what’s inside!

---- The latest on the Endeavor Games ..............................................Page 6.

---- UCO Jazz Ensemble ....................................................................Page 8.

---- Heritage Hall earns special designation ........................................Page 9.

---- Reader grateful for Edmond Life & Leisure ................................Page 10.

---- A look at some events planned ..................................................Page 11.

---- Veterans honored on Memorial Day ..........................................Page 12.

---- Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park cancels 2020 shows ..........Page 14.

---- George Gust reviews a Netflix comedy ......................................Page 15.

---- Crossword puzzle ......................................................................Page 15.

---- Oklahoma Christian golf coach honored ....................................Page 16 ---- A new brewery comes to town ..................................................Page 17 ---- Evictions causing concern for a non-profit group ........................Page 18 ---- Knights of Columbus founder a step closer to sainthood ............Page 19

The Badlands National Park provided a ‘wow’ moment for travel columnist Elaine Warner. See Page 7.

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 Alexx Harms alexx@edmondpaper.com Contributing Writers Mallery Nagle, Kacee Van Horn, Rose Drebes, and George Gust.

Photographer Melinda Infante

Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2020 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 • June 4, 2020 • Page 5

Gerald Jaquith lived in this modest farm home near Waynoka. When he died last year at the age of 78, Jaquith left his entire estate valued at more than $2 million to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

Man of modest means & $2 million gift

Late-math teacher & his very surprising donation Gerald Jaquith lived a frugal, unassuming life.

A math teacher who’d retired from Ringwood High School, he was still driving the Ford truck he’d bought in 1986 when he died last summer in an accident on his Waynoka farm at the age of 78.

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation officials were recently surGerald prised to learn that Jaquith, who’d given OMRF approximately $7,500 over a period of 33 years, had made the Oklahoma City nonprofit the sole beneficiary of his estate. They were stunned when they discovered the estate totaled more than $2 million in assets.

Jaquith never told John Meinders, his long-time attorney, why he chose OMRF as his beneficiary, but the Woodward lawyer suspects it stems from his client’s loss of his brother and parents to heart disease.

“Gerald was a man with vision and a strict set of values. He always wanted to help other people,” said Meinders.

Jaquith grew up in rural Woods County, on land that his family settled around the time of the Land Run. Jaquith helpied his father tend nearly 1,000 acres of land, where the family grew wheat and raised cattle.

After college, Jaquith made his way to Texas and New Mexico, teaching high school math in both places. But when his father and brother passed away, he returned to western Oklahoma in 1984 to help his mother run the farm.

Jaquith continued teaching math in the Shattuck and Ringwood schools, encouraging his charges to head to college and expand their horizons, much as he had.

Mark Dickinson, a friend who helped Jaquith tend his farm for many years, described Jaquith as “a good-na-

tured, everyday kind of person, the type of guy who would stop to help someone broken down on the side of the road.”

Dickinson said he wasn’t surprised when he learned his friend had left his estate to charity. “He was kindhearted about everything he did.”

After Jaquith’s passJaquith ing, OMRF Senior Director of Development Sonny Wilkinson visited Jaquith’s farm.

There, Wilkinson found the remains of a life lived simply and frugally: Tinkerbell, the dwarf cow with a crippled leg Jaquith had chosen to keep as a pet; a cache of family photos; a collection of farm equipment he used to tend the land that had been in his family for generations.

Atop a stack of documents and a neatly folded pair of new overalls on the kitchen table, Wilkinson also discovered a copy of OMRF’s 2015 annual report.

Meinders sold Jaquith’s farm to a neighbor and is still in the process of liquidating the remainder of his assets, which also included savings accounts and bonds. When the process is complete, Meinders estimates OMRF will receive more than $2 million from the estate.

Because Jaquith did not designate the gift to any particular type of research, the donation can be used to fund areas of OMRF research where they’re needed most. OMRF scientists work on projects affecting a wide range of illnesses, including cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

“We’ll never know exactly why Mr. Jaquith decided to help OMRF, but we’re extremely grateful he did,” said Wilkinson. “I only wish I’d had a chance to meet him and to say thank you.”

Page 6 • June 4, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Virtual Endeavor Games June 4-7 Registration is open for the 21st Annual University of Central Oklahoma Endeavor Games, an opportunity for athletes with physical disabilities to participate in various sporting events on a competitive level, June 4-7. This year, in partnership with Turnstone Center, instead of hosting in-person competitions, the full 2020 Endeavor Games series will be held virtually.

The UCO Endeavor Games is the nation’s largest multi-sport, multi-disability event. The 2020 games include a team challenge, esport gaming and nine individual sport challenges – 5K, archery, air rifle shooting, cycling, swimming, sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball, track and field.

Additionally, there will be a virtual welcome party and 12 different live virtual sport clinics including five new clinics that have never been offered before – Nordic skiing, wheelchair football, paratriathlon, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis.

Adaptive track and field coaches or those interested in adaptive track and field coaching will also have the opportunity to participate in a clinic that will teach them how to coach athletes with a variety of different physical disabilities, the proper training techniques for their athletes, how to work with different types of equipment used by their athletes and more.

The clinics will be facilitated by top coaches and staff from each sport’s national governing body including Cathy Sellers, former director of U.S. Paralympics Track and Field; Mary Hodge, high-performance manager of U.S. Paralympic Powerlifting; Jason Harnett, national manager and head coach of U.S. Wheelchair Tennis; and, James Gumbert, head coach of U.S. Wheelchair Rugby.

“Though none of us could have imagined PHOTO PROVIDED Registration is open for the 21st Annual University of Central the 21st year of the Endeavor Games lookOklahoma Endeavor Games, an opportunity for athletes with ing quite like this,” said Katrina Shaklee, asphysical disabilities to participate in various sporting events sistant vice president for wellness and sport on a competitive level, June 4-7. This year, in partnership with at UCO. Turnstone Center, instead of hosting in-person competitions, “We are proud to be offering the games the full 2020 Endeavor Games series will be held virtually.

Additionally, there will be a virtual welcome party and 12 different live virtual sport clinics including five new clinics that have never been offered before – Nordic skiing, wheelchair football, paratriathlon, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis. virtually and continuing our mission of bringing adaptive sport opportunities to athletes across the country, in collaboration with our partners at Turnstone.”

Central is an official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site and is the host training site for the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Sitting Volleyball teams. In addition, Central currently is a training site for USA Taekwondo.

National Partners for the Endeavor Games include the University of Central Oklahoma and Turnstone Center, a free-standing notfor-profit organization that provides a comprehensive continuum of supportive services addressing the unique needs of people with disabilities and their families.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Turnstone Center has hosted the first leg of the annual Endeavour Games series in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Turnstone Center is a Paralympic Training Site and is the host training site for the U.S. Men's and Women's National Goalball Teams.

For athlete registration or to view a complete schedule of events for the 2020 Virtual UCO Endeavor Games, visit www.endeavorgames.com/edmond. Registration closes May 31.

For more information about the UCO Endeavor Games, contact Cassidhe Walker, coordinator for adaptive sports and events at Central at cwalker68@uco.edu or 405-9743411.

UCO athletics starts to reopen The University of Central Oklahoma athletic department announced Friday its plan for reopening under the guidance of medical professionals and university leadership. The UCO athletic department reopened this week on a limited basis and as the beginning of a three-phase plan.

“We are ready to get back to allowing our coaches and student-athletes to do what they are here to do, but we know it is of the most importance to do that in a way that keeps the health and safety of every individual as the top priority,” UCO Interim Athletic Director Chuck Bailey said. “In working with the president and the university’s COVID-19 Task Force, we feel like we have come up with a phased plan that will allows us to reopen. We are going to be vigilant about health and safety as we do this. And we will continue to work with leadership in June and July to ensure we are maintaining the best practices.”

Student-athletes will be allowed to return to campus for voluntary workouts during Phase I (Now through June 19). All student-athletes will be screened by the athletic training staff at the Sports Performance Center and must demonstrate they are symptom free before being cleared to participate. A daily questionnaire will be completed to track temperatures and other symptoms. Following NCAA and MIAA rules, access to and use of facilities and equipment will be coordinated and scheduled through strength & conditioning personnel, athletic training and coaches, where permissible. Coaches and/or staff must be present for oversight during training. All team activities and workouts will occur on weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Only current UCO student-athletes who have been cleared by the athletic training staff may utilize the facilities.

Team activities and workouts will be limited to no more than 20 people, including coaches and/or trainers. Current CDC guidelines recommendation of six feet of distance between individuals will be enforced.

Personal protection equipment (PPE) including gloves, masks, disinfecting wipes and sprays will be made available and used in accordance with university guidelines.

Phase II (June 22-July 5) will follow the same guidelines and best practices while allowing for no more than 40 people at one time to be involved in training activities.

Phase III will begin July 6 and normal operations will resume from that point. Physical distancing and use of personal protection equipment will remain strongly encouraged as will an emphasis on the cleaning and sanitizing of all equipment and areas of activity.

The UCO Athletic Department will continue to work with university leadership and the university’s pandemic task force to ensure best practices are put in place.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 4, 2020 • Page 7

When traveling, keep an eye out for ‘wow’ moments

By Elaine Warner Travel has lots of benefits: pleasure, education, altruism, excitement, exploration and more. And every once in a while, it provides moments so profound, Warner they can only be described as “Wow!” moments.

I’ve spent the last two months reorganizing materials collected during my travels – and going through photos of trips I’ve taken. And I’ve reflected on those memories of brief moments that stand out because of overwhelming feelings of being a part of something universal and amazing.

A 1999 trip to Italy with the Edmond Community Chorale and UCO singers provided two such moments.

While in Spoleto, the UCO students had a rehearsal for a concert they were singing that night. Chorale members had free time to explore. Jack and I wandered outside the historic city walls and found an ancient church undergoing restoration.

San Salvatore, founded somewhere around the 4th or 5th century, was deserted inside. There was no glass in the arched, Romanesque windows located high above the altar. Rays of sun coming through the openings illuminated minute dust motes, making them sparkle like a shower of stardust.

Tall columns, salvaged from an earlier pagan temple, lined the nave. It was silent. I was suddenly aware of standing in a spot where centuries of Christians worshiped, where a million prayers were lifted up. The verse from Hebrews came to mind, “…we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses….” And my prayer was raised to join them.

Later in the trip, we joined with a Sienese choir to perform Dvorak’s Mass in D Major. When we first arrived in Siena, we toured the Duomo (cathedral) where we would be singing. One of Europe’s most impressive cathedrals, its interior is highlighted with massive black and white marble columns. The vaulted ceiling was so high and dark we were unable to see it.

That night we assembled in the church where a large crowd was gathered. The acoustics were amazing and the sound of so many voices joined in the beautiful music was thrilling. We had sung the first three sections of the mass, including the lengthy Credo. The altos entered the first measure of the next section, followed successively by the other three parts. As the entire choir joined the Sanctus, the lights on the ceiling suddenly went on – revealing a cerulean blue background spangled by golden stars. It was as if the heavens opened. It was such a stunning sight that I briefly lost my place in the music. Another Wow! moment!

Not all of these moments are so dramatic. In 2002 I was working on an article on Colorado dude ranches.

Laramie River Ranch is heaven for horse lovers – from instruction, trail rides, and herding and team-penning cattle – equestrian activities are the main attraction at this ranch. The morning guests were invited to mount up and help move cattle from one pasture to another, I decided I’d rather try

to photograph the activity than participate. I knew about where the drive would go and about when it would pass my spot.

I was alone in a huge sea of grass.

There were no sounds of civilization – only the wind in the grass and an occasional meadowlark song. Across the meadow the mountains rose blue in the distance. Not a single soul was in sight. Simply being, breathing, was enough. That there are so few moments like this in my life made this one a Wow. In the distance, I heard the first sounds of the cattle drive – mooing animals and the whistles and shouts of the cowboys and greenhorns. The spell was broken.

I had a similar experience in Badlands National Park in 2015. Jack and I stayed in one of the cabins in the park overnight. I’m an early riser, Jack’s not, so I quietly dressed in the semi-dark, got the car keys and slipped out the door before sunrise. I drove back to an overlook in the park.

If you’ve never been there, the surrounding land is rolling, treeless prairie.

I can imagine a family in a covered wagon looking at the endless grassland and wondering if they’d ever get to their destination. Had they taken this route, they would have had a real Wow moment – and not in a good way. All of a sudden, the bottom falls out of the landscape into deep depressions featuring dry, desert-like mounds and crevices.

Not a good moment for them – but for me, again the silence was soothing, I was completely along but one with the prairie behind me, the sky above me and the spectacle of geology in front of me. What an amazing world we live in!

Maybe my favorite “Aha” came in Quebec in 2013. I had been exploring the lower town and took the funicular up the cliff to the higher part of the city. The elegant Chateau Frontenac, a regal grande-dame of a hotel, crowns the Dufferin Terrace,. The terrace was crowded with tourists – some looking over the fence at the St. Lawrence River far below, others watching jugglers performing for coins.

Over the chatter, I could hear the strains of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” one of my favorite songs. I followed the sound to its source, an attractive blond singer, Louisette Couture, who had set up a mini-sound system and a small display of CDs for sale.

I noticed several people had also stopped to enjoy the music. As Louisette reached the chorus, I could hear two women singing along softly.

Feeling brave, I added the alto. Next chorus, we grew more confident, finally singing full voice. As the song ended, we smiled at each other – no language barrier here -- and went our separate ways. It was a sweet moment of connection with total strangers – an affirmation of community amidst anonymity.

You’ll notice a couple of common threads through my experiences. One is silence; the other, music. Now that my travel consists of daily walks through my neighborhood, I’m trying to be more aware of my surroundings rather than letting my brain spin busily on all I need to be doing at home.

There are Wow! moments everywhere, if only we pay attention.

An early morning drive into the Badlands catches both the setting moon and rising sun.

The Basilica di San Salvatore is the oldest church in Spoleto.

Page 8 • June 4, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

The University of Central Oklahoma Jazz Ensemble I has been selected to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference held this upcoming December in Chicago. This is the second time UCO has been selected to perform at the conference. Pictured, top to bottom, left to right, Michael Pruett, a senior music education major; Austin Stunkard, a music jazz studies graduate student; Tyler Gitthens, a sophomore computer science major; David Bowen, a senior jazz performance major; Spencer Banister, a sophomore music education major; Tanner Morgan, a junior music education major; Maddison Flebbe, a junior music education major; Jack Cheatham, a sophomore nursing major; Nelson Gonzalez, a junior arts administration major; Clayton Roffey, a music jazz studies graduate student; Garrett Jacobson, a music jazz studies graduate student; Eric Neel, a freshman jazz performance major; Logan From, a senior music education major; Michael Potts, a music jazz studies graduate student; Allister Baca, a senior jazz performance major; Kaitlyn Slade, a junior music education major; and, Vince Norman, a music jazz studies graduate student, members of UCO Jazz Ensemble I virtually perform “Labyrinthian Awakening.”

Jazz ensemble invited to perform at inter. conference The University of Central Oklahoma Jazz Ensemble I has been selected to perform at the prestigious Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference to be held this December in Chicago. This is the second time UCO has been selected to perform at the conference.

“A regional university in central Oklahoma might not be where you would expect to find one of the best jazz programs in America, but here we are,” said Steven Hansen, M.F.A., dean of the UCO College of Fine Arts and Design.

“This invitation to perform at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago is further proof of our joyous creativity, professionalism and accomplishment in this singu-

larly American art form. I am so proud of our faculty and students.”

The Midwest Clinic began in 1946 and for nearly 74 years musicians, educators and people passionate about music education of all skill levels have gathered in Chicago for the largest music conference of its kind. The annual four-day conference draws more than 18,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 40 countries.

“It is very rare for any ensemble to be invited to perform more than once,” said Brian Gorrell, director of the UCO jazz program.

“The legacy of our program is a point of pride for all of us.”

UCO’s Jazz Ensemble I was first honored with a trip to perform at the Midwest Clinic in 2013 and continues to be part of what has grown and matured into a nationally-respected jazz studies program. This latest honor for the ensemble follows on the heels of a first-place victory at the 48th Next Generation Jazz Festival in Monterey, California.

Despite current limitations on live performances, Central’s jazz ensembles continue to present virtual concerts online.

To view Central’s virtual concerts and to see a complete listing of UCO College of Fine Arts and Design events and performances, visit cfad.uco.edu.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 4, 2020 • Page 9

PHOTO PROVIDED

Heritage Hall ‘No Place for Hate’ student committee members Skylar Mooneyham, Olivia Ross, Phillip Smitherman, Alex Black, Maya Banks, Evelyn Boggs, Edwin Lorne, and Genesis Franks.

Heritage Hall officially designed a ‘No Place for Hate’ school Last fall, Heritage Hall students grades PS-12 were offered the opportunity to sign the AntiDefamation League’s “Resolution of Respect” as part of the School’s initiative to become a No Place for Hate (NPFH) campus. The ADL initiative provides a framework for creating and maintaining a positive and inclusive learning environment for all, as well as a culture of respect within all three divisions.

Whittney Darko, the School’s Associate Director of Diversity and Inclusion, noted that Heritage Hall is the first school in the state of Oklahoma to complete the program as it joins more than 1,600 schools nationwide as a NPFH school. “It says a great deal about the importance the School places on diversity education, inclusion, and awareness,” Darko stated.

Darko believes that Heritage Hall’s designation also highlights the School’s commitment to

being a place where all who enter the campus feel as though they belong. “The amazing thing about this program is that we are getting to expand upon what each School division is already doing to promote diversity and inclusion, while getting ideas for enriching our curriculum and activities further,” Darko said.

To receive the NPFH designation, schools must first take the NPFH pledge which includes supporting a non-bullying environment and being an ally to peers. The schools then create a NPFH committee – comprised of students, teachers and parents – that organizes and hosts three schoolwide activities throughout the year. At the end of the year, schools who have completed these steps receive a NPFH banner in recognition of their designation.

Heritage Hall events this year included the Lower School Día

de los Muertos Celebration and Charger Shine assembly Charger Spotlight segments, featuring students from the University of Central Oklahoma International House who share stories and information about their native countries. Other events included the Middle School Mix It Up Day, the Upper School Stanley Hupfeld at Western Village holiday party, and the all-school Black History Month Assembly.

Reflecting on how diversity education aligns with the School’s emerging positive education initiative, Assistant Head of School Nick Carter observed, “Positive education promotes a flourishing community in which each person is valued and all cultures unite to become ‘us.’

We are proud to partner with ADL in our ongoing efforts to provide every student at Heritage Hall a welcoming and secure environment in which to thrive.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Heritage Hall Upper School students sign the ‘No Place for Hate’ pledge

Page 10 • June 4, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

Scanning headlines I hope, by the time many of you have read this, that the riot situations have calmed down.

It’s such a sad deal.

I don’t wish to rehash the topic. Judging from social media, everyone knows every- Steve Gust thing about it and how to fix it.

Let’s hope cooler heads prevail.

-----Have you ever noticed how many experts there are in life?

I’ve always said most people believe they could handle situations much better than the actual person in charge.

For example, many people know they could do a better job than Lincoln Riley, the Sooners head football coach.

I have to admit, I find myself sometimes thinking that myself.

Back in the overtime against Georgia in the Rose Bowl, OU should have gone for it with a fourth and 1 in the playoff game.

But they didn’t and lost.

Also, many people probably know how to raise other folks’ kids better than the parents.

The bottom line is that it’s a lot easier to be a critic than to have to place yourself in the arena and make the big decisions.

For instance, if OU had gone for the fourth and 1 and missed it, the back seat coaches would still have lambasted Coach Riley.

Most of them would have the same ones wanting him to have gone for it.

---Glad to see more things starting to reopen.

Remember to continue to use precautions. Heck of an article in The Oklahoman the other day on banker Gene Rainbolt, 91, overcoming the illness.

It’s been tragic to see how many older citizens have been lost to this dreaded virus. At the same time, I’ve been impressed with how really tough some of these older folks have been.

Everyone stay safe.

The time has come to back Edmond’s small businesses Editor With June here it’s clear that residents are feeling more comfortable stepping out of their homes and into retail and restaurant establishments. As businesses begin to open their doors, it’s more important than ever to support the businesses who make our community unique. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, small businesses are the lifeblood of Edmond because they set us apart from every other city.

I don’t want to know an Edmond without Cafe 501 or Native Summit. Imagine downtown without Othello’s

Letter to the Editor or the Patriarch. It’s not the same, is it?

Edmond is blessed to have incredible staples, but we have many new and exciting establishments who are counting on us to support them, too. We’ve experienced a boom of new businesses like The Mule, Ellis Island, Nine on 33rd, Edmond Railyard, Cultured Cloths and Blocworks, just to name a handful. As restrictions begin to lift, we have brand new businesses waiting to open like Frenzy Brewing.

There are people behind these ventures

who have given everything they have to make their community a better place to live.

For most, it took years of saving and planning to make their small business dreams come true. They took a chance, went out a limb and were met with a global pandemic.

It’s time now, to show up and help your neighbors. The best way to help is to patronize small, local businesses. Buy a Father’s Day gift from Plenty Mercantile or order someone special a bouquet from Madeline’s Flowers. Visit Al’s Bicycles and hit the pavement at Spring Creek Trail. When you need to make any kind of purchase, think small first. If you’re unsure about which businesses we have in town, call the Edmond Chamber and we’ll gladly give you a recommendation.

If you’ve taken a financial hit during the pandemic, you can still help without spending money. It costs $0 to share your favorite businesses’ social media posts or to leave them a positive review.

Support the movers and the shakers, the ones who have given everything to make Edmond a one-of-a-kind community. Do your part and tell your friends to do the same.

Together, we will bounce back stronger than before.

SHERRY JORDAN,

(Editor’s Note: Sherry Jordan is the President & CEO ofthe Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce.)

Grateful for L&L EDITOR We wish to thank you for Letter to the Editor your commitment and dedication to Edmond as evidenced by publication of the Edmond Life and Leisure newspaper. We were very disappointed when The Edmond Sun ceased publication, but do understand the challenges faced by print media everywhere. The attempts by The Norman Transcript to "cover" Edmond news have been completely unsatisfactory and we plan to cancel the balance of our subscription immediately.

The loss of "The Sun," combined with The Oklahoman's increasing reliance on the biased, left-leaning AP and USA Today for news, leaves those of us who are pro-business and conservative-minded with fewer options than ever. The Life and Leisure paper remains a breath of fresh air, not only for truly local news and community events, but for positive stories and small business support.

Keep up your great work!

Kurt and Barbara Atkinson Edmond

Progressives & the vote battle

By The Oklahoman Editorial Board As expected, progressive groups wasted no time renewing their fight to undo Oklahoma’s law requiring that absentee ballots be notarized. This time the challenge is in federal court and the outcome will be worth watching.

Last month, the League of Women Voters and other groups asked the state Supreme Court to allow absentee voters to return their ballots with a signed declaration that they were qualified to vote and had marked their own ballot. The groups said the notarization requirement was a “substantial obstacle” to those who didn’t want to vote in person during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The high court granted the request. But the Republican-controlled Legislature immediately approved a bill, signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt, that reinstituted the notarization requirement. The bill also said that when emergency declarations are in effect, absentee voters may skip notarization and instead sign the ballots and include a photocopy of an ID such as a dri-

Letters to the Editor policy We love mail, especially mail from Edmond Life & Leisure readers with complaints, compliments or comments about what they read here. The rules, even for e-mail letters: 1) You must tell us your full name; 2) You must give us your complete address and phone numbers (but we will identify you only by name); and 3) We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity and taste (our taste).

Send mail to Letter to the Editor, Edmond Life & Leisure, 107 S. Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034, or fax to 340-3384 or e-mail to news@edmondpaper.com.

ver’s license.

That’s not close to good enough for the Oklahoma Democratic Party and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which want a federal judge to declare unconstitutional several of the state’s voting provisions.

Requiring a ballot to be notarized during the pandemic, or having voters include a copy of an ID card with their absentee ballot, is “onerous and unnecessarily burdensome,” the groups say in their recently filed lawsuit. They want a judge to stop the state from enforcing the notary requirement so long as absentee voters have signed their ballot affidavit.

Alicia Andrews, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, called Oklahoma’s voting process “archaic” and said, “The additional barriers to the mail-in voting process do nothing more than further suppress the votes of marginalized groups and put citizens in harm’s way under the false claims of reducing voter fraud.”

That criticism might be taken more seriously if the federal lawsuit didn’t compare the postage needed to return an absentee ballot to a poll tax.

Progressives oppose just about any rules that require some effort on the part of voters. Voter ID laws are demonized as infringing on the poor, minorities, the elderly and other groups, even when those laws include provisions that provide voters a wide berth, as is the case in Oklahoma, where voters who show up at the ballot box without proper ID can cast a provisional ballot. The Oklahoma Supreme Court upheld the state’s voter ID law in 2018, saying it does not cause an undue burden.

Critics of Oklahoma’s notarization requirement for absentee ballots note that only two other states do the same. Fair enough. Yet this is what the Legislature supports. Changing the requirement should also come via the legislative process.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 4 2020 • Page 11

An update on events Thursday, June 4 ---- Claire Piersol Band & The Vinyl Stripes

Touch-a-Truck This event is postponed until the fall, edmondok.com

Saturday, June 6 ---- Kids Take Over the Cowboy: Western Landscape Art ---- Guthrie Maker Days ---- Southern Thunder Car Show

Little Artists Camp Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; $95; ages 3 -6 and must be potty trained, edmondfinearts.com

Thursday June 4 – Sunday June ---- VIRTUAL EVENT: UCO Endeavor Games

Texhoma Mounted Shooters Blaze Extravaganza Mounted Shooting Location: Lazy E Arena Extra Info: lazye.com

Friday, June 5 – Saturday June 6 ---- Peter Pan & Wendy Tuesday, June 9 – Thursday, June 11 ---- Little Artists Camp Tuesday June 9 – Sunday, June 14 ---- Texhoma Mounted Shooters Summer Blaze Extravaganza Mounted Shooting Thursday, June 11 ---- Gallery Opening: Brad McNeill ---- Squeeze Box & Teasing Weasel Saturday, June 13 – Sunday June 21 ---- NRHA Derby Sunday, June 14 ---- VIRTUAL EVENT: 1940s Radio Comedy Theater: Fibber McGee the Census Taker ---- Drop-In Drawing ---- Round Barn Rendezvous Monday, June 15 ---- Hike ‘n Brew ---- Signature Tour Thursday, June 18 ---- trAi13: Climbing Indoor/Outdoor ---- Souled Out & Pappa Nooch Monday, June 15 – Friday, June 19 ---- Art Escape Camp ---- Heart Studios Summer Art Camp Monday, June 22 – Friday, June 26 ---- Art Escape Camp Thursday, June 25 ---- John the Franklin & Sentimental Social Club Saturday, June 27 ---- Stars & Stripes River Festival ---- Riversport Challenge ---- Cowboys of Color Rodeo Sunday, June 28 ---- Celtic Throne – The Royal Journey of Irish Dance Monday, June 29 ---- Hike ‘n Brew June 1 – June 30 ---- Virtual Event: Art in Public Places Tour Sunday, June 21 – Monday, June 29 ---- CANCELLED: American Quarter Horse Association Versatility Ranch Horse World Show Sunday, June 28 – Saturday, July 4 ---- CANCELLED: LibertyFest 2020 Extra Information on June Happenings Edmond Historical Society & Museum Location: 431 S Boulevard Extra Info: Exhibits include Back to the 1950s, Apron Strings: Ties to the Past and Snapshots in time, 100 years of photographs & Cameras in Edmond. Historic images are available online at edmondhistory.org.

VIRTUAL EVENT: UCO Endeavor Games Extra Info: For details go to endeavorgames.com Peter Pan & Wendy Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: For more information find them on Facebook POSTPONED: “Route 66 Corvette Roundup” Car Show The car show has been postponed until June 4-5, 2021, for information go to centralokcorvette.org POSTPONED: Edmond Electric

Gallery Opening: Brad McNeill Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: 5 – 7 p.m.; Free; wine reception; edmondfinearts.com VIRTUAL EVENT: 1940s Radio Comedy Theater: Fibber McGee the Census Taker Presented by: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: 2 p.m.; Free, donations accepted, at edmondhistory.org Hike ‘n Brew Location: Arcadia Lake Extra Info: 8-9:30 a.m.; EdmondParks.com Art Escape Camp Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: 9:30 – 2 p.m.; $220; Grades 1st – 5th; edmondfinearts.com Heart Studios Summer Art Camp Location: Heart Studios Extra Info: 8:30 – 4:30 p.m.; find them on Facebook.com trAi13: Climbing Indoor/Outdoor Location: MAC in Mitch Park Extra Info: 6:30 – 8 p.m.; Free; EdmondParks.com Celtic Throne – The Royal Journey of Irish Dance Location: Armstrong Auditorium Extra Info: 2 – 3:30 p.m.; $5 -- $25; find them on Facebook Kids Take Over the Cowboy: Western Landscape Art Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Drop-In Drawing Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: 2 ---- 3 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Signature Tour Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: 1 ---- 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Virtual Event: Art in Public Places Tour Extra Info: https://visitedmondok.com/publicart.php Claire Piersol Band & The Vinyl Stripes Location: Hafer Park Stage Extra Info: 6:15 – 9 p.m.; Free; http://edmondok.com/978/Concerts-in-the-Park Squeeze Box & Teasing Weasel Location: Hafer Park Stage Extra Info: 6:15 – 9 p.m.; Free; http://edmondok.com/978/Concerts-in-the-Park Souled Out & Pappa Nooch Location: Hafer Park Stage Extra Info: 6:15 – 9 p.m.; Free; http://edmondok.com/978/Concerts-in-the-Park John the Franklin & Sentimental Social Club Location: Hafer Park Stage Extra Info: 6:15 – 9 p.m.; Free; http://edmondok.com/978/Concerts-in-the-Park Guthrie Maker Days Location: Various Locations in Guthrie Extra Info: for information find them on Facebook

Obituary notices Kathy Eileen (Saawy w er) Dumont Kathy Eileen (Sawyer) Dumont went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, May 23, 2020 with her devoted husband of 48 years and family by her side. She was born on October 10, 1946 in Gilman, IA to Robert and Hestella Sawyer.

Kathy loved the Lord and had a passion for sharing His goodness with others through her words and acts of kindness. She worked hard at everything she did and had a tenacious spirit. She loved to laugh and was known for her amazing ability to tell jokes and stories.

Her zest for life and contagious personality allowed her to make friends wherever she went.

She adored her family and loved spending time with them, specifically playing games, specifically Yaahtzee, and specifically when she was winning.

Kathy is survived by her husband, MiMi chael and their five children: Carolyn Hughes and husband, Scott of UT; Donna d, Ter e ry of OK; James Gough and husband, Limbaugh and wife,, Teennille of FL; Ginger Raines and husband, Jeff of MD; Eileen Levy and husband, Mark of TX; as well as 14 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisterr--in-law, Karen Sawyer of CA; niece, Debbie Poch and husband, John of CA; nephew, Steven Sawyer and wife Debbie of TX; and five grand nieces and nephews.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to Dr. Thomas Showalter and staff at Integris Cancer Institute and Integris Hospice for their love and kindness.

A celebration of life under the direction of Crawford Family Funeral Serr-vice will be hosted by the family at a later date to be determined.

Floyd Lee “Bing” Bingham Floyd Lee “Bing” Bingham passed away on May 19, 2020, age 81 in Oklahoma City surrounded by his three daughters and joined on the phone by his son. He was born September 10, 1938 in Tulsa, OK, son of Alice Beatrice and Fred Lee Bingham, who both predeceased him.

He was survived by his four children, Barry Lee Bingham (wife Cindy) of San Antonio, Texas, Charlotte René Bingham Jenkins (boyfriend Will Moore) of Oklahoma City, Vicki Ann Dunham (husband Rick) of Edmond, and Stephanie Lynn Qualls (husband Paul) of Edmond; seven grandchildren – Terrence, Sean, Rickie, Ashleigh, McKenna, Kensington, and Kolby and 4 greatgrandchildren – Chloe, Christian, Quinn and Maren. Bing was survived by two brothers – Fred Bingham of Jenks, Harvey Bingham of Strout and one sister, Rinda Matlock of Bristow; his brother, Bearl Sitton, and sisters, Clara Wilkie and Sue Holder, predeceased him.

Bing enlisted in the Air Force in 1955 when he was only seventeen. He was very proud of his military service to our great Nation. Through the years he was stationed at F.E. Warren AFB, Cheyanne, WY; Clark AFB in the Philippines; Barksdale AFB in Bossier City, LA; Ramstein AFB in Ulm, Germany; McClellan AFB in Sacramento, CA. During his career he earned the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Longevity Service Award, and Good Conduct Medal as a communication crypto security officer. He joined the American Legion organization to follow their mission of advocating patriotism and continued devotion to fellow servicemembers and veterans.

After an honorable discharge from the Air Force he sold insurance which he continued to do for the rest of his life until he retired. Bing also established Leebco Marketing Company where he utilized his creative side. Two of his favorite projects were desktop oil barrels that he designed for oil companies and a poster commemorating our military service men.

A small family service was held at Pierce Cemetery near Checotah, OK, Saturday, May 30, 2020, at 11:00 am. To read more of Bing’s obituary, go to Crawfordfuneralservice.com

Page 12 • June 4, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond’s America Legion and DAR team up to honor those who fought for our freedom

Late last month members of Edmond's American Legion Frank H. Collings Post 111 and Cordelia Steen Chapter, NSDAR, placed American flags on the graves of veterans at Oakwood Cemetery in Edmond, and the IOOF Cemetery in Arcadia. Pictured from left, are, American Legion Adjutant Steve Henry, William Denyer, Post Commander Ken Wyatt, Chaplain James Crabb, Vice Commander David Heald, Financial Officer Doris Heald, DAR Chapter Regent Andrea Aven, Librarian Ellen Lee, Chaplain Mary Poulain, Vice Regent Tammy Ross.

BELOW --- The American Legion Frank H. Collings Post 111 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4938 in Edmond co-hosted the annual Memorial Day Ceremony held on Monday, May 25, at historic Gracelawn Cemetery. The American Legion conducted the ceremony with Post Commander Ken Wyatt as master of ceremonies. Post Chaplain James Crabb offered the opening prayer. Guest speakers included Andrea Aven, regent of the Cordelia Steen Chapter, NSDAR, and Oklahoma County Commissioner Kevin Calvey. The closing prayer was offered by Chaplain Mary Poulain of the Cordelia Steen Chapter.

Chaplain James Crabb and Post Commander Ken Wyatt

Oklahoma County Commissioner Kevin Calvey

American Legion Post Commander Ken Wyatt

Photographs provided

Members of Cordelia Steen Chapter, NSDAR at the ceremony. From left are, L to R: Vice Regent Tammy Ross, Registrar Jan Beattie, Regent Andrea Aven, Librarian Ellen Lee, Chaplain Mary Poulain

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 4, 2020 • Page 13

Metro Science Museum reopens Following a historic closure, Science Museum Oklahoma is back open, effective this week, and with comprehensive new safety precautions, ticket processes and changes to the way guests will explore SMO. “Since temporarily closing our doors in March to support community health efforts in containing the spread of COVID-19, our staff have been working from home providing online activities through #SMOatHome and planning for the new, enhanced health and safety protocols that must be in place to consider a safe reopening,” said Sherry Marshall, president and CEO of Science Museum Oklahoma.

SMO’s team has been phasing back into the museum since May 1, focused on properly preparing the building and staff for reopening with added precautions and procedures. All staff have been trained in new health and safety protocols and the entire museum has undergone deep sanitization.

“The museum has always implemented a high level of cleaning procedures. We will continue these rigorous practices while adding to the inventory of tools and resources available, implementing even more frequent cleaning rotations. With new procedures and operations, we believe that Science Museum Oklahoma can safely, but slowly, begin the reopening process startingthis week,” Marshall continued.

New precautions and procedures now in place include dozens of sanitation stations throughout the museum where guests will have access to disinfecting wipes, antimicrobial films on high-touch surfaces, enforcing social distancing, requiring all staff to wear masks and now-familiar sights like barriers at all transactional stations.

“These are just a few of the differences people will notice when the museum reopens. Many behind-thescenes procedures have been evaluated and updated as well, including adding new equipment for deep-sanitizing large quantities of items,” said Marshall.

Tickets for now until June 7 are available online at www.sciencemuseumok.org/tickets. The museum will be open with limited hours June 1-7: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. M-F, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Ticket availability and hours for June 8 and beyond will be announced at a later date.

For the health and safety of museum staff and guests, and to ensure appropriate social distancing, SMO will limit the number of guests visiting the museum each day and require timed, online tickets for everyone visiting the museum. Timed tickets are intended to limit the number of guests in the lobby at any one time and keep waiting to a minimum. Once

PHOTO PROVIDED

Following a historic closure, Science Museum Oklahoma is making plans to reopen its doors on June 1 with comprehensive new safety precautions, ticket processes and changes to the way guests will explore SMO. Guests should visit www.sciencemuseumok.org/covid-19 to plan their visit.

admitted, guests may stay until the museum closes.

“We’re excited to welcome our community back but do so understanding that we have a great responsibility to open safely,” said Marshall.

“The safety of our staff and guests has always come first – it is the foundation of everything we do and that will never change. Because of this, a visit to SMO will be a little different than before, but our staff is committed to creating a safe, welcoming experience that inspires and informs the entire family.”

Out of respect for museum staff and other guests, and following scientific evidence that masks prevent the spread of viruses like COVID-19, masks are required for all staff and strongly recommended and encouraged for all guests. Masks will be available for purchase at the museum store before entry.

Guests will be able to explore the museum freely; however, some galleries, exhibits and experiences may briefly close throughout the day for sanitizing, may require a mask to participate or may have limited capacities to ensure social distancing.

Spots are still available in some of the museum’s summer camps, which began this week. Special proce-

dures are in place to ensure a safe and fun camp experience – for more information or to register, parents can visit www.sciencemuseumok.org/summer-camps.

Information to know about changes to exploring SMO: Tickets: SMO will limit the number of guests in the museum each day to allow for appropriate social distancing.

Advanced tickets are required for all members and guests and are issued for a specific date and time to limit the number of people in the lobby. Please choose carefully as tickets are nonrefundable and cannot be transferred to another date.

All members and guests should visit www.sciencemuseumok.org/tickets for tickets. Members should log in to receive access to free, members-only tickets.

Guests using special passes or needing other assistance should call the museum’s Guest Relations office at 405-602-3760.

Regular admission applies for non-members: $16.95 for adults ages 13-65, $13.95 for children 312 and seniors 65+; children under age 3 are free.

Page 14 • June 4, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

PHOTO PROVIDED

Michael Music

Members of ‘And Then There Were Two’ are, from left, Bobby C. Ward, Chad Varnell, Austin K. Haworth and Amy Carlin Lee.

Live music scheduled for Round Barn Cushing musician Michael Music and the Tulsa band, “And Then There Were Two,” will bring live music to the Arcadia Round Barn the first weekend in June.

Music will present an outdoor Morning Music Session from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6, on the north side of the barn beneath the shade of the giant elm tree. Music started his career at age 9 with a $12 guitar his parents bought for him at a Gulf Mart in Tulsa. He said his musical influences included his father, who played classic country songs in the era of Merle

Haggard, George Jones and Johnny Cash, and his grandmother, Lois, “who left a powerful impression on me about the inward power and soul of music.”

“And Then There were Two,” an acoustic Americana and Red Dirt band, will present an Elm Tree concert from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 7.

The band is made up of Bobby C. Ward, Chad Varnell, Austin K. Haworth and Amy Carlin Lee. Raised on multiple styles of music, each member brings a unique flair to the overall sound of each

harmony-based and lyrically-driven performance.

The loft and restrooms of the Round Barn are now open every Friday through Monday, with outdoor concerts every weekend. Board members of the Arcadia Historical and Preservation Society are working toward a safe re-opening of the downstairs museum after closing it in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The barn is located six miles east of Interstate 35 on Historic Route 66. For more information about live music, call Oklahoma City singer-songwriter Joe Baxter at 405-833-1350.

No OSP productions for 2020, officials decide Oklahoma Shakespeare announced today it will cancel the rest of the 2020 season because of the COVID19 pandemic. While Oklahoma Shakespeare announced a revised season on March 17, for the safety and health of the staff, artists, audiences, and community, the company is suspending all

productions scheduled for the remainder of the year.

“There are simply too many obstacles to overcome," said Kathryn McGill, Artistic and Executive Director.

"This is a direct result of the devastating impacts of COVID-19 on performing arts."

When Oklahoma Shakespeare announced the revision of the season, the company indicated that a season cancellation would be possible. "And sadly it has come to that,” said McGill.

The season had been planned for February through December featuring five shows in the indoor Paseo Arts District and a "Pay What You Will" show outdoors in the Myriad Gardens.

Among the many challenges facing the season, Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States, will not be extending contracts to professional theatres until their new safety protocols are written and implemented, a decision Oklahoma Shakespeare fully supports.

The company explored numerous options to safely produce the season including quarantining, testing, and health monitoring for the seasonal staff and substantially limiting costuming and scenery, as well as measures for the audience such as seating six feet apart, and extensive sanitizing.

Safety for our actors was also an important consideration.

“We did everything in our power to keep producing the season," said

McGill, “We look forward to safely gathering soon." The company is currently exploring new ways to produce outdoor shows, with safety protocols in place. "We anticipate announcing some new programming soon, hopefully coming in early fall."

McGill is excited to discover new methods in which to produce live events in Oklahoma City. The company is looking forward to staying in touch with its audiences through a variety of innovative programming.

"Please stay tuned and follow Oklahoma Shakespeare online."

Current season tickets will be honored throughout the 2021 Season. Individual advanced ticket buyers may contact Brown Paper Tickets for refunds. All ticket buyers are encouraged to consider donating their purchase to help support Oklahoma Shakespeare during this difficult time.

“There will be better days ahead, and Oklahoma Shakespeare will once again be a source of joy, imagination and insights into the human condition. I’m heartbroken that we can’t do more of that this season, but am nevertheless encouraged by the prospect of a bright and healthy future ahead.”

McGill said.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 4, 2020 • Page 15

The ‘Lovebirds,’ a shallow but enjoyable Netflix film

By George Gust Netflix’s “The Lovebirds” follows a couple (Issa Rae & Kumail Nanjiani) who experiences a defining moment in their relationship when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery.

As their journey to clear their names takes them from one extreme to the next, they must figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.

“The Lovebirds” is a movie that leans on a phenomenal comedic pairing in Rae and Nanjiani, and not much else. Originally slated to be released in theaters, this movie suffers from the lack of an audience of movie goers. With a predictable, underdeveloped, and mostly uninteresting plot, “The Lovebirds” might have been successful with a group of laughing audience members, but as a stay at home movie some of the comedic fun felt deflated.

We’ve seen this type of ‘bickering couple gets caught up in a murderous plot’ movie plenty of times in recent years (“Date Night” and “Game Night” come to mind), and “The Lovebirds” does little to distinguish itself from these films outside of the comedic talents of its charming leads.

Both coming from successful comedic back-

grounds, Rae and Nanjiani make “The Lovebirds” a showcase for their comedic style, and is the movie’s biggest, maybe only strength. Both Rae and Nanjiani bring a fun energy to the movie that breaks “The Lovebirds” out of the rote crime comedy genre.

There is a fun back and forth between the two throughout the film and gives the movie a breezy light tone as they continuously lob quibbling quips and relevant bits at each other. Although if you aren’t a fan of their particular brand of observational and sometimes whacky comedy you might notice their extended dialogue riffs in lieu of any kind of meaningful plot development.

However, being the unoffensive light comedy that “The Lovebirds” is, the comedic chemistry between the two leads is all you really need to make it through the brisk 90-minute run time.

Overall, “The Lovebirds” seems like a movie that was poised to be a fun respite for moviegoers in a sea of summer blockbusters, but with current circumstances it has instead become the kind of Netflix movie you can put on during a quiet night whilst checking you phone. There are enough laughs with a splash of romantic through line to overcome a predictable and uninspired crime plotline to make “The Lovebirds” an enjoyable movie that you shouldn’t (and can’t) think too hard about.

“The Lovebirds” is rated R for sexual content, language throughout and some violence.

2.8 out of 5 stars To comment on this film review, or any other movie review, please e-mail George at gust.george@gmail.com Read past movie reviews by George Gust by visiting our web site at www.edmondlifeandleisure.com

PHOTO PROVIDED

Kumail Nanjiani, left, and Issa Rae team up as a bickering couple caught in a murderous plot in Netflix's newest comedy ‘The Lovebirds.’

A partial reopening On June 6, OKCMOA will reopen to members with timed ticketing and limited hours. During this special member preview period, the Museum will be open Wednesday to Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m. Opening along with the Museum is the special summer exhibition, “POP Power from Warhol to Koons: Masterworks from the Collection of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation.” Tickets for the general public will go on sale in early June with the first time slots available on June 17.

“Our goal is to provide a safe and reassuring experience for everyone who supports the Museum during this period of transition,” said OKCMOA president and CEO, Dr. Michael J. Anderson.

“Since we made the difficult decision to close the Museum on March 14, our top priority has been getting ready to safely reopen to the public. When visitors walk through our doors in June, they will notice a limited number of guests in our galleries, timed tickets, staff wearing masks, hand sanitizing stations, signage about social distancing and increased sanitizing of high-touch areas. You will not see a full house in the theater or a packed gallery this summer, but you will be able to see great works of art and film in the safest way possible.”

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: OUTDOOR FUN ACROSS 1. Sacred song 6. Chowed down 9. Acoustic repetition 13. Capital of Vietnam 14. 4 qts.

15. Teamsters' group 16. Affair, in Paris 17. Bit of binary code 18. Part of TNT 19. *Sleeping under the stars 21. *Horticulturist's hangout 23. Articulate 24. Combustible pile 25. Joe Louis move 28. Epiphany guests 30. Forgo 35. WWII side 37. *Bonfire fodder 39. Royal topper 40. Tiny river 41. Pond buildup 43. Miners' passage 44. Best not mentioned 46. *What seekers do 47. Fairytale beginning 48. Same as "slow down" 50. Upper hand 52. Toni Morrison's "____ Baby" 53. Threads 55. Pie ____ ____ mode 57. *a.k.a. shuttlecock 60. *Flying saucer 64. 2 halves of a diameter 65. Pilot's deadline 67. *Fire starter 68. Triangular road sign 69. ____ Luis Obispo 70. "Die Lorelei" poet 71. Other than what is 72. One laid 73. Poker stakes DOWN 1. First-rate, slangily 2. Ditto 3. Soon, to a bard

4. They are usually drunken 5. Biblical prophetess 6. Full of excitement 7. *Sun kiss 8. Funereal lament 9. "National Velvet" author ____ Bagnold 10. Give a ticket 11. Sound warning 12. Lennon's wife 15. State of agitation 20. African antelope 22. "Who ___ we kidding?"

24. a.k.a toes 25. *Banned lawn darts 26. Type of rotation 27. "The Hobbit" hobbit 29. *Played with a driver 31. Bye in Palermo 32. Lacked, for short 33. The oldest Goldberg sibling 34. *Skier's turf 36. Snail-like 38. *Volleyball turf

42. Painter Degas 45. Beat the Joneses 49. Interesting person, acronym 51. Eli Manning's first name 54. Ganders' companions 56. *Famous ski town 57. Get-out-of-jail money 58. ____ of March 59. Make someone angry 60. Jack London's "White ____" 61. *Fisherman's supply 62. Marine eagle 63. Augments 64. Pastrami partner 66. *"You're it!" game

See Answers on Page 19

Answers to the puzzle On Page 19

Page 16 • June 4, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Mortgage Matters column

A checklist for buying a foreclosed property

By Kenneth Wohl, RCB Bank If you are considering buying a foreclosed property, it is good to familiarize yourself with the process. There are typically three times Wohl during this process when it is possible to buy the property: pre-foreclosure, at auction and after the foreclosure.

What is foreclosure?

A foreclosure is the process where a bank or financial institution takes ownership of a property due to a variety of reasons, but most commonly because of lack of payments on a loan.

Buying pre-foreclosure It is possible to buy a home before the foreclosure is finalized and the homeowner has vacated the property. The bank is not involved in the

sale yet and allows investors to make the homeowners an offer on the home. The benefit is that the buyer can inspect the home and get relevant details before purchasing. The seller also gets a chance to sell the home quickly and without it affecting their credit rating as much. If the sellers do accept your proposal, be prepared to close quickly. You must complete the sale before the lender puts the home up for auction.

Buying at Auction Once the legal process is complete, the foreclosed property is sold at a public auction to the highest bidder.

This process is completed in-person or online, and you are required to register if you want to bid. If you win the bid, you generally have to pay in full immediately after the auction.

The bidding generally opens with an automatic starting price of the amount owed on the property.

To buy a foreclosure at auction,

there are some things to keep in mind: 1. Do your research — When you buy a foreclosure at auction, you do not receive any guarantee that the property is free of liens or encumbrances. This means you could potentially buy a property that has claims against the property, such as a tax debt. Do a title search on the property you are interested in to make sure you can afford any additional costs. Title searches can be done at the county courthouse, or a title company can run a title for you for a fee.

2. Condition – Since the property belongs to the homeowners up to the point of foreclosure, you are not likely to get a chance to see inside the property. Look closely at any available pictures and drive by the property to inspect the exterior before the auction.

Buying post-foreclosure Post foreclosures or real estate

owned properties are those that did not sell at auction. To try and cover their loss and fees, banks will sell the properties through real estate agencies. The properties are generally sold “as is” and may need repairs. This makes the home inspection essential since you will pay for any repairs. It is also smart to get an appraisal to ensure the bank price is fair.

Buying a foreclosure requires a little more research and knowledge of the process, but armed with that knowledge you can often get a great deal on your next home.

I am here to help, even if you are not an RCB Bank customer. Feel free to call me at 405.608.5291 or email me at kwohl@bankrcb.net.

Opinions expressed above are the personal opinions of Kenneth Wohl and meant for generic illustration purposes only. RCB Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and member FDIC. RCB Bank NMLS #798151. Kenneth Wohl NMLS #453934.

OC’s David Lynn again grabs coaching honor

PHOTO PROVIDED

OC men's golf coach David Lynn, right, with sophomore Alejandro Armijo, is the NCAA Division II South Central Region coach of the year.

For the third time in the past five seasons, the Golf Coaches Association of America on Saturday named Oklahoma Christian's David Lynn as the NCAA Division II South Central Region coach of the year.

Lynn earlier had been named as a finalists for the GCAA's Dave Williams Award for national coach of the year, which was given to Darcy Donaldson of Georgia Southwestern, the No. 1-ranked team in Division II. But Lynn did collect his seventh career region coach-of-the-year honor, having previously won at the NAIA level in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008 and at the Division II level in 2016 and 2019.

"It is very rewarding to be named as a NCAA regional coach of the year," Lynn said. "There are so many great coaches and I feel fortunate that my peers recognized how well we played on the course this season.

It's a team award and I'm thankful for the group of guys we had this season and all of their dedication to be the best team every day."

Lynn guided the Eagles to three

wins in seven tournaments during the 2019-20 season, which ended in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak. OC was ranked No. 11 in the final Bushnell Golfweek Division II coaches' poll. In their six tournaments against Division II competition, the Eagles won three times, finished second twice and third once.

OC posted an 80-4-1 mark in Division II play and didn't have a losing record against any Division II team, splitting with No. 6 Arkansas Tech, No. 21 Colorado State-Pueblo and California-San Diego while going 3-1 head-to-head against No. 10 St. Mary's (Texas). The Eagles had two players receive GCAA All-America honors – senior Trevor Norby (first team) and junior Andres Brictson (honorable mention).

Lynn was named earlier this month as the Lone Star Conference's coach of the year, his ninth conference honor from three different leagues – the Sooner Athletic Conference (2003, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2012), the Heartland Conference (2013, 2016, 2019) and the LSC.

Stephenson Cancer Center tops in clinical trials enrollment For the fourth year in a row, Stephenson Cancer Center at OU Medicine is No. 1 in enrolling patients in clinical trials for the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network.

The distinction is among the network’s Lead Academic Participating Sites, which represent the top cancer centers in the nation. Over the past year, Stephenson Cancer Center enrolled 330 patients to clinical trials, nearly 100 more than the next closest participant in the network. Robert

Mannel, M.D., director of Stephenson Cancer Center, said this achievement reflects the center’s mission to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of cancer for all Oklahomans.

“The best treatment for any patient with cancer is on a clinical trial,” Mannel said. “Part of our mission is to give Oklahomans access to these trials.

They can feel confident that they have the widest array of options and the most innovative therapy right here at home.”

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 4, 2020 • Page 17

Downtown adds local brewer

Frenzy Brewing Co. now open at 15 S. Broadway.

It’s been a wait of more than 131 years, but the city of Edmond will finally be able to lay claim to a brewery in its city limits.

The city’s first craft beer brewery – Frenzy Brewing Co. – is set to open its doors to the public in a series of events over the coming weeks.

Frenzy will open shop in downtown Edmond in the historic E.A. Bender Building, 15 S. Broadway.

The first milestone came last week, as Frenzy opened to the public from 4 to 8 p.m. for curbside to-go sales. That will be followed by a grand-opening week from June 15-20 where guests can visit the brewery taproom.

Brewery co-owners Matt Conner and Jeremy Estle initially targeted a March opening for the taproom, but plans were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conner and Estle, both former homebrewers and longtime Edmond residents, launched their brand to the public in March 2019, along with the help of Conner’s wife, Beth. They have been produc-

ing and selling beer since that time through a collaboration with Oklahoma City’s Angry Scotsman Brewing Co. In late 2019, the pair left their day jobs to focus on construction of the 6,500square-foot brewery and taproom in the Bender Building, which features some of the original concrete floors, wood roof and brick walls constructed around 1918.

The updated interior now features an abundance of natural light; spacious and airy seating areas highlighted by reclaimed wood accents and rustic-style lighting fixtures; and historical photos of the building from different eras.

“We are proud to be able to call ourselves Edmond’s first brewery,” Conner said. “For that reason, we were excited to be able to preserve some of the history of our building, and we can’t wait to have our customers stop in for a drink and check out the space.”

Frenzy will have several canned offerings available for curbside purchase, in-

See Frenzy, Page 18

Castilla & Cuban launch yet another collaboration

By Dale Denwalt Oklahoman.com Edmond banker Jill Castilla has teamed up with Mark Cuban on a project to help small business owners navigate a complicated loan forgiveness application.

Under the Paycheck Protection Program launched in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government authorized loans while also allowing small businesses to have those loans forgiven.

The forgiveness application is 11 pages long and cumbersome, said Castilla, president and CEO of Citizens Bank of Edmond. With Cuban's help, a website

was launched to help business owners fill out the form and submit it to their own bank.

"We were starting to get some concern on social media across the nation," she said. "We've been so involved with the Paycheck Protection Program that we get to hear from those borrowers, even though they may not have come through Citizens Bank of Edmond."

The free website, PPP.bank, is a collaboration between Castilla, Cuban and Teslar Software, which manages online banking applications.

"Mark Cuban reached out to me late last week and he thought we really needed to launch some type of

Boeing donation helps vets The American Cancer Society of Oklahoma recently donated $1,000 worth of thermometers to the Oklahoma City VA Health Care System, allowing local veterans to check their temperature before going in for cancer treatment.

The donation of nearly 100 thermometers was made possible thanks to a generous donation by the Boeing Company.

“We knew there was a great need here,” said Lindsey Diel, ACS Health Systems Manager. “That’s one of the good things about the American Cancer Society having a local footprint; we knew this was something that was needed for the health and safety of our veterans, and we were able to reach out to one of our partners who helped make this happen.”

Officials at Boeing were quick to respond.

“Boeing employees in Oklahoma have always focused on supporting our local community,” said Amanda Neamon, Bombers Logistics Integration for Boeing. “When the American Cancer Society presented the need for digital thermometers due to the impact of COVID-19, we knew the Oklahoma Chapter of the Employees Community Fund of Boeing was positioned to respond right away. We were honored to help veterans at the

Oklahoma City VA Hospital.”

Delivery of the thermometers occurred just before Memorial Day. “As a vulnerable population, the need for this basic monitoring equipment makes a big difference to our veterans,” said Leann Denney, RN, Oncology Nurse Navigator for OKC VA HCS. “The current COVID pandemic has made it extremely difficult for our patients to find a thermometer on their own. I can’t thank ACS and Boeing enough for the generous donation to our cancer patients.”

The American Cancer Society has been deeply impacted by the current pandemic. But cancer hasn’t stopped, and neither has the organization. Providing thermometers to local veterans is another example of how ACS is attacking cancer every day.

“The funding through Boeing and the coordination of ACS will greatly help our veterans manage their care while they receive cancer treatment,” said Alicia Rubel, OKC VA HCS. “We are truly grateful to the American Cancer Society of Oklahoma and to Boeing for the help in serving our veterans.”

For additional information on the American Cancer Society or to donate, visit www.cancer.org

Railroad crossing project ongoing Continued work on quiet zone improvements will impact the railroad crossings at both 33rd Street and Main Street. This work is part of an ongoing project to upgrade all 11 railroad crossings for implementation of the quiet zone in Edmond.

The Main Street project will begin on Monday, June 8 with a full closure of the railroad crossing. This work is expected to last approximately three weeks with cooperative weather.

Traffic will not be able to pass through the area, and motorists will need to find an alternate route.

The 33rd Street project will begin on Monday, June 15th with traffic

being narrowed to one lane in each direction. This work is expected to last approximately 45 days with cooperative weather. Traffic will be able to pass through the area, but motorists should expect delays and are encouraged to find an alternate route if possible.

Upgrades at both railroad crossings include removal and replacement of the current pavement along with the addition of medians, sidewalks and curb & gutter.

Rudy Construction is the contractor for the roadway portions of the quiet zone project at a total cost of $1,145,452.80.

national application for the Paycheck Protection Program's forgiveness, that the 11-page application was not user-friendly," Castilla said.

Cuban already knew Castilla since the two linked up on Twitter in March to find ways to help people waiting on their federal stimulus payments."

"It's been really amazing to see like-minds coming together. We didn't have any interactions with Mark Cuban prior to this, and it just happened through the power of social media," Castilla said.

Cuban is a well-known tech entrepreneur and a

See Banker, Page 19

Page 18 • June 4, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

OMRF receives $2.1 million to study heart disease Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Jasimuddin Ahamed, Ph.D., has received a $2.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The five-year grant will support research on aortic valve stenosis, a potentially fatal heart condition that strikes hundreds of thousands of Americans each year.

Aortic valve stenosis is one of the most common heart conditions in the elderly, and no treatment for it currently exists.

It occurs when the main valve of the heart—the aortic valve—becomes stenotic or narrowed. The narrowing of the valve makes the heart overwork, eventually leading to heart failure or death in many. Each year, aortic stenosis affects more than 200,000 Americans, almost exclusively age 65 or older, a prevalence that will rise as the U.S. population ages.

In his lab at OMRF, Ahamed studies how fibrosis, the formation of scar tissue, can damage the heart. In experimental models, he and his research team have found that a naturally-occurring protein called TGF-beta1 contributes to cardiac and aortic valve fibrosis, which can lead to deterioration of heart function and ultimately heart failure and death.

“Dr. Ahamed’s team has been working hard on this project,” said Lijun Xia, M.D., Ph.D., who leads the Cardiovascular Biology Research Program at OMRF. “This work will provide mechanistic insights into aortic stenosis that may lead to new therapeutic interventions for deadly disease.”

With the new grant, Ahamed will build on this research, a path he hopes will lead to new therapies to treat patients.

“The discovery of the role of platelet TGF-beta1 in aortic valve fibrosis was novel, but if we can find a way to inhibit this process and step in with a therapy, it could be a major breakthrough in heart health for our aging population,” said Ahamed, who joined OMRF in 2015 from Rockefeller University in New York.

He’ll utilize a method he’s developed to test compounds that could halt the disease process. “Our new, highly predictive experimental model can be used to test drugs to prevent the progression of this disease by targeting it in its initial stages,” said Ahamed.

The grant, 1 R01 HL14812301A1, is funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a part of the NIH. Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Jasimuddin Ahamed, Ph.D.

Rising evictions concern metro non-profit group As expected, the number of evictions filed in Oklahoma County has sky rocketed since the state’s moratorium on evictions was lifted May 18. More than 1000 evictions have been filed between March 16 and May 26, and many of these families and individuals are at risk of becoming homeless if they cannot work things out with their property owners.

“We’ve been concerned about this possibility from the beginning,” Periann Pulliam, Upward Transitions’ CEO expressed. “With the help of United Way’s COVID Response Fund, Upward Transitions has helped 102 households pay their rent and utilities since April 1. Our goal is to keep as many families and individuals as possible out of court and ultimately in their homes.”

Upward Transitions received an additional

$78,000 from the United Way of Central Oklahoma’s COVID-19 Response Fund and will continue their partnership with United Way to support Oklahomans in need.

“We are so grateful for this additional funding from United Way, and we hope to provide relief to another 48 households who have received 5 day to quit, eviction, or cutoff notices,” said Pulliam.

“Our case managers will work directly with families and individuals in Oklahoma County to evaluate the needs of each.”

To date, Upward Transitions has distributed more than $117,000 to assist 122 households with rent and utilities. More than $101,000 of these distributions came from the United Way COVID-19 Response Fund to assist 102 households with the

remaining coming from other funding sources.

As of May 5, the United Way has provided more than $850,000 in emergency funding to nonprofit organizations, which are assisting with everything from rent and utility payments to food, mental health support, and financial assistance.

To learn more about eligibility requirements and how to request assistance, go to www.upwardtransitions.org. Resources are first-come, first-serve and completion of a request for assistance is not a guarantee of assistance.

If you or your organization would like to help Upward Transitions expand this support to more families, please contact Upward Transitions’ Director of Development, Micah James, mjames@upwardtransitions.org.

ReMerge gains new director Frenzy Board chair, Bevan Stockdell says, ReMerge is thrilled to welcome its new executive director upon the retirement of Terri Woodland.

On June 1, Jenna Morey becomes the second executive director of ReMerge since its founding in 2011.

Morey comes to ReMerge from Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma where she served as Vice President of Workforce Development. Prior to joining Goodwill, Morey led state efforts to expand apprenticeship and workbased learning opportunities under the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development and, before that, spent nearly a decade working with international nonprofits.

"I am thrilled to join the talented team at ReMerge and be a part of an organization that helps mothers facing incarceration transform their lives. The impact of ReMerge’s work reverberates through generations and I am honored to bring my passion, experience, and energy to the organization’s dedicated staff, board, and community supporters. Together, we will build upon ReMerge’s successful history and amplify our reach and ability to improve the lives of the women we serve."

“Jenna brings to ReMerge a strong background in workforce development and social enterprise. Stable employment and wages that can support a family are critical for the lifetime success of our graduates. We are particularly excited about Jenna’s ability to create supportive employment opportunities at ReMerge and build upon our relationships with Fair Chance Employers in the city.”

With a new building and executive director, ReMerge is excited to begin a new chapter in serving women and children throughout central Oklahoma.

For more information on ReMerge, please visit www.remergeok.org.

ReMerge is an alternative to incarceration for high-risk, high-need moms with non-violent charges in Oklahoma County that restores mothers and families through a comprehensive diversion program of treatment, recovery, and hope.

ReMerge provides individualized, wraparound services to remove barriers and break the intergenerational cycles of incarcerations, addiction, and poverty

cluding its popular Yeah, Yeah, Yeah (‘Cause I’m a Blonde) Belgian-Style Blonde Ale and its Unspeakable Things New England IPA. Guests are encouraged to order ahead for curbside service using the Arryved app, however walk-up sales will be accepted. Curbside sales will continue until the grand-opening week with the following hours: 4 to 8 p.m.

Mondays through Fridays; noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 2 to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Curbside customers should park on the west side of Broadway near the Frenzy building and call (405) 5625350 when they arrive. Brewery staff are not permitted to cross Broadway to deliver orders.

More than a dozen beers will be on tap for the grand-opening week at the taproom, where guests can pull up to the expansive bar top and enjoy a drink while peering through windows that overlook the brewhouse. Visitors can also purchase canned beer to take home from the taproom’s to-go cooler.

From Page 17 At the outset, Frenzy will allow a maximum of 50 customers inside the taproom at any time. The limited capacity – about 20% of seats in the building – will allow customers and employees more space to safely distance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The safety of our employees and customers is our top concern,” Estle said, adding that Frenzy will monitor local health reporting to be sure they are taking proper precautions to help prevent the spread of the virus.

“We want customers to enjoy our beer, but even more we want them to feel comfortable during their visit to our taproom.”

Once open, the taproom will feature regular hours of 3 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; noon to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays; and noon to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

Additional details about the grandopening week will be made available on the Frenzy website – www.frenzybrewing.com – and on Frenzy’s social media channels.

Edmond Life & Leisure • June 4, 2020 • Page 19

Pope Francis recognizes miracle

Knights of Columbus founder takes step closer to sainthood The founder of the Knights of Columbus, the influential U.S.-based lay Catholic organization, is moving a step closer to possible sainthood.

Pope Francis has approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Rev. Michael McGivney, a Connecticut priest who died at age 38 of pneumonia in 1890 during a pandemic similar to the current coronavirus outbreak.

He would be the first American parish priest to be beatified, the first major step before canonization.

The Vatican said last week that Francis had signed off on the miracle required. The Knights said it concerned the medically inexplicable cure of a baby with a life-threatening condition who was healed in utero in 2015 “after prayers by his family to Father McGivney.�

McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut, to encourage greater, active participation of lay Catholics in their faith and to care for families when the breadwinner died.

Today the Knights are one of the biggest Catholic organizations in the world, known for their charitable efforts and counting about 2 million members in the Americas, Caribbean, Asia and Europe.

The organization is also an insurer, boasting more than $100 billion in financial protection for members and their families.

No date has been set for the beatification, which the Knights said would be held in Connecticut.

Fr. McGivney

Banker From Page 17 host on the TV show "Shark Tank." He also owns the Dallas Mavericks basketball team.

Loan recipients can begin requesting forgiveness Friday through the Small Business Administration. The new website lets people fill out the form and either print it out or email it to their bank.

The team was able to secure a .bank URL, a process that usually takes months, in just a few days. The website won't be branded and is available for anyone to use, no matter who they bank with, Castilla said. She also said it's secure and won't collect private information that people enter while filling out the SBA's form.

"We wanted to make sure we weren't retaining any information, that we were not scrubbing any data or even capturing analytics off the website. The business can be assured that it's just for their use only and once they print it off or clear their data, it's no longer being stored," she said.

Cuban donated server space through Amazon Web Services, and the website can handle a massive load of traffic.

While the SBA provided the form in advance, the agency was not involved in creating Castilla and Cuban's website.

"There was a great desire in Washington D.C. to help Main Street, but not a great understanding of how to get assistance to them,� Castilla said.

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In light of COVID 19 for the time being, some worship services may be suspended.

Please check with your house of worship for more information.

Page 20 • June 4, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure