Edmond Life and Leisure - May 19, 2022

May 19, 2022

Vol. 23, No. 1

In This Issue FOUR SEASONS

Teachers & heroic efforts School year ends on high note

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.

Leadership Edmond class has graduation

See page 17

PHOTO BY PATTY MILLER

Edmond Superintendent of Schools Angela Grunewald is looking forward to the next school year as 2021-2022 winds up. Edmond schools ended the year with a 25,590 students, a slightly higher enrollment that the start of the year with 25,418 students.

FRIDAY, May 20

Partly Cloudy High 85° Low 59°

SATURDAY, May 21 Partly Cloudy High 68° Low 47°

SUNDAY, May 22 Sunny High 76° Low 58°

BY Patty Miller Heroic is the word Edmond’s Superintendent of Schools Angela Grunewald used to describe the Edmond teachers performance this school year.

Coming off two years of Covid 19 chaos, administrators, teachers and students spent time catching up and reteaching topics that students may have not learned or may have forgotten.

“It has been a year of ups and downs, highs and lows,” Supt.

Grunewald said, “with the year ending on an unexpected high note.”

Grunewald said the students have been in classes five days a week.

Also, parents are back in the school in work rooms and at assemblies.

Emily Boyett speech pathologist at Frontier Elementary, represented the district as Teacher of the Year, and five students made perfect scores on their ACT tests,” Grunewald said.

She added all three high schools, Edmond Memorial, Edmond North and Edmond Santa Fe landed in the top 10 high schools in the state.

“Our students have excelled in band, orchestra and all of the fine arts and our athletics have ranked highly throughout the year,” Grunewald said.

North High School has had six state championships including Cheer, Golf, Girls Basketball and Boys Basketball, Girls Swim and Girls Tennis.

“The boys played in the state tennis finals last weekend,” Grunewald said. “Santa Fe and Memorial played in the State Baseball Tournament last weekend as well as State Track.”

Santa Fe earned second place at the State Track Meet.

While many of the teams at both schools won academic championships, the Santa Fe Girls Track team won the Academic State Championship.

DECA and FCCLA groups are excelling overall in many opportunities for students, Grunewald added.

In E-Sports Edmond students brought home three state championships with Memorial snagging two titles and Santa Fe capturing one.

“I am really excited about two

principals moving up to join the administrative team,” Grunewald said. “Debreon Davis, North High School principal, will be taking over the position of Executive Director of Secondary Education, and Memorial High School principal Dr. Tony Rose, will be filling the position of Executive Director of Student Services.”

Dandy Peeler will be moving up to North’s principal while Brandi Wheeler will be filling the Memorial principal’s position.

Interruptions disrupt learning flow Grunewald said 34 percent of the teaching positions last year were filled by substitutes.

“Last year we had teachers covering on their plan time and school was closed one day because of not having enough substitutes,” Grunewald said. “The morale was low and a school can’t work that way very long.”

Grunewald added they had seven or eight days of weather closures and interruptions made for a rough time. continued on Page 3

Page 2 • May 19, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • May 19, 2022 • Page 3

Edmond baby chosen as Gerber ‘Spokesbaby’

By JaNae Williams Oklahoman.com At 18 weeks into their pregnancy with youngest daughter Isa, Meredith and John Slish learned she would be born with a limb difference.

The couple took time to process the news, what it would mean for their child's future and how to prepare for her arrival, never imagining how her difference might also contribute to her selection as a representative for babies across the country.

This month, at 7 months old, Isa was named the 2022 Gerber Spokesbaby and Chief Growing Officer.

"I have a local news app on my phone, and I had opened it up one day actually to just check the weather and saw the call for entries and had talked to John and said, 'Hey would you wanna enter Isa in this contest?'” Meredith said.

John agreed, and the couple took a flurry of photos on their back porch of Isa showing off her personality.

They submitted the photos and videos and didn't think too much more of the contest.

When the company flew them out to be on the "Today" show, they had been told only that they were finalists. On live television, they learned their daughter was the winner.

"She has a glowing personality for a 7-, 8-month-old baby. She is expressive,” John said. “I'm very surprised she's quiet right now because she's just recently found her voice. And it's just her personality, her outgoing nature and her giggle — her laugh is just — it absolutely is wonderful.”

Isa's limb difference an opportunity to represent 'children of all backgrounds' The Slishes do not believe Isa was chosen due to her limb difference, but do see her being picked as an opportunity for her to represent other children with differences.

“We really feel like representation matters. It really matters for children of all backgrounds to be able to see themselves reflected in commercials on TV or movies or television programming, to see themselves re-

PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE/OKLAHOMAN

Seven-month-old Isa Sish, of Edmond, who has a limb difference, was named Gerber’s 2022 Spokesbaby and Chief Growing Officer, earning her a $25,000 cash prize.

flected in books, and the toys that they play with,” Meredith said.

Isa has no femur or fibula in her right leg, she also lacks a working knee joint, though she does have a functioning ankle joint that is not stable, John said.

“We've always been such big supporters, so for us to be able have a child to be on this journey with and now to be able to share it with other people — share her journey with other people, normalizing limb differences and being that representation — we couldn't be happier.“ The official names for Isa's conditions are congenital femoral deficiency and fibular hemimelia, which often occur together. About one in 40,000 to 100,000 children is born with congenital femoral deficiency, according to limblength.org, the website of the International Center for Limb Lengthening at the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics located at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore.

Isa's sister, 4-year-old Temperance, or "Tempe," is taking glowingly to the role of entourage for her celebrity baby sister after finding out while watching television with her aunt

Cover From Page 1 “That many interruptions disrupts the flow to learning,” Grunewald said.

She added what the teachers had done during that time was heroic.

“Our enrollment continues to climb with the highest growth in the east part of Edmond,” Grunewald said.

Looking forward With 54 teachers retiring at the end of the school year, Grunewald added most of the openings are filled.

“We have early notification and when the teachers started putting in for retirement in January and February we started filling the positions in January or February,” Grunewald said.

She added there are still opening in Special Education, Mathematics, and Foreign Language and there will be

more openings as the summer progresses.

Grunewald said they will continue offering many avenues for learning.

“Our students may attend Francis Tuttle, take Concurrent Enrollment, or take Advanced Placement courses,” Grunewald said.

One additional task has been added to be worked on over the summer. A Rubric has been developed and put in place to validate books on the reading lists and those used in class.

“We have committees made up of teachers, parents and students that will be reviewing books this summer using our newly developed rubric.

“We are looking forward to the next school year and plans are already underway,” Grunewald said.

Women’s Health Month May is Women’s Health Month.

The goal when highlighting this month is to empower women to make their health a priority and to help women understand what steps they can take to improve their health.

“Women’s Health Month is a great opportunity to remind women to make their health a priority and to build positive health habits,” said Joyce Marshall, MPH, director of maternal and child health service at OSDH. “We encourage women of all ages to talk to a health care provider about recommended preventive screenings and ways to develop healthy living habits. We also encourage women to speak up, ask questions of their health care providers and reach out for help when indicated."

The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is highlighting five key health topics affecting women in all stages of life. Those topics include breast and cervical screenings, con-

genital syphilis, heart health, preconception health, postpartum depression, and smoking and using e-cigarettes during pregnancy.

Breast and cervical screenings While breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Oklahoma women, cervical cancer also has a significant impact on women in our state. Getting the HPV vaccine and regular screenings, as recommended, can help prevent cervical cancer. Engaging in healthy behaviors increases the chances of living cancer-free, including visiting a healthcare provider for a well-woman visit and scheduling preventive screenings for breast and cervical cancer.

Congenital syphilis Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a mother with syphilis passes the infection on to her baby during pregnancy. It can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, low birth weight, extreme health problems or death shortly after birth.

that her sister was the big winner.

"She's always very happy to be around her sister and loves to play with her," John said. "She seems like she's taking it in, but being sort of an assistant, if you will, through it."

Selection as Gerber Spokesbaby comes with a package of prizes Isa received a $25,000 cash prize from Gerber and Gerber products for up to a year for winning, as well as a wardrobe valued at $1,000 and a $1,000 gift card for mealtime sup-

plies. Isa will get to taste test new Gerber products and be featured in marketing and social media campaigns. Gerber also is matching Isa's prize with a donation to March of Dimes to support maternal and infant health program The Slishes said they plan to use the money toward Isa's future medical expenses as they continue to seek out additional expert opinions on the best care and options for treatment of Isa's limb difference.

"She'll have to definitely have a series of surgeries to make it so that she can walk and that she can have a prosthetic in the future,” Meredith said. “And so we're really looking forward to the day when we get to see her take her first steps.”

The Slishes also say there are a lot of resources available to caregivers, families, friends and children with limb differences, and they encourage people to educate themselves and those around them if they meet or have a child with a limb difference.

Groups like the Amputee Coalition, the Lucky Fin Project and the Oklahoma City-based Hanger Clinic all have support groups, information and even lists of books for children about understanding limb differences.

“There are wonderful medical professionals out there that can not only provide the physical health care but are here for these journeys with these parents,” Meredith said.

Page 4 • May 19, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Francis Tuttle students lend a hand Not many can say they got to work on one of the most recognizable military fighter jets in the world. That is technically now true for a group of Francis Tuttle Technology Center students in the Machining and Welding programs. “I know exactly where that plane is going to be placed,” said second-year welding student Ray Hibbard Max Smith, who is also a plane enthusiast.

An A10 Thunderbolt II — also known as the Warthog — on display at the Stafford Air & Space Museum now comes with a realistic look. Its twin engines complete the plane’s iconic shape but installing them also added weight.

A 30 mm Gatling gun, which fires bullets about the size of beer bottles and are armor piercing shells, on the front of the aircraft usually provides the necessary balance. Without it, the plane starts to tip over. A representative of Tinker Air Force Base, which oversaw the delivery of the plane to Stafford, reached out to Francis Tuttle Machining Instructor Kent Skinner and Welding Instructor Matthew Manaugh.

The plane required a catalyst to balance out the weight. Machining students Dalen Harrington, Todd Ferguson, Aaron McClung, Sam McManus, Ben Gray, and Luke Speer got to work.

“First, we needed to interpret the blueprint and figure out how we needed to assemble the part,” Harrington said. “Then you have to make any revisions. We put it all together [at the Advanced Manufacturing Center.]”

Machining students built each part for the catalyst, which in total is about 70-inches long and weighs six hundred pounds, manually, using their hands and unique entries for the program’s CNC Machine. This added to the difficulty since it was such a unique part.

After that was done, Smith and fellow welding students Ian Michaelson, Karsten Flinton and Jordan Sumpter began putting each piece together.

“We tacked them together,” Smith said. “The most difficult part was just managing the heat.”

Once complete, the catalyst was briskly picked up and delivered to Weatherford. And, the students made sure to engrave the names of everyone who worked on the project, including the instructors, inside the catalyst. Though the engraving cannot be seen, there will always be a part of Francis Tuttle linked to one of Oklahoma’s leading museums.

If you want to get a bunch of students excited about STEM learning, let them work on a fighter plane. What a great opportunity for them and their instructors. Francis Tuttle should be teaching other educational institutions how to infuse STEM into the lives of students. They authored the book.

You can see the display and much more at The Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford.

The museum is named in honor of Weatherford native and legendary test pilot and astronaut, Lt. General Thomas P. Stafford. The museum is considered one of the finest and most comprehensive air and space museums in the central United States and encompasses 63,000 sq. ft. of exhibits under one roof.

PHOTO PROVIDED

A10 Group- Francis Tuttle Machining students Todd Ferguson, Aaron McClung, Sam McManus, Ben Gray and Luke Speer pose with the catalyst they built to fit on the front of an A10 Thunderbolt II that is on display at the Stafford Air & Space Museum. Welders- Francis Tuttle Welding students Max Smith and Ian Michaelson and Instructor Matthew Manaugh pose with the catalyst they built to fit on the front of an A10 Thunderbolt II that is on display at the Stafford Air & Space Museum.

It only takes about 90 minutes to make the drive west to Weatherford and is well worth a family drive for a short weekend getaway. You will enjoy the town of Weatherford as well. It has some nice places to eat and a thriving downtown area. The museum is located along Route 66 at I40 and Exit 84 in Weatherford, and welcomes visitors seven days a week, 361 days a year.

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is the A10 location I got my first exposure to the plane known as the Warthog. It could not be a better name either.

I was able to see the plane operate “down range” as they like to say. This plan must scare the dickens out of the enemy in the field.

Affectionately called the “A-10 Warthog” for its aggressive look and often painted with teeth and a set of eyes on the nose cone, the A-10 Thunderbolt II is the U.S. Air Force’s primary low-altitude close air support aircraft. The A-10 is best known for its fearsome GAU-8 Avenger 30mm gatling gun mounted on the nose. It shoots rounds about the size of beer bottles. The GAU-8 is designed to fire armor-piercing depleted uranium and high explosive incendiary rounds.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II has excellent maneuverability at low air speeds and altitude and is a highly accurate and survivable weapons-delivery platform. The aircraft can loiter near battle areas for extended periods of time and operate in low ceiling and visibility conditions. The wide combat radius and short takeoff and landing capability permit operations in and out of locations near front lines. Using night vision goggles, A-10 pilots can conduct their missions during darkness.

The plane was originally designed to operate in Central Europe in the 1970’s to basically defeat Russian tanks. It is a miracle that it survived its first two years in service. Folks wanted to cut it including the Air Force. They still are not very fond of the plane but just like its nickname, the A10

may not be pretty or fancy but it gets the job done and terrifies the enemy. You do not hear the thing until it has passed and dropped whatever bombs on you it wants. It looks to those on the ground as if it drops out of no where with its ability to fly at a low altitude. The first chance it really got to prove itself was in Operation Desert Storm.

The Thunderbolt II can be serviced and operated from austere bases with limited facilities near battle areas. Many of the aircraft's parts are interchangeable left and right, including the engines, main landing gear and vertical stabilizers.

So, if the plane was designed to kill Russian tanks, why isn’t in the fight in Ukraine? The planes like to work in pairs. Two A10’s could finish off the Russian army in less then a week and the whole fight would be over. One problem is that by law, the United States has to maintain possession of the 281 Warthogs that are currently part of the Air Force today. That is how important they are.

The other reason would have to be that the pilots are as fierce and well trained as the A10 is effective. I just do not know that as good as the Ukrainians have been that they could learn to fly these things in any short length of time. Of course, the third reason could be that the Russians would know it was all over if the A10 was introduced to the battlefield and decide to use even more deadly weapons then they are using now.

The A10 is a little like your cousin the family does not like to talk about. He might not be sophisticated or have the best table manners but when trouble breaks out, he is the first one they call to “handle” things.

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

Check out what’s inside!

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

---- Weekend calendar of Events ......................................................Page 6.

---- Senior news ......................................................................Pages 8 & 9.

---- A look back at Kentucky Derby ..............................................Page 10.

---- Elaine Warner visits metro museum..........................................Page 12.

---- George Gust latest movie review ............................................Page 14.

---- Crossword puzzle ....................................................................Page 14.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photographer Melinda Infante

Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2022 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 • May 19, 2022 • Page 5

PHOTO PROVIDED

A10 display at Stafford- The A10 Thunderbolt II fighter jet on display at Stafford Air and Space Museum. Francis Tuttle Technology Center students built a catalyst to take the place of a 30 mm Gatling gun that is usually fitted to the front of the aircraft.

See Ray Hibbard’s ‘From the Publisher’ column, Page 4.

Corrections employees among those scheduled to get a pay increase A proposal to give state correctional and pardon and parole officers a significant pay raise has been announced by the state Department of Corrections (DOC), a move largely facilitated by Rep. Justin JJ Humphrey, R-Lane.

Under the plan, correctional officers would receive a 30% pay increase, and probation and parole officers would see an increase of 20%.

Medical staff would see an increase of up to 16%.

"Our state prisons are facing a critical shortage of corrections officers, who we call on to preserve public safety," Humphrey said. "Because of this, I worked with the state Department of Corrections to find money within their own budget to fund what may be the largest pay raise in state history.

This will allow us to recruit new officers and to pay those who do these difficult jobs a greater portion of what they deserve."

Humphrey said the pay raises will range from $4,000 per year for cadets to $11,000 a year for sergeants. Salaries would range from $42,000 to $83,000 for chiefs. Combined with benefits, that's a decent living, he said, but it's still woefully behind what he would like to see for the amount of training these officers undergo and the risk to their lives behind prison walls.

Humphrey, the chair of the House Criminal Justice and Corrections Committee, last year called for a state of emergency to address the shortage of corrections officers at state prisons. This year, DOC reported it is down 950 officers.

For the past several years Humphrey has worked with former legislator Bobby Cleveland, now the director of Oklahoma Correctional Professionals, to improve working conditions and pay for prison employees. Last year, the two secured a $2 per hour pay raise for correctional staff working in direct contact with inmates in order to help with recruitment and retention of staff to address the shortage.

Humphrey said the current pay raises can be accomplished by reducing the amount of overtime paid once new officers are hired and by re-prioritizing DOC's current budget.

His initial goal is to increase the number of correctional employees by 600 over the next three years. There will still be capacity to hire additional officers.

Catalystic converter thefts and new tougher penalties The governor last week signed into law a bill that increases the punishment for theft of catalytic converters, tires and wheels from a vehicle.

House Bill 4373 by Rep. Ross Ford, R-Broken Arrow, modifies the elements of third-degree burglary to include the theft of these vehicle parts and provides that the fine for such crime will be up to $5,000.

"As a former police officer, I've seen the hardship caused by the theft of catalytic converters and other vehicle parts and how such crimes are on the rise," Ford said. "With months'-long delays in getting replacement parts, these thefts come at great expense and can be debilitating to law-abiding vehicle owners."

Ford said this is one measure among several aimed at preventing such thefts and punishing those who commit or contribute to these crimes.

Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore, is the principal Senate author of the bill.

“This is a particularly timely issue, as catalytic converter theft is on the rise, and the situation for victims of this crime has been worsened by supply chain problems,” Weaver said.

Page 6 • May 19, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

(The following arrest reports are provided by the Edmond Police Department.

Guilt or innocence is determined in a court of law.

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

May 2 Michael Thomas Giboney, 35 homeless. Obstruction of police officer, (misdemeanor) possession of another’s debit card, two counts of burglary/theft from a motor vehicle, possess drug paraphernalia, possess with intention to distribute CDS and burglary in the second degree.

Oshalyn Neconie Meacham, 24 homeless. Public intoxication.

Jordyn Victoria Love, 18 of Edmond. Domestic abuse assault (dangerous weapon).

Ashton Josue Canales, 20 of Guthrie. (Felony value) embezzlement.

Nathan Charles Thompson, 32 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

Kevin Paul Geibe, 51 of Edmond. Trespassing.

Jessica Rodriquez, 22 homeless. False personation of another and a felony warrant.

Rosetta Della Chavez, 32 of Chandler. Public intoxication (misdemeanor value) obtaining signature for property by false pretenses and two counts of (misdemeanor value) receive stolen property presumption.

Jerry Willard Ashcroft 43 of Stroud. (Possession of a stolen vehicle) unauthorized use of vehicle or implement of husbandry.

May 3 Trinton Dion James, 32 homeless. Failure to ap-

pear.

Derek Allen Payne, 40 of Crescent. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Anne Lose Saritha Verne, 27 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant and felony DUI/APC. Jennifer Joy Todd, 43 homeless. Trespassing.

Joshua Ryan Samples, 33 homeless. Shoplifting.

Eduardo Andrews Rios, 33 of Edmond. Felony DUI/APC. Nikara Love Center, 19. Misdemeanor warrant.

May 4 Morgan Celeste Been, 36 of Oklahoma City.

Trafficing in illegal drugs and possess drug paraphernalia.

Freddie Doyle Johnson Jr. 42 of Edmond. Possess drug paraphernalia, driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked and possession of CDS. Roy Edwin Cox, 71 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

May 5 Brooklyn Marie Nutty, 38 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

May 6 Luke Aaron Labay, 29 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Yamilex Alondra Longoria Alvarado, 25 of Oklahoma City. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more.

Amy Kristine Reynolds, 38 of Edmond. Operate

(DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Joran Lee Sierra Abernathy, 36 of Edmond. Nonassault resisting officer.

Matthew Isaac Hicklin, 41 homeless. Public intoxication.

Kevin Michael Berggren Jr., homeless. Trespassing after being warned.

John Paul Hart, 21 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

May 7 Kevin Paul Geibe 51 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

May 8 Deandre Demone Arnett, 20 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant, careless driving and operating a motor vehicle with no valid driver’s license.

Richard Gerome Johnson, 30 of Oklahoma City.

Public intoxication, reckless conduct with firearm and felony warrant.

Matthew Christopher Martin, 38 of Edmond.

Possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication.

Aariana Alexis Nicole Skannal, 20 of Edmond.

Domestic abuse assault (dangerous weapon.)

Jarrell Marque Mitchell, 29 homeless. Trespassing.

Lauren Ashley McAlexander, 32 of Edmond.

Driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .15 or above.

Jenifer Leann Butts, 38 of Harrah. Felony warrant, false repesentation to an officer, no proof of insurance and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Weekend calendar of events, May 12-15 What’s Happening This Weekend May 19-22 ---- Zonly Looman Gallery ---- Farmer’s Market ---- Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road: American Musical Ambassadors ---- Movie Night in the Park ---- Bike to Work Day ---- Garrett Jacobson Jazz Collective ---- Heard on Hurd ---- Smilin’ Vic ---- GrownUps Night ---- Yoga in the Park ---- Signature Tour ---- OKC Broadway presents: Disney’s The Lion King ---- Garden Festival in the Park Extra Information Zonly Looman Gallery Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: Thu, May 5 – Tue, May 31; featuring the art of Zonly Looman; Free; by appointment; edmondfinearts.com Farmer’s Market Location: Festival Market Place Extra Info: Sat, Apr 16 – Wed, Oct 19; 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.; edmondok.gov

Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road: American Musical Ambassadors Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: Sun, May 1 – Sat, Dec 1; edmondhisory.org Movie Night in the Park Location: Mitch Park Extra Info: Fri, May 13; 6:30 p.m.; Free; Facebook.com Bike to Work Day Location: Meet at Littler Lawn, 23 E 1st Street Extra Info: Fri, May 20; 7:30 a.m.; visitedmondok.com Garrett Jacobson Jazz Collective Location: UCO Jazz Lab Extra Info: Fri, May 20; 8 p.m.; $15; ucojazzlab.com Heard on Hurd Location: Downtown Edmond Extra Info: Sat, May 21; 6 – 10 p.m.; Free; mycitizens.bank Smilin’ Vic Location: UCO Jazz Lab

Extra Info: Sat, May 21; 8 – 10:30 p.m.; $15; ucojazzlab.com GrownUps Night Location: Unpluggits Paint & Play – Craft Studio and Indoor Playground Extra Info: Price by ceramic; 4 – 6 p.m.; facebook.com Yoga in the Park Location: Shannon Miller Park Extra Info: Free; 6 – 7 p.m.; Facebook.com Signature Tour Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sat, May 21 & Sun, May 22; 1 ---- 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org OKC Broadway: Disney’s The Lion King Location: Civic Center Music Hall Extra Info: Wed, May 11 – Sun, May 29; Tue ---Thu: 7:30 p.m.; Fri: 8 p.m.; Sat: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sun: 1 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.; okcbroadway.com Zac Brown Band in Concert Location: Paycom Center, OKC Extra Info: Fri, May 20; 7 p.m.; paycomcenter.com

Heard on Hurd Saturday will also honor graduates Citizens Bank of Edmond’s Heard on Hurd returns on Saturday, May 21, at the corner of Broadway and Hurd in downtown Edmond and will celebrate the success of its 2022 high school graduates. Graduates and their families as well as festival goers will enjoy live, local music and a variety of food trucks and pop-up shops from 6-10 p.m.

“Heard on Hurd is a local event meant to celebrate our community and our schools are a huge part of that foundation,” said Jill Castilla, Citizens Bank of Edmond president and CEO. “This month we will be celebrating our graduates with a night filled with fun music, delicious food and great shopping!”

In addition to more than 60 food trucks and pop-up shops, guests can listen to the pop-rock tunes of Thunder Jackson, the folk Americana sounds of Ken Pomeroy and the musical expressions of Challo.

This month’s featured nonprofit will be Edmond Public Library.

The May 21st event will feature new food trucks to Heard on Hurd including Wondervan and SnoBiz Concessions.

Other familiar food trucks include Big Biang Theory, Daisy-Mae’s Icy Cream-

ery, Jolas Kitchen, Let’s Do Greek, Kona Ice, Some Like It Tot, Split Top Dogs, The Saucee Sicilian, Yum Yum Bites, The Baked Bear, Burger Punk, Chef Rays Street Eats, Barbells and BBQ, Metro Minis, HTeaO, Biggsys BBQ Shack, Jamaican Thunder, Taste of Africa, Bondi Bowls, Murphy’s Cookshack, Psycho Taco OKC, Pop’s Waffles, Oak City Pizza Co, Dos Gringos Cabana, Tasty Snow, Wicked Wings & Things, Falcone’s Pizza, Michell’s Pizzeria, Afonso’s Smoked BBQ, Nick’s Tamales, Tacos El Paso, The Butcher BBQ Stand and Scars and Stripes Coffee.

Many local pop-up shops will also be at the event including Bison Creek Clothing, Dear Reverie, Violet Fig Clothing, Dallas Designs, Sha’s Nursery, Felicia’s Country Corner, Cyndy’s Creative Designs, Dust Bowl Tough, Craftee Lil’Monkey, Positive Pearls, Lucky Lulu, Fort Fastiggi Designs, Too Cute Things, Sew Much To Do, Cuttingedge Puzzles, The Plant Dudes, Hitch by Billie, Puppy Paws Hotel and Spa and ModernGlitz Boutique.

To find out more about the event, FILE PHOTO/MELINDA INFANTE like us on Facebook, and follow us on Rebecca and Ryan Shoffstall enjoy food and music at a past Heard on Twitter and Instagram.

Hurd event.

Edmond Life & Leisure • May 19, 2022 • Page 7

SUMMER KICKOFF — The University of Central Oklahoma’s Boathouse at Arcadia Lake hosted a summer kickoff celebration last week. It was located in Edmond Park on the north bank of Lake Arcadia.

The event was free and open to all UCO students, faculty, staff and the community. Pictured, an individual in a paddleboat from a previous UCO Boathouse at Arcadia Lake event.

Commissioner candidacy announced Ronnie Jones, announces candidacy for Oklahoma County Commissioner Businessman, Ronnie Jones, has announced his candidacy for Oklahoma County Commissioner, District 3.

“Ronnie Jones is a winner,” said former Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick. “From his successful marketing and insurance businesses to his days as a Hall of Fame motorcycle racer, Ronnie has a track record of success.”

Ronnie was born and raised here and raised his own family here too.

Ronnie is committed to preserving what sets our community apart. As our County Commissioner, he will be a leader for a dynamic community, with thriving businesses and schools.

Ronnie will bring work ethic to the office. While vitally important, Ronnie understands that there is more to being a County Commissioner than roads and bridges. He will also be a deciding vote on many countywide

decisions including budget decisions.

Former Mayor Ron Norick and his wife Kandy said, “We have known Ronnie for most of his life. He is hard working and honest. You see that in his racing career, but also the people in our community that believe in him.

We will be casting our votes and full support for Ronnie Jones.”

Randall Kamp, owner of Kamp’s 1910 Café, states, “Ronnie is a close friend of mine and a smart business owner. I know that he will decrease wasteful government spending while focusing on core services provided by the county. We will be in good hands with Ronnie Jones.”

Gary Marrs, former Oklahoma City Fire says about Ronnie, “I know what it takes to lead a team. I know what it means to be a public servant, and I have seen people make promises and then they never follow through. Ronnie Jones will follow through. He is dedicated, hard-working and trustworthy. He will serve our district well.”

The Oklahoma Election Primary is Tuesday, June 28, 2022

Page 8 • May 19, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Some tasty & healthy nutritional advice for seniors Nutrition plays a vital role in the quality of life for all Americans, but can be especially critical when caring for seniors. Seniors face obstacles when eating that are not experienced by everyone in the general population. Some of those obstacles include having trouble chewing, food not tasting the same as it used to, getting out to go shopping, not wanting to go to all the trouble of cooking for just one person, and diminished appetite.

The U.S. Department of Agricul-

ture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) suggest two eating plans. Eating a variety of foods from each food group is key in either plan. The USDA Food Guide (also known as MyPyramid) suggests that people 50 or older choose healthy foods every day from the following: - Fruits = 1.5 to 2.5 cups - Vegetables = 2 to 3.5 cups - Grains= 5 to 10 ounces - Meat/Beans= 5 to 7 ounces - Milk= 3 cups of fat-free or low-fat

milk The food guide also suggests staying away from “empty calories.”

These are foods and drinks with a lot of calories but not many nutrients.

Some examples include chips, cookies, sodas, and alcohol.

Your physician may have suggested another diet due to issues like heart problems or diabetes. It is ALWAYS best to consult to your physician prior to starting any diet. It is important to read the labels on food products so you are informed what you are fueling your body with. Plenty of water is also paramount. Urine should be pale yellow. If it is dark yellow or bright yellow then you need more liquids.

For more information on proper nutrition you can visit the following

websites: www.nutrition.gov www.healthierus.gov www.mypyramid.gov www.foodsafety.gov An Ombudsman is an advocate for all long term care residents. An Ombudsman visits with the resident and if they have a concern within the facility, the Ombudsman can work to resolve the issue. If you would like to know more about the Ombudsman Program or have questions about Long Term Care Facilities, please contact: The above article was submitted

by Erin Davis, Ombudsman Supervisor of the Areawide Aging Agency.

New colorectal screening ages Colorectal cancer rates are rising in seemingly healthy people under the age of 50, and health officials are responding to the alarming trend.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently issued new guidelines that recommend colon cancer screening start at age 45 instead of age 50.

The influential panel concluded that starting routine screening five years earlier could prevent more deaths from colorectal cancer, which is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

“Far too many people in the U.S. are not receiving this lifesaving preventive service," said Dr. Michael Barry, the task force's vice chairperson. "We hope that this new recommendation to screen people ages 45 to 49, coupled with our long-standing recommendation to screen people 50 to 75, will prevent more people from dying from colorectal cancer."

Colorectal cancer was projected to kill nearly 53,000 Americans in 2021, according to the task force. Carl Raczkowski, M.D., is a gastroenterologist and the president of INTEGRIS Health Partners. He says he is in favor of anything that can help re-

duce that number.

“A colonoscopy is a simple test that can have lifesaving results. By opening up this type of screening to more people, we can effectively catch more cancers early and in turn save more lives.”

Raczkowski believes everyone should get a colonoscopy at the appropriate age, but especially those who fall in a high-risk category. Rates of colorectal cancer are higher in African Americans, Native Americans and Indigenous Alaskans. They are also higher for people with a family history of colorectal cancer; men; and those with other risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes, history of smoking or unhealthy alcohol use.

The new recommendation is in line with the advice of the American Cancer Society and other groups. The task force is an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine.

Tests recommended by the panel are typically covered by insurance, but individuals will need to check their medical insurance benefit policies first as there is a variation in coverage.

Edmond Life & Leisure • May 19, 2022 • Page 9

Staying mentally sharp in retirement

By Metro News If asked to describe how they envision retirement, many professionals might reference travel, time spent with grandchildren and various recreational pursuits. Few, if any, would mention cognitive decline. However, cognitive decline poses a significant threat to aging men and women, especially during retirement.

Researchers have long since recognized that certain cognitive abilities begin to decline with advanced age, even among elderly individuals who are healthy. However, despite that decline, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that dementias like Alzheimer’s disease are not an inevitable part of aging. In fact, the CDC estimates that as many as 40 percent of dementia cases may be prevented or delayed. In addition, the CDC reports that it’s not uncommon for routine memory, skills and knowledge to stabilize or even improve as the brain ages.

That’s good news for retirees who want to spend their post-work life pursuing their passions and hobbies. Individuals also can embrace some strategies to stay mentally sharp in retirement.

• Consider delaying retirement. Even if early retirement is a dream, it might be better to work a little longer than you had planned. A 2021 study published in the journal SSM - Population Health found that postponed retirement is beneficial to cognitive function for all genders, races/ethnicities, educational levels, and professional status. The study reported that individuals who waited until age 67 to retire experienced less cognitive decline than those who retired prior to turning 67.

• Make exercise part of your retirement routine. A lack of structure may seem enticing to individuals who have spent decades working. However, many retirees find that little structure loses it appeal quickly after calling it quits. When creating a new routine in retirement, include regular exercise. According to the Mayo Clinic, studies indicate that people who are physically active are less likely to experience a decline in their mental function. So daily exercise not only gives retirees something to do, but also benefits their brains.

• Enroll in an adult education course. A 2014 study published in the journal JAMA Neurology examined the association between lifetime intellectual enrichment and cognitive decline in the older population. The study’s authors found that higher levels of late-life cognitive activity were associated with higher levels of cognition. The study’s authors concluded that lifetime intellectual enrichment might delay the onset of cognitive impairment. Retirees can look into adult learning programs at local colleges and universities to see if anything piques their interest.

Retirement can be everything professionals hope it will be, especially for those who make a concerted effort to maintain optimal cognitive function after they call it a career.

Facts on aging Welcome to DoSomething.org, a global movement of millions of young people making positive change, online and off! The facts you want are below, and the sources for the facts are at the very bottom of the page. After you learn something, Do Something! Find out how to take action here.

Only 3.6% of people over 65 years old are in nursing homes. Elderly men are likely to live with a spouse while elderly women are more likely to live alone.

4 in 5 older adults will battle at least one chronic condition or illness such as heart disorders, arthritis, or osteoporosis. 50% will battle at least two.

By age 75, about 1 in 3 men and 1 in 2 women don't get ANY physical activity. You can keep seniors fit by hosting a dance class at your local senior center! Sign up for Dancing With the Seniors.

While fatal crash rates increase starting at age 75, older drivers' crash rates have fallen faster than the crash rates of middle-aged drivers. One of the reasons is that older drivers tend to limit their driving during bad weather and at night.

The ratio of women to men over 65 years old is 100 to 76. The ratio of women to men over 85 years old is 100 to 49.

99% of people over 65 years old have health insurance, with 93% having government-sponsored Medicare.

According to data compiled by the Social Security Administration, a man reaching age 65 today can expect to live, on average, until age 84.3. A woman turning age 65 today can expect to live 86.6.

Make your retirement years healthy.

Page 10 • May 19, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

Remarkable Derby story New law to help students with mental health needs

By Steve Gust By the time you read this, it will be almost two weeks since Rich Strike won the Kentucky Derby horse race.

It still hasn’t quite hit me what an enormous achievement Steve Gust this was for Rich Strike’s owner Rick Dawson of Edmond. It’s great publicity for our town.

I am by no means a great horse racing fan. But I do like to watch the Kentucky Derby. They made a movie some years back called “50 to 1.” It was about the longshot horse, Mine That Bird, winning the Derby. It’s pretty interesting. If you go to YouTube and watch the 2009 race, about halfway through the race, the announcer is heard saying “well behind the field is Mine That Bird.”

By the time the race is over, the horse has won by several lengths. It was truly a remarkable race. The people who owned the horse weren’t welcomed with open arms by the Derby

insiders. I don’t know if that’s the case in real life but a lot of the people with Derby horses were depicted as elitists.

One scene, after they won, they’re in the owner’s suites getting ready to go down to the winner’s circle. They kid around with the elitist owners. They look at the other owners and ask if they know how to get down to the winner’s circle. And when the stunned owners say nothing, they assure them they’ll find the winner’s circle on their own.

That horse was part of Derby lore and now Rich Strike is also – maybe even more so. I had thought the world might not see another Mine That Bird winner. I was wrong. It was pretty exciting to watch the race. Then, later, when I found out Dawson is from Edmond. That made a great story, legendary. What a great day.

Finally, do you ever wonder if the horse handicapping boys sit around after a race like this and wonder how they could have gotten things so wrong?

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

Schools will be better able to address the mental health needs of their students beginning this coming academic year following the signing of Senate Bill 626. The measure,

by Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, and Rep. Randy Randleman, REufaula, requires mental health facilities providing inpatient mental health care services for minors to share with parents the importance of informing their school about their students’ struggles and care received.

Bullard, a 15-year teacher, said the new law will help teachers and faculty be better prepared to meet the special needs of stu-

dents in mental crisis and provide a safe and healthy environment for their success in the classroom.

“I am thrilled to get this much-needed piece of legislation across the finish line,” Bullard said. “For too long, we have thrown kids with mental struggles aside without a plan to provide them with the best educational environment possible to meet their special needs. This is a positive step in the right direction to ensure everyone, from the parents to the teachers to the student, is on the same page and has a plan to help that student in their transition back to the classroom and

school.”

Prior to enrollment, SB 626 will allow a student’s parent or legal guardian to disclose if their child has received inpatient or emergency outpatient mental health services from a mental health facility in the last 24 months. If such health information is disclosed, designated school personnel will meet with the parent and representatives from the mental health facility to decide if any accommodations are needed. These meetings can be conducted in person or via teleconference or videoconference. All disclosures and subsequent handling of student personal health information or other related records must comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

"I know from firsthand experience that our public schools often struggle to help children who have mental health needs, in part because the schools may be completely unaware of any concerns," said Randleman, a clinical psychologist with over 30 years' experience working with students across Oklahoma. "This bill will give schools more flexibility to work with the student and their parents to meet the student's needs, so they can remain in school. I know Senate Bill 626 will make a significant difference in students' lives."

The new law will go into effect July 1, 2022.

Senator challenges vaccine mandate Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and 12 of their colleagues to introduce the Allowing Military Exemptions, Recognizing Individual Concerns About New Shots (AMERICANS) Act of 2022. The bill counters the Biden Administration’s efforts to coerce and punish service members who decline the COVIDLankford 19 vaccine and introduces accountability measures in response to DOD efforts to undermine transparency.

“Our service members who have chosen not to receive the COVID-19 vaccination face full discharge from the military which means they can no longer serve the country they love because of Biden’s vaccine mandate,” said Lankford. “For some service members, serving our nation in the military is all they’ve ever wanted to do. They de-

serve nothing less than an honorable discharge from service with our full gratitude and the benefits they earned since the rules changed for them after they joined the military. Biden’s unnecessary mandate is pushing out women and men who have faithfully served our nation and our nation has invested millions of dollars to train and equip.”

“It is absolutely unacceptable that the Biden administration is trying to coerce our men and women in uniform to violate their conscience and religious beliefs, let alone on an issue as polarizing as the COVID-19 vaccine. The AMERICANS Act will ensure that these and similar efforts to politicize our military on this issue are blocked,” said Cruz.

The bill would require the Secretary of Defense to make every effort to retain unvaccinated service members, strengthen language to ensure service members receive discharge classifications commensurate with their record of service, require the Department of Defense to report the number and type of COVID-19 vaccine religious exemptions that have been denied, and create an exemption from COVID-19 vaccine requirements for service

Letters to the Editor policy We love mail, especially mail from Edmond Life & Leisure readers with complaints, com-

pliments 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.

members with natural immunity. The act would also protect service academy students and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) members in the same way.

The bill is cosponsored by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Roger Marshall (RKS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Rand Paul (R-KY), John Hoeven (R-ND), Jim Risch (R-ID), Rick Scott (R-FL), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Steve Daines (R-MT).

Lankford has directly engaged with the service branches and Department of Defense to stand up for service members who do not want to be forced to choose between being discharged from service and the COVID vaccine. He introduced the COVID-19 Vaccine Dishonorable Discharge Prevention Act to prohibit the Department of Defense from giving service members a dishonorable discharge for choosing not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, which was ultimately solidified in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act Lankford supported and was signed into law.

Lankford previously sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin demanding to know why, despite 19,979 known requests for religious accommodations from the COVID-19 vaccine, the Department had granted nearly zero religious accommodations among the service branches. The letter requested a response by February 1. When he did not receive a timely response, Lankford requested that the Acting Department of Defense (DOD) Inspector General Sean O’Donnell conduct an audit of DOD’s COVID-19 vaccine exemption process, and the IG responded 10 days later that an audit would be conducted.

Lankford was joined by Senator Mike Lee (RUT), and their colleagues to send a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin asking him to provide information on the number and nature of military discharges for not receiving a COVID vaccine.

Edmond Life & Leisure • May 19, 2022 • Page 11

DAR singles out OCS teacher for state honor Recently, at the 2022 state conference for the Oklahoma Society Daughters of American Revolution, Dallas Caldwell, eighth grade teacher of U.S. History at Oklahoma Christian Schools in Edmond, was awarded the Society’s top prize in the state.

Sponsored by the Cordelia Steen Chapter of Edmond, one of 45 DAR chapters in Oklahoma, Caldwell’s entry stood out for his engaging teaching methods and impact on sharing historical information, but also his dedication to students. The chapter’s American History Committee Chair Tammy Ross facilitated the application to the state level.

To win this award the candidate must have taught in the content area for the last two school years, have an incisive knowledge of American history that s/he readily shares with students, fosters a spirit of patriotism and loyal support of our country and constitutional government, demonstrates the ability to relate history to modern life and events, have high academic standards and requires excellence at all times from students, and be committed to his/her students and enjoy good rapport with them.

With over 25 years in education, including a 12-year stint as headmaster at Oklahoma Christian Schools, Caldwell’s passion for teaching and history drove him back to the classroom. He is in his fifth year at OCS as an eighth grade United States History teacher. Brant Breeden, Oklahoma Christian Middle School principal stated, “Mr. Caldwell does not just disseminate historical information and facts in his classes. He brings United States history alive in and out of his classroom.

His love of United States history becomes infectious for the students he instructs. Nearly every student that has had Mr. Caldwell’s class has said that it was one of their most difficult classes, but one of their favorite classes.”

One of Caldwell’s students, Brent K., shared, “Mr. Caldwell doesn’t make us do school work, he helps us to want to learn and be better people.”

As stated by Caldwell, “Honestly, the most fulfilling position I have ever held is as the OCS eighth grade U.S. History teacher. This teaching assignment encompasses some of my greatest loves: students, citizenship, great stories, liberty and the American ideal.” The DAR award included a $500 prize and a plaque.

Tammy Ross, Cordelia Steen Chapter Chair of American History Committee, DAR State Regent Teresa Cales, Dallas Caldwell, Oklahoma DAR Outstanding Teacher of American History, Connie Tate, State American History Committee Chair, Andrea Aven, Regent, Cordelia Steen Chapter, NSDAR.

A ribbon cutting for Premier Martial Arts Premier Martial Arts of Edmond recently held a ribbon cutting with the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate their grand opening at 3400 S. Bryant Ave, Suite 120.

Premier Martial Arts of Edmond specializes in teaching children character development through the study of martial arts. Their unique curriculum combines the style of Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Krav Maga, and Kickboxing to develop their students to be well-rounded martial artists. Self-defense, fitness and character development is their goal to better empower children to grow their confidence in themselves, self-discipline to do what they know they should, focus and concentration to enhance their schoolwork, respect for others, and the perseverance to never give up on things when they become difficult.

Premiere Martial Arts of Edmond is locally owned by Sid and Kathy Goodrich.

For more information, visit www.premieremartialarts.com/edmond.

The Edmond Chambers, and other well wishers, welcome Premier Martial Arts, to Edmond.

Page 12 • May 19, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

The newest piece in the exhibition is John Newsom’s ‘Nature’s Course,’ the title piece of the display.

Metro museum & its art beauty

By Elaine Warner It could have been set on Krypton, Superman’s home planet. From OKC’s Broadway facing east, it looks forbidding.

Shiny with odd angles, it looks like no other building in Oklahoma. It’s OklaElaine homa Contemporary Arts Center, living up to its name inside and out.

Even the long, concrete walk to the building’s east entrance has interesting elements. Incised in the surface is a quote from John F. Kennedy, “I look forward to an America which will reward achievement in the arts as we reward achievement in business or statecraft. I look forward to an America which will steadily raise the standards of artistic accomplishment and which will steadily enlarge cultural opportunities for all of our citizens, and I look forward to an America which commands respect throughout the world not only for its strength but for its civilization as well.”

On the north side of the walk is a wire rope and concrete installation by Maren Hassinger, Paradise Regained.

The piece features rows of tall, sinuous, wire stems looking like reeds or grasses blowing in the wind. Hassinger strives to cause awareness to the connection between people and nature. Take time to let this piece soak in and hear her words as she was quoted saying, “Nature and politics and populations are connected.”

The building is itself a piece of art – created by architect Rand Elliott. The façade is made of semi-reflective aluminum, mostly recycled, which mirrors the changing light and sky conditions.

It, along with a nearby studio for larger projects, not only hosts art exhibits but offers a wide variety of classes, camps, and rental areas.

Inside, the lobby is spacious with an area which will eventually be a small café or coffee bar, a tiny, but worth a visit, gift shop, and halls to classrooms and the Creative Lounge, a space for small gatherings and a library of art books.

Also in the lobby, don’t miss the vending machine, which, instead of cigarettes, dispenses small works of art for a minimal price.

An interesting feature of the lobby is a statement of recognition and gratitude to the Native Americans who originally inhabited this land.

The main gallery space is on the second floor. The current exhibition, John Newsom’s Nature’s Course, features 31 large, colorful paintings both realistic and fanciful. Leopards lounge in lurid landscapes and giant insects and flowers are depicted in florid colors.

Here’s where I confess my ignorance. I’m a fan of realistic art. Symbolism and deeper meaning escape me. I loved these paintings for the color and subjects. Explanatory graphics provided insights I would have missed on my own.

While Newsom is a New York artist, he was born in Kansas and grew up in Enid, Oklahoma. I can imagine the wide sky, vast prairies and native wildlife of this region played a major part in his interest in nature. Nothing reflects this more than the newest piece in the collection, Nature’s Course.

This monumental painting features bison stampeding straight out of the canvas, hooves pounding through a sea of sunflowers. Overhead the sky is full of eagles. From the reverence for these animals by the Native Americans to their adoption as national symbols, nothing could be more American. Interestingly enough, it was the French artist Edouard Manet, whose painting of race horses charging headlong toward the viewer (The Races at Longchamp, 1866) provided a prompt for this painting.

ELAINE WARNER

Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center hosts art exhibits, classes, camps, and performances in its 54,000-square-foot building.

Once you’ve enjoyed the artwork, step into the learning gallery, a space meant to supplement the major exhibition. Special features currently include a kiosk examining the connection between music and art. Three examples of John Newsom’s artworks are matched with play lists of music which the pictures invoked. A large display with opening panels allows guests to switch parts of two of Newsom’s paintings -- producing interesting variations.

On another wall, a gallery of pictures of Newsom at various ages and stages correlates with a display of artwork showing the variety of his artistic development beginning with one of his first childish attempts. A creation station allows visitors to create their own pieces of artwork. Allow plenty of time for exploring these options.

The Newsom retrospective will be on exhibit until Aug. 15.

Another exhibition, Off the Wall, which runs until June 2, features large scale installations by three Oklahoma artists. Sarah Ahmad’s work, Jaali: “Only from the heart can you touch the sky.” (Rumi) is made up of panels and pieces with motifs referencing her Pakistani background. A statement from the museum describing the work says, “This ‘remixing’ brings history and identity into the gallery, yet the language of abstraction ensures meaning remains elusive.” It certainly is elusive for me. That said, the work is beautiful with its lacy designs and fascinating shadEows.

Romy Owens’ installation, a construction of polyester thread and nails, involves an intricate web of lines defining a shape within a shape. Again, I had to rely on a graphic with a possible explanation – a “Western interpretation of a mandala, a geometric configuration from Asian art that represents a spiritual journey.” I love Owens large installation in Enid, Under Her Wing Was the Universe. This piece was harder for me to appreciate beyond admiring the persistence and precision it took to create it. It’s works like this that make Oklahoma Contemporary so worthwhile. The art is challenging and abstraction requires viewers to think for themselves.

The remaining four works by Marium Rana consist of large scrolls with paintings which tell stories in the style of 16th century Mughal Empire scroll art. Incorporating a plethora of media, the colorful works on paper are displayed draped making them look more like fabric.

The rest of the third floor is given over to performance spaces – a black box theater and a dance studio.

Admission to the museum is free, but call about timed admission. Free, guided tours are offered on Saturdays at 1 p.m. To reserve your spot, go to www.oklahomacontemporary.org. The web site also lists upcoming exhibits and events. Even if you’re not a fan of contemporary art -- do visit the museum. As the old ad said, “Try it; you’ll like it!”

ELAINE WARNER ELAINE WARNER

The learning gallery offers hands-on opportunities to get more personal with the artist and his work.

Marium Rana’s colorful works are created with acrylics, watercolors, ink, vinyl, decorative paper, embroidery,silver leaf, metallic film, even bits found in children’s books, all printed on printmaking paper.

Edmond Life & Leisure • May 19, 2022 • Page 13

PHOTO PROVIDED/ ADDISON PRICE

Pictured Left to Right: Lynzi Carlson, Marisa Carlson, Janet Hoppe, Shannon Price, Savannah Whitehead inside the Edmond Fine Arts Institute.

FAI adds Simply Indie program The Edmond Fine Arts Institute is excited to announce the Simply Indie Organization will be added to the programs facilitated by and housed at FAI, 27 E. Edwards St in Downtown Edmond.

The Simply Indie Film Fest has had two great years of providing an outstanding Independent Film Festival for the city of Edmond. Led by Lynzi and Marisa Carlson, Simply Indie has reached milestones well beyond what is expected of such a young organization and festival. Jennifer Seaton, Director of Visit Edmond, commented, “Visit Edmond has been a proud sponsor of Simply Indie from the beginning. Watching them grow and collaborate with local partners like FAI solidifies their future in Edmond and exemplifies the community support that they have fostered."

With the accelerated growth of Simply Indie, it was time for them to find a permanent home in Edmond.

The Edmond Fine Arts Institute has provided visual and performing arts education and access to the community for over 37 years. Working with Simply Indie this past year, FAI recognized the quality programming and importance of independent film ac-

cess that they were facilitating. Being the creative hub for the Edmond community, it was a natural fit for FAI to bring Simply Indie under its umbrella of programs. "This is a winwin for both organizations and the community,” said Edmond City Council David Chapman. "We look forward to seeing the continued growth of FAI and the enhanced opportunities this partnership will provide Simply Indie."

Now inside the Edmond Fine Arts building, happily situated in north Downtown Edmond, you will continue to be able to access classes for adults and children in the visual and performing arts in addition to the multitude of programs FAI provides to the Edmond community. Edmond Fine Arts programs and partnerships include The Art in Schools Program, in collaboration with Edmond Public Schools, VIBES Edmond's First Thursdays, Art Therapy provided at Pepper's Ranch, Your Creative Side Program in conjunction with the juvenile court systems, and the newest addition of Simply Indie.

The Edmond Fine Arts Institute is proud to be Edmond's nonprofit community arts organization.

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

Page 14 • May 19, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

‘Firestarter’ not bad, but not memorable

By George Gust “Firestarter” is the latest Stephen King story adaptation from the horror studio Blumhouse.

After being experimented on by a secret government entity called The Shop, Andy McGee (Zac Efron) develops psychic powers and meets the love of his life. Together they have a daughter with the power to set things on fire with her mind, and The Shop will stop at nothing to get them back.

As an author Stephen King is one of the most prolific authors of the modern day and throughout the years his works have been adapted again and again to various levels of success, including a 1984 adaptation of this movie of the same name “Firestarter.”

And with King adaptations there are two basic categories: 1. Pure Horror 2. Horror/Suspense.

“Firestarter” falls squarely into the second category, with a flat story and horrific elements peppered throughout. And after years and years of King adaptations and super-powered comic book movies, “Firestarter” plays out like a decently entertaining albeit flat and predictable.

When a movie hinges on a child actor perform-

ance it can get out of hand quickly. Luckily “Firestarter” features an effective performance by Ryan Kiera Armstrong. Playing a troubled young girl who’s lived a life on the run and knowing that she can cause massive devastation with only her mind, Armstrong never goes too over-the-top even when the action reaches its height, which must be a tall order for a young actor. And in support of Armstrong, Efron is in peak ‘dad mode’ as a protective father whose trying his best to make the right decisions. It’s interesting to see Efron transition from the teen heartthrob phase (“High School

Musical” “17 Again”), through the college bro comedy phase (“Baywatch” “Nieghbors”) to now a new chapter in his career. And in this film Efron is believable as a father with a painful superpower, but his performance doesn’t breakout of what the bare bones script is asking of him.

Overall, “Firestarter” is a satisfactory horror/thriller with solid visual effects but gets lost in a sea of similar movies that cover the horror elements better and the super-power elements better.

“Firestarter” isn’t a disappointing film but isn’t the kind movie you’ll remember in a few weeks.

“Firestarter” could have been the thriller that is missing from the theater landscape these days but ends up as an entertaining movie that gets you in and out in 90 minutes, but will be out of sight out of mind in a month.

“Firestarter” is rated R for violent content. Now available in theaters and streaming on Peacock.

2.7 out of 5 stars You can reach George Gust to comment on this film, or any of his motion picture reviews at gust.george@gmail.com,

Zac Efron and newcomer Ryan Kiera Armstrong are a super-powered father/daughter combo on the run from a mysterious agency in the latest Stephen King adaptation ‘Firestarter.’

Answers appearing on Page 19

Letter to Editor Edmond High’s 60th reunion set for June 3 EDITOR: Well, it’s been 60 years since graduation, (From Edmond High School) so on June 3rd, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. or so, there will be a class reunion for the Edmond High School class of 1962.

It will be held at the community center at 13801 Crossing Way East, Edmond. It's the same place we met on the Friday part of 50th.

Since addresses and phone numbers have changed, we hope those of you who read this will contact former classmates you’re still in touch with.

If you’re on Facebook, put a message on your page. It has been a tumultuous last few years, and we need to celebrate the great times we had at EHS! Also, as always, those a few years on either side of ‘62 who had friends or siblings in our class are welcome. We have a few details that we need to work out, such as food and drink. These details will depend on the numbers. If you can attend, please respond to Joyce.boatsman@gmail.c om.

Looking forward to seeing you on June 3.

JOYCE BOATSMAN

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: Weather 101 ACROSS

1. Found in Pandora's box 5. Kind of trip 8. Toothy freshwater fish 12. Medieval headdress 13. Ne on periodic table 14. Golfer's weapons 15. Biblical twin 16. Russian river or Russian mountains 17. Understand (2 words) 18. *Moisture in the air 20. Law school test acronym 21. Layers in plywood 22. Trigonometry abbr.

23. Uses a laser 25. Squawked or crabbed 29. Bitty 30. Two dots above a letter 33. Jasmine of "Aladdin," e.g.

34. Forbidden, in Islam 36. Bruin legend Bobby 37. Lays in peace 38. "Metamorphoses" poet 39. Charge with crime 41. "For ____ a jolly..."

42. Easily irritated 44. *No clouds 46. Gremlin or pixie 47. *Check the weather before hitting this hiking path 49. Speech defect 51. *Cloudy 54. Classic TV's Mrs. Brady 55. Same as island 56. "Cheers" regular 58. Elephant poacher's ware 59. Pb on periodic table 60. *The first sign of rain?

61. Declare untrue 62. Pig's digs 63. MacFarlane or Rogen DOWN

1. *Road hazard 2. Eyelid hair 3. Oahu shindig 4. Assumes bad posture 5. Chill-inducing 6. Bearded ruminants 7. Unrivaled 8. *Barometer reading 9. Tiny bit 10. Purl partner 11. Three ahead of PST 13. Certain beachgoers' philosophy 14. *Cold weather is needed for this meltable home 19. Part of small intestine 22. Cathode-ray tube 23. Hit the road 24. Falcon's home 25. Mentor or expert 26. The Obamas' daughter 27. Bruce Lee's "____ the Dragon" 28. Treat without respect

29. Wallop 31. Scottish lake 32. *Rainbow shape 35. *Weather warning 37. Archeologist's find 39. Venom source 40. Filled with dread 43. State indirectly 45. African antelopes 47. Living room centerpiece?

(2 words) 48. 4 x 4 race 49. Cleanse 50. #14 Across, sing.

51. They don't mix with water 52. Sight for what eyes?

53. Between walk and canter 54. El ____ of medieval Spain 57. *Knot alternative, acr.

Answers on Page 19

Edmond Life & Leisure • May 19, 2022 • Page 15

Sports

State runnerup boys team of Edmond North.

Edmond teams fare well during state golf tourneys

By Steve Steele At the Class 6A Boys Golf State Championship at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, played on May 9th and 10th, they were unable to deSteele clare a winning team in regulation, it went to sudden victory.

The boys battled 25-30 mph south winds and 95 degree temps on Monday and 20 mph winds on Tuesday.

After the tough 36 hole first day the Jenks Trojans (308-308) had a two stroke advantage over Edmond North (309-309) and were five shots clear of Norman North (308-313), on day two they were overtaken by both schools. Edmond North shot 305 and Norman North shot 302 to tie at 923.

Jenks fired 316 and fell into a third place at 932. In the playoff, Norman North had two birdies and two pars to Edmond North's one birdie and three pars on the par 5, 18th hole at "The Jimmie." In the medalist race, Stillwater sophomore Grant Gudgel claimed the plaque with a fine 75-7073-218 (+2). Gudgel became the first Stillwater High golfer to win state since Terry Carpenter in 1979. The top 10 and ties make the All-State team and placing second was Norman North's Layton Kyle at 221. Ben Stoller of Owasso was third at 223, Sam Morris of Jenks was fourth at 224, Norman North's Jake Hopper was fifth with 225 and Alex Bloxham of Broken Arrow was sixth at 226.

Tying for seventh were Carson Wright of Norman High and Kolby Matthews of Deer Creek with 227.

Carson Blazer of Edmond North was alone in ninth at 229. There was a four way tie for 10th with Bo Burton of Edmond North, Rhett Hughes of Edmond Santa Fe, Jack Hope of Deer Creek and Sutton McMillan of

Choctaw at 231. Stillwater finished fourth at 933, Norman High was fifth at 940, Broken Arrow sixth at 958, Deer Creek seventh at 974, Owasso eighth with 983, Edmond Santa Fe ninth at 985 and Edmond Memorial tenth with 994 in the twelve team field. The order of finish for Edmond North was Blaser, Burton, Jack Pfister, Parker Sands and Hunter Baumann.

For Deer Creek it was Matthews, Hope, Charlie Bentley, Cohen Lorenzen and Austin Evans. For Edmond Santa Fe it was Hughes, CJ Phillips, Scott McNellis, Oliver Gomez and Blake Ratliff. Edmond Memorial was led by Kale Flinton followed by Wyatt King, Will Casey, Drew Thompson and Karsten Flinton. Edmond North had won sixteen of the previous eighteen state championships played.

In the Class 3A Boys State Championship played at Lakeview Golf Course in Ardmore the big question was which Oklahoma Christian School stud would claim medalist honors and could Christian Heritage Academy of Del City play well enough to claim the team title. The answers were yes and yes. Bryant Polhill of Edmond's Oklahoma Christian School had claimed medalist honors at the regional championship a couple of weeks ago over teammate Ryder Cowan. In windy and hot condition on Monday, May Cowan 9th Cowan came out strong firing rounds of 70-65, seven under par. Polhill was staying right with him opening with 69-68, five under par.

On day two in the final round

Woods claims he’s ‘stronger’ for the PGA A little more than a baker’s dozen of players braved the heat index that toppled 90 degrees to get in some prep work Sunday at Southern Hills Country Club ahead of the 104th playing of the PGA Championship.

Among them was a healthier Tiger Woods.

“I’ve gotten a lot stronger since the Masters,” Woods said as he toured the front nine of the locale where he won the 2007 PGA Championship, his 13th of 15 majors and his first as a father. “We went back to work on Tuesday (after the Masters).

Monday was awful; I did nothing and Tuesday was leg day.

“So we went right back after it. Everything is better.”

Despite a vicious storm front moving into the area, Woods didn’t rush his practice round and spoke briefly on the fifth fairway with a dozen reporters. Joined by Gary Woodland on the fifth tee, and after signing golf flags for Kevin Na walking off the first tee, Woods spent considerable time on and around the greens.

And he was walking taller, swinging freer and looking stronger than just a month ago, when Woods returned at the Masters just 14 months after nearly killing himself in a single-car crash north of Los Angeles; it was later learned that amputation of Woods’ right leg was an option.

From Oklahoman.com

See Golf, Page 16

Page 16 • May 19, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Learning to take a pause

By Jamie Prisco-Rudolph Edmond Family Counseling Throughout our day, we encounter countless stressors that can cause us to feel overwhelmed and emotionally drained. Once we start to experience Jamie these feelings of stress, it can impact our ability to focus on tasks and regulate our emotions.

While research suggests that physical exercise can be a great tool to improve our mental health, there is a mental exercise that can be utilized to reduce levels of stress and shift our focus to the “here and now” This mental exercise is known as mindfulness.

Mindfulness is a state of mind that promotes a non-judgmental awareness of an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and senses in the present moment. When practicing mindfulness, there is no need to focus on past mistakes or a long, daily task list that needs to be completed before bedtime. Mindfulness utilizes two components to help keep the focus on the present: awareness and acceptance.

Awareness allows the individual to notice their current thoughts, feelings, and sensations as they occur.

Once an individual has become aware of their present state, it is important to accept what they are experiencing without trying to change it and embrace it without judgment.

For example, if you notice thoughts and feelings of frustration, simply state: “I am feeling frustrated at the moment and that is okay.”

There are several ways to incorporate mindfulness into a daily routine and these exercises can take 2-3 minutes for a shorter practice to 15-30 minutes for a longer exercise. The beauty of mindfulness is it can be worked into a daily schedule with little to no hassle. Some examples of mindfulness exercises include: The Five Senses Grounding Technique: This technique utilizes the five senses to help an individual become aware of their current environment and can be done relatively quickly. Look around you and answer the following 5 questions: What are five things you can see?

What are four things you can feel?

What are three things you can hear?

What are two things you can smell?

What is one thing you can taste?

Body Scan: This technique encourages an individual to focus on the current physical sensations of their body. There is no need to change anything while scanning for sensations; the goal is to simply be aware of how your body feels. Start by focusing on the top of your head and then slowly shift focus to differ-

ent body parts all the way down to your toes, noticing any sensations like pressure, pain, and temperature.

Mindful Eating: This exercise encourages slowing down to focus on the different sensations individuals experience while eating. Mindful eating is done best with food you can hold in your hand and is not very messy. Start off by simply looking at the food in front of you, noticing the size and color of the item. Next, pick up the food and notice the weight of the item. Notice the texture of the item and lift it to your nose to bring awareness to how it smells. Finally, place the food in your mouth and notice how it tastes and how it feels against your teeth and tongue.

Mindfulness Meditation: This exercise can take up more time than some other mindfulness exercises and is best performed in a place where an individual can be comfortable and relaxed. Start off by finding a comfortable place to sit or lie down and begin to take deep, calming breaths.

The main goal of mindful meditation is to observe the physical sensation of air coming into your lungs on the inhale and then leaving on the exhale. It is natural for your mind to wander during meditation. Notice and accept any wandering thoughts and shift your focus back to your breathing.

Mindfulness Walk: This technique utilizes the senses to connect to the current environment. Start by noticing how the ground feels beneath your feet as you walk. Next, become aware of the environment around you and notice what you see, hear, smell, and feel.

Practicing mindfulness allows the body and mind to take a pause and relax. Mindfulness techniques can reduce rumination of negative thoughts as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression. Being mindful can also improve focus and processing speed and can promote adaptability in stressful situations. Additionally, the non-judgmental focus on thoughts and feelings promotes the ability to properly manage emotions. So, the next time stress and anxiety start to take over, sit back, relax, and take a mindful minute!

Jamie Prico-Rudolph, M.A., LPC-C is a staff therapist and intern coordinator at Edmond Family Counseling.

Edmond Family Counseling is a nonprofit organization. We may be reached at 405-341-3554 to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed professional counselors.

OCS runnerup boys golf team.

Golf From Page 15 Cowan fired a smooth 68 to finish 10 under at 203. Polhill shot a even par 71 for a 208 five under par total.

Tying for third place in the medalist race were the number one and two players for Christian Heritage Academy, Christian Johnson shot 77-7172-220 and Gavin Watson fired 74-70-76-220. Christian Heritage's Carter Nutt shot 83-71-76-230 and Nolan Rankin shot 79-79-77-235.

That solid second round 291 team total was too much for Oklahoma Christian to overcome, CHA shot 313-291-301-905 to claim the team title over OCS's 310-300-307-917.

The other finishers for OCS Grant Redwine with 85-83-83-251, Jake Young with 86-84-85-255 and Aaron Cummings with 88-88-89-265. Ryder Cowan will be a 2023 high school graduate and has verbally committed to Oklahoma Sooner coach Ryan Hybl. Polhill is also going to be a 2023 graduate and has verbally committed to Kansas State, the Kansas State coaches followed Polhill every shot during the two days.

Central Oklahoma Men's Golf played in their NCAA D2 Midwest/Central Regional at Purgatory Golf Club in Noblesville, IN at the par 72, 7,707 yard course. Central Missouri and Grand Valley State tied for first at 884. Defending National Champion Arkansas Tech was third with 891 and Indianapolis was fourth at 894. Grand Valley State's Charles Delong and Indianapolis's Oliver Mast tied for medalist honors

at one under par 215. Central Oklahoma finished twentieth in the twenty team field with a three round total of 942. They were led by Bennett Baldwin who shot rounds of 7677-77-230 T64th. Two Bronchos tied for 91st, Evan Griffith shot 78-80-80238 and Caleb Kimmel fired 81-8275-238. Next was Kyle Hickey at 82-79-80-241 T101 and Liam Coughlin T104th with 78-81-84-243.

The Oklahoma Christian Eagles Men's Golf Team is headed to the NCAA D2 National Championships after claiming the fourth and final spot in the West/South Central Regional in Pueblo, CO May 5-7th. Colorado State-Pueblo, the host team, won the Regional shooting 285-276284-845. Colorado Mesa and Midwestern State tied for second a shot back at 846. OC fired rounds of 290277-281-848. The Eagles clipped Stanislaus State of California by one shot. Exequiel Rodriguez led OC with rounds of 73-66-68-207(-6) and tied for fourth place. Mateo Pulcini was next with 72-69-70-211 T15. Alejandro Armijo, 73-71-71 and Oskari Nikki 72-71-72-215 both T42nd. Andres Brictson shot rounds of 74-7272-218 and T59th. Cameron University of Lawton, OK tied for 13th at 861 in the tightly bunched field. There were 20 teams competing and the top four teams are advancing to the National Championship May 16-20 at TPC Michigan in Detroit. Good luck to the Eagles and Coach David Lynn.

Teacher certification process streamlined with new law The path for teacher candidates to become certified teachers has become more direct after House Bill 3658 was signed into law last week.

Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, authored House Bill 3658 to streamline the certification process and address the teacher shortage.

HB3658 removes the requirement that teacher candidates must pass the general education portion of the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act. Candidates must still successfully complete the subject area portion of the examination in their desired area of specialization.

"Schools across the state continue to face a teacher shortage, and many of them have dozens of open positions with few qualified applicants," said Sterling, a former

principal of Tecumseh High School.

"Eliminating this obsolete portion of the certification process will increase the pool of applicants for these roles and place more educators in our classrooms, improving outcomes for all students."

The bill was carried in the Senate

by Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, RMuskogee, a former public school educator and principal.

“As Oklahoma continues to struggle through the ongoing teacher shortage crisis, it’s critical that we modernize the teacher certification process, making it more efficient by eliminating roadblocks like this unnecessary portion of the competency exam,” Pemberton said.

HB3658, which had an emergency clause, was signed into law May 5 and took effect immediately

Edmond Life & Leisure • May 19, 2022 • Page 17

Chamber has largest Leadership Edmond class Class XXXVI of Leadership Edmond graduated on recently at the Edmond Conference Center.

With 43 members, Class XXXVI was the largest class in Leadership Edmond history.

Leadership Edmond is a nine-session program, coordinated by the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce to identify, educate and develop a select group of Edmond citizens for positions of community leadership. Class XXXVI is presented

by Edmond Electric. The retreat sponsor was Sandler Training of Oklahoma, and the session sponsors are Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Frankfurt Short Bruza Associates, P.C. (FSB) and MIDCON. The program provides a backstage pass to the Edmond community. Applications for Class XXXVII are available now on the Chamber website. The class starts in August and applications are due on June 17, 2022. Applications can be found on the Chamber website.

Class XXXVI includes: Jennifer Alexander, Edmond Chamber of Commerce; Deanna Boston, Edmond Public Schools Foundation sponsored by First Fidelity Bank; Ward 1 Edmond City Councilman David Chapman, University of Central Oklahoma; Angie Clemens Byers, Edmond Outlook; Evan Comer, Beyond; Emily Crain, Trust Company of Oklahoma; Tracy Conrad, RadVine Consulting; Carlie Deatherage, University of Central Oklahoma; Christopher Denton, City of Edmond - Fire Department; Makailyn Dillon, Oklahoma ER and Hospital; Krystle Evans, Sandler Training of Oklahoma; Sarah Fields, Jetta; Ashton Stallings, Peppers Ranch; Jodie Giocondi, Intrust Bank, NA; Darla Hall, Regent Bank; E’Shaina Harned, OU Health; Shelby Hays, Evans & Davis; Clay Herndon, Freese and Nichols, Inc.; LeAnna Holman, City of Edmond - Parks & Recreation; Susan Hoover; Ruth Jackson, Langston University; Carrie Kyger, Family Solutions Counseling; Julie LeBlanc, Homes By Taber; Luis Lopez, Oklahoma Christian University; Leigh Martin, City of Edmond - Urban Forestry; Representative Ryan

Graduates of the chamber’s XXXVI Leadership Edmond class.

Martinez, Oklahoma House of Representatives sponsored by Hi-Tech Plumbing & Leak Detect; Kathryn Maxson, Frankfurt Short Bruza Architects; Scott Monetti, University of Central Oklahoma; Krista Moschak, Cox Communications; Cody Mosley, Francis Tuttle Technology Center; Ward 3 Edmond City Councilwoman Christin Mugg, Mugg Winston; Mark Pierce, Francis Tuttle Technology Center; Marcie Plumbtree, Mass-

Firm welcomes Edmond lawyer Crowe & Dunlevy is pleased to announce that Edmond attorney Drew A. Cunningham has joined the firm.

Cunningham is a director in the firm’s Oklahoma City office. A member of the Real Estate Practice Group, Cunningham’s commercial real estate practice involves multiple Cunningham fields, including commercial acquisitions and dispositions, ground-up development, build-to-suit leasing, landlord and tenant representation and finance.

Cunningham has extensive experience drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, complex commercial leases, financing agreements, and construction contracts for

large commercial developments. With a background in finance, Cunningham represents developers and investors in structuring partnership agreements and debt and equity fundraising.

A graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Cunningham completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Arkansas, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance and Real Estate. He also serves as a volunteer attorney for the Trinity Legal Clinic and on the board of the Oklahoma City Redbud Classic Foundation.

“Drew’s general business experience strengthens our ability to serve our clients,” said Roger A. Stong, Crowe & Dunlevy president. “We are pleased to welcome him to the firm.”

Credit union’s grand opening Saturday True Sky Credit Union will celebrate its 12th branch location on Saturday, May 21, at 1127 E 2nd Street in Edmond, with grand opening festivities and giveaways for the public from 9 a.m. to noon, regardless of membership status. There will be free food and drinks, music, opportunities to win $150,000 and special offers on new accounts and a competitive 6-month CD 7.5% APY. See the complete list of happenings below. The 2nd Street location will be the second True Sky branch in Edmond.

With grand openings in the past, True Sky has gotten to know the surrounding residents, neighborhoods and community by investing locally in observant and meaningful ways.

These connection points have included taking over a grocery store or gas station to cover costs of day-today needs for members and nonmembers.

Throughout May, True Sky’s Sky Crew, the credit union’s community service entity, will be sponsoring a giveaway to four Edmond teachers

valued at $1,600 dollars. During the grand opening, True Sky will provide a family meal for firefighters at the neighboring Edmond Fire Department station and all True Sky locations will be accepting non-perishable food donations through Monday, May 23, in partnership with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

“It is a pleasure to be a part of the True Sky team as we open a new location in the heart of Edmond,” said 2nd Street branch manager Josh Morava.

“I’m incredibly excited to help grow True Sky in the greater Edmond area by working to help the community achieve their financial needs and to serve in the community through volunteering with the numerous non-profits that help to support Edmond.”

This branch location will take the place of a former Oklahoma Fidelity Bank near E 2nd and S Blackwelder, to be upgraded and outfitted with the latest technology in the credit union industry. Since May 2, True Sky has been open and quietly operating from a temporary tent on-location to begin serving area members.

Mutual Oklahoma; Diana Rawdon; Lisa Reed, Peaceful Family Oklahoma.; Adam Rogers, University of Central Oklahoma; Lezel Safi, Cunningham Safi Legal Group; Chad Smith, Mercy Hospital OKC; Cassidhe Walker, University of Central Oklahoma; Jennay Wangen; Norris Williams, YMCA Of Greater OKC; Heather Wilson, SagePros; Jake Winkler, Arledge and Associates CPA.

Page 18 • May 19, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Middle Sister

Middle Sister to appear at Round Barn ARCADIA – Middle Sister will present an Elm Tree Concert at 1 p.m.

Sunday, May 22, at the Arcadia Round Barn.

Middle Sister is comprised of Susan Pierce and Robin Brooks, who first started performing together as music majors at Oklahoma City University. They continued in varied musical careers and growing families, and when reconnecting in 2019 realized they were both writing original music and decided to team up.

The result is a distinctive acoustic blend, spotlighting vocal harmonies,

Family Circus

Beetle Baily

Hi and Lois

Blondie

Shoe

Hägar the Horrible

Zits

diverse instruments and imaginative lyricism. They have performed with the OKC Philharmonic and the OKC Arts Council’s Art Moves, and at Belle Isle Brewery, Full Circle Bookstore and the Oklahoma City and Paseo arts festivals.

Elm Tree Concerts are beneath the shade of the elm tree on the north side of the Round Barn. Admission is free but donations are accepted for the maintenance of the nonprofit museum.

For more information about live music at the Round Barn, call Joe Baxter at 405-833-1350.

Edmond Life & Leisure • May 19, 2022 • Page 19

Landlord & Tenant Act tweaked The governor recently signed a bill into law that modifies the repair and deduct portion of the Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. House Bill 3409 by Rep. Carol Bush, R-Tulsa, will allow a tenant to correct a condition that materially affects health and is remediable by repairs if the cost is equal to or less than one month's rent and if the landlord has not made the repairs. The tenant could deduct the cost from rent owned. Previously, the cost could not exceed $100.

"The current cap has been in place since 1978, and we all know that $100 would barely touch the cost of a necessary repair in today's economy," Bush said. "I'm thankful the governor saw the need behind this legislation and that tenants can now get more immediate relief if landlords are unable to make timely repairs."

Bush said based on inflation, the $100 cap would equal $478 today. Instead of correcting this act each time inflation rises, however, she reached an agreement with landlords and tenants to set the cap at equal to or less than one month's rent.

Bush said the final version of the bill reflects agreed-upon language from the Tulsa nonprofit Housing Solutions, Tulsa Apartment Association, Apartment Association of Central Oklahoma, and Oklahoma Association of Realtors.

Bush examined this issue in an interim study held last fall before the House Judiciary-Civil Committee. The study revealed some startling gaps in the state's landlord-tenant laws. This is the first of the changes recommended for tenants who are struggling and whose landlords

have been unresponsive in making timely repairs.

Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, is the principal Senate author of the measure.

“This is an innovative way to help tenants save money on their rent while assisting landlords with repairs they may not have the time or finances to address,” Pugh said. “I’m grateful for the Legislature’s and governor’s overwhelming support of this commonsense bill that will help families and property owners alike.”

HB3409 takes effect Nov. 1.

Puzzles appear on Page 14

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

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

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Page 20 • May 19, 2022 • Edmond Life & Leisure