Edmond Life & Leisure - August 20, 2020

August 20, 2020 Vol. 21, No. 14

In This Issue FOUR SEASONS

Free virus testing

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.

Back to School Section See Page 17

State & lab partnering with OC & UCO Immy nurse gives a drive-thru PCR COVID-19 test to a community member.

FRIDAY, August 21 Partly Cloudy High 87° Low 66°

SATURDAY, August 22 Sunny High 89° Low 68°

SUNDAY, August 23 Sunny High 90 Low 68°

The Oklahoma State Department of Health has partnered locally with Immy Labs for free COVID-19 testing, and Oklahoma Christian University is their newest Central Oklahoma site, funded

by CARES Act resources. Thanks to this partnership, students, faculty, staff and members of the Oklahoma City and Edmond communities can drive through campus for a free test.

Every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Immy Labs provides free PCR Swab Testing for COVID-19 on Memorial Road between Broadway Extension and Interstate 35. Nurses administer the test while patients remain seated in their cars in a convenient circle drive.

“Oklahoma Christian was chosen as a site for IMMY labs for COVID testing because OC is an ideal place for north Oklahoma City and Edmond residents,” said infectious disease expert and OC’s COVID-19 readiness team lead Dr. Jeff McCormack. “Ongoing testing is critical for monitoring and tracking the disease.”

Thanks to Immy, the process is relatively simple and stress-free. After signing up for a time slot, those getting tested arrive at the circle drive just south of the Gaylord University Center on OC’s campus. There are no long

lines or paperwork. In fact, the wait time is 10 minutes from sign-in to exit, and people receive their results within two business days.

“Since we decided to join the fight against COVID-19 in Oklahoma, it has been our mission to provide fast, accurate and affordable test results to all Oklahomans. With the help of the Oklahoma State Department of Health, we have been able to do just that. Our test is a PCR COVID-19 test, which provides top-notch accuracy,” said Immy representative Keegan Nees.

“Testing is so important because the more we know about the spread of the virus, the more we can fight to stop that spread. As more people get tested, we can get better control over the situation.”

Free testing on campus is just one piece of OC’s “Love Your Neighbor” effort, which began in light of COVID-19 and the start of a new school year.

This campaign includes passing out masks, thermometers and hand sanitizers to students, faculty and staff, and providing free COVID-19 swab testing to campus. Employees and students also fill out a daily self assessment via the OC app.

The University of Central Oklahoma will host free COVID-19 testing

PHOTO PROVIDED

on campus thanks to a partnership between the university, the Oklahoma State Department of Health and IMMY Labs. The testing site, located at the former St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at the corner of University and First Street (325 E. First St.), will open Aug. 20. Testing will be available from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. every Monday and Thursday.

The partnership with IMMY Labs will allow members of the UCO community to get a test with minimal wait time and test results back within two business days. The site will also allow members of the community to schedule an appointment and get tested.

IMMY Labs offers PCR COVID-19 testing which indicates whether an individual has an active infection. The testing site is setup for drive-thru testing, but students and employees can walk up to the testing site if they have an appointment. Cars should enter the testing site off Main Street to the north of the facility. Individuals must bring their confirmation code. Test results will be delivered via email within two business days.

To get more information and schedule a testing appointment, visit immylabs.com. To learn more about Central’s COVID-19 response and protocols, visit uco.edu/coronavirus.

Page 2 • August 20, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 20, 2020 • Page 3

Boyd to seek Ward 3 seat on Edmond City Council Cody Boyd announced last week his candidacy for Edmond City Council Ward 3, which includes much of southern Edmond west of I-35. Current Ward 3 Councilmember Darrell Davis recently announced his intention to run for mayor, which will leave the council seat open.

“My neighbor from a few streets away, Councilmember Davis, has been a great advocate for progress in Edmond during his time on the city council and will make a great mayor,” Boyd said. “We have some forwardthinking folks in our local government and I’d like to work with them on building modern public infrastructure, supporting strong neighborhoods, attracting new families, and thinking big about growing our city’s economy and sales tax base.”

Boyd and his wife Alexandria live in the Ripple Creek neighborhood in southwestern Edmond and have one son, a dog and a cat.

Cody Boyd “In 2013, we bought our home in the same middle-class neighborhood my wife Alex grew up in, and we love living here,” Boyd said. “Edmond is a great place, and I want to help us be the best we can possibly be.”

EWC having membership drive Over the past 37 years, Edmond Women’s Club has awarded close to $3.5 million in grants and scholarships to deserving individuals and not for profit organizations all over Edmond and the surrounding communities.

“We’ve been able to support the community the way we do simply because of our amazing members.” said Heather Langhofer, president of Edmond Women’s Club. “With all the uncertainty surrounding us right now, volunteering to serve those in need is a great way to help find equilibrium.

The ability to build real friendships with other women in the community while serving is one of the things

that makes EWC so special.”

A great way to get to know Edmond Women’s Club, is to visit its New Member Open House on Thursday, August 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Edmond.

Prospective members can meet-andgreet with seasoned members and mingle with other like-minded individuals. There will be light appetizers, prizes and an overview of EWC’s impact in its community. All are encouraged to join.

If interested in becoming a member and/or for more information, please visit www.ewc.org or follow EWC on its Facebook page.

Do you have a local news item or a local photograph?

Share the good news with your neighbors and the community through Edmond Life & Leisure newspaper.

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

Since 2016, Boyd has served on the Edmond Public Transportation Committee, which provides oversight and makes recommendations to the city council on Edmond’s Citylink public transit service as well as shared mobility, like Lime scooters.

He was appointed in 2015 to the Edmond Capital Improvement Advisory Task Force, which provided recommendations for infrastructure and quality-of-life projects to be funded through a sales tax extension.

Boyd is currently the president of the Ripple Creek Neighborhood Association and previously served as its treasurer.

Since 2012, Boyd has worked for the state at the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. His previous experience in state government includes working as an intern and then a legislative assistant for several legislators from both parties at the Oklahoma House of Representatives and

managing a state senate campaign.

He’s also worked at an oil and gas company and a propane delivery company. Boyd has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma.

He is an active member of the The Springs Church of Christ and volunteers with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Oklahoma Chapter.

Other memberships include Edmond Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals, Edmond Chamber of Commerce Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Ripple Creek Neighborhood Association, Oklahoma Public Employees Association, Oklahoma State University Alumni Association, and Chandler High School Alumni Association.

Boyd is a native of Chandler and a proud product of Oklahoma’s public schools.

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

From the Publisher

Vote for Neese & Taylor It was my hope that when I wrote my endorsement column for offices last June that things in our world would be different by run off time.

Well, they are different but not necRay Hibbard essarily for the better. We have had riots, less cooperation in the different branches of the federal government and the COVID-19 virus is raging out of control even more. We focus on the blessings in our lives here at Edmond Life & Leisure.

We have our health and are still in business despite the crunch in our revenue. If nothing else, it is a good lesson in how a business can survive when you do not have debt. We are blessed.

Still, it is runoff time and you will need to either mail in your absentee ballot or vote at your polling place by Aug. 25. There are two offices in the runoff that certainly have our attention. They are both important. The two candidates we endorsed in the primary made it through a crowded field of candidates and are now in a contested run-off election.

The first is the Republican nomination for the Oklahoma 5th District United States Congress a post currently held by Democrat Kendra Horn.

The contenders to challenge her in the General election in November are Terry Neese and Stephanie Bice. It has gotten ugly on both sides which no doubt will make it difficult for either one of them to successfully challenge Horn, but we believe Neese has the best chance of doing so.

Here is what we said about Neese in June and it still holds: We recommend Republicans choose Terry Neese. We have been fortunate to know her since she ran for Lt. Governor for the state back in 1990.

Neese has always been a serious candidate and businesswoman. Her career is impressive, but she also had an important background working in the national scene that gives her an edge as a candidate. She is also the only candidate for that office that took the time to walk through our door and discuss the issues. We have never been contacted by Stephanie Bice and I doubt she even knows where our office is located which gives me pause in how well she will represent Edmond if elected.

While it is a great disappointment to me that Bice did not take the time to come visit or at least call, it does show me how undedicated to Edmond she is

and how important Edmond is to Neese. Neese has continued to stay in contact with us about the election and check in with us to see how we are surviving the economic distress of COVID-19. She lived in Edmond for years and loves our community. We need a representative in Washington, D.C. that has Edmond at the front of their mind when they are working to improve not only Oklahoma but the rest of the country.

Neese was born in the same area of Oklahoma that my family comes from, Walters, Okla. However, she was raised in Cookie Town which makes our family hometown of Mangum, Okla. seem like a thriving big city.

Neese was raised a farm girl just like my mother and I can tell you they do not give up folks. She has two sisters.

"I always wanted to start my own business,” she explained to us.

Neese went on to start Terry Neese Personnel Services with $600 in her pocket. She turned that $600 into a thriving business that has found jobs for over 37,000 Oklahomans. Known as a small business expert, Neese served as the national co-chair of President Trump’s small business advisory council and was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the "Power 30” — the most influential small businesspersons in Washington, D.C. Neese is also the founder and President of the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW).

Neese is the former president of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). Under her leadership, the organization led the successful passage of H.R. 5050, which President Ronald Reagan signed into law. This historic legislation made it possible for women business owners to obtain a small business loan or credit card without a male signature.

Vote for Neese!

Our longtime friend and supporter Oklahoma County Sheriff P.D. Taylor came through the primary with almost enough votes to take the Republican nomination for the position out right. I believe he missed it my about 2 percentage points.

Our pick for the Republican nomination is Taylor. It will be a different four years for Taylor this time around if reelected since the jail will be managed by a trust created last year by Oklahoma County. Honestly, this must be a relief to Taylor and his staff. The jail is a problem, for many reasons beyond the control of anyone in office currently.

Those that came before and the ones who built the faulty jail are the ones that caused most the issues. Taylor and his office can now concentrate on police duties including patrolling the unincorporated areas of the county where they have no other police protection other than the sheriff’s office.

Taylor reached out to us early in the

campaign. We would count him as a friend and supporter of community journalism. He is well respected in the law enforcement field. My guess is that as the newly formed trust grapples with the issues at our county jail, Taylor’s running of the jail will be regarded as doing a much better job than some have said. History will support the good work Taylor did with a darn near impossible situation.

"I am excited and honored to serve Oklahoma County’s citizens during this new day in our county where we can truly focus on the safety of all of our citizens – young and old,” Sheriff Taylor said. "As I seek a second term, I am proud of the many improvements that I have made at the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office and am looking forward to solely focusing on law enforcement and public safety. Employees at the Sheriff’s Office deserve support, and a bright future. I intend to ensure the promises I have made to the citizens, and OCSO staff are promises that I keep,” he added.

Taylor has over 48 years in law enforcement. He took over the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2017. Taylor has worked closely with the Criminal Justice Reform Committee, judges, and local law enforcement to reduce inmate population at the jail by over 30 percent saving taxpayer’s money.

Taylor reinstituted the OCSO Warrant Team to serve more than 30,000 active warrants. This is a big deal folks in getting harmful people off the streets. The team has captured many dangerous, and repeat offenders making our streets safe. Taylor joined the Oklahoma City Police Department in 1968. He is a graduate of Putnam City High School, the Class of 1964, and he obtained his associate degree in police science from Oklahoma City Southwestern College. While serving in the U.S. Army from 1966-1968, Taylor was stationed in Vietnam, attaining the rank of sergeant.

Tommie Johnson is Taylor’s opponent in the runoff. We appreciate him taking the time to come talk to us and we were impressed with his attitude and dedication to law enforcement.

This time around we just must go with experience that Taylor certainly has for the office.

Vote for Taylor!

Good luck and see you at the polls or mailbox depending on how you are voting this time around.

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

Check out what’s inside!

---- Senior news..........................................................................Pages 6 & 7.

---- Elaine Warner’s latest destination ................................................Page 8.

---- Is Kamala Harris really moderate? ............................................Page 10.

---- UCO lists award winners ............................................................Page 11.

---- How Edmond Schools plan to keep everyone healthy ................Page 13.

---- George Gust reviews new Netflix film ........................................Page 14.

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

---- Back to School section ........................................................Pages 17-20.

---- Obituary notice..........................................................................Page 22.

This and so much more in this week’s edition

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photographer Melinda Infante

Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2020 by Edmond Media Publishing 107 S. Broadway Edmond, OK 73034 405.340.3311 (office) 405.340.3384 (fax) Mailing address: P.O. Box 164 Edmond, OK 73083 All rights reserved.

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

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 20, 2020 • Page 5

PHOTO PROVIDED

Last season’s kicker, Alex Quevedo, and the rest of the Bronchos won’t be suiting up for football season this fall. It’s the first time since 1945 that the Bronchos have not played football.

No fall sports at UCO The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced Friday the suspension of all fall competition through Jan. 1, 2021.

The MIAA will look into a limited number of competitions for fall sports in the spring.

The University of Central Oklahoma will be without a football season this fall for the first time since 1945, which was the last of a threeyear absence due to World War II. Football, volleyball, soccer, and cross country had already seen their seasons adjusted with the MIAA’s earlier decision to delay the start of competition to September 28. That

followed the NCAA’s decision to cancel all fall sports championships.

Men’s and women’s golf, as well as tennis and rowing, all compete in the fall as well in a non-championship segment.

All of Central’s 14 varsity sports, per the league’s statement, will still be permitted to practice according to the NCAA guidelines announced earlier this week.

The MIAA also announced it will make a decision regarding winter sports – for Central that is men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, and Indoor track & field – no later than Oct. 1.

Page 6 • August 20, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Betty Windsor

Betty Windsor now 100

A special birthday Over the weekend, Betty Windsor, turned 100 years young.

Betty, according to daughter Vicky Windsor, is a great “lover of life” and athlete. She took up running in her 50s, and has also added kick boxing, Zumba, tap dancing and Jazzercise, to the mix. She is an avid fan of the Oklahoma Sooners and the OKC Thunder.

“Dr. Keith Underhill, with OU Canyon Park Physicians in Edmond, wishes his patients would be half as healthy and positive as Betty,” Vicky

said of her mom.

In addition, she said her mom continues to be a “good driver,” and was once elected queen of the Oklahoma Senior Follies.” She has been active in the communities of both Edmond and Midwest City.

Betty has a masters degree in education from OU and a bachelors degree in physical education. She was with the FBI for a year and also had stints with the postal service and education field.

Betty Windsor has embraced running, and many other forms of exercise. She has also won many medals during competition.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Helping out, are, from left, Jessica Clayton from Daily Living Centers of Oklahoma, Nicole Wayne from Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits and A. Jaye Johnson from Boys & Girls Clubs of Oklahoma County.

Helping to keep seniors safe A coordinated effort from the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits will help keep seniors safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Daily Living Centers of Oklahoma (DLC) has received a donation of personal protective equipment through the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits’ PPE Distribution Project funded by the Arnall Family Foundation, Cox, Flourish OKC, Inasmuch Foundation, Kirkpatrick Family Fund and Kathy Potts.

“These supplies are critical to protect and care for the population we serve at Daily Living Centers,” said DLC President and CEO Jessica Clayton. “Our team is dedicated to upholding the highest hygiene standards, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

PPE is an essential part of upholding those measures.”

Donated materials include hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies and disposable facemasks, which are required for both staffers and those

who access services. COVID-19 prevention practices have been in effect at Daily Living Centers since early March.

“Our services are greatly enhanced with the continued support offered through community partnerships,” said Clayton. “We are committed to upholding the highest standards of virus prevention to help ensure the safety of all participants and those best practices include the use of PPE. Thank you to all organizations and individuals who made this donation possible.”

Daily Living Centers of Oklahoma is a non-profit organization offering affordable, non-residential facilities that support the health, nutritional and social needs of adults who are elderly or have a disability in a professionally staffed group setting. With four locations, Daily Living Centers provides an alternative to nursing homes and other long term care options. For more information, please visit www.dailylivingcenters.org.

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 20, 2020 • Page 7

Edmond Sturgis Rally Touchmark at Coffee Creek hosted its own version of the Sturgis Bike Rally last week. The true Sturgis event, in South Dakota, draws some 250,000 motorcycle enthusiasts annually.

Because of the virus this year, some bikers opted not to make the trek. Shauna Neal, of Touchmark, said residents still wanted to welcome the group and organized an quick effort on social media to have a parade. It was well attended at the retirement community and appreciated, Neal said. Touchmark is at 2801 Shortgrass Rd. in Edmond.

MELINDA INFANTE

The parade prominently featured Old Glory proudly waving.

MELINDA INFANTE

Also saying ‘hi’ to residents and the public were two uniformed motorcycle officers of the Edmond Police Department.

Page 8 • August 20, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Springfield holds an important place in Route 66 history

A bouquet of dining choices in Springfield

By Elaine Warner There are cities and their dishes – Chicago deep-dish pizza, Cincinnati three-way chili, Buffalo hot wings – but my favorite combo comes from Missouri – Springfield cashew chicken. I love the story behind it and I love Springfield.

The first time I visited the city as a writer was in 2015. And one Warner of the stops we made was at Leong’s Asian Diner. That’s where I met David Leong and first tried his creation, Springfield cashew chicken.

Wing Yin Leong was born in China in 1920 but immigrated to the U.S. in 1940 and took the name David. He became a naturalized citizen and served his new country during World War II. He participated in the Normandy invasion in the fourth wave to land on Omaha Beach.

In the ‘50s, David had a restaurant in Pensacola, Florida. One of his customers, a Dr. Tsang from Springfield, was so impressed with the food that he encouraged David to move to Missouri to help

him open a restaurant there.

In 1963 David decided to open his own restaurant, Leong’s Tea House –Springfield’s first ethnic restaurant. His venture was not without difficulty.

He experienced racism and violence – the restaurant was dynamited before the opening. Ozark cuisine was not particularly diverse and customers were reticent to try something new.

To adapt to the situation, David gave a Chinese chicken dish a Southern spin. He breaded and fried the chicken. Topping it with his own special sauce and garnishing with cashews and chopped green onions, he not only won over the locals but became a legend. Springfield cashew chicken has even been spotted on menus in Hong Kong and Beijing.

David died on July 21st, a month short of his 100th birthday. I’m so lucky I got to meet him.

And I’ll never go to Springfield without stopping at Leong’s Asian Diner, the restaurant opened by his son, Chef Wing Yee in 2010. Today the restaurant is co-owned by David’s six children – the ultimate family-owned eatery, living up to the legend.

Although David officially retired in 1997, he was

often in the restaurant, keeping a fatherly eye on things. I like to think he still is.

From a town with few ethnic options, Springfield has blossomed into a bouquet of choices. Of course you’ll find the usual complement of Italian restaurants – over two dozen if you count the chains – and even more Mexican cafes. But for something really different – and definitely off the beaten path, check out the Springfield Diner. The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch, but it’s definite must for breakfast lovers – a great variety of omelets, combos and skillets. The real treasure, however, is the Mediterranean breakfast menu.

Owner Omer Onder offers five different favorites from his home country, Turkey. The breakfast plate, which actually serves two, may look more like lunch – salad and sides – but, trust me, it’s traditional. It included garden greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, a white, Turkish-style cheese, feta, oregano, black olives, olive oil, honey, butter, organic jams, hard-boiled egg, tahini with pita and a side of menemen.

My companion and I also ordered the meneSee Elaine, Page 9

Leong’s Cashew Chicken – serves 4 to 6 Sauce: 3 ½ cups chicken broth ¼ cup soy sauce 2 tablespoons oyster sauce ½ teaspoon sugar 1 pinch ground ginger 1/8 teaspoon sesame oil 1/4 cup cornstarch ¼ cup water To make sauce, combine chicken broth, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, ground ginger and sesame oil in a 2-quart saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer. In a separate bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water.

Whisk into sauce and cook until thickened.

Fried Chicken 4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons seasoned (Lawry’s) salt, divided 1 ½ teaspoons ground white pepper, divided 2 tablespoons garlic powder ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional)

3 eggs 3 cups whole milk 2 pounds chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 cup roasted cashews for garnish ½ cup chopped green onion for garnish Set a fryer to 350 F. In a bowl, combine flour, 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, 1 teaspoon white pepper, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and remaining salt and white pepper. Dredge each piece of chicken with the flour mixture, then dip in egg and milk mixture. Dip back into the flour mixture and place on a baking sheet.

Place flour-coated chicken pieces into the hot oil and fry for two to three minutes. Remove from fryer and drain on paper towels. Just before serving, flash fry to re-crisp. Drain, place on a serving plate and pour sauce over top (chicken can also be tossed with sauce before being plated). Garnish generously with cashews and green onion. Serve with rice.

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 20, 2020 • Page 9

Head Chef Wing Yee Leong carries on the tradition begun by his father, David Leong.

Elaine From Page 8 men, which came with a small salad and warm pita. Menemen is a delicious dish made with tomatoes and green peppers cooked in olive oil Eggs are added to the mixture which is then lightly scrambled. Both breakfasts were wonderful but I have to go back – there’s more to try.

More than just good spots to eat, Springfield has some interesting history. It touts itself as the birthplace of Route 66. Tulsans argue with that – both towns deserve credit. But it was from a hotel in Springfield in April, 1926, that a telegram designating the new highway as U.S. Highway 66 was sent by the Missouri State Highway Commission Chief Engineer A.H. Piepmeier and Oklahoma Department of Highways chairman Cyrus Avery Check out the Route 66 exhibits at the Springfield Visitor Center, 815 E. St. Louis Street – actually old 66.

More Route 66 history is highlighted in the History Museum on the Square – also on Old 66. You can’t miss the 66-foot time line and map of the fa-

mous road.

There’s so much more to do in Springfield – an important Civil War site (Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield) , two unusual caves (Fantastic Caverns and Smallin Civil War Cave), an Oprah’s favorite (Askenosie Chocolate), a great automobile museum ( Route 66 Car Museum) and lots of other treats. Then there’s the Bass Pro influence.

As the site of the first Bass Pro Shop, Springfield has been a destination for travelers for years. Founder Johnny Morris, nicknamed the “Walt Disney of the Great Outdoors,” has added two more great reasons to visit the area -- the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium.

I don’t need to be encouraged to visit Springfield. I love the town. But if I needed an incentive, waving a plate of Springfield cashew chicken from Leong’s under my nose would do it. The restaurant has always been generous in sharing the recipe. You might want to try making it. Me, I’d rather go to Springfield.

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.

Lifesize dioramas in Wonders of Wildlife include species native to national parks – here a Roosevelt elk in Olympia National Park.

Payment is due upon submission by noon Thursday.

Page 10 • August 20, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

Kamala a moderate?

There was political news over the weekend, which actually did surprise me somewhat.

I appreciate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris taking the time to extend sympathies to President Trump Steve Gust over the loss of his brother.

It’s refreshing to hear the candidates actually be gracious and kind to one another in a human way.

----I’m not terribly surprised Biden picked Harris to be his running mate this year. What is somewhat unexpected is to have the New York Times categorize Kamala as a “pragmatic moderate.”

If she’s moderate, I’m not so sure what a radical would look like.

One report I heard said Harris had a more liberal record than Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren. It takes a lot to do that!

Something about Harris that has bothered me is her attack last year on a Trump judicial appointment.

The guy happened to be a member

of the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization. In full disclosure, I’ve been a member of that group for many year.

Apparently, Sen. Harris, and another member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Hawaiian lady, were aghast that this guy might actually be a practicing Catholic and agree with church teaching.

What Sen. Harris did was in effect demand some kind of litmus religious test. It was, and remains, an outrage.

Just recently, the Hawaiian lady wouldn’t condemn a left wing group of radicals for its violence in Portland and Seattle. Yet in her mind the Knights of Columbus is a threat?

That’s how crazy our politics have become.

---I still believe mail-in ballots, as opposed to absentee ballots, are a horrible idea.

What I especially don’t understand is why some jurisdictions think it’s OK to receive the ballots days after an election. Ridiculous. Have the ballots in by election day or don’t count them. It’s that simple.

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

Keeping schools closed will do more harm than good, writer claims

By Chris Talgo Insidesources.com As the dog days of summer drag on, schools throughout the country need to make decisions regarding their reopening procedures. In general, schools should err on the side of reopening with inperson learning as much as possible.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.

The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020.”

As a former public

high school teacher, I could not agree more. Almost all teachers and parents know that in-person instruction, especially for young students, is better than online learning.

There is no substitute for the hands-on learning, collaboration and one-onone instruction that takes place in a classroom setting.

Aside from the superior quality of instruction that in-person teaching produces, it is also important for students of all ages to be around their peers and teachers. As AAP states, “Lengthy time away from school and associated interruption of supportive services often results in social isolation, making it difficult for schools to identify and address important learning deficits as well as child

and adolescent physical or sexual abuse, substance use, depression and suicidal ideation.”

During my teaching career, I helped several students deal with things that were well outside the realm of academic instruction. As a teacher, one’s responsibility to one’s students exceeds the curriculum. Without in-person instruction, countless children will not receive the social services or socialization they desperately need.

Shutting schools this fall will also have an outsized effect on low-income communities.

Because students in these areas do not have comprehensive access to home computers and the internet, they are put at a disadvantage compared to their peers in high-income communities.

Further, parents and guardians of students in low-income school districts typically cannot stay at home with their children during the day because they have jobs and other responsibilities.

This also applies to highincome families of course.

However, high-income families typically have more ability to work from home or a non-working parent to help their children learn at home. Not reopening schools will have a disparate impact on low-income students.

There is a mountain of evidence to support students going to back to school this fall. Most parents favor this position as well. Unfortunately, there is a small but powerful group of union leaders and politicians who are trying to prevent this. Unlike the students I taught, I hope they fail.

Chris Talgo is an editor at The Heartland Institute. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.

Dentists oppose WHO recommendation The Oklahoma Dental Association echoes the American Dental Association’s statement strongly disagreeing with the World Health Organization’s recommendation on postponing dental care due to COVID-19. Dental care is an essential part of an individual’s overall health, and without a licensed medical dental professional overseeing routine care, an individual could experience additional health risks.

“The WHO’s recommendation comes with no conclusive evidence or supporting scientific data,” said Oklahoma Dental Association President Paul Mullasseril, DDS. “In fact, the report even states there is currently no data on the spread of the coronavirus from the dental chair. At this time there has not been a suspected case of COVID- 19 transmission from any dental office or procedure.”

Dr. Mullasseril added, “While visiting the dentist

may look different at this time, experts say that’s no reason to miss your regular check-ups. Oral health is vital to overall health and many times people do not comprehend that teeth are attached to the body, to the bone and head, and that it is as important to take care of their teeth as the rest of their bodies. The dentist’s office is an extremely safe place to get the vital oral health treatment everyone needs.”

Health care professionals, dentists and dental team members have been and continue to follow the highest standards in sterilization and infectious disease prevention and mitigation set forth by the Center of Disease Control (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), and the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry. The American Dental Association (ADA) and the Oklahoma Dental Association (ODA)

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

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

has been working with these federal and state organizations on the safety guidelines around COVID-19.

These organizations have issued guidelines for dental settings and can be found on their websites: • CDC Guidance • OSHA Guidance • OSDH Guidance • ADA Guidance Member dentists have procured the proper PPE to ensure the safety of their patients, staff, and anyone who enters the office while providing vital heath care to their patients. Information for the public on what to expect when they visit the dentist may be found on ADA’s consumer website MouthHealthy.org.

---The Oklahoma Dental Association, founded in 1907, has a membership of more than 1,600 dentists.

The enduring humor of President Reagan I have left orders to be awakened at any time in case of national emergency, even if I'm in a cabinet meeting.

---Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement.

---How can a president not be an actor?

(Response by Ronald Reagan when asked by a reporter "How can an actor run for President?" during the presidential campaign in 1980)

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 20, 2020 • Page 11

Faculty & staff honored at Fall Convocation The University of Central Oklahoma recognized and awarded faculty and staff for their substantial contributions to the Central community at its annual Faculty and Staff Fall Convocation, held virtually, Aug. 11.

This event serves as an opportunity to celebrate the successes of the past year, and set the vision for the upcoming year.

UCO Co-Interim Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs Charlotte Simmons, Ph.D., and Gary Steward, Ph.D., and UCO President Patti NeuholdRavikumar encouraged Central’s faculty and staff to rededicate to Central’s mission, vision and values continuously.

Several awards were presented to faculty and staff at the Fall Faculty and Staff Convocation.

Recipients of the Faculty Merit Credit Awards, presented in the categories of research, creative and scholarly activity, teaching and service are: Jicheng Fu, Ph.D., professor of computer science, in research, creative and scholarly activity; Sanjeewa Gamagedara, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry, in research, creative and scholarly activity; Kristin Karber, Ph.D., professor of mathematics and statistics, in teaching; and, Angela Mooney, Ph.D., associate professor of curriculum and instruction, in service.

The Making a Difference Award is given to a randomly selected faculty or staff member who has donated to the university within the past calendar year. The recipient gets to choose a reserved parking spot anywhere on campus.

The 2020 recipient is Claire Painter, assistant director of Student Leadership.

The Vanderford Faculty Awards are given to faculty to honor outstanding work. Recipients receive $1,000 and a plaque funded by the estate of Central alumni Austin and Cleo Patra Vanderford. The 2020 recipients are: Tracy Morris, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics and statistics, for research; Jennifer Barger-Johnson, J.D., professor of finance, for engagement; Lori Beasley, Ed.D., professor of human environmental sciences, for engagement; and, Nancy Gwin, assistant professor of nursing, for initiative.

Also presented were the Vanderford Teaching Awards to faculty members during their academic

college meetings. The 2020 recipients are: Jill Davis, Ph.D., associate professor of curriculum and instruction; Travis Roach, Ph.D., associate professor of economics; Tierney Harvey, Ph.D., lecturer of engineering and physics; Jerry Green, Ph.D., assistant professor of humanities and philosophy; and, Sephra Scheuber, lecturer at the Academy of Contemporary Music.

The Neely Excellence in Teaching Award, funded

by Central graduate J. Gail Neely, M.D., in honor of his parents, El Roy C. Neely and Lucile Hawker Neely, recognizes faculty with a hunger for knowledge and support of education. Recipients receive $1,000. The 2020 Neely Award recipients are Sean Laverty, Ph.D., associate professor of mathematics and statistics, and Susan Miller, Ed.D., professor of human environmental sciences.

The Herbert S. Dordick Award for an Outstanding Mentor is given to a faculty or staff member for mentoring students in their freshman year. Established in 1998, the award honors Herbert S. Dordick, Ph.D., beloved mentor of Robert Epstein, Ph.D., UCO professor emeritus of management.

The award includes $1,000. The 2020 Dordick Award recipient is Laura Dumin, Ph.D., assistant professor of English.

The UBS Modeling the Way Award is given to three members of the UCO community who consistently lead by example and live the mission, values and goals of the university. Each recipient is awarded a $1,000 check and a Waterford crystal memento, funded by UBS. The 2020 Modeling the Way recipients are Jeanetta Sims, Ph.D., dean of the Jackson College of Graduate Studies; Erika Cerda, director of Employee Relations; and, Diana Pardo, Ph.D., professor and chairperson of the department of modern languages.

The Citizens Bank Leadership and Civic Engagement Award is given to a faculty or staff member that leads by example and is involved in the community. Each recipient or group receives $2,000 and an engraved clock. This year's recipient is the COVID-19 Response Task Force. The task force included faculty and staff members across campus who provided recommendations for Central’s fall reopening plan.

The Exceptional Performance Award is given to staff members that reflect the innovative, passionate and student-centered focus that Central embraces. Each recipient receives $1,250 and a plaque. This year’s recipients are Norman Nieves, director of Emergency Management; Ricky Maxwell, tech support specialist; and, Becca Buckner, media specialist.

The Exceptional Group/Unit Service Award is an award given to a group or unit that passionately reflects Central’s innovative and student-centered focus. This year’s award winner is the Office of Information Technology.

The Masonic Endowment for Transformative Learning Award, presented by the Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma, is given to organizations that exemplify the university’s commitment to providing transformative learning experiences. This year’s first-place winner is the Native American Success Initiative, designed to help promote the retention, academic success and graduation of Native American students.

Tied for second place is the Student Academy of Forensic Sciences, an organization open to all students, faculty and staff interested in learning more about the field of forensics, and Interprofessional Education (IPE)/Interprofessional Practice (IPP) – Grand Rounds: Experience in Interprofessional Practice, a team of UCO professionals who bring a collaborative approach to medical educational experiences, referred to as Grand Rounds, to students enrolled in allied health and education professions.

The MidFirst Bank Presidential Award in Applied Leadership is given to an individual or individuals with outstanding contributions to the goals, objectives and high standards of professionalism at UCO. Recipients are awarded $2,500 and recognition on a plaque. The 2020 recipient is Drew Duke, assistant vice president for administrative services.

For more information about the University of Central Oklahoma, visit www.uco.edu.

Page 12 • August 20, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 20, 2020 • Page 13

Keeping Edmond Schools germ free Last week, officials with Edmond Schools, invited reporters to see the steps the district is taking to make sure students, staff and visitors do not come into contact with the COVID-19 virus.

A rigorous cleaning of school facilities, and buses, has been ordered on a daily basis., School opens today in Edmond. For now, students report two days a week and have online learning the other three.

Howard Coleman demonstrates the process of disinfecting the bus.

Above and below. Malone Bowen shows the power of getting germs off buses with the Edmond School District.

Photos by Melinda Infante

Page 14 • August 20, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Review of ‘Project Power’

Cliches & corniness tarnish Netflix film

By George Gust As we reach the precipice of physical movie theaters once again reopening, Netflix has one last gasp to bring the summer blockbuster streaming to your home.

“Project Power” is an original superhero concept movie starring Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. When a pill that gives its users unpredictable superpowers for five minutes hits the streets of New Orleans, a teenage dealer (Dominque Fishback) and a local cop (GordonLevitt) must team with an ex-soldier (Foxx) to take down the group responsible for its creation.

There is no doubt that Netflix has no shortage of money for funding new movie and TV projects, but unfortunately throwing money into fancy visual effects and substantial star power isn’t enough to overcome a flawed and clichéd script. Like other Netflix original movies before it “Project Power” feels like it should be a more successful movie than it is. The elements of a fun popcorn action film are there, but the whole experience is less than the sum of its parts. So much of “Project Power” feels like it resides in the

“Been there done that” territory that the successful aspects like the charming cast get buried under bland and rote story beats.

While ultimately experience of “Project Power” is a forgettable one, there are some positive things the filmmakers got right that make it at least a watchable yet forgettable action flick.

Foxx and Gordon-Levitt bring charismatic star power to their roles, even though the writing can feel flat at most points. Foxx has a coolness in this role, like the action turns from stars like Denzel Washington and Clint Eastwood, where you

feel like the hero always knows he has the upper hand in a fight. And the grittier tone of the film adds in some body horror and gore elements that are interesting takes on the implications of such an extreme superhero drug become readily available.

Overall, “Project Power” feels like another Netflix misfire that comes close to being a pandemic blockbuster movie but is too cliched and corny to stand out. There’s flashy camera work that mostly feels unmotivated, a social justice subplot that feels forced and cringy, cheesy dialogue from Gordon-Levitt (“This is my City”), and a hackneyed catchphrase from Foxx “Am I lying?” That is all to say, if you are looking for a couple of hours of 90’s style popcorn action “Project Power” delivers a watchable, yet forgettable experience.

“Project Power” is rated R for violence, bloody images, drug content and some language. Now available to stream on Netflix.

2.5 out of 5 stars To comment on this film review, or any other movie review, please e-mail George at gust.george@gmail.comt

‘PHOTO PROVIDED

Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt team up to crack down on a dangerous new superhero drug in Netflix's latest action blockbuster ‘Project Power.’

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: LABOR DAY

Answers appearing on Page 23

ACROSS 1. It may be fixed or blank 6. Sometimes appears between dogs 9. Wild West card game 13. Deprived of a limb 14. Go wrong 15. ____ and tattooed 16. Tsar's edict 17. Waikiki garland 18. Propelled like Argo 19. *Last year's Super Bowl MVP 21. *Recipient of this year's first pick 23. Madame Tussauds' medium 24. Jack's legume 25. Communications regulator, acr.

28. Dry as dust 30. Echo 35. Yours and mine 37. Cold War enemies, slang 39. Common candle shape 40. Home of the Utes 41. Shinbone 43. Scotia preceder 44. Furiously angry 46. Like watching paint dry 47. Gulf War missile 48. Oozed 50. Clump 52. Yo 53. Common allergens 55. Not color but ____ 57. *The goal 61. *Primary football unit 65. Boy Scout's ____ badge 66. Pod dweller 68. Word of mouth 69. All worked up 70. Poetic "ever" 71. Home to largest mammal 72. Threads 73. *Defensive ____ 74. Locomotes DOWN 1. Millionaire's turf, according to 2009 Oscar-win-

ner 2. Bangladeshi currency 3. Wet nurse 4. Plant again 5. Swellings 6. Elvers 7. 're 8. Human social group 9. *Yellow and unwanted 10. Saint's "headdress" 11. Movie spool 12. *Vegas numbers 15. Laura Ingalls' hat 20. Make an effort 22. Organ of balance 24. Sleep disrupters 25. *Encroachment and false start, e.g.

26. Type of mandarin 27. Have a hankering 29. *2020 Super Bowl winning coach 31. VSCO girl's favorite shoe brand 32. Geologic period 33. Variety show 34. *Patriot no more 36. Pinta or Santa Maria,

e.g.

38. Perfect houseplant spot 42. *____ Bowl, college game 1982-2000 45. Indicate 49. What Dundee and Dunedin have in common 51. *Last year's Heisman winner 54. Conical dwelling 56. Draw a conclusion 57. Do like exhaust pipe 58. Evil Roman emperor 59. What oxen do to plows 60. Acne symptoms 61. *One of ten needed for first down 62. Church echo 63. Provoke or annoy 64. European sea eagles 67. Poetic "even"

Answers on Page 23

Melton exhibit planned The University of Central Oklahoma’s Melton Gallery will host a free and open-to-the-public opening reception for “You Are Here,” an interactive art exhibition featuring works that engage visitors in the themes of light, space, identity and perception, from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Aug. 20. The exhibit will be on display Aug. 20Nov. 19 at the Melton Gallery, located in the UCO Art and Design building, in the center of Central’s campus.

“You Are Here” features a surround sound and video installation by Patrick Conlon and Christina Giacona. The audience will be enveloped by a soundscape comprised of nine musical movements, each paired with projected dance performance videos.

“While taking a vacation from our physical selves is often an important part of our day, this work asks you to be present,” said Veronica Cianfrano, UCO Melton Gallery curator.

“The work in this show snaps us back into ourselves and transforms us from spectator to participant. Simply using light and sound, these artists have turned the mundane into the extraordinary.”

For more information about the UCO College of Fine Arts and Design and a listing of events and performances, visit cfad.uco.edu.

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 20, 2020 • Page 15

Keep your child fit & healthy this school year

By Brian Attebery We all want our families to be healthy. Maybe it is your spouse or even a child that is struggling with weight. It is a difficult subject to discuss with Attebery those you love. Society doesn’t help the struggle much either. There are many layers to consider when approaching this difficult subject.

Children need exercise. I know it seems like a simple statement but think about how kids don’t “play” like they did just 20-30 years ago.

Their play is primarily about video games and their phones. They sit and play on their electronic devices. They simply do not move around as much as kids did in the past. It is much like the societal changes we have experienced in the adult world the last 50 years or so as well. In society, we don’t have major physical activity to make a living as much as we did before. We don’t have to do as much

physical labor as adults and kids don’t have to exert much energy to “play” like they did years ago. This is why intentional exercise much take place for all of us and it needs to start at an early age.

Throughout the years I have had many well-intending parents and spouses call me because they are concerned about their significant others needing to exercise and lose weight. Many of these phone calls and meetings surround weight loss but also the health problems that go along with obesity. For kids, the consequences typically start out as being over-weight and the insecurities that can be associated with that. People and kids have enough insecurities without having glaring ones from obesity. Those initial problems are not good for your self-esteem and many times give kids and adults a sense of hopelessness. There is always hope but everyone involved must be on the same page.

You may have a spouse or child that fights being overweight. It is tough for everyone involved but you

can’t simply tell them to lose weight or restrict them on certain foods and bad habits (like video games and phones) and expect it all to change.

If you are concerned enough to want them to make changes, you should be willing to live that life with them.

Don’t tell your family member to not eat certain foods and exercise while you don’t do the same. Even if you are “skinny” or of normal weight, you will still benefit from exercise and healthy eating. Let’s face it, some of you don’t have a weight problem because you are lucky and have a naturally fast metabolism. It is not from your self-discipline. Join your family member’s fight by being IN the fight with them. They will feel much more loved and supported if you do. Do as I say, not as I do never works.

Parents have the greatest responsibility when it comes to helping their child lose weight. Your kids don’t drive themselves (unless over 16) to the grocery store. You are the one that buys what the family eats. If you are fighting alcoholism, don’t keep alcohol in the house.

Eventually, you may be able to be

around alcohol and be a recovery alcoholic but most should not be around it at first. Food can be a lot like that.

Keep the sweets, potato chips, sodas and other bad foods out of the house so you are not as tempted by them. It is less difficult to follow a nutrition lifestyle plan if you surround yourself with things that will help you succeed versus fail. Allow yourself once per week to have a “cheat meal” but keep each other accountable during the rest of the week.

There are approximately 33 major illnesses associated with obesity.

While it is a difficult subject to discuss with family members, it is very important to understand that weight loss is not just about vanity and you are truly doing them a favor by approaching this subject with loving care and concern. Just be ready to join them in the fight for a healthy body if you approach them about it.

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

Page 16 • August 20, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

The many ways EFC assists the community

By Lisa Kadavy Edmond Family Counseling Are you aware Edmond Family Counseling (EFC) is located in the heart of Edmond, Oklahoma, at 1251 N. Broadway, and has been serving the community of Edmond since the 1970’s? Although Edmond Family Counseling shares a Lisa Kadavy building with The Hope Center of Edmond, we are a completely different entity. While both organizations work hard to serve the community, the funding for Edmond Family Counseling is completely separate from The Hope Center. We are EDMOND FAMILY COUNSELING, a non-profit organization that diligently strives to meet mental health needs in our community.

Sheila Stinnett is The Executive Director of Edmond Family Counseling. Sheila has embraced the community of Edmond and has provided many innovative and creative ways to serve our population’s needs. Edmond Family Counseling employs therapists that meet with clients on a daily basis.

Small groups for adolescents are also conducted weekly at the agency. Edmond Family Counseling provides services for a 24 hour online crisis hotline to assist individuals and families with an immedi-

ate crisis. In 2019-2020, EFC served approximately 3,500 school-aged children in Edmond Public Schools.

John Goetz, Clinical Director, and Audrey Woods, both Licensed Professional Counselors from the agency, travel to all five middle schools to conduct life skills in small groups for middle school students. The agency also provides weekly support to alternative students in Edmond Public Schools as well as mental health prevention.

Prevention services are also offered by the agency in grades three and five for 17 elementary schools in Edmond. Sheila Stinnett, Director of EFC and Lisa Kadavy, Elementary School Group Facilitator of EFC, travel to the schools and provide emotional regulation classes for 3rd grade students (3rd Grade Calm Academy). Life skills and decision making tools are provided in the schools for fifth graders as students navigate their way through fifth grade and make the transition to middle school (5th Grade Boot Camp).

Offered this fall at Edmond Family Counseling will be a Girls Strong Group. This new program is dedicated to assisting 4th and 5th grade girls learn

new life skills. The program will include topics such as communication, stress, anxiety, self-esteem, confidence, assertiveness and much more. There is no fee for attending the group and will continue throughout the 2020-2021 school year. For more information, please contact, Jamie Prisco- Rudolph, staff therapist, at 405-341-3554.

Finally, more than 2,000 Edmond Public School personal received mental health education on the subject of self-care, trauma and ways to deal with grief and loss from director, Sheila Stinnett.

Are you surprised at the outreach and mental health services provided for our community through Edmond Family Counseling? Again, individual mental health needs are provided on a daily basis at the agency. EFC works off a sliding fee scale and strives to provide affordable mental health services to our community. We know as many grieve losses during this pandemic, the need for Edmond Family Counseling to provide mental health services for our community will only continue to skyrocket!

(Edmond Family Counseling is a non-profit organization. We may be reached at 405-341-3554 to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed professional counselors. Donations may be made to Edmond Family Counseling, 1251 N. Broadway, Edmond, OK 73034 or online @ www.edmondfamily.org by clicking the yellow DONATE button).

Lisa Kadavy, M.Ed., NBCSC, is Elementary School Group Facilitator for Edmond Family Counseling.

Hardesty Family Foundation gives OMRF $1 million Tulsa’s Hardesty Family Foundation has made a $1 million gift to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

The grant will fund the expansion of OMRF’s Aging and Metabolism Research Program, which focuses on ways to prevent, treat and even reverse conditions that impact older adults.

“The Hardesty family set out to make a difference in the lives of all Oklahomans and give back to the state they call home. With this extraordinary gift to medical research, they’ve done it yet again,” said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D. “Thanks to their generosity, our scientists will be able to continue the innovative work that leads to life-changing — and life-saving — discoveries.”

The $5.2 million expansion of the Aging and Metabolism Program includes the renovation of new a laboratory suite, state-of-the-art equipment and start-up funds for three new scientists and their teams.

The program is led by Holly Van Remmen, Ph.D., who guides a team

of researchers looking into age-related conditions like heart failure, diabetes, muscle and vision loss, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. U.S. rates of these diseases and the healthcare costs associated with them have soared in recent years as American lifespans have increased.

“Scientists at OMRF are doing work that will make a profound difference in the lives of all Oklahomans, extending not just the years in a life, but the life in those years,” said Hardesty Family Foundation Trustee Michelle Hardesty. “Our family is pleased to again support OMRF’s critical, cutting-edge medical research, the dividends of which will be felt across generations and around the world.”

Founded in 2005 by F. Roger and Donna J. Hardesty, the Hardesty Family Foundation has given more than $2 million to support medical research at OMRF over the last decade.

An OMRF lab will be named in the family’s honor to memorialize their generous contributions that will allow From left to right, are Connor, Roger and Michelle Hardesty. more to live longer, healthier lives.

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 20, 2020 • Page 17

In light of COVID 19 school plans are subject to change. Please check your school’s website for updates.

The benefits of a new approach to learning for students The validity of the adage “necessity is the mother of invention” was on full display during the COVID-19 outbreak. People quickly had to learn to adapt to a new way of life, including an educational system that was transformed dramatically by social distancing guidelines.

More than 76 million students are enrolled in United States schools, per the latest Census Bureau information. In 2018, 2.12 million students were in Canadian postsecondary institutions alone. In a matter of days, millions of students who once attended classes in-person were forced to transition to virtual learning instruction. The process showed just how flexible learning systems can be, and how virtual instruction may become more than an emergency protocol in the future.

Schools utilized systems like Google Classroom, Canvas and virtual meeting apps to connect and learn. While in-class lessons pro-

vide the socialization and one-on-one interaction that can be vital for students’ academic success, there are many different reasons why virtual instruction can be a key component of learning models as well. When virtual learning is used in conjunction with traditional teaching, students may have a more well-rounded experience. Here are some potential benefits that may unfold as more data is collected.

• Pace: Virtual learning affords students the chance to work on lessons at a pace that fits their individual needs. Students can go back and re-read or re-work problems until they’re satisfied they have learned their lesson. Lessons can be slowed down or sped up depending on proficiency, creating a customized educational experience.

• No more weather days. Many school districts include snow or extreme weather days into their calendars, adding on extra days at the end of school year to meet the specified

number of educational days. Remote learning can take over in these times and keep school districts from having to pad calendars.

• Convenience: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that middle and high schools start at 8:30 a.m. or later to provide students the best chance to get the amount of sleep they need. Still, most adolescents currently start school before 8:30 a.m. Remote learning enables students to complete their assignments when it works best for them. This may help them get more sleep, too.

• Apps: Learning apps are a new wave of educational tools that have helped buoy virtual instruction. Primary school students or those with individual education plans may benefit the most from reinforced app skills that match their learning pace in fun ways.

Virtual home instruction may become a large part of the educational landscape even after it’s no longer a social distancing necessity.

Page 18 • August 20, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

We’re wild about books!

bestofbooksok.com

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

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

Call Down the Hawk by Maggie Stiefvater From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Raven Boys, a mesmerizing story of dreams and desires, death and destiny.

The dreamers walk among us . . . and so do the dreamed. Those who dream cannot stop dreaming - they can only try to control it. Those who are dreamed cannot have their own lives - they will sleep forever if their dreamers die.

And then there are those who are drawn to the dreamers. To use them.

To trap them. To kill them before their dreams destroy us all.

Ronan Lynch is a dreamer. He can pull both curiosities and catastrophes out of his dreams and into his compromised reality.

Jordan Hennessy is a thief. The closer she comes to the dream object

she is after, the more inextricably she becomes tied to it.

Carmen Farooq-Lane is a hunter.

Her brother was a dreamer . . . and a killer. She has seen what dreaming can do to a person. And she has seen the damage that dreamers can do. But that is nothing compared to the destruction that is about to be unleashed. . .

On the Come Up

by Angie Thomasby #1 New York Times bestseller · Seven starred reviews · Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor Book “For all the struggle in this book, Thomas rarely misses a step as a writer.

Thomas continues to hold up that mirror with grace and confidence.

We are lucky to have her, and lucky to know a girl like Bri.”—The New York Times Book Review Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least win her first battle. As the daughter of an underground hip hop legend who died right before he hit big, Bri’s got massive shoes to fill.

But it’s hard to get your come up when you’re labeled a hoodlum Continues on page 20

Back to School

Edmond Public Schools Start August 20th & 21st!

Deer Creek Public Schools Start August 19th!

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 20, 2020 • Page 19

Page 20 • August 20, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Wild About Books

Continued from page 18

at school, and your fridge at home is empty after your mom loses her job.

So Bri pours her anger and frustration into her first song, which goes viral . . . for all the wrong reasons.

Bri soon finds herself at the center of a controversy, portrayed by the media as more menace than MC. But with an eviction notice staring her family down, Bri doesn’t just want to make it—she has to. Even if it means becoming the very thing the public has made her out to be.

Insightful, unflinching, and full of heart, On the Come Up is an ode to hip hop from one of the most influential literary voices of a generation.

It is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; and about how, especially for young black people, freedom of speech isn’t always free.

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay A NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST “Brilliant, honest, and equal parts heartbreaking and soul-healing.” --Laurie Halse Anderson, author of SHOUT “A singular voice in the world of literature.” --Jason Reynolds, author of Long Way Down A powerful coming-of-age story about grief, guilt, and the risks a Filipino-American teenager takes to uncover the truth about his cousin’s murder.

Jay Reguero plans to spend the last semester of his senior year playing video games before heading to the University of Michigan in the fall. But when he discovers that his Filipino cousin Jun was murdered as part of President Duterte’s war on drugs, and no one in the family wants to talk about what happened, Jay travels to the Philippines to find out the real story.

Hoping to uncover more about Jun and the events that led to his death, Jay is forced to reckon with the many sides of his cousin before he can face the whole horrible truth -- and the part he played in it.

As gripping as it is lyrical, Patron Saints of Nothing is a page-turning portrayal of the struggle to reconcile faith, family, and immigrant identity.

Lady Rogue by Jenn Bennett “A swashbuckling adventure.” —Booklist “A rollicking Indiana Jones flick with a female lead.” — BCCB The Last Magician meets A Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue in this thrilling, “breathless” (Kirkus Reviews) tale filled with magic and set in the mysterious Carpathian Mountains where a girl must hunt down Vlad the Impaler’s cursed ring in order to save her father.

Some legends never die…

Traveling with her treasure-hunting father has always been a dream for Theodora. She’s read every book in his library, has an impressive knowledge of the world’s most sought-after relics, and has all the ambition in the world. What she doesn’t have is her father’s permission. That honor goes to her father’s nineteen-year-old protégé—and once-upon-a-time love of Theodora’s life—Huck Gallagher, while Theodora is left to sit alone in her hotel in Istanbul.

Until Huck returns from an expedition without her father and enlists Theodora’s help in rescuing him. Armed with her father’s travel journal, the reluctant duo learns that her father had been digging up information on a legendary and magical ring that once belonged to Vlad the Impaler— more widely known as Dracula—and that it just might be the key to finding him.

Journeying into Romania, Theodora and Huck embark on a captivating adventure through Gothic villages and dark castles in the misty Carpathian Mountains to recover the notorious ring. But they aren’t the only ones who are searching for it. A secretive and dangerous occult society with a powerful link to Vlad the Impaler himself is hunting for it, too. And they will go to any lengths—including murder—to possess it.

Refraction by Naomi Hughes “A swashbuckling adventure.”

—Booklist “Reads like an Arthur C. Clarke-Stephen King collaboration set in Silent Hill--fans of dark sci-fi will enjoy.” -Kirkus Reviews Marty Callahan still remembers the earth before the fog, before all the mirrors turned deadly...

Everything changed one year ago when an alien ship was destroyed over earth. No one knows why the shattered ship covered the world in fog, or how it turned mirrors into portals for vicious monsters. All Marty knows is that his small coastal town is one of the few remaining safe havens.

Though all reflective surfaces are now illegal to protect what’s left of the population, mirrors still have unique uses and the demand continues to rise.

Seizing the opportunity, Marty becomes a distributor in an illegal mirror trade until he’s caught by the mayor’s son, whose slate is far from clean.

The punishment for their crimes is exile, and both of them are sent to one of the many abandoned and dangerous cities overrun by fog.

But the nightmarish streets hold a mystery far greater than anything they could have imagined.

Together, the two discover the horrifying truth behind what really happened when the spaceship was destroyed, and what they must do to save earth from the total destruction no one knows is coming.

Spin by Lamar Giles Even in murder, the music lives on.

When rising star Paris Secord (aka DJ ParSec) is found dead on her turntables, it sends the local music scene reeling. No one is feeling that grief more than her shunned pre-fame best friend, Kya, and ParSec’s chief groupie, Fuse -- two sworn enemies who happened to be the ones who discovered her body.

The police have few leads, and when the trail quickly turns cold, the authorities don’t seem to be pushing too hard to investigate further. But nobody counted on Paris’s deeply loyal fans, ParSec Nation, or the outrage that would drive Fuse and Kya to work together. As ParSec Nation takes to social media and the streets in their crusade for justice, Fuse and Kya start digging into Paris’s past, stumbling across a deadly secret.

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 20, 2020 • Page 21

McBride adds Boydstun to staff graduate of the University McBride Orthopedic of Oklahoma College of Hospital is excited to anMedicine. Dr. Boydstun nounce the addition of received his undergraduDr. Seth M. Boydstun to ate degree from the Uniits 100% Physicianversity of Oklahoma.

Owned specialty group.

Dr. Boydstun specializes Dr. Boydstun will see pain shoulder, elbow, wrist, tients at McBride’s North hip, knee, ankle, foot, Oklahoma City, Edmond Dr. Boydstun fracture care, total joint reand Norman outpatient placement for: hip, direct clinic locations. He was anterior hip, knee, shoulder and fellowship-trained in Shoulder & reverse shoulder. He is a member Elbow Surgery at Congress Orthopedic Associates in Pasadena, of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American California. He was residency Orthopaedic Society for Sports trained in Orthopedic Surgery at Medicine and American Shoulder the University of Oklahoma and Elbow Surgeons.

Health Sciences Center and is a

Highland 55 opens

Lifestyle the key goal

By Richard Mize Oklahoman.com As an "active lifestyle" community, that's what Highland 55 at Spring Creek is all about, developer David Forrest said, and the just-opened model home at 1117 S Bryant Ave. has him and his business partners working to get the word out: "Lifestyle!"

The model is one of an eventual 72 rental units in 36 luxury duplex cottages offered for rent to the booming 55-andover demographic. The neighborhood is on the west side of Bryant, north of E

15th Street, across from Pelican Bay Aquatics Center and Hafer Park.

"In this housing segment, you almost can’t use the word 'lifestyle' too much because what we are trying to achieve, and what many of our residents are looking for, is a lifestyle that frees them from the hassles of homeownership," said Forrest, lead partner in the project with Chris Franklin, Cliff Cabaness and Rhone Bird. "Our amenities facilitate a sense of community while promoting mental and

See Highland 55, Page 23

Welcome First Rate Eye Care

Chamber officials, and well wishers, were on hand recently to mark the grand opening of First Raqte Eye Care at 1140 N.W. 192nd.

Governor makes key staff appointments Gov. Kevin Stitt last week announced the additions of Bond Payne as his new chief of staff and former Senate President Pro Tempore Brian Bingman as his chief policy advisor.

Payne, the cofounder and chairman of Heritage Trust Company and the vice chairman of Argent Financial Group in Oklahoma City, brings years of business acumen and community relaPayne tionships to the Stitt Administration.

“Bond Payne will play a key role in helping us build bridges both inside the Capitol and out in the community,” said Gov. Stitt. “He will be a trusted sounding board for me as we work together to carry out my vision of making Oklahoma a Top Ten state.”

Payne has served on Oklahoma City’s Bond Advisory Committee and Economic Development Trust and has held leadership roles with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the Downtown Club of Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City YPO chapter.

He also worked as a national recruiter for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce from 1995 to 1997.

“It is an honor to be able to serve Governor Stitt and my home state during this challenging time for Oklahoma,” said Payne. “I wholeheartedly embrace the Governor’s goal of Oklahoma becoming a Top Ten state and look forward to working with leaders across the state to make it happen.”

Former Gov. Frank Keating praised Payne’s hiring by saying he will serve Oklahoma with distinction.

“Bond Payne is the whole package,” said Keating. “I have known him for over 20 years, and he knows state government and what ails it. He

is bright and competent and built a successful business. He is wise and humble and loves Oklahoma. Governor Stitt has selected the best to serve as his chief of staff.”

As chief policy advisor, Brian Bingman brings more than a decade of state legislative experience to the Governor’s Office. He represented Senate District 12 from 2006 to 2016 and House District Bingman 30 from 2004 to 2006. Bingman served as President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate from 2011 to 2016 and also as Mayor of Sapulpa from 1992 to 2004.

“I am excited to use Senator Bingman’s vast experience to partner with the Legislature to make our state a better place to live and work for all 4 million Oklahomans,” said Gov. Stitt.

“He understands the process to get things accomplished at the Capitol and will be a great resource for my administration and our state.”

Bingman was the first Republican in state history to serve three terms as Pro Tempore of the Senate. Under his leadership, landmark workers’ compensation and lawsuit reform became law, and he authored and pushed for a reduction in Oklahoma’s income tax rate.

“I am honored to be asked to join Governor Stitt’s team and I am ready to dive in and get to work,”said Bingman. “Our colleagues in the Legislature share our desire to make Oklahoma a Top Ten state and together we can accomplish great things.”

Current Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, championed Bingman’s work in the Legislature and says he looks forward to working with him on improving Oklahoma’s future.

First Rate Eye Care recently held a ribbon cutting with the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce to celebrate their grand opening at 1140 NW 192nd Street.

With the goal of providing the best eye care services possible, Brent Miller, O.D., uses advanced, state-of-theart diagnostic equipment and eye care products. First Rate Eye Care provides a variety of services that include eye health evaluations, contact lens fitting, LASIK and Cataract referral and co-management, ocular disease management and emergency eye care. Their team believes in educating their patients on the condition of their eye care while providing honest, personal care.

Originally from Texas, owner and optometrist Brent Miller received his Bachelor of Science degree from Stephen F. Austin State University, majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology and graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Miller graduated from the University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry in May of 2017.

After graduating he moved to Oklahoma City with his wife, Raquel.

Page 22 • August 20, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Carpenter Square Theatre will entertain with online radio shows

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While Carpenter Square Theatre had to cancel the remainder of its 36th Season, and does not plan to reopen until Thanksgiving weekend for Season 37, it is still working to entertain and enrich the community.

The theater will present the fourth edition of “CST LiveOnline!” by airing an Old Time Radio comedy at 7 p.m.

August 21-22. Since the United States is currently conducting a census, the theater chose a radio show titled “The Census Enumerator” from a “Fibber McGee and Molly” show that was originally broadcast during the census of 1950. Director Rhonda Clark has assembled a cast of well-known metro area actors.

The cast stars Mike Waugh and Lilli Bassett as Fibber and Molly with the support of C.W. Bardsher, Terry Veal, Lana Henson, and Barry Thurman who will play multiple roles. Carpenter Square broadcasts their radio shows with video live from the studio of RK-1 Productions near Scissortail Park in downtown Oklahoma City, and they can be viewed on the Carpenter Square Theatre YouTube channel.

Viewing is free, but the theater appreciates donations, as well as donations for RK-1 Studios who are providing their services for free.

“Fibber McGee and Molly” was a

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radio comedy series that ran from 1930-1959. It was one of the most popular and enduring radio series of its time and ran on NBC radio for most of those years. Later, the characters were featured in several films. The title characters were created by Jim and Marian Jordan, a real-life husband and wife team that had met in their hometown of Peoria, Ill./.

“CST LiveOnline!” will continue to air monthly while the theater itself is closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch for it on the third weekend of the month through the fall.

To tune in, visit the theater’s website at carpentersquare.com. On the home page, look for the purple box on the right and click on the link “Fibber McGee and Molly.” This will take viewers directly to Carpenter Square Theatre’s YouTube channel. Also, folks may visit YouTube, search for Carpenter Square Theatre and subscribe to the theater’s channel, which is free.

Past radio shows and other CST videos are posted there for the public’s enjoyment. If someone must miss the livestream performances, an archive video is always posted on the YouTube channel after the live event, so the public can tune in at their convenience.

For more information, email csttix@coxinet.net or call 405-232-6500.

Supporting caregivers

OK Caregiver is once again partnering with Sunbeam Family Services to support caregivers.

On Friday, Sept. 25 Caregivers are invited to the 22nd Annual Caregiver Conference at Sunbeam Family Services. From 10 a.m. to noon, this no contact, drive-thru event will celebrate caregivers with lunch, resources and a goodie bag.

“We are doing things a little different because things are different,” said Sunbeam Senior Engagement Program Manager Talena Ford. “We want to continue to engage our seniors and still keep this vulnerable population safe. The resources we are providing are needed more than ever.”

This conference is open to Okla-

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homans who are caring for a loved one age 55 and over. For more information, or to register, visit okcaregiver.com.

Caregiver Support Groups are held Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Thursdays at 6 p.m., and Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Groups are held Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Fridays at 1 p.m. Both support groups create an opportunity to learn from others who face similar challenges. They also offer a place to share experiences, resources and to socialize.

For more information about Sunbeam’s Caregiver Support Groups, call (405) 609-8939, email tford@sunbeamfamilyservices.org or visit sunbeamfamilyservices.org.

Obituary notice Monica Shoffner

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BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME!

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The daughter of Peter and Anna Paluski, Monica was born in Centralia, IL. Monica, a Centralia High School graduate, wrapped candy bars for Hollywood Candy Company in Centralia. Monica met Ivan Shoffner, from Oklahoma when he was working for Shell Oil Company in Illinois. The two married in 1940. Robert Laverne, was born in October 1942 in Mount Vernon, IL. Ivan Thomas was born in September 1951 in McLeansboro, IL, died as the eye of Hurricane Isaac passed over Houma, La, in August 2012.

During WWII, Ivan served in New Caledonia east of Australia, as a US Army TechSgt, Petroleum Specialist. Honorably discharged, Ivan returned to work for Shell Oil Company in Mt. Carmel, IL. While Ivan was deployed, Monica and “Bobby” moved in with her parents, who immigrated from Vilnius, Lithuania, they spoke Lithuanian, “Bobby” learned Lithuanian, speaking it until he entered school.

A first-generation Lithuanian-American, Monica, along with Ivan reared their two sons. Ivan worked in the oilfield which meant the family was transferred occasionally. Monica’s sewing skills allowed her to make most all of her own outfits, and her boys shirts, sports jackets and pajamas until they graduated high school, and happily made Stephanie, Christopher and Natalie’s clothes until they were out of grade school. The family transferred from Mt. Carmel, IL to Ardmore, OK and finally to Elk City, OK. Moving landed the family in Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City in 1955, Monica, a cradle Catholic, enjoyed being a Catholic school volunteer. In 1972, she and Ivan moved to Edmond and joined the Parish of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, helping with funeral dinners, parish picnics, Total Youth Ministry retreats, supporting TYM even when they were away from the parish campus. After Ivan died Monica moved into Copperlake Independent Living, rebranded as Lyndale Lifestyles community in Edmond, Monica eventually moved into their Assisted Living facility.

Monica earned the Edmond Medical Center Auxiliary Volunteer Emerita Award recognizing 5,638 hours of service from 1986 to 2003.

Monica’s family loved and cherished her! She was a great cook, housekeeper, who liked arts and crafts. She enjoyed playing games, Bridge, pinochle, dominoes, canasta, Skip-Bo, Yahtzee, board games, crossword puzzles, reading and praying the Rosary.

Robert married Sharon Logan of Mayfield, OK. Tom married Christine Sparks of Canute, OK. They had two daughters Rebecca and Amanda, both died in infancy.

Tom’s second marriage was to Rena Babin of Houma, LA. Monica is survived by Robert and Sharon, his wife. Their children: Stephanie married Kirk Stites of Sallisaw, OK, live in Van Buren, AR.; Christopher married Emily Lipscomb of Edmond, OK; Natalie married Christopher King of Halifax, VA; Lacy Babin married Ryan Smith of Houma, LA live with their son Miles Smith; Sergeant Alex Shoffner is a member of the U.S. Army. Great-grandchildren: Drew and twin Gabriella King, Colette and Haley King live with their parents in Parker, TX, Morgan Stites married Michael Mason of Katy, TX, they live in Edmond, OK, Alec Stites lives in Lafayette, LA, Sarah Shoffner and Ty Shoffner are with their parents in Edmond, OK, Monica is pre-deceased by her parents, her husband, a brother Alphonse and his wife Betty, granddaughters Jennifer Shoffner, Rebecca Shoffner, Amanda Shoffner and great-grandson Logan Shoffner.

At the time of her death, Monica resided at St. Ann’s Home, Oklahoma City, OK. Mother was proud and grateful to have lived more than 103 years, near and dear to her family. Remembrance donations can be made to CureTBM, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, C/O Jennifer Champy, 128 Pennsylvania Court, Chapin, SC 29036, CureTBM.org.

A funeral mass followed by Burial at Memorial Gardens Cemetery will be announced as pandemic conditions allow.

Edmond Life & Leisure • August 20, 2020 • Page 23

Highland 55 From Page 21 physical wellness. Our location promotes convenience. It’s all about lifestyle!"

The neighborhood is gated, pet friendly and features a clubhouse, co-working space, fitness center, pickleball court and a tornado shelter.

The homes range in size from 999 square feet to 1,594 square feet. They have 9-foot ceilings, no-step entries, attached garages, open floor plans, "beautifully designed kitchens and baths," security by SimpliSafe, full-size appliances, and come with Cox internet and cable. The model is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays by appointment.

It all got Cathy Beatty's attention. She's one of the first residents. Beatty, 68, has a home to sell in Florida but has settled in here to be near family.

"I was walking in Hafer Park one day in late December and saw a sign that said 'Coming Soon! Over-55 community.' I thought, 'That's just what I need,'" she said. "I'm just delighted. I just love it here. I love the bungalow look."

the aging of baby boomers there is a real need.

In fact, 'active adult' is one of the fastest growing multifamily segments nationally for a reason: 10,000 baby boomers age into this category nationally every day."

Forrest outlined the lifestyle boomers are after.

"Simple, hassle free — we do all of the maintenance, inside and out," he said. "Convenient: Our location is close to grocery, retail, restaurants, hospitals, churches, pharmacies, banking. Close to relatives. Some of our residents want to simplify and live close to relatives; being located in the heart of Edmond facilitates this.

"And wellness — a large great room in the clubhouse, large outdoor patio, a co-working space/conference room, and a fitness facility with indoor pickleball, exercise equipment, yoga

studio, pet parks, community garden, and of course our Highland Healthy Initiative to promote mental and physical wellness."

For boomers, it's a matter of deciding on whether and how to "rightsize" their home, said Kathy Matthews, Highland 55 marketing director. She explained in a blog post at www.highland55.com.

"Rightsizing is simply the process of moving from what you have to what you need," she wrote. "For some, that may mean moving to a smaller home, but in a more holistic approach, rightsizing becomes a process of looking beyond the size of one’s home. Consider all aspects of your lifestyle from how you spend your time, life’s greatest treasure, to how you currently spend your money.

'Simple, hassle free Forrest, 58, was a multifamily property broker for nearly 30 years. Market research conducted along the way drew him to the 55-plus segment — market rate, luxury — for its growth potential as boomers continue to gray.

"When I retired from CBRE, wanting to be involved in multifamily investment but not doing what everyone else was doing, this was the perfect fit," he said. "There is very little of this agerestricted, 55-plus, luxury rental housing in Oklahoma. Due to current lifestyle trends and

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

Please check with your house of worship for more information.

Page 24 • August 20, 2020 • Edmond Life & Leisure