Edmond Life and Leisure - November 17, 2022

Edmond Electric has been part of the community for more than 100 years. Back this holiday season is Lumi nance - An Enchanted Stroll in Mitch Park. Residents and visitors will get to experience a one-of-a-kind holi day lighting event that is sure to get them in the holiday spirit.

Luminance, Edmond Electric’s walk-thru holiday 3-D light display, kicks off Friday Nov. 18, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Mitch Park. As part of that kick-off celebration, Merry Marketplace – an early holiday shopping oppor tunity featuring pop-up shops at the entrance to the displays – will open that same day at 4 p.m.

The “Enchanted Stroll” is a one-of-a-kind holiday lights experience, with more than 40 displays featured in this festive walk-through event. Food trucks on site select Fridays and Saturdays, 5 to 8 p.m.

Restrooms are onsite and will be available to visitors. Please feel free to bring your hot chocolate and coffee to sip while you stroll. Concessions will not be available at Luminance. The Edmond Outdoor Ice Rink does have a small concession at their location.

With Edmond being the premier city to have 3D light ed displays, guests are sure to see something they’ve never seen before. Luminance is free to the public from

5-10 p.m. Nov. 18 to Jan. 1, 2023.

Be sure to check out Merry Marketplace, a new holiday pop-up shop experience which will be featured during the Luminance Kickoff Event. Nov. 18th from 4 to 8 p.m

Also winners of the Mayor’s Essay Contest will be announced at the event. Students have been writing about what a Winter Wonderland looks like. The top three winners in each grade will be recognized during the Luminance Kick-Off and Tree Lighting celebration at Mitch Park beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Nov. 18. Contest winners will have their picture taken with Mayor Darrell Davis and awarded a special keep sake.

NOTES: Mitch Park, on Covell west of Kelly, is a dog-friendly facility, but dogs must always be on a leash and owners are required to pick up after their pets.

Luminance is the only 3D holiday light walk-through display in Oklahoma, but is not accessible to vehicle traffic. Since Luminance takes place alongside the Mitch Park trail system, displays are ADA accessible for those that require special assistance.

Visitors can expect an approximate a quarter mile walk to enjoy the Luminance displays.

Father-son surgery legacy comes full circle at OU Health

As a third-generation surgeon, OU Health general surgeon Alex Raines, M.D., of Edmond was exposed to medicine from a young age and admired the role his father played in his patients’ lives. That admiration was reciprocated recently at OU Health when his father, Ed Raines, M.D., arrived from out of state for a temporary surgery assignment and visited his son’s operating room for the first time.

Ed Raines was filled with pride upon seeing his son’s achievements and for the positive environment he has created for his patients, his trainees and the team surrounding him. In return, Alex was gratified by his colleagues’ warm welcome to the man who has given him the most valuable lessons in medicine and in life.

“I think the best part of that day was the phone call we had after the day was over,” Alex said. “My dad said, ‘I’m really proud of your operating room because the culture was good and the team was awesome.’ That meant a lot to me because I know he knows the difference between a good operating room and a bad operating room. He wasn’t just being nice and being my dad. He walked into the operating room and felt a good culture.”

“It was also great to hear from students and residents and office staff about how great it was to work with my dad while he’s been here,” Alex said. “I’ve heard those things my whole life, but hearing them in my own hospital was really nice. It validates every-

thing I’ve heard learned from him — that you create an environment for patients to receive good care and for team members to feel valued.”

The majority of Ed Raines’ career has been in cardiothoracic surgery private practice in Nebraska. He is now doing some regional work as a locum tenens, a Latin phrase that refers to a physician working temporarily in a practice that’s not his own. This year, that work brought him to OU Health for the first time.

Alex said the culture of his own operating room is directly tied to the lessons he learned from his father growing up. Alex distinctly remembers his father introducing him to one of his patients who was about to undergo a heart bypass. Calling her by name, Ed said, “She knows I’ve done thousands of these surgeries and have had really good outcomes. But she doesn’t care about those thousands that I’ve done. She cares about hers.”

“That has stuck with me all these years,” Alex said. “Patients aren’t numbers; they’re people. And while we do surgery every day, that might be the first surgery they’ve ever had.”

“Growing up, I also remember being at school or in the mall and someone would stop me and say, ‘Is your dad Ed Raines?’ Then they would say, ‘He operated on my father’ or ‘He operated on my grand-

Dr. Ed Raines, left, and his son, Dr. Alex Raines.

See Legacy, Page 7

Black Friday was the big shopping day until it got crazy and downright dangerous to even be out. I never was a fan. The one time I ventured out at 6:00 a.m. to get a “great price” on a camera for my son, it wasn’t worth the effort. I spent more on coffee and bringing back donuts to the waking family than I saved. I swore never to do it again. I think that was probably around 2006. The good news is that there is a shopping day now that I can totally support because it centers around small businesses.

Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, is Small Business Saturday – a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. This year, we know that small businesses need our support now more than ever as they navigate, retool and pivot from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Please join with folks in Edmond in supporting your local small businesses by shopping at a small business.

Founded by American Express in 2010 and officially cosponsored by the Small Business Association (SBA) since 2011, Small Business Saturday has become an important part of small businesses’ busiest shopping season. Historically, reported projected spending among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday reached an estimated $23.3 billion according to the 2021 Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey commissioned by American Express.

The highly successful team of SBA, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), and American Express will be kicking off the 2022 holiday season by encouraging consumers to support our nation’s nearly 32 million independent businesses this Small Business Saturday and all holiday season long. Many are in Edmond, especially in downtown Edmond.

Join Downtown Edmond for their Annual Small Business Saturday. A time that we celebrate small business owners. Please support these businesses on Small Business Saturday and during the holidays. There will be Horse Drawn carriage rides, a visit from The Grinch, a Car Show, Live art painting, decorations, scavenger hunt and prizes. The number of restaurants is incredible to choose from and enjoy in downtown Edmond these days.

There will also be a Small Business Saturday Holiday Market Pop Up shops

event going on sponsored by Downtown Edmond and Blue J’s Rockin Rollin Grill. It will be held in the Railyard at 23 W First Street.

I am one of those folks born in Oklahoma City that thinks shopping malls died off when they enclosed them. Do you remember the old Penn Square Mall when it was in the open air? That was fun for Christmas shopping and meeting friends and family. Downtown Edmond is one of the few places in the entire metropolitan area where you can get that fun and excitement about the holidays back.

Small Business Saturday is an annual American holiday that celebrates local entrepreneurs and encourages shoppers to buy from small businesses in their area. Here are some facts about small businesses that might surprise you.

There are 33.2 million small businesses currently operate in the U.S. (Small Business Administration)

Small businesses generated 12.9 million net new jobs over the past 25 years, accounting for two out of every three jobs added to the economy. (SBA)

In 2021, 51 million shoppers participated in Small Business Saturday. (National Retail Federation)

More than 50% of Americans say they will shop small on Small Business Saturday. (Constant Contact)

The average expected per person spend in 2021 for Small Business Saturday was $305. (LendingTree)

The idea behind Small Business Saturday is to inspire consumers to patronize local enterprises during the highly profitable pre-holiday shopping season. It takes place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which is traditionally the busiest shopping period of the year.

According to American Express, U.S.

shoppers spent over $20 billion on Small Business Saturday in 2021. Capturing at least some of the shopping activity between Thanksgiving Day to Cyber Monday, this year on November 28, is crucial to the success of small businesses. The NRF reported that 180 million Americans shopped during this five-day span.

Each year after, small business Saturday has generated increased sales. In 2021, American Express reported that Small Business Saturday reached an alltime high with an estimated $23.3 billion in U.S. consumer spending. From 2010 to 2019, American Express reported that approximately $120 billion has been spent.

A 2021 CNBC Momentive Small Business Survey found that 34 percent of Americans planned to shop on Small Business Saturday, up from the year prior, but significantly lower than in the years before the pandemic. Instead of going to local brick-and-mortar shops, they went online.

According to research conducted by Active Campaign, 30 percent of consumers said they do want to support small businesses over big brands, however, saying they’re aware of these businesses’ struggles. The 2021 LendingTree survey discovered that 63 percent of Americans know a small business in their community that permanently closed due to the pandemic.

The LendingTree survey found that 54 percent of women said they will shop small on Small Business Saturday as opposed to 43 percent of men. Among all the generation groups, millennials are the most likely to participate, at 59 percent. Americans with household incomes below $35,000 are the least likely to participate.

It’s hard to overstate the importance of small businesses in the U.S. Accord-

ing to a 2019 U.S. Small Business Association report, enterprises with fewer than 500 employees accounted for 44 percent of U.S. economic activity. These businesses provide employment opportunities, pay taxes and reduce blight.

Moreover, small businesses tend to be particularly active in their local communities. According to American Express, 67 cents of every dollar spent in a small business stays in the local community, and SCORE found that small businesses donate 250 percent more than larger businesses to local nonprofits and community causes.

For many of those small businesses, the holiday season is critical. According to the 2021 American Express survey, 78 percent of small business owners said their holiday sales would likely determine whether they can stay afloat in 2022. And Small Business Saturday helps spread the message to consumers: The survey found that 70 percent of respondents reported that Small Business Saturday makes them want to encourage others to shop at small, independently owned retailers.

As a consumer, there are plenty of ways you can support small businesses on this special day – and beyond. For example:

Shop the pages of Edmond Life & Leisure. We are marketing partners with small businesses in our town and encourage you to support them as they make it possible to bring you the news to our pages every week since we do not sell subscriptions.

Leave positive online reviews. Take to social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, as well as review platforms such as Yelp and Google reviews to extol the virtues of the business.

Spread the word among your friends. Word of mouth is an excellent way to alert friends and family about a great place in your neighborhood. While you’re at it, bring them in with you the next time you shop.

Buy gift cards. If you can’t shop in person or people you want to give presents to do not live close by, a gift card to that establishment is the next best thing to shopping in person.

Order takeout directly. Third party apps take a significant cut from a restaurant or café. Instead, order directly from the website or over the phone, and pick up your own food if they don’t have their own delivery service.

Host an event. Galleries, bars, restaurants, cafes, and retail shops are often eager to rent their space during off hours. Consider it as a location for your next event.

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

“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.

Ray Hibbard

(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.)

Nov. 2

Craig Leon Glover, 30 of Oklahoma City. Obstruction of police officer, felony warrant and fraud/misleading/false represent as one’s own driver’s license card.

Mickale Deion Tyler, 27 of Oklahoma City. Operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license, three felony warrants, obstruction of police officer and possession of CDS.

Ivan Daniel Prentup Sr., 44 homeless. Public intoxication and petty larceny.

Austin Alonzo James Anderson, 30 of Edmond. Shoplifting and trespassing after being warned.

Henry Edmund Burr, Jr., 41 of Rockingham, NC. Public intoxication.

Samer Mohamed Elmootassie, 60 of Oklahoma City. Shoplifting.

Joshua William Trotter Fields, 47 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant and three counts of failure to appear.

Nov. 3

Charis Anna Kennedy, 26 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .15 or more.

Decoven Seir Robertson 22 of Edmond. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked and transporting open container of alcoholic beverage.

Reginald Larue Guyton, 52 of Edmond. Shoplifting.

Kenneth Edwards Jr., 31 of Little Rock Ark. Nonassault resisting officer.

Nov. 4

Adam Holmes Johnson, 27 of Edmond. Failure to appear.

Brandon Wayne Watkins, 40 of Choctaw. (Misdemeanor) domestic abuse assault.

Kaitlynn Nikole Ramirez, 29 of Pampa, Texas. Felony warrant.

Vamsi Krishna Reddy Mallavarapu, 25 of Edmond. Disregard signal light and operating a motor vehicle with no valid driver’s license.

Jacob Elijah Perkins, 42 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant.

Billie Ruth McGivney, 82 of Edmond. Felony warrant and public intoxication.

Nov. 5

Jeanette Kriston Ketterling, 49 of Spencer. Failure to appear.

Patricia Rochelle Stevens, 59 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Robert Rodriquez Jr. 30 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant.

Zacheus Micah Brownell, 36 of Oklahoma City. Four felony warrants and two misdemeanor warrants.

Nov. 6

Sirrobert Paul Ratliff, 35 of Edmond. Two failure to appear counts, non-assault resisting officer and public intoxication.

Muhammad Ravi Shafiq, 28 of Edmond. Public intoxication and non-assault resisting officer.

Kayontaya Lachey Pace, 21 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Gage Marshal Langley, 27 homeless. Non-assault resisting officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and trespassing.

Jontez Adaire Lyons, 18 of Edmond. (Felony) value embezzlement.

Julian Love Sullivan, 22 of Edmond. (Misdemeanor first offense) domestic assault. (In the presence of a minor child.)

Weekend calendar of events, Nov. 17-20

Indoor Winter Market

---- Barrel Futurities of America World Championships ---- Live Music at Frenzy ---- Active Aging Expo ---- Grown-Up Arts & Crafts ---- Luminance Merry Marketplace ---- Beats & Bites ---- Homeschool Day ---- Read the West Book Club: When Outlaws Wore Badges ---- Signature Tour

---- American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show

---- Lyric Theatre presents: “A Christmas Carol”

---- UCO Department of Dance presents: Kaleidoscope Dance Company

---- Oklahoma City Tree Lighting Festival

---- OKC Broadway presents: Tootsie ---- Intocable in Concert ---- Holiday Extravaganza

---- Oklahoma Bridal & Wedding Expo

Extra Information

In the Gallery

Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute

Extra Info: Featuring Behnaz Sohrabian; Free; edmondfinearts.com

Edmond Ice Rink

Location: Mitch Park

Extra Info: Sat, Nov. 5 – Sun, Jan 15; hours vary; edmondicerink.com

Downtown in December

Location: Downtown OKC

Extra Info: Thu, Nov. 3 – Jan 27, 2023; downtownindecember.com

Devon Ice Rink

Location: Myriad Botanical Gardens

Extra Info: Fri, Nov. 11 – Sun, Jan 29, 2023; downtownindecember.com

The Polar Express

Location: Oklahoma Railway Museum

Extra Info: Sat, Nov. 12 – Tue, Dec 27; okcthepolarexpressride.com

OKC Zoo Safari Lights

Location: Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden

Extra Info: Sat, Nov. 12 – Sun, Jan 1, 2023; okczoo.org

Tiny, But Mighty! Exhibit

Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum

Extra Info: Wed, Oct 5 – Thu, Aug 31; edmondhistory.org

Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road: American Musical Ambassadors

Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum

Extra Info: Sun, May 1 – Sat, Dec 1; edmondhistory.org

Nerf Battles

Location: The Hive Basketball Complex

Extra Info: Fri, Sep 2---- Sat, Dec 17; 6 – 8 p.m.; $13/hr or $20/2 hr; arena51fun.com

PAMBE GHANA’S Global Market

Location: Northpark Mall

Extra Info: through Sat, Dec 24; 10 a.m. -6 p.m. daily; pambeghana.org

Luminance: An Enchanted Stroll

Location: Mitch Park

Extra Info: Fri, Nov. 18 – Sun, Jan 1; 5 – 10 p.m.; Free; edmondlights.com

Indoor Winter Market

Location: Mitch Park

Extra Info: through Sat, Mar 18; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Free; edmondok.gov

Barrel Futurities

of America World Championships

Location: Lazy E Arena

Extra Info: Sat, Nov. 12 – Sat, Nov. 19; lazye.com

Live Music at Frenzy

Location: Frenzy Brewing Company

Extra Info: Fri, Nov. 18; Sat, Nov. 19; Fri: Hosty @ 7:30 p.m.; Sat: Zack Baker Music @ 8 p.m.; Free; frenzybrewing.com

Active Aging Expo

Location: Mitch Park

Extra Info: Thu, Nov. 17; 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.; Free; edmondok.com

Grown-Up Arts & Crafts

Location: MAC in Mitch Park

Extra Info: Fri, Nov. 18; $15; 6 – 8 p.m.; edmondparks.com

Luminance Merry Marketplace

Location: Mitch Park

Extra Info: Fri, Nov. 18; 4 – 8 p.m.; Free; edmondlights.com

Beats & Bites

Location: Riverwind Casino

Extra Info: Fri, Nov. 18; Gate Time: 5:30 p.m.; Wade Bowen: 6:30 p.m.; Eli Young Band: 8:30 p.m.; riverwind.com

Homeschool Day

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Fri, Nov. 18; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Read the West Book Club: When Outlaws Wore Badges

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Sun, Nov. 20; 1 – 2:15 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Signature Tour

Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Extra Info: Sat, Nov. 19 & Sun, Nov. 20; 1 ---- 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

American Quarter Horse Association World Championship Show

Location: Oklahoma City Fairgrounds

Extra Info: Thu, Oct 17 – Sat, Nov. 19; aqha.com

UCO Department of Dance presents: Kaleidoscope Dance Company

Location: University of Central Oklahoma: Mitchell Hall Theatre

Extra Info: Thu, Nov. 17 – Sat, Nov. 19; 7:30 p.m.; uco.edu

OKC Broadway presents: Tootsie

Location: Civic Center Music Hall

Extra Info: Tue, Nov. 15 – Sun, Nov. 20; Tue, Wed & Thu: 7:30 p.m.; Fri: 8 pm.; Sat: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sun: 1:30 p.m. & 7 p.m.; okcciviccenter.com

Lyric Theatre presents: “A Christmas Carol”

Location: Harn Homestead

Extra Info: Wed, Nov. 16 – Fri, Dec 23; lyrictheatreokc.com

Oklahoma City Tree Lighting Festival

Location: Mickey Mantle Plaza

Extra Info: Thu, Nov. 17; 5 – 7 p.m.; downtownindecember.com

Intocable in Concert

Location: Civic Center Music Hall

Extra Info: Sat, Nov. 19; 8 p.m.; okcciviccenter.com

Holiday Extravaganza

Location: Silver Leaf Gems, Edmond, OK

Extra Info: Sat, Nov. 19 – Sun, Nov. 20; Sat: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Sun: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; silverleafgems.com

Oklahoma Bridal & Wedding Expo

Location: Oklahoma City Fairgrounds

Extra Info: Sun, Nov. 20; 1 – 5 p.m.; bridalshowsokok.com

Now through Dec. 27 at the Oklahoma Railway Museum

Edmond GOP Women’s Club

present speaker Mo Anderson

The next meeting of Edmond Republican Womens Club will be Monday, November 21st, in the Cherokee Rm. of the George Nigh Center at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. We start gathering around 11:15 to 11:30 am, with the buffet lunch served at 11:30.

We are so proud to announce that our guest speaker for the month of November is Mo Anderson.

The youngest of five, born to tenant farmers in rural Oklahoma, Mo Anderson was the first in her family to earn a college degree. She taught music in the public schools before entering the world of real estate. Her first Century 21 franchise quickly rose to the third-highest producing out of 7,500 locations in North America. She served on the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission, including 2 terms as chairman.

She convinced Keller Williams Realty Co-founder, Gary Keller, to expand his franchise company outside Texas. Anderson became the regional owner for Keller Williams Realty Oklahoma. In 1995, Mo became the first CEO and co-owner of Keller Williams Realty International. The Company is now the number one Real Estate Franchise company in the world in size, units, and volume. She currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Board.

Deemed one of America's top 25 influential People, Anderson continues to cultivate the firm's culture, inspiring many thousands of agents around the world to maintain high standards of character.

A member of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame (class of 2018), Mo is the author of A Joy-filled Life: Lessons from a Tenant Farmer's Daughter Who Became a CEO, and she

launched MoAnderson.com, an online mentoring website.

Mo's greatest legacy will be her philanthropic giving. Her local community, charitable organizations, and ministries around the world have been richly blessed by her belief that the higher purpose of business is to give, care, and share.

The club is continuing work on our Christmas Party "A Patriotic Christmas", which will be December 7th, at the Edmond Historical Museum and partnered with Warriors for Freedom. In addition to a Pearl Harbor Tribute, there will be entertainment by Cathy Costello and Tom Nix, as well as up and coming Maddox Ross on guitar. Both a silent and live auction will benefit a veteran who has found himself the sole support of four young children.

If you would like information on making donations or obtaining tickets, please contact Warriors Executive Director, Erica Walker at erica.walker@warriorsforfreedom.org . Her office phone number is (405) 286-9920.

The club membership drive is ongoing. Any member of ERWC who brings a guest or guests to the meeting, has their name go into the hopper for a chance to win a very nice prize. If their guests decide to join our club, the member's name goes into the hopper again. The name of the winner for this quarter will be drawn at this meeting. Last quarters winner was Dr. Billye Peterson Putnam.

If you choose to join us for both meeting and lunch, the cost is $20, or the meeting alone is $5. The meeting officially begins at 11:45 and if you need a parking pass for the visitor parking lot, one will be provided for you. The public is welcome and encouraged to join us.

Legacy.

mother.’ I understood then how important those moments are in people’s lives. If a person has surgery, that is usually a milestone moment in their life. And we get to participate in that.”

Alex and his father both attended medical school at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine (as did Alex’s grandfather and uncle). When Alex was in his fourth year of medical school, he spent a one-month rotation in his father’s surgical practice, where he experienced an irony that he laughs about today. At the time, Ed was using robotics to perform some surgeries.

“I should have been in awe of this robot,” Alex said, “but instead I chastised my father for using it. I said, ‘Why are you using this big clunky machine? It’s expensive and it’s unnecessary.’ Fast-forward about 20 years, and now I’m using the robot and in fact have hung my clinical career on robotics because of the value it adds.”

The careers of father and son have taken a few other related, if unexpected, paths. When Ed was applying for residency, his top choice was the Mayo Clinic. He was so sure that was his destination that he almost bought a house there before it was official. As it turned out, his residency match was at the University of Utah Health, which ultimately was the best fit for him. Similarly, Alex had hoped to attend residency at the University of Utah as his father did, but he instead matched at the OU College of Medicine.

“In retrospect, OU should have been my No. 1 pick because this is exactly the culture I fit into and it’s a great program,” Alex said. “That’s been one of my most powerful lessons to relay to students: ‘Don’t hold on too tight to what you think the future is going to be.’”

Since finishing his residency and becoming a faculty member at the OU College of Medicine, Alex’s career has flourished, both as a surgeon and an educator. In addition to his busy surgical practice at OU  Health Edmond

Medical Center, he teaches medical students and residents. He serves as codirector of the third-year medical student clerkship and as site director for surgery residency training at Edmond Medical Center.

Alex is so well-respected by his colleagues and his students and residents that, earlier this year, he was awarded the Stanton L. Young Master Teacher Award by the OU College of Medicine. It is one of the largest awards in the nation for medical teaching excellence. He is also a member of the college’s Academy of Teaching Scholars, a group of faculty members who seek to improve medical education through scholarship.

Although he hadn’t planned on a career in academic medicine, Alex was drawn to education because it is ultimately another way of helping patients. “I can only operate on so many thousands of patients during my career, but every time I teach a student or resident and they take that into their careers, I’ve indirectly affected many more patients,” he said.

Beyond clinical skills, Alex is also passionate about teaching students and residents how to handle the emotional demands of being a surgeon. “You make connections with your patients. Bad outcomes will sometimes happen. It’s part of being a doctor,” he said. “You need to be able to navigate that not only with the patient but with yourself as well. I enjoy helping students with that emotional intelligence training.”

Seeing his son excel as both a surgeon and an educator is gratifying, Ed said, and he has done so by staying dedicated to his patients and the healthcare team that makes his success possible.

“Being from Nebraska, I used to say that’s what it means to be a Husker — you’re hard-working, you’re honest and you’re not cocky,” said. “I think you can say the same thing about being a Sooner — it means you’re authentic and you treat people right.”

Anderson

Most older adults have specific exercise needs

By Brian Attebery

Fitness goals and needs should vary from individual to individual. That is why we call it “personal” training. You have different experiences, injuries, congenital issues, and time constraints that should determine how your workouts should be carried out.

I recently ran into a lady from my church that is in her 80s and she had asked if I or my any of my trainers trained “older” people. My short answer is we all have experience with “mature” customers and that would be no problem. This was also a good time to point out that I require my fulltime trainers to have Exercise Science Type degrees and that this is not a Law or Policy in the State of Oklahoma. So when a person has

that education versus just an internet online exam, it brings up the importance of being able to work with multitudes of needs, goals and yes, older adult populations. I would say it makes it vital due to the knowledge of Human Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics and Nutrition that will come into play when working with older adults.

What are some of the most common considerations when training as an older adult? I would say your joints will be more sensitive and you should be aware of your potential limitations. I have people in their 80s able to do walking lunges and squats with no problem. That is amazing but probably less common for most people. Knees, lower back, and shoulders are the most common joint aches I see anyone have as they go through life. The exercise choices you use, and the range of motion should be considered when working with these joint limitations. Back squats with a bar on your shoulders is a great exercise but not if you have chronic lower back issues and maybe not if your knees are arthritic. A medium height step could be an alternative or perhaps a leg press for your legs or even both! There are ways to work around issues, but you need to understand why, what, and how.

The volume and frequency of your workouts need to be factored in when you are older. Our bodies do not recover as quick from intense exercise as it used to. Regardless of age, if you haven’t been working out and are trying to get back in shape, you also need to take it slow and allow the process to take place. I always give my clients a little less than I think they are capable of when they first start. You must think to yourself, “I know that this is only 3 sets of 10 reps but that means I am doing 30 total sets

more than I was last week before I started this program!” You will get where you can do more sets and reps for your various body parts, but you need to take your time and listen to your body. You may find that your legs recover faster than your upper body muscles or vice versa.

Motion is lotion I love to use that analogy with my clients. You need to move your body to keep your joints feeling better. I see so many old weightlifters determined to lift as heavy as possible, but they don’t bother to stretch or use lighter exercises that involve a great range of motion because they have a onetrack mind. Your “strength” is about abilities to perform tasks, not just to be able to bench press a lot. Instead of working on the leg press and only moving it 6 inches with 500bls, perhaps you should occasionally try dropping the weight down to 200lbs and go slow and deep to loosen up your knees or do body weight only squats to loosen your hips up so you can squat down to perform daily tasks better. Looking buff is good but living your best life with everyday strength application is important too.

Workouts for mature adults need to be considered for unique needs. In addition to the previously mentioned needs, you should also include elements of balance and cardiovascular strength daily. Your heart is the most important muscle, and you need to keep it efficient. All older adults should combine strength and cardiovascular training along with a proper nutrition plan and live their best life. Seek professional help to make sure you are carrying out your goals according to your individual needs.

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

www.resultsfitnessusa.c om)

Attebery

Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Holly Van Remmen, Ph.D.

OMRF scientist is tapped to lead national aging group

The American Aging Association has named Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Holly Van Remmen, Ph.D., as its president for 2023-24.

Formed in 1970 and known by the acronym AGE, the association is an organization of scientists and clinicians with goals including promoting research aimed at slowing the aging process and informing the public about practical ways to achieve long, healthy lives.

At OMRF, Van Remmen leads the Aging and Metabolism Research Program and holds the G.T. Blankenship Chair in Aging Research. Her lab studies muscle loss in aging and motor neuron deterioration associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. She joined AGE more than two decades ago and served as its president from 2006-07.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by my peers in this way,” said Van Remmen, who joined OMRF in 2013 from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. “The association has been instrumental in shaping my career since I attended my first AGE conference as a postdoctoral researcher in 1994.”

In addition to her position at OMRF, Van Remmen also is co-director of the Oklahoma Nathan Shock Center on Aging, one of only eight in

the U.S. It is a collaboration between OMRF, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center to study how aging impacts disease and how changes that occur in aging predispose people to disease.

The center awards pilot grants, primarily to junior researchers, allowing them to further their investigations and apply for larger grants. On Nov. 1, it will award its next batch of awards, each ranging from $5,000 to $20,000.

Like the Shock Center, Van Remmen said a central goal of AGE is to support younger researchers. “Close to half of our members have recently completed their doctorate or are graduate students. Fostering opportunities for their career advancement improves the field of geroscience, which impacts people everywhere,” she said.

OUHSC scientist Arlan Richardson, Ph.D., who was Van Remmen’s mentor at the University of Texas Health Science Center, said this commitment to the next generation of researchers is unsurprising.

“Dr. Van Remmen’s dedication to scientific collaboration has put Oklahoma on the map for aging research,” Richardson said. “She is one of the leading researchers in geroscience, and her leadership will impact the field for many years."

Local news?

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

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

A few voting observations

By Steve Gust

It was another interesting election last week.

I never knew so many people voted for a straight party ticket. The state said almost 70 percent of Republicans did that.

And it appears the polling was a bit off with Gov. Stitt’s re-election bid. Guess that’s putting it mildly. He won by more votes this time, 157,580, than he did against Drew Edmondson in 2018. It’s always interesting to see GOP margins in the Oklahoma Panhandle as well as northwest Oklahoma, It’s usually 70 percent and up.

Yet I also wonder what it is about big towns that make them more liberal? If voting had been up to Oklahoma County residents alone, we’d have a Gov. Joy Hofmeister, Jena Nelson as School Superintendent, a Sen. Kendra Horn and someone named Jeremiah Ross for Congressman rather than Frank Lucas.

Oklahoma County seems to trend more blue every election. It’s an interesting development but hasn’t derailed Oklahoma from being more Republican. In 1960, Oklahoma was

over 80 percent registered Democrat. Today, it’s in the lower 30s.

I understand a Democrat state lawmaker wants to outlaw straight party voting. That probably won’t become a law anytime soon.

Nationally, I’m not sure why liberalism and socialism appeals to so many people. It’s obvious Biden has unquestionably done a horrific and terrible job. Inflation, higher crime and open borders are proof of that. In fact, big government is a terrible idea. Historically it just doesn’t work. But for whatever reason, a chunk of people don’t share the GOP vision of free enterprise, lower taxes and strong national security.

It’s disappointing but that trend has been under way for a long time. The indoctrination in schools has been under way for decades.

The same is true with the national press, which is far from being truthful and objective.

Nationally, there will probably have to be more pain and misery from liberal leadership before people become disillusioned and give up on the Democrats

Election chief’s statement

The Secretary of the State Election Board released a statement last Friday regarding the Nov. 8 General Election and voter turnout.

Statement from Secretary Paul Ziriax:

"For election officials, the General Election is our Super Bowl. No election is perfect, but overall this one went pretty smoothly. I want to offer a big 'thank you' to all of the poll workers, county election board members and staff, State Election Board staff, and other election officials who worked very hard to ensure Oklahomans were able to vote in a free and fair election. I am very appreciative of our partner agencies who help us protect Oklahoma's election system and keep it secure. And I want to thank the voters who took time to exercise their right to vote."

Additional Information about Oklahoma's 2022 General Election: Official pre-election voter registration showed 2,295,906 registered voters in Oklahoma. At the 2018 gu-

bernatorial election, there were 2,120,843 registered voters.

Preliminary, unofficial 2022 General Election results show turnout to be about 50.3% of registered voters. This compares to 56.15% of registered voters in 2018.

Preliminary, unofficial 2022 General Election results show about 1.155 million ballots scanned – about 36,000 fewer than the nearly 1.191 million in 2018.

Preliminary, unofficial 2022 General Election results show more than 480,000 voters marked "straight party" – 69.82% for Republicans, 29.08% for Democrats, and 1.10% for Libertarians. (Reminder: A vote for an individual candidate overrides a "straight party" mark.)

Election Results are unofficial until certified. Any provisional ballots determined to be eligible will be counted by County Election Boards and then added to the vote total

The State Election Board was set to meet on November 15 at 5PM to certify results for federal and state races.

Not a

fan

of time change

Sen. Blake Stephens, R-Tahlequah, continues to advocate for Daylight Saving Time (DST) to be the official year-round time in Oklahoma. Stephens has advocated for DST legislation since he was elected to the Senate in 2020.

The Sunshine Protection Act was unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate earlier this year and is awaiting consideration by the U.S. House of Representatives, followed by the president. If approved, DST would be able to become permanent across the nation, with many states already having legislation in place to be enacted upon the passage of the act.

“Our time ‘fell back’ this past weekend and the negative effects are already apparent,” Stephens said. “There is less time for farmers and ranchers to work in the daylight, less time for outdoor sporting events, school activities, business operations and a multitude of other things. We can have a safer, healthier and more productive state without the time change, and that is why I will continue to push for Oklahoma to do away with DST.”

The lawmaker said numerous studies have shown time changes are associated with negative health and mental health effects

Shoplifting law too lax?

By Sen. James Lankford

Rep. Rande Worthen, R-Lawton, hosted an interim study recently to learn about the effects of organized theft from retail stores.

Interim Study H22-018, was hosted before the House Judiciary - Criminal Committee, which Worthen chairs.

District 5 District Attorney Kyle Cabelka told the committee that since the minimum amount of property that had to be stolen for a charge to be considered a felony was increased from $500 to $1,000 in 2016, his district has seen a "dramatic increase" in petty larceny.

Cabelka said petty larceny cases carry a $500 fine and a sentence of 30 days in jail.

"I believe because the punishment is so minimal, we continue to see it happen over and over and over again," he said.

Cabelka said many defendants aim to keep the total cost of the items they're stealing under $1,000 so if they were caught, they'd face a misdemeanor rather than a felony.

Detective Jason Miller with the Oklahoma City

Police Department (OKCPD) said the OKCPD's Organized Retail Crime Unit was created in 2017 in response to a "significant uptick" in retail crime.

He said the unit recovered over $2 million worth of property stolen from retailers and filed over 175 charges last year.

Miller noted that people travel from out-ofstate to commit retail theft because they consider the risk of being caught "very light" due to "how lenient" Oklahoma's law is.

"Organized retail theft is costing Oklahoma's business owners thousands of dollars, which drives the prices up for other consumers, a problem which touches all of us," Worthen said. "When a punishment is so light that it's worth the risk of getting caught, it puts Oklahomans in danger and costs taxpayer dollars to pursue these cases. I hope that we will soon consider changes that will benefit our law enforcement officers and business owners as well."

Worthen said he is exploring legislation that could help address the increase in retail theft.

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.

OSSAA coming under scrutiny

Rep. Ty Burns, R-Pawnee, took a deep dive look into the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association (OSSAA) during an interim study held recently before the House Common Education Committee

Burns, a former public school teacher and coach, requested the study to examine discrepancies in policies related to the eligibility of student athletes who transfer from one school to another, specifically Rule 8 in the OSSAA manual as it pertains to Title 70. He also questioned the organization's finances and its overall purpose.

"I believe the OSSAA has become out of control, taking money from parents and schools to fund their investment firm while dictating parental choice all at the expense of children," Burns said. “Why do we allow the OSSAA to restrict the educational experience of the kids in our state?”

The OSSAA is made up of more than 430 school districts. In addition to high school athletics, the association also oversees competition in other areas such as speech and debate, music and electronic sports. The association is governed by a 12-member board representing school districts from across the state.

Burns pointed to the fact that according to nonprofit tracker ProPublica, the OSSAA reported almost $6 million in revenue for fiscal year 2021, with the executive director making $173,891, plus 18% of his salary as a retirement benefit that can be accessed six months after retirement. Other directors' salaries ranged from $111,900 down to $63,953, with other employees making between $49,850 to 35,000.

He told committee members and other attendees not to take his word for these claims, but instead shared the words of parents who have reached out to him through letters and other forms of communication.

One parent wrote that it was clear there was no interest in collaboration with parents even to benefit student athletes.

Creates painted spaces to engage students

UCO department gets innovative with school play

The University of Central Oklahoma Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies, in collaboration with the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), created painted play spaces, which are brightly colored games that engage and aim to improve students’ physical activity, at elementary schools throughout Oklahoma.

"As a part of painted play spaces, we had an overall goal of providing students with innovative activities that would help increase their physical activity and student engagement levels on their school campuses,” said Bailey White, kinesiology and health studies graduate assistant at Central.

“Being able to provide fun, meaningful and beneficial activities for students was a rewarding experience. As a physical education and health advocate, it was an honor to help organize and complete this project. Our focus was to make an impact on the overall health and fitness of students, and I believe we did that."

In 2018, OSDE received a $330,000 grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to increase physical activity, healthy eating habits and overall health and wellness in students. Central was asked to collaborate with the department to strengthen the existing relationship and create transformative learning opportunities for UCO students.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a need for social distancing in playgrounds and play areas increased. Central’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies worked with OSDE to provide recess resources and technical assistance to elementary schools in Oklahoma to safely conduct social distancing during play time.

“In the beginning, we partnered with four schools as part of the pilot project for the painted play spaces,” White said.

The four schools that participated in the pilot project include Caney Elementary School in Caney, Okla.; Madill Elementary School in Madill, Okla.; Colbert Elementary School in Colbert, Okla.; and, Northern Hills Elementary School in Edmond.

With the success of the pilot program, nearly 30 schools have the painted play spaces curriculum and designs implemented in their programs. School districts participating in the program include Crescent Public Schools, Tonkawa Public Schools, Wetumka Public Schools and Justice Public Schools, among others.

Additionally, UCO created planning toolkits and playbooks for front-line staff and educators that demonstrate how to use the painted play spaces as recess games. For more information, contact Rachelle Franz, Ed.D., professor of kinesiology and health studies, at 405-974-3414 or rfranz@uco.edu.

The University of Central Oklahoma Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies collaborated with the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) by creating painted play spaces, pictured, for elementary schools in Oklahoma, which are brightly colored games that are engaging to improve students’ physical activity. Central’s Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies provided recess resources and technical assistance to elementary schools in Oklahoma to safely conduct social distancing during play time.

Leads to her rich Native American heritage

Loretta Oden’s journey of self-discovery

By Elaine Warner

All my stories are about travels I have taken myself. Today is different. I’d like to tell you about someone else’s journey – and the wonderful experience I have had because of it. That traveler is Loretta Barrett Oden, a Native Armerican, native Oklahoman, chef, historian, ethnobotanist, and educator.

She was born in Shawnee and raised in two worlds. Her mom was Potawatomi, her dad, the only child of a rather well-to-do oilman. Although there was no animosity, the two sides of her family didn’t mix. She says I was raised by both families. I had two sets of grandparents, two sets of greatgrandparents, two Thanksgivings and two Christmases.

“I didn’t realize until I was ten or eleven that I was Indian. I spent lots of time with my Potawatomi cousins and my aunties, but somehow I didn’t connect with that. When I found out, I thought that was cool – but back then it wasn’t.

“My grandmother on my father’s side did everything in her power for me to be as white as possible and so did my mom, hoping to make life easier than she had it.. Because of what I looked like –fair skin and blue eyes – I did what people of color did in those days. I “passed” until I was a teen-ager and began finding out more about who I was and how fascinating both sides of my family were.” It was colonizer and indigenous. She adds, “I’m still at war with myself.”

Loretta married young, raised a family and lived the life of an Edmond suburban housewife, involved with her two boys, Clay and Craig, and active in the community. She says, “The happiest years of my life were when I was raising my boys.”

The boys grew up and life changed. Loretta embarked on a journey of self-discovery. She started in Los Angeles and headed for the Pacific Northwest. On the way, in remote areas she discovered Native tribes who were living pretty traditional lives within their culture with ages-old foodways.

In Oklahoma, the many tribes who were forcibly moved here had lost contact with their homelands and the variety of foods they were able to gather, grow, or hunt. Instead, they were forced to subsist on unfamiliar and unhealthy products – white flour, lard, and dairy products which had never been part of their diets.

The discovery of the connection of tribes like the Yurok, Hoopa and Karuk to the fresh, whole foods provided by nature was a light-bulb moment. She remembered, as a child, her Potawatomi grandmother had often suggested life paths to

family members. She says, “(Grandma Peltier) would look at my brother and say, ‘Honey, you should lead our tribe someday’. She’d look at me and just shake her head. The travels really opened my eyes.” One of the results of her travels was the production of a 2006 PBS series, Seasoned with Spirit.

Returning to Los Angeles, Loretta planned to open a Native American food restaurant, but real estate prices were prohibitive. In 1993 she and her son Clay, opened the Corn Dance Café in Santa Fe. The immediate popularity came as a shock as the place was swamped with customers including a number of A-list stars.

An article about the café appearing in the New York Times alerted the Today Show. Nearing Thanksgiving, they decided having a Native American chef prepare a meal for the program would be a good idea. Her appearance brought a request from Good Morning America the next year .The Corn Dance Café prospered; Loretta opened a second location. Santa Fe was home for almost ten years.

After the hotel where one of her restaurants was situated decided to change their emphasis from Native American to European cuisine, Loretta was ready to move back to Oklahoma.

Her brother, John “Rocky” Barrett, following the path directed by his grandmother, had become Citizen Potawatomi Nation Tribal Chairman. In Shawnee, Loretta opened a new Corn Dance Café on tribal property. Unfortunately for Shawnee, the

attempt was short-lived.

Fortunately for Loretta, her celebrity had spread and she was in demand nationally and internationally for other opportunities. She worked with the Mondavi Vineyards in California and COPIA – an American center for wine, food and the arts. She also consulted for Crystal Cruise Lines and appeared at many slow food events in Turin, Italy. She continues to work with Turtle Island USA, the Native American slow food organization. She is particularly involved in improving nutritional education among the Native peoples.

One of her biggest challenges has been working with the First Americans Museum (FAM), helping to design the kitchen for their fine dining restaurant, creating the menu, and remaining as their Consulting Chef.

This is where my travel kicks in. The FAM, if you haven’t visited, is situated near the intersection of I-35 and I-40 and is destined to become one of Oklahoma’s premier tourist attractions. The institution just received a Phoenix Award from the Society of American Travel Writers for excellence in preservation, conservation, environmental concern and, of course, the outstanding collections and programs provided.

The 39 Restaurant, located in the museum, is a highlight of any visit. Currently it’s only open for lunch Wednesday through Friday and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday. The menu is a brilliant fusion of contemporary cuisine and ancient ingredients.

Wild rice, a staple of the Potawatomi people before their removal from their homelands, is purchased from Ojibwa Indians who still hand-gather the wild grass. Quinoa is credited to the ancient Incas. You’ll also find its botanical cousin, amaranth, in some of the dishes at 39.

One of Loretta’s coolest (and tastiest) adaptations is her Popcorn Crème Brûlée created in collaboration with Chef Brad Harris. Because of Native intolerance to dairy, she’s eliminated the cream substituting milk infused with popcorn. The crispy caramelized sugar crust is topped with blueberry lavender purée, candied pecans and pepita granola.

The bison burger is juicy and delicious, I’ve ordered it twice, but a friend recommends the shaved turkey pastrami Reuben. The red bits in the dressing are sumac.

Check the menu out at www.thirtyninerestaurant.com.

In addition to her association with the FAM, Loretta has a book, The Corn Dance Café Cookbook, coming out in the late spring. I love Loretta’s story and her food philosophy. And I love that we have such a travel treasure so close to home.

The First Americans Museum, which opened last year, is now a major tourist attraction.

Elaine

Loretta

The presentation of The Society of American Travel Writers’ Phoenix Award to the First Americans Museum included Matt Payne, founder and co-CEO of Prairie Surf Media, Edmond, Ginny Underwood, marketing and communications director of the FAM, Elaine Warner, travel writer/photographer, Edmond, Heidi Brandes, journalist, and Jennifer Mazoccoli, communications manager for the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

By George Gust

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is the latest Marvel movie that attempts to both follow up to the massively successful 2018 “Black Panther” and move forward in cinematic universe after the real life passing of the original film’s star, Chadwick Boseman.

Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M'Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje fight to protect the kingdom of Wakanda from intervening world powers in the wake of King T'Challa's death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia and Everett Ross and forge a new path for their nation.

It is always interesting to see how Hollywood reacts to the real life tragic deaths of their stars, especially in today’s franchise focused film making. The first “Black Panther” introduced Boseman as a rising star in Hollywood and a cultural phenomenon, so to move forward with a two hour and 40 minute epic seemed like a tall task for Marvel and director Ryan Coogler, one that he was up for the task.

There is a palpable sense of grief throughout the film that shows through the fantastic performances of

the cast. Especially from Basset whose performance which rides the line between feeling like the character grieving the loss of her son and a performer grieving the loss of a friend taken too soon.

Drifting off the high emotions of filling the place once held by a beloved figure in the MCU, Coogler and Co. have created an entertaining and thrilling comic book movie experience. Even after well over a decade of Marvel filmmaking this movie takes us to a new and exciting worlds, both back to Wakanda and a new underwater civilization that brings a fun new

element to the proceedings. And the introduction of the films antagonist in Namor (Tenoch Huerta) who’s visual styling and onscreen persona lifts him into the upper tier of Marvel villains.

All the elements of “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” feel different than the rest of the MCU in a way that imparts an importance and gravitas to what is ostensibly a popcorn blockbuster. Where “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” does fall into the comic book movie trap is the inclusion of a CIA side plot which deflates the narrative momentum of the film and adds to the bloated two hour 40 minute running time. It appears the studio mandated portions of the film detracted from the exciting instead of adding to the hunger to return to Wakanda in future films.

Overall, “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is able to both pay respect to the fallen star of the first film and deliver an exciting opportunity for a new batch of rising Hollywood stars to headline a genre of film that doesn’t usually feature women of color in the lead.

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, action and some language.

4 out of 5 stars.

Liver transplant milestone

Integris Health Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute is celebrating 30 years of liver transplantation this week. The first liver transplant was performed at Integris Health on Nov. 9, 1992. Since that date, the institute has conducted more than 1600 liver transplants!

“This is a milestone and reflects the highest level of complexity of care that a health care system can deliver for its patients”, says Vivek Kohli, M.D., Section Chief of Abdominal Transplant at INTEGRIS Health. “It takes a huge team of individuals involved for every transplant performed.

NZTI has remained in the forefront with exceptional outcomes for liver transplants, well above the national average. The liver transplant team has established clinical care pathways to help improve patient survivals while they are still awaiting transplants, increased utilization of donor organs, decreased waiting time for liver transplant, and remains at the forefront of medical and surgical care with newer drug therapies, as well as using new technologies such as utilization of perfusion pumps for donor livers.”

PHOTO

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' finds writer/director Ryan Coogler picking up the Black Panther story after the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman.

VIBES returns Dec. 1

VIBES Edmond's First Thursday, premiers its first-ever Holiday VIBES on Thursday, Dec. 1, in Downtown Edmond from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

Holiday VIBES is a joy-filled event that encourages the community to shop local and artist made to make this holiday season a creative, memorable experience for everyone.

Join friends and family in downtown Edmond for an evening of community and jolly “Holiday VIBES”! This unique event highlights seasonal goodies and gifts at businesses along the Broadway corridor from 2nd Street to Main Street in downtown Edmond. Plus, over 40 visual artists will set up on sidewalks and inside shops with artwork and the perfect gifts items for sale.

Holiday VIBES features several outdoor public performing groups, including the seasonal stylings of Five Year Gap, Sentimental Social Club, and Vearl T. The merriment continues with caroling by Edmond Youth Chorus, photo ops with a balloon installation by OKC Balloon Bar, special sales, seasonal promotions, and holiday treats provided by participating downtown Edmond businesses. In ad-

dition, attendees that purchase items from artists, businesses, and restaurants are eligible for the "Holiday Rebate Program" through the Edmond Chamber of Commerce. Learn more about the Rebate Program at www.EdmondChamber.com.

Everyone is encouraged to come out, enjoy the evening, and check off their holiday shopping list during this magical community event.

Plan your Holiday VIBES by previewing the map and feature flyer available at www.EdmondVibes.org. Follow @Edmond_VIBES on social media for updates and full event details.

VIBES, Edmond's First Thursdays, is a program of the Fine Arts Institute, Edmond's nonprofit community arts organization providing visual and performing art classes for children and adults year-round, and the 3rd and 4th grade Art in Schools Program in Edmond Public Schools.

For more information, visit www.EdmondFineArts.com or call 405-340-4481. Holiday VIBES is made possible by partnerships with the City of Edmond and the Edmond Chamber of Commerce.

Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker opens December 9th and runs through December 23rd at Oklahoma Shakespeare's intimate indoor space in the Paseo Arts District.

Join us for a celebration of the life and love of Jane Austen, as seen through the eyes of her most beloved characters, this Holiday season! Dance, sing, and eat sweet treats among a wonderful cast of characters decked out in their finery for the Christmas holidays.

Celebrate and play along as you witness her most famous love stories come to life before your eyes. Bring your dancing shoes and dress in your best, or just come as you are and enjoy the show. Participation is welcome, and cheer is infectious!

Jane Austen’s Christmas Cracker

By Erin Woods, based on the novels and letters of Jane Austen

Directed by Amanda Lee

DECEMBER

DECEMBER 11 & 18 @ 2PM 2920 Paseo

Tickets: Ticket prices range from $23-$38. Check the website for discounts.

Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker by Erin Woods

Directed by Amanda Lee Where: Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park

Address: 2920 Paseo, Oklahoma City, OK 73103

Theater: Indoors in the Black Box theater

When: December 9-23, 2022 Days/Times Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 8:00pm Sundays 2pm

Tickets: https://www.okshakes.org/

Rated: G

Visual Artist Natalie Biggs and Customer Looking at Natalie & Eric Lyons Art at October 2022 VIBES Event.

Photo by Eriech Tapia.

AAA: Deer more likely now to hit your vehicle

With clocks recently rolled back an hour and diminishing daylight for drivers, AAA Oklahoma cautions that it is peak time for deer crashes. hrough December, deer are more likely to dart into the roadway, stopping for very little, including vehicles, in their quest for mates.

Last year on state roads, 836 crashes involved deer. Five people died and 26 suffered serious injuries, according to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office. So, deer – vehicle collisions can not only cause considerable vehicle damage, they can be tragic.

With that in mind, AAA is warning drivers to limit distractions and look out for the animals, especially during the morning and evening hours when distracted deer are most active and most likely to intersect with commuters.

“Safety is priority one, so first and foremost we must adjust our driving behaviors to prevent a collision,” says Leslie Gamble, AAA Oklahoma spokesperson. “Vehicle owners will also want to be sure they have appropriate in insurance coverage, because a minor deer strike may turn into a major expense.”

New Vehicle Technology Driving Up Cost of Repairs

AAA Insurance statistics show that, across Oklahoma, the average cost/claim filed for deer strikes in 2021 was $5,621. That’s nearly $1,000 more than the average in 2019.

New vehicle technology, cameras and sensors that may be in the windshield, bumper or rear view mirrors are partially responsible for the increased cost of repairs. In fact, previous AAA research indicates that even minor incidents that cause damage to this technology can add up to $3,000 in extra repair costs.

“Deer collisions can put a serious dent in your wallet if you don’t have a comprehensive insurance policy with adequate coverage,” Gamble adds.

AAA Tips to Avoid an Animal Collision

• Always wear a seatbelt. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the chances of getting injured when hitting an animal are much higher if you don’t have your seatbelt on.

• Keep your eyes moving back and forth: Continuously sweep your eyes across the road for signs of animals. While the most likely accident is caused by an animal darting in front of you, one might also run into the side of your car.

• Be especially attentive in early morning and evening: Many animals, especially deer, are most active during prime commuting hours –roughly 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• At night, use high beams when there’s no oncoming traffic: Your brights can help you spot animals sooner.

New state panel chair Wolfe, from Edmond

Audiologist, author and researcher Jace Wolfe, Ph.D., CCCA, from Edmond, was recently elected chair of the Commission for Rehabilitation Services.

Commissioner Wolfe was appointed by President Pro Tempore of the State Senate Greg Treat, RDistrict 47.

The Commission governs the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, which annually serves nearly 83,000 Oklahomans with disabilities through employment, independent living and educational programs, and the determination of medical eligibility for disability benefits.

As chief audiology and research officer at the Hearts for Hearing Foundation in Oklahoma City, Commissioner Wolfe provides clinical services for children and adults with hearing loss and is actively engaged in research.

His primary areas of interest are pediatric amplification, cochlear implantation, hybrid cochlear implants, personal remote microphone technology and signal processing for children.

Wolfe is an adjunct professor in the audiology department at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and Salus University in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. He shares his expertise at state, national and international conferences.

Wolfe was raised in Ponca City. He is an Okla-

homa Sooners fan and enjoys spending time with his wife Lynnette and their three children, Hayden, Harper and Henley.

Wes Hilliard from Sulphur was elected Commission vice chair. He is community bank president at Simmons Bank in Davis. He served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2004 to 2012.

Theresa Flannery completed her term as Commission chair and will continue to serve as a member of the governing board. She is senior director of social services for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

For more information about the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services, visit www.okdrs.gov or phone 800-845-8476.

OMRF announces promotions

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation announced promotions of three scientific leaders at its fall board meeting Wednesday.

Judith James, M.D., Ph.D., was named executive vice president and chief medical officer. A native of Pond Creek, Oklahoma, James first came to OMRF as a Fleming Scholar in 1988. A member of the National Academy of Medicine and the foundation’s current vice president of clinical affairs, James holds the Lou C. Kerr Endowed Chair in Biomedical Research. She is recognized worldwide as a pioneer in autoimmune disease research. She is the foundation’s first chief medical officer and will assume her new role in January.

Courtney Griffin, Ph.D., was named OMRF’s incoming vice president of research. She joined OMRF’s Cardiovascular Biology Research Program in 2008 and holds the Scott Zarrow Chair in Biomedical Research. Griffin, who studies the development and healthy maintenance of blood vessels, also is scientific director of the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research. She will become vice president of research following the retirement of Vice President of Research Rod McEver, M.D., in spring 2023.

Benjamin Miller, Ph.D., was named chair of OMRF’s

Aging and Metabolism Research Program, effective April 2023. An internationally recognized physiologist, Miller joined the foundation in 2018.

His current research focuses on whether metformin, the world’s most-prescribed diabetes medication, can slow the biological process of aging.

“Each of these scientists has made key contributions to OMRF and to advancing the understanding and treatment of disease,” said OMRF President Andrew Weyrich, Ph.D. “With this leadership transition, I couldn’t be more excited about the future of OMRF and the discoveries that lie ahead.”

Price Lang PR company has digital content hire

Candice Black has joined Price Lang Public Relations as the firm’s social and digital media content strategist.

“Candice’s ability to connect people and ideas with content to share meaningful stories makes her an ideal candidate for this position,” said founding partner Emily Lang. “Storytelling is at the heart of all we do for clients, with impactful writing and outstanding design. Candice’s ability to distill stories in brief but memorable ways will increase engagement with key audiences and drive results for our clients.”

Price Lang provides tailored communications and public relations services for a diverse client base that includes small businesses, global cor-

porations and local nonprofits.

“We have experienced tremendous growth over the past year, and hiring professionals like Candice allows us to continue to exceed clients’ expectations,” said Charlie Price, co-founder. “I am confident Candice’s skills will enhance storytelling for everyone we serve.”

Black holds a BFA in photographic arts from the University of Central Oklahoma. She joins Price Lang after working with Oklahoma City University and the Oklahoma Nurses Association.

Price Lang’s services include strategic communications ranging from community advocacy, to copywriting, social media support, graphic design and crisis communications.

For more information about Price Lang, visit www.pricelang.com.

Governor names new Chief-of-Staff

Gov. Kevin Stitt has announced that his newest Chief-of-Staff will be Dr. Brandon Tatum. Tatum has most recently served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Oklahoma Christian University. He will succeed Bond Payne who resigned in August. “Brandon is an overachiever who brings the right temperament and personality to lead our team,” said Stitt. “As someone who loves Oklahoma and as a father, parent, and husband, Brandon is ready to give back and serve his state. His experience in higher education will be important in my second term and I am excited to welcome him on board.”

Wolfe

James Griffin Miller

Black

UCO ends football season with a ‘W’

Central Oklahoma ended the 2022 season with 13-10 win over Central Missouri. The Bronchos ended the year with a 6-5 overall record, posting their first winning record since 2018.

"Our defense was really good today," UCO head coach Adam Dorrel said. "We had some good moments and some bad, but at the end of the day we fought for it and got the win. The guys did a good job of finding a way to get it done. It's really good to end the year with a win and give the seniors a win in their last game."

Central Oklahoma true freshman Andrew Carney gave the seniors a going away present, rushing for 117 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown.

Carney gave the Bronchos a 7-0 lead in the game with a 17-yard touchdown run in the first quarter.

Jaylen Cottrell, who ran the ball six

times for 12 yards, was the leading receiver with five catches for 77 yards. He had 51 yards after the catch and had a 35-yard touchdown reception. Cottrell gave the Bronchos a 13-3 lead after scoring in the third quarter.

UCO's defense held on after that. The Bronchos gave up the only touchdown of the game for Central Missouri in the fourth quarter.

The Broncho defense held UCM to 269 total yards of offense, with just 61 rushing yards on the day.

Blake Barron led the team with seven tackles, while Connor Johnson, Tavius McDonald, Tre'Vaughn Craig, and Dylan Buchheit all had five tackles.

Jamori Ray added one sack for a loss of 15 yards and Michael Slater had a sack for seven yards.

Central Oklahoma did not force a turnover on Saturday for the first time since Week 5.

Hi and Lois

Shoe

Zits

Family Circus

Beetle Baily

Blondie

Hägar the Horrible

TSET looks to educate youth on smoking woes

The TSET Healthy Youth Initiative is launching a new educational message aimed at preventing and reducing tobacco and vape use among rural Oklahomans ages 13–18.

The initiative is funded by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.

Studies show that rural teenagers are disproportionately at risk for using tobacco and vape products. The new ad, titled “Ain’t Runnin’ Right,” is part of the Down and Dirty campaign.

"Most tobacco users start before they turn 18,” said TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee. “Educating today’s youth about the dangers of tobacco and nicotine is vital toward supporting future generations of healthy and tobacco-free Oklahomans.”

“Ain’t Runnin Right” features two male teenagers in a garage working on a truck. They use their mechanical knowledge to create an analogy to vaping. They explain how nicotine in vapes contaminates a brain like dirt in car oil, which makes you feel like your mind and body aren’t working properly.

“Ain’t Runnin’ Right” will air on broadcast TV, cable and radio starting November 14. It is the first of a set of educational messages that explain the harms of tobacco use through car analogies. Teens can also interact with the campaign on social media. “Ain’t Runnin Right” and other youth tobacco prevention messages can be viewed at TSETHealthyYouth.com.

Teens struggling with vaping or other tobacco use are encouraged to enroll in My Life, My Quit — a free quit program designed just for them. My Life, My Quit offers free live text support, web chat and phone coaching to Oklahomans ages 13–17. To sign up for services, teens can simply text “Start My Quit” to 36072 or visit MyLifeMyQuit.com to enroll online.

Lyric production will help feed the needy

Lyric Theatre will raise money for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma during its production of "A Christmas Carol" Nov. 16 through Dec. 23. For the third and final year, the immersive performances will be held outdoors at historic Harn Homestead, 1721 N. Lincoln.

Following each performance, Lyric Theatre cast and crew collect donations for the Regional Food Bank from the audience. Since 2011, Lyric Theatre audiences have contributed more than $208,800 to help fight hunger in central and western Oklahoma.

"This production is one of the best holiday tradi-

tions in the metro and we are always amazed at the generosity of Lyric Theatre and its patrons," said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. "Over the past decade, the donations we have received have helped provide for more than 800,000 meals. Thank you, Lyric!"

Harn Homestead will be reimagined as the Victorian era setting for the 75-minute performance as audiences will be guided from scene to scene at the homestead.

A limited number of stools will be available for patrons at the ticket booth prior to each performance.