Edmond Life and Leisure - December 9, 2021

December 9, 2021 Vol. 22, No. 30

In This Issue FOUR SEASONS

Big day draws closer

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.

Gift Guide See pages 17-20

FRIDAY, December 10 Partly Cloudy/Wind High 78° Low 34°

SATURDAY, December 11 Partly Cloudy High 53° Low 35°

SUNDAY, December 12 Sunny High 62° Low 43°

PHOTOS BY MELINDA INFANTE

The calendar isn’t waiting.

Christmas is drawing close. And there are lots of activities to put, and keep you in the mood for the colorful and happy holiday.

Don’t forget that the Luminance lights remain up and will be until Jan. 2.

Luminance: An Enchanted Stroll – Edmond’s annual free, walk-thru holiday light display is at Mitch Park near the baseball fields on the east side of the YMCA. The lights shine every day from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Residents and visitors experience a one-of-a-kind holiday lights celebration that features more than 40 large individual displays along with lighting on trees, pathways and pavilions in the park. Edmond hosts the only walk-through 3D holiday light display in Oklahoma, ensuring visitors will see something they’ve never seen before.

And remember, the ice ink is also open at Mitch Park.

Enjoy a skate on the rink, whether you’re a seasoned pro or even a beginning.

And back again this year are the free carriage rides in downtown Edmond. While you’re picking out the perfect gift you can enjoy a ride every Saturday from now until the Saturday before Christmas.

The rides, weather permitting, are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

And if you’re looking for some great bargains, please see today’s Gift Guide in Edmond Life & Leisure. The guide, fitting all budget, is on Pages 17 to 20.

And we’ve just touched the surface of fun things to do this month. Our Weekend Calendar of Events, also has many activities and musical productions with Christmas as its theme. The list of events can be found on Page 6.

Be sure to take advantage of all the fun available to you and your family this year.

Page 2 • December 9, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Edmond Life & Leisure • December 9, 2021 • Page 3

Adam Dorrel named next football coach for UCO The University of Central Oklahoma athletic department announced Sunday Adam Dorrel as its new head football coach.

"Today is a great day for the Bronchos," UCO Director of Athletics Stan Wagnon said. "It's a privilege to announce Adam Dorrel as our head football coach. There was overwhelming interest in this opening, which is a testament to the Broncho Football brand created over time by all those who have been a part of our tradition-rich program.

"The search committee and I worked to identify and interview some of the best candidates available," Wagnon continued. "The committee unanimously supported this selection, and we're excited for the Broncho Football team, our UCO campus and the entire Edmond community to see the greatness we've found in Adam, his wife Erin and twin daughters Allie and Sam." An introductory press conference is being planned for Wednesday, Dec. 8 at UCO. More details will be announced soon.

"I am very excited and thankful for the opportunity to lead the UCO football program," Dorrel said.

"UCO is a great university and Edmond is a great place to live and raise a family. Factor that with the great high school football that is played in the great state of Oklahoma, it was a very attractive job."

Dorrel comes to Central after spending the last five seasons at

Abilene Christian. He spent several years at Northwest Missouri prior to that, serving as the team's offensive line coach from 2004-06, then offensive coordinator from 200710, before becoming head football coach from 2011-16.

As an assistant coach, he helped lead Northwest to five consecutive NCAA Division II championship appearances and helped the team win its third national title in 2009. As head coach, he led the team to a 76-8 record and three more national titles, winning it all in 2013, 2015, and 2016.

In each of the three national championship seasons as head coach, Dorrel led Northwest to 150 records and was named AFCA National Coach of the Year. He ended his time there on a 30-game win streak. Dorrel led Northwest to a 57-5 record in the MIAA in his six seasons with the 76-8 overall record during that time.

Dorrel went south to Texas in 2016 to lead Division I FCS, Abilene Christian. There he led the team to its first winning season as a DI institution in 2018. He coached several all-conference award winners, academic all-conference and all-american selections, and he led ACU to the 25th-ranked offense in the country during the 2018 season.

Dorrel is from Maryville, Mo. He graduated high school there in 1993 before staying in town to attend Northwest.

Road work project announced A portion of Air Depot Boulevard, running between Covell Road and Coffee Creek Road, is closed this week while work on the Coffee Creek Interceptor project is completed.

This is a full closure to through traffic on Air Depot Boulevard. Work is expected to be completed by Tuesday, Dec. 14, with cooperative weather.

Motorists are encouraged to find an alternate route if possible. Residents of the Hampton Hollow addition and trucks using the transfer station will need to enter from Covell Road and travel north to these locations.

The purpose of this $11.1 million project is to decommission the existing interceptor and replace it with a larger diameter interceptor.

Page 4 • December 9, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

From the Publisher

Thanksgiving on Coronado Island I am a bad parent, grandparent, and brother. This year for Thanksgiving Lisa and I decided to totally ditch both families and spend a week in San Diego, Californian. We chose to stay at the famed Hotel Del Coronado on the island by the same name. We have seven kids between us. They are all grown and with their own families.

Ray Hibbard The choices of where to spend Thanksgiving were mind boggling to them so we decided to shorten the list of where they might pick to spend it. They all seemed to have a wonderful time and so did we!

San Diego is a beautiful place to visit. The weather was perfect. The highs were in the mid seventies all week and there is a bounty of things to do. Balboa Park is a must visit. Lots of artwork to see and it houses the famous San Diego Zoo. We toured the Japanese Garden which was wonderful. Even knowing that there is no way we could get any of it to grow in our back yard it was still beautiful.

We took a day trip north up the coast to La Jolla. A very different coastline than what you see on Coronado Island but equally beautiful. The tall cliffs and the Pacific Ocean crashing into them are quite dramatic. We had a great breakfast at Brockton Villa Restaurant. It sits high above the coast with spectacular views of the coast from their deck. Specialty is a French toast that is like a custard. It was a good thing we ate before the walk along the coast to try and work off the breakfast.

They do not take reservations, but it was a short wait.

Sea Lions swim off the coast of La Jolla. They sun themselves on the rocks. Lifeguards work hard at keeping swimmers and the sea lions apart. Apparently, the sea lions do not have much tolerance for look a likes in their wet suits. I am a strong swimmer but the folks that swim that part of the cost line are incredible.

We loved San Diego but for us the real prize is Coronado Island and staying at The Del. It is a top ten destination for historical hotels in the nation.

Opened in February 1888, Hotel del Coronado debuted as an architectural masterpiece, acclaimed for its spectacular seaside setting and world-famous weather. Outfitted with electricity and every modern amenity, The Del was a destination resort before the term existed, attracting a wealthy clientele from the Midwest, East Coast, and Europe.

These guests – who arrived with their own servants in tow – generally stayed for months at a time.

Although seaside destination resorts were commonplace along both American coasts during the late 19th century, few were as large as The Del or as distinctive. With its one-of-a-kind sweeping silhouette – once likened to a cross between an ornate wedding cake and well-trimmed ship – the Southern California beach resort was recognizable throughout the country and around the world.

Hotel del Coronado was conceived by two retired, mid-western businessmen, Elisha Babcock, Jr., and Hampton Story, who became acquainted after moving to San Diego. In 1885, the entrepreneurs bought the entire undeveloped peninsula of

The La Jolla coastline makes for a great day trip outside of San Diego

Coronado, subdivided the land, sold off the lots, recouped their money, and proceeded to build what they envisioned would be the “talk of the western world.”

Constructed early in California’s history, well before San Diego had the materials or workforce to support such a colossal effort, everything had to be imported or manufactured on site. Architects were brought in from the Midwest; lumber and labor came from the Northwest; there was a lumber mill, foundry, and electrical power plant on hotel property; and early employees were wooed west from Chicago’s finest hotels. Despite these logistical challenges, the hotel was opened after only 11 months of construction.

There are now four different sets of accommodations that you have to pick from. There is the Victorian area which is all part of the original resort. There are The Cabanas which have patio or balcony areas for guests to enjoy the fresh sea air.

Many of them either open to the pool area or directly to the beach.

There is also a new area called the Beach Village. They are high end small condominium type accommodations that easily house a family or multiple guests. They have their own gated area and most have full kitchens. In my effort to give my wife a complete break for 8 days, I did not want the temptation of using a kitchen to be an option for her, so we instead picked the area called The Views.

It is a newer area and recently remodeled. They also have patios or balconies that have either a property view or a beach view. Mendy at Prime Time Travel talked me into one of the ground units with a patio that opened to the gardens instead of the beach view. It was a good choice because I noticed that the ground floor units that opened to the beach did not have much privacy. The board walk has a lot of foot traffic and sitting on your patio was not so private on the beach side.

The patio had comfortable furniture, two tables and a terrific and easy to use gas fire pit. It made for a wonderful place to enjoy morning coffee in the cool mornings. Try as I might, Lisa still managed to toast a bagel over the fire pit once morn-

ing for breakfast. She also made s’mores one evening after dinner. It still had easy access to the beach for long walks.

The Del was in full holiday mode with a full ice skating rink by the beach and a beautiful holiday light show. We ate at several of the restaurants at the hotel, but our favorite was the Taco Shack on the beach. Lots of choices for tacos and tiki drinks as well.

There is a plethora of choices to dinning just a short walk into the village of Coronado Island including the Around the Corner equivalent for breakfast. It is a place called Clayton’s Coffeeshop.

You really step back in time, circa 1940's. Vintage booths, countertop jukeboxes, along with delicious "eats" complete the nostalgic experience of dining in one of the very few authentic classic American diners.

Other great places we ate on the island were a great steakhouse called Stake Chophouse. The food was well prepared, and they have a beautiful balcony to enjoy. It got the award for favorite dessert of the trip with a carrot cake that was like no other we had ever tasted.

We enjoyed two different French restaurants.

One was Chez Loma and the other was Little Frenchie both less then a block apart. Chez Loma was a little more traditional and has been there longer, but I would say both were equal in the great servings we enjoyed. Both also had excellent wine selections.

One evening we went roof top bar hoping in San Diego. I had booked reservation as The Nolan in San Diego, but the music was not for us. A nice young couple sitting next to us suggested a variety of other locations known for great roof tops and off we went. It turned out we ended running into them at our last stop where a small jazz combo was playing. More our style.

I promised our kids we will be here for Christmas. However, we leave for Scottsdale to spend New Year’s. I think they were all good with it.

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

Check out what’s inside!

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

---- Weekend calendar of events ......................................................Page 6.

---- Edmond Rotary Club helps school ..............................................Page 9.

---- Columnist weighs in on college football ..................................Page 10.

---- Woman says vaccine saved her life ..........................................Page 10.

---- DAR grants ..............................................................................Page 11.

---- Smag doing some holidaycooking ............................................Page 12.

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

---- George Gust reviews film ‘Belfast’ ............................................Page 14.

---- Gift Guide ........................................................................Pages 17-20.

---- Worship directory ....................................................................Page 23.

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, Patty Miller, Rose Drebes, and George Gust.

Photographer Melinda Infante

Cover Design Deanne York Legal Counsel Todd McKinnis Ruebenstein & Pitts, PLLC Copyright © 2021 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 • December 9, 2021 • Page 5

Page 6 • December 9, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

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

Guilt or innocence is determined in a court of law.

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

Nov. 22 Brandon Lee Richards, 23 of Arcadia. CDS possession.

Michael Antonio Martinez, 32 of Edmond. Public intoxication, possess drug paraphernalia and possession CDS. Barry Thomas Jacob 29, of Oklahoma City. Child endangerment and operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of anything other than alcohol.

Donna Jean Hinton, 48 of Edmond.

Felony warrant and non-assault resisting officer.

Ian Hugh Tayor, 54 of Edmond. Disregard signal light.

Justin D’Lynn White, 31 of Edmond.

Failure to appear.

Johnny Lee Bernal, 54 of Edmond.

Possession of drug paraphernalia, no proof of insurace and driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked and no tag/improper tag.

Saul Martinez Bernal Jr., 40 of Edmond. Misdemeanor warrant, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and two counts of failure to appear.

Tyler Wayne Glass, 35 of Edmond.

Public intoxication.

Nov. 23 James Deondre White, 18 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication.

Lozell Lee Solis, 22 of Oklahoma City. Possession of marijuana and public intoxication.

Brandon Scott Woodall, 36 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Domonique Delajuwon Markel Natt, 33 of Edmond. No proof of insurance, driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked, speeding

16-20 mph over and a felony warrant.

Brandy Patrick Rocky, 37 homeless.

Trespassing.

James Vernon Deere, Jr., 18 of Wynnewood, Okla. Possession CDS. Jordan Makenzie Smith, 24 of Edmond. Felony warrant, misdemeanor warrant and possess CDS. Nov. 24 Alecia Orisdean Marzette, 24 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .08 or more, Sophie Taber Sadegy, 21 of Edmond.

Improper lane usage, driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked.

Samuel Joshua Harth, 18 of Guthrie.

Public intoxication.

Kanaan Deion Sullivan, 20 of Oklahoma City. Public intoxication.

Kathy Faye Simpson, 39 of Edmond.

Two felony warrants.

Keely Paige Stricklin, 29 of Norman.

Petty larceny and non-assault resisting officer.

John Ashley Gray, 45 of Norman.

Petty larceny and misdemeanor warrant.

Nov. 25 Stephanie Nichole Meadows, 33 of Guthrie. Possess drug paraphernalia, (drug related) possession of contraband in a penal institution, possess CDS and possess firearm after conviction of a felony.

Taylor Eugene Ford, 31 of Guthrie.

Possess firearm after conviction of felony, possess drug paraphernalia and possess CDS. Shane Covell Davenport, 47 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content level of .15 of more.

Harold Frank Welliver Jr., 59 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Eric James Garner, 31 of Edmond.

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

Daniel Godwin Zungura, 21 of Edmond. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content

level of .08 or more.

Collette Lashe Carter, 34 of Oklahoma City. Felony warrant.

Brian Dwayne LeFlore, 44 of Oklahoma City. (Possession of a stolen vehicle) Unauthorized use of a vehicle or implement of husbandry.

Wesley Paul Scholes, 41 homeless.

Obstruction of a police officer and felony warrant.

De Andrew Terrell Hill Jr., 28 of Edmond. Non-assault resisting an officer.

Nov. 26 Cedric Jerome Carr, 56 homeless.

Two misdemeanor warrants, felony warrant, obstruction of a police officer, possess drug paraphernalia,operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and any other intoxicating substance and assault (misdemeanor) on a police officer or peace officer.

Yan-Amont Billy Darianssen, 48 homeless. (Misdemeanor) larceny of lost property.

Leslie Oscar Moffett Jr., 61 of Oklahoma City. Felony warrant and false representation to an officer.

Gary Allen Maldonado, 50 of Edmond. Public intoxication.

Derek Edwin Conatser, 41 of Oklahoma City. Misdemeanor warrant.

Nov. 27 Anthony Blake Tuttle, 39 of Edmond. Two misdemeanor warrants, three felony warrants and failure to appear.

Colin Wayne Reece, 28 of Edmond.

Public intoxication.

Nov. 28 Scott Gregory Boillin, 58 of Guthrie.

Two felony warrants, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of CDS. Callie Lynn Misenheimer, 27 of Blanchard, Okla. Misdemeanor warrant.

Steven Barron-Retamoza, 24 of Oklahoma City. Operate (DUI or APC) a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Austin Thomas Maple, 19 of Edmond. Under 21 DUI/APC. Kevin Lyn Young, 55 of Yukon. Pos-

sess firearm after conviction of felony, possess drug paraphernalia and two counts possession of CDS. Shantal Teairra Ward, 27 of Oklahoma City. Four misdemeanor warrants, three felony warrants, public intoxication, possess drug paraphernalia, possess firearm after conviction of a felony, and false personation of another.

Cameron Lavelle Watkins, 28 of Edmomd. Gang related offense as condition of membership in criminal street gang, intersection violation - stop or yield, improper tag display, not clearly visible not secured to back of vehicle or covered by any type of material, failure to carry security verification form in vehicle, driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked and possess firearm after conviction of a felony.

Christopher Lee Walden 35 of Stillwater. Obtaining property by false pretenses (UPC price tag or sales receipt switching/ reproduce.)

Dollie Mae Berg, 37 of Stillwater.

Obtaining property by false pretenses (UPC price tag or sales receipt switching/ reproduce.)

Nov. 29 Tiffany Kay Lamere, 46 of Oklahoma City. Possess drug paraphernalia, three counts of possession of CDS and driving with license canceled, suspended or revoked.

Garrett Edward Steggs, 44 of Edmond. Interruption/disruption or interference with emergency phone call, domestic abuse assault (strangulation) and (misdemeanor first offense) domestic abuse assault in the presence of a minor child.

Corey Dewayne Morgan, 35 of Oklahoma City. Driving while privilege is canceled, suspended, denied or revoked and misdemeanor warrant.

Kimberly Dawn Crouch, 56 of Edmond. Violation of protective order.

Jonathan Vazquez, 20 of Edmond.

Petty larceny.

Johnathan Tremiere Hayes, 20 of Edmond. Petty larceny.

Weekend Calendar of Events Dec. 9-12 --What’s Happening This Weekend Dec 9 -12 ---- In the Gallery: Gallery Opening: Kyndall Rainey ---- VIRTUAL:: Edmond’s African American History ---- Edmond Ice Rink ---- Safari Lights ---- Edmond Electric’s Luminance: An Enchanted Stroll ---- The Polar Express ---- Lyric Theatre presents: “A Christmas Carol” ---- Downtown in December ---- Devon Ice Rink ---- Holiday in the Park ---- Winters Night at the Safety Village ---- Oklahoma City Futurity ---- Still-Life Drawing in New Beginnings: An American Story of Romantics and Modernists in the West ---- Read the West Book Club – Edge of Taos Desert: An Escape to Reality ---- Signature Tour ---- Sunday Spotlight – Living Canvas Zonly Looman ---- Drop-In Drawing: Portrait of a Taos Indian, Ernest L. Blumenchein ---- Limo Holiday Lights Tours ---- Union Station Illumination ---- Pollard Theatre presents: It’s a Wonderful Life ---- Oklahoma Winter Bead & Jewelry Show ---- Victorian Walk ---- R.K. Gun Show ---- Santa Claus Lane ---- Oklahoma City Ballet presents: The Nutcracker Extra Information In the Gallery: Kyndall Rainey Location: Edmond Fine Arts Institute Extra Info: featuring the art of Behnaz Sohrabian; edmondfinearts.com VIRTUAL: Edmond’s African American History Location: Edmond Historical Society & Museum Extra Info: through Fri, Dec 31; edmondhistory.org Edmond Ice Rink Location: Mitch Park Extra Info: Fri, Nov 12 – Mon, Jan 3; $10 ---- $14; edmondicerink.com

Edmond Electric’s Luminance: An Enchanted Stroll Location: Mitch Park Extra Info: Sat, Nov 21 – Sun, Jan 2; Free; 5 – 10 p.m.; edmondlights.com

in the West Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Thu, Dec 9– Sun, Dec 12; 10 a.m. ---- 5 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

Safari Lights Location: Oklahoma City Zoo & Botanical Garden Extra Info: through Sun, Jan 9; 5:30 – 11 p.m.; okczoo.org

Read the West Book Club – Edge of Taos Desert: An Escape to Reality Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sun, Dec 12; 1 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org

The Polar Express Location: Oklahoma Railway Museum Extra Info: through Fri, Dec 31; okcthepolarexpressride.com Lyric Theatre presents: “A Christmas Carol” Location: Harn Homestead Extra Info: Wed, Nov 17 – Thu, Dec 23; times vary by date; lyrictheatreokc.com Downtown in December Location: Downtown, Oklahoma City Extra Info: Thu, Nov 18 – Sun, Jan 30; downtownindecembrer.com Devon Ice Rink Location: 113 S Robinson Ave, OKC Extra Info: Fri, Nov 19 – Sun, Jan 30; hours vary; downtownindecembrer.com Holiday in the Park Location: Frontier City Theme Park Extra Info: Sat, Nov 20 – Sun, Jan 2; times vary; sixflags.com Winters Night at the Safety Village Location: Edmond Fire Department Extra Info: Fri, Dec 10; Free; 6 – 9 p.m.; edmondok.com Oklahoma City Futurity Location: Oklahoma State Fair Park Extra Info: Thu, Dec 9 – Sun, Dec 12; starts at 8 a.m. each day; okcfuturity.com Still-Life Drawing in New Beginnings: An American Story of Romantics and Modernists

Signature Tour Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sat, Dec 11 & Sun, Dec 12; 1 ---- 2 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Sunday Spotlight – Living Canvas Zonly Looman Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sun, Dec 12; 1 – 1:30 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Drop-In Drawing: Portrait of a Taos Indian, Ernest L. Blumenchein Location: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Extra Info: Sun, Dec 12; 2 – 3 p.m.; nationalcowboymuseum.org Limo Holiday Lights Tours Location: Citywide, OKC Extra Info: Thu, Dec 2 – Fri, Dec 30; Facebook.com Union Station Illumination Location: Scissortail Park Extra Info: Fri, Nov 26 – Thu, Jan 6; 6 – 11 p.m.; scissortailpark.org Pollard Theatre presents: It’s a Wonderful Life Location: Pollard Theatre, Guthrie, OK Extra Info: Fri, Nov 26 – Thu, Dec 23; Thu – Sat: 8 – 10 p.m.; Sun: 2 – 4 p.m.; thepollard.org

Edmond Life & Leisure • December 9, 2021 • Page 7

Leadership Youth Edmond class of the Edmond Chamber

New Youth Leadership class selected by the Edmond Chamber Class XX of Youth Leadership Edmond (YLE) has been selected by the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce. Youth Leadership Edmond is designed to enable high school juniors the opportunity to enhance their leadership skills, gain a broader perspective of the issues in their city, introduce them to career paths in the Edmond community and take an active role in improving their community by introducing them to volunteer opportunities.

This year seniors are also a part of the program since the program was unable to occur last year.

The program meets once a month from November to April. Class XX is hosted by the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce and presented by Francis Tuttle Technology Center.

YLE applicants are area High School Juniors and Seniors who reside in the Edmond city limits and/or the Edmond Public School District and attend Edmond Public Schools, private schools, or who are home schooled. All attendees had to have

a 3.0 GPA or better in order to be considered for the program.

Each student has been selected for demonstrating leadership or leadership potential in family, community, and/or school activities and their desire to develop additional leadership skills. Selected students also expressed an interest in furthering their knowledge of the Edmond community. Students filled out a written application and were interviewed in-person. There were over 100 students that applied for the program.

Class XX includes the following students from Edmond Memorial: Lilly Boone, Will Cain, Campbell Christensen, Michelle Correa, Laurie Cromer, David Finch, Cade Freeman, Michael Glenn, Emma Jordan, Will Morris, Kayla Nguyen, Cole Osburn, Clay Owen, Christopher Parry, Liam Schupbach, Kayleigh Shortt, BraydenVanover, Daniel Wilguess.

See class, Page 8

Page 8 • December 9, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Class Edmond North High School Students are: Calynn Condray, Jules Crouse, Will Decker, Jackson Harless, Haley Hart, Jonathon Hunt, Samantha Kennedy, Nasim MalakoutiNejad, Gracie McClain, Kaylie McClintock, Catherine McGee, Jaselynn Ridenour, Emma Salim, Cord Siebert and Hannah Stoner.

Sudents from Edmond Santa Fe High School include: Monique Agura, Aiswarya Ajesh, Eli Allen, Maryam Amin, Alexandra Bertolucci, Grace Davis, Elise Diamond, Jaclyn Fa, Claire Hall, Amina Hassan, Arely Hernandez, Jaden Hoesel, Mandy Lin, Sydney Myers, Paul Nguyen, Clara

From Page 8 Payne, Maggie Rasmussen, Annika Samwel, Salmaan Shah, Michael Tipton, Joshua Varner YLE sponsors are: session sponsors: Cowboy Chicken, MIDCON and Oklahoma Christian University.

The Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce is the voice for business.

We are a hundred year-old, 1100 member organization working together to create a strong local economy and to promote the community.

The Edmond Chamber provides networking opportunities and business contacts for our members and represents business interests to government.

Update on primary elections Every odd-numbered year, recognized political parties in Oklahoma are required to notify the Secretary of the State Election Board whether or not the party will allow registered Independents to vote in its primary elections.

State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax announced that he has been notified by the Oklahoma Democratic Party that it will allow Independents to vote in its primaries in 2022 and 2023.

The Oklahoma Libertarian Party notified Secretary Ziriax that it will close its primaries to Independent voters. The Oklahoma Republican Party did not send a notification to the Secretary, which by law means that Independents

cannot vote in Republican primaries.

“This means, there is no change for unaffiliated voters in 2022. As was the case in 2020 and 2021, Independent voters may vote in Democratic Party primaries, but not in Republican or Libertarian primaries,” Ziriax said.

Oklahoma is a closed primary state, meaning only registered voters affiliated with a recognized political party may vote in that party’s primary elections.

However, state law gives recognized parties the option to open its primaries to registered Independents by notifying the Secretary of the State Election Board between November 1 and November 30 of odd-numbered years.

Edmond Life & Leisure • December 9, 2021 • Page 9

PHOTO PROVIDED

From left are Maryjel Cochrane, Barry Bell and Tami Seknicka.

Rotary Club helps middle school Rotarian, Barry Bell had a goal to build 20 Thanksgiving bags for families of Summit Middle School. Little did he know, but the Club would come through in a big way, providing a total of 27 bags.

Each bag contained a variety of grocery items that would be needed to make a traditional Thanksgiving meal. In addition, a $25.00 gift card to either Crest Foods or Walmart to purchase a turkey, ham, or any additional grocery items.

The Rotary Club of Edmond has been providing Thanksgiving bags to Summit for 4 years. Bell co-

ordinated the effort with Summit pantry volunteer Tami Seknicka. She was appreciative of the Club’s efforts and commitment to the community. In her first year as Head Principal, Maryjel Cochrane also expressed her gratitude for the bags that would provide a great holiday for families needing a little help.

The Rotary Club of Edmond currently meets at noon every Wednesday at St. Luke’s UMC on I-35 and on Zoom. Guests are welcome. www.edmondrotary.org

Page 10 • December 9, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Commentary ... We’re on YOUR Side

College football fervor

By Steve Gust Good luck to Brent Venables, the new head football coach for the University of Oklahoma.

His selection to the post was covered with more attention than a governor or senator getting elected.

One good thing about Venables. He's got the "B" thing Steve Gust going. OU football has Bud, Barry and Bob There's a whole mountain of victories associated with those coaching names.

Venables will be making millions. Always amazes me when I think about Barry Switzer back in mid 1970s. He was paid about $20,000 to $30,000. And he racked up some national titles while doing it.

Times have changed.

One thing that hasn't changed. People are passionate about their college football and place quite a value on winning. Over the weekend I saw a social media post from a huge Oklahoma State fan. Someone had kidded him a bit about Baylor winning the Big 12 title game. This fellow was not too happy about being ribbed about it.

In a way I agree. It's not right to take shots at

someone when their team loses.

But it's not a bad idea to keep things in perspective either. It’s disapppointing but it’s not like a war or famine.

But still it's nice to win.I can't deny that. I hope both OU and OSU take care of business during the bowl season.

One thing I'm not too keen about is when star players for the teams decide to "opt out," of a bowl game. They don't wish to risk an injury for their pro career.

But I don't like it. Do their schools get a partial rebate on the scholarships?

It is a tremendous honor to play college football and to be a star starter. Yet some people get to sit out of a game? That's when some of these non-playoff bowl games start to become glorified scrimmages.

If you opt not to play in a game, then you're blaring the message that the bowl game really isn't that important. And if player A sees player B opt out of a game, then player A may wonder why he's busting it for a game player B sees as unimportant. It's a very alarming trend.

(Steve Gust may be e-mailed at news@edmondpaper.com)

State GOP may challenge mandates House Republicans support convening a special session to pass legislation addressing federal vaccine mandates facing court injunctions due to major constitutional concerns.

"President Biden's unconstitutional vaccine mandates are already under court injunctions secured by House Bill 1236 legal challenges," said House Speaker Charles McCall, RAtoka. "The injunctions are positive developments, but they are not permanent protections for Oklahomans being forced to choose between their freedom or their jobs. Just as House Republicans led to enact House Bill

1236, we stand ready at any time to fight overreaching federal vaccine mandates via legislation in a special session. House Republicans support securing freedom for Oklahomans immediately."

Through a lawsuit filed using the authority and funding granted

by House Bill 1236 – coauthored by nearly all House Republicans – Attorney General John O'Connor secured a nationwide injunction Tuesday against attempted federal vaccine mandates for healthcare workers.

The injunction was the second major victory by states against federal vaccine mandates. A prior court injunction issued against an attempted federal vaccine mandate on employers of 100 or more remains in effect while court proceedings continue. Oklahoma is part of additional court actions that are pending against vaccine mandates for federal employees, contractors and Oklahoma National Guard members.

Special sessions can be called by the governor or upon the signatures of two thirds of the members of each legislative chamber. Regular session does not begin until Feb. 7.

Ronald Reagan quote on age “Thomas Jefferson once said, "We should never judge a president by his age, only by his works." And ever since he told me that, I stopped worrying.”

The cartoo has been published before

Senator against vaccine mandates

By US Senator James Lankford Senator James Lankford (R-OK) last week stood firmly again with the Oklahoma National Guard and Guard members around the nation and again offered his bill on the Senate floor.

Late last night, Lankford offered the legislation as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to prohibit the Department of Defense from discharging or withholding pay or benefits from members of the National Guard because of their COVID–19 vaccination status.

Members and leaders of the Oklahoma National Guard have reached out to Lankford’s office to express their grave concerns as earlier this week Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin released a memorandum to warn unvaccinated National Guard members that they will not be paid or allowed to participate in training, and deployments if they don’t receive a COVID-19 vaccine. While the Defense Secretary can establish readiness requirements, he lacks the constitutional or statutory authority to enforce this type of requirement on Soldiers and Airmen within a state when the National Guard are not federally “activated” or deployed in defense of the nation. That power and authority regarding the Oklahoma National

Guard is reserved to Governor Stitt at this time and he has sued to maintain that authority. Lankford’s amendment ensures Congress clearly maintains that important distinction with regard to the COVID-19 vaccination status.

Lankford has been vocal about President Biden’s Executive Order. Lankford introduced the COVID-19 Vaccine Dishonorable Discharge Prevention Act with Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) to prohibit the Department of Defense from giving service members a dishonorable discharge for choosing not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

Lankford sent a letter to President Biden outlining his concerns with the vaccine mandates and has stood firmly with Oklahoma service members, health care workers, federal employees, and private-sector workers who have chosen so far not to be vaccinated. Lankford called out President Biden and Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for not responding to a letter he sent in September calling on Austin to protect service members from being forced to choose between their sincerely held religious beliefs and serving in our nation’s military or National Guard.

Transcript Mr. President, we have a problem in our Na-

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.

tional Guard right now. This body knows full well where I’ve been on the vaccine mandates coming down from the President. I have adamantly opposed the vaccine mandates on private-sector employees, which I find absurd that the President is announcing to every company with 100 people or more ‘I’m going to take over the contracts for employment of your company and no matter how long that employee has been there, how valuable they are to the company, you need to fire them if they don’t follow the vaccine mandate.’ That is not the right of a president.

He’s formed chaos with our federal workers. It has formed chaos in our contractors for federal employees.

Let me tell you what’s happening in the National Guard right now. Tuesday of this week, November 30, Secretary of Defense sent a letter saying that by today, December 2, every person in the national guard had to be vaccinated or they would no longer be paid. No that applied to the Air National Guard as of today, but the Army National Guard, that doesn’t apply until June 30 to be able to fulfill this mandate. I’ve been clear, I’m adamantly opposed to the mandate, period.

But to then make it unequal between the Air National Guard and the Army National Guard is even worse. And on top of all of that, what the Administration did as of this week, they sent out information for the Air National Guard members, and I assume for the Army National Guard starting in June that is going to be a different process.

Title 32 is the authority for the National Guard. Now, for the folks that aren’t following this, for folks in this body that do, some people get confused between the Reserves and the Guard. They are not the same. The Reserves are like active duty. The Guard, actually, work for the Governor of each state. Each state has accountability for the Guard members.

Edmond Life & Leisure • December 9, 2021 • Page 11

Woman: Vaccine saved my life Andreanna Wynkoop has been with INTEGRIS Health for seven years and serves as a member of the Patient Experience Team.

Like many others, when COVID-19 began to surge in Oklahoma, Wynkoop grew increasingly concerned about her or her family contracting the disease. She suffers from several preexisting conditions including a rare heart disease and diabetes.

When the vaccine became available, Wynkoop jumped at the opportunity. She took her knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine to her family and all but her 10 year old daughter, who was too young at the time, received the vaccine.

However, fear struck again when her husband contracted COVID-19 in September. While quarantining as a family, Wynkoop began to experience a high fever, body aches and chills. She tested positive four days after her husband.

Knowing that she suffered from extremely serious comorbidities, she im-

mediately received an infusion treatment. Within 24 hours of receiving the infusion, Wynkoop took a turn for the better and finally experienced some relief from her symptoms.

“I truly believe that the vaccination helped save my life. It allowed me to recover at home with my family and decreased my chances of being admitted to the hospital because of COVID19,” Wynkoop credits.

Although many are still skeptical about the vaccine, it is the only protection available against COVID-19. Unvaccinated people have 6.1x greater risk of testing positive for COVID-19 and 11.3x greater risk of dying from COVID-19 compared to fully vaccinated people according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wynkoop states, “It’s important to me that we educate and make everyone aware that the vaccine works. It doesn’t mean that you won’t contract the virus, it provides an extra layer of protection against this virus that wants to destroy your body.”

Page 12 • December 9, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Choose cinnamon You won’t be barking up the wrong tree

By Carol Smaglinski Take a whiff of that refreshing evergreen tree and you might be smelling something surprising. Yes, it’s cinnamon, which comes from the inner bark of a tropical evergreen tree, giving us a memorable aroma.

It is picked in the rainy season, dried and then cut into strips, which are cinnamon sticks or ground into powder.

With all those intense smells of the season dancing through the air and cookie jars filled to their brims, have you ever thought where the word cookie came from? It is derived from the Dutch word, “koekje,” which translates to “little cakes.” As the Dutch settled into America, the cookie became very popular as they are today.

Classic gingerbread cookies, automatically associated with the holidays, are small treats with big flavors and are virtually relics since the 15th century known as ginger snaps. The seductive scent of ginger is among the oldest spices and in Roman times was not only used as a perfume, but as a love potion.

Smart cookies always think ahead in the kitchen. Find your gingerbread cookie cutter and get everything on a tray before starting the cookies. Above all, keep the butter on the cool side and work fast otherwise the cookies will spread too quickly in the oven and lose their shape.

Half the pleasure of making these is in letting the creative artist in you shine by piping out a vest with buttons, smiling mouths and eyes.

Be as elaborate as you wish.

Gingerbread Cookies This should make about a dozen cut-out cookies that are 4 inches long each. ½ cup butter, cool, right up until baking ½ cup brown sugar, firmly packed ½ cup molasses 1 egg 2 and ½ cups flour 1 tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt 2 tsp. ground ginger 1 tsp. ground cinnamon ½ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg ½ tsp. ground cloves Royal Icing (recipe below) Cream the butter, gradually adding sugar, in a large mixing bowl.

Gradually, add sugar and beat until light. Then add molasses and the egg and blend. Reserve.

In another bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, salt and spices. Gently add the mixture to the butter mixture and blend well. Gather dough into a ball and refrigerate for one hour until it is firm, but still pliable.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Roll out on a lightly floured board, to a thickness of about ¼ inch. Cut out cookies with a floured 4-½-inch gingerbread cookie cutter, moving the cutter around to make more.

Gather up the scraps into a ball, chill a little and then roll out to make a few more. Transfer to a cool greased cookie sheet and bake for about 10 minutes. During that time, rotate the pans for more even baking, or bake one batch at a time in the middle of the oven. Check when the edges have browned slightly and are a bit firm.

Transfer to wire racks to avoid sogginess. Let cool and decorate, if desired.

Royal Icing Makes ¾ cup for decorating.

1 and ¼ cups sifted powdered sugar 1 egg white 1 tsp. strained lemon juice Food coloring, if desired For about 10 minutes, beat ¾ cup of the sugar with the egg white and lemon juice and it should start to thicken up. Add the rest of the sugar and beat mixture until it is stiff. Now is the time for food coloring, if desired. Decorate the cookies with a pastry bag with an attached tip.

Rory Goldstein

Teen gives Peaceful Pillows to Integris Hospice House Thirteen year old Rory Goldstein from Denver, Colorado remembers her grandmother fondly. “We called her Bubs. We were extremely close.

She was extremely close to all her grandchildren. She would spoil us to the extreme and she was always there for our special moments like birthday parties, performances, you name it, even though we live out of state.”

Sharon Shelton, aka Bubs, lived in Oklahoma City. After a complicated illness, Shelton spent her final days at the INTEGRIS Hospice House in Oklahoma City. But before she died, Rory had given her a very special gift. “I made her a very soft pillow case for her 70th birthday, just a few months before she died. Sewing is one of my hobbies and something I enjoy doing.

She could not get out of bed at this point and I just wanted to make her comfortable and happy,” says Goldstein.

While Shelton couldn’t verbally thank Rory for the gift, Rory says she could tell she liked it by her smile.

Shelton passed away on June 1, 2021 at the age of 70. “I felt so upset because she was so special and was one in a million,” states Rory.

“You don’t realize how important and amazing something is until it is gone.”

Rory turned to sewing to help her grieve. She began making Peaceful

Pillows as she calls them in memory of her Bubs. “It was healing for me to make the pillows. It made me feel closer to her,” Goldstein admits. “I wanted to make others feel as comfortable as my Bubs did in her final days so I just kept making them.” In fact, she has now established a nonprofit called the Peaceful Pillow Project.

On Nov. 23, Rory and her family traveled from Colorado to donate 14 Peaceful Pillows to the INTEGRIS Hospice House. “I chose INTEGRIS Hospice to be the first recipients of the pillows because that’s where my grandmother Bubs was. They made her so comfortable and helped my family so much in those final months.” She adds, “When my Bubs was alive she had a way of bringing people together and creating community. She was always helping people. I want to help people in her memory.”

Sarah Minor, D.O., is the medical director of the INTEGRIS Hospice House.

“We are so very appreciative of these pillows. We know they will bring many other families comfort and peace. It is so encouraging to see someone so young trying to make a difference in this world. I know her Bubs would be very proud.”

Goldstein would eventually like to send her Peaceful Pillows to Hospice facilities across the country.

Edmond Life & Leisure • December 9, 2021 • Page 13

CollegeNET ranked the University of Central Oklahoma among the top higher education institutions in the nation for social mobility in 2021. Central ranked 150 out of more than 1,500 colleges and universities in the U.S. according to their contribution to economic mobility. This placed Central in the top 10% nationally for social mobility and as the highest ranked institution in Oklahoma. Pictured, a group of UCO students walk on campus.

Recognition given the University of Central Oklahoma CollegeNET ranks the University of Central Oklahoma among the top higher education institutions in the nation for social mobility according to its recent 2021 national ranking.

Central ranked 150 out of more than 1,500 colleges and universities in the United States according to their contribution to economic mobility. This puts Central in the top 10% nationally for social mobility, an increase from the 2020 ranking in which UCO placed in the top 12%, and as the highest ranked institution in Oklahoma.

“We are incredibly proud to have this nationally recognized data and ranking as evidence of living our mission to empower students. UCO offers students a promising path to socioeconomic success and a runway to a bright future,” said Patti

Neuhold-Ravikumar, UCO president.

“The university community is committed to keeping higher education accessible and affordable.

We also ranked nationally as a top online college for 2022, further confirmation that you can attend UCO anywhere at a nationally competitive price and have high-quality interaction with faculty invested in student learning. The facets of this ranking tell the important story that we are optimizing our resources to reach more people who need us, which benefits families, our economy and our state.”

The Social Mobility Index (SMI) measures to what extent a higher education institution accepts students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and graduates them into well-paying jobs, based on factors such as cost of attendance, eco-

nomic background of the student body, graduation rates and early-career salaries.

Despite the hardships brought on by the pandemic, UCO focused on economic and social advancement by keeping tuition relatively low, increasing the enrollment of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds by 3.7% and improving the graduation score from 48.3 to 50.5 within a year.

According to CollegeNET, a high SMI ranking means a school contributes in a responsible way to solving the problem of declining economic mobility in the U.S. To view a complete list of CollegeNet’s rankings, visit www.socialmobilityindex.org. For more information about Central, visit www.uco.edu.

Page 14 • December 9, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Review of film ‘Belfast’

Movie both warms and breaks the heart

By George Gust “Belfast” is the passion project for writer/director Kenneth Branagh detailing his and his working-class family experience growing up in a tumultuous time Northern Ireland.

Featuring a star-studded cast of Jamie Dornan, Caitriona Balfe, Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds as well as newcomer Jude Hill as the young boy version in the image of Branagh’s perspective at the time.

Going into “Belfast” knowing that it is basically a firsthand account of the turmoil that gripped Northern Ireland in the late sixties gives this film a personal and warmly nostalgic feel. “Belfast” is both heartfelt and heartbreaking at the same time with the violence and fear on both sides of a de facto civil war. Shot in black and white, this film is beautifully observed and creates a fully realized working-class neighborhood in Belfast. The cinematography has a distinctive style that gives the audience the perspective of the young boy as he views his da as larger than life and escapes the harsh realities of his world though TV, Movies and the theater (all of which shown in color to contrast the black and white of every-

day life).

“Belfast” is a character drama that is driven by the brilliant performances of the talented cast.

Veteran actors Dench and Hinds have a playful and believable chemistry that shows why both actors have been stalwarts on screen and stage for decades. Dornan brings much more emotion and presence than some of his previous outings, but is out shown by an emotional and intense performance by Balfe has the conflicted mother struggling with raising two boys in a harrowing time all the while not wanting to leave the place she’s called home her entire life. And while child

performances usually live on a razors edge between endearing and exasperating, Hill fits squarely in the endearing category, creating a character that feels the highs and lows of growing up in a genuine and entertaining way.

“Belfast” fills the void left by recent blockbuster action films as an adult drama for grownups that features a beautifully drawn world Ireland in the 1960s. With cozy musical cues of Van Morrison, “Belfast” is a sentimental and deeply personal coming of age/immigrant story that may be too overt in its sentimentally at times for some, but the overall story and the way it was told is satisfying and moving in the way it was intended by the filmmakers. And clocking in at just an hour and half there’s an welcome economy of story and pace that makes “Belfast” an enjoyable slice of life film that both warms and breaks the heart.

“Belfast” is rated PG-13 for some violence and strong language. Now available in theaters.

4.2 out of 5 stars.

You can reach George Gust to comment at gust.george@gmail.com,

PHOTO PROVIDED

Writer/Director Kenneth Branagh brings to the screen a personal story of a family living in Belfast through the tumultuous times of the late 1960s.

Actress home sells for $5.7m Answers appearing on Page 19

Many still remember the late Doris Day for her Christmas albums and shows when she sang all the holiday favorites and the whole family huddled in front of the television with a roaring fire in the fireplace. Though she might have been singing about Christmas with snow falling and people enjoying the store window decorations in the city, she was living in California's endless sunshine with her beloved dogs and cats in Carmel. Doris Day's cheerful yellow house in one of the state's most charming towns was listed at $7.4 million, but with a price reduction, it has recently sold for $5.7 million - a little over two years after her death. As she wished, all proceeds will go to the Doris Day Animal Foundation.

Born and raised in Cincinnati where she got her start as a big-band singer on local radio stations and in nightclubs, Doris Day's perky personality, great singing voice and good looks made her America's most popular singer-actress for most of the 1950s and 60s. She sang on the radio, produced albums and starred in films such as Calamity Jane and Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much, and had her own The Doris Day Show on television until 1973. It was then, at the age of 51, that Doris retired from show business. She had appeared in 39 films, recorded over 600 songs.

Crossword Puzzle STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: Year in Review ACROSS 1. Coalition of countries 5. King trump-er, sometimes 8. Cuckoo bird 11. ____ weevil 12. Smelting waste 13. Kitchen-wear 15. Coke or Pepsi 16. Check-in via text, email, etc.

17. Settler transport 18. *2021 Super Bowl winner, two words 20. Before long, to Shakespeare 21. Jeopardy 22. Auction action 23. Puts down 26. Coroner's performance 30. Band booking 31. Snicket of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" 34. Stravinsky's "The ____ of Spring" 35. Mine passages 37. *Build Back Better ____ 38. Eucharist plate 39. Table hill 40. Good review 42. "Tit for ____" 43. Buck feature, pl.

45. *First female VP 47. Evergreen creeper 48. It goes with gin, according to Snoop Dogg 50. Mongolian desert 52. *COVID-19, e.g.

55. Poison ivy or Poison oak 56. International Civil Aviation Org. 57. Distinctive smell 59. House coat 60. Asian cuisine food thickener 61. Pelvic parts 62. Gallery display 63. Self-proclaimed greatest boxer 64. Count on DOWN 1. "Monty Python" broadcaster 2. Rioter's take

3. Cantina pot 4. Fasteners or holders 5. Cover story 6. *Suez ____, too tight for Ever Given 7. Like custard 8. Mythological ship 9. "High" time 10. Wayside stop 12. Thinly spread 13. Look forward to 14. *____ Papers, leaked offshore account information 19. Banana refuse, pl.

22. Exchange for money 23. Old World lizard 24. *January 20th honoree 25. Anti-elderly one 26. Those not in favor 27. Pita, alt. sp.

28. Take without asking 29. Gossiper, Yiddish 32. *Perseverance landing spot 33. Edible tuber 36. *Kabul's organization in

power 38. *The Nobel ____ Prize was awarded to Ressa and Muratov 40. Snoop around 41. Snowmobile brand 44. Give the boot 46. *"Stronger" by Cindy McCain, e.g.

48. Southwestern hut 49. Sushi restaurant staple 50. ____ gum, food additive 51. Leave out 52. Home to the Leaning Tower 53. Not in use 54. One in mattress 55. Spot for a facial 58. *Actor Liotta, star in "The Many Saints of Newark"

Answers on Page 23

Edmond Life & Leisure • December 9, 2021 • Page 15

Page 16 • December 9, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Some safety advice for generators Winter is nearly here, and if your electricity goes out due to snow and ice, a generator can keep power flowing to your home or business. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of outdoor power equipment, small engines, battery power systems, portable generators, utility and personal transport vehicles, and golf cars, reminds home and business owners to keep safety in mind when using generators this winter.

“Not having power when you need it is frustrating, so a generator can provide emergency backup power at a reasonable cost,” says Kris Kiser, President and CEO of OPEI. “It’s important to follow all manufacturer’s instructions, and never place a generator in your garage or inside your home or building. It should be a safe distance from the structure and not near an air intake.”

—- Take stock of your generator.

Make sure equipment is in good working order before starting and using it. Do this before a storm hits.

— Review the directions. Follow all

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manufacturer’s instructions. Review the owner’s manuals (look manuals up online if you cannot find them) so equipment is operated safely.

— Install a battery operated carbon monoxide detector in your home. This alarm will sound if dangerous levels of carbon monoxide enter the building.

— Have the right fuel on hand.

Use the type of fuel recommended by the generator manufacturer to protect this important investment. It is illegal to use any fuel with more than 10% ethanol in outdoor power equipment. (For more information on proper fueling for outdoor power equipment visit www.LookBeforeYouPump.com). It’s best to use fresh fuel, but if you are using fuel that has been sitting in a gas can for more than 30 days, add fuel stabilizer to it.

Store gas only in an approved container and away from heat sources.

— Ensure portable generators have plenty of ventilation. Generators should NEVER be used in an enclosed area or placed inside a home, a building, or a garage, even if the windows or doors are open.

Edmond Life & Leisure • December 9, 2021 • Page 17

Holiday

Gift Guide

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO EDMOND LIFE & LEISURE

We hope the gift suggestions in our Gift Guide help you with your last minute holiday shopping. The text and art was provided by each advertiser. In the event any of the copy should contain a typographical error or omission, store price and policy prevail.

Gifts

FOR ANY

Budget

Make a Lasting Impression - For your family, friends and clients with a custom gift basket or our large selection of gift items in an array of prices and sizes to fit any budget. Baskets begin at $35, and gift bags are also available. Local Delivery and Shipping Available.

Gourmet Gallery 3325 S. Boulevard, Suite 107, 405-715-3663

Beautiful Home Decor - Find amazing home decor, seasonal and food gifts!

The Market at Northpark 12202 N. May Ave. 405-752-2377

Stocking stuffers, gift exchange gifts and for everyone on your list starting at just $10!

Bath Sorbet, 15124 Leyton’s Court #114, 405-849-5259

Capri Blue Candles - These holiday knockouts will have your space feeling festive and ready for the holiday season in no time!

Eve’s & Lulu D’s Salon & Boutique 610 S. Kelly, Ste. D 405-359-9909

Page 18 • December 9, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Gifts

FOR ANY

Budget

Gifts Galore! - Shop Broadway Antiques for unique finds and amazing gifts for friends and family.

Broadway Antiques & Market 114 S. Broadway 405-340-8215

Gift Ideas FROM $10 - $24.99 Custom Edmond Merchandise! - Blue hippo plush $20, Embroidered ball cap $20, Blue hippo t-shirts $20-$30, plus Route 66 merchandise, Edmond landmark quilts, and more.

Edmond Historical Society 431 S. Boulevard 405-340-0078

Dinosaur Dig Sensory Bin - A fun, creative activity for kids! Play and build your own dinosaur habitat!

Best of Books, Kickingbird Square 1313 E. Danforth 405-340-9202 Gifts for Everyone on Your List - The perfect gift for teachers, neighbors, co-workers, friends, babysitters or anyone you want to remember.

Gourmet Gallery 3325 S. Boulevard, Suite 107, 405-715-3663

Edmond Life & Leisure • December 9, 2021 • Page 19

Gift Ideas Gift Ideas

FROM $25 - $49.99 FROM $50 - $99.99

Beautiful Jewelry - Healing bracelet in sterling silver and genuine gemstones. Also available in gold. On sale now $32.

Silver Leaf Gems 15 W. Campbell St. 405-285-9700 www.silverleafgems.com

Sahira Jewelry - The perfect gift for everyone on your list! Eve’s & Lulu D’s Salon & Boutique Eve’s & LuLu D’s Salon & Boutique 610 S. Kelly, Ste. D, 405-359-9909

Gift Ideas FROM $100 - $500 Kid’s Bike - Harro Shredder 16” boys bike.

Al’s Bicycle’s 2624 S. Broadway Court 405-341-4331 www.alsbicycles.com

For the Sports Fan - Bo Jackson Signed Jersey Al’s Sports Cards & Gaming 405-348-7583 www.alssportscardsandgaming.com

Signed Sports Memorabilia - A signed photo of the 3 OU coaches - Barry Switzer, Bob Stoops, and Lincoln Riley.

Al’s Sports Cards & Gaming 405-348-7583 www.alssportscardsandgaming.com

Page 20 • December 9, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Gift Ideas

Over $500

Adult Bike’s - IZIP Alki 1 Hybrid bike Al’s Bicycles 2624 S. Broadway Court 405-341-4331 www.alsbicycles.com

Aimee Hall Chest - $3499 This chest is equally at home in the modern dining room.

Made from solid Maple on a metal base finished in gold.

With two doors and two adjustable shelves.

Norwalk Furniture & Design, Shoppes at Northpark NW 122nd & May 405-748-5774.

Let it Drop Cabinet- $5499 This classically proportioned cabinet is beautifully detailed with the finest classical elements and updated with modern finishes, wood textures, and unique custom hardware. Made of American white oak, the body has a walnut color ceruse satin lacquer finish.

Norwalk Furniture & Design, Shoppes at Northpark NW 122nd & May 405-748-5774.

Slash Hand Painted Canvas- $799 Modern in design, this hand painted abstract on canvas is composed of large, expressive brushstrokes. Bold, black strokes are painted on a textured white background and are accented by bright, gold fleck highlights.

Norwalk Furniture & Design, Shoppes at Northpark NW 122nd & May 405-748-5774.

Edmond Life & Leisure • December 9, 2021 • Page 21

Citizens Bank CBE is given Patriot Award Youssi Farag, Citizens Bank of Edmond (CBE) chief financial officer, was presented with the Patriot Award

by Tom Patt of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a program of the Department of Defense.

At a ceremony this week, Jill Castilla, president and chief executive officer of CBE, pinned Farag with the Patriot Award lapel, and Patt presented her with the certificate of achievement signifying this esteemed honor.

Captain Kirsten Strickler, a senior credit analyst and portfolio manager, and Captain Christina Sanders, accounting manager, nominated Farag for this award. Both Strickler and Sanders are active in the Oklahoma National Guard.

Castilla also signed a statement of support which pledges that CBE will continue to promote, recognize and

support service members, guardsman, reservist veterans and their families in peace, in crises and in war.

15% of Citizens Bank of Edmond’s staff are either veterans of the armed forces or are currently serving.

The ESGR awards the Patriot Award to individual supervisors who show excellence in supporting citizen warriors through a wide range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed. Any employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve may nominate individual supervisors to be recognized for their support of the service member and his or her family.

The intent of the ESGR program is to increase employer support by encouraging employers to act as advocates for employee participation in the military.

On hand during the Patriot Award presentation, were, from left, Tom Patt, recipient Youssi Farag and Citizens Bank of Edmond president and chief executive officer Jill Castilla

Exit fee from ONG may cost consumers $1,320

By Dale Denwalt Oklahoman.com What's the fairest way to collect $1.37 billion from gas utility customers if those customers can just cancel their service?

It's a big question being weighed now by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which is considering whether to approve a 25-year plan to let Oklahoma Natural Gas recoup costs associated with the brutal February winter storms.

But if a customer can avoid their individual costs by switching, for example, to an all-electric household, someone else would have to pay their share.

To prevent that scenario, ONG plans to charge customers up to $1,320 if they switch to another fuel source.

This proposal is triggering debate among regulators, and outright criticism from consumer advocate groups.

Oklahoma's corporation commissioners expressed hesitation about the fee during a hearing last month.

Commissioner Todd Hiett likened it to "tripping over dollars to save a dime."

AARP Oklahoma, an advocate for senior citizens living in the state, came out strongly against not just the termination fee, but also against the cost recovery plan.

Sean Voskuhl, AARP Oklahoma state director, said ONG is attempting to collect the exorbitant price they paid for natural gas in the worst possible way.

"ONG is not only charging everyone the same flat fee whether they live in a mansion or a studio apartment, but they are also trying to lock them into a lifetime agreement of which the only way out is to pay a ransom. This is no way to treat customers," Voskuhl said.

OG&E customers may soon see impacts of February storm on bills.

Here's what to know Recovering winter storm costs During the winter storm, ONG was forced to buy from a wildly reactive market to meet customer demand.

Comparatively, ONG spent just $222 million buying natural gas during all of 2020.

As one regulator put it, "decisions were being made during that storm to literally keep people alive."

That comment was made during a recent Oklahoma Corporation Commission hearing where OCC Public Utilities Division Director Brandy

Wreath presented details of the agreement. Final approval is now up to Oklahoma's three elected corporation commissioners.

According to the plan, ONG would pay its immediate debt by issuing bonds to investors. Customers would be on the hook to gradually repay those bonds over the next 25 years.

To make the investment more attractive, the plan's designers created an "exit fee" to ensure the entire amount due would be paid, even if a customer switches their home's fuel source.

Page 22 • December 9, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure

Minimizing the annual holiday weight gain SKYLAR’S COUR RT T

2421 NW 194TH ST

FENWICK

$ $215,000

Looking for o an aw weesome home in the Edmond School District?

Search c no more! e New w paint and carpet through o hout this super cute 3 bed,2 bath,3 car garage home with a cover ve ed ed patio out back!

Canned lighting and ceiling fans, granite counterttops and stainless ETTPMERGIW ERH VSSQ] PEYRHV] VSSQ +EW ½VITPEGI MR PMZMRK VSSQ and alarm system.Don’t wait to see this one!

BELLE POINTE

17201 Wa ales Grreen e

RA AMBLING HILLS

SOLD D!

2710 Dupont

$695,000

$399,900

Looking fo or a turn-key hom me for the holidays? y This is it! 4 beds, 3.5 baths, study,, large bonus room o upstairs, 3 car garage with storm shelter - all in this freshly painted home! So much has recently been replaced - interior and exterior pain nt, Class IV roof and decking (2021), shades, chandeliers, all downstairs windows, sprinkler system, surveillance system - and so much morre!

SO OLD! $339,900

2604 Little Timber

SOLD PRICE $715,390

SOLD PRICE P $370,000

Maxim mize Y Yo our Mo oney

CALL THE BRAD B RE EESER TEAM TODA AY Y! NEW LIS STINGS ACCEPTED! C CALL US AT

3 330-2626 6 HUNTERS CREEK K

3901 Hunters Creek

FAIIRWAY FA RW WA AY ESTA TA AT TES

TA A AVE V $589,900 2201 AUGUST

$399,900

Private back yard setting backing to a creek & overlooking mature XVIIW SR EGVI [MXL SYXHSSV OMXGLIR ½VI TMX ERH TPIRX] SJ TEXMS seating! Great plan with 4 beds ++ study,, formall dining & living, den off remodeled kitchen, versatile extra room off ssecondary bedrooms (could be TV room, computer,, exercise) with larrge game/bonus room upstairs.

FABULOUS, CUSTOM BUILT HO OME in DESIRABLE Fairfax Neighborhood! Open and 7TEGMSYW XLMW LSQI LEW E [SRHIVJYP ¾SSV TPER XEPP GIMPMRKW ERH XSRW SJ REXYVEP PMKLX TIVJIGX fo or entertaining! Loaded with ameenities - wide panel plantation shutters, beautiful tile, lots of FYMPX MRW WO]PMKLX MR SRI FEXLVSSQ GSRGVIXI XMPI VSSJ ERH XSRW SJ WXSVEKI &EGO]EVH MW ½PPIH with mature trees, covered and un ncovered patios and is unbelievably peaceful! There is even a wonderful neighborhood park cllose by! Fairway is situated just minutes from downtown Edmond in one direction and just minutes from I35 the other direction - makes getting around Edmond and the OKC metro EASSY! Set up a showing today! y

TIMBERDALE

IRON HORSE RANCH

SOLD D!

SO OLD!

506 SUNNY BROOK

$399,900

SOLD PRICE $411,000 OFFICE FOR LEASE

$525,000

4108 High Range Ln

SOLD PRICE P $525,000

5 ACRE C PARADISE! A

LARGE CORNER LOT

2.85 ACRES!

- 3800 Wolf o Creek Cir -

4260 N Boulevard- $399,900

SO OLD! 2553 S Kelly Ave # 100 - $6,000/Mo Commercial Trriple Net Lease 3 year minimum. Built & parXMEPP] JYVRMWLIH JSV 1IHMGEPP SJ½GI WTEGI [MXL I\EQ GLEMMVW

[EMXMRK VSSQ JYVRMXYVI 3J½GI MRGPYHIW I\EQ VSSQW [EMXMRK VSSQ (SGXSVW SJ½GI FEXLVSSQW HSGXSVW IQployees, & patients), nursing station, kitchenette tt ,overhead radio d system t by SSonos ready d for activation.

624 S Post o Rd - $485,000

SOLD PRICE P $532,000

Large corner lot (1.18 acre) in the desirable Auggusta Farms Approximately 2.85 Acres at the NW corner of neighborhood! Bring your own builder and build d the home of Coffee Creek and Broadway, just north of the water your dreams in this fabulous neighborhood! Witth easy access to tower. Property zoned F1, Light Industrial. Don’t miss I35 get anywhere in Edmond and the OKC metrro quickly!

this opportunity! t

BUILD YO OUR DREAM HOME!

3001 Lakeshire Ridge Way - $135,000

Bring your ow wner builder and build the house of your o dreeams on this fabulous lot.

X

SEL LL YOUR HOM ME W WITH BRAD!

RUSTIC CREEK

SOLD!

2300 Rustic Creek - $350,000 Enjoy the peace and tranquility of the fabulous backyard on the wood deck - so peaceful! Home backs up to 6.8 acres of gorgeous trees. HOA takes care of the front yard - mows, edges, weeds, trims, and fer e ttilizes - No yard work required!

SOLD! 169 LEDGEMONT DRIVE - $379,900

SOLD PRICE $390,000 $390 000 FABULOUS ON THE 9TH FAIRWA AY

NEW W LISTING NG GS ACCEPTE ED! C CALL US U S AT

330-2626

SOLD! 3200 NW 171st- $ 685,000

SOLD PRICE $675,000

L TS & ACREAGES LO 3100 Basanova Drive - $85,000 - Oldee Edmond Lot Great neighborhood in Edmond. Build your drream home here!

3208 Basanova Drrive - $118,900 - Olde Edmond - East Edmond - Cul-de-sac lot!

3000 Basanova Drive - $122,500 - Old de Edmond • East Edmond - Cul-de-sac lot

4260 N Boulevard 2.85 - Acres! $399,900 Approximately 2.85 Accres at the NW corner of Coffeee Creek and Broadway, y, just norrth of the water tower. Property zoned F1, Light Industrial. Don’t miss m this opportunity!

3016 Basanova Drive - $99,900 - Olde Edmond Lot • Great Location - Build your dream home!

1624 Saratoga Way - $249,900 - Saratog a a Farms • Approx. .7274 acre

Property to Sell? • Accepting New Listings • CALL US! WE SELL homes, ranch hes, acreages and developments.

By Brian Attebery I am so glad Christmas is right around the corner! I love Christmas. It is a time of joy, peace and hope and we need all ofthose things right now more than ever.

This season also brings about parties Attebery and with those festivities comes food, drinks and the holiday weight gain we all hate to admit. Yes, the average person gains between 7-15 pounds between Halloween and New Year’s Day. How do we deal with this and minimize this issue while still enjoying this time of the year?

Food is social. Think about it. How many parties, birthdays, holidays or social events do we go to and there is not some kind of food there? It is tough but we are also trying to make a lifestyle of food and fitness and holidays are part of living life. We need to have those moments to celebrate and live. Yes, it is okay to do these things. We can do these things in moderation.

Planning ahead is important for your fitness lifestyle. Those holiday parties don’t get spring up on you in an hour. We know in advance when they are coming. I plan my workouts around my schedule in general. That means that it is always changing to a certain degree because we can’t always do the workouts when we want. I adapt. I change the durations.

I change the intensity to get it done quicker. I get up earlier or go later to the gym. With parties, you know that there will be food there and you know you will probably eat it. Think about your daily food intake as a culmination of calories. We store up carbohydrates and sugars as glycogen in our muscles and liver. Your body is like a car holding gas. We get full and we burn if off or we over fill that tank and gain weight. Go into that party like you are going into a gas station about to fill up and make sure you have not eaten a lot of carbohydrates that day and the day before so that you don’t “over fill” your tank at the party. Some people say to eat before the party so you won’t over eat there. That works for some but I am

a realist and know that I will eat some of those fun foods and I think it is important to enjoy social events and food is part of them.

Many of these food spreads at parties have a variety of foods. Most any party has vegetable and fruit trays. Focus first on loading up on veggies like broccoli, bell peppers andcucumber slices to fill yourself up and put some valuable fiber in your system. Fiber helps to fill you up but also helps control the blood sugar with foods that you will end up eating most likely. The next focus is to eat more protein-base foods. Meats like deli pieces or chicken or even cheese cubes are a good way to get protein in the body that we need.

The last thing that is coming our way is of course the starches and sweets. Many times we only eat some of these treats during the holidays. I love pumpkin bread and anything pumpkin! Those sugary snacks can get us into weight gain trouble if we go too crazy. Eat those things after consuming your fiber (Veggie) and protein-based foods first. Try to drink water and tea versus fruit punch too. You can still enjoy the party but minimize the negative impact on your weight.

Living a lifestyle of fitness is a day to day process. Each day is a new day. Don’t put off the entire season because of shopping and parties. Include something daily in your routine. Even 20 minutes of activity and substituting a few foods and drinks for the right choices add up to better healthy management. In the meantime, go have fun at those parties too. We all need to take a breath and smell the pumpkin!

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

Edmond Life & Leisure • December 9, 2021 • Page 23

Celebrate holidays & help fight hunger From concerts and performances to shopping givebacks, your support this December can help the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma provide more meals to Oklahomans living with hunger.

The winter months can bring hardships for Oklahomans who are already food insecure. On top of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues, as the weather gets colder, some Oklahomans are forced to choose between purchasing food or paying their utility bills. The Regional Food Bank has partnered with several local and regional businesses and another nonprofit to raise money for the fight against hunger while cele-

brating the holidays.

During the Holiday Match, all donations to the Regional Food Bank are matched, up to $500,000, thanks to APMEX, the Cresap Family Foundation and an anonymous donor. Make a gift at rfbo.org/give or call 405-600-3161.

Instacart offers a simple way to provide meals to Oklahomans living with hunger. At checkout, select to support the Regional Food Bank to send one meal to Oklahomans living with hunger. Make an order at instacart.com.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Whataburger have partnered to help fight hunger in Oklahoma

for the eighth consecutive season. Customers who make donations to the Regional Food Bank's Food for Kids Programs at participating Whataburger restaurants will receive a coupon for a free Whataburger with purchase of a medium fry and 32 oz. drink.

Visit Whole Foods Market for their Shop Local, Give Local campaign. Through Dec. 14, purchase any local product and Whole Foods will match 100% of the proceeds to send to the Regional Food Bank. While shopping, all local items have a red “local” flag. Customers can also donate the Regional Food Bank at each register.

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Page 24 • December 9, 2021 • Edmond Life & Leisure