Edmond Outlook - May 2018

May 2018

Going the Distance Marathoners Team Up to Raise Awareness ZooZeum Maker: 115 Years Of History Everett’s Herbs Old Barn Reborn Garage Condos

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Features

I’m having the garage sale to end all garage sales. Over the past month, I’ve gone room to room, closet to closet, uncovering things I don’t use anymore. They say a good rule of thumb is “If you haven’t used it in six months - get rid of it.” What if I haven’t used the upstairs of my house in six months? Can I get rid of that? Can I just move? This is a lot of work.

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SHAKING SEAFOOD & WINGS

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GARAGE CONDOS

And who wants a Wolfgang Puck electric grill? Come on, it’s a Wolfgang Puck - is he still a thing? It even comes with a little Wolfgang Puck booklet on how to Wolfgang things. How does one attach value to such a fine piece of cookware? There’s no Kelly Blue Book for kitchen appliances, so it’s going for a few bucks. Oh, I forgot to mention… it’s reversible, one side is a grill and the other side is a griddle. Ingenious. Two grills in one. Okay, letting that go now.

This is what it’s been like for me for the past several weeks. Assessing and agonizing over every item that I am going to part with. Lucky for me, my girlfriend Alison has been able to help me make the hard decisions. Like the letting go of the Wolfgang Puck grill - Oh, I am back there again? She has suggested I vacate the premises while she conducts the sale. She knows I may lose it if someone haggles with me over a 50 cent item. She understands I’m delicate and not built for that type of commerce. I’m a big picture guy. Smart girl that Alison.

Sale starts at 8 AM Saturday.

No early birds!

EVERETT’S HERBS

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GOING THE DISTANCE

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Entrepreneurial teen’s ambitions take root Marathoners team up to raise awareness ZOOZEUM MAKER

History enthusiast archives OKC Zoo’s 115-year legacy REBORN BARN

Family history lives on in a newly constructed home JOEL LEVINE: CONDUCTING CREATIVITY

Maestro Joel Levine reflects on 42-year history with the OKC Philharmonic

Business

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TURNER & CO.

Modern office complex comes to 200 Bryant RED VALLEY LANDSCAPE & CONSTRUCTION

Local company committed to excellence in outdoor living

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LOUISE TUCKER JONES

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DR. J. DAVID CHAPMAN

Dave Miller Back40 Design President

Storage space you can own comes to Edmond

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I have set up tables arranged by categories. I have home decor, kitchen items, kid games, furniture, exercise stuff - to name a few. I am also selling some gems that defy all categories: a lawn mower blade, vintage fur coat, blow up mattress and collectible figurines. Do you love collectable figurines? Ugh. Why do they call them that? They should call them unsellable figurines. I have boxes of them from garage sales of years gone past. If you want them; I got ‘em. They’re deeply discounted. Come on down.

Laid-back Louisiana-style dining

A Hometown Visit

Things - They are a Changin’

Cover photography by Marshall Hawkins

ADVERTISING l Laura Beam at 405-301-3926 l laura@edmondoutlook.com MAILED MONTHLY TO 50,000 HOMES IN EDMOND/NORTH OKC 80 East 5th Street, Suite 130, Edmond, OK 73034 l 405-341-5599 l edmondoutlook.com l info@edmondoutlook.com May 2018 Volume 14, Number 5

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Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc.

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© 2018 Back40 Design, Inc.

PUBLISHER Dave Miller l ADVERTISING MANAGER Laura Beam l GRAPHIC DESIGN Adrian Townsend and Sable Furrh PHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins l www.sundancephotographyokc.com l DISTRIBUTION Edmond Outlook is delivered FREE by direct-mail to 50,000 Edmond & North OKC homes.

Articles and advertisements in the Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Back40 Design. Back40 Design does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by the Outlook does not constitute endorsement of the products, services or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. The Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

FOODLOOK

Shaking Seafood & Wings

By Heide Brandes

Louisiana-style crawfish boil, no silverware required If you’re going by Shaking Seafood and Wings, Edmond’s newest seafood eatery, get ready to get messy. In fact, the messier you get, the more Shaking Seafood likes it. Because they serve up giant shrimp, fresh live crawfish, snow and king crab, mussels and more in a traditional-style boil, it gets dumped right on the plastic tablecloth and is served with no silverware.

good times with friends and family. A big, messy dump boil brings back good times and everybody wants to re-experience good times.” The food at Shaking Seafood ranges from fried oysters and calamari appetizers to traditional crab, shrimp and crawfish boils to more land-loving choices like “the biggest chicken wings you’ve ever seen,” shrimp tacos and chicken strips. Each boil dinner features a full pound of seafood.

“We’ve been open two months, and 90 percent of everybody who comes in enjoys the style that it is - you know, no plates, no silverware,” said Manager Byron Eddlemon. “We do kind of the Louisiana-boil style, and just dump it out on the table. We have had a select few people who haven’t liked it and they request plates and silverware, which is fine. We are more than happy to accommodate all kinds of guests.”

“You can either do a single boil or you can do a ‘Catch 2,’ which is any two items in the boil,” Eddlemon said. “The Catch 2 is a full two pounds of seafood. That’s roughly 21 to 25 shrimp to a pound, and it’s the larger shrimp.”

While Shaking Seafood is not necessarily a new concept, it’s an interesting concept in Oklahoma. The restaurant boils everything in a bag in a special boil recipe.

“I can’t tell you what’s in it, but the secret recipe, no pun intended, is an ancient Chinese secret,” said Eddlemon. “We use the freshest seafood that we possibly can. There’s nothing around particularly the Edmond area that I’m aware of that has this type of concept where you can come out, dump all your food on the table and make a mess and just have a good time.”

Shaking Seafood and Wings, located at 1501 N. Santa Fe, Ste. 100 (Danforth & Santa Fe) in Edmond, is the latest restaurant from Jackey Zhao and Bruce Chin, who also opened the Kobe Sushi and Steakhouse. Eddlemon, who has 20 years of seafood restaurant experience, was brought in to manage the new restaurant and “shake hands and kiss babies,” he said.

“This is the style of food that you get if you’re out by the ocean,” he said. “I think people enjoy this style of eating, and it reminds people of

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The new fried catfish is quickly becoming one of the most popular items on the menu as is the live crawfish option. The restaurant also offers $2, $3 and $4 beer specials daily.

“We’re going to start offering a lunch menu in mid-May with smaller portions,” Eddlemon said. “The lunch crowd sometimes doesn’t want a full pound of seafood. So, we’ll be unveiling that in a few weeks.”

The restaurant is open at 11 a.m. daily until 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Take-out is also available.

“Get ready to get messy,” Eddlemon said. “That’s why we give you bibs, gloves, wet naps, the whole nine yards. If you get messy, that’s okay. We expect that. We just want you to have a good time and eat some good food when you’re here.”

For more information, visit facebook.com/ ShakingSeafoodWingsEdmondOK/

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FEATURELOOK

Garage Condos

By Ian Jayne

Storage units and garages—they’re functional, practical and necessary. But what if they were destinations in their own right? That’s the idea at Garage Condos of Oklahoma (GCO), a new concept being built in Edmond.

Garage Condos owners will also have access to a shared clubhouse with a full kitchen, private conference room and two restrooms. The complex will eventually include a total of six buildings and 85 units, Carllson said.

Located at 3200 Technology Dr., Garage Condos maximizes the benefits of traditional self-storage by giving people the ability to own their unit. These condo units can be used to store motorhomes, boats, cars, and other personal belongings, or they can be designed into the ultimate workshop or ‘man cave.’ Each unit is plumbed, has electricity, is climate-controlled and ready to be built out to meet your needs. Starting at 600 square feet, floor plans and pricing vary.

In addition to storage, Carllson said that the development provides a possible solution to another market problem. “There’s just not a lot of for-sale space under 5,000 square feet,” he said. GCO will also include units for sale for professionals interested in owning their small business space, rather than leasing or renting.

Some may choose a basic model used primarily for storage, but customization options are endless. “People can do with it what they want,” said Chris Carllson, the developer and owner of GCO. “They can put up sheetrock, they can build mezzanines, they can put a kitchen in, they can put a bathroom in.”

Having grown up in a family of entrepreneurs, Carllson recognized a need for spaces like GCO. “My family has a large motorhome, and there’s no place around us that has climate-controlled storage. We ended up having to rent an industrial building that’s larger than what we needed, just so we could have a climate-controlled environment,” Carllson said. “As I did more and more research, I realized there were a lot of people in the same boat I was.”

Keeping in mind Oklahoma’s fickle weather, Carllson said that many want to keep their large vehicles out of the elements. “You don’t want to have these high-end motorhomes with frozen pipes,” he said. Others, such as boat owners, might want to keep their vessels protected to prevent vinyl from cracking. Climate-control can also safeguard the upholstery and wooden surfaces in classic cars.

For those who would rather not waste hundreds of dollars a month renting storage spaces, ownership is now an option. “We took it to the next step, and we made it something where you’re going to be able to own the space so it becomes an appreciating asset,” Carllson said.

The GCO development features reinforced concrete flooring and wide aisles for motorhomes and low-profile collector cars. The community facility is gated and has secure access for unit owners.

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“We’re all going to own them together,” said Carllson of GCO’s communal aspect.

Visit garagecondosofok.com for more information.

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FEATURELOOK

Everett’s Herbs Next time you’re at the Edmond Farmer’s Market, stop by to visit Everett Daugherty’s booth. You might be surprised to see that Everett’s Herbs is run by a young teenager. Everett is fanatical about plants! He has his own greenhouse, and he even makes his own pickles. “It’s very satisfying to know that when my mom makes dinner, she’s using vegetables that I grew in my garden,” Everett said.

Everett’s interest in plants began in the 3rd grade when he made regular visits to a flower shop owned by a family friend. The florist said that succulents were “cool plants” and gave one to Everett. That single plant cultivated Everett’s interest in plants. He began collecting succulents and orchid species.

“By the time I was in 5th grade, I was fascinated by ‘all things plants,’ so when I had an opportunity to join the Watching Outdoor Wonders (WOW) club at Washington Elementary, it was the most perfect thing for me,” Everett said. The club helps maintain the school’s butterfly garden. Everett enjoyed it so much that he’s continued to volunteer at the school.

For his 9th birthday, Everett’s uncle built him a 4 x 12 ft. garden bed, the first of three gardens that he now maintains at his house: vegetables, cucumbers and zinnias. Each year he experiments with new plants. He likes growing radishes, tomatoes and herbs, because they taste so good in salads, but it’s his cucumbers that are “wildly successful.”

Everett is currently a freshman at Santa Fe High School, where he’s an active member of Future Farmers of America (FFA). Inspired by his agricultural classes, he is growing corn varieties in his vegetable garden this year. “I’m Cherokee, so I’ve ordered heirloom seeds from the Cherokee Nation Seed Bank,” Everett said. “They are beautiful and I like to keep the Cherokee legacy alive.”

Last summer, Everett visited the Edmond Farmer’s Market and was inspired by a plant grower who shared the story of his own son selling herbs when he

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By Amy Dee Stephens

was young. “Then I knew what I wanted to do. I went home and started researching and came up with the name Everett’s Herbs.” In December, Everett planted an herb garden in the FFA greenhouse.

My mom helped me make business cards, and my dad taught me about finances,” Everett said. “They’ve inspired me to work hard and have a dream.

Now, he has ten varieties of potted herbs ready to sell at the farmer’s market this spring. “If more people would plant native herbs, like dill, fennel or parsley, it would be beneficial for butterflies,” Everett said.

“Butterflies are extremely important to nature in general since they pollinate so many plants that produce food.”

Everett’s FFA teacher, Trevor Lucas, encouraged Everett to apply for a Nursery Operation grant from Caterpillar, Inc., the machine company.

Everett was selected as one of 153 people in the U.S. to receive $1000 toward his plant business. He decided that buying a greenhouse would make it easier to care for his plants in his own yard.

“My parents were willing to spend the extra $200 I needed to get a really nice greenhouse. I finished installing it a few weeks ago. I’m so happy because it’s so much easier to take care of the plants. I can water the plants and adjust the temperature when I get home from school.”

As a new business owner, Everett is hopeful that he will sell his herbs and inspire others to care about plants and agriculture. “I’ve gained so much experience in the six years I’ve been planting gardens. I’m becoming more independent and thinking about my future in botany. My teachers and parents have really inspired me to work hard and work toward a dream— and hopefully I’ll get there.”

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FEATURELOOK

Going the Distance

By Heide Brandes

At 21 years old, Bryce Wooten of Edmond was going to tackle the Oklahoma City National Memorial Marathon for the first time in his life. Along with friend, mentor and trainer Rian Smoak, 45, of Oklahoma City, Bryce has a mission to show everyone that amazing things can be accomplished if you put your mind to it. A 4.0 GPA student and current University of Central Oklahoma student, Bryce wants to be an inspiration for everyone who has ever felt different, separated from society or just helpless because they think they “can’t.”

“I’m doing this as a chance to break the emotional and social boundaries that people with physical disabilities like myself face,” Bryce said. “I’ve had this goal since about age 13 but I didn’t have the right resources. Then my friend Rian, who I’ve known about 10 years, reached out to me in early February and gave me this idea of running this marathon and raising awareness throughout the world. And as soon as we got done with that conversation, it just sparked my interest.”

Oh, by the way, Bryce has Cerebral Palsy and is currently confined to a wheelchair, but don’t you dare think for a second he can’t reach his goals. If one thing defines Bryce, it’s his mission to show the world that everyone – including those with disabilities – can achieve the amazing, and he’s going to prove it with a little help from some friends.

Finding a Way to Give Back Bryce was born with Cerebral Palsy, which gave him a level one bleed in his brain as an infant that attacked his motor skills. “As my doctor says, ‘It landed right in the sweet spot,’” Bryce said. “My parents didn’t treat me as different, but right after the age of 12, when we were transitioning to middle school and stuff, my friends that I had growing up started to change. They started finding cliques, and for the first three or four years before I really found myself, I was at a really deep, dark place. I was very depressed and I didn’t know my future. And then I asked myself ‘what do I need to do?’ I’ve always tried to help other people with handicaps and stuff like that and find the answer to why we’re here.”

Rian Smoak knew both Bryce and his twin brother as they grew up. His son was close to both boys, but as the kids grew up and graduated, they all grew apart.

“I haven’t seen him since the boys graduated three years ago. I’ve done Ironman triathlons for the last 10 years, and I competed in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii last October. I remember just how much it was a lifelong goal to do that and all the work I put into it,” Smoak said.

I remember how amazing it felt crossing the finish line.

But it was something that only I could feel. Right then, I knew I wanted to do whatever I could to give somebody else an opportunity to get that same feeling.

Four years ago, Smoak started the Tri-Dat foundation. The “DAT” stands for “do amazing things,” and whenever Smoak saw somebody in need, he would try to help out.

“I have a large group of friends who do triathlons together and we kind of instill that same philosophy. We want to help people do amazing things through whatever it is - volunteering, giving back, whatever,” Smoak said.

“And now it’s evolving more and more over the years. I want to do something to partner with somebody who shares the same spirit as I do so we can really go out and open people’s eyes.”

Continued on Page 16

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Our mission is to help people experience deeper, more meaningful relationships with God and others through counseling, coaching, and training.

Bruce Walker, PhD, LPC, LMFT

3324 French Park Dr, Suite B, Edmond, OK 73034 (405) 882-5544

www.relationalcareok.com

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FEATURELOOK

Continued from Page 14

In the back of his mind, Smoak kept thinking about Bryce. So, in early February, he reached out to the family to see if Bryce would be interested in running the Oklahoma City National Memorial Marathon.

“In my mind was the idea that I was going to give this opportunity to help him and help him do whatever, but the first words out of his mouth were, ‘Rian, what can I do to help you?’” Smoak said. “And I was so humbled. He told me his life goal and his ambition was to inspire others. I’m like, ‘wow, this is like exactly what I’m looking for.’”

A Mission with Motion Bryce and Rian worked out once a week to prepare for the 26.2 mile race.

Rian didn’t make it easy for Bryce either, working his legs with the ultimate goal of Bryce walking again.

“It’s no picnic,” Bryce said. “Rian doesn’t cut me any slack. He wants me to eventually get to my goals of living on my own. I’ve always wanted to feel like an individual, because I feel a lot of the people with physical disabilities don’t feel like an individual. Society has lower standards for people like us.

And I want to be the person to stand up for those who can’t speak or don’t know how to speak.”

During the race, Rian ran with Bryce in a specially designed cart. Although technically Bryce was “along for the ride,” he was an active part of the training and the run. And he knows some people may not understand that.

The two athletes became closer in the mission to train and raise awareness.

Bryce’s father passed away two years ago, leaving a hole where Bryce’s

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biggest champion used to be. Rian, in a way, has stepped up to fill that role as both a friend and a mentor.

“My dad and I were the best of friends. He always said that when you found what it was you were meant to do, you would just feel it with every ounce of your being. And this is it. This is what I was meant to do,” Bryce said.

Turning Dreams to Reality When Bryce and Rian crossed the finish line, they hoped they inspired others to overcome their own fears and challenges to do amazing things.

“Things that weren’t possible became possible because Rian gave me a sense of belonging,” Bryce said. “I hope to be a mentor for others to find their ‘why.’

I think people go all their lives and have no idea why they’re here exactly.

Get up and find your life. Even something as simple as a ‘hello’ could change somebody’s life.”

As for the future, Rian said Bryce will take the foundation Tri-DAT to the next level. The pair plans to enter the Redman Triathlon in September with the ultimate goal of competing in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

For Bryce, partnering with Tri-DAT and running the marathon may just be the spark people need to change their mindset.

“Maybe people will begin to accept other people,” he said. “You never know what you can learn from somebody who is different.”

Follow Rian and Bryce on Istagram @tridat365

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FEATURELOOK

ZooZeum

Maker

By Dave Miller It’s rare to open a museum from scratch, and yet, in a few short years, Amy Stephens curated the opening of the only zoo history museum in America. The Patricia and Byron J. Gambulos ZooZeum at the Oklahoma City Zoo celebrates the zoo’s 115-year legacy.

When Stephens began as an educator in 1998, she was barely aware of the sandstone building that would eventually become what she calls her “life’s work.” The rockwork bathhouse was architecturally beautiful, but was used as a storage shed. “I vividly remember going inside the first time carrying a flashlight and wearing work gloves,” Stephens said. “It was storing Halloween props, so it was full of ghosts and cobweb-covered skeletons—but it was also full of brown recluse spiders. Real ones!”

Since Stephens managed the zoo library, she was asked to research the zoo’s little-known origins, which uncovered the zoo’s beginnings in 1902.

Realizing that 100+ years of forgotten history had resurfaced, Stephens saw the need to save it.

In 2005, she founded the zoo’s historical archive and eventually wrote two books about the zoo’s history.

“I scoured zoo closets for artifacts,” Stephens said. “Former employees started bringing me things they’d saved, like Judy the elephant’s feed bucket and a 1930s zoo photo album.

Then the public started donating photos and memorabilia.”

Next, Stephens won an architectural grant to assess the bathhouse as a future museum. When it was uncovered that the structure itself was historic-built by the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1935—Stephens convinced the zoo director that the museum was a valuable community investment.

For five years, Stephens worked with maintenance staff to renovate the 80-year-old building. The Gambulos family, long-time zoo supporters, 18

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stepped forward with $500,000 for structural upgrades. In addition to finishing the building, Stephens was designing an exhibit plan, with the help of museum specialist, Sherri Vance, who assisted in archiving and museum displays.

“I wanted the right atmosphere, but it also had to be sturdy enough to survive thousands of visitors each year, including unsupervised school children who are in zoo-mode, not museum-mode,” Stephens said. “We selected opening exhibits that would resonate with visitors, like the monkey ship. The week the ZooZeum opened, in April 2011, our first baby elephant was born, so within a few days, we had Malee’s baby pictures and birth certificate on display.”

“The mission of the ZooZeum is for people to reconnect with their zoo memories. I constantly hear visitors say, ‘Oh, I remember that!’ and start these great inter-generational conversations. I’ve also enjoyed teaching zoo staff about the zoo’s architecture and geography. They’re often unaware of the rich history they walk past every day.”

The museum community has embraced the ZooZeum, as evidenced by the partnerships and awards it has received. “I’m proud that we’ve been trusted with artifacts on loan from many museums in Oklahoma. The archive now has about 6,000 artifacts and 20,000 images.”

A highlight for Stephens occurred in 2017 when the ZooZeum was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. “I never dreamed of restoring a historic building or opening a museum, but I couldn’t be more proud,” Stephens said.

“I love the zoo, and I’m so thankful to have had a role in its 115-year history.

Over a million visitors each year fondly remember zoo outings—and that’s such a positive for our community. The ZooZeum is a unique cultural gem that preserves our zoo’s important place in history.”

For more info visit okczoo.org

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FEATURELOOK

Reborn Barn

By Amy Dee Stephens

Horses and hay rides are part of Darci Oplotnik’s childhood memories. She and her seven cousins grew up playing in their grandparents’ dairy barn, four-wheeling all over the ranch and having gunny sack races in the quarter horse arena.

After 28 years, a downturn in the racing industry forced Grandpappy Ellis Gragg to sell the 640-acre property in 1991. Coffee Creek Ranch, which had begun as a Land Run homestead, became Coffee Creek Golf Course and neighborhood. The golf course gave new life to the buildings on Grandpappy’s ranch. The house became a clubhouse and the barn became golf cart garage.

“One time I visited the golf course just to look around,” Oplotnik said. “They hadn’t done a ton of remodeling. The orchard became the parking lot, but in the upstairs clubhouse, where the administration offices were, the bathroom still had Grandma’s blue butterfly wallpaper and hand towel rack. It was like being in a time warp from 30 years ago.”

In 2017, the property underwent another change when the golf course closed unexpectedly. “My cousin, Jill Olson, was driving by and saw the sign that an auction was being held on the property that day. She called me in a panic,” Oplotnik said. “Jill, Grandpappy and I rushed over, and within a few hours, I had purchased the old barn and windmill.” Oplotnik and her husband had the barn disassembled and stored it in a semitrailer for future plans.

Although the Oplotniks live in Edmond, they own a 5,000 acre cattle ranch and wheat farm in Northern Oklahoma. In cooperation with Oklahoma wildlife management, part of the land is planted with native grasses and set aside for deer, turkey and duck hunting. “So I decided we needed to build a farmhouse there,” Oplotnik said.

Using the historic layout of the barn, Oplotnik drew an initial draft for a new farmhouse, keeping the layout as similar to the original barn as possible.

Taking into account that the barn was two stories tall, with horse stalls below and a hayloft above—the center of the farmhouse is designed to have a high, open ceiling. Oplotnik credits her cousin, Shannon Ford, an interior designer, with the idea of using the old windmill blades as a decorative art element hanging from the ceiling.

“We’ve used every possible timber and beam from the barn. Every wall has barn wood on it. My grandpappy’s horse-stall doors are sliding doors within the house,” Oplotnik said. She’s proud that her children and future grandchildren will stay connected to the family history of Coffee Creek Ranch. “We are a close-knit family, and even though my kids didn’t grow up at the ranch, they hear lots of stories. Like the time my cousin and I decided to make oatmeal for the horses. We took a water hose to the feed truck and ruined an entire load of oats. Grandpappy wasn’t real happy with us.”

But Grandpappy was “super happy” when his granddaughter rescued the old barn and windmill. Sadly, he was unable to see the completed farmhouse, because he passed away in late summer. “I’m proud to honor him with the farmhouse,” Oplotnik said. “It’s bittersweet since he didn’t get to see it finished. I just hope he’s looking down now.”

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BIZLOOK

Turner & Company

By Bethany Schwarz

Twenty years ago, a young Jonathan Thompson went to the doctor’s office at 200 N. Bryant in Edmond for a checkup… but now he is back and on a mission to transform an area eyesore into the nicest office building in town.

In 1992, the OKC clinic was the ground-breaking original of large-practice clinics in the nation.

Dozens of doctors, in the same group all in one building. The location had high hopes of including a surgical suite onsite in the walk-out basement with medical exam rooms on the first floor. Their vision never came to fruition, but something beautiful is growing instead. The foundation and framework at 200 Bryant is ideal for a modern and refreshing office complex in Edmond. The corner of 2nd and Bryant is rapidly becoming a fresh start in the heart of the community.

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Jonathan grew up in Edmond; he attended and played football at Oklahoma Christian School.

There he met a mentor and coach, Derek Turner, who shaped his future. Derek, owner of Turner and Company, was once Jonathan’s football coach and now the pair has come full circle as colleagues and community builders. Jonathan loves incorporating his entrepreneurial spirit into his projects and rehabbing instead of building new. It is more sustainable and a better use of land and resources, he says. Turner and Co. is a real estate development company that has been serving the Edmond community since 1970. Jonathan is the commercial broker at Turner and Co. working alongside his former coach and mentor. 200 Bryant is a project they are both excited about.

200 Bryant will have its grand opening in August of 2018 and though limited, medical and office spaces are still available. The building is actually twice the size that it appears to be from the street with a complete walk-out basement that was never finished. Thompson partnered with the original architects – JHBR in downtown OKC to perfect the rehab plans. The new office complex will be a two-story building with a windowed, walk-out basement, a mid-century look coupled with state of the art medical and business office capabilities; truly one of a kind.

Visit 200Bryant.com for more information and potential lease possibilities, or reach out directly to Jonathan at (405) 406-4045.

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BIZLOOK

Red Valley Landscape & Construction

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By Bethany Schwarz

allows clients to visualize the actual products and their options.

Who we are Red Valley Landscape & Construction began its operations based on a commitment to excellence and integrity in both design and installation of residential and commercial outdoor living spaces.

Owner Mike Freeman says Red Valley’s mission is clear and steadfast, “to deliver outdoor living at its finest by treating each client as if they are our only client.” By specializing in outdoor projects from swimming pools, landscape, outdoor kitchens and living spaces, to arbors, patios and more, Red Valley provides a pathway for families to experience the outdoors in a way that is highly customized to their dreams. Red Valley designed, built, and maintains a stunning outdoor living showroom in Edmond that showcases a wide selection of materials and design elements and

With a heart for the community and a dedication to superior service, Red Valley Landscape & Construction was recently awarded the Edmond Small Business of the Year by the Edmond Chamber of Commerce and is a recipient of The Metro 50 Award.

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How we give back Freeman says, “As a family, and a company, we are committed to giving back to our community through action and service with personal time and resources that serve and make a difference in the lives of others in our community.” Freeman’s family agrees. His son Grady, 11 years old at the time, developed the hugely successful fundraiser Let’s Eat! which benefits local charity, Edmond Mobile Meals. “In 43 years, EMM had never been

able to offer weekend meals. Grady was very close to his great-grandmother who was also a recipient of meals on wheels. Their relationship was the driving force behind his fundraising idea.” Let’s Eat! inaugural event in 2017 raised funds for more than a year of weekend meals. This annual summer event includes a night under the stars at Red Valley’s Display Gardens featuring several local restaurants offering three kitchen tastings each, live music, dancing, open bar and auction items.

“We are very proud of Grady and his continued efforts to be a part of something bigger than himself. It’s humbling to see how a 12-year-old kid can realize others’ problems and then create a workable, real life solution and we’re thankful Red Valley can be a part of it too.” Let’s Eat! 2018 will be held Saturday June 2 with tickets for sale at edmondmobilemeals.org/events/let-s-eat/ redvalleylandscape.com • 405-509-2300

FEATURELOOK

Joel Levine:

Conducting Creativity

By Amy Dee Stephens

“I can always feel the audience from my dressing room,” said Joel Levine, describing the heightened emotions he experiences right before he conducts the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. “I’m just 30 feet from the stage, and I can feel their expectations for a wonderful evening. That creates a little stress, because performing live is like walking a high wire--but once I walk through the door onto the stage, I suddenly relax. I do! It’s a magic I can’t explain.”

As a child, Joel Levine borrowed the curtain rods from his mother’s window sheers to practice conducting. By college, however, he’d accepted that the career field for conductors was bleak, with only a few select cities able to support an orchestra. “Having grown up in New Jersey, my goal was to direct music for the Tonight Show--but that wasn’t seeming like a safe career choice,” said Levine with a laugh. “So I got an engineering degree.”

When Levine finally admitted that he needed to follow his musical passion, he went back to school and started over. “After all, you only go around once in life,” Levine said. “Fortunately, engineering wasn’t a waste at all, because I interface with recording engineers all the time.”

Joel Levine directing the first concert of the OKC Philharmonic.

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Despite being a classically-trained conductor, he came to Oklahoma City in 1976 to conduct summer Broadway shows for Lyric Theater, because, “When you’re young, you go where the work is.” In 1979, he was selected as associate director for the prestigious Oklahoma Symphony--just before it folded. The symphony, dating back to 1938, was comprised of full-time musicians that Oklahoma City could no longer afford. After an unsuccessful strike, the symphony closed.

“I found myself in a metropolis of a million people and no orchestra,” Levine said. “By then, I knew many of the local musicians, and I knew we could work with the arts community to put together a new orchestra.” It took another year to pull everything together, but in 1989, Levine directed the first concert of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic.

Now, Levine is preparing to retire from his 42-year musical career. During his tenure, Levine has had the luxury to conduct classics, premier works, Broadway and pop, holiday shows, and guest performances. He also developed the children’s Discovery Series, short concerts themed around topics like animals or pirates to interest children. “My parents took me to museums, the Metropolitan Opera, Rockefeller Center--that’s part of my family tradition,” Levine said. “It’s not a long thought process to rationalize that when your parents take you to hear music, it makes a stronger impression and you’re more likely to love the art form. In the end, I don’t care if children walk out knowing the difference between an oboe and bassoon. My standard for success is did they enjoy it? And will they come back?”

After retirement, Levine intends to come back, too. It’s in his life’s blood.

Not only does he plan to voluntarily conduct the annual Christmas concert, he will tackle the backburner project he started in 1994. “I’m going to archive the rich history of Oklahoma City’s symphonies,” Levine said. “I’ve collected programs, photographs and scores dating back to the very first concert in 1938. No one can see them but me right now, because I’ve only had time to ‘hunt and gather’ these items—but I plan to remedy that and get them archived and ready to exhibit.”

“It would be unfair to all the musicians who worked hard to keep the music going all these years to let this history disappear,” said Levine. “Conducting the philharmonic has been a very unusual and special experience. I’ve been the beneficiary of living in this city for 42 years, and I’ve never regretted it.”

For more info visit okcphil.org

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ALOOKBACK

A Hometown

Visit

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Louise Tucker Jones is an award-winning author, inspirational speaker & founder of Wives With Heavenly Husbands, a support group for widows.

LouiseTJ@cox.net or LouiseTuckerJones.com.

By Louise Tucker Jones

My oldest son was home for a visit a few weeks ago and was amazed at the changes in his hometown. Or maybe we should call it a city with today’s population. Aaron was in kindergarten when we moved to Edmond in the early 70s. It was a small, friendly town with children riding bikes on neighborhood streets and playing T-ball at the park. There was a town center, several churches and a couple of shopping centers.

As our children grew, so did the community.

Schools became so overcrowded that Aaron’s class experienced seven different “transitions” within the school district before graduating from Edmond Memorial, the only high school at that time.

But time changes everything and I sometimes miss what used to be. I loved looking out my back

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door and seeing Aaron and his friends building a tree house or fort in the woods behind our house.

I enjoyed neighbors who sat on front porches and waved to everyone who passed by. And it was a special delight to walk down a street at sunset where I knew everyone by name in both directions.

Of course, some of my nostalgia comes from sweet memories of younger years and times when our home exploded with laughter and fun of growing kids. It became a gathering place, with the school bus stop right in front of our house, which was located at the bottom of a hill where neighbors’ cars often slid to a halt during icy winters. With no

cell phones, our home became call central. I kept coffee ready.

I have wonderful neighbors where I live today though we don’t interact as much. We are all busy with places to go and things to do. Maybe that’s part of growing older. Or maybe it’s simply “change.” But I promise you one thing. If you happen to walk past my house and find me sitting on my front porch or on the bench under our old Mulberry tree, you will definitely be greeted with a smile, a wave or hello. And I think my neighbors will do the same. I hope that part of Edmond never changes.

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CITYLOOK

Things – They are a Changin’

By Dr. J. David Chapman The bad news first. Larry Lambrecht purchased the corner of Campbell and Broadway about a year ago with the intent of building a 30,000 SF office building. Larry has reconsidered that decision and simply doesn’t feel like it is prudent to build a “spec” office building of that size in Edmond at this time. As much as I like to see development in our city, I must agree with him. The time is probably not right for this project. Larry is actively marketing this corner for sale for $1.2 million.

This is one of the two best corners in the city of Edmond. The other being the corner of Hurd and Broadway. Both would be perfect for what our city needs – a mixed-use, high-end apartment/ condominium project above edgy new retail.

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Speaking of the corner of Hurd and Broadway, that corner is also in the news. It’s been the home to a creative placemaking concept for two years known as KatieBugs shaved ice and hot chocolate. This corner has averaged about 100 customers a day in the summer and over 50 a day in the winter. I’m sad to say this business/trafficgenerator for downtown Edmond is moving to a brick and mortar alternative in Automobile Alley in June. The good news is the property owner is actively pursuing new tenants and creative new concepts for the corner.

Now for the good news. By all accounts it appears the new board-game concept called Unplugged that opened several months ago in downtown Edmond is going gangbusters. Every time I go by there the tables are full of people competing

and sipping on craft beer. What a great addition to neighborhood.

In an effort to increase entrepreneurism and serve small businesses in town, Citizen’s Bank of Edmond has opened an office sharing concept called 405 Vault. Providing all the necessities to small businesses from office space to coffee they can stay as little as an hour to a year.

The biggest potential game-changer for downtown Edmond is the implementation of a quiet zone to silence the horn of that pesky train. The City recently hosted a workshop focusing on the issue.

The City of Edmond’s consultant did provide a plan for modifying every train crossing in city limits and the compliance costs seem to be less than feared. I’m going to go out on a limb and predict we will silence the train horns in Edmond within a three-year period - hopefully sooner.

Dr. J. David Chapman is an Associate Professor of Finance & Real Estate at UCO. jchapman7@uco.edu

80 East 5th St., Ste. 130 Edmond, OK 73034