June 2020
Dr. Lauren and Birds of Prey
Backyard Bowler
Melissa and Derek’s Quarantined Cruise
Purse Power
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Features 8
ASK EDMOND
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LOCAL EATS: SINALOA
Who are these people who dare to enter my personal space? They walk around, talk, touch things, interact with me… who are they? Wait! It’s Rachel, Richelle, Jennay and Jon, they work at Back40. And they are back - one third of our “workfrom-home” crew has returned! For the past 10 weeks, it has been SO quiet here at the office. Alison and I and our trusty office Aussie, Bailey, have manned our outpost at Covell and Kelly. As the days and weeks blurred together, this team of three tried to make the best of a sad situation and fend off loneliness. Occasionally our day was highlighted by the sheer excitement of a random UPS delivery. Oh, the excitement! Looking back, having an empty office saved some dollars on utilities, paper towels and office snacks - a small victory in the larger scheme of business. And sure, a relaxed office attire had its perks: T-shirt and jeans. Shoes optional. Hair sometimes combed. Teeth always brushed. Make-up optional. Actually make-up has always been optional for me - so no big deal there. My sad state of office fashion became very apparent one afternoon, when my UPS guy asked me, “Didn’t you wear that shirt yesterday? Sign here.” Um, no, you’re mistaken, that shirt had a different motorcycle on it. Even under normal working conditions, we’re not an excessively loud team, but there’s definitely a flow of conversation and interaction involved in developing web projects and digital marketing. There’s client phone calls, meetings, coffee chit chat, communication, communication about miscommunications, and the occasional birthday celebrations. Alison, Bailey and I missed that. Welcome back!
If there was one thing you could tell your “pre-Covid self,” what would that be? Fresh and ethically-sourced coastal Mexican cuisine
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MELISSA AND DEREK’S QUARANTINED CRUISE
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THE BOWLER AND THE BUILDER
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DR. LAUREN AND BIRDS OF PREY
Couple stranded at sea for two months finally arrive home
Father and son create a backyard bowling lane after local lanes close Studying the ancient relationship between humanity and birds of prey
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A TRIBUTE TO THE SETTING SUN
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PURSE POWER
131 years of Edmond news and history Harnessing the spending power of women to support women
Business 22
LUPE MANN, ARISTON REALTY
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NELSON OASIS
Real estate business is about serving others Specializing in custom swimming pools and elegant outdoor living areas
Columns 20
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RECIPE: KOREAN SHORT RIBS
Sweet and savory ribs with a caramelized grilled crust LOUISE TUCKER JONES
What’s your story?
Dave Miller Back40 Design President
ADVERTISING l 405-301-3926 l sales@edmondoutlook.com MAILED MONTHLY TO 50,000 HOMES IN THE EDMOND AREA 1024 W Covell, Edmond, OK 73003 l 405-341-5599 l edmondoutlook.com l info@edmondoutlook.com June 2020 Volume 16, Number 6
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Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc.
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© 2020 Back40 Design, Inc.
PUBLISHER Dave Miller l EDITOR Jennay Wangen l ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Angie Clemens Byers l GRAPHIC DESIGN Adrian Townsend, Anne Richardson PHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins www.sundancephotographyokc.com l DISTRIBUTION Edmond Outlook is delivered FREE by direct-mail to 50,000 Edmond area 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.
LOCALLOOK
Ask Edmond
If there was one thing you could tell your “pre-Covid self,” what would that be?
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Jessica Anne Laster Cosmetologist, Urban Loft Salon Founder, Sandwiches With Love
Bill Crouch Owner BC Pro Media
Lori Evans Northern Hills Teacher Edmond Public Schools
I would tell my pre-Covid self to always have money in a savings account and remind myself that I have survived a lot of things by using common sense and hoping for the best!
Yo, listen up, the world is getting ready to change. Great investment opportunity coming your way. Invest money in live streaming companies and manufacture of hardware for livestreaming.
As a retiring teacher, I’d tell myself to embrace each day as if it were my last day to teach my First Graders! Had I known what was to come, I would have hugged my precious ones a little tighter!
Collin Redwine Graduated Oklahoma Christian HS Attending Texas Tech University Student
Caleb Martin Founder & CEO Alliant HR Outsourcing
Sarah Hail Smith Realtor eXp Realty
I would tell myself to live one day at a time. While planning is helpful, it cannot guarantee control for yourself. So, let go of the future, and be present.
Be safe, but don’t let it consume you. Work hard, but don’t let it control you. Have fun, but don’t let it make you lazy. Your calendar will be clear until June, so spend time on the important things!
I’d tell myself to hug everyone a little longer & harder. As a physical touch love language person, I have a whole new appreciation for a good hug & won’t take those small touches for granted again.
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FOODLOOK FEATURELOOK
“Starting a business has not been easy, it’s taken years of effort. Thank you Edmond for your support” Candelario Rochin
Signature Tacos at
Sinaloa By Maggie Murdock Nichols Fresh air, two amazing tacos and free chips and salsa! It’s turning into an amazing Thursday. Dining outside at Sinaloa, you’re surrounded by activity. Shoppers wander by the patio browsing plants and flowers. Nearby, raised bed planters are being constructed from cedar wood. The activity is welcome as we emerge from the past months of isolation. The word Sinaloa (pronounced seenah-low-ah) means pithaya, which is commonly referred to as dragon fruit. Pithaya grows plentifully in Sinaloa, Mexico where Candelario Rochin was raised. Candelario has worked in the food industry for almost two decades and came to Oklahoma twelve years ago. Candelario grew up in the country, living off the land and found a similar atmosphere in North Edmond. His long-held dream to run a restaurant came to fruition in January 2020 with the opening of Sinaloa Signature Tacos. Candelario opened Sinaloa in partnership with Conscious Community Co-op owners. Sinaloa is located adjacent to the coop and sources local, high-quality ingredients whenever possible. Sinaloa offers unique, always fresh and ethically sourced Coastal Mexican cuisine. The flavorful cuisine has wowed guests who crave fresh seafood in a landlocked state.
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The restaurant maintains high standards, utilizing organic fryer oil and produce, locally-sourced meat and veggies, along with ethically-caught and harvested seafood. Sinaloa’s menu can easily cater to gluten free, vegan and vegetarian diets. They believe there shouldn’t be a compromise when it comes to satisfying cravings. They pride themselves on serving fresh food with responsible resources. Candelario works alongside his wife, daughter and son to run the restaurant. They took the challenges brought on by Covid-19 in stride. They came up with family meals and deals, offering take out and curbside pickup. The restaurant is now open for dine-in seating and welcomes the public. Sinaloa offers free chips and housemade salsas on “Thrifty Thursdays” and has rotating specials like Pina Tropical, red snapper and tamales. To accompany meals, Sinaloa offers housemade lemonade and jamaica, a hibiscus flower tea. Candelario says, “Guests love the fajitas and the carne asada tacos.” He pauses and laughs, “They really like everything.” Sinaloa Signature Tacos is located at 2900 E Waterloo Road. Follow them on Facebook to stay up to date on specials and offers.
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Derek and Melissa Lissner quarantined in their cabin
FEATURELOOK
Melissa Lissner, Royal Caribbean performer
Melissa & Derek’s Quarantined Cruise
The cruise line encouraged social distancing and increased sanitization. On March 30th, after a possible positive case of Coronavirus among the crew, a 17-day complete lockdown began. The crew was confined to their compact cabins for more than two weeks. Meals were brought to their rooms. The cruise line did their best to take care of the crew and loaded up with By Maggie Murdock Nichols as many supplies as they could before they were told to leave Australian waters. Many of us faced cramped quarters, mundanity and limited The ship made its journey to the Philippines as the crew choices as we attempted to reduce the spread of Coronavirus. sheltered below deck. Many countries made arrangements for While we sheltered at home, Edmond native Melissa Lissner their citizens, but Americans were left without a plan. On April and her husband Derek viewed the outside world through a tiny 15th, changes were made to the lockdown. The crew was allowed porthole in an 8x15 foot cabin. Melissa performed her last show two hours a day outside, one hour in the morning and one in the as a figure skater on the ship. Without passengers, the Royal afternoon. On April 18th, Derek and Melissa were told to move Caribbean ship was left to wander aimlessly in the open seas, out of their cabin and into guests rooms. They enjoyed the larger seeking a port that would take them in. room and balcony. At this point, they could eat Melissa began her figure skating career at The crew were confined to in the cafeteria, but had to social distance and the Arctic Edge Ice Rink. Early on it was clear their compact cabins for a wear masks. that Melissa was bound for a professional On April 29th, the Americans heard they 17-day lockdown career. Melissa has been skating for 23 years might have flights home. They rushed to pack and has spent the past 6 years skating on their belongings and stepped foot on land cruise ships. Figure skating on a cruise takes discipline and talent. for the first time in 50 days. They were put through rigorous Without a full crew and huge rink, all eyes are on the skater. screening and temperature checks. The Phillipine military Melissa met her husband Derek through work on the cruise escorted them until they boarded their plane. They faced a ship. The couple has been married for almost two years. Melissa similar process in South Korea. They were shocked by the lack said she has visited more countries than there are states in of safety procedures when they landed in Chicago. There were the United States. The couple began work on a cruise with a no temperature checks and they were simply handed a CDC port in Sydney, Australia on November 12th of 2019. The ship pamphlet. When they finally landed in Oklahoma City, Melissa returned to port and offloaded passengers on March 18th. The and Derek were greeted by a sign displaying Coronavirus safety night before, Melissa was about to take the ice when the captain information and a few people wearing masks. announced that all performances would be cancelled and sent all The couple self-isolated in Edmond for two weeks. Not exactly guests and crew to their cabins. The crew completed a full barrier the getaway they had originally planned after their last cruise, clean and waited for further instruction. but they were thankful to be safe at home again.
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FEATURELOOK
Eric Jones and Heath Jones
By Amy Dee Stephens
The Bowler and the Builder Eric Jones admits his father might have gone a tad overboard walking out the door to bowl, and Heath enjoys playing the game when he built a fully-functioning bowling lane next to the with his son. They quit every evening by nine so they don’t annoy house—but he’s not complaining. It was one of those father/son the neighbors. projects that started small and ended with twelve trips to the Eric developed the bowling “bug” in third grade after watching hardware store. online videos of champion bowlers and trick-shot bowling. “So, Heath Jones, the father, is not a handyman, but his son needed I took him and he scored 128 his very first time! I thought, ‘Wow a bowling lane. Why? Because Eric, an Edmond 8th grader, is a this kid is something!’ After that, he begged me to go bowling competitive bowler. Every day for four years, Eric has practiced every day,” Heath added. bowling—and then the pandemic hit, and the Eric, who describes himself as “insanely bowling alleys closed. competitive,” hopes to become a professional Eric practiced bowling “He had no way to train for his next national bowler. “In December, I barely made the everyday, then the tournament, which was pushed back to qualifying round at a tournament in Texas, so I pandemic hit and the August,” Heath said. “Eric saw a YouTube video decided I wasn’t going to waste my opportunity. bowling alleys closed about a pro bowler who built his own practice I won eight out of nine games,” Eric said. lane and wondered if we could copy the idea.” During his 8th grade year, Eric won $11,000 at “I said, ‘Dad, if we make it, let’s go big!’” said Eric. “We both put competitions, which all went into a scholarship account. Heath, in an equal amount of effort in the beginning, but then he went a who is a musician, is super jazzed about that. “When I was in little crazy and took over.” college at Oklahoma Christian in 1990, I was in a rock band. Our It started with just a lane, but then Heath tired of leaning over very first job was playing at the bowling alley, the same alley to reset the pins—so he added a pin-setter and then a see-saw where Eric now practices. Now, I play saxophone there every style ball return. Although the initial set-up took about three week while Eric is practicing. It’s funny that thirty years later, weeks, the Joneses have continued to improve their set-up. The bowling and music are still part of my life,” Heath said with a pin-setter ropes became cables, and the lane now has three laugh. “Of course, all the money I earn playing goes to pay for coats of polyurethane. “And we’ve started spraying the lane with Eric’s lane fees.” cooking oil,” Heath added. And the custom-built alley in their backyard. Even after the pandemic, the homemade bowling alley will “I’m thankful he built it, although he’s probably more excited remain a secondary practice zone. Eric enjoys the convenience of than me,” Eric joked. “Dad thinks it’s pretty sweet. I do, too.” 16
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Photo Submitted
FEATURELOOK
Dr. Lauren McGough in Mongolia
By Amy Dee Stephens
Dr. Lauren and Birds of Prey Dr. Lauren McGough is the world’s foremost female falconer— and it’s high praise indeed, coming from the esteemed eagle trainers of Mongolia. It was on the ancient steppe near Russia that the Kazakh tribe first developed the art of falconry, which has since spread to nearly every continent. By training golden eagles to hunt for foxes on the desolate landscape, the nomads feed and clothe themselves. McGough spent a year living amongst the nomadic tribe, apprenticing herself to learn their ancient ways. She earned their respect--in a culture where only men do the hunting. An award-winning television segment on CBS’s 60 Minutes introduced McGough’s skill to America. Not only was she handling a wild, ten-pound bird in sub-degree temperatures, she was bolting up and down steep rocky slopes on horseback, despite having no horse-handling experience. Of course, McGough isn’t one to back down from a challenge. She also skydives and is currently working toward her pilot’s license. “It’s empowering to conquer fears. Being in a plane or parachuting also helps me feel the consequences of wind conditions, and that helps me feel more patient when my eagle doesn’t chase a jackrabbit like I expect. It’s added some finesse to my falconry.” After leaving Mongolia, McGough, who has degrees in both biology and anthropology, spent two years in South Africa
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studying the Taung Child, the ancient skull of a child that was killed and eaten by an eagle. “I wondered what it would be like to hang out with an African crowned eagle,” McGough said. “I had this esoteric idea to forge a relationship with this monkey-eating bird and see it hunt naturally to see its application to the history of early hominoids.” Hunting in the wilds of Africa What McGough learned was a lesson in humility. “The eagle mostly eats vervet monkeys. I tried to give the eagles I worked with a chance to hunt, but the monkeys figured me out. They heard my car and disappeared. The monkeys broke into my house and ate my food. Nothing hurts your ego like being outwitted by monkeys, but it was a great adventure. While I was hunting in the wilds of Africa, I never knew what animals I would see. I saw aardvarks, aardwolves, mongoose, jackals, meerkats, and hornbills. The laundry list of African animals took McGough back to her childhood, when she loved watching birds. “I became a junior curator at the Oklahoma City Zoo so I could watch them up close and see more than a fleeting glimpse of a bird of prey.” She also discovered a life-changing library book about falconers. “It seemed like something only medieval knights did until I found out about falconry in the United States. The president of the local Falconers Association became my mentor. I didn’t know anything
about training birds, but I was infatuated with the idea that I could have a relationship with a wild bird.” At the age of fourteen, McGough became a falconer. Although McGough has worked with birds of prey around the world, she’s now back in her hometown of Oklahoma City. Her most recent project is rehabbing golden eagles to release back onto the prairie. “You can’t just heal these birds and chuck them back into the wild,” McGough said. “The young birds are clumsy and slow-developing. If a parent had not taught them to hunt, their mortality rate is almost 100%, so I train them to fly and catch rabbits before releasing them.”
Photo Submitted
Studying golden eagles in Oklahoma McGough is always seeking local landowners with open space who will allow her to train with the birds. She’s also working to study golden eagles in the American west, where an alarming number have been found shot. She wants to know why they’re being shot, despite fines and prison times. She is hoping to find positive interventions. Once that study concludes, McGough is unsure what her next adventure will be, but admits that a decade of seeking grant projects and competing for funding is an insecure way to live. “Of course, if you pick a place no one else wants to go, like Mongolia, it’s not as competitive!” No matter what comes next, McGough is a falconer for life. “It’s magical to watch them hunt. It’s something primal that has happened every day for millions of years. I love watching these crazy aerobatics happen right in front of me, which are normally hidden in the wild. It’s like watching a modern-day velociraptor as the eagle swoops in, but the rabbit is amazing, too, jumping in the air, even flipping over as the two try to outwit each other. It all happens in a few amazing seconds, and I love it.” To learn more, visit laurenmcgough.com or okfalconersassoc.com
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FRESHLOOK FEATURELOOK
Korean Short Ribs As I write this, I’m sitting outside in my camp chair with a companion chair next to me for my lounging cat. We’ve both been enjoying the warm Oklahoma weather and fresh-cut green grass that tell us it’s our favorite time of the year: grilling season. One of my personal grilling staples is Korean short ribs. Beef ribs are marinated in a sweet and savory sauce that forms a delicious caramelized crust when grilled. I actually use this marinade for all kinds of beef recipes, it’s one of my favorites.
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1-2 lbs L.A.-style short ribs 1/2 c brown sugar 1/2 c soy sauce 1/4 c water 2 Tbsp mirin* 1/4 small onion, pureed
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1/2 Fuji apple, peeled and pureed 2 Tbsp minced garlic 1/2 tsp minced ginger 1 Tbsp sesame oil pinch pepper chopped green onion + roasted sesame seeds (optional)
Directions: Spread the brown sugar all over ribs and let sit for at least 10 minutes. Combine soy sauce, water, mirin, pureed onion, pureed apple, garlic, ginger, sesame oil and pepper. Pour into a large ziplock bag and add your ribs. Let marinate in the fridge 24-48 hours. Turn the grill to medium heat. Once hot, grill ribs for about 3 minutes each side or until done. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds (optional) and enjoy! *mirin can be found in the grocery store Asian section, Asian markets, or even liquor stores.
Gina is a long-time food blogger, Back40 Design web developer, professional eater, and new resident of Oklahoma. Find more of her recipes on her Instagram @gina.chong.
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BIZLOOK
Lupe Mann, Ariston Realty By Maria Veres For Lupe Mann, the real estate business isn’t about sales figures. It’s about serving others. “I treat people the way I want to be treated,” she says. Anchored in those values, she has built a successful fifteenyear career helping OKC area clients with a wide range of needs. Empowering Homeowners through Education During Lupe’s initial call with a client, she asks for a list of questions, then guides them in contacting a lender. “Many people don’t realize they need to pre-qualify for a loan. I can help with that, and educate them on the process from start to finish,” she says.
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Many home buyers default on their mortgage within 5 years because of over financial commitment and under education. Lupe helps them to understand this is a long-term commitment and investment. Lupe is grateful when she’s allowed to help with the biggest investment most people make when they purchase a home. A Commitment to Service Customer service has been one of Lupe’s highest values throughout her professional career. Before becoming a Realtor in 2007, she worked in banking and collections, where she developed her gifts for listening and getting to know people. Her affiliation with Ariston Realty was because the company shared her values and vision. “We’re here to serve the community,” she says. “it’s not about a one-time sale. It’s about continuing a relationship by providing vendors and resources through my network that will keep the property in good shape.”
Lupe Mann Even with the Covid-19 crisis, Lupe has stayed busy. Oklahoma is second in the nation for places to live based on cost of living and home prices. She is serving customers throughout the U.S. and even internationally, helping clients relocate. Whether her clients are selling, buying, or investing, Lupe is committed to their success. She works with buyers, investors, and commercial clients, with a special focus on the Hispanic community. What she loves most about her job is satisfied customers. “It makes me happy that they’re happy,” she says. Visit Lupe.HomeSearchOKC.com or follow Lupe Mann Ariston Realty on Facebook.
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BIZLOOK
Nelson Oasis By Maria Veres
As one of Oklahoma City’s premiere landscape design companies, Nelson Landscaping already knows outdoor living spaces well. Now their brand-new Nelson Oasis division is taking this aspect of their business to the next level. Nelson Oasis specializes in high-end, custom crafted swimming pools, cabanas and pergolas, outdoor kitchens, and other elegant outdoor living areas. Building Dreamscapes in OKC and Beyond From design to installation, every part of each project is handled in-house at Nelson Oasis. Nelson Landscaping originally worked with subcontractors for pools and other outdoor living projects, but that sometimes led to quality and scheduling problems. By completing all the work themselves, Nelson Oasis can ensure the projects are completed on time and meet the high standards that their customers expect. The company includes a management group of eleven and dozens of other team members with expertise in all facets of landscaping. Project managers remain closely involved in every installation from start to finish. “We take customer service to the next level,” says owner Andy Nelson. “We want to excel and make the projects fun for our clients, and fun for us.” A Passion for Outdoor Living Nelson Landscaping Vice President Shannon Long leads the Nelson Oasis division. He brings many years of construction and design experience to the table. Shannon was part of the construction team that created the Bricktown Canal in downtown OKC, and he has been designing pools and other outdoor living spaces for fifteen years. “Shannon’s passion has always been outdoor living,” says Andy. “He’s got an amazing background and knowledge base. He’s the one making the magic happen.” A highly qualified team of project managers and technicians work alongside Shannon to bring clients’ visions to life. Every project is one of a kind, crafted with the highest-quality building materials and custom designed for the client’s space, needs, and budget. Under Andy and Shannon’s expert leadership, Nelson Oasis can create almost any high-end swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, or other outdoor living area a client requests. A Winning Team Nelson Landscaping and Nelson Oasis take pride in beautiful workmanship and outstanding customer service, but Andy credits his company culture for truly setting the business apart. “We focus a lot on personal development and personal improvement,” he says. Andy encourages his employees to set annual goals for their personal lives, families, and faith as well as their professional lives. “When you’re happier outside of work, you do better at work,” he says. His employees’ focus on success in all areas of their lives leads them to do their best for their clients as well. “We have a great team,” he says. “I look forward to coming to work every day.” Between them, Andy and his management team have 150 years of experience in landscaping. Nelson Oasis works with clients throughout Oklahoma and beyond to create distinctive outdoor living spaces that can be enjoyed all year long. Visit Nelson Oasis at nelsonlandscapingok.com or contact them at 405-202-4120.
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FEATURELOOK
A Tribute to the Setting Sun By Amy Dee Stephens
The Edmond community was caught off guard on May 2, 2020 when a discreet, front-page column announced that The Edmond Sun newspaper would be merging with The Norman Transcript because of the financial impact of coronavirus. It’s no secret that newspaper publishing has suffered with the rise of online news, but it somehow seemed impossible that a newspaper that has weathered 131 years of economic storms, wars, and depressions could possibly change course in the midst of a pandemic. The Sun Rises The Edmond Sun was rooted in the town’s history. The first publisher, Milton W. “Kicking Bird” Reynolds was a land run pioneer. Fascinated by the West, he fell in love with the prairie landscape, which he described as a beautiful, silvery sea of grass. His writings persuaded many settlers to travel westward. On April 20, 1889, Reynolds rode by train to Guthrie, Oklahoma to document the Land Run on his typewriter. Three months later, Reynolds moved to Edmond to start the longest-running newspaper in Oklahoma Territory. “This is the first issue of The Edmond Sun in the beautiful land,” Reynolds wrote on July 18, 1889. “It is here to stay and lay the foundation of a growing city and prosperous trade center.” Local Breaking News The Sun’s primary focus was always local history, especially when the town of Edmond was separated from Oklahoma City 26
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by miles of prairie. In the early years, snippets of personal life were newsworthy: • J. E. Bert, employee of the local gas company, had an appendix operation • Mrs. Rodkey held a luncheon in her beautifully decorated home • College Grocery Store has green beans, but is low on liver • The pastor’s sermon this week is The Kiss of Judas Frontpage stories that live on in the memories of local citizens include the opening of Arcadia Lake and the 1986 post office shooting and tornado. The largest-font headlines, however, celebrated Edmond successes, such as Olympic gold-medalist Shannon Miller, or when CNN and USA Today named Edmond’s LibertyFest as a top-ten 4th of July destination. The Sun Sets Perhaps the late Osa Lee Banzett, a mid-century journalist in Edmond, best dignified the work of The Edmond Sun when she wrote, “Never, never underestimate the power of a newspaper, whether it’s large or small. The printed word has a great impact on people…and it lives through the centuries.” As citizens grapple with the idea that The Edmond Sun marquee at 123 S. Broadway is no longer lit, the staff are the most affected. In the final column, they wrote, “These are stressful times for you, and for us. We thank our Edmond Sun subscribers and advertisers for their support over the years.” Their words and images, however, live on as a diary of Edmond’s development. Many citizens have saved clippings of the stories that hold personal meaning, and the newspaper is digitally preserved and accessible at the University of Central Oklahoma and the Edmond Historical Society & Museum. Although Reynolds could not have predicted computers when he wrote, “It is here to stay,” Edmond can take comfort that the work of The Edmond Sun will not be lost or forgotten.
ALOOKBACK
What’s Your Story? By Louise Tucker Jones I often watch a program on TV called The Story Trek where the host travels across the country knocking on anonymous doors and asking people to tell their stories. “What story?” they ask. “Whatever story you want.” The surprise is that most agree. Some tell sad, heartbreaking stories while others share old, wartime stories or how they came to this country. The beauty is that every story is unique. During my weeks of physical therapy, I found much the same thing in the waiting area of the therapy center. Sometimes the closed caption TV, which showed how to knit, paint, and more, brought
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comments from people. But other times, conversation simply flowed. One day, a lady told me how she came to the U.S. from Mexico as a teenage bride and settled in Texas where she learned English by watching TV. “It’s been so long since I spoke Spanish that I’ve almost forgotten it,” she said, without a trace of an accent. I was shocked and asked, “Didn’t you speak Spanish in your home?” She did not. “Why?” I asked, totally mesmerized with her story. “I figured it would be easier for my kids in school if they were raised totally English speaking. But now, I wish I had taught them my native tongue,” she said with a smile and a hint of regret. Having studied Spanish in college, I told her I also had forgotten much of the language since I hadn’t used it regularly. We agreed that the old adage, “If you don’t use it you lose it,” must be true and that we needed to get together and speak a little Spanish to refresh our memories.
Then I was called back to therapy and never saw the woman again. Each PT session would present a different person and different conversation because everyone has a story! And one thing I know. If The Story Trek ever knocks on my door and asks if I want to tell my story, I’ll definitely say, “Yes.” What story will I tell? Hmmm, I just might tell about the months of sheltering-in-place during the Covid-19 pandemic! 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.
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FEATURELOOK
Purse Power
By Maggie Murdock Nichols
Donna Miller, Co-founder and CEO of Purse Power
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Women drive the majority of consumer purchasing, making between 73-85% of all spending decisions. What if women harnessed their spending power and used it to support other women? Glass ceilings would shatter, and lives would be changed. This is the vision of Purse Power. Purse Power was born when three sisters discussed their shared frustration with the lack of female representation in leadership positions. Their mother was a nursing professor and the sisters each have an MBA, two are medical doctors. This family of strong and educated women is not unfamiliar with challenges. Their mother, now deceased, was a domestic violence survivor as an adolescent. A desire to elevate women in the workplace and fight domestic violence laid the foundation for what is now Purse Power. Donna Miller, owner of Executive Resource Center and Edmond resident, has spearheaded the effort with the support of her sisters. Purse Power, in startup phases, is housed in the Launch Pad at Francis Tuttle’s Business Innovation Center. Purse Power desires to be THE source for accessing and buying from women owned businesses. Purse Power offers an online listing, a Google Chrome Extension, and an app that connects consumers with purposeful purchases. To qualify as a listed business, the company must be at least 50% women owned or, have at least 20% females on their board or, have a female CEO/President. Purse Power makes meaningful connections for women, allowing them to share ideas and experiences. Donna leads weekly “Let’s Share the Journey” calls, speaks at women’s events, attends marches and gatherings, and serves as a sounding board for women business owners nationwide. Recently Purse Power facilitated a connection between a local, woman-owned business and a large corporation. Shabby Chick Natural Cleaners, based in Duncan, was connected with UPS to supply their urgent need for hand sanitizer for “Every time you spend their employees. Donna money, you’re casting a says, “Women want to vote for the kind of world support other women, you want to live in.” but it can be hard to find Anne Lappe each other.” In addition to making consumer to business connections, Purse Power is also focused on encouraging business-to-business transactions between women owned companies. Many notable women and one exceptional man in Oklahoma are behind Purse Power. Investors may be found listed on the Visionary link on the bottom of the pursepower.com website. Tatiana Bonnefoi, Global Supply Manager for Apple, now serves as the board chair. Purse Power has broad appeal among women. Donna says, “If we can fight violence against women, while supporting other women in business at the same time it’s a win-win.” The startup has committed to donate 20% of its profits to reducing domestic violence. To learn more go to www.pursepower.com
80 East 5th St., Ste. 130 Edmond, OK 73034
