Edmond Outlook - November 2018

November 2018

Sweet Success Lan & her Cookies Compete on the Food Network

Homeless No More Threshold Choir Chase’s Heart Ava’s Mini-Mission

Features

Hmmm. It’s weird to just sit here. It’s the weekend and I’m not busy. It’s quiet. There’s no to-do list I need to get busy on. I don’t need to go to Lowe’s. Nothing is pressing. No worries. I’m experiencing a general lack of stress.

This is the first weekend in a long, long time that I’m not working on my house - getting it ready to sell. Because it sold. Well, technically it’s under contract. I’ve spent months clearing out and packing up all my belongings.

I’ve worked with contractors and on my own to get this house updated, remodeled, tiled and painted. Finally it was time to list it. Four showings the first day, two offers the second day and now its under contract. Nice.

So this is my do-nothing weekend at my new (to me) house. There will be no trips to Lowe’s. No unboxing of stuff to put on shelves. No rearranging of furniture. No hanging of art. No repotting of plants. It’s a home improvement-free weekend.

Okay, I did do some rearranging - of pillows - so I could watch several episodes of WestWorld. Around lunch, I did drive toward Lowe’s on my way to get a Freddy’s burger. And I confess, I did move two boxes, but only so I could pull my motorcycle out of the garage and take a sunny afternoon ride.

As the day faded away, I settled in to watch a few more WestWorlds, and I realized that the lamp in the dining room was really bothering me. It came with the house. I kept thinking that dining room would be much happier with my light hanging in there. Next thing I know I’m flipping off the breaker and wiring up my fancy-boy (as Alison calls it) Mid-century Nelson lamp. My first home improvement project at my new house.

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CHASE’S HEART

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SWEET SECRET

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CPR Training Saves a Young Life Lan and her Cookies Compete on the Food Network JO’S FAMOUS PIZZA

Custom Pizzeria, Famous for a Reason MUSIC FOR THE THRESHOLDS OF LIFE

Choir Performs Bedside Blessing of Song AVA’S MINI-MISSION

Kindergartener Creates Blankets for the Homeless RECLAIMING ARTS

Performing Arts Academy Empowers Students HOMELESS NO MORE

Linda Short Overcomes a Hopeless Situation

Business 22

PET ANGELS RESCUE

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OKLAHOMA SPORTS SCIENCE AND ORTHOPEDICS

On a Mission of Mercy

Leading Athletes and Patients to Better Health

Columns

A few minutes later I reactivated the breaker. There was light. My light. And with that I turned my do-nothing weekend into a transitional weekend. What’s my next project?

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LOUISE TUCKER JONES

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DR. J. DAVID CHAPMAN

Dave Miller Back40 Design President

Broken!

Downtown Edmond Updates

Cover photography by Marshall Hawkins

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Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc.

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FEATURELOOK

Left to right- Mackenzie McManis (sister) Robert McManis (dad) Connor McManis (brother) Chase McManis Tammy McManis (mom) Reese McManis (brother)

Chase’s

Heart

Interview By Rachel Morse

Chase McManis had just completed 10 perfect pull-ups during Junior ROTC practice at school before his heart stopped and he collapsed. At just 15 yearsold and in top physical condition, it was particularly unusual. Those around him noticed his lips and ears were turning blue and he wasn’t breathing.

Thanks to the quick actions of Major Eric Weingaertner and UCO Cadet Chris Tober who performed CPR, the young student survived until Edmond fire officials arrived and shocked his heart four times. Chase’s parents, Robert and Tammy McManis reflect on the life-changing incident.

How long was CPR performed?

Major Eric Weingaertner and ENHS graduate and former AFJROTC Cadet Chris Tobler performed three rounds of 30 compressions with breaths on Chase before the EMT’s from the Edmond Fire Station #3 took over CPR. They also hooked up an automated external defibrillator to Chase and shocked him four times before they were able to get a pulse. It is estimated that Chase’s heart was stopped for approximately 10-15 minutes.

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What have the doctors found?

Doctors have looked thoroughly at Chase and found him to be very healthy in all respects. He has no structural defects in his heart, no unusual arrhythmias, and all blood and chemical tests came back fine. He has undergone multiple EKGs, CTs, MRIs, X-rays, blood tests, chem- screens, etc., but no trace of a cause has been found.

Do you have any advice for parents going through a traumatic event like this?

Stay strong and don’t lose faith. Sometimes life gives us hurdles or obstacles that we didn’t ask for and don’t want. They are not situations you can prepare for. No guide book exists to tell you what to do when they arise. Take a deep breath, roll your sleeves up and know that you are going to do whatever you can for your child.

Is your family going to take CPR training?

Yes. I found a program through www.heart.org and my wife is receiving training through her school. Teachers and school faculty can receive free training. Chase is going to get instruction with his soccer team in November.

CPR training is something most people don’t think about. The McManis family’s story is a prime example that you never know what is going to happen, but you should always be prepared. The University of Central Oklahoma offers CPR training classes for the public every two weeks on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Participants can choose to become certified or just receive the training.

For more information visit: https://sites.uco.edu/wellness/

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FEATURELOOK

Eddie Jackson (host of Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge) with Lan McCabe

Sweet Secret

By Amy Dee Stephens

Lan McCabe’s cookies are works of art. Many of her first-time clients don’t want to eat them because they are so pretty. “I have customers who keep a few cookies hidden, so they won’t get eaten. I get it--but I want them to go down your belly and taste good. They are delicious on the outside and the inside.”

Sweet Secrets

What makes them so delicious is Lan’s secret recipe. She spent two years adjusting ingredients to find the perfect mix. “My chemical engineering degree came in handy, because I understand how ingredients react together.

But don’t ask for the recipe. Colonel Sanders didn’t share his secret recipe, neither will I,” Lan said with a laugh.

That’s not the only secret Lan is keeping. She’s one of two Oklahomans who knows if she won Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge. Lan recently returned from Los Angeles after appearing as a contestant on the show. A television scout saw her cookie designs on Instagram and contacted her. “At first I thought it was a joke, but after three months of interviews and baking samples, I got a call that I was a contestant,” Lan said. “I was so excited!”

Sweet Treatment

Food Network flew Lan to California for five days and treated her like a queen. Not only was she thrilled to have her own hair and makeup artist, but she was able to cook in an amazing studio kitchen. “It was surreal. We made a hot mess of that kitchen, but then we didn’t even have to clean it up.”

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Her cookie challenge was unusual. The five contestants were supplied with Halloween cookie cutters and asked to turn the “frightfully festive” shapes into classic Christmas cookies. The result of the Christmas Surprises episode, which airs on November 12th at 9pm, is under lock and key. Lan hasn’t even told her husband if she won the $10,000 grand prize. The other Oklahoman who knows the results is Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman.

“Ree was one of the main judges,” Lan said. “I told her, ‘I traveled half way across the country to meet another Oklahoman.’”

Sweet Life

Lan started decorating cookies when her daughter was born nine years ago.

Before that, she was happily working 60-80 hours a week in construction.

“Motherhood took precedence. And like most first-time mothers, I wanted to make everything myself, including princess-themed cookies for her birthday.

My family and friends thought they were great.”

When her son was born five years ago, Lan decided to start her business, called Sweets on the Side. It was a gamble that paid off. Lan creates 20-40 dozen customized cookies each week, often in her pajamas. She also hosts cookie-decorating classes for adults at various independent boutiques and art galleries. For children, she teaches classes at gyms and children’s indoor playgrounds where, “They can run off the energy they just got from eating the cookies.”

Lan is looking forward to watching the upcoming Christmas Cookie Challenge on television. Decorating cookies is more than food production to her. “Baking and decorating is an artform that not everyone can do. I really nurture these cookies. I enjoy bringing them to life for people.”

Visit sweetonthesideokc.com for more information and upcoming classes.

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FOODLOOK FEATURELOOK

Jo’s Famous Pizza

By Laura Beam

Custom pizzeria, famous for a reason

Pizza. Just say the word and everyone is all in. Possibly the best share-able comfort food on the planet. So delicious in its basic form, it was only a matter of time before we discovered this humble pie had hundreds of crazy-good flavor combos waiting to happen. Whatever taste you love, it’s probably trending in pizza. Tacos, Reuben Sandwiches and BLTs on pizza? Yes please!

No one champions pizza trends like Jo’s Famous Pizza. Established in 1962 in Purcell, OK, Jo’s brought its culinary magic to Edmond in 2009. Now a staple in the community, this custom pizzeria thrives on excellent housemade dough, handmade sauces and creative toppings. Owner Dar Powers shared a glimpse into the traditions that have made this pizzeria a success for five and a half decades.

Where do you get inspiration for new flavor combos?

I have a great meal somewhere and think, ‘We could make that a pizza,’ so we give it a try. Some work and some don’t. We also listen to customers’ requests. There are a ton of options when it comes to pizza and we believe, as a custom pizzeria, that if the customers ask, we can do it.

What are the most popular pizza choices at Jo’s?

First, our famous Sooner, with seven meats for our seven National Football Championships. Also, our famous Combination with a little of everything, from Canadian Bacon, pepperoni, hamburger, sausage and ham, to mushrooms and green and black olives. The famous Cowboy is also a favorite, layered with Head Country BBQ sauce, fresh ground chuck, housecooked bacon and onions. The famous Mediterranean with olive oil and garlic sauce, mozzarella cheese, fresh spinach, grilled chicken, sun dried tomatoes and feta cheese is also a top choice.

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What are some of the new menu items you’ve added recently?

Our newest item is our famous Caprese pizza. It features olive oil and garlic sauce on extra thin crust with mozzarella, feta and parmesan cheeses and baby heirloom tomatoes, cooked and topped with fresh basil and our housemade Balsamic Vinaigrette.

What do customers love most about Jo’s?

Everyone loves the log cabin building, of course, but the kids love the fresh dough they get to play with. As a kid, I hung out at the restaurant and got to play with the dough and had a great time. Moms love the salads and dads love the pizzas. And everyone loves the lunch special—a fresh, made-to-order pizza, any way they want it, plus a small salad and drink for $10.99.

What is your favorite pizza?

The Combination with jalapenos and extra cheese added. It is what I always had when I ate with Aunt Jo at her pizza place in Purcell as a kid growing up.

Jo’s Famous Pizza is located at 900 S. Kelly Ave. in Edmond.

Visit josfamouspizza.com for more, or to order online.

Owner Dar Powers

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FEATURELOOK

Music for the Thresholds of Life

By Amy Dee Stephens

There is little question that music can be powerful--especially during those moments of crisis, when the right song speaks to the soul. A new concept in music is sweeping the nation, called threshold music. It is gentle acapella singing, designed to bring comfort to people during life’s transitions, whether it is a birth, a crisis, or the end of a life.

The requirements are simple: agree to join the Threshold Choir organization, attend regular rehearsals, and commit to learning the music while striving to sing softly and blend in so that no one’s voice sticks out. There’s no need to read music because most of it is learned by rote. Some songs are even in other languages.

“The music is not meant for entertainment, it is a private blessing, a lullaby, at the bedside of the needy,” said Lisa Wynn, the director of the first Threshold Choir in Oklahoma. “I’ve sung in various capacities my whole life, but this is very different. It’s simple, peaceful, sometimes chant-like.

The lyrics are very affirming, with “The music is not meant phrases like: “Love surrounds you,” “Rest easy,” or “Let trouble rest.”’ for entertainment, it is

“Some people were told as children that they couldn’t sing—but their heart still wants to sing. We welcome anyone who has a heart to do this kind of work.

This is music as ministry, not music as performance. Some people just want to be in the singing circle to sing in fellowship, but aren’t in a place to sing at a bedside.”

a private blessing, a lullaby, at the bedside of the needy,”

In September, the group launched its free service to the community. As a former oncology nurse, Wynn wanted to do meaningful work in the health field after she retired, so she became a hospice chaplain. Now, Wynn has found an avenue to incorporate her lifelong love of music into her personal ministry of easing people through the process of dying.

“I’ve played musical instruments and sung my whole life. In 2008, I began playing my harp as a bedside therapy,” Wynn said. “Last year, I attended an out-of-state, women’s singing retreat and learned about the worldwide threshold choir movement. I came back and presented the idea to the community singing circle I was directing in Edmond. They immediately embraced the idea, so we began formal training.”

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Despite training, those who do sing in a hospice situation feel nervous in the beginning, but Wynn has observed that the need to ease a patient quickly becomes the primary focus. “The ego stuff goes away and you see the impact of the music. Sometimes a hospice patient seems unaware, but hearing is one of the last things to go, so you don’t know how you are touching their spirit.”

Wynn is always ready to serve the elderly. “Anyone can contact me and I’ll coordinate a time and available singers. We mostly send small groups to sing at the bedside of the dying, but other requests are welcome, too. We recently sang at an infusion center for patients undergoing chemotherapy.

It’s a profoundly meaningful ministry, and it’s a blessing to the family and caregivers, too,” Wynn said. “If this resonates with you, just follow your heart and come sing.”

The Threshold Choir meets at 6:15pm on the 2nd and 4th Thursday at Conversations in downtown Edmond. Search SpiritSong Threshold Singers to learn more.

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FEATURELOOK

Ava’s Mini-Mission

By Amy Dee Stephens

Ava Turner is only six, but she’s at the center of a school-wide effort at Oklahoma Christian Academy to collect plastic grocery bags. So far, she’s collected 3,000! Her project has deeper meaning than recycling plastic; however, it’s about helping people in need. The bags Ava collects are cut, knotted, and crocheted together to create plastic mats for the homeless. The blanket-like mats are lightweight, easy to clean, and more bed bug and rain resistant than cloth.

“It takes about 700 bags to make a mat,” said Binh Turner, Ava’s mother. “Our goal is to make 20 mats by Christmas. We hope that people will take a mat with them in their car and hand it to someone on a street corner who needs help.”

Ava first learned of the plastic mats when her father, Joshua, was speaking as a former missionary at Eastside Church of Christ. “That’s where Grammy and my cousins go,” Ava said. A woman named Kay Bost was spearheading the project. The whole Turner family was intrigued and contacted Kay to learn how they could help. Kay explained that it takes many people to gather, sort, cut and crochet the mats together.

It was exactly the kind of community service project that Ava had learned about at school, and she wanted to participate. “The school encourages students to be contributors to society, to give back to our community,” Binh said. “So, Principal Kelsey thought it was a great idea to invite the students to help Ava collect the bags. Every week, Ava checks the collection boxes, takes them home, and our family preps the bags for crocheting.”

Feeling shy, Ava let her mother share most of the details about her community service project, but she did demonstrate her technique for preparing the bags.

First, she flattened out the bag and cut off the ends. She made several 3-inchwide slits in the center of the bag. Next, she knotted the bags end-to-end to make a long, continuous strip—much like a plastic cord. “Then a large crochet hook is used to single-stitch the bags together,” Binh said. “We haven’t started the crochet part yet, but we’re learning. It’s fairly simple.”

It’s not surprising that the Turner family has a heart for helping the needy.

Not only was Ava’s father a missionary, Ava’s maternal grandfather was a Vietnamese refugee who escaped on a boat in the 1980s. “He was attacked by pirates and landed in a Malaysian camp until he was picked up by Australians.”

“He was scared,” Ava added.

Ava recently watched a video about two children in Bali who started their own recycling movement. They promote awareness about the dangers of plastic bags to wildlife. “Turtles eat them. They think they are jellyfish, and it can choke them,” Ava said.

The Turners hope that their effort solves multiple problems, both for wildlife and humans. “Ava feels very proud, and we’re grateful to attend a school that instills the idea of loving other people into our children.”

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FEATURELOOK

Reclaiming Arts

By Lea Terry

At Edmond’s Reclaiming Arts studio, the performing arts are a way to empower students and strengthen their connection to a higher power.

Whether through voice, acting or even aerial dance, the studio’s classes are designed help students reach their potential as performers and as individuals.

“We’re all about our mission and how we can impact the community, and it’s amazing because it’s given me more of a purpose for my life,” said owner and director Shelby Rogers. Founded 40 years ago as Arts Reclaiming the Son, the studio offers classes in acting, voice, piano, guitar, yoga, colorguard, barre fitness and tumbling, as well as several types of dance, including ballet, jazz hip hop, tap, Broadway and aerial dance.

Rogers got involved with the organization after attending an outreach program by the studio at her high school. She started working at the studio while in college, moving up to director of their HEarts Dance Company after graduating college before being offered a role as owner and director of the organization.

their own skin through their artistic accomplishments. “Being able to conquer something, whether it’s an important step or singing a certain song, it makes them feel empowered and proud of themselves,” Rogers said.

Kim Monasterial, parent of two Reclaiming Arts students and a dance student there herself, says the studio gives students a place where they’re encouraged and valued. “I can be who I am, I’m accepted and I don’t have to be a certain way or act a certain specific way, they just like me no matter what,” she said.

In addition to classes, Reclaiming Arts has three companies: Reclaim Dance Company, a professional company that performs in the community and participates in outreach and mission trips; HEarts Dance Company, for students ages 7 to 18; and HEarts Theatre Company. In December, Reclaiming Arts will present its stage adaptation of “Tarzan,” which Rogers said showcases their students’ strengths, from singing to dancing to acting, and offers a family-friendly night out.

Student Bri Helm says she’d been to other companies before enrolling at Reclaiming Arts, but the studio’s unique focus on acceptance and spiritual development is like nothing she’d experienced before.

Student Bella Roddy says her experience at Reclaiming Arts helped bring her out of her shell thanks to its closeOwner Shelby Rogers knit and supportive environment. “No matter what we’re going through, we’re a family,” Roddy said. “We lift each other up and we “Other schools don’t have the people who make it like a home and put God always encourage each other, and even when somebody is new to the studio as the number one priority and encourage you to grow not only as a dancer they’re automatically a part of the family.” but also as a person and to strengthen your identity in Christ,” she said. “It’s amazing and life-altering.”

Rogers sees a growing interest in the performing arts, thanks in part to media exposure such as the film “The Greatest Showman,” which inspired For more information, visit www.reclaimingarts.com or new interest in aerial dance. Enrollment has doubled in just the last couple call (405) 435-4255. of years, and Rogers says that involvement in performing arts benefits kids and adults alike. For young people, involvement in performing arts helps them gain confidence, and she’s seen students grow more comfortable in 20

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BIZLOOK

Pet Angels Rescue

By Maria Veres

A loveable stray at a metro area shelter has a good chance of finding a home. In rural Oklahoma, it’s a different story. Shelters are underfunded and crowded, and many pets never make it out. But Dana Huckaby Puckett, founder and president of Pet Angels Rescue, is on a mission to change that.

Located just north of Edmond, the no-kill shelter focuses on rescuing pets from rural areas. Pet Angels welcomes dogs, cats, even rabbits and

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horses. Puckett has taken in many litters of puppies, and she has a soft spot for animals with special medical needs.

from individuals and organizations. There’s an ongoing need for volunteers, especially adults who can help during the day.

At Pet Angels, the pets are vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and treated for any health problems.

All the animals live in climate-controlled indooroutdoor kennels, where they get plenty of love from volunteers.

Smith would also like to see more people work to change state laws that affect animals, including toughening spay and neuter requirements and budgeting funds for animal welfare in rural counties.

“To see them come in the way they do, abandoned and neglected, and then seeing them thrive with just a little love and attention—it’s amazing,” says Tiffany Smith, the secretary of Pet Angels’ Board of Trustees. “I tear up just talking about it.”

Until that happens, Pet Angels will stay focused on helping pets find loving homes. Their team screens adoption applications carefully to make sure there’s a good match between pets and families. Open adoption days, held three Saturdays per month, are celebrations for staff and visitors alike.

Pet Angels has been turning neglected animals’ lives around for almost 20 years. It all started when Puckett decided to foster dogs from the pet store where she worked. She soon expanded to rescuing high-risk animals from shelters. In 2017 Pet Angels opened a brand new adoption center, and last month it held its first-ever charity event, “A Cause for Paws.” (Look for this fun event to repeat next fall.)

Animal lovers who want to get involved have plenty of options. Pet Angels welcomes donations

“People love coming here,” says Smith. “This is a happy place.”

Visit Pet Angels Rescue at petangelsrescue. org or find them on Facebook. Located at 10374 S. Coltrane Rd., Guthrie, OK. Open Wed.-Fri. by appointment. Upcoming adoption days are November 3, 17, and 24.

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BIZLOOK

OSSO: Jenna Crowder, M.D.

By Maria Veres

Dr. Crowder is board certified in family and sports medicine. Since both specialties emphasize a healthy lifestyle, it’s a perfect blend for her. “Sports medicine gives me insight into how all people can become healthier and prevent problems down the road,” she says. She sees patients of all ages but especially enjoys working with adolescents.

When a patient comes in with a stuffy nose or a swollen thumb, Dr. Jenna Crowder does more than offer a pill to fix the problem. She’s interested in everything that affects a patient’s well-being. “My goals are to treat each patient as a whole person and help them make decisions that lead to better health,” she says.

Oklahoma hasn’t historically been viewed as a leading state in promoting healthy living. Like many of her fellow OU Medical School graduates, Dr. Crowder left the area in search of other opportunities. But unlike most of her colleagues, she soon found her way back. “I didn’t feel like I could say negative things about the health of the state when I didn’t live here,” she says. “Oklahoma is making strides, and it’s exciting to see the progress.” She points to the construction of new walking trails as one positive step.

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Dr. Crowder’s practice is part of Oklahoma Sports Science and Orthopedics, a healthcare provider that shares her commitment to treating the whole person. Along with offering a wide range of orthopedic care, OSSO includes board certified specialists in pain management, women’s health care, gastroenterology, and more. “A lot of practices are moving toward a holistic, patientcentered approach where people can get all the care they need in one place,” says Dr. Crowder.

“Medicine is getting better at looking at the whole person and not just seeing the one thing that brought someone in to see a doctor. It’s not ever just that one thing.” In addition to the Edmond clinic where Dr. Crowder practices, OSSO has several outpatient facilities and two community hospitals in the metro area.

Jenna Crowder, M.D.

“I think they’re very fun,” she says. “They’re becoming more independent, and it’s nice to be there for them at that point in their lives to help make good choices.”

Dr. Crowder’s practice is located at 1616 S. Kelly in Edmond. To schedule an appointment, call 405-348-8838 or visit www.ossonetwork.com/jennacrowder

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FEATURELOOK

Homeless No More

By Amy Dee Stephens

Linda Short never expected to become homeless. She’d been raised in a stable, middle-class family environment--but a series of events changed her situation, and she found herself penniless and desperate for a bunk bed at the City Rescue Mission.

In many ways, Linda defied the “homeless” stereotype because she never drank, did drugs, stole or panhandled. Instead, she followed the mission’s rules, showered, and got a job. It took many years to turn things around, but now, she has a place to live, a supervisor position, and the pride that comes from overcoming a hopeless situation. Here’s her story in her own words: “I married a much older man who ignored his health and became a physical wreck. The worse he felt, the worse he treated me, until I couldn’t take it anymore,” Linda said. “I moved out, going from couch to couch. In 2005, I was working at a fast-food restaurant, but the manager was supporting his meth habit by stealing money from my cash drawer. I couldn’t afford to lose the job, so I paid it back every time. I made the ultimate dumb decision to use my car insurance money to cover it—until that ran out. It was the manager’s word against mine, so for the first-and-only time, I no-showed for work and never returned.

I had no money, and right after that, the couple I was staying with split up.

That’s when I found myself homeless. Having nowhere else to go, I went straight to the mission. I did have a car, which meant I was better off than 99% of the homeless people. I made money by driving homeless people around, especially at the beginning of the month when they had government money. They’d pay me $5 or $10 for a ride, which was cheaper than a cab.

When my car broke down, I had no income again. Because I kept clean and didn’t use drugs, I was able to get work through a temp agency. One of those jobs was custodial work at the Oklahoma City Zoo. In 2006, I was hired on as a part-timer. At that point, I was still making $6 an hour, so I continued to live at the mission for another year. I either rode the bus or walked four miles to work. I eventually got a bike, and even if there was ice on the ground, I made it to work. As long as I made it back to the mission by 7:00pm lockdown, I had a bed. I wasn’t late a single time.

I never dreamed I could afford my own apartment, one that wasn’t in a rough neighborhood filled with drug dealers, but I found a small one in a historic district that was under $350 a month. I’ve lived there 10 years now. I’ve never missed my rent payment, and I’m not on Section 8. In 2014, I was hired full-time at the zoo, and now I supervise some employees. That’s a big deal, because I’ve always had terrible social anxiety, which this job is helping me overcome.

My mom was a marine. She taught me to deal with hardship and not depend on others to fix your problems—so I’m proud that I got myself out of my situation. I got a job and kept it. Being homeless was a journey, and I’m actually grateful for what I’ve been through.

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ALOOKBACK

Broken

By Louise Tucker Jones

I love trees, especially with fall colors, and have more than two-dozen gracing my yard. But if I had to choose a favorite, it would probably be the weeping willow. In our first home, my late husband, Carl and I had a beautiful willow. In the winter, its ice-adorned branches resembled a giant chandelier. Remembering the beauty of that tree years later, I rescued a scrawny, willow sapling from a nursery closeout sale. Carl laughed when I hauled it from the car. I told him it would grow.

On occasion, he humored me by putting a little fertilizer around the base.

By the second summer it had doubled in size, but still being fragile, the trunk snapped when a group of rowdy boys tackled each other—and the tree—while playing football. Carl had a saw in hand, ready to finish off my little willow when I again came to the rescue. He tried without success to convince me the tree, its top half touching the ground and barely attached to the trunk, could not be saved.

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“You can’t cut it down,” I protested and retrieved duct tape from the garage. “I’ll fix it,” I said, taping the trunk back together. “It won’t work,” Carl said.

“It’s broken!”

I refused to give up. That little tree was special to me. I had nurtured it and dreamed of a swing hanging from its branches one day. Surprisingly, that willow survived and thrived, growing into a massive tree with branches reaching above our roof. And yes, it held a swing.

That experience taught me major life lessons about brokenness. How many times do we find ourselves in the same predicament as that little tree?

Something unexpected happens—illness, job loss, death, divorce—any number of things. It breaks our spirit to the point that we feel certain we can never be whole again.

But God rescues us. He takes our broken lives, tapes us back together, nurtures us, loves us and makes us strong again.

In this season of Thanksgiving, let’s look for opportunities to love and serve others whose hearts and lives have been broken.

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.

CITYLOOK

Edmond Updates

By Dr. J. David Chapman

I get asked a lot of questions about how projects are progressing in and around downtown. Here’s an update on some of the most frequently asked questions: Train Quiet Zone This is an ongoing concern and the number one detriment to development in the downtown Edmond core. The city has hired a consultant to work with the BNSF railroad on the creation of a quiet zone to silence the horns when crossing streets. The consultant did the research and presented a plan to the Edmond City Council nearly a year ago. At that time the city requested a cost proposal from the railroad. After a long quiet time from the railroad, about 90 days ago the railroad said they would have an answer in 60 days.

The BNSF has now responded and asked additional questions regarding a few crossings. This is good news when a railroad is in communication with a city. A quiet zone can’t be accomplished without their cooperation. The city’s consultant will now share the answers with the railroad and hopefully the city will finally have an estimate of costs in the next month. Once they have the final costs, a contract will be presented to the city council for discussion.

It will take approximately two years to accomplish the work needed to accommodate the quiet zone. This work includes new equipment, road work, and decisions on possible street closures to eliminate some difficult crossings.

Dolese Edmond Plant Dolese has relocated its Edmond plant and is in the process of cleaning up the property. The property is under contract with local investors likely to close mid-2019. This property, just west of the railroad tracks on First Street, would be the perfect location for a much-needed multifamily housing project.

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Progress on Storm Water Drainage in Downtown Edmond Good news. The work done to date seems to have helped the flooding we normally experience in downtown. Since the work has begun, we have had several very heavy rain events causing flooding in much of the metropolitan area, but to my knowledge there has been no flooding in the downtown Edmond area. We are nearing the end of the project and it has unfortunately taken a toll on downtown Edmond merchants and residents but it is solving a long-term flooding problem and added approximately 55 parking spots.

The Ice House Known to Edmond citizens as the Ice House, the long empty building on Second Street is owned by developer Chip Fudge. The on-again, off-again project is now on again. Negotiations are currently underway for an easement/ lease on some additional property for parking. Once that hurdle is cleared, three restaurant concepts are planned.

The Railway The Grant Group reports strong pre-leasing on the Railway on First Street between Broadway and the BNSF Railway (23 W. First). With more than 20,000 square feet, construction will commence soon on this former lumber yard, with a mix of restaurants, shops, and an outdoorentertainment venue.

Stay tuned for a full update on this project in a future Outlook article.

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