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Beaut y of Dance
Tattoos
& Taboo
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Econtents
JUNE 2010
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Building a Healthier Generation
You hear it over and over again, “the children are our future.” Then shouldn’t we be more worried about where our kids are today?
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The Beauty of Dance Dance Works is taking the beauty of dance to the next lev el in Enid.
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Healthy Smiles
Healthy Smiles’ relaxing approach to dentistry gives patients something to smile about.
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Tattoos & Taboo
ETOWN COVER STORY
These Enid women wear their tattoos with pride, despite social taboos.
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A Man in Full: Ken Fergeson Ken Fergeson, like his Oklahoma banking empire, conveys stability, integrity, and confidence during America’s so-called ‘Great Recession.’
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Traveler, Strategist, Coach: Lissa Qualls For Lissa Qualls, doors are like prayer beads, scattered along her spiritual path.
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The Roberts Ranch Smokin’ Red Dirt BBQ Yes, another successful Roberts Ranch Smokin' Red Dirt BBQ Cookoff is in the books! It has been an exciting journey for everyone involved to see what was once just a gleam in our ey es, become a fun-filled community event.
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Efluff: Beauty is Pain
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There’s a lot of truth to the idea that beauty is pain. Consider the daily rituals we suffer through just to look good!
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Ty•Ku You?
Costello’s masterfully puts together a menu based ar ound their newest liquor, Ty•Ku.
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Greenid Ecology minded locals aren’t waiting on government mandates to paint the town green.
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June 2010 Volume 4, Number 3
Managing Director Editor-in-Chief Art Director Project Coordinator Etown Promotions Director
Frank Baker Cindy Allen Amber Curtis Lynne Benkendorf Cathy Nulph
Writers
Christy Northcutt Dave Kinnamon Candace Krebs Jamie Hildabrand Trina Walker Megan Lynn Sutton
Photographers
Bonnie Vculek Muncy Photography The Grays Cammeron Kaiser Rachel Hancock Bailey Photography
Account Executives
Cathy Nulph Nicole Winfield
ON THE COVER Mindy Slater Photo by Cammeron Kaiser
SUGGESTIONS Do you have an idea for future stories for Etown? We’re always looking for good ideas of people and places to featur e. If you have a suggestion, give us a call at 580-548-8186 or e-mail fbaker@eaglemkt.com. Etown Magazine • P.O. Box 1192 • Enid, OK 73702-1192 • 580-548-8186 6
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Building a Healthier Generation By Christy Northcutt, owner of StrollerF it® powered by mommymuscle®
You hear it over and over again, “the children are our future.” Then shouldn’t we be more worried about where our kids are today? 34% of our children are overweight or obese, 80% of our children do not eat 5 or mor e fruits and vegetables a day, 30% of children in grades K-4 suffer from at least one sleep related problem, and 20% of our children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness. Are you shocked? Good! Now that I have your attention, I want to tell you some daily solutions. 1 hour or more of moderate to vigorous physical activit y: It’s really not that hard. Here are our family’s activities on a recent Sunday. We played soccer in the backyard, went up and down the slide, and played on the swing set. After ward, we took a family bike ride and after ward removed the training wheels so Nate could learn to ride on two wheels. Then, the neighborhood kids got out the slip n slide. You don’t have to do all of these. Choose one and have fun! 1 hour or less of TV, computer or videogame time: Some videogames do teach hand-eye coordination, problem solving skills, and the ability to pr ocess information, but they also can keep your child from opportunities to be active or build faceto-face friendships. Limit your child’s time in front of the TV and computer. Choose quality programs that are age appropriate, and ones that get them up and mo ving. 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables: I know this one is a little mor e challenging, but with the wonderful fruits and vegetables that this season brings, hopefully w e can do better. Keep fresh fruits and veggies on hand and grab them for snacks. Don’t buy junk food. You can’t eat it if you don’t have it. No sugar-added drinks: For kids of all ages, water and milk ar e the best choices. Water is calorie-free, plus it teaches kids to accept a no sugar bev erage as a thirst-quencher. A cup of milk has 300 milligrams of calcium, and can be a big contributor to y our child’s daily needs. Sugary drinks add to your child’s dental decay and pile on unnecessar y calories. 8-11 hours of sleep: During sleep the brain shifts what it learned that day to mor e
efficient storage regions of the brain. Kids ar e learning so much each day that they need a good night ’s sleep. Not only does sleep have an effect on academic per formance, but also on emotional stability. Children’s bodies need time to rest and prepare for the next day. As parents, we want the best for our kids. This includes health and happiness. Preventing your children from becoming overweight means adapting the way you and your family eat, exercise, and spend time together. While most children should not be put on a sev erely restricted diet, weight management by a combined approach to a sensible diet and regular exercise are suggested. If your child is overweight, don’t focus on dramatic weight-loss. Try to stop weight gain while maintaining normal growth in height. This way they can “grow into” their weight. Start making healthier food choices, and add regular exercise into their weekly routine. Most importantly, let your children know you love them – no matter their weight - and that you want to help them be happy and healthy. Experts say that what kids want mor e than anything else is time with their par ents. To give them that, don’t just send them out to play – go play with them! For more information regarding kids health and fitness visit the following websites: kidnetic.com kidshealth.org keepkidshealthy.com thataweighkids.com fitnessforward.com
In health, Christy Northcutt
Nationally Certified AFAA Group Fitness Instructor StrollerFit® powered by mommymuscle® Owner & Instructor Restore the Core™ Certified Fitness Instructor Youth Fitness Certified Instructor Prenatal and Postpartum Fitness Specialist Questions? Email christy.northcutt@strollerfit.com Visit www.strollerfit.com/enid or call 580.484.2904 7
The Beaut y of Dance
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Story By Trina Walker Photos By Dawn Muncy, Muncy Photography
Kourtney Speece
In the world of ballet, ter ms like pirouette and plie` translate into graceful and beautiful movements performed by trained dancers. At Dance Works of Enid, students build a strong foundation by training in classical ballet. This foundation allows a dancer to successfully study pointe, jazz, tap, moder n, hip hop, ballroom, and even musical theater . Nikki Cornell, owner and director of Dance Works, believes it is impor tant to build the whole dancer. A ver y small percentage of dancers go into ballet companies, she says. Exposing her students to as many seminars and teachers as possible builds versatile and adaptable dancers. 8
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“There is a misconception that Dance Works is just a ballet studio… that is not true. We study all types of dance,” she says. “Our dancers are just as good in modern and jazz because they are also good ballet dancers.” “When my dancers get out in the world and they want to audition, they are open minded and able to dance with dancers in Chicago and New York.” Nikki’s training began in California when she was five-years-old after her family emigrated from Holland. Her mother was a gymnastics coach in the Holland school system, and was a little disappointed when the California school’s PE was nothing close to the level she had been accustomed to in Europe. “She (Nikki’s mother) thought I was too inactive, so she put me in ballet…I hated it,” laughs Nikki, explaining how she constantly had headaches and stomach aches just to avoid going to dance class. “I remember going to the doctor who told my mother ‘there is nothing wrong with her, send her back.’ From that day on I had to accept it,” she said. Nikki went from acceptance to love as she discovered how she thrived from the discipline and training of the Dorothy La Spina Dance Academy in Los Angeles. The professional oriented studio allowed Nikki to experience a broad spectrum of the profession. Dancers were filtered into to the Sacramento and San Francisco Ballet, variety shows, and even to Las Vegas. This exposure allowed Nikki to discover a love for performing and music theater. It also gave her the adaptability she would need to continue dancing
as she and her husband mo ved from place to place with the Air F orce. “I have pretty much followed my husband all over the country, and all over the world, and danced wher e he took me. I mostly danced in priv ate studios, and this gave me a very eclectic dance background,” she said. Nikki studied dance in Berlin, Germany, and London, England where she had undergraduate training in theater. “When we came to Enid, I wanted to continue dancing and there were no studios who accepted adults. D ance Works was a modern-based dance stu dio owned by Jill Priest. When Jill found out I had ballet training, she put me to work and hired me to teach ballet and the Pointe classes. In 1997 Nikki, who had a full-time corporate job in the medical field, had the opportunity to buy Dance Works. Jill had decided sell the studio so she could earn her masters’ in dance. “I jumped and took a leap . My training was as a dancer not as a teacher, and that was intimidating to me,” she said. Nikki researched and discovered a Russian training technique that used methodology and standardized training levels. She studied the Vaganova Method with Nina Kolesnikov and Dmitri Roudnev in Chicago, where she received The Ballet Intensive from Moscow Instructor Training certificate. “I basically went to the top and found a training program in Chicago. They were from Russia…even the pianist was from Russia, and I trained with them.” The one-year process was completed during intensive summer sessions. She continued her training at the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory’s International
Summer Seminar in Connecticut. “I was learning to teach b y attending intensive lectures and observing classes. It was fascinating to see the other side…the why and how of dance,” she said. It was during this period of study that Nikki became acquainted with the American Academy of Ballet (AAB). Every year Nikki attends a teacher’s intensive put on by the AAB in New York City.
Lauren Griffin
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Nikki Cornell teaching in the studio
The AAB is where Nikki found mentors like Violette Verdy, a former principal dancer with The New York City Ballet and director of the Paris Opera Ballet. “She (Verdy) is one of my idols. To sit and watch her teach is amazing,” says Nikki. AAB director, Mignon Furman, once said to Nikki “you mustn’t rest on you laurels…you have to keep learning.” These words resonate with Nikki. “You can’t sit back and teach the same old stuff because everything changes. It is inspiring…I keep learning,” said Nikki. Dance Works is the only Enid studio affiliated with the AAB. S tudents here receive state of the ar t, international level instruction. “These kids are getting the same instruction as the kids in New York, the kids in Japan, and the kids in London.” she said. “Our kids can go on, and they do…they audition and are comfortable dancing at that level.” The Performance Awards Program is a year end examination for the serious dancer. The goal is to test out of lev el and earn one of six differ ent medals; gold with distinction, gold, silver with distinction, silver, bronze with distinction and bronze. AAB choreography is introduced in class. Students able to achieve this cho-
reography and focus are chosen to dance in the Performance Awards. These students must perform two duets and one solo set to music and choreography determined by the AAB.
Nikki Cornell and Pam McCray
Pamela McCray is the AAB judge coming to Enid in 2010. “Performance Awards teaches students to be so disciplined, and so self
confident, and so musical,” says N ikki. “I was nervous the first year just about getting all the girls to achiev e a bronze, but they all walked away with nothing less than silver.” Training for Performance Awards takes dedication, but the rewards are great. “They get so much one-on-one time in CORE class. Every finger tip, every muscle is placed. They get critiqued by their peers and instr uctors, so they learn to take criticism positively. “This creates a really special person, it helps with their life skills, their academics…it helps with their dancing a little bit too,” laughs Nikki! Since Dance Works is a performance based studio, standards are kept high for the end of year recital. “There are a lot of details but we take it in our stride. It helps that the girls are so professional,” said Nikki. Dance Works is also bringing back the Nutcracker this November. “It is a jazzed up Nutcracker. We incorporate jazz and tap with the bal let,” said Nikki. Dance Works may be a small company, but auditions for the Nutcracker are highly selective. Nikki stresses the importance for all dancers to not only dance well, but also to have the ability to put it the extra time needed to pr epare for the program. “These are girls that on spring break 11
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Cousins Share a
Love
For some, Dance Works is like an extended family. In the case of Kourtney Speece and Natalie Dexeus, the family connection is literal. These cousins have been dancing together since childhood. Kourtney is a sophomore, and Natalie is a freshman at OBA. “We were ten and eleven-years-old when we started dancing with the older girls. They called us ‘the peanuts,’” laughs Kourtney. “We looked up to them so much.” These aspiring dancers have progressed from “peanuts” to upper level dancers the young girls now look up to. While it feels good to be r ole models for young dancers, both girls say they still have a lot to learn. Training at Dance Works goes beyond lessons in the studio. “Nikki takes us to colleges and dance days across the state,” said Kourtney. “The clinics let us see differ ent programs, helping us to decide wher e 12
while everyone else is out playing, they realize they need extra training and practice so they come to the studio,” she said. The biggest reward is seeing her dancers go on in life. N ikki regularly receives family photos and baby pictures from past dancers. “We are an extended family,” she said. “No matter where a dancer is, when they walk into a studio they hav e a home at the ballet bar.” Nikki has trained many young people who have gone on to be instr uctors, performers headlining shows in Branson, and an Air Force lieutenant preparing to audition for Tops in Blue. Nikki proudly had the opportunity to watch this young man perform while on world tour. She even trained a young opera singer who credits her grace on stage to ballet training received at Dance Works. With this success under her belt Nikki says one of the best feelings is having the little ones throw their arms around her saying, “I love you, Miss Nikki!!!” It just doesn’t get better than that.
for Dance
we may want to go after graduation.” Kourtney and Natalie have each had a hand in helping Nikki teach classes. Natalie stepped up to help while N ikki recovered from a recent surgery, but Kourtney has been helping throughout the year with several classes. Kourtney has fallen in love with teaching, and plans to open her o wn studio some day. Natalie has discovered her love of performing. She particularly enjoys performing at the Children’s Dance Festival in Wichita each year. “It is an honor for our studio to be invited,” says Natalie. “I have realized how much I love to perform.” These two up and coming dancers are ones to watch. They both credit Nikki’s encouragement for making dance a priority in their liv es. Dance Works is about more than just teaching dance. It is about giving young people goals they can carry throughout their whole lives.
Kourtney Speece
Natalie Dexeus
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Dancing Feeds the When Lauren Griffin started dancing at Dance Works in Enid, she was only five-years-old. She had no idea then how dance would shape her life. “Nikki took over the studio when I was in ninth grade,” says Laur en. “She took us to university campuses, and intensives during the summer. We were exposed to everything.” This exposure opened Lauren’s eyes to the opportunities dance could offer. Lauren danced under scholarship at Wichita State and received her dance degree in 2006. She spent a few years with the Metropolitan Ballet of Wichita, and danced with the Wichita Contemporary Dance Theater. Lauren says ballet is her fav orite,
butnot her strongest style. She feels contemporary is what she is best at. Today Lauren is married and has two children, but she still makes time for dance. Whatever Lauren has to deal with on a day-to-day basis, dance is there to get her through it. “Dance is my vehicle of expression, it makes me feel completely r ejuvenated,” she said. Currently residing in Wichita Falls TX, Lauren works full time as a school teacher, but also works at a dance studio where she teaches 12-years-olds to adults in ballet, jazz, and modern dance. “Teaching school feeds the mouth… teaching dance feeds the soul,” she says.
Soul
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Gary & Sherry Young w/ Errol Wofford at SoapWeeds & Cactus
Shane & Sara Scribner with James McGrady at Scribner's
Riley Jantzen & Estela Romanos at the Felt Bird
Nick Crafts & Dr. Lisa Harringan at Body Solid
Carolyn & Randy Wagner, Becky & Coby Livesay, Spring & Dieter Halper
Cheyenne Baldwin, Katherine Jones, Keara Shelton, Nikki Nixon, Regan Henry & Abigail Schrader
Nikki Nixon, Abigail & Cheyenne Baldwin
Natalie Beebe
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Scott & Cecilia Holle at Body Solid
Dorthy Nollan, with Carol & Marcy Jarret at SoapWeeds & Cactus
Shirley Tapp, Virgil Tapp, & Janet Jones
Monte Hunter & Chelsea Davis
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Healthy Smiles
A Relaxing Approach to Dentistry Gives Patients Something to Smile About. By Trina Walker Photos by The Grays Erin Roberts, DDS has known since she was in sixth grade that she wanted to be a dentist when she gr ew up. As the owner of Healthy Smiles, she has not only fulfilled this dream, she has built a dental practice designed to make her patients feel at home. The family practice handles the dental needs of all ages, but Erin is particularly conscious of catering to kids. Erin herself had a childhood dental experience that required surgery, and later braces. “When it was all over, I had a smile,” she said. “M y goal is to give others a good experience.” A t Health Smiles they understand that kids can be ner vous about seeing a dentist. This is one reason Erin always works to make the experience positive. “We don’t use the word shot. That just sets kids up to be scared,” said Erin. As Healthy Smiles grew Erin saw the need to build a larger office. Justin Jones, DDS and Anna Ferrell, DDS along with two hygienists are now part of the Healthy Smiles family.
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The previous office space on Broadway was just too small. With limited space available, patients had to come back for second appointments if any problems were found during regular exams. “I knew we had to be more accessible. Now there is enough space to handle most pr ocedures in one visit,” says Erin. The land on 1402 N. Van Buren was purchased in 2007, but the thought process began sooner than that. “I had my eye on this land for a long time,” she said. A self proclaimed baby-stepper, Erin began visualizing exactly what she wanted to hav e in her new dental office. It had to be functional and w elcoming to her patients. Being a visionary person, Erin had definite ideas about the kind of work space she wanted, but was unsur e of how feasible her vision was. “I went to architect, Ken Corbin, with a functional bo xlike plan. He listened to me, and then he told me he did not see the lights going off in my ey es,” she said. “Ken scrapped
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my simple boxy plan because he could see it was not what I r eally wanted.” Ken has been designing architecture in Enid since the 1970s. His talent is part design, and part perceiving what a client wants. “My perception of Erin was that she was an extremely energetic and dynamic person, and the plan she br ought to me did not convey this,” said Ken. Erin’s original vision included a curved hall with open bay exam r ooms facing onto a courtyard of some sort. Using Erin’s inspiration of the cur ve design, Ken was able to incorporate the curve feature into arches over doorways and into the arched entrance of the building. Erin says she later found out that the curved hall design is becoming a common architectural style for dentistry practices and has been dubbed “The Smile Line.” The final product is a highly functional dental office building with a r esidential feel. The stone portico entry, large windows, and brick exterior combine for a very homey look. Patients can enjoy waiting for the dentist next to a large, cozy fireplace. A doll house filled with toys had been a big hit with the kids,
while husbands can kick back and watch TV on the large flat scr een mounted above the fireplace. “We want to be a place wher e people come to visit friends, so ther e is less pressure about going to the dentist,” said Erin. A glass showcase holds a special machine reminding everyone they are at the dentist. The Cerec machine is used to mill ceramic restorations. Patients can go out to the lobb y to watch their new ceramic dental insert be made on the spot. E rin had the idea of placing the Cerec in view because she thought her clients would enjo y seeing their dental work being made. While the building is homey and comfortable, the dental care patients receive is state of the ar t. A Galileos 3D Cone Beam scanner takes 3D digital images to show bone thickness and density related to the nerve. This detail allows the dentists of Healthy Smiles to better diagnose and treat patients. The open air exam rooms situated along the Smile Line hallway is where the actual dental work takes place. There are ten total exam rooms, with six fully equipped. The airy, open rooms provide a low stress environment. Erin envisions 17
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these rooms looking out onto a nicely landscaped courtyard. The courtyard is still in the visionary stage, but Erin plans for this to be one of her next projects. The practice operates on a paper fr ee system. Patients can view their chart and x-rays on a TV screen while sitting in the exam room. The TV also allows kids to watch cartoons while the dentist is working on their teeth. This is a great distraction for kids who may be nervous, or simply bored from having to sit in the exam chair for a long time. Two private consultation rooms allow patients to visit with their doctor without fear of others overhearing any sensitive information. Erin has plans for other rooms as well. She envisions everything from a relaxation spa room to a surgical room to be used by specialists, like an endodontists, to perform root canals. The floors throughout the exam area are meant to continue the r esidential feel while maintaining the functionality of a dentist’s office. Wood-look ceramic tiles can handle the constant impact of chairs and equipment being rolled from place to place. Patients can also feel safe kno wing that if there is ever a storm alert issued, the supply room is an above ground storm shelter. The new space has all the modern functionality required for an up and coming dental practice. Patients can enjoy their visit in a comfor table setting and receive top care at the same time. Encouraging more people to come to the dentist is impor tant to Erin. Periodontal disease is linked to hear t disease and diabetes. Dental exams are one of the three most important yearly exams a person can have, according to the medical professionals on popular TV shows The Dr.’s, and Dr. Oz, says Erin. “Without a healthy mouth, we can’t have a healthy body,” she said. Healthy Smiles’ goal is to make going to the dentist an enjoyable experience. Don’t let your smile or your health suffer. Visit the dentist with a smile built-in.
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Amy Nease, Jeremy Brown, Maleia Dungan and Tracy Huston
Jeff Martin, Richard Ruhl, Charles W eeks, Joe Kegin, Tony Provenzano and Ken Musick
Dan Wynn, Bryson Kreighbaum and Brian Navin
Sharon and Jim Strate with Jari Askins
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Allison Mahaffey, Doug Dobbs, Partner and Cindy Gore
Kate Carey walking the runway
John and Karen Maxwell with Joe Neal Hampton
Model Sessnie walks the runway
Laura Fenton, Cheryl Evans and Chad Dillingham
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Ty Tompkins, Holly McCormick & Kathlene Buck
Rick & Karen Simpson & Emily Hulsey
Carol Franklin
The Braves
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Karen & Avril Volck
Christopher Russell
EHS Cheerleaders
David & Ryan Combs
The Giants
Ryan & Dalton Gober
Rob Camp leads the parade
The Dodgers
Dwayne Seigman
Senator Patrick Anderson
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Outdoor Kitchens
Buyers Want Them…Sellers Need Them Photos by Bonnie Vculek
Story By T rina Walker
The days of home buyers being content with a cement pad off the back porch and a fenced-in yard have come and gone.
As the needs and expectations of
homebuyers change, homes have had to change as well. Paramount Homes Real Estate Company’s Owner/Broker, Jen Fugazzi, says homes are evolving to meet the public’s demand. There was a time when granite counter tops and master suites were nice extras, whereas today these items are expected. Outdoor kitchens may be the next ‘must have’ item for homebuyers. Six years ago, no one wanted an outdoor kitchen. Today, it may be the difference between a home selling, or sitting on the market for a longer period of time. According to Fugazzi, if there are two homes on the mar ket within the same price point and one has an outdoor kitchen while the other does not, the home with the outdoor kitchen will sell first. She says Realtors® still are speculating on how much of a need outdoors kitchen will become to homebuyers, but right now demand is on the rise. The popularity of things like HGTV play a role in home trends, says Fugazzi. “It has raised the expectations.” The current trend is for backyard space to become more of a focal point 22
within a home. There is an emphasis on making backyards conducive to friends, families, and entertaining. Entertaining is going outdoors. A simple grill on the back deck does not cut it anymore. People have discovered and embraced outdoor living. They want to spend time outdoors with their family, enjoying swimming pools and entertainment space where there is more room to move around, says Fugazzi. Planting gardens and creating cozy areas for entertaining has gone to the next level with outdoor kitchens. An outdoor kitchen brings everyone out into the entertainment space. No one is stuck in the kitchen carr ying things back and forth. This benefit is becoming expected by prospective homebuyers. Concerns about the economy actually are causing more people to look into making improvements to their backyards. According to real estate magazine RISMedia, many Americans plan to spend more time enjoying their outdoor entertainment space because they will be spending their summer vacation at home. The American Society of Landscape Architects conducted a poll of r esiden-
tial landscape architects earlier this year showing that outdoor living spaces, including cooking and entertaining areas, would be popular in 2010. The architects group found that water features, arbors, pergolas and decks ar e expected to be the most popular out door structures homeowners will add to their yards this year. For homeowners interested in increasing the value of their homes, an outdoor kitchen/entertainment space may be a good investment. They add resale value to homes, and buyers are excited about them, says Fugazzi. An outdoor kitchen does not have to be extravagant to add value to a home. A
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simple outdoor kitchen includes a dining ar ea, fire pit, an outdoor grill, and counter space. H igh-end outdoor kitchens may include fireplaces, stereo systems, refrigerators, wine coolers, smokers, grills and sinks with r unning water—all under a covered structure. Anyone about to sell their home should look to their backyard as a way to add instant v alue. While a high-end outdoor kitchen renovation may not make economic sense for a fast turn-around, small changes can make a home mor e appealing to buyers. Creating a hardscape patio using pavers, building a counter space around a grill, and adding benches and some nice outdoor furniture will give you a nice, cozy enter tainment area. Include a few planters with colorful flowers, and you will be on your way to adding appeal and v alue to your home. When taking on projects for the purpose of making a home more sellable, it is impor tant to go to professionals who can help you make the right choices. The associates at Paramount Homes Real Estate Company have devoted themselves to understanding the market in Enid. Visit www.enidokrealestateagents.com, or call Paramount at 580237-6200. Whether you are a homebuyer looking for a home with an outdoor kitchen, or ar e a home seller who needs to get the maximum value out of your home, Paramount associates will help you.
580-237-6200 225 W. Cherokee Ave. Brought to you by Paramount Homes Real Estate Co.
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Tattoos 24
& Taboo By Jamie Hildabrand Photos by Cammeron Kaiser
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Angelita At first glance of her tattoos, Angelita Justice, 34, looks as though she could have just hopped off a motorcycle. “Perception is reality,” Angelita said. Upon seeing her body art, some think she is probably a “wild loose woman.” “I have a wild, rebellious side,” she admitted. A woman covered in tattoos? Wild? Rebellious? I find that hard to believe. Wild: check. Rebellious: that’s to be expected. I want to be caught off-guar d. Surprise me. “I was valedictorian,” Angelita said. Kudos, girl. I didn’t see that coming. Hidden underneath the polychromatic gardens and oceans that engirdle her body is a girl who was “driven to be perfect,” and always managed to be “an overachiever, academically.” “I didn’t get to be a kid,” Angelita said. “I was in a hurry to be a grown-up.” A good journalist always stays two steps ahead of the story here. After years of stringent studying to graduate at the top of her class, the self-proclaimed “wild, rebellious” woman is going to sow some wild oats. “I got married and became a mother at 19,” Angelita said, debunking my exper t opinions once again. I’d be sour about the
whole thing had she not bought me a cookie. “I was burnt out after high school,” she said. Opting out of college and star ting a family after high school, though… For a valedictorian, that is the ultimate rebellion. “I feel freer as an adult,” Angelita declared. Enough about rebellion, though. Let’s get to the juicy-wild part: tattoos. The catalyst for Angelita’s plunge into body art could be one of many factors: a taste for defiance, an untimely divorce, or the fact she remarried to a tattoo artist. “I was feeling restless,” she admitted. “I wanted to get a tattoo.” A tattoo? As in one? Methinks at some point things snowballed. “Tattoos are addictive,” Angelita said. “I want a continual piece that is timeless.” The most striking element in the back piece is a green dragon swimming through fire and water, which she refers to as the “traditional” part of the piece; like apple pie or a cornucopia, I guess. Get this, though… Her husband, Mike Walker, who designed the chest piece and the back, only tattooed Angelita after they divorced. She even trusted him to freehand a lot of the artwork.
“He knows me better than anyone else does. He would never do anything to hurt me,” Angelita said, without any sense of irony. Tattoos hurt, girl. Or so they say… Tattoos are an “artistic, more socially acceptable form of self mutilation,” according to Angelita. “My tattoos are marked by times of emotional turmoil.” 25
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She describes the experience of getting each of them done as “therapeutic.” Wouldn’t being faced with them in the mirror every day just remind her of the things that troubled her when she got tattooed? “It’s twisted… by using it, you get through it.” I suppose she wears her tattoos like soldiers wear battle scars; really pretty dragon battle scars. All of her tattoos, though expansive, are easily covered by professional attire. Because of lingering stigmas in society and the workplace when it comes to tattoos, Angelita finds herself torn. “There’s a side of me that wants to liv e like a grown-up, make car payments, have life insurance,” she said. “But it’s not who I am. I’m playing house.” The ideal balance for Angelita would be being “the mom, the citizen, the potential employee, but also the person that isn’t afraid to be themselves and expressive creatively without limiting themselves professionally.”
Are tattoo stigmas limiting on a basis of professionalism or morals? After all, Angelita can see how someone may assume that her tattoos signal to the chance she is a “wild loose woman.” Angelita would like to think in the end, though, it’s all moot. “Jesus hung out with the murderers and prostitutes,” she cited. Angelita is not likening herself to a prostitute or any other biblical harlot, nor could she. For example, the Whore of Babylon had a tattoo on her for ehead. Angelita told me she would never get a tattoo on her face. But gun to her head, she’d probably get “a lady bug on the left cheek.” That’s much cuter than the words, ‘The mother of harlots and abominations of the Earth.’ Her point, I think, is that she shouldn’t have to decide between being a productive, respectful member of society, and expressing herself for who she really is. She can do both, so she does. I like that for her.
Meghan
Meghan Rembas, Elle Dawson, Jaime Meek and Alexandria Meek
Meghan Rembas, 19, eagerly waited from across the room as I said goodbye to Angelita and brought my mighty pen and scratch paper to her table. S he shows me her only tattoo; a bo w in the back of her neck in commemoration of her recently passed grandmother. “My grandma had a huge sun hat with a big bo w on it,” which she wore for special occasions, Meghan explained. “She taught me to express myself in my way.” Grandma, whom Meghan described as “old fashioned,” probably would have preferred she put the bow on her hair, or something. Meghan plans on paying fur ther tribute to her grandma with a peacock. “It was my grandma’s favorite bird,” she said. “She sewed it on quilts.” Once again, I think grandma would pr obably have preferred for Meghan to pick up needlepoint. I t’s very sweet, though, like the chocolate chip cookie I had then finished eating. Incidentally, though her grandma baked cookies, Meghan would never get one tattooed on herself. That’s a shame. They’re delicious. 27
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Jaime
Jaime Meek, 18, who had been standing by as I interviewed her friend, proceeded to show me her three tattoos. As she showed me the first, six interwoven Irish symbols that signify her family’s bond and love, it was the heart tattooed on her wrist that raised my brow. “It’s a heart on my sleeve… a reminder not to fall so fast,” J aime said. As I inquired further, its meaning cryptically transformed to, “What would dad do?” It certainly seems like a touching regard for her father’s hopes for her, though. Her third tattoo, however, (which ironically was her first), is a pair of angel wings on her lower back she got done secretly at the age of sixteen with her mother and older sister. Jaime describes the event as “a bonding experience.” Fun Fact: Though she does have a ‘What would dad do?’ tattoo, she does not have a ‘What would I do with my mom and older sister behind my dad ’s back’ tattoo. At such a young age, I wondered if these girls even considered the stigmas tethered to tattoos, professionally and socially. “It’s about being proud of who you are,” Jaime said. What about the future? Aren’t they worried about how their tattoos will look when they grow old and wrinkle? “Live life when you’re young,” Jaime said. “When you get old, you don’t look good anyway.” Touché.
Top to Bottom: Meghan Rembas, Elle Dawson, Alexandria Meek and Jaime Meek Barry and Nikki Johnston
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Mindy Slater
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Erin
The next day I met Erin Quintero, 31, at Keleros, a hair salon she owns with her mother in Heritage Hills. “It’s my life,” she said of the business. And indeed it is. She literally carries it on her back in the form of tattoos. “You’ve got all this canvas to cover,” Erin explained. “Might as well make it pretty.” When she reached legal age, she got her first tattoo “on a whim, just to have one.” That butterfly is in danger of being squished, though. “I’ll probably get it covered,” Erin said. “[Tattoos] should be of something that really impacts your life.” The blow-dryer on her right shoulder blade quickly caught my eye. It does play a big part in getting the perfect bumpit. Amongst squirrels and flowers, a skull with crossed scissors behind it, and a can of hairspray are tattooed on the rest of her back. The latter is a homage to her grand mother. Watch out ‘I heart Mom’ tattoos. Grandma tattoos may well become the granddaddy of all tattoos.
Erin got the tattoo of an A qua Net hairspray can, which she describes as “iconic,” right after her grandmother died. “It’s a snippet of a memor y of her,” Erin said. “We used to roll our hair in rollers and spray it with Aqua Net.” Grandma had “classic style”. What would she think of Erin’s tribute? “She’d probably say, Erin Danielle, I cannot believe you got that big tattoo,” Erin joked. Erin had all of her tattoos done at The Grindhouse, a tattoo parlor here in Enid, by Drifter Ballard. Erin places a lot of confidence in Drifter. “My back is only half finished,” she said. “Once we get it ironed out to something I really love, we’ll do it. For now, I’ll live with it unfinished.” Owning her own business, Erin doesn’t have to face the professional stigma of tattoos. “Lucky for me, I’m not going to fire me.” Good. That certainly would take the masochism of tattooing to another level. Though occasionally she’s told, ‘You’re such a pretty girl. Why get tattoos?’, Erin always replies, “Pretty girls get tattoos, too.” And, indeed, they do.
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By Candace Krebs
Photos by Cammeron Kaiser
adds. Most men seek counseling only when forced to by the cour ts or in response to a spouse or family member. “The biggest thing is admitting you have a problem in the first place,” adds Donita W aggoner, also a licensed professional counselor at ATS, who says sincerely wanting to change and recognizing the harm the addiction causes are keys to recover y in any therapeutic setting.
Dangers of Pornography
Slave to a Secret? Modern technology puts temptation as close as your keyboard Therapeutic Preferred Partner: Associated Therapeutic Services At one of the largest faith-based addiction recover y programs in the U.S., the largest subgroup for men falls under the category of “sexual issues.” That says something. “These issues have been around since Adam,” says Pastor W ade Burleson of Emmanuel Baptist Church, who has spent 25 years in ministr y. “Years ago, when there were cases of incest and other sexual addictions, you didn’t talk about it, you denied it. It helps that people are now talking more openly. The other difference is that por nography is so much more accessible now.” “When it comes to issues like por nography, I have men asking me all the time, ‘What’ s the big deal?’” Pastor Burleson continues. “Often, it’s not really the issue, it’s a symptom — a pleasurable thing to fill a hurting soul. That’s why it matters. It means there’s something out of kilter within you.” Rebecca Livesay, licensed professional counselor and founder and director of Associated Therapeutic Services of Enid, says she has seen an increase in individuals seeking ser vices for sexual addiction. “False expectations, stress in relationships, the availability of online websites offering ‘discreet relation ships’ all contribute to the prevalence of this problem,” Livesay says. “Each situation is different, so we look carefully at each case to deter mine what approach to therapy will work best.” Emmanuel, Enid’s largest evangelical church, launched a special campaign this year to confront addictions ranging from food to drugs to sex. Using a national program called Celebrate Recover y, church officials seek to provide “healing through encouragement” by training group leaders who have struggled with addictions of their own. “Rick Warren (bestselling author of The Purpose Driven Life) is a family friend,” Pastor Burleson explains. “He was in my dad’s church in Ft. Worth. The Warrens, who founded Saddleback Church in California, wrote the material for Celebrate Recovery. They told us that of all the groups started in the U.S., in terms of trained leaders, Enid is the largest. We’ve had more than 50 who went through a year and a half of intensive training.” Sex addiction is similar to other compulsive behaviors, but it manifests uniquely in its tendency to destroy families and ruin relationships. Countless studies have shown that social support is integral to happy, healthy lives. Since healthy sexuality is a normal part of life, how do you know there’s a problem? Ask yourself whether you have an obsession that impedes normal healthy functioning, Livesay says. Also, listen to concerns expressed by those around you, she
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Therapists at ATS Counseling say an obsession with por nography isolates the person, destroys healthy relationships and causes confusion in children. It can create a legacy of loneliness that gets passed on to future generations. “When I was starting my career, I learned that 95 percent of those with sex addictions had been abused or had endured a trauma, and that understanding changed my perspective,” W aggoner says. “That’s when I decided I wanted to specialize in treating sex addictions.” Pornography can also act like “a gateway dr ug.” Waggoner says. An example would be someone who went from looking at pornographic images, to texting someone they saw online, to becoming mired in a full-fledged obsession that dominated their life. Though it masquerades as intimacy, pornography is really a way to disconnect and detach, Livesay explains. When that happens, the whole family suffers. “I work with so many couples that are in crisis because internet pornography is ruining their relationships,” observes Tanya Kennedy, another therapist and licensed alcohol drug counselor at ATS. “The job we have to do then is to bring the family back together.” Having good role models and access to educational resources are necessar y for establishing reasonable expectations and managing the natural transitions in family life, the counselors say . “One specific couple I worked with had a wonder ful relationship for many years until they had chil dren. Then she pulled her attention away from him and focused it on the children. If you don’t lear n about what it means to have a family, as a couple, you don’t always understand the changes that are happening,” Kennedy says. An important final step is to take the healing beyond the clinical setting or suppor t group and begin rebuilding relationships and repairing damage, the exper ts say. Small groups like those used in the Celebrate Recovery format is a way of creating one-on-one accountability throughout that process. It takes determination, time and commitment to overcome any addition, but there is hope, the experts say. “Enid is really blessed to have such great caring professionals as Becky Livesay and her team to help us deal with these kinds of challenges,” Pastor Burleson concludes. “T o any men who are reading this and think they might have a problem, I encourage them not to put off seeking help, because it will only get worse.”
Road to Recovery
Emmanuel Baptist Church started its Celebrate Recovery program in April. Men and women are divided up for small group sharing. Sub-groups include co-dependent parents with children in rebellion, chemical dependency and “hurts, habits and hang-ups.” The sexual issues group is cur rently exclusive to men. Groups exclusive to women are food issues, co-dependency and sexual abuse. T opics will be added over time. Anyone is welcome to attend. For more infor mation, call 237-0602 or visit www.emmanuelenid.org.
Help and Hope
Associated Therapeutic Services of Enid was founded by Rebecca Kroeker Livesay to provide fresh, innovative approaches to counseling, including the use of play therapy . The first step to receiving ser vices from ATS is to set up an appointment for an intake inter view. You can do this by calling the office at (580) 242-4673. An initial appointment can usually be scheduled within 3 to 5 days. While it's normal to feel nervous taking this step, their expert staff is trained to put you at ease. Visit them online at www.atscounseling.com.
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Julie Baird, Eve Switzer and Allan McCobb
Peggy McCune, Sally Shipley, Emma Davis, Amelia Hughes, Meg Davis, Evelyn Hughes and Allison Davis
Susan Root and Penny Klein
Diana Allen, Ila Nicholas, Shaye Aman, Ashley Ewbnk, Cheri Ezzell, Linda Record, Kayle Costello and Mary Stallings
Carolynne Blankenship, Gwen Pethoud, Marcy Price, Jennifer Henstreet and Kathy Eck
Ann Clark-Rathbun, Cathy Perez Whiteside and Patty Probasco
Joan and Ed Neighbors, Jeff Shaffer and Mel Bloss
Ronald Switzer, Bobby Schultz, Debbie Davis, Suzan Bohl and Cleota Ostenmaier
Kendra Nielson, Tammy Grantz, Cheryl Evans, Lacey Voth and Cara Evans
Krista Reimer, Patricia Case, Jennifer Cary, and Brittany Ross
Jeff Shaffer cuts the ribbon during the Enid Metro Association of Realtors, Inc. open house
Phil and Clark Edwards
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A Man in Full: Ken Fergeson By Dave Kinnamon Ken Fergeson with Todd Earl, President of NBC, Enid
Ken Fergeson speaking to bankers in one of 49 States
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Photo by Dawn Muncy, Muncy Photography
C. Kendric Fergeson, who goes by “Ken” – owner and chairman of NBC Bank -- in some steps walks in the path of the founder of the E nid bank where Ken worked in the late 1970s and early 1980s: First National Bank of Enid, founded by Herbert Hiram Champlin in the mid-1890s. Ken was brought to First National Bank of Enid in 1979, still owned by the Champlin family, to head the commercial lending division, where Ken “hired loan officers and managed the commercial loan portfolio,” he said. In 1985, after six years at the helm of First National Bank’s lending division, Fergeson (like H.H. Champlin did in the early 1900s) took on huge personal risk and bought a small Oklahoma business (National Bank of Commerce in Altus) and soon maneuvered the business into boomtown profitability and worth. Fergeson, who has a long-time reputation for traveling Oklahoma, the nation, and the world widely on banking business, remained on the board of directors of First National Bank of Enid for a year and two months following his acquisition of NBC and re-location to Altus in Sept. 1985. “Bud (Champlin) asked me to stay on the board, and I did … only leaving
when there was absolutely no hope left,” Fergeson said. Herbert H. “Bud” Champlin, who passed away in Enid in May 2008, was the majority owner of First National Bank of Enid when the bank was closed by FDIC regulators on Nov. 6, 1986. When Fergeson bought the National Bank of Commerce in 1985, the bank’s footings, or assets, were about $39 million ($11 million of which w ere “puffed up” with public funds, Fergeson said). Today, NBC Corp. of Oklahoma -- the bank’s parent holding company, of which Ken and his wife and their two children own 94 percent of the shares – is worth over $500 million and going up. Fergeson’s goal is $1 billion in assets, he often has stated publicly. “I had a chance to acquir e a small bank, so I bought myself a job ,” Fergeson told “E-Town” earlier this year while sitting in one of the offices of NBC’s Enid branch, located on the northwest corner of W. Owen K. Garriott Rd. and S. Hoover St. “We recently celebrated our 10th anniversary at this branch,” said Fergeson, noting that the Enid branch had been working out of modular facilities across the street until its brand
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Ken Fergeson at a mine inspection in W . VA.
new building opened in 1999. Todd Earl is the NBC E nid branch president. “Todd has assembled a great team. They’re the most caring people y ou can imagine,” said Fergeson, “If you have a problem or if you have a project, they will do everything in their power to help. They’ll drop whatever they’re doing, and they’ll help.” The Enid branch is a stor y all to itself. Fergeson purchased the failed Oakwood National Bank in 1989. Later, Fergeson was able to purchase from an estate the residential property located where his Enid branch now stands. “When I lived here, there was a big, ol’ farmhouse here that was two-story, white columns. I always thought it was just stunning. It was striking,” Fergeson recalled for “E-Town.” “A lady lived here, and when she died, someone bought the property and sold it in pieces. When we bought the property, my vision was just to r eplicate, and I found out it wasn’t feasible to replicate it exactly. So, we just tried to make the branch look as much like it as possible.” Enid’s bustling economy is largely due to its people, Fergeson believes. “I think it’s the pride of Enid. It’s also a ‘we’re 100 miles from Oklahoma City, so if we don’t do it, it won’t get done.’ You can feel it,” Fergeson said. Fergeson has warm memories of his six-year residency in Enid, America. His daughter, Casey, was born here in 1980. “One of the things I learned in E nid is ‘giving back.’ Enid is a phenomenal town of volunteerism and getting things done and giving back. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a town that has so
much involvement by such a wide variety of people,” Fergeson said. And Fergeson’s Enid years were a hectic time in his life. “It was so busy. You were always busy doing all kinds of things, whether it was United Way or the Boy Scouts.” “One of my favorite memories when the kids were little: We lived in an addition north of Willow, and we walked over to the Oakwood Country Club, and we lay out on the grass and watched them do fireworks,” reflected Fergeson. “I don’t know if they let everyone in or not. We just kind of walked over the fence and walked in. It was really nice. It’s a grand memory.” Fergeson is a prodigious patron, benefactor, and booster of the arts. Ken Fergeson mail“I really got interesting a letter home ed in art when I moved from London to Altus (in 1985). I learned the arts are “Mornin’ Mounts” for NBC in 2004. integral to a community’s economic NBC’s 2009 piece was “Land of development,” Fergeson said. Dreams,” painted by Benjamin Harjo, Fergeson founded and funds NBC’s Jr. As part of the Oklahoma Artist Oklahoma Artist Series, which annualSeries, NBC gives prints of the paintly commissions an original work of art ings to its customers and also postcar ds from a select Oklahoma artist. Kremlin of the prints to the thousands of NBC artist Harold “H” Holden painted his 33
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Ken Fergeson with Todd Earl in his office
customers utilizing NBC’s many teller lines across Oklahoma. “I tell the artists, ‘Whatever you paint for us, you better like, because you’re going to see it everywhere,’” Fergeson said. Fergeson’s commitment to the ar ts runs deep. “One of my favorite art forms is books. I grew up in a small to wn of about 1,000 people. A friend of mine decided we were going to read every book in the library. By the time we finished high school, we did that,” Fergeson has said previously in public. “The importance of the arts in economic development and what it means to my town and to my state, and ev en nationally. My favorite art form is public art,” Fergeson said in public comments. NBC has weathered the national recession well with its business-as-usual consistency. NBC’s loan portfolio actually grew by $30 million in 2009. “We’re still making loans,” Fergeson said. “Oklahoma has done very well in dealing with the financial crisis. We’re all more concerned about the national economy now. It does filter down to Oklahoma,” Fergeson said. NBC has robust banking operations with members of the U.S. militar y, providing ATMs and banking services to Vance, Altus, and Tinker air force 34
Photo by Dawn Muncy, Muncy Photography bases and to deployed military members worldwide. According to the NBC corporate website: Under the leadership of Fergeson, NBC Bank has expanded across Oklahoma. First, was Fergeson’s purchase in Enid in 1989; he added a bank in Kingfisher in 1992; and in 1995, he bought a financial institution in Oklahoma City under a second charter which was expanded to N ichols Hills in 1997. NBC moved it original charter, from Altus to Tulsa after opening an office there in 1998. Approximately half of NBC’s 2009 profits came from its Oklahoma City facilities, Fergeson noted. Fergeson’s professional capstone, he said, was his three-year term as chairman of the American Bankers’ Association. “That was important to me because I was chosen by my fellow bankers,” he said. When H.H. Champlin celebrated his 70th birthday in 1938, a writer with the Enid Daily Eagle wrote, “He built a reputation for being square, fair, open and respectful of others' rights, and a man whom experience has taught to protect his own rights. Yet, with all, just a good neighbor, who sits on his front lawn in the summer evenings coatless, suspenders showing, and chats with his friends,” accor ding
to the Dolan Media Newswires. Ken Fergeson’s sartorial tastes turn more toward the professional banker: starched shirts and tailored business suits, but Fergeson’s folksy, personal touch with people, reputation for high business ethics, and charitable generosity are reminiscent of the late, great Enidian who started the bank, which employed Fergeson from 1979-1985. Fergeson grew up in a sharecropping family on a 320-acre wheat and cotton farm, owned by a banker, in Crowell, Texas. “My stepfather didn’t believe in idle hands. One of the things that r eally made you want to go to college was breaking ice in the winter for cattle,” Fergeson said. Fergeson’s mother, he said, taught him about the importance of giving. “She was a very giving person. Even though we had no money, my mother was always taking food and clothing to other families. She was always cooking for somebody who was sick,” Fergeson recalled. Fergeson is grateful for his E nid experience and for NBC’s Enid branch. “We want to thank Enid for supporting us and being loyal to us. We just want to give back to Enid. My mother would always say, ‘You leave the woodpile higher than you found it,’” Fergeson said.
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In the Know... So That You May Know I have a very successful business, but now I have no life. Covering all the bases is becoming overwhelming. Is working night and day all I have to look for ward to? Some days I just want to stay in bed. Any suggestions? Lights, camera, action… bring on the star! Being a star really strokes the ego, and it can be totally exhausting. Being the star (or the single point of success or failure in your business) requires constant focus, and the ability to move an entire organization in a for ward motion. As business owners, most of us accept that as par t of the deal. After all, we got into business with enthusiasm, and the expectation of working really hard. But there has to be some balance. A wise person once told me the weight of shouldering all that responsibility will result in one of three things: loss of family, loss of health/burnout or you will chuck it and just go work somewhere else.
• Greater value created for clients, because you're able to focus on your best clients and on what you tr uly do best. • Greater service to your clients, because you have a qualified team available that you and your client base have confidence in. • The ability to continue a successful business in the event that the star is removed, absent or unable to car ry on.
Consider the impact to your business and staff when the organization is star based: • Decrease in the valuation of the practice. That’s right, devaluation, because in a star based organization, the “star” is also the single point of success or failure, which hinders long-term stability and increases risk.
You may be asking yourself how you can find all the right personalities and strengths to build the per fect team. I believe it boils down to a few key steps.
• No succession plans for when you want to retire or slow down. Yep, you work yourself into the ground and when the “star” is gone, the business no longer flourishes. • Growing the business beyond your own capacity. After all, have you ever grown a business this big or complex? Reality is, you can’t cover all bases. Consider the benefits of becoming team-based: • Less dependency on the star. More freedom. • Greater health benefits under team-based management due to the reduction in stress and anxiety. • Stronger family relationships, and more family time created when sharing responsibility for the business. 36
clients and staff will allow you to empower those around you. However, it is impossible to move to team-based if you don’t have the right people on the bus. So, that brings up the rest of the work required to move to a team-based environment. One of the first steps is to know where your own tr ue passion lies. Outline the key things you do really well, now absolutely everything else should be delegated. Sound difficult? It can be, and, realistically, it does not happen overnight. Until you identify the strengths you lack, how will you know what gaps to fill on the team you are building? You have to know what your personal plans are for the future. You must also be able to describe the inter nal culture you want to have as you move for ward. This is one of the secrets to building a great team.
• Ultimately, much greater business valuation, because the system has become a repeatable process not dependent on any one leader. And the opportunity to grow exponentially, because now your capacity is so much greater, involving others' talents. Honestly, it often takes some real pain to move toward a true team-based organization. The lessons are usually learned over time and require a serious commitment to openness and a willingness to acknowledge that you, the star, don’t know it all. Accepting that you have created a star-based environ ment and owning the limits it has placed on your family ,
Make your organization the place to be. An exceptional workplace is created by ensuring a respectful atmosphere for all employees, engaging team spirit, creating a familyfriendly atmosphere, and facilitating open communications. Here are some ways to promote a winning team that would be valuable in any workplace: • Be available. Managers (whether one or a team) should be visible and accessible: walking around the office, meeting with employees, soliciting their input and tr uly listening. It’s also up to top executives to communicate the vision and culture of the business through their own example as well as through other communication channels. This ensures open communication. • Involve all employees in creating the culture. Engage
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employees at all levels in helping to create and protect the work environment of choice. Ask for their input through opinion surveys, discussion groups, and one-on-one meetings. Incorporate their ideas as much as possible to continually improve the work environment. How will you know what is important if you don’t give the team the oppor tunity to talk about it? • Develop your managers into leaders who can positively motivate others, and create a stimulating work environment where employees can learn, develop new skills, and work together on group goals. Managers who understand what motivates employees to develop and achieve their goals are vital. Enough said. It has to be a top down commitment. •Build on employee strengths. Employees are more likely to stay motivated and do a better job if their job responsibilities revolve around their natural strengths. You can use assessment tools (I believe in KOLBE) to gain greater insight into work styles, strengths, and interests. The goal is to have a cohesive team that closely complements your instincts while using their own individual talents. You can recognize a big payoff when you define the infrastr ucture
with accurate job descriptions, outline the tr ue processes of the work flow, have the right people in the right positions doing the right tasks and taking on the right responsibilities every day. Happy, engaged employees naturally pass it on to clients and free you up to do what you are best at doing!
What is a… A sole proprietorship is a business structure in which an individual and the company ar e considered a single entity for tax and liability purposes. A sole proprietorship is a company which is not registered with the state as a limited liability company or corporation. The owner does not pay income tax separately for the company, but reports business income or losses on their individual income tax return. The owner is inseparable from the sole proprietorship, so they are liable for any business debts.
• Develop recognition and reward programs. Recognizing achievements is one of the strongest ways to increase team performance. Make sure you are recognizing the contributions of all of your employees. It’s often surprising how effective simple acts of acknowledgment can be. This is also a great opportunity to showcase and model for others what best practices are being used successfully. We have demonstrated very tangible results at a minimum cost on several levels with this approach. I can’t tell you it will be easy. For me, it has been a difficult process, over several years, but it has greatly improved my life and our organization. We have excellent resources available, so please contact us if you would like to discuss how we transitioned from a star to a team-based business.
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A corporation is common form of business organization, and one which is chartered by a state and given many legal rights as an enti ty separate from its owners. This form of business is characterized by the limited liability of its owners, the issuance of shares of easily transferable stock, and existence as a going concern. The process of becoming a corporaKyle Brownlee, CEO, Wealth Advisor
Sharon Hume Executive Tax Director- Erica Shaloy Fairview Tax Director- Crystal Harmon Enid Tax Director *+Kyle Brownlee, Stephen O'Neill, Aaron Brownlee, +Chuck Lipps, Lindsay Hay, +Mary Szafranski, +Tim Szafranski are Registered Representatives. *Securities offered through H.D. Vest Investment ServicesSM Member SIPC +Advisory Services of fered through H.D. Vest Advisory ServicesSM Non-bank subsidiaries of Wells Fargo & Company 110 N. Independence, Enid, OK 73701 580.237.0060. Wymer Brownlee Tax and Financial Management is not a registered broker/dealer or independent investment advisory firm.
Do you have questions for Wymer Brownlee you would like to see in futur e articles? Submit them to fbaker@eaglemkt.com and w e’ll select a few to tackle in subsequent pieces.
Wymer Brownlee- Etown’s Preferred Financial Partner
www.wymerbrownlee.com
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David Mason, Karri Large, Renee Scates, and Stephanie Soucek
The OKC Thunder Mascot embraces a fan
Jerrielenn Kiboi
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Matt Stouffer as Sheriff Clyde
Jeff Funk with the Thunder Girls
Dennis and Susie Skaggs
The Flintstones portrayed by Jimmy Nicholas, Lexy Tompkins, and Molly Nicholas
Patrick McCafee with Ed Lynn
Beverly and Ralph Evans
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Traveler, Strategist, Coach
Lissa Qualls
By Candace Krebs
A rally for equality being held in front of the Pink House in Argentina
For Lissa Qualls, doors are like prayer beads, scattered along her spiritual path.
As a life coach, she is trained to help others cross their own thresholds, on the way to living their best life. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, where she keeps an office, is characterized by striking red doors, a hue once used to signal a place of sanctuar y. Inside, Qualls surrounds herself with the quiet tinkling of a desktop fountain and the lingering aroma of incense. In a room nearby, a canvas labyrinth spread across the floor invokes an ancient form of activ e meditation. Qualls herself is a cer tified labyrinth facilitator who received her credentials from the internationally known Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Qualls’ life journey has both taken her far and kept her near. She has visited every continent except for Australia 40
in her work with the international organization Youth for Christ, which she continues to represent as Caribbean Regional Director. The youngest of four siblings, she always had a zeal for travel and discovery. “They would probably tell you that I’m the crazy one,” she laughs. When she first heard about life coaching three years ago, she was already proficient at conversing by asking questions, and immediately intuited a good fit. “People used to give me a hard time for being nosy,” she says. “But that’s how I think. That’s how I talk.” Questioning is a mode of strategic thinking, a way of “processing things out loud.” By contrast, roughly 85 percent of
people tend to be tactical, mor e focused on how to arrange the deck chairs rather than stepping back and looking at the big picture. Qualls says life coaching can aid anyone in maintaining a sense of per spective and keeping things in context. Life coach professionals are still rare in Oklahoma, but the idea is catching on. Qualls describes a life coach as a companion on the journey, someone who helps you achieve clarity and prioritize time. Her role is to ask questions, help set goals and cr eate accountability. While similar to a counselor, she focuses less on resolving past issues and more on reaching a desired future. “I help cut through all of the clutter of where you want to go,” she explains. When she catches someone making
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sweeping pronouncements, she helps them focus in on what they r eally intend to say. To pave the path to a successful coaching experience, Qualls recommends meeting every other week for about an hour over the course of at least three months. People with busy lives and hefty responsibilities might choose to consult a life coach on a continual basis. For others, it’s a temporary way to deal with a par ticular project or period of life. In the internet age, it’s possible to have a mentor in Arizona or Australia, while mentoring someone else in Jamaica. All of which is the case with Qualls. Some of her colleagues actually pr efer to do coaching by phone or e-mail, believing freedom from the distraction of images sharpens and deepens the capacity for listening. Qualls offers coaching either way. To obtain training and cer tification, she traveled all the way to Thailand, after being chosen to par ticipate as one of 20 Youth for Christ leaders from around the world. But she is happy to share her expertise in Enid, the town where she was born and raised. “I think Enid’s a great place to raise a family, to retire, or for any stage of life,” she says. Qualls currently serves as a youth director and outreach coordinator for St. Matthew’s. “I’m a lifelong learner,” she says. “I love new challenges. My journey is such that I’ve always just been in places that have opened doors.”
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Riding a Tom Tom in Chang Mai, Thailand
Training others in Jamaica
NAVIGATIONAL TOOLS FOR THE INNER LIFE ·Life Wheel — A circle containing
an eight-sided star, this mapping tool helps you analyze your life for areas that might need improvement in order to create a better balance. ·Enneagram — Another circular symbol with ancient roots designed to help pinpoint and explore issues of personality type. ·Brainstorming — “I love to ask people to think of twenty ways to solve something,” Qualls says. It opens up the mind and encourages “thinking outside of the box.” Classic Building in Buenos Aires
Lissa Qualls
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The Roberts Ranch Smokin’ Red Dirt BBQ Photos by Bonnie Vculek
The feet and back have finally quit hurting, my hands no longer resemble those "dishwater hands" that have soaked in water for 3 days, and the smell of cherry wood has diminished from my rain gear. Yes, another successful Roberts Ranch Smokin' Red Dirt BBQ Cookof f is in the books! It has truly been an exciting journey for everyone involved to see what was once just a gleam in our eyes become a fun-filled community event. This year brought 75 teams from 5 dif ferent states, over $33,000 into the cof fers of 6 non-profit entities, the New! Pioneer Cellular Arts Festival, the enlarged jazzstroll with over 18 venues, and 120 staff and volunteers! Tri-State no longer is the only event responsible for bringing rain to our fair city . The rain gods didn't let us down, and for the 5th year in a row they brought spring showers upon us. That didn't stop the great folks from coming out with umbrellas and galoshes to sample championship barbeque, the sweet sound of music, art, and the fantastic firework display from the great folks at Western Enterprises. So mark your calendars for April 15-16, 2011, put the raingear where you’ll be able to find it, and join us again next year! Best in BBQ, Lynne Benkendorf
Deb and Dave Ruthenberg
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Billy Beck, Big Blue Dump Truck
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Linda Rous; Rous Art Studio: Fairview, OK
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Tom Nelson, Frank Baker and Debbie Campbell
Ed Lynn and Patrick McAffee from Buffallo Wild Wings
Magician Chris Capstone amazes a young visitor
Ready, set... Eat! Contestants at the 5th Annual RibCrib Rib Eating Contest
Rib Crib crew members Josh Bradford, Angela Cunningham, Gustavo Mendoza, Nicole Reim and manager Patrick Andrews.
Lonny Pearson, BluesTiger Band
Rain didn’t dampen the spirit of the event goers! Dan & Jennifer Fugazzi and Nancy & Roger Miller .
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Trophy girl Jessica Andrew presents Reserve Champions Bart and Lisa with a $1000 check.
David Wyburn and Kim Snider with Holly and Mike McCormick
Frank Baker joins the Iron Wheel Cooker T eam from Kingfisher, OK as they celebrate their Grand Championship wi n and $2000 check at the 5th Annual Roberts Ranch Smokin’ Red Dirt BBQ.
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Oklahoma Bible Academy Pioneer Cellular’s “Partner” and representative Crystal Bullis along with Eagle Marketing’s Lynne Benkendorf present Mrs. Williams art students at Oklahoma Bible Academy with a check for $625 as a result of the students accomplish ments in the Pioneer Smokin’ Red Dirt Arts Festival.
Eagle Marketing and Representatives from Pioneer Cellular were honored to present $1500 to Enid and area schools as the final phase of the Pioneer Cellular Smokin’ Red Dirt Arts Festival.
Enid High School Jena Kodesh and her art students at Enid High proudly accept their check for $350 from Partner, Crystal Bullis, Frank Baker and Lynne Benkendorf.
Waller Middle School Partner, Crystal Bullis, Frank Baker and Lynne Benkendorf stand with Mrs. Gilbraeth’s class at Waller Middle School with their check for $150.
Other schools receiving money from Pioneer Cellular were: Ponca City Public Schools: $200 Blackwell Public Schools: $75 Hennessey Public Schools: $25
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Andrea Murphy and Ryan Allen
Mary, Kelsey, and Jack Stark
Bonnie Henderson and Mary Stallings
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Brittany Ross and Suzanne Klemme
Kasey Fowler and Stephanie Ezzell
Julie and Mark Allred with David and Nancy Allred
Visiting Italian Rotarians Flavio Gambardella, Marcello Floris, Dario Ferraro, Orsola Altea, and Maurizio Meluzzi with Kayle Costello
Jim Pierce
Clark and Beth Young
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E-Fluff
Beauty is Pain
By Cathy Nulph, E-Fluff Extraordinaire Photo by Bonnie Vculek
There’s a lot of truth to the idea that beauty is pain. Consider t he daily rituals we suffer through just to look good!
Photo by Bonnie Vculek
Candace Krebs upright in a yoga sling
Photo by Bonnie Vculek
Candace Krebs hanging upside down in the yoga sling
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Shaving our legs, plucking our brows, curling and flattening the locks on our head. (Have you ever dropped a flat iron, causing it to lodge briefly on the most tender part of your neck, leaving you with a burn that was har d to explain to co-workers?) From head to toe, there’s bleaching, tweezing, tanning, freezing, piercing, plumping… it never seems to end. When it comes to dressing in style, my favorite painful indulgence is sky high heels, or as I pr efer to call them, "sitting shoes." How could anything so pretty be so bad for y our feet? I am sorry to say, my dears, there is no such thing as cute AND comfor table shoes! “Embrace the pain” is the motto at Body Solid downtown fitness studio. They offer so many fun ways to ex er-
cise… if you don’t mind quivering muscles, sticky sweat or a head r ush from a yoga inversion pose. (Really, I hear it feels like your stomach is in your throat when you hang upside down in the OM Gym yoga sling.) For my birthday, I decided I wanted my eyeliner tattooed in place. Yes, it hurt a little, but it is w ell worth it to awake with that wide-eyed dewy gaze every morning. Now if only I could get my lips and hair tattooed, I’d be good to go! We ladies are not the only ones who endure pain for a little primping. The fellas like a little tweaking as well. There is absolutely nothing wrong with waxing to tame the male unibr ow! In moving from pain to pleasure, we asked Michelle Nightengale, makeup
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artist for Bare Essentials, to give us some makeup tips for spring-into-summer. One thing to remember: makeup is fun. It’s a myth that you have to be all “matchy-matchy.” Moisturizing is key to a gr eat look. (Our model sports Bare Essentials Warmth on her cheeks.) S himmer on the eyes is great for all ages: it r eflects light away from the face. Double liner intensifies the eyelashes. Lip-gloss without lipstick is a must for spring. “Joy is the best makeup,” said novelist Anne Lamott. The best beauty tip of all is to lo ve who you are. And if you don't, I recommend trying tattooed eyeliner!
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Photo by Dawn Muncy
Flat irons & hairspray- a beauty must! Photo by Bailey Photography
Erin Goss getting ready to tattoo Cathy Nulph’ s eyeliner
Photo by Dawn Muncy
The not so painful end results of a makeover!
Photo by Dawn Muncy
Michelle Nightengale giving Nicole W infield an easy spring look
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Ty•Ku You? By Megan Lynn Sutton Photos by Bonnie Vculek Its serene color and unassuming flavor may lead you to believe that Ty Ku liqueur can provide a tranquil evening, but my night with Ty Ku was anything but. At Costello’s Restaurant, I was greeted with a warm smile and a fun paper fan that seamlessly introduced me into an evening filled with Asian influenced appetizers that complemented the night’s main attraction, Ty Ku, perfectly. Ty Ku is a sake-based liqueur infused with fruits, botanicals, and natural antioxidants that create a complex flavor that, if you’re open to experimentation, you can mix with just about anything. It has a sweet floral and fruit bouquet, a smooth taste, and just a tiny kick. It is billed as an all natural Asian liqueur marketed towards the healthconscious and discerning drinker. Although I do run to my car sometimes when it’s raining, I would be lying if I said I was health-conscious. Fortunately I consider myself a discerning drinker, so I place myself firmly in
their marketing focus and therefore worthy of describing Ty Ku to the discerning audience of this magazine. Amazingly, Ty Ku was the creation of two graduate students that had an assignment to come up with a unique product and a plan to implement a business around it. Their idea of creating a healthy liqueur with ey e-catching packaging earned them a grade of “A”, and Ty Ku was born. The Costellos were introduced to Ty Ku by their liquor representative, who knows they have a taste for new and exciting things. “In any business you want to keep yourself fresh,” says Catherine Costello, who owns Costello’s Continental Cuisine with her husband, Edward. “We were so impressed by it [Ty Ku]. It is popular on the East and West coast and finally made it to Middle America. We wanted everyone to experience Ty Ku.” They designed a menu of tapas and small appetizers and planned a cocktail style event where patrons could move among 51
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CC and Edmund Costello
Payton Herron pours a Ty Ku-Tini for guests
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the different food presentations and cocktail stations with ease. Although Costello’s has hosted special events before, this is the first time they chose to forego the more formal sit-down meal, and to great success. “This was a departure from [Costello’s] other concept dinners,” says Carmen Ball, who attended the event. “I got to hop around and see friends I hadn’t seen in a long time.” The Costellos presented eleven different appetizers to compliment their three Ty Ku cocktails. “When you have a party where you are highlighting a liqueur, it just made sense to separate the food by the three cocktails,” says Edward Costello. Asian-inspired items such as chicken satay ske wers and wonton cups were served, as well as other inventive appetizers that show the creativity of Chef Edward Costello that many have come to appreciate. “[Edward] Costello is a wonder ful and imaginative chef,” says Don Johnson, who attended the event with his wife, Tary. With my paper fan and hubb y in tow, I waded into the ev ent the Costello’s had meticulously created, visiting all the stops along the way. I tasted Costello’s three variations of Ty Ku cocktails, and I fell in lo ve. Among my favorite aspects of Ty Ku was the bottle, which lights up when being poured! I instantly pictured myself as the hostess of a cocktail par ty that was the victim of a power outage, but Ty Ku and I save the day by providing light and liquor to all of my guests. My first cocktail was the “ Ty-tini”, a martini of equal parts Ty Ku and citrus vodka, shaken and strained with a splash of club soda. It was pleasantly tart and you could definitely smell the floral notes of the liqueur. Among the hits of the first appetizer presentation was a hummus tahini that had a tiny hint of spice and red potato, topped with wasabi and caviar. My personal favorite was the risotto croquettes filled with ancho-chili pork shoulder. These little bites packed huge flav or and I may have eaten more than my fair share of them. It will be our little secret. In the next room, I tried the “Hello Dolly”, a blend of Ty Ku, citrus vodka, and lemonade. I didn’t break out in any show tunes, but I could easily picture myself downing one too many of these while sitting poolside. This was the tamest presentation of the three cocktails, and it was a cr owd favorite. It would be easy to make a large batch
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of these to serve, but don’t ask me how I know that. With drink in hand, I was immediately drawn to a large wheel of something that smelled delicious and was surrounded by people. After fighting my way in, I disco vered it was a smoked salmon cheesecake accompanied by crackers. It tasted fresh and had rich flavors that weren’t overpowering. Another close favorite was a crispy wonton cup filled with sno w peas, broccolini, and other vegetables topped with a sesame dressing. At the third presentation, I sampled the “Naughty Lemonade”, Ty Ku served on the rocks with a splash of lemonade. The name truly does say it all, after this third cocktail I was sold on Ty Ku and its mischievous ways. Two skewers competed at this station, chicken satay skewers served with peanut sauce and breaded swordfish, and shrimp skewers. It was a close call, but in the battle of land and sea, the swordfish and shrimp skewers won in my book. The quality of the swordfish was top notch and the br eading complimented the flavor of the fish. I shouldn’t have been worried that I wouldn’t be able to make it thr ough all of the appetizers; everything tasted great and even the picky hubby found many favorites among the menu. “ The appetizers were different from the usual fare,” says Lee Naphus. “It’s a great change of pace and an inter esting presentation.” Decision time – what was the favorite cocktail and favorite appetizer? There were many votes for the smoked salmon cheesecake, although this was no surprise as our spunky little group managed to plow through two twelve inch wheels in two hours. Others were impressed by the risotto croquettes, receiving accolades from Richard Dunn and his daughter, Chelsea Waddle. According to Laurie Coleman, the Naughty Lemonade cocktail “hit the spot”. Some couldn’t choose a favorite. “In the words of Reverend Lovejoy [of The Simpsons], ‘It’s all good’,” said Wess Gray, who attended the event with his wife, Jolene. Tary Johnson, who wore an Asian-inspired outfit from her line of clothing, also couldn’t pin down a favorite. My only regret was articulated by Riley and Stella of The Felt Bird, “The light on the [Ty Ku] bottle doesn’t go out when it’s empty.” It would have been the perfect illustration of my dismay at the Ty Ku running out - the tiny light of hope is doused. Fortunately, there was always another
Kevin and Debbie Campbell
Chef serves the cucumber yogurt
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bottle ready! Although my first visit to Costello’s wasn't on a regular night, I feel like this event served to highlight the Costello’s extreme attention to detail, and their willingness to experiment. Their entire staff is committed to making these special events a success; they were extremely knowledgeable about the cuisine, and many dress up to match the theme of the event. Costello’s has been open for over four years now, and they have an extremely loyal following, in part due to their strong belief in engaging their patrons by treating them like old friends, and taking their recommendations for new specialties and wines. Although Costello’s may be fancy eating, they have a fun-loving spirit, and don’t take themselves too seriously. What’s next for Costello’s? “We try to do a special event once a month,” says Catherine Costello. “You’ll have to stay tuned!” I can’t wait to see what they come up with next; ho wever, I will go on the record and state that I would be in favor of a monthly or w eekly Ty Ku event. I will also settle for Ty Ku becoming a permanent member of their bar menu, or perhaps just a w eekly delivery of Ty Ku to my house? It will be our little secret. If you want to join in on the fun, keep up with Costello’s Restaurant on the web at http://www.facebook.com/costelloscontinentalcuisine
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About the Writer: Megan Lynn Sutton is a military wife who is staving off her quar ter life crisis by enjoying the finer things in life including glitter, happy hours, procrastination, sporks, and blackmail. 54
CC holds a hand-carved puffer fish
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April Davis and Kelly Gwin
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Katrena Winter, Kelley Wright, and Carolyn Nicholas
Shelly Conrady, Emily Krzyzaniak, and Joyce Fales
Renee Settlemires, Presley and Travis Brorsen
Cheryl Swanson and a friend enojy the punch at the Leonardo’s Awards
Cheney, Piper, and Curtis Tucker with Presley and Travis Brorsen
Kim Boeckman
Mary and Mike McCormick
Diana Miller, Brad Blankenship, David Wood, Travis Brorsen and Presley, Bill Athey, and April Danahy
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By Candace Krebs
Surrounded by all American organic tees (“sweatshop free”), recycled shoes and bags, and funky-ar tsy water bottles, Estela Romanos and her fiancé Riley Jantzen are preparing their downtown retail business, The Felt Bird, for First Friday Ar twalk. “We don’t want to stock a lot of things that are mass produced in other countries,” Romanos is saying in between greeting customers and touching up product displays. “Since we opened in September, we’ve had a great reception. We both grew up here, but had nowhere to shop to suit our personalities.” As we chat, in walks Tim Dillingham with small samples of cake made with carob in place of chocolate, applesauce for sweetening, and spiked with aromatic essential oils, all made by his wife, Diane, who is doing a cooking demo at Soapweeds and Cactus across the square. How they eat and what they buy reflects the Dillinghams’ interest in sustainability. “We have an organic garden, and we try to buy local whenever we
can,” he says. They also have a business interest in an innovative raw food restaurant in Oklahoma City called 105 Degrees, located at the Classen Curve retail center, being developed by Chesapeake Energy founder Audrey McClendon. “People everywhere are looking for alternatives,” Dillingham says.
Developing a taste for sustainability
In many ways, food is the cornerstone of sustainable living. Though it’s hard to trace where the oftrepeated stat originated that food travels, on average, 2,000 miles from field to table, a visit to any grocery store quickly
confirms the degree to which most food is packaged, boxed, shipped, and stored, for months or years at a time. It’s an efficient system, but also an intensively energy-consumptive one. Selling more local food locally is considered a crucial step on the path to a system that reduces fossil fuel use. “It’s not just a green issue. It’s a lifestyle issue that is all-encompassing,” says Corey Groendyke, founder and coordinator of Enid’s first official farmers market, which is entering its second year after a rousing start. The market will feature a special green theme on June 26th by hosting the first ever “GreEnid” eco-fest. “By putting the farmer in front of the (continued on page 59) 59
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Home Green Home Drew Ritchie
Drew Ritchie joined his father’s Chisholm Creek Development in 2004. In 2006, Drew opened Enid Realty Group. Drew is co-owner of Chisholm Creek Development and the president of Landrun Development & Construction. Drew builds homes in two different subdivisions: Chisholm Creek Village to the north, and Hearthstone Farms, located southwest of Oakwood Mall, in addition to building custom homes throughout Garfield County. Q. How much has the green movement influenced home building? A. The green movement has flooded the home building industry. New green products are coming to the market literally on a daily basis. In order to have a green home, the thing to be aware of is the importance of third party verification. Otherwise, there is no guarantee you are receiving what you paid for. If every home in the U.S. changed to higher performance windows, we could eliminate 25 percent of the electric grids as a country. It’s that big. Q. What are some of the distinguishing features of green building and design? A. One element is using resources that come from within 500 miles of the job site. That’s why homes in Colorado tend to have siding, while many homes in 60
Oklahoma, where we have clay soil, are made from brick. The most talked about element of green building is using energy wisely. Heat and water are always moving, so we want to slow down the transfer of heat by using better insulation. High performance windows block up to 99 percent of the ultraviolet rays that fade carpet and furni ture, whereas conventional windows only block a very small amount of it. These high performance windows allow your home to remain more temperature consistent throughout the entire property. Windows are typically a horrible insulator. People love natural light, but they don’t think about what it will do to their heating and cooling bills. Only one-half of one percent of the water worldwide is consumable at any point in time. That’s why we advocate using less water. A typical showerhead uses 5 gallons a minute but a lo w-flow showerhead takes that down to 2 gallons for most, and some showerheads can go as low as 1.7 gallons per minute. This not only saves water, but also saves money since approximately 73% of all water used in a shower is hot water. Q. What about people who already have a home and want to do more? A. Every home can be a greener home in some way. The first thing I recommend is
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adding six inches of cellulose insulation in your attic. Most of your heat goes through the ceiling rather than windows or doors. Cellulose insulation itself is a green material. It is actually recycled newspapers and blue jeans. You can also add new energy efficient elements, such as LED or compact fluorescent light bulbs in place of incandescent ones, which use a lot of energy. Make use of the Enid recycling plant. You have to do a little more work since the city doesn’t do curbside recycling, but they are very helpful and will even help you sort your recyclables. Also, adjust the thermostat. Green building only impacts a house so long as the homeowner will operate it as a green home. That’s why we provide an operational manual that stays with each house that explains how to maintain it at its highest efficiency. Q. Is there a generational element to it? I s your dad (David Ritchie) as passionate about saving the environment as you are? A. When you look at Generation X and Y, this is what they want in a house. B aby boomers are interested, but it’s not as big of a priority with them, on av erage. I’m very passionate about green building practices, and doing what I can to sav e this planet. But it’s also in large part my father who has taught me the integrity of all this. It was back in 1998 that our compa ny started truly focusing on energy efficient construction, knowing these homes would cost less to operate month b y month. Going green just fit right along with our mission and our values as a homebuilder. Q. What reception has the idea of “green building” received in Enid? Have you been surprised by it? A. I’ve been amazed. I was challenged by some friends of mine to begin giving pr esentations to civic clubs, and I’ve been very intrigued and impressed by the questions I receive. I get lots of questions about wind and solar power. Another one I’ve heard is on the use of “gray” water (shower or sink wastewater that can be recaptured and used for landscape irrigation.) People typically move only every seven to ten years, so some of this is information they might not put into practice right away. But it’s also a good reminder: all that being green really means is being careful with the wonderful resources God has given us.
consumer, you’re not only creating a local community bond, but people become educated and start to develop that loyalty to helping a local family that is building a business,” Groendyke says. She calls the result “community synthesis.” The next big project for market organizers is to create a community garden, the primary focus of which will be to provide space to grow food for those who don’t have that capacity at home. “We want to have a section strictly devoted to the kids, so they can come and get their hands dirty,” Groendyke adds. “We also want to tackle star ting a compost pile.” Originally from California, Groendyke says she is gratified that things like biodegradable bags or vegetarianism that “at one point seemed really ‘granola,’ really out there,” are now becoming mainstream, even in Enid. “It’s a good feeling,” she says. Barbara Crain and her husband Ron, owner-operators of Wagon Creek Creamery, were instrumental in starting the farmers market and are tireless pioneers in producing yogurt cheeses and other products on site at their area dairy. She says the Enid Farmers Market far surpassed their expectations. “For a first year market, it was amazing,” she says. “It shows that in Enid there is interest in
food that is locally-grown and healthy.”
Building an eco-economy
Going green is adding green to the bottomline of many businesses. By some estimates, sales of green products that promote health and benefit the environment climbed 40 percent in the five years leading up to 2009. According to Barbie Elder, director of destination development for Oklahoma Travel and Tourism Department, ecotravel is where the travel industry is headed too. “The consumer is looking for this kind of experience,” she said recently on a bus tour to Northwestern Oklahoma agritourism spots. “You’re seeing more interest in green travel. The biggest complaint people have is that they can’t find it.” The Oklahoma Travel and Tourism Department is developing a certification program for eco-sites and has also been invited to create standards on the national level. “There’s a lot of people on boar d,” she adds. “The demand is out there.” Lindy Chambers, executive director of Enid’s award-winning Main Street Program agrees, adding that having a farmers market is a huge asset to any 61
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“It’s going to cost a lot to build,” he muses. “But the cool thing about Enid is that it’s small enough that once we get it built, you’ll be able to get on the trail from anywhere around town.” Brent Kisling, executive director of the Enid Regional Development Alliance, and his wife Jennifer, are making a number of affordable and easy environmental upgrades to their Maple Place Bed and Breakfast and other downtown properties, such as wrapping hot water heaters with insulation, or finding ways to manage their rental properties to cut back on air conditioning use. Politically speaking — and especially in energy and agriculturally rich states like Oklahoma — claims of “global warming” and governmental efforts to regulate it are controversial. Kisling doesn’t support plans to tax energy or “cap and trade” greenhouse gas emissions, but he does believe sustainable practices are and will be adopted because they make good common sense. “If you read all of the books on business, they talk about targeted profit, how you should invest in things that increase your profit on the backside even if they might cost you something upfront,” he says. “It is not friendly for businesses to have mandates on energy efficiency. But any businessperson worth their salt will be able to find ways to reduce their costs.” Most of Enid’s leading businesses are already adopting environmentally friendly practices, he adds.
It isn’t easy being green
town. “Aging baby boomers want to go somewhere with a sense of place,” she says. She cites Santa Fe, which has one of the best farmers market in the country, as an example of how music, youth, education, and commercial involvement can all grow around using a farmers market as a centerpiece. “There’s limitless potential,” she says. “There’s a great spirit in Enid now.” Chambers is eager to continue improving Enid’s green spaces downtown. A master plan for the 64 downtown corner 62
planters is in the works to insure that the vegetation is adapted to an urban setting, and the Oklahoma climate. Like many others I talked to, she is doing little things to conserve resources on the individual level. “I used to do a lot of printing, but of course you never know how effective that is,” she says. “I think this is all still kind of new, but I think everybody is doing their best with it.” Matt Davis, aka “the trail Nazi” and a local attorney, is pushing to create more biking and walking paths around the community.
Being green often costs some extra green. “Green very much is a buzzword right now,” says Drew Ritchie, certified green builder. “Just because something qualifies as green, they mark it up. We have to integrate that into the construction cost of our homes.” Sometimes going green doesn’t result in an obvious payoff, but it’s just the right thing to do. Crain, of the Wagon Creek Creamery, says it isn’t always easy being green in today’s economic climate. The Crains switched their conventional family dairy to a totally grass-based system five years ago. It was getting difficult to make any money selling milk into the mass market, and they wanted to create something different and hopefully something more financially sustainable, as well. “It’s hard starting a business,” she says now. “What we do is more expensive.
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That’s a tough sell in hard economic times. “Green ways of doing things are often more time consuming. Ron moves cows from pasture to pasture: it’s much more labor intensive, but the land is also so much more fertile than it was 10 years ago. Ron enjoys the challenge, but he has to be able to support a family doing it.” Kipp Dupire, partner in a local green building business, Range to Ridge Cabins, agrees that the economic downturn has been rough, admitting he feels ahead of his time. Also employed as an American Airlines pilot, he and business partner Matt Watkins sell small custom-built cabins that can be used as guest cottages, home offices, add-on family rooms, and more. The cabins are made from the latest green building technology, structural insulated
panels, or SIPs— what Dupire describes as “super strong plywood.” The result is a building that is extremely strong, energy efficient, cost effective and quick to build. “Its time is coming,” Dupire says. “It’s a great product.” For these entrepreneurs, greener living is part of a long-term vision, even when it doesn’t immediately yield a short-term bonanza. Jumping on a new trend means being willing to stick your neck out and do something different to forge the trail toward a greener future. It’s a trail paved by simple steps. “The bottomline is that what you want is to reduce your demand for energy,” Dupire says. “There are so many things you can do to reduce your costs. And energy prices are going nowhere but up.”
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Art from the heart of the earth Southwest S.A.M. Jewelry Inspired by what she saw on trips to Colorado and New Mexico, Shirley McCoy created Southwest S.A.M. Jewelry four years ago. A natural at jewelry design, she brought home an award the first time she par ticipated at the Nascatunga Art Festival. She sells contemporary, genuine gemstone jewelry every weekend at the Enid Farmers Market. You can also contact her about designing custom pieces, or hosting an in-home jewelry show, by emailing her at shirleymccoy@hughes.net or calling 580-554-8518. Q. How is your business connected to sustainability and the environment? A. My jewelry is all natural gemstones, it’s not costume jewelry, so I use things like real turquoise, onyx and tiger-eye, coral, jasper, agate, quartz, and moonstone. When wearing natural gemstones, they retain your body’s heat, and you can totally tell the differ ence.
Greenid Vendors: Blessed Bounty Farms Turkey Creek Tomatoes Plain View Winery Kolb's Korn 64
Foundations Farm Rowdy Stickhorse Earth Elements Vegetables & Creation Kitchen Cuties Kaffee-Klatsch
Q. Since you use real gemstones, is your jewelry still affordable? A. I don’t charge a lot for the time I put into it. I would rather see people be able to afford it and wear it. I think the most expensive piece I’ve made was $79, but the average is around $30 to $40. All of my life, if I couldn ’t afford something, I just started making my own. Q. What do you think of the Enid Farmers Market, which is now in its second year? A. I think it is fantastic. They’ve had a really good turnout, and the v endors offer a really good variety of different items. The organizers have worked so hard on it, and it’s just going to grow and get better every year. My husband, David McCoy, is with me there every weekend. He’s my biggest supporter, and my best friend. I couldn’t do it without him.
Wagon Creek Creamery Cattle Tracks Soy Candles by Joyce Last Laugh Farms Callie's Creations Southwest S.A.M. Jewelry
Faith Farm Gone to Pieces Longwood Farms G&J Wood Crafts Christian Cheese 4R Kids
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Lessons in edible ecology Anichini-Moore Ranch & Farm
Kathy Moore purchased what became Anichini-Moore Ranch and Farms near Woodward at an auction in December 1995. At the time, it was r undown, with only one water well, and no windmill or electricity. But she saw possibilities for transforming it into a place where she could accomplish her lifelong dream of raising ecologically grown food. Call 405823-8295 or e-mail her at Kathy@anichinimoore.com to arrange a visit, or to sign up for her CSA (community sup ported agriculture). Learn more at her website, http://anichinimoore.com. Q. How has your ranch fulfilled a lifelong dream? A. I’ve been composting my entire life. My parents were organic before I ever heard the word. I wanted to be a farmer and rancher all my life. When I saw this place, there was extensive degradation of the ecology, but I thought it was a diamond in the rough. Without a sustainable agriculture program, I read books for my education, and began experimenting and learning by the seat of my pants. Consequently, I have a “messy” farm, because I inter-mix species, with the idea of diversity or multiple crops as a way of leveraging risk by attracting beneficial insects, minimizing disease and pests, adding soil nutrients, and maximizing the possibilities of having crops to sell. Q. What are some of the challenges for small, sustainable farmers? A. It isn’t easy. You have to be creative. You have to be willing to reinvent yourself, if you want to be a sustainable farmer these days. There are so many barriers to what we are doing, because it’s labor and paperwork intensive. The policies or standards are constantly in a state of flux, and
the fees are increasing. It is also about education. I think Northwest Oklahoma lags behind because we don’t have anything like the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture here on the Western side of the state, where the culture is more supportive of agribusiness. I believe we need two types of agriculture with different policies for each. As small sustainable farmers, we’re different. Q. What can we do to encourage more sustainability?
A. I’m really an advocate about this. We can recycle and conserve more. We need to fix the health care disparity in some of these small rural towns, where we don’t have access to produce and healthy foods. What people are buying at the gas station convenience store is mostly just empty calories. We could encourage more locally grown foods, and teach kids about composting and growing their own food. We can do things like hor ticulture, landscaping, organic lawn care, selling compost for road construction, and open corner stores and café’s that offer local foods. 65
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Maycee McCann
Halli & Heath Hancock with a Shriner Clown
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Matthew & Emily Tanner
Luis & Regina Anguiano
Monica, Greg & Maycee McCann
Jeff, Ava & Amy Ernst
Shriner Clowns
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