Bridging the Gap |
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JANUARY 16 Vol. 12 Number 11
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CONTENTS
JANUARY 2016
Publisher
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FEATURES 9 Parents Against Drugs 10 Community Outlook
Advertising Sales
Brad Carter
Managing Editor
Mindy Wood
Creative Direction
Layers Media, Inc.
Cover Photo
Layers Media, Inc.
Writers
Andrea Beck Jamie Bergsten Tim Burg Tim Farley Kristi Prince Thresa Swadley Mindy Wood
Distribution
The Shawnee Outlook is delivered FREE by direct mail to 25,000 homes and businesses. Distribution includes Shawnee, Tecumseh, McLoud, Meeker & Prague.
Comments or Suggestions?
Write to: Shawnee Outlook PO Box 1365 Shawnee, OK 74802 Website: www.shawneeoutlook.com E-mail: info@layersmedia.com
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Michael Keith
To Advertise Call Brad at 445-3033 or 808-0963.
DEPARTMENTS 6 KEEP THE CHANGE
13 All-State Musicians
6 NUTRITION 101 20 SONIC CONTEST
18 Bridging the Gap
28 GREEN THUMB
21 World Champion: Kelly Rundle
30 ART GUIDE
25 Neighboring 101
30 COMMUNITY
Volume 12, Number 11 Shawnee Outlook is a publication of Layers Media, Inc. © 2016 Layers Media, Inc.
Articles and advertisements in Shawnee Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Layers Media. Layers Media does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by Shawnee Outlook does not constitute endorsement of products, services, political candidates/parties or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Shawnee Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.
26 Therapy Dogs Calm Stressed Students 29 Food Addiction
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KEEP THE CHANGE
A Budget Resolution
NUTRITION 101
Mint Water Yes, you read the title correctly – this is a recipe for water. Almost daily, I ask clients during a nutrition consultation, “How many cups of water are you drinking in a day?” Occasionally I get the response, “In a day? Well I drink a little throughout the week”. If you are struggling with getting in your daily requirement of water, I recommend trying this recipe. Your body will thank you. Ingredients: • 1 lemon • 1 cucumber • 12 mint leaves • 4 quarts of water
I have a confession: I have a hard time sticking to a budget. I may follow ours as a general guideline, but I’ve been known to overspend and then compensate for it the next month. So, with this New Year, I am making a renewed commitment to be strict with myself and with our money. Perhaps this resolution will resound with and inspire you. Thus, I resolve: To prioritize a balanced budget over a good deal or a fun splurge. I will give little mind to how long I have wanted this one thing that is now 75% off – if it is not in my budget, or I cannot re-arrange items in my budget (before purchasing!) to afford this item RIGHT NOW, I will say no (no matter how much it hurts!). To spend cash. I will withdraw the cash allotted for regular spending items, such as groceries (or even eating out, if I’ve included that in my budget), and spend only what is in my wallet on these purchases – even if that means having to make last-minute decisions in the check-out line. To enter purchases in the budget immediately. We use a computer program (YNAB) with an accompanying app that is on our phones. I will make a point to instantly enter expenditures in our budget, so we always know where our money is and balancing the budget will be quick and easy. To plan ahead. I will be aware of what upcoming events will require of our budget. I will work to save and build up our budget categories such as “Gifts” or “Home Maintenance” so when an “unexpected” expense occurs, there will already be room for it in the budget.
Directions: Wash and slice lemons, cucumbers, and mint leaves. Fill gallon container with water, add lemon, cucumber, and mint. Let soak overnight and drink the next day. Make it a goal to drink the whole container in one day. Makes: 1 serving Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories: 0 – Total Fat: 0 g – Saturated Fat: 0 g – Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 0 mg – Carbohydrates: 0 g – Fiber: 0 g – Protein: 0 g Nutrition 101 Tip: Water is one of the most important things you can put in your body. Just a few important reasons to drink water – helps with fatigue, regulates body temperature, protects your heart, prevents constipation, keeps your skin looking young, helps you burn fat, carries oxygen to cells, and flushes out toxins. Your body MUST have water to survive. Ideally, you want to drink half your body weight in ounces of water a day. If you are nowhere near that, I would suggest slowly building up to that.
May this New Year create new opportunities to develop habits of a healthy budget in your family!
Angela Rowland is an OBU graduate and a stay-at-home mother of four. She enjoys finding new ways to stretch the paycheck and even posts some of her favorite tips and deals on her blog (steadfaststeward.blogspot.com)
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Andrea Beck, a Registered Dietitian, received her Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics from UCO in Edmond. She offers her nutrition consulting services and strongHER workouts through Anytime Fitness and teaches nutrition at St. Gregory’s University. Andrea is an active member of Junior Service League. Visit www. strongherfitness.net for more information.
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Parents Against Drugs Meet Jane. Jane is a high school freshman. She lives with her parents in an affluent neighborhood, in a happy home. She’s a good student. Jane is healthy, responsible, well-adjusted. Her friends are her life, just like most teens her age. Her parents don’t believe Jane would ever do drugs, or at least she would never become an addict. Jane’s friends decide to buy marijuana and try it at a school event, outside the building. She hesitates, but her friends assure her that no one overdoses on this drug. She takes one hit, then another, and another. It’s too bad she doesn’t know it’s laced with heroin. Does she die, or does she find a way to get more and die later? That’s an ongoing story for a lot of parents whose children are being swallowed up by addiction in Pottawatomie County. Many of them never thought their child was at risk for substance abuse until the signs of drug use became obvious. Parents Against Drugs began meeting in November to offer support and share resources with families who have a loved one grappling with the disease of addiction. Like many other illnesses, substance addiction is defined as a brain disease by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Unlike cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, addiction has a stigma of shame that keeps addicts and their loved ones from seeking treatment and support. John Winterringer and Tricia Stanford refuse to let that get in their way of helping families cope with the illness. Both are the parents of an addicted child. They were shocked, terrified, and hurt when they found out. “Our kid wasn’t raised like that,” said Stanford. “When you find out, you’re devastated. Hurt. You question yourself as a parent, how did you let this happen, or what did you do wrong? We were
by: Mindy Wood
shocked. We didn’t know where to reach out to. It’s a whirlwind. You just freak out.” Winterringer said, “When you see your loved one killing themselves, it’s heartbreaking. You can hardly describe it.” The group encourages other parents to learn how to parent an addicted child and find treatment solutions, rather than blaming themselves or anyone else. “It’s not that you’re a bad parent,” said Stanford. “You have to deal with it, love that addict, and continue getting help for that addict.” The reasons kids use are varied, so finding a treatment path that leads to recovery can be frustrating. A child who uses opiates may be suffering from a hyperactivity disorder or periods of mania. A child who uses stimulants may be fighting depression. Early childhood trauma, such as domestic violence and sexual abuse, often leads to addictive behavior if they did not receive counseling at the time of the abuse. Parents Against Drugs welcomes a speaker every month to discuss topics relative to addiction and treatment options. Gateway to Prevention, a non-profit organization who serves people suffering from addiction, will be the featured guest at the January 14 meeting. Sally McLaughlin, CEO at Gateway to Prevention and Recovery said this the first parent advocacy group formed since the 1970’s. She is hopeful that the power of community involvement can make a difference. “A lot of parents probably think they’re the only ones dealing with this. This group is great because they can support each other as they help their children,” said McLaughlin. Hope is what these parents are betting on. “There are millions of people recovering every day. There’s NA, AA, Gateway, church programs, any
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way they can get clean is great,” said Stanford. “You can’t give up on them. Even if they have a relapse, just like cancer comes back, you have to treat it again. You can’t stop. You’re fighting something that is taking over their life.” Winterringer and Stanford urge parents to be aware that addiction can happen in any home and to be vigilant about how and with whom a child spends their time. McLaughlin said parents must understand that, “Addiction is an equal opportunity disease.” Due to the holiday, Parents Against Drugs next meeting is Thursday, January 14 at the Shawnee High School PAAC auditorium in the drama room at 7 p.m. Regular meetings are the first Thursday of every month. For more information about adolescent drug use, visit gatewaytoprevention.org and see parent resources.
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Community Outlook The Shawnee Outlook asked various community leaders what positive changes they hope to see in the community and what their organization goals would be for 2016. Whether you’re looking for a way to give back or check the forecast for a better community, these responses will give you a glimpse into the coming year.
Alicja Carter, Therapist and Wellness Coordinator at Gateway to Prevention One goal that Gateway to Prevention and Recovery has for the New Year is to hold an education series utilizing qualified personnel to increase the community’s understanding of addiction as a disease as well as what individuals can do to be part of the solution. I believe that the majority of people desire growth and are able to do so when given adequate information, resources, and support.
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Justin Erickson, City Manager City of Shawnee My New Year’s resolution for Shawnee is that we can continue to sustain and improve the quality of life for area residents and that we can work together as a community to face our many opportunities and challenges. I look forward to working with the City Commission and City Staff to accomplish much over the next year. Some of the specific projects and events that I am most excited about in the coming year include: Completion of the Downtown Streetscape project; continued improvements to our sidewalk and trail network and City park system; implementation of the community branding initiative; continued focus on public safety and on reopening the Bryan Street Fire Station; and opening the Shawnee Splash Aquatic Center for the 2016 season.
Maile Hopkins, United Way Interim Executive Director United Way of Pottawatomie County partners with other non-profit organizations in the community to provide funding and volunteer opportunities. We serve 18 agencies in Pottawatomie County that provide services for children, families, seniors, basic and emergency needs, and healthy community. In the coming year, we hope to see the community grow as one unit in order to connect, encourage, and work together to make Pottawatomie County better. In 2016, United Way hopes to achieve the fundraising goal of $625,000. Every little bit counts!
by: Mindy Wood
Michelle Briggs, Avedis President/CEO Avedis Foundation’s New Year’s resolution for 2016 is to continue to provide funding for projects that improve the health and wellness of the people of Pottawatomie County. We continue to develop projects in 2016 to fulfill this vision. The following projects are some of those slated for completion in 2016: the Community Market Food Resource Center, opening this summer, in partnership with Oklahoma Regional Food Bank, will be helping to feed the hungry in Pottawatomie County; the multi-purpose trails, Avedis Health Week and the Shawnee Middle School projects will be completed providing many avenues for children and adults in the county to participate in healthy activities. Bright and shiny new offices and spaces for Hope House and Project Safe will be remodeled and constructed; an incredible new hospital wing at St Anthony’s will be opening in early 2016 providing for a state of the art Women’s Center and Surgery suites; and Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County will broaden its mission of touching lives by introducing “intentional” caring and relationships into our communities. In addition, they will be moving into a permanent facility. What a great year 2016 will be for our community!
Philip Canning, Captain Salvation Army My prayer is that our community would resolve to work together, across socioeconomic lines, to lower barriers and increase opportunities for success for all our fellow citizens. Together, we can make Shawnee a great place, for all people, to live, work and play. Together we can accomplish the extraordinary!
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All-State Musicians by: Thresa Swadley
Twelve students from the Shawnee area will participate in all-state choirs and bands during the months of January and February. The groups are hosted by the state music teacher organizations and provide opportunities for exceptional music students to work with guest clinicians on challenging music. It is an exciting musical experience for the students who are chosen for the groups. The students were selected from applicants from all over the state of Oklahoma. Seven students from Shawnee, Dale, and Bethel will participate in the choirs and bands performing at the January Oklahoma Music Educators Association Convention in Tulsa. Bryan Smith (Shawnee), Nate Stephens (Shawnee), and Callie Hall (Shawnee) will participate in the OCDA All-State Junior High Chorus. Annika Stephens (Shawnee), Ashley Irby (Bethel), and Jackie Fuller (Bethel) were chosen for the All OMEA Women’s Chorus, and Evan Rodgers (Shawnee) will participate in the All-State Band. Three area students, Sarah Thompson (Dale), Luke Smith (Bethel), and Alex Tucker (Bethel), were also chosen as alternates for the All-State Jazz Band. Later in February, The Oklahoma Small School All State Band will meet and perform at Oklahoma City University. >
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Four students from the Shawnee area were chosen to participate in this group: Sarah Thompson (Dale), Ashely Irby (Bethel), Bailey Knighten (Bethel), Kaleigh Guess (Bethel), and Jazmin Snyer (Dale). Bethel band director, David Irby expressed the benefits for students involved in the all-state groups, “The all-state experience is very important for students at all levels. Being exposed to world-class conductors and clinicians gives my students experiences that they otherwise would not have. He went on to say, “All-state membership also helps open the door for students to obtain music scholarships as they continue their music education at the collegiate level.” The first step to being chosen for the groups is the audition process. The students have to learn demanding audition music and attend auditions to be considered for the all-state groups. “Just going through the audition process makes you a better player,” stated Sarah Thompson, a junior saxophonist from Dale. “It requires that you practice and learn challenging music that is not part of your regular band music at school.” Students benefit musically from the audition experience even if they are not chosen to participate in one of the groups.
Undoubtedly, being chosen for one of the all-state ensembles is one of the highest honors for a student musician. Callie Hall, a freshman at Shawnee High School will be experiencing her second year as a member of the OCDA All-State Junior High Chorus, “It is a really big deal to be chosen and the sound we make is amazing.” She went on to say, “I am looking forward to once again experience singing with a large group of students from the entire state.” Making music with exceptional musicians from all over the state is the core of the all-state music experience. Because the best student musicians are chosen from the schools across the state of Oklahoma, they are able to perform musical literature that is more difficult than they are typically able to do in their own high school bands and choirs. Annika Stephens from Shawnee made the comment, “I am looking forward to working on intricate music that I typically do not get to sing.” The students enjoy being challenged and performing with a larger group. In addition to the musical experience, participants realize they are a part of a greater community even while going through the audition process. Bryan Smith and Nate
Stephens are 8th grade students and friends at Shawnee Middle School. Nate was first interested in auditioning for the junior high choir and talked his friend Bryan into joining him in the process. They both recalled the bonding that occurred when they arrived for their auditions. Nate said, “We were in the lobby waiting to audition when one of the schools began warming up on the audition materials. We all gathered around those students and soon we were all warming up together and the sound was really nice.” They both also participated in the East Central Oklahoma District Association Honor Choir and wanted to find out if friends they made there would be joining them in the all-state choir. Lastly, those that have participated in all state organizations talk about the long-term friendships that are forged during the events. Both Callie Hall and Sarah Thompson are returning for their second year in all state groups and they talked about the relationships they have maintained since last year. “It is not just about the music, but the friendships made there,” Sarah said, “Some of the people that I met there last year are now my best friends.” Callie echoed these thoughts saying that she made several friends from last year’s choir that she is still in contact with on a regular basis.
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Bridging the Gap Roger Mize coaches football and baseball for the Tecumseh High School Savages. He knows that optimizing a team’s performance requires a tough, no-nonsense disposition on the field, but this burly coach has a soft side too. This is obvious when you get to know his pint-sized helper on the field. Three- year-old Michael is one of four children that Mize and his wife, Tandi, currently foster in their home. When the couple began their journey into the world of foster care four years ago, they had no idea where it would lead. It began with a kinship placement, but after the kids were successfully reunited with their family, Tandi and Roger knew they wanted to help other children in our community who needed homes. Since that time they have provided security and emotional support to seven children by giving them a temporary refuge to call home. Now, in addition to her job as a medical social worker for Loving Care Home Health and Hospice, Tandi facilitates meetings of Pottawatomie Kinship/Foster/Adoptive Support Network, a support group for foster and adoptive parents. The group meets at Immanuel Baptist Church and is part of a pilot program made possible through a grant from OU’s National Resource Center for Youth Services. Fostering children isn’t easy work, but having the support of others who are dealing with similar issues helps to keep foster parents refreshed. Normally, a home with four children under the age of six would be chaotic, but Roger and Tandi seem to have a sense of calm. The gentle nature with which they parent the children is quite evident. Five-year-old Lauren is quite the charmer and seems unintimidated by strangers in her home as she tells of the things she enjoys doing at school. Two-year-old Ryan announces that he was tired and unlike a typical toddler, simply puts himself to bed. The regularly outgoing Michael, stands at Roger’s side with an impish grin and refuses to answer who his favorite baseball team is even though the cap perched on his cute little head sports their logo. As Roger and Tandi calmly share their story, 4-month-old Paige begins to squirm. The couple pick up the non-verbal cues from one another 18
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as only seasoned parents can do and take turns pacifying the fussy baby. The Mizes are quick to say that it isn’t always as easy as it may seem right now. Sleepless nights, juggling appointments, family visits, court dates, and work can be overwhelming. They are grateful for organizations like, Citizens Caring for Children, Hope for Healing, and Head Start who offer support and services for foster parents and children. Tandi also remarked, “We couldn’t do this without the network of families we have found through our support group or without the encouragement and help of our extended family.” As taxing as fostering can be, this dedicated couple say it’s worth the costs. “Fostering impacts our lives every day. We have had the chance to see the difference security, stability, and nutrition can make in the life of a child. We have watched biological parents make big changes in their lives so they can be reunited with their kids. Being a part of the bridge that helps to make that happen and playing a part in breaking the debilitating
by: Kristi Prince
cycle has greatly enriched our lives,” said Tandi. That is the reason the Mizes will continue in their commitment to help families in need. In a few short days, L and R will move to a new foster home where they can be with their older sister. Roger and Tandi may take a short break and do respite care (short term care that allows other foster parents to have a break), but they do plan to take other placements. They want to be a part in ensuring that the many children in our foster care system get the maximum emotional, social and intellectual development they desperately need and deserve. For information on how you can become a foster parent or be a help to foster families, please contact Pottawatomie County DHS: Emily 405-878-4075 or Patti 405-213-3746. Editor’s note: This article part of our series on foster and adoptive families. The children’s names have been changed to protect their identity while in foster care.
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by: Mindy Wood
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R U N D L E
by: Mindy Wood
Shawnee native, Kelly Rundle enjoys an exciting life in the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). For the last 30 years, he has won world championships and trained under the most successful and respected leaders in both sports. MMA is an offense-based contact fight sport which incorporates boxing or striking with martial arts techniques in grappling. BJJ is a defense-based martial arts grappling sport. Competitors use the art of submission without striking an opponent. As of his XKO fight two years ago, Rundle is the oldest professional MMA fighter in the Texas and Oklahoma region over age 50. He holds several titles: master five black belt (super heavyweight), US National Gi and No-Gi Champion, Gi and No-Gi World Champion, three-time European Gi Champion and one No-Gi European Champion, three-time Pan Am Gold Medalist, and 2015 Double Gold Pan Champion. In July 2015, he won a silver medal at the Rio De Janeiro Master Championship. In September, he was the headline fighter at the Projitsu 3 championship in North Carolina and tied with his opponent. Rundle continues to train in both sports under Alan Mohler, who is the creator of the American Alliance Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. He also trains in Rio De Janeiro, the mecca of BJJ. In his BJJ lineage he names the sport’s most prominent figure, Rolles Gracie, in addition to founder of the Alliance Jiu-Jitsu team, Romero Jacaré Cavalcanti, and Alexadre Paiva Genovesi. “I’m lucky my lineage is under Alliance,” said Rundle. “Alliance is unquestionably the most successful team in history, a ten-time world champion team. My other coach is in Rio De Janeiro and that’s where the www.shawneeoutlook.com
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heartbeat of the sport is.” His life didn’t start on the mat, however. While many athletes start training as young as four, Rundle didn’t start MMA until he was 40. In 1985 he worked as a baggage and ticket agent for Delta Airlines and played ice hockey in a local league. True to the fan’s love of fights, Rundle looked forward to the fights after the game. Someone suggested he try MMA. He was part owner of a gymnastics gym at the time and started training with other men there. “I signed up for a fight in Indiana and I had a great fight, but I got TKO’d. They invited me to come back. Two months later, they sandbagged me with this pro Canadian and I lost to him. He broke my face; I broke my hand on his face.” Realizing his need for Jiu-Jitsu skills, he started training with Mohler in 2004 and although he continued to lose his next few fights, eventually he started winning. “I was able to end up with 10 fights at five and five. I was always fighting young, up and coming tough cats so I was proud of that.” At age 53, he’s still going strong. “(MMA) It’s a young man’s sport, a brutal game. I’m still training but I’m trying to retire. I don’t’ want to officially retire, because if a big fight comes along I want to leave it open. You don’t do MMA forever.” His focus is on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, devoting much of his training to the submission art. BJJ isn’t less intense than MMA, however. The sport demands equal strength and stamina, but without the violent impact of MMA. This second degree black belt in BJJ has no intentions of ever giving up grappling. “My father trains under me and he’s 78, a brown belt. I’m a master five over 50 and I’ve seen a master seven before. I have a lot of fun and to be honest I feel about 38. As long as I can compete and be relevant to the sport, I’ll keep going,” he said.
BJJ seems to offer something for everyone. Rundle said he’s watched competitors with missing limbs and he refereed a match in which one man was blind. “He lost but he did amazingly well, he was a really good grappler. I trained with a war hero who lost both legs from the knee down and was missing half an arm. It’s an inspiration to see something like that.” Rundle has had his injuries over the years, most recently, it was a knee injury. Last year he was in Las Vegas where he competed with fluid on the injured knee. It cost him the gold, but he was happy. “I won a really tough match against one of Megaton’s top black belts. I made it to the finals and the injury affected the match. I got silver at the Master’s, second best in the world,” he said. He recovered with surgery and physical therapy and continues to train. Between training and teaching at other gyms in Texas and the Tulsa area where he lives, he still plays ice hockey. He also creates authentic, collector-grade Native American weaponry. He is a proud Choctaw Nation tribal member, but he makes weaponry of Pawnee, Creek, Osage, Caddo and Comanche as well. “I have been creating Native American war craft for several years. I specialize in pre-discovery Tomahawks, war clubs and skull crushers, lances and shields. Detailed research and geographic historical accuracy are part of the finished product. I currently have several pieces in production. Most of my work is sold in Oklahoma Native art galleries. Some of my work has been used by the Oklahoma Tourism Bureau.” On and off the mat, the art and disciplines of combat continue to define him. For more information about Kelly Rundle, you can reach him at the Triton Fight Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Call 918-2524653 or visit tritonfightcenter.com
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Neighboring 101 Neighboring 101 is bringing together people from all walks of life to better their community through constructive relationships. The Salvation Army began the initiative based on the book, Bridges out of Poverty, to provide the tools people need to get out of poverty and invest in others. Since it began in 2014, twenty-three have graduated from the program and are now learning to implement the knowledge they gained through the 16-week curriculum, “Getting Ahead in a Just Getting by World.” Getting Ahead teaches participants about financial literacy, how to set realistic goals, the role of positive relationships and networking among other critical concepts for success. Tiffany Walker was among the first graduating class in 2014. She was unemployed and uneducated about the self-defeating cycle of a poverty mindset when she signed up. Walker is working full time for Pottawatomie County DHS and invests time in current Neighboring 101 participants. She is on the executive committee and wrote “Blueprints” which helps post graduates apply their knowledge. “I kept hearing the same thing from graduates, ‘there’s so much information in 16 weeks.’ It’s almost overwhelming, how do you put that into your real life outside the classroom environment,” said Walker. “I started to think how we, as a steering committee, could meet them where they are and not where we want them to be. I learn something new every time I sit down with a graduate. That’s where the passion for Blueprints came from.” Taking modules from the Getting Ahead curriculum, Blueprints goes into more depth. “There are case scenarios that were formed from graduates’ experiences that could identify and connect what we’re talking about.” The modules include SMART goals which is about setting achievable, time specific goals. Relationships, both personal and professional, are mapped out with the idea that positive relationships enable a person’s goals and negative relationships impede them. “Our relationships are a direct reflection of how we feel about ourselves, how we allow others to treat us,” said Walker. They also learn to identify self-destructive beliefs that sabotage action plans. “These are things we use as an escape. We don’t think
by: Mindy Wood
Graduating Class of 2015 Neighboring 101
we’re smart enough, good enough, so we don’t start. It’s too good to be true, or we don’t think we deserve it so we fall back. What are our back doors, and how do they affect our smart goals? Who do we turn to and how do we deal with these emotions,” said Walker. Who they turn to is community, but if there is no community the bridge leading them out of poverty is incomplete. Steve Palmer, Neighboring 101 coordinator, said the program is all about relationships and environments. The steering committee is not a closed circuit of a dozen community leaders seated at a table. “Anyone is welcome to attend steering committee meetings. We meet the last Thursday of the month,” he said. “Neighboring 101 is about action and that’s why it was developed, to bring the community together.” Daniel Shaughnessy, executive committee member, said, “It’s about relationships and understanding between the socioeconomic classes in Shawnee. We’re developing a place for everyone to be a part, clarifying the roles we can all play through responsibilities in attainable goals.” Understanding the difference between poverty, middle, and upper classes is more than discerning the “do’s and don’t’s” of the classes, but more about the mindset. “The middle class has to understand that poverty is a mindset and it’s not about getting a better job, moving to a better neighborhood. It’s getting them to a better place in their mind and then all of that will come later,” said Walker. Palmer gave an example of changing the way
Chasity Tackett Speaks at Neighboring 101 Graduation
someone in poverty thinks frees them to take action. “Chasity Tacket, our graduate in October said now instead of planning five days ahead she knows how to plan five years ahead. It affects their ability to plan for their future. Vernon Gray (graduate) said he thought the class was a joke at first until he started reading the material. It made sense to him, and it began to change who he was and how he thought. He started to change his direction in life.” Shaughnessy said the relationships formed are critical to success. “We learn about one another’s environments without judgment. We allow one another room for personal growth through a greater understanding of the obstacles we, not us and them, we face. We build our workforce and our economy patiently through mutual change and trust.” The steering committee meetings are held at the Salvation Army Thursday, January 28, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend, meet current participants, and discuss the issues related to poverty. www.shawneeoutlook.com
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Therapy Dogs Calm Stressed Students Miniature Australian Shepherds, Tillie and Bonnie, probably understand the stress of finals week as well as any student or professor at St. Gregory’s University. Tillie, 5, and Bonnie, 3, are therapy dogs who patrol the halls of the university’s nursing program in search of students feeling the ill effects of finals. Actually, all St. Gregory’s students are encouraged to pet, hug and play with the dogs as a form of relaxation regardless of the problem or situation. “Being in a university setting is stressful for a lot people and the pressure to perform academically is high,” said Susan J. Barnes, dean of nursing. In many cases, students come to the nursing school to visit Tillie and Bonnie or in other instances a professor may request one of the dogs be brought to their classroom before or after a final exam. “The students know where the dogs are,” Barnes said. “So, we might have 50 students visit the dogs during finals week.” Nursing student, Sophia Weisbruch, said Tillie and Bonnie help her relieve a lot of stress. “You just play with them and they get your mind off of things. I see them quite often and Tilley will bring the ball and we’ll throw it. It’s a fun game. Everything feels lighter and easier after being with them. I think your brain is ready to study again,” she said. Anxiety and depression are on the rise among college students, according to the National Alliance
Whitney Anderson with Tillie 26
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by: Tim Farley
on Mental Illness (NAMI). More than 11 percent of college students have been diagnosed or treated for anxiety in the past year and 10 percent reported being diagnosed or treated for depression, NAMI figures show. Meanwhile, more than half of college students feel overwhelming anxiety that strains their academic abilities, according to a report from the American College Health Association. Other studies show dogs can increase levels of Therapy Dog Bonnie clams students oxytocin in humans, a hormone that reduces anxiety and blood pressure. In fact, Tillie and Bonnie are often used by SGU students for other reasons than academics and it’s more cost effective than professional counseling. “Students sometimes get homesick or they’ve had a tiff with their boyfriend or girlfriend. These dogs help students with any problem. We use them to help teach alternative therapies to the nursing students. It makes sense to them when they actually have been the recipient of the animal assisted therapy,” Barnes said. In one instance, a reporter asked why college students might need animal assisted therapy. The student’s eyes got wide and he said, “You’re kidding me, right?” At times, Bonnie can become overwhelmed by the students’ stress levels, forcing her to take a rest of her own. Tillie, on the other hand is ready to go at all times, Barnes said. “We started socializing them in the school after they turned six weeks old,” she recalled. “They’re never grumpy.” Barnes started working with therapy dogs when she was at Oklahoma City University’s nursing program. “It was strictly a research project in the Brother Damian with Tillie beginning,” she said. An OCU student suffered a stroke after a final exam and Barnes wanted so when they’ve been gone for a while, they’ll go to introduce a form of relaxation to modify the person to person and do inventory of who they’re stressful academic environment. “It’s proved tending to at the time. They’re unhappy when they extremely successful,” she said of the therapy have to stay home. When they come back, they dogs. check in with everyone. They’re very social dogs.” When Barnes moved over to SGU, she took the Typically, Aussies are considered hyper, therapy dog idea with her. “The dogs understand but Tillie and Bonnie have proved they are the this is their mission,” said Barnes, who keeps the exception to the rule. They’ve also proven to be dogs at her house when not at the university. “They students’ best friend. love the students. They have a herding instinct
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GREEN THUMB
January Gardening Tips Ready or not, 2106 is here! Here are some ideas that might help you have a good gardening year: As seed and nursery catalogs arrive, look for plants with improved insect, disease, and drought-tolerance. If you have leftover seed from previous years, try sprouting a test sample before ordering new seeds. Roll up 10 seeds in a damp paper towel and put in a gallon size zip-top bag. Keep moist and warm. Check for germination in a week. If fewer than half sprout, order fresh seed. Some gardeners like to clean and clear their flower beds in the fall and winter. I usually do, because I prefer the neat and tidy look. Many people like to leave the foliage in place through the winter. There are good reasons for doing it either way. Leaving the spent foliage in place can protect the crown of the plant by insulating it against the cold. Brush snow from evergreens as soon as possible after a storm. Use a broom in an upward, sweeping motion. However, for ice covered branches, let ice melt naturally, to reduce injury. Tree limbs damaged from ice or wind should be pruned off promptly. When pruning large limbs, always undercut first. This means to cut from the bottom up, one-third of the way through the limb, then finish by cutting from the top. This undercut keeps the limb from peeling the bark downward as the limb falls, leaving a wound that would be susceptible to insects and diseases. Do not cut flush with the trunk. There is a small lip, or collar of bark that each branch protrudes from. You want to leave this collar intact and carefully cut just beyond this branch collar. This allows the wound to seal more effectively. Do not “top” trees. By topping or dehorning a tree, it permanently ruins the structural integrity of the tree. This practice leads to an explosion of new growth that is weakly attached to main branches or limbs. This is likely to break away from the tree during a future ice or wind storm. Besides the negative impact on structural integrity, such severe pruning ruins the natural beauty of the tree. I am a member of the City of Shawnee Beautification Committee. Our goal is to promote and encourage actions that beautify and improve our community. This year, we will again be recognizing individuals and groups that have enhanced the overall appearance of Shawnee by maintaining their properties in appearance, neatness and overall beauty. The categories include: Individual Residential Yard, Business, New Business, Community Organization, and Youth. We are looking forward to more participation in 2016. If you wish to make a nomination, please email a picture and information to wpeace@shawneeok.org. More information is listed on the city’s website under the parks department. This committee meets on the 2nd Thursday of the month at City Hall at 4:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend any meeting.
Article and Photo by Debi Renegar, Master Gardener with the Multi-County Master Gardener Association 28
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We support our neighbor “Broadway Arts Gallery & Studio” The gallery is right next door & is open Thursday-Saturday from 1pm to 6pm. Join us the 3rd Friday of each month for our open house with great Art, Live Music, Wine tasting & Hors d’oeuvres!
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Food Addiction You wouldn’t know it to look at her, but Andrea Beck is about half the woman she used to be. Beck is a personal trainer and registered dietician at Anytime Fitness. She looks like she has never had a weight problem, but the truth is she fought a war with food addiction and won. At a time when many people start New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, food addiction is an overlooked barrier to meeting those goals. Just ask Beck who lived it and sees it all year long. “I had a very unhealthy relationship with food,” said Beck who admitted to weighing over 170 lbs. in middle school. Her weight remained an unresolved issue until her sophomore year in college when she took a food and nutrition class. It was then she learned about portion sizes, exercise, healthy food and eventually she discovered the reality of her addiction to sugar. Now she helps others move past the barriers to a healthy lifestyle. Beck said a lot of people don’t realize how addictive food can be until it’s time to give up the favorite foods. “You can see where they really want to and feel like they can’t. It’s the same as smoking, drugs, and alcohol. You have to go about it the same way. Having someone to support you helps, a dietician, your family. It’s hard when you’re trying to kick sugar and your spouse brings home cupcakes. You wouldn’t ask an alcoholic to go to a bar.” According to a UCLA study cited by the Food Addiction Institute, some obese people known to binge on “dense carbohydrates” who did not have a drug or alcohol addiction had the same D2 dopamine gene marker that distinguishes drug and alcohol addiction. Brain imaging studies also show a chemical reaction when ingesting sugar and some when simply viewing images of certain foods they indulge. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study that found glycemic load, distinct from calories or sweetness, “can alter brain function and trigger overeating.” Beck said, “Some people can have one drink. Some people can’t. Some people can eat one cookie, but I will eat six or eat them until my stomach hurts. If my husband brings home Oreos, he can eat a couple of them but I’m sitting there and I can’t stop thinking: ‘there’s a whole box of Oreos in there.’ I tell him to keep them in the garage, don’t even let me see them.” While no one can give up food entirely, as an alcoholic can give up drinking, Beck said there are ways to overcome it. She recommends
moderation and giving up bad foods gradually. “I never ask anyone to give up fried foods, sugar, pop and start exercising. Start with one thing and move on from there. It takes at least 21 days to form a new habit. My thing at the end of the day is moderation. I have a cheat day once a week and that works well for a lot of people. A lot of people decide to go all organic, all healthy, but I recommend an 80/20 rule. You’ll still meet your goal.” Support groups like Overeaters Anonymous and groups like Weight Watchers can help create accountability. Beck said she trains groups of three to five because it still allows her to monitor clients as a personal trainer, but gives them the support of peers. She said she’s watched couples come into the gym experience more success than those going it alone. “When one of you is down, it’s really unlikely the other person is having a bad day. They help each other,” she said. Beck recommends visible goals like a photo or a clothing item, and she said if you fall off the wagon, climb back on. “I have a rule: one step back, two steps forward. Women especially carry a lot of guilt. It’s soccer night and you didn’t prepare so you eat fast food. The next thing you know it’s been a week, a month and it’s January again. This is a new year, a new day. Try again. It could be your year.” Beck has coordinated a health and wellness
by: Mindy Wood
fair to be held January 16 in the Shawnee Mall. Thirty vendors focusing on wellness for mind, body, and spirit will offer information from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.shawneeoutlook.com
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ART GUIDE
COMMUNITY
Your Shawnee Arts Corner Let me just get this out of my system; January can be very cold in Oklahoma and if you are like me, you would rather sit by a fire with a cup of hot chocolate than be cold. This makes January the perfect time to not only attend artistic events in the warmth of a heated building, but also to improve your own artistic skills. I hope that you will join me this month in learning/improving on your own artistic skills and enjoying those of others. And most importantly, stay warm! A few things you might consider doing this month include: Support outstanding junior high and high school musicians at the annual OBU Honor Band Concert on January 5 at 6:30 p.m. Students from Central Oklahoma were chosen by audition in November and will spend two days preparing for the concert with OBU band personnel and guest conductors. The concert will be held in Raley Chapel at Oklahoma Baptist University at 6:30 p.m. For information, call 405-585-4301. Have you read King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table at least three times? Do you have a passion for musical theater? Don’t miss Shawnee Little Theatre’s auditions for Spamalot on January 10th and 11th. Location and audition information is on the SLT website, shawneelittletheatre. com. Join the poets at the Third Thursday Poetry Readings at Benedict Street Market at 7 p.m. There is an open mic session where you can share your own poetry or just sit back and be inspired by others. Be sure to take advantage of the Downtown 3rd Friday Block Party on January 15th and while you are in the general area visit Broadway Arts Gallery and Studio.
Broadway will feature their new artist Kelly Kirk, an art instructor for Seminole State College, who is a painter, sculpturist, and pottery artist. Don’t miss the Mabee-Gerrer Museum’s exhibit of Wounaan Baskets from the Rainforest of Panama which will run from January 23 - March 13, 2016. The baskets are made from the fibers of the nahuala plant and chunga palm which grow in the Rainforest of Panama. This is an exhibit that both art enthusiasts and crafters will enjoy. While we are on the subject of the MabeeGerrer museum, consider joining the Friends of the Mabee-Gerrer Museum. They meet for lunch and a short program the third Monday of the month at 11:30 a.m. Information is on the website mgmoa.org. For the music lovers, OBU music professor, Kathy Scherler, will perform a voice recital on January 28th at 7:30 p.m. The recital will be in Yarborough Auditorium in Raley Chapel. Call 405-585-4301. Psychologists claim that singing relieves stress and is the best way to make friends as an adult. With this evidence, consider joining Sine Nomine, Shawnee’s community choir. They rehearse on Mondays at 7 p.m. at First Christian Church. Contact Herb Moring, 405-2731445. Are you an instrumentalists? The OBU/ Shawnee Community Orchestra rehearses on Mondays at 7 p.m. For audition information, contact jim.hansford@okbu. edu. Checkout local universities, community colleges, and technology center for short and long-term classes in the arts!
Thresa Swadley is a freelance cellist who has been active in the Shawnee Arts Community for almost 20 years. She is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University and teaches cello there. She is a member of the OBU/Shawnee Community Orchestra and plays in Trio Antiqua, a baroque music trio. Visit celloladyok.com.
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Something Great Quietly, methodically, and without a lot of fanfare, there is a groundswell of support being developed for a community relationship program that is being supported by the AVEDIS Foundation and many others in this community. While you might not know a lot about what is being planned with AVEDIS’s Community Renewal efforts, you need to know more. Over the next few months we’re sure you are going to be hearing more about the “We Care” efforts, along with how it will positively affect our region and how you can participate. Trust us when we say, you’re going to want to be involved with this. Modern communication technology has created a lot less interaction between the citizens in a community. When you mix in the added demands on our time, it can create what those with bigger brains than mine call, “societal relational dysfunctions.” When communications break down, it can create an even wider gap between all of us, which leads to a lot more issues than any of us care to deal with. From our perspective, we are they and they are us, so finding a way to focus on how to help all of us is kind of important. At least we like to think so. As AVEDIS has moved forward in their efforts to bring a We Care program to Shawnee, they have been sharing the ways this program can benefit the community by more than just talking about it. Over a decade ago, Shreveport, Louisiana was the first community to undertake this sort of effort to rebuilding relationships. So far, AVEDIS has taken over 40 Shawnee residents on a road trip to that community, to show them firsthand the impact in that city. Since the AVEDIS Board and staff unanimously began supporting this relationship-building effort, they have hired a full time Director to oversee the program, and this guy will be a ROCK STAR in running our program. Plus, they recently completed a community survey that will help them chart the action steps on how they will move forward in implementation. Lest you think this is something that AVEDIS will do alone, their efforts will not be as effective unless they gain the support of many others in the community, and that is where you and I come in. If ever there was something that we all should rally around, this might just be the single most important effort we should collectively collaborate on. A community wide caring network builds the capacity for us to respond not only to great opportunities, but to deal with stresses that affect us all. To do that we need to consider if we care enough to be part of the solution that improves us, or to just keep doing what has always been done, and remaining dissatisfied with the results. How exciting would it be for Shawnee to be recognized as Oklahoma’s first We Care community? We think it’s an EXCELLENT idea.
Tim Burg is the Executive Director of the Shawnee Economic Development Foundation and is one of only 1200 certified economic developers in the world. His past business and civic experiences allows him to focus his expertise on business retention and expansion opportunities, plus undertake marketing, attraction, and recruitment of new business to this region.
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