Cleveland County February 2016

Cleveland County FEBRUARY 2016

PREMIERE ISSUE

ClevelandCountyLifestyle.com

L

I

F

E

S

T

Y

L

E

™

Sweets FOR THE

Sweet

HOSPITALITY KEY AT BLU. FLIGHT OF A LIFETIME. PLAY WALLS ENTICE TODDLERS.

IGNITE PASSION View the entire collection at heartsonfire.com

10633 Western | Oklahoma City www.huntingtonfinejewelers.com

John M.Ireland & Son Funeral Home & Chapel

Cremation Casket With Traditional Services

$2895

Nice Metal Casket With Traditional Funeral Services

$3295

Serving All of Oklahoma | johnirelandfuneralhome.com

120 S. Broadway, Moore,OK 73160 | 405.799.1200

Lifestyle Letter

Tis the Season for Love I

FEBRUARY 2016 publisher

Jimmy Darden | Jimmy.Darden@LifestylePubs.com

n this, our inaugural issue of Cleveland County Lifestyle, we explore the long and storied connection between chocolate and Valentine’s Day. In our cover story, Staci Elder Hensley writes that, last year, nearly 55 percent of women and 52 percent of men purchased candy for their significant other, spending $1.7 billion in the process. It’s entirely possible those percentages are higher here, judging from the huge popularity of the Firehouse Art Center’s long-running Chocolate Festival.

Supplementing the cover story are mouth-watering photos of some of the beautiful chocolate culinary creations available locally for Valentine’s Day celebrants as well as throughout the year. And you won’t want to miss our restaurant review featuring Blu, where hospitality is the key. Its menu now features an expanded cuisine that runs the gamut from tapas to Mediterranean, pizza, fish, hearty beef dishes, as well as a wide array of wine, beer and cocktail offerings.

Elsewhere in the magazine, you will read about an area World War II veteran who took part in an emotional Oklahoma Honors Guard trip to Washington, D.C., to visit the nation’s war memorials, and a new art wall created for the Norman Public Library West’s youngest patrons.

In future issues, we are looking forward to featuring more of “the best of Cleveland County”–its creative and hardworking residents and the places and events that make this such a wonderful place in which to live, work and play!

Next issue, this space will feature an Editor’s Letter from Jerri Culpepper, a nearly lifelong Norman resident who recently retired from the University of Oklahoma after 25 years of service. Please send future story and photo suggestions to her at jerri.culpepper@ LifestylePubs.com.

(405) 541-5650 editor

Jerri Culpepper | Jerri.Culpepper@LifestylePubs.com sales

Jimmy Darden, Jimmy.Darden@LifestylePubs.com, (405) 541-5650 Shawn Irie, Shawn.Irie@LifestylePubs.com, (405) 204-2247 contributing writers

Staci Elder Hensley contributing photographers

Lindsey Davies, Linda Irie

CORPORATE TEAM | Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

CHIEF SALES OFFICER

| Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

| Brad Broockerd

| Sara Minor

ART DIRECTOR EDITORIAL DIRECTOR AD COORDINATORS

| DeLand Shore

| Nicole Sylvester

| Cyndi Harrington, Chelsi Hornbaker, Kim Foster, Megan Seymour

LAYOUT DESIGNER DESIGN SPECIALIST

| Nicolette Martin | Ashleigh Thomson

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT APPLICATION ARCHITECT WEB DEVELOPER

| Melanie Carlisle | Michael O’Connell | Hanna Park

I would love to hear from business proprietors and others across Cleveland County about how you can benefit by advertising with us. I can be reached at jimmy.darden@LifestylePubs.com, or give me a call at (405) 541-5650.

Jimmy Darden, Publisher

Jimmy Darden, Publisher

by Community ™

ClevelandCountyLifestyle.com ON THE COVER La Baguette’s chocolate creations are as artistic as they are tasty.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LINDA IRIE

4

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

P.O. Box 12608 Overland Park, KS 66282-3214 Proverbs 3:5-6

JOIN US

Cleveland County Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of Cleveland County’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Cleveland County Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

SUPPORT OUR MISSION TO

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

IN A CHILDS LIFE

IS A PROUD SPONSOR OF

MISSIONS.ME/LIFESTYLEPUBLICATIONS

February 2016

22

14 Flight of a Lifetime

Departments 8

Good Times

10

Around Town

12

City Scene

14

Hometown Hero

17

Our Town

18

Hot Spot

26

Driver’s Notebook

27

Sold Properties

30

Lifestyle Calendar

34

Parting Thoughts

‘Mission’ deeply moving for WWII vet

18 Hospitality Lives Here

Blu caters to customers' interests

22 Sweets for the Sweet Chocolate-Valentine’s storied connection

14

18

26

Lifestyle Publications Arizona | California | Colorado | Florida | Georgia | Idaho | Illinois | Kansas | Missouri | Montana | Ohio | Oklahoma | Texas | Utah

Oklahoma’s Most Comprehensive and Exclusive Eye Care Facilities.

From fashion to function eyeglasses fulfill many different needs and our staff will work to make you look good with the most exclusive line of eyewear and state of the art eye care facilities. Come by our new store on S. Western to see our quality frame selections and talk to our doctors about our complete eye care facility.

Our expert staff includes: Jay Leemaster, M.D., Ben J. Harvey, M.D., Lisa L. Mayes, O.D., Beth L.Burkhart, O.D. and Taran L. Lasater, O.D.

10801 S. Western Ave. | 405.703.8404

Good Times

Holiday Happenings

Silver Soirée

Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art Association members enjoyed "A Parade of Art" at its fundraising event, Silver Soirée, at Legacy Park in Norman. Allied Arts Circle Club members were entertained by the Oklahoma Youth Orchestra’s honor quartet and carolers from OK City Chorus at their holiday gathering in Gaillardia.

Chuck Thompson, Erinn Gavaghan and Ryan Houser

Allied Arts Circle

Edgar O'Rear, Melissa Nuzum and Stephanie O'Hara Tessa Breder and Kris Booze Taryn Chubb and Mark White

Jeff and Sarah Thompson and David Thompson

Dave Goodman and Deborah McAuliffe Sennner Darlene and Larry Parman

WE ARE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD LENDER! Call us and get pre-qualified for your new home before rates go up this year.

(405) 696-0072 www.charlesfostermortgage.com 2309 S I-35 Service Road, Moore, Oklahoma 73160 NMLS #267528

WE ARE SKILLED IN ALL LOAN PROGRAMS:

Conventional - Jumbo - FHA VA - USDA - 184 - and others NMLS #2129

8

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

February 2016 | Cleveland County Lifestyle

9

Around Town

AROUND TOWN

The signature event for OU’s Galileo’s World exhibition is an allday symposium Thursday, Feb. 25, at the Sam Noble Museum featuring noted scholars from across the country on the topic of Galileo and the impact of the Scientific Revolution on modern research and innovation.

Visitors may download a “passport” listing the locations and dates of the exhibitions. Those who visit all 20 may submit their completed passport to be entered into a random drawing for a gift basket. For details, visit Galileo.ou.edu/passport.

A display case in the Galileo's World exhibition at Bizzell Memorial Library

For a complete listing of exhibits and special events associated with the Galileo's World project, visit Galileo.ou.edu/.

PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE HEALTH SERVICES TO STUDENTS The Norman Regional Health Foundation for the first time has partnered with the Norman Regional Health System to provide health services to students throughout Norman Public Schools.

Norman Regional began supporting health services in Norman schools in 2007. Beginning next school year, the Foundation also will contribute toward the cost, which totals more than $690,000 per year.

Together, the organizations will contribute half of the annual cost to provide health services, which is a combined contribution of more than $345,000. The school district covers the remaining expenses.

“We appreciate our established partnership with Norman Regional and look forward also to working with the Foundation,” said NPS Superintendent Dr. Joe Siano. “Their support makes it possible for our school nurses to facilitate more than 80,000 student visits each year. This is an excellent example of how our community steps up to invest in our students.”

Financial support from the partnership helps fund salaries and benefits for healthcare providers in schools. Additionally, Norman Regional offers clinical instruction, CPR training and professional development for the nursing staff. The health system is also a resource when questions arise regarding chronic diseases.

The partnership has been recognized as a model for school districts across the state because it provides a healthcare provider at every school, which is not a common practice.

For more information about the Foundation and how to contribute, visit NRHfoundation.org.

CHART YOUR COURSE FOR GALILEO’S WORLD If you haven’t already begun your tour of Galileo’s World at the University of Oklahoma, you may wish to chart your course now.

The massive project, centered on Renaissance Italian physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei, evolved as a means of celebrating OU’s 125th anniversary in 2016. With 20 uniquely themed exhibits in seven locations across OU’s three campuses, Galileo’s World

PATRICK GRACE NAMED CEO, GENERAL MANAGER OF OEC Norman native Patrick Grace, an employee of Oklahoma Electric Cooperative since 2000, recently was named by the OEC board of directors as the co-op’s CEO and general manager, an appointment that became effective Jan. 1.

Grace began at OEC as a staff engineer, and in 2006 was named vice president of engineering and assistant manager.

encompasses a myriad of events and programs illustrating connec-

OEC, which is member-owned, provides electricity to more

tions between the sciences and humanities and the collaborative

than 43,000 members and 53,000 accounts in seven central

nature of research and discovery.

Oklahoma counties.

10

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

TLF !

THINK LOCAL F I RST CHECK OUT THE

BUSINESS

DIRECTORY!

WHEN YOU SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES IN CLEVELAND COUNTY LIFESTYLE, YOU GET TO: Shop Businesses Conveniently Located Near You Enjoy Special Offers Only Available to Our Readers Support Our Local Economy

February 2016 | Cleveland County Lifestyle

11

City Scene

Norman West Library Debuts Interactive Play Wall For Children PANELS FEATURE COLOR, MINI CLOCK AND COUNTING WHEEL ARTICLE CHRISTIAN POTTS PHOTOGRAPHY CHRISTIAN POTTS

Norman Public Library West’s new interactive play wall is a destination for children visiting the newest facility of the Pioneer Library System.

N

orman’s newest public library now has a new feature that will delight the youngest visitors to come through its doors.

Norman Public Library West recently dedicated its new interactive play wall, located in the children’s area, in the southwest corner of the library portion of the Pioneer Library System facility, at 300 Norman Center Court on the west side of Norman.

It features a series of panels young children can manipulate for learning activities, and an array of colors that make it a centerpiece for youngsters who visit the building.

The play wall was dedicated during a ceremony Nov. 29, followed by a presentation from the youth choir from Temple B’Nai Israel of Oklahoma City that kicked off holiday festivities at the library.

PLS Director Anne Masters and Public Information Officer Gary Kramer discussed the general idea for the wall, and Kramer then came up with the concept for what the wall might look like.

Masters had sought a creation that would anchor and identify the children’s area, relate back to Norman and also provide the manipulative toys that are of particular benefit to young children and toddlers.

Kramer’s idea was based on the colorful bicycle racks located around Norman that were commissioned

12

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

Gary Kramer, public information officer for the Pioneer Library System, speaks about the new interactive play wall inside Norman Public Library West.

as part of a previous Norman Arts Council initiative for public art. Those bike racks were fabricated by a local company, McPherson Machine Inc. Kramer contacted McPherson and worked on a design for the wall, while Norman West staff members selected the educational panels to be incorporated into the wall from the Burgeon Group, a company that has worked with many public libraries on interactive learning spaces.

The panels have a variety of learning devices, including a color wheel, a mini clock with minute and second hands, and a wheel for counting. The finished unit roughly mimics the look of the outside of Norman West.

And it’s a durable design that figures to last for many years of young children to enjoy.

Norman West features 6,575 square feet of library space with public computers, a second bank of special computers geared to children, study rooms and the Café /snak/ which is open during library hours. It also features a 24-hour library machine and movie box on the southeast corner outside the building that are available at all hours.

Anyone who lives, works, attends school or owns property in any of the library’s threecounty service area (Cleveland, McClain or Pottawatomie counties) is eligible for a library card that can gain them access to the more than 730,000 items in the library collection.

Find out more by visiting any PLS library or going online to PioneerLibrarySystem.org/

Rebekah Lynam, branch manager at Norman Public Library West, welcomes guests to a dedication ceremony for the library’s new interactive play wall.

Carpet | Tile & Stone | Hardwood | Laminate | Reliant | shawfloors.com

The essence of elegance HARDWOOD

For your next floor - the floor you’ve always dreamed of. Shaw hardwood...the essence of elegance.

2719 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD MOORE, OK 73160 405.703.4085 METROFLOORING.NET

February 2016 | Cleveland County Lifestyle

13

Hometown Hero

Allen Hughes at a young age

Flight of a Lifetime LOCAL WWII VETERAN DEEPLY MOVED BY OKLAHOMA HONOR FLIGHTS VISIT TO D.C. ARTICLE JERRI CULPEPPER | PHOTOGRAPHY LINDSEY DAVIES

SPONSORED BY OZ SAFEROOMS

D

uring War II, Allen Hughes flew 50 bombing missions over Germany aboard B-17s and B-29s. There’s little doubt that before and during each of those missions, Hughes–who ended his 31-year U.S. Air Force career with the rank of colonel–experienced a major adrenaline rush, as well as some trepidation about returning home in one piece.

Fortunately for him, return home he did. And in October 2015, the veteran–who at age 92 retains a (very) firm handshake and positive outlook–had the opportunity to relive that memorable period of time in his life, although this time, the excitement was tempered only by distant memories of the global war that involved more than 30 countries and resulted in the deaths of more than 50 million military personnel and civilians.

After applying and being accepted for the Oklahoma Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., where they would tour various war memorials, Hughes and fellow Legend Assisted Living and Memory Care at Rivendell veteran Charles Crouch anxiously ticked off the weeks before their departure.

The day before boarding the Boeing 737 Oct. 21 for the nation’s capital, however, Hughes and Crouch were feted at the assisted living center at a patriotically themed celebratory party, complete with red, white and blue Mardi Gras-like beads, attended by family and fellow residents, Hughes said. They–along with their sons, who served as escorts–were then transported via limousine to the Sheraton near Will Rogers Airport, where they were again guests of honor at a banquet.

Finally, the big day dawned. Both on the chartered flight to Baltimore-Washington Airport and back, the two veterans had an opportunity to visit with the 26 other WWII veterans, 53 Korean War veterans and one Vietnam veteran who took part in this Honor Flight.

Hughes said from their arrival to their departure, they were given “the royal treatment,” including a U.S. Park Police motorcycle escort to their various venues, beginning at the WWII Memorial. They also visited the Korean, Vietnam and Lincoln memorials and Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknowns, where they viewed the changing of the guards. Later that day, they were driven to the Iwo Jima and Air Force memorials. Of all the memorials, Hughes had previously seen only the Vietnam Memorial.

Not unexpectedly, Hughes said a highlight of the tour was the visit to the WWII memorial. “It was very peaceful and quiet, with a big water feature,” he recalled. “That was in contrast,” he added, “with the Korean War Memorial, which showed an infantry company (life-sized statuary) in the field, in uniform, with range jackets, weapons and other gear–each with a different expression on their faces, from fierce determination to terror – the full gamut of expression. That was very powerful.”

CONTINUED >

14

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

February 2016 | Cleveland County Lifestyle

15

Hometown Hero

(CON TI N UED)

Though many aspects of the trip were thought-provoking and memorable, he said one moment stands out from the rest to him.

Upon their return to Will Rogers World Airport that evening, they were greeted by hundreds of well-wishers, including a Girl Scout troop he estimated to be around 10 or 11 years of age. Holding aloft a miniature flag, each girl shook the hands of a veteran, and often, offered them a hug. Voice still shaking with emotion at the remembrance, Hughes remarked, “It was like a changing of the guard.”

Allen Hughes with son Kevin, who accompanied him on the Oklahoma Honor Flight; Kevin's wife, Carol; and grandson Travis,

DiD you know?

Your favorite

ABOUT THE OKLAHOMA HONOR FLIGHTS

is on facebook!

The Oklahoma Honor Flights traces its origins to the 16 million

Lifestyle Publication

U.S. men and women who served their country in World War II–among them Al Willoughby, who had served in that war as a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps. Upon retirement, he adopted Midwest City as his home.

In 2009, he was invited to Washington, D.C., with a group of

Connect with us today and read feature articles, view special offers, enter contests and more!

facebook.com/ ClevelandCountyLifestyle

WWII veterans and family members as part of a trip sponsored by Dallas Honor Flights, an official hub of Honor Flights Network Inc. Willoughby and his daughters shared his story with many people and, during the summer of 2009, inspired by Willoughby’s positive experience, the decision was made that Oklahoma WWII heroes should not have to go to Texas to be honored.

An Oklahoma Hub was secured, and the organization was endorsed by Sen. Tom Coburn, then by Gov. Brad Henry during a news conference at the State Capitol Building at which the governor urged Oklahomans to support this worthy endeavor.

OHF has since received support by thousands of students, individuals, civic organizations and corporations.

The inaugural “mission” was made in May 2010. To date, OHF has taken 2,033 veterans on 23 flights.

16

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

Our Town

Beauty, Beauty Everywhere MURALS, ARTIST-INSPIRED BIKE RACKS TRANSFORMATIONAL

ARTICLE JERRI CULPEPPER | PHOTOGRAPHY LINDSEY DAVIES

U

nexpected art greets the eye almost everywhere one turns in Norman. This wall-sized mural, located at Porter Avenue and East Main Street, is one of several that have sprung up around town in recent years. And thanks to a program through the Norman Public Arts Board and the Norman Arts Council, artist-designed bike racks have been installed downtown and elsewhere. The goal?

To increase the use of bicycles for transportation around Norman and to support the state’s evolving arts culture.

How cool is that? You can donate to the NPAB by giving through your City of Norman utility bill. We’d love to feature public artworks across Cleveland County in future issues, so send us your suggestions.

February 2016 | Cleveland County Lifestyle

17

Hot Spot

RESTAURANT CREATED AROUND QUESTION,

18

‘What Does Norman Not Have?’

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

GREAT FOOD, HOSPITALITY AWAIT BLU PATRONS ARTICLE SC RITSCH | PHOTOGRAPHY LINDA IRIE BLU RESTAURANT

John Howell and his partners Jack and Lisa Hooper started formulating a vision for Blu in 2007 with one simple question: What does Norman not have?

“The answer we came up with was that Norman was missing a wine bar with shareable plates,” Howell said. “That’s how Blu happened! It was very collaborative, and it would not have happened without Jack and Lisa.”

Blu, which has expanded its cuisine from tapas to Mediterranean, pizza, fish, hearty beef dishes and one of the most extensive (and recently upgraded) wine, beer and cocktail menus I have come by, now prides

BLU HOURS:

Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 a.m.

Lunch Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Wine tastings every first and third Sunday at 4 p.m., where you can enjoy finger foods and sample their new wine menu.

itself in its eclecticism. No matter the occasion, the atmosphere is catered to the interests and expectations of each customer.

Hospitality is key here, with each server and bartender well-versed enough in the restaurant to impress any patron. Their all-black attire bodes well with the mood, allowing them to move unobtrusively.

While visiting, I was recommended a couple of pairings for my drinks and appetizer, the Mediterranean Plate, consisting of tapenade-a Mediterranean olive medley-goat cheese, spicy (but not too spicy!) hummus and toasted pita bread. I decided to pair my food with wine that night. Though their specialty cocktail menu is one to explore and their 14 beers on tap (including one solely dedicated to Founder’s Brewing Co.) are all down my alley, their new wine menu spoke to me and asked me to be creative.

The Crimson and Cream wine flight began with a crisp Charles and Charles Chardonnay, which paired well with the tapenade, cutting salt with citrus. The second glass on the flight displayed Underwood Pinot Noir, a delightfully sweet red that was hard to resist pairing with the goat cheese (in fact, I have adopted it as my new favorite red). Lastly was The Predator Zinfandel, with tones of black cherry that undeniably made for a zing when paired with the hummus. I recommend mixing and matching to find the right combination for you.

However enticing this appetizer may sound, it was nothing compared to my meal.

On the menu is the Seasonal Catch, which varies almost daily. I chose the King Salmon and fresh vegetables. This choice was simple, especially when I heard the story behind the salmon. The Hawaiian fishery from where Blu receives its fish delivers them almost as soon as they are caught.

“Your salmon is delivered to your plate within 24 hours of its life in the sea, making this the freshest fish in the landlocked state,” manager Nikki Snider explains.

This sealed the deal.

Of course to match the salt of the salmon, I needed something that would be sweet, CONTINUED >

February 2016 | Cleveland County Lifestyle

19

Hot Spot

(CON TI N U ED)

but in no way overwhelming, so I ordered the Guns and Rosés wine flight. All three rosés paired well with the fish, although it was hard not to devour it all in one sitting!

During my stay from 7 to 10 p.m., I saw a formal job interview, an emotive family night, a first date, a group of informal friends at the bar and on the patio, and a student tucked away in the corner with his books and laptop. I heard Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong duet and Tony Bennett serenade, and when the lights turned low at about 8:30 p.m., I heard the music slowly transition to ambient alternative.

Blu is where you want to go for a graduation, for Mother’s Day, for a night out on the town, or just to hang out—it all relies on your mood, and Blu will adopt the atmosphere you choose, giving you the experience you prefer.

BLU BRUSCHETTA 2 Cups Diced Roma Tomatoes 2 Ounces Diced Fresh Mozzarella 2 Tbsps Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 tsp Fresh Minced Garlic 1 tsp Kosher Salt 1 tsp Fresh Cracked Black Pepper Gently fold together tomatoes, mozzarella, and garlic with the Extra Virgin Olive Oil until all of the pieces are evenly coated. While continuing to stir the mixture, slowly add the salt and pepper. Cover the bruschetta, and refrigerate for at least four hours. Overnight is great.

Serve the bruschetta over oiled and toasted slices of baguette, and top with basil chiffonade. For style points, a little balsamic reduction on the toast points adds an additional layer of complexity.

Serves 6-8 people.

20

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

February 2016 | Cleveland County Lifestyle

21

Sweets

to the

Sweet Chocolate, Valentine’s Day a Match Made for Romance ARTICLE STACI ELDER HENSLEY | PHOTOGRAPHY LINDA IRIE

Ask anyone what their plans are for Valentine’s Day, and odds are that some chocolate will be

Both the holiday and the tasty treats have a long, winding road to their modern incarnations, and the story of how they became inter-

involved. In fact, according to U.S. News and World

twined is full of twists and turns. The pairing

Report, last year nearly 55 percent of women and

unique place in the fabric of Norman today,

52 percent of men purchased candy for their significant other, spending $1.7 billion in the process.

There's a lot of chocolate from which to choose at Apple Tree Chocolate on historic Campus Corner.

of chocolate with Valentine’s Day even has a thanks to the annual Chocolate Festival, a taste-testing fundraiser for the iconic Firehouse Art Station, where local restaurants show off their creations. Now in its 34th year, the festival was specifically scheduled for late January because of its closeness to Valentine’s Day, said Firehouse Executive Director Douglas Shaw Elder.

“Most of our participating vendors have something they want people to try, in order to bring people into their restaurant for Valentine’s Day,” Elder said. “It’s the perfect time for them to debut a new dessert and reach about 4,000 people in a single day.”

Moving back to the past, the journey of the chocolate/Valentine’s Day match-up dates back to Mesoamerican and Roman times; two winding paths that met at a crossroads in Victorian England.

CONTINUED >

22

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

Apple Tree Chocolate Assistant Manager/ Head Chef Hunter Torbert loves to help customers make their truffle selection.

Caramel, chocolate and other tasty toppings will make tasters want more than one a day! Available at Apple Tree Chocolate.

February 2016 | Cleveland County Lifestyle

23

SWEETS TO THE SWEET (CON TI N U ED)

Chocolate was a prized luxury item among the Aztec and Mayan upper classes.

ST. VALENTINE CONQUERS ROMAN DECADENCE

In many ways, St. Valentine’s Day represents a victory of Christianity over pagan Roman traditions. In mid-February, the Romans celebrated Lupercalia, a pagan (and pretty wild) festival devoted to fertility. Valentine, according to legend, was a Catholic priest who married young couples against the wishes of Roman Emperor Claudius II. He was consequently beheaded on Feb. 14 and later declared a saint by the

La Baguette's Rudy Khouri, pastry chef and co-owner, shows off a selection of their chocolate masterpieces.

Catholic Church. Just how much of this tale is true isn’t for certain, but the legend has taken hold in popular culture. The association with romance came from both Valentine’s reputation for conducting weddings and lingering fertility festival traditions.

A PRIZE OF SOUTH AMERICA

The history of chocolate, meanwhile, is extensive, and it has had an amorous reputation since the beginning. Chocolate was a prized luxury item among the Aztec and Mayan upper classes, while its source— cacao beans—were as valuable as gold and frequently used to pay taxes. Consumed in drink form (with added cornmeal, vanilla, honey and chilies), it was believed to act as an aphrodisiac. Today we know there is some basis to all the claims. Chocolate conChocolate vies with other flavors in the bakers' case at La Baguette, though for Valentine's Day, chocolate definitely takes the crown.

tains the endorphin phenylethylamine, which is known to cause feelings of excitement, attraction and pleasure.

Spanish conquistadors brought the beans back with them to Europe, and by the early

Chocolate "mice" converge on a wedge of cheese at La Baguette.

1600s chocolate-based drinks were all the rage among the elite of Europe. London had chocolate houses that rivaled coffee houses, while Marie Antoinette brought her own “chocolatier” with her when she married French King Louis XVI. Madam DuBarry, mistress of French King Louis the XV, was known to give chocolate mixed with amber to her lovers as a stimulant.

The amorous connection obviously wasn’t lost in the continental transfer. Famed English poet James Wadsworth, in fact, produced a poem “A History of the Nature and Quality of Chocolate,” which proclaimed, “I will make old women young and fresh; create new motions of the flesh, and cause them to long for you know what, if they but taste of chocolate.”

24

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

RICHARD CADBURY UPS THE ANTE

During the early Victorian period, most chocolate in Europe was still consumed in the form of drinks. That all changed in the mid 1860s when Englishman Richard Cadbury, whose family already manufactured chocolate, used the pure cocoa butter extracted during the drink-making process to create the first “eating chocolates.” They were new and inexpensive enough to be available to the masses.

Victorians were already fond of sending each other Cupid- and rose-bedecked cards and boxes for Valentine’s Day. Cadbury demonstrated his considerable marketing skills by selling the chocolates in fancy boxes he designed himself. He is credited with creating the first heart-shaped boxes of candy, which he covered with, of course, Cupids and rosebuds. Victorians loved the designs, and when the chocolate was gone, the boxes remained behind as a way to save important mementos like love letters.

ENTER HERSHEY & STOVER

Legend's chef Ashley McMahan places the final touches on a cake.

It didn’t take long for enterprising Americans to take their own steps toward using Valentine’s Rebecca Sparks (right), co-owner with husband Joe Sparks of Legend's in Norman, and chef Ashley McMahan show off some of their decadent chocolate desserts.

Day as a way to sell chocolate. In 1907, Milton Hershey created the first of his iconic Hershey’s “kisses” in honor of the holiday. He was followed by Clara Stover and her husband, Russell, who started wrapping candies in their home kitchen in 1923 and would end up selling heart-shaped boxes of Valentine’s Day chocolate to department stores around the Midwest.

In the ensuing decades, Valentine’s Day and chocolate have become so firmly intertwined that it’s pretty much impossible to imagine one without the other. That’s a fact that leaves all of us—especially chocolate makers—happy ever after.

In 1907, Milton Hershey created

Close-up of one of Legend's chocolate desserts.

the first of his iconic Hershey’s “kisses” in honor of the holiday.

February 2016 | Cleveland County Lifestyle

25

Driver’s Notebook

THE 2016 CADILLAC ESCALADE: THE INDUSTRY’S MOST ICONIC LUXURY SUV

MODERN DESIGN, POWERFUL CAPABILITIES, SUMPTIOUS AMENITIES KEEP LUXURY FIRMLY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

M

odern design, powerful capability and sumptuous amenities keep luxury firmly in the driver’s seat of the 2015 Cadillac Escalade.

Enhanced technologies and new exterior colors distinguish the latest edition of the brand’s signature SUV, complementing cut-andsewn materials and wood trim–selected for elegance and authenticity– and the latest technologies to convey an exceptional level of luxury.

Among the 2016 updates: enhancements that make CUE (Cadillac User Experience) faster and more intuitive, including navigation functionality and phone integration technology via Apple CarPlay. Lane Keep Assist also is offered, adding to Escalade’s comprehensive safety technologies.

Two choices are offered in this product line: the standard Escalade and the extended-length ESV edition, which offers a 14-inch-longer wheelbase and approximately 20 inches more in overall length, maximizing space for third-row passengers and nearly double the cargo space behind the third-row seat.

Luxury, Premium and Platinum collections are available in addition to the standard models, offering even higher levels of content and technology. All models are offered with 2WD and 4WD drivetrains, powered by a 6.2L V-8 engine backed by an eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s a combination powerful enough to enable 0-60-mph performance in less than 6 seconds–slightly less for the Escalade 4WD and Escalade 2WD. One might expect low gas mileage, yet the 6.2L engine delivers an EPA-estimated 22 mpg on the highway in the Escalade/ESV RWD and 21 mpg on the highway for Escalade/ESV 4WD. Cadillac’s Magnetic Ride Control, the world’s fastest-reacting suspension system, is standard, delivering precisely controlled driving performance. At its core, Escalade is an SUV with the capabilities of a 26

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

full-size truck, enabling an impressive trailering rating of 8,300 pounds on the standard model and an 8,100-pound rating on Escalade ESV. Loyal Cadillac owners will not be disappointed with the 2016 Escalade’s exterior design, either. Quality, elegance and capability describe the styling, which features sculpted surfaces and high-tech embellishments, such as a highly detailed Galvano chrome grille that has a unique, almost brushed appearance. It is accented by full LED lighting in the front and rear that creates razor-like vertical light signatures. The headlamps incorporate the industry’s first Total Internal Reflection LED high-beam function, which consists for four vertically stacked crystal lenses and LEDs. Of course, no details was overlooked in designing the interior of the SUV. Craftsmanship defines the Escalade’s passenger space, which is designed to be one of the industry’s most authentic and luxurious cabins as well as seamlessly integrating technology to meet the needs of today’s connected luxury customers.

Real wood combined with premium cut-and-sewn materials and suede accents, along with ambient lighting, add elegance to the interior design. Tight tolerances of the instrument and door panels, precision controls and triple-sealed doors were engineered and designed to reinforce a feeling of quality.

The seats are sculpted and feature a reclining second row. Dualfirmness foam ensures long-trip comfort and helps retain the seats’ appearance over time.

Sold Properties

Recently SOLD Cleveland County Properties Neighborhood

Sales Price

Beds

F/H Baths

Garage

Year Built

Sq. Ft

Lot Sq. Ft

Blue Creek Estates

$775,000

5

5/0

3

2003

5,278

87,686

West Norman

$700,000

4

3/1

3

1975

5,726

438,214

Fountain View

$685,000

4

4/1

3

2014

3,786

20,979

Las Colinas

$679,900

4

4/1

3

2015

4,024

11,849

Hallbrooke

$607,500

5

3/1

3

2015

3,900

13,424

Brookhaven

$575,000

4

3/1

3

2007

4,100

10,454

Brookhaven

$549,000

4

3/1

3

2000

3,906

12,632

Trophy Club

$532,500

4

3/1

3

1993

3,656

12,880

Cascata Lakes

$530,000

4

4/1

3

2005

4,032

15,246

Turtle Lake

$529,900

4

3/2

4

2010

3,817

67,387

Meadow Lake Farms

$496,800

3

2/2

4

2015

3,477

10,454

Cascata Lakes

$495,000

4

3/1

3

2014

3,695

14,374

Classen Miller

$480,000

4

3/0

2

2014

2,950

34,412

Hilltop Lakes

$480,000

3

4/0

4

1975

4,472

148,540

Grandview Estate

$470,000

4

2/1

3

1976

3,300

87,120

Waggoners First

$450,000

3

3/0

2

1910

2,250

16,117

Olde West

$444,000

4

3/1

2

2004

3,362

243,064

We don’t plant signs.

We sell houses.

JERICA POUND REALTY GROUP 905 24th Avenue N.W. Norman, Oklahoma 73069 www.jasonandjerica.com

CALL TODAY TO OBTAIN YOUR UNIQUE MARKET ANALYSIS. Jason Pound: 405.317.4556 jason.pound@kw.com

Jerica Pound: 405.317.7858 jericapound@kw.com February 2016 | Cleveland County Lifestyle

27

Driver’s Notebook

(CON TI N UED)

Additional interior features, all standard, include keyless entry and push-button start; electric telescoping/tilting steering column; heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel with wood accents; and a wireless phone-charging provision on the center console. Other amenities include a concealed center-stack storage with motorized door; tri-zone climate control; and fold-flat second- and third-row seats, with standard power-folding third row.

Heated and cooled seats are standard in the front; second-row bucket sets also have standard heat.

SOME OTHER EXCITING FEATURES YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW ABOUT:

• Available in the following exterior colors: Gray Silk Metallic, Red Passion Tintcoat, Crystal White Tricoat and Dark Emerald Metallic, all new in 2016, as well as Majestic Plum Metallic, Radiant Silver Metallic, Black Raven, Silver Coast Metallic, Terra Mocha Metallic and Dark Granite Metallic • Standard rear spoiler on the liftgate houses a rear window wiper that remains hidden when not in use • A range of choices for interior colors and seating appointments, including leather seating surfaces with mini-perforated inserts, in Jet Black or Shale with Cocoa accents (Luxury and Premium collections available with all-leather seats) • Active safety features to help protect occupants before, during and after a collision, such as front and rear automatic braking that relies on short-range radar technology and ultrasonic sensors to help the driver avoid front and rear low-speed collisions via a progression of alerts that extend to complete braking, if necessary • A Surround Vision systems, standard on all models, that uses cameras to provide a 360-degree birds-eye view of the SUV via the CUE color display screen (an update for 2016 allows the driver to select a front-camera-only view) 28

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

business directory ART & PHOTOGRAPHY HOME SERVICES Crimsy Photography

by Linda & Shanee (405) 514-5140 crimsyphotography.com

AUTOMOTIVE

Seth Wadley Auto Group (855) 984-6432 sethwadley.com

EDUCATION

All Saints Catholic School (405) 447-4600 allsaintsnorman.org Community Christian School (405) 329-2500 communitychristianschool.com Pioneer Library System (405) 801-4556 justsoyouknow.us

Oz Saferooms (405) 672-8400 ozsaferooms.com MaidOK (405) 447-4964 maidok.com

Signature Custom Pools (405) 640-7007 signaturecustompools.com

MEDICAL CLINICS & FACILITIES Valir Health (405) 553-1272 valir.com

OTHER

John M Ireland Funeral Home (405) 799-1200 johnirelandfuneralhome.com

FASHION & ACCESSORIES

PROPERTY & REAL ESTATE

Huntington Fine Jewelers (405) 692-4300 huntingtonfinejewelers.com

Jerica Pound Realty Group, KW (405) 317-4556 jasonandjerica.com

Eye Care Oklahoma (405) 703-8404 eyecareok.com

Bare Property Management, Inc (405) 366-7368 bpmok.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES RESTAURANTS, & PLANNING FOOD & BEVERAGE Supreme Lending Oliveto Italian Bistro - Foster Team (405) 735-5553 (405) 696-0072 olivetobistro.com charlesfoster.supremelending.com

HOME BUILDERS & REMODELERS

Rivers’ Edge Countertops Inc (405) 387-2930 riversedgecountertops.com

HOME DESIGN & FURNISHINGS

Brand Name Mattress Gallery (405) 799-3700 brandnamemattressgallery.com Metro Flooring & Design (405) 703-4085 metroflooring.net

SALONS & SPAS Nurture Day Spa (405) 928-4434 nurturedayspaok.com

SENIOR LIVING & SERVICES Legend Senior Living (405) 691-2300 legendseniorliving.com

SPECIALTY SHOPS Backwoods (405) 573-5199 backwoods.com

February 2016 | Cleveland County Lifestyle

29

Lifestyle Calendar

February FIRST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH

scopic discoveries, he was experimenting with lenses to magnify the small. Another member of the Lincei, Johann Faber, named Galileo’s new instrument a microscope.

EVERY SECOND FRIDAY OF THE MONTH FROM 6-9 P.M. 2ND FRIDAY ART WALK DOWNTOWN NORMAN

FREE FIRST MONDAY FOR KIDS

2nd Friday Norman Art Walk is a monthly, citywide celebration of

SAM NOBLE MUSEUM

art–a collaboration between artists, art organizations and businesses,

Enjoy complimentary admission to the museum for children 17 and

brought to you by the Norman Arts Council. All events are compli-

under. General museum admission applies to visitors 18 and over.

mentary and open to the public. 2ndfridaynorman.com/

FEBRUARY 2 - 14

THROUGH FEB. 7

IMMORTALES EXHIBIT

DISNEY’S THE LION KING JR.

FRED JONES JR. MUSEUM OF ART

SOONER THEATRE

Immortales: The Hall of Emperors of the Capitoline Museums,

Disney’s The Lion King has captivated the imagination of audiences world-

Rome brings to the U.S. for the first time a selection of 20 busts from

wide. Now, for the first time, the African savannah comes to life onstage

the collection of the world’s oldest museum, the Capitoline in Rome.

with students in the starring roles. Join Simba, Rafiki and an unforgettable

The exhibition offers a survey of Roman portraiture from the age of Au-

cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle and back

gustus (1st century, B.C.) to the late Roman Empire (5th century, A.D.).

again in this inspiring coming-of-age tale. Tickets $10; call 321.9600.

ou.edu/fjjma.html

Soonertheatre.org/

THROUGH SUNDAY, APRIL 3

FEBRUARY 6

GALILEO’S WORLD: AN ARTFUL OBSERVATION OF THE COS-

DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE

MOS EXHIBIT

EMBASSY SUITES CONFERENCE CENTER

FRED JONES JR. MUSEUM OF ART

Yellow Rose Dance, 2:30-4 p.m.; Purple Rose Dance, 5-6:30 p.m.; Red

In the Starry Messenger (1610), Galileo reported his discovery of four

Rose Dance, 7:30-9 p.m.Tickets are dance-specific and sell out quick-

satellites of Jupiter and mountains on the moon. These sensation-

ly; to purchase the $15 tickets, visit Normanok.gov/Parks/Daddy-

al

discoveries

daughter-dance-test. For girls ages 4 to 14 and the special men in

would have been impossi-

their lives. Sponsored by the City of Norman Parks and Recreation

ble were it not for Galileo’s

Department. Light refreshment included in ticket price.

telescopic

training and experience in Renaissance art. Present-

FEBRUARY 6

ed in conjunction with OU's

NORMAN MARDI GRAS PARADE

university-wide

MAIN AND JONES STREETS, NORMAN

“Galileo’s

World” initiative,

THROUGH SUNDAY, FEB. 21 COLLISION AND CREATION EXHIBIT

Inspired by creative family and friends in our small and fun business community, this parade is all about families and the community that rallies the creative spirit to shake off winter and welcome spring.

SAM NOBLE OKLAHOMA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

2 AND 7 P.M.

Collision and Creation: Indigenous Arts of the Americas 1890-2015 show-

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

cases ethnographic arts created by Native peoples of the Americas

CHESAPEAKE ENERGY ARENA

between 1890 and 2015. Contrary to predictions of Natives’ cultural as-

The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that com-

similation and political extinction, the indigenous peoples of the Ameri-

bines athleticism, theater and comedy. For kids and families alike.

cas survived and maintained their distinct cultural identities.

Tickets $19 and up. For tickets, visit http://Arenaokc.com/

THROUGH AUG.31

FEBRUARY 7

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE LYNX EXHIBIT

FAMILY DAY

SAM NOBLE MUSEUM

FRED JONES JR. MUSEUM OF ART

Galileo and the Academy of the Lynx were responsible for the first

Explore art in the museum’s special exhibitions, and enjoy a variety

published report of observations made with a microscope, as well

of hands-on art activities for the entire family. Travel to the stars with

as with the telescope. At the same time Galileo was making his tele-

Galileo and embark upon An Artful Observation of the Cosmos.

30

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

FEBRUARY 7

Popular Culture: Case Studies in the History of Science, Technolo-

SUTTON CONCERT SERIES

gy and Media.” The lecture will be followed, weather permitting, by a

SHARP CONCERT HALL, CATLETT MUSIC CENTER

sky watch hosted by the OU Observatory on the museum lawn.

Featuring the OU Symphony Orchestra 4x4 Competition Winners.

Tickets $9 adults, $5 for students, faculty and staff, and senior adults,

FEB 12-27

$10 at the door. Call 325.4101.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM OKLAHOMA CITY CIVIC CENTER MUSIC HALL

FEB. 7 AND 21

Arguably William Shakespeare's most popular comedy, A Midsummer

EAGLE WATCH

Night's Dream is a magical mix of romance, fantasy and slapstick phys-

LAKE THUNDERBIRD NATURE CENTER

ical comedy. A Valentine's comedy like none other, it is the perfect treat

After a short informational presentation at the nature center, partici-

for your sweetheart! For tickets and times, visit: Okcciviccenter.com

pants will drive to designated spots around the lake to look for eagles.

Reservations are required. Call Ernie Martin at 321.4633.

FEBRUARY 12 DRAMA, THE TROJAN WOMEN

FEBRUARY 9

WEITZENHOFFER THEATRE, FINE ARTS CENTER

PIANO NIGHT AT THE LIBRARY

The Helmerich School of Drama presents Euripides’ dramatic ac-

NORMAN PUBLIC LIBRARY WEST

count of the havoc and ravages of the Trojan War and the noble wom-

Featuring talented students from the University of Oklahoma. Call

en who survive it. Performances also scheduled at 8 p.m. Feb. 13, 18,

701.2644 for information on this and other events scheduled at Nor-

19 and 20 and at 3 p.m. Feb. 21. For ticket information, call 321.4101.

man Public Library West.

FEBRUARY 14

FEBRUARY 11

SECOND SUNDAY POETRY READING

GALILEO’S WORLD LECTURE AND SKY WATCH

THE DEPOT

SAM NOBLE MUSEUM

Featuring 2015-16 Oklahoma Poet Laureate Benjamin Meyers, the au-

Featuring Jared Buss, curator of the “Quest for other planets” exhibit

thor of two books of poetry, Lapse Americana and Elegy for Trains. He

on the main floor of Bizzell Memorial Library, on "The Space Age and

CONTINUED >

MEET. EAT. UNWIND. Join us for your special valentines dinner

Here, neighborhood dining meets Italian bistro.

Tuscany meets hometown. And friends meet friends for artisan-inspired cuisine.

Happy Hour 4 to 6 M-F Half price apps and pizzas after 8 PM everyday

1301 S I-35 Service Rd Moore, Oklahoma 73160 | 405.735.5553 | oivetobistro.com February 2016 | Cleveland County Lifestyle

31

Lifestyle Calendar

(CON TI N UED)

has been honored with the Oklahoma Book Award from the Oklahoma Center for the Book and with a Tennessee Williams Scholarship from the Sewanee Writers’ Conference. Complimentary admission.

FEBRUARY 14 WINTER WIND CONCERT THE DEPOT Featuring two-time Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter activist Eliza Gilkyson. Gilkyson, who has become one of the most respected musicians in folk, roots and Americana circles, has appeared

on

National

Public Radio, Austin City Limits and Sirius/XM, and has toured worldwide as a solo artist as well as in support of other prominent artists. Admission is $20; call 307.9320.

FEBRUARY 16 WALKING TOUR FRED JONES JR. MUSEUM OF ART Museum exhibition curator Francesca Giani will lead a walking tour of Galileo’s World: An Artful Observation of the Cosmos.

FEBRUARY 19 MASALA WORLD MUSIC SERIES SHARP CONCERT HALL, CATLETT MUSIC CENTER Celtic Music and Dance, Sharp Concert Hall, Catlett Music Center. Call 325.4101 for ticket information.

32

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

HURRY IN! FOR INCREDIBLE PRESIDENTS DAY MATTRESS SAVINGS!

FEBRUARY 21 AN AFTERNOON WITH JASON SCOTT NORMAN PUBLIC LIBRARY WEST Featuring the lead man of the jazz/pop group The Dulcets, who brings a multifaceted sound to his performances.

FEBRUARY 21 CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY THELMA GAYLORD PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE, OKLAHOMA CITY CIVIC CENTER MUSIC HALL In addition to orchestral arrangements, this concert features the evolution of the African

FREE BOXSPRING 400

UP TO $ OR SAVE

on a Serta ® Adjustable Mattress Set*

Gel Memory Foam or Hybrid Technology - Serta makes it easy to choose!

American influence in America, including

The comfort of memory foam infused with the support and cooling touch of gel.

Blues, Jazz, Gospel and Rap. Join us for a celebration of this uniquely American music! For ticket information, visit okcciviccenter.com/

Flat Set Price after FREE Boxspring Savings

LUNCH AND LISTEN NORMAN PUBLIC LIBRARY WEST Featuring the library’s baby grand piano and

NEW LOWER PRICE! Motion Signature™ Adjustable Set Price after Adjustable Base Savings

Genius

$1374

$2874

$2874

Savant Plush or Firm

$1999

$4799

$4799

Prodigy

$1774

$3274

$3274

Vivacious

$2799

$5599

$5599

Queen Size

FEBRUARY 24

LIMITED TIME ONLY! Motion Perfect® II Adjustable Set Price after Adjustable Base Savings

King Size

Anniversary Special Edition Queen Super Pillow Top Set

Queen Size

King Size

$

599

LIMIT 2 PER CUSTOMER

a talented array of performers. Call 701.2644 for more information and other Norman Pub-

A unique hybrid of dual-action gel memory foam and Serta’s most advanced innerspring.

lic Library West events.

Photo shown for illustration only.

Actual product may vary.

FEBRUARY 25 GALILEO’S WORLD SYMPOSIUM SAM NOBLE MUSEUM The signature event for OU’s “Galileo’s

Flat Set Price after FREE Boxspring Savings

$1074

Alvani Plush

Queen Size

LIMITED TIME ONLY!

NEW LOWER PRICE!

Motion Perfect® II Adjustable Set Price after Adjustable Base Savings

Motion Signature™ Adjustable Set Price after Adjustable Base Savings

$2574

$2574

Fawnridge Plush or Firm Comfort WAS NOW

999

$

Alvani Plush

$1499

$4299

$4299

King Size

World” exhibition will consist of an all-day

Queen Size

Bartel PT

$1274

$2774

$2774

lecture series featuring noted scholars from

Alita SPT iProfiles

$2199

$4999

$4999

King Size

$

799

Creighton Plush Firm or PT Comfort WAS NOW $

Queen Flat Set

1299

1099

$

Queen Flat Set

$

899

Queen Flat Set

Brookshaw Plush Firm or PT Comfort WAS NOW $

1099

Allencrest SPT Comfort NOW

WAS

$

1399

1199

$

Queen Flat Set

across the country on the topic of Galileo and the impact of the Scientific Revolution on modern research and innovation.

FEBRUARY 28 WINTER WIND/JAZZ IN JUNE CONCERT THE DEPOT Featuring Bill “Watermelon Slim” Homans, a musical artist known for his raw, impassioned intensity. HARP Magazine wrote, “From sizzling slide guitar…to nitty-gritty harp blowing…to a gruff, resonating Okie twang, Slim delivers acutely personal workingman blues with both hands on the wheel of life.” Admis-

So Comfortable, You’ll Never Count These Guys Again.™

FREE

Local Delivery

FREE 6 mos

**Source: Furniture Today Top U.S. Bedding Producers, June 16th 2015.

The Best Buy Seal and other licensed materials are registered certification marks and trademarks of Consumers Digest Communications, LLC, used under license. For award information, visit ConsumersDigest.com.

WomanCertified inc. does not in any way endorse any business, brand, product and/or service, but instead reports

Set Up & Removal Same as Cash WAC the collective opinion and judgment of female customers. Visit www.womenschoiceaward.com to learn more.

*Purchase any Serta iComfort® or iSeries® mattress set between February 3, 2016 and February 29, 2016 and receive your choice of either a free standard box spring (same size as the mattress purchased) or up to $400 off a qualified Serta adjustable foundation. Savings offers on the adjustable foundations will vary by size and are available only with the Motion Perfect® II and Motion Signature™ adjustable foundation models. Maximum $400 savings applies only to king size adjustable mattress sets that include two Twin XL adjustable foundation pieces. Offer available only at participating retailers in the United States and the District of Columbia. This offer may not be applied to previous purchases and cannot be combined with any other offer. Void where prohibited by law. Visit www.serta.com to find participating retailers. See store for details.© 2016 Serta, Inc.

NO INTEREST FINANCING WAC • OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • SAME DAY DELIVERY BRAND

NAME

MATTRESS GALLERY 405.799.3700

sion $20; call 307.9320.

www.brandnamematressgallery.com February 2016 | Cleveland County Lifestyle

33

Parting Thoughts

Birds on a Wire LET THIS MAGAZINE BE YOUR 'WIRE' WORDS | KENDRA MATHEWSON

O

ne of my dear friends is a painter who sees the world through her amazing artist eyes. When she was the newbie in our neighborhood, her heart was sensitive to how to integrate her family into the community. Driving one day, she noticed how birds perched on a telephone wire seemed to choose when to gather, and who to pause with. As she watched the birds sit, and then come and go, those birds spoke to her of how we create community, who we keep counsel with, and even the dynamic nature of the process.

She had moved in down the street, and it was my love of her work that initially drew us together. We shared a moment of connection on my front porch steps, and lingered like the birds chatting on the telephone wire, before we flew off back to our hectic lives. Over the years, through working on house projects, painting together, building a club, learning new skills together, cooking meals together, playing cards as couples, we’d pause from the “flights” our lives demanded (me flying around in my minivan and she in her Mini Cooper) to sit like those birds on a wire and talk over tea. This is how we became friends.

That is community. That is how community begins and how it grows.

These one-on-one connections expand and extend and become a beautiful web of interconnectedness. Through words, stories, shared experiences and common interests, we find inspiration to create our communities.

My friend’s keen observations became the main theme of a series that has become her signature. The beauty of her Birds on a Wire

34

Cleveland County Lifestyle | February 2016

series, and her reflections on community, have inspired me to embrace and celebrate more the important place it has in our lives. We live in such an individualistic society that our personal empowerment sometimes overshadows the significance of our need for each other.

Like the ingredients of an exceptional recipe, or the materials used to construct a quality home, a community is only as good as the people who comprise it. Because the people are who ignite an idea, imagine a future, share an event, take the bull by the horns, see a need and fill it, spread the word about a new business, open their home to new families, bring a meal when there’s an illness, invest in a neighbor or believe in a student, give witness to struggles and celebrate successes.

Our magazine is your “wire.” Let us pause to read the stories that have been inspired by our community, to drink in the beautiful photographs that paint the story of us. Email your editor and publisher, or better yet reach out and enjoy a cup of coffee together. Let us stop here in the pages of our publication each month and celebrate like birds on a wire, before we f ly off back to our busy lives. You inspire us.