Moore Monthly - April 2020

APRIL 2020 • MOOREMONTHLY.COM

MOORE RALLIES TO FACE ADVERSITY…AGAIN

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VOL. 15 • NO. 4 • APRIL 2020

MOORE STRONG

9 20 24

Still reeling from a tragedy that stole three high school students, the Moore Public School district faces another devastating challenge in the form of the COVID-19 virus. How the entire community is rising above that challenge.

Watching your costs?

So are we.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF COVID-19 CHAOS It might be easy to allow the chaos and disruption caused by a once-in-a-generation pandemic drag you into a sense of hopelessness. Instead of hiding under the blankets, check out this stunning list of free resources, including the opportunity to audit classes at Ivy League universities.

MOORE MONTHLY’S NEW APP There’s a new app in town and it’s going to change the way you interact with your community. Allow us to introduce you to Version 1 of the new Moore Monthly app and give you a peek at what lies in the future.

STRESSFUL EATING

34

Quarantine and isolation can slow down the pace of life and create the temptation to overeat or pick less healthy foods.

A few simple steps can jump start healthy eating even in the most trying of circumstances.

8 Letter from the Editor 14 Facing Grief, Fear and Anxiety

29 Crossword Puzzle

15

April Showers Bring Seasonal Allergies for Many Oklahomans

16 Entrepreneur’n Moore

Tips to Stop Stress Eating

by Choosing Hope

Tribute to Rachel Freeman, Kolby Crum and Yuridia Martinez What is a Balance Sheet, and How Do You Read One?

17 Sketches of Moore The Town Blacksmiths

20 Taking Advantage of the

COVID-19 Chaos

22 Chamber Spotlight Common-Sense and COVID-19

25

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26 Taste Local

Singing a Song of the Perfect Donut: Donut Palace

28 Business Spotlight Brandon’s Plumbing

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Park Places

33 Moore Healthy

34 Ask a Dietician 37 Senior Living

Busines is as “usual” as it is “unusual”

38 Calendar of Events 40 Library Schedules 41 Book Reviews

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Letter from the Editor Residents of the City of Moore are no stranger to difficult circumstances. We’ve been caught dead center in the crosshairs of two of the most devastating tornadoes any community could face.

You might say that we’ve learned how to take a punch. But even the most experienced boxers can get caught off-guard from time to time.

This is one of those times. A once-in-a-generation situation. It is during these extraordinary times that the residents of Moore have consistently stepped into the gap, setting aside their own concerns to look to the needs of others.

Nowhere is this truer than the Moore Public Schools community.

Moore High School was dealt a devastating blow on February 3rd when a driver, allegedly under the influence of alcohol or drugs, plowed into a group of MHS cross country athletes on a training run. Three students died in the tragedy. Three others were injured.

Now comes another cruel blow. The COVID-19 pandemic has ended the school year a full two months early. Gone are many of the familiar high school rites of passage like state athletic and extracurricular competitions, concerts, proms, parties, and graduation. The warm path through the end of the school year into summer has been replaced by quarantine and distance learning.

And in the “when it rains it pours” category: a fire at our printer has added to the obstacles of social distancing and self-quarantine we’ve faced. We apologize for the delay in this month’s issue!

In this month’s magazine, we look at how our schools are rising above a one-two punch that should devastate. We hope you are as encouraged as we are by the strength and courage on display during these challenging times.

Editor Moore Monthly

Publisher Brent Wheelbarger Writers Rob Morris For ad placement, specifications and rates: call 405.793.3338 or email Rebekah@mooremonthly.com

104 SE 3rd St. Moore, OK 73160 • 405.793.3338 • trifectacomm.net Moore Monthly is a monthly publication by Trifecta Communications, serving Moore, South OKC & Norman. Moore Monthly is free to the public. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Moore Monthly is not responsible for the care and/or return of unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, photography, books, or any other material that is submitted for possible publication.

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MOORE RALLIES TO FACE ADVERSITY…AGAIN APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 9

STORY & PHOTOS BY ROB MORRIS

R

esidents of the City of Moore are used to tragedy. We’ve seen the worst of it, having been hit by nine tornadoes between 1998 and 2015. The dates of the two worst pop up in our minds like familiar road signs marking a long and challenging journey.

else we’ve experienced.”

It began in December when Moore High School senior, Emily Gaines, was killed in a collision with an off-duty police officer. Gaines was on her way to take the ACT when the accident happened.

May 3, 1999.

May 20, 2013.

Now another storm is blowing through. Residents are being tested again. And once again, the Moore Public School (MPS) district finds itself in the center of that tempest. Robert Romines, the MPS School Superintendent, says its painfully familiar territory.

“We’re grappling with the fact that we have to make difficult decisions,” said Romines. “Unfortunately, we have become experts in the field of natural disasters and tragedies. It’s obviously not something we wish for ourselves or any other group. And this one is different than anything 10 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

Then came the first Monday in February and another blow. A group of Moore High School runners gathered outside the football stadium field house, near the corner of Main Street and Bouziden Drive. The entrance to the athletic facility parking area. Next to the familiar and peaceful pond where ducks and Canada geese are often seen.

Laughs and smiles as they stretched. Teasing each other. Exchanging stories about their weekends and plans for the weeks ahead. The school day was done, and the track season was coming.

It was time to train. Time to run.

None of them had ever met the driver of the

truck that was, at that moment, headed their way.

None of them had ever even heard his name.

None of them knew that he was under the influence or that he was grieving the death of his own adult son in an auto accident that had happened less than 24-hours before.

In the blink of an eye, the truck driven by 57-year-old Max Townsend swerved into the group of runners. The accident claimed the lives of Rachel Freeman, Yuridia Martinez, and Kolby Krum.

“To say that it’s a nightmare for everyone is an understatement.”

“We’ve run through the gamut of emotions,” said Romines. “It’s like being hit with tidal waves over and over again.”

Brian Fitzgerald, the MPS Athletics Director, says it’s an experience that changes who you are.

“To say that it’s a nightmare for everyone is an understatement,” said Fitzgerald, “But navigating through it and now dealing with the current situation, it gives me a whole new appreciation for everyone in our school district and everyone in the Moore community.”

Those most deeply impacted by the Moore High School tragedy in February have spoken in amazement at the response and support they received from all across the area and state. There were basic, but critical acts of service likecreating meal trains for the families of victims. Then there were entire student bodies from opposing high schools showing up for games against the Moore Lions clothed in red-white-and-blue to show their support. That kind of support has continued in the midst of the new reality impacting everyone as we head into April.

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 11

The current situation revolves around the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the threat that has become familiar to everyone as the “Coronavirus.” What began in Wuhan, China, as a distant and unalarming illness has morphed into a deadly once-in-a-generation threat. It has swept away nearly everything considered to be a part of normal life.

Many businesses, considered to be non-essential, have been ordered closed. Restaurant dining rooms are shuttered, and those businesses are limited to drive-thru, curbside pick-up, and delivery. Grocery shelves are utterly empty of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and cleaning wipes.

to the familiar routine of on-campus classes.

Moore Public School students will complete the year via distance and online learning. Athletic and extracurricular events have been canceled, including the state basketball tournament, which was canceled on the day it was supposed to begin.

The schools have also been walloped. The 2019-2020 school year is finished when it comes

These kinds of blows can devastate a school district. Instead, Romines says he has watched in awe and appreciation as everyone across the district – from administrators, teachers, and coaches to support staff and parents – has risen to the occasion with optimism and courage.

“It’s been amazing to see,” said Romines. “Here we are wrestling with our own fear, anger, and frustration, and we have our food services stepping up and provide for the community. We have our teachers organizing parades through their school communities to encourage their students.

So many positive things that help keep our community and families intact.”

And on the athletic and extracurricular side of things, Fitzgerald says he couldn’t be prouder of how everyone is responding.

“I’m just so proud of everyone,” said Fitzgerald. “The kids, the coaches, the teachers have all been amazing. My heart goes out to our kids who

12 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

will miss all those spring and end-of-school-year activities. It’s been tough, but there have been so many positives that have come out of this as well.”

Fitzgerald says the cancellation of an entire season of activities is unprecedented and that it’s going to be a while before we can understand the cost. But the immediate impact is felt most deeply by seniors who count on spring sports and activities to help get into colleges on scholarships.

It also profoundly impacts two of the city’s basketball teams that were expected to perform very well at the state basketball tournament.

“I think I saw it written somewhere that this is the first year since 1918 that we haven’t crowned a state basketball champion in Oklahoma,” said Fitzgerald. “I think the biggest heartache is being felt for the girls at Moore and the boys at Southmoore. Both of those teams were on the right path to accomplish something extraordinary, and that opportunity is now gone.”

Fitzgerald says the coaches, teachers, kids, and parents are working through their disappointment and embracing the more significant lessons to be learned from these extraordinary circumstances.

“I think it gives everyone an appreciation for life,” said Fitzgerald. “We understand that we can’t take any moment for granted, and because of that, we need to focus on embracing and enjoying every opportunity we have.”

Part of embracing the moment is trying to meet the needs inside the MPS district. But Romines says there are a lot of MPS folks working to help

others outside the school community. He believes that the desire to help others comes from having been the recipient of outside help following the 1999 and 2013 tornadoes. It’s a spirit of giving that was on full display as volunteers filled four school district vans with antibacterial wipes, gloves, and hand sanitizer and delivered those supplies to Norman Regional Hospital and the OU Medical Center.

“We’ve been through the wringer and have received wonderful support from

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 13

near and far,” said Romines. “So, it was a great feeling for our folks to be able to come to the aid of our local health agencies and workers by providing items that they desperately need.”

Now comes the challenge of finishing out the 2019-2020 school year. The school year was cut short in the wake of the May 2013 tornado, but while that experience helps a little, Romines says this is an entirely new and challenging circumstance.

“This time around, we’re having to end things six weeks early,” said Romines. “That means we have to look at a lot of ‘rites of passage’ kinds of things. Things like prom, sixth-grade recognition, and awards, assemblies for junior high and high school awards, scholarship nights, National Honor Society induction. It just doesn’t end.”

Moore Public School administrators are meeting regularly to try and address all of these challenges and the new reality of self-isolation, social distancing, and quarantines. Romines says his team hasn’t given up on high school graduation ceremonies just yet.

“We’ve got smart people around the table,” said Romines. “Right now, we’re focusing on sticking with our Plan A on graduation. But we realize that things could look very different, and so we’re doing the best we can to develop a Plan B so that we can end the school year on a high note.”

Facing Grief, Fear and Anxiety

by Choosing Hope

BY ROB MORRIS When the world we’re familiar with tips to one side and becomes uncertain, negative emotions are sure to follow. For a community still grieving the tragicloss of 4 Moore High School students in automobile accidents (1 in December, 3 in February), it may become navigate the unfamiliar landscape we now find ourselves in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marla Mercer-Cole knows this landscape well. She is a licensed professional counselor with undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology, along with being a Certified Bereavement Facilitator. Even more impressive, she is one of Oklahoma’s two Fellows in Thanatology: Death, Dying, and Bereavement.

Mercer-Cole understands all too well that amid our current reality, it can become easy for some to give in to fear and anxiety. She says the most important place to start is to understand the difference between the two.

“It’s important to make a distinction between fear and anxiety,” said Mercer-Cole. “The best way to explain it is that we experience fear over something real while anxiety is all about the ‘what-if’s.’ ”It’s those “what-if’s” that so many people struggle with, sending us down rabbit trails to unhealthy emotional and mental places. Explained concerningCOVID-19, Mercer-Cole says that the reality is that any of us could possibly contract the virus, and fear is a legitimate response to that reality. Beyond that, the unknowns are where anxiety kicks in.

“The reality is that if I get COVID-19, I get it,” said Mercer-Cole. “We can be proactive and do everything we know to do to stay healthy. It’s when we start overthinking all of the unknowns about what would happen if we get it that it turns unhealthy.”

The antidote to fear and anxiety is to be proactive, says Mercer-Cole. Among the things, we can do in this are all of the now-familiar recommendations of social distancing, self-isolation, washing our hands, and cleaning shared surfaces. But it’s also smart to look at ways to reach out beyond our own personal circle and connect with those around us in a safe way.

“We can check in on neighbors or older friends who are sheltering at home,” said Mercer-Cole. “We can drop things they might need on a front doorstep.”

Staying connected with others is a critical activity right now. While it can be somewhat challenging due to the calls for social distancing and quarantine, Mercer-Cole says we live in an age of technology where it’s possible to have that personal connection no matter what our living situation might be. Using chat apps like Google Hangout, Facetime, Zoom, and Facebook Messenger allows us to have a visual connection that can make all the difference in combating fear and anxiety.

“Sometimes, I just need to lay eyeballs on people and see how they’re doing,” said Mercer-Cole. “You can tell so much about how someone is doing by seeing their expressions and their body language, whether their shouldersare hunched and tense.”

Social media and the internet are great ways to stay connected, with a couple of continued on Page 24

14 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

Rachel Freeman Yuridia Martinez Rachel loved God, her friends, and lived with an amazing amount of courage. Her family and friends remember her contagious smile and her loving spirit. They also remember Rachel’s leadership. She was a born leader and a playful sister. Her classmates knew her as a friend to everyone she met.

Her cross country and track teammates remember her as someone who wanted to include everyone and build camaraderie, but also as a tenacious competitor who pushed everyone to achieve excellence. Rachel was also a big part of her church family, participating as a leader in youth group and on mission trips.

Yuridia loved to bake cakes and cookies. Her favorite foods were spaghetti, rice and soup. She played softball, volleyball and track was the latest sport she was involved in. Yuridia was a very competitive girl. She was very involved and loved to serve in her youth group at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She always had a smile on her face and was very playful and was very friendly. Yuridia loved watching movies. She loved doing her nails and her hair, and always wore it straight. Yuridia wanted to be a hairstylist. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Kolby Crum Kolby was loved by many as someone who impacted lives around him daily. He was remembered as kind and hard-working, receiving awards for those qualities beginning in elementary school.

His friends say Kolby always put others before himself and wanted to be the kind of friend who brought joy to others. His teammates remember him as someone who supported everyone on the team, leading by example with a competitive spirit and unrelenting work ethic. Family members say they will always remember his strong faith and take comfort that he finished his race in heaven.

ENTREPRENEUR'N MOORE

What Is a Balance Sheet, and How Do You Read One? A balance sheet is a financial statement that shows you three things about a company: • Assets: How much the company owns • Liabilities: How much the company owes • Shareholder equity: What’s left when you subtract liabilities from assets A balance sheet only shows you a company’s financial status at one point in time. If you want to know how a company’s assets and liabilities have changed over time, you will need to have historical balance sheets to compare.

Analyzing Assets on a Balance Sheet An asset is anything of value the company has. This includes cash, investments and tangible objects. Companies divide their assets into two categories: current assets and long-term assets.

Current assets are things that the company can convert into cash within one year.

This includes cash, investments like stocks

or bonds, prepaid expenses and physical inventory. A balance sheet will break down the value of each type of current asset.

Long-term assets are tangible assets that the company uses over the long term. Examples are property, buildings, furniture, vehicles, equipment and machinery, as well at intangible assets such as patents, copyrights and goodwill. Note that some companies refer to these as “noncurrent assets” or “fixed assets.”

Analyzing Liabilities on a Balance Sheet Liabilities are any money that a business owes. They cover bills for supplies, rent, utilities, company salaries, loans or deferred taxes. Just like assets, there are two types of liabilities: current liabilities, which a company owes within the next year, and long-term liabilities, which the company must pay anytime beyond one year from now.

Current Liabilities Current liabilities include any money

that the company owes to other parties in the short term (one year or less), such as accounts payable, credit card payable, taxes payable, accruals, unearned revenue, interest payable and the current portion of longterm debt.

value of a company. Here are a few:

Long-Term Liabilities If a company borrows money but doesn’t have to pay it back in the short term, it’s accounted for here.

• Debt-to-equity ratio = total liabilities ÷ shareholders’ equity

Bonds Payable Bonds payable include any bond that the company has issued. The value here is the amortized amount of the bond. Amortization is the process of taking an expense and expanding its cost over the life of the expense.

Analyzing Shareholder Equity on a Balance Sheet Shareholders’ equity is the money that goes to a company’s owners or shareholders. You can calculate it simply by subtracting liabilities from total assets. That means shareholders’ equity is also the company’s net income, net worth and overall value.

Retained Earnings Shareholders’ equity tells you how much a company has left after covering its liabilities. If it wanted to, the company could then pay out all of that money to its shareholders. This happens in the form of dividends.

However, it’s more likely that the company reinvests the money into the company.

The money that the company keeps is its retained earnings. Even if a company does pay dividends to shareholders, it may still retain some money.

Share Capital This is the value of what investors have invested in the company. For example, let’s say you start a company and someone invests $100,000 to help you start your company. On a balance sheet, you would count that $100,000 with your cash assets and you would also count it as part of your share capital.

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Stocks You may also see lines in the shareholders’ equity section for stock. Common stock is what most people get when they buy stock through the stock market. Preferred stock entitles the shareholder to a greater claim on the company’s assets and earnings.

What Are the Benefits of Looking at a Balance Sheet?

Investors and lenders can also use the numbers from a balance sheet in some useful financial equations that help analyze the

• Working capital = current assets – current liabilities This is the capital a company has to use in its day-to-day trading operations.

This tells you how much of a company’s financing comes from investors versus creditors. Investors generally consider companies with higher ratios (that is, with more financing from debt) as riskier investments.

Unlike equity, a company needs to pay back all of the debt that it owes. So the more debt a company has, the more it has to make just to pay back that debt. Companies with lower debt to equity ratios are seen as more stable. You may also see the term debt/equity ratio or the abbreviation D/E ratio.

• Quick ratio = (cash and equivalents + marketable securities + accounts receivable) ÷ current liabilities Also known as the acid-test or the liquidity ratio, this is a measurement of a company’s ability to cover its short-term liabilities. A ratio greater than one indicates that the company has enough in cash and cash equivalents to pay its obligations and cover its operations.

• The balance sheet can also tell you things like the length of your accounts receivable or inventory turnover cycle (i.e. the number of times they turn over each year).

An understanding of the balance sheet enables an investor or lender to evaluate the liquidity, solvency, and overall financial position of a company. The concept of liquidity relates to a company’s ability to pay for its near-term operating needs.

Preparing timely and accurate balance sheet for your business along with income statements (profit & loss statements) and statements of cash flows will give you, along with any relevant stakeholders the information to determine the health of your business and the information needed to make really good business decisions.

To learn more or for customized support for your business call Moore Norman Technology Center Business & Industry Coordinator Henry Dumas at 405-801-3540.

Henry Dumas Business Coach ICF Credentialed Coach – PCC linkedin.com/in/henrydumas Moore Norman Technology Center 405-801-3540 • mntc.edu

SKETCHES OF MOORE BY L.T. HADLEY

The Town Blacksmiths H

enry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the description of a profession that for literally thousands of years was critically important to the production of food, clothing and shelter, man’s primary needs. He said, “Under the spreading chestnut tree, the village smithy stands; the smith a mighty man is he with strong and sinewy hands; and the muscles of his mighty arms are strong as iron bands.”

Within days of the April 22, 1889 run, Moore began to attract the blacksmiths.

It was not an easy profession, nor one to lightly enter into.

It required experience and knowledge of the qualities of various metals and their interaction with one another. It required precision and attention to details, patience, physical strength and endurance. Another necessity was to envision a tool or other product described by word of mouth, without plans or dimensions or specific measurements. “It needs to go right on the end of this and kind of bow out, but not too much, and be pretty big, but not too big.”

In the days before specialized equipment that came from factories stocked with spare parts and replacement kits that took the place of repairing parts or actually making them, the blacksmith’s jobs ranged from the delicate repairs to wroughtiron lattices to shoeing horses to pounding out bent or broken plow shares. He made iron wheels for wagons and plows, wagon frames, hoes and shovels. His main tools were tongs, hammers, anvils, forge, coal and bellows.

No one remembers the names and times of most of these blacksmiths, but two of them who served Moore a good part of their lifetimes were Dave Jantz and Joe Chwalinski. Joe was always referred to as “Joe the Blacksmith,” and Dave was simply called, “Dave-Jantz,” as if it were one word.

Joe lived with his parents in a house next to his concrete-block blacksmith shop, east of the Era Drug Store on Main Street. He was a quiet,

unassuming man, steady and strong as his anvil.

For nearly 30 years, Dave’s shop was across the street and half a block west, right next to the Fire Station/City Hall.

He semi-retired in 1962 and moved his shop to N.E. 3rd Street and continued to do mower repairs and light welding and repairs.

Dave’s family moved to Moore when he was 14. He and his brother, Carl, herded the family cattle from the Enid area, fording the Cimarron River. When the father died from contaminated well water, the boys hired out to do farm work. Dave apprenticed himself to K. Neiman’s Blacksmith Shop and worked there for nine years to become a proficient smithy. Then he set up his own shop.

were a definite asset to the town, and he did many of the repair jobs for the city at no cost.

Both Dave-Jantz and Joe the Blacksmith began to see the diminishing need for blacksmiths long before it happened. They had faithfully served the people of the town and surrounding areas during a formative era.

None of the technological advances that have occurred since could have been developed without the groundwork laid by their profession and other hands-on craftsmen. In “Death to King Arthur,” Tennyson wrote, “The old order changeth, yielding place to the new.” And so it is with life.

Note: This edition of Sketches of Moore was published in a previous edition of Moore Monthly.

Dave was interested and involved in the progress of Moore. He served as chairman of the Town Board from 1947 to 1955. For 20 years, he was a town volunteer fireman. His blacksmithing abilities

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 17

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It has been recently remodeled with covered walkways, well-lit ample parking, a mulltude of remodeled office suites with in-suite restrooms, and a large common area with ple plenty of seaang. At nearly 45,000 square feet, the shopping center is comprised of several retail establishments and businesses. Come see what everyone is talking about!

For informaaon on lease space available, please contact Kylee at (405)313-8817 or kgrive@ocosports.com.

Happy Easter!

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BY ROB MORRIS

Taking Advantage of the

Let’s be honest. We were all going stir crazy within a week of the beginning of all this Coronavirus-craziness. And by the time April hits, we’ve made a serious dent in our binge-watching on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney +, and all the other streaming services. The kids are probably bouncing off the walls with cabin fever as well.

updated with videos about computer coding for kids and adults, gardening tips, embroidering tutorials, and book chats. More content is on the way. Here are both sites: Main site: PioneerLibrarySystem.org YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/normanlibrary/featured

But one of the great things about our current technological capabilities is that with this chaos comes a unique opportunity. Something that previous generations have not been able to access. There’s a rapidly expanding pool of online resources that all you to turn your at-home time into fantastic opportunities for self-improvement and education.

Here are just a few of those opportunities (most are FREE!) to get you started.

This is just scratching the surface, folks. More opportunities are being added daily…so if you don’t find something that interests you, use Google to see what else is available.

STUDY AT AN IVY LEAGUE SCHOOL

Would you like to audit some courses at Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Columbia, or Penn? That’s right! The Ivy League is at your fingertips. These are all free courses you can take online across multiple platforms. The courses are split into the following subjects: Computer Science, Data Science, Programming, Humanities, Business, Art & Design, Science, Social Sciences, Health & Medicine, Engineering, Education & Teaching, Mathematics, and Personal Development.

ClassCentral.com

PIONEER LIBRARY SYSTEM

Whether you have a library card or not (and if you don’t…what ARE you thinking?), the Pioneer Library system has resources for you. With a card you can download eBooks and access streaming services through the PLS website. You don’t need a card to access the library’s YouTube page which is being regularly 20 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

FREE E-BOOKS

OK, you’re not going to find Harry Potter or 50 Shades of Whatever Nonsense in this list. But Project Gutenbergy has more than 60,000 free eBooks available for download or online reading. This includes a wide selection of classics like Pride and Prejudice, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Little Women, Moby Dick, Heart of Darkness, Dracula, Adventures of Huckleberry Fin, Peter Pan, and Wuthering Heights. Talk about the perfect time to tackle some literary classics!

If that’s not your cup of tea, you’ll also find odd collections like some of the great science fiction anthologies of the 1930’s and 1940’s.

Gutenburg.org

Reading free ebooks, learning to code, and virtually visiting zoos are some of the many free activities that can be done while practicing social distancing.

LEARN AT HOME

With schools closing their buildings for the remainder of the year, parents might be looking for some resources to augment the distance learning options being offered by school districts. Khan Academy for Kids is one of those sites that can help. It features lessons dozens of videos and thousands of interactive activities for children ages two to seven. The site is free, but does accept donations.

KhanAcademy.org

PHILOSOPHY LECTURES

So, all of this chaos has lead you to dig into the meaning behind life. You’re in luck. There’s a free Google Documents spread sheet that has a comprehensive list of philosophy lectures from some of the world’s leading professors. You’ll find hundreds of video lectures here covering topics from The Problem of Evil to Nietzche. bit.ly/Philosophy_Lectures

CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS

C.S. Lewis is probably best known to the general public as the author of The Chronicles of Narnia. But he was also a brilliant apologist for the Christian faith.

The C.S. Lewis Institute offers an extensive lecture series with study guides on Basic Apologetics (also known as Defending Your Faith). The resources are free, but donations are accepted.

than 22 hours of tutorials that covers scripting and Unity editor essentials…and could be the beginning of a new career for you.

Learn.Unity.Com/course/unity-c-survival-guide

VIRTUAL VISITS

While popular sites like museums, aquariums, zoos, and parks may be closed to the public, many of them offer free virtual tours. Here’s a brief list of some of those options for you and your family: Amnh.org/explore/ology The American Museum of Natural History: you can choose an “Ology” to investigate with your kids. Among the options are archaeology, marine biology, zoology, and astronomy.

AirandSpace.si.edu/anywhere The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum offers 360º immersive views of this wildly popular museum.

OKCZoo.org/okc-zoo-at-two This popular destination may be closed to the public, but the Oklahoma City Zoo@Two Digital Series offers daily videos that give you a breath-takingly close view of the animals they care for.

CSLewisInstitute.org/Basic_Apologetics_Course

LEARN THE C# PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE

If you’ve ever wanted to dive into the world of computer programming and video game development, right now is the perfect time. Unity, a platform used by video game creators and programmers around the world, has made their Unity C# Survival Guide course free for a limited time. It’s a beginner course with more

MontereyBayAquarium.org/animals.live-cams Tune into a live web cams and check out sea horses, otters, sharks, jelly fish, and more. The Monterey Bay Aquarium has ten live cams views you can choose from.

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 21

BY KIM BROWN

Chamber Spotlight:

Common-Sense and COVID-19

With the impacts of COVID-19 on our local business community already in effect, in addition to good hand hygiene and common-sense precautions with your employees and patrons, the Moore Chamber of Commerce encourages all local businesses to consider the following: • For your business: Prepare for negative economic impacts.

• Capital: Create, confirm, or expand your line of credit.

• Staffing: Develop staffing plans for varying levels of customers and revenue (what does an 80% scenario plan look like?).

• Insurance: Check with your insurance provider to understand your coverage and options.

• For your customers: Make your place of business as hygienic as possible and communicate what you are doing to customers so they feel comfortable visiting.

• For your employees: Check, modify, and communicate HR policies regarding remote working, sick-leave, and compensation during health crisis. Try to ensure your policies are as flexible and non-punitive as possible. Sick employees should be encouraged to stay home.

• For your workflow: Cross-train employees for key functions so that daily

22 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

schedules can continue relatively uninterrupted by potential employee absences.

Where relevant, consider staggering start and end times to reduce large numbers of people coming together at the same time; and create and test remote employee collaboration systems (consider apps such as Slack and Zoom).

• For your cash flow: Communicate with your landlord (or tenants) and lenders about expectations and request flexibility (better to have that conversation now).

• For yourself: Eat well, sleep, and exercise. Taking care of yourself in this time of stress will improve your resistance to infection and resilience in managing difficult business situations. And of course, wash your hands all the dang time and don’t touch your face, or anyone else, for that matter.

• For your Chamber: For us to best serve you, we need to know and share what our members are doing to manage risks. To that end, please tell us what what’s working and what you need from us!

Our Chamber office will serve a “Handshake-Free Zone” and we are a postponing upcoming Chamber events for the time being. Please keep an eye on our website and social media accounts for updates on events, Chamber news, and resources to help your business weather this trying time.

Together we are stronger.

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Choosing Hope

provisions.“Facebook is a favorite for me,” said Mercer-Cole, “But one of the things I seemore and more of is people asking others to leave politics out of the discussion.”

Mercer-Cole also cautions against endless surfing on the internet, especially spending too much time on sources that generate anxiety. She recommends getting your information from trusted sites instead of giving in to the waves of insanity that seem to be washing over everyone online right now.“ Limit how often you check on things,” said Mercer-Cole. “Don’t spend too much time with the news.

Instead, check the CDC and World Health Organization websites for updates. And if you need to, just sign off and step away from it all for a while.”

Then there’s the genuine problem of grief. The COVID-19 pandemic is following closely on the heels of a very tragic loss for the Moore High School and Moore Public Schools community. In addition to that, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an early end to the school year and a loss of many activities that are important to students and their families.

24 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

from Page 14

“These students have experienced physical death, and that is extraordinarilydifficult for anyone,” said Mercer-Cole. “But now they’ve also seen some of the most important traditions of their senior year taken away as well. Both ofthese things are losses. In truth, all change is loss.”

Mercer-Cole encourages those experiencing any loss to give themselves permission to accept the loss as a valid emotion.

“It’s o.k. to feel the way you’re feeling,” said Mercer-Cole. “Grief is the normal human response to these things, and it makes sense that you would feel this way. When these kinds of things happen to us, it opens up this wholePandora’s Box and the idea that the world is not safe. If it could happen to my friends, then it could happen to me.”

Mercer-Cole says a healthy way to deal with grief is to name it and then find a way to express it.

“Tears are obviously the number one way people relate to grief,” said Mercer-Cole. “They serve a function and are stress relievers. Writing is also a proven therapeutic technique. Just find something

that works for you and let your grief out.”

One more important thought from Mercer-Cole on facing grief: we never trulyget over loss. It becomes a part of who we are.“ This is a long and hard road,” said Mercer-Cole.

“Grief isn’t the kind of process where one day it’s just over. There’s nothing wrong with you if you fall apart for a moment six months from now. The memories will pop up from time to time. We’re all knocked off balance. Just take the time to acknowledge the feelings are valid and acknowledge what you’ve lost. Then find a healthy way to express those feelings.”

Finally, Mercer-Cole urges people to simply, “Choose Hope.”

“Try and find three things every day that you can be thankful for,” said Mercer-Cole. “It can be something as simple as freshly-mown grass or a full moon or some colorful flowers. Studies show that gratitude and thankfulness actually change our brain chemistry and help us to survive these difficult times.”

BY ROB MORRIS

Moore Monthly is at Your Fingertips with New App We are very excited to introduce the new Moore Monthly app for iPhone and Android! The app is available for download from the Apple Store and Google Play and gives users the ability to access all of the information available on the Moore Monthly website.

You’ll find online versions of stories from each new issue of the Moore Monthly magazine along with photo galleries and videos that keep you plugged in to all aspects of the Moore community, from sports and festivals like the Celebration in the Heartland to election updates and business openings.

In addition to all the content you would expect to find in our award-winning lifestyle magazine, you’ll also have the opportunity to win some wonderful prizes in the months ahead by accessing our new,

“freebie” function.

Each week in April we will be partnering with local restaurants and stores to give a lucky winner a gift card or prize. The winning will continue throughout the year with a wide variety of gifts available. Users will enter each individual contest as they are opened and a winner will be announced live on our Facebook page at the end of the entry period.

If you prefer an alternative way to enter the individual contests, you can email a request to rob@mooremonthly.com and receive a code that will enter you in the free giveaway.

Visit the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app now.

Freebies

Freebie Code

Moore Monthly app freebie page

Apple Store download

Google Play Store download APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 25

PHOTOS AND STORY BY ROB MORRIS

Singing a Song of the

Perfect Donut

Every morning at 3:00 a.m., the music starts for Thit Kim, owner of the Donut Palace in Moore. For Kim, making donuts is every bit as intense as a great singer performing in concert.

he struggled with the immigration process of bringing her over to the United States.

“It took almost five years to get her over because for some reason, the immigration officials suspected that we had a fake marriage,” said Kim. “We had met in 2010 and married in July of 2011. It normally takes 8-months to a year, so we spent all that time communicating by phone and internet until I could get her here.”

“People that are great at singing songs focus on singing each note perfectly,” said Kim. “When they do this, the music is so romantic and beautiful. For me, it’s the same way with making donuts. Every step in the process is like singing a perfect note in a song. If you focus on each step you end up with a beautiful donut.”

His wife was finally allowed to immigrate in December of 2015. Since that time Kim, who goes by the nickname of “Polo,” and his wife come to work each morning at 3 a.m. to begin the process of making some of the area’s best donuts.

Kim’s passion for producing the perfect donut has generated a loyal customer base and earned the Donut Palace a first-place finish in this year’s Best of Moore and South Oklahoma City awards. As excited as he was about winning, his customers were even more thrilled.

“Our customers are like family to us,” said Kim, “So it’s been really fun when they come in the door and see the trophy on our counter. They are very happy for us.”

Kim, who is originally from Cambodia, moved from San Diego to Oklahoma in 2008. He says that he worked in a donut shop and didn’t really like it. But then came the chance to have his own donut shop in 2013.

26 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

“I bought the business on May 1 of 2013,” said Kim. “I learned to make donuts from a friend who owned the Donut Palace in Noble. He trained me how to make the donuts and I’ve kind of added my own touch to the process.”

At first, he ran the operation by himself, coming in at 1 a.m. daily to begin the process of making donuts.

Kim’s wife was still living in Cambodia at the time as

“At 4 a.m. we start to roll the donuts,” said Kim. “And then we begin to cook them at 5 a.m. so they’re hot and fresh each morning.”

Kim says that all of the products at the Donut Palace are made fresh each day. At the end of each day’s shift, the leftover products are disposed of so that customers arriving each morning will have the freshest donuts, kolaches, and other pastries available.

Their dedication to the art of making perfect donuts has generated a loyal customer base.

Donut Palace 900 SW 4th Street 405-799-7530

Monday – Friday: 5 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Saturday/Sunday: 5 a.m. – 1 p.m.

“We have so many regular customers,” said Kim. “And a lot of them come in almost every day. We’re so proud to be a part of a great community like Moore because there are so many wonderful people here.”

Even with a wide selection of donuts and pastries, Kim says the basic glazed donuts are the most popular. And for good reason. They are among the lightest and most delicious donuts you’ll ever have a chance to eat.

Kim and his wife also have a great memory and so, if you’re not one their regular customers, you’ll likely be found out and treated like royalty.

“We like for new customers to get a chance to try some different things,” said Kim. “So we will always give them something for free so that they can experience a sampling of what we have.”

And of course, there’s the music that Kim uses to guide him as he makes those donuts, seven days a week.

“I know it sounds kind of silly, this idea of music and donuts,” said Kim. “But it works for me and it means our customers get great donuts. So that’s good enough for me!”

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 27

BY ROB MORRIS

Brandon’s Plumbing

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT:

17450 S. Sooner Road 405-799-5678 Available 24 Hours BrandonsPlumbing.com

that’s definitely been a learning curve, but while you can’t help everyone, you can make a difference, and I love to see them grow.”

The origin of Brandon’s Plumbing takes us back more than 30 years. The location, appropriately enough, was in a shoulder-deep ditch where Brandon Morrison was working for another local plumbing company with a friend named Ed. Erin Morrison, Operations Manager, says the story really does sum up the company’s long-time commitment to the plumbing trade.

“There looked at each other and said, ‘We should have our own plumbing company!’” said Erin. “That’s exactly what they did, and they both have their own companies and are still friends to this day.”

Brandon Morrison is originally from the Moore area and has lived here all his life. He and Erin were introduced by a mutual friend after she graduated from Oklahoma State University. The couple has been together for 20-years, married for 15-years.

“I originally started out in television advertising sales,” said Erin. “I started working for him around a year later.”

Erin says Brandon’s Plumbing has been successful because of their commitment to excellent work and taking care of their employees.

“Our company motto is, ‘Make the company so great people will want to work for free.’” Said Erin. “Loving our employees is something we wholeheartedly believe in. Some don’t get it, so 28 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

The Brandon’s Plumbing team travels all over the country during the year, studying best practices and different plumbing management strategies. Over their 30-years of existence, the company has grown to a point where they run around 9 trucks with 5 people on staff in the office. Brandon’s Plumbing specializes in water leak detections and sewer repair, with the capability to send cameras about 125feet down lines. The company is also set up with four excavators, a couple of Bobcat excavators, along with a hydro-jet and directional drilling machine. Erin says each Brandon’s Plumbing truck is fully stocked with high-tech plumbing equipment and can provide same-day fixes on most

The Coronavirus pandemic and the unexplainable trend of people hoarding toilet paper is leading consumers to investigate a new area of plumbing, at least for Americans: bidets.

“Bidets are definitely trending since the virus,” said Erin. “We sell both bidets or the conversion seats that are becoming really popular right now. None of these are new technology, but they aren’t typically standard in the United States, but we definitely see them in other cultures.”

jobs.

“We’re well-known for our ability to repair the most difficult sewer lines, under buildings, through fields, and entire trailer parks without fail,” said Erin. “The more critical the job, the better we are. It’s an honor when we are referred by other plumbing companies and inspectors.”

Erin says the recent Coronavirus pandemic highlights the most common mistakes consumers make when it comes to plumbing issues.

“It’s a real problem when you put non-biodegradable paper products in your system,” said Erin. “Another common mistake is putting corrosive products in your line or over-stuffing a garbage disposal.”

Brandon and Erin Morrison are deeply involved in the community. The couple has four children, the older three live out of state (California and Texas) while Ty is in 9th grade at Moore High School. Brandon serves on the City of Moore plumbing board while Erin is a member of the MHS Quarterback Club and is also involved with the Moore Public Schools Foundation. The Morrisons attend Victory Family Church and also act as parents to a Neapolitan mastiff named, “Gus” along with a pack of Pomeranians too numerous to name individually. Erin says they love Moore and doing their part in serving the community both through their business and through volunteer work.

“We like to constantly challenge ourselves to be the best we can be,” said Erin. “We love trying new things and helping other people grow, especially being around like-minded people who like to have fun and avoid toxic situations.”

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 29

STORY & PHOTOS BY DALE & CARRIE SPOONMOORE

April is “Flourish Time” for Your Garden Beans are one of our favorite things to grow because they are prolific, easy, and have a taste that can’t be matched from store-bought! They can be planted in Oklahoma once we’ve had our last frost, which is generally early April. Pole beans climb and will need support. These varieties will continue to produce all season and are great to plant along fences. Other varieties, known as bush beans, only grow to a few feet tall and then produce a lot of beans at once. These are great to grow in succession, planting new rounds of them every week throughout April and early May before switching to more heat-tolerant Southern Peas. One thing about beans that blew my mind when I first started growing food was learning that dried beans, like pinto and black beans, are simply the seeds of green beans that have ripened! Simply let the green beans (or purple, yellow, etc.) dry on the vine and harvest the seeds inside to have dried beans.

April’s frequent showers combined with longer days and climbing temperatures help plants around Oklahoma flourish. However, the bugs know this too, and it’s their prime time for feeding as well! This sets up battlegrounds in your garden, and what you do now will affect your harvest in the summer. There are lots of companion plants, tools, and tricks you can use around your garden to help repel pests and attract beneficial critters.

Check out our top-rated iPhone and Android gardening app that makes it easy to manage pests organically!

Although we generally plant our potatoes around St. Patrick’s Day, the planting window extends into early April here in Oklahoma. There are many varieties and colors of potatoes you can grow, but the purple and blue varieties have exceptionally high nutritional value, and it’s cool to eat purple mashed potatoes! You could just plant potatoes from the grocery store, but they are often sprayed with chemicals to inhibit growth, so we avoid that. We buy seed potatoes from Burpee or local nurseries. We have links to varieties from Burpee, as well as all the information about how to plant them in our app.

30 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

Depending on the weather, peppers and tomatoes can generally be planted after tax day in Oklahoma. Sometimes you can get away with planting before then, but it’s always a gamble. Be sure to ease transplants you buy from the nursery or start indoors over a week or two. Start introducing them outdoors for a few hours in the beginning, increasing a little each day until you transplant.

Like beans, there are tomatoes that vine and others that bush and create all their fruit at once. We really like to grow peppers and tomatoes in smart pot containers. We have found it useful to put them inside of kiddie pools with a few inches of water for easy watering when it

Be sure to visit www.seedtospoon.net for gardening blogs, videos, tips, and information on the SeedtoSpoon app for iOS, Android, and web browsers.

gets hot. The easiest tomatoes to grow in Oklahoma are smaller cherry varieties. Peppers are generally all pretty easy to grow and flourish in our Oklahoma summers.

Basil is a great companion plant for tomatoes and something we frequently use to flavor our dishes. Plant it all around your tomatoes to protect from pests and harvest the leaves for sauces or pesto. Check out our app for more recipes and information!

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 31

Joined at the hip.

Orthopedic experts + Norman Regional

OrthoCentralOK.com | 405-360-6764

Getting us all to a healthier place.

32 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020 NRH-24280_OrthoHip_MooreMag_10x11.25.indd 1

2/14/20 3:34 PM

BY RICHIE SPLITT, PRESIDENT & CEO NORMAN REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM This story sponsored by

A

An allergy is your body’s immune system mistaking an otherwise harmless substance such as pollen, pet dander, or nuts, as a threat. Allergies occur when your immune system responds to this harmless substance by producing antibodies designed to protect the body from foreign threats.

These antibodies from an overprotective immune system trigger the release of histamines. Symptoms of seasonal allergies include a stuffy and/or runny nose, itchy watery eyes, sneezing, postnasal drip and other bothersome symptoms.

During the spring season tree pollen and mold are the most common seasonal allergy triggers. Gusty spring winds carry the small tree pollen cells easily. According to the American

Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, there are 11 types of trees that are common triggers of hay fever in the spring: oak, western red cedar, sycamore, maple, elm, birch, ash, cypress, walnut, hickory, and poplar.

Oklahoma’s main seasonal allergy offenders are elm, oak, mesquite, cedar and mulberry trees. Mold is considered a year-round allergy but can be especially troublesome to allergy sufferers in the spring when damp and rainy weather is often followed by warmer temperatures creating a high concentration of mold.

So, how can you nip seasonal allergies in the bud? You can reduce your exposure to allergy triggers by staying indoors on windy days and when you’ve been outside make sure to shower to rinse pollen from your hair and skin, especially before you go to bed. After washing your cloths avoid handing laundry outside since pollen can stick to sheets and towels. Keep doors and windows closed when pollen counts are high.

counter medications alleviate their symptoms enough for them to get through the season. But, if hay fever symptoms are still making you miserable it is time to talk with your doctor about additional treatment. Norman Regional has seven primary care providers located in Moore, 16 in Norman, and five in South Oklahoma City including Dr. Megan Hanner who recently joined Norman Regional’s Primary Care South Oklahoma City Clinic located at 2605 S.W. 119th Street. If you don’t have a primary care physician we would love to help you find the perfect provider to fit you and your family’s health needs.

You can contact the Norman Regional Community Call Center at 405-515-5000 or email nrhs_communitycall@nrh-ok.com.

For many allergy sufferers, avoiding allergens and taking over-the-

SPECIAL NOTE Information on the coronavirus, called COVID-19, evolves as this situation develops. For up-to-date reliable information on COVID-19 please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at www.cdc.gov, the Oklahoma State Department of Health at www.ok.gov/health/, and the Norman Regional Health System homepage at www.normanregional.com.

700 S Telephone Rd, Moore, OK 73160 405-793-9355 • normanregional.com/nrmoore

pril showers bring May flowers but for many Oklahomans April also means spring allergy season. Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, is an allergy to pollen or mold that affects up to 50 million people in the United States each spring. Oklahoma City is ranked No. 9 on the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s 2020 Allergy Capitals list.

Getting Us All to a Healthier Place

April Showers Bring Seasonal Allergies for Many Oklahomans

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 33

MOORE HEALTHY BY Destiny Howard, MS, RDN, LD, CNSC

This story sponsored by

ASK A DIETICIAN: Tips to Stop Stress Eating While the COVID-19 pandemic has effectively slowed the pace of many individuals due to postponed social events, closed gathering spaces, and cancelled travel plans, it has heightened the collective stress of many due to broad reaching health and economic consequences.

hormones. These hormones trigger an individual to eat more; specifically eat more of foods high in sugar and fat. Pair this biological response with our learned tendencies for “comfort” foods and other factors such as impaired sleep, it is inevitable. Stress becomes costly to one’s health and waistline.

A by-product of worries these consequences create may be the temptation to overeat or pick less healthy food choices.

An awareness of emotional eating habits and a plan created ahead of time can counter these deep-seated responses and give success over stress eating.

Scientific evidence supports this common behavior. When stress persists, the body increases its release of both cortisol and insulin

Before each meal or snack, take a moment to answer a few self-directed questions.

• What is my hunger level on a 1-10 scale?

One would equal extreme hunger and 10 equals an uncomfortable fullness • What is my current mood or feeling?

Do you notice a trend to eat connected to a particular mood?

• Are you practicing mindful eating?

Mindful eating is giving full attention to the food you are about to eat rather than eating while distracted with other activities such as watching TV or working at the computer.

Here are a few ideas to kick start your planning:

Create a list of alternative nonfood activities that could get your mind off worries and refer to this list before turning to foods.

• Try a few minutes of deep breathing or meditation.

Find guided meditation examples at www.mindful.org or check out the Headspace or Calm app on your smartphone.

•Take a walk around the neighborhood or get a few extra steps in thecomfort of your home.

On YouTube, check out Leslie Sansone’s Walk at Home One Mile or try a beginer home walking plan provided through the Home Walking and Exercise App on your phone.

• Take a few minutes to connect with a friend by phone or through writing a note.

Keep healthier foods available and visible. Conversely, rid countertops and cabinets of more sugary treats. A few examples of a healthy snack containing rich sources of protein and fiber include: •A piece of fresh fruit with a ¼ c. almonds •5 oz. cup of low-fat Greek yogurt topped with ¼ c. berries • Carrot sticks and red pepper strips with ¼ c. hummus • 8-10 whole grain crackers and 1 oz. string cheese • One cup of low-fat cottage cheese with 1/2 c. canned fruit

Creating a plan and taking even one small step to combat stress eating is a great motivator towards future healthy habits. Nonetheless, be gentle with yourself if establishing a new response to stress takes time. Over time, if your own efforts don’t stop the emotional eating, consider asking for help from a supportive friend or professional counselor.

34 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 35

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SENIOR LIVING BY TAMMY C. VAUGHN, AGING SERVICES INC.

Where business is as “usual” as it is “unusual”; and what I mean by that is we are still serving seniors in Cleveland County…however, we are doing that in a precautionary way that looks quite different and still takes care of our most frail seniors.

We may not be able to serve hot meals at our 5 congregate sites. But we delivered 1,734 frozen meals with bread, milk, and snacks this past Monday. That is a 5 day supply of meals for 346 seniors and we will do it again this coming Monday and as long as we can receive our food supplies.

Our organization is considered one of the frontline “essential” services and we are serving seniors through Cleveland County with meals, bus trips to the grocery store and pharmacy – 1-2 people at a time, as well as bagged food for grandparents raising grandchildren, and respite vouchers for caregivers. We plan to be in place doing most of the same things we usually do until our lives return to normal and we can add back some of our services such as housekeeping, congregate meals program, and more rides on our bus.

Thank you to the amazing volunteers who have shown up on Monday to deliver meals to our seniors’ porches and promised to come back. Thank you to people who have already donated individualized pack-

ets of cookies, granola bars, cheese crackers, pudding cups, apple sauce, fruit cups, loaves of bread.

They are sent out as snacks with our Monday meal delivery. We still need these items as well as boxes of Ensure. You can bring them to 1179 E. Main Street in Norman, Ok. We are located in the Community Services Building.

Thank you for the donations we have received through PayPal on our website at www.agingservicesok.com. For those who have started fundraisers for us on Facebook so that we can continue to purchase essential items for our seniors, we thank you. Thank you to staff members who have gone above and beyond to make phone calls to check on all the people we serve.

Remember, some seniors are missing only one essential thing and that is a voice at the end of the telephone checking on them, telling them a joke, letting them know all will be well, asking them how they have gotten through things like this in their past. Engage a senior in a phone conversation. Make that part of your quarantine.

We all are blessed to live in the State of Oklahoma where people truly rise to any occasion to help out their fellow people. Our most frail seniors in need are getting through this because of all of you and I sincerely thank you.

301 N Eastern Ave. Moore, OK 73160 • 405-799-9919

Greetings from Aging Services, Inc.:

Moore’s Assisted Living Community

Business is as “usual” as it is “unusual”

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 37

CALENDAR OF EVENTS & PERFORMANCES AND COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS • APRIL 2020 Due to positive tests for the coronavirus across the area and the constant changes still taking place as of our press deadline, please confirm the events and services listed in this calendar are still in place before making your plans to attend or participate.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT THE YELLOW ROSE THEATER PRESENTS: BRITISH INVASION The Award-Winning Yellow Rose Dinner Theater is Proud is closed in compliance with local and federal requests to help curb the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow their Facebook page for updates.

FRED JONES JR. MUSEUM OF ART The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art is closed to the public until April 7 in compliance with the University of Oklahoma’s regulations regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. This is subject to change, so please check the museum’s website for updates: OU.edu/fjjma.

OCCC VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER THEATER No events currently scheduled for April.

CHURCH & SPIRITUAL CONNECTION

FRESH START COMMUNITY CHURCH FOOD PANTRY, open the third Thursday of each month, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., 309 N Eastern Avenue, West Campus-Family Life Center.

Canned and dry goods available. Must be a resident of Moore (please bring an ID).

CITY MEETINGS & EVENTS CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Moore City Hall 301 N. Broadway, Moore PARKS BOARD MEETING Tuesday, April 7at 7:00 p.m.

Moore City Hall 301 N. Broadway, Moore.

BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MEETING Tuesday, April 14, 5:30 p.m.

Moore City Hall 301 N. Broadway, Moore

tunity for creative recreation. By providing a local space, Open Streets encourages you to connect with your community. For more information: openstreetsmoore@gmail.com

PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday, April 14, 7:00 p.m.

Moore City Hall 301 N. Broadway, Moore

THE FARMERS MARKET AT CENTRAL PARK Thursday nights from 3:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Saturday mornings from 8:00 a.m. – Noon May 4th – August 31st Vendors selling garden-related products (fruits, vegetables, salsa, plants, wine, baked goods, goat soap and much more. Come to the Multipurpose Pavilion and support local vendors. We accept SNAP and Senior Cards.

For vendor information or more information please call (405) 793-4332.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 20 Moore City Hall 301 N. Broadway, Moore.

MOORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING Monday, April 20, 6:30 p.m.

Moore City Hall 301 N. Broadway, Moore CENTRAL PARK SPRING ARTS & CRAFTS MARKETPLACE Saturday, April 25th Central Park Multipurpose Pavilion 700 S. Broadway Avenue Over 50 vendors selling handmade items, crafts, quilts, yard art, food, farm produce, direct sale products, and other types of crafts.

For information visit centralpark.cityofmoore. com/events or call 405-793-4332.

CITYWIDE-NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALE Monday, April 27th – Sunday, May 3rd *You may purchase or make your own signs *Do not post signs on telephone poles or private property *Remove signs within 48 hrs after your sale is over *No permits required, must live within the Moore city limits *Register at cityofmoore.com or call 7935000 OPEN STREETS MOORE – OLD TOWN MOORE Friday, May 1, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Open Streets Moore provides a space for you to walk, bike, skate, dance, play, and socialize with neighbors to increase your activity and improve your health. Leave the car in the garage and bike, jog, walk or skate down to Old Town. Bring the whole family, including the dogs, and help us turn Old Town into a paved park. There will be booths sponsored

by Moore businesses, schools, churches and non-profits as the community unites for a healthy cause.Temporarily closing the street to motorized activities enhances the oppor-

38 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

COMMUNITY CONNECTION ADOPT-A-PET Moore Animal Shelter S-I35 Service Road. Open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., closed on holidays. For additional information call (405) 793-5190.

BIG TRASH PICK UP Moore residents will be allowed two FREE big trash pick-ups a year and one free voucher to the city landfill for each physical address in Moore. Call (405) 793-5070 to schedule your trash pick-up.

CT CLOTHING CLOSET Last Saturday of each month, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

CrossTimbers United Methodist Church 3004 S. Sunnylane, Moore CrossTimbers UMC Clothing Closet is a place where those in need can find men’s, women’s and children’s clothing along with shoes and accessories. All sizes are available and are free for community members.

Calendar Sponsored by

SOUTH OKC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Please check the Chamber’s Facebook page for updates on events and office hours.

SENIOR CONNECTION

P.A.L.S. PROGRAM FOR SENIORS Seniors are assigned to a buddy who will call every day to check on you. Sign up with Sgt. Lewis, Moore Police Dept., (405) 793-4448.

PROJECT RETURN HOME FOR ALZHEIMER’S PATIENTS IN MOORE For information about enrolling a loved one, contact Virginia Guild at (405) 793-4478 or Sgt. Jeremy Lewis at (405) 793-4448.

TRANSPORTATION: • Metro Transit will provide van service for age 60 and older on Tuesdays and Thursdays from the Moore area to Oklahoma City for medical appointments. Call Jackie at (405) 297-2583.

• Moore Council on Aging. Seniors may have transportation anywhere in the city of Moore for errands or appointments. 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. Call (405) 799-3130 at least one day in advance.

• “Share-A-Fare” for age 60 and over or disabled. Purchase taxi fare at 40% off.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM Moore Police Dept. is starting a Neighborhood Watch Program. If you’re interested in helping your neighborhood reduce crime, contact Sgt. Jeremy Lewis, (405) 793-4448.

MOORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Please check the Chamber’s Facebook page for updates on events and office hours.

SEE THE FULL CALENDAR AT MOOREMONTHLY.COM

CLASSES STARTING IN MAY | ENROLL TODAY MACU.EDU/MOORE | 405.691.3800 Mid-America Christian University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: DARWINA MARSHALL, Director of Human Resources, 3500 SW 119th, OKC, OK 73710 , 405-692-3196.

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 39

LIBRARY SCHEDULES

Moore Public Library

Southwest Oklahoma City Public Library

Due to positive tests for the coronavirus in Cleveland County, all Pioneer Library System were closed at least through March 31st. As of press time, that closure had not been extended. However, because closures and restrictions due to the coronavirus are changing constantly, this schedule is subject to change at any point in time. Please check with your local library before going to that site.

Due to positive tests for the coronavirus in Cleveland County, all Pioneer Library System were closed at least through March 31st. As of press time, that closure had not been extended. However, because closures and restrictions due to the coronavirus are changing constantly, this schedule is subject to change at any point in time. Please check with your local library before going to that site.

CHILDREN

CHILDREN

Wednesday, April 1 – Lapsit Story Time Friday, April 3 – Yoga Nursery Rhymes and More ​ Tuesday, April 7 – Preschool Story Time​ Wednesday, April 8 – Lapsit Story Time Thursday, April 9 – Pre-K Play Monday, April 13 – Kids Club: Money Smart Kids Tuesday, April 14 – Music Time​with Jennifer Voss​ Wednesday, April 15 – Lapsit Story Time ​ Wednesday, April 15 – Sensory Play Time Thursday, April 16 – Story Time at the Boxcar Coffee Friday, April 17 – Yoga Nursery Rhymes and More ​ Tuesday, April 21 – Preschool Story Time​ Wednesday, April 22 – Lapsit Story Time ​ Thursday, April 23 – Pre-K Play Monday, April 27 – Tween Scene: Money Smart Kids Tuesday, April 28 – Baby Quail “Shell”-ebration Wednesday, April 29 – Lapsit Story Time ​

10:00 and 10:45 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 and 10:45 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 and 10:45 a.m.

4:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 and 10:45 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 and 10:45 a.m.

TEEN/ADULT Wednesday, April 1 – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Thursday, April 2 – ESL Class Thursday, April 2 – Zumba Thursday, April 2 – Just Unwind Yarn Club Friday, April 3 – Meet Us at the Barre Saturday, April 4 – Annual Plant Swap Saturday, April 4 – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Saturday, April 4 – Line Dancing for Beginners Monday, April 6 – Beginner’s Yoga​ Monday, April 6 – Seedsational!

Tuesday, April 7 – ESL Class Wednesday, April 8 – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Wednesday, April 8 – Social Security Troubleshooting Thursday, April 9 – ESL Class Thursday, April 9 – Zumba Thursday, April 9 – Servin’ Up Books

40 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

6:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

9:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

2:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

9:30 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 2 – Baby Lapsit (ages 18 months and under) Thursday, April 2 – Tween Steam: Escape Room (ages 8-11) Friday, April 3 – Preschool Story Time (ages 3-6) Monday, April 6 – Little Movers Story Time (ages 18-36 months) Monday, April 6 – Early Explorers (ages 1-6) Thursday, April 9 – Baby Lapsit (ages 18 months and under) Friday, April 10 – Preschool Story Time (ages 3-6) Monday, April 13 – Little Movers Story Time (ages 18-36 months) Monday, April 13 – Early Explorers (ages 1-6) Tuesday, April 14 – STEAM Club Jr.: Money Smart Kids (ages 5-7) Wednesday, April 15 – Touch, Learn, Create: Bugs (ages 2-6) Thursday, April 16 – Baby Lapsit (ages 18 months and under) Friday, April 17 – Preschool Story Time (ages 3-6) Monday, April 20 – Little Movers Story Time (ages 18-36 months) Monday, April 20 – Early Explorers (ages 1-6) Thursday, April 23 – Baby Lapsit (ages 18 months and under) Friday, April 24 – Preschool Story Time (ages 3-6) Saturday, April 25 – Library Music Connection (ages 3-7) Monday, April 27 – Little Movers Story Time (ages 18-36 months) Monday, April 27 – Early Explorers (ages 1-6) Tuesday, April 28 – STEAM Club Jr.: Star Wars Ozobot Challenge (ages 5-7) Thursday, April 30 – Baby Lapsit (ages 18 months and under)

10:00 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

4:30 p.m.

10:00 a.m.

TEEN/ADULT Wednesday, April 1 – English as a Second Language Class Friday, April 3 – Hot Cross Buns: Recipe Makeover Monday, April 6 – Barre for Beginners Tuesday, April 7 – Girls Who Code Wednesday, April 8 – English as a Second Language Class Thursday, April 9 – Explore Internships Thursday, April 9 – Travel & Pilgrimage: Spain’s Camino de Santiago Thursday, April 9 – Penn Avenue Literary Society Saturday, April 11 – SOKC Friends of the Library Burger Day at Johnnie’s Monday, April 13 – Barre for Beginners Tuesday, April 14 – Girls Who Code Wednesday, April 15 – English as a Second Language Class Thursday, April 16 – Herbal Elixirs for Women’s Health Saturday, April 18 – OTTER: Plants Monday, April 20 – Barre for Beginners Tuesday, April 21 – Girls Who Code Tuesday, April 21 – Get the Most Out of Your Blender: Smoothies Wednesday, April 22 – English as a Second Language Class Wednesday, April 22 – Collage Art with Marissa Raglin Thursday, April 23 – Agritourism in Oklahoma Monday, April 27 – Barre for Beginners Tuesday, April 28 – Girls Who Code Wednesday, April 29 – English as a Second Language Class

9:00 a.m.

2:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

9:00 a.m.

6:00 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

11:00 a.m.

6:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

9:00 a.m.

6:30 p.m.

11:00 a.m.

6:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

9:00 a.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

9:00 a.m.

BOOK REVIEWS

We’re Not From Here Author: Geoff Rodkey Publisher: Penguin Random House Reviewer: Amber Luna, Children’s Services Associate, Moore Public Library Earth is uninhabitable and Mars is quickly running out of resources. Planet Choom, home to four other species, invites Earth’s refugees to join their planet.

After 20 years of travel, the humans awaken from stasis to discover they are no longer welcome and the planet is mysteriously now inhabited by only three species. With nowhere to go and fuel and supplies quickly depleting the humans beg for a chance to prove themselves. One trial family is granted access to see if our “violent” species can live in harmony but things on this planet are not as friendly as they seem.

“We’re Not From Here” is a true gem of children’s science fiction. It is filled with amazing characters, an exciting plot, and a main character who is so relatable they could be anyone! This book has a strong moral message of accepting others and touches on difficult modern day topics in a light-hearted manner. Being the new kid in school is hard enough, its even harder when you’re an alien.

and Honors. The Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production is an annual award conferred by the American Library Association upon the publisher of “the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States.”

“We’re Not From Here” is geared toward children 3rd through 6th grade with an Accelerated Reader level of 5.0 and is worth 9 AR points. You may find “We’re Not From Here” and more science fiction titles in the Moore Public Library children’s department.

Please feel free to visit the Children’s Desk or call us at 405-793-4347 with any questions.

“We’re Not From Here” received the 2020 Odyssey Award

Patron Saints of Nothing Author: Randy Ribay Publisher: Penguin Random House Reviewer: A.J. Soliven, Moore Public Library

“Patron Saints of Nothing” explores the life of seventeen-year-old Jay Reguero and his balance between his life in America and his home country of the Philippines.

Readers will be immersed in Filipino culture as Jay travels from America to the Philippines to uncover the truth about his cousin Jun’s violent death. Jay is flooded with memories as the Philippines is his birthplace and early childhood.

Duterte, is waging a war on drugs. Under Duterte’s ruling, the killings of 20,000 drug addicts by police and vigilantes have been going on since 2016.

Suddenly, an unknown Instagram user convinces Jay his cousin was wrongly accused and executed. Determined to find the truth, Jay tries to convince his family cousin Jun is innocent.

Check your local library for physical and digital copies of this book!

Did you know the Moore Public Library has a book club?

For more information, please call 405-793-4349.

What was once familiar, is now a place where the country’s President, Rodrigo APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 41

THE STATION SCHEDULE • APRIL 2020

ACTIVITIES & CLASSES Due to positive tests for the coronavirus in Cleveland County, The Station at Central Park is closed at least through 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 5, 2020. As of press time, that closure had not been extended.

However, because closures and restrictions due to the coronavirus are changing constantly, this schedule is subject to change at any point in time. Please check with www.cityofmoore.com or call (405) 793-5090 for more information.

OASIS SUMMER DAY CAMP AGE: 5 years to 12 years LOCATION: Moore Community Center 301 S. Howard Ave. TIME: 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

WHEN: June 1st - August 7th REGISTRATION: Must Register in Person at The Station Front Desk Station Passholders $115 per week x 10 weeks = $1150 Entire Summer $125 per week Select Weeks Non-Station Passholders $130 per week x 10 weeks = $1300 Entire Summer $140 per week Select Weeks DESCRIPTION: Want your kids to have the absolute best summer they have ever had? If the answer is “yes”, then you need to sign them up for The City of Moore’s Oasis Summer Day Camp. The Oasis Summer Day Camp will be from June 1st-August 7th. It will be every Monday-Friday. Kids will get to learn, play games, participate in arts & crafts, and meet new friends at the Oasis Summer Day Camp. Kids will also get to go on awesome field trips once a week and we will go to the Station Aquatic Center once a week as well.

Some of the field trips we will go on include bowling at Hey Day, going to the movies at Warren Theatre, going to the Oklahoma City Zoo, and going to The Oklahoma City Science Museum to name just a few. The field trips and the trips to The Station Aquatic Center are also provided in the cost per week. Snacks and drinks will be provided every day for no additional cost. Kids will need to provide their own sack lunch every day and bring a swimsuit, towel and/or change of clothes on the days we will be going to the Aquatic Center at The Station.

Registration is per-week but you can also sign up for the entire summer as well.

The City of Moore’s Oasis Summer Day Camp and its staff are under American Camping Association standard guidelines.

The first payment is due when registering your child.

When choosing Select Weeks Option, payment is due at the time of registration.

Your payments will renew automatically Monday each week of the camp if choosing the Entire Summer Option. There will also be a non-refundable $25 one-time registration fee for all participants. There is a $20 cancellation fee with proper 2-week notice.

SWIMMING LESSONS Registration is now open!

Classes Being Offered: Parent & Child, Preschool & Youth Levels 1 – 4.

Classes are based on the child’s age. Descriptions will be available at a later date.

PRIVATE & SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS Any age or ability can sign up for these lessons. These lessons are scheduled around your availability and are catered to your specific goals. Private lessons are

42 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

structured with one instructor and one participant.

Fee: $70 per student/per session Participation: Two participants must be registered together for semi-private lessons.

GROUP LESSONS Group swim lessons meet for two-week sessions unless noted.

Fee: $40 per student per session Participation: Minimum of 3 participants is required. We reserve the right to cancel or combine levels to adjust for class size.

2020 AQUATICS CENTER PASSES Are 10% off through April 1st, 2020 The Station at Central Park Aquatic Center will be opening on Friday, May 22nd from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Regular hours are Monday-Sunday: Noon to 8 p.m.

The aquatic center is 45,000+ square feet and includes a lazy river, three large slides, child wading pool (includes slide, spill tower, and spray features), lap lanes, diving area (3 meter and 1 meter diving boards), family slide, aquatic climbing wall, water basketball goal, log roll, shade structures, aquatic locker rooms, and outdoor concession area. This year we’re also adding the new and exciting Speed Slide.

FEES

DAILY RESIDENT

DAILY NONRESIDENT

SEASON RESIDENT

SEASON NONRESIDENT

Individual

$6

$7.50

$50

$62.50

Youth (3-17)

$6

$6

$40

$50

Senior (60+)

$5

$5

$40

$50

Military

$5

$6.50

$40

$50

Military Family

N/A

N/A

$100

$125

Family

N/A

N/A

$160

$200

Twilight Fee

$4

$4

Rates and fees are subject to change.

FITNESS IN THE PARK SERIES FEE: $50/month (12 Classes) Non-Passholders / $40/month (12 Classes) Current Passholders *Sign up for 3 months for $125 for non-passholders and $100 for current passholders.

WHERE: Buck Thomas Park (1901 N.E. 12th St.) AGE: 16 and over TIME: 5:15 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday beginning January 7th.

INSTRUCTOR: Stacia Becher, CPT The City of Moore is happy to offer the Fitness in the Park series. Join us for group fitness classes all while enjoying our beautiful parks. We will begin the series by offering a fun and challenging boot camp at Buck Thomas Park. The “Fun”damentals boot camp will push you to your limits by focusing on fun drills, including plyometrics and agilities, and challenging intervals of strength training and cardio.

“Fun”damentals boot camp is for anyone who is looking to lose weight, get stronger, build muscle, or train for your next 5k. All fitness levels are encouraged to join in on the fun. Register at The Station Front Desk or www.cityofmoore.com/fun

CLASSES Nutrition Classes at The Station WHEN: Last Wednesday of each month WHERE: The Station Meeting Room #2 at 6pm

FEE: Free to passholders, Station Day pass fee for non-passholders (see Front Desk) INSTRUCTOR: Angelica Martinez MS, RDN/LD Have you ever wondered how many calories you should be consuming, or what the difference is between a macro and a micro nutrient? Are you curious as to how nutrition will play a role in losing weight or helping control diabetes? This monthly class can answer all of those questions and more! Join a Registered Dietician and learn the basics about nutrition. In this free class, you will learn about the fundamentals of a healthy diet, gain some insight into how you can change what you consume to meet your goals, and have the opportunity to ask the Registered Dietician any question you might have. For more information, please contact the Fitness Manager at bcargal@cityofmoore.com

YOUTH SPORTS PERFORMANCE Team and Individual Sessions Available AGES: 10-12 Years Old – Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m.

(minimum 3 athletes per class)

13-15 Years Old – Mondays at 4:30 p.m.

(minimum 3 athletes per class)

Individual Performance Training – One Hour Scheduled Sessions FEE: 10-12 Years Old – $40 per month Moore students/passholders

$50 per month for non-residential/non-passholders

13-15 Years Old – $40 per month Moore students/passholders

$50 per month for non-residential/non-passholders

Individual Performance Training – $15/hour session,

$125/10 one-hour sessions

Class passes expire 3 months after purchase.

Athletes must attend a class with their age group.

WHERE: The Station REGISTRATION or INFO: Contact Brighton Cargal – bcargal@cityofmoore.com or call 405-793-5090 INSTRUCTOR: Sports performance classes are designed to help athletes gain an edge over the competition. These classes will help athletes enhance their balance, coordination, speed, agility, flexibility, and overall performance on and off the field of play. Sports performance classes will help those who want to be a better all-around athlete for any sport by making movements more efficient and by working on joint stability along with all other facets of athleticism. Athletes will not only perform better while playing but sports conditioning has been proven to prevent or decrease injuries and create a more well-rounded athlete.

ADULT SWING DANCING WHEN: April 1st – April 22nd - Wednesday Nights (4 Classes)

May 6th – May 27th - Wednesday Nights (4 Classes) TIME: 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

AGES: 15+ FEE: $30 per session or $4 per Class WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room REGISTRATION: Now – April 21st

APRIL 2020 • THE STATION SCHEDULE

Now – May 26th Learn how to Swing Dance and the many variations of Swing Dancing and before you know it you will be able to scoot across the dance floor like a pro.

YOUTH COMBO DANCE CLASS WHEN: May 6th-May 27th Wednesday Nights (4 Classes)

June 3rd - June 24th Wednesday Nights (4 Classes)

July 8th - July 29th Wednesday Nights (4 Classes)

August 5th - August 26th Wednesday Nights (4 Classes) TIME: 6:30 P.M - 7:15 P.M. WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room AGES: 4-8 year olds REGISTRATION PERIOD:

March 1st - May 5th For May Classes

April 1st - June 2nd For June Classes

May 1st - July 7th For July Classes

June 1st - August 4th For August Classes FEE: $40 per session DESCRIPTION: This is a class where we combine Ballet, Tap, and Jazz throughout the class so the student can get an even mix of the 3 styles of dance. High energy and fun. All Classes will have a Recital. Recitals are To be Determined.

BABY BALLET WHEN: May 7th-May 28th Thursday Nights (4 Classes)

June 4th-June 25th Thursday Nights (4 Classes)

July 9th - July 30th Thursday Nights (4 Classes)

August 6th - August 27th Thursday Nights (4 Classes) TIME: 5:30 P.M. - 6:15 P.M. WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room AGES: 18 months - 3 year olds REGISTRATION PERIOD:

March 1st - May 6th For May Classes

April 1st - June 3rd For June Classes

May 1st - July 8th For July Classes

June 1st - August 5th For August Classes FEE: $40 per session

June 1st - August 5th For August Classes FEE: $40 per session DESCRIPTION: This uses popular and current music the kids will know and recognize to learn dances and choreography with different elements. Age appropriate music that is clean and not derogatory All Classes will have a Recital. Recitals are to be determined.

TODDLER DANCE CLASS WHEN: May 6th-May 27thWednesdayNights (4 Classes)

June 3rd -June 24th Wednesday Nights (4 Classes)

July 8th - July 29th Wednesday Nights (4 Classes)

August 5th - August 26th Wednesday Nights (4 Classes) TIME: 5:30 P.M - 6:15 P.M. WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room AGES: 3-5 year olds REGISTRATION PERIOD:

March 1st - May 5th For May Classes

April 1st - June 2nd For June Classes

May 1st - July 7th For July Classes

June 1st - August 4th For August Classes FEE: $40 per session DESCRIPTION: Toddler will learn the basics of Dance all while having fun and making new friends in the process. All Classes will have a Recital. Recitals are to be determined.

SPANISH 4 ADULTS

DESCRIPTION: Without mom and dad, the child gets to learn the basics of Ballet through music, movement, and balance. Fun, positive, and appropriate for the little ones. All Classes will have a Recital. Recitals are to be determined.

WHEN: April 27th – June 22nd Every Monday Night (8 Classes)

No Classes May 25th (Memorial Day)

September 2nd – October 21st

(Every Wednesday Night (8 Classes) TIME: 6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

AGES: 16+ FEE: $70 per Session WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room REGISTRATION:

Now – April 26th

July 1st – September 1st Learn Spanish for beginners. Adult classes will teach the basics of understanding and being able to use basic Spanish in the real world.

YOUTH HIP HOP/JAZZ DANCE CLASS

SPANISH 4 KIDS

WHEN: May 7th -May 28th Thursday Nights (4 Classes)

June 4th - June 25th Thursday Nights (4 Classes)

July 9th - July 30th Thursday Nights (4 Classes)

August 6th - August 27th Thursday Nights (4 Classes) TIME: 6:30 P.M - 7:15 P.M. WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room AGES: 4-8 year olds REGISTRATION PERIOD:

March 1st-May 6th For May Classes

April 1st - June 3rd For June Classes

May 1st - July 8th For July Classes

WHEN: April 27th – June 22nd Every Monday (8 Classes)

No Classes May 25th (Memorial Day)

September 2nd – October 21st

Every Wednesday Night TIME: 5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.

AGES: 6-15 FEE: $70 per Session WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room REGISTRATION: Now – April 26th

Now – September 1st DESCRIPTION: Spanish for beginners. Children will learn basic Spanish speaking skills.

CONTINUATION SPANISH 4 ADULTS

YOUTH BEADS & STRINGS

WHEN: May 5th – June 23rd (8 Classes)

September 3rd – October 22nd (8 Classes) TIME: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

AGES: 16+ FEE: $70 per Session WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room REGISTRATION: Now – May 5th for Session 1

May 1st – September 2nd for Session 2 DESCRIPTION: For anyone who has completed Spanish 4 Adults at the Station or is interested in refreshing their Spanish. This class is not for beginners but is for those who are past the beginner step but are not quite at the intermediate level. This class will continue to teach the basics of understanding and being able to use basic Spanish in the real world. This class will also use more conversation and further enhance your Spanish vocabulary.

WHEN: April 7th - April 28th Tuesday Nights (4 Classes)

September 1st - 22nd Tuesday Nights (4 Classes) TIME: 4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room AGES: 4 - 8 yrs. old REGISTRATION PERIOD:

January 15th - April 6th

September 1st - September 22nd FEE: $30 per session DESCRIPTION: In this class you will create, make, mold and build different art using beads and string.

ADULT DRAWING WHEN: May 5th – 26th (Tuesday Nights – 4 Classes) TIME: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

AGES: 15+ FEE: $50 per Session WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room REGISTRATION: Now – May 4th Use several drawing media and various techniques in this class. All supplies included. Class taught by a certified art instructor.

ADULT MORNING PAINTING & DRAWING WHEN: April 21st - May 26th Tuesday Mornings

(6 Classes)

August 11th - September 15th Tuesday

Mornings (6 Classes)

No Class on September 7th-Labor Day TIME: 10:00 A.M - 12:00 P.M. WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room AGES: 15+ REGISTRATION PERIOD:

January 15th-April 20th For April Classes

May 1st-August 10th For August Classes FEE: $70 per session DESCRIPTION: Use several drawing media and various techniques in this class. All supplies included. Class taught by a certified art instructor.

ADULT JEWELRY WHEN: April 27th - May 18th Monday Nights (4 Classes) TIME: 7:30 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room AGES: 15+ REGISTRATION PERIOD: March 1st - May 3rd FEE: $50 per session DESCRIPTION: Learn how to make all types of jewelry such as Necklaces, Earrings and Bracelets.

YOUTH ARTS AND CRAFTS WHEN: August 3rd – August 24th Monday (4 Classes) TIME: 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

AGES: 4-8 FEE: $30 per Session WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room REGISTRATION: May 1st – August 2nd for August Classes A class where kids get to use their imagination in a variety of different ways, making a variety of projects they get to take home.

PARENTS NIGHT OUT WHEN: First Friday of each month TIME: 6:00 P.M -10:00 P.M. WHERE:

The Station Recreation Center Activity Room

(7-12 years old)

Child Watch Room (3-6 year olds) AGES: 3 Years-12 Years Old FEE: $15 per child REGISTRATION: Parents can register online or in-person up until the day of the event.

(Online registration ends at 5:00PM, in-person registration ends at 6:00PM) *Children must be potty-trained to attend. Parents should indicate any food allergies or special needs at registration so staff can best accommodate your child. Drop-off begins at 6:00PM, and children must be picked up by 10:00PM. Parents will incur a $30 charge for any late pick-ups.* Instructor: The Station Child Watch Staff Parents, do you need a night off? Enjoy a night to yourselves while your kids have a blast at The Station! Children can enjoy activities such as arts & crafts, board games, video games, and free play on an exclusively reserved basketball court before finishing the night off with a movie. Pizza will be served for dinner, along with a surprise treat for dessert.

CARTOON ART 4 ADULTS WHEN: August 3rd - August 24th Monday Nights

(4 Classes) TIME: 6:45 P.M. - 8:15 P.M. WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room AGES: 15+ REGISTRATION PERIOD: May 1st - August 2nd FEE: $50 per session DESCRIPTION: Ever thought it would be fun to draw your favorite cartoon characters? Now you have the chance to make the coolest batman or your favorite comic book character. Learn new and exciting APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 43

Crossword Answer Key Crossword puzzle found on page 29

Where are you storing your toys THROUGH OKLAHOMA’S CRAZY WEATHER?

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LOCATED AT I-35 & EAST 12TH STREET, SW OF THE RAILROADS TRACKS

vancorvstorage.com • 735-1554 44 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

WE’RE ALL MOVED IN! COME SEE US!

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 45

SPORTS BY ROB MORRIS

Northmoor Archery Team Wins Back-to-Back State Championships Call it a dynasty in the making. Northmoor Elementary School didn’t even have an archery program before the arrival of Edgar Fowlkes in 2017. Northmoor’s Principal, Vernona DeCarlo, hired him to teach physical education and asked Fowlkes to introduce Northmoor students to the sport.

“I had a couple of donors, Drill Right Technology and Triple S Systems, step up and help purchase half the archery equipment,” said Fowlkes.

“The kids loved it and started talking about winning state that very first year.”

The All-Stars archery program went full-time for the 2018-2019 school year and won the Oklahoma State championship that very first year.

After accomplishing such a remarkable feat, the team traveled to Tulsa for the 2020 state competition with high expectations.

“The Northmoor All Stars took first place, notching a very impressive score of 3208,” said Fowlkes. “This score would have place 7th in the high school division.”

Fowlkes says the All Stars have worked hard to achieve such a high level of success in a short period. Team members start practice in October with an hour-and-fifteen-minutes before school, five days a week. They return for practice after school three days a week for an hour-and-a-half.

The students even volunteer to come in for training during their recess time three-to-four times a week.

“The kids on the Northmoor archery teamwork at their sport just as hard as any high school sport in Moore,” said Fowlkes. “In February, they prac46 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

ticed five days a week in the morning and 4 days a week in the afternoon.

They still were begging to come in and practice during their recess time. I couldn’t keep them out of the gym.”

The team is made up of both boys and girls.

Fowlkes says that one of the unique aspects of archery is that the sport levels the playing field for boys and girls because it demands a mastery of focus and discipline over strength and athletic ability.

“These archers learn a lot about life,” said Fowlkes. “When you ask kids to practice 12 to 14 hours a week on top of school and other commitments, it takes a special internal drive and passion to practice like they do.”

Because they maintain such a high level of commitment and dedication to practice, it helps the students bond together.

“These kids become a family,” said Fowlkes.

“Archery breaks down barriers that normally keep kids from associating with each other.

Northmoor Elementary They become one unit instead of a bunch of individuals.” coach Edgar Fowlkes The requirements to be involved on the Northmoor archery team are exacting but straightforward. Team members must carry a “C average” and be a model student at school.

Everyone in school knows who the archery students are because they earn a shooting shirt and an archery jacket.

“The students know that they must conduct themselves as an elite student,” said Fowlkes.

“They know that grades come first, although some need reminding from time to time!”

But it is the self-motivation of the kids that ultimately drives the remarkable success of this young archery program. Fowlkes says this year’s team set their expectations very high and then went out and exceeded those goals.

“We had on our team the highest boy and girl shooter in the state,” said Fowlkes. “Fifth-grader Anya Maynard shot a 278 out of 300 points, and fourth-grader Ethan Do shot a 278 out of 300 points also. Kadence Williams, who is a fifth-grade girl, shot a 269 out of 300 and placed 3rd over all the girls.”

The future looks bright for the Northmoor All Stars. Fowlkes expects this year’s team to pass down their work ethic to the incoming class of fourth-graders and help them commit to something special. Right now, the most challenging thing about the sport is that these elite athletes struggle to find a way to stay involved after leaving Northmoor.

“These kids become amazing athletes,” said Fowlkes.

“When they leave elementary, they leave the sport they have grown to love and have spent countless hours pouring their hearts and souls into it. I’m hoping things change in the future so we can have the sport at the high school level for them.”

The Moore Public Schools has produced the Elementary School State Archery Champions for four of the last five years. It’s not just the success that has stoked Fowlkes’s passion for the sport. He’s seen it change the lives of the kids who participate.

Fowlkes says that unlike any other sport he has played or coached, archery is life-changing for the kids that pick up a bow and arrow.

“On the back of our archery shirt is our belief statement that sums it all up,” said Fowlkes. “’I AM Focused, Determined, Persistent, Confident. I AM AN ALL-STAR ARCHER.’ They learn to believe, that’s why I do what I do.”

Above, the Northmoor Elementary archery team celebrates their win.

Below, the team gathers for a group picture.

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“She has a great rapport with the kids and does a wonderful job of monitoring grades and classroom behavior,” said Fowlkes.

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Fowlkes says Melissa Craig, a fifth-grade reading and language arts teacher, has played a significant role in helping the team find success.

“Being apart of a special group, you see kids that struggle at school,” said Fowlkes. “They step up their effort to be a part of the All Star Archery Team. I’ve seen archery take a troubled kid and turn them into a model student. It gives the girl that doesn’t believe in herself a chance to soar once she sees her work paid off.”

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 47

SPORTS PHOTO GALLERY

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PHOTOS BY ROB MORRIS

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 49

WESTMOORE STUDENTS TO NATIONALS The Westmoore Speech & Debate team is sending 18 students to compete in Nationals this summer in New Mexico. Congratulations to these qualifiers and alternates: Original Oratory 3rd Alt: Ben 1st Alt: Lauren Harman United States Extemporaneous Speaking 2nd Alt: Josh Renolds International Extemporaneous Speaking 2nd Alt: Bri Lamaster Qual: Silas Dramatic Interpretation 3rd Alt: Rachel Odell Qual: Somtoo Nkrumeh, District Champion Humerous Interpretation 1st Alt Evan Howell Qual: Weston Tomlinson Qual: Jacob M, District Champion Program Oral Interpretation Qual: Cece Alali Qual: Jacob Shults Info Qual: Makalyin Akins Qual: Kama Wyatt, District Champion Public Forum Qual: Abby Harris/ Katelyn Johnson Qual: Teegin Groves/Josh Reynolds, District Champion Duo Qual: Riley Davis and Evan Howell Qual: Carter Davis/ Ethan Dwyer Congress (hosted 3 weeks ago) House Qualified: Logan Kennedy House Qualified: Ryan Thompson

50 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2020

Moore students Lauren Lewis, Paige Marshall, and Asa Weaver recently served a week-long assignment as pages for State Senator Darrell Weaver, R-Moore. Lewis and Marshall are seniors at Moore High School. Weaver is a senior at Westmoore High School.

Westmoore juniors Grace Wolf and Richard Schwing, Jr. recently served a week-long assignment as pages for State Senator Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City.

Moore senior Cruse Garrett recently served a week-long assignment as a page for State Senator Rob Standridge, R-Norman.

Dr. Caitlin Stephens, Ph.D, BCBA-D, served as Psychologist of the Day in the State Senate recently. Stephens was sponsored by Senator Adam Pugh, R-Edmond. She practicdes in Moore and is the Director of ABA Services for the Moore Autism Center, P.C.

Dr. Jennifer Morris Steber, Ph.D, served as Psychologist of the Day in the State Senate recently. Steber was sponsored by Senator Darrell Weaver, R-Moore. She is a Clinical Child and Adolescent psychologist who practices in Moore.

APRIL 2020 | MOORE MONTHLY | 51

Moore is a community that always rallies in the face of challenges and our current COVID-19 situation is no different. It’s easy to find people across the city looking for ways to help and encourage each other.

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Some local dog owners figured out a way to practice social distancing while taking their pets to the dog park. Dogs, of course, struggle with social distancing.

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