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VOL. 13 • NO. 4 • APRIL 2018

8 Kids in the Storm Our cover story takes a look at the barrage of challenges facing our youth. The current environment is stressful to say the least. There is a silver lining though. The community of Moore, the schools and the kids are determined not only to make things better, but to rise.

38 Debate Teams Shine A group of students from Moore High School and Westmoore High School are among the most articulate around, and have a lot to say….and that’ not up for debate. This group of talent speakers and debaters recently had great success at regionals. Were their efforts enough to send them to nationals?? Read on to find out!

32 Bankston the Warrior Now an adventurous toddler, little Bankston is preparing for his third, and hopefully final surgery. Read more about his courageous fight.

62 MACU Women are National Champions Staying Committed was the war cry that led the Mid America Christian University women’s basketball team to their first ever NCCAA Division 1 National Championship. The lady Evangels won their title on March 17 with a 71-60 victory over the Cardinals of Concordia University in Michigan. Hear more about their win and their coach’s accolades.

From the Editor This month’s issue could be summed up in one word: Rise. It's really all about the "Moore Standard" how our community shines bright through whatever challenges come our way. You’ll read about what our students, our community and our schools are doing as they face all the various storms whirling around them – politically and otherwise. You will read about a spunky toddler who has overcome mountains of medical challenges. You will meet a teacher who pours into his students by sharing positive affirmations along with a little music and how his efforts forever changed a young sixth-grader. We hope you enjoy this month's Moore Monthly. Shine on Moore, Shine on. - Donna Walker Editor

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Publisher Brent Wheelbarger Writers Rob Morris, Donna Walker For ad placement, specifications and rates donna@mooremonthly.com 405.793.3338

634 North Broadway 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.


APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 7


by Riley Roberson

8 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018


APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 9


Students and administrators in the future will read history books about how today's students


and administrators handle the unique pressures that are faced in our schools. High school students nationwide are facing unique and dynamic pressures from social media and school shootings. On top of those, the students in our state are processing multiple conflicts concerning the education system. And the students in our city are carrying all of those pressures into storm season. These stressors are obviously a lot to manage, and it would take a concerted effort from administrators and students to handle them well. That’s exactly where Dr. Robert Romines, the Superintendent of Moore Public Schools (MPS), started. About a year ago, Romines began facilitating conversations between students and administrators by creating focus groups with students from every high school in Moore. “I’m not going to say those conversations were easy. They were hard,” Romines said. “But we needed to hear how we could do better.” This was where students in Moore were able to voice their opinions about school shootings, social media, strikes, and storms. It took them some time to warm up to a vulnerable honesty, but once they did, practical changes took place.

“I think things have changed a great deal,” Romines said. “Not overnight, though. It took some time to open up. But once the floodgates opened, the students were very honest.” Since the introduction of those focus groups, MPS has created job descriptions for counselors that are capable of providing help for students who struggle with mental health issues. “For me, after talking with students, it’s about taking care of the mind,” Romines said. “A healthy mind is what we needed to focus on, and that was even before the school shooting in Florida.” MPS has been taking steps to deal with pressures students are facing for a long time. Many of those measures were tested on February 14 of this year when 17 people were killed during a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. “I feel like that could happen to any school,” Hope Davis, Moore High School sophomore, said. Davis isn’t the only one thinking about school shootings this way. Westmoore High School senior Carson Curtis shares the concern.

“It’s almost like this has become regular, and you’re wondering when the next school shooting is going to happen,” Curtis said. The recency of a tragedy like the shooting in Parkland makes people ask questions they never thought they’d be asking about their own security and safety. But Romines and MPS have been working to make sure their four million square feet are safe. Some students see those efforts. “I think they’re taking as many necessary precautions as they can,” Madison Pruett, Southmoore High School junior, said. In fact, people in the community are taking precautions as well. One Moore resident pledged a donation of $250,000 to the Moore Public Schools Foundation's Safety Initiative if the community will collectively match the donation. The $500,000 would allow all 35 locations in MPS to have access systems, give secondary sites added security officers, pay for bulletproof glass around the district, and enable MPS to take other confidential measures to protect Moore students, teachers, and staff. In order to meet the goal, the people of Moore would only have to pitch in about $10 for each of the 24,800 students, improving the security of all 35 locations in the district. As of

March 18, 2018, $47,920 has been pledged by the community, leaving $202,080 left to raise. Raising $250,000 is no small task, but the people of Moore mobilize like no other community. An organization with 35 locations like MPS has takes a lot of time and effort to secure. Storm season doesn’t make it any easier. “People get very nervous around storm season,” Romines said. “And that includes me.” Those nerves haven’t kept Romines and MPS from taking steps to ensure they’re ready for bad weather. In 2013, the community passed a bond issue that allowed MPS to build storm shelters on every site. There are only 11 locations where there are not shelters. Construction of shelters for those 11 sites are either underway or about to begin. “If something were to happen,” Pruett said, “knowing I have somewhere to go is comforting.” On top of those shelters, parents are able to check their students out of school, and the schools use social media to get the word out about dangerous weather. Social media, in that sense, is a useful tool. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case for students using social media.

APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 11


Students from each of the Moore high schools expressed a concern in harmful speech and bullying that takes place in spaces online. The pervasiveness of social media causes students to take mounting pressures with them wherever they go. Although social media can have a negative impact on students, there are still some students who view social media as a critical tool for the future.

“I can be heard,” Davis said. Davis’ view of social media as a platform for positive change echoes Romines’ view that social media can be used by students, parents, and schools in order to provide comprehensive help in complex situations. Davis is letting her voice be heard in more ways than one. Recently, she gave a speech in front of the Oklahoma Education Association to advocate for teachers who she believes are underpaid. Davis is speaking on behalf of teachers and many other Oklahomans who see issues with the education system in the state. “I know plenty of teachers working two or three jobs,” Davis said. “We need to show them we’re united.” Davis and Romines share interesting perspectives that seem to get to the same root issues. “This is not typical for teachers to walk out,” Romines said. “Some think it’s going to harm the students.

At the end of the day, they’re doing it to protect their students and future students.” Davis agreed, but in a unique way. “Teachers have been walking out for years,” Davis said, referring to teachers leaving for higher paying jobs and other careers. “When the teachers aren’t thriving, the students can’t thrive.” To Davis, teachers walking out in protest is no different than teachers walking out in order to find higher pay somewhere else. In both her view and Romines’ view, teachers potentially walking out is ultimately for the protection of students in the state. They’re not the only ones that think the education students in the state receive is important. “People who are in school right now will be the future of America,” Pruett said. “We need to be properly educated.” Political stances aside, the pressures students are facing today seem to be growing exponentially. Those pressures warrant a response. A few things in these situations appear to be true: stress doesn’t care about convenience, adversity doesn’t consider age, and pressure won’t be ignored. The response these pressures have provoked from students has been an engagement that is usually associated with students and adults much older than the high schoolers that are speaking up. In decades past, marches and speeches were

12 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

prevalent on college campuses. As recently as March 24, marches and speeches popped up nationwide led by high schoolers that care about their future. It is no surprise that students like Davis, Pruett, and Curtis are well spoken and well informed. They care about their future and the future of their peers. And they are not alone in that. The practical change put in place by Romines and MPS shows that there are efforts coming from every direction in our city. Students and administrators have expressed that there are more students who need to be heard, more shelters that need to be built, more steps that need to be taken for the education system in our state, and more intentionality is needed to positively manage social media. Students and administrators in our city have seen those needs and have been taking meaningful steps to provide solutions. Romines wanted parents to know that administrators are available for parents and students dealing with these pressures. “Parents should continue having conversations with their students about what they’re facing and hearing,” he said. “If there’s something they need to share with schools, they do not need to hesitate to pick up the phone and call any of us. We’re here for the students. The students aren’t here for us. It’s okay to pick up the phone and ask for help.”

It seems as though Moore Public Schools is experiencing the dichotomy between passionate change and practical governance. On one hand, people want the status quo to change. They want to make sure the future is safer and that students will receive a good education. It’s meaningful and, whether it’s positive or negative, it’s full of energy. On the other hand, administrators are charged with the difficulty of putting pragmatic policies in place that satisfy the desires of the passionate. Passionate change is fast-paced and full of emotion. Practical governance is slow and meticulous, full of arduous thought. The blending of the two is challenging but necessary. This movement is being handled by students who are more engaged publically than peers in times past and by administrators that care deeply about the pressures their students are facing. Although pressures presented are daunting, the people of Moore aren’t flinching.


“We need to show them we’re united.” APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 13


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ENTREPRENEUR'N MOORE

Why Do First-level Supervisors Need Training? As baby boomers, retire in record numbers, the need for younger employees to assume management roles increases. Recognized and rewarded for attitude and technical skills, a first-level supervisor may be promoted before they are ready and then have to make their way while undertrained in the skills needed to be a successful team leader. First-level supervisors are important to an organization’s success because, as a whole, they manage the vast majority of an organization’s employees. They create the culture for their employees, often front-line staff responsible for creating the customer experience; and they are the biggest source of process/product innovation. Tackling the new, unfamiliar responsibilities of first-level management is a challenge. These new supervisors have moved from an individual contributor role, in which they excelled, to a managerial role in which they lead people doing work that, in some instances, they have never done. They have to gain some level of understanding of the various tasks required of all the people they lead. However, the technical skills, which earned them the promotion, need to take a back seat to the people skills that will account for 80% of success in the new leadership role. First-level supervisors, especially those who do not understand their management role, are also the number one reason people quit their jobs. Employees do not leave organizations, they leave managers. Keys to First Level Supervisor Success Active Listening The key to active listening is a genuine desire to understand. In this case, having a strong desire to understand your direct reports’ perspective, ideas, concerns, etc. Active listening takes place when the listener is empathetic and does not judge what is said, does not get defensive or plan what to say next, and does not formulate an immediate solution. A first-level supervisor can practice active listening in regular one on one meetings with employees. Ask open-ended questions, have futurefocused discussions, and implement direct communication and action plans to ensure successful one on one meetings, employee engagement, and strong relationships based in trust. Chart the Course Help your team understand where they are going by giving the why, what and how. When your team understands the organization’s priorities and their importance, they understand why things are the way they are. The what consists of one or two top goals that help a team understand how they will move from their current state to preferred state, by when. The how gives the team the parameters for reaching the top goals, i.e. guidelines, resources, accountability and consequences.

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Creating a Culture of Feedback and Continuous Improvement Shift the mindset from “I give feedback so I can fix people’s problems” to “I seek and give feedback to elevate the entire team.” Seek and give specific feedback in order to learn, develop and get better. Acknowledge the feedback and develop an appropriate action plan, use wisdom and judgement to determine what feedback is helpful and what is not. Create a continuous loop of feedback from different sources, a safe environment to give and receive it and keep it going to get better. Reinforcing feedback helps to influence behavior you observe by catching them doing something right. Redirecting feedback is not just about highlighting what went wrong but an opportunity to make it clear you believe in them and they have not mastered something – yet. Self-Management First-level supervisors need to understand time management, decision management as well as how to manage their energy in order to be effective as a leader and not burn out. This requires a change in mindset from “I am too busy to take time for myself” to “I focus on the most important things, including managing my time and energy.” Organizations benefit greatly by providing training to new leaders. Without understanding the shift in mindset and skill sets necessary for effective leadership, first-level supervisors run the risk at working very hard at doing the wrong things, relying on the skills that have served them in the past and getting derailed with dire consequences. Senior management should consider developing a strong management-training program for first-level supervisors so they can be effective in their leadership roles from day one.

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teacher hero with donna walker

My Teacher, My Hero We all know the impact great teachers can make in the lives of students. Their encouraging words become etched in our memory. They leave meaningful handprints on our hearts and remain there forever. It is always inspiring to hear stories of teachers going above and beyond for their students. Bryant Elementary music teacher and Teacher of the Year Finalist Philip Nguyen is one of those teachers. In addition to teaching kids about rhythm, chords, and melodies, he equips his students with life lessons—lessons designed to build confidence and self-worth in his students. It is just as touching and refreshing when a young student appreciates their teacher’s dedication and chooses to recognize them for their efforts.

Lyndi said that ever since Khyla's teacher began pouring extra encouragement into her two years ago, Khyla has completely turned around. She is much more outgoing and even joined the honor choir...something she would have never done previously. “It means the world to me…I saw her go from having no passion in life to blossoming," Lyndi said. "She started learning to play guitar, joined the choir etc., all due to Mr. Nguyen. She’s become extremely caring and giving. She has a big heart and wants to make others happy. Mr. Nguyen instilled that into her. Mr. Nguyen is 110% in it for the kids. You really see the love in him when it comes to those kids.” Principal Stephanie Gunter agrees with Lyndi’s assessment of the 27-year music teacher.

Sixth-grader Khyla Mann was so inspired by her teacher Philip that she nominated him in the “My Teacher, My Hero” contest, sponsored by the Big 12 Conference and OKC All-Sports and awarded by Donors Choose.

“He is an amazing, amazing young man. He gives over 100% every day to all our students," Stephanie said. "He teaches music from kindergarten through 6th grade. To them, he’s a rock star! They absolutely love him.”

Khyla’s essay was among 30 winners selected out of a pool of 1,600 entries. When you read her words, it’s obvious that Philip has made quite an impression on the youngster:

Stephanie explained how he often leaves students encouraging notes and challenges. “He really instills positive thoughts into them and tells them he believes in them.”

“Mr. Nguyen is my hero because whenever I am down, he will build me up. He tells me every day that I can move mountains and that I can change the world,” reads Khyla’s essay. “He tells me to leave a good legacy and be a good leader.”

The principal also recognized that Philip displays mentorship qualities beyond his years.

To Lyndi Mann, Khyla’s mom, reading these heartfelt words penned by her daughter is an answer to prayer. Khyla has suffered from depression for several years, and prior to Philip’s mentorship, had very low self-esteem and self-worth. Without a consistent father-figure in her life, Khyla often felt that no one ‘had her back’ and that she couldn’t trust many people.

been the most fulfilling and best decision I have ever made.”

good in nearly anyone’s hands and most students find success on them quickly.”

Philip credits his faith in God for his ability to discern the needs of his students and for the opportunity to inspire and lift up his students whenever possible.

“Philip wanted to get a whole class set of ukuleles, and he was able to purchase them with the $1,000,” Stephanie said. “He is a wonderful musician himself. He plays his guitar for them, and they are all motivated and excited to be able to start this program.”

“I love Jesus. That’s what I base my life, my marriage, and my career on,” he said. When Philip first began teaching Khyla, he discovered that she was in need of a bit of extra encouragement. He decided right then that he would fill her up with positive affirmations every chance he got. “Last year Khyla was going through some difficulties, and I was able to talk her through some things," Philip explained. "I kept telling her ‘you’re important’, ‘you matter’, and ‘you’re an overcomer… important messages like that.” His message seems to be getting through to Khyla. Philip was surprised to learn that not only did Khyla nominate him in a contest, but that her winning essay won his classroom $1,000. “I didn’t even know they were doing an essay contest," Philip admitted. When he read her essay, he was amazed.

“It is so rewarding to see a young teacher make such a positive difference in children’s lives and he does it on a daily basis. It is very rare. He is so young and yet so wise and gifted in the area of teaching," Stephanie said.

“I got a copy of the essay and she is spitting out the words I’ve been telling her. That was a really cool realization, that the things I’m saying are making a difference. Honestly, there are some days I wonder if what I am doing is making a difference.”

These are lessons that can’t be found in any textbook or curriculum. Rather, they stem from faith and lessons learned through life's journey.

Last month, Philip and his students received a greatly anticipated delivery—a boxful of nearly two dozen ukuleles, courtesy of Khyla Mann and her winning entry.

“I had an incredible master teacher and saw first-hand the impact one person can have on another person’s life,” Philip said. “I knew then that I wanted to spend my life investing in people. It’s

18 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

Philip chose to reward his students with this fun instrument for many reasons. “They sound

Philip’s students are “absolutely pumped” about their ukulele’s. Philip recalls how their eyes lit up as soon as he delivered the news. Their beloved music teacher is just as anxious to get his students strumming on the new strings as they are. One of his favorite lesson plans is to give students a chord progression and have them come up with a melody to go along with it. Philip is thankful for the award money and all the fun lessons to come. And, he is thankful for his God-given gift of encouragement and how some words shared with a certain sixth-grade girl seemed to stick. Perhaps Lyndi is most thankful of all. “I’m super proud of Khyla," Lyndi said. "She has exceeded my expectations. She’s my daughter…I know she’s amazing.” And thanks to Philip, now Khyla agrees.


The “My Teacher My Hero” contest is an initiative presented in cooperation with the Big 12 Conference, the Oklahoma City All-Sports Association and the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers program. Moore was well represented in this year’s contest as nine students wrote winning essays for their hero teacher and home school. MPS winning teachers and their respective schools include: Rayni Zerm, Broadmoore; Philip Nguyen, Bryant; Jennifer Bishop, Eastlake; Regina Anders, Fairview; Natalie Leach, Heritage Trails; Dr. Amara Lett Schook, Houchin; Karen Holsinger, Sky Ranch; Kristin Kirch, Timber Creek and Emily Myers, Wayland Bonds. Teachers were presented a $1,000 gift card from DonorsChoose.org to be used for classroom supplies and equipment, and were recognized at the halftime of the Big12 Women’s Basketball Championship quarterfinal matchup between Oklahoma and TCU at Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena. Many of the educators were joined by their students for the ceremony.

APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 19


by rob morris

Bite Size Tech: Welcome to The Internet of Things

Rapid changes in technology are impacting nearly every aspect of our lives. From the way we consume news and entertainment to the way we shop to the way we engage in relationships both casual and intimate, the landscape is shifting beneath our feet in sometimes unsettling ways. This new “Bite Size Tech” column is Moore Monthly’s way of helping you make sense of the changing landscape and understand how to make technology work for you. With all of the technological changes spinning around you in this world, it’s possible that a lot of folks might not be aware of “The Internet of Things.” Maybe you have heard the phrase but are wondering what it means, or maybe you're wondering if you even need to care. The short answer to both of those questions is, “Heck yeah!” The “IoT” (as people who spend a lot of time in front of computer screens call it) has the capacity to bring some significant changes to every area of your life. So for our very first Bite Size Tech column, we’re gonna take a crack at explaining the “IoT.” And let’s just go ahead and define our column as the “BsT” because if tech-weenies can abbreviate the Internet of Things we should be able to do the same…right down to the lowercase second letter.

That’s a major jump from where we were just over a decade ago when we used desktop and laptop computers to connect to that crazy thing called the World Wide Web. Sure, we had some phones that were able to send limited emails, but most citizens of the planet used computers to explore the brave new world of the WWW. A lot of people will point to June 29, 2007 as the moment when the IoT became real. That’s the day that a fella named Steve Jobs stood in front of a crowd of techies wearing his trademark black turtleneck and said, “Every once in a while, a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything.” Jobs was, of course, talking about Apple’s brand-spankin’ new iPhone. In retrospect, we know that the iPhone did change everything, even though a lot of supposedly smart tech experts poohpoohed the device. You can still find the video of former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer laughing about the phone, saying, “It doesn’t even have a keyboard.” Just last year Ballmer admitted he might have been wrong. (You’ll note that he’s listed as the “former” CEO of Microsoft. That’s not a coincidence.) These days your iPhone is connected to your Apple Watch, your Apple TV, and your HomePod, allowing you to control your lights and household appliances. And it’s not just Apple. No, no, no. You can buy a Samsung, a Huawei, or a Google phone that will connect you with a growing list of things that will make you dizzy.

Where were we? Oh…the IoT. The first thing you want to know is that a lot of people are lumping all sorts of things under the IoT. Everything from selfdriving cars to lamps and refrigerators to jet airplane engines. Here’s the simplest definition we’ve found: If a device can be connected to the Internet, and therefore to other devices, it is a part of the Internet of Things.

This interconnected life, free from a laptop or a desktop, is the Internet of Things. And it actually goes back a lot further than the debut of the iPhone. In fact, a smart guy named Neal Gershenfeld said this back in 1999: “The real promise of connecting computers is to free people, by embedding the means to solve problems in the things around us.”

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So the simplest way to wrap our minds around the IoT is to understand that every day more and more of the “things around us” are being equipped with WiFi or Bluetooth, allowing them to communicate with each other constantly. This can be both wildly comforting or genuinely terrifying depending on whether you imagine a leisurely existence where machines meet all of your needs, or if you see a future running through ruined cities while robots wearing the face of Arnold Schwarzenegger tell you, “Come wid me eef u vant to live.” In truth, this flow of information will certainly offer tremendous advantages in the near future. Imagine your smartphone and watch working together to keep track of the number of steps you take each day and how many calories you burn, while also monitoring your heart rate, your blood pressure, your blood sugar, and other critical biometrics. If you experience a medical issue it could automatically call for help, something that could save your life. Or maybe a couple of fingers, at least. Your refrigerator could note that while you’ve pulled a recipe for making chicken alfredo for dinner you forgot to buy chicken or parmesan cheese, so it automatically orders those items from your local grocery store, which are then delivered to your home. Naturally, your home is equipped with the latest security which allows every delivery to be placed in a cool container where the chicken and cheese remain at a safe temperature until you get home. And don’t get me started on self-driving cars. Not in America, bub. OK. Maybe we will have self-driving cars. Anyway…you get the point. The “internet” will be all around you, connected in all of these everyday things. The Internet. Of. Things. The final piece of the puzzle is 5G networks, something that you’re going to hear about a lot over the next two years. Most people associate

the “G’s” with cell phone service, thinking it just means faster data rates. That’s only partly true. The whole truth comes something like this: 2G networks were designed for cell phone voice use, 3G networks were designed to handle voice and data, and 4G networks added speeds for broadband internet. 5G is going to rocket above all of those things, presenting speeds that will be 10 times faster than 4G networks. But it’s not just speed that will change. There’s this thing called, “latency.” Basically, when all of our cellular devices connect to the cloud, they produce massive amounts of data, so much data that it becomes hard to process quickly. You’ve experienced it as slow downloads, also known as the infuriating “spinning gear” image that tells you to go grab a cold beverage while your video finishes buffering. That overload of data, which is growing every day, is called “latency.” Yes, 5G networks promise to solve that problem and with that solution should come an explosion of IoT devices and uses that will make you dizzy. Including self-driving cars. AT&T and Sprint have already announced plans to roll out limited 5G networks in some cities in 2018. You can expect the other carriers to follow suit quickly, with widespread 5G availability available in most major metropolitan areas by 2020. In other words, the IoT is barreling towards us pretty darn quick…so now’s the time to wrap your mind around the possibilities. If you have any tech questions you’re wondering about, feel free to email us at: rob@mooremonthly.com.


APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 21


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Sketches of Moore by L.T. Hadley

An Era of Books

s soon as Gutenberg’s printing press rolled out the first printed book, mankind began to explore the fascinating and mysterious fountains of information available in them. Owning and reading books, once limited to the rare and privileged few, became a way of life to the multitudes. Early settlers in our country brought books with them; publishers printed them; “everyone” wrote them—and continues to write them. Today, there are magazines, books, periodicals, newspapers, circulars, “junk mail,” and a world of information printed on cereal boxes. We expect and read these daily. However, at the turn of the century, the lives and economy of many settlers meant only a Bible in a home, or a catalog or treasured book handed down from generation to generation. Libraries in larger cities provided for this lack for most people, but smaller towns did not have the resources for a library. One of the earliest libraries in Moore was the law library of James Cowan, Moore’s first attorney. He made his set of law books available to young law students. Another library in the 1930s consisted of the books of the Simms family. Mildred Simms Moore was an avid reader and had accumulated a number of books. She opened a tiny shop next to her dad’s barbershop and invited people

to borrow and read her small collection. For a penny or two a book, the reader could borrow books to take home. Little kids just sat on the floor and read the books without borrowing them. Dale Janeway was one of the town’s important benefactors. He was Cleveland County commissioner for 20 years, a man known and respected for his wisdom, ability and integrity. As chairman of the Moore town board in 1958, he encouraged the town board to become part of the Pioneer Multi-County Library System, which involved Cleveland, McClain and Garvin Counties. The service began with a few months of bookmobile. The City of Moore included $200 in the 1961-62 budget as its first commitment to the service. Citizens raised the money through many projects and activities: bake sales, ballgames, plays and contributions. The town bought a small frame building, a former barbershop, and moved it to the current library location. Many citizens donated books and a credible library began. Lines of grade-school children snaked along Howard Street between the school and the library. In 1965, the library was expanded to 33,000 square feet, making room for more library services. Remodeling and updating have kept the library modern, attractive and functional. A remodeling process that began in 2005 has greatly enhanced the usability of the facility.

The affiliation with the Pioneer Association makes almost any book available through the circulation of books between all libraries. Computer classes are also available. In nearly 40 years since it opened, there have been four librarians who have directed the library operations: Betty Jaine until 1991, Jane Lily from 1991 to 1998, Elizabeth Romero from 1998 to 2004, and the current librarian, Lisa Wells, since 2004. The doors constantly swish back and forth as people go in the library and come out with an armload of books or tapes on any subject imaginable: How to Read a Slide Rule or Mix Concrete, Lucille the Horse, Winnie the Pooh, romance, mystery, poetry, travel, arts and crafts, books for teens, How to Wallpaper, and the proverbial “hyacinths for the soul.” Note: This edition of Sketches of Moore was first published in a previous issue of Moore Monthly.

APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 23


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794-4584 24 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018


Senior Living with Kathleen Wilson

Eating With the Seasons If you want delectable, nutritious fresh produce, the best way to incorporate it into your diet and not break the bank is to eat what is currently in season. And eating seasonally gives you something to look forward to each time the seasons change.

SPRING Apricots Artichokes Asparagus Broccoli Cantaloupe Cauliflower Cucumber Greens Corn Green Beans Honeydew Mango Okra Oranges Pea Pods Pineapple Rhubarb Spinach Strawberries Swiss Chard Vidalia Onions SUMMER Apricots Beets Berries Cantaloupe Melons Cherries Corn Cucumbers Eggplants Figs Garlic Grapes Grapefruit Green Beans Green Peas Kiwifruit Lima Beans Limes Nectarines Okra Peaches Pineapples Plums Radishes Sweet Corn Summer Squash Tomatoes Watermelon Zucchini FALL Acorn Squash Beets Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Butter Lettuce Butternut Squash Cauliflower Cranberries Endive Grapes Honeydew Key Limes Kohlrabi Kumquats Pears Persimmons Pineapple Pomegranate Pumpkin Squash Sweet Potatoes Swiss Chard Turnips WINTER Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Cauliflower Clementines Collard Greens Dates Grapefruit Jicama Kale Kiwifruit Oranges Pears Radishes Sweet Potatoes Tangelos Tangerines Turnips YEAR ROUND Apples Avocados Bananas Bell Peppers Bok Choy Cabbage Carrots Celery Cherry Tomatoes Leeks Lemons Lettuce Mushrooms Onions Papayas Parsnips Potatoes Rutabagas Snow Peas

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

SEASONAL PRODUCE GUIDE

Moore's Assisted Living Community

Even if your favorite produce is not in season it may still be available at a higher than usual price. It is very important to fill at least half of your plate with fruits and vegetables at every meal. Fruits and vegetables offer so many health benefits, regardless of whether you choose fresh, local, seasonal, organic, frozen, dried or canned. Remember to save the most money and get the best deal, buy your produce at its peak. You will get lower prices, enjoy a better taste and you will receive good health in each and every bite.


Where can I find Moore Monthly magazine? Excellent question, you. Check out the list below: I-35 East Side to Sooner Rd & Indian Hills Rd to 27th St

I-35 West Side to Santa Fe & Indian Hill Rd to 27th St

South OKC, I-240 to 134th St & I-35 to I-44

Beneficial Automotive Maintenance, 2004 Crystal Drive Sunny Side Up, 110 SE 19th St Sandro’s Pizza, 2024 S I-35 Service Rd The Garage, 2060 S I-35 Service Rd Van’s Pig Stand, 1991 Tower Drive, Ste A Showplace Market, 2001 S Broadway Coldwell Banker Carousel Realty, 504 Tower Drive JT Brown, Berkshire Hathaway Realty, 1700 S Broadway City Bites, 1804 S Broadway Mexcocina Mexican Restaurant, 816 SE 4th St, Suite A Moore Primary Care, 1400 SE 4th ST, Ste H Moore Library, 225 S Howard Ave Moore “The Station”, City of Moore Park at 4th and Broadway Masters House, 223 S Broadway John M Ireland Funeral Home, 120 S Broadway 24-Hour Coin Laundry, 121 S Broadway Intrust Bank, 100 S Broadway Del Rancho (New Name), 301 W Main St Moore Chamber, 305 W Main St Old School Building, 201 N Broadway City of Moore Office Building, 301 N Broadway Moore Tag Agency, 623 N Broadway Junior’s Pancake House, 636 N Broadway Broadway Florist, 638 N Broadway Moore Vintage Charm, 1223 N Broadway The Lazy Donkey Mexican Restaurant, 1224 N Broadway Heads Up Style Shop, 501 NE 12th St IBC Bank, 513 NE 12 St Walgreen’s Drug Store, 1229 N Eastern Ave Monty’s Gyro & Sub Restaurant, 1208 N Eastern Ave Moore High School, 300 N Eastern Ave Featherstone Assisted Living, 301 N Eastern Ave Brand Senior Center, 501 E Main St Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, 640 SE 4th St (4th & Eastern) Royal Bavaria German Restaurant, 3401 S Sooner Rd

Andy Alligator’s Fun Park, 3300 Market Pl Hey Day, 3201 Market Pl Eye Care OK/Derma Care, 2909 S Telephone Rd Alfredo’s Mexican Café, 2713 S I-35 Service Rd Earl’s Rib Palace, 920 SW 25th St Catfish Cove, 925 SW 25th St Mazzio’s Italian Eatery, 937 SW 25th St, The UPS Store, 2119 Riverwalk Drive Hibdon Tire, 519 SW 19th St Tinker FCU, 400 SW 6th St LaQuinta Inn, 2140 Riverwalk Drive First United Bank, 2101 S I-35 Service Rd Schlotzsky’s, 631 SW 19th St Your Pie, 761 SW 19th St Hummus, 811 SW 19th St, Ste G Hideaway Pizza, 835 SW 19th St Okie Tonk, 1003 SW 19th St Southmoore High School, 2901 S Santa Fe Walgreen’s Drug Store, 1041 SW 19th St Physical Therapy Central, 620 S Santa Fe Ave, Ste A Oliveto Italian Bistro, 1301 S I-35 Service Rd Freddy’s, 1525 S I-35 Service Rd Delight Donuts, 4th & Telephone Rd Cutting Edge Physical Therapy, 526 SW 4th St Yellow Rose Dinner Theatre, 1005 SW 4th St City of Moore Recycling Center, 300 N Telephone Rd Himalayas, 709 N Moore Ave At The Beach Tanning, 803 N Moore Ave I-35 Bingo, 713 N Moore Ave Spring Hill Suites Marriott, 613 NW 8th St Mama Lou’s Restaurant, 1421 N Moore Ave GFF Foods, 1219 N Santa Fe Walgreen’s Drug Store, 1201 NW 12th St Abuelita’s Mexican Restaurant, 1225 N Santa Fe Homemade Donuts, 2712 N Santa Fe Pickles American Grill, 2713 N Service Rd

Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, 13505 S Santa Fe (134th St & Santa Fe) Blue Bean, 13316 S Western Ave, Ste P Westmoore High School, 12613 S Western Ave Allegiance Credit Union, 12200 S Western Ave Dale’s BBQ, 11801 S Western Ave, Ste B Lifestyle Fitness, 11801 S Western Ave Republic Bank, 11671 S Western Lemongrass Asian Bistro, 809 SW 119th St Jump Zone, 10400 S Western Ave Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, 2900 SW 134th St (134th & May Ave) South OKC Library, 2201 SW 134th St Earlywine YMCA, 11801 S May Ave Pub W, 10740 S May Ave OCCC, 7777 S May Ave (Cafeteria) Green Acres Market, 7301 S Pennsylvania Ave The Garage, 1024 W I-240 Service Rd The Mediterranean Grill, 7867 S Western Ave Dan’s Ol’ Time Diner, 8433 S Western Ave Chelino’s Mexican Restaurant, 8966 S Western Ave Fitness Revolution (GYM), 9101 S Western Ave Bill’s Steakhouse, 1013-A SW 89th St Warehouse Antique Mall, 1200 SE 89 St (E of I-35) Blazers Ice Center, 8000 S I-35 Service Rd

26 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

Norman Locations: Pioneer Library (Downtown), 225 N Webster Pioneer Library (West), 300 Norman Center Ct


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28 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018


Brand Senior Center April 2018 Activities

Exercise: Mon, Wed, & Fri 10:15 - Line Dancing Lessons: Wed 12:15 - Wood Carving Thurs: 9:00-11:00 Dominos, Card games, Jig-Saw puzzles, Pool, Quilting, & Volunteer work to assist the homebound or work is available at the Brand Center Moore Council On Aging Bus Service: 799-3130 Seniors may have transportation anywhere in the city of Moore for errands or appointments 8am to 3pm, Monday through Friday Moore Senior Citizen Nutrition Site Brand Center: 501 E. Main. Reservations for meals: 793-9069 Donation for a meal for seniors 60 & above: $2.25 Required cost for guests under 60: $5.00

A Mission to Serve. A Passion for Care.

10:00 Country Music House Singers // 10:30 BP checks provided by Walgreens 10:15-11:15 Jessica & Shotgun the Therapy Dog 10:00 MCOA Monthly Meeting 10:00 Wii Bowling // 10:00 Library // 10:30 BP & Sugar checks provided by Loving Care 10:00-11:00 Mustang Ramblers to sing 10:00 Country Music House Singers 11:45 Fresh Cobbler 10:15-11:15 Tornado Preparedness with Gayland Kitch // BP checks provided by Arbor House 12:15 BINGO with Scott 10:00 BINGO with Allegiance Credit Union // 10:00 Library 11:00-12:00 Volunteer Appreciation Party // 10:30 BP checks provided by Nurses on the Go

2800 SW 131st Street, OKC • 405-703-2300 • www.legendseniorliving.com

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS & PERFORMANCES - APRIL 2018

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FRED JONES JR. MUSEUM OF ART THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA Generations in Modern Pueblo Painting: The Art of Tonita Peña and Joe Herrera, January 26 – April 8. Nancy Johnston Records Gallery. The first of its kind: a large-scale, high-quality, scholarly exhibition of three generations of modern Pueblo painting. The exhibition is curated by W. Jackson Rushing III, the Eugene B. Adkins Presidential Professor of Art History and Mary Lou Milner Carver Chair in Native American Art, OU School of Visual Arts. Generations in Modern Pueblo Painting spans 1915 to the late 1980s. In addition to Tonita Peña (San Ildefonso/ Cochiti) and her son, Joe Herrera (Cochiti), other artists featured include Julian Martinez and his grandson Tony Da (San Ildefonso); Pablita Velarde and her daughter Helen Hardin (Santa Clara); in addition to teachers and mentors, such as Romando Vigil (San Ildefonso) and Geronimo Montoya (San Juan); as well as younger artists inspired by Herrera, such as Michael Kabotie (Hopi); Martinez’s nephew, Gilbert Atencio (San Ildefonso); and Charles Lovato (Kewa Pueblo). This exhibition is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Norman Arts Council Grant Program. Space Burial, January 26 – April 8. Ellen and Richard L. Sandor Gallery. “Ancient Egyptians occasionally buried their dead in boats. These were not caskets or sarcophagi in the form of boats, but real, functional wooden boats. Though buried deep underground, the understanding was that these boats would carry the departed on an afterlife journey. This use of a functional form exclusively for storytelling has inspired my own quest to imagine a modern-day burial ceremony. For this installation, slivers modeled from 86-foot diameter satellite dishes of the Very Large Array in New Mexico intersect the gallery space, forming pattern-infused canopies. Derived from the famous cosmic microwave background image, shadows of the pattern broadcast throughout the space, alluding to the dish as an agent of travel through time and space. This installation evokes the use of satellite dishes as a burial object for a space-faring culture. Placed within a satellite dish and buried, the dead's afterlife journey to the stars is facilitated. Furthermore, this ceremony can be utilized on distant planets in order to facilitate the dead's afterlife journey back home, to Earth. Further thoughts about how ancient ceremonies inform our modern life are encouraged by the experience.” Fine Print! Posters from the Permanent Co, January 26 – April 8. Ellen and Richard L. Sandor Photography Gallery. British actor, theatre manager, and wit Herbert Beerbohm Tree famously acknowledged, “It is difficult to live up to one’s posters.” Fine Print! Posters from the Permanent Collection explores just how posters worked to sell audiences on products, people, and ideas. It offers visitors an opportunity to see rarely exhibited European and American posters in the museum’s permanent collection that were produced between the fin-de-siècle French poster movement of the 1890s and the 1972 Olympics. Not only will this be the first time many of these posters have been displayed, but the exhibit also marks the museum’s first large-scale poster show in nearly 50 years. Whether bedecked with the sinuous curves of Art Nouveau, the bold patterns of Art Deco, or the minimalist text and imagery of the International Style, these posters demonstrate how style creates and communicates meaning. The posters are arranged chronologically and thematically into five key topics areas: artists, entertainers, patriotism, products, and ideas. Following an introduction to art posters and advertising graphics created by the influential late nineteenth-century French poster designer Jules Chéret, a section on propaganda places World War I posters by prominent American illustrators in dialogue with images by foreign propaganda artists. A third section features promotional images that helped sell commodities, whether art, films, or Olivetti typewriters. Internationalism and utopian idealism is evident in a selection of posters that promoted two major international events: the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition and the 1972 Olympics. A selection of posters and graphics produced under the auspices of the Container Corporation of America and General Dynamics

Corporation demonstrates how American corporations at midcentury used posters (perhaps dubiously) to pass themselves off as progressive proponents of international harmony. On the surface, these posters promote entertainers, the arts, products, international events, patriotism, and utopian ideals of cross-cultural harmony. Beneath the surface, they reflect the twentieth century’s conflicting values: militarization, world peace, consumerism, religion, individuality, and mass culture. This exhibition not only represents an opportunity for visitors to see rarely exhibited objects and gain a broader understanding of twentieth-century art and design, but also provides an opportunity for interdisciplinary dialogue about aesthetics, promotion, and the shifting boundaries between fine and commercial art.

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AT OKLAHOMA CITY COMMUNITY COLLEGE RIOULT Dance NY - Apr 19, 2018 at 7:30pm Founded in 1994, RIOULT Dance NY fast became an established name in modern dance with a reputation for presenting the sensual, articulate, and exquisitely musical works of Pascal Rioult. Jimmy Webb - The Glen Campbell Years Apr 23, 2018 at 7:30pm Award-winning singer/composer/writer Jimmy Webb brings his fans a unique connection to their favorite songs, revealing the stories behind the legacy he created with his friend Glen Campbell. In this very personal concert, he pays homage to his friend and collaborator, with performances including virtual duets, new music videos, and stories of how these iconic songs came to be. Personal video and photos from Webb’s private collection and from other friends, mostly never-before-seen, bring back decades of shared musical memories. For more information on the VIP tickets, please call the Box Office at (405) 682-7579. National Theatre Live - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf Sunday Apr 15, 2018 at 6:00pm, Sonia Friedman Productions present Imelda Staunton (Gypsy, Vera Drake, the Harry Potter films); Conleth Hill (Game Of Thrones, The Producers); Luke Treadaway (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Fortitude, The Hollow Crown) and Imogen Poots (A Long Way Down, Jane Eyre) in James Macdonald’s new production of Edward Albee’s landmark play. This encore presentation is pre-recorded at London's West End and rebroadcast in High Definition (HD). National Theatre Live is co-presented by OCCC and CityRep Theatre. ABBA MANIA - May 1, 2018 Dance in your seats to the Swedish phenomenon ABBA MANIA the tribute band, which takes you back in time by recreating one of the world’s finest pop groups in a live stage performance. Fantastic costumes, exciting choreography and not a little glitter make performances of "S.O.S.," "Super Trooper" and "Dancing Queen" as thrilling and fresh as they day they debuted!

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). Soul Food Community Dinner, Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Moore First United Methodist Church, 201 W. Main St. Food, fun, fellowship and friends. See menu at moorechurch.com. Join the Singles of First Moore for "Friday Night Live for HIM" There's a dinner for a small charge at 6:30 p.m. in Leadership Center, followed by a wonderful time of praise & worship and a message from David Edwards.Fellowship and table games to follow until 10:00 p.m. Please call 793-2624 for more information or e-mail at marji.robison@firstmoore. com. First Moore Baptist is located at 301 NE 27th Street, just off I-35 South in Moore.

30 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

CITY MEETINGS AND EVENTS City Council Meeting - Monday, April 2, 2018 - 6:30pm Parks Board Meeting - Tuesday, April 3, 2018 - 7:00pm Board of Adjustment Meeting - Tue, April 10, 2018 - 5:30pm Planning Commission Meeting - Tue, April 10, 2018 - 7:00pm Moore Storm Walk Looking for volunteers and participants in the Moore Storm Walk. This event raises money for Moore Crime Stoppers, storm shelter and storm repairs for those in need. Get involved with this event and you will be helping to save many lives by helping to purchase storm shelters,storm repairs and clean up. Event Details: When: Saturday, April 14th Where: Central Park (700 S. Broadway Ave.) Time: 8AM - 1PM Distance: 1.4 miles Runners start at 9AM. Walkers start at 9:30AM Saturday, April 14, 2018 - 8:00am to 1:00pm Moore Economic Development Authority Meeting Monday, April 16, 2018 - 6:30pm City Council Meeting - Monday, April 16, 2018 - 6:30pm Central Park Spring Arts and Crafts Marketplace Saturday, April 28, 2018 - 9:00am to 3:00pm

COMMUNITY CONNECTION Second Annual Open Streets Norman Cleveland County Open Streets is coming back to Norman for the second annual event! On Sunday, April 15th, Webster Ave will be temporarily closed to traffic from 1:00-5:00pm to encourage community members to come out and enjoy fresh air and physical activity with their neighbors. The Cleveland County Health Department, in partnership with the City of Norman, Norman Regional Health Systems, and several local businesses and organizations, is excited to be hosting the event. “Open Streets Norman is part of a county-wide health improvement campaign called Caring 4 Tomorrow”, said Tara Douglas, Cleveland County Health Department’s Health Education Supervisor. “Caring 4 Tomorrow is a health improvement initiative that focuses on four priority areas including child health, mental health, substance abuse, and obesity reduction across Cleveland County.” Open Streets Norman is free, open to the public and full of family friendly fun for all ages and ability levels. Leashed pets are also welcome to join the fun! Local food trucks will be on site, for the grand opening weekend of TOLY Park, so be sure to come have lunch and enjoy an afternoon with your fellow community members. Those interested in hosting an activity hub, or volunteering for the event can find more information on Facebook at Open Streets Norman or by emailing ClevelandCountyOpenSt@ health.ok.gov . The deadline to register is March 25th for an activity hub, or April 7th for those interested in volunteering. DON’T PUNISH PAIN RALLY - Saturday, April 7th 11:00 AM State Capitol South Lawn 2300 N Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City, Contact info: Don’t Punish Pain Rally group on Facebook or Dontpunishpain@gmail.com In 2016, the CDC implemented guidelines to address the illicit Fentanyl/Heroin overdosing epidemic. Due to the OVERCORRECTED guidelines, many primary care physicians, pain management doctors, pharmacies, and even hospitals, have been forced to abandon the chronically ill community. WHO ARE WE? Our community includes people who suffer from painful, incurable, and often invisible illnesses. We represent millions in our country who battle a wide range of severe diseases and painful conditions. WHY RALLY? This rally will give us a united voice, and hopefully gain nationwide media coverage. DOES THIS ISSUE AFFECT YOU? YES!! The DEA drastically reduced the production of IV pain medication, which has already created a shortage.

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. 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. Leadership Moore - City of Moore - April 2, 2018 Time: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM CDT The Leadership Moore year begins in October and concludes in April. Members meet every month for briefings, tours, seminars, and hands-on learning. In addition, the class participates in an Alumni Social in September. The Leadership Moore program agendas bring in top-level business, civic, and government leaders for an interactive and behind the scenes look at Moore. Session Topic: City of Moore, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety. Community Emergency Response Training - April 5, 2018 Time: 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM CDT web: cityofmoore.com/community-emergency-response-training Free emergency skills training provides basic preparedness skills and information for emergencies. Teaches specific actions you can take to assist your family & neighbors during and after an emergency. Taught here in Moore by professional first responders Tuesday and Thursday evenings, April 3-19 6pm10pm (You must attend all 6 classes to complete the course) Contact: emermgt@cityofmoore.com for more information. Moore Chamber Morning Buzz - Norman Regional Moore April 6, 2018 Time: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM CDT. The Morning Buzz is a breakfast series which aims to connect businesses by facilitating the exchange of ideas and strategies for business growth and success through connections. Moore Chamber Business After Hours Physical Therapy Central of Moore April 10, 2018 Time: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM CDT This event is a business networking opportunity for Moore Chamber of Commerce Members. Attendees can make meaningful connections that can result in successful business leads. Food and beverages are served. Check out the Chamber Calendar for the location of the next one! Moore Chamber Business Before Hours Antioch Christian Academy Date: April 12, 2018 Time: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM CDT Moore Involved Goes Philanthropic - April 26, 2018 Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM CDT Join Moore Involved for the second philanthropic event of 2018 at Moore Food & Resource Center from 8-12pm on April 26th. We will be helping out by sorting food in the back, stocking food in the front and helping the shoppers. We always have a great time here and hope you can join us. South OKC Excellence In Education Banquet 2018 APRIL 3, 2018 TIME: 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM http://www.southokcawards.com The 2018 Excellence in Education Banquet will be held on April 3, 2018, at Moore Norman Technology Center. We would like to invite you to join us for a special evening featuring dinner, entertainment, and the presentation of awards and scholarships. If you would like to join us for this event, please call the Chamber office to purchase your tickets. To apply for scholarships and view nomination deadline dates please visit: http://www.southokcawards.com For Sponsorship opportunities please contact Liz Cromwell at lizcromwell@southokc.com or (405) 634-1436. Continued...


Calendar Sponsored by South OKC Excellence In Education Banquet 2018 (continued...) •Presenting Sponsors: Cox Communications; Frontier State Bank; Republic Bank & Trust; SONIC, America's Drive-In; and Walmart I-240 & Santa Fe • Special Participation Sponsor: Women of the South • Administrator of the Year Sponsor: MidFirst Bank • Teacher of the Year Sponsors: OKC Thunder and Variety Care • Technology Teacher of the Year Sponsors: Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Metro Technology Centers, and Moore Norman Technology Center • Student of the Year Sponsors: Cox Communications and Oklahoma City Community College • Scholarships Provided by: Jay London Homes, Foundation for South Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College Foundation, South Oklahoma City Lawyers Association, and Tinker Federal Credit Union • Snap Chat Filter Sponsor: Moore Norman Technology Center Event Location: Moore Norman Technology Center 13301 South Pennsylvania Avenue, 73170 April 3, 2018 - Doors Open: 6:00 p.m. Event Begins: 6:30 p.m. - Contact Information (405) 634-1436 - Individual Ticket: $40 South OKC Chamber Business After Hours Hosted By Communication Federal Credit Union DATE: APRIL 12, 2018 TIME: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Event Description Join us for networking with complimentary appetizers and beverages. This is an event you do not want to miss! Presenting Sponsor: Eskridge Honda Gold Sponsors: The Fox Graphics and Resthaven Funeral Home & Memory Gardens Host Sponsor: Communication Federal Credit Union. Event Location Communication Federal Credit Union: 3401 Southwest 104 Street, 73159 Contact Information: 634-1436 or info@southokc.com South OKC Chamber Dream Team Networking Group DATE: APRIL 11, 2018 TIME: 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM Event Description This is one of the Chamber's monthly networking groups! Success always starts with a dream! The Dream Team group meets once a month at lunchtime. Each session features a member spotlight. Everyone participates in the round of self-introductions! The guidelines explain that there are limitations based on industry category. Any Chamber member may attend twice. So, please join us to learn more. All of our special events are open to any Chamber member. Non-chamber members are welcome to attend once, prior to joining the South OKC Chamber. Event Location To Be Announced - April 11, 2018 11:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.: Gathering and Informal Networking 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.: Formal Program Contact Information: Co-Chair: Linda Richardson with HMIpromos at eMail: LRichardsonOKC@aol.com OR phone: 405-4738008 or Co-Chair: Lisa Thomas with Beyond: Lisa.Thomas@ GetBeyond.com OR phone: 405-823-8970. There is no cost to participate in this networking session other than the food and beverages you choose to order. Membership in the South OKC Chamber is required to be a regular participant. Non-chamber members are welcome to attend once, prior to joining the South OKC Chamber.

FITNESS AND DANCE CLASSES Bootcamps: • Morning Bootcamp is available at First Moore Baptist Church every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 10:00 a.m. Ages 13 and up. The class is $2. Call (405) 793-2600 for more information. • Evening Bootcamp is available at First Moore Baptist Church every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Ages 13 and up. The class is $2. Call (405) 793-2600 for more information. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Judo, classes held Monday – Sunday at 117 Skylane Drive in Norman for ages 7 and up. A non-profit organization, all classes are offered in a family friendly environment. Fees are $20 per month for an individual or $40 per month for a family. Discount uniforms are available. Info: (405) 465-1925 or email fiftyonefiftybjj@yahoo.com.

Adult Salsa Classes, every Wednesday 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Adelante Dance Studio (Inside Moore Old School) 201 N. Broadway, Suite 201. $10 per class or $35 a month. Call (405) 586-0201 for more information. First Moore Baptist Church of Moore Community Life/Recreation Center, The Link is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Wednesdays and Fridays, 6:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; and Saturday open 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Two basketball courts and racquetball courts, fitness center and walking/running track. For more information, call (405) 735-2527. Karate, First Moore Baptist Church, every Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The classes are free for anyone ages 8 and up. Uniforms available at a discounted rate. Call (405) 793-2600 for more information. Morning Fitness, First Moore Baptist Church, every Monday at 9:00 a.m. Ages 40 and up preferred. The class is $2. Call (405) 793-2600 for more information. Christian Life Center Zumba, Mondays at 7:15 p.m. at the Christian Life Center located at 201 W. Main St. $3 fee per class.

KIDS’ CORNER Agape: First United Methodist Church Moore, Wednesdays, 4:00 p.m., 201 W. Main. Homework and Hangout for Youth (7th– 12th grade). Community Dinner at 5:30 p.m. (cost is $1 for dinner), Family Activities & Church School at 6:00 p.m. Menu can be found at www.moorechurch.com. Afterschool Matters, First Moore Baptist Church, Tuesdays from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. This program helps students work towards academic success. Available to 1st – 6th grade. Contact director Carissa Taylor at carissa.taylor@fbcmoore.org to learn more about enrolling your child or to volunteer. Boy Scouts Meetings, Mondays, 7:00 p.m., Moore First United Methodist Church, 201 W. Main St. Children’s Chimes, Moore First United Methodist Church, Wednesdays, 6:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m., 201 W. Main St., children 4th – 6th grade will learn to read music. Cub Scouts Meetings, Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m., Moore First United Methodist Church, 201 W. Main St. Girl Scouts Meetings, Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m., Moore First United Methodist Church, 201 W. Main St. LEAP (Learning Enrichment Arts Program), Moore First United Methodist Church, Wednesdays, 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., 201 W. Main St. Open to kindergarten – 6th grade. Choir, life skills games, snacks and help with homework. YMCA Before and After School Care, Moore Community Center. Call 378-0420 for participating schools and more information.

MUSIC/ARTS Adult Art Classes at The Station TO REGISTER: www.cityofmoore.com/fun. For more information call Moore Parks & Recreation at (405) 793-5090 Southern Hills School of Fine Arts, 8601 S. Penn, Oklahoma City. Enrolling children and adults for private lessons in piano, voice, guitar, bass, drums, strings, brass and woodwinds. Call Sarah Gee at (405) 735-6387.

RECOVERY AND SUPPORT GROUPS Celebrate Recovery: • Faith Crossing Baptist Church Celebrate Recovery, Mondays, 13701 S. Pennsylvania, Oklahoma City. • First Moore Baptist Church Celebrate Recovery, Thursday nights, 6:30 p.m., First Moore Baptist Church, 301 NE 27th Street. Call (405) 793-2600 for more information. Support and help for those struggling with addiction.

• Fresh Start Community Church Celebrate Recovery 12 Step Program, Tuesday nights, 6:30 p.m., 309 N Eastern. Call (405) 794-7313 for more information. Dementia/Alzheimer’s Support Group, Village on the Park, 1515 Kingsridge, Oklahoma City. Contact Karen Proctor at (405) 692-8700 for meeting times and details. Divorce Care, First Moore Baptist Church, Wednesday nights, 6:15 p.m., 301 NE 27th Street. Support group for those going through a divorce. Call (405) 793-2600 for more information.

Moore Old Town Association, the fourth Tuesday of every month, First United Methodist Church. For more information, contact Janie Milum at cjmilum@sbcglobal.net.

Grief Share Support Group, First Moore Baptist Church, every Monday night at 6:30 p.m., 301 N.E. 27th Street. Support group for individuals and family members struggling with life events such as death, divorce, and disappointments and learning healthy ways to cope with life. Call 793-2600 for more info.

Moore Rotary Club, Wednesdays at Moore Chamber of Commerce. Moore Rotary Club is a civic organization dedicated to contributing and volunteering in our community.

Grief Share Support Group, Fresh Start Community Church, every Wednesday, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., 309 N. Eastern, Moore, Fresh Start Community Church Fireside Room. We offer help and encouragement after the death of a spouse, child, family member or friend. Please contact the office at (405) 794-7313, Lyn Jacquemot at (405) 326-5554, or ladylyn1941@gmail.com to register or participate. HOPE Addictions Recovery, every Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Beth Haven Baptist Church, 12400 S. Call Pastor Rick Carter at (405) 691-6990 for information.

SENIOR CONNECTION AARP, the fourth Tuesday of every month, 6:00 p.m., Brand Senior Center, 501 East Main Street, Moore. Programs are on subjects of interest to persons 50 years and over. Potluck dinner follows the program each month. For more information, contact Mary at (405) 826-2315. Moore Senior Citizen Nutrition Site, Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m., Brand Senior Center, 501 E. Main, (405) 793-9069. Call by 1:00 p.m. the day before to request a meal. Donation for a meal for seniors 60 and above is $2.25. Required cost for a meal for guests under 60 is $5.00. 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+ or disabled. Taxi fare at 40% off.

SERVICE, COMMUNITY CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS American Legion Meetings, every Wednesday, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., 207 SW 1st St., Moore. Open for all veterans. Call (405) 794-5446 for more information. Malcolm Hunter Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, the second Wednesday of each month, Hillcrest Presbyterian Church, 6600 S. Penn, at 1:00 p.m. For more information, contact Pat Towns at (405) 376-5653. Moore Horseshoe Pitching Club, every Thursday, 6:00 p.m., Fairmoore Park. For more information, contact (405) 237-1171.

Moore Toastmasters, every Thursday, 7:00 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 201 W. Main St., Moore. Become the speaker and leader that you want to be. Join our group as we practice Toastmasters’ proven learn-by-doing program. The Oklahoma Women Veterans Organization, the third Saturday during the months of February, April, June, August, October and December, 11:00 a.m., Sunnylane Family Reception Center, 3900 SE 29th St., Del City. If you need directions, call (405) 445-7040. South Oklahoma City Rotary Club, every Friday, 12:00 p.m., Southwest Integris Cancer Center, SW 44th St. and S. Western, Oklahoma City. A civic organization dedicated to contributing and volunteering in our community. VFW Bruce January Post 8706, the second Thursday of every month, 7:00 p.m., Lynlee Mae Event Center, 501 W. Main St., Moore. All veterans welcome. Call Mike Eaton at (405) 8314405 or go to www.vfwpost8706.org for more information.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES American Cancer Society seeks volunteers who would like to help drive patients to their cancer treatment and/or volunteer with our local Relay for Life event. For more information visit www.relayforlife.org/mooreok or contact Mel Rogers at (405) 841-5817 or mel.rogers@cancer.org. Blue Star Mothers of America. Moore City Hall is a donation drop-off for items for our service members overseas. For needs, see www.bsmok6.org or go to City Hall. Help Deliver Meals to Moore homebound residents. Volunteer drivers needed. Call Darlene Carrell, 793-9069, Brand Center. The Hugs Project, a non-profit organization, puts together care packages for our troops in the Middle East. For more information, call (405) 651-8359 or TheHugsProject@cox.net. Moore Faith Medical Clinic is a free clinic serving Moore school district residence. We provide medications, physical therapy, limited labs. The clinic address spiritual, emotional needs as well as physical needs. Moore Faith Clinic is supported by the community. We do not receive government funds. The Community Outreach meeting is to engage the community to partner with the clinic to keep our uninsured neighbors healthy and working . Moore Faith Medical Clinic provides a safety net that is not available through the government. We need the business community to become more involved. as well as residents of the area. Presently a small group of donors meet the financial needs. Volunteers always need to be added. Help us expand our donor and volunteer base. Please come April 9 6:45 PM Moore Faith Medical Clinic, 224 S. Chestnut Suite 100, Moore. South side of the Serve Moore Community Building. You can tour the clinic and learn how you can be part of the future To keep up with the events and opportunities that are being added throughout the month, log on to mooremonthly.com and click on the Calendar link at the top of the home page.

APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 31


moore life with donna walker

Bankston’s Battle Renee Jenkins was 18 weeks along in her pregnancy when she and her husband Skylar learned they would soon be parents of a bouncing baby boy. They were so excited to discover the baby’s gender. They had the name Bankston picked out for a boy. They had a gender reveal party planned for later in the evening to share their news with friends and family. Invitations were sent. The ideal “reveal” cake was ordered. Family and friends RSVP’d. Everything seemed perfect. “We were ecstatic when we found out we were having a baby boy, but during the ultrasound something just felt off. The ultrasound technician kept saying she was looking for something she couldn’t find and would have the doctor come in. We kept looking at each other trying to figure it out,” Renee recalled.

He explained that their unborn child’s heart did not develop correctly and that he likely had a condition called Hypo-Plastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). “At that moment I wasn’t sure what to think," Renee said. "The world stood still as I tried to hear anything else the doctor said. I remember asking what that means for him and his future and how it will affect the rest of my pregnancy.” They left the office with a scary diagnosis and instructions to avoid “googling” the disease. The young, frightened parents would be set up with a fetal cardiologist.

As first-time parents-to-be, they didn’t know what to expect and weren’t sure what was going on. Nothing could have prepared the Moore residents for the news they were about to receive.

“Needless to say, we were heartbroken and completely devastated," Renee said. "I wanted the cancel the party more than anything, but Skylar said everything would be okay. He was my rock. Having everyone over and keeping a smile on my face was extremely difficult. I just wanted to cry!"

The doctor arrived and confirmed that they indeed were having a boy. After studying the ultrasound, he shared the grave news that there was a problem with their baby’s heart.

After the guests left, Renee sat down with her parents to share the devastating news about their baby boy. The overwhelmed family cried together and talked about how they would do

anything and everything to get Bankston what he needed. And, like any expectant parents would do, they began researching their son’s diagnosis... contrary to doctor’s orders. Renee explained that in hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the left side of the heart can't properly supply blood to the body because the lower left chamber is too small or doesn’t exist. The valves on the left side of the heart don't work properly, and the main artery leaving the heart (the aorta) is smaller than normal. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, affecting 8 out of every 1,000 newborns. Each year, more than 35,000 babies in the United States are born with congenital heart defects. HLHS is among the most severe and rare heart defects among infants. The Center for Disease Control reports that 1 only out of every 4,344 babies born in the United States each year is born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Two months passed before they were able to meet with the Fetal Cardiologist at The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center. After learning that there were very few resources available locally to treat HLHS patients, they began to search for the right surgeon and program for their son. They looked into programs in Arkansas, Boston, and Dallas. They decided to take their son to Dallas Children’s Hospital for treatment. Finally, with initial decisions made, they were able to come to terms with their circumstances. And, for the first time in months, a bit of hope began to settle in. They began to focus on making all the preparations for Bankston’s arrival. He was to be born in Dal-

32 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

las, and the doctor wanted them there 6 weeks prior to his due date. Only days away from making their short-term move to Dallas and a mere two days after their baby shower, Renee’s water broke. A few hours later on March 10, 2015, and 6 weeks ahead of schedule, little Bankston entered the world via OU Children's Hospital. Mom and Dad were allowed to hold their newborn for a few moments before he was whisked away to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. A mere 48 hours after his birth, little Bankston experienced his first flight when he was transported to Dallas Children’s Hospital. Since he was 6 weeks premature, he was too small and weak to undergo the first of the 3-stage open heart surgeries required to treat his heart defect. He initially underwent a pulmonary banding surgery to help sustain his life, until he reached the weight and height milestones required to undergo the first open heart surgery, the Norwood. And on April 22, 2015 Bankston underwent his first heart surgery, where the surgeon created a “new” aorta and connected it to the right ventricle. Bankston experienced various setbacks after surgery. Immediately following surgery, his tiny body was so swollen that surgeons were not able to close his chest right away. Renee said it is common for a couple of days to pass before the chest of HLHs babies can be closed. For Bankston, it took a bit longer. He also struggled with lower oxygen levels. At one point his lung collapsed, and on another occasion, his diaphragm had to be pinned down in yet another procedure. Finally, after 87 days spent in the hospital, Bankston was discharged. The family of 3 settled in their temporary home


he turns blue because his ‘half heart’ has a hard time keeping up due to a lack of oxygen circulating." Although the couple strives to give Bankston as normal a life as possible, she said they are extremely cautious when taking him out in public because exposing him to something as simple as a common cold could be problematic, and even catastrophic for the toddler. Bankston is doing fantastic, but his final surgery looms over the horizon. Renee and Skylar have spent the past few months trying to get mentally, physically, and financially prepared for Bankston’s third open heart surgery, the Fontan. A recent visit to Dr. Arshid Mir confirmed that surgery will need to happen soon. and rejoiced that they were no longer living in a hospital. They completed the “safe at home” program and were required to live within a certain distance from the hospital. Their lives consisted of weekly medical appointments in addition to tube feedings, journaling daily saturation levels, and managing medications. Bankston had many overnight stays in the time leading up to the Glenn Shunt (2nd) surgery, which he received in October. Eight days after his second heart surgery, the Jenkins family was allowed to return home. After spending seven months away from family and friends, they were elated to be back home in Oklahoma with little Banktson in tow.

Bankston celebrated his 3rd birthday a few weeks ago. When most folks meet him, they have no idea of the health challenges he has faced. He is definitely on the smaller side, weighing in at 28 pounds. Yet were it not for the laundry list of medications he requires and the frequent doctor visits, he is just like any other toddler boy…. happy, adventurous and full of life. “When most people see him, they have no idea what a struggle his short life has been and that his little body is working twice as hard to stay alive," Renee said. "He loves to play and play and play. There are times that

“It breaks my heart to see my baby showing signs of needing his next surgery more and more every day," Renee said. "It’s evident when you see him turning blue more often, struggling to keep up with other kids, and throwing up regularly. Making a decision about his surgery is heavy on our minds.”

sive care unit, they may not even have to leave town for the surgery. Pending the results of his upcoming heart catheterization, Renee and Skylar will need to decide whom they will trust to perform Bankston’s final operation. Looking back over the past three years, Renee and Skylar have discovered the fragility of life and learned to count their blessings. “This journey has changed us in every way possible," Renee said. "I now know that life is precious and can change in a heartbeat. I know that a lot of things most parents worry and stress about, just don’t matter." She encourages other parents facing similar situations with some simple advice. “Pray! Never give up hope. Medical advancements are happening every day.” You can receive updates and offer encouragement to little Bankston’s family by visiting Bankston’s Battle For Beats on Facebook. There is also a GoFundMe account set up and Team Bankston T-shirts are available to help offset the family’s medical expenses for those interested in helping out this strong, tiny warrior.

Although they knew the day was coming, Renee said it brings back a rush of emotions and fears. “Unfortunately HLHS has no cure and every child has a different outcome, but we’re hopeful that this will be his final surgery. We Thank God every day for Bankston. We hope and pray that he will not only survive but thrive to become the amazing person God intends him to be.” Despite her fears, Renee realizes how blessed they truly are. They have each other. They have a strong fighter on their hands. And, best of all, now that OU Children’s Medical offers a new pediatric cardiac inten-

APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 33


taste local by olivia dubcak

Town Has Taco Tuesday Cravings for Los Tacos

Taco Tuesdays are back and better than ever at the new Los Tacos located at 122 N Broadway St. in Moore.

and my mother Joanna to have a more active role,” said Lindahl, whose sister-in-law and cousins also assist in the family business.

The Moore Los Tacos is one of two, its sister located at 89th and Pennsylvania. The original Los Tacos was opened in 1972 by Roy and Bonnie Myers, who still makes her famous sauce from her original recipe.

The pick-up, takeout Tex-Mex store boasts gargantuan burritos, tostado shell nachos and an old-school American menu featuring hot dogs, cheeseburgers and tots, to name a few.

In fact, Los Tacos is a full family affair, said owner and manager Zak Lindahl, who started by washing dishes at the family’s second location.

Los Tacos is a step above other Tex-Mex fast food chains, using quality ingredients and no fillers like 90/10 ground beef and beans that are cooked down and spiced, and never refried in fat, Lindahl said.

“I started off washing dishes. My mom and my aunts had always done the cooking and all that jazz. I also did the counter and whatnot, whatever they needed me to do,” said Lindahl. “When we decided to open this location my grandma wanted me, my brother Ryan

Will everyone’s favorite taco stop be appearing in other locations? “The goal is for my brother to take over this location and I’ll open up another location somewhere else in the city," said Lindahl. "We’re not really interested in franchising;

34 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

we like to keep everything within the family. We’d all like to have our own locations, but as of right now, we’re just one big family working together."

quent the restaurant’s original location. A discount with student ID or free taco with a purchase may be in the works for the kids at Moore high school during lunchtime.

And working with the family is enough to keep them going. “Working with my family and making people happy, giving them good food—It’s really as simple as that,” Lindahl said of his job.

Moore Los Tacos is open Tuesday through Saturday 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Lindahl says he encourages everyone to stop by and even become a part of the family, because the town residents are the reason for Los Tacos’ success.

Customers also feel the family’s influence in the business and are used to the care and attention they receive at Los Tacos, including the many long-time regulars. “People come in all the time like, ‘I used to eat at the original location back in the eighties!' and my mom and grandma know them by name, a lot of familiar faces,” said Lindahl. The staff is working on a way to pay homage to the restaurant’s original fan base: the kids of Capitol Hill high who used to fre-

At Los Tacos the goal is simply “being genuine, keeping customers happy and having a consistent product that customers can come back to.”


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shop local with olivia dubcak

Honey Do Construction Looking to update your home or business with a facelift? Having a plumbing or electrical issue? Look no further than Moore’s own Honey Do Construction: purveyors of all plumbing, heating and air, electrical, and construction needs. Honey Do Construction, currently in its 65th year of business, was founded in 1953 by owner Glynn Mize’s great-great uncle, an off-duty firefighter looking to occupy idle hands. His great-great uncle began by doing maintenance at the University of Oklahoma and eventually founded the multi-purpose “all-the-way-around” construction company that Honey Do is today. Mize started helping out around the company business at age fourteen and was always involved in the family business. “If I wasn’t working, I was going to work,” he said. Glynn has been in charge of Honey Do Construction for 23 years, taking over in 1995. But his career hasn't entirely centered on construction. For a while, he tired of construction and chose instead to work on Air Force One. Glynn’s parents, however, kept up his licenses, and when his father asked him to come back, Glynn agreed. The business is certainly family-focused, said Mize. “Same people, same business and we’ve even had the same number since ’53. 794-5555. It’s family-oriented. We go in hoping you’re going to become our family.” Mize and his team follow the same precedent set by the family in the businesses’ beginnings. Mize prides himself on being professional, courteous, and always on time, arriving 15 minutes early to our interview as a testament to this. Honey Do boasts a jack-of-all-trades complete service, making sure every customer receives a beginning to end experience. “When people in these industries go in and do jobs, they tear holes but they don’t do the fixing. So my great-great uncle said, ‘Well they’re going to call someone else to do it,’ so we started doing that and that’s how Honey Do was created,” said Mize. Mize and his team approach every project with "can-do" attitude, treating every customer the way they would want to be treated. “I always walk away knowing I’ve tried my absolute best, given my best effort,” he said. “I’d be lying if I said every job was perfect, because it’s not, but we can convert them, we can try." Honey Do’s community reputation comes from deep family roots. Mize’s years in the business has added to his family's well-established

36 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

service, which has grown a network of specialized individuals they trust and comes in handy when he needs to fix a specific problem. “If I don’t know what it is, I have a list of people I can call," Mize said. "I’ve been in the business so long and my family’s been in the business so long that we’ve established a network of people that we trust that we can refer you to. I can give you someone I know is going to do it right." This remains true for the Honey Do team, a small group of trusted employees, many of whom he’s worked with since college. “I think seven people is a good comfortable number for me. I’m not going to go franchise, nothing like that. I like my regulars and my Rolodex.” Mize also credits his “crazy personality” to some of his following. “You’ve got to make fun of everything.” He proved this when I asked about the most popular service Honey Do offers. “Again, 'Chunk',” he says laughing, referring to his college nickname. “Completing jobs, being on time and fulfilling people’s needs. We always do what we say.” “We’ve got a lot of letters of appreciation. I wish my mom and dad were alive to see the accomplishments we’ve made, like three years in a row winning the Best in Moore contest.” What is Mize’s sworn key to success? “Being happy with what you do, being positive is key. If you aren’t happy, how can you be successful? Sure you can be successful but if you’re not happy about what you’re doing and what you’re trying to accomplish every day in life, how can you be?” Mize enjoys the challenge of the job, including his daily personal challenge. “I enjoy going in daily and taking that challenge on," said Mize. "It’s the challenge and the fulfillment of making someone happy,” said Mize. Honey Do can service just about everything and the kitchen sink...Literally. Big or small, they do it all, like recently completing a 45-day full bathroom transformation in just 15 days, then driving down the street to install doggy doors. You can call to book a project with his team at 794-5555.


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by thomas maupin

Moore's Debate All Stars There's a Florida trip in the future for the speech and debate teams of Moore High School and Westmoore High School. The teams will be participating in the 2018 National Speech and Debate Tournament, which is June 17-22 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The National Speech and Debate Association's website says the national tournament has been held since 1931. It's billed as "the largest academic competition in the world." Billy Elles, Westmoore's speech and debate coach, said it would not be accurate to call this a continuation of the MooreWestmoore Moore Wars. "The speech circuit operates a little bit differently. The rivalry isn't so intense. The kids actually work together pretty well," he said. Moore High School's speech and debate coach Ishmael Kissinger agreed. "We are much more collaborative in speech and debate. We want to win, but I think as a whole our community -- speech and debate -- is typically more supportive of each other's success even while still striving to be the best." Five of Kissinger's students will be going to the nationals. They are: Caleb Lawson, sophomore; Bryce Boyd, senior; Adison Norbury, junior; Ethan Seabourn, sophomore; and Paige Clark, senior.

three-day tournament at OU," Kissinger said. "It's a marathon of a tournament. We'd get there every morning about 7:30 and not leave until about 10:30 (p.m.). So the better part of 15-hour days. On Saturday, we were out of there by 7 p.m." Elles, a 26-year-old Oklahoma City resident, has been teaching at Westmoore High School for three years. He said there are about 50 students in the Jaguar speech and debate program, but not all can compete in Florida. "You can only send a maximum of four students per event assuming you have the maximum points." The nine Westmoore students going to the tournament are: Siamyra Wilson, junior; team captain Halle Carr, senior; Breanah Haynes, senior; Sydney Brinkley, junior; Cece Alali, freshman; Riley Davis, sophomore; John Gutteridge, senior; Jacob Martin, sophomore; and Seth Kordic, junior. Elles said there will be 60 to 70 students from across the state attending the event. Both coaches said the number of students taking part from across the nation will be in the thousands. The Westmoore students will be competing in Humorous Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Original Oratory, International Extemporaneous Speaking, Informative Speaking, and Program Oral Interpretation. "I believe that's it," Elles said with a smile.

Kissinger is 34 years old, lives in Moore and is a 2001 graduate of Moore High School. This is his 10th year teaching at MHS. He said there about 40 students in the speech and debate program.

Kissinger's students will compete in Policy Debate, U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking, International Extemporaneous Speaking, and Big Questions.

Both coaches learned on March 3 their students will be going to the national event. "It was at the end of an exhausting

Elles said the Westmoore speech and debate program has its own banner, it is on the website, and the team participates

38 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

in all the club fairs. "So, I think some people might not know what speech and debate is, but I think it's fair to say most of our students know the activity exists." Elles said some kids have talked about traveling to Florida to support those participating in the national event. "The general feeling has been pretty enthusiastic. The administration and staff here have been supportive as well," he said. Kissinger said Moore High School teachers and other students have been supportive of his team. "Like most places they're not making a 'Friday Night Lights' about people in speech and debate teams. But, I think that's just the nature of our society and not just any one school." Fundraisers are ongoing for the WHS students. "We've been doing a fundraiser a month, and we have several fundraisers left," Elles said. The Moore school district also is helping by allowing the students to use district vans for transportation to the event, "which is a major contribution, but the entry fees and stuff, we pay for out of our account that we fundraised all year." Kissinger's group also is planning a fundraiser and is getting help from the school district. "Right now our transportation is paid for by the district. We are traveling in the school vans. And a parent has donated some resources for us to stay in a hotel down there," Kissinger said. "This will be my ninth time in 10 years that we've had students qualify for nationals," Kissinger said. "Typically it's about a $3,000 trip for a full week in a different city. So, we will have to fundraise because resources are tight, and school budgets are even tighter."


MOORE LIONS From left, Caleb Lawson, Bryce Boyd, Adison Norbury, Ethan Seabourn. Paige Clark, and coach Ishmael Kissinger.

Kissinger said Moore High School teams have been to the nationals 17 times since 1977. Elles said this will be Westmoore's 13th trip to the national event. "And I've taken kids every year I've been here." Elles was asked why he coaches speech and debate. "As cliche as it sounds, it's for my students. I believe in what speech and debate does because it did change my life. It empowered me. I think speech and debate gives students a voice. It teaches them not just that they have a voice but how to use their voice. And as a coach, if I can empower kids to make positive change, to stand up for what they believe in, to raise awareness, to have an escape from the reality of what they are going through each day, then I feel I've done my job. And so coaching allows me to not only change the life of my students, but also empowers me to make a difference and feel like I have a bigger purpose in my life." For Kissinger, coaching speech and debate is a way to pay back to the community. "Speech and debate is one of the few activities that students have access to where it's not about your natural talent or ability but rather about how much hard work someone is willing to invest in themselves, and

WESTMOORE JAGUARS Bottom left to right: Siamyra Wilson, Halle Carr, Breanah Haynes, Sydney Brinkley, Cece Alali Back left to right: Riley Davis, John Gutteridge, Jacob Martin, and Seth Kordic

that can be empowering to a young person. Also, when I was in high school here at Moore, like many of the students here now, I didn't really have the means to go to college. It was either college or the military. Speech and debate provided an opportunity for scholarships. So, I want to pay that back to students now who may not be able to afford college otherwise." Kissinger said speech and debate is "one of the few things that a student can do and take with them for the rest of their lives. You make connections to not only some of the best and brightest students in the state." He said students hone their skills in communication. "If you're not an effective communicator, you're not going to be effective at hardly anything else."

For Moore's Adison Norbury, this will be her second time at nationals. She also enjoys the community aspect of speech and debate. "The main thing I get is a community. It's really nice to go to tournaments to compete first, but also to be able to meet people and build friendships within the community of speech and debate. That's probably my favorite part. But also academically you get a lot out of it. It helps with essays and critical thinking skills." Adison said speech and debate has helped her in job interviews. "My first job interview that I went to, they actually thought I had gone to other job interviews before hand because I was able to speak so well." She said speech and debate has helped with time management and being able to think quickly.

Westmoore's Halle Carr will be making her third trip to nationals. She credited Elles for showing her that she could be successful. "I became a district champ my first year with him." She said that as the years have gone by, she's learned speech and debate gives her "a passion to do, and I have a passion to share with other people. ... It really does teach you that you have a voice and can use it." Now she realizes, "My voice does have power regardless of my age. So, learning that is what I get out of speech. And our team is like a family."

APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 39


ACTIVITIES AT THE STATION

ADULT CO-ED VOLLEYBALL WHEN: Coaches Meeting May 3rd, 6 p.m. GAMES: Thursday nights starting May 10th League runs 6 weeks + Tournament TIME: May 10th-June 28th AGES: Men & Women 15 Years and Older COST: $150 per team WHERE: Buck Thomas Park SIGN-UPS: March 1st– April 27th REGISTRATION TYPE: Online - Coach registers team TEAM MINIMUM: 4 TEAM MAXIMUM: 8 Must Have 2 Women playing at all times

ALL ABOARD KIDS CLUB Designed especially for Kids 7-12 years of age. Depending on the day, kids can play various sports and games in the gym ranging from basketball, soccer, dodgeball and much more. There will also be days and times where the youngsters can expand their mind by participating in arts and crafts as well having fun playing board games. This Club is open to Pass holders and Non-Pass holders. We hope to see your kiddos come out and enjoy the fun as The Station really is a place for everyone. When: January 1st - December 31st Time: Varies by day Mondays 4:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M. - Board Game Fun Tuesdays 4:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. - Youth Gym Activities Thursday 4:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M. - Arts and Crafts Saturdays 11:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M. - Youth Gym Activities Where: The Station Recreation Center Ages: 7-12 year olds Cost: Free for Pass Holders and Day Pass Holders Instructor: The Station Staff SPRING BREAK Dates: March 13th - 17th (M-F) Time: 9:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.

ADULT CO-ED DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT WHEN: Coaches Meeting: May 15th, 7:00 p.m. TIME: Tournament May 26th Start Time of Tournament is TBD COST: $40 per Team AGES: Men & Women 15 Years and Older WHERE: The Station Recreation Center SIGN-UPS: March 1st - May 12th REGISTRATION TYPE: Online, Coach registers team TEAM MINIMUM: 4 TEAM MINIMUM: 24 FORMAT: 5 on 5, Double Elimination Tournament Co-Ed must have 2 women on court at all times.

ADULT SAND VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT WHEN: Coaches Meeting: May 3rd 6:30 p.m. TIME: Tournament May 19th Start Time of Tournament is TBD COST: $40 per Team AGES: Men & Women 15 Years and Older WHERE: Buck Thomas Sand Volleyball Court SIGN-UPS: March 1st-April 28th REGISTRATION TYPE: Online, Coach registers team TEAM MINIMUM: 4 TEAM MINIMUM: 16 FORMAT: 4 on 4, Double Elimination Tournament Co-Ed must have 2 women on court at all times

40 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

CENTRAL PARK SPRING ARTS & CRAFTS MARKETPLACE When: Saturday, April 28 Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Where: Multi-Purpose Pavilion Vendors selling Handmade items and other type of crafts. Fee for Vendor Spaces: $45.00 - Covered space under the Pavilion (Limited spaces) $40.00 per 10x10 space in the grass (No electricity available) $2.00 per table (Tables are limited) Call 793-4332 for application to participate (Only one direct consulatant of any direct sales company)

THE FARMERS MARKET AT CENTRAL PARK When: Thursday, May 3 Time: 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm Where: Multi-Purpose Pavilion Promoting the sale of garden related products. Vendor Information: tsmith@cityofmoore.com or call (405) 793-5090

PING PONG MANIA DESCRIPTION: Whether you want to play just for fun or have a more competitive game, this is for you. Our team will also have a tutorial on how to play. WHEN: May 24th, June 21st, September 22nd, October 25th TIME: 7:30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M. WHERE: The Station Recreation Center AGES: Anyone - Kids 6 & Under accompanied by an adult. REGISTRATION PERIOD: No Registration free to come COST: Free INSTRUCTOR: The Station Staff

PARENTS NIGHT OUT DESCRIPTION: Once a month on Fridays, parents can enjoy a night out on the town alone while their children are having fun and being watched by our trained staff. Depending on the age, thechild will either be in the child watch room or the activity room. Check in is at 6P.M. and you must pick them up by 10P.M. Dinner will be provided is pizza. If your child has a food allergy this will be accommodated as well. You will check your child in the Child Watch Room for ages 3-6 and the Activity Room for ages 7-11. WHEN: April 6th, May 4th, June 1st, July 6th, August 3rd, September 7th TIME: 6:00 P.M. - 10:00 P.M. WHERE: The Station Recreation Center Activity Room & Child Watch Room AGES: 3 Years-11 Year olds REGISTRATION PERIOD: Day Before Parent’s Night Out Day for The Month COST: $15 per child INSTRUCTOR: The Station Staff CLASS MAXIMUM: 10 children (3 years-6 Years) 20 children (7 years-11 Years)

Schedules may change and more camps or classes may be available. Please check out The Station's website for details. cityofmoore.com/centralpark Registration: cityofmoore.com/fun Phone: (405) 793-5090


APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 41


THIS OLD TOWN BY THOMAS MAUPIN

New Old Town

Plans are forming to make Moore's Old Town a more vibrant and unique part of the city and the area. On Thursday, March 15, members of the city's Community Development Department held a meeting at The Station at Central Park to outline ideas and to hear the public's views. The crowd of more than 75 was told it was time for feedback and not decisions. The latter will come later. Elizabeth Weitman, Moore's director of community development, told those attending that they "are the main part of that process." She said, "I'm very excited about this plan, and I think it's going to be very good for Old Town." Weitman asked the public to stay involved during the series of meetings this year. A second meeting will be sometime in April. Zoning and goals will be discussed at that meeting. The third meeting will be a "visioning session" in which an architect or architects will attend "to help us think more broadly about what Old Town could be as far as the visual and built environment," she said. The final two meetings will bring everything together, Weitman said.

commissioners, city council members and city staffers. That group will meet about four or five times this year to listen to what is going on, to guide the process, "and to represent Old Town as a whole," Weitman said. She said a 2017 survey showed that people were concerned about Old Town and want it to be vibrant. "That really told us Old Town is on people's minds. ... We think people want new development and businesses in the Old Town area." Four things proposed for development and redevelopment were: allow on-street and shared parking; increase residential densities, allow mix of uses on a same lot / in the same building; and reduced building setbacks. Ideas for making Old Town unique included: pedestrian-oriented development; compatible architecture; community interaction through events; and gateway monuments and neighborhood signage.

"This is really your plan," Weitman said. "Throughout this project, we will be touching base with the residents, the business owners, the property owners in Old Town as well as the general public to get feedback."

Also proposed was Quality Public Space. Figuring into that category are more sidewalks, more on-street parking; bicycle lanes; increased street lighting; public art; stormwater system improvements; and the planned Old Town Park. The small park would be on the west side of the BNSF Railway tracks and on the south side of E. Main Street.

Weitman said there is an advisory committee that is made up of Old Town residents, property owners, business owners, planning

Weitman said people should consider Old Town to be like a home's living room. "You want to entertain people there. You want to

42 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

be comfortable there. We want to create that environment in order to do that." Goals of the Old Town Revitalization Plan include: zoning code changes; minimum design standards for new development; parking strategies; a streetscape hierarchy plan; and potential incentives. That last item would include fee waivers for new businesses and small facade grants for existing buildings. According to Ava Zrenda, assistant planner with the Community Development Department, Old Town's boundaries are: NE 3 on the north, SE 4 on the south, Interstate 35 on the west, and just east of Turner Avenue on the east. Zrenda said Moore is almost built out, "which means any new development or redevelopment is going to have to happen in older parts of town, including Old Town. So, this plan gives you the opportunity to have a say in how it looks and how it functions and reflects Moore's character." After displays of more maps, charts, pie graphs and photos of existing Old Town buildings, and older buildings in other cities, the attendees were asked to complete the Old Town Public Meeting - Survey # 1. This was a 17-item survey with such questions as: How are you associated with Old Town?; How often do you come to Old Town?; Does vehicular speed or congestion concern you?; What should be preserved in Old Town?; What is your favorite memory of Old Town? Weitman asked attendees to take part in a breakout session. People were directed to three

large maps of Old Town. The maps were titled: What Do You Like?, What Would You Change?, and What Is Your View? Small stickers with themes were placed near the maps, and people were asked to use those to show what they want on the individual topic of each map. Afterward, meeting attendee Rachael Laib said of the meeting, "I thought it was fantastic. It was nice to have a great turnout of people concerned with the future of Old Town. My family is invested in Old Town as well. We can't wait to see the future. We hope that it's walkable. We hope that it's safe. We hope there are restaurants that we want to frequent. And we love living here. As a resident of Old Town, it's magical. It's like a small town feel in a really big city." Clay and Janet Southard sat in the front row. Clay said, "It was a very well-attended meeting. I was surprised by the interest." Referring to the Old Town plans, he said, "This is well-needed and will be a great addition to the community." Southard, who now lives in Norman, owns a rental property on W. Main Street. He said his family has owned the house since 1954. "My parents brought me direct from St. Anthony Hospital to that house." Weitman was overheard telling people that she had received very favorable reaction to the session. This first Old Town meeting originally had been scheduled for Feb. 22, but it was canceled because of weather conditions that evening.


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46 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018


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SPORTS WITH ROB MORRIS

Slow Burn: How Slow Pitch Heats Up Softball Competition

If you listen to some club softball coaches, you might assume that playing slow pitch softball is just about the worst thing an aspiring collegiate softball play could do. After all, Oklahoma is one of only five states playing slow pitch these days. What’s more, Oklahoma high schools play their slow pitch schedule in the spring when the rest of the fast pitch world is wading through their schedule.

Westmoore’s Steve Schwarz says that other schools have realized the statistics back up Lingo’s claims, noting that more high schools are adding slow pitch to their offerings.

How DARE they? But the coaches at all three Moore high schools insist that the spring slow pitch season is a great complement to the state’s fall fast pitch season for a wide variety of reasons. For starters, according to Southmoore’s Jason Lingo, the spring slow pitch season allows the SaberCat coaching staff to keep working with their players year-round. “After the state fast pitch tournament in October we are not allowed to practice our kids until July 15,” said Lingo, “Well that's eight months off. But if you have slow pitch, now you can come out and practice with your kids every single day all the way through the spring.” That’s December to May, nearly six months of practice time where teams can work on essential softball skills. And while some critics will still argue that it’s “slow pitch” and therefore can’t prepare players for the challenge of fast pitch, Moore High School Coach Jeremy Bates says nothing could be further from the truth. “Our girls work really hard in slow pitch, especially on learning to play defense,” said Bates. “In slow pitch the batters are going to put the ball into play more often and a lot of those balls will be hard hit, so it’s a chance to work on defense and baserunning in live game situations.” Lingo says the statistics back up Bates' opinion. The Southmoore coach noted that a former starting centerfielder (who now plays for D1 Oklahoma State University) recorded around 20 outs during her fast pitch season while recording over 100 outs during the slow pitch season.

50 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

“That’s five year’s worth of defensive opportunities in just one slow pitch season,” said Lingo. “You can’t argue with the value of that kind of game preparation.”

Schwarz said, “You talk to coaches from some of the schools that have just picked the game up like Choctaw or Mustang, and they talk about how on defense their percentages went up.” The Jaguar head coach says playing slow pitch does something that many club softball coaches would deny could ever happen: it actually makes players better fast pitch hitters. “You talk to the coaches and the players and they all talk about how their power and patience improves at the plate,” said Schwarz. Southmoore’s Madilyn Southerland is one of those players who says facing slow pitches has helped her when it comes to fast pitch. “When it comes to slow pitch it has really helped me be so much more patient at the plate,” said Southerland, “That’s especially important when I’m working on waiting longer for a pitch like a changeup.” Westmoore’s Bailey Gilliam, another player who enjoys both fast and slow pitch, says she has also experienced batting advantages from playing slow pitch. Gilliam said, “When I go back to fast pitch after playing a season of slow pitch it just seems like I have a lot more power.” Coaches from all three Moore schools point out the only change slow pitch players make in their approach at the plate is to wait a bit longer for the slower pitches.


While hitters focus on patience and power, pitchers in slow pitch have a dual challenge as well. They have to master the higher arch of the slow pitch while maintaining the ability to place the ball, something that doesn’t come easily. Moore’s Melody Thorne explains that you not only need to be able to throw strikes, but you also have to be able to make hitters uncomfortable.

Thorne said, “I just try to throw strikes with a lot of arch. The last thing you want to do is have a lot of walks, so I just make sure I throw strikes and let my defense work.”

“I really try to place the ball in a lot of different places,” said Thorne. “It’s so important to keep the hitters off guard.” The challenge of slow pitch is that, unlike fast pitch, everyone knows the hitter has the advantage. While elite fast pitch softball hurlers thrive on nohit and one-hit shutouts, even the best of the slow pitch pitchers can expect to endure double-digit innings from time-to-time. “People laugh when I say our pitcher did a really good job in a ballgame that was a 17 to 10 score,” said Lingo, “But even though the other team is going to hit the ball, you want them to hit your pitch not their pitch. So the goal for a slow pitch pitcher is to make the hitter feel uncomfortable.” “People look at the game as a high-scoring game,” said Schwarz, “But they don't realize that if your pitcher isn't able to throw the ball with a lot of arch like Bailey can, then some of these teams that are scoring 15 runs a game might put up 40 runs a game on you.” For pitchers like Gilliam (Westmoore), Thorne (Moore), and Southerland (Southmoore) those high-scoring games mean a lot of defensive opportunities, but they also mean they have to set their egos aside. “It was tough for me in the beginning because nobody likes to watch another team hit the ball over

“You just do your best to place the ball where they’re less comfortable,” said Southerland. “I know they’re still going to hit the ball and I don’t like that, but at least I can have some control over where the hitter has to reach with the bat.” All three coaches agree that while their players are extremely competitive, there’s still something that’s a little more relaxed about playing slow pitch. “I think part of it is the high-scoring part of the game,” said Bates. “Maybe it’s just the realization that any team could bust out and score 10 runs in an inning and there’s not much you can do about it, so you just have to able to blow it off and go score 10 runs of your own to match them.” And in the end, even in a softball-crazy state like Oklahoma, high school athletes who play slow pitch don’t seem to be finding themselves at any disadvantage when it comes to their chances to play at the next level. “I can give club coaches an extended list of girls playing D1 softball out of the state of Oklahoma that proves it helps their game,” said Lingo. “There are also a large number of high school coaches who used to play D1 that have played slow pitch softball and are now coaching slow pitch who will argue that the game helps their players.”

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“We don’t coach any changes to their swing at all,” said Bates. “Their slow pitch swing is the same as their fast pitch swing. It just comes a little later.”


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APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 53


KICK’N IT! Tae Kwon Do EARLYWINE PARK YMCA Learn self-discipline, self-confidence, self-defense and how to respect yourself and others. Join us in this great cardio workout.

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APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 55


MOORE MOVIES WITH ROB MORRIS

Expectations Get Wrinkled in Disney’s Latest Fantasy Directed by: Ava DuVernay Written by: Jennifer Lee, Jeff Stockwell Starring: Storm Reid, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling PHOTOS COURTESY OF DISNEY

Expectations are sky-high for Ava DuVernay’s (Selma, 13th, Queen Sugar) adaptation of Madeline L’Engle’s beloved novel, “A Wrinkle in Time.” There’s good and bad news for those hoping DuVernay has pulled off the ever-sodifficult task of bringing the good-vs-evil story to the big screen. Here’s the good: It’s a movie that very effectively wears its heartfelt intentions on its sleeve. DuVuernay has brilliantly succeeded in crafting an uplifting tale of how love can triumph over a growing darkness, no matter whether the darkness is internal or external. The message is aimed primarily at children, but it’s applicable to adults as well: the light in you can overcome the darkness around you. We’ll get to the bad later. L’Engle’s novel centers on Meg (Storm Reid – 12 Years a Slave), a middle-school girl struggling with the disappearance of her father four years ago. Meg has spiraled downhill from smart and happy student to sullen and angry, something that attracts the attention of a group of “mean girl” classmates. Along with her little brother, Charles Wallace (newcomer Deric McCabe), the pair endures ridicule from classmates and whispered rumors by adults over their father’s absence. As it turns out, that absence is due to the discovery of a way to travel through time and space by “wrinkling” the very fabric of reality. Alex Murray (Chris Pine – Star Trek Beyond, Wonder Woman) and his wife, Kate (Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Beauty and the Beast, The Cloverfield Paradox) are scientists who stumble across “tessering”, a way to travel from one side of the universe to the other in a blink of the eye. Unfortunately, Alex never returns from his first attempt to tesser, leaving his family with unanswered questions and a growing sense of despair.

It also turns out that Charles Wallace is not only a genius, he’s somewhat telepathic. That allows him to engage in a friendship with Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon – Big Little Lies, Walk the Line, Legally Blonde), a sort of celestial being who shows up to help Meg and Charles Wallace find their father. Their quest is soon revealed to be a battle against “The It”, a growing darkness that threatens the entire universe. They are joined by Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling – This is the End, Ocean’s 8) and Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey – Selma, Lee Daniels’ The Butler) as they seek a way to free Alex Murray from the power of The It and save the universe. Meg, Charles, and the “Mrses” are joined by Calvin (Levi Miller – Pan, Supergirl), the popular kid from school who has been quietly attracted to Meg.

aimed at children and young adults, or “YA” as all the cool kids call it these days. In fact, the book was rejected dozens of times for these very reasons before it finally found a publisher and became an award-winning classic.

Any concerns about DuVernay’s ability to handle a large budget loaded with CGI can be set aside. The visuals are absolutely stunning and match the tone of the story. Storm Reid and Deric McCabe are the highlights of the cast and are both excellent in their roles, which is critical to bringing L’Engle’s story to life. The weight falls especially hard on Reid, who must first convince us that her anger isn’t just random and then sell a character arc that leads to the acceptance of her own faults as part of the key to winning the battle against evil. Reid doesn’t succeed perfectly, but she is more than up to the task of winning the audience over.

In truth, the “Mrses” end up being the second-biggest problem in the movie. Much has been made of the casting choices, especially that of Oprah Winfrey. I don’t think children will mind the casting much at all and that’s probably ok with DuVernay and Disney. But Winfrey, Witherspoon, and Waling seem ill-suited for the roles. DuVernay talked about casting the roles with the idea of choosing “female icons.” The story might have been better served by casting lesser known actors who bring along less of a distracting public image.

That brings us to the bad, which should be prefaced by noting that L’Engle’s novel has long been understood as a challenge for movie-makers. There are deep religious, scientific, and philosophical concepts at play here and—outside of C.S. Lewis—that’s uncommon for material

56 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

The bottom line is that DuVernay fails mostly in the places you would expect any director to fail in adapting “A Wrinkle in Time.” It’s nearly impossible to walk the tightrope between such heady concepts in a movie intended for children. DuVernay has also talked about her passion for helping viewers connect to the light within themselves. Unfortunately, that earnest intention drags the story to a near halt numerous times as the celestial Mrs. Who, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Which take the time to repeat the mantra. Again. And. Again. And. Again.

The biggest problem I had with the movie was the way it abandoned L’Engle’s very Christian orientation for a ridiculously fuzzy New Age foundation. Granted, L’Engle was criticized for being a bit New Agey herself, leading to a lot of controversy from conservatives upset over her apparent suggestion that Buddha, Gandhi and others were on par with Jesus. But

the author still quotes Bible verses in her book. DuVernay, along with screenwriters Jennifer Lee and Jeff Stockwell have jettisoned those apparently divisive words from scripture, replacing them with a random assortment of quotations by everyone from Einstein to OutKast. While it’s not a surprising move for a Disney movie in this age when Christians are persona non-grata for big studio movie makers, it is disappointing and somewhat offensive. While DuVernay’s commitment to diversity should be applauded, it’s ironic that definition of diversity doesn’t include the author’s fundamental message of faith. That somewhat hypocritical approach to diversity has become commonplace these days and is part of the reason why conservative movie-goers are abandoning so many films, leading studios to play it safe with superhero sequels and reboots galore. In the days leading up to the premiere of “A Wrinkle in Time,” there was already a conservative backlash against the movie. This is unfortunate on a massive level because DuVernay has crafted a movie that can accomplish exactly what she hopes for: that children will learn to trust their own unique qualities, to love themselves, and become strong enough to respond to everything from bullies to the danger of school shootings with love that can overcome evil.


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10 a.m. Tuesday, April 3 – Preschool Story Time 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 3 – Barks, Books & Buddies 10 and 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, April 4 – Lapsit Story Time 11 a.m. Saturday, April 7 – Viva GLARt! Grow a Learner Through Art 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 9 – Kid’s Club 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 10 – Preschool Story Time 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 10 – Barks, Books & Buddies 10 and 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, April 11 – Lapsit Story Time 10 a.m. Thursday, April 12 – Pre-K Play 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 17 – Preschool Story Time 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 – Barks, Books & Buddies 10 and 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, April 18 – Lapsit Story Time 11 a.m. Saturday, April 21 – Yoga Story Time 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 23 – Tween Scene: We Love Legos 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 24 – Bug Adventure Story Time 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 – Barks, Books & Buddies 10 and 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, April 25 – Lapsit Story Time 10 a.m. Thursday, April 26 – Pre-K Play

Teen/Adult

4 p.m. Monday, April 2 – Girls Who Code 6 p.m. Monday, April 2 – Beginner’s Yoga 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 3 – English as a Second Language Conversation Class 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 3 – Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 4 – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance 6 p.m. Thursday, April 5 – Zumba 9 a.m. Saturday, April 7 – Annual Plant Exchange 10 a.m. Saturday, April 7 – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance 4 p.m. Monday, April 9 – Girls Who Code 6 p.m. Monday, April 9 – Beginner’s Yoga 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 10 – English as a Second Language Conversation Class 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 10 – Microsoft Excel 2013 for Business 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 10 – Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 11 – Teen Sand Art Votives 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 11 – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance 6 p.m. Thursday, April 12 – Zumba 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 13 – Microsoft Excel 2013 for Business 10 a.m. Saturday, April 14 – Volunteer Income Tax Assistance 4 p.m. Monday, April 16 – Girls Who Code 6 p.m. Monday, April 16 – Beginner’s Yoga 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 17 – English as a Second Language Conversation Class 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 – Resume Boot Camp 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 – Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 18 – Open for Discussion Book Club 6 p.m. Thursday, April 19 – Zumba 4 p.m. Monday, April 23 – Girls Who Code 6 p.m. Monday, April 23 – Beginner’s Yoga 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 24 – English as a Second Language Conversation Class 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 – Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind 6 p.m. Thursday, April 26 – Zumba 6 p.m. Thursday, April 26 – Resume Reviews for Success 4 p.m. Monday, April 30 – Girls Who Code 6 p.m. Monday, April 30 – Beginner’s Yoga

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10 and 11 a.m. Monday, April 2 – Family Story Time 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 3 – Kids Explore: Optical Illusions 10 and 11 a.m. Thursday, April 5 – Toddler Story Time 10 a.m. Friday, April 6 – Baby Lapsit 10 and 11 a.m. Monday, April 9 – Family Story Time 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 10 – Kids Explore: Maker Day 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 11 – Yak, Snack and Read 10 and 11 a.m. Thursday, April 12 – Toddler Story Time 10 a.m. Friday, April 13 – Baby Lapsit 10 a.m. Saturday, April 14 – Dads & Donuts Story Time 10 and 11 a.m. Monday, April 16 – Family Story Time 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 – Kids Explore: Puppets 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 18 – Touch, Learn and Create 10 and 11 a.m. Thursday, April 19 – Toddler Story Time 10 a.m. Friday, April 20 – Baby Lapsit 10 and 11 a.m. Monday, April 23 – Family Story Time 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 – Kids Explore: Whooo’s In the Food Chain? 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 25 – Lego Quest 10 and 11 a.m. Thursday, April 26 – Toddler Story Time 10 a.m. Friday, April 27 – Baby Lapsit 10 a.m. Saturday, April 28 – Family Play Time/ la hora de jugar en familia 10 and 11 a.m. Monday, April 30 – Family Story Time

Teen/Adult 6 p.m. Monday, April 2 – Tai Chi for Health 1 p.m. Thursday, April 5 – Spring Indoor Garage Sale 10 a.m. Friday, April 6 – Spring Indoor Garage Sale 9 a.m. Saturday, April 7 – Spring Indoor Garage Sale 10 a.m. Saturday, April 7 – Come and Go Knitting Group 1 p.m. Sunday, April 8 – Spring Indoor Garage Sale 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 9 – Disaster Preparedness 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 10 – Pilates 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12 – Penn Avenue Literary Society 6 p.m. Monday, April 16 – Tai Chi for Health 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 17 – French Wine and Cheese at Village on the Park 11 a.m. Saturday, April 21 – TRTL (Teens Reading Terrific Literature) 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 – Pilates

APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 57


CLASS ACTS BY DONNA WALKER

Emma Jackson, Moore High School Senior It took a total of 10,596 crayons in 2,772 shades and over two weeks for Emma Jackson to create the shadow box art of Oprah Winfrey that recently crowned her the High School Grand Prize winner in OKC Thunder’s Black History Creative Contest. The win earned her $500, four Thunder game tickets, and a Heroes Challenge Award plaque presented to her at center-court prior to a recent Thunder game.

“I hadn’t entered a contest before that,” she said. “I decided to go big or go home. It was pretty stressful. I worked on it until the very last minute. Having such a good result was really a blessing.”

Emma recognized Oprah as the hero in her piece because of her strength and the many ways she inspires women around the world. She decided to feature a modern-day figure in lieu of early civil rights leaders that are usually recognized in such projects.

Emma’s artistic talents have led her to create paintings for friends, t-shirts for school organizations, graphics for family businesses, and even her own graphic design company, yet her talent is just now beginning to see the light of day. In fact, she only began to dip her art brushes into paint last summer after taking a beginning art class at Moore High School.

The timing of her project choice was perfect, as Emma entered her art right after Oprah made her now-famous Golden Globe speech when she accepted the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award. “She has excavated a life of rags and riches and uses her platform to better the world any way she can,” Emma said. “Not only does she have the most ambition of anyone in Hollywood, but she is willing to speak up about what many only whisper.” Emma browsed the internet for project inspiration before she landed on the medium of crayons, which she thought would be a little easier than it turned out to be. “I got the idea from various art pieces I had seen online,” she said. “I saw a professional artist who did a girl’s face out of crayons. It ended up being a much bigger challenge than I expected. I didn’t think I would need over 10,000 crayons to use around 2,500 in the project.” Emma and her mom hit Facebook full force to get crayons donated from friends, coworkers, family, and acquaintances to make her art come to life.

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While her time in the spotlight at the Thunder game was an accomplishment in itself, Emma has many others to celebrate, and predictably, many more on the horizon.

As her mom Stacey Gordon says, “this wasn’t a lifetime gig. All of this just bubbled up in the last two years. She did a lot of drawing in elementary school for PTA reflections but as she got older, she quit. She didn’t try again until she was required to take an art class at Moore High School her junior year.” “I am in awe of her artistic qualities. She free hands everything. I think she got all her skills from her Grammy,” Stacey added. Although she took a break from art, Emma isn’t letting go of it anytime soon. “I initially began painting for fun, and now it is a stress reliever. I can just turn on my music and paint!”

Acrylics is Emma’s preferred medium and one she has used for many school projects and work for friends. “I did this lion once around Moore-War last year," she explained. "It’s really cool. It really helped get our Moore pride going on.” Since then, her list of work to do for friends continues to grow. “I have quite the to-do list these days.” Emma’s to-do list may be growing, but so are her accomplishments. Emma was recently named the MHS Alumni Legacy scholarship winner, she’s in the top 5% of her class and a member of National Honor Society and has already earned 32 credit college hours. She is a member of the jazz state champion MHS Pom squad and a Student Council Senator. Stacey says she’s a very busy young lady. Admittingly, Emma says she prefers to stay on-the-go and is not one to be idle. Much of her time is spent serving others. She serves as Co-Commissioner of F.U.S.E. (Freshmen Utilizing Senior Experience) where she mentors an incoming Freshman student each week preparing them as they transition to high school. In addition, as part of Lunch Buzz, she shares her heart and teaches social skills to an autistic student every month. Recently, Emma volunteered at the local Food Bank, and last Halloween she joined her pom teammates at a local nursing home to deliver pumpkins and visit with senior adults. She sites the visit among her favorite experiences.

Emma's inspiration for media, art style, and subject matter came from pieces she often found online, which also helped her hone her skill.

“It was a great," Emma said. "They got so excited to be able to pick out their own pumpkins.”

“I just started by finding paintings online and duplicating them as practice. Soon people began asking me to do art for them and I started doing paintings for other people.”

Most recently, Emma was accepted to Oklahoma State University where she was awarded several scholarships. She plans to study graphic design and possibly studio art.

While Emma’s to-do list of art projects for friends and family continues to grow, she has many other goals on the horizon. She recently entered the Palomar OKC Symbols of Hope contest where she submitted her vision of a heart as a symbol of hope. “I’ve only done a couple of contests," Emma explained. "They’ve all had a cool meaning and theme behind them. That is why I choose to do them. I wanted to share a story that comes from the heart and goes along with the world today.” Along with her art piece, she included a written description: “In a world where violence is a common occurrence, we all need to take a step back and evaluate the opportunities in front of us. This image depicts that beauty and love come from the heart and we must sprout kindness with every beat to create a world of harmony with one another.” Emma says of the project, “I hope to inspire a new image of love and beauty that begins within themselves to create a more positive atmosphere.”


a. Elementary through high school students are eligible. b. Must live within the coverage area of the Moore Public School District. c. Home school and private school students are also eligible (who live within the MPS district). 2. Email their name, grade and why you believe they’re a Class Act to donna@mooremonthly.com 3. Moore Monthly staff will review all submissions and select one student who especially stands out as a Class Act. 4. The winning student for each quarter will be announced and awarded a Class Acts certificate and a $100 gift card at their school. 5. For questions or additional info, email Donna Walker at donna@mooremonthly.com

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60 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018


Rotary Community Spotlight: Rotary Youth Exchange By Rev. Adam Shahan, Moore Rotary Club

In over 100 countries, students ages fifteen to nineteen are given the opportunity to spend a full academic year in another country. During this time, the students learn a new language and culture, develop new leadership skills and lifelong friendships, and take the step of becoming truly global citizens. Through Rotary International, the Rotary Youth Exchange partners local Rotary clubs, schools, and host families to provide this exchange. The Moore Rotary Club is an active participant in the Rotary Youth Exchange, and this month our Community Spotlight points to to the program; how to apply; how to be a host family; and gives you a glimpse of our current exchange student, Baptiste.

family, community, and cultural activities. All host families are screened and trained. As a host family, you will help your student to and from school, share your culture, home, and family events and traditions, and learn the culture and life experiences of your international student. If you’re interested in learning more about being a host family, go to moorerotary.org. Meet Baptiste Bellier--Bernicot:

chance to play football and also to meet hundreds of people and dozen of friends in Tulsa, for the SCRYE meeting. I'm currently living the best year of my life! I of course struggled at the beginning and still now but it is so much fun. I think everybody should be foreign at least once in their life." As you can see, Baptiste feels he is living the best year of his life - that is in great part due to his host families, Westmoore High School, Moore Rotary Club and its district leaders, and the wonderful people of the City of Moore. Every academic year, 650 students travel the world, broaden their horizons, and develop new friendships and skills. Host families receive them and are blessed not only by housing them, but learning from them and forming a life-long bond. Are you the next Rotary exchange student? Are you the next host family? Go to moorerotary.org today!

How To Apply: The best way to apply to become an exchange student through Rotary International is to contact your local Rotary Club. You can find contact information and meeting times and locations at moorerotary.org. The Moore Rotary Club can also put you in direct contact with students who have already gone out on exchange. Their perspective and experience can be valuable for you in making the decision to apply.

[Baptiste is pictured here in his Westmoore Jaguars football uniform. Baptiste was also cast in the Westmoore performance of The Little Mermaid]

How To Become A Host Family: Hosting an exchange student can be incredibly rewarding for your family, bringing an international experience directly into your home. Host families provide room and board and share their lives with exchange students, involving them in

"I'd describe my experience as 'amazing.' I am very lucky to have come to Oklahoma. My host families have been wonderful. They take great care of me. My chairwoman and my rotary club do as much as they can for me to make sure I enjoy my experience here. And I am very lucky because I had the great

APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 61


macu sports with whitney knight

Mid-America Christian University Women’s Basketball Team Wins First-Ever NCCAA D1 National Championship

WINONA LAKE, IND.— The MidAmerica Christian University women’s basketball team claimed its first-ever NCCAA Division I national championship title March 17 with a 71-60 win over the Concordia University (Mich.) Cardinals. “I am so proud of the young ladies in our program,” said head coach Hannah Moeller. “One of the things we say a lot is ‘starting committed is really easy, but staying committed is really hard.’ To see the group of girls in that locker room stay committed to each other, to our staff and to a relentless desire to improve all year is such a testament to the overall character and toughness of our group.” After a slow start, MACU dominated the second half of the championship game. Senior guard Chelseah Savage led all scorers with 19 points, and was named Player of the Tournament. Freshman forward Ossyana Ozoani (Del City HS) posted a double-double

with 11 points and 12 rebounds, securing a place on the All-Tournament Team. Other standout players included sophomore guard Nevada Denton (Washington HS) with 12 points, and sophomore guard Jessica Fairley (Choctaw HS) with 11 points. After the 71-60 victory, Moeller was named NCCAA Division I National Coach of the Year. She said her assistant coaches, Kelsie Dutton and Brooke Davidson, deserved as much credit. “I am beyond grateful for how Kelsie and Brooke have committed their lives to serving our program and the young women we’re fortunate enough to coach,” Moeller said. “We couldn’t have been more prepared for the tournament. They did a tremendous job preparing our team for each game.” The national title win marked the end of Savage and fellow senior Brittany Thompson’s

62 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

collegiate careers. Moeller said their leadership played a big role in developing the Evangels into a title contender. “We’re so grateful to have two seniors who led so unselfishly and gave our program their best every day,” she said. “They’re very different in how they lead, but they are two of the best leaders I’ve been around. Winning the national championship is a direct result of their leadership and how they have served their teammates all year.” MACU finished the season with a record of 24-11. ABOUT MACU — Mid-America Christian University offers a Christian liberal arts education through two dynamic colleges. The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) offers undergraduate degrees to traditional residential and daytime commuting students at the main campus in south Oklahoma City.

The College of Adult and Graduate Studies (CAGS) makes college education affordable and accessible to busy working adults and graduate students. Degree programs are offered online or on-ground at the MACU campus in south Oklahoma City. MACU is an endorsed agency of the Church of God (Anderson, Ind.) and is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Visit www.macu.edu for more information.


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APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 63


Parting Shots Pies With a Police Officer By Thomas Maupin The Moore Police Department and McDonald's hosted Pies With a Police Officer from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, March 15. The location was the McDonald's at 105 SW 19. Moore community service police officers Staff Sgt. David Dickinson and Staff Sgt. Becky Miller were at the restaurant to talk with residents and share some pie. Dickinson said the event was held twice in 2017. The idea for the event was initially proposed by McDonald's. "We talked and came up with Pie With a Police Officer," Dickinson said. "I worked it with the corporate office in Dallas and local McDonald's." The event's purpose is to allow community members to sit down with Moore police officers and discuss what's on their minds.

64 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018


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Members of the Christian Men's Fellowship group at First Christian Church of Moore, recently presented a check to Moore Faith Medical Clinic to help offset operating costs. The men's group held a Pancake Breakfast and raised $2,000 for the organization. The free clinic serves those without insurance and operates entirely off of donations.


Parting Shots Extreme Animal Camp at The Station photos by Thomas Maupin

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CAMP. GET S’MORE OUTDOORS! YM CA CAMP CLASSEN

WINNER

Best of Moore for Senior Living 2017 JOIN US OUTDOORS THIS SUMMER AT YMCA CAMP CLASSEN. With a wide variety of activities from archery and horseback riding, to hiking and canoeing, campers gain skills and confidence to propel them forward in life. Nestled on 2,200 acres in the Arbuckle Mountains, we offer experiences for campers ages 6 to 16.

We have varying levels of care so our residents live as independently as possible for as long as possible.

Call today for a tour.

ONE WEEK $715 TWO WEEKS $1,210 EXPLORER CAMP $410 Financial Assistance is available.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER TODAY AT

YMCAOKC.ORG/CAMP

70 | MOORE MONTHLY | APRIL 2018

1601 S.W. 119th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73170 SommersetAssistedLiving.com (405) 691-9221 A non-profit affiliate of Haverland Carter Lifestyle Group


Thank you for voting us Best Childcare/Private School We offer a safe, nurturing environment for your child to play, learn, and grow. • Tornado shelter • Daycare for Infants through Pre-K • Private School for K through 6th Grades • Before/After School Care • Summer Camp

335 SW 134th St. • 799-5437 APRIL 2018 | MOORE MONTHLY | 71



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