Oklahoma Contemporary
INSIDE TODAY:
Oklahoma Contemporary Founder and Board President Christian Keesee presents an award to Board Vice President Todd Edmonds during a donor appreciation gala. Page B1.
• Nichols Hills and Community Magazine featuring the latest trends in Spring Home and Garden. • Help beat the boredom — our Easter Coloring Contest is on Page 7.
OKC FRIDAY The coronavirus has disrupted distribution of OKC FRIDAY. Our print replica is free on your phone or computer at www.okcfriday.com.
Vol. 53 No. 46 • Two Sections • 18 pages March 27, 2020
www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills, The Village, Quail Creek, The Greens and Gaillardia for 46 years
For cancellations and closings See Page 6.
BEATING THE BOREDOM Fridaylanders getting creative during Coronavirus quarantines By Rose Lane Editor After a while, staying at home and staring at the same four walls — and the same people — can get a little, well, boring. Fridaylanders, however, are coming up with creative ways to keep the boredom from being anything but boring in these times of quarantine during the Coronavirus scare. In Nichols Hills, residents have taken to placing stuffed Teddy Bears in their windows. This is so young folks can go “bear hunting”
At left: Leora Hecksher, 7, and her sister Effie Hecksher, 5, enjoy a scooter ride at Grand Boulevard Park with their mother, Lucja Hecksher.
when they are out for walks. “Needless to say it makes the boredom a bit more ‘bearable,’” Steve Slawson said. Carrie Leonard said she, her four children and husband Ryan are doing their best. “All four of the kids are starting the home school/online learning experience,” Carrie said. “They miss their teachers and friends so much. I think that is the hardest part for us.” They are taking walks, playing in the back yard, reading, watching - Photo by Ron Vavak
See BOREDOM, Page 2
United Way seeks donations to COVID-19 Response Fund United Way of Central Oklahoma has established the COVID-19 Response Fund dedicated to increasing resilience among our most vulnerable individuals and families. This fund will support Partner Agencies of United Way of Central Oklahoma, United Way of Logan County and United Way of Canadian County. It will be used to address the needs of those individuals who
are experiencing COVID19 related hardship primarily due to temporary unemployment, lost income or unexpected expenses related and due to COVID19. “As the COVID-19 pandemic impacts our community, we know that we must come together to protect the most vulnerable among us,” United Way of Central Oklahoma President and CEO Debby Hampton said.
“While all of our daily lives have been disrupted, many people face critical challenges of lost wages, finding food and shelter and other health and human service needs. We have created this fund to ensure that our Partner Agencies are able to help those throughout our communities who need it most during this crisis.” For 97 years, United Way of Central Oklahoma
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week Marcel is a French Bulldog. He enjoys walks around Lake Overholser and tennis balls. His person is Anne Buthion. Email Dog of the Week, Baby of the Week and Cat of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday. com. Submissions are used in the order they are received.
Sponsored by Paulette and Leo Kingston of WePayFast.com
has played a key role in responding to community emergency situations. The organization has enacted disaster relief funds to meet needs following the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, the tornadoes on May 3, 1999, the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and other disasters. In each circumstance, United Way has effectively and efficiently distributed donors’ dollars to serve as
many people as possible while maintaining the highest level of accountability. ••• How to Donate Donations to the United Way of Central Oklahoma COVID-19 Response Fund may be made online at www.unitedwayokc.org or by mail to United Way of Central Oklahoma, P.O. Box 248947, Oklahoma City, OK 73124-8947.
Cancer patient strives to stay positive during virus scare By Mark Beutler Special to OKC FRIDAY It’s a different world today for Mark Singer. The Oklahoma City resident still puts on a suit and tie every day and goes to work at one of the few stores remaining open at Penn Square Mall. But his workday is far from normal. “One day we had 12 people in the store,” he said. “That included associates, managers, customers and shoplifters.”
Singer tries to maintain his sense of humor in these Coronavirus-laden times. It’s something he learned two years ago when he found out he had cancer. “I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018,” he said. “I also kept having pain in my hips when I walked, and the cancer had spread to my left hip bone.” “So, I began a series of radiation treatments for 10 days, for See CANCER, Page 3