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NOVEMBER 2019 Vol. 10 Issue 2

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‘Be the Village’ C O M M

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An Original Music Docuseries

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adahub COMMUNITY MAGAZINE

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CONTENTS

NOVEMBER 2019

FEATURES

Managing Editor David Dinsmore Featured Writer Sunnie Dawn Smith Ad Sales Brad Carter Art Direction Fawn Wilson-Olivarez Photography Nicholas Geisler

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Latta performing arts program lands fourth place spot in statewide one-act play competition

Heavenly Buns to host Community Dinner

Hope Haven Crisis Nursery to add to the village it takes to raise children

9 10

ECU to stage Christmas-themed opera ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’ Dec. 5-6 Teacher’s childhood love for music shaped career, current students’ paths

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Latta performing arts program lands fourth place spot in statewide one-act play competition By Sunnie Dawn Smith

hen Davida Smith was growing up, it never occurred to her that she would be a theater teacher. She wasn’t a “theater kid.” In fact, she was more into sports. She played all she could: softball, basketball, track and even some cheerleading. She did do a couple plays in high school, competed in a few pageants and took a couple theater classes in college, but theater was never her main focus. However, after her first five years of teaching, she had the opportunity to teach humanities, reading and performing arts at Latta, and that is what she has been doing for the last 14 years. “When given the opportunity to teach at Latta, I took the challenge and started learning by doing,” Smith said. “Over the past 14 years, I’ve learned a lot from my peers and from my kids.” Smith even ended up going back to East Central University to get a Master of Education degree focused on communications and speech. Because of her unconventional background, she has sometimes doubted herself, but she always makes herself stop and remember two of the greatest things theater teaches kids: self-confidence and the ability to push through adversity. Through her 14 years at Latta, she has built the theater program into something remarkable. They have performed a variety of plays that encompass various genres and some difficult subjects. They have done comedy, historical fiction and drama. Some have dealt with topics as raw as rape, abuse and dementia. Some of her personal favorites have been productions of “Rock of Ages” by Mary Kron, “Nora’s Lost” by Alan Haehnel, “Baby” by Conrad Davidson, “Dragons” by Lucile McIntyre and “The Drowning Girls” by Beth Graham. Of all the productions, though, this year’s one-act might be her favorite: “Silent Sky” by Lauren Gunderson. It was a challenge but ended up netting them fourth place at the state-level high school one-act play competition. Smith originally chose “Silent Sky” because the cast list practically fit the students she had available. Second, though, she knew the themes would appeal to her students. “I knew all of my young actresses were strong, independent females, much like the main character in ‘Silent Sky,’” Smith said. “So I knew it was a story they would be passionate about.” The process of qualifying and attending the state competition was nerve wracking to say the least, Smith said. Growing up in the world of sports, Smith was used to a world where you knew exactly what you needed to do to win. You know how to score points, and the team with the most points wins. The arts, though, are much more subjective. Her actors could make a dramatic choice, and one judge could love it while another judge could hate it. However, despite the subjective nature of judging, they made it to the state competition to face eight other schools, which Smith said were all incredible. In the end, one judge ranked them as No. 1, the second judge ranked them as No. 4 and the third judge ranked them at No. 6. In the end, they were fourth in the state, and Smith and her students were overjoyed with the result but also overwhelmed that one of the three judges thought that they were the best in the state. 4 • www.adahub.com

Latta teacher Davida Smith’s cast and crew performed Lauren Gunderson’s “Silent Sky” so well that they placed fourth in the state-level one-act play competition while earning a No. 1 overall vote from one of the judges. PHOTO BY NICHOLAS GEISLER.

This production would not have been possible without the support of the local theater community, Smith said. The Chickasaw Nation Arts and Humanities department loaned them some specialized technology that allowed them to have some incredible effects. The ECU theater department let them borrow props that added the finishing touches. Jamie Davis came on as their volunteer tech director. Their set and special effects were so amazing that they were awarded the top tech award at the regional competition. In addition to the support from the theater community, they also had tremendous support from their school – the faculty and administration at Latta fully back the performing arts program and, as Smith said, “they have been there for us year in and year out. Without their support we could not do what we do.” The most recognition, though, has to go to the students, Smith said. The cast included Elizabeth Crawford, Kinsey Smith, Noah Hinson, Olivia Hunley and Christina Fox. Crawford and Hinson were two out of 10 students in the state who were given all-state recognition. The crew consisted of Neveah Smith, Katie Crabtree, Sydney Cowden, Brookelyn Trent, Sydni McClellan, Rylee Rich, Anne Marie Wilkins, Madi Kate Ross, Cole Higdon, Shawn London and Kaycee Cagle. “The final production was incredible, and every member of the cast and crew were a big part of that,” Smith said. “I got a lot of joy watching them begin to realize just how special this work of art they created really was. This year’s show was a magical experience – the type of experience that forms a special bond between everyone involved. I was overjoyed watching a diverse group of students, some of whom hardly knew each other before the show, become a tight knit family.”

Groups of volunteers gather every year on Thanksgiving to serve a free community meal at Heavenly Buns at 1101 N. Hills Shopping Centre. This year’s meal will happen 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28. PHOTO SUBMITTED

Heavenly Buns to host Community Thanksgiving Dinner By Sunnie Dawn Smith

hen Michelle Saint and her husband Cliff owned the restaurant, Gasoline Alley, they discovered a need in the community that desired a solution. A couple approached them one day asking if they would be open on Thanksgiving because they had nowhere to go for a Thanksgiving dinner. This realization struck the Saints particularly hard. They have a large extended family and have always had large family gatherings. Thanksgiving was a huge affair in their family, and the realization that some people don’t have that made them sad. They knew that because they were in a position to do something, they needed to do something. Michelle called her sister, Donna Radford, to ask if she wanted to help her put together a free community Thanksgiving dinner. Her sister said yes without a single hesitation. They then enlisted the help of the rest of their family, including everyone from children to grandparents. Among all the family members, the Saints recruited more than 20 people to help cook, bus tables and serve Thanksgiving to strangers who are treated to more than a meal – they are treated to a family experience. That first year, they served 75 Thanksgiving meals, and it has grown every year since. The first two years the meal was served at Gasoline Alley. When the Saints purchased Heavenly Buns eight years ago, there was a change of location, but people still came. In fact, this past Thanksgiving they served more than 300 meals. They are hoping that this year there are even more people. “We never run out of food,” Michelle Saint said. “And even if we run out of the Thanksgiving dinner, we can still make sandwiches. Nobody will be turned away

hungry.” There are many reasons people come to the Thanksgiving dinner. While some local organizations will hand out supplies to make Thanksgiving dinner, not everyone has the means to cook. If someone is homeless or without electricity, they can’t cook a turkey. They can’t heat up a box of stuffing or even make instant mashed potatoes. Sometimes people will come and tell them that they just lost their job and couldn’t afford to buy Thanksgiving supplies. Sometimes it is college students who just want a nice Thanksgiving but can’t afford to go home. The holidays can also be particularly hard for single people or the elderly when they might not have family around to celebrate with. People like these are one of the reasons why they make an effort to treat everyone like family. They will sit down and visit with them. If a guest has any accessibility needs, they will help them get their food and whatever else they might need, and if someone just wants a really good meal but doesn’t want the social interaction, they can also get it to go. Every year, they serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner complete with a turkey, ham, stuffing and mashed potatoes. Everything is completely homemade. They also offer other traditional sides like green beans, cranberries, hot rolls and gravy. And what Thanksgiving meal would be complete without desserts? That is something that they have in abundance. Last year, they had more than 30 different desserts and countless pies. Radford, who teaches science at Sasakwa, enlisted the help of students in the family and consumer sciences classes to make pumpkin pies. The pies are not limited to

pumpkin, however, as they usually also have apple, coconut cream, chocolate and many others. Saint’s and Radford’s children also make various desserts – cookies, rice crispy treats or whatever they think might sound good. While the meal is completely free, they do have a donation box, mainly because there are some people who feel better about getting the meal if they are able to give something for it. Radford teared up when she recalled one older man who pulled everything out of his pockets. He had two dimes, three pennies, a paperclip and a button. That’s all he had, and he put all 13 cents into the donation box. When middle-aged couple came to the meal, the man had a gold necklace with a pendant on it. He took it off and placed it into the donation box. Saint and Radford later found out that he has since passed away, but they still have his necklace. They keep hoping to see his wife again so they can return the necklace to her. It is these moments serving Thanksgiving that make Saint, Radford and all involved feel as if they are the ones truly receiving the blessings instead of the other way around. The act of giving and sharing with others is what makes their Thanksgiving truly special. They have so much to be thankful for, and they are happy that they can share in their own blessings with others. The annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner will be held from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, at Heavenly Buns at 1101 N. Hills Shopping Centre. www.adahub.com • 5

Hope Haven Crisis Nursery is getting set to open its doors at 319 E. 13th to children in need of a safe place to stay while their parents deal with issues that could affect their home life or wait for emergency placement with a foster family. PHOTO BY NICHOLAS GEISLER

Hope Haven Crisis Nursery looks to add to the village it takes to raise children By Sunnie Dawn Smith

eople often say that it takes a village to raise a child. Almost anyone who has had a child may agree with this statement. However, some people don’t have a village. Not everyone has family and friends who can be a safe option to help with their children. This is an issue in Ada’s community that Gentry Fisher saw firsthand, and she needed to be the one to do something about it. Fisher was born and raised in the Ada area. She went to high school at Byng and graduated from East Central University. “Ada has been home for a long time,” Fisher said. “I love this community, but I know that, unfortunately, like anywhere, there are unlovable things children have to endure when they shouldn’t have to.” Fisher was a Court-Appointed Special Advocate volunteer 6 • www.adahub.com

in Pontotoc County from late 2015 until very recently when her new project started to take form. She served in Oklahoma Department of Human Services cases that allowed her to be a friend to children who had been removed from their homes for a variety of reasons, including neglect and abuse. She would make recommendations to the court on behalf of the children she served. “CASA is a great organization, and it allowed me to see what children in our own backyard face so often,” Fisher said. One of the children she worked with ended up getting adopted by a loving family, but the child’s initial removal came about after the mom left the child with someone she didn’t know that well who ended up being unfit and unsafe. That one night changed the child’s life forever. It is situations like this that Hope Haven

Crisis Nursery hope to prevent. When the first crisis nursery opened in Oklahoma City, Fisher knew that Ada would be a perfect fit for one as well, and she went to work making it happen. A crisis nursery is different from a daycare. Daycares are typically only open during the weekdays and – while they are loving environments – they are also businesses. Hope Haven is a non-profit organization that exists entirely on donations from the community. While the goal is to eventually be a 24/7 safe haven for children, right now it will be open on evenings and weekends. Many people could benefit from the services at Hope Haven. The volunteers, Fisher said, are “relieving the single parent struggling with mental health without family support, the single dad that needs to look for a place to live, the parent who needs to work an extra shift to provide for their family, the grandparent that needs to see the doctor, and much more.” “When a child comes to Hope Haven, it is our mission to make them feel like they are coming to a friend’s house – the warm, fun home of an aunt or grandma – not a daycare or center of some sort,” she said. “By offering a safe, short-term place for children, parents are offered availability to address their situation at hand.” They will also be available for use by DHS in emergency placement situations to lessen the number of children that have to stay at the caseworker’s office while they search for a foster home. Removal is already difficult for the children, but Hope Haven can help make it less traumatic. Help such as this can help reduce the number of abuse cases in Oklahoma. Fisher cites the Oklahoma DHS website when she said that “the number of Oklahoma children confirmed to be victims of abuse and neglect in 2017 was more than double that of confirmed victims in 2010, increasing from 7,248 to 15,289. The majority (58 percent) of these victims were under the age of 6 and more than three-fourths (88 percent) experienced neglect.” While as of now their initial clothing needs – along with toys and furniture – have been met through donations and financial support, they still need volunteers and monetary donations. Any young woman over the age of 16 can volunteer to be a nanny at the nursery, though they would be scheduled to serve with someone over the age of 18. All volunteers will be background checked, and they are offering a CPR training on Nov. 19. Another way someone could volunteer could be to go grocery shopping for them or provide meals. Of course, monetary donations are always appreciated because they have the regular costs of running a household as well as other operational costs. For more information, to volunteer, donate or utilize Hope Haven’s services, check out their website at hopehavenok.org. They also have a Facebook page, Hope Haven Crisis Nursery Ada, OK. “I am excited about what is to come for our community, and I can’t wait to have fun at Hope Haven,” Fisher said. “I am humbly proud of where Hope Haven is today, and the fact that we will get to open its doors soon. I can’t help but think that God really loves Ada. He has made a way and done it so quickly.” www.adahub.com • 7

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ECU to stage Christmas-themed opera ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’ Dec. 5-6 By Sunnie Dawn Smith

hen Melody Baggech first came to East Central University in 2001, they had an opera class but had not staged a full operatic production in many years. Baggech had a rich background in opera, having performed with programs at Millikin University, Wichita State University, West Texas A&M and the University of Oklahoma. She has also been a part of several professional companies, including Cimarron Opera, Washington Savoyards, Opera International and the Amarillo Opera. She had the opportunity to perform such roles as The Governess in “The Turn of the Screw,” Susanna in “Le Nozze di Figaro” and the Mother in “Amahl and the Night Visitors.” She wanted to share her experiences and love of opera with her students. At first, she started small by having recitals of short scenes. Eventually through much hard work and determination, Baggech was able to build the program until they were ready for a full production. In 2005, the music department collaborated with the theater department on a full production of “Die Fledermaus” complete with an orchestra and staging. It was no small task. Opera incorporates all the traditional aspects of theater – staging, costuming, lights, sound, set, acting – but with the added challenge of classical singing. “Die Fledermaus” was a huge success, and they have been able to stage several operas since then, including “Hansel and Gretel,” “The Medium,” “The Old Maid and the Thief,” “Dido and Aeneas” and “The Marriage of Figaro.” Last year, they staged Mozart’s “Cosi Fan Tutte” to great success. This year, they are doing another full production made for the Christmas spirit – “Amahl and the Night Visitors” by Menotti. “Amahl” is a one-act opera that was first performed in 1951. It has an original English libretto, which means that everything will be sung in English as originally intended by the composer. No translations were necessary. “‘Amahl’ is a Christmas-themed opera about the three wise men who, while traveling to Bethlehem, meet a crippled boy named Amahl and his mother.” Baggech said. “I've always loved this story, and the music is gorgeous. It's a great show for the whole family.” One of the biggest challenges Baggech faces when directing an opera, though, is getting people involved. When most students come to ECU, they don’t necessarily have any experience with opera. Often, what they do know about it is either intimidating or a caricature. As they get involved, they start to realize that opera is just another way to express the raw human emotions of the theater with the added bonus of beautiful music that can only intensify those emotional moments. “Once they get involved, they are usually hooked,” Baggech said. This is true from the students’ perspective as well. Chris Coulter will graduate from ECU this year with a degree in vocal music. Last year was his first time to be involved with opera, but now as he is looking toward graduation, he is actually considering making opera his life and auditioning for opera companies.

Students involved in opera productions at East Central University the last few years said the genre has made them deeper, more versatile performers. They will present “Amahl and the Night Visitors” at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 5 and 6 at Dorothy Summers Theater in Old Science Hall on the ECU campus. PHOTO BY NICHOLAS GEISLER

Another student, Malik Sharp, is actually a theater major but loves being in opera because it challenges him in ways traditional theater doesn’t. “Being in the opera every year has become one of my highlights of each fall semester,” Sharp said. “I love being able to be involved with such a diverse program. Its challenge lies in that I've never done anything that has put such a strain on my talents as a singer and performer, but I think that it has helped me become a more mature singer, performer and person. And I find joy in being able to participate in that.” Another vocal music major, Jessica Drury, finds joy in the stories that she is telling as well as the challenges of acting. “Opera gives me an opportunity to do what I love and to express myself as a performer,” Drury said. “I like getting to portray another person’s life and the joys and challenges that they go through. This opera is wonderful because it shows the three kings on their journey to find Jesus. It really gets you into the Christmas spirit and reminds you what Christmas is really about. One of the challenges I face in opera is my interactions with the other characters and making sure it looks as natural as possible, but when you’re working with nice and talented people, everything tends to fall into place.” This year’s production will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 5 and 6 at Dorothy Summers Theater in Old Science Hall on the ECU campus. Tickets are $10, though ECU students, faculty, and staff are free with their ID. They are also performing at the First Methodist Churches in Tishomingo on Dec. 1 and Pauls Valley on Dec. 15. The production would not be possible without the help of others in the community: set design by Jamie Davis, costumes by Darice Strickland and staging by Alan Marshall as well as the talented cast of Jessica Drury, Charis Havens, Zana Johnson, Chris Coulter, Ivan Huerta, Malik Sharp, Caleb Deering, Isaac Kilpatrick and Adie Marshall, Baggech said. www.adahub.com • 9

Students at Willard Grade Center learn some basics during an elective guitar class available thanks to the dedication of teacher Marlin Krause, who knew he wanted to teach music when he was in elementary school. PHOTO BY NICHOLAS GEISLER

Teacher’s childhood love for music shaped career, current students’ paths By Sunnie Dawn Smith

arlin Krause knew he wanted to teach music ever since he was in elementary school. It isn’t often that kids figure out what they want to do so young and actually follow through with their dreams, but Krause did. He made music his life. He came from a very musical family. In elementary, he sang in the chorus. In high school, he was in band. When he came to East Central University in 1977, he was in every performance group possible – wind ensemble, marching band and jazz band, just to name a few. He marched with the Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps out of Hutchinson, Kansas, and was part of the grand opening for EPCOT Center at Walt Disney World. In high school and college, he taught himself how to play guitar. He is a trained percussionist and trap-kit player. Lately, he has even been teaching himself how to play the hammered dulcimer. He never stops learning and trying to expand his own musical knowledge. Krause has taught music and band at many schools, including Marietta, Maysville, Tupelo, Stratford and now Ada. He has been teaching for more than 25 years and is still trying to find ways 10 • www.adahub.com

to make music more interesting and accessible for his students. He has a tremendous love for music, and his life goal is to share that with the students he teaches. It is this quest to make music more pertinent to his students’ lives that inspired him to apply for a grant in 2012 to acquire guitars for a new elective music class. “The guitar class came about because of the need for a class that would interest more sixth graders,” Krause said. “I had the students who didn’t take band, and I thought I would reach more kids with a guitar class instead of a vocal class.” He was right. This year, he has 25 students spread between two class-

es. It is just an introductory level guitar class, but he has seen many of his former students continue to play the guitar. When students come into his guitar class, they don’t really know what to expect at first. He tries to make it as accessible as possible, but one challenge is that many of them only get to play while they are at school. Most of the kids don’t have their own guitars at home. Some of the more dedicated ones will use their recess time to come inside and practice guitar instead. One thing that helps get the kids invested is the type of music that can be played on the guitar. “The great thing about guitar is the pathway to rock and roll and country music,” Krause said. “When students realize that this is what their favorite musicians play and that they can play those same songs, they get very motivated.” One of the reasons why it is so important to Krause to get more kids involved in music is because of all the wonderful things music can do. “Music has all the complexities of math and science, physics and language, but with a huge dose of creativity,” Krause said. “When students play music, their brains make neurologic connections and involve fine motor skills in a way nothing else can. When students continue with music, they learn skills that can't be taught with any other medium. Music conveys emotions that words can never express. Music helps us see beauty and order in an otherwise chaotic world.” Despite the joys inherent to music, sometimes it can be a steep challenge just getting the kids to see their own

potential. Once he can get through to them and get them to understand that they are capable of much more than they think, it is a very gratifying experience. “My favorite thing is seeing that light come on and seeing the joy on students faces when they really get it,” Krause said. “For me, that is why every teacher gets up in the morning ready to go.” None of this, however, could be possible without the support from the community. “When so many school districts face losing fine arts programs because of lack of funding, I am pleased that the music and art programs of the Ada City School District continue to flourish,” superintendent Mike Anderson said. “This is due, in part, to the support from grants from the Ada City School Foundation, Rotary Club and others who recognize the importance of arts in the curriculum.”

www.adahub.com • 11

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