keep the change
I nutrition 101 WHAT NOT TO DO
Truth moment: I’m not always the best at saving money like I should or resisting the urge to overspend. So this month, I’m taking account of my most common mistakes and sharing them with you as a cautionary tale. Here’s what we should try not to do if we want to be wise with your finances.
• Do not spend your money before you make it. Counting chickens and all that. When you have income, take a moment to budget it. Determine where the money needs to go. You’re the boss of your money, not the other way around. When you spend it before deciding where it should be spent, you become a slave to your next paycheck, waiting for it to rescue you from some debt or another.
• Do not jump on every sale you see – even if you’re really sure you could use that item. You’ve clearly survived this long without it, so if it’s not in the budget, walk away. Sales are actually predictable creatures – they always come back. If you are in actual need of a big ticket item, wait for the sales cycle. Holiday weekends are always a sure bet for a deal.
• Do not wait until the last minute to set aside funds for an upcoming expense. You know you’re going to need to fix something on your car eventually. You know you’ll need to pay for camp next summer. Holidays and birthdays are not unpredictable emergencies. Start saving now. Set aside a little each month in these categories, or if you’re particularly undisciplined and this helps, try opening multiple bank accounts with one for daily spending and one for bigger expenses you’re saving for. With not a shred of luck, but a barrel of selfdiscipline, you can be your own money maven.
Angela Rowland is an OBU graduate and a stay-at-home mother of four. She enjoys finding new ways to stretch the paycheck and share some of her favorite tips and deals.
THE COST OF OVERACTIVITY
n our culture it is very common to push our bodies past the limits they offer us. We like to push ourselves to the max with our schedules. We don’t know when to back down, when to stop, when to rest and be still. If we can, we often multitask many things at once and work multiple jobs. We all have different reasons why we do this to ourselves. How many of us find ourselves having a meal while driving or while at our desk and not taking an actual lunch break? With careers, hobbies, athletics, academics, home life, volunteering or getting sucked into social media, our days are full. No wonder we have all heard the word “burnout.” That burnout feeling can look different for everyone, and it can show up at different times. When we fill our schedules to the max and don’t allow our bodies and minds to rest, this can quicken somebody’s fatigue response. They may tire faster than someone else or come across as having a “short fuse” faster. It’s possible you can’t handle much more emotional stress.
All this type of workload on the body actually affects your mental state and your immune system. When our immune system is lowered, this also affects inflammation. You can even feel this through pain in your joints or getting headaches often. Some factors that you can’t feel can be your adrenals and your thyroid. Your body goes through so much with that constant burnout feeling. When we haven’t learned where our boundary lines are, we can hit a wall. Whatever your cause for burnout, it is critical that we don’t go to a place of self-blame. You aren’t necessarily burnt out because there’s something wrong with who you are or that you haven’t worked hard enough to create balance. Take a step back and see where you could insert 10-30 minutes for self care into your daily routine. Self care looks different for everyone, but for me, I love 15 minutes of quiet time on my back porch with my Bible before the kids are awake.
Stir-Fry
My 9-year-old son actually made this recipe. It is that simple. Stir-fry can be so versatile and quick to make. We used frozen vegetables in this recipe, but you can always use fresh depending on the season.
Ingredients:
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken, cut into chunks
1 Tbsp avocado oil
20 oz bag frozen stir-fry vegetables
8 oz pineapple chunks, mostly drained
10 oz millet and brown rice ramen 2/3 cup bottled stir-fry sauce
Directions: Put oil into a skillet and turn the heat on medium-high. Once oil is warm enough, add chicken to the skillet and cook until all the pink is gone. While chicken is cooking, cook noodles and follow the package’s directions. Add vegetables to the skillet. Cover skillet with lid. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add pineapple chunks and stir-fry sauce to the vegetables and chicken. Stir until the liquid covers all of the pieces. Cover and cook for about 3 minutes. Stir all together with the cooked noodles. Add more stir-fry sauce if wanted. Makes: 6 servings Nutritional Information per Serving: Calories: 399 Total Fat: 8g Saturated Fat:1 g Cholesterol: 64mg Sodium: 1194mg Carbohydrates: 52g Fiber: 6g Protein: 32g Nutrition 101 Tip: Pay attention to your condiments. There are so many different brands of condiments out there, and it can be easy to think that they are all the same. When I was shopping for the stir-fry sauce, I was surprised how many of them had caramel coloring and sucralose. Both are ingredients I don’t want to feed to my family. You might as well not spend your money on ingredients your body doesn’t need. Read your ingredients.
Andrea Beck, a registered dietitian and personal trainer, received her master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. She offers personal training and nutrition education through an
Angela Rowland
without traveling to OKC?
I’m Angela Taylor, owner of Taylors Hair Supply. I find joy and love that I can help a person feel better, even if it’s just by fixing up their hair.
Styles include: Bobbi Boss, Sensationnel, Janet, Freetress, Innocence, and Ez-Braid!
Shelf product lines: BTL, Cantu, Mielle, Shine n’ Jam, AS I AM, Motions, Mixed Chicks, along with lots more. I also have products for the kiddos.
art of the matter
OF A FEATHER Birds Help Artwork Take Flight
SUBMITTED BY DELAYNNA TRIM CURATOR OF COLLECTIONS MABEE-GERRER MUSEUM OF ART
Do you have a bird feeder or go to the park to watch birds? Many people engage in this popular pastime. In fact, in 2022, more than 96 million people in the US closely observed, fed or photographed birds. That is more than 35% of the US population over 16.
Fittingly, the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s newest exhibit is “Birds in Art,” featuring 60 works of art featuring all types of birds from penguins to vultures and everything in between. Since 1976, the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum has organized “Birds in Art” annually, seeking to present the best contemporary artistic interpretations of birds and related subject matter. Of the 60 artists featured in this exhibit, 23 are international artists. There are paintings as well as sculptures made out of metal, marble, wood and even used shotgun shells.
Did you know that there are 18 different species of penguin? Penguins only live in the Southern Hemisphere. Five species of penguins live in the Antarctic. They also live on the coasts of Africa, New Zealand, Australia and South America.
Vultures are mainly scavengers. Did you know that they can’t sing or chirp like other birds because they lack a syrinx? They can only hiss, growl and snarl, which adds to their bad reputation.
There are 21 duck species just found in Oklahoma. Ducklings can fly between 5 and 8 weeks of hatching. Ducks also can see in color.
Many people know that swans mate for life, but did you know that they can live to be more than 20 years old in the wild? Swans can sleep either while standing on one leg or while floating in the water.
Do you know which bird is the Oklahoma state bird? It is the scissor-tailed flycatcher. It
became our state bird in 1951. There are just so many bird facts. What is your favorite bird? Can you find it here in Oklahoma?
On Friday, August 9, Mark Howery, senior wildlife diversity biologist at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will give a talk on “Backyard Birds in Central Oklahoma.” This event is free and all are welcome.
“Birds in Art” is on exhibit until August 11. The MGMoA is free until the end of August thanks to the generous sponsorships of the Avedis Foundation, BancFirst, Mission Monks and St. Gregory’s Abbey.
Bird Art
Supplies: colored pencils or markers, paper
Optional: feathers
Draw your favorite bird. Need help getting started? Check out some of the videos we posted at https://www.mgmoa.org/art-projects/
CONNECT THE DOTS
Countywide Bingo Activity Helps Highlight
Easy, Fun Healthy Lifestyle Choices
BY JOHN BOBB-SEMPLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF POTTAWATOMIE GO
Join Pottawatomie Go for Pogo Bingo, and connect the dots to greater well-being.
At Pogo, we are excited to help keep summer rolling right by encouraging our community to make small, daily choices that can grow into healthy habits that can be incorporated all summer long.
The Pogo Engagement Committee has created a fun game called Pogo Bingo to help our community make healthy choices easier for Pottawatomie County residents of all ages.
Participants can pick up an adult bingo card or a kids bingo card featuring a variety of activities aligned with Pogo’s Take 5.
Not familiar with our focus areas? Here’s a quick recap:
• Mental Well-Being
• Active Lifestyle
• Fruits & Veggies
• Built Environment
• Social Connectedness.
These activities range from eating better and discovering new things to getting out and active in the community.
Take a look at the cards included with this article for a sneak peek at the cards.
The goal is for participants to complete a row, column or diagonal of activities on their bingo card to achieve a bingo or blackout and earn prizes.
We are excited to introduce Pogo Bingo as a fun and engaging way for our community to explore fun ways to try new activities, get out, be active and enjoy some time in nature. This initiative encourages individuals to adopt healthier habits and fosters a sense of community spirit as participants visit local sites to complete their bingo activities.
Participants can pick up their cards beginning July 11 at Oklahoma Baptist University’s Recreation and Wellness Center front desk, inside the Shawnee Public Library and FireLake Discount Foods community service window.
Semple
Adult Bingo Card
As participants work through the cards, they can return to those locations to receive stickers verifying their completed activities all while promoting healthy summertime habits.
Be sure to tag Pogo on social media and use the hashtag #PogoBingo to share photos and videos of you and your family checking off your bingo card.
Pogo Bingo will run throughout the summer beginning July 11 and roll through Labor Day, providing ample opportunity for residents to participate at their own pace. We encourage families, kiddos and adults of all ages to play.
To join in the fun, connect with us on Facebook at Pogo – A Certified Blue Zones Community. S
As post commander for the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post #1317 in Shawnee, Patrick Koch could describe its mission and impact in many ways, but there’s one limitation he’d quickly challenge.
“We’re not just a bar,” Koch said.
As an organization, the VFW has sought to “foster camaraderie among United States veterans of overseas conflict … serve our veterans, the military and our communities … (and) advocate on behalf of all veterans.”
What this looks like for Koch is providing bridges for the community to get involved for the benefit of veterans, for veterans to find new ways to serve their communities after the military and for fellow veterans to access any benefits or help they may need. Though some perceptions of the VFW are dads and grandfathers meeting for a drink at the Post #1317 Canteen at 811 E MacArthur St., the membership and its impact locally and across the nation extend far beyond the food and drink services offered at the canteen – which is open to the public as well.
According to statistics provided by the VFW, the 125-yearold organization helped veterans recoup $13 billion annually in VA disability compensation and pension benefits during fiscal year 2023. It also provided more than $1.6 million in scholarships for veterans and service members.
In communities nationwide, the VFW also gave more than $3 million in scholarships, monetary awards and other incentives to middle and high school students through patriotic essay competitions.
Post #1317 numbers about 315 members, joining more than 1.4 million members across 5,667 posts nationwide, but Koch said he wishes more veterans were aware of all the opportunities and benefits that come with membership, particularly among younger demographics. More members not only help the local post increase its impact locally, but it gives local posts more say in what the VFW can deliver for veterans nationwide.
ACTS OF SERVICE
Local VFW Provides Bridges For Veterans, Community To Connect, Serve
BY DAVID DINSMORE
“The more members we have, the more voices that we have,” said Koch, who served in the Marine Corps. “The more people who are involved as members or volunteers, the stronger we are.”
One crucial role the local post serves is providing a place for veterans to come receive free consultation from James Dockemeyer – a state-level service officer – who can help them identify and access benefits for which they are eligible thanks to their service, Koch said. The VFW also hosts Military Assistance Program (MAP) events welcoming service members and their families at morale-boosting affairs.
The VFW also does offer some limited grants for unmet needs in crucial situations, Koch said, with 488 grants nationwide provided to families facing hardships last year.
Community service opportunities abound for members who want to give back to their communities, and there are also many ways that members of the community can volunteer to help make a difference in the lives of veterans.
“We have so many projects that we could be doing,” Koch said. “It takes a lot of volunteers and a lot of partners.”
In addition to the high school Voice of Democracy and middle school Patriot’s Pen essay competitions, the VFW supports education with Teacher of the Year awards, Koch said. Each of these awards allow the recipient to move on to district, state and national levels that come with their own monetary prizes. The teacher selected in Shawnee this year went on to win at the state level.
The VFW also provides traditional services like honor guard and flag etiquette training, Koch said. They honor law enforcement and first responders with a variety of annual awards. They coordinate the placement of more than 1,500 flags on graves of veterans locally, partnering with entities like the City of Shawnee and individuals to accomplish this.
The local post serves as a stop for the annual Run for the Wall motorcycle rally from California to Washington D.C. where the bikers can grab a bite to eat along their journey.
Currently, members of Post #1317 are also working to get
The Veteran of Foreign Wars Post #1317 — Photos submitted
the pending veteran museum project open downtown near the Oklahoma Veterans Memorial on the south side of Woodland Veterans Park on Broadway. The old courthouse and district attorney office building will house the new museum when it opens.
The museum project presents an interesting opportunity for community members to get involved with the VFW and other veteran groups locally, Koch said. Organizers welcome any partners with high quality items they’d like to donate –temporarily or permanently – or knowledge of military and service subjects that may benefit the museum.
Partnerships are important for the VFW and its membership to meet their service goals, Koch said. For instance, the post has a strong relationship with various
scouting organizations in this area, and both groups find ways to help each other grow and thrive with their projects and initiatives.
VFW membership does require veterans to have honorable service in a war, campaign or expedition on foreign soil or in hostile waters, which can be verified by an authorized campaign medal, receipt of hostile fire pay or imminent danger pay or service in Korea for 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days.
However, the VFW Auxiliary offers family members of these veterans the opportunity to serve in an official capacity with an organization that supports and partners with the VFW, said Barbara White, president of the local Auxiliary. For 110 years, the VFW Auxiliary has worked to improve the lives of veterans, active-duty service
members, their families and communities. One example of this is the local Auxiliary and its membership of 115 assembling and delivering care packages particularly to veterans living in nursing homes or other structured housing.
“We support our veterans when they come back from combat,” White said. “They may not be doing well, so we want to help them and their families.”
Another rewarding aspect of the Auxiliary is watching relationships among membership and partnerships within the community flourish, White said.
The work done by the local VFW and Auxiliary has garnered attention on a state and national level this past year, Koch said. The post received All-State and All-American recognition for excellence above and beyond the standard
for membership, and the Auxiliary won multiple district awards for its partnerships and promotion of programs within the community.
Members meetings happen at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, and Post #1317 also offers its hall for rental.
For more information about the VFW and local Post #1317, call (405) 273-7098. S
community CO-HABITAT-ION
Volunteers, Partners Key To Habitat For Humanity’s Next Steps Locally
BY DAVID DINSMORE
Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity met with community members and business leaders to highlight some of its work in the last year in Shawnee and its goals in the near future as it moves toward local home building projects. — Photos submitted
Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity met with community members and business leaders last month to discuss details about its homeowner program as it continues to move toward its goal to build homes in Shawnee for qualified families.
Participants heard from Rose Rock Habitat’s operations director Cheri Lee. ReStore director Kendra Martin, Shawnee community engagement coordinator April Grant and Shawnee ReStore manager Brian Woods about the nonprofit organization’s brief but fruitful expansion into Shawnee – which coincided with the April 19, 2023 tornado last year – and how the attendees and their organizations can help bring “people together to build homes, community and hope.”
“The fundamental services we provide lead to an entirely new perspective for the whole family,” Lee said. “Kids are seeing for the first time that their parents have a house, so now they know they can get a house when they’re older. Some didn’t know it was possible before that.”
They highlighted the programs and
services that they have been delivering in the Norman and Cleveland County area for three decades, and the work they are doing to bring more of these programs to the Shawnee area.
Perhaps the most well-known service provided by Habitat for Humanity internationally is its home building program, which provides attainable houses for qualified applicants through a special construction, financing and sweat equity model, but there are many other programs that support community members who have housing or are preparing for homeownership.
For instance, community care projects include:
• Building exterior access ramps for homes
• Emergency repairs addressing urgent needs related to health, safety or sanitation
• Community clean-ups using volunteers to help with trash removal, tree trimming, porch repair, flower beds, weatherization, minor exterior home repair including paint, and fence repair.
• Code violation assistance to help homeowners comply with exterior home code violations.
They also provide financial literacy and other training courses both as part of their homeownership program and within the larger community to help equip residents with knowledge and skills to help manage their money and possibly set them up for future homeownership.
“People can join in on that regardless whether they are a partner with us or not,” Martin said.
Still, much of the focus of the Rose Rock’s event in late June centered on its homeownership initiative and its vision for bringing those services to Shawnee.
The organization took a big step locally toward those goals in February when it opened its ReStore at the Shawnee Mall on the east side between Kohl’s and Buffalo Wild Wings. ReStores offer home goods and improvement resources at a discount price for those looking to do some projects around their home. Those looking to complete a home repair or project can shop for items they need, and the funds generated through the ReStore coupled
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with generous donations from individuals and businesses enable Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity to serve the south central Oklahoma community in various ways and particularly assist in providing the money for building projects.
“It was important for us to get this open here as soon as possible,” said Martin, who added that Rose Rock Habitat had looked at a property to house the store the day before the April 19, 2023 tornado hit. “I will say this community has been very receptive to the ReStore here.”
The “lifeblood” of the store’s inventory comes from donations, so members of the community can also make an impact by providing furniture, appliances, lumber, books, housewares and other home improvement items to the ReStore, Grant said. The store also helps provide “job readiness” for those who work there. Currently in Norman, the ReStore works with programs to place special needs employees at the store to gain these skills.
One misconception some have about Habitat’s homebuilding services is that
they are giving away free homes, but the model they use requires families to meet a variety of qualifications.
In addition to a maximum income requirement for families depending on family size that verifies need, candidates must meet a minimum household income to ensure they can pay down the low-interest mortgage provided by Habitat. There are also in-home visits by committee members associated with the organization to get to know the family more, and educational and “sweat equity” requirements to engage the new homeowners to not only invest their energy into their own new home but also to encourage or assist future program participants.
“Giving families an opportunity to buy their first home goes a long way in stopping generational poverty,” Martin said.
Attendees of Rose Rock’s June session represented a wide variety of industries and initiatives in the Shawnee area that could help find candidates and resources that could propel the organization’s next steps locally, but whether working in fi-
nance, health care, nonprofit assistance or otherwise, all had access to a highlysought resource by Habitat organizations – volunteers.
“I cannot say enough how impactful one person, 20 people, 40 people can be for us,” Martin said. “Anything we do, we do with the help of volunteers.”
Anyone in the community can get involved with Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity’s initiatives in many ways, whether helping customers find what they need at the ReStore or lending a hand at a community revitalization work site. Volunteers can earn community service hours, and there were a number of stories shared by the speakers at June’s event about how long-term relationships formed among the Rose Rock staff, volunteers and families served that are still making an impact for all of them today.
For more information about how to get involved with local Rose Rock Habitat for Humanity programs and services, visit roserockhabitat.org or call (405) 366-2813. S
over the fence
SHARE THE POPSICLES
Small Acts Of Kindness Can Be Sweet Treats
BY BRANDON DYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMUNITY RENEWAL OF POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY
f I ever wanted to know where my kiddos were when they were younger, all I had to do was call my neighbor’s house two doors down.
You see, they were grandparents, but their own grandkids didn’t live nearby. They loved when our kids would stop by for a visit so the couple could pinch their precious little cheeks and listen to their make-believe stories. On their back porch was a small refrigerator that they kept stocked with popsicles, and as everybody knows, popsicles are kid magnets. Our children would visit with their neighborhood grandparents over an ice-cold popsicle and then walk the short distance back home thinking they had outsmarted the neighbors again, not realizing it was a fair trade.
eat a popsicle alone, but there was something better about doing that with other people. Something more enjoyable, more fun.
A few years ago, I learned of a little 6-year-old boy that wanted to get the neighborhood kids together to play. He lives in a great neighborhood where neighbors know each other by name and the sound of kids playing outside can be heard on any given day. He asked his parents for help. When they asked him what he would like to do with his friends, his face lit up. He wanted to have a water balloon fight for the ages with all the kids in the neighborhood. What a fantastic idea for a hot summer day. They suggested that he come up with some invitations to deliver door-todoor to invite them, so that’s what they did.
While they were making the invitations, he had an idea. “I’ve got it! Water balloons AND popsicles.” Now the plan was complete. What kid could ignore water balloons AND popsicles? They gathered the invitations and went around the neighborhood passing them out. The neighborhood kiddos came, and they had a great time throwing water balloons, getting wet and eating popsicles. They all returned home with sticky fingers and worn out little bodies, having made new friends in the neighborhood.
When I heard this story it made me wonder, why do children seem to know things intuitively about community that we as adults often forget over time? Children seem to understand that it’s important to be around each other. This boy knew that he could make water balloons himself and
We tend to forget the simple things as we get older. We sometimes forget that kindness matters, and people deserve to be loved and that compassion makes us whole. Children might not often articulate these basic human qualities in this manner, but they tend to live their lives as if these things are true.
The boy in this story was displaying generosity. He had a fun idea and he wanted to share it. Even with boys and girls he didn’t know – even perhaps because he didn’t know them. It brought them all together even if for a little while.
We could learn something from him. We need to be together now more than ever. We are all so painfully aware of what makes us different, but what makes us the same? What basic human qualities can we emphasize to remind us that we are really no different from our neighbors? In the end, we all want to be happy and healthy, and even though our instinct sometimes tells us otherwise, we cannot find happiness and health living isolated lives inside busy neighborhoods. We need each other if we are going to lead the sorts of lives we all want.
So, share the popsicles or whatever community-building medium you prefer. Enjoy life together. Let’s show the kiddos of our community how to make a better world.
Brandon Dyer
TUNNEL VISION
Underpass Has Provided Safe Crossings For Jefferson Students For 90 Years
BY ANN MCDONALD, COURTESY POTT CO HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBER
To some current students at Jefferson Elementary School and many who attended the building on the corner of Kickapoo and Wallace, the underpass is well known and not just a novelty or of special interest. It’s just a part of their daily life.
To others – especially those not originally from Shawnee – the Jefferson underpass is “new” news or a question. Those who attended other schools here in town may be a little envious or relieved that they didn’t have to travel through that tunnel every day.
But just like Jefferson itself, the underpass has a history. Jefferson is one of only two Shawnee grade schools remaining from the four originals, also including Horace Mann, Washington and Franklin constructed in 1914. In 1924, it was in the path of a killer tornado. Fortunately, the school’s principal had dismissed the students early, so none were injured, but the top floor of the ten year old building was swept away. Workers cleaned it off, eliminated the four rooms on the second floor that were damaged and installed a new roof. School at Jefferson continued, although some students had to be moved to nearby church buildings or other schools.
The discussions included adding an underpass at the corner of Union and Highland – which also serves as part of U.S. Highway 270 – so high school students wouldn’t have to cross the highway either. After examinations, however, it was determined that an underpass couldn’t be at that location because of existing underground sewer and gas pipes.
Ten years later, the federal government via the “New Deal” came to help towns where workers and businesses were suffering during the hard times brought on by the Great Depression. Shawnee was on the list, becoming the site for training for young people, work for those unemployed and money to companies for projects. Jefferson was on their list. In fact, it was the first project in the state of Oklahoma.
The tunnel proposed to serve the students of Jefferson became a reality. During the last days of construction on the highway and the new school in the spring of 1934, the project was a problem for the merchants along Kickapoo. For several months, customers couldn’t get to their businesses but were detoured to Park Street. Owners met with city officials to see if construction could be hurried, saying delays were costing them from 30 to 75 percent of their normal trade. They were reminded it was a state highway project, out of the city’s jurisdiction. Some of the business owners did donate money to pay for cement that hurried the underpass project a little earlier.
The underpass crossing Kickapoo at Jefferson Elementary School opened in 1934 and has allowed generations of students to arrive and depart from school since the state expanded Highway 270 almost 90 years ago. — Photo submitted
But as the beautiful new school building began to rise on that same corner, school officials saw a problem. Since the original school had been constructed, many homes had been added on the west side of Kickapoo, and by 1934, the area was filled with school age children. Kickapoo Street was actually U.S. Highway 270, the out-of-town entrance into Shawnee, and the government was about to widen it with new paving to accommodate more travelers and truckers.
What about children who would need to cross that highway? Would a crosswalk be enough? Should a policeman be stationed there every day? Could a school bus be used to pick up students and transport them across the highway to Jefferson’s front door?
School officials met with the state highway department with an idea. What about tunneling under the highway? Construction crews and equipment would already be there, so both projects could be done at the same time.
The new Jefferson building opened in September 1934, and the highway and underpass were ready the following month. For 90 years – except for a few years when it was closed – the underpass has served Shawnee children. Today, the entrances are locked except before and after classes. A guard is there to oversee dozens of youngsters as they use the same safe entrance to the school grounds that their grandparents or maybe even great-grandparents may have used. The Jefferson underpass is another one of those historical stories that make our town unique.
mental health
EQUINE ENCOUNTERS
Gateway Adds Equine Therapy To Its Chandler-Area Services
SUBMITTED BY GATEWAY TO PREVENTION AND RECOVERY
In January 2024, Lincoln County awarded Gateway to Prevention and Recovery funds for an Equine-Assisted Intervention (EAI) pilot project to demonstrate the power of adding horse-related activities to support their current Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model for individuals in recovery from sub stances and/or mental health conditions at the Chandler office.
Essentially, this innovative project utilized horses to help humans increase their motivation and engagement in treatment, develop a deeper connection with themselves, grow their healthy support networks and progress in their recovery.
The 6-week pilot project took place in the spring of 2024 at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds. The Chandler Gateway treatment team consisted of licensed professional counselor Ali Stewart and case manager Judy Smith, an equine specialist in mental health and learning. In addition, equine support for this project came from the 501(c)(3) non-profit Right Path Riding Academy and premier accredited organization Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Intl. (PATH, Intl) located in Drumright, OK. They provided an equine specialist in training, horse handlers, horses and transportation for the herd to the fairgrounds.
Why horses?
Horses are prey animals: Unlike humans, the horse is a prey animal and
has evolved to be profoundly aware of their environment. With their heightened senses, horses are very sensitive to humans and may notice the smallest details of the human body, verbal language and sense a human’s emotional state.
Horses are social creatures: As a herd animal, the horse is very social and relies on close relationships with one another for their survival. Given this social nature, horses have been found to be very capable of developing longterm relationships with humans.
Horses have emotional intelligence: Horses have excellent memories and extensive learning abilities. Current research is finding that it is likely that horses and humans may share an emotional language with some commonalities and may be able to accurately read each other’s emotional states.
Reflections from Judy Smith:
“My passion for equine therapy comes from being a very shy child with overbearing brothers, and my grandmother insisted that my parents get me a horse to teach me assertiveness and
confidence. I received my first horse on my fifth birthday and rode/competed until going off to junior college. Later in life, I went back to school (after our kids were grown) to prepare for a career in equine-assisted services. I feel horses are honest, genuine and relational sentient beings that can help us become a better version of ourselves when we are ready to listen.
“During the 6 week pilot project, I enjoyed how quickly we all became a ‘herd’ together – from the horses, clients and therapy team. The arena became a safe space to let your guard down and get real.
“As long as I have been doing this, I am always amazed how horses ‘show up’ to offer us profound opportunities to grow and learn. This therapy herd was no different. There were several moments when clients were very raw and honest with their feelings, and a horse would come close to ‘be with them’ in those feelings. Each client had their favorite horse to work with, and it was not uncommon for ‘their horse’ to seek them out to come and greet them when they arrived the next week.”
Smith
Reflections from the Participants:
“It was very meaningful to me not knowing what was coming next and it being an adventure of unexpected guidance through recovery using horses. It was very unique in changing my thoughts to a more positive outlook. I learned that my thoughts were sometimes deceiving, and there were ways of thinking more clearly. I was being foolish and recognizing that about myself was very helpful. If I could make one suggestion for the future, it would be to make it even more of an adventure.”
“It was meaningful to me to work together with staff and other patients to overcome obstacles using our words and real live animals. This experience reminds me that some mountains are in our mind, but together we can move these mountains and shine light in dark places. I learned that I really enjoy working with animals and most importantly, to seek wise counsel from other human beings who know more than me. There has been much life spoken here over the past 6 weeks. I thank the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father for all the hard work and therapy here. If I could make one suggestion for the future, it would be my desire to ride the horses.”
“The horses taught me that I am a lot stronger than I thought I was. They taught me things about myself that have given me new confidence. I now know that with the right intentions and strength, I will succeed in my recovery. I have learned that I am a lot more self aware than I thought, and I just need to trust myself. If I could make one suggestion for the future, it would be to make it longer so that we could do more activities.”
“I found meaning in knowing that horses can express the same kind of emotions as humans and that sometimes you have to let go of people and things from childhood rather than taking them into your future. This experience has helped me find out that I need to start respecting myself more and not let people from my past get me down. I am starting to trust, love and accept myself. I am good enough to be loved and respected. Finally, I have learned that sometimes I can feel confident in what I do and other times I just feel like shutting down and wanting to be by myself. If I could make one suggestion for the future, it would be to make it longer because it was such a great experience.”
Next Steps
Smith said that their next round of funding will help them develop services for youth, Native Americans and additional equine-assisted intervention services for Lincoln County.
If you or someone you know would like support on their recovery and mental health journey, do not hesitate to reach out to Gateway at 273-1170 ext. 0 or send us a message through our Facebook page, Gateway to Prevention and Recovery, Inc.
Judy Smith is a behavioral health wellness coach and case manager for Gateway to Prevention and Recovery. She holds a master’s degree in leisure services management with an emphasis in equine recreation/therapeutic programing from Oklahoma State University and a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership with a minor in equine studies from Southern Nazarene University. Judy is a PATH, Intl.-certified therapeutic riding instructor and equine specialist in mental health and learning.
July-August: The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art will offer free admission thanks to the generous sponsorship of BancFirst, Avedis Foundation, St. Gregory's Abbey, and Monks Marketplace. Information: mgmoa.org
July 6-Aug. 3: Jones Theatres will host is 2024 Kids Camp movie series with $1 seats at 10 a.m. every Thursday and Saturday at Cinema Centre 8 at 3031 N. Harrison with favorites like the “Curious George,” “Sing” and “Secret Life of Pets” film franchises on the big screen. Information: (405) 275-7512 ext. 2 or connor@jonestheatres.com
July 7-12: The International Finals Youth Rodeo is the ultimate rodeo event for up-and-coming cowboys and cowgirls. This six-day event features two performances each day by contestants from all over the United States. Bring the whole family out to the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center at 1700 W. Independence to watch this exciting youth rodeo that includes barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, goat tying, team roping, calf roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc riding and bareback riding. A full Western trade show will also be held at the expo center, and concessions will be available throughout the rodeo grounds.
July 9-30: Bring your creativity, your curiosity and your family every Tuesday in July for Art Mania at the MabeeGerrer Museum of Art. Starting at 11 a.m., the museum will give guests the chance to learn, explore and have a blast with fascinating history nuggets and engaging art projects inspired by the greats like Picasso, Dali, Van Gogh, Frida and da Vinci. Grab your paint brushes and get ready for an artistic adventure that will make your summer a masterpiece. Information: mgmoa.org
July 10, 17: Get out of the heat and get the creativity flowing at Community Art Gallery's Summer Kids' Art Club 1-3 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Shawnee Mall. Information: facebook. com/ShawneeOkArts
July 10: Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member Tyler Strobel will perform a free piano concert showcasing classic, original and contemporary compositions at the Citizen Potawatomi Cultural Heritage Center at 1899 S Gordon Cooper Drive. Information: potawatomi.org/event/anevening-with-tyler-strobel
July 11: The Tipsy Artist returns to Shawnee at 6 p.m. at the VFW Post #1317 Canteen at 811 E MacArthur Street. Leading painting classes with attendance in the hundreds at some events, The Tipsy Artist will lead attendees in one of four designs of their choosing. Registration and information: tipsyartist.com
July 12: The Speak8ery Kitchen at 8 E Main St. will host Broadway by BouRey, a one-woman live singing storytelling extravaganza rated PG-13. Information: facebook.com/ speak8ery
July 13: Elvis impersonator Trent Smith returns to the Historic Ritz Theater with an unforgettable Elvis tribute starting at 7 p.m. at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com
July 18: Bikes on Bell Bike Nights in association with The Toolbox, Law Tigers and Bell Street Tattoo will feature a monthly family-friendly gathering/celebration of motorcycle enthusiasts, riders and their friends and family with events, vendors, giveaways and charity fundraising, A portion of the proceeds will benefit Shawnee High School band boosters. Information: facebook.com/ToolboxLLC
July 18: The Third Thursday Poetry Reading will begin at 7 p.m. at the Lunch Box at 217 E. Main St. featuring "Spontaneous Bob," an energetic and very creative poet whose readings become performances. Bob also does origami figures as a hobby. As usual, the featured reading will be followed by an open mic session for attendees to read up to two poems of their own or from a favorite poet. The Lunch Box will open at 6 p.m. with desserts and drinks available.
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July 19: The Arts @317 will host its own Block pARTy from 5:30-8:30 p.m. featuring Douglas Gordon, who is a prolific abstract artist with a loyal following in this area. He will have many of his works for sale and will be available to visit with attendees. Kevin Hall is returning to play a few tunes outside under the awning from 6:30-8:00 p.m. weather permitting. Also on display is the work of about 50 other different Oklahoma artists. Information: (405) 659-8193
July 20: OKC-based tribute band, Another Pink in the Floyd, will take the stage with lasers, video and favorites by the iconic band with a show starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theatre at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com
July 27: World renowned blues/rock icon and King of Strings Carvin Jones, voted one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time by Guitarist magazine, performs live at the Historic Ritz Theatre at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com
Aug. 2: Comedian Billie J. will bring her Not the Trophy Wife Tour to the Historic Ritz Theatre at 10 W. Main St. with a show at 8 p.m. featuring special guest Talon Saucerman. Growing up and now residing on ranches in Nebraska, Billie J. likes to say her style of humor is “pretty ranchy,” and she brings a halfcentury of stories to her shows. Information: ritzshawnee.com
Aug. 3: Maddox Ross will perform a show with Luke Haley starting at 8 p.m. at the Historic Ritz Theatre at 10 W. Main St. Information: ritzshawnee.com
Aug. 4: Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma will host its monthly public run 1-4 p.m. at 29626 Lake Drive in McLoud. Ride the rails on powered ⅛-scale locomotives right outside of Shawnee Twin Lakes. Information: locotrains.org
Aug. 9-10: The FireLake Fireflight Balloon Festival offers two days of balloon glows, balloon launches and balloon rides with a carnival, inflatables, food trucks, vendor market and live music in a family-friendly environment in and around Raymond Peltier Park at 1702 S. Gordon Cooper. Information: firelakeballoonfest.com
Aug. 9-10: The Outdoor Nation Expo returns to the FireLake Arena at 18145 Old Rangeline Road with a free event to help families find all the ways to enjoy the great outdoors featuring camping, hunting, and fishing events along with booths and attractions. Information: outdoornationexpo.com
If you know of any events you would like to see featured, email editor@shawneeoutlook.com.
Michael P Garbutt, AAMS™ Financial Advisor 3813 N Harrison St Shawnee, OK 74804 405-214-4971
Jacob Russell Financial Advisor 4010 N Kickapoo Ave, Ste 1 Shawnee, OK 74804 405-214-1978
David W Spires, CFP® Financial Advisor MacArthur St, Ste 110 Shawnee, OK 74804 405-878-0990
Chris Jones Financial Advisor 2218 N Kickapoo Ave, Ste 1 Shawnee, OK 74804 405-395-0068
Brent S Morris Financial Advisor 923 East MacArthur St Shawnee, OK 74804 405-788-0040
Trey Thee III Financial Advisor 2218 N Kickapoo Ave, Ste 1 Shawnee, OK 74804 405-395-0068
