Shawnee Outlook

'A Healthier You' | Mixed-Media Mosaic

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CONTENTS

FEBRUARY 2021

14

25

8 FEATURES 8

10

Shawnee Senior Serving On State Superintendent's Student Advisory Council Library Seeks To Help Make 'A Healthier You' In 2021

Publisher

Okie Icon Media

Managing Editor

David Dinsmore

Advertising Sales

Brad Carter

Creative Direction

Kelsey Walker & Fawn Wilson-Olivarez

Writers

Andrea Beck David Dinsmore Brandon Dyer David Holland Ann McDonald Angela Rowland

Distribution

The Shawnee Outlook is delivered FREE by direct mail to 25,000 homes and businesses.

Contact Us

PO Box 1365 Shawnee, OK 74802 E-mail: info@shawneeoutlook.com

To Advertise, call Brad at (405) 445-3033.

DEPARTMENTS 6 KEEP THE CHANGE 6 NUTRITION 101 24 SONIC CONTEST 25 SHAWNEE HISTORY

13

Over the Fence: Place At The Table

27 HELPING HANDS

14

Art Of The Matter: Mixed-Media Byzantine Mosaic of the Virgin Mary

29 THE BRIGHT SPOT 30 CALENDAR

18

Emmanuel Episcopal's New, Renovated Facilities Ready To Welcome Community

Volume 17, Number 12 Shawnee Outlook is a publication of Okie Icon Media. © 2021 Okie Icon Media

26

Kids And Drugs: How To Keep Them Safe

Articles and advertisements in Shawnee Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Okie Icon Media. Okie Icon Media does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by Shawnee Outlook does not constitute endorsement of products, services, political candidates/parties or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Shawnee Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

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5

KEEP THE CHANGE

Spring Organization

I

t may still feel like winter, but with our schedules still more open, let’s get a head start on spring. If you have some clutter to tackle, here are some ways to make organizing your things fit your budget.

• Visit discount stores. TJ Maxx and Ross have great organizing tools. Be sure to think outside the box – use silverware organizers for desk drawers or make-up brush storage for a desk. For even deeper savings, be sure to check the Dollar Tree or Five Below for storage containers, baskets and totes. You can organize a pantry well with a few discount store finds. Check thrift or vintage stores for unique boxes, containers or sorters.

Old trinket boxes work well for jewelry or small craft items. Old baskets could sort remotes, books or magazines.

• Re-use. Shoeboxes can be used for many kinds of storage in closets or even for video games. Toilet paper roll tubes are great ways to keep extra extension cords or tech cords from getting tangled. Old coffee or shortening cans can be used to store and organize kitchen staples. Spray paint old cookie sheets to use with magnets as a memo board (bonus – use chalkboard paint for a dual-purpose option).

• Minimize your belongings. The fewer things you need to store, the cheaper it is to store them. Sort through your things by type and only keep the ones you use or that truly bring you joy. Remember, every item you choose to get rid of is one less thing to clean up or sort through later.

• Make money off your decluttering. As you’re downsizing, set aside your discards for a spring garage sale, or visit Shawnee.MonkeyBusinessOK.com to sign up to consign kids’ clothes, toys, home goods or furniture in the spring sale at the beginning of March.

If you’d like to read more about my frugal journey, scan the QR code to visit my blog on the topic!

Angela Rowland is an OBU graduate and a stay-at-home mother of four. She enjoys finding new ways to stretch the paycheck and even posts some of her favorite tips and deals on her blog (steadfaststeward.blogspot.com)

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NUTRITION 101

Keep Your Immune System Healthy

O

ur immune system literally fights off the secret bad guys we can’t see. You want to keep your immune system strong for this purpose.

We have all been very aware of the COVID-19 virus and how it attacks our body. When your body is strong inside, it helps fight off viruses.

Many things can help your immune system stay strong. Clearing body waste is one way to keep your body strong. There are multiple ways of keeping your body clear of waste, such as hydration, eating plenty of fiber and taking a probiotic.

Clearing dietary inflammation out of the body is another way. Ways to help fight inflammation is by taking out refined sugar, dairy, alcohol and processed foods.

Stress and anxiety also attack the body and make our immune system weaker. Ways to clear stress and anxiety include practicing stress reducing techniques, staying emotionally connected with loved ones, getting some exercise and sleeping at least 7-9 hours per day.

Nutrition of course is a big key with our immune system. Vitamins A, D, C, zinc and magnesium all contribute to our immune system. A diet diverse in color (eating the rainbow) provides your body a variety of natural vitamins and minerals. Here are some things to ask yourself while trying to make your body healthier and stronger inside: How many vegetables am I eating each day?

Am I eating a variety of foods and colors?

Am I drinking enough water and staying hydrated?

As we approach Valentine’s Day, one gift that you can give your loved ones and to yourself is the gift of health. Enjoy the below recipe with your valentine.

Ramen Stir-Fry I have enjoyed making this recipe almost on a weekly basis. It is so quick, the whole family enjoys it and is a great way to add vegetables into a meal. You can of course mix and match vegetables as you wish.

Ingredients: 1-16oz bag frozen shelled 1-10oz package of millet and edamame brown rice ramen noodles 1-10oz bag frozen stir-fry 4 tsp liquid aminos vegetables Directions: Start boiling the water for the noodles. While the water is boiling, start steaming the edamame and the stir-fry vegetables. Once the water is boiling, add the noodles to the water. Noodles need to boil for 4 minutes. Once done, drain and rinse the noodles under cold water. Mix together the vegetables, edamame and noodles. Top with 1 tsp liquid aminos.

Makes: 4 servings Nutritional Information per serving: Calories: 390 Saturated Fat: 0 g Total Fat: 6g Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 261mg Protein: 17g Carbohydrates: 63g Fiber: 9.5g Nutrition 101: As a nation, we have really learned the importance of health and the importance of a strong immune system over the last year. This has been the first time in a long time that vitamins have been out of stock at the stores as so many have realized the importance of them. My hope for everyone from these past months of COVID is that we are all realizing the importance of our health. When we get our bodies stronger, in turn you are fighting off diabetes, heart disease, obesity and many other health related diseases. If you are new to the idea of using liquid aminos, it is a great substitute to soy sauce.

I highly recommend giving it a try, and you will be glad you did.

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 through an online class and nutrition services through SSM Health St. Anthony in Shawnee. For inquiries, you can contact her at Andrea.beck1@ ssmhealth.com or through her Facebook page, Nutrition and Exercise 101 with Andrea.

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7

Shawnee Senior Serving On State Superintendent's Student Advisory Council

by David Dinsmore

L

ike many high school seniors, Hanaa Saidi is trying to define exactly what her future will look like.

The teachers and administrators at Shawnee Public School, however, know what she brings to the present, and that’s why superintendent April Grace nominated Saidi for the 2021 Student Advisory Council working with the office of state superintendent Joy Hofmeister.

“It was an honor for me to put Hanaa's name forward for the advisory council,” Grace said in a press release. “Her experience in student council and our band program will give Hanaa a unique perspective when engaging in rich conversations as part of the council.”

Saidi knew another local student who served on the council last year and became interested when she received an email from Grace talking about her possible nomination. She said she did some research into the types of discussions and input the state advisory council conducted.

“I knew that was something I wanted to be a part of,” Saidi said. “I was so honored when I got the email.

I was so excited. I ran home and told my family” Some of the issues that piqued her interest was a focus on how local and state politics shape each school district, Saidi said. She liked the idea that she could contribute ideas that could help her fellow Shawnee students but also students across the state as well.

Saidi joins 96 other Oklahoma high school students for the sixth consecutive iteration of the group convened to assist Hofmeister and the Oklahoma State Department of Education in discussing and defining policy matters using student input.

“Students have a lot to say about their education, and it is critical that we listen to them,” Hofmeister 8

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Hanaa Saidi is representing Shawnee Public Schools at the state level through the Student Advisory Council established by state education superintendent Joy Hofmeister’s office. Saidi also serves as the local student council president at Shawnee High School.

Photos by Kristen Nguyen Co., submitted by Shawnee Public Schools

said in a release. “The direct insight we receive from our students is incredibly valuable, and each year I am encouraged by the thoughtful reflection and fearless vision of these brilliant young leaders.”

In speaking with Saidi about her experience in Shawnee schools, it does not take long to realize how much it has impacted her and the motivation she has to see it grow and thrive.

“I love our school district, and I’m so excited to represent them,” Saidi said in an interview prior to the state advisory council’s first virtual meeting in late January.

One of the top highlights within Shawnee Public Schools that Saidi said she looks forward to sharing is its backpack program, which coordinates and distributes backpacks of healthy foods to those in need.

“There’s an ongoing need for good nutrition for our students,” Saidi said. “It’s something that I think every school should have … and more people should be involved in it.”

In addition to sharing some of the good things she has experienced within Shawnee public schools, Saidi said she is looking forward to hearing about what other schools are doing to improve the experience and outcomes of their students. She looks forward to getting

a glimpse into other districts and see if there is anything she can bring back to make Shawnee Public Schools stronger.

The state advisory council is not Saidi’s first foray into getting involved and helping influence policy for her school. She is serving as student council president this year and has held other positions like chair of student relations. On a state level, she has represented Shawnee at state high school leadership events hosted at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.

She has served as drum major and section leader for the Pride of the Pack marching band.

A member of the National Honor Society, Saidi also gives her time to the local BancFirst student board of directors.

“School has always been not necessarily a getaway but somewhere I have always succeeded and somewhere I have fun,” Saidi said.

“I like to learn. I like being around people.”

After graduation this year, Saidi will attend the University of Oklahoma, and she said she is looking at a couple of different fields of study she would like to pursue, among which include public administration and political science.

In addition to her family’s excitement

about her nomination, Saidi said she has received a lot of encouragement from her teachers and faculty at Shawnee High School, whom she credits along with her other teachers since moving to Shawnee Public Schools in fourth grade with giving her the ability to be in the position to serve on this state council.

The 2020 Student Advisory Council last met virtually in June, where students voiced their challenges about learning amid a global pandemic and how racism impacts the classroom experience. Other past discussion topics have included the importance of personal financial literacy, increased awareness of student mental health needs and how trauma can impede student success.

Feedback from the Council has been instrumental in state-level initiatives to provide teachers more professional development in trauma-informed instruction, replace endof-course high school testing with the ACT or SAT and pilot Individual Career Academic Planning.

The second meeting of the Student Advisory Council will happen later in the spring with planners eyeing a physical meeting at the state capitol pending restrictions in place as a response to the coronavirus pandemic.

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9

Library Seeks To Help Make 'A Healthier You' In 2021

by David Dinsmore

W

hile libraries may induce images of stationary activities like sitting with a book or long hours spent doing research, patrons of the Pioneer Library System can harness its resources to help build good habits during the early part of this year that will carry them for the long run.

The Shawnee Public Library and its fellow Pioneer Library System members have sounded the starting horn for the “A Healthier You” initiative to get 2021 off to a positive start.

The initiative walks, jogs and runs through the end of April with a long track of ideas, activities, books, digital resources

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and other features that customers can try on their own schedules. The program addresses both physical and mental health throughout its offerings.

Each month will offer 11 activities or tasks to attempt, and participants who complete seven in a month will receive a virtual badge for their accomplishment, according to a press release from Pioneer Library System.

Some of the activities highlighted by the initiative include reading or listening to books, learning a language, trying a virtual exercise or health program and cooking a new recipe.

Librarians have put together book lists to accompany activities featuring topics like meal planning, exercise, mindfulness, financial health and other aspects of daily life.

The Shawnee Public Library and Pioneer Library System are offering the “A Healthier You” initiative to help participants use a wide variety of printed and digital resources to complete monthly activities and build healthier habits. The program runs through April 30, and more information is available at pioneerlibrarysystem.org or (405) 275-6353.

Stock photo

Every branch features a display with multiple books and resources for patrons to utilize in addition to the links and tools provided on the library’s website and its various digital platforms.

Those interested in trying out the library initiative will not be on their own locally

as several staff members at the Shawnee Public Library have signed up and are participating in the initiative, said Peggy Cook, branch manager and regional coordinator for Pioneer Library System in Pottawatomie County, and there are advantages to having a group participating together.

“It helps people stay encouraged,” Cook said. “It does to share. Sometimes it’s fun to give people an update and to receive feedback.”

Planners for the initiative kept in mind the realities of the restrictions that the response to the coronavirus pandemic have placed on people’s lives, and many of the activities take this into consideration.

“We have found that the Healthier You ideas for each month are really simple,” Cook said. “They are designed to be something that people can do even if they are at home most of the time.

“They help us take steps each month to really pay attention to our health and to make decisions that will help us for a lifetime.”

Some of the elements discussed in the activities are not the traditional "diet

a particularly special place in the Shawnee and exercise" that typically come to mind branch that earned its designation as a when people think about improving their certified healthy workplace in conjunction health, Cook said. They can be as simple with the local Blue Zones Project’s efforts as increasing water intake, analyzing sleep to emphasize healthy habits in all aspects habits, emphasizing relationships, creating of life. time for rest and relaxation and increasing “We really are engaged with helping recreation. make good decisions and help people have “It's a look at the whole life balance,” Oklahoma has some of the nation’s happier, healthier lives,” Cook said.

Cook said. “Health literacy and health highest rates of tobacco use and ages are invited to participate, and learning is an aspect of our overall learnobesity, whichAll are the greatest families can register together. Afing. I’m proud of the efforts we make as a contributing factorsor togroups cancer and ter signing up, participants can access the staff to promote this to gain nutrition andcardiovascular disease. themes and individual activities for each health information.”

The TSET Healthy Living Program is working to Libraries are open with some limiIn addition to the library’s resources make our month. community healthier. tations, and readers are encouraged to use specifically focused on health and wellbecurbside pickup service for book holds, as ing, the resources provided to card holders well as downloadable eBooks, audiobooks can help participants accomplish their goals and streaming video available through the even if they do not specifically have a health OverDrive, Hoopla, Kanopy and Flipster focus, Cook said. One good example is usservices available for card holders. ing one of the apps to download a favorite Find out more about these services book or series to listen to while walking or and the “A Healthier You” initiative at exercising, which can help take away some pioneerlibrarysystem.org. Also, access the of the focus from the physical exertion. library through the Pioneer Library System Though the initiative is taking place Connect App viaLiving the Program Apple Store across Pioneer Library’s System branches Theavailable TSET Healthy will use county and municipal health data and community feedback and Google Play or by calling the Shawnee throughout Cleveland, McClain and Pot- WE NEED TO HEAR to customize a data-driven plan with local partners to tackle barriers associated with healthy eating, Public YOU! Library at (405) 275-6353. tawatomie counties, the focus on health has FROM physical activity and tobacco use in high risk areas within our county. Reducing the risk factors for tobacco use and obesity will save lives and money.

Please take a few minutes to answer this survey to help us better address the TSET programs designed to improve These are other health needs of our county! the health of Oklahomans:

Please take a few minutes to answer this survey to help us better address the health of our county!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Share your healthy living ideas as we focus on health issues to help transform our communities.

Friday, February 19 12-1:00 pm Shawnee Wednesday, February 24 12-1:00 pm Rural Pottawatomie County To register or learn more, visit:

www.facebook.com/HLPpottawatomiecounty

The TSET Healthy Living Grant Visit http://bit.ly/tsetpottawatomie root. Thethe program wi or use this QR they codetake to access Free,survey nonjudgmental services helpaOklahomans customize data-driven plan w by using yourtosmartphone’s quit tobacco. Call 1-800-QUIT NOW or visit physical activity and tobacco u camera or QR reading app.

OKhelpline.com.

Visit http://bit.ly/tsetpottawatomie or use this QR code to access the survey by using your Program smartphone’s camera or QR and reading app.

The TSET Healthy LivingLiving Program will usewill county The TSET Healthy use county municipal health data and community and municipal health data and community feedback Educating Oklahomans about the dangers of TSET – feedback to customize a data-driven plan with local partners to tacklesmoke barriers tobacco and secondhand andassociated inspiring to customize a data-driven plan with local partners individuals to make positive changes — not only for with healthy eating, physical activity and tobacco use in high risk areas within our county. to tackle barriers associated with healthy eating, their own health, but for the health of our state. physical activity and tobacco use in high risk areas

Bette

Reducing the risk factors for tobacco use and obesity will save lives and money.

within our county. Reducing the risk factors for tobacco use and obesity will save lives and money.

These are other TSET programs designed to improve the health of Oklahomans:

These are other TSET programs designed to improve the health of Oklahomans:

Free online tools and tips supporting Oklahomans’ efforts to eat better, move more and be tobacco free.

Free, nonjudgmental services to help Oklahomans quit tobacco. Call 1-800-QUIT NOW or visit OKhelpline.com.

Helping Oklahoma teens (13-17) quit tobacco and vaping. Call or text “Start My Quit” to 855.891.9989.

Visit MyLifeMyQuit.com to learn more.

Educating Oklahomans about the dangers of tobacco and secondhand smoke and inspiring individuals to make positive changes — not only for their own health, but for the health of our state.

Providing Oklahoma youth with the knowledge and skills needed to live longer, healthier lives through tobacco prevention and reduction and improved nutrition and physical activity. Discover more at TSETHealthyYouth.com.

Free online tools and tips supporting Oklahomans’ efforts to eat better, move more and be tobacco free.

www.shawneeoutlook.com Helping Oklahoma teens (13-17) quit tobacco and

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Over the Fence:

Place At The Table

By Brandon Dyer, Executive Director of Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County

N

ot long ago, my wife and I stayed the night in Oklahoma City in an area of town we like.

It’s an area that’s not terribly busy but still has great restaurants and stores and places to walk around. It’s a nice little getaway spot for us.

We happen to enjoy finding new places to eat brunch. Waking up that morning, we decided to try a new place we had heard of just a short walk away. It was quite cold outside, so no outdoor seating was available.

Inside, the place was packed. There were several people in line in front of us and exactly zero tables available.

Have you ever been there? You’re hungry, the line is long, and you can already tell that it’s going to be a battle to find a seat. If you’re like me that’s when you begin to get a little cranky. Fortunately, the line moved reasonably quickly, and we placed our order and held our pager to let us know when our food was ready to be picked up at the window. That’s when I started to get a little anxious. It’s silly, I know. But I started to wonder which one of these couples standing around waiting for a table to open up were going to try to outrun me when someone got up to leave? I was fully aware of the order of who “should” be next in line for a table, but would everyone else follow the same unwritten rules of courtesy?

This is one of those little moments in life when the goodness of humanity is tested. Are people basically good? When we are tempted to think of ourselves first, what do we do?

By my count, there was one couple in front of us for the next table.

After what felt like an excruciatingly long time, a table opened up. To be friendly, I leaned forward to them and said, “you’re up.” They appreciated the gesture and probably appreciated not having to arm wrestle

Brandon Dyer

me over it as well. Our pager went off, and I went to get our food. As I picked it up, another table became free. I looked over at my wife, she was thinking what I was thinking. To my relief, no one even appeared to be tempted to challenge her. We sat and enjoyed our brunch.

We watched as the line grew longer, and the wait for tables increased as uneasy customers scanned the dining room to determine who might leave next. Guess what? Everyone seemed to have the same understanding of this invisible social order, and it played out to perfection. The goodness of humanity won the day.

Why did I have such little faith in my fellow sisters and brothers?

It seems to me that we all carry a basic sense of justice within us. In most cases, we can adjudicate right from wrong in a largely agreeable way. But what happens when someone doesn’t follow this unspoken scale of equity? What are we to do when someone cuts in line? For many of us, it triggers a burning sense of violation, even if in this case it might

be somewhat minor. Some of us would speak out. Others would let it go to avoid conflict. I suppose neither response is right or wrong.

But suppose we apply this shared sense of justice to more complicated matters. Matters that don’t respond easily to a cooperative social litmus test of right and wrong. It breaks down at some point because we don’t all agree on every single matter. We have opinions based on myriad factors that shape our decisions and points of view. To make collective justice even more evasive, sometimes our opinions change over time, and we’re just not always consistent if we are being honest. So whose opinion governs? For how long? Is justice sometimes murky? You bet it is.

This is why it is imperative that we not avoid the work of building community. Being in community with each other first requires a relationship built on basic trust. Recognizing the inherent capacity for good that we each possess. It also requires us to be trustworthy. When friendships are formed around this basic sense of trust, even with acquaintances, it becomes much easier to hear someone’s point of view without vilifying them for simply being on the other side of an issue. When we’ve taken the time to see the good in each other, we are more likely to work together to find solutions that work for us all. It’s that sort of cooperation that restores our faith in humanity and helps us find our place at the table.

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13

ART OF THE MATTER

Mixed-Media Byzantine Mosaic of the Virgin Mary Submitted by Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art

T

he Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art and Shawnee Outlook are bringing readers a glimpse into the museum’s offerings and feature a project for them to try at home. For more information about the museum and its programs, visit mgmoa.org or call (405) 878-5300.

This month, we are going to work with all kinds of materials. When you make art with several materials, it’s called “mixed-media” – and it can be lots of fun.

The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is currently hosting a beautiful special exhibit titled “Blessed Virgin: Images of the Virgin Mary,” so we are using that as our inspiration. A couple of the pieces in the exhibit are from the Byzantine era, between 330-1450 A.D. That was a long time ago!

Artists at that time loved to create mosaics, which are art pieces made up of small pieces of stone, gems and tile. Because painting with tiles was a little limiting, the Byzantine style simplified features and details.

We are going to make an image of the Virgin Mary using the same style, but with materials we have at home. We can use small pieces of colored paper, dabs or paint, squares made with colored pencil or marker or anything else you can imagine.

Instructions: Start with a blank piece of white, or light-colored paper. Using a pencil, draw an oval in the middle of the sheet that takes up about ½ of the sheet, this will be Mary’s head. About 1/3 of the way down, draw her eyes. The Byzantine style was to draw almond shaped eyes with heavy eyebrows.

Next, draw two vertical lines from just below the inside of the eyebrows to create the nose. You can put a little mark at the bottom of the nose if you want. Then, draw the mouth. The Byzantine style of mouth was pretty flat, but we can make a big smile if we want. Don’t forget to add a neck and shoulders.

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ABOVE, BELOW and BELOW RIGHT: Pieces like these from the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s current special exhibit, “Blessed Virgin: Images of the Virgin Mary,” inspired this month’s mixed-media art project readers can try at home.

ABOVE: Example of completed mixed media mosaic.

Next, decide on what materials you want to use to create your mosaic. In the example, I used small squares of colored paper. I didn’t have a good color for Mary’s face, so I took a piece of yellow construction paper and colored over it with a brown colored pencil. The two colors together gave me a color I was happy with. If you are going to use paint, a thick paint like tempera will work best. If you don’t have the exact colors you want, experiment with mixing colors. If you are using colored pencils, you can mix them as well by making a tile with one color and covering over it with another.

The Byzantines often followed the outlines and curves of their subject with tiles and then filled in the rest of the area, but you can add the tiles any way you want. Fill in her face, neck and shoulders. You can be creative with her jewelry and clothing.

Next, you are ready to decorate her headpiece. One of the pieces in the traveling exhibit shows Mary with a crown of flowers on her head, another has a large jewel above her forehead and jewels wrapped around her head. I chose to cut out paper petals and made flowers with leaves that I glued together. Do you have some glitter, sequins or beads? They would be great for the head piece and the clothing and jewelry.

Finally, we want to decorate the background. Several of the images of Mary show light emanating from her like rays of sunlight. What would you like to see?

As a finishing touch, you can take a black marker and outline the face, neck and shoulders as well as the facial features. You can outline parts of the headpiece or background too.

Remember to take a picture of your artwork and share it on social media with hashtag #MGMOAart!

View a 20-minute tour of the “Blessed Virgin: Images of the Virgin Mary” exhibit on the museum’s YouTube channel. You can search by Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art on YouTube or use the camera on your mobile device to scan the QR code included with this project.

Scan this code to visit the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art’s at-home project page.

Scan this code to take a virtual tour of the museum’s special exhibit, “Blessed Virgin: Images of the Virgin Mary.”

www.shawneeoutlook.com

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One of the earliest projects in the renovation and new construction at Emmanuel Episcopal Church was the replacement of the lead framing within the stained glass windows in the worship area, which were placed as part of the original structure built in 1907.

Photos submitted

Emmanuel Episcopal's New, Renovated Facilities Ready To Welcome Community

by David Dinsmore

E

mmanuel Episcopal Church at 501 N. Broadway has finished much of the remodeling and new construction the parish has been discussing for more than a decade, and Fr. Tom Dahlman looks forward to when parishioners, civic groups and those in need in the community will be able to use them to their full potential.

The project may still have a few elements to complete, but Dahlman – rector of Emmanuel Episcopal – said the results of the large portion of the work are impressive and beyond what he imagined they would be.

Between what was added to the original structures and the new building, the church was able to incorporate 8,000 new square feet to its facilities. This includes a former lawyer building next door that will now be used for their outreach ministries. Some of these programs are geared toward their neighbors experiencing homelessness and those with critical needs and include things like meal service.

Dahlman said that they are currently able to

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give away about 65 sack lunches per weekday for the community, and they also host a monthly breakfast at their campus.

Some of the new facility was built on to the existing footprint of the building at its corner site occupied by the church. The parishioners have been talking for almost 15 years about expanding, Dahlman said, but they wanted to make sure they did it in the right way.

"They'd not settled on a design, but they had been talking about fixing the building,” Dorman said. "The building was constantly full when we had gatherings.”

"The goal was to have more outreach space but also more space for the youth and the children to grow."

One of the features of the old building was a cinder block structure that served as a nursery area when first built in the 1940s.

As time passed, it became more of a multipurpose building for other things that the church offered, and eventually became so

In addition to duplicating the woodwork in the parish hall of the church’s original structure, the designers and builders kept consistency with other elements such as the window in the foreground of this photo, which match the windows of the original 1907 structure seen in the background.

The church added 25 percent more capacity to its parish hall – seen in the far end of this photo – with woodwork that matched the preserved woodwork dating back more than 70 years.

The large window facing Broadway in the youth chapel matches the design of the largest stained glass window in the church’s worship area with future plans including adding stained glass to this new window.

crowded that it was hard to open a door fully or have two adults pass each other shoulder to shoulder in the hallway.

As the church began working on the designs, it became clear that this existing structure would need replacing to make room for new facilities that could house the services already offered or hosted by Emmanuel Episcopal.

One of the primary considerations when planning the new spaces was the Episcopal Church’s emphasis on longevity not only in its ministry but the places in which they are offered. As such, local parishes are required to use architects to professionally design additions or renovations to its campuses to ensure that the changes and decisions behind them are intentional and serve the needs of its parishioners and the community long after planners have put forth their ideas.

The original structure for the church was built in 1907 and has served the community since then, Dahlman said.

Planners wanted to emphasize the traditions and the style that has carried the church through all those years when designing elements of the new facility.

"We wanted to honor that style of architecture but also fit on this property, which is rather small," Dahlman

said. “We also wanted it to be useful, so we had to figure out what our priorities were."

One of the challenges for the parish hall component of the construction and remodel was preserving the woodwork that had been in place for almost seven decades while expanding the capacity by more than 25 percent with matching woodwork. Dahlman said they found a builder with the expertise and skill in Greg Cullison Construction to create a seamless addition.

One of the earliest and still ongoing projects at Emmanuel Episcopal Church is the restoration and preservation of the stained glass windows in its worship area, Dahlman said. The lead material that frames the glass typically lasts 100 years, and builders installed the windows in the worship area as part of the 1907 original building. The church hired a craftsman to remove each window and replace material housing each pane of glass. Nearly every one of them has been completed, but there is still a little work required in the largest window in the back of the worship area, which Dahlman has read during this process was that window at one time was the biggest stained glass window in the state. www.shawneeoutlook.com

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The new addition to Emmanuel Episcopal Church’s campus connecting to the parish hall replaced a cinder block structure from the 1940s with a modern, open design housing a large kitchen, meeting rooms, offices, nursery, children’s area and youth chapel.

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It is not only the original structure to which close attention was paid in matching the architectural style, Dahlman said. The windows in the completely new wing housing children's classrooms, a youth chapel, a new kitchen, new church offices and various meeting rooms also incorporate the exact styling as those windows featured in the original structure. There are also plans to incorporate stained glass in the largest window that is part of the youth chapel.

The expansion and construction has also allowed those participating in the music ministry of Emmanuel Episcopal Church to have more space in the original building dedicated to their needs, Dahlman said, and the project addressed practical needs like ongoing improvements to the parking lot and entrances, especially for those in wheelchairs.

The two-year process of constructing the facility on top of the years of discussion may have had its tumultuous moments, but that the church has reached a point where such expansion was necessary spoke to the importance of its services to its parishioners, its neighborhood and the community overall, Dahlman said. He especially likes to see growth of this kind in a church that holds closer to long-standing traditional ideas and practices in an industry that seems to push for more “hip,” contemporary ideas to grow its base.

“We think scarcity is what makes value," Dahlman said.

"Content is everywhere, because we have the internet. What is not everywhere is meaning and relationship. The traditions, the cycle of prayer that we follow and the liturgy provide meaning for people. It's fun to get off the 'relevancy' bandwagon sometimes.

“It's meaningful for me to see something that the world

may say will ‘never grow’ actually grow."

Dahlman served as a minister with the Church of Christ for 10 years before joining the Episcopal Church with which he attended seminary before resuming a ministry role six years ago. When he came to serve as priest at Emmanuel four years ago, he was told about plans for expansion and renovation, but he did not think they would be able to achieve it so early in his tenure. It was apparent, however, that the limitations of the old facilities had a direct impact on the church and the services it could offer.

"There had not been much work or remodeling done since the 1970s,” Dahlman said.

An unfortunate element to the whole process was the timing and impact of the response to the coronavirus pandemic, Dahlman said. During a typical week, the church's facilities would be in use on a nightly basis for activities directly involved with the parish or by other community organizations, such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The new playground facilities, nursery area and children's classroom have gone largely unused, but the rector is hopeful for the days when he can welcome these groups to the new facilities.

The church has resumed normal worship services at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Sundays incorporating social distancing guidelines, and Dahlman has been encouraged by the response of those who have attended and their desire to see the church begin to add more if it's typical services to the parish and community.

For more information, call (405) 273-1374 or visit emmanuelshawnee.com.

This children’s area and the nursery next to it will host the church’s ministries and services aimed at its youngest visitors, though it has gone largely unused since completion as a result of the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Left to Right: JACOB RUSSELL, Financial Advisor CHRIS JONES, Financial Advisor DAVID SPIRES, Financial Advisor BRENT MORRIS, Financial Advisor Logo with Registration Marks GARBUTT, Financial Advisor MICHAEL JIM SMITH, Financial Advisor

To contact a local Edward Jones Financial Advisor please call 1-800-ED-Jones www.shawneeoutlook.com

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Using weedorcould affect your brain’s development, which uncomfortable if they find out you’re using If you get caught with weed, you canyour loseteam, your Don’t let distract you from can make it weed harder for you to live out your dreams.

The marijuana. part of your the brain thatclass, is responsible for making decisions club, or anything else... parents’ trust and the freedoms you worked hard For more information about is also affected when under the influence of marijuana.

If you’re caught using marijuana, it can seriously impact you at school. youth abuse prevention Youcan can be off sports teamsto and banned fromfeel extracurricular activities...

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SHAWNEE HISTORY

By Ann McDonald, Courtesy Pott Co Historical Society Member

Eleanor Roosevelt Made Overnight Stop In Shawnee During Tour of State In 1937

I

t wasn’t unusual for a president or a man hoping to become president to make a quick trip through Shawnee stopping to speak from the back of a train. Citizens were fortunate that the town’s major railroad presence allowed easy access to such popular public figures. But having a president’s wife come to town and stay overnight was a real treat.

On Wednesday, March 17, 1937, Eleanor Roosevelt – First Lady to President Franklin Roosevelt – came to Shawnee. After arriving in Oklahoma City, she began her tour that would take her to Alva, El Reno, Durant and Pawhuska, where she was treated to an Osage tribal dance.

Rather than coming to Shawnee with a caravan of special agents and staying overnight in a hotel, Mrs. Roosevelt stayed the night with Elmer and Maude Harber in their spacious home out on Highway 270 (east Highland) across from the Country Club.

The Harbers along with Tom and Ida Waldrep went to Tulsa and accompanied Mrs. Roosevelt and her secretary, Malvina Scheider, to Shawnee. Local police and sheriff’s personnel met them to escort her to the Municipal Auditorium for an address. School was let out so the children could attend. It was noted that the new auditorium was the result of one of Roosevelt’s programs for recovery during the Depression.

That afternoon, accompanied by a police escort, she toured what was then the Shawnee Indian Sanitarium south of town and visited each of the 40 patients. She continued to Tecumseh to the Girls’ Industrial School, where she was presented a jar of pickled peaches by one of the girls. Newspaper reports said she wore a wine-colored dress trimmed with blue braid.

City officials discussed taking the opportunity to hold a dedication ceremony for the new Municipal Auditorium, much of which had been constructed with funds from President Roosevelt’s New Deal. It was decided, however, that was too much to ask of the First Lady in her tight schedule.

That evening, she spoke to another sold-out audience. Tickets were 25 and 50 cents with reserved seats double that cost. The Business & Professional Women’s Club (BPW), Camp Fire Girls and Girl Scouts decorated the stage and Shawnee firemen hung bunting and flags in the business district. Students from the National Youth Administration School (NYA) in Stillwater were special guests. Her talks as she traveled about the state centered on her concern for world peace.

The highlight of the evening was the notice that it was the 32nd wedding anniversary of the president and Mrs. Roosevelt. She was presented with a surprise wedding cake carried by two children, Rosene Looney of Wewoka and Joe Ellis, Jr. of Shawnee, dressed as the bride and groom. Reportedly the bride’s dress was designed to replicate the one Mrs. Roosevelt had worn at her wedding.

She also received a wire from her husband. He was in Warm Springs, Georgia, and she said they had missed being together on other anniversaries when his duties kept him away, but he always remembered the date.

Mrs. Roosevelt and her party left the next day for Durant as she continued her tour of the state. She didn’t travel with bodyguards or secret service agents but was accompanied by local law enforcement. While in Shawnee, local officers led the car caravan, stood guard during the events in the auditorium and patrolled around the Harber house. She complimented the Shawnee Police Department and Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office for their work.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt stayed the night with a local family in Shawnee on March 17, 1937 during a visit to Oklahoma. Though President Franklin Roosevelt was in Georgia, the date happened to be the couple’s wedding anniversary, so Shawnee residents presented Mrs. Roosevelt with a cake to celebrate the occasion at her speaking engagement at the Municipal Auditorium – a building that largely benefited from Roosevelt’s New Deal that helped the nation recover from the Great Depression.

Photo submitted

During her husband’s terms as president, due to his limited physical ability because of his bout with polio, Eleanor Roosevelt often represented him at events, especially in press conferences. She often spoke against unfair treatment of the poor and minorities. When her husband died in April 1945 and Harry Truman became president, he appointed her as a delegate to the United Nations General Assembly, and she was active in many other endeavors, especially those involving human rights.

Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt had six children.

She died on November 7, 1962 of cardiac failure at the age of 78, and most who had a chance to see the president’s wife in Shawnee, Oklahoma, have likely passed on as well. But they had quite a story to tell their descendants. www.shawneeoutlook.com

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GATEWAY TO PREVENTION

Kids And Drugs: How To Keep Them Safe

A

rguably, the most difficult job on the planet is raising children.

From the moment children are born, keeping them safe is second nature: we hold them close as they get their first shots, teach them to look both ways before crossing the street, teach them to ride bikes, skip rocks and help them develop healthy habits that will nurture them throughout their lives. Through the years, parents face all types of challenges that involve keeping their kids safe. Children are their own people, so of course it’s impossible to control their every move. They are trying to find out who they are and where they fit in this world, pushing boundaries and testing their limits. This is what makes the younger years so difficult.

One thing that makes raising children very difficult is that parents have very little education about how to protect kids from the disease of addiction.

When we hear the word “addiction,” we tend to think of our adult friends, relatives or neighbors who are struggling with substance use, but the reality is that addiction is a disease that begins in childhood.

The topic of drugs and alcohol usually comes up sometime in the preteen and teenage years. Prevention is easier than treating an addiction, so we recommend starting the conversation as early as possible and refresh the conversation periodically as new information arises.

Some parents think that talking to their child before he/she becomes a teenager is useless because they think the child will not understand.

Here are some statistics: • In 2016, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that 19 percent of youth ages 12-20 years old drank alcohol, and 12 percent admitted to binge drinking in the last month.

• In 2017, the Monitoring the Future Survey found that 8 percent of 8th graders drank alcohol in the last month, and 2 percent of 8th graders binge drank in the same period.

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• Between 2017-2018, increases in teen vaping were the largest ever recorded in the past 43 years for any teen substance abuse. Both nicotine and marijuana vaping are on the rise.

• 90 percent of Americans with a substance use disorder began using drugs or alcohol before the age of 18.

Just as we build protection against other medical conditions well before the symptoms are likely to appear, it is essential that we begin strengthening our kids’ protective factors against the disease of addiction prior to the teen years.

There are some risk factors for addiction that we cannot change – genetics, for example – but there are other critical ones that we can impact, such as delaying the age of first use and limiting access to substances.

Here are some of the things parents can do to help fight teen drug addiction: • Be active in your child’s life: Pick them up from school. Go to their school activities. Strike up normal conversations when you have time.

Ask them questions about their day, and then give them time to talk.

Have dinner as a family whenever possible. When you are active in your child’s life, you can pick up on signals that something isn’t right.

• Support healthy activities for your child: Whether it’s sports, church, Future Farmers of America, 4-H, music, drama, volunteering or fishing, kids do better when they are kept busy and feel part of a healthy community. It turns out those extracurricular activities are less about résumé-building and more about building protective factors to keep

them safe.

• Know your child’s friends: This is important. Get to know your child’s friends – their names, where they live, the activities they are involved in and so forth. You can learn a lot about other kids by talking to your child directly or including yourself in some conversations. Also, make your home a friendly place where your child’s friends are always welcome (providing that they are respectful and follow the rules). Your child’s friends may not have any place to go either. Making your home available keeps things safer for all.

• Educate yourself: Many parents do not imagine that they will be affected by drugs and alcohol, especially if they did not use them themselves. Unfortunately, no one is immune to drugs and alcohol. It can take one bad decision, a natural curiosity or the need to self-medicate to start a lifelong addiction. Rather than believing that you will never be touched by addiction, make it your priority to be informed.

• Call for help if needed: If you suspect that your child is using drugs and alcohol, don’t chalk it up to normal behavior. Take it seriously and intervene. Because each child and family is different, it’s best to speak with a professional counselor who can help you make the best decisions for you and your family. We are facing a public health crisis in terms of overdose deaths, so addiction is nothing to take lightly.

Visit www.gatewaytoprevention.org or call (405) 273-1170 to speak with a professional if you need guidance on addiction or mental health issues.

David Holland is the PFS Coordinator for Gateway to Prevention. He is also the pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in Shawnee. He has been married to his wife, Connie, for 29 years. He has three children – Trevor, Maddie and Traye – and a son-in-law, Corey, who is married to Maddie. He has two grandkids – Jaxon, 19 months, and Taya, 2 months. He loves the Lord and his family. He loves being back where he grew up and helping make a positive change in the community.

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Call Brad at (405) 445-3033

HELPING HANDS

Local Organizations Respond To COVID-19 Pandemic L

ocal businesses and organizations have not only found creative ways to operate while navigating the response to the coronavirus pandemic, and many have also found ways to give back and lend a helping hand to their neighbors in the community.

Here are a few some people told us about and some others who are still offering any assistance they can.

If you are part of a group or know of a group who has been working to help locally, please email editor@shawneeoutlook.com or contact us via facebook.com/shawneeoutlook.

Salvation Army The Salvation Army is still providing all social services – including vouchers to its Family Store for clothing items – along with food pantry, shelter services and Boys & Girls Club activities. For more information about details about the Salvation Army’s local response to the public health crisis, call (405) 275-2243. Those needing emotional or spiritual help can also reach out to (844) 458-4673.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church/United Presbyterian Church Throughout the pandemic crisis, Emmanuel Episcopal Church has continued its daily lunch program. Hearing that patron numbers were increasing and that some supplies were becoming more difficult to obtain, United Presbyterian's Session decided to contribute to Emmanuel's efforts.

In November, the Session of United Presbyterian Church of Shawnee voted to contribute $5,000 to Mission Shawnee to support their food pantry and

any special food baskets prepared for the holiday season.

OHCE

Oklahoma Home and Community Education chapters around the state responded to the call for masks as soon as the need became apparent.

From mid-March through early June, OHCE groups worked together to produce 42,000 masks, including 2,500 from chapters in Pottawatomie County.

These masks have gone to several medical facilities, firefighters and military personnel as well as many family and friends.

Those who would like to help OHCE’s efforts with community projects such as this and others including assisting women’s shelters, church organizations and more, contact the county OSU Extension Office at (405) 273-7683.

Gateway to Prevention and Recovery Any community member can contact our Shawnee office at 273-1170 ext. 0 Monday-Thursday, between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m.-3p.m. and speak to a behavioral health professional free of charge.

Community Renewal Community Renewal is providing a list of resources that it updates every weekday. Visit communityrenewal.org to find a link to its resource page.

Immanuel Baptist Church Visit ibcshawnee.org/serve-coronavirus or call (405) 273-2105 for opportunities to serve, such as:

From staff reports

• Signing up to deliver groceries, prescriptions, DVDs and other essentials to those in need.

• Sew face masks for health care providers.

• Make care packages for health care providers.

• Providing free to-go meals from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. every Thursday at Mission Shawnee at 126 S. Center St.

Shawnee Forward The organization is gathering and posting information for local businesses to help understand the impact of the current crisis and where they can find help. Visit shawneeforward.com.

United Way United Way Worldwide is operating its COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund and has already helped provide resources for local organizations providing relief to families. Visit unitedway.org/recovery/covid19 for more information.

Oklahoma Blood Institute Blood donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives. Appointments can be made by calling 1-877-340-8777 or clicking here or visiting a donor center listed below: • Ada – 1930 Stonecipher Blvd.

• Central OKC – 901 N. Lincoln Blvd.

• Edmond – 3409 S. Broadway, Ste 300 • North OKC – 5105 N. Portland Ave. Please be aware of and observe all local distancing guidelines and social restrictions when deciding how to donate.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

27

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THE BRIGHT SPOT Amid the bad news and bickering out there, sometimes it’s nice to read a little encouragement. The Bright Spot is a space to share some inspiration or reassurance with the community through poetry or prose. If you have an idea or something to brighten someone’s day, submit it to editor@shawneeoutlook.com.

Missing Your Smile

By Patrick Breen

It’s a new day. Looking for your own way. Keep looking up. I love you, and it’s really true. But love’s always passing me by.

I’ll remember looking up into the clear blue sky. The sound of wind passing by. I remember younger days – everything fresh and new, true and blue. Our love as high as the clouds flying high. My mind fast. Reflections so strong is life back thinking of you, beautiful; your dark-sweet brown eyes. In my mind still together having fun in all our adventures of days passed by.

I sit just dreaming of you like a little butterfly that’s finding her own way or as she’s sitting at home purring. So it goes, little kitty cat. We all must change something inside, never to understand being her own self, thinking of heaven.

I’m still missing your smile once again. I’ve lost my place. I can learn to live without you or within me in my deep space.

So – questions. Here we are lost in time as balance, no way around, but God knows what it’s all about?

Our different journeys sending us down new roads to follow. Be of this earth but not within this world truly.

All of us in the middle of this burning place. Little kitty cat. Butterfly. Like a bluebird singing her song as she’s gone. Don’t lose your mind. The atmosphere is fine.

Jesus loves us all. Materials pass away with time. I’ll soon see your spirit face again, little beautiful thing.

I’m still missing your smile, but God’s warmth shows you the way. I’ll keep loving your spirit within you or without you. Shining once more inside heaven’s door, now perfection, I’ll see your true smile.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

29

CALENDAR

February Events All events subject to change and incorporate a variety of guidelines regarding public health standards. Please contact each organizer for complete and up-to-date information

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Feb. 1-April 30: The Pioneer Library System is presenting A Healthier You initiative to help participants take steps toward a healthier lifestyle by reading or listening to books, engaging in physical activities and prioritizing healthy habits, such as eating nutritious meals, drinking water and sleeping 8 hours a night. All ages are invited to participate, and families or groups can register together. Visit pioneerlibrarysystem.org for registration and information.

Feb. 18-April 15: Take a deep dive into comic books with a special Pioneer Library System book club. Sacred Panels: A Comics Book Club will meet monthly via Zoom. The group will take a look at different types of graphic novels with discussion on each month’s selected title and examine the impact and history of comic books on pop culture and recent movies. This month’s discussion will cover “Paper Girls, Vol. 1” by Brian K. Vaughan, and library card holders can access the club’s selected titles via the Hoopla service available through Pioneer Library System. To sign up for the meetings, visit pioneer.libnet.info/event/4766766.

Information: pioneerlibrarysystem.org.

Feb. 20: Oklahoma Dance Masters Association will host a Spring Fling Workshop from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Stompin’ Sensation Studio at 209 E Main St. The full day of dance will offer classes in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, musical theater, hip hop and more. Visit the events page of Oklahoma Dance Masters Association on Facebook for more information.

Best of Care. Close to home.

MAGNOLIA CLINIC 4409 N. Kickapoo Suite 121 Shawnee, OK 405.585.0475 Hours of Operation:

KATIE FROST APRN-CNP 30

www.shawneeoutlook.com

Monday 9 AM - 6 PM Tuesday 1 PM - 7 PM Wednesday 8 AM - 5 PM Thursday 8 AM - 5 PM Friday 7 AM - 2 PM

Feb. 26: Immanuel Baptist Church will host its annual ladies’ night event, Popcorn and PJs, featuring fun family activities like making crafts, playing games and enjoying some snacks. Information: ibcshawnee.org/events or (405) 273-2105.

March 5-7: OBU will host The World Premier One-Act Festival featuring “Truly, Truly” by Madison Stone, “Snake Eyes: A Dark Comedy” by Zoe Beth Burdess and “Pen and Paper” by Larashleigh Wallace. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Information: okbu.edu/fine-arts/theatre.

March 7: The Locomotive Operators of Central Oklahoma train club invites the community to ride the 1/8th scale model rails at its monthly public train ride event 1-4 p.m. at its property at 29626 Lake Drive in McLoud. Information: facebook.com/locotrains.

If you know of any events you would like to see featured, email editor@shawneeoutlook.com.

We express our gratitude for our dedicated team of healthcare providers for continuing to work and see patients during these difficult times.

We commend our teams willingness to keep seeing patients as their need arises and that we are able to provide both Home Health care and Hospice throughout the COVID crisis.

Enriching the lives of our patients and their families every day.

Heartland Home Health Care • Accredited by Accreditation Commission for Health Care • All RN On Call Staff

Heartland Hospice Services

• Home Care Elite 2004 - 2016

• SHP Best Hospice Caregiver Satisfaction Superior Performer Award 2016, 2017 and 2018 • All RN On Call Staff • Volunteer Program Supports Families and Veterans

• Best of Shawnee Award 2016, 2017 and 2019

• Bereavement Programs open to the public year round

Phone 405-214-6441

Phone 405-214-6442

heartlandhomehealth.com/Shawnee heartlandhospice.com/Shawnee www.shawneeoutlook.com

31

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