Shawnee Outlook

New Comic

ee!

Shawn o t in s p o o w S n io Convent

OUTLOOK

MARCH 2019 Vol. 16 Issue 1 PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID SHAWNEE, OK PERMIT NO 33

OHH South welcomes OHH South welcomes W.John Haddad, md , facc OHH South welcomes W.John Haddad, md, facc W.John Haddad, md, facc

Long-time Shawnee cardiologist W. John Haddad Long-time Shawnee cardiologist W. John has joined Oklahoma Heart Hospital andHaddad will be seeing at the OHH Southand campus. has joinedpatients Oklahoma Heart Hospital will Dr. has proudly Shawnee beHaddad seeing patients atcardiologist theserved OHH South campus.

Long-time Shawnee W. John Haddad patients locally for the last 20 Shawnee yearsand andwill is has joined Oklahoma Heart Hospital Dr. Haddad has proudly served excited tolocally continue your care OHHcampus.

South. be seeing patients thelast OHH South patients foratthe 20at years and is Dr. Haddad has proudly Call 405.608.3800 forserved an appointment. excited to continue your care atShawnee OHH South. patients locally for the last 20 years and is Call 405.608.3800 for an appointment.

Oklahoma Heart Hospital is at nationally recognized excited to continue your care OHH South. as a top-performing facility Call 405.608.3800 for an appointment.

Oklahoma Heart Hospital is providing nationally exceptional recognized patient satisfaction. We’re proud to welcome as a top-performing facility providing exceptional Oklahoma is nationally recognized Dr. HaddadHeart to theHospital OHH team! patient satisfaction. facility We’re proud to welcome as a top-performing providing exceptional Dr. Haddad to the OHH team! patient satisfaction.

We’re proud to welcome Dr. Haddad to the OHH team!

Oklahoma Heart Hospital South 5224 E. I-240 Service Road | Oklahoma City, OK 73135 405.608.3800 | okheart.com Oklahoma Heart Hospital South

Oklahoma Heart Hospital South 5224E.E.I-240 I-240Service ServiceRoad Road| Oklahoma | OklahomaCity, City,OK OK73135 73135 5224 405.608.3800| okheart.com | okheart.com 405.608.3800

101 N. Philadelphia, Shawnee • 405-275-6353 pioneerlibrarysytem.org Download app: PioneerLibrarySystem Connect 24/7 access to ebooks for all ages with your library card

Now stream digital movies and ebooks for all ages with new services Hoopla & Kanopy Visit the webpage for full details about these programs and many other services

ENGAGE IN LEARNING AND FUN @ THE LIBRARY THIS SPRING BREAK

18

2 PM Teen Tech Fun (Grades 6-12) Explore with the 3D printer, 360 degree camera, virtual reality goggles

MONDAY

Story Time @ Shawnee Mall 10:30 AM

20

WEDNESDAY Story Times 10:30 & 4:30 Best for ages 2 ½ - 5 years

19

TUESDAY

4

4:30-5:30 Elementary Tai Chi for 2nd-4th graders *Parent/guardian waiver signature required

Tween Mystery 4:30 PM-5:30 PM Kids grades 4-6 will solve a fun live action mystery.

It’s a Doggone Movie!

Family Friendly Film All ages 5:45 PM – 7:30 PM

www.shawneeoutlook.com

21/22 THUR/FRI

22

FRIDAY Two day class 10:30-12 Stop Motion Animation for Kids Grades 4-6

10:30 am (conclusion of Stop Motion Animation Camp)

6:30 PM, Discover the Dance Within You, Adults, Health and fitness through dancing *Waiver signature required

2 PM Grades 6-12, Cooking 101, Cook like an expert with the OSU Extension

CONTENTS

MARCH 2019

10

19

Publisher

Okie Icon Media

Managing Editor

David Dinsmore

Advertising Sales

Brad Carter

Creative Direction

Kelsey Walker & Fawn Wilson-Olivarez

Writers

Brooke Anson

Andrea Beck

David Dinsmore

Brandon Dyer

Carolyn Lawremce

Ann McDonald

Angela Rowland

9

New Treatment for Glowing Skin at SSM Health Medical Group

10

Everything You Need to Know About the Redbud Festival

13

Over the Fence: Putting Our Best Paw Forward

14

New Comic Convention Swoops Into Shawnee on March 9

19

Mabee-Gerrer Celebrates a Century with Exhibit of Collection Highlights

FAX: 405-273-4141

businesses.

Contact Us

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

6 NUTRITION 101 22 SSM HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP 24 SONIC CONTEST 25 SHAWNEE HISTORY 26 MENTAL HEALTH 29 THE BRIGHT SPOT 30 CALENDAR

SOONER STONEWORKS LLC

618 KICKAPOO SPUR • SHAWNEE, OK

405-214-7400

by direct mail to 25,000 homes and

6 KEEP THE CHANGE

CUSTOM GRANITE, MARBLE & ENGINEERED STONE SCOTT STEVE MARY

The Shawnee Outlook is delivered FREE

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

DEPARTMENTS

FEATURES

Distribution

MAR

Volume 16, Number 1 Shawnee Outlook is a publication of Okie Icon Media. © 2019 Okie Icon Media

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.

Bethel Acres Tag Agency

2019

2008

878-0040 Mon-Fri 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-1pm North of Hardesty Road & Hwy 102 www.shawneeoutlook.com

5

KEEP THE CHANGE

Plant a Garden, Harvest a Bounty of Savings Spring is in the air. It’s time to get those gardening tools out and get dirty. There are plenty of ways for a gardening hobby to be both budget and eco-friendly.

• Start a compost pile. There are plenty of options for composting containers, but the easiest and cheapest way to get started is to just start a pile in a corner of your yard.

You can fence around it to give a more defined border, if you like. Now you have a great place to discard your natural waste – newspaper, egg cartons, yard waste, egg shells and plant food waste. Use a shovel or rake to turn the pile regularly to aerate your compost and within a month or two you’ll have beautiful fertilizer for your garden. Search the internet composting for more tips on the proper ratio of “ingredients.”

• Save on seeds. Many plants can be started from the seeds in what you’re already eating. Floral bulbs divide so easily you might be able to find a gardening friend with extras they’re culling from their garden. Many local nurseries offer great live plants ready to put in your garden plus the expertise to boot, and you can also check out online nurseries like Springhill for other variety.

• Start with vegetables. Plenty of vegetable varieties, as well as peppers and tomatoes, are hardy and easy to grow even for the blackest of thumbs. Your harvest will also positively impact your grocery budget. If you have an excess, search the internet for recipe ideas you can freeze, dehydrate or can to have for winter months, or you can share your bounty with friends and neighbors.

• Use rain water. Collect rain in buckets to reuse in your garden as you water your plant babies. Some rain barrels even connect to your own garden hose.

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

Calories In Vs. Calories Out Diabetes prevention is a passion of mine. I spend most of my day helping people manage their diabetes, but I would much rather help more people prevent the disease.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer some stark statistics on how diabetes literally affects you from head to toe. Diabetes can cause blurry vision and lead to blindness. The risk of heart attack or stroke is two to four times higher in people with diabetes. Nerve damage can cause problems like numbness, burning, tingling and pain in the feet or hands. People with diabetes are more likely to be diagnosed with dementia. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure. Diabetes causes about 60 percent of foot and leg amputations not attributable to accidents.

One out of three U.S. adults has prediabetes. Nine out of ten of them don’t know it. About 90 percent of Type 2 diabetes in the U.S. could be prevented if we could keep everyone at a low risk level. These are all huge numbers and motivate me to do what I do.

Insulin resistance is what typically leads to Type 2 diabetes. Insulin acts as a key that allows blood sugar to enter cells, where it can be burned for fuel or stored for later. In some people – especially those who are overweight – the key can’t open the lock. After years of stress on the pancreas to make more insulin, the cells raise a white flag and just basically give up. That is when blood sugar reaches the “diabetes” range.

Risk factors for diabetes include age, gender, diagnosis of gestational diabetes, immediate family history, high blood pressure, inactivity and weight. People with multiple risk factors should ask their doctors to screen for diabetes.

Lucky Green Smoothie Kickstart celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a green smoothie. Smoothies can be great to get in so many different food groups. It can be easy to get too busy to grab an actual meal. Instead of skipping the meal or grabbing fast food, make a smoothie.

Ingredients: 1 cup spinach 1 scoop vegetable/super greens powder ½ banana 1 cup strawberries 1 cup unsweetened flax milk with added protein 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast 1 celery stock Directions: Add all into a blender and blend until smooth.

Add water and/or ice to create the desired consistency.

Makes: 1 smoothie Nutritional Information per serving: Calories: 240 Total Fat: 6.5g Saturated Fat: 0g Sodium: 207mg Carbohydrates: 37g Dietary Fiber: 12g

Cholesterol: 0mg Protein: 16g

This smoothie is packed with so many different vitamins and nutrients. It also offers a good balance of carbohydrates, fiber and protein that helps prevent blood sugar spikes. You can play around with different fruits and vegetables to mix up your smoothie. You can find a vegetable or “greens” powder at your local grocery store or a health food store. The powder helps you get in even more vegetable nutrients without adding the whole produce section to your smoothie. As a dietitian, I am constantly pushing for people to eat more fruits and vegetables. It is recommended to get in seven to nine servings of both in a day. I don’t typically see that amount of consumption or anywhere near that in most people. Smoothies can be a great way to add more fruits and vegetables in your kids’ diets as well. Let them help throw the food into the blender. They will love getting to help you.

Andrea Beck, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Personal Trainer, received her Master’s in Nutrition and Dietetics from UCO in Edmond. She offers personal training services through Anytime Fitness and nutrition services through SSM Health St Anthony Shawnee. For nutrition or exercise questions, you can contact Andrea at andrea.beck1@ssmhealth.com.

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www.shawneeoutlook.com

7

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Payment amount does not include insurance and taxes. An escrow account may be required for payment of these items. If escrow is required under regulations, escrow cannot be waived. Offer expires April 30, 2019.

SEFF Safe Events For Families

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Saturday, April 13 • 5-8pm Celebration of Life Park 301 E Main St.

FREE PIZZA (While it lasts) Live Music • Street Vendors Church Bake Sales • Wineries • Orange Rex Thank You: Vyve Broadband• CPN• Finley & Cook• AT&T Communication Federal Credit Union • BancFirst United HealthCare Community Plan LifeShare Oklahoma• Arvest Bank• U.S. Cellular• Central Disposal City of Shawnee • Visit Shawnee Inc.• White's Ace Building Center Shawnee Milling • US Cellular• First National Bank • Vision Bank

8

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Facility Response Plans ›› SPCC PlansAssessments Air Quality › SWPPP Plans › Tier II Reporting › Facility Response Plans ›› Air EHSQuality OnsiteAssessments Training ›› Phase I Site Assessment

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New Treatment for Glowing Skin at SSM Health Medical Group

S

SM Health Medical Group is now offering aesthetic services in Shawnee. The physicians and staff are pleased to introduce ThreeForMe™ laser treatments, a proven way to solve all your skin concerns at once. As we age, we typically notice an increase in brown spots, redness and wrinkles on our face and neck. This is commonly due to aging, sun exposure and genetics. Dr. Gregory Grant and Dr. Mitchell Wolf, with their highly trained medical staff, now offer the perfect solution to treat all of these conditions in one visit!

Only our exclusive ThreeForMe™ treatment is proven safe and effective on all these conditions, and the procedure is only 30 minutes; getting you the best results possible while still fitting within your busy schedule. You’ll see improvement after just

Submitted by SSM Health Medical Group

one treatment, and the results keep getting better over time.

It’s as easy as one, two, ThreeForMe™!

“This powerful technology provides quick and comfortable treatment sessions while producing lasting results,” said Terrie Hanson, PA-C with SSM Health Medical Group.

“The ThreeForMe™ treatment is powered by Icon™, with the only pulsed light technology in the world to utilize an FDA-cleared melanin reader so that we can safely tailor each patient’s treatment to their skin type, lifestyle, ethnicity and sun exposure.”

For more information on your ThreeForMe™ treatment or to schedule a consultation, call (405) 8789490. The SSM Health Medical Group aesthetics office is located at 1501 N. Airport Road in Shawnee.

Photo submitted

• Congratulations! • ©Caleb Winsett

©Trey Delonais

©Jesse Monday

Connect with Us!

©Scott Hawkins

Photo Contest Winners

©Garett Fisbeck

• Caleb Winsett - 1st Place • • Trey Delonais - 2nd place • • Jesse Monday - 3rd place • • Garett Fisbeck - Life in Shawnee • • Scott Hawkins - Fan Vote • www.shawneeoutlook.com

9

Everything You Need to Know About the Redbud Festival

T

he Redbud Festival, which is a free dinner and extended block party featuring vendors and live entertainment, will take place the evening of April 13. Open to visitors and Shawnee citizens alike, the community dinner will take place on Main Street across from the library, and vendors and attractions will be at Celebration of Life Park on the corner of Main and Philadelphia.

This event is one of many hosted by Safe Events for Families, the community-run organization responsible for seasonal celebrations in the downtown district.

If a free meal and fellowship sounds like fun to you, then join us on Main Street for a delightful tradition four years in the making. In 2016, SEFF organized the first Redbud Festival, which earned its name from Shawnee’s status as the Redbud City of Oklahoma. Last year’s Redbud Festival had events on both Friday and Saturday, but this year’s festivities will all take place on Saturday evening.

The Redbud Dinner will be from 5 p.m.-8 p.m., and they plan on serving pizza. Of course, visitors and locals alike can also purchase food from local

Thank You

restaurants, such as Hamburger King, The Lunch Box and Boom-A-Rang diner, so don’t expect to leave hungry. You may also bring your own food from elsewhere if you prefer. The purpose of the event is not necessarily the dinner but fellowship with others.

At its heart, the point of the Redbud Festival is to get people talking to people they do not know and make new friends, like a big neighborhood block party.

“The Redbud Dinner is a wonderful place to meet new people in a relaxed environment,” said Danielle Mason-Rains, secretary for SEFF and President/ CEO of Visit Shawnee. “I would encourage everyone to come out for a great meal, live music and to meet new friends.”

Interested in working up a sweat or preemptively burning off the calories from all that pizza? Shawnee Forward’s Leadership Class of 2019 will be hosting a Hit the Bricks 5K and Fun Run, scheduled to begin before the Redbud Festival and to finish right as the community dinner starts. Registration can be done online, and proceeds are slated to benefit a local nonprofit.

SUMMER’S

HERE!

TO ALL OUR SPONSORS IN OUR RECENT

15th ANNUAL

SUMMER’S

HERE!

Sounds like a great time, right? We hope that you and your family can make it out to celebrate the spring with the rest of our community. You can find a more condensed version of this information on our events page at visitshawnee.com or on SEFF’s Facebook page.

TIME TO GET OUTDOORS!

TIME TO GET OUTDOORS! spOKeLAHOMA spOKeLAHOMA

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Comprehensive Heart Care for the

COMMUNITY Troy Norred, MD Cardiovascular Disease & Interventional Cardiology

SSM Health Medical Group is excited to welcome Troy Norred, MD! For years, Dr. Norred has been a name you can trust when it comes to heart health in East Central Oklahoma.

Now, he’s making SSM Health Medical Group his home and continuing his practice of specialized heart care. As a board certified interventional cardiologist, Dr. Norred provides a wide range of services for managing heart disease and other heart conditions.

Now accepting patients.

Call 405-273-5801 to schedule an appointment.

3315 Kethley Shawnee, OK 74804 SSMHealth.com/TroyNorredMD A department of SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee ©2019 SSM Health. All rights reserved.

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11

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12

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Over the Fence:

by Brandon Dyer, executive director of Community Renewal of Pottawatomie County

Putting Our Best Paw Forward

W

ho doesn’t love a new puppy?

They’re so soft and cuddly, and they love to play. They’ve got that clumsycuteness about them while their legs play catch up to their growing little bodies. They’ve even got that new puppy smell, right?

Sure, they’re ornery at times but mostly in a way that’s so adorable that it’s difficult to be too upset when they chew up your favorite shoes. Or your socks. Or the remote. Or indiscriminately depositing doggy doo all over the house.

OK, puppies can indeed be rather frustrating. Whether it is chewing up your child’s favorite stuffed animal or licking your face when they’ve missed you all day, puppies can be both the source of frustration and joy.

For one neighbor, it started with frustration.

It’s a true story, so let’s call her Alice. Alice noticed an unwelcome “gift” on her doorstep one day when she left the house. This was not the kind of gift that makes for a great first impression between neighbors, but hey, accidents happen.

No big deal. So, Alice cleaned up the doggy doo and went about her way – until the next day. She was again greeted on her doorstep by yet another “gift.” This time a bit more perturbed, she stood on her doorstep and studied the neighborhood looking for the doggy culprit. She noticed that her next-door neighbor had a new puppy and began to suspect that this cute little bundle of joy was the perpetrator. Alice cleaned up the mess and decided to keep a watchful eye on the new pup.

One day, she noticed the pup was out. Alice peered through the window of the front door, waiting. Sure enough, the cute little fella hopped up on her porch, did his business and scurried back home. Now, Alice is patient and very kind by all accounts, but enough was enough. This pup

had doodled one too many times on the wrong doorstep. She stormed next door and in no uncertain terms explained what their puppy had been up to. The neighbors didn’t take too kindly to the accusation. The exchange was not pleasant, but they offered the obligatory apology and made the proper efforts to make sure it wouldn’t happen again. The end.

Except not quite. You see, Alice decided to get a new pup for herself. Naturally, she began to potty train her precious little pup. What unfolded next was like an unscripted scene from “Grumpy Old Men.” Whenever the new pup would go outside to do his business, where do you suppose seemed to be the ideal location for him to conduct this business? You guessed it. He would march his ornery little self right over to the next-door neighbor’s doorstep and return the favor. A K-9 version of re-gifting.

As you might imagine, the neighbors were more than a little frustrated. Alice’s pup conducted his business next door a couple of more times before it became apparent to her what was going on. The neighborly interactions grew even more tense. What to do? Alice was quite embarrassed by the irony of it all, but frankly, she was still a little miffed about their previous interaction. Alice knew this was a great neighborhood and that even though things had gotten a little sideways,

her neighbors were good folks. She finally worked up the courage to go next door and make things right. Alice apologized for the apparent hypocrisy and assured them it was not intentional. The neighbors did their best to accept Alice’s apology and move on. It didn’t happen overnight, but eventually their friendship grew. They now watch each other’s kids and have barbeques together. A great ending to a story you just can’t make up.

We humans are a complicated bunch, aren’t we? Our actions don’t always line up with who we are or who we want to be. Sometimes, we are inconsistent. Sometimes, we don’t handle things in the best of ways, and if we are honest, we don’t always like the version of ourselves we present to the world. The thing is, we are all this way.

If we become willing to recognize that each of us fails to be our best selves from time to time, could we not also become more willing to forgive one another? Now, there are deep hurts that are not easily forgivable, but the common mistakes and errors – the moments in which someone uses poor judgement or deploys a sharp tongue – is there not a way we can offer an attitude of forgiveness, understanding that we too have needed grace? Perhaps it’s not that simple. As I said, we are a complicated bunch, but our world needs better. Our world needs us to offer our best selves to each other, and that includes a willingness to absorb each other’s faults when one’s best gets away from them.

Alice and her neighbors weren’t willing to lose a friendship when a mess had been made.

If you’ve managed to make a mess of things, as we all do at times, work to make it right. I you can find it in your heart, offer forgiveness when someone is honestly seeking it. Our world will be better for it.

SO . . . WILL YOU TRUST GOD AND CHANGE THE WORLD? A most amazing American once said “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, Only light can - Hate cannot drive out hate, Only love can.”

The LIGHT and LOVE known also as JESUSYESHUA (who he preached) did not diminish when this man died. but still thrives in the hearts of those who trust GOD. 3,700 years ago a slave-convict hated by his brothers but loved by GOD named Joseph changed Egypt.

Matthew 17:20

3,400 years ago a man condemned to death at birth but loved by his mother named Moses changed Israel.

3,200 years ago a young Moabite woman with no future but the future GOD gave her named Ruth

changed the future of Bethlehem.

Sundays:

9:30 AM

2,600 years ago a slave-eunuch who trusted GOD named Daniel changed Babylon.

2,500 years ago a young Hebrew girl whose life was not her own believed she was born for such a time as this named Esther and changed Persia.

8:00 AM

10:45 AM 6:30 PM Wednesdays:

7:00 PM

2,000 years ago a group of Galilean men belittled and dismissed as worthless but willing to be chosen by Jesus-Yeshua began to change this world.

What did they all have in common? They all TRUSTED GOD! Proverbs 3:5-6 So, will you trust God and change the world?

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13

New Comic Convention Swoops Into Shawnee on March 9

P

eter Purin has the alliterative credentials of classic superhero alter egos, but unlike Bruce Banner, Scott Summers or Peter Parker, his powers manifest in less obvious ways than inhuman strength, laser eyes or web-slinging.

Purin harnessed his powers of organization and planning and converted them into the firstever Uncanny Comic Expo, which soars into town 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 at the FireLake Arena at 18145 Old Rangeline Road.

“The idea is to bring another fun thing to do here in Shawnee,” Purin said.

From their roots in hotel meeting rooms where enthusiasts gathered for a weekend, comic conventions – since commonly referred to as cons – have expanded to include interactive elements like games, tournaments, demonstrations, panels, contests and elaborate costumes, which is known colloquially as cosplay. A significant segment of attendees might not even own a single comic book but are drawn to the spectacle of these celebrations of imagination.

“Comic cons have morphed into more pop culture cons,” said Purin, whose alter ego is a music professor at Oklahoma Baptist University. “I really wanted (Uncanny Comic Expo) to be something that appealed to a large portion of the community and hit a lot of interests.”

After a couple years involved as a con vendor, Purin began putting together a team of individuals and groups to bring a variety of interests to the Uncanny Comic Expo, including comics, video games, cosplay, board games, anime, sci-fi, martial arts and more.

Attendees can join the fun by using their wits to conquer an escape room at the event. Others can test their mettle against other video game players in tournaments featuring games like “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” and “Tekken.” Enthusiasts can try their hand at card game tournaments featuring brands like “Magic: The Gathering.”

Franchise favorites will also be featured for fans to find. Star Wars and Ghostbusters costume groups will be present with a variety of characters and props along with an assortment of local and regional cosplay groups. There will also be costume contests for adults and kids.

A replica of the versatile time and space traveling TARDIS will be onsite for Dr. Who fans to enjoy, and little ones can start their own artistic journey with activities in a kids corner area.

Spectators can learn from cosplay panels

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The first-ever Uncanny Comic Expo will unfold from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday, March 9 at the FireLake Arena at 18145 Old Rangeline Road. This familyfriendly event is free for kids ages 12 and under, and general admission is $5.

Photos submitted

about how to get started in the hobby or marvel at the skills on display during the demonstrations by a Broken Arrow-based martial arts group featuring traditional and fantasy weapons.

Purin also wanted to use part of the con to help support local art and music stemming from his role as a music professor, such as trying to organize a silent auction during the event with proceeds going toward local programs.

One major difference between the largest cons around the country and the Uncanny Comic Expo is the focus on price points that help ensure families of all sizes can come see what the event has to offer, Purin said. General admission to the con is just $5, and kids ages 12 and under are free.

by David Dinsmore

“We wanted to do something where you could still come and get the comic con experience and have a lot of fun … and still be affordable for a family,” said Purin, who has three little sidekicks of his own. “(At cons), you see teenagers and you see their parents, and it brings all kinds of people together. That’s one of the things I really like about this. It’s an opportunity to bring people together and celebrate this culture.”

Like many origin stories, the roots of this event began in Purin’s youth during which he collected comic books. He had hung up the hobby until his brother inspired him to get back into it about three years ago, Purin said. Soon, he made the jump from solely a collector to con seller when his father-in-law asked for help thinning some of his own collection.

This opened opportunities for Purin to get involved as a regular vendor at state and regional cons. The atmosphere at these events always made for a good time, and Purin said he began getting involved in other aspects of what he calls “nerd culture.”

He began appearing at events as Darth Vader for the Star Wars-themed costume organization, 501st Legion, which often transforms its members’ enthusiasm for the venerable science fiction franchise into appearances at charity events, fundraisers and other volunteer movements.

For Purin, one of the best parts of attending or participating in cons is seeing what other collectors bring to their tables. Whether it’s a comic he had at one time or a toy he used to play with as a kid, there is always an element of nostalgia.

He began examining all the events in which he was participating and started to wonder what it would take to use his powers for good in Shawnee. He reached out to experienced con planners like Jimmie Tramel of the Pryor Creek Comic Convention about the process of establishing a local expo.

“I like when cons can take it to that next level and offer fun activities and things to do, and that’s the big thing I’m trying to do here,” Purin said. “I really want to make it that when you bring the kids, they’re not just following mom and dad around as they’re looking at things, but rather, they are getting excited to see the marshmallow man (from ‘Ghostbusters’) or get to play some games.”

For more information on schedule and details, visit facebook.com/uncannycomicexpo. Tickets via link on Facebook page or firelakearena.com.

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THE GOOD NEIGHBOR BANQUET A fundraising event for Community Renewal’s Kids Clubs

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Purchase tickets online at communityrenewal.org or in person at 1000 N Kickapoo St. Shawnee, Ok Dinner provided: Business casual attire Questions? Email maile@communityrenewal.org or call (405) 272-1035

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Mabee-Gerrer Celebrates a Century with Exhibit of Collection Highlights

F

or a century, the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art has worked to bring the world’s creative diversity to Shawnee, and this month the museum will display some of the key pieces it has added to its own collection.

The exhibition, “Celebrating a Century: Treasures from the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art,” is celebrating the 100th birthday of the museum.

It will be on display until March 24. Featured in this exhibition is an eclectic mix of art and artifacts from thousands of years and from different areas across the world. The chosen pieces showcase the depth and breadth of the museum’s collection. Including items like three-inch Chinese lotus shoes, an Amazonian headdress, a Medieval ivory crossbow and works of art by Oscar Jacobson, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, Guido Reni and William Merritt Chase, the collection boasts a variety of pieces to satisfy all art lovers.

“The wonderful expression of pieces ranges globally and is a remarkable representation of where we’ve been and where we are going,” said Delaynna Trim, the museum’s curator of collections. “Specifically, Ancient Egyptian, African, Native American and Renaissance paintings depict the wide range of diversity we display culturally, which is what the museum takes pride in portraying.”

Founded in 1919, the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is one of the oldest museums in the state of Oklahoma. Robert Francis Xavier Gerrer – a Benedictine monk later given the religious name of Gregory – came from a family of French descent before accepting an invitation to serve at the Sacred Heart Mission in Pottawatomie County. He brought with him a deep artistic talent and appreciation for travel. These passions took him to Europe, Africa and South America, where he collected objects of artistic and cultural value.

The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art will celebrate its centennial anniversary this year with a series of events starting with an exhibition of some of its collection titled “Celebrating a Century: Treasures from the MabeeGerrer Museum of Art” on display until March 24.

Photos submitted

In 1903, Pope Pius X called for artists to paint his likeness to mark his appointment and ultimately selected Gerrer’s submission as his official portrait. That same year, Gerrer traveled to the Holy Land and received a small Egyptian scarab with a goose hieroglyph representing the letter A. This sparked an inspiration to create a place where he could begin bringing art and culture from around the world back to Oklahoma.

In 1919 – after becoming the first president of the Oklahoma Artists Association while occasionally lending his knowledge to the art col-

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lecting efforts and education at the University of Notre Dame – Gerrer moved his collection to the new St. Gregory’s High School and College and established the roots of the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art. Gerrer patterned the museum after the great museums in Europe. A 1942 catalog of his collections lists 218 paintings and 6,347 artifacts, some of which he received in exchange for his own paintings. He spent many of his days with museum visitors explaining the context and history of the pieces he had gathered over the years.

Gerrer wanted to share with the public his experiences and treasures, and he continued bringing the world to Oklahoma until his death in 1946.

In 1957, director Stephen Gyermek renovated the museum and created several new programs for adults and children alike, which have multiplied over the years. As the school grew around the museum, the collection transferred to the care of the Kirkpatrick Science and Arts Foundation in Oklahoma City to make space for St. Gregory’s students and faculty. The Mabee Foundation provided funding in 1977 for a standalone building for the museum. On April 7, 1979, the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art opened its doors at its current location on the St. Gregory’s campus at 1900 W. MacArthur St. The museum is also planning to celebrate its centennial with other special events during 2019.

A summer exhibit running from July through August will focus on the history of the museum, and in the fall there will also be a big focus on findings centered on the museum’s Ancient Egyptian mummy, Tutu, provided by Dr. Jonathan Elias, whose work with techniques including CT scans have helped reveal characteristics like Tutu’s face.

For more information, call the museum at (405) 878-5300 or visit mgmoa.org.

THE FIFTH ELEMENT 16 e main

CURIOS WHIMSIES

by Carolyn Lawrence

shawnee

Are you comfortable or are you home?

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ANTIQUES VINTAGE RETRO www.shawneeoutlook.com

19

PEOPLE IN SHAWNEE ARE COMING OUT TO SUPPORT HEALTHY ACTIVITY EVEN THOUGH IT ISN’T EASY. ON INTERNATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY LAST OCTOBER, MORE THAN 600 PARTICIPANTS WALKED AT LEAST A PORTION OF THEIR ROUTE TO SCHOOL. IN THE 2018-19 SCHOOL YEAR SO FAR, LOCAL WALKING SCHOOL BUSES HAVE WALKED MORE THAN 3,500 MILES. PEOPLE LIVING IN WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS TRUST NEIGHBORS MORE, PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND VOLUNTEER MORE THAN IN NON-WALKABLE AREAS.* ONE OUT OF 20 WORKERS IN THE COUNTY RIDE THEIR BIKE, WALK, OR USE PUBLIC TRANSIT TO GET TO WORK.** *Source: University of New Hampshire, 2010 **Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

A WALKABLE CITY IS A PROSPEROUS CITY WE ARE BUILDING AN ACTIVE, VIBRANT COMMUNITY Like many cities and towns in America, Shawnee and the surrounding area suffer from a legacy of car-centric planning. For decades, we built infrastructure with a focus on moving cars, not people, through our city. Both retail and residential development did not prioritize transit users, bicyclists, or pedestrians. If our built environment included continuous sidewalks and bike lanes, imagine how many more of us could enjoy moving naturally through our community without the need for our cars.

PEOPLE WANT ACTIVE, WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS Seventy-nine percent of Americans today want walkable neighborhoods, according to the National Association of Realtors. As urban planner Jeff Speck states in Walkable City Rules, millennials prize walkability. They often choose where to live before they choose where to work.

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The positive impact of exercise on physical and mental health is widely known.

To encourage both, the Blue Zones Project® facilitates Walking Moais® – groups connecting around a common, healthy purpose such as walking together each week.

Regardless of the well being reason to begin, physical activity can reduce health risks, improve concentration, and raise self-esteem.

Shawnee-area citizens are rallying around a healthier community vision through their involvement in both Blue Zones Project and Community Renewal. Since Blue Zones Project Pottawatomie County began in 2017, thousands of residents have stepped up to participate in community-wide well-being improvement.

Local leaders, business owners and passionate residents have contributed to the development of specific plans and policies coming before the Shawnee City Commission, including a Safe Routes to School Master Plan, a Complete Streets

Policy, a bike share project and so much more. With continued community support, our surroundings will continue to make it easier to move naturally and attract generations of healthy residents.

The greater the community involvement, the quicker we will see results. You can join more than 5,000 people currently working together with Blue Zones Project.

SAFE ROUTES TO WORK & SCHOOL REQUIRE PLANNING & PARTNERSHIPS The next bigopportunity for pedestrian progress in Shawnee: the City Commission’s review and possible adoption of a citywide Safe Routes to School Master Plan.

The plan identifies and prioritizes needed improvements to streets and sidewalks based on safety issues and studied use. Blue Zones Project led development with input from national walkability experts, school surveys, community leaders, and walking audits at nine area schools.

Six Shawnee-area schools have already established Walking School Buses, where volunteers lead students to school on designated, safe walking routes, giving participants an energetic start to their day. But in some places, police escorts are needed to help students walk safely through streets without sidewalks. An approved Safe Routes to School Master plan will ensure there is focus on improving these conditions in years to come and makes Shawnee eligible to apply for more grants that fund such improvements.

Blue Zones Project conducted an educational campaign, #SafeStreetsShawnee, to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety. Among other tips, the effort encouraged drivers to be aware of pedestrians at every intersection, with or without marked crosswalks andcyclists on the roadways.

Shawnee-area cyclists routinely brave fast traffic and busy intersections. Many people miss out on walking and cycling opportunities because of a lack of safe lanes and walkways. Planning and partnership will continue to fill the gaps.

Avedis Foundation has already partnered with the City of Shawnee to fund improved sidewalks and trails.

Worksites, like Georg Fischer Central Plastics, have established walking tracks for employees.

RESIDENTS CREATE A VISION FOR BROADWAY AND BIKES At a community member summit, residents identified Broadway Avenue, from MacArthur to downtown, as an ideal target for walkability and bikeability transformation, seeing opportunity to improve a major throughway of our community.

As a result of the community input, Blue Zones Project facilitated an audit of transportation conditions on Broadway. Team leaders and community volunteers on bicycles noted current safety and usability issues, including the lack of cycling lanes, lighting and signage and limited marked crossings and curb ramps, coupled with extra wide lanes that encourage speeding.

At a following town hall gathering, residents contributed to the development of a friendlier vision for Broadway.

They voiced support for improvements to encourage active transportation and right-size the street for all users. The professional report was shared with the Shawnee Planning Commission in August, along with a recommended toolbox of treatments the community can use to encourage walking and cycling. Blue Zones Project is championing progress toward the vision of a transformed Broadway.

The team is also supporting a community-driven initiative to develop a bike share program. Such programs allow quick, affordable rentals of shared bicycles within a designated area. Early fundraising efforts have already raised $25,000 toward a three-year, $500,000 launch goal. Notify Blue Zones Project if your organization would like to donate.

ENDORSING ACTIVE LIVING: ATTRACTIVE OPTIONS FOR ALL The Shawnee City Commission approved a Parklet Policy last July that allows parking spaces to become pedestrianfriendly spaces. In place of two or three converted parking spots, a public “parklet” can feature plantings, seating, and even small tables.

Welcoming outdoor spaces encourage people to spend time in the downtown district and shop at area stores.

Design features and greenery add to the community’s appearance. To demonstrate a parklet, Blue Zones Project hosted a pop-up parklet in August 2018 as part of the 3rd Friday Downtown Block Party, presented by Safe Events for Families (SEFF). With the help of a grant from Avedis Foundation, SEFF is building the first parklet for extended use, to be ready this summer.

On a significantly broader scale, Blue Zones Project continues to champion the adoption of a Complete Streets Policy in Shawnee, which was developed through the work of the Blue Zones Project Built Environment Committee, led by the former City Planner.

Complete Streets policies empower city planners and engineers in new development and redevelopment projects to consider and accommodate all users: bicyclists, pedestrians, transit riders, and drivers. These policies help communities move away from old, car-centric practices to more inviting, safer streets for all.

Designing the built environment for all users not only improves physical and emotional health, it powers economic and environmental health, too. Visible assets like sidewalks, bike lanes, street trees, trails, and public green space can attract residents and businesses, increase a community’s tax base, raise housing values, encourage new development, protect the environment, and power rising pride.

YOU TOO CAN HELP CREATE A HEALTHIER, HAPPIER SHAWNEE JOIN a good-humored “Wine-ing about Policy” happy hour before every City Commission meeting at 420 E. Main ATTEND your City Commission meeting FOLLOW Blue Zones Project Pottawatomie County to stay up to date: @bluezonesprojectpottawatomiecounty @bzppottawatomie @bzppottawatomie

CONTACT Korie.Perez@sharecare.com for more information on how you can get involved

An approved Complete Streets Policy will eventually make it easier for Shawnee residents to bike, walk, and travel together toward a healthier, happier, more vibrant future.

www.shawneeoutlook.com

21

SSM HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP

Mindful Eating Can Lead to Changes in Overall Health

M

arch is National Nutrition Month, and it serves as a reminder to everyone to eat healthy and live a balanced lifestyle.

The campaign was created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to raise awareness about the importance of making informed food choices Carrye Wells and developing strong physical activity habits.

“Food is fuel for your body,” said Carrye Wells, lead dietician at SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital – Shawnee. “Just like your car, you want to put in premium fuel to make sure your body runs great.”

Wells encourages everyone to eat more of these foods: • Vegetables, including dark green, red and orange, beans, peas and others • Fruits, especially whole fruits • Whole grains • Fat-free or low-fat dairy including milk, yogurt, cheese and “nut” milk, such as fortified almond or cashew milk.

• Protein foods including seafood, lean meats, poultry, nuts, soy products, beans and peas • Oils including canola, corn, olive, peanut, sunflower and soy Wells also emphasizes that people need to be mindful eaters. Mindful eating is the practice of deliberately paying attention to the food you eat. In our busy lives, we often do not pay attention to our eating. We eat

on the run, sometimes barely tasting the food. All of this distracted eating can lead to overeating, since we are out of touch with the type and amount of food we really need to be healthy. With the mindful eating approach, you begin to consider both your internal and external cues for eating.

That means starting to notice what triggers your eating.

“We sometimes eat because we are bored, tired or emotional,” Wells said.

“When we examine why we are eating, we begin to notice those signs and begin to take steps in determining if we are really hungry or if it’s an eating trigger.”

Another tip Wells gives is to drink water.

“The feeling of being hungry and thirsty are the same,” Wells said.

She suggested that if you have the sensation that you may be hungry, try drinking eight ounces of water and wait 15 minutes to see if the signals go away. After that, you might need to eat something to satisfy your body but try to make it a healthy choice.

Being a mindful eater can help you reset both your body and your mind and lead to an overall healthier lifestyle.

“Eating healthier doesn’t mean giving up the foods that you love; it’s a balance that includes making small changes that can add up to healthy eating,” Wells said.

For more information on healthy eating and other resources, visit choosemyplate. gov.

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SHAWNEE HISTORY

Recalling the ‘Twisted’ Tale of Iconic Trees Near Downtown

M

ost everyone who grew up in Shawnee some years ago might remember the “twist-

ed trees.”

Like many other early Shawnee citizens, Rufus Franklin “Frank” Witherspoon and his wife Benigno and their young son, Burton, moved to the growing city in about 1900. They came from Texas and first settled in a small house on Beard Street.

Frank was the manager at the Shawnee Ice Company located at that time on the corner of Market and Oakland.

Sometime around 1907, he had a home built at what was then 502 University St., later reverting to Louisa. The dwelling was the first house north of Highland Street – or better known back then as State Highway 270.

Frank – reportedly at the urging of his wife – decided to beautify and shade their property with some well-placed trees. He – and possibly along with Burton, who had recently graduated from Shawnee High School – traveled out to the banks of North Canadian River and dug up several elm saplings. Back home, they planted two of them in front of their new home and tied them together to a form an arch. It was said years later that Frank was surprised that both trees not only survived but seemed to thrive.

He admitted he expected at least one would die or that the two would eventually pull apart.

But they kept their arch, as if they

The twisted trees on Louisa Street reportedly had their roots in an early 20th century beautifying project by a local family and became a local oddity cited around the country for the next 70 years.

Photo submitted

were two friends holding on to one another. Over the years as they grew to maturity, the trees became a local attraction. Irving School was a block north of the Witherspoons. Students who walked to and from their homes passed the configuration. The children became protective of the special trees, and no one dared damage them.

Burton entered the army artillery during World War I and served in Europe. Soon after he returned to Shawnee, he and his parents moved to California and left the trees to the next family. The William A. Barnes family lived at the address through the 1930s and 1940s before a chiropractor opened his office in the rooms facing Highland

by Ann McDonald, Courtesy Pott Co. Historical Society Member

Street and lived in the rest of the house.

And the interesting trees continued to thrive.

It was not just just Shawnee citizens who loved the special living archway. Locals often gave directions by saying, “If you pass the twisted trees…” or “Come two blocks beyond the twisted trees.”

Students walking from Irving or the junior high or high school often stopped for a rest beneath the twisted trees. It was also known to be the site for more than one young man to ask for his lady’s hand in marriage. Valentine’s Day was often a busy day for giggling teens, and some called them the love trees.

The trees drew lookers from all over the country. Highway 270, or Highland Street, was lined with gas stations during the mid-20th century and was a busy road. Travelers often circled the block to park and take pictures of this strange living arch.

In 1930, the trees’ picture appeared in “Ripley’s Believe it or Not.” The AllisChalmers Company featured the trees in their 1945 book, “Nature Woodland Wonders.” It wasn’t unusual for a picture of Shawnee’s twisted trees to be viewed in newspapers in other parts the country featuring “strange and unusual” sights.

Finally, after around 70 years of life, time and disease required that the icons be taken down. The trees themselves are gone but not the memories of many people in Shawnee.

olverine Storage

www.shawneeoutlook.com

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MENTAL HEALTH

Offender Screening Aims to Prevent Mistakes

by Brooke Anson

M

ental illness and addiction are present in a major portion of the population within prisons across America.

Preventing offenders from repeating past mistakes requires concerted efforts to intervene, change the course and break the cycle. In order to do so, there must be an examination of individual barriers, risk levels and treatment options.

Ever wonder why a certain person is sentenced to a certain type of probation?

Different types of probation offer different types of supervision and treatment. The Lincoln and Pottawatomie County Offender Screening program strives to assist in recommending individuals to diversion programs that target mental health and substance abuse needs that will help prevent the re-offending cycle.

The Justice Reinvestment Initiative offender screening program assists in placing an offender with a diversion program where he or she is least likely to reoffend and most likely to receive the treatment needed. This is a rather new program for Lincoln and Pottawatomie counties.

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse has created a screening program that matches offenders with programs that are best suited for individuals. The offender screening program

takes place in local and county jails and is available to inmates who are currently accused of a felony offense. The program consists of three types of screening tools: mental health screen, substance abuse screen and criminogenic risk assessment, which looks at systems, situations or places that could contribute to criminal behavior.

Once the three screens are completed, the assessor will score offenders’ risk levels and types of treatments – such as mental health and substance abuse – best suited for that individual. The screening tools aid in the types of services needed for that individual, but it does not diagnose level of care needed. Based on the combination results of criminogenic risk and treatment needs, the individual will fall under categories defined as high risk/high need, high risk/low need, low risk/high need or low risk/low need.

Offenders who are high risk/high need require high levels of supervision and accountability along with individual treatment needs. An example of a high risk/high need treatment program is drug court, where the offender has frequent status hearings, drug testing, support groups and restrictive consequences.

The diversion programs available vary depending on what programs and resources are available in that county.

Brooke Anson is a behavioral health case manager and offender screen coordinator at Gateway to Prevention and Recovery. She earned her bachelor’s degree in forensic science and criminal justice at the University of Central Oklahoma in 2017.

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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.

I Wondered

By Sheila Hughes

Today I wondered what God looked like.

I’ll surely know him when I see.

I’m not certain about appearances, But I hope you see Him in me.

Then I wondered what God sounds like, Likely a voice that’s soft and sweet.

I will listen for Him, but until I hear I hope you hear Him when I speak.

Still, I wondered what God feels like.

Must be the feel of purest love.

Oh, I pray my Lord will grant me His touch inside my every hug.

All these questions left unanswered For the scholars to discuss, I guess until the answered are revealed Our God just shines through each of us.

Custom poems for any occasion, email Sheila at heavenlyexpressions4u@gmail.com

Walk Beside

By Alicja Carter

Sometimes the face you see Is only just a stare.

There’s always more that lies beneath If anyone chose to care.

Bound up in guilt and shame For actions done or not Hurts and fears overwhelm the body Yet mentally forgot.

I wish it all away For those that seem to suffer,

By Alicja Carter

Checking the clock Take a moment to pause Sanity lies in the balance Doing enough Just being us Willing to take on a challenge

Beating the Clock

By Alicja Carter

Beating the clock No time to stop Worthiness hangs in the balance.

Doing it better Being the best Rising to every challenge.

Expectations in line With supports to sustain Get it together, together A reassuring hug Warms from within Each day we’re getting better

Expectations set high No supports could sustain Get it together, be better.

A sharp razor’s edge That cuts from within The inhabitant continues to suffer.

Finding purpose in our work And hours we can manage With a good enough belief Connecting to our source No need to force We experience more relief

Overworked and underpaid In need of some relief Yet we take on more To even the score Of our “not good enough” belief.

We continue on as we’ve always done Open to new perceptions Loving ourselves Going nowhere fast Connected to our intentions

We continue on As we’ve always done Full tilt in all directions.

Killing ourselves Going nowhere fast Disconnected from our intentions.

We vent our troubles Again and again Wipe the tears and pull it together.

Fretting inside With each passing day We’ll be trapped in this condition forever.

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We vent our troubles Again and again Take action and set the tone Calm inside With each passing day Because we know we’re not alone And with all of our efforts We take a turn towards the light Sifting through all the demands Our healing ways of coping Leaves us prepared once again As we present with open hands.

Despite all of our efforts, We take a turn for the worst Unable to fulfill the demands.

Our extreme ways of coping Leave us thirsty for more, As we present with empty hands.

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CALENDAR

March Events March 7-21: The Shawnee library invites you to Discover the Dance Within You with professional dance instructor and choreographer Juan Cabral starting at 6:30 p.m. March 7 and continuing during the next two weeks at 101 N. Philadelphia. The course is free, geared toward adults and will cover the waltz, the tango and other classical dances to help students gain confidence and learn a few moves. Information: (405) 2756353.

March 9: Uncanny Comic Expo is Shawnee’s first Comic Book and Nerd Culture exposition. This one-day, family-friendly event will be filled with vendors, artists, organizations and more from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. March 9 at the FireLake Arena at 18145 Old Rangeline. Information: facebook. com/uncannycomicexpo or uncannycomicexpo@gmail.com.

March 12: Michael Dean, Thresa Swadley and James Vernon will present a children’s theme-inspired recital titled “Fond Recollections” featuring cello and piano at 7:30 p.m.

March 12 in Yarborough Auditorium at OBU. The recital will include music by Hindemith, Mozart and Fuare as well as a premiere of a piece by Vernon.

March 19: It’s a doggone movie night at the Shawnee library featuring a PG movie about a city girl and a misfit cattle dog she hopes to enter in a prestigious agility competition. The event begins at 5:45 p.m. March 19 in community rooms A and B at the library. Information: (405) 275-6353.

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March 23: Enjoy a honky-tonk atmosphere at the FireLake Arena as Casey Donahew and Jackson Tillman perform in front of a scene featuring table seating, good drinks and great music. Doors open at 7 p.m. with the show starting at 8 p.m. Information: firelakearena.com.

March 28-April 25: Get dramatic with Theater for Teens and Tweens at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art at 1900 W. Macarthur. Students will learn to create characters, develop communication fluency and tackle makeup skills.

Information: dlmerkt@mgmoa.org or 405-878-5605 March 29: Rescheduled – The last man standing is on the road again. Willie Nelson and Family will play the Firelake Arena at 18145 Old Rangline Road.

Doors open 6:30 p.m. with the show starting at 8 p.m. March 29. Information: firelakearena.com.

April 5-13: Come witness the antics of the iconic “play-within-the-play” when Shawnee Little Theatre presents “Noises Off” running April 5-13 at 1829 Airport Drive. Tickets and information: shawneelittletheatre.com.

April 6: He might not have gotten the girl, but Rick Springfield will do everything to entertain audiences when he performs at a show starting at 7 p.m. on April 6 at the Grand Casino event center at 777 Grand Casino Blvd. Information: grandboxoffice.com.

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

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MAR 19 MAR 16 MAR 5

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