The O'Colly, Friday, May 30, 2024

Friday, May 31, 2024

OSU alumnus, spouse await medical care for baby daughter

Hayden Alexander Staff Reporter

On Jan. 26, at 10:34 a.m., Loren and OSU alumnus Josh Randolph welcomed a baby girl, Hazel Randolph, into the world.

It was the perfect day for the Bartlesville family, but 12 hours later, everything changed.

After a routine checkup, the Randolph’s pediatrician informed the new parents that Hazel’s oxygen levels were low and they had detected a heart murmur.

Multiple hospitals and tests later, Oklahoma Children’s Health Hospital at OU Medical diagnosed Hazel with DiGeorge Syndrome.

DiGeorge syndrome is a genetic condition where a part of the 22nd chromosome

OSU Museum of Art celebrates with ‘An ArtFull Decade’ exhibit

Raynee Howell Staff Reporter

The Historic Postal Plaza building has housed the OSU Museum of Art for a decade; an accomplishment the museum plans to celebrate from May 28-Sept. 7.

The 10-year exhibit, “An ArtFull Decade,” will show new pieces from the museum collection as well as staple pieces from exhibits shown throughout the years. From furniture to prints, there is a wide range of styles on display.

Casey Ihde, OSU Art Museum marketing coordinator, said she looks forward to seeing the reaction of stu-

dents, faculty and community members who visit the museum over the next few months.

“It’d be really fun to overhear our visitors find pieces that maybe they’ve seen in the past or maybe by artists that they recognize,” Ihde said. “We’ve also got a selfie station, and we’ll have a place where people can come and imagine themselves as being a part of the museum and share their pictures.”

For the celebration, a timeline hangs across the wall showing the museum’s history. It has been a 14-year period of growth since OSU bought the building in 2010 and its opening in 2014. Ihde said the success achieved thus far would not be possible without support from the OSU students and the community.

is missing. This condition can lead to multiple medical issues, including heart issues, autoimmune disorders, and others, according to the Mayo Clinic.

4-month-old Hazel is facing Tetralogy of Fallout with Pulmonary Artesia and Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries (MAPCAs), Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCIDS), a missing bone in her left ear and her bottom lip pulls to the right when she cries.

“This is why Hazel’s heart did not develop properly; why she is autoimmune; it’s why her bottom lip goes to the right when she cries and why she has trouble eating,” Loren Randolph wrote on Hazel’s GoFundMe page.

OU Medical cannot perform Hazel’s surgery, and the severity of her case made it unlikely she would be a surgical candidate. They sent her home with her family while

the doctors looked into other options.

“It was a huge relief to not have to be in a hospital anymore because even just a month in the hospital away from home away for our toddler was really difficult for us,” Loren Randolph said.

The relief of returning home turned bittersweet as the Randolphs had to prepare for the idea that Hazel might not make it.

“They told us at first that they didn’t know if she was going to be able to make it,” Loren Randolph said. “So we went for several months thinking that, so it was pretty disheartening.”

The road did not end with OU Medical. Hazel’s doctors sent her information to Stanford Children’s Hospital in California, a hospital specializing in Hazel’s condition, hoping it could take her case.

Why the Cowboys are confident that they can make the 2024 College World Series

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

Shortly after Oklahoma State baseball learned its fate for regionals, head coach Josh Holliday reiterated a sentiment he’s emphasized all season.

“I feel good about this team (and better) than any group I have in quite some time.”

Moments prior, Holliday’s Cowboys (40-17) were awarded the 11th seed during the 2024 College Baseball Selection Show, drawing Nebraska, Florida and Niagara for this weekend’s Stillwater Regional. It marks the third consecutive season in which the Cowboys are regional hosts in postseason play.

On the contrary, OSU has been a regional exit the past three seasons. That, of course, is highlighted by two consecutive postseason departures in its own regional the last two seasons, albeit amid talented regional draws with at least one eventual College World Series team in the pool.

Given OSU’s prestige, program history and national brand in the sport of college baseball, the pressure to make a coveted return to the College World Series, which OSU hasn’t done since 2016 and has done just one since 1999, becomes more prevalent as the years go by.

But as Holliday has said throughout this season, this year’s group is different from the ones he has coached in years past.

Despite a 4-4 start to the season and a plethora of injuries to key pieces over the season’s course, OSU kept winning. A multitude of freshman players were inserted into the lineup and were dealt the hand of learning on the run, and it paid off in the long run once the aforementioned key prospects got healthy. Such moments as Saturday’s Big 12 Championship win over Bedlam rival Oklahoma, a second-place conference finish and other moments

highlight that.

Now comes the true defining moment: regionals.

“The growth of this team over the course of the season has been phenomenal,” Holliday said. “We should have a very confident bunch of kids heading into this weekend. And yes, our season, our conference tournament and our schedule have exposed us to all things that we will encounter this weekend. So, that’s why you run it hard all year long and (now you) get after it.”

This year, OSU has pieced together what is statistically its most efficient pitching staff since 2016. The Cowboys’ 4.06 team ERA sits atop the Big 12 and ranks 11th nationally. The pitching tandem of ace left-hander Sam Garcia and right-hander Brian Holiday, who boast a cumulative ERA of 3.19, have aided OSU in its premier series and at times carried it when the offense has faltered.

However, the offense has found its footing and, at times, has appeared overwhelming for opposing pitching staffs. Over OSU’s past 17 games, the Cowboys have logged an average of 10.4 runs per contest.

Now, the hope is that the group can put it all together this weekend. And there’s good reason to believe it will.

“This is definitely the best group I’ve ever been part of,” said Garcia, who transferred to OSU from High Point in the offseason. “Great to be around, and just a great chemistry among all of us. And I think that shows on the field as well. We’re just super competitive, and as the season went on, we kind of found ourselves and started trusting ourselves more and more, which is just so exciting to see both offensively and as a pitching staff.

“I think we grew as a team really well, and that’s led to us just continuing to play better and better and leading us to where we are now.”

Bryson Thadhani

Sam Garcia said this year’s OSU team is the “best group” he’s ever been a part of.

See Baby on 4

Raynee Howell

The OSU Museum of Art is celebrating its 10-year anniversary with “An ArtFull Decade.”

Courtesy of Loren Randolph

In January, Hazel Randolph was diagnosed with DiGeorge Syndrome, which can lead to multiple medical issues, including heart issues, autoimmune disorders, and others, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Empire Slice opens Stillwater location

Kennedy Thomason Editor-in-Chief

Empire Slice had its grand opening in Stillwater on Wednesday.

It is among the newest businesses being added to the growing town.

Empire Slice was founded in Oklahoma City in 2013, where it has since expanded to seven locations across the state. It is popular for its “pizza by the slice” menu concept, where customers can order slices instead of pies.

Empire Slice’s opening comes as the City of Stillwater is working to promote business and community growth in the expanding town. On May 3, the City of Stillwater, in partnership with the Tonkawa Tribe, held a groundbreaking ceremony for The HUB. It will have a 63,000 foot indoor complex and a 20,000 foot outdoor open-air complex, filled with a movie theater, bowling alley, pickleball courts and more on the north side of town.

The City of Stillwater also held a groundbreaking ceremony for Block 34 in February. The community space will be built downtown and will have 4,000-squarefoot pavilion, a musician’s walk to honor dead musicians, a water feature and a play area for children. New restaurants have moved into Stillwater in the past few months, including Grandy’s on Hall of Fame Avenue and The Hatch on South Main Street.

Empire Slice has various New York- style pizzas, by the slice or pies, with gluten free and vegetarian options. It also serves alcoholic beverages, desserts, appetizers and salads.

The new restaurant is next to Stonecloud Brewing Co. at 116 W. 10th Ave.

Courtesy of Empire Slice Empire Slice opened Wednesday, offering New York-style slices to Stillwater’s residents. The restaurant is the latest of new eateries added to Stillwater.

Courtesy of Empire Slice

Grandy’s have added to Stillwater’s expanding food scene in recent months.

OSU Track & Field sends 19 athletes to NCAA Outdoor Championships

Kenzie Kraich Staff Reporter

Entering the regional meet ranked No. 13 and No. 20, respectively, the Cowboys and Cowgirls proved Oklahoma State Track & Field belongs in the NCAA Outdoor Championships conversation.

OSU took to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the NCAA West Preliminary rounds May 22-25. The team qualified 19 athletes for the outdoor NCAA Championships in June, with two claiming a West Prelim title and three Cowgirls making program history.

Taylor Roe, Gabby Hentemann and Molly Born all punched their tickets to Eugene, Oregon, for the outdoor finals in the 10,000 Meters. This is the first time in its program’s history that OSU

Monday - Wednesday: 10:00am - 10:00pm Thursday - Saturday: 10:00am - 11:00pm

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has qualified three female athletes in the event. In the same fashion, Denis Kipngetich, Adisu Guadie and Alex Maier also qualified for the 10,000 Meters, marking yet another historic program performance for OSU.

Roe was one of two OSU athletes to earn a West Prelim title on the weekend, taking the top spot in the 10,000 Meters. She is joined by graduate student Victor Shitsama who took first in the Steeplechase. Both athletes are looking to make a statement at the finals meet as Shitsama is competing in his second consecutive NCAA Championship, and Roe qualified for both the 10,000 and 5,000 Meters.

Alongside Roe was Cowboy Alex Maier, qualifying for both the 10,000 and 5,000 Meters. Freshman Brian Musau joined Maier in punching his ticket to the 5,000-meter finals, finishing first in his heat while defeating twotime NCAA Champions Nico Young

(Northern Arizona) and Ky Robinson (Stanford). Musau is entering the NCAA Championships with the best mark in the country this season and is one of the two athletes representing the underclassmen in the west region.

On top of the already impressive list of athletes OSU qualified, there are four more athletes competing for a second straight year in their respective events: Alex Stitt (1,500 Meters), Mehdi Yanouri (800 Meters), Billah Jepkirui (1,500 Meters) and Gabija Galvydyte (800 Meters). Stitt and Yanouri are both seeking program history in their events. Stitt could achieve the first first team All-America honor since former Cowboy Josh Thompson accomplished the feat in 2017, and Yanouri has the potential to be the first Cowboy to earn backto-back first team All-America honors in the 800 Meters.

Graduate student Bailey Golden and junior Olivija Vaitaityt each earned

their spots in the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the Heptathlon as two of the 24 scoring athletes in the event this season. Cowgirl Winny Bii secured her spot in the Triple Jump finals with an all-conditions school record of 13.73 meters.

To round out OSU’s qualifiers, the Cowboy 4x400 Meter Relay team not only punched their ticket to the finals, but set a school record in the process with a time of 3:05.23. Jordan Smith, Blake Wynne, Caio Almeida and DJ McArthur will represent the orange and black for the first time this century in the event.

The NCAA Outdoor Championships will take place June 5-8 in Eugene, Oregon. OSU will see eight more athletes than the previous year take to the track, hoping to bring back more hardware on an already impressive season.

Courtesy of OSU Athletics

Nineteen OSU athletes will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The athletes will travel to Eugene, Oregon, to compete for titles.

“They are pretty much the pioneers of the procedure that she needs, so we feel like we’re probably going to be in the best hands and the best care if we go there,” Loren Randolph said.

Weeks later, after multiple tests, Hazel’s parents received a call on a random Friday, and the doctors said three words that changed the trajectory of Hazel’s prognosis.

“We can help Hazel,” the doctors said. Randolph said the doctors at Stanford feel confident they can perform a life-saving surgery for Hazel.

The Randolphs were overwhelmed with joy and disbelief.

“At first, I was like, ‘Is he saying what I think he’s saying?’” Randolph said. “It felt good to finally have some good news for her because ever since she was born, it felt like bad news after bad news.”

Now, Hazel’s journey to California begins, and the Randolphs are working hard to ensure that their daughter gets the operation she needs.

“I’m just trying to get everything in order here so that we can go to California, Josh Randolph said.

The Randolphs are preparing to leave for several months, leaving their home, jobs and 2-year-old son behind.

“We’ll have to leave my son, and that’ll probably be one of the harder things to leave him here with my parents, Josh Randolph said. “We just hope that we can get back to some sense of normalcy for both of them afterward.”

The Randolph’s son, Hudson, may not understand the gravity of the situation, but he loves his sister.

“He is old enough and smart enough to realize that something’s not right with Hazel,” Loren Randolph said. “He is gentle with her and very cautious around her.”

To care for Hazel, her parents are putting their careers on hold. Josh Randolph is a USDA Wildlife Disease Biologist and can currently work from home. Loren Randolph is leaving her job teaching eighth grade math at Maddison Middle School to take care of

Hazel and Hudson full time.

“It kind of hit us so randomly that we didn’t have a backup plan, and so that’s going to be something that we have to navigate in the coming months, trying to figure out how I can possibly work from home while also taking care of her and her brother at the same time,” Loren Randolph said.

Loren Randolph feels the weight of leaving her students, but she sees this as an opportunity to be at home with her children while they are young. Still, she will miss her students.

“It’s harder than I thought; like I said, it was so random, I didn’t really get to go back at all,” she said. “I did go back on the last of school to say goodbye to the kids. I am sad that I don’t get to have relationships with those kids anymore or build relationships with new kids coming in, but maybe one day I’ll get back to doing that again.”

While the Randolphs prepare to travel to California, they also make sure to cherish each day with Hazel. It is the little things that make every day worthwhile.

“We are always finding something each day to bring us joy and happiness,” Loren Randolph said. “It’s not that easy to leave the house, and so going outside, taking a walk, and celebrating her little milestones like her smiling, rolling over each day, and just finding something to celebrate is really what has been keeping us going.”

The Randolphs are working around the clock to help their baby girl, but they are not alone. Their family is helping out wherever they can. Hazel’s aunt, OSU student Ainslie Randolph, supports her brother and his family from Stillwater.

“There is a lot of uncertainty, but I’m just trying to, you know, stay strong, keep a lot of hope, but I still worry, you know, because we don’t know what is going to happen,” Ainslie Randolph said.

Although the Randolphs are enduring hardships, their main focus is sharing Hazel’s story.

“We are just spreading awareness,” Josh Randolph said. “That’s why I reached out to OSU. It is always loyal and true. We are giant Oklahoma State fans, and we just want people to do whatever they feel led to do.”

After encouragement from family and friends, the Randolphs have set up a GoFundMe for Hazel to pay for her medical bills and assist with travel

expenses.

“We know that not everybody is in the position to donate, and it was hard for us to even ask for donations, but we had so many people asking,” Loren Randolph said.

For the Randolphs, every donation helps. They hope that by sharing Hazel’s journey, other OSU families facing the same will know that they have a community at OSU.

“Sharing her story, getting her GoFundMe out there, that truly means

the world to us,” Loren Randolph said. “I want not only for her story to get out there but for other people who might be going through the same thing to know they are not alone.”

The Randolphs are waiting for Stanford to call about an official surgery date, but for now, they are taking in every moment with Hazel.

“Each day we get with her is a blessing because we never know what tomorrow will bring,” Loren Randolph said.

Hazel Randolph, 4 months old, will be a patient at Stanford Children’s Hospital in California.

The Randolphs have a GoFundMe page to help pay for Hazel Randolph’s medical care.

Courtesy of Loren Randolph

Courtesy of Loren Randolph

OSU facing Florida, Gajewski’s ‘best friend’ in Women’s College World Series opener

Parker Gerl Assistant Sports Editor

Kenny Gajewski could tell Tim Walton was asking himself if it made sense to schedule and play a game so quickly.

It was February, and Gajewski’s Oklahoma State squad and Walton’s Florida team each had games canceled due to weather. OSU was already in Florida for the Clearwater Invitational, and Gajewski wanted to make up lost games. So, he reached out to his buddy, Walton.

“I said, ‘Hey, it’s a long shot, but we’re here,’” Gajewski said to Walton. “‘We’re willing to come to you, and we’re both in the same boat’... I knew right away when he texted me back (we might play) — I probably have it in my phone — but he was like, ‘Hey, give me five.’ And it was probably for him to kind of go through his mind. He’s calculated and smart… It was very detailed on the timeframe, but within a few hours we had a game set.” Gajewski could probably tell why Walton asked for five minutes. He was chatting with his “best friend,” whom he played college baseball with at Cerritos Junior College and then Oklahoma, where they won a national title. Walton later hired Gajewski as an assistant at Florida, where he spent 2013-15, and the duo won two national championships. They played, and the Cowgirls defeated the Gators 3-0.

Now, they’re best friends who will face each other Thursday night in the first round of the Women’s College World Series when the Cowgirls and Gators meet at 8:30 p.m. Florida is the No. 4 seed, while OSU is No. 5.

“Looking forward to tomorrow night,” Gajewski said,

“ just wish it wasn’t against my best friend.

“The one thing I can tell you about (Walton) is he’s loyal… He’s just a great friend and he’s just a good man… I’m thankful to be out of his (coaching) tree. I mean, it’s really cool. It really makes me proud.”

The Cowgirls (49-10) are making their fifth straight Women’s College World Series appearance after going 5-0 in

regionals and super regionals and outscoring their opponents 34-7.

Star pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl, a top three finalist for Collegiate Player of the Year, has started four of OSU’s last five games and pitched 15 perfect innings in the Stillwater Regional. Kilfoyl also holds the second-best ERA (1.06) in the NCAA and pitched a completegame shutout in the Cowgirls’ win over Florida.

Meanwhile, the Gators (51-13) have won 13 of their last 14 games and won the SEC Tournament three weeks ago. They’re scoring 7.8 runs per game this season, which is good for fourth-best in the country, and hold an NCAA third-best .448 on-base percentage.

Thursday’s nightcap marks the third time OSU and Florida will meet at the WCWS.

The previous two were in 2019 and 2022, with the Cowgirls

winning both. Although they’re pinned against each other, the men who met each other as 17-year-old boys are sharing a spotlight in the softball capital of the world, which Gajewski thinks is neat. “It’s really cool to be able to showcase his team and our team on the same stage,” Gajewski said of Walton and Florida.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Bryson Thadhani

Kenny Gajewski and the Cowgirls are making their fifth straight Women’s College World Series appearance.

Kilfoyl earns first team All-American honors, Godwin and Davis named to Freshman All-American Team

Parker Gerl Assistant Sports Editor

Three Cowgirls earned All-American honors Tuesday. Pitcher Lexi Kilfoyl

picked up first team All-American honors from D1Softball and Softball America. In her second season at Oklahoma State, Kilfoyl boasts an NCAA second-best 1.06 ERA.

Kilfoyl has pitched 171 innings for OSU and holds a 26-3 record. Her 26 victories

are sixth-best in the NCAA, and she’s the only Cowgirl in program history to be named a top three finalist for USA Collegiate Player of the Year.

Softball America named freshmen first and second base

men Karli Godwin and Rosie Davis to its Freshman All-

American Team.

Godwin is hitting .344 on the season with 51 RBIs, a team-best 13 doubles and 15 home runs, the most ever by an OSU freshman. Davis, also hitting .344, is tied for second among Cowgirls in doubles with 11. She’s up to

56 hits on the season with eight home runs and 33 RBIs. Godwin and Davis were each named to the All-Big 12 Freshman Team, and now join Tallen Edwards as the only freshman in the Kenny Gajewski-era to earn freshman All-American honors.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Kaytlyn Hayes

Lexi Kilfoyl earned first team All-America honors, while Karli Godwin and Rosie Davis were named to the Freshman All-American Team.

Art . . .

Continued from 1

“We bring them (students) in from all different backgrounds and different areas of study, and I always love to hear their perspective on what we’re showing,” Ihde said. “And any opportunity that we have, where we have a community program involved, is always really fun; we’ve had tons of really great visiting artists, and we get to work personally with them.”

initial opening. Ihde said the collection has grown more than 6,000 pieces. For even the most frequent visitors of the museum, new art is always available with multiple exhibits put on each year. This year, the museum has shown five exhibits, counting the 10-year celebration.

all the time, which is kind of a blessing in disguise because it offers us the opportunity to come up with new shows and show something new each time,” Ihde said. “If you come in the fall semester, and then come again in the spring semester, you’re gonna see something completely different.”

Ihde has worked at the museum since her time as a student intern at the

“We don’t really have a space to have our permanent collection on view

Larry Gosney

124 W 6th Avenue Stillwater, OK 74074-4015

Bus: 405-377-8100

www.larrygosney.com

larry@larrygosney.com

A SPECIAL PEOPLE!

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Pet.2:9-10 NIV)

The apostle Peter is writing to a people who previously had no real relationship with God, but as they came to Christ, to trust and follow him all things changed. They are now special people, a pure people, chosen to be a special group who were taken from spiritual darkness. They are God’s people!

If you have come to Jesus, and received forgiveness of your sins; this is also your new condition. The Apostle Paul said it this way; “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Co.5:17 NIV) We are the people of God and we have sto ry to tell. We can proclaim it clearly and sincerely to all. This happened to me in Japan, November, 1956. I heard the good news of Christ and things begin to change in my life. Jesus became real and began leading my life. It has been an adventure, learning to fellowship and walk with the Lord. I have made many mistakes, but the Lord keeps encouraging me to keep following Him.

The God, who has started a good work in me and you (fellow believer) will finish it with eternal consequences. All through the ages to come we get to experience life with Christ. If you have not yet put your trust in Him and begin following him. I urge you to do It now. He is faithful to lead your life into the best (sometimes difficult) things and will glorify Himself and produce lasting blessings. It’s open to al!.

Raynee Howell The OSU Museum of Art doesn’t have

Classifieds

Business Squares

Come check out the wide variety of elegant clothing at Formal Fantasy!

Located on 121 E. 9th Ave, Downtown Stillwater

The best selection of beer, wine and liquor that Stillwater has to offer! Perfect for all your game day needs, come to Brown’s Bottle Shop located on 128 N. Main

“The Original Hideaway, located on the corner of Knoblock and University. Serving quality pizza and more since 1957.”

Murphy’s Department Store

815 S Main, Downtown Open 10-6

Monday thru Saturday

Houses for rent

Cowboy Calendar

Friday, May 31

Karaoke Fridays @ 9 p.m.

Location: The Midnight Bar

2024 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend Social & Plaque Presentation @ 6 p.m.

Location: National Wrestling Hall of Fame Museum

Admission: Free, registration ends 5/24/24

https://nwhof.org/

An Artful Decade: Celebrating 10 Years @ 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Location: OSU Museum of Art

https://museum.okstate.edu/art/an-artfull-decade. html

Chad & The Todd Live @ 9 - 11 p.m.

Location: Baker & Gambill’s EM

Admission: $5 Cover

https://curatorsofcraft.co/pages/on-stage Comedy Show Headlining Teffy White Tee @ 1011:30 p.m.

Location: Bad Brad’s Bar-B-Q

https://stillwater.badbrads.com/stillwater-stillwaterbad-brad-s-bar-b-q-stillwater-events

Joe’s United Way Golf Classes @ 12:30 - 5 p.m.

Location: Gold Club at Cimarron Trails

Admission: One team: $600, sponsorships available https://www.unitedwaypaynecounty.org/joes-golf Kids’ Bowl Free @ Open - 6 p.m.

Location: Frontier Lanes Bowling Alley

Admission: Free, but you must register Ages 2-15

https://www.kidsbowlfree.com/center.php?alley_ id=3664

re-camp

Oklahoma Junior Cattlemen’s Association Summer Preview Show @ All Day

Location: Payne County Expo Center

https://pcexpocenter.com/event/ojca-summer-preview-show-5/ Oklahoma Junior Shorthorn Spectacular @ 8 a.m.

Location: Payne County Expo Center

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/ e/1FAIpQLSd5vuC_pW0XIs1aMFbVL-HgLoilIofeibaaHxZMkSnyvTpE0A/viewform

SASA Baseball: Stillwater 4GG Ring Frenzy Shootout Tournament @ All Day

https://www.stillwaterareasports.com/ Showstoppers 40th Dance Recital @ 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Location: Stillwater High School Performing Arts Center

https://showstoppersdancestudio.com/ Theater Below The Equator: Summer Theatre Camp

Edited by Patti Varol

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (05/31/24). Take advantage of lucky conditions this year. Grow professionally with discipline, organization and determination. One social door closes and another opens this summer, leading to an autumn career boom phase. Resolve winter romantic curves before spring blossoms adorn your home and garden. Follow your heart.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 6 — You can see what’s not working. Fantasize and speculate about solutions. Imagine perfection. What would it take? Discuss the potential. Invent tantalizing possibilities.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Discuss visions, strategies and possibilities with your team. Listen and consider all views. There’s more than one way to score. Maintain multiple options.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 7 — Professional fantasies and illusions dissipate, laying plans bare. Revise them with practical details. Do the homework and profit. Things could be better than imagined.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Take a scenic rest stop. Unexpected deviations could reveal hidden treasure. Adapt around a change in plans. Allow for spontaneity. Sketch your beautiful discoveries.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Collaborate to manage shared financial obligations. Don’t try to force anything. Use gentle finesse. Stay in communication around changes. You’re building for the future.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Share support with your partner. Clean messes and help each other past an obstacle. Take advantage of an unexpected situation to deepen your connection.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — The rules could seem to change mid-game. Slow to avoid accidents or breakage. Protect your physical health and wellness. Extra rest recharges you.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Keep an open mind and flexible attitude. Patiently clean up. Restore beauty where missing. An obstacle could alter romantic plans. Coordinate new solutions.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 7 — Make domestic repairs and upgrades. Research before spending. Check reviews and comparisons. Consider materials. Invest in long-lasting quality. Clean and beautify your surroundings.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Practice diplomacy in a sensitive situation. Restraint serves you well, especially around short tempers. Listen for possibilities. Keep objectives in mind. Clarify communications. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Bring home the bacon. Fry it up in a pan. Avoid risky business. Stick to reliable routines. Don’t dig into savings. Maintain positive cash flow.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Proceed with caution on a personal matter. Take another’s sensitivities into account. Avoid gossip or controversy. Consider potential consequences of your words and actions. Los Angeles

By Michèle Govier