The Health Zone at Saint Francis invites you to our New Year open house. From fun fitness classes and wellness education to health screenings, facility tours and more, this is your opportunity to learn how Health Zone can help you meet your health and wellness goals.
To view our full schedule of open house events, visit saintfrancis.com/healthzone or call 918 - 494 -1671.
Sample Fitness Classes
Visit saintfrancis.com/healthzone for a full schedule.
Health Screenings
Skin cancer and head/neck cancer screenings
APPOINTMENTS REQUIRED AND SPACE IS LIMITED. Make appointment by calling 918-556-7131.
Health Education
Voice Health
10:00 A.M.
Dr. Dehra McGuire
Mind and Memory 11:00 A.M.
Dr. Heather Hall
5353 East 68th Street Tulsa, OK 74136
saintfrancis.com/healthzone
THIS IS ORANGE COUNTRY
Some call it Green Country, but we know northeastern Oklahoma is really Orange Country.
Oklahoma State University impacts the lives of residents here in countless ways. With more than 52,000 proud and loyal alumni, partnerships with hundreds of companies and nonprofits, and more than 2,500 employees, OSU is a changemaker for Tulsa, Okmulgee, Tahlequah and beyond. We’re training future health care leaders for Oklahoma, helping working professionals advance their careers, educating tomorrow’s advanced technology workforce and building a world-class medical district downtown — all in our own backyard.
Discover why Orange is the Answer and partner with us to make a difference at orangecountry.okstate.edu.
OKLAHOMA BANK PRESENTS
Leaders with Heart FIRST
ADVENTUROUS. ATHLETIC. INSPIRATIONAL.
Dr. Nathan (Nate) Miller’s appetite for the bold and daring never wanes. If he allowed fear to control him, he never would have scaled mountains, explored the South African bush, skied across an island in the Arctic Ocean or dared other escapades.
“There’s so much aversion to risk in our society that we tend to miss the part where we truly find out about ourselves. We’ve got to break down the self-imposed barriers… That’s how we move forward. That’s how we expand. That’s how we create, have ideas and, in turn, get the best out of ourselves. It changes you.”
Nathan, originally from Tulsa, is a doctor who is board certified in general surgery and aesthetic/reconstructive surgery. He’s done fellowships in minimally invasive, robotic and bariatric surgery. Today, Nathan operates in two surgical centers in Utah and Idaho. He’s also developing a course for soldiers on the battlefield that allows efficient and optimal care of penetrating and blunt trauma.
Becoming a doctor was fueled by curiosity and came naturally. Nathan grew up around hospitals and laboratories (his father is an immunologist). “Being an athlete all my life, medicine seemed like the natural thing to do. There are similarities in both athletics and a medical career: you set a goal, figure out what you need to do to accomplish the goal, and then get to it. You don’t sleep until the work is done,” he says.
Nathan also points to several “stalwarts of medicine in Oklahoma,” including Bob Blankenship, Bob Garrett, David Malone, Si Levit, and Angelo Cuzalina, who influenced his career decision. “I’m quite sure that God places the right people in our paths,” Nathan says.
Outside of medicine, his quest for adventure has led to experiences both exhilarating and harrowing. Three years ago, he skied across the island of Svalbard in five days, pulling his gear behind him in a sled. He endured lows of -13F at night and dodged polar bears during the day. The trek required extreme mental focus and physical exertion for up to 16 hours at a time while traversing ever-changing snowy conditions.
“Your brain doesn’t want you to step out of your comfort zone. That’s a protective quality of human nature, and just how your mind works,” Nathan says. “You’ve got to allow that fear to be there but do it anyway… The moment you commit to pushing yourself outside your limits is the moment you gain clarity. Remember, you have a choice where you exhaust your energy, where you seek peace, and where you find your worth/ validation. Chase your passions. Commit to being better than average in anything that you pursue. Pledge to be a better version of yourself today in all aspects - your job, your health, and your relationships. There truly is little time to waste. So if you’re currently on the fence about doing something because you’re afraid or it will be too hard, just put your head down and go do it. Time is ticking. Jump in.”
Among his other adventures, Nathan has climbed multiple mountains - the Matterhorn and Duforspitze (the highest peak in Switzerland) in the Alps, Mount Rainer in Washington, Kilimanjaro in Africa, and the Grand Teton in Wyoming. While scaling Aconcagua in Argentina, Nathan’s brain swelled with fluid due to the high altitude, and he had to be helicoptered off the mountain. Likewise, climbing Mont Blanc (the highest mountain in Western Europe) was a reality check, Nathan says, as two Polish climbers roped together ahead of him fell to their death.
“Make no mistake, the mountains only allow us to climb them. I can assure you that nature always has the last word.”
In 2023, Nathan spent a week in the South African bush with an indigenous tracker who essentially spoke no English. “What I learned from him was immeasurable. Sleeping with a pistol in my sleeping bag - not because of leopards and jackals roaming at night but because of smugglers - was certainly a new thing for me,” he says.
He credits his parents for encouraging his independence and appetite to try new things, travel and explore. In the process, he has learned much about himself and the world.
“None of us are getting out of here alive, and we’ve got to live accordingly. Prepare yourself; hone your abilities; and organize the tools that it’s going to take to not just survive but actually flourish. Realize that you can do virtually anything that you set your mind to,” Nathan says.
“We are a meat-covered soul, riding a big rock, flying through space. Our lives are filled with the highs of wins and success and the extreme lows of something like losing a patient or someone disappearing from our life. How we react to all of this with true humility or empathy or grace or whatever is required of ourselves - and especially to others - is what matters.”
As for what is next on his adventure checklist, Nathan would like to ski across part of Greenland, sail across the North Sea, and summit Mount Castor in the Alps, among many more. He’s also ghost writing a book about his unbelievable experiences in surgical residency. Additionally, he farms 180 acres and is learning about crop management and soil conservation.
“Nathan embodies the spirit of adventure and determination. We have known each other since high school and were on three consecutive state championship cross-country teams, and he was the champion. Nathan always has excelled at whatever he attempts in life, and he truly is an inspiration,” says Tom Bennett III, President of First Oklahoma Bank.
“From day one, First Oklahoma provided an intimate and personal interaction. They’re an elite banking institution wrapped up in a small-town attitude and sprinkled with a genuine desire to treat you like family,” Nathan says.
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CITY DESK
Hip to be square … dancing.
59
LIFESTYLE
Growing passion in Sand Springs. Season of scents. Fitness with friends. Connie writes her own obituary.
Marking 100 years of Mayo Hotel. Efforts to improve mental health. 10 things to do this month. 81
Soup’s on at Kilkenny’s.
Oaxacan fare on Cherry Street. Food faves at 3 breweries.
Food On The Move Founder Taylor Hanson and FOTM Executive Director Kevin Harper inside the nonprofit’s new urban farm.
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
Every January, Editor Anne Brockman extends to me the opportunity to write a “Publisher’s Letter” to kick o a new year. is is the third issue in our 39th year of publishing Tulsa’s city magazine.
Our January issue is always a special one because we annually name a Tulsan of the Year … a practice we commenced in 1999. Food On e Move founder Taylor Hanson, who graces the cover of this issue, joins a distinguished group of honored Tulsans.
As you will read in our cover story beginning on p. 52, Hanson, who also is a famed Tulsa musician along with brothers Isaac and Zac who form the band that bears their last name, deserves our Tulsan of the Year recognition for his devoted leadership to Food On e Move’s important mission and work of serving those within our city who are food insecure.
Another tradition in the January issue is remembering notable Tulsans whom we have lost during the just-ended calendar year. Our annual feature Lives Well Lived (p. 27) spotlights the accomplishment of good works done by these special people as a form of a “ nal bow” for each one of them. Additionally, we salute 20 Tulsans “We Also Remember.”
If you are wondering what some of the most popular stories appearing in TulsaPeople were during the past year, the following is a list created by Features Editor Tim Landes from web analytics:
• Julie Wenger Watson’s pro le on pro motocross athlete-turnedsinger-songwriter Jackson Ray who creates songs based on his stories. (December issue)
• Who owns downtown Tulsa? Writer Michael Overall ’s look at some of downtown’s signi cant property owners. (October)
• Tim Landes’ conversation with Bryan Wilks of the Jenks Ten District. (November)
• Grace Wood ’s feature on Tulsa’s eight female TV meteorologists. (March)
• Downtown Tulsa Partnership announces a downtown study and vision for the next decade, written by Tim Landes. (October)
• Tulsa’s Arkansas River revitalization sparks new opportunity, written by Grace Wood. (September)
A special thanks to Features Editor Tim Landes for his excellent work creating the 32-page section saluting the 100th Anniversary of Cain’s Ballroom in the December issue of TulsaPeople. e response from our readers proved the much-loved feelings for Tulsa’s “timeless honky-tonk” and an appreciation for Tim’s command of the shrine’s musical history. Tim also directed the creation of the Capturing Cain’s History photo exhibit— showcasing the concert photography of Richard Galbraith and Phil Clarkin presented at the OKPOP Museum in December. Well done, Tim.
On a personal note, as Langdon Publishing closes out 2024, I wish to recognize and thank our company’s rst group of employees who each achieved 25 years of employment this past calendar year. ey are: Advertising Sales Representative Rita Kirk , who is now retired; Managing Photographer Michelle Pollard ; and our VP of Community Relations Susie Miller. Each has contributed signi cantly to the quality and success of our company’s publications ... and has earned the thanks and appreciation of this publisher for their talent, leadership and devotion to excellence in their work. ank you for being a reader of TulsaPeople. tp
Jim Langdon PUBLISHER
TulsaPeople Magazine is published monthly by 1603 South Boulder Avenue Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119-4407 P: 918-585-9924 F: 918-585-9926
PUBLISHER
City Desk
MEET YOUR MAYOR
On Dec. 2 Monroe Nichols, center, took the oath of office and was sworn in as Tulsa’s 41st mayor during a ceremony at the Cox Business Convention Center by Judge Gerald Hofmeister, left, with Nichols’ son, Gavin, by his side. “Today starts a new day for Tulsa where we will come to terms with our past, while aggressively working to secure a brighter future for each citizen,” Nichols said in his inaugural address. “We are a diverse city, but we are one city — make no mistake — the only pathway to progress is one that we travel together.”
Newly elected City Auditor Nathan Pickard and Tulsa City Councilors Vanessa Hall-Harper, Anthony Archie, Jackie Dutton, Laura Bellis, Karen Gilbert, Christian Bengel, Lori Decter Wright, Phil Lakin Jr. and Carol Bush were also sworn in at the ceremony. tp
BECOME A CITIZEN FORESTER
Up With Trees will soon begin the next edition of its Citizen Forester classes, a program that teaches participants about planting, pruning, protecting and caring for trees. Two four-class sessions are being offered this year: Jan. 30, Feb. 6, 13 and 20; and Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22. The program is free thanks to the USDA Inflation Reduction Act, and citizen foresters receive relevant text books, a shirt and hat, and a 5-gallon tree of your choosing.
Up With Trees has planted nearly 40,000 trees across the city since 1976. Learn more at upwithtrees.org.
More than a parade
Organizer of the third largest MLK Day parade in the nation, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Society has dedicated its resources to the development and engagement of Tulsa youth. Since 1978 it has impacted the lives of more than 20,000 students with over $132,000 in scholarships and donations.
With a mission to preserve the memory and legacy of the work and ideals of Martin Luther King Jr., the Society engages Tulsa youth through art, civic engagement and leadership development. It serves local school districts, bringing in speakers to about 10 schools across Tulsa that choose to participate in a discussion of King’s legacy.
The organization hosts contests for students that include artwork and essay submissions with themes related to King’s teachings. As part of the annual celebration, the Society holds an interracial, interfaith and intercultural commemorative service prior to the parade. The service includes a recitation of King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech by the winner of the annual oratorical contest. This contest is held within the first week of January where high school students memorize the speech and give an oral presentation.
For Pleas Thompson, president of the Tulsa organization, “the whole idea is to teach them what being a United States citizen is about and all the advantages there are to offer” through artistic expression. — LISETTE BUCKMAN
Jan. 20
46th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Parade
11 a.m. Begins at Martin Luther King Jr. and John Hope Franklin boulevards, travels through Greenwood District and ends at Archer Street and Elgin Avenue. mlktulsa.com
Celebrating a significant milestone in its fiveyear journey, Tulsa Birth Equity Initiative has now expanded and become Oklahoma Birth Equity Initiative.
“Over half of our state is classified as a maternal health desert, leaving women with little to no access to basic women’s health services, let alone the specialized care of an obstetrician,” says Executive Director Omare Jimmerson. “The shift in name allows us to take our community-based doula training across the state, providing access to women living in maternal health deserts.”
Founded in 2019 by LaBrisa Williams, OKBEI provides maternal health services such as preconception guidance, doula services, training programs, hospital quality improvement initiatives, midwifery programming and Queens Village, a supportive communitybased space for Black women to encourage and engage one another in meaningful ways.
Since its origin, OKBEI has served more than 300 clients through 345 births and 5,198 in-person visits.
“OKBEI’s mission is to equip families to have healthy births with dignity while reducing maternal health disparities,” Jimmerson says, adding that Black women who receive OKBEI services have preterm birth rates similar to those of white women in Tulsa County. “We are eager to see the impact that increasing and diversifying birth workers across Oklahoma will have on women statewide.”
Over 500 health care providers and medical students have been instructed on delivering patient-centered care. More than 140 communitybased doulas have been trained, and OKBEI’s new, more culturally-sensitive curriculum was developed to expand to six maternal health desert communities.
“NestU” is a new client educational space that can be found at OKBEI’s newly renovated offices downtown. —
CAROLINA F. BOCOCK
Pleas Thompson is the president of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Society, which hosts the annual MLK Day parade.
Omare Jimmerson
January
1
JAN. 8
ELVIS AT 90: TRAVIS LEDOYT
Hailed as “the world’s best young Elvis,” Travis Ledoyt’s uncanny resemblance to the King — combined with his commanding stage presence — is a treat for diehard fans. hardrockcasinotulsa.com
2
JAN. 16 AIR SUPPLY
Iconic rock duo Air Supply will be making a stop at The Cove at River Spirit Casino Resort as part of a special 50th anniversary tour. riverspirittulsa.com
3
JAN. 20 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY PARADE
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Society will host its 46th annual MLK Day Parade that starts at OSU-Tulsa and goes through the historic Greenwood District. mlktulsa.com
4
JAN. 21 “FREE FOR ALL: THE PUBLIC LIBRARY” SCREENING
The new season of Indie Lens Pop-Up hosted by Sydney Alison returns to Circle Cinema. Each screening is free and pairs a documentary with local organizations for post-film discussions. This month, hear from Emmynominated director Chelsea Hernandez circlecinema.org
5
JAN. 21
GRADY HENDRIX BOOK EVENT
Join bestselling author Grady Hendrix as he celebrates his latest book “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls” with a special book talk event at All Souls Unitarian Church. magiccitybooks.com
6
JAN. 21-26
LES MISÉRABLES
“Do you hear the people sing?” Set in 19th-century France, this widely acclaimed musical will take the Tulsa Performing Arts Center’s stage to tell the story of a host of characters during a revolutionary period in France. celebrityattractions.com
7
JAN. 24-25
PBR
PBR makes its highly anticipated return to Tulsa’s BOK Center for two days of spectacular bull-riding from some of the sport’s burgeoning talents. pbr.com
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JAN. 25 PICTURES REIMAGINED
Perpetual Motion Dance will join Signature Symphony for jawdropping feats by Oklahoma’s finest aerial flyers and dancers set to the musical stylings of the professional orchestra. signaturesymphony.org
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JAN. 27-FEB.2
TULSA BOAT, SPORT AND TRAVEL SHOW
It’s time to get geared up for the great outdoors with the Tulsa Boat, Sport and Travel Show at Expo Square. Visitors can get up close to a plethora of 2025 model boats, RVs and camping accessories. tulsaboatshow.com
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JAN. 30 ORU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA OMAHA Cheer on Oral Roberts University’s Golden Eagles as they take on Omaha’s Mavericks in a match-up at the Mabee Center. oruathletics.com
PBR
Mark Smith
Housing Solutions CEO
STORY AND PHOTO BY TIM LANDES
Mark Smith had never been to Tulsa before interviewing for the job in April as Housing Solutions’ new chief executive o cer. He relocated after working as the director of strategic planning for the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston, which is a role similar to his other responsibility to lead Tulsa’s coalition A Way Home for Tulsa — a collective of more than 30 organizations combating homelessness in Tulsa.
In recent years Houston has been the national model for combating homelessness due to e orts dating back to 2009, according to Smith, who also spent seven years repairing housing for low income families impacted by natural disasters in the south Texas metropolis and U.S. as a whole.
We recently met at Foolish ings Co ee Co. to discuss his move to Tulsa, taking on the CEO role at Housing Solutions and how taxpayer dollars will be spent to meet the needs for a ordable housing.
EACH YEAR IN JANUARY, HOUSING SOLUTIONS OVERSEES A POINT-IN-TIME COUNT ... We know
we’re not going to talk to everybody experiencing homelessness in a few days, but it gives us that snapshot in time to see trends. Unfortunately, in 2024 the trend was an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness at 1,389 people. We talked to and did a survey with about 500 people who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness, which I don’t think comes as a surprise to most of us that we have seen unsheltered homelessness rise, and I think that’s deeply concerning when we look at trends.
HE SAYS HOUSING SOLUTIONS LOOKS AT THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS THEY CAN MEASURE THAT CORRELATE TO WHAT THEY OFTENTIMES SEE IN TERMS OF INCREASING HOMELESSNESS ... (In 2023) there were about 13,000 evictions across Tulsa County. is year we’ll probably be at the same amount or more. During the pandemic we had a mass in ux of federal resources. You had the eviction moratorium for a period, emergency rental assistance for folks who were falling behind on rent. COVID-era CARES Act dollars allowed partners of A Way Home for Tulsa to put
more people in housing. Many of those programs have ended. You can see in 2022 that partners of A Way Home for Tulsa were able to place people who are experiencing homelessness into a housing placement. It was a little over 1,130 people. (In 2023) there were a little over 700 people, and then this year the number of people we placed in housing as a system is about 645, so while we’re seeing housing costs remain high, evictions remain high, the resources coming from the federal government to keep people housed and to place people in housing has signi cantly decreased.
THERE ARE MANY WAYS FOR EVERYDAY TULSANS TO HELP IN EFFORTS TO REDUCE HOMELESSNESS
You can volunteer. ere’s organizations all across the city that are helping people experiencing homelessness — whether that’s the Day Center, the Salvation Army, City Lights Foundation. Just takes a little bit of your time to chip in to help these organizations that are doing really good, di cult work. I also think it’s important when you volunteer that you interact with a person who maybe doesn’t have as much as us and is struggling — we can kind of break that fear cycle. It’s another human being who’s just in hard times. ey’re not that much di erent from the rest of us. So maybe we don’t treat people as if they’re dangerous or blight. It’s a human being who’s just really struggling, and that could happen to any of us.
ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS BUREAU, OKLAHOMA HAS THE SIXTH HIGHEST POVERTY RATE IN THE NATION AT 15.9%. TULSA HAS A POVERTY RATE OF 18.2% ... If you have a loved one you know who is getting older and is trying to rely on Social Security, or someone who has a disability, or God forbid any of us have a medical condition or mental health crisis ... it’s a very short ramp to slide down and fall into homelessness, which is scary. But we should acknowledge that as a community. Hopefully we can do something to change that, because I think this amazing country, I think we have the resources. We can solve it if we want to. tp
KNIPPA SERIES RETURNS
T‘Potential for hope’
Tulsa nonprofit launches new e ort to reduce trauma for children.
BY CAROLINA F. BOCOCK
ulsa Lawyers for Children — an organization that, since 2000, has provided pro bono legal representation for children who are suspected of being abused, neglected or abandoned — has launched a new initiative aimed at reducing the trauma of separation a foster child faces, while also strengthening the child-parent connection.
Aimed at ages 0-3, Connection Crates are a way to o er what TLC Executive Director Kalan Chapman Lloyd calls “neutral bridging.” e items in the crate provide sensory input, she says, in the form of a stu ed toy that records and plays parent’s heartbeat, a book featuring a parent’s voice, items bearing the parent’s scent and more.
“It’s a trauma to be removed from your bio parent,” Chapman Lloyd says. “Even if there were some terrible things going on, it’s still a trauma to be removed from that biological connection. So it’s sort of a way, without anybody having to do a whole lot, to give that baby a sensory connection back to the bio parent.”
e idea for Connection Crates came about in June 2024, with a prototype created in August and a fundraising campaign launched in November. Chapman Lloyd
hopes to give crates to children starting this month.
“As we have focused on becoming not only trauma-informed but trauma-informed practicing, we have looked at each case individually to assess what we can tangibly do for our clients to reduce the trauma that surrounds this case. Abuse and neglect create trauma, but removal from the parents you know also creates trauma,” she says.
Chapman Lloyd joined the TLC team in March. “ is truly feels like a dream job and a full-circle moment for me,” she says. While in law school, she interned at the Public Defender’s o ce where she worked for attorneys representing children. After passing the bar, she initially pursued a career in public accounting. However, her path shifted when she became involved in a private guardianship and felt the desire to represent children and families.
“It’s incredibly rewarding work,” says Chapman Lloyd, who leads a sta of four that looks to grow as they annually support 300 children facing extreme circumstances. “ ough it’s daunting to consider all the challenges abused and neglected children face, there’s also immense potential for hope — and our children are hopeful.” tp
Scholar, social ethicist and religious educator Jonathan Lee Walton, Ph.D. will be in Tulsa on Feb. 2 as the featured speaker at the 38th annual Knippa Lecture Series, an annual interfaith and ecumenical program to promote unity and understanding among those of diverse religious faiths.
Walton is the author of “Watch is! e Ethics and Aesthetics of Black Televangelism” and “A Lens of Love: Reading the Bible in Its World for Our World.” He currently serves as the president of Princeton eological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey. e title of his presentation is “What Do We Owe One Another in an Age of Self-help and Personal Spirituality?”
e annual lecture series is named after the late Clarence Knippa, longtime pastor at Grace Lutheran Church. Over the years the series has brought nationallyknown speakers from a diverse range of faiths to Tulsa to speak at this event known for promoting inclusivity and understanding.
— ANNE BROCKMAN
FEB. 2
KNIPPA LECTURE SERIES
4 p.m. Free.
Grace Lutheran Church, 2331 E. Fifth Place facebook.com/knippalecture
Kalan Chapman Lloyd is the executive director of Tulsa Lawyers for Children. The organization recently launched a new program, Connection Crates, and is currently fundraising for the project. Donate at tulsalawyersforchildren.org.
Jonathan Lee Walton, Ph.D.
HEALTHY MINDS, HEALTHIER TULSA
The story of a growing advocacy powerhouse.
BY ABIGAIL SINGREY
What started as a discovery by researchers at the University of Tulsa has blossomed into a transformative mental health advocacy movement. In 2018 TU and the Urban Institute made a weighty discovery: Tulsans with mental illness or substance abuse issues lived an average of 27 years less than their peers. is inspired the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation
to make an initial investment that formed Healthy Minds Policy Initiative. At rst, Executive Director Zack Stoyco was the lone employee, but now, ve years on, it has over 20 sta members and has racked up some impressive successes.
“We have brought a new level of datadriven coordination to an issue that had often been plagued by silos, so we have helped to change the culture of how we
tackle mental health problems in Oklahoma,” Stoyco says.
HMPI has directly impacted 862,456 people since 2019 by bringing in $77.5 million in mental health system resources to Oklahoma. ey expect an additional $209.3 million in projected funding and savings over the next ve years.
As an advocacy organization, HMPI does not provide direct mental health resources. Instead, it partners with existing organizations to provide clear, researchbased planning, data on existing services and needs, and helps shape policy at the state level.
“We are here to serve the leaders of Oklahoma who are making a di erence for the people of Oklahoma,” Stoyco says.
Tulsans will see a direct impact through HMPI’s work to help both City of Tulsa and Tulsa Public Schools obtain a total of $13 million in grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration aimed at children and youth. At TPS, the $9 million grant will help fund an overhaul of mental health services, and City of Tulsa’s $4 million grant will bolster services for children with severe behavioral and emotional challenges, o ering immediate crisis support when it’s needed most.
In addition, HMPI has been working on a years-long project to assess the accessibility of mental health services. Its study revealed that only 30% of mental health providers listed by the ve largest insurance carrier networks answer their phone when someone calls for an appointment, forming a barrier to accessing care.
“If you’re experiencing a mental health condition or even a substance-use issue, you may only be willing to reach out one or two times,” says Policy Director Brittany Hayes
However, HMPI has made strides on this through legislative action. SB 254, authored by Sen. Jessica Garvin and Rep. Je Boatman, took e ect in November 2023 and aims to help with access issues. It requires health insurance carriers to help a patient nd care if they are unable to access it on their own and caps the cost if the patient ends up being referred to an out-ofnetwork provider.
“We see policy as a solution to the problem of the health care system and the mental health care system being inadequate and not on par with each other,” Stoyco says. “Policymakers can require that insurance companies treat the two equally.” tp
Healthy Minds Policy Initiative Executive Director Zack Stoycoff and Policy Director Brittany Hayes
Square dance social
Local group’s new session of lessons to learn the art of square dancing.
BY HAILEY CALDWELL
Grab your partner, dosado. e Northeast Oklahoma Square Dance Association is ensuring square dancing is alive in Tulsa. On Jan. 10 NEOSDA will start a new session of beginner square dancing lessons, held every Friday night, which provides a unique way to connect with others while learning something new.
NEOSDA’s high-energy lessons welcome individuals from all walks of life. “Our mission is to get people dancing,” President Jeanne Satterwhite says.
ose interested in learning the art of square dancing should attend the session from the beginning as steps and instruction build upon each other. Each Friday night from 7-9 p.m. participants learn various
“calls,” or square-dancing steps. A beginner session lasts about 18 weeks before square dancers graduate into the mainstream dances.
Originally planned to start lessons in 2020, the pandemic paused NEOSDA’s square-dancing activities, but the new lessons o ered for beginners since January 2023 have steadily brought people in. “ is place has been full ever since COVID-19 (dropped o ),” says Shane Greer, NEOSDA’s caller for the beginner lessons.
Greer is from Wagoner and began calling square dance at age 13. In the 44 years since, Greer has called overseas and in all but two states. “My favorite thing to do is teach,” he says.
Each lesson is $5 and you can dance even if you don’t have a partner.
e lesson begins and Greer calls out steps to just about any song with a beat. Square dancing isn’t limited to country music, he explains. Square dancing can be set to country, classical, bluegrass and even today’s hits.
Once the dancing has started, e Memorial Community Center at 8310 E. 15th St. takes on a fun and lively energy. Some nights the oor is lled with as many as 11 squares, which are made up of eight couples. After the Grand March — where couples “march in” two by two — it’s all smiles as couples dosado and weave around one another.
“Once they’re here, they’re hooked,” Satterwhite says. People love the beginner lessons and the sense of camaraderie it o ers, she adds.
Both Satterwhite and Greer agree one of their favorite parts about square dancing is the people. “You nd the people that you square dance with become your personal friends as well,” Satterwhite says.
After completing a beginner session, members may choose among one of the current square dancing clubs, who welcome single and coupled dancers that range from mainstream to advanced.
For more information, contact NEOSDA at 918-671-0661 or by emailing neosda.email@gmail.com. tp
Northeast Oklahoma Square Dance Association will begin a new session of beginner square dance lessons this month at Memorial Community Center, 8310 E. 15th St. Each session lasts about 18 weeks.
•
In haute demand
85-year-old Tulsa business continues metalwork tradition of excellence.
BY KELLY BOSTIAN
What started in 1940 with machinist and metal fabricator Ernest Wiemann’s Iron Works — which produced unique ornamental metal pieces for homes throughout Tulsa and public works like the signature gates at Philbrook Museum of Art as well as the ornate gazebo and rose garden fence at Gilcrease Museum — continues to evolve today.
Forged by one Tulsa family and sold to another in 1996, brothers Douglas and David Bracken now shepherd the business — known today as Wiemann Metalcraft — and have expanded to offer contract manufacturing and international decorative metal services.
“I think he would be surprised and shocked at what we’ve accomplished,” Douglas says of his former boss. “I think he would be really impressed.”
Douglas was an architecture graduate working for well-known architect Jack Arnold when he met Wiemann in 1992, bringing an idea for a coffee table to the shop, then located on 11th Street. They hit it off.
“He needed a draftsman and thought, ‘this guy can draw,’” Douglas says.
When Wiemann hit his mid-80s and retired, Douglas and his brother David — a small-business expert who launched craft breweries nationwide — and their retired business leader and pipeline engineer father, Gary, purchased the operation.
The business grew, and they moved to West 41st Street in 2012. What was a dozen-person shop is now a complex with 43 employees split evenly between ornamental metalwork with traditional tools and skills to contract manufacturing, which uses state-of-the-art lasers and brakepresses to shape, mold, extrude and finish anything from stainless steel and many other alloys.
“We have 66,000 square feet of climate-controlled fabrication space on a 3.5-acre campus,” David says.
Much of their ornamental metalwork is hidden inside Tulsa’s most remarkable homes, churches, universities and hotels in the form of ornate gates and doors, intricate light fi xtures and massive spiral staircases with sweeping balcony railings hundreds of feet long. The same goes for homes from New York to Boston and Aspen to Beverly Hills.
Wiemann metalwork is in commercial applications like Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse locations across the country.
Ornamental work continues to grow but is only half of the business now. David says they dove into contract fabrication and manufacturing 15 years ago. This includes everything from parts for the aerospace industry to a weed-whacker attachment for mowers and a new line of offset smokers designed with Austin barbecue legend Aaron Franklin
Douglas says the most challenging project to date grew from a long working relationship with the Church of Latter-Day Saints. The company is building and delivering modular bronze baptismal font railings to Mormon temples. Some are being assembled in remote areas with minimal construction resources, the most remote being an island of the Vanuatu archipelago in the southwest Pacific, about 1,100 miles east of Australia.
“From an architectural perspective and engineering and decorative metal working perspective, if you put all three of those things together in a package for someone who’s never seen a $200,000 railing before, and make it to where they can actually put this together like IKEA, and package it so it can get there, logistically, that’s a really tricky thing,” Douglas says. “I don’t know many other ornamental metal workers — and I know quite a few — who could pull it off. It’s a unique intersection of skills.” tp
Above, brothers Douglas Bracken, left, and David Bracken are the owners of Wiemann Metalcraft, an 85-year-old business that designs and manufactures ornamental metalwork and contract manufacturing products.
Catering For Any Occasion
Make some noise
Dynamic space caters to musicians’ needs.
STORIES
BY JULIE WENGER WATSON
As musicians, Mike Rodriguez and Dustin Howard are familiar with the challenges artists face when pursuing their craft. Finding affordable rehearsal space is at the top of the list. In an effort to support Tulsa’s creative community, in 2023 these two entrepreneurs opened Noise Town, a multipurpose facility at 2611 W. 40th Place. Since then, it has evolved to accommodate everything from lessons and workshops to concerts and comedy performances.
“Mike and I intuitively knew (the building) was a good fit for what we’re trying to do because the idea was kind of malleable,” says Howard of the organization’s evolution. “We understood that it probably could, and should, change and adapt.”
Rodriguez agrees.
“When we were starting this business I had a friend who told me something interesting,” he says. “He said, ‘When you start a business, it’s going to look a certain way in your head, but your community, your customers, will tell you what you actually do and what role you fill.’”
For Noise Town that’s meant poetry nights, music lessons and even a birthday party.
“We’re plugging all these little holes that we didn’t necessarily consider originally, and we’re just responding to the community, whatever the community needs. That’s what we’re here for, and that’s why we have the space,” Rodriguez says.
Noise Town is popular as a performance space for younger bands whose ages limit their access to traditional clubs and bars. According to Howard this has opened up mentorship opportunities, too. The pair often share the knowledge they’ve gained from their own experiences to help musicians learn about many aspects of the music business, including recording, promotion and events.
“A lot of the kids coming in are excited and eager, but they’ve never been through the recording process, and they’ve never done shows,” he notes. “That’s beyond rewarding from the esoteric, soul and community side of things. We get to facilitate, and at the same time, the community gets access to each other in a safe environment.”
Visit noisetowntulsa.com to learn more about Noise Town and to see an event calendar. On Jan. 12, Noise Town will host “Their First Rodeo Volume 2,” an open mic featuring the public and community members. tp
MUSICAL MEMORIES
For close to three decades PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow” has captured the imagination of anyone with an attic full of “stuff.” Part treasure hunt, part history lesson, the show attracts approximately 5 million viewers each week as appraisers and dealers uncover the origin stories — and the potential monetary value — of everything from family heirlooms to flea market finds. The series begins its 29th season this month with three episodes filmed last year in neighboring Bentonville, Arkansas. While many Tulsans will recognize the grounds of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, more than a few also may spot a familiar face in one of the latest additions to the show’s roster of experts — Guitar House of Tulsa owner Drew Winn
This is Winn’s second season to participate in the series as one of its musical instrument appraisers. Although he enjoys seeing the variety of items that show up for appraisal, what he really appreciates are the stories.
“I would say 90% of the people bring in an heirloom, not something they bought last week, and you get the story of who had it before,” he says. “It’s a lot more sentimental, and you hear the human side of it. It’s not like a transactional appraisal.”
While every heirloom has a story, musical instruments often hold a special place in people’s hearts.
“People become attached to them for sentimental reasons because they’ve experienced the instrument being used and played, and that’s the memory they have,” Winn says. “Maybe it’s an old Martin that’s worth $60,000. They’re surprised the guitar that used to lean against the corner and get played at Thanksgiving is worth that much money, but they just remember it for being in the hands of a relative who was playing it. The value is the music it made in their lives.”
Visit pbs.org for more information. tp
“Antiques Roadshow” cameras record expert Drew Winn of Tulsa, left, appraising guitars on set at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Dustin Howard, left, and Mike Rodriguez opened Noise Town, a multipurpose facility that hosts everything from music lessons, rehearsals and concerts to poetry nights, comedy shows and private events.
SPEAKING
Modern amenities
BY MICHAEL OVERALL
Half the rooms weren’t ready and the co ee shop and dining room were still under construction. e Mayo Hotel wasn’t planning to open for another three months but other hotels were overcrowded with a major convention in town that night, so the manager unceremoniously began letting guests check in.
A salesman from St. Louis became the very rst person to sign the registry at precisely 6:10 p.m. on Feb. 19, 1925, with no ribbon cutting or champagne-popping. But Cass Mayo stood nearby, quietly watching.
After growing up in a small town in central Missouri, Mayo was 25 years old when he came to Tulsa in October 1903.
His younger brother John soon followed and the two of them opened a small furniture store at Second and Main streets, initially o ering a free oil painting with any purchase of $5 or more.
Only 1,500 people lived in Tulsa at the time, but the Oil Boom would grow the city’s population to more than 18,000 by 1910, when the Mayo brothers built a ve-story building on the northwest corner of Fifth and Main streets — then the southern edge of downtown. Multiple expansions would eventually add ve more oors to create the Mayo Building that Tulsa knows today.
In 1921, Cass and John Mayo nished the 10-story Petroleum Building at Fifth Street and Boulder Avenue, where their furniture store occupied the bottom three oors. e building now hosts the 111 Lofts. e brothers were already responsible for two major landmarks in downtown Tulsa, but they began work on their most ambitious project in 1922. Allen Mayo, Cass’ 6-year-old son, turned the rst shovel of dirt at Fifth Street and Cheyenne Avenue on July 31.
Responding to complaints from traveling salesmen who said Tulsa didn’t have accommodations as nice as other cities, the Mayos spent $3 million to build one of the nest hotels in the Southwest. Modern amenities included ceiling fans and the city’s rst running ice water — an elaborate system for the time.
Designed by local architect George Winkler, who had also been responsible for downtown Tulsa’s Holy Family Cathedral, the hotel includes double-height Doric columns that support a full entablature. e 18-story building itself mirrors the proportions of the columns, with a three-story base faced with terracotta and stone etchings. e upper oors become a “capital” with arcade windows and a projected cornice. When nished, the Mayo was the largest steel structure in Oklahoma, rising nearly 300 feet from the oor of the sub-basement to the top of the neon sign on the roof. e Mayo family owned the hotel until 1968 and it closed in 1980, after which the building su ered years of neglect. e Mayo was reopened in 2009 by Brickhugger and the Snyder family after a $42 million renovation.
Cass Mayo died Sept. 10, 1949, at age 71. John Mayo died in 1972 at age 91. tp
Mayo Hotel opened in 1925 to service Tulsa’s oil boom clientele.
Clockwise from top left, John Mayo in 1971; a photo of the Mayo Hotel under construction in October 1923; the hotel lobby circa 1980; the hotel peeks through the fog circa 1930.
Lives well lived
BY CONNIE CRONLEY
A community is only as rich as its citizens. We remember here a diverse honor roll of people who made our part of the world a better place. They include artists and athletes, businesspeople and philanthropists, educators and clergy, public servants and nonprofit administrators, journalists and veterans. Their caring dedication and hard work left enriching legacies.
Dr. Stephen J. Adelson
AUG. 26, 1933-SEPT. 24, 2024
Beloved pediatrician and philanthropist known for his profound capacity for empathy and great sense of humor. Orphaned at age 3, he dedicated his life to caring for children and practiced pediatric medicine until retirement at 80. He and wife, Ellen, generously contributed to higher education with numerous University of Tulsa programs, endowments, scholarship funds and lecture series in the arts and sciences. He loved breakfasts at Queenies and horse racing.
“I knew I wanted to marry him after our rst date. He stopped the car, got out and sat on the curb to talk to a little boy who was sitting by the side of the road. He talked to this 5-year-old as if they were equals. I thought ‘ at’s incredible for a college senior.’ He was always very, very comfortable talking with kids.” — Ellen Adelson , wife of 67 years
Alex K. Adwan
APRIL 14, 1930-JUNE 15, 2024
Award-winning journalist, retired senior editor of Tulsa World, Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame member. Gentle, thoughtful and resolute, he always had all the facts. Steadfast advocate for public education, his full-throated editorials supported the landmark HB 1017 (Education Reform Act of 1990) to fund a broad range of education initiatives. He had a passion for the U.S. Constitution and history. An Army veteran who saw active duty in Korea.
“Alex was among the nest of humans and the best of journalists. He thought before he spoke and those of us lucky enough to work with him never tired of listening. He possessed a warm wit and subtle sense of humor that never failed to get the point across in even the most ery of editorials. He earned the respect of those he endorsed and often of those he opposed.” — Susan Ellerbach, retired Tulsa World editor
Montie Rolen Box
JULY 30, 1930-JAN. 2, 2024
Real estate developer, philanthropist and civic leader fondly dubbed “Mr. Sand Springs” known for his philosophy of positivity and dedication to promoting his hometown. Chairman of Board of Regents for Tulsa Community College, a generous supporter of public school teachers through the Sand Springs Educational Foundation which he and wife, Betty, founded. Immediately following his military service in the Korean War he began 70-plus years of active membership with the American Legion.
“Montie Box was a city father in all sense of the words. He cared so much for Sand Springs and was such a positive voice that he was able to have the same force and e ect as someone who came to authority through the ballot box. He was an in uencer before that term came to mean something less. You may see his lasting impression in many of our shopping districts, neighborhood developments and city parks.” — Michael S. Carter, Sand Springs city manager
Kathleen June Coan
NOV. 4, 1938-AUG. 31, 2024
Vibrant, focused, unstoppable president and CEO of Tulsa Area United Way. Powerhouse fund raiser for the organization, she tripled the annual budget and put Tulsa on the national United Way map. irty- ve years work in nonpro t organizations and one of the rst female campaign directors. Gourmet cook, hostess extraordinaire, karaoke a cionado, arts supporter, football fan and TulsaPeople’s 2003 Tulsan of the Year.
“For 20 years, Kathleen Coan led Tulsa Area United Way with distinction and mastery, tripling the annual fundraising drive from $7 million to over $23 million at the time of her retirement. Kathleen was a respected leader on the local and national stage, creating a model of collaborative fundraising that has become a benchmark for others to follow. Her legacy in Tulsa will remain.” — Alison Anthony, Tulsa Area United Way president and CEO
James Gray East
AUG. 21, 1954-APRIL 16, 2024
Insightful journalist, truth-teller, public servant and valued advisor to Tulsa leaders for more than three decades. Deeply informed, he scanned 20 newspapers a day. A compact man packed with a big personality, an infectious laugh and fearsome intellect. Tulsa Tribune editorial writer, chief of sta to former Mayor Susan Savage, vice president of government a airs for Hertz. He loved road trips, a Stetson roadster and cowboy boots.
“Jim East’s intelligence, relentless sense of humor and energy were essential to my administration. His unique background prepared him for the complicated issues facing the City. From the degradation of Tulsa’s watershed by the poultry industry to Tulsa’s protracted acquisition of Air Force Plant 3, Jim pushed at solutions. His life was too short but remarkably full.” — Susan Savage, former Tulsa mayor, former secretary of state of Oklahoma
James “Jim” Economou
APRIL 22, 1930-MARCH 15, 2024
Legendary Coney Island Hot Weiners owner, musician, veteran and teacher. Son of Greek immigrant who introduced Tulsa to coneys in 1926, Jim continued the family business until his retirement 45 years later. Toured postwar Europe as a violinist with the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra, member of Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, music teacher with Tulsa Public Schools. Lifelong member and choir director of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.
“James took pride in the Coney, never changing his dad’s recipe or the way he interacted with his customers. It was important that every person who walked in felt like they were a part of the family, and we strive to continue that legacy. Although Coney Island Hot Weiners relocated a few times, James was a mainstay. His legacy lives on through his extended family and the customers who continue to support at 107 N. Boulder Ave.” — Vicki Economou , daughter-in-law, Coney Island operations manager
Ernie Orlando Fields Jr.
JULY 29, 1934-MARCH 8, 2024
Nationally acclaimed saxophonist, composer, Hollywood-based session musician and music contractor for “American Idol” and “ e Voice.” Toured in his renowned father’s band with B.B. King, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye. As band leader himself, he toured with e Temptations, Sam Cooke, Lionel Hampton and others. Wrote the lm score for “Disco Godfather.” Graduate of Booker T. Washington High School and Howard University. Multi-instrumentalist and guest conductor for Ray Charles Orchestra.
“Ernie Jr. was not only one of Tulsa’s great musicians, educators, orchestrators, contractors and arrangers, but also a family friend. His talent shone brightly growing up in Tulsa, and with the ability to play multiple instruments, his virtuosity opened doors. He performed all around the world with top jazz and R&B stars. Mr. ‘Kool Man, Kool,’ is an inductee of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame.”
— Chuck Cissel , international recording artist
Clarence “Clancy” Joseph
Gray MARCH 29, 1949-APRIL 13, 2024
Acclaimed Osage artist and educator, Tulsa Public Schools teacher for almost 40 years and coach in baseball, softball, swimming, soccer and cross country. Cornerstone at the venerable Red Earth Festival of Native American art and culture in Oklahoma City and popular artist at Mvskoke Art Market and Cherokee Art Market. Multi-talented potter, painter, sculptor and jewelry maker in both traditional and contemporary Native American styles.
“I knew him from college, (now University of Central Oklahoma) in Edmond. He was a rock-solid person, a gentle giant, soft spoken and a nice guy. He worked hard at being an artist and teacher. For hundreds of years, people have been teachers and artists part time and he did that. His work was always accepted at art shows.”
— Linda Pierson , Pierson Gallery
Charles
Lee Hardt JAN. 12, 1944-JUNE 20, 2024
Unparalleled and revered director of Tulsa’s public works for 30 years under eight mayors. His visionary leadership of a new ood control mitigation program established Tulsa as a national model. Professional engineer and hydrologist, he shaped city policy, capital improvements and development, including the the construction of BOK Center and of ONEOK Field. Another achievement includes the Mohawk Water Treatment Plant that protects the city’s drinking water source from poultry litter pollution.
“Authentic and trustworthy: those were his superpowers to becoming a bridge across community divisions. If you walk on a sidewalk in Tulsa, or run on a trail, or turn on your tap for water, or enjoy a safe drive to work, or feel at peace in a big rain, you are bene tting from Charles’ work. He set the standard for integrity, vision and e ectiveness. He did more good for Tulsa than people will ever know.” — Ann Patton , journalist and author
Alana
Ruth Hughes APRIL 26, 1956-FEB. 17, 2024
Committed and compassionate community leader and social advocate, she channeled her zest for life into making life better for others. Notable contributions to the community include Any Given Child program for Tulsa Public Schools, Youth Philanthropy Initiative for high school students, Women In Recovery for Family and Children’s Services, Parents’ Defense Team for Legal Aid of Oklahoma. Twenty-four years with Charles and Lynn Schusterman Foundation. Sharp and witty, enthusiastic traveler, cyclist and golfer.
“Alana was a vibrant part of the Samson/Schusterman Foundation world for 24 years. She brought dedication, creativity, tenacity and love to her work helping Tulsa and especially children and families facing adversity. Her creativity was demonstrated in the range of ideas, strategies and organizations she considered and worked with to reach a better future. Her passion and commitment inspired all of us who had the good fortune to know and love her.” — Stacy H. Schusterman , chair of Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies
James
Mountain Inhofe NOV. 17, 1934-JULY 9, 2024
A life of public service. Oklahoma’s longest-serving congressman, he served ve terms in the U.S. Senate, seven years in the House of Representatives, a decade in Oklahoma’s Legislature, and threeterms as Tulsa mayor. Nationally recognized as a rock-solid Republican conservative who bluntly opposed assertions of manmade global climate change, abortion and LGBTQ rights, indefatigable in support of the national military and his home state, especially highways and ood control. Avid licensed pilot, who logged more than 11,000 hours of ight time.
“Soon after high school graduation State Sen. Inhofe invited me to dinner at Pete’s Italian restaurant in Krebs, Oklahoma. at began a long relationship about patience, commitment and loyalty — all based on his personal values. He never veered from those values, but he always made room for comment and agreement when a good result was achieved. at describes his service to Oklahoma while in the U.S. Senate.” — Dewey Bartlett Jr. , former mayor of Tulsa
Steven Jon Kragthorpe APRIL 28, 1965-AUG. 4, 2024
TU football coach (2003-2006) who engineered a record-book team turnaround into a conference championship and bowl games. Followed as head coach for University of Louisville Cardinals (where he carried a baseball bat to remind players of the B.A.T. mantra: become “better after today”) and quarterback coach for Louisiana State University. A collegiate quarterback who chiseled a career as an outstanding o ensive college coach. Died at 59 of Parkinson’s disease.
“Steve coached four years at the University of Tulsa, compiling a record of 29-22, winning the inaugural C-USA Football Championship and leading the Golden Hurricane to three bowl games. He turned things around with an 8-5 record, snapping a streak of 11 straight losing seasons. at turnaround was the biggest in college football in 2003. He was inducted into the TU Hall of Fame in April 2024.” — Bruce Howard , director of sports broadcasting, TU Athletics
George William Krumme
DEC. 15, 1922-JULY 18, 2024
Oilman, geologist, author, raconteur, decorated U.S. Army veteran of World War II, patron saint of the Democratic Party. From a one-room school through a university Ph.D. and beyond he fostered a sharp curiosity through voracious reading. He loved life with a twinkling sense of humor and fervently believed in American democracy. Generous philanthropist, serious political activist, machine-gunner, meteorologist, patriot and devoted family man. Sterling example of the Greatest Generation.
“George Krumme was a man out of the history pages, spanning events such as World War II, his business ventures and the politics of the Democratic Party. But he was also a lover of minutia. His book chronicling his hometown of Bristow and the great ‘bunion derby’ of 1928 is an Oklahoma classic. I will always remember his uniquely American love of the small, precious things that make us who we are.” — Oklahoma Rep. John Waldron
Robert James LaFortune
JAN. 24, 1927-MARCH 27, 2024
Gold standard Tulsa public o cial (four terms as mayor, three-time commissioner of streets and public properties), visionary, a gentle man and gentleman. Instrumental in funding Port of Catoosa and the $18 million Tulsa Performing Arts Center which he termed the “people’s place,” grandfather of River Parks and championed women into city leadership. Generous philanthropist, board chair of Tulsa CityCounty Library Trust and St. John Health System, and trustee of Philbrook Museum of Art. Devoted to his family and his Roman Catholic faith.
“He’s my lifelong hero, and one of his great lessons is the impact a person can make if they serve one community over the course of their life. For my grandad, that started in high school as captain of a cadet corps training for service in World War II and really never slowed until he passed away 80 years later. He always sought ways to serve the city he loved.” —
G.T. Bynum
, former Tulsa mayor
Robert “Bob” Lawless
FEB. 13, 1937-AUG. 10, 2024
Former TU president who expanded the physical campus and elevated both academic and athletic reputations. Added a state-of-the-art basketball and multipurpose arena, modern sports and tness centers, legal clinic and university apartment units. Raised TU’s national pro le academically, earning recognition in key rankings and added competitive scholars. Known for his contributions to college athletics, he served on NCAA board of directors and executive committee.
“I thought highly of Bob and served on the TU board during his tenure as president. From the beginning, he made it clear TU’s destiny was to become a top-50 university. Audacious? TU was not even listed in e Princeton Review. Bob took every opportunity to express his vision. Ultimately, we all believed in making this vision a reality. Testament to a remarkable leader.” — William “Bill” omas, Senior Star
John McLean Mabrey
FEB. 9, 1955-MARCH 16, 2024
Banker (four generations of family-owned Okla homa banks), civic leader and historical preservationist. Board member Oklahoma Main Street and Oklahoma Historical Society, Tulsa Foundation for Architecture and Cascia Hall, advisory board National Trust for Historic Preservation. Driving force in Okmulgee’s naming as one of the rst “Main Street” towns in Oklahoma. Gifted storyteller, accomplished deep-sea sherman, avid University of Oklahoma fan with a license plate commemorating OU’s national championship.
“John’s passing leaves a hole in communities across Oklahoma. From his devotion to Okmulgee and preserving its history to his work on the boards of Leadership Oklahoma and the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture, John’s love for his community was matched only by the love he had for his family. We miss him deeply.”
— Carlisle Mabrey III , brother
James “Sherman Oaks” Millaway
SEPT. 23, 1941-DEC. 23, 2023
Television actor, writer, comedy cult gure and co-creator of the 1970s legendary “Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi’s Uncanny Film and Camp Meeting” show on KOTV and KTUL. His o -kilter characters complemented Gailard Sartain’s o -the-wall Mazeppa. Writer for Roy Clark Productions and CBS’s “ e Shields and Yarnell Show” and a rockin’ DJ on Tulsa radio.
“No matter what on-air persona he might be using — Sherman Oaks, Mr. Mystery or even Stan Sharpe — Jim Millaway was (a) very funny and (b) a big part of what made Tulsa radio and TV so good in the ’70s and early ’80s. His work ensured him a place in Tulsa media history — the legendary late-night Mazeppa show, local television’s ‘Creature Feature’ and morning-drive personality on powerhouse rock station KMOD.”
— John Wooley, author, journalist, radio personality
John McLean Mabrey
James “Sherman Oaks” Millaway
Edward J. Slattery
AUG. 11, 1940-SEPT. 13, 2024
Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, a man of deep faith called to the priesthood when young and ordained at age 26. Installed as the third bishop of the Diocese of Tulsa in 1994. Stalwart defender of the Catholic Church even during clergy sex scandals, he oversaw an expansion of Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma including a new campus for the organization.
“‘You alone are holy’ was more than the episcopal motto of the ird Bishop of Tulsa. In humility and with a dry Irish humor his ministry emphasized the love of Jesus by building the body of Christ in Eastern Oklahoma in the way we worshipped and how we served our neighbors. He welcomed newcomers from around the globe, whether they be Benedictine monks, missionary priests or the poor seeking a better life for their families.”
— Deacon Kevin Sartorius, CEO Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma
John Franklin Stephens
Jr. AUG. 14, 1936-SEPT. 24, 2024
Model for iconic Golden Driller statue, Navy veteran, cowboy, oil eld worker, boxer and champion rodeo roper. Builder by trade, in 1966 he was supervising the Driller project for the International Petroleum Exposition when the artist sketched him in hard hat and work boots as model for the 76-foot statue. Humble and private, he ducked that recognition, but rodeoed ercely into his 70s. e minister’s eulogy title at his funeral was “Standing Tall.”
“It’s been the greatest honor of my life to be the son of John F. Stephens Jr. My dad was the perfect choice to be the model for the Golden Driller. He taught me how to be a good man. He instilled in me honesty, work ethic, leadership, dependability, kindness, humility and how to treat others. He was a great man and left a great legacy to our state.” — Former Oklahoma Sen. Blake “Cowboy” Stephens
Emily Churchill Wood APRIL 11, 1925-SEPT. 26, 2024
Award-winning educator for more than ve decades, author, public speaker, recognized as a woman of moxie. Pioneer in multicultural education, organized international student exchanges with Mexico and France, hosted educators and students from around the world. She championed education and global understanding. Popular speaker for conferences and workshops on citizenship, history and multicultural education. Named a Democratic Woman of Courage in 2016.
“Emily’s life was focused on young people. She was a model teacher during her career in the classroom, and after retiring continued to be tireless in promoting cross-cultural understanding among young people through her work with Sister Cities and Tulsa Global Alliance. She never stopped. Her age never held her back, and she was an inspiration to people of all ages.” — Rodger A. Randle, director, OU Center for Studies in Democracy and Culture and former Tulsa mayor tp
We Also Remember
Monty L. Butts • NOV. 10, 1943-JAN. 27, 2024
Banker, financial adviser, board of trustees chair of Oklahoma State University Foundation and Tulsa Zoo
Wayne H. Creasy • FEB. 19, 1926-SEPT. 2, 2024
Business partner and lifelong friends with Jim Halsey and Roy Clark , classical arts supporter
Stuart Otis Denslow • AUG. 18, 1934-JULY 3, 2024
Urban planner, Army veteran, historian, supporter of patriotic organizations
George Chrysler Fisher Sr. • DEC. 31, 1945-SEPT. 4, 2024
Retailer, his family owned iconic Miss Jackson’s upscale women’s shop
Patty Lou Floyd • SEPT. 17, 1921-OCT. 30, 2024
Author, educator, balletomane, elegant adventurer
Martin “Glenn” Godsey • JUNE 1, 1937-NOV. 30, 2024
Artist, university professor, fiddler, magician, yo-yo champion
James Ernest Henshaw • MAY 13, 1931-APRIL 27, 2024
Oklahoma House of Representatives for 14 years, president Tulsa Ski Club, Tulsa Zoo docent, master gardener
Benefi ts German-American Society of Tulsa. gastulsa.org
6
Art in the Park Holiday Festival
Benefi ts Arts Alliance Tulsa. artstulsa.org
Holiday Mart
Benefi ts The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges. tulsacenter.org
St. Nicholas Day
Benefi ts OKM Music. okmmusic.org
6, 13
Sweets with Santa
Benefi ts Tulsa Zoo. tulsazoo.org
TBD
ABATE Toy Run
Benefi ts Toys for Tots. abateoftulsa.com
Art in the Park Holiday Festival
Benefi ts Arts Alliance Tulsa. artstulsa.org
Carols and Crumpets
Benefi ts Tulsa Herb Society. facebook.com/tulsaherb
Gifts of Hope Luncheon
Benefi ts Tulsa Boys’ Home. tulsaboyshome.org
Jingle Bell Run
Benefi ts Arthritis Foundation. jbr.org/tulsa
Have an event to submit to TulsaPeople’s online charitable events calendar? Email madison@langdonpublishing.com.
A-LIST WINNERS
These five annual events put the fun in fundraising! TulsaPeople readers named these their favorites in the 2024 A-LIST Readers’ Choice Awards in the Event — Nonprofit category. Mark your calendars for these special soirees in 2025. — Anne Brockman
WALTZ World Tour TULSA ZOO
Standing for We All Love Tulsa Zoo, WALTZ World Tour presented by Country Financial and Hardesty Family Foundation was a new interpretation of the zoo’s traditional fundraiser WALTZ on the Wild Side. Held Sept. 13 and benefi ting the Zoo’s William S. Smith African Wilds capital campaign, more than 1,000 guests experienced a global culinary adventure celebrating four of the regions the zoo’s animals call home: Africa, Australia, Europe and South America.
GLOW Gala GLOBAL GARDENS
Entering its sixth year in 2025, GLOW Gala is a celebration of the work at Global Gardens, an organization focused on breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering students and families to become agents of change in their community through inquiry-based science and peace education. In 2024 the gala featured a one-of-a-kind culinary experience from the chefs of et al. in partnership with Global Gardens alumni, as well as music from King Cabbage Brass Band.
The Party: Just Wear White
FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S SERVICES
Family and Children’s Services operates more than 72 programs to promote, support and strengthen the well-being and behavioral health of adults, children and families. Its annual Party is a legendary night of retro fun, dancing, mixology and giving back. Held May 31, the organization welcomed more than 600 guests to the OKPOP Museum where more than $400,000 was raised for the Tulsa-based nonprofit.
Western Days
SAINT SIMEON’S SENIOR COMMUNITY
Western Days welcomes guests sporting their favorite cowboy and Western duds to support the mission of Saint Simeon’s to be the preferred home for men and women of all faiths who wish to live their later years in an environment with dignity, individuality and the highest attainable level of independence. The annual fundraiser has grown over the past 28 years, providing capital projects like renovations, new transportation, landscaping and more.
The Lemon-Aid Project
Celebrating 30 years in 2024, The Lemon-Aid Project is an annual city-wide charity event that provides children with free materials to set up lemonade stands each Labor Day weekend. In 2024 more than 170 youth volunteers manned 26 stands — including three new satellite stands at Expo Square, Philbrook Museum of Art and Southwood Landscape and Garden Center— with 11 participating restaurants, and 24 sponsors and partners giving their support. Lemon-Aid’s chosen beneficiary Lindsey House received a $20,000 check from the community effort.
1) Anna Macedo, an Inspyral performer, Kat Cruice and Nikita Layson at WALTZ World Tour. 2) GLOW Gala was held at 101 Archer and featured a night of food, music and fun. 3) Dancing is a big part of The Party. This year’s tunes followed the theme of the ‘80s courtesy DJ Majda, DJ Ramal and DJ Ed. 4) Leslie Prichard, center, with Price and Dipa Atkins at the 2024 Western Days fundraiser for Saint Simeon’s Senior Community. 5) Emma Pruitt, Avery Taylor and Moira McDonald at the Lemon-Aid Project’s stand outside Philbrook Museum of Art.
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PARTYSERVE (ˈpär-tē-ˌsərv) verb: To cater and manage best-in-class event foodservice ensuring quality, customization, and seamless coordination. “They hired Tulsa’s Catering by PARTYTSERVE for flawless service execution of their special event.”
Oklahoma Aquarium
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WALTZ WORLD TOUR | SEPTEMBER 12, 2025
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Help Strengthen Our Community Dance of the Two Moons supports Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa’s services that benefit thousands of Tulsa Area American Indians, in all stages of life. To sponsor or purchase tickets visit ihcrc2moons.org Join Us for an Elegant Night & Fashion Show!
Saturday March 1, 2025 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa
FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2025 6 PM - 9 PM
Bill Knight
President and CEO of Bill Knight Automotive Group and 2025 Tulsa Regional Chamber Chair
BY MARNIE FERNANDEZ
ATulsa transplant who had never been to Oklahoma before his move in November 1998, Bill Knight is grateful for the community he now proudly claims as home. After almost three decades in Tulsa building a successful car dealership business selling Ford, Lincoln and Volvo vehicles, Knight is humbled and eager to give back to the city that has given him so much when he’s inaugurated as chamber chair on Jan. 23 at the organization's annual meeting.
AS CHAIR OF TULSA REGIONAL CHAMBER, WHAT IS YOUR PRIMARY FOCUS FOR 2025?
We have so much momentum in our city right now. I want to continue to build upon what my predecessor Jennifer Jezek built during her time as chair. In addition to the normal foundational elements including economic development and tourism, I want to especially focus on public education — and explore additional ways the business community can partner with Tulsa Public Schools. I am thankful for how we handled last year’s crisis and were able to keep local control of TPS, but we cannot stop there. It is crucial we continue to keep public education a top priority for the Chamber.
WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE AT THE CHAMBER MEAN TO YOU PERSONALLY? I have been involved with the Chamber in various capacities for 24 years. I am at a point in my life where I can make this commitment to lead the Chamber, and I am thrilled to be able to do so. I want to give back to my community that has provided so much for my family and me — and I feel this is the best way I can do that.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FOR THE CHAMBER IN THE COMING YEAR(S)? While we are enjoying a time of momentum and
growth — if we aren’t careful, that could be eeting. So many cities our size are also doing the same things we are in terms of revitalizing and rebuilding, so we need to make sure what we are doing is an authentic representation of who we are instead of just doing what everyone else is. A great example of building around our assets is the recent opening of Zink Lake and the whitewater park.
We are also in a time of transition with a new mayor, so it is crucial for us to build a strong working relationship with Mayor ( Monroe) Nichols and his leadership team, and I look forward to starting those conversations.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU ARE EXCITED ABOUT FOR 2025? I am very excited to see our convention district continue to make progress. When you go to other cities, it is hard to miss what a large convention hotel can do for their tourism and economic development. It is a vital next step to bring Tulsa to the next level of competitiveness.
I am also excited to see what we can do to galvanize the city around FC Tulsa. I think there is so much potential to create a culture and larger fan base for this exciting sport.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW YOU ENDED UP IN TULSA? I attended high school 50 miles south of Pittsburgh in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and then married my high school sweetheart, Rozann . We moved to Detroit where I started working for Ford Motor Co. then moved to Denver, then back to Detroit, then to Tulsa. I knew I eventually wanted to go into retail, so after 14 years, I had an opportunity to move to Tulsa to work for Don ornton in the Tulsa Auto Collection. My wife and I had never stepped foot in Oklahoma, but we took a leap of faith, and it turned out to be the best decision.
Rozann and I now consider Tulsa home. In fact, both of our children are boomerangers — after living elsewhere after college, they both came back to Tulsa and have started their families here. I feel this is a true testament to what a special city Tulsa is and what a wonderful quality of life we have here.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME?
We are blessed with four grandkids who all live close by and there’s another one on the way. So right now, our free time is spent with our grandkids and attending all the various weekend sporting events — while we are still cool enough to spend time with!
I also host a Bronco owners’ event once a month at our ranch in Osage County. It is a ton of fun, and I love doing it. I also try to play golf when my schedule allows — which isn’t a lot right now!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT TULSA?
Hands down it’s the people and the hospitality and friendliness. I truly think we have the friendliest people in the country. I look back to when we rst moved to Tulsa, and how we were embraced by the community. In fact, the late Bill Doenges of Bill Doenges Ford was a former Chamber Chair. He took a real interest in our family when we moved to Tulsa and made sure we felt at home. I will never forget that.
I also admire how we haven’t shied away from our history — the good and the bad. We’ve had some very dark periods in our city, and it’s important we don’t sweep it under the rug.
And nally, I also love how anyone — no matter if you are from here or not — can engage with the community and it will give back to you in spades. And now it is my turn to give some of that back. I am looking forward to 2025 and the opportunities it will bring. tp
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TULSAN of the YEAR FOLLOWING THE LEADER
Led by Taylor Hanson, Food On The Move continues growing stronger in its ght against food insecurity.
BY TIM LANDES
here’s a line out the door of the Jane A. Malone Community Center at Chamberlain Park, 4940 N. Frankfort Ave.
Tulsans of all ages and races are waiting for the clock to hit 5:30 p.m. so they can begin receiving bags full of fresh fruits and produce at Food On The Move’s monthly Community Food and Resource Festival.
For two hours, dozens of volunteers fill bags with potatoes, yams, peaches, bananas and an assortment of greens. As they get low on inventory there’s another volunteer ready to restock with more boxes of fruit or vegetables.
It’s a pay-as-you-can model that ensures families in need of assistance are given access to healthy food.
Nearby a DJ is playing the Fugees’ classic “Ready or Not,” which creates a singalong for many people in the gym as they go about their business. Many of those who aren’t singing are smiling. It truly feels festive and unlike the bleak images that come to mind when one thinks of food insecurity.
Once the blue bags stamped with a Food On The Move logo are full of fruits and veggies, guests circle the room learning about community resources provided by a multitude of organizations, including ArchWell Health, Family and Chil-
dren’s Services, Family Safety Center, Grand Mental Health, Tulsa City-County Library and Tulsa Health Department. Near the end are students from Oklahoma State University Health Sciences Center who are checking blood sugar levels. In the middle of the room is a mom-and-daughter duo volunteering to help children with arts and crafts.
FOTM hosts three Community Food and Resource Festivals each month. There’s Chamberlain Park, Tulsa Community College Northeast Campus, 3727 E. Apache St., and Northwest Tulsa Hub at 19 S. 49th W. Ave. On average 250 families participate in each festival.
These events are the backbone of Food On The Move, an organization now entering its 11th year. It’s on the verge of a major transformation with its Urban Farm project that each year will produce nearly 200,000 pounds of food indoors using aquaponics and hydroponics, as well as educate future farmers as FOTM works to end hunger in Tulsa and revitalize the local agricultural industry while also making it more sustainable as populations increase, land availability decreases and the climate gets hotter. If it all works out, it means more access to locally grown healthy foods that are affordable.
HANSON
HARPER, PRODUCE: MICHELLE
It’s an ambitious plan for the small and mighty nonprofi t that in the past decade has distributed over 5.6 million pounds of food to over 225,000 families and has educated more than 1,200 students through its Ag in Schools program, which includes training and education using innovative urban farming systems.
It all started when Taylor Hanson felt a calling to help the people of his hometown. It had been about 15 years since his band Hanson became world famous, fl ying around the globe numerous times over the years. Fame mixed with that kind of worldly education has long been a formula leading many music stars to pursue societal change through activism, like Bono, Bob Geldof and Joni Mitchell to name a few.
Hanson’s vision for Food On The Move is kind of like a distant cousin to Willie Nelson’s vision for Farm Aid. Ask Hanson what made him want to invest his energy into combating food insecurity and he’ll tell you it came from a conversation with the late Ambassador Edward J. Perkins, which led to him reading a book by Perkins that consumed his mind and led to more conversations that created a vision to ensure everyone in his hometown has access to healthy food. The rockstar then did what he does best. He worked the rooms and entertained, making others believers and supporters. He got them to open their wallets and their hearts.
“All of the dreams Taylor had are coming to fruition now. We’re just excited that it’s all happening basically like Taylor had envisioned it,” says Paula Marshall, CEO of Bama Cos., and an instrumental supporter of FOTM. “He’s very brilliant. A lot of people don’t understand that about him. He’s got this vision, and look at what’s happening.”
Food On The Move’s mission is “to transform food deserts and the legacy issues created by living food-insecure through creating access, education and innovative solutions.”
This year, FOTM becomes a stronger force in the fight with the addition of a larger growing facility that uses aquaponics and more new technology, plus the addition of a more robust adult education program that will empower local farmers to revitalize a dying agricultural industry, while adapting to global changes. If all goes as planned, it will become a healthier, stronger Tulsa in more ways than just by what we consume for nutrition.
It’s a transformational opportunity and none of it would have happened without the relentless efforts of Taylor Hanson. This is why he’s our Tulsan of Year.
That stated, he couldn’t do it alone, and he’ll be the first to say it. It has taken the efforts of FOTM’s CEO and President Kevin Harper with support from Marshall and other donors, along with staff and many volunteers who have kept the organization going as it grows.
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
It’s shortly after 3 p.m. on Nov. 1 when Taylor arrives at a field northwest of FOTM’s Micro Farm in north Tulsa. Earlier this morning at 1:30 a.m., he exited Nashville’s Cannery Hall after he and his brothers played a 22-song set that kicked off with a cover of Radiohead’s “Optimistic” and ended with “Lost Without Each Other.”
He’s here to take part in a photoshoot and to talk about FOTM while seeing the nonprofi t’s new facility that is nearing completion. In a few hours he will swap his casual attire for a tuxedo then walk the red carpet at his nonprofi t’s annual fundraiser at the Mayo Hotel, where Hanson will pose for pictures before entering the gala that he will conclude hours later DJing a penthouse bar dance. He has to be in Austin by noon the next day to prepare for the band’s concert at Emo’s that night.
But right now, he’s apologizing for possibly overstepping his boundary to share his thoughts on what color aprons he and Harper should wear for photos. Blue is the color for volunteers. More than 900 people wore a blue apron in 2023. Some are food festival guests, who later return to give back their time. Green is for the nearly 100 volunteers who have devoted at least 50 hours to the organization in a year, and black is for the employees.
Above, Food On The Move Founder Taylor Hanson and CEO and President Kevin Harper outside the nonprofit’s new Urban Farm as it nears construction completion. It is slated to begin operations later this year. Below, Hanson speaks at the 2024 Movers and Shakers after accepting an award at the nonprofit’s annual gala held at Mayo Hotel. Later that night he DJed the after-party inside the Mayo Penthouse Rooftop Bar.
Hanson settles on blue after some discussion to honor the volunteers. It’s an example of how intentional the founder is about everything he does when it comes to FOTM.
Next he’s balancing an assortment of fruit and vegetables cradled in his arms. “Look at my children,” the father of seven jokes.
It’s all smiles as flashes pop.
This is largely Hanson’s role for the organization today. He does press because he’s the rockstar founder, who over the years has graced many magazine covers before this one, including Bop, Entertainment Weekly and even TV Guide. There have been stories in Rolling Stone and People Magazine. There are blog posts, Reddit threads and countless social media comments about his various hair styles over the years. He has always had that celebrity superstar presence.
His band responsibilities limit his physical presence at FOTM. In what little free time the world-touring musician, husband and father has, he spends it researching and reading about things like food insecurity and community-building. He speaks with donors. He talks a lot to Harper, who does the day-to-day heavy lifting. Hanson remains in constant contact with board chair Jacob Chapman, sharing his thoughts and getting updates.
Those who have talked to Hanson about food insecurity quickly learn he devotes a tremendous amount of brain space to these efforts, and he can talk endlessly about all the reasons it’s important Food On The Move achieves its goals. He concedes, earnestly, that he nor the topic are built for soundbites. He’s truly passionate about the cause, calling it a movement.
“When we were first starting to go out with some of our fundraising plans, I would laugh and say, ‘Now, Taylor, you’re gonna have to be quiet, because these people don’t have two hours to sit on the phone and listen to our pitch.’ I’m probably one of the few people who could actually say that (to him),” Marshall says as she laughs.
As Hanson and Harper stand in the field for portraits, Hanson mentions that behind them in the distance is where he originally thought Food On The Move would be located, north of Tulsa Community College’s Northeast Campus. Instead, it’s to the east.
BUILDING GARDENS
Just over a decade ago, Hanson met Perkins, who became a mentor to the musician. When Hanson read Perkins’ memoir “Mr. Ambassador: Warrior for Peace” (co-authored by TulsaPeople contributor Connie Cronley) he was instantly captivated by the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa’s stories and lessons learned from his work in community-building and helping free Nelson Mandela
“I saw this man, and I thought about how his life had been taking on incredibly diffi cult challenges and somehow succeeding where others had failed,” says Hanson about the spark of the idea for FOTM. “I really felt this pull to roll up my sleeves in Tulsa to be a part of how do we make this city thrive, or how do we take on some of the things that have been cycles that have continued to repeat themselves — poverty, segregation, all of the layers within those.”
The rockstar called the rockstar ambassador and the two talked about making positive change. “I said, ‘Where would you start?’ He said, ‘I would start
Above, Taylor Hanson stands inside what will soon hold tilapia, which will help fuel produce growth with their waste before becoming food. FOTM plans to produce 13,000 pounds of fish a year. Left, lettuce grown inside FOTM’s Micro Farm.
with food.’ Food On The Move is a direct response to him saying to me, ‘I would start with food.’”
The two became very close. On Sept. 19, 2014, at Tulsa Country Club, Hanson hosted a conversation with Perkins. It was among his nonprofi t’s first events, and its goal was “to examine the issue of hunger in Tulsa and Oklahoma,” according to a Tulsa World report. It raised funds for Iron Gate — not his own organization.
Around the time Hanson was building FOTM, Marshall had made her annual trip to Chicago for the National Restaurant Show, where there was a lot of talk about the need for community gardens and the benefits of them. She was very intrigued. Soon Bama leadership was examining how to implement gardens at its Tulsa factories. As the plans moved further along, a group of plant managers called a meeting with their CEO.
“They were very concerned about the possibility of attracting bugs and rodents when it’s their jobs to keep those things away,” Marshall says. “I was very disappointed. They were very afraid to tell me, you know, they didn’t want to do it, but I totally understood that it was a food safety risk.”
Marshall was down, but not out. She and her team explored other opportunities.
Meanwhile Hanson’s nonprofit start-up was providing fresh produce to folks through mobile food events even though it wasn’t yet a 501(c)3 with fundraising and an organizational chart. Hanson’s band had launched their own beer with Hop Jam in 2014 to “celebrate entrepreneurship” he told News On 6 at the time about their beer tasting event and concert in Tulsa Arts District. During its six-year run, proceeds from a raffle went to Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.
“... THE EXCITING THING IS, I DIDN’T START THIS OFF AS A FOOD EXPERT. BUT WHAT WE DID DO IS WE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND WE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS, AND WE KEPT
SHOWING UP.”
— TAYLOR HANSON
While promoting the 2019 festival at the KTUL studio, Hanson met Harper, who was then two years into his job as director of marketing and business development for A New Leaf Inc., a local nonprofi t that serves more than 500 clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities and operates six greenhouses, two permanent garden centers and two seasonal garden centers, employing more
Clockwise from top left: Food On The Move grows flowers inside its
tomatoes are given to families in need at one of three monthly events. Volunteer
from DJ Oreo, who takes part every month at the TCC Northeast
than 280 staff overall. One-third of A New Leaf’s produce is donated, while two-thirds are sold to fund operations.
Harper was at the studio to help promote A New Leaf’s annual gala when Hanson told him about his small nonprofi t operation addressing Tulsa food deserts, and how he could use more fresh produce.
“I told our CEO Mary Ogle, ‘I got this connection with Taylor Hanson at Food On The Move,’ and she said, ‘You make that a good partnership.’ And I did so much he hired me,” Harper says.
Harper invited Hanson to the annual gala, which is where Marshall would meet the rockstar she’d been told was doing work in food security and looking to grow. She was stunned to learn Hanson lived here and not in New York or LA. Then he started talking about his vision. She was sold and told him she wanted to help. Hanson said if she was really interested in supporting the mission, he’d like to set a meeting at the TCC Northeast Campus, which Hanson thought could be utilized as a potential location for his nonprofi t.
“They had a building they were using for agricultural training. They’d had a class on ag and had a class on farming. The problem was they hadn’t had a class in a very long time,” Marshall says. “The building had classroom space, plumbing, greenhouse space. Taylor was so excited because the infrastructure has everything there.”
The building also came with red tape and everything else that comes with working with the government, Marshall says. After more than a year of work with little progress but lots of frustrations, a TCC board member suggested 5 acres of land behind the school. A contract was drawn up but then
Micro Farm. Volunteer Laurie Mahan takes part in a FOTM Food and Resource Festival, where fresh produce like
Mercy Solomon hands out produce. Tulsans receive fresh produce at a festival that included music
Campus event.
neighbors complained. The parties settled on land to the east of the school and Marshall made a gift to FOTM to purchase the property.
During that process Harper began donating produce from A New Leaf and volunteering at FOTM events. He and Hanson talked a lot and Harper started helping him get more organized behind the scenes to become a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Finally, Hanson asked him to draft a job description for the CEO position.
With the land locked in and FOTM becoming more structured, Hanson and Harper asked Marshall for a meeting to discuss their vision for the nonprofi t and the future.
When the trio sat down, Hanson explained how busy he was and told Marshall he thought Harper was the man for the job.
“I was dumbfounded because I didn’t even realize Kevin wanted to because, god, he had such a big thing going over at A New Leaf,” Marshall says.
She asked Harper if this is really what he wanted to do.
“This is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do,” he told her.
Knowing it would be more stress to work at obtaining the funding to pay Harper and assure he felt stable, Marshall decided Bama would hire him and place him in the community development office working with Kim Owens (who had introduced Marshall and Hanson at the gala), but assigned to Food On The Move.
Five years later, Harper still works for Bama. “That’s something we want to keep doing, and we’ll
probably always do that,” says Marshall about the unique arrangement. “I’ve worked in the not-forprofi t world a long time with a lot of great people, a lot of very big names around here, and I know that they come up with unique ways to push our not-forprofi ts forward, but I don’t know one that has done this exact thing.”
On average about 60 Bama team members volunteer for FOTM each month, according to Marshall. Bama has supported the nonprofi t in acquiring more land that enabled the construction of Urban Farm.
Harper became FOTM’s CEO in November 2019. Four months later the COVID-19 pandemic hit Tulsa and there was the shutdown that forced the nonprofi t to grow faster than anticipated.
“It was me and we had an intern when we started the mobile drive-thrus,” Harper says. Then the volunteers came to help. “Food On The Move handed out 4.5 million pounds of food (from April 2020 - May 2021). We had the drive-thrus down. We could do 1,200 cars in two hours.” There was also always a DJ on-site to provide a mood-lifting soundtrack.
Harper credits their pandemic response to helping them gain support through federal money, donors and community partners, and dedicated volunteers — more than 100 during the pandemic. “It gave us instant credibility because we were there, we did it and we did it well. No one knew who we were. We were a small little thing known as something that Taylor started because he felt passionate about it. COVID showed we legitimately
could do what we could do, and that’s when we started getting people on board with the cause.”
FOTM followed this success up by partnering with Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma to provide three meals a day for 209 consecutive days to Afghan refugees living in local hotels from September 2021 - April 2022.
“That was a long 209 days, and we pulled it off,” Harper says. “Those things happened, and it got us the credibility by proving if we say we’re going to do it, we’re going to do it.”
The organization continued its food and resource festivals and started community gardens at FOTM, Chamberlain Park, Monroe Demonstration Academy and Tandy Family YMCA. In what could be considered a pilot for future education efforts, FOTM launched its Ag in Schools Program, which includes training and education using innovative urban farming systems. It educates students in the critical foundations of urban farming, the importance of healthy eating, and how to become an urban farmer.
They started growing produce of their own at their Micro Farm using aquaponics to learn best practices as they scale up operations and begin teaching others how to use it.
Food Home Direct (formally known as LocalFarmOK) became a division of FOTM in 2024. It’s a subscription service that delivers fresh, locally grown produce, meat and dairy to customers’ doors with proceeds going to the fight against food insecurity.
The long-running Hanson Day, the band’s annual fan celebration held in the Tulsa Arts District each May, also became an opportunity to raise awareness for FOTM and its mission with a lunch-and-learn that was added to the event schedule in 2023. According to Hanson fan blog Scream and Be Frees, at this year’s event a goal was set to raise $4,100 for the nonprofit in honor of the founder’s 41st birthday. That goal was met and surpassed by nearly double.
URBAN FARM
Back in the field the photoshoot is wrapped, and Hanson says he’s excited to see inside the new facility dubbed Urban Farm. He hasn’t been inside in months, so he’s anxious to see the progress before it begins operations in the second quarter of 2025.
He can’t contain his excitement as he walks across the construction site, hopping over random boards, wires and other materials. He walks across a concourse area that will one day serve as a marketplace for what’s grown inside the building, which he enters, then walks over to an interior wall and immediately peels some brown paper to reveal a window to the grow space. “Oh, my god, it looks fantastic.”
According to Hanson, there is no model to build from. They are the innovators. And he’s looking at a nearly complete prototype of Urban Farm he hopes is copied over and over down the road.
“There are people teaching aquaponics and indoor growing, and then there are people building food hubs, but the way in which the complete integration of the way we’re looking at this, we don’t have anything to copy,” says Hanson, who points out where we’re standing will be a classroom for
Taylor Hanson with Paula Marshall, CEO of Bama Cos., and Kevin Harper at the 2023 Movers and Shakers gala held at OKPOP.
high school students and adults to learn skills to immediately go to work farming.
Hanson’s longterm vision is those farmers will then take their skills and grow food for Oklahomans that will be sold in locally owned markets and stores and used in restaurants throughout the state, all while making farming a sustainable industry once again.
“This is the future of growing things,” Hanson says. “We need urban farming. We need traditional farming. We need all of it to take our food back and reclaim all the food we’re buying from California and Mexico and then shipping around and filling our bellies with stuff that’s packed with preservatives. It serves the food-growing companies to grow in one spot and put it on a truck, but it doesn’t serve Oklahomans.”
Hanson and Harper examine the area dubbed Food Hub, which is where local producers and distributors will meet. They check out a clean room that minimizes contaminants during packaging, a refrigeration room, and shipping and receiving areas before walking into the main grow space that is 10,000 square feet and will soon hold row after row of aquaponic beds growing fruits and vegetables. Hanson then steps inside a giant tank turned on its side.
“These will be fish tanks full of tilapia, as well as a variety of different kinds of fish that naturally do what they do in the water,” Hanson says. “There will be six tanks with like 300 fish in each one. They swim around, they poop, and their waste is the perfect fertilizer. Their natural waste gets processed through the systems and kicks back all the things the plants need.”
Harper adds, “We’re going to produce 185,000 pounds of produce a year and then 13,000 pounds of fish.”
These leaders in the fight against food insecurity feel the urgency because time is of the essence with what’s to come in the years ahead.
“We know that in 2050 there’s a food crisis coming, so the amount of land is not going to meet the need of the people. So indoor farming becomes
a critical reality,” Harper says. “By 2028 aquaponics will be a $1.8 billion industry, with North America leading the way. We’ll have a state-of-the-art training facility right here in north Tulsa.”
Harper points out the environmental filtration system will also run through the heating and cooling system made by RAE Corp. in Pryor that is called ZeroCool. FOTM will pull 80 gallons of water an hour from that system then filter it for plants. They will be installing solar panels in the next two years for increased sustainability.
Hanson says while initially the focus has been on the metro food deserts, he believes the work ahead will benefi t the smaller communities sprinkled across Green Country and hopefully beyond.
“The destruction of the rural small towns is dramatically connected to the food process,” he says. “As you lose all those rural jobs because the food companies have swallowed up and basically broken the backs of small distribution channels, there are no food hubs now. Well, who dies first? It’s the small towns where they owned farms, where they worked with their hands, and where they grew our food. The legacy of this is really going to be helping to rekindle the flame of our main streets across Oklahoma, because that’s where our farmers live.”
He’s done the research, sees the opportunities to do more and has a vision of how to end food insecurity in Green Country.
“It’s impossible to put into words the meaning of the fact that we’re even standing in this building,” Hanson says. “What we’re trying to show with this entire process is not to be afraid of imagining something better ... I’m much more interested in what’s possible than what’s likely, because you can bet on likelihood, and you’ll probably be right about what’s likely to happen, but I don’t think there’s any of my time that should be dedicated to predicting the likelihood of something. It takes seeing it and not being afraid to say, ‘Well, the whole thing’s broken.’ Nobody really wants to say that. We can fi x it, but we have to decide we’re going to fi x it.’”
Hanson’s passion and conviction and the way he shapes his thoughts could lead one to wonder if there’s a future in politics?
He laughs then says, “We’re all in politics. Today, I was in politics because I casted my vote.”
Right now his mind is only on FOTM’s mission as they ramp up their efforts at a time when according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Tulsa has a poverty rate of 18.2%, whch is nearly three points higher than the national average, and FOTM partner Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma states one out of six Oklahomans are food insecure.
“What we’re doing, it’s like we’re two or three steps up the ladder right now, and we have a mountain ahead of us. Food On The Move has a huge mountain that is going to want to destroy every single thing we’re doing. That mountain is not one villain with a cigar, one political party, one business, one self-motivated critic,” Hanson says. “The mountain is that whole idea of what’s likely versus what’s possible. Because if you look at what’s likely, we continue down the road of cheaper, processed food that costs way more than it should. That is fueling a crony capitalism government and big business working together to sever the sovereignty of food, and the exciting thing is, I didn’t start this off as a food expert. But what we did do is we got a lot of people together, and we asked a lot of questions, and we kept showing up.”
The list of supporters keeps growing as Food On The Move grows. And everyone keeps showing up ready to help Hanson achieve his ultimate goal.
“I’m super glad and super happy we’ve been able to bring his vision to life and not look back and regret anything,” Marshall says. “Every single thing we’ve done has been purposeful. It’s been clunky, but it’s been purposeful. And we’ve had a lot of folks along the way, like Joe Deere with Cherokee Nation and Michelle Hardesty. We just have so many folks that have come with us along the ride.
“We’re doing it. We’re doing it. That’s what I can say. And Taylor’s the guy that got us all in the pied piper line. We’re all here still following him.” tp
Architectural rendering of FOTM’s new $8.5 million campus at East Apache Street and North New Haven Avenue.
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Propagating community
How a local plant shop creates a space for shoppers to engage their wild side.
BY ALLY LIGHTLE
Like most people in 2020, Racynda Weldon craved a new hobby. at’s when she discovered her passion for plants. What began as a pastime has grown into a bustling plant shop in downtown Sand Springs.
Wild Ones o ers plants, eyelash extensions and several artisanal products such as lotions, soaps and jewelry. e large front windows lure anyone with an interest in houseplants or gardening. But the shop’s highlight is the propagating station, a dedicated space for plant cuttings to root and grow, located in the center of the store. is allows for the plant novice or expert to comfortably nd the perfect plant and then learn how to care for it.
“It’s just been one hell of a journey,” says Weldon, re ecting on her past year of opening her dream shop.
Yet some wonder: Why lash extensions in a plant shop? For Weldon, the answer is simple. Her two daughters are both eyelash technicians, and she wanted a space where they could work together.
“I’m very close with my daughters, we are inseparable,” Weldon says. “I wanted to create a safe space for my girls to work.”
But, it’s not all about plants and lashes. Wild Ones regularly hosts events from ladies’ nights to plant bingo to planting classes focused on terrariums and succulents. It’s a place for an organic community, bringing together people from all walks of life.
Weldon says she does not sell expensive plants, as it’s important to her that all are able to discover the therapeutic joy that comes from planting. She will also re-pot plants that someone has received at a funeral or signi cant event. tp
SHOP FAVORITES
and
Lolli Pots are handmade in Mannford. $5-$10.
Monstera Deliciosa is grown by Weldon in the back of her shop. $2-$40.
Locally made, Erin’s Essentials soy candles come in a variety of scents
unique designs. $15-$22.
Racynda Weldon
WELLNESS GUIDE
Let’s take on 2025 with an invigorated spirit for all things healthy, mindful and beneficial. Bridge friendship with fitness. Take preventative steps to a healthy new year. Learn a new allergy-friendly recipe or two. Treat yourself to a facial refresh.
Chasing the fountain of youth
Non-invasive skin care treatments continue to surge in popularity. Here are a few of the top procedures o ered at
local med spas.
BY MARNIE FERNANDEZ
Botox, fillers, microneedling, lasers, infrared light therapy, threads — the list goes on, and is quite frankly overwhelming. With the eternal quest to turn back the hands of time, the skin care industry is booming with new technologies constantly emerging, making it difficult to know where to begin.
“Start with addressing your main concern,” says Jara Herron, owner of Jara Herron Salon and Med Spa, which boasts two full-service locations and a new walk-in salon model. “Is it sagging skin? Crow’s feet? Discoloration? Once you can determine that, we
can recommend a procedure(s) specifically designed to treat that area or issue,” Herron says.
One of their more popular treatments is microneedling with PRP, or platelet rich plasma, as it has no heat or chemicals. PRP is a concentration of platelets that are essential for cell multiplication. Blood is drawn from the client, then processed to use after the treatment. Microneedling creates millions of controlled microchannels in your skin to jumpstart the production of collagen, which your skin loses as you age.
“Think of your collagen as the scaffolding of the skin,” Herron says. “It keeps everything supported, and as the scaffolding breaks down, you lose volume, and it creates that hollowed-out look.”
After the microneedling, the PRP is massaged into the skin to enhance the procedure. Herron recommends three to four treatments four to six weeks apart for optimal results.
“Once your desired results are achieved, you only need to come back for a maintenance session as needed,” she says.
Another new non-invasive skin treatment uses a combination of sea salt, ultrasound technology and LED light therapy.
“The SaltFacial Skin Renewal Therapy has transformed how we approach skin care,” says Melody Hawkins, chief financial officer of BA Med Spa and Weight Loss Center, 510 N. Elm Place in Broken Arrow. “We are the only medical spa in Oklahoma to offer this innovative technology, which involves sea salt exfoliation, advanced ultrasound technology and LED light therapy, which improves skin texture, reduces fine lines, and treats acne and pigmentation issues.”
Herron, whose salon and med spa just celebrated 25 years in business, has seen lots of changes in the industry over the years, but there are some treatments and procedures that still stand the test of time.
“The lash lift may sound like a new procedure, but it has been around for decades,” Herron says. “It’s the lash perm rebranded! But it still works and is a huge hit with clients.”
Despite the new advances in skin care, there are still some tried-and-true treatments that work every single time: neurotoxin injectables. Both salons tout their effectiveness to smooth fine lines and wrinkles and can even tighten and lift skin in some areas.
“Botox (brand name for a type of neurotoxin) is a client favorite for achieving a refreshed and youthful appearance,” Hawkins says. “It is a proven way to deliver natural-looking results.” tp
Jara Herron is the owner of her namesake salons and med spas, including the Brookside location at 3410 S. Peoria Ave, Suite 300. Popular treatments include PRP — or platelet rich plasma— as well as neurotoxin injectables.
Sweat success
4 exercise programs that bridge fi tness with friendship.
BY LAURA DENNIS
If fitness goals are among your New Year’s resolutions, why not make some new friends with like-minded aspirations while you’re at it? Many local exercise programs prioritize building community while providing you with a full-body workout.
YMCA TULSA
YMCA is a nonpro t dedicated to strengthening community by uplifting youth, enhancing health and well-being for all ages, and inspiring action in and across communities. Rebekah Fortna , member experience and wellness director for Owasso Family YMCA, says each of its 15 locations across the greater Tulsa area o ers a range of group exercises, from Zumba to spin classes, yoga and more.
Popular among members is the Aqua Aerobics class, which combines cardio training and muscle toning for a lowimpact workout designed for all ages and tness levels. Fortna says these group classes are a great way to make friends. “Members who participate in group exercise nd a community of people who share their same goals, instructors who motivate and encourage them, and a way to stay accountable,” she adds.
Fortna would tell new members of the YMCA to remember “everyone was once a beginner on their health journey. It’s OK to be at a di erent stage than others around you.”
TULSA FITNESS SYSTEMS
Owners Clint and Kara Howard have a passion for people and tness and have made their life’s work combining the two at Tulsa Fitness Systems, 8624 S. Peoria Ave. “Our background is strong in performance training, nutrition and exercise,” Clint says. “And we love what we do; we love to help people.”
eir group classes unite weightlifting and cardio circuits that strengthen and tone the body and are customizable and attainable for any age and tness ability. Additional bene ts are the personalized coaching and community building they incorporate into everyday sessions. “To get people comfortable with others in the workout group, we pair them up, go through circuits together and allow them to get to know each other and our trainers,” Clint says. “We also do community and holiday events in and outside of the gym to help our clients build on those connections.”
Newcomers to Tulsa Fitness Systems should know achieving their tness goals might take some time. “We’re going to start slow, so you don’t get too sore or overdo it,” Clint says. “We try to set realistic expectations for our clients and help hold them accountable.”
Clockwise from top left, Tandy Family YMCA members enjoy an Aqua Aerobics class led by Christy Hoppe; Clint Howard assists a client at Tulsa Fitness Systems; Bonnie Redmond leads a small group private session at PLNK; Erin Miller instructs a recent class at League Indoor Cycling.
LEAGUE INDOOR CYCLING
At League Indoor Cycling, owners and co-founders Erin Miller and May Segovia have developed a cycling practice that connects movement of the body, spirit and energy while being guided by music. “Everything we do is rooted in rhythm,” Miller says. “It’s unifying. It’s such a powerful experience to see a group of 30 humans moving together in unison.”
Located at 4329 S. Peoria Ave., each 45-minute practice o ers a full-body workout with a heavy cardiovascular focus, while also building strength and agility. “It’s really healthy for joints, keeps the heart healthy, and it’s great for lung capacity and blood ow,” Miller says.
League’s name speaks for itself in terms of community. “It really stands for a group of people with a common goal,” Segovia says. “It’s what brings us all together despite what we look like or where we are on our journey. And that’s our biggest mission, is to bring people together to move.”
For new members, Segovia says, as with any new environment, it takes a lot of courage to even show up. But she reassures, “continue to show up, and with that continued dedication and focus, you will start to see progress. Trust the process.”
PLNK
PLNK Tulsa, 1326 E. 35th St., o ers high-intensity, no-impact, 50-minute Pilates classes that follow the Lagree Method, which focuses on slower, controlled movements that contract multiple muscle groups at once. “Each session at PLNK targets all seven elements of physical tness: cardio, strength, endurance, body composition, exibility, core strength and balance,” says Ti any Reese, director of interactive media. “You’ll be engaging muscles you didn’t even know existed.”
PLNK’s small class sizes naturally create a group atmosphere that is both supportive and fun. Building relationships and community within and outside of the studio is one of its core values. “Community is at the heart of everything we do at PLNK,” Reese says. “From the moment people walk in, we want them to know they belong.” By celebrating client milestones via the monthly newsletter or social media shout outs, or opening the studio with private classes for sports teams, clubs, local businesses and even bachelorette parties, PLNK aims to empower and grow its community.
For anyone trying PLNK for the rst time, Reese says it’s completely normal to feel challenged, even if you’re experienced in other tness styles. “Our certied instructors are here to support and guide you through every step,” she says. “Each class is a new opportunity to grow, strengthen and learn about what your body can do.” tp
Trey Marler is the president of Craft Health, which provides clients with preventative health scans with its Craft Body Scan service. Inset, Dr. Steffen Carey
Screening in the New Year
Local health experts say preventative health screenings are critical.
BY LAURA DENNIS
For many of us, the New Year brings with it a roster of self-made promises and the hope and desire for self-improvement. While some might commit to cutting back on sweets or to exercising more often, Dr. Steffen Carey at Oklahoma State University Family Medicine Clinic, says preventative health measures might be the most effective way to take charge of your health in the New Year. “Based on health factors and age, your risk increases for certain illnesses,” he says. “Certain conditions can easily be treated or improved if you screen and properly give a treatment plan early on.”
The good news is that a majority of preventative screenings is covered by health insurance, not just those who have a family history of illnesses like colon cancer or breast cancer. Carey says most insurance providers cover a yearly preventative health visit at no cost. To schedule an assessment with your physician, simply call and schedule an appointment. There is no referral needed.
The physicians at OSU Family Medicine are big on preventative health, and Carey says it’s something all doctors should prioritize. “Most of the time it’s our job to create that awareness and get (the appointment) setup,” he says. “People live with much more vitality and happiness and can improve the quality of their life by taking care of these issues before it negatively impacts their health.”
For those who wish to take preventative health a step further, places like Craft Body Scan, located at 5711 E. 71st St., offer quick, non-invasive scans using advanced imaging technology to detect potential health risks such as early signs of heart disease or cancer. “The typical Craft Body Scan lasts about 10 minutes,” says Trey Marler, president of Craft Health, the parent company of Craft Body Scan.
Craft Body Scan provides the diagnostic tools, but also offers personalized health services tailored to individual needs and provides a personal health care advocate who helps individuals navigate their health journeys. A physician, nurse and radiologist are always on-site. “We’re making preventive health a part of everyday life, which until now, was rare in traditional health care,” he says. “Our scans give people the kind of information they wouldn’t normally have until symptoms show up, but by then, it’s often too late to reverse the condition.”
Good candidates for Craft Body Scan include men and women above the age of 40 who have a family history or other risk factors for diabetes, obesity, high stress, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, tobacco usage or a family history of heart disease or cancer. Marler adds that even those in seemingly good health, without the above risk factors, are encouraged to complete a body scan because “early detection is the key to disease prevention.” tp
The food allergy fight
Food allergies come in varied forms.
STORIES BY NATALIE MIKLES
Reagan Ledbetter doesn’t get a day off from thinking about food allergies. Dealing with his severe tree nut allergy is a part of life, so reading labels and observing his environment for potential interference is something he does every day.
A few years ago he had a reaction so severe it sent him to the emergency room — something the News on 6 anchor and crime reporter shared with his social media followers. By the more than 1,400 likes and hundreds of comments that post received, it was something that resonated with many.
That particular close call he wrote about started as a day like any other. Ledbetter had plans to attend his now-fianceé’s family Sunday dinner. And though the family knew of his allergy to tree nuts, he double checked as a precaution with his fianceé’s sister, who was making the main dish — chicken pesto flatbread. She knew he couldn’t have pine nuts (a pesto staple), so she used a jarred pesto that was pine nut-free. But after two bites, Ledbetter’s mouth and throat started tingling, then his entire body was itching and a deep red rash began to overtake his skin. It was later discovered that ground cashews were listed in the ingredient list.
Doctors told him it was a good thing he came when he did because he could have died if his throat had continued to swell and close.
For Ledbetter and many others like him, food allergies are more than an inconvenience. It’s a life-altering issue they carry with them. According to the organization Food Allergy Research and Education, one in 10 adults and one in 13 children in the U.S. live with food allergies. That accounts for 33 million Americans.
“Navigating food allergies is stressful. The first line of defense is to have an epinephrine pen available,” says Dr. Weyman Lam, allergy and immunology physician at Warren Clinic and Saint Francis Children’s Physicians.
Lam says allergies have been on the rise in the past several decades, with food allergies becoming more common.
“(Food allergies) are more commonly diagnosed for children at a young age,” Lam says. “And it’s a lifelong anxiety, since food allergies in general are not typically outgrown.”
Ledbetter’s allergy to tree nuts was first discovered when he was 4 years old and eating cashews
THE BIG 9
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the most common food allergies in the U.S. are: Milk • Eggs • Fish • Shellfish • Tree Nuts • Peanuts • Wheat • Soybeans • Sesame
at his grandparents’ house. His mom was shocked to find him red and swollen. From that point on, he wore a bracelet identifying his allergy.
Nowadays a bracelet is little protection. Ledbetter stays highly vigilant — avoiding shaking hands with people who may be snacking on trail mix, reading food labels and asking questions of waitstaff at restaurants.
Recently he was on a flight when the man seated next to him pulled out a bag of pistachios.
“It’s uncomfortable having to ask someone to put their food away. That’s very awkward. But I had to tell him, ‘I’m deathly allergic to those,’” Ledbetter says. “It’s frustrating when you’re at a restaurant and you have to say, ‘Sorry to bother you, but can you ask the cook if there are nuts in this or around this?’ So many things are made with nuts. It’s challenging. I’m used to it now, and the people around me are used to it. But it’s a scary thing to be in that spot.” tp
DINING OUT with FOOD ALLERGIES
Avoiding trigger foods at restaurants requires part common sense and part inquiry, says Dr. Weyman Lam, allergy and immunology physician at Warren Clinic and Saint Francis Children’s Physicians.
If you have a shellfish allergy, avoid seafood restaurants all together, for example. It’s not worth the risk.
“If you have any allergy at all, you need to avoid buffets and salad bars,” Lam says. This is because of the risk of cross-contamination with different people handling the serving utensils.
Ordering simple dishes is more likely to be safe. The more complex the recipe or more ingredients it has, the more likely for potential problems.
Look for icons on the menu designating nut-free, wheat-free or dairy-free dishes. “It’s awesome to see those. It makes me feel confident in ordering something,” says Reagan Ledbetter, someone with severe tree nut allergies.
More and more restaurants offer menu items tailored for people with food allergies. Look for symbols or a note on the bottom of the menu. But your safest best is to share your concerns and talk to the waiter. Here are a few local restaurants that are good about accommodating people with food allergies.
CHIMERA 212 N. Main St.
A safe spot for vegans, Chimera has a variety of dairy-free, gluten-free and nut-free options. We love their Daydream Nation bowl — a tofu scramble with black beans, avocado and roasted potatoes with a tofu queso fresco.
OREN 3509 S. Peoria Ave.
The waitstaff at Oren is incredibly helpful in navigating allergy-free menu items. The za’atar crusted salmon is a good choice since it’s made with coconut milk and chickpeas.
QUE GUSTO 105 M.L.K. Blvd.
Many menu items are designated gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan at Que Gusto. The yucca fries are fried in avocado oil, which is good to know if seed oils are your issue.
FARMBAR 1740 S. Boston Ave.
The kitchen at FarmBar is great about accommodating nut allergies. Just let them know before you order. For the multi-course dinners, dairy-free and egg-free options are available.
Reagan Ledbetter
FREE FOR ALL
is recipe, from the site Eating with Food Allergies, is free of the top nine most common allergies.
BROCCOLI CRUNCH SALAD
Makes 8 servings
8 cups broccoli chopped into bite-size pieces
1 cup chopped green apple
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1 cup pomegranate seeds
1/3 cup sun ower seeds
1/3 cup dried cranberries
FOR THE DRESSING:
1/3 cup vegan mayonnaise
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon poppy seeds
In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, apples, green onions, pomegranate seeds, sun ower seeds and dried cranberries.
In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, add the salad dressing ingredients and whisk together with a spoon or mini whisk until the mixture is smooth.
Pour the salad dressing over the broccoli mixture and toss, making sure all of the broccoli is coated with dressing. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
is recipe, from cookbook author Megan Lavin, is both gluten-free and vegan, making it safe for a wide number of people with food allergies.
CINNAMON SWIRL MUFFINS
Makes 10-12 mu ns
2 cups gluten-free our blend
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum (omit if your our blend includes this)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup, plus 2 tablespoons vanilla rice milk
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
SWIRL FILLING:
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
GLAZE:
1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 tablespoons vanilla rice milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray mu n tin with nonstick spray.
In a stand mixer, add all the dry ingredients and stir with a paddle attachment to blend well. With the mixer on low, slowly add all the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients until well incorporated, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.
Scoop 1/2 of batter into the greased mu n tins. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of cinnamon-sugar mixture over batter in each mu n tin. Scoop in another 1/2 of batter and spread evenly. Try not to ll the mu n tins all the way.
Bake mu ns 12-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and edges are golden brown. Let cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove each mu n from pan to cool completely.
Make the glaze by mixing powdered sugar and rice milk. Stir until smooth. Drizzle over the cooled mu ns. tp
Broccoli crunch salad
Cinnamon swirl muffins
Washington, D.C., turns various shades of pink and white during cherry blossom season. The 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival is set for March 20-April 13.
Adventure awaits
Break out of your typical spring break vacation with these 4 destinations.
BY RHYS MARTIN
It seems like just yesterday we were all yearning for cooler temperatures and the changing of the leaves. Once the frozen winter sets in, the mood invariably shifts to desiring an escape to warmer climates … or at the very least, an escape to a place that provides an escape from Oklahoma’s traditional landscape.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Thanks to a direct flight from Tulsa on American Airlines, you can go from the Capital of Route 66 to the Capital of the United States in less than three hours. If you’ve never visited Washington, D.C., you’re in for a real treat. There are more museums and monuments to visit here than you can shake a gavel at. It’s impossible to see everything in one trip, so it’s best to narrow your focus and get the most out of your time. Scheduling a tour of the U.S. Capitol is well worth the effort; you’ll need to get reservations in advance through visitthecapitol.gov. There are several specialty tours available, too, subject to availability.
The Smithsonian is actually a complex of multiple museums — you could spend an entire week just going through them. The National Museum of Natural History is especially popular with kids, and the National Museum of the American Indian has many interesting exhibits, but I’m partial to the National Museum of American History. There’s an exhibit there that features Route 66 … literally! An original concrete slab of the Mother Road was removed near Bridgeport, Oklahoma, several decades ago and donated to the Smithsonian. Tulsan Cyrus Avery is also featured in the exhibit — appropriate since he’s known as the Father of Route 66.
No matter what you do, you’ll be doing it among some of America’s most beautiful blooms. Springtime in D.C. is when the cherry blossom trees bloom, turning the National Mall into a beautiful tapestry of pink and white. Be sure to take some time to sit outside and just admire the natural splendor.
SOUTHWEST MISSOURI
Closer to home, the great outdoors of southwest Missouri beckon with a variety of activities. Spring eld is a good home base. Fellows Lake nearby is a great local shing spot with several trails and the area has a lot of attractions for those who want to mix up their vacation. Fantastic Caverns more than lives up to its name and is open year-round. It’s a ride-through experience, so everybody can take part in the awe of this natural cave. In nearby Ozark, a historic spot has been given a total refresh. Finley Farms is centered around an 1800sera mill (which didn’t stop operating until the 1990s and was fully restored in 2018). is 40-acre destination is the perfect detour for a unique dining experience. e restaurant is supported by the on-site urban farm. In addition to the farm-to-table restaurant, there’s a ne-dining eatery and speakeasy at Finley Farms, too — reservations are recommended. If you like history like I do, you can also tour the historic mill. Still a bit further south, the Busiek State Forest and Wildlife Area is a more primitive hiking experience that also allows overnight camping. It’s a great place to disconnect and get away from it all.
The Ozark Mill Restaurant at Finley Farms near Ozark, Missouri
Canaveral National Seashore in Florida
SPRING BREAK TRAVEL GUIDE
FLORIDA
Don’t underestimate the allure of a traditional beach vacation during Spring Break. ere are innumerable resorts and beach towns to choose from, but keeping with the general natural theme you should check out the Canaveral National Seashore. is sanctuary, designated a unit of the National Park Service in the 1970s, is the “longest stretch of undeveloped Atlantic coastline in Florida.” Due to it being a little out of the way, it’s one of the state’s quieter beaches and has a greater chance of witnessing marine life in their natural habitat. If the family’s idea of a Florida vacation is a little more active, the city of Lakeland has a little bit of everything to supplement your time soaking up the sun. It’s further inland, but Madeira Beach (among others) is about an hour to the west and an easy drive for a beach day or two augmented by other activities. Lakeland has a great children’s museum and the LEGOLAND theme park for the kids; for adults, there’s a ton of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture (with tours!) and a strong craft beer scene. e Circle B Bar Reserve is a protected park where you can take a walk and see some of the Sunshine State’s natural critters such as cranes, alligators and otters. No matter what you do to occupy your day in the Lakeland area, cap it o with a visit to the Silvermoon Drive-In. is theater has been screening motion pictures outdoors since 1948 and is only one of four left in the entire state.
NEW MEXICO MOUNTAINS
If, perchance, you aren’t quite done with winter, New Mexico o ers a wealth of fun and culturally signi cant options. e Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway is an 84-mile loop around Wheeler Peak that will lead you to ski resorts a-plenty with some other great sites along the way. Starting in Taos, the Taos Pueblo is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a tour here will give you a solid foundation of the area’s history. Questa is known as the gateway to the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, which o ers a variety of outdoor activities that change with each season. Red River Ski Area has been a family-owned recreation hub for more than six decades. e town of Red River was built as a mining town and still has a bit of that Old West vibe. Elizabethtown, a ghost town further down the road, continues that frontier feeling. ere are more skiing opportunities in Angel Fire along with a beautiful Vietnam Memorial that was developed by the Westphall family. ere’s a chapel, gardens, an amphitheater, a visitor’s center and more. On the way to or from the Enchanted Circle drive, you’ll pass through Santa Fe and that’s also a great place to spend a few days and explore. Special shout-out to e Pantry restaurant, which has been a welcome comfort-food destination for me for many years. tp
Silvermoon Drive-In in Lakeland, Florida
New Mexico’s Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway
WONDERS OF WILDLIFE
DOGWOOD CANYON NATURE PARK
LOST CANYON CAVE & NATURE TRAIL
ANCIENT OZARKS NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
WONDERS OF WILDLIFE
DOGWOOD CANYON NATURE PARK
How to write your own obituary
BY CONNIE CRONLEY
The good thing is I don’t have to make New Year’s resolutions.
I can just pull out the box from last year and there they are, many in the original wrapping, never having been touched.
Also the ones from the year before. I dismiss the laughable ones: Do not buy Halloween candy in September. Stop compulsively scrolling Facebook.
e big ones about exercise and wine and budget are so old they would crumble if I touched them. So, I don’t. “Let sleeping resolutions lie” is my motto.
With the time I’ve saved not writing resolutions, I have a new project. I’m writing my own obituary. Here’s how I arrived at this plan.
I like obituaries for the same reason I love to read biographies and memoirs. People are fascinating to me and a well-written obituary
is like a mini biography of an interesting life. It’s the rst section I turn to in the New York Times, which is a commentary on my intellect as well as my taste. “Snoopy” is a good description.
If it is a stranger, I’m impressed. If I’m familiar with the person, I lap up the juicy details. If it is a local acquaintance, I regret I didn’t know them better.
e word obituary comes from Medieval Latin obituarius, meaning a record of the death of a person. An obituary is straight-forward and factual; a eulogy is more personal, often a testimony honoring the person.
I was intrigued by an article I read recently titled “Why I Write My Own Obituary Every Year.” But, when the author said she is 48 I thought, “48! What does she know about obituaries?” Still, I told myself, give her the bene t of the doubt.
e obituary format, she said, includes just the facts: age, home, survivors, achievements in work, school, community and nally, how people might remember us.
I thought: boring.
en came her good advice: write an aspirational obituary. Meaning, what might happen before I die. In her words, what “ ashy accomplishments and accumulations” might be coming my way. is hooked me. Obituary as ction. I’m in.
I skipped the boring, factual stu . Here’s what I’ve come up with so far:
Late in life, adulation, honors, awards, accolades and money poured in. She liked this. Especially the money.
Instead of retiring, she mastered new skills: Morse code, balance beam gymnastics, heavy equipment operation.
She regretted she hadn’t been arrested multiple times for political or social protests.
For a avor of my personality, I tossed in some confessional information, mostly true:
Her memory was too shallow to harbor grudges, no deeper than a splashpad, but therein bobbed bright and happy memories of holidays in South Carolina and Wyoming and people she had worked with in her jobs at the ballet, university and soup kitchen.
Still, she left behind a path of burned bridges and smoldering relationships that rivaled Sherman’s March to the Sea. Her attitude was sanguine: “Couldn’t be helped. Best I could do at the time.”
Her idea of deep housecleaning began with cutting owers and branches from her garden for bouquets, then saying “ at’s enough for the day.”
All of the pets and the wild critters who crossed her path were assigned proper names except the squirrels, who were all named Sammy.
I went deep with some wisdom learned the hard way: Stay hydrated. Start over.
Eat out alone.
Take more vacations.
Nobody’s around when the page is blank. Every day take your gifts out into the world. You never know your own courage until you have encountered a Russian prima ballerina.
I concluded my obituary this way:
She thought the greatest thing that ever happened to her was learning to read and write. She often repeated her paraphrase of Willie Nelson : my heroes have always been writers.”
If there’s space for the boring details, someone else can add them. Or, make them up. I have always admired creativity. tp
LUXURY PROPERTY GROUP
Call any of the Luxury Property Group Realtors about one of these homes, or any property that you have an interest in. We will provide you with superior personal service with the highest integrity.
JENKS WEST
Unbelievable opportunity to own 5 acres near Jenks West Schools with a gated, hilltop home offering stunning views and a peaceful country feel. This spacious property features a formal living/dining area, a large master suite with a private study, and a walk-out basement game room leading to an inground pool. With multiple balconies, a new roof, fresh exterior paint, and convenient access to shopping and highways, this home is the perfect blend of tranquility and convenience. 833 W 91st Street S, Tulsa, OK 74132. $ 995,000
SIGNAL HILL
This newly renovated home sits on an acre (m/l) of land in gated Signal Hill. Beautiful finishes, new flooring, electric, plumbing, all surfaces and fixtures. Chef's kitchen with eating area and large Butler's pantry. Formals. Dog washing station. This home is spectacular with a 20+ car garage! 5011 E 84th Street. $1,850,000.
MIDTOWN
2 bed, 2 full bath brick house in Midtown. Beautiful hardwood floors, granite kitchen, inside laundry, master bedroom has ensuite bath. Sit outside on your wood deck and enjoy the backyard. Great location with close access to Utica Square, Highways, Grocery Store and Hospital. 2416 E 20th St. $325,000
SOUTH TULSA
TIM HAYES 918 -231-5637 thayes@mcgrawok.com
GORDON SHELTON 918- 697-2742 gshelton@mcgrawok.com
Twin Coves Resort on Grand Lake will not disappoint! This lake home offers three lovely bedrooms and two remodeled bathrooms, a living room with a wood burning fireplace, a Florida room with outrageous views of Grand Lake and all the way across the lake to the famous Shangrila, kitchen has granite and tons of storage, this mostly furnished home has over 1,200 s.f. of outdoor living space with trex decking, two patios and a covered front porch, when not outside enjoying the peace and quiet, head to a one-slip covered boat dock that holds a 28 foot boat, lift included. The home has a 4-year-old roof and has recently been painted. This lake home is turnkey and ready to be enjoyed at its finest! VRBO is not allowed. $499,000
Charming one-owner condo in the gated South Tulsa community of "The Timbers," featuring a spacious floor plan, a great room with a stone fireplace, and an upstairs master suite with a private bath and loft. Enjoy community amenities like pools, tennis courts, and beautifully landscaped grounds near shopping, restaurants, and Jenks Schools. 2806 E 84th St #3. $255,000
MIDTOWN
A renovated 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home in the heart of Midtown Tulsa! New roof over house and garage, new gas range, new heat and air on first floor, new hot water heater. Close to Utica Square, St John Hospital, and private schools! 2,593 sq ft. 2120 E 24th St. $660,000
CROSBIE HEIGHTS
Perfect view of Arkansas River and Riverpark's East Trail. Build the home of your dreams overlooking Charles Page Blvd. You can also build a multi-family dwelling! Very close to the vibe of Downtown Tulsa. W 7th Street. $95,000
ANNUAL REPORT
TULSA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
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Donors contribute assets, receive an immediate tax deduction, and create a charitable foundation fund from which they can advise support to charities in Tulsa and across the nation on their own timeframe.
DONOR DESIGNATED
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Establish your approved scholarship criteria
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FISCAL SPONSORSHIP
Establish a charitable entity (emerging nonprofit) under TCF
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CONTACT TCF
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TCF oversees administrative and financial operations.
Current affiliate funds with TCF include Grand Lake Communities Foundation, McCurtain Community Fund, Owasso Community Foundation and Pawhuska Community Foundation.
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TCF staff is dedicated to supporting and sustaining the charitable efforts of its donors and programs. We provide services to individuals, families and companies to simplify charitable giving, identify important community services, and administer charitable programs To find out more about TCF, visit www tulsacf org To request a meeting with a program officer, please contact our offices at 918 494 8823 Fund contributions are tax-deductible, subject to any limitations that may otherwise apply.
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Table Talk
DINING FOOD DRINKS
GRINDS AND GEARS
The space that holds the new Pony Coffee is memorable to many Tulsans as the home of G. Oscar Bicycles, a longtime shop operated by noted photographer G. Oscar Herron. That history is infused into the space via the curated decor of bicycle frames, wheels and memorabilia.
“I don’t think there’s any other coffee shop in town that feels quite like this one,” says owner Clay Welch, a longtime presence in the local coffee industry. Welch opened Pony Coffee with fellow owners Joshua Gifford, who also co-owns the bicycle-themed bar Soundpony, and Micky Payne tp 1623 S. Main St. • ponycoffee.com
SEE P. 86 FOR MORE ON PONY COFFEE.
That’s mo(lé) like it
Oaxacan specialties and other Mexican favorites shine at new Cherry Street location.
BY JUDY ALLEN
Johnna Hayes, co-founder of ree Sirens Restaurant Group, has helped create restaurants Shaky Jakes, Bramble Breakfast and Bar, and Bird and Bottle restaurants. Hayes likes to name her projects before they come to life, which was the case for Holé Molé, the group’s most recent restaurant concept.
Holé Molé was conceived from the “family meals” (restaurant-speak for the meals the restaurant sta shares before service) served at a former restaurant where she worked. A few kitchen sta members prepared dishes that became instant favorites inspired by those they grew up with in their native Oaxaca, Mexico. Many of these dishes included molé, which is a traditional Oaxaca and Puebla sauce.
Hayes wanted to create a space for this food but sat on the idea for years, waiting for the right opportunity. “It was a big deal to me to have the right chef for it,” Hayes says. “To be respected and taken seriously for the cuisine.”
Fast forward to post-COVID times, when Hayes brought in chef Manny Mendez as a line cook at Bramble. He soon became executive chef overseeing menus for all the eateries.
Holé Molé opened in 2022 as an evening dinner concept within Bramble’s Pearl District location. It was the ideal spot to test the idea and utilize the space since Bramble is only open for breakfast and brunch. It was a ourishing success, Hayes says.
e restaurant moved from the Pearl District into a permanent brick-and-mortar location on Cherry Street and opened in September, in the same spot that was home to Full Moon Cafe for many years.
e menu is Mendez’s creation. “It is Oaxacan but approachable,” Hayes says, adding there are many familiar dishes to go along with the Oaxacan classics. e kitchen makes the corn tortillas in-house, and chips from those tortillas.
ose housemade chips and a duo of salsas arrive promptly at the table: one is smoky and rich from morita chile peppers, one fresh and light from tomato.
Molé short ribs are braised and served atop a bed of corn grits and drizzled with epazote (a Central American herb) pesto and pickled red onions.
Oaxacan cuisine heavily in uences the menu; thus, the molé sauces shine front and center. e restaurant serves three housemade molés, and the best way to sample them is by ordering the namesake Holé Molé, a tender, roasted half chicken, topped with molé Oaxaca (a dark, smoky, rich and slightly bitter sauce made with chocolate, chiles and pumpkin seeds), molé rojo (spicy, with a base of chiles, garlic, onion and sweet chocolate) and molé calabazita (a green sauce with fresh squash, poblano peppers, tomatillo, garlic and sesame), served with rice, beans and corn tortillas. e generous menu is peppered with familiar favorites (tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas and fajitas), and a dozen or so entrees feature meat, seafood or tamales — many of which are dressed with your choice of molé. e large outdoor patio features a full bar and a replace, giving it a cozy vibe for margaritas or a creative mocktail, the list of which includes nonalcoholic margaritas. Hayes plans to open her version of the Morocco Lounge (her great-grandfather’s bar he opened back in the 1940s at Admiral Boulevard and Harvard Avenue) in the space next to Holé Molé sometime in 2025. tp
Chocolate cake flan with coffee mousse and dulce de leche
Enchilada sampler, left, molé short ribs, center, and hummus verde appetizer, a housemade hummus with cotija cheese, onion, cilantro and jalapeno.
Farm to front door
Farmers don’t take o in the winter. Farming is a year-round endeavor for Tulsa-area producers of vegetables, eggs, dairy and meat. But nding a farmers market or local stand in the winter isn’t so easy. A Tulsa business, Food Home Direct, brings the farmers market to your doorstep with farm bag home delivery.
It’s even more satisfying to know Food Home Direct works with Food On e Move so that each bag purchased supports the nonpro t’s bottom line of combating hunger and bringing quality food to struggling communities. Learn more about those e orts in our Tulsan of the Year feature on p. 54.
We took the January farm bag to create a dreamy winter dinner using some ingredients we might not have thought of putting together, like beets and Brussels sprouts. But that’s the fun part of a farm bag! It may help inspire you to combine new ingredients — and help Food On e Move while you’re at it.
Farm bags may slightly di er between customers, but our January bag included a great variety of vegetables, greens and apples. We did an add-on of chicken thighs from Walke Meat Co., based in Claremore, and cured pork bacon from R and D Meats in Jennings.
— NATALIE MIKLES
FARM FRESH SHEET PAN CHICKEN AND VEGGIES
Serves 4
4 boneless chicken thighs
1/2 pound bacon
1 yellow onion, sliced
2 cups button mushrooms, sliced
1 acorn squash, cut into cubes or slices
1 butternut squash, cut into cubes
1/2 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
4 small beets, trimmed and cubed
2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Savory spice mix
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. On one sheet place chicken thighs and bacon on one side and onion and mushrooms on the other.
On the other baking sheet scatter squash, Brussels sprouts and beets. Drizzle olive oil over chicken and vegetables on both sheet pans. Sprinkle with spice mix (see recipe below) using all or some, depending on how seasoned you would like the dish to be. When seasoning the chicken, rub the spice mix into the chicken and under the skin if using skin-on thighs. Place both baking sheets in the oven. Pull out the sheet with the chicken and bacon after about 12 minutes, checking to see if the bacon is done. Once it is done, remove bacon and set aside. Continue cooking chicken thighs for a total cooking time of about 20 minutes, checking to make sure they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Mushrooms and onions should also be done around this time.
Let baking sheet with squash, Brussels sprouts and beets cook for about 45 minutes, checking for doneness by piercing vegetables with a fork to see if they are tender.
Remove 2 pieces of bacon and some of the beets to be used for the salad (see recipe at TulsaPeople.com).
Serve from the sheet pans, or arrange chicken, bacon and veggies on a platter for a pretty presentation.
SAVORY SPICE MIX
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried thyme
2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
In a small bowl, combine ingredients. tp
HOT MENU, COOL VIEWS
We are creatures of habit when it comes to dining out. But sometimes it’s fun to branch out, trying something new or unexpected. Puck’s Bar and Grill at the WeStreet Ice Center, 4143 S. Yale Ave., certainly fi ts the bill.
“It’s a unique experience to dine and watch what’s happening on the ice. It’s like dinner and a show,” says Nicolas Stolusky, sales and marketing manager.
There’s always something happening on the rinks, whether adult hockey league game nights or open public skate, making for a fun dinner experience. But no matter what’s on the rink, Puck’s is the place to watch any sport. It has over 11,000 square feet of space and seating for more than 350 guests. Games, including college playoffs and basketball, are featured on screens throughout. On Super Bowl Sunday (this year on Feb. 9), the game will no doubt be playing on Puck’s massive 155-inch screen.
It features a classic sports bar menu of wings, burgers, pizza and nachos. But you’ll also find some things you wouldn’t find on a sports bar menu that are unexpectedly great, like burnt-end jalapeno sausage and chicken-fried steak with real mashed Yukon gold potatoes. Snacks, like the fried pork rinds dusted with ranch, garlic and herbs, are bingeworthy.
Puck’s has $10 lunch specials, $4 drink specials and an extensive bar menu including wine, cocktails and beers on tap. — NATALIE MIKLES
SOUP’S ON
After the sensory overload of the holidays many of us crave simplicity in January — and that includes what we eat. What we need is the simplest, and most universally loved, food of all: soup. And no restaurant celebrates warm, comforting soup like Kilkenny’s Irish Pub, 1413 E. 15th St.
Kilkenny’s regulars once had insiders’ knowledge of soup month, but in the last few years word has spread. You’ll still find tables of people at lunch and dinner ordering fish and chips or Irish favorites like corned beef and cabbage — but just as many are ordering bowls of steaming hot soup, an edible aromatherapy for the soul.
General Manager Stephanie Wamego says the Stews and Brews menu has been around for more than 15 years and consists of carefully selected draft beers and 15 housemade soups. Soups come in either cups or bowls. — NATALIE MIKLES
Here’s the lineup: Beer and Cheese Soup, *Zesty Pumpkin Soup, Roasted Garlic Soup with Prosciutto and Gruyere, Butternut Squash Bisque, Charleston Clam Chowder, Chicken and Lime Tortilla Soup, *Spicy Peanut Soup, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Kilkenny’s Potato Soup, Chili, Lobster and Sweet Corn Chowder, *Guinness Irish Onion Soup, Traditional Irish Stew, Tomato Basil Soup with Jeson Irish Whiskey, Hearty Chicken and Dumpling Soup | *Only available in January
TAP TO THE BEAT WHAT THE
Tulsa brothers and bandmates Isaac , Taylor and Zac Hanson are known for their global success in music, as well as for being a leader in the craft brew industry.
“Over 10 years ago, in 2013, we began our craft beer journey, and we are excited that 2024 has been a year to introduce new and refreshed styles in more than a dozen new states, but we’re especially excited to share our beer at home in Oklahoma,” Taylor says.
MMMhops IPA was the first beer Hanson Brothers Beer Co. put on the market. The recipe has been refreshed and it is now brewed with Citra, Krush and Idaho hops. It has citrus and tropical fruit flavors and it comes in at 6.3% ABV.
The brothers also recently introduced Pink Moonlight, a hazy IPA with peach. Receiving its name from a lyric in their song “Penny and Me,” the 7% ABV beer is brewed with a foundation of two-row grain and a little flaked wheat to give it haziness and added peach and Mosaic hops.
The brothers chose DESTIHL in Normal, Illinois, to brew their ales since it has a far reach with the ability to distribute the beers to the states where they tour. — TOM
GILBERT
Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson
Chicken fried steak
Traditional Irish stew
Brewery bites
Good beer is matched with great food at these 3 local breweries.
BY NATALIE MIKLES
Last year AMERICAN SOLERA was named a James Beard Foundation semifinalist for outstanding bar, so you know the beer is good. But don’t miss out on the great food at this craft brewery. Walk through the brewery and you’ll find Bub’s Burgers, which was originally a pop-up hamburger joint but is now here to stay. Fried onion burgers and classic double-patty burgers with gooey American cheese and Bub’s sauce are to die for. Burgers are just $5 on Mondays (from 4-8 p.m.). 1702 E. Sixth St. • 918-949-4318 • americansolera.com
CABIN BOYS BREWERY is the spot for elevated bar food, like wings with gochujang barbecue sauce and acorn squash bites with achiote aioli. Or how about the devo dip — a creamy, whipped feta dolloped with cranberry jam and honey, finished with a sprinkle of chopped pistachios. Brunch (including caramel apple doughnut holes!) might be even better. 223 N. Main St. • 539-664-4440 • cabinboysbrewery.com
Everything on the menu at NEFF BREWING is gluten-free — from the beer to the ciders to the burgers and fries. Pair the Ignition Switch (a Belgian style ale with hints of nutmeg and spice) with beer-battered mushrooms or garlic-sage fries. A house favorite is the fish and chips — beer-battered and crisp, you won’t miss the gluten. A full menu of salads, sandwiches and wings is available, but the bar snacks also are solid choices. 321 S. Frankfort Ave. • 918-367-0640 • neffbrewing.com tp
NEW COFFEE SHOP OPENS NEAR DOWNTOWN
While the menu may be small, co-owner Joshua Gifford says the focus is on quality, featuring drinks like espressos, lattes, iced lattes, cappuccinos, teas, matcha and a few pastries. Pony Coffee’s espresso blend Giddy Up — a mixture of beans from Costa Rica, Tanzania and Ethiopia — is roasted locally off-site.
Gifford also runs bicycle and soccer teams, with many members under 21 who can’t hang out at a bar. “This coffee shop will be our ‘clubhouse,’ and it’s open to everyone, of course,” he says. Numerous seating areas fill the indoor and outdoor spaces — perfect for meetings, remote work or just enjoying a cup of joe.
Pony Coffee hopes to host food trucks and promote the local music scene at the shop. The site also is available for private events. A loyalty program is a guest incentive, along with Wi-Fi.
Pony Coffee opens daily at 6:30 a.m. Visit ponycoffee.com for updated hours.
— CAROLINA F. BOCOCK
Bub’s Burgers at American Solera
Pony Coffee opened in October at 1623 S. Main St.
Pony Coffee serves a variety of coffee and espresso drinks, as well as baked goods.
COMING IN FEBRUARY
Beginning February 1st, TulsaPeople readers will be invited to nominate their favorite Tulsa businesses to the 2025 A-LIST in five business areas including:
LOCAL • FUN FOR ALL
HEAD TO TOE • SHOP LOCAL For information about A-LIST NOMINATIONS ROUND ad packages, contact adservices@langdonpublishing.com by January 9. NOMINATIONS ROUND: FEBRUARY 1-16
SERVICES
Downtown’s high school
STORY AND
COMPOSITE
IMAGE BY PATRICK MCNICHOLAS
Tulsa’s rst high school was established in 1906, known as Central High School and originally located downtown at Fourth Street and Boston Avenue. It was the third school in the state of Oklahoma to be accredited. By 1914 voters approved a bond issue for the construction of a new and improved Tulsa Central High School at Sixth Street and Cincinnati Avenue. e four-story Tudor-Gothic Revival building was designed by Tulsa architect George Winkler.
e school opened in November 1917 and
featured one of the largest gymnasiums in the state, an indoor pool, a 1,400-seat auditorium and clean drinking water pumped from deep wells under the building. e school o ered students special training in wood carving, forging, cabinet work, architecture, drawing, designing, dress-making, cooking, millinery, bookkeeping, typewriting and shorthand. ere were special rooms for the musical department, literary societies and others.
In 1922 the school doubled in size, taking up a whole city block of downtown. Central’s enrollment continued to climb
until it peaked in 1938 with over 5,000 students. It would be Tulsa’s primary high school until the development of other district schools like Webster and Will Rogers high schools in the late 1930s.
Central High remained an active campus until 1976. Inadequate outdoor tness space and a lack of parking options led to planning a new Central High School in northwest Tulsa. e old Central High building was sold to Public Service Co. of Oklahoma, which renovated the building and continues to operate from it today. tp
Central High School at 212 E. Sixth St. (seen here circa 1925) operated as an educational institution from 1917-1976. The building has been the headquarters of Public Service Co. of Oklahoma since 1977.
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