TulsaPeople August 2021 by TulsaPeople

FALL PERFORMING ART S

EDUC ATING CHILDREN W ITH NEURODI V ERSITIE S August 2021

T H E A RTS A R E B A C K !

TH E B E AT GOES ON Union High School’s Renegade Regiment readies for fall competition season

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PURPOSEFUL. PERSISTENT. PERFECTIONIST. A native Tulsan, Patricia Samuels is familiar with the fabric of our city. She has interwoven her life with interests close to her heart, choosing to help youth and volunteer for organizations that fight heart disease and breast cancer, among others.

“I’m a perfectionist. If I commit to something, I want to do it to the best of my ability,” she says. An early riser, Patricia always has a checklist of things to accomplish. She enjoys gardening, reading, trying different recipes, interior decorating and avidly cheering for the University of Oklahoma football team. Her faith and church have figured prominently in her dedication to youth. After five years, Patricia recently rolled off the board of the Met Cares Foundation, which opened the Greenwood Leadership Academy and serves over 300 children, pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. In 2014 Pastor Ray Owens of Metropolitan Baptist Church, where Patricia and her husband Paul attend, convened a meeting of north Tulsa leaders to discuss the systemic challenges facing students of color and their families. It was clear something needed to be done, and Pastor Owens created Met Cares Foundation, which has led citywide efforts for sweeping change, Patricia says. As an educational advocate, she was excited

about being a change agent for students in north Tulsa. “Often you don’t know what difference you’re making until later in life,” says Patricia. “I’m just trying to make a difference in someone’s life and leave the world better than how I found it.” In the past, Patricia also has been a PTA president for Booker T. Washington and served on its Foundation for Excellence as well as cochaired the former Holland Hall Book Fair. Her desire to help young people can be traced to her parents who generously shared what they had with children in the community. “Children loved coming and talking to my mother and father. They would take them in and nurture them.” Among other commitments, Patricia has served on the Salvation Army board. Heart disease runs in her family, leading Patricia

one year to co-chair the American Heart Association’s annual fundraiser, Go Red for Women Luncheon. She also has been part of the Pink Ribbon planning for breast cancer awareness, noting that her mother is a 28year breast cancer survivor. “If you want something done and done right, get Patricia Samuels on your team! She sees problems and solves them. Although she is reluctant to seek the limelight, her fingerprints are all over our community, leaving our world a better place to live and work,” says Tom Bennett Jr, chairman of the board for First Oklahoma Bank. Says Patricia, “First Oklahoma Bank is doing great things in the Tulsa community. The relationship building they have throughout the entire community – they do it better than most banks.”

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AUGUST 2021 | VOLUME 35 ISSUE 10

· What’s new at the zoo. · Tulsa Remote encourages home ownership. · Donna Ross is Tulsa Public Schools’ teacher of the year. · Catching up with chef Drew Flatt. · Two recent benefits.

23 ABOUT TOWN

· Tulsa’s new community symphony. · Five places to learn something new. · Tulsa Community College’s award-winning professor and new College Park. · Things to do this month.

34 NOW SHOWING! A preview of the fall performing arts season. BY BLAYKLEE FREED

42 AUTUMN’S AWESOME ATTRACTIONS

P. 33 Journalist and author Mia Fleming

From music festivals and carnivals to food and beer bonanzas, this fall offers myriad ways to celebrate and unwind in the Tulsa area. BY ANNE BROCKMAN

44 LEGENDS: NANCY DAY

Retired social justice advocate continues her devotion to the cause. BY GAIL BANZET-ELLIS

46 RETHINKING LEARNING

Parents of children with neurodiversities and special needs navigate their students’ learning opportunities. BY JAMIE RICHERT JONES

48 SCHOOL’S IN SESSION

Lessons learned from the pandemic bring forth new ideas for the upcoming school year. BY KRISTI EATON

50 THE HIGH NOTE Union High School marching band prepares for the fall competition season. BY ANNA HOLTON-DEAN

61 LIFESTYLE

· Braids are the rage. · Ideas for family fun during fall break. · Service and style at Lolly Garden. · Connie Cronley reintroduces herself to the world.

87 TABLE TALK

· Say goodbye to summer with a food-centric road trip. · Jenks’ only brewery satisfies. · Where to go for a Cuban sandwich. · Detroit-style pizza is celebrated in south Tulsa.

SPECIAL SECTION 74

topDentistsTM

ON THE COVER: Sierra Weiss, band intern, and Grant Myers are members of the Union High School Renegade Regiment who will perform this fall at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. 4

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

GREG BOLLINGER

7 CITY DESK

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FROM THE EDITOR

Volume XXXV, Number 10 ©2021. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, including created advertising in a proofed or printed stage. TulsaPeople Magazine is published monthly by

s the Olympics return to our televi-

As the calendar turns to August, students,

sions this summer, I can’t help but

teachers and parents are gearing up for a return

think about how I will be forever

to school. What did administrators learn from the

connected to the Barcelona Olympics of 1992.

past school year? What are they taking with them

How so for a then 10-year-old? I have a postal

as they embark on what everyone seems to hope

service pen pal program called Stamper to thank

is a “return to normal”? See what we found out

for that. My mother signed me up to participate,

on p. 48.

and since the summer Olympics were happening

Photographer Michelle Pollard went to band

in Barcelona that year, I was connected to another

camp this summer with Union High School as

10-year-old girl who called the Catalonian city

it prepares for its competition season. Check out

home. Her name: Desiree.

her photos and the story by Anna Holton-Dean

While watching Oklahoma’s own Shannon

starting on p. 50. While sometimes the foot-

Miller compete in gymnastics on television, and

ball team gets all the headlines, these musically

therefore attempting — and failing — to recreate

inclined students are putting in the work for their

her routines on my living room floor, I thought

sweet reward: a trip to the Macy’s Thanksgiving

about what Desiree was watching and who she

Day parade.

was championing.

As we prepared this August issue for you, it was

Turns out, we corresponded via mail through

with overwhelming excitement. The performing

high school. We sent Christmas cards to one

arts return to Tulsa’s stages this month, and we’ve

another and kept practicing our English and

compiled a complete fall season schedule starting

Spanish.

on p. 34.

Over the years, as teenagers do, we lost touch.

Before summer wraps up, hit the road for a

But thanks to the magic of social media we recon-

little trip for the taste buds. Natalie Mikles com-

nected several years ago. With the ongoing global

piled some drive-worthy destinations on p. 92.

pandemic, we’ve messaged more than ever. She

No need to pack a lunch for these.

now runs her parents’ restaurant, and managed to move operations outdoors to continue business and her family’s livelihood.

1603 South Boulder Avenue Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119-4407 P: 918-585-9924 F: 918-585-9926

Be safe as we relish in these last moments of summer. Thanks for reading. TP

I desperately want to visit Spain, with time

PUBLISHER Jim Langdon PRESIDENT Juley Roffers VP COMMUNITY RELATIONS Susie Miller EDITOR CITY EDITOR DIGITAL EDITOR ABOUT TOWN EDITOR

Anne Brockman Morgan Phillips Tim Landes Blayklee Freed

EDITORIAL CONSULTING Missy Kruse, The Write Company CREATIVE DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR MANAGING PHOTOGRAPHER VIDEOGRAPHER

Madeline Crawford Georgia Brooks Michelle Pollard Greg Bollinger

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Andrea Canada Josh Kampf Rita Kirk CONTROLLER Mary McKisick DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Amanda Hall

MEMBER

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Langdon Publishing Company sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner. This issue of Tulsa People was printed on recycled fibers containing 20 percent post-consumer waste with inks containing a soy base blend. Our printer is a certified member of the Forestry Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and additionally, meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards. When you are finished with this issue, please pass it on to a friend or recycle it. We can have a better world if we choose it together. Disregard any TulsaPeople subscription solicitation that is not directly mailed from the Langdon Publishing office at 1603 S. Boulder Ave. Contact Langdon Publishing directly if you are interested in subscribing or renewing your TulsaPeople subscription.

spent in Barcelona with my longtime friend. I want to eat at her restaurant and meet her family. Perhaps I can tempt her to Tulsa? The pen pal process was an attempt for me to improve my Spanish skills, an educational endeavor I am still trying to achieve. 6

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

Anne Brockman EDITOR

S AY N O T O H A T E

The Herman and Kate Kaiser YMCA has the largest outdoor pool in the area, including a two-story slide and zipline. The pool is open for the 2021 season through Labor Day, Sept. 6, to Y members and visitors with a guest pass.

GREG BOLLINGER

SUMMER SLIDE

et families outdoors: That’s the vision behind the new Herman and Kate Kaiser YMCA, 5400 S. Olympia Ave., according to the YMCA of Greater Tulsa. Ahead of its transition from a day camp and after-school site to a membership branch this June, surveyed area families reported spending less than 30 minutes per week as a family unit, and very few minutes of that was outside. Now the 35-acre campus offers a range of amenities to assist.

“We want to provide a safe environment for them to be able to move, either individually or collectively, as a family in an outdoor space,” says Kyle Wilkes, YMCA Tulsa’s vice president of mission advancement. “And since opening, we’ve seen families doing that at a high rate.” TP FOR MORE ON THE NEW YMCA, VISIT P. 8.

TulsaPeople.com

NOTEBOOK BY MORGA N PHILLIP S

Celebrity Attractions’ CEO Kristin Dotson talks backstage with Mark Frie, Tulsa Performing Arts Center CEO.

Tulsa Performing Arts Center’s first musical in 20 months opens Aug. 31 — Jimmy Buffett’s “Escape to Margaritaville” — and few are more excited than Kristin Dotson, CEO and president of Celebrity Attractions, the Tulsabased presenter of national tours. WAS IT STRESSFUL REBOOKING THE SHOWS THAT WERE POSTPONED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC? Broadway season is an incredible puzzle to put together in a normal year. You have to figure out what shows you think the market wants to see, when that tour is coming through our part of the country, and then if the venue is available during that time. So it’s challenging on its own, and then when you have every single primary market in the country scrambling to redate shows, it becomes a crazy nightmare. But we have great relationships with the producers in New York. They love coming to Tulsa. We have great audiences here. We were able to preserve almost the entire season. But what that means is we have a lot of Broadway in the next 18 months because we have a six-show 2021-22 season with four 2019-20 redates for shows, and they overlap. So hopefully people will be ready to get back to the theater. That’s the feedback we’re getting.

DID THE COMPANY TAKE A FINANCIAL HIT? There’s no way to pivot for our company. My running joke is, “There was no way to do curbside Broadway.” And because of the way Broadway is set up financially, we couldn’t do a reduced-capacity show. When they would announce that “Now you can gather 500 people” — we can’t sell 500 tickets in a 2,300 seat theater to a Broadway show. It can’t happen. The tours could not go out until they knew everybody was back to full capacity. We held on as long as we could, but we ended up doing layoffs by the end of the year. I had to lay off people I’ve worked with for 25 years. It was very emotional, and very difficult. It was devastating for our company, but we’re reassembling and getting back to it. Our subscribers have been fantastic. Our patrons have been fantastic. We were braced for a lot of refund requests from our season ticket holders because there were so many unknowns. And everyone said, “Just let us know when we can come back. We’re praying for you, and we’re riding with you.” So it was really empowering — as we were dealing with everything — that we had their support. FOR CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS’ FALL SHOWS, SEE P. 34.

NEW YMCA OPENS The Herman and Kate Kaiser YMCA, 5400 S. Olympia Ave., brings many new amenities to west Tulsa, including an outdoor sports court, splash pad, playground, nine-hole disc golf course, a pond for kayaking and fishing, and a deck for picnicking. Kyle Wilkes, YMCA Tulsa’s vice president of mission advancement, says his team has received calls from YMCAs across the country about the campus’ “outdoor environment” model for membership. Even the onsite fitness center prioritizes being out in nature. “Our equipment actually does not plug into the wall,” Wilkes says. “It is moveable all throughout the property. So based on what day it is, a treadmill may be inside in our multipurpose area, or maybe moved to our back deck so somebody can experience that out in nature.” For a full list of amenities and membership information, visit ymcatulsa.org/hermanandkate. 8

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

Tulsan Pat Woodrum recently received the highest honor of the National Garden Clubs Inc.: the Award of Excellence. Woodrum is known as the driving force behind Tulsa Botanic Garden. She lobbied Gov. Frank Keating and legislators for their support of a world-class botanical garden. Woodrum’s home was the Garden’s first legal address, and she was its first executive director. The Garden opened to the public in 2009. In 2020, prior to the hiring of Chuck Lamson, Woodrum served as interim CEO and president, overseeing continuous Garden developments.

Voices of Oklahoma “At Central (High School) in the woodwork class our project was to carve model planes of the Japanese fighter planes and the German fighter planes, and they would be sent around the country to help train air raid wardens so that they could recognize the silhouette of these enemy planes. We were all required to do this, to carve these planes. I tried to help, but my carvings were so bad that none of them were accepted because you wouldn’t recognize it much more than a chunk of wood that had been rounded off at the end. Fortunately there were some people in the class who were good at it.” — The late Ed Dumit, longtime KWGS broadcaster and University of Tulsa communications professor, recounting the War World II effort after the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor.

“Voices of Oklahoma” is an oral history project founded by John Erling in 2009. Visit voicesofoklahoma.com.

DOTSON: GREG BOLLINGER; WOODRUM, VOICES: COURTESY

Shows starting

WOODRUM HONORED

I AM

Fifteen-year-old Cing Sang became a U.S. citizen July 8 at Gathering Place.

I AM A NEW U.S. CITIZEN

Cing Sang takes an oath of allegiance at city’s first children’s citizenship ceremony. STORY AND PHOTO BY TIM LANDES

mall American flags were hoisted into the air and waved as a small drone hovered overhead to capture a historic moment occurring in the shade of Gathering Place’s Reading Tree. For the fi rst time in Tulsa’s history, a children’s citizenship ceremony was held July 8 with 25 children from 11 countries taking their oaths of allegiance to the United States. Countries represented included Egypt, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Ukraine. Among those who became citizens was 15-year-old Cing Sang, who immigrated in 2015 with her family from Myanmar (formerly Burma). Sang and most the other children in the ceremony became U.S. citizens via the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 after their parents previously gained citizenship. Sang was all smiles after taking her oath, receiving her certificate and taking a group picture with Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum. “Becoming a citizen means I’m finally part of the state and country, and it means I can live here for as long as I want and have a good life and have

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

a good education,” says Sang, who attends Jenks High School, where she says she’s “made lots of friends, and the teachers are nice.” Among her favorite places to visit in Tulsa is Gathering Place, so becoming an American citizen in the park was a bonus. She also enjoys going to the mall and spending time with relatives. She’s excited to return to school in the fall, but until then, “I look forward to making new friends and going to the swimming pool.” The City of Tulsa began hosting U.S. Naturalization Ceremonies in 2019 in collaboration with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at Tulsa City Hall as part of the New Tulsans Initiative. Bynum was the July 8 ceremony’s keynote speaker. “On these days when we have a ceremony like this, especially today as I watched you take that oath, I think about all the opportunities my kids get because their ancestors came here from Lebanon, from Syria, from England, Germany, France and Canada, and a whole lot of other countries,” Bynum said to the children. “They were people who had the courage your families had and that you had to come here and

create opportunities for future generations. For decades and centuries from now, there will be people in your family who will benefit from you making this decision, and you standing up today and taking that oath.” The mayor used the ceremony site as an example of the ways immigrants who have settled in Tulsa benefitted our city. “Th is place, the greatest park gift to any city in American history, was the vision of a child of immigrants,” he said. “We wouldn’t be here right now if George Kaiser’s parents had not come to America (from Germany). So many things around this city that we get to enjoy every single day — great businesses and great public amenities — we get to enjoy them because immigrants chose Tulsa as their home. “So no pressure, but we have great expectations for you and what you’re going to do as Tulsans. It’s so important to me as the mayor of not just the 400,000 living in Tulsa, but the million people who live in our metro area, for you to know how honored we are to call you our fellow Americans, to call you our fellow Tulsans and how excited we are for you today.” TP

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BIZ WHIZ TEDC SERIES

Learn about Tulsa Economic Development Corp. Creative Capital and its clients. tedcnet.com

Lindsay Hutchison

In their

Aaron Love works in Bearwood Concepts’ bench department. He has been a carpenter with the company for 10 years.

BUSINESS ON DISPLAY Bearwood Concepts designs and builds retail fixtures. BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

“W

e’re the unknown people of the retail business,” Jim Sellers says. “We’re a little hidden gem

here in Tulsa.” Sellers is president of Bearwood Concepts, a Tulsa-based company specializing in the design and manufacture of store fi xtures for retail shops, restaurants, medical centers and more nationwide. Bearwood Concepts, and its sister business, Bearwood Native, employ nearly 100 people in Tulsa. Both fabricate and install the display cases, feature walls, trim and shelving found in stores like Dillard’s and Toys-R-Us. Concepts supplies products nationwide, and Native supplies mostly locally. Located across from Tulsa International Airport on South Sheridan Road, Bearwood was founded in 2009 by Sellers and five others who previously worked in the fi xture industry. Although its products are found all across the country, it’s truly a “local” business. “We build everything here in Oklahoma and Tulsa,” Sellers says. “It’s all constructed here, then put on a truck and shipped to the location.” Typically the company also sends one of its own employees to the job site to oversee the installation. The majority of Bearwood’s work is with retail outlets. Consequently, the dramatic slowdown in retail sales during the pandemic presented some challenges over the past year. Sellers credits Tulsa Economic Development Corp. Creative Capital, a local nonprofit that supports small businesses, with helping Bearwood navigate the difficult economic landscape

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

Bearwood Concepts owners Duane Walker, Jeff Cronin, Jim Sellers, Brent Wilson and Mike Seiler

and secure some of the CARES Act funding to help retain employees and cover utility costs. “We’ve had a relationship with TEDC for 10 years,” Sellers recalls. “They helped us fi nance our fi rst building, and they’ve been great partners. They’re like a bridge. They’re there for you when you need them.” As the pandemic recedes, consumers are shopping again, and Bearwood is back at it — building the displays and shelving to hold all of those potential purchases. With a greater demand for domestic products because of logistical problems with getting fi xtures imported, the company is looking forward to a busy year. “COVID-19 was tough,” Sellers says. “Now we’re on the backside of the pandemic, and we’re feeling very fortunate. We’re feeling optimistic about the future.” TP

Working at the zoo she grew up visiting is a dream job for Lindsay Hutchison. Then, after 15 years working in guest relations and fundraising at Tulsa Zoo, she became its president and CEO in August 2020. Hutchison appeared on the June 16 episode of Tulsa Talks, where she discussed the numerous changes underway at the 94-yearold Tulsa attraction. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the opening of the zoo’s Helmerich Playground until fall 2020, but now it’s getting plenty of use. “We designed it so people can behave like animals, so when they see some of the monkeys swinging, or they see our bats in the rainforest they can mimic those behaviors on the new playground,” Hutchison says. “That was really important for us to just make it full-circle.” The zoo has transformed over the past decade and will continue to do so in the coming years. Hutchison says they plan to break ground in early 2022 on a new elephant preserve on 10 acres that will include a 35,000-square-foot barn. “(The playground is) the first phase of the second part of our master plan,” Hutchison says. “We’re raising about $70 million, and it’s going to everything from this playground to African Wilds and the elephants, and then eventually a new front entry complex, which is very much needed since we’re at over 700,000 guests now in a typical year. “We have over 20,000 member households. We’re the largest daily paid attraction in our region. We get a ton of visitors from northwest Arkansas, southeast Kansas and southwest Missouri.” — TIM LANDES For more of this conversation, find Tulsa Talks: A TulsaPeople Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts or at TulsaPeople.com.

GREG BOLLINGER; HUTCHISON: TIM LANDES

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BEHIND THE SCENES

Carla and Rick Gurley with their Stingray

Scott Spicer leads open meditation on Tuesday nights at Shambhala Meditation Center.

TAKING A PAUSE Center resumes in-person group meditation. BY LUCAS BRADLEY

hambhala is a spiritual kingdom of peace, wisdom and prosperity, according to Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It also is a worldwide meditation organization aiming to bring about an enlightened society. Shambhala Meditation Center, 5001 S. Fulton Ave., strives to bring those ideas to Tulsa. For almost five years, acupuncturist Anna Veronesi and meditation teacher Deborah Bright conducted meditation classes here and there as mobile practitioners. The Shambhala Meditation Group moved into its permanent space on Fulton Avenue, just north of LaFortune Park, after a year of renovation. It opened in January 2019. Th ings went great. Until. “We were just starting to build our momentum, and like everyone else, the rug got pulled out from under us” with COVID-19, says Veronesi, the Center’s director. They adapted, offering classes on Zoom (which are still ongoing), but in May the doors opened again and in-person group meditation resumed.

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

“We continually offer open meditation on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30, and the fi rst Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon, and online,” Veronesi says. Anyone is welcome, from gurus to newbies. She and Bright want everyone to know how helpful meditation is. “Studies continue to come out about the effects on health: lower your blood pressure, work with depression, relieve stress,” Bright says. She calls meditation “vitamins for your mind.” Veronesi says those vitamins can help anyone be more present, which is a benefit everyone can enjoy. “Learning to keep your mind and your body synchronized is a skill that transfers to every area of life — any occupation, any religion, any political party,” Bright says. “It’s not voodoo. It’s a practice of learning to be present.” “It’s hard being on the planet right now,” Veronesi adds. “Meditation is a way to take a pause.” Class schedules are available at tulsa. shambhala.org. TP

When he bought his dream car — a new crystal red Chevrolet Corvette Stingray — in 2015, Rick Gurley had no idea he and his wife, Carla, would also procure a new group of friends and a busy social calendar. The dealership told them about a local Corvette Club, and when the couple got around to checking it out, “We jumped in with both feet,” Gurley says. Nearly six years later, he is serving his second year as president of the Tulsa Vette Set, which has 350 local members representing some 220 cars. The club hosts and attends many social and charitable activities, including food drives and car show fundraisers for nonprofits like the Little Light House. Regional car shows are popular with members, as well as trips to places like Bowling Green, Kentucky, to visit the Corvette factory. In mid-January a few members traveled to Idabel to get their COVID-19 vaccinations. “We all signed up, and we had four cars that went down there together that day just to go get our first vaccine shot,” Gurley says. “It’s just kind of a lifestyle, and you make a lot of good friends.” Pre-COVID there was something to do nearly every weekend, Gurley says, and events as well as membership are on the rise again — just in time to celebrate the Tulsa Vette Set’s 50th anniversary year. Members are excited, including three who were charter members when the club was incorporated in 1971. “One of the things we say in our club is, ‘You’ll join for the cars, and you’ll stay for the people,’” Gurley says. “I have a really good group of folks.” — MORGAN PHILLIPS

GREG BOLLINGER; VETTE SET: COURTESY RICK GURLEY

MORE THAN A CAR

OUR FAMILY IS READY TO SERVE YOUR FAMILY

PASSIONS

Chelsea LeGrange and Gretel, below

BESPOKE

HERE TO STAY Tulsa Remote encourages home ownership among new Tulsans. BY LUCAS BRADLEY

wo happy transplants and new homeowners are Stan Krahpak and his wife, Morgan Creekmore. The Denver couple moved to Tulsa through the Tulsa Remote program launched by George Kaiser Family Foundation in 2019 to bring a diverse group of talented individuals to the city. The program has quickly become a success, bringing in 800 members who work in a range of industries. “We thought if people saw what Tulsa had to offer, they’d want to stay,” says Justin Harlan, Tulsa Remote’s chief operating officer. It now offers a $10,000 lump sum to qualified applicants if they move to Tulsa, purchase a home and commit to staying for at least one year. Those who don’t buy a home receive the $10,000 in quarterly increments within that fi rst year. When they moved to Tulsa, Krahpak worked remotely for Colorado State University; now he is operations manager at Holberton School Tulsa. Tulsa Remote came to their attention through a family member. “They sent us a Tulsa World article and said, ‘You seem like you guys would be great candidates for this,’” Krahpak says. He jumped on it

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

because homeownership in Denver was out of the question. “We’re both in education. There wasn’t anything in Denver proper we could afford,” he says. Now they live near East 71st Street and South Harvard Avenue. “It’s an established neighborhood, it’s calm and peaceful, plenty of room to garden, a two-car garage. It just checked all our boxes and was in our budget. We bought a three-bedroom home with a yard. In Denver, you couldn’t get a one-bedroom condo for double the price.” The Tulsa Remote Community Management Team selects applicants (so far more than 30,000) based on what they feel they can contribute to our city. Once selected, here comes the cash. “We really haven’t seen anybody who’s taken the money and run,” Harlan says. “Keeping them connected and plugged into the community is how they’re going to be more likely to stay.” For Krahpak and Creekmore, Tulsa is home. “We found the house, we’ve got family nearby, and the work opportunities are really strong for us,” Krahpak says. “So we decided to put down our roots here and stick around for the long run.” TP

BOUQUETS

Meet Gretel. She is a 1970 Volkswagon Single-Cab Transporter. She appears around the greater Tulsa area every weekend with her owner, Chelsea LeGrange, proprietor of Gas Petal, an on-the-go flower service. Think ice cream truck, but with flowers. Customers choose the blooms and greenery they love, and LeGrange creates bouquets for them on the spot. “I often found myself buying multiple premade bouquets and then throwing away the stems I didn’t want,” LeGrange says. “The flower truck solves this problem by letting people choose exactly what they want.” LeGrange previously worked in Information Technology at an airline. In 2020 her company offered voluntary severance packages due to COVID-19, and LeGrange decided it was time to pursue a more creative life. While brainstorming with friends and family, she remembered a flower truck she had seen in Nashville. The idea seemed perfect for Tulsa. “I thought the hardest part would be finding my truck,” LeGrange says. “But I got on Facebook marketplace and saw there was one for sale just 3 miles from my house. It was the color I wanted, and it was in good condition and running. I was blown away. At that point I felt God was saying, ‘This is it,’ and I dove in.” This summer you can find Gretel every weekend at various locations around Tulsa. Favorite stops include Laurannae Bakery in Broken Arrow, Lagom Coffee in south Tulsa, Mother Road Market and Ida Red on Brookside. The full schedule is published on thegaspetal.com and social media. In addition to the pop-up flower stops, Gas Petal also offers floral arranging workshops, subscriptions and delivery 7 days a week. — GEORGIA BROOKS

GREG BOLLINGER; GAS PETAL FLOWER TRUCK: ELIZABETH MCDONALD; LEGRANGE: COURTESY

Stan Krahpak and Morgan Creekmore purchased their south Tulsa home with the help of a Tulsa Remote grant.

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LOCAL TALENT

Covers

Donna Ross, Tulsa Public Schools’ 2021 Teacher of the Year, thanks her students and the district at a May 6 reception.

‘EDUCATING OUR TOMORROW’ Fourth-grade teacher named Tulsa Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year. BY BRIA BOLTON MOORE

onna Ross can still remember (and sing) Walt Whitman Elementary School’s song. “The last line of the song says, ‘Whitman, Whitman, we will never quit, man,’ and it has always resonated with me,” Ross says of her childhood school where a love of education took root. It was a love that would lead her to become Tulsa Public Schools’ 2021 Teacher of the Year. The youngest of six children and daughter of former Oklahoma Rep. Don Ross, she spent most of her childhood in Tulsa. Ross went on to attend Thomas Edison Preparatory School and Holy Family Classical School, and graduated from McLain High School. She was a sophomore at Langston University when she decided to become an educator. “I could have been a lawyer, a doctor or followed in my father’s footsteps to be a politician, but what made sense to me was educating our tomorrow,” Ross says. She taught her fi rst class in 1994 to fourth

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

graders at Alcott Elementary and has spent her career in Tulsa’s public schools: Greeley Elementary, Madison Middle, Hawthorne Elementary and McKinley Elementary, where she’s again a fourth-grade teacher. Ross’ instruction extends beyond campus to places like Hair 2000, a salon where she has spent many Saturdays getting her hair done, and where parents often asked for help with their children’s learning. “The kids used to be outside the beauty shop, and when I would pull up, they would start yelling, ‘Ahh, here she comes! She’s gonna test us,’” Ross says, laughing. “Sometimes teaching is not just in the classroom, it’s in the community. A teacher’s job never quits.” Ross’ favorite part of her job is building relationships. “I feel like a celebrity when I walk into my classroom,” she says. “I shop in the same community I work in, so when I see my kids in the store, they make me feel like if Beyoncé were standing next to me, they’d run to me.” TP

Drew Flatt, executive chef at Doubletree Warren Place, appeared on TulsaPeople’s November 2004 cover, but his wild mushroom and potato soup was the real star. Flatt’s recipe, as well as others from some of Tulsa’s most popular chefs, comprised the magazine’s “Sensational soups” feature. “Back in the ’90s and early 2000s, that restaurant had a pretty good reputation,” he says of the hotel’s Warren Duck Club. “The filet with bearnaise sauce was a top seller, as well as the namesake dish, the rotisserie duck.” From upstate New York, Flatt graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. He landed at an Arizona resort working various jobs before taking his first executive chef position in 1999 at Tulsa’s downtown Adam’s Mark hotel (now Hyatt Regency). At the time, he thought the position was getting him closer to home, but he ended up staying in Tulsa to help raise his oldest daughter. He moved to Doubletree just after the hotel and its Duck Club were newly renovated. In 2007 Flatt got the opportunity to help open D’Novo Lean Gourmet in Kingspointe Village. “It was a healthy concept, which was new to me,” he recalls, though its sister wine bar LXI was higher end. D’Novo and its related concepts closed in 2011, and Flatt joined Osage Casinos in 2012, where he remains chef. Over the past decade, he has opened three new Osage properties — Sand Springs, Skiatook and Tulsa — with restaurants from casual to fine dining. “Being in charge of multiple venues pretty much my whole 20 years here in Tulsa, I’ve had to be versatile and be able to do different things,” Flatt says. “That’s been great for me — to open new concepts, develop new menus and work alongside a great team here.” — MORGAN PHILLIPS

COURTESY TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

REVISITED

CHANGEMAKERS Symon Hajjar sings with students at Celia Clinton Elementary.

TRY MAPPING GREENWOOD FOR YOURSELF.

Tulsa Community College faculty Emily Whitney, Kelly Allen and Ureka Williams; Dewayne Dickens, TCC director of diversity, equity and inclusion; and Kristen Marangoni, TCC service learning coordinator and English professor, use the web-based Mapping Greenwood to tour the historic Greenwood District.

CLASSWORK THAT MATTERS TCC mapping project creates collaboration, community connection. BY ANNE BROCKMAN

GREG BOLLINGER

ixty-nine Tulsa Community College students in seven different courses learned an invaluable lesson this past semester: My writing, my research and my skills can make a difference in my community. The service-learning project Mapping Greenwood is a web-based mapping experience created by TCC students that guides individuals through the events of the Tulsa Race Massacre. The project was conceptualized in fall 2019 by Kristen Marangoni, TCC service-learning coordinator and English professor, who worked with geography professor Kelly Allen and sociology professor Gay Phillips. Originally an in-person walking tour, Mapping Greenwood morphed into a virtual experience. A psychology class developed questions to spark reflection, composition and sociology courses wrote content, and geographic information systems classes did much of the intricate mapping. “My hope is that our project will connect people to the events, physically grounding them

at the locations where some of the key events of the Massacre occurred,” says Laura Tapp, GIS student and Mapping Greenwood project manager. “History seems at times best learned when it has modern connection to tie into the emotional reactions that come from experiencing the events through research and learning.” Marangoni says after review by the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation for accuracy and efficacy, a QR code will be available at Reconciliation Park for a self-guided walking tour. The code also can be accessed at TCC’s Metro Campus. By early July more than 1,600 visitors from as far away as Canada, Taiwan, Australia, Germany and Ireland had already used the map, and feedback from students involved has been positive. Mapping Greenwood proves “Classwork doesn’t have to die in my faculty member’s office,” Marangoni says. “It can actually go on to matter to other people and to create awareness about our town.” TP

Tulsa Community College’s Kristen Marangoni also worked with other community members to create the Greenwood Digital Creators Group. On Oct. 16, a showcase will highlight several different virtual projects, including a virtual timeline by author Carlos Moreno and the 1921 Historic Black Wall Street Business Directory. Led by Urban Coders Guild Executive Director Mikeal Vaughn, the directory envisions webpages of destroyed businesses as if they existed today. Work on the project was done by more than 40 Tulsa Public Schools and 69 TCC students who did graphic design and research.

FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES Tulsan Symon Hajjar began writing songs in his early 20s as a way to process difficult things such as loss, and he seeks to provide that same outlet for children in the Tulsa community. “Kids are always listening and are hyper aware of the world around them,” Hajjar says. “I wanted to create a space for them where they feel like their thoughts are heard and valued.” Hajjar began writing songs with the students at B’nai Emunah as their music teacher. He established Hot Toast Music Co. as a platform to release and perform the songs they had created together. “I don’t write music for kids,” he says. “The goal since day one has been to do music with them. Kids are brilliant, and their creativity is endless.” The name Hot Toast comes from a song he wrote about his eldest son’s favorite solid food. Hot Toast Music Co. makes appearances all over Tulsa and can be found playing at Gathering Place, Tulsa Public Schools and even birthday parties. During the COVID-19 quarantine, Hajjar packed up his batterypowered amp and played daily driveway concerts for children and their families. Still an educator and also a father of two, Hajjar ultimately hopes his music can build a connection between children and their parents as well as between families and their communities. Hot Toast’s next album will release Oct. 8 at Philbrook Museum of Art. Visit hottoastmusic.com for booking information. — HANNAH MARSHALL

TulsaPeople.com

Garden Party A New Leaf’s Garden Party was May 21 at Broken Arrow’s Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center. Guests enjoyed dancing to live music from the Hi-Fi Hillbillies; classic Southern cooking and a barbecue fountain donated by Oklahoma Joe’s; local brews donated by NEFF Brewing, Cabin Boys and Dead Armadillo; and wine donated by Jarboe. Highlights of the evening included the presentation of the Growing Independence Award to two A New Leaf clients by event chairs JayCee and David Kerns of LD Kerns Contractors, a live auction, and an on-site plant and flower sale. More than $350,000 was raised for vocational, residential and behavior support programs benefiting people with developmental disabilities and autism.

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1. Patrons David and Carla Biggs, and Judy and Paul Coman 2. Patrons look over the silent auction items. 3. Patrons Hank Spieker and Jennifer and Scott Rodehaver 4. Patrons Ryean and Lars Gwartney

ONE Awards

1 3

1. 2021 ONE Awards finalists and winners 2. ONE Awards Honorary Chairman Clarence Boyd; Emily Dukes, program associate with the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation*; and ONE Awards Honorary Chairwoman Glenda Love-Williams 3. Carlos Johnson, immediate past chairman of the OKCNP Board of Directors; Joanne Riley, executive director of Compassionate Hands*; Gail Oehler, executive director of Southern Oklahoma Library System*; Michelle Place, executive director of Tulsa Historical Society and Museum*; and Joe Moran, ONE Awards Committee member 4. Phil Lakin, ONE Awards Commission chairman; Dr. Dennis Blankenship, OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine*; Dr. Mousomi Som, OSU Medicine*; and Marnie Taylor, OKCNP president and CEO * Denotes a ONE Awards finalist or winner

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

GARDEN PARTY: GRAMI PHOTO; ONE AWARDS: TABOR WARREN PHOTOGRAPHY

Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) hosted the Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Awards on April 24 at Southern Hills Country Club. The awards honor the outstanding work of Oklahoma nonprofits, and program proceeds enable the Center to serve communities throughout the state. Out of more than 19,000 nonprofits statewide, the ONE Awards Selection Commission chose 21 finalists in seven categories of service: arts and humanities, community, education, health services, selfsufficiency, transformation and youth.

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CHAR ITABL E EVEN TS

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19 Mah Jongg for Memories Benefits Alzheimer’s Association. ACT. ALZ.ORG 21 Inspire: Celebrating Disability Inclusion Benefits Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges. INSPIRECELEBRATION.ORG 23 Angelo Prassa Golf Tournament Benefits Bishop Kelley High School. BISHOPKELLEY.ORG / GOLF 28 Maker Faire Tulsa Benefits Fab Lab Tulsa. TULSA .MAKERFAIRE.COM

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TulsaPeople HOME

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paradise never sounded So Good.

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ABOUT TOWN

JEREMY CHARLES/COURTESY TULSA BALLET

Tulsa Ballet soloist Maine Kawashima

ACT ONE: 2021 T

ulsa Ballet is returning to the stage, kicking off a full season of regular programming at Studio K, last season’s pandemic venue. Launching in September, Creations in Studio K brings world-renowned choreographers like Yury Yanowsky and Katarzyna Kozielska to the studio at 1212 E. 45th Place. Fans also can expect a program choreographed by Chicago-based Stephanie Martinez that, for the first time, integrates Tulsa Ballet’s second company, TBII. The season continues at Tulsa Performing Arts Center; find more Tulsa Ballet shows and a full list of fall arts performances in Tulsa on p. 34. TP

TulsaPeople.com

AUGUST 1

Bring your dog and enjoy brunch from the Calaveras food truck at Tulsa Botanic Garden’s monthly Boozy, Brunchy Dog Day. Try a taste of thyme from the Garden; local ice cream maker Cherry and Bark is serving up lemon thyme blueberry rum ice cream.

Explore the work of Hungarian artist Theodore Fried in Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art’s “Go Figure” exhibit, continuing through Sept. 12.

Pro soccer action returns to ONEOK Field as FC Tulsa takes on rival Indy Eleven. Matches also Aug. 7, 25 and 28.

Take me out to the ballgame! Tulsa Drillers take on the Wichita Wind Surge for a six-game homestand. Aug. 12-15, the Drillers rebrand as the Noodlers.

Roman Reigns, Bianca Belair, the Usos, Rey Mysterio, Sasha Banks and other WWE superstars descend on the BOK Center for SmackDown.

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

Love bourbon? Cox Business Convention Center hosts a Blind Bourbon VIP Tasting and Hang with bourbon aficionado Fred Minnick. Learn about the history of the spirit and importance of each noted flavor. Rise and shine! The trails at Ray Harral Nature Center open at 8 a.m. for a Saturday morning stroll. See what’s blooming and what discoveries can be made while the temperatures are still cool.

It’s a bird! It’s a tree! It’s time for a family nature walk around Gathering Place.

Celebrate Julia Child’s birthday with a special date night cooking class where attendees can learn to make ratatouille, poulet au Porto and more at The Girl Can Cook.

See how Salvador Dali’s illustrations on display inside Philbrook Museum of Art translate into seasonal garden displays during a morning gallery and garden tour.

Explore more than 50,000 square feet of vintage and antique finds during the Tulsa Flea Market at the River Spirit Expo at Expo Square.

Learn how to use liqueurs in your home bar during the Vault’s monthly cocktail class. Tickets include four sample cocktails, education and hors d’oeuvres.

“Wonder Woman 1984” screens for free at Guthrie Green’s movie night. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and grab dinner from a nearby food truck or restaurant.

Grazzhopper, a bluegrass and folk band fronted by Cody Brewer, performs in ahha Tulsa’s courtyard as part of 108 Contemporary’s celebration of the exhibit “A Luthier’s Tale: The Craft of Stringed Instruments.”

Listen to live music, grab some dinner from a nearby food truck and peruse the work of local artists at LaFortune Park’s final Friday Art in the Park event, at the southern end of the park.

Comic Jeff Allen takes on marriage and family during one of his rapid-fire sets — one of two special engagements at the Loony Bin. Artists, engineers and craftsmen share their latest creations with visitors during this year’s Maker Faire Tulsa at Expo Square’s Exchange Center. TULSA BOTANIC GARDEN

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TulsaPeople.com

ART SPOT

Greg Stone works on a sketch of Gilcrease Museum’s interior during a recent Urban Sketchers meeting.

SKETCHING SESSIONS ARTIST GROUP CAPTURES TULSA’S LIKENESS AT MONTHLY MEETUPS.

very month, a group gathers to observe and capture the Tulsa community in action, resulting in artistic creations on canvas, cardstock and the pages of personal sketchbooks. Media, artistic styles and skill levels vary, which make the finished products all the more interesting. “It’s about the best way you could spend a Saturday in Tulsa,” says Connie McFarland, local architect and co-founder of Urban Sketchers Tulsa. Meetings, open to artists of all skill levels, vary in location by the month; the goal is to tell the story of one’s surroundings one sketch at a time. The international organization has more than 300 chapters that span the globe, and Tulsa’s was incorporated as an official Urban Sketchers group in April. Urban Sketchers met June 26 at Gilcrease Museum, just weeks before it closed for demolition. The multi-day stretch of rain and drizzle pushed the two dozen artists inside, scattering them about the museum’s galleries. (Typically, media varies, but the June meeting inside a museum meant artists used pencil and pen/ink only).

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

Sketchers at the June 26 event used pencil, pen and ink only.

It was Melissa Hoff man-Noble’s fi rst meeting with Urban Sketchers. She’s a Gillie (a Gilcrease Museum member and volunteer) and found out about the event from the museum’s newsletter. “I am way out of practice,” Hoffman-Noble says, noting the meetup in a familiar place was an ideal opportunity to dive back in. The last 30 minutes of every session is reserved for the “throw down,” in which artists share what they made. Mary Kell, local architect and member of Urban Sketchers’ leadership team, enjoys seeing different aspects of a location.

“You can sit in the same exact spot (as another artist) and make something completely different,” Kell says. Drawings also are shared on social media, as mandated by the group’s manifesto. “It is really fun when we get ‘likes’ from Japan and South America when we post something,” McFarland says. Catherine deCamp, an art teacher at Sequoyah Elementary School, completed two sketches during the two-hour session — a fi rst for her. She recently joined the group because she’s always looking to improve. “I wish more people would take advantage (of Urban Sketchers meetups) because I think people have their innerartists, but they’re afraid,” deCamp says. “My skills, even compared to two years ago, have improved so much just because the more you do it, the better you’ll get.” The July 24 meeting brought the group to ahha in the Tulsa Arts District. Urban Sketchers will meet from 10 a.m.-noon on Aug. 28 at the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, 3624 N. 74th E. Ave. Visit facebook.com/groups/ usktulsa for upcoming meeting dates. TP

GREG BOLLINGER

BY BLAYKLEE FREED

COMMUNITY

Kaitlin Littau is a freshman in the College Park program.

Visit TulsaPeople.com for Fiore’s latest video and a link to her YouTube channel.

Leann Fiore, assistant professor of biology at Tulsa Community College

ANIMATION EDUCATION LOCAL BIOLOGY PROFESSOR USES STOP-MOTION TO WALK STUDENTS THROUGH DISSECTIONS AND ANATOMICAL DISPLAYS. BY ETHAN VEENKER

sk any teacher about the El Dorado of education and you’ll get the same answer: not only effectively teaching your students, but also getting them actively interested in their own education. Achieve the latter, and the former’s done for you. Leann Fiore, assistant professor of biology at Tulsa Community College, stumbled upon her own El Dorado in stop-motion animation. “The whole process was rather serendipitous and not planned at all,” Fiore says. After attending a November 2019 seminar about stopmotion animation use in teaching and the subsequent nationwide lockdowns in early 2020, stop-motion animation became a way to fi ll a need in her own lectures. Needing to show students how to dissect frogs and other specimens but unable to do so easily via Zoom, she searched for virtual dissection videos. Fiore explains the criteria: videos with closed captions, a realistic dissection experience and unobstructed views of specimens. She found none, so she set out to make them herself by quickly creating an at-home studio and pilfering lab specimens (“I never imagined my 28

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

office would contain buckets labeled ‘brains’ and ‘hearts,’” she says). Videos take a minimum of six hours to create. Fiore’s ingenuity was immediately rewarded, as the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges presented her with a “Great Ideas for Teaching” award and $500, and TCC President Leigh Goodson presented her with a “TCC Goody Award,” which recognizes individuals and departments that go above and beyond. Fiore’s YouTube channel, Pop Up Biology, has amassed over 85,000 views since she posted the fi rst video on March 23, 2020, which explores the anatomy and blood pathways of the heart. Other videos explore the anatomy of a human skull and dissections of a frog and a sheep brain. Because the videos are free to watch on YouTube, they’re accessible not only to biology students the world over, but to teachers, as well. “I would love to help other instructors implement stop-motion into their classroom if they feel it fits their curriculum,” Fiore says, suggesting the free app Stop Motion Studio as a great place to begin. TP

A new program from Tulsa Community College and Oklahoma State UniversityTulsa is launching this semester so students can seamlessly transition from a two-year college to a four-year university — without ever leaving downtown Tulsa. Students accepted into College Park take all classes in one location: at the OSU-Tulsa campus, 700 N. Greenwood Ave. Currently the program is for students seeking an associate degree in business administration (awarded by TCC) and a bachelor’s degree in several businessrelated majors (awarded by OSU). “The goal is to increase the number of people in the Tulsa area who have a bachelor’s degree and to address the equity gap in outcomes,” explains Greg Stone, TCC’s associate vice president for academic affairs. “To do that, we want to provide that experience, all in one location, with as few barriers to success as possible.” Scheduling conflicts create some of those barriers, which is why College Park classes are designed so students always know when class is, Stone says. Classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays. Students’ classes are mapped out from day one, and they take at least the first two years of their classes with their cohort, Stone says. “We were very intentional about (the cohorts) because we wanted to make sure the students not only have the institutional support, but also support from their peers.” The first cohort of approximately 40 students begins when school starts Aug. 16. Applications for next year’s cohort, available at collegeparktulsa.com, are open to current and prospective students. — BLAYKLEE FREED

FIORE: COURTESY; LITTAU: GREG BOLLINGER

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MUSIC NOTES

Greg Fallis

BRASS ACT

TULSA TROMBONIST (AND TEACHER) PACKS THE SUMMER WITH PERFORMANCES. STORIES BY JULIE WENGER WATSON

ulsa native Greg Fallis recently returned to his hometown, and he’s bringing a little of New Orleans with him. Before he’d even unpacked his boxes, this University of Tulsa grad, educator and trombonist had already formed a band and had a gig on the books. King Cabbage Brass Band, a seven-piece, horncentric, NOLA-inspired musical explosion hit the ground running with a riotous set at Cry Baby Hill in June and performances around town ever since. Fallis, who started a music teaching job at Monte Cassino Middle School last month, is glad to be back in Tulsa after graduate studies in Memphis, months on the road with the celebrated Glenn Miller Orchestra and a year in New Orleans, where he taught while immersing himself in the city’s legendary music scene. He believes Tulsa is experiencing a renaissance in arts and culture, and he wants to be a part of it. “There’s a lot of opportunity here, and the market is wide open. I think this is a great place for any musician to have a long and prosperous career,” Fallis says. “It’s becoming a place where these bands, which are blossoming into national acts, are finding a really happy home.”

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

In addition to Fallis, King Cabbage includes Nicholas Foster (drums), Jordan Hehl (bass), Bishop Marsh (trumpet), Ben Hay (trumpet), Andy McCormick (tenor sax) and Matt Leland (trombone). The band is as likely to cover the brass band standards of NOLA’s Rebirth and Dirty Dozen as they are songs by Beyoncé, Outkast or Rage Against the Machine. Fallis hopes to bring this innovative approach to Monte Cassino’s music program, as well. He plans to create an American music ensemble and teach his students about everything from Oklahoma folk hero Woody Guthrie to the sounds of Detroit’s Motown and Memphis’ Stax Records. “I’d like to go all the way back to the roots of rock and roll and focus on Black American music because so much of our music in this country comes from the contributions of Black American music and African American artists,” he says. TP

FOR MORE ON KING CABBAGE AND THE BAND’S LATEST PERFORMANCES, VISIT KINGCABBAGEBRASS.COM.

“Trophy Husband” is the latest album from Winston Churchbus, the musical project of Tulsa musician Nicholas Foster. Out Aug. 20 on Horton Records, the nine songs were written and recorded over a number of years, with the pandemic’s forced quarantine providing the perfect opportunity to put on the finishing touches. Although the 28-year-old Foster wrote the songs himself, several of his talented friends, including Olivia McGraw (vocals/violin) and John Langdon (guitar/vocals) contributed to the final product — a smooth mix of genres influenced by the Beatles’ palatable sound, flair from jazz performances and the storytelling of bluegrass music. Foster prefers to write about what he knows, and many of the tunes are about relationships and heartbreak. However, Foster’s treatment of the topic is anything but maudlin. Several of the tunes are humorous and even playful. “It helps to approach everything, especially the hard stuff, with a wink,” he says. “I would like to bring levity to it.” Foster worked with his father, Chris, who also is a musician, to engineer and mix the album. “When it really came down to it, I had to be super involved and super vulnerable, and it was easy to do that with my dad encouraging and supporting it,” Foster says. For more information on the album, visit @winstonchurchbus on Instagram. TP

Editor’s note: Julie Wenger Watson is a board member of the nonprofit Horton Records.

FALLIS: GREG BOLLINGER; ALBUM: COURTESY

TULSA MUSICIAN’S SOLO PROJECT DEBUTS

MUSIC NOTES

A crowd listens to Tulsa Peoples’ Orchestra perform on July 2 on North Main Street in the Tulsa Arts District.

Unified sound LOCAL ORCHESTRA’S FIRST PUBLIC PERFORMANCE BROUGHT SYMPHONY TO FIRST FRIDAY. BY BLAYKLEE FREED

TIM LANDES

ulsa has a new community orchestra, in partnership with Tulsa Community College’s Continuing Education department, dedicated to bringing music out of the concert hall and into the community. Tulsa Peoples’ Orchestra intends to make music more accessible to Tulsans and be more inclusive to all ages and demographics within the orchestra, says TPO’s conductor Benjamin Ray. “I wanted to find a group of vibrant people who were willing to go out of the dark concert hall where people are many times uncomfortable,” Ray says. “I wanted to bring (the orchestra) to the people, people who would have otherwise never come to our concerts.” Ray, 24, grew up in the Tulsa area, and marched for the Pride of Broken Arrow in high school. He currently works with the Union High School Band and the Tulsa Youth Symphony, in addition to Tulsa Peoples’ Orchestra. The group of 42 hobbyist musicians kicked off performances in June with a private concert for the volunteers of Tulsa Garden Center in Woodward Park. Ray says the orchestra wanted to give back to the hundreds of Tulsans who, on their own time, keep the Garden Center beautiful. In turn, the TGC volunteers taught TPO members about plant care, and musicians left with plants of their own. TPO’s local, people-centric focus was reflected in its first public concert July 2, which Ray says was only possible because of community collaboration.

Occurring on First Friday in the Tulsa Arts District, the show was performed on North Main Street between Cameron Street and Reconciliation Way. “The craziest thing about it was the persistence — we had to have everyone come together for this event,” Ray says, adding that the community’s generosity made it all possible. The Tavern supplied tables, tablecloths, chairs and the reserved space for the concert. The orchestra used TCC equipment. Ida Red General Store sponsored T-shirts. Southwood Landscape and Garden Center provided plants for decor. Local artist Scott Taylor painted on a large canvas behind the orchestra, facing the crowd (and the art was raffled to raise money for TPO), and the Hansons let TPO use their nearby studio for storage. TPO is a pilot program, meaning TCC will review it for continuation, Ray says. His hopes include not only a permanent Tulsa Peoples’ Orchestra, but also a broader vision for what this music can mean for Tulsa. “Our No. 1 goal is, we want to use our musical harmony — to use our music — to unify Tulsa. I see a very broken Tulsa,” Ray says. “We need to learn to embrace each other in positive ways.” TP Learn more about Tulsa Peoples’ Orchestra and upcoming concerts at facebook.com/tulsapeoplesorchestra.

Mouth harps and the Mother Road It’s hard not to love the harmonica. Portable and pocket-sized, it’s a joyful noise in a small package. In 2008, Tulsa musicians David Berntson and Jimmy “Junior” Markham created the Route 66 Harmonica Club to celebrate this diminutive reed wind instrument whose sound is woven into the fabric of so many musical genres. The organization has grown throughout the years, hosting annual summits, jams, concerts and workshops along the way. This month, members will gather virtually with mouth harp enthusiasts from across the world for the 58th annual SPAH Convention from Aug. 10-14. SPAH, or the Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica, was founded in 1962 in Dearborn, Michigan. The annual convention is open to the public, although SPAH members receive a discounted registration fee. In addition to seminars and vendor demonstrations, numerous performances are scheduled. Berntson, who serves as SPAH’s stage manager, has been busy preparing for the online convention, reviewing video content from performers across the globe. “It’s absolutely an international event,” he says. “People will be playing who have taken this instrument to levels that are unfathomable. We’ll be incorporating performances from Europe and all over the world. It will be a fourday extravaganza.” With the help of the Route 66 Harmonica Club, Tulsa will once again welcome the SPAH convention when it returns as an in-person event in August 2022. — JULIE WENGER WATSON For more information on SPAH and the upcoming conventions, visit spah.org. Find the Route 66 Harmonica Club at facebook.com/theroute66harmonicaclub. TulsaPeople.com

SCHOOLED

Climb Tulsa

Tulsa Glassblowing School

Where to learn ... FLEX YOUR MENTAL MUSCLES BY LEARNING SOMETHING NEW. BY JESSICA BRENT

esearch suggests lifelong learning is good for our mental, physical and social well-being. You don’t have to leave the country to learn a new language, and you don’t have to go to the mountains to learn rock climbing. Tulsa is full of opportunities to learn something new.

PLANT GROWING Get a handle on your garden with Urban Gardener lessons from Tulsa County Master Gardeners. The Landscape and Lawn series runs through August with three classes: Pollinator Gardens (Aug. 10), Trees and Shrubs (Aug. 17) and Lawn Management (Aug. 24). Classes are from 6-8 p.m. at the Oklahoma State University Extension Office, 4116 E. 15th St., and cost $10 each or $20 for the series. TULSAMASTERGARDENERS.ORG 32

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

ahha Tulsa

ARTISAN ABILITIES Want to learn how to develop your black-and-white photographs or screen print your own T-shirts? Schedule a time to use ahha’s darkroom, printmaking lab, lighting studio, woodshop or metals lab. Independent access is $10/hour, or guided access sessions with a teaching artist are $30/hour. “The important thing about that program is you have to schedule time so we can find teaching artists who are available,” says Aleks Weaver Kitchens, a programs manager at ahha, 101 E. Archer St. If you like a more traditional workshop, look for adult classes in various mediums to be available this fall. AHHATULSA.ORG

ANOTHER LANGUAGE Tulsa City-County Library cardholders have access to the language learning platform Mango. Pick up some useful phrases before an international vacation, connect with the Cherokee language, or learn how to sling insults in Shakespearean English. Over 70 language lessons are available for free online or on your mobile device. TULSALIBRARY.ORG/MANGO-LANGUAGES TULSA HISTORY Peruse a themed exhibit or take a deep dive into the archives at Tulsa Historical Society and Museum, 2445 S. Peoria Ave. The museum and grounds are now open for self-guided tours from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., TuesdaySaturday ($5 for adults), with free First Saturdays starting this month. Maggie Jewell, development and special projects director, looks forward to expanding education services in coming months: “We will be resuming our downtown walking tours. People can go ahead and call us to book tours, but we won’t be conducting them until fall.” TULSAHISTORY.ORG/LEARN TP

CLIMB TULSA: COURTESY; GREG BOLLINGER

GLASSBLOWING Tulsa Glassblowing School, 7440 E. Seventh St., offers a wide range of community lessons. Beginners can choose to make a single object (like an ornament or vase) in oneon-one private lessons ($80/hour) or sign up for a six-week series of lessons ($500). VETri is a free program open to veterans and enlisted military. Program Director Kayla Ohlmer says the program is geared toward fellowship and healing: “Our goal is to create a community for them to work together and focus their energy.” TULSAGLASSBLOWING.ORG

CLIMBING Climbing is great exercise for your body and your mind because it requires planning, concentration and problem solving. Climb Tulsa, 4923 E. 32nd St., offers hour-long Intro to Climbing Courses two to three times a day Friday through Monday. Classes for individuals are $35 and include a climbing pass and gear rental. Sign up online, arrive 15 minutes early, and wear comfortable clothing. CLIMBTULSA.COM/CLASSES

BOOKWORM

Casie Bazay

Find out more and purchase “I Am Proud to Be Me-e-e!” at miafleming.com.

Mia Fleming with children at the Salvation Army North Mabee Boys and Girls Club, where she spent many summers as a child and recently donated copies of her book

‘PAIN INTO PURPOSE’ FORMER BROADCAST JOURNALIST ENCOURAGES CONFIDENCE WITH NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK. STORIES BY ETHAN VEENKER

FLEMING: GREG BOLLINGER; BAZAY: COURTESY

ulsan Mia Fleming’s new children’s book, “I Am Proud to Be Me-e-e!,” tells the story of Zoe, a young Black girl whose confidence is tested when questioned about her skin, hair and clothing. Thanks to her empowering mother, though, she bears through it and declares earnestly, “I’m proud to be me!” While Zoe is a character in the book, she is real in the author’s own life story. Fleming married her high school sweetheart; after college, the couple began working on their careers. They planned for children, a boy nicknamed Solly, and a girl named Zoe. But struggles with infertility belayed aspirations to grow their family. “One Mother’s Day, I had the ‘Aha!’ moment — a shift from dwelling on what I didn’t have to being grateful for what I did have,” Fleming recounts. “My mother, and best friend, was here, healthy and happy. My other best friend, my incredible husband, was by my side. That shift showed me how I could turn my pain into purpose.” She realized her children could appear in print, and her story could help others who struggle with infertility. Fleming’s background working as a broadcast journalist for nearly a decade honed her skills as

a storyteller. (Her new television segments, the “Good Life List with Mia Fleming,” launched in June and air weekly on KOTV News on 6). That, with her innate interest in children’s literature, laid ground for her book, which released on Mother’s Day. “What stuck most in my mind was what we called the ‘viewer benefit,’” Fleming says of the skills learned in journalism. “What did the viewer get from the story I was reporting? How did my community benefit? How could I help people? Those questions were the guiding star for me as a journalist. It became an important question again as I began to turn my pain of infertility into purpose by creating children’s books,” keeping in mind how children would benefit from the stories. A book starring Solly is set to release this fall. “With these books I’ve created a way to help others — and, in a sense, give birth to the two children I always imagined we would have but haven’t had yet, even if they only live on the pages of my children’s book for now,” Fleming says. “It feels amazing to live and work in my purpose of using my God-given talents to be of service to others.” TP

Persistence, publication An Oklahoman’s first novel recently topped the Oklahoma Best Sellers lists in the “Children’s/ YA” category. She even beat out Dr. Seuss and the Southern Reach Trilogy author Jeff VanderMeer’s new novel. Casie Bazay, Porter resident and young adult novelist, is that author with her debut book “Not Our Summer.” Published in the Hachette Group imprint Running Press Kids, “Not Our Summer” tells a coming-of-age road trip story involving two estranged cousins, a family rivalry and a sizeable inheritance on the line. Bazay says the idea came to her out of nowhere, as she was mowing her horse pasture in 2017, and six months later she had a draft. “It was a surprise to me, for sure, and it was very exciting,” Bazay says of her novel’s placement on the bestsellers list. And it was a long time coming; though “Not Our Summer” is her published debut, Bazay has been writing books for 10 years. While writing “Not Our Summer,” Bazay worked in the mornings on freelance writing assignments and spent the afternoons with the book, working on it at least two hours a day. The writing didn’t let up in the months-long process of querying publishers for “Not Our Summer” — in fact, Bazay finished her fifth book and is now working on a sixth. Find “Not Our Summer” for sale wherever books are sold, and learn more about Bazay at casiebazay.com. TP TulsaPeople.com

Poulenc Trio

Brentano Quartet

Escape to Margaritaville

Now showing! PER F OR M I NG

A RT S

GU I DE

C O M P I L E D B Y B L AY K L E E F R E E D Every Saturday THE DRUNKARD AND THE OLIO Tulsans have performed this play and variety show since 1953. Spotlight Theatre TULSA SPOTLIGHT THEATRE Aug. 13-29 MATILDA THE MUSICAL A little girl’s big magical abilities have inspired audiences since Roald Dahl first penned the novel that inspired this musical. Tulsa Performing Arts Center THEATRE TULSA

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

Aug. 27-Sept. 5 THE GUYS In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, a fire captain must present the eulogies of his fallen squad at their memorial services. Written by Oklahoma native Anne Nelson. Tulsa Performing Arts Center THEATRE TULSA

Sept. 9-19 THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION Adapted from Stephen King’s novella “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption,” this stage production directed by Angela McLaughlin tells the story of friendship and resilience. Tulsa Performing Arts Center WORLD STAGE THEATRE CO.

Aug. 31-Sept. 5 ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE Slip away to paradise with original songs and classics from Jimmy Buffett in this musical comedy. Tulsa Performing Arts Center CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS

Sept. 9-19 CREATIONS IN STUDIO K This annual series of multiple programs brings award-winning choreographers to the intimate 295-seat theater in Brookside. Studio K TULSA BALLET

Sept. 18, Oct. 16, Nov. 6 CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS Musicians from Signature Symphony at Tulsa Community College perform. VanTrease PACE SIGNATURE SYMPHONY Sept. 24-26 POULENC TRIO Hear masters of the bassoon, piano and oboe play shows in the heart of downtown Tulsa. Tulsa Performing Arts Center CHAMBER MUSIC TULSA

Continued on p. 36

POULENC TRIO: COURTESY; BRENTANO QUARTET: JUERGEN FRANK; ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE: MATTHEW MURPHY

FA LL

Continued from p. 34

VENUES AHHA 101 E. Archer St. 918-584-3333 ahhatulsa.org ADMIRAL TWIN DRIVE-IN 7355 E. Easton St. 918-878-8099 admiraltwindrivein.com COX BUSINESS CONVENTION CENTER 100 Civic Center 918-894-4350 coxcentertulsa.com ONEOK FIELD 201 N. Elgin Ave. 918-744-5998 milb.com/tulsa/ballpark/ oneok-field SPOTLIGHT THEATER 1381 Riverside Drive 918-587-5030 tulsaspotlighttheater.com STUDIO K 1212 E. 45th Place 918-749-6006 tulsaballet.org TULSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 110 E. Second St. 918-596-7111 tulsapac.com TULSA THEATER 105 W. Reconciliation Way 918-582-7239 tulsatheater.com VANTREASE PACE 10300 E. 81st St. 918-595-7777 signaturesymphony.org

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

Oct. 4 DR. NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON PRESENTS “THE SEARCH FOR LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE” Is there alien life somewhere out there — or right here on Earth? The astrophysicist and “Cosmos” host reviews the ongoing hunt for liquid water and habitable planets in our galaxy. COX BUSINESS CONVENTION CENTER Oct. 8-16 AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE Tulsa playwright David Blakely presents the world premiere of this dramatic dark comedy about the oil industry; recommended for mature audiences. Tulsa Performing Arts Center AMERICAN THEATRE CO. Oct. 8-17 DREAMGIRLS Follow all-girl trio The Dreams on their way to stardom in this musical packed with catchy songs. Tulsa Performing Arts Center THEATRE TULSA Oct. 9 TRIUMPH Garrick Ohlsson plays piano and Lina Gonzalez-Granados conducts. Tulsa Performing Arts Center TULSA SYMPHONY Oct. 10 C.S. LEWIS’ THE GREAT DIVORCE The writer and theologian’s fantasy takes the audience on a bus trip from hell to the outskirts of paradise in this 85-minute show. Tulsa Performing Arts Center FELLOWSHIP FOR PERFORMING ARTS Oct. 12-17 COME FROM AWAY The true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Tulsa Performing Arts Center CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS Oct. 15 PUCCINI AND VERDI PLAY BALL Tulsa Opera retells Puccini’s brief but beloved comedy “Gianni Schicchi” in this ballpark show directed by Tulsan James Robinson. ONEOK Field TULSA OPERA

Oct. 16 NATE BARGATZE: THE RAINCHECK TOUR His Netflix special “The Greatest Average American” left audiences in stitches this spring. Now catch Bargatze live in this show postponed from April. Tulsa Theater OUTBACK AND DCF CONCERTS Oct. 21-24 THE LEGEND OF GEORGIA MCBRIDE An Elvis impersonator and his wife find out they’re expecting a baby when his act is replaced by a B-level drag show. Tulsa Performing Arts Center WORLD STAGE THEATRE CO. Oct. 22-24 BRENTANO QUARTET Soothing legatos and bright trills from this string quartet keep audiences engaged and entertained. ahha, Tulsa Performing Arts Center CHAMBER MUSIC TULSA Oct. 28-31 BREAKIN’ BRICKS (WITH FLIGHT OF FANCY) A multimedia experience combines dance and documentary to tell the story of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre in collaboration with the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. Plus, Ma Cong’s “Flight of Fancy” returns. Tulsa Performing Arts Center TULSA BALLET Nov. 2-7 CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY Tulsa has the golden ticket: The stage adaptation includes old musical favorites and a new score from the songwriters of “Hairspray.” Tulsa Performing Arts Center CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS Nov. 5-7 CHICAGO: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION See a fresh take on the grandiose musical from Tulsa’s young performers. Tulsa Performing Arts Center THEATRE TULSA Nov. 12 JEANNE ROBERTSON At 77 years young, this former Miss North Carolina has a lifetime of stories to tell with wit, humor and grace. Tulsa Theater AL MCCREE ENTERTAINMENT

Nov. 12-14 ATOS TRIO Violinist Annette von Hehn, pianist Thomas Hoppe and cellist Stefan Heinemeyer make up this chamber trio. Tulsa Performing Arts Center CHAMBER MUSIC TULSA Nov. 13 SYMPHONIC POETRY Guest conductor Sarah Hicks presents William Grant Still’s “Darker America,” Igor Stravinsky’s “Petrouchka” and additional moving music. Tulsa Performing Arts Center TULSA SYMPHONY Dec. 2-5 DOUBT: A PARABLE When principal Sister Aloysius suspects the young Father Flynn of improper relations with one of the students, she takes matters into her own hands in this Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning play. Tulsa Performing Arts Center OK WORLD STAGE THEATRE CO. Dec. 4 THE POLAR EXPRESS™ IN CONCERT The live score alongside the screening of this holiday film favorite starring Tom Hanks takes the magic to the next level. Tulsa Performing Arts Center TULSA SYMPHONY Dec. 10-23 THE NUTCRACKER The premiere of this new production features work from Tulsa Ballet’s past and present resident choreographers, stunning new costumes and approximately 100 local kids joining professionals on stage. Tulsa Performing Arts Center TULSA BALLET Dec. 10-23 A CHRISTMAS CAROL This family-favorite hits the stage just in time for the holidays. Plus, see the story on the big screen Dec. 17-18 at Admiral Twin Drive-in. Tulsa Performing Arts Center AMERICAN THEATER CO. Dec. 11 CHRISTMAS IN TULSA The full orchestra returns to the concert hall with a lineup of Yuletide favorites. VanTrease PACE SIGNATURESYMPHONY.ORG. TP

Celebrate our Grand Reopening ITZHAK PERLMAN October 9, 2021

TIM MCGRAW

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8 7:30 P.M.

BERNADETTE PETERS February 14, 2022

Tickets on sale August 30! See the full season lineup at McKnightCenter.org

PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA March 10, 2022

These shows and more!

99 SEASONS IN TULSA. 10 UNFORGETTABLE SHOWS. 1 UNBEATABLE PRICE. Subscribe now to pay a single low price for Theatre Tulsa shows with no extra fees at the box office. Save up to 50% off!

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

To subscribe TheatreTulsa.org/tickets (918) 587 8402

Ron Spigelman, conductor THE POLAR EXPRESS and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s21)

AUGUST 4

Gitzel Puente City of Tulsa

PROSPERITY

AUGUST GUESTS:

Presented by:

» ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT » REGIONAL TOURISM

AUGUST 18

Paul Benjaman musician

» GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS » COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT YOUR PARTNER IN PROSPERITY

Subscribe for FREE on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Spotify! 40

TULSACHAMBER.COM

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021 Tulsa Talks Pod Cast - TulsaPeople-2.625x4.875.indd 1

12/18/19 3:22 PM

“Why does watching a dog be a dog fill one with happiness?” – J.S. FOER

Float Coat™

17 7 8 U T I C A S Q U A R E | O P E N M O N . – S AT. , 1 0 – 6 Come select a treat in our bakery case. Bring your dog with you!

Autumn’s awesome

AT TR AC TIONS FROM MUSIC FESTIVALS AND CARNIVALS TO FOOD AND BEER BONANZAS, THIS FALL OFFERS MYRIAD WAYS TO CELEBRATE AND UNWIND IN THE TULSA AREA. BY ANNE BROCKMAN

28 MAKER FAIRE TULSA In-person exhibits from engineers, artists, scientists and crafters at this family-friendly affair. Exchange Center at Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. TULSA.MAKERFAIRE.COM

SEPTEMBER

2 ROOSTER DAYS Here’s something to crow about. It’s the 90th anniversary for this hometown festival, which includes carnival rides, a 5K run, parade and a variety of vendors. Central Park, 1500 S. Main St., Broken Arrow ROOSTERDAYS.COM

3-5 ROCKLAHOMA Headliners Rob Zombie, Slipknot and Limp Bizkit round out a three-day festival that includes 50 other musical acts. 1421 W. 450 Road, Pryor ROCKLAHOMA.COM 3-5 DUSK ‘TIL DAWN BLUES FESTIVAL Three stages of all-night music featuring Main McMann, Johnny Rawls, Selby, Lil’ Ed and Butch Mudbone. Rentiesville DCMINNERBLUES.COM 10-11 BLUEGRASS AND CHILI FESTIVAL Three stages of live entertainment are matched with the Mid-America Regional Chili Cook-off, along with a tractor show, car show and more. Downtown Wagoner BLUEGRASSCHILIFEST.COM

16-18 TULSA GREEK FESTIVAL Centered at downtown’s Greek Orthodox church, this three-day festival has been going strong for 61 years. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 1222 S. Guthrie Ave. TULSAGREEKFESTIVAL.COM 17-19 SCOTFEST Celebrate Scottish and Celtic culture with athletic competitions, whiskey tastings, authentic food and live music of all kinds. Broken Arrow Events Park, 21101 E. 101st St. OKSCOTFEST.COM

Sept. 30-Oct. 10 TULSA STATE FAIR The fair only comes to town for 11 days, but they are packed with entertainment, amusement rides, food and so much fun. Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. TULSASTATEFAIR.COM What to bring: Your walking shoes. Vendors of all shapes, sizes and interests fill the River Spirit Expo and Exchange Center, while local arts are displayed in Central Park Hall. Check out the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex for show animals and watch as area students compete for the blue ribbon.

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

18 MONARCHS ON THE MOUNTAIN Learn about the migratory monarch with demonstrations, kids’ activities and plant for sale to welcome the colorful winged visitors to your garden. Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area, 6850 S. Elwood Ave. OKIESFORMONARCHS.ORG 23-26 MUSCOGEE NATION FESTIVAL Celebrate the culture and heritage of the Muscogee people with music, dancing, food and family-friendly fun. 555 Tank Farm Road, Okmulgee CREEKFESTIVAL.COM 25 GREEN COUNTRY ROOTS FESTIVAL A festival to honor and promote Green Country culture, art and music. Hit the road to Tahlequah for this one-day party. Norris Park, 400 N. Muskogee Ave., Tahlequah FACEBOOK.COM/GCRFESTIVAL

What to eat: This is not the time of year to be on a diet. Splurge with a spiral spud, corn dog, pineapple whip, a doughnut burger or any of the adventurous deep-fried oddities. Food vendor announcements will come as the fair approaches. What to keep in mind: Sure, the midway is fun for the carnival rides and games, but don’t forget to check the full schedule of musical acts taking the many stages during the fair. Dru Hill will deliver with smooth R&B on Oct. 2. Mexican solo artist Alicia Villareal will light up the stage on Oct. 3. Charttopping Christian artist Zach Williams takes the Oklahoma stage on Oct. 4. Josh Turner will croon “Long Black Train” and other hits on Oct. 5.

MICHELLE POLLARD

AUGUST

25 TINY PORCH MUSIC FESTIVAL Hear local artists like Kalyn Fay, Ben Kilgore, Casii Stephen, Branjae, Damion Shade, Hot Toast Music Co. and more perform from porches in the Owen Park neighborhood at this only-in-Tulsa annual festival. FACEBOOK.COM/TINYPORCHFESTIVAL

2 NATIONAL INDIAN TACO CHAMPIONSHIP Dozens of contenders make their way to downtown Pawhuska to prove their recipe for the best Indian taco. Festivalgoers can try them all. East Main Street and Kihekah Avenue PAWHUSKACHAMBER.COM/INDIAN-TACO

25 MCNELLIE’S HARVEST BEER FESTIVAL Like beer? Like Oklahoma beer? This is the festival for you. Check out what’s new from your favorite local and regional breweries at this outdoor festival in downtown. 409 E. First St. MCNELLIES.COM

2-3 BASECAMP Your only chance to camp at Turkey Mountain returns. Pitch a tent and enjoy live music, a bonfire and family fun. Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area, 6850 S. Elwood Ave. FACEBOOK.COM/BASECAMPATTURKEY

OCTOBER

1-2 WINE, JAZZ AND WORLD FETE Details are still pending for the fourth annual festival that will have a worldclass lineup. Tulsa Arts District OKROOTSMUSIC.ORG 1-2 BARTLESVILLE OKTOBERFEST Prost! Live polka bands, traditional, German games, children’s activities, and, of course delicious food and beer await at this annual event. Downtown Bartlesville OKMMUSIC.ORG/EVENTS/ OKTOBERFEST

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS: DESTINY GREEN/COURTESY LIVING ARTS OF TULSA; KENDALL WHITTIER: COURTESY

1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30 HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL Thrills, chills and spooky good fun await those who visit Oklahoma’s haunted castle. 3400 W. Fern Mountain Road, Muskogee OKCASTLE.COM/HALLOWEEN

3 TURKEY MTB FESTIVAL Part of the “Tour de Dirt” series, see and participate in mountain bike races for all ages. Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area, 6850 S. Elwood Ave. OKTDD.ORG 7-10 PELICAN FESTIVAL Celebrate the migratory birds as they make their pitstop at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. Arts and crafts vendors, carnival games and food trucks await visitors. Wolf Creek Park, 963 16th St., Grove PELICANFESTOK.COM 9-10 CHEROKEE ART MARKET One of the largest Native American art shows goes virtual again in 2021, with more than 90 artists representing mediums such as pottery, jewelry, textiles, paintings, sculptures and more. VISITCHEROKEENATION.COM/ CHEROKEE-ART-MARKET

15-17 TOKYO IN TULSA The state’s largest anime, Japanese and pop culture convention returns. Hyatt Regency Downtown, 100 E. Second St. TOKYOINTULSA.COM 21-24 TULSA OKTOBERFEST Authentic German bands, more than 50 different beers and carnival rides await visitors to one of the top five Oktoberfests in the country, according to USA Today. River West Festival Park, 2100 S. Jackson Ave. TULSAOKTOBERFEST.ORG

NOVEMBER

3-6 WILL ROGERS MOTION PICTURE FESTIVAL Family films submitted from around the world with special guest lectures and the Dog Iron Awards Show. Will Rogers Memorial Museum, 1720 W. Will Rogers Blvd., Claremore DOGIRONS.COM 13 WILD BREW An indoor beer festival fundraiser for the George Miksch Sutton Avian Research Center. Cox Business Convention Center, 100 Civic Center WILDBREW.ORG 27 FALL FAIR MARKET Artisans and craftspeople gather for an open-air market. Restore House, 924 S. Main St., Broken Arrow FALLFAIRMARKET.COM TP

Nov. 5 DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS For the past 10 years, Living Arts has hosted this festival that celebrates the Latinx heritage practice of honoring loved ones who have died. Living Arts, 307 E. Reconciliation Way. LIVINGARTS.ORG What you’ll see: Several thousands are expected to attend this annual festival, full of vibrant color, music and art. On Nov. 5, a procession of dancers and performers will make its way from the Guthrie Green stage to Living Arts, where memorial murals and altars have been created to honor and celebrate

Oct. 16 KENDALL WHITTIER ARTS FESTIVAL This one-day arts festival, featuring local art vendors, gallery shows and live music, is centered in the thriving arts district of Kendall Whittier, home to Circle Cinema, Tulsa Farmers’ Market and numerous locally owned businesses. Whittier Square, South Lewis Avenue and Admiral Boulevard VISITKENDALLWHITTIER.COM/ ARTSFESTIVAL What to bring: Your walking shoes and plenty of time. There’s lots to see at this festival that fosters the arts for the whole family. What to eat: Plenty of food trucks will set up for the festival, including Green and Gambill’s food truck outside 473. With a menu bringing authentic Jewish deli food to the masses, try the Shawarma fries or the pastrami sandwich with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and mustard. What to keep in mind: Organizers are expecting more than 60 vendors, including artists like Shannon Wheeler, Ron Pitts and Scott Taylor, as well as goods from Hilo de Amor and Luka Soap Co. Art will be made on-site and kids can participate in interactive art in a free kids’ zone. Look for special sales and artists inside the surrounding retailers.

those who have died. Live music will be performed in the Living Arts parking lot, too. Must do: Face painting, vendors and food trucks will be set up surrounding the art space. Organizers are planning several educational events among the festivities. Keep track of the complete schedule through Living Arts’ website and social media accounts. What to keep in mind: This special event is during the Tulsa Arts District’s monthly art crawl, so prepare for crowds throughout the area. That also means plenty of open galleries, live music and entertainment.

TulsaPeople.com

LEGENDS

Nancy Day spent more than 30 years as executive director of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice where she built connections in the community to promote and advocate for social justice initiatives.

Nancy Day RETIRED SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE CONTINUES HER DEVOTION TO THE CAUSE. BY GAIL BANZET-ELLIS

t’s been over seven years since Nancy Day retired as executive director of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, but she continues to spread the OCCJ mission of diversity, equity and inclusion across Tulsa and the state. Who knew a simple job interview in 1981 would mark the beginning of a 33-year legacy encompassing love and respect for all Oklahomans? Day says she found fulfillment and purpose in her advocacy role, and she’s grateful to her city for embracing OCCJ’s long community presence.

WHAT WAS ONE OF YOUR MOST DEFINING MOMENTS? I would say one of the most defining moments in my life was in 1981 when I began my career at what was then NCCJ: the National Conference of Christians and Jews. It’s now OCCJ, the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice. When I began, it never occurred to me this would become my life’s work, my life’s passion and a career that would define me forever. I learned so much during my 33 years with the organization, and I grew as a person and leader. I had the opportunity and the privilege to work with the absolute finest Tulsans and Oklahomans — totally committed to the mission of OCCJ — and who live that mission every day in the workplace and their personal lives. These ambassadors for diversity, equity and inclusion make our city and state a better place. 44

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MICHELLE POLLARD

WHERE DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY? WHY? I was born in Durant, and we moved to Tulsa when I was in kindergarten. I attended Tulsa Public Schools through high school. I moved away for college at the University of Oklahoma and majored in journalism. My father began the OU tradition. I followed suit, and then my sister and brother. Not just immediate family went to OU, but extended family, too — cousins, nieces and nephews. We’re just a big Sooner family, through and through.

Another defining moment in my life, in the work of OCCJ and our nation’s history was 9/11. It’s been almost 20 years, but we all remember exactly where we were on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001. Haunting memories of that day are still fresh, and many lives were changed forever. In the days and weeks and years to follow, NCCJ played a leading role in bringing Tulsans together to honor and remember. It was, and always will be, a defining moment in our work to help Tulsans of all backgrounds stand together as a united community. YOU ARE KNOWN IN TULSA FOR YOUR OCCJ LEADERSHIP, BUT WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR OTHER JOBS OR EXPERIENCES BEFORE THAT ERA? I got married right after graduation from OU. My husband was an ROTCtrained officer, and we were sent to Germany for three years. To live abroad was an amazing experience. I came back to the states and did a few things here and there as we moved around. When I came back to Tulsa in 1981, I learned from a friend about an opening for associate regional director at the OCCJ. I didn’t have any credentials, and nothing on my resume would have pointed me in that direction. I had an interview, and for some reason the interview committee thought I was a good match and took a chance on me. WHAT AGE DO YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW AND WHY? Some days my body feels my age, 72, but most of the time I mentally feel about 50. I think it’s because I never visualized myself being 70 or even 60. When I was young, 50 seemed so old, but now I call 50-year-olds brand new. HOW WOULD YOUR FRIENDS DESCRIBE YOU? I hope they would describe me as a good listener, non-judgmental and an organizer/convener. I feel like I’m pretty patient and optimistic. I think you almost have to be to do the kind of work I did. NOW THAT YOU’RE RETIRED, WHAT HOBBIES AND FAMILY EVENTS KEEP YOU BUSY? My husband, Dean Day, and I have been married for 38 years — the second marriage for both of us. Dean retired 11 years ago from a long banking career, four years before I retired from OCCJ. I don’t know how I could have managed the demands of my job without Dean’s support. He was such a trooper to hold down the fort when my schedule kept me away from home many evenings and weekends. We have a son, Lance, who is a firefighter in Boulder, Colorado. His wife, Summer, is a police officer in Denver. They have two children, Parker (10), and Madelyn (8), who are the joys of my life! With grandkids, I found a place in my heart I didn’t know was there. I also have a stepson, Ash Day, from Dean’s previous marriage. I love to read and garden. I’m also active at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church where I’m co-chair of the interfaith concerns committee. WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? I was caught in the middle of a riot in Athens, Greece, in 1973. My husband at the time and I were there as tourists while we were living in Germany. The Athens Polytechnic uprising occurred as a massive student demonstration of popular rejection of the Greek military junta of 19671974. The uprising began on Nov. 14, 1973, escalated to an open-junta revolt and ended on Nov. 17 after a series of

events, starting with a tank crashing through the gates of the Polytechnic. We were walking through one of the main plazas in Athens on the evening of Nov. 14 when the riot began. Police were using tear gas against the demonstrators, so tear gas was everywhere. We were able to find shelter in the basement of a clothing store on the square, thanks to the kind storeowner, until things quieted. We then quickly made our way back to our hotel where we were told to stay in our room and listen to Armed Forces Radio Europe for further instructions. Americans, especially military personnel stationed in Europe, were not popular with the student demonstrators, so we kept a low profile even after we were allowed to leave the hotel. DID YOU FEAR FOR YOUR LIFE? Yes, we were both very frightened. We were caught so off guard because we weren’t aware of what was going on in Greece. We were very young, in a foreign country and didn’t speak the language. We could see tanks going by on the street. It was just so different than anything we’d ever experienced. IF YOU COULD WITNESS ANY EVENT OF THE PAST, PRESENT OR FUTURE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? So many events come to mind, but I would not want to miss what we’ve been witnessing this year in Tulsa, and in particular, what we’ve witnessed through recent months with the centennial of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Tulsa’s time of reckoning is here. We all know Tulsa’s worst moment was a quiet secret for decades. As an almost life-long Tulsan who attended Tulsa Public Schools, I never knew about it until I went to work for OCCJ. I’m so grateful to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission, the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation and all those who have been working tirelessly to facilitate the actions, activities and events that commemorate and educate Oklahomans and Americans about the Race Massacre and its impact. I pray the importance of this work will continue to grow after the anniversary to build a better Tulsa for all its citizens. WHAT WAS A “WORST TIME” AND HOW DID YOU PULL THROUGH IT? The most stressful time of my career was in the fall of 2004 when the Tulsa NCCJ, along with the other 55 NCCJ offices, were notified by the national office that the organization was closing due to financial challenges. All regions were given the choice to close or to become independent 501(c)(3) organizations by August 2005. Thanks to the brilliant and courageous leadership of Tulsa NCCJ board president Ginny Creveling, president-elect Oliver Howard, board member Michael Johnson and resounding support from the corporate community, we surpassed our goal of $500,000 in a campaign that kicked off in January 2005. With a generous lead gift from Williams, the campaign raised $636,000 in about three months. The community rallied around us. We had terrific media partners who helped us increase public awareness. On May 1, 2005, the Tulsa NCCJ officially separated from the national organization — the first NCCJ office to do so successfully. We emerged stronger than ever as OCCJ, the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, and the only organization in Oklahoma with the singular mission to fight bias, bigotry and racism. WHAT CONCERNS YOU TODAY? I’m concerned, and have been for some time, about the lack of civility in American

society and politics. It seems to be getting worse by the day. People may not agree on many things, but they can still engage in civil dialogue. The strident tenor of contemporary American discourse is threatening our cherished democracy. Right now, we are so divided in many ways. We must change the American conversation. It can be done if we promote frank, respectful and vigorous debate. That is our only hope. HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS? Measuring the success of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training in the workplace or classroom is not as straightforward as other training topics. It takes long-term tracking, benchmarking and qualitative measurement. However, sophisticated measurement isn’t always necessary or affordable for many nonprofits to place a value on the success of a long-standing human relations program. WHAT IS A FAVORITE TULSA MEMORY? One of my favorite memories growing up was going to the Admiral Twin and other drive-in theaters in the Tulsa area. When we moved here in 1952, Mom and Dad would load us up in our station wagon, sometimes in our pajamas, and off we would go. Those were just wonderful memories. I’m so thankful the Admiral Twin was rebuilt after the 2010 fire and is still going strong. I hope a lot of Tulsa kids get to have those same fun memories. DESCRIBE A PERFECT WEEKEND IN TULSA OR ELSEWHERE. After the past 18 months of pretty much sheltering in place, a perfect weekend or weekday for my husband and me is fairly simple. We love taking walks with our dog around our historic neighborhood, Gathering Place or along the river. We enjoy gardening and reconnecting with friends and family for dinner at one of Tulsa’s wonderful restaurants. Dean loves to play golf, and I love to browse in Tulsa’s locally owned shops. We enjoy travel, but we’ll wait a bit on that. WHAT PLACE IN TULSA DO YOU MISS MOST? The place I miss most is the OCCJ office. I definitely don’t miss the grind, but I miss the amazing people I worked with: the board, volunteers and community partners. Fortunately, I’m still involved as a board member emeritus, so I do get to see some of my former colleagues on occasion, which is a blessing. WHAT HAVE BEEN THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGES YOU’VE EXPERIENCED IN TULSA? Certainly, one of the most significant changes is Gathering Place. We live close to this world-class, award-winning park and see on almost a daily basis the huge impact this incredibly generous gift from George Kaiser has had on our city and beyond. To watch Tulsans of all ages, stages and backgrounds come together to enjoy this beautiful and unique urban park truly warms my heart. Of course, the revitalization of downtown is so exciting. Having worked downtown, it has been so amazing to watch what has happened in recent years. When the BOK Center opened in 2008, Mayor Kathy Taylor asked OCCJ to put together an interfaith dedication. We brought together leading clergy representing a variety of faith traditions in Tulsa to say blessings for this spectacular new arena. It was a powerful gathering, which said to the community, “All are welcome here.” TP TulsaPeople.com

Emma Schlais became a leader in the Broken Arrow special needs community after her son Rolen, now 14, was diagnosed with autism.

Rethinking learning PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH NEURODIVERSITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS NAVIGATE THEIR STUDENTS’ LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

ll children are different, but what if your child’s differences require more than the usual classroom provides? Where do you go? What do you do? The number of students receiving special education services nationwide has increased from 6.5 million to 7.3 million over the past decade, according to the Condition of Education 2021 Report by the National Center for Education Statistics. As the need for educational diversity has increased, so have the options. However, navigating those options to find the right learning opportunities for a child with special needs can be overwhelming. As defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, federal law mandates every child receive a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment possible. If the neighborhood public school isn’t meeting the needs of a child with disabilities, he or she might be eligible to receive special education services within the public school system. 46

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The next step is to request an evaluation by a representative from the appropriate school district to determine whether the student qualifies for special education services. To qualify as a student with special needs, they must fit the defined criteria for at least one of the following disabilities: • Autism • Deaf-blindness • Deafness/hearing impairment • Emotional disturbance • Intellectual disability • Multiple disabilities • Orthopedic impairment • Other health impairment • Speech or language impairment • Traumatic brain injury • Visual impairment • Specific learning disability • Developmental delay After a need is determined, an Individualized Education Program, or IEP, is established.

An IEP is a written document developed by a multi-disciplinary team for each public school child who is eligible for special education, according to Great Schools, a national nonprofit helping parents fi nd the right schools and educational resources for their children. The IEP is reviewed at least once a year. Many special education resources warn parents these meetings can be overwhelming but encourage them to confidently advocate for their child. “You should feel like you have a seat at the table at an IEP meeting,” says Emma Schlais, PTA Council special education chairwoman for Broken Arrow Public Schools District. “If you don’t understand what’s being discussed, don’t be afraid to speak up and ask questions.” Schlais noticed her son Rolen wasn’t meeting some of his milestones at 6 months old. Th ree months later his pediatrician referred the family to SoonerStart, the state’s early intervention program for families who have children with developmental delays. “They were amazing in

MICHELLE POLLARD

BY JAMIE RICHERT JONES

TOWN AND COUNTRY SCHOOL: COURTESY

Students at Town and Country School complete a teambuilding exercise in STEM class.

guiding me on this new path,” Schlais says. In elementary school Rolen, now 14, was diagnosed with autism, which put Schlais on the journey to become an ardent leader in the special needs community. “That’s why I try to create as big of a community as possible, because I don’t want people going into those situations where they feel like they aren’t in control at all,” she says. With the support of the school district, Schlais created a community for caregivers of students with special needs about three years ago. Among the many initiatives she started, she invites two speakers per semester to help inform their community of the resources available. One of the most popular guest speakers was an IEP advocate and consultant. “She really hit it out of the park,” Schlais says. “It’s very important to educate yourself before an IEP meeting. I’ve known parents who were very overwhelmed. There are resources out there. There are people you can talk to. There are websites to go to.” Intended as an in-person event, the Special Education Parent Chats have been held virtually during the pandemic with hopes to return to in-person this school year. Schlais didn’t originally intend on taking a leadership role, but when she addressed a need for a special needs community she realized she

inevitably volunteered to take on the challenge. “My older son was identified as gifted when he was in second grade,” Schlais says. “They had a lot of advocacy for gifted students and parent chat groups. We would go hear a different speaker each time. And I started thinking, why don’t we have anything like that for special education? I was already involved in the PTA, and so they asked if I would like to head that up.” Schlais quickly realized there was no manual for her position. “I was shocked to find out with as big as Broken Arrow’s district is, there had never been a special education chairperson, as far as I know,” she says. “They basically told me to take it and build it into what I wanted it to be.” Th ree years later, she has created a large community of advocates and resources built on relationships and trust. Schlais has created a Facebook group to keep parents and caregivers in the loop about upcoming events, helpful resources and motivational/inspirational posts. “The biggest piece of advice I have, regardless of what your child’s neurodiversity may be, is get involved,” Schlais says. “It doesn’t mean you have to be there every day, but know what is going on in your child’s academic life. You become familiar with the staff, the administrators and teachers.”

If public schools aren’t a good fit, private schools might be an option. According to its website, Tulsa’s Town and Country School is Oklahoma’s only accredited, non-public, full-day program for grades 2-12 specifically designed to serve the needs of children with learning disabilities, attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder. “Town and Country School began in 1961 with a few parents and a clinical psychologist,” says Principal Shevaun Etier. “Since then, our sole purpose is to educate students academically, socially and emotionally.” The majority of students come to Town and Country after a referral from a psychiatrist, public or private school, or after homeschooling, she says. “Our classes are small, with a teacher and an assistant,” she says. “The curriculum is modified to meet each student’s needs, yet challenge them to make gains. We have four speech pathologists on staff who work with students on articulation but also pragmatic and social thinking. Our program is language based and all teachers are trained in Lindamood-Bell Reading Processes.” Its teachers are certified in special education for first- through eighth-grade classrooms, and content area certified in 9-12th grade classrooms. They provide professional development and trainings on learning disabilities, autism, differentiated instruction, social skills and social thinking.

Schlais says the teachers might know your child in a way you don’t, so it’s important to keep the lines of communication open. “With my younger son being non-verbal, I need to know who he’s with all day,” Schlais says. “Fortunately, we’ve had very good experiences at Broken Arrow Public Schools. If there’s ever been an issue and I had to step in, it’s always been handled in a meaningful and professional way. If you treat the teachers well, they’re going to feel appreciated and supported. That will in turn affect the students.” TP TulsaPeople.com

Holland Hall students Madigan Curry and Carolyn Ostroski participate in a lesson about volcanoes during a class held outdoors this past school year.

School’s in session

LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PANDEMIC BRING FORTH SOME NEW IDEAS AND A RETURN TO NORMALCY FOR THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR.

any things have changed since the start of the pandemic. Nowhere are the shifts more apparent than in the education system, which had to quickly adapt as the coronavirus took hold back in March 2020 in Tulsa County. Since then schools across the area have learned to adjust, adapt and in some cases determine how to operate moving forward. As of press time, mask requirements vary by district. Tulsa Public Schools will not require masks for fully vaccinated adults and students. Several don’t anticipate requiring masks, but will monitor local rates and make determinations closer to the fi rst day of school.

TECHNOLOGY TIPS

One of the biggest changes across all school systems was extra reliance on technology, both for students and teachers. In many ways this broadened how students were able to learn, according to Rob Kaiser, principal of Monroe Demonstration Academy. Not only did access increase, but also the vari48

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ety of technology programs utilized. “It really pushed their instruction,” he says, which led to innovative ways to engage students with interactive activity. For example, the debate team was able to meet with federal judge Claire Eagan over Zoom. “Students got a really intimate conversation with a federal judge,” Kaiser says. Moving forward, that technology will allow connection with other guest speakers from across the world. At Bishop Kelley High School, students and teachers utilized digital resources while in a hybrid schedule for a quarter of the 2020-21 school year. When school resumes in August, students will be on campus full-time using digital tools and resources, but understanding its limitations, too. “Digital resources are tools, but they don’t replace the human-to-human contact that happens in person, especially the social needs of adolescents,” says Principal Jim Franz. “Yes, we learned how to use digital resources much better … but the best lessons we as educators learned from the pandemic are the limitations of digital learning.”

At Holland Hall, Head of School J.P. Culley says in-person learning was supported by adding more digital tablets and other devices. “Undoubtedly, every teacher at Holland Hall now has an extended collection of technology tools that the pandemic catalyzed,” Culley says. “But the deeply social aspect of learning how to think critically through dialogue, conversation, debate and in-the-moment feedback really requires presence. I can foresee opportunities for students and faculty to curate and comment on work from the classroom in the cloud environment, but the type of learning we’re focused on will remain anchored in personal interactions.”

OUTDOOR LEARNING

Many schools turned to outdoor learning and exploration to help keep students engaged and socially distant. “Our philosophy has always been to experience nature and experience our 120-acre campus, and we utilized that campus more than ever,” says Jerry Bates, head of school at Riverfield Country Day School, which conducted

CHRISTOPHER MCCONNELL/COURTESY HOLLAND HALL

BY KRISTI EATON

some classes and learning breaks outdoors. Students studied plant life and one class built a dock in the campus’ pond. “I hope that is something that will not change in the future — that we continue to utilize our outdoor spaces,” including gardens, he says. He notes private schools, due to their size, can be agile and shift quickly to maintain programs like these. He continues, “We have focused on 21st-century skills for a number of years, and these skills include agility and adaptability.” 2020 gave students a chance to see those skills in real life. “The other carry over is that we all felt a collaborative sense of success following the school year,” Bates adds. “We will build on that next year as we continue to work collaboratively as a faculty to provide experiential learning opportunities for our students that are interdisciplinary and focused on real world situations.” Along with investments made to its ventilation systems, Holland Hall held some classes outside under tents. “Our students and faculty really enjoyed the opportunities to learn outdoors,” Culley says. “We hope to hold onto some of the tents for the fall and fundraise for some permanent outdoors spaces in the coming year. We all became intimately familiar with our 162acre campus this year. We spent as much time outside as we could.”

Monroe Demonstration Academy Principal Rob Kaiser says technology, like these Chromebooks, helped students and teachers engage with each other and those in the community in new ways. He plans to continue the innovation this coming year.

MICHELLE POLLARD

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Last year Tulsa Public Schools utilized Talking Points, a two-way multilingual texting platform that enables teachers and schools to communicate via text message with families, including the 37% of TPS students who speak a language other than English at home, according to TPS’ Lauren Partain. Th is reaches families in their preferred languages directly, she adds, which in turn increases parent engagement in the classroom and communities. The pandemic also taught Monroe administration to think outside the four walls of the school, which partnered with Tulsa Housing Authority to offer satellite office hours. “We brought out tents and set up shop, and really brought our offices to our families that reside in those different housing complexes,” Kaiser says, adding the school will continue to reach students in innovative ways. He says priorities will include “the importance of moving our school and services outside of our building and meeting our families and community where they are.” That might mean virtual connections or “pushing into the different neighborhoods that we serve,” he explains, while continuing to offer the same level of support and communication required during the pandemic. Monroe will continue its program “Parents of Success,” which are one-on-one trainings on Fridays for parents to learn various digital platforms. The school partnered with Due North, a nonprofit dedicated to providing north Tulsans with access to education and career resources, last year to offer parents and families opportunities such as resume building. TP TulsaPeople.com

Markenna Sims, Steven Roemerman, Owen Flynt, Grant Myers and Haylee Christopher

THE HIGH NOTE Union High School is one of Tulsa’s marching band powerhouses. As the group prepares for the fall competition season, students and faculty reﬂect on what it means to be a member of the Renegade Regiment. BY ANNA HOLTON-DEAN | PHOTOS BY MICHELLE POLLARD

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

VISIT TULSAPEOPLE.COM for a photo gallery of Union High School’s Renegade Regiment. Percussionists Gabriel Sorrels, Caleb Barrows, Nicholas Bremer, Rowin Bennett, Owen Flynt and Zachary O’Brien during a recent morning practice at Union High School

Charles Pisarra, director of bands and associate director of fine arts for Union Public Schools

t Union High School, two to three semi-trucks loaded with musical equipment and props, seven buses, and three to four other support vehicles wait, ready to go. With them is a network of two-way radios, loading/unloading crews, a food service team and a hydration crew. Is this some famous musical superstar hitting the road? Yes … and you’ve probably passed one of these unassuming musicians in the grocery store disguised as a typical teen. We’re talking about “The Renegade Regiment,” aka the Union High School competitive marching band and a 12-time Bands of America Grand National Championship Finalist, among TulsaPeople.com

Movement Coordinator Travis Smith, center, instructs the band members.

Destiny Reyes, lead drum major and flutist

Hannah Nguyen

the highest accolades a competitive marching band can garner. The group also has appeared in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade (2002) and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2013) in addition to consistently earning high marks at local and regional competitive events. The band was invited to perform in the Macy’s parade again in 2020; unfortunately, the COVID19 pandemic precluded the performance. All bands invited in 2020 were reinvited for 2021, yet the cancellation was a major disappointment for the senior class of 2021, says Charles Pisarra, director of bands and the associate director of fine arts for Union Public Schools. For that reason, about a dozen Class of 2021 graduates will join current 52

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band members for the 2021 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day performance. Through the past year’s challenges, Pisarra says he’s learned much from the students’ commitment and adaptability. “This last year was difficult,” he says. “I feel like overall the students handled that better than the adults did, and I tell them that pretty often.” How does this award-winning ensemble make such beautiful music together? In part, it might be the staff. Pisarra leads the band along with seven full-time teachers, several part-time teachers and five student conductors (drum majors). Add to that his commitment. A “Union lifer,” Pisarra attended Union Public Schools from kindergarten through graduation,

interned there during college and came back after graduate school in a part-time role that eventually led to full-time percussion specialist before becoming the director of bands. Next, band is a full-time commitment, he says. Students must maintain passing grades in their school courses and be enrolled in band class, though it is considered an extracurricular activity. There is no true “off season.” Members train physically in the winter and spring months, and mid-August through mid-November is competitive/performance season. And then there’s summer — not much of a vacation. Each section of the band has two weeks of summer rehearsals, some half-days, some all-days, as well as two weeks of all-day rehearsals for all members. When school starts, members rehearse nearly 15 hours a week. They hold additional rehearsals prior to home football games and weekend competitions and they perform at every home football game — eight are scheduled this season. As the team moves into the playoffs, students are at games as a pep band to support school spirit, Pisarra says. The marching band performs at away games within the metro area (Owasso, Broken Arrow, Jenks), and Union sends a smaller pep band to away games in the Oklahoma City metro.“It’s a lot of time, but coordinating a production like ours requires many hours,” Pisarra says.

Annelise Huynh

Worth the work

Shaun Riggins, brass executive and mellophone line leader

Process and production

Talent and camaraderie

There’s much more that makes the band stand out because it’s a real production. A team of five to seven professional, full-time creative designers from around the country collaborates to decide music, formations, colors and costuming. “They sketch, write and deliver that to us and support us along the way and help us artistically to be competitive,” Pisarra says. “One-third of the band’s teaching staff is involved in the creative process.” Once the marching band production is created, executing it is another logistical feat. It involves somewhere between 200 to 230 students, including color guard, five drum majors, eight full-time faculty, 10 to 15 part-time faculty, 50 to 75 volunteers for home football games and 30 to 50 volunteers for competitions, Pisarra explains. Volunteers are needed for everything from serving meals, sewing on a button, to pushing around audio equipment or props, to ensuring everyone has water and is hydrating. An operation of this magnitude obviously comes with a cost and is funded from multiple sources, the smallest of which are local donors and businesses. The largest support comes from district funds. Additional funding sources are the booster club, concession stand revenue and student fees.

The Tulsa area touts an unusual amount of marching band talent, spilling beyond Union’s district. The Broken Arrow, Owasso, Bixby and Jenks marching bands continually rake in the accolades, as well. “Per capita, the Tulsa metro area has arguably the strongest concentration of competitive high school marching bands in the entire country,” Pisarra says. His explanation: “Success breeds success, excellence breeds excellence. Local guys have to compete; they have to get better. It’s a ‘push each other’ sort of culture.” However, he says the band students among the area high schools get along. “Everybody likes to win, but they are still friends and colleagues. We have kids in our band who hang out with kids from the Bixby band or go to church with Broken Arrow kids.” Among the band directors, who see one another at dozens of events through the year, Pisarra describes their relationship as “a strong brotherhood of people who work in an artistic, time-sensitive profession.” While the recognition and titles are certainly a gratifying aspect of the job, Pisarra says the people are what matter most. “The most satisfying part is working every day with terrific students, teachers and volunteers.” TP

Marching band is laborious, yes. But it’s a labor of love. “My favorite part about being in the band is the culture we cultivate,” says senior Destiny Reyes, lead drum major and flute player. “Everyone is expected to work hard, but we also have an abundance of fun. I am constantly being challenged, which leads to me constantly feeling myself grow as a musician and a leader. Working with such a large variety of people has built my character. Being exposed to the stories of my peers has left an imprint on my heart that I never could have experienced anywhere else.” Senior Annelise Huynh, who plays flute and is the woodwind executive and a flute section leader, agrees band has helped her develop a great work ethic and time management skills in addition to forging lasting friendships with a diverse group of people. “Between rehearsing an endless number of hours to perfect a few lines of music to holding sectionals outside of rehearsal time for more individualized practice, marching band is certainly a huge commitment and can often limit involvement in other clubs and organization,” Huynh says. Senior Shaun Riggins serves as the brass executive and is section leader of the mellophone line. He, too, finds every hour of practice worth the effort. “It’s one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had the chance to have,” he says. “This year especially, I have learned how to be a responsible leader and have gotten to meet many people because of my role, as well as meet some amazing friends.” Working with friends, Riggins adds, “perfecting our craft will never fail to put a smile on my face — it’s an amazing rush.” The leaders of the various instrument groups report to the “executive” within the family of instruments, Pisarra says. Along with the lead drum major and the color guard student captain, these five comprise the Executive Student Leadership Team. TulsaPeople.com

EXPLORE the possibilities Private tours offered by appointment Monday-Friday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. For virtual campus tours and more information about admission or tuition assistance, call 918-879-4755. Learn more at hollandhall.org/open-house.

5666 EAST 81ST STREET, TULSA • 918.481.1111 • HOLL ANDHALL.ORG

Holland Hall

olland Hall kicks off its 100-year celebration in August, and its mission is the same as it was in 1922 — to provide a school “where each student may receive individual attention, within reach of any citizen of Tulsa.” Holland Hall’s intentionally small-scale approach assures teachers truly know who their students are and where their strengths and passions lie. “Students find it all at Holland Hall, and every student can find a place to excel,” says Director of Enrollment Management Justin Butler ’04. Holland Hall students see an average score of 1366 on the SAT and 27 on the ACT. Historically, 100% of graduates are accepted to a four-year college and 90% of graduates receive some form of college scholarship.

YEAR FOUNDED: 1922 ENROLLMENT: 1,006 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 10-to-1 GRADES: Early Pre-K–12th grade

Holland Hall students have opportunities beyond the classroom, too. The Upper School offers 62 different art courses, 18 individual and team sports and more than 30 clubs. A Holland Hall education may be more affordable than expected. Pre-K tuition is up to $3,000 less per year than comparable local programs, and 31% of all students receive some form of tuition assistance. “We believe the best way to learn what makes Holland Hall different is to visit our 162-acre campus and see for yourself,” Butler says. In addition to private tours, the school offers open houses on “Welcome Wednesdays.” To learn more, visit hollandhall.org/admission or email justin.butler@hollandhall.org.

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION Holland Hall is the only Cum Laude School in Tulsa. Colleges see having a Cum Laude Society chapter as a critical mark of academic excellence.

6363 SOUTH TRENTON AVENUE • 918.745.9868 • METROCA.COM

Metro Christian Academy L

ocated on a 60-acre campus in the heart of Tulsa, Metro Christian Academy is an independent Christian school serving students age 3 through 12th grade. They’re all under one roof but with distinct areas for preschool, elementary, middle and high school. Metro’s Elementary program offers two options for students. One features traditional curriculum students may join at any time. The other is a Spanish Immersion section students may enter in Pre-K or Kindergarten and continue through 5th grade. Spanish Immersion students become bilingual by learning core subject content in Spanish including history, language arts, science and math. Metro’s secondary school offers a range of academic programs including Advanced Placement courses and courses for concurrent college credit. Metro offers an array of activities including 11 varsity sports, debate, leadership, missions and fine arts classes like studio art, drama and band. At the heart of Metro is a sense of community. Students, parents, faculty and staff all work together to help students reach their full potential. “We work to develop this culture in which everyone knows who you are,” says Adam Taylor, Athletic Director. “You are somebody here. You are someone important.” Learn more about admissions at Metro Christian Academy by calling 918-745-9868 or at visitmetro.com.

YEAR FOUNDED: 1983 ENROLLMENT: 1,060 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 12-to-1 GRADES: P3-12

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION Metro’s elementary program offers two tracks for students. One features traditional curriculum that students may join at any time. The other is a Spanish immersion section that students may enter in Pre-K or Kindergarten and continue through 5th grade. Spanish immersion students become bilingual by learning core subject content in Spanish including history, language arts, science and math.

METRO CHRISTIAN ACADEMY IS A FULLY ACCREDITED, COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL SERVING STUDENTS IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. FOLLOW US @METROCHRISTIANACADEMY TO LEARN ABOUT ALL THE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING AT METRO. 6 3 6 3 S . T R E N T O N | AV E .T U L S A , O K 74 1 3 6 | M E T R O C A . C O M | 9 1 8 . 74 5 . 9 8 6 8

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

2206 SOUTH LEWIS AVENUE, TULSA • 918.742.336 4 • MONTECASSINO.ORG

Monte Cassino School A

s an independent, Benedictine Catholic school, Monte Cassino’s teachers, parents and students work together to educate each student as a child of God in innovative ways that challenge the mind, grow the heart and nurture the spirit. This is evident in the strong curriculum, low student-to-teacher ratio, small class sizes, foreign language programs, abundant enrichment and extra-curricular activities such as robotics, academic bowl, athletics, fine arts and more. From the social/emotional experiential learning in the preschool to the wide selection of class offerings in the middle school, your student will thrive here. Supported by the legacy of the Benedictine Sisters, Monte Cassino School provides students with a welcoming and distinctly well-rounded Catholic education. YEAR FOUNDED: 1926 ENROLLMENT: 780 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 10-to-1 GRADES: Pre-K3-8th grade AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION Monte Cassino School is accredited by the Oklahoma State Department of Education and Cognia.

NOW ENROLLING FOR 2021-2022 PreK - 8th Grade

Enrollment is limited.

What could a Monte Cassino Education do for your family? Come see for yourself.

Tour montecassinoschool

Shadow @MonteCassinoSchool

Apply 2206 South Lewis, Tulsa

TO SCHEDULE A TOUR CALL 918-746-4238 www.montecassino.org TulsaPeople.com

24 33 WEST 61ST STREET, TULSA • 918.4 46.3553 • RIVERFIELD.ORG

Riverfield Country Day School R

iverfield is a nonsectarian school providing quality innovative education for children 8 weeks old through 12th grade. Riverfield is dedicated to academic excellence and college preparation while remaining true to its family-oriented atmosphere and whole student approach to education and learning. Small class sizes, along with the collaborative nature of the classrooms, provide opportunities for students to cultivate critical thinking, creativity, leadership, interpersonal skills, and the confidence needed for success today and tomorrow. Riverfield is home to the state’s first and most comprehensive school rock band program, with more than a dozen 4th-12th grade student bands. Through participation in the OSSAA, the school has achieved success in athletics, academics, extracurriculars and arts including State Championships in Speech and Debate four years in a row and in Academic Bowl for the past three years. Riverfield is accredited through the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS), the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the Oklahoma Private Schools Accreditation Commission. To learn more, please contact Director of Admissions Kacey Davenport at 918-446-3553 or kdavenport@riverfield.org.

YEAR FOUNDED: 1984

AREAS OF ACADEMIC DISTINCTION

ENROLLMENT: 600 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 4-to-1 to 16-1 (based on age/grade level)

Located on a 120-acre campus, Riverfield’s students experience the barnyard, hiking trails, gardens and athletic fields as an extension of the academic excellence found in the classroom.

GRADES: Infants-12th grade

THRIVING 918.446.3553

2433 W. 61st St., Tulsa, OK 74132

riverfield.org

Despite a global pandemic and unprecedented challenges, Riverfield students didn’t just survive, they thrived.

3A Speech and Debate State Champions $68k raised by students in Run for Riverfield

4A Girls Tennis State Runners-Up

National Merit Finalist Robert Hale 120-acre campus explored by all ages

2A Academic Bowl State Champions

11 student rock bands performed at Llamapalooza outdoor concert Innovative Education for Infants through 12th Grade 58

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

Our Professionals John R. Diver, O.D.

Gary T. Denslow, M.D., M.P.H.

Andrea N. Briggs, O.D.

Extra $20 OFF Eyeware Combine and save an additional $20 on a complete pair (frame and lenses). Can be combined with insurance benefits, any store offer or discount. Not valid on previous purchases, contact lenses, accessories, readers, or non-prescription sunglasses. Discount off tag price. See store for details. Offer ends 9/30/21.

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Tulsa

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One Celebratory Night. A Lasting Impact on Students. By supporting the Tulsa Community College Foundation and participating in the annual Vision Dinner, you will make a lasting impact on students by raising funds for scholarships, textbook vouchers, technology, cultural projects, internships, performing arts, service-learning projects and much more. Join us for a memorable night as we reflect on TCC’s history, celebrate our 50 Notable Alumni, look to the future of higher education in Tulsa and dance the night away with live music featuring musicians from the Signature Symphony at TCC.

Saturday, September 25, 2021 | 6 p.m. Reception | 7 p.m. Dinner & Program Cox Convention Business Center, Tulsa Ballroom We have a lot to celebrate and want you to be a part of it.

tccfoundation.org/vision | 918-595-7977

For reservations and to learn more about our 50 Notable Alumni, go to tccfoundation.org/vision or use the QR code.

See more of Kenlee Cooper’s hair designs on Instagram @braidhaute.

Braid BR IGA DE MICHELLE POLLARD

s seen in fashion magazines, on the runway and any time an event calls for something special, braids have been big. Kenlee Cooper, a stylist for three years, has developed a following for her over-the-top braided hair designs. She says the style is great for a special event, or just anytime you want to feel fancy. This fishtail braid is one example of what Cooper can do from her chair at Hobbs Salon and Med Spa, 1354 E. 15th St. TP

TulsaPeople.com

STOREFRONT

Celebrate the return to in-person classes with these stylish Seersucker backpacks for pencils and notebooks. Ideal for monogramming; also available in nap mats and lunch boxes. $32.

As classic as it gets for young gentlemen, the Appaman navy blazer pairs with a crisp white button-down for special occasions, or with jeans for casual cool. $102.

Chus footwear has affordable styles for girls and boys, in year-round styles for maximum wear. $30.

Charla Murrah

Trends for tots UTICA SQUARE CHILDREN’S BOUTIQUE FOCUSES ON SERVICE AND STYLE.

Say aloha to the Meri Meri “Tallulah” Hula Doll, the cutest thing in any kid’s collection of soft lovies. $70.

BY JANE ZEMEL

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

daughter Sydney has worked in the store since high school, a job younger daughter Sally looks forward to. The Murrahs design and create the store’s picturesque windows. “We look at it as the fi rst visual interaction with our store,” Murrah says. “We want someone to get a nice snapshot of what the store has to offer,” while they might be en route to other nearby shops or restaurants. Lolly Garden closed to in-store shopping for six weeks during COVID-19. When other businesses went the e-commerce route, the store doubled down on service. “We became personal shoppers for our best customers,” Murrah says. She and her staff sent photographs of new merchandise to patrons, then delivered purchases to their homes. “Our biggest joy this past year was continuing to write our orders,” she remembers. “The community put their arms around us to fight another day, and we thank everyone for their support.” TP

Lolly Garden 2046 UTICA SQUARE | 918-742-6300 | LOLLYGARDEN.COM 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday

Tea Collection’s three-year dress is broad enough to grow with your child. Year one, it starts out as a dress. Year two, it morphs into a tunic. Year three, it becomes a long shirt. $37.

The Magnéti’Book by Janod looks like a book and works like a box, keeping these magnetic tiles in their place. $16.50.

The quintessential Southern classic, this Beaufort bonnet just screams for a monogram, which is exactly what Lolly Garden will provide. $52, bonnet; $10, monogram.

MICHELLE POLLARD

hen a 23-year corporate career put her on the road regularly, Charla Murrah realized she was missing out on family time and having something that was all hers. “It’d been a dream of mine to be a small business owner — to own a children’s boutique,” she says. In 2017, she took over Lolly Garden, which has been in Utica Square since 2009. The fi rst step was to put the Murrah fingerprint on the store. She expanded the available sizes and inventory to include toys, gifts, accessories and more apparel for boys. Today, the store serves children from birth to approximately age 10. “We want to bring the best of the best to Tulsa,” she says. Lolly Garden is fi lled with items best described by her mantra: “classically curated, modern inspired.” Murrah is involved in picking “every piece and stitch in the store,” she says. In this enchanted garden, shoppers can find mini galleries of specific brands like Rylee + Cru and treasures from local vendors II Embers (jewelry) and Stitched Arrow (hair accessories). Expectant parents can reserve items in bassinette baskets that act as 3-D baby registries. It’s truly a family business. Charla’s husband, Lance, tackles deliveries and other duties. Older

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www.TraversMahanApparel.com South Lewis at 81st • The Plaza • 918-296-4100

6 N. LEWIS | 918.584.2217 zieglerart.com

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29 Years. 3541 S. Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK | 918-712-8785 | TulsaPeople.com

HOME

Houseplant heaven Houseplants are trendier than ever. Here are some tips on popular varieties from Jack Unger, section leader for houseplants at Southwood Landscape and Garden Center, and how to keep them looking their best. “The biggest issue with houseplants is the owner overwaters, especially cactus and succulents,” Unger says. TP BY ANNE BROCKMAN SANSEVIERIA

DIEFFENBACHIA

Let soil dry out before watering.

(also known as snake plant) Can tolerate full sun; grows slower in low light.

Can grow to 10 feet tall. Leaves can cause irritation to pets.

Water when soil completely dries out; when first knuckle inserted into soil is dry.

Loves bright, indirect light.

Southwood carries numerous varieties and sizes.

Can survive in low or bright light. Let soil dry out; water every two weeks. Shiny leaves vary in shade based on light conditions.

ANTHURIUM

Thrives in bright, indirect light. Dry fully between waterings; keep aerial roots exposed.

Thank you to Southwood Landscape and Garden Center for plants and planters. 64

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

MICHELLE POLLARD

Nearly year-round red or white blooms; slows in winter because of change in light.

Superior service you can trust to take care of your cleaning needs. RESIDENTIAL ✦ COMMERCIAL ✦ POST CONSTRUCTION ✦ ONE TIME/ RECURRING

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1335 E. 11th St. Suite E. • Tulsa, OK 74120 located on historic Route 66 Wedding Registry & Home Styling Available

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ANEWVIEWHOMEKEEPING.COM 9 18-282-2860

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Come See Us in

Springfield…

We’ll Show You Around! When you visit Springfield, Missouri, ask a local! We know where to enjoy the show! Whether it’s kicking back for a live performance at one of our historic theater and concert venues or catching mother nature’s show in the beautiful Ozarks, we love our city and know the best places to eat, drink and play. See you in Springfield!

Explore Springfield at

SpringfieldMo.org

Point your smartphone camera at this QR code to find out more about things to do in Springfield.

BEYOND CITY LIMITS

Beavers Bend State Park

Broken Bow, Oklahoma

The Jolly Roger, a five-bedroom luxury cabin in Broken Bow, has a 30-foot pirate ship play structure in the backyard. Book at beaversbendcreativeescape.com.

Fall break family fun SPEND THE MID-OCTOBER SCHOOL BREAK AT ONE OF THESE DESTINATIONS IN OKLAHOMA OR MISSOURI. BY MORGAN PHILLIPS 68

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

Growing in popularity over recent years is Broken Bow’s assortment of luxury cabins in the wooded areas surrounding Broken Bow Lake. A search on AirBnB or VRBO points to accommodations from simple to sprawling, and some cabins even have “kid” themes such a pirates or mermaids, as well as backyard playgrounds. Fire pits and hot tubs are fairly standard for Broken Bow cabins, and fall is the perfect time to utilize both. AIRBNB.COM, VRBO.COM Hiking, mini golf and boating are just a few activities to enjoy at Beavers Bend State Park, 4350 S. Highway 259A. Don’t forget your fishing license and poles: Trout streams are stocked year-round, and the park features two catchand-release areas for trophy fish. TRAVELOK.COM/ STATE-PARKS/BEAVERS-BEND-STATE-PARK The whole family will enjoy horseback riding at Beavers Bend Depot, 290 Beavers Bend Loop. Wildlife sightings are common on guided trail rides. Children ages 5 and up ride their own horse; younger children ride with an adult. If trains are more your speed, hop on a ride through the woods conducted by “Loco Joe.” FACEBOOK.COM/TRAINANDSTABLES

LORI DUCKWORTH/OKLAHOMA TOURISM; JOLLY ROGER: COURTESY BEAVERS BEND CREATIVE ESCAPES

3.5 HOURS FROM TULSA

St. Louis

Branson, Missouri

LESS THAN 2 HOURS FROM TULSA

LESS THAN 6 HOURS FROM TULSA

3.5 HOURS FROM TULSA

Autumn weather calls for camping (or glamping). At Orr Family Farm, 14400 S. Western, visitors can stay overnight in teepees or Conestoga wagons on the farm’s 108 acres. Make memories at a complimentary campfi re with s’mores. Camping guests receive after-hours access to farm attractions like its hayrides, pumpkin patch and corn maze, open from late September to early November. Day passes also are available. ORRFAMILYFARM.COM

Located in a century-old downtown warehouse, City Museum, 750 N. 16th St., is an explorer’s dream. In fact, there are no maps — on purpose. Miles of tunnels, slides, caves, secret passages and more invite children and adults to make their own adventures among the 10 stories and 600,000 square feet. CITYMUSEUM.ORG

Branson is known for family attractions, the king of which is Silver Dollar City Theme Park, 399 Silver Dollar City Parkway. Craftsmen demonstrate trades of the 1880s, such as pottery, blacksmithing and candymaking, while shows and musical acts entertain. Rides are plentiful for all ages; the newest one, Mystic River Falls, is an epic group rafting experience through Ozark waterways. SILVERDOLLARCITY.COM

Active families will gravitate to RiverSport OKC, which offers a range of outdoor adventures, including high-speed slides, ziplining and paddle boarding at 800 RiverSport Drive. Many attractions have height and weight requirements, but there’s something for everyone here. With adult supervision, even young children can jump into the fun with various trampolines and kayaks. RIVERSPORTOKC.ORG Oklahoma weather is fickle, so don’t let rain or heat ruin your vacation. Bubba Play Indoor Playzone, 13429 N. MacArthur Blvd., offers three levels of jungle-themed play for kids of all ages and adults up to 250 pounds. Obstacles, slides and ball pits — all sanitized several times per day — will keep the whole crew busy for hours. BUBBAPLAYOKC.COM

Giant anteater, polar bear and zebra are just three of the 500 species to see up close at St. Louis Zoo, 1 Government Drive, one of the few free zoos in the nation. “Dinoroarus,” an engaging exhibit of animatronic and stationary dinosaurs, plus a fossil dig site, is open through Oct. 31 for a fee. Zoo reservations are required. STLZOO.ORG See the famous Gateway Arch from a new perspective: the mighty Mississippi River. Riverfront cruises by Gateway Arch Riverboats, 50 S. Leonor K. Sullivan Blvd., are narrated by a captain or National Park Service Ranger. Choose from a one-hour daytime cruise or a two-hour skyline dinner cruise on select Fridays and Saturdays through November. GATEWAYARCH.COM

Orr Family Farm

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

Th rill-seeking teens and adults will love Branson Mountain Adventure’s Runaway Mountain Coaster and Flyaway Ziplines, 935 State Highway 165. Race your family or friends on the new high-speed Flyaway Quad Ziplines, or choose your thrill level on the individual coaster carts — all while taking in breathtaking views of the Ozarks. BRANSONPINEMOUNTAINCOASTER.COM TP

Silver Dollar City St. Louis riverboats

Vacation can be fun and educational. Walk with 50-60 species of butterfl ies from around the world at Butterfly Place and Rainforest Adventure, 4106 W. Highway 76. Navigate a forest-themed mirror maze and the Banyan Tree Bungee Adventure, which mimics the roots of rainforest trees. Critter encounters at the Living Rainforest Science Center allow guests to pet or feed reptiles and amphibians. THEBUTTERFLYPALACE.COM

ORR: AUDIENCE MEDIA GROUP; MYSTIC RIVER FALLS: COURTESY HERSCHEND FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CORP.; RIVERBOATS: COURTESY GATEWAY ARCH

Oklahoma City

EXPLORE . IMAGINE . PLAY!

Join us during our Passport to Play series! Educational programs, speakers and animal encounters will make each visit a unique and passport-worthy adventure.

WONDERSOFWILDLIFE.ORG/PLAY

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The Painters of Pompeii Roman Frescoes from the National Archaeological Museum, Naples

See it today in OKC!

CMY

This exhibiton is organized by the National Archaeological Museum, Naples and MondoMostre.

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

Oaklawn has all you need for the ultimate getaway. Book yours at Oaklawn.com.

A NEW LEVEL OF EXCITEMENT HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS OAKLAWN.COM • 1-800-OAKLAWN

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81 NA MED T OPDEN TISTS.

2021

tul sa “IF YOU HAD A PATIENT IN NEED OF A DENTIST, WHICH DENTIST WOULD YOU REFER THEM TO?” This is the question we’ve asked thousands of dentists to help us determine who the topDentists should be. Dentists and specialists are asked to take into consideration years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies, and, of course, physical results. The nomination pool consists of dentists listed online with the American Dental Association, as well as dentists listed online with other dental societies, thus allowing virtually every dentist the opportunity to participate. Dentists also are given the opportunity to nominate other dentists they feel should be included in our list. Respon-

dents are asked to put aside any personal bias or political motivations and to use only their knowledge of their peer’s work when evaluating the other nominees. Voters are asked to individually evaluate the practitioners on their ballot whose work they are familiar with. Once the balloting is completed, the scores are compiled and then averaged. The numerical average required for inclusion varies depending on the average for all the nominees within the specialty and the geographic area. Borderline cases are given a careful consideration by the editors. Voting characteristics and comments are taken into consideration while making decisions. Past awards a dentist has received and their status in various dental academies can play a factor in our decision. Once the decisions have been finalized, the included dentists are checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions to make sure they have an active license and are in good standing with the board. Then letters of congratulations are sent to all the listed dentists. Of course, there are many fine dentists who are not included in this representative list. It is intended as a sampling of the great body of talent in the field of dentistry in Oklahoma. A dentist’s inclusion on our list is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow dentists. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, we remain confident our polling methodology largely corrects for any biases and that these lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate and useful lists of dentists available anywhere.

This list is excerpted from 2021 the topDentists™ list, which includes listings for over 80 dentists and specialists in the Tulsa metro area. For more information call 706-364-0853; write P.O. Box 970, Augusta, Georgia 30903; email info@usatopdentists.com or visit usatopdentists.com. topDentists has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Copyright 2012-2021 by topDentists, LLC of Augusta, Georgia. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without permission of topDentists. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission. 74

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

Dr. Greg Segraves, Dr. Todd Johnson, Dr. Heath Evans, Dr. Chris Ray

Eastern Oklahoma Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Oral Surgery 4716 W. Urbana St., Broken Arrow 918-449-5800 12802 E. 101st Pl. N., Owasso 918-274-0944 EOOMS.COM

Eastern Oklahoma Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (EOOMS) is committed to providing comprehensive oral surgery care. They practice the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery. Common procedures include wisdom teeth and dental extractions with intravenous anesthesia for patient comfort. They specialize in all aspects of dental implant surgery, bone grafting and jaw reconstruction. As a group they offer 24-hour practice coverage and take trauma calls for local hospitals. EOOMS is comprised of four experienced oral surgeons: Todd Johnson, D.D.S.; Gregory Segraves, D.D.S.; M.S. Heath Evans, D.D.S.; Christopher Ray, D.D.S. All EOOMS surgeons hold memberships in numerous dental societies including the Tulsa County Dental Society, Oklahoma Dental Association, American Dental Association, Southwest Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. For patients’ convenience, most of the group’s services are provided in the EOOMS offices. The offices are board certified for office IV anesthesia to ensure patient comfort. Quality of care and patient safety are always the group’s primary concern. The EOOMS staff is a committed group of employees who strives to achieve the highest standard of care. Their surgical team has specialized training in oral surgery and anesthesia assisting, which provides for a more comfortable and safe oral surgery experience. EOOMS is located in the 91st and Highway 169 area at 4716 W. Urbana St. and at our NEW location in Owasso just off of Highway 169 and 96th Street North at 12802 E. 101st Place N. in the Medical Park Plaza. EOOMS welcomes Dr. Christopher Ray. Dr. Ray is trained in full scope oral and maxillofacial surgery and is excited to serve the Tulsa and northeastern Oklahoma community.

TulsaPeople.com

topDentists ENDODONTICS Christopher C. DeLong Owasso Endodontics 12899 E. 76th St. N., Suite 108, Owasso | 918-272-2488 owassoendo.com Eugenia M. Johnson Green Country Endodontics 10507 E. 91st St., Suite 340 918-994-6000 greencountryendodontics.com Michael J. Kubelka Kubelka Endodontics 4606 E. 67th St., Suite 201 918-494-4144 kubelkaendodontics.com Laurie L. Southard Southard Endodontics 5010 E. 68th St., Suite 104 918-493-3880 southardendodontics.com Amy E. Stone Tulsa Endodontic Associates 6565 S. Yale Ave., Suite 712 918-481-6622 rootcanalstulsa.com Michael Strand Broken Arrow Endodontics 4416 W. Houston St., Broken Arrow 918-615-3600 brokenarrowendo.com Byron N. Tucker Endodontic Specialists of Northeast Oklahoma 5555 E. 71st St., Suite 210 918-524-3366 esneok.com Kent H. Wyatt Endodontic Specialists of Northeast Oklahoma 5555 E. 71st St., Building 9, Suite 210 918-524-3366 esneok.com GENERAL DENTISTRY Benson L. Baty 7335 S. Lewis Ave., Suite 206 918-496-1051 Kathryn E. Beller 81st Street Dental 7711 E. 81st St. 918-461-2766 kathrynbellerdds.com Seth Bingham Bingham and Howarth Family Dentistry 6565 S. Yale Ave., Suite 1100 918-481-4925 binghamandhowarth.com 76

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

HIGHLIGHTED LISTINGS DENOTE ADVERTISER.

Wesley N. Black The Dental Studio of South Tulsa 6112 S. 61st St. 918-745-0500 dstulsa.com

Lori Hare Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry 201 N. Lynn Riggs Blvd., Claremore 918-343-4300 thehealthysmiles.com

Wrany R. Southard Southard Dental 6333 S. Memorial Drive, Suite G 918-294-1144 southarddental.com

Melissa Bowler Collinsville Family Dentistry 1310 W. Main St., Collinsville 918-371-3774 bowlerdds.com

Meghan Hodges élan by Dr. Meghan Hodges 10031 S. Yale Ave., Suite 104 918-528-7486 tulsadentalcare.com

Michael R. Steffen 302 S. Lewis Ave. 918-663-7928 steffendental.com

Craig E. Buntemeyer Buntemeyer Dental 9113 S. Toledo Ave. 918-743-9275 tulsagreatsmiles.com

Bruce D. Horn 7990 S. Sheridan Road 918-492-9090 brucehorndds.com

Marc L. Susman Smile Remodels and Digital Dentistry 5510 S. Memorial Drive 918-228-5416 drsusman.com

Kevin Howarth 6565 S. Yale Ave. 918-481-4925 binghamandhowarth.com

Dean O. Todd 7134 S. Yale Ave., Suite 100 918-493-2444 drdeantodd.com

Michael S. Howl 3323 E. 46th St. 918-749-1626 howldental.com

Shannon K. Toler Origin Dental Wellness 2100 S. Utica Ave., Suite 205 918-747-6453 origindentalwellness.com

Charles W. Calhoun 10016 S. Mingo Road, Suite B 918-250-8861 calhoundds.com Jacob Cary Lexington Dental of Owasso 8500 N. 129th E. Ave., Owasso | 918-740-8500 lexingtondentalofowasso.com Conrad C. Casler Jr. Casler Dental Group 6911 S. 66th E. Ave., Suite 300 918-477-7677 caslerdentalgroup.com Carolyn M. Caudle 401 S. Boston Ave., Suite 1800 918-582-3877 Walter M. Davies III Progressive Dental Care of Tulsa 7614 E. 91st St., Suite 120 918-212-5834 dentalcareoftulsa.com

Steve O. Lusk 9815 E. 51st St. 918-664-9995 tulsadentalart.com Joe F. Maltsberger Innovative Family Dentistry 106 Atlas Ave., Oologah 918-992-7020 innovativefamilydentistry.com Ted L. Marshall Marshall Family Dentistry 8830 S. Yale Ave. 918-481-5252 marshallfamilydentists.com

Michael Engelbrecht III 6565 S. Yale Ave., Suite 1104 918-492-9420 brightsmilesoftulsa.com

Molly Marshall-Hays Marshall Family Dentistry 8830 S. Yale Ave. 918-481-5252 marshallfamilydentists.com

Deboria F. Gill Gill Family and Laser Dentistry 6141 E. 91st St. 918-747-4444 gilldentistry.com

Randall S. McCormick The Tulsa Dentist 1701 S. Peoria Ave. 918-743-2346 thetulsadentist.com

Daniel Griffiths Midtown Dentistry 3345 S. Harvard Ave., Suite 102 918-743-8539 tulsamidtowndentistry.com

Jerry W. Robertson Restorative Dentistry of Tulsa 9224 S. Toledo Ave. 918-492-7263 restorativedentistryoftulsa.com

Robert A. Gruenberg 133 W. Blue Starr Drive, Claremore | 918-342-3477

Carrie D. Sessom Riverwalk Dental Spa 400 Riverwalk Terrace, Suite 200, Jenks | 918-770-0027 riverwalkdentalspa.com

Corbyn L. VanBrunt Smiles of Tulsa 6565 S. Yale Ave., Suite 1103 918-481-4910 smilesoftulsa.com Chadwick N. Webster Dental Creations 8190 S. Memorial Drive 918-307-0307 tulsadentalcreations.com

D. Todd Johnson Eastern Oklahoma Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 4716 W. Urbana St., Broken Arrow 918-449-5800 eooms.com Larry D. Lander Eastern Oklahoma Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 4716 W. Urbana St., Broken Arrow 918-449-5800 eooms.com Christopher R. Mastin Ashton Creek Oral Surgery Suites 9118 S. Toledo Ave. 918-495-1800 suiteoralsurgery.com Gregory D. Segraves Eastern Oklahoma Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 4716 W. Urbana St., Broken Arrow 918-449-5800 eooms.com Vic Trammell Eastern Oklahoma Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 4716 W. Urbana St., Broken Arrow 918-449-5800 eooms.com Donal R. Woodward 6143 E. 91st St. 918-492-6994 woodwardoralsurgery.com

W. Scott White 301 E. 141st St., Glenpool 918-291-6000 glenpooldentist.com

ORTHODONTICS Llon Clendenen Tulsa Braces 3305 E. 45th St. 918-932-2707 tulsabraces.com

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY Daniel Cannon Cannon Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 3345 S. Harvard Ave., Suite 103 918-743-1351 cannonoralsurgery.com

Jonathan S. Cooper Cooper Chockley Misner Orthodontics 3916 E. 91st St. 918-876-7846 cooperchockleyortho.com

Heath Evans Eastern Oklahoma Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 4716 W. Urbana St., Broken Arrow 918-449-5800 eooms.com Lloyd A. Hudson Oklahoma Wisdom Teeth Center 7316 E. 91st St. 918-392-9970 oklahomawisdomteeth.com

Brent S. Dobson III Owasso Orthodontics 12813 E. 101st Place N., Owasso 918-272-4242 owassoorthodontics.com Kevin C. Duffy Duffy Orthondontics 1621 S. Eucalyptus Ave., Suite 201, Broken Arrow | 918-249-1818 duffyorthodontics.com Clinton W. Emerson Emerson Orthodontics 800 W. Mission St., Broken Arrow 918-459-0092 emersonbraces.com

topDentists Blake R. Henry II Henry Orthodontics 7705 E. 81st St. 918-294-7705 henryorthodontics.com Phyllis C. Higgins Carter and Higgins Orthodontics 3232 E. 31st St. 918-986-9986 carterandhigginsortho.com Michael J. Hosier Hosier Orthodontics 3300 Chandler Road, Muskogee 918-781-0600 Jeffrey A. Housley Owasso Orthodontics 12813 E. 101st Place N., Owasso 918-272-4242 owassoorthodontics.com Douglas A. Kirkpatrick Kirkpatrick and Lai Orthodontics 5304 S. Harvard Ave. 918-747-1346 klortho.com Joseph Lai Kirkpatrick and Lai Orthodontics 5304 S. Harvard Ave. 918-747-1346 klortho.com Ryan V. Nowlin Nowlin Orthodontics 11910 S. Memorial Drive, Bixby 918-369-6100 nowlinortho.com Van L. Nowlin Nowlin Orthodontics 11910 S. Memorial Drive, Bixby 918-369-6100 nowlinortho.com Kyle R. Shannon Shannon Orthodontics 3516 E. 31st St., Suite C 918-743-2321 shannonorthodontics.com PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY Jeffrey J. Ahlert 14600 E. 88th Place N., Owasso 918-272-1444 owassopediatricdentistry.com Sarah M. Fox-Broermann Fox Broermann Pediatric Dentistry of Tulsa 6585 S. Yale Ave., Suite 510 918-492-1106 foxbroermann.com R. Grant Gerety 4606 E. 67th St., Suite 310 918-493-3031 pediatricdentisttulsa.com

HIGHLIGHTED LISTINGS DENOTE ADVERTISER.

Kerry K. Kitterman Morrow, Lai and Kitterman Pediatric Dentistry 2930 S. Pittsburg Ave. 918-742-9810 mlkdentistry.com April A. Lai Morrow, Lai and Kitterman Pediatric Dentistry 2930 S. Pittsburg Ave. 918-742-9810 mlkdentistry.com Mark E. Morrow Morrow, Lai and Kitterman Pediatric Dentistry 2930 S. Pittsburg Ave. 918-742-9810 mlkdentistry.com

The Dental Studio of South Tulsa Skilled dental team has provided exceptional care for 20 years Dr. Wesley Black and his capable dental team have been serving Tulsa for 20 years, offering family, cosmetic and implant dentistry services. The practice offers common procedures such as bridges, fillings and in-office whitening, but also goes above and beyond by offering same-day crowns, Invisalign, Botox, complex cosmetic reconstruction and sleep apnea devices. “I get to work with the best dental team on the planet,” says Black, a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantology. Black is certified by the ADA, and holds additional certification from the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. The Dental Studio uses only the industry leaders in dental products, such as Cerec, Oral B and Phillips Zoom whitening. After the COVID shutdown, Black installed an industrial grade air scrubber, like what is used in the space shuttle, to ensure safety and air quality for all his patients and staff. When not at work or spending time with his wife and two daughters, Black likes to volunteer at various charities. Black is honored that his peers chose him for the designation of Top Dentist. He looks forward to continuing to serve the Tulsa community.

James G. Steyer Jr. All Smiles Pediatric and Adolescent Dentistry 10127 S. Yale Ave. 918-299-1600 allsmilespediatricdds.com PERIODONTICS Ray A. Beddoe 2619 S. Elm Place, Suite A, Broken Arrow | 918-451-2717 gumsbybeddoe.com Wm. Brent Burchard Dental Surgical Arts of Tulsa 2902 S. Pittsburg Ave. 918-748-8868 dsaot.com David Stapleton Owasso Perio 12810 E. 101st Place N., Owasso 918-376-2191 owassoperio.com Trung Tran Transcend Dental Implants and Periodontics 9607 E. 95th Court S. 918-288-0818 tulsaperiodontist.com David H. Wong Route 66 Dental Implants and Periodontics 4545 S. Harvard Ave. 918-749-1850 route66implants.com

The Dental Studio of South Tulsa • 6112 E. 61st St. • 918-745-0500 DSTULSA.COM

Morrow, Lai & Kitterman Pediatric Dentistry Our goal is to create happy, healthy smiles for children MLK Dentistry has offered a child friendly environment and exceptional care for so long, former pediatric patients now bring their children for regular checkups, restorative dentistry and sedation dentistry. Dr. April Lai, Dr. Kerry Kitterman and Dr. Mark Morrow lead an experienced staff with most working at MLK Dentistry for at least 15 years and some as many as 30 years. “We are proud to be the most reviewed pediatric dental practice in Tulsa and one of the most reviewed practices in the United States,” says Dr. Lai. “We take great pride in delivering the best dental care for your child.” MLK Dentistry offers a “Free Until 3” program at no charge every six months until the child reaches 3 years old. It includes an exam, topical fluoride application and a consultation with the parent on proper oral hygiene for their child. Dr. Kerry Kitterman, Dr. Mark Morrow and Dr. April Lai

William B. Wynn IV Eastern Oklahoma Periodontics 6565 S. Yale Ave., Suite 1008 918-492-0737 eoperiodontics.com PROSTHODONTICS Roman M. Lobodiak Jr. Tulsa Dentures and Implants 6565 S. Yale Ave., Suite 1012 918-743-1558 tulsadenturesandimplants.com

2930 S. Pittsburg Ave., 918-742-9810 MLKDENTISTRY.COM

TulsaPeople.com

MUSINGS

HELLO, MY NAME IS ... BY CONNIE CRONLEY

e are a social species. We like living in packs and herds. Alexis de Tocqueville said Americans are unique because we thrive in associations. I’m not sure “thrive” is the right word, but we enjoy our organizations, committees and clubs. How we suffered without them during the Long, Lonely Year of Confinement. We gained some good habits — masks during cold and flu season, handwashing and sanitizing — but at the cost of social skills. Some of us still have reemergence anxiety. That’s how a researcher described re-entering society after living 11 months on an isolated Antarctic expedition. The world we are rejoining is a foreign place, just not as much ice. Even now, I’m wobbly when going out to eat at a restaurant or even meeting my book club in a private home. Who is or is not vaccinated? Who else touched this menu or chair arm? Has anybody sneezed in this room? Magazines and newspapers have been awash with re-entry how-to articles: how to clean your house when company is coming (only the areas they will see); how to host a dinner party (keep it casual because we’re all out of practice); how to set comfortable boundaries for yourself (socialize out of doors as much as possible); how to rethink your attire for the workplace (shoes!). After a year of cave dwelling, what social skills 78

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

have I lost? Table manners? Basic posture? I know I need help with conversational dexterity. After short phone conversations and abrupt emails, I’ve lost the knack for languid give-and-take. Wit is stored away with holiday ornaments. Listening is as mothballed as a cocktail dress. Relearning interpersonal skills is going to take concentration and emotional energy. I’ll go slowly and start with gossip. Hold on. Before you throw judgmental stones, let’s review the merits of gossip. I became more accepting of gossip after reading an anthropologist’s theory that gossip is akin to chimpanzees’ grooming one another. I like to think our casual exchange of information is more sophisticated than picking fleas off one another, but it serves the same purpose: social bonding. Robin Dunbar’s book “Grooming, Gossip and the Evolution of Language” puts us in our place: just another primate trying to connect. Not mean-spirited gossip. Despite its salacious entertainment, I’m afraid hurtful gossip will splash me with bad karma. I prefer casual, informative gossip: Who’s doing what, what’s going on, what’s up? The former University of Tulsa professor Otis Winchester once told a group of aspiring writers — I was among them — that men and women tell stories differently. A woman tells a story chronologically, spooling out the details

like Scheherazade. A woman probably begins at the beginning and doles out details: “I had to go to Bixby today to pick up some tomato plants, and since I was in the area, I thought I’d stop at that really good bakery in south Tulsa and get a red velvet cake for Max’s party Saturday, and while I was in the neighborhood, I dropped in the coffee shop next door for a latte and guess what I saw? Judith and Elliott in a back booth having coffee.” A man, Winchester said, is more likely to start with the punch line: “Guess what I saw today? Judith and Elliott together.” Th is storytelling format is not always as accurate, but I have observed it often enough to prove his theory. There are many ways to tell stories. The American novelist Pearl Buck spent much of her life in China as the daughter of missionaries and then the wife of a missionary. She thought Western novels usually have a linear beginningmiddle-end structure, but Eastern literature was more circular. In an Eastern book, she said, characters might appear in a story and then disappear without our knowing what happened to them, and this is more like life. We are a communal, story-telling species, so it’s time to rejoin the other animals and polish my social skills. Whatever communication format I try, here I come for face-to-face conversations. Hello, my name is Connie. TP

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SENIOR LIVING What is the latest in research for senior living providers? Isolation is bad for us! It is thought to be as bad as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. COVID-19 has contributed to this thinking, and a Life Plan Community can be the answer. There are so many social opportunities — from dining to daily fitness classes, city excursions and trips out of town, summer school, concerts and movies, to name a very few. Some meet a new best friend when moving to a community to live around likeminded people of the same age. There’s a never-ending group of new friends always available at a 62+ community like Trinity Woods. Just being able to peek outside your front door and see a smiling face can make all the difference.

Cari Owens, VP Marketing and Sales Trinity Woods formerly Oklahoma Methodist Manor 4134 E. 31st Street • Tulsa, OK 74135 918-574-2590 • TrinityWoodsTulsa.com

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT I am age 63 and retired. Can I open a tax-free Roth IRA account? You could possibly open a Roth IRA account, but you cannot make annual contributions to it without having earned income. However, if you have a Traditional IRA, you can convert all or some of the funds held in that account to a Roth Account provided taxes on the conversion are paid. You can convert each year until you reach age 72. The Roth does not have a Required Minimum Distribution, and everything earned in the Roth account will be tax-free. It is important to understand the tax rules but a Roth IRA can be very advantageous in retirement.

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• R E G I S T E R B Y A U G U S T 31 •

BA Med Spa & Weight Loss Center 510 N. Elm Place • Broken Arrow, OK 74012 918-872-9999 • www.baweightspa.com TulsaPeople.com

McGraw Realtors

LUXURY PROPERT Y GROUP

TIM HAYES

918-231-5637

thayes@mcgrawok.com

SHERRI SANDERS

918-724-5008

ssanders@mcgrawok.com

A T M C G R AW R E A L T O R S

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.

GORDON SHELTON

DIANA PATTERSON

918-697-2742

918-629-3717

gshelton@mcgrawok.com

dpatterson@mcgrawok.com

HISTORIC FRANKLIN CASTLE & CHAPEL 415 N College Avenue, Tahlequah. The Franklin Castle is an architectural jewel that was constructed during the Great Depression and totally restored in 2015. The main house has three levels and features five bedrooms, three full, one half bathrooms. Living room, Dining room, kitchen, study and powder bath on first floor. The Chapel is 1.5 stories with open patios and gazebo area. There are many terraces, balconies, beautiful gardens, stone walkways, a waterfall and other water features. Detached two Car garage. The property is currently used as a celebration venue, it could be a Bed and Breakfast or personal home. Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity for someone to make this Tahlequah treasure their own. $799,900

GRAND LAKE REDUCED, Scotty’s Cove Waterfront – Custom built, well maintained, 2,480 s.f. mostly brick lake home, 136 feet of shoreline with deep cove, .81 acres, 3 BR, 2.5 BA, fresh paint inside and out, all pine hardwoods throughout, antique cooking stove included, maple countertops, 2 woodburning fireplaces, central vac, recirculating hot water, 1-slip dock. $549,000

GRAND LAKE REDUCED, The Points on Grand Lake – Large and beautiful 5 BR, 3.5 BA, is ready to be enjoyed by a large family. It offers 165 feet of shoreline in Party Cove, gentle slope to the water, nice roadside yard, large outdoor living space with upper deck and lower patio, outdoor fireplaces on both levels. Granite, tile and carpet throughout, oversized garage, great views of Grand Lake. $1,750,000

WOODRIDGE FARM

SOUTH LEWIS PARK

17785 E 480 Rd. Woodridge Farm sits on 110.89 acres (m/l) close to highway access and close to Will Rogers downs. This was a working horse farm with 70-80 horses at one time. The main home was custom built, architect Ted Larkin & has 3 beds, 2.5 baths & 4 car garage. There are 4 additional homes on the property. Multiple barns - 36 total stalls. 6 ponds. Separate office. Workshop. $2,000,000

2462 E. 30th Street. Come see this beautiful home in midtown Tulsa. Located in Woody Crest the house has large scale rooms, 3 car garage, a great room that is 27x40 with french doors that open to back patio. Granite kitchen with stainless appliances open to living area w/additional doors that open to front patio. Large master suite with sitting area off of master, large closets & dressing area. $1,475,000

BROOKSIDE COTTAGE

RAMONA BEAUTY

3132 S Owasso Ave. Located in the Brookside neighborhood & close to restaurants, the Gathering Place, Downtown, and Utica Square! Vaulted ceiling family room that is open to the kitchen. A newer master bedroom, bathroom, walkin closet, and laundry room. 2 more bedrooms and another bathroom are on the east side. A deck with a 16’ swim spa with hot tub & a Finnish style sauna. $499,000

402414 W. 3200 Road. Come enjoy a private oasis! Designer pool with slide, hot tub, and waterfall! Home features downstairs guest suite with private entrance; a game/ theater room with extra sound insulation; work out room with tons of natural light and mirrors; and a beautiful custom stair case. Home sits on 40 acres with abundant wildlife. Includes 40x60 shop with living quarters. $895,000

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TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

McGraw Realtors

Frankie H arkey Experience the Difference 4424 South Lewis Court Tulsa, OK 74105

SOLD IN

1202 East 28th Street, Tulsa | Sunset Terrace | $649,000 Newer construction in Sunset Terrace at the corner of 28th & Woodward Blvd. Lovely brick & stone accents. High ceilings with lots of windows. Kitchen has Thermador appliances & granite is open to family room & fireplace overlooking the Outdoor kitchen with wood burning fireplace. Master bedroom is down with walk in closet, private bathroom. Upstairs are three large bedrooms, one with a private bath plus a gameroom/media room. Bonus, whole house generator, plus electric awnings.

5710 East 106th Street

Spectacular one-owner custom built home in Midtown’s gatedIII Greenhill. Forest Park South Stellar inside and out! Elegant Grand Entry and Formals with $499,900 20-ft ceilings. Handcrafted kitchen cabinetry, Wolf range. Great Room opens to private Outdoor Living with pool, fountains and kitchen with ONE STORY, FULL BRICK in Forest Park South. Grand Hasty Bake and gas cooker. Downstairs Master Suite offers coffee bar, entry with high ceilings. Banquet sizeGame dining Room room, two large walk-in closets with built-ins. Theater Room. Huge room with fireplace. Huge Greatroom with kitchenette. Abundance of living storage. Rear-entry garage withoverlooking HVAC. gunite pool & waterfall & covered patio. Spacious Pristine and perfectly maintained. $1,490,000 master suite with access to the pool, private bath plus two walk in closets. Side entry three car. Circle Drive.

fharkey@mcgrawok.com | 918.230.6315 | frankieharkey.com

fharkey@cox.net

918.230.6315

frankieharkey.com TulsaPeople.com

McGraw Realtors

LauraBryant 918.808.4780

918.693.2961

mkeys@mcgrawok.com

lbryant@mcgrawok.com 5908 E. 108th St S. | Gated Custom built one owner home in Jenks SE.: five

1632 E. Old North Road | Private 5+ acre wooded oasis in Sand Springs. Four bedrooms, three full, one half bathrooms, two living. Large master suite has separate tub and shower and two walk-in closets. Newer Roof and HVAC; 3 car attached garage. Well maintained home waiting for your personal touches! $395,000

bedrooms, five full, one half bathrooms, four car, first floor media room with bar, up/down laundry, upstairs living room, gourmet kitchen. Second floor patio includes bar overlooking heated saltwater pool & spa. Co Listed with Robyn Call $1,299,000

207 S. Monticlair Ave. | Exceptional Craftsman home steps from the University of Tulsa & trendy Kendall-Whittier main street. Urban escape with private corner lot, pergola, deck for entertaining, & serene Koi Pond. This turnkey home has Pella/ Andersen windows, 2015 roof, 2016 AC, & 2017 furnace. Has basement for extra storage.$300,000

4723 S. Gary Ave. | Renovated three bedrooms, two full, one half bathrooms. Ranch. Spacious, fenced private back yard. 0.48 acre lot. Primary bedroom suite with two closets. Fully updated kitchen. Hardwood floors. Shop with electric. Roof 2017. Oversized 2 car garage. $399,999 2655 S. Florence Dr.| Build your dream home in the heart of Midtown

4365 E. 57th St.| This three bedroom, two bathroom is minutes from Lafortune Park and has easy access to HWY & shopping. Original hardwood floors, two living, one with cozy fireplace, two full baths and two car garage! Large Fenced Backyard with Mature Trees! Ready for someone to make their new dream home! $199,000

IC Y EN TR ! SC UN TE A CO ST E

2111 E. 26th St.| This Utica Square beauty is smartly updated throughout! Gorgeous kitchen with Carrara marble & wet bar opens to family room with views of backyard oasis including pool, outdoor living with fireplace, kitchen, water feature, fire pit & rose gardens! Master suite includes separate sitting area & large walk-in closet with washer & dryer. Basement clubroom includes wet bar, FP & half bath! Garage apartment with separate entrance. Amazing new laundry room with wine fridge & large pantry space! Truly an amazing property! Laura brought the buyers. $1,895,000

Tulsa. Old home has been removed and this prime lot is ready. Builders welcome or buyers who want to build. 78 foot frontage and 145 foot depth. 0.234 acres/10,218 sq lot.$ 235,000

A 2G

O RO

6766 S. Columbia Ave. | Near Southern Hills on landscaped 0.83 acre lot with private yard. Chefs kitchen, formal and informal dining. Large primary bedroom with closets. In-law plan. Two bedrooms and two full bathrooms up. Pool with covered spaces for outdoor!living. E Mike brought the buyers. $1,100,000 TI

OW DT

Scott Coffman

918-640-1073 - scoffman@mcgrawok.com

4109 E 63rd Place | Tulsa, OK 74136 | $368,000

Family home on cul-de-sac street with tons of amenities/upgrades. Balcony off master, large family room with fireplace & bookshelves, plantation shutters, extra office and a sunroom! Very large backyard perfect for a pool.

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

1606 S. Newport Avenue | Tulsa, OK 74120 | $499,000

Beautiful hardwoods, moldings & trim. Living room, sunroom & a study all on first floor. Quaint updated kitchen, full basement, 3 beds up with 2 updated baths, small living up, new trex deck for outdoor covered living area, 500+ SF home office or quarters with 3/4 bath located in backyard.

McGraw Realtors

a l l is o n j aco bs

M o b i l e : 9 18 .8 5 0 .2 2 0 7 4 10 5 S . R o c k f o r d Av e . T u l s a , O K 7 4 10 5

T o p 10 0 R e a l t o r s i n T u l s a 19433 CLEAR BROOK RD $3,500,000

IC Y EN TR ! C N S U TE A CO ST E

This incredible home, built by Tom Watts with American Heartland Homes, has so many custom features. Every bedroom has an en suite bath. Master Suite features a private balcony, exercise room, & storm shelter. Reclaimed antique barn beams from a New England barn stretch across the ceilings. Spacious theatre room! 7 car garage features additional storage + wash bay, perfect for a car collector! Large pool, tanning ledge, & hot tub provide a perfect backyard setting for relaxing or entertaining. MUST SEE!

2261 TERWILLEGER BLVD| $834,500 Fabulous English Tudor with all of the charm. Large lot with pool, over a third of an acre on a corner lot. Hardwoods throughout with fabulous flow. New paint, gorgeous crown molding. Wine cellar in large basement. 13472 S. ROCKHILL ROAD | $178,000 Fabulous Ranch style home with 3 beds, 2 baths & Large garage. Impeccably well maintained by the same owner for almost 40 years & a quiet location. Less than a mile from Oologah Lake. Established neighborhood with beautiful trees! 1212 S GARY PL | $125,000

M OO

Value in the lot! House has been torn down & lot is ready for your new build. Signature Properties ! can custom build! IE T

W TO

JessIca DavIs 918.850.3731 - jdavis@mcgrawrealtors.com - mytulsahome.com 10316 East 125th CirClE sOuth BixBy, OK 74008 | $455,000 Beautiful open floorplan with cathedral ceilings and rustic beams in great room, kitchen and dining room. Lots of windows and abundant natural light. This five bedroom, three bathroom features hardwood floors, custom built-ins, drop zone, quartz and granite counters. Master and two bedrooms down. Upstairs has two bedrooms and large game/rec room. Fifth bedroom could be used as an office. Vaulted covered patio, neighborhood pool and trails. Great location, close to shopping. Owner/Agent.

TulsaPeople.com

McGraw Realtors

6902 115th Gary Pl | Tulsa,OK 7220 E South Avenue A Extensively remodeled and updated with Tulsa, OK 74136 impeccable taste in the gated Devonshire.

Midtown home features hardwood floors and a spacious kitchen which opens to one of the 3 living areas that boasts a view of the pool. The home has a flexible floor plan and a full basement. The quarters above the two-car garage have been recently renovated and the backyard is complete with a pool & professional landscaping. The house has been updated through and is conveniently located near Philbrook and Utica Square. $765,000.

STEPHANIE MINGUEZ

918.671.7193

sminguez@mcgrawok.com mcgrawrealtors.com

$799,000 Impressive Entry with sweeping staircase and Family Room with 24-ft ceilings. Formal Living Gated Guier Woods offers residents Room extends to Office or Music Room. Gorgeous an easywith locktop-of-the-line and go lifestyle. This unit Kitchen appliances. Freeis freestanding a beautifully standing, 2-sided located fireplace on warms the Family Room and the Hearth Dining Area.on Game manicured lotRoom/Casual with views of a pond two Room has remodeled barlarge with ice maker beverage sides. One-story with gracious rooms. fridge. Master Wing includes large private Living Open kitchen has double islands, ovens Area, Master Bedroom with fireplace and spacious and dishwashers. Two bedrooms each balcony overlooking pool. Luxurious Master Bath having baths and walk-in closets. opens toprivate spectacular custom-designed closet. True In-Law private entrance, Outdoor Livingsuite Area with with enclosed TV, cooking living area with kitchen bedroom and patio, sports courtsmall and infinity pool spilling over to plunge pool. No amenity has been left out! bath. Three-car side entry garage.

Catherine Santee Hughes 918.639.4199 chughes@mcgrawok.com

Football season is here! I Sold Everything, but am ready to take on your listing! Call me today!

7103 S Columbia Place, Tulsa OK 74136 Meticulously maintained entertainer’s dream tucked away in Rockwood Pond. Home has an additional 2100 square foot basement perfect for entertaining & guests. Oversized chef’s kitchen perfect for hosting. Ample storage located throughout. Storage room upstairs could also be a game room. Craft room perfect for all your creative needs. Office /gorgeous paneling. Mudroom could be second office. Beautiful oversized lot with mature trees & large deck make the secluded backyard into a private retreat. $698,500

TulsaPeople AUGUST 2021

September 30, 2021 Southern Hills Country Club https://finest.cff.org/tulsasfinest The Eastern Oklahoma Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is proud to host the 2021 Tulsa’s Finest gala, honoring Tulsa’s best and brightest young professionals and benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Tulsa’s Finest provides a platform for honorees to display their community involvement and highlight their professional achievements while raising funds to help advance the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – to ultimately find a cure for cystic fibrosis. Special thanks to our Tulsa’s Finest event leadership:

Natalie Crise & Kyle Dorsey 2021 Tulsa’s Finest Chairs

Hailey Woodard

2021 Tulsa’s Finest Honorary Chair

Calvin Moniz

2021 Tulsa’s Finest Honorary Chair

Event Committee Members: Dilon Argo, Andrew Choquette, John Gray, Michael Grogan, Connor Hagen, and Lauren Riley For more information about Tulsa’s Finest or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, please contact:

April Mitchell Development Director amitchell@cff.org (539) 525-9119

Jo Ann Winn Executive Director jwinn@cff.org (918) 744-6354

Foodies Rejoice!

SEPT. 10-19

Make plans now to step up to the plate to fight hunger during Hunger Action Month and enjoy Tulsa’s most delicious 10 days of the year! Tulsa’s 15th Annual Restaurant Week will feature six levels of prix-fixe menus for brunch, lunch and dinner to suit any appetite. All menus include an automatic donation to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s Food for Kids program, plus all donations will be matched up to $25,000 by the George Kaiser Family Foundation!

Lunch

Brunch

Dinner

2-3 courses

3 courses

3-4 courses

includes $2 donation

includes $3 donation