TulsaPeople November 2019 by TulsaPeople

TULSA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TAKES OFF

HOLIDAY HANDBOOK: TIPS AND TRICKS

SIMPLE WAYS TO LIVE GENEROUSLY November 2019

Doing good Recognizing 11 everyday Tulsans for making a difference

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO GET MOVING AGAIN. The Saint Francis Joint Replacement and Spine Center is a dedicated program that combines everything a patient needs—education, surgery and recovery—at one location. Our skilled orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, nursing staff, physical therapists and care coordinators use today’s technology and techniques to help patients experience less pain and recover faster. The Saint Francis Joint Replacement and Spine Center is more than a surgical center— it’s a place where patients receive the full support of our team throughout the entire process. To learn more, please call 918-502-3030 or visit saintfrancis.com/jointreplacement.

Nestled 15 minutes from downtown Tulsa, Stone canyon is

luxury living at its Ě&#x17D;inest. Amenities include

an award winning elementary school, a 22 acre park with walking trails,

a resort style pool, a 120 acre stocked lake and

WELCOME HOME

neighborhood events. Over 425

custom homes Stone Canyon sits on approximately 2000 acres and is home to

the Patriot Golf Course and The Folds of Honor Foundation.

For Sales Information: www.stonecanyonliving.com 918.376.6764

Sarah Andrews, D.O. Internal Medicine

RELIABLE With hundreds of highly-skilled medical providers at more than 70 clinics throughout the area, you can count on a Utica Park Clinic location near you. From pregnancy care to oncology and geriatrics, our outstanding primary and specialty care physicians are changing lives for the better, every day. For a same-day, primary-care appointment, call 918-579-DOCS (3627).

UticaParkClinic.com

NOVEMBER 2019 | VOLUME 34 ISSUE 1

More than a haircut

Smooth takeoff

P. 18

P. 34

P. 53

Alyssa Hobbs helps a customer at her Cherry Street salon.

Bella Rose is a part of the airport’s Welcome Waggin’.

Tips and tricks for the festive season.

Spotlight on ﬁddler Shelby Eicher. A local band feeds the hungry. Three women make products that make a difference. New nonproﬁt inspires Tulsans in recovery.

34 SMOOTH TAKEOFF The new leaders at Tulsa International Airport are on the front lines of welcoming visitors to the city and greeting returning neighbors. BY JANE ZEMEL

39 FIGHTING FOR PEACE One veteran’s journey to ﬁnding his place on the home front. BY TIM LANDES

42 LIVE GENEROUSLY Simple ways to give back to others this holiday season, and year round. BY SARA PLUMMER

ON THE COVER: RECIPIENTS OF THE 2019 DOING GOOD AWARDS Shannon and Mindy Holliday, Lewis Carter, Megan Meussner, Sandy Blevins, Amy Dean, Sherrie Wallace, Lisa Tresch, Deni Fholer, Bob Westerberg and Cindy Hutchins. 4

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

45 DOING GOOD AWARDS The inaugural Doing Good Awards recognize 11 individuals whose passion for the community resonates in the selﬂess giving each does for a nonproﬁt they love. BY JAMIE RICHERT JONES

53 HOLIDAY HANDBOOK So much to do; so little time. We’ve compiled tips, tricks, guides and hints to help you during the festive season. BY STAFF

65 LIFESTYLE Wine, Women and Shoes returns to Tulsa. A trip to Claremore. Embellishments’ new Cherry Street storefront. Connie Cronley talks bugs.

91 TABLE TALK Four taprooms for drinks and eats. Some Thanksgiving sips. Pointers on potatoes.

SPECIAL SECTION 72 Senior Living

HAIRCUT: GREG BOLLINGER

11 CITY DESK

Holiday handbook

Compassionate, personalized care has a new name. St. John is now known as Ascension St. John. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nearly 100 years of history rolled into one exciting, new beginning. GetStJohnCare.com

WHAT’S ONLINE TULSAPEOPLE.COM Follow us on Twitter @TULSAPEOPLE

Find us on Facebook FACEBOOK.COM/TULSAPEOPLEMAG

UPCOMING SEASON 3 EPISODES

“I was diagnosed at 25, and it took me seven years to begin to learn what a healthy mental state could look like. I found that talking openly about my mental health not only helps to remind others that they aren’t alone, but also (reminds me) that I am accepted and loved for who I am.”

PLANNING A HOLIDAY PARTY OR EVENT? THE TULSAPEOPLE.COM VENUE & CATERING GUIDES ARE A GREAT RESOURCE!

— CLIFFDIVER VOCALIST JOEY DUFFY ON WRITING MUSIC ABOUT HIS BIPOLAR DISORDER. Full interview available online.

NOV. 6

Jennifer Loren FILMMAKER, CHEROKEE NATION

THE 2019 TULSA GUEST GUIDE IS ONLINE! The Guest Guide is a great resource for both Tulsans and visitors!

An Emmy-winning producer, director and host of “Osiyo, Voices of the Cherokee People.” She’s also helping oversee her’s tribe efforts in launching a ﬁlm ofﬁce. The former TV reporter discusses her evolving career and her role as a tribal storyteller.

NOV. 20

Ben Alexander

THE FACES AND STORIES BEHIND A VARIETY OF LOCALLY OWNED COMPANIES AT TULSAPEOPLE.COM/FACES. 6

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

The chef-turned-executive discusses his role in the continually growing and changing McNellie’s Group restaurants that have become a regional business. He shares lessons learned from the kitchen, how his career led him to where he is today, and why he started his foundation, Hearts of Steel.

Video: Smooth takeoff A look at what airport ofﬁcials are doing to ensure travelers receive the best customer experience possible when ﬂying in and out of Tulsa. READ THE STORY ON P. 34.

LOREN AND ALEXANDER: COURTESY

VP CULINARY OPERATIONS, MCNELLIE’S GROUP

C A P T U R E , S H A R E # U T I C A S Q UA R E | U T I C A S Q UA R E . C O M

LIGHTS ON NOVEMBER 28 | 6:30PM

Under the night sky on Thanksgiving evening, Utica Square ushers in the holiday season with 700,000 gleaming lights and live local music. Grab your loved ones, a cup of cocoa, and meet us on the sidewalk for this magical tradition.

FROM THE EDITOR

Tulsa is an amazing place.

TulsaPeople Magazine is published monthly by

1603 South Boulder Avenue Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119-4407 918-585-9924 918-585-9926 Fax

PUBLISHER Jim Langdon PRESIDENT Juley Roffers VP COMMUNITY RELATIONS Susie Miller

I know as the editor of Tulsa’s city magazine I am

or starting a small recurring donation to a local

a bit biased in these sentiments. After all, every

charity. Whatever it is, it’s appreciated. Numer-

day much of my job is to tell the stories of Tulsans

ous statistics point to Tulsa and its citizens as

who are doing great things for their neighbors,

some of the most giving in the nation.

the community and those in need.

Along with doing your part for the commu-

Th is month we debut our inaugural Doing

nity, I encourage you to do your civic duty this

Good Awards on p. 45. We received more than

month and vote. On Nov. 12, Tulsans go to

130 nominations, and narrowing the field down

the polls to vote on the City of Tulsa’s Improve

to a mere 11 individuals was a daunting task. The

Our Tulsa streets and infrastructure program.

editorial team pored over comments like, “The

It contains three ballot measures: funding for

world and Tulsa would be a darker place without

city streets and transportation systems; funding

Deni Fholer,” whose nonprofit Isaiah 58, In His

for public facility repairs, park improvements

Service, assists those whose needs fall through

and other capital needs; and creating a standing

the gaps of other social services. Th is is just one

Rainy Day fund allocation. Whether you agree or

story. There are so many others.

disagree on the plan, what we will vote on is the

Tulsans have a giving spirit, whether it’s through a simple 6-cent donation to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma when

Let your voice be heard. TP

There are so many ways to support our community. I encourage you to do your part this hol-

Anne Brockman

iday season. It could be dropping a few coins into

EDITOR

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

Madeline Crawford Georgia Brooks Morgan Welch Michelle Pollard Valerie Wei-Haas Greg Bollinger

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Andrea Canada Steve Hopkins Betsy Slagle CONTROLLER SUBSCRIPTIONS DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR INTERN

Mary McKisick Gloria Brooks Amanda Hall Ethan Veenker

MEMBER

TulsaPeople’s distribution is audited annually by

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.

highlighted in our feature on p. 42.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER MANAGING PHOTOGRAPHER CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER VIDEOGRAPHER

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.

munity effort. These simple ways to give back are

items to the Youth Services of Tulsa Wish List

EDITORIAL CONSULTING Missy Kruse, The Write Company

public meetings.

or donating food or books to a grassroots com-

a local food pantry. It could mean donating a few

Anne Brockman Morgan Phillips Tim Landes Judy Langdon Anna Bennett

culmination of two years of planning and eight

we use our reusable shopping bags at Reasor’s,

the Salvation Army kettle or giving your time at

EDITOR CITY EDITOR DIGITAL EDITOR ARTS & BENEFITS EDITOR DIGITAL PROJECT MANAGER

S AY N O T O H A T E

Playtime today. Strong skills tomorrow. At first glance, it’s just children in a sandbox — hands and toes digging, sand swirling in the sunshine. But on closer inspection, it’s one piece of an intricately connected lesson plan designed by Holland Hall’s early learning experts to stretch from play to critical thinking, social skills, leadership, and decision-making. It’s one piece of a strong, holistic educational foundation that is uniquely crafted in the Holland Hall Primary School. WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PREK–GRADE 3 PROGRAM? Our Primary School Director of Admission Amber Graybill is here to help! Contact her at agraybill@hollandhall.org or (918)481-1111 OR visit www.hollandhall.org/ps.

Tulsa’s PreK through Grade 12 Independent Episcopal School

Henna Roso plays the 2017 Horton Records Rock ‘n Folk ‘n Chili Cook-off fundraiser at Cain’s Ballroom.

PHIL CLARKIN PHOTOGRAPHY

MUSICAL MISSION

aylor Graham is on a mission to fight hunger. Although not exactly loaves and fishes, there’s something miraculous in the way Graham and his Henna Roso bandmates turn music into meals. A funk-inflected, jazz-infused collective, the group’s social consciousness is as integral to its performances as the instruments themselves. “I always wanted to be able to combine community service and, having a mission with music, I just landed on hunger,” explains Graham, the band’s bassist and co-founder. Henna Roso hosts food drives at every show and donates a portion of its revenue to organizations like the Community Food Bank of Eastern

Oklahoma to help fight food insecurity. With the support of its generous fans, the band has leveraged those donations into more than 91,000 meals for the hungry in the state and beyond. “It’s great because people are doing exactly what they’d be doing otherwise,” Graham says. “We’d be playing music, and they’d be coming to watch. But you add this element of giving, and it allows people to contribute in a big way. To me, it’s a win-win.” TP Henna Roso recently released its debut album. For more on this, see p. 16.

TulsaPeople.com

NOVEMBER C OMPIL ED BY JUDY L A NGDON

Arts of Tulsa and Guthrie Green 1 Living present the annual Dia de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”) Festival de Arte.

Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, welcomes Heller Theatre Co.’s presentation of David Blakely’s “The Deaths of Sybil Bolton.”

Shop Utica Square’s Fashion in the Square for sales, in-store parties and a runway showcase.

decorating ideas await at 1-3 Fall Expo Square’s Fall Home Expo

Get your taste of Haydn, Schubert and Mozart when guest violinist/conductor Alejandro Gómez Guillén leads Signature Symphony’s presentation of “Mozart’s Prague Symphony” at the VanTrease Performing Arts Center for Education.

in the Exchange Center.

Need a conﬁdence boost? Attend Tulsa Conﬁdence Con at the First Street Flea in downtown Tulsa. The weekend is packed with discussion-based personal and professional development workshops led by local and global speakers, exploring diversity, equality and intersectionality in work, community and relationships.

Bring your leashed pups to get some sun and socialization at Bark in the Park at Ray Harral Nature Center in Broken Arrow.

Award-winning country superstar Trisha Yearwood returns to town with a performance at the Tulsa (Brady)Theater. The Tulsa Air and Space Museum hosts its Flying Car Show, featuring vintage cars, food trucks, lawn games and music.

2-3

Gold Concert Series at the Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

Arrow Performing Arts Center 9 Broken opens its 2019-2020 season with the

of Tulsa School of 7 TheMusicUniversity presents “Songs of William

opening day of Philbrook 10 It’sMuseum of Art’s new exhibit

Paradise Cove at River Spirit Casino Resort welcomes Rascal Flatts, whose country hits include “Bless the Broken Road,” “These Days” and “I’m Movin’ On.”

to Circle Cinema 10-14 Head to catch Sherwin Miller

Attractions’ Broadway tour of “Bandstand” at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center.

Blake,” a part of the free TU Concerts with Commentary, at the Lorton Performance Center.

those “Legs” over to Paradise 8 Move Cove at River Spirit Casino Resort for legendary rockers ZZ Top.

Tulsa Pop Festival, at the vacated Sears at Woodland Hills Mall, welcomes Yoda creator Nick Maley, actors Dean Cain (“Lois and Clark”), Cesar Garcia (“Fast and Furious”) and Jennifer Marshall (“Stranger Things”), as well as Tulsa native and WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Bill Goldberg.

Mark Chestnutt and 3 Superstars Lorrie Morgan kick off the Country

and dance of the post-World 5 Music War II era are featured in Celebrity

Tulsa Ballet brings the fairy tale “Peter and the Wolf” to life at Broken Arrow’s Zarrow Performance Studio. Chamber Music Tulsa welcomes the Harlem Quartet, playing jazz, Latin and classical favorites at Duet Jazz Club. (Also, Nov. 10 at Tulsa PAC.) dinosaurs when 8-10 Discover Jurassic Quest roars into the Cox Business Center.

classical and folk music of “Annie Moses Band: From Copland to Cash.”

“Shadow of Time” by artist Anila Quayyum Agha, known for combining elements of light, shadow, space and pattern. Runs through Feb. 16.

Museum of Jewish Art and the Jewish Federation of Tulsa’s Oklahoma Jewish Film Festival, showing popular movies and documentaries celebrating Jewish culture and creativity across a variety of genres.

of all ages will be 11 Veterans honored in the 101st annual

Veterans Day Parade in downtown Tulsa. Expect bands, ﬂoats, horses, bicyclists and more.

basketball bedlam returns 12 Tulsa as the Tulsa Golden Hurricane

and Oral Roberts University Golden Eagles men hit the court at TU’s Donald W. Reynolds Center.

LIVING ARTS: SINA MCLIN; AAOTH: JOHN FAUST

22-24 Riggs 1-2, 8-10 Lynn Theater, at the

CHARITABLE E VENTS Through Nov. 3 Care Card Benefits Family and Children’s Services. CARECARDOK .COM 1 One Dream Gala Benefits Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. JDRF.ORG “Journey to Hope” Dinner and Auction Benefits Operation Hope Prison Ministry. OHPM.ORG

24 Golden Eagles Women’s 21 ORU Basketball meet the TU

Golden Hurricane Women at TU’s Donald W. Reynolds Center.

Little Blue Dinner Beneﬁts Little Blue House. LITTLEBLUEHOUSEATTU.ORG

River Spirit 22-24 Visit Expo at Expo Square

Rhythm and Brews Beneﬁts Rotary Club of Tulsa. TULSAROTARYBREWS.COM

for An Affair of the Heart, where you’ll ﬁnd housewares, decor, antiques, crafts, gourmet foods and more from more than 500 vendors.

Pianist Robin Sutherland 22 and clarinetist Carlos Ortega

perform at the Fly Loft in the Tulsa Arts District, presented by Tulsa Symphony. ensues as everything you 15-17 Hilarity sorority coed Elle Woods 23-24 Find need for your fourbecomes an all-star law student in Theatre Tulsa Academy’s musical “Legally Blonde” at the Tulsa PAC.

legged friend at the 2019 Family Pet Expo at Expo Square.

15-17, 22-24

a laugh? Comedians Colin 24 Need Mochrie and Brad Sherwood,

Spotlight Children’s Theatre presents the fable “Peter and the Wolf” at the Spotlight.

Roberts University Chorale 16 Oral and Chamber Singers present their

BASKETBALL: UNIVERSITY OF TULSA ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT

fall concert in ORU’s Timko-Barton Lobby.

2 Illuminate Gala Beneﬁts Little Light House. LITTLELIGHTHOUSE.ORG

from “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” fame, bring their “Scared Scriptless Tour” to the Cox Business Center. See runners do their thing at the Williams Route 66 Marathon, Half Marathon and Marathon Relay, starting and ﬁnishing in downtown Tulsa.

7 Gold Medal Night Benefits Aim High Academy. TULSAGYMNASTICS.COM Unite! Benefits Tulsa Area United Way. TAUW.ORG / UNITE 8 Giving Spirits Benefits Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. OKFOODBANK .ORG Kendra Scott Grand Opening at Woodland Hills Mall Benefits Family and Children’s Services. KENDRASCOTT.COM Powered by Art, a Bright Future Benefits Tulsa Girls Art School. TULSAGIRLSARTSCHOOL.ORG Uncorking the Cure for MS Benefits National Multiple Sclerosis Society. UNCORKINGTHECUREFORMSOK .ORG 8-9 Wild at Art Benefits WING IT and Tulsa Audubon Society. TULSAAUDUBON.ORG

S EE P. 5 8 FOR MOR E HOL IDAY E V EN T S .

9 Big Band Hangar Dance Benefits the Spirit of Tulsa Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force. CAFTULSA.ORG Dancing with the Tulsa Stars Benefits San Miguel Middle School. SANMIGUELTULSA.ORG Horton Records’ Rock ‘n’ Folk Chili Cook-off Benefits nonprofit music label Horton Records. HORTONRECORDS.ORG 14 Signature Chefs Auction Benefits March of Dimes. SIGNATURECHEFS.MARCHOFDIMES.ORG 15 First Draft Benefits Tulsa Press Club. FIRSTDRAFTTULSA.COM Generations Strong Benefits Planned Parenthood Great Plains. PARTYFORPP.ORG “The Giving Heart of Green Country”: National Philanthropy Day Conference and Luncheon Benefits American Foundation of Philanthropy of Eastern Oklahoma COMMUNITY.AFPGLOBAL.ORG / AFPOKEASTERNOKLAHOMACHAPTER / HOME

21 10th annual Dinner of Reconciliation Benefits John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation. JHFCENTER.ORG Legacy of Laughter Benefits Zarrow Pointe. ZARROWPOINTE.ORG 22 Wine, Women and Shoes Benefits Arts Alliance Tulsa. ARTSTULSA.ORG 23 Headliners Benefits Tulsa Press Club. TULSAPRESSCLUB.ORG 24 Leftover Last Waltz Benefits Woody Guthrie Center. THELEFTOVERLASTWALTZ.COM

EDITOR’S NOTE: TULSAPEOPLE IS A SPONSOR OF THE HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS.

TulsaPeople.com

NOTEBOOK BY MORGA N PHILLIP S

IMAM SULEIMAN VISITS TULSA

The Sept. 20 ribbon-cutting for Niko Hall also signiﬁed the completion of Oral Roberts University’s ﬁve-year, $50 million fundraising campaign, the largest and most successful comprehensive campaign in ORU’s history. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and the pastor Niko Njotorahardjo, the hall’s namesake, were in attendance.

Oral Roberts University recently opened its ﬁrst new housing on campus since 1976. Niko Hall, a nearly $10-million-dollar apartment-style student residence, has separate structures — one for men and one for women — with a lobby connecting the two. Featuring suites and a dorm-style top ﬂoor, the facility houses 240 students. The new residence hall is named for Indonesian pastor Niko Njotorahardjo, the founder and senior pastor of Gereja Bethel Indonesia church in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Hear our recent interview with Majeste Pearson. Visit tulsapeople.com/podcast.

Pearson performs at Emmys In September Tulsan Majeste Pearson performed at the Creative Arts Emmys Governors Ball, the ofﬁcial after-party of the Emmys. She was one of the three main events, bumping shoulders with many celebrities and Emmy winners. The following week, Pearson also performed at the Primetime Emmys Governors Ball, following the televised 71st annual awards show. Making her Broadway and TV debut in 2018, Pearson has performed for a wide array of audiences, from Carnegie Hall to “The Four” on Fox. While on Broadway, Pearson became the youngest female vocalist to be cast in the Broadway revival of “Rocktopia” and received a two-year scholarship to the New York Film Academy’s professional conservatory of musical theater.

Voices of Oklahoma “I remember we had a little blue box (a charity box) ... Anytime anybody took a trip and got there safe and came home safe, my mother, she’d always deposit money. It was just sort of a way of life. I think that it’s sort of in the bones of a person, (something) that you inherited from your parents. Even though you’ve not gone through what they’ve gone through, you can certainly still have the same feelings.” — Philanthropist Maxine Zarrow. Through their foundation, she and her late husband, Jack Zarrow, played a leading role in the formation of the Tulsa Jewish Retirement and Health Care Center, now called Zarrow Pointe. They also, along with the Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, gifted the land for the Tulsa Day Center for the Homeless. “Voices of Oklahoma” is an oral history project founded by John Erling in 2009. Visit voicesofoklahoma.com. 14

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

Renowned scholar and human rights activist Imam Omar Suleiman will speak in Tulsa on Nov. 21 at the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation’s 10th annual Dinner of Reconciliation. Suleiman is the founder and president of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and a professor of Islamic Studies at Southern Methodist University. In recent years, the New Orleans native has been recognized by CNN as one of the 25 most inﬂuential Muslims in America. He also was named to the Frederick Douglass 200, a project to honor the impact of 200 living individuals who best embody the work and spirit of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. “Imam Suleiman’s commitment to and advocacy for restorative justice and social harmony embodies the mission of the JHFCR to promote reconciliation and trust among individuals of diverse communities through scholarly work that combines theory and practice to generate constructive community engagement,” says Reuben Gant, JHFCR executive director. Nov. 21 10TH ANNUAL DINNER OF RECONCILIATION 6:30 p.m., reception; 7 p.m., dinner and program. Former Mayor Kathy Taylor and Bill Lobeck are honorary chairs. Greenwood Cultural Center, 322 N. Greenwood Ave. $25, adults; $15, ages 5-17. Beneﬁts John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation. jhfcenter.org

PEARSON, ORU: COURTESY; SULEIMAN: FAWZI YAHYA

ORU GETS NEW HOUSING

One of the country’s top doctors. Leading the charge against lung cancer right here in Tulsa.

Named 2019 Top Doctor by Castle Connolly Dr. Daniel Nader, Director of the Lung Center at CTCA® in Tulsa, has been recognized by Castle Connolly as one of America’s Top Doctors in pulmonary medicine for the last nine years.

Since 1991, Dr. Nader and his team at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® in Tulsa have been dedicated to building a comprehensive Lung Center to fight this complex disease. With access to state-of-the-art technologies, advanced treatments and supportive therapies, our experts specialize in personalized lung cancer care—helping our patients fight cancer.

800.515.9610 | cancercenter.com/tulsa A Network Provider For

Shelby Eicher, center, performs at the 2019 awards gala for the National Fiddler Hall of Fame.

LIFELONG LOVE Tulsa fiddler named to Hall of Fame. BY HEATHER KOONTZ

eloved Tulsa musician Shelby Eicher is more than a composer, teacher and recording artist. Now he’s a member of the Tulsa-based National Fiddler Hall of Fame. Recognized for his contribution to fiddle music, Eicher was among three musicians honored at an awards gala in September at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame in Tulsa. According to Eicher, the experience was both humbling and validating. Eicher grew up playing square dances alongside his parents and grandmother in Ohio, and he says music was simply unavoidable. “My mom and dad were dancing the weekend before I was born, and I got a violin for my fifth birthday,” Eicher says. “There was music in the house all the time.” In 1978, Eicher moved to Claremore to study bluegrass and western swing at Claremore Junior

College (now Rogers State University). According to Eicher, western swing didn’t exist in Ohio. Soon after, he earned a job playing with country star Roy Clark. During that 15-year run, Eicher moved to Tulsa, recorded five albums and made numerous appearances on “The Tonight Show” and “Hee Haw.” Now Eicher performs throughout the metro, sometimes as a member of the Tulsa Playboys and sometimes alongside his son, Nathan. Additionally, he teaches fiddle, mandolin and guitar to the next generation of musicians. According to Eicher, practice really does make perfect. “The biggest advice I would give myself if I could go back is just practice,” he says. “The more you learn when you’re younger, the better it is for your whole career.” TP

ALBUM RELEASE Henna Roso serves up 11 tasty tracks on its debut album, “Feed the Hungry,” released in September on Tulsa’s nonprofit Horton Records label. In keeping with the band’s mission, 10% of proceeds from the album sales, as well as revenue from streaming and licensing of the tunes, will be donated to organizations that help eliminate food insecurity. This is definitely a disc that keeps on giving, in more ways than one. Fans of Henna Roso’s jazz and funk-basted grooves will find much to love in this release that captures the energy and creativity of the band’s live performances. “We knew if we didn’t play at a certain level, we wouldn’t be as successful in what we could contribute,” says band co-founder Taylor Graham. “That was further incentive to make a better product — something that people would want to listen to and get behind.” Graham is pleased with the release and the music’s fundraising potential. “That’s the beautiful thing about the model of perpetual giving we’re trying to build,” he says. “It’s only going to keep on growing, and we hope our contribution and our music grow alongside it.” — JULIE WENGER WATSON 16

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

Crystal Z Campbell

Artist explores

‘PUBLIC SECRETS’ “I aim to decipher some of the complicated layers of Oklahoma’s history through my work and imagine what other historical narratives can exist beyond the ones we are told.” So says Tulsa-based artist Crystal Z Campbell, a fourth-year Tulsa Artist Fellow and recent recipient of Mid-America Arts Alliance’s inaugural Interchange grant. The award, a $20,000 project grant with mentoring and professional development opportunities, was awarded to 16 artists in mid-July. “Personally, it has been challenging to find project support for larger projects in the region, which is why I’m grateful for Mid-America Arts Alliance,” Campbell says. M-AAA awards the Interchange grant to artists in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas whose work addresses salient social issues. The grants are awarded in support of specific projects undertaken by each artist. Campbell’s project, “SLICK,” is comprised of a feature-length film, workshops and a publication that intersects Tulsa’s former Black Wall Street, historically black towns in Oklahoma and the story of oil. “The work is currently in progress, and I plan to share this work during the centennial anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre,” she says. Campbell’s art is multimedia in nature, often combining performance, sound, film, collage, drawing and painting into installations. Archives, conversations and the history of places (spoken or unspoken) often inform her work. “No space is neutral, but I am interested in what is taken for granted, which I explore through public secrets,” she says. — ETHAN VEENKER

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: TOM DUNNING; CAMPBELL: JEREMY CHARLES

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

Create memories before your flight even takes off.

With all new restaurants at Tulsa International Airport, your family can start relaxing before you’ve even left Tulsa. Passengers can now enjoy a mix of local and national restaurants, such as Fat Guy’s Burger Bar, Chili’s, Tarmac Taproom, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and more. Visit flytulsa.com to see a full list of Tulsa International Airport’s nearly 20 nonstop destinations, and for more details on the restaurants and retail shops that are throughout the terminal.

BIZ WHIZ

Alyssa Hobbs owns Hobbs Salon + Med Spa, 1354 E. 15th St. Her own experience with alopecia led her to offer treatments and services for other women with hair loss.

At OU-Tulsa, our students, researchers, faculty and staff are committed to making Tulsa a better place for all. Check out our

CHERRY STREET BUSINESS SPECIALIZES IN HELPING THOSE WITH HAIR DIFFICULTIES. BY BRIA BOLTON MOORE

degrees and graduate certificates to find out what you can do as a Tulsa Sooner. Find your fit at TulsaSooners.com.

tulsasooners.com

918-660-3318

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. www.ou.edu/eoo

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

lyssa Hobbs, owner of Hobbs Salon + Med Spa, lost her hair when she was 14 years old. “I did all these remedies and was every doctor’s guinea pig,” says Hobbs, who was diagnosed with alopecia universalis, or significant hair loss. She started wearing wigs. However, she says she didn’t have anyone to guide her through the experience and challenges of wearing and styling them. “I just learned from personal experience, so that’s what made me know I could make a difference,” she says. Hobbs’ condition, which eventually became more spotty hair loss, or alopecia areata, drove her to attend cosmetology school. She graduated in 2011 and opened Hobbs Salon + Med Spa this past June at 1354 E. 15th St. Hobbs Salon offers complimentary consultations to find the right services and treatments for each individual. In addition to traditional salon and spa services, a variety of other treatments are available for the face and skin. Some of them, such as hormonal consultations, scalp remedies and microneedling, have been shown to help women with hair loss. Hobbs says she wants her salon to be a place where people feel comfortable. A lady who went through chemo treatments recently came in to talk to her about wigs. “The most rewarding part of my job is making people feel like themselves again,” she says. TP

GREG BOLLINGER

What Will You Do?

MORE THAN A HAIRCUT

VISION

IN IN EDUCATION EDUCATION LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP AWARD DINNER AWARD DINNER 2019 2019

Thank you, Tulsa! Thank you, Tulsa! This year, a record $405,000 was raised at the 2019 Vision in This year, aLeadership record $405,000 raised at the 2019 Vision in Education Award was Dinner. Education Leadership Award Dinner.

Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith received the 2019 Vision in Education Leadership Award for her Tulsa Countyleadership Commissioner Karen Keithtoreceived Vision inforward Education Leadership Award for her community and dedication movingthe our2019 community through her commitment to community leadership and dedication to moving our of community forward through her commitment to improving the lives Oklahomans. improving the lives of Oklahomans. PHOTO: Roger Ramseyer, 2019 Foundation Vision Dinner Chair; Phil Lakin, Jr., TCC Foundation Chair; Leigh B. PHOTO: Roger Ramseyer, 2019 Foundation Visionhonoree; Dinner Chair; PhilJohn Lakin, Jr., TCC 2019 Foundation Chair; Leigh B. Goodson, TCC President; Karen Keith, 2019 Vision Lesa and Smaligo, Vision Dinner Honorary Goodson, TCC President; Karen Keith, 2019Vice Vision honoree;ofLesa and John Smaligo, 2019 VisionPresident. Dinner Honorary Co-Chairs; and Kari Shults, Interim President Advancement and TCC Foundation Co-Chairs; and Kari Shults, Interim Vice President of Advancement and TCC Foundation President.

Your contributions provide TCC students with scholarships, Your contributions provide TCC studentsengagement with scholarships, leadership development opportunities, and mentoring leadership development opportunities, with academic scholars and leaders, andengagement technology and and mentoring equipment with academic scholars and leaders, and technology necessary to prepare them for today’s workforce. and equipment necessary to prepare them for today’s workforce. Your generosity will impact our community for generations. Thank Your generosity impact our community for generations. you for believingwill in our mission – building success through Thank you for believing in our mission – building success through education. education.

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EXCELLENCE ($5,000) EXCELLENCE ($5,000) Jim Norton Toyota & Jim Norton Chevrolet | OSU-Tulsa / OSU / OSU Foundation

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DEDICATION ($1,500) DEDICATION ($1,500)

CHANGEMAKERS

A legacy

OF LOVE

DRIVEN TO INSPIRE Pastor ‘becomes the change to bring the change’ in Tulsa. BY MORGAN PHILLIPS

njustice could make the Rev. Mareo Johnson bitter. Instead it spurs him to try and make life better for his community. “I have a passion to see people set free from bondage — to reach the sick, hurting and lost at all costs,” he says. Johnson is the senior pastor of Seeking the Kingdom Ministries, which temporarily meets at Miracle Community Baptist Church. His latest project is seeking to open a community resource center where citizens can get help addressing their physical and mental health, find a job or mentor, and report police misconduct. He says other areas of focus would be prisoner re-entry; domestic violence, gang and prison prevention; and police and community relations. However, Johnson’s path was not always so clear. As a young Tulsan, he was incarcerated for nearly six years. While in prison, he took classes through the Victory Bible Institute, which led him to make a spiritual transformation. Two years after discharging, Johnson returned to prison as a volunteer keynote speaker at a VBI graduation. “I

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

told (the inmates), ‘I was in that seat you’re sitting in,’” he recalls. In 2016, after the killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, Johnson founded Black Lives Matter Tulsa to march for unity in north Tulsa and protest excessive use of force by police. Ironically Johnson’s good friend, the late Terence Crutcher, was a main supporter of BLMT, as well as Seeking the Kingdom Ministries. Crutcher was shot and killed by a Tulsa Police officer in September 2016. “When I heard the news I was thinking, ‘This cannot be happening,” Johnson says. “We had a lot of plans.” Johnson says he chose to channel his anger, hurt and disappointment into making a difference. “Standing up for people who can’t speak for themselves — that gives me a drive to continue,” he says. As a pastor, Johnson has many opportunities to encourage and inspire. His advice is something he experienced firsthand: “Make yourself available to God. He will do the changing.” TP

Keep up with the Liddy’s Love movement on Instagram by following #liddyslove, @heartsurgerykit or @ewinklertherapy. Printable tags can be downloaded for free at heartsurgerykit.com/pages/liddys-love.

VALERIE WEI-HAAS

The Rev. Mareo Johnson speaks to members of Seeking the Kingdom Ministries, which temporarily meets at Miracle Community Baptist Church, 2507 E. 29th Place N.

Before Elizabeth “Liddy” Doenges died, her brother-in-law promised her that every year on her birthday, he’d send a rose to each of her three children with a card that simply stated, “Remembering.” The eponym of the Liddy Doenges Theater, Doenges was a devoted civic leader and champion of Tulsa arts throughout the 1980s and ’90s. Her brother-in-law’s tradition has remained a constant in the Doenges family since her death in 1994; however, this year when Doenges’ daughter Elizabeth Winkler received her 25th rose, it sparked a vision. “I wanted to take it beyond my family,” says Winkler, a Los Angeles-based marriage and family therapist and Tulsa native. Her vision created “Liddy’s Love,” a global movement meant to connect us as a human family. The idea is to hand out a ﬂower with two tags that can be downloaded from Winkler’s project site. “(There is) a tag for the person to receive it, and one for them to pay it forward,” she explains. The tag invites the recipient to embark on the process of healing from the inside. Since its inception in August, tags have been downloaded all over the world and stories of its impact have poured in through e-mails and social media. Winkler also is the founder of the Heart Surgery Mindfulness Kit, a daily mindfulness practice for children that helps them effectively process challenging emotions. She plans to return to Tulsa in 2020 to celebrate the Liddy’s Love project and to work with local children using the Heart Surgery process in the town her mother loved. “The goal is to keep this love alive,” Winkler says. — JORDAN COX

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APPLAUSE

Voices to be heard

DEFYING THE ODDS Brain injury drives two Tulsans to develop specialized rehab center. STORIES BY MADELINE EWING

im Hann and Chris Lieberman know what it’s like to navigate life after a traumatic brain injury. In March 2016, Lieberman suffered such an injury. “I fell (off a ladder) right on my head on the concrete and, of course, being who I am, I argued about going to the hospital,” he recalls. Fortunately Hann, Lieberman’s life partner, convinced him to go to the hospital. Doctors informed Hann if they had waited even 20 more minutes to bring him in, he would have died. If Lieberman was lucky to be alive then, he is even luckier to be where he is now — a walking, talking “miracle,” according to Hann, his caregiver. However, recovery required years of traveling out of state for various surgeries and therapies to REACT, an activity-based neurorehab center in Texas. Their experience led the couple to start the Brain Injury Recovery Foundation earlier this year to help others by bringing affordable activity-based therapy services closer to home. The foundation plans to open Oklahoma’s fi rst activity-based neurorehabilitation center,

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

DEFY, in summer 2020, though the timeline depends on fundraising. In addition to bringing well-trained therapists in brain injury, stroke and spinal cord recovery and multiple sclerosis to Tulsa, the Brain Injury Recovery Foundation also plans to provide fi nancial assistance. The average cost to a person with a brain or neurological injury is $85,000-$3 million in a lifetime, says Hann, executive director of the Brain Injury Recovery Foundation. “Insurance covers on average 20% of the therapy needed to recover,” she says. “Th rough DEFY and our fi nancial assistance program, we will fi ll the 80% gap that is passed onto individuals.” TP

NOV. 23

Shining the Light on Brain Injuries 6-11:30 p.m. Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St. Dinner, drinks, live paintings, guest speakers, rafﬂe, music and silent auction. $100, tickets; $500-$15,000, sponsorships. Beneﬁts DEFY. braininjuryrecoveryfoundation.org

Sara Pinkepank directs the Tulsa Aphasia Choir.

Founded and directed by Sara Pinkepank, a speech-language pathologist, the Tulsa Aphasia Choir helps people with aphasia practice language skills while in a safe environment. Aphasia, an acquired language disorder, results from a brain injury — most often, stroke — and can impair areas of language from speaking to reading and writing. Pinkepank originally discovered a choir for people with aphasia in Vermont and decided to start her own in Tulsa. “I remember thinking how much I would love to be a part of something like that someday,” she says. “It would be a perfect combination of my passions for music and for helping people with communication disorders.” By October 2016, the Tulsa Aphasia Choir was a reality. Hosted at Asbury United Methodist Church, the choir is comprised of those with aphasia and their family members. Although the program aims to help people with the condition, it also provides an educational opportunity for the community to learn about aphasia and “how to better communicate with people with aphasia,” Pinkepank explains. The Tulsa Aphasia Choir presents free concerts at least once each year, performing well-known music. By joining forces over a platform as universal as music, Pinkepank assists those involved with “learning self-advocacy skills and practicing communication skills.” TP For upcoming performances, follow the Tulsa Aphasia Choir at facebook.com/tulsaaphasiachoir.

APPLAUSE: VALERIE WEI-HAAS; VOICES: GREG BOLLINGER

Chris Lieberman, co-founder and spokesman of the Brain Injury Recovery Foundation, and Kim Hann, co-founder and executive director, are fundraising to build a neurorehabilitation center called DEFY, an acronym for “Don’t Ever Forget Yourself” — a reminder of how Lieberman deﬁed the odds after his own brain injury.

THE BOOK THAT TULSA IS TALKING ABOUT An impressive, well researched, beautifully narrated tale of historical fiction, Song of Bethlehem is a love story crafted by Oklahoma author Teresa Prins Wood. Poignant and inspirational, the novel details a twenty year bond of friendship between Joseph of Nazareth and his friends Eli and Rivka of Bethlehem, Judah.

irec tly from d s k o o b r e To ord mazon and A ia v r o r o t he au t h e, visit id w ld r o w s r bookselle ood.com w s in r p a s e r te

100% of all profits paid to the author is used to provide for those who seek shelter at Tulsaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Center for the Homeless, The Salvation Army, Day Spring Villa (Sand Springs), and others.

I AM TULSA I Am Tulsa is a new monthly series celebrating our city’s diversity.

Marcus Abernathy speaks with TulsaPeople Digital Editor Tim Landes at Sangha Tulsa, the nonproﬁ t sober living facility Abernathy founded in 2018.

I AM IN RECOVERY Former addict helps others get their lives back. BY TIM LANDES

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

checked into a hospital and went to rehab for the fi nal time. That’s when he decided to move back home to Tulsa. The 37-year-old reflects on his past struggles from Sangha (Sanskrit for “community”), the Tulsa nonprofit sober living house he started in 2018. The home can house up to eight men at a time. They stay up to six months before moving out to live on their own. To date, Sangha has helped more than 20 men combating addictions to alcohol, heroin, methamphetamines and opioids. Like them, Abernathy didn’t set out to choose addiction. At 18, the Holland Hall graduate and Auburn University freshman became hooked on opioids after taking them to combat mononucleosis. When the pills became too expensive, Abernathy eventually turned to heroin. Nearly two decades later, he has a master’s degree focusing on addiction and recovery, he is developing a new business venture and he de-

votes time to policy work — all on top of operating Sangha. “Th is is my 12th step, basically,” explains Abernathy, a reference to carrying the message of Alcoholics Anonymous and practicing its principles. “I have the experience to know how to best help others reintegrate into our community and be healthy, productive and stronger. It’s really exciting. I’m having fun.” TP

NOV. 7

HEROIC: Honoring Heroes in Recovery 6-9 p.m. Southern Hills Country Club, 2636 E. 61st St. Former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf, keynote speaker, will receive Sangha’s ﬁrst Heroes in Recovery Award for overcoming an opioid addiction and turning to advocacy work. $100, individual tickets, or three for $250. Beneﬁts Sangha Tulsa. sanghatulsa.org

VALERIE WEI-HAAS

early three years ago, Tulsa native Marcus Abernathy was homeless in Phoenix. He’d been in and out of rehabilitation centers, but kept returning to heroin. “I can remember several times loading up my syringe, looking at it and thinking, ‘Man, that’s a lot. That could kill me,’” Abernathy says. “Death doesn’t seem like that bad of an option because you’re already in hell. So the eternal void that I believed in at the time, which was just darkness, seemed kind of comforting. I wasn’t trying to die, but I didn’t really care.” After more than a month of living on the streets, a group of men Abernathy had met in recovery picked him up and drove to Mexico to build a house on a mission trip. Their secondary mission was to see to it that Abernathy kicked the drug for good. He spent a week detoxing and got pneumonia. When they returned to Phoenix, he

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DREAM TEAM

MADE WITH LOVE Three women creatively fashion products that help others.

Misty Carruthers and Jessica Nugent An employee at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa, Carruthers uses an innovative process to repurpose the material that wraps sterile surgery trays. CTCA House Supervisor Nugent approached Carruthers with the idea earlier this year. Following that, Carruthers began sewing the wraps into reusable totes, mats and toothbrush holders, using every inch of the material so it won’t go to waste. “(The wraps) are very durable products, and it’s a shame to throw them away,” she says. “Oddly enough, it’s more expensive for us to recycle them than to throw them away, which is terrible.” In the wake of this summer’s ﬂooding, CTCA staff involved in this project donated 80 totes, which were ﬁlled with non-perishable goods, 40 mats and 40 toothbrush holders to clients of Mental Health Association Oklahoma. Carruthers says they hope to partner with other organizations in the future. 26

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

Charmetrea Cobbs

Marlys Olson Dow

“On my way to work I see people sleeping under the bridge,” Cobbs says. “They’re standing on the corner. I pass them every day. This was my opportunity to minister to them.” Cobbs crochets 3-by-6-foot mats for homeless people through her ministry called “Stitched in Prayer,” a group of about 10 women. Others in the community also pitch in with the crocheting. The purpose of the easy-to-clean mats is to keep people dry and off the ground. Each mat takes about three weeks to make and requires 500-600 plastic bags, Cobbs says. She accepts donated plastic bags through the First Baptist Church North Tulsa, 1414 N. Greenwood Ave. Cobbs also hosts “folding parties” where people can fold and cut the bags, and also learn how to crochet them together. Cobbs received a lot of interest in her mats after the ﬂoods, and she envisions partnering with organizations to donate the mats wrapped with things like toothpaste, soap and other goods.

The Montereau Retirement Community is home to a group of volunteer knitters — one of more than 3,200 such groups nationwide. They knit “knockers,” light-weight, prostheses for women who have had mastectomies. Like silicon prostheses, the knockers can be worn inside a woman’s bra. Dow got the idea from her daughter-in-law, who had a preventative double mastectomy. “All of us who are female connect our femininity to our breasts,” Dow says. “You lose one and it’s, ‘Oh, my goodness.’” The knockers come in various colors, and are available free of charge and for all breast sizes. Each woman also receives one pair for a single mastectomy and two pairs for a double mastectomy. “One to wear and one to wash,” Dow says. Some of the knockers are donated to Tulsa’s Cancer Treatment Center of America and Susan G. Komen Oklahoma. Pairs can be requested at knittedknockers.org or by emailing montereauknockerknitter@gmail.com. Yarn for the knockers is purchased from Get Stitchin’ in Tulsa, which takes donations on behalf of those who knit the knockers. TP

CARRUTHERS/NUGENT: GREG BOLLINGER

BY MADISON SCHULZ

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R E GI S T E R F OR T HI S S P E C I A L PA C K A GE B Y NO V. 17 *Winner will be notified Mon., Nov. 18 to allow time for prize pick-up prior to An Affair of the Heart.

TulsaPeople.com

1 1

25th Anniversary Gala

Chapters

Happy Hands Education Center held its 25th Anniversary Gala on Sept. 13 at Southern Hills Country Club. The 220 guests enjoyed a reception, silent auctions, a gourmet dinner, an awards presentation and live painting by local artist Blake Shelton. The event beneﬁtted educational and scholarship opportunities for children aged 0-6 years attending Happy Hands who are deaf or hard of hearing or who have other communications disorders. Past and present alumni present included college administrators and instructors to Christian missionaries. Al Proo, Happy Hands founder, received the Foundation of Faith Award; Bob Westerburg, full-time volunteer facilities director, the Lifetime Volunteer Award; and Marie Guard, Happy Hands’ ﬁrst director of education, the Lifetime Educator Award.

Two best-selling authors were special guests at the Tulsa City-County Library’s annual Chapters fundraiser Sept. 5 at Hardesty Regional Library, with 180 people present. Juliet Grames (“The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna”) and Lynne and Valerie Constantine (sisters who write under the pen name Liv Constantine, “The Last Time I Saw You”) described the experiences writing their latest books, answered audience questions and signed copies. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres catered by various restaurants as well as exclusive wines from local distributors. A total of $14,000 was raised, beneﬁting the Ruth G. Hardman Adult Literacy Service. 1. Sweet Devotion Cakery made this cake celebrating the visiting authors’ recent releases. 2. Lynne and Valerie Constantine describe their writing adventures. 3. Chapters Chairwoman Cindy Rothenbucher; visiting authors Lynne Constantine, Juliet Grames and Valerie Constantine; and Tulsa City-County Library CEO Kimberly Johnson 4. Grames shares photos and experiences from her latest book, a novel based on the author’s own Italian family.

1. Happy Hands teachers Renee Appleman, Kaycie Brown, Kelsey Curry, Erica DeVore, Teressa Lee and Debbie Woodland 2. Christin Lang and her son, Augie Lang, a Happy Hands student 3. Local painter Blake Shelton created this bison live at the event. 4. Happy Hands Executive Director Jan Pride and her husband, Mike Pride

4 28

4 TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

25TH ANNIVERSARY GALA: COREY ELIAS/SHUTTER SHACK; CHAPTERS: JOHN FANCHER

Books, Brews and BBQ

Reading Partners’ second Books, Brews and BBQ was Sept. 12 at Cabin Boys Brewery. A total of 150 guests enjoyed an evening of trivia, libations and barbecue to celebrate the start of another school year and Reading Partners’ volunteerism. From 2019-2020, more than 1,700 Tulsa students in kindergarten through third grade will receive weekly one-onone volunteer sessions across 28 reading centers. Approximately $15,000 was raised.

1. Justin Harlan, senior executive director of Reading Partners Tulsa; Taylor Tennis, development associate; and Matthew Fransein, development manager and organizer of Books, Brews and BBQ 2. Questionable Company Trivia provided entertainment. 3. Food was catered by Rib Crib and Cabin Boys Brewery. 4. Patrons Terry White, Brettin White, Megan DiGregorio, Randall Hardee and Matthew Kennedy 5. Scott Robin, VP, manager, community and employee engagement for event sponsor Bank of Oklahoma; Garrett Mills, Rib Crib CEO; and Lisa McIlroy, art director and founder, Cabin Boys Brewery

WALTZ: BRITTNEY ASHTON; BOOKS: BRENNA PETERSON

WALTZ on the Wild Side “Let the Good Times Roar” was the theme of the 29th annual WALTZ (We All Love the Tulsa Zoo) on the Wild Side on June 21, beneﬁting the Tulsa Zoo’s “Building Beyond Your Wildest Dreams” capital campaign. Guests in masquerade apparel danced to live music by Professor D and enjoyed cocktails and bites from more than 40 local restaurants. More than 1,000 guests attended WALTZ on the Wild Side and raised more than $220,000 for building new animal habitats. The evening’s restaurant hours took place in the zoo’s Lost Kingdom, where signature dishes from more than 40 of the area’s ﬁnest restaurants were served beside habitats for ambassadors of some of Asia’s rarest species.

1. Patrons Amy and Mike Watson 2. Nothing Bundt Cakes served dessert to WALTZ guests. 3. Patrons Dave and Ginger Kollmann 4. WALTZ co-chairs Marnie and Shane Fernandez 5. Party-goers danced to live music inside the H.A. Chapman Event Lodge.

5 TulsaPeople.com

NONPROFIT NEWS

Rick Bennett and Dennis Neill

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

As part of the 2019 Oklahoma IT Symposium in August, an event where more than 300 local technology leaders gathered for continuing education and collaboration, the organization also made $30,000 in charitable contributions to the community. Local nonprofit 501tech.net received $10,000, with an additional $10,000 donated to Oklahomans for Equality, the charity of choice for the Symposium’s lifetime achievement award. Another $10,000 was awarded as scholarships to four college students pursing computer science studies. In the for-profit world technology and in-house expertise is a business imperative. The same is true for nonprofit organizations. But without support, these organizations face an impossible decision: spend funds on technology and have less available to provide services, raise funds, recruit volunteers and so much more. Or, don’t spend funds, and risk the same outcome due to inefficiencies and inability to reach potential donors, volunteers and those in need. 501tech.net bridges the gap by providing affordable technology support services and products to Oklahoma’s nonprofit organizations. Visit oklahomaitsymposium.com for more information.

COURTESY OKLAHOMA IT SYMPOSIUM

Community IT leaders donate $30,000 at recent symposium

NEWS FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

New midtown Christmas tree lot at Cascia

Tulsa ER and Hospital offers concierge-level care

In addition to its annual Christmas Walk, Cascia Hall Preparatory School will host a new festive amenity this year — the Old Time Christmas Tree Lot. The tree lot will be located on the school’s campus, 2520 S. Yorktown Ave., at its South Utica Avenue entrance. The lot will be open to the public from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7 and 8; and 4-7 p.m., Dec. 6. More than 200 Fraser ﬁr trees will be available to purchase, and a special Santa’s Village will include family friendly activities. On Dec. 6, a Chili Cook-off will be held at the tree lot. Gemstar Caribbean Steel Band will perform while guests choose the best chili entries. Entering a team in the Chili Cook-off is open to the public; register at casciahall.com/walk. The 37th annual Cascia Christmas Walk will be 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Dec. 8. The home tour will showcase four midtown homes beautifully decorated for the holidays. Tour tickets are $20 at casciahall.com/walk until Nov. 21 or at the school Nov. 5-Dec. 5. Tickets will be sold the day of the event at the Cascia Hall Performing Arts Center and each home on the tour. Transportation will be provided between homes. More information about the Walk and other activities is available at casciahall.com/walk.

Tulsa ER and Hospital opened July 29 at 717 W. 71st St. to treat pediatric and adult patients. The facility offers emergency medical care, 24/7. “Our mission is to provide the residents of Tulsa, and its surrounding communities, with a shorter wait time, while still providing exceptionally high-quality medical care to each patient that comes through our doors,” says Dr. Mark Blubaugh, medical director for Tulsa ER and Hospital. With the opening of Tulsa ER and Hospital, the community will gain access to emergency care without the issues of large, congested hospital emergency rooms. The goal is to get patients back from the waiting area in ﬁve minutes or less. Patient-focused care when people need it most is just part of the concierge-style experience. The facility boasts a full clinical laboratory and the most advanced imaging and diagnostic equipment available, including CT scans, ultrasound and digital X-ray. If needed, patients can be observed or admitted for a short stay in the inpatient unit. The Tulsa ER and Hospital team is comprised of emergency room physicians, ER nurses, medical technicians, radiology technologists and front desk staff committed to improving patient care in Tulsa. Tulsa ER and Hospital honors all in-network insurance rates for emergency care and does not balance bill. For those that choose to self-pay, prices are available on the website and at the front desk. The facility accepts Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation. Learn more at tulsaer.com.

When you need us, we are more than ready. There are times when we need strength, and someone to care for us. For more than 25 years, CommunityCare has been that source of strength for thousands of Oklahoma families and businesses. We are the state’s largest locally owned health insurance company, combining the strength and leadership of Saint Francis Health System and Ascension St. John. CommunityCare is dedicated to serving this community like no other health plan— helping you, your family and your company create a stronger, healthier future.

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TulsaPeople.com

Oklahoma Tribes Are

COMMITTED to Oklahoma Schools

AS A VITAL PART OF THIS STATE, NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING THE BEST POSSIBLE EDUCATION SYSTEM FOR ALL OKLAHOMANS. Oklahoma is home to these tribal nations, so their commitment to supporting education here is second to none. Since 2006, tribal nations have generated over $1.3 billion to support Oklahoma schools. But they do even more every day, working quietly to help meet the needs of teachers, principals and students in their local communities.

“We’ve all suffered in this state in regard to funding. We’ve relied on the tribes so much more the past few years. We got almost $10,000 in school supplies this year.” JERRY McCORMICK Superintendent, Anadarko Public Schools

“They’re not just donating backpacks and school supplies just to tribal members, it’s all the children that need a helping hand.” TROY EVERETT Vice President, Canton Chamber of Commerce

“Transforming higher education is one thing, but transforming an individual student’s life is something else, and there could just not be more valuable partners for higher ed than our tribal partners.” MARTHA BURGER President, Oklahoma City University

UnitedForOklahoma.com

Oklahoma Tribes Are

INVESTED in Oklahoma Schools

in Contributions to Oklahoma Education

in ADDITIONAL, VOLUNTARY

Through Exclusivity Fees in 2017 Alone—

CONTRIBUTIONS to Oklahoma

ENOUGH TO FUND THE COMPLETE

Education Programs, Schools

SALARIES OF 2,194 TEACHERS, MORE

and Scholarships in 2017

THAN 4 IN EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT*

“We can look across the state and see towns that have lost their schools and eventually that causes the erosion of that community. Allowing the partnerships we share with the Kiowa Tribe to help our students flourish, from athletics to academics ... it allows our school to stay strong.” RANDY TURNEY Principal, Carnegie Middle School

“I was Gov. Fallin’s Secretary of Education. Every time there was a large education initiative, the tribes were there saying, ‘how can we help?’” NATALIE SHIRLEY President and CEO, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma Secretary of Education (2015-2018)

* Calculation based upon current average Oklahoma teacher compensation of $53,600 SOURCES: Oklahoma State Department of Education and National Education Association

Committed to mutual respect, shared strength and productive partnerships that benefit every Oklahoman.

Smooth

TAKEOFF The professionals behind the scenes at Tulsa International Airport are on the front lines of welcoming visitors to the city and greeting returning neighbors. Three recent stafďŹ ng changes at the airport show how Tulsa is forward thinking in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s air travel industry. BY JANE ZEMEL

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

SIX AIRLINES CURRENTLY PROVIDE SERVICE TO 18 NONSTOP DESTINATIONS: Los Angeles (LAX), Las Vegas (LAS), Phoenix (PHX), Salt Lake City (SLC), Denver (DEN), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Dallas Love (DAL), Houston Intercontinental (IAH), Houston Hobby (HOU), Minneapolis (MSP), St. Louis (STL), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT), Atlanta (ATL), Orlando (MCO), Orlando/Sanford (SFB), Tampa/St. Petersburg (PIE), Destin-Fort Walton Beach (VPS). Tulsa Airports CEO Alexis Higgins

s Tulsans start to think about the holiday season — with its outgoing trips or incoming family — plans are likely to include Tulsa International Airport (TUL). More than 3 million passengers travel through TUL each year. Beyond ticket counters, baggage claims and security lines exists a micro-universe of administrators, vendors, concessioners and staff. This village includes 13,000 employees on airport property, including approximately 1,300 in the terminal, 148 paid Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust personnel and 170 volunteers. The remaining employees work at tenant facilities on airport property, including American Airlines, Spirit AeroSystems, Bizjet and Omni Air International. Three employees who are new to their positions this year are particularly dedicated to making travel more affordable, convenient and enjoyable, and they’re already making changes.

People. Planes. Property. When Alexis Higgins was named CEO earlier this year, she became part of the 4% of U.S. airport CEOs who are women, according to Statista, a global business data company. But that number is growing. When Higgins entered the airline industry 20 years ago, most CEOs came from engineering or operations backgrounds — then, decidedly male territory. Today, more CEOs arrive at airport management positions with business or marketing experience. “It’s all about relationship building,” she says. A marketing degree from the University of Tulsa was her ticket to join the airport’s marketing department, where she eventually became the director. Higgins found a strong mentor, overcame her fear of public speaking and addressed every aspect of airport management. When she didn’t get the CEO position on her first try, “it was kind of a gut check,” she says. She studied her boss’ leadership style, focused intensely on her work, and it paid off. She went from COO to interim CEO to CEO.

Director of Real Estate Jonathan Gobbo

The learning process never stopped. Higgins expanded her knowledge and sharpened her expertise. She is now certified by the American Association of Airport Executives. “It’s like the CPA of the financial world,” she explains. “There’s a saying in the airline industry that if you’ve seen one airport, you’ve seen one airport,” she says. Her vision is to concentrate on three Ps: people, planes and property. Airports are funded 100% by user fees. No tax dollars. That’s worth repeating: No tax dollars. Every ticket purchased at TUL includes a $4.50 passenger charge, which is collected by the airlines and remitted monthly to the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust, aka the Tulsa Airport Authority, a City of Tulsa authority with a board of trustees. Passengers also pay a fee that goes to the Federal Aviation Trust Fund for the FAA to redistribute. Tulsa International Airport receives approximately $4 million annually from the FAA in entitlement funds for infrastructure projects like pavement and snow equipment. Airport operating revenues are funded from fees paid by airlines, fees paid by tenants and revenues collected from on-site parking, restaurants, shops and advertising. The next TUL project is the resurfacing of the west runway. After that, fire equipment. “Fire trucks are replaced every 15 years. We have two functional at all times,” Higgins says. Each truck costs approximately $880,000. Tulsans might be surprised to know the R.L. Jones Jr. airport in Jenks also is part of TAIT. RVS, as it is known in the industry (short for Riverside), is the busiest airport in the state and the 26th busiest for general aviation in the U.S. Rankings are based on operations: takeoffs, landings and flyovers. RVS records 200,000 operations each year. That impressive number comes from being a training hub. Tulsa Community College runs a flight training program there, as well as an air traffic controller flight program. Tulsa Tech focuses

on airplane maintenance and repair. Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology attracts international students for its flight instruction and aviation technology programs. “They come from all over the world to train there,” Higgins says. “We have the equipment and materials they need to do the job.” Six flight schools are based at RVS, offering training for beginning to advanced certifications. Because Higgins sees current employees as tomorrow’s leaders, TAIT increased its educational tuition reimbursement to $5,200 a year per employee. The goal is to encourage employees to pursue educational degrees and certifications that support their progression within the organization and help build a pipeline of talent for the next line of airport leaders. “Many of the jobs here require a bachelor’s degree,” she says. Everything the airport employees do every day affects customers. To stress that point to her staff, Higgins created the Customer Experience Division in April. The airport has data on how many passengers drive to Dallas, Oklahoma City, Kansas City or Northwest Arkansas to catch a flight. The technical term is leakage. What keeps Tulsans in Tulsa for flights are cheaper fares, more nonstops, more airlines, more flights, more options. Feedback from the airport’s summer 2019 passenger survey shows 90.4% positive experiences at TUL. The Division constantly monitors social media, as well as reviews on Yelp, Facebook and Google. Social media “allows us to engage with the customer, even if it’s negative,” she says. Higgins’ plan is to overdeliver on customer expectations. “I feel an extra sense of responsibility,” she says. “The airport is the gateway to our city.”

Leases. Leases. Leases. Several months ago, TUL named its first director of real estate. “The position is new, and I’m new to it,” says Jonathan Gobbo. TulsaPeople.com

VIDEO

at TULSAPEOPLE.COM Learn more about how Tulsa International Airport is focusing on the customer experience.

Director of Customer Experience Bryan Crook

The stats are simple. The airport sits on 4,929 acres; Gobbo has 300 leases to maintain and 547 acres ready to develop. “Everything that sits on the airport (property) has a lease,” he explains. “The airport owns the land; companies own buildings. My main focus is non-airline revenue. The more money the airport makes, the less it can charge airlines, resulting in an improved economic case for expanded airline service.” Potential clients vary from cargo, maintenance or assembling to corporate aviation and can include vendors or suppliers to existing tenants. B-to-B, in the vernacular. “I know real estate,” Gobbo says, referring to his nine-year commercial career, “but FAA guidelines and regulations come with a steep learning curve.” Coming from outside the airport world, he brought new ideas. “Sometimes those were shot down, but I keep throwing out new ones,” he jokes. A portion of the land available for development was purchased in the 1980s for a third north/south runway. Since then, needs have changed, and that runway is no longer needed. Gobbo’s strategy is to knock on doors instead of waiting for companies to call him. “I credit Alexis with bringing someone in to be proactive,” he says. The R.L. Jones Jr. airport in Jenks, which also is in his jurisdiction, is at capacity. And beyond. “Basically, we have a waiting list,” he explains. The airport services a mix of private and corporate planes, including charters. “People like being 10 to 15 minutes away from their private planes,” Gobbo says. The American/Delta terminal Airline Use and Lease Agreement was his first big deal to sign, although negotiations had been going on for two years. Gobbo’s first “baby” will be Andolini’s Tulsa Flag Mart, featuring sandwiches and Tulsathemed merchandise, maybe even pizza, opening hopefully by year’s end. Years from now, he looks forward to saying, “‘I leased all 700 acres.’ I like that challenge.” 36

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

Feedback. Feedback. Feedback. If the airport grounds are green, restrooms are clean, surroundings are bright and comfortable, and food and souvenir options are plentiful, travelers can thank Bryan Crook. “I’m the largest voice for our customer within the organization,” says the new director of customer experience. Since 1989, he has been a fixture in the maintenance department, including 22 years as locksmith (the facility has 3,000 doors). His job now is to focus on the people aspect of the people/planes/property mantra. Much of his direction comes from feedback. Passenger, pilot and tenant surveys. Social media, website and comment cards. When customers wanted more food options on the non-secure side, TUL was added to the Grab app, where visitors can order and pay online and have their food delivered just outside the security checkpoint. Recent updates include skylights, business centers, furniture with charging stations and water bottle-filling stations. Coming soon are improved restrooms with large doors that swing out, trough sinks to eliminate standing water, and soap dispensers that don’t drip onto floors. Moms and babies will appreciate the privacy of lactation lounges. One big hit with passengers and employees is Crook’s dog therapy program, Welcome Waggin’.Volunteers walk therapy dogs through secure and non-secure areas in the terminal. “They’re there to hug and love on,” he explains. The pups provide comfort to stressed travelers (and employees) who miss their own dogs. They’re also social media photo magnets. Southwest Airlines even announces the dog visits so everyone knows where to pet the pooches. Crook also oversees the 161-member volunteer/ambassador program. Three have been with the program since its inception 24 years ago, answering questions and directing passengers. “They’re a huge asset to us and to the traveling public,” he says. TP

Welcome Waggin’ members Dustin Meyer with Midas and Bob Trunk with Chance

Dogs with jobs The next time you touch down at Tulsa International Airport (TUL), you might find yourself greeted by man’s best friend. Since April 1, following a pilot program, TUL has hosted Welcome Waggin’, a group of Alliance of Therapy Dogs-certified therapy dog teams. The dogs “visit the airport and provide stress relief, anxiety relief, smiles — anything that might ease a passenger’s stress,” says Dustin Meyer, who certifies teams for ATD. TUL currently has 30 teams, each comprised of one handler and one dog. “They’re all obedience-trained,” Meyer says of the canines. “They’ve all been tested, observed and certified with Alliance of Therapy Dogs.” Meyer and his own dog, Midas, form one of the teams at TUL. Midas is a 6-year-old golden retriever who was born blind. “He has adapted very well,” Meyer says. “It’s very unique; I don’t know of any other blind therapy dog in the state of Oklahoma.” Midas has all the traits of a good therapy dog, which boil down to his easygoing demeanor. “He has just got a great personality,” Meyer says. “He loves people. He loves other dogs.” Of course, Midas is quite good at his job. “He just brightens everybody’s day,” Meyer says. “All of our (Welcome Waggin’) dogs are like that. People just break out in smiles, and they very much like to handle and pet the dogs.” Not a dog fan? Have an allergy? Just mention this to any approaching team, and they’ll back off. “We don’t put any stress on anybody,” Meyer says. TUL isn’t the first airport to institute a program like Welcome Waggin’, though it took several years of trying by Meyer and his colleagues, Shirleyanne Johnson and Amy McCarthy, the program’s cofounders. Welcome Waggin’ launched after TUL Marketing Coordinator Michelle Evans brought the proposal to the attention of CEO Alexis Higgins. The rest is history. — ETHAN VEENKER

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TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

Fighting for peace ONE VETERAN’S JOURNEY TO FINDING HIS PLACE ON THE HOME FRONT BY TIM LANDES Levi Avera and wife Jenny with children Violet and Finn. Not pictured is Levi’s daughter, Brynn.

he sun is minutes away from rising over Turkey Mountain, where a group of military combat veterans are doing their weekly walk. It’s an opportunity for men and women who have witnessed the darkest parts of war to come together and go for a stroll. Everyone is wearing desert camouﬂage hats or shorts. Some have the tan camo backpack. All of them served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan. This group is all in their 30s, and all receive disability pay for various reasons. As the terrain changes from an open ﬁeld to a wooded area, the group shares memories of walking through the mountains of Afghanistan. Some naturally fall to the back of the pack as they can’t handle having anyone behind them — a lingering effect of the threats of war. Their lingo still includes terms like “on your six” and “on your 12,” when discussing formation. Many of the jokes are only funny if you’ve been in a war or lived in barracks. During the hour hike, they all talk about their distrust of mainstream media and national political leaders. Although some talk about their indifference of both. All say they came home from war angry. Some of them have found peace. Turk Escalada, a Southern California guy who was inspired to enlist after 9/11 and served in the Marines from 2006-2012 and was deployed to Afghanistan from 2009-10, chased the gold rush that is the medicinal cannabis industry. As soon as SQ 788 passed in June 2018, Escalada’s research informed him Tulsa was an ideal business location with a lower cost of

living than his West Coast residence. He loaded his car and drove east. “When I got to Oklahoma City, I was blown away. It was like LA lite,” says Escalada, following a slight incline along the trail. “I took the short turnpike, and when I started to see hills then all the trees, I couldn’t believe it. It was so beautiful and green, I knew I was where I’m meant to be.” Escalada also brought to Tulsa a membership in Veterans Walk and Talk, an LA-based veterans’ nonproﬁt. He immediately launched an Oklahoma chapter and began recruiting others to join him on weekly treks. Some Sundays its Turkey Mountain, and other weeks it’s a high school track or park path for those who need a less challenging walk. One Sunday each month is reserved for a community service event. When a person takes part in both activities, they receive a club shirt. “The reason we like to walk and talk is it gets the cardio up,” says Escalada as he wipes sweat from his brow and replaces his hat all in stride. “It’s why in the Marines we sing in formation.” “I thought it was to mask the pain,” Levi Avera says. ———— Avera and I are childhood friends. We grew up together in Claremore, and upon high school graduation in 2000 took two very different paths. That August I began my pursuit of a college degree, while he entered Marines basic training in San Diego, California, to become an infantryman.

A little over a year later, in September 2001, everything changed. “We’re in the field on day six of a seven-day field exercise, and they told us to gather up and then they said, ‘They just blew up the trade centers,’” says Avera as he sits in a chair across from me on his back porch a couple weeks after the hike. “Trucks came and got us, and we went back to barracks. They locked down the base like you wouldn’t believe. That’s when I saw it on TV. I still couldn’t believe it.” In 2002, he trained in Osaka, Japan, followed by a deployment to Bahrain to do ship security for merchant marine ships in the Gulf of Oman. Avera was at home on leave celebrating the new year when he received a call from a former squad mate now stationed at another base. Avera’s company was headed to the Middle East. Upon returning to Base Camp Lejeune, Avera packed his travel bag, secretly cramming in his horsey blanket he’d had since he was 3. Next stop: Kuwait. By early February Avera says they arrived in the desert decked out in green camouflage uniforms and black boots and traveling in green vehicles. Their chemical protective suits, bulletproof vest and flak jackets were all green, and against the sandy terrain the color might as well have been a red-and-white target. Over time the soldiers collected pieces of desert camo, but their rides continued to stand out. They also lacked armor. “We were not ready for the desert,” Avera says. “They say they keep us pissed off all the time to make sure you are a monster of destruction on the battlefield.” Avera says he never believed there would be a ground TulsaPeople.com

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

Levi Avera, right, in Afghanistan with platoon mate Adam Marshall in 2004.

the Iraqis on the bridge. He questions why the pilot and gunner weren’t held responsible for their actions. “If I would have done this or that, my friends might still be alive,” Avera says. “That’s a different kind of guilt you’re putting on yourself, even knowing that it was possibly Air Force doing it, but it doesn’t change anything.” On May 10, 2003, Avera left Iraq and returned home on leave where he spent $300 a night at bars. Sometimes at midnight he’d return to the ATM to get more cash after his daily limit refreshed. July 4 was a terrifying experience that propelled him into blackout drunk mode. From November 2003 to June 2004, he served in Afghanistan, where skirmishes popped off here and there, but explosive reminders were constant. “There’d be salsa dance night on base and we’d be dancing, and then there are six rockets coming in,” Avera says. “You have no idea where they’re coming from. Just in alert mode. And they just put you right back to, ‘Am I dying right now? OK, I didn’t die.’ Then back to dancing.” Following that deployment, Avera, who once thought he would serve 20 years, ended his service on July 31, 2004. Four years and two wars later. “I didn’t feel like I was getting paid enough to be shot at all the time,” he says. “I never made more than $3,000 in a month with combat pay.” Shortly after returning home, he fell in love, married and had a daughter, Brynn Reiss, named after his fallen squad leader. The marriage was short lived. Not knowing what to do with his life, Avera chose to keep fighting, but in different ways. A multi-sport athlete growing up, he turned to mixed martial arts to help provide an outlet from everyday stresses. From June 2006 to September 2014, he compiled a record of 17-15. When he wasn’t in an octagon, Avera was fighting the system. Struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, he visited a doctor and then applied for disability in 2007. He initially received 30% from the Department of Veteran Affairs. His brothers from the service encouraged him to keep fighting for more. For 11 years, he repeatedly appealed the slight increases in pay, including a fiveyear wait for a board of appeals review that got him up to 80%. He saw plenty of doctors and therapists over the years, taking medication that didn’t agree with him. Amidst his battles, he met and married Jenny. She stood by his side as he dealt with his demons. The heavy

drinking. The suicidal ideations. The anger. There were many drunken nights and a couple of drunken driving infractions. The first one was when he hit a bridge guardrail and flipped his truck into a ravine. “I probably should have died that night,” he says. Throughout all the challenges, he says Jenny continually encouraged him they would get through it together. They’ve now been married 11 years. When asked if she’s tougher than him, he says, “Yes.” In 2014 she had their son, Finn. That changed everything. “I didn’t want my son to have a piece-of-shit father,” Avera says. Two years later came his second daughter, Violet, which gave him even more motivation to keep getting better. Avera has found happiness in being a husband and dad, who takes the kids to school and provides support around the house. He works part time in an upholstery shop. There’s no more two margarita lunches. He sometimes struggles being around a lot of people. When in public, if a person steps away from their bag it makes him anxious. When he smells diesel fuel or sees dust, he’s instantly taken back to the Iraqi desert. But each day he reminds himself he can be better than he was before. “I’m always saying to myself, ‘I gotta be better every day.’ Like, ‘I’m better today than I was six years ago, nine years ago,’” he says. “Just keep getting better.” He now participates in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, where he finds himself often in a defensive position against someone younger and scrappier. It’s like he does it just to keep tabs on where he ranks in the world. With age the warrior phase fades. Avera has found peace and happiness. ———— The sun has gone down. It’s the kids’ bedtime. As we talk, Finn climbs in his dad’s lap, gives him a kiss and hug. They say goodnight. His son climbs down and runs into the house and grabs his mom’s hand. It’s the eve of Finn’s 5th birthday. He looks like his father once did and is close to the same age as Levi was when I first met him. We were once young boys without a worry in the world ... just playing outdoors. TP

COURTESY LEVI AVERA

war, even as they rolled into Iraq on March 20, 2003, in the midst of major air strikes commonly referred to as “shock and awe.” Early on March 23, the Army’s 507th Maintenance Company took a wrong turn and was ambushed near Nasiriyah. Eleven U.S. soldiers were killed and five were taken hostage, including private Jessica Lynch. A few escaped, shielded the wounded and waited. A few hours later, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, which included Avera, made its approach on the city. Their mission was to secure a bridge a few miles north of Nasiriyah. There were no tanks for support since they had been used to retrieve survivors of the earlier combat and burned their fuel. Bravo Company was supposed to provide support, but their vehicles sank in mud flats. Charlie Company re-routed and entered the city using a highway lined with buildings and alleyways. It was known by intelligence as “Ambush Alley.” Even then, Avera says he believed they wouldn’t see combat as they cruised into the city in their aluminumskinned assault amphibious vehicle, called a “track.” Avera provided security at the back left side of the vehicle, as the right had a mounted turret with limited range. It was quiet as they entered the city, and then it wasn’t. “I still thought nothing was going to happen, right?” Avera says. “It wasn’t until a rocket-propelled grenade literally just flew right off the nose of our freaking track and sailed over my head. Then I was like, ‘Oh, we’re in the shit.’” As Levi sits on his porch thinking back to the day, there are a lot of pauses in his recounting. He describes mortars exploding nearby, bullets hitting the wall beside his face, lots of explosions and gunfire coming from everywhere, including the sky. Two U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolts flew over and opened fire on the tracks. Not once, but numerous times, according to Avera. His squad leader and friend, Sgt. Brendon C. Reiss, 23, returned to their track to get more ammo when the vehicle exploded. He was one of 18 Marines killed that day. An investigation confirmed eight were killed by hostile fire. The rest had been hit by both U.S. and Iraqi weapons. An additional 17 Marines were wounded in the fight, two solely by Iraqi fire. Sixteen years later, Avera still doesn’t understand why the fratricide occurred. He says even he was provided illustrated guides of U.S. military vehicles. The tracks were still painted green. Soldiers popped smoke and waved flags to indicate they were friendly. “I’m trying to figure out how to fight the enemy while not getting killed by them,” recalls Avera as he reenacts the A-10s firing their guns in a clear advantage. “At 10,000 feet they have over a mile to see these vehicles. Like, we’re not fighting each other in the same vehicles.” The U.S. Central Command in March 2004 recommended disciplinary action against an unnamed Marine captain, who called in the airstrikes. The investigation determined the captain mistakenly believed the track had been taken by the enemy, so he called in a strike by an A-10 that fired a Maverick missile and destroyed the vehicle. The A-10 cockpit videotapes went missing. Since that day, he replays the battle in his mind. He questions if he had done something differently maybe his friends would still be alive. If only he had taken out

Live generously Simple ways to give back to others this holiday season, and year round BY SARA PLUMMER

n 2018, Tulsa was voted the best city for philanthropy by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. That same year, Tulsa County was ranked the most giving county in Oklahoma by a study from SmartAsset. Although million-dollar donations to build parks, hospital wings and university centers make headlines, small acts of living generously also can make big differences to people in the Tulsa area. Even the smallest things — people living generously in their neighborhoods and communities — can have big impacts on neighbors’ lives.

Small box, big blessing

Troop Leader Andrea Sagely with her daughters and Girl Scouts Ashtyn and Aubyn with the troop’s Broken Arrow Blessing Box.

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

In 2017, a group from Girl Scout Troop 1482 in Broken Arrow planned, designed and built the Broken Arrow Blessing Box, which is stocked with non-perishable foods available to anyone in need. It is located behind the First United Methodist Church, 112 E. College St. in Broken Arrow. The directions on the box are simple: Need something? Take something. Have something? Leave something. “We put it there because a lot of people don’t like to ask for help. They don’t want people to know,” says Girl Scout Aubyn Sagely. The box was the group’s bronze project, which recognizes Girl Scouts in fourth and fifth grades who complete a service project in their community, and each girl logged 20 hours working on it. At first, they hosted food drives and stocked the box themselves, but in the two years since the box was installed, the community has really adopted it.

Reasor’s has donated $222,000 to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma in its reusable bag campaign.

Tulsa Crime Prevention Network Executive Director Karen Gilbert and Tulsa Police Department Ofﬁcer Gene Hogan, who has volunteered his time and efforts to restore, paint and decorate Book Nooks, which are used to build relationships with police, children and residents.

Church groups, Little League baseball teams, families, clubs, even other Scout groups take turns restocking and monitoring the box. Ashtyn Sagely, Aubyn’s twin sister and fellow troop member, says creating and maintaining a Facebook page for the Blessing Box has really helped get the word out that this resource is there for people in need. It also is a channel to let people know when the box is low on items and when it has been restocked. “People really care about it,” Ashtyn Sagely says. “It’s getting used five to eight times a day.” One girl’s mom works at the church and parks near the box to keep an eye on it, plus people sign up to monitor the box and check on it once a week. On a Sunday afternoon, as members of the troop were restocking the box with food, a woman in a car stopped to tell them how much the Blessing Box has helped her family get by when they’ve needed it. “It feels nice to know you’re making a difference in the community,” Aubyn Sagely says. “It feels good to help.” Sign up to volunteer at facebook.com/brokenarrowblessingbox, where you’ll find a form to monitor or contribute to the box.

A few cents, a big impact It’s a simple question when checking out at a Reasor’s grocery store with reusable bags: “Would you like to donate your bag credit?” And the simple act of answering “Yes” means feeding families in need in Green Country. When Reasor’s customers forego plastic or paper bags for reusable ones, they receive a 6-cent credit for each. Eight years ago, the grocery store partnered with the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma on the Recycle Hope program, which allowed customers to donate their bag credit to the Food Bank.

“It actually turns into a pretty significant donation,” says Greg Raskin, the Food Bank’s communications manager. “It raises about $2,500 a month. That’s $222,000 raised since 2011. That’s almost 900,000 meals.” The Food Bank serves 24 counties in eastern Oklahoma. Raskin says although the food bank benefits from large benefactors and fundraising campaigns, the majority of the gifts it receives are smaller $5, $10 and $15 donations. Or in the case of the Recycle Hope program, pennies — but every cent counts. “It may seem like a small thing, but if you’re a senior who has trouble making ends meet, or a single parent with a child, it’s huge,” he says. “Th is is a great example of people helping their neighbors out. It’s what it’s all about.” The growing use of reusable bags offers customers an opportunity to live sustainably and give back — all they have to do is tell their cashier they want to donate their bag credit. “It’s such a small thing that has made such a huge impact. It cuts down on plastic, so it has environmental advantages, as well,” Raskin says. “It’s a great way for literally anybody to help out. You don’t have to do anything but go grocery shopping and use your bag.”

The gift of reading When Karen Gilbert worked at Tulsa’s Wright Elementary School, police officers and fi refighters would come into the school to read to students. Not only did this help the children’s interest in reading, it also created positive relationships between the officers and the students. “Sgt. Jennifer Murphy was coming in on a weekly basis because our school was on her beat,” Gilbert says. “The kids would run up to her and hug her. They loved seeing her. So, if she did see a kid while on a police call, she already had that relationship.

“What better way to community police than to get to know the kids in your community?” Gilbert, who is now executive director of Tulsa Crime Prevention Network, is not only bringing that model back into classrooms, but also expanding it into apartment complexes and after-school programs. Gilbert also is setting up little libraries called Book Nooks in low-income apartment complexes. The Book Nooks are available to residents 24/7. “We want to build trust, build relationships, so kids see police officers as regular people,” she says. Police officers are assigned specific days and times to go to the complex and read aloud. The Book Nooks are stocked with books that children and residents can borrow and exchange, similar to the national program called Little Free Libraries. “Th is will give kids the opportunity to work on literacy skills, especially if they don’t have easy access to a public library,” Gilbert says. The Tulsa World donated 15 former newspaper boxes to serve as Book Nooks, which a police officer painted with a superhero theme with donated materials. A fi refighter with his own print shop is creating and donating decals for the boxes, too. Crime Prevention Network also has received hundreds of donated books from different individuals, organizations, companies and groups, including the Tulsa Press Club. “We’ve had so many people reaching out wanting to make a donation of books,” Gilbert says. “The books were donated, the boxes were donated, the paint and labor were donated. Everyone is volunteering their time; this isn’t costing us anything. “It’s what the community does. It’s Tulsans helping Tulsans. That’s what makes Tulsa so great. Everyone just steps up.” Tulsans interested in making a book donation can call 918-585-5209. TP TulsaPeople.com

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TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

Clothing courtesy of

Modeled by local media personalities.

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The inaugural Doing Good Awards, presented by TulsaPeople Magazine and sponsored by EyeCare Associates of South Tulsa l TLC Laser Eye Centers, recognizes 11 individuals whose passion for the community resonates in the selfless giving each does for a nonprofit they love. Some are paid for their diligence. Many do these acts out of the kindness of their hearts. But there is no doubt Tulsa is a better place thanks to these unsung heroes.

SP ONS OR ED B Y:

BY JAMIE RICHERT JONES EDITOR’S NOTE: Winners of the Doing Good Awards were nominated by TulsaPeople readers and chosen by the magazine’s editors. Each Doing Good honoree received a framed copy of their feature along with a $100 dining gift card to help them celebrate. Langdon Publishing also donated $250 to each nonproﬁ t organization where the award recipients serve.

TulsaPeople.com

Sandy Blevins MAKE-A-WISH OKL AHOMA VOLUN T EER W ISH GR A N T ER

Meet Blevins, the fairy godmother of Make-A-Wish Oklahoma, a national organization that grants wishes to children with critical illnesses. She has granted approximately 160 wishes over the past decade, more than any other Make-a-Wish volunteer in the state. “I keep in touch with 90% of my families; I feel like I’ve raised over 100 kids,” Blevins says. She meets with families all over the state, covering her own travel expenses. However, she believes it’s worth the sacriﬁce. “While kids are in treatment and waiting for their wish, it’s something to look forward to; hope is a huge thing,” Blevins says. “I really believe it’s part of the healing process. I just think it’s so cool to be a part of that.” She loves every wish she’s granted but remembers one in particular. Jon was 2 years old when he was diagnosed with brain cancer, resulting in surgeons removing part of his brain. Although it eventually regenerated itself, he had trouble in social situations. He was painfully shy and reticent. “His wish was to meet the St. Louis Cardinals, which is my favorite team,” Blevins says. “He attended a ’70s-themed, post-game gala sponsored by Make-A-Wish Missouri. And I could hardly believe it when his dad sent me photos of him dancing on stage with the pitcher, Joe Kelly.” Now 16, Jon is a ball boy for the Tulsa Drillers and texts Sandy often. “Every once in a while, I get a message from his dad saying ‘You changed his life, you know?’” Blevins says. “That’s not what this is about, but it’s nice to know what you did made a difference.”

Lewis Carter C ATHOLIC CHARITIES OF E ASTERN OKL AHOMA VOLUN T EER AT TORNE Y

Every other Wednesday evening you can find local attorney Carter providing pro bono legal services to low-income members of the community at Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma. It’s a service he has provided for over 30 years. “The large percentage of my clients (at Catholic Charities) are members of the Hispanic community, many of whom do not speak English,” says Carter, who is fluent in Spanish. “They are intimidated by the courts and concerned about going to court for understandable reasons.” Carter studied Spanish in college and in the Peace Corps where he worked in Paraguay for two years in the 1970s. Unfortunately, the people he serves are particularly vulnerable to others who seek to capitalize on their disadvantages. Correspondence from an attorney can often provide enough legitimacy to resolve the matter. “The members of the Hispanic community are generally very responsible, hard working and needed in this community,” says Carter, whose law practice focuses primarily on commercial litigation. “They add a lot to it in lots of ways. The people I see are getting by on probably less money than most of us spend for monthly utilities. They are raising families and sometimes sending money back to other family members in Mexico.” With the help of another local attorney, Hilary Velandia, and Carter’s law fi rm, Doerner Saunders Daniel and Anderson providing back-up support, Carter helps clients navigate difficult legal situations, including tenant/landlord issues, civil rights, employment issues, guardianship, birth certificate corrections and many other non-immigration matters. He started with his fi rm in 1980 and was with the fi rm when he started his pro bono service. Always humble, Carter credits Catholic Charities for being one of the few trusted resources for an otherwise apprehensive population. There is no shortage of clients. “To give them a little legal support when they need it and can’t afford it is a small gesture on my part,” he says. 46

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

Amy Dean THE ASPIRE GROUP FOUNDER / E XECU T I V E DIREC TOR

As the educational landscape in this country evolves to meet the needs of a diverse population, many parents are seeking alternative methods like homeschooling, hybrid education programs and online learning. Unfortunately, that can result in having to sacrifice socialization and extra-curricular opportunities. Dean started the Aspire Group to help eliminate that problem. Her nonprofit exists to support families that educate one or more of their children at home. “We have over 800 students that are involved in Aspire in different capacities and, for each of them, we are a special part of their educational journey,” Dean says. Serving children from infancy to 12th grade, the organization offers the Aspire Academy, where students get instruction in every core academic area, as well as programs like life skills; art; music; field trips; social, sports and service opportunities; foreign studies; science fairs; robotics clubs; and health and fitness. There are five campuses in the Tulsa area. “No two children learn the same way,” Dean says. “Each student deserves to be educated in the best way that suits them.” Aspire also offers social and support opportunities for parents, including parents’ nights out, Bunco, family events and moms’ retreats to name a few. Dean believes it is a true team effort. “Our entire administrative staff is all volunteer, and these individuals come together and make the unbelievable happen,” she says. Aspire has eight board members, about 45 administrative staff and leaders, as well as about 100 volunteer teachers and 30 paid tutors. Recently, a mother with a child on the autism spectrum tearfully thanked Dean. After her child struggled in a traditional classroom, their family chose alternative education but found no support, community or social interaction. “Since finding Aspire, her student is now glowing, growing and loving life with his Aspire friends,” Dean says. “He loves his Aspire teachers and is now thriving in the alternative education tailored specifically for him. Th is is why I do what I do.”

Deni Fholer ISAIAH 58, IN HIS SERVICE FOUNDER / E XECU T I V E DIREC TOR

If ever someone personified a servant’s heart, it’s Fholer. When she’s not working at the Indian Health Care Resource Center as a crisis social worker, she’s ministering to the homeless, needy and addicted through her nonprofit Isaiah 58, In His Service. “My heart’s desire is to fill the gaps in social services,” Fholer says. “The focus of Isaiah 58, IHS, is to introduce people to Jesus and meet needs other ministries and/ or agencies can’t or won’t fill, like paying legal fees, hospital and doctor’s bills, paying deposits for utilities and housing, getting people out of debt, making car and insurance payments, etcetera.” In 2005, Fholer was working for a pediatric clinic, and a new mother asked her for a breast pump. She called several agencies only to find they either required an expensive deposit or a lengthy documentation and approval process. “So I went to Babies-R-Us, bought a breast pump and gave it to the Mom,” Fholer says. “No deposit was requested, and there was no need to return it. It was a gift freely given in a time of need. And with that the spirit of Isaiah 58, In His Service, became a reality.” Freely giving is a philosophy she adheres to, even providing her cell number to all they serve to call anytime day or night. “We are not called to judge someone worthy or determine if they are taking advantage,” Fholer says. “If God brings them to Isaiah 58, In His Service, then we give and serve. What they do with what is given is between them and God.” She remembers fondly when a grandmother approached her in a store. “She said, ‘You’re Deni! I know you don’t remember me, but my grandson was in the hospital, and we thought we were going to lose him. You gave him the best Christmas ever. You know he’s 15 now and going into the service. That was our best Christmas ever.” TulsaPeople.com

Cindy Hutchins WORKING TOGE THER SIMPLE FAITH MINISTRIES CO-FOUNDER / E XECU T I V E DIREC TOR

Shannon and Mindy Holliday COMMONGROUND CHURCH FOOD PANTRY FOOD PA N T R Y FOUNDER S / L E A DER S

As the Hollidays tell it, it all started with an idea and a passion to feed the hungry. In February 2010, the couple collected groceries and handed them out from the trunk of their car, while still working full-time jobs. They met those in need at their home, at church or anywhere, anytime. At the time CommonGround Church, where they were members, was in a temporary location and unable to accommodate a food pantry. When the church established a permanent location in 2011, the couple ﬁnally had a place to set up their ministry. Since then, it has grown into one of the largest food pantries in the state, feeding more than 600 people a week with more than 60 volunteers. The food pantry also has partnered with other community organizations to give away clothing, medical care, books and educational classes. Now on the church staff, Shannon picks up groceries seven days a week and tirelessly serves those who walk through the door. Though she still works a full-time job, Mindy can be found most days at the food pantry sorting food, doing paperwork or training volunteers. “We have a great number of ‘working poor’ who come through our doors. People who work hard daily to work and raise families,” Shannon says, “but when an unexpected expense occurs, they need additional support.” The Hollidays are inspired by the recipients who return to serve others. “One time, a young couple pulled up to the church in need of help. They had been evicted, the woman was pregnant, and they were hungry. Without blinking, Shannon gave them food and gave them hope,” Mindy says. “They started coming to church, got married, had a second child, moved into a home and now serve at the food pantry.”

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

For nearly a decade, Hutchins has been investing in the youth of Country Club Gardens public housing community, located northwest of downtown between West Pine and Edison streets near the L.L. Tisdale Expressway. With the help of volunteers and her husband, Felix, Hutchins runs three programs for the children who live there. They include Kids’ Place, an elementary-aged after-school program; Kids’ Place Readers, an elementaryaged reading program where students have improved up to three grade levels in a year; and PROSPER, a teen program to teach life skills and provide real-world experiences. Over the past eight years, the ministry has awarded more than $70,000 to PROSPER program participants for education. The ministry also sets up internships for PROSPER participants. On one occasion a student was interning with the City of Tulsa. Unfortunately, he made a poor fi rst impression with his supervisor when he inadvertently had a dress code violation. Hutchins didn’t want him to spend the summer in a negative working relationship. “So, I told him, ‘You have a choice. I can pull you from the internship, or you can try to overcome this, but you’re going to have to give 120%.’ “He said, ‘I’m up for the challenge.’ He stuck it out, did a great job and changed that supervisor’s mind,” Hutchins says with pride. “In his final review, the supervisor wrote, ‘Th is young man is exceptional. If he ever needs a reference from the City of Tulsa, we’ll give him an excellent one.’” “We love this community,” Hutchins says of Country Club Gardens. “The parents we work with really want the best for their kids. I just think anytime you can strengthen the Tulsan, you strengthen the community.”

Megan Meussner THE CENTER FOR INDIVIDUAL S WITH PH YSIC AL CHALLENGES VOLUN T EER IN NUMEROUS C A PACI T IE S

Lisa Tresch RISING VILL AGE AND REFUGEE AND IMMIGR ANT SE WING ENTERPRISE FOUNDER / DIREC TOR

Living in Tulsa, Tresch traveled to Ghana twice a year while working for a nongovernmental organization. Seeing a need for resource training and income opportunities for single mothers, Tresch co-founded the nonprofit Rising Village in 2013. “As we continued to work in Ghana, we began to hear about the large refugee population here in Tulsa,” Tresch says. Five years into her work in Ghana, she started RiSE, a program of Rising Village that is a social empowerment program for refugee and immigrant women. “Many of these refugee women come from a culture much like Ghana, where sewing is a path to earning income,” she says. According to Tresch, over the past two decades in the U.S., the number of skilled seamstresses and tailors has diminished, as has local textile production. RiSE trains women in those skills and connects them with local textile companies. To date, 80 women in Tulsa have participated. Without services like RiSE, life for local refugee women can be isolating. It’s difficult to find jobs that pay fair wages and provide positive working conditions. “So many of the refugee and immigrant women in Tulsa have language and integration challenges, yet they have a desire to learn, create and earn income,” Tresch says. While attending classes at RiSE, women earn credits toward purchasing a sewing machine for $25. RiSE also provides language skills, social integration and business skills training. RiSE classes are held at CarePoint Resource Center that serves the refugee population in Jenks and south Tulsa. Th is spring RiSE taught students from Venezuela, Peru, the Congo, Jordan, Iran, Mexico, Burma and China. They are in the beginning phase of creating a small startup to employ women under their umbrella. “We have an ongoing waiting list, which keeps me excited about the possibilities of what we can do together,” Tresch says.

When Meussner was in middle school, her father, Mark, joined the board of directors of the Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges, an organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of persons with physical disabilities. “Everyone there is family to me,” Meussner says. “I feel like it is such a hidden gem because not many people in Tulsa know about it. She would tag along with her dad while he was in meetings at what is affectionately known as “The Center.” Little did she know she would become an integral part of the team that would transform those halls over two decades later. In 2011, Meussner was the youngest board president to serve at 27 years old. Most recently, she was fundraising chairwoman for its Dream Big Capital Campaign from 2015-2019, raising $12 million. In January 2019, the dream came true. The Center opened the doors to the Hardesty Family Adaptive Sports Complex, a 37,000-square-foot, stateof-the-art facility at 815 S. Utica Ave. Meussner also raised around $50,000 in a personal fundraiser to create a memorial butterﬂy garden named after her father, who died in 2011. Meussner is an ardent advocate for all the Center has to offer, including recreational classes, community reintegration and competitive athletic groups such as a U.S. Paralympic Sport Club. “Paralympic athletes who train here will go on to compete in the Paralympics,” Meussner says. “There is also an awesome youth wheelchair sports group called Tulsa Jammers. “There are just so many more opportunities the building has been able to offer. To be able to give everyone the experience that able-bodied people have is amazing.”

TulsaPeople.com

Sherrie Wallace TUL SA CIT Y-COUNT Y LIBR ARY SUBURBA N ACRE S L IBR A R Y SI T E M A N AGER

Since 1997, Wallace has been a neighborhood fi xture at the Suburban Acres Library. Affectionately known as “the Library Lady of North Tulsa,” Wallace has positively impacted patrons for over two decades. Locals see her as more than a librarian. She has consistently taken on the role of mentor, counselor, teacher and friend to those who seek her help. Often, they ask for her by name. “I love what I do,” Wallace says. “It is a wonderful feeling being a conduit for a thought, a vision or a smile.” Her love for the building goes deeper than just a passion for her job. “The branch I manage is the neighborhood library I frequented as a child,” Wallace says. “The library provided me solace and allowed me to travel all over the world with my imagination and the written word. I still do so today.” Wallace has guided generations of library goers, and admits her favorite moments are when adults return to ask if she remembers them visiting when they were young. “These moments stand out the most because, more often than not, those adults are now bringing their own children to the library to expose them to books and reading,” she says. With patience and compassion, she goes above and beyond her library duties to provide an unwavering beacon of support to a community. TP

Bob Westerberg HAPP Y HANDS EDUC ATION CENTER VOLUN T EER FACIL I T Y M A N AGER

In 2010, Westerberg answered a call from his church to help assemble furniture for Happy Hands Education Center. The nonprofit had just moved into a larger facility. Today it remains the only early education center in the area for deaf children and those diagnosed with other communication disorders. Westerberg did not know he would still be putting his handyman skills to good use nine years later. “I thought this might be a good home for the work I’ve done in the past,” says Westerberg, who retired from a career in the oil industry. Over the years he volunteered with his wife and daughters at Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics and Helping Hooves, a therapeutic horse-riding program for kids with disabilities. With such a broad skill set, Westerberg is invaluable to Happy Hands and volunteers at least 40 hours a week. When he’s not delivering support service and making repairs, he’s supervising contracts with heating and air companies, or dealing with security cameras, plumbing and electric issues. He also guides volunteer groups that come to help at Happy Hands. Some infants they serve need more comfort than others. Westerberg reflects fondly about a baby he was able to console. “She was 6 weeks old. No one could settle her down. It made it difficult for the teachers and workers,” Westerberg says. “After just a couple weeks of taking her and settling her down, everything would be good to go. She graduated kindergarten from here and has moved on to public school. I still keep in touch.” As a surrogate grandpa to many students at Happy Hands, Westerberg is beloved by the children, parents and staff.

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

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Holiday Handbook BY TULSAPEOPLE STAFF

From trimming the tree to so many RSVPs, the holidays are ﬁlled with things for Tulsans to do. Here are a few tips and tricks we’ve culled from local experts on how to get through this holiday season. We’ve also provided a full round-up of performances, light shows and concerts sure to put you in the holiday spirit.

TulsaPeople.com

Local retailer Jenkins and Co.

Celebration IN MANY FORMS

SHOPPING IN T-TOWN

“Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday are all great opportunities to shop locally,” says Colleen Almeida Smith, executive director of the Tulsa Small Business Connection at the Tulsa Regional Chamber. “Spending your money with local retailers gives you an opportunity to connect with small business owners and boost the Tulsa-area economy. “In addition, sales tax revenue pays for important government services, such as police officers and firefighters, as well as parks and street improvements. Not only are you investing in local businesses, you are investing in our region. That’s a win-win for everyone.” Tulsa has specific plans to celebrate Small Business Saturday in the downtown area. “Small businesses make up the vast majority of our retail environment in downtown, and it’s important they are supported by our community,” says Brian Kurtz, executive director of the Tulsa Downtown Coordinating Council. This year — the second year the Council has partnered with local businesses to create promotional material for the sales holiday — Kurtz says Tulsans will see a more comprehensive marketing push for the downtown business community. Kurtz also promises visitors prizes for participating in local shopping events on Small Business Saturday. — ETHAN VEENKER

SHOPPING HOLIDAYS BLACK FRIDAY Nov. 29 The launch of the Christmas shopping season, Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. Retailers of all sizes — physical and online — begin signiﬁcant sales that sometimes only last these 24 hours. This means crowded stores and long lines.

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Nov. 30 Though Black Friday is usually connected with large department stores, this holiday celebrates the little guy. Begun in 2010, Small Business Saturday hopes to see you in line at mom-and-pops, rather than Walmart, and many small businesses host sales on this day to capitalize.

CYBER MONDAY Dec. 2 A term coined in 2005, this shopping holiday has celebrated online retailers — from local producers to giants like Amazon — who offer sweeping online sales and discounts. Try looking beyond Amazon for this one. Check your favorite store’s social media accounts for their deals.

GIVING TUESDAY Dec. 3 A sobering contrast to the commercialism of the prior three days, Giving Tuesday has encouraged U.S. charitable giving since 2012. Donations here usually take place online, so head to the website of your local or national charity of choice and add to the millions of dollars that are donated on this day each year.

Christmas comes early in the U.S. Every October, plastic Santa Clauses, pine and holly wreaths, and artificial trees grace store shelves. Christmas music floods the radio waves by mid-November. Come Dec. 25, many of us have holiday fatigue. And though Christmas is a day sacred to many, November and December also hold major and minor holidays recognized by the world’s religions. Moises Echeverria, president and CEO of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice, says the holiday season is the perfect time to be curious and discover the cultural and religious holidays of others. “In November, our Hindu friends may observe Diwali,” he says. “Baha’i colleagues commemorate Day of the Covenant, and many in the United States use Thanksgiving as a time to gather as families and give thanks — or to solemnly remember the injustices that indigenous people faced.” This year, Diwali — a festival of lights celebrating good over evil — is observed Oct. 27. It’s also important to remember some religious groups observe a lunar calendar; thus, their holidays fall on a different day each year. For example, in 2019, Day of the Covenant, a celebration of the covenant given in the last will and testament of faith founder Bahá’u’lláh, begins Nov. 25 and ends Nov. 26. Hanukkah, an eight-day commemoration of the Maccabean revolt against Rome and dedication of the Second Temple in 165 B.C.E., begins Dec. 22. And Kwanzaa, a seven-day spiritual celebration of African-American values and traditions and their continued vitality, begins Dec. 26. Kwanzaa is Swahili and means “first fruits of the harvest.” Echeverria says we should ask those of different religious and cultural traditions how to appropriately wish them a “happy holiday.” Understanding how our neighbors celebrate holidays is an opportunity to connect. In making these efforts, we can avoid glossing over holidays that are important to so many. “We live in a pluralistic society, and there is strength and power found in our diversity,” Echeverria says. “As a community, we can come together in a time of celebration to build bridges between groups and strengthen our sense of belonging, which in turn can create more engaged and resilient communities.” — LAURA DENNIS

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TulsaPeople.com

DECOR ATING DIVAS Brenda Lloyd-Jones

Breniss O’Neal

With what appears to be the wave of a candy cane wand and the sprinkling of glitter, Breniss O’Neal’s home becomes a beacon of holiday festivity with 11 Christmas trees, dozens of elven mice, twinkling lights and shimmering snowﬂakes. “I do it because I love it, and I enjoy sharing it with people,” O’Neal says. “I want people to walk through that front door and say, ‘I’m in a winter wonderland.’” For Brenda Lloyd-Jones, nothing says the holidays more than hosting parties in her home decorated with her collections of nearly 50 angels and 75 Santas. Welcoming friends and family into her home is a tradition she learned from her parents. “When I entertain, I want everyone to feel included,” she says. “I want people to feel as if they are home.” As we move on from Thanksgiving and into Christmas, these Tulsa hostesses have provided some of their triedand-true tips for holiday decorating and hosting. GUESTS LISTS DON’T HAVE TO HAVE A SINGLE ORIGIN. Invite a mix of people from work, worship and the neighborhood. “A variety of people adds to the excitement,” according to Lloyd-Jones. IT’S ABOUT MORE THAN FOOD. “While everyone typically spends time on menus, think about what types of interaction you can create,” says Lloyd-Jones, whose parties typically feature ice breakers or trivia matches for some friendly competition. She’ll set aside a prize, such as an ornament, for the winning team. “I love the laughter,” she says. ENJOY YOURSELF. Hire someone to ensure there is plenty of food and it’s ready when you want to eat it, plus help when it’s time for clean-up. “The worst thing to do is to have a party and not enjoy your guests,” O’Neal says.

The holiday season brings with it the packed social calendars of endless festivities. And whether it’s a dinner, holiday party or casual cocktail hour, it’s helpful to have a basic sense of proper social etiquette. In fact, Etiquette School of Oklahoma founder Jana Christian says those who practice good etiquette in their social interactions set themselves apart from those who are more cavalier with their RSVPs and arrival times. “Contrary to what some people may think, etiquette is not a posh set of rules reserved for country clubs and special occasions,” Christian says. “Etiquette is an essential skillset based on respect.” Although perfection is unrealistic to expect from any potential guest, it’s polite to follow a few simple rules when it comes to an invitation. First, Christian says to RSVP if the entertainer requests it. “It is simply good manners to reply and let the host or hostess know if you will be attending,” she says. “It is usually best to reply as soon as the invitation has been received or as soon as possible.” 56

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

HOLIDAY PARTY MANNERS 101 Second, make sure to dress appropriately for the event. If the dress code isn’t clear, ask the host. Christian adds, if it’s a work event, it’s important to stick to professional attire. Third, arrive on time. Guests should arrive within a few minutes of the designated arrival time or not long after. “While we’ve been taught to arrive early to job interviews, weddings and other events, arriving early at a person’s home may be more disruptive than beneﬁ cial,” she states.

DECOR ATING DOESN’ T HAVE TO BE E X TREME. Simple flairs can add a splash of holiday to any scene. By topping a hanging picture with silk poinsettia sprigs, LloydJones adds seasonal charm to a piece of art on display year-round. She turns an everyday item like a chandelier into a feast for the eyes by hanging ornaments from its arms and chain. O’Neal embellishes dollar store felt snowflakes meant to be placemats with silver glitter glue. She finds items at estate sales and garage sales, then jazzes them up or breaks them down to fit her needs. “With a hot glue gun you can do a million things,” she says. EMBELLISHMENTS ARE KEY. Once you have decorated your setting, back up and take a good look at the vignette. O’Neal then asks herself, “What’s missing? Are there holes?” That’s when you embellish. She’ll add marabou around candles in the living room, use fresh flower picks in a tablescape, add some jingle bells to a Mrs. Claus or string tinsel garland around the ornaments of one particular tree. “Those embellishments help naturalize the decorations into the space, rather than having them look like they were just plopped down,” she says. REMEMBER FOREGROUND, MIDDLE GROUND AND BACKGROUND. Create the illusion of depth. “If you just lined it all up, it would be boring,” O’Neal says. KEEP THEM MOVING. O’Neal says, “I encourage people to sit and experience the fun and embrace the holiday,” but then move around to another room or sitting area. She encourages this movement by adding multiple vignettes in a room. — ANNE BROCKMAN

Lastly, mind your manners. When attending social events, guests should refrain from snooping, should keep conversations appropriate and inclusive, and should always thank the host/hostess. Although these basic rules apply across the board with any social event, there is a big difference between, say, a work party and a friend’s birthday celebration. Christian says not to mistake the meaning of the word “party” when it comes to an ofﬁce event. Just because it’s a celebration doesn’t mean we can overindulge at the open bar or take part in the latest ofﬁce gossip. As it stands, proper social skills and basic table manners are not a requirement, but Christian emphasizes how crucial is it to be considerate of others and their time. “Today, more than ever before, etiquette should be continually practiced,” Christian says. “There are still many individuals who use good etiquette, and those are the ones who stand out in a positive manner.” — LAURA DENNIS

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Utica Square’s Lights On! is Nov. 28.

Kid play

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

Jingle all the way It’s hard to believe, but it’s holiday time again … the season for list making, shopping, wrapping, decorating, performances, parades, lights and the fast-paced frolic and fun with family and friends that November and December are known for. And nearly everywhere you look, Santa will be peeking around the corner. COMPILED BY JUDY LANGDON * SANTA CLAUS SPOTTING

Starry lights and nights

NOV. 21 JENKS LIGHTS ON!* 5-8 p.m. Jenks Main Street, between First and Third Streets. Jenks welcomes the holidays with carriage rides and live entertainment. jenkschamber.com NOV. 23 BOARE’S HEAD FEAST 7-9 p.m. The Castle of Muskogee, 3400 W. Fern Road, Muskogee. Begin the holidays with a four-course medieval meal, live music and entertainment. $49.95. okcastle.com NOV. 23-JAN. 5 ARVEST WINTERFEST* Various times. Outside the BOK Center, 200 S. Denver Ave. Tulsa’s only outdoor skating rink comes alive with illuminated trees, horsedrawn carriage rides and live music. Various prices. tulsawinterfest.com NOV. 27-JAN. 1 RHEMA CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 5:30-11:30 p.m. Rhema Bible Church, 1025 W. Kenosha Ave., Broken Arrow. Walk or ride through a glittering display of colorful holiday lights. rhemalights.org NOV. 28 LIGHTS ON!* 6:30 p.m. Utica Square, East 21st Street and South Utica Avenue. Watch as more than 1 million white lights in 175 trees are turned on after a 10-second countdown. uticasquare.com

NOV. 28-DEC. 31 CASTLE CHRISTMAS* 5:30-10 p.m. The Castle of Muskogee, 3400 W. Fern Road, Muskogee. Visit an Olde World yuletide with Christmas train, pony rides, Christmas cafe, holiday lights, merchants and Saint Nicholas. Free to drive through; train, hayride and pony ride, $5 each; donations accepted. okcastle.com NOV. 28-JAN. 1 GARDEN OF LIGHTS AT HONOR HEIGHTS PARK 5:30 p.m., gates open; 10 p.m., gates close SundayThursday, and 11 p.m., Friday-Saturday. $5 per car; free on Monday. 1400 Honor Heights Park Drive, Muskogee. Drive through more than 1 million lights timed to holiday music. visitmuskogee.com NOV. 29-DEC. 26 LIGHTS ON THE HILL* 6-9 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday only through Dec. 8; every night Dec. 13-26. Chandler Park, 6500 W. 21st St. Drive through 3 miles of bright lights and whimsical holiday displays. Horse-drawn carriage rides and visits from Santa. parks.tulsacounty.org NOV. 29-DEC. 28 PHILBROOK FESTIVAL* 6-9 p.m. Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S. Rockford Road. Usher in the holidays with lighting in the gardens, live music, Santa and more. Pre-purchase tickets as space is limited. philbrook.org

COURTESY UTICA SQUARE AND DISCOVERY LAB

It’s that time of year; the holiday season is in full swing, and the kids are home for … weeks. Fortunately for parents, Tulsa offers many children’s activities during the holiday months. Whether you’re looking for educational, art-based or sensory events for the kiddos this winter break, Tulsa’s got it. For hands-on learning, Gathering Place will offer educational activities for kids of all ages every Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.noon at the ONEOK Boathouse, 2650 S. John Williams Way. The activities change weekly and include a variety of topics: art, literacy, engineering and more. No registration is required, and classes are free to all. On a creative note, Philbrook Museum of Art, 2727 S. Rockford Road, will host Homeschool Art, an art experience designed for social interaction and fostering creativity, for any kid age 9-12 at 1 p.m., Dec. 18. Kids will see art and science come together while they create artwork using objects found in nature. The class is $10 for members; $15 for non-members. For more information, visit philbrook.org. If your kids are more interested in science and hands-on experimenting, the Tulsa Children’s Museum Discovery Lab, 560 N. Maybelle Ave., will offer Sensory for the Young Scientist from 10:30-11 a.m., Dec. 16. Participants will listen to a science-themed story before getting their hands dirty with an experiment of their own. The activity, open to any child up to sixth grade, is included with general admission, and no pre-registration is required. Discovery Lab also will host Paperology, a winter break camp for children ages 6-8, on Jan. 2-3. The full-day camp will engage and educate kids with fun, hands-on activities centered on engineering with paper products. Cost is $90 for members; $100 for non-members For more information, visit discoverylab.org. — LAURA DENNIS

NOV. 29-JAN. 5 GARDEN OF LIGHTS* 5-10 p.m., Thursday-Sunday. Tulsa Botanic Garden, 3900 Tulsa Botanic Drive. Stroll through the Garden aglow with millions of lights. $15, ages 13+; $5, ages 3-12; free, children under 3; $10, members. tulsabotanic.org DEC. 1 GLOW ON THE GREEN 6-9 p.m. Guthrie Green, 111 E. Reconciliation Way. Music, holiday art market, food and drinks. guthriegreen.com DEC. 7 HOMETOWN HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION* 2-8 p.m. Main Street and Broadway Street, Sand Springs. Live performances from Sand Springs school choirs, bands and dance teams, a Santa sing-a-long, holiday inﬂatables and more. Free. sandspringschamber.com DEC. 18-JAN. 1 WINTER WONDERLAND AT GATHERING PLACE* Various times. Gathering Place, East John Williams Way and Riverside Drive. European-style holiday market with vendors, carolers, artists, festive food and drinks, a train for the kids, thousands of twinkling lights, and family photos with Santa. gatheringplace.org DEC. 22 SHALOMFEST HANUKKAH PARTY 4:45-5:45 p.m. Temple Israel, 2004 E. 22nd Place. Celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights on the ﬁrst night of the eight-day holiday with a lawn party and candle-lighting at the synagogue. Free. templetulsa.com/shalomfest

COURTESY TULSA BOTANIC GARDEN, BROKEN ARROW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, GATHERING PLACE AND ALS PATIENT OUTREACH

Holiday kids’ fun

NOV. 28-DEC. 24 SANTA HOUSE AT UTICA SQUARE* 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon-6 p.m., Sunday. East 21st Street and South Utica Avenue, Garden area. Santa will visit with kids before he boards his infamous sleigh full of toys on Christmas Eve. uticasquare.com DEC. 7 TSHA’S DEAF/HARD OF HEARING CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY PARTY* 2-4:30 p.m. Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, 1301 S. Boston Ave. Refreshments, games, crafts, prizes, stockings, visits and photos with signing Santa and hearing Mrs. Claus. Email demerson@tsha.cc. tsha.cc DEC. 7 AND 14 BREAKFAST WITH SANTA* 9 a.m. Tulsa Zoo, 6421 E. 36th St. N. Enjoy breakfast, take part in arts and crafts, chat with the animals and, most importantly, visit with Santa. $24, Tulsa Zoo Friends; $29, nonmembers; $5, children under 3; reservations required. tulsazoo.org/santa DEC. 8 PICTURES WITH SANTA AT DOG DISH* 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 1778 Utica Square. Don’t let Santa “Paws” forget your favorite four-legged children this year. thedogdish.com

Shop, Shop, Shop.

NOV. 15-17 VINTAGE TULSA SHOW: “HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS” 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday. Exchange Center, Expo Square, 4145 E. 21st St. Find everything you need — decor, jewelry and gifts — with an out-of-the-ordinary retro twist. $8, adults; $4, children age 9-12; free, children 8 and under. vintagetulsashow.com NOV. 23 HOLIDAY MART 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The Center for Individuals With Physical Challenges, 815 S. Utica Ave. Find unique artwork created by Center members at this annual holiday shopping event. Free. tulsacenter.org

TULSA BOTANIC GARDEN

DEC. 6-8 CHRISTKINDLMARKT* 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday. German American Society of Tulsa Event Center, 2301 E. 15th St. Experience Bavarian Germany at this annual event featuring authentic holiday crafts, decor, food, entertainment and a children’s area with Saint Nikolaus. Free. gastulsa.org DEC. 7 CAROLS AND CRUMPETS 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 S. Peoria Ave. Purchase holiday wreaths, swags, plants, ﬂowers, herbs, and additional decor and gifts here. Sponsored by Tulsa Herb Society. Free. tulsagardencenter.org

KRISTIN CHENOWETH AND SANDI PATTY CHRISTMAS

DEC. 8 10TH ANNUAL ALLIDAY SHOW 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Retro Den, 1216 S. Harvard Ave. Don’t miss the ﬁnal unique holiday shopping experience featuring works by local craftsmen. Free. theallidayshow.com DEC. 8 CASCIA HALL CHRISTMAS WALK 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Cascia Hall Preparatory School, 2520 S. Yorktown Ave. Tour four midtown homes decorated for the holidays by local ﬂorists and designers. $20. casciahall.com

The season onstage

DEC. 5-8, 12-15 “THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER” Various times. Clark Youth Theatre at Henthorne Performing Arts Center, 4825 S. Quaker Ave. Watch as the Herdmans hilariously mess up an annual church Christmas pageant. Teen cast. $13, adults; $10, seniors, military, students. clarkyouththeatre.com

GATHERING PLACE

DEC. 6-8, 13-15 “MIRACLE IN BEDFORD FALLS” 7:30 p.m., FridaySaturday; 2 p.m., Sunday. Broken Arrow Community Playhouse, 1800 S. Main St., Broken Arrow. A fresh, creative adaptation of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” $22$25. bacptheatre.com DEC. 7-22 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF “THE NUTCRACKER” Various times. Tulsa PAC. Don’t miss the soon-to-be-retired Tulsa Ballet production, set in 1920s Paris, choreographed and staged by Artistic Director Marcello Angelini. $25-$108. tulsaballet.org

GRADY NICHOLS TulsaPeople.com

The music box

THE SAND SPRINGS “FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS” CHRISTMAS PARADE

‘Let’s go to the parade!’ Bands, inﬂatables, kids on bikes, Santa. You’ll ﬁnd all this and more at area parades. DEC. 6 SAND SPRINGS “FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS” CHRISTMAS PARADE* 7 p.m. Second Street and Adams Road, winding through downtown to Broadway Avenue and Main Street, Sand Springs. sandspringschamber.com DEC. 7 BROKEN ARROW CIVITANS CHRISTMAS PARADE* 10 a.m. Rose District, Broken Arrow. rosedistrict.com DEC. 14 TULSA “ROCKIN’ AROUND TULSA TOWN” CHRISTMAS PARADE* 1 p.m. Starts at East Seventh Street and South Boston Avenue, heads north on East Third Street, then proceeds south to East Seventh Street and South Boulder Avenue. tulsachristmasparade.org

Popular holiday venues BOK CENTER, 200 S. Denver Ave. bokcenter.com TULSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 110 E. Second St., tulsapac.com TULSA (BRADY) THEATER, 105 W. Reconciliation Way, bradytheater.com BROKEN ARROW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, 701 S. Main St., Broken Arrow, brokenarrowpac.com 60

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

NOV. 23 “HODIE CHRISTUS NATUS EST” 7:30 p.m. First Baptist Church, 403 S. Cincinnati Ave. Maestro Tim Sharp conducts Tulsa Chorale (formerly Tulsa Oratorio Chorus) performance of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Christmas Cantata, accompanied by Tulsa Symphony. $10-$25. $1 from each ticket goes to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. tulsachorus.com NOV. 30 GRADY NICHOLS “FALLING IN LOVE WITH CHRISTMAS” 8 p.m. Tulsa PAC. The “smooth saxophonist,” with vocalists Kelly Ford and Andy Chrisman, present yuletide favorites. $30-$55. Beneﬁts ALS Patient Outreach. tulsapac.com NOV. 30 HOLIDAY DREAMS — A SPECTACULAR HOLIDAY CIRQUE! 8 p.m. The Joint, 777 W. Cherokee St., Catoosa. Holograms, acrobatics and more. $19.50-$39.50. hardrockcasinotulsa.com DEC. 4 TULSA FESTIVAL RINGERS 11:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m. Tulsa PAC. Bring your lunch and hear your favorite carols on handbells by this local group. Free. tulsafestivalringers.com, tulsapac.com DEC. 6 ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CONCERT 7 p.m. Mabee Center, 7777 S. Lewis Ave. Enjoy holiday performances by ORU music and theater students. Admission: one toy, donated to Salvation Army. mabeecenter.com DEC. 7 CHRISTMAS WITH THE PETERSENS 7:30 p.m. Tulsa PAC. Live from Branson, enjoy the holidays with toe-tapping music by this popular musical family. $22. tulsapac.com DEC. 7-8 99TH ANNUAL ALL LUTHERAN “MESSIAH” 5 and 7 p.m., Saturday; 3 and 5 p.m., Sunday. Grace Lutheran Church, 2331 E. Fifth Place. Hear Handel’s popular oratorio. Free; donations accepted. glctulsa.org DEC. 10 IL DIVO: A HOLIDAY SONG CELEBRATION 8 p.m. Tulsa (Brady) Theater. The popular male quartet performs its popular and holiday hits. $46.50-$550. bradytheater.com DEC. 13-14 “POPS: CHRISTMAS IN TULSA” 7:30 p.m. Van Trease Performing Arts Center for Education, 10300 E. 81st St. Signature Symphony’s annual event includes the Signature Chorale and Sam Briggs, the 2019 winner of Tulsa Sings! $40-$80. signaturesymphony.org

DEC. 15 DIAMOND RIO: “HOLIDAY AND HITS” 6 p.m. The Joint at Hard Rock Casino and Resort, 777 W. Cherokee St., Catoosa. Country meets Christmas with this legendary group. $19.50-$39.50. hardrockcasinotulsa.com DEC. 15 NATALIE WARREN PRESENTATION OF MESSIAH 5 p.m. Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, 1301 S. Boston Ave. Boston Avenue choirs, with soloists and the Tulsa Symphony, present the Handel masterpiece. Free. bostonavenue.org DEC. 20 KRISTIN CHENOWETH AND SANDI PATTY CHRISTMAS 7:30 p.m. Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center. Two award-winning, powerhouse vocalists come together to perform classic Christmas carols. $35-$75. brokenarrowpac.com DEC. 20 “CHRISTMAS EVE AND OTHER STORIES” 8 p.m. BOK Center. Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s all-new staging brings back the musical phenomenon that started it all 20 years ago. $40.50-$79.50. bokcenter.com DEC. 22 “HOLIDAY WISHES” 8 p.m. Paradise Cove Theater, River Spirit Casino Resort, 8330 Riverside Parkway. Cirque Musica’s extravaganza brings the holiday story to life in a full-theatrical cirque event, featuring a worldrenowned cast and live orchestra. $50-$60. riverspirittulsa.com

The spirit of giving

NOV. 23 HOLIDAY MART 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges, 815 S. Utica Ave. Shop items made by the Center’s member artists. Find holiday decorations, jewelry, knitted and crocheted Items, mosaics, paintings, sculptures, sketches, stained glass and more. Benefits member artists and the Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges. tulsacenter.org DEC. 3 SALVATION ARMY ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON AND FASHION SHOW 10:30 a.m., silent auction; 11:30 a.m., luncheon seating. Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center, 6808 S. 107th E. Ave. Local media personalities and community leaders model holiday clothing chosen from Donna’s Fashions. Presented by Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary of Tulsa. Benefits Salvation Army. $75. salarmytulsa.org DEC. 7 JINGLE BELL RUN 9 a.m. BOK Center. It’s the longestrunning holiday-themed race anywhere, benefiting the Arthritis Association. $25-$40. arthritis.org DEC. 8 ABATE OF TULSA 40TH ANNUAL TOY RUN 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Expo Square. At 2 p.m., kickstands go up and bikers ride down Cherry Street to South Boulder Avenue, continuing to the Guthrie Green, where two 40-foot trailers manned by Marines take the toys. Admission is one unwrapped toy for USMC’s Toys for Tots, benefiting kids in northeast Oklahoma. abateoftulsa.com

COURTESY SAND SPRINGS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

DEC. 12-23 “A CHRISTMAS CAROL” Various times. Tulsa PAC. Tightwad Ebenezer Scrooge doesn’t stand a chance of ignoring Christmas when American Theatre Co. presents its own musical adaptation of this holiday classic. Various prices. tulsapac.com, americantheatrecompany.org

This time of year reminds you of the things you have to be thankful for. Thank you Tulsa for 34 years, here’s to the next 34!

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FESTIVE FOOD FRENZY BY NATALIE MIKLES All the preparations — the list making, the grocery trips, the wine choosing, the chopping, freezing, baking and table setting — are worth it for the holidays. Yes, we’re often left so tired by the frenzy that all we want to do in the aftermath is stay in our pajamas and veg out with Netﬂix. But that’s also part of the fun of the holidays. Embrace it all — the prep, the work, the afterglow of hugs and love from friends and family, and the eating of pie for breakfast when it’s all done. We’re here to ease any burden you might feel about making holiday meals with some meal prep tips. Keep these in mind and remember to consider them or source them early to take some stress out of the holidays.

Pies If you’ve never been great at making your own pie crusts, let BAKESHOP do it for you. Their prerolled, ﬂaky cream cheese pie crust will be the perfect start to any of your favorite family recipes for pecan, chocolate, pumpkin or fruit pies. Or let them take the pies completely off your hands and order whole pies. Bakeshop also makes exceptional sage brown butter biscuits and country sourdough bread for the table. And for vegans, order some lemon apricot scones, a best-selling variety. Order in person at Bakeshop, located at Mother Road Market, 1124 S. Lewis Ave. or online at bakeshoptulsa.com. Another great place to order pies is LITTLE J’S, 10032 S. Sheridan Road. This shop, perhaps best known for its cookies, cupcakes and scones, makes super-good pumpkin and pecan pies with ﬂaky, homemade crusts. Or try the brownie pie, apple pie, chocolate cream, coconut cream or lemon cream. You really can’t go wrong. Reservations can be made at 918-995-7979. 62

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

Sides It has been years since anyone in my family has made scalloped potatoes. Why would we when we can get the very best scalloped potatoes at STONEHORSE MARKET, 1748 Utica Square? These potatoes are the real deal — with lots of cream, cheese and that golden brown, almost-crisp top that everyone fights for. Besides the potatoes, you will find everything you need for holiday meals here. Creamed spinach, roasted vegetables, fresh bread … Good luck narrowing it down to your top picks. Call 918-712-7470 to order. Plan ahead and order sides or pies at CHERRY STREET KITCHEN, 1441 S. Quaker Ave., where you can find sausage dressing, green bean casserole and cranberry sauce as close to (or honestly better than) anything you will make at home. Don’t forget Cherry Street Kitchen for pumpkin and pecan pie, too. Reserve yours by calling 918-884-3408.

Turkey First things first. For most of us, turkey is a must. If your grandma’s roasted turkey recipe has never let you down, keep doing it the way you’ve always done. But if you’re looking for something different, here are some ideas. PRAIRIE CREEK FARMS in Kellyville is harvesting its first flock of turkeys this year, just in time for Thanksgiving. Turkeys are $6 per pound and range from 13-17 pounds. Reserve soon at prairiecreek.farm as supplies are limited. For a really memorable turkey, let chef Joel Bein of OKLAHOMA RUB smoke it for you. Email contact@oklahomarub.com to make arrangements. Smoked turkey also is a specialty at MAC’S BARBECUE in Skiatook. For a more casual holiday meal, think about Mac’s smoked, sliced turkey with sides of their campfire potatoes, plus your own rolls, casseroles and pies. This is a great option for big family gatherings where there’s not enough space in the oven for cooking multiple turkeys plus all the extras. Go to macsbbqok.com for more.

Appetizers It’s nice to have something to nibble on while last-minute touches are made to the meal. Although the cook is in the kitchen thinning out the gravy or warming the rolls, pour everyone a glass of wine and let them have a taste of what’s to come. When you’re making your sweet potatoes, set aside a little extra to make these fun crostini. Sweet Potato Crostini Bites 24 slices bread from a baguette 2 cups mashed sweet potatoes ¼ cup chopped pecans 3 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons butter, melted ½ teaspoon cinnamon Miniature marshmallows Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place bread slices on baking sheets. Bake for a couple of minutes, until lightly toasted. In a medium saucepan, mix the sweet potatoes, pecans, brown sugar, butter and cinnamon. Cook until warmed through. Spoon onto bread, then top with marshmallows. Broil for a couple of minutes or until marshmallows are lightly browned.

Stonehorse Market

Chef Joel Bein

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DIVINELY DECO ARTS ALLIANCE TULSA’S WINE WOMEN AND SHOES WILL FEATURE THE DEBUT OF NEW YORK FASHION DESIGNER ZANG TOI’S 2020 SPRING COLLECTION. BY KENDALL BARROW

he return of one of Tulsa’s most popular charity events, Wine Women and Shoes, is taking guests all the way back to the golden era of the silver screen, thanks to Arts Alliance Tulsa and the event’s presenting sponsor, the Hardesty Family Foundation. The theme — also a nod to Tulsa’s art deco heritage — is more than fitting for a night of glamour, fine wine and fashion. Acclaimed New York City-based designer Zang Toi, in collaboration with Saks Fifth Avenue Tulsa, will present his 30th anniversary 2020 My Home Sweet Home collection, which is inspired by the designer’s home country, Malaysia. Zang’s work has been featured in numerous major publications, including Vogue, Vanity Fair and the New York Times, and in 2011 he was recognized by Vivid Magazine as one of the Top 8 most influential Chinese Americans. He has dressed celebrities such as Melinda Gates, Elizabeth Taylor, Sharon Stone and Eva Longoria, to name a few. Amanda Viles, senior selling manager at Saks Fifth Avenue Tulsa, says Zang and his designs immediately came to mind when Tulsa Arts Alliance approached the Saks Tulsa team about being a part of WWS. “I barely had to give him any information or background — he immediately said yes … He is one of a kind,” Viles says. Saks Tulsa had the opportunity to host the designer in fall 2018, and it is safe to say the admiration is mutual. “Tulsa is a nice change of pace from the grit of New York,” Zang says. “What appeals to me most about Tulsa isn’t necessarily the city itself, but the people I have met there.” TP

TOI: MICHAEL TUREK

NOV. 22 — WINE WOMEN AND SHOES

A sketch from Zang Toi’s Spring 2020 collection

5:30-9:30 p.m. Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center, 6808 S. 107th E. Ave. An exclusive runway show and wine-tasting; shop local and national vendors. $195, tickets; $2,500-$10,000, sponsorships. Beneﬁts Arts Alliance Tulsa, which supports 40 local arts organizations. artstulsa.org

TulsaPeople.com

STOREFRONT

Hari Lu Ames

Decorative boxes made of animal bone provide stunningly designed storage space. Customers can mix and match boxes for any room in the house. $74, small; $113, large.

Modern history

Art can be an important centerpiece for any home. The color in the original painting by Emyo pops off the canvas. $1,200.

EMBELLISHMENTS BLENDS ANTIQUE WITH MODERN FOR AN AESTHETIC ALL ITS OWN. BY MADELINE ROPER

The ivory and midnight blue pillow adds texture to a soft space. $195.

ari Lu Ames fi rst discovered her love of interior design at a young age while visiting an aunt. The pair spent afternoons rearranging furniture, and Ames began to appreciate beauty and functionality in a home. “She loved color,” Ames says of her aunt. “I could see from watching her in her home that color can be a wonderful addition to a space.” Today, Ames exercises her inherited creative muscle by curating furniture and décor in her Cherry Street store, Embellishments. After several years of interior design work, the retail portion of Embellishments started as a booth at Windsor Market. Her neighbor and renowned interior designer Charles Faudree encouraged Ames to take her retail to the next level and offered her a shop in his building. Embellishments offers a collection of antique and modern pieces. Ames loves to contrast the character of antique furniture with the clean lines of modern design. She calls this aesthetic “modern history.” Ames travels across the U.S. and throughout Europe seeking unique furniture — it’s one of her favorite parts of the job. Customers will find

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

different items every time they visit Embellishments, and Ames loves bringing worldly pieces to Tulsa. She not only sells items through Embellishments, but also offers her interior design expertise to clients. Interestingly, Ames studied nursing, not interior design, in college. However, she says, “I was always the friend you would call to rearrange and decorate.” The assessment skills she learned in college and utilized as a critical care nurse are useful when she asks clients how to make their homes more accessible and determining their personal tastes. “There are a lot of ways to make a pretty room,” Ames says. “The space you live in should feel comfortable and reflect your personal taste.” TP

Embellishments 1602 E. 15TH ST. | 918-585-8688 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday

A white resin deer brings a sense of neutral elegance to a winter setting. $425.

TokyoMilk greeting cards are popular with Embellishments customers. They offer a variety of designs with playful sayings for birthdays and holidays. $6, each.

Gold ﬁnishes are in, and this sculpture can add that metallic ﬂourish to any space. $360.

JOIN US ON NOVEMBER 8TH

from 1 to 3 p.m. to meet Christopher Radko senior designer Mario Taré. Mario will be available to sign “St. Nick’s Delivery,” a spectacular piece created exclusively for all Radko signing events. Also come see “Santa,” this year’s traditional Margo’s Ornament created by Christopher Radko. Our store will spark your Holiday spirit…come see!

2058 Utica Square • 918-747-8780 • themargoshop.com

❖ ORGANIC INGREDIENTS ❖ H A N D M A D E PA S T R I E S

T–F 6:30 am -2pm SA 7:30 am -12pm

610 W. Main, Jenks 918-528-6544

esperancebakery.com 31st & harvard • 918-986-1349 • marymurraysflowers.com

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE

GNOME

d Custom Picture Framing d Fine Art d Home Accessories 6 N. LEWIS

918.584.2217 3541 S. Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK 918-712-8785 |

“Tulsa Towers”

ZIEGLERART.COM

10 assorted notecards by Rick Bartholomew TulsaPeople.com

BEYOND CITY LIMITS

Claremore’s calling EVENTS THIS MONTH ECHO THE SPIRIT OF WILL ROGERS AND HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES. BY RHYS MARTIN

ill Rogers was born Nov. 4, 1879. In his lifetime, Rogers became beloved across the country for his wit and wisdom. Every November, the city of Claremore celebrates “The Cowboy Philosopher” with Will Rogers Days. The WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL MUSEUM hosts a Motion Picture Festival, which runs Oct. 30-Nov. 2 (with awards named after the Rogers ranch brand, the Dog Iron), and other events throughout the city celebrate both Rogers and the city’s cultural heritage. For a great selﬁe, check out the ALLEY WEST OF NORTH MISSOURI AVENUE, across from the Main Street Tavern. A large, colorful mural by local artist John Hammer celebrates Rogers, astronaut Stuart Roosa and Route 66. On Nov. 2, the J. M. DAVIS ARMS AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM will have a High Noon Shootout. That afternoon, a parade will march down Will Rogers Boulevard to Gazebo Park for the birthday festival. On the same day, ROGERS STATE UNIVERSITY hosts a Native American Heritage Festival. Here, you can experience the art of storytelling, make-and-take craft demonstrations, traditional dances and singing, and more. If you’re already in a holiday mood, drive up to Claremore on the weekend before Thanksgiving (Nov. 22-23) for the Victorian-era DICKENS ON THE BOULEVARD event. Both nights feature live entertainment, late-night shopping, chuckwagon dining, street dances and visits with Santa. Be sure to check out Downtown Claremore’s website, downtownclaremore.org, for more details and speciﬁcs regarding tour times and costs. TP

THE NUT HOUSE, 26677 S. Route 66, near Verdigris, is a good place to stop on the way if you’re looking for local, unique gifts. The shop operates out of a log cabin that was originally where the orchard’s pecans were cracked. You can still pick up fresh pecans here, as well as fudge, Christmas ornaments and local jams. 68

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

By late November, the BLUE WHALE OF CATOOSA, 2600 Route 66, will be shining brightly throughout the night. Many people in northeast Oklahoma have stopped to visit the roadside attraction on Route 66 during the day, but in the holiday season Blue is lit with Christmas lights at night. It makes for a quirky, festive stop on the way home.

WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL MUSEUM: COURTESY; MAP: GEORGIA BROOKS

Will Rogers Memorial Museum

BEAUTY & WEIGHT MANAGEMENT The holidays are here, and I am not ready to see my family! I need to lose at least 20 pounds, fast! The holidays can be very stressful when you’re not feeling confident about yourself, but don’t worry we have your back! One of our tailored weight loss plans, utilizing HCG and appetite suppressants combined with your personal weight loss coach are the perfect combination to help you lose the weight and keep it off for good. But like all good diets it may take a little time; for a quick-fix result I would recommend Emsculpt®, with Emsculpt® you will get a 19% reduction in fat and a 16% increase in muscle in just two weeks with no down-time. Many of our patients use Emsculpt® as a booster to kick-start their weight loss journey. To find out more call us today at 918-872-9999.

Malissa Spacek and Dr. James Campbell BA Med Spa & Weight Loss Center 510 N. Elm Place • Broken Arrow, OK 74012 918-872-9999 • www.baweightspa.com

INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT What factors should be considered in using a trust in my estate planning? When developing a plan for your estate, it is important to understand the options available to you. Trusts can be used to accomplish many goals, including maintaining privacy, protecting children with special needs and preserving family wealth. A Revocable Trust accumulates assets in a trust to be managed for your benefit during your lifetime, including incapacity, and then transition your estate at death. It is an orderly and private method of managing your assets, avoiding probate and/or guardianship proceedings.

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

J. Harvie Roe, CFP, President AmeriTrust Investment Advisors, Inc. 4506 S. Harvard Ave. • Tulsa, OK 74135 918-610-8080 • hroe@amerad.com

VETERINARIAN Does my pet need to be given heartworm preventative all year? Yes, it’s important to give both dogs and cats heartworm preventative all year, even during the winter months. Although the carrier of heartworms is the mosquito, Oklahoma has a temperate climate, which allows mosquitoes to hatch during the occasional warm day that occurs during colder months. Mosquitoes can also be found indoors during winter. The use of flea preventatives is also recommended all year.

Celebrating 35 Years of outdoor eduCation Visit riVerfield.org for open House dates & times 918.446.3553

Dr. Mark Shackelford 15th Street Veterinary Group 6231 E. 15th St. • Tulsa, OK 74112 918-835-2336 • www.15thstreetvet.com TulsaPeople.com

HOME

TULSAPEOPLE.COM Learn more about the new Lortondale-inspired Habitat homes.

A new kind of habitat

ou might begin to see a new sort of house crop up around town in the coming months. Tulsa Habitat for Humanity is producing six panel homes in the Crutchfield neighborhood, which spans North Utica and Peoria avenues just north of Interstate 244. THFH terms its new style of house the “Lortondale style,” named for the mid-century modern architecture of Tulsa’s Lortondale neighborhood located near East 31st Street and South Yale Avenue. Also modern are the materials and process used to build the new homes. A local manufacturer of building supplies, Standard Panel, provides the homes’ material — panels made of a strong fiberglass composite — and THFH puts the pieces in place. Not only do these panels make construction easier, but they lower utility costs for families who are already struggling. THFH already used construction methods that lent themselves to energy efficiency, but as CEO Cameron Walker says, “These panel homes are on a completely different level.” He says THFH aims to have six of these houses built by early 2020. — ETHAN VEENKER

NANYEHI the story of nancy ward

NOVEMBER 15 & 16 • 7:30 PM TICKETS: 918.384.ROCK

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

FOR SALE SOON

See Zillow on November 1 • 2117 Forest Boulevard Located in Forest Hills • Walking Distance to Cascia Hall and Utica Square

450 VENDORS. 850 BOOTHS. 3 DAYS.

NOV. 22-24 TULSA

River Spirit Expo at Expo Square

AAOTH.COM TulsaPeople.com

SENIOR LIVING

back to feeling like a son or daughter,” Edwards says. “When you take care of a parent around the clock, the relationship changes. We want to help the family be a family again.”

TULSAPEOPLE.COM Learn about the three primary levels of senior housing.

Aging in Tulsa TULSANS HAVE MANY CHOICES AND LOTS OF HELP IN MAKING LIVING TRANSITIONS. BY KIM ARCHER

ne of the most challenging times in life comes with the realization that an aging parent needs more care than you

can give. The options are overwhelming. Which is best for your parent: in-home services, independent or assisted living, or nursing care? And who makes the decision? “The decision is typically made by the adult children, the parent and the doctor,” says Chelsea Edwards, supervisor of the SeniorLink program at LIFE Senior Services. “Doctors often give recommendations because they know your parent’s needs.” In Tulsa, there is an abundance of resources to help navigate the maze of choices, select the needed level of care and ensure insurance is in place to pay for it. LIFE provides comprehensive and personal consultations on choosing a care option and the right place for your loved one. “A lot of times people call and say, ‘Where do we start?’” Edwards says. “That is when we say, ‘We’ve got you.’ We’re going to get in there and

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

work for you as if they were our own parent or grandparent.” Many adult children who call LIFE’s Senior Line admit they fear beginning the discussion with their parent about a change in living situation. “The conversation isn’t always an easy one,” Edwards says. “We have resources to help adult children broach the subject with their loved one. And we can be a third-party to help guide the conversation.” Many adult children have taken on caregiver duties themselves, but eventually recognize they can’t do it anymore. More than 524,000 Oklahomans care for older parents, spouses and other loved ones. They provide 488 million hours of unpaid care valued at $6 billion each year, says Joy McGill, associate state director of community outreach for AARP Oklahoma. Caregivers often fall ill themselves due to the stress. And the relationship with their parent might suffer. “One of our main goals is to get that caregiver

GEORGIA BROOKS

Care options

There are three primary levels of care: in-home services, assisted living and nursing facilities. The least restrictive, cheapest and most popular option among seniors is care in the home. In-home care is typically for people who are relatively independent but need a little extra help to live in their own home. In-home services can range from round-the-clock care to a once-aweek visit. AARP’s HomeFit program is a rich source of in-depth information about home modifications that can help people stay at home as long as possible, McGill says. “We have some fantastic resources for people to consider what this looks like before they make the leap to moving from their own homes,” she says. LIFE Senior Services offers an all-inclusive in-home care program called PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) in Tulsa. It’s one of three PACE locations in Oklahoma; Oklahoma City and Tahlequah also have PACE programs. PACE is funded through Oklahoma’s Medicaid program as well as through Medicare, for people 65 years of age and older. “Th is program was created to keep people independent and living safely in their homes, as opposed to nursing homes,” says Samantha Blue, senior director of Tulsa’s PACE program. Clients have constant access to physicians, nurses, social workers, physical therapy, dietitians, adult day care and transportation. Medications, which are delivered to their homes, and medical services have no co-pay or deductible. The program also provides clients help with light housekeeping, running errands, laundry and assisting with bathing. An interdisciplinary team meets daily to discuss each participant’s plan of care. “The great thing about PACE is we know all of our clients well. It’s the best plan out there for senior adults,” says Mike Fogle, chief operating officer of LIFE Senior Services. “And it saves the state millions of dollars each year. I see this as the future of Medicare.” Assisted living and nursing homes are the right fit for many older adults. Clients in assisted living facilities receive medical care, as well as help with activities of daily living. Nursing homes provide clients comprehensive bedded care around the clock. “In the Tulsa area, we are really blessed,” says Carol Carter, LIFE community affairs manager. “We have so many options and so much help. And all of us in the nonprofit world collaborate and work together to ensure our seniors are safe and have the care they need.” TP

—— M O N T E R E A U E N H A N C E S ——

Dining Experiences

Sweeping changes in the dining program at Montereau led one top industry leader to describe it “as the nicest restaurant-style dining experience I’ve seen in a senior living facility” after receiving a tour. Montereau, Tulsa’s award-winning retirement community, invested over seven months to recreate its three restaurants and two lounges into ones reflecting “casual elegance” and featuring an upscale décor and the expansion of chef-inspired menus and food choices. “We are very pleased with the look and feel of our restaurants and lounges and the response from our residents,” said David Murlette, CEO. “We wanted our dining experiences at Montereau to enhance socializing, meeting new

people, and enabling everyone to more fully enjoy their dining experiences during breakfast, lunch and dinner…and at cocktail times.” Murlette said another desire of the change was creating an opportunity for Montereau’s chefs to expand menu choices and be more creative. “An example is the adding a hearth oven in La Pattisserie and our sending a chef to Chicago to learn the tricks to making authentic artisan style pizza,” he noted. “We also added state-of-the-art cooking equipment and facilities that include an exhibition-style kitchen enclosed in glass, and a French cooking suite to showcase the talent and work of our skilled chefs….for the viewing enjoyment of diners.” Murlette noted the enhanced and expand-

6800 S. Granite Ave. Tulsa, OK 74136

Montereau is the area’s premier notfor-profit retirement community. With hometown roots built on 16 years of service, we’re committed to leading the future of senior living in Tulsa. We do this with a combination of first-rate services, a beautiful and convenient location in the heart of the city and a culture of gracious camaraderie.

ed dining program is benefitting from a unique partnership with the Hal Smith Restaurant Group. Montereau’s dining options feature: · Le Marche: A casual café experience featuring quick and delicious dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. · Café Mondial: A continental dining experience in two beautiful dining rooms. · Grand Riviera Lounge: A pub-style experience featuring European and Asian delicacies. · Rue 6800: An exquisite culinary experience in a fine dining room. · The Wine Cellar & The Board Room: Two private dining venues for private events.

918.495.1500 Montereau.net

SAINT SIMEON’S

‘The Gold Standard Of Senior Care In Tulsa’ Nestled on 50 secluded acres just north of downtown Tulsa, Saint Simeon’s has been exceeding expectations in senior living since 1960. The mission of the community is “to be the preferred home for men and women of all faiths who wish to live their later years in an environment with dignity, individuality, and the highest level of independence. For 60 years, Saint Simeon’s has been the gold standard of senior care in Tulsa, and every day an attentive staff strives to build on that legacy. “While providing unparalleled customer service, we are committed to maintaining a strong sense of family for our residents and staff. Every person—from the people maintaining our landscape to our phenomenal nursing staff—puts the time, love and attention to detail into serving our seniors,” said Angela Green, president and CEO. There are many options for Senior Care in the Tulsa area. What makes Saint Simeon’s different is the people. From the moment you arrive, you witness the caring spirit and rich legacy of the community. “Whether it’s special dinner parties in the Bistro or swim classes in the Wellness Center, all of our residents receive highly personalized ser-

vice. We are honored to care not only for our residents, CEO Angela Green but their family members as well,” said Green. Saint Simeon’s offers services that are unique to Tulsa. “We are one of only four communities in the state that can offer Skilled Memory Care services,”notes the CEO, “and our varied levels of care provide multiple options for residents.” Saint Simeon’s also specializes in Parkinson’s Care and is a member of the Struthers Parkinson’s Care Network which identifies senior care communities that provide comprehensive, personalized care for individuals living with Parkinson’s Disease. The Tulsa office of the Parkinson’s Foundation of Oklahoma is located on the Saint Simeon’s campus. You are invited to learn more about vibrant Senior Living in Tulsa by calling Donna at 918-425-3583 or visiting saintsimeons.org on the web. Saint Simeon’s is located at 3701 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in Tulsa.

3701 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard • 918-425-3583 • saintsimeons.org

EXCEPTIONAL Senior Living: Minutes from downtown, Miles from ordinary Nestled on 50 secluded acres just outside downtown, Saint Simeon’s has been exceeding expectations in senior care and living since 1960. Residents love the state-of-the-art wellness center, therapeutic indoor pool and enjoying time with friends. Their families enjoy the park-like grounds, feeding the peacocks and watching the grandkids on the playground. But the real difference is our outstanding care. With Saint Simeon’s, families have peace of mind. Come see for yourself. Call Donna at 918-425-3583 for your free tour today.

Saint Simeon’s is a mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma

SaintSimeons.org

How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are.

They’ve led lives of accomplishment and success, raised families, developed amazing careers—and they are not done yet! Visit us and discover how amazing people are sharing their energy, vitality and life experiences to create Tulsa’s best retirement community.

4130 East 31st Street Tulsa, OK www.ommtulsa.org Call for information, appointment or availability 918-574-2590

Covenant Living at Inverness 3800 W. 71st St. • Tulsa, OK 74132 • 918.388.4235 • CovLivingInverness.org

lthough Inverness Village has been part of the Tulsa community as a premier senior living option for more than 16 years, there is something new about the community. Inverness Village is now part of the nonprofit Covenant Living Communities and Services family of communities. Covenant Living owns and operates 16 senior living communities in nine states and the 134-year-old faith-based organization couldn’t be prouder to expand its services in the Tulsa market with Inverness Village. Covenant Living has had a presence in the Tulsa area for the last five years with Covenant Living of Bixby, a senior living rental and assisted living community. Inverness Village, now Covenant Living at Inverness, offers an engaging maintenance-free lifestyle with top notch services and amenities situated on 192 acres of rolling hills in the Tulsa Hills district. Residents can choose from a variety of independent living options — all with the peace of mind in knowing that assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care is available, if ever needed. We’re excited to be part of Covenant Living and even more excited for you to come find out for yourself why Covenant Living at Inverness is the best senior living option in Tulsa. For information call 918-388-4235 or visit our website at CovLivingInverness.org.

Minimum Age Requirement ....................................................55 Number of Residences .........................................................256 Entrance Fee and/or Security Deposit ...................................Yes

NOTABLE DISTINCTIONS Covenant Living at Inverness is Tulsa’s premier continuing care retirement community located in the quiet, beautiful countryside but only five minutes to Tulsa Hills and 12 minutes to downtown. With caring associates, lovely remodeled apartments and cottages, a stress-free lifestyle, and a focus on healthy living, Covenant Living at Inverness helps residents live with promise.

Pets Allowed ........................................................................Yes

Covenant Living is pleased to welcome Inverness Village into our family. For more information or to schedule a visit, call (918) 388-4235 or visit CovLivingInverness.org or CovLiving.org today.

Covenant Living is a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church.

TulsaPeople.com

Congratulations to Burgundy Place & Woodland Terrace Congratulations Burgundy Place & Woodland Terrace for Achieving to 3-Year CARF Accreditation Again! for Achieving 3-Year CARF Accreditation Again!

Creating a meaningful senior Creating a meaningful living experience calls forsenior living calls for more thanexperience basic comforts and more than basic comforts and amenities. It means committing It means fullyamenities. to excellence andcommitting continuous fully to excellence continuous improvement. That isand why Senior improvement. That is why Star communities choose to Senior Star communities choose to become CARF Accredited. become CARF Accredited. CARF accreditation recognizes CARF accreditation recognizes when a community has what it when a community has what it takes to superior care takes provide to provide superior careand and service. Recently, Senior Star at service. Recently, Senior Star at Burgundy Place and Woodland Burgundy Place and Woodland Terrace has again achieved threeTerrace has again achieved threeyearyear accreditation byby CARF. accreditation CARF.

What Is CARF?

What(The Is CARF? CARF Commission on CARF (The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) International is an Facilities) International an independent, nonprofit is accreditor independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services. of health and humanisservices. CARF accreditation an entirely CARF accreditation is an entirely voluntary process available voluntary process available to senior living communities to senior living communities nationwide. CARF Surveyors nationwide. CARF Surveyors interview residents, familiesand and interview residents, families associates to determine determine associates directly directly to what we are doing right, andwhat what what we are doing right, and we wecan cando do better. better. While WhileCARF CARF accreditation accreditation isis

voluntary, it is considered a voluntary, it is considered a global standard for common global standard forout common practices, laying more than practices, laying outtomore thanCARF 1,500 standards be met. 1,500 standardsgoes to beabove met. CARF accreditation and accreditation goes above andto ensure beyond state regulations beyond state regulations to ensure transparency and the best quality transparency and the best quality of service. of service. Both Woodland Terrace and Both Woodland Terrace and Burgundy Place are the only Burgundy Place are the only CARF-accredited independent CARF-accredited independent seniorliving living communities in Tulsa. senior communities in Tulsa. This means greater peace of mind, This means greater peace of mind, comfort, and well-being every comfort, and well-being forfor every member Senior Star family. member ofof thethe Senior Star family.

We Offer We Offer 78

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

88th Lewis••918.518.0153 918.518.0153 88th & &Lewis seniorstar.com/burgundyplace seniorstar.com/burgundyplace

71st & 71st & Mingo Mingo••918.379.9052 918.379.9052 seniorstar.com/woodlandterrace seniorstar.com/woodlandterrace

Cedarhurst of Woodland Hills 7345 S. 99th East Avenue • Tulsa, OK 74133 • 918.893.6177 • CedarhurstWoodlandHills.com

“W

e looked at some very expensive places, but we wanted a place with a friendly, down-home atmosphere. I came to an open house on a Thursday, and the minute I walked in and looked out on the pool, and saw the brightness coming in through the windows, I just fell in love with the place. And I was the one who had been reluctant. I told my wife she really needed to go see for herself. We went back on Friday and she had exactly the same impression I did. There’s so much light and openness. We talked to a lot of the residents. Every single one was so friendly and so helpful. We didn’t know anyone here, but now we know everyone here and we make a point of meeting every new person that comes in. We sold the house to our son. The only thing we really gave up was a lot of space we didn’t need. We’re very happy with the place. The location is convenient to everything. We’ve already had a couple of people we’ve recommended move in. The staff and the residents are all nice. It really makes you feel at home.”

Billy Baldwin, pictured with his wife, Linda, enjoying Woodland Hill’s outdoor patio.

— Bill Baldwin, Cedarhurst of Woodland Hills resident

Minimum Age Requirement ..................................................55+ Number of Residences ......................................................... 140 Entrance Fee and/or Security Deposit ................. One-time fee of $750 prior to move-in Pets Allowed ........................................................................Yes

How soon can you get here?

NOTABLE DISTINCTIONS Bill Baldwin’s experience can be your experience. Call today for a personal tour and learn why Cedarhurst of Woodland Hills isn’t just a place to live, but a place to call home!

Reserve now and we’ll waive the additional fee for a second resident—FOREVER. How’s that for the buddy system? We’ll help you get here, too. Moving expenses up to $2,000—COVERED.

Amenities that matter: · Chef-prepared meals in restaurant-style dining · Spacious outdoor courtyards · State-of-the-art wellness programs · Washer/dryer in apartment · Refreshing saltwater pool · Pet friendly

Tulsa’s newest independent senior living community invites you to be our newest resident! And your spouse. Or sibling. Or friend.

So what’s keeping you?

7345 S. 99th East Ave. | Tulsa, OK 74133 (918) 205-1016 | CedarhurstWoodlandHills.com TulsaPeople.com

MUSINGS

MEMORIES OF BUGS BY CONNIE CRONLEY

or months now, since August, I’ve been tracking my days by bugs. I use the word bugs in a general and familiar sense. What I really mean are varieties of little creatures with lots of legs, and some with wings: Hemiptera (cicadas especially), insects (mosquitoes mostly, but also dragonfl ies) and arthropods (spiders primarily). These are the bugs in my life and, like the people in my life, my affections for them vary from fondness to something much darker. It was their song that attracted my attention in August, all that singing in the heat of the day and into the hot night. How brave of them. Linda Ronstadt says people sing for the same reason birds sing: “For a mate, to claim their territory or simply to give voice to being alive in the midst of a beautiful day.” Cicadas — although I grew up in Nowata County where we call them locusts — also sing to keep the birds away. They sing so they won’t be eaten. Good reason to carry a tune. Cicadas sing like a small church. A lone song leader begins, then the choir joins in and then the whole congregation. Congregations from neighboring trees take up the song riding the summer heat. They don’t have much breath though, so the song is short lived. A couple of gulps of air and they start all over. By nightfall, they’re sung out, but then tree frogs and katydids step into the darkness and sing until the air throbs with rhapsody. What spoils this season of insectile joy are tiny mosquitoes that come in great swarms out of thin air. Every year they get smaller and more aggressive. Mosquitoes remind me of Ogden Nash’s poem “The Fly,” which, in its entirety says: “God in his wisdom made the fly. “And then forgot to tell us why.” That goes double for mosquitoes. We can learn more than we ever dreamed about them in a new book by Timothy C. Winegard, “The Mosquito: A Human History of our Deadliest Predator.” He maintains that this little insect not only killed the dinosaurs, it also

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

has destroyed more people than any single cause, almost half of all humans who have lived. Winegard posits the malaria they carry affected evolution in prehistoric Africa, decimated armies and shaped history. Malaria stopped Hannibal’s forces in Italy and Genghis Khan’s armies in southern Europe, killed a third of the crusaders en route to the Holy Land and in ancient China drove people to Christianity, a small religion that cared for the sick. The disease-bearing mosquitos that came with Columbus’ ships decimated indigenous people as much as smallpox and influenza. In contemporary times, the mosquito has introduced the scourge of the Zika virus. Oh, so much to hate about mosquitoes. Another insect that appears in late summer and autumn is the dragonfly, popular in art nouveau, Native American lore and Japanese haiku. I like shimmery dragonfl ies. They symbolize courage and happiness, and they eat mosquitoes. Beautiful, ethereal and carnivorous; who can resist that combination? Sadly, there are not enough of them to make a dent in the mosquito population. I am not alone in singing hymns to bugs. Norwegian author Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson has written “Buzz, Sting, Bite,” which reminds us of both the importance and the magic of insects. Although at the bottom of the food chain, they are essential to agriculture and contribute $577 billion to the world economy. Plus, like horror movies in reverse, they shape-shift from caterpillar to butterfly. Then came October and my favorite, the artistic orb-weaver spider. All spiders are more fantastic than Hollywood animation. They move by using an internal hydraulic system to coordinate 56 body parts — eight legs of seven segments each. All of these bugs are now creepy, crawly, stinging, biting, singing memories. But they’ll be back. Until then, I’ll spend the winter reading about gardens and anticipating spring without heat, drought or bugs. TP

CHARITABLE EVENTS SUPPORTED BY

The 10th Anniversary of the John Hope Franklin Dinner of Reconciliation

F I T O N S P I R D R O Q U A S A S T U L

CCAAFF

Big Band

AR G N A H

DANCE

Saturday Nov. 9, 2019 6pm - 10pm • Live Big Band • WW2 Aircraft on Display • Food available for purchase

“Civic Engagement and Reconciliation: The Survival of Democracy”

$30 A d u lt s 15 VeterAns $ 15 students $

at the TulsaTech Riverside Campus • FREE Swing Dance Lessons • Spin-to-Win Warbird Rides • Casual Dress Code (or 1940’s!)

Tickets at CAFTulsa.org or at the Door!

Imam Omar Suleiman Keynote Speaker

Kathy Taylor

Honorary Dinner Chair

Location: Greenwood Cultural Center 322 N. Greenwood Ave. Cost:

Adults - $25 Youth (Ages 5 - 17) - $15

Date:

Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019

Time:

Reception: 6:30 p.m. Dinner & Program: 7:00 p.m.

Bill Lobeck

Honorary Dinner Chair

Register for the Dinner of Reconciliation Today! Deadline is Nov. 15. Register online at jhfcenter.org/ dinner-registration or by scanning the QR Code.

For questions or additional information, please contact: Mrs. Jean M. Neal at 918-295-5009 or jneal@jhfcenter.org.

The Eastern Oklahoma Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals is proud to celebrate National Philanthropy Day on November 15th by honoring the following individuals and organizations for their giving hearts and all they have done to make Tulsa a better place to live and work.

Robin Ballenger

Outstanding Fundraising for Diversity and Inclusion

Burt Holmes

Outstanding Philanthropist

Becky Frank

Community Impact Award

Steffanie Bonner

Bill Major

Zarrow Family Foundations, Pillar Award

Jill Thomas

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser

Mackenzie Toliver

Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy (not pictured)

NOVEMBER 15th DOWNTOWN DOUBLETREE

Outstanding Fundraising Professional

For details and registration, visit: community.afpnet.org/afpokeasternoklahomachapter/home TulsaPeople.com

McGraw Realtors 16728 S Harvard Avenue, Bixby. $4,000,000 - Paradise Farm in Bixby, South TulsaCo. is a One-of-kind estate on 60acre parcel of beautiful groomed land with 2 residences, stocked ponds for fishing, barns, stables, horse/cattle activities, Morton Equine facility w/16 stalls plus 960sq ft apartment, indoor riding arena & hay barn. Primary residence features 6894sqft w/ 4beds/3+2bth/4car, library/game/ comp/dog rooms. Secondary farm house features 3400 sqft w/ 4beds/3.5bth w/private gate as well as addl. shop, 7stall barn, 2 loafing sheds.

Curt Roberts 918-231-0691

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

Lana Istnick 918-629-0226

Rodger Erker 918-740-4663

McGraw Realtors

Nancy Kavanaugh-Gotcher

918.625.6260

nkavanaugh@gmail.com

Crown Jewel Collection

6221 E. 108th Street, Tulsa - The Gates at Forest Park STUNNING HOME! A Custom Build by Sam Hollinger! 4 Bedrooms, 4 Full 2 Half BA’s. Exterior w/ true Cast Stone Stucco, Gas Lanterns, Circle Dr. & Tile Roof. Soaring 20 ft. Ceilings, Floating Iron Staircase, Marble Tile Floors, Theater & 2nd bedroom on first floor and each bedroom with its own private bath. Gated Community! $1,250,000

6259 S Jamestown Avenue, Tulsa - Southern Hills Spectacular MidCentury Modern Home remodeled by, one of Tulsa’s Top Designers and her husband who is one of Tulsa’s biggest Mid-Century Enthusiasts. Many Custom designs & updates throughout, on a large lot, sitting in a fabulous neighborhood. 4 Bedrooms, 2 Half Baths, 4 Full Baths & 2 in the Master, plus 4 Living. Must See! $659,000

3223 S Florence Avenue, Tulsa - Ranch Acres One level! Beautiful midtown home in desirable Ranch Acres. 3 Bedroom, 2.5 Updated Baths, 3 Living, hardwoods throughout, large kitchen with double ovens and gas range, huge backyard with great newer deck and Sunbrella Retractable Cover. Newer Hot Tub included. $525,000

3447 S. Gary Place, Tulsa - Ranch Acres New Listing in Midtown’s Ranch Acres! All One Level with a Pool. Open Kitchen to Dining and Living Room. 4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths, 2 laundry areas, 1 in main house and one in new master. All Updated and Hardwood Floors throughout. Clean and Move-In Ready! $459,000 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

MIDTOWN 2619 E 33rd Street, Tulsa This custom build home sits on a beautiful Midtown Street at 33rd & Birmingham. Master bedroom downstairs with a private patio. 4 bedrooms, a large game room & an additional laundry room upstairs. Kitchen opens to family room that looks over swimming pool. $1,350,000

CLEAR BROOK 19735 E Woodhaven Road, Owasso Breathtaking home on a treed 1.4 acre lot. Huge porch overlooks pond with water feature. Master & 2nd suite down with 2 suites, game room & Theater upstairs. Guest house has exercise & living, bed & bath. Backyard Oasis with outdoor living, kitchen, pool, spa & fire pit. 6 car garage. $1,250,000

GLENOAK

GRAND LAKE

5802 S Indianapolis Avenue - Kleinco Construction built this home in 1996 for the present owner. Vaulted & beamed ceiling living room. Study with wet bar w/ half bath. Remodeled granite countered kitchen open to family room w/ gas log FP. Spacious master bedroom w/ dual closets. Upstairs are 2 beds, 2 baths, game-room, exercise studio, and office. $749,000

South Grand Lake waterfront, one hour from Tulsa, 2.5 acres, 231 feet of shoreline, protected cove, large well maintained 3 story home with a full walkout basement, 4 BR, 7 BA, 4-car detached garage, 4-car carport, 3 enclosed boat slips, 27’, 30’ & 42’, and an enclosed fishing dock, open living space, screened-in porch with wrap around deck, great views of Scotty’s Cove! $$749,000

NEW BEDFORD 2518 S Columbia Avenue, Tulsa Recently updated. Situated on a secluded cul-de-sac. High ceilings, hardwoods & natural light with view. Formal living/dining. Powder bath. Kitchen with quartz island. Gas stove & double ovens. Family room opens has wood burning FP. Beautiful landscaped gardens surrounding pool. $699,900

GRAND LAKE Trails End Estate on Grand Lake near El Cabo, enjoy this 4 BR, 3.5 BA large lake home with at least 334 feet of shoreline with a gentle slope to a covered 2-slip boat dock located in protected cove with outrageous views of the main lake. There are two large master suites with private baths, kitchen open to the great room with a fireplace. $670,000

TIMBERLANE HILLS 6823 S Florence Avenue, Tulsa Large family home in Timberlane. 6 bedrooms, multiple living areas. Formals. Game room. 2 bedrooms on 1st level, 4 bedrooms upstairs. Tons of potential. $549,000

SOUTHERN HILLS II 6438 S Indianapolis Place, Tulsa Built by Don Eng in 1988. Located on a private cul-de-sac near Southern Hills CC. One level throughout w/ updates that include a granite countered kitchen w/a large center island. The kitchen is open to a vaulted ceiling living area. Master bedroom suite, reading room, and luxury bathroom. $434,900

E N J OY T H E LU X U RY L I F E ST Y L E YOU D E SI R E 84

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

McGraw Realtors

11232 South Vandalia Avenue Lexington - $495,000 MOVE IN READY CORNER LOT. Fresh paint & refinished hardwood floors. Spacious entry with high ceilings open to living room & dining room. Granite kitchen is open to Greatroom overlooking the gunite pool /spa. Master suite down , 4 bedrooms up plus Gameroom. 3 full baths 1 half bath. 3 car side entry garage.

9142 East 102nd Street Stone Creek Park - $309,900 MOVE IN READY. Fresh new gray paint colors, new carpet upstairs, wood floor downstairs. Kitchen with granite counter tops & island is open to the Greatroom. Dining Room & LIving Room combo. Private master suite downstairs with walk in closet , private bath. 3 large bedrooms upstairs with walk in closets plus Gameroom. New exterior paint. Cul-de-sac.

6330 East 111th Place Woodfield Village - $429,900 GATED COMMUNITY , ONE OWNER. Custom built with small gunite pool. Huge Greatroom open to kitchen & dining room, great for entertaining. All new appliances, granite countertops with island, butlers pantry. Master suite downstairs overlooking the pool, private spa bath. 3 large bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 half baths. 2 car oversized garage.

Feel free to contact me to go over my marketing plan for selling your house.

TulsaPeople.com

McGraw Realtors

PRIVATE GATED ESTATE ON 26 ACRES F A R M S BrookWood Farms III features 1.0 - 1.5 acre premium home sites located in Wagoner County, just southeast of Tulsa and Broken Arrow. This small, privatized, upscale neighborhood consists of 27 home sites. It is situated among mature trees, open spaces and nature. Purchasers are welcome to choose their own builder. Brookwood Farms is located off East 141st St So. & 246th E Ave. Lot prices start at $70,000.

5412 E PRINCETON STREET, BROKEN ARROW Impeccably maintained private gated Estate on 26+ acres. Breathtaking golf course-like grounds with manicured gardens. Grand curved staircase, palatial rooms with soaring ceilings. 2 master suites on 1st floor & 2 beds up. Kitchen opens to great room & over looks infinity pool & spa. 4 car garage is heat & cooled. Sprawling pond with water feature. 9 bay outbuilding has heat/air, 5 stalls, wash bay & office. Additional outbuilding & greenhouse. 4 Paddocks. Fully fenced with 2 gated entrances. Truly a one of a kind property with access to major highways. $2,950,000.

918.724.5008

Ssanders@mcgrawok.com SherriSanders.net

A Retreat From the Ordinary Visit our website at www.BrookWoodFarms-Land.com or call/text Brian at 918-231-7519 or Sherri Sanders www.brookwoodfarms-land.com McGraw Realtors 918-724-5008.

Brian@BrookWoodFarms-Land.com

918.406.8286

918-231-7519

Hsanders@mcgrawok.com SherriSanders.net

7242 S Gary Avenue $499,000

Completely renovated by the current owner including outside. Walnut floors, lighting, baths, 2 heat & air. Kitchen has custom cabinets and lots of storage. Copper vent hood. Master suite down with spacious bath. Built-in desk on 2nd floor landing.

1939 E 45th Place $1,195,000

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

•Southern Hills golf course view

•Gated security

•Fully landscaped perimeter

•Private reserves and water features •Masonry privacy walls and wrought iron security fencing •Renewable energy for Heating & Air Conditioning •Renewable energy source for heating & air conditioning SOLD

SOLD

GOLF COURSE ACCESS GATE

SOLD

SOLD SOLD

AVAILABLE

SOLD

Southern Hills (15th hole)

Beautiful home in a park like setting located in Bolewood Acres. Fully renovated with extensive outdoor landscaping. Open floorplan with custom cabinetry throughout, extensive storage, & amenities such as heated floors & a continuous flow instant hot water system. Extensive outdoor living space with a large stone patio, a custom tree house & play space, plus sport court. The majority of living space is on one floor with a completely separate living suite that has the option for a separate entry.

•10 homesites

SOLD

AVAILABLE

HOLD

Villa at Southern Hills Only 2 lots left in this beautiful gated addition. All custom homes. Now available to Builders as well as individuals. Lots priced at $325,000$335,000. Call for a tour of area and or Developer’s own home. N

918.808.4780

Tulsa Top 100 Realtors

mkeys@mcgrawok.com

6311 E 105th Street Amazing estate home on approx 1.1 acres in Gated Rockhurst. Located in highly desirable Jenks SE Schools. 6 Ensuite beds + 2 bed quarters that have access from the home & also a separate outdoor entrance. Entertainers dream w/2 game rooms & theater, diving pool, private pool bath, hot tub, outdoor living/kitchen & indoor basketball court w/separate entrance. Stunning details throughout. All rooms w/ incredible scale and fantastic natural light. Custom built one owner with meticulous attention to detail. $2,980,000

McGraw Realtors

Real Estate, Real Results!

8231 S Kingston Avenue Beautifully updated home in gated Stonewall Estates; 1.65 acres with mature trees & heavy landscaping; 2 large bed down, 3 up, each with walk-in closet & private bath. Game room, theater, office & gym. Outdoor living with kitchen, Fireplace, pool, spa & tree house. $2,390,000

4344 S Lewis Place Custom home in gated Greenhill. Beautiful finishes, impeccable detail. 4 bed, 3.5 baths, beautiful hardwood floors; kitchen/ family room combo w/stone fireplace opens to outdoor entertaining space including fireplace & spa. Oversized garage w/storage. $899,000

1327 E 27th Place Steps from Philbrook and a short walk to The Gathering Place, a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paradise on Tulsaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prestigious block. Commercial two story playground, playing field, theater, three season greenhouse, brick playhouse and basement tiled swimming pool. Large entry with limestone walls, high ceilings, large rooms w/hardwood floors throughout. .82 acre lot with mature trees. $1,190,000

2631 E 14th Street Updated house in desirable Renaissance Heights. 2 living areas, 3+ bed & updated kitchen and baths. Just built 2 car garage with storage and inviting pool and patio out back. Great entertaining home! $329,000

Marsha Hackler

5921 S Indianapolis Place

New England style home built in 1973 has been completely updated. Four bedrooms, three full baths and half bath. Hardwood, brick and onyx flooring. Fabulous master suite. Professionally landscaped with lighting, outdoor living area with fireplace and covered area with TV. $499,000.

918.260.9455 mhackler@tulsarealtors.com

Quietly going about the business of selling real estate for over 25 years. TulsaPeople.com

McGraw Realtors

Top 100 Realtors in Tulsa 3112 E 88th St Stately home located in a gated and guarded neighborhood. Updated 6 large bedrooms, 2 offices, media room, game room, spacious living areas. Half acre lot, pool, circle drive. New roof! $998,000

3717 E 45th Place Updated ranch style home, all one level. 3 bedrooms + office which could be another bedroom. 3 full bathrooms, gorgeous master bathroom has zero entry shower! 2 car garage, plenty of storage. Remodeled kitchen with large island & quartz countertops. New windows. Large yard, sprinkler system. Large back deck, perfect for relaxing & entertaining! $369,000

Skiatook Lake’s Estates @ Cross Timbers Vacant Lot Available $150,000

Garden, Osage Casino, downtown Tulsa

• Private, gated community • Active Homeowners Association

• Cross Timbers Marina with rentals and restaurant just down the hill

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

! AY

3620 E 47th Pl Patrick Henry neighborhood, 3 bedrooms with 2 full & 1 half bathroom, 3 living areas, 2 car garage. Gorgeous home with 10625 S Irvington Ave 5 beds, gameroom, 4 car garage w/ storage space & storm shelter. Repainted updated kitchen, new paint, back living room is vaulted with access to back patio! Professional + new carpet, spacious kitchen & 3 living areas, landscaping with attention to detail in every formal dining room + breakfast nook. Office & aspect of the yard + sprinkler system. $380,000 master bed downstairs. Large backyard. $510,000

Denise Regouby

• Close to Tulsa Botanic

1426 E 37th Place, Clean & move in ready! Brookside, newer construction. Jay Rambo Cabinets. Granite. 2 beds up, 2 beds down. Master Bath retreat! Outdoor Fireplace. Transitional to Modern Flair. $639,000

N DI

S OK

918.407.6141 dregouby@mcgrawok.com

•

Prime hilltop property affords spectacular views of Skiatook Lake

•

Just over half an acre wooded lot

•

Perfect spot for your dream home at the lake!

•

Owner/Agent, call for access

Sharna Bovasso

(918) 605-2995 | sbovasso@mcgrawok.com

Dee Ann Beal

918-640-1073

(918) 688-5467 | dbeal@mcgrawok.com

scoffman@mcgrawok.com

! LD

3612 E. 39th St. Tulsa $124,900 New Listing in midtown. Close to Patrick Henry Elementary. 3 bed, 1 bath, one car garage. Corner lot. Full brick. Covered front porch. Hardwoods. Some newer appliances in kitchen. New heat and air 2018. Unique gas fireplace in living room.

McGraw Realtors

Bovasso & Beal Team

Scott Coffman W

T LIS

1727 S. Rockford Avenue Adorable cottage with great curb appeal! Updated kitchen w/ stainless appliances (fridge stays) + office nook. Flexible floorplan w/ 3 bedrooms and 1 1/2 bath. Large master with walk in closet. Gorgeous hardwood floors throughout. Spacious backyard w/ mature trees.Walk to Utica Square, Cherry St. & St. Johnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital. $250,000.

ICE

2531 S Cincinnati Avenue | $499,900 Stately Sunset Terrace home w/ 3

bed 3.5 bath on a double lot. Kitchen Ideas Bill Powers designed kitchen and master bath remodel. Beautiful hardwoods, 2 downstairs living areas, spacious vaulted master bedroom retreat. 4 car total garage. Natural light throughout. Large park like yard. Upstairs game room. Walk to Council Oak Elementary & Gathering Place. Room for a pool!

Debra Adamek 918.695.4945

Debbie.Adamek@gmail.com DebAdamek.com

Debra Adamek is proud to partner with Hailey Adamek. Serving Tulsa and Surrounding Counties. Contact Hailey @ (918) 277-1239

6825 E. 105th Street Custom home on almost 2 acres w/exquisite craftsmanship & woodwork. Remodeled w/new wood & travertine floors. New granite, center island & SS appl in Chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen. Breathtaking great room w/floor to ceiling windows. Master suite w/spa-like bath. Park-like yard w/pool. 4 car garage! New price. $699,000.

Lewanna Shaw 918-409-3968 - lshaw@mcgrawok.com

Helping people to live their dreams. TulsaPeople.com

DOR0THEA LANGEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

AMERICA

ON VIEW THROUGH JANUARY 5

Discover the images that focused the nation on the trials and tribulations of the Great Depression. gilcrease.org/lange

Dorothea Lange, Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California, 1936 The University of Tulsa is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action institution. For EEO/AA information, contact the Office of Human Resources, 918-631-2616; for disability accommodations, contact Dr. Tawny Rigsby, 918-631-2315. TU#

Sweet and B spicy

inh Le Vietnamese Restaurant has been a mainstay of Tulsa’s Asian food scene for years. Its menu is full of inspired dishes, including plenty of vegetarian options. On a recent brisk lunch date, we opted for the Shrimp in Sweet Chili Sauce ($9.99). The entrée delivers savory notes with plenty of shrimp and vegetables. Served with a side of rice, it’s a hearty lunch perfect for a cold day. The day we visited, many other diners ordered the Vietnamese soups ($3.89$8.99) and Binh Le’s signature Deluxe Bun Cha Gio ($9.49), a salad mix of protein, noodles and vegetables. TP 5903 E. 31ST ST. | 918-835-7722

TulsaPeople.com

CHEERS! Tulsa is lucky to have so many great breweries. Here are a few of our favorites for good drinks and eats. — NATALIE MIKLES (PRICES: $: LESS THAN $10 $$: $10-$15 $$$: $16-$25 $$$$: OVER $25)

American Solera SoBo

PERFECT PAIRINGS

New Era Fine Fermentations

American Solera used to be a hidden gem. It was a favorite for cyclists and others who made the journey to the taproom off 49th West Avenue. American Solera’s downtown location, called SoBo, near East 18th Street and South Boston Avenue now is where to ﬁnd all your favorites, including the Tulsa Time brew and some great beer-wine hybrids. Food from the Ember Smoke Co. food truck is right outside, with outstanding scratch tortillas and smoked brisket, barbacoa, ribs and lamb.

The ﬁrst thing to know about New Era is it’s a good place for great beer. The second thing is that it’s all gluten free. New Era is a true rarity in that there aren’t just a few highlighted gluten-free beers on the menu. Every beer and all the menu items are gluten free. But if you never mention it to a skeptic who thinks gluten-free beer couldn’t possibly be good, they’ll never know. The beer-battered ﬁsh and chips and Hangover Hash, with potatoes, peppers, eggplant and squash, are especially good.

108 E. 18TH ST. | 918-779-7763 $

321 S. FRANKFORT AVE. | 918-367-0640 $$

Marshall Brewing Co.

Marshall is such a comfortable place that it feels like it has always been in Tulsa. You can ﬁnd some unusual and distinct brews here, but you don’t have to know a thing about artisan beer to love this place. Servers make it easy to ﬁnd something you will like, maybe starting with a Marshall favorite like a This Land lager or Sundown Wheat ale. Marshall also is the place to go for fun events and a variety of food trucks just outside the door.

Pippin’s Taproom

Many Tulsans know about High Gravity, a popular place for home-brewing and wine-making supplies. But not as many know High Gravity opened its own taproom this past year. Pippin’s is small, but a great place for tasting good beer and then ﬁnding out how to make it yourself. It also has a small bites menu with pizza, among other things. 6808 S. MEMORIAL DRIVE, SUITE 144 | 918-461-2605 $

1742 E. SIXTH ST. | 918-292-8781 $

Saltgrass Steak House 4550 E. Skelly Drive | 918-488-8794 | saltgrass.com

Nola’s Creole and Cocktails 1334 E. 15th St. | 918-779-7766 | nolastulsa.com

Duet 108 N. Detroit Ave. | 918-398-7201 | duetjazz.com

Peacemaker Lobster and Crab Co. 313 E. Second St. | 918-551-6781 peacemakerlobstercrab.com/tulsa

Black Bear Diner 9026 E. 71st St. | 918-459-8711 blackbeardiner.com/location/tulsa

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

NEW RESTAURANT New dining destinations are always popping up in Tulsa. Here are the winners from TulsaPeople’s annual A-List Readers’ Choice Awards.

SALTGRASS: LANDRY’S

s Thanksgiving menus come together, the trickiest part can be choosing wines that both pair well with the meal and please all the guests. Here to give us some tips is Gregor Donnini, co-owner of the Deco District’s Boston Title and Abstract restaurant, who also is a certified sommelier. “Most of the types of roasted meats served during Thanksgiving are a little bit lighter, so I think white wines are a great fit,” Donnini says. “I think Vinho Verde (Torre de Menagem pictured) is a great option and it’s only $8-$15 per bottle. It’s light, crisp and has a little bit of effervescence because they bottle it up really young. So, fermentation continues to happen even after it’s bottled.” For those who prefer reds, Donnini says Thanksgiving also is Beaujolais nouveau season. The wine is released annually on the third Thursday in November. “The nouveau harvest is the first glimpse into how the harvest will be this year, so it goes well with the ‘bounty of the season’ theme at Thanksgiving,” Donnini says. “To me, it just goes hand in hand.” If you’re looking for a more sophisticated, headier red, Donnini suggests a lambrusco. “It’s light and dry, almost like a brewed rosé, and the quality you can get from that grape is tremendous,” Donnini says. “It also has some effervescence, which is always great for celebrating with family and friends. It’s Thanksgiving, so bust out the bubbles.” — ANGELA EVANS

FEATURING RENOWNED JAZZ PIANIST DONALD RYAN

STARRING GRADY NICHOLS WITH ANDY CHRISMAN AND KELLY FORD TULSA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER - NOVEMBER 30TH, 8:00 PM A Benefit Concert For ALS Patient Services Outreach T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E AT :

gradynicholschristmas.com

Serving daily to enhance the quality of life for individuals and families with ALS, by advocating and providing for their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

W H AT’S COOK ING?

LISTEN UP!

The buzz on Tulsa’s tastiest products, restaurants and events BY NATALIE MIKLES

TulsaPeople’s popular TULSA TALKS podcast — all about our local community and culture — has returned for SEASON 3! NOVEMBER GUESTS INCLUDE:

NOVEMBER 6 Jennifer Loren

“Osiyo: Voices of the Cherokee People”

NOVEMBER 20 Ben Alexander McNellie’s Group

PROSPERITY

Subscribe for FREE on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Spotify! Presented by:

ECONOMIC & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS & EDUCATION ADVOCACY TOURISM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

YOUR PARTNER IN PROSPERITY

tulsachamber.com

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

f turkey is the star of the Thanksgiving meal, mashed potatoes are its best accessory. There’s nothing simpler than a potato, boiled and mashed with cream, butter, salt and pepper. Once you have the basics down, have fun with adding rosemary, Parmesan cheese, garlic, green onions or enhancements. Making good mashed potatoes is a sign you’ve mastered adulthood. If you can make creamy potatoes, you’ll forever be set when asked to bring a side dish. Or when the pantry is looking a little bare, if you have a few potatoes, you’re close to having a feast. That said, there is such a thing as bad mashed potatoes. Both at home and at some restaurants, we’ve all tasted mashed potatoes that were either gummy or lumpy or dry or bland. We’re sharing a few tips to make sure that doesn’t happen to you. Plus, a recipe for traditional mashed potatoes that will be welcome at Thanksgiving or as a super star side with roast chicken, grilled salmon and a million other things this fall.

POTATO POINTERS

1. Yukon gold potatoes are a favorite for mashed potatoes. The creamy texture and smooth flavor are preferred over red potatoes. A basic russet potato also is good. 2. When boiling potatoes, be sure to cover them completely with water to keep them from drying out. And boil gently rather than a full, rapid boil.

3. Warm your liquids, whether it be milk or cream or broth, before adding to the potatoes. Cold liquids will require you to mix longer, which can create overly starchy and glue-like potatoes. 4. Mashed potatoes aren’t as great when microwaved. They’re really best the day they’re made. But if it’s not possible to make them just before serving, look for a good recipe for make-ahead potatoes or potatoes that stay warm in a slow cooker. Let this be your go-to recipe for the best mashed potatoes. But feel free to add other flavors that appeal to you.

CLASSIC MASHED POTATOES Serves 6 2 pounds Yukon Gold or russet potatoes ½ cup warm whole milk or heavy cream ¼ cup butter, cubed ¾ teaspoon kosher salt Ground black pepper, to taste

Peel potatoes, and cut into 1-inch cubes. Place potatoes in a large saucepan, adding water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cook (uncovered) until tender. Th is usually takes about 20-25 minutes. Drain potatoes, then combine them with warm milk, butter, salt and pepper. Mash using a potato masher or ricer until light and fluff y. If you don’t have a potato masher, use an electric mixer; be sure to blend just until combined so that potatoes don’t become gummy and overmixed. TP

T-TOWN TACOS

Howdy Burger There’s a new tenant at Mother Road Market, 1124 S. Lewis Ave. Howdy Burger is a throwback to the roadside burger stands that fed countless travelers along Route 66. The folks at McNellie’s are behind the new burger stand. The old-fashioned burgers are cooked on a flat-top grill and served on fluffy potato buns. Order single, double or triple-patty burgers with all the toppings. Howdy Burger also has a vegetarian burger and a breakfast sandwich with sausage or bacon and cheese. Shoestring fries and lemonade also are on the menu. Burgers start at $5; fries are $3. You can fi nd Howdy Burger between Chicken and the Wolf and Nice Guys Shrimp Shack at Mother Road Market.

April 24, 2016 — opening day at T-Town Tacos — was a sell-out. That was a good sign of things to come for the taco truck, which is run by and beneﬁ ts Youth Services of Tulsa. In the beginning, some customers visited the food truck just to support Youth Services. But it didn’t take long for word to get out about how good these tacos were. Tacos are a good deal at $3 each. The most popular breakfast taco is the chorizo with cilantro pesto. For lunch, customers love the chipotle beef and the bean and veggie. Wes Rose with T-Town Tacos says a focus on making great tacos has created a loyal following. This has opened doors for people to learn about what YST does to help young people gain work habits needed to maintain employment and help their transition out of homelessness. “I have seen time after time, when we give our young people increasing responsibility at T-Town Tacos, they continue to rise to the occasion and take ownership of their work,” Rose says. T-Town Tacos can be found on varying days at several locations downtown, including their original space in front of the United Way, 1430 S. Boulder Ave., from 7:30-9:30 a.m., Thursdays. For a full list of times and locations, visit t-towntacos.com.

Golden Drumstick 4903 E. 11TH ST.

Lost restaurants of Tulsa

GOLDEN DRUMSTICK: RHYS MARTIN

Restaurants might come and go in Tulsa, but many have made their mark on our city’s history for their food, service, owners and atmosphere. Here’s one serving of Tulsa’s gastronomic history from “Lost Restaurants of Tulsa.” The Golden Drumstick was an iconic stop for Tulsans and Route 66 travelers alike. It opened in December 1948, and was originally owned and operated by brothers Bill and Bob Latting. The restaurant was an immediate hit with lines out the door to try its delicious fried chicken. The front of the restaurant featured a wishing well in the lobby, where the children who cleaned their plates could win a prize, such as a toy plane or a doll. After the meal, you were brought small bowls of warm lemon water so you could clean your fingers. “I’d never seen anything like that before; we were from the country. I thought it was just water, so, I picked it up and drank it,” remembered one customer. By 1953, the Lattings claimed they served more of the dish than any other establishment in the state. In 1958, the Lattings retired. Lee and Lois Apple (along with their son Ed) continued the restaurant into the 1970s. It closed in 1975, but the building was soon transformed into another popular Tulsa eatery: the Middle Path. — RHYS MARTIN TulsaPeople.com

TULSA TIME WARP

A 1950s view of KFMJ 1050 AM on the northwest corner of East 13th Street (now Baltimore Avenue) and South Boston Avenue. The studio entrance is seen on the side of the building. The Fred Jones Ford service department and sales lot once occupied the area next to this building along Boston, which is now parking for Boston Avenue United Methodist Church.

STRONG SIGNAL

STORY AND COMPOSITE IMAGE BY PATRICK MCNICHOLAS

TulsaPeople NOVEMBER 2019

WAYNE MCCOMBS/TULSATVMEMORIES.COM

n 1946 a well-known auto dealer, Fred Jones, also became a radio station owner when KFMJ 1050 AM signed on the air. The station’s call letters F-M-J were merely Jones’ and his wife Mary’s initials. Now, Tulsans could choose from one of six stations in town. The studio at 1242 S. Boston Ave. was located across the street from Jones’ dealership, which he opened in 1938, and next door to his service facility, completed in 1948. Originally, programming mainly consisted of “middle of the road” contemporary, gospel and jazz music, as well as news. Like many AM stations of the time, it was a “daytimer” station, which meant it only broadcast during daylight hours. The studio was relocated to the transmitter site on West Edison Street in 1957 and had three different owners over the next decade. The format was changed to country and religious programming with the help of Oral Roberts’ three-year ownership. KFMJ dissolved in the early 1980s and was renamed KGTO 1050. The call letters KFMJ now belong to an AM station in Alaska. TP

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