Preventive maintenance is the best thing you can do for your health. If you’re 45 or older, now is a great time to schedule a colonoscopy. Early detection with regular colon screenings can give you the peace of mind can keep you focused on the road ahead.
Start your preventive health journey as early as age 45 for a lifetime of wellness. Schedule a colonoscopy today.
For more information, visit uticaparkclinic.com/colon-screening
Small, independently owned breweries are thriving in Oklahoma. Sample the best of what the Sooner State has to offer with this tour of what’s on tap.
BY KAREN SZABOPaul Stevenson is a retired educator and Tulsa woodworking artist who donates his work to nonprofits. Meet him in this month’s LIFE Lessons, page 22.
PHOTO BY BETH HAWKINS.
As you plan your holiday shopping, don’t forget to buy Made in Oklahoma products. From jam to jewels, many nationally prized products are produced here at home.
BY LINDSAY MORRIS
Thinking of taking your crafting hobby to the next level by selling your items? Learn about the market for handcrafted goods and meet an artist who turned her “therapy” into income.
BY JULIE WEGNER WATSONMedicare’s Open Enrollment period is underway. Use this reference guide to see your options for 2023.
Oak Street Health is in the Humana Medicare network in your area and can actively help you make the most of your Medicare plan. With providers in Humana's network, you can find doctors who have time to listen—and an entire team dedicated to coordinating your care to serve your whole self.
—Judy, Humana Gold Plus HMO Member
the
of
are
It’s finally fall! After a very hot, seemingly endless summer, we are headed into the season of cooler nights, pumpkin spice, and gratitude. I couldn’t be more ready.
This is our Do It Yourself issue, with a focus on creative entrepreneurs, crafters, and brewers who make our community a more interesting place to be. We also shine a light on the Made in Oklahoma brands, which seem to be an expanding portfolio. All of these people and their stories fascinate me. I love people with the gumption to take a chance.
However, when I sat down to write this letter, the terms “Do It Yourself” and “Made in Oklahoma” seemed to take on slightly different meanings. We have an election on November 8th. Historically, mid-term elections have a lower turnout. There are estimates that only one-third to onehalf of registered Oklahomans will cast their ballot this month. That really seems like such a shame.
Made in Oklahoma doesn’t just apply to mustards and marinades. I was made in Oklahoma, as were my three children. Most certainly our futures will be made here. If we don’t take the time to research candidates and issues, and then get to the polls to cast our ballots, we are allowing others to make our futures, shape our grandchildren’s education, determine how our tax dollars are spent, and decide how our judicial system will operate. Our futures are
too important to abdicate, and the ballot box is the maker space for all of these issues.
I hear often that “seniors vote,” and as a whole, seniors indeed vote in higher percentages than most other age groups. So, if you are planning on casting your ballot, THANK YOU! It is the most patriotic thing we can do. If you need a ride to the polls, ask. If you can give a ride to the polls, offer one to a nondriving friend or neighbor. If you have friends, siblings, children, or grandchildren who plan to sit out this election, encourage them, educate them, and cajole them. Sometimes people just need to be reminded that our government can only be “of the people” if the people vote! Truly it gives extra meaning to the term “do it yourself.”
Author George Nathan once wrote, “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don’t vote.” Let’s make our Made in Oklahoma future a brighter one for all of us by taking an
President & CEO of LIFE Senior Services, LIFE PACE & Vintage Housing
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Managing Editor
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Assistant Editor
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Copy Editor
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine accepts advertising to defray the cost of production and distribution, and appreciates the support of its advertisers. The publisher does not specifically endorse advertisers or their products or services. LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine reserves the right to refuse advertising. Rates are available upon request by calling (918) 664-9000.
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Volume 37, Issue 5, November 2022
LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine (ISSN 2168-8494) (USPS 18320) is published monthly by LIFE Senior Services, 5950 E. 31st St., Tulsa, OK 74135.
Periodicals postage paid at Tulsa, OK.
Currently the seat is held by Judge Martha Rupp Carter – the Presiding Judge over the Juvenile division. She has chosen to retire. Judge Wilson would be honored to follow in the footsteps of the Judges who have held this office.
Judge Wilson began her career as a prosecutor in the Tulsa County District Attorney’s Office. With utmost integrity, Tanya Wilson sought justice for victims in both the Crimes against Children and the Juvenile Divisions.
In 2009 Judge Wilson became a Juvenile Court Case Manager.
In 2015 Judge Wilson returned to the DA’s Office to prosecute cases involving homicides and crimes against children.
Ultimately, Judge Wilson became Chief of the Juvenile Division supervising the DA’s Juvenile team.
In 2020 Judge Wilson was sworn in as a Judicial District 14 Special District Judge.
Judge Tanya Wilson is a proud lifelong resident and supporter of our community.
Judge Wilson has received numerous awards based on her achievements.
Judge Wilson mentors future lawyers as an adjunct Professor of Trial Practice at the University of Tulsa College of Law.
Tanya was raised as a member of the Historic Mount Zion Baptist Church where she served as a Trustee.
In the last year of President John Adams’s term, he moved into the newly constructed President’s House, aka the White House. Adams’s carriage rolled up on November 1; his wife Abigail arrived one month later. She said the building was tolerable only if fires were lit in every room. After five months, Thomas Jefferson defeated Adams in his bid for re-election, and the Adamses lived the rest of their days at their family farm.
In 1965, for action in Saigon, Specialist Five Lawrence Joel, a medic with the 1st Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor. President Johnson presented the medal on March 9, 1967, in ceremonies held on the White House lawn. The first living African American since the SpanishAmerican War to receive the award, Specialist Joel continued to administer aid despite having multiple injuries himself.
Two young women display costumes during a photo shoot at The Costume Shop, 4130 S. Peoria Ave., on August 16, 1965.
Men and women from the Choctaw Indian Spinning Association and Sequoyah Indian Weavers Association are pictured with traditional, woven textiles in this photo, circa 1950.
Melville’s sixth book is considered a classic of American literature. Initially, the book about catching a giant whale flopped. His first novel “Typee,” published in 1846 based on experiences in Polynesia, had been a success. Moby-Dick had a disappointing reception. Melville returned to New York in 1865 where he worked as a customs inspector for 20 years.
Margaret Thatcher Resigns Margaret Thatcher, the first female prime minister in British history, announced her resignation after 11 years in Britain’s top office. Her three consecutive terms in office marked the longest continuous tenure of a British prime minister since 1827. In 1959, she was elected to Parliament as a Conservative for Finchley, a north London district, and rose rapidly through the ranks. The “Iron Lady” died on April 8, 2013, at the age of 87, following a stroke.
“The Mousetrap,” a murder mystery written by novelist and playwright Agatha Christie, opened in London. The whodunit became the longest continuously running play in history. At its premiere in 1952, Winston Churchill was British prime minister, Joseph Stalin was the Soviet ruler, and Harry Truman was president. In 1974, after nearly 9,000 shows, the play was moved to St. Martin’s Theatre, where it remained until March 2020, when COVID-19 suspended performances. Agatha Christie died in 1976.
After a storm on Thanksgiving Day, Washington state’s floating Lacey V. Murrow Memorial Bridge broke apart and sank in Lake Washington. “It looked like a big old battleship had been hit by enemy fire and was sinking into the briny deep,” said one observer. (He added: “It was awesome.”) Fortunately, no one was injured, and The Murrow Bridge was soon rebuilt.
© The History Channel
BY J.B. NICHOLSON
Do you sometimes tell yourself that you’ll get back to being creative when everything else is done? Is your creative energy at the bottom of the huge barrel of urgent must-do items?
It’s time to reach down and bring some of that creativity out. Even a few minutes arranging some fresh flowers or sketching with colored pencils can be a relaxing break to help caregivers find the calm and motivation to accomplish that must-do list.
“What I pick out time for – I take a lot of pictures on my phone,” said Jodye Johnson, who cares for her husband Steve. A trained Tulsa Master Gardener, she has glorious flowers that attract wildlife.
“I’m just caught in the moment.”
She appreciates the flight of a hummingbird outside her window or the slow pace of a grasshopper on a leaf in the garden.
“I have a really nice camera, but I don’t know if I know how to use it now,” she laughed. But the phone is always handy.
Photography can be an effective escape for a few minutes at a time. There doesn’t need to be a goal of creating frameable art for the living room, or other pressure to develop something lasting. Capturing a silly moment with a pet can be an enjoyable thing to share with family and friends over dinner that night.
A caregiver’s schedule often doesn’t allow time to consult a variety of beautiful cookbooks to provide a colorful meal. Perhaps a brightly-colored napkin or a collection of greenery from the yard can be a small corner of cheer.
Spread out colorful pens and markers when it’s time to update the appointment calendar. Doodle some art on the calendar. Many paintings in museums are of bowls of fruit or vases of flowers. The same inspiration can be found in any kitchen. Pick up an inexpensive bouquet at a grocery store to brighten a room.
Simply becoming more aware of the colors and shapes around the house can open the door for that creative muse. One creative idea can lead to another. Notice the rabbit in the front yard, the geese at the pond, and the green of the trees as you and your loved one are going out for some fresh air.
When there isn’t time or energy for glue guns and multi-day projects, there can still be relaxation in seeing the curve of the sidewalk and the straight lines of the rows of trees. When there is no one to talk to about the challenges of the day, there is still a relief to be found in expressing emotion through creativity.
Do you keep a crochet basket handy for those short breaks during the day, or to help relax at night? A drawing pad or stack of magazine images for collage art at the kitchen table?
Calming movements have been shown to decrease stress.
Research with caregivers shows that high levels of stress can lead to poorer patient outcomes and increased risk of health problems for the caregivers themselves.
Making art may help to express and process challenging emotions. Caregivers also have noted that creating patterns in drawing or knitting can help meet that need for organization.
Creating order out of a ball of yarn, or symmetry in quilt squares can bring relaxation, and can be done in small increments of time.
Do you drive past interesting buildings during your routine?
Or see some from your window? Notice the patterns of design and the intricate construction. Take a moment to think about how all the parts fit together perfectly, and how you are fitting together all the parts of your life.
Our healthcare professionals are here to help seniors like you get the most out of life at one of our Oklahoma centers. With 24-hour service, same-day appointments, telehealth visits and more, we’re truly a one-stop shop for all your primary care needs.
BIXBY Autumn Park 8401 E. 134th St. S. (918) 369-8888
BRISTOW Woodland Village 131 E. 9th Ave. (918) 367-8300
BROKEN ARROW Kenosha Landing 2602 W. Oakland Pl. (918) 258-0331
Vandever House 3102 S. Juniper Ave. (918) 451-3100
Cardinal Heights 224 S. 19th St. (918) 371-9116
COWETA Carriage Crossing 28530 E. 141st St. (918) 486-4460
Redbud Village 14900 S. Broadway St. (918) 322-5100
JENKS Pioneer Village 315 S. Birch St. (918) 298-2992
OWASSO Prairie Village 12877 E. 116th St. N. (918) 371-3221
Heartland Village 109 E. 38th St. (918) 241-1200
Hickory Crossing 2101 S. Hickory St. (918) 224-5116
SKIATOOK West Oak Village 1002 S. Fairfax Ave. (918) 396-90
Brookhollow Landing 2910 S. 129th E. Ave. (918) 622-2700
Cornerstone Village 1045 N. Yale Ave. (918) 835-1300
Country Oaks 5648 S. 33rd W. Ave. (918) 446-3400
Heritage Landing 3102 E. Apache St. (918) 836-7070
Park Village 650 S. Memorial Dr. (918) 834-6400
Whittier Heights 64 N. Lewis Ave. (918) 392-3393 55 and older
Whittier Villas 53 N. Gillette Ave. (918) 901-0027
Original Medicare pays for most, but not all, of the cost for covered health care services and supplies. Medicare Supplement Insurance policies, sold by private companies, can help pay some of the remaining health care costs, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Medicare Supplement Insurance policies are also called Medigap policies.
Every Medigap policy must follow federal and state laws designed to protect you, and they must be clearly identified as “Medicare Supplement Insurance.” Insurance companies can sell you only a “standardized” policy identified in most states by letters A through D, F, G, and K through N. All policies offer the same basic benefits, but some offer additional benefits so you can choose which one meets your needs.
You must be enrolled in Part A and Part B to sign up for a Medigap policy.
Medigap premiums are paid monthly to the insurance provider, in addition to the monthly Part B premium that is paid to Medicare.
A Medigap policy only covers one person. Spouses must buy separate policies.
Plans C and F are not available to people who are newly eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. If you are already on one of these plans or were covered by one of these plans before January 1, 2020, you will be able to keep your plan. If you were eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, but were not enrolled, you may be able to buy one of these plans.
It’s important to compare Medigap policies since the costs can vary between insurance companies for exactly the same coverage, and may go up as you get older.
The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This 6-month period begins on the first day of the month you have Part B and are 65 or older. After this enrollment period, you may not be able to buy a Medigap policy and even if you’re able to buy one, it may cost more.
If you delay enrolling in Part B because you have group health coverage based on your – or your spouse’s – current employment, your Medigap Open Enrollment Period won’t start until you sign up for Part B.
In Oklahoma, state law requires all companies that sell Medicare supplement plans to adults 65 and over must sell at least a Plan A to those under age 65.
If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan for the first time and aren’t happy with it, you have the legal right to buy a Medigap policy and a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan if you return to Original Medicare within 12 months.
If you have a Medigap policy and join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may want to drop your Medigap policy which can’t be used to pay your Medicare Advantage Plan copayments, deductibles, or premiums. To cancel your Medigap policy, contact your insurance company. In most cases, if you drop your Medigap policy to join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you won’t be able to get it back.
If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, it’s illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy unless you’re switching back to Original Medicare. If you’re not switching, and someone tries to sell you a Medigap policy, report it to your State Insurance Department.
Source: www.medicare.gov
For help in finding and comparing the Medigap policy choices available, visit www.medicare.gov and select the tab “Supplements and Other Insurance.”
The Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) at LIFE Senior Services is offering more ways for us to help you determine if your Medicare prescription drug plan will still meet your needs in 2023. MAP will have face-to-face appointments at four facilities, including LIFE’s Central location at 5950 E. 31st St. in Tulsa. Phone appointments are available as well and allow you to compare your Medicare Part D options from the safety of your home. All services will be provided by trained Medicare Oklahoma State Health Insurance Assistance
Program counselors from LIFE Senior Services!
To schedule your Part D comparison appointment, call (918) 664-9000, ext. 1189.
Generally speaking, craft beers are beers brewed by independently owned breweries – or microbreweries – which are very small in size, produce small amounts of beer, and are not part of a large corporation. Craftsmanship is key as these breweries emphasize new flavors and varied brewing techniques.
America is in a craft beer boom – and Oklahoma is no exception. The state is quickly becoming a leader in the nationwide movement of small breweries producing beers with more complexity, strength, and variety.
In recent years, craft beers accounted for nearly one-quarter of the nation’s $111 billion beer market.
While mega breweries still hold the lion’s share of the market, local breweries have increased dramatically since 2006, opening new taprooms and developing their own in-house flavors and styles.
“Our membership has more than doubled in the past two years due to the sheer number of breweries here in Oklahoma,” said Tabbi Burwell, Executive Director for the Craft Brewers Association of Oklahoma (CBAO). “We were formed in 2015 and were a driving force in changing Oklahoma’s liquor laws.”
In 2018, Oklahoma’s liquor laws changed for the first time in decades. For breweries, that meant high point beer (up to 9% alcohol) could be refrigerated and sold cold at liquor and grocery stores. That also meant an increase in breweries and taprooms, which contributed to the growth of the local craft beer industry and, in turn, the local economy.
For a state steeped in Native American history, it makes sense that the first beers brewed in Oklahoma were created by the first tribe to resettle here, the Choctaw. Now known as Choc beer, the beer was brewed with barley and hops, but often included other ingredients such as rice, apples, raisins, and tobacco. Other settlers adopted the practice, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society.
In 1919, Italian immigrant Pietro Peigari came to Oklahoma and began brewing Choc beer. It became so popular among the coal miners that he was able to keep the Choc Beer Company afloat. In 1925, he opened a restaurant in Krebs called Pete’s Place. He continued to produce and serve Choc Beer illegally throughout Prohibition, earning two jail terms.
Post Prohibition in 1933, Oklahoma beer with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 3.2% or less became legalized. A young Czech brewer, John Kroutil took advantage of this opportunity and began brewing the state’s first legal 3.2% beer in 1934. It wasn’t until 1959 that Prohibition was completely repealed and harder alcohol was officially allowed.
In 2018, Oklahoma finally switched from 3.2% beer to stronger Oklahoma craft beer. The state’s beer industry was a robust economic contributor to the state during the pandemic, bringing in $2.9 billion even though nationally the industry suffered in 2020.
“We had zero breweries shut down during Covid,” Burwell said. “They had to get creative, offering taproom or curbside pickup.”
Today, the Sooner State ranks 33rd in the nation with 76 craft breweries producing 88,672 barrels of beer contributing $581,000 to the state’s economy.
All beer falls into two styles: ales and lagers, with yeast making the difference. With ales, the yeast gathers toward the top of the tank during fermentation, making these beers aromatic and often fruity. In lagers, the yeast gathers at the bottom, resulting in a brew that is usually crisp, clean, and refreshing. Another difference is timing and temperature. Ales age for just a few weeks at around 40 – 55°F, while lagers can age for months between 32 – 45°F.
India Pale Ale (IPA) is the most popular craft beer style today, accounting for roughly one-fourth of all craft beer products. Emphasizing hops, IPA imparts aromas and flavors like citrus, spice, tropical fruits, pine, and berries.
Pale ales are usually lower in alcohol than an IPA with a malty flavor, a golden to amber color, and moderate strength. Amber ales are made with caramelized, amber-hued malt, giving the beer a richer flavor and darker color. Other ales include light and refreshing wheat beers and dark, heavybodied stouts.
Lagers are the most popular beer style in the world – think Budweiser, Coors Light, and Michelob Ultra. Lagers include pilsners, Mexican lagers and Vienna lagers.
To describe Oklahoma’s craft beer scene as thriving would be an understatement. The state’s
OKLAHOMA’S CRAFT BREWING BOOM, continued on page 16.
world-class microbreweries have released awardwinning beers to national and international acclaim.
“Breweries are the next coffee houses,” Burwell said. “They’re where people want to meet and gather – especially in rural communities and smaller towns.”
She explained that many breweries are coming up with creative ways to create community and market their beer. Breweries may offer trivia nights, food trucks, or special events. “Skydance Brewing Company in Oklahoma City releases a new beer every Friday which draws people in each week,” Burwell said.
“What’s great is the collaboration, not competition, between Oklahoma’s craft breweries,” she added. “They support each other and collaborate on events and even create new beers together.”
In 2021, the CBAO launched the Oklahoma Craft Beer Trail, a guide to 60 breweries around the state, with the Department of Agriculture. This past summer, they introduced the Oklahoma Craft Beer Trail passport, a mobile-friendly passport that rewards craft beer fans as they explore Oklahoma’s taprooms. Users can earn prizes ranging from stickers to koozies, and once all breweries are checked off the passport, beer fans will earn an Oklahoma Craft Beer Trail pint glass. Brewers are also rewarded for taking part in the tourism taste fest. Not only is the passport driving traffic into their breweries, but brewery owners can receive data about the customers that they may not have had before launching the passport.
“The passport gives beer fans the tools to explore Oklahoma’s growing brewery scene, supports tourism, and draws business to our small, independently owned breweries,” Burwell said.
Here is a quick tour of what’s on tap in the Sooner State.
1742 E. 6th St. • Tulsa
After apprenticing in German breweries, founder Eric Marshall brought his love of beer and brewing techniques back to Tulsa to highlight the art and enjoyment of craft beer. Marshall Brewing Company has been a long-time leader in the Tulsa craft beer scene since opening in 2008. It was Tulsa’s first commercial brewing facility since World War II. All the beer is brewed on-site, and Marshall’s offers free monthly tours of their brewhouse.
TO TRY – Old Pavilion Pilsner, McNellie’s Pub Ale, Atlas IPA, Sundown Wheat, and El Chucuy.
3 NE 8th St. • Oklahoma City
Started by Tulsa brothers Colin and Chase Healey, Prairie put the Oklahoma craft beer scene on the map shortly after launching in 2013.
What began as a passion project for the beer-loving brothers is now considered one of RateBeer’s “Top 100 Breweries in the World.” The brewery is now owned by Krebs Brewing Company in Oklahoma, but their signature recipes remain unchanged.
TO TRY – Prairie’s flagship BOMB!, Rainbow Sherbet, and Phantasmagoria.
1702 E. 6th St. • Tulsa
Created by Prairie Artisan Ales cofounder Chase Healey, American Solera was named the best new brewery in the United States – and the second in the world – at the 2017 RateBeer Best Awards. The brewery’s focus is on wild and sour ales aged in oak barrels and foeders.
TO TRY – Bright Black Delight, Rose Gold, Terp Surp, and Mocha Dilemma.
333 W. Dallas St. • Broken Arrow
This Native American owned and operated microbrewery is Broken Arrow’s first craft brewery in the bustling Rose District. Located in what was formerly Broken Arrow Ice Plant and Light & Power Company built in 1906, Broken Arrow Brewing has been refurbished into a charming drinking spot. The staff is always willing to take you on a tour through the brewery.
TO TRY – Broken Arrow Brown, Rose District Radler, and Hader-Weizen.
This flourishing brewery started operations in June 2013. Founder Tony Peck named the business after discovering a dead armadillo under a pile of lumber while helping his
parents. Their flagship brew, Amber Ale, is a mainstay in Tulsa’s craft beer scene.
TO TRY – Amber Ale, Black Hop, and Dead Ball Hooligan.
Founded by Melissa and Zach French and brewer Jake Miller, this lively craft brewery in the Kendall Whittier District opened in 2017 in a former auto repair garage. They pack their beer with fresh outdoor ingredients, from foraged mulberries to dandelions. Open seven days a week, Heirloom Rustic Ales’ taproom offers an impressive selection of rotating beers on tap and 32-ounce cans available to take home.
TO TRY – Sacred Field and Meadow Bier.
Not long ago, if you wanted to drink a nonalcoholic beer, your selection was limited in both availability and flavor. Today, big brands and craft breweries alike are getting into the “near beer” game with options ranging from pale ales and lagers to stouts and hard seltzers.
By law, beverages can claim to be nonalcoholic as long as they don’t exceed the limit of 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV), according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Don’t worry too much about the numbers, though. It would be almost impossible to get intoxicated on 0.5% beer – indeed, that’s roughly the same amount of alcohol as you’d find in a ripe banana.
Nonalcoholic beers are brewed much like regular beer, using the same basic ingredients such as malted barley or wheat, hops, yeast, and water. In recent years new technology such as vacuum evaporation, filtration, and other techniques let brewers extract alcohol from beer while leaving its flavor largely intact.
The nonalcoholic beer market is still relatively small, but experts predict the market for no- and low-alcohol drinks will increase 31% globally by 2024. Increased awareness of health concerns connected with alcohol consumption is spurring the demand for nonalcoholic beverages. Nonalcoholic beers are also considerably lower in calories, more hydrating, and were found to have anti-inflammatory and anti-viral effects in one study.
“Athletic is our most popular nonalcoholic beer,” said Connor Bradley at Ranch Acres Wine and Spirits. “People really like their IPA and stout.”
Other popular buzz-free brews include Lagunitas and Surreal Brewing Company. Heineken, St. Paulie Girl, and Guinness make popular nonalcoholic beers, as do mainstream breweries like Busch, Budweiser, and Coors.
“These are great alternatives whether you’re cutting back, pregnant, in recovery, or need to drive but want the flavor of a good beer,” Bradley said.
Covenant Living at Inverness | Tulsa, OK
3800 West 71st Street
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To schedule a tour today, call (877) 478-8455, or visit us online at CovLivingInverness.org.
Covenant Living of Bixby | Bixby, OK
7300 East 121st Place South
Available now! • Independent & Assisted Living
Excellent service, worry-free living • No buy-in fee!
To schedule a tour today, call (877) 312-3248, or visit us online at CovLivingBixby.org.
‘Near Beer’ Makes a Healthy Alternative
FOR EVERYONE
“Athletic is our most popular nonalcoholic beer. People really like their IPA and stout.”
– Connor Bradley, Ranch Acres Wine and Spirits
There are many amazing products made right here in Oklahoma! Purchasing MIO products for your Thanksgiving table or as Christmas presents is a great way to contribute to local businesses and support the Oklahoma economy.
BY LINDSAY MORRISOklahomans know how to make tasty food; there’s no doubt about that! Here are a few of the fine products you can use on your dinner table or gift to friends and family.
Griffin Foods was founded in 1908 and is based out of Muskogee. John W. Griffin, the grandson of founder John T. Griffin, serves as the current president. Some of their products include syrup, molasses, imitation vanilla, mustard, and barbecue sauces. These products can be found at local grocers and on the company’s website, griffinfoods.com.
Shawnee Milling Company was founded in 1906 when J. Lloyd Ford opened his mill. The plant in Shawnee produces more than one million pounds of food products daily. Some of the company’s products include flour, corn meal, gravy mix, pancake mix, and brownie mix. These products can be found at local grocers and on the company’s website, shawneemilling.com.
Who doesn’t love a Braum’s run? Braum’s never leaves us lacking in ice cream, burgers, and crinkle-cut fries. And if a delicious meal or ice cream sundae isn’t enough, you can
also stock up on basic grocery items, including the all-important gallon of ice cream.
Braum’s began in 1933 when Henry H. Braum leased a converted house and turned it into a small butter processing plant in his hometown of Emporia, Kansas. His son moved operations to Oklahoma, opening the first Braum’s Ice Cream in Oklahoma City in 1968. The Braum family now owns and operates more than 280 stores throughout Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, and Arkansas. All Braum’s stores are within a 300-mile radius of the Braum’s Processing Plant in Tuttle, Oklahoma to ensure the highest quality and freshest products.
Speaking of locally made sweets, did you know those little pies sold at McDonald’s around the world are from right here in Tulsa?
These pies are one of the many products produced by Bama Pies. The company was founded in
MADE IN OKLAHOMA, continued on page 20.
LIFE PACE – a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly – is a comprehensive, coordinated senior healthcare program that uses a team approach to provide a variety of services: medical care, skilled therapies, behavioral health, dietary and nutritional support, nursing, transportation, social workers, engaging activities, hospitalizations, caregiver training, basic health supplies, durable medical equipment, and more.
The LIFE PACE Program not only provides participants with a wide range of supportive services, but also helps lighten the responsibilities faced by family caregivers. An estimated 53 million people are currently providing care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC). Nearly one in four family caregivers say providing care has caused their own physical health to decline, the NAC reports.
LIFE PACE can support caregivers by providing respite with adult day health, support with activities of daily living, or supervision so caregivers can return to work, or just take a much-needed break. A study done in 2018 showed that caregivers with a loved one enrolled in a PACE program had a 58% reduction in caregiver burden. Knowing these needs are met gives family members room to be more of a loved one than a caregiver.
Research has also found that caregiver burden and stress predict nursing home placement of loved ones. One of the goals of PACE is to keep participants living in their own homes as long as safely possible. Programs like LIFE PACE recognize the importance of supporting caregivers so participants can maintain better health and prevent or reduce hospitalizations and nursing home admissions.
As the senior population continues to grow and long-term care becomes increasingly more expensive, the need for family caregivers will become even more crucial to the well-being of seniors. LIFE PACE can provide a vital impact on the lives of seniors by supplying the care they need to maintain their independence. It can also give family caregivers the support they need to provide the best care they can – so families can focus more on life.
I went to a seminar at LIFE Senior Services and he was the speaker that day. I was in a lot of pain, so I asked him a few questions and he was very good at answering them. Said he would be happy to try and help me.
Dr. Webb did an MRI and I have 3 specific issues. There were three procedures: Steroid Shots, Ablation and Kyphoplasty.
He started with Steroid Shots, then we tried the Kyphoplasty and then we did an Ablation. I had my last Ablation in December and this is August and I am pain free. I never would have ever thought I would be pain free, but here I am.
If you’re looking for a one-stop destination to support local entrepreneurs through your holiday gift purchases, look no further than Mother Road Market at 11th Street and Lewis Avenue. Mother Road Market, along with Shops at Mother Road Market, is Oklahoma’s only nonprofit food hall, developed by Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation. The vibrant community at Mother Road Market is comprised of 27 locally owned businesses. Entrepreneurs can utilize the smallshop model to pilot concepts without the burdensome financial investment of opening a full-scale restaurant or retail space.
There are currently 15 food vendors in Mother Road Market. Some of the delicious eats you will find there include 1907 Barbecue, Howdy Burger, Farrell Bread, and Chicken & Wolf. Some of the shops inside Mother Road Market include Knot Yours, with handmade pet products; K66 General Store’s locally packaged food, and 19 & 21, a Greenwood Avenue gift shop.
The Vault is a pop-up shop located inside the food hall that is rented to local artists, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits to sell their products and promote services. For about $50 a day, qualified renters get access to the space, display furniture, and Wi-Fi. Interested sellers can check out The Vault under the shopping tab at motherroadmarket.com.
Dallas in 1927, but a branch was established in Tulsa in 1937 that eventually became the company’s headquarters. The proximity of the Tulsa headquarters to the Port of Catoosa for worldwide distribution purposes has been key.
Bama produces two million biscuits a day, as well as handheld pies, buns, pie shells, and pizza crusts for markets all over the world.
Daddy Hinkles’ Seasoning is a popular spice business based out of Cleveland, Oklahoma. The company was founded by oilman James Frank Hinkle, who loved to entertain guests by serving them T-bone steaks “doctored up” with spices from his wife, Zula. On their website, daddyhinkles.com, you can purchase anything from seasonings and rubs to marinades and even corporate gift baskets.
Topeca Coffee started its journey in 1850 when Santiago Diaz-Caceras moved to El Salvador to start a family of coffee growers that would last six generations. In 2001, the global coffee market began to crash. Diaz-Caceras’ descendant Margarita Lucia Diaz knew it was important to save her family’s coffee business, and she set out to help make coffee a more sustainable business. Diaz opened a coffee roaster in Tulsa, their headquarters, and they now have three stores here. Today, Topeca’s quality, sustainable coffee beans are shipped all over the world.
Jewelry and clothing products made right here in Oklahoma are shipped all over the world. Here are a few of the popular local product vendors.
Kathleen’s Kids was founded in 1986 when Kathleen Marshall started making hair bows in
her garage, selling them from that location as well. As Kathleen realized how popular bows were becoming, she expanded to a bow store in midtown Tulsa, selling bows to match any outfit. This expanded into gifts, toys, accessories, and clothes when she moved into a larger space right next door to her first store.
The demand to dress Tulsa’s cutest kids kept growing, and Kathleen moved into Utica Square. The time came to expand, and Kathleen’s Kids moved into its current location at 81st Street and Harvard Avenue. Thanks to Kathleen’s Kids website, kathleenskids.com, these bows can now be found on the heads of cute kids all over the world.
Spexton Fine Jewelry began selling custom men’s wedding bands in 2004 and has grown to include a full range of jewelry designs for men and women. They are known for using a variety of metals in their pieces including black zirconium, stainless steel, titanium, gold, platinum, and more. Founders Nate McPherson and Greg Shelton also produce custom designs for customers, from strikingly modern pieces to classic and vintage-inspired creations. They have a small team of designers including a diamond expert and master jeweler working at their retail store on Cherry Street, 1609 E. 15th St. Check them out at spexton.com.
The Vintage Pearl began in 2007 as a creative outlet for stay-at-home mom, Erin Edwards. Raising four young children, Erin had a passion to help support her family and give other women beautiful, hand-made jewelry pieces that told their unique stories. In September of 2010, The Vintage Pearl moved from Erin’s family room into a brick-and-mortar boutique located in Tulsa at 82nd and Lewis.
Paul Stevenson is a talented woodworking artist in the Tulsa community. He worked with at-risk children and families then had a second career teaching English. Throughout his life, he has volunteered.
Paul began woodworking as physical therapy after being badly injured in a car crash. He has been married to Nancy, a former teacher and school administrator, for 50 years. They have four children and seven great-grandchildren.
I ignored what doctors told me after a nearly fatal headon collision with a drunk driver. The first neurosurgeon thought it wasn’t worth doing surgery on my spine after complications left me paralyzed. I was not expected to live. Later, social workers told my wife she needed to search for a nursing home where I might spend the rest of my life.
After multiple surgeries and months of physical therapy, I walked my daughter down the aisle at her wedding. I have had four spinal surgeries and am in pain every day, but I push through. I think my challenges are just not that special; I have so many things to be thankful for. I guess I have always focused on what life gifts I have, rather than what I have lost.
I had always done something with my hands. Henry David Thoreau once said to do what you love – find your bone and gnaw at it. I turned to woodturning first as physical therapy, finding the way I turned bowls on the lathe actually strengthened my damaged back. Giving discarded wood a new life became a metaphor for my own recovery.
I am a member of a family committed to public service and the belief that life should have purpose, that we should do whatever we can to make the world a better place. I do not sell my work; I enjoy giving and donate my woodwork to many nonprofits that use the work as a fundraising tool.
“Giving discarded wood a new life became a metaphor for my own recovery.”
– Paul Stevenson
What are some of the most important lessons your life experiences have taught you?
Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period, during which people with Medicare can make unrestricted changes to their coverage, takes place every year from October 15 to December 7.
Whether you’re approaching age 65 or already enrolled in Medicare, you should take advantage of this opportunity to review your options and see whether you are enrolled in the most cost-effective plan for your needs. Most plans change their costs and benefits every year, and some even decide not to participate in Medicare for the coming year. Making a careful comparison between the plan you have now and options available to you in 2023 is the only way to see if there is a better choice for you. In most cases, this will probably be your only chance to change your health and/or drug coverage for the next year.
When reviewing your Medicare coverage, know that you will have many options to choose from. Typically, it’s beneficial to have choices, but you might find yourself overwhelmed. For example, in 2023, Medicare beneficiaries in Oklahoma will be able to select from 24 prescription drug plans, as well as many Advantage health plans available throughout the state. Many beneficiaries find it frustrating and difficult to compare plans due to the volume of information they receive in the mail and through the media. As a result, they often stay with the same plan, even if it is not the best option for them.
Research shows that a large majority of people with Medicare could have saved hundreds of dollars last year by reviewing their prescription drug coverage. In fact,
during last year’s enrollment period, over half of those who came to LIFE Senior Services for help reviewing their drug coverage options either enrolled in Part D for the first time or switched plans for the next year, saving an average of $1,878 per person.
Whether you are currently on Medicare or becoming eligible for Medicare in 2023, this annual Medicare Part D Guide, published by LIFE Senior Services, provides up-to-date information about the prescription drug plans available in 2023, as well as the Advantage health plans being offered in Tulsa County.
LIFE Senior Services is a name thousands of seniors and their families have trusted for more than 48 years. Since 2004, LIFE has provided education and one-onone assistance to thousands of Medicare beneficiaries, helping them compare Medicare Part D plans and enroll in the one that best fits their individual needs. As a partner agency of the Oklahoma Insurance Department, the Medicare Assistance Program at LIFE provides trusted services in northeast Oklahoma to Medicare beneficiaries, their representatives and those soon to be eligible for Medicare.
As always, you can count on LIFE and LIFE’s Vintage Newsmagazine to bring you timely, unbiased information and assistance on Medicare Part D. For more information or to schedule an appointment to review your options, call the Medicare Assistance Program at LIFE Senior Services at (918) 664-9000, ext. 1189 or toll-free at (866) 664-9009, ext. 1189. We’re here to help!
Information is current as of October 2022. For additional information or assistance selecting a plan, contact Medicare at (800) 633-4227 or the Medicare Assistance Program at LIFE Senior Services at (918) 664-9000, ext. 1189 or toll-free at (866) 664-9009, ext. 1189.
Phone Number Benefit Type
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma
SilverScript Choice (PDP) S5601-046 (833) 526-2445 Basic $30.70 $505 x
SilverScript Plus (PDP) S5601-109 (833) 526-2445 Enhanced $105.20 $0
SilverScript SmartSaver (PDP) S5601-198 (833) 526-2445 Enhanced $7.10 $505
Blue Cross MedicareRx Basic (PDP) S5715-015 (877) 213-1817 Basic $26.80 $505 x
Blue Cross MedicareRx Choice (PDP) S5715-018 (877) 213-1817 Enhanced $19.90 $505
Blue Cross MedicareRx Value (PDP) S5715-010 (877) 213-1817 Enhanced $95.60 $505
Cigna Extra Rx (PDP) S5617-268 (800) 735-1459 Enhanced $59.80 $100
Cigna Saver Rx (PDP) S5617-373 (800) 735-1459 Enhanced $14.20 $505
Cigna Secure Rx (PDP) S5617-113 (800) 735-1459 Basic $30.40 $505 x
Clear Spring Health Premier Rx (PDP) S6946-049 (877) 384-1241 Enhanced $22.50 $505
Clear Spring Health Value Rx (PDP) S6946-020 (877) 384-1241 Basic $23.90 $505 x
Elixir Insurance Elixir RxSecure (PDP) S7694-023 (866) 250-2005 Basic $50.20 $505
Humana Basic Rx Plan (PDP) S5884-144 (800) 706-0872 Basic $31.90 $505 x
Humana Premier Rx Plan (PDP) S5884-169 (800) 706-0872 Enhanced $72.90 $300
Humana Walmart Value Rx Plan (PDP) S5884-202 (800) 706-0872 Enhanced $30.50 $505
Mutual of Omaha Rx Essential (PDP) S7126-125 (800) 961-9006 Enhanced $21.60 $505
Mutual of Omaha Rx
Mutual of Omaha Rx Plus (PDP) S7126-022 (800) 961-9006 Basic $82.80 $505
Mutual of Omaha Rx Premier (PDP) S7126-092 (800) 961-9006 Enhanced $53.30 $505
United Healthcare
AARP MedicareRx Preferred (PDP) S5820-022 (888) 867-5512
$103.40
AARP MedicareRx Saver Plus (PDP) S5921-368 (888) 867-5512 Basic $52.20 $505
AARP MedicareRx Walgreens (PDP) S5921-404 (888) 867-5512 Enhanced $28.30 $350
Wellcare Classic (PDP) S4802-014 (888) 293-5151 Basic $30.30 $505 x
Wellcare Medicare Rx Value Plus (PDP) S4802-226 (888) 293-5151 Enhanced $71.30 $0
Wellcare Value Script (PDP) S4802-156 (888) 293-5151 Enhanced $9.60 $505
Organization
Aetna Medicare Freedom Core Plan (PPO) Local PPO H3288-021 (855)
Aetna Medicare
Aetna Medicare Freedom Preferred Plan (PPO)
PPO H3288-019
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Classic (PPO) Local PPO H4801-008 (877)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of OK, TX
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dental Premier (PPO) Local PPO H4801-021 (877) 774-8592
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Flex (PPO) Local PPO H4801-013 (877) 774-8592
Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Basic (HMO) Local HMO H3979-005 (877) 774-8592
Senior Health Plan Platinum (HMO) Local HMO H3755-001 (800) 642-8065
Community Care Senior Health Plan (HMO)
Senior Health Plan Platinum Plus (HMO) Local HMO H3755-004 (800) 642-8065
Senior Health Plan Silver Plus (HMO) Local HMO H3755-005 (800) 642-8065
Plan Name
Generations Classic Plus (HMO)
Type of Medicare Health Plan Plan ID Phone Number Drug Benefit Type
United Healthcare
Local HMO H3706-023 (844) 280-5555 Enhanced $0 $0
Generations Classic Rewards (HMO) Local HMO H3706-001 (844) 280-5555 Enhanced $0 $0
Humana Gold Choice H8145-122 (PFFS)
Humana Gold Plus H6622-033 (HMO)
PFFS H8145-122 (800) 833-2364 Enhanced $131 $195
Local HMO H6622-033 (800) 833-2364 Enhanced $0 $0
Humana Value Plus H6622-049 (HMO) Local HMO H6622-049 (800) 833-2364 Basic $26 $505
HumanaChoice H5216-081 (PPO) Local PPO H5216-081 (800) 833-2364 Enhanced $60 $195
HumanaChoice H5216-083 (PPO)
Local PPO H5216-083 (800) 833-2364 Enhanced $68 $195
HumanaChoice H5216-264 (PPO) Local PPO H5216-264 (800) 833-2364 Enhanced $0 $195
HumanaChoice H5216-316 (PPO) Local PPO H5216-316 (800) 833-2364 Enhanced $22 $0
HumanaChoice H5216-337 (PPO) Local PPO H5216-337 (800) 833-2364 Enhanced $0 $0
HumanaChoice H9070-006 (PPO)
Local PPO H9070-006 (800) 833-2364 Enhanced $0 $0
HumanaChoice R4845-002 (Regional PPO) Regional PPO R4845-002 (800) 833-2364 Basic $41 $505
AARP Medicare Advantage Choice (PPO) Local PPO H8768-009 (800) 555-5757 Enhanced $0 $0
AARP Medicare Advantage Flex Plus (HMO-POS) Local HMO H3749-017 800-555-5757 Enhanced $19 $0
AARP Medicare Advantage Navigate (HMO-POS) Local HMO H3749-020 800-555-5757 Enhanced $0 $0
Wellcare Assist (HMO)
Local HMO H9900-006 (866) 537-1803 Basic $14 $370
Wellcare Giveback (HMO) Local HMO H9900-001 (866) 537-1803 Enhanced $0 $200
Wellcare Low Premium Open (PPO) Local PPO H4537-003 (866) 537-1803 Enhanced $25 $0
Wellcare No Premium (HMO) Local HMO H9900-004 (866) 537-1803 Enhanced $0 $0
Wellcare No Premium Open (PPO) Local PPO H4537-001 (866) 537-1803 Enhanced $0 $0
fun that they can show off to
and friends. It’s also
keeps kids
memorable way
spend
creating a masterpiece they can treasure. Plus,
time
BY LINDSAY MORRIS$0 – $100 (Depending on your budget)
You can build a DIY craft box with supplies you have at home or buy at discount stores. It might be fun to build a theme box – like one that revolves around the seasons, or the child’s interests (think unicorns, sports, or superheroes). Search online for great ideas for all ages.
Research the craft you want to create, making sure you have all the supplies. You may want to practice putting the craft together before showing your grandchildren how to make it.
If you’re not the crafty type, you can still give your grandkids a craft box instead of planning an activity to do together. Consider a box of art supplies for them to enjoy while they’re at your house, or a box filled with coloring books and crayons to play with during their next road trip.
A great craft box should include the basics: construction paper, a sketch pad, scissors, a glue stick, crayons, markers, colored pencils, a ruler, yarn, and strong and clear tape. Other items could include tissue paper, watercolors, a paintbrush and a plastic cup for water, pipe cleaners, felt, buttons, ribbon or lace, pom poms, googly eyes, glitter, etc.
You can get creative with the concept of boxes for kids and offer more than just craft activities in a box. For example, you could build a gift box that keeps giving year-round. A great example is found at totallythebomb. com/homemade-adventure-gift-box. One grandma gave her grandkids a box filled with one envelope for each month of the year. Each envelope was creatively decorated with stickers and drawings that gave them hints of what might be inside.
The envelopes contained things that the grandmother could do with her grandchildren throughout the year, like tickets to a baseball game, a trip to the bowling alley, horse stables, etc. She gave this to her grandchildren at Christmas, so it was a gift that lasted the whole year long!
activity!
Many websites offer themed subscription boxes that take the guesswork out of shopping for grandkids. Some, like KiWi Co., are designed to teach science, math, and other educational concepts. Kids can explore different cultures with boxes from Little Global Citizens, learn to cook with America’s Test Kitchen, and protect the environment with Green Kids Crafts. Many websites offer a discount for the first order and reduced rates for monthly subscribers
($18 – $48 per box)
CrateJoy offers monthly subscription craft boxes for kids. The boxes are shipped to your home and offer all the supplies and step-by-step instructions on how to build the craft with your little one. One of the most popular offerings is the STEAM box, which features science experiments and educational materials. Another box that teaches kids something handy is the Discover Art box, which provides an art kit with “strategically placed dots” and an online video instruction that guides the child in ageappropriate art projects. There are even Preschool Boxes with simple crafts with hands-on experiences for ages 3-6.
Sensory Theraplay boxes were created by an occupational therapist who works with children who have developmental delays or neurological differences. After receiving frequent questions from parents about toys and activities to help their children, the therapist decided to create a subscription box service with toys that are both fun and therapeutic for promoting developmental skills. Though developed for children on the autism scale and those with sensory processing needs, the toys can benefit all children with anxiety, temper tantrums, and impulsivity, according to the developer.
($18 - $21 per box)
Etsy offers several ready-made craft boxes. You can select crafts, as well as seasonal projects (I found summer, Halloween, and Thanksgiving craft boxes).
Making something by hand is a creative process that has benefits for the creator, as well as the community. Crafting brings “the personal” to a world where so many human interactions have gone online. Those who buy crafts often feel like they have more control over and information about their purchase. It allows them to support the maker, as well as express their own consumer values like sustainability and environmentalism, through their decisions.
Studies show that crafting, regardless of the medium, can bolster your mood, increase self-confidence, improve mental agility, and reduce stress.
The relaxed, repetitive motions of many crafts, such as knitting and crocheting, help calm the body and the brain, helping to reduce depression and anxiety. The “flow” that can be achieved is akin to that of meditation. The cognitive engagement required is thought to help protect our brains from age-related decline, too.
Tulsan Terri Barber has experienced some of those benefits firsthand. Although Barber has painted for most of her life, her painting took on a new purpose after a cancer diagnosis in 2015.
“It became almost therapy in a way because it just was something I could focus on. I put on my headphones and just started painting,” she recalls. “I just threw myself into it,” she said.
A prolific painter, Barber’s subjects grew from pets to people and everything in between. While Barber has always painted for the love of it, like many artisans and crafters, she’s incidentally discovered a market for her creations.
BY JULIE WENGER WATSON
Creating handmade arts and crafts provides enjoyment and relaxation to the maker. If you’re thinking of taking your hobby to the next level by selling items to the public, here are some ideas for getting started.
In a world inundated with mass-produced products, making your own art and crafts can seem like an act of rebellion. The deliberate, labor-intensive process of creating a unique work by hand is the antithesis of assembly line robotics. Though most of what we buy is the product of digitized, mechanized fabrication, the desire to craft – and the market for handcrafted objects – persists.
If you hope to create a regular income stream, rather than a casual sale here and there, you may want to consult a lawyer or the Small Business Administration (sba.gov) on the best way to set up your business. Different business entities may provide tax advantages or liability protection. It’s also important to be aware of potential tax obligations, from collecting and remitting sales tax to reporting this additional income. Consult with an accountant if you have questions.
Consider how you will price your product, taking into account your material expenses and your time, as well as what a potential purchaser might pay. What about marketing? Whether you sell in person or online, you’ll likely need a social media presence and possibly a website. Instagram is popular because of its focus on images.
Decide if you want to sell online, in-person, or use a combination of both. Selling in-person might range from having your own storefront to selling through an existing brick-and-mortar merchant or consignment store. Many makers opt for renting tables at markets or festivals.
In-person sales allow you to meet your customer base, which builds community and brand loyalty. Local, in-person sales mean there’s not likely to be a lot of competition from other makers for your unique product. On the flip side, your customer base is limited by geography.
Many of Terri Barber’s sales result from word of mouth. She’s also a regular at the Meadow Gold Market Days held near Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on East 11th Street. You can find some of her work at Buck Atom’s as well.
Other opportunities for local in-person sales include “An Affair of the Heart” (aaoth.com), Mayfest (tulsamayfest.org), Tulsa Farmers’ Market (tulsafarmersmarket.org), Hummingbird Fine Craft (facebook.com/hummingbirdfinecraft), Sand Springs Herbal Affair (sandspringsok.org), and Made (shopatmade.com).
Countless makers choose to sell their products online. Advantages of selling online may include lower overhead, higher profit margins, and a large potential customer base. However, there are some challenges, too. Expanding your market means nationwide competition from similar products. Facilitating shipping can be expensive and timeconsuming. Selling online also requires some basic computer skills.
To stand out online, it’s important to have a strong brand identity with a memorable business name and logo, as well as the use of great titles, descriptions, and photos for your products. Maintaining social media channels is important for promotion.
Etsy (etsy.com) is probably the most well-known e-commerce site for crafts. It has name recognition and visibility, and it’s also userfriendly. However, it’s highly competitive, with close to 2.7 million sellers. You’re responsible for fulfilling your orders, although there are multiple software tools available that can assist with that. The Etsy website has information about its fee structure.
Amazon Handmade (amazon.com) is another alternative. A huge name in e-commerce, the site can help fulfill your orders. Handmade takes a percentage of everything sold, and there is an application process to be invited to sell. Other online selling options like eBay, Shopify, or even your business Facebook page are also options.
If you decide to sell your crafts, don’t forget why you chose to craft in the first place. Barber offers these thoughts.
“Do what you love. That’s my motto. Do whatever makes you happy. If people like it, just embrace that fact, and share it,” she said.
Join us every Wednesday on LIFE’s Facebook page for short segments on a variety of topics including upcoming events, Senior Center Spotlight, Ask SeniorLine and living your best life.
Medicare Part D Open Enrollment runs through December 7. If you are confused about your prescription drug coverage, this segment will tell you all about the Medicare Assistance Program at LIFE and how we are helping.
Join Roxanne as she gives step-by-step instructions for making a fall pumpkin wall hanging. Materials needed are a wooden wall-hanging pumpkin, 12 x 12 orange craft paper, a 6-inch orange deco mesh; a hot glue gun; three different 2-inch wide fall ribbons, fall leaves, and a small pinecone or pumpkin.
Tulsa Library’s Maker Space Wednesday, November 16
Hector Arrazola will give us a glimpse of how creativity comes to life at Maker Space ahead of his seminar on November 17.
All classes are at Legacy Plaza East Conference Center, 5330 E. 31st St. in Tulsa, unless otherwise noted.
November 2 – December 21 • Wednesdays, 3 – 4 p.m.
LIFE’s Central Office, 5950 E. 31st St. (west of 31st & Sheridan)
The holidays can be an especially difficult time to cope with loss. If you are struggling with grief this holiday season, please join Martha Blan, LCSW-P, for an 8-week grief support group, where members will process feelings, practice coping skills, and have a safe space to share their grief journey. Space is limited. Please call (918) 664-9000, ext. 1119, to reserve your spot.
“Tulsa City-County Library’s Maker Space”
Thursday, November 17 • 10 – 11a.m. Legacy Plaza East Conference Center, 5330 E. 31st St. Join us for a fun and inspiring look at the Maker Space housed at Tulsa’s downtown library. We’ll learn all about the equipment and materials available to use and the many types of projects they can facilitate. If you have even one creative bone in you, this seminar is for you! To register, call (918) 664-9000, ext. 1181 or go to LIFEseniorservices.org/education.
N S A D R T H J M J D U R T K R D M O C T C E I R R O U U M R D P E Z H M E B X A O U M R I H S R Q Q I I C O P E M A K T G C S S M M Y T I V I T C A U Q P T C I D Y S I M E A S D N I O K L A H O M A S E P S N E D L L J N Q E A E C B S G K L N P R O J E C T N E S U U T Q T U L D O R Q E J N H C T E K S C P V I V S T G J W I C D L I C C L W C E P R O C E S S P V N R S K P D N B O Z F A W L A O C R E A T I V E B U I B R U S H G R O R I G I N A L I T Y T I L A U Q
K W R F Y S G T Y D N E R T E C P R O G R A M F B
R O J Q M I C R G N I V A E W R F H C Z G N U C
C O O J E F E L Y G N I T E K R A M O A M I Y O
A A W D T T L E T A L E N T U A S F L B L Y K N
N V M L L I C L W Y R E W E R B C E L T D B O Z C
K I C D H A P O E P K B B U S I N E S S S L Y F E
F B W T N R T C J O V X Y E M E R I Z A E Q E U P
E R U A O A T E K R A M S A E Y T H U D H S H N T
A commonym is a group of words that have a common trait in the three words/items listed. For example: the words; Ice – Sugar – Rubik’s – they are all cubes. Answers on page 43.
May – Bean – Flag
Lamb – Pork – Karate
Road – Weather – Treasure
Penguin – Kiwi – Ostrich
Bad TV Shows – Stamps – Checks
Sheets – Books – Rolls
Chips – Sweet – Spears
Right – Love – Bermuda
Buck – Baby – Wisdom
Crab – Caramel – Candy
A bamboozable is a saying/phrase that is made up of a display of words in an interesting way. The goal is to try to figure out the well-known saying, person, place or thing that each bamboozable is meant to represent. There are six bamboozables below. Answers on page 43.
An abundance of scientific studies suggests creativity enhances us as we age. Immersion in the arts – and the art of creation – can relieve depression, resulting in fewer doctor’s visits and simply having fun. The studies say structured learning can improve cognitive functioning and enhance the overall quality of life. Happily, Tulsa is a wonderland of opportunities to embrace your creativity.
BY TRACY LEGRAND1710 Charles Page Boulevard •Tulsa waterworksartcenter.com • (918) 596-2440
The City of Tulsa offers WaterWorks Art Center for creative opportunities at 1710 Charles Page Boulevard.
“Join us at WaterWorks Art Center in Newblock Park for an artistic journey,” said Lee Anne Zeigler, executive director. “We offer fun, one-day workshops and multiple-session class series – all designed to encourage creative learning through instruction in a nurturing environment. The benefits of artistic creativity include the freedom to express yourself, engaging in critical thinking and problem-solving, reducing daily stress and anxiety, and allowing you to enter your happy zone and have fun. We welcome you to WaterWorks Art Center and hope to see you soon!”
WaterWorks has open studios where you can cultivate your inner artist once you have trained on using tools safely. Jewelry making and other metalwork, fiber arts, clay, drawing, painting, and printmaking are just some of the worlds available to explore.
400 Civic Center • Tulsa tulsalibrary.org • (918) 549-7442 makerspace@tulsalibrary.org
The Tulsa City-County Library’s Renee Neuwald Trust Maker Space has a great deal to offer seniors, according to Hector Arrazola, Maker Space coordinator. Maker Space is located within the downtown Central Library and provides a working space with readyto-use tools.
“The Makers Space offers a wide variety of creative outlets and we show you how to use them,” said Arrazola. “There is sewing, knitting, laser projects, 3D printing, and a CNC mill that can carve materials like wood, plastic, soft metal, and rubber. We also have an audio lab full of equipment like keyboards, microphones, and guitars. You can record your own music or do an audiobook or podcast.
“You can do stained glass, screen print stencils for banners, totes, and T-shirts. With the laser, you can make cutting boards and gifts. Two of the most popular materials are wood and acrylic to make party
favors or even your own board game,” he said. “We only charge the minimum for certain materials, and during orientation sessions the materials are free.”
Arrazola says that often one project leads to another as in the case of a gentleman who builds rockets. He started with 3D printing and then moved on to CAD software and a laser engraver. His one project expanded into other fields of interest. Another patron records their own music as a rough draft and then brings other artists in to contribute vocals and other instruments.
“To be able to use the space, you need an orientation,” said Arrazola. “We accept people coming in to talk to us, calling, or emailing us to make an appointment. We will work with you on a one-on-one basis and you don’t have to wait for a class. We’ll work with you on your own schedule.”
Become one of those who learn and grow from the many programs provided and led by LIFE’s Senior Centers. Melodie Powders is the Active Aging and Senior Centers Coordinator over both centers located at Southminster Presbyterian Church, and East Side.
“Our art teacher, Miss Rainbow, visits both communities once a week for art programs,” said Powders. “With her rainbow hair and all the fun, everyone just adores her.”
There are multiple break-out groups for activities including the Knittin’ Kittens and the Crafting Cuties. Recent crafting projects and opportunities include beading, textiles, doing portraits in the Freida Kahlo style, pumpkin painting, and “the very popular round-robin art journals,” Powders said.
“These journals are notebooks where you draw on the cover what you want the theme to be. For example, if you were into birds, you could draw or collage an image of a bird. These journals are passed around and everyone in the class draws their perspective of what is on the cover.”
The Senior Centers offer opportunities to write, face paint, learn stained glass and mosaics with soldering, attend bingo, and luncheons and – for those musically inclined – a singing group with opportunities to learn instruments including harmonica, guitar, and ukulele. For those with a love of the written word, there is a writing group with quarterly presentations by published writer Nikki Hannah.
Once you’ve mastered your craft, you may want to hit the road to sell your work. Or maybe you’d like to purchase a one-of-a-kind statement piece for your home from a fellow crafter. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, these art festivals become part of the tight-knit community of art lovers by scheduling a trip around these events.
March 24-26, 2023 • bayoucityartfestival.com
Next year, over 30,000 art enthusiasts are expected to pile into historic Memorial Park in the heart of downtown Houston for the springtime Bayou City Art Festival. The biannual event will return in the fall to Sam Houston Park. Festival organizers are putting out an open call for artists to submit applications for the March festival before the deadline on December 4th.
There is a $45 fee for applications, but you have the chance to win cash prizes at this juried fine arts festival.
The Bayou City Art Festival welcomes 300 national and international artists to exhibit their work across 19 craft categories. It’s not just the artists showing off their creativity either. Kids will love creating their own artwork to take home at the Active Imagination Zone. For the grown-ups, there is a craft beer garden and a boutique wine garden. There will also be plenty of live musical performances throughout the two-day event.
It is important to note that tickets must be pre-purchased online; none will be sold at the gate. This is a cashless event.
If you love art but don’t want to travel out of state for some original pieces, a quick drive down the Turner Turnpike can take you to some great art festivals in our state capital. In April, you can visit Art Council OKC’s Festival of the Arts at Bicentennial Park in downtown Oklahoma City.
The free event has become an annual tradition, now in its 57th year of being the unofficial “rite-of-spring” for the city. Over 650,000 patrons attend the 6-day
festival every year to see the works of over 140 local and national artists. In addition to the visual artwork, attendees can enjoy live music and dance performances across three stages as well as award-winning dishes from local restaurants. Family members of all ages will have a blast creating their own masterpieces with hands-on art activities from painting to pottery!
You’ll have to wait until 2024 before selling your art at this festival. Artist applications closed in September for the 2023 festival, but food vendor applications are open, and performing artist applications will be available on the festival’s website starting in December.
After the Festival of the Arts, you’ll have to take a trip back to OKC in May for the annual Paseo Art Festival in the historic Paseo Arts District. Admission to the event is free and you can even catch a free shuttle. Guests can check out mixed media pieces including photography, sculpture, woodworking, and more! This
event will feature more than 50 live musical performances across two stages and there will be plenty of yummy treats at the food court. There’s even a free children’s area Saturday through Monday with fun activities like spin art and face painting. Pets are welcome at the festival as long as they are on a leash.
September 22 – 24, 2023 • plazaartfair.com
In 2023, Kansas City will be ringing in the fall season with one of the longest-running art festivals in the country, The Plaza Art Fair. Thousands will fill the city across nine blocks to attend one of the top-ranked, juried fine arts events featuring over 200 artists. This fair is fun for the whole family with interactive art projects for kids at the Broadway Activity Block. You
can even bring your dogs! The Plaza Art Fair celebrates more than just visual art. There’s live music on three different stages throughout the whole weekend.
Artists and local restaurant booths compete for awards at the fair, so there will be plenty of delicious food. Admission to the fair is always free.
If you’d like to enter your original artwork or craft into the Plaza Art Fair, applications open in January on their website with a $40 application fee. Artists’ work must fit into a specific category such as metalwork or ceramics.
October 19-22, 2023 • wareaglefair.com
“The Natural State” is known for its spectacular outdoors and wilderness areas especially amidst the Ozarks of Northwest Arkansas. War Eagle Fair hopes to showcase just that with a craft fair like no other. Located outside of the small town of Hindsville, crafters have been selling their work in the scenic river valley since Blanche Elliot founded the fair in 1954. War Eagle Fair is always held in autumn to display
Arkansas’ beautiful fall foliage. Hundreds of thousands of visitors attend the craft fair every year with more than 250 booths selling unique pieces. Admission to War Eagle Fair is free, but you’ll pay $5 for parking. The annual event has classic fair food like turkey legs and burgers, but it’s only a 30-minute drive to Fayetteville or Eureka Springs for those wanting to try some local food.
If you are interested in selling your handmade crafts or art pieces, War Eagle Fair is a great place to begin. There is no exhibitor application fee and organizers are now accepting applications for the 2023 fair from November 1 until the start of the show.
My friend Susan is a discerning reader. She reads a lot and gives assessments I admire.
“What did you think of ‘Oh William?’” I asked her.
She put one hand on her heart, closed her eyes and said, “Ahhh.”
What an eloquent review. It mirrored my opinion exactly.
Author Elizabeth Strout sets her stories in New England and brings her characters alive on the page in deceptively simple prose while plumbing the mysteries of the human heart. Language as clear as a brook, ordinary people in all their complexity – what a trick to pull out of the hat, but she does it again and again.
“Oh William,” short-listed for the prestigious Booker Prize, revisits Lucy Barton, a character in two previous Strout novels. It begins this way, “I would like to say a few things about my first husband, William.” She goes on to admit that William has always been a mystery to her. After a marriage of 20 years, Lucy left him, remarried and is recently widowed.
“Grief is such a – oh, it is such a solitary thing,” Lucy writes. “This is the terror of it, I think. It is like sliding down the outside of a really long glass building while nobody sees you. I thought I would die from the pain of our separating, but I did not die, and I am here, and so is William.”
They have remained friends and when William turns up to ask her to go with him on a trip to Maine to investigate a family secret, feeling both lonely and vulnerable, she agrees to accompany him on the trip.
This story seemed down-to-the-ground truthful to me. I’ve felt grief like that. I’ve been best friends with an ex-husband. I have been puzzled by the people around me, relationships, the past and even the present. Memories, mistakes, hope, vulnerability – the title’s word “Oh!” is perfect to sum up life.
Whereas Lucy Barton is reflective, Strout’s other famous character, Olive Kitteridge, is the opposite. Olive moves through life like a blunt object from the game of Clue. She is tall, direct and outspoken, a retired math teacher in Crosby, Maine.
“Olive Kitteridge,” published in 2008, was the first Strout book I read and it left me – I’ve never used this word but it is appropriate here – gobsmacked.
I was astonished at Strout’s mastery in weaving together 13 short stories of characters that circle Olive like planets. Olive is central in some stories, a participant in others, and just passing through in the rest, but her presence and her personality dominate. Strout’s perception of the human condition is tenderly penetrating. No wonder this book won the Pulitzer Prize.
I felt the same overwhelming admiration for a debut book I discovered at a Tulsa book signing hosted by Magic City Bookstore. Oscar Hokeah is a young author who lives in Tahlequah. “Calling for a Blanket Dance,” his collection of linked short stories, forms a novel about Ever Geimausaddle, part Kiowa, part Cherokee, part Mexican, whose life shifts between Anadarko to Tahlequah.
Hokeah is also Cherokee, Kiowa, and Mexican. He works for Indian Child Welfare, so maybe that is how he can write with such deep knowledge and understanding, telling us stories of Native people in great pain and lives of generational trauma, all lifting their faces toward redemption. I have Kiowa and Cherokee relatives; I have lived in Oklahoma my entire life; yet this book taught me so much about the Native cultures and people living right beside me. I didn’t know what a Kiowa blanket dance was until I read this book.
I’m not going to tell you.
The novel is truly, as one reviewer described it, “stunning.” I know, I know, I can hear the silent cynicism: “He can’t be that good if he lives in Oklahoma.” Believe me, the book is that good. A “New York Times” book review – no small honor, that! – also likens it to “Olive Kitteridge.”
With consummate skill, Hokeah tells the story of a troubled young man finding his way home.
New York Times
bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout will travel to Tulsa in December to receive the 37th annual Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award for her distinguished body of work and major contribution to the field of literature and letters. Given by the Tulsa City-County Library and the Tulsa Library Trust, the Helmerich Award consists of a $40,000 cash prize and an engraved crystal book. Strout will accept the award at a black-tie gala on Friday, December 2 and will give a free public address on Saturday, December 3 at 10:30 a.m.
Both events will take place at Central Library, Fifth Street and Denver Avenue. Copies of her works will be for sale at the public presentation. Strout has written nine novels.
In preparation for the author’s visit, the Friends of the Tulsa City-County Libraries will offer “An Elizabeth Strout Sampler” for their popular “Books Sandwiched In” series. The event will be held on Monday, November 28, at 12:10 p.m. at Central Library in Aaronson Auditorium, 400 Civic Center. Rebecca Howard, a regional manager for the Tulsa City-County Library and member of the Helmerich Award author selection committee, will offer a retrospective of Strout’s work, highlighting its significance and impact on the literary world.
Read more about Strout’s work in “Bunkering With Books” on page 36. For more information about the Helmerich Award or Strout’s visit to Tulsa, go to tulsalibrary.org/ helmerichaward or call (918) 549-7323.
To submit a Noteworthy event, contact Paula Brown at pbrown@LIFEseniorservices.org or (918) 664-9000, ext. 1207.
Arts@302, 302 S. Main St., Broken Arrow, on Saturday, November 5 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Sunday, November 6 from 12 – 5 p.m. Shoppers will find unique gifts, gourmet treats, one-of-a-kind art, and a silent auction. For more details, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/wingInTulsa {SIC}, visit wingintulsa.org, or call (918) 508-9607.
Why not let your holiday shopping support a good cause –like the Tulsa Audubon Society?
Plan to attend “Wild at Art,” the FREE 10th annual event benefiting the Tulsa Audubon Society’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Network, WING IT. WING
IT is a nonprofit partner of the Tulsa Audubon Society, whose mission is “to foster appreciation,
enjoyment and stewardship of our natural world.”
This year’s event will be at a new location in downtown Broken Arrow and will cover two weekend days. There will be plenty of time to shop and many places to dine when you’ve finished your shopping. The event will be held at
WING IT is run solely by volunteers who pay for all expenses related to the care and rehabilitation of the animals out of their own pockets, and they may not always be available to take your call. Donations will be greatly appreciated, and are tax deductible. Monetary donations help provide food, bedding/ nesting materials, gasoline for the many trips to pick up animals in need of care, cages, syringes, and many other consumables that help get these creatures back to the wild.
On Saturday, November 12 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., the forest therapy experience will focus on honoring veterans, past and present, in recognition of Veterans Day. November’s forest walk will be accessible to most people as it will be on level ground near the center’s parking lot. Participants can walk a labyrinth or enjoy the peace of the Center’s Zen garden. There is a charge of $40 which includes the two-hour forest bath followed by a tea ceremony.
Osage Forest of Peace is a retreat center and interspiritual community located on 45 wooded acres near Keystone Lake. Just 20 minutes from downtown Tulsa, the retreat center is a quiet and beautiful space to rest and recharge for a few hours, a day, a weekend, or even longer.
Sue Woodward leads forest therapy walks each month on the trails that surround the retreat center. The walks are based on the Japanese technique of Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing.” Forest bathing is a therapeutic practice that involves disconnecting from everyday life to experience and reflect upon the sights and sounds of nature.
The Osage Forest of Peace was dedicated in 1980 as a Benedictine monastery. It now serves as a nonprofit retreat center that is open to the public for personal and group retreats. The property is located at 141 Monastery Rd., off U.S. Highway 64 and the 177th West Avenue exit. Visit their website at forestofpeace.org for directions and the center’s other offerings. You can also call (918) 245-2734 for more information.
If your organization needs volunteers, contact Paula Brown at pbrown@LIFEseniorservices.org or (918) 664-9000, ext. 1207.
Volunteers are needed in Tulsa and surrounding communities on behalf of the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. Volunteers are needed daily from November 5 to December 24, except Sundays. Every dollar you collect will fuel important services for individuals and families in crisis, through basic needs programs, disaster relief efforts, and much more. Visit registertoring.com to find the perfect time and place to ring bells as an individual or as a group. Group shift times are available from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For details or help with scheduling, contact
Volunteer Manager Wayde Normandin at (918) 587-7801, ext. 113, or wayde.normandin@uss.salvationarmy.org.
The Tristesse Grief Center, founded in 2002, was born out of the vision and inspiration of a courageous 14-year-old girl, Tess, who struggled with cancer for six years. The center is currently looking for two volunteers to help with its mission of counseling the bereaved. One volunteer is needed to help with answering phones, scheduling clients, and processing payments, preferably on a Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They also need an individual to help the Director of Programs with administrative tasks a few hours once per week or every other week. You would need to complete a background check and volunteer orientation. For details, contact Lucretia Pardiñas at lucretia@thegriefcenter.org or call (918) 587-1200.
Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa is moving into a new state-of-the-art facility near LaFortune Park and will need additional volunteers. The aging population is the fastest growing in the country, and the new facilities could not have come at a better time. The organization’s new building should help Meals on Wheels meet its goal to serve more than one million meals each year. Meal delivery may be the only time clients see people during the day. Meals on Wheels also has programs that help seniors care for their pets and access community services. To volunteer or find out more, go to mealsonwheelstulsa.org/ volunteer, or contact Scott Copeland by calling (918) 922-8428 or emailing scott@mowtulsa.org.
Volunteers are so important to every nonprofit organization. At Hillcrest Medical Center, you will experience a sense of fulfillment from helping patients and their loved ones. Volunteers will find a variety of opportunities to help and will receive numerous perks: invitations to special events, a free meal each day you volunteer, a free flu shot, free parking, plus discounts in the gift shop. Your tasks may include book cart delivery, registering and welcoming patients to the facilities, directing them to the correct department, or helping patients as they check-in. For more details, contact Christine Escamilla at christine. escamilla@hillcrest.com, and complete the application at hillcrest.com/volunteer.
Allied918-744-1000
We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Gayle Campbell’s story, “The Red Flannel Shirt,” tied for third place in the 2022 Writing Contest sponsored by LIFE’s Senior Centers and the Oklahoma Arts Council. Gayle won the Cooking Culture division of the 2021 contest with her story “Simple Pleasures.”
This year’s entry takes place in the post-World War II boom days in Tulsa’s Brookside neighborhood. It’s a great fit for the “Do It Yourself” issue, describing a busy mother searching for time to sew clothes for her young son, Jack.
Many readers may recall trips to a fabric store with its brightly colored bolts of fabric that are lovingly and painstakingly made into school clothes. We believe you’ll enjoy Gayle’s story. And you may be as surprised by the ending as we suspect Jack would have been.
It was September 1946, and Jack has just started kindergarten at Eliot Elementary School. He loved walking with his mother Dorothy around the block from home to school. Eliot was such an elegant-looking building, with a buff brick exterior and columned doorways, and Jack loved kindergarten! What wasn’t to love? Playing grocery store and post office, stringing beads and creating art with finger paints — it just didn’t get any better than that.
His dad Leo had been away serving in the Army during World War II. Now they were settled back into family life in the white, bay-windowed house in the booming Brookside area of Tulsa. Leo was working as an electrician, and they had joined a local church. Life was good!
With Jackie in school each morning, Dorothy had a bit more time to indulge in one of her favorite pastimes, sewing. She had a Singer Featherweight machine – so easy to carry in its black case, and boy, it sewed like a dream! She had made countless dresses for herself, her sister and niece, and now she enjoyed making shirts for Jack. She decided it was time for a trip to her favorite fabric store. Since she didn’t drive, Leo would take her after he got home from work. She fixed a nice meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans dinner, topped off with chocolate meringue pie, and then she asked to go to the store.
When they arrived at the fabric store, they went directly to the flannel
section, where they decided on some nice plaids. Then something caught Jack’s eye – a bright red flannel, with raccoons, owls and, even skunks on it! He thought it was awesome! So, Dorothy added that one to the stack. Jack couldn’t wait to wear that shirt, but as it turned out, he was going to have quite a long wait.
As fall went on, Dorothy turned all the plaid fabrics into comfy shirts that Jack wore to school as the days got chillier. Finally, she sat down to work on the red flannel. She got it all cut out, sewn together, sleeves and cuffs, collar, everything except the buttons and the hem. Just as she was ready to do the hem, the phone rang. It was a church friend, with the sad news that one of the church members had passed away. Of course, the church ladies were taking food to the family. So, with a sigh, Dorothy put aside her sewing to make what she always made when someone died, her delectable yellow cake layered with lemon pudding, and finished with a blizzard of coconut. When it was done, it was time to walk up to meet Jackie at school and fix him a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. The afternoon flew by, and since it was Wednesday, it was soon time to walk to church for the Wednesday evening service.
Also that fall, Dorothy noticed that often she’d wake up in the mornings feeling a bit queasy and just not her normal, energetic self. A visit to the doctor soon confirmed that the family would be expanding by one next June!
As the holidays came, she was feeling better, and she was keeping very busy. Somehow, the red flannel shirt got buried under some other projects and forgotten. Then on the next year, on June 17, Jack’s sister, DeeAnn, was born, and life became very hectic with a new baby to care for.
When the new school year started, Jackie was now in first grade, and in school all day, so Dorothy had more time to work on things around the house. As she tidied up, she found the almost finished red flannel shirt, and set it out to show Jack when he returned from school. She felt bad that she hadn’t finished the shirt Jack had been so excited about. He was happy that she found it, but that happiness turned to disappointment when he tried it on so she could measure the hem. It was too small! He’d had a growth spurt, and barreled right on past the awesome raccoon, owl and skunk print shirt. Dorothy told them they would buy a pattern for a bigger shirt, but somehow, she couldn’t just throw this one away, and she put it in the back of a drawer for safekeeping.
When I, DeeAnn, was sorting through her things after she passed away in 1985, I found the shirt and couldn’t throw it away either. It was still a lovely bright red since it had never been worn or washed and the pattern was such an iconic 1940s one. So, I made it into a pillow for Jack’s grandkids, and I know he’ll share stories with them about our wonderful mother.
Join us through a simple phone call in reading, explaining and discussing the bible on Tuesday nights 7:00 p.m. CST and 8:00 p.m. EST. Questions are always welcome. Perfect for those who cannot get out of the house. No need to drive anywhere. Seniors will love this! Call (918) 872-1400.
Missing Palm Tree: Stories From America’s Clandestine Service is a widely acclaimed book which tells with vivid language how dangerous clandestine work is. Written by W. Blaine Wheeler and is available on Amazon.com books/
Senior and caregiver discounts. Carpet, furniture, rug cleaning. Pet odor removed and Teflon protectant available. Emergency water extraction. Residential and commercial services. Professional truck mount steam cleaning. Carpet repairs and restretching. Prompt, professional, quality service at a fair price. Certified, insured. Veteran owned and operated. Call Thomas Fink, owner/technician, for free estimate (918) 636-6303.
Two plots across from the Bell Tower in Memorial Park Cemetery. Located in section 4, Garden of the Chimes. Each lot is $1900 or make an offer. Call (405) 760-3655 for more information. Ask for Janice. If no answer, please leave name and number.
Adjoining plots in Memorial Park available in prime location. Priced to sell. Section 26, Lot 58, Spaces 3 & 4. Retail price $2,145 but we sell both for $2900. Restricted to a flat marker of Bronze or Granite. Call Charley (918) 494-6797
3 each Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. $3,300 each. Block 74D spaces 2,3,4. These can be stacked if desired. Hogle is to the left and Hash to the right while facing the prayer hands. (918) 352-8772.
Lot 152A, Unit 1-2, Section 6-North.
Two side-by-side, adult, single plots. Close to statuary, trees. Easy visitation access. $3,500 each (current Floral Haven retail $7,000 each).
Deed transfer, required outer burial container, gravesite opening and closing fees not included. Sold as set only. Other offers considered. (541) 390-8483
Spaces 5 & 6 Lot 180 Section 37 and spaces 1,2,3,4,5,6 Lot 172 Section 43. Asking $900 each. Buyer pays transfer fee. (918) 284-5089.
Three adjoining spaces, Section 12, Lot 576. Located next to the sidewalk and directly across from Memorial Park Chapel. Bronze markers (only) are accessible from the sidewalk or the street. Will divide. Cemetery price, $1,870. Sale price, $1,200. (918) 740-1393
Two cemetery spaces in Veteran’s Field of Honor in Floral Haven Cemetery. Includes a 16 X 24 bronze marker with base. Price Negotiable. Call (918) 396-1664
Here at Moore Cleaning; we want your house to be beautiful. We have over 19 years experience; and references from our loyal customers. Also offering window cleaning and organizing. We customize our cleaning to meet your needs. Safely cleaning with masks and social distancing if preferred. Reasonable rates. Please call today to set up your appointment. Marybelle Moore (918) 671-5065. Marybellemoore111@gmail.com.
Honest, patient, ethical help with your pc, router, wifi, cell phone, email, streaming, camera, password recovery, etc. 30 years of IT experience in Tulsa. Special rates for seniors. References available. Call Carmen Armstrong (918) 688-7453.
LIFE’s Adult Day Health offers convenient, affordable daytime care at three locations in Tulsa and Broken Arrow. For more information, call LIFE’s Adult Day Health at (918) 664-9000.
Downsizing? Estate Liquidation? Let us take the worry away and Maximize your return. No out of pocket expense. We specialize in senior transitions, with over 20 years in the senior housing market. My team includes realtors, moving company, senior housing and attorneys if needed. Please contact Michelle Reed (918) 691-5893 or Atulsa@aol.com also Facebook 2MSestatesalestulsa for a Free consultation.
The Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) at LIFE Senior Services provides accurate information, counseling and assistance relating
to Medicare benefits for Medicare beneficiaries, their representatives and persons soon to be eligible for Medicare. Call MAP at LIFE Senior Services (918) 664-9000 or toll-free at (866) 664-9009.
The Medicare Supplement Store at Promenade Mall is your “One-StopShop” for Medicare Supplements, Advantage Plans, & Drug Plans. We can give you a quote from top-rated carriers like: Aetna, Blue Cross, Humana, GlobalHealth, UnitedHealthCare, Mutual of Omaha and others. For information, call Bob Archer today (918) 814-5550.
These plans cover assistance with meal prep, bathing, laundry, grocery shopping, medication reminders and more in the privacy and comfort of your own home. No medical underwriting, no claim forms, no deductible, and no age limits. Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze plans available nationwide. Call or text Cindy Johnson at (918) 619-5919 to request a mailed copy of the plan brochure or an appointment.
Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement? What do I do? Call today for free advice. All carriers available. UnitedHealthcare, Community Care, BCBS, Humana, GlobalHealth, Aetna, multiple Medicare Supplement options, RX plans. Medicaid or Chronic issue? Call. Med Sup too high or do not qualify to change your Med Sup? I have a solution. Call Becky Today (918) 724-4022
Total lawn care. Lawn Mowing. Leaf removal. Snow removal. Will remove or trim any size tree. Dedicated to making your lawn look its best. Insured, honest, experienced and dependable. Veteran-owned. We are a small company with personal service. References available. FREE ESTIMATES. Call Larry. (918) 361-1299
“Your Home Improvement and Repair Specialist.” 22 years serving Tulsa seniors. “One call can do it all.” 10% senior discount. Insured. All work guaranteed in writing. No pay until job is completed. Plumbing, drain cleaning, grab bars, electrical, carpentry, painting, seamless guttering installation/repair/cleaning. Dryer vent cleaning. Roof, tile and drywall repair. Wood siding/trim replacement. Deck repair, power washing, staining. Tree trimming. No job too small. For free estimate, call Allen at (918) 630-0394.
Family-owned and operated. Specializing in all aspects of tree care: restoration, pruning/ thinning, removal, stump grinding, hedge trimming, firewood available. Serving Tulsa for 25 years.
References. Member BBB. Insured. ISA certified arborist. Check us out at www.kdtreeco.com. Call Kimble at (918) 853-5383.
All brands – Riders, ZTRs, Walk-behinds, UTVs / ATVs.
Top Quality work, ASE certified Mechanic. Pick-up and Delivery available. Tulsa and surrounding counties. Maintenance specials include pick-up and delivery 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call Scott (918) 519-3869.
Do you have appreciation of Nature? Share it with Dennis! (I’m generous and kind-hearted). I’m eager to help you get started! (Dennis on the spot, not Johnny) • Clean Out Garden • Plant New Fall Flowers. Rates are negotiable by job well done! References available! Call Dennis (918) 892-7584 or Kim (918) 855.5557
Your one stop Plumbing Shop! Call us and I guarantee you will never have to call another plumbing company. Licensed, bonded and insured for your protection....Call (918) 855-9216, tell us you saw us in the Vintage Newsmagazine and receive an automatic 10% discount....call us now.
Licensed, with over 40 years of experience. Rates are low and based on the job, not the hour. No service call fee or travel time charge. Senior and caregiver discount. Plumbing service and repair our specialty. Honest, professional service you can count on. Lic. #82750. (918) 355-4747.
Dave’s Heat and Air, Inc. Licensed, insured, and bonded. Honest and reliable service for over 30 years. Competitive rates. Specializing in heating and air conditioning service and repair. All makes and models. Residential and light commercial. Tulsa metro area. Family-owned and operated. (918) 437-8101.
30 Years Experience! All Handicap Accessories – grab bars, handicap access abilities; Framing, Drywall, Tape & Bed; Texture & Paint, Plumbing, Electrical, Tile, Laminate & Wood Floors. Free Estimates, Competitive Rates, Professional Service. Call Craig (918) 892-4168.
Hero’s Painting & Remodeling provides painting services, kitchen and
bath remodeling, replacing drywall. Commercial and residential. Senior discount of 20% off services provided.
Call (918) 809-5337.
Around the home repairs or replacements, inside and out. Fence Repair/Replacement, Power Washing, Gutter Cleanout, Garage/Attic Cleanout, Haul-off, Leaf/Snow Removal, Staining/Painting, Drywall Patching/ Replacement, Tile/Flooring, Deck Repair, and much more! No job is too small, have any questions, please give me a call. Joe Moody (918) 740-7209 INAJAMSERVICES77@gmail.com
A Christian painter serving the community for over 20 years. Insured and estimates are free. How about the fresh new look with a new paint job?
Call Charles Grim at (918) 430-5706.
Light Hauling /Light Moving – help you rearrange room furniture, lawns-grass mowing/small paint jobs/cleanup/ fence repair/light construction/sheet rock tile repair – We are honest dependable. References.
Call (918) 313-5230.
Free haul off/pick up of appliances such as washers, dryers, refrigerators, air conditioners, hot water tanks and any scrap metal. Call John at (918) 313-4405.
Frasier Law Firm is a full-service Tulsa firm with decades of experience in all Oklahoma courts. We handle all matters, including probate, wills and trusts, personal injury and negligence cases. We have estate planning specialists. Reach us at (918) 584-4724 or frasier@tulsa.com.
Trusts, Wills, Gift and Tax Planning, Powers of Attorneys and more! With offices in Sand Springs and Tulsa. Discount to Veterans and Retired Teachers. Willing to meet you in your place for no extra charge! Call Penni of the Skillern Law Firm at (918) 805-2511. www.skillernlaw.com
Preserve Your Legacy.
Whether you are planning your estate or need help with a loved one who may be financially exploited, South Tulsa Law will represent you effectively and compassionately. We work in all areas of estate planning and probate, trusts and trust litigation, guardianship, and elder exploitation. Call (918) 512-1800 or visit www.southtulsalaw.com.
Whether you need a wellness check, or help with chronic illness like High blood pressure, Diabetes, COPD, or Gout, we are here to help! You can come to our office or we can come to you as your PCP. Give us a call. Next Level Primary Care. 5930 E. 31st St. Ste. 500. (918) 982-NEXT.
Dependable Movers! Low Rates. Free Estimates. Senior Discounts. Call (918) 836-3225.
24/7 Notary available. Never closed. Will come to your home. Will go to hospitals, nursing homes, private homes as needed. Call Joanne at (918) 282-8230.
Too busy to stay organized?
Overwhelmed? Return harmony to your home and life. We help with: Downsizing, relocating (pack & unpack). Set up home office, nurseries, dorms. One room or entire house. Monthly maintenance. Disperse unwanted possessions, electronics, chemicals. Seasonal transitioning. Prepare for guests. Call Pat at Organize to Harmonize: (918) 200-5991.
Personally assist in driving to beauty shop, medical appointments, and other destinations; provide accounting, secretarial, and specialized administrative assistance; help with business-related matters; serve as liaison with physicians/healthcare personnel; resolve Medicare and medical insurance issues. Bobbi Warshaw, MPH and Bob Warshaw, MBA (918) 852-5302, bobbi.warshaw@att.net
Help with meals, light housework, errands anywhere you need to go, walk dogs or maybe you. Call me! Rebecca at (918) 760-5811.
We offer a wide variety of services for seniors. Whether it’s: Rides, Errands, Meal Preparation, Companionship, or Sitting With A Loved One, we’re here to help. We offer competitive rates and Smiles are always free. 24 hour Care Available. Contact Christie at (918) 934-7986.
Do you or a loved one need help keeping up with mail, balancing a checkbook, paying bills, making phone calls, organizing or preparing for tax time? I can help! I will work with you or act as
a liaison between family members. Call or email me to discuss options. Essential Strategy Consulting, LLC. Gwen Stevens (918) 557-5259, esc9315@gmail.com
Custom home-lifestyle services. Hourly-Monthly membership packages. Stay home safety remodeling/safety assessment/ installations/contractor bid collection/ job oversight. Home Watch. Declutter/ organize/charity/shredding. Meet-Wait Service. Special Projects Welcome. Mobile notary. 35+ yrs. Real estate sales, remodeling contractor, oil and gas engineering & regulatory, home office support. Linnaeus Gardener. Elise Austin (918) 630-5381 www.Gooddayconcierge.com
Tulsa’s Affordable Home Care offers compassionate, quality home care services to individuals. We provide the following services: bathing and dressing, companionship, exercise, grocery shopping, laundry, light housekeeping, medication reminders, meal planning and preparation, oral and personal hygiene, respite care for family caregivers. Please call (918) 622-7820 and schedule a free consultation!!!
Who can enhance the quality of life for senior citizens? Kim Can! Can make appointments; plan, prepare, serve meals; help with financial services; shop for food/clothing; run errands; can be advocate for healthcare issue and loyal companion. Licensed, bonded, insured. Rates negotiated and references available.Call Kim, RN (918) 855-5557.
Need help packing or organizing?
I can pack boxes for moving, downsizing or decluttering. I can help organize rooms, closets, attics or garages providing you more space. Flexible hours – day or evening. Lots of experience. References available. Jacki (918) 922-9558.
Worried about falling? HALO provides medical alert services for those at home or on the go who may need help in an emergency. HALO allows you to get help at the push of a button which is worn as a necklace or wristband. We offer a variety of choices to best fit your needs. Check out the HALO products at our retail store – T-Town Mobility at 61st & Sheridan (918) 392-0566 or (877) 747-HALO (4256).
Including handicap accessories for Residential, Commercial, Decorative, Indoor/Outdoor, Stairways, Bathrooms, and more. Secure your space, whether existing, remodeling or new construction, we handle it all. Call before you fall! Free Estimates.
Licensed & Insured with over 20 years experience. Grab Bars of Tulsa, (918) 619-7324.
With 37 years’ experience, I can help with all of your hairstyling needs. I will come to your home, the hospital, rehab or you can come to my shop. In-shop special: haircut $7 for first time customers only and perms for $45. Senior special pricing can’t be beat! Available Tuesday – Saturday. A Mane Event hairstyling, located near 11th and Yale at 937 South Canton. Call Mary Wilkinson at (918) 834-2686. Following CDC Guidelines – safe environment.
Hair care for men and women, specializing in senior clients. This month’s special - First time customers receive one of the following for $12: Haircut or Style or Manicure. $45 for one cut and perm. Pedicures are $20. Very Experienced Hairdressers! In shop services only, come see us in Midtown at Highland Plaza, 5661 East 41st Street (corner of 41st and Hudson). (918) 742-3440.
The Woof Pack Tulsa: Dependable dog walking services for your fourlegged family in Tulsa. Helping you take care of your furry friends when you’re out! We offer dog walking and pet popins. Insured. Call or text us at (918) 770-6699. Visit our website at www.thewoofpacktulsa.com.
Experience Tulsa’s most convenient veterinary service in the comfort of your own home. Our goal is to develop a personal relationship with each of our clients and patients. Contact us today to schedule your house call appointment. Call (918) 892-9382 or email DrFielstra@gmail.com or visit us at www.homevetcaretulsa.com.
Don’t want to move because you’re feeling overwhelmed? You are exactly who I am looking for. Let’s make a plan. #DownsizingMadeEasy. Don’t hesitate. Call Today (918) 605-1480. www.MatureTransitionsOfTulsa.com
Are you over 50, single, divorced or widowed? We are a fun-loving group of single seniors over 50. We meet every Wednesday, 11:15 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Buffet Palace, 10934 East 21st Street. We eat at 11:15 a.m., have a short meeting and then play cards. Join us for great fun and fellowship. Questions, call Beverly at (918) 272-1049
Let me do the driving. To and from work, airport, shopping, errands, post
office, appointments. Also, LIFT VAN transportation available. Able to assist getting to and from bed. Senior sitting. Also, small breed dog boarding. 20 years experience. CLEET certified and licensed. References. Member, Better Business Bureau. (918) 491-9929.
Entrusted Transport provides non-emergency medical & senior transportation services throughout Oklahoma. Our uniformed drivers are highly professional. We assist riders all the way in to check-in at your appointment, just like family would! Wheelchair vehicles available. Make holiday plans now. Call (918) 290-3400, Mon – Fri, 7:00a –7:00p or EntrustedTransport.com.
The ranch has everything from authentic log cabins (complete with private patios & waterfront views) to event spaces ideal for celebrations & holiday gatherings. Enjoy bank fishing, walking trails, & s’mores by the fire! We are located just 15 minutes from Downtown Tulsa, & 20 minutes from Keystone Lake. Visit our website for bookings & information! www.Meadowlakeranch.com
If you’ve been looking for a way you can make a difference, consider joining the Millennium Hospice team as a volunteer. Caregiver relief is so important during this difficult time. Volunteers provide that by sitting with patients for an hour or so. Training is provided. (918) 493-6555.
Discover the variety of volunteer opportunities that LIFE Senior Services has to offer. Whether you want to volunteer within the organization or with one of our local non-profit or public agencies, we can find the best fit for you. (918) 664-9000.
In Honor of Whittier Heights Opening Lyle Seefeldt
In Honor of Julie Tattershall
IN MEMORY OF Mildred Buxton
In Memory of Billy Ryan
Oleta Calvert
In Memory of Marveen Green Linda Cotner
In Memory of Richard Cotner
Theresa M. Finck and Mary Ann Finck
In Memory of Theresa Ann Finck
Anna Guerrero
In Memory of Alfred Donna J. Palmer
In Memory of Wanda Griffin
Linda Polk
In Memory of Donald Brooks Shirley Spears
In Memory of Katy Cummins
Marilyn V. Sylvan
In Memory of Jay Sylvan
Mary Ellen Thurman
In Memory of Isabelle C. Agnew
Jimmy Wamsley
In Memory of Mary Wamsley
Earlene Wilson Branson
In Memory of Joan K. Hastings
(918) 664-9000, ext. 1206 or bdornblaser@LIFEseniorservices.org
4720 S. Harvard Ave., Ste. 103
Nov. 12 - 9:30 a.m.
Nov. 14 - 5:30 p.m.
Nov. 20 - 1:30 p.m.
2250 E. 73rd St., 2nd Fl. Conf. Rm.
Nov. 10 - 1 p.m. Nov. 24 - 1 p.m.
Medicare Enroll USA Office
6506 S. Lewis Ave. Nov. 3 - 10 a.m. Nov. 7 - 10 a.m.
Saint Francis South | Bishops Building
10507 E. 91st St., 5th Fl. Conf. Rm. Nov. 2 - 3:30 p.m. Nov. 9 - 3:30 p.m. Nov. 30 - 3:30 p.m.
Ascension St. John 7333 E. 121st St. S. #200 Nov. 1 - 10 a.m. Nov. 15 - 10 a.m. Nov. 29 - 10 a.m.
Ascension St. John Medical Building
1000 W. Boise Cir., Rm. 140 Nov. 2 - 12:30 p.m. Nov. 9 - 12:30 p.m. Nov. 16 - 12:30 p.m. Nov. 30 - 12:30 p.m.
Broken Arrow Community Center
1500 S. Main Nov. 4 - 10 a.m. Nov. 10 - 10 a.m. Nov. 18 - 10 a.m.
Saint Francis Glenpool
140 W. 151st St. South, 2nd Fl. Conf. Rm. Nov. 2 - 10 a.m. Nov. 23 - 10 a.m.
Greg Wilson Farmers Agency 14226 S. Elm St. Nov. 8 - 2 p.m. Nov. 15 - 2 p.m.
Ascension St. John Medical Building 220 S. Elm St., 2nd Fl. Conf. Rm. Nov. 9 - 2 p.m.
Jenks City Hall 211 N. Elm St. Nov. 16 - 2 p.m.
Ascension St. John Medical Building
12451 E. 100th St. N., Ste. 170 Nov. 2 - 9:30 a.m. Nov. 9 - 9:30 a.m. Nov. 16 - 9:30 a.m. Nov. 30 - 9:30 a.m.
Panera Bread
12417 E. 96th St. N. Nov. 5 - 2 p.m.
Case Community Center
1050 W. Wekiwa Rd
Nov. 1 - 7 p.m. Nov. 8 - 7 p.m. Nov. 15 - 7 p.m. Nov. 22 - 7 p.m. Nov. 29 - 7 p.m.
Sapulpa Elks Lodge 24 S. Poplar St. Nov. 9 - 10 a.m. Nov. 30 - 10 a.m..
CTX Coffee 114 E. Dewey Ave. Nov. 15 - 9 a.m.
Other
For accommodation of persons with special needs at meetings, call 918-594-5251 (TTY/TDD users call 1-800-722-0353). CommunityCare Choice, Inc. is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in CommunityCare Choice, Inc. depends on contract renewal. The Senior Health Plan service area includes Tulsa, Creek, Craig, Hughes, Mayes, Muskogee, McIntosh, Nowata, Okmulgee, Osage, Pawnee, Pittsburg, Rogers, Wagoner, and Washington Counties. Please call Customer Service for assistance at 918-594-5323 (TTY:1-800-722-0353), Monday–Sunday and some holidays from 8 a.m.–8 p.m. October 1–March 31 and Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.–8 p.m. April1–September 30.
