boyd street magazine: december 2015

December 2015 • Issue 12 • Volume 14

One mortgage partner who can fund all my real estate clients is unrealistic.right h ere.

As a loan specialist at First United, you can trust that I will give your clients outstanding service and help them move quickly with financing. Most importantly, I stick to First United’s word and close on time. Call me today, and I’ll help your clients begin their journey to Spend Life Wisely.

CHERYL JENKINS-KOONTZ1551 36th Ave NW, Ste. 110Norman, Oklahoma 73072D: 405.620.6909M: 405.364.0101cjenkins@fi rstunitedbank.comCJENKINS.FUBMORTGAGE.COMNMLS: 462274

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Not all home buyers have the same incomes and credit scores. Serving different borrowing needs can delay closings. But unlike most lending companies, First United has a loan to serve each of your client’s specifi c needs. Our extensive loan options enable us to fund a wide variety of loans at competitive rates—under one roof.

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/laceyswope.wx@laceyswope

We are rounding out the final weeks of fall and approaching the cold winter months. Thanks to the wind, tornadoes, snow and ice that November delivered, most of the leaves are now off the trees. If you take a look across Oklahoma, it is beginning to look a lot like winter. The Winter Solstice, on Dec. 21, is by definition our shortest day of the year, but also marks the beginning of increased daylight heading into the new year. Looking at the long range forecast, December looks to pick up exactly where November left off: cool and very active. Several storms are lining up over the Pacific Ocean setting their sights on the United States. Each storm will leave its own footprint across Oklahoma. This time of year we can still get severe weather. December of 2014, we had a few weak tornadoes in the OKC Metro, but we typically see more winter type of precipitation.

This is not only a month of change for our planet, but also a big month of change around Norman. December is such a stressful, exciting and rewarding time in Sooner Nation. Our football team is doing extremely well, and semester classes are coming to an end. Many students get to go back home and enjoy the holidays with their families. Of course, there will always be the students who take classes over the break and enjoy Norman during the holidays. Working for a TV station, December means crazy schedules. Everyone has time off and we all end up juggling shows and winter storms. I personally love doing different shows and shaking up my routine.

No matter where you plan on spending these next few weeks, I hope you enjoy every second, listen to copious amounts of Christmas music and have a very happy Holiday season.

Boomer Sooner and Baker for Heisman!

Swope Scope By: Lacey Swope

Fresh Oyster Weekends, Fried Chicken Sundays (all day) & Tuesdays (after 5pm), and Weekend Brunch (Sat and Sun 10:30am to 2:00pm)

Fresh Oyster Weekends

Weekend Brunch Fried Chicken (all day)Sundays

(after 5 pm)TuesdaysSaturday and Sunday10:30 am to 2:00 pm

405-360-43863750 W. Robinson St. - BrookhavenVillage

Norman, OK 73072

405-366-6291301 W Boyd St.-Campus Corner

Norman, OK 73069

52Senior Night Heroicsby Tyler McComas

The Sooners survived their most critical play of the year.

56A November to Remember by Tyler McComas

A Bedlam blowout leads to the College Football Playoffs.

60 Sooners buck the Badgersby Tyler McComas

Sooner basketball scores a big non-conference win.

62 Who is the North Oval Named After?by Jeff Provine

A look into the namesake of the North Oval.

70 Boyd Street Snow Day Favoritesby Tegan Burkhard

Staffers share their favorite traditions!

76 Holiday Spirits by Robi I. Hipton

Our best seasonal drinks for when the holidays need a little help to be heartwarming.

12 Normanite in the Spotlight: Ed Copelinby Alexander Mutz

A look into the life of an iconic local philanthropist and toy shop owner.

14Boyd Street Magazine’s 10th Annual Holiday Gift Guide

by Haley Mowdy

A guide with something for everyone on your list this holiday season.

26 Making Another’s Holidayby Nick Williams

Three ways to give back this holiday season.

30BioBlitzby Josh Kouri

One of Oklahoma’s premier science education events.

34Galileo’s Worldby Grant Schatzman

An outline of the University of Oklahoma’s massive, year-long history of science exhibition.

46 Goddard Christmas Tree Farmby Josh Kouri

Carrying on a family tradition for over 40 years.

/boydstreetmagazine@boydstreet

boydstreet.com

December 2015 • Issue 12 • Volume 14

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF • Haley Mowdy

ART DIRECTORHaley Mowdy

MANAGING EDITORLindsay Cuomo

LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER & CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER

Mark Doescher

SENIOR EDITORCarleigh Foutch

CONTENT CURATORGrant Schatzman

ASSOCIATE EDITORSAlex Mutz | Meghan Whiting

EDITORIAL ASSISTANTBobbie Franklin

PHOTOGRAPHYJosh Kouri | Taylor Grinstead

Alanna Moore

CONTRIBUTORS Alex Bare | Stefanie Brickman

Tegan BurkhardCheyenne Dickerson | Carleigh Foutch

Taylor Hickney | Chris Joseph Tyler McComas | Jeff ProvineLacey Swope | Nick Williams

DESIGNShane Steiner

WEB DESIGNBecs Yeager

WEB MANAGERTegan Burkhard

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVESJoe Wilhite | Randy LaffoonTracie Gray | Perry Spencer

PUBLISHER

Boyd Street MagazineP.O. Box 721494

Norman, Oklahoma 73070

Phone: (405) 321-2400E-mail: [email protected]

Copyright © Boyd Street Magazine

Any articles, artwork or graphics created by Boyd Street Magazine or its contributors are sole property of Boyd Street Magazine and cannot be reproduced

for any reason without permission. Any opinions expressed in Boyd Street are not necessarily that of

Boyd Street management.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Joe Wilhite

The end of the year is here, and wow, has time flown! December brings with it so many wonderful holiday events, so many opportunities to spend time with the ones you love, and most importantly, to be thankful. As the year comes to a close, I want to take the time to thank all of Boyd Street’s incredible readers for your support! We love hearing your feedback, especially as our 15th birthday draws near and we look toward making Boyd Street even better for the next 15 years. If you have comments, suggestions, words of praise or anything else you want to tell or ask us, feel free to contact me personally at [email protected].

This issue is packed with fun things to do with your family and friends, tips to spend those cold winter days and our ever-popular 10th annual holiday gift guide. Always a favorite of the December issue, this year’s guide is better than ever! Whether you’re looking for children, siblings, friends, parents or coworkers, we’ve got everything you need to celebrate this holiday season in style. Hand-picked by our staff from the best of Norman’s businesses, we’ve made it easy for you to support our community while bringing cheer to those in your life.

My wish for you is that you stay warm, healthy, safe and happy this holiday season. Take care, and we’ll see you in the new year!

Haley MowdyEditor-in-Chief

Editor’s Note

Ed Copelin

12 // BOYD STREET MAGAZINE

“The Holiday season is certainly the most exciting time to own and operate a toy store,” said Ed Copelin, owner and founder of Copelin’s, a family operated office supply and toy store. Watching people bustle excitedly through the aisles makes it quite easy to see why. The air is full of joy and color this time of year, and shoppers have their carts stacked high with games that will soon warm the hearts of children throughout the city.

Though his store is certainly a Norman staple, Copelin’s history and involvement in Norman extend to programs and organizations all over the city. The story of this Normanite begins during the demise of the oil industry of the mid 1980s, which prompted Copelin to move to Norman in search of better economics. Before then, Copelin spent fifteen years working in human resources. Leading up to his arrival in Norman, he worked as director of human relations at a company called Totco. Eventually, his desire for the rewards of self-employment led him to expand his horizons. In 1983, Copelin opened his now iconic store as a simple office supply center. After finding some success, Copelin and his family decided to expand the horizons of their burgeoning business.

“We wanted to give a try adding some teaching products,” Copelin said. “So we added some of those supplies about three years into starting the business. Then we grew and grew. About seven or eight years later, we decided to add in an area of the store for some educational and developmental toys. It complements the teaching area quite nicely, and it’s been well received in the community. It would be truthful to say it’s a whole lot more fun than office supplies too.”

Copelin’s long history in Norman is extensive in community-bettering projects. He served on the Board for the Norman Chamber of Commerce for many years. During the mid to late eighties, he served as president of the United

Way of Norman, and six years ago, he served again as a campaign chair. These are two organizations that readers of past Normanite features are likely to be very familiar with. He also served, and now continues to serve, as president of the Norman Rotary Club for a time. Copelin’s interest in education led him to serve as president and board member of the school board at Moore Norman Technology Center. He was even active for a few years with the Red Cross, as well as with the Boy Scouts of America as a district chair for about two years.

For fourteen years, Copelin served as president of the board at the Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, or OEC as many may know it as, where he was heavily involved in Operation Round Up, in which members of OEC could have bills rounded up to the nearest dollar. The extra money collected was pooled and allocated to different areas of community. Historically, this money has been used for things like bulletproof vests for law enforcement, Red Ribbon Week, dentures for women, ramps for the handicapped and tornado relief funds.

Today, much of Copelin’s efforts remain in his store, which is family run. The emphasis on family has an effect on what they choose to keep in stock. One of his daughters is a toy-buyer and she helps search for the right kinds of toys for Copelin’s to sell.

“We try to spend our time looking at learning toys and educational development items,” Copelin said. Another of Copelin’s projects is taking part in this year’s Norman Main Street Christmas Holiday Parade on Dec. 12. Some may remember a controversy nearly a decade ago in which the name of the parade was switched from Christmas parade to holiday parade. Some disgruntled citizens complained and Copelin stepped in.

“I knew how important the parade is for the kids in our city, so I wanted to make it happen however I could,” Copelin said. “With a lot of help, we pulled it off. The parade went off without a hitch. Everyone did such a good job, and they still continue to do so.”

Copelin serves as program chair for three organizations: the Norman Rotary Club, Norman Business Association and Norman Business Coalition, the latter of which is a small group of businesses that meet weekly to discuss what’s happening in Norman.

“Norman has been such a great place to live,” Copelin said. “It’s a great place to own a business and to raise kids. I’ve had the good luck of being involved and getting to know the business leaders in the community. Our accomplishments, I think, are not as significant as the person we become in regards to the way we reach out and help others, doing what needs to be done as contributing citizens in Norman.”

Ed Copelin’s retirement may be looming on the horizon, but longtime patrons and enthusiasts of his store need not worry about the future of the business. The confidence and love he has for it is almost palpable.

“We’ve enjoyed being in business, and we hope to continue it,” Copelin said. “Business has changed, certainly. It is a competitive world out there, especially with the big box stores and the internet. We still have a lot of loyal customers who appreciate the efforts we contribute to, so we’ll keep hammering away.”

To those Normanites who have never had the opportunity to visit Copelin’s store, there could be no better time to go shopping than December. The store can be found at 425 W. Main St. or reached at 364-7011.

Normanite in the Spotlight

By: Alexander Mutz

Boyd Street magazine’s10th Annual Holiday Gift Guide

For Women:It’s hard to believe that we’ve been doing our locally famous annual holiday gift guide for a decade now! Over the last decade, we’ve become known as the most trusted guide for gifts from Norman’s best local vendors. This year, we’re bringing you the most exciting list ever, and we have something for everyone on your list! This holiday season, as ever, we here at Boyd Street encourage you to support your local community by shopping at these incredible local businesses. Look for the STAR to check out this year’s editor’s favorites!

Antique Garden, 323 W. Boyd, has gifts for the woman of every age. Some of their favorites this year are the Santa wine coozies, $22 each; Free People fuzzy scarf, $48; Mr. & Mrs. Clause mug set, pair for $32; and the Be Brave packaged set (earrings & jewelry tray), $20.

Theo’sMarketplace, 3720 W. Robinson, Suite 200, has the 2016 Stickley Collector Edition Harvey Ellis Console which is a luxury home item that no woman can live without! Stop in soon to get a beautiful, one-of-a-kind collector’s item through 2016.

Occasions has gifts for any sophisticated woman. My favorite gifts are their fine paper goods, nearly all of which can be customized with your name or monogram. They also have Kate Spade gifts, trinkets and knickknacks for stocking stuffers, and classic home goods as far as the eye can see. The year I started college and joined a sorority, my grandmother bought me a personalized set of writing papers and matching envelopes so that I could always show my gratitude with a handwritten note. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever received! Now open Sunday’s 1-5pm till Christmas.

Le Visage Spaand Wellness,3700 W. Robinson, Suite 110, has Christmas gift certificate available that will help you pamper your favorite women.

Robinson’sRepurposed, 325/316 E. Main, has numerous one-of-a-kind furniture and statement pieces that will brighten up any home. Not only do they have trained employees that are devoted to helping you create a coordinated style for your home, they can also take your own old pieces of furniture or yard sale finds and turn them into customized pieces of art.


By: Haley Mowdy

3101 W. Tecumseh Road #202, Norman, Ok 73072 | 405.321.2700

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Wishing you a safe and joyful holiday season, from our family to yours.

For Men:

The Trails Golf Club, 3200 S. Berry, has all sorts of golf supplies and clothing. Or, you can really give a special gift this year by giving them a membership to the club.

I always love to give practical gifts! There’s nothing I hate more than a gift that looks cool but is completely useless! A Walden’s gift card is absolutely practical and will be totally appreciated! Know a man who has extensive dry-clean needs? Get him a

Walden’s Cleaners gift card! With locations at nearly every corner of Norman, he’s sure to find a use for it! Locations: 202 N. Flood, 1224 Alameda, 1211 36th Ave NW, 505 Highland Pkwy.

Auto Image USA, 2701 36th Ave NW, has all sorts of parts and accessories (as well as services such as tinting) for the auto enthusiast! An excellent choice for any man who loves to take care of his car.

Know a golfer? GolfTEC, 1619 S. I-35 Service Road, Moore, has special holiday packages, $195 and $295, and for a limited time you can save 10% off all lesson plans, excluding holiday packages.

Champions onDisplay, 223 E. Main, has the most on-trend sports apparel around, for the Sooners, the Thunder and many other favorite teams! No matter who you rep, this store has all of your fan needs!

The Columns onMain, 2201 W. Main, has gifts for every classy gentleman in your life. Some of our favorites are the Howard Miller grandfather clock, $2,199 and the Ralph Lauren decanter and glass set, $125 and $60 for pair of glasses.


Boyd Street magazine’s 10th Annual Holiday Gift Guide

For Anyone


Balfour, 792 Asp, has gifts for the whole Sooner family! Our favorites are the knit OU logo Christmas sweater, $55.99; Nike coaches polos, $75.00; and Mens and womens hoodies, $30-$85.

Need another idea for a gift? Spread some holiday cheer with a

Full Moon SushiGift Card! They are also offering Sushi Classes every other week! Come visit us at 326 E. Main and speak with our staff to learn more.

Once again, I love practical gifts, and One University at the Oklahoma Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma has everything you need for the tech savvy individuals in your life! Teenagers are especially difficult to shop for, but what teenager doesn’t need a new charger, set of headphones or a book on their favorite Adobe product? You really can’t fail with this one-stop-shop. From Apple products to PCs to technology books and everything in between, you’re sure to find the perfect gift here!

The international pantry, 1618 W. Lindsey, has an abundance of gifts for every cook and foodie in your life! From Made in Oklahoma products to their ever-popular gourmet spices, you’re sure to find new and exciting gifts for the ones you love.

Who doesn’t like chocolate?

Apple Tree Chocolate, 754 Asp, has an amazing selection of chocolate & caramel covered apples, truffles and more! They even have plenty of non-chocolate treats as well!

Plan ahead this holiday season with the gift that keeps on giving all year ‘round!

SignatureCustom Pools,signaturecustompools.com, can help you create a custom pool this holiday season that your family will enjoy for summers to come!

Brown’s Shoe Fit Co., 2427 W. Main, is a great place to get the most fashion-forward footwear for the whole family! With popular brands such as Keen, New Balance, OluKai, Chaco, Johnston & Murphy and a staff trained to find you the perfect fit, you can check off anyone on your shopping list!

“We’re more than just nuts!”

Mason’s Pecans& Peanuts, 4913 SE 44th St, has gift baskets galore, plus all the little knickknacks you need for stocking-stuffing this year.

Ready to upgrade your look?

Slatten Eye Care, 2224 W. Main, has eyewear for the whole family! From sunglasses to trendy prescription glasses, the gift of good sight (and on-trend style) is never unappreciated!


STONEWALL KITCHEN HOLIDAY TRIFLEINGREDIENTS:1 jar Stonewall Kitchen Holiday Jam*1 Box Plentiful Pantry Almond Pound Cake

Mix* (prepare as directed)1 cup whipping cream1 Tablespoon confectioner’s sugar1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla*8 small Amaretti cookies, crushed*

CUSTARD:3 Tablespoons granulated sugar 1 1/2 Tablespoons cornstarch3 egg yolks, slightly beaten2 1/2 cups whole milk1 teaspoon vanilla*

INGREDIENTS:6 frozen raspberries1 bottle champagne, chilled1/2 cup (4 oz) Torani Raspberry Syrup*

DIRECTIONS:Fill 4 glasses with frozen berries. Add 2 Tablespoons of Torani Syrup to each glass.

Slowly top with champagne and enjoy!DIRECTIONS:

Slice 8 (1/4-inch) slices of pound cake. Spread the Holiday Jam over 4 slices, top with remaining slices. Cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Set aside.

To make the custard, whisk together 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar and cornstarch. Whisk in the egg yolks. Whisk in the milk and transfer to a medium saucepan. Stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until thickened, do not boil. Remove from heat, add vanilla and cool.

In each martini glass layer the pound cake cubes, then a layer of custard, repeat.Beat whipping cream with confectioner’s sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Top each

trifle with whipped cream. Sprinkle with Amaretti cookie crumbs.

*Denotes items available at the international pantry.*

MERRY BERRY BUBBLY

These gifts are perfect for...

For Children:Boyd Street magazine’s 10th Annual Holiday Gift Guide

Not sure what to get?

ChickasawCountry’s new gift card program is available at more than 50 retailers in south-central Oklahoma. Gift cards can be purchased in dominations of $25, $50, $100 and $250 at retail locations; and are available online starting at $10. These gift cards are accepted at WinStar World Casino and Resort and retail properties; Chickasaw Travel Stops; Artesian Hotel, Casino and Spa; Bedré Fine Chocolate; Newcastle Casino and retail locations; Riverwind Casino and retail locations and many more. They can be purchased online at http://chickasawcountry.com/gift-cards.

Bowling is no longer just for kids—grab a date and head over to

Sooner BowlingCenter, 550 24th Ave. NW., for food and fun! Gift cards from here are great stocking stuffers, and they offer food and alcoholic beverages to go with the fun bowling experience!

In Oklahoma, there is no gift more important than storm safety. Check out

Atlas Safe Rooms, located at 2431 W. Main for the safest in storm safe rooms.

Custom engraving is incredibly popular this year. If you want to give a useful gift that also carries and individualized touch, check out

Norman Stamp and Seal, 110 S. University, for all things engraved and stamped! They can even custom engraved the ever-popular Yeti cups that are a hit with every age group this season.

Gifts are great, but memories with loved ones are better! While the

new HeyDay, 3201 Market, is fun for the whole family, HeyDay is a special treat for kiddos. With laser tag, bowling, mini-golf, a ropes course and an arcade, a gift card from here will make any kid’s dreams come true! Whether you’re 50, 15 or 5, there is something for you to enjoy, and family time that is fun for everyone is so rare!

YouthPerformance, 500 W. Main, is dedicated to “improving strength, conditioning and self-esteem” in youth. This year, give the gift of confidence to your child or young athlete.

Kidoodles ToyZone, 425 W. Main, has toys, games and gifts sure to please children of any age! Their experts can even help you find the perfect gift based on their expert knowledge on what is popular for the age group you’re looking for.


For Adults Only:


Celebrate a special date night or anniversary with a gift card for

VIP Limousine. They are even booking tours now for Christmas light tours, parties and New Year’s Eve. This is such an original idea and I absolutely love it! Does your family have a tradition of checking out the lights every year? Surprise them with a memory they’ll never forget and take them in a limousine! Or, use a limo to make a special date night or party even more memorable!

Looking to remodel? Paint a wall to add some fresh color? Redo your backyard for spring?

Habitat forHumanity’sReStore, 1100 W. Main, is “the perfect place for all of your funky, unique and vintage holiday shopping!” All proceeds go to the Cleveland County Habitat for Humanity to build homes for local families—what better way to spend your gift money than to benefit the community?

Corkscrew Wine & Spirits, 2319 W. Lindsey, has a such a large selection of wines, beers and spirits you’ll have no trouble finding a gift for anyone in your life! Make sure to ask their experts to help you find the perfect gift.

At Fowler, there is something for everyone! Whether you’re looking for a Dodge, a Toyota or anything in between, they have something for you! Make sure you come in for a test drive this holiday season!

Seth WadleyAuto Group has a huge selection of cars, trucks and SUVs to surprise your most loved family member with this season! Whatever you’re looking for, Seth Wadley can help you find it!

Give the gift of good health this year with a membership to

DowntownFitness, with locations at 119 W. Main and 1610 W. Lindsey.

Joe’s Wines &Spirits, 1330 Alameda, makes holiday shopping (and hostess gifts!) easy this holiday season with prepackaged boxed gift sets! Some of their favorites are: Crown Royal 750ml with rocks tumblers, Precious Vodka in Diamond Shape decanter with Semi-Precious stones, and Disaronno with Robert Cavalli glasses & decanter.


Gift Card Ideas:

The GarageBurgers andBeer, 307 E. Main

Louie’s Grill andBar, 301 W. Boyd & 3750 W. Robinson

Pub W: Pub Food, 3720 W. Robinson

McNellie’s TheAbner Alehouse,121 E. Main

Blackbird Gastropub, 575 S. University Suite 110

Toby’s American Grill, 1150 W. Lindsey

blu, 201 S. Crawford

Service Station Bar & Grill, 502 S. Webster

The Mont: American/Mexican, 1300 Classen

O Asian Fusion, 105 12th Ave SE

O’Connell’s Irish Pub & Grille, 769 Asp

Syrup Breakfast Boutique, 123 E. Main

Brewhouse, 110 W. Main

Jax Soul Kitchen, 575 S. University Suite 102

Earl’s Rib Palace,216 Johnny Bench Dr, Suite BBQ,Bricktown, OKC & 920 SW 25th St, Moore

Das Boot Camp:German Restaurant and Bar: 229 E Main

Cool BeansCoffee, 1230 Alameda

Meatball House, 333 Boyd

Interurban: America, 1150 Ed Noble Pkwy

Famiglia di LuigisBistro: Italian, 2701 S. Service Rd, Moore

The Library Bar & Grill, 607 W. Boyd

La Baguette: Bakery, Bistro, Bar & Café, 2100 W. Main & 1130 Rambling Oaks #100. The Rambling Oaks location has something for everyone, even in a really picky family. From soups, sandwiches, pasta, meat dishes, vegetarian dishes, sweets, coffees and adult beverages, there literally is at least two or three things on the menu that even the pickiest eater can find to love! The mix of European and American favorites with a dash of Middle Eastern cuisine is unbeatable. Plus, the service is spectacular, the ambiance is perfect for any occasion and you’re sure to impress your date!



(em)Powering you and yours this

holiday season.


Making Another’s Holiday

Salvation ArmyOne of the most well-known charity organizations for their holiday work, the Salvation Army is a refuge of love and hope for struggling families and individuals, especially this time of year. Though it may be easy to drown out the simple chimes of bells and clinking coins that have become a staple of the Christmas season, the heart-swelling stories that arise are almost too many to recall for the Salvation Army workers. Director of Social Services Leona Chapman recollected the story of a family of five with three young children that reached out for help just last year. The father of the family had recently been injured due to a car falling on him while he was changing a tire, causing the mother to leave her job in order to assist him with his serious injuries. “So they went from a two-income household to none at all in an instant,” said Chapman. “They were in a really tough, tight corner.”The grateful parents remarked that if it had not been for the Salvation Army, they would have had nothing to give their children over Christmas due to the misfortune that had fallen upon them.“This family had never asked us for help before and, in fact, had actually been supporters of the Angel Tree [a program providing Christmas gifts for children] in years past,” said Chapman. “Many of us initially write off those asking for help as simply freeloaders. But I’ve seen that most of the time that’s simply not the case. Many times it’s an individual or family that was one unfortunate event away from really needing a hand.”Volunteer information can be found at: http://www.salvationarmyokcac.org.

By: Nick Williams

Holiday lights sprinkle the night sky, festive decorations fill the stores, warm steaming cups hover below beaming smiles and Yuletide tunes seem to magically turn our world into a beautiful snow globe. The love meter is on full blast as the holiday season has returned once again like a loyal friend. However, while for many it may be easy to bask in the brimming cheer this month brings, for others, the difficulties of life refuse to abate. Thankfully many local organizations rise to the call to fill those needs that, for those who suffer, appear ever more gaping during this time of year. Those organizations will need an extra hand or two to meet the needs of the community. So, this December, when the warmth of the holiday hearth is filling your life, why not give the gift of your time and self to another life in need?

LifeSpring In-Home CareThe aged and physically challenged represent a great many of the individuals in the community that need the most hope over the holidays. Such is the full-time work of LifeSpring In-Home Care Network, located at 2411 Springer Drive. Volunteer opportunities range from simply joining a caroling choir, spreading joy to patients, to individually visiting with terminally ill patients.

“Volunteers come and go, so we’re always looking for new faces to help with the work we do, to whatever extent that may be,” said Terry Boston, Hospice Team Volunteer Coordinator. “Oftentimes, we’ll even tailor-make a special volunteer project to find common ground between the volunteer’s desires and our needs.”

More information can be found at: lifespringhomecare.com

OKC Animal WelfareThe OKC Animal Welfare serves the OKC Metro area, providing a shelter for stray and abused dogs, cats and other animals. The organization also offers a variety of volunteer opportunities, ranging in different levels of commitment from “regular” volunteers who serve on a consistent basis, to “episodic” helpers who provide assistance on a single, special occasion. Additionally, Kids for OKC Animals, an initiative the group started this past summer, presents a bounty of ideas for teens and kids to get involved, ranging from making homemade cat toys to hands-on caring for the animals with a supervising adult.

“We have a huge need all of the time, so we welcome everyone at any level of involvement to help give us a hand,” said Superintendent Julie Bank.

For further information on volunteering, contact [email protected].

It would be shamefully naive to say that a short article such as this could do justice to the scores of great organizations and teams doing the good work in the community. Although the needs are great, the avenues to provide hope and love are just as bountiful. If none of the above organizations suit your interests or callings, don’t brush the idea aside. Find your own way to make this holiday a little more memorable.


Have you ever wondered about that mysterious bird you saw at your feeder? Or if that scary-looking bug was dangerous? Did you wish you could just ask an expert about it? Then BioBlitz is the event for you!

BioBlitz is one of Oklahoma’s premier science education events. It’s attended by everyone from young children to OU professors and retirees to OU students. This event encourages citizen scientists of all ages to work alongside experts to find and identify as many species as possible in 24 hours. BioBlitz provides the general public with the opportunity to talk face-to-face and work side-by-side with some of Oklahoma’s top biologists to discover more about the world around them.

Dr. Ken Hobson, an entomology professor at OU, has been an attendee since the first Oklahoma BioBlitz was held in Norman in 2002. He says the unique format of BioBlitz has helped it grow into a can’t-miss event. “That sort of deadline, that contest, makes it more interesting. Knowing that you only have so much time to get as many species recorded and find as much as you can—it adds a little spark of intensity. “

This year’s BioBlitz was held the first weekend of October in Osage Hills State Park. An open field in the park served as a giant group campsite for the 383 participants. At 4 p.m. on Friday, the ceremonial conch shell was blown to signal the start of the Blitz, and everyone rushed out to explore the park. Over the next 24 hours, experts led citizen scientists on a variety of excursions, from bird watching and night hikes to butterfly walks and bat netting. By the time the survey ended on Saturday afternoon, 748 species had been found, providing the park with valuable knowledge about what is protected within its borders.

While BioBlitz certainly provides a fun weekend for all involved, it also serves as a vital link between scientists and the general public. Events like BioBlitz provide scientists with the opportunity to share what they study and show why it’s important, as well as giving the general public the chance to ask an expert questions they have about the natural wonders around them. Nick Huron, a graduate student at OU, says that “simple opportunities to keep the ties between scientists and citizen scientists are essential for establishing mutual trust.

Even just allowing someone to help you take photographs of animals caught at the BioBlitz is a simple way to start a casual but vital conversation.”

Jessa Watters, the Herpetology Collection Manager at the Sam Noble Museum, points out that “this is a great chance to help make sure the public is current on important topics, like infectious diseases in amphibians.” Which, according to Watters, have been wreaking havoc in frog populations across the US.

Whether you’re the outdoorsy type looking for a fun weekend, an interested citizen wanting to deepen your knowledge, a single college student or a parent with school children, there’s a place for you at BioBlitz. “I would definitely encourage [everyone] to attend,” says Elyse Ellsworth, an undergrad at OU. “It’s a lot of fun and a great opportunity to learn something new.”

Next year’s event will be held at the OU Biological Station at Lake Texoma. So, mark your calendars, and we’ll see you there!

You can find more information at BioBlitzOklahoma.wordpress.com.

BioBlitz2015

Story and Photos by: Josh Kouri

Three well-known Native American artists, Timothy Tate Nevaquaya, Brenda Kingery and Jim Trosper will have their contemporary art pieces, including, paintings and photography on exhibit at separate locations in south-central Oklahoma. From November 1, 2015 through February 29, 2016 Tim Nevaquaya’s paintings will be featured at the Chickasaw Visitor Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma; Jim Tropser’s photography will be on display at the Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center in Davis, Oklahoma; and Brenda Kingery’s paintings will be on display at Exhibit C in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Nevaquaya, Kingery and Trosper create unique pieces of art by diverse resources of painting and photography,

Timothy Tate Nevaquaya,Chickasaw Visitor Center, Sulphur, OklahomaSon of artist and renowned flute player ‘Doc’ Tate Nevaquaya, Timothy Tate Nevaquaya knew growing up in his father’s footsteps would be no easy path. Nevaquaya said his father set the example of excellence and shaped the course of his life and art. As a child, Tim Nevaquaya spent many hours at the end of his father’s drafting table, learning the basic principles in Native American art forms, as well as, flute making and music composition. By the age of 12, Nevaquaya was composing music on his father’s flutes, and by the age of 14, Nevaquaya was making flutes, thus starting his own career in Native American performing and visual arts.

“My father was Comanche, and my mother Chickasaw, I’ve been immersed in Native American culture all of my life. My art is a reflection of my culture,” said Nevaquaya. “I began my art by painting my father’s styles. As I’ve grown older, I’ve since transitioned my work to be more contemporary, a style all my own.”

Nevaquaya has performed and shown his work in many museums throughout the United States; most notably in the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, The Gilcrease Museum of Western Art, Philbrook Museum of Art, the Oklahoma State Capitol and the Oklahoma Governor’s Ball. Locally you can find pieces of Nevaquaya’s paintings in Museum of the Great Plains, ARTesian Art Gallery, Exhibit C and Nevaquaya Fine Arts Gallery.

An artist reception will be held for Timothy Tate Nevaquaya at the Chickasaw Visitor Center in Sulphur o Saturday, November 14 from 4-6 p.m.

Brenda Kingery, Exhibit C, Oklahoma City, OklahomaA Chickasaw artist, Brenda Kingery records her life through her paintings. Kingery spent seven years in Okinawa, Japan attending graduate school at Ryukyu University before returning to the United States to attend graduate school at the University of Oklahoma, writing her thesis on the origins and influences of Ryukyuan folk art. Kingery’s paintings reflect textural patterns and use mixed media, acrylic or oil and sometimes incorporates mica and small objects.

“My goal is to create paintings that reflect life’s breath,” said Kingery. “My work depicts textural patterns that can be described as narrative symbolism reflecting my Native culture. Some of my paintings have been known to have 25 layers of paint.”

Kingery was appointed by the President of the United States in 2007 to the Board of Trustees of the Institute of American Indians and Native Alaskans in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Kingery has received many accolades over her years of work as an artist, and has exhibited her work across the United States and in Asia, Africa and Europe.


An artist reception will be held for Brenda Kingery on Saturday, November 7 at Exhibit C, located in Bricktown from 2-5 p.m.

Jim Trosper, Chickasaw Nation WelcomeCenter, Davis, Oklahoma At an early age, Chickasaw Native Jim Trosper had a great appreciation for photography, always taking charge using the camera on family vacations. When deciding on a college to attend, Trosper knew that he would need to select a school that had a great understanding and focus on photography. After completing his degree in photographic arts from the University of Central Oklahoma, Trosper began seeking freelance work that would build a firm foundation for his photography career.

“While it does take understanding the fundamentals of photography to create a good photo, I feel that it takes emotion to make a photo great,” says Trosper. “If I stay passionate and pursue a great image, I always seem to end up in the perfect spot to get emotion from my subject.”

Trosper has spent much of his time photographing the live bands at the Zoo Amphitheatre, and live horse racing at Remington Park. Trosper enjoys working with new photo styles every time he ventures out for a shoot, and he spends time challenging himself and his photography to create irreplaceable images.

An artist reception will be held for Jim Trosper at the Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center on Saturday, November 14 from 1-3 p.m.

Contemporary artwork by Native American artists on display throughout Oklahoma

“Pow Wow” - Brenda Kingery

“Wisdom Speaks” - Timothy Tate Navequaya

Stream” - Jim Trosper

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Galileo’s Worldby: Grant Schatzman

Right now, and for the next nine months, the University of Oklahoma is in the middle of an unprecedented collaborative exhibition. The 20 special exhibits, which draw on the University’s world-class history of science collection, will span seven locations on three different campuses across the state. Galileo’s World launched in August to celebrate the University’s 125th birthday, but the history of its namesake is much, much older.

Born in Pisa (home of the famously lopsided tower) in 1564, Galileo Galilei entered a world of intellectual flourishing. The Renaissance saw an explosion of art, literature and philosophy, much of which gravitated around old Greek and Roman themes. But just 20 years before Galileo’s birth, a man named Copernicus had made a revolutionary, counterintuitive claim that the earth spun around the sun, a monumental new development on the path to natural science as we know it today. Galileo devoted his own life’s work to science, philosophy, art, music, politics and more, leaving behind writings that have helped fashion the world. Now, OU’s history of science collection holds 12 of Galileo’s first-edition works. Four of them bear his own handwriting, and all of them are open to the public eye.

Bizzell Memorial Library:Bizzell Library holds the bulk of Galileo’s works, but the exhibits aren’t all dust and manuscripts. The 20-foot scale replica of the Tower of Pisa on the Main Floor re-enacts one of Galileo’s own groundbreaking physics experiments, complete with a tantalizing big, red button to set the ball rolling.

Whether by elevator or stairs, the climb to the 5th floor special collections is an absolute necessity. The perfect fantasy of every bibliophile and history buff, the gallery’s wood-panelled walls hold volume upon volume of centuries-old texts and hours of potential exploration.

Main: Galileo, Sidereus Nuncius (Venice, 1610). Inset: “Galileo portrait,” Ballaguy. Courtesy History of Science Collections, University of Oklahoma Libraries. From the OU History of Science Collections quarto portraits collection.

The exhibition was originally confined to Bizzell Memorial Library’s renovated 5th floor special collections, according to project coordinator Chelsea Julian. When departments across campus began to peek in, they started to see connections within their own disciplines. According to Julian, curators soon realized that creative and cross-disciplinary approaches to research and experimentation lead the way to innovation and discovery in the Renaissance, which is reflective of OU today.

Over 300 rare books will be displayed throughout the course of the exhibit, all which you can peruse online at galileo.ou.edu. I recommend you plan your visit out in advance to see as much as possible. The Schusterman Library in Tulsa and the Health Sciences Library in Oklahoma City are also participating in the big exhibition, so mark them on your map for next time you’re in the area. If you’re planning a trip to the OU Norman campus, here’s what you have to see:

OU Libraries student worker, Hannah Johnson preparing a book for display.


Headington Hall—Galileo and Sports:Don’t let the locked front door deter you; OU’s newest and nicest residence hall is open to all who knock. Headington houses many of the University’s student athletes, highlighting the connection between Galileo’s new physics and the health and sports sciences. This comparatively small exhibit contains a collection of books that date back to the 16th century about the muscular and physical sciences, which Headington brings together with the question, “What would Coach Galileo say?”

Sam Noble Museum—Through the Eyes of the Lynx:Bypass the brontosaurus and head upstairs to find an eclectic gathering of relics from an age when science was just budding from more arcane, magical studies. Recalling the old cabinets of wonder, the room is brimming with natural specimens, from exotic insects to an armadillo, quetzal, toucan and hummingbird, odd, ugly, and fascinating figures preserved in jars. A gray lynx presides over the room, symbolizing the Academy of the Lynx that Galileo was part of. Even stranger than the specimens, though, are the texts which accompany them. In addition to a 17th

century natural history text speculating on dragons and unicorns (with some very exciting conclusions), you’ll find a volume on “Natural Magick”, including such occult oddities as the telescope, perfume arts and “strange cures”. Catch it while you can, because like the unicorns, this exhibit vanishes January 17. Starting February 6, Sam Noble will feature an exhibit highlighting Microscopy through the work of Galileo and the Academy of the Lynx, who were the first to publish what they found under a microscope.

The National Weather Center—Meteorology and Experimentation:Located on OU’s south research campus, the National Weather Center houses the University’s preeminent meteorology program in addition to two Galileo exhibits. Glass cabinets hold texts from the beginning of experimental methodology, when modern chemistry was making its first serious entry into Europe. Here, you’ll find the first known books exploring tornados, optics and barometry. The exhibit also includes scientific instruments new and old—a few that Galileo would have used in his experiments, and some that meteorologists use daily in

Oklahoma’s forecasts. Also in the main atrium is a gallery wall detailing Oklahoma’s remarkable part in the history of aeronautics and space exploration, a long-time partnership with NASA that continues today. The exhibit opened on September 25 with a keynote speech from NASA astronaut Lee Morin. In October, NASA researcher Dr. Rosaly Lopes came to the center to talk about what the Galileo space probe discovered about Jupiter’s moons, and Dr. Linda Spilker spoke about Saturn and the Cassini probe in November. In January, the National Weather Center will add two new exhibits connecting Galileo to modern space exploration.

Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art—An Artful Observation of the Cosmos (Coming Soon):Fred Jones will open its exhibit January 21, exploring the relationship between art, mathematics and astronomy. Alongside many other texts, Galileo’s best-known work, The Starry Messenger, will be on display, as well as Sirigatti’s The Practice of Perspective, which contains then-new methods of perspective, light and shadow.

Norman Public Library West’s newest addition is giving children who visit yet another way to experience learning inside the library with its new interactive play wall.

The wall is located in the children’s area, in the southwest corner of the library portion of the Pioneer Library System’s newest facility, located at 300 Norman Center Court. It features a series of panels young children can manipulate for learning activities, and an array of colors that make it a centerpiece for youngsters who visit the building.

The idea for the wall was sparked after a conversation between PLS Director Anne Masters and Public Information Officer Gary Kramer, who then came up with the concept for what the wall might look like. Masters had sought a creation that would anchor and identify the children’s area, relate back to Norman and also provide the manipulative toys that are of particular benefit to young children and toddlers.

Kramer’s idea was based on the colorful bicycle racks located around Norman that were commissioned as part of a Norman Arts Council initiative for public art.

Those bike racks were fabricated by a local company, McPherson Machine, Inc. Kramer contacted McPherson and worked on a design for the wall, while Norman West staff members selected the educational panels to be incorporated into the wall from the Burgeon Group, a company that has worked with many public

libraries on interactive learning spaces.

The panels feature a variety of learning devices, including a color wheel, a mini clock with minute and second hands, a wheel for counting and more. The finished unit roughly mimics the look of the outside of Norman West. And it’s a durable design that figures to last for many years of young children to enjoy.

Although it’s been in use since late October, the play wall was officially dedicated during a ceremony at the end of November.

Norman West features 6,575 square feet of library space with public computers, a second bank of special computers geared to children, study rooms and the Café /snak/ which is open during library hours. It also featured a 24-Hour Library machine and Movie Box on the southeast corner outside the building that are available at all hours.

Anyone who lives, works, attends school or owns property not just in Norman but in any of the library’s three-county service area (Cleveland, McClain or Pottawatomie counties) is eligible for a library card that can gain them access to the more than 730,000 items in the library collection.

Find out more by visiting any PLS library or going online to www.pioneerlibrarysystem.org.

By: Christian Potts

Interactive Play WallNew at the library


Norman Public Library West’s new interactive play wall is a destination for children visiting the newest facility of the Pioneer Library System.Bottom Inset: Tom McPherson of McPherson Machine, Inc. poses with the play wall during the earlier stages of its construction and prior to its painting. The company also

produced the colorful bicycle racks found around Norman, which were an inspiration for the style of this project.

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The annoyances presented by telemarketers are so common they’ve become go-to topics in sitcoms and standup comedy acts. Everyone laughs about how annoying telemarketer calls are because we all know and share the frustration of having our meal times interrupted or our family conversations disturbed by a ringing telephone. More than a running joke, though, these annoyances can pose a real threat to your financial security.

There’s no good way to avoid getting a call from these companies, either. The FCC’s Do Not Call list complaints site saw 3.7 million complaints from people who received unsolicited calls last year despite being on the list. Only about 600 companies have faced penalties or fines from the FCC. Even worse, if you make a transaction with a company, they can cold call you for up to 3 months if you’ve made an inquiry and up to 18 months if you’ve made a purchase.

These irritating calls seem to be a fact of modern life. The best thing you can do is be polite in saying “no” and ask them not to call again. When they turn from sales to scam, though, extra attention may be required. Let’s take a look at three common scams, how to detect them and what you can do to fight back.

The Fake Charity

How it works: You get a call asking for your help dealing with a recent catastrophe. It will be ripped from the headlines and pull at your heartstrings – a hurricane in the Gulf Coast, an earthquake in the Philippines or a refugee crisis in Uganda. The cause is just a smokescreen.

The scammer has set up the charity and hired his own organization to run advertising and promotion. He will use that organization to collect somewhere

By: Shannon HudzinskiPresident/CEO OU Federal Credit Union

between 90 and 95 percent of the funds raised. The tiny fraction left over will be donated to a legitimate charity and written off as a charitable contribution by the scammer.

The worst part about this scam is it’s completely legal. The people who set up these fake organizations know the tax code and exactly how far they can push the scam. By the time anyone investigates the “charity,” it’s already shut its doors. The scammer moves on to the next crisis.

In the best case, these scammers will merely take your money. In worse cases, they may sell your contact information to other scammers. They may even use your payment information to steal your identity.

How you can find it: Savvy scammers will set up a legitimate-looking website for their fake charity, so a simple search won’t help. However, searching websites like Guidestar (guidestar.org) can help you sort out legitimate charities from scam organizations. Legitimate charities report information to the website, including what percentage of the funds they raise goes to overhead costs. Honest charities will never mind if you do your research.

How you can avoid it: Be proactive in your charitable contributions. Don’t wait for a telemarketer to make a pitch about suffering in the world. If you want to give money to a cause, do some research and find an organization that aligns with your values. That way, you can tell anyone who calls, legitimate or not, that you already gave.

Yard Sale Help

How it works: You’re trying to sell some stuff you don’t need, like an old car or an antique desk, on a community website like Craigslist. You put your phone number

on the ad so buyers can get in touch with you for answers to any questions. It’s been up a few days and you’re starting to get discouraged.

Then, a company calls and offers to put you in touch with a buyer. They want a percentage of the sale price as a commission. They want it up front, but if the deal falls through (they say) they’ll refund your money.

However, the truth is that there is no buyer, and there is no refund. You’re out the money you’ve spent on this bogus service and you’re no closer to selling your stuff.

How you can find it: Watch out for vagueness in the message- if you’re selling a truck, be careful of people who want to help you sell your “vehicle.” Frequently, vague messages are used to avoid changing the telemarketing script. Similarly, don’t do business with services like this outside your community.

What you can do about it: Selling things yourself can be very stressful. Be sure to give yourself as much time as possible to complete the transaction and always get an offer in writing before committing to sell. If time is really short, consider selling vehicles or other large products to scrap yards or through consignment shops. Legitimate organizations will pay you to sell your things at a markup. No one in this business asks for money up front.

Senior Alert Scam

How it works: One of the demographic groups who still has landline phone service in large numbers is senior citizens, and telemarketing scammers know this. Earlier this year, the Better Business Bureau issued a warning about telemarketers advertising a personal alarm system for seniors. The pitch began

Common Telemarketing Scams


And How To Avoid Them

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by describing a dangerous situation like a break-in or a medical emergency. This was done to create a sense of urgency and easily relatable panic.

The scam offers a free personal alarm system, ordinarily worth thousands of dollars. The senior is only responsible for a small monthly fee, usually around $30. To reassure you, the scammer will cite endorsements from familiar sounding organizations, like the Retired People’s Association (not, to be clear, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), with which you’re familiar).

No alarm ever comes, and mysterious credit card charges start showing up. In truth, there was no alarm. The call was just trying to get credit card numbers for identity theft. The company doesn’t really exist. It’s just a front for a scam.

How to identify it: Watch out for any sales tactic based on creating fear. Scammers know that people value their safety more than anything else and will frequently make bad decisions just to regain that sense of security. Also be careful of any organization that won’t send information

for you to consider or is withholding business details. Pay close attention to the names of organizations the telemarketer is citing.

What you can do about it: Do not give your credit card information to anyone offering a free service. If it’s free, they don’t need it. If it’s not, they’re only telling you it’s free to fool you. Instead, try to get as much information about the organization as possible: a name, an address, a primary telephone number, or a website. Then, take that information to the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Communication Commission.

While we may never be rid of the scourge of telemarketing, we can take steps to make sure we lose as little as possible to scammers who use it.

No matter what’s being peddled, your refrain should always be the same. No thank you, stop calling, and hang up. Document the times and dates you receive these calls and don’t be afraid to contact the FCC, the BBB and your state’s Attorney General.

New Location Now Open!

It’s finally here, the most wonderful time of the year! And part of what makes Christmas so wonderful is rich family traditions—everything from caroling and gift exchanges to tree decorating and snowman building. Often the most anticipated activity is the family trip to the Christmas tree farm to pick out a tree. Whether you’re getting your first live tree or carrying on a generations-old family ritual, the Goddard Christmas Tree Farm is the perfect place to start!

For over 40 years, the Goddard Christmas Tree Farm has helped Norman families create holiday memories. The family bonding that comes from choosing and cutting their own tree is an integral part of many Normanites’ Christmas experience.

“We have a high number of repeat customers,” said Merrill Snider, owner of the farm. “One year we didn’t sell…people that had been buying out here prior to that time were really upset and disappointed that they couldn’t come out and get their tree.”

Located at 5209 E. Robinson St., the farm is a quick ten-minute drive from downtown Norman. Originally started by Fred Goddard and his wife Lillie Mae, the farm has provided trees since 1975. From the beginning, the Goddard farm

By: Josh D. Kouri

has been completely family-owned and operated. When Fred Goddard passed away and Lillie Mae could no longer run the farm herself, their daughter Shirley and her husband Merrill stepped in to continue the family business. Together they’ve managed the farm since 1991.

“We enjoy having [everyone] out here,” said Merrill, “They run around and select their trees. A lot of them bring their dogs and let them run around.”

If this time-honored tradition sounds like your cup of eggnog, here’s what you need to know: The Goddard Farm starts sales on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and operates for the next three to four weekends, until all available trees have been sold. Although the farm has close to 6,000 trees, only about 300-400 of them

Goddard Christmas Tree Farmare harvested each year. Due to drought the last few years, that number may be even lower this year, so the trees won’t last long. Try to go early to ensure you get the perfect tree.

When you arrive at the farm, you’ll be greeted with a smile and given a handsaw before being directed to the tree fields. Since you’ll be cutting down the tree yourself, be sure to dress in appropriate clothing. Walk through the fields until

you find a tree you like. Trees cost $6 per cut foot, and must be at least 5-feet tall to be harvested. Once you select and cut down your tree, bring it up to the front for checkout. Workers are available to help with this step. At the checkout booth you can also purchase a wreath or a tree stand, or even a pre-cut Fraser fir or Black Hills spruce. After you pay for your tree, enjoy a cup of hot chocolate or coffee while workers prepare your tree, which will be trimmed to your specifications, shaken to get rid of loose needles, netted

for transport and tied to the roof of your car. And with that, you’ll be ready for the next family tradition: tree decorating!

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The new Volkswagen dealership, located at 617 North Interstate Dr., is taking a more community-based approach to car salesmanship. The store is putting its best foot and offering patrons some amazing deals on new and used vehicles, parts and more. However, Jonathan Fowler of Fowler Volkswagen in Norman wants readers to know that the Norman community is his sole focus.

“There’s not much that’s sexy about car sales,” he said jokingly. “I’d rather focus on the community.”

And, Fowler did just that by commissioning over 30 local artists to supply art for the dealership. There are several pieces of incredible art that patrons see while driving along the service drive. A bright, synthetic grass peace symbol welcomes patrons into the parking lot, immediately giving the dealership a unique look.

Matt Goad, a local artist and Volkswagen enthusiast, painted a large, sweeping mural on the lot that tells the story of the Volkswagen Company through symbols. After pulling their car into the garage, patrons will see a wall filled with graffiti art.

“It’s all about setting ourselves apart from our competition,” Fowler said. “This is our community store. We built it with our community in mind, and that’s why you see all of this art.”

On Thursday, Dec. 3, the Norman Volkswagen dealership held a ribbon cutting ceremony and offered tours of the local artwork. Fowler not only showcases its emphasis on community through artwork, but through their facilities, too. The dealership has opened up their conference rooms for nonprofits or other organizations that do not have a place to meet and allows them to rent out the rooms.

And, of course, there are the great car deals. For example, the Owner Loyalty Bonus special gives Volkswagen owners a $1,500 bonus on new 2015 and 2016 Jetta models. Expiring Jan. 4, 2016, proof of ownership and registration is required for this offer. Visit the Fowler Volkswagen website, ww.fowlervw.com, for more information.

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What an amazing first semester for OU, Norman High, Norman North and all the other areas schools in Norman and the surrounding communities! From all of us at the OU IT Store and the One U Store we wish you the best of luck in finishing these last few days of school and hope you have a wonderful holiday season and enjoy the well deserved break!With the winding down of the year that means we are in full on “Holiday Mode” over here at the OU IT Store and the One U Store! We see people daily who are coming in and looking at picking up some kind of electronic gadget, new computer, iPad, tablet, cell phone case, iPad case or stocking stuffer for themselves or for that someone special. The OU IT Store on Historic Campus Corner and the One U Store in the Oklahoma Memorial Union on the beautiful campus of the University of Oklahoma has you covered for all your technology needs!Right now we have a lot of great sales going on and just take a quick look below this article and you will see some amazing prices. Another benefit of shopping at the OU IT Store and the One U Store is that it allows you to shop local and give back to the University! This is also a great time to get that machine for at home or work refreshed! Looking for an early gift for that high school senior graduating in 5 months? Here is a great opportunity! Lastly the one thing I wanted to make sure everyone was aware of was that both stores are open to EVERYONE! It’s not just a place for students, faculty and staff to shop- it’s for you too! We carry all the major brands in PC’s, Apple Computers, Tablets, iPads, iPods, Beats by Dre headphones, cell phone cases, iPad cases and

most of them are BELOW MSRP. Our mission is to deliver the best guest experience possible, keep the prices low and expectations high! So be sure to stop by ask for myself, Lisa, Brodie, Kris or Jordan and we will do what we can to make sure that you get what it is that you or that special someone needs for the holidays! Also be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter where we are always doing something crazy! That’s where the real deals happen too! So find us, follow us and let us know you stopped by!Also listen to us weekly on Sportstalk 1400 on 98.5 or 1400 on your AM dial! The on air guys are always figuring out ways to talk me into something and I usually fall for it! So you never know what’s up next!Both stores are open Monday – Friday 9-5 and Saturday 11-3. We will be closing for the holidays on 12/23/15 and will be reopening on 1/2/16. We can be reached at 405-325-1925 or 405-325-5001.Stop by and see us soon! We’ll be looking for you!Happy Holidays! DavidAs the Assistant Vice President for the Digital Innovation at the University of Oklahoma, under the direction of OU’s VP/CIO and OU’s Executive Vice President, David is charged with leading efforts to develop and execute OU’s digital innovation as it relates to the University community and beyond in working closely with various colleges and departments at the University of Oklahoma.

Whatever the cynics may say, New Year’s resolutions are not made to be broken—at least, not if you have the right help. Whether you’re pondering your fifth, short-lived gym membership of the decade or simply looking for a deeper level of health and wellness, the folks at The Health Club (3720 W Robinson St #124) want your wellness resolutions to stick.

There are plenty of health and fitness gyms around the city. Norman is what manager Shawn Magee calls a “fitness minded community”, where the goal is to help you reach your own goals. But Magee and The Health Club’s other dedicated staff members hope to offer a whole different level of support.

“What separates us from other fitness centers is that all of our staff have degrees or advanced degrees in the movement sciences,” Magee said. “We one hundred percent will not hire anybody or allow them to train unless they are certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.”

While state law doesn’t require health and fitness trainers to have that degree of certification, The Health Club holds to that standard for a couple of reasons.

“We’re all individuals, and there’s no one exercise routine that fits anybody. Every program design, every exercise prescription design, is different for the individual it’s designed for,” Magee said, adding that The Health Club didn’t feel that the commonplace online certification was a good service to the community. “If you don’t know what you’re doing and you manipulate someone’s physiology, you open up some risks.”

The Health Club has been owned by Norman Regional Hospital for 22 years now, allowing them to offer unique

By: Grant Schatzman

services like post-rehabilitation training and staff members equipped for emergency situations. The aim is to make sure everyone has the means continue their exercise routines and lifestyle changes long-term.

By no means is The Health Club exclusively clinical or restricted to personal training sessions, though. “There’s not a bunch of people wearing scrubs and white coats, you know. We wear gym clothes,” Magee pointed out.

From young people training for sports to seniors maintaining health and wellness, the range of classes and equipment covers just about every level. A few years ago, the gym underwent over half a million dollars of renovations; today, it boasts a staffed childcare center and nursery, over 100 pieces of cardio equipment, comprehensive weight systems with a licensed in-house repair staff, racquetball courts and much more. Most impressively, Magee claims, The Health Center is a completely gripe-free gym.

The good-attitude policy holds for both staff and patrons, but Magee gives the credit to the clientele. “We form a bond with them. It’s a wonderful place to work,” he said. “We like our people, and I think they feel like this is their home, this is their gym.”

Most of The Health Club’s staff has been around for at least a decade; some, like Magee, for much longer. If you’re hoping to give this year’s resolutions that kind of longevity, check out their web site at thehealthclubnorman.com or drop by the gym in person.

Fitness Resolutions


(For Real this Time)


Sooner fans sat in shock and disbelief as TCU head coach Gary Patterson held up two fingers, signaling for a two-point conversion to take the lead with less than a minute remaining. OU had a 30-13 lead in the fourth quarter, but watched it squander away as Baker Mayfield stood on the sideline with a concussion. TCU had as much momentum as you could ever ask for, as the offense stayed on the field to try and take the lead. But just when it looked like the Sooners were going to suffer one of the most heartbreaking home losses of the Stoops era, Steven Parker saved the day and the season as he batted down the pass to preserve a 30-29 victory for the Sooners.

“Basically, it was just had a hard decision on whether to stay with my receiver or go after the quarterback,” said Parker “I knew the route was going to be double-draft seven and come and get the quarterback. I just played in between and kind of play

By: Tyler McComas

dummy to it. Then from there, just time my jump right.”

With everything that was at stake for OU, it’s hard to argue that it was the most critical play of the year. Many questioned Patterson for not kicking the extra point and taking the Mayfield-less Sooners in overtime, but he was confident he could take the lead with 50 seconds to play.

“Our rule has always been to go get the win on the road,” said Patterson. “To be honest, if (Steven Parker) doesn’t knock it down, there’s a guy open in the back of the end zone to catch it. If there was a mistake, it was us going for two early on in the first half. So you have to give Coach Stoops and his staff and kids a lot of credit. And, you have to give our team credit, too. It was a great ball game.”

Though the Sooners prevailed, yet at the time, fans couldn’t help but wonder at

what cost. The status of Mayfield’s injury was the biggest talking point in the post game, as he never played a down in the second half after suffering a headache at halftime. Due to concussion protocol, team doctors held him out of the remainder of the game, which obviously raised questions about his status for the Bedlam game.

“I know our doctors are incredibly thorough and always lean on the safe side, and once we did find a symptom, that’s when they made sure he was pulled,” said Bob Stoops. “Of course, that threw us off in the second half when we weren’t very consistent.”

They say a win is a win, especially this late in the season. But for OU’s goals to come to fruition, it’s very evident that a healthy Mayfield will have to be part of the equation.

Senior Night Heroics

Photos by: Mark Doescher

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One game, that’s all that separated the Sooners from conquering their ninth Big 12 Championship and a possible berth in the College Football Playoff. It just so happens that very same game took place on a cold, wet N o v e m b e r night and was the biggest B e d l a m game in history.

T h e opening quarter hinted w e ’ d have a b a c k -a n d -forth affair. Both teams were hitting big plays as the Sooners carried a 14-10 lead into the second quarter. But, a 66-yard t o u c h d o w n run by Joe Mixon early in the second quarter seemed to change things. Yes, it was a big play that put OU up 21-10, but it also showed that the Sooners were able to dominate where it mattered most: the running game. As Mixon reversed his footing and cut back to the right side of the field, it looked like he had one man to beat. As the defender approached, he

By: Tyler McComas

was taken out of play by none other than quarterback Baker Mayfield. From there, the Sooners never looked back, as they cruised to a 58-23 statement win.

“I’m elated at the way my players performed,” said head coach Bob

Stoops. “They deserve the credit for making plays out there. They did a great job in all parts of the game.”

Running the ball was a big problem for OU in the first half of this season. In fact, Samaje Perine seemed to be absent from the offense at times. But, you wouldn’t have been able to catch any glimpse of that against Oklahoma State, as the Sooners rushed

for 344 yards and five touchdowns.

“It’s been pretty good here for the past several weeks and we knew it was going to be important tonight,” said offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley. “We

were really proud that at the end of the game, everybody in the stadium knew we were going to run it, we were able to finish them off and run the clock.”

Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph was limited to just one series, after suffering a foot injury the week

A November to Rememberprior, leaving J.W. Walsh to come in as the starter to lead the Cowboy offense against

the top-rated defense in the Big 12.

“It took a while to figure out what was going on and

how they were going to use him,” said d e f e n s i v e

c o o r d i n a t o r Mike Stoops. “We made some

a d j u s t m e n t s to our calls, we baited them into a couple of

things and they got

out of it.

It just took a while to get a rhythm for the game.”

The win clinched a Big 12 title and likely a berth in the College Football Playoff, two things that most people thought were unattainable before the season. All that’s left now is to wait for the committee to seed OU accordingly. But, it sure looks like the Sooners will be either in Arlington or Miami on New Year’s Eve.

As 2015 comes to a close, we focus on holidays, parties, and finding the perfect gift. However, the end of the year also has important financial planning dead-lines. Here are a few Prosperity Points to help you wind up the year.• Take any required minimum dis-

tributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts. RMDs typically apply if you are 70½ or you are younger but have inherited a retirement account. Exceptions or other situations may exist. Check your requirements with

PROSPERITY POINTSTO END THE YEAR

your CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM practitioner or your employer’s human resources department. A 50% penalty is levied on money that you fail to take on time.

• Spend money you have deferred in a flexible savings plan. It’s possible your employer will allow you to roll some of the money to 2016, but you want to be sure you don’t lose it.

• In order to claim the deduction for a charitable donation on your 2015 taxes, you must make the gift by December 31st.

• Although you can fund an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) as late as April 15, 2016, you might wrap up your contributions by the end of the year to help with next year’s cash flow.

• Remember not to spend so much on gifts that you begin the New Year with debt.

December is a hectic month. Don’t let the stress of the holidays cause you to lose the joy they are supposed to bring, and don’t get so busy you forget about your money!

Be Prosperous!Peggy Doviak, Ph.D., CFP ®

The Fine Print: This article is educational, not investment advice. Investing is risky, and you can lose money. Talk to your financial team about any strategies before you implement them.

NATIONAL STUDY: NORMAN REGIONAL IS A HEALTHGRADES FIVE-STAR RECIPIENT FOR ORTHOPEDIC CARENorman Regional announced that it has received 5 stars for the quality of several orthopedic surgeries from Healthgrades, the leading online resource helping consumers make informed decisions in order to find the right doctor, the right hospital, and the right care. This achievement is part of new findings and data released today on Healthgrades.com and in the Healthgrades 2016 Report to the Nation. Every year, Healthgrades evaluates hospital performance at nearly 4,500 hospitals nationwide for 33 of the most common inpatient procedures and conditions. Healthgrades has named Norman Regional a five-star recipient for the following procedures:

· Five-Star Recipient for Total Knee Replacement for 7 Years in a Row (2010-2016)

· Five-Star Recipient for Hip Fracture Treatment for 9 Years in a Row (2008-2016)

· Five-Star Recipient for Back Surgery for 2 Years in a Row (2015-2016)

· Five-Star Recipient for Spinal Fusion Surgery in 2016

The new report demonstrates how clinical performance continues to differ dramatically between hospitals both nationally and regionally. This variation in care has a significant impact on health outcomes. For example, from 2012 through 2014, if all hospitals as a group, performed similarly to hospitals receiving 5 stars as a group, on average 222,392 lives could potentially have been saved and 166,086 complications could potentially have been avoided.* A 5-star rating indicates that Norman Regional’s clinical outcomes are statistically significantly better than expected when treating the condition or performing the procedure being evaluated.Of the 15 hospitals located within the Oklahoma City area, Healthgrades’ 2016 study reveals that although these hospitals are just minutes away from each other, risk-adjusted in-hospital complication rates for Total Knee Replacement ranged from 2.1% on the low end to 9.7% on the high end, which is a more than 4.6-fold difference in complication rates.“Recognition from Healthgrades shows the dedication our team has to always giving patients the five-star quality treatment they have come to expect from Norman Regional,” said David Whitaker, President and Chief Executive Officer at Norman Regional. “Great treatment starts before a patient even enters the hospital’s doors. From education before a procedure to rehabilitation after a patient has gone home, Norman Regional offers quality at every step of our patient’s journey.” “The Healthgrades 2016 Report to the Nation reveals striking disparities in quality at the local level, and underscores why it is vital for consumers to understand outcomes performance at alternative hospitals for specific conditions and procedures,” said Evan Marks, Chief Strategy Officer for Healthgrades. “Hospitals with superior outcomes for certain aspects of care may not perform as well in other areas. Moreover, a major metropolitan area may have many hospitals, but only a few may provide better-than-expected outcomes for the specific care a patient needs. Those hospitals that have achieved the Healthgrades distinction have demonstrated a commitment to exceptional quality care.” For its analysis, Healthgrades evaluated approximately 40 million Medicare inpatient records for nearly 4,500 short-term acute care hospitals nationwide, and assessed hospital performance relative to each of 33 common conditions and procedures. Healthgrades recognizes a hospital’s quality achievements for cohort-specific performance, specialty area performance, and overall clinical quality. Individual procedure or condition cohorts are designated as 5 star (statistically significantly better than expected), 3 star (not statistically different from expected), and 1 star (statistically significantly worse than expected) categories. The complete Healthgrades 2016 Report to the Nation with detailed cohort-specific outcomes data, hospital-specific quality achievements, and detailed study methodology, can be found at www.healthgrades.com/quality. About Norman Regional Health SystemNorman Regional Health System is a multi-campus system that serves the healthcare needs of south central Oklahoma. It is currently comprised of an acute-care facility, Norman Regional, on Porter Avenue, and the Norman Regional HealthPlex, located on Interstate 35 and Tecumseh Road in Norman, OK. Norman Regional Hospital is licensed for 324 beds and offers a full range of services including emergency care, oncology, an intensive care unit, surgery and more. The Norman Regional HealthPlex campus is licensed for 136 beds. It features the services of cardiovascular, spine and orthopedics, women’s and children’s and more. The Norman Regional HealthPlex is also the home of the Chest Pain Center and the HealthPlex Heart Hospital. In 2014, the Health System broke ground on a new facility in Moore, Oklahoma. Norman Regional Health System also provides outpatient diagnostic centers, medical transport services, physician services, centers of excellence, durable medical equipment supplies, a primary care network, community wellness service and employer health services. It has grown to employ more than 2,700 people and have 356 physicians credentialed on the Medical Staff.


Buck the BadgersSooners By: Tyler McComas

No. 7 OU came out of the gate fast and never looked back, as they downed last year’s national runner-up Wisconsin, 65 to 48 inside the Lloyd Noble Center. An early surge by Ryan Spangler from 3-point land sparked OU to an early 34 to 19 lead in the first half against the Badgers, who struggled to find their rhythm offensively. Spangler would finish with a game-high 20 points and proved to be the key cog for

the Sooners on both ends of the floor, as they improved to 4-0 on the season.

“He had a terrific game,” said head coach Lon Kruger. “He got us off to a good start and rebounded the ball like crazy. He battled from start to finish, which is no surprise there.”

Reigning Big 12 Player of the Year, Buddy Hield chipped in with 12 points, but by his standards, struggled throughout the afternoon.

“I had some good looks, I just didn’t execute them,” said Hield. “I just have to do a better job. When we come up with a great team win I’m happy, so I’m just going to work on my game and get ready for the next team.”

Wisconsin suffered from their worst shooting performance in years, as their 23.5 percentage ranked as the lowest single game performance in team history since the 2006 season. Nigel Hayes, who is likely one of the better players the Sooners will see all season, led the way for the Badgers with 20 points and 11 rebounds. The loss dropped Wisconsin to 4-3 on the season.

“We were pretty solid defensively,” said Kruger. “Their guys are a tough matchup and I thought our guys had a pretty good rhythm of what they were doing and helped each other out.”

Though a 17-point win over a program like Wisconsin is always impressive, the Badgers certainly do not have the talent they’ve had in the past several years under head coach Bo Ryan. The Sooners did look

flustered at times when Wisconsin tried to slow down the game and control the pace, but they were still able to string together enough buckets in the second half to build a 22-point lead with just over two minutes remaining. The win showed that OU still needs to improve in some areas before conference play starts, but also that the talent and potential is there for a magical season.


When Vernon Louis Parrington arrived in Norman in September 1897 after graduating from Harvard College and teaching at Emporia in Kansas, he was shocked to find a university with only one building. He went further to deem it “ugly,” except for “some ivy had made a fine growth and was the one restful thing that met my eyes.” Parrington came to OU through a recommendation by Grace King, the head of the music school, who had graduated Emporia College while Parrington was teaching there. Although perhaps initially taken aback by the university on the prairie, Parrington eagerly threw himself into the service of his new employer.

By the start of classes, Parrington had revitalized the English curriculum based on the new “Harvard English” method, which was thorough in its insistence of composition as the foundation to analytical writing. From his own education,

Who is the North Oval By: Jeff Provine

Continued on page 64

Parrington carried on these new methods, proceeding to take student writings and, as his student Sardis Hadsell later wrote, “to tear them to pieces, ridicule our mistakes, glow with enthusiasm at our successes, pick out the misplaced commas, question our handwriting and magnify our misspelled words.” These ideals of dedication to student writing were a precursor to today’s First-Year Composition program offered in our modern English Department.

“How we loved it,” Hadsell further remembered. “Even when he reduced us to tears, or made us angry, we felt that Parrington was interested in us, and we knew that he hated shoddy English.”

By the middle of October, Parrington launched the first student periodical, the University Umpire. He first served as the advisor to the student-editors, but as they stepped down to focus on their studies, he

took on the editorship himself. Parrington continued editing for the next year, until he finally stepped back to work only as the advisory editor. Still, he wrote his own columns, including the coverage of every football game and the terrible fire of 1903, where “everything possible had been done, so all stood back, watched the floors fall and listened to the explosions in the glowing mass of debris where was once the chemical laboratory.” His prosaic words painted the destroyed building’s smashed-out windows as “the sockets of a grinning skull.”

In addition to his academic work, Parrington also founded the baseball team, and stepped in as the football coach after OU’s first football coach Jack Harts retired. He had played at Harvard in his own college days, and the players were inspired to a record of 9-1-2 over the next four years, including two undefeated seasons. Both of Parrington’s

The Parrington Oval was named for OU’s first Composition professor, newspaper advisor, and football coach.

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coaching positions were done for free outside of his usual work. He eventually handed coaching off in 1901, although he remained the unpaid director of athletics for the rest of his time at OU.

Parrington’s tenure was struck tragically short. He was counted among the “corpses strewn about campus” in the wake of the political shift that came as part of statehood, leading to the axing of many in OU’s faculty, including President David Ross Boyd. The source of this issue arose when Reverend R.E.L. Morgan of the Norman Southern Methodist Church wrote a letter, which was found by his maid and turned over to local newspapers. Morgan reported Parrington in his list of “the names of the University professors who dance, play cards and are immoral in their lives.” He went further, “a number of those who dance are also immoral and cigarette fiends.”

Parrington and several of his students and supporters resisted the needless firing with letters to the Regents. Parrington himself wrote, “No one holds the profession of the teacher in higher respect than I. If I did not have a high opinion of the profession I should not be a teacher… I look upon my work very much I suspect as you look upon yours—as missionary work. Officially I am a teacher of English literature, but in reality my business in life is to wage war on the crude and selfish materialism that is biting so deeply into our national life and character.” Yet, even these words could not save him.

In President G.L. Cross’s reflections on OU in Professors, Presidents, and Politicians, he writes that “Parrington was immediately offered a position at the University of Washington, where he later received the Pulitzer Prize for his three-volume Main Currents in American Thought.” The book sparked the American Studies movement, which began to define American culture as a unique and complete intellectual concept.

Cross goes on to note that, “Years later the north oval of the university campus was named Parrington Oval in his honor.” It may seem strange to name a fixture of campus for a professor who had gone on to a different school, but it was, in fact, Parrington who created that layout for Norman’s campus. The 1903 fire rekindled his lifelong interest in landscaping and architecture, and he drew a sketch that called for an elongated circular drive

off University Boulevard south of Boyd Street. Following the 1907 fire, he wrote a twenty-four page letter to the Regents discussing the importance of a singular architectural style to unify campus, and argued for “gothic,” which can be seen throughout OU today.

Dr. David Levy summed up Parrington in University of Oklahoma: A History with “in the entire history of the University, it is not likely that any other professor who served for so short a period wielded a greater or a more lasting influence.”

Even though he has long since left the university, Parrington still looks out over its halls through classic university pictures.

North Oval photos by: Josh Kouri

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1. Downs Family Christmas Light Ministry. Featured on ABC’s “Great Christmas Light Fight,” the Downs Family Christmas Light Display is a thing of beauty. Located at 2900 72nd Ave. SE, the lights began shining Nov. 26 and will continue nightly at 6 p.m. until Jan. 3. Donations accepted in benefit of the Regional Food Bank.

2. Dec. 3: Holiday Happening at Sam Noble Museum. Share holiday wishes with Santa Claus as he mingles with dinosaurs at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. Along with family friendly activities including Pioneer Library System’s Story Time will be discount shopping inside Excavations. Admission is complimentary.

3. Dec. 12: Main Street Christmas Parade. The traditional parade begins at 10 a.m. on Dec. 12 and winds through Historic Downtown Norman along Main Street from Pickard Ave. to Crawford Ave. The annual Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast takes place before, during and after the parade, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the high school cafeteria. The Express Clydesdales will be a special guest for this year’s event and this year’s theme is “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

4. Dec. 4-6 and 11-13: The Nutcracker Ballet. Once every four years, the University of Oklahoma’s Oklahoma Festival Ballet presents “The Nutcracker.” The holiday classic is staged at the newly renovated Rupel Jones Theatre.

5. Dec. 25: Norman Christmas Day Community Dinner. Taking place at the Norman High School Commons area, the annual free holiday dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 25: Norman Christmas Day Community Dinner.

By: Stefanie Brickman

VISITNORMANFive December Must-dos!

There are plenty of things to do in Norman during the December holiday season. Make sure you make plans to take part in what Norman has to offer.

VisitNorman exists to promote the city, to attract overnight meeting, convention, sport and tourism business to the community, and to enhance and contribute to the overall identity and economic wellbeing of the city. VisitNorman’s vision is to be the leader who proactively markets and develops Norman as the preferred destination in Oklahoma.

Have you downloaded our app yet? The VisitNorman app, free in the Apple Store and Google Play, has much more than just in the Eat portion. The Stay portion includes Norman's hotels, motels and B&B options. The Do part features museums, attractions, shopping, arts and culture, historical sites and more. The Events section lists things happening in Norman.

VisitNorman.com has the details about these events and more. Agree with our list? Disagree with the list?

Tag your #ChristmasInNorman must-do list via Twitter or Instagram @VisitNorman


By: Tegan Burkhard

Rather than traverse the icy driveways and snow-covered yards, some Boyd Street staff members prefer enjoying their snow days in the comfort and warmth of their own homes.

“Growing up in Florida, I actually never even saw snow until I moved to Oklahoma. The first snowfall I ever saw was so beautiful I had to run outside and play in it. But I immediately slipped on the icy sidewalk and realized snow was evil. Now I just appreciate its beauty from indoors with the heat cranked up.”--Kayla Christopher, writer

“I’m going to curl up with a good book, some hot chocolate and a warm blanket!”--Carleigh Foutch, senior editor

“During the days of cancelled classes I dearly loved the opportunity to relax, unwind and cat nap on the couch at my apartment. Most often, I would catch up on my most frequent watched television shows and watch drama-filled films. During those hour-long moments, I was never without my black hazelnut cup of fresh coffee – the perfect winter day drink.”--Cheyenne Simmons, writer

“My favorite indoor activity is to brew some H-E-B lemon tea that is ever so lightly sweetened with honey to enjoy while I watch a movie with my honey.”--Bobbie Franklin, editorial assistant

“I’m a huge sucker for Christmas decorations, so I’d probably use the time to put up more. I swear, in a 900 sq. ft. shoebox, I somehow manage a full-sized 6 ft. Christmas tree, lights and garlands galore, wreaths on the doors, stockings for myself, my fiancé and our two kitties, and a ridiculous amount of other tacky knick-knacks. I’ll find a way to decorate our front door, back door and patio, too.”--Haley Mowdy, editor-in-chief

When winter weather leads to snow days, Boyd Street staff members appreciate the break from school and work to spend time with family and friends just like everyone else. From warming up inside to enjoying the transformed landscape outdoors, each staff member puts his or her unique twist on snow day fun.

When wintry mixes leave their mark on Oklahoma, here’s how Boyd Street’s staff members choose to spend their snow days.

Indoor Fun:

Boyd Street Snow Day Favorites

Some Boyd Street staff members give way to nature’s calling, preferring to spend their snow days entrenched in the wintery scenery.

“Any snow day without going out to play, even for a few minutes, is incomplete. If the snow is wet, it makes for a great snowman. If it’s powdery, time to hit the slopes with a makeshift sled (perhaps a cardboard box). Either way, take plenty of photos to share!”--Jeff Provine, writer

“I throw on a coat and scarf, head straight out my front door, and just watch my breath crystallize in the cold. I’ve always loved watching that, ever since I was little and would pretend I had dragon breath.”--Grant Schatzman, content curator

“I was born in Utah, and I’ve visited my grandma in North Dakota every Christmas for 22 years. So, needless to say, I’ve been around a lot of snow! Since most people (including myself) do not own snowmobiles in Oklahoma, my second favorite snow day activity would be sledding. I always look for the biggest, steepest hills to fly down. And, trudging back up to go again is a built-in workout!”--Meghan Whiting, associate editor

“I would be most excited about building a snow man, I don’t believe I’ve done that since I was about ten.”--Alex Mutz, writer

“My first snow activity would be to play in the snow! I’d put on rain boots, bundle up in coats and scarves and go out to the biggest section of fresh snow and play in it! I’d spend my snow days with my best friends, because we’d start in the snow and then bundle up inside watching movies with hot chocolate. We’d set up “Friends” or “Gilmore Girls” in the TV lounge and have a marathon for the rest of the day!”--Taylor Hickney, writer

Close to Home:

Continued on page 72


“My snow days have become quite predictable. I bundled up the kiddos in several layers of warm armor and a bag of the necessary snow man supplies. We make a snow family and a fort, if there is enough snow. And, finish the fun with hot chocolate and a blanket indoors.” --Lindsay Cuomo, managing editor

Close to Home:

For some Boyd Street staff members, braving the safety of their own yards is not enough to quench their appetite for winter adventure. Instead, these staff members venture farther into the icy and snowy terrain.

“A big bonfire in the snow is my favorite way to end a snow day. You can’t beat having good friends, good conversation and hot drinks around the glorious warmth of a big fire!”--Josh Kouri, photographer

“When ice storms hit, I grab my camera, a warm coat and scarf and trek around my neighborhood. I’m always so fascinated by the gorgeous crystals left behind on everything from tree branches to our garbage can handles.” --Tegan Burkhard, web manager

“I drive around the snow covered town listening to Christmas songs and Tokyo drift over the ice-covered parking lot.”--Nicholas Williams, writer

“If it is an ‘Oklahoma Snow Day’ (a couple inches of snow or little ice), I love to drive around and visit scenic locations to see them covered in snow. The Oklahoma City National Memorial is a favorite place to visit on days like this.”--Mark Doescher, lead graphic designer & chief photographer

Outdoor Adventuring:


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Anything with spice. Sibley suggests taking hot tea, coffee or cocoa and adding a cinnamon whiskey like Fireball, Sinfire or for those with less of a sweet tooth, the bourbon-heavy Fire Eater. If you prefer less pyromania in your liqueur, peppermint schnapps goes just as well.

For his own winter mix, Sibley prefers Goldschlager cinnamon schnapps. “A shot or two of this and a big mug of hot cocoa makes the most awesome cold weather drink,” suggested Sibley.

The holidays are just around the corner, which means a lot of things, actually. It means rushing around for last-minute gifts, revisiting our old friends Bing Crosby and George Bailey and pulling old memories out of attic boxes. For a lot of us, it also means heading home for the holidays, which, we know, can be a mixed blessing. But, however your holiday season is shaping up, you can rest easy. We won’t let you weather December empty-handed. With the help of William Sibley from Corkscrew Wine and Spirits at 2319 W. Lindsey Street, we’ve crafted a one-of-a-kind guide to (liquid) holiday cheer.

No list of seasonal drinks would be complete without tipping its hat to the Moscow Mule. Arguably one of last year’s trendiest drinks, the simple fix of ginger beer, lime and vodka is still in vogue. But while you’re polishing your copper mugs, have a peek at our holiday itinerary.

By: Robi I. Hipton

Warm drinks for cold nights:

Drinks for Holiday Parties: Drinks to Ring in the New Year:

Drinks for Family Reunions: Best Reason to Drink This Holiday Season?

When the first frost nips, it’s time to consider transitioning into more red wines and Scotches, which are perfect for that office party. “You don’t have to make big drinks, bring a lot of bottles with you or worry about ice,” Sibley said.

During the holiday season, Corkscrew stocks gluhwein (pronounced kind of like glue-vine), a German mulled red wine great for warding off the north wind. The week before Thanksgiving, Corkscrew’s shelves take on fresh bottles of Beaujolais, which range from well-priced Villages to inexpensive, wild-card Nouveaus.

When it comes to the bubbly, Champagne isn’t the ball-dropping staple it once was. Don’t let brand-name snobbery fool you: Prosecco and Cava can give it a run for its money.

“I love Cavas. Right now, Spanish grapes are where it’s at,” Sibley said. “Don’t worry about where it comes from. Come into a place like [Corkscrew] and tell us how much you want to spend, and we’ll find you the best bottle.”

We’ll be the first to admit (anonymously) that family affairs can be gratifying, complicated and flat-out taxing all at the same time. Still, it’s better to avoid knocking back a whiskey every time Uncle Carl gets too close. Opt for something more subtle like a hard cider, which come as dry or sweet as you like. And, if there happens to be a teetotalling branch on your family tree, cider slips casually into a mug.

Holiday Spirits

Sibley’s parting holiday advice: “Find a reason to be happy about something, and if that makes you want to celebrate, then do it.”

We’ll drink to that. Happy holidays, folks.


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