edmond outlook march 2012

www.edmondoutlook.com 1

2 www.edmondoutlook.com


Day or evening classes available!

ENROLL TODAY!

CAREER TRAINING IN MEDICAL, NURSING &

CULINARY ARTS

plattcolleges.edu749-2433North Campus

946-7799Central Campus

912-3260Moore Campus For important program information, go to plattcolleges.edu/Disclosure.htm.

Licensed by O.B.P.V.S. Programs offered vary by campus.

• Practical Nursing • BSN in Nursing • A.S. Nursing (LPN to RN) • Dental Assistant • Pharmacy Technician• Medical Assistant/Phlebotomy• A.S. Culinary Arts • Pastry Arts • A.S. Medical Laboratory Technician• A.S. Respiratory Care• Surgical Technologist• Medical Office Admin. Specialist


24 Professor's New GrooveMedical school professor and biomedical engineer finds a new calling as an alpaca farmer.

FEATURES22 Moving ForwardGood Samaritan Tyler Ryan endures an unexpected sacrifice while helping stranded motorists.

28 Pursuing PassionEdmond lawyer, Shannon Forth-Davies pens her first novel, set in Oklahoma City.

DEPARTMENTS

18 Business Francis Tuttle Culinary Arts Edmond Kitchen & Bath

20 Home Home on Wheels

31 Before & After Platt College

39 My Edmond Outlook Taylor Hukill, Athlete

08 Arts Celtic Punk

10 Sports Iron Kids

12 Louise Love You Forever!

13 Shopping Spring Has Sprung

15 Food Vin Dolce March Madness

To advertise, call Laura at 405-301-3926

March 2012

26 Genesis ProjectLocal family-style group home giving abused and neglected boys hope forthe future.

$

32 EARCAn Edmond thrift store with a big mission to help the developmentally challenged.

24 Professor's New GrooveMedical school professor and biomedical engineer finds a new calling as an alpaca farmer.

36 Art of ManlinessA wildly popular blog dedicatedto uncovering the lost art of being a man.

March 2012


(Volume 8, Number 3) Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc. © 2012 Back40 Design, Inc.

Articles and advertisements in Edmond Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Back40 Design. Back40 Design does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. The acceptance of advertising by Edmond Outlook does not constitute endorsement of the products, services or

information. We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Edmond

Outlook assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

PUBLISHERDave Miller

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISINGMANAGER

Krystal Harlow

EDITORErica Smith

ADVERTISING SALESLaura BeamLori Cathey

PRODUCTION DESIGNTanner Yeomans Karen Munger

PHOTOGRAPHYMarshall Hawkins

www.sundancephotographyokc.com

DISTRIBUTIONThe Edmond Outlook is delivered FREE by

direct-mail to 50,000 Edmond homes.

13431 N. Broadway Ste. 104 OKC, OK 73114Office: 405-341-5599 Fax: 405-341-2020

[email protected]


If you’ve hit any of the metro’s St.

Patrick’s Day celebrations, you may have

heard the Righs play. For those more

hardcore into the local punk or Sca

scene, you’ve definitely heard them at places like

The Diamond Ballroom, the Opolis in Norman or

The Conservatory.

For the group of six, most hailing from

Edmond, it’s an eclectic mix of old-school punk,

Irish metal and traditional Celtic salted with a

touch of reggae and Sca. The Righs (pronounced

“rigz”) is Oklahoma’s first punk Celtic band, and

although they’ve laid low for the past year, they

are gearing up to jam the city again with their

one-of-a-kind sound utilizing electric guitar, bass,

drums, banjo, violin, mandolin and even trumpet.

“We put a lot of energy into it when we play,” says

Ronnie Meyer of Edmond, drummer. “When we

play in a bar and people start drinking, they love

Irish music. Everyone gets into it. You can’t help

but have a good time with this music.”

In January 2010, The Righs released their

second album entitled “Roses,” a mix of 18 songs

over 70 minutes long, and on St. Patrick’s Day this

year, the Righs will come out of the shadows to

play at the Belle Isle Brewery in Oklahoma City.

The band, formerly known as The Rivers,

was formed in late 2005 by Nathan Williams of

Edmond, vocals and acoustic guitar. “I was trying

to put together something different, something

kind of indie/folk/emo,” said Williams. “I brought

in Jack (Jackson Alexander Templeton Smith) as

the drummer. We’re a tight-knit group because we

grew up around Edmond. Jack and I knew each

other from high school.”

Smith and Williams started in with writing

music, but the sound didn’t click until Smith wrote a

song with a heavy Irish influence. “I wasn’t interested

in my Irish heritage until high school, and I heard

Flogging Molly and bands like that, and I liked it,”

said Smith. “Flogging Molly was my first exposure

band, which now includes bassist John Slawson

and Omid Nowrouzi of Edmond, were pounding

out songs left and right with a shot of Irish

influence. “The Irish have happy songs, drunk

songs, sad songs, sad drunk songs and happy

drunk songs,” said Williams. “Summed up, we

had 15 songs about drinking, love and death.”

All the members were veterans of the local

punk scene. Slawson and Nowrouzi brought in

their own talents with Nowrouzi learning the

mandolin to add a different sound. The band

picked up Jian Azimi, violinist, while Smith and

Williams were at the University of Oklahoma

for college. By late 2006, they were sharing the

stage at local venues throughout Oklahoma City

and Texas, playing with touring acts like Big Reel

Fish, The Toasters, The Business, Flatfoot 56 and

Street Dogs.

By 2007, the Rivers had changed the name

of their band to the Righs and the first album,

“The Rivers Run Deep,” was recorded

and produced by Chris Harris of Bell Lab Studio

and Subatomic Sound in Norman. The second

by Heide Brandes

CELTICPUNK

"I wasn't interested in my Irish heritage until high school and I heard

Flogging Molly."

album, “Roses,” was

mixed and mastered in

2009 at Green House Recording

studio in Moore, which ironically was owned by

their former drummer David Johnson. “We went

through six drummers before we found Ronnie,”

said Williams. “It was right after our second album

was recorded that he came on.”

The Righs hit the Oklahoma scene playing

venues like VZD’s, The Belle Isle Brewery, The

Conservatory, the Blue Note and the Opolis.

Their shows are filled with a lot of music, and a

bit of good ol’ Irish pub fun. They play with the

audience and become part of that energy. “I have a

wireless violin, which gives me the freedom to run

around in the audience.” said Azimi. “I’ll jump out

into the pit and dance with them and play at the

same time.”

The future for the band includes more venues.

“We’re trying to get back on the horse,” said

Williams. “We played about seven shows last year,

and we want to play 52. We love going to out-of-

state shows.” The band is also working on a third

CD with a heavier mix of other genres, including

reggae, Sca and folk. “We will do a lot with the

Sca sound,” said bassist Slawson. “A lot of new

stuff.” For the Edmond boys, the music itself is

what brings the biggest reward.

Look for them on Facebook and listen at

www.myspace.com/therighs.

to full-blown hard

Irish punk.” The Irish

sound felt right. Soon, the


Training and competing in one sport

takes dedication, commitment and

perseverance. Training for three

sports simultaneously? That takes

three times the effort, but brings three times the

reward, as one Edmond

family discovers. They have

two children competing in

youth triathlons as part of

the Oklahoma City-based

H-I-S Racing team.

H-I-S team training

starts in April and lasts

through September, but Mason and Chloe Case train

year-round, said their mother, Beth Case. Both kids

just joined the Chesapeake Swim Club, primarily to

improve their swim times for triathlon competition.

10-year-old Chloe, a Charles Haskell Elementary

fifth-grader, and 12-year-old Mason, a seventh-

grader at Summit Middle School, were introduced

to triathlons in 2009, when the family cheered on a

family friend who was a triathlete.

“(After watching him), we saw there was an

IronKids (competition) in Oklahoma City a few

months later, so we thought, ‘what the heck,’” Beth

said. “Both kids were good runners, were fairly good

swimmers, and had been active in sports since they

were little bitty, so it wasn’t really a stretch.” The

two children had no training, no fancy equipment

or bikes; they just showed up, she said. “I think we

even had to scrounge up a helmet from a neighbor.”

As a junior competitor, Chloe swam 75 yards,

rode two miles on her

bike and then ran a half-

mile, earning sixth place.

Mason took seventh place

in the intermediate category,

swimming 150 yards, riding

four miles and running a

mile. They both loved the

experience, and Chloe decided to continue training

for the 2010 season. Mason didn’t commit to the

sport until the following year.

Although Chloe prefers individual sports, she

likes to be part of a team, so to train, she joined

the newly-formed H-I-S Racing team, sponsored by

H-I-S Paint Manufacturing Company and coached

by 19-year-old Talbot Cox. Cox understands

triathlon fever. As a seven-year-old, he watched his

dad compete in his first triathlon. He then raced

in his first event three months later, and has never

looked back.

Cox became a more serious competitor when he

was 10, competing in the national championships

in Colorado Springs, Colo., almost making the top

10. At age 14, he raced his first Half Ironman —

a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13-mile

run — and finished in less than six hours. Just last

year, Cox became “draft legal” which allowed him to

compete in the top level of the USA Triathlon junior

competition: Junior Elite Cups. Drafting is a cycling

technique which, once conquered, allows riders to

ride in tightly-grouped packs to take advantage of

the aerodynamics. Non-draft riders might average

18 miles per hour, while draft riders will average

27, Cox said.

After taking off most of 2010, he traveled

to West Des Moines, Iowa, to compete in a

national competition, and was astounded at the

advancements made by other competitors from

across the nation. The difference? Team training.

The athletes that were members of one of the nine

triathlon teams in the nation were consistently

higher achievers.

Cox approached his dad, Tony Cox, triathlete

and owner of H-I-S Paint, with the idea of starting

a racing team, and H-I-S Racing was born. The first

practice was in mid-June, and involved only Tony,

Talbot and Talbot’s two younger sisters. By national

competition in September, H-I-S Racing had 23

team members ranging from age 7 to 19. Chloe Case

“When you trainwith others, you

bring out the bestin each other.”

by Dena A. Edwards

IRONKIDS

Chloe Case


was one of them.

The team practices roughly two hours a day, six days a week April

through September, but many of the kids like the Cases train the different

aspects year-round: riding bikes on indoor trainers, running on treadmills and

swimming indoors in the cold months. Cox also teaches them nutrition and

the mental strategies, transitions and tactics to shorten their times and improve

their performance.

In 2010, Chloe placed 24th at the National IronKids triathlon in St.

Petersburg, Fla. The experience showed her that she could compete against

athletes that had been competing longer, had better equipment and were more

fine-tuned, Beth said. “It gave her something to shoot for.”

Last season, she won first place at seven different triathlons and was named

Top Overall Female for the South Midwest USAT championship series. She also

increased her ranking to ninth place at the IronKids Nationals.

Her brother Mason competed in 2011, as well, and even with his year off, he

won two different events and placed in the top five in every triathlon in which he

competed. In his first IronKids Nationals competition, he placed 22nd.

Coach Talbot had a successful year as well, and has fully committed to

achieving his dream of qualifying for the Junior Olympics. He graduated high

school early last December and trains daily, working toward winning the 2012

Dallas ITU (International Triathlon Union) Triathlon Pan American Cup, which

would qualify him for the World Championships in New Zealand.

“When you train with others, you bring out the best in each other,” he said.

“Someone is always there to push you to excellence.”

“Triathlons are touted as an extension of play for kids,” Beth said. “Kids

naturally ride bikes, swim in the summer and run around playing. If you are

going to play, why not do it with friends?”


About the AuthorLouise Tucker Jones isan award-winning author and inspirational speaker. Author and co-author of four books, her work has been featured in numerous publications. Contact her at: [email protected] or LouiseTuckerJones.com.

by Louise Tucker Jones

LOVE YOUFOREVER!

Forty-six years ago my handsome

young, soldier-husband placed a

wedding ring on my finger and kissed

me as his wife for the first time. Less

than 12 hours later,

we stood in front of his

dark, Army barracks

with snow falling and

said our goodbyes

before he went

overseas. 15 months

later Carl came home

on a 30-day leave then

kissed me goodbye

again before boarding

a plane to go right

back overseas, taking

my heart with him

each time he left.

Eventually he came

home for good and

we spent 45 wonderful years together before our

final goodbye kiss in an Intensive Care Unit. It was

there that I slipped his wedding band off his finger

and onto mine where I have worn it these nine plus

months since his death. It’s a hard journey and I miss

Carl every minute of every day. He is my first and last

waking thought.

Last year we were extremely busy on our 45th

anniversary and put our celebration on hold. I

planned to write 45 special memories about our

dating days and early marriage and put them in a

book for Carl. He was to write me a letter every day

for a year. (Okay, my idea and he hadn’t totally agreed

to it.) Then life changed forever. Carl became ill and

at the end of May, pancreatic cancer took his life.

There are no words to describe the grief that

overwhelmed me as I realized my husband would

never again walk through the back door of our home

and give me a hug or a kiss. Never another phone

call or e-mail. No more smiles, caresses, laughter or

tender words. I traipsed our acre plus yard that Carl

loved so much, wishing I could find him trimming

bushes or watering trees. What happened? Just

weeks earlier we were living life normally. How

could he be gone forever? At night I would crawl into

bed, exhausted, and cry on Carl’s pillow, asking God

why he took my husband.

Finally, I started

writing down memories

for the anniversary book.

Sweet, sad and even

funny things like the time

Carl decided to teach me

how to shoot a rifle. He

forgot that I grew up on

a farm with four brothers

who sometimes took me

hunting. Needless to say,

he was a bit perturbed

when I hit the target.

Or the special memory

of seeing our newborn

son for the first time and

realizing our love created this beautiful baby.

But Carl wasn’t here to write the letters I had

requested. Then one hot summer day,

our oldest son, Aaron crawled into

the attic and found a treasure—a

box of love letters from my beloved.

Over a year’s worth of airmail

letters with upside down stamps

that meant, “I love you,” sent

across the ocean. It had been years

since I had seen those letters and

I thought they were lost forever. I

sat down and read them one by

one, taking time to enjoy each

hand-written sentiment like a

delicious delicacy.

Then I read them again and again. Oh, the

beauty of his letters, each ending with, “I love

you more today than yesterday and even more

tomorrow.” Such passion, love and sweetness. How

he carved our initials in a tree on Valentine’s Day

because he was in the field (mountains) training

and couldn’t send a card, telling me, “Someone in

Western Germany knows I love you!” Yep, I cried! I

cried again when I read a PS that said, “I will be with

you forever!” A 45-year-old promise now coming

straight from heaven to my heart.

So yes, I will definitely celebrate our anniversary

on March 4th, even though Carl isn’t here with

me. I will glance at the clock and say, “Happy

Anniversary, Darling,” at 5:20 p.m., the exact time

we were married. I’ll enjoy our anniversary dinner

of cheeseburgers and french fries then I’ll play some

Elvis love songs that remind me of Carl and our many

years of loving each other. In fact, I’ll do what I’ve

done many times in these last months. I’ll wrap Carl’s

comfy, denim shirt around me that still holds a faint

aroma of him and dance to the music as if my beloved

were holding me. I will celebrate our

life, our love and

our happiness of 45 plus years. And if I’m lucky, I

will feel Carl’s arms around me as I dance and hear

him whisper, “I’ll love you forever!”

“Aaron found a treasure - a box of love letters from

my beloved.”

Saying goodbye after Carl's 30-day leave


Lose an average of 3-7 lbs. per week with the medically supervised Ideal Protein Protocol. Enjoy delicious foods designed to burn stored fat while maintaining muscle mass. The Ideal Protein Weight Loss Method is quick and healthy with proven long-lasting results. This method also naturally suppresses appetite and re-establishes pancreaticfunction. Call Tina, Accredited Ideal Protein Coach, at 330-6800 for a FREE 1-on-1Consultation • 1015 Waterwood Pkwy, Ste.G, www.TheBalancedLifeClinic.com Find us on Facebook!

The Balanced LifeWeight Loss Clinic


Beadle Dee Bead & Gift ShopGRAND OPENING special at Beadle DeeMarch 8th - 10th! Stop by and enjoy sale pricesand drawings all three days. You’ll find a varietyof exquisite crystals, pearls, glass, gemstonesand other beads, plus supplies and gift items. Classes and parties also available! Located at Danforth & Santa Fe in the 7-11 Shopping Plaza715-5820 • www.mybeadledee.comFind us on Facebook (Beadle Dee-Beadle Done)

Leave the spring cleaning to us! We’ll take care of all the sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, laundry,dusting, bed linens & more! We offer yearsof experience and competitve rates. For a free estimate call 740-6004.

Our Sisters’ Closet is an upscale Edmondwomen’s resale shop benefiting battered women

and children receiving services at the YWCA OKC. Located 3 blocks North of 2nd, between Broadway & Boulevard at 101 E. Hurd. Open Tues-Fri 10-5:30

and Sat 10-5. • 348-2442 • www.ywcaokc.org And at I-240 & S. Penn. (NW corner Walnut Sq.)

Mention this ad for a Shopping Discount!

Shop, Support, Save a Life.

Beaucoup Boutiques has MOVED!Visit us at our brand new location in downtown Edmond. We feature over 15 vendors offering an array of boutique clothing, purses, decor, hand-made jewelry & children’s items. Open Mon-Sat 10-5:30 • 285-7511 Located at 111 S. Broadway www.beaucoupboutiques.com

Kern’s Interiors has moved! Come visitus at our brand new location, 3409 S.Broadway Ste. 500, in the Market Depot,right next to Charlestons. Kern’s offersgorgeous furniture & accessories for allareas of your home, plus enjoy 50-70%off all in-stock upholstery duringthe month of March! • 285-2374Open M-F 10-6 and Sat 10-5.

Pink Sugar offers the latest in designer shoes,jewelry, handbags, & now clothing! We canhelp you find the perfect outfit from head to toe. Spring styles from Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Steve Madden, Vince Camuto, Sam Edelman & many more are arriving daily. Bring in this ad for 15% off your favorite regularly priced item.* *Min. $50 item, some exclusions apply. 1389 E. 15th St. (Spring Creek Shopping Center) • 359-0044 www.PinkSugarShoeBoutique.com

Don’t miss Anabelle’s Galleria Spring and Summer FashionShow, Saturday, March 10th at 7 p.m. See all the latest

runway styles walking the catwalk and then shop and takehome your favorites. Admission is free! 1201 NW 178th

(2nd & Western) • 359-1189 • Find us on Facebook!

AFTER

Spring is in the air! VisitHip & Swanky and checkout all the hip new capsand tees for sports moms. You’ll also find an amazing selection of Corral and Old Gringo boots, jewelry and accessories. Located at 1247 E. Danforth • 341-3066 (Kickingbird Square) www.hipandswanky.com

Anabelle’s Galleria


Strains of live music now drift down

the streets of downtown Edmond

every weekend, filtering from its new-

est tenant — Vin Dolce the Wine

Bar. This laid-back, upscale urban wine bar at 16 S.

Broadway, fills a new niche in the Edmond entertain-

ment industry, bringing together trendy music, local

artists and musicians, delectable small-plate options,

designer beers and one of the largest selection of

quality wines in town all into one modern location.

Owner Melanie Chesser has seen her dream

come to fruition. An established real estate agent in

the Edmond area for nearly 20 years, Chesser was

dealing with burnout. Her husband encouraged her

to turn her “pie-in-the-sky” of owning a hospitality-

type business into reality, so Vin Dolce was born.

“I’ve always been crazy about wine,” said

Chesser. “I used to be an avid collector. I’d come

home from a long day, open a bottle of wine and start

cooking. It was so relaxing. That’s how it started.”

Vin Dolce conceptually started out as a wine

and dessert bar — hence the name: “Vin” which

means wine and “Dolce” which means sweet. But

eventually Chesser chose to add a list of small

gourmet plates to the menu as well.

Their newest menu now includes not only

the staple Artisan Board, which is a plate filled

with cheeses, seasonal fruits, olives and nuts, but

also small bites such as truffle parmesan popcorn,

prosciutto-wrapped asparagus, and Swiss cheese-

stuffed pastry with balsamic strawberries. Other of-

ferings include crab cakes, steamed mussels, smoked

salmon and seasonal soups.

“We also just added a list of flat breads, which

are like gourmet pizzas without the sauce, and are

VINDOLCE

by Dena A. Edwards

delicious and a huge hit,” said Chesser. Her favorite

is the Black and Bleu — blackened beef tenderloin,

blue cheese fromage and sliced red onions. The des-

sert list is also impressive, with enticing sweets such

as crème brulee cake, Kentucky bourbon pecan pie

and chocolate covered brie.

But the star of Vin Dolce’s menu is their

impressive list of national and international wines,

65 of which are available by the glass and all of which

are stored in a climate controlled cellar. “We have a

great variety of wines that you don’t usually see,” said

Chesser, “especially in our Interesting Whites and In-

teresting Reds categories.”

Wine flights are now available to allow guests

to sample several different varieties. And wine sta-

tions are set up along the back bar with a wine pres-

ervation system that pumps nitrogen in to keep the

wines fresh for up to 90 days. This allows Vin Dolce

to sell high-end wines which retail for an average of

$400 per bottle by the ounce, half glass and glass, an

option rarely available for this caliber of wine.

The contemporary wine bar’s staff is well

educated on the different wines, and wine classes,

monthly wine dinners and wine tastings by vintners

are all offered as well. “It’s a complete package for

wine lovers,” said Chesser.

Vin Dolce the Wine Bar’s hours are 4 to 10 p.m.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4 to 11 p.m. Thursdays,

and 4 p.m. to last call Fridays and Saturdays. Local

musicians perform every Thursday through Saturday

night with no cover charge. For more information,

go to www.vindolcewinebar.com.

Owner, Melanie Chesser


MARCHMADNESSby Krystal Harlow

Get away for some food and fun! Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Saturday, March 17 from 7-10 p.m. with hot seat drawings every 30 minutes to win $50 in free play. Beads will be passed out, too, while available. Enjoy $1.50 beer and great Irish food specials. Kick back at Cimarron Grille any time for your favorite burgers, breakfast and dinner foods while you catch the games on TV. It’s a month of fun you don’t want to miss! Located at 821 W. Freeman Ave., Perkins, OK. Call (405) 547-5352 or visit cimarroncasino.com.

Cimarron Grille & CasinoCheck out Earl’s sensational new St. Louis pork spare ribs with more meat on every rib! Dry-rubbed and sauced in the smoker, they caramelize to tangy perfection. Available in limited quantities on Friday nights only, enjoy a half slab and two sides for just $12.99. Watch the games on five TVs and enjoy beer buckets with four domestics for $6 or four imports for $9, available any time. Smoked brisket, pulled pork, hot links, turkey and chicken, plus delicious sides offer a feast for all tastes. Visit 2121 S. Broadway or earlsribpalace.com.

Earl's Rib Palace

Great food is the name of the game during playoff season and no one does it with flavor and flair like the renowned family at Let’s Do Greek. Catch the games on TV while you enjoy their award-winning Gyros, sandwiches, salads and vegetarian and rice dishes, plus great sides like Feta Fries and hummus with pita. Take home family-style servings of your favorite entrees or Gyros meat by the pound. Catering and private party room available, too! Stop by 180 W. 15th in Edmond or the First National Building, downtown OKC. Visit letsdogreek.com.

Let's Do GreekSensational food and lively entertainment make this warm Irish pub the place to be in March! Begin your party with crunchy fried pickles or loaded cheese fries, followed by Dan’s famous Fish N’ Chips at a table with your own flat-screen TV. Enjoy amazing Happy Hour specials every day, Karaoke and Ladies Night on Thursdays and great live music on the weekends. And don’t miss their BIG St. Patty’s Day Indoor/Outdoor Party Saturday, March 17th. Visit danmcguinnesspub.com or stop by 3005 S. Broadway in Edmond.

Dan McGuinnessHosting a party at home during the play-offs is a snap with Wing Stop’s incredible line-up of regular and boneless chicken wings. Choose one of their combos with nine tempting flavors like Cajun, Hickory or the famous Original Hot, sauced and tossed to juicy perfection. Always made fresh to order, their 10-100 piece party packs come complete with creamy dips and sides. Dine in or call 755-4411 for take-out orders. Open Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. to midnight at 12225 N. Penn. Visit wingstop.com.

Wing Stop

HabanerosDiscover the all-new sizzle of this Edmond oasis! Now in its new location, Habaneros instantly warms you with the irresistible aroma of authentic Mexican food and rustic urban charm. Enjoy all your favorite dishes and house specialties like the plump Chili Rellano, giant burrito and Pork Chili Verde. Settle into a comfy booth or seat at the spacious bar for $1.50 Bud Light or Coors Light draws during March Madness as you catch the games on TV. Dine often to try the chefs’ new recipes at Waterloo and Broadway, next to Sonic, or visit habanerosok.com.


Marc Dunham, Director of Culinary Arts

Francis Tuttle Culinary Arts Program

by Melanie Phillips Clemens

Whether dining in or out, a delicious meal

always delights the senses. And the chef behind

these indulgences, whether professional or domestic,

may have received their training in Francis Tuttle

Technology Center’s Culinary Arts program.

Known for their service to the greater Oklahoma

City area for almost 30 years, Francis Tuttle continues

to excel in its efforts to meet the demand for high-

quality career training, enhancement and continuing

education and personal interest for adults. The

recent expansion of their culinary arts program is

an indication of their commitment to excellence.

Marc Dunham, director of culinary arts, shared his

excitement for the new training facility. “This facility

is top-notch in terms of equipment and design. It

will be one of the top facilities in the nation available

to high school students.” Francis Tuttle currently

serves six school districts including Edmond,

Deer Creek, Crescent, Millwood, Putnam City and

Western Heights.

Since the expansion, capacity for students in the

culinary arts program has grown from 64 to 160 and

ultimately will accommodate 252, proving the local

demand for this specialized training. “A year from

now we’ll have our first graduating class from this

facility. Currently our students receive college credits

as well as a serv safe certification and we’re working

toward accreditation through the American Culinary

Federation. I’ve been with Francis Tuttle for over a

year and one of the things I’ve learned is they do a

great job of assessing the needs of the industry and

they go all out to meet those needs,” said Dunham.

‘Going all out’ accurately describes the transition

from 5,000 square feet to 31,000 square feet, fully

equipped with a teaching restaurant, six instructional

kitchens and a demonstration kitchen for visiting

chefs. “Right now we operate in two kitchens that

are adequate for the programs we’ve had but we’re

meeting a bigger demand for culinary training.

A lot of intention was put into this building. We

hired a kitchen consultant that did a phenomenal

job. Within the next three years we’ll add more

kitchens as well as pastry and baking programs,”

said Dunham.

The anticipation for this facility that ‘opened for

business’ on February 27 is parallel only to the onsite

teaching restaurant, full-service bakery and cafeteria

that will open to the public in April or May. “We’ll

have a business cafeteria that will function like a

school cafeteria but with a chef’s touch on nutritious

food,” said Dunham.

Francis Tuttle provides rigorous curriculum

and state-of-the art equipment and facilities.

And their Culinary Arts program offers day and

evening classes. It is located at 12777 N. Rockwell.

For more information, call 717-4900 or visit

www.francistuttle.edu.


Owners, Robert & Brenda Helms

Edmond Kitchen & Bathby Melanie Phillips ClemensFrom House to Home

‘There’s no place like home’ is more than a popular

saying, it’s a sentiment felt in the hearts of most. Even

better is a home designed to reflect the individuality

of its owner. That’s where Edmond Kitchen & Bath

steps in with creative kitchen and bath ideas to suit

even the most particular homeowner.

Owners Brenda and Robert Helms often work

hand-in-hand to create dream kitchens and baths.

“Bob and I handle different ends of the spectrum.

While his area of expertise is the construction end,

mine is the design,” explains Brenda. “He inspects for

load bearing walls and keeps my lighting and electric

plan routed correctly. I am inspired by texture

and the function of the space. On more involved

projects we work closer together and brainstorm on

how to build something or make it do this or that.

Sometimes we are faced with odd angles in a kitchen

and we collaborate on how to make it aesthetically

pleasing while maximizing storage.”

The secret behind every design is linked to

Brenda’s natural creativity and the team they have

assembled. Junior designer Megan Greve plays a big

role. “Megan and I bounce ideas off each other and

sharpen each other. Scott and Lauren, two of our

multi-talented field crew instill confidence on the

job. And Paul’s attention to detail in trim carpentry is

always appreciated. Our team of talents enable us to

look at a space and see its potential as a makeover, a

full remodel or something in between as it relates to

the clients needs.”

Homeowners who are uncertain as to what

direction to take their home find comfort in the fact

that Brenda and Megan know what it takes to help

them achieve the kitchen or bath that fits their style.

“We try to find what inspires them by asking specific

questions. Sometimes it’s a certain color palette or or

a feeling they want their home to have. Once we’ve

uncovered their passion, we look at their budget to

determine whether a makeover or remodel is the

best course.” Helms also added that, “Not everyone

wants a designer kitchen. Sometimes quality work

with well-coordinated, updated finishes is the goal.

Others are able to go a little further with unique

granite or custom cabinetry. Our job is to determine

how best to serve the clients’ needs. It makes for

good business and good relationships,” said Helms.

This philosophy has proven successful for

Edmond Kitchen & Bath with customers expressing

trust in a company that, according to Helms, “makes

them feel comfortable. We make the process easy and

take the uncertainty out.”

Edmond Kitchen & Bath’s showroom is located

at 243 N. Broadway in Edmond, directly in front

of the Post Office. Showroom hours are noon to 5

p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information,

visit www.edmondkitchen.com or call 285-1926.

Or drop by an open house, the first Sunday of each

month from 1 to 3 p.m.


Unlike the laughable recreational

vehicles made popular by such

movies as Chevy Chase’s “National

Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” and

“RV,” the luxury motor homes on Lee’s RV Superstore

lot, 13111 N. Broadway Extension, are truly lavish

homes on wheels. And then some.

Ginger-glazed cherry hardwood cabinetry,

heated polished porcelain floors, Corian countertops

and wall sconces are features most would be shocked

to find in these top-of-the-line homes on wheels.

But this list of high-end amenities only starts here.

Also on that list would be four 40-inch LCD flat

screen televisions with Blu-Ray players, Dolby

surround sound, video game system hook-ups, and

in-motion satellite viewing. Four zones of heat and

air conditioning ensure that every area is comfortable

for passengers.

The beautiful decorative ceiling boasts 56

different lights, most of which are recessed. Rows of

channel lights line the kidney-shaped ceiling cloud,

emphasizing the designer feature. The kitchen area

might be small, but it’s filled with quality amenities

equal to what would be found in a residential

gourmet kitchen – a convection microwave, under

mount Corian sink with a pull-out spray chrome

faucet and a garbage disposal, a full-sized French-

door style stainless steel refrigerator with an ice and

water dispenser, glass cook top and even a hidden

cabinet dishwasher drawer.

And although the interior is only about 400

square feet, the top-end motor homes have a full

bath and a powder bath inside. The full bath has a

separate toilet and sink space with a door for privacy,

plus a glass shower with Corian walls and a teak

fold-down seat, and another sink with ample storage

and countertop space. All backsplash areas in the

RV have designer glass tile accents to add that extra

touch of class.

For sleeping, one of the soft leather seating areas

in the main cabin encases a queen-sized pull-out

bed, and the master bedroom contains a king-sized

sleep number bed. The master closet is surprisingly

large, with room for a stackable washer and dryer,

a safe, plenty of clothes storage and even a built-in

shoe rack. The entire master area is set apart with

beautiful decorative sliding glass and wooden doors.

“Traveling in one of these motor homes really is

like being at home. Once you’ve done (a long trip)

in an RV, you won’t want to start a long trip any

other way,” said Lee Litchfield, president and owner

of Lee’s RV Superstore. Litchfield began with this

company as a salesman in 1978. 18 months later, at

age 22, he bought the company, which at that time

was named Cagle and Eaton RV City. Then in May

1997, he opened the current location in Edmond

along the Broadway Extension.

Litchfield knows from experience. His own

family of four started with a tent trailer for camping

trips. Then they upgraded to a fifth wheel – a motor

home pulled behind a truck. But they got tired of

not being able to utilize the motor home until they

arrived at their destination.

“Our first real road trip was when my oldest was

16 and my youngest was 12,” Litchfield said. The

two teenagers were not excited about making the

by Dena A. Edwards

HOME ONWHEELS


two-week trek to and through California. But after driving in ultimate comfort

and being able to see so much – they saw Yosemite National Park, Hollywood,

Disneyland, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Grand Canyon twice – they loved it

and that’s the only way they want to travel now, Litchfield said.

That’s why many customers buy motor homes, he said, because they have

great memories of traveling that way as kids, and they want their own kids and

grandkids to have the same experiences.

Even though the RVs weigh about 50,000 pounds, they have a unique

steering system that makes controlling the vehicle easy with little effort.

“You can turn around a corner with one finger,” Litchfield said. “It’s a super

power steering. When you go from driving the RV back to your car, it feels like

(your car’s) power steering is out.”

The Comfort Drive System constantly re-calibrates for the wind and road

angles, to keep the driver from needing to correct the steering for steady strong

winds or the crowns built into most roads. Typically, drivers of cars keep to

around six to eight hours of straight driving per day. With this driving system,

you can easily handle 10 to 12 hours, Litchfield said.

“We drove to California a few years ago through a blizzard,” he said. “The

wind was blowing about 45 or 50 miles per hour all the way across I-40. But we

actually forgot all about the wind until we had to stop and get out, then it was

like, ‘Whoa!’”

Typically the luxury RVs run between $200,000 and $700,000. They run on

diesel, to keep fuel costs somewhat down, but even with the high fuel costs and

low gas mileage, traveling by motor home is still economical when you factor in

the opposing costs of hotels and restaurants, Litchfield said. In an RV, you don’t

have to make as many stops, because you have restrooms onboard, and you can

prepare your own meals when you want, while you are driving. You also get to

sleep in your own bed, on your own sheets, with your own things around you. A

huge benefit to RV travel, he said.

Litchfield also began his own small company, Custom Coach Manufacturing,

to trick out custom motor homes for those clients who really want something

unique. Custom Coach offers more than 60 different custom options, plus can

trick out the RVs with nearly anything the client wants. Many of these clients are

entertainers or large corporations.

Custom Coach customized Chesapeake Energy’s “Big Blue” – a motor coach

with a dual-fuel system that runs on compressed natural gas and diesel. Big Blue

was created basically as the ultimate tailgating party, Litchfield said. The interior

has four bunk beds, each bunk with its own flip-down television with a DVD

player. The exterior has four large LCD TVs under huge retractable awnings for

big corporate presentations, or entertaining big client groups with watch parties.

“(We designed it) for champagne parties for a thousand clients,” Litchfield

said. Big Blue has been all over the country – from Thunder games, to the Super

Bowl, college bowl games, you name it, he said. When you have all the amenities

of a luxury home on wheels, the sky is the limit.

Lee Litchfield, owner of Lee's RV Superstore

405-887-4121 or 405-974-1174www.heritagerenovations.net

Kitchen Remodels • Bathroom Remodels Custom Cabinets • Theater Rooms • Outdoor Kitchens

Complementary Design Service • Room Additions

Call For

Free Estim

ate!

Before After


Tyler’s experience is one you’d expect

to see in a movie and at the same

time, every mother’s nightmare.

A simple trip to the grocery store

ended with an accident that would change his life

forever. But it was his incredible character that

would move all who heard about the tragic turn of

events for this Good Samaritan.

On the evening of November 9, 2011, 24-year-

old Edmond resident Tyler Ryan was on his way to

Crest Foods when he

spotted a couple with a

child on the side of the

road near 15th Street

and Santa Fe. Their

tire was completely

shredded. A valet of

six years at Remington Park, Tyler knew his way

around a car and jumped in to help.

“It didn’t surprise me that he was helping

someone,” says Jay Mills, owner of Jay’s Valet, the

company for which Tyler was employed. “He’s the

kind of kid who would ask, ‘What can I do to help?’

With hazard lights on and other safety

precautions taken, Tyler began changing the tire.

As he was retrieving a spare from the couple’s

trunk, the unthinkable happened. A driver, who

would later be described by police as inattentive,

slammed into Tyler, sandwiching him between the

two cars and crushing the lower half of his body.

People at the site rushed to his aid, finally

releasing him from the grip of the cars. Tyler was

just coherent enough to give out his mother’s

phone number. A nearby resident and UCO coach

quickly stepped in to

wrap a belt around his

leg in an effort to stop

the bleeding.

The injuries Tyler

suffered were severe.

The bones in his legs

were broken along with three vertebrae in his

lower back. He had a number of contusions and

lacerations on his body as well as damage to his

head. The work done to repair Tyler’s broken

body would take weeks

along with nine separate

surgeries. He was given

staples in his head as well

as two rods and eight

screws in his right leg.

Unfortunately, the damage

to his left leg was so severe

that it had to be amputated from the knee down.

As if in a domino effect of bad news, Tyler did

not have medical insurance. In total, his medical

bills came to more than $700,000, a figure that

was relatively untouched by the inattentive

driver’s insurance.

Despite the immeasurable difficulty of his

situation, Tyler remained in good spirits. During

his hospital stay he was visited by family, friends,

well-wishers and the family he had stopped to

help. Tyler immediately turned the attention

to them. “The first thing Tyler said was, ‘How

are you all? How’s your car?’” said his mother,

Shirley Coleman.

While most people might let this sort of life-

changing event darken their spirits, Tyler has been

an inspiration to those around him. “Tyler’s always

been a positive person,” says close friend Jelena

Teh. “And [this experience] hasn’t changed that.”

While retrieving aspare from the couple's trunk, the unthinkable

happened.

by Christy Shuler

Jay Mills & Paul Campbell ofJay's Valet with Tyler Ryan

Pinch Proof

Barrett Jewelers

KEEP MOVING FORWARDprovided by A

ngela Wilkes Photography

provided by Angela W

ilkes Photography

provided by Angela Wilkes Photography


It is this outlook that has brought the

community to rally alongside Tyler, offering hope,

encouragement and a number of fundraisers

to help cover his medical expenses. One such

endeavor is the Keep Moving Forward bracelet,

worn by a number of supporters including Denver

Bronco Tim Tebow. Tebow wears the bracelet

in encouragement of Tyler, before and after

every game.

“Keep Moving Forward” has become Tyler’s

motto. Coincidentally, the words were inspired by

a tattoo he had gotten just nine months prior to

the accident. “It was just a motivator, something

I could always look at,” he says. He recalls his

parents’ “shocked” reaction to the massive image

on his entire forearm. Of course, this message

would prove both healing and prophetic later

during Tyler’s recovery. “We think it’s really cool

now. We like it,” says Coleman.

Moving forward is precisely what Tyler has

done with the help of his family and friends. On

January 5, Jay’s Valet hosted a surprise benefit for

him in which they raised $22,500 to put toward

Tyler’s medical expenses. It was an emotional

evening that included a call with country singer

Vince Gill, who offered motivational words. Also at

the benefit, Army Maj. Gen. Myles Deering awarded

Army Major General Deering with Tyler Ryan

Tyler a Certificate of Excellence and a medal for his

courageous efforts and selfless bravery. In addition,

Tyler and his family are to receive an expense-

paid trip to Challenge Aspen, a summer program

designed to help the disabled recognize their

true abilities.

As news of Tyler’s heroism spreads, people

everywhere continue to be touched by his story.

During the Oklahoma City Thunder game on

January 25, he was awarded the Devon Community

Hero award. Kevin Durant also showed his support

by sporting a Keep Moving Forward bracelet the

entire evening.

As for his recovery, Tyler says it’s coming along

“surprisingly quickly.” On December 12, he took

his first steps with the use of a prosthetic leg, his

family cheering alongside him. After his release

from strength and conditioning therapy December

23, Tyler returned home with his family. He has

since done a number of physical therapy sessions,

building his strength and adjusting to his new

physical condition. As his strength continues to

grow, Tyler gets closer to walking again.

However, as Tyler continues to heal there is no

foreseeable end to the medical bills increased by

his hospital stay, physical therapy and prosthetic

leg which will need to be replaced over time. It is

the generosity of those who find that willingness to

help a stranger in need, like Tyler did, that will get

him through. While the future may be uncertain,

to Tyler it’s simple. He’ll keep moving forward.

And he’ll do it with an immense support team at

his side.

To donate to the Tyler Ryan fund, learn more

about upcoming fundraisers, or offer words of

support, go to www.keep-moving-forward.com or

call Jay’s Valet at (888) 368-5297.

KEEP MOVING FORWARD

provided by Angela W

ilkes Photographyprovided by A

ngela Wilkes Photography


Many people can describe their

professional existence in a

simple word or two. Writer.

Accountant. Teacher. Doctor.

There may be a few true Renaissance men and women

left amongst us. But, a few come close. And often,

you find them in the most interesting vocations.

Meet Steve Hull, Ph.D. — animal scientist, medical

school professor, biomedical engineer, academic

researcher and now, alpaca farmer.

“You know what Ph.D. stands for, right?” Hull

quips. “Post hole digger!”

Indeed, each day Hull is

manager, ranch hand, janitor,

dietician and even animal

midwife when necessary. And

he couldn’t be happier, even

finding humor in the track his

life has taken. “I used to watch (David) Letterman.

Now I listen to the ag report,” he says.

Hull’s story begins on a small New England

farm where he grew up raising a variety of livestock.

His love of animals inspired him to earn a degree in

veterinary and animal sciences from the University

of Massachusetts Amherst. He soon found himself

pursuing a career in academic medicine, earning

a second degree in biomedical engineering and

ultimately obtaining a Ph.D., studying physiology

and biophysics. Eventually Hull made his way

to the University of Oklahoma as a professor,

teaching cardiac surgery, publishing extensively on

neurocardiology and lecturing at universities across

the country.

In 1998, despite his intense workload, he took

an opportunity to partner with a friend in founding

a small alpaca farm. By 2001, he realized he was

enjoying his time on the farm enough to make a

daring career change. “I always told my students,

‘When you don’t enjoy what you’re doing and like

doing something else, do something else!’ I simply

took a bit of my own advice,” laughs Hull. His wife,

Dr. Kathy Reilly, a family physician, and children

Tom, David and Katy joined in the new venture.

An alpaca is a smaller relative of camels and

llamas — too small to be

a working animal. While

some people raise alpacas as

pets, an alpaca’s real value is

found in its fleece. The very

fine, cashmere-like fibers

are much softer and warmer

than sheep’s wool, and can be spun into yarn

to make hats, scarves, gloves, purses, coats and

other clothing. A single alpaca can supply four to

five pounds of fleece each year that can be used to

make hundreds, even thousands, of dollars worth

of goods.

A typical day on an alpaca farm is far from

typical. For starters, one must prepare for a lot

of hoofing — pardon the pun — as in nine-plus

miles of walking daily. Up by 5:30 a.m., Hull’s day

starts with a quick check of the herd. Very gentle

and clean animals, even the herd of 60 to 70 alpacas

doesn’t smell. Still, the barn needs to be cleaned

out daily, so the animals are let out to pasture along

with a few guardian dogs. Hull will check on the

THE PROFESSOR'SNEW GROOVE

By Grant Zellner

“I used to watch Letterman. Now I

listen to theAg Report.”


herd several times throughout the day, which is

otherwise filled with the endless sort of tasks that

greet any farmer or rancher. Every April, the alpacas

are shorn, and though they are native of the high

altitudes of Peru and western South America, they

adapt well to Oklahoma’s hot summers. When he’s

not outdoors, Hull usually can be found on the

phone or answering emails from around the world.

His “quiet farm lifestyle” seems anything but.

Hull is an expert source for others interested

in raising alpacas and has been conducting seminars

worldwide for more than a decade. Some seminars

are geared toward laypeople at civic luncheons and

similar events. These “stories from the farm” are

entertaining tales with heartwarming and inspiring

morals. Other seminars focus on the intricacies

of raising alpacas, with information on nutrition,

breeding and care. Hull relies heavily on his

experience in engineering, animal science and medicine for these messages.

Hull and partner Tom Cameron run Timberlake Farms, an excellent resource for the alpaca farming

community. In addition to maintaining a herd and selling alpacas, the farm works with other farms in

operating a fiber loom. The farm sells the fiber and fleece-made goods on site in addition to distributing the

goods via a nationwide alpaca co-op. Timberlake Farms, located five miles north of Pops on Route 66, also

welcomes visitors.

“Alpacas sell themselves,” says Hull. “The belief that all alpacas spit is no more true than to state that

all dogs bite. They’re great animals. My only alpaca mistake was not starting this career 10 years sooner!”

Steve Hull, Ph.D. on the farm with his alpacas


proud of themselves and know they can lift their

head up high wherever they end up in life,” he says.

“They don’t have to be ashamed of what happened to

them because it’s not their fault.”

Speers is one of 27 employees and works

hands-on within Genesis’ 24-hour care system as a

trauma rehabilitation specialist. He says that there

are both great challenges and rewards in his job.

One challenge, he explains, is the task of reshaping

the children’s way of thinking. “Trying to get away

from thinking that people want something from

them at all times, because these boys, that’s what a

lot of them think,” he says. “To know that you’re

genuinely trying to help them, that you don’t want

anything from them,” Speers says of his goal.

Speers says the rewards to working at Genesis

are many, but laughs when he says playing with

the boys and getting to act like a big kid is one of

them. And if anyone knows the importance of

getting to act like a kid, it’s program coordinator

Reggie Richardson. Richardson has been working

with Genesis for the past 18 years and organizes the

activities and outings for the boys. During free time

the program institutes recreation opportunities, from

going out to arcades, swimming, and going out to

eat, in an effort to socialize the children and let them

interact with other kids their own age. Richardson

emphasizes the need to let the boys be kids again.

“They’re just trying to figure out things and learn and

make their way. They haven’t been taught a lot, so

that’s our job to teach them and hopefully they’ll get

The little boy, we’ll call “D,” is 8 years

old. His hopeful eyes peering out

from under a mop of dark brown hair

will endear him to you instantly and

his self-awareness just might astound you. What he

says, however, could break your heart.

His words, about behaving well and finding a

home, about his future, and about change, are well

beyond his years, but they speak volumes to what he

has endured in his young life.

He and approximately 15 other boys at any given

time live at a family-style group home for abused and

neglected boys age 6 to 12 called the Genesis Project.

The home and nonprofit organization, located just

outside of Edmond, formed in 1985.

Executive director Todd Madland came aboard

the organization in 1987 and describes the idea for

the project as one that formed from an increased

awareness in the ’80s of child abuse issues in the state.

With that awareness came the realization that there

were few options for young boys of that particular age

group who had been sexually or physically abused.

The problem is still an issue today, Madland says.

The group home, which contracts its beds out to the

state Department of Human Services, is at capacity

almost 100 percent of the time. Madland adds that

as a result, young boys are ending up spending long

periods of time in hospitals or bouncing around from

one foster care situation to another.

“If you’re six and you’ve spent three years in a

psychiatric hospital, you’ve missed a big chunk

of your childhood which has already been really

damaged by the fact that the people that should be

taking care of you have hurt you,” Madland says.

Regularly, the boys have lived at 16 other places

before their long road took them to Genesis. Those

places, whether from behavioral or other issues,

simply did not work out, Madland explains. “I think

what happens is the kids are abused so traumatically

so early on that you don’t recover from that very

quickly, so a lot of people just aren’t prepared for

that,” he says.

It is perhaps this bumpy road that has prompted

D to be concerned with holding himself accountable

for his behavior. He says that he has been working

with his therapist, one of which the boys see

regularly in their treatment program at Genesis. “I’ve

been learning about controlling my anger, seeing if I

can have a home to live in,” he says.

While he may be learning that his actions are

in his control, what happened to him certainly was

not, and that is something Keith Speers is adamant

that the boys know. “I would like the boys to be

by Lindsay Whelchel

“They don't have to be ashamed of what happened to them

because it's not their fault.”

THE GENESISPROJECT


better,” he says. He adds that they are always in need of funds to be able to expand

their outing options for the boys.

Madland echoes this sentiment. “We’ve had a few hard years fundraising-

wise,” he says and adds that they hope to do some renovations and eventually

build a gymnasium for the kids. In addition to funds, they can always use help

with other things. For example, they are still trying to clean up from the ice storm

of last year, Madland says.

With DHS funding 85 percent, that leaves the other necessary 15 percent of

funds up to donations. And that work is very concentrated, says Madland, who

explains that Genesis ideally likes to keep the boys in the program at least two

years and then through DHS the boys will be able to find therapeutic foster homes

or adoptive homes to go to. It is during this time that focusing on academics is

important, he says. To do this, Genesis contracts with Edmond schools to provide

two full-time teachers. “It’s not unusual for a boy to come here and make up

three years of school in one year, just by getting really excited about school. If it

wasn’t for that, if he was just bouncing around from other places, he may not get

excited about school,” Madland says. Time, he adds, is of the essence, in starting

rehabilitation and academic focus at as early an age as possible. “Kids are really

good, given structure, given therapy, given lots of nurturing and a predictable

environment, kids can change.”

And it is this change toward a better future that Genesis has instilled in D. He

giggles and says he wants to be a “plunger,” meaning plumber, when he grows

up, his amusement of the task stemming from his love for helping out around

the house.

A fundraising event is being planned for May 1 at the Chesapeake Boathouse.

For more information on how you can help, go to www.genesiskids.com.

Genesis Project staff member plays with two young residents


Shannon Forth-Davies with Corporation Commissioner Patrice Douglas

An Edmond lawyer is taking her career to another level, mixing

her imagination with traces of reality. Since December, Shannon

Forth-Davies, partner at Lester Loving & Davies, is also a

published author. Action, mystery, suspense, a little comedy and

a hint of romance are unfolding across Oklahoma City on the pages of Forth’s first

book, “Hunting License.”

“They always say you should write what you know about. I do know about

practicing law and so some of what is in here relates to my experiences,” said

Forth. She added that still a big part of the content is fiction. “It’s just fun and

things I wanted to tell a story about.”

Years ago, during a proceeding in a divorce case that a distant acquaintance

worked on, the husband walked into the courtroom and shot everyone. “That

was awful and the young lawyer really kind of stuck with me,” Forth said. “I’ve

always wondered what kind of story (you would) make out of that.” She used the

incident as the basis for her book’s storyline.

The main character, Simms Mitchell, is also a lawyer. “She is tall with long

black hair and her eyes are a gorgeous blue color. She

is a strikingly beautiful woman,” explained Forth.

Simms works for the FBI but after an undercover

operation goes bad, she decides to move into the legal

field. A sexual harassment case takes an unexpected

turn and Simms tries to stop a murderer from

killing more victims. “Over the course of the book Simms goes through a lot

of things, she questions herself and challenges herself and at the end she is

somebody different.”

Simms lives on a ranch in north Oklahoma City, dines with colleagues at

the Petroleum Club downtown and often drives up and down May Avenue. She

enjoys spending time with her friends. Bobbie Joe is a typical Oklahoma girl with

“big puffy hair” who “eats cheeseburgers and drives around in her beat-up old

car.” Elizabeth is a psychiatrist. Jack is also a lawyer, who owns a ranch and likes

bull riding. The Oklahoma landscape, the sunsets and the weather are widely

featured in the book, immersing readers deeper into the narrative. “I really want

people to have enjoyed reading it,” Forth said.

Coming up with a title was a big challenge. “I finally settled on ‘Hunting

License’ because pretty much everyone in this book is hunting someone else. And

license was kind of fun, because I am a lawyer, it’s kind

of a legal thing.” While working on the draft, Forth

took several master’s-level creative writing classes at

UCO. “It was very rewarding to sit in the classes and

hear from the professors that I should keep going.”

Growing up, Forth never thought she would be a

lawyer or writer. As a student at Edmond Memorial High School, she participated

in several school plays and took dancing classes. During her first years in college,

Forth pursued an acting and fine arts degree. “I was thinking about going to New

York and trying to make it as an actor or dancer, or something like that but I met

my husband to be and I decided, I think it would be much nicer to get married

and live here and pursue other things.”

“They always say youshould write whatyou know about.”

by Radina Gigova

PURSUING PASSION

continued on page 30


With This Ad. Exp. 3/31/12

With This Ad. Exp.3/31/12300

www.kreggers.com

12 months no interest!on select Mohawk products thru March (wac)

Compare Apples to Apples We shop the local competition.

$5.99/sfinstalled

$8.39/sfinstalled

Price INCLUDES:Carpet Removal

Furniture MovingWood FlooringGlue & Labor

Hand-ScrapedWood Floors

ActualPrice

Ours$5.99/sf

Theirs$3.89/sfPrice EXCLUDES:

$3.50/sf Labor$1/sf Glue

& you still owe tax!

Hand-ScrapedWood Floors

Don’t be fooled bybig claims and fine print.

Kregger’s has the best price in town!


Forth took a First Amendment law class

and really enjoyed it. A friend suggested she

take the LSAT and she got accepted into law

school. “Turned out I loved the law, and still

do.” She admitted she hasn’t danced in years

but remembered how one professor often joked

about her contrasting interests. “He used to go,

‘Whoa, Ms. Forth, are you still dancing around

that legal argument?’ And I go, ‘OK, that’s getting

really old.’”

Forth enjoys painting and some of her works

are displayed at several homes and businesses.

“I love seeing color on paper, it just makes me

happy.” She also loves to drive her children to

their various activities, because she can spend

time with them. Forth’s resume also includes

member of the Board of Directors of the Edmond

Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the

Board of Directors of the Leadership Edmond

Alumni Association.

She is currently working on two new books.

“Liquor License” will be the second book from a

series of license-themed thrillers, featuring the same

characters. “The Obituary Writer” is a story about a

young woman who returns home from a big city to

save her family’s newspaper. Forth plans to continue

writing books and has started a publishing company.

Law Partners Shannon Forth-Davies and Andy Lester

continued from page 28

However, she is keeping both of her jobs and all of

her hobbies. “I just want it all,” she joked.

“Hunting License” is available online and at

local bookstores. For more information, go to

www.shannonforth.com.


Glamorous dreams of becoming

a race car driver or ballerina

can fill the minds of children at

a young age. Those aspirations

may dwindle with time or become a determination

that drives them towards those dreams. However

for some children, their desitny becomes one they

thought they’d never pursue, but once fulfilled

becomes an unexpected ‘dream come true.’ Such

is the case with Robin Obert whose upbringing

in the restaurant industry eventually led her to

Platt College and ultimately to her dream job as

executive chef for Governor Mary Fallin.

As a child, Obert’s family owned and operated

several restaurants as well as the first man-made

water park, Big Surf, in Tempe, Arizona. As an

adult, Obert is thankful for her childhood. “My dad

had this incredibly strong work ethic. Summers, at

just 12 years old, he’d get us out of bed early to get

the park ready. He’d say, ‘Don’t ever expect your

employees to do something, you’re not willing to

do.’ That’s always stuck with me. There’s nothing

I’m not willing to do because he was willing.” With

this strong work ethic and perseverance, Obert

was driven to succeed in anything except follow

in the family business. “I swore I’d rather starve

than work in the restaurant business because I

was always working,” laughed Obert. “Yet, that’s

how I put myself through college.” After attending

colleges in Colorado and San Diego, circumstances

brought Obert to Oklahoma where the dream

began to unfold.

“When I moved to OKC I saw the ads for

Platt College and was intrigued. After touring the

facility, I was impressed with what they had to

offer. Even though I’d always held parties at my

house for 40-50 people, it wasn’t until after visiting

the college that I gave in to what I knew I was

called to do,” said Obert.

Obert’s cooking education began when she

was a child, but Platt College gave her the classical

techniques and refreshed the skills that helped

her become the chef she is today. “I’ll never forget

when we’d have catering events at our water park

and have 3500 people a day. My dad handed me

a cleaver and gave me cases of whole chickens to

cut up,” laughed Obert. “In hindsight, I think I’d

never give my 12-year-old a cleaver, but I never

hurt myself because he taught me how to hold it.

It’s surreal, but it’s who I am.”

After graduating from Platt College in 2005,

Obert was asked to open and develop Café Broccato,

Platt College’s pastry school in Moore. After a year

as general manager and executive chef at Café

Broccato, Obert became an instructor at Platt’s

north campus. During her fourth year, Obert was

offered the position as executive chef to Governor

Fallin. “I received an email stating the governor

was looking for a chef, asking if I was interested.

I initially told them I wasn’t because I loved my

job. But then, I emailed them back stating that

I‘d meet with them,” Obert recalled. Obert began

Afterher position as executive chef in the governor’s

mansion on November 2 of 2011 and according to

Obert, “It’s been absolutely incredible.”

As an executive chef, Obert brings the same

dedication and work ethic that her father instilled

in her so many years ago. “Cooking is my passion,

it’s what I live for. It’s all about people and how you

can step up to the plate and give back. If you’re

not living your passion, it’s hard to enjoy what

you’re doing. I’ve got the absolute best job in the

world and I owe much of that to my education at

Platt College.”

Platt College offers the only ACF Accredited

Culinary College in the state of Oklahoma. Aside

from Culinary and Pastry Arts, the college also

offers varying diploma and degree programs in

Allied Health and Nursing.

&BeforeAfter by Melanie Phillips Clemens

Before

North: 749-2433 Central: 946-7799 Moore: 912-3260

www.plattcolleges.edu

After

Before

Licensed by OBPVS


EARC Donation Center & Thrift Store at 100 E. 3rd in Edmond

Just a little thrift shop at Third and Littler;

that’s what some might see when driving

past the EARC store. What they probably

don’t see, however, is the incredible vision

behind it.

Just outside the shop is a young man unloading

the truck, which is quite full. They have just made

their run for the day. The man hoists a large TV from

the back of the truck and carries it into the store,

a huge grin spread across

his face. As he takes it

inside, another young man

happily greets customers

from behind the counter.

Eventually, the proceeds

from this television, along

with the rest of the items

in the store, will help fund their paychecks along

with those of other developmentally challenged

individuals like them.

According to a study done by the Oklahoma

Developmental Disabilities Council, there are more

than 63,000 developmentally disabled persons in the

state. There are 14,602 currently receiving funds.

EARC, or Employment and Residential Centers,

currently employs roughly 130 client and staff

individuals in Edmond. They hope to keep increasing

that number.

There weren’t always such opportunities for

people with special needs. In 1970, when EARC

opened their first thrift store in Edmond, their goal

was to raise public awareness of developmental

disabilities and provide opportunities for disabled

adults, particularly employment within their store.

However, there was no funding for such a project

and the agency relied solely on volunteers and

donations to achieve their goal.

Today, EARC, a United Way partner agency,

operates three thrift shops, two living centers, and

provides assisted living services as well as in-home

support to their clients.

In addition, they run the

Trails Sheltered Workshop

which gives special-needs

individuals work training

through subcontracted

jobs. Working alongside

a supervisor or job coach,

EARC allows these individuals to work directly with

the public in a number of various positions both in

and outside the thrift stores.

“Many people in Edmond know about [our]

thrift stores, but they don’t know what we do,” says

executive director Bonnie Wells. “It’s not just a thrift

store, [we are] creating jobs and opportunities for

our clients.”

However, the experience they give to their

clients is not just about a paycheck. While many

individuals with developmental disabilities are given

government subsidies, they still have a need to prove

themselves by being a part of something, explains

Wells. Simply having the means to survive does not

replace feelings of self-worth. “Being productive and

being in a real job where you feel good about what

you’re doing is what we’re trying to do with our

clients” she said.

And while some special-needs adults do find

work outside of their agency, these individuals

often face trouble with the social aspects of their

employment. Communicating with their supervisors

and co-workers and fitting in can be more difficult

than simply learning a routine task. EARC provides

additional support in these areas so that their

employees feel that they are an essential part

of a team.

Last year’s annual report by the Oklahoma

Department of Human Services states that in

Oklahoma County, 2,204 developmentally disabled

are receiving state funds. However, 1,590 remain

on a waiting list. “There are a lot of people with

service needs out there,” explains Wells. The means

to provide that support, however, lies mostly in the

hands of the public.

Donations are what drive EARC and their

mission to success. Donated items in good

condition are resold in the stores and the money

is used to pay employees as well as fund work

projects, transportation and housing services. Fewer

donations mean fewer jobs for the coaches as well

as clients and less money to house and transport

these individuals.

Thinking about donating but afraid your ’90s

T-shirt won’t sell? Donate anyway. EARC accepts 100

LITTLE SHOP, BIG MISSION

by Christy Shuler

EARC allows special needs individuals to work directly with

the public.


percent of all donations and non-sellable items are placed into salvage where

they are recycled and sold. With two shops in Edmond and one in Guthrie,

there are even more opportunities to stop by. In addition, EARC offers pickup

services for items too large

or heavy to be brought to

the donation center. And

receipts are available for tax

deductions.

As a small local agency,

EARC prides itself on being

an Edmond facility through

and through. After all, the

work they are doing is not

just for their clients, but for

the community. In essence,

the more jobs they create,

the more money is being

circulated into Edmond.

And they want to continue serving Edmond by building more job opportunities

for its residents. That is, if folks keep visiting and donating to its thrift stores.

“Edmond has always been a very generous community,” said Wells.

Thrift stores are located at 1408 E. Oklahoma Ave. in Guthrie, 92 E. 15th

in Edmond, with the donation center at 100 E. Third in Edmond. For more

information, go to www.earcinc.org. For donation pickups, call 285-7658.


Oklahoma, known for being

friendlier than your average state,

is also known for its extreme

weather. In the aftermath of an

Oklahoma storm, damaged roofs are often the result.

Although Gene Shoemake, of Premiere Roofing,

and his team have more than 16 years experience

re-roofing over 2,200

Oklahoma homes, nothing

could have prepared him

for what happened in the

summer of 2011. While

Shoemake was doing minor

repair on properties in Edmond’s Vintage Garden

Homes Phase I, a tornado went across the northwest

side of OKC causing further damage.

“People from Quail Creek and Nichols Hills

were calling us to come fix their roofs. But Vintage

Garden Homes required some emergency repairs

and we needed ‘all hands on deck‘ to attend to them.

The temptation was to forego all repair work and

concentrate on nothing other than contracting with

homeowners to replace entire roofs, but I couldn‘t

do that. I had promised to do the small emergency

repairs at Vintage Garden Homes, and that promise

had to be honored. The large roof replacements had

to wait,” said Shoemake.

Later, Shoemake was asked by the Vintage

Garden Homeowner’s Association to meet with their

senior insurance adjuster and that began the journey

Shoemake will never forget. “The adjuster started

chalking up the roofs that

had hail damage when

she asked if I was going to

help her. Out of respect for

her and deference to her

and the company, I wasn’t

marking anything until I knew what she determined

to be hail damage. She appreciated that courtesy,”

said Shoemake, “and approved all 41 duplexes for

full roof replacement.”

The homeowner’s association voted unanimously

for Shoemake and Premiere Roofing to re-roof all

41 properties, ensuring accountability if problems

arose afterwards.

Shoemake and his team delivered exactly what

they are known for, excellence and timeliness, at

a fair price. “My son, Jeff and I supervised every

job and coordinated to make sure one of us was

always there. Jeff helped maintain goodwill with the

residents and as a vital part of the team, I couldn’t

have done it without him,” said Shoemake.

Working from 7 a.m. to dark, six days a week,

the team finished the project two weeks early.

“The association was so pleased with our work,

how we treated the homeowners, our degree of

professionalism and clean up that they held a

surprise party for us to show their appreciation.

When I opened the door they started singing, ‘For

He’s A Jolly Good Fellow.’ When Jeff walked in

later, they did it all over again for him. I’ve never

been treated with such incredible kindness,” said

Shoemake. “It was a privilege to be honored with a

project of this magnitude, especially in a beautiful

neighborhood with so many wonderful people who

went out of their way to be friendly and helpful.

Vintage Garden Homes is an exceptional community

here in Edmond. We are grateful that they favored us

with their business,” said Shoemake.

For more, visit www.premiereroofing.net or

call 478-2717. Located at 11th and Broadway

(By Appointment Only) License number # 0374

COMMUNITY AT ITS BESTby Melanie Phillips Clemens

Nothing could have prepared him for the

summer of 2011.

www.premiereroofing.net

(Left to Right) Resident Carl Hill, Jeff Shoemake, Gene Shoemake, Resident Marty McCharen & Board Member Earl Madison


Oldest Arctic Cat ATV Dealer in the StateUsed Motorcycle Sales & Service

We Service All Makes of ATVs

282-00866400 Industrial Blvd

(I-35 & Waterloo)

Mon-Fri8:30 am - 5:30 pm

Saturday8:30 am - 3:00 pm

www.midamericacycleandatvs.com

We’re Open:

Find us on Facebook!


Teddy Roosevelt. Atticus Finch. Ron

Swanson. These men embody the

kind of masculinity that Brett McKay

and his wife, Kate, try to examine with

artofmanliness.com, a blog dedicated to uncovering

the lost art of being a man.

Brett grew up in Edmond and graduated from

Edmond North High School in 2001. He started the

blog in January 2008 while attending law school at

the University of Tulsa. Reading headlines in men’s

magazines, he noticed that they all offered the same

things: tips on how to get six-pack abs and how to

pick up women, and they pushed the idea that real

men buy $500 suits. They were selling a fantasy

lifestyle, so Brett decided to start the men’s magazine

he always wanted to read.

“Word started spreading and here we are four

years later with two books and a really big following

on the ’net,” he says.

Kate started helping with the site when it

got too big for one person to handle. She has a

bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in

religion. “Her history background helps out quite

a bit. We talk a lot about the historical aspects of

masculinity in America,” he explains. She also was

a history professor at Tulsa

Community College before

they started doing the site

full-time.

In a typical week, they

publish articles Sunday

through Wednesday, and

they work together on

everything they write. They

spend a lot of time looking for images in antiques

stores, public domain sites and old magazines. They

have written more than 1,000 articles, the website

has more than 125,000 daily subscribers and the site

enjoys 7,000,000 page views per month. Running

“The Art of Manliness” has become a full-time job

for the couple.

But, Brett and Kate don’t claim to be experts

on masculinity. “I’m learning right along with these

guys,” Brett says. “Whenever I write something, I try

to live it.” Brett wrote an article on how to change the

oil in a car, but he had never done that before so he

had to do it. They write a lot of articles on being a

better husband or a better father. “You can’t help but

be changed by that,” he says.

Sometimes Kate holds it over his head. If he

forgets to hold a door for her, she might remind him

that he just wrote an article about that. “It’s helping

me become a better man, I think,” says Brett. “I have

a lot to learn. There’s so much out there for me that

I could do to improve my life, it’s kind of humbling

and it’s kind of daunting, too, but you just take it one

day at a time.”

The site’s monthly podcast offers interviews with

people who may have insights on masculinity in

America today or people who

have improved themselves.

Past guests have included

a historian on freemasonry,

a counselor, fitness experts

and Nick Offerman, an actor

famous for his role as Ron

Swanson on NBC’s “Parks

and Recreation.” “I love

that character,” Brett says of the mustachioed, self-

reliant caricature of masculinity. “It’s one of the best

characters that television has put out in a while.” In

real life, Offerman also is a professional woodworker,

so Brett interviewed him on the role of Swanson and

his work as a craftsman.

Brett says TV characters like Swanson are a good

sign of where this nation’s perception of masculinity

is headed. “You see it all over the place,” he points

out, in products made for men, the revival of Old

Spice deodorant, sites like his that are starting to pop

up that encourage men to be better at being men and

media that revive aspects of masculinity and spin it

into something new.

by Nathan Winfrey

“Instead of...being men of action,

we sit around and passively consume

entertainment.”

Brett & Kate McKay


Artofmanliness.com is polished with a vintage aesthetic filled with old photos

and drawings of men with pomade-slicked hair and handlebar moustaches. “I’m

sort of a nostalgic guy, and whenever I think of manly men I think of men like my

grandfather and men of that generation.”

Teddy Roosevelt is one of Brett’s personal heroes. He thinks the former U.S.

president possessed many of the attributes that exemplify masculinity, like the

idea of a strenuous life, of being a renaissance man — an outdoorsman but also

an intellectual. Atticus Finch from the classic novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” is

another example. Finch is compassionate, very strong and stands up for what’s

right and what he believes in.

Brett says the biggest factor in society that is hurting men is consumer

culture. “It makes us so passive,” he explains. “Instead of going out there and

creating things and being men of action, we sit around and passively consume

entertainment.” Brett decries the lifestyle of excessive TV-watching, video games,

and Web-surfing. He cites that, anthropologically, a mark of manhood is when

a person starts to produce more than they consume. Brett thinks a lot of men,

particularly in their 20s, aren’t doing that.

“I think that men are looking for something more out there among all the

content that’s made for men,” he says. “A lot of young men, particularly in their

20s, are trying to figure out what it means to be a man.” Brett says there aren’t

many great resources out there, and that people are tired of the superficiality of a

lot of it, so they keep coming back to his site. “Without fail, for the past four years,

we’ve doubled our traffic every year,” he states. “We’re on track for doubling it

again this year.”

He says one of the keys to a successful blog is consistency. “You can’t just

sort of write every now and then,” he warns. “Write great content. Don’t write

about what your cat did that day. You want to be as useful as possible to people.”

As for gaining traffic, Brett suggests, start with your friends and family and find

a website or blog that’s a little bigger but in the same niche as yours and write a

guest post for them so that you can expose your own blog to new readers who

might enjoy your content as well.

Find them on Facebook or submit an article to “The Art of Manliness,” by

emailing [email protected].


Name: Taylor Hukill, Athlete

Tell us about yourself. What sports do you like to play? Well, I'm in 4th grade at Westfield Elementary in Edmond. I've been competing in adaptive track & field for four years and wheelchair basketball for two years. My mom and dad are Ryan and Brooke Hukill and I'm one of five kids. We're afamily full of athletes. I just play sports a little differently.

Can you tell us why you're in a wheelchair?This is the way that God made me...I was born with Spina Bifida, which keepsme from walking but doesn’t keep me from running you over with my wheels,so watch out cause I’m fast!

How did you get started in Wheelchair Basketballand how long have you been playing? I was at a car show and a family spotted me in my wheelchair.They have a son in a wheelchair so they came over and just startedtelling us about the GODSA organization. That’s when I startedcompeting in track & field. And two years ago, I startedplaying basketball.

What is GODSA?The Greater Oklahoma Disability Sports Association exists todevelop, sponsor and promote recreational and competitiveathletic opportunities for individuals with physical challenges.You can also visit www.GODSA.org to learn more. Are these wheelchairs modified for sports?Yes, most adaptive sports require a unique chair designedspecifically for that sport, which makes for a packed garage athome. My parents tease me that I need my own garage. Wecurrently have a field chair, a track chair, a basketball chair anda special bike called an AmTryke, so I can ride bikes with mybrothers and friends. Then, of course, I have my everyday chair.

Are there other wheelchair basketball teamsin the metro to play?No, so far, we’re the only team here, so we travel tosurrounding states to play other teams in our division.We currently have qualified for Nationals, so we’re all veryexcited about going to Colorado Springs in March!

Any short or long term goals? Right now I'm working towards my first one mile race and thena 5k with my mom and sister. One day I'd like to get a collegescholarship to play basketball.

What advice do you have for other young athletes?No matter what anyone tells you, if you want to do something, find a way!

MY EDMOND OUTLOOKby Krystal Harlow



Dr. Kamla Knight, Chiropractor

3209 S. Broadway, Ste 217 • 285-9454All major insurances accepted • Open MWF 9-5

Motor Vehicle Accidents • Applied KinesiologyIonic Foot Detox • Hormone Saliva Testing

Neuro Emotional TechniqueNatural Hormone Replacement Therapy

Alternative & Holistic Medicine

Injuredin a car

accident?We can

help!

Become a fan on for thelatest in health and wellness news!

Knight Wellness Center

















edmond outlook march 2012

Documents

edmond homes

edmond outlook taylor

earcan edmond thrift

culinary arts pastry

new calling

publication of back40

nursing lpn

medical laboratory technician